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CUDAHY, Wis., Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patrick Cudahy, The Home of Sweet Apple-Wood Smoked Flavor, has teamed up with Pick n Save and Metro Market to Lend a Helping Ham this holiday season by feeding local families in need. Saturday afternoon, representatives of Patrick Cudahy, Pick n Save, and Metro Market presented a check for $5,000 to the executive director of Milwaukees Hunger Task Force.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fdf04822-7cb6-4606-99d2-f8c38a2d4a7e

Founded in 1974, Hunger Task Force is Milwaukees first food bank. The organization provides a safety net of emergency food to a network of local food pantries and meal programs and is the only food bank in Milwaukee that does not charge for food, delivery, or network membership.

Patrick Cudahy understands the importance of giving back to our local community and feeding those in need, said Bud Matthews, senior vice president for Smithfield Foods. This is why we partnered with Pick n Save, Metro Market, and our friends at Hunger Task Force to help make a difference, especially leading up to the holidays. Were proud to make this donation today, and we thank loyal patrons of Patrick Cudahy products for helping in this effort.

Patrick Cudahy raised funds for this donation through a promotion with Pick n Save and Metro Market, which serves communities throughout Wisconsin. From November 1 through December 31, Patrick Cudahy is matching the price of retail and deli ham purchases made by customers at participating stores up to $5,000.

Pick n Save and Metro Market customers also supported this initiative by donating hams directly to Hunger Task Force through their website www.hungertaskforce.org/donations/helping-ham. The campaign has also been promoted through Milwaukee radio station 102.9 The HOG. The hams will serve as the centerpiece for meals delivered to local families in need during the holidays.

Were proud to partner with Patrick Cudahy to help local families enjoy a festive holiday meal, complete with a ham, this year, said Sherrie Tussler, Hunger Task Force executive director. This program really makes a positive impact on our local community just in time for the holidays, and were incredibly grateful for the continued partnership.

For more information about Patrick Cudahy and Lend a Helping Ham, please visit www.patrickcudahy.com or www.Facebook.com/PatrickCudahyMeats.

Patrick Cudahy is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Patrick Cudahy

For more than 125 years, families throughout the Midwest have known the name Patrick Cudahy as one they can count on for quality, value and for the unmistakable flavor of Sweet Apple Wood. Our product line includes fully cooked and traditional bacon, bacon pieces and toppings, dry sausage, pepperoni, ham, deli and sliced meats.

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.
After 20 years as the Codington County auditor, Cindy Brugman retires

Codington County Auditor Cindy Brugman will see through one more election night ballot count before passing her title down to Brenda Hanten.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTB Advisors has been recognized by Greenwich Associates in the 2016 Greenwich Excellence Awards for Wealth Management and Personal Investment Services. FTB Advisors, First Tennessee Banks wealth and investment group, was honored in the Customer Service category for wealth management providers.



Whenever customers say good things about you, its an honor. And when the good things your customers say earn national honors from a respected organization like Greenwich Associates, thats truly humbling, said David Popwell, president of banking for First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN), parent company of First Tennessee and FTB Advisors.

In evaluating more than 150 providers, Greenwich Associates identified 12  including FTB Advisors  that performed at differentiated levels compared to peer institutions. National winners were based on 11,000 interviews with business owners and executives across the country.

About First Tennessee Bank and FTB Advisors

First Tennessee, the largest bank headquartered in Tennessee, was founded during the Civil War in 1864 and has the 14th oldest national bank charter and one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country. The FTB Advisors wealth management group has 313 financial advisors and $27 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. 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
BOSTON, Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New America High Income Fund, Inc. (the Fund) (NYSE:HYB) announced today the following dividends to be paid on the Funds common stock:



Type Dividend Ex-Dividend Record Payment Date Date Date Special $ 0.0975 12/28/16 12/30/16 1/31/17 Regular $ 0.06 2/10/17 2/14/17 2/28/17

The Fund has released updated portfolio data which can be found on the Funds web site at www.newamerica-hyb.com.

The New America High Income Fund, Inc. is a diversified, closed-end management investment company with a leveraged capital structure. The Funds investment adviser is T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (T. Rowe Price). As of September 30, 2016, T. Rowe Price and its affiliates managed approximately $813 billion of assets, including approximately $22 billion of high yield investments. T. Rowe Price has provided investment advisory services to investment companies since 1937.
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 1WorldSync, the leading multi-enterprise product information network, has partnered with Globizz, a market-leading FDA solution provider. The partnership gives enhanced access to UDI database registration and FDA compliance solutions for Japanese healthcare companies seeking to export products to the U.S. market.



1WorldSync is the only certified GDSN data pool operating in Japan equipped to help customers meet UDI requirements in the local language. The partnership allows Globizz customers to leverage 1WorldSyncs deep experience in UDI compliance within the medical device market and provides additional consulting services for Japanese healthcare companies expanding to the U.S.

With the highly regulated nature of the medical device market, businesses require advanced support to meet the product information requirements necessary to sell their products across borders, said Dan Wilkinson, Chief Commercial Officer of 1WorldSync. Our dedicated staff of UDI database registration experts in Japan, in tandem with Globizzs FDA compliance solutions, will provide Japanese companies the support and expertise to scale and distribute product information that complies with todays regulations.

Compliance with FDA regulations for the medical device industry requires barcodes to be placed on the device label/packaging and device data elements to be submitted to the FDAs Global UDI Database (GUDID). Globizz partnered with 1WorldSync, a world leader in the product data industry, for its recognition as a qualified UDI issuing agency by the FDA. This partnership enables easier data management and global expansion while eliminating the language barriers Japanese healthcare companies encounter while seeking to export products into the U.S. market.

This partnership will allow Globizz to continue to offer the highest quality consulting services in a timely manner, support clients barcode needs and help expand businesses in both the U.S. and Japan, said Takahiro Harry Haruyama, President and CEO of Globizz. As partners, Globizz and 1WorldSync will assist in the full compliance of UDI requirements for the Japanese medical device industry, which is an important element to their success in the U.S.

For more information, visit www.1worldsync.com.

About 1WorldSync

1WorldSync is the leading multi-enterprise product information network, helping more than 25,000 global brands and their trading partners in over 60 countries  share authentic, trusted content in the hands of their customers and consumers, empowering consumers to make the right choices, purchases, health and lifestyle decisions. Through its solutions, technology platform and expert services, 1WorldSync provides solutions that meet the diverse needs of its customers. For more information, please visit http://www.1worldsync.com

About Globizz

Based in California, Globizz is an international consulting company with extensive experience in cross-border business. Globizz provides FDA consulting services for medical devices, medical drugs, foods, supplements, cosmetics, animal feeds and other biotech products.

Globizz specializes in advising on overseas expansion plans for top-level management businesses and financial planning, as well as market research, overseas base auditing, and cross border M&A advisory between the U.S. and Japan. It also provides on-site personnel training and seminars, and directors for overseas entities. For more information, please visit www.globizz.net.
Local residents discuss the situation next to Karak Castle, during an ongoing attack, in the town of Karak in Jordan.
LETTER: Instead of dropping 'The Ode,' find another way to honour Labrador

Many writers to the Telegram have chimed in, some with vitriol, on the decision by MUN not to sing "The Ode to Newfoundland" at the recent or future graduation convocations. I am astonished, however, at the number who see no problem with changing its ...
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.
DanChurchAid (DCA) is a faith-based Danish INGO working closely with church-based as well as secular NGOs in Uganda and in the Great Lakes region. Their programmes cover two main areas: Active Citizenship with a strong focus on good governance and democratization, and Food Security including Humanitarian and Transitional Responses to conflict and natural disaster. DanChurchAid has supported emergency relief and development programmes in Uganda since 1979. DanChurchAid works through partners and with a gender-inclusive rights-based approach, which is mainstreamed throughout all DanChurchAid programme types as well as within the organization.

Job Summary: The Data Management Assistant will be responsible for data capture of electronic voucher and mobile money electronic systems, data entry and validation, extraction, reformat/transform, analysis, and Loading of data into the different software systems developed in-house. This job includes supporting the DMME Officer on monitoring and development of mobile monitoring tools with field staff. It involves beneficiary data collection, data cleaning,

loading, exporting and importation of data. The incumbent will be responsible for weekly & monthly e-shilling top ups and management of records; The job include assisting extension workers in troubleshooting on hardware, vendor gadgets/equipment with direct communication with the service provide; developing e-invoices and documents for audit and planning logistics and materials needed for the activities to be carried out.
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 ...
The year-end award season is upon us. The Golden Globe Awards will soon announce winners, while the Critics' Choice Awards set a precedent for the Oscars.



This year, the handful of films with good performances by actors are nowhere near the highest grossing films. While Captain America: Civil War, Finding Dory and Zootopia are the top earners this year, films like Moonlight and Manchester By the Sea are top picks among Hollywood critics.



This year has seen some breakthrough performances by actors like Casey Affleck and Andrew Garfield. Here are the most notable performances this year:





Casey Affleck

In the touching tragedy Manchester By the Sea, Affleck put in his best performance yet. He won the Critics' Choice Award for best actor for playing a janitor who has to adopt his deceased brother's teenage son. Affleck, who made a mark with films such as Good Will Hunting and the Ocean's series, was Oscar nominated for the best supporting actor for his role in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. He is now in the race for best actor at Golden Globe, Screen Actor's Guild and several other awards.



Mahershala Ali

Already having outdone himself with significant roles in TV series House of Cards and Luke Cage, Ali is likely to be one of the non-white contenders for the best supporting actor at the Oscars. In Barry Jenkins's Moonlight, a powerful coming-of-age tale about an impoverished boy growing up in Miami, Ali plays a drug dealer who also is a father figure for the boy. He has already been nominated for a Golden Globe award for the role, with critics praising him and director Jenkins for an emotionally introspective role and film.



Andrew Garfield

The Amazing Spiderman star had outstanding performances in both of his releases this yearMel Gibson's war epic Hacksaw Ridge and Martin Scorsese's historical drama Silence, which has so far been screened only at film festivals. He was nominated for Golden Globes best actor and Critics' Choice awards for his convincing performance as Desmond Doss in the Gibson film. The biopic, set in World War II era, tells the story of Doss's refusal to touch a gun during battle and save army men's lives as a medic.



Natalie Portman

Portman plays Jacqueline Kennedy in the Pablo Larrain-directed biopic Jackie, which highlights the First Lady's life after John F. Kennedy's assassination. Having studied Jackie's persona in detail, Portman uses her own elegance and experience to add to the character. Produced by Darren Aronofsky, who directed Portman in her Oscar-winning role in Black Swan, the film created quite a buzz in film festivals. For her efficacious portrayal, she has been nominated for the Golden Globe and several other awards already.



Emma Stone

La La Land seems to be critics' favourite film this year, and Emma Stone stands out in this Damien Chazelle milestone. She plays a struggling Hollywood actor, who is in love with a failed jazz pianist played by Ryan Gosling. It is touted to be a tribute to the golden age of musicals in Hollywood, with Stone and Gosling singing and dancing and falling in love. Stone, who has done the jig for musicals on Broadway, was also Oscar-nominated in 2015 for Birdman.



Amy Adams

It takes a lot to play a person who meets aliens and communicates with them, without looking unrealistic or silly. In Arrival, Amy Adams plays the character of linguistic expert Louise Banks flawlessly. She breathes life into her character by accentuating emotions like fear, curiosity, surprise and empathy quite convincingly. Adams, who was last nominated for 2013's Oscar for Best Actress for American Hustle, has five nominations till date, and is on her way to get a sixth.


The Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and four other operatives of the terror outfit were, on Monday, sentenced to death in the 2013 Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case, by a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Hyderabad. Bhatkal, Zia-ur-Rehman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahaseen Akhtar and Aijaz Sheikh were the five names.

The final arguments in the case had concluded on November 7 and the court convicted the IM operatives under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This is the first ever conviction of the outlawed Indian Mujahideen in a terror case.

The court is hearing the case in Cherlapally central prison where all the suspects are lodged. Last week in fact the court had convicted them for their role in the twin blasts. The prime accused and IM founder Mohammed Riyaz alias Riyaz Bhatkal is believed to be in the wind, operating from Pakistan.

Two near-simultaneous explosions had ripped through a busy marketplace in Dilsukhnagar area in Hyderabad on February 21, 2013, claiming 18 lives and injuring 131 people. The trial in the case had begun on August 24, 2015 and as many as 157 witnesses were examined and 251 documents and 300 material objects were seized in the case.

The bombs were carried on bicycles which were kept close to the blast sites in Dilsukhnagar. Most of the victims were innocent working men and women who were having their evening snacks and tea at the tea stalls when the bombs went off.

According to NIA, the IM had hatched a conspiracy to wage a war against India and decided to carry out bomb blasts in Hyderabad to create terror in the minds of people and further the activities of the outfit. According to the investigation the main operative of the module Riyaz Bhatkal had allegedly directed his associates Asadullah Akhtar and Waqas to find a place in Mangalore to be used as a hide-out for explosive materials sent by him.

The Bhatkal brothers are reputed to be experts in making explosives and they hail from Bhatkal village in Udupi district of Karnataka. They are wanted in a series of terror attacks in different parts of the country. Yasin, who had received arms training in Pakistan in 2006, was arrested near Motihari in Bihar in 2013.

The story goes that after receiving the hawala money and materials sent by Riyaz, Akhtar and Waqas reached Hyderabad and started working with Tahseen Akhthar alias Monu, who had reached there and was living in a hideout in Abdullapurmet area.

As per the NIA report, the three of them prepared two IEDs while staying there. The other materials needed to make a bomb, including a pressure cooker and timers, were arranged in Hyderabad. After the bomb was made, they mounted the IEDs on two bicycles and planted them in two separate places in Dilsukhnagar.
Sasikala Natarajan, widely considered to be the political heir of Jayalalithaa, will have to face multiple challenges on her way to the top post of the AIADMK as murmurs against her in the political circle are growing louder.

Two weeks after the demise of the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, an expelled party leader raised questions over her death and claimed that Natarajan and her family might have had something to do with her passing.

Sasikala Pushpa, who was expelled from the AIADMK for her 'anti-party activities', said that proper inquiry should be done as the people want to know the actual reason of their leader's death.

Tamil Nadu people suspect Sasikala Natarajan and her family might have done something in Ammas death; need justice, she was quoted as saying by a news agency.

Her allegations came a day after she moved the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe or a judicial investigation by an apex court judge into the death of the AIADMK chief.

Tamil Nadu people, entire nation wish to know what happened to the late chief minister. The CM of a state has been foul played like this is a million dollar question. I just want to take this matter to SC to get justice, she told the news agency.

Earlier, Pushpa had said that she would fight till her last breath to ensure that Natarajan doesn't become the party general secretary. "Senior leaders are being threatened by her family; everyone feels that. They are being compelled to accept her as the general secretary," she had said last week.

Jayalalithaa, who had been at the helm of the party for over a quarter of a century, breathed her last at Apollo Hospital in Chennai on December 5, a day after she suffered a cardiac arrest. She had been under treatment in the hospital since September 22.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Telugu Yuva Sakthi had also moved the apex court seeking a comprehensive probe into the AIADMK leader's death and a direction to the authorities concerned to reveal her medical reports.

Although several top leaders of the AIADMK are rooting for Sasikala to lead the party, many of its ground-level functionaries are said to be unhappy over her possible anointment. The resent is vivid, with protests by party workers being reported from various parts of the state.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam seems set to face a revolt within the party as a section of its leaders on Sunday demanded that Sasikala be in charge not only of the party but the government, too.
John Mauldin



John Mauldin, Editor

Outside the Box

Italys rebel economist hones plan to ditch the euro and restore the Medici florin

By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard





The once-unlikely and remote prospect of an anti-euro government in Italy is suddenly becoming a real possibility, threatening to rock the European Union to its foundations within weeks.

Events in Italy are moving with lightning speed. Key figures in the Democrat Party of premier Matteo Renzi have joined the chorus of calls for snap elections as soon as February to prevent the triumphant Five Star Movement running away with the political initiative after their victory in the referendum over the weekend.

Mr Renzi has not yet revealed his hand but close advisers say he is tempted to gamble everything on a quick vote, betting that he still has enough support to squeak ahead in a contest split multiple ways and that his opponents are not ready for the trials of an election.

It could easily spin out of his control, opening a way for a tactical alliance of Five Star, the Lega Nord, and a smattering of small groups, all critics of the euro in various ways.

The man tipped as possible finance minister of any rebel constellation is Claudio Borghi, a former broker for Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank, and now a professor at the Catholic University of Milan.

We are coming to the point where Italy must the make the real decision: are we for Europe or are we against it? he told the Telegraph .

What is emerging is a list of four parties or groups who all have one thing in common. We all agree that nothing is possible until we leave the euro.

Europe has brought us a depression worse than 1929. It has led to entire peoples being broken and humiliated, like the Greeks, all for the sake of preserving the infernal instrument of the euro. This whole disaster has been adorned by a chain of lies, shouted ever louder because they are afraid that the colossal damage they have done will be discovered, he said.

Dr Borghi said the landslide 59:41 result in the referendum is a shock to Italys powerful vested interests, or poteri forti. They are absolutely scared because none of their tools of control are working any more, he said.

They invested huge prestige in the campaign. Confindustria [Italys CBI], the chambers of commerce, and all of Italys big employers were for the Yes side. They said the banks would collapse, that we would lose all our savings, and that we would all go to Hell if we voted No, but it didnt work. It was Brexit reloaded, he said.

Professor Borghi said withdrawal from the euro would be messy but there are ways of mitigating the effects, first by creating parallel liquidity and letting it seep into daily life.

The Italian treasury has 90 billion (76 billion) in arrears on contracts. These could be paid with treasury bonds issued for as little as 50, 20, 10, or even 5, giving us time to create a second currency.

When the time comes we can then switch to this new currency. It can be done electronically. We dont even need to print paper, he said.

Prof Borghi said the cleanest option is for Germany to leave the eurozone. If that is impossible Italy can pass a law to convert its debt obligations into lira overnight  or the florin as he prefers to call it, harking back to the days of Florentine ascendancy under the Medici.

The losses would shift to the national central banks through the Target2 system, he said. This means the Bank of Italy would repay 355bn on liabilities to eurozone peers (chiefly the Bundesbank) in devalued lira. The Bundesbank would face instant paper losses on its credits  effecting 700bn in the likely event that an Italian exit would lead to a general return to sovereign currencies.

The sums are in one sense an accounting fiction. The trial run was the collapse of the Swiss franc peg against the euro in January 2015. The Swiss National Bank suffered vast theoretical loses on its holdings of eurozone debt when the franc revalued, but life went on regardless.

The gamble is that large sums held by Italians in accounts in London, New York, Paris, or Munich, or held in safe-deposit boxes in Switzerland, would flow back into the system as soon as the boil is lanced, and once Italy has returned to exchange rate viability. Foreign investors would view Italy as a far more competitive prospect.

I dont see any disaster. There is no way to smash our currency since we have a trade surplus. If we had a weaker exchange rate we would have an even bigger surplus, he said.

For Italys eurosceptics a return to the lira would be a liberation after fifteen years of economic decay that has hollowed out the countrys manufacturing core. Industrial output has fallen back to the levels of 1980. Real GDP per capita is down 13pc from its peak.

A report this week from the statistics agency ISTAT said the numbers at risk from poverty and social exclusion last year rose to 28.7pc, and a fresh high of 46.4pc in South, and 55pc in Sicily  the epicentre of the No vote in the referendum.

A study by Mediobanca found that Italys growth rate tracked that Germany almost exactly for thirty years. The pattern changed with the advent of the euro, which precluded devaluations and led to a slow but fatal loss of labour competitiveness  like a lobster being boiled alive.

This was compounded by the eurozones fiscal and monetary contraction from 2010-2104, a policy error that caused the EMU debt crisis and led to a double-dip recession. This is turn pushed Italy over the edge and into a banking crisis.

Exit from the euro would give the country the fiscal freedom to break out of its deflationary trap, and to save its banking system with a state-led recapitalization along the lines of the TARP programme in the US  forbidden under EU state aid laws, unless Italy agrees to swallow the draconian terms of an EU bail-out.

Prof Borghi said the EUs new bail-in rules must be swept aside. As soon you start wiping out savers and bondholders  who did not behave recklessly  you are telling people that their money is not safe in the bank, he said.

All the EU has achieved is a collapse in Italian banking stocks by 85pc since last November. You have to step in to save the banking system in a crisis otherwise everything is destroyed, he said.

Prof Borghi is chief economic strategist for the Right-wing Lega Nord, but what is emerging is a tactical alliance between his party and the Five Star Movement, which has more in common with the Left. The two together are running at 44pc in the polls. Their economists are working together in what is becoming a closely-knit school of eurosceptics.

The grass roots of the Five Star party have always been hostile to pacts with any other group, regarding the whole political cast in Italy as rotten to the core. But Mr Grillo says the party is closing in on power and must be prepared to make compromises. We are in a spiral towards government, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the opposition on Monday over a range of issues including demonetisation and disruption of Parliament.

We have been trying to emancipate the country from corruption and black money; our agenda is to stop black money, but the oppositions agenda is to stop and stall parliament , Modi said, addressing a Parivartan rally of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kanpur. He also accused the opposition of running away from the issues which the government wanted to discuss in parliament.

A major portion of his speech focused on demonetisation, corruption and balck money.

Referring to the unruly incidents in the parliament like throwing of paper missiles on speaker, Modi said such behaviour could not be seen even during the proceedings of municipal corporation.

He lamented that black money and corruption had exploited the middle class and the poor.

Modi said whenever he visited the state, he had felt that Yeh Parivartan ki lehar nahi, yeh Parivartan ki aandhi hai (it is not ripple for change but a storm for change).'

Regarding problems of cash-crunch, he said,  I have initially said that difficulties will remain for 50 days and after that the situation will improve.

The prime minister justified the demonetisation move and said Delhi had a government which wanted to work with honesty.

Keeping the upcoming UP Assembly polls in mind, Modi hailed people of the state for playing an important role in providing a stable government at the Centre. He said all projects and schemes of his government were meant for the betterment of the poor, the exploited and the downtrodden.

The prime minister also spoke in detail about various awards which will be given through lucky draws in coming days to those who purchase things using debit or credit cards and go for e-shopping.

Modi also hailed the youth and their potential. He exhorted media and intellectuals to put before the world the fight by the countrymen against corruption and black money. He called it a fight for honesty.
Nailing Pakistan's role in the Pathankot airbase attack on January 2, 2016, the National Investigation Agency(NIA) on Monday filed a chargesheet against four accused, all of whom hailed from Pakistan. The accused are Maulana Masood Azhar (code-named A-1), chief of the terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan; Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar (A-2), deputy chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad and brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, also a resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan; Shahid Latif (A-3), launching commander, resident of Gujranwala in Pakistan and Kashif Jan (A-4), main handler of Pathankot attackers and a resident of Charsada in Pakistan.

They have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, Arms Act 1959, Explosive Substances Act 1908 and section 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. All the accused are absconding and a Red Corner Notice (RCN) has been issued by the Interpol for the arrest of the three accused A-1, A-2 and A-3, whereas the issue of RCN against A-4 is in process.

The chargesheet says that similar offences were established against the terrorists who stormed the airbase in Pathankot, belonging to the JeM, namely Nasir Hussain(D-1), resident of Vehari in Pakistan, Hafiz Abu Bakar (D-2), resident of Gujranwala in Pakistan, Umar Farooq(D-3), resident of Sanghar in Pakistan and Abdul Qayum(D-4), resident of Sukkur in Pakistan. Since they were dead, prosecution against these attackers were discontinued.

The NIA chargesheet, accessed by THE WEEK, says that the terrorists (all Pakistani nationals, belonging to the proscribed terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad) entered into a criminal conspiracy to infiltrate into Indian territory and commit terror attacks and wage war against the Government of India. The NIA found in its probe that the accused persons and co-conspirators had ''set up training camps in Pakistan and the PoK area, for recruitment and training of terrorists, in order to carry out terror attacks on the Indian soil. During the training, these terrorists were made to undergo extensive motivational, physical, military and tactical training regimen, to radicalize them and to prepare them for Jihad.''

The NIA says that the four terrorists who entered the airbase were "trained in terrorist tradecraft and carried sophisticated arms, ammunition and other logistical items" when they "illegally crossed the Indo-Pak international border through the forest area near the Simbal border outpost on December 30, 2015''. During investigation, empty food packets manufactured in Pakistan and other food articles were recovered from the forest area near the Simbal border outpost.

The NIA has given a clean chit to Punjab superintendent of police Salvinder Singh whose Mahindra XUV vehicle was hijacked by the terrorists, later used by them to move towards the air force station in Pathankot. After hijacking his vehicle, the terrorists tied, blindfolded and dumped Salvinder Singh and his cook Madan Gopal, at an abandoned place in a forest area. However, they took the third occupant Rajesh Verma along with them.

The dumped victims managed to untie themselves and rushed to the nearby village, Gulpur Simli, on foot. The terrorists, on learning later from Rajesh Verma that Salvinder Singh was a police officer, informed their handler, who directed them to go back and look for him. Since Salvinder Singh and Madan Gopal had already left the spot, the terrorists resumed their journey to the Air Force Station, says the chargesheet.

Tracing the terrorirsts route, the NIA chargesheet explains that after infiltrating into the Indian side, the terrorists reached the road from Bhagwal village to Janial. On December 31, they hijacked an Innova taxi bearing registration number PB06-G-0061, along with the driver, Ikagar Singh, who was going from village Bhagwal to Janial. The terrorists snatched the mobile phone of Ikagar Singh and used the same to communicate with their handler, Kashif Jan (A-4), and senior leaders of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pakistan, on three Pakistan mobile numbers 923453030479, 923213132786 and 923017775253.

However, their vehicle met with an accident at the Dhusi turn near the Ravi River Bridge. The terrorists brutally killed Ikagar Singh and dumped his dead body in the nearby bushes. Thereafter, the terrorists drove the damaged Innova vehicle and abandoned it at a service station at Kolian Morh in Pathankot district.

During investigation, the DNA profiles recovered from the dagger, seized from the possession of one of the dead terrorists, matched with that of Ikagar Singh. Similarly, DNA profiles of two terrorists were found on the Red Bull (energy drink) can, recovered from the vehicle of Ikagar Singh.

After abandoning the damaged Innova vehicle of Ikagar Singh at Kolian Morh, the terrorists hid in the nearby sugarcane fields and waited for a vehicle to come. It is here when Salvinder Singh's vehicle came and was hijacked .

Investigations revealed that after abandoning the Mahindra XUV vehicle, the terrorists moved to the western side of the Air Force Station on foot. The terrorists forced their entry into the Air Force Station, Pathankot, after cutting the wire fencing over the western side of the perimeter wall. They crossed it and entered the airbase on January 1, early in the morning.

As per the forensic analysis report, the marks of the cutting tool recovered from the terrorists matched with the marks on the cut portion of the fencing wire. Also the climbing rope used by them and recovered from the perimeter wall, matched with the rope recovered from the Mahindra XUV vehicle.

A glove and a woolen cap, similar to those recovered from the terrorists, were recovered entangled in the wire fencing over the perimeter wall. Further there were marks of someone having climbed over a eucalyptus tree just outside the perimeter wall panel.

After getting inside the Air Force Station, the terrorists hid themselves inside the nallah and the dilapidated MES store sheds till the time they launched the assault. As per the forensic report, the shoe prints lifted from the nallah matched with the shoes of a terrorist.

Further, the NIA chargesheet explains the modus operandi of the terrorists saying they ''specifically targeted fuel tanks of the vehicles parked in the Motor Transport Section setting them on fire, causing severe damage to the vehicles and the buildings, so as to cause panic.'' During the operation carried out by the security forces including the NSG and Army, to flush out the terrorists, seven persons were martyred and 37 persons were injured.
India is transforming into a digital society. The judiciary must view this development most critically, but not cynically, warned Chief Justice of India Justice T.S. Thakur. He was inaugurating the 18th biennial state-level conference of judicial officers titled "Walking the extra mile for judicial excellence" held in Bengaluru on Monday.

"As we all know, India is going digital not only in day-to-day commercial transactions but in digitised infrastructure for governance too. The impetus to adopt digital payments will give rise to complex legal issues too. The country is witnessing a major shift from physical infrastructure to a digital infrastructure. A newly digitised India's vision is indispensable and we are part of this changing process."

"We should accept and learn digital technology -- from cloud computing to mobile applications. It is now possible to transact in a retail stores or avail government services by a click of the mouse or by swiping on the tab or smartphones. A digitised society would very soon need lawyers and judges who are capable of dealing with digital revolutions and legal dynamics of a changing digital world. We must view this development most critically not cynically," said Justice Thakur.

Admitting there were constraint, Justice Thakur said, "Slow justice is better than no justice at all. We need to work with these constraints. Delay in filling up vacancies in sanctioned posts, the delay in scaling up sanctioned strength and the increase in institutional cases have rendered the judicial infrastructure inadequate to deliver its constitutional mandate. But there is no reason to lose heart as we need to remain committed to the last man. Slow justice is better than no justice."

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, exhorted the judicial lawyers to do their bit in reducing the pendency of cases. He noted that Karnataka had a pendency of 16.24 lakh cases as on November 1, 2016, which included 91,540 government-related cases. The state which had only 201 courts in 1972, 459 in 1997, now has 1,300 courts.

"India has one of the best written Constitutions, but there are some hassles in its application and implementation. A harsh truth is also that the litigations are on the rise, and so are the pendency of cases in courts. The role of judicial officers is most sacrosanct. They can help reduce the number of cases appearing before the court. If lawyers can attend the courts punctually, use Lok Adalats for mutual settlement, they can save precious court time," said Siddaramaiah.



"Our government increased the budget allocation for the Department of Law and Justice from Rs 574 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 671 crore this year," added the chief minister.



Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister TB Jayachandra said, "Of the 1,300 courts that are sanctioned, 941 are functional. Over the last three years, 892 court buildings have been done and 220 judicial officers quarters have been built. All courts have been computerised and linked. We will fill up 4,334 posts of all cadres -- one fifth every year."
Of course, increasing capacity would not be easy. One caveat is that many of these industry groups have seen their capabilities atrophy after years of dismal performances in the face of cheap imports from China and other low-wage countries that produce cheaper goods. But these industries are much like muscles, atrophying in bad times but strengthening in good times. This is one of the key structural differences between the U.S. economy and the Chinese economy U.S. companies shut down when they are not profitable, whereas China pumps money into the system to preserve social stability at all costs, a large part of the reason the Chinese economy is currently struggling. Still, the loss of Chinese furniture and other imports would be disastrous for many U.S. consumers in the short to medium term. If China simply stopped exporting furniture and other commodities and goods to the U.S., there would be a painful adjustment period as consumers faced much higher costs for basic goods. But this is a study of relative vulnerability, and the key point here is that it would be painful if China cut off imports to the U.S., but it would not cripple the U.S. and could even spur domestic production in the long term. In China, losing U.S. consumers would result in industries failing. The Chinese government would then either have to keep them afloat or let them collapse. As the latter is not an option for China, the inherent problems of keeping industries afloat would place even further stress on a system reeling from decreased demand. Tires vs. Chickens The third key U.S. advantage in a potential trade spat with China is something weve been dancing around in this report but which we will now address directly: The U.S. is more resilient to tit-for-tat economic retaliation than China is. U.S. President Barack Obama is generally speaking as an internationalist, but he did break from some previous U.S. policies when it came to China. In September 2009, for example, in response to a petition by a union representing American tire workers, Obama slapped a 35 percent tariff on automobile and light-truck tires imported from China. Then, in July 2015, the U.S. International Trade Commission extended those duties on Chinese imports for a minimum of five years. China responded to Obamas move in 2009 a few days later by imposing its own tariffs on U.S. exports of chicken meat to China. However, the U.S. tariff has wounded China far more than the Chinese tariff has wounded the U.S.

The U.S. tariff has had a limited but measurable positive effect for domestic tire producers in the U.S. According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, the U.S. tire industry slightly increased its market share at the expense of foreign imports in 2015. Furthermore, passenger tire imports from China fell by over 50 percent during that same year. The flip side, however, is that the decrease in imported Chinese tires was not picked up by domestic U.S. production. Rather, it was picked up by other export-happy Asian countries like South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan, all of which saw their exports of tires to the U.S. double in value.

This is where there are severe limitations on what Trump can accomplish in trade policy. Trump could try to incentivize companies to return to the U.S. by imposing tariffs like the ones currently in place on tires, but there is a fleet of other countries eager to follow in Chinas footsteps as high-growth, low-wage economies. Trump may be able to impose some tariffs on China without congressional approval because of a WTO provision authorizing the president to raise tariffs upon receiving a substantiated complaint from a company or group that can prove it was negatively affected by a market disruption or a surge in imports from another country. While it may be possible for companies and industries to substantiate claims about China, it will be far more difficult to do so regarding other countries. Therefore, Trumps legal ability to impose such measures on other countries seeking to replace Chinese production is ambiguous at best. Geopolitical Futures has conducted a detailed study of these countries and has concluded that U.S. companies will have plenty of options should China become an untenable base of operations .

Partly (but not entirely) due to U.S. tariffs, Chinas tire industry is in shambles. According to Tire Industry Research, Chinas capacity utilization in the various tire segments industry has fallen to between 50 and 60 percent. Hundreds of tire factories have closed their doors, and Chinese tire makers are cutting prices to the bone just to stay competitive in the market. At the same time, the U.S. poultry industry has experienced no long-term ramifications due to the Chinese tariff. Various groups are lobbying the U.S. government to put pressure on China to remove the poultry tariffs, but chicken exports bounced back in 2011 and then almost doubled in value until an outbreak of avian flu put a damper on foreign sales in 2016. Overall, the value of poultry production in the U.S. increased, meaning Chinas retaliation for the tire tariffs was fairly ineffective. It is likely that future retaliatory measures would yield similar results: a short-term impact for the U.S. followed by a recovery.
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Inspectors in Israel on Thursday, 15 Kislev working with police uncovered another shipment of illegal eggs in Ras el-Amud. Border police monitoring entry into the capital inspected suspicious cartons in a warehouse. An 18-year-old PA (Palestinian Authority) resident of Hebron inside Israel proper illegally was detained.

The eggs were confiscated and destroyed.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Police spokesman via Media Resource Group)
[COMMUNICATED CONTENT]

Sara Leah is an adorable, smiling toddler. At one and a half years old, she loves to do the things that most babies do: play with toys, scribble with a crayon, explore her surroundings on little feet that have just discovered the miracle of walking About two weeks ago, instead of exploring in her familys makeshift apartment, she learned to explore the hallways of the hospital.

CLICK HERE to help this family

Sara Leah lives with her parents Peretz and Zelda R., and her three older siblings in a Jerusalem home that would not be considered average by any definition. The place they call home is actually just an underground storage room, and the family of six has gotten used to living in the shabby, cramped, freezing cold space, as this is the most they can afford.

To try and get an idea of what their home is like, see if you can picture the following: Zelda has no oven, so heats up whatever food she can in a toaster oven they received years ago. When the children want to see whats going on outside, they take turns looking out the one window that was hastily installed at some point. When the rain leaks in, Peretz does his best to creatively devise ways to keep it out. But despite his efforts, the frigid water gets through, drenching the floor and saturating the walls and ceiling. The mold is everywhere, and the result is a mildewy, dark, wet and arctic home in which to raise a family.

Even though the R. family has accepted their living quarters as livable they have never been acceptable by any means (the conditions would shock most people) and for Sara Leah the home is now life- threatening. Just two weeks ago she was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma (a cancer occurring most often in infants and young children) and any form of mold or germ is a lethal danger to this very sick child. The doctors made the startling diagnosis after a month of Sara Leahs recurring high fevers and other symptoms. Until that point Peretz and Zelda found themselves constantly dropping their other children off at their grandparents home at a moments notice, in order to rush Sara Leah to the hospital to get some care for their sick baby.

By the time the disease was detected, it had already spread to multiple locations throughout her little body, so five sessions of aggressive chemotherapy were scheduled to begin right away. Each round lasts 3 days, during which Peretz and Zelda take turns staying with Sara Leah in the hospital. This is in addition to the spontaneous hospitalizations and antibiotics she needs the minute her temperature rises above 100 degrees. A port was surgically inserted into her chest in order to administer medications. Zelda and Peretz themselves have become experts at doing this too, as they are required to give Sara Leah separate injections of antibiotics twice a week and an immune system booster.

One must try to imagine the chaos this situation has thrown the family into. Despite their ambitious efforts to support themselves (Zelda has a part time job and Peretz gets whatever work he can, including tutoring and washing the shul floors) the R. family was already severely struggling, financially. But now there is no home life at all, as it has turned into a whirlwind of appointments and hospitalizations. Neither parent has been able to go back to work. The living space, already run down, is in worse condition than ever. The older children rarely see their parents or baby sister. If they are lucky to get a day or two together, the minute someone coughs or sneezes, they must separate immediately.

CLICK HERE to help this family

Doctors do not know what Sara Leahs prognosis will be. They hope the chemotherapy treatments will attack the main mass of the cancer, and subsequent surgeries will remove the roots. They dont yet know if her bone marrow has been affected but if it were (G-d forbid), a transplant would be required.

This is a heartbreaking story on several levels so we are turning to you with a request for your urgent, generous help. Getting the R. family out of their terrible apartment is paramount, and though we have found an appropriate place for them to move to, we cant get them out until we raise the funds for moving expenses. With $10,000 we will cover costs of the move, the difference in monthly rental fees for a year, and basic appliances for the home. Their high transportation costs and last minute taxis to emergency hospital visits are overwhelming the family, so money raised will help with that, too. With your donation, we can take care of all of these, doing our best to save this childs life.

There is one more thing, an additional request: Please say a tefilla for the family of Zelda and Peretz, and of course, for sweet Sara Leah bat Zelda.

CLICK HERE to help this family

Milkas Fund, founded and managed by Yad Eliezer is a safe and secure way of donating money to help individuals with compassion and enable them to live a life with their problems solved.
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Israels United Hatzalah releases a message congratulating its International Committee member Mr. David Friedman on his recent appointment by President Elect Donald Trump to the position of US Ambassador to Israel.

Mr. Friedman is a close friend and supporter of the organization and has been an International Committee member for the past ten years. In addition to being a personal friend of United Hatzalahs President and Founder Eli Beer, Mr. Friedman is also a proud donor to the organization.

Beer stated Mr. Friedman is a close personal friend, and he and his wife Tammy are proud supporters of what we do. Bringing unity to the region through lifesaving is one of the goals of our organization, and it is something that Mr. Friedman values as well. Over the past ten years, he has shown that he recognizes the importance of saving lives in Israel and in providing quick treatment by highly trained medical responders. We wish him tremendous success in serving the government of the United States and President Elect Donald Trump and helping to build a stronger relationship between the United States and Israel.

Photo captions:

Mr. Friedman and his wife Tammy are pictured together with United Hatzalah Founder and President Eli Beer and his wife Gittel in Jerusalem during a recent United Hatzalah benefit concert.

CEO of United Hatzalah Moshe Teitelbaum is presenting Mr. Friedman with a special award on behalf of the organization during the concert.

United Hatzalah Founder and President Eli Beer is congratulating Mr. Friedman and thanking him for his support.

Mr. David Friedman standing next to Eli Beer at the bar mitzvah of Elis son Srulie Beer in Jerusalem, this past September.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: United Hatzalah)
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Police in Beit Shemesh continue to crack down on violence from the chareidi community, arresting two suspects in their homes during the night. They are suspected of taking part in protests in recent weeks.

Police operated in the Cheftziba neighborhood on Ben Ish Chai and HaYarden Streets, with regular police escorted by Yassam commandos. There were several encounters between police and residents, but no injuries were reported.

Last week, thirteen suspects were arrested in connection to unlawful protests outside the home of Kiryat Gat Chief Rabbi Moshe Havlin. Some of the suspects are residents of Beit Shemeshs chareidi community. http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/498684/court-orders-the-release-of-most-kiryat-gat-protestors-while-others-remain-behind-bars.html

It has since been learned that those released on bail by the court were barred from visiting Kiryat Malachi for 120 days. Each had to place a NIS 3,000 bond, which they would lose if the violate terms of their release.

Police are still searching for some suspects believed involved in attacks against chareidi IDF soldiers.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
In his motzei Shabbos shiur, HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz Shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim mentioned the governments planned eviction of the Shomron community of Amona, condemning the move.

Rav Mazuz stated one must protect Eretz Yisrael, not the opposition. He lamented the process began in Gush Katif, and we are now at Amona and next week it can as easily be Ofra or Beit El. If the Prime Minister does not stand firm, if he does not have a spine he must nevertheless be strong. There must be leadership.

The rav continued, speaking of those who paid with their lives, their status, and their position, reminding the tzibur there is one who is above and monitors it all. He sees it all and He is not surprised by anything.

He calls on the government for settling Eretz Yisrael instead of uprooting people, dismissing the left-wingers who feel they must champion the Arab cause, emphasizing Eretz Yisrael must be settled and not the opposite.

Rav Mazuz rejects asking the families to move another location on the hill until a new area is built, quoting Shulchan Aruch  that one may not destroy a shul until a replacement is constructed.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Supreme Muslim Council leader and former PA (Palestinian Authority) Grand Mufti Ekrima Said Sabri on Friday announced during a sermon in al-Aqsa that if US President Donald Trump moves the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as announced, it would be tantamount to a declaration of war on all Muslims, sending a clear warning to the US President-elect.

Trump, like others before him, have promised to move the embassy but in this case, such a move appears more likely, prompting the criticism and warnings from opponents to such a move.

Sabri warned that such a move would signal Americas recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish people while trampling the rights of Muslims as well as Islamic holy sites.

Sabri was ousted as Grand Mufti by PA leader Abu Mazen about a decade ago due his growing ties with Hamas.

Speaking to foreign journalists Friday, veteran senior PA official and chief negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat warned relocating the US Embassy would destroy any prospects for peace with Israel.

No one should take any decisions which may pre-empt or prejudge because this will be the destruction of the peace process as a whole, Erekat said.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
As each Cabinet announcement draws fresh criticism of the wealth, connections or opinions of Donald Trumps latest appointees, many Americans who voted for him say the president-elect is doing what he promised to do: draining the swamp.

And theyre excited.

To them, the idea of a defense secretary nicknamed Mad Dog is bliss. They rejoice in an energy secretary who once said he would eliminate the Department of Energy. And while some Trump supporters balk at ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillersons close ties with Russias Vladimir Putin, they say they will trust Trumps judgment about his secretary of state nominee.

These voters, who often echo Trumps own campaign statements, say the affluence of his Cabinet picks is an advantage, not a liability.

The guys hes putting in there, they dont need to do this. Theyre independently wealthy, said Trump voter Roger Mansfield, 67, a small business owner in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. They dont need any more money. The motivation is to make pragmatic, rational business decisions. What could be wrong about that?

The Associated Press interviewed Trump voters about his Cabinet picks and other postelection revelations, such as a CIA assessment that Russia interfered in the November election on Trumps behalf. Top Republicans in Congress have endorsed investigations into the Russian meddling, but the idea drew jeers from Shay Chamberlain, 37, of Menomonie, Wisconsin.

Thats kind of ridiculous, Chamberlain said. I tried to influence the elections, you know what I mean? I mean, we all did when we went on Facebook and put silly memes on there and tried to influence our friends to go one way or another.

Some Cabinet choices have been called into question for their lack of experience, their extraordinary wealth and their past relationships with the departments they are to lead. Much of the criticism has come from Democrats, but experts, past government officials and some Republicans have also raised doubts.

John Barnes, a 60-year-old Air Force retiree living in Albuquerque, said he liked that Trump was hiring outsiders and not local yokel knuckleheads.

In Sandy Hook, Kentucky, Wesley Lewis applauded Trumps decision to nominate three retired generals for top jobs: James Mad Dog Mattis to head the Pentagon, John Kelly for the Department of Homeland Security and Michael Flynn as national security adviser.

But Lewis, 67, said he is skeptical about Tillerson, who has opposed sanctions levied on Moscow, and about Trumps hope of improving relations with Russia.

I dont see that we need to have a buddy-buddy relationship with Russia or China or any of them. We need to remain strong, help where we can, Lewis said. Being buddies with Russia, thats only going to cause us problems.

On jobs, some Trump voters are celebrating.

Im tickled pink, man, said Jimmy McDonald, an assistant bank vice president, from Tazewell County, Virginia. Some laid-off miners in Appalachia have been called back to work, some shortly before Trump was elected. One factor was a recent spike in the price of metallurgical coal used to make steel. McDonald credits Trump.

More coals being brought out right now since the last 60 days actually, said McDonald, 57. Trump made that a major focus of his campaign in August, when he started talking about the coal miners, and the coal trains are running, man. And people are excited. Its just a different vibe in the air right now.

But Iraq War veteran and factory worker Rebecca Zbichorski, 28, of Milwaukee, said shes reevaluating Trumps rosy predictions.

His promising to bring all those jobs back? I think he over spoke on that a little bit. I dont feel confident on that, Zbichorski said. A skit on Saturday Night Live mocking an unemployed coal miner eagerly expecting Trump to get him back to work shifted her views, she said.

Some of those jobs are dying. She was swayed, too, by an Indiana union leader who criticized Trump for raising false hopes by inflating the number of jobs being saved at a Carrier Corp. factory in Indianapolis.

However, Jack Stauffenberg, a 65-year-old coal company superintendent from New Tripoli, Pennsylvania, said that Indiana union leader was off base, explaining that Trump talks in round numbers.

Look at the stock market, Stauffenberg said, referring to Wall Streets recent streak of records. That expresses the optimism of this country right now.

Americans sense that the country is being righted, and were kind of getting a new start, he added.

Eileen Barlow, a 56-year-old small business owner in Naperville, Illinois, welcomes charter school advocate Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Barlow favors vouchers for private education.

I dont like the indoctrination that goes on in the public schools. They teach the theory of evolution as truth, said Barlow, who has an infant grandson. If people want to send their kids to a Christian school, they should get help with that.

If they had their wishes, some Trump voters would tone him down on Twitter.

Zbichorski thinks Trump will need more tact and professionalism when he takes office, and she worries hell tweet an insult about a leader of another country and escalate international tensions. Right now, hes just being who he is. No filter, she said.

Chamberlain still wants to see Trumps Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, investigated.

He kind of almost promised the American people, If Im elected, shell pay. If Im elected, Ill hold her accountable. And then as soon as he won, it was kind of nicey-nice. You know Im not really going to go after her,' Chamberlain said.

Mansfield said he trusts Trump to act in the countrys best interests.

Do we have any choice? We have to trust him. Hes going to be our president. Wishing him to fail would be like getting on an airliner and hoping the two pilots dont know what theyre doing, he said. My gut says he will do the right thing.

(AP)
The British government says it doesnt need maverick anti-European politician Nigel Farage to be its go-between with the incoming Trump administration.

Senior figures in Prime Minister Theresa Mays government rejected the idea Sunday after Farage, former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, argued he would be ideal given his bond formed on the U.S. presidential campaign trail with Trump.

Farage told BBC radio: I can help to be a bridge between the government  and not just Donald Trump, but his team and his administration. I would like to do that.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox retorted Sunday that Britain has a perfectly good ambassador in Washington.

The U.S. president-elect met Farage last month at Trump Tower and tweeted that Farage would make an excellent ambassador to the United States.

(AP)
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump donated $10,000 for a Jewish settlement in the West Bank in 2003.

According to a tax filing, the Donald J. Trump Foundation made the donation to a U.S. nonprofit group that raises funds for the Beit El settlements seminary, a news organization affiliated with the settler movement and other activities in the settlement.

Trumps pick for ambassador to Israel, lawyer David Friedman, is the nonprofits president.

Beit El founder Yaakov Katz revealed Trumps donation to Israeli settler radio Sunday.

The Obama administration, like many before it, considers West Bank settlements obstacles to peace. The Palestinians seek the territory for a state.

But an adviser to Trump has said Trump does not see settlements as an impediment to peace.

Trumps transition team had no immediate comment.

In a recent interview for CBS News 60 Minutes, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, I know Donald Trump. I know him very well. And I think his attitude, his support for Israel is clear.

He feels very warmly about the Jewish state, about the Jewish people and about Jewish people, Netanyahu said. Theres no question about that.

(AP)
The worlds power address du jour is a sheath of soaring black glass on Fifth Avenue, at the entrance to which an officer in combat armor  his fingers on an assault rifle  took a moment the other day to tell a tourist where to find the citys best pizza.

A parade of technology tycoons bounded by, on their way to meet with the buildings developer and best-known resident, President-elect Donald Trump, a procession monitored in the lobby by a swarm of Secret Service agents, reporters and spectators that included one Kit Regone of Maryland.

Its befitting a king, the retired production manager said, standing behind a velvet rope and taking in all the pink marble, golden mirrors, gleaming escalators and ever-tinkling, four-story waterfall that define Trump Towers lobby.

The White House may be the nations time-honored symbol of power, but Trump is establishing his 58-story colossus at 725 Fifth Avenue as a stage for his new role, potentially nipping at Washingtons reputation as the center of American authority and the stature of its most famous address, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

On most days, crowds of tourists, rank-and-file New Yorkers and candidates seeking jobs with the new administration endure a maze of checkpoints, barricades and police command posts on the traffic-choked streets that bound Trump Tower.

Their soundtrack is less Hail to the Chief and more honking horns, wailing sirens and irritated pedestrians moaning, Are you kidding me?

Across the street from the president-elects entrance, behind more barricades between 56th and 57th streets, are a phalanx of television news cameras, all of them trained on the T-R-U-M-P T-O-W-E-R spelled out not once but twice above the revolving doors.

On the afternoon of his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump is expected to move into the White House. But he has said he still plans to spend time in New York, where his wife, Melania, and 10 year-old son, Barron, will remain at Trump Tower, at least until the end of the school year.

How often Trump will be in New York is a looming question, but the president-elect is as famous for defying convention as he is for adoring his gold- and diamond-laden triplex high above Manhattan.

Roger Stone, a longtime Trump adviser, said the president-elect called after his post-election visit to the White House and pronounced himself very impressed with his new residence, where the living quarters are some 10,000 square feet smaller than his current home.

He kept telling me how beautiful it was and how much he liked the architecture, Stone said.

At the same time, Stone described his Queens-born friend as the quintessential New Yorker, a homebody who likes to sleep in his own bed. Like all presidents, Stone said, I expect he wont be at the White House all the time. Instead of bailing out for Camp David, he can come to New York on the weekends.

Protecting Trump during his transition is costing New York taxpayers upward of $500,000 a day, a price that has triggered no small amount of outrage from Mayor Bill de Blasio and prompted one city lawmaker to politely urge the president-elect to decamp to another one of his properties, perhaps in Florida.

An overwhelming majority of New York City voters rejected Trumps candidacy, and many grouse at the prospect of their city becoming his presidential backdrop. But Cindy Adams, a New York Post gossip columnist and longtime Trump friend, said she would understand if he preferred his home town to Washington, which she dismissed as overpopulated by fashion-challenged lawmakers who wear plastic shoes with rubber soles.

The White House is smaller than where hes used to living, Adams said. He doesnt even have a proper ballroom there. You get 11 people into the Red Room and its crowded.

Trumps choices in real estate could test whether Washingtons pre-eminence in the countrys political order depends on where the president spends his weekends  or weekdays for that matter. Yet the citys stature is not defined only by the White House, but also by the Capitol, Supreme Court and the myriad federal agencies located there.

All the mechanics of government will remain in Washington, said Tammy Haddad, a D.C.-based media consultant steeped in the citys tribal customs. And around the world, going to the White House is something every world leader wants. Thats not going to change.

Yet, Haddad acknowledged one immediate difference wrought by Trumps New York-based transition. After previous elections, Cafe Milano in Georgetown was the place where Washington insiders could spy who was dining with whom and decode who was up for a Cabinet post.

Now, she said, the terrain fomenting speculation is the lobby of Trump Tower, which in recent days has hosted an ungainly mass of visitors including Microsoft founder Bill Gates, musician Kanye West, British politician Nigel Farage and an unidentified man who performed a perfect back flip.

Is that Mike Pence? asked Susan McKenzie, a tourist from Pennsylvania, motioning as she stood in the lobby toward a man who was in fact Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.

A few feet away, Joe Lepore, 57, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, said he was hoping to deliver to the president-elect a Christmas card and a photograph of himself fist-bumping with Trump 16 months earlier outside a New York courthouse.

As much as he likes having Trump at Trump Tower, a building he believes should be officially designated White House North, Lepore said tradition dictates that the president belongs in Washington.

Id like to see him Trump up the White House, put his name on top of the building, he said. I want to see him trick the whole thing out.

As challenging as it may seem to imagine, the White House can feel like a studio apartment to its famous occupants, even with 18 acres, 132 rooms and 31 bathrooms. A gilded cage is how President Ronald Reagan described the residence first occupied in 1800 by President John Adams.

Reagan liked to escape to his ranch in Santa Barbara, California, while President John F. Kennedy preferred Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and Richard Nixon retreated to Key Biscayne, Florida. Key West, Florida, was where Harry Truman spent the winters. George W. Bushs getaway was a one-story ranch on 1,600 acres in Crawford, Texas.

No president has made his weekend White House a Manhattan penthouse, a choice that may seem to challenge Trumps everyman bona fides.

When a so-called populist moves the White House to Fifth Avenue, you have to say, Whats going on here?  said Stephen Hess, a Brookings Institution scholar who was an adviser to Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. I dont think Trump is trying to make a point. Hes just trying to get home  and his home happens to be a lot bigger and grander than the one the government is letting him live in.

Trump Tower includes a bar (Trump Bar), a restaurant (Trump Grill), and a store (Trump Gift Shop), which sells items such as Success by Trump, a fragrance that captures the scent of the driven man, according to the Trump Organization website.

Under an agreement with the city, Trump Towers lobby is accessible to the public from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., a fact that allows spectators an elevator-side perch to watch whos visiting the president-elect.

Is anybody famous going to come out of the elevator? asked Leandra Estrada, 39, an occupational therapist visiting from Texas, as she stood in the lobby last week.

That she was even allowed to stand there, Estrada said, proved that Trump is with the people.

Her son, Mike, 22, nodded: I see him on TV  he comes down, he walks around. Its more relaxed.

Hes the president of the people, Leandra said.

Trump has lived in his tower since he built it in the early 1980s, a project that ruffled preservationists who regarded it as the architectural equivalent of a gaudy stretch limousine parked alongside the avenues more refined Bentleys and Rolls-Royces.

Trump celebrated his buildings extravagance, gave tours of his Versailles-themed penthouse and touted sales of condominiums to stars such as Michael Jackson.

More than three decades later, New Yorks luxury market is dominated by newer, more expensive real estate, leaving Trump Tower as a bit of a tired throwback, said Gabby Warshawer, a data analyst for CityRealty, a real estate group.

While the average price of Manhattan condos rose 19 percent this year, she said, the cost of Trump Tower apartments were relatively stagnant. Of the eight condos that sold in the building this year, six had price cuts of between 5 and 33 percent.

Its still considered a luxury condo, Warshawer said. However, there are quite a lot more that command higher prices.

If the bedlam accompanying Trumps life as president threatens to make his building less attractive to buyers, one real estate agent recently tried a new pitch, touting the Secret Service presence as an amenity and calling the property Manhattans most secure.

The four police officers in front of the towers entrance on Wednesday, each of them in helmets and swathed in body armor, seemed like sufficient evidence to back up that claim.

The officers main focus at that moment was the performer known as the Naked Cowboy, who had just arrived to pose for photos in his cowboy hat, white boots and underwear, on the back of which was written T-R-U-M-P.

Thats my mother, Barbara Plott of Alabama said as she photographed the cowboy hoisting an older woman in the air.

Across the street, behind another set of metal barricades, Paul Rossen, 54, was selling Dump Trump buttons, which he said were making him more money than the anti-Trump We Shall Overcomb bumper stickers he peddled last year.

For all his antipathy toward Trump, Rossen said he wouldnt mind if the countrys new leader is in New York as often as possible. Its good for business, and I like money, he said. Its expensive to live here, you know.

(c) 2016, The Washington Post  Paul Schwartzman
While Election Day happened 40 days ago, it didn't mean the end of the election. Tomorrow though, finally, the 2016 presidential will (probably) be over after the Electoral College convenes and (probably) declares Donald Trump president of the United States. Probably.

There are 538 electors totalsome of them are politicians, some of them are people close to the candidates (like Bill Clinton, who's a New York elector this year), and at least one of them is a teenager. They'll convene in their respective states on Monday and cast two votes: one for president, and one for vice president.

It's likely that Trump, who lost the popular vote by over two million votes but won 30 states and a projected 306 electoral votes, will get the 270 votes he needs to officially become our next president. But, as the Times explains, there are a few unlikely scenarios that could prevent Trump from taking office: electors aren't constitutionally bound to vote a certain way and can choose to become "faithless" electors and vote against their state's popular vote result. These faithless electors could face fines or disqualification, but the consequences of voting against Trump in a red state aren't clear since almost every elector has voted with their state's results in past elections.

At least one elector, the aforementioned teenager from Washington state, announced that she would vote against her state's chosen candidatebut since Clinton won Washington, the teen elector will instead vote for an "alternative Republican" to prevent Trump from taking office. Four Colorado electors have promised to do the same thing.

Electors in states that went red are also being called on to vote against Trump. This week, celebrities including Martin Sheen, Debra Messing, and Richard Schiff issued a plea to Republican electors to vote for a qualified alternative to Donald Trump.

"By voting your conscience, you and other brave Republican electors can give the House of Representatives the option to elect a qualified candidate for the presidency," they said. According to Politico reporter Kyle Cheney, some electors have begun receiving personalized video messages urging them to vote against Trump.

However, no one knows exactly how many faithless electors there will be tomorrowestimates range from one to 25. So far, Texas GOP party operative Chris Suprun is the only Republican elector to go public with his plan to vote for someone other than Trump.

Carole Joyce, 72-year-old a Republican elector from Arizona, told the Washington Post that she received a deluge of emails, phone calls, and physical mail from thousands of voters, begging her to vote against Trump. Joyce, a Trump supporter, admitted that the letters had an impact. "I've seen enough funerals, I'm tired of hearing bagpipes," she said. "But I signed a loyalty pledge, and that matters."

Lawrence Lessig, a Harvard Law professor working with a group called Electors Trust that offers free legal support to electors, told reporters that his group has spent $20,000 on security for its attorneys because of threats. Suprun, the sole Republican elector who has publicly said he won't be voting for Trump, has allegedly received death threats as well.

If enough Republican electors vote against Trump, a few things can happenthey could swing the vote to Clinton, or they could prevent either candidate for hitting the necessary 270-vote threshold. The first scenario is incredibly unlikely38 Republican electors would have to vote both against Trump and for Clinton, and all of the Democratic electors would have to vote for her as well. But if 37 electors defect and vote for another Republican, like many voters are calling for them to do, the House is tasked with choosing our next president. Whichever candidate wins 26 or more states is elected president. Thirty-three state delegations are currently under Republican control, so the vote would likely swing to Trump.

But if neither candidate receives the necessary number of House votes by January 20th, 2017, the new vice president becomes the acting president. If the House doesn't choose a winner, the a new vice president is selected by the Senate. If the Senate is unable to choose a vice president, Joe Biden casts the deciding vote.

Speaking of vice presidents, Biden is expected to preside over the electoral vote count and will declare the winner (if there is one). He'll also ask if there are any objections, which would allow lawmakers to challenge both individual electoral votes or state results as a whole, and these objections must be made in writing and signed by at least one member of the House and one member of the Senatemeaning that any elector who votes against their state could have their vote thrown out by Congress.

So the election may end tomorrow, or it may drag on forever (or at most for another month). At this point, we can't tell you which would be worse.
Republican Sen. John McCain called Sunday for a congressional inquiry into allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election, but a top adviser to President-elect Donald Trump said theres no public consensus among intelligence agencies over Moscows role.

McCain told CNN that Democratic President Barack Obama has no strategy for dealing with Russian cyber attacks. We need a select committee. We need to get to the bottom of this, and we need to find out exactly what was done and what the implications of the attacks were, especially if they had an effect on our election.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., also called on Sunday for a special Senate investigation. Schumer and McCain were among four senior senators who issued a bipartisan statement a week ago warning that our democratic institutions have been targeted.

While U.S. intelligence officials have reportedly determined that Russian president Vladimir Putin directed the hack in an effort to buoy the Republican Trumps candidacy, the president-elect has played this down by arguing that no one knows who was behind the leak of emails from senior staffers on Democrat Hillary Clintons election campaign and from the Democratic National Committee.

Reince Priebus, whom Trump has named White House chief of staff, dismissed reports that the intelligence community had concluded that Russia was the culprit, arguing that the chiefs of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the director of national intelligence, had yet to publicly state where they stood.

These guys should be straight with the American people and come out and say it. I dont think theyve been clear about it. I think its been all over the map, Priebus told Fox News Sunday. He was asked to comment on news reports that CIA Director John Brennan had informed intelligence insiders that Brennan, FBI Director James Comey, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper were in agreement. We havent heard from Clapper. We havent heard from Comey, Preibus said.

The issue is registering with the public. A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll finds more than half of Americans say they are significantly bothered by the news that hackers working in connection with a foreign government were involved in trying to influence Novembers vote. Forty-three percent of respondents say they are bothered a great deal about the interference, while an additional 12 percent were bothered quite a bit.

Those numbers mask a notable partisan divide: a combined 86 percent of Democrats are bothered a great deal or quite a bit by the interference, versus just 29 percent of Republican respondents.

James Woolsey, a Trump national security adviser who served as CIA director under President Bill Clinton, said on ABCs This Week that theres strong chance the Russians are behind it. Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who has served presidents of both political parties, told NBC the hacks were a thinly disguised, covert operation to discredit the American election and to basically allow the Russians to communicate to the rest of the world that our elections are corrupt.

But Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota told Fox News it remains to be seen what exactly motivated the attacks, and its a little bit premature to start coming to conclusions about what the U.S. should do next.

Priebus said the debate over Russias role in the election was a distraction.

Lets assume its true. There is no evidence that shows the outcome of the election was changed because of a couple of dozen John Podesta emails that were out there, he said. Priebus was referring to hacked emails of Clintons campaign chairman, which actually numbered in the tens of thousands and were released over a series of several weeks leading up to the election. People didnt like the product. Thats why Hillary Clinton lost.

(c) 2016, Bloomberg  Jeanna Smialek


Using its party-affiliated newspaper to get the news out, Yated Neeman on Monday 19 Kislev reports Degel Hatorah is onboard, joining the battle in Arad, backing the Gerre community.

YWN-ISRAEL reported that Belz is also on board, as the Agudas Yisrael-affiliated Hamodia daily announced other chassidic court are on board as well. Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, who is affiliated with Gur, has spearheaded the battle to bring all chareidim on board against Arad City Hall and its Yesh Atid party mayor.

However, Degel explains There is a difference between supporting a cause and getting out into the streets and protesting, which party leaders have already indicated will only occur if and when ordered to do so by Gedolei Yisrael Shlita. Degel condemns the attack on a shul in Arad two weeks ago by secularists who entered and began screaming and disturbing tefilos, but draws its line with joining protests that are scheduled in a number of cities around Israel for this week.

Yated does add the chareidim stand united and when mayors in cities including Arad realize this, realize the political force behind such a unified body, They will without a doubt think twice before trying to deprive them (chareidim) of that which they are legitimately entitled to.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Chinas leaders are biting their tongues as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump uses Twitter to rattle relations between the worlds biggest economies.

Trump lashed out at China over the weekend, saying it stole an underwater drone from the U.S. Navy in an unprecedented act. Beijings response was muted. The state-run China Dailys English-language edition warned Monday that Trumps inexperience in diplomacy might lead to confrontations between the two nations, while the Communist Party-affiliated Global Times mocked his demeanor as lagging far behind the White House spokespersons.

China has so far practiced restraint at Trumps provocations as hes yet to enter the White House, the Global Times said. But this attitude wont last too long after he officially becomes the U.S. president, were he still to treat China in the manner he tweeted today.

For all the noise from Trumps Twitter account and elements of the Chinese press, Beijing appears to be holding its fire at least until after he takes office next month. That means prolonging the stance of strategic composure articulated after Trump questioned the U.S.s policy of diplomatically recognizing Beijing instead of Taiwan.

Beijing will strike back firmly if Trump as president openly challenges Chinas core interests like Taiwan, Tibet, the South China Sea and the East China Sea, said Shi Yinhong, director of the Center on American Studies at Renmin University in Beijing and an adviser to Chinas State Council, the Cabinet. Options include recalling the ambassador, stopping international cooperation, fighting a trade war  even severing diplomatic ties.

So far, China has adopted a cautious, measured approach of wait and see, Shi said. The government is still closely observing what Trump is up to and in the process of forming a clear view on his possible policy. This approach will likely continue into his presidency for the first couple of months.

The fallout from worsening ties threatens a two-way trade relationship that reached $627 billion in 2015, more than U.S.s combined commerce with Japan, the U.K. and Germany. While some policy makers in Beijing initially hoped that Trump would bring a more pragmatic approach, that view is quickly fading.

In an editorial last week after Trump questioned the One-China policy, the Global Times warned: We shall harbor no illusions, and get ready to wrist-fight with Trump. Foreign Minister Wang Yi, without mentioning Trumps name, said that whoever tries to destroy Chinas core interests would shoot themselves in the foot.

President Barack Obama used one of his final press conferences in office to underscore the need for a comprehensive plan if Trump wants to upend decades of U.S. policy toward China, particularly regarding Taiwan, which Beijing views as its territory. Chinas reaction, Obama said, could end up being very significant.

That doesnt mean that you have to adhere to everything thats been done in the past, Obama said on Friday. It does mean that youve got to think it through and have planned for potential reactions that they may engage in.

Trumps reaction to the drone incident raises questions about whether thats the case. He deleted his first tweet after writing unpresidented rather than unprecedented. Later, after tensions appeared to have been diffused, Trump sent another tweet: We should tell China that we dont want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it!

Such a response would deprive the U.S. of the ability to assess what information China sought to obtain while analyzing the drone after it was seized, according to Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra.

It just shows that Trump hasnt thought out his policy before he tweets it, Davis said. The risk is that he is going to confront China to the point where it is destabilizing.

The drone incident showed how quickly tensions between the nations could escalate, particularly as China challenges U.S. naval supremacy in Asia.

The Pentagon said a Chinese vessel unlawfully seized the small unmanned vehicle Thursday while the USNS Bowditch was collecting it in a routine operation 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines. Some reports, including Fox News, said it was a Slocum Glider.

China said it picked up the drone for safety reasons, while blaming the U.S.s surveillance activities for hurting ties.

Under Trump, China-U.S. conflicts in the South China Sea are likely to ratchet up or even deepen, with unpredictable incidents like the Bowditch episode to occur from time to time, Li Jie, a senior researcher at the Chinese Naval Research Institute in Beijing.

The overseas edition of the Peoples Daily, the Communist Partys flagship newspaper, said on its WeChat social media account Saturday night that Chinas capture of the drone was legal because it was conducting military operations in sensitive waters and rules about drone activities are ambiguous.

This is a gray area, the article said. If the U.S. military can send the drone over, China can certainly seize it.

On Monday, the newspaper said that the frequency of U.S. surveillance activities in the South China Sea indicates suspicion or hostility toward China.

Although the U.S. side tried to make light of those underwater drones, itd be difficult to hide the real intention behind them, the newspaper said in a front-page commentary.

While the motive for the seizure remains unclear, its a concern no matter whether it was ordered from Beijing or the act of a rogue captain, according to Michael Mazza, research fellow in foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

To me all of these various explanations are troubling, he said. If we do learn it was one ship acting on its own thats not cause for a sigh of relief.

(c) 2016, Bloomberg  Ting Shi, Nick Wadhams, David Tweed
Nearly half of all landlords plan to ditch letting agents if their profits fall when tax relief is cut back next year, a new survey suggests.

The poll of UK landlords conducted by the National Landlords Association found that nearly half (47 per cent) are prepared to ditch their current letting agents next year when they begin to see tax relief wound back by the government.

The removal of tax relief on mortgage interest over the next four years has been widely tipped to wreak havoc on landlords' profits, with many warning they will have to hike rents to cover their increasing costs or even sell up altogether.

Some 26 per cent of landlords who use letting agents to manage all of their properties would cut them loose in the face of diminishing profits

Now the NLA claims that 26 per cent of landlords - those who use letting agents to manage all of their properties - would cut them loose in the face of diminishing profits.

A further fifth of all landlords (21 per cent) - those who use agents on a let-only basis for all their properties - would also ditch them. A third (36 per cent) of landlords would retain the services of their agent even if their profits were compromised.

The survey results will come as a further blow to lettings agents who already face a drop in their income after the Chancellor of the Exchequer banned tenancy fees in last month's Autumn Statement.

At the time, landlord associations reacted with a knee-jerk warning that agents would shift the cost of fees to landlords which would then have to be passed on to tenants in the form of higher rents.

But This is Money took a contrary view, suggesting that landlords had more buying power than they feared and could sack expensive letting agents in favour of cheaper online competitors offering similar services.

Richard Lambert, chief executive at the NLA, said: 'Landlords should already be looking ahead to the forthcoming tax changes and working out how they will be able to maintain profitability. That will intensify with the prospect of agents fees increasing as a result of the ban on charging tenants.'

He warned against abandoning letting agents altogether however, adding: 'While it may seem an appealing proposition to minimise your outgoings, the majority of landlords simply wont have the resources to deliver a service that meets the standards or professionalism that their agent currently provides.'

Overall, 57 per cent of landlords  approximately 1.1 million of them  employ the services of a letting agent, with 36 per cent regular users, and 21 per cent occasional users.

Regionally, more landlords in Scotland say they would ditch their agent if their profits were compromised (56 per cent) than anywhere else in the UK.

In contrast, just one in three landlords in the West Midlands would forego their agent  the lowest across the UK.

Richard Price, executive director of the UK Association of Letting Agents, said: 'A significant number of landlords will be hit hard by the tax changes and agents fees will be one of the items underneath the magnifying glass if profits begin to decrease.

'As landlords costs inevitably rise, agents will need to do more to position themselves as indispensable, and make it obvious that they provide solid value for money. Otherwise, as future tenancies come to an end, landlords will either shop around or start to consider self-managing their properties.'

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond banned extortionate tenancy fees in last month's Autumn Statement

Traditional letting agencies typically charge tenants 337 in fees to let a home, according to Citizens Advice.

One in seven have paid more than 500, according to the housing charity Shelter.

Yet, while letting agents face costs for references and checks, some have been accused of ramping up these substantially when passing them on to tenants. Credit checks, for example, can cost as little as 3 but many letting agents charge tenants in excess of 50 for them.

In other instances, tenants can be charged for admin work, such as tenancy renewals and inventories, when these should be covered by the letting and management fees already being charged to landlords.

Jeremy Leaf, a north London estate agent and former Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors residential chairman, has warned in the past that letting agents could find it hard to pass costs on to landlords.

The problem with fees charged by letting agents to tenants is that landlords have a choice as to which agent they use whereas tenants generally dont,' he said.

'Landlords can go to another agent so the agents will have to absorb the cost and get it from somewhere else.'

Landlords are seeing a raft of new measures that are likely to make investments less profitable for many.

In April they were slapped with a 3 per cent stamp duty surcharge.

And from next April they will start to lose tax relief on buy-to-let mortgages, which will fall from a maximum of 45 per cent over the next four years and be replaced with a flat rate 20 per cent tax credit, which will hammer profits for those who own buy-to-let properties in their own name.
The gentle handling of Christine Lagarde, from the moment it became clear that she would be required to stand trial in France over her role in a controversial award of 340million to the businessman Bernard Tapie, has been disgraceful.

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund needs to be seen as above reproach.

The role includes imposing tough fiscal conditions on states in parts of the world, such as Ukraine, where corruption is endemic.

Lagarde, the former French finance minister, has been found guilty of 'negligence by a person in a position of public authority' by the Court of Justice of the Republic.

Tainted: Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, needs to be seen as above reproach

That the court decided she should not be punished is bizarre but makes her no less culpable.

What is really unacceptable is that global finance ministers led by the then chancellor George Osborne were so quick to approve her election to another five-year term as the head of the world's leading financial institution as recently as February this year when she had the shadow of prosecution hanging over her head.

Once it became clear she was going to stand trial, she should have stood aside until the trial was over.

Lagarde's discomfort makes it a double for French bosses of the IMF. Her predecessor Dominique Strauss-Kahn was forced from office after being accused of sexual assault at a New York hotel, although charges were dropped.

The job of IMF managing director is much sought after, and in the decades since its creation at Bretton Woods in 1944, France has been a dominant occupier of the office.

It is almost certainly time for an Anglo-Saxon candidate should the top job fall vacant. Britain is not short of possible choices, including the past governor of the Bank of England Lord King and the current Bank incumbent Mark Carney.

One supposes that Osborne might think he is in with a chance. Gordon Brown, who spent a long period as chairman of the Fund's main policy committee, may have missed his opportunity.

The US, as the biggest shareholder, has a big say, and so now do the Chinese. The job of IMF managing director until now has always been held by Europeans.

One cannot imagine that after the Brexit vote our unforgiving European Union partners will be rushing to the support of a British candidate.

Mad Men

The timing of the US Department of Justice anti-trust probe at Britain's WPP and other big advertising agencies could not be worse for marketing maestro Sir Martin Sorrell. It is around this time of year that he is limbering up in his role as global expert on the digital world and economy ahead of Davos.

Corporations who find themselves on the wrong side of the DoJ will testify such investigations should never be taken lightly.

There is always the possibility of criminal prosecution if the allegations stand up. At the moment there is no reason to think this is any more than a fishing expedition.

But if you are a client of WPP and other agencies under scrutiny  Interpublic, Omnicom and Publicis  you might be wondering if the firms in which you put your trust might be ripping you off.

The current inquiry is focused on production and post-production facilities. Big customers of the agencies might expect their chosen creative teams to put the work out to tender among independent production firms and get the best deal. The suggestion is that an amazing amount ends up being done in-house.

Distortion of the production market may be the tip of an iceberg of conflicts. A report by brands responsible for commissioning 200billion of advertising found earlier this year that there was almost non-existent transparency on how the big agencies were placing their digital ads (the fastest growing segment of the market) and television commercial spots. Some agencies were found to be engaged in other dodgy practices including hanging on to rebates that should have been disbursed to clients.

Branded-goods corporations such as Proctor & Gamble are so exasperated by the 'black box' approach of the big creative agencies that they are seeking to circumvent them by carving out their own advertising deals with the Silicon Valley giants.

WPP has been an enormous success story for Britain and also allowed Sorrell to become very rich.

Last year alone he collected a pay packet of 70million. In the process of building WPP, Sorrell adds dozens of acquisitions each year, many of them aimed at harvesting the digital channel. Until now no regulator has taken a look under the bonnet.

Goodness knows that they will find.

Foreign ventures

Anyone who had doubts about the suitability of picking ExxonMobil oil executive Rex Tillerson to be the US Secretary of State should just look at BP's latest deals.

It has handed the oil-rich sheikhdom of Abu Dhabi a 2 per cent stake in the company, worth 1.76billion, in exchange for reviving a stalled deal for extracting onshore crude.

Previously, an accord had looked in danger because of differences over Middle-East policy. The deal follows the UK group's purchase of a share in the Zohr offshore gas field in Egypt and the purchase of a 62 per cent stake in exploration stakes in Mauritania.
A last ditch rescue of Monte dei Paschi has been thrown into doubt as attempts by the world's oldest bank to win over a key backer and raise money through a share sale look to be struggling.

The bank is racing to raise 4.2billion (5billion) by the end of the year and avoid a state bailout.

But markets have been shaken by fresh reports that an Italian bank bailout fund has cast doubt on buying 1.5billion of bad loans from the lender - making it difficult for Monte dei Paschi to hit the year end deadline.

The world's oldest bank Monte dei Paschi is racing to raise 4bn (5bn) in less than two weeks to avoid nationalisation

It is understood the Quaestio Capital Management fund named Atlante had expressed 'deep reservations' in a letter over the terms of a bridge loan that Monte dei Paschi had secured as part of the sale of bad loans.

Monte dei Paschi said in a statement: 'If issues raised by Atlante's cannot be solved, the operation could not be concluded by December 31, 2016 as requested by the European Central Bank.'

The warning has sent shares in the bank tumbling 9 per cent at a time when the bank is simultaneously trying to sell stock to new investors.

The bank was hoping the share sale would raise up to 3.2billion by Thursday, but analysts say this is now highly unlikely as the bank's rescue plans have become farcical.

ON THE BRINK 78billion has been wiped off the Italian stock market in a year

Its banks are weighed down by 300billion of bad debt

Unemployment has doubled to nearly 12 per cent since 2008

Troubled lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena has lost 83 per cent of its value this year

The economy will not return to pre-crisis levels until the mid-2020s, according to the IMF

Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior market analyst at London Capital Group, said: 'The recap plan has raised some issues, including restrictions on bank's ability to raise private funds.

'It is a complex deal and we are running out of time! Given the timeline, investors are impatient to see a deal sealed, otherwise the selling could accelerate!'

Craig Erlam, analyst at Oanda, added: 'This is a stark reminder that this is in no way a straightforward process.

'Shares rallied last week on hopes that a solution can be reached but today Atlante has thrown another spanner in the works.

'Time is running out for Monte dei Paschi now and its not clear whether the struggling bank will be able to avoid a government bailout.'

The European Central Bank has shown no mercy for Monte Paschi when it comes to extending the deadline to boost their capital and the ECB is not willing to wait until January.

Should the share sale fail and Atlante pull out then the Italian Government has said it is ready to step in to rescue the country's third-largest bank.

Chaos in Italy's banking system was triggered by the country's referendum on constitutional reform which prompted the resignation of the Prime Minister Matteo Renzi earlier this month.

New Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said his Government was prepared to come to the aid of Monte dei Paschi if necessary.

Last week he said in a statement: 'The government is ready to intervene to guarantee the stability of the (banking) institutions.

'We have to guarantee the stability of the banks and citizens' savings.'

Under new rules Europe introduced in the wake of the financial crisis to shield taxpayers, investors in a failing lender must bear losses before public money can be tapped.

This session bank shares across Europe have fallen lower as investor nerves build about the future of Monte dei Paschi.
BP has bought stakes in exploration areas off the coast of Mauritania and Senegal

BP has accrued vast oil and gas reserves in a 2.4billion spree in Abu Dhabi and west Africa.

It bought stakes in exploration areas off the coast of Mauritania and Senegal days after increasing its stake in Abu Dhabis oil output.

The firm is taking a 62 per cent working interest in Kosmos Energys gas exploration blocks in Mauritania and 32.49 per cent in Senegal.

BP said the agreements covered 33,000 sq km, with a potential of more than one billion barrels, and it plans to invest more than $1billion to develop and explore the fields.

Chief executive Bob Dudley said the areas were an emerging world-class hydrocarbon basin, and it hoped to help create a liquefied natural gas hub.

On Friday, BP took a 10 per cent share in the Abu Dhabi Company For Onshore Oil, while the Gulf state took a 2 per cent stake in BP worth almost 2billion.
Brussels stands accused of deliberately delaying a Brexit deal in an effort to force firms out of the City of London.

EU negotiators are insisting they will not look at doing a transitional deal before other terms of the divorce settlement are agreed.

The tactic is designed to increase pressure on the government to cave in to their demands to pay a massive 60billion severance package.

Financial firms have been warning that the clock is ticking for them to activate plans to relocate jobs and offices to the continent.

Ministers have been told companies need assurances about Brexit terms by next year, or they will start taking decisions to move from the City of London (pictured)

Ministers have been told companies need assurances that they will still be able to do business in the EU by next year, or they will start taking decisions to move.

Japanese banks used a meeting with government officials earlier this month to threaten to move some operations out of London within six months unless Theresa May reveals more details of her Brexit plan.

Executives from banks including Nomura and Daiwa Capital Markets - which employ thousands of people in the UK - gave the ultimatum on December 1.

Anthony Browne, head of the British Bankers' Association, said in October: 'The hands are quivering over the relocate button. Many smaller banks plan to start relocations before Christmas; bigger banks are expected to start in the first quarter of next year.'

Former Chancellor George Osborne waded into the row over a potential exodus over the weekend, saying abandoning the single market would be the biggest act of protectionism in British history.

But he suggested that jobs would be more likely to go across the Atlantic rather than to the continent.

'In my view they would go to New York if we get this wrong,' Mr Osborne said.

Chancellor Philip Hammond has been leading calls for a transitional deal after we formally leave the EU that would effectively give the UK a 'soft landing'.

The proposal could include negotiating a period of several years after our membership is officially terminated when we would still pay for full access to the single market.

That would guarantee the continuation of so-called 'passporting' rules - which mean firms registered in the UK can sell products and services throughout the EU.

Mr Hammond suggested recently that he wanted to secure interim terms 'early on in the negotiations' to give banks certainty.

However, senior EU diplomats told the Financial Times they will not strike a deal to avoid a 'cliff edge' in March 2019 until after the Brexit bill and reciprocal arrangements on citizens' rights are settled.

Chancellor Philip Hammond has been leading calls for a transitional deal after we formally leave the EU that would effectively give the UK a 'soft landing'

There is a 'cold calculation' that delay will force the hand of companies to reduce their ties to London, according to the newspaper.

'Companies need legal certainty,' one senior EU diplomat said. 'The moves will happen. Banks will begin to make arrangements.'

Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg told MailOnline that some in the EU negotiating team - led by Michel Barner - were prepared to harm their own interests in order to spite the UK.

He said the government had to 'assume' that Brussels would be 'very tough' in the negotiations, and should plan on returning to minimal trading terms.

But the Treasury Committee member said that need not cause huge damage to the services sector and said firms would soon 'calm down' about the prospects.

'There are clearly some people within the European Commission who would rather bring the economy down on their heads rather than have have a sensible deal,' Mr Rees-Mogg said.

'We have got to assume they will be very tough and difficult negotiators.'
The Morbid Anatomy MuseumNew York City's macabre hub for squirrel taxidermy classes, unwaveringly fascinated with deathhas closed after two-and-a-half years.

Museum Board member Tonya Hurley confirmed the news in a Facebook post Sunday night. "A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us in this endeavor," she wrote. "We are extremely proud of the groundbreaking work we've done and the incredible community we were so privileged to serve."

A small, jet-black museum in a former Gowanus nightclub on 4th Avenue, Morbid Anatomy was an ode to the occult. Founder Joanna Ebenstein hosted regular lectures on death as it intersects with science, religion, psychology, and history. (In November, "Psychedelics and Death." Earlier this month, a lecture titled, simply, "How to feel about death.") There was the annual Krampus party for the holidays, and (perhaps?) the only flea market in NYC stocked with cat skulls and memento mori jewelry.

I interviewed Ebenstein for The Awl in April 2014, before the museum's doors had opened. At the time, she described what she loves about taxidermy. "When I started collecting, I found myself saying out loud, 'This really adds some life to the room!'" she recalled. "I can see how that might sound crazy. After all, these things are dead. But over the years I've realized that objects can flicker on edges  repulsive and attractive, spiritual and clinical, dead and alive. I am definitely attracted to that flickering."

The news didn't come without warning. On December 6th, the museum sent out an appeal urging fans to make donations and sign up for memberships in the coming year. Museum leadership also called for longterm funders, citing a political climate in which federal and state grants for the arts are increasingly hard to come by. "If we cannot raise $75,000 with this years annual appeal, we face the very real prospect that the Museum will close in the coming months," they wrote.

"We're proud of the award winning and critically acclaimed work we have done," the team added. However, "Good press doesn't pay the rent." As of Monday, the appeal had brought in $8,010.

Since the museum's inception, Ebenstein has had little interest in conforming. During our 2014 conversation she contrasted her own mission to that of larger museums:

"Museums are like icebergs," she explains. "Ten percent of the collection is on display at any given time, and 90 percent is backstage." Her five-year plan is to showcase not just private collections on loan from quirky collectors with left-field interests, but "the pieces from public collections that would never be shown otherwise."

With Morbid Anatomy's fate hanging in the balance this month, the quirkiness of this mission was not lost on Ebenstein and her team.

"Let's face facts," they wrote. "There are not a lot of grant programs for 'death and beauty,' and there is no major philanthropic foundation dedicated to 'the celebration of artifacts, histories and ideas that fall between the cracks of high and low culture.'"

Ebenstein could not immediately be reached for comment.

[UPDATE 1:00 p.m.]: The museum issued a statement Monday, confirming the closure. "The Morbid Anatomy Museum has ceased operations," staff said.

"Our institution was made possible by an incredible investment from our founder and a dedicated group of early supporters, but we were unable to develop both the broad support from our audience and from grants, gifts, and other sponsorship that is necessary for sustainability," they added. "Thank you again, to our many friends, collaborators, and stakeholders. We dont yet know what comes next, but well look forward to seeing you on the other side of this."
The NYPD is looking for a man they say burglarized and attempted to burgle the same home in Queens twice. The suspect was caught on video during his second alleged visit to the home.

Police say Julian Zorilla, 49, is a person of interest in connection with two burglaries that took place last month in the vicinity of 26th Avenue and 210th Street in Bay Terrace.

On November 6th, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Zorilla allegedly broke into a home through the back and stole a Louis Vuitton wallet and purse worth $4,200; three Swarovski bracelets, a Tory Burch purse valued at $250; and $1,240 in cash, along with a credit card.

Cops believe Zorilla then returned to the same residence at around 10 a.m. on November 11th, though this time he rang the front doorbell, triggering a security system that began recording him:

Police say Zorilla and an unknown suspect tried to force their way into the home, but the security system had already texted a resident to alert them, and she called 911.

Zorilla and his accomplice fled before cops arrived, according to the NYPD; they did not take any property this time.

Cops say Zorilla is 5'6" and 150 lbs. You can see surveillance video of the suspect below:

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.


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By Bill Parry

State Assemblyman Francisco Moya (D-East Elmhurst) is urging all SUNY and CUNY school to become sanctuary campuses in order to protect the students, faculty and staff from the looming Trump administrations plans to effect mass deportations and potentially undo President Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Similar to how cities throughout the United States have become Sanctuary Cities, prohibiting cooperation with federal authorities attempting to deport undocumented immigrants within the citys jurisdiction, universities can also protect undocumented students by prohibiting cooperation or the sharing of confidential information, such as a students home address, with federal bodies, including the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement.

A student should never be afraid to pursue a higher education out of fear that it may leave them vulnerable to deportation, Moya said. To allow an atmosphere in which students are hesitant to enroll in a university or attend their classes contradicts our values as a state of immigrants, it undermines the integrity of our academic bodies. SUNY and CUNY schools must adopt discretion policies and become sanctuary campuses so they can never be compelled to divulge information that could put their own students and staff at risk.

Sanctuary campuses are a very powerful metaphor that expresses both legal protections and reprieve from danger. A students immigration status should never be an obstacle in their path to a degree and a better life.

Moya called on SUNY and CUNY to codify measures that would prohibit all employees of the university system, including faculty, administrators, and campus security, from assisting any federal authorities in the act of deporting undocumented students. In addition, Moya urged SUNY and CUNY schools to also confer protections to DACA faculty and staff.

There are DACAmented students who have earned their degree and are now giving back by teaching the next class of undocumented students, or working on campus, Moya said. They serve as a model, taking lessons theyve learned and the passions they have, and passing them forward. Protecting the faculty and staff of our universities protects both the quality of every students education and the dreams that brought them to academia in the first place.

Students throughout the nation have organized and urged their respective universities to become sanctuary campuses, including in New York where CUNY Dreamers have rallied to urge the same of CUNY schools. The American Association of University Professors in November came out in support of the movement.
By Gina Martinez

On a rainy Sunday afternoon with the controversial Maspeth Holiday Inn as the backdrop, state Sen. Tony Avella (D- Bayside) announced his run for mayor. The location was no coincidence.

In his announcement tackling the homeless crisis was one of Avellas major platforms, and most of the nearly 100 supporters were protesters from Queens who opposed the conversion of hotels into shelters.

In his speech Avella said he plans on combating homelessness by making New York City more affordable to live in. There are currently 60,000 homeless people throughout the city.

The Maspeth Holiday Inn has become the epicenter of New Yorks homeless conversation. De Blasio had planned on housing 220 families in the hotel in October without consulting residents and in retaliation Maspeth residents have held town hall meetings and protested every day until recently, even taking buses packed with protestors to the home of Steven Banks, commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services, in Brooklyn. There are currently 78 homeless men staying at the 55th Road hotel.

I believe we have reached a crossroad in the direction our city should be taking, Avella said. Under Mayor de Blasio we have more homeless than ever  our taxes continue to rise and it is more expensive to live here than ever before, all of this, while our quality of life fades away. I believe it is time for a change. It is time to eliminate the corruption at City Hall where campaign consultants/lobbyists sit at the table. It is time for the people of this city to be at the table. It is time to stop dumping homeless families and individuals in hotels and motels throughout the city without support services and the prospect of stable long-term housing and without community notification or involvement. It is time to make New York City more affordable to live, so families can thrive and senior citizens can afford to retire in the city they helped build.

Avella also said he would adopt the 2 percent property tax cap, properly fund school capital and expense projects so that students have up-to-date technology, and give communities a bigger say in what happens in their neighborhoods as opposed to de Blasios top down planning approach

Miley Wang, a resident of Elmhurst for 30 years, said she supported Avella because of his support for the Pan Am hotel protesters years ago. Avella was a vocal opponent of the Elmhurst hotel being used as a shelter.

Im here because hes been very supportive of Elmhurst, even though hes not part of that area, Wang said Hes able to do the right thing and bring communities together instead of dividing and conquering. People need help and hes bringing awareness that these hotels are not a good place for people to live. So much money goes towards housing these families in small rooms, while the money could be spent in better ways and help find actual housing.

Nancy Telesca, a retired teacher who has lived in Maspeth for 40 years, is also backing Avella for his stance on the homeless shelter crisis.

Ive been here picketing this Holiday Inn since August, when we found out they were going to turn this into a shelter without really giving us a say in the community, she said, Bob Holden, Anthony Nunziato, Brian Barnwell, we all come here. Were not against the homeless people, were against Mayor de Blasios policies because hes not doing anything the right way to help people. We have been picketing every night. Someone called me to say Tony Avella has been very instrumental, hes been with us all along whereas our own people, you know (City Councilwoman Elizabeth) Crowley and them arent. So Im supporting him because I feel that he will do a much better job than Mayor de Blasio, Im very sorry, but I have no great love for him or his polices, and I do want to see a change.
Beaver County preparing for robust Election Day turnout

As the Nov. 8 midterm election approaches, nearly 114,000 people are registered to vote in Beaver County.
BETHLEHEM  Howard Hyer, a Bethlehem Department of Public Works supervisor, and his wife were arrested in Saratoga Springs last month on drug charges.

Howard and Mary Hyer, both 52, of Selkirk, were arrested Nov. 20 at 2 a.m. on Circular Street and charged with criminal possession of cocaine, a felony.
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Albany

A domestic terrorist from Saratoga County who plotted to use deadly radiation on Muslims in the Capital Region was sentenced Monday to 30 years in federal prison, but not before he delivered a rambling speech about physics, federal statutes and the fall of the Soviet Union.

Glendon Scott Crawford, 52, showed no remorse in U.S. District Court for his ghastly goal to use a mobile radiation-spewing device that could be hidden in a truck and set off by remote control. The defiant Crawford, an admitted member of the Ku Klux Klan, instead tried to convince Senior Judge Gary Sharpe he was wrongly convicted and only provided "technical assistance" to the plot  an argument Crawford immediately lost.

"You can't come to grips with who and what you are," the judge told the Providence man, a former mechanic at General Electric in Schenectady. "It's not up to you to be deciding who lives, who dies."

More Information Timeline A timeline of Glendon Scott Crawford's case. April 2012: Crawford approached Congregation Gates of Heaven synagogue in Schenectady and the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York in Albany, saying he had a plan to "help Jews get rid of their enemies." He hoped the groups would financially support his plans, but they went to police, setting the stage for an undercover investigation. Within six weeks, an FBI informant named "Dan Matthews" posed as a white supremacist and an FBI undercover agent known by the name "Jeff" befriended Crawford, pretending to show interest in Crawford's plot. July 2012: Crawford called a Ku Klux Klan hotline to reach out to Chris Barker, an imperial KKK wizard in North Carolina who, working for the FBI, introduced Crawford to two undercover agents who posed as Klan-associated rock quarry businessmen with the financial means to fund the weapon. Oct. 4, 2012: The agents agreed to support Crawford's plan after meeting with him in a Greensboro, N.C., hotel. Nov. 14, 2012: Agents met with Crawford and Feight, who he introduced as his "software guy," in the now-closed J. Watts Barista House in Scotia. Crawford referred to himself as "Dmitri," Feight as "Yoda," and the undercover agents as "Daddy Warbucks" and "Robin Hood." The weapon became "the baby." May 20, 2013: Feight put together a remote control and gave it to Crawford, then dropped out of the plan. June 18, 2013: Crawford and the agents met in a Schaghticoke warehouse where Crawford gave the agents the remote control. Moments later, a swarm of SWAT team officers stormed the warehouse and arrested Crawford. They arrested Feight at his home. January 2014: Feight pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists. December 2015: Feight was sentenced to 8 years and 1 month in federal prison. Monday: Crawford was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. See More Collapse

Sharpe, who spared Crawford a life sentence, told the defendant: "I don't know, if left to your volition, you could have created the device or not ... it would have made you a mass murderer."

In August 2015, federal jurors deliberated for less than three hours before making Crawford the first person in the United States convicted of attempting to produce or use a radiological dispersal device. Congress enacted the law in 2004 to protect the country from terrorists using a "dirty bomb."

Jurors watched seven hours of FBI surveillance video in which the brazen Crawford  a self-described cross between Darth Vader and Forrest Gump  excitedly talked about attacking the Executive Mansion in Albany, the White House and local Muslim institutions such as the Masjid As Salaam mosque on Central Avenue in Albany and Masjid e-Nabvi Islamic Center in Schenectady.

And Crawford, a married father of three children, planned to hit a school at the Islamic Center of the Capital District in Colonie.

Surveillance footage showed Crawford repeatedly refer to Muslims as "medical waste" he believed needed to be "sterilized."

When offered a chance to speak Monday, Crawford highlighted the collapse of the Soviet Union and name-dropped several codes of federal law in an attempt to convince the judge that he was wrongly convicted of a law intended to stop those who would build a nuclear device. He claimed the indictment against him was fatally defective.

"An X-ray machine is an emitter," Crawford told the judge. "It functions by an entirely different technology."

The judge allowed Crawford to lecture him at length, but grew frustrated when the defendant continued to speak about physics and refused to address what sentence he believed he should receive, which was supposed to be the focus. When Crawford asked Sharpe if he could discuss the evidence used in the case, Sharpe said, "No, you may not. These things are beyond the clear scope of what we are here for."

The judge eventually gave Crawford three minutes to finish speaking, then said time was up.

"You're done, Mr. Crawford, you're done," Sharpe said.

Turning to the case, the judge said, "The conduct is bizarre. You are bizarre. Everything I heard on the tapes is bizarre."

On the surveillance tapes, Crawford referred to his weapon as "Hiroshima on a light switch" and asked, "What could be sweeter than a big stack of smelly bodies?"

Crawford said he believed President Barack Obama "sold us out to the Muslim world" and "should be hung" for treason.

On Monday, Crawford told the judge he believed the case came "from the President's desk."

Crawford's undoing came when he shared his schemes with would-be coconspirators who were actually undercover federal agents. Crawford unwittingly showed them maps of his targets for the weapon.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Green and Richard Belliss asked the judge to impose a life sentence.

Danielle Neroni, who began representing Crawford after his conviction, asked for a term similar to Eric Feight, Crawford's codefendant, who made the remote control to set off the device. Feight, of Stockport in Columbia County, pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists. Sharpe sentenced him to eight years and one month in prison. He could have received 15 years.

Feight, 58, is serving at a medium-security federal prison in Allenwood, Pa.

Neroni said her client did not plan to use the weapon.

"As you heard today in court, Glendon Crawford expressed no remorse for his crimes," U.S, Attorney Richard Hartunian later told reporters, joined by Green and Belliss and Andrew Vale, the special agent-in-charge of the Albany FBI. "He said the laws didn't apply to him. But the court found otherwise. It was clear that the judge, having listened to the trial testimony, understood that the defendant intended to harm people, to kill others using a weapon of mass destruction."
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SCHENECTADY -- City police were investigating Monday's midday shooting of man in his 40s on Schenectady Street in the Hamilton Hill neighborhood.

The victim, whose name had not been released by early Monday evening, was in serious condition at Albany Medical Center Hospital.
EAST GREENBUSH

A Valatie man was arrested and charged with criminal possession of Suboxone and unlawful possession of marijuana, New York State police said.

Thomas A. Dykeman was stopped by troopers on Wednesday after they observed him allegedly driving his white Chevy Silverado truck hands-free and smoking marijuana.

During a search of Dykeman's truck, troopers allegedly found Suboxone, out of its original container, as well as marijuana.

He is expected to appear in the Town of East Greenbush court on Thursday, Jan. 5.
The following is from a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial:

Few animals are as graceful and fun to watch in national parks and zoos as giraffes. Unlike other creatures in the wild, giraffes exude a gentleness that seems otherworldly for creatures that have to deal with predators  both the two-legged and four-legged kind.

Unlike a spitting camel or a pugnacious kangaroo, it's difficult for a human to feel threatened by a giraffe. But according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the worldwide giraffe population has shrunk 40 percent to 97,562, down from 151,000 in the last 30 years. These most gentle of creatures is quickly going extinct because its grassland habitat is being encroached upon by human development.

The Zoological Society of London reports that giraffes are now officially gone from Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Guinea, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria and Senegal, where they were once plentiful. They can still be found in countries in southern Africa, but the numbers don't look good in the long run, thanks to poaching and disease.

Giraffes aren't hunted for their hides or meat. Unlike elephants and rhinos, they're not bearers of ivory or horns that will enhance male virility when ground into dust. They simply have the bad luck of living on land humans have decided they're more entitled to.

In this battle of wills with humans, the giraffes don't have a chance. Unless humanity comes to its senses and leaves them alone, the giraffe population will continue to dwindle, leaving only archival images, videos and fond memories of this marvelous creature.
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Howard Zemsky, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's top economic development official, is traveling to Utica Monday morning to talk with Oneida County officials in the wake of the ams AG computer chip deal falling through.

SUNY Polytechnic and the Austrian analog chip maker had signed a deal in 2015 in which the state would build the company a chip factory at the Marcy Nanocenter, a 400-acre plot across the street from SUNY Poly's Utica campus.

Although ams would only pay $1 for the lease, the company planned to spend more than $2 billion over 20 years on the plant.

But ams pulled out of deal officially on Friday, citing delays in construction that coincided with state and federal investigations into SUNY Poly and its founding president, Alain Kaloyeros.

Kaloyeros resigned after his Sept. 22 arrest on corruption charges but has maintained his innocence.

Zemsky, the CEO of Empire State Development, the state's economic development arm, took over oversight of SUNY Poly's various projects across the state in the wake of Kaloyeros' arrest. The ams deal is the first that has collapsed since then, and ESD has been putting a large portion of its resources behind ensuring that SUNY Poly's projects survive the scandal.

Jason Conwall, an ESD spokesman, said Zemsky had promised last week to meet with Oneida County officials. He is also expected to meet with the editorial board of the Utica Observer Dispatch.

"He's driving himself out (to Utica) from Buffalo," Conwall said of Zemsky, who lives in Buffalo.

After weeks of silence, ams confirmed late Friday that it was no longer interested in the project, a major component of Cuomo's Nano Utica initiative.

The Marcy Nanocenter is marketed by Mohawk Valley EDGE, a Rome-based economic development group.

"The relationship with Mohawk Valley EDGE and Empire State Development was a very positive

experience and we remain open to future opportunities for cooperation," ams CEO Alexander Everke said in a statement. "However, this decision was taken after thorough evaluation of the wafer fabrication project and its current status.

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Another SUNY Poly project that is relatively close to where the ams factory was supposed to be built is the Soraa LED factory that SUNY Poly has been building outside of Syracuse.

At least one contractor has told the Times Union that they were let go from the job recently. Soraa officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the status of the Soraa facility, where contractor payments had been an issue in the past.

The Soraa project likely has more complications than others. That project is being built by COR, the Syracuse area developer whose executives were implicated in the federal SUNY Poly corruption case.

Conwall said he was unaware of any major issues with the Soraa plant, although he said he would look into it more after traveling out to Utica himself Monday.

"They're still moving forward with (Soraa)," Conwall said.


2017 Predictions for Call Center Technology





Why You Need to Know: As these predictions explain, staying up to date on new technologies is the key to better customer service and successful business operations. Keep in mind that today's customers are more tech-savvy and can make or break a company's reputation based on their experience. 2017 is just around the corner, is your contact center ready? 2016 proved to be a successful year for contact centers, and 2017 is predicted to be even more dynamic and profitable for the call center industry. With the ever-changing call center landscape, included are five trends that industry experts and marketers should keep top-of-mind to stay competitive in 2017.



How APIs Can Revolutionize Your Company's Communication Strategy



Why You Need to Know: Thankfully, there are new technologies that make communication as frictionless as possible. Any successful modern business must be built on the foundation of clear communication. This includes communication between executive leadership and employees, as well as communication between the company and its customers. Four Steps to Accelerate Mobile Collaboration for SMBs



Why You Need to Know: Customers globally are embracing UCC to accelerate their businesses  the UCC market is predicted to grow from $23.39 billion in 2016 to $42.72 billion in 2021. Whether you have staff servicing customers a few miles from the office or joining a meeting from somewhere across the country, your workforce is rarely in the same place at the same time. And with an increasing number of employees working with team members across different remote locations, mobile unified communications and collaboration (UCC) solutions are a necessity. How Companies Can Use Data for Performance Reviews



Why You Need to Know: Ten percent of Fortune 500 companies and 12 percent of Fortune 100 companies are eliminating annual reviews and rankings, including prominent companies like Microsoft, GE, Accenture, Gap, Adobe and Deloitte. In 2011, that number was just 1 percent. Traditional performance reviews, like yearly medical exams, can be anxiety-inducing, painful to endure, and leave people feeling much better or worse about their prospects. While annual checkups remain important, annual performance reviews are increasingly being phased out. Digital Workplaces Enhance the Employee Experience



Why You Need to Know: The digital workplace reshapes the employee experience. Routine tasks can be automated and completed faster with tools that provide contextual information to help employees make better decisions. The ability to work anytime, anywhere becomes a reality. Teams can collaborate and share best practices in order to feel more engaged and part of the bigger picture. "Our people make us different" is a value many companies stand by. But great employees don't always stay in one place very long, with one-third of new hires choosing to look for a new job within their first six months according to ERE Media.


[December 18, 2016] Stretchable Electronics and Electrics 2015-2025: Technologies, Markets, Forecasts

LONDON, Dec. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Introduction Stretchable electronics concerns electrical and electronic circuits and combinations of these that are elastically or inelastically stretchable by more than a few percent while retaining function. For that, they tend to be laminar and usually thin. No definitions of electronics and electrical sectors are fully watertight but it is convenient to consider stretchable electronics as a part of printed electronics, a term taken to include printed and potentially printed (eg thin film) electronics and electrics. This is because the cost, space and weight reduction sought in most cases is best achieved by printing and printing-like technologies. Commercialization Commercialization is elusive, though there are some initial adoption such as moldable parts in vehicles and shape changing electroactive polymers for haptic response. New devices also include Reebok's head impact indicator "CheckLight". These are just the beginning, with end users and participants seeing huge potential. Investment Electronics that are very elastic or deformable without loss of function has seen several hundred million dollars spent by universities on such research so far and more modest tens of millions of dollars has been raised by companies to pursue the opportunity. A notable example of this was the 2012 round of $12.5 million by MC10 in the SA, a company exclusively dedicated to commercialising stretchable electronics. Others are involved in the materials to enable stretchable electronics such as carbon nanotubes.



Market and territory analysis The applications targeted are primarily in healthcare, including health-related monitoring and management for military purposes and sport. About 40% of the research and commercialisation of stretchable electronics takes place in the USA, with the UK, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Korea and Japan, also making a broad impact. This report examines who is bringing what to market and why and it analyses where the most promising opportunities lie. It scopes the emerging stretchable technologies, many of which promise huge improvements, opening yet more potential markets.

Main areas the report covers The report examines how stretchable technology fits into the electronics and end user markets, the materials and applications that look most promising, and the lessons of success and failure. Profiles of 56 organizations that have made significant advances are provided. Forecasts At this early stage forecasting is difficult but we give some indications for the next ten years and reveal many key trends. We provide forecasts for allied sectors such as printed and flexible electronics which interrelate to stretchable electronics. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4447407/ About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stretchable-electronics-and-electrics-2015-2025-technologies-markets-forecasts-300380738.html SOURCE ReportBuyer

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[December 18, 2016] Black Hat Asia Returns to Singapore with Robust InfoSec Research Lineup: Vulnerabilities Related to Mobile Devices, Transit Smartcards, Popular Email Clients & More

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Black Hat, the world's leading family of information security events, unveils its initial Briefings lineup for Black Hat Asia 2017, with additional programming to be announced soon. Returning to Singapore, the event will bring together the world's most renowned information security professionals and researchers for two days of technical Trainings, followed by two days of highly informative Briefings including a new track on Applied Security. This year's lineup of world class speakers will dive into topics spanning mobile hacking, malware defense, reverse engineering, cryptography and more. Black Hat Asia will take place March 28  March 31, 2017 at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161216/450562LOGO For more information and to take advantage of early registration prices by January 27 please visit: blackhat.com/asia-17/ Highlights from the Black Hat Asia 2017 program so far include: Mobile Hacks: such as exploiting an iOS device remotely via WiFi without any user interaction, completely bypassing the iOS sandbox; looking at challenges solved in making an untethered 9.0-9.3.x jailbreak; and even examining the underlying attack vector and investigating fundamental security problems with the Android plugin technology.

such as exploiting an iOS device remotely via WiFi without any user interaction, completely bypassing the iOS sandbox; looking at challenges solved in making an untethered 9.0-9.3.x jailbreak; and even examining the underlying attack vector and investigating fundamental security problems with the Android plugin technology. Breaking Popular Korean Transit Smartcards: by embedding cryptographic features via side-channel attacks, allowing for the illegal recharging of balances and targeting of profile information.

by embedding cryptographic features via side-channel attacks, allowing for the illegal recharging of balances and targeting of profile information. Eploiting Email Clients: disclosing severe vulnerabilities of mail clients as well as software services that could allow an attacker to take over access to sensitive user information

disclosing severe vulnerabilities of mail clients as well as software services that could allow an attacker to take over access to sensitive user information Automotive Diagnostics Exploration: with the introduction of an open source Unified Diagnostic Services stack in Python and live demonstrations of its functionality.



To see the current 2017 program lineup and to view presentation abstracts, visit: blackhat.com/asia-17/briefings.html Classroom-Style Courses - Black Hat Trainings

Prior to the Briefings, Black Hat Asia will offer two days of deeply technical, hands-on Training courses led by the some of the brightest minds in the industry. This year's Trainings will span topics such as infrastructure hacking, penetration testing, malware analysis and more. For information on the lineup and to save S$200 on the course(s) of your choice by January 27, please visit: blackhat.com/asia-17/training/index.html.

Live Demos - Black Hat Arsenal: CALL FOR TOOLS OPEN THROUGH FEB. 6

Black Hat Arsenal will return to Singapore with its highly popular tool and demo area, showcasing the hottest developments from the open-source community. Call for Tools (CFT) is still open, so be sure to submit by February 6! For more information and to submit, visit: blackhat.com/asia-17/arsenal-overview.html. Black Hat Asia Sponsors

Top sponsors of Black Hat Asia 2017 include Diamond Sponsors: Qualys and Tenable Network Security; Platinum Sponsors: Cylance, SentinelOne and CrowdStrike; and Gold Sponsors: Malwarebytes, Rapid7 and Solida Systems. For more information on sponsorship opportunities and to see the full list of participating companies, visit: blackhat.com/asia-17/sponsors.html. Connect with Black Hat Twitter: twitter.com/BlackHatEvents- hashtag #BlackHat

twitter.com/BlackHatEvents- hashtag #BlackHat Facebook: facebook.com/blackhat

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=37658

linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=37658 Flickr: flickr.com/photos/blackhatevents/ Future Black Hat Dates and Events Black Hat USA 2017, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada , July 22 - July 27, 2017

Mandalay Bay, , July 22 - Black Hat Europe 2017, London, England , December 4 - 7, 2017 About Black Hat

For more than 19 years, Black Hat has provided attendees with the very latest in information security research, development, and trends. These high-profile global events and trainings are driven by the needs of the security community, striving to bring together the best minds in the industry. Black Hat inspires professionals at all career levels, encouraging growth and collaboration among academia, world-class researchers, and leaders in the public and private sectors. Black Hat Briefings and Trainings are held annually in the United States, Europe and Asia. More information is available at: blackhat.com. Black Hat is organized by UBM Americas, a part of UBM plc (UBM.L), an Events First marketing and communications services business. For more information, visit ubmamericas.com.

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[December 19, 2016] MDxHealth Announces AceCGT Life Science Limited as the Exclusive Distributor for SelectMDx in Hong Kong and Macao China

PRESS RELEASE / REGULATED INFORMATION / INSIDE INFORMATION



IRVINE, CA, and HERSTAL, BELGIUM - December 19, 2016 - MDxHealth SA (Euronext: MDXH.BR) announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement with AceCGT Life Science Limited for their SelectMDx(TM) for Prostate Cancer assay in Hong Kong and Macao, Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China. Under the terms of the agreement, AceCGT Group will be the exclusive distributor within the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions. Patient samples will be sent to MDxHealth's state-of-the-art ISO certified clinical diagnostic laboratory in Nijmegen, The Netherlands for analysis. "We are delighted to announce our collaboration with AceCGT Group for the distribution of SelectMDx within the People's Republic of China. We believe that SelectMDx perfectly complements AceCGT Group's cutting edge molecular diagnostic test menu," commented Dr. Jan Groen, CEO of MDxHealth. "With their highly qualified and experienced team of laboratory scientists, clinical researchers and a dedicated commercial team, AceCGT Group is an ideal partner to help us raise awareness and expand access to SelectMDx throughout Hong Kong and Macao." About SelectMDx for Prostate Cancer SelectMDx for Prostate Cancer is a proprietary urine-based, molecular diagnostic test that offers a non-invasive 'liquid biopsy' method to assess a man's risk for prostate cancer. SelectMDx helps identify men at increased risk of harbouring aggressive, potentially lethal, prostate cancer who may benefit most from a prostate biopsy and earlier detection. The test delivers a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98% for clinically significant disease, helping to reduce unnecessary MRI procedures and invasive prostate biopsies by approximately 50%, thereby reducing healthcare costs. About AceCGT Group AceGT is a Hong Kong based leading clinical diagnostic laboratory committed in bringing innovative, affordable and widely accessible testing solutions into everyday clinical practice within multiple specialties throughout their network. Leveraging the vast amount of knowledge and know-how derived from the Human Genome Project, International HapMap and other oncology research programs, AceCGT is translating the science of molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine into clinical practice within the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions of China. For more information, visit www.acecgtdiagnostic.com.



About MDxHealth MDxHealth is a multinational healthcare company that provides actionable molecular diagnostic information to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company's tests are based on proprietary genetic, epigenetic (methylation) and other molecular technologies and assist physicians with the diagnosis of urologic cancers, prognosis of recurrence risk, and prediction of response to a specific therapy. The Company's European headquarters are in Herstal, Belgium, with laboratory operations in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and US headquarters and laboratory operations based in Irvine, California. For more information, visit mdxhealth.com and follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/mdxhealth.

For more information:







Dr. Jan Groen, CEO

MDxHealth

US: +1 949 812 6979

BE: +32 4 364 20 70

[email protected]















Jonathan Birt, Chris Welsh, Hendrik Thys (PR & IR)

Consilium Strategic Communications

UK: +44 20 3709 5701

US: +1 917 322 2571 (Rx Communications Group LLC)

[email protected]





This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of MDxHealth and the market in which it operates. Such statements and estimates are based on assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable but may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict, may depend upon factors that are beyond the company's control, and may turn out to be materially different. MDxHealth expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required by law or regulation. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of MDxHealth in any jurisdiction. No securities of MDxHealth may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. securities laws. NOTE: The MDxHealth logo, MDxHealth, ConfirmMDx, SelectMDx, AssureMDx and PredictMDx are trademarks or registered trademarks of MDxHealth SA. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Attachments: //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/55626d23-2dcc-414c-b66b-baf5c38764af

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[December 19, 2016] Alex Stil Named EMEA President Of GroupM's [m]PLATFORM

Sebastiaan Moesman Appointed Vice President, [m]PLATFORM EMEA NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GroupM, the media investment management group of WPP, today announced leadership for [m]PLATFORM in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The newly launched [m]PLATFORM is an advanced technology suite of flexible media planning applications, data analytics and digital services improving advertisers' use of audience-defining insights from hundreds of data sources to communicate with consumers across all media. [m]PLATFORM offers data analytics and digital services including search, social, mobile, digital ad operations and programmatic in a completely open and fully transparent data and technology architecture. Alex Stil, most recently global Chief Commercial Officer of GroupM Connect, is named President, [m]PLATFORM, EMEA, and Sebastiaan Moesman, most recently Chief Operating Officer for GroupM Connect, will serve as Vice President, [m]PLATFORM, EMEA. Stil has extensive experience working with global clients including Unilever, KPN, monster.com, ING, Dell, and Kodak. As the top commercial executive for GroupM Connect, Stil played a significant role supporting GroupM's agencies in real time media management. Stil started his career at GroupM in 2008 as Chief Operating Officer for Mindshare in the Netherlands, and he subsequently led the whole of Mindshare's digital practice in EMEA. His ntry to the group came when WPP acquired Reddion, the first online media agency in Europe, in 2007. Stil was co-CEO and co-founder of Reddion with Moesman.



"Alex is one of the most accomplished digital innovators in Europe and since joining GroupM he has significantly furthered our group's knowledge and acumen in real time media while also engaging directly with top clients as they've worked with GroupM's agencies to assemble bespoke technology stacks and data strategies," said Brian Gleason, CEO, [m]PLATFORM. "As we rollout the [m]PLATFORM technology suite in Europe, Alex's knowledge and client experience will inspire our teams and our clients who are all focused on evolving their media strategies for the real time era." As the global head of operations for GroupM Connect, Moesman oversaw the development of a coherent global strategy for programmatic media, corporate acquisitions and the incubation of new technologies and services to support GroupM's agencies. Since Reddion's acquisition, Moesman held a number of GroupM leadership positions including COO for GroupM Netherlands and CEO GroupM Interaction, also in the Netherlands.

"In a number of Europe-based operational leadership roles, Sebastiaan amassed the experience and marketplace knowledge needed to ensure [m]PLATFORM is an unrivaled solution for clients in EMEA markets, working with diverse local media partners, technology vendors and other unique local market factors," said Dominic Grainger, Chief Executive Officer, GroupM, EMEA. "Our deployment of [m]PLATFORM will be rapid, and Alex and Sebastiaan have the passion and energy to ensure flawless execution to the benefit of our agencies and their clients across many markets." About GroupM GroupM is the leading global media investment management group serving as the parent to WPP media agencies including Mindshare, MEC, MediaCom, Maxus, Essence and m/SIX, as well as the programmatic digital media platform, Xaxis, each global operations in their own right with leading market positions. GroupM's primary purpose is to maximize the performance of WPP's media agencies by operating as leader and collaborator in trading, content creation, sports, digital, finance, and proprietary tool development. GroupM's focus is to deliver unrivaled marketplace advantage to its clients, stakeholders and people, and is increasingly working closely for the benefit of clients with WPP's data investment management group, Kantar. Together GroupM and Kantar account for over 50% of WPP's group revenues of more than $20 billion. Discover more about GroupM at www.groupm.com.

Follow @GroupMWorldwide on Twitter

Follow GroupM on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/groupm Media Contacts: [email protected]

+1 212.297.8092 (U.S.) [email protected]

+1 917.421.3019 (U.S.)

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[December 19, 2016] Arise Holiday Community Action

MIRAMAR, Fla., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the World Bank, 6 million Haitians, or 59% of the population, lives below the poverty line. So Arise Virtual Solutions Inc., the leader in on-demand customer management solutions, has been gathering supplies and raising funds for Haitian relief efforts this holiday season. The Arise Community Action Team is a committee made of employees who believe in changing not only the way the world works, but changing the world. Additionally, Arise was excited to once again partner with Harvest Drive Florida to provide groceries to families in need for Thanksgiving. We teamed up with 11 local schools in the Miami area, with a combined goal of collecting enough food to feed 110 families. Arise employees eagerly joined in to collect food, nonperishables, and supplies for Harvest Drive throughout November. In addition to the usual food and nonperishables, employees bought much-needed but often overlooked household supplies. After this successful collection, the team immediately set to work on their third year of Haitian relief fundraising. Most offices have a Christmas office party to celebrae a successful year and reward their employees for their hard work. At Arise, employees turned their Christmas party into a fundraising event. While decked in ugly Christmas sweaters, employees pooled their resources together to donate to those still recovering from the devastating storms in Haiti.



"Arise is committed to serving the community all year round," said Tinica Mullings, Community Action Leader. "As the holiday season approaches, we always look for ways to take a little extra step in sharing what we can to benefit others. We're thankful for our supportive team, and happy to have the opportunity to donate to both Harvest Drive Florida and the Haitian Relief efforts." Plans are already underway to support several charitable causes in the new year, including Habitat for Humanity, Support the Troops, and relief for those affected by the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area wildfires. Last year's event saw Arise employees dedicating hundreds of volunteer hours and raising money for various causes in Florida and across the country.

About Arise Virtual Solutions Inc.: Arise is a pioneer of on-demand customer management technology and business process outsourcing. Our powerful cloud-based platform provides a virtual nationwide network to connect primarily work-at-home service professionals running small call center businesses to companies needing contact center and other business services. Built to scale, Arise makes the way for a superior customer experience for innovative enterprises from startups to Fortune 500. To learn more about Arise Virtual Solutions Inc., please visit http://www.arise.com . Contact:

Doug Vinson

855-274-7301

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arise-holiday-community-action-300380285.html SOURCE Arise Virtual Solutions Inc.

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[December 19, 2016] PerfectServe Employees Donate to Local Programs during Holiday Season

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PerfectServe employees at the company's Knoxville, Atlanta and Chicago offices continued their long-standing tradition of demonstrating their holiday giving spirit supporting several donation programs held over the last month. "We have very generous employees who care deeply for the communities where they reside and serve," said Terry Edwards, CEO and President of PerfectServe. "Giving back is an annual traditional and a core part of our corporate culture. Our hope is to make the holidays a little brighter for deserving individuals and families in need during the holiday season." Employees donated basic personal necessities to Florence Crittenton Agency's Wheels of Hope 2016 suitcase campaign in Knoxville, a program for adolescents ages 13 to 18 designed to set them up for success. Donated items included duffel bags and suitcases filled with clothing, shoes, and health and beauty items. The Florence Crittenton Agency continues its nonprofit mission "to strengthen communities through effective prevention and treatment services for children and families" since 1964. More than 95 percent of their teenage clients arrive from state custody or from the juvenile court system with their belongings in a plastic bag. These are teens dealing with various issues including abuse, parental neglect, chemical dependency and mental health diagnoses. Many are runaways from home or foster care. Upon discharge, the teens leave drug-free with a suitcase of their new belongings, heading to a permanent home placement with appropriately skilled parents. The agency serves approximately 300 adolescents annually with an approximate 85 percent success rate. PerfectServe employees also donated generously to these causes: GoFundMe fundraiser: A PerfectServe employee was a victim of an apartment fire and lost everything including three pets. The company launched a GoFundMe page at https://funds.gofundme.com/dashboard/andrewlawlerfund raising more than $5,000 to help the employee rebuild his life.

A PerfectServe employee was a victim of an apartment fire and lost everything including three pets. The company launched a GoFundMe page at https://funds.gofundme.com/dashboard/andrewlawlerfund raising more than to help the employee rebuild his life. Gatlinburg fire victims: PerfectServe's two Knoxville offices took up a collection of donated food and supplies for the people affected by the forest fires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee .

PerfectServe's two offices took up a collection of donated food and supplies for the people affected by the forest fires in . The Greater Chicago Food Depository: Employees at PerfectServe's Chicago office collected canned goods and other food items for Chicago's food bank. The Greater Chicago Food Depository provides food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in the community. Since 1979, the Food Depository has made a daily impact on hunger across Cook County . Journalists: Click to download the following photo links: photo of PerfectServe employees' donations to the Florence Crittenton Agency's Wheels of Hope 2016 Suitcase Campaign

photo of two PerfectServe employees and Nancy Christian , President and CEO of The Florence Crittenton Agency, holding duffel bags filled with gifts to help teenagers in need

, President and CEO of The Florence Crittenton Agency, holding duffel bags filled with gifts to help teenagers in need photo of PerfectServe employees' donations to the Gatlinburg fire victims

fire victims photo of donated food items collected by PerfectServe's Chicago employees for The Greater Chicago Food Depository About PerfectServe

PerfectServe Synchrony is healthcare's most comprehensive and secure care team collaboration platform. The platform is unique in its ability to improve communication process accuracy and reliability via its proprietary Dynamic Intelligent Routing capability, which automatically identifies and provides immediate connection to the right care team member for any given clinical situation at every moment in time. More than 100,000 clinicians in forward-looking organizations across the U.S. rely on PerfectServe to help them speed time to treatment, expedite care transitions, enhance the patient experience and reduce HIPAA compliance risk. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, with offices in Alpharetta, Georgia, and Chicago, PerfectServe has helped clinicians provide better care since 2000. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook and subscribe to our blog.







Media Contact: PerfectServe Contact: Angela Jenkins Heather Dorsett, MBA Agency Ten22 Director, Content Strategy and Marketing 720.859.6930 855.871.7299 [email protected] [email protected]

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/perfectserve-employees-donate-to-local-programs-during-holiday-season-300380435.html SOURCE PerfectServe

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[December 19, 2016] Gemological Science International Executive Provides Expert Diamond Buying Tips And Facts

NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Debbie Azar knows a lot about diamonds. She is the Co-Founder of Gemological Science International (GSI), an independent organization with a global footprint that combines state-of-the-art technology with deep professional expertise. Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7865051-gsi-expert-diamond-buying-tips She is passionate about her favorite subject. For example, when asked what is most important thing to consider when buying a diamond, she is quick to answer, "First and foremost you should love the diamond. A diamond should "speak" to you." Even if you've fallen head over heels with a diamond, it's important to do your homework. A diamond is an important purchase and you should understand its value and make certain to authenticate that value. Azar explains, "It's also extremely vital to receive a grading report for your diamond. The grading report includes important information that ultimately helps determine the price of the diamond." Specifically, a grading report includes: Details about the cut, carat weight, color and clarity

Identification of the diamond as eithernatural or lab grown

Determination of whether the diamond has been treated



Diamonds are valuable because they are rare, but have you ever wondered why they are so scarce? Azar explains, "Like a snowflake, all diamonds are different, and no two are ever the same. Natural diamonds take billions of years to grow and are formed hundreds of miles beneath the earth's surface. Today, there are very limited resources for potential diamond mines. Only a small percentage, somewhere around 20%, of all mined diamonds is actual gem quality."

Should buyers be concerned that many diamonds are harvested in poorer countries? Do diamonds do good as well as look good? Azar is eager to dispel misconceptions. She tells us that if people stopped buying natural diamonds, many of African countries would face economic collapse. "A number of countries in Africa rely solely on the jobs provided by the natural diamond industry for their existence. Botswana, Namibia and other African countries rely on diamond mining and related industries not only for job creation, but as a source of financing infrastructure projects, building schools, hospitals, providing health and educational services for the populations and laying a foundation for other industries." And the benefits are not limited to Africa. "In India, the diamond industry provides livelihood to millions of people, allows young people pull themselves out from poverty, get a higher education and have jobs," Azar adds. In conclusion? "Diamonds not only look beautiful, they do a lot of good. On a personal note, I have the privilege to serve as a board member of Jewelers for Children, which is a charity in our industry that has donated over 50 million dollars to date to St. Jude's, Make a Wish Foundation and other charities that help children who are fighting life threatening diseases. I'm proud of the good things the industry as a whole is able to do." For more information visit www.gemscience.net. About Gemological Science International Gemological Science International (GSI) is an independent gemological laboratory committed to providing clients with leading technology, proven industry expertise and absolute integrity. Founded in 2005, GSI has quickly grown to become one of the largest gemological organizations in the world, serving a wide array of major manufacturers, jewelry chains, department stores, and online jewelers. As a global industry leader, GSI has offices spanning four continents. The company is headquartered in the heart of New York City's Diamond District, with additional offices in the USA, India, Israel, Belgium, Botswana and Dubai. The only major gemological organization founded in the 21st century, GSI's mission is to remain at the forefront of the rapidly evolving gemological industry - through research, education, and the most advanced scientific processes and technologies. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gemological-science-international-executive-provides-expert-diamond-buying-tips-and-facts-300380052.html SOURCE Gemological Science International

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[December 19, 2016] Southwire Announces Acquisition of Sumner Manufacturing

CARROLLTON, Ga., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwire Company, LLC announces the acquisition of Sumner Manufacturing of Houston, Texas - a recognized leading manufacturer of material lifts, jack stands, welding tools, material carts and other tools and equipment for the construction market. Sumner is a key supplier to the welding and mechanical contracting industries and has a market presence in more than 50 countries around the world. "This acquisition provides a significant opportunity to help scale our Tools and Equipment business. Sumner's manufacturing capabilities and distribution network will help us achieve our team's growth expectations over the next few years," said Brandon Moss, president of Southwire's Tools and Equipment business. "We will strengthen our company's position in the contractor equipment space, develop new manufacturing capabilities and rapidly expand our presence in the industrial supply and rental channels." The acquisition includes manufacturing operations and corporate support functions in Houston and Langfang, China, as well as sales and distribution offices in Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The addition of Sumner will welcome more than 160employees to the Southwire workforce.



"The purchase of Sumner is another representation of our company's commitment to building a business that differentiates itself from our competition through innovation and excellent service," said Norman Adkins, president of Southwire's Construction Systems and Solutions group. "By adding this manufacturing capability to our lineup of operations, we further support our plans to grow our tools and equipment business for the long term." Southwire and Sumner share a small amount of product overlap; therefore, most of Sumner's more than 350 products will help expand Southwire's equipment catalog. Sumner's existing manufacturing capabilities will be integrated into Southwire's business operations and will provide customers with a comprehensive product offering of contractor equipment solutions.

"We are excited to welcome the Sumner team to the Southwire family. This acquisition supports all three of Southwire's key strategic goals: build organizational capability, drive operational excellence and accelerate growth," said Rich Stinson, Southwire's president and CEO. "Each day, we seek new ways to drive innovation and help further develop an organization that will be generationally-sustainable. The addition of Sumner gives us the opportunity to look ahead into new markets and channels and expand the range of solutions we can provide to our customers." A leader in technology and innovation, Southwire Company, LLC, is one of North America's largest wire and cable producers. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, portable and electronic cord products, utility products, OEM wire products and engineered products. In addition, Southwire supplies assembled products, contractor equipment and hand tools. For more on Southwire's products, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwire.com.  2016 Southwire Company, LLC. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwire-announces-acquisition-of-sumner-manufacturing-300380976.html SOURCE Southwire Company, LLC

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Five candidates in race for NLCS District 3 board seat

Five candidates are seeking election to the district three NLCS board seat: Tony (Rock) Fleetwood, Tye Hooten, Scott King, Rob Payne and Autumn Ray.
A coalition of organizations are calling on electors to refuse to vote for President-elect Donald Trump by hosting protests at all 50 state capitols on Monday.

The group, called December 19, combined forces in an attempt to stop Trump from reaching the presidency by peacefully protesting. The protest at Montana's Capitol begins at 9 a.m.

Electors across the country have been hounded by both sides to either support who their state voted for, or become a faithless elector.

Nancy Ballance, an elector from Hamilton, received hundreds of emails asking her not to vote for Trump in the days following the general election.

While protests in some states could sway electors, it is impossible for a Montana elector to cast a vote for anyone other than the president and vice president-elect. The Constitution doesnt bind electors to vote in accordance with their state, but several states have enacted laws to make sure electors remain faithful.

Montanas three electors are required by state law to fulfill a pledge that says I agree to serve and to mark my ballots for president and vice president for the nominees of the political party that nominated me.

The secretary of state is prohibited from accepting a vote that violates an electors pledge. If Montana electors did refuse to vote for Trump or Vice President-elect Mike Pence, they would vacate their position as an elector. The secretary of state would then appoint one of three alternate electors to fill the position. If all three electors and all three alternate electors refused to vote for Trump, the Secretary of State could appoint anyone who is immediately available and adheres to the pledge.

Ballance will be joined by Dennis Scranton of Miles City and Thelma Baker of Missoula to cast their votes in Helena at 2 p.m. on Monday.

On Jan. 6, members of the House and Senate will meet to count the votes from each state in alphabetical order. Vice President Joe Biden will preside over the count, announce the winner and ask if there any objections. Lawmakers have the opportunity to petition an electors vote if it doesnt align with their state. The House and the Senate have two hours to decide if they agree to throw out a vote. Congress has never upheld an objection to an electoral vote, and rogue electors have never affected the outcome of an election.
Several landowners in Broadwater and Lewis and Clark counties are petitioning to form a new irrigation district east of Canyon Ferry Reservoir, concerning some area residents about potential impacts to groundwater.

The Avalanche Irrigation District would provide water to about 12,000 acres between the reservoir and Big Belt Mountains.

Although the basin is closed to new water rights, the Bureau of Reclamation secured water rights upon the construction of Canyon Ferry Dam. The stored water was intended for arable land adjacent to the reservoir identified in the Flood Control Act of 1944, but the water has remained largely unused.

We have a pretty substantial amount of water intended to be marketed, said Steve Davies, area manager of Reclamation's Montana area. We have a fair number of smaller contracts -- a few acres here and there -- but now weve been approached for a new irrigation project.

A proposed water contract between the irrigation district and Reclamation would provide 37,500 acre-feet of water, delivered through installation of wells, pipelines and pivots, according to Reclamation documents.

Theres still a lot more work to do but weve sunk a lot into it and its a project thats going to happen, said Dennis Williams, project developer. There are a pile of these water rights that are part of the old law. It is a closed basin but this is a proper use of those stored water rights.

Petitioners including Williams filed in district court to form the irrigation district, with an upcoming hearing in Helena Dec. 20 where the public may be heard. The hearing is limited in scope to the business organization of the irrigation district and does not pertain to water rights or environmental analysis, Candace Payne, attorney for the district said.

If approved, proceeding with the contract then means Reclamation will do an environmental assessment, which will include a 30-day public comment period and public hearings in Townsend and Helena.

Its really early in the process -- so far all weve done is reach out to other agencies so that were well prepared for what those potential issues might be, Davies said. When we do go out to the public, thats when well undergo the environmental compliance process.

The message I have right now is there is a whole public process yet to be initiated.

Montana Business Assistance Connection received $37,000 of state grants to assist Avalanche Irrigation District with the completion of a draft environmental assessment.

With Canyon Ferrys 2 million acre-feet of water, contracting the water to Avalanche would have a minimal impact in an average year and likely no effects to the reservoir level in a wet year, he said.

Because the water comes from an already existing water right, a new water right is not required through the contract, although both Davies and Williams say the Montana Department of Natural Resources, which is responsible for issuing water rights, will be involved in the analysis.

DNRC has discussed the project with Williams and others but little in the way of detail, said Shawn Thomas, Trust Land Division administrator. Earlier this fall, the State Board of Land Commissioners voted to include nearly 5,500 acres of state trust lands in the proposed irrigation district. The inclusion allows the state to be part of future negotiations, but does not yet tie the lands to any specific irrigation decision, he said.

Questions remain about whether the water will be pumped from the reservoir or from drilling wells deemed hydrologically connected, which legally fall under Reclamations water right.

State Rep. Kelly Flynn, R-Townsend, called it a good idea to tap Reclamation water for irrigation, and he believes most area residents are not opposed to taking water directly from the lake. That support shifts when it comes drilling of new wells in a basin closed to issuance of new water rights.

It complicates it so much when youre bringing in wells for delivery of the water and I think its lined up quite a few opponents, he said. Wells can have far-reaching consequences for the public in one fashion or another.

Residents and agricultural producers have voiced their concerns about impacts to existing wells and potential effects on property values, Flynn said.

Area residents approached by the Independent Record declined to comment for this story.

While pumping directly from the reservoir may be an option, test wells have been drilled in a search for water connected to the reservoir and thus falling under Reclamations water right, Williams said. Some erroneous information has also been floated about the project, he said, including that it would involve barges on the reservoir and would draw the water level down several feet.

Were looking at formation flows right now to see if its connected to the lake, and then DNRC still has to sign off on whether theyre hydrologically connected with the lakes, he said of potential wells for the project. Were shooting for next spring to have this up and running, so were bombing ahead as fast as we can.

This story has been edited to clarify the purpose of the Dec. 20 hearing as limited to the business organization of the Avalanche Irrigation District.
Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 6e: What's the difference?

Wi-Fi 6e routers are now easily available, but how much better in real-life terms are they than cheaper Wi-Fi 6 systems and which devices do they work with?
Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos extolled the work of Mario Vitti, Italian author, translator, and educator specializing in Modern Greek literature, during an event in his honour at the Benaki museum on Friday, saying Vitti is a leading defender of freedom in the field of literary creation.

"We must not forget, especially we Greeks, that Mario Vitti is the leading Hellenist today internationally. And this is a reality that nobody can deny. There is no exaggeration in what I am saying," he said in his speech.

"If we wanted to find a motto for Mario Vittis work, this would boil down to that he is a leading advocate of freedom in the field of literary creation. He defends freedom, freedom of the author, both in terms of inception and expression. And this is something we need very much today, not only here in Greece, but everywhere," he added.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
The wall was discovered during the excavations carried out by the University of Cyprus at Palaepaphos, near the sanctuary of Aphrodite Paphia

A big citadel wall of the classical period, which defines and protects the north face of a monumental edifice, known as the main palace of the last royal dynasty of ancient Paphos, was discovered during the excavations carried out by the University of Cyprus at Palepaphos, near the Sanctuary of Aphrodite Paphia.

The wall is a complex work of defensive architecture which consists of a three-meters wide main wall and long and narrow cross walls, which are built against the main wall and extend almost to the edge of the cliff.

Its masonry is of superb quality and extends for over 80 meters across the plateau of Hadjiabdoulla and many of its segments are preserved to a height of a meter and a half.

The compartments constructed between cross walls and terrace walls were not just emply spaces but were used for storage and the industrial facilities of the palace. Two large storage vessels were discovered on the site, as well as numerous fragments of local and imported vessels.

The excavations were conducted under the direction of Professor Maria Iakovou and lasted five weeks.The aim of the archaeological project of Palaepaphos, which is run by Ms. Iakovou, is to define the urban web of the capital of the ancient kingdom of Paphos, located on the plateaus around the sanctuary of Aphrodite.

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Sergey Galyonkin License: CC-BY-SA

Near Palaepaphos (Old Paphos) at the seaside of Petra tou Romiou is the modern mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, and the founding myth is interwoven with the goddess at every level, so that Old Paphos became the most famous and important place for worshipping Aphrodite in the ancient world.

In Greco-Roman times, Paphos was the island's capital, and it is well known for the remains of the Roman governor's palace, where extensive, fine mosaics are a major tourist attraction. Paul the Apostle visited the town during the first century AD.

The town of Paphos is included in the official UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of the world's heritage.

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 measures were put on hold in response to the Greek government's proclamations on using its surplus

The Euro Working Group is expected to convene  possibly on Tuesday 20 December  in order to decide whether the reinstate the short-term debt relief measures for Greece, which were suspended after the recent Eurogroup.

These measures were suspended in response to the Greek Prime Ministers recent proclamation regarding the primary surplus. Although the Eurogroup eventually decided to put the measures on hold, the decision was not unanimous and there was significant difference of opinion among the European officials.

The ESMs Klaus Regling argued that there was concern on the proclamations, but noted that they will not affect the agreed targets for the next two years. Similarly the European Commission VP Valdis Dombrovskis stated that the issue has been blown out of proportion. Support for Greece also came from the European Commissions Pierre Moscovici, European Parliament President Martin Schulz and French President Francois Hollande.

Read more here.

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Greece's corruption prosecutors on Monday announced the launch of an investigation into the 2002 privatisation of Hellenic Shipyards in Skaramangas

Greece's corruption prosecutors on Monday announced the launch of an investigation into the 2002 privatisation of Hellenic Shipyards in Skaramangas. According to their initial findings, there are indications of significant losses for the Greek state through the sale, amounting to more than 53 million euros.

The evidence regarding the sale of the shipyards to the German-led consortium HDW/Ferrostaal will now be forwarded to the chief of the corruption prosecutors' Eleni Raikou, following evidence uncovered by Corruption Magistrate Ilianna Zamanika and assistant magistrate Giorgos Evangelou during their own investigation of defence procurement programmes.

Among others, the German consortium failed to fork up the sums promised for a share capital increase while, in what the prosecutors view as highly suspicious timing, the privatisation agreement coincided with the signature of a contract to refurbish the German submarines bought by Greece, with both signed on May 31, 2002. The investigation also showed a lack of a transparency in the tender process leading to the sale and violation of European Commission guidelines.

An earlier investigation conducted by the European Commission's Competition directorate also concluded that the Greek state had suffered losses through the sale and that HDW/Ferrostaal offer had been chosen illegally, with evidence that members of the Greek government and shipyard officials had acted to give the German consortium a clear advantage over other participants in the tender.

Among others, with full information on the shipyards financials and pending contracts, the German consortium was able to successfully bargain for trade-offs and benefits, such as buying the shipyard without liability for accrued fines, interest and other outstanding debts.

The prosecutors have not ruled out the possibility that the damage to the state may be even greater than initially estimated, especially if the goal of the privatisation was to keep the shipyard running and preserve jobs, since it was afterward allowed to fall into decline and hundreds of jobs were lost.

The investigation will focus on whether the evidence supports charges of criminal breach of faith at the expense of the public sector.

Read more here.

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The European Unions border agency Frontex on Monday took custody of five irregular migrants and returned them to Turkey for the island of Lesvos

The European Unions border agency Frontex on Monday took custody of five irregular migrants and returned them to Turkey for the island of Lesvos, as provided under the EU-Turkey agreement on illegal migration.

Three of the migrants were Pakistani nationals and the other two were from Algeria. Of the five, three had had their asylum applications turned down at appellate level and two had waived the right to apply for asylum.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Athens is among the best destinations to travel to in 2017, according to renowned Conde Nast Travellers list.

From Conde Nast Traveller:

5.Athens



Athens has always been known as an old citythats nothing new. Instead, what is new is its burgeoning status as a modern arts capital: Look no further than the recently opened, Renzo Piano-designed, $623 million Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, which houses the National Opera and the National Library of Greece, sits on the biggest park in Athens, and is the first public building in Greece to achieve a Platinum LEED certification. The National Museum of Contemporary Art also partially reopened in a renovated brewery after a 12-year closure, and in April, the city will co-host documenta, the exhibition of modern and contemporary art that takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany (its the first time the hosting duties will be split between two cities). Book a room in the shadow of the Acropolis at the new-as-of-2015 AthensWas boutique hotel, and make time for a souvlaki (or three) at O Kostas, which serves the best in town. Though its long played second fiddle to other European capitals like Rome, and merely seen as a stopover point on the way to, say, Corfu, Athens has once again arrived.

1.Canada



2.The American Midwest



3.Cuba



4.Bermuda



6.Scotland



7.Scandinavias Countryside: Norway, Finland, Sweden



8.Portugal and the Azores



9.Croatias Coast



10.Jerusalem



11.New Zealand



12.Tokyo-Kanazawa-Kyoto



13.Zimbabwe



14.Rwanda



15.Buenos Aires



16.Chilean Patagonia



17.Uruguay

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
When the Missoulians new-to-Montana editor asked, With trees everywhere on the horizon, why cant our local sawmills find enough wood to cut? it prompted Rob Chaneys excellent series on the history of the timber industry and forests in Montana.

One problem with Chaneys series, however, was his editors question, which reflected the myth that the timber industry in Montana cant find enough timber to cut. The fact that Chaney omitted is that approximately 16 percent of the total volume of timber offered up for sale during fiscal year 2016 received no bids from the timber industry. Simply put, the Forest Service offered more trees for logging than the timber industry wanted. As Chaney correctly pointed out, the timber industry has now mostly moved on to the rainy, warm southeastern United States and its fast-growing tree farms rather than the slow-growing natural forests of the dry and cold Rocky Mountains.

Chaney also wrote that: "Montana has 32,000 miles of Forest Service roads, but construction of new roads was virtually halted in 2001. A simple reading of old Missoulian articles proves road-building has not been halted in Montanas forests. For example, the East Reservoir timber sale in the Kootenai National Forest authorizes commercial logging on 8,845 acres, including clearcutting on 3,458 acres, with most of it in lynx and bull trout federally designated critical habitat. This logging project would rebuild a whopping 175 miles of roads for logging as well as building nine miles of totally new and permanent logging roads in the area. The logging plan would also add an additional 13 miles of illegal user-created roads into the legal road system and open nine miles of previously closed motorized trails.

Unfortunately, any assertion that Forest Service has somehow reformed its past get out the cut priority is erroneous. The agency, politicians and the timber industry all continue to push the myth that the timber industry is starved for timber and its the job of the publics national forests to supply it. According to them, all we have to do is get rid of pesky environmental laws and red tape, and the good old days when Missoulas air smelled like rotten eggs will be back and timber mills will proliferate.

The truth is that even if we clearcut our few remaining old growth forests, as the Forest Service, the timber industry and their political pals want, logging jobs are not coming back. Chaney offered a great explanation of how modern technology in the timber industry now requires far fewer workers when he wrote: Mechanized harvesters allow one logger to do the work of 20 in the forest The same applies in the mills. It takes fewer and fewer workers to turn a tree into a board.

While Chaney wrote about the massive clearcutting of old growth forest that occurred in the past, he didnt write about the concurrent and on-going costs to Montanas environment. Bull trout continue to decline in western Montana because the streams are choked with sediment from logging roads and clearcuts. Numerous forests no longer have fisher, bull trout or lynx because of logging. The Garnet Range, for instance, has supported lynx since the last Ice Age until the Forest Service could no longer find them after the latest timber sale. Unfortunately, not one of the hundreds of streams in Montana that were listed as polluted under the Clean Water Act by logging roads and clearcuts has been cleaned up.

The Forest Service, the timber industry, and their political allies continue to push the myth that subsidized logging cures everything simply because they want more taxpayer money from Congress. A bureaucracy always wants to get bigger and corporations always want more taxpayer-funded subsidies.

Instead of focusing on how to help the Forest Service and the tiny portion of the population and economy in the Montana timber industry we need to focus on recovering our forests from the damages of the past, curtailing the on-going environmental damage to our forests caused by the Forest Services misplaced priorities, and abandon the evil environmentalists and log shortage myths spawned by the timber industry and its political puppets.

Mike Garrity is the executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, a fifth generation Montanan and a Helena native.
British oilfield services company Petrofac said it has secured a contract worth $75 million from South Oil Company (SOC) for its Iraq Crude Oil Export Expansion Project (ICOEEP).



The one-year contract, with a one-year option, was awarded following a competitive tender and Petrofac, as the incumbent, plans to build on its four-year track record of safe and successful delivery on behalf of SOC.



Under the new agreement, Petrofac will continue to facilitate a substantial proportion of Iraqs oil export which is generated from the facility located 60 km offshore the Al Fao Peninsula in Southern Iraq.



The companys principal role is to provide operations and maintenance services for the export facilities, comprising the central metering and maintenance platform and four Single Point Moorings, and the loading of the tankers for onward transportation.



Mani Rajapathy, the managing director (Engineering & Production Services East) at Petrofac, said: "Over the last four years weve achieved some significant milestones on this project, including the export of more than 1.5 billion barrels of oil."



"We have remained focused on adding value for our client through the deployment of innovative and differentiated solutions and on working safely in a complex operating environment," noted Rajapathy.



"Earlier this year the teams celebrated achieving five million man-hours worked without a lost time incident which is testament to the safety culture that has been created on the project," he stated.



Hayan A. Abdulzahra, the director general, Southern Oil Company, said from the beginning of its relationship with Petrofac, the company has been aligned to its goals to significantly increase production from the ICOEEP facility.



"This has been realised through the teams continued focus on operational excellence and safe and innovative project execution. I look forward to continuing to meet our safety and export milestones with Petrofac as our partner," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Leading European hospitality group Langham said it has signed an agreement with Advanced Hotels Company to manage a luxury urban hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.



Strategically located within the downtown core directly across a new shopping complex and with a 360-degree view of the city and Corniche, The Langham, Jeddah is expected to open in the summer of 2018.



As the wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings, the group encompasses a family of 20 distinctive hotels under the Langham Hotels and Resorts, Cordis and Eaton brands with more than 30 projects currently either confirmed or in a developed stage of negotiation from Asia, Europe and North America to the Middle East, said a statement from Langham.



The group takes its name from the legendary Langham in London which was widely recognized as Europe's first Grand Hotel, it stated.



We are delighted to introduce the Langham brand to Jeddah as we have been searching for the ideal location in the Kingdom to add to our portfolio, remarked CEO Robert Warman.



The creative design of the hotels facade and interiors along with the luxury facilities of The Langham, Jeddah, underlined by our legendary award-winning service, will provide an exceptional destination for our guests, he stated.



Led by David TKint and his team at the Dubai office of the multiple award-winning interior design firm HBA, The Langham, Jeddah will feature classic yet elegantly contemporary furnishings - a stylistic homage to the brands heritage as one of the premier grand hotels in Europe.



Each of the 238 well-appointed rooms and 39 suites is equipped with the Langham signature Blissful bed, motorized drapes and separate large format rain showers, remarked Warman.

"Guests who prefer to live the high life may choose to stay in the opulent two-bedroom Royal Suite spanning 295 sq m with separate sitting, dining and cooking areas that allow for private entertaining, he noted.



According to him, the Langham, Jeddah will offer some of the finest dining in the city.

Headlining the multiple outlets will be a Mediterranean-inspired seafood restaurant with an open terrace; a high-end grill concept with a chefs table and a dry-aged meat locker display; traditional afternoon tea at Palm Court; a specialty lounge featuring a cigar humidor and a specially designated, air-conditioned smoking room; and the all-day dining restaurant featuring international cuisine and which may accommodate 138 guests.



Mohammed Yousef Al Hasan, the chairman and founder of Advanced Hotels Company, said: "We are proud to partner with Langham Hospitality Group to bring the impeccable service standards and unrivalled heritage from Europes first grand hotel to the city of Jeddah."



As the ideal setting for society weddings, high-level conferences, special social events and luxury product launches, The Langham, Jeddah will feature extensive banqueting and meeting space totaling in excess of 3,500 sq m.



These will include a 480-seat grand ballroom that is linked by a private elevator to a 380-seat ballroom that is located directly above the former (both outfitted with private pre-function areas for added exclusivity) a variety of adaptable conference rooms with the latest in audio visual equipment, prayer rooms, and three dedicated bridal and groom suites, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Leading Hotels of the World, one of the largest luxury hotel collections in the world, has announced the addition of eight distinctive properties from across the globe.



Leading Hotels of the World is a global hospitality consortium of more than 375 hotels and resorts in over 75 countries. With headquarters in New York, US, the company maintains offices in 25 cities worldwide.



The new hotels are Baglioni Hotel Cala del Porto (Punta Ala, Italy); Belvedere Hotel, (Mykonos, Greece); Gran Hotel Miramar, (Malaga, Spain); Hotel Emiliano, (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil); Hotel Figueroa, (Los Angeles, California); Malibu Beach Inn, (Malibu, California); The Ashbee, (Taormina, Italy); Villa Cora, (Florence, Italy).



These new members have established unmatched luxury, delivering guests a deep-rooted perspective and authentic travel experiences in their destination, said a statement from the US group.



Remarkably uncommon experiences not to miss at these properties include private yacht tours to curated wine tastings in Italy, full detox weekends in Greece and invigorating convertible drives along the Pacific Coast Highway in the US.



Deniz Omurgonulsen, VP, membership, The Leading Hotels of the World, said: We are pleased to introduce and welcome these eight new members to our collection.



Each of the properties will enhance the overall travel experience for curious travellers, while offering the prestige and allure that defines our collection, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Montanas three votes in the Electoral College went Monday to Republican nominee Donald J. Trump, as expected.

This year's proceeding was different from those in years past, with Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch allowing audience members to speak before the electors, two of whom were alternates, filled in their ballots.

Montanas electors had said before Monday they would vote for Trump. Though the odds of an Electoral College upset were minuscule, nationwide there had been calls for electors to vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton, who won the popular vote by almost 3 million, while others asked electors to select anyone but Trump.

McCulloch told those gathered that the electors were bound by Montana law to cast their vote for Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence, and she couldnt accept ballots that did otherwise.

Before electors Thelma Baker and alternates Vondene Kopetski and Becky Stockton voted, a handful of Montanans spoke in support of and against Trump. About 35 attended.

Susan Reneau, who came over from Missoula, said she was proud to stand in support of Trump. She started to say that President Barack Obama had been an abomination to our military and everything economic in our entire country before McCulloch reminded her to keep her comments positive.

Lee Malcheski, of Helena, asked the three to hold off on voting until an investigation into Russian interference in the election was made public.

McCulloch said she made the choice to allow comment, saying at other public meetings shed attended that day the audience was allowed to speak.

It is a public meeting and I believe the public should have access, she said.

Elector Nancy Ballance, a Republican state representative from Hamilton, choose Monday to let an alternate take her place. Ballance said this was because state law says lawmakers cannot hold civil office. She said electors in other states with similar laws had been threatened with legal challenges. She said she consulted with the attorney general and others over what defined a "civil office," but couldn't find a clear answer.

In my mind it wasnt worth taking a chance to have the vote thrown out later, she said.

Ballance told her grandson, Jack, 8, who spoke in support of Trump before the vote that he should look back on the day with pride.

"To my grandsons who are here today, who came to see their grandma participate in this historic event, I say to them, 'When we look back and America is truly great again, we will know that we were part of something bigger than ourselves.'"

Controversial elector Dennis Scranton, from Miles City, did not attend. McCulloch did not say why. Parts of Interstate 90, which is between Helena and Miles City, were closed due to a blizzard the last few days.

Scranton, 92, had made comments disparaging gay marriage on a Facebook post earlier this year. He told The Billings Gazette in November, misstating his age: Dont forget, Im 93 years old. I come from a different era. I hadnt heard of anyone being homosexual until I joined the Navy, and then I encountered them. We were raised with good morals.

Elector Thelma Baker, the only nonalternate to vote Monday, said she received hundreds of phone calls and emails, both from those who supported Trump and people calling on her to cast her vote for someone else. About 75 percent of those who telephoned, Baker said, told her they didnt vote in the election.

This is Bakers fifth electoral vote. She said she received some comment before the 2000 election in which Republican George W. Bush won the electoral college but lost the popular vote to Democrat Al Gore, but received no comments in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Alternate Thomas Tuck also did not come to the vote. If enough electors had not shown up, McCulloch said, she would have had to appoint someone from the audience.

Protest rally

Earlier Monday morning, 30 protesters gathered on the steps of Montanas Capitol ahead the states electors casting their votes.

I fear his skill with public speaking and charisma with a crowd has blinded people to elect someone who is not truly qualified, the Rev. Cathy Barker said. There are serious questions about the Russian involvement, hes refused to share his taxes, his conflicts of interest and his integrity. These things break my heart.

Standing in a circle in 20-degree temperatures, the protesters struck a somber tone as they voiced their fears about a Trump administration, including climate change denial and nuclear weapons policy, sexual-assault allegations and foreign business interests.

The liberal media, one protester said facetiously, failed to investigate Trump sufficiently.

Jon Gengler of Helena said he wanted to challenge the assertion that Trumps win was either historic or a mandate, pointing to his loss of the popular vote and average margin in the Electoral College.

While he hoped to reach Montanas electors, Gengler said he spoke to anyone who would listen, including Trump supporters.

Radical individuals believe Trump speaks for them, and he must show that he is not willing to accept the support of racists or other exclusionary groups for political gain, he said.
As 2016 is wrapping up with mixed emotions, some people are packing up happily for 2017. There is a predicted decline in Economy fares for short haul trips of 3% while a 1.5% decline is predicted for long haul trips.

There is also a predicted decline in hotel rates in Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa. With these predictions, travellers are setting their sights on these locations as cheap travel destinations for 2017.

First on the list is Amsterdam, featured in the 2004 movie "EuroTrip," Amsterdam has been a destination for freedom of expression. Traveling to Amsterdam is made cheap with budget offers from trans-Atlantic airlines during the turn of 2017. Hotels in Amsterdam give budget-friendly deals during the off-season. The Hilton Amsterdam Hotel offers rooms for $180 per night while The Dylan has packages that can save up to 45%.

Next is Madeira which is found in Portugal, around 750 miles away from Lisbon. This destination is famous throughout the year but is cheaper during the winter due to cooler temperatures. A two-bedroom home averages $650 a week while 4 to 5 star hotels cost for $100 a night.

For travellers straight from the US, Mazatlan in Mexico is one of the cheapest destinations for 2017 with its exchange rate of $1 for 20.69 Mexican pesos at the time this is written. Considered as the shrimp capital of Mexico, a diversity of dishes are accessible. Most of Mazatlan's hotels are not part of huge chains making it affordable up to $100 for a family of four.

Last on the list and the most cost-efficient is South Africa. Now with a more developed tourism infrastructure, it has become a prominent tourist destination. Using Uber to go from one place to another can only cost up to $20 dollars in total. Locally produced wines come at around the cost of a can of soda. While luxurious hotels in New York cost around $700, a similar level of luxiry costs around $250 in South Africa.

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New Zealand is one of the most mystical islands that are nearly situated in Australia. For four consecutive years, New Zealand has been named as the best place to visit and the favourite destination of the year. Travel readers don't need much time to disagree of not visiting New Zealand this 2017. This country has been blessed with spectacular hot springs, mountain scenery that is really breath catching, and of course tasty wines and foods, too.

Here are among those five breath taking locations to go in New Zealand this 2017. Have your bucket list ready for this another amazing adventure!

1. Cathedral Cove - This is one of the most popular places because the Chronicles of Narnia's music video was shot in this place. This is a beautiful marine reserve location where you can enjoy different kinds of adventure. You can select among kayaking, snorkelling, and hiking among its hotspots. After your busy day, this is definitely an amazing cove to check out.

2. The Bay of Islands - This is at the far north of New Zealand's little paradise. The Bay of Islands has beautiful and clear beaches, adorable small towns that are also historic, and of course you can find abundance of sea life like whales and dolphins.

3. Waitomo Caves - This is ideally one of the cave systems in New Zealand and is definitely a must-visit next year. It has glow-worms, stalactites and stalagmites which will give you an amazing experience inside the cave. Your cave tour will normally range from 45 minutes of walk and into an extremely 7 hour of abseiling and waterfall climbing tour.

4. Tongariro National Park - This is New Zealand's oldest national park. This is also known as one of the best scenic sites in the country. You can try hiking on its alpine crossing. There are also plenty of religious sites if you want to learn more about their local wildlife.

5. Fox Glaciers - It is definitely one of the best places to go when you wish to see amazing glaciers formation. You can also hire a helicopter in order to find an amazing view from the top, too.

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2016 has seen quite a number of aviation accidents, but, on the same note, the air travel also gives us something to look forward to. Picturesque skies, dazzling coasts, majestic mountains await passengers while they prepare for landing. In no particular order, here are the most scenic landings in the world.

The Malta International Airport catches the attention of the passengers with its good blend of blue (seas), green (mountains), brown (rocks) and cream (temples and buildings) colors viewed from top angle. As a matter of fact, Malta topped this year's survey by PrivateFly for the most scenic landings in the world.

While it is precarious to land here, Courchevel Altiport manages to attract travellers because of its location in the heart of the French Alps. The five-minute touch down provides thrill and challenge to a limited few as access to this airport is highly restricted.

Next is the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in Canada. It is an island airport that lets it guests see the Toronto Skyline in daylight and in dark skies.

Another scenic airport landing that should not be missed is The Gibraltar International Airport. The airplane passes an intersection of busy cars and the approach offers a view of the enormous Rock of Gibraltar. Although, the approach poses a risk, because of its location, the landing experience is one of a kind. Recently, a footage was taken of a Monarch airline struggling to make a landing at the airport.

Last is the London City Airport in the UK. Because it is closest to Central London, this approach gives a sight of the city such as Thames, Canary Wharf, The Shard, London Eye and many more landmarks.

Airplane landings do not have to be frightening or boring. Make sure to reserve a seat by the window to capture these most scenic views.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
For so many years, there were hundreds of speculations and deliberations about the facts and evidences if UFOs were real, or have they truly landed on earth, or do they still exist these very days. One report will surely blow your mind for whats real or whats not. It is about the mysterious resort in Taiwan.

According to Express UK, in Sanzhi Pod City in Taiwan, there was a constructed resort, a holiday resort sort of building to be clear. However, no one would dare go anyplace close to it. It was constructed in 1978, the UFO formed houses were premeditated for US armed officers and rich Taiwanese visitors. But then, the holiday sojourn was doomed before it had the chance to welcome any guests.

The building on the colorful pods was uninhibited after successions of mysterious unexplainable deaths. For so many years, the location has turn out to be the subject of collusion theories, decoying tourists with its shady travel site appeal. Residents were certain of the resort was constructed on a interment ground for Dutch territorial armies, which has led them to assert the place is spooky.

The construction staffs way back 1970s protested of encounters with apparition of ghosts as the time of stay on the location. After the suicides of numerous workers, no one has ever had any signs of depression or downheartedness, and a series of strange deadly car coincidences, the resort was held to shut down in 1980.

Also, according to Daily Mail, the houses were uninhibited in 1980 after savings losses by developers Hung Kuo Group due to numerous inexplicable deaths. Apparently, these old-fashioned ultramodern building styles were prevalent at that time, but the value was quite expensive that they unsuccessfully traded most of the units. The holiday resort was demolished around 2010 and not a dash of it remains, so the mist of unknown hanging over the story will to be expected never be cleared.

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If you really want to know more about the city you're visiting, make sure to try their street food, or local cuisine cooked by small-time vendors and are commonly located parked along a city's streets.

In Southeast Asia, some countries stand out the most when it comes to street food. Delicious and inexpensive, if you decide to travel all over Southeast Asia for the best street food of your life, then make sure to take note of these places:

Saigon, Vietnam. The most popular street food of Vietnam is their noodle soup called Pho. Steaming bowls of this savory dish are served everywhere in Vietnam, bust most commonly in the North. This dish is made using flat rice noodles, with a really excellent broth which non-locals can't seem to duplicate. Considered as one of the most delicious noodle soups in the world, only the Viets know the secret to the unique, savory taste of their broth. Common toppings for this soup include beef or chicken, with spring onions and bean sprouts.

Penang, Malaysia. Penang is a world-class destination when it comes to street food. The mixed culture of Malaysia gave way to their succulent street food cuisine and can be traced to their Malay and Chinese roots. Because of this CNN featured Penang as one of Asia's greatest cities for street food.Take a walk at the city center and you'll get to see multiple stalls line up filled with several street food choices like Penang Assam Laksa, Lor Bak, Char Kway Teow, Nasi Kandar, etc.

Bangkok,Thailand. The beautiful city of Bangkok not only amazes with their rich culture, but their street food also tops the must-experience food list of every traveler. There is a place in Bangkok called Jatuchak Weekend Market that you should definitely check out for an epic street food experience. Some of their vendors' specialty dishes are Som Tam, Pad Thai, and Tom Yum.

Manila, Philippines. Filipino cuisine is starting to get worldwide recognition, and their street food is no exception. When you visit Manila, you will normally see street food vendors walking in the streets, offering tasty snacks and exotic street food. The most popular ones are Balut, Isaw, Taho, Banana Cue, Fish Balls, and lots more.

These are just some of the best places to visit for street food in Southeast Asia. Make sure to check them out and bring your travel food buddies with you.

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One you're in the Big Apple, you think spending big is the thing in New York City. However, you can enjoy yourself in immersing holiday activities that are available for free. From attractions to art and theaters, tell that nega mind of yours to stop worrying about the moolah.

The Union Square Holiday Market. A trip to a European-style market will get you toasty and warm especially when you're with friends. There's no entrance fee upon going to the place, but since it's a market area, you will be tempted to buy holiday gifts and items. Not to mention, there are food booths around the vicinity.

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. You can get to gawk at the ice rink for free, but if you want to skate, you have to spend $20. But spending time with your most favorite people in the world is enough when you're there. Except when you're hungry. There are booths and restaurants you can visit and gulp their chunks.

The Prose Bowl. Share a piece of your writing and get critiqued by local writers and comedians. Registration is for free. If they like you to the end, you'll get a free drink. So, head over to Pete's Candy Store in Williamsburg. It ends on December 20. Will you be writing something about Christmas? "Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house," No, no, no. That's plagiarism.

The Kings of Karaoke. You really can't be celebrating Christmas without karaoke nights. In Alligator Lounge, Williamsburg, you can sing your hearts out (or cheer that friend who wants to sing) for free. It will start on the eve of Christmas up to the eve of New Year. If you buy a drink, you get a free pizza. So, come on and sing. It's not about singing well. It's about singing badly together.

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The holiday season is just a few days away and many have excitedly set their schedules for travel with family, friends and even maybe solo. An estimated number of more than 103 million Americans will be on a journey to celebrate the festive season from December 23 up to January 2.

American Automobile Association has been monitoring the data since 2001 and this year seems to be the hit-breaker. The reasons for the whopping increase of travellers going on a trip could be attributed to the main factor which is the economic progress of the country. The forecast shows an addition of 1.5 million travellers from last year's statistics.

In a press release, the AAA President and CEO Marshall Doney have stated that, "Rising incomes and continued low gas prices should make for a joyous holiday travel season." In the data, 93.6 million Americans will travel by car because of the low price of gas. Some would board a plane. Although not as high as the other rates, some would hit the buses, trains and cruises.

As expected, majority of the Americans will head to the cities of Los Angeles, Orlando, Denver, Las Vegas, Chicago, New York, Seattle and Miami. This information was culled by Orbitz and published on their Ultimate Holiday Guide (Holidata). The Grand Park and Santa Monica's Main Street await vacationers who would like to spend their New Year Countdown in Los Angeles. For children and young teens, The Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and LINQ Las Vegas could be a great holiday destination.

Christmas and New Year both fall on a Sunday and so airports and roadways will surely be overflowing with passengers. Everyone is cautioned by AAA to gear up and prepare accordingly to avoid any mishaps this yuletide season. It is indeed the time to be in high spirits and in high tolerance.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
The Star Wars phenomenon is still taking the world by storm, as tons of movies and spin-offs are still widely publicized today. And in a Polish town called Wejherowo, they even have a Darth Vader statue.

But locals didn't really make a Darth Vader statue from scratch. In Saint James Square, there stood a Wejhera statue in honor of the city's founder.

Jakuba Wajhera was a 17th-century Polish nobleman and military leader who founded the Polish town of Wejherowo on May 28, 1643. Some of his battles were fought in the Smolensks War, the Russo-Polish War and the Chmielnicki Uprising. Because of this, the town's inhabitants dedicated his own statue at St. James Square in his honor.

But during a blizzard in January, locals noticed a transformation to the Wajhera statue. The snow apparently made it look like Darth Vader, pointed out by the local Star Wars fans. Now, every time it snows, people notice the magical transformation, and the news spread in other parts of the world like wildfire, making the statue an internet celebrity.

Last Thursday, a Star Wars celebration was held in the city, and with that they made use of the statue as part of their gatherings. They dressed up the Wajhera statue in the complete outfit of Darth Vader-complete with his cape, chest plate and iconic helmet.

With the transformation of the statue as Darth Vader, it really looked like the legit statue of the famous Star Wars villain. Tons of people took selfies and posted it on the internet, with the delight of other Star Wars fans.

The Star Wars Celebration in Wejherowo was called ForceCon, and tons of Star Wars related activities were enjoyed that day, including a special screening of the latest movie Star Wars: Rogue One in their theaters, and some people dressed up as Stormtroopers and visited the local children's hospital.

The transformation to the Wajhera statue is not permanent, but the local Star Wars fans can still witness his transformation to Darth Vader every time it snows. The dark force indeed, lives on.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
BUTTE -- Butte area lawmakers are eyeing several initiatives heading into Montanas 2017 legislative session, from making health care more affordable to upgrading school buildings to staving off invasive mussels that threaten Montanas lakes and rivers.

And with backing from at least one Republican lawmaker from southwest Montana, Buttes delegation of Democrats will try once again to land funding for a long-sought retirement home for military veterans.

It was part of a final bonding and funding bill in 2015 that included $150 million for local infrastructure projects and state buildings but fell one vote short of passage in the final hours of the session.

We let our veterans down last time, said Senate Minority Leader Jon Sesso, D-Butte.

Republican Jeff Welborn of Dillon, who was in the House last session but elected to the Senate in November, said he would support the project once again. It has been in the works for several years now, with money being the last remaining hurdle.

How do you put a price on their service to our country? Welborn said. I feel it is that important, and we need to get this thing done.

Republicans will drive much of the agenda again since they kept sizable majorities in both chambers in the Nov. 8 election. But Democrat Gov. Steve Bullock won re-election too, and his veto power gives him significant clout.

And outnumbered Democrats have managed to join with enough Republicans to get some major initiatives through, including an expansion of the Medicaid program last session. But declining tax revenues have eaten into the states reserves, leaving little extra cash to spend.

Democrat Jim Keane, who is moving from the Senate to the House, said hes hopeful an infrastructure package will pass. There is a better willingness to get that done, he said, because efforts failed in 2013 and 2015.

But before you get the discussion going on that, you have to discuss the budget, Keane said. There is no money. There is no excess money right now, and we will have to get our hands around that.

Keane said one issue that must be addressed is the potential spread of invasive aquatic mussels. Testing has confirmed larvae from mussels in the Tiber Reservoir, and suspected positive tests in Canyon Ferry Reservoir and parts of the Missouri River and Milk River are still being analyzed.

If we have mussels in the state of Montana, we have one major problem, Keane said. It would be devastating. We are going to have to figure out how to fund better programs and fund the continued analysis and testing for them.

Sesso is seeking changes to floodplain laws that unnecessarily restrict small environmental restoration projects, such as one for Blacktail Creek that would allow fish to swim into the Highlands.

He said he also is intrigued with the idea of allowing Montana cities with a resort tax to increase it if the money went to affordable housing programs for workers who provide tourism services in those communities.

And lawmakers -- having expanded Medicaid to more Montanans last session -- need to address another side of that issue, he said.

We have got to look at every mechanism we can to bring the costs of health care down, so I will personally be taking a keen interest in any legislation that seeks to do that, Sesso said.

Rep. Amanda Curtis, D-Butte, returns to the Legislature after two years away and is sponsoring a school infrastructure bill that came out of an interim committee on education funding. It would provide $10 million to help schools get new roofs or make other building upgrades.

I think it distributes the money in a fair way for students so small schools can still get enough money to get something done and give everyone a little slice of the pie, Curtis said.

Although Gov. Bullocks infrastructure package includes $16.8 million in bonding for a state veterans home in Butte, Rep. Ryan Lynch, D-Butte, will carry another measure for the Butte delegation in a separate bill.

That bill would arrange a state loan of up to $10 million to build the home, to be combined with $5 million in previously committed state funds. The loan would be secured in part with a federal funding commitment and would be repaid in full when the U.S. Veterans Administration provides its share of the money.

Lynch got a hearing on a similar bill in 2015, and more than 20 veterans and those with veteran organizations spoke in favor of it. There are only two other state veterans homes in Montana  one in Columbia Falls 232 miles from Butte and one in Glendive 437 miles away.

We have been working with local veterans to get a little bit more organized this time, Lynch said.

Although enacting a solid, healthy budget was important, Lynch said, the veterans home was his top priority.

The session begins Jan. 2.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is suing Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and related companies for intentionally installing defeat devices in 2,400 light duty diesel vehicles registered in the state.

The devices remove, alter or render inoperative pollution control devices required by federal law and produce emissions five to 40 times the federal emission limits for nitrogen oxides in each of the vehicles operated.

The EPA in September 2015 announced the German automaker had rigged some of its diesel vehicles to only control emissions during laboratory testing. The program affected vehicles manufactured from 2009 to 2015, accounting for half a million cars in the U.S.

DEQ says the actions violate the Clean Air Act of Montana. The lawsuit says that violating the act is subject to a penalty of $10,000 and that each day a vehicle with the device operated in Montana is a separate violation. Its unclear the amount that would total.

Volkswagen has partially settled with most states, including Montana, over violations of consumer protection laws. Attorney General Tim Fox will file paperwork soon in that action asking the company to pay the state $1,100 per vehicle sold or leased prior to Sept. 18, 2015, according to the suit.

Montana has four VW dealerships and one Audi leadership, the suit says. Most of the 2,400 vehicles the suit says have the defeat devices were sold there, according to the suit.

The suit said Volkswagen intentionally decided to cheat and develop software to make its vehicles appear more fuel-efficient and low-polluting than they actually were in order to sell more cars.

In October a group of three Montanans who purchased affected vehicles sued the company. The group included Missoula attorney Kristine Akland, Richard Manning and Tracy Stone-Manning, formerly director of DEQ and now Gov. Steve Bullock's' chief of staff.

The DEQ suit was filed in Lewis and CLark County District Court on Thursday. The state is prepared by Norman Mullen, a special assistant to the attorney general.

A DEQ spokeswoman Monday said the violation was "egregious enough to file suit." The suit came now, she said, because it took that long to investigate and complete the filing.
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Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 18

Deputy chief warden Surjit Sharma has been doing yeoman service for the district administration in fields of Civil Defence, disaster management, besides resolving matrimonial disputes for the past few decades.

A 1970 pass out from the Science Department of Khasla College, he was given a centre for preparing ex-servicemen for self employment under a scheme of the Union government in 1978. For the next 20 years he trained ex-servicemen in repairing televisions. This association brought him closure with the district administration. He has been voluntarily discharging services in disaster management and settling matrimonial dispute.

How has been your association with Civil Defence?

I joined Civil Defence in 1971 after finding it a good platform to render selfless service with immense potential to learn. I worked as the youngest divisional warden in the 1971 Indo-Pak war in the district. I still remember to have participated in the rescue operation at Loharka village after an enemy fighter plane dropped bombs there.

Did Civil Defence also work during the militancy period?

Yes, volunteers of Civil Defence provided first aid to victims of bomb blasts and took part in rescue operations. They also collected data of nearly 1.75 lakh outsiders staying in the city in 1998-1999.

Which is the most significant contribution of Civil Defence to society at large during the militancy period?

It was extremely painful that many depot holders indulged in hoarding, besides black marketing of grains and kerosene oil. These used to be disbursed under the Public Distribution Scheme. Civil Defence was brought on the scene after the problem was brought to notice of the district administration. The Food and Civil Supply Department used to send message of the impending supply of essential food grains and kerosene oil at the Civil Defence control room. The message was further relayed by the control room to warden of the area concerned, who used to keep a check on the distribution of food grains to common people.

What major task accomplished by Civil Defence has been forgotten by the public?

Civil Defence had carried out an epic proportional work of replacing old lavatories, which required night soiling. The system of collecting excreta and disposing it off was inhuman and below human dignity. We as volunteers persuaded people to switch over to new toilets with flush in their houses. Volunteers collected maps of washrooms from houses in their area and got them passed from the Municipal Corporation in the seventies.

Which important work has been done by Civil Defence in the city recently?

In September, October and November, as many as 800 volunteers, drawn from various professions in government schools, were trained in as many as nine batches to respond to any man-made disaster, including dropping of explosive material by even enemy fighter planes, first aid, rescue operation, structure of Civil Defence, boosting morale of people, identification of outsiders, unknown persons and neighborhood watch.

How did you become a part of disaster management?

Earthquake at Bhuj in Gujarat and other natural calamities in the country prompted the government to set up disaster management cells in every district. In 2003, I attended earthquake vulnerability reduction programme. Gradually, I started teaching the same to volunteers at Red Cross.

I attended a week-long disaster management programme for school safety, organised by National Institute for Disaster Management, New Delhi. Subsequently, I imparted training to the staff and students of 50 schools in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts.

Since, schools are most vulnerable to any man-made and natural disaster, my thrust was to perpetually prepare the school staff and volunteers. Hence came the idea of constituting committees of disaster management and response teams in every school. I strongly feel that every school must have a disaster management plan and response teams to mitigate the risk of any eventuality.

When did you move towards resolving matrimonial disputes?

The then district police chief asked me to meddle in resolving matrimonial disputes in 1999, whose office was housed on the premises of  DAV Public School and Bhavans Sl Public School  the two private schools. I was provided one teacher, one lady police officer and a member of the Police Advisory Committee.

In 2010, Community Police Resource Centre was established in the city. I continue to hold meetings with complainants twice a week.

How is counselling and resolving marital disputes better than other legal methods?

There are as many as 1.75 lakh matrimonial disputes lying pending in various courts of the country. In matrimonial disputes, time plays an important role like timely administering medicines to a patient. Prolong delay and snapping of communication play havoc and disintegrate marriage. We stress on resolving disputes in marriage amicably.

What are reasons behind marriage failure?

Failure to plan is a plan to failure, which is the root cause of a marriage going haywire. Various reasons for a matrimonial discord include poverty, illiteracy, minimum exposure, addiction, greed, ego, crumbling of joint family system and others. All these lead to matrimonial discords in the city.
Anil Sarin

The effects of demonetisation are still reverberating through the system. Most Indians are feeling avenged and validated while a small minority of undeserving rich is putting up a brave face. Many of us have become instant economists and many more are now conspiracy theorists. While the general public plays guessing games about Modis next move, investment managers are confronting an excruciating dilemma.

The law of unintended consequences has kicked in and has overturned the rules of investing in India. Let me explain how  until Monday, a good investment had many or all of the following attributes; the company should be selling to end-consumers (B2C), it should ideally not be involved with or owned by the government (not B2G), it should be into retail sales and not into bulk sales to industrial customers (not B2B) and it should have pricing power (negligible working capital). Therefore, consumption-oriented companies, financial services companies, private sector banks etc would do very well in the stock market. However, over the past three trading days an entirely new paradigm is evolving.

In this ongoing cash crunch, payment channels have got clogged, and this is leading to demand curtailment. In an environment of uncertainty, threats and conspiracy theories, people prefer to lie low. What we need to ascertain is whether this is a temporary demand deferral or something more permanent. We broadly agree that most of the current logjam is merely demand deferral. What we are unclear about, however, is the extent of permanent demand destruction. Think about a scenario  bulk of Indian manufacturing is in the informal sector. Almost all of the jobs that were created in the past decade have been in the informal sector. We know that informal sector operates on thin margins, often using tax arbitrage (unpaid taxes) as its competitive advantage. With tax avoidance becoming difficult, many of these SMEs would go out of business. If such a scenario comes to pass, then would it not lead to widespread unemployment? If yes, then wouldnt the business of consumer goods companies suffer? With many of these recently unemployed people returning to their villages, rural demand could take a hit.

So what the market fears is some level of demand destruction at the top and bottom of the pyramid. Amid this kind of uncertainty, the equity market is taking the less-risky approach of selling stocks of companies operating in these spaces. As the market waits for clarity to emerge, few changes are already becoming discernible.

Investors seem to be changing their orientation. Infrastructure companies are expected to do well, betting on judicious use of the confiscated black money. Long working capital cycle is no longer a deterrent, as it gets balanced against a bulging order book. Dealing with the government is desirable now, since government is the only source of demand in these difficult times. Capital goods or engineered good suppliers are becoming more attractive, since they serve the burgeoning infrastructure sector. Within financial services (NBFCs), companies that deal with other corporate would do well, while NBFCs that deal with retail customers are expected to suffer demand destruction. So infrastructure-focused NBFCs are holding on to their share prices, while retail focused players are seeing steep falls in value. Even within banks, government-owned banks are doing well, while shares of blue chip private sector banks are suffering declines. Export-oriented companies in the organised sector still remain attractive, while smaller and labour-intensive exporters face headwinds.

Less than 10 days ago, nobody imagined that B2G and B2B would become desirable, even as B2C becomes suspect. Welcome to a brave new world.

The writer is Chief Investment Officer (CIO)  Equity, Edelweiss Global Asset Management. The views expressed in this article are his own
Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 18

Amid minor incidents of violence, the city witnessed 57.19 per cent polling in 25 of the 26 wards in the Municipal Corporation elections held today.

The UT State Election Commission did not release the figures of Ward No. 7 and ordered re-polling in booth number 14 at the Anganwari Centre in Ward No. 7 Maloya. The re-polling will take place between 8 am and 5 pm tomorrow.

Ward No. 7 comprises Maloya and western part of Sector 39. An official said the re-polling had been ordered as the polling held today was vitiated to such an extent that the result at this polling booth cannot be ascertained. Sources said the number of votes cast had exceeded the number of voters (685) at the booth. The Election Commission called a meeting of all candidates at the UT Guest House late tonight to discuss the issue.

In 25 wards, 2,90,330 voters exercised their franchise. There are a total of 5,07,623 in the 26 wards in the city.

The total voting percentage in all 26 wards is likely to cross 60 per cent tomorrow after the re-polling in Maloya.

The counting of votes will take place on December 20 and the results will be declared the same day.

Incidents of scuffle were reported from Sector 32, Burail, Sector 47 and Sector 25. Problems in EVMs were reported from Mauli Colony, Ram Darbar and Sector 25. Voters in different parts of the city complained of slow voting. They accused the election staff of wasting time.

Supporters gave a tough time to the police in Ward No. 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 23, 24 and 26 where tension prevailed throughout the day. The police had to intervene several times to ward off supporters of rival groups to avoid a clash. BJP MP Kirron Kher and Congress leader Pawan Bansal, along with their leaders, kept boosting their supporters near polling booths.

Mobile phones not allowed inside booths

Mobiles were not allowed inside the booths. Even voters were not allowed to take phones inside. City BJP president Sanjay Tandon expressed displeasure over the move. Most booths did not have wheelchairs for the physically challenged.

Candidates engage autos, e-rickshaws

Candidates had arranged auto-rickshaws, private vehicles and e-rickshaws to bring voters to polling booths from their home. Requesting anonymity, a candidate said he had arranged 25 private vehicles and 20 auto-rickshaws.

Names missing on voter list

Around 10 voters in Colony No. 4 said their names were there in the voter slip, but when they entered the polling booth, their names were not there in the voter list. They could not exercise their franchise, they lamented.

Voting was on till 8.45 pm in Maloya

Voters cast their ballot till 8.45 pm in a polling booth in Maloya village, which falls under Ward No. 7. Voters had entered the premises by 5 pm and cast their votes till 8.45 pm.
Ishrat S Banwait

Chandigarh, December 18

A majority of polling stations in the city did not have any single wheelchair or volunteers to help the differently abled to the polling stations today. While the guidelines say that a wheelchair and a volunteer should be available to assist voters at every polling station, it was missing from a majority of the wards.

The differently abled had to bring along with them their family members for the same. In some wards like in Maloya, the police officials were helping the differently abled persons.

Vijay, a differently abled voter at Sector 52 had come along with his relative and expressed displeasure at the arrangements. There is no facility for us here; it makes me feel very bad. He added that on many polling stations, there were no ramps which added to their problems.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19

Nearly three months after the Punjab and Haryana High Court took suo motu cognisance of a news report carried in these columns on Panjab Universitys financial troubles, the Bench today made it clear to the University Grants Commission that Rs 40 crore was required to be released before the month-end.

As the case came up for resumed hearing this afternoon, the Bench of Justice SS Saron and Justice Lisa Gill was told that the UGC had sanctioned Rs 44 crore. The minutes of a meeting between the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, the University Grants Commission and the PU Vice-Chancellor were also placed before the Bench.

During the course of the hearing, Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover, however, objected to the decisions that were taken after the details of the meeting were presented before the Bench. Grover said some of the issues were never discussed. The assertion led the Bench to remark that the idea behind holding the meeting was to resolve the issues with unanimity, and not to come out with ex parte instructions.

Speaking for the Bench, Justice Saron told the Punjab state counsel: Let the university be shut down and order it to be auctioned as a hotel. The issue is of control and not finances. Let Punjab colleges be affiliated with Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University and other universities and close the PU.

Taking note of Grovers assertion that the university was not having a penny to pay the staff, the Bench recorded the UGC counsels submissions that a decision had been taken to release Rs 44 crore, which became due in the last quarter.

The PU was represented by senior advocate Girish Agnihotri and Bhuwan Vats. Agnihotri, on a previous date of hearing, said the institution was staring at a deficit of no less than Rs 101 crore.

Justice Mahesh Grover of the High Court had earlier asserted that Panjab Universitys stakeholders were constantly obstructing its efforts to be declared a Central University. Justice Grover had asserted its stakeholders had done little to share the financial burden, and its declaration as a Central University could possibly have ameliorated the situation.

In his detailed note, Justice Grover had asserted evidently if the doom was predicted so soon, the institution must be in a state of decay already. Referring to the Vice-Chancellors statement on the university being in the hands of the mafia, Justice Grover had added it, too, could not be wished away. The cumulative impact of both statements would invite the concern of all associated with the premium institution.
MK Bhadrakumar

AN yearender on the governments record in foreign policy during 2016 makes a sad story of missed opportunities. The government raised high expectations when it came to power. But all that spin doctors can claim halfway through the governments term is that under PM Modis leadership India behaves like a big power and that its prestige is soaring sky-high. Airy claims create a false sense of euphoria, whereas in actuality, 2016 is ending on a sombre note. The lingering image of India in the world opinion today is of a bumbling government that cannot provide national currency for the day-to-day life of citizens.

Assertiveness in foreign policy is meaningless if it is not respected. Assertiveness per se is futile unless there is total clarity about objectives, and is backed by comprehensive national power. The Modi governments objectives remain unclear. What does it hope to achieve? Arguably, assertiveness in the conduct of inter-state relations is also becoming meaningless in the multipolar world setting in an era of globalisation where countries big and small are conscious of multiple choices available to them in the pursuit of their national interest, and diligently exercise strategic autonomy.

India historically enjoyed high standing on the world stage and its soft power has been the source of particular strength in contemporary forums such as G-20. Where is it that the Modi government hopes to make a difference? Is it in pursuit of regional hegemony? Is it to instil fear and awe among others? Is it to extract unilateral advantages out of them? Of course, in the final analysis, what dividends, if any, an assertive foreign policy could gain for India in the past one year? There are no easy answers here. The assertive foreign policy ends up as grandstanding to project a contrived picture of virility of leadership that might otherwise get exposed as mediocre.

There is no shred of evidence that the governments assertive foreign policies impressed any of Indias smaller neighbours. Alas, the year is ending with the snub administered by Dhaka a week ago, which cancelled at the last minute the visit by PM Sheikh Hasina to India on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the liberation of the then East Pakistan, timed to honour our soldiers who were martyred in the 1971 War. Again, despite the surgical strikes across the LoC with Pakistan, terrorist attacks on Indian military bases have continued. In retrospect, the government got it all wrong vis-a-vis Pakistan. The policy vacuum is buried under the drift between coercion and episodic engagement.

On the whole, the foreign policy has been characterised by an excessive focusing on Indias relations with the US. But the actual gains of the US-centric foreign policy remain debatable. Clearly, the logistics agreement works to the US advantage. The status of major defence partner boils down to the US selling more weapons to India (at the asking price, of course). The bottom line is that the government tripped on the delicate global dynamics in contemporary world politics. There has been an inevitable blowback insofar as the perceived closeness to the US affected Indias ties with both Russia and China. In the myopia over assertiveness, the government turned a blind eye on the US containment strategies against Russia and China, which eventually pushed the two big powers into an entente that holds disconcerting implications for India.

Most certainly, 2016 stands out as the defining moment when contradictions began appearing in Indias relations with Russia for the first time, since Nikita Khrushchev visited our country in 1954. The tectonic plates of the time-tested relationship have started shifting. This unwarranted alienation is happening largely due to the neglect of strategic dialogue with Moscow. Perceptions matter in politics and India is conveying the impression of calibrated jettisoning of its foreign-policy moorings. The PMs decision to skip the NAM Summit in Venezuela alone was laden heavily with symbolism. India is free to redefine its concept of non-alignment and must indeed adapt to changing circumstances, but why should the PM signal such disdainful disinterest in a historical process that underscored the countrys independent foreign policies? NAM is a unique platform bringing together 120 countries. Indias retreat works to Pakistans advantage. Isnt Pakistan doing rather well with constructive engagement of China, US and Russia alike?

We are witnessing a period of regression in Sino-Indian normalisation. The hard-won predictability in India-China relations during the UPA era is in jeopardy. Indias gravitation toward the US rebalance strategy in Asia, its unwarranted insertion into South China Sea issues and its obsessive interest to form strategic triangles with countries based on antipathies toward rising China  these are illogical moves. China has hardened its stance on issues of vital interest to India. China is our biggest neighbour  unlike America or Japan  and our Asia-Pacific policies should have factored this compelling reality.

Indeed, an excessive preoccupation with geopolitics costs India dearly. How does it matter if the region is called Indo-Pacific rather than Asia-Pacific for yet another generation? What if the benign outlook of Look East had continued? The foreign policy priority at the present juncture of Indias development should have been to create a conducive external environment so that we remain focussed on economic diplomacy to leverage the Indian market when the economy is showing appreciable growth rate, with a view to create jobs for youth in really big numbers. Ironically, this was what the PM himself had promised in 2014.

As 2016 draws to a close, India is ill-equipped to adjust to the emergent realities of a possible US retrenchment in Asia. The pivot to Asia is unravelling and Donald Trumps approach is to robustly negotiate one-on-one with China the terms of future engagement. A new type of relations between the two great powers will emerge. China is an indispensable partner for Americas prosperity and global influence. Suffice it to say, India is entering unchartered waters. The assertive regional policies were predicated on a strategic paradigm that turns out to be delusional.

The writer is a former ambassador
Jayshree Sengupta

RECENTLY, the US Presidentelect Donald Trump said, Buy American and hire American. He made the loss of American jobs due to outsourcing and globalisation a big election issue. His protectionist slogan, if translated into policy, will however have a dampening effect on developing country exports.

PM Modis Make in India campaign also aims at job creation. Apart from aiming at creating factory jobs, proper infrastructure can create many jobs in rural areas. In India today, many young people leave their rural homes to earn a living in big cities but end up becoming daily wage labourers, mostly at construction sites. Many are from very skilled weaver, potter, leather working castes. Instead of practicing their craft, the lure of the urban draws them towards towns and cities.

Some years ago, I met very skilled Baluchari sari weavers in Vishnupur who had become potato sellers in nearby Singur and Kolkata out of necessity. Baluchari saris with their intricate woven patterns in silk were very expensive to boot, hence demand was stagnant. There was little work for half the month for the weavers.

India should be proud of its millions of handicraft workers who are fast disappearing. We could become like the US where handcrafted products are only available in museum-like stores costing a fortune. The machine age and the digital age with its 3D printing has eliminated the human touch from most products.

In fact, many products are manufactured in India that are untouched by hand. We, with more than a billion pair of hands, should avoid making anything that is untouched by human hands. Why should we not advertise instead Made entirely by human hands or Hand-made in India.

With better consciousness about the ecological damage caused by Chinese factories to their own water and soil, China would be more than willing to buy hand-made goods from India. Trump may also be impressed with Indian hand-made products that have not snatched away any American jobs. True, artisanal products have many imperfections but each item is unique according to the skills of the artisans. Our efforts should go towards teaching people to make zero or low-defect hand-made products.

It will be difficult to direct FDI to hand-made product industries because there are no big bucks in them, but even so, a few foreign investors are going to such industries. All handicrafts and handloom industries are labour intensive and absorb many people-men and women. Some are immensely profitable over time like hand-made paper and products industries.

Next in importance would be creating the demand. Most of these handcrafted industries though they have low raw material costs and are mostly nature based are facing a sharp decline in demand. Womens magazines TV and newspapers are full of ads about machine-made, mostly imported slick products, for home decor and fashion.

You are not with the Jones if at a dinner party you are serving out of handcrafted Jaipur or Khurja pottery bowls! One may be too ethnic if you are seen in handlooms only. Some magazines show models sporting handbags whose prices are not listed but are available on request. They run into lakhs! Surprisingly, people are buying them.

India has great leather goods and even years ago while researching on Indias leather exports, I found that leather coats made in India were being exported to Scandinavian countries where they changed the label from Made in India to Made in Norway. We have to make products that will sell abroad because they are made in India. The Indian brand should become world famous.

If Modi is truly interested in job creation he should perhaps give more incentives to Indian village industries that use natural local products and are made by hand mainly. Instead, he is seeking big investors who will require more land, more minerals and more machines. There will be more land acquisition and more people are likely to be displaced from their land and more capital-intensive production, as foreign investors do not want to deal with labour problems. There will be more jobless growth.

Fortunately, some women entrepreneurs and creative thinkers started Seva, Dastakar and various craft bazaars, including Dilli Haat. They have revived Indias crafts and given opportunities to women to earn money by selling their crafts. People in the public gaze should be seen patronising these goods, especially the glitterati and Bollywood.

We should also be careful of abiding by the label often used by IKEA, No child labour has been used. If we do not eliminate child labour, the export potential of hand-made carpets and dhurries specially will be lost.

Most importantly, the conditions of work of artisans ought to be greatly improved. Indias famed jewellery and gems exports carry many tales of woe. I have seen semiprecious stone cutters and polishers work in dismal and dangerous conditions in Gujarat. The stonecutters wage usually is very low and even though skilled in his art, he continues to live in poverty. We shall lose all these skills if the workers working conditions and wages do not improve. Once lost, these skills cannot be reborn.

Handicrafts and handloom textiles are very important export earners and with a boost from the domestic market, the millions of workers will find it lucrative to practice their crafts again. India exported Rs 21,457.91 crore of handicrafts in 2015-16 and Rs 151.83 crore of handlooms in 2014-15. The demonetisation has affected the sector adversely as it is cash based.

The government has a role to play by giving information to artisans groups where and whom to sell and organise trade fairs abroad and at home. Artisans, when interviewed, always complain about red tape and bureaucratic corruption. They also need an idea about the demand at home and abroad. Private sector entrepreneurs have pitched in a big way and have introduced innovative designs using our own natural materials. They have found niche markets abroad for products ranging from high fashion items to things more common.

Often instead of encouraging them further, the government agencies create obstacles for them to function smoothly. Modis Make in India drive could cover all exporters, including those of handcrafted products. The symbolic lions body ought to have handlooms and potters wheel and not just gears and machine tools.
Indias political executive under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has established its own mechanisms of nomination and selection. It is well within its right to appoint officials as long as the process is within the court-mandated norms of collegiality of decision-making and responsibility. Some eyebrows will naturally be raised over the appointment of Bipin Rawat as the new Army Chief because it was after a long time that the Government did not opt for the chain of seniority. Some have attributed the appointment to the Generals proximity to the centre of power in his current posting or continuation of the infantrys grip over top positions in the Army. In defence, Gen Rawat is reported to score in hands-on experience of insurgency over his two overlooked seniors.

Regardless of the calculations that went into the decision, the appointment of a service chief is completely the Prime Ministers privilege. And supersession in the services the world over is not out of ordinary although it has happened at the top level after a long time in India. Moreover, Modi did observe the seniority principle in appointing the new chiefs of IB, RAW and Air Force. What rankled was the departure from the practice of making the announcements a month in advance to allow the incumbent to settle in. Was it a coincidence that Gen Rawats appointment was made public a day after Parliament ended its sitting?

With the new appointments out of the way, the Government should now undertake the long-overdue restructuring of the higher management in the armed forces. Even though the Kargil War exposed the infirmities in the present setup, previous governments could not complete the political consultations on appointing a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). India requires tri-service cohesion to tackle the emerging security challenges, especially in the space and cyber dimensions. But the Government must try for an all-party consensus on the changes to manage the tremendous pain it inflicts on superseded officers. Although the Government has been short on candidness, whether it is the new CBI chief or demonetisation, national security is one area it cannot afford to come up short.
These days when tax raids, carried out mostly on small fries, are rampant and the governments entire effort is directed at pushing India towards a cashless economy, political parties too should not be allowed to receive cash donations and enjoy tax exemption. The government has so far maintained silence on various electoral reforms the Election Commission has suggested, including the latest one to ban anonymous political donations above Rs 2,000. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has responded, but limited himself to reports in media that Jaitley says presented an old law as new.

The issue is not whether there is a new or old law to allow political parties the benefit of tax exemption. The issue before the government as well as opposition parties is to make electoral funding transparent, clean up the shady world of corporate donations, hold political parties accountable by bringing them under the RTI Act and tax their income above a certain limit. What rankles the citizen is that when people at large are subjected to tax scrutiny and every housewife is asked to account for her 500 and 1,000 notes if above a cut-off limit, it is not fair to let political parties wallow in black money spending with no questions asked. They too need to come clean. The BJP rhetoric on corruption would gain legitimacy if the party leads by example.

It is common knowledge that political parties, especially those in power or likely to be in power, get huge amounts of corporate donations in return for patronage. Political parties can, and some perhaps do, serve as a channel to turn black money of their own leaders or friends in the corporate world white. Taxes can be evaded by floating a political party. This is the thinking in the Election Commission also. There are 1,900 registered political parties and 400 of these have never contested any election. Parties falsely claim getting 80 to 85 per cent of donations in amounts below Rs 20,000 from individuals. The law helps them keep their names under wraps. The truth is otherwise and known to everyone. The Election Commission has sought changes in the law to clear the mess.
Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Bahbalpur (Hisar), December 19

The non-payment of wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and cash crunch due to demonetisation has increased the troubles of daily wagers. At least 3.5 lakh households in the state have not been paid wages under the scheme since mid-August.

Suresh Kumar, a daily wager at Bahbalpur village, told The Tribune, I owe over Rs 10,000 to the local shopkeeper. He has refused to give me essential household items until I clear pending amount. I am worried about my childrens school fee too.

Suresh and his wife Sushila also work for a private contractor. They said the contractor had asked them to wait for the cash shortage to end.

The district officials stated they had no role in payment disbursal under MGNREGS as they only generated the fund transfer orders (FTOs) to banks which are paid by the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI), adding, the budget was allocated by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).

Meanwhile, Kela Devi, sarpanch, Bahbalpur village, said of the 1,200 MGNREGS workers, 300 were employed at the Central Sheep Breeding Farm located near the village. The workers are living hand-to-mouth. The delay in payment is increasing their hardship. I have taken up the issue with the Block Development Officer. But since the payment would directly come to accounts from the Centre, we are helpless, she said.
Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Pipli (Kurukshetra), December 18

Despite having a bumper potato crop this year, 24-year-old Gurbhej Singh is not happy today.

At the Pipli mandi, he told The Tribune that traders were not offering more than Rs 2.5 per kg for his produce for bulk purchase.

Last week, the first instalment of potato crop from my 10 acre was sold for Rs 4 per kg. Wholesale rates have crashed further but the retail sale of potatoes is about Rs 10 per kg. Since I have no space to store, I am forced to sell it at lower rates, said Gurbhej, a young farmer from Jainpur village near Shahabad Markanda in the district.

Cash crunched farmers and arhtiyas blame demonitisation for the dismal pricing of the crop. Farmers said last year, potato was purchased by wholesale buyers for up to Rs 600 per quintal.

Mandi sources said as bulk orders from Delhi and other adjoining states had reduced drastically due non-availability of enough cash, there were a fewer takers for the crop in the local market.

Vegetable market at Pipli is considered to be the hub of potato trading. More than 8,000 hectares of land is under potato farming in the district.

However, prices have witnessed a record dip, rue the farmers. Another farmer said the price quoted was not a breakeven to the total cost incurred on cultivation of the crop. We took 20 acres of land on lease for potato at the cost of Rs 45,000/acre. Following favourable conditions, we yielded about 250 quintals in an acre. But now the prices have crashed and getting cost input is also seems difficult, said Naresh Sharma.

Farmer Mukhtiar Singh from Dhantori village was also in distress with his trolley laden with fresh produce at Pipli mandi. He had also produced bumper crop on his 5 acre family land. But there are no good takers for the crop.

For the past a few years, traders were purchasing the crop directly from our fields. We were paid about Rs 600/quintal but it is a bad season this year, he said.

Another farmer said payment to farm labour was also an additional burden in the post-demonitisation weeks.

Arhtiyas are paying through cheque, but farm workers want payment in cash. Some traders from outside the state are offering better prices through cheques. But fearing issues like cheque bounce, no one is willing to sell produce to unknown persons, he said.
Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, December 18

Most jails in the state have been facing a staff crunch with outdated gadgets being used to provide security. Around 450 of the 2,891 sanctioned posts across the 19 jails are lying vacant.

In some jails, a few watchtowers are left unattended for want of manpower. There are around 18,000 prisoners lodged in these jails, including 3,000 notorious ones.

Personnel managing gates and guards overseeing prison premises from watchtowers have .303-bore rifles. Most jails do not use modern walkie-talkies for communication.

Many jails do not have outer periphery walls, giving easy access to main boundary walls. Several incidents of mobile phones and narcotics being thrown inside have been reported.

Jammers installed in various jails have been out of order for the last several years. In the Karnal jail, jammers were installed in 2005, but went out of order in 2009.

When contacted, Yash Pal Singal, Director General of Prisons, said they were trying to modernise jails. He said jammers were being installed in Jhajjar, Sonepat, Ambala and Gurugram jails at a cost of Rs 7 crore.

He said .303-bore rifles were being replaced with self-loading rifles with some jails already given these weapons. The order to purchase 496 modern walkie-talkies had been placed, he added.

He stated that there was shortage of manpower and the process to fill vacancies in supervisory posts had been started. He said an open jail would be set up in the state soon.
Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, December 19

Jhatipur village in Panipat district became the first village in the state to introduce cashless transactions today. The village had been adopted by ICICI Bank just a week back.

It opened the accounts of every eligible resident on zero balance, said Ashok Kumar, sarpanch. With the support of the district administration, Aadhaar enrolment had been completed in two days, he said.

Around 6,000 persons living in 1,037 houses agreed to adopt a cashless transaction system as many of them had been using ATMs and online transactions earlier, he added.

All 22 shops within village limits were linked to the e-wallet system in the last two days. The bank promised to provide point-of-sale machines to shops in the next one week, he asserted.

Sanjay, a grocery shop owner in the village, said he collected Rs 2,500 today through the e-wallet. He said it was a good system because customers did not have to bring cash, he said.

Ramphal, a resident of the village working as mathematics teacher in Samalkha, said he had trained around 15 persons of the village in cashless transactions. He said they did not need cash to buy anything now.

The sarpanch had given in writing to Rakesh Verma, lead bank manager, that the village became cashless this afternoon.

The Jhatipur village panchayat was the first in the state to provide WiFi facility. The entire village was covered under a CCTV surveillance system and public address system.

To increase plantation, the panchayat provided a tree with tree guard to the head of every house, which was planted on the premises of each house.

Chander Shekhar Khare, Deputy Commissioner, told The Tribune that the village had been upgraded under the Digital India Mission.

This village may today have become the first village in the state where 100 per cent transactions are cashless, he added.
Tribune News Service

BHIWANI, DECEMBER 18

Playing down the payment of dakshina in scrapped notes to pandits during the Lakschandi yajna recently, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said today said that it was not a case of corruption and it was between the giver and the taker. We have not received any complaint so far. If someone comes forward with it, we will look into it, said Khattar while talking to mediapersons after addressing a rally at Tigdana village today.

Notably, a controversy arose when 2100 pandits were handed over Rs 3,500 in banned currency notes on December 12 by the organising committee comprising BJP and RSS leaders.

Accepting the demands proposed by Bawani Khera MLA Bishember Balmiki, Khattar announced welfare projects worth Rs 150 crore for the Assembly segment. He said that the government was making efforts to build colleges at every 20km in the state. He said work on the construction of Chaudhry Bansi Lal University would be started soon.
Tribune News Service

Hisar, December 18

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that he would not campaign in Punjab for the Congress until Haryana gets its share of waters via the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.

Talking to mediapersons here today, he said that he would go to Uttar Pradesh to campaign for the party candidates during the coming Assembly elections. We have been struggling for the completion of the SYL canal in Punjab. Until we get our share of the canal waters, I shall not canvass in Punjab, he said. When asked if the party asked him to do so, he said: I will not go.

The former CM said that the matter had been decided in favour of Haryana by the Supreme Court and it was the responsibility of the Centre to implement the orders. On the INLDs announcement to start digging of the canal in Punjab from February 23, Hooda said: The INLD is trying to befool people of the state once again. Had INLD leaders not opposed the Rajiv-Longowal accord signed on July 24, 1985, farmers in Haryana would have got waters long back.

I had invited then Chief Minister OP Chautala when I was in the Opposition to join me in construction of the canal. They are responsible for this delay, he said.

On the CBI cases filed against him, he termed it a political witch-hunt by the BJP government. The government is out to suppress my voice. But I belong to the family of freedom fighter and will continue to oppose the anti people policies, he said, and added that the allegations against him were baseless.

The former CM said that demonetisation had adversely affected around 90 per cent of the workforce which mostly earn wages in cash. Cooperative banks, which operate around 40 per cent of the total banking in the country, have gone defunct, he said.

He alleged that the state government had failed to fulfil even a single poll promise. The state debt has gone double  from Rs 70,000 crore when I left the office to Rs 1.42 lakh crore today. The government has been a big failure so far, he stated.
Our Correspondent

Una, December 18

State BJP president Satpal Satti today said the party would raise the issue of irregularities in job recruitment and corruption during the winter session of the Assembly.

Addressing mediapersons here, Satti said the four years of Congress government broke all records of corruption.

He said while the CM faced criminal charges, the forest, drug, mining and liquor mafias were rampant in the state.

Satti said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who will address a rally in Dharamsala on December 24, should clarify whether the Congress supported corrupt party leaders.

He also accused the government of pursuing lop-sided development in the state, adding that barring a few Assembly segments, there was no development in the rest of the state.

He also claimed irregularities in the recruitment of posts in various boards and corporations. Satti claimed most of the Congress ministers and MLAs had begun to express their anguish against the Chief Minister and his coterie within and outside the party forum.
As 2016 draws to a close, the reignited dream spell of azadi - just round the corner phase has passed onto the suspended animation mode. This was the most defining year since 1990, the zero year on the calendar of insurgency in Kashmirs history. It underlined the fact that the struggle of Kashmiris for freedom can work without the previously tested weapons like guns and grenades.

The political theology of the azadi sentiment has started echoing from every house, rich or poor, separatists and others. Azadi was a sentiment stirred in the late 1980s, which graduated in the 1990s before getting reduced to a slogan signifying resistance and paradoxically was also used as an alibi for getting economic and social grievances addressed.

Now boys and girls, as young as three-year-olds, are being armed with this slogan with a new meaning. These are taught rhymes, Naukri chahiye, na bhai na; hindustan chahiye, na bhai na; Pakistan chahiye, na bhai na; azadi chahiye, haan bhai haan (Neither do we want jobs, nor India nor Pakistan, we simply want freedom).

There is a marked difference between the 1990s and 2016. Back then, Pakistans ISI had introduced the azadi slogan to substitute for Kashmir banega Pakistan slogan, which lost its appeal after the 1971 Indo-Pak war in which Pakistan lost its eastern part, now Bangladesh. The slogan was to garner public support for a dream in which Kashmir was viewed as an independent nation with no Indian or Pakistani control over it. But, primarily, it meant freedom from India. Pakistan was somehow seen an eternal friend. No training went into it. It was an outburst of sentiment on the streets of Kashmir, led by armed militants. This time there is training behind this idea of azadi.

People as well as militants were new to the slogan, violence and harshness of counter-terrorism operations. Even the glimpses of cordon and search operations (crackdown in common parlance) were new. The gunmen promised to deliver azadi. But soon a major section of militancy got tempted to criminal ways and means. Their extortions and other criminal activities made people run away from the Valley to save their family honour. As people were looking for ways to escape the threats and criminal acts of their own mujahideen, militancy lost its original appeal and respect.

The azadi sentiment, however, stayed on, as did the Army and security forces in their neighbhourhood, leaving them with little or no privacy of their own. That sustained the grudging support for militants. The generation of 2016 has seen it all. It knows the consequences of violence and street protests. It is training itself to seek azadi with all consequences in its mind. It is here where the danger zone starts.

For historians, July 8, 2016, has been encircled as a date when a new phase of revolution started in Kashmir. Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. The death of Burhan, whose boyish looks and arms by his side had etched an image of Robin Hood among youth, stirred unprecedented mourning and protests across Kashmir. A reasonable logic that every militant who picked up the gun has to die one day was lost in his case. The mishandling of the situation and more than 20 killings by July 9 had laid the course for more violence and killings.

The worst part was the blinding of the youngsters by pellet gun injuries. Anger piled up, and azadi became representative of anger and aspirations of Kashmiris, who felt that they had to fight unto the last. Separatists, who were struggling to evoke sentiments and agitations on the issue of setting up of a colony for ex-soldiers of Kashmir and transit camps for migrant Kashmiri Pandits, found the martyrdom of Burhan to place themselves centre stage. Pakistan was not far behind.

But both, separatists and Pakistan, failed to realise that these protesting crowds were not fighting merely at their behest, they had rediscovered the dream of azadi and there was not even a single section that stood against them. The NC, Congress, PDP and even elements within the BJP were with the azadi seekers.

Now when there is a prediction of irreversible normalcy, with separatists having softened their protest calendars, a point is being missed. The new generation, which has seen violence from closest quarters and offered itself to become pall-bearers, is not going to reconcile itself to status quo. Their participation in protests in 2016 is their tryst with resistance. Make no mistake about it. New Delhi should wake up. The year 2016 should be seen as the beginning, not as the end to resistance. This is the uncomfortable truth.
New Delhi, December 19

Army Chief-designate Lt Gen Bipin Rawat and Northern Command chief Lt Gen Devraj Anbu have underlined the need for a special focus to achieve all-weather connectivity to the strategic Ladakh region which borders China.

The Ladakh region remains cut off from the rest of the country for almost six winter months. This happens due to intensive snowfall, avalanches and icing at passes viz Zojila on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road and Rohtang, Baralacha, Lachung and Tanglang on the Manali-Sarchu-Upshi-Leh road.

It, therefore, needs a special focus and a network of tunnels to have an all-weather connectivity, a statement by the Army quoted them as saying at a one-day workshop organised by the Ministry of Defence on tunnelling in the north and northeastern region on December 17 here.

Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar highlighted that infrastructure development in the north and northeastern part of the country had always been a matter of challenge due to the adverse climatic conditions, fragile and young geology and remote location.  PTI
Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 19

Amid outrage over the decision of the state government to sanction ex gratia to the family of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, BJP ministers today assured party leaders that they will stall the move to release the compensation.

This assurance was given during the meeting of the office-bearers and legislators, which was convened this afternoon to devise the partys strategy for the coming Budget Session of the Assembly.

Sources said the issue of compensation to Burhans family was raised by some legislators but they were assured by ministers that only a notice in this regard had been issued by the Deputy Commissioner concerned and no final decision had been taken in this regard.

To placate party leaders, the BJP ministers assured that sanctioning compensation in favour of any person who dies under mysterious circumstances is a very cumbersome process. They said it was rather impossible to get clearance to release compensation for Burhans brother, the sources said.

As reported earlier, there was a strong anger among the BJP cadre after the state government announced the compensation for the death of Burhans elder brother Khalid Wani, who was killed by the Army on April 13, 2015. The sources said in the meeting, the BJP legislators were directed to raise only those issues which pertained to the constituency of the party. The legislators were asked to raise the issues of border inhabitants, refugees of PoJK and other problems being faced by the residents of the Jammu region, the sources said.

The sources said the legislators were directed by the party leaders to strongly take up the issue of settling foreigners, including Rohingya refugees and some Bangladeshi on the outskirts of Jammu city. As reported earlier, some social and business organisations have already expressed their concern over settling foreigners in Jammu city.

Respect SC verdict on J&K: BJP to parties

Jammu: While the Kashmir-centric parties and separatist groups are enraged over the verdict of the Supreme Court on the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, the ruling BJP on Monday said all political parties should respect the judgment of the apex court. The recent judgment of the Supreme Court on SARFAESI Act lays down in categorical terms what is legal and factual position of Jammu and Kashmir as a constituent unit of India. It has conclusively held that there is no concept of partially sovereignty of J&K and that attributes of sovereignty are exclusively vested with India, said BJP chief spokesman Sunil Sethi.
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 18

National Conference working president Omar Abdullah on Sunday accused the state government of making a weak legal defence of the states special status and termed it alarming.

In a statement issued, Omar also accused the state government of deliberate callousness. (It) indicated the tacit connivance of the PDP in allowing the step-by-step erosion of Article 370 through a series of politically patronised cases and litigation, he said.

Omar referred to the recent instance of the bleak surrender by the state governments counsel in defending the position of the state viz-a-viz the Enforcement of Security Interest Act, enacted by Parliament in 2002 and its implications on the states special constitutional character.

The National Conference leader asked the PDP-BJP coalition government to come clean on its stand on this vital issue that could have far-reaching implications for the state.

The Special Leave Petition challenging the verdict of the Division Bench of the J&K High Court was filed with the required notice being issued to the state government in February, he said. The appeal was argued in the honourable Supreme Court by none less than the Attorney General for India, the top law officer of the Union Government. In light of this, two pertinent questions need to be answered by the PDP and its alliance government in the state, he said.

Omar questioned as to why the Central government was using the judicial route to subvert certain attributes of the states constitutional character despite the PDP being its ally.

The second question, Omar raised, was why did the state government fail to come up with an appropriate and serious response considering the sensitivity of this issue.

PDP prefers to keep mum

Jammu: The Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday refrained from speaking on the SCs judgment that J&K has no vestige of sovereignty outside the Indian Constitution and its own and the citizens of the state are first and foremost citizens of India. We have not gone through the text of the judgment regarding J&K, said Nizamudin Bhat, PDP general secretary. TNS

Separatists reject apex court verdict

Srinagar: A loose coalition of separatist leaders in Kashmir on Sunday said it was outrightly rejecting the SCs ruling. They said they would consult legal experts in this regard. TNS
Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 19

The insurgency in Kashmir strengthened its hold this year as the number of foreign militants operating in the Valley has more than doubled during the months of paralysing unrest, according to police records.

The surge of foreign militants indicates an escalation of 151 per cent as their number leaped from 71, prior to the unrest, to 178 during the unrest which began on July 8 and led to a halt in counter-insurgency operations.

Most of the foreign militants remain affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba, which now contributes almost 50 per cent of the total militants operating in the region. The reason for increase in foreign militants is the successful infiltration bids that occurred during the unrest and suspension of well-coordinated anti-militancy operations, says a police document discussing the increased influx of foreign militants.

The anti-militancy operations had remained suspended for several months following the July 8 gunfight in which militant commander Burhan Wani was killed, triggering a widespread spell of protests in the region.

Foreign militants have been involved in some of the most deadly attacks this year which caused heavy death toll among security forces. The foreign militants were involved in almost all fidayeen attacks that were carried on security forces installations this year, including the attack on an Army base near north Kashmirs Uri town in which 20 soldiers were killed.

Most of the foreign militants, according to police records, remain in districts of north Kashmir, bordering the Line of Control from where the militants infiltrate into the Valley. Some have been killed in counter-insurgency operations and while carrying out the attacks.

The influx of foreign militants and the addition of local recruits have also led to a surge in the number of total militants operating in the region, which has also almost doubled. The overall local recruitment figures and foreign militant figures indicates 95 per cent escalation during the unrest, the police document states.

The number of total militants operating in the region is estimated to be 235 to 250, out of whom 217 are named and categorised. Among the categorised militants, 107 are linked to the Lashkar, 89 to the Hizbul Mujahideen, 19 to Jaish-e-Mohammed and two to Al Badr.
Bhartendu Sood

THIS week, I happened to read a piece by a former Haryana cop, RS Dalal, on police encounters with the system. His opinion that the Indian legal system is tardy, where a victim is frustrated with lengthy trials, appears faultless, but then, there have been some bright spots too. I know of two: eminent jurists Justice PN Bhagwati and Justice Krishna Iyer, who, with their innovative interpretations of laws, did their bit to reform our judicial system and showed how law can be used to bring justice to the doorstep of the masses, especially those deprived.

Good judges around the globe have been working to transform jurisprudence; to link it with basic human rights. There was a time when in England capital punishment could be awarded for almost 200 offences, including petty offences like theft. But the same country, not only heralded reforms with regard to capital punishment, but also ultimately abolished it in 1964. This phenomenon is not confined to developed countries. One such judgment was delivered by Indonesian judge Marjuki.

Justice Marjuki was sitting in judgment in a case in which an old lady had been held guilty of stealing a very small quantity of tapioca from a plantation, on the complaint filed by its owner. Incidentally, she was working in the same plantation and the complainant happened to be her employer. During the trial proceedings, she pleaded, My Lord, I had to resort to the unlawful act of stealing in highly compelling circumstances. My son is bedridden for the last six months and I am the only bread-earner in the family. My grandchildren were deprived of food for two days and were crying with hunger. I made fervent requests to my employer to give me some advance against my salary, but he remained unmoved. Under the situation, I had to steal as I could not see my children dying of hunger.

The judge, after going through the facts of the case, looked up and said, Ive all sympathy for you, old lady, but then I cannot make any exception to the law of the land. You are held guilty and I am imposing a fine of Rs 2 million ($200) and if you fail to pay the fine, you will be sentenced to two years imprisonment. The poor woman burst into tears in the courtroom, for there was no way for her to arrange such a huge amount.

Justice Marjuki paused, and then took off his hat and put Rs 1 million ($100) into it, saying, In the name of justice, I fine the court Rs 50,000 ($5.5) and all those present in the court, because as dwellers of this city, you allowed children to starve until their grandmother had to steal money to feed them. The registrar will collect the fine from all the accused.

The court managed to collect Rs 3.5 million ($200) whereby the fine of Rs 2 million was paid off and the rest was handed over to the elderly lady. The plantation manager also contributed to the fine.

I am hopeful that India cannot remain insulated from these positive changes, and we will soon find a system where laws will coexist with basic human rights.
Sumit Paul

A REPORT says a team of researchers at Glasgow University has found a link between coffee and intellect. The exhaustive report states that those who love coffee are normally above intelligent and have a sharper mental faculty. Coffee and intelligence are dovetailed. One can experience this bond in Kolkatas famed coffeehouses on College Street, albeit the trend is declining. London, Milan, Cairo and Viennas coffeehouses are still frequented by artists and intellectuals, who discuss a gamut of recondite subjects over numerous cups of hot coffee. Che Guevara would sit in an old, dilapidated coffeehouse in Bolivia to chalk out his revolutionary plans. The turbulent sixties witnessed then Calcuttas intellectuals frequenting coffeehouses. Their intellectual regurgitation used to be as hot as the coffee served there. Mrinal Sen, Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Aparna Sen were regular visitors. The coffeehouses in Madras started losing their mojo in the early sixties. Ironically, Madras gave the coffeehouse culture to the rest of India, including Calcutta, which usurped coffeehouse romanticism from Madras. Today, I hardly get to see old coffeehouses in Madras.

So many affairs of the heart took place in coffeehouses. It was a nostalgic era: if you didnt go to a coffeehouse in Calcutta, you were considered intellectually deficient. Bengali poet Jibananando Das wrote a series of poems, eulogising the aroma of coffee, particularly the Calcutta-brand coffee. One of his female characters had coffee-coloured tresses. Coffee was his muse. The great landscape painter Claude Monet would go to a coffeehouse to paint his landscapes. The redoubtable Edward W Said was so enamoured of coffeehouses in Cairo that he would spend hours there, sipping 60-70 cups of black coffee. He would call it an intellectuals elixir.

Way back in 1996, I was present in an informal discussion with my professor and mentor Dr Said of Columbia University, Egyptian Nobel laureate for literature Naguib Moufiz and the father of semiotics Umberto Eco of Italy, at a coffeehouse near Al-Azhar University in Cairo. We sat there at five in the evening and left with the morning azaan! During our nearly 12-hour sitting, we discussed literature, poetry, religion, god, women, her enigmatic beauty and what not over numerous cups of black coffee.

The legendary Spanish poet and Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda would sit in his favourite coffeehouse near Madrid university and would write exquisite love verses. Legend has it that once he was served coffee by a beautiful Hispanic waitress who was 19 and had a dusky complexion. Neruda was floored by her simple, but stunning beauty and observed that, Beauty, when unadorned, is adorned the most. While leaving, he told her that her complexion enhanced the taste and aroma of coffee. She blushed, and he immortalised her in his sonnet Coffeehouse Beauty!

Poet Ahmad Faraz would visit a coffeehouse near Hira Mandi in Lahore and furtively meet his beloved. When she left him for a wealthier man, he wrote a poignant nazm, Tumhein koi aur mil gaya. But that aura and aroma have all gone, at least in India. Whenever I visit Milan, Paris, Ankara, London, I go to a coffeehouse to recreate those nostalgic memories. Alas, Calcuttas coffeehouses wear a deserted look and one wistfully remembers Manna Deys immortal song, Coffeehouser shei aadda ta aaj aar nei.

Todays intellectuals require something else to stimulate their grey cells.
Syed Ali Ahmed

With the BJP failing to win a single seat in elections to the marketing committee of Asias biggest fruit and vegetable wholesale market, Azadpur, held last week, it is clear that traders have given a thumbs down to demonetistion which has affected business.

Of the total 18 seats, elections were held for 17. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 14 seats, despite allegations of corruption levelled against the husband of party MLA Bandana Kumari, who had to resign as Deputy Speaker, Delhi Assembly. The Congress won the remaining three seats.

A market committee member said more than 80 per cent traders had voted for AAP. He said demonetisation had hit business in the wholesale market by 40 per cent. It is to be seen if the traders show similar anger in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Uttarakhand where elections are to be held early next year. While admitting that demonetisation had affected trading, a BJP leader claimed it would have little affect on the coming Assembly elections.

Urdu calligraphy

The Delhi Urdu Academy is making efforts to revive the forgotten art of Urdu calligraphy. For printing periodicals in Urdu and Persian, publishers were wholly dependent on calligraphers prior to the computer age. The entire text was written and composed manually. They learnt the art at Ghalib Academy in Nizamuddin area run by the Taraqqi Urdu Board, now known as the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language. But the institute was closed in 2002.

The Delhi Urdu Academy is now trying to revive Urdu calligraphy. It runs a two-year diploma course with 25 students. Admission is based on a simple Urdu writing test and an interview. The mnimum qualification is matriculation. Selected candidates are provided a scholarship of Rs 500 per month.

Eco warriors

Environment activists have opposed the East Delhi Municipal Corporations decision to have a landfill site along Pushta Road as well as other municipal processing facilities on the Yamuna floodplain. Yamuna activist Manoj Misra has written a letter to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal against the move.

He has said, The site being on the riverbed violates all legal provisions, including the Water Act, the Environment Protection Act and the Waste Management Rules.

According to Misra, the DDAs plan is to develop a series of wetlands at this site. The National Green Tribunal also wants to develop water bodies to store floodwaters at the site. Can there be a more senseless, dangerous and illogical plan than this?, the activistss letter reads.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 19

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a chargesheet in the Pathankot airbase terror attack, naming Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and three others of his organisation as the accused.

The process of extradition of Masood Azhar, his brother and two others will begin soon, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said after the chargesheet was filed.

"A total of eight people were involved in the terror attack at Pathankot. Four are dead and four are alive and living in Pakistan. Since the chargesheet has been filed, the process of extraditing them from Pakistan will begin with the issuance of Interpol Red Corner Notice," Rijiju told reporters.

In a comprehensive chargesheet filed at the Panchkula Special Court about a year after the attack, the NIA has highlighted the role of the terror group Jaish in spreading mayhem in India and referred to the nefarious plans of the outfit, sources said.

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

The chargesheet, which also named Azhar's brother Rauf Asghar as the accused, alleged that immediately after the Pathankot incident, he had hosted a video message claiming responsibility for the terror strike and glorified the role of Azhar, who was released in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999.

Masood Azhar has been named as the key conspirator.

The chargesheet is likely to be used by India at various international fora to highlight the role of Masood Azhar in the Pathankot terror strike carried out on January 2 this year.

Launching of a diplomatic offensive against the Jaish and Azhar has become imperative after China continued to stonewall efforts of India to get UN sanctions against the terrorist and his group.

The Home Ministry had given sanction to the NIA to file the chargesheet against Azhar, his brother and the two handlers--Qashif Jan and Shaid Latif--of the four terrorists, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The four terrorists, after entering India from Bamiyal area of Gurdaspur, had carried out the strike at the Pathankot IAF base killing eight people, including seven personnel of IAF and NSG.

The chargesheet named four terrorists involved in the attack.

According to NIA, the terrorists, who were killed after two days of gunfight, were identified as Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum and they were residents of Vehari (Punjab), Gujranwala (Punjab), Sanghar (Sindh) and Sukkur (Sindh) of Pakistan, respectively.

The chargesheet includes the evidence of linking the footprints of one of the terrorists obtained from Bamiyal besides matching of DNA sample found from a soft drink can in the hijacked car of Punjab SP Salwinder Singh, sources said.

The terror strike had seen a joint investigation team from Pakistan also arriving in India for carrying out a probe.

However, the Pakistani team, upon their return, claimed that India neither shared much of evidence nor allowed it to interrogate the security personnel involved in dealing with the attack.

Minister of State for Home said Kiren Rijiju said since Pakistan is "incorrigible", India has to put pressure on the neighbouring country to extradite the four persons living in Pakistan on the basis of the evidence gathered by the NIA.

"Pakistan is already under pressure. The World knows that these two brothers are living in Pakistan and doing all kinds of terror acts," he said. With PTI
WASHINGTON (AP)  Employers stepped up their hiring in nine U.S. states last month and cut jobs in two amid modest improvement in the nation's labor market.

The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment rates fell sharply in 18 states and were little changed in 32 states.

Florida reported the largest job gain in November, adding 29,600 jobs, followed by Indiana, which gained 13,100 jobs, and South Carolina, with 12,500.

The largest drops in unemployment rates last month occurred in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Missouri, each of which saw a decline of 0.4 percent.

Nationwide, the unemployment rate fell to a nine-year low of 4.6 percent last month, as employers added 178,000 jobs. But much of the drop occurred because more Americans stopped looking for work and were no longer counted as unemployed.

The government only considers people unemployed if they are actively hunting for jobs. While the United States has added 15.4 million jobs since hiring bottomed out in February 2010, a big reason the jobless rate has fallen since then has been because the number of people working or looking for work has fallen.

In Illinois, the unemployment rate in November remained at 5.6 percent and nonfarm payrolls increased by more than 1,700 jobs over the month, based on preliminary data.

Despite the upward revision, job growth remains below the national average, with Illinois down 29,600 jobs short of its peak employment level reached in September 2000.

"Through 11 months of 2016, the nation's rate of growth continues to outpace our rate by 50 percent," said Jeff Mays, director of the Illinois Departmetn of Employment Security. "The biggest sector gains have been in professional and business services with 37,200 jobs added, while the biggest losses have been in manufacturing, with 8,700 fewer jobs."

New Hampshire and South Dakota had the lowest unemployment rates last month, at 2.7 percent each. Alaska and New Mexico had the highest rates, at 6.8 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively.

Two states lost a significant number of jobs last month: Virginia, which shed 13,600, and Colorado, which lost 12,500.
Suresh Dharur

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, December 19

Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and four other operatives of the terror outfit were today sentenced to death in the 2013 Hyderabad twin blasts case.

A special NIA court in Hyderabad pronounced the sentence to Bhatkal; Pakistan national Zia-ur-Rehman, alias Waqas; Asadullah Akhtar, alias Haddi; Tahaseen Akhtar and Aijaz Sheikh. The court, which heard the case at the Cherlapally central prison, where all suspects are lodged, had last week convicted them.

The court convicted the IM operatives under various sections of the IPC, Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The final arguments had concluded on November 7. Prime accused and IM founder Mohammed Riyaz, alias Riyaz Bhatkal, is at large and is believed to be operating from Pakistan. This is the first-ever conviction of the outlawed IM in a terror case. Two near-simultaneous explosions had ripped through a busy marketplace in Dilsukhnagar area of the city on February 21, 2013, claiming 18 lives and injuring 131 people. The trial in the case had begun on August 24 last year. As many as 157 witnesses were examined and 251 documents and 300 material objects were seized.

According to the NIA, the IM had hatched a conspiracy to wage a war against India and decided to carry out bomb blasts in Hyderabad to create terror. Riyaz Bhatkal, the main operative of the module, had allegedly directed his associates Asadullah Akhtar and Waqas to find a place in Mangalore to be used as a hideout for explosives sent by him.

The Bhatkal brothers, who are said to be experts in making explosives, hail from Bhatkal village in Udupi district of Karnataka. Yasin, who received arms training in Pakistan in 2006, was arrested near Motihari in Bihar in 2013.

The bombs were carried on bicycles in Dilsukhnagar. Most of the victims were having their evening snacks and tea at the tea stalls when the bombs went off.

After receiving the materials sent by Riyaz and the money sent through hawala, Akhtar and Waqas reached Hyderabad and started working with Tahseen Akhthar, living in a hideout in Abdullapurmet area. The trio prepared two IEDs there. The other materials needed to make a bomb, including a pressure cooker and timers, were arranged in Hyderabad. After the bomb was made, they mounted the IEDs on two bicycles and planted them at two places in Dilsukhnagar.
Yash Goyal

Jaipur, December 19

Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag during his visit to the South Western Command Headquarter here on Monday said continued vigil and efforts are required to face nations security challenges.

He said transformation and modernisation of the armed forces, including induction of state-of-the-art equipment, is in progress to enhance the level of operational readiness and overall military capability.

Gen Suhag said, Collectively, we must continue to attain pinnacles of excellence with multi-pronged efforts and continue to adhere to the time tested values and principles, which are the very bedrock of the Indian Army.

Accompanied with his wife Namita Suhag, president Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), they were received at Jaipur by Lt Gen Sarath Chand, GOC-in-C, South Western Command and his wife.

Stating that the Indian Army is the best organisation in the world, the General complimented all ranks on their excellent professionalism, not only along the borders but also during various exercises and during various humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

During the past two-and-a-half years, many major initiatives were undertaken by the Army.

These included instituting enhanced confidence building measures and joint military exercises with China apart from significantly improving the communication infrastructure along the northern borders.

Army also contributed significantly to the management of internal security situation in J & K and provided focused articulated response to repeated provocations along the Line of Control.

While being operationally committed, under his leadership, the Army also provided yeomans support in multiple disaster relief operations and aid to civil authorities in various parts of the nation as well as in neighboring Nepal.
Rohit Mahajan

Tribune News Service

Chennai, December 19

Karun Nair arrived into the world a month earlier than expected and, as a consequence, his lungs were weak. He was physically weak. He would fall down and cry. The doctors advised his parents, Kaladharan and Prema, to get him into physical activities to make him stronger. Today, the couple, tears in their eyes, watched their son get to 100, 200 and 300.

The young Nair, 25 years old, did something before time yet again  he got a triple century in only his third Test innings. This brought a smile to his face, but it didnt last long. Nair doesnt do emotion. In the words of Prema, hes very shy and subdued. In July this year, he got more reasons to be quiet and meditative  he had a very close shave with death.

In June, he made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in Harare. He didnt set the world afire, but playing for India called for a thanksgiving  so Nair went to Alleppey in Kerala to offer thanks at Aranmulala temple.

There, on the river Pampa, the boat he was on capsized. Nair  born in Jodhpur and having lived most of his life in Bengaluru  cannot swim. He clung on to the boat and was saved, but some of his relatives who had organised his trip drowned. Nair hasnt spoken of that tragedy in public. Today, though, he did, saying that the pressure of a Test match matters little if one has had a brush with death.

I didnt know how to swim. People there rescued me and I was lucky to live again, Nair said.

Nair was dogged by bad luck in his first two Test innings  run out at the non-strikers end for 1 on debut in Mohali, given out LBW for 13 after a DRS review in Mumbai. Now Nair has got 303 in only his third Test innings  no one has done it so early in his career. Finally, Nairs luck seems to have changed.
R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, December 19

Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, the second senior most judge of the Supreme Court, has been appointed Chief Justice of India (CJI). He will be the first Sikh to occupy the high constitutional office. He will take over as the 44th CJI on January 4, succeeding Justice TS Thakur.

The appointment of Justice Khehar has been cleared by President Pranab Mukherjee, an official announcement said tonight. Outgoing CJI Thakur had recommended the name of Justice Khehar for the post earlier this month. Under the existing practice, the incumbent CJI recommends the appointment of his successor.

Justice Khehar will be sworn in by the President on January 4 and will steer the destiny of Indian judiciary for about eight months before retiring on August 27. He had become a judge of the apex court on September 13, 2011.

Justice JS Khehar has headed two Constitution Benches of the apex court, one that had revived the Collegium system of appointing higher judiciary judges and the other that restored the Congress government headed by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki in Arunachal Pradesh.

He was associated with the impeachment proceedings of apex court Justice V Ramaswami and Karnataka HC Chief Justice PD Dinakaran.

He appeared as counsel to defend Justice Ramaswami, who survived the impeachment proceedings in the Lok Sabha in the 1990s, before the Judges Inquiry Committee headed by Justice PB Sawant of the apex court. As an apex court judge, he was part of the judges inquiry panel that had gone into complaints of misconduct against Justice Dinakaran.

Born on August 28, 1952, he graduated in science from Government College, Chandigarh, in 1974 and got the LLB degree from the Panjab University in 1977. He completed LLM from the same university in 1979, getting the Gold Medal for having stood first in the university.

He was appointed as Judge of the Punjab and Haryana HC on February 8, 1999 and as Acting Chief Justice of the same HC twice, first on August 2, 2008 and again on November 17, 2009. He was elevated as Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand HC on November 29, 2009 and was transferred as Chief Justice of Karnataka HC, where he assumed his office on August 8, 2010.
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, December 19

Raj Thackerays Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will continue with its ban on Pakistan performers in Indian films despite the neighbouring country resuming screening of films from here.

Though Pakistan has resumed screening of Indian cinema, our stand will remain unchanged, until Pakistan stops attacks on Indian soil, Ameya Khopkar, who heads the MNS Chitrapat Sena, said in a message on Twitter today.

Bollwood producers had generally welcomed the decision by Pakistan exhibitors to resume screening of Indian films in theatres across the border.

The MNS had recently arm-twisted filmmaker Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan into arriving at a settlement with Raj Thackeray for having featured Pakistan actors in their films.
Tribune News Service

Lucknow, December 19

Blaming the Opposition for not letting Parliament function, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held them responsible for protecting the corrupt, black money hoarders and black marketeers.

Addressing the sixth Parivartan Rally ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections at the Railway Maidan in Kanpur, Modi said: My agenda is to free the country from corruption, block black money; while they believe in blocking Parliament. Earlier, Parliament used to be stalled to expose the corrupt, but this time it was stalled to protect the corrupt and those indulging in scams.

Charging the Opposition parties of not letting Parliament function despite an appeal by the President, Modi said the Opposition parties were avoiding a discussion on two main issues that he had flagged at the all-party meeting before the Parliament session.

He said the first issue related to collection of donations by political parties while the second related to simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabhas.

Ridiculing the Congress of not giving account of party funds, the PM said: Sitaram Kesri used to be the permanent Congress treasurer. His own party men used to say about him, Na khata na bahi, jo Kesri kahen wo sahi (no record or notings, whatever Kesri says is correct).

The Congress credits former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with ushering in the IT revolution and handing a mobile phone to every other Indian. But when I ask people to use those very mobile phones as their wallet for cashless transactions, they attack me saying where do people have mobile phones? the PM said.

The Congress says the poor in the country do not have bank accounts and then they blame me for being responsible for keeping them queued up outside banks and ATMs, he said.

After November 8, the strength of Rs 100 note had increased while that of Rs 500 and 1,000 had come to an end. Similarly, the rich were requesting the poor to help them covert their black money by depositing it in their bank accounts, Modi said.

Thanking people who supported him in his war against corruption, he said those who had deposited large amounts of money in the bank thinking it would become white would not go scot-free. Do not underestimate the power of an honest government. With the help of technology, we are finding out where the black money is, he said.
New Delhi, December 19

More than 600 Delhi Police personnel assisted by sniffer dogs scanned the inhabited and forested areas of the sprawling JNU campus on Monday to search for clues that could help them trace MSc student Najeeb Ahmed, who has been missing for over two months now.

The men and women of Delhi Police began their search around 11 am under the supervision of DCP (Crime Branch) G Ram Gopal Naik. A team visited Mahi-Mandvi hostel where Najeeb stayed and took help of sniffer dogs who smelled Najeeb's clothes.

The sniffer dogs failed to make any headway and stopped after circling around in the hostel.

"All agencies of Delhi Police including Special Cell, Special Branch and the local police pooling more than 600 personnel scanned the hostels, residential areas, academic blocks and forested area today till 5 pm. Help of Mounted Police was also taken to scan the vast area but nothing was found," said a senior police officer.

About 65-70 percent of the campus was covered today and rest including the residential areas and the interiors of the campus will be scanned tomorrow, he said.

The exercise is being undertaken by 12 ACPs, 30 inspectors and 60 sub inspectors along with hundreds of constables under monitoring of two DCP rank officers.

Najeeb has been missing since October 15 after a scuffle at his hostel allegedly with ABVP students on the night of October 14. A reward of Rs 10 lakh has been announced by Delhi Police on any information about Najeeb.

Najeeb's mother Fatima Nafees who was present at the hostel termed the police search "too late" and "futile".

"They should have carried out this search immediately after Najeeb went missing. But now, its of no use. I appeal to police to bring back my son and I will take him home from here," she said.

The massive search was mounted following a Delhi High Court order last week directing Delhi Police to scan the entire JNU campus including hostels, classrooms as well as rooftops of the buildings with help of sniffer dogs.

The JNU Students Union (JNUSU) which was asked by court to furnish affidavit regarding its cooperation with police also expressed dissatisfaction with it.

"Sixty five days of Najeeb's disappearance, what did Delhi Police do? In last 3 hearings in the court counsel for crime branch himself accepted that there has been delay by Delhi Police in searching Najeeb," said a JNUSU statement.

Accusing Delhi Police of "paying lip service" after court order, the students union charged it of indulging in "absurd exercises with "clueless methodology.

"Now to save their face in front of court they are doing absurd exercises with clueless methodology," said the statement.

The police are searching JNU campus right now and JNUSU will cooperate with them but this has been already communicated that they have to avoid "disturbances" to students, teachers and staff," it said.

JNUSU also warned that if the police search caused "disturbance" then they will not be "entertained" on the campus.

The students union also extended its "suggestion" to police to search the Vice-Chancellor's residence accompanied by student union leaders. Because 'our' V-C is not separate from students & staff of JNU.

The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad(ABVP) said that they want police to leave no stone unturned in search of Najeeb but hit out at JNUSU and JNU Teachers Association(JNUTA) for heavy presence of police on the campus.

"After 1983 its first time that such a huge number of policemen have come on the campus. This is a result of direction less politics of JNUSU and JNUTA. Why are all those who earlier spoke against police presence on campus silent today?" said former JNUSU joint secretary and ABVP leader Saurabh Sharma.

Najeeb had disappeared following a scuffle at his hostel allegedly with ABVP students on the night of October 14. The JNU administration in its probe has identified four students who were involved in the scuffle and directed for their transfer to other hostels.

A reward of Rs 10 lakh has been announced by Delhi Police on any information about Najeeb and Crime Branch is trying to trace him.  PTI
Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, December 19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Opposition of stalling Parliament to cover up for the corrupt, as he held them responsible for Parliaments dismal functioning at the recently concluded Winter Session.

Addressing the sixth Parivartan rally at the Railway Maidan in Kanpur, Modi said, My agenda is to free the country from corruption, block black money while they believe in blocking Parliament, accusing rival parties of not letting Parliament function despite an appeal from the President himself.

He also accused them of evading two issues that he had raised at an all-party meeting before the session: donations to political parties and simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha.

He claimed the Congress was reluctant to give account of their funds.

Sitaram Kesri used to be the permanent Congress treasurer. His own party men used to say about him, Na khata na bahi, jo Kesri kahen wo sahi. (No record or notings, whatever Kesri says is correct), he said.

Attacking Congress party for indulging in what he described as a bunch of lies, Modi said that the party takes credit for former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ushering in the IT revolution and handing a mobile phone to every other Indian.

But when I ask people to use those very mobile phones as their wallet for cashless transactions, they attack me saying that where do people have mobile phones? he said.

He also accused the Congress of doublespeak: he claimed the party said poor in the country had no bank accounts but then blamed him for making them queue up at banks and ATMs.

He claimed most of the public was supportive of his demonetisation drive  a move he says is aimed at rooting out black money and terrorist funding.

After November 8 the strength of Rs 100 note had increased while that of Rs 500 and 1000 had come to an end. Similarly, the rich were requesting the poor to help them covert their black money by depositing it in their banks, Modi said.

He also promised action against those who had deposited black money in banks.

Do not underestimate the power of an honest government. With the help of technology we are finding out where the black money is, he said, promising to keep his word on easing cash crunch after this month.

He also accused Uttar Pradeshs Samajwadi Party government of protecting 'goondas' (goons) and mafia and claimed a change was impending.

Uttar Pradesh is scheduled to vote for assembly elections early next year.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 18

After the appointment of Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the next Army Chief, three of the six or seven top posts in the countrys security apparatus will now be held by officers belonging to the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

Besides Lt Gen Rawat, Anil Dhasmana would be heading the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). The duo would join National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval in the top echelons of the countrys security framework. The trio belong to Pauri Garhwal, which borders Uttar Pradesh and has a distinctive language and martial culture.

Doval, a former IPS officer of the 1968 batch Kerala cadre, retired as Director, Intelligence Bureau, in January 2005. He was appointed as the NSA in May 2014 when the BJP swept to power at the Centre.

Lt Gen Rawat was commissioned into the 5/11 Gorkha Rifles of the Army in December 1978. Dhasmana is an IPS officer of the 1981 batch of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. Besides the three posts, the chiefs of Air Force and Navy and the directors of Intelligence Bureau, National Security Guard and National Technical Research Organisation are considered as top posts in the security network.
DECATUR  Newly hired Decatur firefighters would be required to live within the city under terms of a contract pending Decatur City Council approval.

If approved at the council meeting today, the three-year contract with the IAFF Local 505 Fire Association would implement the residency requirement. Current fire department personnel would be exempt from the new provisions, Assistant City Manager Billy Tyus said.

The firefighters would be the first of the city's union-represented groups of employees to agree to residency requirements to live within city limits, Tyus said. He said the city residency requirement for firefighters would be effective for their first five years of employment.

The city's other two bargaining units include American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, and police workers with residency guidelines defined in those contracts.

Requirements for nonrepresented employees were approved in May.

That's been a priority for the council, Tyus said. The council has expressed the desire it wants employees living in the city and being an active part of the community. We believe this is a great place to live.

In addition, the council is expected to consider authorizing an agreement with Chastain & Associates for final design of Baltimore Avenue drainage improvements. The work would be part of a Macon County reconstruction project for Baltimore Avenue.

The agreement for Chastain to complete final design for drainage improvements would be worth $125,958. The section of Baltimore Avenue to be reconstructed extends from Fulton Avenue to Lost Bridge Road.

Discussion of the project began in November 2012 with residents raising concerns about poor drainage in the area. The proposed improvements include the installation of a large storm extending the length of the project in an effort to reduce flooding, especially in the area immediately to the south of U.S. 36.

Chastain has completed an initial drainage assessment with an estimated cost to upsize the county's drainage system between $500,000 and $600,000. Three storm sewer extensions that would benefit drainage in the neighborhoods adjacent to Baltimore are estimated to cost between $600,000 and $700,000.

Construction of the roadway and drainage improvements is expected to begin in 2018.

Road construction projects have already been a focus this year for the city. It is planning to recognize during a study session those who have assisted with projects, as Tyus said the amount of work that was able to be completed has picked up.

We want residents to know what's been done with their tax dollars, Tyus said.

He said funding from the state and recently imposed local motor fuel taxes have been utilized for a list of projects, including repairs on less-traveled but critically important residential streets.

Tyus said more upcoming work is expected utilizing the local motor fuel tax revenue.
New Delhi, December 18

Uber co-founder and chief executive officer Travis Kalanick had to encounter a scary situation on his arrival in India as he found himself without a visa and it was only a high-level intervention that saved him from being deported.

Kalanick had to participate in the January 16 Start-up India event here. He reached by an early morning flight from Beijing only to discover that he did not have a proper visa and it was only when the Home Secretary and the Director IB were spoken to that he was allowed in.

On a whistle-stop tour of Asias third-largest economy and Ubers largest overseas market, Kalanick narrated his scary moment in a public interview on Thursday hosted by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.

I had the dates on the visa. On the Indian visa, they go the opposite direction. If they were in the US, so November 12 would be 11/12 in the US and 12/11 here (in India). There was a misunderstanding and I flew from Beijing into Delhi without a visa and it was a scary situation, he said. He said it was Kant who helped him in. And thank you Amitabh for letting me actually enter the country.

Kant, who was previously DIPP Secretary, said he was woken up at 2.30 am. And I had to wake up the Home Secretary and the Director IB to get him in. He (Kalanick) was put back on the plane and he was being shunted back to China. So, we had to get him on because he was here for Start-up India (event), he said.  PTI
New Delhi, December 19

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the government would provide enhanced infrastructure and logistical facilities at border posts where women personnel had been deployed under the command of various frontier guarding forces.

After taking salute at the 53rd Raising Day of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at its camp here, Rajnath said it was essential to have gender-friendly facilities at these far-flung areas for women as the present support system was deficient.

Apart from SSB, BSF (deployed along Pakistan and Bangladesh borders) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (along Sino-India frontier) has deployed its women personnel as part of their border guarding charter. While the forces have upgraded or created new infrastructure facilities at the border posts after women combatants were posted at these locations for the first time a few years ago, reports from the field units of these forces have desired that much more needs to be done.

Rajnath said his ministry would give a serious thought to a pending proposal of SSB to have its own dedicated intelligence wing to aid its ground troops mandated to secure Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan. Despite not having a dedicated intelligence wing, you have been quite successful in your operations along the two borders you guard, he said.  PTI
Syed Ali Ahmed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 18

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh today asked the Sikh community to be united if they wanted their safety and protection of their religious heritage.

He said Guru Gobind Singh also stressed on unity and strong character for the success of the community. Without naming the Congress, he reminded the Sikhs of the 1984 riots and the Operation Bluestar at Harmandir Sahib. He said Sikhs sacrificed their lives for the countrys freedom, but in return they were attacked. Anything could happen in this country, he added.

He was addressing a gathering at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here in connection with the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. The function was organised by the Punjab Government. He also released a book authored by Dr Neki on Guru Gobind Singh.

He handed over a cheque for Rs 10 crore to president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Manjit Singh (GK) for the construction of an international centre for Sikh studies on the premises of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi.

Talking about the statue of Banda Singh Bahadur, he said when the Delhi Government refused to allot land for its installation, the Punjab Government provided the same at Nabha House. He unveiled the statue using a remote control.

Badal said the SAD government was the only one that worked for the protection of religious heritage. The beautification of Darbar Sahib was being praised by the people, including foreign dignitaries, he claimed.

He also asked the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee to launch a free bus service for the poor to visit Darbar Sahib, Huzoor Sahib, Panja Sahib and Nankana Sahib. He also asked to provide free bus service for Muslims and Hindus willing to visit mosques and temples in Punjab.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal also asked the people to get united under one flag. He said the youngsters needed to be told that the community made sacrifice for the country and the majority community. He asked people to visit Anandpur Sahib, Darbar Sahib and other religious places.

He said the heritage street at Darbar Sahib would be opened for the public on December 20 and Amritsar would be developed as the most beautiful city in the world over the next three years.
Tribune News Service

Sangrur, December 19

A 55-year-old farmer, Darshan Singh, of Sadopur village (near Malerkotla) allegedly consumed some poisonous substance at a dharna organised by 12 farmer and labourer organisations near Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsas residence here today. He was taken to the Civil Hospital here, from where he was referred to Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala.

The protesters came to know about the incident when Darshan started vomiting there. Some people said he consumed some poisonous substance as he was under a lot of stress due to debt.

Sandeep Wadehra, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Sangrur, said this evening that Darshan Singh was in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Government Rajindra Hospital.

Earlier, the protesters gathered at the local BSNL Park here, from where they marched towards the residence of Dhindsa while raising slogans against the government and in support of their demands. The demands include loan waiver for debt-ridden farmers and farm labourers, 10-marla plots for landless farmers and labourers for constructing houses and cancellation of dummy auction of panchayat land reserved for SCs in Jhaloor village (near Lehragaga).

In Moga, protesters gun for Agri Minister

Moga: Hundreds of farmers marched towards the residence of Agriculture Minister Tota Singh on the national highway but the police stopped them just a few yards away. They blocked the national highway for a few hours. The protesters raised slogans against Tota Singh, accusing him of the pesticide scam and the supply of substandard seed that resulted in repeated crop failures and the whitefly attack in the last few years. General Secretary of the BKU (Ekta) Sukhdev Singh Kokri said, Farmers and farm labourers are under great stress, resulting in suicides. The government needs to come to the farmers assistance. TNS
Arun Sharma

Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of the Khalsa, has been in the news mostly for the wrong reasons during the past five years. The mining mafia, allegedly enjoying the patronage of politicians, has been calling the shots in this constituency. Sand and stone are being plundered in the district, even as the allotment of quarries has been delayed. Extortion in the form of goonda tax is also rampant. Ironically, local MLA Madan Mohan Mittal is the Industry and Mining Minister.

Reaching Bharatgarh village on the Ropar-Anandpur Sahib national highway, tippers loaded with sand and stone can be seen turning towards the adjoining crusher zone, giving the impression that work is in full swing at the stone crushers. This misconception vanishes as soon as you talk to shopkeepers at the bus stand.

Local residents were earning well a few years ago when the sand and stone quarries were operational, says Tarlochan Singh, who sells utensils. The presence of labourers working at the crushers had boosted trade. The shopkeepers had purchased trucks to ferry sand and stone, generating additional income, he adds. Now, with a majority of the quarries lying idle, they have sold their trucks, while many labourers have left the area.

Ten km ahead, at Kiratpur Sahib, both sides of the highway are dotted with workshops for the repair of trucks. The closure of the clinker yard and the ban on mining have fuelled unemployment, says Harjit Singh, who joined the family business of spare parts after completing BSc.

A clinker dump yard of Jaypee Cement Company was shifted from here six years ago after a protest by villagers and the denial of nod by the Pollution Department, hitting local transporters hard. Rajinder Singh, a shopkeeper who had to sell his truck as there was no work, says the move could have been aborted, had the local leaders of the ruling alliance made sincere efforts.

Inaugurated by Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal on February 12, the 50-bed Civil Hospital at Nangal, built at a cost of Rs 9 crore, remains a non-starter. No medical specialist has been posted at the hospital, while its diagnostic laboratory is yet to become operational.

A section of the voters opines that the MLA worked hard to develop the area. At Midhwan Lower village, Shamsher Singh, the sarpanchs son, claims that all roads/streets in the village were repaired and a drinking water supply project completed at a cost of Rs 90 lakh.

Having decided to quit active politics, Mittal has declared his son, Arvind Mittal, a former Punjab Additional Advocate General, as his political heir. The Congress has again fielded former MLA Rana Kanwar Pal Singh, who had defeated Mittal in the 2002 and 2007 Assembly polls. AAP is yet to name its nominee.
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, December 18

Chief Minister Harish Rawat along with Cabinet minister Pritam Singh unveiled the a newly built police station and a 100-bed hospital at Tyuni tehsil, near Chakrata, in Dehradun district today.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat, while addressing the gathering, said the state was on the path of inclusive growth and has become the first in the country to provide maximum social security pension to the beneficiaries. In 2014, the number of beneficiaries was around 1.74 lakh, which had grown to 7.25 lakh at present. The pension amount had been increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1,000. The government had given grants for pension to widows, disabled, mentally challenged, temple priests, artisans crafts persons, journalists, construction workers and Dangaria, which is a record in itself.

He said the government was trying to give a safety cover to each citizen. He was trying to bring in a change through women empowerment schemes and was providing a wake up money of around Rs 5,000 and Rs 20,000 to women members of self-help groups for starting their own business units in the state. The women involved in community farming would be given Rs 1 lakh as grant for promoting agriculture.The Chief Minister sanctioned the construction of Aara and Tharara roads.
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 19

Governor KK Paul felicitated renowned author Ruskin Bond here on Sunday. He spoke about the authors works and appreciated the love for nature and people that had been expressed by Bond in his vast body of writing.

The Governor said he was introduced to the authors writing through Junoon, the film made by Shyam Benegal on Bonds novella A Flight of Pigeons and had then read the novella. The Governor said Bonds love for mountains, his deep attachment to Dehradun and Mussoorie and his belief in the goodness of human nature made his works so popular among readers.

He said Bonds love for the Doon valley was known to all and it was this emotion that had lent a deeper beauty to his writing about the valley.

The Governor congratulated the author for his having been recently honoured with the lifetime achievement award by the Times of India.

Ruskin Bond, while speaking on the occasion, spoke about his love for Dehradun and said when he had gone to the UK while he was a teenager, he had greatly missed his friends in Dehra, the mountains, the trees and the environment of the valley .This had made him return within two years. Since 1963, I have been living in Mussoorie. Writing gives me a lot of freedom. Nature is my inspiration. I wrote many a story in the 1960s and 1970s when I was living in a cottage next to the forest near Barlowganj in Mussoorie, Bond said.

The author shared with the audience his way of conceiving a plot, lifestyle, visualisation of a story and his sense of humour. He said though it was good that people were reading e-books these days, there was nothing like reading a real book.

The audience consisted of writers, academicians, publishers, journalists and several other eminent persons of Dehradun where Ruskin Bond also shared some personal anecdotes and had several enthralling lighter moments.
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 18

The Supreme Courts recent ruling to ban the sale of liquor alongside highways can put the entire liquor business in Uttarakhand in jeopardy as most of the shops are situated on highways.

As many as 396 of the 500 liquor shops in the state are set to be affected with the apex courts ruling. Now, the state excise officials are planning to file a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled on December 15 that the licences of liquor shops alongside highways across the country should not be renewed after March 31, 2017. There are 187 liquor shops situated alongside state highways while 209 are in close proximity to national highways in the state.

On December 8, the Uttarakhand High Court too had ruled that liquor shops should not be located within a one km radius of educational institutions, religious places and hospitals. The High Court also ordered the state government to impose a ban on the sale of liquor and tobacco in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts where the Char Dham shrines are located. As many as 100 liquor shops have been affected with the High Courts verdict.

The Excise Department is now planning to file a Special Leave Petition against the court orders and has come up with a proposal. The department is of the view that liquor ban in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts will lead to huge financial losses to the tune of over Rs 100 crore every year. The department also argues that liquor smuggling will rise due to the ban, and it has no mechanism to check the illegal activity.
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 19

Chief Minister Harish Rawat found himself on the backfoot on the issue of giving a 90-minute break to Muslim employees for Friday congregational prayers following attack by the BJP.

The Cabinet had decided to give a break from 12.30 pm till 2pm on Fridays to Muslim employees to participate in the prayers.

The strong reaction from the Opposition that found an appropriate issue to dub the Congress state government as communal and appeasing Muslims for votes has forced the Chief Minister to declare the break for all employees, belonging to different communities.

Finding himself on the wrong foot, Chief Minister Harish Rawat in a damage-control exercise told mediapersons that all employees could avail short leave for prayers on special occasions by giving applications to their offices.

BJPslams move

New Delhi: The BJP today slammed the Uttarakhand Government for declaring a special 90-minute Friday break for Muslim employees. The party said it would set a wrong precedent.

Party leaders accused the Congress government in Uttarakhand of communalising the states politics ahead of the Assembly poll.

The leaders said hardly anyone would be found working in the government offices if Hindus, who performed different pujas across the month, were given similar concessions.

BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma accused the Congress of having the history of dividing people on communal lines in its greed for power. He termed the latest endeavour as an attempt to hide the Harish Rawat governments failures.

There is no issue with people of different faiths offering prayers of their choice. But this will set a wrong precedent on the matter of principle. From Monday to Saturday, the Hindus also worship different Gods and offer prayers. If everyone starts getting such exemptions, who will work in government offices? It is an attempt to communalise the states politics ahead of the poll as the government has failed on all fronts. It has nothing to show to people for its work and is attempting to hide its failures under its communal agenda, Shrikant said.

Dehradun: Meanwhile, state BJP leader Anil Baluni said Chief Minister Harish Rawat took the decision, keeping the next years Assembly elections in mind. Harish Rawat has taken this decision out of fear of losing the elections, he said.

The Chief Minister is following the Congress tradition of misleading the Muslims. The Congress has taken the decision right before the elections. What is on their mind? Do they want to influence elections?, he said.

However, state Congress president Kishore Upadhyay on Monday said the decision should be welcomed as every religion should be respected.

It should be welcomed and peoples belief and every religion should be respected, he said.

-With inputs from ANI
Aden, December 18

A suicide bomber from the Islamic State group killed at least 48 Yemeni soldiers in Aden today, the latest in a string of deadly attacks against recruits in the country's second city.

Military officials and medics said dozens more were wounded in the attack that targeted a crowd of servicemen who had gathered to collect their salaries near a base in northeastern Aden.

"The number of those killed has risen to 48, while 84 others were wounded," Aden health chief Abdel Nasser al-Wali told AFP.

Wali had initially given a toll of 40 dead, warning that the number was likely to increase due to "critical cases."

The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who blended in among soldiers crowding outside the house of the head of special security forces in Aden, Colonel Nasser Sarea, in Al-Arish district, near Al-Sawlaban base.

IS claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement that a martyrdom seeker had gotten through security checkpoints before blowing himself up.  AFP
SPRINGFIELD  On a tour of the Pontiac Correctional Center shortly after he was hired to lead Illinois' prison system, John Baldwin met an inmate whose story convinced him that some reform measures demanded immediate action.

The prisoner told Baldwin during the October 2015 prison walk-through that he had 22 years left to serve in administrative segregation.

"When I asked him why he was there he said, 'I don't know,'" said Baldwin in a Pantagraph interview last week that also included IDOC chief of psychiatry, Dr. Michael Dempsey, and Dr. Melvin Hinton, chief of the agency's Office of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Baldwin learned that "tons of low-level tickets" had landed the inmate in segregation for more than two decades  an example of the type of disciplinary policy Baldwin has vowed to review since taking over the Department of Corrections.

"Part of this was his problem, but part of it is ours," said Baldwin.

The serious issues related to mental health treatment for IDOC inmates also quickly became a priority for Baldwin.

The state was in its eighth year of a federal lawsuit filed by Pontiac inmate Ashoor Rasho and later joined by 11,000 other mentally ill prisoners when Baldwin was hired away from the Iowa Department of Corrections.

The lawsuit is now settled with an agreement by the state to essentially build a new mental health system. Staff training, new residential treatment units and agreements with hospitals to provide care to inmates whose needs exceed those available at a prison are key components of the settlement that could cost $100 million to fully implement.

Earlier this month, the state wrapped up two-day mental health training for 13,000 IDOC employees. Security, nonsecurity and contract staff participated in the program developed under a partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

At Thursday's training session in Springfield, IDOC trainer Brad Hill focused on the medications used to properly treat mentally ill inmates.

Comments from a parole officer about whether mental illness is a matter of genetics or choice are illustrative of the challenge IDOC faces in its efforts to change the culture of a prison system that houses about 44,000 inmates. The trainer's explanation of how mental illness is diagnosed did not erase the officer's skepticism.

Workers who see inmates every day play a critical role in keeping mentally ill inmates stable, said Dempsey.

"What we're asking people to do is identify, not diagnose or treat mental illness. It's about patterns" and documenting changes in an inmate's behavior so issues can be addressed earlier, he said.

The state also is moving forward on its obligation to open four residential treatment units for seriously mentally ill inmates.

According to Baldwin, work was completed Thursday on renovating a former youth facility in Joliet that will provide 360 beds for mental health care when it opens early next year. Work also is finished on a mental health treatment area at the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, and bids have been accepted for a second unit there.

Bids are expected in early 2017 for units at the Dixon and Pontiac prisons.

A remaining challenge for IDOC is employing about 400 new staff needed for the expanded mental health system, said Hinton.

"It's very difficult," said Hinton, noting that Illinois is not unique in its shortage of mental health professionals. As part of its search for future staff, the state has opened a dialogue with the University of Illinois.

The same philosophical shift the IDOC has undertaken with its workers toward mental health applies equally to mental health workers who may have crossed the prison system off their list of potential employers, said Hinton.

"We want them to understand that the folks we treat are the same people they treated in the community. It's the same person," said Hinton.

Last summer, the union representing prison workers expressed concerns that IDOC was moving too fast with some of its mental health reforms. Moving inmates from segregation back into the general population before they were ready could expose correctional officers to violence, said the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Beyond the mandate that staff have a safe working environment is the state's obligation to make sure workers have resources to help them deal with their high-stress jobs, said Baldwin. New programs to address those issues will be coming in 2017, he said.

Improvements in treating the state's mentally ill inmates could have long-term benefits throughout Illinois. About the same number of inmates that enter IDOC also are released each year  most of them returning to the counties where they were convicted. Sending offenders home in better condition increases their chances for success, prison officials agreed.

A waiver of federal Medicaid rules filed by Illinois this year also could allow the state more flexibility in its use of federal dollars. The collaboration between 13 state agencies calls for boosts in mental health services, an area the state has cut in recent years. Part of that funding would be used to expand the link between prison and community services, said Hinton.

"We want discharge planning to start at intake. The goal is for them not to return," said Hinton.
Oslo/Beijing, December 19

Norway and China announced today the resumption of diplomatic relations, six years after Beijing froze ties with Oslo over the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a Chinese dissident.

The Nobel Peace Prize in October 2010 to human rights activist Liu Xiaobo  imprisoned in his own country by authorities who consider him a criminal  had angered the Chinese regime so much that it suspended its ties with Norway.

During a surprise visit to Beijing by Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende on Monday, the two nations issued a joint declaration announcing the thaw in their ties. Through meticulous and numerous conversations, the two sides have over the last years reached a level of trust that allows for resumption of a normal relationship, they said in a joint statement.

The Norwegian government reiterates its commitment to the one-China policy, fully respects Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, attaches high importance to Chinas core interests and major concerns, will not support actions that undermine them, and will do its best to avoid any future damage to the bilateral relations, the statement said.

Human rights issues were not mentioned in the two-page document.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a separate statement after meeting Brende in Beijing that in recent years, relations had taken a serious step backwards.

Norway deeply reflected upon the reasons why bilateral mutual trust was harmed, and had conscientious, solemn consultations with China about how to improve bilateral relations, Wang said.  Agencies
Dubai, December 18

Actor Samuel L Jackson says Muslim Americans are the new black kids in his country as people perceive them as a threat before even saying hello.

The actor, best known for his roles in Quentin Tarantino's movies such as Hateful Eight, Django Unchained and Pulp Fiction, attended the Dubai International Film Festival here to receive a lifetime achievement award.

Talking about diversity, Jackson said HBOs show The Night Of was amazing but average Americans would call it a black show, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Muslims are getting arrested like black kids get arrested; Muslim Americans are the new black kids in America. Suspect as we are for the dominant culture, people dont understand them. People perceive them as a threat before even saying hello.

But the Muslim community is present in our country. They are a vital part of our country and interestingly enough they have less crime, more education and their businesses thrive more so than any other group in the country. You tell people in the Rust Belt that, and theyre like, Get out of here.

Talking about the Hollywood award season, Jackson said this time it seems a bit different from the #OscarsSoWhite controversy of last year.

When later asked by an audience member about his thoughts on Donald Trump, Jackson said, My agent wont let me answer that question.

The actor, who received the Lifetime Achievement honour at the Dubai International Film Festival recently, also spoke about diversity in the film industry and in modern-day America.  PTI
Ankara, December 19

The Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot dead in an attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital on Monday by a gunman shouting "Don't forget Aleppo".

A Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman confirmed the death of envoy Andrei Karlov, which marked one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict into Turkey.

Russia is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes were instrumental in helping Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo.

The Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been "neutralised" soon after the attack, Relations between Moscow and Ankara have long been fraught over the conflict, with the two supporting opposing sides.

The attacker was smartly dressed in black suit and tie, and standing behind the ambassador as he made a speech at the art exhibition, a person at the scene told Reuters.

"He took out his gun and shot the ambassador from behind. We saw him lying on the floor and then we ran out," said the witness, who asked not to be identified.

A Reuters cameraman at the scene said gunfire rang out for some time after the attack.

A video showed the attacker shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!"

As screams rang out, the gunman could then be seen pacing about and shouting as he held the gun in one hand and waved the other in the air.

Another photograph showed four people including what appeared to be the ambassador lying on the floor.

Russia and Turkey have both been involved in the conflict in Syria, which borders Turkey. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of Assad, while Russia has deployed troops and its air force in support of the Syrian leader.

The U.S. State Department, involved in diplomatic contacts with Russia in an attempt to resolve a refugee crisis unfolding around the city of Aleppo, condemned the attack.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Russian-backed Syrian forces have fought for control of the eastern part of the city of Aleppo, triggering a stream of refugees.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack.

Islamic State militants have been active in Turkey and carried out several bomb attacks on Turkish targets over the last year.- Reuters
Ankara, December 19

The Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot in the back and killed as he gave a speech at an Ankara art gallery on Monday by an off-duty police officer who shouted Don't forget Aleppo and Allahu Akbar as he opened fire.

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the death of envoy Andrei Karlov, calling it a terrorist act. Relations between Moscow and Ankara have long been strained over the conflict in Syria, with the two supporting opposing sides in the war.

Russia is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes helped Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo. Turkey, which has long sought Assad's ouster, has been repairing ties with Moscow after shooting down a Russian warplane over Syria last year.

The Ankara mayor said on Twitter the gunman was a police officer. Two security sources told Reuters he was not on duty at the time. The attacker was smartly dressed in black suit and tie and stood alone behind the ambassador as he made a speech at the art exhibition.

He took out his gun and shot the ambassador from behind. We saw him lying on the floor and then we ran out, said the witness, who asked not to be identified. People took refuge in adjoining rooms as the shooting continued.

A video showed the attacker shouting: Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" and "Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest) as screams rang out. He paced about and shouted as he held the gun in one hand and waved the other in the air.

A Reuters cameraman at the scene said gunfire rang out for some time after the attack. Turkey's Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been "neutralised", apparently killed. Another photograph showed four people and the ambassador lying on the floor.

We call it a terrorist act, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively. It was not clear whether the gunman was a lone operator, driven perhaps by popular discontent over Russian action in Syria or affiliated to a group like Islamic State.  Reuters
BEIRUT, December 19

Thousands were evacuated from the last rebel-held enclave of the Aleppo on Monday after a deal was reached to allow people to leave two besieged pro-government villages in nearby Idlib province.

In bitter winter weather, convoys of buses from eastern Aleppo reached rebel-held areas to the west of the city, and more buses left the Shi'ite Muslim villages of al-Foua and Kefraya for government lines, according to a UN official and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group.

The United Nations Security Council agreed to a resolution calling for UN officials and others to be allowed to monitor evacuations from east Aleppo and the safety of civilians still there.

The Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Ja'afari, denounced the resolution as propaganda, saying the last of the rebels were leaving and Aleppo would be "clean" by Monday evening.

The recapture of Aleppo is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's biggest victory so far in the nearly six-year-old war, but the fighting is not over with large parts of the country still controlled by insurgent and Islamist groups.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said 20,000 civilians had been evacuated from Aleppo so far.

Nearly 50 children, some critically injured, were rescued from eastern Aleppo, where they had been trapped in an orphanage, the United Nations said.

The evacuation of civilians from the two villages had been demanded by the Syrian army and its allies before they would allow fighters and civilians trapped in Aleppo to depart. The standoff halted the Aleppo evacuation over the weekend.

"Complex evacuations from East Aleppo and Foua and Kefraya now in full swing. More than 900 buses needed to evacuate all. We must not fail," Jan Egeland, who chairs the United Nations aid task force in Syria, tweeted.

Intense cold, long wait

Ahmad al-Dbis, a medical aid worker heading a team evacuating patients from Aleppo, said 89 buses had left the city. "Some evacuees told us that a few children died from the long wait and the intense cold while they were waiting to evacuate," he told Reuters.

For those still in rebel-held Aleppo, conditions were grim, according to Aref al-Aref, a nurse and photographer there.

"I'm still in Aleppo. I'm waiting for them to evacuate the children and women first. It's very cold and there's hunger. It's a long wait," he said. "People are burning wood and clothes to keep warm in the streets."

Photographs of people evacuated from Aleppo showed large groups of people standing or crouching with their belongings or loading sacks onto trucks.

Children in winter clothes carried small backpacks or played with kittens. One older man, in traditional Arab robes and headdress, sat holding a stick.

Buses burned

On Sunday, some of the buses sent to al-Foua and Kefraya to carry evacuees out were attacked and torched by armed men.

That incident threatened to derail the evacuations, the result of intense negotiations between Russia  Assad's main supporter  and Turkey, which backs some large rebel groups.

The foreign and defence ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey will hold talks in Moscow on Tuesday aimed at giving fresh impetus for a solution in Aleppo.

At stake is the fate of thousands of people still stuck in the last rebel bastion in Aleppo after a series of sudden advances by the Syrian army and allied Shi'ite militias under an intense bombardment that pulverised large sections of the city.

They have been waiting for the chance to leave Aleppo since the ceasefire and evacuation deal was agreed late last Tuesday, but have been prevented from doing so during days of hold-ups.

In the square in Aleppo's Sukari district, organisers gave every family a number to allow them access to buses.

"Everyone is waiting until they are evacuated. They just want to escape," said Salah al Attar, a former teacher with his five children, wife and mother.

Camp in turkey

Thousands of people were evacuated on Thursday, the first to leave under the ceasefire deal that ends fighting in the city where violence erupted in 2012, a year after the start of conflict in other parts of Syria.

They were taken to rebel-held districts of the countryside west of Aleppo. Turkey has said Aleppo evacuees could also be housed in a camp to be constructed in Syria near the Turkish border to the north.

For four years the city was split between a rebel-held eastern sector and the government-held western districts. During the summer, the army and its allies besieged the rebel sector before using intense bombardment and ground assaults to retake it in recent months.

A Reuters reporter who visited recaptured districts of Aleppo in recent days saw large swathes reduced to ruins, with rubble everywhere and sections of the famous Old City all but destroyed.

Traders began to return to their stores in the Old City to see if they could be fixed up.

One merchant, Jamal Deeb, said: "We are all here to see what the situation is like, and to consider reconstructing the stores. We do not want to leave things as they are, hand in hand we want to rebuild everything once again". Assad is backed in the war by Russian air power and Shi'ite militias including Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iraq's Harakat al-Nujaba. The mostly Sunni rebels include groups supported by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies.

East of Aleppo, several villages held by Islamic State have been captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of militias backed by the United States that includes a strong Kurdish contingent, the Observatory said.

The advance is part of a campaign backed by an international coalition to drive Islamic State from its Syrian capital of Raqqa. Reuters
Washington, December 18

In yet another swipe at China, President-elect Donald Trump today said the US should let the Communist giant keep the Navy's unmanned underwater drone after Beijing agreed to return in an "appropriate manner" the device it had seized in the disputed South China Sea.

"We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back - let them keep it!" Trump tweeted, hours after Pentagon announced it had reached an understanding with China for the return of the drone. The Pentagon had alleged that the drone was unlawfully seized by China on December 15 in the SCS while it was being recovered by a US Navy oceanographic survey ship.

The US lodged a formal diplomatic complaint and demanded the drone back. The incident is among the most serious military confrontations between the two powers for decades.

China yesterday slammed the US for "making a fuss" over the seizure of its underwater drone and said it will return the device in an "appropriate manner".

Defence Ministry spokesperson dismissed the US allegations, insisting that China seized the underwater glider to ensure the safe navigation of passing ships.

Trump's latest tweet was the second time the President-elect blasted China for the seizure.

Earlier, he accused China of stealing American drone. "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters - rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented (sic) act," Trump tweeted, misspelling unprecedented. He later reissued the tweet, correcting the spelling.

Trump has repeatedly infuriated China in recent weeks, questioning decades-old US policy on Taiwan, making phone call to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and calling Beijing a currency manipulator. The drone incident, the latest encounter in international waters in the South China Sea region, occurred earlier this week about 161 km off the Philippine port at Subic Bay.  PTI

Most significant military incident between Beijing and Washington
A series of investigative reports by OCCRP has led to regulators in Ukraine and Latvia taking steps to rein in the use of Baltic banks to launder the proceeds of corruption.

On Aug. 28, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), the country's central bank, circulated a letter to the country's 93 banks warning against dealings with eight foreign banks suspected of being "related to risky financial operations." In a further Oct. 26 email, the NBU explained that these "risky operations" comprised "laundering of revenues derived from criminal activities."

The list of eight banks included three Baltic banks highlighted by a series of OCCRP investigations, published starting in June, into the laundering of ill-gotten money from Ukraine in the country.

One of the banks named by NBU was Latvia's Regional Investment Bank. OCCRP reported in October how Ukraine's former first deputy chief prosecutor Mykola Gerasimyuk transferred money via a UK offshore, Smartus Business, with accounts at Regional Investment Bank (RIB) to buy luxury properties in Croatia and Slovakia and pay for his daughter's British university education.

Informal documents acquired for Smartus Business and other offshore firms with accounts at RIB indicated they were being used to pool dirty money for various Ukrainian clients. The offshores would then make payments to the intended beneficiaries of the money on behalf of these clients.

RIB, controlled by the shareholders of Ukrainian bank Pivdennyi, has played down the NBU warning.



"The term 'can be related' implies the absence of any proof which could allow the suspicion (of money laundering by RIB)," the bank told OCCRP in a statement. It added that all foreign currency transactions in Ukraine required approval of the NBU itself. The NBU warned against two other banks named in the OCCRP investigation: Latvia's largest offshore bank, ABLV; and Estonia's Versobank, which is Ukrainian owned.

In September 2016, one week after the NBU's warning, Latvias financial regulator, the Financial and Capital Market Commission (FKTK), banned Estonia's Versobank entirely from Latvia, alleging that its activities "pose a threat to the credit institution sector, reputation and interests of customers."

OCCRP reported in October how a group of four Seychelles firms founded in July 2014 moved dirty money out of Ukraine to ABLV and Versobank. Over the span of seven months in 2014 and 2015, operators channeled tens of millions of dollars in dirty money from diverse individuals and companies through these four offshores to the banks, despite strict capital controls in place at the time.

A large part of the funds flowing through these offshores was payment to foreign suppliers, often Chinese companies, selling goods to Ukrainian importers. The off-the-books payments were apparently made after importers declared the goods to Ukrainian customs at a fraction of their real value.

Versobank did not respond to a request for comment. Estonia's financial regulator, the Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority, said it could not comment on the decisions of foreign regulators such as the NBU and FKTK. Besides its measures against Estonia's Versobank, Latvia has started to slowly take more energetic measures against local banks exposed in OCCRP investigations.

Latvian regulators slapped a 1.1 million penalty (US$ 1.15 million) on Baltic International Bank (BIB) in March for violating anti-money laundering laws. The fine was imposed after OCCRP reporters submitted seemingly incriminating paperwork bearing BIB's metadata to FKTK in December 2015.

The paperwork included two chapters from what might be called a "money laundering manual" providing detailed instructions on how to draw up plausible fake trade invoices and contracts in order to hide the real nature of funds transferred via offshores. BIB denies any connection to the documents.

Also in March 2016, the European Central Bank (ECB) stripped the license of Trasta Komercbanka, which had Ukrainian co-owners. Latvian regulators said the decision was taken due to the bank's "serious and sustained breaches" of anti-money laundering regulations.

An internationally acclaimed OCCRP investigation published in 2014 found that Trasta had laundered $20 billion in dirty money from Russian banks linked to President Vladimir Putin. The bank did this unhindered by regulators in the run-up to Latvia joining the Eurozone in January 2014. Trasta was also named in an OCCRP investigation as one of the banks laundering funds stolen in a Russian tax fraud exposed by late whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky.

In November 2016, the ECB turned down journalists' Freedom of Information request to view its file on Trasta. Despite the regulatory failures allowing the bank's money laundering activities, the ECB decided that the Trasta file is subject to a "general presumption of non-accessibility" by the public.

Adam Foldes, an advocacy advisor at Transparency International, criticized the ECBs decision.

"The ECB does not seem to be a great fan of transparency, which is peculiar considering its essential supervisory role for the European banking sector, and does not really help building trust in this institution," he said.

OCCRP has appealed the ruling.

occrp.org
Sunteck Transport Group and TTS Holdings recently merged to create what they say will be one of the largest multimodal, agent-based freight management service providers in the U.S.

We talked to Ken Forster, CEO of Sunteck, who will serve as the president and CEO of the new company, and Andy Cole, president and CEO of TTS, who will be chairman of the board, about the merger and how technology is changing the industry.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

HDT: Could each of you tell me a little bit about your company, its strengths, and what made it unique prior to the merger?

Cole: We started TTS in the fall of 2005. A number of us had been through several iterations of companies that were based on the same premise as TTS: they were agent based. They did have some employee components which traditionally had created some conflicts, when youve got an agent base on one side and an employee base on the other. Theyre both out here pursuing revenue. At the last company that a number of us who started TTS were with, it just became very evident that there was an opportunity to create a pure agent-based model that were very few in the industry, especially in the 3PL non asset business.

We moved our first shipment in January of 2006 and did all the traditional non-asset modes, full truckload, dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, we did some high and wide stuff, and the reason for that is we had people who knew how to do those. We did intermodal, we did LTL, so we got off to a very fast start and our assumptions were correct. We did $126 million in our first year. The second year we did about $176 million, and its just kind of grown from there.

I would say the thing we did in 2005 was we looked around at the technology and where we thought technology was going both for the customer, for the agents and for the carriers we did business with, the railroads. We put our heads together and came up with a really nice technology play which I think really catapulted us at the very beginning because it attracted some really talented agents to come join us.

We define them as agent, an independent contractor that has a contract with TTS. They service the customer on a day to day basis, they solicit freight and business from that customer, they quote rates, when they receive a tender, an order, theyre responsible for sourcing that capacity, finding a truck for that. Brokerage is just one of the things they do. Our role is to support them. We contract with the underlying carriers, with the railroads, we do all of the settlement, the receivables, the credit. The agents in other companies were responsible for everything, everything got pushed down to them, the collections, getting invoices sent, and we realized there was a better way to do that. And we brought all that non revenue producing functionality into our corporate office. We felt that coupled with our technology play, we could enhance the agents productivity substantially and allow them to growth their business unencumbered with all that minutia.

We also have agents that are carriers as well, a group called Progressive Transportation, our asset light model, and about 11 agents in that that run 650 trucks companies and each one of those are individual businesses that are signed on to Progressive, which is a TTS company. It has its own motor carrier authority, its own insurance, and we provide a lot of the same back end support.

Forster: Sunteck operates under the exact same model as TTS in terms of what we do, in terms of an agent based network and the asset light capacity model as well as brokerage services. The company was started by Harry Wachtel about 15, 20 years ago. It didnt grow nearly as fast as TTS, but it grew consistently and was taken public. in 2013, private equity took the company private, and I became CEO in late 2014. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, were more of an East Coast based firm.

We do the same thing Andy does. The difference is our agents tend to service smaller shippers, small to medium size businesses, where TTS tends to work with larger customers, national accounts. So its a really good fit, geographically and serving different segments of customers.

HDT: What were the factors driving this merger?

Forster: The two companies have been talking to each other for several years, had a very good relationship. You know 2016 has not been a particularly stellar year for transportation, and in a slow market it was a good opportunity for us to embark on integration of these two companies. while things were a little slower and we could focus on this internally. The opportunities and synergies became clearer and clearer to us and we felt the time was right.

Cole: The fit is just about as perfect as you can come up with. One of the things we felt very compatible with was the culture at Sunteck. They believe in the agent model, they believe in how to grow it, what the right ways are to support it. Well be able to put these companies tougher in relatively short order just because we do things so similarly.

HDT: What does this mean for our readers, who are primarily trucking fleets of 5 trucks up to thousands?

Cole: Were one of those guys. Weve got about 650 trucks on the Progressive side and on the Sunteck side theyve got about 1,200. We now become a sizable trucking company as well. Were a freight management company, so to speak, so we represent those customers out in the marketplace and we do it both with our own assets and also with the other players in the industry. Some of our success is attributable to our relationships with those trucking companies.

HDT: With the merger, how would you say you are now positioned in the market compared to the competition? Who would you say are your main competitors?

Forster: I think in terms of bringing a wide variety of services we really compete in two areas  we compete with the C.H. Robinsons of the world, the Coyote Logistics of the world, and we compete with other agent based models such as Landstar and Mode Transportation, which is a subsidiary of the Hub Group.

With these two companies coming together and having a national footprint, and also having an asset light division, we feel we are incredibly competitive. Weve got scale, weve got a wide breadth of services, we think were going to be well positioned. Our goal is to become the new home for people who are looking to ship freight or for agents who are looking to move to a platform with scale, resources, technology, and a wide breadth of services. By combining our capabilities and our footprint, were going to be very well positioned in the market.

HDT: Tell me a little about the new structure. Is one of you going to be the head of the new company? Are there co-CEOs?

Cole: Im going to be the chairman and Im going to be Ken Forsters biggest cheerleader. We are both very strong leaders and I think we feed off of each other real well. Kens strengths, which is the day to day running of the company, and my role is going to be to help grow the company and find revenue sources and potential acquisitions. Were going to mesh really well in the leadership of the company and weve both got long experience with it.

HDT: Is the name going to be Sunteck/TTS Holdings or will you come up with a name for the combined business?

Forster: Were going to go to market as SunteckTTS; our agents for the time being will continue to operate under their respective brands. Over time we will bring those things together, starting with integrating the back office functions. Were going to be very careful and deliberate about not disrupting our agents ability to go to market and interface with their customers. Theres not a plan set in stone right now to rebrand from an agent standpoint. We havent thought of a great name yet.

Cole: I like Ken and Andys Big Adventure.' [laughs]

HDT: What trends do you see looking ahead when it comes to various parts of your business?

Forster: Continued sophistication and use of technology, both from the broker standpoint as well as shipper standpoint, as well as how its going to affect the capacity side. Like the ELD mandate and how the data from those units is going to be used in our back office as well as by shippers. The deluge of opportunities as it relates to technology, matching shippers with capacity, the amount of data available for analytics.

It think that an industry that has probably been on the slow end of adoption of technology in general is going to face some challenges and opportunities as things progress over the next couple of years. And now at a greater scale as a bigger company with more money to look at that technology, it puts is in a really good spot. I think the smaller guys without the resources to invest in technology are going to struggle. Its going to be the haves and have nots, and if you cant keep up

Cole:  call us.

HDT: Speaking of technology... what effect do you think whats called the Uberization of Trucking will have on the industry and on your business?

Cole: I think its going to have its place, especially for the small shipper. But I dont see [making] a couple clicks and all of a sudden you have a truck scheduled. Theres a whole bunch required to do business with the customers; its not just reach out and find a truck on I-35 and have them come pick up a load.

Forster: Theres sort of a general but unspoken belief that the innovation as it relates to this matching technology has to come from a new entrant. Youve got some companies out there, i would consider us to be one, who are forward thinking and have a lot of experience, but most importantly have lot of relationships with a lot of different carriers. That  is not something that is easily attained [by a new entrant.]

Cole: A lot of details get glossed over.

Forster: Its easy to sit there with a white board and figure out how to match a shipper with a truck. If you think of why Uber has been so successful, its massively capitalized. Theyve stubbed their toe massively many times but they persevered and got through. Its going to happen; someone said to me once that things take twice as long as you think but happen twice as fast. So we have to keep an eye on it and position ourselves and our agents to respond appropriately.

Cole: I think he who owns the data and the technology is going to continue to be cutting edge. I think technology is going to win the day. and Im not talking about ELDs or things of that nature. I think the big data play is going to be very important and I think being cutting edge of technology will be front and center for us as we put the two companies together. I think customers and carriers alike want good data, and as regulation comes into play data is going to become more important to manage that productivity and squeeze as much productivity out as you can through technology and analytics.
A Tulsa man charged in connection with the shooting death of his neighbor cannot afford to hire his own attorney and is not a racist, according to his public defender.

Rob Nigh, Tulsa County chief public defender, disputed a Saturday Tulsa World story regarding the indigency status of Stanley Vernon Majors.

The 62-year-old is charged with first-degree murder and violation of Oklahomas hate-crime law in connection with the Aug. 12 shooting death of Khalid Jabara.

Majors was appointed a public defender despite public records indicating he owned a home in Tulsa and real estate in California and had recently hired a private attorney to defend him in a separate felony case.

Nigh declined to discuss Majors financial status when questioned last week. Following the publication of the story Saturday, Nigh said he double-checked on Majors financial status and found it to be unchanged.

Its true that his name is on a piece of property in Oklahoma and a piece of property in California, but those are both actually owned by his husband, Stephen Schmauss, Nigh said.

Rather, Nigh said, Majors has no real ownership in the properties and could not sell or claim any equity in either one of them.

Even if he could sell the properties, Nigh said, Majors credit card debt far exceeds the value of the properties.

He has no assets at all; he has no car, no bank account, he has no retirement, Nigh said. He has suffered from mental illness his entire life and has been hospitalized on multiple occasions for mental health issues, which is part of the reason he has no assets.

Rami Jabara, Khalid Jabaras brother, questioned whether the justice system worked properly when Majors was assigned a public defender after submitting a financial disclosure form that was largely incomplete.

Nigh said Schmauss has been financially supporting Majors for years, including paying for a private attorney in a felony case pending in Tulsa County District Court.

Majors was charged in 2015 with severely injuring Jabaras mother, Haifa Jabara, when he allegedly hit her with his vehicle while he was intoxicated.

Nigh said Schmauss is in bad physical health and doesnt have the ability or the willingness to spend anymore money on Majors.

If I thought I was representing someone who could afford an attorney, then I would beg to withdraw, Nigh said. Ive got more than enough on my plate.

But I have an obligation to represent the indigent people in Tulsa charged with serious crimes, and Mr. Majors falls into that category beyond any question.

Majors is accused of harassing Khalid Jabara and his family, who lived next door to Majors.

Khalid Jabaras Lebanese, Orthodox Christian family has said Majors called them dirty Arabs, filthy Lebanese, Aye-rabs and Mooslems for years.

Nigh denied that Majors was a racist. He attributed the comments, if accurate, to grade school name-calling.

The problem is, Nigh said, when such name-calling involves ethnicity, it is hurtful.

But you have to be sophisticated in order to understand that, Nigh said. Mr. Majors has mental health issues, which would hamper that understanding.

Earlier this month, a judge ordered Majors to undergo a competency evaluation at a state-run hospital in Vinita. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 4.

Twitter: @loucardfan61
There were five land runs to settle the three million acres of Oklahoma that the United States Government purchased from the Creek and Seminole tribes and made it open for settlement.

The land run on April 19, 1892 included three Amish men who staked claims in Indian Territory in western Oklahoma. Since it was not choice land, the land run was not as spectacular as others and some land was not settled for 10 years.

Moses K. Yoder, his son, Rudy Z. Yoder and Ben B. Miller were given one year to move there and comply with the Homestead Act. A claim was 160 acres and had to be registered at the land office. They had to live on it at least six months each year for the next five years, put up a residence, plow some land and build fences, thus proving that he wanted it for a home.

Some homesteaders found life too difficult, became discouraged and sold their land rights for whatever they could get, $50 or for a horse and saddle or a team and wagon. Those farms in 1970 were worth $100,000!

The Amish settled in Custer County near Thomas before statehood. The western Indian Territory and the eastern Oklahoma territory became a single state on November 16, 1907.

Most of the early Amish settlers came to Oklahoma from the state of Kansas where land prices were much higher and as the families grew, they needed more farms. The Amish still farmed with horses and their English neighbors already had tractors.

When the Amish began using tractors in 1937, they all had steel wheels. During World War II, because of the shortage of steel, the manufacturers helped replace them with air filled rubber tires. For years the Amish held to their rules and did not allow them until 1947. Rubber tired tractors maneuvered better on the sandy soil than steel ones.

Eventually the Old Order Amish Church that still used horse and buggy evolved into the Beachy Amish and the last of the Old Order Amish moved to Anderson County, Kan., in 1958. The Beachy Amish accepted rubber tires on tractors and the use of automobiles for travel, as well as electricity and telephones.

My parents both lived in Mayes County near Chouteau during the 1930s and 40s. The principal reason for them leaving the Amish Church was over the use of rubber tires on tractors. They joined the Zion Mennonite Church at Pryor in 1945. Soon after that, several other families followed them.

It was during the early 50s at a council meeting before their communion service, they asked a Bishop from western Oklahoma to officiate. They asked his advice about the rubber tire issue. Well, he replied, We use them in western Oklahoma and we like them. Soon after that they allowed them here, too.

My roots are deep in my Amish heritage. I am glad that the Amish Church is still in existence today. They still have a lot of faithful God fearing members who are holding fast to their belief of non-conformity as given in Romans 12:2. And be not conformed to the world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

There are still four church districts of Amish in Mayes County. They are striving to live their faith by example. They are very community and family oriented. They take care of their own and share with their friends and neighbors. Recently, they had a fundraiser for a non-Amish man. The man was deceased, but they wanted to help the family with final expenses.

In our world today, we do not have to look very far or read the news to realize how privileged we are to live in a country with religious freedom. Christians are being persecuted and giving the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for Christ.

No matter if we drive a horse and buggy, a car or fly a plane, we have to recognize that there in only one way to heaven and that is through the blood of Jesus.

May God have mercy on our country so we can live up to In God we trust.

Have a good week. God Bless.
Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner has expressed regret and shame after details of a relationship with a former employee emerged overnight.

But he is staying put as company CEO.

This relationship finished some years ago and I apologised at the time, and am still trying to make amends, he said in a statement.

I am obviously filled with the deepest regret and shame. My focus is to continue to work through this in private and minimise the distress to my family. They are the most important people in the world to me and I will continue to fight to repair the damage Ive caused.

Late today Seven issued a statement (below) following a day of media articles and allegations by former Pacific Magazines employee Amber Harrison. It denies some of the details that have emerged in a feeding frenzy of media articles and vows to withhold payments agreed to in a confidentiality settlement.

Sevens share price was down 8.6 per cent on Monday afternoon, a drop of nearly $100m.

The Board of Seven West Media Limited (Seven) met today in response to the allegations made by a former employee which contain wide-ranging inaccuracies and false statements.

The fact is a confidential settlement deed was entered into more than two years ago with the former employee, Ms Amber Harrison, who was represented at the time by Harmers Lawyers who (Seven understands) have since ceased acting on her behalf. The settlement deed was approved by the relevant board committee of Seven and continues to be binding.

Seven agrees that the inappropriate consensual sexual relationship made public by Ms Harrison is deeply regrettable and the Chairman has always made clear to Mr Worner that the alleged conduct, even though a personal matter, was completely unacceptable.

Separately, Tim Worner apologised at the time and now, for the inappropriate consensual relationship with Ms Harrison, that commenced prior to his appointment as chief executive, and has been working with the Board and Executive to ensure this improper behavior is not a part of Sevens culture.

Mr Worner said: This relationship finished some years ago and I apologised at the time, and am still trying to make amends. I am obviously filled with the deepest regret and shame. My focus is to continue to work through this in private and minimise the distress to my family. They are the most important people in the world to me and I will continue to fight to repair the damage Ive caused.

In relation to the Companys enquiries into Ms Harrisons credit card account, it was noted that concerns regarding misuse of her corporate credit card and personal expense claims she charged to Seven, arose from standard expense reconciliation enquiries prior to management and the Board being made aware of the relationship. These were then confirmed in a report carried out by an independent firm of accountants engaged at the request of the audit committee. Allegations by Ms Harrison that this was a vindictive reaction to the misuse of her credit card or arose other than from normal process and policy are rejected.

Confidentiality (including mutual non disparagement) was agreed by both sides in the interests of both sides who were the subject of the allegations, which were resolved on a without admissions basis. The payment, agreed to be made to the former employee in instalments, took into account her solicitors strong assertions regarding her needs and fragile emotional stability and were designed to enable her to move on with her life.

Seven is entitled to withhold payment for non compliance with the settlement deed.

The former employee failed to progress her complaint in the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Allegations made in her statement which name other employees are rejected totally, including any allegation that other current or former employees have been paid off.

Tim Worner will continue as chief executive.
Ukraine and the EU have signed the agreement on financing of the joint operational programs of cross-border cooperation.

The document was signed within the framework of the Ukraine-EU Association Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

The agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the European Commission provides for the implementation of joint border cooperation projects "Ukraine-Poland-Belarus for 2014-2020", "Ukraine - Romania for 2014-2020", "Black Sea Basin for 2014-2020", and "Ukraine-Hungary-Slovakia-Romania for 2014-2020" with the grant support from the European Union.

The total budget of the programs is EUR 402 million, including EUR 366 million of the EUs contribution and 10% of the EUs contribution as the partner country co-financing.

ol
Turkiye Diyanet Vakf, the State Administration for Religious Affairs of Turkey, has released a translation of the meanings of the Quran into the Ukrainian language.

Crimea.Realities portal learnt this from Mykhailo Yakubovych, the author of translation and Islamic scholar.

"The agreement was reached during my trip to Istanbul in the summer of 2015. Here we have the result after long proofread and typeset. Two publications were released, large and small  with and without the Arabic text," Yakubovych said.

He noted that the preface to the new edition of the translation of the meanings of the Quran had been written by Said Ismagilov, the mufti of Ummah, the center of spiritual administration of Muslims in Ukraine. The translator did not mention how the new edition would be distributed but noted he had transferred all the language rights to the Diyanet.

ol
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Published December 19, 2016

MONROE, La.  The dental hygiene program at the University of Louisiana Monroe was awarded a $10,000 donation from the Morehouse Community Medical Centers (MCMC) board of directors, administrators, and staff to establish the Lauren Lang Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund will establish a scholarship fund to support future dental hygiene students.

Lauren Lang of Bastrop tragically took her own life in January of 2016. Lang was a senior in the ULM dental hygiene program and completed an educational rotation with MCMCs dental clinic in West Monroes Riser Middle School.

She is survived by her parents Lisa and Lamar Lang.

We want to honor Lauren in a way that will keep her memory alive and assist other students with fulfilling their dreams, stated Lindsey Murry, a board member at MCMC.

MCMC prides itself on giving back to the community and providing a learning environment for students in a variety of fields in health sciences. This is why providing a donation to establish a scholarship fund in Laurens memory is important to our organization, said Katie Parnell, MCMCs CEO.

The donation was presented at an event hosted on Dec. 15th, 2016. Morgan Patrick, a representative of the ULM Foundation, and Jordan Anderson, assistant professor of dental hygiene, accepted the gift on behalf of ULM.

Additional support for the scholarship can be directed to the You Caring fund at bit.ly/langyoucaring or through the ULM Foundation at ulm.edu/foundation/soar.html.

About Morehouse Community Medical Centers, Inc.:

Morehouse Community Medical Centers, Inc. (MCMC) is a not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) located in Bastrop, Louisiana. MCMC services (both on site and through referral) include oral health, mental health, substance abuse counseling, enabling services, specialty care/services, education, and comprehensive outreach.www.mcmcinc.org.
From Far and Wide is a series of stories profiling the Canadians who have welcomed Syrian refugees with compassion and support.

Across the country, strangers, friends, families and communities are creating powerful bonds of friendship that transcend language and culture, at a time when they are needed most.

From a tight-knit group in the Yukon who took in a family of 11, to the Syrian seamstress who became a part of the community fabric, join us as UNHCR meets just some of them.
Tech workers are uniting and stating in a pledge that they will not participate in creating a Muslim database as promised by President-elect Donald Trump during his campaign. Twitter and Facebook supports the pledge while tech giants like Tesla's Elon Musk, Microsoft's Satya Nadella, and Apple's Tim Cook to name a few are swapping wish list with Trump during a tech meeting last Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Trump has stated in a CBS interview that he will push for a Muslim database to stop Muslims from entering the United States. However, weeks after Trump was declared as president, his team has denied Trump's stand on a Muslim registry although it is still stated in Trump's website that he will impose a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the US," the Los Angeles Times reported.

To fulfill Trump's promise, it would require a Muslim database, but tech workers have banded together to tell the president-elect that they will not participate in its creation. On Dec. 14, more than 640 tech workers like software engineers, business executives, designers and data processing personnel from various firms like Twitter, Google, Microsoft, Mozilla and Palantir Technologies have signed a pledge stating their "solidarity with Muslims."

The pledge strongly opposed the planned data collection policies that target persons based on religion, race and national origin. Moreover, tech workers refusing the Muslim database creation are advocating within their ranks to reduce data collection that could target a single ethnic and religious group.

Twitter was the first to say that the company is not allowing developers to use the platform for any kinds of surveillance, emphasizing Twitters stand with a definitive "Period." Facebook claimed that they were not asked to make a Muslim database, but assured its users that they will not participate in such an endeavor.

The no-to-Muslim-database pledge by tech workers comes as a message to Trump during a tech meeting with Silicon Valley moguls like Tesla's Elon Musk, Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg, Alphabet's Larry Page, Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Apple's Tim Cook, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, IBM's Ginni Rometty, and Intel's Brian Krzanich with Twitter's Jack Dorsey curiously absent. Trump first commended the participants and then offered the assistance of his administration according to USA Today.

The tech giants and Trump swap wish lists with the former asking for tax reforms to decrease regulations, improving education and easing of immigration controls that could affect the talent pool of Silicon Valley. Trump asked for repatriation of profits from overseas, creation of manufacturing jobs in US shores and the invention of the hoverboard featured in "Back to the Future."
The holiday season is here and, as usual, people are busy shopping to find the best gifts they can for their loved ones. However, no matter how much people want to please the people they love, the fact remains that there is a possibility they might not really like what you gave them. Why does it happen? Experts say that there is a psychology in giving the perfect gift.

esearchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Indiana University conducted a study on the science of gift-giving. In that study, they explored the thought process when you choose a gift and the value and pleasure the receiver of the gift will experience when they get the gift.

According to the researchers, the primary reason people give gifts is to make people they love happy, which further strengthens the relationship. However, the reality is that most people were not able to meet these goals in gift-giving.

In order to solve this problem, the researchers presented what's really going on inside the mind of the giver and the receiver.

When you, the receiver, chooses a gift, you base it on your objective which is to show the person how thoughtful you are for choosing such a gift. Another factor that affects how you choose the gift is the limited timeframe you have in choosing it.

On the other hand, the receiver of your gift is more utilitarian in his or her judgment because they are thinking more of ownership, something they can have with them for a long time. In other words, they want gifts they can use and enjoy.

That, then, should be the clue how people choose gifts - based on how valuable they will be to the receiver while he owns the gift you have given him or her. So forget about those wind chimes or the antique clock you found. If your friend likes a clean house or a likes to run, then he or she might appreciate that vacuum cleaner you rejected earlier or the running shoes you think are just so-so.
Christmas is a holiday a lot of people are looking forward to. However, a certain school in Pennsylvania is not going to celebrate Christmas.

Most elementary schools and even high schools celebrate Christmas every year by producing a play or a musicale. But one principal recently announced that they have canceled their production of "A Christmas Carol" because of parents complaining.

Centerviille Elementary School is not going to showcase its annual Christmas musical cheer, as reported by Breitbart. The school officials explained that the production took too much time from the students' classroom instructions. However, other parents believed that it was because two parents complained about a particular line in the Holiday play, as reported by Fox News.

According to reports, some parents are not happy with a certain religious line. But this has not been fully confirmed. Tom Kramer, the school's principal, explained that they want to respect cultural and religious backgrounds. Shannon Zimmerman, the district's spokeswoman, stresses that the Christmas Carol is not part of their curriculum and they want to preserve the time for classroom instructions instead.

The report indicated that the play's practices, in total, took up to 20 hours of classroom time. District officials say parents are encouraged to organize their own after-school play instead.

In another part of the globe, Germany is criticizing Turkey for banning Christmas at a German School. The Turkish school administrators at the Instanbul Lisesi, a German High School, explained that Christmas Carols and other traditions are no longer going to be part of the school's curriculum.

To reflect this change, the school's choir had canceled its musical appearance at the German Consulate's Christmas Concert in Istanbul. Germany's Foreign Office is hoping to talk to the school about lifting the ban, as reported by 10 News. The school did not provide a reason as to why they are excluding the Christmas Tradition in the curriculum.

However, according to the publication, the school has denied imposing such ban. Check out the video below for some related news!
The Australian National University has announced that it will be building a 24-hour recreation facility. This will include a brand-new pool.

The ABC reported that ANU is set to build a new swimming pool estimated to cost $14 million. The proposed 25-meter six-lane indoor pool will be part of a recreational facility which is expected to open to the public in 2019.

The university described it as a "multi-million dollar Christmas present" for its students, staff as well as neighbors in the Canberra suburbs. It was noted that the institution is still in talks with the ACT Government to extend the pool size to 50 meters.

"The suggestion that ANU should have a swimming pool is one that is made often and repeatedly by everyone here, from first-year students to professors who have been on the campus since before most of our students were born," ANU vice-chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said. "ANU has grown substantially over the past decade and we now have more than 4,000 staff and 22,000 students, including 5,000 who live on the campus."

The recreation facility, which will also include a hydro pool and a 24/7 gym, is reportedly a part of a $200 million upgrade to Union Court. This is the university's main project.

According to Canberra Times, Schmidt admitted that he was not yet confident that they would be allowed to build a 50-meter pool. However, he did reveal that Chief Minister Andrew Barr is considering the expansion.

"There are some complications at mixing a sort of public, private facility like this but I would say there's a great deal of good will on both sides," Schmidt added.

It was revealed that the new pool and gym facility will be run by the Club Group. It is expected to draw in Canberrans from outside the university.

The $200 million redevelopment project will include more green spaces. It will also provide upgrades for the student and teaching facilities, ampitheaters, bars, a cinema and an estimated 400 new underground parking spaces.
Climate change may prove to be a hindrance to Christmas. Apparently, reindeers are shrinking due to global warming. Who will help Santa Claus in his journey to town now?

The Verge reported that reindeers are continuing to decrease in size because of climate change. Global warming has hurt the Christmas icons' food access, researchers said.

Data from ecologists reveal that adult reindeers have shrunk by about 12 percent over the years. Since 1994, scientists have gone to the Arctic to keep track of the reindeers' measurements.

In 2010, it was noted that these animals were about 106 pounds. This is a problematic trend since reindeers weighed 121 pounds during the first measurement.

Scientists believe that the reindeers' shrinking is due to global warming, which ruins their food and their environment. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the British Ecological Society.

According to Geek, climate change has affected the Arctic in that the place is already up to 36 degrees warmer than usual. With this comes more precipitation, which brings in more rain.

This rain then seeps into the soil and freezes. Oftentimes, it forms a thick sheet of solid ice above ground, which locks away many of the grasses and mosses - the main food of reindeers.

"Warmer summers are great for reindeer but winters are getting increasingly tough," Professor Steve Albon told The Guardian. Albon is an ecologist at the James Hutton Institute in Scotland and led the study with Norwegian researchers.

While warmer summers have increased the population of reindeers, a larger population and low food supply would make it unstable. It would also make the group more susceptible to sudden, environmental shocks.

It was noted that it would be much better to have a smaller number of reindeers with stronger constitutions. This can help them face a variety of harsh conditions.

Reindeers are not the only ones affected by climate change. It also has a negative impact on polar bears in terms of seal-hunting.
Ohio colleges and universities have banded together to protect undocumented students. Several educational institutions have stood up against president-elect Donald Trump's threat to renounce the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The Washington Times reported that about 11 colleges and universities in Ohio have joined the efforts to protect undocumented students. This comes after Trump's victory has raised the students' concerns over possible status changes during his presidency.

Universities, as well as other experts, are worried that Trump may cancel the DACA program placed by President Obama. This has allowed young immigrants, who call themselves "Dreamers," to work and travel in the country for humanitarian, educational or employment purposes.

Institutions like the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio University in Athens and Miami University in Oxford have joined other schools in signing a petition for the continuation and expansion of the program. Other Ohio schools that signed are the Columbus College of Art & Design, Denison University in Granville, Kenyon College in Gambler, Ohio Dominican University in Columbus as well as the Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware.

Ohio Wesleyan president Rock Jones said that they will "vigorously oppose" any initiative that makes it more challenging for students to come to the U.S. to pursue higher education. He also added that Ohio Wesleyan will accept students in terms of its nondiscrimination policies and the institution will not reveal confidential student records "without permission or legal mandate."

Online petitions have urged universities to become "sanctuary campuses." Students at Harvard have also shared a petition that called the university to appoint an administrator to support undocumented students. It was also requested that an office and a mental health counselor be provided for these individuals.

It was previously reported that Trump transition spokesman Jason Miller confirmed that Trump is planning to "immediately terminate" Obama's "illegal executive amnesties." "The President-elect has consistently pledged to rescind all illegal and unconstitutional executive orders from the current administration, and this is one of them."
Oxford University continues its efforts to be gender neutral. This time, it urges other institutions to "remove gender-specific titles."

It was previously reported that Oxford University is encouraging its student community to use the gender neutral pronoun "ze." The students' union revealed that the move was intended to decrease the risk of offending transgender students.

Peter Tatchell, an LGBT rights campaigner, described the school's announcement as a "thoughtful, considerate move." Oxford University's behavior code has deemed the wrong usage of pronoun to a transgender person is an offense.

In its official website, Oxford revealed that its equality policy is part of its efforts to have an inclusive environment which "promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its staff and students are respected." It is aimed at enabling all members of its community to feel welcome, safe, valued and supported.

According to the Daily Mail, the institution has called on colleges and universities to take out gender-specific titles from websites and leaflets. This includes the Mr. and Mrs. titles.

Instead, institutions are advised to use only academic titles like Dr. and Prof. The guidance is contained in a document from the Equality and Diversity Unit.

It was noted that people should be allowed the option of appearing without any prefix, depending on their preference. The process of removing gender-specific titles is still ongoing.

Tatchell added that an individual's name is enough for identification. "It is a positive thing to not always emphasize gender," the LGBT rights campaigner said. "We are all human. Why does our gender matter so much and why should it be constantly highlighted by titles?"

The school's Equality and Diversity Unit confirmed that the guidance is currently being revised. A spokesperson for Oxford University told the publication that there was nothing to add to the advice which had already been published.
Coding skills are in-demand right now and is believed to be the most coveted job skill of the future, according to a report by Fast Company. In fact, as many as 7 million job openings in 2015 required coding skills, says a report from Burning Glass, and programming jobs making use of such skills grow faster than other jobs in the market.

Those who would desire to master coding and are hoping to acquire it from U.S. universities, however, might be surprised to know that the three best universities that produce the top coders are from different countries.

According to a University Rankings Competition held by coding skills ranking platform HackerRank, the top three best coders in the world are from:

Russian Federation College, ITMO University in Russia (first);

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Middle School in China (second); and

Ho Chi Minh City University of Science in Vietnam (third).

Following the top three are the University of California, Berkeley, in the U.S. (fourth), and the University of Waterloo in Canada (fifth).

HackerRank based its rankings on a formula specially created for the competition. Universities were ranked based on the number of participants and high scores. Each university had at least 10 participating coders to make it to the leaderboard.

Russia made both first and sixth place. China's Sun Yat-sen Memorial Middle School (equivalent to U.S. high school education), on the other hand, surprisingly performed better than other universities including several American and Indian universities.

Coding skills are being used in various industries right now. While such skills are very useful for Information Technology (IT) workers, data analysts, artists and designers, engineers, and scientists, they are also useful in other fields outside of technology, such as finance, manufacturing, and health care.

Not only are these skills in-demand, jobs that require them also pay well. According to the Burning Glass report, such jobs "pay up to $22,000 per year more, on average." Almost half of jobs that pay not less than $58,000 also require coding skills.

HackerRank's findings imply that a university education isn't really needed to be able to code well, as in the case of Sun Yat-sen's ranking. Coupled with the knowledge that coding skills allow workers to earn more than other skills, maybe it would be a better alternative to burying one's self in student debt over a major that doesn't pay off as much.
The name Alexander Dugin might not ring any bell to many but in Russia, he and his philosophy are regarded in high esteem. He has a huge influence in Russian politics playing adviser to some of the top military and political figures in Russia earning him the nickname "Putin's Rasputin."

Dugin's rise to power and influence in Russia is not surprising. He is not only a political scientist but also a writer and a professor at the prestigious Moscow State University. He is also a linguist but most of all, he is an articulator of Kremlin's philosophy. But what makes Dugin a dangerous man?

You can watch Dugin's many lectures on YouTube but you need to understand Russian. There, he also expresses his controversial opinions where he proposes to eliminate science and technology. The most controversial, however, is his proposal of the Fourth Political Theory, which is based on the philosophy of Martin Heidegger, the existentialist philosopher who had strong ties with Nazism.

Heidegger's philosophy proposed that in order to save the world, there needs to a a root of a human self-awareness. For Dugin, since this root is different from person to person and culture to culture, there's no need for a superpower. Instead, he proposes a multipolar power division where one of them is Eurasianism.

Eurasianism is an ideology which posits Russia as a nation independent and different from Europe. Furthermore, it opposes what Dugin calls as the Atlantic civilization which embodies liberalism. With this philosophy, Dugin calls all nations with anti-Western sentiments to forge an alliance and create a multipolar world.

So far, Iran and Turkey share Dugin's sentiments. However, there's no clear evidence yet how much Putin believes the underlying theories of Dugin's philosophies. For now, it is clear that Russia has adopted Dugin's "Foundation of Geopolitics" as its blueprint for foreign policy.
UW Faculty Member Reappointed to State Civil Rights Committee

A University of Wyoming faculty member and others who have strong connections to UW are among 11 Wyoming citizens appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Wyoming State Advisory Committee.

Eric Nye, professor in the Department of English, recently was reappointed to the panel.

Also appointed were Affie Ellis, of Cheyenne, who has worked as an adjunct professor in UWs American Indian Studies program; Anetra Parks, of Laramie, former director of career services in the College of Law; and Melanie Vigil, of Lander, who graduated from UW in 2014 with a double major in gender and womens studies and global and area studies, and was honored with the Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri Award as UWs outstanding graduating woman.

State advisory committee members conduct reviews and produce reports and recommendations concerning local civil rights issues including justice, voting, discrimination, housing and education. Congress mandates that the federal Commission on Civil Rights appoint volunteer members to advisory committees in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Appointees serve four-year terms.

Past Wyoming State Advisory Committee activity addressed discrimination in employment, law enforcement and against Native Americans in border town communities.
UW Husband-Wife Research Team to Lead Pacific Ocean Floor Research Expedition

Middle school students in Theresa Williams UW Lab School class pose with the ship they built. Dubbed The Jackalope, the small sailboat is outfitted with a GPS and will be tracked by NOAA. Students pictured are (front) Ryan Chamberlain; (second row, from left) Yousuf Abdelkader and Anna Chen; (back row, from left) Kairi Fahlenkamp, Zane Tillman, Williams, James Boyers, Rhonwyn Edwards, Malachi Bustos, Sadie Smith and Anna Roesler. (Michael Cheadle Photo)

When Michael Cheadle and Barbara John hit the high seas in January for their next research expedition to the floor of the Pacific Ocean, the two University of Wyoming faculty members will take with them a small sailboat built by UW Lab School students.

The tiny vessel, dubbed The Jackalope, will be launched at sea, with the hope it washes up on some faraway shore and is discovered.

Its outfitted with a GPS. NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) will track it for the Lab School students, says Cheadle, a UW associate professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics. Its almost five feet long, with no motor. It just has an itty bitty sail and keel.

John, a UW professor of geology and geophysics, adds that the small boat also includes writing in nearly 20 languages, including Cantonese, Chinese, English, French, Mandarin, Papa New Guinea, Portuguese and Spanish, so that anybody who finds it can, hopefully, correspond with the Lab School students.

It contains a time capsule about UW and Laramie, John says.

The Jackalope is one component of a multipronged community outreach effort related to the voyage of the U.S. Research Vessel Atlantis and two small submarines tasked with exploring and sampling the sea floor at Pito Deep in the Pacific Ocean. The outreach effort includes partnerships with the Teton County Library in Jackson, the Wyoming Geological Association in Casper and the Birch Aquarium in San Diego, Calif.

We intend to do a lot of outreach, Cheadle says. We have bought extra satellite bandwidth, so we can do two-way, live interactive broadcast from the ship to schools and other organizations.

The husband-and-wife research team will lead 17 scientists from the United States and Canada on the research expedition. Eight of those will come from UW. Besides Cheadle and John, these include another faculty member, Susan Swapp; Theresa Williams, a middle school teacher at the Lab School; three graduate students; and one undergraduate student.

The Atlantis will leave from Easter Island Jan. 13 to work at Pito Deep before returning to Arica in Chile Feb. 24.

Barbara and I, along with Jeff Gee from Scripps Institute of Oceanography at the University of California-San Diego, are the chief scientists. So, this is very much our cruise, Cheadle says. Hence, we get to lead the operations, but also have to deal with any problems.

John says she, along with Cheadle and Gee, wrote the research proposal to the National Science Foundation to obtain funding in 2016.

Expedition Objectives

The research vessel Atlantis is docked at Newport, Ore. UW researchers Michael Cheadle and Barbara John will lead a 17-person expedition to Pito Deep in the Pacific Ocean during January to explore the ocean floor crust, magnetic field boundaries in an underwater chasm and life forms around hydrothermal vents. (Michael Cheadle Photo)

The science objective of the expedition is three-fold:

-- To sample the interior of ocean crust to better understand how it is formed by working in a large chasm called Pito Deep, which is 3.5 kilometers deep (about twice the depth of the Grand Canyon) that provides a cross-section of samples through oceanic crust.

Sixty percent of the Earths surface is the sea floor. Because its below the water, we dont know enough about it, Cheadle says. Well explore the chasm to learn more about how ocean crust is formed.

-- To map the geometry of the magnetic field boundaries in the third dimension (vertically in the cliff face of the chasm). This has never been done before, John says.

What do these magnetic stripes do? Do they go down vertically? Or, are they inclined? Or, even more complicated? John says. This is an opportunity to understand what the 3-D of the magnetic stripes is and learn more about the cooling of the Earth.

-- To explore for undiscovered hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the chasm and the strange life forms that live in these vents. Hot water is emitted from the top of these vents, and provides habitat for various bacteria, shrimp and small fish, Cheadle says.

These are thermophilic life forms. They use the heat from the hot water to live, Cheadle says. Down there, you have complete alien ecosystems. Finding new species is very probable.

Its possible these bacteria were the first life forms on Earth, John adds.

Two submarines, named Sentry and Jason II, will aid in the exploration. The former is autonomous and uses sonar to map the sea floor. The latter is larger and tethered to the ship, and is used for core sampling both rocks and fluids.

Were using a lot of pretty fancy electronics and engineering to help us, John says. Well be sitting in mission control on the Atlantis running all of this.

From the Pacific to Wyoming

A lot of what occurs with the submarines will be transmitted back to shore. Williams will broadcast live to UW Lab School students, and to students from other schools around the world, who will be able to ask questions during the interactive presentation. Williams will provide educational outreach to classrooms around Wyoming and elsewhere through live two-way webcasts.

The teachers I interact with may send questions in advance or request specific experiences for their students, including a tour of the ship; an opportunity to question the scientists on board; the chance to see some of the samples weve collected; or other interactions of interest to them and their students, Williams explains.

Williams, together with videographer Lucas Kavanagh, also will create weekly videos, keeping track of happenings during the time the group is at sea. The videos, podcasts and blogs will be posted where interested people can follow the expeditions progress.

Williams adds she will conduct a webcast with her own students and teach them lessons from Pito Deep. Besides building the boat, students, in grades K-8 at the Lab School, decorated Styrofoam cups and Styrofoam heads that will make a trip to the bottom of the ocean. Each group of students made predictions about what might happen to the Styrofoam while submerged so many kilometers under the sea.

This also is a great opportunity for me as an educator, since I will work with the scientists while they are conducting their research, Williams says. I will have the opportunity to learn, firsthand, how the samples and data are collected, and experience the daily rhythm of field work on a ship. A deeper understanding of the work will help me to share the information with my students in a more meaningful way with engaging stories that I actually experienced.

John and Cheadle also are excited about the outreach opportunities the expedition will provide for people in Wyoming and beyond.

UW is pretty landlocked. A lot of kids dont know much about the exploration of the seas, John says. With this outreach, they can observe and sample different types of science, from geology to robotics. STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is not boring.

The outreach will include a one-hour streamed program for adults at the Teton County Library; a live-feed program at the monthly meeting of the Wyoming Geological Association; and interactive communication with some courses at Casper College. Cheadle and John also have received an inquiry for a program from the Wyoming State Museum.

We will do it (programming) from wherever we receive interest, John says. Cambridge University from the U.K. is on the list.

To follow the progress of The Jackalope in January, go to http://educationalpassages.com/active-boat-map/ and select Jackalope from the map.

For more information about the expedition, go to https://www.pitodeep.org/.
UW Petroleum Engineering Professor Tabbed for International Honor

Pejman Tahmasebi

A University of Wyoming assistant professor of petroleum engineering has been selected for a prestigious research award by an international organization.

Pejman Tahmasebi is the recipient of the 2017 Andrei Borisovich Vistelius Research Award from the International Association for Mathematical Geosciences (IAMG). The award is given to a young scientist for promising contributions in research in the application of mathematics or informatics in any field of the earth sciences.

Tahmasebis research interests are in the area of computational geosciences and porous media modeling. This is a broad area that includes geophysics, geology and geomechanics, as well as fluid flow and transport processes, all in close association with computer simulation and computational methods.

Im beyond humbled to be recognized by IAMG, Tahmasebi says. The award serves as motivation to continue working hard in my research areas and finding solutions for the real challenges in computational and mathematical modeling.

Tahmasebi has been invited to accept his award at IAMGs 18th annual conference, which takes place Sept. 2-9, 2017, in Perth, Australia. Traditionally, the recipient of the Vistelius Research Award is a keynote speaker at the next IAMG conference or International Geological Congress.

IAMG, founded in 1968, is a professional multidisciplinary society with nearly 800 members in more than 65 countries. The Vistelius Research Award -- originally named the Presidents Prize -- was established in 1980. It was renamed in 1996 to honor the prolific scientist, and it has been presented biennially since then. Previous award recipients include researchers from Stanford University, the University of Alberta in Canada and the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.
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The latest Insurance Regulation Report Card showed that Vermont has the best regulatory system for insurance, while North Carolina has the worst.

Vermont has been graded as having the best insurance regulatory environment for the third straight year, being the only state to receive A+ score.

The grades were based on a matrix of variables that affects a state's insurance regulation. The key areas the report examined were the freedom of the consumers to choose the insurance products they want, the freedom of insurers to provide the insurance products consumers want, and the effectiveness of the states in discharging their duties in monitoring insurer solvency and fostering competitive insurance markets.

"We believe states should regulate only those market activities where government is best-positioned to act; that they should do so competently and with measurable results; and that their activities should lay the minimum possible financial burden on policyholders, companies and, ultimately, taxpayers," Senior Fellow R.J. Lehmann said in a statement.

The report stated that the insurance market is the largest and most significant portion of the financial services industry to be regulated almost entirely at the state level. The Congress has reserved the duty of overseeing the business insurance to the states as part of 1945's McCarran-Ferguson Act.

The report also believes that states have been effective in encouraging competition and ensuring solvency. Other states like Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Utah and Wisconsin received either an A or A-.

North Carolina, however, received a failing grade for three straight years, attributing it to the shrinking residual market entity.

States that ranked D include Alaska, Massachusetts, California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota and New York.

"Not coincidentally, when R Street issued its first regulation report card in 2012, Florida ranked dead last and North Carolina was somewhere in the middle. This year, North Carolina is dead last and Florida is somewhere in the middle," stated Lehmann.
Do you want to now the best bets this 2017? Well, here's a panel of seven investment strategist sharing their top stock market picks for 2017.

1.General Motors(GM) by Michael Palumbo

Michael Palumbo is the founder of Third Millennium Trading in Chicago, Ill. and author of Calculated Risk.

There is concern that the current business cycle for automakers has peaked. This may be true. But I do not foresee a significant downturn from here because the cycle has not been robust. Any downturn will, therefore, be insignificant. I do not see earnings to be significantly adversely affected.

A $500 million investment in Lyft will allow the firm to be well positioned as ride-sharing and autonomous vehicles become more widespread. Earlier in 2016, GM purchased Cruise Automation, which specializes in software for autonomous vehicles.

General Motors' latest effort, the Bolt, is a long-range autonomous electric vehicle that will be available initially for Lyft customers as shared autonomous vehicles. General Motors currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 4.3. Firms that trade at P/Es this low usually face incredible headwinds.

2.One Gas(OGS) by Winsor "Skip" Aylesworth

Winsor "Skip" Aylesworth is VP portfolio manager at Hennessy Advisors with $6.7 billion under management in Novato, Calif.

ONE Gas distributes natural gas to homeowners, commercial and industrial users in its service territory of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. From an investor point of view, this focused business has generally been immune to the wide swings in commodity prices for both oil and gas.

If an investor would like to participate in the growth of the natural gas boom, ONE Gas should be on your radar and after acquiring an initial position. Additions could be made on price weakness.

3.USG Corporation(USG) by Gregg Sgambati

Gregg Sgambati is head of ESG Solutions at New York City-based S-Network Global Indexes. It publishes over 200 indexes, which serve as the underlying portfolios for financial products with more than $6 billion in assets under management.

USG Corporation (USG) is an interesting investment for 2017 that will give you exposure to the green building boom. Only 14 companies in the building products sub-industry have disclosures for "Green Building Policy." USG stood out on this list because of solid fundamentals and sustained year-on-year sales growth.

4.Indpendence Realty Trust (IRT) by Brett Ewing

Brett Ewing is the chief market strategist at First Franklin Financial Services with $110 million under management in Tallahassee, Fla.

The catalyst for Independence Realty Trust (IRT) in 2017 lies in its necessity for an equity raise. For years now, IRT has been held down by the fact that it pays fees to an external advisor based on a number of assets under management inside of the REIT. Investors always rightly worry about conflicts of interest with a REIT that is externally managed and whose incentives lie in buying as much as possible, not making as much as possible for shareholders.

5.Fortera (FRTA) by Eric Marshall

This recent IPO is a water infrastructure products producer that should see nice secular demand over the next few years. Forterra (FRTA), with roughly $1 billion in annual revenues, has built a platform to add additional infrastructure products.

6.Dycom Industries (DY)

Dycom Industries (DY) is one of the nation's largest specialty contractors whose business is driven by the capital expenditure plans of the cable and telecommunications industries. In a market trading near all-time highs, investors are best served by stocks - like Dycom - that exhibit superior organic growth attributes at reasonable valuations with stock prices below past peaks.

7.IBM

IBM is a turnaround story. "Big Blue" is transforming its business to meet the needs of the new era of cloud, mobility, security, and artificial intelligence. IBM's transformation had begun to show some improvements in 2015. It gained momentum in 2016. I think it will continue to bear fruit over the next few years and lead to higher revenues and profitability.
Indonesian soldiers examining the Hercules military plane A-1334 that crashed in Wamena on Dec 18, 2016. (Photo: AFP/Search and Rescue Team/Handout)

The Hercules C-130 plane took off from Timika city in Papua province carrying 12 crew and one passenger, but came down in a remote mountainous region shortly before its scheduled landing, officials said.

"The operator on land saw the plane at 06:08 am local time but at 06:09 am the plane had lost contact," air force chief Agus Supriatna told AFP.

The plane was expected to land at 6.13 am local time (7.13am Singapore time)

Aboard the aircraft were three pilots, eight technicians, a navigator and a military officer, as well as food and cement, Supriatna said.

Weather around the area is known to be unpredictable, and the plane went in and out of clouds before the crash, he added.

Rescuers located the plane debris soon after. All 13 bodies have been recovered according to the air force. Supriatna said a team was heading to the site to investigate.

The fatal incident is the latest for Indonesia's accident-prone military.

In November an army helicopter accident killed three on Borneo, while another three died when a military chopper went into a home in Central Java in July.

Twelve people were killed in March when another military helicopter went down in bad weather on Sulawesi in central Indonesia.

But the worst incident in recent times was in June 2015, when an air force Hercules C-130 plane crashed into a residential neighbourhood in the city of Medan, killing 142 people and causing widespread destruction.
Muhammed Salih, 26, from Aleppo, Syria, holds his son (name not given) after crossing into Turkey at the Cilvegozu border gate with Syria near Hatay on Sunday, Dec, 18, 2016. (Source: AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Dozens of buses had entered Aleppo earlier in the day to resume evacuations, but plans were called off at the last minute after gunmen attacked vehicles for a similar operation from two rebel-besieged villages.

The development came as the UN Security Council prepared to vote on a resolution to deploy observers to the city, with Syria-allied Russia giving cautious backing to the measure.

"Five buses carrying the evacuees arrived from besieged parts of east Aleppo," said Ahmad al-Dbis, who heads a team of doctors and volunteers coordinating evacuations to rebel-held Khan al-Assal, from where they can travel on to other parts of Aleppo and Idlib provinces.

"They were in a terrible state," Dbis told AFP.

"They hadn't eaten, they had nothing to drink, the children had caught colds, they were not even able to go to the toilet," he added.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the 350 were able to be evacuated after Russia and Turkey urged the Syrian regime to allow the convoy of buses to pass its final control point.

Evacuations were suspended on Friday, a day after convoys of people had begun leaving the rebel sector under a deal allowing the regime to take full control of the battleground city.

The main obstacle to a resumption had been a dispute over how many people would be evacuated in parallel from two Shiite villages, Fuaa and Kafraya, under rebel siege in northwestern Syria.

But just as a deal to go ahead with the evacuations was found and announced by both sides, gunmen attacked and torched buses sent to take people out of Fuaa and Kafraya, a monitor said.

BUS DRIVER KILLED

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said one bus driver was killed in the attack and that security guarantees would be needed before evacuations could resume.

Yasser al-Youssef of the Nureddin al-Zinki rebel group confirmed that "the evacuations have been momentarily suspended".

Buses would not leave the rebel areas of Aleppo until residents of Fuaa and Kafraya were also able to leave, the Observatory said.

A rebel representative had said that hundreds of people would also be evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya, two regime-besieged rebel towns in Damascus province, as part of the deal.

Syrian state television said earlier Sunday that 100 buses would take people out of east Aleppo.

By early evening, more than 30 buses were packed with people awaiting evacuation, while thousands more stood in the cold for their turn to board other buses, an AFP reporter said.

Meanwhile the UN Security Council said it would vote Monday on sending observers to ensure "the well-being of civilians", along with the Syrian Red Crescent and International Committee of the Red Cross who are already supervising evacuations.

Russia had threatened to veto a draft resolution presented by France, but after nearly four hours of closed-door consultations a new proposal was agreed.

US Ambassador Samantha Power anticipated member states would vote "unanimously" at 9:00 am (1400 GMT) on Monday.

Iran's official news agency IRNA said the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran would meet Tuesday in Moscow to discuss the situation.

FREEZING TEMPERATURES

Families have been sheltering at night in freezing temperatures in bombed out apartment blocks in Aleppo's Al-Amiriyah district, the departure point for evacuations.

An AFP reporter visited a hospital in the rebel sector where patients lay on floors without food or water and almost no heating.

Aleppo has seen some of the worst violence of the nearly six-year war that has killed more than 310,000 people.

A physiotherapist, Mahmud Zaazaa, said only "three doctors, a pharmacist and three nurses" remained in the area.

An official said more than half of Aleppo's buildings and infrastructure have been badly damaged or destroyed since violence erupted there in 2012.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura estimated that as of Thursday around 40,000 civilians and perhaps as many as 5,000 opposition fighters remained in Aleppo's rebel enclave.

Before evacuations were suspended around 8,500 people, including some 3,000 fighters, left for rebel-held territory elsewhere in the north, said the Observatory.
How would you evaluate the opportunity for GEs businesses in ASEAN?

GE has been in ASEAN for more than 100 years, a long-term partner of all ASEAN members. In the region we now have nearly 10,000 people and about 18 manufacturing sites. Our objective is to be a long-term player in ASEAN, through local teams and a strong local presence.

In ASEAN theres a big need for infrastructure in every field  from power transmission, generation, aviation, healthcare, and transportation to oil and gas. We are working together with our customers and also with governments to help them generate growth in the region, and ultimately well-being for the population.

What is the position of Vietnam in GEs strategy in the region?

Vietnam in particular is making strong progress. The new government clearly wants to make things move, fast. They have set very clear guidelines on what they want to do in terms of power generation and healthcare  and they definitely want to work with companies like GE to carry out their plans. Were very happy about this and we really want to partner with Vietnam. In Vietnam weve been present for 23 years now. We have grown our organisation to 2,500 people, so growth has been big.

Last year we acquired Alstom. This has brought us a lot of additional capacities, teams in Vietnam, and workshops. Earlier this year we acquired Doosan Engineering & Construction HRSG, which brought two factories and 1,500 people. This has really helped strengthen our presence in Vietnam.

Moreover, our Haiphong factory is one of the best factories GE has in the world. Its run by Vietnamese [management], with state-of-the-art processes, and is delivering equipment to the world. We call it the multimodal brilliant factory as it brings in all the capabilities that GE has in digital and processes to make it the most efficient factory. Today we have close to 900 people working in the factory.

We want to build on it and develop it further. We have done a lot of projects in Vietnam. In terms of power, we have had projects in transmission and hydro. Were also active in healthcare. We have two great customers in aviation, VietJet and Vietnam Airlines. In oil and gas, even though the oil price has just risen, growth is still quite difficult. But there are projects that are about to be implemented, and of course GE is very keen to participate.

To sum up we have a very positive outlook on the country, though we would love it if the decision making process was faster.

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was established at the end of 2015. How do you think this will affect GEs operations? Do you have a common plan for the whole region?

Of the 10 regions of GE operations around the world, this is one of the regions with the strongest growth. Were going to have double-digit growth this year and we expect good growth for next year too.

I think the AEC is a great idea. I believe we need to work together to strengthen it and make it faster, because even though its been launched, the progress has not caught up on the expected speed. We need to make sure the countries governments and the private sector work together to make the AEC faster.

In 2015, GE completed the deal to acquire French power and transport engineering company Alstom. How does the acquisition make GE stronger in the region and in Vietnam?

From a human resources point-of-view, the integration has been successful. We have fully combined teams. From a customer perspective, now we have the capability to deliver full solutions as GE and Alstoms services have always been complementary.

GE is a worldwide leader in gas turbines and on-shore wind turbines, while Alstom is a world leader in coal plants, off-shore wind turbines, and hydro turbines. On the transmission and distribution side, Alstoms speciality has been in high- and medium-voltage, GE in medium- and low-voltage. Put that together and you get a very strong company that can deliver anything that the world needs, and that Vietnam needs.

On top of this, both are strong in services  so the combination strengthens our services. Now were clearly a stronger partner for the Vietnamese government and Vietnamese customers.

Earlier in the year, GE made available the Predix platform, GE's operating system for the Industrial Internet, to outside companies as well as developers, to develop applications that would enable industries to become more efficient. Is Vietnam ready to join this digital transformation?

Predix will enable companies to analyse the huge volume of data coming from their equipment, and predict and give advice on how to better operate the system.

We are talking to a lot of our customers as well as new industry companies that we didnt have relationships with before, such as companies in telecom and agriculture. They are very interested, because in the end every industry needs to improve productivity and efficiency.

I think this technology is going to be a game changer. Countries like Vietnam can really benefit from it  by going directly into the digital platform, Vietnam will be able to leapfrog technology.

In order to popularise the platform in Vietnam, we have held many workshops and road shows. Recently we talked with the startup community and universities. This is also part of our objective in Vietnam, which is to do more than just business. We want to help the country build capacity. So we spend a lot of time on training and education, and helping young people become a stronger workforce for the future.
An example of the world-leading, fully-connected enterprise network model that GE Energy Connections can provide

The Vietnamese national grid has some specific characteristics that put management in a difficult position. The grid stretches across the country, which results in difficulties in management, installation, and maintenance. It is also high-voltage, which increases the possibility of instability and safety concerns.

GE Energy Connections responds to the worlds need for sustainable, reliable, and affordable electricity to maintain and improve the quality of life.

After acquiring Alstom, GE has doubled down on the energy sector. The GE-Alstom Alliance has created a new global power and technology powerhouse with an unmatched set of offerings for their combined global customer base.

Thanks to the two companies combined project management and technology expertise, the alliance offers customers a new, cost-competitive one-stop shopping option.

In software, the combination of GEs asset management and advanced distribution offering with Alstoms e-terra Transmission and Market management platform has resulted in a leading premier offering for enterprise grid management.

Appropriate technologies for use in the power industry are being planned and selected in Vietnam. The deployment of Smallworld, a suite of software applications that provides geospatial asset management to support electric network planning, design and analysis, as well as maintenance and operations, is the next logical step for the utility company due to its numerous benefits.

First, GEs Smallworld suite of solutions help in optimising building and designing. As Vietnam expands its electricity transmission and distribution network, the suite provides a Design Manager process for standardising design workflows as new networks are drawn up.

Using workflow support and process control, Smallworld Design Manager enforces standards and ensures accuracy and reliability across operations. Easy-to-use design tools with CAD-based precision placement features will improve designer productivity.

The process also enables robust analysis of alternative design scenarios, facilitating the comparison of various designs for the same project.

All in all, Smallworld Design Manager provides an integrated solution using robust, scalable, and secure services compliant with industry standard, service-oriented architectures, so that planning is integrated with other enterprise systems for finance, warehousing, and equipment.

Second, Smallworld solutions make it easy for anyone to access information about the network in a simple, safe, and secure way.

Utilities like Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) have hundreds, sometimes thousands of users that require access to critical network data. Smallworld Electric Office combined with Smallworld Electric Office Web provides a less expensive yet robust query, view, and print solution that grants employees and managers across the enterprise access to critical asset data.

On the other hand, GEs Mobile Enterprise Suite makes it easy for people working in the field to get access to the information needed to do their job safely and efficiently. Workers can view and update their plans in the field using tablets running iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems to get the right information to do their job without needing paper maps or return to the office.

Third, an integration of Geospatial Information System (GIS) with enterprise asset management systems and distribution management systems (ADMS) will provide customers with a world-leading fully-connected enterprise network model, essential for a productive, modern utility.

The key benefits of taking this initiative include lower cost of ownership, with up to 30 per cent reduction in integration costs among the GIS, ADMS and outage management system (OMS). In addition, the solution provides a single accurate enterprise-wide view of the electric network, which would eliminate asset data inconsistencies and up to 50 per cent reduction in data synchronisation errors among the nominal GIS, operational ADMS, and OMS. The current and accurate view of the network providing up to 10 per cent reduction in customer outage time and adherence to the International Electrotechnical Commissions Common Information Model Data Exchange Standards would also greatly benefit customers operations.

Our customers are using our Smallworld technology to remove paper maps in the field using our mobile platform, to reduce the impact of outages on customers by integrating their GIS with their Control Room ADMS, and to optimise their OPEX/CAPEX spend by integrating processes between GIS and Enterprise Asset Management. In the upcoming months and years we will be complementing this with augmented reality and 3D visualisation, building out our grid analytics capability and integrating more real time data into the GIS, said Bryan Friehauf, Asset Management Product Line leader for Grid Software Solutions Business from GE Energy Connections.

We hope to accompany Vietnam and customers like EVN on their journey towards more efficient and reliable distribution, he added.
The need for geospatial solutions

The smart grid has evolved, resulting in utilities collecting more data than ever before, with the volume promising to increase dramatically in the coming years.

Often, this data is generated by applications run by business units on an ad hoc basis. For example, the installation group generates network configuration data, the maintenance department monitors service areas, and the finance department manages the cost of network assets.

Since these applications were not designed to interoperate, these solutions act as information silos. Information is quarantined locally rather than being made available throughout the enterprise.

As departments capture critical business process information, access is limited. Managers can see fragments of the operations but are challenged to access all necessary information in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness. In this context, utilities need a cohesive, consistent view of their network to optimise business operations.

Geospatial systems best meet this need. A geospatial information system (GIS) is valuable to industries as it provides a system for managing business information according to location and brings together data with a shared spatial component, thus revealing trends and patterns that would not be apparent with tabular databases.

Moreover, GISs have become more accessible to different departments in a company thanks to simplification over time. Once understood only by engineering and maintenance teams, now geospatial system interfaces have improved, data input and manipulation has become simple and as a result more employees use the systems and understand its capabilities.

As a result, geospatial solutions now act as data hubs, marshalling and homogenising information from disparate sources. Consequently, data is no longer siloed in various departments. Instead, geospatial visualisation tools tie different data sources together, allowing managers and employees to gain fuller, richer pictures of network assets. Employees see connections that were not previously evident. Energy providers are thus much better positioned to deliver strong return on investment (ROI) on network assets.

Leading utilities are building on this foundation: rather than one autonomous system, their core systems consist of a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that support many critical processes. These solutions are used by the planning, design, building, operating, and maintenance departments and support numerous functions, including strategic planning, network planning, network design, network building, and network services extensibility.

When looking to deploy these solutions, utilities would benefit from working with a supplier with extensive experience as well as a product portfolio that extends to every area of the enterprise. This way, no matter what view of the network data the user needs, the solution provides it.

Experience is also key. Deploying and maintaining an energy network is a complex process, one that requires decades of experience to understand fully. The supplier needs to have deployed solutions among the worlds large and small energy providers. By working closely with energy firms, the supplier identifies critical areas and develops solutions that address them. Some suppliers have strong technical foundations, while others have developed utility-specific applications, a few have been in the market for a several years, but only the leading suppliers possess all of these capabilities.

GE poised to deliver

GE is in the privileged position to provide geospatial solutions that help utilities streamline business processes, enhance customer service, and maximise investors returns.

The coming together of GEs and Alstoms portfolios is more than the best of both. The alliance offers customers a new, cost-competitive one-stop shopping alternative backed by the combined project management and technology expertise to build things others could not and deliver projects on time and on budget.

Utilities around the world are under immense pressure to maximise the efficiency and stability of the grid to compensate for the retirement of 750 GW of coal-fired capacity by 2030. They must also move an increasing amount of energy from distant distributed power generation sources, such as hydro and offshore wind farms, to consumers efficiently. Grid Solutions is now equipped to meet these global challenges with Alstoms cutting-edge High Voltage Direct Current portfolio.

The Always On digital economy depends on reliable, resilient, and secure electricity. The expanded global footprint of Grid Solutions puts GE closer to customers to meet this challenge across borders and across the globe. Meanwhile, Grid Solutions outage restoration management tools help restore power quickly when unexpected weather events lead to power outages.

Besides, the alliance also helps customers manage aging assets, identifying electrical and chemical abnormalities up to six months in advance, reducing equipment damage and downtime costs, as well as build safe and efficient substations.

In software, GE has coupled its asset management and advanced distribution offerings with Alstoms e-terra Transmission and Market management platform to establish a leading premier package for enterprise grid management. Smallworld, its suite of software applications that provides geospatial asset management to support electric network planning, design, and analysis, as well as maintenance and operations, is part of this offering.

GEs Smallworld GIS and Mobile GIS applications play a key role in constructing, operating, maintaining, and managing critical network assets. This comprehensive suite of integrated tools enables customers to lower the cost of ownership, simplify critical network infrastructures, and deliver the flexibility required to meet dynamic network requirements.

Smallworld GIS provides an accurate, enterprise-wide view of the electric network, eliminating asset data inconsistencies. It supports simple configurations and minor extensions, rather than expensive customisations.

Smallworld also provides a single solution enabling utilities to document, plan, design, analyse, build, and maintain the electric network. As a result, it helps reduce interface costs and complexity, cuts installation, operation, and upgrade costsall-in-all between 20 and 40 per cent of GIS operating expenses. In addition, it reduces expensive and risky software customisation, which signifies another 50-70 per cent of GIS capital expense.

In short, the system simplifies access to geospatial network data to support faster, smarter decisions in asset management through the entire asset lifecycle.

GE sees GIS as fundamental to a network utility business, and GEs solutions link the utility business and its customers. However, GE believes a utility GIS needs to be more than a mapping systemit needs to model the network and present it in the forms most fitting to the use of the business.

This may be a control room using a DMS to operate and control based on a common network model, a call centre team in need to quickly search for an EVN customer profile, or a field crew working needing to update information based on what they see in the real world. Maps may often be the means of presenting the information, but the network information is the fundamental information needed to carry out the work or job. GEs solution is network centric and provides tools for integrating the network model with other business-critical systems.

GEs Smallworld has helped many network-based utilities around the world to improve productivity. One of the success stories has been recognised in Malaysia. About seven years ago, the Malaysian largest electricity utility corporation had silos of various systems and departments with no clear way to share information between them, because assets and customers were represented differently across systems. The inconsistency led to some potentially unreliable reports, leaving little confidence in data. On top of these, there were regulatory compliance pressures.

In this context, the management made the decision to implement an integrated system and chose corporate geospatial system software GE Smallworld.

As of now, GIS is an integral part of most of the business processes. The utility achieved GIS visibility across departments. The implementation improved efficiency and reliability of crucial business processes, such as new connections, project planning, and customer service.

GEs vision is to simplify access to geospatial network data to support faster, smarter decisions in asset management through the entire asset lifecycle, said Bryan Friehauf, Asset Management Product Line leader for Grid Software Solutions Business from GE Energy Connections.
Hosted by CFA Institute and CFA Volunteer Community Vietnam, the sixth CFA Institute Research Challenge in Vietnam provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis to promote best practices in equity research amongst the next generation of financial professionals. The students from the winning team will represent Vietnam at the Asia Pacific Regional Final in Bangkok, Thailand on March 14-15, 2017 and get a chance to advance towards the Global Final which will be held in Prague, Czech Republic on April 28, 2017.

The students from Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Trade University have demonstrated that they have the important skills and attributes to become professional research analysts. The financial industry is a challenging environment, and we need young people like them who possess the skills, technical knowledge, persistence, as well as commitment to upholding the highest ethical stanards, said Vo Sang Xuan Vinh, CFA, representing CFA Institute members in Vietnam who organised the competition. We wish them all the best in the Asia Pacific Regional Final in Bangkok.

Competing in the qualifying round were students from 17 universities, and only four advanced to final. The four finalist teams came from Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Trade University, RMIT University Ho Chi Minh City, Hoa Sen University of Ho Chi Minh City, and Banking Academy Hanoi. Their challenge was to provide investment research recommendations for the stock of Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company, which produces, retails, trades in, imports, and exports gold, silver, jewelry, gemstones, fashion products, and arts and crafts products in Vietnam. The four finalist teams presented their analysis and proposals to a panel of judges comprised of investment expert.

We witnessed this remarkable professional judgment and a high level of enthusiasm from the finalist teams. This bodes well for the future of the financial industry in Vietnam and the rest of Asia Pacific, said Biharilal Deora, CFA, CFA Institute believes in the benefits of working with the academic community through the Research Challenge to help prepare the best and brightest students in each country for the rigor and responsibility of the finance profession.

Entering its 11th year now, the CFA Institute Research Challenge offers students with the unique opportunity to learn from leading industry experts and their peers from the worlds top business schools. Ethics and professional standards are essential components of this challenge. Through the course of the competition, which requires hundreds of hours of preparation, participants receive mentoring from a professional research analyst as they analyse a publicly traded company, write a professional research report, and present their research results and recommendations to a high-profile panel of experts. The first Research Challenge competition was hosted by the New York Society of Security Analysts in 2002 and involved just five teams from the New York area. Since then, the competition has grown to involve tens of thousands of students from over 900 universities in more than 75 countries.

Meanwhile, a ceremony for new CFA charter holders was held following the Research Challenge final. This year, 51 individuals in Vietnam earned their Chartered Financial Analyst charter designation in a ceremony in Hanoi. To earn the CFA designation, candidates must pass three levels of rigorous exams, fulfill four years of work experience, and abide by the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. There are about 137,000 CFA charter holders in global community, and 171 of them are in Vietnam.

I would like to congratulate all the new charter holders who join us in our pursuit to build professionalism, raise standards, and prove the value of the investment profession, said Paul Smith, CFA, president and CEO at CFA Institute. The financial market in Vietnam is growing rapidly, and it requires world-class financial talents for its sustainable growth. We will continue to collaborate closely with Vietnamese financial authorities and industry professionals to nurture a culture of ethical behavior, investor protection and market integrity.

CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organisation is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has more than 143,000 members in 159 countries and territories, including 137,000 charter holders, and 147 member societies.

The CFA Institute Research Challenge gathers students, investment industry professionals, publicly traded companies, and corporate sponsors together locally, regionally, and globally for an annual competition. In order to promote best practices in equity research and company analysis, students research, analyse, and report on a company as if they are practicing analysts. Local CFA member societies and other affiliated groups host local level competitions of the Research Challenge in conjunction with the participating universities. The universities assemble teams of three to five business and finance students who work directly with a company in researching and preparing a company analysis. The teams final presentations are locally evaluated by high-profile panels of heads of research, portfolio managers, and chief investment officers from the worlds top firms. The local champions advance to regional competitions for the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and then to the Global Final, which will all take place in the same location this year. Additional information on the Research Challenge is available on the CFA Institute website, cfainstitute.org/researchchallenge.

For more information about the competition in Vietnam, please visit:

facebook.com/CFACommunityinVietnam
Vineyard in southern Trento Province, Italy. The provincial businesses expect to strengthen trade relation with Vietnamese companies.- Photo www.Made-in-Italy.com

The businesses attended the Viet Nam-Trento Economic Co-operation Forum organised during Viet Nams Ambassador to Italy Cao Chinh Thiens visit to the province on December 15-17.



At a working session on December 16, Ambassador Thien and Bruno Dorigatti, chairman of the Trento legislative council, discussed bilateral issues and agreed that a good bilateral relationship is a prerequisite for furthering co-operation between localities of the two countries.



The Trento official appreciated Ambassador Thiens recommendation on Trento and northern Phu Tho Province becoming twin localities and his plan for a Phu Tho Province delegation to visit Trento in the second quarter of 2017.



Thien also paid a visit to the Trento University where more than 50 Vietnamese graduates are studying and met representatives from the Vietnamese Student Association in Trento.
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Before the current outbreaks of avian flu in northern Hokkaido, Niigata city and Aomori prefecture, Japan's last confirmed case at a farm was in January 2015 AFP

It is the fifth mass cull this winter in Japan with hundreds of officials working to prevent the spread of the virulent H5 strain, which has been detected at several farms across the country.

Just weeks earlier, outbreaks led to a cull of 550,000 chickens in the central city of Niigata and 23,000 ducks in the Aomori prefecture south of Hokkaido.

Authorities have also banned the transport of poultry and poultry products in areas close to the affected farms, while sterilising main roads leading to them.

But progress has been slow this time with just 32,310 chickens at the farm in Shimzu town in northern Hokkaido culled by Saturday evening, local officials said in a statement.

"We continue to cull the chickens today but the work is difficult as the air temperature falls to some -20 degree Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) at night" in addition to fallen snow that is another obstacle, an official told AFP.

Before the current outbreaks, Japan's last confirmed case of avian flu at a farm was in January 2015.
Photo: VGP

The Government chief made the announcement yesterday in Ho Chi Minh City at a conference on building Viet Nam's agriculture industry.

The event was hosted by the Digital Agriculture Association (DAA Viet Nam) and drew the attendance of over 50 delegates from State agencies, international organizations as well as enterprises.

Addressing the event, PM Phuc highlighted that as the fourth industrial revolution will take place around the globe, Viet Nam boasts three important advantages namely (1) organic agriculture, clean farming, and high-tech farming, (2) IT, and (3) tourism.

The PM hailed the DAAs initiative in developing a modern and competitive high-tech farming.

He highlighted the aspiration to convert Viet Nam into a world leading agricultural country and a high-tech agricultural product supply centre. On the basis of agricultural development, other sectors like the food processing industry, mechanic industry and raw material of agricultural production, famous agricultural brandnames will be promoted.

Each Vietnamese farmer is encouraged to apply high-tech to agricultural production, affirmed PM Phuc.

The Government chief revealed that he would instruct the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to host a conference on high-quality shrimp production in January, 2017.

PM Phuc announced that the US$ 2.3-2.76 billion credit will be available for numerous commercial banks at the most favorable and open mechanisms.

Viet Nam has already signed 12 FTAs and became a member of the World Trade Organization. Hence, Viet Nam will apply technical barriers in line with regulations and its commitments to protect domestic agricultural production, said PM Phuc.

He also approved of amending Article 193 of the Law on Land on conditions for receiving the transfer or contribution as capital of, or leasing, agricultural land use rights to carry out investment projects on non-agricultural production and business and Circular 23 of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on land in favor of agricultural development.

New bank on land fund

The PM announced that the Government is piloting a bank on land fund and considering the establishment of a land use market with a view to optimizing land use.

He also acknowledged the formation of agricultural insurance funds, pro-peasant funds, and agricultural enterprises.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was assigned to accomplish planning on high-tech farming in sustainable manner and research on preferential policies on the field.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was asked to extricate obstacles and facilitate land assembling.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was requested to promote trade promotion activities for Vietnamese agro-products in both domestic and foreign markets; spur overseas shipment of high-value agricultural products.

The Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Viet Nam were asked to research and perfect credit policies on high-tech farming.
New-born babies at Tu Du Hospital in HCM City. - VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Vy

The rate in HCM City is 1.45, while the southeastern province of Binh Duong has a rate of 1.7.

The Central Highlands province of Kon Tum has a fertility rate of 3.45 and the northern province of Ha Giang 3.08, according to Le Canh Nhac, the departments deputy head.

Nhac spoke at a meeting in HCM City last Friday (Dec16) to celebrate 55 years of the national population and family planning programme.

Nhac called the low fertility rate of HCM City alarming, saying that families in the city should be encouraged to have two children.

This low rate will not ensure human resources in the future, and will reduce the so-called golden population and add to the aging population. This will influence the citys socio-economic development, he added.

On the other hand, provinces with a fertility rate higher than the countrys average of 2.1 should reduce the number of children born to each family, he said.

Nhac said the country still faced sex imbalances at birth.

In the first 11 months of the year, the ratio nationwide was 109 boys per 100 girls, while the ratio in the same period last year was 112 boys per 100 girls.

Of the provinces and cities in the country, HCM City performed the best, with a ratio of 103-106 boys per 100 girls.

More services for pre-natal and newborn screening will be expanded throughout the country to improve the health of the population, Nhac said.

Nguyen Huu Hung, deputy head of HCM Citys Department of Health, said the planning, which was designed by HCM City authorities, was prompted by the large number of migrants who move to the city.
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China announces it plans to return a United States naval underwater drone it seized over the weekend, even as President-elect Trump says Beijing can keep it. Choi Sun-sil, the woman and the heart of the South Korean scandal that led to President Parks impeachment headed to trial, denying charges. Plus ASEAN leaders meet to discuss the state of violence in Myanmars Rakhine state. VOAs Steve Miller has your Asia news, in a minute.
Some of the Syrians who have left Aleppo in recent days arrived in Turkey on Sunday. Evacuations from eastern Aleppo began last week after government forces recaptured most of the rebel-held areas. But the process was halted Sunday amid disagreements among rebel groups as to how it should proceed. The United Nations Security Council is due to vote Monday on a resolution to send U.N. officials to monitor the evacuations. Zlatica Hoke reports.
Myanmar will provide regular updates on an ongoing crisis in Rakhine state to fellow ASEAN members and possibly work with them to coordinate aid efforts, officials said following a meeting of the groups foreign ministers in Yangon Monday.

The meeting is the first high-level regional briefing on whats been happening in western Myanmar, where the military has been carrying out a bloody manhunt in a predominantly Muslim area of Rakhine after nine police officers were killed there in early October.

I believe that in the spirit of maintaining ASEAN centrality and cohesiveness, we have to address this issue collectively, Malaysias Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said at the meeting, according to a statement.

Myanmar must do more, he said, singling out the importance of unimpeded humanitarian access with coordination from ASEAN.

Aman, who warned that groups like the Islamic State could take advantage of the crisis, also proposed establishment of an independent group of experts" to investigate allegations of abuses in Rakhine.

Both the Rakhine state government and the national government have established investigative committees, though their independence has been questioned.

Dozens of Muslims from the mainly Buddhist countrys Rohingya minority died in the initial attacks, which the government blamed on a new militant insurgency funded from abroad.

Since the surprise October assault on the police posts, Myanmar has sealed off the area near the violence, allowing in only limited aid and official delegations on guided tours. A group of journalists is expected to visit the area soon, though its not clear how much access they will be given.

The military crackdown has led to accusations of rape and arson that Amnesty International Monday called a scorched-earth campaign that could amount to crimes against humanity.

Despite satellite imagery and countless testimonials of abuse that have filtered out through rare interviews by phone or in Bangladesh, where more than 20,000 Rohingya have fled, Myanmars government has generally said the accusations are part of a propaganda effort led my militants.

Kyaw Zeya, permanent secretary at Myanmars Foreign Ministry repeated the government position that genocide and ethnic cleansing were not taking place, saying that description was from the reality on the ground.

We have already inspected with the concerned security authorities to act in accordance with the rule of law and also the regulation in accordance with the international norms, he said.

On the other hand we also give regards to ASEAN solidarity, he added. So everything we consider is from the perspective of maintaining ASEAN solidarity within the Association. This is our perception. So we explain this to our other member countries if they want some information they can contact and they can also consult with us we are very eager to share information with them."

The developments in Yangon Monday are a small coup for the Malaysian government, which reportedly proposed the meeting after its prime minister, Najib Razak, referred to the crackdown as genocide. Others have called it "ethnic cleansing."

In his statement, Aman backed recommending that Myanmar could dispel these allegations by providing timely and accurate information and provide access to areas impacted.

Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have migrated to Malaysia, though many lack citizenship. In Rakhine, more than 120,000 live in camps in the central part of the state after inter-communal violence killed hundreds in 2012.

The foreign ministers who attended the event in Yangon said the meeting had been productive.

"We had a very transparent and honest exchange of views during the meeting, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters on the sidelines of the retreat, which was attended by Aung San Suu Kyi in her role as Myanmars foreign minister.

Myanmar will update ASEAN member countries regularly, Marsudi added.

So we sit as one family to listen to what is actually going on and to say that we are waiting to help Myanmar in again restoring the peace and stability in Rakhine state.
Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) offered on Monday to act as a go-between for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin after signing a cooperation agreement with Putin's party.

Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache and the FPO's recently defeated presidential candidate Norbert Hofer attended the signing ceremony in Moscow, as did officials of Putin's United Russia party including Pyotr Tolstoy, a deputy chairman of the lower house of parliament.

The FPO has long taken a pro-Russia stance, calling for an end to European Union sanctions against Moscow imposed over the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. It has also denied allegations that it receives funding from Moscow.

On a recent visit to the United States, FPO officials met people close to President-elect Donald Trump, including his pick for national security adviser Michael Flynn, the FPO said in a statement announcing the Russian deal.

"The FPO is further gaining influence internationally," its statement said, without specifying the agreement's content. A spokesman for the FPO - which this year achieved a record election score but failed to secure the Austrian presidency - said he did not know the deal's details.

"It is particularly important to Strache that the U.S. and Russia stand shoulder to shoulder," the statement added, saying that could improve the situations in Syria and Crimea and lead to a lifting of sanctions on Russia.

"The FPO acts as a neutral and reliable intermediary and partner in promoting peace!" it said.
The president of the Central African Republic announced last week he intends to close the camp for internally displaced people (IDP) in the capital's international airport. The government would like to send the estimated 28,000 displaced Bangui residents home for Christmas.

Philippe Guianandji has lived at the Mpoko camp for nearly three years. He and his family fled here during the fighting between Muslim and Christian militias in 2013. French soldiers and U.N. peacekeepers at the airport kept the camp secure.

Guianandji says he's not too concerned about leaving, but says others are worried, even terrified about trying to reclaim their former lives.

For me, the burden is not heavy because Im working.But Im pleading for the people here because they dont have work. You can see the cassava leaves. This is their food. Even though I work I will face some challenges, but not as bad as them, Guianandji said.

Life is "very, very difficult" for residents of the camp, Guianandji says. They dont have any food. They dont sleep well. They dont have any electricity, making it insecure at night with no lights.

While Guianandji and his family will be able to afford rent, others in the camp have no money to spend on housing.

We dont know yet the amount that the government promised, but we worry it will not be enough, said Christine Dnambe, an IDP who has lived in the camp for the past two years.

Starting over

At a recent ceremony, the government handed out return kits to about 30 families, which included money for relocation.

Dnambe said she was happy to see the president visit because it shows that were going to have peace. However, she doesnt have enough money to pay rent.

And, housing costs are rising.

Before, rent that was 6,000 [CFA per month, about $10], now the same house is 8,000.A house that cost 8,000 per month is now 15,000, says Serge Edmond, another displaced Central African. So we need to struggle to have a new life.Its not going to be easy."

A 20-minute walk from the camp, Leocadie Guiando can visit her old neighborhood, but she cant afford to live here.During the conflict, militias destroyed her house and her husband later died.

I dont have any financial help, she said.I want to leave the camp because we are living there like animals. We lie on the ground.We dont have any beds. There are many illnesses there in the camp."

In her old neighborhood, the houses arent ornate, but theyre well built and provide much more comfort than life in a tent. It is markedly cooler in the neighborhood with trees limiting the rays of the harsh sun.

Dignity vs. support

The government stresses it will respect the IDPs' dignity and human rights as it closes the camp, but its unclear even to the government how much support the camp residents will get.

We just start this program with the small money that we have, says Antoine George Maximillian Mbanga, the Cabinet director of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Reconciliation. But we have the word of the international community that once the refugees are relocated, once they go back to their neighborhoods, they are going to have support that will give them the possibility to have not only their homes but also basic community support.

The international organizations working at the camp also stress the relocation must be done humanely.

But we have to also acknowledge that having these people right by the runway, its a huge danger that nobody will accept, said Kouassi Lazare Etien, the representative for the U.N. refugee agency.

Etien said getting the IDPs home for Christmas is unrealistic.

I dont think that both the humanitarian and the government joining forces will have the capacity to drive out of the site all the people all at once. No, it is something that will go at some pace until the site is empty, he said.
Competing activities by the United States and China in the disputed South China Sea are exacerbating already strained relations between the superpowers and prompting forecasts for more serious conflicts after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month.

The South China Sea, rich in fisheries as well as possible undersea fossil fuel reserves, is claimed in whole or in part by China, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines.

China claims about 95 percent of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer ocean based on historic usage records. The United States says the sea, which handles about half the worlds marine shipping traffic, must stay free for international use. But Beijing has accused Washington of trying to keep Chinas power in check.

The U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a report December 13 that Beijing had militarized parts of the Spratly Islands, an archipelago in the contested South China Sea.

Reaction to Trump comments?

In an unrelated incident two days later, China seized an unmanned underwater vehicle that a U.S. naval ship was using for scientific measurements in the same body of water.

The Defense Ministry in Beijing said a naval lifeboat took the drone to ensure safety for passing ships and would give it back in an appropriate manner. The U.S. Defense Department said Friday the drone was working with the USNS Bowditch on routine operations in international waters. The vehicle can be used to test salinity, water temperature and sound speed.

The Chinese Defense Ministry statement that it would return the vehicle in an appropriate manner, raises questions about whether it might first confiscate equipment inside the drone.

The Peoples Liberation Army may remove intelligence data from the drone before returning it, a Chinese expert said Sunday.

The Chinese actions are sort of provoking. Maybe they may want to send a signal they are not happy with the comments made by President-elect Mr. Trump, said Andrew Yang, secretary-general with the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies think tank in Taiwan.

Trump said earlier in the month he might snub Beijings claim to sovereignty over Taiwan, a self-ruled island. He has called Sino-U.S. trade ties unbalanced. Trump tweeted Sunday that the U.S. didn't want "the drone they stole back- let them keep it."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunjing Monday objected to Trump's accusation of theft, saying the claim was "not accurate."

Reefs militarized

The Washington-based think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative reported on its website that, based on its research since July, China had built significant point-defense capabilities, in the form of large anti-aircraft guns and probable close-in weapons systems on seven reefs it controls in the Spratly chain.

Its really important to understand what is their intention, Yang said of Chinas maritime expansion. For years the United States has tried to get the idea of what is the Chinese intention there and why they want to expand their influence.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told the official Xinhua News Agency Sunday that China resolutely opposes" U.S. activities in the South China Sea, "and demands that the U.S. side should stop such activities. Yang was quoted saying, China will continue to be vigilant against the relevant activities on the U.S. side, and will take necessary measures in response.

WATCH: What is the South China Sea dispute?

Expect more U.S. naval surveillance in the South China Sea, said Alexander Huang, strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan. Beijing, for its part, does not want to see Donald Trump inaugurated, Huang said.

Theres some kind of tension lingering and continuing to accumulate and it wont go away no matter (whether) theres a U.S. election or a different kind of leader coming into the White House, Huang said. The continued construction or militarization will be kind of a trending thing, so there will be some kind of trend of a slow-growing tension between China and the United States.

China can keep up its military activities in the South China Sea at todays levels with little disruption, analysts say.

Some believe Chinese President Xi Jinping is using the South China Sea conflicts to show strength ahead of next years 19th National Congress of the Communist Party, an event often paired with turnover on the powerful Politburo Standing Committee.

We see occasional flares and demonstrations of military force in the region, said Marie Diron, Senior VP at Moodys Investors Service in Singapore. Where it starts to matter is when those demonstrations are becoming increasingly frequent and upsets start having an impact on the economy or fiscal outcomes. So far thats not our assessment for China.
2 Andrey Karlov (2ndR), the Russian ambassador to Ankara, lying on the floor after being shot by a gunman (R) during an attack during a public event in Ankara, Turkey. A gunman crying "Aleppo" and "revenge" shot Karlov while he was visiting an art exhibition in Ankara, witnesses and media reports said. The Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been "neutralised" in a police operation, without giving further details.
French judges convicted IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Monday of negligence for a state payout made while she served as France's finance minister in 2008, but imposed no punishment, citing her preoccupation at the time with the global financial crisis.

It was unclear whether the verdict would force Lagarde from her position as managing director of the Washington-based International Monetary Fund, a job she started in 2011.

The IMF said its executive board was meeting on Monday to consider the implications of the ruling.

The board has consistently voiced confidence in her ability to lead the crisis lender effectively as the case wound its way towards trial over the past five years.

But a shift in its view could prompt a new IMF leadership crisis. Lagarde's predecessor, Dominique Strauss Kahn, resigned in 2011 over a sexual assault scandal.

The French government, which controls about 4 percent of the IMF board's voting power, said it had complete confidence in Lagarde's ability to carry out her responsibilities.

Lagarde was back on the job in Washington on Monday, phoning Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to commend him on a decision to nationalize a troubled bank.

In Monday's ruling, the judges did not find negligence in Lagarde's decision to seek an out-of-court settlement with tycoon Bernard Tapie. But they said her failure to contest the award to him of about 400 million euros ($417 million) was negligent, and led to a misuse of public funds.

"The context of the global financial crisis in which Madame Lagarde found herself in should be taken into account," Martine Ract Madoux, the main judge on the case, said in explaining the absence of any sentence.

She also cited Lagarde's good reputation and international standing as reasons why the court did not hand down a punishment. The charge against Lagarde could have carried a sentence of up to a year in prison.

Lagarde, whom IMF members reappointed in February, has won respect from global finance leaders for pushing governments to do more to boost economic growth and helping to include China's yuan in the fund's currency basket.

Lagarde's lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, said immediately after the ruling that his team would look into appealing the decision. Though an appeal could clear her name, it could also turn out worse for Lagarde since she was not given a sentence.

"Since Madame Lagarde was not sentenced, I wonder about whether to appeal or not to the highest court," Maisonneuve told reporters outside the court.

Lagarde, who described the case as a five-year ordeal for her, argued in the trial last week that she had acted in good faith, and with the public interest in mind.

She said she had signed off on the arbitration - against the advice of some Finance Ministry officials - to end a costly 15-year-old legal battle between the government and Tapie, a supporter of then-President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The case dates back to a time when Tapie sued the French state for compensation after selling his stake in sports company Adidas to then state-owned Credit Lyonnais in 1993.

He accused the bank of defrauding him after it resold its stake for a much higher price. With the case stuck in the courts, the two sides agreed to a private settlement and Tapie was awarded a 403 million euro payout, including interest and damages.

The case was only the fifth ever heard by a special French court created in 1993 to try government ministers. The court of 15 judges, including 12 lawmakers, has never handed down a firm prison sentence.

($1 = 0.9584 euros)
Gambia's president-elect says he is ready to take office in January despite the refusal by the West African country's longtime ruler to accept his election loss.



On the day his term expires, my term as the lawful president of the Gambia begins, Adama Barrow said in a statement late Sunday. This is the law of the land. My status as incoming president has unquestionable constitutional legitimacy.



President Yahya Jammeh, who at first surprised Gambians by conceding defeat after 22 years in power, a week later announced that he had changed his mind. He alleges voting irregularities that make the December 1 ballot invalid.



The crisis has drawn the attention of regional leaders, who on Saturday promised to take all necessary actions to enforce the results of Gambia's election and announced they will attend Barrow's January 19 inauguration.



The summit of the Economic Community of West African States also pledged to guarantee the safety and protection of the president-elect, who has said he fears for his life.



Barrow urged Jammeh to accept his loss in the spirit of national reconciliation.



Jammeh seized power in a 1994 coup and has been accused by rights groups of human rights abuses.



Jammeh's party, the Alliance for Construction and Reorientation, has filed a petition challenging the election results at the Supreme Court. The court, however, has not sat for over a year.



The Independent Electoral Commission has stood by a vote it has called transparent, fair and accurate.
A human rights group says detained suspects in India are dying in custody because Indian police "bypass arrest procedures and torture suspects in custody to death."

Human Rights Watch said in a report released Monday at least 591 people died in police custody in India between 2010 and 2015.

The report, "Bound by Brotherhood: India's Failure to End Killings in Police Custody," examines police disregard for arrest regulations, custodial deaths from torture, and impunity for those responsible.

HRW's South Asia director Meenakshi Ganguly said "Police in India will learn that beating suspects to confess is unacceptable only after officers are prosecuted for torture."

Ganguly said too often "the police officers investigating death in custody are more concerned about shielding their colleagues than bringing those responsible to justice."

Indian law and the Supreme Court have established guidelines for various aspects of police work, including registering cases, the treatment of arrested persons and conducting questioning. The report says, however, police continue to mistreat detainees to collect information and confessions because they have not received the proper training, oversight and resources to gather evidence.

Established procedures also require suspects to have a medical examination with a doctor to list any pre-existing injuries. By law, every person taken into custody must be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours.

The guidelines are widely ignored, HRW says. In 2015, in 67 of 97 deaths, the police either failed to produce the suspect before a magistrate within 24 hours or the suspect died within 24 hours after being arrested.

"If police follow the rules designed to deter torture and mistreatment, deaths in custody could be prevented," Ganguly said. "India can only boast of rule of law when those charged with enforcing it are held accountable."

There has been no immediate response to the report from the Indian government.
Quick Question: Do you favor legislation allowing concealed carry of firearms in university and college classrooms?
Lebanon's new prime minister, Saad Hariri, is promising his new government will do all it can to shield the country from the war and terror in neighboring Syria.

After announcing the formation of a new 30-member cabinet Sunday, Hariri told reporters his priority is to "preserve the stability that is prevailing in Lebanon amid fires that are spreading around the region."

He also said he will ask for international help in dealing with the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled from Syria into Lebanon.

Hariri is a strong opponent of the Syrian regime and the Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah, which backs Syria.

Hariri's father was Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, whose 2005 assassination was blamed on Hezbollah.

But Hezbollah-backed Lebanese President Michel Aoun promised to appoint Hariri prime minister if he endorsed Aoun for president in October's election by parliament.

Hariri's new unity government is made up of ministers from nearly every Lebanese political party.

Along with the crisis in Syria, Hariri also must deal with a stagnant economy, which has led to a breakdown of many government services in Lebanon.
Mali said Monday will not help the European Union identify and return illegal Malian migrants to the country. Ongoing talks on the issue are part of larger efforts by the EU to curb migration via cooperation with key countries of origin, a strategy that resulted in a multi-million-dollar deal with Niger earlier this month.

In Mali, negotiations on facilitating migrant returns have caused a stir, following terms of the proposed deal detailing the presence of civil servants in Europe to help authorities identify Malians who are there illegally.

The government's main concern is the safety and well-being of Malians abroad, Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told reporters Monday in Bamako. He said civil servants traveling to Europe to identify migrants who have had their asylum requests rejected is out of the question.

The EU is currently negotiating a $160 million deal with Mali to expedite the return of migrants to the African country. The talks cover a number of areas, including providing funds to help with job creation and with assistance in stopping smugglers. The negotiations are the most detailed yet between Brussels and an African country.

Diop said no deal has been reached, and negotiations will continue.

The two parties plan to work to create jobs for young Malians, while Malian authorities plan to issue identity cards and biometric passports to help track migrants. So far, the EU has reached agreements with a handful of African countries, including Sudan and Mali's neighbor, Niger.

EU border agency Frontex has estimated that more than 10,000 Malians have entered the bloc since the start of 2015. This month, Algeria rounded up and deported 260 Malians.
Military and police deployed across Congo's capital on Monday amid fears of unrest on the last official day of President Joseph Kabila's mandate. He intends to stay on after the midnight deadline; a court has ruled he can remain in power until new elections, now postponed indefinitely, are held.

Anger has been growing since it became clear that the vote once set for November would not take place on time. Political talks between the ruling party and the opposition, mediated by the Catholic church, stalled over the weekend and are set to resume Wednesday.

The opposition has not officially called for demonstrations, though many observers expect Kabila's opponents to take to the streets as they did when the electoral commission failed to call the election. Human rights groups say more than 50 people died in the September unrest.

"We can't demonstrate because of the police. They are patrolling and searching people," said Jean Eva, an unemployed young man talking with his friends. "Tonight it's the end of Kabila's mandate. At midnight, we are going to whistle to mark the end of the match. We'll whistle from our homes, in front of our doors. Lots of people got whistles."

The lack of an agreement in the Catholic-mediated talks raised fears of potential violence in this sprawling central African nation that has suffered decades of dictatorship and back-to-back civil wars.

Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has said that new elections "must be held and can be held in 2017," despite calls from the presidential majority to hold them in April 2018. Congolese officials have said more time is needed to update voter rolls and make other preparations.

Kabila came to power in 2001 after the assassination of his father. Some observers fear that tensions over his continued rule could again unleash fighting in the mineral-rich country.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said Saturday that concerns about unrest are high, especially since "no one to date has been held accountable" for the protesters' deaths in September.

"We call on the government, and especially its security forces, to take all necessary measures to guarantee the rights to freedom of association and of peaceful assembly," he said.
More than two and a half years ago, IS militants captured the Iraqi village of Bashmana, saying they were "liberating" the population from the government, before destroying lives and livelihoods.

About two months ago, Iraqi forces, including Shia militias, known here as Hashd Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization forces, recaptured the village and it is now slowly coming back to life.

On the other side of Mosul, the epicenter of the battle to retake Iraq from Islamic State militants, Iraqi forces are moving deeper into the city. But here in the western deserts, battles continue in the countryside as forces close in on Tal Afar, a strategic city between Mosul and the Syrian border where IS is expected to launch a bitter defense.

Hashd Shaabi soldiers say operations are slowing as winter sets in and increasing numbers of civilians are being held as human shields. Retaking Tal Afar, they add, could be a long and arduous struggle.

"We must liberate Mosul and Tal Afar soon, but the goal for Iraqi forces is not to just liberate the place from IS militants," said Sheikh Kareem al-Kharkani, a Hashd Shaabi brigade commander. "The goal is to free the people from IS militants and bring the area back to life again. Right now, there are many civilians in Tal Afar."

When the Hashd Shaabi arrived in Bashmana, villagers say, the tiny Sunni Muslim community was terrified that sectarian violence would ensue. Militants and other reports said Shia militias were responsible for murders and rapes against Sunni people as they captured IS-held territories.

But in Bashmana and other villages in this region, locals call Hashd Shaabi "liberators."

"IS militants made us afraid of Hashd Shaabi," explained Sheikh Mohammad Abu Omar, a local leader in the village of Bashmana. "Even the media made us afraid. But after the liberation, we saw the opposite of what we had heard."

Soldiers say Hashd Shaabi has captured at least 80 villages from IS, but the most difficult battle lies ahead.

And as winter weather sets in, both sides have slowed down; but IS militants continue to launch attacks.

Civilians, soldiers say, are increasingly the greatest challenge for Iraqi forces as more and more ordinary people are forced to retreat to protect militants who, soldiers say, would often rather die than surrender.
NATO and Russia held more than three hours of talks on Monday, discussing ways to reduce military accidents but also underscoring their deep disagreement on the conflict in Ukraine.

Western diplomats said the fact that the NATO-Russia Council, where the Russian ambassador to the North Atlantic alliance sits with members states' envoys, had met at all was significant after an increase in Russian military deployments.

"Without talking, we cannot solve our differences," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said after the meeting in Brussels.

Russia has alarmed NATO by equipping its Baltic fleet with nuclear-capable missiles and stepping up Cold War-style aerial incursions to probe Western air defenses. In October, it demonstratively sent its sole aircraft carrier close to Europe's shores on its way to Syria.

Russian Ambassador Alexander Grushko gave a detailed briefing on Russian military exercises involving around 120,000 personnel in recent months, NATO diplomats said.

There was also discussion in Brussels of the tactics being used by Russian pilots, which NATO says are unsafe. These include flying barrel rolls over Western aircraft, not sharing flight plans, and flying without the transponders that allow jets to be identified by ground radar.

But Stoltenberg said there continued to be "profound disagreements" on one of the central issues in East-West relations: Ukraine.

He said NATO members would not recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and that the alliance remained deeply concerned about eastern Ukraine, partly controlled since 2014 by rebels whom NATO accuses Moscow of financing.

Despite an internationally-monitored cease-fire, diplomats have cited increasing reports of shelling and civilian casualties.

NATO for its part has responded to increased Russian military activity by planning to deploy troops to the Baltic states and Poland next year. Although it says its plans are defensive, Russia has been irked and sought explanations.

Separately, Ukrainian Europe Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, who met EU officials in Brussels, told Reuters six Ukrainian soldiers had been reported killed on Monday and another 26 wounded in shelling by Russian-backed rebels.

The EU extended economic sanctions against Russia on Monday due to a lack of progress in implementing the Minsk cease-fire deal, under which a cessation of fighting was due to be followed by Kyiv agreeing to hold local elections in the region.

"The ball is in the Russian court," Klympush-Tsintsadze told Reuters. "Without security guarantees, without a cease-fire holding... it will be impossible for Ukraine to move on the political agenda."
NATO will seek to reassure Russia on Monday that its troop deployments to the Baltics and Poland next year are purely defensive, in a rare meeting of the alliance's envoys with those of the Kremlin that is unlikely to resolve long-standing grievances.

The NATO-Russia Council, the forum bringing together North Atlantic Treaty Organization ambassadors and Russia's top diplomat dealing with the U.S.-led alliance, will convene for only the third time this year with the crisis in Ukraine still the top concern for Brussels and Washington.

Russia says it is concerned about a NATO military build-up near its borders. "We count on having a frank discussion about the security situation in Europe... including... the consequences of NATO reinforcements on the eastern flank," Russia's ambassador to NATO, Alexander Grushko, said on Friday.

With relations already at a low ebb, Russia's devastating bombing campaign in Aleppo, which is not expected to be formally discussed, has provided a dark backdrop for the meeting, diplomats said.

However, NATO allies, particularly Germany, have been pushing for a meeting with Grushko to explain why they are sending four multinational battalions of up to 4,000 troops to the former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as Poland from early 2017.

NATO governments say the measures are modest compared with the 330,000 troops the alliance believes Russia has amassed on its western flank near Moscow since May.

Allies say the four battalions, backed by additional U.S. forces on rotation, are justified by Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea that alarmed the Baltics that they might be next.

"The whole idea with re-enforcements is to prevent the conflict," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier his month following a meeting with Estonia's president. "It's to send a clear message of deterrence."

NATO's top commander Curtis Scaparrotti also said this month he wants the NATO-Russia Council to address the massive military exercises that Russia has often held, with very little warning given. "Russia has not been transparent," he told reporters.

NATO allies France and Germany are also seeking to implement a peace deal for eastern Ukraine, where the West accuses the Kremlin of providing money and weapons to rebels. Moscow denies that, saying the violence in Ukraine's industrial east that has killed more than 10,000 people is the result of a civil war.

One senior NATO diplomat told Reuters that there was little chance of a breakthrough, particularly as the alliance waits for the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to take office in January.

"We cannot read the new U.S. administration's intentions. There is a chance of a total change in policy," the diplomat said, citing concern among European allies about Trump's conciliatory approach towards Russian President Vladimir Putin.

However, one hope is that NATO and Russia could discuss common rules to handle unexpected military encounters along one another's borders in the air and at sea as both sides intensify their military exercises.

"It is imperative that we establish a framework for handling encounters between opposing militaries and the civilian aircraft and ships operating in their midst," said John McColl, former NATO deputy supreme allied commander in Europe and now at the London-based European Leadership Network think-tank.
Odebrecht executives have testified the Brazilian engineering firm illegally funded the 2014 campaign of the country's impeached leftist president, a top newspaper reported on Monday, a development that could lead to the removal of her successor.

The testimony by the state witnesses as part of a leniency deal with the firm could, if accepted by the Supreme Court, bolster a request to annul the election two years ago of Dilma Rousseff and her running mate Michel Temer for abuse of power.

If that were to happen next year, Brazil's Congress would pick a caretaker to lead the country until a new president is elected at the end of 2018. Temer formally took over the presidency from Rousseff after her ouster in late August.

The Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, citing the testimony of Odebrecht executives, said at least one of them told prosecutors an illegal donation of about 30 million reais ($8.9 million) was made to the Rousseff re-election campaign, roughly 10 percent of its officially registered funding.

Temer has denied accepting illegal donations. His office had no immediate comment on the newspaper report.

The current Brazilian president has lost four ministers due to corruption allegations. That and a prolonged economic recession have threatened his political survival and given rise to calls for him to step down and allow new elections.

Last week, one of Temer's closest aides resigned following allegations he received bribes from Odebrecht, and two other members of his inner circle are under pressure to quit the besieged government.

The TSE electoral court will decide next year whether to annul the 2014 election result, though it can also separate Rousseff's campaign accounts from Temer's and rule that he can continue in office.

Lula Faces New Charges

Odebrecht, the family-owned company that prosecutors said gained most from the sprawling graft scheme uncovered nearly three years ago at state-run oil company Petrobras, signed a 6.7 billion-real agreement with prosecutors on Dec. 1, admitting guilt and offering information on bribes paid.

More than 70 of its executives, including family patriarch and Chairman Emilio Odebrecht and his jailed son and former CEO Marcelo Odebrecht, agreed to make plea statements that have been received by the Supreme Court to validate them as evidence.

A court official said the lengthy pleas will be examined in January.

Odebrecht declined to comment but said in a statement that it is cooperating with the judiciary and adopting ethical and transparent compliance practices.

A judge on Monday indicted the country's former president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as his wife Marisa and seven others on corruption charges in the Petrobras kickback scheme.

Lula already was facing four other graft cases before the new charges.

A leftist who was Rousseff's mentor, Lula is still one of Brazil's most popular politicians and seen as a front-runner to win the 2018 presidential election, though a conviction would rule him out of the running.

Prosecutors allege that Odebrecht, Latin America's biggest construction firm, paid 12.9 million reais for the land to be used for Lula's think tank and an apartment in a Sao Paulo suburb.

($1 = 3.3675 reais)
The Afghan government revealed Monday that more than one million refugees have voluntarily returned home from Pakistan and Iran in 2016, representing the highest number of returnees in 14 years.

Afghan Refugees and Repatriation Minister Sayed Hussain Alimi Balkhi told the national parliament the returnees from the neighboring countries included both registered and undocumented families.

Additionally, he said, a record 551,000 Afghans have fled their homes this year due to fighting and insecurity, raising the overall number of internally displaced persons, or IDPs, in Afghanistan to 1.3 million.

"Over one and a half million people are on the move this year. It is likely that the coming year will see similar numbers of people," warned Tadamichi Yamamoto, the head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan or UNAMA.

He made the remarks while briefing the U.N. Security Council in New York.

The humanitarian situation has become "ever more fragile" in the wake of rapidly increasing numbers of IDPs, exacerbated by the surge of more than 600,000 returning refugees and undocumented Afghans from Pakistan, according to a written report UNAMA submitted to the council.

It noted that returnees from Pakistan continue to cite increased policing and uncertainty over their status in Pakistan, including a fear of eviction, as the main reasons for leaving.

"Many of the newly displaced and returnee Afghans moving within the country are vulnerable and prone to secondary or repeated displacement because of security concerns and the limited ability of cities to absorb the influx," according to the report.

It went on to note that humanitarian access constraints continue to be recorded and are associated primarily with insecurity and conflict-related road closures, particularly in the eastern and southern regions of Afghanistan.

But Danielle Moylan, spokesperson for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Afghanistan, said only 10 percent of the estimated 400,000 Afghans who returned from Iran this year need humanitarian assistance.

"We consider many of the numbers from Iran to be circular, she told VOA. That means there are a significant number of cases where one person that is moving back and forth across the border could be counted many times."
President Barack Obama has pardoned 78 people and shortened the sentence of 153 others convicted of federal crimes, the greatest number of individual clemencies in a single day by any president, the White House said Monday.



Obama has been granting commutations at rapid-fire pace in his final months in office, but he has focused primarily on shortening sentences of those convicted of drug offenses rather than giving pardons.



A pardon amounts to forgiveness of a crime that removes restrictions on the right to vote, hold state or local office, or sit on a jury. The pardon also lessens the stigma arising from the conviction.

The pardons issued Monday were for a wide range of offenses, such as possession of counterfeit currency, felon in possession of a firearm and involuntary manslaughter. One Tennessee man was pardoned after being dismissed from the military in 1990 for conduct unbecoming an officer (shoplifting.)



Neil Eggleston, Obama's White House counsel, said Obama has now pardoned a total of 148 people during his presidency. He has also shortened the sentences of 1,176 people, including 395 serving life sentences.



Eggleston said each clemency recipient's story is unique, but a common thread of rehabilitation underlies all of them. Pardon recipients have shown they have led a productive and law-abiding post-conviction life, including by contributing to the community in a meaningful way, he said.



Commutation recipients have made the most of his or her time in prison by participating in educational courses, vocational training, and drug treatment, he said. Not all of those receiving commutations will be set free right away. Some will see their sentences end in 2017 or 2018 - long after Obama leaves office - and in some cases on the condition they participate in drug treatment programs.



"These are the stories that demonstrate the successes that can be achieved by both individuals and society in a nation of second chances,'' Eggleston said.



The commutations were announced as Obama vacations in Hawaii during the holidays. Obama leaves office falling short in efforts to overhaul the nation's criminal justice system. Congress could not reach agreement on legislation that would lead to shorter sentences for some.



Pointing to a prison population that has increase from 500,000 in 1980 to about 2.2 million today, the administration had argued that thousands of people were serving sentences disproportionate to their crimes and that the financial toll of incarcerating them increased financial strains for the government.



Eggleston said he expects Obama to issue more commutations and pardons before he leaves office. He called clemency a tool of last resort and said "only Congress can achieve the broader reforms needed to ensure over the long run that our criminal justice system operates more fairly and effectively.''



The pace of commutations generated criticism on the campaign trail earlier this year with President-elect Donald Trump warning voters that their safety could be at risk because of Obama's move to set prisoners free ahead of schedule.

"Some of these people are bad dudes,'' Trump said in October after another batch of Obama commutations.



The Drug Policy Alliance, which has supported Obama's efforts, said it was worried going into the next administration.



"We need the president to pick up the pace of commutations before he leaves office,'' said Michael Collins, a deputy director at the alliance.
Authorities in Somalia's Puntland region say security forces have destroyed a base belonging to fighters aligned with militant group Islamic State.

Admiral Abdirizak Dirie Farah, the commander of the Puntland Marine Police forces, said police launched an attack Sunday on the base in El Ladid, a village 30 kilometers south of the port town of Qandala.

"During the fighting, we have successfully destroyed the base where the militants were regrouping and making a military buildup, Farah told VOA's Somali Service. "We have also discovered and destroyed underground militant survival caches.

Puntland is a semi-autonomous region in northern Somalia. Last week, Puntland troops regained control of Qandala, the first town the IS-linked militants ever fully controlled in Somalia.

"The militant chose this strategic remote mountainous area [in El Ladid] for their stronghold and hideout and to launch their attacks. Once we got the news about their military buildup we have attacked them, killing four militants, and one of our soldiers was wounded," said Farah.

The IS faction is led by Abdiqadir Mumin, a British citizen and former al-Shabab commander who broke away from the militant group last year and swore allegiance to Islamic State. He is believed to command between 100 and 150 fighters.

His group is not believed to have direct operational links to Islamic State in the Middle East.

Regional security experts think the group received military supplies from Yemen and learned from IS trainers who inspected their bases.
Lands End stock edged up on Monday after the Dodgeville retailers board named Jerome Griffith, a veteran of the retail apparel and luggage industries, as the new CEO, effective March 6.

He will be the second Lands End chief executive to be plucked from the upper echelons of an upscale company since Lands End broke off from former parent company Sears Holdings Corp. in spring 2014. This fall the company split with CEO Federica Marchionni, who had been an executive of the high-end fashion house Dolce & Gabbana.

National media focused on the irony of pursuing another high-end executive for the small-town Wisconsin apparel company known for its practical polo shirts and khakis.

Only a few months after firing a CEO with deep roots in the world of luxury, Lands End has again tapped an executive with experience in upscale retail to lead it out of a protracted slump, Fortune.com wrote.

Its the second time the Dodgeville, Wis., company has reached into the luxury goods sector for a chief executive who might revive sales of its flannel and rugby shirts, said the Chicago Tribune.

Griffith led the luxury luggage company Tumi Holdings from 2009 until industry giant Samsonite bought the New Jersey company in August for $1.8 billion.

Griffith also has held executive positions at the Esprit and Tommy Hilfiger fashion brands; was president of retail at the J. Peterman Co., a catalog company; and rose in the ranks at Gap.

Jerome is an exceptionally gifted leader with an impressive track record of spearheading growth and expansion at several iconic apparel and consumer goods companies, said Josephine Linden, chairwoman of the Lands End board, in a written statement.

A graduate of Penn State University, Griffith, 59, has a bachelors degree in marketing. His base salary at Lands End will be $950,000, plus potential bonuses and stock, according to documents filed late Monday with federal regulators.

Griffith said he is delighted to join Lands End as it enters its next phase of growth and development.

By focusing and building on its core brand values and its heritage of delivering quality, value and service, I believe Lands End is well positioned to innovate and grow as a global leader in classic American sportswear, Griffith said in a written statement.

He succeeds interim CEOs Joseph Boitano and James Gooch, who jointly took over in late September when the company parted ways with Marchionni. She was Lands End CEO for a year and a half, working primarily from New York.

During that time, Lands End reported net losses for four consecutive quarters. For the first nine months of the companys current fiscal year, Lands End had a net loss of $15 million on $876.9 million in revenue compared with net profits of $20 million, with $946.2 million in sales for the same period last year.

Marchionnis ouster showed the futility of her strategy of trying to take such a classic Middle American brand upscale, the Fortune.com article said, citing incongruities in the Canvas line that included a $600 mens jacket and fancy brocade dresses.

Unlike Marchionni, Griffith will move to Wisconsin. He will be based at Lands End headquarters in Dodgeville and maintain a home in the Madison community, Lands End spokeswoman Michele Casper said.

The choice of Griffith shows that even though the Lands End board cut ties with Marchionni, it plans to keep moving fashion forward, said Hart Posen, a UW-Madison associate professor in the School of Business.

The real challenge is: The industry theyre in is facing very challenging times.  The product is very hard to distinguish from similar clothing sold by retailers such as L.L. Bean or Banana Republic, Posen said.

He said the 12 years during which Lands End was owned by Sears and sold in Sears stores undermined the value of the Lands End brand  another challenge for the company.

I remain pessimistic about Lands Ends long-term survival, Posen said. With 6,000 employees, about half of whom are in Wisconsin, theres a lot of positive sentiment for the company. But he added, Can they find (a way to distinguish the brand) before its too late?

Lands End stock closed Monday at $17.75, up 65 cents, or 3.8 percent, from Fridays close.
An off-duty policeman shot and killed Russia's ambassador to Turkey Monday night in Ankara in an apparent protest against Russia's deadly involvement in Syria.

The entire scene was captured on video.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov was making a speech at the opening of an art exhibition. The well-dressed gunman stood on the side of the stage, leading many in the audience to assume he was a bodyguard.

Without warning, he shot Karlov in the back, yelling "Allahu Akbar" and vowing to avenge what he said are Russian murders of innocent people in Syria. He pointed his pistol at the ceiling and briefly at the audience while the mortally wounded ambassador lay on the floor and tearful guests cowered behind tables.

One witness told VOA the gunman shouted "Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria! As long as our lands aren't safe, you will not be safe."

Three other people were wounded before security officers shot the gunman dead. Ambassador Karlov died at a hospital. He had been Russia's ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek identified the assassin as a 22-year-old police officer, Mevlut Mert Altintas.

Putin demanded to know "who directed the killer's hand," and is asking Turkey to step up security at Russian diplomat posts.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also called the killing a "provocation" and said "Turkey and Russia have the will not to be deceived."

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim praised the ambassador and said every effort is being made to bring those responsible for the attack to justice. The state-run Anadolu news agency said six people have been detained in connection with the investigation, including the roommate, parents and other relatives of Altintas.

White House spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. strongly condemns the assassination and sends its condolences to the victims.

"This heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable and we stand united with Russia and Turkey in our determination to confront terrorism in all of its forms."

Secretary of State John Kerry called it a "despicable attack," and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is "appalled by this senseless act of terror." Ban said there can be no justification for targeting diplomatic personnel and civilians.

President-elect Donald Trump called the murder of an ambassador "a violation of all rules of civilized order." He called the gunman a "radical Islamic terrorist," but Turkish officials have imposed a news blackout and have not provided any further details on the gunman.

The U.N. Security Council also condemned the attack.

A Turkish official said there are "very strong signs" the gunman was a follower of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in exile in the United States and is suspected of helping direct July's failed coup in Turkey.

A Gulen spokesman denied the cleric had anything to do with the assassination and told Reuters Gulen "categorically denies this heinous act."

Ties between Russia Turkey have been slowly improving since Turkish jets shot down a Russian bomber that strayed into its airspace from Syria last year.

Russian and Turkish officials have been working together to resolve the refugee crisis in Aleppo, caused, in part, by Russian airstrikes on Syrian rebels.

Also Monday, a man was arrested after firing shots near the entrance to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. A State Department official said no one was hurt and thanked Turkish authorities for their "prompt response."

WATCH: Emergency vehicles respond to scene of shooting
North Koreas recent responses to international sanctions and criticisms offer a key insight into how the isolated leadership in Pyongyang views itself as a nation under siege.

Following the latest round of United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea for conducting its fifth nuclear test in September, Ja Song Nam, the U.N. Ambassador from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), defended his countrys efforts to strengthen its nuclear deterrence against the ceaseless hostile moves by the United States.

In a letter to the Security Council Ja said the U.S. is intent on the political suffocation and system collapse of the Kim Jong Un government, and alleged that following the 2012 death of North Korea leader Kim Jong Il, the U.S. began to openly pursue the objective of overthrowing the government in Pyongyang.

Also attached was a North Korean Foreign Ministry memorandum detailing an extensive list of alleged military provocations made by the U.S. including:

 Increasing the number of U.S. troops participating in joint military exercises with South Korea from 3,500 in 2013 to 27,000 in 2016.

 Deploying nuclear powered aircraft carriers and submarines as well as nuclear strategic bombers into the region.

 Practicing preemptive strike exercises to simulate taking control of the Norths nuclear facilities.

 Deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense shield in South Korea.

The U.S and its allies do not deny those actions, but argue they are taking stronger conventional military measures to counter the increasing North Korean nuclear threat that this year included two nuclear tests and numerous launches of ballistic missiles.

Libya

North Korean analysts point out that hardliners within the Pyongyang government placed new emphasis on maintaining a strong nuclear deterrent after witnessing the 2011 overthrow of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, with the assistance of a U.S.-led international military intervention, just a few years after he dismantled the countrys nuclear program.

The lesson was reinforced by Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea and incursions into Eastern Ukraine, decades after Kiev agreed to destroy thousands of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles that were in its possession following the fall of the Soviet Union.

David Straub, the associate director of the Korea Program at Stanford University says he can understand North Koreas siege mentality. However he argues that Pyongyang is not an innocent victim but a failing state that tries to use its nuclear arsenal to intimidate and force concessions from adversaries, and hypes the external threat to perpetuate the Kim familys hold on power.

North Korean leaders talk about the threat from the United States, but I think at their deepest fear is that of their own people, especially that one day, they might realize how much more successful the other Korean state to their south is, and that when people do so, they will rise up against them, said Straub at a recent conference organized by the Korea Economic Institute of America.

Human rights

In its complaint to the U.N., Pyongyang also accused the U.S. of exaggerating human rights violations to undermine the nations legitimacy and independence, and to pressure other countries to reduce or sever ties with it.

Korea analyst Jonathan Pollack with the Brookings Institution says the Kim Jong Un government has been particularly sensitive to human rights criticism.

There is no question but that the publicity given human rights in the North has gotten under the skin of the leadership of the North, Pollack said at a recent North Korean human rights event at the Brookings Institution.

International condemnation of North Korea intensified following a 2014 U.N. Commission of Inquiry (IOC) report that compared ongoing atrocities in North Korea to those committed by Nazi Germany. The IOC report documented a network of political prisons in the country incarcerating nearly 120,000 men, women and children, as well as systematic torture, enslavement, rape and murder.

The U.N. General Assembly later voted to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, but the Security Council continues to be divided over endorsing the measure, with China and Russia blocking any further action.

In December the U.N. Security Council met for the third consecutive year to discuss alleged widespread human rights violations in North Korea.

In response Kim In Ryong, the DPRK Deputy Permanent Representative at the U.N. denied the allegations, criticized the U.S. for killing innocent civilians during its occupation of Iraq, and accused Washington of manipulating the Security Council to undermine the legitimacy of the Kim Jong Un government.

The U.S. brought human rights issues of the DPRK to the U.N. Security Council, whose mandate has nothing to do with human rights issues. This is because the U.N. Security Council has been reduced to one where the U.S. remains unrivaled in high-handed and arbitrary practices in disregard of the U.N. charter and international law," he said.

However Robert King, the U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights, argues it is appropriate to link North Korean human rights violations with security concerns and its aggressive pursuit of advanced nuclear and ballistic missile technology.

A regime that puts the welfare and well-being of its own people well below its acquisition of nuclear weapons, will not hesitate to use those nuclear weapons against others, King said at the Brookings Institution event.

Although North Korea refutes allegations of widespread human rights violations, it refuses to allow independent human rights organizations into the country to investigate these charges.
Twenty-sixteen has been a grim year for African journalism, with six journalists killed and 41 languishing in prisons across sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

In 2015, 14 journalists were killed, and 34 were in jail in Africa.

Worldwide, at least 48 journalists were killed this year, many of them in the conflict zones of Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya and Afghanistan, 90 percent were local journalists. Worldwide there are 259 imprisoned journalists, the highest figure CPJ has documented in at least 16 years of record-keeping.

In Africa, all the journalists killed were locals, and few of their killers have been arrested or prosecuted.

The deadliest African nation for journalists was Somalia, with three journalists killed in a troubled coastal nation that hasnt had a stable central government for more than two decades, and where rival armed groups battle for influence, territory and resources.

Of the 41 jailed journalists, 33 are in the neighboring countries of Ethiopia and Eritrea, two nations whose governments have been accused of becoming increasingly intolerant of the press amid growing dissatisfaction with their long rule.

William Bird, director of Johannesburg-based Media Monitoring Africa, says the arrests of the half-dozen Ethiopian journalists run parallel to the rise of anti-government protests this year. Of the six journalists arrested in Ethiopia this year, five are being held without charge and all five had reported critically on the protests.

Silencing criticism

Weve seen, certainly in 2016, significant levels of civil uprising to challenge the lack of freedom there and part of the governments default response has been to arrest and detain journalists, he told VOA. So theyre clearly taking an approach that says, the best way of staying in power is to crush anyone who opposes you.

And, he says, it works.

Weve got journalists in jails throughout our continent, and theres seldom a peep, he said. These are tactics that unfortunately on our continent tend to have a far greater and more devastating impact, partly because there are less media in those countries anyway, but also because there isnt as much international outrage when you arrest an African journalist in an African country, than when you arrest a journalist from a major international news outlet.

In Somalia, Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, a former radio journalist and secretary-general of the National Union of Somali Journalists, says killings in his country are mercifully lower than last year. But he says, that could be because so many journalists have already been killed, he ticked off at least two dozen that he could remember, and many others have fled into exile or been driven to self-censor.

Moalimuu lives in Mogadishu, but spoke to VOA via Skype from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, where he is attending a journalism workshop.

Some of our colleagues went to other parts of the world, and they fled from Somalia because of their own security, he said. So thats what they want, thats what all those people who want to silence the media wanted.

Truth over danger

He says he has had two close calls, most recently in January of last year, when he had to play dead to avoid being killed as militants sorted among a heap of fallen bodies and fired bullets into those who appeared to still be alive.

But, he says, its only strengthened his resolve.

If we all leave and run away from Somalia, thats what these people who want to silence the media want, he said. So we are actually insisting until the last drop of our blood we will remain in Somalia and work. ... We still want to die for our people because our people deserve to listen and hear what the reality on the ground is.

The six journalists killed in Africa in 2016 mostly covered conflict, corruption and politics. The only African female journalist killed presented a childrens radio show in Somalia. Somali extremists have targeted women who hold prominent leadership roles.

Their names were Abdiaziz Ali, El-Hadj Mohamed Diallo, Isaac Vuni, Mahad Ali Mohamed, Marcel Lubala, and the lone woman, Sagal Salad Osman.
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told the Arab League on Monday that if world powers fail to pressure the Syrian regime there will be no political solution to the war.

The question is not how we reach a political solution; we all want that. The question is how we can enforce necessary pressures on the regime so that it heeds the will of the international community, Jubeir said at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo.

If we cannot find an effective way to pressure the Syrian regime then we will not reach a political solution and the killing, displacement, and injustice in Syria will go on. We will bear responsibility for this in front of God and the Syrian people, he said.

United Nations Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura intends to convene peace talks in Geneva on February 8, his office said on Monday.
Propelled by populist energy, President-elect Donald Trump's candidacy broke long-standing conventions and his incoming Cabinet embodies a sharp turn from the outgoing Obama administration.



Trump, a Republican who pledged major changes after eight years of a Democratic White House, has assembled nominees for a Cabinet that includes many business executives who have never served in government, and military leaders are in line to oversee defense and homeland security. In one case, Trump has named someone who once called for dismantling the agency he'd lead.



A change of political parties at the White House almost always brings policy adjustments. But Trump's Cabinet expects to carry the outsider flair of his campaign, a role reversal compared with more conventional teams under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama that were heavy on former lawmakers, governors and veterans of past administrations.



A look at the expected shift in the federal government:

State department

Trump's decision to nominate ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as secretary of state means the department could be run by a lifelong oil executive with deep ties to Russia and no government experience. Outgoing Secretary of State John Kerry, a former senator who was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spent much of his tenure seeking agreements to fight climate change, restrain Iran's nuclear program and pressure foreign adversaries through financial penalties. But if Tillerson wins Senate confirmation, he would have a big say over whether the Trump administration withdraws from the Paris climate treaty and the Iran nuclear pact, along with the future of U.S. relations with Russia.



Defense department



James Mattis retired from the Marine Corps as a four-star general in 2013 and had been a battlefield commander for most of his career. Compare that with current Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who worked for years at the Pentagon and in academia but never served in uniform. To take the defense secretary job, Mattis needs Congress to pass a law allowing him to serve. Current law requires a Pentagon chief to have been out of the military for at least seven years to uphold the commitment to civilian control of the military. The law was last waived for George Marshall in 1950. Trump has praised Mattis' effectiveness at thank you rallies around the country and has promised a major buildup of the country's defense capabilities.



Treasury department



Obama's Treasury Department was in crisis mode from the moment he took office, dealing with massive job losses and the meltdown of the housing market. Eight years later, Trump has nominated Steven Mnuchin to lead the department, turning to a former Goldman Sachs executive who invested in a bank that foreclosed on thousands of homeowners after the housing crisis. Democrats are expected to press Mnuchin on his role in IndyMac, which was rebranded OneWest, and the deal that left the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation responsible for taking as much as 80 percent of the losses on former IndyMac assets. Mnuchin has promised the most significant middle-income tax cut since President Ronald Reagan.



Energy department

Former Texas governor Rick Perry once famously struggled to name three federal departments he would eliminate if elected president, muttering oops during a 2011 presidential debate. In one of the ironies of the Trump transition, Perry is now preparing to run one of those agencies, the Energy Department, after more than 14 years as governor. Perry presided over his state's vast oil and gas industries and leading wind energy sector. He is currently on the boards of two petroleum companies seeking approval for the Dakota Access Pipeline project. He would be a break from predecessors such as Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, and Ernest Moniz, a nuclear physicist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Justice department



Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, Trump's pick for attorney general, has supported tough immigration enforcement policies and said the Justice Department's civil rights division should not be used as a sword to assert inappropriate claims that have the effect of promoting political agendas. Before he entered the Senate, his nomination to become a federal judge was scuttled in 1986 amid accusations that he made racially charged remarks as a U.S. attorney. He would succeed Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who has dealt with a spate of police-involved shootings and pushed a lawsuit against North Carolina over a bathroom bill that officials said discriminated against transgender individuals.

Labor department



Outgoing Labor Secretary Tom Perez was an outspoken advocate for raising the federal minimum wage and helped push a federal rule to make more workers eligible for overtime pay. Trump's choice to run the department is fast-food executive Andy Puzder, the CEO of CKE Restaurants Holdings, the parent company of Carl's Jr., Hardee's and other chains. Puzder has said that large increases in the minimum wage would lead to job losses, and he wrote in a May 2016 op-ed that the overtime rule would be another barrier to the middle class rather than a springboard for workers. Fast-food workers led the Fight for $15 campaign during Obama's second term.

Other departments



Trump's choice for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, is an education activist and billionaire from Michigan who has championed vouchers and charter schools, which detractors say hurt public education. The pick at the Department of Health and Human Services is Rep. Tom Price (Republican-Georgia), an orthopedic surgeon who has been a leading critic of Obama's health care overhaul. Set to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development is one of Trump's former presidential rivals, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, even though he lacks a background in housing issues. Trump pointed to Carson's brilliant mind and passion for strengthening communities and families. At the Environmental Protection Agency, Trump settled on Oklahoma's attorney general, Scott Pruitt. He has questioned the science of global warming and sued the EPA over plans to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants and regulations involving the Clean Water Act.
Billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump was officially elected as the 45th U.S. president Monday, his victory confirmed by the required vote in the Electoral College.

Americans have known since early November that Trump, a Republican running for elected office for the first time, would take over the White House when he is inaugurated January 20. U.S. presidential elections, however, are not determined by the actual vote on Election Day, but rather by the individual outcomes of presidential balloting in all 50 states and the nation's capital, Washington, then with 538 electors voting in the Electoral College.

On Monday, in time-honored fashion, the electors from each of the states and the District of Columbia cast their ballots in their respective state capitals and Trump, as expected, surpassed the 270 majority figure to win a four-year term as the American leader.

Die-hard supporters of his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, had demanded that Trump-pledged electors drop their support of him, on grounds that Clinton won nearly 2.9 million more votes than him. Some protested Monday outside state capitals in a last-ditch effort to thwart Trump.

But as each state reported its Electoral College balloting, Trump's pledged electors based on the state-by-state outcomes held firm, assuring him of victory.

Even with Clinton's lead in the national popular vote count, Trump won, sometimes narrowly, where it mattered, in 31 of the 50 state contests, to claim the Electoral College majority.

After the Texas electoral collage put Trump over the 270-vote threshold, the president-elect thanked "the American people for their overwhelming vote to elect me as their next president of the United States." He promised in a statement released late Monday to "work hard to unite our country and be the President of all Americans."

With all states reporting, Trump won 304 votes while Clinton received 227. The other seven electors voted for someone other than their party's nominee.

In most election years, voting in the Electoral College is little more than a formality. But that is not the case this year.

Because of the close and bitterly contested race, and continuing opposition to Trump's victory by many Clinton supporters, thousands of Americans bombarded the 306 Republican electors with emails and phone calls, demanding they reject Trump, either by voting for Clinton or another, more acceptable Republican.

In the unlikely event that 37 or more Republican electors had defected from Trump and no candidate wound up with 270 or more, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives would have picked the president.

Trump used a Twitter post Sunday to criticize the efforts to oppose him.

"If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!" he wrote.

Electors in 29 states are bound by state law to vote for the candidate who won their state vote count, and often elsewhere, electors say they feel morally compelled to vote in the Electoral College the way their state voted.

Although the vast majority of Americans focused their ballot choice as between Trump and Clinton, they actually were casting ballots for slates of electors supporting the two candidates, often comprised of political activists in their respective states. Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, was an elector for her in New York.

Hillary Clinton piled up big vote margins in California and New York to give her the national popular vote edge, even as Trump scored impressive wins in states that Democrats have won in past presidential elections. It is the fifth time in U.S. history, and the second in the past 16 years, that the popular vote winner did not win the all-important Electoral College vote.

Faithless electors

Faithless electors - those who cast Electoral College votes for someone other than the presidential candidate who won their state - are not unheard of in American political annals, but they are relatively rare, with just 157 since the Electoral College was first used in 1789, and most occurred in the 1800s.

Several U.S. news media outlets who have interviewed at least some of the 2016 electors say the vast majority are planning to back the winner in their state, with only one known Republican elector, Chris Suprun in the southwestern state of Texas, saying he would not vote for Trump.

Suprun, however, told VOA that the number of faithless electors was "more than just me," but he failed to persuade at least 37 Republican electors to drop their support for Trump.

The country's founding fathers debated how to pick the country's presidents, deciding against using the popular vote for fear that mob rule might ensue or that the biggest states would have too much control over the ultimate outcome. It settled on the Electoral College, in part to give even the smallest states at least three electoral votes.

As it currently stands, seven states and the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., have three electoral votes each. The Pacific coast state of California has the most, at 55.

U.S. President Barack Obama, who staunchly supported Clinton, described the Electoral College as a "vestige" of American history.

But several congressional attempts to reform it or replace it with a popular vote have failed. Now, with Trump the beneficiary of its use and Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, there is no immediate chance that its use will end.

WATCH: All you need to know about the Electoral College
Donald Trump's top aides on Sunday said the president-elect isn't ready to accept the finding by intelligence officials that Moscow hacked Democratic emails in a bid to elevate Trump. Even if it's true, they said, Trump still won the White House fair and square.

The pushback came a day before members of the Electoral College are scheduled to formally cast votes for Trump as the 45th president. While Democrats likely are powerless to stop it, they suggested Trump's victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton would forever be tainted by Russian meddling.



Republican electors have been inundated by Trump opponents urging them to defy the results in their states and vote against Trump.



This whole thing is a spin job, said Trump's incoming chief of staff, Reince Priebus. And I think what the Democrats ought to do is look in the mirror and face the reality that they lost the election.



Trump himself weighed in Sunday evening, tweeting, If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!



The partisan swipes mostly ignored warnings by foreign policy experts that part of Russia's calculation also was likely payback for years of U.S. criticism of its own elections and a desire to portray America as a flawed champion of democracy - potentially weakening U.S. power on the world stage. Russia has vehemently denied the accusation.





Many lawmakers, including some leading Republicans, say voters may not have been swayed by the release of tens of thousands of private emails. But the fact that a foreign power tried to intervene in U.S. democracy and exploit divisions in American politics is cause for alarm, they say.



Still, Trump's transition team and loyalists on Capitol Hill weren't buying it, at least not on the eve of the Electoral College vote.

Where's the evidence? asked Kellyanne Conway, another close Trump adviser.



Asked about President Barack Obama's vow to retaliate against the Russians, Conway said: It seems like the president is under pressure from Team Hillary, who can't accept the election results.



Strong consensus

Democrats say it's unlikely the public will ever hear detailed evidence because doing so would disclose classified sources and methods. But with last week's declaration by CIA Director John Brennan that there was strong consensus that Russia hacked Democrats to try to sway the election, lawmakers are stepping up demands for closed-door briefings and a separate congressional investigation.





California Rep. Adam Schiff, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said an unclassified intelligence review could be released within the next two weeks or three weeks.



As president-elect, Trump would have access to high-level intelligence on the matter, although it's unclear what he's been told. Trump has previously called the intelligence finding of Russian involvement ridiculous. On Sunday, Conway said she wasn't privy to the same intelligence briefings as the president-elect and couldn't say what he knows.



Donna Brazile, interim head of the Democratic National Committee, said the DNC was no match for a sophisticated foreign power in cyberspace that weaponized private emails to sow misinformation and to sow discord between Clinton and her primary rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.



Also on Sunday:

Brazile said the cyberattacks against the DNC occurred every day through the end of the election. The comment seemed to contradict Obama's assertion that they stopped after he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.

Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz., called for creation of a special Senate investigative committee focused on Russia, China and Iran potentially trying to interfere in U.S. elections through high-tech meddling.

Priebus said he was 100 percent confident that the Senate would confirm Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Trump's secretary of state. The oil company oil executive has deep ties to Russia and no government experience.

Priebus said the naming of lawyer David Friedman as Trump's ambassador to Israel doesn't mean that Trump rejects the notion of a two-state solution in the Middle East. Friedman has suggested Trump would support Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank, effectively eliminating the possibility of a Palestinian state.

There's going to be things that individually people may believe in their hearts or in their mind, Priebus said of Trump's nominees to top posts. But ultimately, it's their job to represent the president-elect of the United States and his foreign policy.



Priebus appeared on Fox News Sunday, Conway was interviewed on CBS' Face the Nation and Brazile and Schiff were on ABC's This Week.
Over the weekend, Turkey's ruling AK Party submitted to parliament a package of 21 constitutional reform proposals that would end the country's nearly century-long parliamentary rule and replace it with a powerful executive presidency.

The draft grants the president the authority to issue decrees, to declare a state of emergency and rule the country with resolutions during the state of emergency, and appoint public officials as well as half of the high judges, said law professor Istar Gozaydin. So it's a huge authority.

Under the proposals, parliament can pass legislation overturning decrees issued by the president, but the president will have the power to veto parliamentary legislation. The proposals will also allow a president to lead a political party, ending the present constitutional requirement of neutrality.

Running the economy

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been pushing for the sweeping reforms, arguing that the current challenges facing the country require a strong presidency. Erdogan also claims the changes would end the risk of weak coalition governments that dogged Turkey throughout the 1990s, a period characterized by economic crisis and political violence.

Analysts argue some of the most controversial proposed presidential powers concern running the economy.

Erdogan will essentially control the central bank, said political consultant Atilla Yesilada of Global Source Partners. He noted that under article 15 of the proposals, the president can appoint everyone working for public institutions, including regulatory authorities.

One of key tenants of a modern economy is central bank independence and independence of regulatory agencies, such as the capital markets board, he said. [This] will also be thrown overboard.

Centralization of power

The proposed constitutional reforms will also empower the president to choose ministers and set the budget. According to Yesilada, such a centralization of powers is a cause for concern.

The whole idea of modern management is proper delegation, Yesilada said. I don't think Mr Erdogan can deal with so many tasks, and knowing the caliber of his current advisory team, I am afraid if the referendum passes and the new system is instituted, policy making in Turkey would be completely haphazard and completely unpredictable, and that's really scary.

Questions are also being raised over how many terms a president will be able to serve under the new reforms. While the proposals limit a president to two consecutive terms, experts note they also say that if an incumbent calls an early presidential election in their second term, they can stand for another term, opening the door to indefinite rule.

This may just go on over and over as long as he or she lives, so that practically turns into a dictatorship in a way, said Gozaydin.

But Erdogan argues such powers are key to meeting his government's goal of making Turkey one of the 10 largest economies by 2023, the hundredth anniversary of the creation of the Turkish Republic.

Proposals strongly opposed

The main opposition Republican People's Party and the pro-Kurdish HDP have strongly condemned the proposals, warning they are tantamount to turning the country into an elected dictatorship. But the ruling AK Party, backed by members of the junior opposition MHP, has enough votes to secure the required three-fifths parliamentary majority to pass the constitutional reforms, although observers point out the vote will be secret, making it easier for some deputies to rebel.

If the reforms are passed, they will be put to a referendum within three months, which is widely predicted to be a deeply polarizing vote.

A referendum, if called, will likely dominate Turkey's political agenda. For him [Erdogan], the utmost priority seems to be to engineer or design a campaign that would allow a large enough majority to back the presidential system, said Sinan Ulgen, a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Institute in Brussels.

Opinion polls Turkey have historically found little support for an executive presidential system. But recent polls indicate growing support for the initiative, with some showing a majority backing it: a poll this month by an agency closely linked to the ruling AK Party found 60 percent in favor.
Major U.S. cities and counties are beefing up legal services for immigrants to help them fight deportation and avoid fraudulent lawyers in the wake of Donald Trump's election and his hardline immigration enforcement promises.



Tapping local government funds to represent immigrants in federal proceedings provides an early example of the type of pushback the Republican incoming president will receive in Democratic strongholds. Advocates call it a matter of justice and smart economics, but some question whether it's a fair use of taxpayer money.



Chicago has approved a $1.3 million legal fund. Los Angeles elected officials said Monday they are working with private foundations to set up a $10 million fund, while some California state lawmakers have proposed spending tens of millions of dollars to provide lawyers to immigrants facing deportation. New York is mulling a public-private legal fund, building on New York City's public defender program that's considered a national model.



We need to be able to stand by people who are fearful, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a former White House chief of staff, said after the measure passed the City Council last week.



Trump's pledges to build a border wall and deport the estimated 11 million people living in the country without legal permission have triggered uncertainty in immigrant circles. He has since scaled back the deportee number, but not detailed his platform.



Since his win, a lack of legal representation for immigrants has become a growing concern. It was the top issue raised by a Chicago task force of leaders, including Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, convened after the election.



In Los Angeles, officials want a legal services fund set up before Trump becomes president in January. About half the money will come from the city and county and half from private donations, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti's office.



'Keeping them safe and protected'



Los Angeles County supervisor Hilda Solis said she's especially worried about the fate of unaccompanied minors and young immigrants who filed personal information with the federal government to obtain work permits under the Obama administration.



Right now, the most important thing is that this fund be established and that our most vulnerable communities know that we are working towards keeping them safe and protected, Solis said.



Immigrants aren't guaranteed a lawyer in immigration court and only about 37 percent of those in deportation proceedings have legal representation, according to a September American Immigration Council report.



Democratic state lawmakers in California have proposed legislation that could cost up to $80 million for immigration attorneys and other legal training. Santa Clara County is looking into the idea and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee added $1.5 million to a fund for immigrant legal services.



In Chicago - where an estimated 150,000 people do not have permanent legal status - the money will be divided among two nonprofits. One will focus on poor immigrants facing deportation. The other will employ 200 community navigators who will network through churches, schools and community events to find immigrants who are in the country illegally and help them figure out if they have avenues to stay.



People are nervous, said Esperanza Villalobos, who already does the job in Mexican-heavy Chicago neighborhoods. She reports a surge in immigrants seeking her out since the election.



In Chicago, which has some of the most immigrant-friendly laws in the nation, the debate over the fund had tense moments, highlighting how contentious the issue is outside Democratic strongholds. Chicago set aside money only for one year and is banking on private donations to keep it going.



'I'm not a hater'



Three aldermen representing neighborhoods with strong Trump support voted against it, including Nicholas Sposato. He dismissed it as the legal defense fund for the illegals and said Chicago should consider the money for other issues. The cash-strapped city diverted the funds from a little-used homeowner rebate program.



I'm not a hater, Sposato said during the vote at full the council meeting. Any given day, 1,000 homeless veterans out there. What are we doing for them?



Another reason cited by local governments for creating the funds is the economy, because immigrants, regardless of legal status, work and pay taxes. In addition, children of immigrants who are deported may end up needing publicly-funded services such as foster care and health care, said Avideh Moussavian, a policy attorney with the National Immigration Law Center in Washington.



There's the due process issue, but there's actually quantifiable economic impact, she said.



In 2013, New York City tested a program to infuse public defender offices with money for attorneys dedicated to representing detained immigrants. The program has grown from $500,000 in its initial year to roughly $6 million. Attorneys have represented more than 1,500 immigrants from 2013 through late last year, the most recent statistics available. About 70 percent of attorneys won their cases, according to the nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice.



In Chicago, another goal is to help immigrants avoid fraudulent services, something 24-year-old Jose Lopez knows firsthand.



The college student, brought to the country illegally as a child, qualified for a work permit under the Obama administration. Twice he sought out attorneys who advertised on Spanish-language radio stations.



However, the paperwork they filed was unnecessary, his case stalled and he lost nearly $2,000. He's since obtained the permit and has a graphic design job, but hopes others can avoid his mistakes.



I had to stall a career. I had to stall school, he said. I had to stall life.
Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, who parlayed beauty, diamond-studded glamour and nine marriages into a long celebrity career, died on Sunday, Variety and other media outlets reported. She was 99.

Ed Lozzi, a publicist for Gabor, told Variety that the Hungarian-born actress, who would have turned 100 in February, passed away at her home on Sunday afternoon.

No additional information about her death was available, and Lozzi could not be reached immediately.

Gabor, by most accounts, had a personality that generally outshone her acting skills. Her bubbly demeanor and looks helped land her a string of wealthy husbands. She had a penchant for calling everyone "dah-ling" in her thick Hungarian accent. Along with her two sisters, Eva and Magda, she became a fixture on Hollywood's social circuit in her prime.

She was once branded "the most expensive courtesan since Madame de Pompadour," but Gabor insisted that only her marriage to husband No. 2, hotel mogul Conrad Hilton, was financially motivated.

In fact, marriage could have been the Gabor family business and Zsa Zsa, the company's CEO. Her nine marriages topped the five by Eva, who starred in the 1960s sitcom "Green Acres," and the six of Magda, whose Hollywood career was mostly based on being the third Gabor sister.

While her acting skills were rarely lauded, Zsa Zsa Gabor carved out a career in her early days in Hollywood. Her finest film roles came with "Moulin Rouge," where she earned good reviews, in 1952 and "Lili" in 1953.

She appeared in more than 30 movies and by the 1970s she began to reject smaller roles, saying: "I may be a character but I do not want to be a character actress."

Gabor eventually ended up in low-budget films with such titles as "Queen of Outer Space" and "Picture Mommy Dead."

Greater success came with nightclub and TV appearances where she disclosed she called everyone "dah-ling" because she could not remember names well, and she relied on self-parodying jokes based on her marriages, haughty demeanor and taste for opulence.

"I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house," she was quoted as saying.

Gabor, one of the last stars of Hollywood's golden age, was not seen in public in her final years as she struggled with her health, including broken bones and cuts from a car accident. She also suffered a stroke and a broken hip, enduring complications from hip replacement surgery. She had much of her right leg amputated in 2011 because of an infection.

Gabor's most recent stint at the hospital came just days after her 99th birthday in February 2016 for breathing difficulties.

Gabors go Hollywood

Born Sari Gabor into a wealthy family, she was named Miss Hungary in the 1930s. When World War Two approached, Zsa Zsa and her sisters headed for the United States, leaving behind her first husband, Burhan Belge, a Turkish diplomat.

Soon after arriving in Hollywood, where Eva was working as an actress, Gabor married Hilton, with whom she had a daughter, Francesca, who died in January 2015.

In 1949, after divorcing Hilton, Gabor married British actor George Sanders, whom she later was to call her one true love.

Sanders would end up married to Magda.

In addition to Belge, Hilton and Sanders, Gabor was married to New York businessman Herbert Hutner, oilman Joshua Cosden, Barbie doll designer Jack Ryan, her divorce lawyer Michael O'Hara, Count Felipe de Alba of Mexico and Frederic Prinz von Anhalt.

The marriage to de Alba was annulled because her divorce from O'Hara was not final at the time of the wedding. The 1986 marriage to von Anhalt, which lasted until her death, was by far her longest.

Throughout her Hollywood heyday, Gabor listed her birthday only as Feb. 6, steadfastly refusing to reveal the year. A former spokesman, John Blanchette, said she was born in 1917.

In 1989, Gabor's temper landed her in jail for three days after she slapped a policeman who had stopped her Rolls-Royce because of an expired license tag. She emerged from jail complaining about the food.

She sued Francesca in 2005, saying her daughter had taken out a loan against Gabor's Bel Air, California, home and used the transaction to steal $2 million.
An eight-month delay in downgrading the quality rating of a Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs nursing home after a residents death was caused mostly by a Department of Health Services worker who forgot to complete a form, a federal agency spokeswoman said.

Inspectors cited the Olson Hall unit of the King Veterans facility on March 9 for providing substandard care in the death of a 94-year-old resident, but Olsons five-star rating remained in place through November on the government website created to allow consumers to evaluate quality when choosing a nursing home.

Violations of federal standards arent factored into ratings until the nursing home has pursued an initial appeal called Informal Dispute Resolution, said Elizabeth Schinderle, spokeswoman for the Chicago regional office of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

But, in this case, after the state department of veterans affairs appeal was rejected, the state health services department didnt add the appeal completion date to an electronic form, so the violation wasnt sent to the office that updates ratings, Schinderle said.

From talking with the state and researching what took place, to the best of our knowledge, the case worker who entered all the IDR information simply forgot to complete that particular data field, Schinderle said.

The state DHS and federal CMS act as partners in inspections of Wisconsin nursing homes, including the four state veterans homes that provide care to more than 700 veterans and family members at King.

State lawmakers in September ordered an audit of the King homes after months of published reports about shortcomings in care.

Gov. Scott Walker and Veterans Affairs secretary John Scocos have defended King by pointing to the five-star ratings held by three of its four units. And in October, after the fourth home, Stordock Hall, was upgraded to the top status, Scocos issued a press release pointing out that for the first time, all of Kings nursing home units had five stars at the same time.

The citation for placing residents in immediate jeopardy, which is the most severe violation available, was issued because nursing staff members didnt try to revive a 94-year-old resident who wasnt breathing.

The incomplete form wasnt the only factor contributing to the delay in downgrading Olson Halls rating, according to information provided by CMS and the state veterans affairs department.

On April 4, nearly a month after the citation was issued, the veterans affairs department filed for the informal appeal, which was heard on April 12. The state health services department informed veterans affairs administrators on April 15 that the appeal was rejected.

In October, after activists in the Wisconsin veterans community who had learned of the citation began questioning Olsons five-star rating, the state health services department and CMS officials found the problem and the form was completed.

But it takes one to two months for a citation report uploaded by the state health services department to affect ratings on the Nursing Home Compare website, the CMS spokeswoman said.

Data are retrieved by the Nursing Home Compare office on the first business day of each month and it takes about three and a half weeks to process it, she said.

Olson had held an overall five-star rating since 2014. On Nov. 28, it was reduced to two stars in the category of health inspections, four stars for staffing, five stars for quality measures, and four stars overall.

The state department of veterans affairs formally appealed the citation on May 24.

CMS notified the department on June 1 that it was being fined $76,900. The department of veterans affairs appealed the fine June 6.

Last month, Walker announced that Scocos would resign effective Jan. 7.
A gunman believed to have been an off-duty policeman shot and killed Russia's ambassador to Turkey Monday night in Ankara.

Ambassador Andrey Karlov was making a speech at the opening of an art gallery exhibition when a man dressed in a suit approached the podium and opened fire.

The entire scene was captured on video.

The assassin yelled "Allahu Akbar" and vowed to avenge what he says are Russian murders of innocent people in Syria, pointing his pistol at the ceiling and briefly at the the audience while the mortally wounded ambassador lie on the floor.

One witness told VOA the gunman shouted "Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria! As long as our lands aren't safe, you will not be safe."

Three other people were also wounded before security officers shot the gunman dead. Ambassador Karlov died at a hospital.

Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek has identified the assassin as a 22 year-old police officer who may have been off duty.

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the killing as an act of terrorism.

"There is no doubt that the committed clime is a provocation aimed at ruining Russian-Turkish relations and the peace process in Syria which is moving forward with the help of Russia, Turkey, and Iran," Putin said. "The answer is to strengthen the counter-terrorism efforts and the criminals will feel that soon."

White House spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. strongly condemns the assassination and sends its condolences to the victims.

"This heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable and we stand united with Russia and Turkey in our determination to confront terrorism in all of its forms."

German Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziere said "irrespective of the differences we have with Turkey on other issues, we are in solidarity with Turkey in the common fight against terrorism."

Karlov has been Russia's ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

Ties between Russia Turkey have been slowly improving since Turkish jets shot down a Russian bomber that strayed into its airspace from Syria last year.

Russian and Turkish officials have been working together to resolve the refugee crisis in Aleppo, caused, in part, by Russian airstrikes on Syrian rebels.

WATCH: Emergency vehicles respond to scene of shooting
The U.S. Electoral College is set to meet Monday, where electors are expected to make official Republican Donald Trump's surprising November victory in the presidential election.

Each state may send a certain number of electors to the college calculated by their representation in Congress. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to achieve a majority and win the presidency. In most cases the winner of the popular vote in a given state will win all of that state's electoral votes, although some states do allow their electoral votes to be divided.

The Democratic candidate, former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton, defeated Trump by nearly 2.9 million votes in the national popular vote. But the Republican Trump won where it mattered, in enough of the state-by-state contests to claim an apparent 306-232 edge in the Electoral College, well more than the 270 majority he needs.

Clinton piled up big vote margins in California and New York to give her a national popular vote edge, while Trump won enough states, sometimes relatively narrowly, to claim the Electoral College advantage and a four-year term as the nation's leader. It would be the fifth time in U.S. history, and the second in the last 16 years, that the popular vote winner did not win the all-important Electoral College vote.

Usually a formality but not this year

In most election years, voting in the Electoral College is little more than a formality. But that is not the case this year.

Because of the close and bitterly contested race, and continuing opposition to Trump's victory by many Clinton supporters, thousands of Americans have bombarded the 306 Republican electors with emails and phone calls, demanding they reject Trump, either by voting for Clinton or another, more acceptable Republican. In the unlikely event that 37 Republican electors defect from Trump and the vote ends in a tie at 269, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives would pick the president.

Most of the electors, however, are bound by state law to vote for the candidate who won their state vote count, or if they are not, say they feel morally compelled to vote in the Electoral College the way their state voted.



Faithless electors

Faithless electors - those who cast Electoral College votes for someone other than the presidential candidate who won their state - are not unheard of in American political annals, but they are rare, with just a handful since the Electoral College was first used in 1789.

Several U.S. news media outlets who have interviewed at least some of the 2016 electors say the vast majority are planning to back the winner in their state, with only one known Republican elector, Chris Suprun in the southwestern state of Texas, saying he would not vote for Trump.



Suprun, however, told VOA that the number of faithless electors is "more than just me. I'm thinking we're working toward the (37) we need to throw this to the House of Representatives."

He declined to say whom he would vote for on Monday. He said Trump has "proved himself to be a demagogue," continuing his attacks on people who criticize him since the election, much the same as he did during the lengthy presidential campaign.

Some analysts have predicted there might be more defectors than Suprun, but until the Electoral College ballots are counted on January 6, no one knows for sure.

Trump used a Twitter post Sunday to criticize the efforts to oppose him.

"If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned and called terrible names!" he wrote.

The country's Founding Fathers debated how to pick the country's presidents, deciding against using the popular vote for fear that mob rule might ensue or that the biggest states would have too much control of the ultimate outcome. It settled on the Electoral College, in part to give even the smallest states at least three electoral votes.

As it currently stands, seven states and the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., each have three electoral votes. The Pacific coast state of California has the most, at 55.



WATCH: All you need to know about the Electoral College
Voltaire Network  On 18 December 2016, the UN Security Council will examine a draft resolution prepared by France requiring the deployment of observers of the UN and its partners (sic) [Draft, 3] at East Aleppo to supervise the evacuation of both civilians as well as opposition fighters (sic) [Draft, 1].

On Monday 19 December 2016, a Nato-Russia summit will take place just after Nato officers have been taken prisoners at East-Aleppo where they were training the jihadists. Just as when Tripoli was taken in August 2011, and contrary to article 9 of the NATO Charter, the Atlantic Council has not been consulted on this secret operation.

On Tuesday 20 December 2016, after Russia and Iran will receive a Turkish delegation at Moscow. [The context?] Turkish officials have been taken prisoners in the Turkish bunker at East Aleppo, and the Alliance has tried four times to assassinate President Erdogan.
On Sunday 11 December 2016, Cairos Saint-Peter and Saint Paul Church was bombed leaving 23 people dead and [another] fifty seriously injured.

Egypt has decreed three days of national mourning.

Under the presidency of the Muslim Brother Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood was at complete liberty to ransack a number of churches and the palaces of bishops. They even went as far as to [participate] in several lynchings. But after they were toppled, President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi undertook to defend Christians as [he would] any Egyptian.

The Egyptian Minister for Home Affairs considers that this bombing was probably committed by members of the Brotherhood and that they probably prepared for this attack in Qatar. Daesh immediately responded by claiming responsibility for it

Isiss key leaders are members of the Muslim Brotherhood, while most leaders of the Brotherhood live in Turkey, Qatar and the United Kingdom.

On 15 December, the Gulf Cooperation Council (an organization dominated by Saudi Arabia) has deplored the accusations directed at one of their members (Qatar).

In 2014, President al-Sissi has transmitted to Saudi Arabia documents found in the archives of his predecessor. These documents were evidence that, with the help of a faction of the Brotherhood, Qatar was preparing a coup dEtat against the Saudi family. Thus Riyadh had financially supported Egypt and threatened to invade Qatar.
the inside game

The Most Important Senate Race Is Also the Most Ignored

The Most Important Senate Race Is Also the Most Ignored
Animal mistreatment charges against an Evansville coyote hunter, who officials said shot a womans two dogs last winter at a state wildlife area, will be reduced from felonies to misdemeanors under a judges order.

Dane County Circuit Judge Ellen Berz, in an order issued on Friday, agreed with prosecutors that animal mistreatment charges against Kurt Rausch, 35, can be amended from felonies to misdemeanors.

Rausch was charged in April with two counts of felony animal mistreatment for shooting two dogs that belonged to Deanna Clark, who was walking them off-leash after dark at Badfish Creek State Wildlife Area southeast of Stoughton on Jan. 22. Rausch told police he mistook the dogs for coyotes, which he was legally hunting.

Both of the dogs died.

Rausch was also charged with a misdemeanor count of negligently handling a weapon.

Felony-level animal mistreatment requires the intent to kill or disfigure an animal, while misdemeanor-level mistreatment requires negligence. Assistant District Attorney Paul Humphrey initially argued that because Rausch intended to shoot coyotes when he shot Clarks dogs, the intent transferred to his shooting of the dogs. Humphrey later abandoned that argument and argued for reduction of the charges to misdemeanors.

Rauschs lawyer, Michele Tjader, agreed the charges could be reduced to misdemeanors, but she sought dismissal of the charges entirely because Rausch was exercising his constitutional right to hunt.

Berz wrote that the issue of hunting as a constitutional right hadnt been fully argued by both sides and she wouldnt consider it at this point.

Berz also denied a motion by Tjader to dismiss the negligent firearm handling charge. Tjader had argued that Clark was a great distance from Rausch when he fired the shots at the dogs, and that it couldnt be proven that Rausch endangered Clark, only that he could have endangered her.

Berz said that Humphreys argument, that it was dark and Rausch fired shots despite being unable to see where he was shooting, supports a charge of negligence to the minimal level required for probable cause.

The case will continue after Humphrey files an amended criminal complaint, which Berz ordered him to do by Dec. 31.
A vandal was in a window-smashing mood Friday morning, with at least five vehicles parked Downtown having windows broken out.

The vandalism was first reported at about 7:30 a.m. on North Webster Street, but also took place on Langdon Street, Wisconsin Place, and East Gorham Street, Madison police said.

"A couple of victims said it appeared someone had rummaged through the interior of their vehicle, but none believed anything had actually been stolen," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain.

The vandal was an equal-opportunity vandal, breaking out windows on both driver and passenger sides of vehicles.

Nobody was injured, and no description of a suspect was given.
The Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 915 La Salle Ave., will have a holiday luncheon featuring a meal from Rosas Cafe from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Cost is $10 for the meal.

Guests who bring a new teddy bear to be donated to the Family Abuse Center will earn a ticket for the raffle prize drawing.

For more information, call 754-7111.

Free food distribution

The Central Texas Food Bank and The Shepherds Heart will have a free food-distribution event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of Texas State Technical Colleges Industrial Technology Center, located at the corner of Crest and Airline drives.

Participants will receive a variety of fresh food, including meat, beans, canned vegetables and fruit, soup, cereal, potatoes, rice, pasta and more.

Clients must provide a box, basket or container to carry their food.

For more information, call 799-8810 or 716-7064.

A Playdate With Art

Art Center Waco, 1300 College Drive, will have a A Playdate With Art: Squish, Scribble, Splat! event from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

This Mommy or Daddy and Me hour is about exploring sensory and motor skills, discovering new materials and meeting other young friends.

Cost is $6 for one child and $4 for additional siblings.

For more information, call 752-4371 or email artcenterwaco1300@gmail.com.

Hewitt story times

The Hewitt Public Library, 200 Patriot Court in Hewitt, will have a Santa and His Elves, Stockings and Trees story time at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

The program is geared for preschoolers ages 3 to 5.

For more information, call 666-2442.

Friends of Peace

The Waco Friends of Peace/Climate will screen the documentary Cape Spin!: An American Power Struggle at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Poppa Rollos Pizza, 703 N. Valley Mills Drive.

The film details the battle over Americas first offshore wind farm and largest clean-energy project.

The free event includes a pizza and salad buffet.

For more information, visit www.friendsofpeace.org.

Centex Toastmasters

Centex Clearly Speaking Toastmasters will meet from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesday at Crestview Community Center, 7129 Delhi Road.

Toastmasters is a self-paced public speaking and leadership club that helps participants improve their networking skills, impromptu speaking and comfort level while speaking.

Visitors are welcome.

For more information, call 836-5383 or email kym@r2labs.org.

Submit items for Briefly in printed or typed form to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com at least one week before an event.
A landscaped green space featuring a fountain, memorial bricks, seating and granite columns could come to downtown Bellmead with enough community support.

Bellmead City Council members showed support for the space by granting $10,000 for the project. The Bellmead Economic Development Corp. has agreed to a $20,000 contribution, and a resident has already presented a $1,000 donation.

That leaves more than $20,000 to raise.

We have nothing like it, said Phil Bancale, a BEDC board member. Throughout the whole year theres different things that can be done there. Its not just a little park, which is fine, but we can use it much more than that.

After the citys funding approval, tears of joy hit Barbara Lucas, city parks and recreation board secretary.

I sat down and cried. Weve been working on this so long, Lucas said.

The parks board has drawn and redrawn plans for a site adjacent to Bellmead City Hall for the past few years.

The site would feature the U.S., Texas and city of Bellmead flags. Each of the five service branches would be represented in emblems, and a pondless water feature would create some serenity and ambient sound, she said.

Lucas said when the parks board went to the council in November, the elected officials asked for the project to be scaled down and to seek alternative funding. The board worked on a new proposal and is closing in on a donation from Home Depot, she said.

Weve put a lot of work into this, she said. Were very excited about what were doing as a parks board. We have some big plans for the future of the parks and would welcome additional support and participation.

The board will host a fundraiser in the fall to sell memorial bricks for the green space. Individuals and businesses can purchase bricks to have names engraved in honor of family members, veterans or to support the project.

Theres something just innately refreshing about that kind of a space, Lucas said. For that to be present as a balancing factor to a municipal court building and a City Hall, where its all business, really speaks well to the city and to its first impression it would give potential new residents and business owners. We felt this particular space was unique to Bellmead. Even though its small, it could have a large voice. I feel Bellmead has enough concrete downtown.

Mayor Gary Moore said he initially asked for the project to be scaled down because of construction of the municipal building next to city hall. Moore said he was impressed with the parks board presentation and the members ability to adjust the proposal.

Ive heard a lot of citizens say we need something thats an attractive point downtown, he said. A lot of the other communities have a gathering point downtown.

Council member Doss Youngblood was the sole vote against funding the project last week. He could not be reached for comment.

Bancale, who has lived in the city for almost 60 years, said his hometown in New Jersey had a green space similar to what is proposed for Bellmead.

The space could be used for the annual Christmas tree lighting or for Labor Day or Memorial Day events, among others, he said.

Sit in peace

We need a space where people can just sit in peace and if they want to meditate or if they want to sit and relax for a few minutes, Bancale said. For years, weve been trying to beautify Bellmead Drive a little bit and get rid of some unattractive things.

Bellmeads City Hall, municipal court, and police and fire departments all are on the same block bordered by Bellmead Drive and Maxfield, Harrison and Kane streets.

When the initial project came up in 2014, concerns were raised because the project would use the entire open area next to the municipal building, City Manager Bo Thomas said.

The thought was well wait until after the court building is built to see how much area is left, Thomas said. There was a certain amount of area in that open space the court building would take up.

The newly proposed plan takes up less space, and the new municipal court building is almost done, he said.

The municipal court building was originally housed in the police department, adjacent to City Hall. The city was required to move the court after a Texas Department of Public Safety audit.

The city council temporarily moved the court to City Hall and approved $543,000 in January for a new municipal court building on the same block.

Were looking to just about start moving in there any day, Thomas said. If we can get a connectivity problem figured out prior to the Christmas holiday getting here, theyll move in by the first of January.
An attorney representing a Hewitt man arrested during the May 17, 2015, Twin Peaks shootout has filed again to have McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna removed from prosecuting the case, two months after a judge ruled Reyna could continue in that role.

Matthew Alan Clendennen, a former member of the Scimitars Motorcycle Club, filed a petition for writ of mandamus Monday asking the 10th Court of Appeals to review the district courts refusal to disqualify Reynas office from prosecuting his case. The petition also asks that an independent and unbiased prosecutor take over the case.

In late October, 54th State District Court Judge Matt Johnson denied a motion from Clendennen and biker Ray Nelson that claimed Reyna should be disqualified because he has a financial interest in securing convictions  due to several civil suits filed in the case naming him as a defendant  and he overstepped his authority when advising police about the mass arrests of 177 bikers.

Clendennen and more than 150 other bikers have been indicted on identical charges of engaging in organized activity to commit capital murder, murder or aggravated assault.

Texas law states it is normally up to the district attorney to initiate recusal, but a trial court may disqualify a prosecutor when the disqualification is based on a conflict of interest that rises to the level of a due process violation, according to the petition. Reynas testimony is essential for the jury to understand the course of the investigation in this case, the petition continues.

Tom Brandt, Reynas attorney, argued in October at the two hearings on the motion that if Reyna is disqualified, it would set a dangerous precedent by which every criminal defendant could civilly sue the prosecutor handling his case to get him removed, crippling the nations criminal justice system.

Dallas attorney Clint Broden, who represents Clendennen, said the writ of mandamus is an extraordinary remedy. Broden said testimony from the previous hearing indicates Reynas need to hand the case over.

First, it was clear from the hearing that Mr. Reyna orchestrated the wholesale arrest of the motorcyclists even when all three of the Waco assistant police chiefs on the scene that day correctly determined most of the motorcyclists to be mere witnesses, Broden said in a statement.

Second, despite Mr. Reynas testimony under oath that he had extensive discussions with Waco Police Detective Manual Chavez about the preparation of the fill-in-the-blank arrest warrant affidavits for the 177 motorcyclists, Detective Chavez testified under oath that he never even saw Mr. Reyna that night. In other words, both gave testimony under oath that completely contradicted one another.

Third, the civil rights lawsuits against Mr. Reyna create a situation where he must see these frivolous persecutions through in order to embolden his position in the civil rights cases pending against him in federal court.

Finally, although Mr. Reyna testified under oath that he expected McLennan County taxpayers to indemnify him for any judgments in the civil rights cases filed against him, it was later determined that McLennan County commissioners have not made such agreement with him.

Reyna did not return requests for comment Monday.

Broden said Clendennen wants to be afforded his due process rights under the Constitution and have his case prosecuted by an unbiased prosecutor.

Mr. Clendennen deserves that, the McLennan County taxpayers deserve that, and the criminal justice system as a whole deserves that, Broden said.
VERONA  A conversation at a parent-teacher conference has led to the sixth year a Sugar Creek Elementary School class has visited Verona High School to work with students there.

The partnership was hatched by Tammy Makovec, who works in the high schools business, marketing and information technology department, and JoBeth Kroetz, a fifth-grade teacher at Sugar Creek who had Makovecs son, Daniel, in her class, about ways they could collaborate.

That first year, the grade-schoolers started getting help making videos for the products they create during an economics unit. Sometimes they also make printed promotional

materials.

Last year, when Kroetz taught second grade, her students also came to Makovecs desktop publishing class for another collaboration.

These kids get to work with the older kids in their community that they can look up to and they can look forward to doing this in high school, too, said junior Caleb Bohrer.

The students made videos of products they will sell at the annual Sugar Creek Fifth Grade Economics Bazaar that runs from 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesday in the school gym. All fifth-grade students participate, and the products range from dog toys to key chains and mini chalkboards.

Junior Hanna Houtakker said she saw her role as a guide to help fine-tune her fifth-grade partners ideas. I just kind of help them put it into words, she

said.

Fifth-grader Jazmin Alvico said she appreciated the help. Shes being creative. Shes helping me and giving me some ideas, Jazmin said.

Fifth-grader Elliott Lapin, who was getting help marketing his pillows with emoji symbols, said it is the first time he has been at the high school, but the collaboration is just one example of Sugar Creek students visiting the nearby high school.

Kroetz said some of the high school students are former pupils of hers.

Young adults can be some of the best teachers, and the process can get students to start thinking about high school, she said.

We were talking about how our schools are physically segregated by age and how can we bridge that gap, Kroetz said about the start of the partnership.

Makovec said the collaboration with Kroetzs class gets refined each year.

Its just a good opportunity for kids to work together, she said.
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For a mayor intent on curbing new liquor licenses, the Madison Childrens Museum would seem like the last place Paul Soglin would want to allow drinking.

But as the museum, 100 N. Hamilton St., revisits a liquor license application it submitted and withdrew in 2012, Soglin said he wont stand in its way.

Im not going to fight it, he said, adding that he and the Madison City Council are clearly not aligned on the issuance of liquor licenses. Im going to pick and choose my battles and my main objective is to curtail the spread of liquor licenses that are destroying the Downtown and neighborhood retail base.

Soglin said hell stay focused on that. And, when it comes to liquor licenses for nonprofits like the museum, he said he will also remain against them.

In 2012, Soglin vetoed a liquor license for Goodman Community Center, which the council voted unanimously to override. Soglin called the license incompatible with a community center oriented toward children.

We saw what happened when I opposed the liquor license for the Goodman Community Center and so Im going to expend my energy elsewhere, Soglin said about the new Childrens Museum application, which goes before the Alcohol License Review Committee Wednesday and the council Jan. 3.

While the museums mission is centered on children and families, it has had a lot of success with its after-hours events geared toward adults, during which its in-house restaurant partner, The Roman Candle, has had to jump through hoops to sell alcohol. The restaurant is applying for the license to be used in the space after-hours.

In the past year, the museum has held 71 catered events and is projecting to hold about 80 in 2017, said the museums president and CEO, Debbie Gilpin.

Since The Roman Candle doesnt have a liquor license for the museum location, it cant offer cash bars on-site for weddings, fundraisers and private parties. Most events need to be open bar, with the client buying all alcohol ahead of time and guests drinking for free the whole evening. Theres an exception for nonprofit organizations, which can qualify for a picnic license through the city.

A cash bar in the place of an open bar would deter excess drinking, museum officials emphasized.

Think about, for instance, a business hosting a party here, Gilpin said. You can see why they wouldnt want the cost and liability of providing an open bar.

Its a problem most of the museums competitors for parties and other events dont have, The Roman Candle owner Brewer Stouffer said, naming venues like the Overture Center, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the Central Library.

The license will effectively increase our competitiveness with other area venues, Stouffer said.

The museum avoids the open bar problem for its Adult Swim events by using temporary, one-day licenses. The social events draw about 500 adults six to eight times a year.

The Roman Candle would not serve alcohol while children are at play in the museum, and would use the license only from 5 p.m. until midnight, or outside of the museums operating hours.

Alcohol would not be available during Free Family Nights or other public evening events focused on children and families.

Events play a vital role in the ongoing daily operation of the museum, said J. Belmont, the museum's facility rental coordinator. The revenue from birthday parties and other events literally keep the lights on.

In 2012, the ALRC recommended approval for The Roman Candles license, but museum officials feared it wouldnt pass the council because of some opposition at the state level. It voluntarily withdrew its application. Our current approach seems to satisfy the state, said Jonathan Zarov, the museums director of marketing and communications.

All rental revenue goes toward making the museum the best it can be for children, Gilpin said. When people of any age or background play together they strengthen their bonds and develop social skills that are especially important in these times.

[Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a correction. The original misattributed this quote by J. Belmont, the museum's facility rental coordinator: Events play a vital role in the ongoing daily operation of the museum. The revenue from birthday parties and other events literally keep the lights on.]
Over the years, the Commemorative Air Force has owned and operated five different PBY Catalinas, but unfortunately the type has so far not enjoyed much longevity with the organization with PBY-6A Bu.64000 being written off in a crash in 1975; PBY-5A Bu.46590 succumbing to corrosion in 1984 (and now parted out); PBY-6A Bu.63998 being written off in an accident in 1986; and in a bizarre twist of fate, PBY-6A Bu.64097 was flipped on its back in a heavy storm in May, 1998. Her replacement, PBY-6A Bu.64092, flew for a few years while still in its firebomber configuration, but again, significant fuselage corrosion grounded her as well.

However, the CAF has never given up on the Catalina, which played such a crucial role in WWII, both in long-range reconnaissance and U-boat suppression, not to mention Air Sea Rescue and other vital activities. The CAFs Lake Superior Squadron, based in Duluth, Minnesota, is currently hard at work restoring a PBY back to flying condition. They are doing something radical, and probably never before attempted outside of the military. They are rebuilding the damaged, but relatively corrosion-free fuselage of Bu.64097 and replacing the crumpled wing with that from their other former fire bomber, Bu.64092. It is a massive undertaking, but the team has made remarkable progress since the project began in 2009. They have already grafted the two aircraft together and are well on the way to forming one airworthy airframe. Since the fuselage came from Bu.64097, that will be the identity of the completed aircraft.

We are grateful to the CAF Lake Superior Squadron for providing us the following series of photographs and captions to show some of the progress so far.

The above three images show the left wing trailing edge where the aileron attaches. This section is now in the process of being recovered. The right side is currently being soda blasted. Then comes an inspection checking for damage that needs to be repaired or replaced. Then the area will be painted Zinc chromate for corrosion prevention. Then comes the fabric covering.

The above picture shows one of the center section trailing edges. After the outer sections are finished the large inner sections will undergo the same treatment the outer sections had. Altogether there are four of these large parts, but it will be easier to work on them than the outside parts due to their large flat surfaces as compared to the multiple curves and aileron attachment points to work around on the outer panels.

The above three images show the trailing edge being test-fitted to the wing. The team is checking to make sure everything still fits properly before covering the section with fabric.

The above two images show the tail section minus the control surfaces. This area was completely destroyed by the wind storm at Fleming Field in St Paul MN. The fabric covered controls are finished and are now stored awaiting their mounting as one of the last parts of the restoration.

The above three images show the interior of the aircraft. There isnt a lot to see here just yet as most of the insides were been removed for restoration, including the floorboards. There is a strong chance that this area will be painted this summer.

The above two images show the R-1830 engines. Rebuilding these will be the last effort in the restoration, although the Squadron does periodically manually turn the engines through to keep them lubricated. They will probably undergo their restoration sometime this summer.

The final two images show the rear wing spar where the trailing edges will go once their restoration is complete. This area will be stripped, inspected and painted before the trailing edge sections are attached.

Since its participation in the 12 Planes of Christmas Program last year, the PBY project has received a much needed boost. The money donated was used to purchase sheet metal for patching key areas of the aircrafts skin, particularly where corrosion was presenting a challenge. Paint was also purchased for the aircrafts entire upper and lower surfaces to prevent any additional corrosion issues.

AAR Corp, a large aircraft repair facility, has committed to refurbishing the aircrafts tail. The Lake Superior Colleges School for Aviation will be using the aircraft to teach students how to inspect for corrosion, and will also be working on the aircrafts fire walls. The squadron itself continues to work on the iconic wing, needing funds to purchase its fabric covering, and additional soda to blast parts of the wing structure.

One of the key parts they are currently searching for is a crucial bolt which holds the wing on. The bolt they have needs to be re-plated or replaced to bring it back to the correct diameter to safely hold the wing in flight.

Vision

When the aircraft is completed it will fill a vital role in the CAFs national aircraft collection, telling the story of the brave men who used these aircraft in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, as a patrol aircraft, rescue platform, torpedo and night bomber.

To support the Lake Superior Squadrons PBY in the 2016 12 Planes of Christmas Campaign click HERE.

And thats where we are today. Many thanks to Kevin Parks of the CAF Lake Superior Squadron for showing us all the hard work which has occurred. WarbirdsNews will bring our readers more details as they occur. For those interested in volunteering or contributing to the project, please do click HERE to find out how to contact the Lake Superior Squadron.

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CHICAGO  The Clinton Democratic left has created a vast mind palace, an artificial world where they may craft a safe space, protected from post-traumatic Trump (election) disorder.

In this pleasant mind palace of theirs, where they dont have to address Democratic failings, Hillary Clintons many faults and stupendous strategic blunders, two things stand out:

The CIA is now the lefts champion of truth and beauty.

And Russia, once the friend of the useful American left, is now its enemy.

Much of this has been kick-started again by a story in The Washington Post saying that the CIA  according to anonymous sources  has concluded that Russia hacked into Democratic emails to help elect Republican Donald Trump.

The FBI, reportedly, disagrees with some findings. And the Reuters news service reports that the Office of National Intelligence, the group that oversees the U.S. spy community, will not embrace the CIA assessment for a lack of evidence.

Its also emboldened outgoing Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, the clean-faced prince of sincerity from Nevada, to all but accuse FBI Director James Comey of being a Russian agent for not publicly investigating the allegations about Russian hacking as Reid would like.

I think (Comey) should be investigated by the Senate, he should be investigated by other agencies of the government, including the security agencies, Reid said in an interview with MSNBC. I am so disappointed in Comey. He has let the country down for partisan purposes.

Have you no decency, senator?

And Id like to add, Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?

But thats been said before. And Sen. Reid knows it.

Only a short time ago, many on the left hated the CIA and thought the American intelligence service to be evil, a vast secret bureaucracy bent on destabilizing other governments and engineering foreign elections.

And many of these who now use the CIA as their champion have long insisted that Russia was not the enemy, that the Russians were misunderstood by war-mongering conservative troglodytes bent on bankrupting the country by selling weapons to the military industrial complex.

Anyone who thought Russia was the problem was to be mocked by the media and other political wits.

The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back, President Barack Obama famously quipped at 2012 challenger Republican Mitt Romney, who dared suggest Russia was a problem, because ... the Cold Wars been over for 20 years.

Obama smirked, like some Hollywood actor playing a duelist after that final lunge of victory. And his line about Russia was repeated again and again, and fashioned by his favorite pundits into a pin.

Romney was ridiculed, left to wriggle on the pin like that spider on the board.

So the drumbeat continues for a congressional investigation. Given the seriousness of the charge, it sounds prudent to have an investigation, and Republicans and Democrats are calling for it.

If it were up to me, Id ask for a bipartisan commission, like the 9/11 Commission. They might even go back in time, to the Clinton-Gore Chinagate scandals of the 1990s, and lump China and Russia together, so that Americans may be primed into accepting more and more spending on defense contracts.

When China was thought to have tried to influence our politics through questionable donations to the Clinton-Gore campaign, the Democrats cried foul. During the hearings, the late Democratic Sen. John Glenn ran interference for the Clinton White House, and the old astronaut was rewarded with another trip to outer space.

Naturally, Trump angrily dismisses the CIA Russian hack story as ridiculous.

Trumps flip response is defensive and somewhat childish, and so typically Trump.

What he should have done is welcome an inquiry and continue to go about his business building a Cabinet.

But Trumps defensiveness is also understandable, since the Democrats arent using the Russia hack story to protect the republic. This is about Democrats  and Republicans  stripping legitimacy from the incoming president.

None of the hacked and leaked emails of Clinton campaign manager John Podesta and the Democratic National Committee were said to be untrue.

Not the rigging of the Democratic primaries for Clinton, nor the cozy relationship between the Clinton campaign and the media, not the release of her secret Wall Street speeches, including one in which she dreamed of open U.S. borders.

Podesta pleaded with Democratic presidential electors to consider the CIA story before casting their final votes for president Monday.

Vladimir Putin must be a devious fellow indeed. Hes so crafty that his hacks gave the popular vote to Clinton and the Electoral College to Trump. The Electoral College  a vote of the states  is how we do things here.

It might be also useful to remember the uproar of the campaign, when during the last Clinton-Trump debate, the Republican wouldnt immediately say hed concede if he lost the election.

That was the time when most (not all) analysts had Clinton running away with it, and they repeated again and again there was no path to victory for Trump.

We are a country based on laws, a horrified Clinton said. And weve had hot, contested elections going back to the very beginning, but one of our hallmarks has always been that we accept the outcomes of our elections.

Unless, of course, reality doesnt turn out as expected, and a mind palace must be created, a place so lovely that some never leave and lock the gates from the inside.
Shares on the local stock market are set for a lower open on Tuesday, with futures suggesting an eight point fall.

1. Europe: While Italy's leading bank Monte Paschi races to raise 5 billion euro of capital via placements, the Italian government will meet to authorise an increase to the national debt for a bailout package. Markets seem very comfortable that a resolution will be found over the coming weeks.

2. Currencies: Coming into the Christmas period the EURUSD appears to have lost the 105 handle with traders squaring up or reducing position size. The EURUSD has traded within a 0.7% range of 104.00 to 104.79 for the past 3 trading days.

with the USDJPY easing back under 118.00 after an extraordinary run over the past month, traders are looking to lock in profits before Christmas. Markets are divided on the outcome for USDJPY with 2017 estimates ranging from and even 100.00 to a high of 128.00.
Seven West Media has admitted that its chief executive Tim Worner had an inappropriate relationship with a 35-year-old personal assistant after the affair became public following the breakdown of legal negotiations.

Amber Harrison, a former executive assistant at Seven, has detailed claims about a consensual sexual relationship with Mr Worner for two years from 2012.

When the affair began, Ms Harrison was the executive assistant to Nick Chan, then CEO of Seven West's magazine division Pacific Magazines. Ms Harrison's statement contained salacious allegations about the affair with Mr Worner and detailed their time together on corporate retreats.

"The affair began the month after the [November 2012] board meeting at Pacific Magazines. We started flirting and soon after Tim began texting and emailing me for sex," Ms Harrison said.
Increasingly, we've come to acknowledge that some people who occupy the outer fringes of those character types have psychiatric disorders that stand in the way of their living the lives they want. At some point, the pronounced traits they've had from the start got nudged over an invisible line by age, adversity or life's escalating demands.

Too much of a good thing? There can be a fine line between positive traits, like creativity, and disorders. Credit:iStock

We used to call these people "worriers," "creative types," "eccentrics" or "loners." Like the rest of us, they seem to have come into the world with some recognisably fixed personality settings: They're friendly or moody or dreamy or disorganised. They're just more extremely so.

You don't need fancy genome-sequencing or brain-imaging equipment to know that some of the people we know and love are just a little, well, out there.

This notion - that mental illnesses are largely inborn personality traits that get pushed into extreme territory by life experience - has just gotten some high-tech confirmation from researchers at UC San Diego.

Aggregating the genetic profiles of close to 261,000 people, a UCSD team led by neuroscientist Chi-Hua Chen has identified six regions of the human genome that are significantly linked to specific personality traits. And when they compared the genetic regions linked to certain personality traits with the genetic sites that can be linked to certain psychiatric disorders, they found some remarkable points of overlap.

Take, for instance, "neuroticism," one of the "big five" personality traits that psychologists use to measure and describe the fixed behavioural tendencies that collectively make up our personalities. Someone who scores high in neuroticism is generally given to negative emotions such as sadness or anger or dread, whereas someone who scores low on this trait has a generally sunny disposition.

Psychologists have known for many years that high levels of neuroticism predispose a person to depression and anxiety. But Chen and her team found that, in the huge population for which they had detailed genetic information, the places on the genome where variations predicted neuroticism were the same places where variations appeared that were linked to major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder.

The UCSD team also found a link between extraversion - a tendency to be talkative, friendly and highly social - and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Several of the sites on the genome that Chen's team found to be associated with extraversion were the same sites that genetic studies have linked to ADHD.
Recently, comedian Margaret Cho revealed that actress Tilda Swinton reached out to her over the controversy surrounding her casting as The Ancient One  originally an Asian character in the comics  in Marvel's Doctor Strange. In the TigerBelly podcast where she talked about this, Cho joked that the exchange made her feel like a "house Asian", someone summoned to the heel of a powerful white master to serve in some capacity.

In response to Cho's description of a contentious exchange, Swinton's reps released all the emails the two shared, evidently to show the discussion was cordial. The implicit message, made explicit in the coverage that followed, was clear: Cho is a liar grandstanding for attention.

It is particularly revealing that the substance of the conversation has not been the focus of the debate so much as the framing of it. Cho described it as a fight, whereas the emails show it was actually a polite discussion. It ought to go without saying that comedy involves exaggeration to highlight the problems or strangeness in a given situation. It ought to go without saying that people of colour are used to laughing off pain.

Of course Cho was polite in her emails; if people of colour weren't polite every time we're confronted with problematic behaviour by powerful white people, we'd be rioting every hour of every day.
Hours after Katrina Ploy was last seen alive, and not long before her belongings were found at a notorious suicide spot, she paid a visit to a tattoo parlour owned by an ex-bikie.

Further details emerged about the final hours of the 25-year-old's life as police announced on Monday a $100,000 reward in the Sydney murder case.

Katrina Ploy's clothes, handbag and car were found on December 18, 2006.

Ms Ploy spent December 17, 2006, with her sister and mother at a race meeting in Hawkesbury before leaving her parents house in Seven Hills that night at 5pm.

At 10.40pm her car was recorded travelling through the Cross City Tunnel in the city's east.
Nine News Perth reporter Alice Pooley said two men were assisting police with their inquiries.

The woman's body was discovered at 4am at a property on St Vincent Street in Bedfordale.

A 35-year-old woman has been found dead inside a house at a rural estate in Perth's south-east on Monday morning.

A man armed with a knife has threatened a female postal worker in Kingston at lunch time on Monday. Credit:Marina Neil/Fairfax Media

"The house has been cordoned off, it is a crime scene," she said.

"It's a bit of a mystery what's happened to her, a short time after her body was discovered, her car was also discovered but it was about a 10 minute drive away and it had sustained some front-end damage."

More to come...
Multiple shark sightings have forced swimmers out the water at Cottesloe and City Beach. Credit:Max Mason Hubers

City Beach and Cottesloe Beach were closed on Monday morning after a three metre and 2.5 metre unknown species of shark and a 1.5 metre hammerhead were spotted by the Surf Life Saving Westpac helicopter.

Multiple shark sightings have forced swimmers out of the water at two popular Perth beaches for the third consecutive day.

A member of the public also reported seeing an unknown species of shark chasing fish in the Swan River near Como Beach at 11am.

The beach closures come after Trigg and Scarborough beaches were closed on Sunday, and Floreat and City Beach were closed on Saturday - all due to shark sightings.

Saturday's closures were sparked by a three metre tiger shark spotted close to shore shortly after a local fisherman caught two of the sharks in just two hours and returned them to the water.

A three-metre tiger shark was also spotted 100 metres from shore at Trigg Beach on Sunday, prompting its closure.

On the same day, Premier Colin Barnett launched Perth's first state government-funded $1 million swimming enclosure at Sorrento Beach.
A 101-year-old paedophile has been jailed in Britain for 13 years for committing a string of sex offences against young children in the 1970s and 80s.

Retired truck driver Ralph Clarke had already been warned to expect a significant custodial sentence for 17 offences of indecent assault, 11 of indecency with a child and two attempted serious sexual assaults.

Clarke, believed to be the oldest person ever convicted by a jury in Britain, pleaded guilty to nine offences relating to a male victim partway through a two-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Judge Richard Bond QC said despite Clarke's age, he showed no remorse.

"You present as a fragile old man; however, what was plain to see was that, despite your guilty pleas, you have no remorse whatsoever," Mr Bond said.
NASA experts have advised Chilean officials to be frank with 33 miners trapped underground about how long their rescue will take, as a drill slowly burrowed toward the desperate men.

The owners of the Chilean mine begged for ''forgiveness for the anguish'' caused by the collapse on August 5 of the San Jose gold and copper mine, which sealed in the miners 700 metres under the earth.

''This is a terrible situation, and we hope that it will soon come to a happy end,'' Alejandro Bohn, co-chief of the San Esteban mining group, told a parliamentary committee looking into the 26-day-old drama.

He denied any negligence on the company's part in implementing safety regulations at the San Jose mine, near Copiapo, north of the Chilean capital Santiago, and said all the mine's inspection documents were in order before the cave-in.

Rescuers said it would take three to four months for a 27-tonne hydraulic drill to chew through the rock to the miners.
Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov makes an address at the gallery moments before he is shot by Mevlut Mert Altintas, seen in the background. Credit:AP Attacker a Turkish police officer Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan identified the attacker as 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, who had worked for Ankara riot police for two and a half years. CNN Turk TV said police had detained his sister and mother in the south-western Turkish province of Aydin following the shooting. Security sources said he was off duty and some witnesses said there was no security scanning machine at the entrance. There were also unconfirmed reports he was part of the ambassador's security detail or that he was posing as a member of the security team. Turkish police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas shoots and kills Andrei Karlov Russian Ambassador to Turkey. Credit:AP

Soylu also said that three other people were wounded in the attack, none seriously, and that one had been released already. "We regard this as a terrorist act," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. "Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively." Karlov speaks at the Ankara gallery before the shooting. Credit:Burhan Ozbilici It was not clear whether the gunman was a lone operator, driven perhaps by popular discontent over Russian action in Syria or affiliated to a group like Islamic State. Supporters of President Erdogan were quick to draw a connection to July's attempted coup against Erdogan, which was followed by a purge of tens of thousands of suspected political opponents.

People react after the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot dead at a photo gallery in Ankara. Credit:AP A senior security official said there were "very strong signs" the gunman belonged to the network of the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says orchestrated the failed coup in July. Erdogan has denounced Gulen as a terrorist, but the cleric, a former ally, denies the accusation. The mayor of Ankara, Ibrahim Melih Gokcek, who is from Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, claimed the shooter was a Gulen follower. A child is helped after the the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot at a photo exhibition in Ankara. Credit:AP Gulen described the killing as a "heinous act of terror" that pointed to a deterioration of security in Turkey resulting from Erdogan's wideranging purge of police as well as the army, judiciary and media following the coup bid.

The government says Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999, created a "parallel network" in the police, military, judiciary and civil service aimed at overthrowing the state. Turkish police secure the area outside where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot. Credit:Getty Images Turkey has been hit by a series of attacks in recent years blamed on groups including the Islamic State and Kurdish separatists, who have battled the government for decades for greater autonomy in Turkey's southeastern regions. Russia and Turkey's troubled relationship The attack appeared to represent the latest violent spillover of the Syrian conflict into neighbouring Turkey. Suicide bombings linked to the fighting in Syria have become almost commonplace in Turkey, often causing mass casualties, but this was the first deadly attack on a senior diplomat that was seemingly motivated by the brutal and multi-sided war next door.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after the Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov's assassination earlier on Monday. Credit:AP Russia and Turkey, which have both intervened militarily in Syria, are on opposite sides of the conflict. Russian firepower has helped Syrian President Bashar al-Assad cling to power and recapture opposition-held east Aleppo; Turkey has allied itself with some of the rebels seeking to topple him. It has long sought Assad's ouster and has been repairing ties with Moscow after shooting down a Russian warplane over Syria last year. The shooting incident raises concerns about the Turkish police force currently being purged after a failed July coup. The gunman was an off-duty policeman. Credit:AP Erdogan said on Monday he had agreed in a telephone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin that their cooperation and solidarity in fighting terrorism should be even stronger after the killing of the Russian ambassador.

Erdogan called the killing a clear provocation aimed at damaging relations between Turkey and Russia at a time of normalisation. Turkish police outside the art gallery where Andrei Karlov was shot and killed. Credit:Getty Images The assassination came on the heels of near-daily protests outside the Russian Embassy in Ankara as well as the consulate in Istanbul. Thousands of Turks and Syrians have been holding rallies at the Russian diplomatic outposts, along with the Iranian Consulate and Embassy, over the two governments' war roles in support of Assad. They have escalated amid reports of heavy civilian casualties in Aleppo during the recapture of the city's eastern sector from the rebels. Scores of Turkish police were deployed at a protest last week at the Russian consulate on Istanbul's main central avenue that drew thousands. Protesters chanted "Putin, murderer! Russia, murderer! You will get your punishment!" Adding to the tension, there were reports of gunshots fired near the US. Embassy in Ankara, and the State Department warned Americans to avoid the area.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to meet with his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Russia on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Syria. Officials said the meeting would still go on, despite the attack. Soylu said it would not allow the attack to cast a shadow over Ankara's relations with Moscow. "The attack comes at a bad time: Moscow and Ankara have only recently restored diplomatic ties after Turkey downed a Russian aircraft in November 2015," the Stratfor think-tank said. "Though the attack will strain relations between the two countries, it is not likely to rupture them altogether." The US State Department, involved in diplomatic contacts with Russia in an attempt to resolve a refugee crisis unfolding around the city of Aleppo, condemned the attack.

Turkey has been hit by a series of attacks in recent years blamed on groups including the Islamic State and Kurdish separatists, who have battled the government for decades for greater autonomy in Turkey's southeastern regions. The involvement of a police officer in Monday's attack could also raise questions for Erdogan about a force denuded now of a number of senior and rank-and-file officers. World leaders outraged Ambassador Karlov started his diplomatic career during the Soviet era in 1976 and had previously served at Russian embassies in Seoul and Pyongyang, North Korea. He took the post in Ankara in July 2013, according to the embassy's website. The United States Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power described the attack as "savage."

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also tweeted his shock. US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the killing and offered help with the investigation. Loading
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a sermon in 2012 beside a portrait of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the figurehead of the Iranian Revolution. Credit:Anonymous The revolutionaries encouraged all Muslims - especially Saudis - to overthrow autocratic rulers as well. But because Iran is mostly Shiite, they "had the greatest influence with, and tended to reach out to, Shiite groups", Pollack said. Some Saudi Shiites, who make up about 10 per cent of the population, protested in solidarity or even set up offices in Tehran - stoking Saudi fears of internal unrest and separatism. This was the opening shot in the sectarianisation of their political rivalry. "The Saudis have looked at Iran as a domestic threat from the get-go, from 1979," Gause said. Seeing the threat as intolerable, they began looking for a way to strike back.

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein greets Donald Rumsfeld, then special envoy of US president Ronald Reagan, in Baghdad on December 20, 1983. 1980-88: The first proxy war They found it the next year, when Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Iran, hoping to seize oil-rich territory. Saudi Arabia, Pollack said, "backed the Iraqis to the hilt because they want the Iranian revolution stopped". The war, over eight years of trench warfare and chemical weapons attacks, killed perhaps 1 million people. It set a pattern of Iranian-Saudi struggle through proxies, and of sucking in the United States, whose policy is to maintain access to the vast oil and gas reserves that lie between the rivals.

The conflict exhausted Iran's zeal for sowing revolution abroad, but gave it a new mission: to overturn the Saudi-led, US-backed regional order that Tehran saw as an existential threat. That sense of insecurity would later drive Iran's meddling abroad, said Marc Lynch, a political scientist at George Washington University, and perhaps its missile and nuclear programs. 1989-2002: Setting up a powder keg Saudi Arabia, wishing to contain Iran's reach to the region's minority Shiite populations, sought to harden Sunni-Shiite rifts. Government programs promoted "anti-Shiite incitement in schools, Islamic universities, and the media", Toby Matthiesen, an Oxford University scholar, wrote in a brief for the Carnegie Endowment. These policies, Matthiesen warned, cultivated fears and violence that would later feed into the ideology of Islamic State.

In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, a Saudi ally. The United States, after expelling the Iraqis, established military bases in the region to defend its allies from Iraq. This further tilted the regional power balance against Iran, which saw the US forces as a threat. Iraq's humiliating defeat also spurred many of its citizens to rise up, particularly in poorer communities that happened to be Shiite Arab. Over time Saddam's regime moved from secular Baathism to sectarianism. Credit:AP In response, Gause said, "Saddam's regime became explicitly sectarian", widening Sunni-Shiite divides to deter future uprisings. That allowed Iran, still worried about Iraq, to cultivate allies among Iraq's increasingly disenfranchised Shiites, including militias that had risen up. Though it was not obvious at the time, Iraq had become a powder keg, one that would ignite when its government was toppled a decade later.

2003-04: The Iraqi vacuum opens The 2003 US-led invasion, by toppling an Iraqi government that had been hostile to both Saudi Arabia and Iran, upended the region's power balance. Iran, convinced that the US and Saudi Arabia would install a pliant Iraqi government - and remembering the horrors they had inflicted on Iran in the 1980s - raced to fill the postwar vacuum. Its leverage with Shiite Arabs, Iraq's largest demographic group, allowed it to influence Baghdad politics. Iran also wielded Shiite militias to control Iraqi streets and undermine the US-led occupation. But sectarian violence took on its own inevitable momentum, hastening the country's slide into civil war. An Iraqi special forces vehicle carries a Shiite flag near Mosul in November. Credit:AP

Saudi Arabia sought to match Iran's reach but, after years of oppressing its own Shiite population, struggled to make inroads with Shiites in Iraq. Saudi Arabia's strategy for containing Iran - fostering sectarianism and aligning itself with the region's Sunni majority - had backfired. As Sunni governments collapsed and Sunni militias turned to jihadism, Riyadh would be left with few reliable proxies. Saudi Arabia and Iran then sought to counterbalance each other through another weak state: Lebanon. 2005-10: A new kind of proxy war Lebanon provided the perfect opening: a frail democracy recovering from civil war, with parties and lingering militias primarily organised by religion.

Iran and Saudi Arabia exploited those dynamics, waging a new kind of proxy struggle "not on conventional military battlefields", Gause said, but "within the domestic politics of weakened institutional structures". Iran, for instance, supported Hezbollah, the Shiite militia and political movement, which it had earlier cultivated to use against Israel. Riyadh, in turn, funnelled money to political allies such as the Sunni former prime minister, Rafiq Hariri. By competing along Lebanon's religious lines, they helped drive the Lebanese government's frequent breakdowns, as parties relied on foreign backers who wanted to oppose one another more than build a functioning state. Rescue workers stand around a massive crater after a bomb attack that killed Lebanese leader Rafiq Hariri in Beirut on February 14, 2005. Credit:AP As the foreign powers escalated their antagonism, Lebanon's dysfunction spiralled into violence. In 2005, after Hariri called for the withdrawal of Iranian-backed Syrian troops, he was assassinated. (Hezbollah has long been suspected.)

Another political crisis, in 2008, culminated with Hezbollah overpowering Sunni militias to seize much of Beirut. Saudi Arabia requested US air cover, according to a WikiLeaks cable, for a pan-Arab force to retake the city. Though the intervention never materialised, the episode was a dress rehearsal for the turmoil that would soon come to the wider region. 2011-14: The implosion When the Arab Spring toppled governments across the Middle East, many of them Saudi allies, Riyadh feared that Iran would again fill the vacuums. So it rushed to close them, at times with force. It promised billions in aid to Jordan, Yemen, Egypt and others, often urging those governments to crack down. After pro-democracy protesters rose up in Bahrain, a Saudi ally whose Sunni king rules over a majority Shiite population, Saudi Arabia sent 1200 troops to shore up the regime. A Bahraini protester holds up a picture of Saudi Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr confronting a riot police officer in Bahrain in January 2016. Qatar is out of step with its neighbours on the question of Iran, which has championed Shiite rights in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Bahrain. Credit:AP

In Egypt, Saudi Arabia tacitly supported a 2013 coup, seeing the military as a more reliable ally than the democratically elected Islamist government it replaced. As Libya fell into civil war, it backed a hard-line general's drive to consolidate control. Though Iran has little influence in either country, Saudi Arabia's fear of losing ground to Iran made it fight harder to retain influence wherever it could, analysts believe. Syria, an Iranian ally, reversed the usual dynamic. Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Sunni states steered money and arms to rebels, including Sunni Islamists. Iran intervened in turn, sending officers and later Hezbollah to fight on behalf of Syria's government. Their interventions helped lock Syria in the ever-worsening stalemate that has killed more than 400,000 people. 2015-16: 'What is wrong with you people?'

US President Barack Obama has urged Iran and Saudi Arabia "to find an effective way to share the neighbourhood and institute some sort of cold peace", he told The Atlantic. But Lynch called this plan for "a self-regulating equilibrium" between the two powers "far-fetched". The nuclear agreement with Iran, instead of calming Saudi nerves, hit on fears that "the United States wants to abandon them in order to ally with Iran", Lynch said, calling that belief "crazy" but widespread. US Secretary of State John Kerry with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Vienna earlier this year. Credit:AP Pollack said he often heard Sunni Arab leaders express this as a metaphor: "They would say, 'What is wrong with you people? You have this good, loving, loyal wife in us, and this crazy mistress in Iran. You don't understand how bad she is for you, and yet you endlessly run off to her the moment that she winks at you'," he recounted.

The White House looked for other ways to reassure Saudi leaders, facilitating arms sales and overlooking Saudi Arabia's anti-democratic actions in Egypt and Bahrain. Then came Yemen. A rebel group with loose ties to Iran ousted the Saudi-backed president, deepening Riyadh's fears. Saudi Arabia launched a bombing campaign that inflicted horror on civilians but accomplished little else. The assault receives heavy US support, though the United States has few interests in Yemen other than counter-terrorism. In exchange, Riyadh acquiesced to the Iran deal and began to follow Washington's lead on Syria. But the underlying proxy war remained. A future of 'failed and failing' states Asked when the Iran-Saudi struggle might cool, Pollack said he doubted that it would: "Where we're headed with the Middle East is the current trend extrapolated, with more failed and failing governments."

A boy with fake blood on his face and clothes to represent a victim participates in a protest against Saudi-led airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) Credit:AP In Yemen, this is "reorganising Yemeni society along sectarian lines and rearranging people's relationships to one another on a non-nationalist basis", Farea al-Muslimi, an analyst, wrote in a Carnegie Endowment paper, which cited similar trends across the region. Continued crises will risk sucking in the US again, Lynch said, adding that no US president was likely to persuade Saudi Arabia or Iran to stay out of regional conflicts that it saw as potentially existential threats. President-elect Donald Trump will enter office having echoed Saudi Arabia's view of the region. Iran "took over Iraq", he said at a rally in January: "They're going to have Yemen. They're going to have Syria. They're going to have everything." Gause said he doubted that any administration could reset the Middle East's power struggles.
Warsaw: Poland's government sought to defuse a confrontation over media freedom that European Union President Donald Tusk criticised as a threat to the continent's democratic order.

The ruling Law & Justice party shelved a plan to limit journalists' access to legislative proceedings after three days of protests on the streets and inside parliament. While the government pledged to meet with media representatives to discuss new coverage rules, the opposition urged its supporters to keep up the pressure with daily demonstrations.

People shout slogans as anti-government protesters gather in front of the Constitutional Court in Warsaw, Poland. Credit:AP

Since winning power a year ago, Law & Justice has been accused by EU leaders of eroding the rule of law, a concern that helped trigger Poland's first credit downgrade by S&P Global Ratings. Mr Tusk, who served as prime minister before taking the bloc's top job in 2014, warned that democracy was being threatened across Europe.

"Democracy in which one deprives people of access to information and imposes one style of life becomes as unbearable as a dictatorship," Mr Tusk said during a rare speech dedicated to Polish politics on Saturday. "Today, the European tradition of freedom is being undermined and attacked for various reasons and from various places. That's why, in this critical moment, it requires our special care, even tenderness."
Firefighters load an injured person into an ambulance after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market. Credit:AP Berlin police said on Twitter they were investigating leads that the truck had been stolen from a construction site in Poland. German media cited local security sources as saying that there was evidence suggesting the arrested suspect was from Afghanistan or Pakistan, and had entered Germany in February as a refugee. A police officer stands guard after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin. Credit:AP The crash occurred at what would have been one of the most crowded times for the market, when adults and children would be gathering in the traditional cluster of wooden huts that sell food and Christmas goods.

The market is situated near the fashionable avenue Kurfuerstendamm, and at the foot of the ruined Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church that was kept as a ruin after World War II. Police guard a Christmas market in Berlin, after a truck ploughed into the crowd. Credit:AP Australian woman Trisha O'Neill was in the square at the time, and described seeing "blood and bodies everywhere". The 24-year-old Brisbane woman, who moved to Germany in September, was sitting nearby drinking gluhwein with friends when the truck crashed into the square. Emergency services attend the scene, after a truck ran into crowds at a Christmas market in Berlin. Credit:AP

"I just saw this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people and then all the lights went out and everything was destroyed," she told the ABC. "I could hear screaming and then we all froze. Then suddenly people started to move and lift all the wreckage off people, trying to help whoever was there." Ms O'Neill said she burst into tears when she saw how many people, including children, were laying on the ground. "I never thought I would see something like this in my life," she said. "I'm shaking and scared. It all just happened so fast."

The truck belongs to a Polish trucking company, its owner Ariel Zurawski told Poland's TVN 24 broadcaster, adding that its driver had been transporting steel to Berlin and had not been reachable since 4pm, local time. The Berliner Morgenpost newspaper reported that up to 50 people were injured. "I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos ... many injured people," Jan Hollitzer, deputy editor in chief of Berliner Morgenpost, told CNN. "It was really traumatic."

Emma Rushton, a tourist visiting Berlin, told CNN the truck seemed to be travelling at about 65km/h. Asked how many were injured, she said that as she walked back to her hotel, she saw at least 10 people injured. Julian Reichelt, editor in chief of Bild in Berlin, said that there was currently a massive security operation under way. The incident evoked memories of an attack in France in July, when Tunisian-born Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel drove a 19-tonne truck along the beach front, mowing down people who had gathered to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day, killing 86 people.

Police shot the driver dead in the Nice attack, which was claimed by Islamic State. "The scene certainly looks like a reminder of what we have seen in Nice," Reichelt said of the situation in Berlin. Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller said it was "a shock for us all." "In these times, it's truly difficult to experience something like our friends in other cities have experienced in recent months or years," he said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was being briefed on the incident by Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and the mayor of Berlin, a government spokesman said.

"We mourn for the dead and hope that the many injured can be helped," Steffen Seibert, Merkel's chief spokesman, said in a Twitter statement. German police urged people in Berlin to stay at home to keep rescue routes to Breitscheidplatz free. There were no indications of "further dangerous situations in the city", police said. US President-elect Donald Trump condemned what he called an attack, linking it to "Islamist terrorists". It was not immediately clear whether any Australians were caught up in the incident.

The Department of Foreign Affairs advised Australian travellers to avoid the market area in Berlin where the crash occurred, but the overall level of advice for Germany remained unchanged. Travellers there are advised to exercise normal safety precautions and be aware of the increased threat of terrorism. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull extended condolences to the families of those killed, and said he had been in touch with Australia's ambassador Germany and the Australian Federal Police following the crash. "We are very attentive to events internationally to ensure that we learn from them and make sure that we put measures in place to anticipate similar occurrences here," he said on Tuesday. Anyone concerned about the welfare of Australians in Berlin can call the department on 1300 555 135 or the embassy in Berlin on 03 0880 0880.
Washington: The liberal group MoveOn.org is out with a stunning new poll of its members: 94 per cent want the organisation to launch an effort to get the electoral college to reject Donald Trump as president.

This may surprise you, but this is not a representative sample. Not of the American public, and not even of Democrats or liberals.

Yes, the electoral college still technically has the means to block Trump's path to the Oval Office - at least temporarily - when it meets on Monday. But not even Democrats are that strongly on board with the idea.

A new CBS News poll suggests only 37 per cent of Americans approve of the idea that electoral college voters should be able to vote for someone other than the rightful winner of their state and votes; 57 per cent disapprove of this idea. As you might expect, Democrats are more willing to cast aside protocol and have electors vote their consciences. (After all, doing so could theoretically still mean their candidate, Hillary Clinton, has a shot at becoming president.) But even they are only meh. While 51 per cent say they approve of the idea of "faithless electors," 44 per cent do not.
The Harmonized System (HS) 2017 Edition enters into force on 1 January 2017. However, work on the next set of amendments, which is scheduled for implementation in 2022 (HS 2022), has already commenced and from 12 to 16 December 2016, the HS Review Sub-Committee met at WCO Headquarters in Brussels and considered a wide range of amendments to the HS submitted by HS Contracting Parties and international organizations. The agreed amendments to HS 2022 will be compiled over the next two years and submitted to the WCO Council for adoption in June 2019.

Half a day was devoted to a special session titled HS 2022 - Dialogue with stakeholders. During this session, representatives from the industry, Customs brokers and WCO Member administrations made presentations on various topics related to the updating of the HS Nomenclature. Representatives from the automotive and semiconductor industries explained trends in technology and future developments and the impact those may have on tariff classification in the future. A representative from the International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations explained the impact of HS changes on the business community, in particular the preparation for implementation, the challenges in relation to updating of internal systems and the importance of partnership with the national Customs administrations. Representatives from two WCO Members explained how they cooperate with industry with an attempt to update the HS Nomenclature in accordance with the needs of industry.

The Sub-Committee welcomed the presentations that provided good inspiration for its further work and for better interaction with the private sector.


Following a request for capacity building on post clearance audit (PCA), the WCO organized a successful Workshop for the East and Southern Africa (ESA) region at the Regional Training Centre (RTC) in Port Louis, Mauritius, from 28 November to 2 December 2016, with the financial support of the Japanese Customs Co-operation Fund (CCF).

A total of 23 middle management participants, representing 19 countries, attended the Workshop to improve the operations of their individual PCA units. The main purpose of this mission was to enhance participants technical knowledge through PCA presentations based on the principles laid down in the WCO PCA Guidelines, and by the analytical review of case studies presented by both the facilitators and the participants.

During his opening address, Mr. Sudhamo Lal, the Director General of the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), welcomed the Workshop attendees, and highlighted the importance of PCA, particularly its contribution to the modernization process underway in many Customs administrations worldwide.

The WCO PCA Guidelines, the Implementation Guidance on PCA and other tools comprised the main materials used during the Workshop, which covered pertinent topics such as Policy Management and PCA Operations, Audit Phases, and Resource Management and Challenges in PCA Implementation. These topics led to active discussions between the facilitators and the participants, which helped to further enhance the sharing and learning environment.

Some of the participants presented case studies on the policy, standard operating procedures and challenges that arise during audits. These sessions not only allowed participants to share experiences and techniques among one another, as well as suggest possible solutions, they also enabled the facilitators to provide the participants with further guidance based on approved WCO practices.

During the closing session, the participants provided positive feedback on the Workshop and indicated that they were enthusiastic about implementing the techniques that they had learnt once they returned to their respective administrations.
BAE Systems plc provides defense, aerospace, and security solutions worldwide. The company operates through five segments: Electronic Systems, Cyber & Intelligence, Platforms & Services (US), Air, and Maritime. The Electronic Systems segment offers electronic warfare systems, navigation systems, electro-optical sensors, military and commercial digital engine and flight controls, precision guidance and seeker solutions, military communication systems and data links, persistent surveillance systems, space electronics, and electric drive propulsion systems. The Cyber & Intelligence segment provides solutions to modernize, maintain, and test cyber-harden aircraft, radars, missile systems, and mission applications that detect and deter threats to national security; systems engineering, integration, and sustainment services for critical weapons systems, C5ISR, and cyber security; and solutions and services to intelligence and federal/civilian agencies. It also offers data intelligence solutions to defend against national-scale threats, protect their networks, and data against attacks; security and intelligence solutions to the United Kingdom government and allied international governments; anti-fraud and regulatory compliance solutions; and enterprise-level data and digital services. The Platforms & Services (US) segment manufactures combat vehicles, weapons, and munitions, as well as provides ship repair services and the management of government-owned munitions facilities. The Air segment develops, manufactures, upgrades, and supports combat and jet trainer aircraft. The Maritime segment designs, manufactures, and supports surface ships, submarines, torpedoes, radars, and command and combat systems; and supplies naval gun systems. It also supplies naval weapon systems, missile launchers, and precision munitions. The company was founded in 1970 and is based in Farnborough, the United Kingdom.
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The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V..

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DERIDDER -- Louisiana's second-largest "shovel ready" industrial mega site is located in Beauregard Parish.

State and regional economic development representatives joined with local officials Monday to announce the state's newest certified mega site -- nearly 1,200 acres of parish-owned airport property with access to a railroad spur, major highways, a 5,495-foot airport runway and on-site utilities.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson was of those attending the ribbon-cutting event at the New Life Baptist Church. He called it "a great day for the future."

"You've brought yourself to a whole new plane or platform here," he said.

Pierson said diversifying West Central Louisiana's economy has long been a goal of state and local officials.

"We want Fort Polk to be strong, but we also want all of the other elements of the economy to be strong in this part of our state. So, what do we do? We do a lot like what the Army does. Their product is readiness ... the phone rings, they go. Now, for Beauregard Parish, we want, when our phone rings and there's folks on the other end of the line that are looking at where can I locate a facility, we want to be ready to go. And what you've done here is taken a big step in that direction," he said.

According to the Louisiana Economic Development website, site certification is granted after "an extensive application process and exhaustive review," which includes aspects like identification, surveying and engineering. Certified sites are better marketed and for industries eyeing a new location, it means much of their initial legwork is done.

"What that certification means to that site selection consultant is that I don't have to come out to this site and suddenly find out we're not quite sure where the boundaries are, and oh yeah -- I forgot to tell you there's a big easement running right through the middle of it with an oil pipeline and did anybody ever stop and think about where we're going to get water, where we're going to get sewer and who is going to have the power hookups? All of these things are now documented on the shelf, ready-to-go when we have that opportunity," Pierson said.

George Swift, President/CEO of the SWLA Economic Development Alliance, said the process has been about eight years in the making and has involved numerous agencies -- the Beauregard Parish Police Jury, parish Airport Board, City of DeRidder and Chamber of Commerce, to name a few.

"Mayor (Ron) Roberts would always be the catalyst to keep me focused on this because every time I saw him, he would always mention something about the property," Swift said.

The total project cost about $130,000 to coordinate and was funded by the Alliance and state as well as business donations.

"We could not have done this without the state Department of Economic Development. We've been through several administrations, but the current administration got the job done, Gov. John Bel Edwards and Secretary Don Pierson," Swift said.

Beauregard Parish Police Jury President Rusty Williamson said parish officials are excited about the possibility of the jobs that an industry could bring.

"I'm excited about this ... it's a great opportunity for us to get some jobs here in Beauregard Parish, an opportunity for our children to stay at home, work and not have to go out-of-state. I just think it's a wonderful thing and it's a win-win for everybody associated with this," he said.

Some facts about the site:

Beauregard Airport Industrial Site

1120 1st Avenue, DeRidder

1,187.59 acres

Zoned industrial

KCS/Timber Rock Railroads with spur

U.S. 190/U.S. 171

1.3 miles/3.7 miles

5,495-foot runway

Enterprise Zone

On-site utilities

One of 60 mega sites located in the U.S.

Second largest mega site in Louisiana

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By West Kentucky Star Staff Dec. 19, 2016 | 03:36 PM | MAYFIELD, KY

In addition to the banks monetary Christmas donation to Murray and Calloway County Schools, FNBs Murray office also served as a dropoff location for the Towing for Toys  Toy Drive, which also contributed toys to the Tiger Christmas and Santa Project Christmas Assistance Programs.





During the month of December, FNB Bank made a $500 Christmas toy donation to two worthy charities on behalf of their customers and community members in Murray-Calloway County. Both the Laker Christmas Santa Project and Tiger Christmas split the toy donations to assist with their Christmas assistance programs.Giving back to our local charities is the best gift we can give during this holiday season, stated Angelique Starks, FNB Office Manager. Giving back is a great reminder of what the holiday season is truly about and how blessed we are to live in such an amazing community with programs that help those in need.
By The Associated Press Dec. 19, 2016 | 11:53 AM | FRANKFORT, KY

All eight of Kentucky's presidential electors have cast their ballots for Donald Trump, who won by a landslide in the Bluegrass state in November.

The state's members of the Electoral College met Monday in the Kentucky Supreme Court chambers at the State Capitol in Frankfort.

Presiding over the meeting was Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, a close friend of Democrat Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in last month's election. Electors from across the country were meeting Monday to cast ballots.

Several dozen anti-Trump protesters gathered on the front steps of the state capitol before the vote.

But after an hour-long ceremony, all eight of Kentucky's electors voted for Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence. Trump claimed more than 60 percent of the state's popular vote last month.
Rita Redmond was a true lady who felt that every pupil had something to gift to the world
PARDEE JOINS OTHER AREA HOSPITALS IMPOSING VISITOR RESTRICTIONS DUE TO FLU

THREE HAVE DIED SO FAR THIS FLU SEASON IN NORTH CAROLINA

COMPLETE DETAILS AVAILABLE AT hendersoncountyflu.org

Due to a sharp increase in influenza-like illnesses being reported by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the recent closings of several area schools due to influenza, most area hospitals have implemented visitor restrictions.

Officials with Pardee Hospital indicated that similar restrictions will likely be imposed soon.

In order to protect patients, visitors, providers and staff, the following restrictions are in place at Park Ridge Health.

 No hospital visitors under the age of 18 permitted.

 Visitors are limited to immediate family and clergy only.

 The number of visitors is limited to one or two at a time, unless special circumstances are presented.

 No hospital visitors with cough or other flu symptoms permitted.

The visitor restrictions will remain in place until the elevated risk for exposure to the flu returns to a normal level.

According to Kimberly Horton, communications director for the Henderson County Department of Public Health, the state report showed only a mild increase in flu activity this season, but there has not been a local increase at this time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone age 6 months and older get a flu vaccine every year by the end of October. However, vaccination should continue throughout the flu season, even in January or later.

Its not too late to get a flu shot, said Horton, especially at this time of the year when families are coming together, with the kids outside.

According to the CDC, flu symptoms include: a fever of 100 degrees or more, cough or sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches or body aches, chills fatigue as well as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Flu vaccines are available at the health departments immunization clinic on a walk-in basis only from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The department, at 1200 Spartanburg Highway, will be closed Dec. 23 and Dec. 26. Prices depend on insurance and the health department accepts cash, check and credit cards.

Flu surveillance data, updated weekly, is available at flu.nc.gov. To date there have been two flu-related deaths statewide this season, which began Oct. 2.

The Flu Vaccine Finder tool at vaccinefinder.org can help residents locate flu clinics in their area. More local and state information on this years flu season is available at hendersoncountyflu.org.
9/11 And The Invasion Of Iraq

9/11 And The Proxy War On Syria

9/11 AND THE GEO-POLITICAL TERRORISM

The United Nations, the United States, the West in general, and the mainstream media in particular, have little interest in hearing what Dr Bashar al-Ja'afari, Syria's Ambassador to the UN, has to say. In fact, they actively work to silence him or twist his words with the obvious intent of distorting reality and prolonging the proxy war on Syria.Recently, when the Schiller Institute hosted a conference in midtown Manhattan, on the eve of both the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the convening of the United Nations General Assembly, the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the UN dared to call out Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States for their role in funding and training terrorists in Syria. He also dared to call them out, as well as the UN, for being used as a vehicle for the West to justify their illegal airstrikes and military intervention in Syria. Neither his extraordinary speech nor his astounding revelations found any mentionSince there is evidence of lies and truths that the United States doesn't want you to know about  its association with the Islamic State and its continuous attempts to defame the reputation of Syria  it is imperative that Ambassador al-Ja'afari is heard loud and clear. Watch him expose the Western lies and share it if you think it can ruffle some feathers and make an impactIn case the video is blocked for obvious reasons, here are some of the outrageous claims made by al-Ja'afari in his 50-minute long address
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/12/2016 (2145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will sit down with reporters from The Canadian Press Ottawa Bureau. Follow this discussion as the PM reflects back on the events of 2016 and his first full year in office, and examines what lies ahead for Canada in 2017. The one-hour conversation will begin at approximately 2:15 p.m. ET.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/12/2016 (2145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lets have a show of hands  who knows what a planner does for the city and community in which you live?

Planners are skilled professionals who work to improve the quality and livability of Manitoba communities. Responsible planning is essential to the sustainability of safe and healthy urban and rural environments. The scope of planning work is broad and may include the conversion of land from natural habitats to urban built areas, the maintenance and use of natural resources and habitats and environmental protection. Planners are also engaged in the development and renewal of major infrastructure, and they work with communities to develop plans to help address local issues.

To build on this work undertaken by planners and to build greater assurance within the community, the Registered Professional Planners Act of Manitoba came into effect on Dec. 1. Now, only certified planners who are members of the Manitoba Professional Planners Institute can use the designation of registered professional planner in Manitoba. The planners institute has been charged with administering the new act, bringing Manitoba in line with five other provincial and territorial institutes and associations in Canada with similar legislation.

Planners are agents of change. They oversee the process of change in communities. While change is often associated with the pressures and impacts of growth and increasing urbanization, planners also engage in community revitalization and help communities adjust to declining or aging populations or deal with local issues such as homelessness.

Land-use designation is a traditional planning activity, but planners also design social and community services, manage cultural and heritage resources, help create economic capacity in local communities and address transportation and infrastructure needs.

Along with the Canadian Institute of Planners, the seven provincial and territorial institutes and associations are charged with regulating approximately 7,500 planning professionals in Canada. Canadian planners are required to meet common standards for certification. There are also national standards for the accreditation of recognized university planning programs, such as the master of city planning program offered at the University of Manitoba.

The Professional Standards Board is an arms-length body charged with certifying Canadian planners, including members of the Manitoba institute, ensuring membership standards are applied consistently and uniformly across the country. Because of this, membership is portable, which means certified planners in Manitoba can practise in any other province, subject to registering with the local association.

Why is this legislation important? First and foremost, institute members are required to adhere to ethical and professional standards detailed in the code of professional conduct. The act requires the institute to carry out its mandate, duties and powers, and to govern its members in a manner that serves and protects the public interest.

Specifically, the institute has to regulate and govern the professional conduct and discipline of its members. Included in the act are provisions and a mechanism for formally addressing complaints about the conduct and practice of a member.

Certified planners are required to log continuous professional learning credits annually, tracked and logged by the institute. This helps ensure our members are advancing their skills and knowledge and provides the opportunity for them to learn about new ideas, which can then be applied to planning practice in Manitoba. To meet increasingly complex planning challenges, planners must stay current about land, air and water resources, employment trends, cultural diversity and associated issues, new technologies and conflict resolution.

Registered planners practise in a manner that protects the public interest for current and future generations. Certified planners demonstrate exemplary ethical and professional standards. Planners may work for the public or the private sector  but, ultimately, their work always touches on public policy.

They balance various private interests with the public interest and identify viable options that take human health, esthetics, equity and efficiency into consideration.

Planning respects the land as a community resource, contributing to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and promoting healthy communities and improvements to quality of life for citizens in communities across Manitoba and Canada.

Chris Leach is a past president of both the Manitoba Professional Planners Institute and the Canadian Institute of Planners. He is a regional manager for community and regional planning for the Province of Manitoba.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/12/2016 (2145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Once again, Manitoba students have ranked near the bottom in Canada in the areas of science, math and reading. The Program for International Student Assessment, an international assessment of 15-year-olds conducted every three years by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, showed Manitoba students are six months to one year behind students in top-performing provinces such as British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec.

Anyone who tries to dismiss these results as a one-time anomaly must grapple with the fact results dating back to 2006 show a slow but steady decline. The Pan-Canadian Assessment Program, a different assessment protocol completed by Grade 8 students across Canada, shows a similar decline for Manitoba. In fact, the latest round of Pan-Canadian tests placed Manitoba students dead last.

If the Manitoba government is serious about raising the academic performance of Manitoba students, it needs to do three things.

BRUCE BUMSTEAD / BRANDON SUN FILES The lack of standardized tests in Manitoba has resulted in a dearth of information about student academic performance.

First, Manitoba should follow the example of nearly every other province and re-establish standardized tests at a variety of grade levels. British Columbias Foundation Skills Assessment for students in grades 4 and 7 and Ontarios tests for grades 3, 6 and 9 students are good examples of effective testing programs.

Standardized tests are important because they provide a provincial benchmark that can be used to determine how students are faring. Well-designed standardized tests highlight areas of strength and also point out areas of weakness. Unfortunately, the near-total absence of standardized tests in Manitoba has resulted in a dearth of information about student academic performance.

It did not help matters when the previous NDP government refused to release what little performance data it had to parents and the public.

Second, the province needs to place a much stronger emphasis on the academic basics  and it needs to send a much clearer message that curricular knowledge matters. For example, despite some limited moves in the right direction in recent years, the math curriculum still remains tilted much too far in the direction of the discovery approach to learning. The other curricular areas, unfortunately, are also tilted in that direction.

As math professors and WISE Math co-founders Anna Stokke and Robert Craigen have pointed out, students must learn standard algorithms for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division as early as possible if they are going to succeed at higher levels of math.

Students also need to spend significant time practising and memorizing their math facts. Multiple research studies confirm that mastering the basics makes deeper learning possible.

When it comes to reading, schools need to do more than help students decode the words on a page. Students need content knowledge, which is the key to reading comprehension. All too often, teachers think of reading as something that can be taught in isolation from specific content. However, research is clear that reading comprehension soars when students have background knowledge about the topic. By contrast, if someone needs to look up the meaning of every other word in an article, that person will not understand the material and will probably not even try reading it.

Well-known education author E. D. Hirsch Jr. makes this point abundantly clear in his latest book, Why Knowledge Matters: Rescuing Our Children from Failed Educational Theories. Hirsch presents substantial evidence showing reading comprehension is closely linked to background knowledge. For many students, particularly those living in poverty, school is the only place they can get this required knowledge. It is, in fact, the only path to success for the many poor children in Manitoba.

It is not enough for schools to teach critical thinking skills, as if they exist in a vacuum. In far too many cases, schools attempt to get around the need for knowledge by teaching students generic comprehension strategies such as finding the main idea, drawing logical inferences and close reading. Hirsch clearly shows these strategies are not a substitute for background knowledge.

Finally, the government needs to promote teaching methods and practices that are supported by research, as do faculties of education. Obviously, students and teachers differ, and there is little to be gained from trying to force everyone to teach exactly the same way.

At the same time, some methods are more effective than others. As a case in point, there is a wealth of evidence supporting direct whole-class instruction by teachers and considerably less evidence supporting the guide by the side methods currently in vogue in education faculties and in too many classrooms.

Manitoba can do better. It will take a lot of hard work and a willingness to make changes, but Manitoba students and teachers are prepared for the challenge.

These students and teachers need the support of Minister of Education Ian Wishart in setting better educational policy.

Michael Zwaagstra is a high school teacher, a senior fellow at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, and co-author of the book Whats Wrong With Our Schools and How We Can Fix Them.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/12/2016 (2145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid  for those who celebrate Christmas, that song is a familiar one. Unfortunately, Santas reindeer may be coming under threat, much to the detriment of our climate.

Reindeer (or, as they are called in North America, caribou  they are biologically the same species) arent currently on anyones endangered species list. Perhaps their indelible image as a symbol of winter and the holidays gives them more permanence in the popular imagination. But they, like us, are threatened by a changing climate.

Reindeer populations are down, in large part thanks to climate change, reports a study focusing on China, which found numbers for the species were down more than 25 per cent since the 1970s.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES A reindeer at the Journey to Churchill exhibit

But its not a problem limited to one country. A 2013 study by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found declines in major reindeer herds in Canada, Russia and Alaska. The largest herd, with habitat in Russias Tamyr peninsula, saw its population in 2000, roughly one million animals, drop to 700,000.

In Canada, the situation is no better. According to the World Wildlife Fund, fewer than half of Canadas barren-ground caribou population remain; certain groups, such as the Bathurst herd, have shown a drop from a historic high of 472,000 in 1986 to a present level of 19,769  a decline of 95 per cent.

Why should this matter? If reindeer, like polar bears, are just another species to fall victim to climate change, should we simply move on with our lives?

In fact, reindeer, like any species, have a profound impact on their habitat, and according to research from University of Turku in Finland, a decline in their numbers can actually make climate change worse.

Grazing by reindeer keeps Arctic vegetation in check, which in turn keeps solar heat absorption down; with fewer reindeer grazing, darker shrubs and trees spring up, absorbing more heat and thus warming their surroundings and the Earths atmosphere.

Furthermore, a study from the University of Umea in Sweden found reindeer  as well as other species such as voles and hares  prevent the spread of invasive plant species on the tundra. Earlier studies had shown invasive species were a consequence of climate change; reindeer, it seems, were one of the factors in an environment that could stem that.

At this time of year, people sometimes erroneously point to the cold weather as reason to be skeptical of climate change.

That attitude isnt doing us any favours  and it may be a death warrant for an animal symbolic of a midwinter celebration. If we dont take action on climate change, and soon, the reindeer  like the mammoth, or woolly rhino, perhaps  may be something we can merely recall.
The Hope Lutheran High School student of the week is first-year student Abby Foss. Her parents are David and Karla Foss. Abbys siblings are Kayla, a first-year student Hope Lutheran High School, and Jenessa, a sixth grade student at St. Martins.

Abby describes herself as fun, weird, quiet, serious, nervous and worried. Abby said her role models are her mom, dad, Allison, Emily and her grandparents. She is involved in softball, trap shooting and volleyball, and she enjoys biking, hiking, swimming, riding ATVs, tubing and watching movies.

Her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 100:1-3, and her favorite subject in school is Christianity.

Abby said Hope Lutheran High School has been a great place to go to school. She said, I really like that it is a Christian school. I have made so many friends. The teachers are great. I am so glad this school is here.

One teacher said, Abby is a great asset to our school. She is hardworking and has a great attitude.

Another teacher said, Abby is always eager to participate in class. She is great to have in class. She works hard and doesnt shy away from the spotlight.

After high school, Abby plans to take a year off, then go to college.
More than 4,000 whitetail deer were shot and registered in Buffalo County during the regular nine-day hunting season in November.

The registration tally showed 4,318 deer taken in Buffalo County, down from 4,744 in 2015.

The state Department of Natural Resources said preliminary figures counted 196,700 deer registered statewide, compared to 198,000 a year ago.

The buck harvest, however, was up 5.7 percent statewide to 97,800 deer, most of the increase occurring in northern Wisconsin. There were 1,622 antlered bucks registered in Buffalo County.

The deer harvest in Pepin County was 1,725, down from 1,813 in 2015, and 4,310 deer were registered in Trempealeau County, off from 4,804 in 2015.

The Central Farmland deer management zone, which includes Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties, registered 111,484 deer, compared to 116,312 in 2015.

The DNR said 1,314 deer were registered so far in Buffalo County by archery hunters. Trempealeau County had 1,063 registered archery kills, and Pepin County, 336.

Deer kills by crossbow included 723 in Buffalo County, 624 in Trempealeau County and 262 in Pepin County, according to the DNR.

The nine-day gun season harvest of nearly 197,000 deer in Wisconsin sits in a mid-range when compared to harvests over the past 50 years.

In 1966, deer hunters in Wisconsin shot 110,062 deer. It rose to 122,509 deer in 1976, then more than doubled to 259,240 ten years later in 1986.

The nine-day deer tally grew to 388,791 by 1996, and hit a high of 528,494 deer taken in 2000. The deer count dropped back to 413,794 in 2004, and went down to 393,306 ten years ago in 2006.
Businesses across Minnesota continue to benefit from the personalized assistance of Grow Minnesota!, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce program coordinated with over 70 local chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, including the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce. The statewide program is dedicated to retaining, assisting and growing Minnesota companies.

This coming year will mark Grow Minnesotas 15th year. Over 10,000 visits have been conducted and close to 2,000 Minnesota companies have been assisted since the program began.

In Winona, the Grow Minnesota visits are conducted by the chambers Economic Development Committee. Hundreds of visits have been completed locally in the past few years. Priority issues that have emerged include workforce shortage, downtown redevelopment and housing shortage. The Winona Chamber Economic Development Committee has identified the housing issue as the priority in 2017. Downtown development will be championed by the Winona Main Street Program, and workforce shortage will be championed by the Winona Chamber Business Education Network.

To access information about Grow MN please visit mnchamber.com and click on Business Assistance. If you know a business that would welcome a Grow Minnesota! visit, call the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce at 507-452-2272 or send an e-mail to info@winonachamber.com
Back in 2009, I had the opportunity to attend the grand opening of Ever Cats biodiesel plant in Isanti. The company, started by a feed-supplement supplier for farmers, uses innovative technology to create biodiesel from waste. And every year since its opening, that plant has produced approximately 3 million gallons of diesel fuel to help fuel our cars, trucks, and ships. And its employed more than two dozen people to do it.

Thats just one example of a Minnesota biofuel company that is helping strengthen our economy while decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. Claremonts Al-Corn Ethanol is moving forward with plans for a new plant capable of processing about 47 million bushels of corn per year. Chippewa Falls Energy in Benson, one of the first farmer-owned, ethanol-producing companies in the state, celebrated 20 years of business this year. And Highwater Ethanol in Lamberton is doing its part to cultivate the next generation by teaching high school students how the ethanol and agriculture industries positively impact the state and country.

Across Minnesota, our 20 ethanol plants and three biodiesel plants generate roughly $5 billion in combined economic output and have made our state the fourth largest ethanol producing state in the country. These companies create good jobs and strengthen local economies across our rural communities. A recent study by ABF Economics showed that the ethanol industry generated $7.37 billion in gross sales in 2015 for Minnesota businesses and $1.6 billion in income for Minnesota households. The ethanol industry also supports over 18,000 full-time jobs in Minnesota.

Thats why Ive fought for the expansion of renewable fuels through a strong Renewable Fuel Standard  or RFS, as it is also known. The RFS requires transportation fuel sold in the United States to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels.

Last October, I held a bipartisan meeting with 13 of my Senate colleagues, as well as White House Chief of Staff and Minnesota native Denis McDonough, to push for the Environmental Protection Agency to increase that minimum volume of renewable fuels. And when the proposed rule that the EPA announced earlier this year did not meet our expectations, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and I led a group of senators urging the administration to get the program back on track.

Our efforts produced good news for corn and soybean farmers and thousands of people who work in biofuels in Minnesota. Right before Thanksgiving, the administration released a stronger final rule for 2017. The new standard will require a record amount of biofuel  19.28 billion gallons  to be mixed into our transportation fuel supply next year. It increases the minimum volume for conventional renewable fuel  like corn ethanol  to 15 billion gallons, hitting the congressional target for the first time. And the required volume of biomass-based diesel is two billion gallons. Thats twice as high as the congressional target.

The Renewable Fuel Standard has helped create American jobs, drive innovation and boost local economies across Minnesota. And a stronger RFS will build on this progress  more good jobs, stronger local economies, less dependence on foreign oil. Its a win-win-win for Minnesota.
The Columbus Fire Department paid a visit to the II Bit Ranch last week to offer assistance on fire safety in the horse barns. Owners of the stable, Melanie Lichtfeld and Davis Clark, appreciated not only the advice but the fact that the Fire Department personnel take the time each year to walk through the stable so they are familiar with the building and have a plan in case a fire does occur.

I appreciate that the fire department comes out and walks through the buildings, Lichtfeld said. It makes us so much more confident that if they ever had a call out here that they know where everything is, they know how many stalls and where horses can be safely moved to. They gave me great advice on heated water buckets and cat bowls, and they are going to hold a class for our boarders on how to use a fire extinguisher. We all know where the fire extinguishers are hung but none of us had ever used them.

Because of the rural setting, the fire department has to plan on how they would get enough water to fight a fire in a large barn like the one at II Bit Ranch. This spring they will come and do a live training out at the ranch.

I recommend anyone with animals in a barn to have a yearly inspection so our firefighters know the lay out well beforehand and can give you advice on the fire safety end of your barn, Lichtfeld said.
Beware of the fake news. Dont be fooled by stories such as Hillary Clinton ran a child sex ring, Donald Trump raped a 13-year-old girl, or that the Russians hacked the election.

Washington missed the memo. Its not about the fake stories.

Long-term politicians and bureaucrats have spent their time trying to spin last months presidential election. The fact that Clinton lost to a political outsider with the couth and tact of Andrew Dice Clay is inconceivable. After running every plausible scenario, the best they could come up with is that the Russians hacked the vote.

The confluence of these two stories, the fake news narrative along with the Russian hacking story, has the upper echelon of our government using the lack of trust many people already have in the electoral process as a wedge. Its messaging that is being done by design. It is an effort to put an asterisk next to the name of the 45th President of the United States.

It also sends a strong message to those who voted for political upheaval. The elitists still are not listening. It was, in their determination, a vote of ignorance because the electorate is too stupid to know real news from fake news.

The Russian hacking chatter began with Green Party candidate Jill Stein and quickly spread to Clinton. Before another week passed, President Barack Obama launched an investigation. Look who else has joined in to lead the charge. Long-time politicians, Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham, along with Democrats Chuck Schumer and Jack Reed, joined the false witch hunt. These four senators have served on Capitol Hill a collective 98 years.

The Democrats, along with the die-hards of the Washington establishment, have failed to receive the message. It wasnt the Russians. A vast majority of us actually are smart enough to know real news from fake news.

The reality is fake news has existed for years. The concern cannot possibly be that internet sites like Facebook and Twitter have false stories floating around that are as credible as a supermarket tabloid.

Those tabloids, like Star Magazine, National Enquirer, and Globe Magazine, have been at the checkout stand for more than 40 years. How many people would actually believe President John F. Kennedy was assassinated because of his inquiries into aliens from outer space? Not enough to elect Trump president.

There also the is hand-wringing over WikiLeaks dump of the Democratic Partys emails before the election. It was an exasperation of a problem that was mostly caused by Clinton herself when she failed to be truthful about her own emails. Do we really believe that President Obama is suddenly interested in the hacking of private, non-government email systems after exuding only mild interest in the lack of protection surrounding our own national security?

It looks like turn-about isnt fair play after all. The United States government has played pivotal roles in leadership, or regime change, for decades. Even President Obama himself openly inserted himself into the anti-Brexit campaign just last spring by encouraging voters to cast ballots in opposition to the movement. While it is certainly not excusable that Russians hacked the Democratic National Committee, it is hypocritical to call out Russian President Vladimir Putin for possibly intervening in our nations political affairs.

The Democratic Party, along with Washingtons power establishment, is misinterpreting the results of Trumps insurgence onto the political landscape. They fail to believe that the Democrats have the wrong message for the American people and that the American people are tired of business as usual in D.C.

Progressive socialism has been rejected. Solutions to the problems many people face do not involve the expansion of government welfare through Obamacare, free college tuition, or corporations fleeing to tax havens overseas. The so-called working mans party runs around clueless in their loafers while American workers scratch to get by wearing work boots.

The Washington gridlock needs to end. That was Trumps message. He is the political outsider who will stand in front of a microphone and call out the political games which has frozen our government into debating 50-year-old political arguments. The fights over health care, immigration, and jobs are the same old tired arguments. Trump offers the one voice that promises to call them all out.

So beware of the fake news. Especially beware of the news being created by the sore losers of 2016. Hopefully, President Trump will finally get your message through to the elite who are grasping to maintain the Washington establishments power structure.
Items are listed under the day of the event only, running as space permits prior to the event. To submit items, call 745-3511, email jcutsforth@capitalnewspapers.com or visit www.portagedailyregister.com. Include name and phone number.

TODAY

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.

Euchre card party: 6:30 p.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, W8267 Highway 33 East, Portage. Public welcome. Contact: Cloe, 429-2363.

Portage High School Choir Concert: 7 p.m. Portage High School auditorium, 301 E. Collins St., Portage. The concert is free to the public.

Portage Historical Society: 5:30 p.m. Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage.

Portage Sharing Supper: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Bartels Middle School, 2505 New Pinery Road, Portage. Food and conversation. Kids Corner for young people to do a craft and hear a story, as well as informational tables for adults. Visit with Santa and hear the middle school Swing Choir and the Jazz Combo group perform. All welcome.

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, DEC. 20

Library event: 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tech Tuesday, Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. This is a drop in session where patrons bring their tablets, phones, gadgets, Overdrive questions, etc. for help.

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, DEC. 21

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.

Christmas Concert: 4 p.m. Portage Center for the Arts, 301 E. Cook St., Portage. Join area musicians and students for a program of lessons and carols for the Christmas season. Featuring The Dolce Cantabile and Al Fine Childrens Choirs and the Cathedral Window Vocal Quintet. Free will donations accepted in support of PCA, and/or non-perishables for the Bridgepoint Food Pantry.

Pardeeville Red Cross blood drive: 1 to 6 p.m. Pardeeville High School, 120 Oak St., Pardeeville. Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767 to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed. A blood donor card or drivers license or two other forms of identification are required.

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: 1 to 5 p.m. Divine Savior Healthcare, 2817 New Pinery Road, Portage. No appointment necessary. Call 745-6405 for more information. Do not eat, smoke, drink caffeine or exercise for 30 minutes prior.

Senior meal: 11:30 a.m. Portage Area Senior Citizens Group, Municipal Building, 115 W. Pleasant St., Portage. The meal will be provided by the Columbia County Nutrition Center. If you wish to have a meal, call Lois Williams at 608-697-5800 by noon Tuesday to register. The cost is a cash donation which will be directly put back into the nutrition program. The meeting will start at noon with cards to follow.

Writing workshop: 10:30 a.m. Portage Public Library Adult Services presents Palm of the Hand Memoir Writing Workshop, Heritage House, 2685 Airport Road, Portage. The public is welcome to join. This is a group that is all about memories and less about writing skills. We brainstorm ideas, share stories and spend some time in quiet reflection. This workshop runs on the third Wednesday of each month. More information can be found at: https://spiritblogs.uwc.edu/memoirs/. People of all abilities are welcome, whether you consider yourself a writer or not.

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, DEC. 22

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.

Open Texas Hold em: 7 p.m. Sport Club 22, Pardeeville. For information, call 566-9655.

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.

FRIDAY, DEC. 23

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.

Unique Singles: 5 p.m. Trails Lounge, 125 Wauona Trail, Portage. All single men and women older than age 50 welcome. The group is strictly social with no dues or officers.

MONDAY, DEC. 26

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, DEC. 27

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.

Writing group: 9:30 a.m. Pauquette Wordcrafters, Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. All writers welcome.

Zumba Toning: 4:30 p.m. Woodridge Primary School, Portage. $5 drop in fee. Contact Tami at 608-346-3971 or 4dreamers@frontier.com.
The Electoral College meets today in what will be the final step in Donald Trumps improbable rise to the presidency.

It will also be the last chance for #NeverTrump dead-enders to keep Trump out of the White House. And now, the anti-Trump effort has been given new fuel by allegations of Russian attempts to interfere with the presidential election.

Trump won 306 electoral votes. There are 306 electors  actual people  who are expected to vote for him today in Electoral College meetings in state capitals across the country. Trumps total is 36 more than the 270 required to become president. With that in mind, a group of Trump resisters hope to convince 37 Trump electors to vote for someone else today, taking Trump just below the magic 270 mark. If that were to happen, Trump would not become president.

The hope is to create one of two scenarios. If rogue electors vote for candidates other than Hillary Clinton, who won 232 electoral votes on Election Day, then no candidate would have 270 and the election would be thrown to the House of Representatives. If the 37, plus one more, voted for Clinton, she would reach 270 and become president.

This election is not in the books, said Chris Suprun, a Texas Republican elector who said at a news conference Dec. 11 he will not vote for Trump. While we have been perhaps remiss in thinking it is, Dec. 19 is when ballots will be cast.

Suprun would not reveal who he will vote for, but said it will not be Clinton. While I have not chosen my candidate, I am going to vote for another Republican, someone who I think can unite our country and will do so effectively without the issues that Mr. Trump faces that disqualify him from the presidency, Suprun said.

Although Trump won Texas by more than 800,000 votes, there is no law requiring Suprun to vote for him. Texas is one of 21 states that do not require electors to vote for the winner of the popular vote in that state. However, 29 states, including Wisconsin, have laws requiring electors to vote for the popular vote winner.

California and Colorado also bind their electors to the popular vote. Now, in the wake of Trumps win, there are lawsuits in both states challenging restrictions on electors. Neither suit was filed by Trump electors seeking to vote for someone else; there are no Trump electors in California and Colorado, which Clinton won. Instead, both suits were filed by Democratic electors seeking to knock down the laws in other states that bind electors to Trump.

In the California suit, Democratic elector Vinzenz Koller argues that he must be allowed to exercise his judgment and free will to vote for whomever he believes to be the most qualified and fit for the office of president and vice president within the circumstances and with the knowledge known on Dec. 19, 2016, whether those candidates are Democrats, Republicans, or from a third party.

The Trump resisters have formed a group called the Hamilton Electors, named in honor of Alexander Hamilton, who wrote Federalist 68, which deals with the Electoral College. The group says it represents electors who are pledging to put America first and vote for a qualified Republican alternative who can unify our country. The group doesnt name names, but some involved in the cause have mentioned Ohio Gov. John Kasich as a possible compromise candidate.

Backers of the various Electoral College stratagems say their cause has been made more urgent by news reports of Russian efforts to influence the election.

The problem with all this is that there has never been a large-scale defection of so-called faithless electors in all of American history, and theres no reason to believe one would happen now.

The largest defection occurred in 1808, when six electors abandoned James Madison on his way to the presidency. Other than that, defections have been one elector here and one elector there. None ever changed the results of any election.

If the Hamilton Electors somehow got their way and threw the election to the House, do they actually expect a Republican-dominated body, made up of Republican politicians who come mostly from states that supported Trump, to abandon the candidate who won 306 electoral votes in favor of a candidate who won none?

At key points in Trumps run, opponents conjured up elaborate scenarios through which he might be stopped. They planned complex delegate maneuvers at the Republican National Convention. They explored ways of replacing him on the GOP ticket. They hoped he might simply drop out of the race on his own. None of that happened. And now, they are pinning hopes on the most elaborate and unlikely scenario of them all.
President Barack Obama said earlier this month he supports requiring women to register for Selective Service when they turn 18. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, the first female veteran in the U.S. Senate, agrees.

It is my hope that we will always have an all-volunteer force. However, I believe women should sign up for Selective Service like their male counterparts, she said in a statement to the Des Moines Register editorial board.

Under current law, men ages 18 to 26 are required to register for a possible call to involuntary military service. Women have been exempt, which made sense when they were prohibited from serving in many military positions. But in December 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced all occupations would be open to women. There are no exceptions.

Theyll be allowed to drive tanks, fire mortars and lead infantry soldiers into combat, Carter said. Theyll be able to serve as Army Rangers and Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Marine Corps infantry, Air Force parajumpers, and everything else that was previously open only to men.

Equality isnt just about what youre allowed to do, but also what youre required to do. And women should be required to register with Selective Service.

Yet in late November, members of Congress dropped this mandate from a defense policy bill. The measure was fiercely opposed by some conservative lawmakers and interest groups. All members of Congress should recognize that times have changed and update the draft law to apply to women.

If they will not do that, perhaps they should eliminate the registration requirement altogether.

It has been more than 40 years since the United States used the draft to compel people to military service. It is hard to imagine that 21st-century Americans would tolerate essentially forcing our young people into a war. This is not the country it was during the Civil War, when the first system of conscription was used to build fighting forces. And when Americans think of a draft, they think of the Vietnam War, a dark period in this countrys history

In January 1965, in the midst of the conflict, 5,400 young men were drafted to serve in the military. By December of that year, more than 45,000 were called. Eventually the monthly draft call reached 35,000 for an unwinnable war that killed and injured thousands of young soldiers.

Americans rebelled. They dodged the draft, engaged in civil disobedience and marched on Washington to protest the war. Registration for Selective Service was suspended in 1975. The government worked to upgrade its capability to rapidly mobilize a military force in an emergency, but the registration requirement was resumed in 1980.

Now men who do not register by the age of 26 can permanently lose access to federally funded job training programs, federal government jobs, college loans and grants. They may even lose their ability to renew a state drivers license.

If the United States is going to continue to impose requirements and penalties related to military service on men, the country should impose them on women as well. That is true equality.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells products, solution, and systems that manage and conserve the flow of fluids and energy into, through and out of buildings in the commercial and residential markets in the Americas, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The company offers residential and commercial flow control products, including backflow preventers, water pressure regulators, temperature and pressure relief valves, and thermostatic mixing valves. It also provides heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and gas products, such as boilers, water heaters, custom heat, and hot water solutions; hydronic and electric heating systems for under-floor radiant applications; custom heat and hot water solutions; hydronic pump groups for boiler manufacturers and alternative energy control packages; and flexible stainless steel connectors for natural and liquid propane gas in commercial food service and residential applications. In addition, the company offers drainage and water re-use products comprising drainage products and engineered rain water harvesting solutions for commercial, industrial, marine, and residential applications; and water quality products that include point-of-use and point-of-entry water filtration, conditioning, and scale prevention systems for commercial and residential applications. Further, it provides smart mixing system under the IntelliStation name. The company sells its products to plumbing, heating, and mechanical wholesale distributors and dealers, as well as original equipment manufacturers, specialty product distributors, do-it-yourself chains, and retail chains; and directly to wholesalers and private label accounts. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1874 and is headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts.
Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas. The Chemicals segment produces and markets ethylene and other olefin products; aromatics and styrenics products, such as benzene, cyclohexane, styrene, and polystyrene; and various specialty chemical products, including organosulfur chemicals, solvents, catalysts, and chemicals used in drilling and mining. The Refining segment refines crude oil and other feedstocks into petroleum products, such as gasolines, distillates, aviation, and renewable fuels at 12 refineries in the United States and Europe. The M&S segment purchases for resale and markets refined petroleum products, including gasolines, distillates, and aviation fuels primarily in the United States and Europe. This segment also manufactures and markets specialty products, such as base oils and lubricants. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Limited, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Limited, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AFD.TECH, AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, AIG Shared Services Business Processing Inc, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co. Ltd., Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) Pty Ltd, Accenture (UK) Limited, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Agencia Interativa Ltda, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture B.V., Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BPS Services S.p. z o.o., Accenture Branch Holdings B.V., Accenture Bulgaria EOOD, Accenture Business Services for Utilities Inc, Accenture Business Services of British Columbia Limited Partnership, Accenture Business and Technology Services LLC, Accenture C.A., Accenture Canada Holdings Inc, Accenture Capital Designated Activity Company, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Limited, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co. Ltd, Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Pty Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SASU, Accenture Customer Services Ltd, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Delivery Poland S.p. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance II Limited, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services S.r.l., Accenture Financial Advanced Solution & Technology S.r.l., Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Global Capital Designated Activity Company, Accenture Global Engagements Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Limited, Accenture Global Services Limited, Accenture Global Solutions Limited, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc, Accenture Holding Brasil Ltda, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SASU, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services B.V., Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture International B.V., Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea B.V., Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Lithuania UAB, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Marketing Services LLC, Accenture Marketing Services Limited, Accenture Middle East B.V., Accenture Minority I B.V., Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi Pty Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations GmbH, Accenture Operations S.p. z o.o., Accenture Operations Services Private Limited, Accenture Operations Services Sdn Bhd, Accenture Outsourcing S.r.l., Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations B.V., Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru SRL, Accenture Post Trade Processing SASU, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture Qiyun Technology (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture S.p. z o.o., Accenture S.p.A., Accenture SASU, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sdn Bhd, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.p. z o.o., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services and Technology S.r.l., Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Single Member S.A. Organization Information Technology & Business Development, Accenture Solutions Co. Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions S.p. z o.o, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc, Accenture Sub III Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions S.r.l., Accenture Technology Solutions SASU, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures B.V., Accenture Technology Ventures SPRL, Accenture Tecnologia Consultoria y Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co. Limited, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Ltda, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Advoco, Agilex Technologies Inc., Alfa Consulting, Allen International, AlphaBeta Advisors, Altevie Technologies S.r.l., Altima, Altima (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Altima Asia Ltd, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Altius Consulting Limited, Altius Data Solutions Private Limited, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Apis Group Pty Ltd, Appaloosa Technology SASU, AppsPro, AppsPro, Arca, Arca Ingenieros y Consultoria S.L., Arca Telecom S.L., Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Artio People (Payroll) Pty Ltd, Artio People Pty Ltd, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Automation Partners Pty Ltd, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc, Avanade Consulting Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Limited, Avanade Europe Services Limited, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SASU, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade Inc, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy S.r.l., Avanade Japan KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Middle East Limited, Avanade Netherlands B.V., Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain S.L., Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Limited, Avanade do Brasil Ltda , Avanade Osterreich GmbH, Avenai, Avieco, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCS Consulting, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BENEXT, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, BRIDGEi2i, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing Zhidao Future Consulting Co. Ltd, Benext, Berico Technologies LLC, Bionic, Bionic Solution LLC, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Bow & Arrow, Bow & Arrow Limited, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, Byte Prophecy Private Limited, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CS Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, CS Technology (UK) Limited, CS Technology Group LLC, CS Technology LLC, CadenceQuest Inc., Callisto Integration Europe B.V., Callisto Integration Europe Limited, Callisto Integration LLC, Callisto Integration Ltd, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc, Certus Solutions Consulting Services Limited, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cirrus Connect Australia Pty Ltd, Cirrus Connect Limited, Cirruseo, Clarity Insights, ClearEdge Partners, Clearhead, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas Japan G.K., Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Limited, Cloudeasier SAS, Cloudpoint Limited, Cloudsherpas Inc, Cloudworks, Cloudworks Consulting Services Inc, Cloudworks Technology LLC, Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda, Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda, Context Information Security, Context Information Security LLC, Context Information Security Limited, CoreCompete LLC, CoreCompete Limited, CoreCompete Private Limited, Corliant Inc., Creative Drive LLC, Creative Drive US LLC, CreativeDrive, CreativeDrive Digital Content Services (Shenzhen) Co Ltd., CreativeDrive EMEA Limited, CreativeDrive Singapore Pte Ltd, CreativeDrive UK Group Limited, Cutting Edge Solutions Limited, Cygni AB, Cygni Norrsken AB, Cygni Stockholm AB, Cygni Syd AB, Cygni Vast AB, Cygni Ost AB, Cygni Ostersund AB, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Limited, DI Futures Corporation, Data Essential SARL, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings LLC, Decora Marketplace LLC, Decorado Marketplace Ltda-EPP, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digital Results Group LLC, Double Digit Limitada, Double Digit Pty SA, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Limited, Duck Creek Technologies, ESR Labs, ESR Labs AG, EdenOne Solutions Limited, Edenhouse ERP Holdings Limited, Edenhouse Solutions Limited, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting LP, End to End Analytics LLC, End-to-End Analytics, Endorphin Medici (M) Sdn Bhd, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Limited, EnergyQuote JHA, Enimbos, Enimbos Global Services S.L., Enkitec, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions LLC, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V., Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enthusian Pty Ltd, Entropia, Entropia (M) Sdn Bhd, Entropia Holdings Pte Ltd, Entropia Intercraft Sdn Bhd, Epylon, Ergo, Espedia S.r.l., Ethica Consulting Group, Ethica Consulting S.p.A., Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Experity, Exton Consulting, Exton Consulting Spain Strategy&Management S.L., Exton Germany GmbH, Exton International SAS, Exton Italia S.r.l., Exton SAS, FGM LLC, Fairway Technologies Inc, Farah BidCo Limited, Farah MidCo Limited, Farah Topco Limited, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Formicary, Founders Intelligence, Fruendo S.r.l., FusionX, Future State Consulting LLC, FutureMove (Beijing) Automotive Technology Co. Ltd., FutureMove Automotive, FutureMove Automotive Co. Ltd., GRA Supply Chain Pty Ltd, Gagel Group S de R.L. de C.V., Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gevity, Gren utvikling AS, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hahntel Ltda, Halo Partners LLC, Hamilton Holding Company S.A, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Happen GP Limited, Happen Limited, Headspring, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl A/S, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn Bhd, IBB Consulting, ICM.S S.r.l., IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INSITUM, IQSP Consulting LLC, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Icon Integration (NZ) Limited, Icon Integration Pty Ltd, Imagine Broadband (USA) Limited, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Imaginea Technologies LLC, Industrie IT (Hong Kong) Ltd, Industrie IT (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Industrie IT Group Pty Ltd, Industrie IT Pty Ltd, Industrie&Co, Infinity Works Consulting Limited, Infinity Works Holdings Limited, Infinity Works Management Limited, Infinity Works Midco Limited, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Innotec International EAD, Innotec International S.p. z.o.o., Innotec Marketing GmbH, Innotec Marketing International Ireland Limited, Innotec- Marketing Spain S.L, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., International Biometric Group LLC, International Biometric Group UK Limited, Intrepid, Intrepid Futureworks Sdn Bhd, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Technology Ltd, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, ItSafer Continuity Services S.L., JKD Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, K Comms Group Limited, KSC Studio LLC, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, King James Group, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Limited, Kogentix Singapore Pte Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LINKBYNET Indian Ocean (L.I.O) Ltd, LabAnswer, Lexta GmbH, Lexta UK Limited, Lien par le reseau Inc, Lien par le reseau infrastructures Inc, Lin Bo (Shanghai) Network Technology Co. Ltd., Link By Net SAS, Link By Net SRL, Link By Net Vietnam Company Limited, Linkbynet East Asia Ltd, Linkbynet Singapore Pte Ltd., Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, Lumenup S.A., MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision LLC, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte Ltd, Mackevision UK Limited, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd, Maihiro, Matter, Maud Corp Pty Ltd, Maxamine International, Measuretek LLC, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing LLC, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mistral Wind Operations  Servicos Empresariais Unipessoal Lda., MobGen, Mortgage Cadence LLC, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, Mudano Limited, Myrtle Consulting Group LLC, N3, N3 (Dalian) Business Consulting Co. Ltd., N3 Brazil Consultoria em Marketing Ltda, N3 Germany GmbH, N3 LLC, N3 North America LLC, N3 Results Australia Pty Ltd, N3 Results Ireland Limited, N3 Results Japan G.K., N3 Results Limited, N3 Results Malaysia Sdn Bhd, N3 Results Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., N3 Results S.A.S., N3 Results Singapore Pte Ltd, N3 Results Unipessoal Lda, NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., Nell'Armonia Israel Ltd, Nell'Armonia SAS, Nell'Participation SAS, NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda, New Energy Group, News Imaging LLC, NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage Pte Ltd, Northstream, Novetta Holdings LLC, Novetta LLC, Novetta Solutions LLC, Novetta Topco LLC, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Olikka Pty Ltd, Olympus Systems Corporation, Openmind, Openmind S.r..l., Openminded, Openminded SAS, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium AG, Orbium Consulting Limited, Orbium Inc., Orbium Ltd, Orbium Pte Ltd, Orbium Pty Ltd, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PLM Systems S.r.l, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, PacificLink Group, Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production A/S, Pegasus Production K/S, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pollux Automation Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pollux Canada Inc, Pollux S.A.S., Pollux USA LLC, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Limited, Pramati Technologies Europe Limited, Pramati Technologies Private Limited, Presence of IT Workforce Management North America LLC, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Limited, Procurian Inc., Prof. Homburg GmbH, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co. Ltd., RBCP Fund 1-A Vapor Blocker LLC, RBCP Platform Vapor Blocker I LLC, REPL Consulting LLC, REPL Consulting Limited, REPL Digital Limited, REPL Group K.K., REPL Group Pty Ltd, REPL Group Worldwide Limited, REPL Pte Ltd, REPL Software Limited, REPL Technology Limited, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Root LLC, Rothco, Rothco Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SALT Solutions GmbH, SEC Servizi, SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Salt Solutions, Sandbox Studio LLC, Sapling Bidco Limited, Sapling Midco Limited, Sapling Topco Limited, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Search Technologies BPO Inc, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Securiview SAS, Sentelis, Sentor Managed Secuirty Services AB, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Seven Seas Business Ventures LLC, Shackleton, Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton S.L.U., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., SigInt Technologies LLC, Silveo, Silveo Consulting India Private Limited, Simian Pty Ltd, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., Sirvart S.A., Sistemes Consulting S.L., Skylink SAS, Soltians Limited, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Somers Ventures Ireland Limited, Somers Ventures LLC, Spacelink SAS, Storm Digital, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Synership LLC, Systor AG, T.A. Cook, TXF LLC, Tambourine, TargetST8, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Ltd, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Tquila, Trivadis, Trivadis AG, Trivadis Austria GmbH, Trivadis Denmark AS, Trivadis Germany GmbH, Trivadis Holding AG, Trivadis Partner AG, Trivadis Services AG, Trivadis Services SRL, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Vector Acquisition Company LLC, Vector Topco LLC, Verax Solutions, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd, Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, WaveStrike LLC, White Cliffs Consulting LLC, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wise Partners SAS, Wolox, Wolox Colombia S.A.S, Wolox LLC, Wolox Mexico S.R.L de C.V., Wolox S.A., Wolox SpA, Workforce Insight, Workforce Insight LLC, Yesler, Yesler LLC, Yesler Limited, Yesler Singapore Pte Ltd, Zag, Zag Australia Pty Ltd, Zag Limited, Zag USA LLC, Zebra Worldwide Australia Pty Ltd, Zebra Worldwide Group Limited, Zebra Worldwide Media Pty Ltd, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines Inc, Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc, Zestgroup, Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, solid-serVision.com GmbH, and umlaut.

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NextEra Energy, Inc. is the largest electric utility holding company in the US. It operates a network of power generation and distribution facilities that include fossil-fuel-generated and green energy. As of mid-2022, the company was capable of generating 58 GW of electricity with nearly 60% of the load produced by green sources including wind and solar. In their view, going green isnt an option, its the solution. NextEra Energy has been recognized multiple times as a leader in clean energy and ESG practices and was ranked the #1 electric and gas utility on the Forbes list of Most Admired Companies.

The company is the result of several mergers that begin with FPL Group. FPL Group is now a subsidiary of NextEra Energy and the third-largest provider of electricity in the US servicing nearly half of Florida. FPL and its affiliates are the single largest provider of renewable energy generated from wind and sun. The group changed its name in 2010 following a decision to shift focus onto renewable energy sources.

Today, NextEra Energy, Inc through its subsidiary FPL serves about 12 million people in eastern and southwestern Florida. The company employs nearly 14,900 people who service 5.8 million accounts. The company is in business to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity to retail and wholesale clients. Electricity is generated through wind, solar, nuclear, natural gas, and coal-fired facilities.

The company is also engaged in the construction and operation of new facilities, specifically renewable power generation, storage, and delivery facilities, and can offer custom solutions tailored to any need. Offerings include tailored services to assist businesses with their transition to clean energy.

NextEra Energy also owns and operates 7 nuclear power stations in Florida, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin generating power for the wholesale market.

Unlike other companies that are targeting net-zero emissions, NextEra Energy has a plan to reach real zero and is investing heavily to reach that goal by 2045. The company had invested nearly $50 billion in green energy infrastructure and initiatives by mid-2022. The plan is to first work on reducing its own emissions and then take its knowledge and expertise to the world.
Toyota Motor Corporation designs, manufactures, assembles, and sells passenger vehicles, minivans and commercial vehicles, and related parts and accessories. It operates in Automotive, Financial Services, and All Other segments. The company offers hybrid cars under the Prius name, fuel cell vehicles under the MIRAI name; and conventional engine vehicles, including subcompact and compact cars under the Corolla and Raize names. It also provides mini-vehicles, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and auto parts under the Toyota name; mid-size cars; luxury cars; sports cars under the GR Yaris, Corolla Sport, Corolla Cross, and Supra names; and recreational and sport-utility vehicles under the Highlander name. In addition, the company offers pickup trucks under the Tacoma name; minivans; and trucks and buses. Further, it provides financial services, such as retail financing and leasing, wholesale financing, insurance, and credit cards; and designs, manufactures, and sells prefabricated housing. Additionally, the company operates GAZOO.com, a web portal for automobile information. It operates in Japan, North America, Europe, Asia, Central and South America, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East. The company was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Toyota, Japan.
The following companies are subsidiares of International Flavors & Fragrances: 1456111 Ontario Limited, A. Boake Roberts And Company (Holding) Limited, ASA Ventures Inc., Agtech Products Inc., Alpris Ltd., Amco SP Z.O.O, ApS Syntetic, Aroma S.A., Aromatics Holdings Limited, Aromco Ltd., Aromor, Arvin Company, Asian Investments Inc., Atelier du Parfumeur IFF Grasse SAS, BKF Vision Ltd, BSA India Food Ingr. P. Ltd., Belden Company, Branch office of DuPont Protein Technologies International Sales LLC, Bremil Industria e Comercio de Ingredientes Alimenticos Ltda. , Bremil S/A Industria De Produtos Alimenticos , Bush Boake Allen (New Zealand) Limited, Bush Boake Allen (Pension Trustees) Limited, Bush Boake Allen Australia Pty Ltd, Bush Boake Allen Benelux B.V., Bush Boake Allen Chile S.A., Bush Boake Allen Controladora S.A. de C.V., Bush Boake Allen Enterprises Limited, Bush Boake Allen Holdings (U.K.) Limited, Bush Boake Allen Inc., Bush Boake Allen Inc., Bush Boake Allen Limited, Bush Boake Allen Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, Bush Boake Allen do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC, Chemical Process Materials and Equipment S.A., CitraSource Holdings L.L.C., Columbia PhytoTechnology LLC, Columbia Phytotechnology LLC, Cometra ApS, Crestmont Investment Co., Cultor Oy, DDP Specialty Products Germany GmbH & Co. KG, DDP Specialty Products Poland Sp. z.o.o., DSP Germany N&B Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Daivd Michael Netherlands B.V., Dandy Lions Limited, Danisco (China) Co. Ltd., Danisco (China) Holding Co. Ltd., Danisco (India) Private Limited, Danisco (Zhangjiagang) Textural Ingredients Co. Ltd., Danisco Argentina S.A., Danisco Australia Pty Limited, Danisco Austria GmbH, Danisco B.V., Danisco Biosciences (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Danisco Brasil Ltda., Danisco Canada Inc., Danisco Chile S.A., Danisco Colombia Ltda., Danisco Cultor (Switzerland) AG, Danisco Cultor Sweden AB, Danisco Cultor Trading Ltda., Danisco Czech Republic a.s., Danisco Deutschland GmbH, Danisco Dis Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Danisco Egypt Trading LLC, Danisco Flexible Brasil Ltda, Danisco France SAS, Danisco Guatemala S.A., Danisco Holding USA Inc., Danisco Holdings (UK) Ltd., Danisco Holland B.V., Danisco Ingredients Belgium N.V., Danisco Italia S.p.A., Danisco Japan Limited, Danisco Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Danisco Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Danisco Mexico S.A. de C.V., Danisco New Zealand Limited, Danisco Nutrition & Bioscience Greece Ltd., Danisco Nutrition & Biosciences Korea Ltd., Danisco Nutrition & Biosciences Malaysia SDN. BHD., Danisco Nutrition & Biosciences Taiwan Limited, Danisco Nutrition and Biosciences India Private Ltd, Danisco Peru S.A.C., Danisco Poland Sp. z.o.o, Danisco Singapore Pte. Ltd., Danisco South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Danisco Sweeteners Oy, Danisco Switzerland AG, Danisco UK Ltd., Danisco US Inc., Danisco USA Inc., Danisco Ukraine LLC, Danisco Zaandam BV, David Michael & Company (Canada) 1986 Ltd., David Michael Europe S.A.S., Du Pont de Nemours Nigeria Limited, DuPont (Shanghai) Enterprise Co. Ltd., DuPont Acquisition LLC, DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC, DuPont Denmark Holding ApS, DuPont Electronics Holding LLC, DuPont LA Holding 1 BV, DuPont Lanka (Private) Limited, DuPont Nutrition (Thailand) Ltd, DuPont Nutrition Biosciences ApS, DuPont Nutrition Dis Ticaret Limited Sirketi, DuPont Nutrition Food Ingredients (Beijing) Co. Ltd., DuPont Nutrition Ingredientes BRASIL LTDA, DuPont Nutrition International, DuPont Nutrition Ireland, DuPont Nutrition Italy SRL (f/k/a FMC Chemical Italy SrL), DuPont Nutrition Manufacturing UK Limited, DuPont Nutrition Mexicana S.A de C.V., DuPont Nutrition Mexico S.A de C.V., DuPont Nutrition Norge AS, DuPont Nutrition Philippines Inc., DuPont Nutrition USA Inc, DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences Iberica S.L., DuPont Protein Technologies International Sales LLC, DuPont S&C Holding LLC, DuPont Shineway Luohe Food Company Limited , DuPont Shineway Luohe Protein Company Limited , DuPont US Holding LLC, DuPont de Nemours Kenya Limited, ERELEM, ETOL SK s.r.o., ETOL-RUS Ltd., Eden Essentials Inc., Envoltec Industria de Embalagens Ltda. , Enzymotec Australia PTY LTD, Enzymotec Singapore Pte. Ltd., Enzymotec USA Inc., Etol Aroma Ve Baharat Gida Urunleri San.Ve Tic.a.s., Etol JVE d.o.o., Etol Proizvodnja Arom D.O.O, Etol Skopje DRUSTVO ZA TRGOVIJA ETOL UVOZ-IZVOZ DOOEL, FYMSA Real Estate LLC (23), FYMSA del Caribe S.R.L , Fangchen International Trading Ltd. (6), Finnfeeds Finland Oy, Finnfeeds Oy, Finnsugar Bioproducts Inc., Flavor Systems International Inc., Flavors and Essences UK Limited, FoodBlenders Limited, Foreign Trade Representative of Danisco Singapore Pte. Ltd., Fragrance Resources, Fragrance Resources (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fragrance Resources Asia Pacific Ltd., Frutarom (Asia Pacific) Limited, Frutarom (Marketing) S.R.L., Frutarom (UK) Holdings Limited, Frutarom (UK) Ltd., Frutarom - Etol (UK) Limited, Frutarom Belgium N.V., Frutarom Chile S.A., Frutarom Czech Republic S.r.o, Frutarom Do Brazil Industria E Comercio Ltda., Frutarom Etol RO SRL, Frutarom Etol Ukraine LLC., Frutarom F&F Trading (Shanghai) Co., Frutarom Finance EUR AG, Frutarom Flavors (Kushan) Co Ltd., Frutarom Flavors Mexico S.A. de C.V., Frutarom Flavours (India) Private Limited (14), Frutarom France S.A.R.L, Frutarom Germany GmbH, Frutarom Gida Urunleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Frutarom Global Ltd., Frutarom GmbH, Frutarom Industries Ld, Frutarom Industries Ltd., Frutarom Italy S.r.l, Frutarom Kenya Limited, Frutarom Ltd., Frutarom Netherlands B.V., Frutarom Nigeria Limited, Frutarom Nordic A/S Flachsmann Scandinavia A/S Aksel Holm-Essensfabrik A / S, Frutarom Norway A.S, Frutarom Peru S.A. (Montana Food activity), Frutarom Production GmbH, Frutarom Savory Solutions Austria GmbH, Frutarom Savory Solutions Germany GmbH, Frutarom Savory Solutions Switzerland AG, Frutarom Savory Solutions Ukraine, Frutarom Switzerland Finance CHF AG, Frutarom Switzerland Finance GBP AG, Frutarom Switzerland Finance MXN AG, Frutarom Switzerland Finance USD AG, Frutarom Switzerland Ltd., Frutarom Trade & Marketing (1990) Ltd., Frutarom UK Investments Limited, Frutarom USA Holding Inc., Frutarom USA Inc., Frutarom do Brasil GRU Industria e Comercio Ltda., Genencor (China) Bio-Products Co. Ltd., Genencor International B.V., Genencor International BVBA, Genencor International Holding BV, Genencor International Indiana Inc., Genencor International Oy, Genencor International Wisconsin Inc., Genencor Mauritius Ltd., Genentech Ventures Inc., Grow Company Inc., Hagelin Flv (UK) Ltd., Hexachem Sociedad Anonima, IB EMEA Holding 2 B.V., IFF (BVI) Limited, IFF (Korea) Inc., IFF Aroma Esans Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, IFF Augusta Holdings LLC, IFF Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, IFF Benicarlo S.L., IFF Bio-Technology (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., IFF Capital Services, IFF Chemical Holdings Inc., IFF Delaware Holdings LLC, IFF Essencias e Fragrancias Ltda., IFF Flavors & Fragrances (Hangzhou) Trading Co. Ltd., IFF Fragrance GmbH, IFF Hungary Global Kft, IFF International Inc., IFF Latin American Holdings (Espana) S.L., IFF Mexico Manufactura S.A. de C.V., IFF Murcia Natural Ingredients S.L., IFF Sabores y Fragancias de Chile Ltda., IFF Turkey Aroma Ve Esans Urunleri Satis Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, IFF West Africa Limited, IFF Worldwide LLC, Ingrediants dooel Skopje, Institut Europeen de Biologie Cellulaire, International Aroma Group, International Flavors & Fragrances (Canada) Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Caribe) Inc., International Flavors & Fragrances (China) Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Greater Asia) Pte. Ltd, International Flavors & Fragrances (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Hong Kong) Limited, International Flavors & Fragrances (Japan) Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., International Flavors & Fragrances (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Mexico) S. de R.L. de C.V., International Flavors & Fragrances (Middle East) FZ-LLC, International Flavors & Fragrances (Myanmar) Limited, International Flavors & Fragrances (Nederland) Holding B.V., International Flavors & Fragrances (Philippines) Inc., International Flavors & Fragrances (Poland) Sp. z o.o., International Flavors & Fragrances (Vietnam) Limited Liability Company, International Flavors & Fragrances (ZhangJiagang) Co. Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Zhejiang) Co. Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Zimbabwe) (Private) Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances Ardenne S.a r.l., International Flavors & Fragrances France Holding I SAS, International Flavors & Fragrances France Holding II SAS, International Flavors & Fragrances France Holding III SAS, International Flavors & Fragrances Holdings LLC, International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Chile) Limitada, International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Espana) S.A., International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Hungary) Kft, International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Nederland) B.V., International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Norden) AB, International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Rus), International Flavors & Fragrances IFF (Deutschland) GmbH, International Flavors & Fragrances IFF (France) SAS, International Flavors & Fragrances Irish Acquisition Company Limited, International Flavors and Fragrances Colombia S.A.S., International Flavors and Fragrances I.F.F. (Israel) Ltd., International Flavors and Fragrances IFF (South Africa), International Flavors and Fragrances Ingredients Ltd, International Flavors e Fragrances IFF (Italia) S.r.l., International Flavours & Fragrances (Australia) Pty Ltd, International Flavours & Fragrances (CIL) Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances (GB) Holdings Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances (Mauritius) Ltd, International Flavours & Fragrances (NZ) Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances (Pension Trustees) Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances (Thailand) Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances I.F.F. (Great Britain) Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances India Private Limited (13), International Frutarom Corporation, Inventive Food Technology (ZQ) Ltd., Inventive Technology Ltd., Irish Flavours and Fragrances Limited, K-Vision Consulting and Investments Ltd, Kelp Industries Pty. Ltd, Leagel GmbH (11), Leagel S.r.l. (19), Les Ingredients Alimentaires BSA Inc., Les Laboratories Bio ForeXtra Inc., Lucas Meyer Cosmetics, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics Australia Pty Ltd, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics Canada Inc., Lucas Meyer Cosmetics S.A.S., M.P. Equity Holdings Ltd, MISR Company for Aromatic products, Manseg S.A., Mark Services Holdings Inc., N&B Chemicals Germany GmbH, N&B EMEA Holding B.V., N&B Germany Verwaltungs-GmbH, N&B International Holding B.V., N&B NL BV - Saudi Branch, N&B Real Estate Verwaltungs-GmbH, N&B Services BV, N&B Switzerland  UAE Branch, N&H EMEA Holding 1 BV, N&H EMEA Holding 2 BV, N&H EMEA Holding B.V., N&H International Holding 1 B.V., N&H International Holding 3 BV, N&H Switzerland Holding Sarl, Nardi Armoas Ltda., Neptune Merger Sub I Inc., Neptune Merger Sub II LLC, New Asia Holdco B.V., Nutra-Lease Ltd. (16), Nutrition & Bioscience (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Nutrition & Bioscience (Switzerland) GmbH, Nutrition & Bioscience (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Nutrition & Bioscience Pakistan (Private) Ltd, Nutrition & Biosciences (Finland) Oy, Nutrition & Biosciences (France) SAS, Nutrition & Biosciences (Sweden) AB, Nutrition & Biosciences (UK) Ltd, Nutrition & Biosciences Argentina S.A.U., Nutrition & Biosciences Australia Pty Ltd., Nutrition & Biosciences Brasil Ingredientes Ltda., Nutrition & Biosciences Canada Company, Nutrition & Biosciences Chile SpA, Nutrition & Biosciences Colombia S.A.S, Nutrition & Biosciences Hong Kong Limited, Nutrition & Biosciences Hungary Limited Liability Company, Nutrition & Biosciences Inc., Nutrition & Biosciences Italy S.r.l., Nutrition & Biosciences Japan K.K., Nutrition & Biosciences Korea Ltd., Nutrition & Biosciences Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Nutrition & Biosciences Netherlands B.V., Nutrition & Biosciences New Zealand Limited, Nutrition & Biosciences Singapore Pte. Ltd., Nutrition & Biosciences USA 1 LLC, Nutrition & Biosciences USA 2 LLC, Nutrition & Biosciences USA 3 LLC, Nutrition & Biosciences Vietnam Company Limited, Nutrition Biosciences USA 4 Inc, Nutrition and Biosciences South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Nutrition and Biosciences Spain S.L., OOO WIBERG Rus, P.T. Essence Indonesia, PARMA FA, PIASA USA (24), PM Taiwan Inc., PT Blue Cube Indonesia, PTI Astana LLC, PTI CA LLC, PTI Center LLC, PTI Group of Companies LLC (GK PTI), PTI-BEL TUE, PTI-MOL LLC, PTI-NN LLC, PTI-Ukraine LLC, Platinum Absolut LLC, Pointer Specialty Chemicals LLC, Protein Technologies Do Brasil Ltda., Protein Technologies International Asia Pacific LLC, Protein Technologies International Development LLC, Protein Technologies International Europe LLC, Proveedores de Ingenieria Alimentaria S.A. de C.V. ("PIASA") (17), Prowin International Ltd., Pucheng Yongfang Fragrance Technology Co. Ltd. , Redbrook (UK) Limited, Redbrook Blentech Limited, Redbrook Ingredient Services Limited, Rene Laurent SAS, Representaciones FYMSA S.A. de C.V (FYMSA) (18), Rohm and Haas Wood Treatment LLC, SP EMEA Holding 8 BV, SP Holding IB Inc., SP Nutrition and Health (Singapore) Inc., Sabormax Industria de Alimentos e Representacao Ltda., Savoury Flavours (Holding) Limited, Savoury Flavours Ltd., Solae (UK) Limited, Solae Argentina S.A., Solae Australia Pty Limited, Solae Belgium N.V., Solae Company India Private Limited, Solae Denmark ApS, Solae Deutschland GmbH (f/k/a CSY Agri-Processing (Deutschland) GmbH), Solae Do Brasil Industria E Comercio De Alimentos Ltda., Solae Europe S.A., Solae Holdings LLC, Solae Investimentos LTDA, Solae LLC (SMLLC of Solae Holdings), Solae Overseas B.V., Solae Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Solae de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (formerly PTI Mexico), Solae do Brasil Holdings Ltda., Sonarome Private Limited (15), Southern Cross Botanicals Pty Ltd, Specialty Products Balkans d.o.o., Specialty Products FZE, Specialty Products N&H Inc, Specialty Products US LLC, Speximo AB, TNI Investments NV, Tastepoint Flavors (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Tastepoint Inc., Tastepoint OOO, Tastepoint Polska Sp.z o.o, Tastepoint SA (Pty) Ltd., Tastepoint Tovarna arom in etericnih olj d.o.o., Taura Natural Ingredients (Australia) Pty Limited, Taura Natural Ingredients (North America) Inc., Taura Natural Ingredients Holdings Pty Limited, Taura Natural Ingredients Ltd., Taura Natural Ingredients NV, Tekhnomol Soya Products LLC, The Additive Advantage LLC, The Additive Advantage LLC, The Foote & Jenks Corporation, The Mighty Company Limited (21), Thorungaverksmidjan HF (12), UFC America Inc., Unique Flavors Proprietary Limited, Unique Food Solutions Proprietary Limited, Unique Ingredients Limited, VAYA PHARMA HONKG LTD, VITIVA proizvodnja in storitve d.d., Vantodio Holdings Limited, Vaya Pharma Inc., Vaya Pharma Pte Ltd. (20), Venezuela Protein Technologies Internationla -PTI C.A., W.W. Holdings Inc., WIBERG Italia S.r.l., Wiberg Baharat San.Tic.A.S, Wiberg Canada Inc., Wiberg Corporation of California, Wiberg Corporation., Yderns 1 ApS, ZAO Danisco, extrakt chemie Dr. Bruno Stellmach GmbH, iDrug Delivery Inc.(Delaware) (22), nternational Flavors & Fragrances S.R.L., van Ameringen-Haebler Inc., and world wide WIBERG GmbH.

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WellCare Health Plans, Inc. provides government-sponsored managed care services. The company operates in three segments: Medicaid Health Plans, Medicare Health Plans, and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs). The Medicaid Health Plans segment offers plans for beneficiaries of temporary assistance for needy families, supplemental security income, and aged blind and disabled residents; and other state-based programs, such as children's health insurance programs and long-term services and supports programs for qualifying families who are not eligible for Medicaid. The Medicare Health Plans segment provides Medicare, a federal program that provides eligible persons aged 65 and over, as well as some disabled persons with a range of hospital, medical, and prescription drug benefits; Medicare Advantage, a Medicare's managed care alternative to the original Medicare program, which offers individuals standard Medicare benefits directly through Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and coordinated care plans that are administered through health maintenance organizations and require members to seek health care services and select a primary care physician from a network of health care providers. The Medicare PDPs segment provides Medicare part D PDP plans to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries. Its PDP plans offer national in-network prescription drug coverage, including a preferred pharmacy network. As of December 31, 2018, the company served approximately 5.5 million members in the United States. WellCare Health Plans, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
TrueBlue, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides specialized workforce solutions in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It operates through three segments: PeopleReady, PeopleManagement, and PeopleScout. The PeopleReady segment offers contingent staffing solutions for blue-collar, on-demand, and skilled labor in construction, manufacturing and logistics, warehousing and distribution, waste and recycling, energy, retail, hospitality, and general labor industries. The PeopleManagement segment provides contingent labor and outsourced industrial workforce solutions. This segment also offers on-site management and recruitment for the contingent industrial workforce of manufacturing, warehouse, and distribution facilities; and recruitment and management of contingent and dedicated commercial drivers to the transportation and distribution industries under the Staff Management, SIMOS Insourcing Solutions, and Centerline Drivers brands. The PeopleScout segment offers permanent employee recruitment process outsourcing services; and manages clients' contingent labor programs comprising vendor selection, performance management, compliance monitoring, and risk management. The company was formerly known as Labor Ready, Inc. and changed its name to TrueBlue, Inc. in December 2007. TrueBlue, Inc. was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in Tacoma, Washington.
Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. operates as bank holding company for the Prosperity Bank that provides financial products and services to businesses and consumers. It accepts various deposit products, such as demand, savings, money market, and time accounts, as well as and certificates of deposit. The company also offers 1-4 family residential mortgage, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, commercial and industrial, agricultural, and non-real estate agricultural loans, as well as construction, land development, and other land loans; consumer loans, including automobile, recreational vehicle, boat, home improvement, personal, and deposit account collateralized loans; and consumer durables and home equity loans, as well as loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery. In addition, it provides internet banking, mobile banking, trust and wealth management, retail brokerage, mortgage services, and treasury management, as well as debit and credit cards. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 273 full-service banking locations comprising 65 in the Houston area, including The Woodlands; 30 in the South Texas area including Corpus Christi and Victoria; 63 in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area; 22 in the East Texas area; 29 in the Central Texas area, including Austin and San Antonio; 34 in the West Texas area, including Lubbock, Midland-Odessa and Abilene; 16 in the Bryan/College Station area; 6 in the Central Oklahoma area; and 8 in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area doing business as LegacyTexas Bank. Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 900 bank branches and 3,300 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. Bank of Montreal was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.




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Local opposition to dismantling of Japanese fast reactor

19 December 2016

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UPDATED - This article has been updated to reflect the decision taken on 20 December by the government to scrap the Monju reactor.

The governor of Fukui prefecture has called the Japanese government's proposal to decommission the Monju prototype fast breeder reactor (FBR) as "totally unacceptable". However, the government announced a formal decision on 20 December to scrap the reactor.

Monju (Image: JAEA)

A meeting was held today between representatives of Fukui prefecture and the government to discuss the fate of the Monju reactor. It was attended by Fukui governor Issei Nishikawa, as well as Japan's minister of economy, trade and industry, Hiroshige Seko and the minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, Hirokazu Matsuno.

The 280 MWe Monju FBR started up in 1994 but following sodium leakage problems operated for only 205 days until it restarted in May 2010. It has not operated since refuelling equipment fell into the reactor vessel during a refuelling outage later that year. The equipment was subsequently retrieved and replaced but the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has not yet permitted the reactor to restart. In November 2015, following concerns over equipment inspections, the NRA determined that operator JAEA was not competent to operate the reactor.

During today's meeting, the government informed the prefecture of its opinion that the Monju reactor, located near Tsuruga City, should be not be restarted and a new experimental research reactor should be constructed to replace it.

However, the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum's publication Atoms in Japan reported that Governor Nishikawa said, "We will never accept this. We demand that the government look again at it and reconsider it." He is also reported to have said JAEA, in addition to being incapable of operating Monju, is not capable of safely dismantling the reactor.

The Japanese government held a ministerial meeting on 20 December, at which a formal decision to decommission Monju was taken. The decision came despite the government still trying to convince local residents about its decommissioning plan.

In a separate meeting today, the government said it expects the decommissioning of Monju to take 30 years and cost more than JPY375 billion ($3.2 billion). This includes JPY225 billion for maintenance, JPY135 billion for dismantling the plant and JPY15 billion for defuelling and preparations for decommissioning.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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Russia and Japan expand nuclear cooperation

19 December 2016

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Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom has signed a memorandum of cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy with two Japanese ministries. One key area of cooperation under the agreement will be post-accident recovery at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Putin and Abe applaud the signing of the memorandum of cooperation (Image: Kantei)

The memorandum was signed in Tokyo on 16 December during a meeting between Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe and Russian president Vladimir Putin. It was signed by Japan's minister of economy, trade and industry, Hiroshige Seko; the minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, Hirokazu Matsuno; and Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachov.

In a statement, Rosatom said one of the key cooperation areas specified in the memorandum is the post-accident recovery at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, including radioactive waste management and possible decommissioning.

In addition, the parties will consider establishing a joint Russian-Japanese platform "to study the possibilities of fostering human resources exchange and exchange of ideas aimed at promoting innovative nuclear technologies based on the knowledge and experience of the two countries".

"The memorandum serves as a tool to support and promote new mutually beneficial cooperation areas of business and scientific interest," Rosatom said. The company said it has "all competences and experience" to help Japan in recovery efforts at Fukushima Daiichi and that it is "willing to become a partner of Japan in other possible joint mutually beneficial projects in the nuclear power area".

The signing of the memorandum follows the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two countries in May 2009. This agreement was ratified by the Russian parliament in late 2010 and by the Japanese parliament in December 2011. Under the agreement, the two countries may cooperate in areas including uranium exploration and mining; the design, construction and operation of light water reactors; radioactive waste processing and management; nuclear safety, including radiation protection and environmental control; research and application of radioisotopes and radiation; and other areas based on additional written agreements between the two countries.

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by World Nuclear News

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A young man wanted to make a point about racism in the United States, but his plan backfired when he was exposed for a liar by police. 20-year-old Khalil Cavil of Texas was working at the Saltgrass Steak House in Odessa when he claimed he was discriminated against because of his Muslim name. Cavil took
Dwyane and Takima Crawford

By: Tanya Malhotra

(Scroll down for video) A woman was rushed to a hospital after being set on fire by her twin brother during an argument, according to police in New Hampshire.

Concord police said that they have arrested 37-year-old Dwyane Crawford, after being accused of setting his twin sister on fire in her home.

Crawford has been charged with arson, attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless conduct and criminal mischief in connection with the attack on his twin sister identified as Takima.

He was booked into jail, pending a bail hearing.

According to the police investigation, the fire department was called to a home on Woodbine Avenue around 2:45 a.m. on Thursday.

Neighbors reported smoke coming out of a window of the home. Firefighters and police found Takima rolling in the snow outside of the home to relieve her burns.

Takima told her two sons that her twin brother doused her with gasoline and set her in fire. Crawford allegedly admitted to police to setting his twin sister on fire in the home.

Takima, who suffered third-degree burns, was taken to the Concord Hospital for treatment. She was later transported to another hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, where she is said to be in critical condition.
Additional 10m Support Package For Welsh Businesses Hit by Rates Increase

This article is old - Published: Monday, Dec 19th, 2016

An additional 10m will be made available to help high street retailers, pubs and restaurants with their business rates, it has been announced.

The new support package for small businesses is part of the Welsh Governments final Budget, which will be laid before the National Assembly on Tuesday December 20.

The extra 10m will be targeted at high-street ratepayers  shops, pubs and cafes  including those which have seen their rates increase significantly as a result of the 2017 revaluation undertaken by the independent Valuation Office Agency.

In September 2016 the Valuation Office Agency released its draft list of revaluations of commercial properties.

The Revaluation is carried out by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and reassesses all rateable values in Wales and England based on their open market rental value on a fixed date. This is the first such revaluation in Wales since 2010.

There were winners and losers locally in the draft revaluations  with many town centre business seeing a drop in the business rates. However several local and independent businesses saw their draft rates increase.

The targeted rate relief scheme will be provided through a special grant  the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru have agreed the relief will be provided via a special grant in discussions ahead of the final Budget.

Announcing the new scheme, Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said: We have been considering how we can make the best use of the additional funding now available as a result of the Autumn Statement. Some retailers across Wales are seeing substantial increases in their rates. There are towns and communities, which have been disproportionately affected.

Equally there are many high streets across the country where business rates are falling but retailers are still struggling. We want to be in a position where we can offer these businesses the extra support they need.

This is in addition to our 10m transitional relief scheme, also available from April 1 and the 100m tax cut for small businesses in Wales provided by the small business rates relief scheme.

The targeted relief scheme will be in place by April 1 next year when the revised rates come into force.

Adam Price, Plaid Cymru spokesperson for business, economy and finance, noted that the recent revaluation has clearly hit businesses the length and breadth of Wales hard.

He added: The impact is especially acute for certain sectors such as tourism, and a particular problem in some regions of the nation.

We have taken heed of the concerns of businesses, and urged the government to take action  we are glad that they have responded constructively.

The announcement has also been welcomed by Leighton Jenkins, Assistant Director and Head of Policy for CBI Wales, who commented: We welcome this measure to assist businesses on our high streets, whether in the retail sector or associated with the tourism industry. This is recognition by Welsh Government that the 2017 rating revaluation will have a differential impact upon certain parts of our economy.

The new special relief scheme is on top of the 10m transitional rate relief scheme for those small businesses whose eligibility for small business rates relief is affected by the revaluation.

The Welsh Government will be working closely with local authorities to implement the scheme. Further details about how it will operate will be published on the Welsh Government website.
Campaigner Condemns Closure of Older Peoples Day Centres in Wrexham

This article is old - Published: Monday, Dec 19th, 2016

A local campaigner has condemned the decision to close two elderly day care centres in Wrexham.



On Tuesday Wrexham Councils Executive Board approved proposals to close day centre facilities for older people in Caia Park and Plas Yn Rhos.

The proposals to stop the services were put forward due to them no longer being required and the changing needs of the population.

It is thought 47,000 will be saved in the closure of the services.

However Plaid Cymrus Mabon ap Gwynfor said that the closures was the wrong answer to the question of how best to care for an increasingly elderly population.

Mabon ap Gwynfor said: This is a real blow for the elderly people in Wrexham and their families. The Executive Board claims that these proposals will save the council money  just 47,000 a year according to the figures provided in the report. However I am seriously concerned that the alternative that will be put in place will hurt our elderly population.

The council wants to introduce more home care, yet it is likely that these carers will not be paid travelling time and will be on strict targets, meaning that the individuals that need assistance will end up being neglected because of the impossible strain put on the carers.

Furthermore, I have heard nothing about what the council will do to provide respite care for the families of those who use the service.

He added: We accept that this was a difficult decision for members of the Executive Board, however I do not accept that it is simply down to austerity and cuts, because this is a pattern that we have seen across the UK with county councils everywhere becoming service commissioners, not providers.

This is dangerous and potentially puts the well-being of our elderly population at risk. They deserve better.
Humboldt University in Berlin (HU) plans comprehensive cost-cutting measures in research and teaching. So far, however, the drastic austerity measures developed by the university management, currently causing unrest in all faculties, have been discussed exclusively behind closed doors.

Student sources have declared that HU President Sabine Kunst sent a letter requesting all faculties to submit savings proposals of 8 percent by the middle of January 2017. The cuts are aimed at offsetting the universitys current budget deficit.

The latest developments at HU are linked to the drastic austerity policy of the Berlin Senate in the education sector. In its 10-year term of office from 2001 to 2011 a coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Left Party imposed a succession of cuts on the universities of Berlin. This political legacy is expected to be carried forward by the citys recently sworn in SPD-Left Party-Green Party state government.

At regular intervals the universities are obliged to submit to the Berlin Senate structural plans documenting their planned focus and profile formation as well as other services ,  according to the Senates Science Council in 2000. The plans are examined by commissions and checked by the Senate.

Up until now HU was subject to the structural plan issued in 2004. At that time, the SPD-Left Party Senate imposed a rigorous savings program of 75 million on all Berlin universities. At the same time, annual cost increases, e.g., for energy supply, personnel and pensions, have not been offset by the state administration for the past 10 years. As a result, the universities accumulated new deficits from year to year, to be offset by cuts in pay and jobs.

In 2004, HU reduced its staff by about 20 percent. Seventy-eight professors and 500 employees lost their posts. The citys Free University (FU) had to cut 86 professorial posts, although it had already slashed 306 of the universitys original total of 730 professorships between 1992 and 2002. Many study subjects have been discontinued in Berlin in recent years, including Indian Studies. The student body at the Institute of Asian and African Studies at HU fears that courses devoted to Central Asia and Islamism could also be axed.

After the collapse of the Stalinist countries in 1989-90, the Technical University (TU) also carried out austerity measures. In 2004, it wound up 59 of its total of 335 professorships. In May last year, TU adopted its current structural plan, which includes the curtailment of a further eight professorships. At the same time, so-called innovation professorships are being set up, which according to TU President Christian Thomsen aim to increase competition within the university.

While the management of Humboldt University is determined to push through the new savings plans at a rapid pace, resistance is growing among students and employees. Several student members of the Faculty of Cultural, Social and Educational Sciences sent an open letter to the president on December 5, in which they unanimously rejected the upcoming structural plan.

In the open letter, the student members of the faculty declare that the savings to be made are not only of great concern to the teaching of all institutes. They would also significantly adversely affect study conditions. They warn of cuts to urgently needed posts in teaching. It is already the case that the provision of courses and the supervision of examinations and dissertations are suffering due to staff reductions. Many students are unable to finish their studies within the regular study period. The cuts would increase this already very tense situation to an intolerable level, they said. The abolition of student help centres also has an impact on the future of students.

The structural planning leads to a distancing from students and threatens to drive a wedge between the different faculties and institutes, which demand an end to all cuts in posts and resources in teaching.

The students also criticize the opaque approach of the presidency. They were only informed of the plans at short notice and incompletely. It appears the cuts have been decided over the heads of both teachers and students.

In fact, there has been as yet no public statement by the university management on the structural planning, although the faculties are expected to respond by the middle or end of January. So far, the press office of HU has not announced any official figures or facts, as requested by the World Socialist Web Site.

The next meeting of the Academic Senate of HU to discuss the structural plans is due to take place on Tuesday. On Facebook, the Physics Initiative at HU calls for participation in the meeting and making clear to the Senate, and in particular the Presidium, that meaningful structure planning is only possible with university participation, including all affected groups.

The new HU president, who has only been in office since May of this year, is taking an uncompromising attitude towards students and staff. Her hard-line stance is not unexpected. The qualified engineer and political scientist Sabine Kunst (since 2014 a member of the SPD) has many years experience in the implementation of austerity measures. From 2011 to March 2016 she was minister for science, research and culture in the state of Brandenburg, which has been governed by a coalition of the SPD and Left Party since 2009.

In its twin budgets for 2013 and 2014, the state government decided to cut 12 million at the universities.

Kunst imposed the cuts in the face of broad popular resistance. The proposal to merge two universities in the state met with particular criticism. In 2013, Brandenburg Technical University of Cottbus was merged with Lausitz University of Applied Sciences in Senftenberg. Kunst described the fusion as a new-type of college, at the same time as scientific experts, students and professors protested against the threatened job cuts.

Subsequent increases in the budgets of the universities in Brandenburg remained far below their actual needs and could not compensate for the earlier cuts.

In 2014, a number of universities, especially in the east German states, were hit by massive cuts, and this policy is being continued. In Baden-Wurttemberg, the minister of science, Theresia Bauer (Greens), recently proposed that non-EU citizens pay 1,500 per semester. Students seeking a further degree are also required to pay 650 per semester. Bauer plans cuts amounting to 47 million in the coming year.

The cuts are part of a European-wide austerity policy in the sphere of education. In mid-October, the Tagesspiegel cited a new study by the European University Association (EUA), which analysed the situation of European universities since the beginning of the financial crisis. In Greece alone, more than 60 percent of university funding has been cut since 2008. This year, the pseudo-left Syriza government slashed a further 16 percent.

Government grants were also reduced in other EU countries: in the Czech Republic by 5 percent, in Slovenia by 9 percent, and in Ireland and the UK by over 2 percent. In Ireland and Britain the cutback mainly affected apprenticeships, which have decreased by 70 percent since 2008. The lack of funding is offset in many countries by increased study feesin Britain by 9,000 per yearand by the acquisition of third-party funding from companies and associations.

The investigative online portal hochschulwatch.de reports that 1.4 billion flows from the private sector to German universities every year. In Berlin, the percentage of commercial enterprises in third-party funding is particularly high, at 15 percent. At the Free University the figure is 5 percent, and for HU it is 3 percent. In 2013, third-party funding at HU rose to around 96.9 million (from around 88.5 million in 2012). Of this, about 3 million came from commercial sources. The renewed austerity measures could lead to professors being compelled to raise more funds through third-party sources.

According to a report by the German Interior Ministry, an average of every fourth euro of university funds in Germany comes from third-party funding. Often the exact contracts are unknown. The growing influence of business, politics and, increasingly, the military is encroaching on the independent status of research and teaching.

At Humboldt University, this development is already well advanced. The chairs of Prof. Jorg Baberowski (History of Eastern Europe) and Prof. Herfried Munkler (Political Science), who play a central role in the elaboration and ideological justification of the new German war policy, are financed largely from third-party funds. The Berlin Correspondence series, currently taking place in the Gorki Theatre in Berlin, is based on a deal struck between the SPD-led Foreign Ministry and Humboldt University.
Anura from London works for the National Health Service. He said, I am glad that I attended this meeting. David Norths lecture was very informative, as he described the direction America is going in the aftermath of Donald Trumps election. He presented very comprehensive data and analysis about not only what is happening in America, but in the entire world. It is a very good lecture for people, especially the young generation, who are looking for a socialist alternative.

Simon studies history at Kings College in London. He said Norths lecture made it easy to understand and evidenced everything. He continued: It is clear that the working class is the future as far as the direction of world politics is concerned. The political situation has to culminate in either revolutionand a world revolution at thator humanity will be destroyed as a species.

I would like to be involved in the work of the Socialist Equality Party. I need to read more, get a better grounding before becoming more closely involved, but I am getting close to the party.

Callum, a young worker from London, said, I found out about the lecture through the Facebook campaign. I am amazed how passionate the speaker was. He cares very deeply about what he was talking about, which is refreshing. I found it very interesting.

David North articulated a lot of the things I agree with, as I am new to the movement and finding out what I believe in and dont believe in. Today I have heard a lot of things that I agree with, so I want to do more research into the party, as there are lots of different factions claiming to be socialist and I need the resources to know the difference. I have not read the World Socialist Web Site or your party web site yet.

Im interested in the Russian Revolution. A lot of the history books you find are dry and objective. You dont get different perspectives. It is important to hear about different perspectives and what makes up different ideologies. I have bought a copy of David Norths book on The Russian Revolution and the Unfinished Twentieth Century and hope to understand these things more.

I am struck by how friendly everyone is here, which makes a refreshing change, as most lectures its go in then go out with no discussion.

Matt travelled to the meeting from Durham, north-east England. He said, The lecture explained that Trump represents a crisis of American democracy. It is not a right-wing turn by broad masses of people. The campaign of Bernie Sanders proves that people are looking for an economic solution and Trump has capitalised on the betrayal of Sanders.

It was good that David North went through who is in the Trump cabinet. I actually printed that out and have pinned it to my wall at home. Even with the Bush presidencies, it is not comparable how much wealth is concentrated in Trumps cabinet. How is this in any way progressive? Its fooling workers, and workers have to be aware of their own interests.

I think for the rest of the world the implications of Trumps election are massive, from Germany to Britain to China and Japan. It is not like in the post-war settlement, where America had unparalleled control over everything. That period has come to an end. He has ostracised the Mexican ruling class and they are looking at China now. Trade war leads to actual war and that cant be understated.

My family are really concerned about Trump and what it means. A lot of people are concerned that a billionaire, a gangster who is mafia-like, is now at the head of the most powerful nuclear-armed country in the world. I think the points that have been made on the World Socialist Web Site and today that Trump didnt fall from the sky, that he came from somewhere, that is true. No other web site offers this historical approach.

Tim came to the meeting from Sheffield. He said, I read the World Socialist Web Site regularly. When I woke up on the day Donald Trump was elected, I was quite surprised and concerned. David Norths presentation today, including all the graphs and information he presented, explained how the seething anger of the people is increasing over the amount of wealth being monopolised by a smaller and smaller group of people.

I thought the presentation was brilliant. To see the graphs and how much wealth has been taken away from the general working population in order to be monopolized by a tiny minority of the American population really explains why some people voted for Donald Trump. Rather, they did not vote for Trump, but voted against the establishment politics, especially the politics of the Democratic Party.

David North pointed out that the drive towards war can be stopped only through the socialist mobilisation of the international working class, recognising that the workers in America, Britain and China have exactly the same interests. The globalisation of production means that the principle of international solidarity is a life-and-death necessity for the working classfor it to defend itself by adopting international socialism and fighting for that on a world scale. I thought his analysis was absolutely brilliant.
Approximately 100 workers, students and youth attended a lecture in London on Saturday delivered by David North, the chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party of the US.

Norths lecture addressed the causes and consequences of the election victory of Donald Trump.

In explaining the Trump presidency, North contrasted the type of leadership associated with the ascendancy of US capitalism with that associated with the period of its historic decline. In an earlier period, the American bourgeoisie could produce George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. Now, North said, they produce Trump.

The conception of the American presidency and how it was viewed was very much shaped by the personalities who had occupied that position, North explained. He noted that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was seen by masses of workers as the man who created Social Security.

North stated that the consequences of Trumps election will be enormous. He continued, I say this to the younger people in this room. Your lives are very much going to be dominated by what happens you are not going to escape the consequences of such historical development.

Trump represents, he said, all that is sick, decadent, filthy, backward and stupid in American life, but he didnt come from nowhere.

Noting that Hillary Clinton obtained nearly 3 million more votes than Trump, North explained that prior to 2000, through all the elections of the 20th century, the man with the most popular votes always won the election. The last time this was not the case before 2000 was in 1888. Yet Trumps loss in the popular vote was not being made an issue by the Democrats, who were instead attacking Trump from the rightas a catspaw for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The exclusive focus on the alleged email hacking scandal, with the Democrats claiming without evidence that Russia intervened in the election in favour of Trump, proves that Trump and the reactionary social and economic policies he presents are not an aberration.

What is being fought out in the ruling elites, North said, are conflicts over foreign policy and the concerns that Trump, with his focus on China, is prepared to do a deal with Putin. For the faction of the ruling elite that backed Hillary Clinton, [Russia] is considered a greater immediate threat. Or, to put it another way, the long-term prospect of dealing with China and the danger represented by its rise to power requires that the United States first settle accounts with the Russians.

It is important to answer the claims, North said, that Trump had come to power on the basis of a wave of popular reaction. The Democrats organised their election campaign based on a gathering of lifestyles or identities: ethnic identity, sexual identity, gender identityand that would be the basis of a coalition. In discussions within the Democratic Party, the issue came up repeatedly, apparently, about the working class. It was Bill Clinton who asked, is there not a danger that we are not making an economic appeal? But that was dismissed as being of no consequence. They definitely did not want to make an appeal to workers on a class basis.

The Democrats were, rather, oriented to a far more privileged layer, the top 10 percent... This election strategy blew up in the Democrats faces because they simply wrote off large portions of the working class in the critical states they ultimately lostWisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Had these states been won, Clinton would have also had a majority in the Electoral College. Trump was elected, not as the pseudo-left claim, due to the manifestation of white privilege, but because the Democratic vote collapsed.

Barack Obama, North continued, won a massive popular vote victory in 2008. A broad section of supposedly racist whites went and voted for the first African-American president and re-elected him because they were attracted to the slogan Change you can believe in. They wanted change. That was the era of the economic crash in 2008, itself the product of a long-term economic deterioration, and they voted for Obama... Nothing of the sort happened. He became a president who served to an extraordinary degree the interests of Wall Street.

North stated that the election actually represented a profound shift to the left in the population. Nearly 13 million had voted for Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries on the basis of his claim to be a democratic socialist and his denunciations of the billionaire class.

The WSWS chairman referred to Leon Trotskys prognosis made in 1928, one year before the Wall Street crash: In the period of crisis, the hegemony of the United States will operate more completely, more openly and more ruthlessly than in the period of boom. The United States will seek to overcome and extricate herself from her difficulties and maladies primarily at the expense of Europe, regardless of whether this occurs in Asia, Canada, South America, Australia or Europe itself, or whether this takes place peacefully or through war.

Those words acquire immense immediacy today, he said. Trump, a multi-billionaire, is heading a cabinet of the oligarchy, with those named so far having collectively amassed more than 14 billion in wealth. They will pursue a class war against working people. His appointment of senior military figures implicated in the crimes of US imperialism over the past three decades shows that, internationally, he will attempt to counter the United States economic rivals by using American military power.

Answering the question of where America was going, North said it was to dictatorship, to war and, above all, to revolution.

He concluded, In 1914, the ruling elites responded to the contradictions of capitalism through war. In 1917, the working class responded to those contradictions through revolution in Russia We are entering into another period of that character, but on a far greater scale. Our epoch is not simply an epoch of social revolution, but of world socialist revolution. Can anyone believe that political upheavals in America will not generate through the world colossal explosions? Already, when one thinks about the situation, are there not clear parallels to the crisis in Britain, the crisis in France, the crisis developing in Austria or Italy?

As in the United States, we see a growth of immense popular dissatisfaction. The answer to these issues can only be through the building of a political leadership in the working class based on the fundamental conceptions of revolutionary Marxism as they were developed by Lenin and, above all, by Trotsky. We believe that the emergence of the working class is inevitable. It is going to see though the Trumps, the promoters of nationalism here in Britain, the Le Pens in France. The fraud and bankruptcy of these programmes will be very rapidly exposed.

The Socialist Equality Party and the International Committee of the Fourth International must, he stressed, turn to the working class, to the advanced sections of youth. We have to provide a socialist alternative.

Norths lecture was greeted with enthusiastic and sustained applause. In a question-and-answer session, audience members asked North about the composition of the working class today, the US Electoral College system, the Clinton email hacking scandal and the implications of Trumps anti-Chinese policies.

More than 300 in literature was sold, including many copies of Norths own writings. A collection for the Socialist Equality Partys 100,000 Development Fund raised almost 4,500.
A former key Australian Labor Party factional powerbroker, Eddie Obeid, was sentenced to five years jail on Thursday on charges of wilful misconduct in public office. His jailing is an explicit attempt to shore up the countrys increasingly discredited parliamentary establishment.

Obeid, now 73, was given a non-parole period of three years after being found guilty in June of abusing his position as a member of the New South Wales (NSW) state parliament. He was convicted of concealing his familys business interest in two Sydney harbourside cafes when lobbying a senior government official for the renewal of the lucrative cafe leases.

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) had evidence that the two restaurants were given extended leases in 2006 at reduced rents, a benefit that was worth up to $1 million for each restaurant. As is the norm in wealthy circles, Obeid had disguised his familys ownership through several family trusts.

The essence of the case is that he has intentionally abused the public trust, NSW Supreme Court Justice Robert Beech-Jones said in explaining his heavy sentence. The overwhelming majority of parliamentarians are not motivated by an intention to enrich themselves or their families, he insisted.

All the work of parliamentarians can be destroyed by the wilful misconduct of only some of their members, the judge added. Corruption by elected representatives consumes democracies. It destroys public confidence in democratic institutions.

Media commentators, editorials and politicians quickly echoed the judges words. Acting NSW Labor leader Michael Daley said: Confidence in public life has been weakened terribly on both sides of politics in the last few years, and so we hope this judgment today goes some way in restoring confidence in the parliament and in our profession.

Former NSW Premier and federal Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr, who appointed and kept Obeid as state mineral resources and fisheries minister from 1999 to 2003 despite previous corruption allegations, said the sentence would be warmly welcomed by all residents of NSW, not least by Labor people furious with Obeid for letting their side down.

Such attempts to depict Obeid as a bad apple in an otherwise healthy political system defy the documented record. Obeid was a political kingmaker for decades, a wealthy businessman whose network of patronage ensured his influence not only with Carr but over subsequent Labor governments.

Obeid, who operated a right-wing Labor Party sub-faction known as the Terrigals, effectively installed three successive NSW premiers, Morris Iemma (2005), Nathan Rees (2008) and Kristina Keneally (2009), following Carrs departure from that post in 2005.

By the time that Obeid himself decided to quit parliament in 2011, Labor was thrown out of office in a landslide at that years state election. It was despised throughout the working class for imposing pro-business policies, including the privatisation of electricity and other state assets, and for its notorious relationships with property developers and mining companies.

Obeids influence was not confined to NSW. As well as largely controlling the state branch, his faction played a key role federally for years. In fact, two Labor prime ministers, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, mostly owed their elevations into the party leadership in 2006 to Obeids faction.

These connections extended to Labors supposed left factions. Anthony Albanese, who later became deputy prime minister, defended Obeids party pre-selection for parliament when it was under threat.

Moreover, Obeids cafe leases were small beer compared to the largesse and payoffs that leading figures in both the Labor and Liberal-National parties have rested upon for decadesvia preferment for jobs and promotions, lucrative business deals and career paths into corporate boardrooms and consultancies.

Over the past decade, as economic conditions have worsened, the traditional ruling parties have been rocked by corruption revelations involving, for example, mining leases and illegal donations from property companies. In NSW alone, ICAC inquiries have resulted in multiple resignations of cabinet ministers and members of parliament from both parties, and further corruption charges are still pending.

The stench of corruption has risen sharply over the past few decades because of the collapse of the memberships of these parties, which has made them more financially dependent on soliciting donations from corporate interests, including developers, in return for political favours.

In particular, years of attacks on the jobs, social conditions and basic rights of working people by federal and state Labor governments on behalf of big business have reduced the Labor Party to a bureaucratic shell. It is dominated by factional kingpins and trade union apparatchiks, all faithfully servicing the needs of the corporate elite, as well as furthering their own careers and business interests.

With party branches and active union members virtually extinct, parliamentary pre-selections are determined by nominally right and left faction and sub-faction bosses, either via local branch membership-stacking or state or national executive votes controlled by party and union machines.

Rather than an exception, Obeid epitomises this rot and decay. A prominent property developer, he was originally handed a seat in the NSW parliament in 1991 by Graham Richardsona senior minister in the Hawke and Keating federal Labor governments of the 1980s and 1990sbecause he was a successful businessman.

Like its social democratic counterparts internationally, the Labor Party has become an overt party of big business over the past several decades. Under the Hawke and Keating governments, Labor and the unions, working closely together, responded to the globalisation of capitalist production by jettisoning their previous program of national economic regulation and limited social reforms in favour of pro-market economic restructuring, privatisation, job slashing and erosion of social services.

That is the underlying reason for the loss of public confidence in the parliamentary elite. While the media commentary surrounding Obeids jailing has focussed narrowly on misconduct and corruption, the public disaffection and political instability go far deeper.

Notably, Obeids sentence was handed down amid ongoing political turmoil in the wake of the July 2 federal election, which the current government barely survived, and with record numbers of votes going to right-wing populists. These formations, such as the anti-immigrant Pauline Hansons One Nation, have been the initial beneficiaries of the discontent, which they have sought to channel in reactionary and nationalist directions.

The financial markets and corporate elite have increasingly lost confidence in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls Liberal-National government to impose on the population their agenda of drastic social spending cuts, lower company taxes, and a further assault on workers wages and conditions.

This nervousness has been intensified by the election of the nationalist demagogue Donald Trump to be the next US president, with his threats of protectionism and trade wars that could have devastating consequences for export-dependent Australian capitalism.

By making an example of Obeid, the ruling class is desperately seeking to shore up the credibility of its parliamentary servants as it prepares for economic, social and political convulsions.

The author also recommends:

Australian corruption findings highlight Labor Partys decay

[10 August 2013]

Australia: NSW Labor embroiled in corruption scandal

[7 March 2008]
The number of overdose deaths in the US from synthetic opioids surged 72 percent from 2014 to 2015, according to new data released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The dramatic one-year rise follows a tripling of overdose deaths from opioids from 1999 to 2014, as tracked by the CDC.

The news follows CDC research released earlier this month showing that heroin overdose deaths in the US have reached epidemic proportions, with opioid overdose deaths rising 5,000 since 2014, surpassing 30,000 for the first time in recent history.

The reality of the opioid overdose crisis stands in stark contrast to President Obamas rosy depiction of life in America as he prepares to leave office. At his last press conference of the year on Friday, he pointed to the low official unemployment rate, a modest increase in wages and, above all, a tripling of the stock market to claim that he leaves a legacy of economic success. He avoided any mention of the social crisis wracking the country, including declining life expectancy for large sections of the working class, rising suicides, and surging substance abuse and death from opioid overdoses.

Obamas words provide cold comfort to the tens of thousands of families losing loved ones to the opioid epidemic, even as funding for treatment programs is cut. Despite the CDCs stress in its report on the urgent need for a multifaceted, collaborative public health response to the opioid epidemic, there is no coordinated government effort to stem the tide of opioid abuse and overdose deaths.

According to the CDCs latest report, a majority of US states reported significant increases in overdose deaths due to heroin and prescription painkiller abuse last year. In 2015 alone, drug overdoses killed 52,000 people, with nearly 66 percent of these deaths resulting from abuse of prescription or illegal opioids.

The CDC data shows that two synthetic opioids, fentanyl and tramadol, are largely responsible for the nationwide increase in drug overdose deaths. Fentanyl is a potent opioid pain medication estimated to be at least 50 to 100 times as strong as morphine. Overdoses from tramadol often involve other drugs, including alcohol.

Last year, 9,580 died from overdoses of synthetic opioids other than methadone, while painkillers such as Oxycontin and Vicotin had a 4 percent increase, resulting in 17,536 overdose deaths.

Over the last six years, deaths form heroin overdoses alone have quadrupled. For the first time ever, more people died from heroin overdoses last year, 12,989, than were killed by gun violence, 12,979.

Males saw a staggering 90.9 percent increase in synthetic opioid deaths from 2014 to 2015, with younger men the hardest hit. Men ages 15-24 saw a 91.7 percent increase; ages 25-34, a 94.1 percent increase; ages 35-44, an 80.6 percent increase.

Overdose deaths from synthetic opioids among women rose by 46.2 percent in 2015, with women ages 15-24 seeing the largest one-year rise in deaths--116.7 percent--of any age or gender group.

The CDCs data shows blacks of all ages (non-Hispanic) with the largest one-year increase, 95 percent; followed by whites (non-Hispanic), 75 percent; and Hispanics, 50 percent.

Seven years into the so-called economic recovery, cities and towns across the country are gripped by an opioid and heroin epidemic that sees no signs of ebbing. Families seem helpless to deal with their members addictions, with their only apparent ally the drug naloxone (brand name Narcan), which reverses the effects of opioids within minutes. The drug is now widely available to the public in many states.

The Northeast region saw the biggest hike in synthetic opioid overdose deaths, rising by 107 percent in 2015 over 2014 figures. Three Northeast states registered overdose death increases in excess of 100 percent in one year: New York (135.7 percent), Connecticut (125.9 percent), and Massachusetts (108.7 percent). New Hampshire followed close behind (94.4 percent), as did Maine (90.4 percent).

In the face of the Massachusetts opioid crisis, Republican Governor Charlie Bakers proposed budget for fiscal year 2017 slashes $1.929 million from the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, affecting treatment programs across the state.

In Connecticut, another hard-hit New England state, there are 400 people on the waiting list for the substance abuse treatment and detox programs paid for by the states judicial branch on any given day, according to the CT Mirror. To cut $4 million from the judicial branchs budget, the state has cut substance abuse treatment beds in Hartford, Middletown, New Britain, New London, Sharon and Waterbury.

The Midwest region saw the next biggest one-year increase, at 95 percent. Illinois saw a 120 percent increase, while Ohio had a 107.3 percent rise.

Among the 28 states meeting inclusion criteria for state-level analysis by the CDC, the largest absolute change in deaths from synthetic opioids other than methadone occurred in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island and West Virginia. States seeing the largest absolute rate changes for heroin deaths were Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio and West Virginia.

Under conditions where budget cuts will only deepen under a Trump administration, little hope is offered to the tens of millions of people across the country facing a future of austerity and increased health problems, including addiction.

While one in seven Americans will become addicted to drugs or alcohol in their lifetime, according to a recent report from the US surgeon general, only 10 percent of those affected will ever receive help in treating their dependency.

Such is the true social legacy of Obamas pro-corporate and militaristic policies, rooted in the defense of the capitalist profit system.
The 538 members of the US Electoral College are casting their votes Monday in 50 state capitals. All indications are that, with a handful of exceptions, the Electoral College vote will follow the results of the voting on November 8, giving Republican Donald Trump 306 electoral votes to Hillary Clintons 232.

In the nearly six weeks since the election, Trump has announced his nominations for nearly all major cabinet and executive positions. His government will be the most right-wing in the history of the country, comprised of billionaires, corporate executives, generals and individuals determined to dismantle bedrock social programs and eliminate all regulations and restraints on corporate profit.

The fact that the Electoral College vote is even a subject of discussion and controversy is a measure of the palpably undemocratic character of the election. For the second time in less than two decades, the candidate with the most electors lost the popular vote. The scale of Trumps popular vote defeat, nearly three million ballots, is historically unprecedented for a president-elect.

Following the election, sharp divisions within the political establishment and the state have erupted to the surface, intensifying over the past two weeks. Sections of the Democratic Party have backed a campaign appealing to individual electors not to cast their ballot for Trump, or insist that they receive a report from US intelligence agencies on alleged Russian interference in the election before the Electoral College vote is held.

What is remarkable about this campaign is that it is not based on Trumps decisive defeat in the popular vote, nor on his White House and cabinet appointments. The Democrats and their media allies such as the New York Times are not making an issue of Trumps installation of Stephen Bannon, CEO of the fascistic Breitbart.com, as his top White House aide, or his plans to round up millions of undocumented workers, destroy Medicaid and Medicare, and move toward the privatization of Social Security.

The campaign being carried out by Democratic politicians and most of the corporate-controlled media is focused solely on unsubstantiated charges of Russian hacking of Democratic Party emails and Trumps refusal to acknowledge or condemn it. The Democratic Party is continuing its election campaign strategy of attacking the fascistic billionaire Trump from the right, on the basis of a warmongering barrage against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the charge that Trump is his political stooge.

In opposing Trump, the Democrats are appealing not to working people, but to the military and the intelligence agencies.

In appearances on national television Sunday morning, Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, Democratic Representative Don Beyer of Virginia, and Democratic elector Clay Pell, grandson of a US senator, all urged that the electors meeting on Monday refuse to cast ballots until they receive a detailed briefing from US intelligence agencies about the alleged Russian interference in the election.

Both Podesta and the interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, Donna Brazile, refused point-blank to respond to the question of whether the voting on Election Day, November 8, constituted a free and fair election. Podesta said it was distorted by the Russian intervention. Brazile declared, We were attacked by a foreign adversary, adding that the outcome was tainted by this intrusion.

Podesta, in his first appearance on a Sunday television interview program since the election, cited the op-ed by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof published the same day, describing Trump as a Russian poodle. I never thought I would see a dispute between Americas intelligence community and a murderous foreign dictator in which an American leader sided with a dictator, Kristof wrote.

Podesta went even further than Kristof, suggesting that its very much unknown whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. He declared, I think really not what Mr. Trump knew, but what did Trump Inc. know and when did they know it, were they in touch with the Russians? I think those are still open questions.

This is an appeal of a neo-McCarthyite character, in which capitalist Russia is substituted for the Soviet Union in a campaign by one of the two major capitalist parties against its rivals based on the accusation that they are Russian agents.

Short of actually preventing Trumps entry into the White House, the anti-Russian campaign by the intelligence agencies and the Democrats has as its goal making it more difficult for Trump to shift away from the current orientation of US foreign policy, which is toward an intensified confrontation with Russia.

As the World Socialist Web Site has emphasized, the conflict over alleged Russian hacking reveals the essential content of the US presidential election campaign, as far as the US ruling elite and its military-intelligence apparatus were concerned. In her campaign against Trump, Clinton combined an appeal to privileged sections of the upper-middle class on the basis of identity politics with an attack on Trump as someone who would be soft on Russia and insufficiently aggressive in defending the interests of US imperialism in the Middle East and elsewhere.

All the scandalmongering and mutual accusations of criminality and corruption concealed the real issue in the election: the direction of US foreign policy in the wake of the debacles suffered by the Obama administration in Syria and Iraq.

Clinton advocated essentially a continuation of the policies of Obama, escalating tensions with Russia in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, while Trump called for a different approach, with an eye to targeting China and other trade rivals of American banks and corporations. Significantly, in a report from Trump Tower Sunday, ABC correspondent Tom Llamas said that he had been told by a senior Trump adviser that China, not Russia, was the most important foreign policy assignment for President-elect Trump.

More generally, there is a sense of foreboding within the US national-security establishment. Senator John McCain, in an appearance on CNN, cited the intervention of Russia in Syria as a sign of a possible unraveling of the world order that was established after World War II, in other words, an end of the dominant position of the United States.

No section of the US ruling elite will accept such an outcome peacefully. The incoming Trump administration and its critics, both Democratic and Republican, are in conflict over tactics and methods, but not over the fundamental goal. US imperialism will resort increasingly to military violence, up to and including world war, to defend its global position against all challenges, both from foreign rivals and the working class.
In the early morning hours of December 17, police violently broke up a blockade of the Polish parliament (Sejm) by several hundred protesters. Protests had erupted last week throughout the country against a bill curtailing the right to assembly and another limiting the access of media outlets and journalists to parliamentary sessions.

As of this writing, 20 to 30 Sejm delegates from the liberal opposition party Civic Platform (PO) are still involved in a sit-in at the parliament building to protest the policies of the right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS).

With this latest stand-off, the constitutional crisis in Poland that began over a year ago following PiS accession to government has reached a turning point, with the country entering its deepest political crisis since the collapse of the Stalinist regime and the beginning of the restoration of capitalism in 1989.

The blockade of the Sejm started on Friday evening after nationwide protests organized by the liberal opposition against the PiS law limiting media access to parliamentary sessions. Under the law, only five television stations will be allowed to record the sessions, and the number of journalists will be severely curtailed.

Earlier in the week, on December 13, the 35th anniversary of the 1981 declaration of martial law by General Jaruzelski, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in opposition-led protests against the law restricting freedom of assembly. As in previous demonstrations, the protesters on Wednesday and Friday waved Polish and European Union flags.

The bill on limiting media access to parliament was discussed in the Sejm on Friday. Civic Platform delegates protested loudly during the session, occupying the lectern and holding up banners declaring Free Media and No Censorship.

In response, the president of the senate moved a vote on the budget for 2017 to other facilities in the Sejm, banning media from reporting on the vote. The opposition questioned the legitimacy of the vote, pointing out that it had not been carried out in accordance with the Polish Constitution.

After the session, several hundred demonstrators followed the call of the leader of the KOD (Committee for the Defense of Democracy), which has been organizing the opposition protests since last winter, to block the doors to the parliament. Protesters announced that they would make the delegates, an estimated 200 members of PiS, sit in parliament until Christmas.

On Saturday night, the police started their crackdown on the protesters. According to the opposition, the police resorted to force. Earlier reports about the use of tear gas by the police were later retracted by the KOD.

At around 2:40 am, Prime Minister Beata Szydo and PiS leader Jarosaw Kaczynski, who had been locked up in the Sejm, fled the scene in black limousines. According to some Polish press reports, the vehicles of both were attacked. The police continued to patrol the streets of Warsaw during the night.

On Saturday morning, Szydo appeared on Polish television and declared the protests to have been scandalous. The minister of the interior, Marius Blaszczak, accused the opposition of an illegal attempt to seize power. Both statements leave room open for far-reaching anti-democratic measures to clamp down on the protest movement, which will serve to further strengthen the authoritarian regime built up by PiS over the past year.

In an attempt to bring the situation under control, President Andrzej Duda, who is close to Kaczynski but formally not aligned with PiS, met with several opposition leaders. Protesters on Friday had appealed to the president to oppose the policies of PiS, and Duda declared he was deeply concerned about the situation and ready to mediate. The first politician from the opposition with whom Duda met was businessman Ryszard Petru, who founded and leads the Nowoczesna (Modern) party, which played a key role in organizing the protests.

The president of the European Council and informal leader of the opposition PO party, Donald Tusk, aligned himself with the protesters, urging the government to observe democratic norms and thanking the demonstrators for their protests. Tusk is currently involved in a sharp political dispute with the PiS government, which has accused him of betraying Polish national interests and opposed his renewed candidacy for EU Council president. In contrast to the PiS government, Tusk argues for a much closer orientation in foreign policy to Brussels, and particularly Berlin. (See: Polish government prepares legal action against EU council president Donald Tusk).

The laws introduced by PiS are in preparation for a military confrontation with Russia and the violent suppression of working class opposition. However, the perspective of the opposition movement offers no progressive way forward for workers and youth interested in fighting the reactionary policies of PiS.

The parties involved in the opposition movement include PO, the Nowoczesna party and, increasingly, the pseudo-left party Razem, which is modeled after the Greek Syriza and Spanish Podemos.

While in government, the PO not only enacted deeply unpopular austerity measures, it also curtailed democratic rights. Ironically, in 2012 the PO government took a step toward limiting the right to freedom of assembly, on which the PiS government has based itself in its attacks on the opposition movement. Under the pretext of preventing far-right demonstrations, the 2012 law extended the minimal time between the notification of an assembly and its occurrence and introduced a number of further restrictions.

The unpopular policies of the PO government, in the absence of a genuinely left-wing alternative to give voice to the social and political discontent of the working class, helped pave the way for a return of PiS to power in the fall of 2015.

The Nowoczesna party is an openly pro-business organization, expressing the interests of very privileged layers of the upper-middle class and bourgeoisie that feel economically and politically undermined by the policies of PiS.

Razem serves to channel growing social and political discontent back into the dead end of the liberal opposition. The extent of its democratic commitment can be judged by its alliance with Syriza, which has enacted brutal austerity measures and proceeded violently against refugees and anti-government protests.

These forces are not acting to defend the democratic and social rights of the working class. They are concerned about the anti-democratic laws of PiS only to the extent that they limit their ability to participate in bourgeois rule and influence the policies of the government.

Tensions within the Polish bourgeoisie are running high over what foreign policy to pursue in the wake of the victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential elections. The liberal opposition has long feared that the almost exclusive orientation of PiS toward an alliance with US imperialism threatens Polish national interests, and now feels confirmed in this regard by the victory of Trump.

In an article titled What do the nominations by Trump mean for Poland? the liberal Newsweek Polska wrote that the most concerning [issue] from the Polish perspective is that the nominations by Trump confirm that one has to reckon with a reset in relations with Russia, the victim of which might be the hitherto pursued and, for Warsaw, beneficial US policy in the conflict in Ukraine and with regard to the Eastern flank of NATO.

The article also noted anxiously that Trumps cabinet of billionaires and generals would increase social tensions and destabilize the country, also not good for Warsaw.

Earlier, the newspaper had published a lengthy interview with Tusk on Polish foreign policy, in which he sharply criticized PiS foreign policy. Tusk argued that the significance of Poland depends on the state of its relations with Berlin and Paris. The biggest problem, Tusk warned, was the deterioration of relations with Berlin under PiS.
A new report released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that 1,900 arrest-related deaths occurred in the United States between June 2015 and May 2016. The number of police killings, or homicides, recorded by the BJS is more than twice the number reported by the FBI.

The BJS, a division of the US Justice Department, defines arrest-related deaths as all deaths that occur during the process of arrest or during an attempt to obtain custody by state or local police agencies. This would include, for example, people who die of a heart attack or commit suicide while being arrested, but would not include individuals shot by police officers who are not on active duty.

Despite the enormous number of people killed by police every year, there is no reliable or standardized method for calculating the figure. The FBIs annual report is based on voluntary reports from local police agencies, many of which do not submit figures. Web sites like Killed By Police and the Guardians The Counted rely on media reports, but not all deaths are reported in news stories.

The BJS report is based on a combination of media reports and a more systematic survey of police agencies. Based on media accounts, it identified 1,348 potential arrest-related deaths between June 2015 and March 2016, or an average of about 135 per month. It requested reports from local police to confirm or deny media tallies and identify other deaths, which resulted in a 12 percent increase in deaths for this period.

The 1,900 estimate is based on the full media survey from June 2015 to May 2016, plus an additional 12 percent extrapolated from the three-month survey of police agencies.

The BJS estimated that 64 percent of the deaths were homicides (that is, willful killings), while 18 percent were suicides and 11 percent were accidents. This would mean that about 1,216 fall under the category of police killings.

In comparison, the Guardian has recorded 1,026 individuals killed by police so far this year and 1,146 total last year.

The vast majority of police killings are never covered by the national media, and are buried in three- or four-paragraph summaries in local media, if reported at all. The individuals killed are from all racial backgrounds and ages, though overwhelmingly they are poor or working class. Some of the deaths are related to the commission of violent crimes, but most are a product of desperate social conditions and a brutal and disproportionate police response.

Among the recent killings this past week are:

* An unidentified 44-year-old man in Everett, Washington who was fatally shot Saturday night after police claim he reached for an officers gun during a struggle that followed a domestic violence incident.

* Jeffery Lee Lawson, 48, who was shot and killed Saturday night in Shelby County, Tennessee after police claim he threatened them with a knife while in his driveway. His wife had previously reported that Lawson was bipolar but did not always take his medication.

* Marlon Lewis, 37, died of cardiac arrest on Thursday after police in Badin, North Carolina used a Taser on him repeatedly. Police claim that Lewis, a father of two, was resisting arrest, but his sister said that he had called 911 for help and told police that someone was trying to kill him.

* Steven Garett Ward, 20, was shot in Jefferson Township, Pennsylvania after police responded to a domestic dispute call on December 7. He died last week. Police claim that he walked towards them with a knife in his hand.

These killings follow the shooting of Francisco Serna, a 73-year-old man suffering from dementia, by Bakersfield, California police last weekend. Police say they shot and killed the man in his neighbors driveway when he refused to take his hands out of his pockets. He was unarmed and had been holding a wooden crucifix in his jacket.

An autopsy released on Thursday reported that Serna was struck by five of the seven bullets shot at him by police officer Reagan Selman.

Based on the averages published by the BJS for 2015, something on the order of 10,000 people have been killed by police during the eight years of the Obama administration. Since protests erupted over the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014, the number of police killings has, if anything, only increased.

Along with an overall policy of war and social reaction, the incoming Trump administration has pledged to give police greater powers and an even freer hand to commit violence throughout the country.
[Part One] [Part Two]

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, the author of 38 or so plays, more than 150 sonnets and two long narrative poems. Shakespeare is one of the greatest figures in world literature. His plays, translated into every major language, continue to be more widely performed than those of any other dramatist.

Shakespeare contributed significantly to how human beings see and understand each other and the world. Of course, there are obsolete ideas and relationships in his playsno one jumps entirely out of his or her historical skinbut there is also a living fountain of human behavior, noble, wicked, lustful, idealistic, vengeful, greedy, restless and tender. His drama is an education.

He wrote magnificent history plays, tragedies, comedies and, in the latter part of his career, what are now referred to as romances, some of those in collaboration with younger playwrights.

The dramatist introduced hundreds of new phrases and more than a thousand words into the English language, which contemporary English speakers, unaware of their origin, make use of on a daily basis. Each time we refuse to budge an inch, break the ice, wait with bated breath, come full circle or eat someone out of house and home, we pay mundane tribute to the indispensable character of Shakespeares efforts. He described features of life and of the human personality in a fresh, indelible, objectively true manner.

In his work, to place things on a more theoretical plane, new complexes of feelings and thoughtsin Trotskys phrasedecisively broke through the shell which divides them from the sphere of poetic consciousness under the influence of a powerful impulseabove all, the decline of the old feudal social order, which had lasted for centuries, and the dizzying, troubling emergence of a new, bourgeois one. The beauty and lyricism of Shakespeares language, almost painful at times, and the life-and-death intensity of the emotions he represents are a measure of the force of that historical impulse. So too are the arrival on the scene of two other great dramatists, Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson, and a host of immensely talented ones.

Shakespeares leading characters are towering figures, because their theme and life purpose, personal emancipation, was towering and revolutionary in that epoch. The Renaissance, including the English Renaissance, put the human individual at the center of things. It was not God or the Church now who could show men and women how to conduct themselves or make their way in the worldan often chaotic and cruel world, but also a dynamic source of endless fascination and possibility.

The German philosopher Hegel, in his Aesthetics, speaks strongly to this point. He argues that Shakespeares characters do not base themselves on something higher, i.e., the Divine, but instead, unbending and unbent, rest on themselves and in this firmness either realize themselves or perish. For Shakespeares principal human creations, Hegel writes, there is no question of religious feeling  or of morality as such. Instead, we witness individuals on stage who decide on particular ends which are their own  and which they now set themselves to execute with the unshakeable logic of passion. Macbeth, for example, initially hesitates, but then stretches out his hand to the crown, commits murder to get it, and, in order to maintain it, storms away through every atrocity. This reckless firmness, this identity of the man with himself and the end arising from his own decision, gives him an essential interest for us.

Shakespeare wrote about kings and queens and archbishops, and also servants and clowns and weavers. Act II of Henry the Fourth, Part 1, one of his most brilliant works, begins at 4 am in front of a roadside inn in Rochester, where a carrier (someone who delivered letters and packages in a time before regular mail service) laments the condition of his horse. A second carrier comes in and complains about the wretched peas and beans they feed the horses at the inn, the latters abundance of fleas (this be the most villainous house in all London road in that regard) and its lack of toilets. An ostler (stableman) offstage promises to come ready their animals. A thief enters, etc.

Shakespeares work endures in part because he excelled atand clearly reveled increating this kind of low and indecent scene, as one 18th century actorwriter termed it, as much as he did at representing eloquent, titanic confrontations between titled personages. To as great a degree as any artist in history he confronted reality in an open and sensuous, universal and all-encompassing manner.

The relentless, searching, realistic depiction of life in all its dimensions (James Shapiro below refers to Shakespeares ruthless honesty) in the English Renaissance theater as a whole over the course of more than half a century had an incalculable, cumulative social effect. Before audiences that included large numbers of commoners, Shakespeare and the other writers presented in revealing detail the often inglorious doings of monarchs, princes and princesses, earls, cardinals and other dignitaries. The playwrights were not consciously subversive, but their dramas, which held up a truthful mirror to English society, helped undermine the social order and make possible the convulsive, revolutionary events of the 1640s.

James Shapiro

James Shapiro (born 1955), professor at Columbia University in New York City, is one of the most remarkable writers on Shakespeare in our day. He has written five books on the subject or related subjects: Rival Playwrights: Marlowe, Jonson, Shakespeare, 1991; Shakespeare and the Jews, 1996; 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare, 2005; Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare?, 2010; and The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606, 2015.

The works are rooted in exhaustive research. For his book on Shakespeares life in 1599, the year the dramatist wrote Henry the Fifth, Julius Caesar, As You Like It and Hamlet, for example, Shapiro set himself the task of reading almost all of the books written in 1599 that Shakespeare might have owned or borrowed or come upon in Londons bookstalls. His focus also allowed Shapiro to reflect on the events of that yearrecorded in contemporary letters, sermons, plays, poems, diaries, travelers accounts, and official recordsthat had a bearing on Shakespeares life and work.

The results are often fascinating and eye-opening. Shapiro creates a vivid picture of English social life, with a particular emphasis on crucial political events and their influence on Shakespeares drama.

There are intriguing elements in all the books, especially the three aimed at a broader audience. Contested Will contains a wealth of material on the controversy over the authorship of Shakespeares plays, a controversy largely kept alive for political and ideological reasons. Shapiro identifies the essentially antidemocratic outlook of the leading Shakespeare deniers, and attempts to get to the bottom of what it was that led some very smart and often insightful peopleincluding Mark Twain, Henry James and Sigmund Freud, among othersto join their camp.

The Year of Lear treats 1606, the twelve months in which Shakespeare wrote three of his greatest tragedies, King Lear, Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra. Shapiro spends a good deal of time in this book on the impact of the foiled Gunpowder Plot in November 1605 and the brutal repression over the following months of the conspirators, a group of English Catholics who hoped to blow up King James I (James VI of Scotland), a Protestant, along with the rest of the countrys political and religious elite. The accession of the Scottish king to the English throne in 1603, on the death of the childless Elizabeth, had produced the Union of the Crowns (England, Scotland and Ireland). Shapiro argues persuasively that the momentous, ominous events of 1603-06 strongly informed the writing of King Lear, in which the division of kingdoms is the great and destructive issue, and Macbeth, which of course concerns the killing of a King of Scots.

However, I would like to concentrate here on a few of the questions Shapiro raises in the preface, prologue and body of 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare, because they seem to me to lie at the heart of his specific contribution and to be extraordinarily thought-provoking. Such a discussion will also help, I hope, shed light on the interview posted below.

The Columbia professor, to his credit, establishes clearly from the outset his intent to recount a good deal of social and political history, as the only means of conveying a sense of how deeply Shakespeares work emerged from an engagement with his times. This notion alone sets Shapiro apart from the postmodernist-industrial complex, whose labors are systematically directed toward rejecting and suppressing such considerations.

Shapiro explains that his book is both about what Shakespeare achieved and what Elizabethans experienced in 1599, because the two processes are nearly inextricable. In an especially potent andunder the present intellectual conditionsnearly provocative paragraph, the author comments: Shakespeares appeal is universal precisely because he saw so deeply into the great questions of the day. Shakespeare himself certainly thought of his art in this way: the purpose of playing, he wrote in Hamlet, is to show  the very age and body of the time his form and pressure.

Shapiro goes on to say that 1599 was perhaps the decisive year in Shakespeares development as a writer, but that 15 years earlier when he had begun the project of researching it, I didnt know enough about the historical moment in which plays like As You Like It and Hamlet were written and which they engaged. The work, then, grew out of this frustration. Shapiro very seriously and, in the end, successfully set out to address his historical ignorance.

The reader, if he or she is sufficiently interested, should turn to 1599 and its account of such episodes as the English armys attempt to crush rebellion in Ireland, the return of the Earl of Essex from Ireland after his military failure, the new armada threat from Spain, the founding of the East India Company and the mounting anxiety over royal succession.

In a fascinating chapter, Shapiro draws a connection between intense political repression under the aging queen and the writing of Julius Caesar, about which he asserts, No play by Shakespeare explores censorship and silencing so deeply as the one he was writing during these months in 1599. He adds, a few pages later, Something extraordinary was beginning to happen as Shakespeare wrote Julius Caesar in the spring of 1599. The various strands of politics, character, inwardness, contemporary events, even Shakespeares own reflections on the art of writing began to infuse each other.

After a discussion of the Earl of Essex and his fate, interwoven as they were with the weakening and decline of the ancient nobility and its culture of honor, Shapiro writes:  Hamlet, born at the crossroads of the death of chivalry and the birth of globalization, is marked by these forces They cast a shadow over the play  and certainly inform its reflections on the possibility of heroic action. They also reinforce the plays nostalgia: theres a sense in Hamlet no less than in the culture at large of a sea change, of a world that is dead but not yet buried.

There are two further points, which I raised in the discussion with Professor Shapiro, but to which I feel the need to draw attention here, because they seem to me so pregnant with implications, and not simply for literature.

First, Shapiro, in his discussion of Julius Caesar, after observing that the playwright was born into an England poised between worlds, profoundly and elegantly writes: From the start of his career as dramatist and poet, Shakespeare was compulsively drawn to epochal moments, to what it meant to live through the transformation of so much that was familiar. One almost wants to add, and this was a key to his genius!

The phrase legitimately pleases Shapiro so much that he also applies it to the writing of Hamlet, asserting that Shakespeare once again found himself drawn to the epochal, to moments of profound shifts, of endings that were also beginnings. Pointing to the Reformationwhich itself was an episode in the long fight of the bourgeoisie against feudalism (Engels)and the death of the old religion, Catholicism, the author points out that Shakespeares sensitivity to moments of epochal change was both extraordinary and understandable. Hamlet conveys, he writes, what it means to live in the bewildering space between familiar past and murky future. All this speaks to the powerful, determining influence of social life, the great questions of the day, on art and the artist.

Second, Shapiro makes a valuable point, in my view, about Shakespeare and the rigorous, demanding artistic course he chose, which must pertain as well to every intellectual-moral endeavor of a serious kind.

Shapiro comments that Shakespeare at a certain pointand he presumably locates this condition in or around 1599was able to write plays that appealed to audiences across a wide spectrum, but was nonetheless frustrated by the limits this imposed on what he could write. His desire to experiment  to wrestle with increasingly complicated social, historical, and political issues  jarred with the demands of writing plays that had to please all.

Should he adapt himself to prevailing tastes and opinions in an effort to satisfy one portion or another of his audience? Shapiro writes: Shakespeares way out of the dilemma of writing plays as pleasing at court as they were at the public theater was counterintuitive. Rather than searching for the lowest common denominator, he decided instead to write increasingly complicated plays that dispensed with easy pleasures and made both sets of playgoers work harder than they had ever worked before.

Isnt this the arduous path taken by the most farsighted and historically ambitious figure or figures in every important field, that is, the individual or tendency most sensitive to the objective undercurrents, not yet visible to great numbers of people?

I spoke to James Shapiro at his office on the Columbia University campus, where he has taught for 32 years, in November. I asked him first about the history of his interest in Shakespeare, which he has discussed in other interviews. He explained that he was force-fed Shakespeare in junior high school and at Midwood High School, in Brooklyn, New York and despite a pretty good teacher, I hated it. He never took a college course on the playwright as a result of this unhappy initial experience.

Shapiro added, When I write and when I think about Shakespeare, the ideal audience I have is made up of those who never went to college, who feel Shakespeare is distant from them and feel alienated from it. Im pretty adamant about trying to reach a different kind of audience, who share a confusion that I can still remember.

His attitude changed through his encounter with the British theater in the 1970s and 1980s, which was always holding that mirror up to postwar Britain. Whether it was seeing history plays there, whether it was Ian McKellens Coriolanus in 1984, or whether it was plays at the National Theatre where you really begin to see how authoritarian rulers come into power It was an education without signing up for the courses.

Over the course of several years, he would quit whichever crummy job he was holding down in New York and go over to London in August and see 25 plays in 25 days. So after six years or so of that I had seen 150 to 200 plays This was a moment of terrific theater, with great directors. The government was still subsidizing theater in significant ways, although the authorities were not entirely comfortable with it. It was a moment before HBO or Netflix, which would steal away great talent, or Hollywood for that matter So my timing was very fortunate.

I asked what route had led him to teaching Shakespeare. He attended Columbia as an undergraduate, where I was not a very good student, and the University of Chicago as a graduate student (I wasnt a very good grad student either). He knew he would be a teacher of some sort, because everyone in my family was a teacher.

He spent a year teaching at Dartmouth, and I was a really good teacher, especially in my mid-20s, but I was told by the vice chairman of the department that they already had one Jewish Shakespearean, and they couldnt have two. I told Shapiro that I was not surprised this was Dartmouths policy, but I was astonished the vice chairman of the department was so open about it.

Well, he said it. It wasnt personal; it was just the way Dartmouth was. He didnt say it with regret or with any pleasure; it was simply the reality. I went to Goucher College for two years in suburban Maryland. Columbia advertised for a revolving door position. No one had gotten tenure in this department for a generation. Coming here just meant losing the security of living in Baltimore and coming back to New York and teaching great students. I got tenure seven years later and Ive been here for 32 years now.

The rest of the conversation follows:

David Walsh: You speak in a couple of places in your books about not writing in an impenetrable fashion and making the decision to appeal to a popular audience. It wouldnt be letting you in on a secret to suggest this is not the general trend. The postmodern, post-structuralist material I read is certainly impenetrable, deliberately impenetrable and inaccessible. Did you feel you were fighting against the stream or not, at that point?

James Shapiro: East coast, private universities, as opposed, for example, to the University of California system, give you no reward for writing a book. So if youre going to write a book, youre either going to do it out of commitment and passion, or because you want to say something and reach a particular kind of audience. Thats very liberating. It also means if you are going to write a book, it has to be good enough to persuade a commercial publisher to invest in marketing, sales, editing, printing, etc. It means serving different masters and having a different sort of pressure. It also means moving from the saltwater of academic prose to the fresh water that people can drink.

DW: I understand, but still its a conscious decision to write for a popular audience.

JS: Mostly, I was trying to ask questions that academics werent interested in, but which mattered hugely to me. So I wrote a book called Shakespeare and the Jews. I was interested in doing that in part because at the time the academic holy trinity of race, class and gender did not allow for questions of religion and theology. At the same time, I had an intensely personal reason. I was living with and soon married to an Irish Catholic woman. Nobody had ever intermarried in my very observant family. What better way to explore the nature of Jewish identity than to immerse myself in a book about it?

DW: You write in the preface to 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare, Shakespeares appeal is universal precisely because he saw so deeply into the great questions of the day. Thats a tremendously important point to me.

JS: Try that on an academic audience.

DW: Thats my point! This is definitely swimming against the stream.

JS: I think it happens in a lot of classrooms, but I think the professionalization of literary studies in our lifetime has meant that people wont write about that, going back to the politics and pressures in the universities.

The BBC once brought in a number of actors and directors, and meI think I was the only nonperformer in this groupto talk for four minutes about our favorite character in Shakespeare. The organizers were nervous. They said, Oh, were so sorry, but Hamlet and Lear are already taken.

I said, They wouldnt have occurred to me. The character that I spoke about is a guy Shakespeare doesnt even give a name to in King Lear. He is simply the First Servant, a guy who has kept his mouth shut and his head down his entire life, and then he sees Gloucester being cruelly blinded by the Duke of Cornwall. Hold your hand, my lord, he says. And he goes on, Better service have I never done you than now to bid you hold.

In other words, Dont do this [the blinding]. I served you ever since I was a child, and Ive kept my mouth shut. Its really a class moment. He doesnt have a name. Im sure his lord doesnt know who he is. They kill each other, effectively. He lived for one moment to do some good. He is a barometer.

In other words, you can push people to the point where they consider what youve done to be so morally reprehensible that they will abandon what they previously believed in, cross class barriers, pull out a weapon and say, This is where I take to the streets. This is the character I thought worth speaking to and about.

To be continued
The Committee Against Torture (CAT), a UN panel that monitors the international implementation of the UN Convention against Torture, has revealed that torture and abductions are ongoing under the Sri Lankan government. The allegations are contained in a report released by CAT early this month.

Contrary to the insistence of President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe that their administration represents good governance, CAT makes clear that seven years after the defeat of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, Colombos police-state apparatus is still being used against the working class and oppressed masses.

The report highlights the comments of UN Special Rapporteur Juan E. Mendez who declared in May 2016 that torture in Sri Lanka is a common practice [and] carried out in relation to regular criminal investigations in a large majority of cases by the Criminal Investigation Department [CID] of the police, irrespective of the nature of suspected offences.

CAT noted that Sri Lankan police have wide-ranging powers to arrest suspects without court warrants, to hold them without even registering the dates and times of detention, and to conduct investigations as a means to obtain information under duress.

The report said that these anti-democratic methods were covered up by the judiciary and that neither the Attorney General nor the judiciary exert sufficient supervision over the legality of the detention or the conduct of police investigations to prevent this practise.

CAT quoted UN Special Rapporteur Mendez, who noted that magistrates often do not inquire into potential ill-treatment during pre-trial hearings, and accept the requests of police officers to keep suspects in remand custody without further scrutiny.

The UN panel said that recent allegations of white van abductions and the brutal torture of numerous individuals in unacknowledged places of detention by the police and the military had not been investigated by the Sri Lankan government.

CAT rejected government claims that there were no secret torture camps or detention centres in Sri Lanka and said that torture was occurring at law enforcement headquarters, army camps and IDP (Internally Displaced Person) camps and rehabilitation centres. Individuals, it continued were held on suspicion of having a link, even remote, with the LTTE.

While it claims to be fostering reconciliation with Sri Lankas minority Tamil population, the government continues its communal oppression, maintaining the military occupation in the war-ravaged North and East provinces.

CAT referred to a report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) which noted allegations of widespread torture, including sexual violence, perpetrated against individuals detained at the Manik Farm camp and elsewhere in the aftermath of the conflict [war] by personnel of the CID and the TID [Terrorism Investigation Division].

Colombo, moreover, had not concluded investigations into high-profile cases, such as the alleged execution-style killing of five high school students by the Special Task Forces personnel in Trincomalee and the murder of 17 Action Contra la Faim aid workers in Muttur. The students were killed in January 2006 as the Rajapakse government Colombos intensified military provocations in the lead-up to resumption of the war; the aid workers were murdered in August 2006, a month after Colombo restarted the bloody conflict.

CAT said that it had not been provided with requested information about the progress of 39 cases of rape and sexual violence since the war ended in 2009. It also voiced concern about the lack of legal action over allegations of torture against state forces.

CAT reported that the government-appointed Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) had received 2,259 torture allegations since 2012. The allegations had been presented to the Attorney Generals office which simply referred them to police without opening any independent investigations. In 2015, the HRCSL received 425 such accusations and 208 in the first eight months this year.

The HRCSL provided CAT with a detailed report on common methods of torture use by police. These practices included, undressing the person and assaulting using the hand, foot, poles, wires, belts and iron bars, beating with poles on the soles of the feet (phalenga), denial of water following beating, forcing the person to do degrading acts, trampling and kicking, applying chilli juice to eyes, face and genitals, hanging the person by the hands and rotating/and or beating on the soles of the feet, crushing the persons nails and handcuffing the person for hours to a window or cell bar.

A medical examination of one person arrested by police for possessing illegal drugs in March 2016 at Kalutara in western Sri Lanka revealed that the suspect had twelve wounds, including the loss of a front tooth, an abrasion wound on wrist, and abrasion and contusion wounds on the body. The CAT report noted that increasingly, physical torture is perpetrated using methods that cannot be easily detected by medical personnel.

The HRCSL information indicated that torture was used, not only during the process of interrogation but during the process of arrest and that usually, complainants are from low-income groups. In a number of instances, the arrests were the result of mistaken identity.

CAT also said that Sri Lankan prisons were over-crowded and noted an instance where three prisoners were incarcerated in a seven-foot by five-foot cell, sleeping on the floor without bedding and forced to use a plastic bucket for sanitation during night-time.

The UN panel pointed out that most victims of torture cannot seek legal redress or compensation through the Supreme Court because of the high financial costs. It also referred to the large backlog of fundamental rights applications in the court.

Under Sri Lankas Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) detainees can be held without trial for up to 15 years. They can be detained without charge for 72 hours and up to 18 months before their case is even presented to a magistrate.

The report said that the government had not provided any information on the proposed new Counter Terrorism Act, which is to replace the PTA. The planned new law includes wider police powers and a broadened definition of terrorism that could be used to suppress any political activity, targeting the working class and socialists in particular.

CAT also expressed concerns about the presence of Sisira Mendis, Chief of National Intelligence and former the Deputy Inspector General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), as a government representative at its meeting in Geneva in November. Mendis exercised supervisory authority over Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) until June 2009.

The government sent Mendis to the CAT meeting to ensure that a lid would be kept on the widespread use of torture and abuses of democratic rights. It is determined to whitewash Colombos war crimes and other human rights violations and to continue to use the police and military forces to suppress working-class resistance its austerity agenda.
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25 years ago: Hawke ousted as Australian prime minister

Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke was ousted as prime minister of the Labor government, in a 56-51 parliamentary caucus vote on December 19, 1991, that installed former Treasury Minister Paul Keating as his successor.

The removal of Hawke represented a turning point in the crisis of Australian capitalist rule, coming after a long leadership battle and growing unemployment and a deepening social crisis.

Hawke led the Australian Congress of Trade Unions for over a decade before being installed as Labor leader in a backroom coup against then-leader Bill Hayden in February 1983. He was prime minister for nearly nine years, winning four general elections during this period.

Hawkes service to the ruling class consisted in ensuring a consensus with the trade union bureaucracy. This alliance was used first to suppress the mass movement that had erupted against the big business Liberal Party, which had been forced to call a general election on the same day Hawke won the Labor leadership, and then to drive down wages and conditions and inflict a series of defeats on the working class.

The linchpin of the Hawke government since 1983 was the Prices and Incomes Accord with the trade union bureaucracy. This program, however, completely exhausted its usefulness for the bourgeoisie, which drew the conclusion that it must rapidly intensify its class war onslaught against the working class.

The election of Keating was one clear sign of this shift toward stepped-up class war policies. The treasury minister was dubbed the Finance Minister of the Year by Euromoney magazine in 1984. He served under Hawke for eight years, winning the praise of international finance capital for his ruthless attacks on social spending. Keating had received considerable backing from big business in his first leadership challenge to Hawke the previous June, which Hawke won by the narrow margin of 66-44. Keating then resigned as minister, going onto the parliament backbenches, awaiting the next opportunity to win the leadership.

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50 years ago: Soviet Union lands Luna 13 on Moon

On December 24, 1966, the Soviet unmanned spacecraft Luna 13 landed on the Moon, the same day gathering data demonstrating the feasibility of landing manned missions on the lunar surface. It was the fifth launching in the Luna series during the year, all from the main Soviet launch center at Baikonur, and the fourth to successfully reach lunar orbit.

The third spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, after the Luna 9 and the American Surveyor 1, both of which accomplished the same feat earlier in the year, Luna 13 achieved far more scientifically than its predecessors. The 113-kilogram vessel landed in the region of Oceanus Procellarum, between the craters Seleucus and Krafft, at 9:01 p.m. Moscow time. Within minutes, antennae began to transmit data back to Earth. An accelerometer on the units lander measured the effects of the crafts impact to discern the soils character to a depth of nearly one foot.

One of two spring-loaded booms deployed a penetrometer powered by a small detonator, which was used to assess the force required to break through the lunar regolith, the loose rocks lying above the bedrock. The other used a backscatter densitometer to estimate the density of the regolith. Four radiometers determined that radiation levels would not be dangerous to men. The lander used a television system to send back to Earth five Moonscape panoramas.

Contact was lost on December 28 at 9:13 a.m. after Luna 13s batteries were depleted, and its mission was successfully completed.

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75 years ago: French exile forces seize control of St. Pierre and Miquelon

On December 24, 1941, a small force of French exiles loyal to General Charles de Gaulle landed on the tiny islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, a French possession off the coast of Newfoundland, and deposed the Vichy administration in a bloodless coup. One day later the few thousand inhabitants voted in a referendum to reject Vichy and adhere to de Gaulle.

The French island possessions, which were administered by the pro-Hitler Vichy government in southern France, had been broadcasting Vichy propaganda as well as weather reports and secret signals locating Allied shipping that could benefit German submarines. There were also charges that German U-boats were docking and taking on supplies.

On the surface of things, the small action was reported as an advance in the war by US imperialism and its allies against Hitler and the Axis. But behind the scenes the incident was greeted with hostility by the Roosevelt administration. Secretary of State Cordell Hull denounced it as an arbitrary action, taken without the prior knowledge or consent in any sense of the United States government, and considered in violation of the Monroe Doctrine.

Just one week earlier, President Franklin Roosevelt had vetoed De Gaulles offer to put the St. Pierre radio transmitter out of commission and instead directed the Canadian government to carry out the job without De Gaulles consent. De Gaulle then ordered his forces to beat Canada and the US to the punch by occupying the islands which has become indispensable in order to preserve these French possessions for France.

De Gaulle hoped to set a precedent with these small islands for re-enslaving Frances vast colonial empire in Africa and Asia at the end of the war, while US imperialism looked to displace the former colonial powers, Britain and France, and seize control of their overseas possessions.

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100 years ago: Ottoman troops defeated at Battle of Magdhaba

A Turkish Howitzer in World War I

On December 23, 1916, British troops successfully defeated a contingent of Ottoman troops in the Battle of Magdhaba, as part of a push by Allied troops to secure the Sinai peninsula in modern-day Egypt. The battle underscored the crisis-ridden character of the declining Ottoman Empire, which was increasingly under fire on every front and unable to defend its long-held territorial possessions.

During most of 1916, amid heavy fighting on the Western Front in northern France and Belgium, Britain had maintained a policy of defensive operations in other theaters of battle and had avoided major confrontations. In October, as the Battle of the Somme in France entered its final stages and it became clear that a decisive victory was unlikely, this policy changed. The move coincided with the replacement of H.H. Asquith as prime minister by Lloyd George.

In the weeks prior to the battle, British forces, including a large contingent of Arab troops, intensified their construction of railway lines to transport troops and supplies across the inhospitable terrain of the Sinai. In August, Allied troops successfully repelled the last ground attack by the Central Powers on the Suez Canal in the Battle of Romani.

On December 20, British troops began their advance, occupying the town of El Arish two days later. On December 23, Allied forces launched their attack on Magdhaba. They encountered machine gun fire from entrenched Ottoman forces. The Ottoman troops commanded five redoubts and a system of trenches. Allied troops effectively encircled the town, attacking from multiple sides and making use of new military technologies, including aerial reconnaissance and bombardment, enabling them to overwhelm the Ottoman defenses.

The days fighting resulted in around 600 Ottoman casualties, including 300 dead. Over 1,200 Ottoman troops were taken prisoner. Allied forces lost just 22 men, with another 124 wounded. Over the ensuing weeks, British troops worked to rapidly fortify the town. The success on the Mediterranean coast enabled the opening of new supply lines. Supplies began arriving on the coast near El Arish by the end of the year. Over the course of the Sinai-Palestine campaign during World War I, Britain established its dominance of a strategically critical region of the Middle East, creating the conditions for a new imperialist carve-up at the end of the war.

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Reports released last week show that the prevalence of the deadliest form of black lung among US coal miners is far worse than previously expected. An investigative report conducted by National Public Radios (NPR) Howard Berkes found the number of miners suffering from so-called complicated black lung is more than 10 times what federal regulators previously reported.

In its investigation, NPR obtained data from 11 black lung clinics in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio showing 962 cases of the most severe form of the disease, also known as Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF), in the past five years. The number is nearly 10 times the 99 cases of PMF identified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the federal agency tasked with tracking black lung, over the same period. It is also more than double the 441 cases of PMF tabulated by NIOSH over the past 40 years.

NPR cautioned that even these staggering numbers underestimate the magnitude of the disease since some of the clinics provided incomplete data and another eight clinics contacted in the heart of the Appalachian coal mining region did not share any data.

Black lung is the common name for coal workers pneumoconiosis, a debilitating and irreversible occupational lung disease contracted through the inhalation of coal dust. Miners afflicted with the painful disease gradually lose the ability to breathe and slowly suffocate to death over a period of years.

The dangers of black lung have been known for over a century. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while black lung is incurable, it is entirely man-made, and can be avoided through appropriate dust control. Since government statistics began being collected in 1969, more than 78,196 miners have died from this preventable occupational disease.

The NPR story aired shortly after the release of a new report by NIOSH in the latest issue of the CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which identified 60 cases of PMF at a single clinic in eastern Kentucky over the course of 20 months.

The NISOH study was prompted by radiologist Brandon Crum who contacted the agency in June after he became alarmed over the number of miners in their 30s and 40s with less than 20 years underground being diagnosed with PMF at his clinic in Coal Run Village, Kentucky. The resulting study identified 60 cases of PMF at the clinic between January 2015 and August 2016, which had not been known to NIOSH. The afflicted patients had an average age of 60.3 years and an average career in the mines of 29.2 years.

NIOSH epidemiologist Dr. Scott Laney confirmed Crums fears over the cases. The current numbers are unprecedented by any historical standard, he told NPR. We had not seen cases of this magnitude ever before in history in central Appalachia. Dr. Laney, who co-authored the new NIOSH report, was also involved in a 2014 study by the agency, which concluded that black lung had reached its highest level in the US in four decades.

This ongoing outbreak highlights an urgent need for effective dust control in coal mines to prevent coal workers pneumoconiosis, and for improved surveillance to promptly identify the early stages of the disease and stop its progression to PMF, the latest NIOSH report warned. It concluded by noting, The findings in this report serve as a reminder that more than 45 years after the Coal Acts passage, one of its core objectives has not been achieved.

Passage of the 1969 Coal Mine Health and Safety Act (Coal Act) and recognition of black lung as an occupational disease was granted only after a militant struggle waged by miners against both the coal operators and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) union bureaucracy. At that time, four out of every 10 coal miners were testing positive for black lung with about 1,800 dying each year from the disease.

The Coal Act set legal dust limits, implemented the federal black lung compensation program and established the Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program. Under the NIOSH-administered surveillance program, active coal miners are offered free chest X-rays upon entering the coal mines and at about five-year intervals thereafter.

While cases of black lung dropped precipitously following the implementation of the Coal Act, its loose provisions and lax enforcement prevented the complete eradication of the disease. The legal dust limit of 2.0 milligrams per cubic meter of air implemented in 1972 proved inadequate to fully protect miners and was long skirted by industry through widespread falsification of dust sampling used to determine compliance.

It has also been long known that the surveillance program is inadequate to the task of tracking the prevalence of black lung. The voluntary nature of the tests and its restriction to only active coal miners--excluding large numbers of retired and laid-off miners--coupled with industry intimidation ensures low participation and an incomplete picture of the scale of the disease. In its latest report, NIOSH admits that only 17 percent of Kentucky coal miners participated in surveillance program since 2011, leading the agency to conclude that the actual extent of PMF in US coal miners remains unclear.

In its story, NPR profiled Charles Wayne Stanley of Pound, Virginia, a 53-year-old who was diagnosed with PMF after he received his first screening after working 30 years in the mines. If youre working and you go and have that stuff done and the company finds out about it, theyll find a way to get rid of you, Stanley told NPR. As long as youre working and producing youre an asset. But now when you get something wrong with you, you become a liability. And theyll find a way to get rid of you.

Health officials have been warning about a resurgence of black lung for more than two decades after the number of miners afflicted, as well as the aggressiveness and severity of the disease, began increasing in the 1990s. In 1995, NIOSH issued a recommendation that the dust standards, which had remained unchanged at 2.0 mg since 1972, be cut in half to 1.0 mg. The recommendation, however, remained a dead letter under both Republican and Democratic administrations.

By the time the Obama administration unveiled new dust standards in May 2014, more than 16,000 miners had died from black lung since NIOSH had issued its initial recommendation in 1995. Moreover, after meeting with coal industry representatives and UMWA officials, the Obama administration decided to tighten the dust standards by only 25 percent, down to 1.5 mg, instead of the 50-percent reduction argued for by NIOSH scientists.

As former US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) staffer Celeste Monforton explained in her blog The Pump Handle at the time, the agency had estimated that 20 out of every 1,000 coal miners would still develop PMF even if the standards had been reduced to 1.0 mg. Under the 1.5 mg limit, MSHA expected 50 cases of PMF for every 1,000 coal miners, thus leaving thousands at risk of contracting the disease.

The numerous studies and investigative reports over the past two decades have pointed to various objective roots for the resurgence of black lung: the eight-hour day being replaced by more typical shifts of 10 to 16 hours, increasing exposure times; increased mechanization and production rates leading to higher levels of dust; and thinning coal seams in the extensively mined Appalachian coal regions which release more silica rock dust when cut into. As NPR noted, Every other industry cutting rock has strict limits on silica exposure, except mining.

Under the impact of the global economic slowdown, increased competition from cheaper natural gas and the restructuring of the coal industry, 40,000 coal miners have lost their jobs and 600 mines have closed since 2011. With few prospects of being rehired, former miners are getting black lung screenings to secure some form of income. A successful black lung claim, however, provides just $600 to a maximum of $1,250 a month for a miner with three or more dependents.

Behind these conditions lies a massive social crime. The exploitation of the miners has produced vast fortunes for the coal and energy conglomerates, which are protected by the courts, federal, state and local agencies run by both big business parties, and the UMWA, which long ago abandoned the interests of miners and became a tool of the coal operators and the government.

The coal companies have used the bankruptcy courts to escape their obligations, threatening the health care and pensions of 120,000 retired coal miners and their families. The bankruptcy courts have also sanctioned the dumping of 1,000 black lung claims that were self-insured by the bankrupt companies into the federal Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which is already nearly $6 billion in debt.

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US coal miners face cutoff of health, pension benefits

[13 December 2016]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Police said a man has been arrested after exposing himself outside a family's home.

The Tallahassee Police said that around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, they were called to a home on Dent Street about a man, later identified as 46-year-old Brian Murray, who was exposing himself.

They said that a woman inside the home was preparing a baby bottle in the kitchen when she noticed Murray standing in front of the kitchen window, exposed.

A 6-year-old child also witnessed the incident.

Police said that they later saw Murray run to a abandoned house on West Brevard Street and found him lying on a couch.

When the interviewed him, he told them that he didn't know that anyone was at the home during the incident.

They arrested him and charged him with exposure of sexual organs and lewd and lascivious exhibition with a person under 16.

Murray was transported to the Leon County Jail.
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Jewish-American aid organization Amaliah is expected to hold a rally Saturday night in Tel Aviv in solidarity with people of Aleppo in Syria, who are facing a dire situation at the hands of the Assad regime and its allies.

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President of Amaliah, Moti Kahana, will light the first candle of Hanukkah and dedicate it to "the hope of a Hanukkah miracle" in Syria.

Photo: Motti Kimchi

Photo: Motti Kimchi

During an earlier protest, approximately 400 people formed a human chain stretching from the Russian embassy to the American embassy in Tel Aviv, with demonstrators calling for the two powers to step in and stop the bloodshed. Protestors carried signs reading "end the massacre of the Syrian people," and "stop the crimes."

Simultaneously, a campaign called Just Beyond Our Border was launched in recent days in an effort to raise funds from Israelis for the Syrian people.

Photo: Motti Kimchi

Photo: Motti Kimchi

Amaliah made headlines in recent months for funding outpatient treatment centers in Israel for Syrian children.

"I call upon Jewish people all over the world on the first night of Hanukkah to join us at Rabin Square and light a candle in the hope of a Hanukkah miracle for Syria," wrote Kahana in a Facebook post. "Just as the world was silent during the Holocaust, so are we while Syrians are being slaughtered. We swore 'never again,' yet we are continuing to be silent."

Moti Kahana, President of Amaliah

Following the deterioration of the situation in Syria, particularly in Aleppo, Amaliah published a video on social media sharing their activities. The video received three million views within a few days and the organization was bombarded with inquiries on how to help.

According to the organization, "even a donation of a dollar, a tweet or a share can help us get closer to the goal of bringing thousands of Syrians to Israel to receive medical treatment in 2017."

The rally is expected to bring Israeli Arab journalist Lucy Aharish and other public figures and artists. The organization is also planning on holding a similar rally in New York during Hanukkah and is calling on US President-elect Trump and his family to join.
An Israeli man was lightly wounded in a shooting attack near the settlement of Ofarim in the Binyamin region of the West Bank early Monday.

The terrorists feld the scene and IDF and Shin Bet forces have been searching the area for them.

Security forces are looking into the possibility the shooting was done from a moving vehicle.
An Israeli man was lightly wounded in a shooting attack near the settlement of Ofarim in the Binyamin region of the West Bank early Monday.

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The terrorists fled the scene and IDF and Shin Bet forces have been searching the area for them.

Security forces are looking into the possibility the shooting was done from a moving vehicle.

Archive photo

The Israeli man came under fire at around 12:45am while driving between Ofraim and the village of Abud.

He was lightly wounded in his face from glass shards but was able to continue driving until he reached a nearby military post.

There, he was given initial treatment by the IDF soldiers and later a team of MDA paramedics took him to the Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer for further treatment.

On Wednesday night, fire was opened at an Israeli car in the same area, near Dayr 'Abu Mash'al and Beit El. No one was hurt but damage was caused to the vehicle.
Billionaire businessman Beny Steinmetz was detained by police for questioning on Monday in relation to allegations of bribery and corruption in Guinea. The Israel Police also searched Steinmetz's home and office.

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According to the Israel Police, Steinmetzalong with other Israelis, most of whom live abroadpaid tens of millions of dollars in bribes to the former president of Guinea, General Lansana Conte.

In return, BSG Resources (BSGR), the mining company that Steinmetz owns, allegedly received permits to extract iron deposits. The company made hundreds of millions of dollars in profit from the deal.

Beny Steinmetz (Photo: Ido Erez)

"In light of the suspicion of the Israelis' involvement and the ramifications their alleged criminal activity abroad would have concerning Israel, the Israel Police conducted a covert investigation in coordination with authorities abroad, which served to establish the suspicions. This covert investigation was a continuation of an open investigation conducted abroad and its findings," the Israeli police said in a statement.

Steinmetz was released to house arrest on a NIS 100,000 bailNIS 50,000 in cash and NIS 50,000 in property. He is also not allowed to contact any of the other suspects and is barred from his office for 30 days.

"The detention of Beny Steinmetz shows that the Israeli authorities are treating the Simandou bribery case with the seriousness it deserves," said Daniel Balint-Kurti of Global Witness, a London-based nonprofit group that battles corruption in the mining and natural resources industries. "Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world and was deprived of vast sums through BSGR's corrupt deal. It is vital that such cases are fully investigated and that those involved in bribery are brought to justice."

According to Global Witness, which investigated the case, BSGR and its affiliates engaged in a "sophisticated corruption scheme" over Simandou, cloaking their activities through secretive companies in the British Virgin Islands.

It says it gained access to documentation, including bribery contracts, showing that BSGR and an affiliate offshore company had agreed to pay millions of dollars to Mamadie Toure, a wife of Guinea's then-leader, and that the company also promised her a stake in the Simandou mining project as part of the deal to secure the mining licenses. BSGR, after investing $160 million into the project, later sold part of its stake for $2.1 billion to Brazilian mining company Vale, according to Global Witness.

Steinmetz is ranked by Forbes Israel as the 24th richest Israeli in the world, with an estimated net worth of about $1.5 billion.

BSGR did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A lawyer for Steinmetz, Yuval Sasson, told Israeli Channel 2 TV the claims were concocted by the Guinean president's "corrupt leadership, which is trying to illegally steal BSGR's (mining) rights."

In a rare 2013 interview with the Israeli news site YNet, Steinmetz called allegations of corruption by BSGR "a joke." He alleged the current Guinean leader sought to frame him and his company.

"The company doesn't pay anything to anyone, not one penny to politicians; we simply don't do this kind of things. This is a well-oiled, evil machine which operates against BSGR and me, run by the president and his associates," Steinmetz told YNet.

Steinmetz's arrest is the result of a joint investigation with law enforcement agencies in the United States, Switzerland and Guinea, police saidpart of an international effort led by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, against bribery of public officials.

This summer, Israel renewed diplomatic ties with Guinea after 49 years, part of an Israeli effort to pursue closer security and other ties with Africa. Guinea, a Muslim country, was the first nation to cut ties with Israel in 1967 after the Six-Day War.

Israeli police raided Steinmetz's home and offices in Israel early Monday, police said. Steinmetz was detained and placed under house arrest in Israel for two weeks. An Israeli court confiscated his French and Israeli passports, prohibited him from traveling abroad for six months, and set his bail at about $26 million.

Attorney Yuval Sason, who represents Steinmetz and BSGR, said that The current process is the recycling of an old process led by the Guinea government since the rise to power of its corrupt president, Alpha Conde, in an effort to illegally expropriate BSGRs mining rights.

BSGR also denied the allegations, saying on Monday that "This development is in the aftermath of ongoingand what BSGR believes to be obsoleteinvestigations surrounding bribery and corruption against BSGR," adding it believed the allegations to be baseless.

BSGR described Steinmetz as an adviser to the company, which is headquartered in the Channel Islands and is a mining arm of Steinmetz's business conglomerate.

A BSGR spokesman told Reuters that Steinmetz does not sit on BSGR's board or have an executive role, but "is the beneficiary of the foundation which owns BSG Resources".

BSGR said the investigations were initiated by the government of Guinea with international police organizations in the United States, Britain and Switzerland.

A government spokesperson declined to say whether Guinea was involved in the case but said the government would fight corruption and uphold the principle of judicial independence.

"The Guinean government will assume its responsibilities and will respect the commitment of the head of state to fight against corruption," Damantang Albert Camara said.

Guinea's former minister of mines, Mahmoud Thiam, was arrested in New York last week on charges he was involved in bribery payments linked to Guinea's mining industry.
JERUSALEM -- In his first pre-Christmas address, the new top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land has decried the destruction in Syria and Iraq.

Rev. Pierbattista Pizzaballa said on Monday that "Syria and Iraq are destroyed" and the plight of the region's Christians is tragic. He bemoaned how "wars and the way of force have not been able to bring peace and justice, it only brought more violence, death and destruction."

Pizzaballa took office earlier this year as the apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, the temporary chief clergyman to the local Catholic population. As caretaker of Jerusalem's Latin Patriarchate, he has made his main task promoting dialogue among Christians in the Holy Land -- and between Christians and others.

The Italian-born Pizzaballa, a Franciscan priest, replaced longtime patriarch Fouad Twal.
The struggle between Jerusalem-based Hatov ice cream and the BDS Movement in Britain has come to a close, with Hatov continuing to sell products labeled "Israeli product made in Jerusalem."

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Hatov produces its ice cream at the Atarot industrial zone in northeast Jerusalem. The packaging of their ice cream carries the label "Israeli product made in Jerusalem."

In 2015, the European Union released labeling guidelines stipulating that Israeli products made in east Jerusalem and the West Bank be labeled as "Product of the West Bank (Israeli settlement)," as opposed to simply "Made in Israel."

BDS activists (Photo: citizenside.com)

As such, BDS activists in Britain approached supermarket chain Sainsbury's, which sells Hatov ice cream, and asked them to label the item as "Product of the West Bank (Israeli settlement)," as opposed to "Israeli product made in Jerusalem."

As a result, Hatov retained the services of UK-Israeli law firm Asserson. In response to BDS claims that "Atarot is on occupied Palestinian land and therefore the ice cream cannot be labeled as made in Israel," Asserson replied, "It is unlikely that the customer reading the label will change their mind if they see the product is made in east Jerusalem. Most of the buyers are religious Jews who will continue to buy it."

Local authorities agreed with the argument and will allow the ice cream to continue to be labeled as "Israeli product made in Jerusalem."
An IDF tank shelled and destroyed a Hamas military post in the Gaza Strip on Monday in response to gunfire opened at Israelis soldiers earlier.

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The soldiers were securing civilian engineering work near the Gaza border fence in the southern part of the strip when they came under fire by Palestinian militants.

None of the soldiers were hurt and no damage was caused.

IDF shells Hamas post

According to Palestinian sources, the IDF fired three tank shells at a post east of Bureij. So far, there have been no reports of injuries.
IDF forces from the Judea and Samaria Brigade seized 15 lathes and other production materials used for making illegal, homemade weapons during a raid in Hebron overnight Sunday.

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The materials and secret factory were discovered in a large underground space built beneath a house in southern Hebron.

Video: IDF Spokesperson's Unit ( :  '')

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An officer in the Judea and Samaria Brigade said the raid is part of an ongoing campaign against illegal weapons production and increased terrorist activity in the West Bank. Security forces estimate that most of the shooting attacks that occurred within and beyond the Green Line were conducted with weapons produced in the West Bank. Confiscated weapons and materials (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Hundreds of soldiers from various units such as the 890th Paratrooper Brigade, the 77th armored brigade, combat engineers and Border Police took part in the raid.

The IDF is calling the discovery "the biggest weapons factory ever discovered in the West Bank."

Forces discovered more than 100 Carl Gustav m/45 barrels, Russian 7.62 sniper rifles and for the first time, M16 rifle parts with assembly instructions.

Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

During the raid, IDF forces also discovered a large cache of ammunition hidden in one of the walls of the house.

Security forces left Hebron with all the confiscated weapons and the two owners of the factory, a father and son, who were turned over the Shin Bet for questioning.

During an initial field interrogation, the father claimed to be producing farming equipment, until soldiers discovered the large underground plant on the floor below where the man lived with his wife and younger children.

Seized ammunition (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
BEIRUT -- The United States has delivered a new Cessna aircraft to the Lebanese army to help the tiny Arab country fight militancy and conduct border security missions.

US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard said during the handover ceremony at Beirut's international airport on Monday that Washington "is proud" to handover the aircraft, the third in the Lebanese army's air force.

A US Embassy statement said the Cessna is equipped with Hellfire missiles and day- and night-targeting systems.

It says the aircraft is part of a "total package" that includes maintenance support and training with a combined value of about $30 million.

Washington has been a major supporter of Lebanon's army, which is fighting the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's Syrian branch in border areas.
MK Amir Peretz announced Monday his intentions to run for the head of the Labor party in the upcoming primary elections that will be held in half a year.

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"I am the only candidate who can bring new voters to the center-left bloc and bring to a change in government," Peretz said during a press conference he convened.

He went on to claim that he could bring back lost votes to the party. "I've proven before that I can give Netanyahu a run for his money and defeat him," he said.

Amir Peretz (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitz)

Peretz, the most veteran member in the Knesset, was the head of the Labor party between November 2005 to June 2007, when he lost the leadership to Ehud Barak.

During his time as the head of Labor, the party won 19 Knesset seats in the 2006 elections, running on a social platform. But when he joined Ehud Olmert's government, he was appointed deputy prime minister and defense minister, drawing criticism.

During his time as defense minister, two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by Hezbollah in the Golan Heights, which sparked the 34-day Second Lebanon War against the terror organization in 2006.

He resigned from the government after losing the party leadership to Barak and in September 2011 ran again, losing to Shelly Yachimovich.

In December 2012, he switched parties to Tzipi Livni's Hatnua and in February 2016, he returned to the Labor party.

Among the other positions Peretz held were the head of the Histadrut Labor Federation, the head of the opposition, the minister of environmental protection and the mayor of Sderot. He is also credited with pushing for the Iron Dome missile-defense project.

"I have the skills, the experience and the ability to lead Israeli society to internal healing and the country to a better future," he said during Monday's press conference.

"Leadership must be based on personal example. When we are at the helm of the government leading the country, Israeli society will heal and prosper. Israelis will hold their heads high with pride, and together we will put Israel back on the path of success," Peretz added.

He vowed to lead a policy of "social justice in practice," "return Israel to the path of seeking peace and a diplomatic accord, alongside security and might", and "wage an all-out war against poverty and inequality."
A leading Israeli think tank on Monday said it has found that Israelis are increasingly losing faith in their government and most Israeli public institutionsfindings that mirror the global trend of dissatisfaction and cynicism that helped propel Britain's exit from the European Union and the victory of US President-elect Donald Trump.

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The Israel Democracy Institute also found a continuing nationalistic streak among the country's Jewish majority, with more than half of respondents in a nationwide survey opposed to allowing Arab political parties into the governing coalition.

Photo: Gil Yohanan

Tamar Hermann, the professor who led the research, said the study found a "value shift" away from Israel's traditional liberal democratic roots that should concern its leadership.

"Israelis are shifting away from the cosmopolitan point of view to a more communitarian, nationalistic, ethnic, religious point of view, much like is happening in other countries," said Hermann, academic director of the Guttman Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research, which compiles the annual Israeli Democracy Index.

The study found a "significant drop" in the public's trust in Israeli political institutions.

Trust in the Knesset fell to 26.5 percent from 35 percent last year. Similarly, trust in the government fell to 27 percent from 36 percent, and three quarters of respondents now feel their politicians are detached.

The only institution that maintained its strong standing was the Israel Defense Forces, which is trusted by 90 percent of the Jewish public and 82 percent when the Arab minority is factored in.

While Hermann cited "global trends" for the sentiments in the poll, Israel has been undergoing its own process of rising nationalism in recent years, driven by failed peace efforts with the Palestinians, a yearlong wave of violence in Israel and the West Bank, three wars against Hamas militants in Gaza and the growing political power of religiously-motivated West Bank settlers in the government.

The survey, for example, found that 71 percent of Jewish respondents believe that human rights groups, which have been harshly criticized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, cause damage to the state. That was up from 56 percent a year earlier.

Likewise, it found that 59 percent of Jews oppose having Arab parties as part of governing coalitions, and 52.5 percent of Jews believe that those who refuse to accept Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people should be stripped of their right to vote.

However, the survey also found that while more than half of Jews (53 percent) believe that Arab citizens are discriminated against, there is also marked support on the part of Jews to engage in social interactions including being neighbors, friends and coworkers.

Photo: AFP

Additionally, in terms of security, 72 percent of Jews think that decisions made regarding peace and security need to be made by a Jewish majority only. Furthermore, 62.5 percent of Jews believe the war on terror has no room for moral considerations and it should be permissible to use all means available to stop an attack. This sentiment is reflected in 51% of Jews believing that if the Shin Bet, IDF or Police arrest a suspect for terrorism, they should have full authority to conduct the investigation without legal constraints.

Hermann said that Netanyahu should be "very worried" about the shrinking level of public trust in the government, but that overall he might be pleased by the growing nationalist tide in the country. "He's not going to cry over the result," she said.

The survey included some bright spots, such as a widespread consensus that Israeli democracy must be maintained and high support for freedom of speech.

Photo: Motti Kimchi

The survey also included comparisons with other countries, finding it average or above average in many key areas, such as freedom of the press and civil liberties. Israel ranked very high in political participation, and near the bottom in a measure of political stability and absence of violence.

Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, urged the country's leaders to learn from the data.

"While there is overwhelming support for the notion of democracy, the democratic brand is still very strong. But the understanding or interpretation of what democracy is all about in some respects is extremely thin and requires immediate action," he said.
MOGADISHU -- Somalia residents say African Union soldiers killed 11 civilians in two separate incidents over the weekend.

Traditional elder Mohamed Hassan says the first occurred when troops opened fire on a minibus in Qoryooley town in Lower Shabelle region on Sunday. He says all six passengers were killed.

The African Union Mission for Somalia says it is investigating "the unfortunate incident in Qoryooley where civilians lost their lives in an attack."

The force says on Twitter it will issue a statement on the other "allegations."

In a separate incident, residents in Marka town say an AU armored vehicle smashed into a home, killing a mother and four children. Resident Ahmed Sheikh Ali says it occurred after a bomb attack targeted an army convoy.

Somali officials were not available for comment Monday.
Thousands of farmers and young people are making their way to Jerusalem from all over the country in order to protest outside the Knesset against what they claim is the government killing of agriculture in Israel.

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The farmers are protesting against what they refer to as unilateral government policy on agriculture. "It starts with opening the market to wild imports, high water prices for farmers, brokerage fees, costs of employing foreign workers and other things," said protest organizers.

'Israeli agriculture is in my nature' (right) "Farmers are disappearing" (left) (Photo:Yuval Kokhavi)

Israel Farmers Association protests government policy ( )

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The Israel Farmers Association, which is leading the struggle, recruited the heads of regional councils and youth groups to accompany the protest convoy to Jerusalem. Farmers arrived in Jerusalem from the Galilee, valleys all over the country and the Arava in trucks and vans.

Police closed several streets in Jerusalem near the government complex in preparation for the demonstration.

Photo: Israel Farmers Association

Photo: Israel Farmers Association

Secretary General of the Moshav Movement and Director of the Israel Farmers Association, Meir Tzur, said that the State of Israel had to come to its senses and change its policy toward farmers and agriculture. "We are demanding clear policy in regards to agriculture, one that strengthens us from the understanding and need for Israeli agriculture and not Turkish or Spanish agriculture."

Photo: Mandi Shur

Sign read: 'Saving agriculture in Israel' (Photo: Yuval Kokhavi)

Tzur said Israeli farmers are demanding an immediate solution to high water prices, foreign workers, brokerage fees and a reform of agricultural export regulations.
There are only 12 days left to approve the 2017-2018 state budget, but even after the government approved an across-the-board NIS 1.2 billion cut to its ministries, some outstanding issues remain that could serve as an obstacle to the approval of the budget.

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This is the second budget cut approved this week, as on Sunday the Knesset's Finance Committee also approved a NIS 2.1 billion cut from the 2016 budget.

But while the plan was to bring the new budget and the Economic Arrangements Law to the Knesset's approval on Wednesday, a new problem arose concerning a bill proposal to impose tax on residential property owners who have three or more apartments.

The controversial legislation, which is also being challenged at the High Court of Justice, is at the risk of being scrapped. This would result in the loss of hundreds of millions of shekels from the state coffers and necessitate further budget cuts.

Late Thursday night, members of the Knesset's Finance Committee were called for a discussion on considerable changes introduced by Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon to the third apartment tax legislation.

Illustration (Photo: Reuters)

Opposition MKs demanded that the discussion be postponed so they could study the changes. Committee chairman MK Moshe Gafni also expressed his displeasure with the way Kahlon was trying to get the committee's approval on the controversial legislation, but held the discussion regardless.

The members of the opposition left the meeting at around 1am and it continued only in the presence of only coalition members until 5:30am.

The committee eventually approved the legislation, but its legal adviser Sagit Afik and the Knesset's legal adviser Eyal Yinon criticized the rushed way the bill was approved. Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein then asked MK Gafni to reconvene the committee and hold another discussion on the changes to the bill.

Gafni refused and the opposition MKs decided to petition the High Court of Justice against the problematic process of approval.

Where is the money going?

The NIS 1.2 billion budget cuts for 2017-2018 are the result of coalition agreements and other budgetary additions recently agreed upon, like the evacuation of Amona and keeping the old Israel Broadcasting Authority on air until the end of April 2017.

The evacuation of Amona is going to be pricey. Providing assistance to the residents of Amona, building alternative public structures and handling security and the evacuees' move will cost the tax payer some NIS 150 million, according to estimates made by the Treasury.

The Treasury will make an immediate transfer of NIS 40 million to the Interior Ministry to be allocated to the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council for a one-time aid package for Amona's permanent residents and for the residents of the nine illegal structures due for demolition in the nearby Ofra settlement.

In addition, the Treasury will transfer an additional NIS 9 million by the end of the month meant to fund the construction of infrastructure and temporary public buildings.

Amona (Photo: Ido Erez)

The Defense Ministry, meanwhile, will allocate NIS 3.5 million to rent housing for the evacuated families for a month and a half interim period.

NIS 15 million will go to building and renovating public structures used to house the Amona residents in nearby settlements and tens of millions of shekels will be allocated to cover the costs of infrastructure, roads and security.

Meanwhile, keeping the Israel Broadcasting Authority on air until April 2017and consequently postponing the launching of the new Israel Broadcasting Corporation will cost an additional NIS 160 million.

The rest of the funds, some NIS 1 billion, will go towards the ultra-Orthodox sector, as part of the ruling Likud party's coalition agreements with their Haredi partners in the government.

NIS 4 million over two years will be allocated to a community rabbis project; NIS 2 million will go to support organizations working to instate Hebrew law (aspects of the traditional Jewish law that are relevant to non-religious law); NIS 4 million to the Hebron local committee; NIS 12 million to yeshivas for Haredi youth who cut their ties from their family and community; NIS 4 million will go to rehabilitation for religious youth; NIS 14 million will be allocated to projects in religious councils; NIS 1 million will fund the commemoration of chief rabbis; NIS 6 million will go to create eruv for communities (a ritual enclosure that permits Jewish residents or visitors to carry certain objects outside their own homes on Shabbat and Yom Kippur); NIS 4 million to maintaining ties with the Jewish Disaspora; NIS 2 million to the Cave of the Patriarchs; NIS 1 million for Jewish cemeteries, and more.
HANOI -- A court in northern Vietnam sentenced two activists to more than 10 years in prison each for attempted subversion.

Tran Anh Kim and Le Thanh Tung were convicted of attempting to overthrow the communist government by setting up "reactionary group in the name of national force for democracy" and were sentenced respectively to 13 years and 12 years at the one-day trial in Thai Binh province Friday.

State-run online newspaper Vietnamnet reported they also must serve 4 years of house arrest after their prison terms end.

Kim, 67, is a former army officer who had been sentenced previously for violating national security law.

US Ambassador Ted Osius in a statement Monday called for their release.
The man who shot and seriously wounded Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov has reportedly been killed.

After being shot at an photography exhibition opening, the building was surrounded by Turkish Police. The ambassador's condition remains serious. Three other people have been reported wounded.

Russia and Turkey have been involved in conflict in Syria across the border from where over two million Syrian refugees have settled. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of President Bashar al-Assad while Russia has deployed troops and its air force in support of the Syrian leader.
MKs were asked to sign a petition requesting the removal from Knesset, under the Suspension Law that was passed last summer, of MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List), who is suspected of smuggling 12 cellular phones to convicted terrorists serving out their prison sentences.

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The petition was helmed by Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Minister of Environmental Protection Ze'ev Elkin (Likud).

"The criminal process will take a very long time," said Elkin, referring to the upcoming investigation. "There is no reason that he (Ghattased) should continue to serve in the Knesset all this time, receive a paycheck from the public and take advantage of his immunity and status to support terrorism. Let's put an end to this."

Ze'ev Elkin (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

For the Suspension Law to be invoked, 70 MKs must sign the request, and 90 are needed to actually have them removed. "I call on my friends, the MKs, to end this phenomenon of having sitting MKs openly assist and support terrorism," added Elkin.

Basel Ghattas

The Prison Services were tipped off about Ghattas' alleged smuggling and were prepared for him when he came to visit convicted terrorists Walid Dakaone of the terrorists responsible for the kidnapping and murder of IDF soldier Moshe Tamam in 1984and Basel Bazra.

He was stopped on his way out, and the prisoners were searched, upon which it was discovered that they were in possession of 12 cellular phones and several small letters, which may contain secret information from the outside. Ghattas is suspected of supplying them all of these items, by taking exploiting MKs' right not to be searched when visiting prisoners.

Speaking to Ynet, Minister of Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Minister of Information Gilad Erdan supported the removal of Ghattas, if he is indeed found guilty of aiding terrorists. "I'd like to remind everyone that a few months ago, MK Ghattas stood in a moment of silence together with the families of murderers and terrorists from the last wave of terrorism we experienced in Jerusalem," he said.

"He called Shimon Peres a war criminal, he took part in an anti-Israeli flotilla event while identifying with enemy territory in the Gaza strip. This kind of man certainly should not be in the Knesset, but in jail."

Gilad Erdan (L) (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

"This time," added Erdan. "I think we should act wisely, and useassuming that the evidence against him will be considered reliable evidenceall the legal tools we have at our disposal. I hope that things will be proven and he will be arrested and eventually tried and put in jail for several years."

In addition to removing Ghattas from the Knesset and stripping him of his immunity as MK, some MKs and even ministers such as Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman have called for the removal of Ghattas' citizenship.

"That would be a more complex legal matter, which is currently in the hands of the attorney general. That said, of course I would prefer that someone like him would not enjoy the rights of citizenship."

Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev (Likud) joined in, as well. "I call on the attorney general to fully investigate and make sure these Trojan horses will not serve in the Knesset," she said.

Miri Regev (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Calls to investigate were also heard from the left, with Zionist Union Leader Isaac Herzog saying, "Any harm done to state security, any collaboration with the enemy and any passing of information or trading of state secrets demands an investigation by all available means. If these allegations turn out to be true, it will require punishment without compromise, regardless of religion or ethnicity."

Isaac Herzog (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

MK Tzipi Livni (Zionist Union) also stated that she "has confidence in the security system and the police to investigate the suspicions in the matter of Ghattas without compromise. Any attempt to present such security offenses as representative of the entire Arab population, though, is wrong."

Tzipi Livni (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

"These are serious allegations," said Yesh Atid Leader Yair Lapid. "If they turn out to be true, justice will have to be served."

Following the request of MK Ayelt Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin (Zionist Union), Knesset Committee Chairperson and MK Yoav Kisch (Likud) has called a special meeting of the committee to discuss Knesset policy regarding MKs visiting security prisoners, and whether a new policy should be implemented, so that they will be body searched.
The Tunisian Interior Minister convened a press conference on Monday providing a briefing on the latest developments in the ongoing investigation into the recent assassination of Mohammad al-Zawahri, a Hamas flight engineer who specialized in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

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According to the minister, there is evidence supporting the notion of involvement of a foreign organization in the murder.

The announcement comes just one day after the country issued an official statement attributing al-Zawahris death to foreign elements.

Mohammad al-Zawahri

The elimination plan was precise and meticulous and began last June outside Tunisia, the minister told the journalists. A few Tunisians were enlisted via an internet site by a foreign individual under the guise of a communications company looking for help making documentaries for a Malaysian channel. They were then introduced to another foreign individual of Arab origin.

Turning to the assassination itself, the minister said We were helped by security cameras close to (al-Zawahris) house to trace the operation. There were two plans and two cells.

Following al-Zawahris death last Thursday, Tunisia began making a wave of arrests and began investigating what it deemed a terror-related murder, rather than criminal.

The Tunisian prime minister, Youssef Chahed, also said on Monday evening. We will punish anyone who was involved in this crime. The sovereignty of Tunisia is a red line and we will pursue anyone who harms the security of Tunisia, whether they are inside or outside.

Meanwhile, authorities are continuing their search for a Belgian of Moroccan origin and a Swiss suspected of involvement in the hit.

Hamas memorial for al-Zawahri

A state-appointed prosecutor, asked about questions raised in the press about indications and claims made by the Hamas military wing that Israel was responsible for taking al-Zawahri out, responded: All the facts are being collected. The investigator judge will make all decisions in light of the facts.

Asked whether those being pursued are still in Tunisia, the state-appointed prosecutor said that while they are not entirely sure, the bulk of the evidence points to them having left already.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry has condemned "in the strongest terms" the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey. The ministry called the attack "terrorist and cowardly" in a statement late Monday.

The Russian-Turkish diplomatic channel is one of the most important to the Syrian civil war. Their diplomats brokered an agreement in Ankara last week to evacuate the Syrian opposition from the contested city of Aleppo after months of Syrian and Russian bombardment killed hundreds of civilians and exhausted the rebels -- some backed by Turkey.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman cried, "Don't forget Aleppo!" Turkey's foreign and defense ministers are expected to meet in Moscow this week with their Iranian and Russian counterparts to discuss the next developments to the Syrian war.
A truck plowed into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital Berlin on Monday evening, killing 12 people and injuring up to 50 others, police said. Authorities are treating the event as a terrorist attack. A suspect believed to have been driving the truck during the attack has been arrested by the police. Another person, who is believed to have been a passenger in the vehicle, has been killed.

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Berlin police said on Twitter on Tuesday that investigators assume that the driver of a truck that ploughed into a crowd at a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring 48 others, did so intentionally.

"Our investigators assume that the truck was deliberately steered into the crowd at the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz," police said.

The market is situated at the foot of the ruined Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, which was kept as a bombed-out ruin after WWII.

The Berlin Christmas event in the aftermath of the vehicular attack

X

The scene of the attack

Germany's justice minister said that federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, are taking over the investigation.

The incident evoked memories of an attack in France in July when Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne truck along the beach front, mowing down people who had gathered to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day, killing 86 people. The attack was claimed by ISIS.

The truck used in the attack (Photo: Reuters)

The truck careered into the Berlin market at what would have been one of the most crowded times for the Christmas market, when adults and children would be gathering in the traditional cluster of wooden huts that sell food and Christmas goods.

Evacuating the injured from the site of the attack (Photo: Reuters)

"I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos...many injured people," Jan Hollitzer, deputy editor in chief of Berliner Morgenpost, told CNN. "It was really traumatic."

The market Christmas celebrations (Photo: Reuters)

Police cars and ambulances converged quickly on the scene as a huge security operation unfolded. The fate of the driver of the truck was not immediately clear, but Bild newspaper said he was on the run.

Emma Rushton, a tourist visiting Berlin, told CNN the truck seemed to be traveling at about 40 mph (65 Kmh).

Asked how many were injured, she said that as she walked back to her hotel, she saw at at least 10.

Julian Reichelt, editor in chief of Bild Berlin, said that there was currently a massive security operation under way.

"The scene certainly looks like a reminder of what we have seen in Nice," said Reichelt.

In the last few weeks, European sources have warned that ISIS is planning on carrying out terrorist attacks around Christmas, and that open-air markets will be the organization's prime targets. The US has issued similar warnings regarding such markets.

The attack came just hours after the Russian ambassador to Ankara Andrei Karlov was shot in an attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on Monday, following the assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov.

Netanyahu strongly came out against the attack, saying that Israel greatly admonishes Karlov's cruel murder. He sent his condolences to Karlov's family and the Russian people.

Netanyahu added that the killing of a diplomat highlights the need of the civlized world to join together in its fight against terrorism.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heaped criticism on Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid Monday during a Likud party conference for apparently refusing to sign a petition calling for a discussion to be held on the suspension of MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List), who is being summoned for investigation on suspicion of smuggling cellphones to Palestinian prisoners in Israel

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I heard that Yair Lapid instructed members of his party not to sign a document calling for the convening of a discussion for removing Ghattas from the Knesset, Netanyahu said in reference a petition currently being spearheaded by MK Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Minister of Environmental Protection Ze'ev Elkin (Likud) to invoke the Suspension Law that was passed last summer.

Ze'ev Elkin (L) and Netanyahu (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

It doesnt surprise me. It is disappointing. It isnt surprising because this is a left-wing man who heads a left-wing party.

While Lapid did say state that he would not put his pen to the petition, he also said that he did not instruct his party members what to do.

Lapid is trying to disguise this simple position, but the simple truth is that Yair Lapid leaders a left-wing party and this is now revealed for all to see, Netanyahu continued. I hope that he will change his opinion but in any case it is the public that will decide his position.

Regarding the suspicions against Ghattas, Netanyahu said, "I think the incident requires an in-depth investigation. If the suspicions are found to be correct, then it will constitute a very severe transgression against state security and the security of the state's citizens. Whoever harms Israel's security should be severely punished, and whoever identifies with those who seek to destroy Israel does not belong in the Knesset."
Amman: At least 15 persons were killed in a series of shootouts between Jordanian police and a group of gunmen, Jordan's homeland security department said in a statement.

Seven policemen, two Jordanian civilians, one Canadian tourist and four gunmen were killed, while 27 others were wounded, on Sunday, Efe news agency reported on Monday.

The shootings took place in the southern Jordanian city of Karak where the gunmen were holed up in a historic citadel.

An unspecified number of attackers holed themselves up, the statement said, describing them as "terrorists and outlaws", although it did not link the gunmen to any particular group.

The department confirmed that four "terrorist" gunmen were shot dead and security forces continued combing operations in the area for other potential attackers.

Security sources, however, did not rule out the possibility that the attackers could belong to the terrorist Islamic State (IS) group.

The Department of Homeland Security had previously reported that there were five or six attackers hiding in the Karak citadel, about 120 km south of the Jordanian capital, Amman.

The Karak citadel is a Crusader castle built in the Middle Ages and is a well-known tourist attraction in Jordan.

Security sources told Efe that the gunmen were surrounded and that shots were exchanged when policemen in several patrol cars tried to arrest them.

Jordanian Prime Minister Hani al-Mulqui confirmed the deaths of some "members of the security forces".

Another attack was also carried out in Karak governorate against another patrol, although no casualties were reported.

Jordan till now had remained relatively stable and had not suffered terror attacks in comparison to neighbouring country like Syria.

However fears were growing that the IS could target Jordan next as it was a key US ally and a member of the US-led military coalition.
Beirut: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said on Monday that at least 1,000 people on 10 buses had left the besieged Shi`ite Muslim villages of al-Foua and Kefraya near Idlib carrying evacuees through rebel-held territory towards Aleppo.

The evacuation of wounded and other civilians from the villages is a condition for the evacuation of people in the besieged rebel zone of Aleppo, Syrian state media reported on Sunday.
Beijing: A photo published by Chinese military showing its strategic bomber reportedly flying over Taiwan, days after Beijing's spat with US President-elect Donald Trump over his questioning of 'One China' policy, has sparked concerns in the island, official media here reported.

The photo published by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) showing a long-range strategic bomber flying within visible range of Yushan, Taiwan's highest mountain, has caused great concern in Taiwan amid debate about whether the mainland will reunify the island by force, state-run Global Times reported.

It said the PLA Air Force published the photo on its Sina Weibo account, showing an Xian H-6K bomber flying above the clouds with two mountain peaks rising in the distance.

"Military commentators on the mainland believe the peaks are of a mountain in Taiwan, which has made many netizens marvel at the PLA's military capability," the report said.

However, the spokesman of Taiwan's "Defence Ministry," Chen Zhongji, told the Central News Agency that military aircraft from the mainland could only fly outside the air defence identification zone of Taiwan and the ministry could monitor their movements, saying the guesses were "groundless".

The daily quoted a Military expert Chen Weihao as telling Taiwan-based satellite television channel and cable TV network TVBS that it was the first time that mainland aircraft had been photographed with Taiwan landscapes, which has a psychological impact on the island.

"Discussions about the possibility of the mainland reunifying Taiwan by force continues to gain momentum as pro- independence Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen keeps whipping up anti-mainland sentiment," it said.

The report in the official media here followed war of words between China and Trump after he spoke to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen which is unprecedented as US follows One China Policy under which China claims the breakaway province of Taiwan as part of its mainland.

"Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the US doesn't tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I don't think so!," angry Trump said after China lodged protests over his talks with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Later Trump said in an interview that "I don't want China dictating to me. I don't know why we have to be bound by a one -China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade".

This prompted China to react saying that One China policy formed the bed rock of its foreign policy and US-China ties will be "out of question" if Trump compromised with One China policy.

Since then, Chinese military analysts have been saying that any plans by Trump to alter One China policy may heighten tensions in Taiwan Straits.
Delhi: Pakistan on November 26 had approved Russia's request to use the strategic Gwadar Port for its exports, signalling a new alignment in bilateral relations after decades' of sour ties during the Cold War era..

It was also reported that Moscow has also shown its willingness to be part of the $46-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Following are 10 things to know about the development:

- Following Iran and Turkmenistan, Russia decided to use the Gwadar Port for trade to have an access to warm waters.

- If formal authorisation to Russia is given to join the CPEC, both countries will enhance cooperation in economic, defence and intelligence matters.

- Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, who was on a two-day visit to Turkmenistan at the end of November, had then welcomed the Russian decision to join CPEC.

- Sharif had maintained that Pakistan would welcome participation of any country in the gigantic project. He had told journalists that many countries wanted to join CPEC as half of the world would benefit from the project.

- China and Pakistan are building the nearly 3,000-km-long economic corridor linking Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea with Muslim-majority Xinjiang province.

- Reports had said that it was possible that the agreement may be signed when Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Pakistan in 2017 as scheduled.

- It had been reported in Pakistani media that the head of Russias Federal Security Service, Alexander Bortnikov had made a secret visit to Pakistan. He is said to have met senior military officials.

- As per reports, this was the first visit by a Russian intelligence agencys head to Pakistan in 14 years. Bilateral cooperation in intelligence and defence were supposedly discussed in the meetings.

- Interestingly Russia had last month denied Pakistan media reports which had said that Moscow was looking to involve itself in CPEC.

- But recently Russia's ambassador to Pakistan Alexey Y Dedov was quoted as saying that Russia and Pakistan have held discussions merge Moscow's Eurasian Economic Union project with the CPEC. He had added that Russia "strongly" supported CPEC because it was important for Pakistan's economy and for regional connectivity.
Moscow: A plane carrying Russian soldiers crashed early Monday, seriously injuring 16, the defence ministry said, quoted by Russian news agencies.

The Ilyushin-18 plane carrying 32 passengers and seven crew made an emergency landing around 4:45 am Moscow time in the eastern Siberian region of Sakha.

Everyone survived but 16 received serious injuries, RIA Novosti agency reported, citing the defence ministry, adding at least 20 of those on board required hospitalisation.

It was not immediately clear whether the plane was owned by the military.

A source in the defence ministry told Interfax that the plane had not given a distress signal and that the flight took place in harsh weather conditions that could have led to icing of the plane.

With AFP inputs
Seoul: South Korea sent eight North Koreans and two vessels it had rescued drifting at sea last week back across their maritime border on Monday, and patrol vessels from the North were on hand to receive them, the South`s unification ministry said.

All eight of those rescued had said they wanted to return to the North, ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said.

Their return came after North Korea had ignored notice on Thursday of plans to repatriate the crew, some of whom were suffering frostbite, and the vessels, Jeong told a media briefing.

At least one person was believed to have died from starvation, and possibly more, according to survivors, Jeong said last week. One of the ships set sail in September and the other in November, he said.

South Korea`s relations with the North are at a low point after the North conducted two nuclear tests and numerous test-launches of ballistic missiles this year.

The North reacts sensitively to announcements by South Korea of defections of its people. It has accused the South of kidnapping 13 employees of a restaurant in China who defected to the South in April.
United Nations: The UN Security Council, which agreed on a draft resolution aimed at ensuring that its officials can monitor evacuations from the Syrian city of Aleppo, will vote on the text on Monday.

The council was earlier scheduled to vote on Sunday on a French draft, but Russia, an ally of the Syrian government in the civil war, circulated a rival text.

Russia raised concerns about sending in UN officials unprepared to monitor the protection of civilians who remain in the last rebel-held area of eastern Aleppo, which has been under siege for years.

The evacuation ground to a halt on Friday after demands from pro-government forces that people also be moved out of two Shi`ite villages besieged by insurgents.

Armed men burned five buses that were supposed to be used for an evacuation near Idlib on Sunday, holding up the renewed deal to allow thousands to leave eastern Aleppo, where evacuees crammed into buses for hours, waiting to move.

French UN Ambassador Francois Delattre said the compromise text was based on the French draft and explained that the vote had been delayed until Monday because "given the importance of the text, some of us have preferred to report back to capitals."

The new draft asks UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "to take urgent steps to make arrangements, including security arrangements in consultation with interested parties, to allow the observation by the United Nations and other relevant institutions of the well-being of civilians ... inside the eastern districts of the city of Aleppo."

The US Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told reporters that the council expected to "vote unanimously for this text" at 9 am.

Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters: "I think we have a good text."

Churkin had earlier on Sunday said that Russia would veto the original French draft, which he described as "a disaster."

Russia, which has provided military backing to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad`s troops, has vetoed six Security Council resolutions on Syria since the war started in 2011. China joined Moscow in vetoing five resolutions.

The draft resolution to be voted on asks the United Nations and other institutions "to carry out adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations from the eastern districts of Aleppo and other districts of the city."

It also "demands all parties to provide these monitors with safe, immediate and unimpeded access."

Ban would report back on implementation of the resolution within five days of adoption, the draft said.

A crackdown by Assad on pro-democracy protesters in 2011 led to civil war, and Islamic State militants have used the chaos to seize territory in Syria and Iraq. Half of Syria`s 22 million people have been uprooted and more than 400,000 killed.

With Reuters inputs
New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam arrived in the national capital on Monday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which he will hand over a letter requesting the Centre to bestow the 'Bharat Ratna' on former chief minister J Jayalalithaa and to install a bronze statue in the Parliament complex.

The Tamil Nadu Cabinet had on December 10 decided to recommend Jayalalithaa`s name for India`s highest civilian honour.

In its first meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam after Jayalalithaa`s demise, the Cabinet also decided to recommend to the Centre installation of her life-size bronze statue in the Parliament complex.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will also relay the details of the damages caused by the Cyclone Vardah in the state.

Cyclone Vardah hit several parts of Tamil Nadu earlier on December 12.The storm uprooted trees, overturned cars and did extensive damage to buildings as it tore across Chennai.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at least 10 people have died.

Prior to the storm`s landing, Chennai already was pounded with heavy rain and winds.

with ANI inputs
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday banned `unauthorised Sharia courts` functioning on mosque premises in Tamil Nadu.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar cleared that religious places and other places of worships are meant for religious purposes only.

The court further asked the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that Sharia courts do not function.

The state government has been further asked to file a status report within a month.

Also Read: Muslim women will not tolerate interference in Sharia: AIMPLB members

In a public interest litigation in the court, an NRI, Abdul Rahman, had said that a Sharia council was functioning like a regular court from a mosque in Chennai, passing divorce orders and summoning parties related to disputes.

Petitioners counsel, A Sirajudeen, submitted that the PIL had been filed to safeguard the interests of a large number of innocent Muslims who are silently suffering because of the functioning of Makka Masjid Shariat Council and similar forums across the state. Claiming that hundreds of Muslim families have been affected due to such a system, the petitioner said the council has created an impression among Muslims that it had been functioning as per Sharia law and all its orders and judgements were religiously binding on Muslims.

Also Read: Britain probes whether some Sharia courts legitimise forced marriage, divorces unfair to women

The council functions like a court and presiding officers wear robes like judges, but of a different colour, the petitioner claimed. He said he too had become a victim once as he had approached the council to reunite with his wife. But he was forced to sign a letter of talaq and the divorce was pronounced.

Though the Supreme Court has declared such entities as illegal, the number of disputes entertained by the council had exceeded a few hundred every year, as was evident from the case number given in his petition, the PIL said.

As he did not get relief from the council, he moved a family court here for an appropriate remedy, he said.

'Ban oral talaq, burqa': Sharia made by Allah, so can't be abolished - this is nonsense, says Markandey Katju

The petitioner sought a direction to authorities to stop the functioning of the council and all other similar organisations in Tamil Nadu as dispute adjudicating bodies.

(With PTI inputs)
Kanpur: In the first instance of its own kind, three students of IIT-Kanpur have completed their programme in just three and a half years, instead of the specified four-year duration.

These students finished B.Tech in seven semesters instead of eight.

As per The Times of India, two other students of B.Tech+M.Tech Dual degree course have completed their course in nine semesters instead of 10.

Notably, B.Tech+M.Tech Dual degree programme is a five-year course.

Albeit these five students have managed to complete their entire course in lesser duration, they will get their degrees in 2017 when the convocation ceremony would take place.

The meeting of the senate members of IIT-Kanpur on Friday hailed the efforts of the three B.Tech students.
Hyderabad: The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court here is due to pronounce quantum of sentence in connection with 2013 Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case on Monday.

The NIA special court had on December 7 convicted banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Mohammed Ahmed Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal and four others for their role in the twin blasts.

At least 17 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed and 131 injured in the twin blasts in Hyderabad's Dilsukhnagar area on February 21, 2013.

The first bomb went off at Anand Tiffins, located opposite Konark Theatre at around 7.02 pm while the second bomb went off at 7.06 pm between Venkatadri theatre and Dilsukhnagar bus stand.

During the investigation, the NIA named six IM operatives for carrying out the deadly blasts.

The alleged key conspirator Riyaz Bhatkal, believed to be operating from Karachi, Pakistan is still at large while the five other accused namely Asadullah Akthar of Uttar Pradesh, Zia-ur-Rahman of Pakistan, Tahseen Akhthar of Bihar, Yasin Bhatkal of Karnataka and Aizaz Shaik of Maharashtra were arrested later and lodged in Cherlapally Central Prison in Hyderabad.

The convicts were tried under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and other relevant acts including IPC.

In its chargesheet, the NIA contented that Riyaz Bhatkal arranged supply of explosive substances and money while Asadullah Akhtar and Waqas received the explosives and the money.

The NIA chargesheet read that with the help of Tahseen Akhtar, the accused prepared two IEDs and carried out the blasts.

Trial in the case had begun on August 24, 2015 and the final arguments in the case of terror attack were concluded on December.

A total of 157 witnesses and over 500 documents were cited during the hearing.

In wake of the recent Bhopal Central jail break incident, the security inside the Cherlapally Central Prison has been tightened.

Of around half a dozen trials launched against the Indian Mujahideen's top operative Yasin Bhatkal in different state, the Hyderabad blasts case is the first to reach the judgement stage.

Meanwhile, the family members of the blast victims have demanded death sentence for the Indian Mujahideen members.
New Delhi: Announcing the quantum of punishment in 2013 Dilsukhnagar blasts, which had claimed 18 lives, a special NIA court in Hyderabad on Monday said that all the five convicts including Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal will be hanged.

Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, Pakistani national Zia-ur-Rahman and 3 others were awarded death penalty by special NIA court in Hyderabad on Monday.

Pronouncing the sentence, Judge T Srinivasa Rao described the case as the "rarest of the rare".

NIA Special Public Prosecutor K Surender said the court, after going through their evidence, found that the case is based on facts.

Earlier on Dec 13, in the first ever conviction of banned Indian Mujahideen cadres in a terror case, a special NIA court in Hyderabad had convicted Mohammed Ahmed Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal and four others for being involved in 2013 twin blasts at Dilsukhnagar which had claimed 18 lives.

The NIA special court convicted Bhatkal and others under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Five convicts

Besides Bhatkal, the others convicted were Asadullah Akthar of Uttar Pradesh, Zia-ur-Rahman alias Waqas of Pakistan, Tahseen Akhthar of Bihar and Aizaz Shaik of Maharashtra. All of them are in judicial custody.

Key conspirator on the loose

The alleged key conspirator Riyaz Bhatkal, believed to be operating from Karachi, is still at large.

The final arguments in the case concerning the attack, carried out on February 21, 2013 in which 18 people were killed and 131 injured others, concluded last month during which 157 witnesses were examined. Trial in the case had begun on August 24 last year.

An elated Director General of NIA Sharad Kumar said "it was a wonderful investigation carried out by the team in which every evidence was examined minutely. This is the first ever conviction of Indian Mujahideen cadres."

"We will be appealing for maximum punishment for the culprits," Kumar said.

In its charge sheet, the NIA had claimed that Indian Mujahideen had hatched a conspiracy to wage a war against India and decided to carry out bomb blasts in Hyderabad to create terror in the minds of people and further the activities of the outfit.

The main operative of the module, Riyaz Bhatkal, who is named as the first accused in the case, had allegedly directed his associates Asadullah Akhtar and Waqas to find a place in Mangalore to be used as a hide-out for explosive materials sent by him, it had alleged.

Dilsukhnagar blasts

The twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar area on February 21, 2013, killed 18 persons, including one unborn child in mother's womb, and injured 131 others.
Hyderabad: A special court will on Monday announce the quantum of punishment for five accused guilty in the 2013 twin bomb blasts case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court had on December 13 held the five operatives of Indian Mujahideen guilty in the blasts case.

The five accused found guilty are Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu, Pakistani national Zia ur Rehman alias Waqas, and Ajaz Shaikh.

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 the Indian Mujahideen operatives.

Out of the six accused in the case, the investigating agency arrested five.

Main accused Riyaz Bhatkal alias Shah Riyaz Ahmad Mohammed Ismail Shahbandari is absconding.

For the last one year, the trial had been going on in the special court at Cherlapally Central Prison on the city outskirts where the five accused are currently lodged.

The NIA has produced 158 witnesses, seized 201 pieces of material evidence and furnished over 500 documents in the court.

Six months after the blasts, Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akthar were arrested from an area in Bihar close to the Nepal border. Three other accused were arrested subsequently and the NIA filed two chargesheets 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.

(With IANS inputs)
Islamabad: The year 2016 could go down as one of the worst for Indo-Pak ties as terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups stalled the peace process and India's surgical strikes inside PoK followed by trading of heavy fire at the border raised fears of a large-scale conflict.

The year began on a sordid note when on January 2, Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad militants stormed the Pathankot airbase in Punjab and killed seven security personnel before they were eliminated.

India demanded answers from Pakistan while linking the peace process to action against terrorism emanating from its soil.

The Pathankot attack was devastating for bilateral ties as it followed a brief but important visit to Lahore by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the birthday of his counterpart Nawaz Sharif on December 25 last year.

That trip had come on the heels of a high-level visit by an Indian delegation led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad in early

December to attend the Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan.

On the sidelines, she had fruitful talks with Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and the two countries agreed to revive the stalled peace process.

The Indian Foreign Secretary was scheduled to visit Pakistan in mid-January but the Pathankot incident effectively scuttled the momentary thaw in ties.

The relations had not fully recovered from the blow when Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with Indian security forces in Kashmir in July, setting in motion a chain of events which drove Pakistan and India in opposite directions.

In September, matters again came to a head between the two sides when JeM militants assaulted an army camp in Uri and killed 19 soldiers. The Indian government again demanded action from Pakistan.

Just days after the assault, the two sides clashed at the UN General Assembly's annual session, blaming each other for militancy and violation of human rights.

Raking up Kashmir at the UN, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif glorified Wani as a "young leader". Sharif devoted much of his 20-minute speech at the UN General Assembly session to Kashmir and the situation in the Valley and said Pakistan "fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination".

Swaraj delivered a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir, saying those accusing others of rights violations must introspect. India also censured Pakistan for the first time at the UNGA for perpetrating the "worst form of state oppression" in Balochistan.

India's response to the Uri attack, came in the form of "surgical strikes" which Pakistan denied. India carried out "surgical strikes" on seven terror launch pads across the LoC with the Army inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from PoK.

However, the move created a war-like situation on the Line of Control.
Patna: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Monday made a big statement in connection with donations to political parties.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that donation sources of an amount as little as Re 1 to political parties should be disclosed.

Talking about the Election Commission's proposal to bring an amendment to laws to make political parties reveal donations above Rs 2,000 from anonymous sources, he said, "it's good and an amendment should be made in laws".

"Why only Rs 2,000 and above? Parties should reveal who has given even Re 1 or Rs 10 to it," Kumar said.

He, however, expressed doubt if the BJP-led NDA government would bring an amendment to this effect.

The Election Commission has urged the government to amend laws to ban anonymous contributions of Rs 2,000 and above made to political parties so that flow of blackmoney in polls could be checked.
New Delhi: India and the Czech Republic on Monday discussed the entire gamut of their bilateral relationship, stressing on defence and commercial ties.

At a meeting between Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar and visiting Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek here, the two sides discussed bilateral issues as well as important global and regional issues of mutual interest, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"India and Czech Republic have robust economic ties, with annual bilateral trade being $1.2 billion. Additionally, a number of Indian and Czech companies have invested in each otheras country," it said.

"There is a mechanism of Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation co-chaired by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India and Minister of Trade and Industry of Czech Republic from the respective sides, for discussing the ways and means of strengthening economic ties."

According to the statement, defence cooperation is an important component in India-Czech ties.

"There is a mechanism of India-Czech Joint Defence Committee meetings that met last in November 2016. There is a Joint Working Group on heavy engineering; the last JWG (Joint Working Group) meeting took place in October 2016," it said.

The two countries also have a cultural exchange programme and an education exchange programme and engage regularly in discussions on cooperation in science and technology and research and development.

"Minister Zaoralek and Minister M.J. Akbar discussed in detail the possibility of further cooperation in these crucial sectors of mutual interest," the statement said.

"The two Ministers held discussions also on major global issues such as climate change, Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations reforms, terrorism, Multilateral Export Control Regime etc."

They also exchanged views on important developments in the neighbouring regions of both countries.

The last visit of the Czech Foreign Minister to India was in 2013, the Czech Minister of Trade and Industry visited in January 2015 and the Czech Defence Minister in March 2016.
New Delhi: Amid its all-out efforts to get entry into the elite NSG, India today held talks with Czech Republic, a member of the 48-nation grouping, on terrorism and Multilateral Export Control Regime.

During wide-ranging discussions, Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar and Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek reviewed entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as important global and regional issues of mutual interest.

"Two Ministers held discussions also on major global issues such as climate change, Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations Reforms, Terrorism, Multilateral Export Control Regime etc. They exchanged views on important developments in the neighbouring regions of both countries," MEA said in a press release.

The discussions also come in the backdrop of India's intense outreach for its membership bid in the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Czech, which is a member in four export control regimes- the Wassenaar Arrangement, NSG, Australia Group, and Missile Technology Control Regime, has been supportive of India's aspirations.

Noting that defence cooperation is an important component in India-Czech ties, the release said there is a mechanism of India-Czech Joint Defence Committee meetings that met last in November 2016.

Zaoralek is accompanied by senior officials of Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a high-level business delegation representing various trade, industrial and financial sectors.

On trade front, the two countries have robust economic ties, with annual bilateral trade being USD 1.2 billion.

There is a mechanism of Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation co-chaired by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India and Minister of Trade and Industry of Czech Republic from the respective side, for discussing the ways and means of strengthening economic ties, the release added.

"Zaoralek and Akbar discussed in detail the possibility of further cooperation in these crucial sectors of mutual interest...They exchanged views on important developments in the neighbouring regions of both countries," the release said.
New Delhi: Army Chief-designate Lt Gen Bipin Rawat and Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D Anbu has underlined the need for a "special focus" to achieve an all-weather connectivity to the strategic Ladakh region, which borders China.

The Ladakh region, which has high significance from strategic considerations, remains cut-off for almost half of the year throughout the winter season from the rest of India.

This happens due to intensive snow fall, avalanche and icing at passes viz Zozila on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road and Rohtang-Baralacha La-Lachung La and Tanglang La on Manali-Sarchu-Upshi-Leh road.

"It, therefore, needs a special focus and network of tunnel to have an all weather connectivity," a statement by the army quoted them as saying at a one-day workshop organised by the Ministry of Defence on tunnelling in North & North Eastern Region on December 17 here.

Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar highlighted that infrastructure development in North and North-Eastern part of the country has always been a matter of challenge due to adverse climatic conditions, fragile and young geology and remote location.

Growing awareness on forest, environmental and ecological issues to minimise instability of hill slopes and avoid phenomena of flash floods and cloud burst has also been a matter of serious concern which need urgent attention, he said.

Underground structures like tunnel could help a great deal to minimise the disturbances to natural settings and provide straight alignment and thus reduce length of roads, he added.
Mumbai: The results of third round of municipal council and nagar panchayat polls in Maharashtra were declared on Monday.

The opposition Congress on Monday won 122 seats and bagged eight municipal president's post.

The ruling BJP won 116 seats, taking its tally in three phases to 1061 councillors.

Polling was held on Sunday for the third phase of elections in 19 municipal councils and two nagar panchayats in Aurangabad, Nanded, Bhandara and Gadchiroli districts, the results of which were announced on Monday.

BJP retained its overall top position.

3rd phase

In the third phase BJP won 116 seats, taking its tally in three phases to 1061 councillors.

The ruling party also won eight posts of municipal council president in the third phase, taking the tally of its council presidents to 64.

At the end of three phases, BJP continued to remain the single largest party while Congress finished second with 894 seats, followed by NCP at 786 and Shiv Sena at 598.

NCP and an independent candidate bagged one post of council president each.

Break-up of council presidents' tally

The break-up of council presidents' tally at the end of phase 3 is: BJP 64, Congress 33, NCP 21. Sena had won 26 council chief posts earlier but drew blank in the third phase.

Independents bagged two council president posts.

Elections were held in Aurangabad, Bhandara, Gadchiroli and Nanded districts in the third phase.

4th phase

Fourth and last phase will be conducted on January 8, 2017.

Apart from BJP and Congress, NCP won 78 municipal council seats in the third phase, independents 28, Lok Bharati five, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha two, Samajwadi Party one and Shiv Sena 38.

In Nanded district, MIM bagged five seats while BSP won two.
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the Pathankot terror attack, filed a comprehensive chargesheet in connection with the case on Monday.

According to PTI, Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar has been named as the mastermind of the terror attack on the Indian Air Force Base in Pathankot in the NIA chargesheet.

Besides JeM chief Masood Azhar, the chargesheet also names his brother Rauf Asghar and two other top operatives.

#NIA names Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar besides three other JeM terrorists in charge sheet filed in Panchkula special court. #Pathank  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2016

The NIA filed the chargesheet in Panchkula special court in Punjab. The chargesheet highlights JeM's role in spreading mayhem in India and refers to the nefarious plans of the outfit, as per reports.

Immediately after the Pathankot incident, Rauf had hosted a video message claiming the responsibility for the terror strike and glorified the role of his brother Azhar, who was released in exchange for passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999.

The government will be using the chargesheet of NIA at various international fora to highlight the role of Masood Azhar in the case relating to the Pathankot terror strike carried out on 2 January this year.

The govt had launched a diplomatic offensive against the Jaish and its chief Masood Azhar after China continued to spurn New Delhi's efforts in getting UN sanctions against the terrorist and his group.

The Home Ministry had earlier given sanction to NIA to file the chargesheet against Azhar, his brother and two handlers of four terrorists - Qashif Jan and Shaid Latif, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The four terrorists, after entering into India from Bamiyal area of Gurdaspur, had carried out the strike at the Pathankot IAF base killing eight people including seven personnel of IAF and NSG.

According to NIA, the terrorists, who were killed after two days of gunfight, were identified as Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum and they were residents of Vehari (Punjab), Gujranwala (Punjab), Sanghar (Sindh) and Sukkur (Sindh) of Pakistan respectively.

The chargesheet will also include evidence of linking the footprints of one of the terrorists obtained from Bamiyal besides matching of DNA sample found from a soft- drink can in the hijacked car of Punjab Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh.

The Pathankot terror strike had seen a joint investigation team from Pakistan also arriving in India for carrying out a thorough probe.

However, the Pakistani team, upon their return, claimed that India neither shared much of evidence nor allowed it to interrogate the security personnel involved in dealing with the attack.

With PTI inputs
New Delhi: A Pathankot terrorist had asked his mother to throw feast for friends, according to intercepts by the NIA.

He spoke to his mother in Pakistan over a cell phone to express his last wish and called for a feast for his friends after his death, according to NIA chargesheet.

Nasir Hussain of Vehari in Pakistan made multiple calls to his handlers and relatives from the two cell phones he and other terrorists snatched from two locals while the group made its way to the Indian Air Force base, according to an NIA chargesheet filed on Monday.

This Pathankot terrorist had attacked an IAF base at Pathankot, Punjab, on January 2.

18-min conversation

The chargesheet alleged that Hussain during his 18-minute conversation with a woman, whom he addressed as his mother, asked her to record his conversation on her mobile set.

He asked the woman "to host a 'dawat' (feast) for my 'derawala' friends after my death", the anti-terror probe agency said, citing intercepts.

Hussain also took the names of some of his family members and relatives -- Mudassir, Mariyam and Altamash.

He told his mother that the group infiltrated into the Indian territory at 2 a.m. on December 30, 2015 -- three days before they stormed into the military base and killed seven soldiers in a fierce gunfight.

"He also spoke to his brother or cousin who was referred to by the name Babar, and to another person name(d) Munna," the chargeshet read.

"During the conversation with his mother, Hussain mentioned about one 'ustad' (teacher) who was supposed to come to her with his 'wasihat' (last wish) after his death," said the chargesheet that named Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others as the masterminds of the terror attack.

The telephone call was made while the terrorists were hiding inside the air base as he told his mother that they were about to attack the camp.

The calls were made about 9.20 a.m. on January 1, 2016, to Pakistan telephone number +92 3000 957 212. The NIA said it belonged to Khayam Bhatti, also known as Babar Bhatti, a local merchandise shop in Sialkot of Pakistan.

"Hussain also disclosed the names of his other three associates as Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom," the NIA said.

It said that Hussain tried to call on the same number around 8.40 a.m. in the morning but the call was not responded to.

(With agency inputs)
Kolkata: Former Army chief Gen (Retd) Shankar Roychowdhury on Monday described the political slugfest over the new Army chief's appointment as "detestable", saying it was the prerogative of the government to select the chief of Army staff.

"It is detestable. You can't stop politicians from commenting because it is a democracy. Their comments are ill-advised and ill-informed. It is futile to tell politicians not to drag the Army into this", he told PTI when asked about the controversy over the appointment of Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the new Army chief.

"It is the prerogative of the government to select the chief of Army staff. All the three names which cropped up in the media - Eastern Army Commander, Southern Army Commander and the vice-chief Lt Gen Bipin Rawat - are the best of the best. They are extremely experienced with total integrity," he said.

Asked whether the morale of the Army gets affected by such political controversies, he replied in the negative.

"The morale doesn't get affected. The Army will continue to do its duty but they take note of what has been said. The feeling is always there in their mind. But they know that politicians will always say something to suit their own interests," Gen Roychowdhury said.

A highly decorated war hero, Gen Roychowdhury fought the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war.

A political slugfest broke out over the new Army chief's appointment by superseding two officers with Congress asking the Prime Minister to spell out the "compelling reasons" for it and the Left questioning the move even as BJP hit back, saying they should not politicise an issue related to the defence forces.
New Delhi: A day after the Congress questioned Narendra Modi government over the appointment of Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the new Army Chief, a senior party leader has come out defending the selection.

Senior Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi said, Questions raised on appointment of Army chief aren't welcome, merging politics and Army is a big no.

Only seniority isn't parameter, other qualities also considered. Government must have thought decision through, he added.

His comments are significant as it comes after Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari had termed Lt Gen Rawat's appointment, super seeding two senior officers, as whimsical cherry-picking by the government.

"Is it that these officers who have been superseeded where unqualified in any manner or is it whimsical cherry-picking which has been done by the BJP-led NDA Government," said.

"We would like to ask the Prime Minister of this country, what was the compelling reason as to why the super succession has taken place? Why the principal of seniority which was held the filed now to almost two decades, not respected by our government," Tewari said.

With all due respect to Lieutenant General Rawats professionalism and brilliance as a soldier and no personal animosity to anybody, there is a legitimate question as to why has this supersession taken place. After all Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi who commands the Eastern Command, the Southern Army Commander Lt. Gen Mohammed Ali and the Central Army Commander are all senior to the gentleman who is being designated, Tewari said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hit back at the Congress for politicising Lieutenant General Bipin Rawats appointment and drew the oppositions attention to the decision taken during the regime of late prime minister Indira Gandhi when the then government superseded Lieutenant General SK Sinha to appoint General AS Vaidya as the Army Chief in 1983.

BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh said it is extremely unfortunate that the Congress looks to politicise each and everything.

Therefore, the Congress spokesperson (Manish Tewari) should resist about it because the chief of the Army has been appointed and this is not the first time that the supersession have been done, Singh said.

There are other cases in the Indian Air Force, Indian Navyalso the same thing has happened. So, lets not politicise each and everything and particularly when it comes to the Indian armed forces. Its very sad that the Congress is trying to politicise this appointment, he added.

The government earlier on Saturday announced the name of Lieutenant General Rawat as the new Chief of Army Staff and Air Marshal BS Dhanoa as the new Chief of Air Staff.

Lieutenant General Rawat, who took over as the Army vice-chief in September 2016, bypassed Eastern Command chief Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi (armoured corps) and Southern Army Command chief Lieutenant General PM Hariz (mechanised infantry).

Lieutenant General Rawat has remarkable experience of serving in combat areas and at various functional levels in the Indian Army over the last three decades.

He has handled various operational responsibilities in many areas, including along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and in the North-East.

He is known for his balanced approach towards soldiering, compassion, and his connect with the civil society.

According to sources, Lieutenant General Rawat was found the best suited to deal with emerging challenges, including a reorganized and restructured military force in the north; continuing terrorism and proxy war from the west and the situation in the North-East.

Air Marshal Dhanoa, who will replace Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Air Force in June 1978. He has served in various squadrons, and also in the Intelligence Directorate of Air Headquarters.

With agency inputs
Jammu: A soldier was injured in a landmine explosion on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on Monday, police said.

"A soldier identified as Minter Singh of 21 Punjab Regiment was seriously injured in a mine explosion on the LoC in Mendhar sector.

"The injured soldier was immediately evacuated to Mendhar hospital for treatment," said police here.

Landmines are used by security forces to secure infiltration-prone areas on the LoC.
Kota: Jashodaben, the estranged wife of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday hailed the Union governments move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Jashodaben, who was in Kota to attend the Akhil Bhartiya Rashtriya Adhiveshan and Yuvak/Yuvati Parichay Sammelan of the Zila Tailik Sahu Mahasabha of Kota, said the demonetisation move will prove beneficial for the people of the country.

When asked by the media about the performance of the Modi government, Jashodaben said appreciated the work done so far and hoped it will continue to work for the progress and development of the nation and welfare of the people.

MUST WATCH: Gauging the public pulse on PM Modi's demonetisation move

She further hailed the demonetisation drive, saying: "The decision by the Union government to demonetise old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will curb both corruption and black money in the country. The move will bring back black money stashed abroad".
New Delhi: Poll-bound Uttar Pradesh has reported the highest number of cases of atrocities against the Scheduled Castes (SC) in 2015 while the highest number of such cases against the Scheduled Tribes (ST) during the year were found in Rajasthan, according to Union Minister Ramdas Athawale.

The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment on Monday said that a total of 44,839 cases of atrocities against these communities were recorded in 2015 -- of these, 38,564 cases were against the Scheduled Castes and 6,275 against the Scheduled Tribes.

"In 2015, we found highest atrocity cases against the SCs in UP (8,357), followed by Bihar (6,293), Rajasthan (5,991), Madhya Pradesh (3,546), Andhra Pradesh (2,263)," Athawale told media persons.

"In the same year, atrocity cases against the STs were found to be highest in Rajasthan (1,409), followed by Madhya Pradesh (1,358), and Odisha (691)," he added.

In 2013, a total of 46,114 (39,346 against the SCs and 6,768 against the STs) cases of atrocities were recorded while the number in 2014 stood at 47,124 (40,300 against SCs and 6,824 against STs).

On Monday, Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot and Athawale held a meeting and discussed issues atrocity cases, prevention measures, abd compensation to victims.

The Centre has sought action and taken reports from the state governments to improve the disposal and conviction rates in such cases.

"We discussed issues such as special court set-up for speedy disposal of atrocity cases, hike in compensation to atrocity victims from the existing Rs 85,000 to Rs 8.5 lakh, inter-caste marriage promotion," Athawale said.

Athawale added, "We are looking at possibility of encouraging inter-caste marriage by giving monetary incentives. We are mulling to give a job and Rs 5 lakh or five acre land in rural area."

"We have also discussed measures like building dedicated teams of six-seven policemen headed by a sub-inspector at each police station to deal with atrocity cases, dedicated helpline to file complaint, preference to SC/ST advocates," he said.
Berlin: At least nine people were killed and several injured when a truck ploughed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday evening, the Berliner Morgenpost reported.

German media said police on the ground were saying first indications were that the incident was an attack.

On the other hand, the police said on Twitter - "We can confirm 9 deaths & many others injured. Many police are at the Breitscheidplatz to investigate what happened," as per Reuters.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman said, "We are investigating whether it was a terror attack but do not yet know what was behind it," as per AFP.

Germany has been shaken this year by several assaults claimed by the Islamic State group and carried out by asylum-seekers.

An axe rampage on a train in the southern state of Bavaria in July injured five people, and a suicide bombing wounded 15 people in the same state six days later.

In another case, a 16-year-old German-Moroccan girl in February stabbed a police officer in the neck with a kitchen knife, wounding him badly, allegedly on IS orders.

The arrival of 890,000 refugees last year has polarised Germany and misgivings run particularly deep in the ex-communist east, even more so since IS-linked attacks in July carried out by Syrian asylum-seekers.

(With Agency inputs)
Beijing: China on Monday rejected US President-elect Donald Trump`s claim that it had "stolen" an American research drone, as state media said his diplomatic inexperience could spark a confrontation between the two nations.

Beijing`s seizure of the marine probe in international waters in the South China Sea raised already heightened tensions between the world`s two largest military powers.

On Sunday, after Beijing and Washington announced the drone would be returned, Trump tweeted: "We should tell China that we don`t want the drone they stole back. - let them keep it!"

China objected to Trump`s accusation that it had stolen the drone, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday, adding the claim was "not accurate".

"Imagine that you found something on the street -- you would need to first check and verify it before handing it back to someone else," she told a regular press conference.

Hua said the two sides "are in smooth communication through military channels, and we believe the incident will be properly handled". She gave no further details.

The Pentagon said Friday that a Chinese naval vessel "unlawfully" grabbed the unmanned underwater vehicle around 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines.

China said the drone had been snatched since it might pose a safety hazard to other vessels.

It also said it "strongly opposed" US reconnaissance activities and had asked Washington to stop them.

The US said the device was collecting information on water temperatures, salinity and sea clarity.

In an earlier misspelled tweet Saturday, Trump also accused Beijing of theft.

"China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters?rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented act," he wrote.

The state-owned China Daily rejected the claim in an editorial.

"What is truly amazing about this tweet, was the soon-to-be US president completely misrepresented what had actually happened -- that is more dangerous than funny," it said.

Trump`s behaviour "could easily drive China-US relations into what Obama portrays as `full-conflict mode`," it added, next to a cartoon that depicted Trump riding a bull into a china shop while US businessmen looked on aghast.

A separate article quoted experts as calling Trump`s behaviour "diplomatically inept".

Trump has already infuriated Beijing by questioning longstanding US policy on Taiwan, calling Beijing a currency manipulator and threatening punitive tariffs on Chinese imports.

"Trump is not behaving as a president who will become master of the White House in a month. He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower," the often nationalistic Global Times, which has close ties to the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial.

There are broader tensions in the South China Sea, where China has moved to fortify its claims to the region by expanding tiny reefs and islets into artificial islands hosting military facilities.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan have competing claims in the waterway.

While the US takes no position on sovereignty claims in the area, it has repeatedly stressed freedom of navigation.

Its military has conducted several operations in which ships and planes have passed close to the sites Beijing claims.

"No matter how powerful the US Navy is, it cannot act on the bottom line of China`s security," said a second editorial about the probe seizure in the Global Times Monday.

"If we see sonar and underwater gliders deployed by foreign ships in the South China Sea in the future, we would rather mistakenly capture a thousand than miss a single one."
Washington: US president-elect Donald Trump today nominated billionaire businessman and army veteran Vincent Viola to be his secretary of the Army.

As Secretary of the Army, Viola will combine a deep background in national security affairs with an impressive track record of leading and managing high-performing teams within the military and the private sector, the presidential transition team said.

Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, Viola worked to support the Army philanthropically in the areas of counterterrorism, cybersecurity and leadership development, including helping to found the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.

He has also founded multiple high-value companies, including Virtu Financial, and chaired the New York Mercantile Exchange. Viola's business experience makes him well positioned to help guide a Fortune 10-sized company, the US Army, to accomplish its broad mission in the most innovative and efficient way possible.

"Whether it is his distinguished military service or highly impressive track record in the world of business, Vinnie has proved throughout his life that he knows how to be a leader and deliver major results in the face of any challenge," Trump said.

"He is a man of outstanding work ethic, integrity, and strategic vision, with an exceptional ability to motivate others. The American people, whether civilian or military, should have great confidence that Vinnie Viola has what it takes to keep America safe and oversee issues of concern to our troops in the Army," he said.

"A primary focus of my leadership will be ensuring that America?s soldiers have the ways and means to fight and win across the full spectrum of conflict," Viola said in a statement.

A living proof of the American dream, 60-year-old Viola was born and raised in an Italian immigrant family in Brooklyn, and his father worked a truck driver. He was was inspired to join the military after witnessing his father?s service in the US Army in World War II.

Viola was the first member of his family to attend college, and after graduating from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1977, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the US Army that same year.

In the 1980s, Viola worked as a trader on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and also founded the first of many business ventures, including Pioneer Futures and the Independent Bank Group. After a long and influential career, Viola was appointed Chairman of NYMEX in March 2001.
Moscow: Ukrainian officials say five soldiers have been killed in the latest outburst of fighting with pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine and the rebels traded accusations over the hostilities that erupted yesterday.

The Ukrainian military also said six others were wounded, and claimed that 20 rebels were killed.

The rebels said two people were killed and two others were missing on their side and claimed that 10 Ukrainian soldiers died in the battle, according to Russian news agencies.

The spike in fighting in the Luhansk region is one of the worst in recent weeks.

Over 9,600 people have died in the fighting in eastern Ukraine since April 2014. A 2015 peace deal helped end large-scale fighting, but clashes have continued while progress towards a political settlement has stalled.
Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that former president and party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, who had left the country in mid-2015 soon after accusing the military establishment of overstepping its domain, will return back to Pakistan from Dubai on December 23.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Bilawal said doctors have allowed Zardari to travel to Pakistan and he would be landing in Karachi on Friday.

"Army chiefs come and go every three years but the political leadership is here to stay. We know the country better and we know how to run its affairs. If you do not stop, I will come out with a list of accused generals since Pakistan`s creation," he had said then.

"We need the great strategic skill of Zardari to overwhelm the Sharif government so that despite their two-thirds majority, they will have to implement my four demands," the Dawn quoted Bilawal, as saying.

The PPP chairman had announced earlier that the party will launch an `anti-government drive` on December 27 if its four demands are not met.

The four demands of the PPP were - formation of a parliamentary committee on national security, adoption of a PPP-drafted bill on Panama Leaks probe, implementation of the decision of a multi-party conference chaired by Asif Zardari on CPEC and appointment of a full-time foreign minister.

Bilawal said our four demands will be fulfilled soon if Zardari is in Pakistan.
Seoul: A friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the centre of a corruption scandal that led to Park`s impeachment in parliament denied charges of fraud and abuse of power on Monday on the first day of her trial.

The friend, Choi Soon-sil, 60, who had not appeared in public since arriving at a prosecutors` office on October 31, was led into court by two correctional officers, her head down, wearing a bulky grey prison suit with a number on her chest.

She is charged with pressuring big businesses to pay money to foundations that backed Park`s policy initiatives.

Prosecutors have named Park as an accomplice, although she has immunity from prosecution while in office.

Park`s powers have been suspended since the December 09 vote by Parliament to impeach her, giving the Constitutional Court up to 180 days to uphold or overturn the decision.

In a brief hearing, Choi denied all charges brought against her by prosecutors. Her lawyer argued that Choi did not collude with Park or other defendants in the case, and also denied the fraud charge.

"I need to clarify the facts now," Choi was quoted as telling the court by Yonhap News Agency.

Choi spoke so softly and she was barely audible in her brief comments.

South Koreans have been keen to get a glimpse of the woman at the centre of the political storm and members of the public were allocated seats in the court`s gallery by lottery.

"I hope this becomes a turning point for change for the better for our society," said Lim Soon-ja, 68, one of those who attended.

Two former presidential aides who have been indicted along with Choi did not attend the hearing, but their lawyers told the court that they had been following Park`s orders.

Choi also said she did not want a jury trial. South Korean courts normally hold criminal trials presided over by a panel of judges, who deliver a verdict and sentence, while defendants in select cases are given the choice of a jury trial.

Her lead lawyer, Lee Kyung-jae, rejected the charge that Choi colluded with Park and one of the former aides to the president, An Chong-bum, to exert pressure on various "chaebol" conglomerates.

"We stressed that there was no collusion between Choi and An Chong-bum and the president, and we look forward to having an intense examination over this point," Lee told reporters after the hearing.

The next hearing is set for December 29.

MASTERMIND?

Earlier, a long queue of people who had won places in the gallery waited for nearly an hour to be allowed into the court.

Afterwards,argumentment broke out on the pavement outside between a Park supporter and opponent about whether there was sufficient evidence to implicate the president.

Park, 64, whose father, Park Chung-hee, ruled the country for 18 years after seizing power in a 1961 coup, has described Choi as a friend she had turned to at difficult times and apologised for carelessness in her ties with her.

Park has denied any legal wrongdoing.

Park`s lawyers arguing against the impeachment vote in an opinion filed at the Constitutional Court have said the case had no legal basis and was also procedurally flawed, and that the impeachment was based largely on unproven suspicion and charges that were now under investigation and trial.

"This goes against the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence," the lawyers said in the opinion seen by Reuters.

Prosecutors have portrayed Choi as the mastermind in several schemes to gain financial benefit from companies she controlled.

Choi`s friendship with Park dates to the time when Park served as acting first lady after her mother was killed in 1974 by an assassin who had intended to kill her father. Her father was shot dead five years later by his disgruntled spy chief.

Choi is the daughter of a religious figure named Choi Tae-min, who was referred to in a U.S. diplomatic cable as the "Korean Rasputin" for his perceived influence over Park.

The intensely private Park was long criticised for relying on a group of advisers who closely guarded access to her.

Choi Soon-sil has been portrayed in media as having inherited her father`s influence over Park, who has never married and is estranged from her siblings.
Washington: Three leading professors of psychiatry from America's prestigious universities have written to President Barack Obama, expressing their "grave concern" over his successor Donald Trump's mental stability.

In the letter addressed to the US president, the doctors one from the Harvard Medical School and two others who have been associated with top US varsities over the years have urged him to order a "full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation" before the President-elect takes office on January 20.

"We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the mental stability of our President-elect," the letter published by the Huffington Post read.

The letter assumes significance as it is written by three distinguished professors of psychiatry -- Judith Herman, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Nanette Gartrell, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry , University of California, San Francisco (1988-2011,) and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (1983-87); and Dee Mosbacher, Ph.D. Assistant Clinical Professor Department of Community Health Systems University of California, San Francisco (2005-2013).

"Professional standards do not permit us to venture a diagnosis for a public figure whom we have not evaluated personally. Nevertheless, his widely reported symptoms of mental instability -- including grandiosity, impulsivity, hypersensitivity to slights or criticism, and an apparent inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality -- lead us to question his fitness for the immense responsibilities of the office," the letter said.

"We strongly recommend that, in preparation for assuming these responsibilities, he receive a full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation by an impartial team of investigators," it said.

In August, President Obama had questioned the 70-year-old business tycoon's judgement and temperament and called him "unfit to serve as president".

This is not the first time mental health professionals have weighed in on Trump's suitability for office.

In June, Atlantic published a psychologist's findings that Trump suffered from "narcissism, disagreeableness, grandiosity".

In August, an Oxford study claimed that Trump has more psychopathic traits than Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

Psychologist Kevin Dutton from Oxford University ranked the psychopathic traits of the US presidential hopefuls and historical figures using a standard psychometric tool - the Psychopathic Personality Inventory - Revised (PPI-R).

Trump outstripped Hitler on factors including social influence and fearlessness, while the Nazi dictator scored higher on cold-heartedness and Machiavellian egocentricity - which describes a lack of empathy and sense of detachment from others for the sake of achieving one's own goals.
Karak (Jordan): Gunmen assaulted Jordanian police in a series of attacks, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing seven officers, two local civilians and a woman visiting from Canada, officials said.

Several armed men yesterday barricaded themselves inside the castle for hours, hemmed in by special forces soldiers.

At least 34 people, including two foreign nationals, were wounded in the day's violence, which was one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory.

Security officials announced late yesterday, several hours after reports of the first shooting, that the operation had ended and that four gunmen were killed. They said troops continued to search the area.

The officials said large amounts of weapons had been seized. They made no reference to local media reports that at one point, the attackers had held hostages.

The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged this pro-Western kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

A witness said attackers immediately targeted tourists when they reached the castle.

"Four gunmen got out of their car" at the castle, said Wasfi al-Habashneh, a local resident. "They opened fire at the Canadian tourists. The woman was killed, the other Canadian tourist escaped and hid behind a car and one of the children was injured."

Al-Habashneh said the attackers also targeted other people. Security forces "engaged with the gunmen and cornered the gunmen at the castle gate," he said.

The killing of the Canadian visitor could further hurt Jordan's embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighboring Syria and Iraq two years ago.

Canada's global affairs spokesman, John Babcock, told The Associated Press that the dead woman was Linda Vatcher. Babcock said her son Chris was injured.

"Canadian officials in Amman are actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time," Babcock said.

Barb Rhymes, a cousin of the slain tourist, said the victim was a retired elementary teacher from Burgeo, Newfoundland, and was visiting her son in Jordan where he works. Rhymes said Linda Vatcher, 62, was a widow and a mother of two adult sons.

"She was very friendly, outgoing. She was nice to everyone. A friend to all," Rhymes said from Burgeo, a remote town of 1,400 people on Canada's East Coast. "It's devastating. It has hit the town hard. My mind is not there right now. She was a beautiful person."

The Canadian Embassy in Amman issued an alert warning urging Canadians to avoid travel to Karak, a town in central Jordan about 140 kilometers south of the capital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in and near Karak.
Aleppo: More than 1,000 people left the rebel enclave of Aleppo on Monday, raising hope for many others still stranded, as Russia eased its objections to sending UN observers to oversee the evacuations.

A convoy of around 20 buses crossed the front line in the early morning headed for rebel-held territory elsewhere in northern Syria after around 350 people got out during the night.

They were the first departures since Friday when the government suspended evacuations insisting that people also be allowed to leave two northwestern villages under rebel siege.

A medic said the latest evacuees were in a "terrible state" after their departure was delayed for hours in temperatures well below freezing, compounding their plight from months of siege and bombardment by the army.

The new evacuations from the devastated enclave came as a monitoring group said rebels had finally allowed convoys out of two villages they have besieged since spring last year.

Around 500 people left in a dawn convoy out of Fuaa and Kafraya, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said.

Government demands for evacuations from the two Shiite-majority villages had put the whole process on hold for days, and on Sunday rebels attacked buses sent to bring people out, killing one of the drivers.

Around 350 people in five buses made it out of Aleppo during the night after Russia and Turkey urged the Syrian regime to allow a convoy of buses to pass its final control point, the Observatory said.

It was regime ally Moscow and rebel supporter Ankara that brokered a first evacuation deal last week to end a blistering month-long government assault on the one-time rebel bastion in east Aleppo."Five buses carrying the evacuees arrived from besieged parts of east Aleppo," said Ahmad al-Dbis, who heads a team of doctors and volunteers coordinating evacuations.

"They were in a terrible state," Dbis told AFP.

"They hadn`t eaten, they had nothing to drink, the children had caught colds, they were not even able to go to the toilet."

Dbis said he saw families wrapped in several layers of coats getting off the buses.

One young boy was biting into an apple while aid workers distributed packs of bottled water to his family.

Evacuations were suspended on Friday, a day after convoys of people had begun leaving the rebel sector under a deal allowing the regime to take full control of the battleground city.

The main obstacle to a resumption had been the dispute over how many people would be evacuated in parallel from the two Shiite villages.

A rebel representative said that hundreds of people would also be evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya, two rebel towns near the Lebanese border under siege by the army, as part of the deal.

Iran`s official news agency IRNA said the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran would meet in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Moscow, which has carried out an air war in support of the Damascus regime since September last year, had threatened to veto a draft of the resolution calling for monitors to oversee the protection of civilians.

But after four hours of closed-door consultations on Sunday it gave the French-drafted text its guarded support.

US ambassador Samantha Power anticipated member states would vote "unanimously" at 1400 GMT.

Families have been sheltering at night in freezing temperatures in bombed out apartment blocks in Aleppo`s Al-Amiriyah district, the departure point for evacuations.

An AFP reporter visited a hospital in the rebel sector where patients lay on floors without food or water and almost no heating.

Aleppo has seen some of the worst violence of the nearly six-year war that has killed more than 310,000 people.

A physiotherapist, Mahmud Zaazaa, said only "three doctors, a pharmacist and three nurses" remained in the area.

An official said more than half of Aleppo`s buildings had been destroyed or seriously damaged since the rebels overran the eastern sector in summer 2012.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura estimated that as of Thursday around 40,000 civilians and perhaps as many as 5,000 opposition fighters remained in Aleppo`s rebel enclave.

Before evacuations were suspended around 8,500 people, including some 3,000 fighters, left for rebel-held territory elsewhere in the north, the Observatory said.
Jerusalem: Israeli tanks fired shells at a Hamas post in the Gaza Strip on Monday after troops were shot at on the border with the Palestinian territory, the army said.

Shots were fired towards Israeli soldiers by the fence along the largely closed border by unknown assailants, the army said in a statement.

"In response, tanks targeted a Hamas post."

Sources close to the Hamas-run interior ministry said the tanks targeted an observation tower near the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

No casualties were reported on either side.

Israel holds Hamas responsible for all violence from the territory and often responds with air or tank strikes.

However smaller Islamist groups have sometimes claimed responsibility for attacks, including rocket fire.

Israel and Hamas have observed a tense ceasefire since the end of their last conflict in August 2014.

Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008.

In a separate statement, the Israeli army said it raided an illegal weapons factory in the southern West Bank overnight, arresting two Palestinians and confiscating 12 weapons manufacturing machines.

The Israeli army, which has occupied the West Bank for nearly 50 years, has carried out a series of raids against weapons factories this year, with 40 workshops discovered.

Since October 2015, 244 Palestinians, 36 Israelis, two Americans, a Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese have been killed in violence related to the conflict, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities.

Others were shot dead during protests or clashes, while some died in Israeli air strikes on Gaza.
Moscow: Thirty-three people have died in Siberia after drinking bath essence containing methanol, a toxic substance used in anti-freeze, Russian authorities said Monday.

The Investigative Committee has launched a probe into the deaths caused by drinking a liquid labelled as hawthorn-scented bath essence, and has detained two people.



Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ordered his cabinet to "sort out" the counterfeit alcohol issue, calling the widespread sale of such liquids through vending machines "an absolute disgrace".

Fifty-four people were taken to hospital in the Siberian city of Irkutsk after consuming the toxic substance, and 33 died, a spokeswoman for the regional branch of the Investigative Committee told AFP.

Authorities said the product contained methanol and carried a label warning that it was unsuitable for consumption, but the mixture was nonetheless "consumed like alcohol".

Cheap perfumes and facial toners containing alcohol are sold without the same trading restrictions imposed on alcoholic drinks.

Those who buy them to drink are usually the most socially disadvantaged.

Searches were being conducted at markets where the deadly product was being sold, investigators said, and a total of 500 litres of the toxic liquid confiscated.

Homemade spirits and household products containing alcohol are popular throughout the former Soviet Union as a cheap alternative to standard brands but are also blamed for a large number of alcohol-related deaths.
Ankara: A gunman crying "Aleppo" and "revenge" shot dead Russia`s ambassador to Turkey while he was visiting an art exhibition in Ankara on Monday, witnesses and media reports said.

Reportedly, the shooter shouted - "Allahu Akbar, don't forget Aleppo."

Ambassador Andrey Karlov and three other people were wounded in the attack, NTV and CNN-Turk television stations said.

Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov died of gunshot wounds, media reports said.

Television footage showed a man in a dark suit and tie waving a gun and gesturing in the air.

Gunman neutralised

The state-run Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been "neutralised" in a police operation, without giving further details.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had been informed.

"Today during a public event in Ankara, an unknown attacker started firing chaotically, as a result of which the Russian ambassador in Turkey was wounded," Russian news agencies cited foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.

The incident came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia`s role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from the battered city of Aleppo.

Pictures published by the Hurriyet daily showed at least two men in suits lying flat on the ground as another man brandished a gun. The attack happened at the Cagdas Sanatlar Merkezi, a major art exhibition hall in the Cankaya district of Ankara where most foreign embassies are located including Russia`s mission.

"It happened during the opening of an exhibition," Hurriyet correspondent Hasim Kilic, who was at the exhibition, told AFP.

"When the ambassador was delivering a speech, a tall man wearing a suit, fired into the air first and then took aim at the ambassador," said Kilic.

"He said something about Aleppo and `revenge`. He ordered the civilians to leave the room. When people were fleeing, he fired again," he added.

The Russian foreign ministry spokesman added that medics were trying to treat the envoy at the scene but that shooting continued, retracting an earlier report that he was taken to hospital.

Protesters in Turkey have held Moscow responsible for human rights violations in Aleppo.

The attacker remained inside the building after and television as clashes were continued.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu was at the scene to supervise a police operation, Turkish television said.

The attacker was "neutralised" in the operation, Anadolou said.

Turkey and Russia saw relations plunge to their worst levels since the Cold War last year when a Turkish jet shot down a Russian war plane over Syria.

They stand on opposite sides of the Syria conflict with Ankara backing rebels trying to topple Moscow ally President Bashar al-Assad.

But the rhetoric has warmed considerably since a a reconciliation deal was signed earlier this year and a Russian and Turkish-brokered deal has helped the evacuation of citizens from Aleppo in the last days.

The attack comes a day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran, Assad`s other key ally, were to hold unprecedented tripartite talks on the Syria conflict in Moscow.

A Turkish official on Monday denied Ankara had forged any secret "bargain" with Moscow over the future of Syria, despite the improving cooperation that led to the deal for evacuations from Aleppo.

(With agency inputs)
District of Columbia: Donald Trump`s upset win in the US presidential election astonished people so much that they rushed to the dictionary to look up the word everyone was using to describe the event: surreal.

Indeed, Merriam-Webster`s dictionary on Monday named surreal its Word of the Year 2016, the honor given to the word or term with the sharpest spike in look-ups over the previous year.

Surreal, definition: "marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream."

It actually triggered not one but a series of sudden jumps in people looking it up.

The first came after terrorist bombings in Brussels in March. Thirty-two people died, as did three attackers.

It happened again in July after the coup attempt in Turkey and the terrorist attack in Nice, France in which a man driving a truck swerved back and forth through a crowd watching Bastille Day fireworks, crushing 86 people to death.

But the biggest spike came after Trump -- the tweeting, shoot-from-the-hip political neophyte and property tycoon who insulted women, minorities and Muslims during the campaign -- defeated Hillary Clinton during the November 8 race for the White House.

"When we don`t believe or don`t want to believe what is real, we need a word for what seems `above` or `beyond` reality. Surreal is such a word," the dictionary company said in a statement.

It said another word looked up big-time in 2016 was `bigly.`

"Donald Trump used the term `big league` in an unusual way, as an adverb during a debate, and many people thought he said `bigly`," said Merriam-Webster editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski.

Bigly actually is in the dictionary, and means in great scope, or with a blustering manner.

Clinton`s use of "deplorable" as a plural noun to describe some of Trump`s supporters -- "a basket of deplorables" -- was also a top trending word for 2016, Merriam-Webster said.
Aleppo: Thousands of traumatised Syrians left the rebel enclave of Aleppo Monday as the UN voted to deploy observers there and said it planned new peace talks in Geneva in February.

"It is the intention of the United Nations to convene those negotiations in Geneva on 8 February 2017," UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said after the Security Council unanimously adopted a French-drafted resolution to monitor evacuations from Aleppo.

Families had spent hours waiting in below-freezing temperatures, sheltering from the rain in bombed-out apartment blocks and waiting desperately for news of a new wave of departures.

After an agonising delay, the operation resumed under a complex agreement that will see regime forces exert full control over Syria`s second city.

Buses transported more than 7,000 people out of the city, said Ingy Sedky, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

She said the evacuations were expected to continue overnight.

"There are still thousands -- it`s a huge crowd, women, children," she said.

The evacuees included seven-year-old Bana al-Abed, whose Twitter account had offered a tragic account of Syria`s nearly six-year war, as well as 47 children who had been trapped in an orphanage.

Ahmad al-Dbis, who heads a team of doctors and volunteers coordinating evacuations, saw dozens of buses and ambulances arrive at the staging ground west of Aleppo.

He said the evacuees were in "a very bad state after waiting for more than 16 hours" at a regime checkpoint without being allowed off the vehicles.

The government had suspended evacuations on Friday, insisting that people also be allowed to leave two northwestern villages under rebel siege.

The ICRC and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said around 500 people left in a dawn convoy out of Fuaa and Kafraya.The Britain-based Observatory said at least 14,000 people, including 4,000 rebels, have left the opposition sector since the evacuations began on Thursday while at least 7,000 remain.

A rebel representative said hundreds of people would also be evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya, two army-besieged rebel towns near the border with Lebanon, as part of the deal.

Dbis said the Aleppo evacuees` departure was delayed for hours in sub-zero temperatures, compounding their plight from months of siege and army bombardment.

"They hadn`t eaten, they had nothing to drink, the children had caught colds, they were not even able to go to the toilet," he said.

He described families wrapped in several layers of coats getting off the buses, which then headed back to Aleppo to bring out more.

A young boy bit into an apple as aid workers distributed bottled water.

The UN`s children agency UNICEF said some of the children rescued from the orphanage were in critical condition because of injuries and dehydration.

"Many vulnerable children -- including other orphans and children separated from their families -- still remain in east Aleppo and need immediate protection," it said.

The Humanitarian Relief Foundation, a Turkish NGO working in Syria, said blogger Bana, 7, had arrived at a camp for displaced persons in the northwest province of Idlib.

The Turkish news agency Anadolu posted a short interview with the girl, dressed in a warm coat and hat against the winter chill.

"In Aleppo the shelling was all over the place. We got out from the ruins because our house was bombed," she said shyly in Arabic.Residents of east Aleppo -- a rebel bastion since 2012 -- had already lived under four months of suffocating siege when Syria`s army began its blistering assault in mid-November to retake the whole city.

"The people we are welcoming have been through hell -- the level of trauma they have experienced is impossible to describe or comprehend," said Casey Harrity of the international NGO Mercy Corps.

In an 11th-hour deal, regime ally Moscow and rebel supporter Ankara agreed on the evacuation of thousands of civilians and fighters from the last remaining opposition-held pocket in Aleppo.

Moscow, which has carried out an air war in support of the Syrian regime since September 2015, had threatened to veto the Security Council draft resolution calling for monitors to oversee the protection of civilians.

But on Monday, the council unanimously adopted the French-drafted text in the first show of unity in months among world powers grappling with the crisis.

The measure tasks the UN with carrying out "adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations from eastern Aleppo and other districts of the city".

But it was uncertain whether Syria`s government would give the observers access to the city and allow operations there to come under international scrutiny.

The foreign and defence ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran are due to meet in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss Syria.

Damascus, meanwhile, denounced the "despicable" murder in Ankara of Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov, who a witness said was shot dead by a gunman who shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge".
Seoul: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has criticised South Korean President Park Geun-hye`s administration over a corruption scandal involving her longtime friend, voicing concerns over the country`s "lack of good governance", the media reported on Monday.

Ban on Friday said South Korea has never experienced such political turmoil except during the 1950-53 Korean War, Yonhap news agency reported.

Ban`s remarks sparked speculation that the Secretary General, long considered a potential presidential candidate, has started distancing himself from the impeached President.

"(South Koreans) were very much frustrated and angry about the complete lack of good governance," he said on Friday.

Addressing the scandal that has gripped South Korea over the past two months, Ban said the political turbulence in the country is "surprising and unexpected".

"When her father President Park Chung-hee was assassinated in 1979, those were the times when Koreans were going through a turbulent process. But this time, in a very peaceful society, very democratic, economically well-to-do society, this has happened," he said.

Pointing to South Koreans` resilience and respect for democratic institutions, Ban expressed hope that the country will soon get over the political crisis.

"I am convinced that soon they will be able to overcome this crisis. I hope that this will give good lessons to those in leadership in Korean society, whether political, economic or social," he said.

Although the outgoing UN chief has yet to declare his intention to run in the presidential election next year, his name has long been bandied about as a formidable presidential candidate.
Tokyo: The US Marines on Monday resumed flights of their controversial Osprey aircraft in Japan, less than a week after a crash off the southern island of Okinawa sparked local protests.

Last Tuesday an MV-22 Osprey made what Marines called a "controlled landing" just off the Okinawan coast during a night training flight that left the aircraft in pieces.

No one was killed but the accident sparked anger on the island -- a strategic outpost of US military power. In response, the Marines suspended flights of the tiltrotor aircraft in Japan pending an investigation.

The MV-22 Osprey can carry 24 troops and is half helicopter half turboprop, boasting the manoeuvrability of a chopper and the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft.

But a series of deadly accidents, mostly in the United States, has prompted frequent protests in Okinawa against the deployment of the aircraft.

The latest crash happened after the aircraft damaged one of its propellers during an aerial refuelling drill with another plane, according to the Marines.

US Forces Japan commander Lieutenant General Jerry Martinez said "a thorough, careful and exhaustive review" was conducted and explanation given to the Japanese government.

"While the investigation is ongoing, we are highly confident in our assessment that the cause of the mishap was due solely to the aircraft`s rotor blades coming into contact with the refuelling line," he said in a statement.

Japanese television footage showed an Osprey taking off at the US Futenma airbase on Okinawa while the Marines confirmed flight operations had resumed.

Okinawa governor Takeshi Onaga, an outspoken critic of the US military presence, called the flight resumption "outrageous", though the central government expressed understanding.

"The US briefing (to the Japanese side) is reasonable... It is understandable that flights resume except for mid-air refuelling" which caused the accident, top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

More than half the approximately 47,000 US troops in Japan under a decades-long security alliance are stationed on Okinawa, the site of a major World War II battle that was followed by a 27-year US occupation of the island.

A series of crimes including rapes, assaults and hit-and-run accidents by US military personnel, their dependants and civilians have long sparked protests by Okinawa residents.
US novelist Edgar Watsons remark on the press is wittily well-said: The liberty of the press is most generally approved when it takes liberties with the other fellow, and leaves us alone. <br><br> The real test of how free the press is comes amidst an atmosphere which has the potential to challenge its space. If the society lets the press take liberties with its political authority in such a scenario then it succeeds in facilitating an environment conducive to the preservation of press freedom. <br><br> However, even then there are certain confines within which the press operates. But these restraints do not intend to curb its freedom but rather help in its regulation which again is equally vital for maintenance of discipline. <br><br> The term-Fourth Estate as the press was named popularly by British politician Edmund Burke has been used often in the contemporary era. Since it is the fourth estate, the government and the judiciary can gag it. But if the society is democratic then the same cannot be done without any reasonable cause. <br><br> However this does not mean that the press can just do what it wants to i.e. indulge in yellow journalism or the like. This is one reason or a given reason why the voice of the mass media has been stifled in many parts. The present day press especially in the wake of the growing menace of terrorism needs to chalk out a common strategy of a smooth synchronisation of self-regulation and autonomy. <br><br> In our own country there have been some programmes aired by news channels which have been a classic case of the press misusing its freedom. News channels showing programmes promoting superstition had to be put off air after governments intervention. <br><br> But it is a sad reality that to boost TRPs, channels continue airing crime programmes in a melodramatic manner as well as ones with sexual undertones and therefore are antithetical to media ethics. <br><br> The flip side of the press was also evident at the time of the Kandahar crisis when four dreaded militants were released and a commando operation was ruled out because several innocent passengers lives could not be staked. This was largely owing to hysteria built up by the wide press coverage of the incident which left government with hardly any choice but to exchange the terrorists in return for the uncompromised safety of passengers. <br><br> Also during 26/11, uncensored media coverage provided clues to the terrorists and their handlers, who sat in their rooms watching TV and following every move of the cops. ATS chief Hemant Karkare killing was a morale booster to them. And it only facilitated the dynamic formulation of strategy. <br><br> Following this, considerable hue and cry was raised and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry geared into action with meetings being held on the passage of a broadcasting bill to regulate media. It was only after the persistent efforts of noted TV editors who assured the government of self-regulation that the bill was nipped as the National Broadcasting Authority opposed it. The proposal put forward by the government was the composition of the Broadcasting Regulatory Authority of India which was to debate issues pertaining to the content shown by the news channels, which had at the time of the Mumbai attacks aired perturbing images. To stall the move the NBA constituted a panel in a bid to exercise self regulation. <br><br> However in some Western nations like America and the UK post 9/11, and post 7/7, the media were commended for showing restraint in not beaming disturbing images. <br><br> But this is not to be misconstrued as an abdication of press liberties. Recently Germanys lower House made a mistake of passing a law aiming at an avoidable encroachment on a journalists privacy. The law stipulates the tapping of phone conversations and searching computers by the Federal Police of the country as a counter-terrorism step. Besides seriously undermining governments ability to combat extremism, this self-defeating measure will only deter prospective informants as their identity will be put under scrutiny. <br><br> Among nations where the press enjoys utmost freedom is Iceland where media was given greater autonomy in 2006. The Netherlands which is largely dominated by the private sector too enjoys similar press autonomy. On the other hand are countries like China where even today there are reports of over 50 journalists being imprisoned for challenging what the Communist government considers as its writ. And then there is Pakistan, a so-called democracy where 15 journalists were killed last year while carrying out their duty in restive regions. But simultaneously one must not forget that its English media grew quite free under the former military government of General Musharraf and could overtly express disenchantment either with him or his administration. <br><br> In Sri Lanka press freedom has become a severe casualty of civil war. Some of the most blatant cases of corruption have also remained under cover due to the looming threat of persecution from the government. It is a sad commentary thus that there have been far too many instances of prominent journalists being killed for doing their duty. This year slain Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge would be posthumously awarded with the World Press Freedom Prize. <br><br> It certainly is commendable that men of courage like him continue to stand up to autocratic regimes for the cause of freedom of press and transparency without fearing for their lives. <br><br> The power of the press has been proved by the journalists the world over. Journos who have not hesitated to die in the line of duty, who have bravely expressed views and moulded public opinion. <br><br> Each year, Reporters Without Borders releases a list of killed journalists. In 2008 it was 62. Though the figure was much less than that of 2007, it was not an indication of press freedom. This was because many journalists are reported to have abandoned their profession altogether owing to repression. Last year, as a mark of commemorating the slain journalists, Newseum, a museum glorifying the profession opened in New York. This was an attempt to pay tributes to the slain journalists. <br><br> Noted philosopher, J S Mill has aptly stated, "If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and one, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." <br><br> In a modern society no views can be stopped from being voiced so long as they dont provoke violence or are intended to cause harm to anyone. Such a society can flourish in conditions conducive to the pen being mightier than the sword.
India is shining... the Indian economy is blooming (till recently at least)... our country is on the way to becoming a world superpower very soon... our great democracy is the worlds largest... Well! When I hear all these statements  I choose to call them statements because they dont reflect the reality  I find it difficult to decide to discern my emotions:, about whether to: Feel proud or disgusted! <br><br> When I see five-year-olds begging at traffic signals, kids picking rags from just about every garbage bin that you can find in this world-class metropolitan city (Delhi), when I see under-privileged children standing in front of schools looking at few privileged kids dressed in their school-dress and enjoying a cup of ice cream during their lunch break, and thinking what crime they had committed in their previous life that they did not get the luck to enjoy all these luxuries, I feel shattered. And all those tall claims of a shining, rising India crumble in front of my eyes. <br><br> We, as a country, are progressing; but as a society, may be regressing. Many of you may not agree with me, and I agree that the picture Im trying to paint here is not exactly the day-to-day reality that we come across, but the fact is while we are growing by leaps and bounds, we are leaving many of our own countrymen behind. While we pay lakhs in donations and fees to get our children admitted to top schools of the country, we forget to give even a thought to the fact that so many kids of our childrens age dont have the means to even join a government-run school. In some cases, there are no schools at all to join. <br><br> Here the blame does not lie just on the government but also on us  because as a society, we are failing collectively. <br><br> For instance, how many times have we asked a mother begging at traffic signal with his four-year-old son or daughter that whether she would like to get some help in getting the latter admitted to a school? How many times have we approached a mithaiwalah or canteenwallah and told him sternly that child labour is banned in this country and you should, instead of hiring kids as workers, spare some of your profits for their education. <br><br> We dont find 10-year-old chotus or gudiyas in schools, but in the homes of the rich and even middle-class families employed as domestic labour, doing jobs ranging from cleaning and dusting to cooking food. How many times have we asked our own 10-year-olds to do tasks like these? <br><br> I was at a marriage party recently and saw five- to eight-year-old kids carrying heavy lamps that you see in every baraat procession. While the law banning child labour is clearly flouted there, the worst thing is that these small children are exposed to high voltage wires that can shock them anytime. <br><br> Right to enjoy childhood is not a luxury but the basic human right of every child on this earth. Depriving even a single child of this right is the biggest crime that humanity can commit on this earth. Just think for a minute if you went through the same childhood that a kid working in a factory or tyre-repair shop goes through; what beautiful childhood memories you would have to cherish all your life! <br><br> A life like this is not life but hell. I am not intending to preach here, but merely trying to stir some emotions inside all of us, to make that little difference, to save a childhood. Lets ponder over how we through small, invisible actions can bring a smile to the faces and lives of millions of under-privileged kids. <br><br> Only then will we be able to justify the claim that India is shining...
The poor professors have never had it so bad. There is nothing that they can do that does not run foul of the media. Especially if it has to do with dresses. Let them but whisper the words dress code, and the entire media brigade descends on them. Every Tomlinson, Dickinson and harried socialite wannabe is called in to pour out their outrage at these otherwise respected guys. <br/><br/>And it does not help that they look such fuddy duddys on TV. In this uneven contest they come out looking like dinosaurs, stuck in another age and knowing nothing about liberalism, freedom or fashion. No one could even remotely imagine letting their ilk set the agenda for what to dress. <br/><br/>But make no mistake about it, freedom has nothing to do with the issue. We do follow trends. And the anxiety to get it right could be terrible. In a college, or in any other non-fashionable place, it does not really matters. Who gives a care if someone walks in wearing a white lungi, or a faded kurta into a classroom. But say you are in an upmarket restaurant, and the first people to give you a stare  if you go out dressed wrong  would be the waiters, probably following you all around (their gaze, i.e!). It could be even worse in a nightclub  you could be denied entry. <br/><br/>So it is just as necessary to go out not dressed in suits and ties to night clubs, as it is necessary to go out in them in a business conference. <br/><br/>Me, I am a fashion dinosaur. I make my capris by cutting off the bottom of my pyjamas, and I have yet to figure out the difference between my old jeans, which were torn when I fell off a moving bus, and the torn stuff that has been in rage. <br/><br/>So, you will understand my bewilderment at all this fashion fundamentalism. The bottomline though is that trends are set increasingly by the fashion designers, models, socialites and the P3P, and are religiously followed. <br/><br/>Why is this so? <br/><br/>One reason is that with the advent of the television age, suddenly people who were anybody (which means they have to appear of TV), could not afford not to be well groomed anymore. This thing has combined in recent days with our fanaticism to have experts for everything  from baby food to military security  the guy (or the gal) doing the advising must have unimpeachable credentials that s/he can actually do that. <br/><br/>So these citizens of the fashion world serve as experts for an important concern, look. And look muh dahlings is important. Witness how the packaging industry has grown. Witness also the concept that things need to be packaged properly, has grown. Everything today is packaged. There is the physical package and the metaphorical package. There is the packaged bottle of water, and there is the packaged tour. There is also packaged spirituality and others things that one never imagined deserved a package. <br/><br/>So how could humans not be packaged? The look dahlings, is the package. It puts the proper spin on the person. Puts him in perspective, gives him a context, and says something about him. Those who can afford it, do not dare to leave such an important thing to there own bumblings. They call in the experts. <br/><br/>This is as it were, looking at the issue from the inside. From the point of view of people who with a passion follow the fashion, (forgive the doggerel). <br/><br/>There is another way to look at it. From the point of view of the industry that thrives on it. This circle includes not just the designers and the models, but also the big retail chains (Westside and Shoppers Stop are an example) and branded clothing corporations. One may go on to say that it also includes all those who profit from the beauty industry: cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, (in twenty thousand colour for twenty thousand types of hair and I am not exaggerating dahlings) enhancements, spas (chocolate, wine milk, stones, are the new substitutes for plain old bath water), and then dance classes, etiquette, self development etc, etc. <br/><br/>Because Look is not only about clothing, but a lot other things besides. <br/><br/>This entire industry has a stake in keeping people perpetually anxious about their looks. No, I am not suggesting a grand conspiracy against the women, (and lately the men) of this earth but simply that a huge swathe of the corporate world thrives on our look-anxiety and therefore, quite naturally, do everything to subtly reinforce it. This happens through various means well funded researches on the virtues of being slim, expert opinions, etc  but mainly through ads. <br/><br/>Have you noticed how the 21st century woman or the liberated woman or the empowered woman in the ads is always someone who has the perfectly shaped body and is draped in designer wear? <br/><br/>If you dont look like that, walk like that and talk like that  it is subtly implied  then you do not qualify for the above titles. Thats social conditioning for you. <br/><br/>There is nothing wrong in being look conscious. It is a sign of civilisation to bother about how you look. One must, without doubt, try to look ones best but that is where it should halt. One should not start trying to look like someone else, however gorgeous. <br/><br/>We all are unique. Different, without the help of any designer. What could be better than that? <br/> <br/>
A French court on Monday found IMF head Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence over a massive state payout to a tycoon when she was French finance minister, but she will continue to lead the fund.

Lagarde was spared her a fine or prison sentence, and the International Monetary Fund board meeting in Washington said it retains "full confidence" in her ability to continue to lead the organization.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Lagarde said she was not happy with the court ruling, even though she faces no penalty, but would not appeal.

"I am not satisfied, but there comes a point in time when one just has to stop, turn the page, and move on and continue to work with those who have put their trust in me," Lagarde said, calling the process a "painful" one.

A special court in Paris found against Lagarde over her handling of a dispute between the state and flamboyant businessman Bernard Tapie, which ended in a 404-million-euro ($422 million) award for Tapie.

The court rapped Lagarde for failing to contest the massive payment, which was linked to Tapie's sale of the Adidas sportswear brand to Credit Lyonnais bank.

However, the court exempted her from any penalty, citing her "international reputation" and the fact that at the time of the events in 2008 she was busy fighting a global financial inferno.

The high-flying 60-year-old former corporate lawyer became the first female IMF chief in 2011, succeeding her disgraced compatriot Dominique Strauss-Kahn. And despite her legal troubles she was reappointed in February to a second five-year term.

The IMF executive board, which represents the 189 member countries, met on Monday in the wake of the court decision, and said it "reaffirms its full confidence in the managing director's ability to continue to effectively carry out her duties," and will continue to work with her "to address the difficult challenges facing the global economy."

The French government expressed continued support for Lagarde, saying it "retained its utmost confidence in her capacity to carry out her responsibilities".

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US Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew issued a statement of support immediately after the IMF board decision, calling her "a strong leader of the IMF" and praising "her ability to guide the Fund at a critical time for the global economy."

- Fraudulent payment -

Lagarde was tried over her decision to allow the long-running dispute over Tapie's sale of Adidas to be resolved by a private arbitration panel instead of by the courts, and her failure to contest the staggering amount of the resulting award. An investigation later showed the arbitration to be fraudulent.

Tapie, who was later ordered to pay back the money, is among six people charged with fraud in a separate criminal case, along with the boss of Orange telecoms company, Stephane Richard, a former aide to Lagarde.

Lagarde's case was heard by the Court of Justice of the Republic -- a tribunal of judges and members of parliament that hears cases against ministers accused of wrongdoing in office.

The punishment for negligence theoretically carried a one-year prison sentence and a 15,000-euro ($15,676) fine.

Lagarde told the court during her five-day trial last week she had acted in good faith.

"My sole aim was to defend the general interest," she said, a sentiment she repeated in her statement in Washington.

The court noted however that her inaction allowed Tapie and his wife to pocket 45 million euros in "moral damages" for alleged emotional harm.

- 'Testing' times -

Lagarde's voice cracked with emotion as she said on Friday that the case had put her family -- she is the mother of two sons -- through a "testing" time.

Prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin had described the evidence as "very weak" and said he was opposed to a guilty finding.

Coming in the middle of the global financial crisis, the payout to Tapie, a supporter of Lagarde's then boss, ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, caused shock in France.

Tapie had sold Adidas to Credit Lyonnais for the equivalent of 315.5 million euros in 1993. The bank sold it on the following year for 701 million euros, prompting claims from Tapie that he had been cheated.

Lagarde, who was a relative newcomer to government at the time, told the court she had been busy with the financial crisis and that the arbitration process was "not a priority" at the time.

"The risk of fraud completely escaped me," she said.

Lagarde has won plaudits for her performance as IMF managing director and has been a key player in bailout negotiations for Greece.

She has also worked to reform the US- and Europe-dominated institution to reflect the growing global economic power of big emerging market economies, especially China.

Her trial landed the IMF back in the headlines for alleged wrongdoing by its bosses, five years after Lagarde was chosen to succeed Strauss-Kahn when he resigned to fight sexual assault charges. His case was later dropped and a civil case was settled out of court.
Christine Lagarde can remain in her post at the International Monetary Fund as long as she continues to enjoy the support of the board of directors

Despite her conviction by a French court for negligence, Christine Lagarde is likely to continue to lead the International Monetary Fund even at the risk of weakening the fund's image.

The fate of the former French finance minister -- who replaced another former French official caught up in a sex scandal -- now is in the hands of the IMF's board of directors, which represents the 189 member states and was expected to deliver its verdict later Monday.

There is no established procedure for this case. Lagarde has led the IMF since July 2011, when Dominique Strauss-Kahn was forced to resign, and she can remain in her post as long as she continues to enjoy the support of the board of directors, which is dominated by the US with a veto vote, and Europeans.

Under the terms of her contract, Lagarde is required to follow the highest standards of ethical conduct as IMF chief, but the court case dates from when she was finance minister. The French court found Lagarde guilty of negligence over a massive payout to the tycoon Bernard Tapie in 2008, but she will not be fined or face prison.

Everything therefore depends on the IMF board members who, so far, have been very understanding. Since her legal troubles began in August 2011, the fund's board has supported her, repeating at almost every step of the proceedings that they trusted in her ability to "effectively perform her duties" despite the distractions.

And despite her indictment and even facing a possible trial, the IMF in February unanimously re-appointed Lagarde to a second five-year term, which began in July.

According to several sources interviewed by AFP, this support should be reaffirmed on Monday, especially since Lagarde will not face punishment and was spared an embarrassing suspended prison sentence.

And, critically, the French government already said it continues to have "full confidence" in Lagarde, who was fulfilling her mandate to the IMF "successfully."

- Reputation -

Lagarde is very popular inside the IMF, and the nature of her case is very different from that of Strauss-Kahn, who was accused of sexual assault of a maid in a New York hotel.

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Working much more by consensus than her predecessor, Lagarde quickly managed to silence critics and restore the image of the institution by opening it more to emerging economies and to new fields of research such as income inequality and climate change, and by going to the aid of Greece or Ukraine.

In fact she showed that she was still at her post Monday, issuing two statements on a bank takeover in Ukraine.

Desmond Lachman, a former senior IMF official, told AFP that following the Strauss-Kahn scandal which hit the fund's credibility, "She's been very good toward the IMF's image in terms of the brand, having a seat at the table, and being readily involved for the European crisis, kind of keeping the fund very relevant."

The US political environment also may play a role: just a month before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, the fund's member states may not want a leadership change that would allow the White House the opportunity to have an outsized impact on the choice for her replacement.

Since the institutions were founded after World War II, an American has always led the World Bank and a European has had charge of the IMF, but the US has the biggest vote on the IMF board.

The US Treasury did not respond to an AFP request for comment on Lagarde's status.

- Tarnished image -

Whatever the outcome for Largarde, this new episode risks further tarnishing the image of an institution that demands the greatest discipline from the states it bails out, but which seems to be the victim of a curse on its managing directors.

Strauss-Kahn's predecessor at the head of the IMF, former Spanish economy minister Rodrigo Rato, is facing prosecution in Spain for embezzlement when he was banker.

"There is obviously a question of credibility for the IMF," says Lachman.

According to Peter Doyle, a former IMF executive and Lagarde critic who left the institution in 2014, this succession of scandals must force the fund to adopt "a serious process" to appoint the managing director.

Under an agreement brokered when the IMF shifted its voting shares in 2010 to give more weight to large emerging market economies like Mexico and the so-called BRICs countries -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- Strauss-Kahn's replacement was due to come from one of those countries.

But in 2011, with European economies again in need of IMF aid and advice, the board selected Lagarde over Mexico's highly-regarded central bank chief Agustin Carstens.
People depositing banned currency will have to explain why they didn't do it earlier

India's central bank on Monday imposed fresh restrictions on deposits of banned currency notes into bank accounts, days before the December 30 deadline to swap old rupee bills for new ones.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unleashed chaos last month with his shock move to withdraw high-denomination 500 ($7.50) and 1,000 rupee notes from circulation, in an effort to tackle widespread corruption and tax evasion.

The decision triggered a cash crisis, with long queues materialising outside banks across the country as people tried to get rid of their old notes -- some 86 percent of all bills in circulation -- ahead of next week's deadline.

On Monday the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that people would now only be allowed to make a single deposit amounting to more than 5000 rupees ($75) before the deadline, and would be required to explain why they hadn't deposited the money earlier.

"Tenders of Specified Bank Notes (SBNs) in excess of rupees 5,000 into a bank account will be received for credit only once during the remaining period till December 30," the RBI said.

Opposition parties attacked the move, which comes as many Indians are already facing a shortage of cash with ATMS running dry as thousands throng to them.

"There are elderly, housewives, poor and students who were waiting for the long queues to become smaller," the opposition Congress party spokesman Randeep S. Surjewala told reporters in Delhi.

"This new rule shows that Modi government has no direction or clear policy", he added.

Modi has repeatedly defended the scheme, saying it will bring billions in so-called "black", or undeclared, money back into the formal system.

"I said this at the start, and will repeat again today, these difficulties that you have been facing will start easing after December 30," he said on Monday, addressing a political rally in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

The premier also hinted at more tax raids, arrests and bank scrutiny in the coming days.

In the past few weeks several people have been arrested in surprise raids, revealing the role of bank officials who have allegedly facilitated the illegal exchange of old currency notes.

"Some people thought that they could get away by simply depositing their unaccounted (black) money in the banks. They underestimated the government. They are trapped and will now be caught using technology," Modi warned.
In less than a month, Las Vegas will be ground zero for one of the most biggest, explosive gay dance parties in North America. Hustlaball Las Vegas takes place Saturday, January 14 in Sin City. And those who purchase tickets to the event get an added thrill: a chance to win a trip to Tel Aviv.

Hustlaball again takes place during [email protected], but this time the party will be at the same hotel. Hustlaball will be held in Vinyl Nightclub at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas.

Entering the contest for the free trip is easy: Purchase a ticket to Hustlaball Las Vegas 2017, check in at the main event on January 14 and be entered to win an all-inclusive trip to the first-ever Hustlaball Tel Aviv. The lucky winner will receive a round-trip flight to Israel, convenient hotel accommodations, and a VIP pass to this hot new party, being held March 9 during the Purim holiday weekend.

Every ticket purchased increases the odds to win. Go to Hustlaball.com nowbefore tickets sell out.

To keep up with news about both events, follow on Twitter: @HustlaballLV and @HustlaballTLV.
COLOGNE, GermanyFabian Thylmann, the former managing director of Manwin, has been sentenced to a year and four months in prison for tax evasion in Germany.

The regional court of Aachen also imposed a money deposit of 150,000 euros, according to German news site Ostsee-Zeitung. Thylmann admitted he did not submit any income and commercial tax returns for his years 2005 to 2010, the report said. Although the tax was appreciated by the tax authorities and paid by Thylmann, his income was in reality much higher than the estimate, according to Ostsee-Zeitung. Another tax evasion case against Thylmann has been suspended this year against a financial imposition. "He is clear that the failure to make tax returns was a fault he was responsible for, which he at the time accepted," Thylmann's lawyer said Monday. "Today he regrets that." The prosecutor's office and defense waived appeal and the judgment is final, according to the report. Thylmann settled a separate criminal tax evasion case against him with the Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office for a sum of five million euros in November. Thylmann settled a separate criminal tax evasion case against him with the Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office for a sum of five million euros in November.

German prosecutors had originally ordered Thylmann to pay back more than 26 million euros in corporate taxes from 2008-12 because services provided by a number of his foreign companies originated from Germany. However, the evidence in the preliminary investigation that had been underway since 2012 did not suffice.

Thylmann was arrested in Belgium and police raided the Hamburg offices of Manwin in December 2012. He was extradited to Germany and eventually paid 10 million euros to return to his home in Belgium before a possible trial. In October 2013, Thylmann sold his stake in Manwin, which is now known as Mindgeek, and issued a statement saying he was no longer associated with the company.

Mindgeek owns several adult brands, including Brazzers, Digital Playground, Reality Kings, YouPorn and PornHub, and the company also manages Playboy's web and broadcast properties. Its various arms are registered in Luxembourg, Germany, Canada, Cyprus, the United States and Ireland.
 In October 2015 I visited Lithuania as part of the MAP6 Collective, as part of a collective project to explore the shifting concept of what defines modern Europe. In particular we wanted to visit the country that was, at the time of our visit, recognised as the official center of Europe.

During the 20th century there were two dominant political and military forces that shaped and misshaped the country. The first was the invasion and subsequent atrocities of the Nazi Germany regime, and the second was the long Soviet Occupation which followed this. For this particular project I was interested in exploring the impact of the Soviet Occupation on the country between 1944 and 1991.

The Soviet Bunker is a staged environment, a fabricated space constructed from the leftover paraphernalia of the Soviet Occupation just outside the city of Nemencine. It is set within a former Soviet telecommunications center, one of many such back-up stations designed to keep broadcasting in the eventuality of a nuclear war, part of the Cold War stand-off. It was built between 1983 to 1985 and abandoned in 1991. When the Russians left Lithuania they stripped the space clear, leaving the bare concrete cells of an extensive bunker. It is three meters deep underground, surrounded by thick forest. The bunker would have had its own water supply, bored directly out of the ground, and a heating and cooling system. Air was pumped in and out and two huge generators produced power. It would have been possible to barricade oneself in and survive on rations for months.
By Brad Haynes SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil will challenge government funding for Bombardier Inc at the World Trade Organization (WTO), escalating the latest trade spat between the Canadian jet maker and its Brazilian rival Embraer SA. Brazil's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that its trade chamber authorized WTO proceedings against Canada regarding $2.5 billion in state support for Bombardier from the province of Quebec. Bombardier and Embraer have battled for decades over the regional jet market and traded accusations of unfair subsidies in the 1990s that their countries hashed out at the WTO. The latest case stems from recent support for Bombardier's roughly $5.4 billion CSeries airliner program, which challenges Embraer's largest commercial jets, along with the smallest narrow-body aircraft made by Boeing Co and Airbus Group SE. "There are indications that Canada's federal government soon intends to make another significant capital injection in the company to ensure the viability of the new CSeries and its placement in the market at artificially reduced prices," the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Bombardier's chief executive said last week the company was still seeking federal funds. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government was working "very productively" with Bombardier and he hoped to make announcements in coming months. "Canada's subsidies have created serious distortions in the market, in addition to violating current international norms," said Embraer Chief Executive Paulo Cesar Silva in a statement welcoming the Brazilian government's decision. Bombardier, which considered bankruptcy protection last year, got a $1 billion bailout from the Quebec government. The planemaker also sold a 30 percent stake in its rail division to public and private pension fund manager Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec for $1.5 billion. Alex Lawrence, a spokesman for Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, said by email on Monday that no proceedings have been filed on this matter at the WTO. "We will continue to comply with all of our international trade obligations," he wrote. The Quebec government and the Caisse could not immediately be reached for comment. Foreign Minister Jose Serra told Reuters in July that Brazil was mulling a WTO challenge of investments in Bombardier, which Trudeau brushed off the following day. "There is no country in the world that doesn't heavily subsidize its aerospace sector," he said at the time. Embraer shares were little changed on the news, slipping 1 percent from Friday's close, while Bombardier rose 6 percent in midday Toronto trading. (Reporting by Brad Haynes; Additional reporting by Alonso Soto and Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia, Andrea Hopkins in Ottawa and Allison Lampert in Montreal; editing by Bill Trott and Tom Brown)
Volkswagen Canada has reached a proposed deal to compensate about 105,000 Canadian vehicle owners affected by a diesel engine emissions scandal that rocked the company.

A deal between the company and drivers of vehicles with 2.0-litre TDI engines who launched a class-action suit has been approved in principle and was expected to be signed Monday in Ontario Superior Court in Toronto. A similar court action was also taking place in Montreal.

If the proposed settlement gets court approval in Ontario and Quebec in March 2017, it will become final at the end of that month, after which Canadians will get their settlements.

To be eligible for compensation, the 2.0-litre TDI-equipped vehicles must be one of the following makes and model years:

- VW Jetta, 2009-2015.

- VW Jetta Wagon, 2009.

- VW Golf, 2010-2013, 2015.

- VW Passat, 2012-2015.

- VW Beetle, 2013-2015.

- VW Golf Wagon, 2010-2014.

- VW Golf Sportwagon, 2015.

- Audi A3, 2010-2013, 2015.

Under the deal, owners will be able to sell their vehicles back to the company, trade them in for new vehicles or get them repaired. Affected Canadian owners will also get between $5,100 and $8,000 in compensation, depending on the make and model of their vehicle.

People will have until March 4, 2017, to opt out of the settlement or object to it.

Jon Prystayko of Calgary owns a 2012 VW Jetta TDI, which he said he bought because of its good fuel economy. However, in the wake of the emissions scandal, he has only been using the car as his "winter beater."

"I don't want to put any work into it or do any maintenance, because I didn't know what was happening," he told CBC News.

Waiting to hear how VW would compensate drivers since the scandal erupted in September 2015, Prystayko said his reaction to news of the settlement was "neutral."

"I am disappointed with how long it took, but at the same time, I will be satisfied when I have that money in my hands and my vehicle back in VW's hands," he said.

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Prystayko said he bought a newer VW vehicle with incentives the company offered, and now he just wants to be done with his diesel.

'A huge number'

The total settlement will be worth about $2.1 billion if all drivers claim the amount they are owed, said Harvey T. Strosberg, who is a co-lead counsel for the class-action lawsuit.

The drivers have been waiting since it was learned in 2015 that many VW vehicles were fitted with software to fool emissions tests. Vehicles fitted with the cheat emitted nitrogen oxide at a level many times more than permitted under pollution standards.

The settlement doesn't include an admission of responsibility from VW Canada.

"We are working hard to earn back the trust of our customers, dealers and regulators, and today is an important step in that effort," she said, thanking Canadian customers for their patience.

Ontario Superior Court Judge Edward Belobaba called the deal a "slam dunk" class action.

Federal penalty

Meanwhile, the federal Competition Bureau said it has reached a consent agreement with Volkswagen Canada and Audi Canada for an additional $15-million penalty.

The bureau said the agreement was negotiated to address its conclusions that false or misleading environmental marketing claims were used to promote some vehicles with 2.0-litre diesel engines.

The Competition Bureau said the settlement announced Monday does not resolve its ongoing inquiry into vehicles equipped with some 3.0-litre diesel engines.

VW reached a compensation deal with about 475,000 U.S. owners of vehicles with 2.0-litre diesel engines in August, and it was approved by a judge in late October.

U.S. VW owners can opt to have the company buy back their vehicles regardless of condition for the full trade-in price on Sept. 18, 2015, the day the scandal erupted, or pay for repairs. U.S. owners will also get between $5,100 and $10,000 US each, conditional on the age of the vehicle and whether the owner had it before Sept. 18 of last year.

Strosberg said the terms of Canadian and U.S. settlements are structured similarly, but the legal landmarks in each country are different.

"For example, the punitive damages are enormous in the U.S. They have [product] recall statutes that make treble damages. We don't have something like that here, but we have a fair and reasonable system."

He also said the values of the vehicles in Canada will be different than in the U.S.

"I think that the vehicles in Canada were older than the vehicles in the U.S., for example," he said.

On Monday, a judge in San Francisco gave attorneys for the U.S. government, VW and car owners until Tuesday to reach a settlement deal covering about 80,000 vehicles equipped with 3.0-litre diesel engines.
Technology

Washington Post launches Trump Twitter fact-checker

More than a month after Donald Trumps Twitter-centric campaign ended in victory, The Washington Post has launched a new tool to hold the president-elect accountable for what he posts on his preferred social network. A Google Chrome plugin called RealDonaldContext will fact-check any content on Mr. Trumps Twitter page, and provide context for emotionally charged attacks on people, businesses, or institutions.

One of the key variables here is traditional media, in terms of whether media will sort of step up and more directly challenge some of these tweetsWere beginning to see early evidence that maybe there will be heightened scrutiny of some of his tweets. That may present a different environment for Donald Trump, and he may have to adjust. Thats the unknown. Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha, professor and chair of political science at the University of North Texas told Christian Science Monitor

While the president-elect has said he plans to be very restrained on social media after his inauguration, since Election Day he has shown no signs of letting up. The Washington Posts new Chrome extension may be one sign of heightened scrutiny from the traditional media in pushing back against Trump tweets that are emotionally charged, exaggerated, or downright false. While the tool has received positive feedback from some Twitter users, whether Trumps millions of loyal Twitter followers, many of whom express distrust for mainstream media outlets such as The Washington Post, will download it themselves is another story  especially at a time when fake news dominates social networks and post-truth was named Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year.
Computer Science

Report Urges States to Take Action on Computer Science Education

A new report out from the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) recommends actions for states and schools to help more young people  especially girls, black and Hispanic students, and students from low-income families  learn computer science (CS) and explore and choose careers in computing fields.

SREB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with southern states to improve public education at every level, from preschool through doctoral programs. However, the guidance in the report applies to every state.

"Bridging the Computer Science Education Gap: Five Actions States Can Take," published by the board's Commission on Computer Science and Information Technology, offers five broad steps states can take to encourage all young people  not just those interested in STEM  to learn CS and computational thinking skills. The five steps are:

Developing computer science standards for K12, which includes bringing educators and other experts together to develop CS standards; requiring high schools to offer students access to "rigorous, standards-based computer science courses, and funding the expansion of CS learning in districts and schools. Currently, only six states in the country have such standards, according to the report.

Laying the foundation for learning CS, including integrating lessons on literacy skills and math that will help students master grade-appropriate computer science standards; and providing "targeted interventions" and "readiness courses" for students who need extra help in mastering the fundamental skills needed for success in computing fields.

Creating "clear pathways" to computing careers. This can be achieved by building blocks of courses for training in high-demand jobs in cybersecurity, informatics and related fields, and redesigning the high school senior year to allow college-ready students to earn credits that will give them a head start on their associate and bachelor's degrees.

Recruiting and training "great computer science teachers." That includes offering "teaching endorsements" to new computer science teachers who complete a multi-week summer institute to learn their curriculum by completing the same projects and assignments as their students; and leveraging various funds to support "intensive, ongoing professional development" in CS and IT areas.

Educating communities about the opportunities in CS. Such actions might include encouraging "employer partners" to invest in appropriate education initiatives and putting in place career advisement and exploration across K12 to inform students, parents and others about career options.

The report profiles exemplars and offers information about low- or no-cost CS courses for students in every grade level. For example, Arkansas passed legislation in 2015 that required CS courses to be taught in every public high school. Since then, the number of students who have enrolled in such courses has increased by 260 percent. The increase in African-American girls who took coding classes rose by 609 percent.

"What are the keys to Arkansass early success? These and other achievements have been possible because of broad public knowledge of the states commitment to computer science, strong legislative support, generous funding, educational leadership and an enthusiastic response from Arkansas students," wrote Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, the Commission's chair, in the report's preface.

"Like reading, writing and math, knowledge of computer science can no longer be considered optional in our innovation-driven economy, where data and computer technology are central to our lives," added SREB President Dave Spence, in a prepared statement.

The 48-page report is available on the SREB website here.
MONDAY, Dec. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term use of over-the-counter pain relievers may be associated with increased risk of hearing loss in some women, a new study says.

Women who used ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for six years or more were more likely to suffer hearing loss than those who used the pain relievers for a year or less, said researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

They found no significant association between long-term aspirin use and hearing loss.

"Although the magnitude of higher risk of hearing loss with analgesic use was modest, given how commonly these medications are used, even a small increase in risk could have important health implications," study senior author Dr. Gary Curhan said in a hospital news release.

"Assuming causality, this would mean that approximately 16.2 percent of hearing loss occurring in these women could be due to ibuprofen or acetaminophen use," said Curhan, a physician in the division of network medicine.

The study doesn't establish a cause-and-effect relationship, however.

For the study, Curhan's team analyzed data from more than 54,000 women, ages 48 to 73, in the Nurses' Health Study.

Longer use of ibuprofen or acetaminophen was associated with potentially higher risk of impaired hearing.

The researchers noted that most of the women in the study were older and white. They said larger studies that include other groups of people are needed to learn more about the possible link between pain relievers and hearing loss.

The research team previously found that higher use of acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) was associated with increased risk of hearing loss in men and younger women.

"Hearing loss is extremely common in the United States and can have a profound impact on quality of life," Curhan said. "Finding modifiable risk factors could help us identify ways to lower risk before hearing loss begins and slow progression in those with hearing loss."

The study results were published Dec. 14 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

More information

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has more on hearing loss.
MONDAY, Dec. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- There seems to be a genetic link between poor sleep and some medical conditions, including obesity, restless legs syndrome and schizophrenia, researchers report.

"This clinical science is an important step forwards in understanding the biological basis for these conditions, so it's very exciting," said study co-author Dr. Martin Rutter. He is senior lecturer in cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Manchester in England.

"Scientists have long observed a connection between sleep disorders and these conditions in epidemiological studies. But this is the first time these biological links have been identified at a molecular level," Rutter said.

The researchers, from the University of Manchester and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, examined the mapped genes of more than 112,000 people in search of links between the participants' genes and their reported sleep habits.

The investigators identified areas of the genome connected to different types of sleep problems (including insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness), and then linked some to medical conditions, such as restless legs syndrome, schizophrenia and obesity.

According to study co-author Richa Saxena, "It's important to remember there is no molecular targeting available for conditions which affect sleep: all we really have are sedatives. So we hope that this research will enable scientists to develop new ways to intervene on a range of conditions in a much more fundamental way." Saxena is an assistant professor of anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The researchers said further study will be needed. But, in a news release from Mass General and the University of Manchester, Saxena said, "We believe this knowledge amounts to a key advance in our understanding of the biology behind sleep -- a major influence on our health and behavior."

The study was published Dec. 19 in the journal Nature Genetics.

More information

To learn how much sleep you need, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
PRESS RELEASE / REGULATED INFORMATION / INSIDE INFORMATION



IRVINE, CA, and HERSTAL, BELGIUM - December 19, 2016 - MDxHealth SA (Euronext: MDXH.BR) announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement with AceCGT Life Science Limited for their SelectMDx(TM) for Prostate Cancer assay in Hong Kong and Macao, Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China.

Under the terms of the agreement, AceCGT Group will be the exclusive distributor within the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions. Patient samples will be sent to MDxHealth's state-of-the-art ISO certified clinical diagnostic laboratory in Nijmegen, The Netherlands for analysis.

"We are delighted to announce our collaboration with AceCGT Group for the distribution of SelectMDx within the People's Republic of China. We believe that SelectMDx perfectly complements AceCGT Group's cutting edge molecular diagnostic test menu," commented Dr. Jan Groen, CEO of MDxHealth. "With their highly qualified and experienced team of laboratory scientists, clinical researchers and a dedicated commercial team, AceCGT Group is an ideal partner to help us raise awareness and expand access to SelectMDx throughout Hong Kong and Macao."

About SelectMDx for Prostate Cancer

SelectMDx for Prostate Cancer is a proprietary urine-based, molecular diagnostic test that offers a non-invasive 'liquid biopsy' method to assess a man's risk for prostate cancer. SelectMDx helps identify men at increased risk of harbouring aggressive, potentially lethal, prostate cancer who may benefit most from a prostate biopsy and earlier detection. The test delivers a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98% for clinically significant disease, helping to reduce unnecessary MRI procedures and invasive prostate biopsies by approximately 50%, thereby reducing healthcare costs.

About AceCGT Group

AceCGT is a Hong Kong based leading clinical diagnostic laboratory committed in bringing innovative, affordable and widely accessible testing solutions into everyday clinical practice within multiple specialties throughout their network. Leveraging the vast amount of knowledge and know-how derived from the Human Genome Project, International HapMap and other oncology research programs, AceCGT is translating the science of molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine into clinical practice within the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions of China. For more information, visit www.acecgtdiagnostic.com.

About MDxHealth

MDxHealth is a multinational healthcare company that provides actionable molecular diagnostic information to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company's tests are based on proprietary genetic, epigenetic (methylation) and other molecular technologies and assist physicians with the diagnosis of urologic cancers, prognosis of recurrence risk, and prediction of response to a specific therapy. The Company's European headquarters are in Herstal, Belgium, with laboratory operations in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and US headquarters and laboratory operations based in Irvine, California. For more information, visit mdxhealth.com and follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/mdxhealth.

For more information:







Dr. Jan Groen, CEO

MDxHealth

US: +1 949 812 6979

BE: +32 4 364 20 70

info@mdxhealth.com















Jonathan Birt, Chris Welsh, Hendrik Thys (PR & IR)

Consilium Strategic Communications

UK: +44 20 3709 5701

US: +1 917 322 2571 (Rx Communications Group LLC)

mdxhealth@consilium-comms.com





This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of MDxHealth and the market in which it operates. Such statements and estimates are based on assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable but may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict, may depend upon factors that are beyond the company's control, and may turn out to be materially different. MDxHealth expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required by law or regulation. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of MDxHealth in any jurisdiction. No securities of MDxHealth may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. securities laws.

NOTE: The MDxHealth logo, MDxHealth, ConfirmMDx, SelectMDx, AssureMDx and PredictMDx are trademarks or registered trademarks of MDxHealth SA. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.
Abuja, Nigeria, December 19, 2016: Scatec Solar has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Africa50, an African Infrastructure Fund sponsored by the African Development Bank and more than 20 African States and Norfund (the Norwegian Investment Fund for Development Countries), securing investment into the 100 MW (DC) Nova Scotia Power plant located in Dutse in the Northern Nigerian state of Jigawa. The project has the potential to significantly contribute to the plan of the authorities of the State of Jigawa to attract USD 2 billion of investments into Jigawa and implement Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's plans to provide jobs and economic opportunities especially for the nation's youth.



The signing ceremony of the JDA was held in the presence of Brge Brende, the visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister, His Excellency, Barrister Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, as well as officials from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading among others. "New local power generation capacity is a key element to attract sizeable investment into the State and region, especially into new industries such as light manufacturing and agricultural processing" said His Excellency the Deputy Governor.



"The formation of this consortium is a strong symbol of the Norwegian and Nigerian commitment to invest in clean energy in Nigeria. With the Government of Norway taking a direct investment role through Norfund, significant regional and Nigerian ownership through Africa50, and the track-record of Scatec Solar, this offers one of the most solid partnerships for solar PV projects globally," said Executive Vice President Terje Pilskog who signed the JDA on behalf of Scatec Solar.



"I am pleased that Africa50 is already making its first investment, which fits in squarely with our priority to light up and power Africa," said Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Chairman of Africa50's Board of Directors. Africa50 has been created by African governments, including Nigeria, the African Development Bank and institutional investors to mobilize private sector for funding infrastructure projects in Africa. Alain Ebobisse, Africa50's CEO noted: "Access to reliable energy is one of the most critical needs in Africa, including in Nigeria, where it is a government priority. I look forward to deepening the relationship with the authorities of Nigeria, one of our key shareholder countries, and to supporting more projects in this and other infrastructure sectors."



Apart from the three equity investors, the American Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank are expected to be senior debt providers for the project. International Finance institutions say the key to successful investment is the Nigerian state's issue of project documents that provides necessary investor confidence and the formulation of a clear roadmap to sustainability in the energy sector.



With an estimated investment of USD 150 million, a production of 200,000 MWh of electricity per year and 120,000 tons of CO2 emissions avoided annually, the Nova Scotia solar plant will help Nigeria rapidly increase its generation capacity, provide economic opportunities, fight desertification caused by climate change, and contribute to fulfilling Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's commitments to develop renewable energy as part of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.



In July, the Nova Scotia project signed a 20-year PPA with Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET). Located on 200 hectares of land, the project has strong fundamentals with high solar resources and direct access to the transmission grid through a simple connection route. The consortium will continue to work with CDIL, a Canadian renewable energy development company focused on Africa, and BPS, a Nigerian strategic consulting, to move the project from "pipeline" and achieve financial close in 2017 and commercial operations in 2018.



Nigeria is Africa's largest and the world's 26th biggest economy. With Nigeria's per capita electricity consumption at 155 kwh, one of the lowest in the world, there is a huge need to increase power production in order to expand and diversify the Nigerian economy.



For further information, please contact:

Mr. Mikkel Trud, CFO Tel: +4797699144 mikkel.torud@scatecsolar.com

Ms. Julie Hamre, Media Tel: +4792020854 julie.hamre@scatecsolar.com



About Scatec Solar



Scatec Solar is an integrated independent solar power producer, delivering affordable, rapidly deployable and sustainable source of clean energy worldwide. A long term player, Scatec Solar develops, builds, owns, operates and maintains solar power plants, and already has an installation track record of close to 600 MW.



The company is producing electricity from 426 MW of solar power plants in the Czech Republic, South Africa, Rwanda, Honduras, Jordan and the United States.



With an established global presence, the company is growing briskly with a project backlog and pipeline of close to 1.6 GW under development in the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Scatec Solar is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 'SSO'.
MONTREAL, Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pivotal Payments, a leading provider of technology-driven global payment processing solutions, today announced it has promoted Edward (Ed) Garcia to serve as Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this newly created role, Garcia will assume responsibility for all Operations functions including the company's contact center, loyalty and retention, risk management and corporate project management.



Garcia joined Pivotal Payments in 2015 as Senior Vice-President, Operations. He brings more than 25 years of experience managing operations and technologies in the payments industry and is widely recognized for his great leadership skills, plus the ability to consolidate and optimize processes and systems. Under Garcia's leadership, Pivotal has realigned resources to improve its overall responsiveness to clients and partners, and built consistent and focused teams to prioritize, plan and deliver projects in a timely, successful manner across the enterprise.



"I am hugely proud to be taking on this new role, and excited to continue collaborating with our incredibly talented teams," said Garcia. "The pace of innovation at Pivotal, as well as the passion I've seen from our employees has me more energized than ever. My mission is to effectively solve the complex challenges that will help us take the next leap forward as an organization."



"I couldn't be more pleased to appoint Ed as COO of Pivotal. As a proven financial technology executive, he has provided the strategic vision and leadership to help us create a frictionless, easy and immediate customer experience," said Philip Fayer, president and chief executive officer of Pivotal Payments. "The ability to take complex processes and simplify them into meaningful, actionable results is a key reason for our recent successes. I look forward to Ed continuing to drive growth, scale and operational excellence."



Prior to joining Pivotal Payments, Garcia served in senior operational roles in large, globally-focused payment firms, having spearheaded re-engineering, contact center, back-office, billing, commissions, large scale conversions and workforce management initiatives. He has a positive track record of transforming revenue, market share and margin growth through software engineering, product innovation and business optimization.



About Pivotal Payments

Pivotal Payments is a leading provider of technology-driven global payment processing solutions for small to large enterprises in the point of sale, B2B and e-commerce industries. Our proprietary solutions include card-not-present, integrated POS and mobile payments that deliver efficiency and profitability to businesses across all sales channels and platforms. With a focus on security and fueled by continuous investment in research, product development and innovation, we are shaping the future of payments. Our goal is to maximize our clients' revenues and performance by empowering them with safer and smarter transactions. Learn more at http://www.pivotalpayments.com or http://www.linkedin.com/company/pivotal-payments.

A photo accompanying this release is available at:

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=42010
TEMPE, Ariz., Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VirTra, Inc. (OTCQX:VTSI), a leading provider of use of force simulators and firearms training simulators, today announced a contract award of approximately $2.1 million from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, a multi-faceted state-level law enforcement agency whose mission is to protect human life and property by enforcing state laws, deterring criminal activity and providing vital support to the State of Arizona and its citizens. The contract is being funded by the Arizona State Legislature and administered by the Department of Public Safety with the intent to serve all law enforcement agencies within the state.



VirTra, the sole provider under this award, will supply, install and maintain multiple units of its industry leading multi-screen V-300TM judgmental use-of-force simulator in seven training academy locations throughout the state. The V-300 system employs realistic video training content and an electric impulse return fire system to simulate the stress of real-world situations. Using VirTras highly-advanced systems, law enforcement officers are better prepared for hostile situations with skills honed and refined in realistic scenarios before lives are on the line.

It is an honor to add the Arizona Department of Public Safety to our expanding list of large and prominent law enforcement agencies using VirTras industry leading training simulators, said Bob Ferris, Chairman and CEO of VirTra. For over 12 years, we have established a successful track record of providing the most effective and realistic use of force and ballistically accurate marksmanship simulator solutions in the market. We serve many highly regarded law enforcement agencies worldwide and appreciate this outstanding opportunity to work with the Arizona Department of Public Safety in making this training accessible to all law enforcement officers right here in our home state. We look forward to exceeding their expectations and working with them for years to come.

About VirTra

VirTra is a global leading provider of the world's most realistic and effective judgmental use of force simulators. VirTra is the higher standard in firearms training simulators, offering a variety of simulator platforms, powerful gas-powered recoil kits and the patented Threat-Fire simulated hostile return fire system. VirTras products provide the very best simulation training available for personnel that are entrusted with lethal force and critical missions. The Companys common stock is not registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Company does not currently file periodic or other reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

www.VirTra.com

Forward-looking Statements

This news release includes certain information that may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by terminology such as could, may, "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," proposed, planned, potential and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including statements about VirTra's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although VirTra believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. VirTra cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Accordingly, due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions inherent in forward-looking information, readers and prospective investors in the Company's securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof, is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof and is subject to change. The Company assumes no obligation to revise or update forward-looking information to reflect new circumstances, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ
The latest MyBroadband speed test results show that RSAWEB had the fastest average ADSL download speed over the past month.

Afrihost had the highest average VDSL download speed.

MyBroadbands speed test servers use Ooklas platform and are hosted in Teracos vendor-neutral data centres in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Through NAPAfrica, all network operators at its peering points are provided with a free 1Gbps connection to the MyBroadband speed test platform.

MyBroadband filters speed tests based on network information from Internet service providers to ensure accurate results which reflect real-world conditions.

The tables below show the highest average ADSL and VDSL speeds from local ISPs, based on over 11,000 speed tests.

ADSL

Rank ISP Download Speed Upload Speed 1 RSAWEB 8.32 Mbps 0.82 Mbps 2 MTN 7.55 Mbps 0.79 Mbps 3 XDSL 5.77 Mbps 0.54 Mbps 4 Axxess 4.04 Mbps 0.54 Mbps 5 Cybersmart 3.9 Mbps 0.55 Mbps 6 Afrihost 3.79 Mbps 0.53 Mbps 7 Internet Solutions 3.71 Mbps 0.5 Mbps 8 MWEB 3.23 Mbps 0.47 Mbps 9 Telkom 3.15 Mbps 0.53 Mbps 10 Vox Telecom 2.57 Mbps 0.42 Mbps

VDSL
The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) on Monday called on the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate racist comments allegedly posted by a Sandton Facebook user on a picture of a packed Durban beachfront over the weekend.

Spokesperson Jabu Mahlangu also called for criminal charges to be laid against Ben Sasonof.

We wish to condemn in the strongest terms possible the alleged provocative insults which seek to rekindle racial hatred and polarise racial relations in our society, he said.

Mahlangu said unless the resurgence of racism is dealt with harshly and perpetrators faced the wrath of the law, it will sow seeds of conflict that has the potential to undermine reconciliation, unity, nation-building and social cohesion.

Vitriolic and barbaric comments of this nature have no place in the united, non-racial, non-sexist, equal, prosperous and democratic society we are striving to build, he said.

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies joined the chorus of condemnation.

All racism unacceptable

It is with a sense of deja vu that the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) condemns yet another South African, Ben Sasonof, for similar offensive comments he made concerning the Durban beachfront this weekend, comparing his comments to those of Penny Sparrow.

All forms of racism are unacceptable in a South Africa where we strive daily to build a culture based on human rights and principles of dignity and freedom, for all of who live in it.

The SAJBD calls on all South Africans to stand up and fight against discrimination wherever it is found. We have just celebrated Reconciliation Day, and now more than ever, we should be dedicated to building a non-racist country.

At the weekend Sasonof posted: Eh eh Wenamust have smelt like the inside of Zumas asshole, with the apparent reference to President Jacob Zuma.

His comments raised the ire of other Facebook users who accused Sasonof of being a racist.

In response to those condemning his comments, he wrote: So fuck you and your bf. Go suck on Zumas dirty, tyrant asshole if you love it so much.

Sasonof also lashed out at one of his detractors directly, calling him a monkey.

Mohammed Jameel Abdulla youre a fuckin little idiot! Every person you tagged there is a friend of mine from school! I dated a black girl you fuckin idiot fuck! Stupid Monkey bastard you!

News24

Now read: Facebook rant over crowded Durban beach leads to racism accusations
A total of 3 078 motorists were arrested on South African roads from 1 December to the 16th for drunken driving, speeding, reckless and negligent driving as well as the possession of false documents.

Traffic officers conducted 258 roadblocks in all provinces and issued traffic fines to 152 243 motorists for transgression of traffic regulations, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said.

The corporation said the highest number of arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol was recorded in Gauteng, where 1 639 motorists were arrested.

The Free State recorded the highest number of arrests for speed, with 113 motorists nabbed.

Two motorists were arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe a traffic official in the Eastern Cape, while a motorist was stopped while driving at 219 km/h in a 120 km/h zone on the N3 near Warden in the Free State.

The bribery arrests were made by one official after he was offered a R90 bribe on December 3 and a R100 bribe on December 16.

More than 10 000 drivers were given notices failing to wear seatbelts while 1 426 were given fines for talking on the cell-phones while driving, RTMC said.

Roadblocks and traffic law enforcement operations will be intensified again this week from Friday, 23 December when motorists will be travelling to various destinations, including places of worship for Christmas.

High traffic volumes were experienced on 15 and 16 December when factory workers and migrants began their journeys to the countryside and coastal areas.

Traffic volumes were highest between 10am till 10pm on both days with more than 2 000 vehicles per hour recorded passing through the tollgates on the N3 south towards the coast, RTMC said.

Traffic authorities are planning a clampdown on road traffic violations over the Christmas long weekend in an effort to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities.

Motorists are urged to exercise caution, be aware of pedestrians and respect the rules of the road.
Scholz says Berlin must change its attitude toward China

Cavusoglu and Stoltenberg disagree over Sweden's and Finland's fulfillment of commitments

Turkish Vice President to visit Azerbaijan and occupied Shushi

Britain buys 250 million pounds worth of oil from Azerbaijan from July 2021 to June 2022

Yair Lapid congratulates Benjamin Netanyahu on winning election

Armenian MOD: Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense spreads another disinformation

ENISA: War in Ukraine, geopolitics fuel cyberattacks

Armenian MFA: Yerevan and Baku agree to speed up work on agreeing procedure of Commissions' activities

Zelenskyy will not participate in G20 summit if Putin participates in it

WP: Man who attacked Pelosi's husband was in the U.S. illegally

At Upper Lars, 30 cars are allowed through per day instead of previous 300: What are authorities doing?

Bloomberg: Turkey unlikely to sign Sweden's bid for NATO membership before the end of the year

Military servicemen in Armenia to be attested: Discussion at parliamentary standing committee

IEA calls for urgent action on gas shortages in Europe

French Senate to consider resolution demanding immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenian territory

Papikyan: The final number of dead will be published after the identification is complete

Armen Grigoryan presents to Patrushev consequences of Azerbaijani aggression

Indonesia reveals its own kamikaze drones

UN: Russia resumes participation in inspection of ships in Black Sea

Grigoryan: Armenia interested in using communication routes through Azerbaijan

FT: Azerbaijan demands EU funding and long-term contracts for gas supplies

Security Council Secretary: Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenian territory

US becomes 2nd largest gas supplier to EU

Russian Defense Ministry reports release of 107 Russian servicemen from Ukrainian captivity

How U.S supports Azerbaijan in 20 years by suspending 907th Amendment?

Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will receive less funds in 2023 than in previous two years

German government urges its citizens to leave Iran

Armenian MFA: Unblocking infrastructures is one of the main directions of talks

Armenia MFA: We expect positive results in relations with Turkey in near future

Armenia to open diplomatic representations in several countries in 2023: Uruguay among them

Former Pakistani Prime Minister injured in shooting of election motorcade

Russian MFA: Great Britain transferred underwater drones to Ukraine

Armenia FM: International community has sent very clear signal to Azerbaijan

Prime Minister receives Arin Karapet, Swedish MP

Dollar, euro drop in Armenia

Armenia FM: In few days there will be meeting between me, Bayramov, Blinken in Washington

IRNA: Iran's IRGC eliminated a group that was planning attacks on government agencies

Lawcoster 'Pobeda' to resume flights to Armenia at end of this year

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: One cannot despair, struggle must continue

Deputy FM: Armenia can make some progress in simplifying visa regime with EU

Turkey says Russia assures not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine

CSTO deputy chief: Armenia-Azerbaijan escalation, confrontation risk remains

Armenian MFA: Cautious optimism in restoration of diplomatic relations with Hungary

Uzbekistan refuses to resume operation of Mir cards in country

Belarus Council: If Poland unleashes aggression, war will spread throughout Eastern Europe

Peskov: It is up to the Ministry of Defense to increase the term of military service

Valerie Boyer: Corrupt, racist Azerbaijan is attacking Armenia borders, seeking to continue ethnic cleansing, genocide

Meeting of CIS Security Councils chiefs kicks off in Moscow

Charles III travels with teddy bear and toilet seat

EU plans to finance programs in Armenia for AMD 55 billion 747 mln

Economy minister: Armenia and Iran are making efforts to jointly sell goods to third countries

Azerbaijani Armed Forces practice capturing borders during exercises on border with Iran

Storm in Philippines leaves 150 people killed

Inflation in Turkey is up to 85.51% in October

Armenia economy minister on Central Bank: First they said increase would be 4%t, then 1%, then 6%

Borrell thanks UN and Turkey for facilitating Russia's return to the grain deal

Foreign direct investments in Armenia last year totals AMD 129.2bln

Minister: Examination of Armenian soldiers' bodies continues

Jaguar station wagon from Elizabeth II fleet to be sold at auction

IMF plans to provide more than $165 million to Armenia

Marukyan: Baku says Karabakh Armenians should either stay on Azerbaijan terms or leave for 3rd country

Minister of Economy: Armenia's role in Eurasian Economic Union grows

Biden says U.S. troops will stay in Europe for a long time

Vahan Hunanyan: Yerevan and Tehran have no disagreements on most issues

Armenia, Russia to collaborate in information security

Artsakh State Minister: There are many principal disagreements with Armenian authorities

Public TV Company of Armenia to make purchase worth AMD 2 698.6mln for Junior Eurovision 2022

Armenian-Russian trade turnover up by 71.7%, Economy Minister

Secretaries of CIS Security Councils to discuss nuclear security

Economy minister: Armenia exports to other EEU countries increased 2 times

Outgoing Artsakh Minister Artak Beglaryan to take position in state government system

Japan Coast Guard reports 3 North Korean missile launches in a day

Pashinyan says Armenian government did a lot for revival of Armenian aviation

Oil falls in price

Patrushev comments on Zelenskiy's statement about preventive nuclear strike

WSJ: Americans favor Republicans over Democrats

Turkey announces normalization of grain corridor

Gold prices are down

Putin calls on CIS countries security councils to use all their security capabilities

SPRING PR founders were awarded the 'Global PR Leader of the year'

Copper prices are rising

State Duma member proposes to extend term of military service in Russia

Iranian MPs: Powerful Iran will never tolerate changing of its borders

Turkey to complete construction of pipeline in Black Sea in November

Newspaper: Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty to be signed in Georgia

US delivers more than 200 artillery systems to Ukraine since February

Secretary of Armenian Security Council to visit Moscow

Switzerland to direct $100 million to repair energy infrastructure in Ukraine

Study: Blue whales eat 10 million particles of microplastics a day

Microsoft president warns of shortage of staff to fight climate change

Latvia extends state of emergency on Belarus border

WSJ: UAE tried to convince Saudi Arabia not to cut oil production

Cavusoglu: Greece must stop arming the demilitarized islands in the Aegean Sea

Moody's downgrades outlook for banks in Germany, Italy, and 4 other countries to negative

About 40 international companies to announce their relocation to UAE by end of year

Israeli Prime Minister cancels participation in climate summit in Egypt

Earthquake strikes in Antalya

Polish manufacturing output falls amid economic uncertainty

IEF: Oil price to exceed $100 due to EU sanctions against Russia

Regnum Agency suspends its work
YEREVAN.  The Court of Appeal of Armenia on Monday upheld the lower court decision on the case into the brutal murder of Avetisyan family, in Gyumri, in Shirak Province.

As a result, the appellate court denied the appeals by the legal representatives of the successors of the victims.

This ruling, however, can be appealed within three months.

Solely the prosecutor was in attendance to Mondays court session.

The legal representatives appeals were with respect to compensation for damages, in one case, and reexamination of the case, in the other.

The aforesaid murder took place on January 12, 2015. According to the indictment, Valery Permyakov, a serviceman of the 102nd Russian Military Base in Gyumri, entered the Avetisyan family home on that day, and he killed home residents Aida Avetisyan, Hasmik Avetisyan, Seryozha Avetisyan, Armen Avetisyan, Araksya Poghosyan, and little girl Hasmik Avetisyan. Subsequently, he stabbed 6-month-old Seryozha Avetisyan five times. The baby boy died in the hospital one week later.

Armenia and Russia instituted criminal cases on charges of murder and military desertion, respectively.

On August 12, 2015, the Russian court sentenced Permyakov to ten years in prison. And on October 16 of the same year, Armenia formally brought criminal charges against the Russian soldier.

And on August 23, 2016, the Shirak District Court of First Instance found Valery Permyakov guilty of all chargesmurder, robbery, and attempt to cross the Armenian state borderthat were brought against him. And he was sentenced to life in prison.
The European Stability Initiative (ESI) has issued the second part of its investigation into Azerbaijans caviar diplomacy.

Contact.az news agency of Azerbaijan informed about the aforesaid citing the Facebook commentary by Democracy for Azerbaijan (AND) organization co-chair, Arif Mammadov.

This section of the report exposes the flagrant facts of the corruption schemes organized by the Azerbaijani authorities, [and] in which dozens of senior European politicians are involved, wrote Arif Mammadov. PACE [i.e. the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe] Peoples Party Group Chairman, Italian parliamentarian Luca Volonte, whose active involvement in corruption mechanisms has been proved by the prosecutors office of Italy, agreed to collaborate with Italian investigative bodies. He gave the names of numerous European politicians who received money from Azerbaijan; the [respective] tracks lead all the way to incumbent PACE President Pedro Agramunt.

Volonte himself received around 3 million euros from Azerbaijan, for dirty lobbying services; he transferred a part of these means to other MPs.

In all likelihood, the names of some Azerbaijani MPs that are mentioned in the report, [and] whose photos you can see in the report, can be transmitted to Interpol.

Our AND organization actively collaborates with ESI.

The investigation continues. So, wait for the next commotion.
YEREVAN.  The transport ministry of Armenia seeks to rule out unlawful fundraising from Armenian drivers in Russia.

Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technology of Armenia, Vahan Martirosyan, on Monday told the aforesaid to reporters. In his words, they are getting such complaints from Armenian drivers.

Several days ago, the minister himself visited the Upper Lars Russian checkpoint on the border with Georgia.

I raised this matter also before the Upper Lars customs service; they assured that there is no such thing, said Martirosyan. But our drivers argue that, in any case, they are taking money from them, from time to time.

The Armenian ministry certainly cannot establish order on the Russian roads, on its own. But, as per the minister, everything possible is done at the level of state ties.

I raised this matter also before the Russian associates, added Vahan Martirosyan.
YEREVAN.  Nothing has changed in my life by becoming a member in the Republican Party of Armenia.

Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technology, Vahan Martirosyan, stated the above-said at a press conference on Monday.

And when asked, then, what was the objective of his joining the ruling party, Martirosyan responded: Just as before, I seek to do my job with utmost conscientiousness; nothing has changed in this sense.

In the ministers words, however, even though he does not plan to run for a parliamentary seat in the near future, he does not rule out anything in a distant future.
Scholz says Berlin must change its attitude toward China

Cavusoglu and Stoltenberg disagree over Sweden's and Finland's fulfillment of commitments

Turkish Vice President to visit Azerbaijan and occupied Shushi

Britain buys 250 million pounds worth of oil from Azerbaijan from July 2021 to June 2022

Yair Lapid congratulates Benjamin Netanyahu on winning election

Armenian MOD: Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense spreads another disinformation

ENISA: War in Ukraine, geopolitics fuel cyberattacks

Armenian MFA: Yerevan and Baku agree to speed up work on agreeing procedure of Commissions' activities

Zelenskyy will not participate in G20 summit if Putin participates in it

WP: Man who attacked Pelosi's husband was in the U.S. illegally

At Upper Lars, 30 cars are allowed through per day instead of previous 300: What are authorities doing?

Bloomberg: Turkey unlikely to sign Sweden's bid for NATO membership before the end of the year

Military servicemen in Armenia to be attested: Discussion at parliamentary standing committee

IEA calls for urgent action on gas shortages in Europe

French Senate to consider resolution demanding immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenian territory

Papikyan: The final number of dead will be published after the identification is complete

Armen Grigoryan presents to Patrushev consequences of Azerbaijani aggression

Indonesia reveals its own kamikaze drones

UN: Russia resumes participation in inspection of ships in Black Sea

Grigoryan: Armenia interested in using communication routes through Azerbaijan

FT: Azerbaijan demands EU funding and long-term contracts for gas supplies

US becomes 2nd largest gas supplier to EU

Russian Defense Ministry reports release of 107 Russian servicemen from Ukrainian captivity

How U.S supports Azerbaijan in 20 years by suspending 907th Amendment?

Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will receive less funds in 2023 than in previous two years

German government urges its citizens to leave Iran

Armenian MFA: Unblocking infrastructures is one of the main directions of talks

Armenia MFA: We expect positive results in relations with Turkey in near future

Armenia to open diplomatic representations in several countries in 2023: Uruguay among them

Former Pakistani Prime Minister injured in shooting of election motorcade

Russian MFA: Great Britain transferred underwater drones to Ukraine

Armenia FM: International community has sent very clear signal to Azerbaijan

Prime Minister receives Arin Karapet, Swedish MP

Dollar, euro drop in Armenia

Armenia FM: In few days there will be meeting between me, Bayramov, Blinken in Washington

IRNA: Iran's IRGC eliminated a group that was planning attacks on government agencies

Lawcoster 'Pobeda' to resume flights to Armenia at end of this year

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: One cannot despair, struggle must continue

Deputy FM: Armenia can make some progress in simplifying visa regime with EU

Turkey says Russia assures not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine

CSTO deputy chief: Armenia-Azerbaijan escalation, confrontation risk remains

Armenian MFA: Cautious optimism in restoration of diplomatic relations with Hungary

Uzbekistan refuses to resume operation of Mir cards in country

Belarus Council: If Poland unleashes aggression, war will spread throughout Eastern Europe

Peskov: It is up to the Ministry of Defense to increase the term of military service

Valerie Boyer: Corrupt, racist Azerbaijan is attacking Armenia borders, seeking to continue ethnic cleansing, genocide

Meeting of CIS Security Councils chiefs kicks off in Moscow

Charles III travels with teddy bear and toilet seat

EU plans to finance programs in Armenia for AMD 55 billion 747 mln

Economy minister: Armenia and Iran are making efforts to jointly sell goods to third countries

Azerbaijani Armed Forces practice capturing borders during exercises on border with Iran

Storm in Philippines leaves 150 people killed

Inflation in Turkey is up to 85.51% in October

Armenia economy minister on Central Bank: First they said increase would be 4%t, then 1%, then 6%

Borrell thanks UN and Turkey for facilitating Russia's return to the grain deal

Foreign direct investments in Armenia last year totals AMD 129.2bln

Minister: Examination of Armenian soldiers' bodies continues

Jaguar station wagon from Elizabeth II fleet to be sold at auction

IMF plans to provide more than $165 million to Armenia

Marukyan: Baku says Karabakh Armenians should either stay on Azerbaijan terms or leave for 3rd country

Minister of Economy: Armenia's role in Eurasian Economic Union grows

Biden says U.S. troops will stay in Europe for a long time

Vahan Hunanyan: Yerevan and Tehran have no disagreements on most issues

Armenia, Russia to collaborate in information security

Artsakh State Minister: There are many principal disagreements with Armenian authorities

Public TV Company of Armenia to make purchase worth AMD 2 698.6mln for Junior Eurovision 2022

Armenian-Russian trade turnover up by 71.7%, Economy Minister

Secretaries of CIS Security Councils to discuss nuclear security

Economy minister: Armenia exports to other EEU countries increased 2 times

Outgoing Artsakh Minister Artak Beglaryan to take position in state government system

Japan Coast Guard reports 3 North Korean missile launches in a day

Pashinyan says Armenian government did a lot for revival of Armenian aviation

Oil falls in price

Patrushev comments on Zelenskiy's statement about preventive nuclear strike

WSJ: Americans favor Republicans over Democrats

Turkey announces normalization of grain corridor

Gold prices are down

Putin calls on CIS countries security councils to use all their security capabilities

SPRING PR founders were awarded the 'Global PR Leader of the year'

Copper prices are rising

State Duma member proposes to extend term of military service in Russia

Iranian MPs: Powerful Iran will never tolerate changing of its borders

Turkey to complete construction of pipeline in Black Sea in November

Newspaper: Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty to be signed in Georgia

US delivers more than 200 artillery systems to Ukraine since February

Secretary of Armenian Security Council to visit Moscow

Switzerland to direct $100 million to repair energy infrastructure in Ukraine

Study: Blue whales eat 10 million particles of microplastics a day

Microsoft president warns of shortage of staff to fight climate change

Latvia extends state of emergency on Belarus border

WSJ: UAE tried to convince Saudi Arabia not to cut oil production

Cavusoglu: Greece must stop arming the demilitarized islands in the Aegean Sea

Moody's downgrades outlook for banks in Germany, Italy, and 4 other countries to negative

About 40 international companies to announce their relocation to UAE by end of year

Israeli Prime Minister cancels participation in climate summit in Egypt

Earthquake strikes in Antalya

Polish manufacturing output falls amid economic uncertainty

IEF: Oil price to exceed $100 due to EU sanctions against Russia

Regnum Agency suspends its work

Iranian MFA denies information about country's planned attack on Saudi Arabia
MOSCOW.  Summit of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will be convened on December 26, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, informed the Kremlin official website.

At the event, the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia will sum up the results of the two-year activities of the EAEU, and point to the benchmarks for the further development of this integration union.

Central event of the summit will be the signing of the agreement on the [EAEU] Customs Code, the Kremlin statement also reads. The approval of several other important multilateral documents () is also expected.

In addition, the presidents of the member countries will confirm the main directions for the EAEU international activities in 2017, and review the aspects of cooperation.
YEREVAN.  Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan met with representatives of the ten largest importing companies in Armenia.

In particular, these businessmen noted that operative solutions are given to documentation, in recent times. And as a present-day challenge, they pointed to the shipment disruption due to the adverse winter weather conditions at the Upper Lars highway between Georgia and Russia.

Karapetyan, in turn, informed that the Armenian government is taking steps toward developing new transportation plans to find alternatives to the Upper Lars, and proposing them to the businesses.

And a day earlier, the PM met with representatives of Armenias ten largest manufacturing and exporting companies. He noted that the government plans to provide active assistance to the countrys enterprises, so as to promote exports.

At the talk, the interlocutors discussed several matters related to this domain.

The Premier stressed that the Armenian government will be consistent in the resolution of the issues that are raised.
YEREVAN. - Armenia will announce a competition for the construction of a center by Yeraskh village.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Development of Armenia, Davit Lokyan, told the aforementioned to Armenian News  NEWS.am.

In his words, in this case the Iranian tourists will have a place to stay at on their way to Yerevan, and not only overnight. ''Of course, there are hotels on the way to Yerevan but such a center will have shops, dining halls and baths so that one can have a place to pass his time before arriving in Yerevan,'' he added.

It is planned to build the center near Yeraskh village, not far from the border with Nakhchivan, where the road goes down from southern Armenia to Ararat plain.

''The project was discussed with Iranian colleagues but it is open to everyone. Any investor can come up with his project. I think progress can be expected in a few months,'' the Minister concluded.
Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after an armed assault in a contemporary art center in Ankara on Monday. Unfortunately it was impossible to save his life.

A young man entered the Contemporary Art Exhibition Center in Ankara during an exhibition, Milliyet reports. He introduced himself as a policeman, following which he opened fire in the ambassador's back, while the latter was giving a speech by the tribune.

The young man then pushed everyone out of the hall, after which shots were again heard.

It was impossible to save the life of the ambassador.

The gunman, who was neutralized by the police, shouted something related to Aleppo.
The man who fired at the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was caught on cameras of the reporters, who were present at the photo exhibition in Contemporary Art Center of Ankara .

Ambassador Karlov attended the exhibition related to Kamchatka at the Contemporary Art Center of Ankara, during which he also delivered a speech. At that time a young man entered the center, introducing himself as a policeman. He then approached the ambassador from the back and fired at him, Hurriyet reports. The gunman then pushed everyone out, shouting that he won't come out of the hall without dying.

He was killed as a result of a skirmish with the police.

Andrey Karlov was rushed to a hospital in a critical condition.
The mother and sister of Turkish policeman Mevlut Mert, who sgot dead Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov at a photo exhibition in Ankara, have been detained, Turkish NTV reports.

On Monday evening, a gunman attacked Russian envoy to Turkey Andrey Karlov, while the latter was giving a speech at a photo exhibition dedicated to Kamchatka at Cagdas Sanat Merkezi Contemporary Arts Center of Ankara.

The gunman shot the Ambassador right in the back, following which he uttered words related to Aleppo and Syria, as well as shouted "Allahu akbar (God is great).'' Karlov was rushed to a hospital in a critical condition but unfortunately it was impossible to save his life.

The assailant, who was shot dead by the police 45 minutes after the assault, was later identified as Ankara police officer Mevlut Mert.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has arrived in Moscow, a spokesman for the Turkish diplomatic mission in Moscow, Orhan Gazigil, told TASS.

''We can confirm that the minister is already in Moscow,'' he said.

On Monday evening, a gunman attacked Russian envoy to Turkey Andrey Karlov, while the latter was giving a speech at a photo exhibition dedicated to Kamchatka at Cagdas Sanat Merkezi Contemporary Arts Center of Ankara.

The gunman shot the Ambassador right in the back, following which he uttered words related to Aleppo and Syria, as well as shouted "Allahu akbar (God is great).'' Karlov was rushed to a hospital in a critical condition but unfortunately it was impossible to save his life.

The assailant, who was shot dead by the police 45 minutes after the assault, was later identified as Ankara police officer Mevlut Mert. Three persons have been reported to be injured as a result of the criminal's actions.
Considering a humanitarian career? Join us for a special Devex webinar with the authors of the recently published book, Becoming an International Humanitarian Aid Worker, Chen Reis and Tania Bernath.





Reis and Bernath, both veteran aid workers, will discuss some of the key findings from their research and experience working in this demanding field. From the realities of the job to soft and hard skills required of this career, the authors will provide tips for breaking into and succeeding in the humanitarian sector whether you are just getting started or a mid- to senior-level professional.




Heightened Security as Electors Gather to Cast Ballots

Today, Monday, December 19, Electoral College voters are casting their ballots from their states capitol for the next President of the United States. While this vote is usually a drama-free process, this year some capitols are beefing up security as protests and rallies are scheduled to collide with the meetings.

In Austin, a rally and protest are expected to greet Texas 38 Electoral College voters this afternoon as they ascend into the Capitol. Protesters at the scene will show up in herds asking voters to flip their vote. One Texas voter, Chris Suprun, has already publicly said he would not be voting to support Donald Trump in a New York Times editorial earlier this month.

Austin Police officers will be downtown to protect those who will be voting, but also to ensure that the protests do not get out of hand. Security inside of the Capitol will also be tight; all those in the building will be screened before taking their seat in the house chambers.

In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, electors will be met with fanfare and security as they make their way to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives camber. Seating for the event is available on a first-come-first-serve basis and each person will be screened as they enter into the building. Police and security will also be on hand to oversee protests and rallies in the perimeter of the voting location.

Protesters by the name of Hamilton Electors will be showing up at voting locations around the country to take a shot at flipping electors votes, but most gatherings have been deemed peaceful.
The Singapore economy is going through a tough time, especially in the labour market. Going forward, many finance students and workers in the industry will find it increasingly difficult as the banking industry has been one of the hardest hit in terms of job cuts. Graduates will struggle to enter the industry and to hold down good jobs as more people vie for a diminishing pool of good available positions.

To give you some perspective on how extensive the job cut has been over the past year, ANZ Banking has cut close to 300 staff in Singapore from one year ago; Barclays may make redundant over 100 jobs in Singapore; Standard Chartered, with just under 10% of its roughly 86,000 strong workforce in Singapore, will cut up to 15,000 jobs globally; HSBC hopes to streamline its operations by cutting close to 14% of its S$52 billion operational costs; and the Royal Bank of Scotland, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank AG, Goldman Sachs, ING and many other banks have also make plans to reduce headcount both globally and in Singapore. We could go on listing many more global banks but we will stop here. You get the idea.

Even the local banks, which have not announced plans to cut jobs yet, are starting to feel the heat as DBS states its intention to slow down its wage growth and hiring policies in the coming year.

While many people think that this spate of retrenchments and job cuts is due to the global economic slowdown, the reverse may not be true when the global economy swings back into good growth again. These jobs that have gone from Singapore are unlikely to ever return, and we detail three reasons why that is the case below.

# 1 These Jobs Have Moved Out Of Singapore; Theyve Gone To A Cheaper Location

Singapore was once a cheaper destination with an up and coming and educated local workforce. Now, it is an extremely expensive place to do business. Low level jobs, especially in the middle and back offices of the banking sector, can be farmed out to cheaper destinations to reduce organisational costs for global banks.

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Certain non-client facing jobs are at the highest risk of being shipped out of expensive Singapore to cheaper locations such as India and Philippines in Asia and Poland and Hungary in Europe. These include those in IT, settlements and product control.

Even when the global economy turns around, these jobs, which have already been moved to cheaper locations will not be coming back. There were significant costs already incurred setting up these offices in less expensive territories and these offices are running smoothly  there is no reason for banks to move these jobs back to an expensive city.

# 2 The Jobs That Have Been Made Redundant; People Either No Longer Require Such Services Or These Jobs Have Been Taken Over By Automation

There are two main reasons for jobs becoming redundant in the banking sector. They are either obsolete as less and less people require their services, or they are taken over by automation.

In recent times, trade and deal-making has been drying up in Singapore. This has affected investment banking jobs as well as those in the equities sector. As other markets such as emerging markets and Hong Kong and China provide for better deal making opportunities, companies will flock to those destinations to list and to do business.

In Singapore, people in lucrative investment banking roles both for public and private deal making as well as those research roles will be affected. Additionally, brokers and remisiers as well as people in its related services at banks will also be affected.

According to a Citi Group report, approximately 30% of banking jobs may be threatened by automation. Digital disruption from internal methods and fintech companies has impacted traditional banking operations.

These include installing more advanced automatic teller machines (ATMs) with the ability to handle more complex transactions has replaced bank tellers to some extent. In fact, the ATM itself may be made redundant soon with the prevalence of online and mobile banking to complete payment services, complex transactions and money management functions. And robo-advisors are increasingly replacing salespeople and financial consultants. The rise of digital currency is also having an impact on peoples reliance on just the banking system.

As a bank or financial institution, it is still critical to offer high levels of customer service via digital platforms to continue engaging customers and keeping a relationship with them. This is what will differentiate banks and financial institutions in an increasingly global market.

Read Also: Why Customer Service Is (Still) The Most Important Factor For Banks To Succeed

# 3 Some Banks Are Exiting Their Operations Here; Theyre Unlikely To Restart Similar Operations In The Future

In other instances, banks are selling their entire division or completely exiting the Singapore market. This means they are unlikely to start a new arm from scratch or re-enter the country anytime in the near future.

While many of the jobs in divisions that are sold will be retained, affected employees must be mindful that they will be integrated into another banks existing division, and that there will be scope to streamline operations.

Banks such as BSI SA and Falcon Bank have closed in Singapore due to their involvement with the 1MDB saga. They are not likely to come back to Singapore any time soon. They are not the only ones though.

ANZ recently sold their wealth management and retail business in Asia to DBS in 2015. Barclays Private Bank sold its Singapore and Hong Kong business to Bank of Singapore. In total, eight private banks have exited Singapore since 2014. Banks have also completed phased out or closed entire operations in Singapore, this includes Standard Chartered closing its equity derivatives and convertible bonds businesses.

What Can You Do To Stay Ahead?

No matter what you do, you need to ensure that you are a valuable member of your team focused on creating value. If you are able to do that, you will have a job even if your employer becomes redundant or exits the market.

In the sales department, there is always space. No matter what, banks will always be keen to hire people who wants to take on the challenge of accepting a low basic wage and fight for commissions. The higher the commissions they earn, the more the banks make.

If you dont want to take the first sales job youre offered when you hit tough times, you should look instead at building your employability and abilities. Some ways to achieve this include paying close attention to your business and to gain a wholesome understanding of it. Even if you are in the middle or back office, you need to understand the commercial decisions made by the front office employees.

Expand Your Professional Network

Another way is to build meaningful relationships with people in the office and in the industry. This means a little less email, and a little more phone calls and face-to-face time. It may eat into more work time, but youre building a career, not completing a job in the grander scheme of things.

You should also try on more roles in the office, volunteer for some front office roles  this way, youll expand your network and gain crucial understanding of other roles. Try to fix rather than create problems at the office. Its easy to be a roadblock  but to be a go-to person, you have to be a problem fixer, and everyone loves a problem fixer. These are just some simple ways to differentiate yourself at the workplace.

Read Also: 3 Ways To Make Your CV Stand Out In Banking And Finance

Explore Fintech

Fintech is another area where Singapore stands to benefit. Just as we benefited from being an up-and-coming and educated country in the 1980s for banks to move their operations to, we now have an advanced and technologically savvy workforce able to fulfil the demands of fintech companies. The Singapore government is also supporting this initiative and with the countrys small and savvy population, it remains a great place for fintech companies to test their products.

At the end of the day, there are always ways to be employable. You just have to keep up and keep improving.

Want to receive first-hand information about new announcements and events from us? Or simply looking for more exclusive content that are not available on our website? Subscribe to our free e-newsletter to get insider access to activities, articles and promotions. We will only send you stuff that we too would be interested to know. Follow us on Instagram @DNSsingapore and Facebook @DollarsAndSenseSG to get your daily dose of finance inspirations through photos and articles.

The post Banks Are Cutting Jobs In Singapore, And Why These Jobs Lost Are Unlikely To Ever Return appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
Until recently, wealth management services were the prerogative of the seriously rich. Each client received personalised advice on financial and investment matters, retirement and estate planning and even accounting and tax services. Of course, all these benefits didnt come cheaply.

Clients were expected to pay at least 1% of the value of their assets under management as fees every year. Many traditional wealth managers charged a lot more. But in recent times, a number of new financial technology companies have digitalized wealth management services and made them available to investors at a fraction of the rate which the incumbents charge. Another advantage that these new fintechs or robo advisors provide is that an investor needs to put up only a few thousand dollars to open an account. Traditional wealth managers usually require a minimum portfolio of several hundred thousand dollars.

Robo advisors are rapidly gaining popularity across the world. Betterment, which is located in the US, is one of the most successful and well known fintech companies providing these services. It already has US$6.2 billion under management.

Singapores automated wealth management platforms

Several companies are competing to provide Singaporeans with specially designed portfolio planning and asset management tools. They are entering the market with financial products that allow young and tech-savvy investors an enhanced level of control over their portfolio.

Singapores robo advisors also have the advantage of offering their services at lower rates than traditional services like brokers or mutual funds. Investors looking for an alternative to the rock-bottom returns on banks deposits now have an option that allows them to allocate their funds in a manner that suits their risk appetite and costs little in fees. While not all of these offerings are yet friendly to an average person, we believe robo advisers will gradually put forth more consumer friendly products with low fees as they scale their platforms (as it happened in the US).

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Smartly

Using this Singapore fintechs automated platform, individuals can invest in a globally diversified portfolio of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs are selected by Smartly on the basis of each investors risk profile. Investors are required to provide some basic information about themselves. Smartlys proprietary algorithms will then recommend a personalised investment portfolio based on the individuals profile. If an investor does not agree with the recommendations, it is possible to change the allocation of funds.

Smartly caters to all segments of investors. It is possible to open an account with an investment of just S$50 per month. The fees are very affordable: * 1% per year, if you invest less than S$10,000 * 0.7% per year for sums over S$10,000 * 0.5% per year for S$100,000 and above

What are the benefits that an investor gets by paying these charges? The amounts cover risk assessment, recommendations based on an investors profile, unlimited deposits and withdrawals, and real-time monitoring of the portfolio.

Infinity Partners

This startup is targeted at Americans working in Singapore. Subsequently, the firm will offer its services to Singaporean as well. According to a press report, the companys initial customers will be accredited investors, meaning high net worth individuals and hedge funds. Infinity Partners has a capital market licence and its expatriate customers will be able to buy exchange-traded funds in the US.

The firm will offer its services at a fee that will be about 1% of the assets under management. This compares with 3% to 5% charged by traditional wealth advisors for similar services. Singapores accredited investors can start buying into ETFs using Infinity Partners robo advisory services from 2017. Subsequently, the company will expand into Hong Kong and Japan as well.

Bambu

This firm has chosen to adopt the B2B route to market its robo advisory products. It is currently marketing a robo advisory platform that can be offered by financial service companies to their customers. Why is Bambu deviating from the usual B2C model that most robo advisory startups have embraced? In an interview, founder and CEO Ned Phillips explained that he estimates that it would cost his company US$1 million to acquire 3,000 customers. With the low fees that robo advisors charge, it would not be possible to sustain the business.

Crossbridge Capital

Established as a wealth management firm eight years ago, Crossbridge Capital has recently launched a robo advisory platform for Singapores accredited investors. The service has been introduced in association with Bambu. Accredited investors are defined under Singapore government regulations. They need to have net personal assets of at least S$2 million or a yearly income of S$300,000.

Crossbridge Capital has US$3 billion under management and caters primarily to HNIs and families based in emerging market economies.

The future of robo advisory services

Although robo advisory services have been popularised by financial technology startups, even financial institutions providing traditional wealth management services have much to gain from automated investment allocation methods. Singapores banks have already seized this opportunity. OCBC recently launched OneWealth, an automated system that provides investors with advice and monitors their portfolios. DBS Bank has partnered with IBM to launch Wealth Adviser, a service that matches research reports with a clients risk appetite and investment objectives.

In Singapore, robo managers are not yet prevalent or scaled enough to offer a truly low-cost offering to most retail investors. While most of these platforms currently only cater to high net worth clients (i.e. accredited investors) and institutions, they likely will gradually expand their product offerings and lower fees as they grow. If the US market is any indication, a growing number of robo advisors can make these platforms cheaper, allowing Singaporeans to choose the robo advisory service that best meets their individual needs more easily.

The article Robo Advisors in Singapore  The New Wealth Managers originally appeared on ValuePenguin.

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Can Singaporeans Living Overseas Still Get Credit Card Benefits from Their Singapore Credit Cards?

So youve done the research and applied for a whole bunch of credit cards in order to milk as many cash rebates, air miles and rewards points as you can. Youve got one for groceries, one for online shopping, one for restaurant dining and one for buying useless items in shopping malls.

Then one fine day you finally get that overseas job youve been dreaming of. Sayonara, suckers! But wait, does that mean youve got to abandon all your credit cards and start paying in shudder cash?

Yes, you can use your Singapore cards, but beware of hidden charges

If you wish, you can continue using your Singapore credit cards overseas, so long as you get your bank to activate your magnetic stripe for overseas use.

Once this is done, youll be able to use the card in the same way you use it in Singapore. But do you really want to? Well, that depends.

The main reason you might want to think twice about using your Singapore credit card overseas is the hidden charges. Each time you swipe that plastic, youre being charged a bunch of fees, which might include the following:

Foreign currency conversion fee

Cross border transaction fee

Visa/MasterCard fee

While the exact cost will differ from bank to bank and card to card, in general you are being charged about 2.5% to 3%, depending on the card youre usingand thats if you choose to transact in foreign currency. If they ask you if you would like the transaction to be made in Singapore dollars, refuse unless you want to pay fees of 3% to 5%.

For Singaporeans on holiday, it might make sense to continue using credit cards, because they dont want to be carrying around a ton of cash, and theyd lose some money in the conversion process anyway if they were to exchange currencies at a money changer.

But when youre earning money in the currency of your adopted country, it often doesnt make sense to continue using your Singapore credit cards. If you spend $36,000 a year on your credit cards and pay fees of 2.5%, that adds up to $900 per year being lost needlessly.

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Therefore, it only makes sense to continue using your credit cards in situations where you can get benefits, whether in the form of cashback, rewards points or air miles, that are worth as much as or more than the 2.5% to 3% youd lose, or in situations where you wouldnt benefit as much by using a local credit card.

You also want to consider that you might lose more money when you pay your credit card bills. Some Singaporeans on temporary overseas stints continue to pay their bills using savings in their local bank accounts, or wire money back to themselves in SGD, which will incur charges.

Here are situations that might make it worthwhile to hang on to your Singapore credit card:

Online shopping

Depending on where your adopted country is, you might find that youre still forced to pay in a third currency when you shop online. For instance, if youre living in Australia, but still shop on US websites and get charged in USD, youd get stuck with a bunch of fees for using an Aussie card, just as you would with a Singapore card.

You want to compare the various fees and charges imposed by your local and Singaporean banks and see which card is cheaper to use.

There are quite a few Singaporean cards which offer generous cash rebates for online shopping, so you want to take this into account when deciding which card to use. The tricky part is making sure you can satisfy their minimum spending requirements if any, and working out whether it will still be worthwhile.

Here are some notable cards:

American Express True Cashback Card  1.5% cashback on all purchases, no minimum spend (Best used only on online transactions in SGD or a third currency. As AMEX charges at least 2.5% in fees for overseas transactions, this isnt recommended for IRL spending.)

Bank of China Shop! Card  6% cash rebate when you shop online or at Singapore department stores, provided you spend at least $1,000 per monthly bill. Maximum rebate of $100 per bill. (Due to the generous rebate, use this to shop online so long as youre spending at least $1,000consolidate your online shopping to achieve this if you have to.)

CIMB Visa Signature  10% cash rebate on online transactions in foreign currencies and F&B establishments if you spend a minimum of $500 in the statement month and make at least 8 transactions worth $30 or more.

Cash rebates

Some cards can be generous enough with their cash rebates that they can cancel out the extra charges youd incur from using your Singapore card overseas.

In general, if you can get over 3% rebate on all spending, you can safely use the card without worrying about losing money to fees. If you intend to spend a lot of money on one card, its a good idea to find out exactly how much youre being charged per transaction, just to be sure youre at least breaking even.

Here are some cards you might want to considerdo note that you might also want to use these for online shopping.

UOB One  Up to 3.33% rebate if you spend at least $500 a month for every month in a quarter, and up to 5% rebate if you spend at least $2,000 a month for every month in a quarter. (Good for online and IRL spending if you can hit the minimum spending every quarter.)

ANZ Optimum World MasterCard  5% cash rebate in a category of your choice (dining & leisure/travel/shopping/groceries)

CIMB Visa Infinite  2% cashback on overseas spending, no minimum spend.

Bank of China Family Card  7% rebate on overseas and local dining, 5% on online purchases if you spend $500 in a statement month

POSB Everyday Card  5% cash rebate on overseas spending, minimum spending of $1,000 overseas spending in a month

Getting a card overseas

If youre going to be living in your host country for a while, you can start thinking of getting a local credit card.

Credit card culture really varies depending on where youre living. For instance, credit cards in the US tend to be a lot more generous when it comes to air miles, while credit cards in France generally give far fewer benefits than Singapore ones do. However, the one advantage is that youll be able to use them without having to pay fees for foreign currency transactions.

Different countries will have different requirements for credit card applicants, so when you can start to qualify for one really depends on your situation. Some overseas banks impose more stringent income requirements on foreign applicants, as do Singapore banks.

There might also be requirements pertaining to your visa or residency, so dont think you can go applying for foreign credit cards when youre on holiday. For instance, ANZ in Australia requires you to have at least 9 months remaining on your visa if youre applying for a credit card as a non-PR.

Ultimately, whether you decide to use your Singapore credit cards, pay in cash or switch to using cards issued by banks in your host country really boils down to which is cheaper and gives you the most perks. The answer isnt always that obvious, and also figuring out what youre spending on could affect your choices. Comparing cards is easy though, and you can do that all in one place on MoneySmarts Credit Card Comparison page.

Do you use your Singapore credit cards overseas? Tell us why or why not in the comments!

The post Can Singaporeans Living Overseas Still Get Credit Card Benefits from Their Singapore Credit Cards? appeared first on the MoneySmart blog.

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A key ally of the West in its fight against jihadists in Africa, Chad is mired in crises that have rocked the authoritarian regime of President Idriss Deby, as the opposition plans a general strike for Tuesday. 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. The crisis has meant students have not returned to schools, colleges and universities after the summer holidays. 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. Said Marchal: "We are faced with an army that knows how to shoot, but does not know how to contain a demonstration".
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (L) and United Nations special rapporteur on extra judicial killings, Agnes Callamard (R).

President Rodrigo Duterte asserted that he wants to face Dr. Agnes Callamard, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra Judicial Executions, in a debate.

This, after the U.N. special envoy said in an interview that she cannot face the Chief Executive in a public debate.

According to Dr. Callamard, this is not in accordance with the special conduct of a special rapporteur.

RELATED: UN rapporteur urged to apologize to PH govt

Instead, Callamard suggested a joint press conference in which the President may throw questions about the result of her investigations.

President Duterte earlier invited the United Nations representative to visit the Philippines to see the real situation in the country as well as the war against illegal drugs operations.  UNTV News and Rescue

The post Pres. Duterte challenges UN envoy to a debate appeared first on UNTV News.
In this undated photo supplied by Gorongosa Restoration Project a Mount Gorongosa chameleon is photographed at Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. The chameleon species, one of the smallest in Africa, is found only on the park's mountain, which has recently become a no-go zone for many civilians because of conflict between the government led by the ruling Frelimo party and the Renamo opposition group. (Photo-Piotr Naskrecki-Gorongosa Restoration Project via AP)

GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK, Mozambique (AP)  A fragment of a bullet-pocked wall in this Mozambique wildlife reserve is a reminder of a civil war that ended in 1992. Today, an ambitious revival of Gorongosa National Park is underway, but trouble looms again from the conflict's old foes.

One of Africa's richest ecosystems, Gorongosa historically has been a stronghold of the country's main opposition group, whose rivalry with the ruling party has spiraled into ambushes, tit-for-tat assassinations and other attacks in the last few years.

The two sides have been negotiating, and a return to war is unlikely. But the Gorongosa Restoration Project, which is pushing ahead with a 2017 budget of more than $8 million, is treading a delicate line between adversaries. Some funds go to aid for poor communities in contested areas around the park.

As in other parts of Africa, a well-funded agenda is vulnerable to political unrest beyond its control.

"We really are neutral," said Greg Carr, an American philanthropist who leads the Gorongosa non-profit group and has telephone numbers for leaders of both factions. Many of the 500 people working for the wildlife park back Renamo, the opposition, and some support Frelimo, the ruling party, though managers discourage any sensitive talk on the job.

One recent morning, as insects trilled in the heat, rangers in uniform saluted Rui Branco, the park's head of law enforcement, before departing on a patrol to thwart poachers who kill animals for their meat.

"We've had opportunism. You get poachers trying to pretend they're someone, or one of the sides, and they hope they'll get let go because of that," Branco said. "In the beginning, it worked for them. The scouts would be afraid. And then we realized what was going on."

Government forces and Renamo fighters stay out of most of the unfenced park. The rival groups "know who we are, and they respect what we do," Branco said.

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The civil war that started in 1977 killed up to 1 million people. Frelimo was a Marxist guerrilla movement when it took power, and Renamo rebels were backed by white-minority rulers in what was then Rhodesia, and in apartheid South Africa.

After post-war election losses, Renamo (the Portuguese acronym for Mozambican National Resistance) now wants more regional autonomy from Frelimo (Mozambique Liberation Front), a process that could require constitutional change. European Union mediator Mario Raffaelli traveled to Gorongosa in October to try to meet Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama, who cancelled after alleging government troops launched an operation.

Undeterred, the Gorongosa Restoration Project is extending a joint management plan with Mozambique for another 25 years. It believes it can build on gains that include the partial recovery of lions, elephants and other wildlife populations that were slaughtered for food during the war.

Carr, who signed a Gorongosa management deal with Mozambique in 2008 after a government invitation, has support from the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, at $2 million a year, and the Global Environment Facility, with a $7.5 million grant managed by the United Nations Development Programme.

In a letter to Gorongosa warden Mateus Mutemba, USAID praised the park for progress "while surrounded by armed conflict."

A recent ceremony at Gorongosa could signal an expansion of the 4,067-square-kilometer (1,570-square-mile) park at a time when many African wildlife habitats are shrinking because of human encroachment. Entreposto, a Portuguese business group that runs an adjacent hunting concession, said it wants Mozambique's government to add that land to the park, creating tourism opportunities and a wildlife corridor to the Zambezi River.

Antelope grazed in the distance during the signing event at dusk on a Gorongosa plain. Guests included Maria Amelia Paiva, the ambassador of Portugal, Mozambique's colonial ruler until 1975.

"We all die ..." sang Pedro Muagura, the park's director of conservation. A chorus mostly composed of rangers and students studying in the park finished the line: "... to save our flora and fauna."

It was festive, but some park officials worried that the news might be manipulated for political gain. One theory is that Renamo could allege that plans to expand the national park are a government effort to increase influence in the area.

Another worry is Mount Gorongosa, whose incorporation into the park in 2010 was praised by conservationists and opened the way to reforestation and coffee-growing projects. However, the area has been a virtual no-go zone amid reported incursions by the military.

Scientists stopped working on Mount Gorongosa because of the "potential danger," said Piotr Naskrecki, an entomologist who is helping to develop a research laboratory in the park.

Gorongosa's development will proceed, insisted Mutemba, the warden.

"We are optimists," he said. "We're not waiting."

___

Follow Christopher Torchia on Twitter at www.twitter.com/torchiachris
Russian investigators arrived in Turkey on Tuesday to probe the assassination of Moscow's ambassador as the Turkish government pointed the finger of blame at exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen. Veteran diplomat Andrei Karlov was shot nine times in the back by off-duty Turkish policeman Mevlut Mert Altintas at the art gallery opening of a show of Russian photography on Monday. The brazen killing stunned Ankara and Moscow, which have rowed repeatedly over the Syria conflict but had recently begun to cooperate closely on the evacuations from war-wrecked Aleppo. An unprecedented three-way meeting on Syria between the foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran went ahead in Moscow Tuesday despite the assassination, with the diplomats backing a widening of a truce. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, meanwhile, pinned the assassination on Gulen's group, which Ankara says also orchestrated an attempted coup in July, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. In a conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Cavusoglu said "Turkey and Russia know that behind the attack... there is FETO," it said, referring to Turkey's acronym for Gulen's organisation. The US-based Gulen had earlier issued a statement to condemn the assassination as a "terrorist act" that left him "shocked and deeply saddened." Six people have been detained over the Karlov assassination, including the sister, mother, father and uncle of the 22-year-old Altintas, Turkish media said. Adding to the jitters, with Turkey already on high alert after a string of deadly attacks, an individual also fired outside the US embassy in Ankara overnight. The mission said in a statement that no one was hurt and the individual was detained but the embassy and consulates in Istanbul and Adana were closed for normal operations. - 'Waved through security' - Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his secret services to boost security at home and abroad, and to step up cooperation with foreign intelligence services. A Russian investigative team visited the scene of the attack at the Contemporary Arts Centre in central Ankara as part of a joint probe with Turkey. Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul that he and Putin agreed in a phone call after the murder that "our expanding areas of cooperation with Russia, particularly on Syria, will not be hampered by this attack". Dramatic footage of Monday's assassination showed Karlov stumble and crash to the ground on his back as Altintas brandished his automatic pistol at terrified onlookers who cowered behind cocktail tables. The lone gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") and "Don't forget Aleppo", vowing that those responsible for events in Syria would be held accountable. Altintas did not go through the metal detector security check when he entered the exhibition and was warned by a security officer, according to the Cankaya municipality where the exhibition centre is located. But after showing his police ID, he was allowed to proceed, it said. The Hurriyet daily said Altintas, who had worked for Ankara's anti-riot police for the last two-and-a-half years, had stayed at a nearby hotel to prepare for the attack, shaving and putting on a smart suit. He was killed by police after a 15-minute standoff. Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek, known for his outspoken comments, became the first senior official to link the killing with Gulen's group. His suggestion was also repeated in the pro-government press, before being amplified in the Anadolu report quoting Cavusoglu. US President-elect Donald Trump had on Monday condemned the envoy's assassination, calling the gunman a "radical Islamic terrorist". - Orthodox rites - A Russian plane carrying the ambassador's body landed in Moscow, where it was met by Cavusoglu and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Turkey gave the murdered envoy a full honour guard on his departure from Ankara, as an Orthodox Russian priest, watched by Karlov's widow, read the last rites and swung incense over the coffin. Cavusoglu announced in Moscow that the street where the embassy is located would be named after the 62-year-old envoy, a career diplomat who had notably served as ambassador to North Korea. The killing came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia's role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from the battered city of Aleppo. Turkey and Russia stand on opposite sides of the conflict, with Ankara backing rebels trying to topple Moscow's ally President Bashar al-Assad. But the rhetoric has warmed considerably since a reconciliation deal was signed earlier this year and the tripartite meeting Tuesday was just the latest in a series of contacts. Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed on Tuesday to guarantee Syria peace talks and backed expanding a ceasefire in the war-torn country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after the meeting.
Solicitor General Jose Calida (L) and Sen. Leila de Lima (R).

Solicitor General Jose Calida (L) and Sen. Leila de Lima (R).

A top government lawyer said he cant accept Senator Leila de Limas tirades against President Rodrigo Dutertes war on drugs.

Solicitor General Jose Calida called on the people to unite against Sen. De Lima whom he tagged as the countrys top enemy.

[Illegal] drugs is our enemy. And who is espousing the proliferation of drugs? wasnt it former SOJ De Lima? And therefore she is Public Enemy No.1, the solicitor general said.

Calida said they will utilize the resources of his office against De Lima.

The Office of the Solicitor General usually represents the government in litigation but this time, Calida said, they can help the complainants pursue the cases against De Lima since public welfare is already at stake.

As the peoples tribune, the OSG offers its legal services to the complainants who sued Sen. De Lima in the DOJ, Ombudsman and other venues for her criminal participation and complicity in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary, said Calida.

He, however, clarified that they are not persecuting the senator but only upholding the rule of law. This is the first time that the OSG will be directly involved in the prosecution a criminal case.

Shes a very powerful person. Our complainants are just private citizens. In order to strengthen their resolve, I will lend the prestige and gravitas of my office to defend them and help them in their cases against Sen. De Lima, Calida added .

Civil society groups led by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) formed a coalition against illegal drugs to guard the cases against De Lima.

Some groups formed this coalition out of concern that we are diverting from the real issues of the country which is illegal drug trading, said VACC founding chair Dante Jimenez.

In a statement, De Lima said she will not dignify yet another act of lunacy.  Roderic Mendoza | UNTV News & Rescue

The post SolGen: De Lima is Philippines Public Enemy No.1 appeared first on UNTV News.
Ukraine on Sunday nationalised the country's biggest bank in a bid to avert a financial meltdown in the war-scarred former Soviet state. The government moved to take over PrivatBank after months of rumours that the lender was heavily burdened by bad debts. PrivatBank controls one-third of the east European country's deposits and even has branches in the Baltic states. The Ukrainian government said in a statement that it was now the "100 percent owner of PrivatBank and guarantees the uninterrupted functioning of this institution and the safety of its clients' money." Kiev's decision falls in line with International Monetary Fund's demand for Ukraine to clean up and stabilise its murky financial sector in order to achieve sustainable growth. It was owned by Igor Kolomoyskiy -- a politically powerful billionaire who became an early target of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's uphill fight against corruption. The bank has also been the subject of local media reports suggesting it issued loans to select insiders that may never be repaid. That talk alone saw the value of PrivatBank's bonds fall by nearly 50 percent in late November. Ukraine's central bank had wanted Kolomoyskiy to refinance his bank with billions of dollars if he wanted to keep it. But that money never emerged and Kiev's patience snapped on Sunday. Oleksandr Savchenko, head of Kiev's International Institute of Business, told the Kyiv Post English-language weekly that Ukraine's banking system would have been left in tatters were PrivatBank to close. "Other banks would not be getting their loans back from PrivatBank, a series of bankruptcies would begin, and there would be panic," Savchenko was quoted as saying. "Re-launching the system would take around one or two months; the loss to GDP would be around two to three percent." Dragon Capital economist Sergiy Fursa said that "80 to 90 percent of PrivatBank's loans were to institutions" controlled by Kolomoyskiy himself. "This was insider lending -- in other words, money was withdrawn by its owners from the bank." PrivatBank itself called the government's decision a consequence of "media attacks" led by political insiders who opposed Kolomoyskiy. "The decision to voluntarily and peacefully hand over the bank to the government was taken at the very moment that we understood that these media attacks -- which we could survive -- could endanger our clients," its IT director wrote on Facebook. PrivatBank deputy CEO Oleg Gorokhovskiy said the most important thing was that Ukrainians' money was still safe. "The bank will continue working, just as it did before." Kolomoyskiy himself issued no immediate comment. Yet he has fought furious battles with Poroshenko and could now possibly enter into formal opposition to the government of the politically-unstable state.
The UN General Assembly on Monday rejected a bid by African countries to block the appointment of the first-ever UN expert tasked with investigating violence and discrimination against LGBT minorities. It was the second time that the African group had tried to push through a measure demanding talks on the mandate of the expert who will report on abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people worldwide. The measure was defeated by a vote of 84 against to 77 in favor, with 16 abstentions. European countries and the United States had lobbied energetically in the 193-nation assembly to defeat the African push to suspend the appointment of the expert. The UN Human Rights Council in September appointed international law professor Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand to investigate cases of discrimination and violence against LGBT people worldwide. Burkina Faso argued on behalf of the African countries that there was no legal basis for the mandate and no international recognition of sexual orientation and gender identity as human rights. US Ambassador Samantha Power accused African countries and their supporters of latching on to a procedural argument to cover up their anti-gay bias. "This is not an issue of the North trying to impose its values on the South. It is an issue of respecting the dignity and human rights of all people everywhere," Power told the General Assembly. Dutch Ambassador Karen van Osteroom, whose country has adopted progressive policies on LGBT rights, said the United Nations must shine a light on anti-gay violence. "People around the world are being bullied, are being jailed, are being beaten, are being killed, for no other reason than for which gender they identify with most, or for whom they happen to love," he said. "And that is what the mandate on the independent expert is all about," he said. African countries failed last month to push for a similar measure during a vote in the assembly's human rights committee. 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. Muntarbhorn, who began work as the UN expert last 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.
Who wants to deal with the hustle and bustle of a 9 to 5? Waking up at the crack of dawn, rushing to your morning commute, bumping into a bunch of strangers along the way and drowning in client meetings for 8 hours. Doesnt sound like too much fun, does it? The internet has become home to many introverted entrepreneurs. These are people who want to make a change and earn a handsome living; all while in the comfort of their own domain.

Here are a few benefits the digital world offers to those of us who prefer the quiet indoors.

A Great Job for Introverts

In the digital world, you can do things on your own time.

You can pre-record webinars. You can write your email ascension series weeks prior to a launch. Although you may be working with your own personal deadlines, the online world doesnt operate on a stop watch. Work at your own pace. Develop content as you please. Keep in mind, the best digital players understand the importance of consistent content creation, but that doesnt mean they cant record a video or design an infographic at 11:30 on a Friday night in their pajamas.

When it comes to virtual meetings, you have options.

You can video chat on Skype. You can hop into a Google Hangout. You can dial in to a free conference call. You can simply stick to email. If youre looking for something a bit less face to face, you can work with your team in a shared Google doc. The virtual world caters to your social skills; or lack thereof. This allows you to work within your comfort zone, and therefore produce high quality deliverables. When introverted entrepreneurs are forced to work in an extroverted environment, it can damage their creativity and production.

You can be anyone you want to be.

No, Im not telling you to go all Craigslist killer. Im also not suggesting you catfish, or mislead your target audience. Instead, the digital world offers you a place to start fresh. Its like having a clean slate. Take advantage of this opportunity, and brand yourself correctly. For the most part, you can easily control your digital reputation; and even reinvent yourself at the drop of a hat.

The freedom of the internet has helped many internet mavens work from home, set their own schedules, and ultimately be the most productive.

Republished by permission. Original here.


December 2016 has given us a taste of what might happen in 2017. The battle of the three livestreaming platforms went into overdrive this week. Users of Facebook-owned Instagram can now livestream on it. Small businesses should be aware that livestreaming on Instagram doesnt support replays, a fact that might encourage more spontaneous creativity and communication. In other words, once an Instagram livestream is over, its truly gone forever. The day after Instagrams announcement, Twitter, in a push toward brand clarity, relegated its Periscope brand to a back-end functionality, now calling the experience #GoLive. Small Business Trends spoke with expert Chetachi Egwu via email to get her thoughts on 2016.

Egwu is a Nigerian American media/communication professor, writer/producer, journalist, filmmaker, dancer/choreographer, artist and actor. She earned a BA in Communication from the University of Buffalo in 1996, then moved on to Howard University in Washington, DC, where she completed a Masters and Ph.D. in Mass Communication. Egwu has served as a faculty member in the communication departments at Morgan State University, The George Washington University and Nova Southeastern University. She is currently part of the communication faculty at the University of Maryland University College. Her work has been featured in academic journals, newspapers and online publications such as The Grio and she is currently a contributor/media producer for The Burton Wire. Her creative work, however, reaches beyond writing. Egwu has talents as a dancer and choreographer and was a member of Carla and Company, Coyaba Dance Theater, Choreographers Collaboration Project in Washington DC and has been featured in several other projects.

An avid filmmaker, she is currently co-producer and co-director for the documentaries Runway Afrique and No Justice, No Peas: Getting A Veggie In The Hood, and co-producer, director and cinematographer for the documentary Sunshine Chic.

Egwu is also an avid social media enthusiast and consultant and has fully jumped into the live streaming revolution. In addition to consulting with organizations like The Gary Lanham Group at Coldwell Banker and with individuals on effective live stream production, she is the host of MediaScope on the streaming platforms Periscope, Busker and Facebook Live and on Snapchat. She co-hosts two other livestreamed shows, The Social Media Scene and Classic Movie Salon and co-hosts the podcast TV Channeling.

* * * * *

Small Business Trends: What positives related to Facebook Live were most helpful to you this year?

Chetachi Egwu: The fact that they made their API available, enabling regular folks to broadcast multiple people and give live videos a polished look through camera switching, lower thirds etc. was very positive. On the humanistic end, Facebook Live has been instrumental in documenting social movements, such as Standing Rock, BLM and the recent protests after the elections. Live streaming has really altered the way we think about and participate in citizen journalism, and Facebook Live is part of this.

Small Business Trends: Now that 2016 is ending, what helpful things do you think didnt get enough attention?

Chetachi Egwu: While there were many things that received attention this year, I think there was a lack of attention on the way that average people have been using new media platforms. There has been an inordinate amount of attention placed on influencers. While looking at creators with a large following is important, no one has really looked at the social impact of everyday people. There are large numbers of, for example, ministers that have made live streaming their focus, who have more of an impact on many more communities than the users the platforms deem important. So, now its time to do the research end of this to understand whos using it, for what purposes, and peoples general feelings toward live streaming and its direction.

Small Business Trends: Can you describe your ideal client and how you help them?

Chetachi Egwu: I think I have ideal clients, plural. Anyone wanting to utilize the power of live streaming and social media for professional or personal branding, learn effective presentation skills, and understand the technical end of live stream production  lighting, sound, broadcasting software, etc. However, because I am a professor, I notice colleagues who are not incorporating social media and live streaming platforms in the classroom, and definitely are not utilizing them in their own work. This is also an issue in K12 education. The days of sage on the stage are over. We need to actively use and engage students in the promise of new media, because these platforms are the now and the future. As such, I have a particular interest in working with educators. I have also consulted with a group of realtors and see the promise this media holds for real estate. Working with public figures on this would be great as well!

Small Business Trends: What are the best channels to connect with you?

Chetachi Egwu: I love Twitter, so I can be reached there on @tachiada. However you can reach me a few other places as well, via email at tachiada@gmail.com, on Snapchat with the handle @tachiada, and my site for now is chetachi.me. Of course, I livestream, so Periscope and Busker are both @tachiada.

Images: Chetachi Egwu; First image: JoMarie Marie Payton interviewed by Chetachi Egwu, Second image: Classic Movie Salon chat on Facebook Live via Huzza: Colleen Costello (top left), Joe Wilson (top right), Matthew Ward (bottom left), Chetachi Egwu (bottom right)

This is part of the Small Business Trends Livestreamed Livelihoods interview series featuring sessions with today's movers and shakers in the livestreaming world.
If you are a startup company investor, you know that most of your returns will come from your investments in one or two companies. I (and numerous other people far smarter than me) have written about the power law distribution of venture returns. Hit a huge winner and you make a lot of money. Miss the big winner and you dont.

This observation is true but it misses an important point. Your returns also depend on what happens to your worst performing investments. Its axiomatic that your returns will be higher if their outcome is better, but few people think about how much difference that performance makes.

Consider two hypothetical angel investor portfolios. In both cases, the investor puts $10,000 into each of 10 companies with the belief that each of them will produce a 30X return in five years. In both portfolios, one company achieves the 30X return. But in portfolio one, the investor gets nothing back on his capital in the other nine. In portfolio two, however, the investor recoups her investment.

Investor one will have $300,000 after five years, while investor two will have $390,000. Its important to think about the four activities that make investors them more like investor two in my example: Understanding what will cause each portfolio company to shut down, knowing the source of value that each company is producing, identifying potential company-ending problems as early as possible, and generating competition among buyers even for small exits.

Ways to Maximize Value from Investments in Poor Performing Startups

Knowing the Source of Value Being Created

Investors often ignore the residual value of the start-ups in which they invest. They think if a company isnt a biotech start-up with iron clad patents, there is no residual value. But thats not true. Technical people are difficult and expensive for companies to recruit. A good software engineer could easily cost $80,000 for a big company to hire. Buying a start-up that has nothing more than four good engineers might be worth $320,000 just on the savings of recruiting costs alone.

A working product is also worth something to many businesses. While a start-up might not survive with its sole product generating $10,000 per month in recurring revenue, that same product in the hands of a company with a slew of products and customers could easily produce $1 million a month through cross selling.

Understanding the Causes of Shutdowns

The standard story is that companies have to shut down when they run out of cash. But thats not always true. To illustrate why, let me give you the example of two of my portfolio companies. One is led by a founder with a family who lives in an expensive part of the country. He pays himself a relatively high salary because he needs money to live. If he does not get to positive cash flow or an exit before he runs out of investors money, he will have to shut down because he cant afford to go without a salary.

Another of my portfolio companies is led by two immigrant entrepreneurs who live in an inexpensive part of the country. One of the founders is a tech wiz who can get a consulting gig on a moments notice.

This company has run out of cash so many times that I have lost count. Whenever cash gets tight, the brothers stop taking salaries and send the tech wiz out to do couple of consulting gigs to pay the bills. While I am not saying that this is a great approach to building a company, it does show that the company doesnt have to shut down because it ran out of investors money like the first one.

Identifying Problems Early

It takes time to sell a company. When companies are spending more than they are bringing in, it is important to figure out early on if the problems they are facing be solved or if an early, low value, exit is the best option. With time, you can find buyers, negotiate deals and get value.

Creating Competition for Your Startups

Whether a sale of a company is an acquisition-hire that does little more than get investors their money back or it is a hugely successful exit, there is one pattern that is almost always true. If more than one party is interested in the company, bidding ensues and the price tends to be better than if only one potential acquirer is interested. That means that investors should not neglect to find a wide variety of potential acquirers interested in buying their lesser-performing portfolio companies.
Peters and Cohen Trail Czuczor At 6-Handed PokerStars EPT Prague Final Table

December 19 2016 Christian Zetzsche

The penultimate day of the record-breaking 2016 PokerStars European Poker Tour 5,300 Main Event saw just 18 hopefuls out of a 1,192-entry strong field return to the tables of the Hilton Hotel in Prague. Jasper Meijer van Putten led the survivors into Day 5 and the Dutchman will return tomorrow. However, it's Marton Czuczor that takes the spotlight overnight after the official six-handed final table was set.

Czuczor bagged up 9,710,000, followed by David Peters with 8,880,000. The duo has established a solid lead over the rest of the field; Sergei Petrushevskii follows in third with 5,265,000 and Sam Cohen (4,520,000), Meijer van Putten (3,815,000) and Marius Gierse (3,550,000) complete the final table line-up.

Seat Name Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Jasper Meijer van Putten Netherlands 3,815,000 31 2 Sam Cohen United States 4,520,000 37 3 Marton Czuczor Hungary 9,710,000 81 4 Marius Gierse Germany 3,555,000 29 5 Sergei Petrushevskii Russia 5,265,000 43 6 David Peters United States 8,880,000 74

The first player to join the rail on Day 5 was Martin Kabrhel. Similar to the previous days, the Czech was very vocal at the tables and three-bet almost his entire short stack after an open-raise by Stefan Fabian. The latter called and a paired king-high board was checked through. Fabian shoved when a seven appeared on the turn and Kabrhel eventually called it off with ace-jack. Fabian turned over seven-eight suited and send Kabrhel packing after the river was a blank.

The Czech was very vocal at the tables and three-bet almost his entire short stack after an open-raise by Stefan Fabian



Jukka Paloniemi followed next when he shoved his jack-ten into the ace-king of Cohen. An ace on the flop and a jack on the turn kept the better hand preflop in the lead and Paloniemi had to settle for 17th place.

Right after the last 16 were redrawn, two players were eliminated on the feature table in quick succession. Josip Vidovic moved in from under the gun with king-queen suited and Janos Kurtosi re-shoved with ace-king. The board ran out jack-high. The last remaining Team PokerStars Pro, Brazil's Felipe Ramos, followed soon after. Ramos three-bet shoved for just under 10 big blinds with king-queen and the ace-jack of initial raiser Kurtosi stayed ahead on another jack-high board.

Stefan Fabian ran out of chips in 14th place. The Romanian tried to bluff David Lopez Llacer off a straight, but that didn't work. Lopez called and Fabian only had ace-nine to show for. Down to less than three big blinds, Fabian called all in with queens after a raise by Czuczor. The latter had just king-queen suited to show for but spiked a king on the flop to send Fabian home.

Apostolos Bechrakis was out of the tournament next. His open-shove with ten-eight diamonds for around nine big blinds from the button saw Lopez Llacer pick up ace-queen in the small blind, Bechrakis was drawing dead on the turn when a queen appeared.

Andrew Hulme had to settle for 12th place after his stack was reduced to zero in back-to-back hands. He first check-raised all in after a seven-high flop with five-eight suited for middle pair and a gutshot. Petrushevskii called with seven-eight suited for top pair and the same gutshot, both turn and river brought a queen and Hulme had under three big blinds left. One hand later, Petrushevskii raised the button with queens. Hulme called all in with king-four. Lopez Llacer had nine-five suited and the board was checked down to see Petrushevskii finish the job he started in the previous hand.

In the same level still, the unofficial final table of the last nine was set. Cohen raised enough from the small blind to set Cristinel Dumitru all in and the latter called with ace-deuce suited in the big blind. Cohen only had queen-jack suited, but spiked a jack on the flop and turn. Over on the outer table, Gang Wang defended his big blind and ultimately shoved for more than three times the pot on an ace-high board with a possible flush after three hearts on the flop. Czuczor called with ace-five for two pair and Wang was caught with pocket jacks.

Down to the last nine, Czuczor was in the lead. Peters closed the gap by eliminating Kurtosi in the small blind after turning a flush with king-queen suited. Kurtosi fired the turn and shoved the river of an ace-high board with jack-ten suited for a busted straight draw to bow out in ninth place.

The stack of Kiryl Radzivonau had been reduced to just 13 big blinds when he three-bet shoved into an open-raise by Czuczor and the latter had an easy call with pocket kings. Radzivonau only had pocket nines and found no help on a dry ten-high board.

Ultimately, it was Lopez Llacer who became the last casualty of the day. Petrushevskii had doubled through Peters with kings versus ace-king and the final seven were about to go on dinner break when the Spaniard three-bet an open raise by Peters and received a call. The flop came queen-high with a flush draw and Peters check-called a continuation bet before a deuce on the turn saw a check of Peters. The shove of Lopez Llacer and the call by the American followed. Lopez Llacer showed nine-eight suited for a double gutshot, while Peters had ace-queen suited for top pair. The river was another deuce and that brought Day 5 to an end.

All remaining six players have 145,900 guaranteed, but all eyes are set on the first-place payout of 774,600. Here's what's up for grabs on the final day:

Position Prize 1 774,600 2 554,700 3 397,300 4 284,550 5 203,800 6 145,900

Action will resume on Monday at noon local time with cards-up livestream on a security delay of 60 minutes. The blinds will be 60,000/120,000 with a running ante of 20,000.

The PokerNews live reporting team will provide hand-for-hand coverage of the action until a winner is crowned. On top of that, you can also follow the updates of the final day of the record-breaking 10,300 High Roller event as well.

Start of day chipleader Jasper Meijer Van Putten is the shortest to return on the final day

Sharelines Only six players remain as Sam Cohen and David Peters trail Marton Czuczor in the EPT Prague Main Event.
WASHINGTON  Donald Trumps top aides on Sunday said the president-elect isnt ready to accept the finding by intelligence officials that Moscow hacked Democratic emails in a bid to elevate Trump. Even if its true, they said, Trump still won the White House fair and square.

The pushback came a day before members of the Electoral College are scheduled to formally cast votes for Trump as the 45th president. While Democrats likely are powerless to stop it, they suggested Trumps victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton would forever be tainted by Russian meddling.

Republican electors have been inundated by Trump opponents urging them to defy the results in their states and vote against Trump.

This whole thing is a spin job, said Trumps incoming chief of staff, Reince Priebus. And I think what the Democrats ought to do is look in the mirror and face the reality that they lost the election.

Trump himself weighed in Sunday evening, tweeting, If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!

The partisan swipes mostly ignored warnings by foreign policy experts that part of Russias calculation also was likely payback for years of U.S. criticism of its own elections and a desire to portray America as a flawed champion of democracy  potentially weakening U.S. power on the world stage. Russia has vehemently denied the accusation.

Many lawmakers, including some leading Republicans, say voters may not have been swayed by the release of tens of thousands of private emails. But the fact that a foreign power tried to intervene in U.S. democracy and exploit divisions in American politics is cause for alarm, they say.

Still, Trumps transition team and loyalists on Capitol Hill werent buying it, at least not on the eve of the Electoral College vote.

Wheres the evidence? asked Kellyanne Conway, another close Trump adviser.

Asked about President Barack Obamas vow to retaliate against the Russians, Conway said: It seems like the president is under pressure from Team Hillary, who cant accept the election results.

Democrats say its unlikely the public will ever hear detailed evidence because doing so would disclose classified sources and methods. But with last weeks declaration by CIA Director John Brennan that there was strong consensus that Russia hacked Democrats to try to sway the election, lawmakers are stepping up demands for closed-door briefings and a separate congressional investigation.

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said an unclassified intelligence review could be released within the next two weeks or three weeks.

As president-elect, Trump would have access to high-level intelligence on the matter, although its unclear what hes been told. Trump has previously called the intelligence finding of Russian involvement ridiculous. On Sunday, Conway said she wasnt privy to the same intelligence briefings as the president-elect and couldnt say what he knows.

Donna Brazile, interim head of the Democratic National Committee, said the DNC was no match for a sophisticated foreign power in cyberspace that weaponized private emails to sow misinformation and to sow discord between Clinton and her primary rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Also on Sunday:

Brazile said the cyberattacks against the DNC occurred every day through the end of the election. The comment seemed to contradict Obamas assertion that they stopped after he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.

Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz., called for creation of a special Senate investigative committee focused on Russia, China and Iran potentially trying to interfere in U.S. elections through high-tech meddling.

Priebus said he was 100 percent confident that the Senate would confirm Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Trumps secretary of state. The oil company oil executive has deep ties to Russia and no government experience.

Priebus said the naming of lawyer David Friedman as Trumps ambassador to Israel doesnt mean that Trump rejects the notion of a two-state solution in the Middle East. Friedman has suggested Trump would support Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank, effectively eliminating the possibility of a Palestinian state.

Theres going to be things that individually people may believe in their hearts or in their mind, Priebus said of Trumps nominees to top posts. But ultimately, its their job to represent the president-elect of the United States and his foreign policy.

Priebus appeared on Fox News Sunday, Conway was interviewed on CBS Face the Nation and Brazile and Schiff were on ABCs This Week.
International trade is a major part of modern geopolitics. In the post-World War II era, the U.S. used trade as part of its political efforts in order to prevent future wars and to smooth relations with countries not historically friendly with the U.S.

Trade was a tool that our country used to solidify the strong friendship that it enjoys with former U.S. enemies, such as Japan and Germany. It also was used with countries in Asia, such as Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea, as a counterweight against the Soviet Unions Iron Curtain.

Prior to becoming an economic and military superpower, the U.S. adopted an isolationist stance from a political, and to a great extent, from a trade standpoint. Immediately before WWII ignited, the U.S. imposed an embargo on Japan for critical production supplies, such as oil, because Japan had invaded Manchuria and was flexing its muscles in Asia. This caused tensions to be strained even more and, to this day, Japan cites being cut off from American supplies as a reason it attacked the U.S. and attempted to gobble up as much of Asia as possible.

To say that the U.S. is at a crossroads in terms of trade and geopolitics is an understatement. The incoming Trump administration has railed against NATO in Europe, based on member contributions, making traditional allies nervous.

The president-elect has stated that he will cancel U.S. participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership on the day he takes office.

In North America, he is continuing the rhetoric of rescinding the North American Free Trade Agreement, slapping a 35 percent tariff on goods being imported from China and Mexico, and building a wall on the Mexican border.

While the direction that Trump will take will unfold after he takes office, China is wasting no time in attempting to fill the perceived void that the U.S. is creating in Latin America. Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited Latin America three times in the past three years and has physically visited 10 Latin American countries since becoming president in 2013. He was in Peru last month attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The Soviet Union and the U.S. fought for influence in Latin America during the Cold War. And now, China is stepping up its game to be able to access from Latin American countries precious commodities that it needs to fuel its economy.

It appears that the U.S. is giving China an unobstructed green light to be able to craft its own overarching trade network with Pacific Rim countries, provided that the Trump administration carries out its promise to not participate in the TPP. If China forges such an agreement, it could set the economic and political agenda for decades to come, and make China the go-to country for much of the worlds trade.

Rhetoric and threats in political campaigns often do not translate into policy or reality. Trump is filling his cabinet with successful business leaders whom he will need to rely upon for advice on international relations and trade. No one person can keep up with or process the rapid changes in the world economy and the challenges that are presented to a U.S. president. Even though Trump prides himself as an extremely intelligent person, his team will need to help shape strategy and guide the economic course of the U.S. during the next four years, especially on issues of trade.

The U.S. must decide whether we retreat as a leader in the international arena, and if we abdicate our role as the bastion of open markets and capitalism. Trade has been a tool that the U.S. has used to spread its agenda of freedom and opportunity not only to major economic powers, but also smaller countries that are striving to provide for their citizens. Nations that trade very rarely go to war with each other  there is too much at stake to lose.

In the U.S. system of capitalism, there are winners and losers. Open markets create competition, which in turn leads to the efficient allocation of resources and more quality choices. As the ultimate recipient in the capitalist chain, the consumer is the beneficiary.

While we wait to see how Trumps viewpoint on trade will set the course of U.S. relations in the next few years, countries such as China will continue to steal from the U.S. playbook and use trade to grow their influence throughout the world.

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.
What is the difference between:

A. Making a conscious decision to drive a vehicle at more than 100 mph through town, putting innocent motorists and passengers at risk and killing a little girl who was still in elementary school, and

B. Making a conscious decision to get drunk, get behind the wheel and drive 90 mph the wrong way down Interstate 40, eventually killing a mother and her three daughters on Christmas Eve?

There is bipartisan agreement that there isnt a difference.

And now, unfortunately, there is another face and another young life lost too soon to underscore the point.

Ten-year-old Carmen Esmeralda died last month in what police have described as a street race gone fatally wrong on Interstate 25 near the Montano exit, right in the middle of Albuquerque. Twenty-year-old Xavier Nelson is accused of hitting Esmeraldas family vehicle while racing another driver.

Nelson has pleaded not guilty to reckless driving, street racing and possession of a controlled substance. He has no prior criminal history and faces six years in prison at most if convicted of reckless driving resulting in death.

Thats a fraction of the 22-year sentence Gordon House received when he killed a mother and her three daughters in 1992, but House ultimately served less than 11 years.

Rep. Sarah Maestas Barnes, R-Albuquerque, points out that a person chooses to drink and drive. A person chooses to drive erratically and recklessly down the streets. A person chooses to drag-race. Its a conscious decision, and we have to ensure we have laws in place that protect New Mexicans so that we dont have another family thats suffering the loss of a loved one.

Attorney General Hector Balderas, a Democrat, underlines her point with its absurd that the law treats a drunken driver with more accountability than a driver who chooses to operate a vehicle at 112 mph and then kills somebody.

Street racing is such a problem in the Metro area that, last year, the Bernalillo County Commission unanimously approved taking away the rides of repeat drag racers and reckless drivers in unincorporated parts of the county. Now the state as a whole needs to do something to curb a dangerous practice BCSO Lt. Joshua Kingsbury says isnt the kind of activity people usually partake in one time and never do again.

Bernalillo County Attorney Randy Autio has explained that the danger caused to the public is extremely similar to DWI. Youre putting lives at risk. Kingsbury has said street racers routinely plead guilty to lesser offenses and get away with a slap on the wrist. A night in jail doesnt seem to deter the activity.

Maestas Barnes says she will pre-file legislation to increase reckless driving resulting in death to a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years behind bars  what drunken drivers face when convicted of vehicular homicide. Balderas supports the change and says he will seek support from Democrats and Republicans.

Stiffer punishment for reckless drivers died in the 2016 legislative session after it was amended by the Democratic-controlled Senate. When  not if, but when  these reckless drivers take another life, they should face the same consequences as a drunken driver.

This coming session, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have only to think of Carmen Esmeralda to make the need for equitable punishment real.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
The latest monument to the legacy of President Barack Obamas Nobel Prize-winning global leadership fills our news screens.

It looks like a city of dollhouses, a tableau of grays upon grays  apartment dwellings with the walls blown away on the side facing us. We cannot look away; so we stare inside these dollhouse-like living rooms and bedrooms where children should be playing and parents should be doing chores or just relaxing.

But the dollhouses are as lifeless as they are colorless. So are the streets that once teemed with hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.

Nothing is moving; and that moves us most of all. For we know humans are still there  buried beneath the rubble. Welcome to Syrias once-vibrant city of Aleppo.

Make no mistake: All the world knows Aleppo will forever be remembered for the villainy of Syrias bloodstained butcher, President Bashar Assad, his equally bloodstained enabler, Russias President Vladimir Putin, and Irans militias that have assisted in the street slaughter.

But it will also be remembered as yet another genocide the United States, still looked to as the worlds de facto leader, failed to act to stop.

The world had higher hopes for Obamas leadership. Years ago, after Americas still-new president addressed the potential of the Arab Spring in a speech in Cairo, the Nobel dreamers awarded him their peace prize.

But more than a decade of battles in the region had left America and its president worse than war-weary.

Obama infamously drew his red line warning Assad against using chemical weapons  but when Assad used them, Obama didnt respond militarily. Later, Obama, NATO and other world leaders didnt create a no-fly zone and safe zone to safeguard Syrias civilians. But he assured us Assad days as president were numbered.

On Tuesday afternoon, far away from Aleppos horror, in the civilly nuanced United Nations Security Council, Americas U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power delivered a searing un-nuanced indictment of the genocide perpetrated by Syria, Russia and Iran.

Power began by recounting horrific and heart-wrenching descriptions of the slaughter of Syrias civilians trapped in the crossfire of a brutally uncivil war. Assad and his Russian enablers even targeted and bombed Aleppos hospitals so no victims could be treated.

This is what is being done to the people of eastern Aleppo, to fathers, and mothers, and sons, and daughters, brothers, and sisters like each of us here, Power said. She spoke of first responders describing childrens voices from beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.  There are no first responders or equipment left to dig them out, and no doctors left to treat them.

Unfortunately, many news deliverers barely covered Powers globally urgent message. And thats a case of media misfeasance  because there are two ways we must read Powers powerful address. One is the way she said it  as an indictment of Assad, Putin and Irans leaders. The other is as an indictment of all world leaders who failed to prevent this slaughter of Aleppos civilians.

So: As you read Powers words of indictment, insert in your own minds Obamas name and the leaders of NATO nations and all globally involved countries who feigned powerlessness to mask their war weariness.

Are you truly incapable of shame? Power asked (Readers: insert Obama, et al, here). Is there literally nothing that can shame you? Is there no act of barbarism against civilians, no execution of a child that gets under your skin, that just creeps you out a little bit?

Power said earlier: When one day there is a full accounting of the horrors committed in this assault of Aleppo  and that day will come, sooner or later  you will not be able to say you did not know what was happening. You will not be able to say you were not involved. We all know what is happening. And we all know you are involved.

Aleppo will join the ranks of those events in world history that define modern evil, that stain our conscience decades later. Halabja, Rwanda, Srebrenica, and, now, Aleppo.

We recall former President Bill Clintons admission that his greatest regret was his failure to prevent the genocide in Rwanda. Soon Obama and his fellow world leaders will be appending the horror of Aleppo with apologies and sincere vows of Never again!

Sadly, its what we do. Again and again.

Martin Schram, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, is a veteran Washington journalist, author and TV documentary executive. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Susan Swope, agricultural educator at Red Mountain Middle School, is one of only six people nationwide to receive the National Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award.

The award was presented earlier this month at the 2016 National Association of Agricultural Educators annual convention in Las Vegas, Nev.

The National Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award recognizes teachers who have inspired and enlightened their students through engaging and interactive lessons in the science of agriculture.

In a middle school agriculture program, Swope is challenged to keep young students engaged in the classroom and help them develop a love for learning. Her curriculum incorporates hands-on, experiential learning practices that allow returning students to build on previous knowledge, while getting new students excited about the subject matter.

Involvement in the Deming FFA chapter from middle school to high school is relatively seamless, as middle schoolers are encouraged to attempt Career Development Events, competitions driven by the development of career skills related to agriculture. About one-third of the Deming FFA membership is composed of Red Mountain students.

Swope wants to graduate productive citizens from her program. She emphasizes the importance of service and recognizes that college is not the next step or goal for many of her students. She prepares her students for whatever lies ahead by giving them skills they can use effectively in real-world scenarios, including problem-solving, collaboration, organization, time management and social skills. These are developed through project-based tasks that are technology- and research-centered. Red Mountain Middle School and Deming High School work to create a positive and supportive culture in the agriculture program and FFA.

Students gain valuable presentation experience and skills through the agriculture curriculum by sharing research projects in classroom and public settings, including the New Mexico FFA Agriscience Fair. They learn how to effectively present information and use publication technology by creating flip charts, games and models, visual aids, graphic organizers and instructional videos.

Middle school-aged students have different developmental needs, said Swope. My classes are designed to be a mix of traditional classroom instruction, hands-on learning, project-based learning, FFA activities and community service activities. While many students thrive on routine, my classes are frequently more of an adventure of learning opportunities, not just for curriculum, content, science and agriculture, but also in social skills, coping skills, community awareness and involvement.

The National Agriscience Teacher of the Year Award is sponsored by Herman and Bobbie Wilson as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
Wells Fargo & Co. recently hosted some of New Mexicos most innovative teachers for a celebration of the companys and Golden Apple Foundation Teacher Partner Program.

This years program is awarding nearly $50,000 to 25 New Mexico teachers in public, private and charter schools, pre-K through 12th grade, for their efforts in classroom instruction, organizers said in a news release.

The program is a partnership between Wells Fargo, which provides the money, and Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico, a nonprofit focused on improving education statewide.

Checks were presented directly to the teachers at the event, which was held at the Wells Fargo building in downtown Albuquerque.

This grant program is very dear to our hearts at Wells Fargo, said Community Relations VP Jennifer Riordan. Were honored to work with Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico to identify and support the teachers doing such important work in their classrooms.

Brian OConnell, executive director of Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico, said the best teachers bring an entrepreneurial spirit to their classrooms and schools, and this program recognizes exactly those kind of teachers in New Mexico.

Since the Teacher Partner Program was first established in 2009, Golden Apple Foundation and Wells Fargo have delivered more than $373,000 via 242 grants to classrooms across the state. More than 33,000 students have been served by grants from this program, organizers said.

The teachers receiving grants were:

Stephanie Daffron, Rancho de Taos, Taos Municipal Charter School

Danielle Plomaritas, Rio Rancho, The ASK Academy

Mary Fox, Albuquerque, The International School at Mesa del Sol

Christina Williams, Albuquerque, Mountain Mahogany Community School

Kiersten Jacoby, Gallup, Gallup High School

Rick Sleeter, Albuquerque, Eldorado High School

Sabrina Zamora, Las Cruces, Onate High School

John Turrietta, Rio Rancho, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary

Erin Zarko, Aztec, Vista Nueva High School

Adela Prieto, Hobbs, Will Rogers Elementary School

Theresa Rodriguez, Sandia Park, San Antonito

Gerrit VanEvery, Questa, Roots and Wings Community School

Jacob Walters, Gallup, Washington Elementary School

Amy Rydecki, Las Cruces, Highland Elementary School

Kathy Coleman, Bloomfield, Bloomfield High School

Laurel Ann Lane, Albuquerque, Taylor Middle School

Alanna Purdy, Gallup, Six Directions Indigenous School

Deborah Davidsen, Elida, Elida High School

Laura Wheatley, Tijeras, Roosevelt A. Montoya School

Alyse Roe, Sheepspring, Naschitti Elementary

Jennifer Novicki, Albuquerque, Taft Middle School

Michael Hatcher, Santa Fe, Academy for Technology and the Classics Charter School

Harry Phillips, Santa Fe, Turquoise Trail Charter

Christina Morrison, Albuquerque, Apache Elementary School

Dianne Torres, Rio Rancho, Mountain View Middle School
One person was killed and six were injured in a series of wrecks involving dozens of vehicles Saturday morning on Interstate 40 in eastern New Mexico, according to police.

The crashes, which happened just before 11 a.m., closed westbound lanes in a 40-mile stretch of the interstate between Tucumcari and Santa Rosa for nearly 12 hours. State Police Sgt. Chad Pierce said ice and snow were to blame for the 36 crashes police reported in the area.

He said the wrecks were first reported as a 40-vehicle pileup, but when police arrived, they found multiple crashes within a concentrated space.

Police have not released the name of the person killed.

According to the National Weather Service, Tucumcari saw freezing fog and heavy snow right as the crashes took place.

Winter weather also claimed a life near Portales on Sunday. State Police responded early Sunday to a fatal wreck there, which Pierce said was also caused by icy roads.

Stephen Rooney, 45, was traveling on South Roosevelt Road S around 5:30 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle near Roosevelt Road 7 and collided with a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Pierce said.
A host of bills focusing on the Albuquerque Police Department are working their way through the City Council.

The latest proposal focuses on the testing of evidence collected after a rape allegation.

New Mexico has a terrible backlog  the worst in the country on a per-capita basis, state auditors say  of untested sexual assault evidence kits. The victim in each case participated in a forensic examination by a nurse to collect DNA or other evidence that could help prosecute the offender.

But thousands of the kits have gone untested throughout New Mexico.

A proposal by Councilor Pat Davis, himself a former police officer, aims to keep the list from growing. His resolution outlines a series of deadlines that would require Albuquerque police to send new kits to the lab and have them tested in criminal cases.

I want to prioritize these cases so victims dont have to wait, Davis said in an interview.

The councils finance and government committee is expected to consider that bill and others focusing on APD some time next month.

Councilor Dan Lewis has proposed that the city establish a goal of developing a scholarship program for students who want to become forensic technologists  a long-term strategy for addressing the backlog in untested evidence kits.

Davis also has two other APD-focused bills. One calls for outside agencies to investigate when an APD officer shoots someone. The other designates the city inspector general and the City Council staff director to help oversee a team that investigates allegations that APD tampered with video evidence.

Candidate update

Its hard to walk around City Hall without running into someone considering a run for mayor or Congress. Heck, some people are considering both races.

But the latest name to emerge as a potential candidate in the 1st Congressional District comes out of state and federal government.

Tim Hale, a former cabinet secretary for veterans services under Gov. Susana Martinez, says he is in the very early stages of considering a run for the Albuquerque-based House seat. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the incumbent, plans to run for governor in 2018.

Hale, a Republican, is a retired Air Force colonel who served in special operations units in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lt. Gov. John Sanchez is also a potential candidate on the Republican side. Mayor Richard Berry wont say whether hes interested.

For the Democratic nomination, the potential candidates include state Sens. Jacob Candelaria and Daniel Ivey-Soto, County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, state Rep. Javier Martinez, and city councilors Davis and Ken Sanchez.

Dan McKay: dmckay@abqjournal.com
WASHINGTON  Donald Trump is expected to move a consequential step closer to his inauguration as president Monday when the members of the Electoral College hold 51 separate meetings nationwide to cast the ballots that will formally determine the winner of the November election.

In keeping with the chaotic campaign, the run-up to the electors balloting has been filled with protests and disputes over the constitutionally mandated gatherings.

Millions of Americans have signed petitions, deluged electors with letters and emails and indulged in elaborate hypotheticals about how those votes might be swayed. The passion behind those efforts has been intensified by postelection drama over U.S. intelligence that indicates Russia attempted to assist Trump before the election by stealing and distributing private emails from Democratic institutions and activists.

Going into the Monday meetings in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Trump held a comfortable lead of 306 votes to 232 for Hillary Clinton, based on the popular vote tallied on and after Nov. 8.

And by all indications, despite the unusual level of scrutiny, those votes largely will be cast according to expectations.

The 538 electoral votes are allocated by state. In nearly all states, the candidate who wins a majority of the popular vote in the state wins all of its electoral votes.

Trumps margin means 37 electors would have to turn from him to Clinton or some other candidate to deny him the majority, but unless another candidate spontaneously emerged to win a majority of electors votes, defections would serve only to send the election to the Republican-controlled House, which would presumably side with the partys nominee.

More electors would have to flip their votes in order to give the White House to the Democratic nominee. Any significant number of defections is highly unlikely, because most electors are party loyalists.

Rump efforts to deny Trump the presidency by turning his electors against him appear not to have gained much ground. To date, only one Republican elector, in Texas, has said publicly that he would not vote for Trump. A separate Democratic attempt to turn Clinton balloters away from her so they could join with Republicans to back a new candidate has similarly gotten little traction, not least because no alternative candidate has stepped forward.

A group of electors led by Christine Pelosi, the daughter of House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and like her mother a San Francisco Democrat, has sought a meeting with intelligence officials to discuss their views on the election hacking.

The office of the director of national intelligence, James R. Clapper, said in a statement Friday that agencies continued to believe that hacking was meant to interfere with the election and that only Russias senior-most officials could have authorized these activities. But it declined to release more information pending the conclusion of an investigation that President Barack Obama has directed.

Although Democrats  and many Republicans  have denounced the Russian interference and called for investigations, Clintons aides have not suggested that it caused her defeat. The release of Democratic emails created a headwind that impeded Clintons campaign, her campaign manager, Robby Mook, has said, but other factors loomed larger.

The last time the Electoral College received anything like the attention showered on it this year was in 2000, when the extremely close presidential contest was decided in a December Supreme Court judgment. Democrat Al Gore won the popular vote that year, but Republican George W. Bush won more electoral votes. The electors themselves did not attract as much scrutiny that time around as they have this year, perhaps because of the large role played in 2000 by the high court.

The distance between the popular and electoral votes is even more pronounced this year; although Trump leads in the Electoral College, Clinton beat him by almost 3 million individual votes out of the 137 million cast  more than five times Gores margin in the popular vote. Clinton ran up huge margins in heavily populated, largely Democratic states, while Trump eked out narrow victories in key swing states.

That and Trumps relative unpopularity for an incoming president are driving consternation about the formal vote, according to Electoral College scholar George C. Edwards III.

Usually 99 percent of electors are faithful  they vote the way their state votes, said Edwards, a political science professor at Texas A&M University. This year theres a more organized effort than normal to overturn the presumed majority.

Yet apart from the possibility of a few rogue votes, he said, I think nothing is going to happen in the end.

The process of formally naming a president was laid out in the Constitution and its 12th Amendment, adopted in 1804.

After Mondays voting, which is scheduled to begin in midmorning in the East and then cascade across the country, ending in Hawaii late in the day, the ballots are sent to Washington. There, on Jan. 6, they will be tallied in a joint session of the House and Senate. Vice President Joe Biden, as president of the Senate, will formally declare the results. Barring a shocking reversal, Trump will be inaugurated on Jan. 20.

Trump opponents, working until the last minute to try to overturn the expected result, plan to hold protests across the country.

President Barack Obama, in his Friday news conference, declined to call on electors to change their votes, saying that its the American peoples job, and now the electors job, to decide my successor.

He called the Electoral College a vestige from an earlier era but advised Democrats to spend their time building a message that would win both the popular vote and the Electoral College.

There are some structures in our political system, as envisioned by the founders, that sometimes are going to disadvantage Democrats, he said. But the truth of the matter is  if we have a strong message, if were speaking to what the American people care about, typically the popular vote and the Electoral College vote will align.

If we look for one explanation or one silver bullet or one easy fix for our politics, then were probably going to be disappointed, he added.

Outgoing Sen. Barbara Boxer of California was among Democrats who have made a postelection push for changes in the electoral system, citing the divergence between the electoral and the popular votes.

But given the nations current polarization, the odds of substantive change seem a stretch.

To alter the Constitution would require agreement of two-thirds of both houses of Congress and the approval of three-quarters of the states. Because the high-population  and thus high-popular-vote  areas of the nation are strongly Democratic, the Republican areas have no incentive to change the rules that have favored them. A majority of states sided with Trump.

A new CBS News poll found views about the Electoral College to be sharply polarized.

Overall, Americans favored deciding presidents by popular vote, 54 percent to 41 percent. Among Democrats, the popular vote was favored by a 60-point margin. Among Republicans, the Electoral College was favored by a 43-point margin.

Still, Americans were more comfortable abiding this year by the rules now in place. Asked how they would feel about electors who sided with someone other than their states winner, 57 percent said they disapproved of that action, and only 37 percent said theyd back the move.
A man accused of killing one person, shooting another in the face and firing shots at two more during a summer home invasion filed a lawsuit alleging that Albuquerque police injured his wrist while handcuffing his brittle arms.

Alexander Velasquez, 32, was taken into custody in late May. He is facing 15 felony charges, including first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and five counts of kidnapping.

Velasquez, who is representing himself in the civil lawsuit filed Dec. 2 in 2nd Judicial District Court, also argues that an officer coerced him into confessing to the crime. He is seeking $100,000 in damages.

He alleges in his handwritten complaint that an Albuquerque Police Department officer used excessive force when he grabbed (Velasquezs) brittle arms, put them behind his back and snapped handcuffs on. He said he struggled to stay conscious and felt white flashes of excruciating pain.

The officer told Velasquez that he used the correct method for applying handcuffs.

In the moment I knew he used deliberate indifference to use excessive force to cause me injury and severe pain, Velasquez wrote, adding that he suffered left wrist disfigurement. An APD report attached to the complaint confirms that Velasquez was evaluated and treated by rescue personnel for a wrist complaint.

APD spokeswoman Celina Espinoza did not comment on the suit except to say that the city had not yet been served.

According to APD, Velasquez and two others drove to his co-workers home near 98th and Sage SW where they pointed guns at the co-worker and three more adults and ordered them inside. Velasquezs group told the co-worker and his friends to lie on the floor while they rifled through the home. A toddler was home at the time of the incident.

Police say that before leaving, Velasquez shot his co-workers friend, Alfredo Ayala, 24, to death. He shot his co-worker in the face and fired shots at two others.

A transcript of his interview with detectives shortly after he was taken into custody shows that Velasquez requested medical attention for his wrist. After he was evaluated, he told detectives that he needed to put some ice on there or something.

He also argues that a second officer used coercion to get me to confess by promising what I said to him was private. He said he was under extreme pain, stress and duress when he provided his statement.
Albuquerque continues to turn more blue and its surrounding counties more red.

A precinct-by-precinct analysis of voting results for the presidential election shows Albuquerque voted Democratic while Torrance and Valencia counties and Rio Rancho voted Republican. Despite Rio Ranchos strong red turnout, Democrat Hillary Clinton won Sandoval County by 3 percentage points.

Albuquerque is leaning more and more Democratic as the decades pass and has been behaving more as an urban area, and urban tends to vote more Democratic than rural areas, said Brian Sanderoff, president of Research & Polling Inc. Whats happening is as the decades pass, Democratic support levels and strength is moving eastward deeper into the Heights.

The analysis shows support for President-elect Donald Trump was most concentrated in the farthest Northeast Heights neighborhoods, which are some of the wealthiest in the city. Other neighborhoods, including the Four Hills, Tanoan and Paradise Hills, also supported Trump.

Other high-end areas in the Heights, Los Ranchos and around the University of New Mexico and the Albuquerque Country Club tipped in support of Clinton, reflecting the majority of Albuquerque precincts.

The entire South Valley and North Valley of Albuquerque sweeping right up into Corrales is a Democratic stronghold. The West Side is mixed, and the middle Heights is still up for grabs, Sanderoff said. There was a time years ago when the Northeast Heights was more Republican, but over time Democratic support levels are increasing.

That is likely because home prices are down from years ago and more apartments are available, he said, meaning the area is home to more young people than years past. And more Hispanics are moving to the Northeast Heights, too. Those populations tend to vote Democratic.

Trump and Clinton each won precincts with less than 50 percent of the vote because of support for third-party candidates. Trump did not take more than 60 percent of votes in any precinct in the region, but Clintons support in some precincts was as high as 86 percent.

Overall, Clinton won Bernalillo County by 18 percentage points, which Sanderoff calls a pretty impressive victory.

While Clinton overwhelmed Trump in the city, the opposite was true in Rio Rancho.

Only two precincts of Democratic support emerged in Rio Rancho. Trump won the city by 8 percentage points. Yet Clinton won Sandoval County by 3 percentage points, mostly because of very strong Democratic support in Bernalillo, Corrales, Sandia Pueblo and Placitas.

Valencia County aligned with Rio Rancho. Trump won the county by 8 percentage points.

He won Torrance County by 30 percentage points.

Find out how your precinct voted

Presidential election Bern Co Precinct by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd

Presidential election 2016 Valencia Co Precinct by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd

Presidential election Torrance Co Precinct by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd

Presidential election Bern Co Precinct by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd
Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  In the four years since New Mexico voters approved making the state Public Defender Department a stand-alone agency, independence has not meant prosperity.

Chronic funding problems for the agency, which provides legal defense for those who cant afford their own attorneys, reached a critical level last month when a Lea County district judge found the states chief public defender in contempt for his departments failure and refusal to represent defendants in several criminal cases.

Ben Baur, the states chief public defender, warned lawmakers in September that the office would have to start declining cases in certain parts of the state due to a lack of funding, despite a constitutional requirement that representation be provided to all eligible defendants.

He also said the Public Defender Department would be seeking a 10 percent increase in funding in the coming year, which would allow it to hire 25 additional attorneys.

The Office of the Public Defender in Hobbs, which is in Lea County, announced in October that it could not take on any new cases in the adult courts for 90 days.

Baur wrote in court documents that felony cases in Lea County have more than doubled in just five years. Meanwhile, the Hobbs office had two vacancies this fall, leaving just four attorneys struggling to balance more than 1,000 cases. Two contract attorneys together handle an additional 300 to 400 cases at a time.

But even when the office is fully staffed, Baur said, the number of cases has spiked to an unmanageable level.

What weve told the courts, and what I believe, Baur said, is that it is not possible, with those caseloads, to give every client effective representation.

Still, the courts continue to appoint public defenders to new cases and defenders respond with motions explaining that they are unavailable. Every one of those motions, Baur said, has been denied.

Fifth Judicial District Attorney Dianna Luce said in court documents that the unavailability of public defenders has affected more than 200 cases, resulting in a breakdown of judicial process. She filed an emergency petition Dec. 1 asking the Supreme Court to require public defenders to represent indigent defendants.

The Supreme Court denied the petition last week. Luce could not be reached for comment.

Margaret Strickland, president-elect of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, wrote in an op-ed early this month that a judicial system tilted against the defense can turn into wrongful convictions and unnecessarily long prison sentences.

When a lawyer cannot give a case the time it needs, including time for reasonable preparation, he or she is ethically required to decline the case, Strickland said. If that lawyer does not decline the case, they could be in jeopardy of disciplinary sanction, including possible loss of license, by the New Mexico bar that licenses lawyers.

Baur said there are two solutions to the overload.

It could be more resources, he said, or it could be fewer cases.

But the state is facing a persistent revenue downturn  lawmakers are grappling with a $69 million projected budget deficit for the current fiscal year  and getting a funding boost could be unlikely in the short term.

We were working with the Legislature to try to phase in budget increases over time, Baur said. In the current atmosphere, unfortunately, that doesnt look like its going to happen.

Rep. Antonio Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque, who pushed the 2012 constitutional amendment that led to the Public Defender Department being made into an independent agency, said the situation with the department has reached a tipping point.

Its still far and away underfunded, Maestas told the Journal . We get the criminal justice system we pay for.

He also said public defenders have no control over their caseloads. Charging decisions are made by prosecutors, and the U.S. Constitution guarantees an attorney for all indigent defendants.

Those factors can create a clash for lawyers who, under state judicial standards, are bound to provide competent legal counsel.

You have an ethical duty to the profession and your clients, but you have a statutory duty to represent clients, Maestas said. Theyre stressed (to resolve that dilemma) throughout the system, no doubt about it.

Other states have experienced similar funding challenges.

In Missouri, the states frustrated lead public defender in August ordered the governor, Democrat Jay Nixon, to represent a man accused of assault, but the governor fought the order and claimed it was not legal.

Officials with the Public Defender Department have expressed concerns for years about underfunding and its impact on the states judicial system.

Last year, the agency requested an eye-opening budget increase of more than 100 percent, which it claimed was necessary to provide adequate representation. It ended up getting an increase of less than 10 percent.

Over the past four years, funding for the Public Defender Department has grown by roughly 18 percent  from $40.2 million in the 2013 budget year to $47.4 million in the current year. Thats more than twice as fast as overall state budget growth during that same time period.

But lawmakers cut the agencys funding by 3 percent  or nearly $1.5 million  in a special session held this fall. The budgets of other state agencies also were cut during the special session.

New Mexico lawmakers recently barred the Public Defender Department from paying hourly rates to outside contract attorneys.
KARAK, Jordan  Gunmen assaulted Jordanian police in a series of attacks Sunday, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing seven officers, two local civilians and a woman visiting from Canada, officials said. Several armed men barricaded themselves inside the castle for hours, hemmed in by special forces soldiers.

At least 34 people, including two foreign nationals, were wounded in the days violence, which was one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory.

Security officials announced late Sunday, several hours after reports of the first shooting, that the operation had ended and that four gunmen were killed. They said troops continued to search the area.

The officials said large amounts of weapons had been seized. They made no reference to local media reports that at one point, the attackers had held hostages.

The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged this pro-Western kingdoms claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

A witness said attackers immediately targeted tourists when they reached the castle.

Four gunmen got out of their car at the castle, said Wasfi al-Habashneh, a local resident. They opened fire at the Canadian tourists. The woman was killed, the other Canadian tourist escaped and hid behind a car and one of the children was injured.

Al-Habashneh said the attackers also targeted other people. Security forces engaged with the gunmen and cornered the gunmen at the castle gate, he said.

The killing of the Canadian visitor could further hurt Jordans embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighboring Syria and Iraq two years ago.

Canadas global affairs spokesman, John Babcock, told The Associated Press that the dead woman was Linda Vatcher. Babcock said her son Chris was injured.

Canadian officials in Amman are actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time, Babcock said.

Barb Rhymes, a cousin of the slain tourist, said the victim was a retired elementary teacher from Burgeo, Newfoundland, and was visiting her son in Jordan where he works. Rhymes said Linda Vatcher, 62, was a widow and a mother of two adult sons.

She was very friendly, outgoing. She was nice to everyone. A friend to all, Rhymes said from Burgeo, a remote town of 1,400 people on Canadas East Coast. Its devastating. It has hit the town hard. My mind is not there right now. She was a beautiful person.

The Canadian Embassy in Amman issued an alert warning urging Canadians to avoid travel to Karak, a town in central Jordan about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in and near Karak.

The chain of events began when a police patrol received reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district, said a statement by Jordans Public Security Directorate. Officers responding to the call came under fire from inside the house, the statement said. Two policemen were wounded and the assailants fled in a car, it said.

In another attack, gunmen fired on a security patrol in Karak, causing no injuries, the statement said.

Armed men also opened fire on a police station at the Crusader fort, wounding members of security forces.

In all, seven members of the security forces, two local civilians and the tourist from Canada were killed, security officials said. Fifteen members of the security forces, 17 local civilians and two foreign nationals were injured.

Jordan faces homegrown extremism, with hundreds of Jordanians fighting alongside other Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more supporting the extremist group in the kingdom. Jordan is a key U.S. ally, and a member of a U.S.-led military coalition fighting IS.

Over the past year, gunmen have carried out several attacks on members of the Jordanian security forces and foreign trainers. Earlier this year, Jordanian security forces engaged in a deadly shootout with suspected IS sympathizers in a northern Jordanian town.

In the most recent incident, three U.S. military members were killed in a shooting outside an air base in southern Jordan in November. The three were in Jordan on a training mission, and came under fire while driving into the base.

___

Associated Press writer Omar Akour reported this story in Karak and AP writer Mohammed Daraghmeh reported from Gaza City, Gaza Strip. AP writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.
JERUSALEM  Israeli police on Monday arrested billionaire businessman Beny Steinmetz on suspicion of bribing officials in the west African country of Guinea, police said, in what appeared to be a major development in bribery investigations over mining rights to one of the worlds most important iron ore concessions.

Steinmetz, a prominent Israeli-born businessman and global player in the diamond-mining industry, is suspected in an international investigation stretching to Europe and the U.S., along with other unidentified Israeli businesspeople, of paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes to public officials in the Guinean capital of Conakry to promote business interests there, according to Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.

Israeli media reported Steinmetz is suspected of bribing the former leader of Guinea and his wife for rights to mine at the Simandou range, one of the worlds largest sources of iron ore. Israeli police would not comment on the specific bribery claim.

A mineral-rich but deeply impoverished country, Guinea has long suffered from corruption while trying to exploit its natural resources. Steinmetzs company BSGR previously had its mining license revoked in Guinea because of corruption charges.

The detention of Beny Steinmetz shows that the Israeli authorities are treating the Simandou bribery case with the seriousness it deserves, said Daniel Balint-Kurti of Global Witness, a London-based nonprofit group that battles corruption in the mining and natural resources industries. Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world and was deprived of vast sums through BSGRs corrupt deal. It is vital that such cases are fully investigated and that those involved in bribery are brought to justice.

According to Global Witness, which investigated the case, BSGR and its affiliates engaged in a sophisticated corruption scheme over Simandou, cloaking their activities through secretive companies in the British Virgin Islands.

It says it gained access to documentation, including bribery contracts, showing that BSGR and an affiliate offshore company had agreed to pay millions of dollars to Mamadie Toure, a wife of Guineas then-leader, and that the company also promised her a stake in the Simandou mining project, as part of the deal to secure the mining licenses. BSGR, after investing $160 million into the project, later sold part of its stake for $2.1 billion to Brazilian mining company Vale, according to Global Witness.

Called a secret billionaire in Israeli media, Steinmetz is ranked by Forbes Israel as the 24th richest Israeli in the world, with an estimated net worth of about $1.5 billion.

BSGR did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A lawyer for Steinmetz, Yuval Sasson, told Israeli Channel 2 TV the claims were concocted by the Guinean presidents corrupt leadership, which is trying to illegally steal BSGRs (mining) rights.

In a rare 2013 interview with the Israeli news site YNet, Steinmetz called allegations of corruption by BSGR a joke. He alleged the current Guinean leader sought to frame him and his company.

The company doesnt pay anything to anyone, not one penny to politicians; we simply dont do this kind of things. This is a well-oiled, evil machine which operates against BSGR and me, run by the president and his associates, Steinmetz told YNet.

Steinmetzs arrest is the result of a joint investigation with law enforcement agencies in the United States, Switzerland and Guinea, police said  part of an international effort led by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, against bribery of public officials.

This summer, Israel renewed diplomatic ties with Guinea after 49 years, part of an Israeli effort to pursue closer security and other ties with Africa. Guinea, a Muslim country, was the first nation to cut ties with Israel after the 1967 Mideast war, when Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip from its Arab foes.

Israeli police raided Steinmetzs home and offices in Israel early Monday, police said. Steinmetz was detained and placed under house arrest in Israel for two weeks. An Israeli court confiscated his French and Israeli passports, prohibited him from traveling abroad for six months, and set his bail at about $26 million.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is serving a 19-month prison sentence for bribery and obstruction of justice, has been a close friend of Steinmetz and, according to the Haaretz daily, flew to Guinea with Steinmetz at one point. In a 2013 interview with the New Yorker, Olmert described Steinmetz as a one-man show, saying he can work ceaselessly and will move from one side of the globe to the other if he identifies a promising deal.
DEMING  Luna County staggered in at a 15.5 percent unemployment rate from October to November while the rest of the state saw little or no change heading into the holiday season.

State labor officials say the percentage of people without jobs is up slightly from last year.

The Department of Workforce Solutions released the numbers on Friday, Dec. 16, saying the unemployment rate in November was 6.7 percent, up from 6.6 percent a year ago.

The national rate was 4.6 percent.

Luna County checked in at 10.3 percent for October. The jump to 15.5 percent in November was expected now that the harvest seasons in the areas agricultural industry are completed.

The closing of Deming Big Kmart store also eliminated a hefty part-time work force in December.

Of the 33 counties in New Mexico, Luna is the only one in double-digit unemployment percentage. The closest to Luna County are Torrance and Lea counties each at at 8.8 percent. Torrance is centrally located and lea border the southeastern corner of the state.

In November of 2015, Luna County stood at 18 percent unemployment.

Labor officials say goods-producing industries in New Mexico have seen a decrease of more than 5 percent  or 5,100 jobs  over the last year.

Bright spots include education and health services, the fastest-growing private industry sector with a 6,000-job increase since November 2015.

State labor officials say employment growth in every month in 2016, apart from May, exceeded anything reported in the industry since January 2003.



2016 The Deming Headlight (Deming, N.M.)

Visit The Deming Headlight (Deming, N.M.) at www.demingheadlight.com

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Christopher Farmer and Peta Frampton left the coast of Belize on June 26, 1978, aboard a boat named the Justin B.

The young British couple in their mid-20s had decided to spend a year traveling abroad. They traveled to Australia and then went to the Americas. They toured Guadalajara, Mexico, and later wound up in Belize City, where they met an American named Duane, the owner of the Justin B.

They planned to take the bus to Merida in the Mexican state of Yucatan, but Duane offered to take them to Chetumal by boat. Farmer wanted to experience sailing, so they took Duane up on his offer, Frampton wrote in one of her letters to her mother. She wrote to her mother frequently, updating her on their travels.

On June 29, three days after they left Belize City, Frampton wrote her last letter.

Duane has two young sons with him, and he curses a lot and gets violent with the boys when things dont go his way, she wrote. At the end of her letter, she said, I dont think theres any more news  nothing much happens on a boat.

She and Farmer were never heard from again.

About a week and a half later, firefighters found their bodies floating in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Punta De Manabique in Guatemala, their bodies hogtied.

Autopsies revealed that the two had drowned.

The deaths of Farmer, a recent medical school graduate, and Frampton, a new law school graduate, would remain a mystery for the next four decades.

Finally, earlier this month, federal authorities said they think Farmer and Frampton were murdered by Silas Duane Boston, the boat owner.

Boston, now 75, has been charged with two counts of maritime murder. He was arrested in Paradise, a small unincorporated town in Northern California, the Sacramento Bee reported.

The charges came after a break in a separate cold case investigation of the disappearance of Bostons wife, Mary Lou, who vanished in Sacramento in 1968  10 years before the British tourists are believed to have been killed.

According to a federal criminal complaint, two witnesses  Bostons two sons aboard the Justin B  had provided a detective investigating Mary Lous disappearance with a detailed account of how Farmer and Frampton were killed.

Bostons sons told police that at that time, when they were 12 and 13, they were living with their father in Sacramento. They left after a violent incident involving their father and another woman, court records say. Boston took his sons to get passports and snorkeling and scuba-diving gear, and the three drove through Mexico to Belize. There, Boston, then 37, bought the Justin B, named after his other son, and started taking tourists on boat tours.

Then, they met the young couple from Chestire, England. While on the boat, the two were always writing letters to their families about their trip, one of his sons told police. They also took photos using Farmers film camera. One photograph  which was later turned over to police  depicts Farmer with Bostons two sons.

One night, when the boat was anchored in the harbor near the port of Livingston, Guatemala, Boston attacked Farmer several times, his sons told police. First, he hit Farmer with a billy club as the latter was pulling up the boats anchor. He also tried to stab Farmer in the chest with a fillet knife, but it broke. He then tackled Farmer, tied him up at the front of the boat, and then tied up Frampton in the galley, court records say.

The next morning, Boston moved the couple to the edge of the boat. Court records say he hogtied them, tied machine parts to the ropes, covered their heads with plastic bags and pushed them into deep water.

Boston looked at his watch. After three or four minutes, he said, OK, they are dead now.

Then, the Justin B sailed away.

For a couple of hours, no one said anything, court records say.

Then, Boston said, You know, I had to do that. They didnt give me a choice.

On July 6, 1978, Boston and his sons reached the Livingston port in Guatemala. There, Boston dropped off Farmer and Framptons clothes at a local business, one of his sons told detectives. He also mailed Framptons last letter to her mother, so that her family would think the couple was still alive in Guatemala.

The letter was postmarked July 18, 1978  10 days after the couples bodies were found off the coast of Punta De Manabique, about 10 miles northeast of Livingston.

Boston later told authorities who were investigating the tourists disappearance that he dropped them off at a peninsula across the bay from Livingston because his boat needed repairs. He said he may have seen them getting on a ferry in Livingston, but he wasnt sure.

Why Boston allegedly killed the tourists isnt completely clear.

Bostons sons told detectives that shortly before the incident, Boston got drunk and started punching younger son. Farmer tried to help the boy, prompting Boston to attack him instead, court records say. But Boston fell into the water after he tried to hit Farmer and missed. Thats when Boston began plotting to kill the tourists, his sons told police.

Over the years, Boston told at least one other person about the alleged murders, court records say.

That person, Bostons old traveling companion, told detectives that he and Boston spent a year in Mexico in the early 1990s. Boston told him about the tourists deaths one day while they were driving together. He was laughing as he nonchalantly told his friend that he killed the tourists for fun, court records say.

To this day, Bostons sons, who are now in their 50s and are estranged from each other, fear their father, they told detectives. They described him as a vindictive man who carefully plans his retaliation.

Shortly after the tourists deaths, Boston, again in a drunken stupor, threatened to kill his sons, court records say. He told them that he had also killed their mother, Mary Lou, by gunning her down as she was running away from him.

Boston had told investigators that she had taken money from their joint bank account and run off with another man.

Over the years, Boston, who is fluent in Spanish, fled to Mexico every time he became aware of a criminal investigation involving him. He stopped traveling because of his failing health.

Boston is not charged with any other deaths.

He appeared in federal court in California on Dec. 8. His attorney, Douglas Beevers, said in court that Boston, now in a wheelchair, suffers from arthritis and has difficulty hearing, according to the Sacramento Bee.

The crimes Boston is charged with are punishable by death, but prosecutors will not seek that punishment, according to court records. He could face life imprisonment.

sea-deaths
ABUJA, Nigeria  West African leaders promised Saturday to enforce the results of a Gambian election that was won by a little-known businessman backed by an opposition coalition but rejected by the countrys longtime coup leader.

A summit of the Economic Community of West African States ended with all leaders stating they will attend the Jan. 19 inauguration of Gambias new president, Adama Barrow.

They also pledged to guarantee the safety and protection of the president-elect, who has said he fears for his life.

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh surprised his fellow citizens by conceding defeat the day after the Dec. 1 vote, and then changed his mind and called for a new election. The United Nations, the United States and the African Union have all condemned the move.

The summit in Abuja, Nigeria, attended by 11 presidents with Jammeh absent, agreed to take all necessary actions to enforce the results of the Gambian election. It called for Jammeh to accept the results and refrain from compromising a peaceful handover of power.

It named a mediation committee headed by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari with his deputy Ghana President John Dramani Mahama, who conceded defeat in an election a few days after Gambias. It was Ghanas first electoral defeat of a sitting president.

The president of the West African community, Marcel de Souza, said this week that if diplomacy fails, a military intervention and draconian measures must be considered for Gambia. He spoke in an interview with Radio France International.

Jammehs defiance challenges the first regional community in the world to agree to military interventions in member states accused of abusing human rights and democratic principles. It has spent 25 years nurturing democracy in a region once prone to military coups.

Jammeh acted after an opposition coalition official in Gambia said he should be prosecuted for gross human rights abuses. Jammeh is accused of arbitrarily detaining, torturing and sometimes killing political opponents.

Jammeh used the excuse of errors in the vote tally, ignoring the countrys Independent Electoral Commission, which said the winner remains Barrow, who won with a revised count of 227,708 votes to Jammehs 208,487.

The ruling party filed a court challenge against the results Tuesday, a constitutional move complicated by the fact that Gambias Supreme Court does not have a quorum. The United States said it doubts it is a credible court dedicated to ensuring the integrity of Gambias democratic process.

Jammeh on Tuesday sent troops to take over the electoral commissions office in Banjul, the capital, shortly before a delegation of West African leaders arrived on an inconclusive mission.

Jammeh seized power in a bloodless coup in 1994 in the country of 1.9 million people known for its beaches.

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Faul reported from Lagos, Nigeria.
TENOSIQUE, Mexico  Carlos Mejia sleeps on a bare mattress in an otherwise unfurnished room with his girlfriend and spreads a sheet on the cool tile for their two young children, a small respite from the sweltering heat. Their neighbors on both sides are Hondurans like them.

He earns $8 a day working 12 hours slicing plastic bottles to put into a compactor, enough to pay the electricity and water and buy some food. But the U.N. refugee agency picks up the rent and that of a growing number of immigrant families in this Mexican city of 32,000 people near the Guatemalan border.

Mejia is among more than 8,000 immigrants expected to seek asylum this year from Mexico, the majority fleeing gang violence in Honduras and El Salvador and to a lesser extent Guatemala. The exodus is turning southern Mexico towns like Tenosique as well as Palenque and Tapachula in neighboring Chiapas state into informal refugee camps.

The decision to settle in Mexico and not continue to the United States is tied to increased recognition of the risks of crossing Mexico and more recently the hostile rhetoric of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, the immigrants and their advocates say.

The number of those seeking asylum in Mexico this year is more than double the 3,423 applicants last year  itself a 65 percent increase from 2014. Applications have risen by about 9 percent each month this year, says the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, or UNHCR.

According to the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid, or COMAR, about 4,000 of the 6,898 applications it received through October this year made it to the end of the process and of those, 2,162 applicants got refugee status. Another 414 applicants who did not qualify as refugees received other kinds of government protection and escaped deportation.

More migrants are seeking asylum as information about the possibility spreads, said Rafael Zavala, director of the UNHCR office that opened here a year ago as the number of Central Americans seeking protection rose.

We expect this years trend of people seeking protection here in Mexico to continue, he said.

Mejia, 27, and his girlfriend Saimi Julio, 19, surrendered in October to Mexican immigration authorities at the El Ceibo border crossing, along with their 2-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. They spent 26 days separated in immigration detention before being released to the migrant shelter here.

The couple had applied for asylum as well as a permit letting them seek work, so they only spent a week at the shelter before getting their room with the U.N. agencys help. It took Mejia another month to find a job.

A response to their asylum requests could take up to three months. Applicants cannot leave the area in the meantime, each week signing in at the local immigration office. If amnesty is denied, they can appeal and continue waiting.

Mejia said he never considered going to the United States.

Its hard to go to the U.S., he said sitting on the stoop outside his room. You risk a lot of violence, so much crime along the way.

The number of asylum applicants remains a fraction of the overall flow. More than 400,000 immigrants  mostly Central Americans  were apprehended along the U.S. southwestern border during the fiscal year that ended in September.

But everything signals migrants are increasingly seeking asylum.

There is a precedent. In the 1980s and 1990s, Mexico took in more than 40,000 Guatemalans fleeing their countrys civil war.

There is no sign Central Americas current violence is letting up. El Salvadors homicide rate last year was 103 killings for every 100,000 residents, making it the most deadly country not at open war.

Honduras had 64 killings per 100,000 people in 2015. Two of Mejias brothers were killed last year in a robbery and he received threats in their homeland.

Tenosique neighborhoods now teem with Hondurans. Narrow passageways lead to rows of rooms housing families.

Wendy Jimenez and her family met Mejia and Julio in Tenosique. They fled Honduras after her husband, Angel Castellon, refused to sell drugs for gang members who retaliated by setting fire to their home.

A large, twisting scar covers Castellons upper arm and their 2-year-old daughter has burn scars on her legs and chest. Jimenez earlier lost an uncle and a brother in the countrys violence.

Jimenez and her family made it to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, across the border from Texas on a previous trip. But they were eventually deported back to Honduras. The day after they arrived, they left again.

Our idea was the United States, but with the situation as it is, I dont think we can go to the United States, Jimenez said, referring to Trumps vows to deport millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally. They heard about the possibility of asylum in Mexico, and on this journey they applied.

In a written response to questions, COMAR said that in September it signed a cooperation agreement with UNHCR, under which the Mexican entity is hiring more staff to keep up with increasing applications.

Tomas Gonzalez Castillo, a friar who founded the migrant shelter in Tenosique, said he has seen changes since it opened a few years ago.

There are more Central American families in Tenosique and they stay longer, unlike earlier waves that rested briefly and continued north. The number of visitors through the shelter is up by about a third this year.

It is an obligatory migration, forced by the generalized violence, Gonzalez said. It is a terrible decomposition of the social fabric.

The U.N. is laying groundwork for more asylum seekers to stay in Tenosique and avoid in the future any type of feeling of rejection toward the people who are arriving, said Zavala, head of the refugee agencys local office.

The agency has worked with city officials to open a gym and otherwise bring together local youth and their migrant peers, so the foreigner wont become a threat, but rather an acquaintance.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, a restaurant chain that had long been a customer darling until it fell on troubled times last year, is still in deep salsa.

Who says so? CEO Steve Ells, who in an unusually candid talk with investors this past week, said Chipotle is hurting because customers are getting ticked off. Slow service, sloppy drink stations, cluttered tables, even occasional food shortages at too many of its restaurants are to blame, he said.

The CEO playbook typically calls for making such harsh observations privately, so its refreshing that Ells went public with his reality check.

But that was easy. Now comes the hard part: Ells must mastermind a business turnaround that will bring back customers and win over, or at least appease, critics that are especially disdainful of Chipotles handling of last years food-safety crisis that sickened hundreds of diners and depressed sales.

Ells conceded that the E. coli bacteria outbreak  which resulted in a systemic reworking of the Denver-based chains food preparation  also turned up some operational pitfalls.

That said, the company insists that it has moved beyond that illness episode. Its research shows the health care scare is no longer keeping customers away from Chipotle.

Instead, hard-core restaurant patrons are not going back as much, or avoiding Chipotle, because they dont enjoy eating there like before.

Some issues: Lines are too long and often its because the food preparers are slow in assembling tacos or burritos. Sometimes, the stores runs out of food items like white rice or chicken, which slows everything down.

Then there are those knotty dining areas.

Cluttered or food-littered tables are a problem. The company says tables (and drink stations, for that matter) arent bussed fast enough, which means diners do it themselves or simply walk out.

Company executives estimated that about half of Chipotles 2,100 restaurants experienced some of th0se issues.

Ells, who until last week was co-CEO with longtime colleague Monty Moran, says he let the business get too complex and bureaucratic, forcing people to perform too many functions at the expense of customer service.

Those pressures led to too much staff turnover and less management focus on the diners, Ells said.

His goal is to simplify Chipotles hiring, training and management systems, which should translate into making the restaurants more pleasant and welcoming places to eat. Its also working on a second line to handle food preparation for its new digital ordering service.

I want to get much closer to the day-to-day operations, said Ells, who founded the chain in 1993.

Despite this back-to-basics commitment, there are mighty headwinds coming Ells way.

Foremost, the financial results have to get better.

In October, third-quarter earnings came in short of industry analyst expectations. Revenue for the quarter dropped 14.8 percent, to $1.04 billion, a decline driven by a 21.9 percent plunge in same-store sales. Profit was $7.8 million, down from $144 million in the comparable quarter last year. according to the company.

Also, no matter what its internal research indicates, its hard to believe that last years E. coli incident wont linger in collective memory for some time. Moreover, if the company is fretful about messy beverage stations and dirty tables, dont you think average diners are connecting such disorder with food health standard concerns?

Food safety is a very personal issue, so Chipotle needs to build its healthy food message, not lower its guard because of some research results.

Then theres shareholder unrest, including a group that wants to stop Ells, who is chairman and CEO, from holding both jobs and is advocating a corporate board shake-up.

The current board has not been able to provide the sort of decisive  and effective  leadership that seems important to put the lingering effects of the food safety crisis behind us, shareholder activist CtW Investment Group of Washington saidin a recent letter to investor Bill Ackman, whose firm owns 10 percent of Chipotle.

Ackman soon could be on the companys board, according to a published report.

The chain must regain, and keep, the trust of the countrys taco- and burrito-eating public. Therefore, Ells candid comments are only one important ingredient in the fast-food companys turnaround recipe.



2016 Chicago Tribune

Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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The confused 911 call came in Saturday morning.

Nicole Carmon told the dispatcher shed been in a car accident sometime the night before, according to police. She didnt know where, she didnt know when, and she couldnt recall how she got home, officers told the Denver Post.

Nor could she find her 2-year-old son, she allegedly said.

Officers in Westminster and neighboring Thornton, Colorado, fanned out in both towns to search for the boy. After more than an hour, around noon, they came across Carmons green 2013 Ford Fusion in the parking lot of a Thornton strip mall, police said. The vehicle was covered in snow, they said, and showed no signs of having been in an accident.

Inside, they found the child  in a state of severe hypothermia, but alive, police told the Denver Post.

The 26-year-old mother was arrested on a felony child abuse charge, the Denver Post reported, and was held at the Adams County Detention Center. It was not clear Monday if she had retained an attorney or entered a plea.

Police told CBS4 that the child had been left alone in the car for at least seven hours as temperatures dropped below zero overnight and snow piled up.

The car was blanketed with snow, police spokesman Matt Barnes told the Denver Post. There was no way of seeing what was inside.

Medics took the boy to the hospital, where he was treated for hypothermia and frostbite. As of Sunday evening, he was expected to live, CBS4 reported.

Police said they were still trying to determine why the child had been abandoned in the car.

Andrew Duran told KMGH he had just finished his shift at a nearby restaurant when he watched police carry a motionless child out of the vehicle.

We saw cops everywhere, Duran said. All of a sudden, you see cops pull out this kid.

Jeanette Fam said she was working at American Nails salon when police arrived.

I dont know how someone can forget a child, she told KMGH.

Breanna Sanchez, an employee at one of the businesses in the strip mall, told FOX31 that she noticed Carmons car parked in the lot when she arrived at work around 9 a.m. Saturday morning. She said she noticed the parking lot swarming with emergency workers a few hours later.

I cant imagine staying in a car overnight. Im freezing just standing here, she said. I feel really bad that he sat there all night.

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As a leading advocate for slashing legal immigration levels, Roy Beck has spent years on the political fringes of the debate in a country that has had dramatic growth in its foreign-born population over a half-century.

Beck is executive director of NumbersUSA, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization devoted to stabilizing the population. He has been marginalized in Washington as an eccentric figure whose views some consider xenophobic or even racist.

In recent weeks, though, President-elect Donald Trumps early appointments, including the nominee for attorney general and two top White House advisers, are giving Beck hope that his positions are suddenly front and center at the highest levels of government.

Weve been in the wilderness, and overnight we are not anymore, Beck said. Trump, he added, really did make some very strong statements about cutting immigration. Thats a total change.

Throughout Western nations, societies are reexamining the merits of immigration in the wake of a global surge of refugees, terrorist attacks and struggling economies. In the United States, President Obama has warned against an overreaction to the forces of globalization and the political and economic turmoil in the Middle East and Europe. He has referred to the United States, repeatedly, as a nation of immigrants.

But here, as in Europe, some of the most strident restrictionist voices have gained new political legitimacy amid a wave of populist anxiety of the kind that propelled Trump to his presidential victory.

Trump campaigned on pledges to build a border wall, deport the undocumented and ban Muslim immigrants. And during a campaign speech in Phoenix last summer, he raised the specter of new policies to curtail legal immigration, citing concerns about foreign workers taking jobs and keeping wages down for the native-born.

Trump noted that 59 million immigrants had come to the United States over the past 50 years, boosting the nations foreign-born population share from 4.8 percent to 14 percent, according to Pew Research Center.

Many of these arrivals have greatly enriched our country, he said. But we now have an obligation to them, and to their children, to control future immigration  as we have following previous immigration waves  to ensure assimilation, integration and upward mobility.

Today, the U.S. government awards green cards to more than 1 million foreigners annually, granting them legal permanent residence. Groups such as NumbersUSA want to slash that by a half or more.

In his speech, Trump expressed a desire to cut legal immigration levels to within historical norms, as measured by a share of the overall population, and he proposed a new federal commission to develop proposals to achieve it.

The goal, he said, would be to select immigrants based on their likelihood of success in U.S. society and their ability to be financially self-sufficient. The new immigration system should establish controls to boost wages and to ensure open jobs are offered to American workers first.

Trump has echoed the views of Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who is perhaps the Senates most vocal immigration hard-liner and whom Trump has nominated as U.S. attorney general.

Stephen Miller, a longtime Sessions aide who wrote most of Trumps immigration speeches, has been named senior policy adviser in the Trump White House. And Stephen Bannon, Trumps chief strategist, advocated for reducing legal immigration levels as editor of Breitbart News, a conservative site that reports extensively on the issue.

What we need now is immigration moderation: slowing the pace of new arrivals so that wages can rise, welfare rolls can shrink and the forces of assimilation can knit us all more closely together, Sessions wrote in a Washington Post op-ed last year.

To immigrant rights advocates, such talk sounds like justification for pursuing nativist and xenophobic policies, said Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center.

She pointed to academic studies showing that immigrants spur economic growth and suggested that Trump and his aides are employing a false rationale as political cover to take us back to [the policies of] previous centuries.

The last time the United States significantly cut immigration levels was in 1924, after a public backlash over huge spikes of foreign workers during the Second Industrial Revolution prompted Congress to establish strict quotas based on national origin. The new laws favored white immigrants from Northern and Western Europe, while severely restricting Jews from Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as Africans. Asians and Arabs were banned outright.

Over the ensuing decades, U.S. immigration rates plunged to their lowest levels since the pre-Civil War era  from more than 800,000 immigrants a year between 1900 and 1910 to about 70,000 a year between 1930 and 1940, according to federal data.

In 1965, Congress replaced the national-origin quota with a system focused on reuniting immigrant families that led to a massive spike in immigration levels. Under current policies, immigrants and their descendants will account for an additional 103 million people over 50 years, 88 percent of the nations population growth, according to Pew.

The question is whether having an immigration level higher than any other country in the world but half of what we have now signifies any kind of qualitative change in who we are as a country, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, another group that advocates for reducing immigration levels. That 500,000 or 400,000 immigrants a year is somehow un-American, but 1 million is America.

During unsuccessful immigration reform efforts under President George W. Bush in 2007 and Obama in 2013, Beck and Krikorian were reliable voices of opposition to bipartisan legislative proposals that featured a path to citizenship for the nations 11 million illegal immigrants.

But to them, the fate of the undocumented  which has become the major flash point on Capitol Hill  obscures their more fundamental goal of reducing overall immigration flows. A third major restrictionist group, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, has spent decades lobbying Congress to cap immigration at 300,000 per year.

All three organizations were started with funding from John Tanton, a Michigan doctor who has professed support for eugenics, the pseudoscience claiming that some racial groups are inherently superior.

But Beck rejected as nonsense the notion that his groups views are based on race.

It is nationalist, not nativist, he said. Its not where you were born, but are you a member of this national community?

NumbersUSA touts as its spiritual godmother the late Barbara Jordan, a Texas Democrat who was the first African American woman elected to Congress from the Deep South. In the mid-1990s, before her death in 1996, Jordan chaired a bipartisan federal commission that recommended to the Clinton administration cutting annual green cards from 675,000 a year to 550,000. Clinton never moved forward on the proposal.

In an ad that aired during the Republican and Democratic presidential primary debates last year, NumbersUSA featured a clip of Jordans testimony that the commission finds no national interest in continuing to import lesser-skilled and unskilled workers to compete in the most vulnerable parts of our labor force.

Studies have shown that immigrants who arrive legally boost the economy over the long term and that many have higher levels of education than native-born Americans.

Proponents of lowering immigration levels are just interested in coming up with reasons not to have people who are different, said Stuart Anderson, an adjunct scholar at the conservative Cato Institute who served as counselor to the commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service under Bush.

Anderson said the 1924 law that slashed immigration rates was hardly a model of good governance. It was one of the ugliest periods of the eugenics movement and extremely anti-Semitic.

Trump advisers emphasized that limiting immigration would benefit all American workers, including blacks and Hispanics.

One aide said the president-elect has not specified a target immigration level because he wants to consult members of Congress. The aide  who spoke on the condition of anonymity to address the debate because he was not authorized to talk about the issue on the record  said Trump favors a revamped system that would prioritize immigrants with high education levels and expertise in high-skilled industries such as technology.

The 1965 immigration act sought to build in preferences for skilled foreign laborers, but the system overwhelmingly favors family reunification. Of the 1 million foreigners granted permanent legal residence in 2014, 647,000  about two-thirds  received green cards based on family ties, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Just 152,000 permanent arrivals were employment-based.

In addition, 134,000 refugees and asylum seekers received green cards, and 54,000 more were distributed in an annual diversity lottery for underrepresented countries, many in Africa.

Critics have said the rules encourage chain migration, the tradition of immigrants seeking to bring extended family members. The Trump aide cited as a model Canadas system of awarding points to immigrants based on education, job skills, language proficiency, age and other criteria.

If he pursues a legislative push, Trump is likely to run into major resistance, including from some fellow Republicans and members of the business community, which has supported more-robust programs for foreign workers and their families.

But Beck said he is counting on Trump.

We have a citizen army, said Beck, whose group has more than 6 million Facebook followers. We will be acting and pushing members of Congress. Were not going into this expecting him to disappoint us.

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KINSHASA, Congo  Military and police forces deployed across the capital of Congo on Monday, as protesters vowed to take to the streets if President Joseph Kabila stays in office beyond the official expiration of his term at midnight.

Many people in Congo  the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa  are bracing for a violent clash between Kabilas opponents and security forces. In September, when the last major anti-government demonstrations were held, about 50 people were killed, according to human-rights groups. This time could be worse, experts worry.

Elections were supposed to be held in November but have been postponed. Kabila and his political allies have suggested that he must stay in power until at least 2018, which they say is the soonest a vote could be held because of the cost and logistical problems of holding an election in this vast country.

The countrys constitutional court has declared that Kabila can stay in office until the new elections. But opposition activists worry that the president, who has been in power for 15 years, is trying to extend his term through extra-constitutional means.

At Kinshasa University on Monday, protesters waved red cards calling for Kabila to step down. Security forces blocked access to the university, turning journalists away. No violence was reported there or elsewhere in the capital. In the eastern city of Goma, at least 41 protesters were arrested, according to Human Rights Watch.

Over the past week, Catholic bishops mediated talks between Kabilas supporters and a patchwork of the regimes political opponents. But on Saturday, participants announced that no agreement had been reached, emboldening the mostly young men who have said they will take to the streets en masse.

Kabila is among a growing number of African leaders who have angled to extend their terms by either changing the constitution, delaying elections or holding elections marred by allegations of rigging. Angolas Jose Eduardo dos Santos, 74, has ruled for 37 years. Zimbabwes Robert Mugabe, 92, has been in power for 30 years. More recently, the presidents of Burundi and the neighboring Congo Republic both announced plans to extend power, igniting domestic crises.

But the stakes are particularly high in Congo, which suffered through a civil war that killed about 5 million people between 1997 and 2003. The country remains the site of the largest United Nations peacekeeping mission in the world, with about 20,000 troops.

There is a grave risk that Congo could descend into widespread violence and chaos in the coming days, with potentially volatile repercussions across the region, said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch.

Peacekeepers will be on high alert this week, according to U.N. spokesman Charles Bambara, who said that the mission is preparing for the worst-case scenario. The government has said it will shut down access to social networks, which protesters use to mobilize.

On the streets of Lemba, a neighborhood in Kinshasa, local opposition leader Jean Claude Mwamba was preparing to confront the regime despite the violent reaction he anticipated. Mwamba led a small protest on Saturday, with young men holding signs that read Farewell, Kabila. He predicted the protest would grow larger this week.

Theres no security, no jobs, no respect of the constitution, he said. For us, there is only one option  that Kabila leaves.

Many Congolese agree that Kabila has failed to improve the lives of most of the countrys citizens, even as he and his family appear to have grown wealthy.

A recent Bloomberg investigation linked 70 companies, many in Congos mining industry, to the family. Meanwhile, about two-thirds of the countrys 77 million people earn less than $1.90 per day.

The constitutional discussion will soon be overshadowed by the struggle to remove Kabila through protests in the streets and repression by the security forces, said Jason Stearns, head of the New York-based Congo Research Group.

Leaving power would ostensibly endanger Kabilas large investments, particularly as his coalition has not yet put forth a viable successor.

This month, Washington and the European Union announced sanctions against nine senior Kabila officials who they said were involved in repression.

For now, the sanctions dont appear to have reduced the likelihood of violent demonstrations. The Congolese government has emphasized the strength and loyalty of security forces.

We have the police, the army and the intelligence services working for us, said a spokesman for the ruling coalition, Andre-Alain Atundu. Maybe there will be turmoil for two or three days, but eventually the [protesters] will get hungry.

Kabila, 45, took power in 2001, after his father, President Laurent Kabila, was assassinated. Congo, which became independent from Belgium in 1960, still hasnt had a peaceful handover of power.

As the son of a rebel, Joseph Kabila grew up in far-flung parts of Congo and Tanzania, an experience that defines him, according to those close to him.

He was born and grew up in the bush, said Aubin Minaku, president of the national assembly and a senior figure in Kabilas coalition. He knows what it means to struggle.

But even Kabilas political allies are not sure what will come next for the country. Kabila has said he doesnt intend to change the constitution  which he would have to do to run for another term, whenever elections are held. But will he stay true to that pledge?

In reality, no one can answer that question, Minaku said.

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PARIS  A French court Monday found IMF chief Christine Lagarde guilty of criminal negligence linked to a government payout to a tycoon eight years ago while she served as finance minister.

But Lagarde will not face punishment or fines, and she vowed to try to appeal the decision by the special tribunal.

It was unclear whether the ruling could have spill over on her leadership of the International Monetary Fund. But the courts soft touch on applying the ruling  including not recording it her criminal record  suggested limited direct fallout on Lagardes IMF duties.

One of her lawyers, Christopher Baker, told the Associated Press that there is no sentence, which means theres no record of this.

During her tenure as Frances finance minister, the court ruled Lagarde failed to thwart a 285 million euro ($297 million) government payout to the French businessman Bernard Tapie in 2008.

The so-called Tapie Affair has been a fixture of French politics for more than a decade.

Tapie, once the major shareholder in the sporting goods company Adidas, had to sell the company in 1993 to avoid conflicts of interest before taking a position in the cabinet of Frances then-president, Francois Mitterand.

But the following year, Tapie alleged that Credit Lyonnais, the partially state-owned bank that had overseen the transaction at the time, deliberately devalued his company and defrauded him of millions in the process. Tapie sold Adidas for 315 million euros; it was resold the next year for more than double that price.

The case then carried on for years until 2007, when Lagarde, then Frances finance minister, referred it to private arbitration. In 2008, the panel approved a payout of hundreds of millions to the businessman and former actor that would cover most of the difference.

A French court has since ruled that Tapie was not entitled to the compensation, and Lagarde was subsequently accused of negligence with public money.

Lagarde, 60, had faced up to one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros. But one of the presiding judges said Monday that the defendant would face neither and would not have a criminal record.

On Friday in Paris, Lagarde insisted that she had acted in good faith and called the trial, which had spanned five years, an ordeal for her family and former colleagues. She was in Washington, the headquarters of the IMF, when the verdict was issued.

Lagarde took over the International Monetary Fund in 2011 from Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a former French finance minister who was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel maid in New York. Those charges were later abandoned.

The IMF is a major player in global finances, offering packages and oversight to debt-choked nations including Greece, Pakistan and Portugal.

In addition to Lagarde, another former IMF chief, Rodrigo Rata, is presently standing trial alongside 64 other bankers for the misuse of funds during his tenure at Bankia, a Spanish bank.

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MOSCOW  A Turkish police officer who angrily denounced the bloodshed in Syria killed the Russian ambassador to Turkey in Ankara on Monday, shooting the diplomat in front of a room full of horrified spectators at an art gallery in an assassination captured on video and quickly shared around the world.

As the ambassador, Andrei Karlov, lay on the floor, the assailant, still waving his gun, screamed, Dont forget Aleppo! Dont forget Syria!

The shooting was among the most brazen retaliatory attacks yet on Russia since Moscow entered the war in Syria on the side of President Bashar al-Assad, and unleashed a bombardment on Aleppo that has drawn international condemnation for what observers on the ground have called indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

But in Moscow, where the Kremlin has maintained that its aerial sorties and missile attacks have exclusively targeted terrorists, Russias Foreign Ministry called the shooting a terrorist attack, and President Vladimir Putin called it a provocation aimed at rupturing ties between Russia and Turkey.

The only answer to the murder of the Russian ambassador to Turkey must be the intensification of the struggle against terrorism, Putin said in nationally televised remarks. And the bandits will feel it.

Putin ordered his major crime investigative unit to work with Turkish authorities, who identified the gunman as 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, an officer with the riot police. In the video, Altintas, dressed incongruously in a black suit and tie, shouts, We are those who pledged jihad to Muhammad! Referring to Syria, he added, Every single person who has a share in this atrocity will pay for it!

Several other people were wounded in the attack, which came as Karlov was speaking at the opening of an exhibit of Russian photos, but their identities were not immediately made public.

Altintas was killed in a shootout with police at the gallery, but Russian authorities vowed to reveal a larger plot  and some in Moscow suggested that the West was to blame for its support of moderate rebel factions in Syria.

Putin stopped short of that, saying only, We need to know who guided the hand of the murderer.

The assassination was Turkeys third major attack in less than 10 days, and it follows months of deadly violence  including a failed coup attempt and a suicide attack on Istanbuls international airport  that has highlighted the threats facing the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and has left the country reeling from a sense of siege.

The attacks have reflected a convergence of crises that Turkey, a NATO member and major ally of the United States, has weathered over the past few years. They include the spillover from the war in neighboring Syria, a failed peace deal with Kurdish militants and a domestic challenge from a shadowy network tied to a Turkish preacher living in the United States.

Erdogan has successfully seized on the crises to consolidate his authority. His government has moved forcefully against Kurdish and Islamist militants as well as followers of the preacher, Fethullah Gulen.

It was not clear whether Altintas, the assassin, fit into any of those categories. The interior minister said Altintas hailed from a town near Izmir, on the Aegean coast, and had been on the force for 2 1/

2 years. Some pro-government commentators tried to brand him as a follower of Gulen, while his shouted manifesto after the shooting suggested, at the very least, that he was acting out of anger at the carnage in Syria.

In a television address hours after the shooting, Erdogan also condemned the assassination as a provocation aimed at disrupting warming ties between Turkey and Russia. Erdogan, who has been a leading regional opponent of the Syrian government, also defended Turkeys cooperation with Syrias sponsor, Russia, saying that it aimed to find a solution for the humanitarian crisis in Syria and stop the oppression in Aleppo.

Erdogan and Putin, two strongmen with global aspirations, have found common ground in recent months in their desire to secure an end to the Syrian war that would guarantee their long-term influence at a time when U.S. diplomacy has collapsed.

Their foreign ministers, as well as their counterpart from Iran, which backs Assad, are planning to meet Tuesday in Moscow to negotiate a settlement to the Syrian war that would exclude the United States and assert the three powers as the regions most vital players.

The newfound cooperation between Russia and Turkey over Syria was exemplified by the deal they brokered last week for the evacuation of besieged people from the last few blocks of rebel-held territory in eastern Aleppo.

The statements by Putin and Erdogan suggested that the assassination may not disrupt their budding convergence of interests. Until last summer, the two presidents had been bitter rivals over Syria, supporting opposite sides in the war and embroiled in recriminations over the shoot-down by Turkey of a Russian fighter jet in November 2015.

Those circumstances have led some Russian politicians to accuse the West of complicity in the attack.

They are afraid of that alliance. Its a counterweight to the European Union and NATO, said Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a nationalist politician whose often outlandish remarks on foreign policy are sometimes seen as a trial balloon for things the Kremlin would rather not say.

Many players risk losing out in any Russian-Turkish deal over the future of Syria, including the U.S.-backed Syrian opposition, extremists with the Islamic State, and Syrias al-Qaida affiliate.

The United States, meanwhile, joined other nations in condemning the shooting.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones, the Russian people, and with the other victims who were injured in this shooting, Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement. We stand ready to offer assistance to Russia and Turkey as they investigate this despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world.

President-elect Donald Trump also issued a statement condemning the killing.

Karlov started his diplomatic career in 1976 during the Soviet era and took the post in Ankara in July 2013, according to the embassys website. Putin referred to him as a brilliant diplomat who had excellent relations with the leadership of Turkey and other political forces.

The incident could spur even more vigorous efforts between Russia and Turkey to secure their role as Syrias main power brokers and negotiate a settlement to the war on their terms. Aaron Stein, a resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, said that any fallout will entirely depend on Russias reaction.

All indications thus far is that they will retain the relations they have built with Turkey since the rapprochement a couple of months ago, he added. The recent cease-fire cobbled together was to Russias long-term benefit in Syria, while also addressing Turkeys real concern about civilian casualties, Stein said.



Fahim reported from Cairo, Sly from Beirut. Brian Murphy, Carol Morello and Karen DeYoung in Washington, Zeynep Karatas in Istanbul and Erin Cunningham in Irbil, Iraq, contributed to this report.

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Wireless roaming charges are outrageous, to hear travelers like Karen Pliskin talk about them. And she ought to know.

On a weekend visit to Vancouver, B.C., the San Francisco-based anthropologist did everything she could to avoid international roaming charges, declining to make calls or send text messages. The following month, she found an extra $30 on her Verizon wireless bill. It turned out that the apps on her phone had quietly drained expensive roaming bandwidth. After that experience, she started turning her phone off when she crossed the border.

What can we do about these charges? she asks.

A lot, actually. The National Consumers League (NCL) recently asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate roaming fees charged by American phone companies. An NCL analysis of the market for roaming services found that a significant portion of the more than 73 million Americans who travel abroad annually may be at risk of incurring higher-than-expected charges on their wireless phone bills, thanks to these fees.

Even consumers who are careful and try to limit their mobile-data use can come home to a surprise bill, says John Breyault, an NCL vice president of public policy.

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), a trade group for the wireless industry, says it has already taken significant steps to end bill shock. The wireless industry provides consumers with a host of consumer-friendly protections and service offerings to ensure that they can travel abroad without unexpected international roaming charges, says Brian Josef, a vice president of regulatory affairs for CTIA. The marketplace is working for consumers.

Its hard to know how much American travelers pay annually in roaming fees. But we know what wireless carriers are earning, and its a lot. Revenue from global roaming services is expected to reach $90 billion a year by 2018, according to a recent estimate by Juniper Research, a research and analytical services company based in Britain. A study by the IT consultancy firm Ovum predicts that by 2019, mobile data, the same kind that ensnared Pliskin, will account for more than half of all global roaming revenue.

Roaming fees are a rich source of profit for wireless carriers. A study by professional-services company KPMG, cited by the NCL in its petition, noted that international mobile roaming fees should be only 10 to 20 percent higher than non-roaming fees, based on the actual cost of providing the service. In fact, they cost more than five times as much, on average.

Lewis Ramsden, a lifestyle photographer based in Wakefield, England, recently experienced this gross overpricing when he needed to call a client while he was on assignment in Marrakesh, Morocco. He couldnt find a WiFi hotspot, so he turned on his phone to make a brief call.

I paid almost $16 for a three-minute call, he says. How can that be legal?

Ill answer that in a minute. But first, a word or two about what you can do now to avoid these fees. The only certain method: Dont bring your phone. Your cellular carrier cant ding your phone if it doesnt make the trip with you.

For most travelers, thats an impractical solution. But you have two other choices: buying a SIM card  or a smart card that allows you to use a local carrier  or skipping the expensive cellular plan and relying on local hotspots. Both require a little technical know-how.

On an iPhone like Pliskins, you must switch to Airplane mode and turn on WiFi. But a few careless swipes can mean your phone will start roaming, incurring fees. Buying and installing a SIM card isnt difficult, but some smartphones dont accept outside cards (in geek-speak, theyre locked). The NCL study suggested that wireless companies would rather keep their customers in the dark about SIM card options, noting that it found no instances where U.S. carriers attempted to educate their subscribers about those alternatives.

There are numerous other options for communicating while abroad. They include using WiFi-based calling and messaging apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts or Viber for calls and texting or Apples iMessage for messaging. Andy Abramson, a frequent traveler who runs a Los Angeles communications agency, favors Skype as well as voice-over-IP services such as Dialpad, Telzio and Vonage. And theres Google-Fi, a service I use, as does Abramson. For $20 a month, it offers flat-rate coverage in more than 135 countries with no roaming fees.

The preferred solution for wireless carriers is that customers sign up for one of their international plans, which used to be prohibitively expensive but now are becoming more affordable.

In the old days the rates and plans were so expensive, it made no sense to even turn on the phone when you left the USA, Abramson says. Thats changing.

But that doesnt necessarily mean theyre getting more reasonable. I ran into Louis Altman, a longtime reader who runs a satellite communications company, at Toronto Pearson International Airport, where he was mulling the options AT&T had offered him to connect  either a pay-as-you-go choice for $2.05 per megabyte and $.59 per minute for calls, or spending $40 on a 200-megabyte data plan, including free texting and $.99 per minute for calls.

Wait, he told me. The pay-as-I-go rate for data is 10 times higher than the $40 plan? And calls cost more on the plan? Who thought of that formula?

One reason prices are falling is that other countries are taking a hard look at high roaming rates and acting to reduce them. The European Union is effectively eliminating roaming charges for calls in Europe to member countries by next June, and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are cutting data roaming rates by two-thirds by 2020. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development have also pushed their member countries to take action to address high roaming rates.

Will regulation work in the United States, too? The last time the FCC tried to implement consumer regulations, the telecommunications industry voluntarily agreed to implement changes that include better fee disclosures and clear and conspicuous disclosure of tools or services that enable customers to track, monitor and set limits on voice, messaging and data usage.

This time, regulators need to either require that wireless carriers offer information on cheaper alternatives or follow Europes lead and require that they lower their roaming fees.



Elliott is a consumer advocate, journalist and co-founder of the advocacy group Travelers United.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working the Columbus, N.M., port of entry seized 1.6 pounds of liquid methamphetamine Sunday that was hidden inside the rings of Native American style dreamcatchers.

This is one of the most unusual smuggling episodes we have ever encountered, said CBP Columbus Port Director Robert Reza in a news release.. Smugglers will try to conceal their drug loads in everyday items like soft drink cans, framed artwork and other seemingly innocent items. CBP utilizes numerous inspection techniques that help identify and stop these shipments.

Agents made the discovery aboutt 2 p.m. Sunday when a 2000 Dodge Neon with one adult and two children entered Columbus from Mexico. A drug sniffing dog alerted to six dreamcatchers in the vehicle.

Officers discovered the rings of the dreamcatchers were made of rubber tubing filled with a liquid that tested positive for the properties of methamphetamine, agents said.

The driver, a 25-year-old Mexican female from Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico, was taken into custody and turned over to ICE HSI special agents. The womans 8-year-old and 1-year-old daughters were remanded to the custody of a relative.
SANTA FE  New Mexicos five designated presidential electors each voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton today, while expressing disappointment about the outcome of the presidential election and misgivings over the Electoral College system.

Protesters holding anti-Donald Trump signs held a rally outside the state Capitol in Santa Fe today and then stood just outside a conference room in the Secretary of States office today as the five electors were meeting.

While some Trump opponents have called on presidential electors to block Trump from reaching the White House by strategically voting for different Republicans, that was never likely to happen in New Mexico.

In New Mexico, where Clinton defeated Trump by about 8 percentage points in the statewide vote, it is a fourth-degree felony for designated electors to cast their ballot for anyone other than the presidential candidate who received the majority of the votes cast in the state.

First-time elector Noyola Archibeque of Las Vegas said she was proud New Mexico stayed blue but said the rules of the Electoral College need to be revised to better reflect the popular vote.

Theres something really wrong with this system, she told the Journal.

The Electoral College process is the last hurdle for President-elect Trump, who is expected to be sworn into office next month.

While rules can vary by state, electors around the nation were meeting today and casting votes for president and vice president.

Elector John Padilla of Albuquerque acknowledged it is unlikely that the Electoral College could be used to prevent Trump from taking office.

But he said the fact Clinton leads nationwide in the popular vote  by a margin of nearly 2.9

million votes  shows the system should be re-examined.

I think we need to have a talk about it, but the whole country needs to be a part of it, Padilla said.

All five of New Mexicos electors, who are appointed by state Democratic Party leaders, signed a certificate that will be delivered to Congress for the final certification of election results in January.
BERLIN  Call it the high school that stole Christmas.

As the holiday season approached, the administration of Istanbul High School  an academy in Muslim-majority Turkey partly funded by the German government  took a highly unusual step. It instructed, according to an email obtained by Germanys DPA news service, that Christmas this year should be kept under wraps.

No teaching of Christmas customs.

No celebrations.

And certainly no Christmas caroling.

In fact, German officials confirmed, the schools choir canceled its traditional Christmas concert performance at Germanys consulate in Istanbul.

The school, at which many classes are taught in German, is prestigious in Turkey and counts at least three Turkish prime ministers as alumni. German taxpayers pay about 1 million euros annually to support it, and news of the restrictions quickly sparked an uproar in the heart of Europe, where a debate about conservative Islam is raging.

German politicians and social media pundits were attacking the Islamic-tinged and authoritarian government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan for allegedly creating an environment in Turkey  the birthplace of Saint Nicholas  in which Christmas has become politically incorrect.

In a statement since taken down from its website, the schools administration insisted that it had not instituted a Christmas ban. Rather, it was responding, it said, to actions by German teachers  about 35 of whom work at the school  that could seem to promote Christianity.

The school said it had taken steps after the German teachers dealt with Christmas and Christianity in a way which the curriculum does not provide for and that viewed from the outside opens the door to [accusations] of manipulation, according to German media outlets. In an email to The Washington Post, Volker Schult, the head of the schools German department, declined to comment.

But plenty of other Germans were commenting.

On Sunday, Germanys Foreign Ministry called the incident regrettable, even as social media pundits and politicians across the political spectrum fumed.

The German government mustnt accept the Christmas ban by the Turkish authorities, Markus Soder, a member of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), told the daily Bild. He later added, Erdogan is consciously breaking the bridges to Europe.

Andreas Scheuer, the CSUs secretary general, said in an interview with Funke media group that the school actions were infringing upon religious freedom.

Speaking to Berlin daily Der Tagesspiegel on Sunday, Left Party lawmaker Sevim Dagdelen called on Berlin to summon the Turkish ambassador and to send an official protest to Ankara.

It shows how far the AKPs Islamist madness is going, if even Christmas is declared a taboo at a school, which is sponsored with German tax money, Dagdelen said, referring to Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party.

As the incident appeared to be spiraling into a four-alarm fire in the 24-hour news cycle, however, the German foreign ministry sought to calm things down. On Monday, ministry spokesman Martin Schafer emphasized the importance of long-standing German-Turkish cultural relations and said Germany stood firmly by Turkeys side in the face of recent terrorist attacks.

He expressed surprise that the issue had created such a huge media echo.

We let the media know yesterday that we found it hard to understand and were surprised that apparently the school administration gave the instruction not to talk about Christmas, sing Christmas songs and not to discuss the subject matter, he said. But this is not a Christmas ban.  Nobody in Turkey is banning anyone from celebrating Christmas.

He added that there have been fresh talks between the school administration, and Turkish and German officials and that the problem is likely to be resolved shortly, Schafer said.

Im very confident that the school will soon inform you that hopefully all misunderstandings will have been resolved and that, of course, teachers at this school, which is rich in tradition, will be able to talk about German Christmas customs, he said.

Turkish politicians, meanwhile, pushed back on social media, arguing that the issue was being blown out of proportion.

Tweeting an image of brightly lit Christmas trees in Istanbul, AKP politician Mustafa Yeneroglu, wrote: Some examples of christmas ban pictures in #Turkey. Should I ask for ramadan images in GER?

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The election of Donald Trump as president was met as an encouraging omen by far-right movements around the world, no less so than in Israel, where some ultranationalists viewed the election as an invitation to indulge some of their long-sought objectives. One day after Trumps win, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, the leader of the right-wing Jewish Home party said, The era of the Palestinian state is over.

That ebullient reaction on the Israeli right may well be justified. In May, Trump told the Daily Mail that Israel should keep moving forward with settlement construction. Last month, one of Trumps advisers, Jason Greenblatt, confirmed to an Israeli radio station that Trump did not view Israeli settlement construction, which the State Department has frequently described as illegitimate, as particularly harmful to the prospects of peace. And last week, Trump announced that David Friedman, who has a history of pro-settlement activism, will be his ambassador to Israel. According to a report by Haaretz in June, Friedman has helped raise millions of dollars for the settlement of Beit El in the occupied West Bank. (He has also said that supporters of J Street, an American Jewish advocacy group that opposes the occupation, are far worse than kapos  the Jews who helped the Nazis run concentration camps.)

So what can progressives  Jews and non-Jews, Israelis and non-Israelis  do to keep pressure on hawks in the Knesset now that the incoming U.S. administration is so clearly on their side? The best way to fight the expansion of settlements would be to boycott goods and services made there.

As a dual citizen of the United States and Israel who is deeply committed to the vitality and security of Israel, I unequivocally oppose the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which calls for opponents of the occupation to cut all ties between Israel and the rest of the world. It seeks to isolate Israel and punish Israelis of almost all political persuasions, regardless of their views of the occupation. But in the face of that movements challenge to my progressive values and a right-wing government in Israel whose actions undermine the two-state solution  and now, a right-wing government about to take power in Washington that agrees wholeheartedly with Israels  I cant simply oppose the boycott movement and leave it at that.

So in early October, I joined dozens of intellectuals, activists and writers in signing an open letter circulated by Partners for Progressive Israel calling for a targeted boycott of all goods and services that originate in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. The goal is to prevent the settlements from becoming centers of industry in the West Bank, because economic growth there will bolster larger, more entrenched communities. These communities grow at the expense of a two-state solution.

A targeted boycott of the settlements is necessary because the settlements themselves are inexorably and directly linked to the violence and human rights abuses of the military occupation; wherever Israeli civilians build their communities, the army must follow to provide security to those communities. The network of roads that connect these settlements to Israel proper and one another are often prohibited to Palestinian use.

The Palestinian village Nabi Saleh is a case in point. Every Friday, villagers march against the occupation, and every Friday, the army prevents the demonstration from reaching the road. To intervene, the army uses stun grenades and tear gas. Palestinian demonstrators hurl rocks at Israeli troops. Sometimes, Palestinians are killed during these clashes. The primary objective of suppressing these demonstrations, however, is not to prevent Palestinians from protesting occupation, but to prevent the demonstration from approaching the settlement of Halamish, located across the street from Nabi Saleh.

Those who boycott Israel are as horrified by this situation as I am. The approach they have taken, however, is wrong. Boycotting all of Israel implicitly dismisses the efforts of patriotic Israelis such as Avi Buskila, the director of Peace Now, who work every day to end the occupation. For Israelis who oppose the occupation, the social and political price is often high. On Oct. 14, Hagai El-Ad, the director of the Israeli human rights group BTselem, spoke in front of a special session of the U.N. Security Council and called on the international community to act against the occupation. Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, called El-Ads presentation to the Security Council diplomatic terrorism. David Bitan, a Likud party member of the Knesset and the chairman of the governing coalition, called for El-Ads citizenship to be revoked.

By boycotting the settlements, Americans would be sending a message of solidarity to progressive Israeli groups such as BTselem, Gush Shalom and Peace Now  as well as to Palestinians who suffer the humiliations of the occupation every day.

In the Trump administration, everyone working to end the occupation will need more support, not less. Instead of boycotting Israel, progressives should continue to stand with those Israelis who are on the front lines against their government and the settlement movement.

 Hersh is the former managing director of the social justice nonprofit Partners for Progressive Israel.

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Responsibility for this brutality lies in one place alone, with the Assad regime and its allies, Russia and Iran, President Obama said last week of the barbarity in Aleppo, Syria, and this blood and these atrocities are on their hands.

My journalism students and I here in Dubai follow the news together closely to talk about stories and how theyre reported. We followed this one with some disappointment, however, because the president would not acknowledge the consequences of his own lack of action in Syria. And when his U.N. envoy, Samantha Power, talked about shame, my class could only wonder whether she had looked in the mirror recently.

For them, its no longer any wonder that neither the U.S. president nor any other American representative will be attending the next conference on Syria. Reportedly theres a meeting in Moscow later this month to determine Syrias fate: It involves only the Russians, the Turks and the Iranians. No Syrians. One student recalled a report that at an international conference on Syria held in Vienna last year, the only Syrian present was a waiter who was serving the diplomats.

The images of the destruction in Aleppo have haunted us all for days, and we all feel helpless. My colleagues include men and women from throughout the Middle East, and they have raised an angry chorus of blame. Turkey is behaving in a wicked way because ISIS would not have done what it did in Syria without help from Turkey. And, Iran wants what it wants in the Middle East.

A couple of colleagues angrily accused Obama of backing Bashar Assad. Its obvious, said a Jordanian. If he made a nuclear deal with Iran, it means hes on the same side as Russia and Assad. As for his elected successor, another colleague predicted, that, Trump will not do anything different. Why? Because there are two countries that decide everything: Israel and the United States. For some, the horror in Aleppo is only the latest act in a plan to destroy the Middle East.

But while other Arabs are frustrated and angry, many of the Syrians I know seem stunned, understandably depressed and traumatized by what they have been witnessing. I spoke with a Syrian professor here in Dubai, and she said her Aleppo relatives had fled to Germany. Theyre all safe. But is she following the news? To be honest, I stopped reading about it, she confided. I just cant, she said, her voice trailing off.

I tell my students were supposed to learn from our past mistakes to avoid repeating them. We spoke, for example, of Dresden, Germany, a city that was reduced to rubble in a matter of days in 1945, killing tens of thousands of civilians. But after Dresden, we saw destruction and murder in the former Yugoslavia. In Rwanda. In South Sudan. And now Aleppo.

I have students from Aleppo. They said that when they visited their families last summer, they found their neighborhoods to be safe; there are parts of the city that have not been targeted. Still, theyre obviously shocked, and each has sought a way to deal with the anguish. One young man  a television production student  said he can no longer watch TV reports on the war: Theyre too graphic. He still reads about the war, but he had to stop watching the TV footage when the airstrikes began.

Another journalism student had a more dispassionate reaction. She asked why Syrians expect anyone to sympathize with them when they did nothing for other people in crisis. We didnt react when there was suffering in Somalia or when the floods hit the Philippines, she said. Why do we expect them to care about us when we didnt care about them? She said she and her parents watch the news on television and continue to read about it. We got used to it, she said, sadly adding that its not the first time Aleppo has been ruined. Its been destroyed three or four times in history.

One Syrian man told me how sad he is to lose the homeland he warmly recalled. I expected him to speak of Syrias rich culture or the kindness of its people or even the damage to so much of its irreplaceable heritage. But I was moved when instead he focused on a tiny detail of his remembered life there, because it suggested how utterly the Syria of his memory was being erased. Many big things of memory  a city, stability, comity  were gone, and he was cherishing ever smaller, personal things. The water was so good, he said wistfully. You could drink it straight from the tap, and it was cold and delicious.



Bahrani is a professor of journalism at American University in Dubai.

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AUSTIN, Texas  The Latest on Texas presidential electors meeting Monday to cast their ballot in the Electoral College (all times local):

5:55 p.m.

One of two Texas presidential electors who didnt cast their ballot for Donald Trump says he nonetheless congratulates the president-elect.

Dallas paramedic Chris Suprun said Monday that he obviously disagrees with 36 other Texas Republican electors whose vote put Trump over the top nationally. The billionaire formally clinched the Electoral College after all but two of Texas electors voted for the businessman.

Suprun drew national attention and the scorn of pro-Trump supporters after announcing earlier this month that he would back another candidate. He said he wound up casting his ballot for Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Another unidentified Texas elector cast his secret ballot for former Texas congressman Ron Paul, who didnt run for president in 2016 after previous failed bids.

___

4:30 p.m.

Texas has clinched the Electoral College for Donald Trump.

The ballots of three dozen Texas presidential electors Monday put the billionaire over the 270 electoral votes needed to formally win the White House. All but two of the states 38 electors stuck with Trump.

Among the pair of electors to revolt was Dallas paramedic Chris Suprun. He had compared Trump to a king earlier this month in announcing that he would cast his ballot for someone else. Suprun said he would vote for Ohio Gov. John Kasich instead.

Another elector used his ballot to vote for former Texas congressman Ron Paul.

More than 100 demonstrators outside the Texas Capitol had hoped more electors would also reject Trump. After the vote, Republicans who counted the ballots asked state troopers to clear disruptive demonstrators from the gallery of the Texas House of Representatives.

__

1:55 p.m.

The Texas presidential elector who compared Donald Trump to a king in saying he wont cast his ballot for the president-elect now says Republican John Kasich will get his vote.

Dallas paramedic Chris Suprun told The Associated Press before Mondays vote in Texas that he had settled on the Ohio governor.

Suprun had previously suggested he would consider Kasich after announcing this month that Trump wouldnt get his vote. Suprun has said that his job as an elector was to elect a president, not a king.

Texas has 38 presidential electors. Neither Trump nor Democrat Hillary Clinton had lost any electors Monday prior to voting getting underway in Texas.

___

1:45 p.m.

A Texas elections official says as many as four of the states presidential electors may be replaced before Republicans begin casting ballots in the Electoral College, though Donald Trump isnt expected to lose any of those votes.

Texas Secretary of State spokeswoman Alicia Pierce says up to three electors may be disqualified for having jobs with the federal government. Another elector previously resigned after expressing concern about Trumps presidential qualifications.

Because Republicans will pick the replacements, Trump isnt expected to lose those electors.

Texas has 38 presidential electors. One of them, Dallas paramedic Chris Suprun, has previously said he wont pick Trump after comparing the businessman to a king. Suprun hasnt said who will get his ballot.

__

10:15 a.m.

Demonstrators are gathering outside the Texas Capitol in hopes of persuading more than three dozen Republican electors to cast their ballot for someone other than President-elect Donald Trump.

A spokeswoman for Secretary of State Carlos Cascos on Monday accepted a box containing what organizers say are about 265,000 signatures from people opposed to a Trump presidency. But even several demonstrators outside werent optimistic about changing the outcome of last months election.

Among them was 78-year-old Jim Nelson, who held a sign that read The Popular Vote Matters. Democrat Hillary Clinton lost despite getting 2.6 million more votes nationwide.

Trump won Texas 38 electoral votes by nine percentage points. One Texas elector doesnt plan voting for Trump, but an Associated Press survey of other electors found little displeasure with the businessman.
The morning started out a disaster. We were prepared to go rain or shine, but an ice storm made conditions not just unpleasant, but dangerous. I frantically coordinated with my colleagues at the D.C. Audubon Society to alert our 24 volunteers that we had to push our start time to the afternoon. Postponing any longer or giving up was out of the question, after all, because we had more than a centurys worth of tradition to uphold.

The first Christmas Bird Count, or CBC, was held in 1900, when ornithologist Frank Chapman of the newly formed Audubon Society proposed a twist on traditional Christmas side hunts, where hunters competed to see who could shoot the most birds in a day. Many species of birds were threatened by overhunting at the time  egrets were nearly driven to extinction because their long plumes were used to decorate hats  and Chapman proposed simply counting the birds instead of killing them.

Twenty-seven birders in 25 locations across the country participated in that first Christmas Bird Count. This years 117th annual count expects more than 72,000 participants in more than 2,500 locations in the Western Hemisphere, from Tierra del Fuego to the Arctic Circle. Last year people counted almost 60 million birds. Its the longest-running wildlife census in the world and one of our most valuable sources of information about birds.

Our small sliver of the D.C. Christmas Bird Count covered Battery Kemble Park in Northwest Washington. Just three of our original 24 sign-ups made it to the new start time, joining three D.C. Audubon volunteer board members, Chris Murray, Sara Fuentes and me. It was the first CBC for each of the attendees, Laysa Hedjar, Katherine Youngbluth, and Hisao Yatsuhashi, so I explained the situation: We were part of a larger effort trying to identify and count every individual bird within a 15-mile-diameter circle around Washington. At the end of the day, the counts from each sector of the circle would be tallied together to get a sense of the total avian population in the area. Our local count in turn would be added to the pool of national and international results to get a picture of bird population trends over time.

Our mission set, and our coats zipped tight, we headed up the icy hill to the top of Battery Kemble Park.

The battery in the parks name refers to the twin parrot rifles that once aimed down at Chain Bridge, Aqueduct Bridge and rebellious Virginia during the Civil War. The park has less ambitious goals today, primarily serving as a dog-walking venue. As far as the birds are concerned, its not spectacular habitat  in D.C. Audubons four years of covering the park for the CBC, our most unusual sighting was the time were pretty sure we saw NBCs David Gregory walking his dog  but the scrubby brush at the top of the ridge can host big numbers of small birds, and we went after them first.

Sure enough, the ridge was alive with feeding birds. We counted more than 100 American robins either in the trees overhead or scouring the thawing ground for worms. White-throated sparrows, song sparrows and a rare fox sparrow worked the thick grass looking for seeds, harried by bickering Carolina wrens. We reliably see huge numbers of northern cardinals at Battery Kemble, and there were more than a dozen at our first stop. (We counted nearly 50 before the day was out.)

Everyone needs to work together when youre trying not to miss a single bird, and our little squad was sharp. Yatsuhashi spotted some cedar waxwings perched quietly in a dense tangle, and Murray spied a hulking Coopers hawk  likely a female, which are larger than males, enlarged further by ruffling her feathers against the cold  over a distant rooftop.

We picked our way up around the top of the park and headed gingerly back down through the ice and mud toward Maddox Branch, the stream we would follow all the way down to the overlook at Fletchers Cove. We left most of the shrub-loving species behind  sparrows and American goldfinch  and headed into the woods.

The woods had their own suite of species. We encountered Carolina chickadees and tufted titmice, and managed to pick out a lone hermit thrush as it zipped across the road into a hedge. Woodpecker diversity picked up, too, with downy, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers and Northern flicker all making an appearance.

Red-bellied woodpeckers are one of the many species whose population trends have been revealed thanks to Christmas Bird Count data. Scientists began noticing that the speciess range was creeping northward from the American Southeast starting in about 1910, picking up speed in the 1950s. The bird is now fairly common throughout New England, and moving still. Warming temperatures that allow the bird to survive and feed further north is the primary reason.

Christmas Bird Count data has been critical to understanding how birds move in response to climate change. Tufted titmice are expanding northward and boat-tailed grackles are moving west, just two of the 314 species whose range Audubon predicts to shift by 2080. More than a third of species that spend their winters in the United States are declining, mainly from loss of habitat, including the Northern bobwhite, American kestrel and the wood thrush. There are some bright spots: Peregrine falcons and bald eagles have responded to intense conservation efforts and have rebounded from their midcentury nadirs.

As our team crossed down through the lovely Potomac Palisades Park, a small flock of ring-billed gulls was a nice pickup, and we finally saw a pair of powerful red-tailed hawks in trees looking over the Potomac River, but at this point in a bird count it becomes as much about the birds you havent seen as the ones youve got. How have we not seen a northern mockingbird? we asked ourselves. Where are the vultures? Were still missing a pigeon!

Theres a house in a nearby neighborhood with an incredible bird-feeder set up, and we paused to enjoy another large burst of woodpeckers, house finches, Carolina chickadees, mourning doves, Northern cardinals and tufted titmice. No new species, but it was good to see so much activity.

As we walked to the back to the entrance of Battery Kemble, we braved another melting ice shower and reconvened in the parking lot to go over our tally. We ended the day with 27 different species, fewer than in previous years but pretty good considering the difficult conditions. We had some high numbers for some species, though, including 190 American robins, 77 white-throated sparrows, 20 red-bellied woodpeckers and 30 mourning doves. Dampened by the weather but buoyed by our contribution to citizen science, we said goodbyes and headed home, to dry off.

  

The D.C. Christmas Bird Count was one of the earlier ones this counting season, which runs from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5. Check the Audubon website to volunteer for a count near you.

bird-count
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A team of wildlife officials in the United States and Mexico on Monday released details of a proposed recovery plan for the endangered jaguar, prompting criticism from environmental groups who say more needs to be done to restore a breeding population of the elusive cats north of the border.

While jaguars are found in 19 countries stretching from the American Southwest to South America, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Monday that the focus is on efforts in northern Mexico and the U.S.

As part of the proposal, scientists are not prescribing jaguar reintroductions in the U.S. Theyre focused instead on efforts to sustain habitat, eliminate poaching and improve social acceptance of the animal to accommodate jaguars that disperse into the U.S. so they can survive and multiply.

Federal officials are seeking comments on the proposal and any additional information that could help shape a final version of the plan.

We recognize the significant challenges of recovery planning for an elusive species with such an expansive, international range, Steve Spangle, the agencys field supervisor in Arizona, said in a statement.

Federal officials acknowledged it could take at least a half-century for jaguars to have viable, self-sustained populations in some areas of their historic range.

Earlier this month, an image captured in a southern Arizona mountain range shows what is believed to be the second wild jaguar spotted in the U.S. in recent years. A preliminary analysis suggested the cat was new to the area and not El Jefe, a jaguar captured on video in a nearby mountain range last year.

Until now, El Jefe (the Boss in Spanish) was believed to be the only jaguar in the U.S., although he has not been seen in over a year.

Since 1996, as many as seven jaguars have been documented in southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Federal officials say these jaguars are believed to be coming from a breeding population centered about 130 miles south of the U.S. border in the Mexican state of Sonora.

Arizona, New Mexico and other parts of the southwestern U.S. were home to jaguars before habitat loss and predator control programs aimed at protecting livestock eliminated them over the last 150 years.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2014 set aside nearly 1,200 square miles along the border as habitat essential for the conservation of the jaguar.

That spurred a lawsuit by the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and New Mexico Federal Lands Council. The groups representing ranchers and agricultural interests argued the decision was unlawful, arbitrary and capricious. That suit is ongoing.

It was another lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife, which have been pushing for jaguar protections, that resulted in the drafting of the recovery plan. The groups criticized the plan unveiled Monday as not doing enough.

The draft plan rules out translocating jaguars into the U.S. and the area allotted for recovery is much too small, covering only a fraction of the big cats historic range. This one-two punch makes jaguar recovery in the U.S. unlikely, said Rob Peters, a biologist with Defenders of Wildlife.

Michael Robinson with the Center for Biological Diversity suggested the proposal was more of an extinction plan for the cats because it aimed too low to make a difference in saving the jaguar.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it would continue to promote recovery throughout the range but that the draft focuses on northern Mexico and the American Southwest because that is where the agency has the most jurisdiction and has existing relationships with state and Mexican agencies, conservation groups, universities and others.

Mexico is already implementing its own jaguar recovery plan, and U.S. officials say they plan to coordinate efforts.
On the first day of their fathers administration, Eric and Donald Trump Jr. will be glad-handing at an Opening Day party in Washington for hundreds of wealthy well-wishers.

Details about the bash  which is separate from the official events hosted by the Presidential Inaugural Committee  are still being worked out, the events organizer tells us, though he confirmed that the proceeds would go to unspecified conservation organizations.

TMZ this weekend posted an invite detailing the admission prices, including a $1 million package that included, among other perks, a private reception for 16 with newly sworn-in President Trump and a multiday hunting and/or fishing excursion for four guests with Donald Trump Jr. and/or Eric Trump, and team. According to the document, the event will have a Cuff Links & Camouflage hunting-and-fishing theme (jeans, boots, and hats are welcome) and country acts Toby Keith and Alabama are set to perform.

But Walter Kinzie, the head of events company Encore Live, tells us that document TMZ posted was an earlier draft and that it contains some inaccuracies. Which ones? All will be revealed soon, he says.

In addition to the official balls, dozens of parties are slated for inauguration weekend, from those put on by state societies (the Texas Black Tie & Boots is reliably a big draw) to the tongue-in-cheek DeploraBall hosted by the group Gays for Trump.

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KETCHUM, Idaho (AP)  The actor who portrayed the tights-clad Batman in the 1960s TV series is selling paintings he has created of villains from the show at an art gallery in the central Idaho resort town of Ketchum near where he now lives.

The opening night of Criminals on Canvas is Wednesday at the Gilman Contemporary art gallery, and West is scheduled to attend.

The 88-year-old West in a statement says his paintings capture the humor, zaniness and depth of Batman villains as well as the Freudian motivations of Batman.

West's deadpan portrayal of the comic hero in the campy 1960s series brought the Capped Crusader into the national consciousness as he battled Catwoman, the Joker, the Riddler and the Penguin.

The Sun Valley and Ketchum area typically attracts many wealthy visitors during the holidays.

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During the 2016 campaign, China and Mexico were often painted with the same political brush. President-elect Donald Trump described the countries as Americas biggest economic rivals, taking advantage of us, undermining growth and stealing jobs.

The view wasnt confined to Republicans: Bernie Sanders won followers as he lambasted the government for crafting free trade deals that sent jobs to Mexico and China.

Mexico and China are similar in some ways. Theyre both populous countries, with workers who on average make a fraction of what Americans make. They are currently Americas two largest sources of exports.

But if you look more closely at our economic relationships with each country, China and Mexico start to look very different. One looks more like a partner, while the other looks like a rival.

Some researchers say Mexico was unfairly maligned in the U.S. election. In fact, if the U.S. wants to compete with Chinas manufacturing powerhouse, they say, Mexico is likely to be one of its most valuable allies.

The U.S. and Mexico at the most fundamental level are economic partners. We will sink or swim together in the global economy, says Christopher Wilson, the deputy director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center (no relation).

The U.S. and Mexican economies have become tied together both because of policy choices like the North American Free Trade Agreement, as well as geography, Wilson says. They experience growth and recessions together, and the productivity of their industries is linked because they trade so many materials and inputs used to make other products.

Its fundamentally different from the U.S. relationship with any other country than perhaps Canada, he says.

The reason has to do with the way companies set up global supply chains. In the last few decades, the step-by-step process companies use to manufacture goods has stretched beyond national borders. Today, a cars engine might be made in one country and the leather for car seats in another. The car might be assembled in a third country, depending on what each location does best.

Sometimes these supply chains snake around the world, but more often they are concentrated in a particular region, involving neighboring countries working together to compete globally on various products, says Wilson.

One of the worlds most formidable regional chains is centered in East Asia, often incorporating high-end products from Japan and Korea, and inexpensive labor from China. Another centers in Europe, where high-tech German manufacturers draw on the inexpensive labor of countries like Poland or Turkey.

Then theres the supply chain in North America, in which companies produce beer, planes, electronics, medical devices and other products by combining research, technology, raw materials and labor from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

But the way we measure trade overlooks/obscures the existence of these regional supply chains. When we record imports, we attribute the total value of the product to the last country it was in. But these days, that country is often just the last stop on a products long trip from conception to delivery.

Take, for example, the Apple iPhone, a product that is nominally made in China. In a widely cited study, researchers found that Apple created most of the products value through its product design, software development and marketing operations, most of which happen in the U.S. Apple ended up keeping about 58 percent of the iPhone 4s sales price. The gross profits of Korean companies LG and Samsung, which provided the phones display and memory chips, captured another 5 percent of the sales price. Less than 2 percent of the sales price went to pay for Chinese labor.

We estimate that only $10 or less in direct labor wages that go into an iPhone or iPad is paid to China workers. So while each unit sold in the U.S. adds from $229 to $275 to the U.S.-China trade deficit (the estimated factory costs of an iPhone or iPad), the portion retained in Chinas economy is a tiny fraction of that amount, the researchers wrote.

The last country a product stops in is often its place of assembly. Because assembly is labor intensive, it is often done in lower-cost countries. So trade statistics end up exaggerating imports from lower-cost countries like China and Mexico.

In fact, roughly two-thirds of international trade is actually in intermediate goods  the bits and pieces that get integrated into a final product, according to economists Robert Johnson and Guillermo Noguera.

These distortions add up. Johnson and Noguera estimated in 2011 that the U.S.-China trade imbalance would fall by around 40 percent if the value of all of the intermediate goods flowing into China were extracted.

In the case of Mexico, the distortion may be even more noteworthy, because many of the inputs Mexico uses in its products are American-made. If the incoming administration were to erect a 35 percent tariff on imports from Mexico, as Trump discussed during the campaign, it would be taxing products that are partly American, economists say.

Just how American are they? The figures are difficult to calculate directly, since they require proprietary information from companies about the inputs they use. But using an economic model, Chad P. Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, and his colleagues estimate that about 11 percent of the value of goods manufactured in Mexico come from American-made inputs. With automobiles, the figure is 14 percent. With electrical equipment, it rises to 19 percent.

For China, the numbers are a lot lower  around 2 percent on average, Bown says.

Other estimates are even higher. A 2010 paper by economist Robert Koopman and others found that 40 percent of the value of finished goods imported into the U.S. from Mexico was so-called U.S. content, intermediate products that support American companies and jobs. For Chinese imports, the percentage was only 4 percent.

Imports from different countries are very different in the way they either do or do not support the U.S. economy, says Wilson.

The integration between the U.S. and Mexican economies may be one reason that free trade agreements with Mexico appear to have had a much smaller effect on U.S. workers than agreements with China, researchers say.

Economists David Autor, David Dorn and Gordon Hanson estimate that U.S.-China trade growth was responsible for one-quarter of all U.S. manufacturing job losses from 1990-2007. Yet they found almost no negative impact from U.S. imports from Mexico, which also grew significantly during the period.

Not all economists agree. Research by John McLaren of the University of Virginia and Shushanik Hakobyan of Fordham University has shown that blue-collar workers in industries most affected by NAFTA had significantly lower wage growth over the 1990s compared with other workers.

Overall, McLaren believes the impact of NAFTA on American wages was small, but that the effects were concentrated in some communities. Hes not surprised that voters were upset about it or considered it to be an injury to their economic well-being.

Still, he says, we should keep NAFTAs effects in perspective. More than 20 years later, NAFTA likely has much less impact on manufacturing jobs than trade with China, and the effect of both is likely dwarfed by the influence of technological change and automation, he says.

In the years since NAFTA, manufacturers have redesigned their production systems to spread operations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Ultimately, those changes may have made North American manufacturers better able to compete with global rivals.

American auto production provides an example. NAFTA brought about huge changes in the industry, with many companies moving well-paying blue-collar assembly jobs to Mexico.

But the agreement triggered other changes as well. Automakers became more efficient, and were able to add new makes and models that they couldnt have otherwise, economist Gordon Hanson said in an email. Parts of the supply chain that required more skilled and educated workers ultimately expanded in the U.S. and Canada. Ultimately, NAFTA both destroyed and created U.S. jobs, Hanson says.

While overall employment in the U.S. motor vehicle and parts sector fell nearly 18 percent since 1994, the value the industry added to the U.S. economy grew 50 percent.

Today, theres no longer any such thing as an American car, or a Canadian car, or a Mexican car, says Wilson. Every car made on the continent uses parts and materials from at least two out of the three countries.

U.S. government statistics demonstrate this. Take the Tacoma, a mid-size truck that Toyota is increasingly producing in Mexico. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation, 65 percent of the value of a Tacoma is created in the U.S. or in Canada. Another 15 percent comes from Japan.

If the U.S. withdraws from NAFTA or puts tariffs on cars assembled in Mexico, cars made in North America will become more expensive, says Bown. Over time, companies might shift their supply chains to lower those costs. Some jobs could come back to the U.S., but they likely wouldnt stay. To remain competitive, carmakers would likely introduce more automation, or shift their operations to Asia or Europe, economists say.

Without the availability of nearby Mexican plants to do the final assembly of light vehicles, it is quite possible that the vast U.S. parts producing network for these vehicles would migrate to someplace outside of the continent, says Wilson.

mexico-china
HOUSTON  Harris County authorities have charged a 32-year-old man with capital murder for the death of his girlfriend who had been missing for nearly three months.

Jarvis Hickerson already was jailed for violating a protective order involving 32-year-old Amalia Alexander. She was last seen with him on September 19, 2016, and was reported missing the next day when she failed to show up for work as a nursing assistant at a Houston-area rehabilitation center.

Skeletal remains found Nov. 30 north of Houston in adjacent Montgomery County were identified as Alexanders and homicide investigators found evidence that tying Hickerson to the scene.

A court appearance on the charge is set for Tuesday. Court records dont show an attorney for him but show Hickerson with a lengthy criminal record going back 13 years.
It was announced today that expert consultants in engineering and environmental sciences, Fehily Timoney & Co, have signed a multi million euro deal in Kuwait.

The deal will see key staff at the 50-strong, Cork and Dublin-based firm, design and prepare tender documents for a major water distribution system for the Middle Eastern capital city, in collaboration with its partners.



At least half of the total project revenue reverts directly back to Ireland. As many as 16 Irish jobs will be generated over the lifetime of the contract, according to Fehily Timoney & Co Managing Director, Eamon Timoney.



The significant deal with the Ministry of Electricity and Water, Kuwait, is Fehily Timoneys first project win in Kuwait and sees it partnering with Arab Engineering Consultants and Dublin firm, Nicholas ODwyer Ltd, to deliver the 17-month-long phase of the project. The new pumping station they are designing will handle twice the annual water supply requirements of Dublin.



Work has already begun on the design and contract documentation of the main potable water pumping station, trunk distribution mains and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for the water distribution system for the Doha area of Kuwait City.

Commenting on the new deal, Managing Director, Eamon Timoney said, "Theres a significant construction supervision element to our part of the project and if the client is happy with the service we provide, then our Contract could be extended to cover the construction supervision stage. This could help us generate even further employment on the ground in Kuwait and back at the teams offices in Cork and Dublin, where our engineers, scientists, town planers and support staff are based."

Fehily Timoney has been in operation since 1990. Their other key, ongoing projects include Irelands largest onshore windfarm in Galway and the Kilgallioch Wind Farm Project in Scotland, the UKs second largest windfarm project.



Source: www.businessworld.ie

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Modified On Dec 19, 2016 06:35 PM By Raunak for Toyota Fortuner 2016-2021

2009 was the year when the Fortuner nameplate made its debut in India, and in nearly eight years and after two generations, Toyota has retailed over one lakh units of the body-on-frame SUV.

Japanese automaker, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd, has announced that it has sold more than one lakh units of the Fortuner in India. The Fortuner was launched in the year 2009 and since then the Ford Endeavour has been its primary rival. Last month, the automaker launched the second-gen model at Rs 25.92 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi), and it goes up against the second-gen Endeavour, which was launched back in January this year.

Mr N. Raja, director and senior vice president, marketing and sales, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, Being able to serve more than one lakh happy customers in such a premium and competitive segment, is a huge achievement for us. This would not have been possible without the support of our customers who have appreciated the product so much.

Besides this, Toyota highlighted in an official release that it has received 6000 bookings for the new Fortuner within the first few weeks of its launch. Speaking of its launch month sales, Toyota retailed close to 2000 units of the new Fortuner in November, registering an 80 per cent growth compared to the same month last year. Presently, Toyota is trying to clear its 5000 pending orders at the earliest possible.

Might be interested in this: Toyota Fortuner vs Ford Endeavour: Comparison Review

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Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. The Consumer Banking and Lending segment offers diversified financial products and services for consumers and small businesses. Its financial products and services include checking and savings accounts, and credit and debit cards, as well as home, auto, personal, and small business lending services. The Commercial Banking segment provides financial solutions to private, family owned, and certain public companies. Its products and services include banking and credit products across various industry sectors and municipalities, secured lending and lease products, and treasury management services. The Corporate and Investment Banking segment offers a suite of capital markets, banking, and financial products and services to corporate, commercial real estate, government, and institutional clients. Its products and services comprise corporate banking, investment banking, treasury management, commercial real estate lending and servicing, equity, and fixed income solutions, as well as sales, trading, and research capabilities services. The Wealth and Investment Management segment provides personalized wealth management, brokerage, financial planning, lending, private banking, and trust and fiduciary products and services to affluent, high-net worth, and ultra-high-net worth clients. It also operates through financial advisors. Wells Fargo & Company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
The following companies are subsidiares of LyondellBasell Industries: A. Schulman, A. Schulman 's-Gravendeel B.V., A. Schulman AG, A. Schulman Asia Limited, A. Schulman Belgium BVBA, A. Schulman Canada Ltd., A. Schulman Castellon S.L., A. Schulman Europe GmbH & Co. KG, A. Schulman Europe International B.V., A. Schulman Europe Verwaltungs GmbH, A. Schulman Gainsborough Ltd, A. Schulman GmbH, A. Schulman GmbH (Austrian Branch), A. Schulman Holding Company France S.A.S., A. Schulman Holdings (France) S.A.S., A. Schulman Holdings S.a.r.l., A. Schulman Inc., A. Schulman Inc. Limited, A. Schulman International Inc., A. Schulman International Services BVBA, A. Schulman Ireland Limited, A. Schulman Magyarorszag Kereskedelmi Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, A. Schulman Nordic AB, A. Schulman Plastics (Branch), A. Schulman Plastics (Dongguan) Ltd., A. Schulman Plastics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., A. Schulman Plastics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., A. Schulman Plastics BVBA, A. Schulman Plastics India Private Limited, A. Schulman Plastics PTY. LTD., A. Schulman Plastics S.r.l., A. Schulman Plastics SAS, A. Schulman Plastics bvba Bornem Sucursala Cluj-Napoca, A. Schulman Plastics organizacni slozka, A. Schulman Plastk Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, A. Schulman Plasticos do Brasil Ltda., A. Schulman Polska Sp. z o.o., A. Schulman Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, A. Schulman S.A.S., A. Schulman S.a.r.l., A. Schulman Thermoplastic Compounds Limited, A. Schulman Thermoplastic Compounds Sdn Bhd, A. Schulman de Mexico S.A. de C.V., A. Schulman del Peru S.A.C., A.Schulman Poznan Sp. Z o.o., ARCO Chemical, AS Global Holdings Inc., AS Mex Hold S.A. de C.V., AS Worldwide LLC, AS Worldwide LLC & Cie S.C.S., ASI Akron Land Co., ASI Employment S.A. de C.V., ASI Investments Holding Co., Al Waha Petrochemical Company, BKV Beteiligungs- und Kunststoffverwertungs-gesellschaft mbH, BMC Deutschland GmbH, BMC Dongguan Limited, BMC Far East Limited, BMC TetraDURTurkey Plastik Hammadde Kompozit Uretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Limted Sirketi, Basell (Thailand) Holdings B.V., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Thailand) Company Ltd., Basell Arabie Investissements SAS, Basell Asia Pacific Limited, Basell Bayreuth Chemie GmbH, Basell Benelux B.V., Basell Chemie Koln GmbH, Basell Europe Holdings B.V., Basell Germany Holdings GmbH, Basell Holdings Middle East GmbH, Basell Iberica Poliolefinas Holdings S.L., Basell International Holdings B.V., Basell International Trading FZE, Basell Italia S.r.l, Basell Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Basell Moyen Orient Investissements SAS, Basell North America Inc., Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sp. Z.o.o., Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sprzedaz Sp. Z.o.o., Basell Poliolefinas Comercial Espagnola S.L., Basell Poliolefinas Iberica S.L., Basell Poliolefinas Ltda., Basell Poliolefinas S. de R.L. de C.V., Basell Poliolefine Italia S.r.l., Basell Polyolefin Istanbul Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Basell Polyolefine GmbH, Basell Polyolefines France S.A.S., Basell Polyolefins Company BVBA, Basell Polyolefins India Private Limited, Basell Polyolefins Korea Ltd., Basell Polyolefins UK Limited, Basell Sales & Marketing Company B.V., Basell Service Company B.V., Basell Slovakia s.r.o., Basell Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Basell UK Holdings Limited, Basell UK Ltd., Brindisi Servizi Generali S.c.a.r.l., Bulk Molding Compounds Inc., Bulk Molding Compounds Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bulk Molding Compounds do Brasil Industria de Plasticos Reforcados Ltda., Citadel Brazil Holdings LLC, Citadel Intermediate Holdings LLC, Citadel Plastics Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Citadel Plastics Holdings Inc., Citadel Plastics Mexico Holdings LLC, Citadel Plastics Netherlands Holdings LLC, Compagnie Petrochimique de Berre SAS, Compagnie de Distribution des Hydrocarbures SAS, EMS Holding Ltd., EPS Ethylen-Pipeline-Sud Geschaftsfuhrungs GmbH, EPS Ethylen-Pipeline-Sud GmbH & Co. KG, Elian S.A.S., Equistar Bayport LLC, Equistar Chemicals LP, Equistar GP LLC, Equistar LP LLC, Equistar Mont Belvieu Corporation, GuangZhou Basell Advanced Polyolefins Co. Ltd., HGGC Citadel Plastics Holdings Inc., HGGC Citadel Plastics Intermediate Holdings Inc., HMC Polymers Company Limited, HPC Holdings LLC, Hadlock Plastics LLC, Houston Refining LP, I.F.M. S.c.a.r.l., ICO Europe C.V., ICO Holdings LLC, ICO Holdings New Zealand Limited, ICO Petrochemical Cayman Islands, ICO Polymers Cayman Islands, Indelpro S.A. de C.V., Infraserv GmbH & Co. Hochst KG, Inmobiliaria Satchmo S. de R.L. de C.V., Innovacion Y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados A.C., J.R. Courtenay (N.Z.) Limited, LPI Holding Company, LYB (Barbados) SRL, LYB Advanced Polymer Solutions Ireland Limited, LYB Americas Finance Company LLC, LYB Equistar Holdings LLC, LYB Export Holdings Limited, LYB Exports Inc., LYB Finance Company B.V., LYB International Finance B.V., LYB International Finance II B.V., LYB International Finance III LLC, LYB Ireland 2 Limited, LYB Ireland Limited, LYB La Porte Hyperzone LLC, LYB Luxembourg S.a r.l., LYB Matrixx Holdings Inc., LYB Receivables LLC, LYB Trading Company B.V., LYB Treasury Services Ltd., Limited Liability Company "LyondellBasell Polyolefins", Limited Liability Company A. Schulman, Lucent Polymers Inc., Lyondell Asia Holdings Limited, Lyondell Centennial Corp., Lyondell Chemical Company, Lyondell Chemical Europe Inc., Lyondell Chemical Overseas Services Inc., Lyondell Chemical Products Europe LLC, Lyondell Chemical Properties L.P., Lyondell Chemical Technology 1 Inc., Lyondell Chemical Technology L.P., Lyondell Chemical Technology Management Inc., Lyondell Chemie (PO-11) B.V., Lyondell Chemie (POSM) B.V., Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V., Lyondell Chimie France SAS, Lyondell China Holdings Limited, Lyondell Greater China Holdings Limited, Lyondell Greater China Ltd., Lyondell Greater China Trading Limited, Lyondell Japan Inc., Lyondell PO-11 C.V., Lyondell POJVGP LLC, Lyondell POJVLP LLC, Lyondell POTechGP Inc., Lyondell POTechLP Inc., Lyondell Refining Company LLC, Lyondell Refining I LLC, Lyondell South Asia Pte Ltd, LyondellBasell Acetyls Holdco LLC, LyondellBasell Acetyls LLC, LyondellBasell Advanced Polyolefins Mexico S.A. de C.V., LyondellBasell Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd, LyondellBasell Australia Pty Ltd, LyondellBasell Brasil Ltda., LyondellBasell Canada Inc., LyondellBasell Central Europe Kft., LyondellBasell China Holdings B.V., LyondellBasell Circular Economy B.V., LyondellBasell Covestro Manufacturing Maasvlakte V.O.F., LyondellBasell Egypt LLC, LyondellBasell F&F Holdco LLC, LyondellBasell Finance Company, LyondellBasell Holdings France SAS, LyondellBasell Hungary Kft, LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., LyondellBasell Industries N.V., LyondellBasell Investment LLC, LyondellBasell Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., LyondellBasell Polyolefin (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., LyondellBasell Services France S.A.S., LyondellBasell Subholdings B.V., LyondellBasell Taiwan Co. Ltd., LyondellBasell Transportation Company LLC, Millennium Chemicals, Natpet Schulman Specialty Plastic Compounds, Ningbo ZRCC Lyondell Chemical Co. Ltd., Ningbo ZRCC Lyondell Chemical Marketing Co. Ltd., OE Insurance Ltd, Oil Casualty Insurance Ltd., Oil Insurance Limited, PD Glycol LP, PO JV LP, PO Offtake LP, POSM II Limited Partnership L.P., POSM II Properties Partnership LLC, PT A.Schulman Plastics, PT ASchulman Plastics Commercial, PTT Chemical PCL, Poly Pacific Polymers Sdn. Bhd., Poly Pacific Pty. Ltd., PolyMirae Co. Ltd., Premix Holding Company, Premix Inc., Prime Colorants Inc., QCP B.V., QCP Holding B.V., QCP IP B.V., Quantum Composites Inc., RIGK GmbH Gesellschaft zur Ruckfuhrung industrieller and gewerblicher Kunstoffverpackungen mbH, Rayong Olefins Co. Ltd., Rexene - LDPE and PP Businesses, SCG ICO Polymers Company Limited, SJS Plastiblends, San Jacinto Rail Limited, Saudi Ethylene & Polyethylene Company, Saudi Polyolefins Company, Sociedad Espanola De Materiales Plasticos Semap S.A., Societe des Stockages Petroliers du Rhone SA, Solvay Engineered Polymers, Surplast S.A., TRV Thermische Ruckstandsverwertung GmbH & Co. KG, TRV Thermische Ruckstandsverwertung Verwaltungs-GmbH, Technology JV LP, The Matrixx Group Incorporated, ULSAN PP Co. Ltd., YNCORIS GmbH & Co. KG, Zylog Plastalloys, and tetra-DUR Kunststoff-Produktion GmbH.

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By PTI: Kathmandu, Dec 19 (PTI) Two Nepali citizens have been arrested at the airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle 3-kg hashish capsules concealed with dried meat to Hong Kong.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of Nepal Police arrested the two, identified as Abir Sherpaja Magar, 41 and Narman Gurung, 65, on Friday after screening of their baggage at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

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"While searching a green suitcase possessed by Magar, the security officials found two bags filled with 308 hashish capsules, mixed with dried meat of buffalo and goat," NCB Inspector Ghanashyam Shrestha said.

During preliminary investigation, police found that the two were supposed to swallow those capsules and smuggle to Hong Kong as per the instructions from their agents based in Hong Kong.

They had purchased the illegal drugs in Kathmandu for NRs 50,000 and were assured of NRs 600,000 for the job.

However, as they were not experienced and feared swallowing hashish capsules, they decided to mix them with the dried meat having similar colour to avoid detection during screening, according to police.

On Sunday, the two were remanded in police custody for further investigation. If proved guilty, the two will be penalised with up to 10 years of imprisonment. PTI SBP PMS

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With high wind chills, snow, freezing rain, icy roads and sidewalks, winter on Canadas East Coast can be challenging at its worst. For those who are set to experience such conditions for the first time, it be can particularly difficult.



It was with that in mind that the Dalhousie Alumni Association started a Winter Clothing Bursary 30 years ago to support student refugees new to Canada and the university.



Today it continues to provide invaluable support for students who have come to Dal through the Student Refugee Program, an initiative of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC).



The Student Refugee Program has a long history of helping young refugees achieve their dreams, providing resources and access to post-secondary education, says DAA President Courtney Larkin (BMgmt10). Its an amazing organization and were happy to play a role in helping them settle into their new community and climate.



Preparing for colder days ahead



Emma Cruddas, chair of WUSC Dalhousie and a fourth-year International Development student says the support from the DAA is a huge help for students who are already experiencing a lot of adjustments in their first few months in Canada.



Were very grateful for the DAAs funding. WUSC provides many resources to help students through their first year of university, but the cost of preparing for winter can be a big expense, she explains.



To help students prepare, members of the WUSC Dalhousie committee accompany them on a winter clothing shopping trip.



Emma Cruddas, chair of WUSC Dalhousie, and the students on this year's shopping trip.



While Emma says the outings are a lot of fun, theyre also an opportunity to help students understand what theyll need for the colder days ahead.

Someone may look at a pair of ear muffs and wonder why in the world they would ever need them, she says with a laugh. People arent quite sure whats necessary and usefulshopping turns into a bit of a winter lesson.



Shared experience



One WUSC member who is always happy to give advice and pitch in is Luka Igali. He knows firsthand what the students are experiencing.



Luka, who is completing his final year of studies in both Engineering and Economics, came to Dal in 2010 through the Student Refugee Program. Growing up in South Sudan, he says his first winter in Halifax was a bit of a shock, but the Winter Clothing Bursary made things a lot easier.



The bursary along with the help of other students made all the difference, says Luka. People had been telling me about winter, but its hard to fathom when youve never seen snow before. The first snowfall was beautiful, but so cold.



I think its reassuring for students to speak with someone who has had a shared experience. This is my way of helping others and staying involved with the WUSC initiative.



Stronger together



For the DAA, they also see it as a way to give back to students and contribute to their positive experiences at Dal.



Weve supported every student who has come to Dal through this program since it began, says Courtney. As alumni, we take great pride in finding ways to help current students, and ensure they know that they are part of a strong community.


CHOP researchers: Using echo imaging may allow surgeons to correct residual holes near heart wall during repair of other conditions

Using cardiac imaging during heart surgery can detect serious residual holes in the heart that may occur when surgeons repair a child's heart defect, and offers surgeons the opportunity to close those holes during the same operation. Pediatric cardiology experts say using this tool, called transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), during surgery may improve outcomes for children with congenital heart disease.

"We focused on intramural ventricular septal defects, which are holes between two chambers of the heart," said Meryl S. Cohen, MD, senior author and pediatric cardiologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She and co-authors previously published a paper in Circulation that recognized these defects as being distinct from other types of residual holes. "These defects, which can occur after initial surgery for another defect, can increase the risk of complications and mortality in children with heart disease, so using imaging tools to quickly identify these defects can improve our care of these children," she added.

The study's first author, Jyoti K. Patel, MD, was a former cardiac fellow in the Cardiac Center at CHOP, and conducted the research during her fellowship. The study team published the research in the September 2016 issue of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

The scientists reported on the use of intraoperative TEE to identify intramural ventricular septal defects (VSDs)--holes in the wall between two heart chambers. They performed a retrospective study of 337 children, mostly infants, who underwent surgery at CHOP for conotruncal defects from 2006 to 2013. Conotruncal defects are abnormalities in the heart's outflow tracts--the pathways that carry blood from the heart to its connected arteries. The resulting abnormal blood circulation may lead to a variety of health problems.

Cardiac surgeons repair some conotruncal defects by sewing a patch from the ventricle to one of the outflows, but a residual hole around the patch may allow blood to flow into the right ventricle. Although this complication is rare, it is potentially life-threatening.

The current study was the first to assess the accuracy of TEE in identifying intramural VSDs. The study team compared intraoperative TEE, which was performed during surgery, to another imaging tool, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), done after surgery.

Of the 337 surgical patients, 34 had intramural VSDs. Of those 34, both TTE and TEE identified 19 VSDs, while 15 were identified by TTE only. That data showed that TEE had modest sensitivity (56 percent), but high specificity (100 percent) in identifying intramural VSDs. The authors note that "the modest sensitivity suggests that many intramural defects are not detected in the operating room." However, they add, intraoperative TEE was able to identify most of the intramural defects requiring reintervention (e.g., further surgery).

"We hope that this research will increase clinicians' awareness of these intramural defects as an important distinct entity related to surgical complications," said Patel. "If a greater awareness enhances the use of TEE in the operating room, surgeons may better develop strategies to both help prevent these lesions and to consider revising their operations before the patient leaves the operating room if an intramural VSD exists."

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The National Institutes of Health (grant HL007915) supported this research.

Jyoti K Patel et al, "Accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography in the identification of postoperative intramural ventricular septal defects, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Sept. 2016. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2016.04.046

About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 535-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu
Last spring, researchers made headlines with the discovery of what was surely a new species of octopod, crawling along the seafloor at a record-breaking ocean depth of more than 4,000 meters (about 2.5 miles) off Necker Island near Hawaii. The octopod's colorless and squishy appearance immediately inspired the nickname "Casper." Now, a report published in Current Biology on December 19 reveals that these ghost-like, deep-sea octopods lay their eggs on the dead stalks of sponges attached to seafloor nodules rich in the increasingly valuable metals used in cell phones and computers.

"Presumably, the female octopod then broods these eggs, probably for as long as it takes until they hatch--which may be a number of years," says Autun Purser of the Alfred Wegener Institute's Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research in Germany.

"The brooding observation is important as these sponges only grow in some areas on small, hard nodules or rocky crusts of interest to mining companies because of the metal they contain," including manganese, he adds. "The removal of these nodules may therefore put the lifecycle of these octopods at risk."

Purser explains that the deep-sea manganese nodules form similarly to pearls in an oyster. In a process that could take millions of years, metals gradually build up in rocky layers onto a small starting seed, perhaps a shell fragment or a shark's tooth.

"These nodules look a bit like a potato, and are made up of rings of different shells of metal-rich layers," Purser says. "They are interesting to companies as many of the metals contained are 'high-tech' metals, useful in producing mobile phones and other modern computing equipment, and most of the land sources of these metals have already been found and are becoming more expensive to buy."

Purser says that little was known about the creatures found in the deep-sea environments where those attractive metals are found. In a series of recent cruises, the researchers set out to find the organisms that live there and to understand how the ecosystem and animals might be impacted by mining activities.

Their studies have shown that octopods are numerous in manganese crust areas, precisely where miners would hope to extract metals of interest. The mineral-biota association that they observed is a first for any octopod lacking fins (a group known as incirrate octopods), and it puts these captivating octopods, which live their long lives at a slow pace, at particular risk.

"As long-lived creatures, recovery will take a long time and may not be possible if all the hard seafloor is removed," Purser says. "This would be a great loss to biodiversity in the deep sea and may also have important knock on effects. Octopods are sizable creatures, which eat a lot of other smaller creatures, so if the octopods are removed, the other populations will change in difficult to predict ways."

Purser says that he and his colleagues continue to study the nodules and their importance to microbes and animals both small and large, including starfish, crabs, and fish.

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This work was financially supported by the "Managing Impacts of Deep-seA reSource exploitation (MIDAS)" project funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme.

Current Biology, Purser et al.: "Association of deep-sea incirrate octopods with manganese crusts and nodule fields in the Pacific Ocean" http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(16)31286-6.

Current Biology (@CurrentBiology), published by Cell Press, is a bimonthly journal that features papers across all areas of biology. Current Biology strives to foster communication across fields of biology, both by publishing important findings of general interest and through highly accessible front matter for non-specialists. Visit: http://www.cell.com/current-biology. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com.
Boston, MA - Elderly hospitalized patients treated by female physicians are less likely to die within 30 days of admission, or to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge, than those cared for by male physicians, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It is the first research to document differences in how male and female physicians treat patients result in different outcomes for hospitalized patients in the U.S.

The researchers estimated that if male physicians could achieve the same outcomes as their female colleagues, there would be 32,000 fewer deaths each year among Medicare patients alone--a number comparable to the annual number of motor vehicle accident deaths nationally.

The study will be published online December 19, 2016 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

"The difference in mortality rates surprised us," said lead author Yusuke Tsugawa, research associate in the Department of Health Policy and Management. "The gender of the physician appears to be particularly significant for the sickest patients. These findings indicate that potential differences in practice patterns between male and female physicians may have important clinical implications."

Previous studies have found differences in the way female and male physicians practice -- for example, female physicians are more likely to adhere to clinical guidelines and provide more patient-centered communication--but this is the first national study to look at whether the differences in the way male and female physicians practice affect clinical outcomes.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 1 million Medicare beneficiaries age 65 years or older hospitalized with a medical condition and treated by general internists between 2011 and 2014. They adjusted for differences in patient and physician characteristics, and considered whether differences in patient outcomes varied by specific condition or by severity of illness.

The researchers found that the patients, if treated by a female physician, had a 4% lower relative risk of dying prematurely and a 5% lower relative risk of being readmitted to a hospital within 30 days. The association was seen across a wide variety of clinical conditions and variations in severity of illness. When the researchers restricted their analysis to hospitalists -- physicians focused on hospital care, to whom patients are randomly assigned based on work schedule--the results remained consistent, suggesting that patient selection, in which healthier patients might choose certain types of doctors, didn't explain the results.

Female physicians now account for approximately one third of the U.S. physician workforce and comprise half of all U.S. medical school graduates. There are important gender differences in how women physicians are treated--they are less likely to be promoted and are generally paid less, said senior author Ashish Jha, K.T. Li Professor of Health Policy and director of the Harvard Global Health Institute.

"There was ample evidence that male and female physicians practice medicine differently. Our findings suggest that those differences matter and are important to patient health. We need to understand why female physicians have lower mortality so that all patients can have the best possible outcomes, irrespective of the gender of their physician," said Jha.

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Other Harvard Chan School authors included Jose Figueroa, E. John Orav, and Daniel Blumenthal.

Jena was supported by NIH Early Independence Award, Grant 1DP5OD017897-01 and reports receiving consulting fees unrelated to this work from Pfizer, Inc., Hill Rom Services, Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Precision Health Economics, a company providing consulting services to the life sciences industry. Tsugawa was supported in part by St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan.

"Physician Gender and Outcomes of Hospitalized Medicare Beneficiaries in the U.S.," Yusuke Tsugawa, Anupam B. Jena, Jose F. Figueroa, E. John Orav, Daniel M. Blumenthal, Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH1,2,8, JAMA Internal Medicine, online December 19, 2016, doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.7875

Visit the Harvard Chan School website for the latest news, press releases, and multimedia offerings.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health brings together dedicated experts from many disciplines to educate new generations of global health leaders and produce powerful ideas that improve the lives and health of people everywhere. As a community of leading scientists, educators, and students, we work together to take innovative ideas from the laboratory to people's lives -- not only making scientific breakthroughs, but also working to change individual behaviors, public policies, and health care practices. Each year, more than 400 faculty members at Harvard Chan School teach 1,000-plus full-time students from around the world and train thousands more through online and executive education courses. Founded in 1913 as the Harvard-MIT School of Health Officers, the School is recognized as America's oldest professional training program in public health.
The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (JAD) is pleased to announce that its Alzheimer's Funding Analyzer (AFA) now includes all Alzheimer's Association (AA) grants in addition to grants from other funding bodies. AFA is a free service that is part of a suite of online features integrated into the JAD site to meet the needs of the Alzheimer disease (AD) research community.

There are currently 1,080 Alzheimer's Association grants represented on the site with an aggregated funding amount of $189.5 million and average funding amount of $175,000. Top institutions by total funding amount receiving Alzheimer's Association grants include New York University; Case Western Reserve University; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Columbia University Medical Center; Massachusetts General Hospital; and the University of California, San Diego.

AFA empowers the AD community to track all organizations currently funding AD research around the globe. It consolidates in-depth data on 167 funders from 54 countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Ireland, Australia, and Qatar. It is comprised of close to 22,000 Alzheimer grants representing $16.5 billion in Alzheimer-related research.

New funding information is continuously added to AFA. The top five funders are the National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Mental Health (USA), Medical Research Council (UK), and European Commission.

AFA enables users to easily locate funding related to AD and analyze funding streams and trends. Further, it facilitates a better understanding of research organizations' funding portfolios and the funding patterns of specific funders, both of which are critical when developing grant applications. For example, users can conduct line-of-investigation queries (e.g., tau, ApoE4, vaccine) to look for funding trends and determine which investigators in which countries have been the most successful in obtaining funding in a specific area of AD research.

"Now expanded with inclusion of AA grants, we are very excited to provide this comprehensive listing of the funding that has made progress possible, which can be studied to understand how Alzheimer's disease research is developing," commented JAD's Editor-in-Chief George Perry, PhD, Dean and Professor of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Working with development partner UberResearch, a solutions and services company focused on the needs of science funders, AFA includes all funding related to AD drawn from UberResearch's extensive grant database of more than $1.1 trillion of funded research, representing more than 3.4 million projects from 258 different funders like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation in the U.S. and the Wellcome Trust and U.K. Research Councils in the U.K.

"UberResearch is honored to collaborate with our friends at JAD and the Alzheimer's research community. We hope to provide more information on global funding, support better research decisions, and expedite the development of treatments and the search for a cure," said Christian Herzog, CEO of UberResearch.

Free registration on JAD not only enbles users to access AFA, but also to use other features on the site.

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Biologists from the Lomonosov Moscow State University in collaboration with colleagues from the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences used RNA transfection and in vitro techniques to show how the same mRNA can direct protein synthesis in a cell by four different means. The research results have been published in a peer reviewed journal Scientific Reports.

Scientists from the Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, a department of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, along with their colleagues, have applied a transfection method to deliver RNA into the cell, that has allowed them to study the impact of cell stress on protein biosynthesis on a short-time scale.

Cell stress and reprogramming of protein synthesis

Sergey Dmitriev, Senior Researcher at the Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, being a leading author of the article, shares the following comments. He says: "Our project is devoted to the studies of protein biosynthesis mechanisms, including the situations of cell stress. The research highlights three aspects. The first one concerns methods as we present a technique, which allows analyzing protein synthesis in a cell with the help of a short-term RNA transfection technique".

Transfection is a method of DNA and RNA delivery to a living cell. Usually DNA is used: after entrance into the nucleus it initiates the processes of new RNA synthesis, and only afterwards the RNAs are exported into cytoplasm and can participate in protein production. Biologists from the Lomonosov Moscow State University propose a methodology of introducing an artificially synthesized RNA into the cell, so it could become a template for protein synthesis immediately. RNA is delivered to cells with the help of a special chemical agent. Once penetrated into cytoplasm, it's released and gets ready to participate in protein production; the only thing left to do for the RNA is to meet a ribosome. So, the way to the final product becomes much shorter. In as little as 1 or 2 hours one could observe protein activity and estimate its quantity.

This technique allows studying the impact of a stress on the cell in a short-time scale. To cell stresses one could refer, for example, heat shock, caused by elevated temperature; oxidative stress, provoked by reactive oxygen species; response to chemical agents, which disrupt homeostasis (including antibiotics and medical drugs). Factors of cell stress compel the cell to suspend protein biosynthesis (or "reprogram" it), until the system redresses the balance.

Sergey clarifies: "Usually these processes last from one to four hours, and our technique of "fast" RNA transfection is the most convenient way to study the effect of these processes. We've conducted our research on cultured cells of human kidney, which serve as a standard model for such studies. Finally, we have elaborated a technique that allows one to obtain artificial RNA, transfer it into cells and obtain the result in a very short period of time. We've named the whole method FLERT (for "fleeting mRNA transfection"), which sounds in Russian a bit like flirtation,"- adds Sergey and smiles.

Why is the sum of 40S and 60S equal to 80S in case of a ribosome?

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a polymer of nucleotides, coding for a protein. One amino acid is encoded by 3 nucleotides. There is a special molecular machine, called ribosome, existing in the cell for protein production. Moving along mRNA, the ribosome reads information in a triplet by triplet manner.

The structure of the protein synthesis machine is very complicated. It comprises two subunits: a small one (40S) and a large one (60S). A whole ribosome is obtained when they join. However, it's specified not as 100S, but as 80S. The reason is that these figures refer not to the particle mass, but to the sedimentation coefficient, determined during centrifugation. This coefficient depends on several parameters, including the shape of a particle.

In order to start information decoding, first of all it is necessary to find the right starting point - a triplet from which the reading begins. Detection of the starting point is problematic, as there are no marks for triplets in mRNA. However, if you start reading from a wrong nucleotide, the reading frame will be shifted, and everything will go wrong. Special proteins (translation initiation factors) help the ribosome to find the right place in the template to start reading triplets.

Usually there is a distance between the beginning of the mRNA chain and the starting point, called "leader". A ribosome should pass this leader by, without reading. Russian scientists have decide to check what will happen if mRNA will begin right with the start codon - from the "first word". It's interesting that in archaea (single-celled prokaryotic organisms, which have been living on the Earth for billion years and are capable of surviving in extreme conditions) and some other primitive organisms most mRNAs begin right from the start codon. Such RNAs are called leaderless. Leaderless mRNAs are supposed to be an evolutionary prototype of messenger RNAs because ancient ribosomes were not able to find starting points and initiated decoding from the very beginning of the mRNA chain.

A ribosome is to pass through several phases in order to interact with mRNA and start protein synthesis. Normally, at first the 40S subunit of the ribosome binds mRNA, and then the large 60S subunit joins it at the start codon. In contrast, the leaderless mRNA can be loaded directly into the whole ribosome. This discovery was made in the 90-s by Ivan Shatsky, Professor from the Lomonosov Moscow State University.

In the new project scientists have demonstrated that due to their unique properties, leaderless RNAs are resistant to many stress types and continue directing protein synthesis even in such conditions, when common RNAs with leader stop working in the fist minutes after the impact. With the help of FLERT technique scientists have shown this in living cells.

All ways are OK - you can choose whatever you like

The research extension has brought even more interesting results. It has been turned out that unique properties of the leaderless mRNA provide it with high flexibility in the choice of protein synthesis mechanisms.

It has been found out that eukaryotes possess several pathways by which a ribosome could find itself on the start codon. These modes are mediated by distinct sets of specialized proteins - called translation initiation factors - and have been shown to operate on different mRNAs.

The most common pathway, which could be used by any cellular mRNA, is provided by eIF2 protein. However, this factor is very quickly inactivated under conditions of stress. As a result, ribosomes fail to recognize the start codons on all mRNAs, except those that use other initiation factors.

Later on scientists discovered that eIF2 is not the only factor able to do this work. For instance, mRNA of hepatitis C virus is capable of doing without eIF2 and can use other factors, eIF5B or eIF2D, instead (this discovery was also made by scientists from the Lomonosov Moscow State University earlier). This virus was supposed to be unique in this sense - while canonical templates are passively waiting until a ribosome binds them, the hepatitis C virus mRNA "grasps" 40S subunit and "puts" it to the right place in the chain. This unusual property makes possible the usage of alternative ways. And now scientists have proved that the leaderless mRNA is capable of acting in the same way.

It's also interesting that all organisms possess eIF5B factor as it's an evolutionary conserved protein. In contrast, eIF2 exists only in eukaryotes and archaea - so, it's not universal. All the above mentioned results allow to say that the well-studied classical factor eIF2 is needed only if ribosomes recognize mRNA by active searching for the start codon. Such mean of translation initiation is called scanning and requires eIF2. When the start codon is found, eIF2 is replaced by eIF5B and protein synthesis starts. More evolutionary-ancient leaderless mRNA can use a primitive mechanism, immediately recruiting eIF5B factor.

Sergey Dmitriev concludes: "We've got a nice result, which has explained everything. We've found out that a primitive mRNA could use an evolutionary ancient mechanism. Moreover, it is capable of using the other three pathways: through eIF2, eIF2D or direct recruitment of the whole 80S ribosome".

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A team of American and British scientists have for the first time discovered genetic connections between sleep disturbance and a range of medical disorders including obesity.

Lead author Jacqueline Lane, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and joint senior authors Richa Saxena, PhD, assistant professor of Ansthesia at MGH and Harvard Medical School, and Martin K Rutter, MD, FRCP, senior lecturer in Cardiometabolic Medicine from The University of Manchester, publish their groundbreaking research in Nature Genetics today.

The study looked at the biological controllers of sleep duration, insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness and how they linked to the health and life histories of more than 112,000 people taking part in the world-leading UK Biobank study. Study participants reported their sleep duration, the degree of insomnia and daytime sleepiness, and then had their genes mapped. Other information about them, such as their weight and any diseases they suffered from, was also collected.

The researchers identified for the first time areas of the genome that are associated with sleep disturbance - including insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness - and also discovered novel genetic links with several medical conditions, including restless legs syndrome, schizophrenia and obesity. The strongest genetic association for insomnia symptoms fell within a gene previously linked to restless legs syndrome - a nervous system disorder affecting around 1 in 20 people that leads to a strong urge to move one's legs, which is often worse at night. Other gene regions were important for insomnia, but selectively in either men or women.

The team also identified genetic links between longer sleep duration and schizophrenia risk and between increased levels of excessive daytime sleepiness and measures of obesity (body mass index and waist circumference). The research also suggested that insomnia has shared underlying biology with major depression and abnormal glucose metabolism.

Funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and The University of Manchester's Research Innovation Fund, the study marks a major advance in understanding the biology of sleep.

One in four British adults are obese, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, prompting fears that the U.K. has become the "fat man of Europe." And at any one time, about 280,000 people are being treated for schizophrenia by the National Health Service. Individuals with schizophrenia have a 1 in 10 chance of dying by their own hand within ten years of diagnosis.

Rutter says, "This clinical science is an important step forwards in understanding the biological basis for these conditions; so it's very exciting. Scientists have long observed a connection between sleep disorders and these conditions in epidemiological studies. But this is the first time these biological links have been identified at a molecular level."

UK Biobank aims to improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses. Lane says, "We're particularly pleased to be able to use UK Biobank data in this way; it's an amazing resource for scientists."

Saxena adds, "It's important to remember there is no molecular targeting available for conditions which affect sleep: all we really have are sedatives. So we hope that this research will enable scientists to develop new ways to intervene on a range of conditions in a much more fundamental way. We acknowledge these findings will need further study, but we believe this knowledge amounts to a key advance in our understanding of the biology behind sleep - a major influence on our health and behaviour."

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The University of Manchester, a member of the prestigious Russell Group of British universities, is the largest and most popular university in the U.K. It has 20 academic schools and hundreds of specialist research groups undertaking pioneering multi-disciplinary teaching and research of worldwide significance including a major programme of work in biological timing. The University of Manchester is one of the country's major research institutions, rated fifth in the U.K. in terms of 'research power' (REF 2014), and has had no fewer than 25 Nobel laureates either work or study there. The University had an annual income of 886 million in 2013-14.

Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH Research Institute conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation, with an annual research budget of more than $800 million and major research centers in HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer, computational and integrative biology, cutaneous biology, human genetics, medical imaging, neurodegenerative disorders, regenerative medicine, reproductive biology, systems biology, photomedicine and transplantation biology. The MGH topped the 2015 Nature Index list of health care organizations publishing in leading scientific journals and earned the prestigious 2015 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service. In August 2016 the MGH was once again named to the Honor Roll in the U.S. News & World Report list of "America's Best Hospitals."
EAST LANSING, Mich. - A centuries-old herbal medicine, discovered by Chinese scientists and used to effectively treat malaria, has been found to potentially aid in the treatment of tuberculosis and may slow the evolution of drug resistance.

In a promising study led by Robert Abramovitch, a Michigan State University microbiologist and TB expert, the ancient remedy artemisinin stopped the ability of TB-causing bacteria, known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, to become dormant. This stage of the disease often makes the use of antibiotics ineffective.

The study is published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.

"When TB bacteria are dormant, they become highly tolerant to antibiotics," Abramovitch said, an assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. "Blocking dormancy makes the TB bacteria more sensitive to these drugs and could shorten treatment times."

One-third of the world's population is infected with TB and the disease killed 1.8 million people in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or Mtb, needs oxygen to thrive in the body. The immune system starves this bacterium of oxygen to control the infection. Abramovitch and his team found that artemisinin attacks a molecule called heme, which is found in the Mtb oxygen sensor. By disrupting this sensor and essentially turning it off, the artemisinin stopped the disease's ability to sense how much oxygen it was getting.

"When the Mtb is starved of oxygen, it goes into a dormant state, which protects it from the stress of low-oxygen environments," Abramovitch said. "If Mtb can't sense low oxygen, then it can't become dormant and will die."

Abramovitch indicated that dormant TB can remain inactive for decades in the body. But if the immune system weakens at some point, it can wake back up and spread. Whether it wakes up or stays 'asleep' though, he said TB can take up to six months to treat and is one of the main reasons the disease is so difficult to control.

"Patients often don't stick to the treatment regimen because of the length of time it takes to cure the disease," he said. "Incomplete therapy plays an important role in the evolution and spread of multi-drug resistant TB strains."

He said the research could be key to shortening the course of therapy because it can clear out the dormant, hard-to-kill bacteria. This could lead to improving patient outcomes and slowing the evolution of drug-resistant TB.

After screening 540,000 different compounds, Abramovitch also found five other possible chemical inhibitors that target the Mtb oxygen sensor in various ways and could be effective in treatment as well.

"Two billion people worldwide are infected with Mtb," Abramovitch said. "TB is a global problem that requires new tools to slow its spread and overcome drug resistance. This new method of targeting dormant bacteria is exciting because it shows us a new way to kill it."

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The National Institutes of Health, MSU AgBioResearch and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded the research. Other MSU researchers involved in the study include Huiqing Zheng, Christopher Colvin and Benjamin Johnson in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, as well as collaborators from Sweet Briar College and the University of Michigan.

Michigan State University has been working to advance the common good in uncommon ways for more than 150 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU focuses its vast resources on creating solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges, while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
The world's largest digital survey of the visible Universe, mapping billions of stars and galaxies, has been publicly released.

The data has been made available by the international Pan-STARRS project, which includes scientists from Queen's University Belfast, who have predicted that it will lead to new discoveries about the Universe.

Astronomers and cosmologists used a 1.8-metre telescope at the summit of Haleakala, on Maui, Hawaii, to repeatedly image three quarters of the visible sky over four years.

Three billion sources

The data they have captured in the Pan-STARRS1 Surveys is made up of three billion separate sources, including stars, galaxies, and other space objects.

This immense collection of information contains two petabytes of computer data - equivalent to one billion selfies or one hundred times the total content of Wikipedia.

Pan-STARRS is hosted by the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, which is releasing the data alongside the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, USA.

The international collaboration also includes Queen's University Belfast and the Universities of Durham and Edinburgh and is supported by NASA and the National Science Foundation.Durham's contribution was funded by a generous donation from the Ogden Trust and Durham University.

Luminous distant explosions

Queen's University Belfast Professor Stephen Smartt, who is Chair of the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) Science Council, said: "We've worked on this project for more than five years at Queen's and have found the most luminous distant explosions in the Universe and also nearby asteroids in our solar system.

"It was a fantastic team effort and now we hope the whole science community will benefit from this public release of our data."

Digital survey

In May 2010, the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System, or Pan-STARRS, observatory embarked on a digital survey of the sky in visible and near infrared light.

This was the first survey with a goal of observing the sky very rapidly over and over again, looking for moving objects and transient or variable objects, including asteroids that could potentially threaten the Earth.

Dr Ken Chambers, Director of the Pan-STARRS Observatories, at the University of Hawaii, said: "The Pan-STARRS1 Surveys allow anyone to access millions of images and use the database and catalogues containing precision measurements of billions of stars and galaxies.

"Pan-STARRS has already made discoveries from Near Earth Objects and Kuiper Belt Objects in the Solar System to lonely planets between the stars; it has mapped the dust in three dimensions in our galaxy and found new streams of stars; and it has found new kinds of exploding stars and distant quasars in the early Universe."

Static sky

The roll-out of the survey data is being done in two steps.

Today's release is the "Static Sky" which provides an average value for the position, brightness and colour for objects captured in the sky at individual moments in time.

In 2017, a second set of data will be released including catalogues and images from each of the individual snapshots that Pan-STARRS took of a given region of sky.

The data from the Pan-STARRS1 surveys will be available online at panstarrs.stsci.edu.

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Photographs are available to download. Photo captions and credits in notes to editors.
In the Nankai subduction zone, Japan, non-volcanic deep tremors occur down-dip of the megathrust seismogenic zone, and are observed to coincide temporally with short-term slow-slip events (SSEs). They occur within a limited depth range of 30-35 km over an along-strike length of ~700 km, associated with subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate. As Low-Frequency Earthquakes (LFEs) coincide spatially with tremor activity, the locations of LFEs act as a proxy for tremor activity. There are two distinct gaps in LFE activity at the Kii Gap and Ise Gap, while there is limited or no LFE activity beneath Kanto and Kyushu at the extensions of the LFE activity zone (Fig. 1). Junichi Nakajima from Tokyo Institute of Technology and Akira Hasegawa at Tohoku University examined the seismic properties of Nankai, including areas where LFEs are present and absent, in an effort to elucidate the factors controlling LFE generation.

The observed P-wave (dVp) and S-wave (dVs) velocities show the presence of low-velocity anomalies in the overlying plate at Kanto, Ise Gap, Kii Gap, and Kyushu, where there is limited or no LFE activity. LFEs do not occur on the megathrust where dVp and dVs are lower than approximately -4%, suggesting a systematic change in seismic velocities in the overlying plate between areas with and without LFE activity. There is a spatial correlation between LFE locations and seismic velocity, attenuation, and anisotropy anomalies. One hypothesis that could explain the variation in seismic properties along the LFE band is along-strike variation in the degree of prograde metamorphism above the megathrust that is proportional to the rate of fluid leakage from the subducting slab into the overlying plate. Notably, large amounts of fluid are liberated from the subducting crust at depths of 30-60 km.

The along-strike variations in seismic properties suggest that the overlying plate is less metamorphosed in areas with LFE activity, and is significantly metamorphosed in areas of limited or no LFE activity. This anti-correlation between LFEs and metamorphism is probably caused by along-strike variation in hydrological conditions in the overlying plate. An impermeable overlying plate restricts fluids to the megathrust, whereas fluids escape from the megathrust, if the overlying plate is permeable. Undrained conditions at the megathrust elevate pore-fluid pressures to near-lithostatic values, lower the shear strength of the megathrust sufficiently to facilitate LFEs, and result in a low degree of metamorphism in the overlying plate (Fig. 2a). In contrast, in areas of limited LFE activity, fluids migrate into and metamorphose the permeable overlying plate, reducing pore-fluid pressures at the megathrust, which is no longer weak enough to generate LFEs (Fig. 2b).

The large number of crustal earthquakes in the Kii Gap and Ise Gap suggests that LFE activity and seismicity in the overlying plate are anti-correlated, largely reflecting the magnitude of fluid flux from the megathrust. The scientists concluded that a well-drained megathrust allows fluids to migrate into the overlying plate, inhibiting LFE activity at the megathrust, but facilitating shallow seismicity due to the decreased shear strength of crustal faults.

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A high percentage of tiger deaths in the NTCA data remain unexplained, as the official records show "details awaited" or "cases under scrutiny" as the stated reason for the death.

By Munish Pandey: The euphoria over rise in world tiger population early this year may have been misplaced for India as the official data placed before Parliament shows that 98 tigers died in the country till November 16, 2016, a steep 25 per cent rise over last year when 78 deaths were reported.

The figures collected by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) also take the wind out of government efforts to encourage tiger foundations for sensitising the public and fighting poachers to save the big cats. The environment and forest ministry released Rs1.82-crore grant in 2016 for tiger conservation against Rs30 lakh the previous year.

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Also Read: Tiger population is rising, but will it get doubled by 2022?

"Poaching and poisoning continue to be tigers' worst enemies in the wild," environment minister Anil Madhav Dave told Mail Today, explaining the challenges before the government. "The villagers and some criminal social groups living in or at the fringes of tiger reserves get lured by the money thrown by poaching syndicates of south-east Asia, where there is a huge demand for tiger body parts? we are battling that to save our big cats."

Curiously, a high percentage of tiger deaths in the NTCA data remain unexplained, as the official records show "details awaited" or "cases under scrutiny" as the stated reason for the death. Environmentalists point out that in such cases, the deaths are considered as unnatural, with poaching as the most common motive.

Also Read: Tiger population in Pench reserve risen to 53: SFRI report

The NTCA has also issued an advisory stating that all tiger deaths will be treated as poaching unless and until proven otherwise. Hence the number of poaching cases under such a condition is over 65% of the total tiger deaths reported in 2016.

Madhya Pradesh alone accounts for nearly 31 of the 98 deaths this year. The state reported four tiger deaths within a fortnight in November, with one death due to overdose of tranquiliser.

POLITICAL NEXUSThe central Indian state, whose tourism arrivals is soaring every year banks heavily on tiger population in its three famous reserves. However, tiger population in Madhya Pradesh has come down from 700 in 2000 to less than half, at 301 in 2016. The state now trails behind Karnataka and Uttarakhand in tiger population.

There are many anti-poaching measures initiated by NTCA which coordinate with state forest departments, but to little avail. In fact, poaching cases increased by more than 100 per cent this year. The figures attribute nearly 30 tiger deaths to poaching this year, which is more than double of last year's figure of 14. Top forest officials that Mail Today spoke with expressed helplessness in their fight against poachers and at times cited "political pressures'' leading to more frequent man-tiger conflict.

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Some point fingers at archaic resources at hand, immobility against hi-tech and heavilyarmed poachers around Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Some poachers belong to criminal social groups like Pardis, Bahelias, Bawarias and Bongias and are very strongly networked in Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

RED CORRIDORS

The support from local political leadership to these criminal groups and lack of coordination with local police and enforcement agencies in some critical tiger areas are also not ruled. The case of Sariska Tiger Reserve is apt, where there is no tiger now, officially, said officials on the condition of anonymity.

According to World Wildlife Fund, the world's total tiger population is estimated to be 3,890, of which India is home to 2,226 tigers big cats on official count.

The actual number could be higher as the surveys did not take place in many Naxal-dominated areas in states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana. Conversely, the flip side could be that there may be some more tiger deaths going unreported in the nation's "red corridors".

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Delivery of stem cells to damaged tooth roots using a collagen-derived biomaterial is effective at regenerating dental pulp-like tissue and shows potential as a therapy for restoring natural tooth function

BOSTON (December 19, 2016)--When a tooth is damaged, either by severe decay or trauma, the living tissues that comprise the sensitive inner dental pulp become exposed and vulnerable to harmful bacteria. Once infection takes hold, few treatment options--primarily root canals or tooth extraction--are available to alleviate the painful symptoms.

Researchers at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) now show that using a collagen-based biomaterial to deliver stem cells inside damaged teeth can regenerate dental pulp-like tissues in animal model experiments. The study, published online in the Journal of Dental Research on Dec. 15, supports the potential of this approach as part of a strategy for restoring natural tooth functionality.

"Endodontic treatment, such as a root canal, essentially kills a once living tooth. It dries out over time, becomes brittle and can crack, and eventually might have to be replaced with a prosthesis," said senior study author Pamela Yelick, PhD, professor at TUSDM and director of its Division of Craniofacial and Molecular Genetics. "Our findings validate the potential of an alternative approach to endodontic treatment, with the goal of regenerating a damaged tooth so that it remains living and functions like any other normal tooth."

Yelick and her colleagues, including lead study author Arwa Khayat, former graduate student in dental research at TUSDM, examined the safety and efficacy of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)--a low-cost hydrogel derived from naturally occurring collagen--as a scaffold to support the growth of new dental pulp tissue. Using GelMA, the team encapsulated a mix of human dental pulp stem cells--obtained from extracted wisdom teeth--and endothelial cells, which accelerate cell growth. This mix was delivered into isolated, previously damaged human tooth roots, which were extracted from patients as part of unrelated clinical treatment and sterilized of remaining living tissue. The roots were then implanted and allowed to grow in a rodent animal model for up to eight weeks.

The researchers observed pulp-like tissue inside the once empty tooth roots after two weeks. Increased cell growth and the formation of blood vessels occurred after four weeks. At the eight-week mark, pulp-like tissue filled the entire dental pulp space, complete with highly organized blood vessels populated with red blood cells. The team also observed the formation of cellular extensions and strong adhesion into dentin--the hard, bony tissue that forms the bulk of a tooth. The team saw no inflammation at the site of implantation, and found no inflammatory cells inside implanted tooth roots, which verified the biocompatibility of GelMA.

Control experiments, which involved empty tooth roots or tooth roots with only GelMA and no encapsulated cells, showed significantly less growth, unorganized blood vessel formation, and poor or nonexistent dentin attachment.

The results support GelMA-encapsulated human dental stem cells and umbilical vein endothelial cells as part of a promising strategy to restore normal tooth function, according to the study authors. However, they note that the current study was limited to partial tooth roots and did not examine nerve formation in regenerated dental pulp tissue. They emphasize the need for additional safety and efficacy studies in larger animal models before human clinical trials can be considered.

"A significant amount of work remains to be done, but if we can extend and validate our findings in additional experimental models, this approach could become a clinically relevant therapy in the future," said Yelick, who is also a member of the Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology; Genetics; and Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics programs at the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts. "Our work is early stage, but we are excited for the possibility of someday giving patients the option of regenerating their own teeth."

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Additional authors include Nelson Monteiro, formerly a post-doctoral fellow, and Weibo Zhang, research associate, of the Yelick Lab at TUSDM, Sarah Pagni, instructor at TUSDM, Elizabeth Smith, Ph.D. candidate at the Sackler School, and Ali Khademhosseini of Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School.

This project was supported by awards from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health (RO1DE016132, and a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, F31DE026361to Elizabeth Smith), Tufts University School of Dental Medicine Masters Project, and Tufts Center for Neuroscience Research, which is supported by an award from the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS047243).

Khayat et al. "GelMA Encapsulated hDPSCs and HUVECs for Dental Pulp Regeneration." Journal of Dental Research (2016). DOI: 10.1177/0022034516682005.

About Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Founded in 1868, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) is committed to leadership in education, patient care, research, and community service. Students obtain an interdisciplinary education, integrated with medicine, with access to training in dental specialties. Clinics managed at TUSDM provide quality comprehensive care to more than 18,000 diverse individuals annually, including those with special needs. Nationally and internationally, the School promotes health and educational programs and researches new procedures, materials and technologies to improve oral health.
PHILADELPHIA --(Dec. 19, 2016)-- Scientists at The Wistar Institute have identified a novel protein pathway across several types of cancer that controls how tumor cells acquire the energy necessary for movement, invasion and metastasis. This protein pathway was previously only observed in neurons and represents a potential therapeutic target for several types of cancer. Study results were published in the journal Nature Communications.

Mitochondria serve as power generators of the cell, responsible for converting oxygen and nutrients into energy for cellular processes. Researchers have long observed that, instead of relying on mitochondria and oxygen, tumor cells switch to a different system of energy production to compensate for their increased energy needs and the low levels of oxygen typically found in tumor tissues. This process is known as the Warburg effect, and because it had been well-established in cancer cells, mitochondria were not regarded as major players in tumor biology until recently. This study confirms that mitochondria play an important role especially in disease progression, during which tumor cells break out of the primary mass and invade distant tissues in the body.

"The scientific community has been missing a fundamental aspect of cancer cell metabolism because we have overlooked the role of mitochondria and oxidative metabolic processes in cancer," said Dario C. Altieri, M.D., president and CEO of The Wistar Institute, director of The Wistar Institute Cancer Center, the Robert & Penny Fox Distinguished Professor, and lead author of this study. "Our findings, along with those of others from the past few years, pave the way to a new research direction in the field, alluding to the need to further investigate the role of mitochondria in tumor metabolism."

The Altieri Laboratory found that mitochondria in tumor cells are repositioned close to the cell membrane to provide energy for movement. While this type of cellular behavior had been previously only observed in neurons, the group showed how a network of proteins, including SNPH and its partners, that control mitochondria trafficking in neurons are reprogrammed to perform the same function in tumor cells.

Using a genome-wide screening approach, Altieri and colleagues discovered that SNPH inhibits cell invasion by reducing cell movement in prostate cancer cells. They also found that when SNPH expression is inhibited, the mitochondria relocate from their typical position around the cell nucleus to the cell membrane. They evaluated the expression levels of SNPH and its partners in tissue samples from patients with epithelial and hematologic malignancies and found that reduced levels of SNPH correlate with disease progression and unfavorable prognosis across the tumor types.

"We were able to establish a correlation between this protein pathway and disease progression and survival in several cancer types besides prostate cancer. This indicates that we are dealing with a general mechanism of metastasis suppression, not specific to one single tumor type," said M. Cecilia Caino, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in The Altieri Laboratory and first author of the paper. "Our observations have strong clinical implications, as some of the proteins in this network are druggable, opening new potential therapeutic opportunities for metastatic diseases."

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This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grants P01 CA140043, R01 CA78810, CA190027, R01 CA089720, R01 NS076709, F32 CA177018 and T32 CA009171, the Italian Minister of Health grant GR2011-02351626, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs through the Prostate Cancer Research Program under Award No. W81XWH-13-1-0193 and a Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award. Core support for The Wistar Institute was provided by the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) CA010815.

Co-authors of this study from The Wistar Institute include: Jae Ho Seo, Kelly G. Bryant, Andrew V. Kossenkov, James E. Hayden and Dmitry I. Gabrilovich. Other co-authors include: Angeline Aguinaldo, Eric Wait and Andrew R. Cohen from Drexel University, Valentina Vaira, Annamaria Morotti, Stefano Ferrero, Silvano Bosari from the Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy, and Lucia Languino from Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University.

The Wistar Institute is an international leader in biomedical research with special expertise in cancer research and vaccine development. Founded in 1892 as the first independent nonprofit biomedical research institute in the United States, Wistar has held the prestigious Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute since 1972. The Institute works actively to ensure that research advances move from the laboratory to the clinic as quickly as possible. wistar.org.
A PROJECT that could lead to major cost savings for UK rail operators has earned a prestigious award for a University of Huddersfield researcher.

Dr Yousif Muhamedsalih, of the University's Institute of Railway Research, has been named Best Young Researcher of 2016 by Rail Research UK Association (RRUK), in tandem with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Judges praised him for tackling "a problem that has been of interest to mechanical engineers since the railways began".

The problem is how to extend the life of railway wheelsets - how often and how much they can safely be reprofiled before they have to be scrapped and replaced. One approach is known as Economic Tyre Turning (ETT), described as "the process of turning wheels to a profile that has the same tread shape but a thinner flange, allowing less material to be removed from the wheel diameter".

The use of ETT can extend wheel life, especially as modern lathes are capable of the required precision - but current GB railway standards do not permit its use.

This was the background to the research conducted by Dr Yousif Muhamedsalih, Julian Stow and Dr Adam Bevan, and described by Dr Muhamedsalih in detail in a presentation for the 11th World Congress on Railway Research that took place in Milan, Italy.

His research was undertaken by computer simulation and by carrying out tests on the iconic Pendolino trains run by Virgin Trains. Dr Muhamedsalih has concluded that ETT is not only safe, but it could have the ability to avoid the unnecessary costs in early replacement of wheelsets when they have significant remaining life. This could lead to changes in overhaul strategies, reducing costs to the rail industry.

Computer simulations were used to predict both the magnitude of wheel wear and the worn shape of the designed and re-profiled wheels and this provided data for in-service trials carried out by Virgin Trains after it had been given the go-ahead by the Rolling Stock Standards Committee.

It was in December 2015 that appraisal of ETT on a Pendolino began, when Alstom Transport had turned 20 axles on five vehicles to thin flange wheel profiles. Trials continued until March 2016, after the train had covered around 70,000 miles travelling between Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston. Dr Muhamedsalih carried out weekly assessments of the wear on the wheelsets.

"The outcome supported the simulation results, which predicted that tread and flange wear rate would be the same for thin and full flange profiles. The ride quality assessments results shows that the change of flange thickness had limited overall effect on the average passenger comfort," he states. This helps to make the case for ETT - already widely employed in Europe - being allowed in Britain.

The project earned Dr Muhamedsalih a nomination for the RRUK Best Young Researcher of the Year Award, and he was selected by the panel of judges. He has received his certificate and 1,000 prize at the RRUK's London AGM.

Yousif Muhamedsalih was born in Britain, but his family returned to Iraq, where he obtained his first degrees. He relocated to the UK for a University of Huddersfield MSc in Control Systems, moving on to doctoral research. After being awarded his PhD in 2015, he was appointed a research fellow at the University's Institute of Railway Research, where he carries out work with the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) as part of a strategic partnership.

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Some people experience strong discomfort of sounds around them and complain that they suffer from noise.

Previous studies have shown that noise sensitive individuals are more prone to negative effects of noise on health, such as sleep disturbance and heart diseases, and that sensitivity to noise may be rooted to one's genetic profile.

In the newly published work A window into the brain mechanisms associated with noise sensitivity, researchers from the University of Helsinki and Aarhus University addressed whether noise sensitivity is manifested in the way the brain processes sounds.

They showed that the auditory system of noise sensitive individuals is less responsive to new sound features introduced among repetitive sounds, especially if the novel sound is noisier than the rest.

Seeming counterintuitive at first, this finding suggests that it may be harder for sensitive people to build a prediction about changes in a varying soundscape, and their auditory system might "tune down" its responsiveness to sounds in order to protect itself from overreacting to noise.

"We need further studies to conclude whether we've discovered something that is the reason why people are noise sensitive or is it the result of the brain's contractions against excessive noise. Nevertheless, this study advances the view on noise sensitivity being more than just a negative attitude to sounds and brings us new information on the physiology of environmental sensitivity," says the first author of the study, doctoral student Marina Kliuchko from the University of Helsinki.

The contribution of this study crosses boundaries of the brain science and reaches to public and occupational healthcare. The researchers hope that their work will highlight that noise sensitivity is an important issue to be recognized in planning noise control in living and working environments.

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The work was completed at Cognitive Brain Research Unit (CBRU) of University of Helsinki in collaboration with University of Helsinki's Department of Public Health and CICERO Learning network, BioMag Laboratory, and Center for Music in the Brain at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Further information: Marina Kliuchko, Marja Heinonen-Guzejev, Peter Vuust, Mari Tervaniemi, Elvira Brattico: A window into the brain mechanisms associated with noise sensitivity, http://www.nature.com/articles/srep39236, Scientific Reports.
New research carried out by psychologists at the University of Kent has shown for the first time that a decision to express disgust or anger depends on the motives a person seeks to communicate.

Previous studies have suggested that the emotion of disgust originally evolved to protect people from infectious disease; people don't generally eat rotten meat, crawling with maggots, because they feel disgusted by the prospect.

But disgust is also associated with immorality and the researchers from the University's School of Psychology set out to establish why this should be, given its disparate origins in disease avoidance.

One prominent answer has been that people are disgusted by immoral acts that lead to feelings of contamination or impurity, but this view is difficult to reconcile with the observation that people also say that they are disgusted by acts like stealing, bullying or cheating.

The Kent researchers, Tom Kupfer and Professor Roger Giner-Sorolla, established that disgust's role in morality is not explained wholly by what people feel when they express disgust in response to an immoral behaviour, but also what they seek to communicate.

In two experiments study participants were asked to consider different scenarios in which a person expressed either anger or disgust. They were then questioned about what they thought was motivating the person expressing each emotion.

The results showed that a person who expresses disgust is judged to be motivated more by impartial, moral, concerns while a person who expresses anger towards the same immoral act is more likely to be motivated by self-interest.

An expression of disgust therefore signals different information to an observer than an expression of anger. Perhaps, then, people express disgust rather than anger when they want to show that they are motivated by moral concerns.

Two further experiments confirmed this: participants themselves were more likely to choose to express disgust when their goal was to show that their condemnation of an act was morally motivated, while they chose to express anger when they sought to protest that the act harmed their own interests.

The findings suggest that disgust is not just an expression of an inner feeling, like nausea or contamination, but a signal that advertises a moral position.

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The research has been published in a paper, entitled Communicating moral motives: The social signalling function of disgust, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. See: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1948550616679236

For interview requests or more details of the event, contact Martin Herrema at the University of Kent Press Office.

Tel: 01227 823581/01634 888879

Email: M.J.Herrema@kent.ac.uk

News releases can also be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news

University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UniKent Notes to editor

Established in 1965, the University of Kent - the UK's European university - now has almost 20,000 students across campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome.

It has been ranked: 23rd in the Guardian University Guide 2016; 23rd in the Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2016; and 22nd in the Complete University Guide 2015.

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2015-16, Kent is in the top 10% of the world's leading universities for international outlook and 66th in its table of the most international universities in the world. The THE also ranked the University as 20th in its 'Table of Tables' 2016.

Kent is ranked 17th in the UK for research intensity (REF 2014). It has world-leading research in all subjects and 97% of its research is deemed by the REF to be of international quality.

In the National Student Survey 2016, Kent achieved the fourth highest score for overall student satisfaction, out of all publicly funded, multi-faculty universities.

Along with the universities of East Anglia and Essex, Kent is a member of the Eastern Arc Research Consortium (http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/partnerships/eastern-arc.html).

The University is worth 0.7 billion to the economy of the south east and supports more than 7,800 jobs in the region. Student off-campus spend contributes 293.3m and 2,532 full-time-equivalent jobs to those totals.

In 2014, Kent received its second Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.
A jet stream within the Earth's molten iron core has been discovered by scientists using the latest satellite data that helps create an 'x-ray' view of the planet.

Lead researcher Dr Phil Livermore, from the University of Leeds, said: "The European Space Agency's Swarm satellites are providing our sharpest x-ray image yet of the core. We've not only seen this jet stream clearly for the first time, but we understand why it's there."

"We can explain it as an accelerating band of molten iron circling the North Pole, like the jet stream in the atmosphere," said Dr Livermore, from the School of Earth and Environment at Leeds.

Because of the core's remote location under 3,000 kilometres of rock, for many years scientists have studied the Earth's core by measuring the planet's magnetic field - one of the few options available.

Previous research had found that changes in the magnetic field indicated that iron in the outer core was moving faster in the northern hemisphere, mostly under Alaska and Siberia.

But new data from the Swarm satellites has revealed these changes are actually caused by a jet stream moving at more than 40 kilometres per year.

This is three times faster than typical outer core speeds and hundreds of thousands of times faster than the speed at which the Earth's tectonic plates move.

The European Space Agency's Swarm mission features a trio of satellites which simultaneously measure and untangle the different magnetic signals which stem from Earth's core, mantle, crust, oceans, ionosphere and magnetosphere. They have provided the clearest information yet about the magnetic field created in the core.

The study, published today in Nature Geoscience, found the position of the jet stream aligns with a boundary between two different regions in the core. The jet is likely to be caused by liquid in the core moving towards this boundary from both sides, which is squeezed out sideways.

Co-author Professor Rainer Hollerbach, from the School of Mathematics at Leeds, said: "Of course, you need a force to move the liquid towards the boundary. This could be provided by buoyancy, or perhaps more likely from changes in the magnetic field within the core."

Rune Floberghagen, ESA's Swarm mission manager, said: "Further surprises are likely. The magnetic field is forever changing, and this could even make the jet stream switch direction.

"This feature is one of the first deep-Earth discoveries made possible by Swarm. With the unprecedented resolution now possible, it's a very exciting time - we simply don't know what we'll discover next about our planet."

Co-author Dr Chris Finlay, from the Technical University of Denmark said: "We know more about the Sun than the Earth's core. The discovery of this jet is an exciting step in learning more about our planet's inner workings."

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Further information

Image and film clips: Download from https://goo.gl/RqEytp

Image Caption: Swarm's three satellites provide a high-resolution picture of the Earth's magnetic field Credit: European Space Agency

Film1 Caption: Evolution of the magnetic field at the edge of the Earth's core 1999-2016.

Credit: Nature Geoscience (2016) and Phil Livermore, University of Leeds

Film2 Caption: Changes in magnetic field at the edge of the Earth's core 1590 -1990

Credit: Nature Geoscience (2016) and Phil Livermore, University of Leeds

The research paper, "An accelerating high-latitude jet in Earth's core", was published in Nature Geoscience on 19 December 2016 (DOI 10.1038/ngeo2859)

The study was partially funded by the Natural Environment Research Council

For interviews, please contact Anna Martinez, University of Leeds Media Relations Officer, on +44 (0)113 343 4196 or email a.martinez@leeds.ac.uk

Natural Environment Research Council

NERC is the UK's main agency for funding and managing research, training and knowledge exchange in the environmental sciences. Our work covers the full range of atmospheric, Earth, biological, terrestrial and aquatic science, from the deep oceans to the upper atmosphere and from the poles to the equator. We co-ordinate some of the world's most exciting research projects, tackling major issues such as climate change, environmental influences on human health, the genetic make-up of life on Earth, and much more. NERC is a non-departmental public body. We receive around 330m of annual funding from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 31,000 students from 147 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group research-intensive universities.

We are a top 10 university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and positioned as one of the top 100 best universities in the world in the 2015 QS World University Rankings. We are The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2017. http://www.leeds.ac.uk
Scientists from the University of Southampton have found Arctic lakes, covered with ice during the winter months, are melting earlier each spring.

The team, who monitored 13,300 lakes using satellite imagery, have shown that on average ice is breaking up one day earlier per year, based on a 14-year period between 2000 and 2013. Their findings are published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.

The researchers used information on how light is reflected off the lakes, as recorded by NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor, which collects a range of spectral and thermal data on a daily basis as it circles the globe on two satellites. This study used the changes in reflectance to identify the freezing and thawing processes.

Southampton's Professor Jadu Dash, says: "Previous studies have looked into small numbers of lakes to show the impact of changes in temperature on the cyclic nature of lake-ice cover. However, ours is the first to use time-series of satellite data to monitor thousands of lakes in this way across the Arctic. It contributes to the growing range of observations showing the influence that warmer temperatures are having on the Arctic."

The researchers discovered that all five study areas in the Arctic (Alaska, Northeast Siberia, Central Siberia, Northeast Canada and Northern Europe) showed significant trends of early ice break-up in the spring, but to varying degrees. Central Siberia demonstrated the strongest trend, with ice starting to break-up an average of 1.4 days earlier each year. Northern Europe showed the lowest change of ice break-up at 0.84 days earlier per year. They found a strong relationship between decreasing ice cover and an increasingly early spring temperature rise.

The team also examined the timing of formation of ice cover on the lakes in late autumn. Although the use of satellite images wasn't possible due to the short daylight period limiting valid satellite observation, observations on the ground suggest lake freezing is starting later - further shortening the ice period, although more work would be needed to confirm this.

Co-author Professor Mary Edwards, from the University of Southampton, comments "Our findings have several implications. Changing ice cover affects the energy balance between the land and atmosphere. Less ice means a longer season for lake biology, which together with warmer temperatures will affect processes such as CO2 and CH4 emissions. Furthermore, many people use ice-covered landscapes for winter transport, and so spring and autumn travel for commercial and subsistence activities is likely to be more and more affected."

Professor Dash concludes: "This demonstrates the potential of routine satellite data for long term monitoring of physical changes on the Earth's surface. In the future, the new Sentinel series of satellites from the European Space Agency provide potential opportunities to examine these changes in greater detail."

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Notes to editors

1) For interview requests, please contact Peter Franklin, Media Relations, University of Southampton. Tel: 023 8059 5457 Email: p.franklin@southampton.ac.uk

2) A copy of the paper Arctic lakes show strong decadal trend in earlier spring ice-out (DOI: 10.1038/srep38449) can be found here http://www.nature.com/articles/srep38449 or obtained from Media Relations on request.

3) Graphic image available from Media Relations showing the spatial distribution and magnitude of all significant trends of breakup start (BUS) and breakup end (BUE) for Central Siberia. Each dot represents a lake for which a statistically significant trend was observed. The colour value represents the magnitude of the trend (this figure was drawn using ESRI ArcMap).

4) For more about Geography at Southampton, please visit: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/geography/index.page

5) The University of Southampton is a leading UK teaching and research institution with a global reputation for leading-edge research and scholarship across a wide range of subjects in engineering, science, social sciences, health and humanities.

With over 24,000 students, 6500 staff, and an annual turnover in excess of 550m, the University of Southampton is acknowledged as one of the country's top institutions for engineering, computer science and medicine. We combine academic excellence with an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to research, supporting a culture that engages and challenges students and staff in their pursuit of learning.

The University is also home to a number of world-leading research centres including the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, the Optoelectronics Research Centre, the Institute for Life Sciences, the Web Science Trust and Doctoral training Centre, the Centre for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, the Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute and is a partner of the National Oceanography Centre at the Southampton waterfront campus. http://www.southampton.ac.uk/

For further information contact:

Peter Franklin, Media Relations, University of Southampton, Tel: 023 8059 5457 Email: p.franklin@southampton.ac.uk

http://www.soton.ac.uk/mediacentre/

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Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden have put together all known information about the endangered Rufous-headed Robin. Very few observations have been made since it was first discovered in 1905. The researchers suggest that its distribution might be larger than previously thought.

- We have tried to estimate its potential distribution to find areas where it might occur but where it has not yet been observed. Since most of the potential new areas are in poorly accessible mountain ranges, we are hopeful that it has a larger distribution, and hence that it is less threatened than presently believed, says Professor Per Alstroem, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University and Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultral Sciences.

The Rufous-headed Robin Larvivora ruficeps is related to the Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos and Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia. In common with these, it has a strong and beautiful song. However, unlike in the nightingales, males and females differ in plumage, and the male is strikingly coloured.

In the present study, the researchers have summarized all known observations of the Rufous-headed Robin since it was first discovered in the summer of 1905 in the Shaanxi Province of central China. The second observation was not made until March 1963, in Malaysia.

In June 1985, three singing males were discovered at one site in the Sichuan Province in central China.

In the last 25 years, the Rufous-headed Robin has only been observed at his site and in a neighbouring nature reserve, with up to maximum 8 individuals in a year. It has also been seen twice in the non-breeding season in Southeast Asia.

No observations were made in 2016, despite searches at the two classic sites.

The potential distribution was estimated based on the species' known habitat preferences, and the researchers concluded that it might be more widespread than presently appreciated. Many of those areas have been poorly surveyed, so there is still hope that some unknown populations might be discovered.

The reasons why the Rufous-headed Robin is so rare are unknown.

The researchers analysed DNA from one Rufous-headed Robin and concluded that its closest relative is the Rufous-tailed Robin Larvivora sibilans, which breeds in Siberia and northeast China, whereas it is more distantly related to the two European nightingales.

The song of the Rufous-headed Robin was also studied in detail, and it was found to be very different from the song of its closest relative, the Rufous-tailed Robin, whereas it is much more reminiscent of the song of the more distantly related Ryukyu Robin Larvivora komadori, from Japan. The study concluded that the similarity in song between the Rufous-headed and Ryukyu Robins is the result of so-called parallel evolution, and accordingly is not due to common ancestry.

###

Further information:

Professor Per Alstroem

Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University

and Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Email: per.alstrom@ebc.uu.se Tel: +46 70 454 69 65

http://www.slu.se/per-alstrom-research

http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Per_Alstroem

Professor Yanhua Qu

Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing

Email: quyh@ioz.ac.cn Tel: +86 10 64807280

http://sourcedb.cas.cn/sourcedb_ioz_cas/yw/scs/pi/200907/t20090716_2088376.html

Paper

Zhao, M., Alstroem, P., Hu, R., Zhao, C., hao, Y., Lei, F. & Qu, Y. 2017. Phylogenetic relationships, song and distribution of the endangered Rufous-headed Robin Larvivora ruficeps. Ibis 159: 204-216.
New York (Dec. 19, 2016) - A recovery plan for the Western Hemisphere's largest cat species along the U.S.-Mexico border was released today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

WCS played a critical role in informing the position of USFWS on jaguar conservation by providing the best available science and research to guide and support the plan.

WCS scientists conducted an exhaustive synthesis of all known jaguar observations in the northern part of its range since the 16th Century. The accuracy, precision, and reliability of observations over such a long period of history vary greatly, so WCS built a novel database structure to account for the types of criteria team members might use to include or exclude observations from consideration.

"Recent and verifiable sightings of the jaguar in places such as Arizona may indicate that viable habitat for this species still exists in the United States," said Senior Conservation Ecologist Eric Sanderson, who led the research effort for WCS. "The database provides wildlife scientists with instant information about where jaguars were observed, or in some cases hunted, in the past in both the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico."

John Polisar, Coordinator of the WCS Jaguar Conservation Program, and a large group of scientists within and outside WCS, wrote the most authoritative guide produced to date on jaguar survey and monitoring techniques and methodologies relevant to the northern part of their range. The survey and monitoring protocol they developed for the Jaguar Recovery Team served as the scientific foundation for monitoring and decisions by the USFWS about how to structure their Jaguar Recovery Plan.

The public can view the new database through an online interface created by WCS developer Kim Fisher and access more than 400 observations of jaguars across the northern part of their range: http://jaguardata.info/. Because it is comprehensive, instantly reflects the user's criteria, and can be easily updated by an administrator, the database gives the public an extraordinary data exploration tool for understanding the northern range of the jaguar over time.

Sanderson and Fisher modeled potential jaguar habitat across the northern part of the range by working closely with the experts on the Jaguar Recovery Team to correlate subsets of the observations data with vegetation, terrain, water, human influence, and other ecological spatial data. This modeled habitat was correlated with existing surveys of jaguars in the Mexican portion of the area to estimate carrying capacity, or the number of jaguars an area could potentially support in the absence of threats. The report on this work shows support for significant jaguar populations south of the US-Mexico border and the potential for jaguars north of the border. Habitat estimates were used by colleagues at the IUCN's Conservation Breeding Specialist Group to estimate population viability over time.

In addition, the database includes a habitat model that depicts the pathways of greatest movement probability across existing or planned roads or other linear infrastructure; WCS pinpointed the best places to plan road crossing structures to mitigate the barriers.

###

All WCS analyses and reports referred to herein may be downloaded from https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Jaguar.htm.

WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society)

MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world's oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Dec. 19, 2016) -- Investigators from Whitehead Institute, the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have used CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to identify three promising new targets for treatment of HIV infection. In their report receiving advance online publication in Nature Genetics, the research team describes how screening with CRISPR for human genes that are essential for HIV infection but not for cellular survival identified five genes -- three of which had not been identified in earlier studies using RNA interference. Their method can also be used to identify therapeutic targets for other viral pathogens.

"We were surprised to find that there are so few host factors required for HIV infection given some of the previous literature," observes David M. Sabatini, Whitehead Institute Faculty Member and co-corresponding author of the Nature Genetics paper. "The beauty of the CRISPR-based genetic screens is the clear and robust results they yield," notes Sabatini, who is also member of the Broad Institute and Professor of Biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"Current anti-HIV medications overwhelmingly target viral proteins," says Ryan J. Park of the Ragon Institute and the Broad Institute, co-lead author of the report. "Because HIV mutates so rapidly, drug-resistant strains frequently emerge, particularly when patients miss doses of their medication. Developing new drugs to target human genes required for HIV infection is a promising approach to HIV therapy, with potentially fewer opportunities for the development of resistance."

Bruce Walker, director of the Ragon Institute and co-corresponding author of the Nature Genetics paper, explains, "Viruses are very small and have very few genes - HIV has only 9, while humans have more than 19,000 - so viruses commandeer human genes to make essential building blocks for their replication. Our goal was to identify human genes, also called host genes, that are essential for HIV to replicate but could be eliminated without harming a human patient."

Tim Wang, a doctoral student conducting research at Whitehead Institute and the Broad Institute, and co-lead author of the report, explains, "CRISPR makes it possible to completely knock out genes at the DNA level; and our genome-wide, CRISPR-Cas9-based approach targets more than 18,500 genes, the vast majority of human protein-coding genes. Our study demonstrates how CRISPR-based screens can be applied to identify host factors critical to the survival of other viral pathogens but dispensable for host cell viability. Broad application of this method should pinpoint a novel class of potential therapeutic targets that have previously been underexplored for the treatment of infectious disease."

Co-corresponding author Nir Hacohen, an institute member at the Broad Institute and director of Cancer Immunology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), adds, "An important aspect of our study was to focus on human T cells, the primary targets of HIV, and to identify host genes with the most dramatic role in viral infection of T cells."

Previous research has identified several host dependency factors, including two proteins required for HIV to enter CD4 T cells, the primary target of the virus: the CD4 molecule itself, to which the virus binds, and CCR5, which facilitates the binding of common HIV strains. Individuals with a particular CCR5 mutation are immune to those viral strains - indeed the only individual considered cured of HIV infection received a bone marrow transplant from a donor with that CCR5 mutation - but while therapeutic CCR5 inhibitors have been developed and are in clinical use, they can cause serious side effects.

Three 2008 studies that used RNA interference (RNAi) to identify potential host dependency factors identified more than 800 possible targets; but the little overlap among the results of the studies suggested a high rate of false positive results. In addition, none of those studies was performed using the immune cells targeted by HIV, which also reduces the likelihood that the identified genes actually participate in HIV's infection of CD4 T cells.

Whitehead Institute's Tim Wang explains that, "RNAi suppresses but does not completely block gene expression - which could allow a targeted gene to produce enough protein to permit HIV infection - and it also can suppress expression of additional genes besides the intended target, leading to a false positive result."

Using CRISPR to screen a cell line derived from HIV-susceptible CD4 T cells identified five genes that, when inactivated, protected cells from HIV infection without affecting cellular survival. In addition to CD4 and CCR5, the screen identified genes for two enzymes -- TPST2 and SLC35B2 -- that modify the CCR5 molecule in a way that is required for the binding of HIV. An additional gene identified through the screen was ALCAM, which is involved in cell-to-cell adhesion. When CD4 T cells are exposed to low amounts of virus, as might be seen in natural transmission, loss of ALCAM was associated with striking protection from HIV infection.

Park explains, "ALCAM is necessary for cell-to-cell adhesion in our cell line, allowing more efficient viral transfer from one cell to the next. In fact, we found that artificially inducing the aggregation of cells lacking ALCAM restored the cell-to-cell transmission of HIV. Further studies are needed to investigate whether targeting these genes would be toxic to humans. However, even if systemic inhibition has toxic effects, gene therapy approaches that selectively target these genes only in CD4 T cells or their precursors may avoid these toxicities, although it's important to note that gene therapy remains a challenging and potentially costly therapeutic approach."

###

Eric S. Lander, of the Broad Institute, is a co-corresponding author of the Nature Genetics paper, along with Sabatini, Hacohen, and Walker - who is also the Phillip and Susan Ragon Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, a clinician in the MGH Division of Infectious Diseases and an associate member of the Broad Institute. Additional co-authors are Dylan Koundakjian, Pedro Lamothe-Molina, Blandine Monel, Wilfredo Garcia-Beltran and Alicja Piechocka-Trocha, Ragon Institute; Judd F. Hultquist, Kathrin Schumann, Alexander Marson and Nevan J. Krogan University of California, San Francisco; Haiyan Yu, Broad Institute; and Kevin M. Krupczak, a member of the Sabatini lab at Whitehead Institute when the study was conducted. The study was supported by funds from the Ragon Institute and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

The study, formally titled A genome-wide CRISPR screen identifies a restricted set of HIV host dependency factors, will appear via Advance Online Publication on the Nature Genetics website on 19 December 2016.

Ryan J Park1,3,20, Tim Wang3,5, 6, 20, Dylan Koundakjian1, Judd F Hultquist7,8, Pedro Lamothe-Molina1,9, Blandine Monel1,10, Kathrin Schumann11, Haiyan Yu3, Kevin M Krupzcak5, Wilfredo Garcia-Beltran1,2, Alicja Piechocka-Trocha1, Nevan J Krogan7,8, Alexander Marson11, 15, David M Sabatini3,5, 6, 16, Eric S Lander3,4,17, Nir Hacohen3,18 & Bruce D Walker1,3,10,19?

1Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

2Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

3Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

4Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

5Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

6David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

7Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, QB3, University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA

8Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, USA

9Biological Sciences in Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

10Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

11Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

12Diabetes Center, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

13Department of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

14Innovative Genomics Initiative (IGI), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA

15UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

16Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

17Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

18Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

19Institute of Medical Engineering and Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

The following funding acknowledgements from the authors appear at the end of the paper:

This work was supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (D.M.S. and B.D.W.), the National Institutes of Health (grants CA103866 (D.M.S.), F31 CA189437 (T.W.), P50 GM082250 (A.M. and N.J.K.), U19 AI106754 (J.F.H. and N.J.K.), and P01 AI090935 (N.J.K.)), the National Human Genome Research Institute (grant 2U54HG003067-10; E.S.L.), the National Science Foundation (T.W.), the MIT Whitaker Health Sciences Fund (T.W.), the UCSF Sandler Fellowship (A.M.), a gift from J. Aronov (A.M.), the UCSF MPHD T32 Training Grant (J.F.H.), and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grant SCHU3020/2-1; K.S.). Support was also provided by NIH-funded Centers for AIDS Research (grant P30 AI027763, UCSF Center for AIDS Research (N.J.K.) and grant P30 AI060354, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research (B.D.W.)), which are supported by the following NIH co-funding and participating Institutes and Centers: NIAID, NCI, NICHD, NHLBI, NIDA, NIMH, NIA, FIC, and OAR. D.M.S. and B.D.W. are investigators of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. R.J.P. is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Fellow.
An Air India flight to New York, that took off from Delhi, left behind luggage of all 277 passengers.

Air India flight to New Jersey flies without passengers' luggage. Picture for representation.

By Sanjay Sharma: An Air India flight -- AI 191 -- to New York that took off from New Delhi carrying 277 passengers, flew to its destination leaving behind luggage of all the passengers.

The incident happened on December 17. The Air India flight is from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport to New York's Newark Liberty International Airport with a stop over in Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

advertisement

A passenger of the flight, Monica, confirmed the news to India Today.

Talking to India Today, she said: "I boarded the flight from New Delhi and I think the luggage was loaded as well. We had a stopover at Mumbai, and that's where the luggage was left behind."

She also said that the airlines informed the passengers that they will take at least four to five days to bring the luggage to New York.

As Air India makes another error, passengers are stranded without warm clothes, medicines, important documents and even credit cards left behind in their airline baggage.

--- ENDS ---
It all began innocently enough. Tyrone Daulton, a physicist with the Institute for Materials Science and Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, was studying stardust, tiny specks of heat-resistant minerals thought to have condensed from the gases exhaled by dying stars. Among the minerals that make up stardust are tiny diamonds.

In 2007, Richard Kerr, a writer for the journal Science, knowing Daulton's expertise, called to ask whether nanodiamonds found in sediments could be evidence of an ancient impact.

Daulton said it was possible the heat and pressure of such a cataclysm could convert carbon in Earth's crust to diamond, but asked to see the paper, which had been published in Science.

The Science paper argued that a shower of exploding comet fragments over the North American ice sheet had triggered a sudden climate reversal called the Younger Dryas. Having read the paper, Daulton told the reporter, "It looks interesting, [but] there's not enough information in this paper to say whether they found diamonds."

Since then, Daulton has periodically been asked to evaluate Younger Dryas sediments for nanodiamonds. In the issue of the Journal of Quaternary Science released online Dec.19, he reviews the accumulated evidence and reports on his own analysis of new samples from California and Belgium.

For the second time in 10 years, Daulton has carefully reviewed the evidence, and found no evidence for a spike in nanodiamond concentration in Younger Dryas sediments. Since nanodiamonds are the strongest piece of evidence for the impact hypothesis, their absence effectively discredits it.

And so a great idea apparently has been brought low by the humblest of evidence.

What went wrong?

Nanodiamonds, it bears emphasizing, are tiny -- smaller than bacteria. Impact supporters often claim to find them inside small spheres of carbon, and those spheres are about the size of the period at the end of this sentence.

Even so, how is it possible for some scientists to find diamonds in samples and others to find none? One answer is that carbon atoms can arrange themselves in many different configurations. These arrangements, which make the difference between pencil lead and diamond, can be confused with one another.

Impact supporters often claim to have found lonsdaleite, a rare form of diamond that has a hexagonal rather than the common, cubic atomic structure. "Lonsdaleite is usually reported in the literature associated with impact sites or in meteorites that were shock processed," Daulton said. "It can also be formed by detonation in the laboratory, so the presence of lonsdaleite to me would be a strong suggestion of an impact."

But when he examined Younger Dryas samples reported to contain lonsdaleite, Daulton couldn't find it. Instead, he found aggregates of single-atom-thick sheets of carbon atoms (graphene) and sheets of carbon atoms with attached hydrogen atoms (graphane) that looked "very, very similar to lonsdaleite." So the claim of lonsdaleite was based on a misidentification: Daulton published this result in 2010.

End of story? Not so fast.

In 2014, a group of researchers reported that they had found a nanodiamond-rich sediment layer that spanned three continents. While claiming to find cubic and hexagonal diamond, they also claimed to find much more abundant n-diamond, a controversial form of diamond characterized by electron diffraction patterns similar to diamond, but with extra "forbidden" reflections that diamond does not exhibit.

Pulled back into the controversy, Daulton again found no diamond or n-diamond in the samples from the Younger Dryas horizon. What he found instead was nanocrystalline copper, which produces diffraction patterns just like the controversial n-diamond.

Daulton also attempted to reproduce the analyses that found a spike in the concentration of nanodiamonds at the Younger Dryas but found flaws in the methodology that invalidated the result.

Paradoxically it was Daulton's experience finding nanodiamonds in stardust that prepared him not to find them in sediments.

###
An international team led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has selected a third investigational drug to be tested in a worldwide clinical trial - already underway - aimed at finding treatments to prevent Alzheimer's disease.

The third drug is being developed by Janssen Research & Development, LLC, in New Jersey. It is designed to lower production of amyloid beta, a protein that clumps together into plaques and damages neurons in the brain, leading to memory loss, cognitive problems and confusion. The drug is designed to block the enzyme beta secretase -- which produces amyloid beta -- with a goal of reducing the amount of amyloid beta available to clump and cause neurodegeneration.

This investigational drug joins two others already being evaluated in the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's Network Trial Unit (DIAN-TU) study, which involves people with an inherited predisposition to develop Alzheimer's at a young age, usually in their 30s, 40s or 50s. Participants already enrolled will continue on their existing drug regimens, and additional volunteers with no or mild symptoms of cognitive impairment will be enrolled to evaluate the third drug.

"We are delighted with the new collaboration with Janssen Research & Development to expand the number of novel therapeutic targets we are testing," said Washington University Alzheimer's specialist Randall J. Bateman, MD, director of the DIAN-TU, a public-private-philanthropic research partnership.

"Testing a beta secretase inhibitor in the DIAN-TU trial further diversifies the approach to speed identification of potential preventions and treatments for this devastating disease," added Bateman, who is also the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Distinguished Professor of Neurology at Washington University.

The DIAN-TU, launched in 2012, is the first trial aimed at identifying drugs to prevent or slow Alzheimer's in people who are nearly certain to develop the disease due to inherited genetic mutations. Specifically, people in the trial have mutations in one of three genes - APP, PSEN-1 or PSEN-2 - which are linked to early-onset Alzheimer's. The hope is that by intervening early - before Alzheimer's ravages the brain - it may be possible to thwart the disease.

As part of the trial, three-quarters of new enrollees will be randomly assigned to receive the beta secretase inhibitor, and one-quarter will receive the placebo. Both groups will be evaluated for at least four years to determine whether the investigational drug delays or prevents the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

"Janssen welcomes this opportunity for researchers to test the mechanism of beta secretase inhibition in people who have dominantly inherited genetic mutations that put them at substantial risk of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. The DIAN-TU trials will provide a rigorous and powerful test of the amyloid hypothesis while evaluating a potential preventive treatment option for autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease," said Gary Romano, MD, PhD, the head of Alzheimer's Disease Development for Janssen Research & Development.

Although the trial focuses on people with rare mutations, treatments that are successful in this population potentially could be used to slow or stop the forms of Alzheimer's that occur more commonly in older adults. It is thought that the destructive molecular and cellular processes in the brain are much the same for both types of the disease.

The other two investigational drugs already being tested in the DIAN-TU are gantenerumab, an antibody made by Roche that binds to clumps of amyloid beta and helps remove them from the brain, and solanezumab, an antibody made by Eli Lilly and Co. that binds to free-floating fragments of amyloid beta protein, allowing them to be cleared before they clump together to form plaques. Enrollment in these two groups of the trial was completed in 2015, and these participants will be followed through the end of 2019.

Alzheimer's researchers selected the investigational drugs from more than 20 drugs nominated by pharmaceutical companies. Each drug has a unique approach to counter the toxic effects of amyloid beta. Each also passed earlier clinical trials that evaluated safety and effectiveness of the drugs and whether they targeted amyloid beta in study participants.

"We are pleased to see the DIAN-TU trial researchers continuing to broaden the types of investigational drugs they are testing," said Maria Carrillo, PhD, chief science officer of the Alzheimer's Association, which is helping to fund the trial. "Alzheimer's is a very complex disease, and it is extremely important that we develop therapies to address Alzheimer's from a variety of angles and at multiple stages of the disease."

Along with beginning testing of the beta secretase inhibitor, the new arm of the DIAN-TU study uses a new disease progression model to identify changes in cognition earlier and includes more frequent cognitive testing using remote applications.

In addition, the trial will include an investigational imaging-based marker targeting disease progression. This novel radiopharmaceutical tracer - which is being developed by General Electric (GE) Healthcare and called THK-5351 - is designed to detect the brain protein tau by positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Tau accumulates in the brain of individuals with Alzheimer's, where it forms toxic tangles.

By incorporating a radioactive atom into a molecule that specifically detects tau, researchers may be able to monitor the amount and location of tau tangles in participants' brains by PET scan. Investigators are hoping to determine whether this imaging method will demonstrate the presence of tau tangles before an individual starts to show symptoms of cognitive decline and if it can help predict the onset of dementia more accurately than existing biomarkers.

The DIAN-TU trial is underway at 24 sites across seven countries. Because of the rarity of dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease, the program will be expanded to additional countries, potentially including Argentina, Bulgaria, China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands and Sweden.

###

For people with Alzheimer's, family members, doctors and researchers interested in participating, the DIAN-TU launched the DIAN Expanded Registry (DIAN EXR). For more information or to register for potential participation in the trial, go to http://www.dianexr.org, call 1-844-DIAN-EXR (342-6397) or email dianexr@wustl.edu.

Editor's note: David M. Holtzman, MD, the Andrew B. and Gretchen P. Jones Professor and head of neurology, is listed on the patent related to solanezumab, an antibody that is co-owned by Washington University in St. Louis and Lilly. Washington University has licensed its patent rights to Lilly. The financial interests of the university and Holtzman in this patent are managed in accordance with applicable conflict-of-interest policies and regulations.




Haiti - Politics : UN adopts new strategy against cholera in Haiti





Friday, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the new strategy of the Organization to combat cholera in Haiti, which was presented to it at the beginning of the month by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.



In a resolution adopted without a vote, the General Assembly expresses its concern that the epidemic has so far affected nearly 800,000 people and caused more than 9,000 deaths. In particular, it notes with deep concern the increase in the number of cases of cholera and other diarrheal diseases following the passage of Hurricane Matthew, which hit Haiti on 4 October 2016, and the continuing vulnerability of Haitians resulting.



The General Assembly expresses its appreciation for the considerable efforts made since 2010 at the national, regional and international levels to combat cholera in Haiti and is aware of the fact that, despite significant progress in the fight against cholera, the country still faces major difficulties.



In the resolution adopted, the General Assembly is "firmly resolved to deal with this emergency situation which has lasted too long, in an efficient and coordinated manner". It considers that the United Nations "acknowledged the United Nations role in the cholera outbreak and its moral responsibility to assist the victims of the cholera epidemic and it has to help Haiti recover from the epidemic and build strong water systems, sanitation and health-care facilities."



Accordingly, the General Assembly "calls upon all Member States, United Nations agencies and other international governmental and non-governmental partners to fully support the Secretary-General's new strategy for combating cholera in Haiti, in particular to redouble efforts to combat and eradicate cholera and to alleviate the suffering of the victims, in particular by providing material assistance and support to the populations and Haitians most affected by cholera."



During the presentation of the new strategy on December 1 before United Nations Member States, Ban Ki-moon had apologized to the Haitian people, expressing his deep regret for the suffering caused by the cholera epidemic. He suggested the way forward through a plan that included immediate action to stop the epidemic and provide long-term support to those affected.



At a cost of about $ 400 million over the next two years, the package proposed by the United Nations is centered on two components. The first is a much strengthened and better funded effort to address and reduce the incidence of cholera, while addressing short- and long-term water, sanitation and health system and improving access to care and treatment.



The second component of the new strategy is to develop a program of material assistance and support to Haitians most directly affected by cholera. This should include consultation with affected individuals and communities in the development of this program.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19496-haiti-health-eliminating-cholera-in-haiti-a-matter-of-money.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18970-haiti-health-un-creates-a-fund-to-fight-against-cholera-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19030-haiti-cholera-new-un-approach.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18970-haiti-health-un-creates-a-fund-to-fight-against-cholera-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18778-haiti-health-alarming-evolution-of-cholera-in-the-country-2016.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Mauritania National Day

Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I am pleased to congratulate the people of Mauritania on the 56th anniversary of your nations independence.

"The United States values its partnership with your country and appreciates your governments role in promoting regional peace and security. We look forward to our continued collaboration in expanding trade and investment, facilitating social progress, and ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law.

"Today  and every day  I wish for all Mauritanians a future of prosperity, freedom, and dignity."
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In Honor of the Current Trend Towards Fact-Check-Free News, Ancient Future Presents

Future Ancient News from an Alt-Left Universe

President-Elect Sanders Proposes US Musical Ambassador to the United Nations

In this news release from an imaginary alternate universe in which Bernie Sanders is the US President-elect, Bernie's slogan, "An Ancient Future to Believe In," leads to a proposal to employ the world music group Ancient Future to facilitate jam sessions between musicians from countries involved in international conflicts.

WASHINGTON (Ancient Future Press). President-elect Bernie Sanders today announced his intention to create a new cabinet-level position: United States Musical Ambassador to the United Nations.

A Sanders Transition Team internal memo marked as "for discussion purposes only" has been obtained which states that the idea came to Sanders after hearing some music by the band Ancient Future, the first and longest running musical organization dedicated exclusively to the mission of creating world fusion music. The memo states that in cases of international conflict, it will be the duty of the USMAUN to employ Ancient Future to facilitate jam sessions between musicians from the countries involved.

The Senate confirmation process can begin when Congress convenes on Jan. 3, two weeks before Sanders inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017. Due to the new Green/Democratic coalition majority in the Senate that was swept in on Sander's coattails, it is widely believed that Ancient Future's upcoming Feb. 11 anniversary concert is likely to become a celebration of more than just the band's 38 years of cross-cultural collaboration.

Ancient Future Performs at Trinity Chapel on 38th Anniversary of the First Ancient Future Concert





Featuring World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort, Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar, and Pianist/Santurist Mariah Parker

Exactly 38 years after their first concert on Feb. 11, 1979, at the Sleeping Lady Cafe in Fairfax, California, Ancient Future will perform in Berkeley as part of the Trinity Chamber Concert Series. Blending ancient world music traditions from fiery flamenco to resonant raga with the contemporary colors of jazz and rock, this variation of the world fusion music group features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort, renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar, and composer/pianist/santurist Mariah Parker performing new music and favorites from the band's eight ground-breaking recordings.

With President-elect Sander's proposed new duties for Ancient Future at the United Nations, reservations are strongly encouraged for those who want to be part of what could be an historic celebration for world fusion music.

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, 8 PM

Trinity Chamber Concerts

Trinity Chapel

2320 Dana Street between Bancroft Way & Durant Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94704

Tix: $20 general, $15 senior/disabled/student. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but with the new Guaranteed Income Act that is expected to pass in Sander's first week in office, funds for the concert shouldn't be a problem for anyone.

Info and reservations: 510-778-1719 or email info@trinitychamberconcerts.com

Venue website: www.trinitychamberconcerts.com

Press Release



Alt-Left Releases on Ancient-Future.Com Records

Berning for the Win





Berning for the Win by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF-90352).

Berning for the Win is the first audio/video release in Alt-Left Ancient Future history, and is thought to have played a part in Bernie's narrow victory in the primary after a recount in 34 states, and his landslide victory in the general election.

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com AF-2030).

Kent Jones reports on A.F.A.R. on the Rachel Maddow Show on X.N.N.B.C. in a parallel universe. Apparently, Kent Jones got lost in a time vortex while listening to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future, and reported on his experience in his "Just Enough" segment exploring the farthest reaches of musical culture.

Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert





Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com AF-20142).

To be released the day of Bernie's inauguration, Jan. 20, 2017, Indo Latin Jazz Live in Concert captures the magic of the concert debut of Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in front of a full house at Yoshis in Oakland, as well as subsequent concerts at Berkeleys Freight & Salvage, the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley, and Bob Weirs TRI Studios in San Rafael. It is the perfect party music to feel the Bern! Plus, two days after Bernie becomes president, they are performing at the Freight and Salvage as part of their CD release tour.
The debate over rent caps is set to step up a gear.

New limits on rent increases in 'pressure zones' were passed late on Friday night and go before the Seanad on Wednesday.

However there has been an angry reaction to threats from landlords to increase charges on tenants as a result.

The Irish Property Owners Association says it'll bring in a raft of new charges in response to the move.

Lorcan Sirr, a lecturer in housing studies and urban economics at DIT says that's unlikely to happen.

"A lot of what they proposed like charging tenants a letting fee is illegal under the Residential Tenancies Act. Some of the other things wouldn't be legal under consumer acts, a lot of what they are saying is nonsense to be honest.

"They get a lot of media attention but they don't actually - I don't think they represent the true picture of most landlords who are fine and decent people."
By PTI: Ahmedabad, Dec 18 (PTI) BJP president Amit Shah has chaired the state BJPs chintan shibir or brainstorming session, seen as the partys exercise to chalk out road-map for 2017 Assembly polls, which began today.

On the first day of the two-day session, Shah held discussions on various issues with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, deputy CM Nitin Patel, state unit BJP president Jitubhai Vaghani and several other key leaders and ministers, stated a release issued by the state BJP unit.

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Shah is on three-day visit to his home state.

Before proceeding to the event, being held at a club on Bavla-Rajkot Highway near the city, Patel told reporters the discussions would mainly revolve around strengthening the coordination between the BJP and the government.

"We will discuss prevalent social as well as political situation in the shibir. We will also discuss the ways to take pro-people schemes to beneficiaries by establishing better coordination between party and government. As the Budget session of state Assembly is approaching, we will brainstorm about new schemes which can be floated during that session," said Patel.

The deputy CM said the people of Gujarat have always supported the development-oriented policies of the BJP and will re-elect the party to office next year as well.

Other leaders who attended the session included former CM Anandiben Patel, Revenue Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Union minister Parshottam Rupala and state BJP in-charge Dinesh Sharma. PTI PJT PD NSK

--- ENDS ---
An investigation is underway after funds were transferred in a sophisticated online scam which involved criminals impersonating the councils chief executive.

It is understood criminals contacted a staff member pretending to be council CEO Jackie Maguire and requested the transfer of 4.3m to a Hong Kong account.

Gardai managed to freeze the transfer while authorities here and in Hong Kong check details.

Local authorities are now being urged to check their cybersecurity details.

The Department of Environment yesterday told the Irish Examiner that a report from Meath County Council on the scam was expected now to be requested.

On foot of that, guidance will be given to local authorities where necessary, a department spokesman said.

Gardai say the council was several weeks ago a victim of CEO fraud, where large sums are transferred to criminals on foot of a bogus order made in the name of a company chief executive.

In a statement, Meath County Council said its bank had been alerted to the scam and gardai were then alerted who provided assistance with the help of Interpol.

The funds have been secured and the matter is now the subject of criminal investigations, and legal proceedings, in Ireland and abroad.

Meath County Council has confirmed that it has taken legal proceedings in Hong Kong and that the funds have been secured on foot of a court order obtained by Meath County Council.

These legal proceeding will continue and will enable the return of all funds to the council.

Fianna Fail TD Thomas Byrne said there may be some concern about how long the money had been in the Hong Kong bank and whether this had affected the funding of local services.

I will be seeking assurances that cyber security procedures within Meath County Council are at their highest possible level, he said. I will also be looking for assurances that vital public services are not at risk.
The Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) investigated radio and TV ads for Eircode following complaints, and found they incorrectly gave the impression that those in need of emergency assistance need to know their postcode when calling an ambulance.

However, while the ASAI had originally ruled that the ads should no longer be broadcast, it has since stated that the broadcasts were public notices and are therefore outside its remit.

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has confirmed that it too received a complaint about the ad, which is under consideration. However, it is unclear if it has remit to uphold any such complaint. The BAI General Commercial Communications Code specifically excludes public service announcements from its consideration.

Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan, who had lodged a complaint against the ads, said the loophole that excludes public service advertising from the watchdogs oversight needs to be addressed.

I am shocked that public service adverts are deemed outside the jurisdiction of the codes of practice of Advertising Standards Agency Ireland, Ms Boylan said.

We have a situation whereby a minister approved a public service advert that has been found to breach four codes of the advertising standards, and yet no sanction can be applied.

In this case, the ASAI cannot prevent the advert from being shown again.

The implications reach far beyond my original concerns with the content of the Eircode advert. This undermines the credibility of all public service adverts and also places a huge amount of power and influence in the hands of the minister for communications, she said.

Under the current system a minister can potentially sign off on an advert that they know is deliberately misleading, exploitative or unsubstantiated to promote a government policy or activity.

Documents seen by the Irish Examiner reveal that the ASAI had received complaints from Ms Boylan, the Irish Fire Services Association, and an unnamed consumer who runs a location codes business.

In its response to the complaints, Eircode told the ASAI that relaying the postcode to dispatchers would save time as there would be no need for callers to give directions.

Despite this, the ASAI said there was no supporting evidence that suggested that using Eircode saved time.

In its ruling, the ASAI said it was concerned there was implication that having an Eircode was now necessary for callers to the National Ambulance Service.

It noted that the advert used the slogans Do you have an Eircode? It will help us find you faster and Use Eircode and help the emergency service find you faster; but said that it was not provided with any evidence to support these claims.

The committee noted that the advertising had not made any specific claim in relation to saving lives, but were concerned that it was implied that if people in need of the service could be found faster, then there was the potential to save lives, the draft ruling read.

The Department said it would respond to a number of queries from the Irish Examiner in due course.
THE National Parks and Wildlife Service has released its annual report on threats to birds of prey. Its the fifth one since the format was standardised in 2011. More raptor deaths were logged during 2015 than in any year so far. Thirty-five poisoning and persecution incidents came to light and nine birds of prey were shot, the highest number ever.

Anecdotal reports were not included in the data, although suspected and unconfirmed incidents are informative and important ... in providing data on threats to our raptors, the authors note. The number recorded is likely to be only a fraction of incidents that occurred in total. For example, several cases came to light only because the victims had been fitted with radio-tracking devices.

Twenty-six poisoning incidents involved 23 birds of prey. Most of the victims had died from secondary poisoning, having ingested lethal substances accidentally, or they had eaten the bodies of targeted species. According to raptor expert John Lusby, 85% of Irish barn owls have detectable rodenticide residues in their tissues. Of three recorded poison bait incidents, two led to multiple deaths of birds, including starlings and crows, as well as dogs.

Five types of poison were used. One of them, Carbofuran, is so lethal to birds and mammals that it has been banned in Europe since 2008. Seven cases involved Alphachloralose, approved only for the control of rats and mice. Both of these substances are regularly found used together in Ireland by those targeting peregrine falcons. The anticoagulant Flocoumafen caused one bird death in 2014. There were 13 victims last year. Two prosecutions, for illegal use of poisoned meat, were successful in 2015.

Buzzards and red kites suffered most. Fifteen buzzard deaths were recorded. Long regarded as vermin, the species was persecuted to the brink of extinction in Ireland. Attitudes began to change in the 20th century but the destruction of the rabbit population by myxomatosis deprived buzzards of a key food resource. The widespread use of pesticides, such as DDT, also threatened the species recovery but a few pairs managed to hang on in the extreme north of the country. With the banning of organo-chlorine pesticides, buzzard numbers began to rise. By 1990, there were about 125 pairs here, most of them in Ulster. The species has now re-colonised the east and south of Ireland but is still absent from much of the west.

There were five red kite victims. Beginning in 2007, a hundred young kites were brought in from Wales. The population is still tiny so, proportionally, recorded mortality was far higher among kites than any other raptor. Centuries of persecution rendered the species extinct in Ireland and almost did so in Britain. Yet, some people still want to destroy these magnificent creatures.

Our commonest raptors, the kestrel and the sparrowhawk, seem better able to take care of themselves; only one sparrowhawk and two kestrel intentional deaths came to light in 2015. According to the recently published Bird Atlas, sparrowhawks are holding their own here while kestrel numbers have fallen by about a third since 1998.

To bring home to readers the reality of bird persecution, the report describes one birds ordeal. A young female hen harrier was fitted with a satellite tracking device in south Kerry. Nicknamed Heather, her progress was followed worldwide on the Web. Heather flew to the Wicklow Mountains. She visited Meath, Louth, Monaghan and Armagh before heading to the cliffs of south County Cork where she spent her first winter. In late 2014, she returned to Kerry. She might have mated and bred in her second year but she was shot.
Students Selected for Career Excursion to Nation's Capital

Students will have the opportunity to network with many successful Titan alumni during an excursion to Washington, D.C.

Dec. 19, 2016

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Twenty Illinois Wesleyan University students will head to Washington, D.C. over spring break as participants in the Universitys Career Immersion Excursion.

The students were selected for the excursion from more than 40 candidates. Hart Career Center staff believes the high number of applicants reflects the success of the inaugural Career Immersion Excursion (CIE) program to Chicago in 2016. In a survey of students who participated in Chicago trip, 100 percent reported it met or exceeded their expectations and 100 percent would recommend the CIE program to a friend.

The four-day experience provides students with the opportunity to get a closer look at working in government, public policy, advocacy, nonprofit, law, healthcare and the intersections of business and government. Confirmed site visits include the FBI, the office of Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization.

Five panels of alumni working in education, international affairs, health, and business and government connections are planned along with a special panel featuring young alumni working in the D.C. area. An alumni social at the Capitol Hill Club on March 13, and small-group dinners hosted by alumni on March 14 are two other highlights of the week.

Students selected include: Cindy Basilio 17 (Streamwood, Ill.); Regina Blaskie 17 (Shorewood, Ill.); Josie Blumberg 19 (Normal, Ill.); Emily Brown 17 (Chicago); Madalyn Browning-Perry 17 (Chelsea, Mich.); Amy Gordon 19 (Chatham, Ill.) Veena Hamill 18 (Glenview, Ill.); Molly Johnson 17 (Westmont, Ill.); Nubari Kanee 17 (St. Louis); Hamzah Kanee 19 (Pakistan); Preslav Mantchev 17 (Palatine, Ill.); Kurt Meyer 18 (Moorhead, Minn.); Jacob Robbins 18 (New Lenox, Ill.); Kyle Serafico 17 (Buena Park, Ca.); Ojaswee Shrestha 18 (Nepal); Alex Stogin 18 (Orland Park, Ill.); Alani Sweezy 19 (Chicago); Veronica Torres Luna 19 (Chicago); Taylor Williams 18 (Heyworth, Ill.); and Megan Zsorey 19 (Chandler, Ariz.).

Staff from the Hart Career Center will accompany the students. The CIE program is made possible by the support of the family of Cathy Carswell, an IWU Trustee and 1965 graduate of the University. Students contributed only $250 per person toward the trip, which includes three nights hotel, air transportation, programs and most meals.

Washington, D.C. is home to many successful Titan alumni, said Laurie Diekhoff, associate director for career engagement. During the excursion, students will have an opportunity to meet many of these alumni through employer site visits, alumni socials and professional networking events.
New Gold Inc. (TSX: NGD / NYSEMKT: NGD) ("New Gold") announces that Hannes Portmann has been named President of New Gold. Randall Oliphant will continue in his role of Executive Chairman and Brian Penny will continue as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. David Schummer, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, is leaving New Gold and Raymond Threlkeld, currently a member of the company's Board of Directors, will become Interim Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Portmann was originally with Western Goldfields Inc. ("Western Goldfields") from 2008 until its 2009 merger with New Gold. After the merger, Mr. Portmann's primary focus was leading New Gold's corporate development team. Over the last several years he has taken on progressively more responsibility in other facets of the business, including investor relations, human resources and exploration, culminating in his role as Executive Vice President, Business Development of the company. He has played a key role in the transactions that have resulted in New Gold having a strong portfolio of assets that combines free cash flow generating mines and significant growth projects. Mr. Portmann has a Bachelor of Science in mining engineering from Queen's University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

"On behalf of our Board of Directors and the entire New Gold team, I congratulate Hannes on this well-deserved recognition," stated Randall Oliphant, Executive Chairman. "Having worked in many roles with New Gold and predecessor companies since 2008, Hannes has a deep understanding of the value drivers of both our company and the industry. I look forward to working closely with Hannes, Brian, Ray and the rest of our team to deliver on our commitment of generating long-term shareholder value."

"On behalf of New Gold, I would also like to thank Dave for his contributions since joining the company in September 2014. We all wish him great success in his future endeavours," added Mr. Oliphant.

As Interim Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Threlkeld's primary responsibility will be to lead the project development team through the continued construction of the company's Rainy River project, which is currently over 65% complete and on schedule to begin production in mid-2017. Mr. Threlkeld has extensive history with both the company and the Rainy River project. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Goldfields from 2006 through its 2009 merger with New Gold. Thereafter, Mr. Threlkeld was President and Chief Executive Officer of Rainy River Resources Ltd. through 2013 when it was acquired by New Gold. Mr. Threlkeld adds a tremendous breadth and depth of experience to the team which is underpinned by his strong track record of successful project development and value creation. New Gold will commence a comprehensive search process to recruit a permanent Chief Operating Officer.

Cory Atiyeh, Vice President, Operations, will continue in his current role and report to Mr. Threlkeld. Mr. Atiyeh will continue to be responsible for the company's operating mines, which remain on track to meet 2016 production guidance at costs that are within, or potentially below, the guidance ranges. Mr. Atiyeh has been with New Gold since the company's 2009 merger with Western Goldfields. He and Mr. Threlkeld previously worked together at Western Goldfields where Mr. Threlkeld hired Mr. Atiyeh as General Manager of the Mesquite mine. Mr. Atiyeh was General Manager of the mine from 2006 until early 2016 when he was promoted to his current role.

ABOUT NEW GOLD INC.

New Gold is an intermediate gold mining company. The company has a portfolio of four producing assets and two significant development projects. The New Afton Mine in Canada, the Mesquite Mine in the United States, the Peak Mines in Australia and the Cerro San Pedro Mine in Mexico, provide the company with its current production base. In addition, New Gold owns 100% of the Rainy River and Blackwater projects, both in Canada, as well as a 4% gold stream on the El Morro project located in Chile. New Gold's objective is to be the leading intermediate gold producer, focused on the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the company, please visit www.newgold.com.

Source: New Gold
Atalaya Mining plc (TSX: AYM) reports that nameplate capacity of 9.5Mtpa was achieved during December 2016 at its 100% owned Riotinto Copper Project ("Proyecto Riotinto"), located in Andalucia, Spain.

The plant reached nameplate capacity during a single run of ten consecutive days during the early part of December, treating an average of 28,685 dry metric tonnes per day and achieving design recoveries and concentrate grades. After normal, scheduled maintenance and plant availability parameters are considered, the current treatment rates are enough to give comfort that the planned 9.5 Mtpa will be achieved during 2017.

Production guidance for 2017 is forecast to be in the range of 34,000 - 40,000 tonnes of copper which, at current copper prices, is expected to generate positive operating cash flows for the Company. The management team will continue to look for and implement ways in which the operation could be further optimised in terms of throughput, recoveries and cost efficiencies to further improve the results of the Company.

In an effort to improve its working capital, the Company has reached an agreement with the mining contractor to defer certain payments totalling EUR 8 million until 2018. By then, the Company expects to be generating stronger cash flows on a sustained basis, based on its operating budgets for 2017. This agreement covers a significant part of the Company's current working capital needs and demonstrates the excellent working relationship the Company enjoys with one of its key stakeholders.

Source: Atalaya Mining
Brixton Metals Corp. (TSX.V: BBB) (the "Company" or "Brixton") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement on an "as is, where is" basis with Temex Resources Corp. ("Temex"), a subsidiary of Tahoe Resources Inc. (TSX: THO), to acquire 100 percent interest in the Gowganda Mine, a past-producing underground silver mine ("Gowganda Silver Project") in Ontario, Canada. The Company engaged Stony Environmental Inc. to review and complete environmental due diligence on the Gowganda Silver Project.

Highlights:

Past production of 40.7 Moz silver at 22 ounces/ton;

Tailings NI 43-101 indicated resource of 2.96 Moz Ag at 47.5 g/t Ag (2011);

Excellent infrastructure, power and year-round access;

Native silver and high Ag recovery rates;

Low holding costs.

Gowganda Drill Results Historical HoleID From (m) To(m) Width (m) Ag Grade (oz/t)1 Ag Grade (g/t)2 SDK-88-10 99.82 100.13 0.31 1039 35,623 SDK-88-10 124.36 124.66 0.30 306 10,491 SDK-88-10 99.36 100.13 0.77 488 16,731 SDK-88-13 114.54 114.85 0.31 291 9,977 Temex Resources Corp HoleID From (m) To(m) Width (m) Ag Grade (oz/t)1 Ag Grade (g/t)2 TGS06-03 22.25 22.85 0.60 166 5,693 TGS06-04 34.65 34.95 0.30 366 12,541 TGS06-04 34.65 35.05 0.40 295 10,118 TGS06-04 34.65 35.35 0.70 169 5,782 GS-11-04 113.38 113.68 0.30 299 10,267 1: oz/t = troy ounce per ton 2: g/t = grams per tonne

The agreement provides that Brixton will issue 1,500,000 common shares to Temex for the Gowganda Silver Project (the "Acquisition Shares"). The Acquisition Shares are subject to resale restrictions for a period of 12 months from the closing date of the transaction. Temex will retain a 3.0% net smelter returns royalty ("NSR") on the Gowganda Silver Project; however, the Company can buy down 1.0% of the NSR by paying Temex CAD$500,000 at any time prior to production.

Location map:



Geology map:



Chairman and CEO of Brixton, Gary R. Thompson stated, "The acquisition of the Gowganda Silver Project reaffirms Brixton's interest in this once famous silver camp. I believe this move into this historic camp provides investors with a unique brownfields silver opportunity in Canada."

Temex filed a NI 43-101 resource estimate titled "Gowganda Silver Project including a Resource Estimate of the Surface Tailings Deposit" prepared by GeoVector Management Inc. for the surface tailings materials at the Gowganda Silver Project dated July 8, 2011. The resource estimate is categorized as indicated as defined by the CIM guidelines for resource reporting. To the best of Brixton's knowledge, information, and belief, there is no new material scientific or technical information that would make the disclosure of these mineral resources misleading.

Gowganda NI-43-101 Tailings Indicated Resource Estimate GeoVector Management Inc. July 8, 2011 Cut-off Grade Tonnes Silver Silver g/t Grade (g/t) Ounces 5.0 g/t 1,946,465 47.3 2,961,665 10 g/t 1,937,520 47.5 2,959,487 20 g/t 1,903,081 48.1 2,941,810 30 g/t 1,743,690 50.1 2,806,483 40 g/t 1,112,423 58.2 2,083,075

The completion of the acquisition of the Gowganda Silver Project is expected to take place by the end of January 2017 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval and the consent of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines to the transfer of the Gowganda Silver Project. The Company has agreed to a finders' fee of $31,000 to Red Cloud Klondike Strike Inc. in connection with the completion of the acquisition of the Gowganda Silver Project, payable in cash or issuable in shares (at the election of Brixton).

The exploration plan for the Gowganda project includes historical data compilation and 3D modelling to identify drill targets. In addition the work will include an assessment of the silver recovery potential from the surface tailings on the property.

About the Gowganda Silver Project

The Gowganda Silver Project is 223 hectares under lease. The Gowganda mine produced 40.7 Moz Ag at a grade of 22 oz/t Ag. The mine operated for 62 years from 1910 to 1972. The project is located in Northeastern Ontario about 85 km west from the town of Cobalt, with excellent infrastructure. Access is via an all-weather road from Highway 560. The nearest airport is about 40 km to the east. The following description has been extracted from Ronacher et al., 2007: Mining began in 1907 on the Property at the Gowganda Silver Camp after the discovery of silver near Bloom Lake, located in Hautain Township. Intermittent recorded production of silver from 1910 to 1944 amounted to ~16 million ounces of silver from an undetermined tonnage of ore. Siscoe Metals of Ontario Limited produced an additional 25,501,489 oz of silver from 1,147,683 tons of ore milled between 1945 and 1972 (Lalande, 1981; Ronacher et al, 2007). There are no mineral reserves estimated for the Property. A NI 43-101 indicated resource of 2.96 Moz Ag at 47.5 g/t Ag from 1.9 Mt using a 10 g/t Ag cut-off grade for surface tailings material was established by GeoVector Management Inc., in 2011.

The Gowganda Silver Project is underlain by a thick sequence of metavolcanic rocks of Archean age which are unconformably overlain by younger flat-lying meta-sedimentary rocks of the Coleman Member Gowganda Formation, Huronian Supergroup. A sill of Nipissing Gabbro approximately 260 m thick subsequently intruded these rocks. The silver mineralization is hosted within this sill. Silver mineralization occurs within carbonate veins that fills fissures and can be associated with a wide variety of minerals containing combinations of cobalt-iron-nickel with As-Sb-S with minor amounts of chalcopyrite and galena (Ronacher et. al., 2007).

Mr. Sorin Posescu, P.Geo., VP Exploration, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 standards and has reviewed and approved this news release.

Sources: Smethurst, M., Ronacher, E., and Wetherup, S., 2007. Report on 2006 Drilling, Gowganda Silver Property, Gowganda, Ontario, Canada for Temex Resources Corp. (internal drill report); Technical Report on the Gowganda Silver Project Including a Resources Estimate of the Surface Tailings Report for Temex Resources Corp, Dated July 8th, 2011, GeoVector Management Inc., Authored by Campbell, P.Geo, Sexton, P.Geo and Armitage, P.Geol.

About Brixton Metals Corporation

Brixton is a Canadian exploration and development company focused on the advancement of its gold and silver projects toward feasibility.

Upon closing of the Gowganda Silver Project, Brixton will control 3 past producers of high-grade silver within the Silver-Cobalt Camp of Ontario. The Langis mine produced 10.4 Moz of silver at 25 oz/t Ag and 358,340 pounds of cobalt, the Hudson Bay mine produced 6.4 Moz of silver at 123 oz/t and Gowganda mine produced 40.7 Moz of silver at 22 oz/t Ag. The projects are generally located 500 km north of Toronto, Canada. The high-grade silver mineralization occurs as moderate-steeply-dipping veins within any of the three main rock types; Archean volcanics, Coleman Member sediments and Nipissing diabase.

The 996 SQ/KM, wholly owned Thorn Project is located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, approximately 105 km ENE from Juneau, AK. The Thorn project hosts a district scale gold-silver trend associated with Triassic to Cretaceous volcano-plutonic complex. Many styles of mineralization have been identified related to porphyry and epithermal environments. Targets include high-grade gold-silver underground targets and large-scale open pit gold type targets.

Brixton Metals Corporation shares trade on the TSX-V under the ticker symbol BBB. For more information about Brixton please visit our website at www.brixtonmetals.com

Source: Brixton Metals
Korea's opposition parties refused to acknowledge the new whip of the ruling Saenuri Party, claiming loyalists of President Park Geun-hye cannot be considered dialogue partners.

Last week, four-term lawmaker Rep. Chung Woo-taik and Rep. Lee Hyun-jae were elected the floor leader and chief policymaker, respectively, beating their competitors from the anti-Park group.

The election came as Rep. Chung Jin-suk resigned as floor leader taking responsibility for the impeachment of Park over alleged corruption.

The opposition parties, however, said the ruling party should have brought major changes to its leadership, adding they will not meet with the pro-Park floor leader.

The Democratic Party, the People's Party and the minor Justice Party all refused to meet with Chung when he visited each office earlier in the day.

"I will wait with patience. We need to beg for forgiveness from the people," Chung said. "We will take time and endure everything, and become a negotiation partner for the opposition parties."

Chung was able to meet National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun, where the floor leader asked him to help settle tension at the National Assembly. (Yonhap)
Rwandan Ambassador Emma-Francoise Isumbingabo, left, and South African Ambassador Nozuko Gloria Bam talk about the progress made by their countries on female empowerment during a recent interview at a Seoul hotel. / Korea Times photo by Oh Young-jin



By Oh Young-jin

At one table at an open restaurant in the foyer of a downtown hotel, a discussion was underway about women's empowerment.

The din coming from the busy environment  passersby, employees and paging noises  couldn't dampen two passionate ambassadors from Africa.

The subject of women's rights is often about the lack of progress and the resulting inequality.

But the two  Rwandan Ambassador Emma-Francoise Isumbingabo and South African Ambassador Nozuko Gloria Bam  talked about the results  remarkable ones in such a short period of time.

For one who participated in that conversation and often played the role of the listener, what was most striking was the conviviality with which the two ambassadors sometimes finished a sentence the other started and the infectious sense of camaraderie pulled in a bystander who happened to be within an ear shot of their chat.

"Soon," Amb. Isumbingabo said. "Why not?" answered Amb. Gloria Bam.

The question was when they thought their respective countries would have a female head of state. But before the two ambassadors' gender, came their efforts to overcome humble beginnings.

The South African ambassador talked about the lack of electricity and tap water in the village in which she was born and lived during her childhood.

"When I woke up, I would take cattle to pasture and fetch water from a nearby river," said the South African ambassador, when it was observed that she must have been from a well-to-do family.

She assumed that the Rwandan envoy shared similar beginnings to hers, Amb. Isumbingabo said yes and no at the same time. "I was not born in a village," she said but added that in her childhood, about 1 percent of Rwandans enjoyed the benefit of electricity.

She remembered that she studied with the help of candlelight.

"I am lucky," Amb. Isumbingabo said, when asked how she made it to be an ambassador to a major country such as Korea.

Her story was sad but inspirational.

As told in such tales as Hotel Rwanda, the 2004 movie about inter-tribal genocide, the nation was devastated with the slaughter of its population.

Both men and women suffered but the men were targeted more, resulting in the lopsided ratio by gender: six to four in women's favor.

Everybody was called in to rebuild the nation. Women have been given chances they didn't have before. Now, Rwandan women account for 40 percent of the Cabinet, nearly 50 percent of duty ministers and 64 percent of lawmakers. About 43 percent of judges are women.

For the young generation, the ratio by sex is now about equal, the ambassador said.

"Now, boys and girls are taught to respect each other," she said. "Our society is very much merit-based. I am the ambassador to Korea by dint of my ability to perform."

She also said that all this has been made possible by what she called the "right leadership" who chooses people on the basis of ability and gives them discretion to fulfill their potential.

For South Africa, the abolition of apartheid was the key to the equity-based society, unleashing people to engage in a test of talent.

"When I was young, a male child was expected to be head of the family," said Amb. Gloria Bam. Now she added that the system has been altered to provide a level playing field for women as well.

Listening to them would invite one to dare to think that gender equity may be closer.
By PTI: Panaji, Dec 19 (PTI) Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said the number of tourists visiting his home state Goa has risen almost five-fold to six million compared to year 2000.

"Today almost six million tourists come to Goa. When I took over as chief minister in 2000, total 12 lakh tourists were arriving in the state," Parrikar said while addressing a Vijay Sankalp rally in South Goas Dabolim constituency today.

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Parrikars first term as CM kasted between 2000-2002 and second time between March 9, 2012 to November 8, 2014 before he was appointed as Defence Minister.

"Within four years (from 2000), the number of tourists rose to 26 lakh. (However) during the seven-year rule of the Congress (2004-2011) only 50,000 tourists were added," he said.

Parrikar recalled that he had announced tourism will grow to six million a year after taking charge as CM.

"I am happy to inform you that this year six million tourists will be arriving in Goa," the BJP leader said.

Parrikar said no one should worry about the future of Dabolim airport.

"Goas tourism growth is so much that we will have to carry on with Dabolim airport even after commissioning of Mopa airport. Dabolim airport will continue working full scale," he said, adding the need for a greenfield airport at Mopa was felt as Dabolim airport is overloaded and new flights cannot be permitted.

"The current capacity of airport is 2.8 million. So two airports can comfortably work in Goa," he added.

Meanwhile, he congratulated Army for conducting Operation Vijay to liberate Goa from the Portuguese rule on this day in 1961.

"I express my greetings to all the freedom fighters who sacrificed to liberate Goa on this day from Portuguese rule," Parrikar said, addding the Army had played a pivotal role in liberating Goa which had been under the Portuguese rule for 450 years before it was liberated on December 19, 1961. PTI RPS NSK SRE

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Aug-27-20

Patients who have suffered harm as the result of negligent care from their medical care provider may be able to file a Georgia medical malpractice lawsuit against the person or organization responsible for their care. These Georgia medical malpractice claims can result in compensatory and punitive damages awarded to the patient, if the court finds that the person or organization was medically negligent in the care provided.Georgia medical malpractice claims include allegations of medical negligence against health care professionals or facilities that have breached a reasonable standard of care to their patients. Medical malpractice claims must prove that a healthcare provider/patient relationship existed, that the healthcare provider was negligent in the standard of care provided, that the negligence caused an injury and the injury caused damages to the patient.Patients who believe they have a medical malpractice claim must be aware that there is a difference between being a victim of negligence and experiencing an unfortunate medical outcome. Not all surgeries that have complications are the result of medical negligence, for example.Under Georgia medical malpractice laws, plaintiffs have two years from the date of injury or death to file a lawsuit against the medical professional. Georgia has a statute of repose, which requires patients to file their lawsuit within five years after the act that caused the injury occurred, regardless of whether the patient knew about the negligent act at the time it occurred.In other words, if a doctor fails the standard of care but the patient doesn't suffer injury for more than five years after the act, the patient may not be able to file a lawsuit.Georgia used to cap non-economic damagessuch as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and so onat $350,000 against any single health care provider or facility and $700,000 for multiple health care facilities. Any one single medical malpractice case has a $1.05 million cap on non-economic damages. This law, however, was ruled unconstitutional by Georgia's Supreme Court in 2010.In 2014, a Georgia jury awarded $8.4 million to the family of an infantJakob Medleywho suffered hypoxic ischemic brain injury at birth. According to reports, the infant was born November 15, 2008, with low APGAR scores and metabolic acidosis but was not intubated for 8 minutes. Ultimately, the infant was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and at five years old was unable to walk or talk and required a feeding tube.If you or a loved one has suffered similar damages or injuries, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to a lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
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By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Dec 19 (PTI) Australia today signed a 10-year aid partnership arrangement to support Pakistans stability and economic growth, the high commission here said.

Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Margaret Adamson and Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Tariq Bajwa today signed the Australia-Pakistan Aid Partnership Arrangement 2016-2025.

"The arrangement expresses a shared commitment to promote prosperity, reduce poverty and enhance stability in Pakistan," according to statement by the high commission.

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It said that the agreement underpinned the continuation of Australias long-term Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Pakistan, confirming Australias commitment to support Pakistan in building its economic prosperity and to promote sustainable, equitable development.

"The Australian Government is providing an estimated AUD 47.0 million in total development assistance to Pakistan in 2016-17," it said.

"Australias aid partnership aligns with and supports Pakistans development policy, Vision 2025 as well as Australias own development policy of promoting prosperity, reducing poverty and enhancing stability and is aligned with our mutual international commitments, including on gender equality and human rights," Adamson said.

"The Australia-Pakistan development partnership invests in Pakistans human capital, as well as building agricultural productivity and the sustainable management of water," Adamson added.

"Australian engagement in the mango value chain has resulted in better mango production, marketing and distribution, strengthening exports of this iconic Pakistan product," she said. PTI SH AMS AKJ AMS

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Theres rampant speculation across the industry that free agent catcher Matt Wieters will sign with the Nationals, according to ESPNs Buster Olney (Insider required and recommended). The Nationals traded for ex-Padres starting catcher Derek Norris earlier this month, but Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com then noted that they could sign Wieters and flip Norris elsewhere. Of course, its worth pointing out that Wieters agent, Scott Boras, is close with Nats owner Ted Lerner and president/general manager Mike Rizzo. The 30-year-old Wieters has spent his entire career in nearby Baltimore, but it may have replaced him Friday with the signing of Welington Castillo.

More offseason rumblings:
19.12.2016 LISTEN

Ghanas finest hype man  Merqury Quaye has expressed his profound gratitude to party moguls who turned up in their numbers last Saturday, December 17 at the Plot 7 Disco Club in Osu, Accra to making the Official Turn Up Xmas Warm Up Party a real success.

In line with the social enterprise mantra, Merqury Quaye [The President of the Turn Up Army] released a thank you card on his social media page few hours after the event.

Mercurys card reads, Thank you for making Ghanas Official Turn Up Xmas Warm Party a Huge Success. Lets do it again next year.

The party birds could not ask for more as they danced and sang along with the best of R&B, Hiplife, House, Funk, Dancehall, as well as some up-to-the-beat reggae tunes.

The 2016 Official Turn Up Xmas Warm Up Party was proudly sponsored by Jack Daniels, Hitz [103.9] FM, WatsUp TV, 30 Minutes live, and powered by Merqury Republic.

Artists expected to passing through the night were; Hiplife/hip hop trio (4X4), Daddie Opanka, and Choirmaster but none were able to make it due to reasons beyond their control.

Their absence, however, did not affect the show in anyway as Tinny [Aletse] and Jupiter [The General] stepped in to thrill the crowd.

Follow Amisty on twitter @ElAmistyNobo

Email: [email protected]
Songstress Rebecca Acheampong, popular known as Becca with support from Zylofon Media on Saturday hosted kids from the Osu Childrens home at the Fun House of Max Mart for a Christmas party.

The charity event which lasted for close to 5 hours at the 37 branch of Max Mart saw several kids from the home show up and gave them the opportunity to play around, dine with Becca and the Zylofon Media team as well as dance to some hit Ghanaian songs.

Speaking on her reasons for putting together such an event, the Hw3 hit maker said

 Most of the time people visit the Childrens home and make donations in all forms but are never there to know what really happens afterwards.Some of the donations in the form of clothes, cash,etc on most occasions are not given to the kids.

So this time with the support of Zylofon Media, we have gone to bring them from the home, so they can get to play with all these toys and games here. After, we serve them with the variety of food, have some fun, make some donations and finally say good bye to them with some Christmas presents.

True to her words, the event was hugely successful and these kids were really happy to have the opportunity to play outside their usual environment and dine with one of their role models.

Obviously, their experience from last Saturday will remain in their minds for a very long time if not forever. Check out photos from the event;

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Prior to the Ghanas general elections on 7th December,2016, President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo made numerous promises to Ghanaians during his campaign which according to him would help abrogate the economic hardships in the country when elected president.

The promises include,Free Senior High School (SHS), One Village one dam, Pay teacher trainee allowance, Free Maternal Care, Reduce electricity tariffs, Reduce water bill, One district one factory, Pay all DKM customers, Reduce corporate tax to 20%, Create the Western North Region, Provide jobs to all graduates, Abolish some other taxes, Charge a flat rate of 3.5 percent from SME instead of 17.5 percent VAT, Pay $1m to all 275 constituencies, One-extension officer per 500 farmers, Removing import duties on raw materials and machinery for production, Abolishing the Special Import Levy, Abolishing the 17.5% VAT on imported medicines not produced in the country, Abolishing the 17.5% VAT on Financial Services, Abolishing the 5% VAT on Real Estate sales and Abolishing the 17.5% VAT on domestic airline tickets

With three weeks to his official inauguration as President of Ghana after polling 53.86 percent of the total vote cast as opposed to 44.4 percent recorded by President Mahama, Nana Addo has come under tumultuous criticism as sections of Ghanaians have wondered if Nana Addo and his incoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) government would implement its numerous promises made to Ghanaians.

Speaking in an exclusive telephone conversation from his residence in Canada in line with whether he believes Nana Addo can fulfill his hefty promises,celebrated Ghanaian international gospel music dynamo,Minister Ike told Hotfmonlinegh.com that,he has great respect for Nana Addo thus he is challenging him to fulfill all his promises without any hesitation:

Well,i think Nana Addo is some body i have always respected...he has made so many promises so winning the presidential poll is a demonstration of the confidence Ghanaians have in him so am challenging him to fulfill all his promises in order not to loose the trust Ghanaians have for him..

there is this short wise sayings that,before a blind person tells you he/she will hit you with a stone,then he/shes leg is already on a stone meaning Nana Addo can really fulfill his promises thats why he made them so if you ask me i will tell you yes he can fulfill all of them without hesitation .,Minister Ike quipped to Hotfmonlinegh.com

Known in real life as Isaac Wilson; Minister Ike noted with the hit song Onyame Gya lavished praises on Ghanaians for going into the elections without any blemish.He urged all Ghanaians to have faith in Nana Addo and also congratulated President Mahama for conceding defeat.

Minister Ike is currently out with the music video of his newest track Lord I thank You.
By Kwamina Tandoh, GNA

Accra, Dec. 18, GNA - Major stakeholders in the first five projects under the Food and Business Global Challenges Programme, have met in Accra towards improving the synergies between the public-private partnerships and small-holder farmers to make the Programme more impactful.

Under the auspices of NWO-WOTRO Science for Global Development and the Food and Business Knowledge Platform, 19 science and non scientific experts from across the world deliberated to increase global food sovereignty, develop more inclusive and innovation platforms, and sustainable landscapes, using the projects as their focal points

The projects cover Public-Private Partnerships with small-holders involved in Tree Crop Systems in Ghana and South Africa; the Nutritious-system Pond Farming in Vietnam; Enhanced Nutrition Security through Traditionally Fermented Foods in Zambia, Helping Farmers Grow Money in Sierra Leone; and Adapting Pork Production to Local Conditions in Brazil.

The Food and Business Global Challenges Programme, a Netherlands initiative, couched in the five research projects, addresses international, regional and global challenges of food and nutrition security as a global public good.

The workshop, also attended by representatives of government and Non Governmental officials and representatives of knowledge institutes, was meant to deepen the knowledge on issues to enhance understating of the concept and to identify linkages to other relevant initiatives.

Dr Mirjam Ros-Tonen, a Lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, speaking on the topic, ''Inclusive Business-Smallholder Partnerships in Ghana and South Africa'', said the researched project aimed to clarify the terms of engagement covering public-private partnerships with small holders involved in tree crop systems.

Mrs Sheila Assibey-Yeboah, the Deputy Programme Leader of Business Platform GhanaVeg, who shared the success story of Ghana Veg, explained that it was funded by the Netherlands Embassy, in Accra, to address issues of commercial development of the vegetable sector.

She said the Inclusive Value Chain approach by the Company fostered knowledge and experience-sharing across different levels and professionals, which had worked appropriately for the success of the programme.

GNA
By Kwamina Tandoh, GNA

Accra, Dec 18, GNA - Elder Vern P. Stanfill, a Member of the Quorum of the Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) has urged Christians to reflect the mission of Jesus Christ on earth to joyfully celebrate him.

He said Christmas was a season to reflect and act upon the blessings and opportunities they had because of the Birth, Life, Atonement, and Resurrection of their Saviour, Jesus Christ.

'As our Heavenly Father, so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son' (John 3:16), we must express our love toward one another and toward God and His precious Son by giving of ourselves,' he said.

Elder Stanfill said this in a Christmas Message, under the theme: 'Light The World', at the Chorals Night of the LDS Headquarters, in Accra, to commemorate the birth of Christ.

Elder Stanfill said it was through the mission of the Saviour that Christians could return to the father hence the reason to celebrate His life.

He, therefore, urged Christians to re-dedicate their lives to the service of God and mankind.

The evening saw choir groups such as the Accra Christiansburg Stake Choir, Labone SHS School Choir and Emvic Choral Choir entertaining the guests with melodious Christmas chorals, which elicited ecstatic applause and cheers after every delivery.

In between the tuneful chorals were readings of nine passages from the Books of Luke and Matthew, which catalogued the Birth of Jesus Christ.

Some of the readers of the Bible lessons were Nii Kpobi Tettey Tsuru III, La Mantse, Accra, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and Mrs Elizabeth Essie Denyoh, President of Ghana Diabetes Association

Others were Mrs Barbara Ennin, the Headmistress of the School for the Deaf and Dumb Association, Ashaiman, Nii Anokware Ensuro, Gyaasekye of La Traditional Area, and Mrs Elizabeth Osei-Tutu, the Polio Coordinator, Rotary Club, Ghana.

GNA
The killing of Gaddafi on 20 October 2011 by NATO-backed rebels came as a shock to most Africans. While it is regrettable that he died such a terrible death, he was partly responsible for his own misfortune. He failed to build the defence capabilities that could defend Libya against the countrys many European and North American enemies. While Libya under Gaddafi had some of the best weapons in Africa, these weapons were not Libya made. They were designed and built in Europe, America and Asia. In other words, Gaddafi relied on military technologies developed by France, Britain, Italy, Russia, China, and the United States. Despite the billions of dollars of oil money, Gaddafi didn't help Libya to develop a sophisticated indigenous defence industry capable of producing some of the world's best defence systems such as Israel's David Sling, Arrow, Iron Dome or the Jericho III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

The negative consequences of Gaddafi's reliance on foreign particularly Western defence technologies became all too clear when these same countries used their other superior war machines to degrade the ones they had sold to him. Gaddafi's defence easily crumbled when NATO's onslaught started. Part of the reason is that the West who had sold him his weapons knew the weaknesses of the systems they had sold him and exploited these weaknesses to their advantage.

But Gaddafi is not the only African leader whose failure to develop an indigenous defence industry cost his government and country.

In 2011, during the post-election crisis in Ivory Coast, the entire Ivorian airforce was destroyed by France within some few minutes. Laurent Gbagbo could not fight back when France invaded his country. This was because like Gaddafi's Libya, the Ivorian airforce relied on defence systems and technologies made in France and other European countries. France was aware of the defence system and technologies the Ivorian airforce was using and hence used its other superior weapons to destroy Gbagbo's forces. If Ivory Coast had developed its own defence technologies and capabilities, France wouldn't have so easily destroyed the Ivorian airforce and humiliated Gbagbo.

Nigeria was humiliated by the United States when President Goodluck Jonathan's repeated request to the Obama Administration for military assistance to trace the Chibok girls and fight Boko Haram were denied. Nigeria could not trace the 276 Chkbok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram because the country lacks the defence technologies and capabilities capable of piercing through the dense Sambisa Forest where Boko Haram was hiding the girls. Up till now Nigeria doesn't have a well developed defence industry capable of supplying the country with submarines, missiles, defence shields, and advanced unmanned aerial (drones) capabilities because their strategic thinking about defence and national security are limited to recruiting few hundred men and women each year. In other words, while technologies have changed the nature of modern warfare, Nigeria continues to invest in human beings rather than technologies for its own defence.

In a related case, Mali became ungovernable in 2012 soon after the fall of Gaddafi. Tuareg fighters belonging to the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) who went to support Gaddafi to fight the NATO-backed rebels returned to Mali with the heavy weapons the then Libyan government had given them. The Tuareg rebels who themselves had been fighting the central government in Bamako for a separate homeland, used the weapons to mount attack against forces of the Malian government. They succeeded in driving Malian soldiers out of the towns of Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu and occupied them for almost a year. Lack of military capabilities and assets prevented the West African regional bloc ECOWAS from providing assistance to Mali to fight the Tuareg and Al Qaeda fighters. The MNLA fighters were about to take Bamako when France intervened to save the city. Ghana and Nigeria pleaded with European countries for transport planes to transport their soldiers to Mali to help contain the rebels. The rebels' victory in Northern Mali, Mali's inability to defend herself and the failure of ECOWAS to support a member country could be summed up in simple term: lack of defence capabilities, technologies and assets to deal with the threatening danger. France's intervention in the war not only ended the rebels' advance to Bamako, and also their cruel control of Northern Mali, but gave credence to the idea that possessing advanced military capabilities are essential in a world full of small wars, insurgencies, and terrorism. The lack of these technologies, assets and capabilities during the war showed how pathetic ECOWAS was.

While over the years, the North African countries have acquired sophisticated military capabilities, they are all similar to Libya under Gaddafi i.e. their military capabilities and the technologies behind them are from non-African countries. They aren't indigenously designed and built. While South Africa is self-sufficient in its defence needs, its weapons are of second and third tier type, meaning though they are good, they are not the world's best. In the words of Wezeman et al (2011, p.14), 'the lack of indigenous arms-production capacities means that most African countries are fully dependent on arms imports [abroad].' This must change and ought to change fast.

The tragedy of Gaddafi should be a lesson to all African countries to stop relying on the generosity of foreign countries and commit part of their GDP to research and develop military technologies that could protect the continent from hegemonic outside invaders. Some of these technologies such as drones could have dual usage i.e. military and civilian use.

African countries should learn from Israel, which although small in size (in land and in population), has succeeded in building one of the most advanced and enduring defence capabilities in the world. Israel's Jericho III missile for example is capable of hitting many countries in the world including in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and North America. Its Iron Dome could shoot down missiles sent by enemy forces. Africa can also learn from South Korea which has moved from being a recipient of military aid from America to a major supplier of defence hardware.

Besides gaining control over its own security, the economic advantage of Africa developing and building her own weapons systems is also very huge. In fact, Africa's economy could grow and expand tremendously to provide jobs for tens of thousands of the continent's engineers and other technical experts. At the same time developing and building defence industry will help to save the tens of billions of dollars Africa sends to support European, American, Chinese and Russian economies annually through the purchases that African countries undertake.

Every year African countries together spend tens of billions of dollars importing tanks, helicopters, helicopter carriers, self propelled guns, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), submarines, combat aircrafts, trainer combat aircraft, frigates and other defence systems. In 2013, Angola spent $6 billion on its defence part of which was used to import arms from across the globe. In 2014, Algeria bought 1 helicopter carrier from Italy, 48 air defence systems from Russia and about 50 self propelled guns from China. In 2014, Algeria placed orders for 2 submarines and 42 combat helicopters from Russia and 926 APCs from Germany. In 2013 Algeria spent $10 billion on its defence including arms purchases. In 2013, Ethiopia took delivery of the first of about 200 Ukrainian built T-72 tanks.

According to Wezeman et al, (2011, p.14) between 2006 and 2010 South Africa received 15 JAS-39 combat aircraft (as part of a total order of 26), 24 Hawk-100 trainer combat aircraft, 2 Type-209 submarines (of a total order of 3) and 4 MEKO-A200 frigates mainly from Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Namibia imported 12 Chengdu F-7 combat aircraft from China between 2006 and 2008.

The Economist (2014) also notes that Chad and Uganda have been buying Russia built MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets. Cameroon and Ghana have also been importing transport planes and fighter jets from around the world. Indeed in 2013, Ghana took delivery of four new Mi-171 helicopters from Russia. Ghana also took delivery of three Diamond DA 42 MPP Guardian surveillance and training aircraft from Austria and two C295 transport planes from Airbus. It is also scheduled to take delivery of Brazilian built Embraer 190. Ghana intends to spend more than $300 million for its military acquisitions. African countries spend additional fortune buying spareparts from foreign weapons manufacturers.

These tens billions of dollars that is used to import the weapons and spareparts go to support the economies of the countries where they are imported from, creating jobs for the populations in these countries and providing profits and revenue to the companies and the countries concerned.

The money could be used to develop Africas almost non-existing defence industry to provide jobs, expand our economy and end our dependence on other countries. In South Africa where the defence industry is relatively well developed, the industry is estimated to have employed 13,646 people in 2007.

South Africa is the only country in sub-Saharan Africa that has developed a sizeable arms industry capable of producing relatively advanced military products that can compete on the global market. In 2007 it was reported that 13,646 people worked in the South African arms industry, producing a wide range of military equipment. South Africa is the only country in sub-Saharan Africa that plays a discernible role as a supplier of arms to other countries in the region (Wezeman et al, 2011, p.14).

Although Nigeria and Sudan produce some military products, the industries are not well developed. This could change if African countries pull their resources together to invest in research and development and build their own defence systems. It will not only enable Africa to defend herself from parasitic foreign powers, but will also contribute to expanding Africa's economy, spearheard her industrialisation efforts and wean the continent from dependency on foreign countries.

Reference

The Economist (2014) Arms and the African: The continents armies are going on a spending spree http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21633901-continents-armies-are-going-spending-spree-arms-and-african

Wezeman, P. D., Wezeman, S. T. and Beraud-Sudreau, L. (2011) Arms Flows to Sub-Saharan Africa SIPRI

19/12/2016
The newly elected Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of the Volta River Authority, (VRA), Cephas Duse, has revealed that the power producer is owed to the tune of five billion Ghana cedis.

This he said is crippling the companys effort to be financially viable.

He mentioned the mining sector and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) as the major debtors of the company.

As at September 2016, the independent power producers owe the VRA to the tune of five billion Ghana cedis.

Mr. Duse made this known in an interview with Citi News on the side-lines of a biennial conference at Akuse in the Eastern Region.

The conference among other things was to discuss the issues affecting the company and the way forward. Newly elected executives were sworn into office to steer the affairs of the association in the company.

According to him, What is happening with the VRA is that, we basically procure LCO gas and these are very expensive inputs; and they are dominated in foreign currency and when you buy these inputs it's expected that when you sell to the public you get your money back. And when we dont get the money back we turn to the bank to get loans to buy again and the cycle continues. We sell to them and they don't pay, he lamented.

Mr. Duse said the legacy debt has come about as a result of the unpaid debts of the VRA.

He said government is largely to be blamed for the woes of the VRA.

Government is largely to be blamed for the problems of the VRA since it is not allowing VRA to operate as a commercial entity. VRA is a power generating company and if we sell power and we are not paid, how can we survive? He queried.



By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana
By Shibani Bawa: That Varanasi is a holy city for Hindus is a widely known fact. But the fact that it also has a large Muslim population is probably not as well known. The harmonious co-existence of people of both the faiths for centuries was largely responsible for the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb that has found expression in various forms including dance, music and even cuisine. The 'Simply Benaras' food festival at The Pavilion, ITC Maurya gave us a good glimpse into this delicious amalgamation.

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The Curators

ITC Hotels regularly host food festivals featuring regional cuisines of India under their brand Kitchens of India. "Many people have served the cuisine of Benaras," says Chef Manisha Bhasin, senior executive chef, ITC Maurya, "but we wanted to showcase the ancient food cultures from both banks of the Ganges--Benaras and Ramnagar."

L-R Sangeeta Khanna, Chef Manisha Bhasin, Rana Safvi--the women behind the Simply Benaras food festival.

The experts brought on board to curate this festival have contributed immensely on upholding traditions of the world's oldest living city. Sangeeta Khanna, a nutrition consultant hailing from Benaras has been blogging about traditional recipes at BanarasKaKhaana.com. "Banaras has a strong philosophy of seasonal eating. There are many festivals centered around seasonal foods," she shares.

Also read: From Lucknow to Hyderabad: A chef's special recipes for India's favourite biryanis

Rana Safvi, on the other hand, is a noted historian and author, whose maternal grandparents were from Ramnagar, the satellite town of Banaras. In fact, she hails from the family of the last Muslim dewan of a Brahmin king. "Most people are not aware that Benaras has an extensive repertoire of Muslim cuisine," she says.

Both the ladies have treasure troves of stories and immense knowledge about Benaras. But stories and trivia aside, Khanna and Safvi have brought forth their family recipes to the environs of this five-star hotel to jointly curate the 'Simply Benaras' festival.

Raan Mussallam and other delicacies were served at the food fest.

Benarasi Specials

The day we sample the delicacies from Benaras, we are served raan musallam, murgh musallam, machhli dum and yakhni pulao. The latter being extremely aromatic and flavourful, Safvi explains that when rice is cooked along with the curry/soup it is known as pulao, whereas when cooked rice is layered with cooked meat it is called biryani. "Bira is a Persian word for fried onion," she says, adding that most biryanis also have a layer of fried onion, hence the name. The other non-vegetarian dishes that have been showcased during the festival include patta shaljam gosht ka salan (meat cooked with turnip and its leaves), qormas, khichda and dum ki bater (quail).

Murgh Korma and other Benarasi delicacies are all about Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb. Murgh Korma and other Benarasi delicacies are all about Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb.

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The vegetarian fare also includes seasonal specials such as urad and chane ki dal ki khichdi and a soup called dal ki dulhan. "The yellow, liquidy khichdis are lighter and appropriate for summer, but the slow cooked urad and chane ki dal ki khichdi is more wholesome and usually cooked in winter," says Sangeeta. Dal ki dulhan is an interesting broth made with thin and soupy dal. The 'dulhan' is a hollow whole-wheat dumpling that looks like the veil of a bride. If the dumplings are stuffed with dal pithi the soup is called 'dal ka dulha'. Then there's the quintessential kadhi that is markedly different from the Punjabi or Sindhi kadhis - it is lighter and not as fiery. Matar ka nimona a traditional curry that is usually cooked in winter is simmered till green peas get a dal-like consistency and aromatic herbs and winter spices lend it quite a punch. My favourite however is the khoya matar makhana, another curry made with green peas and fox nuts. It is as comforting as it is novel.

Malaiyyo is a special dessert from the streets of Benaras.

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Finally, every region of India has its own special desserts and UP is no less. While you can savour the delicious qiwam ki sewaiyyan or hare chane ka halwa, what we would urge you to try is Malaiyyo. A special from the streets of Benaras, this sweet made with churned milk is traditionally left out on rooftops allowing it to get mixed with the morning dew. Although it cannot be made strictly traditionally in Delhi, this light and airy dessert is something not to be missed.

The cuisine of a region is such a vast topic that it is impossible to cover it all within the scope of one article, especially when it hails from a vibrant and multi-cultural city like Benaras. But even if we scrape just the tip of the iceberg, Simply Benaras offers a delicious glimpse of it.

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The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) is set to increase its daily production capacity following a successful test run of the expanded processing units.

Per the expansion, the Crude Distillation Unit will now produce 65,000 barrels of crude oil a day from the current 45, 000 barrels' level.

The Managing Director of TOR, Kwame Awuah Darko who confirmed the development to Citi Business News described the test run as successful.

We are moving from 45,000 to 65,000 barrels a day and we had to carry out the test run to ascertain the bottlenecks that will prevent us from getting to the 65,000 barrels, he said.

Citi Business News understands the exercise was completed last Friday, December 16, 2016.

Mr. Awuah Darko further explained to Citi Business News that the move would increase the efficiency of TOR in the refinery of crude and the production other related fuels for consumption.

Based on what we've done, we have moved from processing a million barrels from forty-five days to processing a million barrels in a month. So right now, TOR is going to consume three million barrels in two months versus a million barrel in a month and a half, he observed.

The expansion and test run of the refinery comes ahead of a test run for crude from the Tweneboah Entomme Nyera (TEN) oil fields.

The test run will be conducted on Friday, December 23, 2016.

The process which is expected to inform TOR of the commercial value of the by-products, is also expected to influence major policy decision on the sulphur specification content for diesel.



By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
President John Mahama will begin a nationwide thank you and farewell tour on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 following his defeat in the 2016 general elections.

The President will be meeting traditional and religious leaders as well as regional and constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as part of his tour.

He will start off from the Upper East Region then later tour the Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Volta, Central and Western Regions in that order.

The President is expected to end his tour in the Greater Accra Region on Friday, December 30, 2016.

The December 7 presidential poll saw the worst defeat recorded by a sitting President in Ghana's election history as President Mahama became the first incumbent to lose a re-election bid.

The opposition New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, won 53.85% of the total valid votes cast, against President Mahamas 44.40% to become the fifth President of Ghanas fourth republic.



By: Eugenia Tenkorang/citifmonline.com/Ghana
YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA, December 15, 2016 A coalition of more than 60 donor and borrower governments agreed today to ratchet up the fight against extreme poverty with a record $75 billion commitment for the International Development Association (IDA), the World Banks fund for the poorest countries.

This is a pivotal step in the movement to end extreme poverty, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said. The commitments made by our partners, combined with IDAs innovations to crowd in the private sector and raise funds from capital markets, will transform the development trajectory of the worlds poorest countries. We are grateful for our partners trust in IDAs ability to deliver results.

The funding will enable IDA to dramatically scale up development interventions to tackle conflict, fragility and violence, forced displacement, climate change, and gender inequality; and promote governance and institution building, as well as jobs and economic transformationareas of special focus over the next three years. These efforts are underpinned by an overarching commitment to invest in growth, resilience and opportunity.

With this innovative package, the worlds poorest countries especially the most fragile and vulnerable will get the support they need to grow, create opportunities for people, and make themselves more resilient to shocks and crises, said Kyle Peters, World Bank Group Interim Managing Director and Co-Chair of the IDA18 negotiations. IDAs focus on issues like climate change, gender equality and preventing conflict and violence will also contribute to greater stability and progress around the world."

IDA is active in 39 countries in Africa, where it is the single largest source of donor funds for basic social services. From FY06-16, IDA provided $83 billion in financing for more than 1,000 projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Of this, more than $18 billion was invested in the development of institutions. Nearly $13 billion supported the provision of critical health and social services. In FY16, the World Bank approved $8.7 billion for the region.

Financing during the IDA18 replenishment period, which runs from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2020, is expected to support:

 Essential health and nutrition services for up to 400 million people

 Access to improved water sources for up to 45 million people

 Financial services for 4-6 million people

 Safe childbirth for up to 11 million women through provision of skilled health personnel

 Training for 9-10 million teachers to benefit 300+ million children

 Immunizations for 130-180 million children

 Better governance in 30 countries through improved statistical capacity

 An additional 5 GW of renewable energy generation capacity

IDA is writing a whole new chapter in the story of development,said Dede Ekoue, IDA18 co-chair and Togos former Minister of Development.Together with donors, working hand-in-hand with borrower governments, we are putting forward an innovative, ambitious and responsive package of support that gives hope to the poorest. These interventions will help transform the lives of billions of people living in IDA countries.

To finance this groundbreaking package, IDA is proposing the most radical transformation in its 56-year history. For the first time, IDA is seeking toleverage its equity by blending donor contributions with internal resources and funds raised through debt markets. By blending concessional contributions from donors with its own resources and capital market debt, IDA will significantly increase the financial support it provides to clients.

The innovative financing package offers exceptional value for money, with every $1 in partner contributions generating about $3 in spending authority,said Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Vice President for Development Finance.It is one of the most concrete and significant proposals to date on the Addis Ababa Action Agendacritical to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

The additional financing will enable IDA to double the resources to address fragility, conflict and violence (more than $14 billion), as well as the root causes of these risks before they escalate, and additional financing for refugees and their host communities ($2 billion). Increased financing will help strengthen IDAs support for crisis preparedness and response, pandemic preparedness, disaster risk management, small states and regional integration.

Efforts to stimulate private sector development in the most difficult environments, at the core of job creation and economic transformation, will receive a major push in the form of a new $2.5 billion Private Sector Window (PSW). The PSW, being introduced together with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), will help mobilize private capital and scale up private sector development in the poorest countries, particularly in fragile situations.

The funds will also help governments strengthen institutions, mobilize resources needed to deliver services, and promote accountability. A total of 48 countries pledged resources to IDA; additional countries are expected to pledge in the near-term. The World Bank Group is continuing the tradition of contributing its own resources to the fund.

One of the extraordinary things about IDA is that it brings different countries together to help the poorest. In this replenishment in particular, weve really seen that IDA is truly a global coalition,said van Trotsenburg.

A total of 75 low-income countries are eligible to benefit from the IDA18 financing package.
The founder of a sanitation NGO based in Cape Coast, has attributed the recent cholera out-break in Cape Coast to the poor management of waste by the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly.

Madam Sue Campbell, owner of Dynamic Engineering and Environmental Solutions for Ghana, also expressed worry over what she described as the inadequate education efforts by sanitation officers at preventing the disease as well as lack of toilet facilities in most houses.

Cholera outbreaks every year is bad for business, is bad for tourism, is bad for inhabitants because your family member and loved one could be involved. So is just a bad picture for cape coast she told Cape FM reporter Maxwell Attah.

Madam Campbell expressed disgust at gutters filled with faecal matter and other waste close to a commercial area  just look behind Barclays Bank , how many minutes is it from the castle , barely three to four minutes walk .you have tourist from all over the world coming here and they see that open gutter with filth. What will they say about us the tourism promoter quizzed?

According to a survey she conducted in ten (10) restaurants in Cape Coast, only one of them has soap and running water for adequate hand washing. She believes Management of Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) have not performed enough, adding that if environmental health officers effectively carried out their duty, the problem of cholera out-break would not recur in the Metropolis.

The system we have in place for refuse collection is not actualize properly So I think it will help a lot if refuse bins are put in strategic places so people will have place to put their refuse she added.

Madam Campbell who has resided in USA and UK over 10 years said her registered NGO will cover gutters, manage refuse, water and drainage system in the metropolis.

She urged Oguaman to enhance good environmental hygiene and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to intensify education. We need to set high standard of the way we live instead of sleeping on the job. This will help improve upon our living. She said.

The USA Professional Nurse underscored the need for the people of Cape Coast to change their attitude of blighting the environment and live a hygienic way.

Cape FM reporter Maxwell Attah reports that at the end of the 48th week of the year over 400 cholera cases have been recorded in the metropolis with no death.

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Political campaign is not an easy task to be left in the hands of neophytes. Politicians in general know this basic rule in politics. Every election has been fought on the strength of the human resource available to a political party.

Volunteers have at all materials times played crucial role in NDC campaigns. These volunteers support the main campaign team in executing their task. In the past, these volunteers were responsible for mounting party flags on poles, pasting posters, sharing paraphernalia in pursuit of galvanizing support for the party.

This breathtaking exercise was done not for any material gains. There were those who engaged in this exercise on empty stomach. Others leave their works and engage in this laborious work with the sole aim of either helping the party retain power or recapture power.

The contributions of volunteers to NDCs victory in previous elections are well scripted in the history books of the party. In the past, shockingly as this may sound, people acted as volunteers because they wanted their names to be mentioned as persons who contributed to the party's victory.

Those were the days when selfless service and sacrifice to the party was one's claim to fame. Sadly, this enviable virtue which bounded NDC supporters as comrades has evaporated.

In modern days, selflessness and sacrifice for the NDC has given way to tokenism, cronyism, greediness and godfatherism. These things which were alien to the pillars and principles on which the NDC was founded are now the fulcrum around which the party operates.

People see the least opportunity in the party as money making avenue. The slightest opportunity is seen as pot of gold where people could easily deep their hands into it and become rich overnight. This mentality was what led to the formation of hundreds of volunteer groups for this year's election.

Of course, there were some few groups which predated this year's election. But they were even the worse culprits. They were also caught in the web of enriching themselves instead of galvanizing support for the party.

The NDC entered into the December 7 election with a lot of resources at its disposal. The party also had a lot of impressive infrastructural achievements to campaign on. The NDC also enjoyed relative stability compared to the main opposition, NPP.

What was left for the party was how to manage these positive attributes and put them to profitable use. Alas! This was where the NDC shot itself in the foot. Poor coordination became the Achilles heels of the outgoing government.

Mr Kofi Adams was until the last election trusted as a master tactician in grassroot mobilization. Mr Sidii Abubakar was also touted as wielding same attributes. This brought a lot of respite to NDC folks. With Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo at the helms, supporters of the NDC were convinced that the election would be a walk over.

Unfortunately for the NDC, the supposed talents of these kingpins fizzled into thin air at a time they were needed most. A major contributing factor to the party's defeat was how these volunteer groups were handled.

Almost all these groups had the same agenda. Their sole campaign tool was the "almighty" green book. It was so easy to form a volunteer group ahead of this year's election. All that one needed to do was to get some few friends, create a WhatsApp group, give it a name that have something to do with NDC, get an influential person in the party or government to link you to those in charge of the campaign funds, and start making money.

This became a very lucrative business at the tail end of the campaign. With the number of volunteer groups multiplying day in day out, there was scramble for resources and needless infighting to gain grounds. Some went to the extent of blackmailing others to gain favor with those who control the largesse.

At this point, "fine" ladies were the best persons to put forward to request for funds. Without these "fine" ladies as baits in your group, you cannot be assured of maximum collaboration from those in charge of the purse. I recalled how a leader of one of the groups made of "oldies" complained bitterly on Facebook about how they have been neglected because they were not "sparkling".

There were some of these groups who were formed by some powerful but unseen hands to prepare the stage for their future political standing in the NDC. The groups in this category never had problem with funding. The godfathers behind it made it possible for them to secure branded air-condition buses to tour the country.

At this point all that members of these volunteer groups did was to show pictures in the greenbook to "villagers" and take selfies with them. These selfies were used as proof of what they were tasked to do. Facebook in particular was daily awashed with greenbook holding NDC volunteers engaged in hearty talks with electorates.

Due to the money making opportunity that was created courtesy volunteerism, some constituency executives abandoned their constituencies and joined the craze. They left the enormous work that needed to be done in their constituencies in hot chase for money. Constituency women organizers and youth organizers in particular, were those who latched on this rare opportunity.

They left the jobs for which they were elected in their respective constituencies to do to go chasing their own share of the "free" Mahama "paper". They were mostly praised by their masters as doing yeoman's job in ensuring Mr. Mahama's reelection.

Few weeks to the election, these volunteers, mostly based in Accra, were sponsored to travel outside their constituencies to other regions like Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Volta etc to campaign. With their green books in their hands, they engaged anybody who crossed their path.

Language barrier became the main shortfall that exposed how unwise this decision was. To the chagrin of some of the locals, hospitals, roads, circle interchange and other projects were shown to them as achievements of the Mahama government. Based on this, the locals were entreated to vote for Mr. Mahama.

Persons who walked on roads with gullies were shown pictures of asphalted roads constructed in other places as justification for Mr. Mahama's retention in office. Those without electricity were shown pictures of rural electrification projects Mr. Mahama had commissioned in other villages.

Those without portable drinking water were shown pictures of the Teshie desalination projects and other water projects. Those who complained of hardship were directed to "watch" pictures of the Kotokuraba market, Cape Coast Stadium, Komenda Sugar Factory and other projects.

This was the kind of uninspiring and counterproductive campaign the NDC used its volunteers to stage. What would Circle Interchange do to someone in Domeabra Obom who cannot feed his family? How will a driver in Central Tongu feel if he sees pictures of Teshie-37 road asphalted while the road he plies is unmotorable?

Aside the anger this campaign style sparked in persons who live in areas where non of the projects in greenbook were located, some constituency executives who hosted these volunteers also became furious. Resources that should have gone to them were wasted on these volunteers. The arrogance of some of these volunteers made matters worse.

It is open secret that some constituency executives angrily told the leadership of the party that they were going to leave the work for the volunteers to do since they were those financed to do their work. These warnings were taken lightly and at the end it affected NDC substantially.

In the past, constituency executives led the party's campaign in their various constituencies. In this year's election however, some constituency executives did not participate directly in the party. Some PCs relied on these volunteers; they invited them to their constituencies, spent huge sums of monies on them while constituency and branch executives were told to sacrifice for the party.

I remember when the President visited my constituency; I had to beg leaders of some of these volunteer groups for T-shirts to give to known NDC activists. I saw with my eyes T-shirts packed in sacks but these volunteers were unwilling to give them out. Apparently, my PC had paid for the printing of the T-shirts, but for strange reasons they were left in the hands of volunteers who had no idea of how we have been dealing with the people.

Days after the President's visit to my constituency, a leader of one of the volunteer groups who is my friend complained to me about how my PC had been reluctant in paying the balance of a sum they were promised before they visited my constituency.

I was awestruck by this development. We had many of our comrades in the constituency who walked several distances to work for the party without any monetary compensation. But those who travelled in air condition buses to the constituency for some few hours to showcase their "Accra lifestyles" were paid huge sums of money. This angered many of our comrades in the hinterlands.

There were instances where some volunteers visited constituencies without the knowledge of constituency executives. This also generated lots of anxiety among our comrades. Volunteers became the chieftains over elected constituency executives. Their phone numbers were in high demand because you cannot get to the big shots except through them. The love for money dominated their work and this created needless competition amongst them.

The competition was not over who wins souls for the NDC but who rides in the most luxurious cars, wear fancy cloths, take selfies with kingpins and hurriedly upload same on social media. "Moneyteerism" replaced volunteerism; that was the exact description of the sad incident.

A few of these groups received no or little support for their supposed projects. The groups that fell under this category were groups which had members who openly chastised some leading lights in government and party. They were taught a bitter lesson for opening their mouths too wide.

Regrettably, the Volunteers' Coordinating Centre under the aegis of Mr. Kofi Adams supervised this dismal "execution" process. Ordinarily, the Youth leader or his deputies should have been in charge of these volunteers. But that was not the case. The Youth Leader and his deputies rather rivaled these groups from its inception. It took some open confrontation to get the Youth Leader and his deputies to mend their broken relationship with these groups.

The Youth Leader and his deputies saw these groups as parallel structures put by unseen hands to dwarf their influence and at the end kick them out of office at the next Congress. They moved in quickly to avert the impending calamity but it was too late.

Truth be told, the Youth Leader and his two deputies are partly to be blamed for the wasteful use of the volunteers. If they had asserted their authority and provided leadership, that mess would probably not have cascaded to that level.

When things got offhand, the Youth Leader and his deputies embarked on a phantom "special operation" code named "operation 57% for JM". This was completely at variance with what some of these groups campaigned for. From the word go, it was clear Sidii Abubakar had lost grip on the youth front.

Some of these volunteers became more powerful and influential than the Youth Leader. The Youth Leader who until his election was touted as darling boy of the Big House was said to have been sidelined by managers of the campaign. The Big House was allegedly said to have found favor with other persons hence sponsored them to form these volunteer groups.

How the Youth Leader lost his position at the Big House to some leaders of these volunteer groups is something that political scientists may in the near future investigate. With all these worrying issues unresolved, December 7 came to pass and we lost miserably, albeit painful.

We lost favor with the youth though a lot of money was earmarked for youth operations. Whether the said money was used judiciously and for the right purpose is another interesting topic for discussion. Volunteers which many thought would complement the effort of the main campaign team became our waterloo. The formula for "murdering" the NDC was very simple: the Presidency provided the wood for the "coffin", party leadership provided the nail and hammer, and the volunteers nailed it beautifully to send us to opposition. We have arrived in opposition, more lessons to be learned.

By Amos Blessing Amorse

[email protected]
The Secretary-General condemns today's attack against a military post in Nassoumbou, province of Soum in the north of Burkina Faso, in which Burkinabe soldiers were killed and injured. He extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Burkina Faso and wishes a speedy and full recovery to the injured.

The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to support Burkina Faso in its efforts to sustain peace and reinforce security in cooperation with the other countries of the Sahel region and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). He thanks Burkina Faso for its important contribution to the stabilisation and peace efforts in Mali. He encourages the authorities of Burkina Faso to launch an investigation to bring the perpetrators of this attack to justice.
When the New Patriotic Party lost the 2012 election, there were talks that Nana Akufo Addo and his Akyem cabal's control of the soul of the party was imminent. Nana Akufo Addo's age and ill heath was classified as one of the main reason the leadership and control of the elephant party could slip to the Ashanti faction of the party.

To avert this deadly implosion which would have consigned many of the Akyem mafias to the backstage of happenings in NPP, an elaborate plot was hatched by Nana Akufo Addo and his men to extend their dominance.

Thankfully, they found genuine cover in the 2012 election petition. Propagandists of the Akyem mafias managed to whip party supporters in line to believe that Nana Akufo Addo won the 2012 election but was painfully denied of victory. Clever as these Akyem folks are, they recruited non-Akyems to lead this crusade.

This singular effort "nationalized" their spurious claim that Nana Akufo Addo was robbed of victory in the 2012 election. Architects of this devious plot used the election petition to extend Nana Akufo Addo's control of the party for almost one year.

When the apex court of the land finally showed the NPP the red card by which time the party was preparing for congress to elect new executives, the Akyem guys adroitly fixed their "men" to snatch critical positions. To a very large extent, they succeeded.

In instances where their supposed internal rival won, they managed to woo them to their side and the stubborn ones were hurriedly chased out. They got almost all kingpins of the NPP to start singing the comeback of Nana Akufo Addo for the 2016 election.

Elected National officers sidestepped their own party constitution and openly endorsed Nana Akufo Addo for 2016 at a time the party had not even finished electing "new" national executives. Stage managed and choreographed "plays" were staged by leading members of the party as a way of calling on Nana Akufo Addo to lead the party into the 2016 election.

This sharply divided the party. But the Akyem guys were smart to have started the gain earlier so they had majority of party supporters on their side. Those who kicked against Nana Akufo Addo's 2016 bid, mainly men from the Ashanti stock, were in the minority. The Akyem guys used their numbers to bully their opponents and at the end Nana Akufo Addo gave the other flag bearer aspirants severe political beatings.

So it came to pass that Nana Akufo and his coterie of political hangers-on succeeded to retain their control of the NPP. Today, these guys have again succeeded in installing Nana Akufo Addo President of the Republic of Ghana. You may call these elite Akyem guys all the undesirable names, but their smartness and intelligence are worth emulating.

They deployed their talents judiciously despite all the uncertainties surrounding a possible Nana Akufo Addo presidency until the deal was done on December 7. What these guys have done looks very attractive for President Mahama to replicate in NDC, but does he have the men with such great intellects to carry him through?

We have seen "Rawlings' men", "Kufuor's men", "Mills' men" and now "Akufo Addo's Akyem mafias". What is shockingly missing is "Mahama's men". When you call for the list of men who stood behind the likes of Rawlings, Kufuor and Mills, and aided them to stardom, you will be served with names of men of honor; persons whose names may even force a dead soul to resurrect. Nana Akufo Addo is likely to produce such calibre of persons too.

Can same be said of President Mahama? Who are his men? This is not an admission that the NDC has run out of talents. Indeed, the NDC is the only party in Ghana with capable men and women with several years of experience in all spheres of governance. But President Mahama in his own wisdom decided to run his own show with his "babies" instead of "men", and here we are bitterly licking our wounds.

With this glaring shortfall of President Mahama, the "young men" who led him to the slaughter house are all over the place seeking to replicate what the Akyem guys did for Nana Akufo Addo. They are forcefully pushing for President Mahama's comeback in 2020. They want to get many of the party supporters to buy into their weird assumption that without President Mahama, NDC will remain in opposition in perpetuity.

Of course, President Mahama is one of our surest bets for 2020, but unfortunately for him, his "babies" cannot exert the influence and intellect the Akyem guys demonstrated to maintain their dominance in NPP.

Several factors point to this. President Mahama has one control over his own appointees, he has no control over officials of the NDC, he has no control over NDC MPs and he has no control over the elders of the party. So when people talk of his comeback, I cringe.

Those fanning Mahama 2020, Amissah Arthur 2020, Spio Gabrah 2020 or whatever 2020 must hold their horses. The NDC is not in the best of shapes to withstand this atrocious noise. A lot of things have gone wrong in the party that needs to be addressed before we think of who leads the party.

Reorganization should be the preoccupation of every true NDC person. How to get competent people to run the party should be our guiding principle. We should be thinking of how to renew our marriage with Volta region, how to warm our way back into the hearts of people of the Western, Central, Brong Ahafo and Greater Accra. They are the king makers.

The party's dominance in the three Northern regions is under threat. Let's think of how to renew our ties with them. While on this, Ashanti and Eastern regions must be high on the agenda. We need to find ways of making serious inroads in these two regions.

These are the things that must agitate our minds not who leads the party. Of course, we need someone to start the reorganization process. That person must own up as soon as possible. If we put in place strong party structures man by men of honor, the system will determine who leads us into the 2020 election.

By Amos Blessing Amorse

Asabaham-Accra

[email protected]
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a byword for indiscipline and political chicanery.

They have done many things against our democratic development, including trampling upon decent electoral processes, euphemism for rigging elections.

Those who openly lay claim to the mastery of maneuvering the electoral process in a manner which robs the people of their verdict should not be respected on the political space of the country.

The recent electoral duel in which their lost hope has found them seriously bruised beyond compare, is the reason they are applying rather weird and inappropriate modules as response mechanisms; some of them political fiction.

They are crying wolf where there is not even a goat and sometimes we are constrained to empathise with them.

The so-called attacks on their supporters across the country, as they claim, has lost steam so fast that they are now pitiable  their responses sometimes so cheap we wonder what else could be worrying them besides the electoral loss.

Enter National Party Chairman Kofi Portuphy with a fresh and rather crude game-plan to seek sympathy for the party that is down.

He has virtually asked NDC supporters to arm themselves, as it were and be ready to confront their so-called opponents who are attacking them across Ghana.

His call was supplemented by the efforts of others in some Zongo communities, who went round telling residents in those segments of the urban settlements that they were under attack by NPP supporters, as if these parts of the country belong to only the NDC.

It is interesting and ironic that the fact of the Zongos being the birthplace of the NPP has been lost on these mischievous political players.

Whoever overlooks the propensity of the NDC to become violent and to engage hoodlums to prosecute covert missions the like of which we are seeing after their electoral defeat, must rethink their stance.

We are still at our wits end as are many other Ghanaians as to why such devilish advice would be given to party supporters in the aftermath of a general election in which the stakes were excessively high.

Perhaps we should not be, knowing who constitute the party's membership.

Portuphy's advice is not one intended to serve the interest of the individual party person but to feed a general plan of prompting civil unrest with a view to tagging President-Elect Nana Akufo-Addo as violent and being responsible for the NDC-triggered mess that should follow their mischief. Fortunately, it has failed to fly.

Thankfully Ghanaians are unresponsive to the bait as they question the wisdom in inciting NDC supporters, as it were, against their compatriots in the NPP.

Most Ghanaians are yet to see a non-NPP person being hounded for belonging to that political grouping. Under the circumstances, they would just hold on to the fact that they are watching an NDC movie full of thrills.

The latest is from Saudi Arabia where Said Sinari, the man who said he would die when Nana Akufo-Addo, becomes President.

He claims NPP supporters have attacked the Ghana Embassy in a country where the security agencies are brutish and on top of their jobs.

Anyway Said Sinari is still waiting for Nana Akufo-Addo to be sworn in as President before he kicks the bucket. What a movie!
About 20 personnel of the Ghana Air Force base in Takoradi yesterday went on rampage at the Kwesimintsim Police Station in the Western Region, attacking two police personnel on duty, (a male and female).

The police personnel, who sustained various degrees of injury, were attacked purportedly with clubs and metal hooks.

Their names were given only as Corporal Appiah and Sgt Asantewaa.

A dressing mirror and sheets of papers destroyed

It was gathered that Sgt Asantewaa suffered the most serious injury as one of her legs got swollen, while Corporal Appiah sustained some abrasions on his back.

One of the victims showing his injur

They were all rushed to the hospital where they were treated and discharged.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that the rampage was ignited by the detention of one Kofi Frimpong, a United Kingdom (UK)-based Ghanaian, who is believed to be an officer of the British Army.

According to sources, Kofi Frimpong was detained at the Kwesimintsim Police Station after he was arrested by members of the police patrol team for dangerous driving at Kwesimintsim.

Narrating the incident to DAILY GUIDE in an interview, a credible source at the police station said that last Saturday at about 11pm, the police patrol team arrested the British military officer driving a vehicle with registration number AS 2959-09 and was sent to the Kwesimintsim Police Station.

The vehicle which was being driven by the alleged British military officer

While at the counter-back, Kofi Frimpong allegedly called a relative with the Ghana Air Force in Takoradi and informed him about his arrest.

The source at the station told DAILY GUIDE that a few minutes later, one Flight Officer Joseph Appiah, together with about six others, stormed there and demanded the release of the arrested supposed British military officer.

The source added that the two police personnel on duty said that they could not release the man because the arresting officer was not around.

Then all of a sudden, the military men became infuriated and subjected the two police personnel to severe beatings with clubs and metal hooks, the police source indicated.

The source continued, The police woman sneaked out and blew a whistle to alert their colleagues at the barracks and summon them for assistance.

The source disclosed that police personnel at the barracks rushed to the scene and managed to arrest seven of those who purportedly assaulted their colleagues and detained them together with the said British military officer.

But they were later granted bail to report at the police station on Monday; so the military men were released. But they (military men) allegedly reorganized themselves yesterday and stormed the police station in two pickup vehicles numbering about 20, he claimed.

They purportedly vandalized anything they set their eyes on, including dressing mirrors, tables and chairs, as well as sheets of paper believed to be containing statements taken from suspects.

When DAILY GUIDE visited the police station yesterday afternoon, it was revealed that senior police and military officers in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis were in a crunch meeting discussing the way forward.

From Accra A.R. Gomda reports that the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Michael Samson-Oje  currently out of the country  upon hearing the story, directed the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Maxwell Mantsebi-Tei Nagai, to wade into the matter.

The Chief of Air Staff, in a telephone chat with DAILY GUIDE yesterday, explained that the Air Force Base Commander, Felix Asante, was on top of the matter.

According to him, a Flying Officer of the Ghana Air Force went to the Kwesimintsim Police Station to demand the bail of the visiting British officer, who is his (Chief of Air Staff's) guest.

He said the police personnel declined and maltreated him, even after identifying himself as a Flying Officer of the Ghana Air Force.

According to Chief of Air Staff, when the Flying Officer left the Kwesimintsim Police Station, he returned to the barracks to narrate his ordeal at the hands of the cops to his subordinates.

On his blind side, the soldiers mobilized themselves and proceeded to the police station, the result of which is what we have on our hands now, he asserted.

The defaulting soldiers, he stated, were being sought and would be dealt with according to military regulations.

The Base Commander, Grp Capt Felix Asante, is on top of the matter, the Chief of Air Staff claimed, adding that the relationship between the police and the military has always been cordial since the days of the CDS as the Base Commander in Takoradi and my tenure.

By A.R. Gomda & Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
Scatec Solar ( www.ScatecSolar.com ) has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Africa50, an African Infrastructure Fund sponsored by the African Development Bank and more than 20 African States and Norfund (the Norwegian Investment Fund for Development Countries), securing investment into the 100 MW (DC) Nova Scotia Power plant located in Dutse in the Northern Nigerian state of Jigawa. The project has the potential to significantly contribute to the plan of the authorities of the State of Jigawa to attract USD 2 billion of investments into Jigawa and implement Nigerian President Muhammadu Buharis plans to provide jobs and economic opportunities especially for the nations youth.

The signing ceremony of the JDA was held in the presence of Brge Brende, the visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister, His Excellency, Barrister Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, as well as officials from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading among others. New local power generation capacity is a key element to attract sizeable investment into the State and region, especially into new industries such as light manufacturing and agricultural processing said His Excellency the Deputy Governor.

The formation of this consortium is a strong symbol of the Norwegian and Nigerian commitment to invest in clean energy in Nigeria. With the Government of Norway taking a direct investment role through Norfund, significant regional and Nigerian ownership through Africa50, and the track-record of Scatec Solar, this offers one of the most solid partnerships for solar PV projects globally, said Executive Vice President Terje Pilskog who signed the JDA on behalf of Scatec Solar.

I am pleased that Africa50 is already making its first investment, which fits in squarely with our priority to light up and power Africa, said Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Chairman of Africa50s Board of Directors. Africa50 has been created by African governments, including Nigeria, the African Development Bank and institutional investors to mobilize private sector for funding infrastructure projects in Africa. Alain Ebobisse, Africa50s CEO noted: Access to reliable energy is one of the most critical needs in Africa, including in Nigeria, where it is a government priority. I look forward to deepening the relationship with the authorities of Nigeria, one of our key shareholder countries, and to supporting more projects in this and other infrastructure sectors.

Apart from the three equity investors, the American Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank are expected to be senior debt providers for the project. International Finance institutions say the key to successful investment is the Nigerian states issue of project documents that provides necessary investor confidence and the formulation of a clear roadmap to sustainability in the energy sector.

With an estimated investment of USD 150 million, a production of 200,000 MWh of electricity per year and 120,000 tons of CO2 emissions avoided annually, the Nova Scotia solar plant will help Nigeria rapidly increase its generation capacity, provide economic opportunities, fight desertification caused by climate change, and contribute to fulfilling Nigerian President Muhammadu Buharis commitments to develop renewable energy as part of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

In July, the Nova Scotia project signed a 20-year PPA with Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET). Located on 200 hectares of land, the project has strong fundamentals with high solar resources and direct access to the transmission grid through a simple connection route. The consortium will continue to work with CDIL, a Canadian renewable energy development company focused on Africa, and BPS, a Nigerian strategic consulting, to move the project from pipeline and achieve financial close in 2017 and commercial operations in 2018.

Nigeria is Africas largest and the worlds 26th biggest economy. With Nigerias per capita electricity consumption at 155 kwh, one of the lowest in the world, there is a huge need to increase power production in order to expand and diversify the Nigerian economy.
A large Scania truck with its windshield smashed out on the sidewalk alongside the market, with a swarm of ambulances nearby. A large Christmas tree with a gold star on top was toppled over nearby in the street.

By AP: A truck rammed into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin on Monday evening, killing 12 people and injuring nearly 50 as it smashed through tables and wooden stands. Police said a suspect believed to be the driver was arrested nearby and a passenger died as paramedics were treating him.

The popular Christmas market outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was filled with a mix of tourists and locals when the large Scania truck hurtled into it. Germany's top security official said initial evidence pointed to an intentional act, and the White House condemned "what appears to have been a terrorist attack."

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Police said early Tuesday that 48 people were in hospitals, some of them with serious injuries.

Police guard a Christmas market after a truck ran into the crowded Christmas market in Berlin.

Mike Fox, visiting from Birmingham, England, said that the truck missed him by about three meters (yards). Fox said he helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands.

"You do what you can to help who you can, really. It happened so fast that there was nothing we could do to stop it - if we'd tried to stop it we would have been crushed," Fox said.

WHAT HAPPENED

The truck, which was loaded with steel beams, came to a halt on a sidewalk on one side of the market. It had just rammed a large stand called "Fascination Christmas," tearing off one side and knocking down a large Christmas tree. The three-meter tree lay in the street, red and gold ornamental balls still attached to its limbs and a golden star at the top.

A man lights a candle near the site where a truck ploughed through a crowd at a Berlin Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in Germany. Reuters photo

The crash came less than a month after the U.S. State Department called for caution in markets and other public places across Europe, saying extremist groups including Islamic State and al-Qaida were focusing "on the upcoming holiday season and associated events."

The Islamic State group and al-Qaida have both called on followers to use trucks in particular to attack crowds. On July 14, a truck plowed into Bastille Day revelers in the southern French city of Nice, killing 86 people. Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack, which was carried out by a Tunisian living in France.

ANONYMOUS CALLS

Following that attack there were calls to block off and better protect high-profile public gatherings. There were no barriers around the Christmas market on Monday.

The truck that drove into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin on Monday evening, killing 12 people and injuring more than 50 people.

After the attack, dozens of ambulances lined the streets waiting to evacuate people, and heavily armed police patrolled. Authorities on Twitter urged people to stay away from the area, saying they need to keep the streets clear for rescue vehicles.

Among the dead was a passenger in the truck, who succumbed as paramedics treated him, Berlin police spokesman Winfried Wenzel said. He offered no further details.

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A suspect believed to be the driver was picked up about 2 kilometers away, near the Victory Column monument. He was being interrogated, Wenzel said. The truck was registered in Poland, and police said it was believed to be stolen from a building site there. They didn't give a specific location.

Police and rescue workers inspect the truck that ploughed into the crowded market.

The Polish owner of the truck said he feared the vehicle, driven by his cousin, may have been hijacked. Ariel Zurawski said he last spoke with the driver around noon, and the driver told him he was in Berlin and scheduled to unload Tuesday morning. "They must have done something to my driver," he told TVN24.

Federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, took over the investigation, according to German Justice Minister Heiko Maas. In Washington, White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said the United States was in contact with German officials and ready to help in the investigation and response.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump blamed Islamist terrorists, though it was unclear what that assessment was based on. He said Islamic extremists must be "eradicated from the face of the earth" and pledged to carry out that mission with all "freedom-loving partners."

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But German officials said it was too early to call the crash intentional.

The driver of the truck who was picked up nearly 2 kilometres away is being interrogated.

"I don't want to use the word 'attack' yet at the moment, although a lot speaks for it," Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told ARD television. "There is a psychological effect in the whole country of the choice of words here, and we want to be very, very cautious and operate close to the actual investigation results, not with speculation."

Even so, some politicians were pointing fingers. Marcus Pretzell, a prominent member of the anti-migration Alternative for Germany party, lashed out at the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying on Twitter: "When will the German state of law strike back? When will this cursed hypocrisy finally stop? These are Merkel's dead! #Nice #Berlin."

Germany has not experienced any mass-casualty attacks by Islamic extremists, but has been increasingly wary since two attacks by asylum-seekers in the summer that were claimed by the Islamic State group. Five people were wounded in an ax rampage on a train near Wuerzburg and 15 in a bombing outside a bar in Ansbach, both in the southern state of Bavaria. Both attackers were killed.

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Those attacks, and two others unrelated to Islamic extremism in the same weeklong period, helped stoke tensions in Germany over the arrival last year of 890,000 migrants.

--- ENDS ---
"A nation that does not honor it heroes is not worth dying for."

This is a very renowned byword on the globe and whereas other civilizations have taken a significant cue from it, our society has unfortunately treated it as a cliche.

It is indeed true that the persistent call to honour the fallen heroes of our police service has lost it's value to the vision of our society but these were men and women who had wives and husbands,children and friends,families and loved ones like any other citizen yet, they chose to die for the survival of their motherland. This is an unthinkable decision one would conceive Without hesitations but they easily executed it.

Undoubtedly, Ghana is relatively peaceful and structurally stable because it is thriving on the blood of our fallen comrades. We have been spanked and chastised by society for our inability to confront certain situations despite our limited resources. Even sister security agencies like the military violently attack us in our noble quest to maintain social order. While trying to fulfil our core function; protection of life and property, we again get killed or permanently maimed.

The history of Ghana has witnessed and recorded more police officers being killed -in- action than any other public service or military in Ghana. As early as 1962, an unknown police despatch rider was killed in the kulungungu Bombing that sought to assassinate president Kwame Nkrumah in Bawku. One of the most tingling tales of our valiant police officers is told of Sergeant Salifu Dagarti who took the bullets that was meant for His Excellency the president Kwame Nkrumah.

It was on the 1st January, 1964 when disgruntled constable Ametewee shot four bullets at the Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah but his personal body guard sergeant Salifu took the pieces of iron and died in the stead of his master. "That is a faithful servant to behold."

The tall list of police officers who have perished while serving this country cannot be captured on any memorial plaque . Constables Prince Agyare and Owusu Frimpong were murdered by the lone Robber Johnson kombian with the third cop Corporal Osei Bonsu being rendered eternally incapacitated.

Corporal Frank Essel,Constable Atibiya Ayini,Corporal Jutta Dormevenu,sergeant Williams Quansah and countless number of our men were murdered by armed criminals. Others were motor riders who died while leading presidential convoys and state protocol duties. Our traffic unit has also lost a significant number of personnel while working as wardens on our roads. But sadly, all these legends remain unsung.

I sometimes do wish that the entire members of this society would experience the cold chills of anxiety and pains that runs through our spine when the burglar burgles as the mortal remains of these cohort are being lowered into their Graves by the arm party.

I also desire that society would empathetically taste the discomfort that litter around the compound of the bereaved family relative to the trunkated life of their beloved and the blur future of their dependants [wife and children ].

It must be noted that the remarkable sacrifices made by these police officers can never be reconciled by any form of gratuity but can only be mollified by a fervent eulogy and a heroic celebration. State and police installations must also be christened after them.

I do not know when the Over a century Ghana police service would have a fully furnished cenotap to immortalize them but i suggest that a repository is created at the site to harbour literal works about them. Posthumous awards and a satisfied monetary funds must be apportioned to them via a legislation.

It can therefore be generally agreed that, a nation which does not honour valiance would certainly have it's gates un-cordened So the need to sing of our brave police officers is now!

Thomas Akanyibah.

Ghana police service,

Bravo/Swat.

[email protected]
FBNBank Ghana has scaled up its money transfer services with the introduction of TransFast Money, a global remittance service.

Managing Director of the bank, Gbenga Odeyemi, said the addition was to present customers with a range of options when sending remittances for business transactions and to their families back home.

According to the World Bank, one in seven people worldwide are migrant workers and we know that within the global percentage are many Ghanaians and Nigerians who need to remit money regularly to their families and friends back home, and at FBNBank Ghana, we want to ensure that no matter where our customers and their relations are, they can send money, said Mr. Odeyemi.

We also know that the global remittance economy is a huge economy, which is fast expanding and as a player in the global money economy, we want to play our part in its growth. With TransFast, FBNBank Ghana is proud to introduce a renowned brand to its customers and potential customers, he added.

TransFast Money is the latest addition to other money transfer services offered by the bank such as Western Union, MoneyGram, Ria, Sigue and Integrity.

With its headquarters in New York, TransFast provides multi-currency, cross-border payments for companies and individuals through a wholly owned direct-to-bank network in accordance with all international laws and safeguarding customers' information.

For any money transaction, safety, reliability and convenience are critical and FBNBank Ghana strives to give our customers that and more in a comfortable and friendly environment, Mr. Gbenga Odeyemi said.

Aside FBNBank branches in Ghana and some West African countries, TransFast can be accessed around the world in First Bank of Nigeria branches and agencies all over the globe, as well as from 200,000 pay points across 120 countries.

FBNBank Ghana Limited is a subsidiary of FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, an FBN Holdings Plc Company, which is Nigeria's leading financial services institution by total assets and gross earnings, and one of the largest corporate and retail banking financial institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa.


The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has presented an Air Carrier License to Goldstar Air, a privately-owned Ghanaian airline, to begin the process to operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights across the world.

When it begins operations, Goldstar Air, which has done the recruitment of its cabin crew, would operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights to 11 destinations across the world, including Baltimore in the United States of America and Gatwick in the United Kingdom.

It is expected to fly to Guangzhou, Dubai, Monrovia, Lagos, Abidjan, Freetown, Dakar, Conakry and Banjul.

It will be using the Boeing 767-300 ER for its long haul routes while the Boeing 737-300 ER will be used on the West Coast.

Martey Boye Atoklo, GCAA's Deputy Director General, Technical, on behalf of the Director General Simon Allotey, presented the license to Eric Bannerman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Goldstar Air at a short ceremony held at the Kotoka International Airport.

The granting of the license begins the first of five stages, the final of which is the Air Operator Certificate, in a period of between three months and two years, for the flight to be fully operational.

The management of Goldstar Air has, however, given the assurance that it had done adequate work to satisfy the requirements to fly the airline by April 2017.

Mr Atoklo commended the company for coming this far and expressed the hope that the company would work timeously for the flight to begin operations very soon.

He urged GoldStar Air to get their manuals for their operations together and present them to the Authority for the company to go through the certification process to get an Air Operator Certificate.

Mr Atoklo stated that the entry of Goldstar Air into the already competitive aviation market, particularly on the American and London routes, was expected to stir up the industry to bring more benefits to travellers in terms of services and fares.

It means that the whole civil aviation sector will become more competitive; the numbers are being added onto so it is more beneficial to the civil aviation and the economy as a whole, Mr Atoklo said.

Mr Bannerman expressed gratitude to God for having brought the company far since its establishment in 2014.

The CEO described the receipt of the license as refreshing and unique and promised would-be travellers timely flights.

He announced that the company would allow three bags of 23 kilos each on board per passenger, explaining that the three bags will be without the hand luggage to enable Ghanaians have the opportunity to travel heavy at no extra cost.

The Goldstar CEO announced that Ghanaian dishes would be served and local movies would be available to showcase the rich Ghanaian culture to the outside world.

GNA




Food Sovereignty Ghana (FSG), a food advocacy group, has appealed to the incoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led by Nana Akufo-Addo to place an indefinite moratorium on the cultivation and sale of Genetically Modified (GM) Foods in Ghana.

According to the group, the new administration should not allow the patronage of GM Foods in Ghana until their human health and environmental impact have been thoroughly studied and cleared by independent scientists rather than corporate-driven, profit-oriented scientists and regulators.

Edwin Kweku Andoh-Baffour, Communications Directorate of FSG, in statement to congratulate Nana Addo and the NPP, called on the new incoming administration to, as a matter of urgency, consider the systematic application of agro-ecology and sustainable agriculture as a crucial national challenge.

We urgently need to tackle this in the face of climate change and our survival needs. We need to tackle this for the sake of ensuring the sanctity of human health, environment, for our own sake and for the sake of future generations.

We need to tackle this in order to reverse the dwindling incomes of small household farmers- the backbone of Ghana's agriculture, who are almost half of the entire population of Ghana, Andoh Baffour said.

Uphold Farmers Rights

He stressed the need for the new government to uphold farmers rights as enshrined in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) of which Ghana is a signatory.

In particular, the farmers' right to use, sell, save and exchange farm-saved seeds is currently under a serious threat by the Plant Breeders' Bill (2103), as well as the Arusha Plant Protection Protocol, which also awaits ratification by Parliament, Andoh Baffour added.

He said, It is about time Ghana sought Ghanaian solutions to Ghanaian problems rather than allowing foreign giant agricultural and chemical corporations to impose their solutions to their advantage for profit maximization at the expense of the poor Ghanaian farmers, he said.

Mr. Andoh Baffour said Ghana has the right to develop its own unique system of plant breeders' rights protection that is suitable to her developmental needs.

Withdraw Plant Breeders Bill

He called for the withdrawal of the Plant Breeders Bill from Parliament and replaced with a Sui Generis Plant Breeders' and Farmers' Rights Protection Bill.

Mr. Andoh Baffour also called for the total rejection of the Arusha New Plants Protection Protocol.

We are happy for change because President Mahama failed to heed our numerous calls to ban GM Foods, he said.

By Cephas Larbi

[email protected]


It was reported yesterday that a group of soldiers believed to have come from the Air Force base in Takoradi led by one Flt/Lt Joseph Appiah went to my own backyard in Kwesimintsim to beat up one pregnant policewoman mercilessly and another police officer who were on duty at the charge office. They vandalised the whole place and destroyed state properties when there were hardened criminals in cells. With this, I just can't think far. I can't madness. What a woow !

Trained soldiers? What kind of training do soldiers receive for them to believe that they are superior to police and for that matter would want to attack the police at the least opportunity? This weird thinking of the soldiers must be corrected before it escalates into crisis beyond our control one day. I am not too sure the police will always sit down for these soldiers to mobilise themselves to attack them as it has been happening. One day Monkey go market and he no go come back.

This year alone haven't had enough beatings and killings already? For a group of soldiers to mobilise themselves to a police station and beat up a pregnant policewoman and one other police officer, we are watching the the National Peace Council, the Christian Council and Religious groups, all the Human Rights activists particularly right for women as well as our trusted and unshakable police administration. I trust and know that this time round, they will put these miscreants in the military uniform in the right frame of the law. The law will take its full course.

I have been wondering about this whole thing the whole of the night though I am not directly involved but I must say that, I fear for my safety because any soldier can meet me and start to beat me up mercilessly just because I am trying to enforce the law per the dictates of the constitution? Should that be the case? It's getting scary but no one seems to care. I am gripped with fear and panic. This nonsense must stop with immediate effect.

This is not the first time criminally minded soldiers have mobilised themselves to attack police officers performing their legitimate duties. Some two or three years ago, a group of soldiers went on rampage in Kumasi and started beating police officers left, right and center. Nothing much was heard about it. It died naturally. We didn't hear whether those unscrupulous soldiers were brought to book to serve as a deterrent or not. In that same year a soldier shot and killed police officer somewhere in Accra. There were several attacks on the police that same years by the soldiers and up to now, we are yet to believe that something concrete was done to those miscreants who call themselves soldiers.

This is not the first time military men are mobilising themselves to attack the police whilst all look on unconcerned. It is not the second time, the third time nor shall it be the last time. They will continue to beat us mercilessly because they are above the law. Since time immemorial, the soldiers have been beaten the police and nothing meaningful is done about it so they always have the guts to attack police stations with impunity. Something that makes civilians believe that soldiers are stronger and superior to the police. It's a bit of nonsense that must stop at all cost.

A soldier and a police officer should complement each efforts in crime combat but not beating the other particularly when a pregnant woman is involved. It's barbaric, criminal, lawlessness and shameful and so must be condemned in no uncertain terms and perpetrators must be brought to book for the law take its natural course. Justice must be served without fear or favour.

The facts are that a team of police officers on patrols arrested a soldier who is believed to be a member of British Army who was drunk and driving in town misbehaving. He was brought to charge office to be detained to become sober and be released, then a whole lieutenant from the Air Force base leads a bandit of criminally minded soldiers to come and attack a poor pregnant policewoman and her station orderly on duty in attempt to free a British soldier who is misbehaving in Ghana. What an impudence of a dying cockroach?

Ghanaian soldier solidarising with a British soldier to cause mayhem at the police station right here in Ghana? As if that is not enough, in the course of the day another group of soldiers mobilise themselves to the charge office and start to beat people again because the police arrested their lieutenant and even admitted him to bail.

Any time the military attack the police, there seems to me that these young soldiers act on a command from a superior authority and after which they would shield them from justice.

What is missing hear is that these soldiers have failed to know that the paradigm has shifted from the military lawlessness in the revolutionary days to a democratic dispensation where the rule of law is supreme but not military superiority. They should be taught the right democratic lessons where the rule of law is supreme not military superiority. They should be made to learn the hard way for other upcoming soldiers to learn that soldiers have a limitation as far as the law is concerned. The soldier is not above the law.

I hear the lieutenant and his men have been released on bail. There is nothing wrong about that because the supreme court has ruled that even murderers can be granted bail but a whole lot of things will go wrong if this case dies a natural death as it has been with other cases. On other hand, appropriate authorities taking swift actions to put these miscreants before the law will affirm our trust in them and for that matter we will rely on their interventions should a "useless headed" bandits who feel they are "macho" than police officers decide to attack the police next time but if nothing happens, common sense should tell us defending ourselves against criminally minded soldiers is the only sensible way to stop these unreasonable attacks from people who should be our compatriots but are fast becoming our enemies now.

Bail doesn't mean end of case. We will be here observing matters arising as a result of this case but somebody should please tell the soldiers to get it right in their thinking skulls that we have fast moved away from military lawlessness in the revolutionary days to a new dispensation where the rule of supreme and not military superiority. Before the law, we are equal so they should start to think straight. I think it's even time to set camps for them in forest zones and relocate them from cities and towns.

Justice for Kwesimintsim police !

The law is supreme not the military !

Nsemhunu a kwa kwa

Ahanta Apemenyimheneba Kwofie III

[email protected]

#Ahantadiaries_2016_12_18
On 17 December 2016, a delegation from the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) met the Egyptian authorities in Cairo for operational talks. This bilateral exchange provided the law enforcement authorities in both countries with an opportunity to take stock and discuss how to move forward in the ongoing criminal proceedings relating to the Arab Spring.

Today the Attorney General of Switzerland Michael Lauber and an OAG delegation met the Egyptian Attorney General in Cairo. Following on from productive talks in December 2013 and January 2016, the aim of todays discussions was to assess the latest developments in the ongoing criminal proceedings and consider the next steps to be taken, while respecting the principles of sovereignty and independence. The Swiss Attorney General and his delegation also met today with representatives of the Egyptian committee for the restitution of assets located abroad.

Since 2011, the OAG has been conducting a criminal investigation based on suspicions of money laundering (Art. 305bis Swiss Criminal Code (SCC)) and of supporting and/or participating in a criminal organisation (Art. 260ter SCC) following events in Egypt related to the Arab Spring. Since opening these proceedings, the OAG has on several occasions requested the Arab Republic of Egypt for information on developments in proceedings and the legal situation in Egypt in relation to the suspects in the Swiss investigation and also with regard to the court judgments issued against these suspects in Egypt. The OAG has made a detailed analysis of the Egyptian judgments and decisions with regard to their potential impact on frozen assets in Switzerland. At the same time, the OAG has been conducting its own enquiries into the origin of these frozen assets. In addition, the OAG plans to take account of the decisions of the Egyptian committee for the restitution of assets located abroad (reconciliation legale) where these decisions are corroborated by findings in the OAGs investigation and thus influence the outcome of the Swiss proceedings.

The reconciliation of decisions taken in Switzerland and Egypt has already led to the OAG having to drop criminal proceedings against several persons in Switzerland and order the unblocking of frozen assets amounting to CHF 180 million.

As a consequence, the Swiss criminal investigation into suspicions of supporting and/or participating in a criminal organisation and money laundering is now being conducted against six persons; currently assets amounting to around CHF 430 million remain frozen.

The main challenges for the Swiss criminal proceedings remain the large amount of frozen assets and respecting the requirement to act promptly so that parties rights are not infringed. The latter is important primarily because the Arab Republic of Egypt has the status of a private claimant in the Swiss proceedings.
As The Globalisation Project Unfolds, It Exposes Its Bankruptcy At The Philosophical, Political, Ecological And Economic Levels. The Bankruptcy Of The World Order Is Leading To Social, Ecological, Political And Economic Non-Sustainability, With Societies, Eco-Systems, And Economies Disintegrating And Breaking Down. The Philosophical And Ethical Bankruptcy Of Globalisation Was Based On Reducing Every Aspect Of Our Lives To Commodities And Reducing Our Identities To Merely That Of Consumers On The Global Market. Our Capacities As Producers, Our Identity As Members Of Communities, Our Role As Custodians Of Our Natural And Cultural Heritage Were All To Disappear Or Be Destroyed. Markets And Consumerism Expanded. Our Capacity To Give And Share Were To Shrink. But The Human Spirit Refuses To Be Subjugated By A World View Based On The Dispensability Of Our Humanity - Vandana Shiva (Quoted In Fisher And Ponniah, 2003:1)

We are not sure how many friends Vandana Shiva has in the West. It is much more difficult to say how many she could lay hands on among free market and globalisation crusaders. For those of us in economies that are currently being paraded as models of African excellence, the temptation is to dismiss Vandana Shiva and other crew members as enemies of progress.

Globalisation and the market system are almost templates for economic growth, development, well-being and prosperity. Nations that opt out of this phenomenon, we are told, might remain indoors for years to come, and indeed will have no alternatives to fall upon in the global quest for improved welfare. We think Vandana Shiva and her friends are of the view that another world is possible and that organic farming methods incorporating indigenous knowledge systems will support livelihoods of many peasant farmers. For capacity reasons, we make no attempt to join this discourse. We are concerned with some little issues that we suspect have been occasioned by the foregoing.

The presence of the Hoe and Cutlass farmer in Ghana

Where is the hoe? What has happened to the cutlass? They are out there in the hamlets and cottages dotted around developing countries slugging it out with superior and modernised technology in our desire to increase food production for both domestic consumption and export. The Bretton Woods institutions have done a lot of work in developing countries, trying to salvage ailing economies and providing formulae to enhance growth in these countries. Figures and numbers have played leading roles in this direction. We have heard a lot about GDP growth. Modernised agriculture, we are told, is key to unlocking the potentials of developing countries, particularly Ghana. Precision planning has been given prominence.

A $200 investment in a bee-keeping project in the SaveluguNanton District in Northern region will yield X gallons of pure honey. These will be sold on the streets of London to earn about $Y million. The resulting foreign exchange will take Z number of beggars and Kayaye off the streets of Accra and other cosmopolitan cities. No space is left for the native knowledge of the indigenous farmer.

The hoe and cutlass farmer is very much active in rural Ghana. We are to be challenged that they are not in the majority. There is a claim that peasant and indigenous farmers are inefficient and unable to meet the growing needs for food production, and that the only solution is to take a full dive into industrialised, large scale and chemicalised agriculture as well as genetic modification. Who made them inefficient in the first place? Who introduced chemical agriculture and for what reasons? What happened to the regenerative capacity of the soil and farm lands? A result of which the hoe and cutlass farmer is no longer able to produce enough for consumption without relying on external inputs. The irony is that this farmer is also unable to acquire these inputs and so is tagged inefficient by the very system that has taken away his or her capacity to at least, remain self-sufficient in terms of food security.

Defence of the commercialised farming system

The GDP-motivated, commercial and export-oriented advocates argue in typical precision planning models that the trickle down effect will address the food and other material needs of the hoe and cutlass practitioner. In that case, we are told that our fears are unfounded and exaggerated. In a case of high income inequalities and significant imbalances in resource allocations, huge doubts remain whether the hoe and cutlass farmer is getting better.

The Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) are embarking on ambitious and innovative projects to modernise agriculture. There is a rural development component attached. A lot of discussions have already gone into the design and operational strategies. No further scores are likely to be earned by simply revisiting these. Exportoriented agriculture looks like the major objective. That sounds very good in terms of foreign exchange earnings and improved welfare. Subsequent investments in social services will translate to improved welfare and hopefully the end of poverty would have been here.

Time is not up for us to abandon the hoe and cutlass farmer. In the SaveluguNanton District and several other places for instance, there was an upsurge in mango plantations. Large hectares of land have been utilised in this direction including the NasiaNabogu valley for commercial rice farming under the GCAP. People who have recently travelled up North would have seen this already. What has largely remained unreported has been the large scale and wanton destruction of shea trees under the numerous interventions to make room for these plantations. In most of the cases, the felled shea trees become the fencing material for the plantations. These shea trees are naturally occurring and promise to be the Norths answer to Cocoa if the right strategies and policies are in place. This phenomenon is destroying the livelihoods of several rural women who make decent income from the shea trees. By comparison, very few of them make the entry into the plantation circles. Policy makers, traditional rulers and communities need to think through this if we are to avoid a World Bank sponsored shea tree rediscovery project in the near future.

We are not against globalisation and export-led agriculture. We do not hate modernised agriculture. There is no attempt to undermine the power of precision models. Our concern is that hoe and cutlass farmers are in the majority. They contribute significantly to national food security and yet are still looking for survival mechanisms. New interventions in agriculture need to factor in the vulnerabilities of these farmers. More crucial, is the need to enhance and safeguard the integrity of regenerative capacities of natural resources.

For years, ActionAid Ghana (AAG) has been working to increase the productivity of smallholder women farmers through the promotion of Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA). It has, for two decades, been promoting the use of eco-friendly locally produced organic fertilisers relative to the inorganic  which are often expensive  to improve soil fertility among smallholder farmers. It does this through Female Extension Volunteers (FEVs) who are located within the farming communities and are well positioned to provide timely extension advice to these farmers. AAG has established several demonstration farms where practical lessons are undertaken, all aimed at raising agricultural productivity, to the feed the larger population and not only the immediate constituents of smallholder farmers. This approach adopted by AAG recognises the need to ensure that policy interventions and engagements must focus on delivering benefits to the masses. Thus, the impact of GDP growth and high foreign exchange earnings need to be felt much more by the hoe and cutlass Ghanaian farmer in Kpendua, Jou, Asamang, Gwosi and Mognori. This is not a call to abandon high tech systems in rural agriculture but a call to balance this with the realities confronting peasant farmers, many of whom we know are women.

We do not have an option to do nothing.

Written By:

Alhassan Musah

Chartered Accountant and Senior Lecturer

UDS School of Business and Law

Emails: [email protected]

[email protected]

Muazu Ibrahim

Quality and Impact Assessment Manager

ActionAid Ghana

Emails: [email protected]

[email protected]
The Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh may have reached the end of the political road in his over two decades of being in power and insisting on carrying on regardless of his defeat at the polls a little over a fortnight ago.

The ECOWAS heads of state at their recent meeting have decided that the dictator must be compelled to respect the will of his people as manifested during the country's polls.

Although he accepted the outcome of the polls, he suddenly made an unexpected about-turn, demanding for fresh polls.

He has incurred the wrath of the international community and the near ultimatum given him to respect the outcome of the polls is one he has never been confronted with.

Presidents of the regional body have committed to attending the inauguration of Adama Barow as the new president of the Gambia on January 19.

His failure to respect the will of the Gambian people will result in a military action in the small West African country.

Senegal, it is being speculated, would lead the military operation to smoke out the eccentric politician who ascended the presidency through a coup.

Senegal shares a border with the Gambia, the two having formed a political union which flopped shortly after its formation under the name Senegambia.

A committee which has been empanelled to oversee the process of transfer of power is being co-chaired by President John Mahama and his Nigerian counterpart President Muhammandu Buhari.

The foregone was part of the agenda of the 50th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State & Government of the Economic Community of West African States held in Abuja on January 17, 2016 under the chairmanship of the Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson.

BY A.R. Gomda
Alhaji Said Sinari, Ghana's envoy to Saudi Arabia is reported to have told the media that New Patriotic Party (NPP) residents in the oil-rich country have vandalized the country's mission in Riyadh.

In a sharp rebuttal of the allegation, a Ghanaian professional who has been living in Saudi Arabia has condemned the politician for lying.

The resident, name withheld, who has lived in Riyadh for over a decade told DAILY GUIDE in a telephone conversation yesterday that I just cannot understand why an ambassador would lie about something which never happened. The man is unable to differentiate between propaganda, politics and diplomacy. Having found himself accidentally in diplomacy, he should have learnt the ropes to avoid such pitfalls.

The anonymous Ghanaian Saudi resident said Said Sinari appears to be in campaign mode but added he should remember that by this allegation, which is untrue anyway, he is saying the Saudi authorities are not doing enough to provide the needed security to foreign missions as per the Geneva Convention and this they would express their opprobrium over.

Illegal immigrants in Saudi Arabia are unable to move about openly let alone attacking a foreign mission, he said, explaining that in that country those who risk such illegality are calling for very serious consequences.

It is unfortunate that an envoy would spill such a lie and expect to be respected. I am daring him to prove evidence of such an attack he said.

The alleged mission attack in Riyadh as said by Said Sinari is part of a grand agenda of the NDC to paint the NPP as a violent party which is hounding members of the losing political grouping.

Said Sinari, it would be recalled, said on a platform during the NDC's final rally recently that his dead body should be removed from his house if Nana Akufo-Addo wins the election. He added that he would cease praying as a Muslim in the event of an Akufo-Addo win at the polls.

Islamic scholars have said that for daring God to this extent, he must fast for a prescribed period to atone for the religious misdemeanor or even sacrilege. Muslims in general have expressed concern about Said Sinari's sacrilegious rhetoric when he mounted the platform with his sister.
Ejisu (Ash), Dec 19, GNA  A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rallied Ghanaians to unite behind the President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, to push through his governments development agenda  to overcome poverty and other indignities.

Mr. Kwaku Ntim Twumasi asked that they showed strong support, understanding and good will to the new political administration.

He made the call at a ceremony held by the Spiritan University College branch of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) of the NPP to honour him for the huge part he played in the partys election victory in the Ejisu constituency.

The party won both the presidential and parliamentary elections by 84.48 per cent and Mr. Twumasi, popularly known as NTK, was instrumental in that.

The students together with the constituency youth wing, in recognition of his vital contribution, presented him with a citation.

Mr. Twumasi encouraged everybody to find space to contribute to the effort of building a society that worked for all but not only a privilege few.

He used the occasion to counsel the jubilant supporters to step back from acts of provocation or taunts of their political opponents as they celebrated the resounding victory.

He reminded them to get right with the law to prevent needless confusion and safeguard the peace.

The citation, read by Franklin Boadi-Tuffour, the TESCON branch President, applauded him for his extraordinary dedication to the cause of the party.

It described him as an invaluable asset to the NPP and said the youth in the constituency would continue to be inspired by his passion for victory.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) Union Minister Uma Bharti today expressed grief over the demise of noted water conservationist and environmentalist Anupam Mishra.

"Tributes to respected Anupam Mishraji for having a great consciousness towards water. We will continue with his great works," the Union Water Resources Minister tweeted.

68-year-old Mishra, known for his book Aaj Bhi Khare Hai Talab, passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences here today morning due to prostate cancer. PTI ENM IKA

--- ENDS ---

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The Ablekuma Central constituency situated in Accra encompasses areas like Mataheko, Lartebiokoshie, Abosey Okai, Zamramaline, Russia and Shukura. It is largely a middle-class and lower class residence with majority of residents being people of northern descent  Hausas. There are also Gas, Akans and Ewes in this constituency.

The constituency can boast of good roads including the Kaneshie-First Light Road, the First light-Flamingo stretch, and the Mortuary Road. Conversely, areas like the Adwenbu electoral area, parts of Shukura, Russia are deplorable.

The constituency also lacks a good drainage system. This has left such areas within it, as Mataheko, flood prone.

Ablekuma Central constituency has since 1992, voted for the winning presidential candidate. In other words; it has always determined the winner of the presidential elections, typifying what analysts describe as a swing constituency. This categorization makes it somewhat difficult to classify this particular constituency as a New Patriotic Party's (NPP); or a National Democratic Congress' (NDC) stronghold since both parties have equally shared the spoils.

On December 7 2016, I led Citi FM's election coverage in Ablekuma Central and I must say it was spectacular. I had previously studied the constituency and its vote dynamics, interacted with the people and gauged their vote direction prior to this day.

In fact, on one of such visits, I joined the NDC's Alhaji Halidu Haruna on his house to house campaign, from which I immediately felt the constituents' discontentment with the governing NDC. The people largely hummed the tune; the incumbent MP, Theophilus Tetteh Chai had not lived up to expectation and they were going to show their disapproval by voting against him and his party, for the NPP. Some boldly told the candidate to his face; Tetteh Chai hasn't done anything for us and so we will vote for Eben (thus, the NPP's candidate).

Well, Haruna, in his personal capacity had constructed a few gutters and erected some streetlights. He had tried in his little way to address the people's needs even before they voted for him. And he did campaign, vigorously!

His message to the people was to vote for him as parliamentary candidate, and also for his corresponding presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, to enable them sufficiently develop the constituency. He told them that voting skirt and blouse as they had always done, would not bring them the development they so seek.

Fast forward to December 7; Ablekuma Central falls to the NPP. Well, maybe, it did not really fall as the NPP had held that seat for three terms in the past; the party merely took it back.

However, for someone who's lived all of her life in the constituency; and has followed this year's election closely, an NDC loss doesn't come as a surprise. Many, including the NDC candidate were probably dazed by the over 6000 vote margin between the NDC and the NPP, but that was predictable.

Here are five reasons why;

The Change Factor

The people of Ablekuma Central like the majority of Ghanaians needed change; a change of administration, a change of party in government. The NDC had held the seat for two successive terms as in the case of the presidency. And for majority of the people, there was the need to eject some fresh blood and new energies into the government.

Besides the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress, the Convention People's Party (CPP), the Progressive People's Party (PPP) and the National Democratic Party (NDP), all had representatives contesting the constituency's election. Though the CPP's candidate was in the race for the second time, the middle-aged woman had not the requisite clout to propel a competitive contest. This effectively narrowed the contest to just the two main parties, giving the NPP an easy win. But was it really an easy win? That brings me to the second cause of the NDC's defeat.

Underrated Contest

In the last elections in 2012, the NDC beat the NPP by just 1,461 votes. This was the first. The margin since 1996 had hovered between six thousand and four thousand votes. It was so clear to realize that the NPP, having come that close for the first time, could easily annex the seat. But the NDC candidate most probably did not see it coming, or rather chose to underestimate the contest. In fact, he had sworn to overrun the margin with some nine thousand more votes to it. And he campaigned diligently toward that rather audacious goal. Nonetheless, the electorates had their own plans.

Paying Chai for his Sins

One of the things that the electorates openly and bitterly complained about was the poor performance of the outgoing MP, Theophilus Chai. Majority of the electorates felt he had done very little to earn his party a retention in office. Halidu himself admitted this when he told me We are gradually losing trust from the public but I am in to make a difference. He tried very hard to convince the people he stood for a difference. But the people thought a candidate on the ticket of a different party would do the trick.

Deserted by his own

Out of the seven electoral areas in Ablekuma Central, two, (Mambrouk and Nmenmeete) considered the Zongo areas, have consistently voted for the NDC. The NPP stood no chance in these areas without the hand of God. However, on the night of the collation, as we all listened half-asleep to results as they dripped in, it was clearly manifested the Zongos had left the shades of the umbrella. My mind raced back to the night I toured the Zamaramline, one of the Zongo communities with Halidu. The people threatened to vote skirt and blouse and they did. At the end of the day, the figures between the two persons in the Zongo areas were so close it was unbelievable.

Eyes wide opened

This to me is not necessarily one of the reasons why the NPP won the elections in Ablekuma Central. However, for the winning candidate and his team, it is a very good reason. The candidate, Ebenezer who came so close in 2012, was convinced he was ripped off, which conviction led him to contest the election results in court. Four years after, he decided to use the popular Ghanaian open your eyes wide technique, particularly at the result collation stage to secure his votes. Outside the collation center, NPP supporters massed up and stayed late into the night. They impressed on the losing candidate to concede, intermittently chanting, We won't let what happened in 2012 happen again. The winning candidate himself was visibly agitated as he kept shouting out at the EC officials, this was the same thing that happened in 2012 and I will not let it happen again.

In the end, the NPP's Ebenezer Nartey was declared winner and he felt he had worked hard for it. He might have but I think the NDC delivered him the victory on a silver platter. The NDC will have a lot of introspection to do in the coming days to fully appreciate the extent of the electorates' anger towards them. This will help them as a party, prepare for 2020.



By: Eugenia Tenkorang/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Accra, December 16, 2016 - MTN Ghana, the leading telecommunications company in Ghana, has announced its intention to offer customers airtime/data as a token of appreciation for their patience during the service disruption that occurred on the night of 14 December 2016. The disruption was the result of a technical problem related to Internet Protocol that affected many MTN sites.

MTN Engineers worked quickly to resolve the problem and were able to fully restore the affected sites in less than two hours.

MTN will offer customers a choice of free 30 minutes MTN-to-MTN airtime or free 20MB of data. Customers will have the freedom to select their preferred option via short code. The Company states it is currently in the process of setting up the short codes that customers will use to make their selection and will announce the short code numbers as soon as set up is complete.

Customers will be able to select and activate their choice of free airtime or data from 17th December till 11:59PM on 23rd December, 2016. Once the selection is made the package will be activated immediately and the customer will have 24 hours within which to use the package.

Mrs Cynthia Lumor, Corporate Services Executive, said we are aware the disruption inconvenienced our valued subscribers, and we regret that. Although this was something that was beyond our control and not anticipated we believe it is important to offer free airtime or data as a token of our appreciation to our customers for the patience they exercised as we worked to resolve the problem.

Mohammed Rufai, Chief Technical Officer, MTN Ghana also assured customers that MTN has stringent measures in place to curb the recurrence of the incident.

Our critical core network elements have redundancy, meaning we have at least two of each critical core network element. We have invested significantly to make sure that there is always a spare critical element to carry traffic in the unlikely event of a network failure, he stated

MTN remains committed to providing reliable services to its cherished customers.
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One of the worlds wealthiest men has been arrested in Israel over claims that he paid millions of dollars in bribes to secure mineral assets in one of the worlds poorest nations.

Beny Steinmetz is alleged to have arranged for the bribes to be paid so that his company, BSGR, could secure half the rights to a lucrative iron ore deposit in the west African country of Guinea .

He appeared in court in Israel on Monday after police raided his Israeli home and offices. The court later released him for two days, under house arrest.

Steinmetz and BSGR claim to have won the right to extract the ore in return for a pledge to invest $165m in an exploration programme in the Simandou area in the remote south-east of the country in 2008. Eighteen months later the company announced that it had sold half its stake for $2.5bn.

According to an Israeli investigation, however, Steinmetz, along with a number of other Israelis, acquired the asset by paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes to senior public officials in Guinea.

Israeli police said in a statement: The investigation is being carried out in cooperation with law enforcement authorities in the United States, Switzerland, Guinea and Israel, as part of an international effort led by the OECD against the bribing of public officials worldwide.

In light of the suspicion of the Israelis involvement and the ramifications their alleged criminal activity abroad would have concerning Israel, the Israel police conducted a covert investigation in coordination with authorities abroad, which served to establish the suspicions. This covert investigation was a continuation of an open investigation conducted abroad and its findings.

The Simandou deal has been under investigation in the US for almost four years, with a grand jury examining allegations that the countrys Foreign Corrupt Practices Act had been breached.

In April 2013, when Steinmetz was in control of BSGR through family trusts, one of his representatives was arrested in Florida . The FBI covertly recorded Frederic Cilins while he attempted to persuade the widow of a former dictator of Guinea to destroy a number of documents that allegedly detailed the payment of bribes.

Cilins was subsequently jailed for two years after admitting that he had attempted to obstruct a criminal investigation.

In a statement on Monday, BSGR confirmed Steinmetz had been detained, and said: This development is in the aftermath of ongoing and what BSGR believes to be obsolete investigations against BSGR which were initiated by the government of Guinea. It added that the allegations of bribery were baseless.

BSGR describes Steinmetz as an adviser, but confirms that he is the beneficiary of the foundation that owns it.

A spokesman for Steinmetz in Israel said he was not commenting at this stage.

BSGR was stripped of its rights to the Simandou concession after an investigation by a newly-elected government in Guinea concluded that it had been acquired through corruption.
Controversial former Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo has squarely blamed the leadership of the National Democratic Congress for its failure to avert President Mahamas defeat, which it had knowledge of, at least a year before it manifested.

Michael Teye Nyaunu, who waded into the numerous theories on why the government lost the 2016 general elections, said the signal became obvious when President Mahama was made to go unopposed.

We could see the defeat staring us in the face but we ignored it, he told TV3 Midday Live on Monday.

Seed for defeat

The seed for the defeat was sowed during the primaries  both presidential and parliamentary [last year], he clarified.

Explaining further, Mr. Teye Nyaunu, known as MTN in the political circus, blamed the party executive for its calculated efforts that muscled out a number of potential presidential candidates in the party.

Only one person mustered the courage to contest Mahama for the partys primary last year, but was kicked out because the partys General Secretary suggested he was not of sound mind.

According to Teye Nyaunu, it was not the case that people were not interested in unseating Mahama within the party but because the leadership of the party shut the doors on all.

All machineries were set towards that, a situation he described as unfortunate. He believed competition would have brought the best out of Mahama.

Interestingly, the former MP was appointed the chairman of President John Mahamas 2016 campaign team in selected constituencies in the Eastern Region.

He was however not so convinced that President Mahama was the partys best choice for this years elections.

Until you make comparison you cannot say he is the best, he asserted.

Teye Nyaunu was also sure that how the party organized its parliamentary primaries contributed to the partys defeat.

He claimed some party members were consciously disenfranchised and could therefore not vote during the primaries.

Most of them did not feel motivated to participate in the general elections, he analysed.

Asked why he did not raise this issue before the elections, he pointed out that the party leadership knew better than I do.

He challenged any proper research to disprove his position.

The New Patriotic Partys candidate, Nana Akfuo-Addo beat President Mahama in excess of 1,000,000 votes in the 2016 presidential election with a comfortable majority in Parliament.
Kinshasa (AFP) - People stayed home across Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, leaving troops to patrol ghost cities as tension peaked hours before President Joseph Kabila's mandate ends, but with no election in sight.

Kabila's second term expires at midday on December 20, but he has shown no sign of stepping down and talks on a pre-election transition have failed, sparking fears of fresh political violence in the mineral-rich but unstable nation.

Normally teeming Kinshasa, the megacity capital of 10 million people, was a shadow of itself on Monday, with barely any traffic on the main roads, public transport at a minimum, and soldiers and police outnumbering passers-by.

Shops were shuttered in the main square and there were tense scenes at Kinshasa University, where dozens of police and troops held back hundreds of students, AFP journalists said.

In the volatile east, torn by two decades of armed conflict, five rebels, a South African peacekeeper and a Congolese police officer were killed when militia fighters attacked several buildings in Butembo, including the prison.

Kinshasa's Mombele neighbourhood on December 19, 2016, as tensions rise as Joseph Kabila mandate nears its end

Kabila, who has been in power for 15 years, is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term but under a recent constitutional court order he may stay on until a successor is chosen.

The ruling party and some opposition leaders have agreed to schedule an election in April 2018, leaving Kabila in office until the vote. But the main opposition bloc rejects this.

In Kinshasa, journalists were prevented from entering the university grounds by security forces and irate students, but students reached by telephone said they had been planning "ot march peacefully" to parliament to demand Kabila step down.

Security was also tight in the second city, Lubumbashi, in the southeast, with most shops closed and very little traffic.

Social networks have been cut or filtered since midnight Sunday on orders from the authorities and police at the weekend banned gatherings of more than 10 people.

Talks to resume Wednesday

An AFP journalist saw police disperse a group of eight young people chatting on the street in Goma, in the east, where business too was at a standstill.

Normally teeming Kinshasa is a shadow of itself, with barely any traffic on the main roads

In a last-ditch bid to achieve a peaceful transfer of power, talks took place last week between the ruling party and fringe opposition groups allied against a mainstream opposition coalition led by 84-year-old Etienne Tshisekedi.

But despite more than a week of mediation they broke up on Saturday, with no progress on the main issues that divide the two sides.

Negotiations are due to resume on Wednesday when Catholic bishops acting as mediators return from a long-planned trip to Rome -- a day after the 45-year-old Kabila's term ends.

A democratic handover would break ground for Congo's 70 million people who since independence from Belgium in 1960 have never witnessed political change at the ballot box.

And in the last few years hundreds of people have died in political violence in the capital, Kinshasa, including 53 in anti-Kabila protests in September.

Chronology of political events in DR Congo since January 2015

The president has been in power since his father Laurent Kabila was assassinated in 2001. He was elected in 2006, and again in 2011, in a poll the opposition decried as rigged.

Tshisekedi's opposition grouping has threatened to bring people into the streets from Monday if the talks failed.

Leaflets urging people to retake Kinshasa "street by street, district by district until we retake the whole of the DRC", have begun to circulate in the capital.

But so far the opposition has refrained from urging a general mobilisation, while the international community has pleaded for calm on all sides.

Some two decades ago, Congo sunk into the deadliest conflict in modern African history, its two wars in the late 1990s and early 2000s dragging in at least six African armies and leaving more than three million dead.
The life-threatening journey to Europe that many young people from West Africa are embarking on is the subject of DW's latest multi-media project, "The Migration Dilemma." Recordings of public debates in three African countries and reports illustrate the multiple dangers that migrants face on their journey  from the remorselessness of human traffickers to the insecure outlook for those arriving in Europe.

Reporters and correspondents from the DW French, Hausa and English editorial teams spoke to people throughout Europe and Africa over several months, interviewing refugees, voluntary returnees and relatives left behind by those who decided flee. They report on local and international jobs initiatives and discuss with young Africans their expectations for a new life in Europe.

"We have kicked off a dialogue that hasn't yet been addressed in many places," said Claus Stacker, head of DW's Africa program and the initiator of the project. "Although these debates on the ground became controversial and heated, the young people were grateful that we brought them to the table with political players and decision-makers."

At the DW event in Niamey, Niger's capital city, the country's Employment Minister Yahouza Sadissou told the audience that "we cannot do this alone." His country is facing a true migration dilemma, as the city of Agadez has become a gathering point for countless people from around West Africa who are preparing to embark on the illegal journey to Europe. With support from Germany and other countries, Sadissou said he has worked to create hundreds of thousands of jobs since 2011, though the advancements are hardly discernible.

"If Europe were to open their gates to those workers who only want to work abroad for a limited time, that could save many lives," said Aliyu Bormou from the Youth Movement for Development and Education. "Increased emigration will endanger development here. Only we Africans can help our continent to develop," said Bormou.

DW's Africa program came up with the idea for the multi-media project which was codeveloped and supported by Germany's Federal Foreign Office.

In West Africa, DW has a network of around 140 local correspondents. Every week its radio broadcasts reach up to 34 percent of the adult populations in the region. The number of Facebook fans in these three languages is around 1,000,000.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United States will ask the UN Security Council to vote soon on imposing an arms embargo on South Sudan, the US ambassador said Monday.

"It's extremely important to vote this by the end of the year," said US Ambassador Samantha Power.

The Security Council was due to hold closed-door consultations later Monday on the crisis in South Sudan, where a devastating war entered its fourth year this month.

The United States last month presented a draft resolution aimed at cutting off the arms flow to South Sudan following UN warnings that the war-torn country could descend into genocide.

France and Britain support an arms embargo. But veto powers Russia and China have voiced opposition, while non-permanent council member Japan, which has sent peacekeepers to South Sudan, is also balking at the proposal.

"We are going to need to vote this resolution and countries are going to need to raise their hands and decide where they stand on issues of life-and-death as it relates to the people of South Sudan," said Power.

The US-drafted text calls for a one-year ban on all sales of arms, weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and equipment.

The world's youngest nation, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and more than 2.5 million people displaced.

The country won independence from Sudan in 2011 with strong support from the United States.
The people of Gambia went to the polls on December 1, 2016. And as a result, incumbent President Yahya Jammeh lost the election to his main opponent, Adama Barrow. Initially, he accepted the outcome of the election and congratulated the elected candidate.

Few days after conceding defeat on state TV, the defeated Gambian President was reported to have rejected the election results, citing serious and unacceptable abnormalities in the electoral process.

Meanwhile, the head of Gambian electoral commission, had already explained that the rectified results did not change the overall outcome. Mr. Barrow won the presidential contest with 263,515 votes representing 45.5 per cent, while President Jammeh garnered 212,099 representing 36.7 per cent.

In recent times, the West Africa sub-region has seen member countries hold elections, and the political baton changing hands in a peaceful manner to the admiration of the international community.

In Nigeria for example, incumbent Goodluck Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election to his opponent, Muhammadu Buhari. And the world hailed Africas largest country for the smooth transition of power.

Ghana has just held its 2016 Election in December. Consequently, the outcome of the election went in the favour of the opposition. Therefore, preparations are underway for President John Mahama to hand over to the President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on January 7, 2017.

It is disheartening that the embattled Gambian leader has turned a blind eye to the wind of democracy on the African continent. On the contrary, President Jammeh annulled the election results and called for another polls before filing a petition at the Supreme Court of the Gambia.

Brief about the Gambia

The Gambia, one of Africas smallest countries with a population of 1.8 million, gained independence from the British colony on February 18, 1965. Banjul is the capital, and English is the official language of the country.

The national economy is dominated by farming, fishing, and especially tourism. Agriculture accounts for about 30 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), and employs over 70 per cent of the labour force.

Since independence, the country has had two leaders: Sir Dawda Jawara (19701994), and Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh who seized power through a military coup in 1994.

Unlike other West African countries, the Gambia has relatively enjoyed long spells of stability since independence. However, the stability has not translated into prosperity.

Several years ago, the country was known as a strong player in international diplomacy. Until 1994, Gambians didnt need visas to travel to countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.

Regrettably, the misguided foreign policy of President Jammeh has created a hostile relationship between the Gamabia and these countries.

The Gambian economy, which used to be one of the most successful and resilient economies in West Africa, has downgraded miserably.

Rise to power

As a matter of fact, President Jammeh surprised the world and his worst critics by accepting defeat in the December 1 election. Amazingly, he made a turnaround and called off the election results.

The Gambian long-term President is known for walking around with his prayer beads and a stick. Yahya Jammeh is one of the worlds most eccentric and ruthless leaders. He portrays himself as a devout Muslim with miraculous powers to cure people of AIDS and infertility.

Born on May 25, 1965, as Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh; he enlisted into the Gambian National Army in 1984 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1989.

Jammeh received extensive military training in neighbouring Senegal, and later at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Subsequently, he seized power as a young 29-year army lieutenant in 1994 through a coup which removed Sir Dawda Jawara from office.

Lt. Jammeh founded the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) in 1996. President Jammeh won the 1996 presidential election; he was re-elected in 2001, 2006, and 2011. He suffered a shocking defeat in his fifth attempt after 22 years in office.

Abuse of human rights

The 22-year authoritarian rule of Yahya Jammeh was characterised by human rights violations and the incessant arrests of politicians, journalists and activists, often on false charges. President Jammeh has been heavily criticised for restricting freedom of the press.

The Gambian leader was behind the execution of several criminals and political opponents who were on death row. He also demonstrated his opposition to gay rights, having once threatened to behead gay people. Homosexuality threatens human existence, he emphasised.

In 2013, Jammeh ordered the last execution of prisoners on death row in the Gambia. As a result, nine people were executed, including an army lieutenant who was jailed in 1997 for attempted coup.

President Jammeh has been linked with the 2004 massacre of 44 Ghanaian migrants, and 10 other ECOWAS nationals. The alleged mercenaries were arrested and killed in a forest. But one of them managed to escape and later returned to Ghana to break the news about the gruesome killings in the Gambia.

Foreign intervention

President Jammehs decision not to accept the election results has sparked outrage and condemnation from the international community such as the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU) and the United States.

Meanwhile, the preliminary intervention of the UN, AU and ECOWAS diplomats persuading President Jammeh to accept the choice of the Gambians has not been fruitful. I side with the sub-regional body that if persuasion fails force must be applied to get Jammeh out of office.

President Yahya Jammeh must respect the will of the Gambian people by cooperating with the incoming government to ensure smooth transition of power on January 19, 2017.

Enough is enough Mr. President; its time to bring your 22-year rule to an end and make way for the Gambias President-elect, Adama Barrow.

ASP James Annan

Ghana Prisons Headquarters

Cantonments, Accra

[email protected]
19.12.2016 LISTEN

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, recently wrote a letter to Mr Michel Forst, the UN Rapporteur on situation of human rights defenders on Senates refusal to confirm Mr Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, claiming political and other concocted reasons for the said refusal.

It is the purpose of this piece to vehemently urge Mr Forst to ignore the letter in its entirety as it was written out of mischief and towards actualising narrow and self-serving purposes.

Let it be stated that in rejecting Ibrahim Magus nomination, the legislative body acted within the ambits of the law and principles of democracy that permit it to act as a check on the executive.

The description of Magu by SERAP as a human rights defender within the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights and Responsibility of individuals, Groups and organs of society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom of 1998 (UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders), is nothing but a figment of the imagination of SERAP concocted to impose an anti-corruption chairman whose deliberate, vindictive and gross abuse of the rights of citizens under the guise of fighting corruption is not only well-documented but also legendary.

For example, a well known critic of the present day government, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of aviation, was illegally detained for a total of 91 days, 67 days in the first instance and then 24 days in the second. The arrests and detentions were done by Magus EFCC with questionable warrants where there was any at all, and outright disregard to the constitution where there was none at all, making such arrests arbitrary, tortuous and designed to inflict trauma and wear down the victims to the extent of getting them hospitalized in the process.

To lend credence to the above, Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on November 14, 2016, upbraided the EFCC in open court for arresting Fani-Kayode in the court premises without a warrant and for detaining him illegally for 24 days without detention order from any court despite the courts earlier advice to the EFCC not to re-arrest the former minister since he was already on a court bail granted as far back as July 4.

Eventually, the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, had to apologise to the court on behalf of the anti-corruption agency.

Also, Mr Ibrahim Magus gross abuse of citizens rights as EFCC chairman extends to innocent spouses and infants of suspects.

On Monday, October 17, 2016, Femi Fani-Kayodes wife, Precious Chikwendu Fani-Kayode was stopped from withdrawing from an account operated by her, and was subsequently detained by the bank on the orders of EFCC despite carrying her infant with her while awaiting to be taken away by the commission until Peter Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti State, came to their rescue hours later.

These are just very few instances among the many issues of gross violations of rights of citizens by the anti-corruption agency under the guise of fighting corruption.

Apart from this, Mr Magu has mastered the art of deploying compromised media outfits to declare Nigerians under its radar guilty long even before such persons are arrested. This is usually done to create a leeway, harass, intimidate, detain and torture their victims without much resistance from CSOs the media and members of the public. Such detained citizens become helpless as lies after lies are churned out against them in the media while they remain incarcerated and unable to refute the campaign of falsehood against them. By the time they face prosecution, their images and reputations are mortally battered and nearly irredeemable even if the courts eventually find them innocent.

It is nauseating and an insult to the sensibilities of human rights watchers all over the world, how SERAP has condescended so low to defend the indefensible and make excuses for the inexcusable! How could SERAP believe that the action taken by the Senate of Nigeria and other agencies of government apparently working with them undermines and violates Nigerias international obligation to respect, protect, promote and fulfill the human rights of the citizens, which eventually creates a duty for the government to establish efficient and independent anti-corruption mechanisms when Mr Magu himself is known to be a gross abuser of peoples rights?

It is unfair of SERAP to accuse the Senate of not offering Magu an opportunity to fair hearing. Even if this is so, SERAP should have availed itself the opportunity of seeking redress in the court rather than run to the UN for a matter that can be handled by our courts.

Rather than attempt to vilify the Senate on this score, they should be commended for saving Nigeria and Nigerians from a man of vindictive tendencies who has no respect for our laws and who acts according to his own whims and caprices just to settle political scores with perceived enemies of government and members of the opposition thereby giving the days government continued avoidable bad publicity.

Let SERAP be asked if they are aware that despite petitions with overwhelming copious and cogent evidence against some members of the current administration and ruling party, none of such indicted persons have been invited for questioning by Magus EFCC not to talk of prosecuting them.

Example of such people who have petitions against them lodged with Mr Magus EFCC but which Magu has consistently ignored, neglected and or failed to act upon include Mr Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation among others, while the likes of Timipre Sylva and the late Abubakar Audu were cleared to contest elections as governors in their respective states.

It is laughable that while SERAP makes desperate attempts to clear Magu of any association with a corrupt person, it claimed the property Magu is currently occupying was not paid for by one retired Commodore Umar Mohammed who himself is being investigated for corruption by a sister security agency but by the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA). This is not only shameful but also disgraceful!

Mohammed was said to have paid N40m for the property and lavishly furnished it with another N43m.

Even if we decide to agree with SERAP that the property was paid for by the FCDA and not Mohammed, the question is, when did it become the function of the FCDA to pay for and furnish properties for public officials? That is corruption in itself as it puts Magu in a position of conflicting interest. For Magu to have accepted such gift from a government agency or any person or institution at all shows that the man is not fit to head our anti-corruption agency or any other office of responsibility.

Accusing the Senate of being political with the confirmation of Magu despite the preponderant abundance of acts unbecoming of a public official is to unfairly put the Senate in bad light. The Senate has not asked for the EFCC to be scrapped, they have merely asked that another citizen with high moral standards and respect for our laws and rights of citizens without compromising his/her function be appointed. This, to the right thinking Nigerian, is indeed what needs to be done.

So rather than condemn the Senate, they should be commended for a job well done and for saving Nigeria and Nigerians from the continued embarrassing slips and persecutions of citizens and affront to our constitution.

This same Senate also about the same time with Ibrahim Maguss confirmation, recommended that one of the most powerful forces in the Buhari administration, Mr Babachir Lawal, Secretary to the government of the federation, be sacked and prosecuted for allegedly diverting huge sums of money meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are being ravaged by hunger, disease and squalor. One wonders why SERAP has taken up the defence of Magu while ignoring the issue of funds meant for IDPs but allegedly diverted by Lawal. The question is, whose interest is SERAP serving?

That SERAP would travel this infamous road to ignominy is a confirmation of what Nigerians have since known: the dearth and death of CSOs in Nigeria since May 29, 2015!

[email protected] ; Twitter: @stjudendukwe
By India Today Web Desk: If there were a list of all-time troublemakers of Bigg Boss, Om Swami will top it hands down. He's probably the only contestant in the history of Bigg Boss who turned a deaf ear to each and every advice of host Salman Khan; and now the Dabangg star has now given up on efforts to tame this aam aadmi contestant. One can imagine the fate of other contestants.

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But the show makers definitely knew what they were doing, when they invited Swamiji to join the show. At least the audition video of babaji suggests so.

Also read: Bigg Boss 10: Rahul Dev becomes the second celeb contestant to get eliminated

In the audition clip, Om Swami shared he was keen on entering the BB 10 house on the insistence of the previous Bigg Boss celeb contestants--who are also his bhakts--in order to make the world a better place.

He also said he wanted to do something about the show's dipping TRPs. "Bigg Boss team does a lot of hard work to make the show better. But unfortunately, their hard work is not translating into TRPs. Since I have a huge fan following, I can make the show more popular."

Also read:Bigg Boss 10: Is something cooking between Nitibha and Manveer?

Remember how he got a thrashing from Salman when he said the same thing in one of the Weekend Ka Vaar episodes?One thing is clear from this clip; Swami entered the house with a strategy in mind and he has survived all these weeks by adhering to it.

--- ENDS ---
Ho, Dec. 19, GNA - Asogli Queen-mothers' Association have presented two adjustable chairs to the Dialysis Unit of the Volta Regional Hospital.

The chairs, also known as dialysis beds, were estimated at GH6,000.00 and financed by Glory Oil and the Ho Municipal Hospital following appeals from the queen-mothers.

The chairs are made especially to aid treatment of kidney related diseases.

Mama Attrato II, Queen mother of Ho-Dome who made the presentation said the initiative was necessitated by the discomfort patients experienced during treatment on 'normal beds'.

She expressed concern over the increase in kidney related diseases in the country and cautioned against the consumption of aphrodisiacs.

Dr Lord Mensah, Head of Clinical Services at the Hospital, said the presentation was timely and appealed for two more chairs to make it four, for the four dialysis machines at the facility.

The Dialysis Unit was established in March, 2016, through collaborative efforts between the Hospital and D. Med Healthcare and facilitated by the Asogli Queenmothers' Association.

Mr Elikem Fuekpe, the Nurse in-charge at the Unit told the Ghana News Agency that, the Unit has a minimum of 40 sessions a week for its 10 clients.

GNA
By Albert Futukpor, GNA

Sanzee (N/R), Dec 19, GNA - A project to ensure increased joint monitoring and feedback between the government and beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme at the Mion District of the Northern Region has been launched.

The project dubbed, Grassroot Rising for Enhanced LEAP (GREL), seeks to advocate for citizens' monitoring of the implementation of the LEAP programme in all the 21 beneficiary communities in the Mion District to ensure efficiency and success.

GREL is a year's project being implemented by NORSAAC, a non-governmental organization, with support from Christian Aid.

Madam Hafsatu Sey Sumani, Head of Programmes and Policy of NORSAAC, who launched the project at Sanzee, a community in the Mion District, said GREL would help to ensure citizens' involvement in the implementation of LEAP to ensure success.

Madam Sumani said the lack of citizens' interest in the implementation of social protection programmes had been a challenge to the success of such programmes hence the GREL project to enable the citizens realize the importance of LEAP to develop interest in its implementation.

She said GREL would contribute to the improvement of lives of LEAP beneficiaries as it would ensure improved and successful engagements between LEAP power holders and citizen groups as well as increase ability of citizen groups to monitor, identify, communicate and engage duty bearers on issues related to the implementation of LEAP for redress.

Madam Vivien Anyaakuu, Mion District Social Welfare Officer, lauded the project, saying it would help to reach out to a lot of stakeholders to make the LEAP programme more organised in the District.

GNA
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN General Assembly on Monday rejected a bid by African countries to block the appointment of the first-ever UN expert tasked with investigating violence and discrimination against LGBT minorities.

It was the second time that the African group had tried to push through a measure demanding talks on the mandate of the expert who will report on abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people worldwide.

The measure was defeated by a vote of 84 against to 77 in favor, with 16 abstentions.

European countries and the United States had lobbied energetically in the 193-nation assembly to defeat the African push to suspend the appointment of the expert.

The UN Human Rights Council in September appointed international law professor Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand to investigate cases of discrimination and violence against LGBT people worldwide.

Burkina Faso argued on behalf of the African countries that there was no legal basis for the mandate and no international recognition of sexual orientation and gender identity as human rights.

US Ambassador Samantha Power accused African countries and their supporters of latching on to a procedural argument to cover up their anti-gay bias.

"This is not an issue of the North trying to impose its values on the South. It is an issue of respecting the dignity and human rights of all people everywhere," Power told the General Assembly.

Dutch Ambassador Karen van Osteroom, whose country has adopted progressive policies on LGBT rights, said the United Nations must shine a light on anti-gay violence.

"People around the world are being bullied, are being jailed, are being beaten, are being killed, for no other reason than for which gender they identify with most, or for whom they happen to love," he said.

"And that is what the mandate on the independent expert is all about," he said.

African countries failed last month to push for a similar measure during a vote in the assembly's human rights committee.

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.

Muntarbhorn, who began work as the UN expert last 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.


Stories from Ernest Best Anane

A community centre has been commissioned at Wawase in the Afigya Kwabre District of the Ashanti Region.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Kaakyire Oppong Kyekyeku, who commissioned the project, which he said was began eight years ago, would serve as a centre for social gathering at a reduced cost.

Mr. Oppong Kyekyeku hoped the community centre would serve as his contribution to the development of the community, from where he hails.

He said the community has got its fair share of the national cake, and must be grateful to the present government, in terms of payment of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), free national Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration, electricity, school feeding programme, and the tremendous improvement in the road networks in the area.

He entreated the community to cultivate the maintenance culture to make the facility useful, and by rent it at the reduced cost to raise funds to cater for needy, but brilliant students in the community.

Nana Kusi Oboadum Antwi, Chief of Wawase, expressed his profound gratitude to the DCE for his vision and hard work in improving the living standards of the people.
19.12.2016 LISTEN



By Maxwell Ofori

[email protected]

President elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured the Chiefs and people of the Volta Region that the New Patriotic Party would continue to woo the region till it marries it.

He made this promise last Saturday when he joined Togbe Afede XIV, the president of Asogli Traditional Area to celebrate his victory, after being elected the President of the National House of Chiefs.

Nana Addo congratulated the Chief and urged him to use his position to help in the modernization of chieftaincy in the country.

Nana also ceased the opportunity to express his gratitude to the region for their support to his candidature and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at in the just ended elections.



His assurance to marry the Volta Region followed a statement by Togbe Afede XIV to Nana Addo during the latter's last visit to the region prior to the elections, where the Chief told Nana that the Volta Region was not a loyal housewife whose husband came in only when he was hungry, but rather a bride waiting to be wooed.

Nana Addo recalled this statement made by Togbe Afede and indicated the decision the NPP had taken over it.

He told the Chiefs who attended the ceremony that the party had taken notice of the statement and would work tirelessly to take over the region.

I recall a statement made by you, Togbe Afede, during my last visit. You said the Volta Region was not a loyal housewife waiting for her husband who only came home when he was hungry.

You said the Volta Region was a beautiful bride awaiting an appropriate suitor. The NPP has taken you on your word and will continue to woo the Volta Region until we marry the bride, he opined.

Nana Addo commended the Chiefs and the people for the unprecedented support they showed the party in the elections which resulted in the NPP, for the second time, winning a parliamentary seat in the region.

I wish to thank the Chiefs and people of the Volta Region for their support and help in the election. Admittedly the results from this region fell short of the expectations of my party. But we have certainly done far better than we did in the last election.

Quiet interesting but somehow shocking for both sides of the political divide, the NPP is gaining grounds in the region, which the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had termed as its 'world bank', as far as elections are concerned. People of the region were seen with NPP flags and colours, hailing the incoming President, Nana Addo and his party.

However, Nana Addo stated emphatically that the NPP was not going to disappoint the Volta Region, adding that the party would fulfill its promises to the region.

According to the President elect, the future of the country was bright and if all the people could give a helping hand, and ensured togetherness, there would be greater achievement for the country.

He urged the region, through the Chiefs, to support his administration as he strives to take the country into achieving higher results.






From Inusa Musah, Ashaiman

Victus Tetteh, consultant for Royals Health Organisation (ROHEO), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) for peaceful co-existence, has lauded the youth and opinion leaders of three districts in the Volta Region, for upholding peace, before, during, and after the 2016 elections.

In August, ROHEO held a one-day peace talk with the youth and opinion leaders, including the youth leaders and activists of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) from Nkwanta South, Nkwanta North and Krachi-Nchumuru, to pledge their commitment to uphold the peace, before, during, and after this year's election.

To further show their commitment, the leadership of all the groups signed the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for peaceful co-existence, and then marched through some principal streets of Nkwanta to demonstrate their readiness to protect their districts.

In a telephone interview with Victus Tetteh, he told The Chronicle that ROHEO, after the 'Nkwanta Declaration', devoted more of its time on radio, reminding the districts of the need to keep to their pledge.

Besides, documentaries and videos on electoral violence were often shown at the three districts to educate and inform the people on the need to remain tolerant and refine their utterances.

ROHEO is still advocating for peace and peaceful co-existence in all the areas, because the post-election wild jubilation by the victor party has not died out yet, especially, when the president-elect is yet to be officially sworn into office, Mr. Tetteh indicated.

He was emphatic that the three districts in the Volta Region had not experienced any post-election violence, as was being recorded and reported from some parts of the country.

That is not to say that ROHEO is, by that, resting on its oars. We are in constant touch with the opinion leaders to continue engaging their youths in friendly collaboration in nation building.

He observed that the most difficult time, when the peace of a country was stretched during an electioneering period, was post-election.

Mr. Victus, therefore, appealed to the jubilating supporters of the NPP to celebrate their victory, devoid of teasing, physical attacks and vandalism, because any state property they destroy, will be a cost to the citizen to bear.

Again, nobody should be maimed or killed, because the NPP has won the elections.

He lauded the electorate for thronging their various polling stations to exercise their franchise.

To the Electoral Commission (EC), he said: I have always been proud and confident of the Commission and its Chairperson.

Madam Charlotte Osei has given us, by far, the best election, and we must all be proud of her. Any sour words against her by any group of persons or individual were unfortunate.

Victus Tetteh commended President Mahama for honourably conceding defeat to Nana Akufo-Addo, the president-elect.
19.12.2016 LISTEN



By Emmanuel Akli

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President-elect, is certainly going to have a herculean task in the appointment of his ministers and other key positions, looking at the quality material at his disposal.

Though the dust is yet to fully settle on who should be a member of his cabinet, the focus has been shifted to the position of the number three gentleman of the land Speaker of Parliament.

Professor Mike Oquaye, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya and Ghana's High Commissioner to India, came out strongly as the possible successor to Right Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho, a 'Methuselah' in the House.

But latest information indicates that the Acting National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Frederick Worsemao Armah Blay's candidature is also seriously knocking at the doors of the President-elect.

Mr. Blay, a two term legislator for Ellembelle in the Western Region and the publisher of the Daily Guide Newspaper, like Professor Mike Oquaye, has also held various positions in the Legislative House. Among them are First Deputy Speaker from 20012008, Chairman, Appointments Committee of from 20012008, Chairman, Privileges Committee from 20012008, Member, Parliament Sub-Committee on Food and Agriculture from 20042008 among a host of others.



The acting NPP National Chairman, who is a lawyer by profession, graduated from the University of Ghana in 1975, and Ghana School of Law in 1977, having earlier attended Adisadel College in Cape Coast for both his 'O' and 'A' levels of education. He is currently senior partner, Blay & Associates (a firm of legal consultants and practitioners). Credible information indicates that Nana Addo would most likely nominate either Prof Mike Oquaye or Mr. Freddie Blay for confirmation by the August House on January 7, next month.

Though Papa Owusu Ankomah's name is still lurking, he would likely be given an ambassadorial post. The legislator has been in Parliament since 1996, and has vast experience when it comes to parliamentary duties.

He did not seek re-election to represent his favourite constituency  Sekondi  where he is an icon.

Sources say so much pressure was brought to bear on the Mfantsipim Old boy by his party members in the constituency to step down, because he had been representing them for a long time.

The gentle MP, therefore, decided to take a bow, which is a big blow to his party at the national level, since he is one of the MPs who has in-depth knowledge about the works of Parliament.
A senior Political Science lecturer says last minute contracts being signed by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) breach the spirit of the Presidential Transition Act (845).

Professor Ransford Gyampo said "one of the spirits behind the law is transparency and continuity," adding acts that undermine that purpose should be eliminated.

Transition Committee members of President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said they were not happy with reports that government was awarding contracts at a time it is preparing to handover power.

Head of the President-elect's team, Yaw Osafo Marfo cautioned government to be mindful about contracts it signs on behalf of the state as they could affect the fortunes of the country.

"We need to be cautious, we need to be transparent, we need to be candid and we need to be factual," he urged.

Professor Ransford Gyampo

Spokesperson for outgoing government Transition team, Hannah Tetteh explained government business could not ground to a halt because of an incoming government.

Nonetheless, she said government would consider the concerns put forth by the incoming government.

Professor Gyampo who is a fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) said the outgoing NDC government has to be transparent to the incoming government in its dealings.

"You do not give handover notes to an incoming administration while you go behind to secretly sign contracts," he said.

The lecturer, believes that government could sign contracts but it has to be done with the full knowledge of the incoming government.

"If life and death contracts have to be signed, it has to be done with the transition committee in the know," he stressed.

This, he said has to be done in order to avoid issues of judgement debt which might crop up if the incoming government abrogates a contract it feels uncomfortable with.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | [email protected]
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United States on Monday stepped up its drive to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan, saying it will soon ask the Security Council to vote on the proposed ban.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was expected to back the US call to cut off the weapons flow during a meeting later Monday on the crisis in South Sudan, where the devastating war has entered its fourth year.

The United States last month presented a draft resolution on imposing an arms embargo following UN warnings that the war-torn country could descend into genocide.

An annex to the proposed resolution would also put South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar, army chief Paul Malong and Information Minister Michael Makuei on a sanctions blacklist.

"We are going to need to vote this resolution and countries are going to need to raise their hands and decide where they stand on issues of life-and-death as it relates to the people of South Sudan," said US Ambassador Samantha Power.

"It's extremely important to vote this by the end of the year," she added.

France and Britain support an arms embargo, which could come up for a vote as early as Thursday, according to diplomats.

But veto powers Russia and China have voiced opposition, while non-permanent council member Japan, which has sent peacekeepers to South Sudan, is also balking at the proposal.

The three countries argue that banning the arms trade with Juba would antagonize President Salva Kiir's government and put peacekeepers' lives at risk in a conflict already marked by horrific levels of brutality.

The US-drafted text calls for a one-year ban on all sales of arms, weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and equipment.

The world's youngest nation, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and more than 2.5 million people displaced.

The country won independence from Sudan in 2011 with strong support from the United States.

Ban last week harshly criticized South Sudan's leaders ahead of the vote, saying they had "betrayed their people's trust and squandered a peace agreement."

The outgoing UN chief urged the council to take stronger action "including through punitive measures."
19.12.2016 LISTEN



It has taken President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo a decade of struggle to finally seal his place in the history of this country as the Fourth Head of State, since the proclamation of the Fourth Republic. When he is formally inaugurated on Saturday, January 7, he will become the seventh Constitutional Head of State of Ghana, since Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana a Republic on July 1, 1960.

It has been a hard fought battle. From the era of the People's Movement for Freedom and Justice in the Acheampong days, through the battle against the culture of silence, when gun-toting hoodlums took over this country in the name of a revolution which condemned many noble Ghanaians to their early graves, Nana Akufo-Addo, a human rights lawyer of international repute, has fought on the side of the oppressed.

One of the most maligned politicians of our time, the President-elect has had to endure some of the most uninformed character assassinations of our time. In all this, Nana Akufo-Addo never budged. As he keeps reminding the people of this country, the President-elect is driven by the urge to serve the people and bring solace to the deprived.

At the thanksgiving service organised by the victorious New Patriotic Party at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, yesterday, the incoming President acknowledged the heavy burden on his tiny shoulders, and asked Ghanaians to pray for the government and the nation.

Even as we praise God for his immense kindness and grace towards our country, we also know that we have a lot ahead of us. It is a task that we can, and will perform with your support, and with your hard work, increasing prayers, and the blessing of the Almighty God, he told cheering supporters.

The Chronicle appreciates the fact that the in-coming Head of State is conversant with the enourmity of the task ahead. We would like to believe that flowing out of this recognition, the President-elect will be guided by the need to appoint men and women who understand the problem at hand, and are prepared to roll off their sleeves and work to deliver the solution necessary to move this nation forward.

One of the major reasons why Mr. John Dramani Mahama failed so woefully at the polls was the recognition by Ghanaians that the outgoing President did not have the right calibre of officials to tackle the myriads of problems afflicting the nation. The kind of personalities former President Jerry John Rawlings fondly referred to as 'Babies with Sharp Teeth' were deficient in problem identification and solution. They tried to cover up their short-comings by attacking whoever drew attention to problems persisting in society without solutions.

We would like to urge the President-elect to be guided by the lessons from the Mahama regime, and appoint competent men and women to deliver the goods. Already, ugly noises are coming from officials within his own party about the lack of consultation that went into appointing members of the Transitional Team.

The contention is that the Transitional Team could have benefitted from a wide-range of people, with various backgrounds and experiences, if the consultations had been wider before the team members were announced.

It may be a very innocuous problem. But it is the multiplicity of such problems that lead to a groundswell of discontent within political party hierarchies, and spills over to the entire nation. The in-coming administration faces several daunting tasks, after the so-called 'Better Ghana' and Transformational agendas only succeeded in promoting cronyism to the highest level, and left may Ghanaians discontented.

The expectations are very high. The promises on the campaign trail convinced many Ghanaians that an administration, run by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would evolve a system that would be a check on corruption, and save state resources for the actual development of the nation and its people.

That is one reason why the President-elect would have to hit the ground running as soon as Nana Akufo-Addo is sworn in on Saturday, January 1, 2017. Having made this observation, The Chronicle would like to take this opportunity to call on Ghanaians to be patient and give more time for the new administration to settle into its stride.

We are uncomfortable with ultimatums at this time when the administration has not even taken power. We learn, with concern, an ultimatum issued by the Concerned Teachers Association, asking the in-coming Akufo-Addo government to resolve the problem of teachers' emoluments within the first 100 days.

Much as every Ghanaian is concerned with the unprofessional manner the out-going administration has toyed with the welfare of teachers and nurses, we do not buy into this ultimatum. In our candid opinion, it would not solve any problem.

We would like to believe that the leadership of the three teacher unions  Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers and the Concerned Teachers Association  would engage the new administration on how to resolve the many problems affecting classroom work.

As a matter of fact, we all have a duty to be patient while the incoming administration takes office and deals with the multitude of problems distorting the quality of life in our beloved Ghana.

It is not for nothing that any in-coming administration is given a honeymoon period of 100 days. Our covenant with the Nana Akufo-Addo regime is to help it succeed!
The Congress defended the decision, saying the BJP has no right to complain when it seeks votes in the name of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Sunday decided that a special break from 12:30 pm till 2 pm will be given to Muslim employees.

By India Today Web Desk: An angry BJP today hit out at the Uttarakhand government's decision to allow its Muslim employees a 90-minute break on Fridays for the special weekly prayers.

"What if the Hindu community says they need two-hour break on Monday for Shiv puja, on Tuesday for Hanumanji and on Sunday for the Sun god?" BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said today.

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"It is unfortunate. It shows that for the sake of votes, the Congress government of Harish Rawat is willing to go to any limits. What is this logic?" Kohli asked.

The Shiv Sena also joined in. "It is a wrong move and an appeasement of minorities. The Shiv Sena MPs will raise this issue in Parliament," the Sena's Manisha Kayande said.

CONGRESS DEFENDS

The Congress defended the decision, saying the BJP has no right to complain when it seeks votes in the name of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

"If it is an election stunt, then one must also see the Rs 1400 crore and 800 tonnes of gold collected for the Ram temple. Did they make the temple?" Uttarakhand Congress chief Kishore Upadhyaya said.

The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Sunday decided that a special break from 12:30 pm till 2 pm will be given to Muslim employees to allow them to offer prayers.

The state goes to polls next year.

Also read: Demonetisation will benefit Muslims, minorities and poor: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Also read: Muslims hold key to electoral outcome in Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls

--- ENDS ---
Tunis (AFP) - Tunisian Interior Minister Hedi Majdoub said on Monday the murder of a Tunisian engineer shot dead last week in his car had been planned abroad by foreigners.

"It is possible that a foreign service is implicated but... we do not yet have any tangible proof," Majdoub told a news conference after attending a security meeting with the prime minister.

But he said that the December 15 murder of Mohamed Zaouari had been planned as far back as June in the Austrian capital Vienna and in the Hungarian capital Budapest.

"At least two foreigners" were involved, he said, adding however that authorities have yet to identify who was behind the shooting.

Zaouari, 49, was murdered at the wheel of his car outside his house in Tunisia's second city Sfax on Thursday. He was hit by 20 bullets.

Al-Qassam Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of Hamas that controls the Gaza Strip, told AFP on Saturday that Zaouari was a drone expert and was killed by "Zionist treachery", referring to Israel.

It said Zaouari had worked for the "resistance" for 10 years.

Israel has made no comment about the Hamas accusation.

On Sunday, the Tunisian government said a probe into the shooting indicated that "foreign elements" were involved, without giving further details.

The prosecution has said that 10 suspects, all Tunisians, have been detained for questioning, including a female journalist, and that authorities have seized four vehicles and two weapons.

Parliament is to meet to discuss the murder of Zaouari, after the government said it was determined to "pursue those guilty of carrying out assassinations inside and outside" the country.

Political parties have called for a protest on Tuesday in central Tunis to denounce the murder, and the engineers' union said it will observe "a day of wrath" on Thursday.
Bronx, NY --Agogo, which is located in the Ashanti Akim District, has a lot of its citizens living outside Ghana. Most of them see that it is incumbent upon them to give something back to the town that saw most of them born and grow. There was the need to pull resources together. This resulted in the formation of various Agogoman Associations around the world. The interesting thing about the Agogoman Associations is that they are encouraged by the unity that exists between the citizens of Agogo in Ghana. The New York Chapter currently sent various items (beds, towels, bed-sheets and children toys) valued at $12,000 to the Agogo Hospital. The second time in 3 years, the items were presented to hospital authorities by the Ashanti Akim District Executive, Mr. Frimpong.

On March, 19th 2005, the New York chapter held an Easter dance in New York City, inviting the other Associations in Washington Metro area, London, Canada, Toronto, Atlantic City, Worcester (MA), and Columbus (OH). It is fair to say that this get-together was to reaffirm the members' commitment to do something for their hometown, Agogo.

Giving the welcome address, Mr Emmanuel Kofi Adu-Boahen (New York Chapter President) stressed on the need to strengthen the educational systems in the town which has produced scholars like; Hon. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu currently the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning. Prior to that portfolio, Hon. Baah Wiredu was the Minister of Education and Sports. He said education is very important in the development of every country. And it is one way to a very successful life.

Mr. Sam Anyang Kusi (Washington Metro Area President) stressed on the need to pull resources together. He mentioned the groups' interest to establish a modern internet cafe/communication center to service the many professionals (Doctors, Nurses, Teachers and paramedicals) resident in Agogo.

Mr. Obeng Mensah (Worcester Chapter President) stressed on the need to forget about the past and focus on the future to put Agogo strongly on the Ghana Map

Mr. Attah Dickson (London Chapter President) spoke about the strength in unity and our willingness to give something to help those who need help.

It is our hope that people will donate generously to make our dreams for Agogo become a reality.

Also present were; Nana Kofi Tuuda and Nana Bonti Marfo of The Agogo Traditional Council, who are also members of this Agogoman Associations.

Mr. CNN was also present to cover the event exclusively for feature on Ghanahomepage.

Ghanaweb commends Agogoman Associations Worldwide for the unity that exist in promoting Agogo on world stage.

A planned fundraising event is in the works so watch this space for more info.
The leader of the deadly Boko Haram terrorist group Abubakar Shekau may have been captured by king of hunters around Gafa Mountain in Borno state.

Boko Haram's leader Shekau finally captured?

According to reports by Daily Sun, there has been speculation about Shakaus capture for over a week.

READ ALSO: Buhari to sack 10 ministers

An highly placed source quoted in the report revealed that troops of the Nigerian army fighting in the area had surround the Gafa Mountain area last week over intelligence report that top Boko Haram leaders were hiding there.

Recall that severally, the Nigerian military had pronounced Shekau either arrested or killed only for the Boko Haram leader to bounce back alive, with YouTube video releases.

The Nigerian army, earlier this year had announced the death of three key commanders of the extremist Boko Haram sect. The army said the terrorists were killed in a major air strike on their location in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.

Also, on May 12, 2014, the DSS, through its former spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, insisted that the man in the videos released by the sect was not the real Shekau.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Saraki, Ali Modu Sheriff hold secret meetings

"Boko Haram has become a franchise; anybody can assume and lay claim to any name. What I know is that the original Abubakar Shekau is dead; the person claiming to be the national leader now is not the original Abubakar Shekau, she had stated.

Efforts to reach Army spokesperson, Col.S.K Usman proved abortive as calls placed to his telephone line were left unanswered. Text message was also not responded to.

The Nigerian Army has since denied knowledge of Shekau's capture. Operation Lafiya Dole commander Lucky Irabor said the Army does not have the insurgent leader in its possession.

Source: Legit.ng
Dear Mr Mavrodi,

Our attention has been drawn to your open letter dated Sunday, December 18, 2016, which contained a series of heavy criticisms to the address of Nigerian journalists. Therefore, as the biggest online news platform in Nigeria, Legit.ng deem it necessary to provide a couple of clarifications below:

First and foremost, let us remind you that Nigeria is not Russia. Nobody can tell Nigerian press and media what to write and what not to write about. Freedom of speech and press is one of the fundamental values of our nation. BTW, in case you missed it, presidents also change in Nigeria by means of democratic elections.

The issue of unbiased coverage has been touched in your appeal. Please understand that the aim of Nigerian online and printed press is to be objective rather than take MMM down. Once your company reaches incredible success, we, as well as our fellow colleagues in other media houses, would be happy to report. Invite us!

However, a sudden stop of operation was considered and interpreted as a collapse. It is not far from truth. Can some of our editors who are a part of the scheme withdraw their money tomorrow? - NO. Do you have a clear and specific date when this can be done? - NO. Can millions of Nigerians who invested their spare cash use it for buying Christmas & New Year presents for their loved ones? - NO.

The question is: what's the root of the panic? Some media reports, or the actions and limiting steps taken by MMM Nigeria without any prior notice? We think the answer what came first is obvious.

So, once you resume after the Yuletide period, we would be pleased to report about it.

Let us finish the open letter with your own words: Leave us [journalists and bloggers] alone and let us work without interference.

Yours,

Bayo Olupohunda

Editor-in-Chief

Source: Legit.ng
India Today's undercover reporters have dredged up shady brokers of Internet laundering network operating in the country. At Delhi's V3S mall, a bitcoin middleman offered to exchange banned physical currency with the virtual.

By Nitin Jain: Cons are posing an invisible cyber threat to the nation's onslaught on black money, pedaling a risk-laden digital currency to tax thieves looking for safe hideouts for their illicit wealth, an India Today investigation has found.

Agents of the unrestricted online bazaar of bitcoins -- virtual money notoriously used by money-launderers and criminals for extortion, drugs and even supari killings -- were found to be facilitating investments from unaccounted wealth into the dark Internet tender, the investigation discovered.

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Bitcoins, which remain beyond the reach of global regulators, are mined by computers, with their prices validated through a public ledger. Also known as crypto-currency, this digital money can be traded to buy and sell merchandise and services.

Created in 2008 under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, bitcoins are stored in a virtual bank account. Users need not give their real name for transactions, which are coded only by wallet IDs.

INTERNET LAUNDERING NETWORK EXPOSED

India Today's undercover reporters have dredged up shady brokers of this Internet laundering network operating in the country.

At Delhi's V3S mall, bitcoin middleman Vijay offered to exchange banned physical currency with the virtual.

Also read: Demonetisation: After Paytm's server hit, how secure are e-wallets in India?

"It will be done through Zebpay at a 20 percent premium. If the current rate is 64 to 65,000 (rupees per bitcoin), assume it will be at least Rs 75,000 (for this deal)," he explained.Zebpay is an exchange for bitcoin trading in India.

"If you want 1,000, you will get them. The repayment will be done in installments, such as Rs 5 lakh or Rs 6 lakh at a time," Vijay added.

He said he would accept the defunct 1,000-rupee bills in exchange for bitcoins.

RBI CAUTIONED TRADERS

The RBI has already warned traders of virtual currencies against legal and financial risks. In 2013, the central bank cautioned such transactions may violate money-laundering and terror-funding laws.

But touts of this secretive network were found to be functioning with impunity to cash in on the scramble for securing the tax loot.

Rahul, another bitcoin broker in Delhi, was heard speaking with another middleman to inquire about India Today's undercover reporter's fictitious investment in digital currency.

Also read: Modi's digital pitch at BJP MPs meet includes an attack on Indira Gandhi

After the call, he asked the journalist to bring the cash in.

"I'll let you know the location and the amount. You get the payment delivered there. In Model Town or Janak Puri," he said. "It will lie in your (digital) wallet. No one would know about it. You can pull it out after two-four months," Rahul said.

STACKING WEALTH IN DIGITAL CURRENCIES

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He admitted how he was helping all kinds of black marketeers to store their dirty wealth in digital currencies, an underhanded trade that has thrived after the Nov 8 demonetisation in India.

As queries from the country grew, the prices surged, rendering bitcoins eight per cent costlier than in the US. India's bitcoin trading is much smaller -- it's Rs five crore a day compared to China R 10,000 crore, America's Rs 2,000 crore.

Nevertheless, the nebulous currency has emerged as a better bet than every major foreign-exchange trade, stock index and commodity contract. The electronic coin that trades and is regulated like oil and gold surged 79% since the start of 2016 to $778, its highest level since early 2014, data shows.

Also read: A month after demonetisation, does plastic money deter crime in cashless economy?

In Faridabad's Sector 29 market, Sarkar, another bitcoin broker, man offered to swap high volumes of revoked currency. "I can get your work done at one go. I have links with the top-level people in India. What else can I say?" he said.

He proposed to sell bitcoins for Rs 9.60 lakh in exchange for banned notes. "Your money will then be safe and secure," Sarkar claimed.

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BITCOIN EXPLAINED IN BULLET POINTS:

How Bitcoins are bought or sold?

Via Bitcoin Exchanges

Bought/Sold Via Different Currencies

Online Transactions

India's Popular App: Zebpay

How Bitcoins are transferred?

Via Mobile Apps

Digitial Transfers

Peer-to-Peer Transactions

Stored in Digital Wallets

How Bitcoins are generated?

Via Internet "Mining"

By Solving Math Puzzles

Limited Circulation

How Bitcoins are black-marketed?

Bought Via Hard Cash

Touts Organize Transfers

Confidential Transactions

Offline Resale In Hard Cash

WATCH VIDEO

--- ENDS ---
In Bargai village of Chhattisgarh, a primary school is not asking for money as fees instead has told parents to plant trees.

By India Today Web Desk: A school in Chhattisgarh has been asking parents to plant trees in lieu of school fee of their children.

In Bargai village of Surguja district, Shiksha Kuteer has come up with a great initiative of not taking money as fees instead parents are being asked to plant trees.

Children in the age group of 3-4 study in this primary school and the school has received a good response from the villagers who are appreciating this move.

Photo: ANI

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"Around 34 children in the age group of 3-4 are studying here. Instead of asking for fees, we have asked the parents to plant trees", the teacher of the school told ANI.

At least 700 saplings have been planted across the village over the last year and if a plant dies then the parents are supposed to plant another in its place, reported Financial Times.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: From K J M Varma

Beijing, Dec 19 (PTI) China and Norway today agreed to normalise political and diplomatic ties after a six-year hiatus over granting the Nobel Peace Prize to a prominent Chinese dissident.

Beijing and Oslo also agreed to immediately resume negotiation on a free trade agreement, which did not materialise in 2010 as China put off the decision to conclude it, in a retaliation for granting the peace prize to jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo.

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende held a meeting here today following which China and Norway reached consensus on normalisation of ties, state- run Xinhua news agency reported.

Li said foreign ministers of the two countries had candid and in-depth talks, and reached an agreement on the normalisation of bilateral ties.

China hopes to work together with Norway to open a new chapter for bilateral ties, and push forward a sustained, healthy and stable growth of relations, Li said.

"I am very pleased that we are today normalising our political and diplomatic relations with China. This gives us a new opportunity to cooperate. We will resume negotiation on a free trade agreement," Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported, quoting Brende as saying in a statement.

According to a joint statement, "the Norwegian government reiterates its commitment to the one-China policy, fully respects Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, attaches high importance to Chinas core interests and major concerns, will not support actions that undermine them, and will do its best to avoid any future damage to the bilateral relations."

However, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in Oslo that "we havent made any concessions but we have engaged in confidence-building work over a long period of time".

The controversy around the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the prominent dissident and events connected to the prize had deteriorated China-Norway relations.

China scaled down its ties with Norway after a vain bid to dissuade it from granting the Nobel prize to Liu, who along with his wife is still languishing in the prison serving an 11-year sentence since 2009 for "inciting subversion of state power".

He was the second after the Dalai Lama to get the Nobel Peace Prize.

While China alleges that the prize is being used to prop up dissidents, the Nobel committee has insisted it is independent of politics.

However, China welcomed Nobel Prize for literature to well-known Chinese writer Mo Yan in 2012.

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Besides being a writer, he is also the prominent literary personality of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC).

China has also imposed restrictions on imports of Norwegian salmon, citing worries that the fish may carry disease. PTI KJV SAI AKJ SAI

--- ENDS ---
- President Buhari declares open Induction Course for Newly Appointed Career Ambassadors at the NIA Headquarters

- The leader of the nation expressed optimism that in 2017 the external factors that partly contributed to push our economy into recession will ebb

- He charged the ambassadors to change the narrative of Nigeria outside the country

President Buhari with newly appointed career ambassadors

President Muhammadu Buhari has on December 19, Monday, said that Nigeria's recession will ease in 2017.

Femi Adesina, presidential media aide, revealed this in a statement made available to newsmen.

The president was speaking in Abuja while declaring open an induction course for Nigerian Career Ambassadors-designate who were recently cleared by the Senate.

Buhari said: We are optimistic that the external factors that partly contributed to push our economy into recession will ebb in 2017. Until then, I regret that the resources available to fund our missions abroad will not be as robust as we would like.

READ ALSO: Buhari under MASSIVE fire over Nigerias economic recession

We are working hard to turn around our national economy by effectively reforming our macroeconomic environment through measures, some of which were outlined in my budget speech to the National Assembly last week.

The leader of the nation reminded the ambassadors-designate that: as we are all making great sacrifices at home, we also expect you to similarly make judicious use of the resources put at the disposal of your missions. As Heads of missions, you will be held accountable for the utilisation of all resources under your control. These are lean times, and all of us are expected to do more with less.

He particularly charged them to change the narrative of Nigeria outside the country by playing up the positive values and outstanding contributions of Nigerians in the global arena.

I want to emphasise your duty to change the narrative of Nigeria as seen by the outside world. For far too long, we have allowed Nigeria to be defined by others, always emphasizing our negatives. To the average foreigner, Nigeria evokes 419, terrorism, militancy, communal and religious clashes, insecurity, corruption and all our other faults, the president said.

You have the duty to correct this narrative by taking the initiative to define and portray our country for what it truly is. We are a nation of 180 million vibrant, enterprising, hardworking, hospitable and peaceful people. We are a remarkable nation that has succeeded in harnessing our multiple diversities as strengths such that we are the leading country on the continent.

Therefore, you will need to mobilise, sensitise and motivate all your staff so that together you engage with your host governments, the private sector and other segments of the society to explain that Nigeria is much more than the negative image portrayed to them.

President Buhari advised them to sustain the work ethic characterized by the love of country, professionalism, excellence, integrity and honour associated with the Nigerian diplomatic tradition established in 1957 by the pioneers of the Nigerian Foreign Service, sometimes referred to as the Twelve Apostles and also bequeath same to succeeding generations. 

As Nigerian Ambassadors, you must set the standard of putting Nigeria first in all your actions. You must show leadership, fairness and justice to all. Discipline, probity, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption must be your watchwords. You are expected to project the best image and traditions of our country in your conduct and all you do.

READ ALSO: Buhari could have stopped economic recession  Pat Utomi

In August, Nigeria 'lost its crown' as the largest economy in the region to South Africa after the International Monetary Fund worked out the sizes of the two economies using current exchange rates.

The news was capped by the announcement on August 31 that Nigeria had officially entered recession after its economy contracted for the second consecutive quarter.

Buhari declares open an induction course for Nigerian Career Ambassadors-designate

Source: Legit.ng
Ask a random group of Americans about their favorite Italian cookies and their responses, though sincere and ardent, will likely begin to blend into one universal chorus of: Rainbow cookiesthose colored, layered cookies  You know, those cookies that look like an Italian flagwait, do Zeppoles count? (For the record, no, they do not count).

Italy is made up of 20 distinctive regions. Within each region, there are countless provinces, smaller cities, and villages that are as I write this, producing some of the most delicious and authentically Italian cookies that often times rarely make it out of their province, never mind all the way across the Atlantic and onto the shelves of a bakery in Akron, Ohio.

A lot of the cookies you find in Italian bakeries actually have no Italian roots, says chef and cookbook author Allison Robicelli. Italian cookies can be very expensive to produce. Most of the traditional recipes Ive discovered contain nuts and/or citrus, which was plentiful in the old country. Not so here. Most Italian bakeries dont make their own cookies. Theyre manufactured by giant factories, bought at wholesale, and resold. Thats what keeps the price down.

These 10 Italian cookies are the pride of their region  and some are such obscure treasures they are hardly known outside of the small towns and villages that gave them life.



The main ingredient in Ortonas citrusy, sultry-tasting Nevole is mosto cotto, unfiltered grape juice that locals make using Montepulciano grapes picked only in September and October (you can use other table grapes but the taste of your cookies will change dramatically). Adding to its exclusivity is the fact that the iron used to create le Nevoles unique design is only manufactured in one place: a town 30 miles from Ortona called La Guarda Grele. The cookies are sold in shops all over Ortona, a municipality of Chieti, but travel a few miles in any direction and you may find locals who have never heard of them. And yet, these are arguably the most significant cookies in this part of Abruzzo. After the war, there was so much poverty and hunger here and this was the only dessert that required just a few ingredients, says Mariapia Zucaro, a baker from San Leonardo, Ortona. The first time I made them I burned my fingers. After some time, they got easier to make  and theyre so good.



Photo by Tom Mancuso

Leave it to the Italians to commemorate the dead on All Souls Day through culinary masterpieces like Ossi Dei Morti, which literally means bones of the dead and are shaped to resemble bones. The key ingredients in this seasonal recipe are sweet almond flour and ground dry almonds that are harvested in autumn. Although this particular recipe is from Piedmont, I risk having my death warrant signed for me if I neglect to mention that Ossi Dei Morti are made all over Italy and that ingredients vary according to region (in Veneto, for example, white wine or potato starch are sometimes used, while some Sicilians prefer coating their cookies in chocolate).

No matter how theyre made, the result is usually a crunchy, airy cookie that pairs well with morning espresso and can be enjoyed all winter long. These were made on November 1 (All Saints Day), but more so to honor our loved ones who had passed, says Brooklyn baker Tom Mancuso. These were also made again around Christmas to ensure that our loved ones were present.



Photo by Livia Iacolare/Flickr

Naples actually has the Greeks to thank for Struffol, one of Italys most popular Christmas cookies and the one most likely to appear in your American bakery. The name comes from the Greek strongulos, which means round and refers to the painstaking, but worthwhile work involved in shaping each ball of flour and egg dough before frying them, coating them in clover or orange blossom honey, and dusting them with lemon and orange zest. It was a family production to make these, Mancuso says. We had an assembly line going: my grandmother Helen would make the dough, my grandmother Anna would cut the dough, I would roll out the dough into long ropes and cut them into small cubes, and my mother would fry them. Once the frying was completed, we used my uncles honey, directly from the hives, to finish them off.



Photo by Liliana Fuchs/Flickr

Zaletti are Venetian cornmeal raisin cookies that get their name from zalo, the Venetian dialect word for yellow. They are traditionally made without sugar and are often paired with dessert wine. Many American recipes, including this one by Mario Batali, include white sugar and eliminate grappa, which you have to assume has been done to appeal to an American palate. Do as they do in Rome (or Venice, in this case) and try the original recipe or adapt it to suit your needs.



Photo by sea turtle/Flickr

I Cuccidati are delightfully pretty Sicilian Christmas cookies that are made with a sweet fig and date filling, chopped hazelnuts and orange zest. Each town in Sicily has a variation on the recipe, and even a different name for it that suits their particular dialect (vurciddatu and cucciddatu are but a few alternate names for this cookie). Bakers may mold them into Christmas shapes, like wreaths or lambs, or keep things simply by cutting them into squares and embellishing them with colorful sprinkles. Calabrians will also recognize i cuccidati as one of their favorite Christmas cookies. Though similar, the Calabrian recipe generally omits dates and honey and adds chocolate chips and sometimes walnuts.



Photo: su-lin/Flickr

Baking dilettantes will love the breezy simplicity of Occhio di Bue, which means bulls eye in Italian and consists of a minimal number of easy-to-find ingredients like egg yolks, apricot jam, cane sugar, flour and butter. These mini cookie sandwiches have become ubiquitous in Italy, but are most prevalent in areas up north like Trentino-Alto Adige, where Occhi di Bue recipes often include almonds and specific brands of flour from the region.



Photo by Dana McMahan/Flickr

Bake a batch of Ancient Roman Honey-Sesame Cookies before the holidays and give guests the most delicious history lesson of their lives. These sweet and crunchy treats date back to the Egyptians and Greeks, but Romans get all the credit for realizing their potential as both a breakfast food and dessert. During the Second Punic War, the early Greeks and Phoenicians brought beekeeping to Rome. These cookies, which vary in shape and size depending on their bakers whimsy (sometimes flat, but more often raised and circular), are just one of the happy results of Romes storied history with bees.



Photo by Wei-Duan Woo/Flickr

Ricciarelli, a soft macaroon cookie made with sugar, honey, almonds and egg whites, is traditionally served at Christmas time and paired with a dessert wine like Moscadello di Montalcino. These cookies originated in 14th century Siena, an area rich in almonds, and make for a particularly ornate and seasonal addition to your dessert table, thanks to a generous dusting of powdered sugar. More often than not, they include grated orange zest, but search and ye shall find modern versions of the recipe by chefs like Jamie Oliver, who adds chocolate to his Ricciarelli cookies.



Photo: Daniele Tenisci

Abruzzo is a magical region sandwiched between the Apennine Mountains and Adriatic Sea. Its proud residents make the most of every natural ingredient they grow, including the main four youll need to whip up Tarallucci Abruzzesi: wine, olive oil, flour and grape jam. Dust each half-moon cookie with powdered sugar and you have the perfect winter treat. Youll find myriad deviations on the cookie in other regions (Calabrias Bocconotti is quite common), but its the wholesome simplicity of Abruzzos Tarallucci that sets it apart.



Photo: Larry/Flickr

The only thing better than the fact that Baci di Dama means ladys kisses in Italian is the fact that this cookies inside spread consists of the most heavenly of trifectas: hazelnuts, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate. Legend has it a pastry chef from the House of Savoy answered the request of Prince Vittorio Emanuele II in 1852 to create a brand new cookie  and these were born using just four ingredients: almonds, chocolate, sugar, and butter. The genius (and amorous) shape of these cookies, no doubt, sealed the deal for the prince.
The election of Donald Trump has caused lots of liberals to go into full-fledged Panic Mode. People are renewing their passports, reading up on the rise of Hitler and the origins of fascism and the fundamentals of totalitarianism, and just generally freaking out. Is Americaover? Is Trumps presidency the beginning of the end of American democracy? Are we all going to be rounded up and sent to tacky, garishly gold-plated internment camps? Especially those of us who write trenchant anti-Trump political commentary on the Internet? Hahahahaha! Of course not! (Right?)

Trumps election is definitely a shock, a trauma to many, and in some ways unprecedented, but in times like these it helps to maintain historical perspective. One of the people who have helped me do this is my friend Mr. Suku Radia, CEO of Bankers Trust, Iowas largest independently held bank.

Suku Radias life story is like something out of a movie. Sukus family is originally from India, but he is a native of Uganda, and came to America as a college student in 1971, the same year in which dictator Idi Amin came to power in Uganda (as depicted in the film The Last King of Scotland, starring Forest Whitaker). In 1972, Amin expelled all of the people of European, Asian and Indian ancestry from Uganda and stole their property. Sukus family was forced to flee for their lives, losing everything but the clothes on their backs, and Suku suddenly found himself stranded in Iowa at age 20, thousands of miles from his family, a young man without a country.

How did he respond to these dreadful events? Well, Suku went to work. He worked his connections in Iowa and found support from Iowa Congressional representatives to get approved for U.S. citizenship, he finished his degree from Iowa State University, and he went to his first day at his first job after graduation with only $4.87 in his pocket. In the years since, Suku has built a tremendously successful business career, serving as the former Managing Partner of the Des Moines office of KPMG, former CFO of Meredith Corporation, and now as the CEO of a regional bank. He and his wife have raised three talented kids and have become significant philanthropists and community leaders. Every weekend Suku devotes a few early morning hours to having coffee with young professionals in Des Moines and offering free advice and career mentoring. Everybody loves Suku; he has become a pillar of the Des Moines community even though his life in America started in desperate circumstances.

I talked with Suku about his perspective on the election of Donald Trump, as an immigrant and as someone who actually went through the terrible experience of losing his home country to authoritarian rule. Suku is feeling more optimistic than you might expect; he helped me feel better about Americas future and I hope hell do the same for you.

Please tell us a bit about your background and life story of leaving Uganda in 1972 in the era of Idi Amin. Did you ever feel unsafe in Uganda before Amin?

I was the fourth generation of an Indian family that had settled in Uganda at the turn of the 20th Century after the completion of the railroad from the coast of Kenya into Uganda; my ancestors were laborers who were recruited from India by the British who had completed a railroad in India earlier using Indian labor. So my family had deep roots in Uganda and it had always felt like our country; we never had any conception that we would ever be unsafe or unwelcome there.

I was already in America attending college at Iowa State University when the Indians were evicted from Uganda by its dictator, Idi Amin, in 1972. I was a second-year student when I received the call from my father. He was in London with my family and they had left Uganda literally with nothing but the clothes on their backs, but most importantly they were all alive and safe.

Suddenly, I was broke and had to chart out a plan to work, save money to pay for my education and graduate in eight quarters. It was a daunting task but in hindsight, I have learned that sometimes, when you are undergoing adversity, you cannot dwell in the past and feel sorry for yourself. Instead, even though you feel for your family, you have to focus on the future.

I had never felt unsafe in Uganda pre-Idi Amin. He was a tyrant but was very popular initially when he seized power through a coup detat. He made all sorts of hollow promises.

How did it feel to go through that experience of your family being expelled from Uganda? How did the process happen where your life went from being a safe, prosperous family in Uganda to having to flee the country?

The eviction of the Indians was a total surprise. Amin initially gave everyone a 90-day eviction notice, but in practice it turned out to be more like 9 days. Several lives were lost and the safety of the country had been destroyed; the country descended into political violence against various ethnic groups and other targeted classes of society. Idi Amin wanted to redistribute the significant wealth of the Indian community to his army so that he could entrench himself in power in perpetuity.

The process of safety eroding in the country going from safe to unsafe was gradual. But it accelerated suddenly, however. At first, nobody paid attention to his eviction order. But then the army started killing selectively based on ethnicity, and the country turned into mayhem.

Some people are worried that Trump will bring a new style of American fascism or totalitarianism for the 21st century, and that Americans of good conscience should be afraid and should start preparing to resist worst-case scenarios such as political violence, tyranny, and ethnic cleansing. Do you feel that these fears of Amin-style tyranny and mayhem happening in America are overblown? What do you see as signs of hope that America can avoid the worst fates of countries like 1972 Uganda that fell into dictatorship and tyranny?

Its important to keep in mind that America does not have some of the disadvantages that those other countries had at their moments of political and social catastrophe. The U.S. political system is very strong. America has had political shocks before, and weve always recovered and kept moving forward. For example, when Nixon resigned, it was one of the worst moments of crisis that the American presidency had ever seen; but still, there was no violence. There was no high-level dispute or military coup or Constitutional uncertainty; instead, the countrys political system and economic systems were resilient and largely stayed at the status quo; the stock market actually went up. Despite the significance of Nixons resignation, our political system was able to withstand the shock.

Trumps surprise election victory is hardly the first time we have been torn asunder. Our country went through a bloody and divisive Civil War and even after those terrible years, and the assassination of President Lincoln, the country quickly started healing and growing again.

1968 was one of the worst years in U.S. history. But even when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated that year, we did not fall apart. Lyndon B. Johnson led the charge on civil rights and voting legislation. Yes, we had riots in the late 1960s but the country was blessed with the presence of Bobby Kennedy who led the reconciliation effort, only to be assassinated a few weeks later. Again, we recovered. Even in the worst moments of U.S. history, democracy prevailed.

Trump may have caused a firestorm over his comments about immigrants, women and Muslims. But there is no way that I foresee our system allowing him to do anything to destroy our democracy. Sure, he will likely rant and rave but his powers are limited. The real power resides within the Supreme Court, which has power to decide upon the Constitutionality of the laws, and Congress which has power of the purse to actually spend money to activate government policy. We havent elected a dictator; we have elected a president. And the U.S. system has strong checks on the power of the president to prevent a dictator from arising here.

Youre an immigrant and youve done so many great things in America. Most research that Ive seen suggests that the economic benefits of immigration far outweigh the costs; even aside from the intangible cultural benefits. What message would you like to send to the American public today on behalf of immigrants, in this present moment when many immigrants might be feeling uncertain, unwelcome, or even under attack?

My message to America on behalf of my fellow immigrants is simple. Most of us are not murderers and rapists. America is facing a critical labor shortage in multiple industries and sectorssome lower-skilled jobs like farm labor and home health care, some higher-skilled jobs like engineering and information technologywhich will be largely filled by immigrants. On a net-net basis, immigrants add to the economy. Immigrants tend to be exceptionally hard workers who do demanding jobs in areas where labor is in high demand, who start businesses that create jobs for other Americans, who pay taxes to fund our public services, and who create a richer cultural fabric for our society with food, music, and more. We are not here being freeloaders, relying on welfare and food stamps, unlike what people like Trump might say.

Its true that I had only $4.87 to my name when I graduated at the top of my class at Iowa State University. Ive always been grateful to my friends and to the people who have become my family, through marriage to my wife, here in Iowa and all over America, and I have always tried to make a difference and be generous to my adopted home. I like to think that I have contributed and donated and generated much more positive impact for America than I ever cost by being an immigrant here. And I believe that this is true for almost every immigrant in America. Just by being here and working at their jobs and raising families, they are making a positive difference that is worth much more than the costs. We need to remind ourselves of this.

Do you feel like in the current political climate, with so many U.S. politicians expressing unwillingness to accept refugees from Syria or demanding to restrict immigration from troubled countries in the Middle East, that perhaps a young person in your situation today might not even be allowed to stay in the U.S.? How have you been feeling about the recent climate in the U.S. and the recent debate?

Despite the rhetoric from politicians, I believe that America at heart is not a nation of unwelcoming people. There are always a few who do not embrace immigrants or minorities but I believeeven though this election campaign and the result has emboldened some of the worst of these peopleon the whole, their voice is diminishing.

I recognize that certain refugee cohorts are unwelcome. I wish that more of Americas leaders would recognize that, at the very core, we are all immigrants. And I believe that this situation will get better. Even the Syrian refugees will be welcome over time. We are a nation of decent people. In every community, we are always going to have a few bad apples. I just hope we do not make rash judgments. Instead, we have to welcome and assimilate these minorities into our overall community and our shared American experience.

I am a huge subscriber of Tocquevilles Democracy in America, which was written almost 200 years ago but is still relevant today. Tocqueville was studying America as a positive example compared to France, which had seen its young democracy fall into chaos and bloodshed and dictatorship (by Napoleon Bonaparte). In the book, Tocqueville discusses how, although the American Constitution is strong and worthy of praise, what truly plays the greatest role in the protection of freedom is the habits of mind of the American people. Tocqueville was French but he was a big admirer of American democracy and he was optimistic about the overall project of Americas development, despite the problems and challenges and injustices of his time. I share Tocquevilles optimism, still today. Over time, America tends to persevere, correct its mistakes, and gradually become a fairer and more inclusive place for everyone.

What should Americans who are concerned about our countrys future with regard to immigration, inclusion, and cultural diversity do now? Is American democracy strong enough to handle whats coming next?

Its important to maintain perspective that this election was a choice between two individuals who were widely disliked. One candidate had a history of questionable business ethics and lawsuits against him, and the other candidateduring the campaignwas under active investigation by the FBI. For many people who voted for Trump, this was not a vote for Trump as much as it was a vote against Hillary. Had a different Democrat run against Trump, such as Joe Biden, I believe that the Democrats would have won the White House quite decisively.

As for what to do next: we have to speak up and be heard. Our elected officials need to hear from us. If we cannot take the time to be heard, shame on us. Rest assured, I am going to ramp up my efforts to be heard.

On the whole, I am an optimist. The fate of Uganda under Idi Amin will not befall America. Our system of government and our institutions of civil society are stronger than that. Ultimately the spirit of decency in the hearts of the vast majority of the American people is more powerful and more generous than the ugly and mean-spirited tone of this campaign. I am convinced that Trump will soon find himself accountable to the will of the people. Hang in there!
While President-Elect Donald Trump has been an absolute horror showhate crimes spiked in the wake of his election, his picks for the Cabinet have been universally terrifying, and he seems to have little to no interest in actually governingthere have been some silver linings to his ascendancy to the nations highest office.

Here are five.

Romney was one of Trumps harshest critics during the campaign. The former governor of Massachusetts and failed contender for the presidency in 2012 railed against Trump throughout 2016. His speech on March 3 against then-contender for the GOP nomination was full of snide criticism and distaste, mocking Trumps business acumen and calling the real estate mogul out for his lies.

Heres what I know, Romney said. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University.

But Romney, whose campaign in 2012 relied on dog whistles and a full embrace of the worst of conservatism embodied in his pick for Vice President Paul Ryan, came crawling to Trump when the job of Secretary of State was available. Trump indicated that Romney might get the position and Romney dined with him, took meetings with him, and sang his praises outside of Trump Tower.

Of course, Romney never had a prayer. Trump announced Rex Tillerson, former CEO of Exxon Mobil, as his pick last week.

Watching Romney grovel in front of Trump was an enjoyable spectacle.

A quixotic attempt to deny Trump the presidency through the Electoral College has led to a number of concerned citizens calling for a movement of Hamilton Electors to vote against their states winner. The logicas far as there is anyto this movement is that its what Alexander Hamilton would do.

And thats true! Hamilton wasnt a fan of the people electing their leaders directly. His elitism precluded allowing the citizens total enfranchisement. Thats not really a good thing, despite the attempts of anthropomorphized 1980s rap cliche Lin-Manuel Miranda to rewrite Hamiltons story.

Even if thwarting the will of the people, which is arguable in light of the popular vote totals, was the correct route to take, the Hamilton Electors have suggested two terrible replacements: the aforementioned Romney and John Kasich. Romneys lack of principles in the face of power is detailed above, while Kasich is Trump rewritten politely: same policies, genteel delivery.

So why is this a silver lining? Because it proves that moderate liberals and conservatives dont care about actual policy or democracy. They only want to see their preferred candidate in office. It doesnt matter what those candidates do, it only matters how they do it. Its a revealing look at the exact class of people who got us into this mess.

Christie must have thought he had struck gold on election night. One of the first of Trumps primary opponents to endorse the billionaire, Christie had stuck close to Trump throughout the general election and defended him on numerous occasions as scandal after scandal rocked the Trump campaign.

Christie was put in charge of Trumps transition team before election day, mostly as a ceremonial position for an event nobody realistically thought would happen. Once Trump was elected, however, Christie was stripped of his position and kicked out of the inner and even the outer circles of Trumps orbit.

It all comes down to Christies grandstanding prosecution of Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushners father for tax evasion, fraud, and illegal campaign contributions a decade ago. Not merely content with arresting Charles Kushner, Christie perp-walked the real estate magnate in front of cameras, humiliating him.

The arrest and prosecution of the elder Kushner launched Christies political career; Christies embrace of the younger Kushners father-in-law destroyed it. A poetic end.

If Christie was loyal, Giuliani was fanatical. The former Mayor of New York City was Trumps most die-hard surrogate on the campaign trail, defending his friend from all manner of righteous, fact based attacks.

His speech at the Republican National Convention was equal parts a horror show, a comedy, and a glimpse into the befuddled mind of an elderly man losing touch with reality. His glasses-askew grumpiness in response to mockery from Hillary Clinton at the Al Smith Dinner in October solidified his reputation as a man about whom something was a little off.

Giuliani made no secret that he wanted the Secretary of State position, lobbying on news media and in person. Slowly but surely, however, the Trump team forced the Mayor out of the running and out of the Tower. The defeat was final in an interview with Neil Cavuto, in which a deflated Giuliani tried to put a brave face on the fact that he had been publicly rejected from any position in the Trump White House.

Its hopefully the last well hear from Giuliani, who rode a wave of popularity stemming from being the Mayor of New York City during the 9/11 attacks for 15 years. The dubbing of Giuliani as Americas Mayor after the event was particularly difficult to watch for anyone who had any knowledge of his tenure in New York, punctuated by a full throated defense of the NYPD no matter what they did including shooting Amadou Diallo 41 times as he reached for a sandwich and torturing Abner Louima in a prison cell.

Hold on hear me out.

The next four years are going to be hell. Its going to be a fight unlike any other weve ever known to stop the assault on our values, our environment, and our marginalized brothers and sisters. But its only going to be four years.

If Trump had lost, wed be looking at four years of Clinton. That would mean a neutered left and a surging reactionary right wing. After four years of Clinton, the country would look the same as it looks now. Good economic numbers, little actual economic benefits for the people in the country. The people would want change more than they do now, after 36 years of failed neoliberalism.

And Clinton would face a challenge from someone like Ted Cruz, who is far, far more dangerous than Trump. He knows how to get things done. Hes smart. He could be a much greater threat than Trump.

Trumps presidency wont get another term. Already, hes losing his base of supporters with his Cabinet picks and coziness with Wall Street and big business. Four years of the kind of corruption and ineptitude a Trump administration will bring to the country will ensure that he serves one term and that his toxic politics wont survive re-election.

As long as we dont all die in nuclear annihilation first.

You can reach Eoin Higgins on Facebook and Twitter.
By PTI: Kathmandu, Dec 19 (PTI) A delegation from Chinas ruling Communist party has called on Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari and discussed the bilateral relations here, days after Beijing provided Rs 15.80 billion to the Himalayan nation for post-quake reconstruction activities.

The meeting between the President and Communist Party of China (CPC) delegation led by their Chief of Publicity Department Liu Qibao took place at the presidential residence Sheetal Niwas here yesterday.

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The team discussed the current bilateral relations.

The leaders also discussed about taking the bilateral relations to a more harmonious and stronger level, according to a press statement issued by the Presidents office.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong was also present.

China has provided Rs 15.80 billion to Nepal for post- quake reconstruction activities after a Cabinet meeting on December 11 decided to accept the grants worth Nepalese Rupees 15.80 billion provided by China.

China on December 9 launched a new cargo service linking Tibet and Nepal as dozens of trucks carrying goods worth USD 2.8 million left the Tibetan border port of Gyirong en route to Kathmandu.

The new rail and road cargo service linking Guangdong, Tibet and Nepal aims to boost trade with the South Asian neighbour as China pushes forward its Belt and Road (Silk Road) initiative.

It was the first such consignment being sent to Nepal after the new Prachanda government took over from his pro-China predecessor K P Sharma Oli, who had signed the transit trade deal with Beijing in March this year in a bid to reduce Nepals dependence on India despite it being expensive due to the mountainous terrain. PTI SBP CPS AKJ CPS

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A Russian ambassador was assassinated in Turkey today. Nobody knows what happens next.

Audrey G. Karlov was shot from behind by a single gunman, allegedly an off-duty Turkish policeman, Mevlut Altintas. Three other persons were apparently injured during the mans attack. The entire event was recorded on video.

The surroundingsa gallery in Ankara, the Turkish capitalonly added to the unreal atmosphere of the crime. The first pictures of the gunman, his victim, and the terrified onlookers looked very much like a performance piece, or the cover of a thriller novel. The head photos in the New York Times showed the suit-clad shooter standing on a polished white floor in a room with walls the color of bleached bone, his victims body sprawled out on the ground like a child making a snow angel.

The public event that provided a stage for the execution strangely echoed the crime. Karlov was struck down while giving a speech. He was opening an art exhibition which featured Turkish paintings about Russia. Russia Through Turks Eyes was the title. The exhibition was an education, all right. The world learned exactly what one pair of Turkish eyes sees when it looks at Russia.

In one sense, like any political assassination, this was political theater of the most obscene kind. The gunman had scripted lines he shouted after the attack. Tim Arango and Rick Gladstone wrote in the Times:

The gunman, wearing a dark suit and tie, was seen in video footage of the assault shouting in Arabic: God is great! Those who pledged allegiance to Muhammad for jihad. God is great! Then he switched to Turkish and shouted: Dont forget Aleppo, dont forget Syria! Step back! Step back! Only death can take me from here.

In his last sentence, if nowhere else, the man was correct. Death took him from there, in a shootout by the Turkish Special Forces. He and his victim died in the same way on the same day. Assassination is that rare crime which tends to rebound immediately on its advocates.

What does this mean for the world? These are strange times. The headline and its details ring an eerie familiarity in the ear. The outlinean ambassador of the Russian state killed by a Turk, plotting, a dead man, public exhibition, a capitalmight have come from a newspaper during my grandfathers childhood. Change a few details, and this story could have been telegraphed in from 1914.

Lets cut to the chase: will there be war between two powers? Almost certainly not. President Erdogan of Turkey and President Putin of Russia agreed in public statements that the assassination was an attempt to spoil peace talks. Russia, a decaying petro-oligarchy run by a hacker-loving strongman, cannot project force very far, but it is not shy about deploying the influence it has. Turkey, which recently suffered an attempted coup, is an American ally.

Still, it shows how quickly the Syrian conflict has embroiled the rest of the world. The same noise echoing from the ruined walls of Aleppo can now be heard in a clean, well-lighted room in Ankara.

Turkey is a Sunni nation which has been encouraging Sunni fighters in Syria. Syria is a country led by a Shia minority, who fight with the Sunnis. During the tumult of the Syrian Civil War, chaos reigned and the government lost control of its territory. This allowed for ISIS, a radical Sunni group, to seize control of big sections of Syria and some of Iraq.

America and Russia both want ISIS gone. They agree on that. However, Russia wants Assad to stay (they have a naval base in Syria they want to keep). America and other the Western nations want Assad to go. They dont like Assad, but they really, really dont like the radical Sunni groups which make up, and are allied with, ISIS. This created, and still creates, tension between Turkey and the Russians.

The West eventually decided that ISIS was a much more significant problem than Assad. The U.S. has pressured Turkey to step back its support for Sunni groups. As a result, Turkey and Russia began to make peace. Sort of. There have been constant protests about Russian involvement in the demolishing of Aleppo  which is just thirty-six miles of Turkeys border. Passions are running high.

A diplomat of a sovereign power being killed in a foreign capital is an outrage, no two ways about it. But during a crisis which has rendered borders meaningless, where the fortune of war and the suffering of refugees make mockery of national boundaries, it makes no sense to speak of lines being crossed. All of the lines have already been crossed; trouble flaunts every border, both personal and national. The great migration, and todays tragedy, shows us our neighbors concern is still our own.
Cohen and Peters Trail Czuczor At 6-Handed PokerStars EPT Prague Final Table

December 18, 2016 Christian Zetzsche Contributor

The penultimate day of the record-breaking 2016 PokerStars European Poker Tour 5,300 Main Event saw just 18 hopefuls out of a 1,192-entry strong field return to the tables of the Hilton Hotel in Prague. Jasper Meijer van Putten led the survivors into Day 5 and the Dutchman will return tomorrow. However, it's Marton Czuczor that takes the spotlight overnight after the official six-handed final table was set.

Czuczor bagged up 9,710,000, followed by David Peters with 8,880,000. The duo has established a solid lead over the rest of the field; Sergei Petrushevskii follows in third with 5,265,000 and Sam Cohen (4,520,000), Meijer van Putten (3,815,000) and Marius Gierse (3,550,000) complete the final table lineup.

Seat Name Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Jasper Meijer van Putten Netherlands 3,815,000 31 2 Sam Cohen United States 4,520,000 37 3 Marton Czuczor Hungary 9,710,000 81 4 Marius Gierse Germany 3,555,000 29 5 Sergei Petrushevskii Russia 5,265,000 43 6 David Peters United States 8,880,000 74

The first player to join the rail on Day 5 was Martin Kabrhel. Similar to the previous days, the Czech was very vocal at the tables and three-bet almost his entire short stack after an open-raise by Stefan Fabian. The latter called and a paired king-high board was checked through. Fabian shoved when a seven appeared on the turn and Kabrhel eventually called it off with ace-jack. Fabian turned over seven-eight suited and sent Kabrhel packing after the river was a blank.

The Czech was very vocal at the tables and three-bet almost his entire short stack after an open-raise by Stefan Fabian



Jukka Paloniemi followed next when he shoved his jack-ten into the ace-king of Cohen. An ace on the flop and a jack on the turn kept the better hand preflop in the lead and Paloniemi had to settle for 17th place.

Right after the last 16 were redrawn, two players were eliminated on the feature table in quick succession. Josip Vidovic moved in from under the gun with king-queen suited and Janos Kurtosi reshoved with ace-king. The board ran out jack-high. The last remaining Team PokerStars Pro, Brazil's Felipe Ramos, followed soon after. Ramos three-bet shoved for just under 10 big blinds with king-queen and the ace-jack of initial raiser Kurtosi stayed ahead on another jack-high board.

Fabian ran out of chips in 14th place. The Romanian tried to bluff David Lopez Llacer off a straight, but that didn't work. Lopez called and Fabian only had ace-nine to show for. Down to less than three big blinds, Fabian called all in with queens after a raise by Czuczor. The latter had just king-queen suited to show for but spiked a king on the flop to send Fabian home.

Apostolos Bechrakis was out of the tournament next. His open-shove with ten-eight diamonds for around nine big blinds from the button saw Lopez Llacer pick up ace-queen in the small blind, Bechrakis was drawing dead on the turn when a queen appeared.

Andrew Hulme had to settle for 12th place after his stack was reduced to zero in back-to-back hands. He first check-raised all in after a seven-high flop with five-eight suited for middle pair and a gutshot. Petrushevskii called with seven-eight suited for top pair and the same gutshot; both turn and river brought a queen and Hulme had under three big blinds left. One hand later, Petrushevskii raised the button with queens. Hulme called all in with king-four. Lopez Llacer had nine-five suited and the board was checked down to see Petrushevskii finish the job he started in the previous hand.

In the same level still, the unofficial final table of the last nine was set. Cohen raised enough from the small blind to set Cristinel Dumitru all in and the latter called with ace-deuce suited in the big blind. Cohen only had queen-jack suited, but spiked a jack on the flop and turn. Over on the outer table, Gang Wang defended his big blind and ultimately shoved for more than three times the pot on an ace-high board with a possible flush after three hearts on the flop. Czuczor called with ace-five for two pair and Wang was caught with pocket jacks.

Down to the last nine, Czuczor was in the lead. Peters closed the gap by eliminating Kurtosi in the small blind after turning a flush with king-queen suited. Kurtosi fired the turn and shoved the river of an ace-high board with jack-ten suited for a busted straight draw to bow out in ninth place.

The stack of Kiryl Radzivonau had been reduced to just 13 big blinds when he three-bet shoved into an open-raise by Czuczor and the latter had an easy call with pocket kings. Radzivonau only had pocket nines and found no help on a dry ten-high board.

Ultimately, it was Lopez Llacer who became the last casualty of the day. Petrushevskii had doubled through Peters with kings versus ace-king and the final seven were about to go on dinner break when the Spaniard three-bet an open raise by Peters and received a call. The flop came queen-high with a flush draw and Peters check-called a continuation bet before a deuce on the turn saw a check of Peters. The shove of Lopez Llacer and the call by the American followed. Lopez Llacer showed nine-eight suited for a double gutshot, while Peters had ace-queen suited for top pair. The river was another deuce and brought Day 5 to an end.

All remaining six players have 145,900 guaranteed, but all eyes are set on the first-place payout of 774,600. Here's what's up for grabs on the final day:

Position Prize 1 774,600 2 554,700 3 397,300 4 284,550 5 203,800 6 145,900

Action will resume on Monday at noon local time with cards-up livestream on a security delay of 60 minutes. The blinds will be 60,000/120,000 with a running ante of 20,000.

The PokerNews live reporting team will provide hand-for-hand coverage of the action until a winner is crowned. On top of that, you can also follow the updates of the final day of the record-breaking 10,300 High Roller event.

Start of day chipleader Jasper Meijer Van Putten is one of the shorter stacks to return on the final day

Sharelines Just 6 remain as Sam Cohen and David Peters trail Marton Czuczor.
St. Louis-based organization recognizes Pennsylvania officer's dedication with award

By: The Travelers Protective Association

Cpl. Joseph D. Akers, TPA Police Officer of the Year

Contact

Rochelle Brandvein

***@brandveinpr.com Rochelle Brandvein

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-- The Pennsylvania Division of the Travelers Protective Association (TPA), a fraternal benefit society, recently presented its Police Officer of the Year award to Corporal Joseph D. Akers, who is the current supervisor of the state police Troop F's crime unit in Montoursville, Penn. This is the 20th annual award to be given to a county law enforcement officer.Akers is a dedicated state policeman who has 22 years of experience as a criminal investigations officer. He most recently was in charge of one of the largest murder cases in Lycoming County Pennsylvania. Akers is a veteran of the United States Army, serving six years on active duty and 10 years in the reserves. During that time he participated in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and the invasion of Panama.Pictured from left to right are Cpl. Joseph D. Akers and Marie H. McGee, chairwoman of TPA's Police Officer of the Year event.Founded in 1890, TPA's national headquarters is located at 2041 Exchange Dr. in St. Charles, Mo. TPA offers fraternalism to its members, as well as participates in safety projects and community service. The Association provides accident, disability and death benefits to both its members and their beneficiaries. The Association is licensed in 29 states.Established in 1975, the organization's Scholarship Trust for the Hearing Impaired provides financial aid to those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Grants are used for mechanical devices, medical and specialized treatment, and education that includes speech classes and interpreters. To date the trust has distributed over $2 million to approximately 5,200 recipients.TPA established the Homer T. Wilson Fund, which provides emergency financial aid and is designated for indigent members, widows, widowers and orphans. The Association is also involved with Children Have An iDentity (CHAD), a local and national level safety sticker program."Cpl. Akers is a true example of a hero and a role model," said TPA's Chief Administrative Office Albert M. Shoemaker, Jr. "We are proud to recognize him for his dedication, as well as his outstanding commitment, to both his community and his peers."For more information, call (636) 724-2227 or visit the website at http://www.tpahq.org
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group, has signed a Syndicated Murabaha term sheet for supporting Suriname's economic development

By: comma

PIC itfc

Contact

comma PR

***@commapr.com comma PR

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-- through financing strategic imports. The signing took place during the visit of H.E. Gillmore Hoefdraad, Minister of Finance of Suriname & IDB Governor at the ITFC Headquarters in Jeddah where he had signed the term sheet with Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO ITFC.The US$30 million operation, in favor of Suriname is for financing the agricultural, medical and industrial sectors. Supplies that will be purchased under this transaction includes basic goods, raw material for production of the basic goods, inputs for the agriculture sector in addition to medicine and medical supplies.Commenting on the signing, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol said, "This trade financing is at the heart of ITFC's role in supporting the development of strategic commodities that underpin a nation's economic welfare and thus provide sustainable livelihoods to a significant proportion of the population."Moreover, ITFC is indirectly contributing to the social welfare of Surinamese and contributing to reducing unemployment.From his side, H.E Gillmore Hoefdraad commended the role of the IDB Group in Suriname's socio-economic development. He also added that Suriname relies heavily on imports for consumption;this operation will benefit all economic sectors. "Sustaining these imports is of strategic importance to the economic development of the country."It is worth mentioning that the IDB Group has provided operations amounting to USD145 million for the health, education and transport sectors.The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation is an autonomous entity within the Islamic Development Bank Group, created with the purpose of advancing trade, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving socioeconomic condition of the people across the Islamic world. ITFC has consolidated all the trade finance businesses that was previously handled by various windows within IDB Group. It commenced operations in Muharram 1429H (January 2008G). The consolidation of IDB Group's trade finance activities under a single umbrella enhanced the Corporation's efficiency in service delivery by responding swiftly to customer needs in a market-driven business environment.As a leader in Shari'ah-compliant trade finance, ITFC deploys its expertise and funds to businesses and governments in its Member Countries. Its primary focus is to encourage more intra-trade among OIC member countries. As a member of IDB Group, ITFC has unique access to member countries' governments and it works as a facilitator to mobilize private and public resources towards achieving its objectives of fostering economic development through trade. The Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools in order to help them compete successfully in the global market. www.itfc-idb.org
By: Shaun M Jooste

Celenic Earth Trilogy

Contact

Celenic Earth Publications

***@gmail.com Celenic Earth Publications

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-- WELCOME TO A WORLD OF MIGHT, MAGIC AND MYSTICAL CREATURESWhen each edition of the three fantasy novels were published, they were released separately in print and ebook formats.Finally, this first Volume of the Shadowolf series is complete within a trilogy pack. Now you can enjoy all three epic fantasy novels in one bound volume and read it straight after each other.#TEASERS BELOW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS#WINDFARER: Journey with Shadowolf in a fantasy world where the natural elements are harnessed by humans. A prisoner by the name of Mercius who has mastered the element of air has escaped. Aligning with the dark lord Le'Mar, Mercius sets his sights on releasing the ultimate power node, prophesied only to be released by a Windfarer during the Masaran Phenomenon. While engaged in the war that Le'Mar has brought to Celenic Earth, Shadowolf discovers that he may be the only one who can stop the evil mage.DRAGONRIDER:The Dragon War has been brought by Le'Mar to Celenic Earth. After being missing for two years, having been taken by the Dragon King to their world, the time has come to return home. Shadowolf engages with the former members of the Shadow Clan, his most trusted friends and allies. Together, they must bring together the forces of the humans, elves and dwarves to take another stand against the dark lord and his elite DragonRider, Sonersaat. Le'Mar is hellbent on becoming the ultimate master of the elements, known as the Sadgi, and becoming ruler of Celenic Earth and Shadowolf will do everything in his new power to stop him.SADGI: Shadowolf returns once again to his home in Celenic Earth and sees just how absolute Le'Mar's rule has become. Having discovered the true power of the elements, he visits his loved ones and comrades. Their fighting spirit has dissipated in the dark lord's pervasive fog on the land that forbids the use of elemental magic among humans. Somehow, Shadowolf must rally all the races and creatures of Celenic Earth for one last battle, hoping to prove that he is the one true Sadgi, and master of all five elements. This time, he is taking the fight to Le'Mar.***### REVIEWS AND PRAISE ###***"Jooste's imagination has depth of both scale and scope, with parallels between this imaginary world and the real world, characterised by an interesting contrast between the industrialised evil forces and the 'natural' forces of good" Thomas Jeffery; NELM News 49, Dec 2008: National English Literary Museum of South Africa"Fans of high fantasy such as Tolkien, Terry Brooks or David Eddings will be well pleased with Jooste's first novels and foray into the popular genreHe is finding his rhythm and style, doing a great job of making the reader care for the hero and characters; these books will be in my rotation of heavily reread fantasy novels in my bookshelf."Ellen Hotchkiss; Feb 2009: Lecturer, Milledgeville, Georgia"If you are looking for an epic, sweeping expanse fantasy book to read, then this is it. Congratulations to Shaun Jooste for entering the world of print in the fantasy genre with a tale that will be picked up again and again just so I can immerse myself into his richly described world that is Celenic Earth."C Melrose; Goodreads review; Jan 2016: Writer, Perth, AustraliaAvailable at your local online Amazon store: http://amzn.to/ 2dOdT0L
Ascension Parish Public Schools upgrades to the latest NOVAtime 5000 SaaS Workforce Management Solution and replaces damaged time clocks from the 2016 Louisiana Floods.

NT7000 Smart Time Clock / Kiosk

Contact

BRIAN MEHARRY

***@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, is proud to announce that it has supported its client, Ascension Public Schools, by upgrading their NOVAtime software to the most up-to-date NOVAtime 5000 SaaS Workforce Management / Time & Attendance System and donating smart time clocks to replace clocks damaged from the 2016 Louisiana Floods.Ascension Parish Public Schools is a school district headquartered in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. With over 2,500 employees, 28 schools, and several other facilities, Ascension Public Schools needed a complete solution to track their large workforce. They selected the NOVAtime 4000 SaaS solution with 173 NT450 and 12 NT7000 biometric smart clocks. These clocks are able to quickly read an employee's fingerprint to allow them to punch in and out, access their timesheets, view schedules, and more.Jessica Geason, Ascension Parish School Board's Chief Accountant, says, "One of the best features of the NOVAtime system is its ability to allow employees to request time off. The NOVAtime solution not only supports leave requests with full approval workflow and audit trail, but also enables employees to view their accrual balances and usage history in real-time."This past August, when severe flooding affected a large portion of Louisiana, Ascension Public Schools was caught in the affected area. Several of the schools and one school warehouse were made inoperable by the rising water.NOVAtime wanted to help; NOVAtime connected the Ascension Parish School Board with the Tzu Chi Foundation, a Buddhist non-profit organization which has worked closely with NOVAtime in the past on other aid efforts. The Tzu Chi Foundation, which had mobilized their resources and were already volunteering their time in Louisiana for flood relief efforts, seized the opportunity to help. The Advocate states that Tzu Chi distributed $500 cash cards to 262 affected families!NOVAtime added their own personal touch with a donation of 12 NT7000 smart time clocks, 20 NT450 time clocks, and upgrading Ascension Public Schools' existing NOVAtime system to NOVAtime 5000, NOVAtime's most up-to-date offering which expands system features. Ms. Geason adds, "While times here are still chaotic, we look forward to learning and utilizing more of NOVAtime 5000's features in the future."As a company that believes in humanitarian efforts, NOVAtime is humbled to be able to offer help in some way, especially to a client whose mission statement is to help make "every child successful in an ever-changing world."Ascension Parish School Board uses Alio Payroll System for their payroll process.NOVAtime is headquartered in Diamond Bar, California, and has become the leader in integrating Time and Attendance Management with Human Resource and Payroll systems. Known for its scalable and leading-edge software and hardware technology, NOVAtime has been selected as the preferred Time and Attendance / Workforce Management solution provider by many of the best-managed companies in the world. For more information on NOVAtime, please visit http://www.novatime.com or call 877.486.6682.Original news published here at http://www.prweb.com/ releases/2016/ 12/prweb13923767.htm
Alexei Lukashev, PhD, General Manager, Awarded First Place in Russian Speaking Entrepreneur of the Year Competition

By: Stemedica International

Contact

David Cheatham, MBA

Business Manager

dcheatham@stemedica.com

+41 (0) 78 794 7232 David Cheatham, MBABusiness Manager+41 (0) 78 794 7232

End

-- Stemedica International, S.A., a Swiss company that uses its proprietary allogeneic stem-cell therapies for Alzheimer's disease, announces that it has won the covetedSwiss Entrepreneurship 2016 Award. The event was held at the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne. It was attended by over 250 dignitaries from Switzerland, Europe and Russia.This award was created bymagazine in 2014 and is granted by a distinguished jury of Swiss and foreign business leaders residing in Switzerland. Favorit, published by Swiss company Editions Mancassola, is the leading publication for the Russian speaking community established in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.Alexei Lukashev, PhD, General Manager of Stemedica International, was awarded first place in the Favorit Russian Speaking Entrepreneur of the Year Competition. Dr. Lukashev was born and raised in Moscow and graduated from the Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology, after which he worked as a researcher for the Russian Academy of Sciences with the Nobel Laureate Alexander Prokhorov. In the late nineties, he moved to the United States where he advanced his career in the laser and semiconductor industries as well as expanding his horizons into the field of medical biotechnology heading the Laser Stem Cell Division at Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. (San Diego).Dr. Lukashev's first visit to Switzerland was in 2011, during which he re-connected with his long-term collaborator, Professor Theo Lasser, from his tenure at the Russian Academy of Sciences. He and Professor Lasser of the Laboratory of Biomedical Optics, Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne (EPFL)combined Dr. Lukashev's expertise in stem cells and medical products commercialization and Lasser's experience in biomedical imaging of small animals to start proof-of-concept studies. In 2012, together they secured a Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) grant for research on stem cells for Alzheimer's disease in animals as Dr. Lukashev and his colleagues focused Stemedica International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stemedica (USA), on the use of stem cells to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The company has since grown to include skilled researchers, business personnel and students interested in the field.Scientific data from pre-clinical research obtained through the collaboration between EPFL and Stemedica International was so impressive that in 2015, Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. applied and received permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a clinical trial titled A Phase IIa Study of Allogeneic Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Subjects with Mild to Moderate Dementia Due to Alzheimer's Disease. This trial is underway in the U.S. and first patients have been enrolled at the University of California, Irvine."Stemedica International is very pleased to receive this prestigious award. We are grateful to the organizers and jury for their recognition of the importance of our work in developing a new approach for this devastating disease," says Dr. Lukashev. "Our Phase IIa clinical trial has begun enrollment and we are hopeful that our stem cell approach may be able to halt or slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease and, maybe, have some reverse effect on the damage caused by Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia."More information about this important clinical trial including enrollment details, can be found at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ct2/show/NCT02833792? term=stemedica&rank=1 About Stemedica International S.A.Stemedica International S.A. is a biotechnology company that develops therapeutic applications for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. The company is a subsidiary of Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc., a global biotechnology company that manufactures adult allogeneic stem cells. Stemedica International has the worldwide rights to manufacture and distribute its parent company's allogeneic, ischemia-tolerant mesenchymal stem cell (itMSC) and ischemia-tolerant neural stem cell (itNSC) lines and stem cell factors for Alzheimer's disease. The company also has Swissmedic licenses to import, export and distribute Stemedica Cell Technologies' cell lines worldwide for human use in approved clinical trials. Manufactured in compliance with cGMP standards, the stem cell lines have a unique, proprietary technology based on the expansion of cells in constant hypoxia, which provides critical benefits in terms of safety, efficacy and scalability. For more information, visit www.stemedica- intl.com Forward Looking StatementsThis press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the views of Stemedica as of the date of this press release with respect to future events and, except as required by law, it undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release.
Howard Siegler, Medical Correspondent for Noticias.CR, prepares to select the destination of his next International Dental Mission. He seeks participants, funding and media attention to further help the needy around the globe with their dental care.

Media Contact

Juan Osorno M.

***@noticias.cr

22677638 Juan Osorno M.22677638

End

-- Johns Hopkins M.B.A. and recognized dental tourism expert Howard Siegler spoke of his Dental Mission to Nepal. He said: "Both the children and caregivers we visited at the orphanages in Kathmandu were surprisingly upbeat considering their dire situation. Their perseverance and good spirit in the face of such challenging adversity is unbelievable and truly inspiring."Most people know Nepal for mountain climbing, trekking, hang gliding, and as a popular destination for spiritual enlightenment. Despite its poverty, it remains a beautiful nation in many ways. Its culture is rich, and its people are strong, but most do not have time to consider things like ipods, brand named shoes or vacations. For most, it's all about survival.A typical family eats only two meals a day, mostly dhal (lentils) and rice; and medical and dental care are luxuries most cannot afford. Siegler, currently serving as a voluntary Medical Correspondent for Noticias.CR said: "Finding support was not easy, but one prominent Dentist in Costa Rica (who wished to remain anonymous) agreed to contribute some funds for supplies. I self-funded the rest in the hope that others would join in and contribute to future Missions."He continued: "After having watched the images on T.V. of the devastation caused by the earthquakes last year, bringing dental kits and some treats to Nepal just seemed like the right thing to do. It turned out to be a great learning experience, and thankfully all went well. Now we have a better understanding of what is required to efficiently and effectively organize similar Missions to other countries where help is needed."When asked what motivated him to travel to such a distant land, Siegler said: "My Johns Hopkins training and Dr. Peter Aborn prompted me to action. The former is well known for changing the world of medicine and making healthcare more accessible; and the latter is an unsung hero who travels each year to the indigenous region of Talamanca to help the neediest Costa Ricans with their dental care.""Surprisingly, I had not considered that I would be the biggest beneficiary in the end", said Siegler. He added, "When I saw the kid's faces light up at the orphanages, I just melted. They were amazing. Despite their difficult circumstances and daily struggles, they remain just a bunch of beautiful kids, most not even fully understanding their own incredibly tough situations."Nepal was one of the poorest nations on earth BEFORE several powerful earthquakes struck last year. Many homes and historical sites which were made of rock, brick or mortar in their better days were reduced to little more than rubble and dust. And while the population has picked themselves up to carry on, day to day survival remains unbelievably difficult.Those who live there, at the, in the ancient, unique and magical land are faced with the same harsh reality each day the sun arises from behind the glorious mountains that grace their homeland: Poverty. It's inescapable. Fortunately, for at least a short period of time, a few children with little hope of a bright future were able to wake up, brush their teeth, and have a little something to smile about.Siegler concluded by saying "We are preparing to select the destination of our next Mission and will announce the chosen country soon. We invite any and all interested parties to join in our efforts to improve the lives of impoverished people wherever they may be, and to help make the world a better place one smile at a time."Noticias.CR, a non-commercial community news site and reliable source for news of Costa Rica, thanks you in advance for your support and contributions to the orphanage listed at the link below.www.nconepal.org.np
Hide-A-Vent offers an aesthetically pleasing way to hide residential vents, such as dryers and ceiling vents for kitchens and bahrooms, with quality workmanship.

By: South Shore Young Professionals

Michael Heinrichs

End

-- The South Shore Young Professionals (/www.southshoreyoungprofessionals.org)an affiliate of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce (www.southshorechamber.org)is pleased to announce Hide-A-Vent as the recipient of its 2016 Foundation Grant.Hide-A-Vent, located in Weymouth, offers an aesthetically pleasing way to hide residential vents, such as dryers and ceiling vents for kitchens and bathrooms, with quality workmanship. Hide-A-Vent creator and owner Michael Heinrichs, who has worked in kitchen design for the past 20 years, was inspired to launch Hide-A-Vent while working on a project in Duxbury. His proprietary product is available in two sizes  one for oven hoods and microwaves and the second for clothes dryers  and make external vents 99% invisible. Its design provides additional benefits other than aesthetic, including energy efficiency, fire safety and elimination of bird and insect penetration.Hide-A-Vent has secured a distributorship with the wholesaler Rafferty, which supplies lumber yards in six states, including roughly 340 on the South Shore. Heinrichs is also working with several other companies and as his business grows intends to hire an outside sales force."This all happened so fast; I came up with the concept just 13 months ago," said Heinrichs, a resident of South Weymouth. "I couldn't have come this far without the South Shore Chamber and the SSYP."Heinrichs has earmarked the SSYP Foundation grant in the amount of $7,500 to set up an internal office and begin a public relations campaign."I'm grateful to be named this year's grant recipient," said Heinrichs, noting that he "has high hopes to take Hide-A-Vent nationally.""One of the many missions of the South Shore Young Professionals (SSYP) is to fuel the economic development of the South Shore through its Foundation Grant Program; our goal is to support entrepreneurship and encourage economic growth on the South Shore," said Kaitlyn Litchfield, Executive Director of the SSYP. "We're delighted to announce Hide-A-Vent as this year's recipient; it is a concept that has success written all over it!"Since 2008, the South Shore Young Professionals has been serving those seeking to build a successful career and well-balanced life in south eastern Massachusetts. With a mission to serve as the leading resource for the personal and professional development of the individual by means of community involvement, SSYP provides networking, education, information, resources and opportunities to young professionals and businesses on the South Shore. For additional information about the South Shore Young Professionals, please visit www.southshoreyoungprofessionals.org or call 781-421-3911.The South Shore Chamber of Commerce has long been recognized throughout the state as one of the most active and forceful advocates for the business community, and numbers among the larger Chambers of Commerce nationally. The South Shore Chamber is a not-for-profit association of businesses in the communities south of Boston. It is committed to helping its members grow their businesses and to improve the business climate in the region. Members range in size from major international corporations headquartered on the South Shore to small local firms and sole proprietorships. For additional information on the Chamber, please visit www.southshorechamber.org or call 781-421-3911.
Looking for a wonderful present for a cooking enthusiast? Check out this whetstone and 6-piece knife set product bundle.

End

-- Premier kitchen cookware provide PriorityChef has revealed its latest offering. This product bundle contains a 240 whetstone and the popular 6-piece knife set. Company founder Joe Kenny called it the perfect present for people who love to cook.With an unyielding resolve to provide the best kitchen and cookware products for its customers, PriorityChef delivers a whole range of innovative products that seek to improve the ease in food preparation and enhance the convenience in the kitchen. This Las Vegas-based company is looking forward to bringing happy smiles to their customers with their high-quality products.For this product bundle launch, PriorityChef offers the 240 whetstonea double-sided grinding stone with a 240 Japanese grit. Designed used durable, top-grade material, this sharpening stone can help you sharpen knives and blades effortlessly and fast. With its nonslip base and ergonomic design, you can bring back old, dull knives to their useful life.The 240 whetstone is a great gift for family and friends who are looking to save money instead of buying new kitchen knives, Mr. Kenny said in a reassuring tone.The second featured product in this bundle is the 6-piece knife set. It is one of PriorityChef's highly sought after item, Mr. Kenny described.Fabricated with safety, efficiency, and slicing precision in mind, these knives are ergonomic, easy to use, and easy to clean. It features an easy-grip and contoured handle. You know you're getting your money's worth with these knives because they are rust-proof, durable, and built to last. Designed for commercial use, these knives are perfect for the budding chef, Mr. Kenny added.If you want to pursue your passion for cooking, this whetstone-and-knives bundle is perfect for you. But if you think these items did not meet your expectation, Mr. Kenny said the company will gladly return your money; a full refund without questions asked.To learn more about this product, check it out on Amazon.240 Whetstone: http://amzn.to/ 2h898k5 6-Piece Knife Set: http://amzn.to/ 2gotuHa About Priority ChefBased in Las Vegas, Nevada, PriorityChef is a family-run business that is focused on providing unique kitchen solutions for professional chefs and budding culinary enthusiasts.To contact Priority Chef, please send an email to support@priority-chef.com or visit its website at -http://priority-chef.com/
By PTI: Ahmedabad, Dec 19 (PTI) The Coast Guard today apprehended 26 Pakistani fishermen and seized their five fishing boats off Gujarat coast near Kutch as they crossed the Indian territorial waters.

These Pakistani fishermen on five boats were held when they were inside Indian territory, said a release by Defence PRO.

"The ICG vessel C-419 apprehended five Pakistani fishing boats with 26 crew members on board in Indian waters. These boats and the crew are being escorted to Jakhau port for further investigation," it added.

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This is the second such apprehension in recent times by the Coast Guard off the Gujarat coast.

Earlier in October this year, ICG ship Samudra Pavak seized a Pakistani boat and apprehended 9 crew members onboard, off Gujarat coast during patrolling. PTI PJT PD NRB KJ

--- ENDS ---
Europa Capital and Keystone Investment Management have acquired a portfolio of office and residential assets within the Copenhagen suburb of Valby, for 178 million. The investment is made up of two separate transactions forward-purchased from De Forenede Ejendomssekskabe (DFE). The portfolio includes four residential blocks comprising 318 units, and six

[]
Shortly before the end of the year, Austria's biggest real estate transaction is wrapped up. A private Austrian property investor has acquired a highly diversified portfolio comprising 88 objects with a total floor space of 108.000 square meters. The portfolio, which combines locations in eight provinces, has been sold by

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A University of Michigan-led team of geologists and engineers is mapping surface ruptures and some of the tens of thousands of landslides triggered by last month's magnitude-7.8 earthquake in New Zealand.

The U-M-led team includes a researcher from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Working in collaboration with scientists from New Zealand's GNS Science and the U.S. Geological Survey, they will combine observations collected by satellites, drones, helicopters and on foot to create what is expected to be the largest inventory of earthquake-triggered landslides, according to team leader and U-M geologist Marin Clark.

The high-resolution digital topographic maps the researchers create will help response teams in New Zealand determine which landslides pose the greatest threat for future sliding and for river damming that can lead to catastrophic flooding. The project is also viewed as a training exercise for future large earthquakes anticipated in places like Southern California.

The powerful New Zealand quake struck Nov. 13 near the town of Kaikoura, on the east coast of the South Island. It killed two people, generated tsunami waves several feet high and stranded hundreds of tourists who had to be evacuated by helicopter and ship.

Current estimates are that 80,000 to 100,000 landslides were triggered by ruptures along at least nine faults. About 150 of the landslides blocked river valleys, and nine are being monitored as potential threats for catastrophic flooding due to river damming.

"If the 100,000 estimate is correct, then this would be the largest documented earthquake-related landsliding event ever, slightly larger than one that occurred in China in 2008," said Clark, U-M associate professor of earth and environmental sciences.

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"The landslide dams are especially important to recognize immediately after an event like this, while there is still time to do something about them. To avoid a potentially catastrophic breach and flooding event, spillways can be constructed to drain the water."

Members of Clark's team went to New Zealand late last month, hiking into the affected region with handheld GPS receivers and using helicopter-based observations and drone imagery to map fault ruptures and landslides. They worked with scientists from GNS Science and the Geotechnical Engineering Extreme Events Reconnaissance Association, a volunteer organization known as GEER.

U-M scientists who made the reconnaissance trip were Adda Athanasopoulos-Zekkos, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, and postdoctoral researcher Timothy Stahl of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, who is also an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow. Clark and team member Dimitrios Zekkos, U-M associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, will travel to New Zealand next month.

The U-M-led team uses small, quad-rotor drones fitted with ultra-high-definition cameras to capture extremely detailed video images of the landslides and surface ruptures.

"Drones have totally changed how our work is done," said Zekkos, who also used the remotely operated aerial vehicles to map landslides in Nepal -- on a team led by Clark -- following last year's magnitude-7.8 earthquake there, which killed more than 8,000 people and created nearly 25,000 landslides.

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"Landslides can block roads, and helicopters are expensive to operate and are often needed for other purposes after a natural disaster," he said. "But you can quickly send a drone into places that would otherwise be practically impossible to see -- and you can get really, really close."

On Dec. 8, Clark's team received final approval of funding from the National Science Foundation for the year-long New Zealand study. While the amount of "rapid response funding" is modest at $46,516, the NSF award also gives the researchers access to satellite imagery and supercomputers they will use to create exquisitely detailed before-and-after digital maps.

The team's study area spans about 25,000 square miles, a region slightly larger than the state of West Virginia. The researchers will have access to stereoscopic satellite imagery of the sparsely populated, mountainous study area gathered both before and after the Nov. 13 Kaikoura earthquake.

The razor-sharp satellite images sample the surface at a 30-centimeter spacing and can recognize objects on the ground as small as 2 meters across, roughly the size of an SUV. In some cases, 1-meter resolution is possible. The pre-quake images were collected by commercial satellite company Digital Globe following New Zealand's 2011 Christchurch earthquake, which killed 185 people.

"What's unique about this situation is that we've never had high-resolution 'before' imagery that covers the entire area affected by a major earthquake," Clark said.

Digital Globe is now collecting "after" images of the region affected by last month's Kaikoura earthquake. Clark's team will have access to both data sets.

"It's never been done at this scale at this resolution, so this is going to give us an unprecedented view of the details of what's happening on the ground," she said.

Multiple satellite observations of the same ground locations from different viewing angles were combined to create stereoscopic imagery that provides a three-dimensional view of the surface. The 3-D view, in turn, enables researchers to precisely measure the elevation of surface features -- including landslides.

"The 3-D models from satellite observations are not as accurate as drone-created models, but they cover much wider areas and are precise enough to measure any vertical change of more than a few tens of centimeters, or roughly the height of a beach ball," said team member Michael Willis, assistant professor at the University of Colorado.

The satellite imagery will be used to create before-and-after digital elevation models, or DEMs, which can be thought of as extremely detailed digital topographic maps. Techniques used to generate high-resolution DEMs from stereoscopic satellite images were developed by Willis as a member of a team creating such models for the Arctic.

Knowing the exact elevation at a given point before and after a landslide allows scientists to calculate the volume of material that moved, a value that is critical when trying to assess the threat posed now and in the future, Clark said.

"Some of these landslide locations are current threats for damming and catastrophic flooding. And all of them are now more susceptible to future landsliding in response to rains," she said. "So by knowing exactly where these landslides are and how far they've traveled, as well as their volume and composition, we can make better predictions about what might happen in the coming weeks, months and years."

Data collected on foot and using drones and helicopters will be used to validate the satellite images, a process called ground truthing.

The first DEMs based on the "before" images of the affected region could be finished this month and will be provided to landslide response teams from the U.S. Geological Survey and GNS Science. DEMs based on post-quake satellite imagery could take months to complete, depending on weather and other variables.

The New Zealand project is viewed as a training exercise for future large earthquakes, including an anticipated Southern California event along the San Andreas Fault. In that case, "before" images along the San Andreas have already been collected using plane-mounted LiDAR, a surveying method that measures distance to a target by illuminating it with laser light.

The Nov. 13 New Zealand earthquake resulted from faulting on or near the boundary between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates. At the location of the magnitude-7.8 earthquake, the Pacific plate is moving west-southwest with respect to the Australian plate at a rate of about 40 millimeters (1.6 inches) per year.

The NSF-funded New Zealand project is a collaboration between the University of Michigan and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Clark's team also includes a collaborator from Greece, John Manousakis.
Dendritic cells represent an important component of the immune system: they recognize and engulf invaders, which subsequently triggers a pathogen-specific immune response. Scientists of the University Hospital Erlangen of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nurnberg (FAU) and the LIMES (Life and Medical Sciences) Institute of the University of Bonn gained substantial knowledge of human dendritic cells, which might contribute to the development of immune therapies in the future.

Dendritic cells -- their name is derived from the large amount of dendrites on their cell surface -- populate most parts of the human body. There they act as guards by recognizing, engulfing, and processing foreign pathogens. Finally, those dendritic cells migrate to nearby lymph nodes, where they interact with other immune cells to trigger a pathogen-specific immune response. Consequently, dendritic cells play an important role within the complex immune system. In recent years, it became evident that in the mouse dendritic cells are composed of different subtypes, which differ in function and distribution across the body. In contrast, less was known about the corresponding situation in humans.

Recently, Dr. Gordon Heidkamp and Prof. Dr. Diana Dudziak from the University Hospital Erlangen performed a global study, which, for the first time, systematically characterized dendritic cells in different human organs such as blood, spleen, thymus, tonsils, bone marrow, cord blood. Using 16-color flow cytometry, they detected different dendritic cell subtypes, determined their distribution across the various organs and identified important cell surface proteins. As a result, the scientists revealed that the surface profiles of dendritic cells of the same subtype are constant throughout the different tissues.

Additionally, the scientists from Erlangen isolated dendritic cells from human blood, spleen, and thymus and analyzed their genetic information in the form of ribonucleic acid (RNA). The complex data analysis was performed in close collaboration with Jil Sander and Prof. Dr. Joachim L. Schultze from the LIMES Institute of the University of Bonn. Using innovative methods, for example Cibersort analysis, they were able to imposingly demonstrate that the different subtypes share a constant profile, regardless of their initial location. Prof. Dr. Schultze: "In contrast, our data further demonstrate that within non-lymphatic organs such as lungs and skin, tissue-specific signals have a higher impact on the transcriptional output of dendritic cells."

According to these recently published findings and due to the special characteristics of dendritic cells, the scientists expect substantial impacts on the therapy of immune diseases as well as on the development of new approaches to treat tumors. Prof. Dudziak summarizes: "There is evidence that dendritic cells might play a crucial role for the development of innovative therapies targeting the immune system. Our results help to understand the fundamental characteristics of dendritic cells."

The study was conducted in a close collaboration between Dr. Gordon Heidkamp and Prof. Dr. Diana Dudziak from the University Hospital Erlangen and Jil Sander and Prof. Dr. Joachim L. Schultze from the LIMES Institute of the University of Bonn. The latter are members of the excellence cluster ImmunoSensation. In total, 31 scientists were involved in this project, located in Erlangen, Bonn, Kiel, Bamberg, Augsburg, Frankfurt, and Singapore.
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When a female Norwegian Viking died some time during the 9th century, she was buried wearing a status symbol: a beautiful piece of bronze jewellery worn on her traditional Norse dress.

In the summer of 2016, 1200 years after her death, the piece of jewellery was found by chance at Agdenes farm, at the outermost part of the Trondheim Fjord in mid-Norway. The well-preserved object is an ornament with a bird figure that has fish- or dolphin-like patterns on both "wings."

The decorations suggest that the jewellery was made in a Celtic workshop, most likely in Ireland, in the 8th or 9th century. It was originally used as a fitting for a horse's harness, but holes at the bottom and traces of rust from a needle on the back show that it had probably been turned into a brooch at a later stage.

But how did a fitting from an Irish horse's harness end up as a brooch for a Norwegian Viking woman?

Took the jewellery to her grave

Aina Margrethe Heen Pettersen is a doctoral student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Department of Historical Studies and works with finds brought to Norway during the Viking age. She will now study the bronze brooch more closely, which is has been curated and preserved by the NTNU University Museum.

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She explains that fittings like this were popular among the Norwegian Vikings who took part in the first raids to the British Isles, at the very beginning of the Viking age. The fittings were originally attached to horse harnesses, like in this case, or to religious items such as books, crosiers or altar decorations.

"A housewife in Mid-Norway probably received the fitting as a gift from a family member who took part in one or more Viking raids to Ireland or Great Britain. When she died, the jewellery was given to her as a burial gift. It has stayed underground until it was found by chance this summer," Heen Pettersen says.

She adds that almost all of the similar finds from this era that have been discovered in Norway have been found in women's graves that date from the first half of the 9th century, when the Vikings began to plunder the British Isles.

Visual status symbols

Being part of the early Viking raids brought status and prestige to the individuals who participated, but also to their families. The men who returned alive from the dangerous journeys gave the objects they had stolen as gifts to female family members who waited for them at home. The fittings were then turned into jewellery, and were worn on traditional Norse clothing as brooches, pendants or belt fittings.

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"As a result, it became clear to everyone that those women had family members who had taken part in successful expeditions far away. There are traces of gold on the surface of the jewellery, so it was originally covered in gold. It therefore appeared to be more valuable than it actually was. In addition, each piece of jewelry was unique, so the owner did not risk having the housewife next door turn up with the same piece of jewellery," Heen Pettersen says.

Jewellery of this kind has typically been found in women's graves with relatively few other burial gifts. This suggests that many of the Vikings who took part in raids far away did not represent the top layer of the social hierarchy. Instead, they were "nouveau riche" farmers and fishermen who got the opportunity to climb the social ladder by taking part in Viking raids.

Strategic location

Agdenes is strategically located at the south end of the mouth of the Trondheim Fjord, where it meets the Trondheimsleia Strait. The place is mentioned several times in the Norse sagas as a gathering place where ships with warriors met before their journey continued.

Traces of King ystein's Harbour, which was established for military and defense reasons early in the 12th century, are found just next to Agdenes farm, where the bronze brooch was discovered. The harbour validates the strategic location of the place. It is possible that the area served as a natural gathering or stopping place for ships sailing from the Trondheim Fjord to the British Isles.

From Mid-Norway, ships probably followed the coastline southwards before they crossed the open ocean across the North Sea. If the weather was nice and the wind came from the right direction, they could sail from the southwest of Norway to the east coast of England or Scotland in just a couple of days.

If they were surprised by bad weather, the journey could be fatal.

The grave has been disturbed

According to Heen Pettersen, the bronze brooch was found by a private individual with a metal detector, so it is not a find from an archaeological site. The jewellery was not found in the original grave, which indicates that the grave at some point had been disturbed -- for example during ploughing or other farming activities.

The Viking women who owned this kind of jewellery were typically buried with grave gifts such as tortoise-shaped brooches, pearls, a knife and a spinning wheel, in addition to jewelry made from stolen fittings.

"The new find from Agdenes farm shows that the area was populated in the first part of the Viking Age. Even though it is a random find, it is a nice reminder that Mid-Norway was involved in the early contact with the British Isles," says Heen Pettersen.
A West Virginia University mathematics researcher has developed an algorithm to mobilize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in team missions.

The new technology allows a team of UAVs to fly autonomously to complete complex coordinated missions.

"Someone on the ground sets an area to be scanned by the UAVs. Within the area, the person selects different priority points for information-gathering. The algorithm then sets what coordinates are surveyed by which UAVs, and determines a plan for them so that it also covers as much of the area as possible without depleting the battery life," said Marjorie Darrah, whose project is funded by the Army Research Laboratory.

"The technology is not bypassing the ground station, not taking over the flight plan. It is just giving the ground station help to complete a complex mission with three planes at once."

The new genetic algorithm is designed for the Raven, a UAV used by United States military and Special Operations Command as well as military operations in Austria, Estonia, Italy, Denmark, Spain and the Czech Republic.

More than 19,000 Ravens are in service, making them one of the most widely adopted UAV systems in the world. However, they can only be purchased in packages of three. Because they are generally flown individually, this research is an opportunity to use the technology more efficiently.

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"(Ravens) are never really used in the capacity of what's at their disposal," Darrah said. "What we've developed can encourage the military to use a piece of add-on software that works along with the ground station."

Military operations typically use UAVs for wide area searches and surveillance, enemy air defense and conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, such as securing a military base or a specific area.

Civilian operations can also utilize UAVs in teams with the genetic algorithm. The team-approach is useful for monitoring biological threats to agriculture, detecting fires, conducting transportation surveillance and managing natural disasters.

Marcela Mera Trujillo, a mathematics graduate student in Darrah's lab, is working to use a similar genetic algorithm approach to employ various mapping techniques in another civilian application. She is creating highly detailed, high resolution 3-D maps using multirotors that fly over structures and capture images from many different angles.

"This is an idea (Trujillo) is working on with 4-D Tech Solutions, a small business in Morgantown," Darrah said. "It is a good model for the University to work with government labs and small business. Through a summer internship, Trujillo has helped develop a provisional patent for the 3-D mapping algorithm."

Darrah's research team was featured on the cover of the fall 2016 edition of DSIAC Journal, the Defense Systems Information Analysis Center's quarterly magazine that introduces new technology to all branches of the military within the Department of Defense.

"15 years ago, this (technology) was an idea. Now it's a reality," Darrah said. "Now that we are seeing how the Raven is being used in many countries around the world -- it's versatile, hand-launched, robust -- we can encourage people to use the technology in new ways."
The world's largest digital survey of the visible Universe, mapping billions of stars and galaxies, has been publicly released.

The data has been made available by the international Pan-STARRS project, which includes scientists from Queen's University Belfast, who have predicted that it will lead to new discoveries about the Universe.

Astronomers and cosmologists used a 1.8-metre telescope at the summit of Haleakala, on Maui, Hawaii, to repeatedly image three quarters of the visible sky over four years.

Three billion sources

The data they have captured in the Pan-STARRS1 Surveys is made up of three billion separate sources, including stars, galaxies, and other space objects.

This immense collection of information contains two petabytes of computer data -- equivalent to one billion selfies or one hundred times the total content of Wikipedia.

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Pan-STARRS is hosted by the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, which is releasing the data alongside the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, USA.

The international collaboration also includes Queen's University Belfast and the Universities of Durham and Edinburgh and is supported by NASA and the National Science Foundation.Durham's contribution was funded by a generous donation from the Ogden Trust and Durham University.

Luminous distant explosions

Queen's University Belfast Professor Stephen Smartt, who is Chair of the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) Science Council, said: "We've worked on this project for more than five years at Queen's and have found the most luminous distant explosions in the Universe and also nearby asteroids in our solar system.

"It was a fantastic team effort and now we hope the whole science community will benefit from this public release of our data."

Digital survey

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In May 2010, the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System, or Pan-STARRS, observatory embarked on a digital survey of the sky in visible and near infrared light.

This was the first survey with a goal of observing the sky very rapidly over and over again, looking for moving objects and transient or variable objects, including asteroids that could potentially threaten Earth.

Dr Ken Chambers, Director of the Pan-STARRS Observatories, at the University of Hawaii, said: "The Pan-STARRS1 Surveys allow anyone to access millions of images and use the database and catalogues containing precision measurements of billions of stars and galaxies.

"Pan-STARRS has already made discoveries from Near Earth Objects and Kuiper Belt Objects in the Solar System to lonely planets between the stars; it has mapped the dust in three dimensions in our galaxy and found new streams of stars; and it has found new kinds of exploding stars and distant quasars in the early Universe."

Static sky

The roll-out of the survey data is being done in two steps.

Today's release is the "Static Sky" which provides an average value for the position, brightness and colour for objects captured in the sky at individual moments in time.

In 2017, a second set of data will be released including catalogues and images from each of the individual snapshots that Pan-STARRS took of a given region of sky.

The data from the Pan-STARRS1 surveys will be available online at panstarrs.stsci.edu.
While Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari has questioned the Centre's step, senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Satyavrat Chaturvedi supported the government.

By Kumar Vikrant Singh: Divisions have appeared within Congress over the Narendra Modi government's move to appoint Lt General Bipin Rawat as Chief of Army Staff, superseding two senior army officers. While Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari has questioned the Centre's step, senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Satyavrat Chaturvedi supported the government.

Chaturvedi opposed raising questions over appointment of Lt Gen Rawat as the next Army Chief saying politics and Army should not be mixed.

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He said, "Questions raised on appt of Army chief aren't welcome, merging politics & Army a big no."

Questions raised on appt of Army chief aren't welcome, merging politics & Army a big no: Satyavrat Chaturvedi,Cong on Army Chief appointment pic.twitter.com/UyIAZkFv2Q ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2016

He toed the Modi government's line by stating that mere seniority should not be the only criterion while making appointment on such a sensitive post.

"Only seniority isn't parameter, other qualities also considered. Govt must have thought decision through," he said.

Only seniority isn't parameter, other qualities also considered.Govt must have thought decision through: SChaturvedi,Cong on Army Chief appt pic.twitter.com/ubbEVR3jRC ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2016

According to sources, not just Chaturvedi but also some other senior Congress leaders believe that opposing Army chief's appointment may harm the principal opposition party politically.

However, Tewari has opposed the government's move. "Why has seniority not been respected in aptt of Army Chief? Why have Lt Gen Pravin Bakshi & Lt Gen Mohamed Ali Hariz been superseded Mr PM?" he had tweeted.

Why has Seniority not been respected in Aptt.of Army Chief?Why have Lt Gen PRAVIN Bakshi & Lt Gen Mohamed Ali Hariz been superseded Mr PM? Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) December 17, 2016

According to the sources in Congress, Tewari's statement on new Army Chief is the official party line. "The statements of other leaders are their personal ones," the sources said.

Watch the video here

Also read: Why Lt General Bipin Rawat, man who led surgical strikes in Myanmar, is best suited to be Army chief

Also read: Congress questions Lt General Bipin Rawat's appointment as Army Chief

Also read: Lt Gen Bipin Rawat appointed new Army chief, Air Marshal BS Dhanoa as new Air Force chief

--- ENDS ---
Vipshop Holdings Limited operates online platforms for various brands in the People's Republic of China. It operates in Vip.com, Shan Shan Outlets, and Others segments. The company offers women's apparel, such as casual wear, jeans, dresses, outerwear, lingerie, pajamas, and maternity clothes; men's apparel comprising casual and smart-casual T-shirts, polo shirts, jackets, pants, and underwear; and skin care and cosmetic products, including cleansers, lotions, face and body creams, face masks, sunscreen, foundations, lipsticks, eye shadows, and other cosmetics-related items. It also provides shoes and bags, which comprises casual and formal shoes, purses, satchels, luggage, duffel bags, and wallets; handbags; apparel, gears and accessories, furnishings and decor, toys, and games for boys, girls, infants, and toddlers; sportswear, sports gear, and footwear for various sporting activities; home furnishings, such as bed and bath products, home decor, kitchen and tabletop items, and home appliances; and consumer electronic products. In addition, the company offers food and snacks, beverages, fresh produce, and pet goods; beauty products; and internet finance services, including consumer and supplier financing, and microcredit. Vipshop Holdings Limited provides its branded products through its vip.com and vipshop.com online platforms, as well as through its internet website and cellular phone application. Further, it offers warehousing, logistics, product procurement, research and development, technology development, and consulting services; software development and information technology support solutions; and supply chain services. Vipshop Holdings Limited was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Guangzhou, the People's Republic of China.
Citing government data, Human Rights Watch report said 97 people died in police custody in 2015 alone, and there was not a single known case in the past five years in which a police official had been convicted for a custodial death.

By Reuters: Senthil Kumar's mother saw him being dragged off by policemen on charges of extortion. Standing outside the Vadamadurai police station in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, she heard him scream for mercy. The next day she was told her son was dead.

"He didn't die, he was killed," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, recalling the events of April 2010.

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"And I know the name of every policeman who did it."

Kumar is one of the 591 people who have died in police custody in India since 2010, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said today, calling for a strict implementation of existing laws on arrest and detention.

'IN ALMOST ALL CASES, POLICE PASSES OFF DEATHS AS SUICIDE OR HEART ATTACK'

Citing government data, the report said 97 people died in police custody in 2015 alone, and there was not a single known case in the past five years in which a police official had been convicted for a custodial death.

"In almost all cases, the police passes off these deaths as suicide or a heart attack," said Jayshree Bajoria, author of HRW's report.

"And the brotherhood kicks in to shield the guilty, who are their own colleagues. The entire system collaborates to protect the guilty policemen instead of taking action against them."

K S Dhatwalia, spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, the government department responsible for police, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Monday the ministry would "look into the report and take necessary action".

ALSO READ | OHRC notice to Cuttack SP on custodial deaths

THE SIMILAR STORY OF VALDARIS- 'HE WAS BEATEN BLACK AND BLUE'

The report examines investigations into 17 deaths in custody between 2009 and 2015. In each case, the police did not follow proper arrest procedures, making the suspect more vulnerable to abuse, Bajoria said.

Leonard Valdaris trusted the policemen who wanted to talk to his son about a theft in the neighbourhood in April 2014.

But when he walked into the Wadala railway police station in Mumbai the next day, the report said, his son was "crying bitterly" and told him the police had beaten him all night and would kill him.

Three days later, Agnelo Valdaris, 25, died, HRW said.

"When I saw my son in the hospital, there everything changed," Valdaris was quoted as saying in the report. "There I saw the reality. He had been beaten black and blue with a belt."

WHAT THE INDIAN LAW SAYS

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Forms of torture recorded in the report include severe beatings with boots and belts and sometimes suspending people from their wrists. Autopsy reports examined by HRW show injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.

India has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and signed the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

According to the Indian Code of Criminal Procedure policemen are expected to prepare a memo of arrest with the date and time of arrest, ensure a medical examination is carried out on the accused, inform the family of the arrest and present the suspect before a magistrate within 24 hours.

According to government records, in 67 of the 97 deaths in custody in 2015, police failed to present the suspect before a magistrate or the suspect died within 24 hours of arrest.

"If police follow the rules designed to deter torture and mistreatment, deaths in custody could be prevented," said Meenakshi Ganguly of Human Rights Watch.

"India can only boast of rule of law when those charged with enforcing it are held accountable."

--- ENDS ---
A little white rhino was just 2 months old when she was found all alone in South Africa earlier this month. Her mother had been shot and killed by poachers and somehow this baby survived on her own for days.

Rescuers brought her to The Rhino Orphanage and named her Nandi, which means love.

When she arrived, Nandi "drank her milk straight away," the Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation (WHWF), which supports the orphanage, said. "Unfortunately when young orphans are alone they tend to eat anything, including harmful sand due to hunger."

Dodo Shows Faith = Restored Rescued Animals Melt Into This Woman's Arms When She Sings To Them

Nandi's caretaker, Jamie Traynor, carefully monitored Nandi during those iffy first hours she was at the orphanage. And soon Nandi proved to be quite a little fighter.

"We have just returned from the orphanage where we delivered much-needed meds and supplies for the caregivers and rangers who treat and protect the babies," Paul Oxton, founder and director of WHWF, told The Dodo. When Oxton saw her, Nandi had already made huge strides toward recovery.

"She's a little rhino with a big attitude and has given Jamie many bruises already," the organization wrote about the playful relationship between Nandi and her caregiver. After just a few weeks at the orphanage, the sad and scared orphan has transformed into a boisterous little rhino - who loves to be close to her favorite person.

It seems Nandi's wounds, visible and not, are finally starting to heal. "Luckily, in Nandi's case, it seems as if the adorable baby is out of the woods," WHWF wrote. "She is drinking well, starting to eat solids and her health is improving day by day."

It will still be quite a while before Nandi's ready to go back into the wild - but her future looks brighter already.
Airbnb Inc. is developing a service for booking air travel as the home-rental startup looks to compete with Priceline Group Inc. and Expedia Inc. for more of peoples online travel spending.

Development of the flight-booking feature is early, and the company is considering various routes to break into the business, said people familiar with the plans. Airbnb may acquire an online travel agency or license data from a provider, such as Amadeus IT Group SA or Sabre Corp., said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing unfinished products. Within the company, the project is simply known as Flights, the people said.

Airbnb aims to get Flights off the ground before it pursues an initial public offering, which is likely in the next 18 months, the people said. Nick Papas, a spokesperson for Airbnb, declined to comment on the flight-booking plans and said the company doesnt plan to go public in the near future.

Since it started eight years ago, Airbnb helped create a global industry out of staying in strangers homes. But the company is hoping to find new sources of revenue as it matures. Last month, it added tours, restaurant reservations and other travel services with an initiative called Airbnb Trips. The startup, which was valued at $30 billion by investors this year, has said it wants to be a destination for planning a persons entire vacation, not just a place to stay.

Moving into flights would be a shot across the bows of Priceline and Expedia, which operate the largest sites for flight searches and bookings. Margins in online travel are typically higher in hotels and property rentals, but flights help draw people to the sites. Alphabet Inc. pushed into the space in 2010, when it acquired airline data provider ITA Software for $700 million to bolster its own flight-search tools.

Steve Hafner, chief executive officer of flight search website Kayak, said last month that many accommodation companies have tried unsuccessfully to break into flight search. Im not really worried about Airbnb getting into flights, he said at a conference.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky gave a presentation last month in Los Angeles, where he showed off new designs for the companys website and apps. One image contained a small airplane graphic in a section called Trip Itinerary. This is where Airbnb intends to provide suggestions for the best airfare options based on price, travel time and expected weather conditions, said the people familiar with the plans.

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Beloved Canadian TV comedy Corner Gas is getting a second life.

The series, which was the No. 1 sitcom in Canada throughout its entire six-season run, is coming to the Comedy Network as an animated series, it was announced Monday.

Cartoon versions of the denizens of Dog River will star in a 13-episode, half-hour series airing in 2017-18.

Original cast members Brent Butt, Gabrielle Miller, Eric Peterson, Fred Ewanuick, Lorne Cardinal, Tara Spencer-Nairn and Nancy Robertson, who also reunited for a 2014 movie, will lend their voices to the new show.

Voice casting is underway for the character of Emma. She was played in the live-action series by actress Janet Wright, who died last month.

Pre-production on the animated episodes begins in January in Vancouver and Toronto.

Its been a huge amount of fun creating animated scripts for our Corner Gas gang, said Butt, who co-created the original show, in a news release.

We used to come up with some pretty wild fantasy sequences and bizarre flashbacks in the old story room but were limited with what we could do in the real world. Buckle up! Were not in the real world anymore!

Before he became a standup comedian and actor, Butt and a friend started the publishing company Windwolf Graphics, the news release said. His first comic, Existing Earth, was nominated for a Golden Eagle Award, but Windwolf only put out two issues before Butt took up standup full-time.

Corner Gas, which aired on CTV until 2009, can still be seen on CraveTV.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Childhood rating:

Adult rating:

A 1966 animated TV special based on the Dr. Seuss book about a mean, green character who hates Christmas and the Whos of Whoville.

In this occasional series we look back at our first pop culture loves.

For 50 years, three TV specials have become as synonymous with Christmas as mistletoe and holly: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966).

Like fruitcake, they get dusted off and regifted every year. We watch because, well, if you miss them, why bother putting up a tree? Take away the tinsel; toss all the eggnog down the sink. Skip these three specials and your heart has shrunk two sizes too small.

Premiering 50 years ago (and returning Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. on CBC), the Grinch is the most recent of the three and still seems the most modern. Rudolph, with its stop-motion animation and jumpy production has a crude, homemade charm, like playing with a metal train set.

Charlie Brown has a sparseness not found on TV today. The jazz score keeps it timeless, as does the biblical quotation. Plus who doesnt smile every time those crazy kids dance in the gym?

The Grinch, however, never gets old. Unlike Charles Schulz, who based Peanuts on his own childhood, his children and even his beagle, the Grinchs Whoville sprang straight from the tilted imagination of Dr. Seuss, a.k.a. Theodor Geisel. He had no children of his own (You have em, Ill entertain them, he would quip), yet he knew what kids wanted in a bedtime story: a great villain.

The Grinch was all that when I was a young lad. He was green first of all. He hated Christmas. He had a horrible, wonderful smile.

The TV special went beyond the book thanks to an incredible convergence of mid-century artists. Chief among them was the great Warner Bros. animation legend Chuck Jones. Director of hundreds of Bugs Bunny and Roadrunner toons, Jones knew how to entertain in six-minute chunks like few before or since.

Then there was Jones frequent collaborator, background/layout artist Maurice Noble. Schooled at Disney, Nobles designs got more abstract as he got older. He took Seusss sketchy, eccentric, linear world and exploded it into shape and colour.

Boris Karloff was perfectly cast as the voice of the Grinch as well as the narrator. The film worlds most famous Frankenstein monster was the dean of horror stars in 66. Amazingly, by the time Karloff says, Christmas Day will always be/Just as long as we have we, Jones has turned a monster into St. Nick.

Two other voices have also charmed children and adults alike these 50 years. Thurl Ravenscroft, the gifted baritone who bellowed Theyyyre GREAT! in dozens of Tony the Tiger cereal ads, made Youre a Mean One, Mr. Grinch a schoolyard classic.

Also shining in a small role was June Foray as Cindy Lou Who. Foray brought witches and grannies and flying squirrels to life for decades as the queen of voice-over animation.

Albert Hague (seen years later as a professor on the film and TV versions of Fame) wrote the music for Youre a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, with Geisel penning the lyrics. Who else could come up with your brain is full of spiders and seasick crocodile?

As flat out fun and charming as the Grinchwas when I was a lad, it seems to resonate even more today. Perhaps thats because these cherished specials from the 60s came from a golden pocket of time that fell between the Kennedy assassination and the darkest days of the Vietnam War, a time some folks who want to make America great again would like to revisit.

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MONTREALDavid McMillan, co-owner of Montreals renowned Joe Beef restaurant, laments that virtually anyone, regardless of experience, can open an eatery in the gastronomical city.

I cant decide tomorrow to practise plumbing, to practise amateur electricity, he muses in an interview with The Canadian Press. In Montreal you can apply for a restaurant permit and get it immediately  thats a problem for me.

McMillans view is by no means the consensus in the industry but it reflects part of the debate in Quebec among chefs, restaurant owners, citizens and politicians.

With competition so fierce and profit margins so small  roughly 2.7 per cent on average  the role Quebecs highly interventionist government should play in one of the provinces most dynamic industries remains a source of contention.

The debate is not new and was rekindled earlier this year when Carlos Ferreira, owner of a well-known eatery, said Montreal should impose quotas in neighbourhoods to limit competition and help struggling legacy restaurants stay in business.

I dont believe in the free market anymore, Ferreira said at the time. We have to protect the good restaurants.

Celebrity chef Daniel Vezina said recently the fact so many restaurants close a few months after opening shows there are too many places to eat in Quebec City and Montreal.

Everyone wants to open a restaurant, to become a chef  that has to change, Vezina told reporters.

Montreal has one of the highest per-capita ratios in North America with regard to restaurants, and the proliferation of places to eat is worrying local politicians.

The main commercial artery in the borough of Saint-Henri became so popular with restaurateurs that councillors decided to pass a bylaw to create what they called a better balance between retail, services and restaurants.

The law bans all new restaurants on Notre-Dame Street  where Joe Beef is located  within 25 metres of an existing one.

McMillan agrees with the bylaw.

If all the commercial spots on a street are filled with restaurants, he says, then there is no foot traffic before 6 p.m., which he believes kills the vitality of the neighbourhood.

His main complaint, however, is that people with little culinary knowledge or skill can endanger peoples health. Moreover, McMillan says high turnover rates makes insurance more expensive and bank loans harder to get for the more serious players.

Im going to serve 100 meals tonight and I pray and I work so hard that everyone has a wholesome and healthful meal, he said.

The opportunity to introduce raw food and animal protein into peoples bodies is not to be taken lightly. At a minimum, there should be some kind of certification.

But that would risk turning the citys restaurant scene into a heavily bureaucratized nightmare like the provinces construction industry, says Francois Meunier of Quebecs restaurateur lobby.

While chefs and owners cant agree on issues such as restaurant quotas and chef certification, Meunier says most of his members profits are threatened by road construction, high property and licensing taxes, as well as the potential for a $15 hourly minimum wage.

Its only restaurateurs complaining there are too many restaurants, he said. Ask people, citizens, they have full choice, great price for quality compared to other cities.

The role of the government is to offer conditions that are adequate for us to operate and not to strangle us with taxes.

But Meuniers position is nuanced and flirts with contradiction.

When it comes to food trucks, Meunier and his lobby dont have a problem with regulations to limit entrants.

Montreal ended its ban on food trucks in 2013 but only allows restaurants with physical locations to operate them  cutting out anyone with modest means from starting a small street-food business.

If we allowed anyone to do it we would have 500 hotdog trucks, Meunier said. And it wasnt what the citizens wanted, it wasnt what the city wanted.

And while calls for restaurant quotas get a lot of attention, politicians have been lukewarm to the idea so as not to meddle with a recipe that is making Montreal, despite its poor infrastructure and sluggish economy, a destination-of-choice for discerning food tourists.

McMillan says bring on the competition.

I worked in the top 10 restaurants in Montreal 25 years ago  none of them are here today, he said. All of the top 10 restaurants in Montreal right now  none of them will exist in 20 years. Thats history. Thats cyclical. Who says youre good? Youre good and then youre not.

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As opioid overdoses spike in B.C., the British Columbia Funeral Association is recommending members carry naloxone, a drug that can be used to reverse the effects of overdoses, because of the increased likelihood a mortician or other staff member will come into contact with lethal opioids like fentanyl.

The number of overdose deaths related to illicit drugs leapt to 755 by the end of November, a more than 70 per cent jump over the number of fatalities recorded during the same time period last year. The B.C. Coroners Service says fentanyl was detected in 374 of the cases, or about 60 per cent of the deaths.

Because this is an emerging issue and the media was reporting that first responders were being outfitted with naloxone kits, we (the B.C. Funeral Association) thought it was prudent to look at how this crisis could effect our profession, Charlotte Poncelet, executive director of the B.C. Funeral Association, wrote in an email. We reached out to health professionals and they provided some guidance.

Despite the risk to funeral home workers being very low, Poncelet said with any kind of risk no matter how small, education is key.

The suggestion of a naloxone kit is a best practice, Poncelet wrote. We do work with people in vulnerable situations every day, it is always better to have one and not need it  than to need it and not have it.

Rob Wintonyk, president of Ontario Funeral Service Association, said he thinks the danger lies in a small portion of the drug remaining on [the deceased persons] clothes and it might come into contact with a worker.

And while Dr. David Juurlink, head of clinical pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Toronto, said the chances of a funeral home worker being exposed to an opioid in this manner are very remote, he did say theyre not zero.

Juurlink said a more realistic reason for funeral home workers to have the kits on hand is emergencies during the funerals and visitations for those who have died from an overdose.

People who die of opioid overdoses very often have friends and a social community of others who use drugs and those people are at risk of overdose as well, Juurlink said. During the visitation or funeral for example its not out of the question that someone in attendance could experience an overdose and need to be resuscitated.

Juurlink said the epidemic of opioid overdoses is going to get worse, especially with carfentanil being more commonly used. Carfentanil is a very potent opioid, Juurlink said, such that the amount that would fit on the head of a pin would kill most people.

Because of this, he thinks naloxone should be available at not only funeral homes, but a variety of public spaces including night clubs, high schools, and any place with a public bathroom.

The city of Vancouver passed a budget last week that includes a 0.5-per-cent increase in property taxes to support frontline service providers, including firefighters who have seen multiple overdoses per day. It has said the firefighters responded to 745 calls about drug overdoses in November, and crews had to use the overdose-reversing drug naloxone 35 times.

There were approximately 700 deaths from opioids last year, according to Chief Coroner for Ontario Dr. Dirk Huyer, which is more than or close to the same amount of deaths in Ontario as from motor vehicle collisions.

And despite not seeing the spike that B.C. has seen, Huyer said opioid-related deaths in Ontario are absolutely an issue.

Huyer said deaths caused by fentanyl have seen a gradual and continual increase, and opioid-related deaths generally have also seen a gradual increase.

But so far there has been no indication that funeral homes in Ontario will stock naloxone kits. Andrew Cardinal, vice president of Cardinal Funeral Homes in Toronto, told the Star on Friday that they had not received any notices from the associations in Ontario and generally they spearhead these advancements.

Wintonyk, of the Ontario Funeral Service Association, said he believes Ontario funeral homes will take their cue from the medical community. He emphasized the importance of universal precautions.

We dont know what the deceased person may have been exposed to or may have died from so the licensed professionals are trained to practice those precautions, he said.

Wintonyk believes there would be no harm in having [naloxone kits] available. But he said at this point hes not sure whether a recommendation in Ontario for naloxone kits in funeral homes will occur.

It is certainly a concern, he said. I think its something we should look into and monitor and continue to co-monitor with the other associations.

With files from the Canadian Press

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A majority of Conservative voters and people from Quebec  almost six in 10  have unfavourable feelings for at least one religious or ethnic minority group, according to a new poll.

The telephone survey by Forum Research found that, overall, 41 per cent of Canadians feel unfavourable about at least one of the following groups: Muslims, First Nations, South Asians, Asians, Jews and black people.

Regionally, 57 per cent of respondents from Quebec felt unfavourable toward at least one of the groups, followed by 45 per cent from Alberta, 39 per cent from Atlantic Canada, 35 per cent from British Columbia and about one-third from each Ontario, Manitoba/Saskatchewan.

Muslims were subjected to the most ill-will from respondents; 28 per cent said they view the religious minority unfavourably, including almost half of respondents from Quebec (48 per cent) and 40 per cent of Conservative voters.

We have to acknowledge that some people do have unfavourable feelings. Weve got that now, said Forum Research president Lorne Bozinoff. It may not be as bad as people have feared. On the other hand, it might not be as low as some people had hoped.

The pollster asked 1,304 Canadian adults: Do you have favourable or unfavourable feelings about the following groups? Respondents could answer favourable feelings, unfavourable feelings or Dont know.

While self-identified Conservative voters expressed the most racial and religious bias, they were closely followed by Bloc Quebecois supporters, 55 per cent of whom felt unfavourably toward at least one group, the poll found. Roughly one-third of Liberal, NDP and Green voters felt unfavourable for at least one group (33, 30, and 31 per cent respectively).

Bozinoff said the high proportion of bias amongst Conservative voters could be linked to the partys dabbling in identity politics  evidenced by Conservative leadership candidates that want to screen immigrants for Canadian values and prevent people from voting while wearing a veil. Whether theyre reacting to their base (of supporters) or theyre leading their base, there are those feelings, Bozinoff said.

A similar explanation could be made for Quebec, where there have been proposals for a charter of values that would have banned government workers from wearing religious symbols, as well as heightened sensitivity of protecting the provinces francophone culture, Bozinoff said.

After Muslims, the groups most commonly deemed unfavourable were First Nations with 16 per cent, South Asians at 11 per cent, Asians at 10 per cent, Jewish people at 9 per cent and black people at 8 per cent.

Bozinoff pointed out that unfavourable feelings might not translate into racist actions and could represent discomfort or a lack of knowledge about certain groups among some people. He added that a majority of respondents to the survey  59 per cent  expressed no unfavourable feelings for any group, including more than half of participants from every region except Quebec.

Some people are more or less comfortable with others who are not like them, he said.

Forum surveyed 1,304 people between Dec. 6 and 7 from across the country and the poll is considered accurate, plus or minus three percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Where appropriate, results of the survey have been statistically weighted by age, region, and other variables to ensure the sample reflects the actual population according to the latest census data.

Forum houses its complete results in the data library of the University of Torontos political science department.

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In 2007, a broker flew to British Columbia and gave Arthur Loewen, a farmer in Chilliwack, a wad of cash.

Loewen was a bit skeptical of Roman  he never gave a last name  who wanted to buy his product and export it to Azerbaijan, the post-Soviet country wedged between Russia and Iran.

But Roman had flown from Toronto to hand-deliver his payment. And surprisingly, he had the necessary permits  documents Loewen had been told were impossible to get.

I looked him in the eyes and said, This isnt supposed to happen. How did you make it happen? Loewen recalls.

He said, KGB. The conversation basically ended there.

It was all very strange, especially since Loewen is in the business of selling Christmas trees. At his Chilliwack farm, Pine Meadows, the retired math teacher is more accustomed to dealing with local retailers and Christmas-spirited families searching for the perfect tree. His website promises free hot chocolate and candy canes.

But these days, Christmas tree shoppers are also coming from far-flung places. In Canadas $78.4-million Christmas tree industry  described by one Nova Scotia grower as cutthroat  farms are shrinking, fake trees from China are booming, and farmers are increasingly looking overseas to boost their bottom line.

Last year, Canada exported 1.7 million Christmas trees to 19 countries, altogether worth $41.4 million  up from $32.5 million in 2014 and $28 million in 2013, according to analyst Ian Tobman with Export Development Canada.

The vast majority of exports wind up in American homes, but Canadian Christmas trees are also popping up everywhere from Panama to the United Arab Emirates. Last year, about a dozen trees were sent more than 13,000 kilometres to a hotel chain in Thailand. In Bermuda, fist fights have broken out over the last few Christmas trees out of the shipping container.

And even Russia last year spent nearly $30,000 buying Christmas trees from Canada, importing just over 700 trees from somewhere in Ontario, according to Statistics Canada.

For farmers staking their hopes in the global Christmas market, this brave new world brings fresh opportunities  and fresh headaches. Forget about bugs and bad weather; Christmas tree farmers now have to worry about import regulations in Thailand or the occasional military coup disrupting supply lines.

When I tell people, Oh, I grow Christmas trees, they all laugh at me, said Gerald Couture, who estimates that exports now make up 90 per cent of his Christmas tree business, Quebec Balsams.

They always picture Elmer Fudd with his big fur helmet with the ears hanging down, the checkered jacket. But its a very different business now.

Coutures biggest global customer is Panama, which buys more Christmas trees from Canada than any other country outside the United States. The made-in-Canada label has cachet in the Central American country and buyers like the fresh, piney smell of Canadas balsam firs, he said.

We sell the snow, the freshness, the space, the cold, he said.

But taking the leap into the global market is risky  and costly. To secure the Panama contract, Couture had to fly two inspectors to his farms in Quebec and Nova Scotia, costing him up to $50,000 for all of the trips, paperwork and fees.

A major concern for importing countries is that Christmas trees could ferry new insects or diseases past their borders, Couture said.

In Bermuda, theres a zero tolerance for an insect called pine needle scale, he said. If they find one, they burn the trees right there.

Closing an international deal also takes perseverance and a bit of glad-handing, which some farmers might rather avoid. In Nova Scotia, Murray Crouse with the Lunenburg Balsam Fir Co-op spent two years locking down a contract with the U.A.E., even meeting with an ambassador from the country.

And not every country becomes a repeat customer. A few years ago, Chinese importers were determined to get Canadian balsam firs into Hong Kong, even sending a team of representatives to Simcoe County to inspect Drysdales Tree Farm, just outside of Barrie.

Handshakes were made and owner Doug Drysdale put 1,200 trees on a truck to Toronto, where they were driven to New York, placed on a container ship in New Jersey, floated down the Panama Canal and  finally  sent across the Pacific Ocean to Hong Kong.

But because the freighter was stacked with thousands of containers, it took several days to unload them all. Drysdale shipped his trees out at the end of October; they werent unloaded in Hong Kong until Dec. 4.

This gave retailers only three weeks before Christmas to sell 1,200 trees. The contract wasnt renewed.

The freight to Hong Kong is more than the trees are worth in the container, Drysdale said. They made a little bit of money, it was a good trial run, but it logistically became too difficult.

Christmas tree farmers now in the export game all say the same thing: when they planted their first seedlings way back when, they never imagined their trees would be criss-crossing the world someday. Many have been doing this work for decades, often taking over the family business, but the hiccups in their operations now come in new and exotic flavours.

One Nova Scotia farmer sold to Russia only once, turned off by the many unexpected fees  better described as bribes  that were required along the way. A few years ago, a retailer in the Caribbean cancelled his order with Quebec Balsams because his store was swept away by a hurricane.

Crouse in Lunenburg once briefly discontinued his contract with the U.A.E. after one of his shipments was ruined by workers who dumped the fir trees outdoors in the sweltering desert heat (theyre supposed to be stored in 4 C refrigerated containers).

You can fry an egg on the pavement over there! Crouse exclaimed. You wouldnt take a polar bear and put them out into the Sahara. Its just not going to survive.

Coutures family company has been shipping to Venezuela for the past five decades but every year seems to present a new challenge. Its always been a tough market, he said. Weve had containers that were left on the dock because it was a coup in Venezuela and they just let the trees rot until January.

This year, Couture didnt expect to sell any trees to Venezuela. The country is in the throes of a major economic crisis, struggling to import even basic goods.

But surprisingly  and perhaps scandalously, from the perspective of regular Venezuelans  the order still came. Today, Venezuela may be short on toilet paper, food and basic medicines, but the country does have 6,000 of Coutures fresh-cut fir trees.

Crouse says the Christmas tree industry has always been cutthroat, but he sees a future in exports, which he thinks will only continue to grow. In Halifax, the worlds only Christmas tree research centre is trying to bioengineer fir trees with better needle retention, thus more suited to international travel.

This years Christmas season is coming to a close, but Canadian tree farmers are already working to crack open new markets for next year, with some setting their sights on Peru, Colombia or even Iceland.

As for Azerbaijan, Loewen never did ship there again. The broker ordered a second batch of Christmas trees but eventually went cold, no longer responding to Loewens emails and phone calls.

Before losing contact, Loewen did ask him how his trees were doing in Azerbaijan. He eventually heard from contacts there that the firs were planted at the presidents palace.

I said (to the broker), Did the trees live? I figured that long in a container, they wouldnt make it, Loewen recalled. He said, Oh yeah, theyre all growing, theyre doing fine. Thats what he said, though. I dont know if I can believe it or not.

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TRES ARROYOS, ARGENTINAThings did not start off well in Argentina.

In a busy Buenos Aires street market, a pickpocket nicked my iPhone containing all the photos from my journey  all 30,000 images.

When I checked to see if the photos were backed up, they werent. I thought I had been saving them  but I was not. I was devastated.

To cheer up, I took the van and drove 70 kilometres to Lujan, where the horses of renowned Swiss long rider and writer Aime Tschiffely are on display in the Enrique Udaondo Museum complex.

Finally, I got to meet my heroes Mancha and Gato in the flesh! These majestic horses, which crossed the Americas in 1925 and have been an inspiration for my yearlong journey to Tierra del Fuego, were stuffed and mounted after their deaths, and today reside inside the transportation museum between the Popemobile and a colossal sailboat that sailed around the world. I spent an hour simply analyzing their paint and buckskin fur. They were just like Tschiffely had described them and how I had spent a lifetime imagining them to be. My Criollo heroes.

Then it was time to drive south to the town of Ayacucho to meet my new mounts who would take me to Patagonia.

But once in Ayacucho, I first made a quick pilgrimage to the statue of Mancha, Gato and Aime Tschiffely in the town square. I told bronze Tschiffely about my own ride, how the Brazilians had also raised a monument to my horses and me, and how I wished that I could have met him.

I felt inspired.

The next morning, I went to El Cardal, the ranch belonging to the Solanet family, who originally lent Mancha and Gato to Tschiffely in 1925.

Juan, a ranch-hand, welcomed me and walked me to my new horses  real Criollos! I was as excited as a kid.

Meet your horses Picasso and Sapo, said Juan.

Like a balloon too close to the fire, my excitement burst immediately. Sapo, a cute little buckskin, the same colour as Gato, had a bite on his back that would clearly prevent me from riding him for weeks. And Picasso, a gorgeous, tall bay with wild eyes like Mancha, pranced nervously, but was tied to a post and hobbled.

Sapo is 16 years old and very quiet, but Picasso is only 4 and a little wild  you will need to saddle him hobbled until he gets used to you, warned Juan.

I approached and Picasso reared up at the sight of me. I swallowed a lump of fear and got to work. I started brushing Picasso to get him used to me. It was touch and go: he was skittish as the soft brush glided down his fur, but I kept at it. The first time I climbed onto his back, I held my breath waiting for him to blow up. Luckily, I held the left rein tight, and before he could start bucking, I pulled his nose in toward the tip of my boot and flexed his neck, making him turn in tight circles. After he calmed down I straightened him out and he trotted forward.

Things were improving, but still, I had no support driver (Mario Luna was only able to accommodate me through Uruguay), and I was about to start my ride through the most difficult part of the journey with unfit mounts. For the next four days I spent hours riding Picasso and structured a saddle pad for Sapo that didnt rub the sore on his back. Slowly I saw signs of trust. But my own anxiety grew.

Before my departure, Oscar Solanet, son of the famous horse breeder Emilio, arrived at the ranch to share family memories. The first time Tschiffely came to try the horses, he tried to saddle Mancha without tying (the horse), and when he tightened the cinch, the Criollo took off bucking and threw everything off his back, said Don Oscar in his fathers old office surrounded by sepia photos of Tschiffely, Mancha and Gato.

Emilio never thought the crazy Swiss would make it.

He showed me a signed copy of Tschiffelys Ride, with a dedication from Tschiffely to Don Emilio, and then took me to the tomb containing the bones of Mancha and Gato and Tschiffelys ashes. For me, it was like visiting a shrine.

The day I departed El Cardal, the wind started to blow. Riding Picasso and ponying Sapo, I ducked my head to prevent my cowboy hat from flying all the way back to Uruguay. We rode 40 kilometres when we came to a large cattle ranch hoping to spend the night. I led the two horses toward a worker on a tractor cutting the grass. I explained my journey and he said he would ask the manager and return with an answer. As I thanked him, he turned the tractor back on and in a second, all hell broke loose.

Picasso freaked out and pulled back, nearly ripping the lead rope from my hand. His back end hit Sapo with force, driving the buckskin to buck like a rodeo bronco. I tried to hold on, but the rope burned a deep welt into my palm and I had to let go. Picasso held steady, but Sapo galloped and bucked in circles. The lid of the right pannier flew off and my belongings began to fly. When Sapo finally stopped, I grabbed him and began to collect my things from the tall grass: camera batteries, sunglasses, food, water bottles  it was a mess.

While I gathered my mounts and myself, the manager returned to say I could not stay. No owners. No permission.

And so, we moved on, tired and sore from the long day.

We hadnt gone far when a white Ford stopped next to us and a man jumped out. Javier Bianco gave us the once over: Looks like you could use a place to stay. He smiled. I have a ranch three kilometres from here.

I looked up and thanked the Universe.

And thats how it was. For the next couple of weeks, Argentine families opened their arms and gates like Javier did on that first day.

And with Picasso and Sapo calming down, we were making good progress, despite days of 70-km/h winds that chapped my face and lips. Still, I was in great spirits.

While resting with a beautiful family near Tres Arroyos, I got the sad news that my grandmother passed away. Only days away from Christmas, her death hit me hard. I spend a lot of time away from my loved ones, and during the holidays, I miss them more than ever. The death of my grandmother only made it worse.

I dont know where I will be for Christmas. All I know is that I wont be coming home, and that breaks my heart.

Filipe Masetti Leite is a filmmaker, Ryerson University journalism graduate and cowboy en route to Tierra del Fuego. He is filing monthly reports to the Star from the trail. Dispatches from both this yearlong trip and his 2012 journey from Calgary to Brazil can be found at outwildtv.com/expeditions.

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Premier Kathleen Wynne is sending a clear signal to her political rivals  within and outside the Liberal party  that she has no plans to resign despite her unpopularity in the polls.

Ill be walking in the snow and on the beach, but Im not going, Wynne told the Star in a year-end interview Monday.

I am going to be here through the 2018 election, the premier said, conceding of course I feel a sense of responsibility that her unpopularity could be harmful to Liberal MPPs re-election chances.

I wouldnt be honest if I said I didnt feel responsibility  for sure.

All the conversations about are the knives out? and are people plotting? . . . the fact is Im the premier until either the people decide Im not the premier or I decide Im going to step down. Thats how it works.

Wynne, who led the Liberals to a majority victory in 2014, has watched her personal approval rating plunge in recent public opinion polls due in part to concerns over rising electricity prices.

We are doing some really hard things, the premier emphasized, pointing to her successful crusade to get Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other provincial leaders to bolster the Canada Pension Plan.

We wrestled the CPP enhancement to the ground  that was a big challenge across the country.

Weve done difficult things like broaden the ownership of Hydro One and were investing in infrastructure that is under construction right now, so people dont see the results yet of what weve been doing, she said, referring to the controversial sale of 60 per cent of the public transmission utility to bankroll new roads, bridges, and transit.

Weve reorganized our student assistance so that (college and university) students in 2017 will have free tuition  kids from low- and middle-income families  and yet that hasnt started . . . so the kids havent got that free tuition yet because theyre just applying now.

Wynne said Ontarians will soon start to see the benefit of her governments initiatives.

The plan wasnt to make investments so that Id be popular. The plan was to make investments so wed see economic growth in the province and people would have jobs and thats happening, she said.

Having said that, Wynne, who succeeded Dalton McGuinty as premier in February 2013, is mindful there are others beyond Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath who covet her job.

The reality of this work is that youre in these jobs for a limited amount of time. When I come into this building, I feel lucky every day. You dont get to stay here forever. I certainly dont get to stay in this office forever, she said, insisting would-be leadership hopefuls ambitions shouldnt be quashed.

I hope there are good strong people in the Liberal family who are thinking about a succession plan, the premier said.

It would be a really bad thing if there werent people who felt that at some point they might want to step into these shoes and take responsibility in this job. So I encourage that.

While Wynne stressed she has very cohesive team  indeed, none of her cabinet ministers is actively gunning for her job  it is widely known some are quietly considering future leadership bids.

Among those most often mentioned as possible contenders down the road: Attorney General Yasir Naqvi; Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca; Children and Youth Services Minister Michael Coteau; Health Minister Eric Hoskins; Finance Minister Charles Sousa; Education Minister Mitzie Hunter; and Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid.

Wynne said such ministerial aspiration is fantastic because it makes them more engaged and it makes them better people. I dont have a problem with that.

The premier admitted she was sorry to lose David Orazietti from her cabinet.

Orazietti, 48, resigned Friday as community safety and correctional services minister, which will force Wynne to call a byelection for Sault Ste. Marie before the end of June.

Do I want another byelection? No, I dont want another byelection. Would I have preferred David stay? Absolutely, hes a great minister and a friend, but hes also a man with a life and he has to look after himself and his family.

The lingering fallout of the February 2015 byelection in Sudbury will haunt Wynne in the new year.

Thats because Patricia Sorbara, her former deputy chief of staff, is facing a trial on Election Act violations related to that contest.

The bribery charges against Sorbara and Sudbury Liberal activist Gerry Lougheed  who deny any wrongdoing  were a low point for Wynne this year.

I think there are a lot of people who are not part of my world who are happy to see 2016 going out the door  on so many levels, for so many reasons, she said.

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By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) Strengthening defence and trade ties would be on the top of the agenda during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Kyrgyz President Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev here tomorrow.

The visit of Atambayev, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior ministers, will also provide an opportunity to sides to explore projects to increase surface connectivity. This is Kyrgyz leaderss first presidential visit here.

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Maintaining that both countries share common concerns on threat of terrorism, extremism and drug?trafficking, the two sides had signed an agreement to boost defence cooperation and hold annual joint military exercises during Modis visit there last year.

Besides joint military exercises, the two countries have been cooperating on high-mountain biomedical research to know impact on soldiers when they carry out operations at high altitude.

According to Joint Secretary (Eurasia) in the Ministry of External Affairs G V Srinivas, bolstering existing defence cooperation, enhancing trade ties and exploring surface connectivity projects will be high on the agenda of talks between the two leaders.

Kyrgyzstan supports Indias bid for membership of the UN Security Council and welcomed its entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

During his four-day State visit, Atambayev, who arrived here yesterday, will also have a meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee, who will host a banquet in his honour.

The Kyrgyz President will also attend India?Kyrgyz Republic Joint Business Forum being organised by industry chambers FICCI, CII and Assocham on Wednesday.

There are about 4500 Indian students studying medicine in various medical institutions in Kyrgyzstan apart from a few businessmen, who are engaged in trade and services in the central Asian country. PTI PYK ZMN

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MOSCOWSecurity forces in Chechnya have killed 11 suspected militants in a series of separate clashes, the strongman leader of the Russian region said Sunday.

Ramzan Kadyrov said on Instagram that a group of gunmen attempted to launch attacks on police in the provincial capital, Grozny. During the overnight clash in Grozny, they fired at police who tried to stop their vehicle. Police killed four gunmen and captured two others, who have been taken to a hospital.

A police officer also has been wounded in the clash.

Later on Sunday, security forces tracked down other gunmen on the outskirts of Grozny and killed seven of them, Kadyrov said. Another four suspected militants have been captured, three of whom have been hospitalized with wounds, he said.

Kadyrov denied media reports claiming that there were more clashes and an explosion in Grozny on Sunday, saying that security forces engaged the militants outside the city. He posted a video showing his troops firing their weapons and bodies of the militants lying in the snow following the clash.

None of these devils will get out alive if they enter Grozny with weapons, Kadyrov said.

The Kremlin has relied on Kadyrov to stabilize Chechnya after two separatist wars. The Chechen leader has used generous federal subsidies to rule the region like a personal fiefdom. International rights groups have accused his feared police force of abductions, torture and extrajudicial killings.

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CHICAGOMinister Louis Farrakhan, head of the Nation of Islam, spoke from a podium draped in the red, black and green of the Pan-African flag, a symbol of black pride.

It was the week after Donald Trump won the presidency. The result had delighted a new generation of white supremacists, and Farrakhan was analyzing the political landscape.

In a speech before the State of the Black World Conference in New Jersey, he warned, The white man is going to push. Hes putting in place the very thing that will limit the freedom of others. Then he pointed to the crowd, smiled and said, Thats what you needed, as motivation to finally separate from whites.

My message to Mr. Trump: Push it real good, Farrakhan said, building to a roar that drew applause and cheers. Push it so good that black people say, Im outta here. I cant take it no more. 

After a presidential campaign that emboldened white identity politics, the Nation of Islam, a black separatist religious movement, is positioning itself as newly relevant.

Some watchdogs who monitor Farrakhan say his latest appeal is a desperate grasp at significance for a group far from its heyday. However, the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremism, has found black separatism growing alongside white supremacy, creating a more favourable environment for the Nations teachings.

Racial nationalism of all kinds is on the rise, said Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Theresa X, an alcohol and drug counsellor from Northern California, said after this vicious election, she hoped others, including her Mexican-American relatives, would follow her into the Nation of Islam, which she joined in the 1980s. I think they should, she said in a phone interview. Theyre afraid.

The Nation has been largely closed off to outsiders, making it impossible even for those who follow the movement closely to gauge its strength. Neither Farrakhan nor the head minister of the movements Mosque Maryam in Chicago, Ishmael Muhammad, responded to interview requests.

Still, Farrakhan and his message of black empowerment clearly have an ongoing impact. The Million Man March he organized in 1995, drawing hundreds of thousands to Washington, remains a cultural touchstone, and hip-hop artists praise him in their music. The Nation has an extensive prison ministry, along with health and social service programs, and the movements militia, the Fruit of Islam, provides security at public housing and elsewhere.

That name recognition and high level of organization has left the Nation well situated to take advantage of the current political moment, including the emergence of Black Lives Matter protests over police shootings of black men.

We have to turn to each other, said Nation member Duane Muhammad, 63, a Chicago-area elected official who helps produce videos of Farrakhan.

Online, the Nations presence has grown. Sunday services from Mosque Maryam are streamed live. Farrakhans public speeches and sermons are on YouTube. He has more than 637,000 followers on Facebook and 462,000 on Twitter.

Mikal Nash, a professor at Essex County College in Newark and author of Muslims in Newark, New Jersey: A Social History, said he has noticed increasing interest in the voice of people like Minister Farrakhan much the same way theres been an interest in the voice of Donald Trump.

During the campaign, Trump called Mexican immigrants rapists, advocated policies that put Muslims under general suspicion and drew an endorsement from the Ku Klux Klan. The president-elect has been criticized for being slow to condemn white supremacists.

I think people are attracted to those voices as a result of a racially polarized society, Nash said. This election, you could see the whole issue of race arose more than any election in my lifetime.

During the campaign, Farrakhan sent mixed signals about Trump, indicating the minister saw some reflection of his world view in the candidates rhetoric, including the Republicans talk of a global power structure that has rigged the economy. Farrakhan has long promoted conspiracy theories, blaming Israel and Jews for the Sept. 11 attacks, and accusing Jews of controlling the American government.

In an extensive interview last January with Alex Jones of InfoWars, a conservative website that traffics in conspiracy theories, Farrakhan described Trump as a businessman par excellence and agreed with Trumps proposal to more strongly vet refugees from Muslim countries, pointing to the resentment generated by American policies in the Muslim world.

The hatred for America is in the streets now, Farrakhan told Jones. Now, if you let them in and you dont vet them carefully, you might be letting in your own destruction.

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OTTAWAProvincial ministers are criticizing what they describe as a lacklustre take-it-or-leave-it offer delivered by the Trudeau government ahead of what have become increasingly bitter talks around federal health-care funding.

Several provinces insisted Sunday that a proposal by the federal Liberals on health funding was presented as an ultimatum  even though they maintain there hadnt been any real negotiations.

On top of that, the provincial ministers argue that Ottawas latest offer would likely leave provincial health budgets in an even worse financial situation than if the Liberals allow health transfers to fall, as planned, and proceed with what they had promised in their 2015 campaign platform.

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau said late Sunday that he hoped the provinces would have an open mind heading into the discussions.

Provincial and territorial finance ministers were expected to turn up the pressure when they sat down for a working dinner Sunday with Morneau. Talks were to continue Monday and health ministers from across the country were expected to join in during a special afternoon session.

Morneau has said hes cautiously optimistic that an agreement could be reached and, on his way into Sundays dinner, he told reporters that Ottawa planned to put forward an important idea focused on mental health and home care.

The two sides, however, appeared to be far apart late Sunday.

I can talk for everyone across the country  were not satisfied with the way things are conducted, Quebec Health Minister Gaetan Barrette said Sunday in an interview.

Theres been no negotiations whatsoever during the last year and we are being served an ultimatum by Bill Morneau, which is totally insulting and inappropriate ...

Unless he proposes something better than what he put on the table, things are going to be very bad tomorrow.

When asked Sunday about the provinces claims that Ottawa hadnt presented a good deal, Morneau responded by saying the federal government would like to ensure the talks lead to measurable outcomes that will make a real difference for Canadians, particularly in mental health and home care.

Even as provincial finance ministers started travelling to the capital Sunday to push for more federal support, the Trudeau government showed no signs it was prepared to budge on its plan to clamp down on increases to health-transfer payments.

The federal Finance Department released figures Sunday showing that the Liberals were banking on just a three per cent increase in health care funding in 2017-18, far below what provinces and territories are requesting. In all, the numbers revealed that Ottawa intended to provide $37.15 billion next year in health transfers, up from the almost $36.1 billion in payments this year.

Ottawa has publicly said it plans to stick with a plan set by the previous Conservative government to see the six per cent annual increase in federal health funding fall to three per cent. Morneau has said that the federal government would put a significant amount of money into specific areas such as home care and mental health over a period longer than five years.

However, several provinces say that Morneau made them an offer Friday morning.

Barrette and British Columbia Finance Minister Michael de Jong said Morneau has proposed a firm 3.5 per cent annual increase in transfers as well as another $8 billion over 10 years for specific areas such as home care and mental health. Ottawa is also talking about investing $1 billion into home-care infrastructure over four years, Barrette said.

The offer, de Jong said in an interview Sunday, could mean even less money for provinces over the next decade compared to just leaving the Liberals to follow through on their plan to invest $3 billion over four years into home care and to allow the six per cent annual increase in transfers fall to a floor of either three per cent or an average of nominal economic growth  whichever is higher.

de Jong noted that the federal governments own projections predict that nominal growth will average above 3.5 per cent over the next decade.

A clever proposal but not one that really addresses the pressures and a disappointment for us, de Jong said in an interview.

Even including the Liberal platforms pledge of $3 billion over four years for home care, de Jong said he didnt think his province would be better off.

He also voiced concerns about the way he says the offer was delivered.

The take it or leave it attitude that seems to be emanating from the Prime Ministers Office on this is not productive, its certainly not collaborative, and really not acceptable, de Jong said.

Thats disappointing. Its certainly a departure from what the prime minister indicated in terms of the approach he wanted to take.

Barrette said if the provinces accept Morneaus offer of a locked-in 3.5 per cent annual increases then the federal share of health funding will actually decrease from about 23 per cent right now to possibly under 20 per cent.

On Friday, Morneau called provincial demands for bigger federal health funding transfers out of the realm of anything Ottawa would consider.

One proposal supported by at least several provinces has asked Ottawa to maintain the annual transfer increases at least as high 5.2 per cent, while another provincial pitch has called on the federal government to ensure its share of provincial health-care budgets is pegged at 25 per cent.

But Morneau insisted the federal government wouldnt agree to keep the annual increases in transfers above three per cent, nor would Ottawa raise its share of spending to 25 per cent of provincial health budgets.

If the two sides cant reach a deal, Morneau said Ottawa intends to move forward with the Liberals campaign commitments.

The provinces have warned they will face big holes in their health-care budgets if the annual increase falls from six per cent.

Ottawas plan to allow annual health transfers to fall from six per cent to three per cent would trim nearly $1.1 billion this year from its combined payments to the provinces.

But that amount would compound quickly over the coming years.

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BEIJING  U.S. assertions that China is the top source of the synthetic opioids that have killed thousands of drug users in the U.S. and Canada are unsubstantiated, Chinese officials told the Associated Press.

Both the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy point to China as North Americas main source of fentanyl, related drugs and the chemicals used to make them.

Such statements lack the support of sufficient numbers of actual, confirmed cases, Chinas National Narcotics Control Commission told DEAs Beijing field office in a fax dated Friday.

In its letter to the DEA, which the commission also sent to AP, Chinese officials urged the U.S. to provide more evidence about Chinas role as a source country.

Its a point the state-run China Daily newspaper drove home publicly in an article this month stating that made-in-China carfentanil was not the cause of overdose deaths in the U.S.

DEA officials said their casework and investigations consistently lead back to China. DEA data also shows that when China regulates synthetic drugs, U.S. seizures plunge.

China is not the only source of the problem, but they are the dominant source for fentanyls along with precursor chemicals and pill presses that are being exported from China to the U.S., Canada and Mexico, said Russell Baer, a DEA special agent in Washington.

Beijing is concerned enough about international perceptions of Chinas role in the opioid trade that after AP published investigations highlighting the easy availability of fentanyls online from Chinese suppliers, the narcotics commission made a rare invitation to a team of AP journalists to discuss the issue at the powerful Ministry of Public Security, a leafy complex just off Tiananmen Square at the historic and political heart of Beijing. They also provided responses, in writing, to APs questions.

U.S.-China co-operation is essential for mounting an effective global response to an epidemic of opioid abuse that has killed more than 300,000 Americans since 2000. The presence of fentanyl, a prescription painkiller up to 50 times stronger than heroin, and related compounds in the U.S. drug supply began to rise in 2013, after dealers learned they could multiply profits by cutting the potent chemicals into heroin, cocaine and counterfeit prescription pills.

Even as the U.S. Congress considers legislation that would punish opioid source countries, no government agency has produced comprehensive data on seizures of fentanyl-related substances by country of origin.

The national database on drug seizures overseen by DEA does not require reporting by source country and may not accurately reflect seizures of all fentanyl-related compounds. Baer said it didnt even have a fentanyl category until around two years ago.

It also takes time for forensic chemists to identify drugs seized from the field, which means fentanyl-related samples may get incorrectly logged as other drugs. The field agent may not, and I think its fair to say usually does not, revise or amend the initial seizure, Baer said. He added that DEA is trying to improve its data-collection methods.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy declined to comment or to provide data that would back up the U.S. assertions.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it had data on fentanyl seizures by country of origin only for 2015: Nearly two-thirds of the 61 kilograms (134 pounds) of fentanyl seized last year came from Mexico. The rest, 35 per cent, came from China.

DEA officials say Mexican cartels are key bulk suppliers of fentanyl to the U.S., but portray Mexico primarily as a transshipment point. U.S. authorities have tracked shipments of fentanyl precursors from China to Mexico and the U.S., but many appear legitimate and are diverted to the black market upon arrival, Baer said.

Mexican officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be quoted, said fentanyl and its precursors were coming from China. Only two labs trying to produce fentanyl from scratch have been located in Mexico in recent years, with others apparently taking simpler steps to turn precursors into fentanyl, the officials said.

Mexican authorities did not immediately respond to requests for data on fentanyl and fentanyl precursor seizures by country of origin.

Still, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence indicating that China plays an important role in the fentanyls trade and, despite disagreements about data, Chinese authorities have been proactive in trying to stop their manufacture and export.

It is easy to find Chinese companies online offering to export synthetic opioids, the AP found in investigations published in October and November. In response to that reporting, Chinas narcotics commission said it was scrutinizing 12 opioid vendors the AP identified, along with other companies that advertise fentanyl analogs. They said they also found three American companies advertising fentanyls, and noted that some vendors use servers based outside of China. Chinas National Narcotics Laboratory has analyzed 25 fentanyl-related samples since 2012, the vast majority of which were being smuggled by mail to the U.S. or Europe, the commission said.

In some cases, China has enacted faster, more comprehensive changes to its drug control laws than much of the rest of the world.

The commission said China has taken a precedent-setting approach to synthetic drug regulation, controlling dozens of substances that arent abused domestically. At the same time, Beijing has struggled to get the international community to reciprocate. China has twice asked the United Nations to place the drug ketamine under international control. Ketamine, also known as Special K, is widely abused within China but prized as an essential anesthetic across the developing world by the World Health Organization and others.

China looks forward to further practical action taken by the U.S. to jointly promote the international control of ketamine, the narcotics commission said in written remarks to AP.

Beijing already regulates fentanyl and 18 related compounds and is considering designating four more: carfentanil, furanyl fentanyl, acryl fentanyl and valeryl fentanyl, the narcotics commission told AP. A formal review began in October, and the process can take up to nine months. In the meantime, the commission said it had warned Chinese vendors and websites that carfentanil, a weapons-grade substance so lethal it has been called a terrorism threat, and other analogs can harm human health and should not be sold.

That message sent a ripple of anxiety across the internet and caused some to start pushing alternative opioids, like U-47700, the AP found in conversations with a dozen companies advertising drugs online. Friend, fent is illegal in China, it is dangerous for us, wrote one vendor.

Baer said DEA is actively investigating U.S.-based vendors who use dark net markets to sell fentanyl and related compounds, as well as Chinese companies that use U.S. servers to sell carfentanil.

But the extent to which those U.S. companies are merely retailing made-in-China drugs is not clear. Baer said the DEA doesnt believe fentanyl is mass-produced in the U.S., though authorities have uncovered mom-and-pop pill press operations.

One of them was run by a 28-year-old in Utah, who was busted late last month with a pill press, piles of powder and cash, and nearly 100,000 pills laced with suspected fentanyl in his Cottonwood Heights home. According to the criminal complaint, the young man hired people to accept packages shipped to their homes, which theyd hand over unopened.

The packages came from China.

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Chinas leaders are biting their tongues as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump uses Twitter to rattle relations between the worlds biggest economies.

Trump lashed out at China over the weekend, saying it stole an underwater drone from the U.S. Navy in an unprecedented act. Beijings response was muted. The state-run China Dailys English-language edition warned Monday that Trumps inexperience in diplomacy might lead to confrontations between the two nations, while the Communist Party-affiliated Global Times mocked his demeanour as lagging far behind the White House spokespersons.

China has so far practiced restraint at Trumps provocations as hes yet to enter the White House, the Global Times said. But this attitude wont last too long after he officially becomes the U.S. president, were he still to treat China in the manner he tweeted today.

For all the noise from Trumps Twitter account and elements of the Chinese press, Beijing appears to be holding its fire at least until after he takes office next month. That means prolonging the stance of strategic composure articulated after Trump questioned the U.S.s policy of diplomatically recognizing Beijing instead of Taiwan.

Beijing will strike back firmly if Trump as president openly challenges Chinas core interests like Taiwan, Tibet, the South China Sea and the East China Sea, said Shi Yinhong, director of the Center on American Studies at Renmin University in Beijing and an adviser to Chinas State Council, the Cabinet. Options include recalling the ambassador, stopping international co-operation, fighting a trade war  even severing diplomatic ties.

So far, China has adopted a cautious, measured approach of wait and see, Shi said. The government is still closely observing what Trump is up to and in the process of forming a clear view on his possible policy. This approach will likely continue into his presidency for the first couple of months.

The fallout from worsening ties threatens a two-way trade relationship that reached $627 billion (U.S.) in 2015, more than U.S.s combined commerce with Japan, the U.K. and Germany. While some policy-makers in Beijing initially hoped that Trump would bring a more pragmatic approach, that view is quickly fading.

In an editorial last week after Trump questioned the One-China policy, the Global Times warned: We shall harbour no illusions, and get ready to wrist-fight with Trump. Foreign Minister Wang Yi, without mentioning Trumps name, said that whoever tries to destroy Chinas core interests would shoot themselves in the foot.

President Barack Obama used one of his final press conferences in office to underscore the need for a comprehensive plan if Trump wants to upend decades of U.S. policy toward China, particularly regarding Taiwan, which Beijing views as its territory. Chinas reaction, Obama said, could end up being very significant.

That doesnt mean that you have to adhere to everything thats been done in the past, Obama said on Friday. It does mean that youve got to think it through and have planned for potential reactions that they may engage in.

Trumps reaction to the drone incident raises questions about whether thats the case. He deleted his first tweet after writing unpresidented rather than unprecedented. Later, after tensions appeared to have been diffused, Trump sent another tweet: We should tell China that we dont want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it!

Such a response would deprive the U.S. of the ability to assess what information China sought to obtain while analyzing the drone after it was seized, according to Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra.

It just shows that Trump hasnt thought out his policy before he tweets it, Davis said. The risk is that he is going to confront China to the point where it is destabilizing.

The drone incident showed how quickly tensions between the nations could escalate, particularly as China challenges U.S. naval supremacy in Asia.

The Pentagon said a Chinese vessel unlawfully seized the small unmanned vehicle Thursday while the USNS Bowditch was collecting it in a routine operation 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines. Some reports, including Fox News, said it was a Slocum Glider.

China said it picked up the drone for safety reasons, while blaming the U.S.s surveillance activities for hurting ties.

Under Trump, China-U.S. conflicts in the South China Sea are likely to ratchet up or even deepen, with unpredictable incidents like the Bowditch episode to occur from time to time, Li Jie, a senior researcher at the Chinese Naval Research Institute in Beijing.

The overseas edition of the Peoples Daily, the Communist Partys flagship newspaper, said on its WeChat social media account Saturday night that Chinas capture of the drone was legal because it was conducting military operations in sensitive waters and rules about drone activities are ambiguous.

This is a grey area, the article said. If the U.S. military can send the drone over, China can certainly seize it.

On Monday, the newspaper said that the frequency of U.S. surveillance activities in the South China Sea indicates suspicion or hostility toward China.

Although the U.S. side tried to make light of those underwater drones, itd be difficult to hide the real intention behind them, the newspaper said in a front-page commentary.

While the motive for the seizure remains unclear, its a concern no matter whether it was ordered from Beijing or the act of a rogue captain, according to Michael Mazza, research fellow in foreign and defence policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

To me all of these various explanations are troubling, he said. If we do learn it was one ship acting on its own thats not cause for a sigh of relief.

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NEW DELHINearly 600 people died in Indian police custody from 2009 to 2015, many of them after being tortured, a human rights group said Monday, urging India to enforce often-ignored regulations and prosecute officers who mistreat prisoners.

Human Rights Watch said police regularly disregard arrest procedures and torture detained people to death. The police often blame such deaths on suicide or illness.

While torture is illegal in the country, many Indian police are open about extracting confessions or details about crimes by applying the third degree  a euphemism that can encompass anything from a couple of slaps to a savage beating.

Until you use third degree against them, they will not speak, said Jairaj Sharma, a retired police officer in Indias Uttar Pradesh state.

Citing government data, the report said 97 people died in police custody in 2015. In 67 of those cases, the suspects died within 24 hours of being arrested or authorities failed to take the suspects before a magistrate within 24 hours of arrest, as required by law.

Indias Home Ministry did not reply to a request for comment on the report on Monday.

Human Rights Watch said strict enforcement was needed of existing arrest guidelines, such as informing the families of those arrested, providing medical examinations and quickly producing suspects before magistrates.

The New York-based group demanded that police officers who engage in torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners be disciplined and prosecuted.

Police officers will only learn that beating suspects is unacceptable when some are prosecuted, said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director of Human Rights Watch. Our research shows that too often, the police officers investigating deaths in custody are more concerned about shielding their colleagues than bringing those responsible to justice, she said in an interview.

Vikram Singh, a top retired Indian police officer, acknowledged the countrys criminal justice system is riddled with problems, from desperately overcrowded jails to suspects sometimes held for years as cases are investigated. He said police officers have little concern about being punished if they beat a suspect.

My feeling is that not many cases (against police) have been registered, not many police officers suspended, and certainly no one has been dismissed in recent years for being brutal on accused and wanted criminals, Singh said.

Human Rights Watch focused on 17 of the reported deaths, conducting more than 70 interviews with witnesses, victims families, justice experts, and police officials.

In each of the 17 cases, the police did not follow proper arrest procedures, making the suspect more vulnerable to abuse, said Jayshree Bajoria, the author of the report.

In one such case, 37-year-old Shyamu Singh died after being arrested in April 2012 in Uttar Pradesh when police couldnt tell him apart from his older brother Ramu, who was suspected of involvement in a string of extortion and theft cases. When neither brother would give his identity, a group of policemen forced Ramu to the floor.

Four people held me down and one man poured water in my nose continuously. I couldnt breathe, the report quoted Ramu as saying. Once they stopped on me, they started on Shyamu.

When Shyamu fell unconscious they started worrying and talking among themselves that he is going to die. One of the men got a little packet and put the contents in Shyamus mouth, Ramu said.

Police told their family that Shyamu Singh had killed himself by taking poison.

An initial inquiry by the State Investigation Department concluded in 2014 that seven police officers had tortured Singh and poisoned him to death. But a final inquiry report submitted a year later cleared all seven, according to the report.

AP writer Biswajeet Banerjee contributed to this report from Lucknow, India.

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WASHINGTONPresident-elect Donald Trump is the business titan who has spoken appreciatively of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Republican Sen. John McCain is the tough-talking national security hawk who warns that Russian interference in the U.S. election threatens to destroy democracy.

McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, on Sunday joined Democrats in calling for a special select committee to investigate foreign cyberattacks, putting him at odds not only with the incoming GOP president but with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who favours allowing the Intelligence committee to take the lead on the inquiry.

We need a select committee. We need to get to the bottom of this. We need to find out exactly what was done and what the implications of the attacks were, especially if they had an effect on our election, McCain said. Theres no doubt they were interfering and no doubt that it was cyberattacks. The question now is how much and what damage and what should the United States of America do? And so far, we have been totally paralyzed.

Trump calls reports of Russian hacking ridiculous and his transition team dismissed the CIA assessment, saying it was the work of the same people who claimed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

CIA Director John Brennan has said the intelligence community is in agreement that Russia tried to interfere in the U.S. presidential election, though theres no evidence Moscow succeeded in helping Trump win. But the charge, along with Trumps selection of a potential secretary of state with business ties to Russia, has divided a GOP riven by a fierce presidential primary and Trumps refusal to single out Moscow for criticism.

The fractures within the Republican Party will test long-standing GOP orthodoxy that saw Russia as a threat and responded to Putins annexation of Crimea with tough sanctions.

I think reality is going to intercede at one point or another, McCain said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union, on the eve of the Electoral College vote expected to formalize Trumps victory. Trump, McCain suggested, will very quickly understand what the Russians are all about.

The Twitter-loving Trump did not immediately respond to McCains remarks. But the president-elects incoming chief of staff refused Sunday to say that the president-elect trusts the CIAs conclusion that Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee in a bid to help the real estate mogul defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

They havent been totally up front and transparent in their opinion as to who, what, where and how this all happened, Reince Priebus said of the intelligence community on Fox News Sunday.

Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina said Friday that his Intelligence panel will follow the intelligence wherever it leads. McCain at Armed Services and Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of Foreign Relations, also plan inquiries.

McCain joined Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Jack Reed in pressing for a select committee in a letter released Sunday. An aide to McConnell said he would review the letter.

McCain and Trump have clashed throughout the campaign. Trump bashed McCain as a loser and not a war hero because he was shot down and captured during the Vietnam War. McCain criticized Trump for making disparaging remarks about NATO, immigrants, Muslims and a Gold Star family that lost a son in Iraq  and for refusing to say hed accept the presidential election results unless he won. McCain dropped his tepid support for his partys nominee in October over the release of a recording in which Trump boasts about assaulting women.

President Barack Obama has ordered a full review of any Russian involvement before he leaves office next month.

While Trumps choice of Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state has drawn concern among some Republicans, he is expected to win confirmation despite ties to Russia.

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HONOLULUPresident Barack Obama has pardoned 78 people and shortened the sentence of 153 others convicted of federal crimes, the greatest number of individual clemencies in a single day by any president, the White House said Monday.

Obama has been granting commutations at rapid-fire pace in his final months in office, but he has focused primarily on shortening sentences of those convicted of drug offences rather than pardons. Pardons amount to forgiveness of a crime that removes restrictions on the right to vote, hold state or local office, or sit on a jury. The pardon also lessens the stigma arising from the conviction.

Neil Eggleston, Obamas White House counsel, said Obama has now pardoned a total of 148 people during his presidency and has shortened the sentences of 1,176 people, including 395 serving life sentences.

Eggleston said each clemency recipients story is unique, but a common thread of rehabilitation underlies all of them. Pardon recipients have shown they have led a productive and law-abiding post-conviction life, including by contributing to the community in a meaningful way, he said.

Commutation recipients have made the most of his or her time in prison by participating in educational courses, vocational training, and drug treatment, he said.

These are the stories that demonstrate the successes that can be achieved  by both individuals and society  in a nation of second chances, Eggleston said.

The commutations were announced as Obama vacations in Hawaii during the holidays.

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SAN FRANCISCOA California agency that oversees judicial discipline in the state ruled Monday that a judge committed no misconduct when he sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting a young woman on campus.

The California Commission on Judicial Performance said there was no evidence that Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky displayed bias in handing down a sentence decried as too lenient by critics across the country.

The commission has concluded that there is no clear and convincing evidence of bias, abuse of authority, or other basis to conclude that Judge Persky engaged in judicial misconduct warranting discipline, the 11-member panel concluded in its unsigned ruling.

The commission said it received thousands of complaints and petitions regarding Persky and the sentence.

The petitions included complaints that Persky displayed gender bias and failed to take sexual assault of women seriously, and showed favouritism to Turner because the judge was a former Stanford athlete as well.

Turner, 21, was released from jail in September after serving three months. He will be on probation for three years in his native Ohio and is a registered sex offender.

Persky is the target of a recall campaign.

Turner was convicted of assaulting the woman near a trash bin after they drank heavily at a fraternity party. The woman had passed out and Turner was on top of her when confronted by two graduate students passing by on bicycles. They chased and tackled him when he tried to flee, holding him on the ground until police arrived.

A jury in March found Turner guilty of three felony sexual assault counts. Persky sentenced him to six months in jail, citing the extraordinary circumstances of Turners youth, clean criminal record and other considerations in departing from the minimum sentence of two years in prison. Prosecutors had argued for six years.

Turners case exploded on social media and ignited a debate about campus rape and the criminal justice system after the victims 7,200-word letter that she read in the courtroom during sentencing was published online.

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Justin Trudeau promised neo-liberalism with a human face. Those werent the words he used. But the phrase expresses the gist of the election campaign he successfully waged just over a year ago.

In that campaign, Trudeau said his Liberals would pursue most of Conservative Stephen Harpers economic goals  including resource exploitation, pipelines and free trade. But they would do so in a way that distributed the proceeds more equitably.

In effect, he promised to be Tony Blair to Harpers Margaret Thatcher  doing much the same as his political nemesis, but in a more acceptable manner.

He is at least partially succeeding.

The essence of neo-liberalism is globalization. Neo-liberals strive for a world in which capital, goods and even labour move effortlessly from country to country. The aim is to let the free market do its magic and maximize wealth.

Harpers Conservative government was of this mould. But it was clumsy and ham-handed.

Its efforts to circumvent environmental regulations in order to encourage pipeline construction backfired.

Its relationship with indigenous peoples  who claim much of the land where resource exploitation can take place  was fraught.

Its attempt to lower wages by importing thousands of temporary foreign workers was so blatant it caused a popular backlash. In the end, the Conservatives received so much political heat for this that they were forced to limit the use of temporary foreign help.

By comparison, the Trudeau Liberals are smooth. Last week, they eliminated a rule that prevented temporary foreign workers from staying in Canada for more than four years.

To make the move politically palatable, the Liberal government said it would also require employers to advertise among disadvantaged groups such as indigenous people and the disabled before turning to foreigners.

But the bottom line is that the new rule allows employers to use cheap foreign labour indefinitely.

Had Harpers Conservatives done this, they would have been vilified for taking jobs from Canadians. The reaction to the Liberal announcement, however, ranged from ho-hum to vaguely positive.

Probably nothing has been smoother than the Trudeau governments approach to resource extraction.

Like the big resource corporations themselves, the Liberals understand that the days of the swashbuckling freebooter are over. To mine resources successfully  in advanced countries at least  corporations and governments need the acquiescence of those with enough clout to hold up projects.

In Canada, that means wooing indigenous peoples and well-organized environmental groups. Trudeau called this winning social licence. And to win social licence for oil and gas pipelines, he worked on two fronts.

One was climate change. The government established its bona fides here by negotiating a path-breaking agreement with eight out of 10 provinces (plus three territories) to impose a price on carbon.

On its own, the carbon-price agreement is not enough to let Canada meet its climate targets. But in the end, it may be enough to convince enough Canadians that the pipelines from Alberta to the Pacific coast Trudeau wants should go ahead.

Simultaneously, the government has been successfully wooing indigenous leaders  with promises of more money, a more respectful relationship and an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.

This doesnt mean that all First Nations will support all pipelines. But it does give these pipelines a better chance of being built.

Meanwhile, the Liberal government continues apace with its overarching globalization plans. The free trade and investment deal between Canada and the European Union is closer to fruition. A similar deal with China is on the agenda, as is some kind of free-trade relationship with Japan.

Are the rewards from Trudeau-style neo-liberalism being shared more equitably? Thats a harder question to answer. The government has gone ahead with its so-called middle-class tax break for those making between $50,000 and $200,000.

But its ambitious plans to pour billions of dollars into social and physical infrastructure are barely off the ground.

As for the hallmark of neo-liberal economies  the precarious workplace of low wages and multiple jobs  the advice from Finance Minister Bill Morneau is hardly encouraging.

In effect he has said: Get used to it.

Thomas Walkom appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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After the government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes, Muruganantham's business took a hit. Most of his clients, from whom he owed money, could not pay him back in new currency.

By Pramod Madhav: Unable to bear losses in business following the demonetisation policy, a gold jewellery craftsman allegedly committed suicide in Coimbatore.

Muruganantham ran a jewellery workshop and specialised in making gold chains. A few craftsmen worked under him.

After the government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes, Muruganantham's business took a hit. Most of his clients, from whom he owed money, could not pay him back in new currency. The number of work orders also reduced drastically.

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ALSO READ: Demonetisation: Cash crunch forces 19-year-old karate champ to skip international meet

Facing a severe cash crunch, Muruganantham could not pay wages to the craftsmen. His family members said he often complained to them about not getting enough orders to sustain his workshop.

ALSO WATCH

On Sunday, Muruganantham's wife Sridevi went out with their children. When she returned, she saw her husband hanging from the ceiling. She rushed to call neighbours who brought him down. By that time, Muruganantham had died. The police were informed who then sent the body for an autopsy.

"Recently, his work orders had dwindled and he could not pay wages to his workers. He was depressed but I never thought that he could take his own life," said his brother Ramakrishnan.

ALSO READ: Demonetisation stirs the lives of tea garden workers, forced to eat flowers and leaves for survival

ALSO READ: Demonetisation woes: India Today crew helps deaf and cashless man cheated on way to hospital

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After breaking decades of U.S. diplomatic protocol by taking a call from President Tsai Ing-wen in Taiwan, Trump now claims his administration may not be bound by a one China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade.

By using Taiwan to pressure China on a range of issues, Trump signals a rather dramatic foreign policy shift. As unnerving as it is, Trumps China policy orientation has its roots in the Obama administration.

During much of his time in office, Obama pursued the Pivot to Asia, a strategic rebalancing of U.S. interests from Europe and the Middle East toward East Asia as advocated by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The U.S. strengthened its military alliance relationship with Japan and South Korea, announced deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system in the Korean Peninsula, stepped up military co-operation with Australia and the Philippines, improved relations with Vietnam and India, and repeatedly sent its navy and air force to the South China Sea  all seen by Beijing as measures to contain Chinas rise.

On the economic front, Obama took the lead in negotiating the trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-country trading block without China, and in rivalry with the Beijing-led 15-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, so China doesnt set the rules in that region, we do.

Yet at the same time, Obama actively engaged China, from regular summit meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping to the annual high level U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

Trumps latest public comments and moves on China have demonstrated he has been briefed and updated by the Obama transition team. While Trump selected Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who has kept a relationship President Xi for over 30 years, and claimed U.S.-China relations must improve, it is far from certain he will continue the current U.S.-China engagement framework.

What is certain is that Trumps dealings with Beijing will begin with more confrontation, less accommodation, as China is now openly labelled as the most important adversary of the U.S., according to Carly Fiorina, the former Republication presidential candidate, now under consideration for Trumps director of national intelligence.

Therefore, Trumps phone call with the Taiwanese leader and his flirting with the one-China policy must be understood in the broader context of his policy toward Beijing.

But Taiwan means a lot more than just a call to the United States.

The island is currently the 9th largest trading partner of the U.S. Since 2010, Taiwan has been the largest buyer of U.S. arms in Asia Pacific, totalling more than $14 billion, plus another $6.2 billion in U.S. licenses in arms sales and services. These sales include some of the most advanced weapons, such as AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters, Patriot Advance Capability-3 missiles, F-16 fighters and advanced munitions.

David Helvey, a senior adviser at the U.S. Defense Department, performing the duties of the principal deputy assistant secretary of defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, recently appealed to the Taiwan government to increase its defence budget, purchase more U.S. arms and services and have more Taiwanese companies work with the U.S. defence sectors in order to keep pace with threat developments coming from China.

The U.S. Congress, in the newly passed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2017 last week, authorized upgraded senior military exchanges with Taiwan. This means the U.S. will send assistant secretary of defense-level civilian officials and general-level military officers to meet with their Taiwan counterparts on an annual basis.

Trump seems ready to go further. It is worth recalling that Trump tweeted on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan several years ago, accusing Obama of being too concerned about Beijings reactions. Clearly, more arms sales to Taiwan fit perfectly with Trumps campaign rhetoric that U.S. allies must shoulder more financial costs in exchange for continued U.S. protection. Selling more arms will create jobs and promote U.S. exports while reducing the burden for the U.S. presence in East Asia.

Now that Trump has decided to bring Taiwan back into the U.S.-China relations in order to put China off balance even before he takes office, Beijing has taken a firm stand that the one China principle is non-negotiable. The world community, Taiwan included, should have reason to worry about consequences of a showdown between the existing and the emerging superpowers.

Wenran Jiang is a political science professor at the University of Alberta and a global fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Centre for International Scholars.

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The chief of the Oneida Nation of the Thames, near London, Ont., is devastated but not surprised by the tragic house fire that appears to have claimed the lives of a father and his four children in the First Nations community. Ten people were living in the old broken-down home. It was basically kindling, Chief Randall Phillips said. Weve got many houses in that condition.

Fearing such an event, the Oneida council applied to the federal government for funding to repair about 50 homes on the reserve. Fires had become all too common. Yet Ottawa denied the request. Apparently funds had run dry.

On indigenous housing, there has never been nearly enough to go around. The fire in Oneida is a terrible symbol of this persistent crisis and a reminder of the profound cost of Ottawas inability or unwillingness to address it.

Congested, crumbling houses are commonplace on reserves. In 2013, the most recent year for which statistics are available, about a quarter of indigenous adults lived in overcrowded homes. Nearly half of these were in states of serious disrepair.

Packing people into dilapidated homes is a recipe for disaster, both of the tragic sort we saw on the Oneida reserve and in the more oblique form of social ills associated with inadequate housing: homelessness, health problems, poor educational outcomes, family services interventions, et cetera.

The federal government has said that, beyond the required repairs, there is an urgent need for 20,000 new housing units on reserves (various advocacy groups put the number between 35,000 and 85,000). And as on-reserve populations are among the youngest and fastest-growing in Canada, the problem is bound to get much worse in the coming years. The federal government itself predicts that by 2031 the housing shortage will exceed 100,000 units.

Yet even as the crisis has deepened, Ottawa has done next to nothing. The Harper government established a First Nations housing program in 2007 with the promise of building 25,000 new indigenous-owned homes within 10 years. Nine years later, fewer than 200 have been built. Meanwhile, the department of Indigenous Affairs spent $900 million less than was allocated to it last year.

Still, the Trudeau government has no doubt been an improvement. In addition to the standard budget allotment of around $250 million for indigenous housing, the Liberals committed to invest $416 million over the next two years. But even that, if it is spent  and thats a big if  will hardly make a dent.

In November, Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett reiterated the Trudeau governments vow to build or repair 6,000 houses on reserves by the end of the fiscal year. Thats a welcome effort. But build or repair was a convenient conflation. Ottawa is expected to construct only 300 new homes this year. The Assembly of First Nations estimates it will take an annual investment of $600 million for at least several years to make a significant impact.

The Oneida fire is a tragic symbol of the federal governments failure on indigenous housing. But the costs are felt in more subtle ways, too, in the everyday struggles of indigenous peoples that arise from or are made worse by inadequate shelter. There can be no road to reconciliation without a great many new homes along the way.

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Re: For democracy, warning signs flashing red', Dec. 11

For democracy, warning signs flashing red', Dec. 11

The graphs for the seven countries in this article show the first real dip in democratic trust by people born in the 1960s and with each generation '70s and '80s trust declines. The pattern of distrust is universal across the democracies; therefore it seems logical that the cause is universal and progressive.

The universal event during the survey's time period of 2005-14 was the Great Recession of 2008 and with the slow recovery it is a progressive event affecting all people, but especially the millennial generation. They and their parents feel cheated; they did what was expected but now face unemployment.

However, is feeling cheated by society the total reason for the decline in democratic trust? I say something else going on: First, the three countries with the largest decline in trust  U.S., U.K. and Australia  consistently show the highest rate of inequality. Second, the country with the lowest decline in trust, Sweden, consistently has the lowest rate of inequality. The remaining three countries  Canada, Germany and the Netherlands  are all middle of the road for decline in trust and for inequality. There seems to be a link between decline in democratic trust and inequality, but the work of Mounk and Foa did not link democratic decline to inequality, as Mounk says more research is required.

Whilst waiting for the research we should consider the work of Wilkinson and Pickett who covered 10 components that make up the social fabric of 23 countries and clearly showed how inequality was bad for everyone, from the wealthy to the pauper.

In the U.K. and U.S. since 1980s, when Thatcher and Reagan condoned Greedism as an economic model, inequality has grown to the point where these two countries are near the top on the list. Both recently experienced quasi-social revolutions that shocked the world: Brexit in the U.K. and the Trump election in the U.S. Both events were rightly tied to trade deals and globalization because both exacerbate Greedism and inequality.

Inequality has been insidiously creeping up on us for the last three decades. In the U.S., the poster child for inequality, it gets little attention; in Canada we do not understand the damage it is doing to our democracy.

Democracy is best explained by five words: The will of the people. Looking at Canada I do not believe this is the will of the people. No good jobs, precarious work rising, children living in poverty, loss of self respect and dignity, half a billion dollars in tax forgiveness for 70 CEOs, 80 per cent of the economy fruits goes to one per cent, foodbanks grow.

The cancer of inequality is destroying the fabric of our society and governments must act before rips apart.

Keith Parkinson, Cambridge

This article was important yet frustrating. It missed the obvious connection between economic inequality and dwindling support for democracy. The people of Venezuela, Cuba and other nations give up on democracy when they are economically marginalized. The freedom of the few to accumulate disproportionate wealth and power makes democracy seem useless to many.

Laws that increasingly favour the wealthy at the expense of the poor and middle class deprive most citizens of genuine political power. The citizens become irrelevant, so democracy becomes irrelevant to them.

The histories of Athens, Rome and countless other political systems show that democracy dies this way. It has been written about many times, yet we appear incapable of learning how to stop it.

Paul Bigioni, Pickering

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Re: Council backs mayors road tolls, Dec. 14

Council backs mayors road tolls, Dec. 14

There is nothing to celebrate in the misguided decision by city council to implement road tolls. Such user fees hit the poor and working people disproportionately.

Regressive taxation, like Mayor John Torys road tax, is the super highway to growing inequality. Ironically, wealth in Toronto, in Ontario, and beyond, has never been so enormous, and never so concentrated in few hands.

What is the alternative for funding public transportation, social housing, childcare, education, culture and recreation centres, and health needs in Toronto, one of the richest cities in the world?

The alternative is simple: raise taxes on big business, on the giant banks, on land developers, property speculators, non-primary residence owners, churches and temples (religious institutions pay zero property taxes), on big commercial advertisers, big landlords, and all the big businesses that profit from the mass transportation of their workers and consumers to the workplaces, cash registers and credit card machines of Toronto.

Taxation of the many deep reservoirs of private wealth would end the sham debate about road tolls versus a general property tax hike. It would rapidly enable the city to end gridlock, homelessness and infrastructure break down, and create good jobs, without fostering fights between residents of the 416 and the 905.

Barry Weisleder, Toronto

Throughout the debate of whether to turn the DVP and Gardiner into toll roads, the biggest question in my mind has been how would it work? As someone who drives the Gardiner almost daily, I hope that it is going to be possible to include some kind of EZ Pass technology for frequent users. At $4 a day round-trip, one is looking at around $88 per month, just to get to and from work. Why not offer a monthly pass like the TTC does, and allow unlimited travel for, say, $100 or $120 a month, and make it remotely scannable?

The idea of having to queue up to toss a toonie into a toll booth each way is a nightmarish scenario.

William Sherman Hesselgrave, Toronto

How ironic that the Star chose to support the road toll campaign by saying that those who voted in favour of them on the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway should be congratulated. This excellent news and right thing for the city coincides with coverage of pedestrian deaths, cyclist fatalities, dangerous intersections, and Torontos deadly streets.

Perhaps some Torontonians are amused by the black humour; but many are likely to find the Stars stories and its position perplexing and lacking in logic or empathy.

It is disturbing to see that the Star has neglected to mention our experience with road tolls or the consequences of pushing traffic, including truck traffic, from the expressways to arterial and local roads.

Rather than preserving traffic separations for safety and efficiency, some are willing to kill for money.

Torontonians should be wary.

Stella Kargiannakis, Toronto

Shortly before the 2016 holiday season, our mayor springs his secret plan on us  another road tax in the form of tolls. A few weeks later, the new tax becomes a reality when it was passed by an overwhelming majority. I am grateful that we have elected representatives protecting our best interests.

Jeff Green, Toronto

Where would one find the audited records of maintenance costs for the roads in question? The Star argues for Tory tolls to improve transportation elsewhere in the city. What does this have to do with maintenance costs on the highways?

Your convoluted arguments boil down to one thing and one thing only. You want people who do not live in Toronto to pay for easing the congestion in Toronto while maintaining your property taxes and increases in property taxes at far less than what is being experienced in communities like Mississauga.

In brief, Toronto cant manage their affairs and they want somebody else to pay. Now whats new about that?

C. R. (Ray) Luft, Mississauga

Now we are at the meat of the matter on tolls on the DVP, Gardiner and possibly the Allen. Has any party suggested how the tolls will be collected? If the City is looking at toll booths this certainly works as the traffic is moving slow enough to collect by hand from most cars a kilometre back from the beginnings of either or all those roads mentioned!

But it would be difficult to fit toll booths on any for the roadways or off ramps  no space. So this probably means electronic tolling, and do we know the cost and time line for installing this? Best guess is that it would take a few years and the recovery cost of the electronic tolling would not be recovered for quite a few years more.

I would suppose as with most government projects like this it will be handed off to another agency with a hierarchy of employees and managers who will be hired at the going rate as to attract the right persons to run it ... hello more people on the sunshine list!

Yes, the money for all manner of projects in the city is under pressure but lets get the priorities right first ... maybe the park of the rail lines should be a fully sponsored effort and not taxpayers money ... and again has anyone thought about the pure maintenance cost of this project down the road? More than likely in ten years give or take the roof will have to be resealed due to corrosion ... dont we have enough problems of this sort with the Gardiner which we cant afford to fix ... and then, God forbid, someone should mention it ... the Toronto Housing repairs which have not been properly funded to ensure safe living condition for the residents ...

Oh heck, what is the sense. Is anyone actually listening that cares?

John Ecclestone, Keswick

With tolls on both expressways now possible, some Toronto commuters will look to car pooling. The Blondie model is an exemplary one to consider. For decades, Dagwood and his cohorts saved money, helped the environment, and enjoyed jocular commuting.

Theres just one caveat. Some late sleepers, out the house door at the last second, may forget to wear pants to the vehicle. Floral-patterned boxer shorts aside, car pooling can be rosy.

Mel Simoneau, Gatineau, Que.

Perhaps we should assign a toll to Giorgio Mammolitis mouth. Tolls on contrarians as ubiquitous as Mammoliti would have infrastructure costs mitigated within days.

Louis MacPherson, Bowmanville

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Re: Unethical politics, Editorial Dec. 12

Unethical politics, Editorial Dec. 12

In 2012, Doug Ford had two determinations of breach of the Code of Conduct. In 2014, he had three more determinations of breach of the code. The 2014 determinations were not available prior to the election.

Imagine if Doug Ford had won the election. He would now be a sitting mayor with, not one but three determinations of corruption. Even if the integrity commissioner recommended a penalty we would still be stuck with the inadequate Toronto Act and Code of Conduct that have a maximum of three-months salary as a penalty.

Where is Queens Parks promised reform? Given Fords treatment of his abuse of influence and acceptance of gifts as a joke, he likely would not leave office and we would have another three years of wounded governance.

Toronto dodged a bullet. The report is a gift to future electors.

Ray Fredette, Toronto

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The merger of Alaska (ALK) and Virgin America (VA) first received an indication of eventual approval by the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department in mid-October, when the parties reached an agreement in principle, sources said.

Under that agreement, the department continued to review aspects of the code-share agreement between Alaska and American (AAL) , but the possibility of divestitures of other assets such as gates or slots at congested airports was off the table, said two sources who were familiar with the negotiations and who asked that their names not be used.

After that, "the decree took a while due to the code-share issues," said a source. "{DOJ} honed in on this one issue and turned over every stone {and} took time to work through it."

The DOJ and Alaska announced Dec. 6 that they had reached a settlement that required Alaska to reduce the scope of its code-share with American Airlines and also to undergo additional review if it seeks to divest any of the assets which DOJ awarded to Virgin America as part of the 2013 American/US Airways divestiture.

In a court filing on Dec. 6, DOJ said its intent was to preserve Virgin America's competitive approach to pricing. It particularly sought to prevent single-carrier service in markets where Virgin America had kept pressure on fares.

Despite continuing speculation that Alaska and Virgin America might be forced to give up gates or other vehicles for access at congested airports, that was never a consideration once the agreement in principle was reached, the source said.

Nor was Donald Trump's election as president. Some have speculated that DOJ perceived a need to settle on generous terms after the election, and rushed to announce the Dec. 6 ruling. "The election had nothing to do with it," one source said.

It took eight months for approval, about the same amount of time it took regulators to approve the American/US Airways merger three years earlier.

In both cases, the parties fashioned settlements that enabled both parties to declare victory and that sought to preserve competition even while enabling the U.S. airline industry to continue on the path of consolidation it has followed since its creation in the 1920s.

The Alaska/Virgin America merger will make Alaska the fifth-largest U.S. airline, with about 6% of U.S. capacity. The four largest airlines control about 80% of capacity.

Potentially, Alaska could one day become a fifth national airline. But the sources said regulators wanted to be sure that Alaska could remain a strong competitor in its current West Coast markets.

In California, Southwest is the biggest internal carrier. The three global U.S. carriers battle fiercely and continue to expand at Los Angeles International Airport and United operates a major hub at San Francisco International Airport.

"Southwest jokes that they have a California airline headquartered in Texas and {American, Delta and United} battle tooth and nail for California," one source said. "Together, Alaska and Virgin can compete against these four."

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
A governance crisis has put a big question mark on the future of the United States Postal Service (USPS) just in time for the holiday mail season, which is expected to peak Monday as Americans scramble to send off millions of greeting cards, letters, and packages ahead of holiday shipping deadlines later this week.

Responsibility for overseeing the postal service is the job of the nine presidential appointees to the USPS Board of Governors. Together, they function like a corporate board of directors--governors guide long-term strategy, control expenditures, set postal policies, and select both the Postmaster General and her deputy.

But the USPS no longer has any governors. Their numbers have dwindled over the past six years until the last one, James Bilbray, left on Dec. 8. Like the governors who left before him, his term was up.

Bilbray and his former colleagues are victims of a years-long process of attrition. Postal governors serve staggered seven-year terms, so their ranks must regularly be replenished; however, President Barack Obama's attempts to fill the vacancies hit a brick wall in the Senate. Thanks to the secret hold--a legislative maneuver that allows individual senators to anonymously block an up-or-down vote on a nominee--the President's most recent batch of governor nominations has sat on ice in the Senate for almost two years and will likely expire. That means filling the empty Board seats will soon be President-elect Donald Trump's problem.

But this is not a simple case of partisan gridlock. Although Senate Republicans have stymied the President's attempts to fill a variety of federal offices in recent years, it is something of an open secret that the senators blocking the postal governor nominees are actually not Republicans. Perhaps the most prominent of these is Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, whose support for the postal service earned him the endorsement of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) during his presidential campaign. Sen. Sanders has not spoken publicly on the vacancies, though, and his office has not yet returned TheStreet's request for comment.

The holds may reflect objections from APWU members and postal advocates that the pending governor nominees won't represent the best interests of the USPS' half-million employees. But if the goal is to save the USPS from further downsizing or forestall efforts to privatize the post office, this strategy may backfire.

That is because the lack of governors could ultimately precipitate the kind of emergency that would necessitate Congressional intervention. Without governors, for example, it is unclear whether the USPS could legally raise postage prices, alter services, approve big contracts, or even hire a new Postmaster General. For an organization that generates nearly $70 billion in annual revenue and has more employees than McDonald's, that operational limbo presents huge risks.

"Any time there's any sort of uncertainty about the authority to approve massive contracts, you're basically inviting lawsuits," said Kevin Kosar, a senior fellow at the free-market think tank R Street. "The stakes are so high, why not sue if you don't get your way?"

And as James O'Rourke, a professor of management at Notre Dame, points out, a major lawsuit or acute funding shortfall could give cover for the USPS' Congressional detractors to pursue privatization.

"That may well provoke a crisis of the sort they're looking for," O'Rourke said.

The USPS maintains that, for the time being, its ability to deliver the mail will not be affected by the governors' absence. In place of the Board, a "Temporary Emergency Committee" (TEC) consisting of the Postmaster General and her deputy will ostensibly allow the postal service to take steps necessary to keep operations running until replacement governors arrive. "We will have the authority to exercise the powers of the Board," said USPS media relations manager David Partenheimer in an emailed statement.

But it is an open question whether the TEC can, in fact, legally continue to wield even a limited set of Board powers without any governors present. "If the USPS continues to take that view, then the powers of the Board of Governors will be wielded by the two people whom the board was to oversee," said Kevin Kosar. "Craziness!"
The Irish government will publish a full legal argument Monday in its appeal against the European Commission's Apple (AAPL) tax ruling.

The Commission said in August that Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to Apple that allowed it to pay "substantially" less tax than other businesses over many years, and ordered Ireland to recover 13 billion ($13.6 billion) plus interest from the world's biggest tech company.

In a brief statement outlining its arguments, the country's Finance Ministry accused the Commission of misapplying state aid law and misunderstanding Irish law and exceeding its authority.

"Ireland does not accept the commission analysis," the Finance Ministry said in a statement. "Ireland did not give favourably tax treatment to Apple- the full amount was paid in this case and no state aid was provided. Ireland does not do deals with taxpayers."

The full report will be published later today.

Apple shares were down 0.1% in Monday pre-market trading at $115.85, it closed at $115.97 on Friday. Apple has previously said it would appeal the decision and that it was committed to staying in Ireland.

Brussels watchdogs took issue with two tax rulings that allowed Apple to pay an effective corporate tax rate of 1% on its European profits in 2003, a rate of 0.05% in 2011 and 0.005% in 2015, or 50 for every 1 million in profit. The so-called 'sweetheart' arrangements, sometimes referred to as a 'Double Irish,' were discontinued last year.

In August, Apple CEO Tim Cook rejected the EC's assertion that Apple paid 0.005% tax in Ireland in 2014.

"They just picked a number from I don't know where. In the year that the Commission says we paid that tax figure, we actually paid $400 million. We believe that makes us the highest taxpayer in Ireland that year," Cook said.

The Commission is expected to release a full version of its decision later this week.

Apple are holdings in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells AAPL? Learn more now.
Germany's Ifo Institute said Monday that it's benchmark business sentiment index improved more than expected this month as manufacturing sector demand notched a significant pickup.

The Munich-based Ifo said its business climate index for Europe's biggest economy rose 0.6 points to 111.0 in December, beating analysts' forecasts of a 110.6 reading and hitting the highest level in nearly three years. It's index of current conditions also improved, rising one point to 116.6 and again topping forecasts of a 115.9 reading.

"The German economy is in a festive mood," said Ifo president Clemens Fuest. "Assessments of the current business situation improved, reaching their highest level since February 2012. The business outlook for the first half of 2017 is also slightly more optimistic. The German economy is making a strong finish to the year."

The reading follows private-sector data from Markit Economics last week which showed Europe's factories running at their fastest rate of output in more than five years.

Markit's flash estimate manufacturing activity in Germany was measured at 55.5 in December, up from 54.3 in the previous month and the fastest pace in nearly three years, Markit said. In France, the reading was measured at 53.5, well above the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction and the best result in more than five years.

Germany's ZEW Center for European Economic Research in Mannheim also said last week that its key barometer of investor expectations remained unchanged at 13.8 points in December, missing forecasts of a modest rise to 14.
In August, the European Union targeted Apple (AAPL) by levying a $14.5 billion tax demand on the tech titan because the European Commission deemed its Irish tax deal illegal state aid. On Monday, Apple fired back, saying it is being wrongfully targeted because of its success and announced its intent to challenge the penalty.

"Apple is really trying to appeal to a lot of us, saying this is a stand for all American companies." TheStreet's Jim Cramer said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" Monday morning.

While he understands Apple's fight in this instance, Cramer remained focused on the iPhone 8's super cycle and reiterated that Apple, ultimately, is a company whose earnings results write its story.

Apple released a statement Monday morning regarding the legal battle in Europe:

"This case has never been about how much tax Apple pays, it's about where the tax is paid. It's been clear since the start of this case there was a predetermined outcome. If their opinion is allowed to stand, Apple would pay 40% of all the corporate income tax collected in Ireland, which is unprecedented and far from leveling the playing field, selectively targets Apple."

"I totally believe that. There is no doubt about it; they are targeting Apple. At the same time, this is Europe," Cramer stated. Apple's legal battle against Europe illustrates a broader manipulation by the continent, Cramer said.

"Who has done the most currency manipulation? Europe. But, Europe gets the free pass, and I do not understand it," Cramer noted. "They have been manipulating their currency down to take business from us; now they are going after our taxpayers. They get the free pass."

Cramer argued that that free pass "ends right here," and should not be allowed even though Europe is largely allied with the U.S. and is a democratic region.

"I don't understand how they can manipulate their currency anymore, and now do this? The U.S. should do everything it can to say this is wrong, stop your currency manipulation," Cramer argued. "I think it's unbelievable what they get away with over there."

(Apple is a core holding of Jim Cramer's charitable trust Action Alerts PLUS. See all of his holding with a free trialhere.)
It is estimated that more than Rs 150 crore worth of imported duty-free bullion has been diverted into the domestic market.

By Atir Khan: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has unearthed a major 'export fraud' run by a unit manufacturing processing gold jewellery operating in Noida's Special Economic Zone (NSEZ). The mastermind of the racket has been arrested and raids are on to zero down on the gold buyers.

It is estimated that more than Rs 150 crore worth of imported duty-free bullion has been diverted into the domestic market. Follow-up searches were being conducted by the DRI officers at multiple locations to further investigate the diversion of imported gold reveal domestic and international linkages of the gold-smuggling network.

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Sources said the mastermind of the racket is a Dwarka-based importer, who had a unit in Noida SEZ and also had one set up in Karol Bagh. It is suspected that he has sold diverted gold to jewellers in Chandni Chowk and Karol Bagh. He was produced in the court and remanded to judicial custody on Monday.

The agency had intercepted a live export consignment declared as 22-carat gold jewellery exported from NSEZ at Delhi cargo terminal. On examination, the consignment was found to contain mostly "copper chains" with 'zero' gold content. It is a clear violation of the scheme in which high grade gold is imported for manufacturing jewellery meant for export.

Also read: Demonetisation in Hyderabad: Gold worth Rs 2,700 crore bought with banned notes

Another consignment of the exporter was intercepted at NSEZ factory premises ready for export to UAE. In all, out of 35 kg declared gold jewellery, about 85-90 per cent was found to be copper alloy and other low-value metal alloys.

The actual imported high purity gold was diverted to the local market. In multiple searches conducted by the DRI on the business and residential premises of the mastermind, a total of 40 kg gold valued around Rs 12 crore has been seized.

The mastermind is also believed to have diverted imported gold bars procured under bond from banks/ nominated agencies for manufacturing jewellery.

The operatives were smuggling high-purity gold imported from Dubai (UAE) into the domestic Indian market by evading 10 per cent basic customs duty. Smuggled gold has been in high demand in India post-demonetisation, since it is being considered a safe commodity to launder 'black-money' available in demonetised notes.

Also read: Black money saga gets weirder: IT department raids crorepati tea seller, tailor

In wake of demonetisation, the DRI is probing the misuse of duty-free gold imports into the country.

--- ENDS ---
Officials in Iran say they hope to claw back any money lost if President-elect Donald Trump were to reverse a deal between the country's state airline and Boeing (BA) .

Chicago-based Boeing on Dec. 11 agreed to sell 80 passenger jets, including 50 737s and 30 777s, worth $16 billion at list price to Iran Air, one of the first deals between a U.S. company and the Islamic Republic as part of an agreement between the two countries to liberalize relationships. But members of the U.S. House of Representatives have already taken steps to limit the sale, and Trump has expressed skepticism about the nuclear deal that serves as a foundation for normalizing relations.

Iran Air CEO Farhad Parvaresh, speaking to reporters on Sunday, said that he is working with Boeing to finalize the plane order prior to Trump's inauguration. He said that should the U.S. government cancel or alter the deal his company would seek to recover lost payments.

"Both sides are committed, and there are scenarios in the contracts for violation of commitments or in case of force majeure to deal with those cases," Parvaresh said.

The deal is important to Boeing both symbolically and because it would fill slots in its 777 production line as global airlines await a refresh of the widebody jet coming at the end of the decade. Boeing in its statement announcing the order said the contract would support thousands of jobs on the 777 line, and nearly 100,000 U.S. aerospace jobs across the supply chain.

Boeing has already planned a slowdown in commercial jet production. Company executives in an email to employees Monday said they intend to trim headcount in the commercial unit by up to 8% in 2017, about double previously plans, due to "fewer sales opportunities and tough competition." The company has cut about 6,000 jobs in its commercial division in 2016.

While the Iran order is far from certain with the Republicans in control of both the White House and Congress in 2017, analysts have said it will be difficult for lawmakers to completely unwind the Iran Air order. In addition to the potential job implications, Jefferies analyst Howard A. Rubel in a Dec. 11 note said "it is hard to put the Genie back in the bottle" once the approvals have been granted.

Iran Air on Sunday also provided a reminder of why it is important for aerospace companies not to put too much emphasis on one order, with the company deciding against ordering two-story A380 aircraft from Boeing rival Airbus. Iran had initially pledged to buy 12 A380s, a big boost for Airbus to what has been a struggling program, but Parvaresh said that portion of what had been a $25 billion order for Airbus jets has been cancelled.

Airbus has already announced plans to scale back production of the A380 in 2017 and again in 2018. The Iran Air order had been seen as a shot in the arm for the A380, which to date has only delivered about 200 frames.
Updated with confirmation of the death of Russia's ambassador to Turkey.

Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, died after being shot in Ankara, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed.

Karlov was shot while visiting an art gallery in Ankara, Turkey, just days after protests in the capital over Russia's role in the conflict in Syria.

The Associated Press reported a gunman wearing a suit and tie and shouting "Allahu Akbar" shot and killed the ambassador. Turkish station NTV reported that police fatally shot the gunman. The station also said three other people were wounded in the attack.

European stocks, which had traded higher through most of the session, ended mixed, with stocks in France finishing lower. U.S. 10-year Treasury bond yields, the global benchmark for safe-haven flows, fell 6 basis points to a near one-week low of 2.53%.

Russia and Turkey have had tense diplomatic relations for the past year linked to the downing of an Su-24 Russia fighter jet by Turkish military aircraft and the two countries' ongoing handling of the escalating war in Syria.

However, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia's President Vladimir Putin had been working more closely of late in order to broker an agreement that would see the evacuation of the besieged city of Aleppo in the hopes of establishing a sustainable ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.

In fact, the two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday in an effort to accelerate efforts that would allow humanitarian aid into the city.
Apple's (AAPL) appeal of a landmark EU decision calling on the company to pay billions in back taxes plus interest, together with the EU's response to Apple's move, paves the way for a long, drawn-out dispute. But a pair of U.S. tax reform proposals could give each side a face-saving way to resolve the matter.

In August, the EU ruled that a pair of tax rulings granted by the Irish government to Apple in 1991 and 2007 amounted to illegal state aid, since they allowed Apple to pay almost no tax on billions of profits earned in various foreign markets until 2014. Ireland was ordered to recover 13 billion ($13.8 billion) in back taxes plus interest on profits previously recorded by Irish subsidiaries.

Apple was quick to denounce the ruling, insisting it received no special treatment from Ireland and declaring the size of the back-tax order to be an arbitrary figure. The Irish government and the U.S. Treasury Department soon joined Apple in criticizing the verdict, with the Treasury Department warning it could "threaten to undermine foreign investment, the business climate in Europe, and the important spirit of economic partnership between the U.S. and the EU."

Now, in a statement following a (widely expected) appeal, Apple claims the EU retroactively changed its tax rules, "disregarding decades of Irish tax law, U.S. tax law, as well as global consensus on tax policy." The company also asserts it was singled out by the EU since it's "a convenient target because it generates lots of headlines."

The Irish government has once more chimed in: It claims Apple's local units shouldn't be taxed for profits earned elsewhere since Apple's products are designed and developed in the U.S. rather than Ireland. It also accuses Brussels of violating Ireland's tax sovereignty.

The EU defends itself in a new filing, claiming it examined Irish tax rulings covering nine other foreign companies and found no consistent set of rules applying to their local subsidiaries. It concludes Apple received "selective" treatment, and that its subsidiaries were used in a way that "did not correspond to economic reality."

Apple is a holding in Jim Cramer'sAction Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells AAPL? Learn more now.

Apple has no choice but to pay the taxes demanded by the EU in the coming weeks. However, until the appeals process is over (it could be years), the cash will be held in escrow.

A few things are worth keeping in mind here. First, this battle is over Apple's past tax payments rather than what it's doing in Ireland right now. The company's foreign tax payments have risen substantially over the last two years.

Second, the EU is only looking for Apple to pay the standard Irish corporate tax rate (currently a modest 12.5%) on future profits funneled to its Irish units from various markets. Though observing other EU countries could make Apple pay more taxes on profits derived from local sales, it's not demanding that they do so.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, Apple's defense partly relies on the view that the profits recorded by its Irish units are ultimately American profits (since most of Apple's management and R&D teams are based in the U.S.) subject to U.S. taxation. Since Apple, like many other U.S. multinationals, has chosen not to repatriate profits obtained overseas in order to paying a 35% tax rate on them, those taxes remain deferred for now.

And while the EU hasn't bought into this view, it has admitted Apple could lower the size of its fine by sending back more of its Irish profits to the U.S. as payment for the R&D work Apple's American operations are providing.

With President-elect Trump pushing for a 10% one-time repatriation tax on offshore cash, the EU's suggestion creates an opening for Apple to substantially reduce its fine by making R&D "payments" to the U.S. that are proportional to the amount of revenue Apple has received from non-U.S. markets. Given that well over half of Apple's revenue has come from overseas locales in recent years, and that the company spent $6 billion on R&D in fiscal 2014 alone, those payments could go a long way towards cutting the fine.

In addition to Trump's repatriation tax plan, it's worth keeping an eye on the "Better Way" tax plan that has been floated by Congressional Republicans, and is looked upon favorably by some members of Trump's team. Among many other things, the plan calls for exempting foreign-derived profits from U.S. taxation.

This would end any chance Apple would have to claim future profits funneled to its Irish units are subject to U.S. taxes, but would provide some valuable clarity. Assuming such a reform went through, Apple's Irish units would likely pay the standard Irish corporate tax rate going forward, but wouldn't have to worry about the profits being taxed again when sent to the U.S.

There's no guarantee these tax reforms go through, of course. But if they do, Apple's battles tax with the EU may in a few years look much the way its patent battles with Samsung (SSNLF) currently do: As something that produced a lot of heat and noise, but ultimately had just a modest financial impact.
The Washington Post has implemented a novel technological solution to keep an eye on the accuracy of what President-elect Donald Trump says over Twitter (TWTR) .

The Washington, DC.-based newspaper -- owned by Amazon (AMZN) CEO Jeff Bezos as of October 2013 through his private investment firm Nash Holdings -- rolled out a new plug-in for Alphabet's (GOOGL) Chrome internet browser this weekend which the Post says "slips a bit more context into Trump's tweets."

The Chrome extension, called RealDonaldContext, provides a small blurb beneath the President-elect's tweets which may include contested information. The blurbs "fact-check" Trump or, in some cases, simply provide additional context, often culled from Washington Post stories, to what he's said on the micro-blogging platform. The plug-in was also launched for Firefox.

Here's what the plug-in looks like in action on Twitter for one of Trump's tweets on Friday:

The Post said that the feature still "isn't perfect," but it will at least give additional information behind some of the President-elect's missives.

As of late Monday, the plug-in had about 13,522 users.

The Post's new feature comes amid heightened scrutiny surrounding "fake news" in the media, an issue which has plagued social media sites such as Facebook (FB) in the wake of November's election.

Facebook is a holding in Jim Cramer'sAction Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells FB? Learn more now.

Like the Post's plug-in for Twitter, Facebook finally released its own solution to the fake news problem last week.

The Menlo Park, Calif. social media company announced it would begin to roll out several updates to help identify and deal with inaccurate content posted on the site.

One of the features makes it easier for users to report a hoax posted on the site. Additionally, the company will place warnings on stories posted on the site that have been flagged by users and will enlist third party organizations to determine whether flagged content is fake or not.

These posts can still be shared, but users will be warned before they post them as well as when they appear in their news feeds. Facebook is also looking into ways to reduce the financial incentives for spammers who are looking to make money off of posting viral misinformation.

Facebook and the Washington Post's efforts could help cut down on the prevalence of false information being spread across social networks.

Trump, however, might claim otherwise, as he has been a vocal opponent of the Post and its owner in the past.

Earlier this year he called the Post "phony" and "dishonest," going so far as to revoke the paper's press coverage of his presidential campaign back in June based on what he called "the incredibly inaccurate coverage and reporting" of his "record-setting" run for the Oval Office.

Trump has also railed against Jeff Bezos, the Post's owner and CEO of e-commerce giant Amazon. He warned Bezos earlier this year that if he were to be elected President, Bezos and Amazon would "have such problems."

The Post's new feature could be Bezos' way to dull some of Trump's claims, which he said in October could "[erode] our democracy around the edges."

Trump invited Bezos to the technology round-table he hosted in New York last week, however, with Bezos saying afterwards that he felt the meeting was very productive.
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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As many as 100 industrial units are on verge of shutdown in Jaipur alone, as lack of liquidity has impacted their business.

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: Demonetisation has dealt a huge blow to industries in Rajasthan which were already reeling under the increased pressure of the power tariff.

India Today visited several areas in Jaipur's Vishwakarma Industrial Area to know the real ground impact that demonetisation has had on the labourers here.

Textiles, gems and stones, Iron and steel, marble are some of the industries that exist here. All of these industries have been severely impacted as a result of demonetisation that was announced on November 8. As many as 100 industrial units are on the verge of shutdown in Jaipur alone, as lack of liquidity has impacted businesses.

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The production has dried up due to lack of funds, retrenchment of labourers and downslide in new orders. Demonetisation has led to a situation where most industries are finding difficult to sustain. Most of them have had to drastically cut down on their workforce post demonetisation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had claimed that demonetisation will help bring black money or the unaccounted wealth out in the open and make the wealthy tax evaders scurrying for cover.

However, a visit to the industrial region shows that it is the migrant labourers and industrialists who have been pushed to the brink. The labourers, mostly from states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who used to make a living based on the wages they earned here, have been pushed to the wall.

CASH CRUNCH

The severe cash crunch and the impact on businesses has resulted in large scale job losses in Rajasthan. Industrialists are blaming demonetisation for the 50 per cent job losses. For the past 7 days, the industrialists that India Today spoke to have been protesting for their business loss. The migrant labourers have been whiling away their time not knowing what lies ahead.

Some industrialists claimed that labourers mostly do not have bank accounts as they do not have proper identification documents, such as PAN cards, Aadhar cards and voter cards. They said that even the banks have been refusing to open accounts for them. Most of these labourers have been asked to come after the December 31.

Demonetisation and the impact that it has left on the jobs has rendered these labourers in a state of quandary. Most of them have not been paid their salaries for the last month.

The increase in industrial power tariff had already put these industries in Rajasthan under tremendous pressure. The labourers and the industrialist now say that demonetisation has added to their miseries.

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Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the electric utility, banking, and renewable/sustainable infrastructure investment businesses in the state of Hawaii. It operates in three segments: Electric Utility, Bank, and Other. The Electric Utility segment engages in the production, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. Its renewable energy sources and potential sources include wind, solar, photovoltaic, geothermal, wave, hydroelectric, municipal waste, and other biofuels. This segment serves suburban communities, resorts, the United States armed forces installations, and agricultural operations. The Bank segment operates a community bank that offers banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses, including savings and checking accounts; and loans comprising residential and commercial real estate, residential mortgage, construction and development, multifamily residential and commercial real estate, consumer, and commercial loans. This segment operates 42 branches, including 29 branches in Oahu, 6 branches in Maui, 4 branches in Hawaii, 2 branches in Kauai, and 1 branch in Molokai. The Other segment invests in non-regulated renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure in the State of Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. was incorporated in 1891 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) Realty major DLFs Chairman K P Singhs daughter Renuka Talwar has bought a bungalow in central Delhi for about Rs 450 crore in her personal capacity.

The property, spread over more than one acre, is located on Prithvi Raj Road in Lutyens Delhi. It was sold by Kamal Taneja, Managing Director of realty firm TDI.

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Renuka Talwar held 15.4 lakh shares, representing 0.09 per cent stake, in DLF as on September 30, 2016. Her husband G S Talwar is non-executive director of the company.

According to sources, Renuka Talwar bought this property few months back and at a price higher than the circle rate. Both DLF and TDI did not comment on this property deal.

There were three-four buyers interested in this property, sources said.

The seller was initially asking for Rs 600 crore but finally settled for about Rs 450 crore, they added.

DLF Chairman K P Singh has two properties in the Lutyens Delhi. Renuka Talwars son Rahul Talwar is likely to reside in this property, sources said.

"Although housing demand is sluggish, there will always be demand for these marquee assets as long as the expectation of both buyers and sellers match," JLL India CEO (Operations) Santosh Kumar said.

There have not been many transactions in Lutyens Delhi, spread over nearly 3,000 acres of mostly government bungalows, he added. PTI MJH ABM

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Global Payments Inc. provides payment technology and software solutions for card, electronic, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Merchant Solutions, Issuer Solutions, and Business and Consumer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization services, settlement and funding services, customer support and help-desk functions, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security services, consolidated billing and statements, and on-line reporting services. This segment also provides an array of enterprise software solutions that streamline business operations of its customers in various vertical markets; and value-added services, such as point-of-sale solutions, and analytic and engagement tools, as well as payroll and human capital management services. The Issuer Solutions segment offers solutions that enable financial institutions and retailers to manage their card portfolios through a platform; and commercial payments and ePayables solutions for businesses and governments. The Business and Consumer Solutions segment provides general-purpose reloadable prepaid debit and payroll cards, demand deposit accounts, and other financial service solutions to the underbanked and other consumers, and businesses under the Netspend brand. It markets its products and services through direct sales force, trade associations, agent and enterprise software providers, referral arrangements with value-added resellers, and independent sales organizations. The company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
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. 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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. 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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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BlackRock, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. It also provides global risk management and advisory services. The firm manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and balanced portfolios. It also launches and manages open-end and closed-end mutual funds, offshore funds, unit trusts, and alternative investment vehicles including structured funds. The firm launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and real estate mutual funds. It also launches equity, fixed income, balanced, currency, commodity, and multi-asset exchange traded funds. The firm also launches and manages hedge funds. It invests in the public equity, fixed income, real estate, currency, commodity, and alternative markets across the globe. The firm primarily invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, SMID-cap, large-cap, and multi-cap companies. It also invests in dividend-paying equity securities. The firm invests in investment grade municipal securities, government securities including securities issued or guaranteed by a government or a government agency or instrumentality, corporate bonds, and asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. It employs fundamental and quantitative analysis with a focus on bottom-up and top-down approach to make its investments. The firm employs liquidity, asset allocation, balanced, real estate, and alternative strategies to make its investments. In real estate sector, it seeks to invest in Poland and Germany. The firm benchmarks the performance of its portfolios against various S&P, Russell, Barclays, MSCI, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch indices. BlackRock, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based in New York City with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts; London, United Kingdom; Gurgaon, India; Hong Kong; Greenwich, Connecticut; Princeton, New Jersey; Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Sydney, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, District of Columbia; Toronto, Canada; Wilmington, Delaware; and San Francisco, California.
Norwegian police have arrested Russian citizen Yan Petrovskiy, who has been living in Tnsberg but fighting for pro-Russian militia in eastern Ukraine.

This is reported by Newsinenglish.no with reference to Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK).

Yan Petrovskiy was recently declared a threat to national security, and his residence permission in Norway has been revoked. That cleared the way for police to arrest the 29-year-old Petrovskiy, who first came to Norway as a teenager, the article reads.

Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that armed police apprehended Petrovskiy at a residence in Tnsberg on Tuesday evening. He had reportedly been living there with a Norwegian tied to the right-wing group Soldiers of Odin.

Photos of Petrovskiy posing with weapons and ammunition have been posted on social media, and he has reported himself that he has traveled back and forth between Norway and Ukraine to take part in battles. He has also posed alongside the burned corpse of a Ukrainian soldier.

ol
Professional wrestling is a sport like no other, it is where the fans often get what they want and the demand is increasing by the year.

While WWE gave into this demand in 2016 by announcing that there will be a pay-per-view approximately every three weeks, this "experiment" has well and truly failed.

The sleepless nights, the struggle to catch up and the overall feeling of "does it really matter?" are factors a British wrestling fan must consider before every special show.

There have been so many PPVs that they no longer feel special, they feel quite bland and dull, 2017 may be a different year but as of yet, the interest of this writer is fading fast.

NXT 2.0

NXT is a show the saves the spectacular for their specials, WWE has become the same (image: flickering myth)

There is an overwhelming feeling behind NXT that you do not actually have to watch their weekly show on the WWE Network as you can follow the storyline from TakeOver to TakeOver.

This dynamic has spilled over onto the main roster where the fans do not have to watch Monday Night Raw or SmackDown Live to see the "must-see" action - because it is no longer must see.

In Britain, WWE broadcasts the Red brand from 1am to 4am on a Tuesday morning, this cannot be helped as the main audience is the United States who watch at their respected peak times.

However, with work and lives not stopping for wrestling, skipping the three hour and two-hour shows where in reality the shock factor has long been missing is often the choice for Brits.

It is a struggle to find a memorable moment that truly shocked the audience on WWE's weekly televised shows, in similar to NXT - add an extra three hours via PPV every three weeks and there is another sleepless night added to a fan's schedule.

The rise of the independents

The wrestling independent scene continues to grow (image: joel lampkin )

The reason so many tune in to WWE is not purely for the world-class performances from the performers, it is due to the world-class production value, which is matched by none.

Professional wrestling has witnessed a surge in popularity that has slowed spread out to the independent scene, which thankfully has become so much more accessible.

However, this has created an issue; with at least seven hours of wrestling per week from WWE to digest, without a PPV, finding a time to expand one's palate of wrestling is a task in itself.

The rise of Fite TV, FloSports and IPPV has meant that independent companies have broadcast their special events and weekly shows directly around the world.

The conversation no longer focuses on WWE as New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Progress Wrestling, WhatCulture Pro Wrestling all enter the discussion - but there is just so little time, but a whole lot of wrestling.

Can WWE honestly believe that it is necessary to host a PPV on the WWE Network, every three weeks? The brand-split may have created a partial need for it, but it seems that while eyes turn towards an independent company, WWE are there to drag your face back to their product.

The roster complex

The in-battle between the rosters of Raw - SmackDown has been bad for most (image:renderkidunya.blogspot.co.uk/)

Remember when the brand split first came about? WWE were intent on sticking the phrase "opportunities" down the audience throats, something that obviously signaled good intentions.

Wrong - how many on the main-roster have honestly had these opportunities to assert themselves into a better position than previous?

On SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler was certainly one of the first to do so as he entered the main-event scene for what felt like the first time in years, only to fade back into the mid-card two weeks later.

He was the focus of the opportunity limelight, yet it seems at this point he was merely a distraction, although the long-term picture is yet to be drawn at this point.

In the women's division of the blue brand, Alexa Bliss, and Carmella, two NXT call-ups asserted themselves as MVP's of this year and have announced themselves as future stars - could the same really be said for their male colleagues?

Who else has been given the opportunity, the attempts to trigger a push have all been cut short on RAW:

Darren Young was never made great again

No one believes in Bo Dallas

The Titus brand is rather bland

Neville is the man that the WWE creative team forgot

Emma or Emmalina, will debut next week - just kidding

On SmackDown, there has been more success than its brand competition but there have still been some flops:

Did you know Curt Hawkins has been booked horribly?

Jack Swagger has disappeared once again

Apollo Crews is best remembered as Apollo Creed

All these faults signal, that either; some of the performers are not good enough, there is not enough TV time, the writers are not good enough.

WWE has long been seen as the golden pot at the end of the rainbow for professional wrestlers, some, however, find that it is nothing as it seems.

The naming crisis

WWE have expressed a lack of creativity in the naming of their PPVS (image: heavy.com)

When was the last time there was a WWE PPV that sounded really cool and different that made you stop and pay attention?

The next event is titled "Roadblock: End of the Line" since when was a roadblock exciting? The tagline is supposed to signal the end of the calendar year for WWE but it still sounds rather dull and tame.

What makes it even stranger is that in March of this year, there was already a Roadblock which was essentially a house-show broadcast on the WWE Network.

Not much happened on the show as it was so close to WrestleMania but the duplicate naming of the two separate shows screams laziness.

In 2016, there have been the names of Payback, Battleground and Fastlane used, these are designed to signal what is in store as it often links to the narratives of the weekly television shows.

However, it seems repetitive year after year with the same B-grade PPV's returning that are clearly not on the level of the big four Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series.

The return of No Mercy as a title created a talking point and even the name sounds enticing, little can be said about Payback or even thought of- where has the creativity disappeared to?

In 2001, the list of PPVs were far more exciting, Judgement Day, Unforgiven, Insurrextion, and Rebellion - all now defunct.

The premise of what to expect has also been nullified as the differences between a TLC and Extreme Rules match is minimal while the special feeling surrounding specialty matches such as a Hell in a Cell is lost.
In a letter addressed to the US president, doctors who have been associated with top US varsities have urged him to order a "full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation" of Trump before he takes office on January 20.

By Press Trust of India: Three leading professors of psychiatry from America's prestigious universities have written to President Barack Obama, expressing their "grave concern" over his successor Donald Trump's mental stability.

In the letter addressed to the US president, the doctors -- one from the Harvard Medical School and two others who have been associated with top US varsities over the years -- have urged him to order a "full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation" before the President-elect takes office on January 20.

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"We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the mental stability of our President-elect," the letter published by the Huffington Post read.

The letter assumes significance as it is written by three distinguished professors of psychiatry -- Judith Herman, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Nanette Gartrell, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry , University of California, San Francisco (1988-2011,) and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (1983-87); and Dee Mosbacher, Ph.D. Assistant Clinical Professor Department of Community Health Systems University of California, San Francisco (2005-2013).

Also read: Donald Trump calls White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest a 'foolish guy'

SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL INSTABILITY

"Professional standards do not permit us to venture a diagnosis for a public figure whom we have not evaluated personally. Nevertheless, his widely reported symptoms of mental instability -- including grandiosity, impulsivity, hypersensitivity to slights or criticism, and an apparent inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality -- lead us to question his fitness for the immense responsibilities of the office," the letter said.

"We strongly recommend that, in preparation for assuming these responsibilities, he receive a full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation by an impartial team of investigators," it said.

Also read: Donald Trump's reply to 'no hope' comment: Michelle Obama must be talking about past

In August, President Obama had questioned the 70-year-old business tycoon's judgement and temperament and called him "unfit to serve as president".

This is not the first time mental health professionals have weighed in on Trump's suitability for office.

In June, Atlantic published a psychologist's findings that Trump suffered from "narcissism, disagreeableness, grandiosity".

MORE PSYCHOPATHIC TRAITS THAN HITLER

In August, an Oxford study claimed that Trump has more psychopathic traits than Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

Psychologist Kevin Dutton from Oxford University ranked the psychopathic traits of the US presidential hopefuls and historical figures using a standard psychometric tool - the Psychopathic Personality Inventory - Revised (PPI-R).

Also read: US President-elect Donald Trump accuses China of 'unpresidented' act, Twitterati trolls him for 'Freudian slip'

Trump outstripped Hitler on factors including social influence and fearlessness, while the Nazi dictator scored higher on cold-heartedness and Machiavellian egocentricity - which describes a lack of empathy and sense of detachment from others for the sake of achieving one's own goals.

--- ENDS ---

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Based on information from the National Civil Protection coordinator, news articles reported that an explosion at Colima occurred at 0943 on 16 December, generating an ash plume that rose 2.3 km above the crater rim and drifted NNW. At 0807 on 17 December an explosion sent an ash plume 1 km above the crater that then drifted NE. Later that day at 2058 a strong explosion (the strongest registered within the past 16 months) ejected incandescent material onto the flanks and ash plumes as high as 2 km. ...

Background:

Colima volcano is one of the most active in North America and one of the potentially most dangerous ones. It has had more than 30 periods of eruptions since 1585, including several significant eruptions in the late 1990s. Scientific monitoring of the volcano began 20 years ago.The Colima volcanic complex is the most prominent volcanic center of the western Mexican Volcanic Belt. It consists of two southward-younging volcanoes, Nevado de Colima (the 4320 m high point of the complex) on the north and the 3850-m-high historically active Volcan de Colima at the south.A group of cinder cones of probable late-Pleistocene age is located on the floor of the Colima graben west and east of the Colima complex. Volcan de Colima (also known as Volcan Fuego) is a youthful stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera, breached to the south, that has been the source of large debris avalanches. Major slope failures have occurred repeatedly from both the Nevado and Colima cones, and have produced a thick apron of debris-avalanche deposits on three sides of the complex. Frequent historical eruptions date back to the 16th century. Occasional major explosive eruptions (most recently in 1913) have destroyed the summit and left a deep, steep-sided crater that was slowly refilled and then overtopped by lava dome growth.---
TECHNOLOGY

Apple appeals E.U. ruling on Ireland taxes

Apple has set up a court battle with European Union watchdogs who ordered Ireland to claw back a record 13 billion euros ($13.6 billion) in unpaid taxes from the iPhone maker.

Apple said Monday it formally appealed the E.U.s Aug. 30 decision to the blocs General Court in Luxembourg.

The E.U. took unilateral action and retroactively changed the rules, disregarding decades of Irish tax law, U.S. tax law, as well as global consensus on tax policy, that everyone has relied on, Apple said in a statement.

In slapping Apple with the tax bill, the E.U. said that Ireland had granted unfair deals that reduced Apples effective corporate tax rate. The U.S. Treasury said the E.U. was acting as a supra-national tax authority that could threaten global tax reform efforts.

Apples appeal adds to the Irish governments challenge submitted to the E.U. court.

The European Commission on Monday published details of its two-year probe, attacking the way Irish authorities taxed profits attributed to two of Apples Irish units.

 Bloomberg News

EMPLOYMENT

Job market strong, Yellen tells grads

Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet L. Yellen said Monday that college graduates are entering the strongest job market the country has seen in nearly a decade.

Yellen said that with changes in the job market, such as technology and globalization, success is increasingly tied to obtaining advanced degrees.

Those with a college degree are more likely to find a job, keep a job, have higher job satisfaction and earn a higher salary, Yellen said in remarks at commencement ceremonies at the University of Baltimore.

Along with the improved unemployment rate, which in November fell to a nine-year low of 4.6 percent, there have been signs that wage growth is picking up, Yellen said.

But she said that challenges remain. The economy is growing more slowly than in past recoveries and productivity growth, which is a major influence on wages, has been disappointing, she said.

 Associated Press

Also in Business

 From news services

Coming Today
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde was found guilty Monday of criminal negligence for a government payout to a business tycoon eight years ago while she served as Frances finance minister, but the IMF said she will remain as the funds managing director.

The French court chose not to sentence Lagarde to a fine or jail time. Yet the charge of negligence threatens to cloud the reputation of the IMF and its managing director as its mission of global economic integration comes under fire from populist governments around the world.

In a statement Monday, Lagarde said she was not satisfied with the courts decision but had chosen not to appeal.

I have been held negligent, but without penalty, without sanction, without registration of the decision. Im not satisfied with it, but theres a point in time when one has to just stop, turn the page, and move on, she said at a news conference. So Im very happy to not appeal this decision, and to focus all my attention, all my time, all my efforts, to my mission as head of the IMF.

[Economic uncertainty drags down global stocks]

In a statement issued later Monday, the IMFs executive board reiterated its support for Lagardes leadership and her ability to continue to effectively carry out her duties.

The Executive Board looks forward to continuing to work with the Managing Director to address the difficult challenges facing the global economy, the statement said.

The trial centered on an arbitration case that has been a fixture of French politics for more than a decade. Critics say Lagarde failed to adequately vet a massive government payout to French businessman Bernard Tapie in 2008, during Lagardes tenure as Frances finance minister under then-President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Tapie, once the major shareholder in the sporting-goods company Adidas, sold the company in 1993 to avoid conflicts of interest before taking a position in the cabinet of Frances then-president, Francois Mitterrand, a Socialist. But the following year, Tapie alleged that Credit Lyonnais, the partially state-owned bank that had overseen the transaction, deliberately devalued his company and defrauded him of millions. Tapie sold Adidas for 315 million euros; it was resold the next year for more than double that price.

[Its gone too far: 17 female French politicians expose sexual harassment]

As French finance minister, Lagarde referred the case to a private arbitration panel that ultimately awarded Tapie a payout of 404 million euros ($421 million). The settlement outraged some, who argued that the bank, then owned by the state, was vulnerable to political favoritism.

A French court has since ruled that Tapie was not entitled to the compensation, and Lagarde was subsequently accused of negligence with public money.

Lagarde, 60, had faced up to a year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros. But one of the presiding judges said Monday that the defendant would face neither and would not have a criminal record.

Legal experts and IMF analysts said that Lagarde had been transparent about the allegations she faced from the beginning of her leadership at the fund.

Now, she has a gray mark on her record, and for those people who do not like her, that may be brought up, said Edwin Truman, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. But I think shes very respected.

In her more than five years at the IMF, Lagarde has led the fund in recognizing the challenge of growing global inequality, changing members voting shares to help account for the growth of emerging nations such as China and persuading countries to provide backup financing for the fund, Truman said. As the first female head of the IMF, she also gained recognition as a role model.

[The global wave of populism that turned 2016 upside down]

Lagarde ran practically unopposed in her reelection to a second five-year term as head of the fund in February, a sign of her relative popularity. Yet analysts said the IMF itself may not share Lagardes renown. The fund has long been a symbol of economic integration and the global elite, both of which have faced criticism with the election of nationalist and populist governments in recent years, including that of Donald Trump in the United States. Trump is expected to confront the question of whether to increase funding for the IMF, a decision that could financially paralyze the institution, Truman said.

Since the financial crisis, the fund has also been associated with belt-tightening initiatives that some argue have worsened recessions and unemployment in struggling economies such as Greece and Spain.

Obviously this all doesnt help the IMF, to have . . . people questioning that she was negligent, said Desmond Lachman, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. But I dont think thats anywhere near the cause of popular resentment toward the IMF. The IMF is regarded very much as part of the political elite, the establishment. So if youre at all unhappy in the way in which the economy is performing, the IMF is going to be among the first institutions to be blamed.

The charges against Lagarde are seen as particularly embarrassing for the IMF, given that her two predecessors both faced unrelated legal charges.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, IMF chief from 2007 to 2011, resigned after facing charges of sexually assaulting a hotel maid. The charges were later dropped.

Rodrigo Rato, the IMF managing director from 2004 to 2007, was accused of misdealings after he left the fund. Rato is now on trial alongside 64 other bankers over the misuse of funds during his tenure at Bankia, a Spanish bank, from 2010 to 2012.

To have yet another IMF managing director with legal issues is not good for the organization, but I would stress that hers seem to be of a totally different order, Lachman said.

Many in France ascribe political motivation to Lagardes trial. Some have described it as a way to attack the conservative Sarkozy, whom Lagarde served as finance chief and who was later supported by Tapie.

Others accused the court of being unnecessarily lenient on Lagarde.

The legal case was also very much a political trial, said Veronique de Rugy, a senior research fellow at George Mason Universitys Mercatus Center.
For its Stradivari Anniversary Concert on Saturday, the Library of Congress drew a set of notably mellow and silver-toned, Antonio Stradivari-crafted instruments from its collection and placed them in the eloquent hands of the Toronto-based Cecilia String Quartet. The ensemble opened its recital with a lean-toned reading of Mozarts D-Minor Quartet K. 421, spun of gossamer textures and the merest hint of vibrato, and closed with Mendelssohns E-Minor Quartet Op. 44, No. 2 in a performance bursting with emotion.

Between those standard-repertoire bookends came a cannily programmed pair of contemporary works. Sofia Gubaidulinas 1971 String Quartet No. 1 starts with the quartet members sharing the same note but quickly devolves into combative interplay that shrieks, murmurs, whines and sputters until the four players are isolated musically (and physically, having gradually retreated to every corner of the stage), essentially babbling to themselves. Written during a dark Soviet period, the work (particularly in the Cecilias razor-sharp performance) felt prescient and pointedly in touch with our own countrys zeitgeist.

The Cecilia String Quartet. (Lisa-Marie Mazzucco)

The U.S. premiere of Canadian composer Kati Agocss 2015 Tantric Variations sounded, in a way, like the mirror-image of Gubaidulinas quartet. Here the musicians begin the work with toneless scraping that gradually coalesces into musical form. Troubled, searching conversations take shape among the four instruments. At times, they are jagged and confrontational, at others blossoming into the kind of unashamedly soaring, tonal melodies that would not be out of place in the Mozart or Mendelssohn quartets on the program. They conclude in euphonious concord. It was as if the very string-quartet structure that Gubaidulina had dismantled in her piece were being reconstituted here and given a sense of hope by Agocs.

The Cecilia, which commissioned Tantric Variations, played it gorgeously. The concert marked the 60th anniversary of the gift of the first of five Stradivari to the Library of Congress.
On a warm September evening in Columbus, Ohio, panicked witnesses called police to report that a group of boys had robbed a man at gunpoint and fled into a maze of alleys and fences on the citys east side.

In the fading light, Officer Bryan Mason cornered two of the boys in an alley, where, according to police, 13-year-old Tyre King pulled a gun from his waistband. Mason fired three rounds, striking the teen in the head, chest and torso.

The black gun police recovered at the scene looked like their own department-issued, polymer-framed Smith & Wesson Military and Police semiautomatic pistol. It even had a laser sight. But police would soon learn that Kings weapon was a BB gun  a facsimile of the gun Mason used to shoot and kill the teen.

At a news conference the next day, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs waved a stock photograph of the BB gun. Our officers carry a gun that looks practically identical to this weapon, she said. . . . It looks like a firearm that could kill you.

(Lee Powell/The Washington Post)

Police across the country say that they are increasingly facing off against people with ultra-real-looking pellet guns, toy weapons and non-functioning replicas.

Such encounters have led police to shoot and kill at least 86 people over the past two years, according to a Washington Post database of fatal police shootings nationwide. So far this year, police have fatally shot 43 people wielding the guns. In 2015, police also killed 43.

The Post analysis is the first accounting of fatal police shootings involving people armed with air guns, toys or replicas, a phenomenon last studied in depth more than 25 years ago, when Congress first sought to address the problem of police shootings involving toy guns. The 86 shooting deaths are among the nearly 2,000 people shot and killed by police since 2015, which The Post is tracking, something no government agency does.

Police recovered a wide variety of the weapons in the fatal shootings, but almost all had one thing in common: They were highly realistic copies of firearms. Of those, 53 were pneumatic BB or pellet guns that fire small-caliber metal balls or pellets. An additional 16 were Airsoft guns, which use compressed air cartridges to fire plastic BBs. Thirteen were replicas, two were toys, one was a starter pistol and one was a lighter.

Experts who study the domestic market for pellet and Airsoft guns said consumer demand for replica firearms has grown.

They are red hot, said Tom Gaylord, an industry consultant who runs a popular blog for the Ohio-based Pyramyd Air, one of the largest air gun retailers in the country. Pyramyd Air declined to comment.

Police say it is virtually impossible to train officers to identify imitation firearms from any distance. Short of eliminating the guns, police have little choice but to assume the guns are lethal.

Efforts to stop production of the guns or radically alter their appearance have mostly failed because of resistance from gunmakers and gun rights groups, such as the National Rifle Association.

Were talking about this 26 years later, and Im not sure anything has really changed except that tragic occurrences continue to happen, said Chuck Wexler, who runs the Police Executive Research Forum, a policing policy think tank that studied the issue in 1990 for Congress. A toy gun in a country with 300 million real guns is hard to distinguish.



Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs holds up a photo of the type of BB gun that police say 13-year-old Tyre King pulled from his waistband just before he was fatally shot on Sept. 14, 2016. (Andrew Welsh-Huggins/Associated Press)

The role of imitation firearms in fatal police encounters reemerged as a national issue in 2014, when Cleveland police fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was playing with a BB gun in a park. Police were responding to a call about a man with a gun outside a local recreation center. The shooting was among a spate of controversial and deadly encounters with police that helped galvanize the Black Lives Matter movement.

Of the 86 fatal shootings involving imitation firearms since 2015, the most common theme was mental illness: 38 of those killed had a history of it, according to their families and police reports. Fourteen of the calls were domestic disturbances. Ten others began as robberies. The remaining circumstances range from patrolling neighborhoods to serving arrest warrants to making traffic stops.

Of the people killed, 50 were white men. The oldest person killed was Robert Patrick Quinn, 77, who was fatally shot in Pittston, Pa., as he rode his motorized scooter outside an apartment complex while waving a realistic-looking pellet gun.

Half of the shootings happened at night. In almost every case, police said the victims failed to comply with an officers orders. In 60 cases, police said they pointed guns at officers.

Among the dead are Ernesto Flores, a mentally distraught 52-year-old man who after a standoff with police in April 2015 stepped out of a pink stucco home in Montclair, Calif., holding a BB gun. Police opened fire, killing Flores in front of his family. One of only five women killed by police was 17-year-old Shelly Haendiges, who was shot in Kokomo, Ind., after police responded to a robbery call and found her pointing a pellet gun at a store clerk. Her family said she suffered from mental illness.

Two of the most recent shootings happened in October in Elkton, Md., where police shot and killed Brandon Jones and Chelsea M. Porter, both 25 and of Dover, Del., after they pointed BB guns at police who were trying to arrest them.

The BB gun recovered after police killed King, the Ohio teenager, was made by Umarex USA, one of the largest air gun and firearm manufacturers in the world and the self-proclaimed king of replicas. Umarex makes air guns under the Beretta, Colt, Smith & Wesson, HK, Ruger and Browning brands. It sells BB guns that are copies of such firearms as the iconic Colt Peacemaker, which was first produced in the 1870s, and the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine, a mainstay of specialized military and police units. The Umarex 40XP BB gun that King allegedly brandished sells for about $50 in stores, including Walmart.

Gunmaker Sig Sauer makes air guns that are advertised as carbon copies of their most popular lethal firearms, including the P226 semiautomatic handgun. A commercial on the Sig Sauer website displayed the BB gun and the lethal P226 as reflections of each other in a mirror.

Umarex USA and Sig Sauer did not return repeated calls seeking comment.

Gun rights groups, including Gun Owners of America, based in Virginia, have lobbied against laws that seek to alter air guns to make them distinguishable from firearms.

Michael E. Hammond, a legal adviser to the gun-rights group, said the alterations never seem to be enough for those who dislike guns. It all arises out of this general animus and media-fed fear of anything that has to do with guns, Hammond said.

The NRA declined to comment.

In Ohio, where King and Rice were killed, the state does not regulate BB guns and also allows firearms to be openly carried.

The day after Rices death, black legislators in Ohio tried to regulate the guns, introducing a law requiring all BB and pellet guns sold in the state to have special markings or be brightly colored. The bill died in committee.

Two years later, police shot King. Why is it that a 13-year-old would have nearly an exact replica of a police firearm on him in our neighborhoods, an eighth-grader involved in very, very dangerous conduct in one of our neighborhoods? Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther (D) said at a news conference after the shooting.





Safety on

In the 1980s, a string of police shootings of children prompted Congress to pass the first and only federal regulations on toy guns.

In 1983, 5-year-old Patrick Andrew Mason was alone in his Stanton, Calif., home when an officer who was called to the unit to do a welfare check mistook the boy with his red toy gun for a burglar; the boy was fatally shot while his single mother was away at work, according to news reports. In 1988, officers in San Francisco responding to a report of shots fired mistook a plastic toy gun for a .22-caliber pistol and shot a 13-year-old mentally disabled boy in the head, killing him.

Parents began to push manufacturers to make the guns appear less realistic. Retailers such as Toys R Us stopped carrying realistic toy guns, and toy manufacturers began adding an orange plug to toy guns. After several states restricted the use of imitation firearms, Congress in 1988 passed a law requiring the bright orange barrel plug on all toy guns. The law applied to water guns, many replicas and Airsoft guns that fire nonmetallic projectiles, but it exempted BB, pellet guns and replicas of antique firearms.

The law also mandated two studies on whether the new orange tips would prevent shootings.

In one study, FBI recruits were confronted by assailants carrying firearms or guns with orange tips. The recruits had two seconds to decide whether to shoot. When faced with unmarked replica pistols or guns with orange tips, officers shot 95 percent of the time.

It is clear from this study that the orange plug marking system does not help police officers distinguish between toy guns and real guns, concluded the 1989 report, which was managed by the National Institute of Justice.

The second study a year later reached the same conclusion, saying that police response when confronted with the guns was linked to environmental factors  such as what a police dispatcher tells an officer. Calls for service in a high-crime area, for example, might lead officers to consider a worst case scenario, said the report, overseen by the Police Executive Research Forum.

But it was the behavior of the person holding the toy gun that mattered most.

If they are told theres a person with a gun acting in a threatening manner, thats what they respond to, said David L. Carter, a professor at Michigan State University who spoke to officers in 27 law enforcement agencies for the 1990 study.

Last year, Congress revisited the issue when Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) introduced a bill that would force the country to enact a law similar to Californias, which requires the entire surface of all toy and BB guns be painted a bright color.

No child should ever die because a police officer or anyone else mistakes a toy gun for a real weapon, Boxer said in a news release at the time.

The bill stalled in committee.

Twelve states and the District and Puerto Rico have banned the guns or imposed restrictions on their use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In the District, realistic-looking toy or air-powered guns cannot be possessed in public. In 2012, D.C. police seized about 450 imitation guns, according to the most recent data available.

Baltimores City Council this month passed a similar ban, responding to an April shooting and wounding by police of a 14-year-old carrying a BB gun.

In 2015, Boston outlawed imitation firearms in public. The law allows police to confiscate those guns, and they have seized 139 this year. Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans said if a facsimile gun has been used in a crime, police will charge a suspect with possession of a real gun.

They are the exact same unless you have it in your hand and take it apart, Evans said.



Maurice Cardwell, Tyre Kings father, wears a pin in remembrance of his son during an event on what would have been Kings 14th birthday on Dec. 7. (Andrew Spear/For The Washington Post)

Dangerous and unfair

In March in Gainesville, Fla., Alachua County sheriffs officers were called to a parking lot where they encountered 16-year-old Robert L. Dentmond, who was armed with what appeared to be an AR-15 assault rifle.

Dentmond was a high school sophomore who had lived in foster care, according to police reports. His mother went to prison and his father physically abused him, the records show. He was on probation for burglary.

One bright spot for Dentmond was Cayla Todd, his girlfriend of one month.

But on the night of March 20, Todd said they fought online and that she ended the relationship. Dentmond sent her a Facebook message, which investigators later found.

Im finna have the police shoot me, Dentmond wrote.

At 10:07 p.m., Dentmond called police and said that he was at the Majestic Oaks Apartments with an M-16.

When deputies and officers from the Gainesville Police Department arrived, they saw the 6-foot tall Dentmond, dressed in gray pajama pants and a blue jacket, in the middle of a dimly lit parking lot holding a gun.

Crouching behind dumpsters and parked cars, police ordered him to drop the gun, according to police.

Drop it now, or you will be shot! officers yelled.

After 24 minutes, Dentmond leveled what looked to officers like an assault-type rifle and began walking. Nine officers opened fire and didnt stop until the gun fell from his hand. He died at a hospital.

After the shooting, police saw Dentmonds weapon had broken in two, according to a state report. When picking up the pieces, an officer noticed that their weight did not feel right and they seemed to be plastic.

Officers did not learn until the next morning that Dentmonds gun was a toy, an Airsoft rifle with the orange tip removed.

Some of them broke down in tears, Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell said. Its not a high-five situation. Its a devastating career-long and lifelong impact.

Grant McDougall, the psychotherapist who evaluated the deputies after the shooting, said they all wished that they could go back and change the outcome.

Every single one of them  some of them very graphically  grieved the loss, even if they would sit here and tell me they did the right thing, McDougall told The Post.

A grand jury investigating the shooting cleared the officers and suggested that the state ban imitation firearms.

It is dangerous and unfair to all for law enforcement to confront a situation where to all appearances a real weapon is involved, only to be subjected to intense second-guessing after the fact when that turns out not to have been so, the jury said.

Dentmonds family could not be reached for comment.

Todd told The Post that police could have done more.

He was only 16 years old. He didnt need to die, she said.

Three months later, it almost happened again.

In June, Alachua County deputies got a call that two groups of young men were driving around with AK-47s.

The department sent every available unit, and they quickly came upon a black Honda Civic and a black Toyota Camry. Men wearing werewolf masks were hanging out of the cars sunroofs waving what appeared to be Heckler & Koch MP5 machine guns, according to Darnell and records.

Police disarmed the men. The guns were plastic toys, and the gunmen, university students were making a movie for a film contest.

This is what those of us in law enforcement are so concerned about, Darnell said. You never know whats real or whats not, so part of the solution is to ban the sale of toy or replica guns.



Demonstrators hold a rally for Tyre King outside city hall in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 19, 2016. (John Minchillo/Associated Press)

Oh, hes shooting them

In Columbus, Ohio, Chief Kim Jacobs has spent the past few months explaining to outraged community members why one of her veteran police officers fatally shot a 13-year-old carrying a BB gun. She wants people to understand how a mix of panicked reports of armed mayhem and a real-looking gun can turn deadly.

Complicating the matter is that the officer, Bryan Mason, had been involved in three shootings since 2009, one of them fatal. In 2012, Mason shot and killed a man who was pointing a firearm at another person. In all cases, Masons use of force was ruled justified by the department. Jacobs said Mason would not be allowed to comment until the conclusion of the investigation.

Jacobs said the shooting has taken its toll on everyone, including Mason.

You go to work and you do your job, and then all of the sudden youre under criminal investigation, Jacobs said.

Kings family has no sympathy for Mason. Aint nobody held accountable, said his father, Maurice Cardwell. Theres no wrongdoing over there it seems. And youre killing kids?

Sept. 14 started out like most days for Tyre King. His parents described him as an astute child who worked selling candy, cutting grass and trimming hedges.

After King returned from school that day, he finished his homework and left his house. At 7:42 p.m. witnesses called 911 to report a robbery. The callers said a gunman wearing a hoodie and baggy pants fled the scene. The robbery victim came on the line and told dispatchers, Im not going to mess with it over $10. Another witness said seven or eight armed men were running away with police chasing them.

Oh, hes shooting them. Oh, my God, a caller said, apparently describing police shooting King.

Chanda L. Brown, an attorney for the family, said they had serious doubts that King was involved in the robbery and that he did not own a BB gun. Police have not disclosed the source of the gun. Brown said that she thinks King was shot running away, not pulling a gun.

The only person charged in the robbery is Demetrius E. Braxton, 19. His attorney, Lodema MPoco, told The Post last week that Braxton admits he used the gun to commit the robbery while King and others waited nearby. MPoco said Braxton then passed the gun to King, who put the weapon in his pants. Braxton said that after police ordered him and King to the ground, King ran and Mason shot him. MPoco said Braxton did not see King pull the BB gun from his pants.

Braxton pleaded guilty last month to felony robbery charges. In court he described the episode as a lapse in judgment. As the oldest, I should have been the one to tell everybody, Lets not do this,  the Columbus Dispatch reported.

Brown, the King familys attorney, said police failed to train officers how to deal with children with BB guns.

Anyone that takes the blame and puts it on a 13-year-old instead of an officer thats been trained  or should be trained  in how to evaluate and respond to situations like this, I think theyre missing the bigger picture here, Brown said. Shooting should be the last resort.

For Jacobs and other officers, they seldom have the benefit of weighing all the evidence and making a decision.

People dont really understand the dynamics of a police-involved situation, how fast they occur, Jacobs said. They all have families, they want to go home at the end of their shift.

Lee Powell, Teaganne Finn, Josephine Peterson and Taylor Hartz contributed to this report. This article was produced in partnership with the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University, where Courtney, Houston, Finn, Peterson and Hartz are students.


Dubbed a social stay, the shared rooms at the Hollander in Chicago include an en suite bathroom and sleep four to six in bunks, starting at $25 a night. When booking, guests have the option of sharing their Instagram handle so they can connect with others before their arrival. (Adrian Gaut/Grupo Habita)

Ive been in my room at the Hollander in Chicago about three minutes when I realize Im not alone. An exaggerated sniffling noise comes from the top bunk, just over my left shoulder, startling me.

The fact that theres someone in my room isnt as alarming as it might seem. Its a newly opened hotel-hostel hybrid, and Ive booked a night in a womens room with six bunks. I thought I was poking around unobserved  turning on the individual lamps by each of the bunks and preparing to snap a photo of the lofty shared space  when she announces her presence.

Oh, Im sorry! I say. I didnt know anyone was in here!

She doesnt respond. She doesnt even look at me.

Slightly rattled, I head to the lobby to get a cup of coffee and consider the irony of her silence. The shared rooms at this swanky new lodging are promoted on the website as a social stay. That applies to social-media interactions; guests are given an opportunity to share their Instagram handle when booking the room to see with whom theyre staying, although there were none posted the night Im there. It also implies social in the more traditional sense  interacting in the room youre sharing with others and in the common areas, such as the lobby, combo bar and cafe, and laundry.

Whether the social experiment works or not, theres something else at play at the Hollander that I find far more intriguing. Its interiors, designed by a French firm, feel more boutique hotel than hostel, with wraparound booths, low-lying woven chairs, paint peeling just enough on the walls to look intentionally industrial chic. The bar serves coffee, craft beers and bottled cocktails; a bike shop is in the works, and a rooftop pool and bar with restaurant will open in the spring. In addition to the eight social-stay rooms with en-suite bathrooms, where beds start at $25 a night, there are 12 private rooms that sleep three to four and start at $105 a night. Social or not so social, one thing is clear: This isnt your hippie backpacking hostel.



The common area at the Hollander aims to encourage social interaction. Chairs are grouped around tables, and coffee, beer, cocktails and snacks are available at the on-site cafe. Movie nights and a bike shop are planned. (Adrian Gaut/Grupo Habita)

[D.C.s first Pod hotel  seen through millennial and Gen X eyes]

Hotel and rental alternative

Poshtel is the cutesy name occasionally given to places like the Hollander, and according to Feargal Mooney, chief executive of Hostelworld Group, an online platform for booking rooms in 33,000 hostels around the world, the upscale appeal is becoming widespread throughout the hostel industry.

The majority of hostels now are high-quality products, Mooney says. Theyre offering a combination of private rooms and shared rooms, theyre offering restaurants and bars, theyre offering free WiFi, theyre offering 24/7 reception desk and security. So that is the norm in the industry now.

While renting a bed in a shared room with strangers may not appeal to everyone, a hostels private room option presents an enticing and affordable hotel alternative. According to Global Hostel Marketplace 2014-2018, a report commissioned by Hostelworld and conducted by Phocuswright, a travel industry research firm, 9 out of 10 hostels have private rooms. Id happily book a private room with my husband in a hostel for a more local, down-to-earth overnight. For those traveling with a group, filling one of the shared rooms with three or five friends would be a blast  an inexpensive one, at that. The Hollander, in particular, has an awesome location in Chicago, surrounded by the restaurants, bars and music venues of Bucktown and Wicker Park, about three miles from downtown, where most hotels are.



Private rooms with en suite bathrooms start at $105 a night and sleep three to four people at the Hollander. (Adrian Gaut/Grupo Habita)

Take a quick glimpse around the globe, and its easy to find Instagram-ready hostel-hotels with spas, pools, bars, restaurants, art galleries and microbreweries. Urban House , in Copenhagen, boasts a tattoo studio and bike shop, and hosts live music nights and movie nights throughout the week. At the Yellow Hostel in Rome, theres an underground club, an on-site bar and Italian restaurant, bicycle rentals, a stage for live performances and a rooftop terrace; a salon and co-working space are planned. The wellnessHostel in the Swiss Alps resort village of Saas-Fee flexes its well-being muscle with a spa, indoor pool, fitness center and a restaurant serving regional fare.



A shared room in Urban House, a hotel-hostel hybrid in Copenhagen. (Niels Vogensen Biasevich/Urban House)

Urban Houses lounge area. It also boasts a tattoo studio and bike shop. (Urban House)

The United States has long lagged behind much of the world when it comes to hostels, Mooney says. The United States and Canada are home to just 3 percent of hostel properties, accounting for 10 percent of global hostel revenue, according to the report. Compare that to hotels, where the United States draws 28 percent of global revenue. Theres significant room for U.S. growth in the $5.2 billion hostel industry.

[Corpse in the garden: A worst-case guide to vacation rental nightmares]

To capture a piece of that pie, the Hollander and other properties are dangling tried-and-true hipster magnets, like, well, avocado toast. About four miles northeast of the Hollander, in the tony River North neighborhood, is the Freehand hotel. Here, amid the private and shared rooms, the on-site restaurant, Cafe Integral, serves $9 avocado toast. The bar, Broken Shaker, whips up a Cracker Jack Old Fashioned  popcorn washed mellow corn and Old Forester whiskies stirred with salted molasses and ballpark peanut bitters all in a sophisticated setting designed by the New York firm Roman and Williams. Freehand also has a location in Miami and will open one in Los Angeles in February and in New York in fall 2017. The Wayfarer Hotel in Santa Barbara, Calif., which opened its downtown doors in 2014 with 27 private rooms and four shared rooms, hosts regular social events including pool parties, pub crawls, cooking demonstrations and live music nights. It also has a heated outdoor pool, free breakfast and WiFi, and bike rentals. And Generator, a beloved European outfit that bills itself as design-led hostels, is opening its first U.S. location, in Miami, in fall 2017.



A shared dorm room at the Wayfarer in Santa Barbara, Calif., is offered in female-only and male-only accommodations and sleeps up to five people. (The Wayfarer)

The Wayfarers community kitchen and dining area offers a daily complimentary continental breakfast. (The Wayfarer)

The sharing economy

Mehmet Erdem, an associate professor of hotel operations and technology at the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, says that the appeal of modern hostels touches on a couple of buzzwords that resonate with younger generations: sharing economy (youre sharing a room, after all) and the experience economy. Why sleep in a boring, beige cookie-cutter hotel room when you can book a bed or a room in a funky, renovated warehouse?

The focus is more on creating memories. . . . Theres an underlying element of luxury, but its not so much on the forefront. And the emphasis is on the experience, Erdem says. They want to experience something unique so they can get back on Facebook and share it with their friends.

Mooney of Hostelworld is quick to point out that its not just the bells and whistles that are helping hostels fill rooms. Its also that social aspect that the Hollander is going after  something thats especially appealing to young travelers (70 percent of hostel guests are millennials, according to the report) and solo travelers, which make up 72 percent of hostel guests in the United States.

[Carrying a throwaway wallet and other tips in avoiding travel scams]

What theyve got thats different from a boutique hotel is a very vibrant social experience, and theyll all have a common area where customers would go to interact and engage with other international travelers. Thats really what makes hostels different than a hotel or any other form of budget accommodation, Mooney says.

And thats something that will need to take place organically in due time, judging from my experience at the Hollander. I think back to my phone interview a week earlier with Carlos Couturier. Couturier is co-founder of Grupo Habita, the Mexico-based hotel developer that operates the Hollander. He was lamenting the fact that those of the younger generation seem to have forgotten how to talk to one another. They walk around with headphones on, he said, and stare at their phones.

Weve lost our patience to interact and connect, and we have to do something about that, he says. So this is how were trying to do it through hospitality.

While I dont have any other interactions with guests (at 5 oclock on a Friday evening, two men and one woman sit strategically far from one another in the lobby, staring at their laptops), I chat with the warm staff at the front desk and the bar, and get an excellent recommendation for dinner that night.

Later, when I return to my room at about 10 p.m., the lights are off and the sniffler in the top bunk is asleep. I climb to my own top bunk as quietly as I can and try to doze. Around midnight, another woman enters the room and crawls into a bottom bunk. In the dark, I can hear occasional snores, coos and stretching sounds coming from the other bunks  intimate sounds, now laid bare for strangers.

The latecomers alarm goes off at 6 a.m. She pushes snooze, and it goes off again at 6:10. She shows no sign of getting up, and I harbor no hope of falling back asleep, so I use the flashlight app on my phone to gather my items and tiptoe out.

The social part of me  were it to be called upon, after all  doesnt really do mornings.

Silver is a writer based in Chicago.

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She was groomed to be rich, famous and wed to a king. She became a perpetual jet-setter, one of the most conspicuous names, faces and figures in the world. Reporters and photographers chronicled her every affair and scandal. She married well but not always wisely, nine times in all, with no monarch in the bunch, just a prince who bought the title.

In the otherwise staid cultural landscape of the 1950s and 1960s, Zsa Zsa Gabor stood out as a show business personality. Across continents she was recognized for the majestic sweep of blond hair, her green eyes and porcelain skin, her swanlike neck and her fetching Hungarian accent, plump with innuendo.

Diamonds are a girls best friend and dogs are a mans best friend, she once remarked. Now you know which sex has more sense.

Ms. Gabor, the voluptuous sometime-actress, international party girl and celebrity who cut a template for later and lesser socialite-somethings with names such as Kardashian and Hilton, died Dec. 18 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 99.

[Who was Zsa Zsa Gabor? She paved the way for Kim Kardashian and Donald Trump, dahhling.]

1 of 20 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Zsa Zsa Gabor: A lifetime of fame View Photos Famous for being famous, Hungarian-born celebrity Zsa Zsa Gabor, who had a penchant for well-known men and the glamorous life, has died. She was 99. Caption Famous for being famous, Hungarian-born celebrity Zsa Zsa Gabor, who had a penchant for well-known men and the glamorous life, has died. She was 99. 1951 Zsa Zsa Gabor arrived at the Academy Awards with her husband, actor George Sanders. She was married nine times. AP Wait 1 second to continue.

Her publicist, Edward Lozzi, confirmed the death. The cause was not immediately known.

For much of her life Ms. Gabor kept her age preposterously vague. Reports of her birth year spanned from 1916 to 1930. If the latter was to be believed, she was 7 when she married for the first time.

Her prominence depended almost entirely on her gusto for extravagant living, piquant quips about jewels and sex, and her self-help tips for the modern-day paramour. Among her bon mots:

 Getting divorced just because you dont love a man is almost as silly as getting married just because you do.

 Im a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house.

 I never hated a man enough to give him back his diamonds.

 I want a man whos kind and understanding. Is that too much to ask of a millionaire?"

Zsa Zsa Gabor in 1996. (Kim Kulish/AFP/Getty Images)

She seemed most in her element in nightclubs and on late-night talk shows, from the Jack Paar to the David Letterman eras. In a typical TV exchange, a woman seeking advice asked if she did wrong when she spent the night with a man.

Dahhhling, Ms. Gabor said in her accented English, dont you remember?

The tawny-haired glamour magnet  often photographed wearing diamonds and white fur  displayed a talent for attracting men and headlines.

She said her conquests included Frank Sinatra, Richard Burton, Sean Connery, Dominican playboy Porfirio Rubirosa and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, widely known as the father of modern Turkey but to her a professional lover, a god and a king.

In 1958, she accepted a $17,000 chinchilla coat and a Mercedes-Benz from Rafael Trujillo Jr., the son of the Dominican strongman. She was rebuked on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives during a debate over foreign aid for the Caribbean nation.

From the well of the House floor, Rep. Wayne L. Hays  an Ohio Democrat whose career unraveled decades later over his own sex scandal  called her the most expensive courtesan since Madame de Pompadour.

That same night, Ms. Gabor flew to Washington for a nightclub date and was mobbed by reporters seeking a comment.

Im a hard-working girl, she said blithely.

Most reviewers regard Ms. Gabors best screen-acting work to be in director John Hustons Moulin Rouge (1952), in which she portrayed Jane Avril, the nightclubs renowned chanteuse who modeled for artist Toulouse-Lautrec.

But Ms. Gabor said she detested working with Huston, who demanded that she suppress her considerable personality to allow the characters to emerge.

I was hired because I am Zsa Zsa Gabor, but when I go to work, directors try to force their methods on me, she said. John Hustons intense, precise directions tortured me. Huston was said to have advised her: Forget about acting. Just make love to the camera.

For the rest of her career, her performances were notable mostly for her cool and stylish looks. Ms. Gabor was a wealthy widow in Death of a Scoundrel (1956), and she breezed through Queen of Outer Space (1958) as Talleah, ruler of an all-female civilization on Venus.

She had a small part as a strip-club owner in Orson Welless Touch of Evil (1958) and played twins, one of whom sleeps with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, in The Girl in the Kremlin (1957).

In her later years, she was hired to play campy versions of herself in films including The Naked Gun 2 1/2 (1991) and The Beverly Hillbillies (1993).

Ms. Gabor wrote advice books, including How to Catch a Man, How to Keep a Man, How to Get Rid of a Man (1970). The husbands she caught, kept and got rid of included Turkish diplomat Burhan Belge, hotel magnate Conrad Hilton and Oscar-winning actor George Sanders, who later married Ms. Gabors sister Magda.

Her other husbands included financier Herbert Hutner, oil executive Joshua Cosden Jr., inventor Jack Ryan (designer of Mattels Barbie doll), lawyer Michael OHara and Mexican businessman Felipe de Alba, whose marriage to Ms. Gabor lasted three days in 1982.

Ms. Gabor embodied a joie de vivre in the face of adversity.

When Sanders reportedly hired detectives to find evidence she was having an affair with Rubirosa  onetime spouse of heiresses Barbara Hutton and Doris Duke  Ms. Gabor was said to have served the detectives champagne upon their arrival at the trysting spot.

Sometimes her flair backfired.

In 1989, a Beverly Hills policeman stopped her for expired registration tags as she was driving in her Rolls-Royce convertible. Words were exchanged. She slapped him.

In court, Ms. Gabor was convicted on misdemeanor charges of battery on a police officer, driving without a valid drivers license and having an open bottle of alcohol in her car. A judge sentenced her to spend three days in jail, pay a $12,000 fine and serve 120 hours of community service.

He also ordered Ms. Gabor, who was likely in her early 70s, to list her true age on her driver's license. She claimed she was 59.

Sari Gabor, who received her nickname Zsa Zsa in childhood, was born in Budapest, most likely on Feb. 6, 1917. Her parents, Vilmos Gabor and the former Jolie Tilleman, were jewelry and porcelain merchants. Jolie, in particular, spoke of pushing her three beautiful daughters  the other two were Magda and Eva  to be rich, famous and married to kings.

Zsa Zsa Gabor studied dance, languages and singing, and did stage work as a young woman. European society columns took note of her looks and love affairs. She was reported to have eloped for the first time at 14 and married Belge, the Turkish diplomat, in 1937.

She left Ankara, the Turkish capital, for Hollywood in 1941 with eight trunks of clothes. Her sister Eva, later to star on the CBS sitcom Green Acres, had taken up residence in the film colony.

Zsa Zsa Gabor immersed herself in a social circle that included the hotelier Hilton, whom she married in 1942 despite their three-decade age gap. The marriage crumbled for many reasons, including her tendency to rack up exorbitant bills.

Her embrace of grand living culminated in her aptly titled 1991 memoir, One Lifetime Is Not Enough, a book that billed the author as Assisted by, Edited by, and Put Into Proper English by Wendy Leigh.

In 1986, Ms. Gabor wed Prince Frederic von Anhalt, a German police detectives son who bought the title of a minor aristocrat. He is her only survivor.

In 2005, Ms. Gabor and von Anhalt sued her only child, Francesca Hilton, for allegedly faking her mothers signature to obtain a $2 million loan on the Gabor-von Anhalt mansion in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The case was dismissed in 2007 when Ms. Gabor did not show up in court, citing poor health.She had been partially paralyzed since a car wreck in 2002 and suffered leg infections that prevented her from going to court, her lawyers said.

Befitting her long career in the spotlight, every turn in her health, usually for the worse, was picked up by the tabloid media. She underwent hip surgery in 2010, then her right leg was amputated to avoid the spread of an infection.

There were accounts of her receiving last rites, then rallying to a more stable condition as her far-younger husband collapsed from exhaustion.

Francesca Hilton died in January 2015 at 67.

When asked her assessment of other socialites fond of the media glare, Ms. Gabor usually said she found them lacking. I think shes rather silly, she told Vanity Fair magazine of Paris Hilton, the great-granddaughter of her second husband. She does too many things for publicity.
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) announced Monday that her deputy mayor for health and human services Brenda Donald, right, will return to her old job leading the District's child welfare agency. (Fenit Nirappil/TWP)

Mayor Muriel E. Bowsers top aide on health-care issues is returning to the Child and Family Services Agency for a third stint leading the long-scrutinized department that investigates child abuse and manages foster care.

Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Brenda Donald has been filling in as the departments interim head since the last director abruptly resigned in October.

Bowser (D) tapped HyeSook Chung, an advocate for children and women, to replace Donald as deputy mayor. At a Monday news conference at the Child and Family Services Agency headquarters, Bowser told staffers that she was surprised when Donald requested to return to her old post.

Not many people come to their boss and say, Boss, I dont want that job that you promoted me to, I want the other job that I had,  Bowser said.

[Head of D.C. child welfare agency leaves as problems persist]

But Donald thought she had more work to do after leading the agency under former mayors Vincent C. Gray and Anthony Williams, overseeing a push to reduce the number of children in foster care in favor of keeping families together.

The agency has been monitored by a federal court since 1993, the result of a class-action lawsuit alleging that the District had failed its most vulnerable children.

Advocates for children and the independent court monitor have said that the Districts progress has stalled in recent years.

The Districts attempts to end court monitoring faltered after the 2008 case of Banita Jacks, convicted of killing her four children, highlighted the citys continuing struggle to safeguard children at risk.

On Monday, Donald vowed to make significant strides in the next year toward meeting the remaining goals to end federal oversight. They include more quickly closing child abuse investigations and increasing the number of visits by social workers to troubled families.

We are driving our agenda to be the best child welfare agency in the country, Donald said. We will get out of the lawsuit when we do all of things we need to do.

The most recent report from an independent court monitor last week credits the agency for more quickly investigating child neglect, monitoring children in foster care and avoiding short-term home placements. But it noted that since July, 10 children spent the night at agency offices instead of foster homes.

[Council members propose radical revisions to paid family leave bill]

Donald said those overnight stays were not because the District lacked foster homes but because of special circumstances including teenagers who refused to go to their assigned placements.

Even some critics of the Districts child welfare system have praised Donald as an effective leader.

She probably moved CSFA farther in her tenure than anyone else in the history of CSFA, said Judith Sandalow, executive director of the Childrens Law Center. She believes you get out of lawsuits by actually helping kids.

As the mayors point person on homelessness, health care and human services since she took office 2015, Donald has grappled with several controversies.

The chief executive of the Districts public psychiatric hospital resigned after a month on the job amid questions over his qualifications, including turmoil at the last hospital he led and questions about his accreditation. Donald had interviewed him for the job.

Donald was also a key player in the mayors plan to shut down the homeless family megashelter at D.C. General and replace it with smaller facilities throughout the city. The City Council substantially rewrote the plan after concerns over the costs and benefits to the mayors political donors.

And Donald sat on the board of the D.C. Trust nonprofit that was supposed to hand out millions in taxpayer funds for programs benefiting at-risk youth, but declared bankruptcy and folded this year after mismanagement. Bowser praised Donald for her handling of the aftermath to minimize disruptions to youth program.

To succeed Donald, Bowser chose a longtime advocate with a data-intensive background to help streamline how the city serves its most vulnerable.

Since 2009, Chung has led D.C. Action for Children, a nonprofit advocacy group with a data-centric approach to public policy. She says she had government experience earlier in her career working on heroin addiction and child welfare policy in Massachusetts.

As an advocate, Chung has used data to criticize District education policy, although she recently defended a controversial plan to change how the city assigns nurses to schools.
Two D.C. Council members are proposing dramatic revisions to the citys landmark bill guaranteeing up to two months of paid time off for new parents, setting up a showdown among rival council factions and Mayor Muriel E. Bowser as the council meets Tuesday to take a final vote on the legislation.

The alternative bill from members Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3) would guarantee the same amount of paid leave as the existing bill, to which the council gave preliminary approval earlier this month: eight weeks for new parents, six weeks to care for an ailing family member and two weeks of personal sick time. It would be among the most generous paid family leave laws in the country.

But rather than taxing businesses to fund those benefits, Evans and Cheh want to require that private employers provide the specified amounts of time off. Businesses with 70 or fewer workers would be eligible for a $200-per-employee annual tax credit to ease the cost of compliance.

The last-minute maneuvering came as the impact of paid family leave on businesses large and small dominated the public debate about the bill.

More than a year in the making, the existing version of the legislation would be a coup for the councils progressive lawmakers and a setback for Bowser (D), who has repeatedly fought it, citing its expense and the fact that most District workers who would benefit live in Virginia and Maryland.

The changes  announced unexpectedly Monday when Evans and Cheh showed up at a news conference held by Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), who drafted the current paid-leave bill  are backed by major business interests in the city.

In a full-page ad in Tuesdays Washington Post, the business community wrote an open letter to the D.C. Council, calling the Evans and Cheh legislation a better, faster and cheaper way to provide family leave and promising to seek a mayoral veto if the council passes the current version. It was signed by the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, the Federal City Council and associations representing restaurants, hotels, parking garages, universities and hospitals, among others.

Evans said the mayor was also backing his legislation.

In an interview Monday evening, Bowser said the revised bill proposed by Evans and Cheh is more likely to win my support. If it advances in the council, she said, Im pretty sure Id be very comfortable with it.

I can say this: If I was on the council, Id be voting for it, she said.

The mayor said she would not sign the current version of the paid-leave bill passed by the council. However, she declined to say whether she would veto that legislation  a critical decision, because a bill can become law without the mayors signature if she does not veto it.

Some businesses that already guarantee paid time off oppose Mendelsons legislation, which would increase employer-paid payroll taxes by 0.62 percent to fund the same benefits for workers whose employers dont provide them.

Robert Kinsler, owner of a company that organizes social sports leagues for adults and special events, said he preferred the employer mandate to the previous paid-leave bill, which he said would likely require his company to pay more in taxes than it would receive in benefits. He said he was also reluctant to allow the city to act as a kind of human resources department, effectively vetting and managing time off for his eight full-time workers.

The idea of outsourcing employee benefits gives me chills and nightmares, Kinsler said.

Roger Horowitz, owner of the Pleasant Pops coffee shops in Adams Morgan and downtown, supports the existing bill. The proposed tax increase under that plan would amount to about $2,000 a year for his 22 employees, which is not a very significant amount of our revenue, Horowitz said.

But it would allow him to offer paid-leave benefits he cant currently afford, reducing turnover and leveling the playing field with bigger businesses when it comes to attracting workers, he said.

We would love to offer paid leave, and we always felt we were at a disadvantage as a small business being able to do that, he said.

Evans and Cheh say their revised bill would cost the city an estimated $40 million a year, compared to $250 million for the current legislation. They said their proposal is a streamlined approach to reaching the goal of paid leave for all private-sector workers in the District.

Cheh voted for the current bill two weeks ago; Evans did not.

Critics call their plan a sop to the citys large employers. Mendelson said the $200 tax credits would do little to cushion the blow of a paid-leave mandate for small employers. The cost of two months parental leave for a single, minimum-wage employee exceeds $4,000.

Its not hard to understand, Mendelson said. It doesnt work.

And without a new tax, it was not clear how the District would generate $40 million annually for paid-leave subsidies to small businesses, he said.

Evans acknowledged that big employers supported the new version of the bill because it would have little effect on them. Large businesses like this, because theyre doing it already, he said.

He said it would also help small-business owners, however, by not burdening them with another tax. Employers who have trouble paying for the mandated time off could also apply to the city for extra funds, he said, although the process for doing so is not clear.

Council members gave preliminary approval to the leave bill in its current version on Dec. 6 with only Evans and Yvette M. Alexander (D-Ward 7) casting dissenting votes. Seven of the councils 13 members will have to vote for the bill again if it is to become law.

Mendelson said he is confident the current version of the bill has enough support to pass. I havent done a count, he said. But my guess is I have more than seven votes.

Fenit Nirappil contributed to this report.
The poll panel, in its effort to check the use of black money and money laundering in politics, has recommended that the government must amend laws to allow exemption from tax only to parties that win seats in elections and ban anonymous contributions of Rs 2000 and above.

By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the BJP welcomes the Election Commission's proposal to ban anonymous contributions above Rs 2000 in order to check the flow of black money into the political parties.

The poll panel, in its effort to check the use of black money and money laundering in politics, has recommended that the government must amend laws to allow exemption from tax only to parties that win seats in elections and ban anonymous contributions of Rs 2000 and above.

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Many in the Opposition had asked if the BJP is also willing to open its books to auditors, just as it has asked the country to do in the wake of demonetisation.

Section 13A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 confers tax exemption to parties for income from house property, income by way of voluntary contributions, income from capital gains and income from other sources. Only income under the head 'salaries and income from business or profession' are chargeable to tax in the hands of political parties in India.

The Commission has now proposed that exemption of Income Tax should only be extended to political parties that contest elections and win seats in Lok Sabha or Assembly polls.

MODI SLAMS OPPOSITION FOR STALLING PARLIAMENT

In his speech in Kanpur today, Modi also attacked the Opposition parties for stalling Parliament and accused them of running away from a debate on demonetisation to "safeguard the corrupt".

Also read:

PM Modi in UP rally: Our agenda - stop black money, theirs - stop Parliament

"They didn't allow Parliament to function as they were not ready to debate demonetisation," Modi told a rally here ahead of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh early next year.

Virtually the entire winter session of Parliament was washed out over the government's November 8 decision of scrapping Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to curb black money, corruption and terror funding.

Also read:

EC seeks ban on anonymous contributions to parties above Rs 2000

"Even after the President (Pranab Mukherjee) urged them not to disrupt the Parliament, they didn't listen to his advise," Modi thundered. "They did this because they were running away from the debate over demonetisation," he said.

Lashing out at the Opposition leaders, Modi said: "They even threw torn papers at the Speaker to halt Parliament proceedings. They did all this to safeguard the corrupt when the government was busy catching the corrupt."

Watch the video

--- ENDS ---
Correction: An earlier version of this story had an incorrect spelling for Quion Shears and incorrectly referred to the college he plans to attend, and it had an incorrect spelling for Rodney Wormsley. The story has been updated.

Students file out into the hallway after class Thursday at Luke C. Moore High School in Washington, D.C. The citys school system wants to spend more money on alternative schools designed to help students who are lagging behind. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

Luke C. Moore High School might not be typical, but the students there have the same big dreams as other D.C. public school students.

Quion Shears, 19, wants to get a degree at Clark Atlanta University and hopes to become a real estate agent.

Clashe Simmons, 19, is making plans to attend college to get her degree in criminal justice.

Shears and Simmons are like hundreds of other Luke students, who a few years ago were dropouts or so far behind in traditional schools that it was unclear whether they would ever be able to get their high school diplomas. One of four alternative schools in the public school system, Luke serves students who did not do well elsewhere; nearly 70 percent of the student body is between ages 18 and 24, and all of them were not on track to get their diplomas in their neighborhood schools.

Alternative schools such as Luke often carry a reputation for not providing the same opportunities or holding students to the same academic standards as traditional schools, but the District is spending more money in an attempt to change that.

Clashe Simmons, 19, listens to her teacher during class at Luke. Simmons is on track to graduate in June. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

This school year, the public school system put $4 million into the schools to ensure that students have a chance at job opportunities when they graduate. While officials would not say how much they intend to spend next school year, they noted the alternative schools remain a priority.

[D.C. schools budget emphasizes alternative high schools and programs]

The school system estimates it has more than 1,300 students who are at least two years behind in their progress toward graduation, with an additional 10,000 residents in the District who have dropped out of school and are eligible to enroll in alternative schools.

We didnt get into education because we want to meet a graduation rate, we got into education because we want to see lives transformed, said Jane Spence, the school systems interim chief of schools. We are not just committed to educating students who walk the straight-and-narrow path.

[Graduation rates climb to an all-time high at D.C. Public Schools]

Simmons was once a student at Anacostia High School in Southeast Washington, but she said she didnt have the individualized attention that Luke offers. When Simmons was a freshman, she was working while going to school and loved money more than class. She dropped out before her sophomore year.

But to meet her goal of finding a decent job, she now wants to get a diploma and go to college. Simmons is on track to graduate in June.

During a recent English class, Simmons worked on an argumentative essay on climate change, contending that global warming is having an effect on the environment. Her teacher, Farrell Pollard, was seated in front of Simmons with just one other student.

Pollard said she enjoys teaching at Luke because it is allows her to work with students more closely than she would in a large classroom.

The obstacles they often have to overcome inspire me, Pollard said.

The school has about 300 students, but Pollard and Assistant Principal Rodney Wormsley said attendance remains a challenge: About half of the students show up to school on a regular basis.

[Nations high school graduation rate reaches record high]

Wormsley said some students have extremely long commutes on public transportation, which can be a deterrent.There are a lot of students who want to come here, but due to barriers they struggle to get here, Wormsley said.

Shears has broken through many obstacles in his life to get to where he is now, just months away from graduating from high school.

In 2013, he dropped out of school when he was a sophomore at Dunbar in Northwest Washington because he had to take care of his ill mother. She died about a year later, and Shears did not return to school.

A few months after her death, Shears was convicted of armed robbery and was in a juvenile prison in Tennessee for about nine months. When he returned to the District in January 2016, he was placed in a group home and enrolled at Luke.

Shears has taken on a leadership role at Luke as a student ambassador. If students want a school dance, for example, it is his job to advocate for it with the schools administrators.

Being at this school has started off my adulthood, said Shears, who is on track to receive his diploma at the end of the school year. When I get to where I need to be, there will never be any second guessing. I know I can do it.
THE Region

25 rescued after boats capsize in winds

As many as 25 recreational sailors were rescued Sunday from Washington region waterways as a sudden and fierce cold front swept through, with winds that gusted as high as 54 mph.

No injuries were reported in the sailboat incidents, which occurred in the Potomac River near the Wilson Bridge, and in the Severn River in the Annapolis area.

As many as 22 people were pulled from the Severn  where, according to the Severn Sailing Association, a Frostbite racing event was underway, involving Laser sailboats. The boats usually are sailed by a single person.

The association said four boats were made secure in the water for retrieval Monday. It said three were probably on their way across the bay to the Eastern Shore.

The 54 mph gust was measured at Reagan National Airport, a few miles from where D.C. fire department spokesman Vito Maggiolo said three people were rescued from the Potomac after at least three sailboats capsized.

The front arrived about 2 p.m., causing a drastic drop in temperatures. The mercury fell from 65 degrees at 1 p.m. to 45 degrees at 3 p.m.

 Luz Lazo and Martin Weil

Maryland

Car jumps Beltway rail, falls 50 feet

A man was extricated Sunday after his car jumped a guardrail on Interstate 495 in Forest Glen and fell more than 50 feet down an embankment, state police said.

Police spokesman John McDonough said the driver appeared to have been speeding when he lost control of his vehicle near the Georgia Avenue exit just after noon and struck the guardrail. The vehicle went down the embankment.

The driver was taken to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda with moderate injuries.

McDonough said several speed-related crashes occurred Sunday morning and in the early afternoon. Roads in the region were still wet and slick in some spots.

People are going too fast, McDonough said. He said the wrecks were all spinouts, all single vehicles, all going too fast.

 Martine Powers
BLOOD DONATIONS

Blood drives Monday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Fauquier Hospital, Sycamore Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton, 540-316-3588; Tuesday 3-7 p.m., Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Rd., Leesburg, 866-256-6372; Dec. 30, 1:30-6 p.m., St. James Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall St., Leesburg, 800-733-2767; Jan. 3, 3-8 p.m., Ashburn Farm Association, 21400 Windmill Dr., Ashburn, 800-733-2767; Jan. 3, 2:30-7:30 p.m., Claude Moore Recreation Center, 46105 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling, 800-733-2767.

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 state Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and presentations to businesses, 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 caregivers 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. 703-729-2012 or ashburnpresbyterian.org.

Caregiver support Emotional, educational and social support. Encourages caregivers to maintain their 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 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. Email hospicesupport@verizon.net or call 540-347-5922.

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.

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.

Overeaters Anonymous For fellowship and support. For locations and times, call oa.org.

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; Thursday 9 a.m.-noon, Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville; Dec. 27, 9 a.m.-noon, Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 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. 703-858-8818 or 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

Loudoun County and Fauquier County health calendar

Loudoun County and Fauquier County health calendar

Loudoun County and Fauquier County health calendar

Loudoun County and Fauquier County health calendar
Except for a lone cow, the stable stands empty in the Nativity scene at Grace Episcopal Church in the Fauquier County town of The Plains.

The creche is unlike those commonly seen in churches and front yards beginning the month before Christmas, typically featuring figures of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus in the stable, often joined by shepherds, angels, wise men and animals.

Instead, the scene is an imaginative, highly detailed, miniature representation of life in the city of Bethlehem. Townspeople are seen going about their daily business of baking bread, weaving fabric and even taking a nap. As the holiday approaches, more figures will be added to the scene to illustrate the Christmas story.

The Nativity scene developed from the imagination of artist Dana Westring, a church member who has been carefully crafting figures and building the landscape for more than a decade.

Westring, 62, of Marshall, created the display in the centuries-old tradition of a Neapolitan creche, featuring a rocky hillside village of homes, shops, bridges and walkways.

Ive seen several in Italy, and they oftentimes have them set up under a huge glass box, and they keep them up all year round, Westring said.

He started the project to provide a setting for several miniature Nativity figures the church already owned. He then began to create his own figures, which he sculpted from a claylike polymer.

It was an experiment for me in making miniatures, he said.

Westring created the display to resemble a Middle Eastern village, with palm trees and buildings constructed of stone and straw, rather than the Italian-style villages depicted in some Neapolitan creches. But he didnt try to duplicate the real city of Bethlehem, he said.

He used rocks and grasses to craft the landscape for the first section of the village, which he displayed on a table. Over the years, as he added characters and built additional sections of the village, mostly from polystyrene and papier-mache, the creche outgrew the table. Now it is several feet tall and rests on the floor of the church sanctuary.

The creche includes a small wooden plank bridge, torches mounted on walls, dogs and cats roaming the streets, and flickering lights in rooms to imply that something is going on, Westring said.

One of the newest additions is a boat with a fisherman at one side of the display. Westring said he intended this as a reference to Jesus exhortation to his early disciples to follow him and become fishers of men.

Other scenes and characters in the creche foreshadow the life and ministry of Jesus, Westring said. A woman is shown stomping grapes to make wine. A man drinks water from a well, and another quenches his thirst in a wine cellar. A carpenter at work in his shop is a subtle reference to Joseph.

At one end of the display, a woman stands outside, gazing up at the sky, as though anticipating the appearance of the Christmas star.

Westrings favorite scene is a bakery with bags of flour on the ground, loaves of bread on shelves and a table on which a woman kneads dough. A light indicates that the oven is in use.

Every Sunday during the month leading up to Christmas, Westring adds characters to depict the unfolding Christmas story. Wise men will appear soon, approaching the scene from afar  atop a piano across the sanctuary. Shepherds will also be added, and angels will be suspended above the scene, he said.

There is a tradition to add Mary and Joseph the last week before Christmas, Westring said, adding that they would be in place in time for a special service of lessons and carols at the church at 5 p.m. Dec. 18. The baby Jesus will complete the scene on Christmas Eve.

Marcia Markey, who chairs the churchs altar guild, said that the creche is a valuable educational tool and that members of the congregation  particularly the children  look forward to seeing it every year.

They realize this is the world in which Jesus lived, Markey said. It brings the reality of the world in which that child was born  a real child.


Sally Tennant celebrates as she sells an item to Sue Vaeth on Nov. 25. It was the first sale at her Ellicott City, Md., store, Discoveries, since a devastating flood on July 30. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Sally Tennant is assisting holiday shoppers as they browse the jewelry, handcrafted pieces of pottery and miniature glass figurines that fill her store.

Aside from the man in rubber gloves cleaning bits of mud from some of the merchandise, and a large tarp that blocks a construction crew from view, there are few signs of the flood that nearly destroyed the Ellicott City, Md., shop this summer.

It is hard to remember how bad it was, Tennant says.

The 62-year-old mother of two was featured in a Washington Post story in September about the impact of the July 30 flood, which drove her to the roof of her building and destroyed much of her gift shop, called Discoveries, as well as her apartment and car.

[The Ellicott City rain disaster in two maps and three charts]

After months of cleanup and repair work, aided by donations and the assistance of strangers, Tennant is slowly regaining her livelihood and the business she has owned since the early 1980s.

Discoveries reopened for business the day after Thanksgiving, following repairs that so far have cost $50,000, and held a grand celebration Friday night. It has been a struggle, Tennant says, with foot traffic down on Main Street because so many restaurants are still closed and there are strict new parking restrictions in place.



Sally Tennant places jewelry into a brand new case in November, as Discoveries gets ready to reopen to the public for the first time since the historic flood in July damaged most businesses on Main Street. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

To help make ends meet, Tennant sold merchandise at farmers markets this fall. She is working with Howard County Community College students to launch a website where she can also hawk her wares.

Were just inching our way back, said Tennant, who since the flood has lived in the basement media room of a Baltimore County split-level that her son shares with three buddies. She says she hopes to return to her apartment. But for now, her priority is her store.

(Ashleigh Joplin/The Washington Post)

Discoveries is one of 75 out of 141 businesses damaged in the flood that have reopened, according to the Howard County Economic Development Authority. Some affected businesses have moved, or their owners decided not to reopen. Others are planning to return over the next six months, city officials said. Boarded-up storefronts and coming soon signs dot the once-vibrant downtown.

City and state officials, including Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and Comptroller Peter Franchot (D), have participated in events recently to encourage shopping along Main Street. Anthony Cordo, the executive director of the Howard County tourism council, said Manor Hill Taproom plans to open in January and E.C. Pops will open in April.



Jim Halcomb has been a steadfast volunteer at Discoveries and elsewhere on Main Street in Ellicott City. He said he remembers the damage a flood did to his grandmothers business along the Miami River in Ohio. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Tennant said she would not have been able to reopen for the holidays without the help of volunteers like the man with the yellow rubber gloves, Jim Halcomb, a retired cryptologist at the National Security Agency.

Halcomb, who lives in nearby Columbia, has childhood memories of visiting his grandmothers shop along the Miami River in Ohio after she experienced flooding. He said he could not imagine seeing his income and his lifes work evaporate in a matter of hours, and he never expected to see the wreckage wrought by the 17-foot waves that swept through Main Street.

He started hauling mud and debris the first day the county allowed volunteers near the buildings. And he has never left. He mostly works at Discoveries but has also volunteered at Park Ridge Trading Company and Attic Antiques n Things, which is owned by an elderly couple.

Its been a wonderful experience, Halcomb said. Its been an honor to work with all of these people, including Sally. Its really touching to see the resilience of all of them.



Susan Vaughn-Ward, left, along with her sister Katherine Vaughn, go in for a group hug with store manager Sue Taylor and owner Sally Tennant, after buying Christmas gifts at Discoveries during a grand reopening celebration on Dec. 16. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

More than $12,000 has been donated to a GoFundMe page set up by Tennants friend and store manager, Sue Taylor, to help with the cost of replacing the knocked-out glass storefront, restoring the floorboards and repairing electricity and plumbing. Tennant also received about $16,000 in grant money from the Ellicott City Partnership  about half of what she said she was told to expect.

Her latest worries: an order from the county to make nearly $20,000 in sewer-system improvements, and an estimate that it will cost $80,000 to fully restore her business and apartment.

While some other Ellicott City business have sought federal loans to help with rebuilding costs  Cordo said 32 loans totaling $2.9 million either have been approved or are in the process of approval from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the state Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Howard County Economic Development Authority  Tennant said she opted not to apply.

When you put losses on top of losses and then youre going to put a loan on top of that? I cant, she said. I am too old to be going in debt.



After moving a display case for the first time since the flood, Sally Tennant discovers more mud underneath on Oct. 10. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Tennant said she is using all of the resources she has set aside over the years, including savings and retirement money, to repair damage from the flood. She had no insurance on the building, which was paid off, or for her business. She opted against a policy years ago, after she had trouble collecting payment for claims following thefts in her now-closed store at the Columbia Mall.

Without the volunteer help she has received, Tennant said, it would take me a year, maybe two  or maybe never to reopen.

That good element of people showing up in my life are really the counterforce of all the bad that came on the night of the flood, she said. If I had to do that all by myself, I dont know if I could get it done.
Former District of Columbia city council member Sandy Allen shown in 2011 at the intersection of 13th Place and Congress Street SE, where her grandson Jon Allen Jr. was killed. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

A District man previously convicted of being an accessory in the 2005 shooting death of a former council members grandson was sentenced to 50 years in prison Monday for sexually abusing an 11-year-old Maryland girl he met through Instagram.

Robert Kelsey, 29, was found guilty Aug. 29 in a federal trial on three counts of aggravated child sex abuse and transport of a minor for the crime, after the then-26-year-old masked his identity online before picking up the girl from her Prince Georges County elementary school summer camp and raping her in his home on July 25, 2014.

Previously, Kelsey was sentenced to 30 months in prison for being an accessory to the Dec. 31, 2005, shooting death of Jon Allen Jr., 15, a grandson of former D.C. Council member Sandy Allen (D-Ward 8).

Kelsey, then 18, was the driver for a group of youths, including a cousin who fired a burst of shots at a group standing outdoors in the 2400 block of 13th Place SE. Kelsey had complained to his cousin that he had been the victim of an assault, but the shots fired in retaliation killed an unintended target, Allen Jr.

[Two Teenagers Charged in Killing of Youth, 15]

The parents of Jon Allen Jr. shown in 2006: Iris Martin and Jon Allen Sr. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Rather than change his conduct after being shown leniency when he was younger, Kelsey has essentially victimized the community over and over again, assistant U.S. attorney Andrea Lynn Hertzfeld argued in seeking the 50-year term. There is nothing left for the court to do but to incapacitate this person for the bulk of the rest of his life.

The girls parents, sisters and mother attended the hearing on Monday, and the victim and her mother addressed the court.

God says I have to forgive you to move on. But mercy only God can provide to you, the girls mother said, staring down at Kelsey when she finished.

The victim said, He needs to go away for what he has done, but it is sad he is going to be away from his own daughters. The Washington Post generally does not identify victims of sexual abuse.

Prosecutors said Kelsey met the girl during the summer of 2014 on Instagram, posing as a 19-year-old and using a fictitious name. They said Kelsey suggested the pair flirt and engage in sex play by text via Kik Messenger and by video via Ovoo.

They said Kelsey lied and claimed he was the victims cousin to be able to pick her up from her summer camp. He returned her to the school when the victim learned that her agitated father was waiting at the camp to pick her up and had contacted police after finding out that she had left with a man, prosecutors said.

The girl told her father what had happened, and police traced Kelseys phone number and his DNA, prosecutors said.

Kelsey, bearded and his head shaved, apologized to the girls family, his family and the court and for having people go through the trial, but stood shaking his head in a blue jail sweatsuit as the judge handed down his sentence, which included lifetime supervision as a registered sex offender.

Obviously youve had chances, said U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton of Washington, his voice rising as he went through Kelseys conduct.

You yourself have children, yet you took advantage of this child, the judge said. You groomed her. You lied to her. You told her you were a different age. . . . You went into an elementary school. . . . Youre shaking your head, you have no remorse, you dont accept what you did.

Walton said the crime was beyond what society can tolerate, saying, a hard sentence is appropriate and necessary to punish Kelsey and deter others.

Kelseys appointed attorney, Christopher M. Davis, acknowledged aspects of the case were more than troubling, but asked for a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years.

Davis said that despite the victims testimony, Kelsey was never told that the girl was 11. A nurse who examined her said there was no physical trauma, and the girl said she had been sexually active, Davis wrote.

The defendant is not a child predator. He has no history of behavior of this nature, Davis wrote, saying his other convictions were for car theft, fleeing and eluding police.

In the courtroom after the hearing, Kelseys father apologized to the girls father and family. Im sorry. I dont know what we did, Kelseys father said.

I forgive you, the girls father told him.
A father died and his 4-year-old son was injured after a weekend sledding incident in Carroll County, Md., authorities said.

The incident occurred Saturday morning on Lineboro Road outside Westminster, about 70 miles north of Washington. The father, who was later identified as 35-year-old Adam French of Baltimore, had gone sledding with his son, according to the Carroll County Sheriffs Office.

French was visiting relatives in that area, and he and the boy went sledding down the driveway of the home. Their sled went into the street and they were struck by a 2004 Jeep Cherokee that was headed south.

[Boy, 6, critically injured after sledding into passing car in McLean]

French died Sunday night, according to authorities. His son was said to be in critical condition at one point but is expected to recover, according to sheriffs officials.

The driver of the Jeep and a passenger in that vehicle were unharmed. Authorities said the driver is not expected to be charged at this time.
Three people were arrested Tuesday in a robbery in May that left one man dead, Prince William County police said.

On May 12 at about 2:45 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 9500 block of Hensley Road in Manassas for a reported shooting, Prince William police said in a statement. They found 43-year-old Jason T. Mannion, who lived at that address, suffering from gunshot wounds. He later died at a hospital, according to the statement.

[Manassas man dies after shooting in residence]

Police learned Dec. 12 that Marquan A. Brown, 25, of no fixed address and Jhaire N. Montgomery, 19, of Culpeper were attempting to rob Mannion, whom they knew, when he was shot, the statement said. Brown is incarcerated in Culpeper County on unrelated charges, and Montgomery was arrested in Culpeper County on Dec. 15; both were charged with murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, police said, and were held without bond.

A third suspect in Mannions shooting, Rhebekah A. Patterson, 29, of Culpeper was arrested in Charlottesvile on Monday without incident, according to police, and was charged with principal in the second degree to murder. She was held without bond, police said.
A woman was forced into a van, robbed and assaulted early Sunday in the Mount Pleasant area of Northwest Washington, the D.C. police said.

Police said she was walking in the 1600 block of Monroe Street NW about 3:30 a.m. when she was grabbed by one man and then attacked in the van by two others.

After the robbery and assault, she was thrown out near the Woodley Park area, the police said.
By PTI: Panaji, Dec 19 (PTI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced former Goas Inspector General of Prison Elvis Gomes as partys chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming state Legislative Assembly election.

"Amongst all the AAP candidates, there is a gem. (His name is) Elvis Gomes. He has been in the government service for 20 years but did not make any money through ill means. He has been an honest officer," he said during an election rally in South Goas Cuncolim constituency.

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"The people from all religions love him. I propose his name as the next chief minister (candidate) of Goa," Kejriwal said.

Gomes had resigned from the government service where he was serving as Inspector General of Prisons to join AAP.

He will be contesting from Cuncolim constituency which is currently represented by BJP.

"I feel proud to present before you (my) partys candidates. We have given party tickets to honest people," he claimed.

"We are against the people who are criminals, communal or with bad character. If you find any proof against our candidates, even a day before (the polls), we will drop the candidate," Kejriwal said.

Claiming that Delhi has witnessed "sea change" under AAP rule, Kejriwal said, "We will die but will never compromise on corruption. There will be no compromise on corruption."

"I believe that we dont know to play politics. I concede, we dont understand politics, we are small people," he said.

Taking on BJP and Congress, the Delhi Chief Minister accused that both the parties have made Goa a "drug destination".

"Who will save us from drugs and gambling? Who will save our forests and lands? It is our responsibility. It is responsibility of the common man to save our land and forests and protect Goa from being drugs and prostitution destination," he said.

AAP has announced the list of 30 candidates in Goa out of the total 40 assembly constituencies. PTI RPS NRB AQS

--- ENDS ---
Jonah Sriqui, 3, runs past his mom Margie Yeager at their home in Washington, D.C. Infant care in the District is difficult to find with only 7,600 licensed child care slots for about 22,000 children under age 3. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post) (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

Claudia Grossmann started searching for day care soon after she became pregnant. The Mount Pleasant mother-to-be put her name on a half-dozen wait lists and regularly checked in with her top choice: a nationally accredited center in her neighborhood with a dual-language program. The wait list was long, but one August day, she got a call. A spot was available starting the next month. Only catch: Her baby was not yet born.

She and her husband had a choice to make. They could take it or wait perhaps another year for the next opening.

We really wrestled and lost sleep over it. It was a lot of money, she said. Ultimately, they decided: Its worth the peace of mind.

So they wrote a check and started paying for day care  14 days before their son was born. Five months later, when Grossmann returned to work, her son enrolled for his first day.

Children younger than 3 are the fastest-growing age group in the District, with a 26 percent increase in the number of infants and toddlers between 2010 and 2014. The explosion of young families is putting a new strain on an overtaxed child-care industry.

Many new parents describe a maddening search for child care, encountering wait lists 200 names deep or two years long and child-care administrators who do not return repeated phone calls, overwhelmed by requests from prospective clients who start knocking sometimes before they are even pregnant.

After all of that, when a coveted spot becomes available, many parents seize on it, even if they dont need it  yet.

[Baby boom in D.C. creates acute need for more and better child care]

Margie Yeager, an education policy analyst, said she did not think twice about paying for an extra month of child care when a spot became available for her first child.

She had applied to 19 child-care centers while still pregnant, carefully mapping out possible options along her commute to work from Cleveland Park to Capitol Hill.

Her son, now 3 , was born seven weeks early, a situation that was made more stressful, she said, by the fact that it pushed up her timeline for finding child care.

As her return date loomed, she finally heard back from one of the 19. Out of the heavens, there was a space. She started paying to save it, then enrolled him a month later.

In 2015, there were 7,610 licensed child-care slots in homes or centers for about 22,000 children younger than 3 in the District, according to a report by DC Appleseed and the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute. The mismatch does not take into account children from neighboring Maryland and Virginia who come in to work with their parents and spend their days finger painting and taking naps at nearby day-care facilities.

The shortage of care is most acute for infants.

Programs for the youngest children are the most costly to operate, as licensing requirements specify lower staffing ratios. Infant rooms also must be on street level, which means it is difficult for providers to secure space because they are competing with much more profitable retail businesses.

The citys universal preschool program, a free full-day program for 3- and 4-year-olds, represents a light at the end of a tunnel for many parents in the District. But child-care advocates say the ramping up of universal preschool actually exacerbated the child-care shortage.

Many private centers once served children from infancy to prekindergarten, relying on larger preschool classes to underwrite more expensive infant programs. But they could not afford to stay open once the preschool private market diminished.

We need to find a way to make child cares profitable again, said Miriam Calderon, a senior adviser for early learning for the Bainum Family Foundation, which is investing in strategies to help centers improve and grow, including by sharing scarce administrative resources.

She said government investment in child care also has to grow. The search for a high-quality center can be even more stressful for low-income parents who rely on government subsidies. The reimbursement rate is low  accounting for just 66 to 70 percent of the median cost of market rate, and so many centers do not accept subsidies.

For parents who pay full tuition, the District is one of the most expensive places for child care in the country, with an average monthly cost of $1,868 for infant care at a center, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

There are more  and often less expensive  spots at in-home day cares, but parents often dont know how to find them or how to evaluate their quality.

Many turn to a growing workforce of nannies to fill in the child-care gap  or tide them over while they are waiting for a spot in a center to become available.

[Average child-care costs exceed in-state college tuitions nationwide]

Katie Beckmann said she and her husband considered sharing a nanny when she was preparing to return to work three years ago, but the cost was too high.

She had applied to a shortlist of day-care facilities that were both within her price range and convenient, but no spots were available by the time her three-month leave was over. So she and her husband came up with a stopgap solution, with help from their parents.

They rented a studio in their apartment building near the zoo, and both sets of grandparents took turns staying there and watching their son while they worked.

The $1,500 in rent was more affordable than paying for a nanny, she said. And after three more months, they finally got a spot in a day-care center a short walk from their home. We got lucky, she said.

Sara Gibson also had to get creative when she got into the right day-care facility at the wrong time for her daughter, who is now in elementary school.

The Adams Morgan resident was offered a spot at a day-care center that was reputable, friendly and close by. But it was starting in September. Her daughter was not due until October.

She and her husband worked at nonprofit organizations and could not afford to pay to hold their spot. So they found another family who needed child care right away. They drew up a contract, and sublet their spot for five months.

We knew spaces were scarce, she said. We wanted that spot.
A man shouts slogans as he attends a protest to mark International Migrants Day on Sunday in New York. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)

Florida

Dozens of Cuban migrants land in U.S.

Dozens of Cuban migrants landed in separate boats in the Florida Keys on Sunday, days after more than 40 others arrived in the same area, local media reported.

Under an agreement with Cubas communist government, the United States can force Cubans who are intercepted between the two nations to return home or go to a third country, although those who land on U.S. soil usually are allowed to stay.

The U.S. Coast Guard earlier this year said it was concerned about a possible surge in Cuban migrants eager to flee.

All 51 of the migrants who landed Sunday were turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, WPLG-TV reported.

 Reuters

Texas

Drinking water ban lifted in Corpus Christi

A nearly four-day ban on drinking the water in Corpus Christi, Tex., was lifted after test results showed no contamination resulting from a chemical leak, the citys mayor said.

Mayor Dan McQueen said residents could resume using the citys water for drinking, bathing and cooking.

It is all full use, but we are going to continue to monitor as we go on, he said.

None of the 28 drinking water samples that the Environmental Protection Agency reviewed tested positive for Indulin AA-86, an asphalt-emulsifying agent thats corrosive, the federal agency said Sunday. Indulin can burn the eyes, skin and respiratory tract if a person comes into contact with concentrated amounts.

The water ban had been issued late Wednesday out of concern that a chemical leak at an asphalt plant leased to Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions by oil refiner Valero could have contaminated the citys water supply.

 Associated Press

Veteran refused meal at Chilis reaches deal

Ernest Walker, an Army veteran whose free meal was taken away by a Chilis restaurant manager who doubted his military service, has reached an agreement with Brinker International, the restaurants parent corporation, that includes a donation to an advocacy effort for veterans.

Walker went to a Chilis in Cedar Hill, Tex., on Veterans Day to receive the restaurants offer of a free burger. He said a manager there wouldnt accept proof of his military service after another customer questioned whether Walker had served because he is black.

 Dallas Morning News

Uber driver shoots robber: An Uber driver, confronted by a robber who had two guns, shot the man dead along a causeway near a shopping mall in Aventura, Fla., police said. The driver, who wasnt identified, was not hurt in the robbery attempt at the Lehman Causeway, according to Aventura police. A passenger inside the Uber car also was not harmed. Two suspects escaped.

Officer fatally shoots gunman: Tulsa police are investigating after an officer fatally shot a man near a house where a woman and three dogs were later found dead. Police spokesman Leland Ashley says officers responded Sunday afternoon to the property on the citys west side on a shots-fired call. As they arrived in the street, officers saw a man on the porch pointing a shotgun at an officer.

Police kill man who had knife: Authorities say sheriffs deputies in Tennessee fatally shot a man after he threatened them with a knife. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation told media outlets that Shelby County sheriffs deputies responded to a domestic call at a home in Arlington on Saturday night. The bureau said Jimmy Lee Lawson, 48, confronted two deputies with a knife in his driveway. The deputies then shot him.

 From news services
NEW YORK

Search warrant in Clinton email probe to be unsealed

A federal judge in New York on Monday ordered a search warrant in the Hillary Clinton email investigation to be unsealed, a decision that probably will mean the public will learn more details about the FBIs controversial decision on the eve of the presidential election to resume the closed probe.

U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel ordered that the warrant  along with the reasons that an FBI agent gave for seeking it and an inventory of what was recovered  be unsealed by noon Tuesday. The documents could be telling, revealing what cause the FBI felt it had to search a computer belonging to disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) for evidence in the Clinton email case.

FBI Director James B. Comey had announced publicly in July that he was recommending the Clinton email investigation be closed without charges. But on Oct. 28, long after the Justice Department had accepted his recommendation and closed the case, he told Congress that agents were resuming their work after agents working on an unrelated case had found emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation.

Law enforcement officials revealed later that the unrelated case was the investigation of Weiner for alleged sexting with a minor, and the emails included correspondence to and from Clinton and top aide Huma Abedin, Weiners estranged wife. The warrant at issue, dated Oct. 30, was to search a computer belonging to Weiner.

Comey announced Nov. 6 that agents had finished their review and had not changed their earlier conclusion.

 Matt Zapotosky

Man gets 30 years for attempt to produce weapon

A 52-year-old industrial mechanic who was the first in the United States convicted of trying to produce a weapon of mass destruction under a 2004 law was sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison.

Glendon Scott Crawford of Galway planned to kill Muslims because of their religion as well as others whose political and social beliefs he disagreed with, U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian said.

Investigators began tracking Crawford in 2012 after he approached two local Jewish groups with his idea for how they could defeat their enemies using a mobile X-ray weapon. Prosecutors said Crawford also sought support for the device in 2013 from a Ku Klux Klan grand wizard in North Carolina who was an FBI informant.

Co-defendant Eric Feight, of Hudson, pleaded guilty in 2014 to providing material support to terrorists.

 Associated Press

New Orleans settles Katrina lawsuit: New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu on Monday announced $13.3 million in settlements of lawsuits over deadly police shootings after Hurricane Katrina and a fatal beating just before the 2005 storm. He also apologized to the victims families. A spokeswoman for the mayor said the settlements resolve lawsuits over the deaths of three people who were killed in two separate police shootings after the 2005 hurricane and a fourth person who was fatally beaten by an officer shortly before the storm struck.

 Associated Press
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) "Embarrassed and upset" over the conduct of a handful of employees bringing the organisation into disrepute, Axis Bank MD and CEO Shikha Sharma today said the bank has hired KPMG to conduct a forensic audit for enhanced due diligence and building more safeguards.

Assuring that the fundamentals of the bank is on a "solid footing, Sharma said in a letter to Axis Bank customers that the bank is tracking sudden surge in account activity and have proactively identified potentially suspicious accounts".

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"The recent media reports around the conduct of a few of our employees have left me embarrassed and upset. We have fallen short of your expectations because a handful of people did not follow our fully compliant and robust processes. We have taken the toughest action against such employees and we will do so in every case of divergence from our Code of Conduct.

"I regret that the misdeeds of a few people have eroded the hard work of 55,000+ employees, who have been at the front end beyond working hours, displaying extraordinary patience and commitment to their responsibilities," she said in the letter.

The Income Tax Department had last week conducted a raid at an Axis Bank branch in Noida and unearthed Rs 60 crore from the accounts of 20 shell companies.

Sharma said the bank has proactively identified suspicious accounts and has given inputs to regulatory authorities for further investigation.

"I would like to reassure you that the bank has always been committed to the highest standards of operational control and continues to fully cooperate with the authorities. We have been tracking sudden surges in account activity and have proactively identified potentially suspicious accounts.

"This proactive identification has been one of the inputs in investigation by the regulatory authorities, who are visiting some of our branches to seek out information. Further, we have hired KPMG to conduct a forensic audit for enhanced due diligence and building more safeguards," she said.

Thanking customers for the support and understanding since the demonetisation initiative, Sharma said it has been a challenging time and the bank has tried its "level best" to make it easier for customers.

"We have made every effort to ease the transition by making special arrangements for senior citizens and differently abled people at our branches, using micro-ATMs to deliver cash to BSF personnel, ensuring salary disbursement to government and corporate employees across the length and breadth of our country," Sharma wrote.

"I assure you that the fundamentals of the bank, built painstakingly over the last 22 years, focused on serving its retail and corporate customers are on a solid footing... We will always safeguard your interests because your trust matters the most. I look forward to your continued confidence in making us a safe, strong bank that is always focused on you," she said in the letter. PTI JD JM

--- ENDS ---

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Dangerous record-low temperatures caused cancellations of some holiday festivities in the Great Plains and the Midwest over the weekend before the cold front pushed into the Ohio Valley and the Eastern Seaboard on Sunday.

The National Weather Service forecast a warming trend to start early in the week in many spots as a quieter weather pattern was expected to develop.

On Sunday, temperatures plunged to minus-20 degrees and lower across much of the northern Great Plains with a fresh surge of bitter arctic air reaching into the Midwest.

A church in Lincoln, Neb., canceled its living nativity scene. Patti Crittenden, Trinity United Methodist Churchs director of youth ministries, told the Lincoln Journal Star, In my opinion, this is too cold for anyone to be standing outside  bundled up or not.

In suburban Chicago, an arboretum canceled its holiday light show planned for Sunday night, and a holiday gift market was canceled in the Chicago suburb of Naperville.

Taliyah Wilson, 4, sleds in Hutchinson, Kan., on Sunday. Temperatures fell well below zero around Kansas, including in Wichita, which hit a record low for the date. (Lindsey Bauman/The Hutchinson News via AP)

Travelers were stranded and delayed as a blizzard shut down Interstate 90 in parts of Montana on Sunday. Authorities urged people to stay home to avoid endangering themselves and possible rescuers.

Weather-related delays at Indianapolis International Airport caused about 100 passengers to spend the night in the terminal, but most travelers were on their way Sunday morning.

Chicago police said a commercial plane slid off a runway early Sunday at OHare International Airport. No injuries were reported from the incident, which occurred just after 1 a.m.

Bismarck, N.D., posted a record low for the date of Dec. 17 with 31 degrees below zero Saturday before midnight, said National Weather Service meteorologist Zachary Hargrove. Linton, N.D., was even colder at minus-33 degrees early Sunday.

In South Dakota, the city of Huron set a new low for Sundays date of minus-31 degrees. Another record fell in Marshall, Minn., where it was 31 below zero. Spencer, Iowas negative-27 degrees was also a record-breaker.

Colorado residents were digging out after up to 16 inches of snow fell across the state Saturday, stranding motorists and leaving some areas with subzero temperatures Sunday. The National Weather Service said the thermometer dipped to 27 degrees below zero in Limon, Colo. Breckenridge, Colo., reported the most snow, with 16 inches that gave skiers and snowboarders the heavy snow they have been hoping for all season.

Snow and freezing rain led to numerous highway accidents. Perhaps the biggest accident was in Baltimore on Saturday, when a tanker carrying gasoline skidded off a highway and exploded, killing two people and causing a nearly 70-vehicle pileup on Interstate 95, authorities said. Hospital officials said nearly two dozen people were treated for injuries including broken bones and head trauma. A total of seven remained hospitalized Sunday, with two in critical condition, two in serious condition and three in fair condition.

A vehicle involved in a crash sits on the fast lane of Highway Interstate 80 in Lodi, N.J. after a wreck during Saturdays wintry weather. (Julio Cortez/AP)

In southwestern Michigan, icy conditions appear to have played a role in a crash that killed a 73-year-old motorist. There were dozens of crashes in Indiana  two of them with fatalities  because of freezing rain and ice. The roads were so slick that authorities had to use a ladder to move motorists stranded on an overpass.

In Ohio, a Columbus woman died Saturday when her car skidded off a slick road, authorities said.

In Virginia, a Fairfax County firetruck slid off an icy road while responding to a crash, but no one was injured.

In North Carolina, police and emergency workers reported more than 100 crashes in Raleigh and Charlotte as the drizzle combined with temperatures below freezing to create dangerous icy patches.

In Missouri, Jared Leighton, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill, said Sunday that the winter storm Saturday left two to four inches of snow in Missouri and was followed by subzero temperatures early Sunday.

Leighton said a gentle warm-up is expected.

Its still going to be rather cold, but when you start with minus-9, anything is going to feel warm, he said. Well struggle to get out of the single digits. We might get to 10 degrees today.
CHECHNYA

11 gunmen killed by police, Kadyrov says

Security forces in Chechnya have killed 11 suspected militants in separate clashes, the strongman leader of the Russian region said Sunday.

Ramzan Kadyrov said on Instagram that gunmen attempted to launch attacks on police in the provincial capital, Grozny. During the overnight clash in Grozny, they fired at police, who tried to stop their vehicle. Police killed four gunmen and captured two others.

Later Sunday, security forces tracked down other gunmen on the outskirts of Grozny and killed seven of them, Kadyrov said. Four more suspected militants were captured, three of whom have been hospitalized with wounds, he said.

Kadyrov denied media reports that there were more clashes and an explosion in Grozny on Sunday, saying that security forces engaged the militants outside the city.

None of these devils will get out alive if they enter Grozny with weapons, Kadyrov said.

The Kremlin has relied on Kadyrov to stabilize Chechnya after two separatist wars. The Chechen leader has used generous federal subsidies to rule the region like a personal fiefdom.

 Associated Press

ISRAEL

Ex-president Katsav granted early release

An Israeli parole board agreed Sunday to grant early release to former president Moshe Katsav, who is serving a prison sentence for sex crimes.

The board ruled Sunday that Katsav can walk free after serving five years of his seven-year jail term. The board had previously twice rejected Katsavs parole requests. His release is set for next week to allow for Israels state prosecution, which opposes his early release, to consider an appeal.

There is no doubt . . . the prisoner underwent a change, the parole board wrote in its decision. The board said it questioned Katsav about his actions and their consequences and was impressed by the honesty of his answers.

Zehava Galon, head of the liberal political party Meretz, called the ruling cowardly. She wrote on Facebook that the early release sent a message to his victims and to rape victims in general that you can rape women and get out of it easily, especially if you are well connected.

The rape conviction for the former head of state was hailed as a victory for womens rights and equality under the law. Katsav resigned in 2007 after being charged with rape and sexual harassment. He began his sentence in 2011 and has repeatedly professed innocence.

Under the terms of his release, Katsav cannot travel abroad for two years or grant interviews to the media, and he must not leave his house after 10 p.m. He has been ordered to attend weekly therapy sessions and will not be able to serve in any position in which he oversees women.

 Associated Press

Stone thrower shot dead by Israeli troops: Palestinian police said Israeli forces fatally shot a 19-year-old during stone-throwing clashes in the West Bank. Police said Ahmad Rimawi was shot in the chest after he hurled stones at Israeli troops in Beit Rima, near Ramallah. The Israeli military said dozens of rioters attacked security forces, injuring one border police officer. It said the forces responded with riot-dispersal means.

13 dead in Indonesian military plane crash: An Indonesian military transport plane crashed in bad weather in the countrys easternmost province of Papua, killing all 13 people on board, officials said. The Hercules C-130 plane was carrying 12 tons of food supplies and cement from Timika to Wamena when it crashed just minutes before its scheduled landing, said the air force chief of staff. Three pilots and 10 other personnel were aboard the plane. Bad weather and low clouds in Wamena were thought to be factors in the crash. An investigation is underway. It was the third serious air accident in Indonesia in less than a month.

New cabinet announced in Lebanon: A new 30-member national unity cabinet led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri has been announced in Lebanon nearly two months after a new president was elected. The cabinet includes most of Lebanons political groups, including the Shiite militant movement Hezbollah. Hariri, who previously served as prime minister for 14 months until early 2011, was asked by President Michel Aoun to form a new government in November after being named by a majority of legislators.

18 killed, 80 wounded in Afghan highway accidents: At least 18 people were killed and about 80 wounded in two highway traffic accidents in western Afghanistan, provincial officials said. A spokesman for the governor in Farah province said a bus hit a fuel tanker on the main highway, killing 14 people and wounding more than 40. Meanwhile, four people were killed when a bus overturned in neighboring Nimruz province. A spokesman for the governor said 36 people were injured in that accident.

 From news services
Congress is trying hard to give President-elect Donald Trump some leverage to pressure the governments of Syria, Russia and Iran to stop their onslaught against Syrian civilians and perhaps strike a deal on a political settlement. If Trump accepts it, he would not only be able to negotiate with Vladimir Putin from a position of strength; he might also save a lot of lives.

The Syrian crisis is set to get worse, not better, in the months ahead as Trump begins his presidency. Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and his partners victory in Aleppo has created new victims of atrocities and a new wave of refugees, and it will likely embolden the guilty parties to continue slaughtering their way across rebel-held areas absent real international pushback.

As Assads army, filled out with Iranian-sponsored militia fighters and covered by Russian airstrikes, plans its next conquest  most likely the rebel stronghold in northern Idlib province  the U.S. government stands on the sideline wagging a finger. Russia no longer seriously negotiates with Secretary of State John F. Kerry, calling those discussions fruitless get-togethers and preferring to deal with Turkey instead.

The incoming Trump administration has not spelled out what it plans to do about Syria, although the president-elect has said he has very strong ideas on the issue and has been discussing it with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He nominated a friend of Putins, ExxonMobil chief executive Rex Tillerson, to be his secretary of state. If Trump plans to make a deal with Moscow, he and Tillerson will need what President Obama never gave Kerry  some leverage to negotiate with. Thats where Congress comes in.

After months of behind-the-scenes wrangling, there is new bipartisan legislation on Syria that combines input from the House and Senate. The legislation, introduced this month by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) would sanction the Assad regime, Russia and Iran for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria while providing a framework for U.S. assistance to Syria going forward.

The course of the Syrian transition and its future leadership may depend on what the United States and its partners do now to save Syrian lives, alleviate suffering, and help Syrians determine their own future, the bills preamble states.

Rubio and Casey updated a Syria bill they had introduced in 2013 and incorporated a sanctions bill named after the Syrian defector known as Caesar that the House passed unanimously last month. The senators also absorbed a bill by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) aimed at preventing Iran from further destabilizing Iraq.

Its time for us to push back against [Irans Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei, Assad and Putin as they seek to expand their power across the Middle East, and this sanctions bill is our best chance at doing so, Kinzinger told me.

The bill would require the administration to report on whether top officials in all three governments are complicit in the ongoing atrocities, including the blocking of humanitarian aid from those in need. If so, they would be sanctioned. If Khamenei, Assad and Putin halt the atrocities, Trump could waive the sanctions.

Congress also wants to sanction large sectors of the Syrian economy and central bank. The legislation would also authorize increased humanitarian aid to Syria, support for local governance, a push for a political transition and a fund to reconstruct the country when the fighting stops. Lastly, the bill would require a report on the efficacy of safe zones inside Syria, which Trump has often promised to establish  most recently in a speech Thursday.

Tillerson, who has a long relationship with Russia, has often downplayed the usefulness of sanctions as a businessman. By supporting this sanctions package, Tillerson might just convince Rubio and other GOP hawks, including Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), that he is pivoting from defending the interests of ExxonMobil to defending the national security interests of the country. The legislation is sure to come up at his confirmation hearing.

If Trump and Tillerson dont like the Rubio-Casey bill, they must explain what other pressures they plan to bring to bear against the Syrian, Russian and Iranian governments. A threat of military force seems unlikely. Kerry discovered that without any leverage, Putin had little incentive to do anything but toy with pleas from the United States.

If Trump rejects the idea of adding pressure on Assad and Russia altogether, he is destined to repeat Obama and Kerrys mistake of negotiating from a position of weakness. That strategy already contributed to a longer war, a higher body count of innocent Syrians and an increased threat of terrorism spilling into the region and headed to our shores.

Read more from Josh Roginss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
A covert Russian operation helps elect a man unfit for the presidency. Resistance, as long as it is peaceful and legal, is not only justified but almost mandatory.

Or:

A champion of the forgotten people scores one of the great political upsets in American history, confounding the nations elites. Resistance is for sore losers and hypocrites who would undermine democracy exactly as they accused the president-elect of wanting to do.

Or  wait, can we check both of the above?

For those who opposed Donald Trumps candidacy, this transition period is confounding. What is the right response?

(Victoria Walker/The Washington Post)

The confusion many Democrats feel is reflected in their anger toward President Obama  not only for failing to respond sooner and more assertively to Russian interference in the election but also for cooperating with Trump at all.

In promising to help Trumps administration and wishing for its success, Obama is behaving normally for a departing president  and that normalization of Trump is unacceptable in the eyes of many Democrats.

Are they sore losers? After all, if the electors on Monday cast their ballots in accordance with the popular vote in their states, Trump will win handily. The Russian hacking and FBI Director James B. Comeys letter helped him, but so did his instinctive understanding of the national mood, Hillary Clintons tactical errors, voters desire for a change candidate and a dozen other factors. He won, she lost.

Since his election, Trump has reached out to people who opposed him, such as Mitt Romney, Al Gore and Silicon Valley tycoons. He appears to be courting and uniting the disparate factions of the Republican Party. He has nominated a number of apparently qualified people to his Cabinet, from retired Marine Gen. James N. Mattis at Defense to Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) at Interior.

And yet . . . when he reaches out to opponents, it seems at times his main goal is to gloat or extort an apology. His apparently qualified appointees have some questionable company, from a housing secretary who knows nothing about housing to a national security adviser who traded in lurid conspiracy theories during the campaign.

Trump continues to attack the media, tweet falsehoods (like the 3 million fraudulent votes) and conceal his tax returns. His transition teams request for names of climate-change experts at the Energy Department raised fears of a purge of civil servants who do not toe his line. Like a Central Asian despot, he continues to mix family with business with government. His uniting of factions in fact represents Republicans predictable sacrifice of principle for access.

Most disturbing has been Trumps response to the reports of Russian interference. From his last news conference way back in July, when he actually encouraged such hacking, to his breezy dismissal of Russian responsibility and contempt for U.S. intelligence agencies, to his Friday tweet that seemed to celebrate the hacking, his stance has been other than what one might expect of a soon-to-be commander in chief. Trump still refuses to release documents that would show the extent, if any, of Russian investment in or connection to his business interests.

And after he is sworn in on Jan. 20, Trump may seek to shut down further inquiry.

Isnt all that reason enough for the electoral college to ignore the voters instructions? Doesnt it justify shifting immediately into irreconcilable opposition?

No.

The risks are genuine, but the best way to defend democratic norms is to follow democratic norms. That means recognizing the results of the election. It means encouraging Trump to fulfill his promises to release his tax returns and to separate himself from the family business  and legislating to require such actions if he reneges.

It means that Congress should confirm presidential appointees who are found, after rigorous vetting and questioning, to be qualified, and should reject those who are not. The civil service and foreign service should implement presidential policy directives when they are legal, and resist any that are not. The courts, the media, state governments and, above all, the citizenry, both those who voted for him and those who did not, all have roles to play.

And it means urgently investigating, as Republican congressional leaders have promised they will, Russian interference in the election, no matter where the inquiry leads.

Trump has pledged to govern as a uniter. On Jan. 20, he will swear to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. Like any president, he should be given a chance to fulfill those pledges and be held accountable by all the institutions of our democracy if and when he falls short.

Read more from Fred Hiatts archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Well, that takes chutzpah.

President Obama is criticizing President-elect Donald Trump for failing to attend what The Post calls the most exclusive, and arguably most important, daily meeting in Washington  the Presidential Daily Briefing (PDB)  warning his successor that without the daily intelligence brief, you are flying blind.

This coming from the same person who skipped more than half of his daily intelligence briefings in his first term. As I reported in this space in 2012, during his first 1,225 days in office, Obama attended his daily meeting to discuss the PDB just 536 times  an attendance record of 43.8 percent. In 2011 and the first half of 2012, his attendance dropped even lower, to just over 38 percent of the time.

Talk about flying blind.

Derek Chollet, a former senior official in the Obama administration, accused Trump of malpractice for skipping the same intelligence briefing his former boss regularly skipped, declaring I think it is totally irresponsible in a post-9/11 world.

Not only did Obama commit the same malpractice, Obama used the same excuses as Trump to justify it. For example, Trumps advisers have argued that he gets briefed by many sources and meets regularly with his national security team, including retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn. That is precisely the same line of argument the Obama White House used in 2012, when then-National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor told me in an email this focus on just the PDB and not the countless other NSC meetings the President has each week really misses the point. For example, the President had a briefing with the Principals Committee to review 9/11 threats and mitigation efforts on September 10th. Seems like a relevant data point for your piece.

So Obama could rely on other national security briefings, but Trump cannot?

Trumps critics have also mocked him for saying that he did not need to attend daily intelligence briefings because Im, like, a smart person. As Obama put it this month, Its a big, complicated world. It doesnt matter how smart you are. But back in 2012, his NSC spokesman told me that Obama could forgo his daily intelligence meetings, and simply read written reports, because he was among the most sophisticated consumers of intelligence on the planet. (Translation: Hes, like, a smart person). Indeed, skipping the in person briefing was a point of pride for the Obama White House. Unlike your former boss [George W. Bush], Vietor wrote, Obama has it delivered to his residence in the morning and not briefed to him.

Obama was so smart, he did not need briefers.

Both Obama and Trump are wrong. They do need briefers. And the intelligence community needs direct interaction with the president as much as the president needs direct interaction with the intelligence community. As I explained in 2012, According to former officials who have detailed knowledge of the PDB process, having the daily meeting  and not just reading the briefing book  is enormously important both for the president and those who prepare the brief. For the president, the meeting is an opportunity to ask questions of the briefers, probe assumptions and request additional information. For those preparing the brief, meeting with the president on a daily basis gives them vital, direct feedback from the commander in chief about what is on his mind, how they can be more responsive to his needs, and what information he may have to feed back into the intelligence process. This process cannot be replicated on paper.

Trump told Chris Wallace he skipped the briefing because I dont have to be told the same thing in the same words every single day for the next eight years. If he meets with his intelligence briefers every day, he wont get told the same thing, in the same words, every single day  because his briefers will tailor the PDB to fit his needs. Former CIA director Michael Hayden recalled that with Bush there was rich give and take, so that not only did the president get the advantage of knowing the analysts innermost thoughts, but [the analysts] also were able to leave the room understanding what the president believed he needed in order to make the kind of decisions he had to make.

Under Obama, the intelligence community had to settle for reduced access. And the results are there for all to see. In his second term, Obama continued to miss the majority of his daily intelligence meetings  posting a 41.26 percent attendance record through Sept. 29, 2014. If Obama had spent an hour a day with his intelligence briefers, perhaps he would not have dismissed the Islamic State as the JV squad in January 2014 and mistakenly declared that they were not a direct threat to us or something that we have to wade into. Since then, the Islamic State has spread from Iraq and Syria to Libya, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan.

Yes, intelligence briefings matter.

Trump seemed to agree in 2012, when he tweeted out my Post column on Obamas dismal PDB attendance record, declaring Priorities  while fundraising and campaigning on our dime, Obama has skipped over 50% of his intel briefings. Now, Trump is attending the briefing with even less frequency than Obama.

Of course, Trump is not yet commander in chief. Perhaps he will take the PDB more seriously once he comes face to face with the awesome responsibilities of keeping the country safe. In his Fox interview, he suggested that might be the case. Lets hope so.

Read more from Marc Thiessens archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Regarding Marc A. Thiessens Dec. 15 op-ed, Look who has a soft heart on immigration:

Two areas of President-elect Donald Trumps pronouncements on immigration have never been explained to the so-called mainstream or tributary media. What does secure the border mean? Until conservatives explain, with specific parameters, it continues to be a meaningless dodge to avoid making decisions.

What constitutes touch back? From Mr. Thiessens op-ed it sounds like a quick and easily accomplished route to amnesty. One can envision a massive new touch back industry, both in and outside the United States. It could arrange furloughs from jobs, schools, rental housing; utility, credit or house payments; travel, temporary housing in immigrants original countries, etc. Simple, no issues at all, what could possibly go wrong?

Still, along with his many other policy declarations, Mr. Trump did proclaim he would indeed establish deportation squads. How can we be sure hed ever implement a touch-back policy? Then, among his other comments on immigration, there was also his promise to immediately reverse the dreamers executive order. But wait, theres more. ...

How can Mr. Thiessen pick, choose and edit Mr. Trump and expect to be taken seriously?

Frank Brodersen, Fredericksburg, Va.
CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS have a big new idea on corporate taxation that could nudge U.S. economic policy in a positive direction, if GOP lawmakers get certain details right, which is a big if.

First, the proposal, which Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Tex.), labels a key part of our built-for-growth tax reform plan: Companies based in the United States would be taxed at a flat 20 percent, as opposed to brackets up to 35 percent (riddled with deductions) under current law. The tax would be levied only on net income earned within this country  revenue from exports would be effectively tax free. Also, companies would write off new investment immediately, but lose the deduction for interest expenses they currently enjoy. When you put these changes together, they create fresh incentives to locate economic activity  and register ownership of intellectual property  within the United States, to export rather than import, and to finance businesses with equity rather than debt. Other things being equal, that could improve tax efficiency and domestic job creation.

Like any major tax change, this one would create winners and losers. Perhaps hardest hit would be the real estate and financial industries, whose business models depend heavily on the current deduction for interest expenses. The best response to this concern is that recent experience suggests the U.S. economy might be just a bit over-dependent on real estate and finance. Major retailers, for their part, fret that the after-tax cost of importing the products they sell would go up; refiners of imported crude oil could also face higher costs, which may be why a spokesman for Koch Industries, of Charles and David Koch fame, threw cold water on the idea. Supporters of the plan respond, plausibly, that changes in currency exchange rates could offset any initial impact on import costs.

Now, alas, for those worrisome details. The GOP plan should add nothing to the deficit; it would be self-defeating, in economic terms, to have a debt-discouraging tax system for corporations that was debt-increasing for the government. Perhaps even more important, the Republicans are going to have to figure out how to make such a huge de facto shift in the U.S. tax treatment of imports compliant with international trade law. In its current iteration, the proposal would allow corporations to deduct the costs of wages paid within this country  a nice reward for hiring Americans and paying them well, which for complex reasons could be construed as a discriminatory subsidy under existing World Trade Organization doctrine.

No doubt President-elect Donald Trumps instinct would be to dare other countries to sue us at the WTO and then resist a contrary ruling if and when it comes. A more intelligent strategy would be to devise an alternative that accomplishes the economic purpose of the wage-expense deduction without running the same legal risk. To be sure, history suggests that the biggest danger of all is that lobbyists will gut the GOP proposal of everything except the new, reduced flat rate. As a conversation-starter about the future of corporate taxation, though, the plan has already done some good.
Jeremy Ben-Ami is founder and president of J Street.

As the Nazis rolled into Vienna in 1938, my father was helping boats full of Jews escape down the Danube River.

He had been sent to Vienna by Menachem Begin and the Irgun, the Jewish freedom fighting movement, to save Jews from the Nazis. The operation he ran is credited with saving thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of lives.

At the same time, my mother and her family escaped Vienna in 1938, not down the river, but over the Swiss mountains. Her grandmother and many cousins werent so lucky. They are among the 6 million Jews lost in the Holocaust.

So when David Friedman, President-elect Donald Trumps nominee to be ambassador to Israel, attacks me and Jews who share my politics on Israel as worse than kapos and not really Jews, its not only a horrific insult to my parents memory but also a stinging indictment of the character and the fitness to serve of the man who uttered those words. The term kapo refers to Jewish prisoners who were elevated by Nazi guards to supervise concentration camp operations.

What views do I hold that could evoke such hate?

I believe that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an existential necessity if Israel is to remain a Jewish homeland and that expansion of West Bank settlements risks Israels security and its democratic character.

As important, I believe ruling as an occupying power over millions of Palestinians for 50 years while denying them their rights is not only strategically unwise but also morally unjustifiable.

Friedman, on the other hand, thinks the idea of two states is an illusion. He played a role in erasing support for the idea from the Republican Party platform this summer. He has actively worked to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state on the West Bank as president of an American nonprofit that raises money, with U.S. taxpayer support, to expand the West Bank settlement enterprise.

Its an understatement to say that Friedman and I are on opposite ends of the political spectrum.

I recognize that Trump has the right to choose ambassadors who share his views.

Even though Friedmans views completely contradict bipartisan U.S. policy for the past five decades, thats not sufficient reason for the Senate to reject his nomination.

Friedmans lack of any policy or diplomatic experience (he has been Trumps bankruptcy lawyer) is also not, alone, a basis for rejection.

The appointment of political allies to ambassadorships is common, and we can be grateful that at least Friedman knows where Israel is. But never before has a diplomatic novice been placed in this sensitive post, where a single wrong word or move could pour fuel on fires already burning in the region.

The Constitution requires that the Senate provide advice and consent for presidential appointments, including Friedmans.

Throughout the campaign, senators from both parties did provide advice to Trump. Many saw his words and style as unacceptable, urging him to strike a more unifying, presidential tone. Yet senators votes count no more than the rest of the citizenrys in a general election.

When it comes to the appointment of Friedman as ambassador to Israel, however, Senate votes are the only ones that do count.

Senators have the opportunity to say that the tone and the nature of the discourse that people such as Friedman engage in have no place in U.S. government. The Senate should take this opportunity to deliver this message to future generations about the nature and the limits of acceptable political discourse in a healthy democracy.

No one should serve as an ambassador of this great country after leveling baseless charges of anti-Semitism against a sitting president, as Friedman has, accusing a senior aide to a former secretary of state of being an agent of the Muslim Brotherhood or engaging regularly in offensive religious attacks, even when theyre against his own people.

On behalf of my father-in-law, who drove trucks through gunfire in 1948 to break the siege of Jerusalem, and my parents, who are buried on Jerusalems Mount of Olives, I will do everything I can to expunge rhetoric such as Friedmans from my communitys debate over Israel.

And as an American, I will do everything I can to ensure that my country is never represented in my familys homeland by someone who treats people in a way that is anathema to the Jewish and democratic values on which I was raised.
This Sept. 2, 2015 file photo shows the the door to the cell at Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth, Va., where 24-year-old Jamycheal Mitchell was found dead Aug. 19, 2015. (Bill Tiernan/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

BOTH MEN landed in jail on shoplifting charges. Both were ill, one vomiting blood, the other losing weight at a staggering rate. With their health in free fall, both needed urgent care. What they received was anything but urgent. It was neglect.

In the end, both Jamycheal Mitchell and Henry Stewart died at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Virginia. Jail staffers indifferent to their plight all but ignored symptoms that any layman would have recognized as alarming, at the least, and very possibly life-threatening.

Mr. Mitchell, who was 24, died in a cell spattered with his feces and puddled with his urine, having lost at least 35 pounds in the space of four months. Mr. Stewart, who was 60, alerted jail officials that he had blacked out twice in 24 hours; the response was a scolding by a nurse for refusing to take his seizure medication and sitting on [a] walkway. Two days later, he was dead.

Now the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division has launched an investigation of conditions at the jail, 16 months after Mr. Mitchells death, in August 2015, and four months after Mr. Stewarts, this past August. Lawyers and prosecutors will examine whether inmates with disabilities at the facility are provided with adequate services, as federal law requires  and as Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Stewart clearly were not.

One fair measure of a civilized society is the treatment it accords those it keeps locked away out of sight; that is particularly true in the case of the growing numbers of inmates across the country who are mentally ill. By that measure, the deaths of Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Stewart are a damning indictment.

Mr. Mitchell, whose crime was to shoplift two snacks and a soft drink from a 7-Eleven, worth $5.05, was physically healthy when he entered the jail in April 2015. He was also mentally ill. A judge ordered him transferred to a nearby state psychiatric hospital; the judges orders were ignored. In the meantime, jail officials and nurses seemed barely to notice, or care, as Mr. Mitchells weight plummeted and one of his legs swelled with edema. Hey, a top jail official said later, maybe he was flushing his food.

Mr. Mitchells death represented a systemic breakdown in Virginia: a jail ill-equipped to handle the swelling population of mentally ill inmates; a network of psychiatric hospitals, its bed count reduced to 1,300 from 6,000 in the past four decades, incapable of absorbing those needing urgent care; and communities, especially in poorer areas, lacking the funds, housing and professional services to treat those discharged from mental hospitals or diverted from jails.

Mindful of the mess, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) has proposed more than $30 million in new spending for mental illness and substance abuse. His budget would devote new funds to local mental-health providers, and to overcrowded psychiatric hospitals and private facilities, which handle the spillover. Its a start, but only a start, in cleaning up a system that has become a disgrace.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that the government will provide enhanced infrastructure and logistical facilities at border posts where women personnel have been deployed, under the command of various frontier guarding forces.

Singh, after taking salute at the 53rd Raising Day event of paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at its camp here, said it was essential to have "gender-friendly" facilities at these far flung areas for women as the present support system is deficient.

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"There should be gender-friendly infrastructure at border posts where women are deployed....I believe there is a deficiency in this regard. This needs to be improved. I believe those border posts where women personnel are deployed, more facilities should be provided there," he said.

Apart from SSB, Border Security Force (deployed along Pakistan and Bangladesh borders) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (along Sino-India frontier) has deployed its women personnel as part of their border guarding charter.

While the forces have upgraded or created new infrastructure facilities at the border posts after women combatants were posted at these locations for the first time few years back, reports from the field units of these forces have desired that much more needs to be done in this regard.

Singh said that his ministry will give a serious thought to a pending proposal of SSB to have its own dedictated intelligence wing to aid its ground troops mandated to secure Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan.

"Despite not having a dedicated intelligence wing, you have been quite successful in your operations along the two borders you guard," Singh said.

He said it was surely "not an easy" task to secure the two borders as they are not fenced and are fully open which leads to heavy movement across the frontiers.

The Home Minister lauded the force for detecting and apprehending narcotics, arms, ammunition and other banned susbtances estimated at Rs 274 crore when they were being illegally transacted across the two borders this year.

Calling SSB a "multi-dimensional" force, Singh welcomed the forces proposal to get erected at least ten FM radio towers in the border areas along Nepal.

During the event, SSB Director General Archana Ramasundaram said the force was facing vacancies in the officer cadres and has taken some of them on deputation from other sister forces.

The force, raised in 1963, has 67 operational battalions (about 67,000 personnel) at present and secures the 1,751-km Indo-Nepal border and the 699-km long Indo-Bhutan border apart from being deployed to render a variety of internal security duties in the hinterland. PTI NES SC

--- ENDS ---
Beneath the surface of the controversy over Russias efforts to help Donald Trump become president is a dramatic reconfiguration of opinion on foreign policy.

Many Republicans who had long been critical of Vladimir Putins despotic rule are adjusting their positions to accord with Trumps more sympathetic views. Others are hanging back, fearful of picking a fight with their partys incoming president or undermining the legitimacy of his election.

At the same time, Putins fiercest Republican critics, including leading neoconservatives, find themselves allied with Hillary Clintons supporters. They are calling out the Kremlins interference with the election and demanding a full accounting of what happened. Sens. John McCain and Lindsey O. Graham have been among the most outspoken.

While some on the left worry about starting a new Cold War, there has been a broad toughening of liberal and Democratic opinion toward Russia. This shift owes in part to outrage over Putins efforts to sabotage Clinton, but the roots of the mistrust of Putin can be traced back several years.

Putins hostility toward Clinton is widely seen as a response to her criticism of the 2011 Russian elections, a point she underscored herself last week. Mass protests broke out against what the opposition saw as Putins vote rigging. At the time, he blamed Clinton and the American government for the uprising.

(Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Putin fumed that Clinton had said the elections were dishonest and unfair and that she had given a signal to demonstrators who, he claimed, enjoyed the support of the U.S. State Department.

In words that now carry an ironic ring, Putin added: We need to safeguard ourselves from this interference in our internal affairs.

According to the CIA, Russia struck back hard at Clinton through the hacks and was determined to help elect Trump who, for his part, has issued one encomium after another to Putin.

More embarrassing for Republicans, Russia also seemed determined to help GOP candidates for the House of Representatives and to defeat Democrats. According to the New York Times, Russian hacking sought to tilt House races in states that included Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Ohio, Illinois, New Mexico and North Carolina. Republicans will not be eager to explore why Putin might have wanted to help their party as a whole. This only deepens their problems in dealing with the hacking story.

While McCain and Graham were vociferous in denouncing Russia, other Republicans are clearly frustrated that a story with great potential for blowback against the party is getting so much attention. Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.) charged that certain elements of the media, certain elements of the intelligence community and certain politicians are really doing the work of the Russians by creating uncertainty over the election.

Republicans are also split over how to grapple with the issue going forward. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was slow to respond to The Posts report of CIA conclusions about Russian interference. He eventually endorsed a congressional investigation but said it should be conducted by the usually secretive Intelligence Committee. McCain, on the other hand, called for a select committee that would raise the investigations profile. McCains approach is endorsed by many Democrats.

And Trumps nomination of Rex Tillerson as secretary of state  the ExxonMobil chief executive received an award of friendship from Putin  is dividing Republicans along multiple lines. Trumps supporters want to back his choice. Some in the party are fearful of Tillersons ties to Russia. And many Republican establishment figures not particularly close to Trump (including some with ExxonMobil ties) are praising Tillerson as a moderate internationalist.

One political leader who has noticed the GOPs newfound camaraderie with Putin is President Obama. In a pointed comment during an NPR interview, Obama noted that a big chunk of the Republican Party, which prided itself during the Reagan era and for decades that followed as being the bulwark against Russian influence, now suddenly is embracing him.

At a news conference on Friday, Obama said he found it a little curious that everybody is suddenly acting surprised that this looked like it was disadvantaging Hillary Clinton. . . . This was an obsession that dominated the news.

During the Republican primaries, Jeb Bush referred to Trump as the chaos candidate, and Trump is already sowing chaos in his party over Russia. Many Republicans are horrified by the idea that the GOP will come to be seen as the pro-Putin party. Trump seems to have no such qualms, and he is forcing Republicans to take sides on a Russian autocrat who is no friend of the United States.

Read more from E.J. Dionnes archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
President-elect Donald Trump greets Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Trump's pick for attorney general, during one of Trumps thank-you tour rallies, on Saturday. Trump has echoed the views of Sessions, perhaps the Senates most vocal immigration hard-liner. (Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)

After a presidential campaign that sharply divided the country over illegal immigration, some of the nations most ardent anti-immigrant advocates see the chance under Donald Trump to dramatically reduce legal immigration as well.

Trumps early appointments, including the nominee for attorney general and two top White House advisers, are giving those advocates hope that they now have powerful allies at the very highest levels of government.

Weve been in the wilderness, and overnight we are not anymore, said Roy Beck, a leading advocate for slashing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.

Beck is executive director of NumbersUSA, an Arlington-based nonprofit organization devoted to stabilizing the population. He has been marginalized in Washington as an eccentric figure whose views some consider xenophobic or even racist.

Not anymore.

(Thomas Johnson/The Washington Post)

Trump, he added, really did make some very strong statements about cutting immigration. Thats a total change.

During a campaign speech in Phoenix last summer, Trump advocated new policies to curtail legal immigration, citing concerns about foreign workers taking jobs and keeping wages down for the native-born.

Trump noted that 59 million immigrants had come to the United States over the past 50 years, boosting the foreign-born share of the nations population from 4.8 percent to 14 percent, according to the Pew Research Center.

Many of these arrivals have greatly enriched our country, he said. But we now have an obligation to them, and to their children, to control future immigration  as we have following previous immigration waves  to ensure assimilation, integration and upward mobility.

Today, the U.S. government awards green cards to more than 1 million foreigners annually, granting them legal permanent residence. Many of these are granted to family members of people already living legally in the United States. Groups such as NumbersUSA want to slash that by a half or more.

In his speech, Trump expressed a desire to cut legal immigration levels to within historical norms, as measured by a share of the overall population, and he proposed a new federal commission to develop proposals to achieve it.

The goal, he said, would be to select immigrants based on their likelihood of success in U.S. society and their ability to be financially self-sufficient. The new immigration system should establish controls to boost wages and to ensure open jobs are offered to American workers first.

Trump has echoed the views of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who is perhaps the Senates most vocal immigration hard-liner and whom Trump has nominated as U.S. attorney general.

Stephen Miller, a longtime Sessions aide who wrote most of Trumps immigration speeches, has been named senior adviser to the president for policy in the Trump White House. And Stephen K. Bannon, Trumps chief strategist, advocated for reducing legal immigration levels as editor of Breitbart News, a conservative website that reports extensively on the issue.

What we need now is immigration moderation: slowing the pace of new arrivals so that wages can rise, welfare rolls can shrink and the forces of assimilation can knit us all more closely together, Sessions wrote in a Washington Post op-ed last year.

To immigrant rights advocates, such talk sounds like justification for pursuing nativist and xenophobic policies, said Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center.

She pointed to academic studies showing that immigrants spur economic growth and suggested that Trump and his aides are employing a false rationale as political cover to take us back to [the policies of] previous centuries.

The last time the United States significantly cut immigration levels was in 1924, after a public backlash over huge influxes of foreign workers during the Second Industrial Revolution prompted Congress to establish strict quotas based on national origin. The new laws favored white immigrants from Northern and Western Europe, while severely restricting Jews from Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as Africans. Asians and Arabs were banned outright.

Over the ensuing decades, U.S. immigration rates plunged to their lowest levels since the pre-Civil War era  from more than 800,000 immigrants a year between 1900 and 1910 to about 70,000 a year between 1930 and 1940, according to federal data.

In 1965, Congress replaced the national-origin quota with a system focused on reuniting immigrant families, leading to a spike in immigration levels. Under current policies, immigrants and their descendants will account for an additional 103 million people over 50 years, 88 percent of the nations population growth, according to Pew.

The question is whether having an immigration level higher than any other country in the world but half of what we have now signifies any kind of qualitative change in who we are as a country, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, another group that advocates for reducing immigration levels. That 500,000 or 400,000 immigrants a year is somehow un-American, but 1 million is America.

During unsuccessful immigration overhaul efforts under President George W. Bush in 2007 and Obama in 2013, Beck and Krikorian were reliable voices of opposition to bipartisan legislative proposals that featured a path to citizenship for the nations 11 million illegal immigrants.

But to them, the fate of the undocumented  which has become the major flash point on Capitol Hill  obscures their more fundamental goal of reducing overall immigration flows. A third major restrictionist group, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, has spent decades lobbying Congress to cap immigration at 300,000 per year.

All three organizations were started with funding from John Tanton, a Michigan doctor who has professed support for eugenics, a branch of science that believes certain beneficial human traits can be made more prominent in a population through selective breeding.

But Beck rejected as nonsense the notion that his groups views are based on race.

It is nationalist, not nativist, he said. Its not where you were born, but are you a member of this national community?

NumbersUSA touts as its spiritual godmother the late Barbara Jordan, a Texas Democrat who was the first African American woman elected to Congress from the Deep South. In the mid-1990s, before her death in 1996, Jordan chaired a bipartisan federal commission that recommended to the Clinton administration cutting annual green cards from 675,000 a year to 550,000. Clinton never moved forward on the proposal.

In an ad that aired during the Republican and Democratic presidential primary debates last year, NumbersUSA featured a clip of Jordans testimony that the commission finds no national interest in continuing to import lesser-skilled and unskilled workers to compete in the most vulnerable parts of our labor force.

Studies have shown that immigrants who arrive legally boost the economy over the long term and that many have higher levels of education than native-born Americans. Commission members said NumbersUSA took Jordans words out of context and noted that the commission also proposed accommodating a global waiting list of than 1 million immigration applicants.

Proponents of lowering immigration levels are just interested in coming up with reasons not to have people who are different, said Stuart Anderson, an adjunct scholar at the conservative Cato Institute who served as counselor to the commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service under Bush.

Anderson said the 1924 law that slashed immigration rates was hardly a model of good governance. It was one of the ugliest periods of the eugenics movement and extremely anti- Semitic.

Trump advisers emphasized that limiting immigration would benefit all American workers, including blacks and Hispanics.

One aide said the president-elect has not specified a target immigration level because he wants to consult members of Congress. The aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about the issue on the record, said Trump favors a revamped system that would prioritize immigrants with high education levels and expertise in high-skilled industries such as technology.

The 1965 immigration act sought to build in preferences for skilled foreign laborers, but the system overwhelmingly favors family reunification. Of the 1 million foreigners granted permanent legal residence in 2014, 647,000  about two-thirds  received green cards based on family ties, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Just 152,000 permanent arrivals were employment-based.

In addition, 134,000 refugees and asylum seekers received green cards, and 54,000 more were distributed in an annual diversity lottery for underrepresented countries, many in Africa.

Critics have said the rules encourage chain migration, the tradition of immigrants seeking to bring extended family members. The Trump aide cited as a model Canadas system of awarding points to immigrants based on education, job skills, language proficiency, age and other criteria.

If he pursues a legislative push, Trump is likely to run into major resistance, including from some fellow Republicans and members of the business community, which has supported more robust programs for foreign workers and their families.

But Beck said he is counting on Trump.

We have a citizen army, said Beck, whose group has more than 6 million Facebook followers. We will be acting and pushing members of Congress. Were not going into this expecting him to disappoint us.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect a correction to the following sentence: John Tanton, a Michigan doctor, has professed support for eugenics, a pseudoscience claiming that some racial groups are inherently superior. Eugenics is a branch of science that believes certain beneficial human traits can be made more prominent in a population through selective breeding. Although eugenics has, at times, been invoked by groups promoting racist ideologies, eugenics itself does not claim that some racial groups are inherently superior. Tanton has stated that he does not believe one racial group is superior to another.
The worlds power address du jour is a sheath of soaring black glass on Fifth Avenue, at the entrance to which a cop in combat armor  his fingers on an assault rifle  took a moment the other day to tell a tourist where to find the citys best pizza.

A parade of technology tycoons bounded by, on their way to meet with the buildings developer and best-known resident, President-elect Donald Trump, a procession monitored in the lobby by a swarm of Secret Service agents, reporters and spectators that included one Kit Regone of Maryland.

Its befitting a king, the retired production manager said, standing behind a velvet rope and taking in all the pink marble, golden mirrors, gleaming escalators and ever-tinkling, four-story waterfall that define Trump Towers lobby.

The White House may be the nations time-honored symbol of power, but Trump is establishing his 58-story colossus at 725 Fifth Avenue as a stage for his new role, potentially nipping at Washingtons reputation as the center of American authority and the stature of its most famous address, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

On most days, crowds of tourists, rank-and-file New Yorkers and candidates seeking jobs with the new administration endure a maze of checkpoints, barricades and police command posts on the traffic-choked streets that bound Trump Tower.

(Deirdra O'Regan/The Washington Post)

Their soundtrack is less Hail to the Chief and more honking horns, wailing sirens and irritated pedestrians moaning, Are you kidding me?

Across the street from the president-elects entrance, behind more barricades between 56th and 57th streets, are a phalanx of television news cameras, all of them trained on the T-R-U-M-P T-O-W-E-R spelled out not once but twice above the revolving doors.

On the afternoon of his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump is expected to move into the White House. But he has said he still plans to spend time in New York, where his wife, Melania, and 10 year-old son, Barron, will remain at Trump Tower, at least until the end of the school year.

How often Trump will be in New York is a looming question, but the president-elect is as famous for defying convention as he is for adoring his gold- and diamond-laden triplex high above Manhattan.

Roger Stone, a longtime Trump adviser, said the president-elect called after his post-election visit to the White House and pronounced himself very impressed with his new residence, where the living quarters are some 10,000 square feet smaller than his current home.

He kept telling me how beautiful it was and how much he liked the architecture, Stone said.

At the same time, Stone described his Queens-born friend as the quintessential New Yorker, a homebody who likes to sleep in his own bed. Like all presidents, Stone said, I expect he wont be at the White House all the time. Instead of bailing out for Camp David, he can come to New York on the weekends.

Workers and visitors make their way around the gilded halls of the lobby at Trump Tower. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Protecting Trump during his transition is costing New York taxpayers upward of $500,000 a day, a price that has triggered no small amount of outrage from Mayor Bill de Blasio and prompted one city lawmaker to politely urge the president-elect to decamp to another one of his properties, perhaps in Florida.

An overwhelming majority of New York City voters rejected Trumps candidacy, and many grouse at the prospect of their city becoming his presidential backdrop. But Cindy Adams, a New York Post gossip columnist and longtime Trump friend, said she would understand if he preferred his home town to Washington, which she dismissed as overpopulated by fashion-challenged lawmakers who wear plastic shoes with rubber soles.

The White House is smaller than where hes used to living, Adams said. He doesnt even have a proper ballroom there. You get 11 people into the Red Room and its crowded.

Trumps choices in real estate could test whether Washingtons preeminence in the countrys political order depends on where the president spends his weekends  or weekdays for that matter. Yet the citys stature is not defined only by the White House, but also by the Capitol, the Supreme Court and the myriad federal agencies located there.

All the mechanics of government will remain in Washington, said Tammy Haddad, a D.C.-based media consultant steeped in the citys tribal customs. And around the world, going to the White House is something every world leader wants. Thats not going to change.

Yet, Haddad acknowledged one immediate difference wrought by Trumps New York-based transition. After previous elections, Cafe Milano in Georgetown was the place where Washington insiders could spy who was dining with whom and decode who was up for a Cabinet post.

Now, she said, the terrain fomenting speculation is the lobby of Trump Tower, which in recent days has hosted an ungainly mass of visitors including Microsoft founder Bill Gates, musician Kanye West, British politician Nigel Farage and an unidentified man who performed a perfect back flip.

Is that Mike Pence? asked Susan McKenzie, a tourist from Pennsylvania, motioning as she stood in the lobby toward a man who was in fact Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).

A few feet away, Joe Lepore, 57, of Fort Lee, N.J., said he was hoping to deliver to the president-elect a Christmas card and a photograph of himself fist-bumping with Trump 16 months earlier outside a New York courthouse.

As much as he likes having Trump at Trump Tower, a building he believes should be officially designated White House North, Lepore said tradition dictates that the president belongs in Washington.

Id like to see him Trump up the White House, put his name on top of the building, he said. I want to see him trick the whole thing out.

As challenging as it may seem to imagine, the White House can feel like a studio apartment to its famous occupants, even with 18 acres, 132 rooms and 31 bathrooms. A gilded cage is how President Ronald Reagan described the residence first occupied in 1800 by President John Adams.

Reagan liked to escape to his ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif., while President John F. Kennedy preferred Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and Richard Nixon retreated to Key Biscayne, Fla. Key West, Fla., was where Harry Truman spent the winters. George W. Bushs getaway was a one-story ranch house on 1,600 acres in Crawford, Tex.

No president has made his weekend White House a Manhattan penthouse, a choice that may seem to challenge Trumps everyman bona fides.

When a so-called populist moves the White House to Fifth Avenue, you have to say, Whats going on here?  said Stephen Hess, a Brookings Institution scholar who was an adviser to Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. I dont think Trump is trying to make a point. Hes just trying to get home  and his home happens to be a lot bigger and grander than the one the government is letting him live in.

Trump Tower includes a bar (Trump Bar), a restaurant (Trump Grill), and a store (Trump Gift Shop), which sells items such as Success by Trump, a fragrance that captures the scent of the driven man, according to the Trump Organization website.

Under an agreement with the city, Trump Towers lobby is accessible to the public from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., a fact that allows spectators an elevator-side perch to watch whos visiting the president-elect.

Is anybody famous going to come out of the elevator? asked Leandra Estrada, 39, an occupational therapist visiting from Texas, as she stood in the lobby last week.

That she was even allowed to stand there, Estrada said, proved that Trump is with the people.

Her son, Mike, 22, nodded: I see him on TV  he comes down, he walks around. Its more relaxed.

Hes the president of the people, Leandra said.

Trump has lived in his tower since he built it in the early 1980s, a project that ruffled preservationists who regarded it as the architectural equivalent of a gaudy stretch limousine parked alongside the avenues more refined Bentleys and Rolls-Royces.

Trump celebrated his buildings extravagance, gave tours of his Versailles-themed penthouse and touted sales of condominiums to stars such as Michael Jackson.

More than three decades later, New Yorks luxury market is dominated by newer, more expensive real estate, leaving Trump Tower as a bit of a tired throwback, said Gabby Warshawer, a data analyst for CityRealty, a real estate group.

While the average price of Manhattan condos rose 19 percent this year, she said, the cost of Trump Tower apartments were relatively stagnant. Of the eight condos that sold in the building this year, six had price cuts of between 5 and 33 percent.

Its still considered a luxury condo, Warshawer said. However, there are quite a lot more that command higher prices.

If the bedlam accompanying Trumps life as president threatens to make his building less attractive to buyers, one real estate agent recently tried a new pitch, touting the Secret Service presence as an amenity and calling the property Manhattans most secure.

The four police officers in front of the towers entrance on Wednesday, each of them in helmets and swathed in body armor, seemed like sufficient evidence to back up that claim.

The officers main focus at that moment was the performer known as the Naked Cowboy, who had just arrived to pose for photos in his cowboy hat, white boots and underwear, on the back of which was written T-R-U-M-P.

Thats my mother, Barbara Plott of Alabama said as she photographed the cowboy hoisting an older woman in the air.

Across the street, behind another set of metal barricades, Paul Rossen, 54, was selling Dump Trump buttons, which he said were making him more money than the anti-Trump We Shall Overcomb bumper stickers he peddled last year.

For all his antipathy toward Trump, Rossen said he wouldnt mind if the countrys new leader is in New York as often as possible. Its good for business, and I like money, he said. Its expensive to live here, you know.
Donald Trump clinched the presidency Monday as members of the electoral college cast ballots declaring him the victor, a perfunctory conclusion to the most stunning presidential contest in modern history.

Trump became the winner Monday afternoon after electors from Texas cast ballots and put him over the 270 electoral votes needed to win. Results will be officially announced Jan. 6 in a special joint session of Congress.

While Democrat Hillary Clinton amassed a nearly 3 million-vote lead in the popular vote, Trump won the state-by-state electoral map, making him president-elect. That political dichotomy sparked special scrutiny and intense lobbying of electors by Trumps opponents in recent weeks, including mass protests. It also drew outsize attention to the usually overlooked, constitutionally obligated gatherings of 538 electors in 50 states and the District of Columbia.

[How does the electoral college actually vote? An explainer.]

The mostly symbolic calls for an electoral college rejection of Trump grew after revelations of a CIA assessment that Russian hacking could have boosted his campaign, which in the view of many Trump critics raised doubts about his legitimacy.

(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

Trump has dismissed the intelligence communitys analysis of Russias role in the election and has boasted, including on Monday, of a historic electoral landslide. But his 306-to-232 win over Clinton on election night ranks just 46th out of 58 electoral college margins. The final tally on Monday gave Trump 304 electoral votes while Clinton received 227.

This election represents a movement that millions of hard working men and women all across the country stood behind and made possible, Trump said in a statement. With this historic step we can look forward to the bright future ahead.

His detractors called on electors to buck the president-elect in favor of Clinton  or Trumps running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, or another Republican such as Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Ultimately, Kasich earned one vote from an elector in Texas. So did former congressman Ron Paul (R-Tex.). Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) received one vote in Hawaii. In Washington state, three electors cast votes for former secretary of state Colin Powell, while another voted for Faith Spotted Eagle, a member of the Sioux tribe from South Dakota who opposes the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Pence earned the requisite electoral votes to serve as vice president, but in Washington state, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also earned some votes.

Across the country, critics of the president-elect braved cold temperatures and rallied outside state capitol buildings in hopes that electors might act as an emergency brake on Trump.

In Pennsylvania, which voted for a Republican president for the first time since 1988, a few hundred shell-shocked Democrats protested in Harrisburg while all 20 electors backed Trump. In Utah, protesters booed and shouted Shame on you as the states six electors cast votes for Trump in a capitol building conference room in Salt Lake City.

1 of 18 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  These photos show the electoral college making Trumps win official View Photos Donald Trump clinched the presidency Monday as members of the electoral college cast ballots declaring him the victor. Caption The electors provided a perfunctory conclusion to the most stunning election in modern history. Lansing, Mich. Protestors fill the rotunda of the Michigan state capitol on Dec. 19 before the state electoral college met to cast votes.The electoral college voted unanimously for Trump. Sarah Rice/Getty Images Wait 1 second to continue.

In Florida, a crucial swing state where Trump defeated Clinton by about a percentage point, Trump won all 29 electoral votes. He also earned all 16 votes in Michigan, another state that flipped to Republicans for the first time since 1988.

On the streets of Washington, D.C., two dozen protesters assembled outside Trumps hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, singing songs such as We Shall Overcome. Some held signs, including one that read, Resist Putins Puppet. The Districts three electors later gathered at city hall, just a block from Trumps hotel.

In Albany, N.Y., former president Bill Clinton sat in the state Senate chamber as an elector and cast one of the Empire States 29 electoral votes for his wife.

Ive never cast a vote I was prouder of, he told reporters after the meeting.

[In last-shot bid, thousands urge electoral college to block Trump at Monday vote]

Despite the pleas of Trump opponents, most electors had said for weeks that they planned to cast votes reflecting the will of their home states.

Any choice was better than Hillary, so its not a hard choice for me, Oklahoma Republican elector Charles Potts said in a recent interview.

Richard Snelgrove, an elector who also serves as a Salt Lake County, Utah, council member, said he had received thousands of emails, hundreds of letters and a few phone calls  most of them respectful, a couple over the top, and a few that have been downright threatening.

Most of the messages asked him to vote for Clinton on the grounds that she won the national popular vote. But Snelgrove said there was no justification for such a move.

No one elected me king, and its my job to reflect the will of the people of Utah, he said. They chose Trump.

In Harrisburg, Ray-Ellen Kavey, 68, had driven from neighboring New York state to try to persuade Pennsylvanias electors to switch allegiance.

I think the Constitution charges the electors with preventing exactly what is happening here  a hostile takeover of our government by a bigot who has been supported by Russia, Kavey said. I know nothing will come of this, but my conscience wont let me do any less.

In Austin, Joni Ashbrook, 64, and her best friend, Mary Robinson, 62, stood outside the pink-granite Texas capitol, holding two ends of a banner that Ashbrook had sewed. Resist Trumps Agenda, the sign read.

Ashbrook, a retired fourth-grade science teacher, said that she knew the electors would probably vote for Trump but that she was troubled by Trumps Cabinet picks and his disregard for global warming.

Id like for them to be very thoughtful about whats going on around them, Ashbrook said of the electors. But this is just another way for us to say no. 

In Maryland, all 10 of the states electors voted for Clinton during a meeting in the Governors Reception Room at the State House in Annapolis. Maryland law requires electors to vote for the winner of the states popular vote, which Clinton won easily.

Maggie McIntosh, a state delegate from Baltimore, choked up as she announced the results to an audience of more than 70 spectators.

This is kind of an emotional moment, McIntosh said with tears in her eyes. Its an emotional moment for many women in this country and this state. Hillary Rodham Clinton was the first woman nominated by a major political party for president of the United States. She won the majority of votes here in Maryland, the electors today have chosen her as president, and she won the majority of votes in this country.

The CIAs assessment of Russias election interference prompted 10 electors  nine Democrats and one Republican  to request an intelligence briefing to learn more about Moscows role, a move endorsed by some of Clintons top campaign aides. Other groups had urged electors to postpone the vote until Trump explains what he plans to do about his multinational family business empire.

Trump has declined to explain his plans in person but has tweeted that he will hand over day-to-day responsibilities for his company to his adult sons, who will do no new deals while he occupies the White House.

Intelligence officials last week declined requests to brief electors, saying they will provide congressional briefings only when a review ordered by President Obama is completed.

Electors each cast two votes, one for president and one for vice president. In every state, officials prepared a certificate of vote to be sent to Washington for processing by Congress and the National Archives.

Lawmakers are scheduled to gather Jan. 6 in the House chamber to hear the results from the states in alphabetical order during a session set to be led by Vice President Biden. It will allow lawmakers to challenge the results or the votes of individual electors.

The Constitution says nothing about how electors should vote, but some states bind them to the results of the popular vote, and some state parties essentially force electors to take a loyalty pledge to serve.

Just a handful of electors tested the limits this year, but it wasnt immediately clear whether those who voted for people other than Clinton or Trump would face punishment.

While much of the uncertainty headed into the day centered on how many electors would vote against Trump in the states he won, it was Clinton whose tally declined further.

In the state of Washington, a liberal stronghold where the Democratic nominee won the popular vote comfortably, Clinton won eight of the 12 electors. Three of the remaining four cast votes for Powell, who last served in the administration of George W. Bush. And there was the vote for Faith Spotted Eagle.

State Democrats had selected their electors at a lightly attended party convention packed mostly with supporters of Sanders, the runner-up in the Democratic presidential primary race.

Electors in Colorado and Minnesota also tried and failed to buck Clinton. In Maine, elector David Bright initially cast his ballot for Sanders to honor thousands of younger voters who had supported the senator.

But state officials ruled that Brights vote was improper. They ordered a revote, and Bright voted the second time for Clinton.

Josh Hicks in Annapolis; Matthew LaPlante in Salt Lake City; Eva Ruth Moravec in Austin; Paul Schwartzman and Sean Sullivan in Washington; and David Weigel in Harrisburg, Pa., contributed to this report.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the number of electoral votes Donald Trump won on election night. He won 306.
In the closing days of his campaign, Donald Trump vilified one of the worlds richest men  Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim  as part of a globalist cabal conspiring to extinguish his populist candidacy.

Yet over the weekend, Slim journeyed to Mar-a-Lago, Trumps estate in Palm Beach, Fla., for what the president-elect described as a lovely dinner with a wonderful man.

The peacemaking gesture  the culmination of weeks of back-channel negotiations that included a secret visit to Mexico City by a Trump envoy  signals a possible thawing between Trump and Mexicos business and political elite, which he had used relentlessly as a foil throughout his campaign.

The communications raised hopes in Mexicos business community that Trump might reconsider his vow to tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement and be persuaded to adopt less hard-line immigration and economic policies, which were cornerstones of his campaign.

Larry Rubin, president of the American Society of Mexico and a key liaison between Republican officials in the United States and Mexican leaders, said Trump and his team are forging a better understanding of shared economic interests between the two countries.

(The Washington Post)

What President-elect Trump wants to do in coming closer to the Mexican business community has an impact not only nationally but regionally with Latin America and opens the doors for good business relations overall, said Rubin, who is one of several candidates to serve as Trumps ambassador to Mexico. The closer that the administration is to businesses and governments in Mexico and in the region, the better for the U.S.

But Trump has made no declaration of any shift in his immigration or trade policies, and any softening would carry the risk of angering his core supporters.

Saturday, just hours before his dinner with Slim, Trump staged the final rally of his thank you tour in Mobile, Ala., and the crowd chanted, Build that wall!

Do not worry. We are going to build the wall, Trump said, reiterating his promise to erect a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to keep out undocumented immigrants and to make Mexico pay for it.

Trump and Slims dinner was designed to open a friendly line of communication rather than delve into policy details, according to people briefed on the discussions.

Slims visit to Mar-a-Lago came after Corey Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign manager who remains a confidant of the president-elect, quietly visited Mexico City on Dec. 9 to meet with Slim.

After the election, Slim connected with Lewandowski  someone he saw as having Trumps ear but not as a formal member of his staff  and arranged for them to discuss trade, economic and other issues, according to people with knowledge of the session.

(McKenna Ewen,Whitney Shefte,Dalton Bennett/The Washington Post)

Slim has long been the dominant figure in Mexicos business community. He has a net worth estimated at $77 billion, according to the most recent tally by Forbes magazine. He controls Latin Americas largest telecom company, America Movil, and is also involved in banking, construction, retail, health care, oil and other businesses. Slim also is the largest single investor in the New York Times Co.

Trumps meeting with Slim is the latest example of the president-elect reconciling with former foes  most prominently, Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee who had led the Republican resistance to Trumps candidacy but became a serious candidate for secretary of state.

During the campaign, Slim strongly criticized Trumps rhetoric about Mexican Americans as well as his plans to renegotiate NAFTA and build the border wall. Slim said that Trumps proposed tariff on imports would destroy the U.S. economy.

Trump in turn accused Slim of helping promote his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, and cast him as part of a global conspiracy. At an Oct. 14 rally, Trump attacked Slim personally and accused Times journalists of being corporate lobbyists for Carlos Slim.

Trumps quarrel with Slim extends to the very beginning of his campaign. At his June 2015 announcement speech, Trumps remarks about undocumented Mexican immigrants being criminals and rapists sparked an intense furor. A television company controlled by Slim canceled a project it had been working on with Trumps company, and Slims spokesman said Trump was close-minded and his comments totally out of line.

Trump told friends at the time that he believed Slim  who once had a business relationship with a rival candidate, former Florida governor Jeb Bush  helped orchestrate the public backlash.

He believes Carlos Slim was behind a lot of his problems, said one Trump friend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid. This person suggested that Trump sees a benefit to Saturdays dinner: He wants to neutralize him.

After Trumps unexpected victory, Slims tone toward the president-elect changed. In recent comments, Slim has spoken optimistically about Trumps presidency. If Trump is able to grow the United States economy and jobs, that would be fantastic for Mexico, Slim told a business forum.

Slims evolution comes as the Mexican government is undertaking an extensive effort to preserve NAFTA by proving Mexicos worth to the U.S. economy. Since Trumps win, Mexican diplomats have sought to spread the message to immigrants, through the network of 50 consulates in the United States, about their rights and legal protections.

The Mexican government has enlisted business executives in both countries to talk about the economic benefits of free trade in what one Mexican official described as the language that the new president speaks: deals and entrepreneurial vision.

Mexican officials have readied themselves to discuss NAFTA, or any other topic, with the incoming administration. But they have also stressed that they dont yet know what policies Trump intends to pursue.

The truth is right now we dont even have a [negotiating] table, Paulo Carreno, Mexicos deputy foreign secretary for North American affairs, said in a recent interview.

While Trumps election has presented challenges for Mexico, Carreno said, the government remains cautiously optimistic about the prospects for the bilateral relationship.

Carlos Sada, Mexicos ambassador to the United States, said in a speech last week to the Council of the Americas that his country would work to find common ground with the next U.S. administration.

Sada added, Besides my basic efforts to get to know better the character of the U.S. president-elect, we have to seriously recognize the juncture at which we are standing today: We either capitalize it and turn it into opportunity for the sake of a new stage of our integration and shared growth or risk a major setback.

A group of CEOs from both countries met in Mexico City recently for a public policy summit chaired by Tom Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; John Rice, vice chairman of General Electric; Juan Pablo Castanon, chairman of the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial, a Mexican private-sector business council; and Armando Garza, chairman of Alfa, a Mexican-based multinational conglomerate.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and a number of his ministers attended the session, where business leaders discussed the impact of Trumps election on cross-border trade and other economic matters, according to people familiar with the meeting.

Earl Anthony Wayne, a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico under President Obama, said there is a lot of concern and a desire to find a positive way forward.

Its a million dollars a minute in trade that goes across our border, Wayne said. The CEOs are very interested in preserving what they see as mutually beneficial relations. Theres a lot of attention to what the policies will turn out to be and a desire to have a dialogue with whoever the new officials will be.

In August, Trump made a splashy visit to Mexico City to meet with Pena Nieto, where the then-candidate was unusually subdued and struck a cooperative tone with the Mexican leader. Trump said at a joint news conference that day that he and Pena Nieto did not discuss who would pay for his proposed border wall, despite his campaign-trail vow to compel Mexico to foot the bill.

Slims mark can be seen all across Mexico City, from the glittering Museo Soumaya, an hourglass-shaped building made of aluminum tiles and named after his late wife, to the Sanborns department stores that dot so many corners. His wealth amounts to a noticeable chunk of the countrys gross domestic product.

In a 2013 appearance CBSs Late Show With David Letterman, Trump told the host that Slim was a good guy with a lot of money.

When Letterman detailed the towering nature of Slims fortune, however, Trump smiled. I dont feel so good when you mention Carlos Slim, he said, but thats okay.

Read more:

Trumps fight against Made-in-Mexico could carry price on both sides of border

Mexico to Trump: Those Carrier jobs are not the story

Smart wall proponent seeks to shape Trumps Mexico policy

Partlow reported from Tijuana, Mexico. Karen DeYoung contributed to this report from Washington.
Military and police units have deployed across Congos capital, Kinshasa, amid fears of unrest on Dec. 19 because President Joseph Kabila intends to stay in power until new elections are held.  (John Bompengo/AP)

Military and police forces deployed across the capital of Congo on Monday, as protesters vowed to take to the streets if President Joseph Kabila stays in office beyond the official expiration of his term at midnight.

Many people in Congo  the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa  are bracing for a violent clash between Kabilas opponents and security forces. In September, when the last major anti-government demonstrations were held, about 50 people were killed, according to human-rights groups. This time could be worse, experts worry.

Elections were supposed to be held in November but have been postponed. Kabila and his political allies have suggested that he must stay in power until at least 2018, which they say is the soonest a vote could be held because of the cost and logistical problems of holding an election in this vast country.

The countrys constitutional court has declared that Kabila can stay in office until the new elections. But opposition activists worry that the president, who has been in power for 15 years, is trying to extend his term through extra-constitutional means.

At Kinshasa University on Monday, protesters waved red cards calling for Kabila to step down. Security forces blocked access to the university, turning journalists away. No violence was reported there or elsewhere in the capital. In the eastern city of Goma, at least 41 protesters were arrested, according to Human Rights Watch.

Over the past week, Catholic bishops mediated talks between Kabilas supporters and a patchwork of the regimes political opponents. But on Saturday, participants announced that no agreement had been reached, emboldening the mostly young men who have said they will take to the streets en masse.

Kabila is among a growing number of African leaders who have angled to extend their terms by either changing the constitution, delaying elections or holding elections marred by allegations of rigging. Angolas Jose Eduardo dos Santos, 74, has ruled for 37 years. Zimbabwes Robert Mugabe, 92, has been in power for 30 years. More recently, the presidents of Burundi and the neighboring Congo Republic both announced plans to extend power, igniting domestic crises.

But the stakes are particularly high in Congo, which suffered through a civil war that killed about 5 million people between 1997 and 2003. The country remains the site of the largest United Nations peacekeeping mission in the world, with about 20,000 troops.

There is a grave risk that Congo could descend into widespread violence and chaos in the coming days, with potentially volatile repercussions across the region, said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch.

Peacekeepers will be on high alert this week, according to U.N. spokesman Charles Bambara, who said that the mission is preparing for the worst-case scenario. The government has said it will shut down access to social networks, which protesters use to mobilize.

On the streets of Lemba, a neighborhood in Kinshasa, local opposition leader Jean Claude Mwamba was preparing to confront the regime despite the violent reaction he anticipated. Mwamba led a small protest on Saturday, with young men holding signs that read Farewell, Kabila. He predicted the protest would grow larger this week.

Theres no security, no jobs, no respect of the constitution, he said. For us, there is only one option  that Kabila leaves.

Many Congolese agree that Kabila has failed to improve the lives of most of the countrys citizens, even as he and his family appear to have grown wealthy.

A recent Bloomberg investigation linked 70 companies, many in Congos mining industry, to the family. Meanwhile, about two-thirds of the countrys 77 million people earn less than $1.90 per day.

The constitutional discussion will soon be overshadowed by the struggle to remove Kabila through protests in the streets and repression by the security forces, said Jason Stearns, head of the New York-based Congo Research Group.

Leaving power would ostensibly endanger Kabilas large investments, particularly as his coalition has not yet put forth a viable successor.

This month, Washington and the European Union announced sanctions against nine senior Kabila officials who they said were involved in repression.

For now, the sanctions dont appear to have reduced the likelihood of violent demonstrations. The Congolese government has emphasized the strength and loyalty of security forces.

We have the police, the army and the intelligence services working for us, said a spokesman for the ruling coalition, Andre-Alain Atundu. Maybe there will be turmoil for two or three days, but eventually the [protesters] will get hungry.

Kabila, 45, took power in 2001, after his father, President Laurent Kabila, was assassinated. Congo, which became independent from Belgium in 1960, still hasnt had a peaceful handover of power.

As the son of a rebel, Joseph Kabila grew up in far-flung parts of Congo and Tanzania, an experience that defines him, according to those close to him.

He was born and grew up in the bush, said Aubin Minaku, president of the national assembly and a senior figure in Kabilas coalition. He knows what it means to struggle.

But even Kabilas political allies are not sure what will come next for the country. Kabila has said he doesnt intend to change the constitution  which he would have to do to run for another term, whenever elections are held. But will he stay true to that pledge?

In reality, no one can answer that question, Minaku said.

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A bus carries villagers besieged by rebels to safety, part of a deal allowing the evacuation of rebels and civilians from eastern Aleppo. (AFP/Getty Images)

Thousands more people were evacuated from what remained of a devastated rebel enclave in the Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, as the U.N. Security Council agreed to send international observers to monitor the exit routes.

Attempts to bus civilians and fighters out of Aleppos eastern districts have repeatedly broken down since a deal was reached last week  brokered by Russia and Turkey  to evacuate what was once the largest rebel stronghold.

On Monday, the process finally ran smoothly, as buses shuttled residents toward the western countryside, where aid workers greeted them. Many were exhausted and distressed after a nightmarish journey from an area that U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has described as a synonym for hell.

About 5,000 people had been bused out since midnight, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, bringing the total number of evacuees to 15,000. Buses were expected to run through the night and into Tuesday morning.

Their passage marks the effective surrender of forces opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo and a major victory for the government and its allies, including Russia.

Meanwhile, in Ankara, the Turkish capital, an attacker decrying the violence in Syria shot and killed Russias ambassador, Andrei Karlov, at a photo exhibit. Several people were wounded, and Russian officials said the gunman was later killed. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

[Hints from antiquity on the future for todays war-shattered cities]

At the United Nations, the Security Council voted to deploy international observers to monitor the evacuation routes in Aleppo, ending months of deadlock over the fate of the city as government forces closed in.

Frances envoy to the Security Council said he hoped the resolution would prevent Aleppo from turning into another Srebrenica, where thousands of Bosnian men and boys were massacred in 1995 as the town fell to Serb forces. But the text of the resolution allowed five days for the observers to arrive, suggesting that the mission may not get off the ground until the evacuation is complete.

Abuses have been reported, including house-to-house executions and the holdup of a bus packed with evacuees Friday during which witnesses say some men were stripped, robbed and even killed.

Many of those who left eastern Aleppo on Monday had spent the night trapped on their buses  freezing and without food, water or bathroom access  after Islamist rebels almost scuttled the broader evacuation deal by torching vehicles sent to rescue the wounded from a government-held area in neighboring Idlib province.

It was just the latest flare-up to force a temporary breakdown in the evacuations.

The area has seen some of the fiercest fighting of Syrias war. For much of it, Aleppos eastern districts had been the armed oppositions most important stronghold. Pro-government forces now have them pinned into a sliver of territory as international powers negotiate the terms under which they leave.

Thousands of people remain camped out in what is left of the rebels Aleppo enclave  its streets shattered beyond recognition by shelling.

Photographs from the area on Sunday night showed fires on the streets as residents tried to keep warm. Temperatures drop below freezing at night, and many people are sleeping on sidewalks and in abandoned buildings.

Several residents disembarking from the evacuation buses in the early hours of Monday were bundled up in coats. Many were exhausted, frustrated and in tears, said Ahmad Dbis, a doctor coordinating a team welcoming the evacuees.

These people came out of hell, but they are indignant at their treatment, Dbis said. They keep asking why people didnt help them in Aleppo.

Rami Zein, a journalist who was traveling on one of the buses that was grounded overnight, described a hard 24 hours.

There were a lot of tensions with all the soldiers around, and we were really scared that something bad would happen. But thank God we have made it.

Among the evacuees was Bana al-Abed, a 7-year-old girl whose plight has been documented on a family-run Twitter account. In an image posted Monday morning, the child was seen in the arms of an aid worker, beaming out from below a thick woolly hat.

[7-year-old Bana is safely out of Aleppo]

The U.N. childrens agency said Monday that 47 children had arrived safely from an orphanage, some of them in critical condition because of injuries or dehydration.

As an addendum to the Aleppo evacuation deal, 10 buses carried civilians away from two Shiite villages long besieged by rebels  Fouaa and Kefraya in Idlib  on Monday morning, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the pan-Arab Mayadeen television station.

The Syrian government, with its Iranian and Russian allies, has overseen what it describes as reconciliation deals for rebel fighters across the country, ending in the withdrawal of militants, usually to Idlib. This has often been preceded by a combination of bombardment and crippling sieges to force the areas surrender.

Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.

Read more:

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The Law and Justice Party rode to power on a pledge to drain the swamp of Polish politics and roll back the legacy of the previous administration. One year later, its patriotic revolution, the party proclaims, has cleaned house and brought God and country back to Poland.

Opponents, however, see the birth of a neo-Dark Age  one that, as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to move into the White House, is a harbinger of the power of populism to upend a Western society. In merely a year, critics say, the nationalists have transformed Poland into a surreal and insular place  one where state-sponsored conspiracy theories and de facto propaganda distract the public as democracy erodes.

[The global wave of populism that turned 2016 upside down]

In the land of Law and Justice, anti-intellectualism is king. Polish scientists are aghast at proposed curriculum changes in a new education bill that would downplay evolution theory and climate change and add hours for patriotic history lessons. In a Facebook chat, a top equal rights official mused that Polish hotels should not be forced to provide service to black or gay customers. After the official stepped down for unrelated reasons, his successor rejected an international convention to combat violence against women because it appeared to argue against traditional gender roles.

Over the weekend, Warsaw convulsed in street protests amid allegations that the Law and Justice party had illegally forced through a budget bill even as it sought to restrict media access to Parliament.

Cheered on by religious conservatives, the new government has defunded public assistance for in vitro fertilization treatments. To draft new sexual-education classes in schools, it tapped a contraceptives opponent who argues that condom use increases the risk of cancer in women. The government is proffering a law that critics say could soon be used to limit opposition protests.

[Her story is my story: How a harsh abortion ban has reignited feminism in Poland]

Yet nothing has shocked liberals more than this: After a year in power, Law and Justice is still by far the most popular political party in Poland. It rides atop opinion polls at roughly 36 percent  more than double the popularity of the ousted Civic Platform party.

The people support us, boasted Adam Bielan, Law and Justices deputy speaker of the Senate.

Trump is promising a tax code rework that could trigger a bonanza of cash rebates for Americans. In Poland, Law and Justice put cash in pockets in other ways, but always while merging social conservatism and nationalism with populist economics. The new government doled out money to families with children. They also slashed Polands retirement age  to as young as 60 for women and 65 for men.

Opponents call such actions the buying of support, moves that will only drive up Polish debt and masquerade a long-term power grab that could entrench Law and Justice for years.

But right now, for many Poles, nationalism has never felt so good.

We are living in this post-truth environment where you can say and do anything and people dont seem to care, said Jacek Kucharczyk, president of the Warsaw-based Institute of Public Affairs.

Now theyre true believers

The road to Law and Justice country runs an hour outside cosmopolitan Warsaw, down a dirt path in the hamlet of Krupia Wolka. Once there, pass the front-yard playground of a cream-colored house and meet Pawel and Maria Wiechowski.

High school sweethearts, they married back in 1992. Two-and-a-half decades and 10 children later, theyre still deeply Catholic  and still struggling financially.

Maria, a therapist for autistic children, quit work when child-care costs exceeded what she earned. Pawel, a craftsman, makes intricate moldings for ceilings and walls. Their parents helped them buy their six-bedroom dream home in the country, so theyre mortgage-free. But he hasnt had work in two months.

During dry spells before, the couple would mothball their 20-year-old VW van to save on gas, and the kids would walk to school. But in the era of Law and Justice, theres no need. The new government program for families is the Wiechowskis life raft; it offers them a monthly cash payout worth nearly $1,000.

Right now, thats 100 percent of our income, Pawel said. Some people criticize the child benefit and say its a government handout. Its not. It is support for traditional families.

Pawel voted for Law and Justice last year as the lesser of two evils. But now hes a true believer.

In the United States, you had the same choice, picking the lesser of two evils, he said. I wasnt sure a year ago either, but now I see how right we were.

Embracing the new government, to some measure, also means buying into the disturbing worldview it sells: You can only trust a Pole  even then, only some.

And the partys views have never been more effectively disseminated. The national broadcaster in Poland would often tilt toward the party in power. But following its victory, Law and Justice launched an unprecedented purge of journalists at the channel, turning it into what opponents describe as a propaganda machine where conspiracy theories flourish. It recently ran a piece on the health risks of child vaccinations.

Conservative Catholic radio and television, meanwhile, is abuzz with the reopening of an investigation into the 2010 plane crash that killed then-President Lech Kaczynski, his wife and 94 others. The crash was blamed on human error at the time. But Jaroslaw Kaczynski  the late presidents twin brother and Law and Justices powerful party chief  appears certain it was a coverup.

Was it? We are considering the possibility, Pawel said with a nod.

The new government is also skeptical of the Paris climate change agreement to cut carbon emissions and has pulled support for Polish wind and solar farms. At the same time, it is pumping more money into coal.

Who really knows what is causing global warming? Pawel said. And Poland needs the coal industry.

Maria was always more concerned with the spread of liberal values, which Law and Justice has, she said, rightly nipped in the bud. There is no more talk in Poland, for instance, of offering any legal rights to same-sex couples. Earlier this year, the office of a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group in Warsaw was badly vandalized. Police never caught the perpetrators.

Homosexuality was quiet before, then they tried to normalize it, she said. You dont see that happening now.

Are they concerned about allegations the new government is distracting the public as it chips away at Polish democracy?

No, she said. I think theyre just cleaning house.

Where is all this going?

On a frigid recent evening in Warsaw, Monika Mizolebska, a museum researcher, stoically marched with thousands of other Poles to protest the new government. This is the street opposition  the people terrified by what they see unfolding in Poland.

Already, the new government has taken steps to limit the power of the constitutional court, chipping away, critics say, at checks and balances. A new draft law would also allow government-appointed governors the right to decide on future permits for demonstrations.

Im here marching because it may be the last time were allowed to, she said. I dont think many of us really understand whats happening in Poland.

The mother of a 13-year-old daughter, Mizolebska said she is deeply concerned about what sees as an attack on womens reproductive rights. A near-total abortion ban  women and doctors faced up to five years in jail  was defeated in October after a massive street protest. But she fears it may yet come back.

The government wants women to be mothers, to be housewives, but my daughter wants to be a writer, maybe a journalist, she said. But what chance does she have here? In these conditions?

She is also concerned about a new proposed school curriculum the Polish Academy of Sciences says will marginalize evolution theory by reducing its prominence in some grades. Sciences more generally would receive less time, in favor of more hours for Polish history.

I cant believe its 2016 and were still talking about whether to teach evolution, she said, shaking her head. Where is all this going? Im afraid.

Ewa Galica in Warsaw contributed to this report.

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By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) Renowned environmentalist and water conservationist Anupam Mishra passed away here today following illness.

He was 68.

Mishra passed away at 5:40 AM. He was battling with prostate cancer over the past one year. He was admitted to AIIMS on December 10, his family said.

Mishra, who authored books like Aaj Bhi Khare Hai Talab and Rajasthan Ki Rajat Boonde, was a recipient of Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar.

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He is survived by wife and son. PTI PLB ENM KIS

--- ENDS ---
A security guard closes the gate of the German-funded Istanbul High School in Istanbul on Dec. 19. The school's Turkish management allegedly has banned Christmas celebrations at the school. (Sedat Suna/European Pressphoto Agency)

Call it the high school that stole Christmas.

As the holiday season approached, the administration of Istanbul High School  an academy in Muslim-majority Turkey partly funded by the German government  took a highly unusual step. It instructed, according to an email obtained by Germanys DPA news service, that Christmas this year should be kept under wraps.

No teaching of Christmas customs.

No celebrations.

And certainly no Christmas caroling.

In fact, German officials confirmed, the schools choir canceled its traditional Christmas concert performance at Germanys consulate in Istanbul.

The school, at which many classes are taught in German, is prestigious in Turkey and counts at least three Turkish prime ministers as alumni. German taxpayers pay about 1 million euros annually to support it, and news of the restrictions quickly sparked an uproar in the heart of Europe, where a debate about conservative Islam is raging.

German politicians and social-media pundits were attacking the Islamic-tinged and authoritarian government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan for allegedly creating an environment in Turkey  the birthplace of Saint Nicholas  in which Christmas has become politically incorrect.

[Angela Merkel calls for widespread ban on full veil Islamic coverings]

In a statement since taken down from its website, the schools administration insisted that it had not instituted a Christmas ban. Rather, it was responding, it said, to actions by German teachers  about 35 of whom work at the school  that could seem to promote Christianity.

The school said it had taken steps after the German teachers dealt with Christmas and Christianity in a way which the curriculum does not provide for and that viewed from the outside opens the door to [accusations] of manipulation, according to German media outlets.

In an email to The Washington Post, Volker Schult, the head of the schools German department, declined to comment.

But plenty of other Germans were commenting.

On Sunday, Germanys Foreign Ministry called the incident regrettable, even as social-media pundits and politicians across the political spectrum fumed.

The German government mustnt accept the Christmas ban by the Turkish authorities, Markus Soder, a member of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), told the daily Bild. He later added, Erdogan is consciously breaking the bridges to Europe.

Andreas Scheuer, the CSUs secretary general, said in an interview with Funke media group that the school actions were infringing upon religious freedom.

Speaking to Berlin daily Der Tagesspiegel on Sunday, Left Party lawmaker Sevim Dagdelen called on Berlin to summon the Turkish ambassador and to send an official protest to Ankara.

It shows how far the AKPs Islamist madness is going, if even Christmas is declared a taboo at a school, which is sponsored with German tax money, Dagdelen said, referring to Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party.

As the incident appeared to be spiraling into a four-alarm fire in the 24-hour news cycle, however, the German Foreign Ministry sought to calm things down. On Monday, ministry spokesman Martin Schafer emphasized the importance of long-standing German-Turkish cultural relations and said Germany stood firmly by Turkey's side in the face of recent terrorist attacks.

He expressed surprise that the issue had created such a huge media echo.

We let the media know yesterday that we found it hard to understand and were surprised that apparently the school administration gave the instruction not to talk about Christmas, sing Christmas songs and not to discuss the subject matter, he said. But this is not a Christmas ban. . . . Nobody in Turkey is banning anyone from celebrating Christmas.

He added that there have been fresh talks between the school administration and Turkish and German officials and that the problem is likely to be resolved shortly.

Im very confident that the school will soon inform you that hopefully all misunderstandings will have been resolved and that, of course, teachers at this school, which is rich in tradition, will be able to talk about German Christmas customs, Schafer said.

Turkish politicians, meanwhile, pushed back on social media, arguing that the issue was being blown out of proportion.

Tweeting an image of brightly lit Christmas trees in Istanbul, AKP politician Mustafa Yeneroglu, wrote: Some examples of christmas ban pictures in #Turkey. Should I ask for ramadan images in GER?

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A Turkish police officer who angrily denounced the bloodshed in Syria killed the Russian ambassador to Turkey in Ankara on Monday, shooting the diplomat in front of a room full of horrified spectators at an art gallery in an assassination captured on video and quickly shared around the world.

As the ambassador, Andrei Karlov, lay on the floor, the assailant, still waving his gun, screamed, Dont forget Aleppo! Dont forget Syria!

The shooting was among the most brazen retaliatory attacks yet on Russia since Moscow entered the war in Syria on the side of President Bashar al-Assad, and unleashed a bombardment on Aleppo that has drawn international condemnation for what observers on the ground have called indiscriminate attacks on civilians.



But in Moscow, where the Kremlin has maintained that its aerial sorties and missile attacks have exclusively targeted terrorists, Russias Foreign Ministry called the shooting a terrorist attack, and President Vladimir Putin called it a provocation aimed at rupturing ties between Russia and Turkey.

The only answer to the murder of the Russian ambassador to Turkey must be the intensification of the struggle against terrorism, Putin said in nationally televised remarks. And the bandits will feel it.

1 of 18 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What the scene of the fatal shooting in Turkey looked like View Photos A gunman in Turkey killed Russias ambassador at a photo exhibit. Caption An AP photographer covering the Russian ambassadors remarks captured his last moments. Dec. 19, 2016 Turkish police secure the area near an art gallery where Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, was fatally shot Monday. Umit Bektas/Reuters Wait 1 second to continue.

Putin ordered his major crime investigative unit to work with Turkish authorities, who identified the gunman as 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, an officer with the riot police. In the video, Altintas, dressed incongruously in a black suit and tie, shouts, We are those who pledged jihad to Muhammad! Referring to Syria, he added, Every single person who has a share in this atrocity will pay for it!

Several other people were wounded in the attack, which came as Karlov was speaking at the opening of an exhibit of Russian photos, but their identities were not immediately made public.

[Gallery: Scenes from Aleppo]

Altintas was killed in a shootout with police at the gallery, but Russian authorities vowed to reveal a larger plot  and some in Moscow suggested that the West was to blame for its support of moderate rebel factions in Syria.

Putin stopped short of that, saying only, We need to know who guided the hand of the murderer.

Meanwhile a man fired shots near the entrance to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, but no one was hurt in the incident, a State Department official in Washington said. Turkish authorities took the man into custody and are investigating, the official said.

The assassination was Turkeys third major attack in less than 10 days, and it followed months of deadly violence  including a failed coup attempt and a suicide attack on Istanbuls international airport  that has highlighted the threats facing the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and has left the country reeling from a sense of siege.





The attacks have reflected a convergence of crises that Turkey, a NATO member and major ally of the United States, has weathered over the past few years. They include the spillover from the war in neighboring Syria, a failed peace deal with Kurdish militants and a domestic challenge from a shadowy network tied to a Turkish preacher living in the United States.

Erdogan has successfully seized on the crises to consolidate his authority. His government has moved forcefully against Kurdish and Islamist militants as well as followers of the preacher Fethullah Gulen.

It was not clear whether Altintas, the assassin, fit into any of those categories. The interior minister said Altintas hailed from a town near Izmir, on the Aegean coast and had been on the force for 2 1 / 2 years. Some pro-government commentators tried to brand him as a follower of Gulen, while his shouted manifesto after the shooting suggested, at the very least, that he was acting out of anger at the carnage in Syria.

In a television address hours after the shooting, Erdogan also condemned the assassination as a provocation aimed at disrupting warming ties between Turkey and Russia. Erdogan, who has been a leading regional opponent of the Syrian government, also defended Turkeys cooperation with Syrias sponsor, Russia, saying that it aimed to find a solution for the humanitarian crisis in Syria and stop the oppression in Aleppo.

Erdogan and Putin, two strongmen with global aspirations, have found common ground in recent months in their desire to secure an end to the Syrian war that would guarantee their long-term influence at a time when U.S. diplomacy has collapsed.

Their foreign ministers, as well as their counterpart from Iran, which backs Assad, are planning to meet Tuesday in Moscow to negotiate a settlement to the Syrian war that would exclude the United States and assert the three powers as the regions most vital players.

The newfound cooperation between Russia and Turkey over Syria was exemplified by the deal they brokered last week for the evacuation of besieged people from the last few blocks of rebel-held territory in eastern Aleppo.

The statements by Putin and Erdogan suggested that the assassination may not disrupt their budding convergence of interests. Until last summer, the two presidents had been bitter rivals over Syria, supporting opposite sides in the war and embroiled in recriminations over the shoot-down by Turkey of a Russian fighter jet in November 2015.

[How the Russian-Turkish rivalry shaped the world]

Those circumstances have led some Russian politicians to accuse the West of complicity in the attack.

They are afraid of that alliance. Its a counterweight to the European Union and NATO, said Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a nationalist politician whose often outlandish remarks on foreign policy are sometimes seen as a trial balloon for things the Kremlin would rather not say.

Many players risk losing out in any Russian-Turkish deal over the future of Syria, including the U.S.-backed Syrian opposition, extremists with the Islamic State, and Syrias al-Qaeda affiliate.

The United States, meanwhile, joined other nations in condemning the shooting.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones, the Russian people, and with the other victims who were injured in this shooting, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said in a statement. We stand ready to offer assistance to Russia and Turkey as they investigate this despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world.

President-elect Donald Trump also issued a statement condemning the killing.

Karlov started his diplomatic career in 1976 during the Soviet era and took the post in Ankara in July 2013, according to the embassys website. Putin referred to him as a brilliant diplomat who had excellent relations with the leadership of Turkey and other political forces.

The incident could spur even more vigorous efforts between Russia and Turkey to secure their role as Syrias main power brokers and negotiate a settlement to the war on their terms. Aaron Stein, a resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, said that any fallout will entirely depend on Russias reaction.

All indications thus far is that they will retain the relations they have built with Turkey since the rapprochement a couple of months ago, he added.

The recent cease-fire cobbled together was to Russias long-term benefit in Syria, while also addressing Turkeys real concern about civilian casualties, Stein said.

Fahim reported from Cairo, Sly from Beirut. Brian Murphy, Carol Morello and Karen DeYoung in Washington, Zeynep Karatas in Istanbul and Erin Cunningham in Irbil, Iraq, contributed to this report.

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More than a dozen times a day, the doctor and his skeleton staff at a makeshift trauma center near Mosul repeat a ritual: identify a wound, try to stabilize it, wait for an ambulance and hope the patient survives the journey to a better-equipped facility up to a two-hour drive away.

Most of the patients were shot by Islamic State snipers or injured when mortar shells hit their homes, and not all of them will make it.

The stopgap medical center is part of a network that Iraqi and international health workers are racing to establish, staff and supply to cope with a tidal wave of critical injuries.

Doctors in an array of medical facilities around Mosul  including military-run field clinics and mobile treatment centers  are struggling to keep up with demand as the offensive against the Islamic State grinds on.

As Iraqi forces have pressed deeper into crowded neighborhoods, more than a third of the civilians fleeing require trauma care, a significantly higher proportion than international health experts have seen in other conflicts.





Altaf Musani, who heads the Iraq mission for the World Health Organization (WHO), said the worst may be yet to come, with the most densely populated portions of Mosul still in militant hands.

[The mounting death toll in Mosul forces questions about the battle plan]

The WHO, together with Iraqi health authorities, is coordinating medical efforts for those in Mosul and about 100,000 displaced residents, more than half of whom are sheltering at nearby camps. International organizations including the WHO have trained doctors in trauma care, provided surgical supplies and fielded several dozen mobile clinics.

Ahmed Doberdani, a senior health official for Nineveh province, where Mosul is located, said officials reporting to the Iraqi government and the nearby Kurdistan Regional Government had been working for months to position medical staff and supplies as close to Mosul as possible. Still, he acknowledged, the needs since the offensive began this fall have exceeded what officials can provide.

This is a huge military operation, and the scale of the injuries to civilians and military personnel  especially civilians  has been very big and surprising, Doberdani said.

Medical workers say patients with ordinary health issues  heart problems, diabetes or childbirth  are also struggling to find treatment in and around a city torn apart by war.

Health groups are working to set up better facilities in the camps and establish or rehabilitate facilities in recently cleared areas to shorten travel times to functioning hospitals.

Closer advanced medical centers could make all the difference for patients like those treated by Arshad Khaled Mohammed, the sole physician at the trauma point in Gogjali.

When Mohammeds home was shelled, he moved his family into a building behind the clinic, and now can attend to patients when they need care. Im alone with the service staff, on call day and night, he said.

Once his patients are triaged, they are put in ambulances to begin the drive to the closest functioning medical facilities, often the regions two sole trauma hospitals, more than 50 miles away in the city of Irbil.

When patients reach the borders of Arab-controlled northern Iraq, they are transferred to a Kurdish ambulance, adding more time to the journey. If checkpoints are backed up, the drive to Irbil can take up to two hours.

There is also a shortage of doctors and nurses in Nineveh province because so many have been displaced by the fighting or remain trapped behind Islamic State lines, experts say.

Some Iraqi officials have criticized health-care providers for not establishing facilities around Mosul earlier. Faris al-Brifkani, a radiologist from Nineveh who is on the Iraqi parliaments health committee, said the government didnt coordinate properly with local authorities to prepare.

Humanitarian officials, meanwhile, say they lacked the resources to plan for such a large-scale emergency.

Even the best-equipped trauma hospitals near Mosul are struggling to cope with the crush of serious injuries. Since the operation began, the 65-bed Emergency Management Center in Irbil has treated more than 650 patients, most in serious condition.

The hospital is running low on certain medicines, while salaries have been slashed for the dozen doctors on staff amid a local economic crisis, hospital administrator Pishtewan Bagok said.

In the womens unit, 69-year-old Sharia Sharif described being hit by a mortar shell near her home. Sharifs leg was badly broken, but she was trapped in her home by fierce fighting, unable to get treatment, until Iraq evacuated her three days later.

[Iraq has never seen this kind of fighting in its battles with ISIS]

Mosul residents say that the Islamic State, which captured the city in June 2014, kept its hospitals open but that the facilities often lacked medicine and staff. The militants ordered public servants to report to work and threatened to execute doctors fleeing the city, but some left anyway or stayed home.

Sabrin Fawad Hamadi, 19, had her first baby in Mosul shortly after the militants arrived.

Nearing the end of her second pregnancy this fall, she and her family decided to leave the citys Hay al-Bakr neighborhood, which came under intense shelling after it was taken by Iraqi troops last month.

Now Hamadi is one of tens of thousands of people at the Khazir camp east of Mosul, where bare-bones medical facilities are crowded with people seeking care.

To help deal with maternal health needs in the camps and recently liberated areas, the United Nations Population Fund in Iraq has deployed mobile delivery rooms on the back of trucks. Four of the rooms are in use, with hot water, a power supply, and delivery and recovery beds.

Hamadi slowly climbed the stairs into the mobile unit at Khazir camp. Inside, Nada Khalil Ibrahim examined her. Hamadi was in labor but wasnt ready to deliver.

The mobile unit would normally suffice for a routine birth like Hamadis, but she would need to be sent to Irbil because no doctors would be on duty in the evening when her baby was expected to come.

Take a breath, the doctor told her, as another contraction hit.

As they waited for the ambulance, Hamadis mother, who also fled the bloodshed in Mosul, said they would name the child, a boy, Massoud.

It means fortunate, to mark the fact they were lucky enough to have gotten out.

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An attack by U.S.-backed Saudi coalition aircraft in February obliterated the gateway and damaged the walls of the ancient Yemeni fortress town of Kawkaban. (Sudarsan Raghavan/The Washington Post)

The majestic fortress nestled atop a mountain here in northwestern Yemen survived the armies of the Islamic warrior Saladin in the 12th century. Four hundred years later, it survived invasions by Egyptians and Ottoman Turks. Through generations of rulers and wars, its walls remained intact.

Until last February.

Before dawn one morning, fighter jets from a U.S.-backed, Saudi-led coalition fired four missiles at Kawkaban, killing seven residents of the town that lies inside the citadel and pulverizing its ancient gateway. Behind the shattered walls, 700-year-old houses known for their spectacular architecture are now mounds of rubble.

Across this war-torn country, factories, hospitals and power plants have been leveled, threatening Yemens future. In Kawkaban and elsewhere, the past lies in ruins, too.

There were wars that happened, but nothing ever like this one, resident Ahmed al-Ashwal said last month.

A centuries-old house in Kawkaban destroyed in the February airstrike. (Sudarsan Raghavan/The Washington Post)

Over the past 21 months, thousands of civilians have died in the fighting in Yemen, and a humanitarian crisis is escalating. But Yemenis  aware of their countrys status as one of the worlds oldest repositories of civilization, dating back centuries before Christ  voice equal outrage about cultural losses. Armed groups, including radical Islamists, have damaged or destroyed ancient mosques and churches. Museums have been looted. Airstrikes have targeted historic sites that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognizes as unique.

The attacks are widely considered an affront to Yemens national pride and identity, delivered by neighbors rich in oil revenue and international support but comparatively poor in cultural heritage. The bitterness threatens to complicate peace efforts, while the destruction jeopardizes future tourism revenue, vital to rebuilding the nation.

The scars will take a long time to heal, said Mohannad Ahmad al-Syani, who runs the government body that oversees Yemens antiquities and museums.

By Syanis count, about 85 historic sites have been directly or indirectly targeted by one side or another since war erupted in Yemen in March 2015. Northern Houthi rebels aligned with loyalists of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh are battling forces loyal to the exiled government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

A coalition of Persian Gulf countries, led by Saudi Arabia and aided by intelligence, training and other support from the Pentagon, is seeking Hadis restoration. The Sunni Muslim countries are wary of the Shiite Houthis and their suspected backing by Irans Shiite theocracy. Adding more turmoil is Yemens potent al-Qaeda branch and an emerging Islamic State presence.

None of the parties show any kind of respect for the historical value of these sites, said Radhiyah Al-Mutawakkil, the director of Mwatana, an independent Yemeni human rights group that has identified 17 cultural and architectural gems that have been damaged or destroyed.

In an email, a spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition declined to comment on the Kawkaban assault but denied that its forces aircraft were targeting historic sites.

The coalition is intervening in Yemen to safeguard the future rights, security and prosperity of the Yemeni people, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Asiri said. We would have no interest in damaging any aspect of Yemens economy or cultural heritage.

Christopher Sherwood, a Defense Department spokesman, also declined to comment, noting that the U.S. military does not participate in targeting, target selection or target engagement in support of the Saudi-led coalition.

[Civilian casualties in Yemen bring charges of U.S. responsibility for Saudi actions]

For much of its existence, Kawkaban has been a stronghold of the Shiite Zaydi sect, to which the Houthis belong. The Zaydi rulers fought back numerous foreign invaders over the centuries. When civil war erupted in the 1960s, the citadel was one of the last Zaydi holdouts, eventually surrendering to the new government. That time, too, the town was bombarded, but less catastrophically, residents said.

The February attack unfolded as Mohammed al-Bahiri was preparing for dawn prayers. As his familys mud-brick house shook and the windows shattered, he huddled in the living room with his wife and five young children.

We could hear the planes and see flashes of light through the windows. Then the second strike came, said Bahiri, a teacher. It was like being in a horror movie.

Salim al-Amshas 87-year-old father did not survive. Sick in bed, he was struck by shrapnel as the ceiling collapsed, his son said. He was still breathing when Amsha pulled him out, but they were trapped in the city for two hours waiting for rubble to be cleared from the gateway.

My father died on the way to the hospital, Amsha said, his face anguished as he gazed at the panorama of destruction. Houses had been sheared in half. One sat atop a hill, crushed as if with a giant foot. In the rubble, remnants of lives still lay: a TV set, a mangled car, a child-size dress.

A 12-year-old boy also died in the attack.

In interviews, residents said no Houthi or Saleh loyalist fighters had ever been based here. A walk around the town revealed no sign of weapons depots or military activity.

Rebels did occupy other historically significant sites targeted by coalition jets, including a centuries-old dam in the northern city of Marib and the al-Husaini mosque and a notable military museum in the southern port city of Aden, Mwatana researchers said.

Abdul Malik Alagri, a senior Houthi political official, denied that the rebels were using cultural sites as bases or to store weapons. He said Saudi Arabia was targeting historical structures out of hatred and envy because they have no history or cultural heritage.

Syani disputed those claims, citing Marib as an example. When he complained that rebel artillery units were being positioned near historic sites, he said, he was told that they were there to protect the countrys heritage.

This has really troubled us, he said. Any armed presence can be used as an excuse for an attack. But its hard to convince the fighters that locating in or near historical locations is wrong.

In the south, militants from al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have destroyed tombs, mausoleums and churches, mirroring the targeting of shrines by their comrades in Syria and Iraq. In Hadramout province, at least 13 historic religious sites dating back hundreds of years have been destroyed, Syani said.

Last year, Islamist extremists used hoes and bulldozers to destroy the ancient Bajabar tomb and a suicide car bomb to decimate centuries-old homes in the walled city of Shibam, a UNESCO heritage site known as the worlds oldest skyscraper city because of its mud-brick high-rise structures. In Lahij province, militants destroyed the 800-year-old tomb of a Sufi saint.

As he talked about the destruction, Syanis voice cracked. Then he angrily questioned why the wrecking of Yemens culture hasnt received the same attention as the plundering of mosques, churches and medieval sites by the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

Why is the world so quiet? he said, shaking his head.

In the capital, Sanaa, the Old City neighborhood  also a UNESCO heritage site  has been inhabited for 2,500 years. Nabil Abdul Hamid said that, like generations of his family before him, he used to wake up daily to a view of rows of multistory, gingerbread-colored buildings with arched windows and fired brick decorated with white geometric shapes.

But now theres a large gap, like missing teeth. After a coalition airstrike last year, four buildings crumbled. There are concerns that the foundations of other old houses nearby were weakened.

We never expected them to target the Old City, Abdul Hamid said. This is like taking revenge on Yemens civilization.

[In Yemeni capital, signs of hatred toward Americans are everywhere]

Many in Kawkaban feel the same way. The flow of tourists had already ebbed in recent years because of worries about terrorism and kidnappings. The February airstrike further dashed any hopes of a revival.

Tourist stalls outside the gateway are shuttered, their doors rusted. Residents have moved away, many of them too poor to rebuild their homes, let alone the gate. Their plight has deepened local animosity toward the Saudi-led coalition and its allies, especially the United States.

On the way up to Kawkaban, someone has painted a large American flag in the middle of the road.

Every visitor has to drive over it.

Read more

Airstrike kills more than 100, injures hundreds at Yemen funeral

Who are the Houthis?

An unexpected result of Yemens war: More men are cooking and cleaning

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
The chairman of the House Select Committee on Benghazi, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), pictured in June, denied Bradley Podliskas allegations that he was wrongly fired. (Michael Reynolds/European Pressphoto Agency)

The House Select Committee on Benghazi has settled a lawsuit brought by a former staffer who alleged that he was fired in part because he was unwilling to focus solely on the State Department and Hillary Clinton in order to understand the attacks, attorneys for the staffer said.

The settlement ends a messy dispute that raised questions about whether the committee  formed to investigate the 2012 attacks that killed four Americans at U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya  was trying to achieve partisan goals.

The staffer, Bradley Podliska, alleged in court papers that he was fired because he was unwilling to go along with the hyper-focus on the State Department and Secretary Clinton based upon the fact that his comprehensive, thorough, and objective investigation was pointing at other agencies and individuals and not solely the State Department and Secretary Clinton.

He also alleged that supervisors retaliated against him because he had to take two leaves to fulfill his obligations as an Air Force reservist.

[Who is Brad Podliska, the ousted staffer now criticizing the House Benghazi panel?]

In a statement provided by his lawyer, Podliska said, I am happy to move beyond this dispute, and I will continue to serve my country and do whatever I can do to advance the security and interests of our nation. His lawyer, Peter Romer-Friedman, declined to provide the terms of the settlement, saying the agreement was secret.

Spokesmen for the committee and its chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

The Benghazi committee has long faced criticism that its work turned into an effort to undermine Clintons bid to become president. At one point, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) suggested that the investigation had helped spur a drop in Clintons poll numbers.

Democrats also charged that the effort, which cost $7 million and took two years, was a waste of time and money. The final report by the Republican majority found serious flaws in the U.S. response to the attack but produced no new revelations of specific wrongdoing by Clinton.

It was against that politicized backdrop that Podliska first made his allegations in 2015. He said that when he came back from a military leave, his supervisors were hostile toward him.

According to his lawsuit, a supervisor saw Facebook pictures Podliska had posted while in Germany in May 2015 and believed  wrongly, in Podliskas estimation  that the reservist was abusing his leave.

But Podliska also alleged, both in his lawsuit and publicly, that he was fired because he resisted demands to focus his efforts on Clinton and the State Department. Gowdy at the time denied Podliskas allegations.

What the record makes clear is he himself was focused on Clinton improperly and was instructed to stop, and that issues with his conduct were noted on the record as far back as April, Gowdy told The Washington Post in October 2015.

The committee, in responding to Podliskas lawsuit, said his termination was for other reasons than those he claimed.

This decision was a result of Plaintiffs repeated lapses in judgment, including Plaintiffs unwillingness to perform  or inability to understand  the Committees investigation, his apparent inability to handle potentially classified information properly, and other professional deficiencies, lawyers for the committee wrote.

Podliska continues to serve in the Air Force Reserve as a major, his lawyer said.

Read more:

GOP staffer fired from the House panel investigating Benghazi attacks

House Republicans issue report on Benghazi attacks but find no new evidence of wrongdoing by Clinton
President Obama pauses as he speaks at the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Okla. on July 16, 2015. (Evan Vucci/AP)

President Obama pardoned 78 people and also granted commutations to 153 nonviolent drug offenders who were sentenced under harsh and outdated laws and would have received lighter sentences if convicted today.

In total, Obama has pardoned 148 people and granted 1,176 commutations for federal inmates under the clemency initiative that he and former attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr. launched two years ago. Obama plans to issue more commutations before he leaves office, White House Counsel W. Neil Eggleston said.

[Obama just granted commutations to more than 150 people. Here are their names.]

One of the men who received clemency is Corey Jacobs, 47, a Bronx native who was serving a life sentence for his first felony conviction on a drug charge.

I am elated at the news about my client, Corey Jacobs, receiving clemency from President Obama today, Jacobss attorney, Brittany K. Byrd, said Monday. Corey has more than paid his debt to society by serving over 17 years of a life-without-parole sentence as a nonviolent drug offender. Life in prison without the possibility of parole screams that a person is beyond hope, beyond redemption. And in Coreys case, it is a punishment that absolutely did not fit the crime. The presidents mercy and belief in redemption literally saved Coreys life.

(Nicki DeMarco, Nikki Kahn and Sari Horwitz/The Washington Post)

Judge Henry Coke Morgan Jr. wrote a letter supporting Jacobss petition for clemency and said that he would not have imposed a life sentence had he not been required by law to do so.

Sadly, Mr. Jacobs is no anomaly, Holder wrote last summer in an opinion piece in the New York Times. There are thousands like him serving sentences in our federal and state systems that are disproportionate to their crimes. The financial cost of our current incarceration policy is straining government budgets; the human and community costs are incalculable.

One of those inmates still waiting for clemency is 64-year-old Bruce Harrison, a decorated Vietnam War veteran suffering from health problems who has served 23 years of a 50-year sentence for his role in transporting drugs in a government sting operation.

After Harrison and others were sentenced, several jurors said they were dismayed to learn how long those convicted were to spend behind bars.

If I would have been given the right to not only judge the facts in this case, but also the law and the actions taken by the government, the prosecutor, local and federal law enforcement officers connected in this case would be in jail and not the defendants, juror Patrick L. McNeil wrote afterward.

Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates said that the Justice Department will review all clemency petitions submitted by August and send its recommendations to Obama. Our work is ongoing, and we look forward to additional announcements from the president before the end of his term, Yates said.

Julie Stewart, president of the group Families Against Mandatory Minimums, praised Obamas additional clemencies, but she said that commuting sentences isnt going to dig us out of the 30-year problem of over-sentencing people in the first place.

That requires congressional action. And who knows what will happen in the new Congress, Stewart said.

Read more:

The Justice Department just unveiled new prison reforms. But the Trump administration might scrap them.

Coalition of advocates urges Obama to expand clemency initiative

Obama grants 79 more commutations to federal inmates in November, pushing the total past 1,000
By Mini Dixit: Every year has its fair share of controversies that end up defining its entirety. This year was no different. With both, reasons to cheer and diss, the year gone by was high on drama, especially for the fashion world. Here are five times the glittery and dynamic world managed to offend people in 2016:

1. Priyanka Chopra's Conde Nast cover

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Just when it seemed Piggy Chops could do no wrong, came Conde Nast's October-November issue. Sporting a white tank top with the words, migrant, refugee and outsider struck off, Chopra's Conde Nast stint highlighted the word traveller, and gave birth to an ocean of criticism.The cover came under fire for the its insensitive, privileged message and was also accused of being smeared in the worst breed of ignorance. Such were the reactions to the cover that both Chopra and Conde Nast had to explain their stand.

Priyanka Chopra's controversial Conde Nast cover. Picture courtesy: Instagram/Conde Nast

"I'm really apologetic about sentiments being hurt. I have always been against labels. I am very affected and feel really horrible, but the message has been misconstrued. The magazine was very clear that they wanted to send a message about addressing xenophobia with labels," the Quantico actress was quoted as telling NDTV.

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra showing off her tummy with pride is a punch in the face of lookism

Whereas the magazine's official statement read, "At Conde Nast Traveller, we believe that the opening up of borders and the breaking down of walls can help us discover the world, and open up our minds and hearts. So, when we had actor Priyanka Chopra wear a T-shirt we created on the cover of the 6th anniversary issue, we had a point to make."All said and done, Conde Nast and Priyanka Chopra kinda missed the point.

2. Shantanu & Nikhil's pellet injury effect

The recently concluded GQ Fashion Nights was to be a celebration of all things creative, but designer duo Shantanu & Nikhil's collection Kashmiriyat, managed to anger quite a few, including politician Omar Abdullah. For the showcase of their collection, the designers thought it okay to create a "bullet pellet effect" on the models and tweet about it.

Shantanu & Nikhil's 'pellet injusry effect' didn't go down well with many. Picture courtesy: Facebook/Shantanu & Nikhil

"Am I reading this correctly, a pellet injury "effect" is being created for a fashion show? That seems macabre if not downright thoughtless," an evidently miffed Abdullah tweeted, before he continued in a series of tweets about the same.

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"These pellets have blinded scores, to have the injuries recreated for a fashion show is inexplicable even if collection called Kashmiriyat," his second tweet read. Also Read: Narendra Modi is making Nehru jackets trendy again, feels this eminent Indian designer

While his third tweet went on to say, "Are any part of the proceeds of the show or the "Kashmiriyat" collection going to help rehabilitate any of the victims of the pellets?"

Things got worse when GQ deleted the offensive tweet in question, without issuing an apology for the same.

3. St Xavier's ban on ripped clothing

Ripped jeans and clothes were all the rage in 2016. From film stars to college kids, everyone was seen sporting the 'trend'. But the fashion fad didn't go down well with St Xavier's College, Mumbai that imposed a ban on ripped clothing saying it mocked the poor and put the college authorities in an "embarrassing position."

St Xavier's College Mumbai banned ripped clothing saying it made fun of poor. Picture courtesy: Pinterest

"This is an attack on our personal space. What we want to wear is our decision. Why should the college interfere?" a BA student was quoted as telling Mid-Day.

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4. Marc Jacobs' cultural appropriation controversy

Designer Marc Jacobs' showcase at the New York Fashion Week did not go down well with many. With faces like Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss and Kendall Jenner walking the ramp sporting colourful dreadlocks, Jacobs was accused of cultural appropriation and being ignorant towards the idea of race and colour.

Gigi Hadid walking for Marc Jacobs. Photo: Reuters

An Instagram comment by the designer made matters worse. "All who cry 'cultural appropriation' or whatever nonsense about any race or skin colour wearing their hair in any particular style or manner--funny how you don't criticise women of colour for straightening their hair," he wrote as he went ahead and said he doesn't see "colour or race" but just "people".

Also Read: Reshma Qureshi to Sunny Leone: 8 Indian reasons to cheer for New York Fashion Week

Outrage followed and subsequently, Jacobs' apology.

5. Melania's pussy-bow blouse

How a man accused of jarring sexual misconduct went on to become USA's President-elect remains beyond human understanding. Donald Trump's infamous 'locker room banter' and #pussygate episode found a rather strange depiction in Melania Trump's wardrobe. And the ever-so-attentive Twitterati was quick to call it out.

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Melania Trump was seen wearing a pink, pussy-bow blouse during the second Presidential Debate--just days after Trump's 'Grab 'em by the pus*sy' tapes were released.

Melania Trump's pussy-bow blouse became a part of conversations. Photo: Reuters

Also Read: Everything you wanted to know about the pussy bow blouse seen on Melania Trump

Some saw the blouse as Melania's way of expressing solidarity towards the feminist movement (Margaret Thatcher wore the blouse to add a feminine touch to board rooms dominated by men), others hailed it as an unfortunate irony. All in all, 2016 was a year that let fashion do the talking--often, the wrong kind.

--- ENDS ---
The Chinese defence ministry issued a statement on Saturday confirming that it would return a US undersea drone seized by its navy in the South China Sea on Thursday. Spokesman Yang Yujun said that the two countries had been communicating about the process but expressed his regret that the US has unilaterally hyped up the issue.

The Pentagon issued a statement on Friday saying that the unmanned undersea glider had been taken on board a Chinese vessel in international waters about 50 nautical miles northwest of the Subic Bay naval base in the Philippines. It claimed that the drone had been engaged in mapping the ocean floor and collecting oceanographic data, condemned the illegal seizure and demanded the drones return.

The Chinese statement noted that the US has been frequently deploying ships and aircraft to conduct close-in surveillance and military surveys in waters facing China. China firmly opposes such acts and demands the US cease such activities. China will stay alert over relevant US activities and will take necessary measures to counter them.

Spokesman Yang claimed that the Chinese ship insisted that China had been professional and responsible, taking the drone to examine and verify the device in a bid to avoid any harm it might cause to the safety of navigation and personnel. According to the US navy, the USNS Bowditch, an oceanographic survey vessel, was nearby retrieving another of its gliders and contacted the Chinese vessel to demand the drones return.

A retired Chinese rear admiral, Yang Yi, was more strident in his accusations against the US navy declaring that the drone had been operating in waters close to the Scarborough Shoal, a reef effectively controlled by China but also claimed by the Philippines. He said that it was natural for Chinese sailors to seize the drone and examine it.

Referring to President-elect Donald Trumps questioning of the One China policy last week, Admiral Yang declared: If Trump and the American government dare to take actions to challenge the bottom line of Chinas policy and core interests, we must drop any expectations about him and give him a bloody nose.

Yangs comments indicate that the seizure of the drone might well have been to send a warning to Trump who declared that he would not feel bound by the One China policy unless China made concessions on trade, North Korea and the South China Sea. Under the One China policy which has formally been in place since 1979 and forms the foundation of US-China relations, the US acknowledges Beijing as the sole legitimate government of all China, including Taiwan.

Yangs bellicose comments underline the rising tensions between the United States and China after more than five years of the Obama administrations confrontational pivot to Asia has transformed the South China Sea into a dangerous flashpoint. Trumps threat to undermine fundamental diplomatic protocols along with election pledges to implement trade war measures against China will only heighten the danger that minor incidents could lead to conflict.

Trump intervened in the dispute on Saturday with contradictory tweets. He first condemned the action, saying: China steals United States Navy research drone in international watersrips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented [sic] act. Then, rather than join the chorus demanding that Beijing return the glider, Trump in a second tweet declared: We should tell China that we dont want the drone they stole backlet them keep it!

Republican Senator John McCain exploited the incident to press for a more militarist response against China. He compared the seizure of the drone, which he branded as a gross violation of international law, to the capture of two US vessels by Iran in its territorial waters in January. Look, there is no strength on the part of the USA. Everyone is taking advantage of it, he lamented, adding that hopefully that will change soon with a Trump administration.

In its report, the New York Times did not dismiss Chinese claims that the drone had been on a spying mission. It cited Wu Shicun, head of Chinas National Institute for South China Sea Studies, who declared that the device had more likely been conducting intelligence reconnaissance to detect Chinese submarine routes in the South China Sea. The South China Sea is adjacent to a major Chinese submarine base on Hainan Island.

The article noted that an American naval expert did not disagree with Mr Wus notion of what the Americans were probably doing. Warfare and surveillance in the age of drones has not yet developed an agreed upon set of rules, said Lyle Goldstein, associate professor at the China Maritime Studies Institute. This is increasingly a major problem as both China and the US are deploying ever more air and naval drones into the contested waters and airspace of the Western Pacific.

On several occasions, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has highlighted the Pentagons program to develop and construct undersea drones including for surveillance, countering mines and anti-submarine warfare. In a speech in October outlining what he termed the third phase of the rebalance to Asia to counter China, Carter referred to increased funding for undersea drones, as part of more than $40 billion over the next five years to ensure the US has the most lethal undersea and anti-submarine force in the world.

In an earlier speech in April, Carter referred to new undersea drones in multiple sizes and diverse payloads that can, importantly, operate in shallow water, where manned submarines cannot. Large areas of the South China Sea have shallower waters.

The flare-up of tensions between the US and China over the relatively minor incident is a warning of what is to come after Trump takes office. In an interview on Sunday with Fox News, incoming chief of staff Reince Priebus defended Trumps remarks the week before questioning the One China policy. Look, I dont think its all that provocative, to tell you the truth, he said, adding: Were not suggesting that were revisiting One China policy right now.

The comments by Priebus are deliberately misleading. Whether Trump intends to upend the One China policy now or in the future, or is simply using the threat as a bargaining chip in haggling for concessions from China, the end result is the same. He is putting a question mark over one of the linchpins of global geo-politics, compounding uncertainly throughout the Asia Pacific, and raising the heat with China even before he has taken office.
The Chinese embassy in Indonesia issued a statement this week denying that China was using chili pepper seeds as biological weapons after a group of Chinese citizens was arrested for planting diseased chili pepper seeds in Indonesia. According to Shanghaiist , four Chinese citizens had...

The Chinese embassy in Indonesia issued a statement this week denying that China was using chili pepper seeds as biological weapons after a group of Chinese citizens was arrested for planting diseased chili pepper seeds in Indonesia.

According to Shanghaiist, four Chinese citizens had planted chili seeds imported from China on a farm south of Jakarta, and those seeds were infected with a bacteria that could spread to other plants and cause crop failures. After the disease was discovered, the seeds were burned and the plants destroyed to contain the bacteria, but news soon hit social media, where people started theorizing that the seeds had been known to be infected, and that they were planted on purpose as part of a Chinese plot to use the plant disease as a biological weapon to ruin Indonesian crops and destroy that countrys economy.

The rumors were bad enough that the Chinese embassy issued an official statement denying the allegations, and asserting that China was in no way using infected chili seeds as biological weapons to hurt Indonesias economy.

We hope that the bilateral relations and friendship between the people of China and Indonesia will not be affected by this matter, the embassy said in a statement.
A womans permanent makeup is running, giving her the appearance of having perpetually smudged eyeliner. (Photo: Getty Images)

What started as a way to save time applying makeup in the morning has turned into a costly, time-consuming hassle for one woman. Jeannine Dias of Cranston, R.I., had permanent eyeliner tattooed on her lids at her local beauty salon, Perfect Nails, a few months ago. But Dias says the ink is running, making it look like as though she has perpetually smudged eye makeup.

I decided to get permanent makeup so I wouldnt have to take time to do it every day; it was always something I wanted to do, Dias tells Yahoo Beauty. I noticed the ink was starting to run right from the start, after it was applied.

I was very upset because this is my face, she told NBC 10.

Dias went back to her salon technician, who had charged her $210 for applying the permanent liner. The technician agreed to give back $100, but refused to issue Dias a full refund. When interviewed by NBC 10, the technician said she is a tattoo artist who is licensed to apply permanent makeup in Rhode Island. Dias tells Yahoo Beauty that she complained to the health department but was told there was nothing they could do until another Perfect Nails customer filed a complaint. She hopes by sharing her story that other unhappy customers will come forward.

Jeannine Dias was left with smeared ink under her lower lids after getting permanent eyeliner applied at her local nail salon. (Photo: NBC 10)

Because the makeup is tattooed on, fixing the problem isnt easy. In most cases, technicians can do color correction that can mask the migrating ink. Dias sought the help of Natalie Ruano, the owner of Permanent Makeup and Beauty Lounge in Cranston, to correct the botched job. It wasnt applied properly, so it caused it to migrate all around the eye, giving the illusion that she had two black eyes, Ruano told NBC 10.

Rachel Nazarian, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, tells Yahoo Beauty that bleeding ink isnt a common problem. But it can happen if the pigment is not deposited correctly in the skin, Nazarian explains. Smearing of the pigment and migration of the tattoo ink can cause the results to look smudged or to move to nearby skin.

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The Food and Drug Administration notes that this can happen if the tattooist injects the pigments too deeply into the skin. But others may find they have the opposite problem, with the ink fading over time. Some people also experience reactions to the tattoo ink itself. In 2003 and 2004, the FDA received more than 150 reports from consumers of adverse reactions to certain permanent makeup ink shades.

So, in general, how safe is permanent makeup  and how can you make sure you dont suffer from a flubbed job? Getting tattoos is always somewhat risky because some people develop an allergy to the ink, which results in bumps, scars, and even distortion of the tattoo illustration, notes Nazarian. But aside from a potential allergy, the majority of results are aesthetician-dependent, so find someone with a good reputation, good reviews, and ask to see their previous work.



Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Prince Harrys charity work affects many people, but him most of all.

The 32-year-old royal appears in an ITV documentary about his charity work in Lesotho, Africa, which features a heartwarming moment in which Harry reunites with an orphan named Mutsu, whom he first met 12 years ago during his gap year and kept in touch with through letters.

Mutsu, now 16, and the prince shared a warm hug when they saw each other again last November. Harry smiled as he lifted the teenager off the ground before they caught up. They crossed paths again earlier this year when Mutsu took his first overseas trip to London to perform at Kensington Palace during a fundraising concert headlined by Coldplay with a choir sponsored by Harrys charity.

The new documentary centers around Prince Harrys work with Sentebale, the charity he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to improve conditions for those affected by HIV and Aids in the country.

ITV

Harry told ITV he has been drawn to Africa since he visited as a young boy.

I think anybody that Ive spoken to who has been to Africa, most of the people get it, and Africa gets them, he said. For me personally, its an escape. And now not only have I found that escape, but Ive found a way to try and use the name and the position for good.

The prince shared that anybody can make a difference.

If youre me, if youre your Average Joe, if whoever you are, if you cant affect politics and change the big things in the world then just do whatever you can do  whether its in your local community, your village, your local church  walking down the street, opening a door for an old lady, helping them cross the road. Whatever if it is, just do good. Why wouldnt you? he said.

He continued, The good stories are what make people tick every day, surely? Its fun to be good and its boring to be bad, but you can be naughty as well.

Prince Harry in Africa will air on Monday (9 p.m. London time) on ITV.




Aleppo (Syria) (AFP) - Thousands of traumatised Syrians left the rebel enclave of Aleppo Monday as the UN voted to deploy observers there and said it planned new peace talks in Geneva in February.

"It is the intention of the United Nations to convene those negotiations in Geneva on 8 February 2017," UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said after the Security Council unanimously adopted a French-drafted resolution to monitor evacuations from Aleppo, with Russia's backing.

But in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin said after Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead by a policeman in Ankara that the killing could "disrupt" the peace process in Syria and harm Turkish-Russian ties.

Damascus denounced the "despicable" murder of Karlov, who a witness said was shot dead by a gunman who shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge".

James Nixey, head of the Russia and Eurasia programme at think tank Chatham House, said the diplomat's murder could affect Aleppo evacuations.

Families in Aleppo had spent hours waiting in below-freezing temperatures, sheltering from the rain in bombed-out apartment blocks and waiting desperately for news of a new wave of departures.

After an agonising delay, the operation resumed under a complex agreement that will see regime forces exert full control over Syria's second city.

- 'Huge crowd' -

Buses transported more than 7,000 people out of the city, said Ingy Sedky, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

She said the evacuations were expected to continue overnight.

"There are still thousands -- it's a huge crowd, women, children," she said.

The evacuees included seven-year-old Bana al-Abed, whose Twitter account had offered a tragic account of Syria's nearly six-year war, as well as 47 children who had been trapped in an orphanage.

Ahmad al-Dbis, who heads a team of doctors and volunteers coordinating evacuations, saw dozens of buses and ambulances arrive at the staging ground west of Aleppo.

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He said the evacuees were in "a very bad state after waiting for more than 16 hours" at a regime checkpoint without being allowed off the vehicles.

The government had suspended evacuations on Friday, insisting that people also be allowed to leave two northwestern villages under rebel siege.

The ICRC and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said around 500 people left in a dawn convoy out of Fuaa and Kafraya.

The Britain-based Observatory said at least 14,000 people, including 4,000 rebels, have left the opposition sector since the evacuations began on Thursday while at least 7,000 remain.

- Sub-zero temperatures -

A rebel representative said hundreds of people would also be evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya, two army-besieged rebel towns near the border with Lebanon, as part of the deal.

Dbis said the Aleppo evacuees' departure was delayed for hours in sub-zero temperatures, compounding their plight from months of siege and army bombardment.

"They hadn't eaten, they had nothing to drink, the children had caught colds, they were not even able to go to the toilet," he said.

He described families wrapped in several layers of coats getting off the buses, which then headed back to Aleppo to bring out more.

The UN's children agency UNICEF said some of the children rescued from the orphanage were in critical condition because of injuries and dehydration.

"Many vulnerable children -- including other orphans and children separated from their families -- still remain in east Aleppo and need immediate protection," it said.

The Humanitarian Relief Foundation, a Turkish NGO working in Syria, said young blogger Bana had arrived at a camp for displaced persons in the northwest province of Idlib.

The Turkish news agency Anadolu posted a short interview with the girl, dressed in a warm coat and hat against the winter chill.

"In Aleppo the shelling was all over the place. We got out from the ruins because our house was bombed," she said shyly in Arabic.

- Blistering assault -

Residents of east Aleppo -- a rebel bastion since 2012 -- had already lived under four months of suffocating siege when Syria's army began its blistering assault in mid-November to retake the whole city.

"The people we are welcoming have been through hell -- the level of trauma they have experienced is impossible to describe or comprehend," said Casey Harrity of the international NGO Mercy Corps.

In an 11th-hour deal, regime ally Moscow and rebel supporter Ankara agreed on the evacuation of thousands of civilians and fighters from the last remaining opposition-held pocket in Aleppo.

Moscow, which has carried out an air war in support of the Syrian regime since September 2015, had threatened to veto the Security Council draft resolution calling for monitors to oversee the protection of civilians.

But on Monday, the council unanimously adopted the French-drafted text in the first show of unity in months among world powers grappling with the crisis.

The measure tasks the UN with carrying out "adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations from eastern Aleppo and other districts of the city".

Arab foreign ministers welcomed the resolution, the 22-member Arab League said in a statement following an emergency meeting in Cairo over Aleppo late Monday.

The foreign and defence ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran are set to meet in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss Syria.
Today, the 538 members of the Electoral College meet across the country to pick the next President of the United States. Heres what you need to know about this American tradition.

icelectoralcollege

The Electoral College was created as a compromise at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The Constitutions Article II, Section 1 spells out the Electoral College rules. A majority of electors is needed to elect a President; members of Congress or people holding a United States office cant be electors; electors cant pick two presidential candidates from their own state, and Congress determines when the electors meet within their states (or in the federal district). The total number of Electoral College members equals the number of people in Congress plus three additional electors from the District of Columbia.

George Washington won its first election on February 4, 1789 when he was a unanimous choice as President. Things have changed just a little bit since Washingtons time. At todays meetings at 51 locations across the United States, there may be a few votes cast by faithless electors and more than discussion that usual about the race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Here are the basic facts about the Electoral College, including its origins and how the voting is conducted.

It was one of the great compromises of the Constitutional Convention. The delegates in Philadelphia couldnt agree on a method to elect a chief executive, which was a new concept in 1787. Seminal Founding Fathers James Wilson, James Madison, John Dickinson, Roger Sherman and Gouverneur Morris worked out the details.

What were some of the other ideas for picking a President? At least four methods were proposed to elect the President and Vice President: election by Congress, election by state governors, election by state legislatures, and direct election by voters.

Alexander Hamilton defended the Electoral College. After the convention, Hamilton gave it an enthusiastic endorsement, with a few reservations. The mode of appointment of the Chief Magistrate of the United States is almost the only part of the system, of any consequence, which has escaped without severe censure, he said in Federalist No. 68. I venture somewhat further, and hesitate not to affirm that if the manner of it be not perfect, it is at least excellent. Hamilton said much more about this in Federalist No. 68 if you are interested: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed68.asp

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The Electoral College rules needed a fix pretty quickly. The first system allowed electors to cast two votes for President. The two highest vote getters became President and Vice President. That system worked when Washington was elected twice. In 1796 and 1800, it quickly fell apart and it inflamed an already bad relationship between Hamilton and Aaron Burr. The 12th Amendment was ratified in 1804 to allow separate votes for President and Vice President.

Who can be an elector? Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution says that current federal employees cant be electors, specifically, a Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

Why am I not voting for the President directly on Election Day? On Election Day, people vote for a slate of electors that represents a Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate. In many cases, the names of the electors dont appear on the ballot and they are announced shortly after Election Day. Hamilton expressed the desire of many Founders to confine the direct election process to a small group since a small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations.

How does the Electoral College work? Aside from the basic constitutional requirements, states control the elector selection and voting process. Each state must submit two documents to the Office of the Federal Register and Congress by the end of December. One is a Certificate of Ascertainment (listing the popular election result and the names of electors) and a Certificate of Vote (which lists the results of the Electoral College voting).

Where do the electors meet? The meetings are held at the state capitols and in the District of Columbia. They start around 9 a.m. and end around 3 p.m. in various states. The electors cast their votes and sign a form confirming they voted. That all goes into the Certificate of Vote. Once those documents go to the federal government, the Office of the Federal Register confirms the votes and then they are read out in Congress in early January. There is a process for House and Senate members to object to votes, but that is rarely used and hasnt affected an election.

What about Faithless Electors? A Faithless Elector is an elector who ignores their pledge to vote for a certain candidate. They are rare in Electoral College history. There have been more than 150 faithless electors since 1789 for various reasons. In some cases, candidates died between Election Day and the Electoral College voting date, forcing electors to pick another candidate or not vote. In other cases, electors switched votes for various reasons.

Have Faithless Electors ever changed an Electoral College election? The answer is Yes, but it wasnt in 1800, 1824 or 1876. In 1836, while Martin Van Buren won the presidential election outright, nearly two dozen faithless electors refused to vote for Van Burens vice presidential running mate, Richard Mentor Johnson. On February 9, 1837, Congress opened the vote certificates and confirmed that 23 electors in Virginia voted for another candidate, William Smith of Alabama. Johnson defeated the second-place finisher, Francis Granger, in the Senate run-off election.

Recent Electoral College Stories on Constitution Daily

How the Electoral College voting will unfold on Monday

The Interactive Constitution: Understanding The Electoral College

What happened the last time we had a Faithless Elector?

What happens to a vote-switching Elector on December 19?
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Many families  maybe even yours  honor holiday traditions that have spanned generations. You know, like choosing a yearly Christmas tree ornament, or pulling apart that turkey wishbone with Aunt Patricia.

In fact, festive traditions are so fun that it's tempting to start a few more this year. But in 2016, a year already fraught with holiday political arguments and tense family dinners, starting a new tradition might be a little difficult.

But it's not impossible! Try these 2016-appropriate traditions and you and yours will be soaked in warm holiday spirit in no time.

1. Enjoy the world's natural beauty by taking the scenic route to Grandma's.

For example, if you're going from Baltimore to Washington, D.C., try driving up to Detroit, tracing the entire Canadian border, enjoying the Northwest, then cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway before heading back east to kick off the holidays.

Image: David McNew/Getty Images

2. Employ the traditional holiday greeting: a low, wordless hum.

If everyone says "hi" to each other with a low, wordless hum, no one can ask you about your nose piercing  at least for now.

3. Instead of holding hands for the before-dinner prayer, do not hold hands.

A fun twist on holding hands.

4. Before you eat, go around the table and reveal the place you would rather be.

For example, you would rather be driving along the Canadian border.

5. Make sure to laugh at someone else's answer.

But if someone laughs at yours, don't be a good sport.

Image: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

6. After dinner, enjoy a nice book in a room separate from everyone else.

If all the rooms are taken, head out to the driveway. Don't forget to put on your coat!

7. Call out your cousin for cheating at Trouble.

Every year, Cousin Brock cheats at Trouble, a children's game at which it is nearly impossible to cheat. This year  and every year henceforth  Brock's getting called out for moving seven spaces instead of six. Hell yeah.

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8. When they're not watching, drop a big piece of coal in each of your relatives' pockets.

Just like the bell in The Polar Express!

9. Watch your beloved VHS of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, which, as you have known for years, is broken and will stop playing somewhere around the 41-minute mark.

It doesn't matter anyway  everyone will fall asleep by minute 30.

Image: 20th Century Fox

10. Yell.

Yell at your family, especially those who have wronged you this year.

Happy holidays!

BONUS: Adorable parade of Santa penguins is the best gift you'll get this holiday
The Daily Beast

GettyRussia announced Wednesday that it views Norways work with other countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as provocative, warning that Norways efforts to bolster its military in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine this year will likely be the death knell for Oslo-Moscow relations moving forward.Oslo is now among the most active supporters of NATO's involvement in the Arctic, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Wednesday, according to TASS. We cons
These 11 Twitter #hashtags of 2016 perfectly sum up what this year was *really* about

In less than 2 weeks, 2016 will become nothing more than a distant memory and we couldnt be happier to kiss it goodbye. Of course, there were good things that happened that are totally worth celebrating but were mostly just ready to ring in the new year! Were setting our resolutions and definitely sticking to them this time. Well, definitely maybe.

As the new year approaches, were taking the opportunity to reflect on the last 351 days and all that came with it  the good, the bad, the ugly. And we cant think of a better way to reflect than revisiting the most memorable Twitter #hashtags of 2016.

1. #Lemonade

When Beyonce released a teaser clip for a project called Lemonade back in April, Twitter lost its collective mind! And for good reason.

YOU GUYS IS #LEMONADE A SONG OR WHAT SHE'S TELLING US TO DRINK THIS SUMMER I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW  Tamerra Griffin (@tamerra_nikol) April 16, 2016

I feel bad for those with major events next Sat. Beyonce just rescheduled your wedding/birthday/funeral. #Lemonade pic.twitter.com/iX8OOKDUTv  Raquel Willis (@RaquelWillis_) April 16, 2016

2. #BlackGirlMagic

#BlackGirlMagic was created by CaShawn Thompson to celebrate the beauty, power and resilience of black women. This is not a moment, its the movement.

Im a dark-skinned natural haired Black Women who vehemently believes in Black Female Empowerment. I will drown you in #BlackGirlMagic .  Her Royal Fleekness (@ohheynelle) December 8, 2016

3. #Brexit

A combination of the words Britain and exit, it is the nickname for Britains exit of the European Union after the June 23rd referendum asking voters: Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union? Spoiler alert: The British public voted to leave and they are never, ever getting back together!

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Downside of #Brexit is global economic collapse but upside is I just bought a castle  sarah_haskins (@sarah_haskins) June 24, 2016

the #brexit lesson is vote. Grab your friends by their iphones & drag them to the polls. Because you know who loves to vote: racist uncles  John DeVore (@JohnDeVore) June 24, 2016

4. #Rio2016

The Olympics happened this year! It was hosted in Rio, Team USA took home 121 medals, but perhaps the most entertaining part of the 2016 Olympics was Leslie Jones and her live tweets of the events.

De Grasse looking like he hasn't seen bae for 24 hours #Rio2016pic.twitter.com/6NiTVCvqJR  96Ness (@Super96Ness) August 18, 2016

5. #PrayForOrlando

In what was dubbed the deadliest mass shooting in the United States and the nations worst terror attack since 9/11, the attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando left 49 people dead and at least 53 wounded. People from all over the world showed their support with the hashtag #PrayForOrlando.

Attacking a gay club on pride month is a whole other type of evil. What a dreadful couple of days it's been. #PulseOrlando #PrayForOrlando  jake (@GoatTension) June 12, 2016

No words can describe the horror and sadness. No words... #prayfororlando #loveconquershate  Jackie Spano (@JackieMSpano) June 12, 2016

6. #ImWithHer

During the 2016 US elections, the hashtag #ImWithHer was used to show support for presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton.

What a night! What a convention. What a Woman #ImWithHer #DNC2016  Tracee Ellis Ross (@TraceeEllisRoss) July 29, 2016

"A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons." - @HillaryClinton#ImWithHer  Jason James Row (@pxl8it) July 29, 2016

7. #ObamaAndKids

Were unsure how this one got started but were sure grateful to have it! #ObamaAndKids brings us President Obama and some of the most adorable kids around.

21 Extraordinary Photos from the #ObamaAndKids Hashtag That's Taking Over the Internet https://t.co/sQHSyP4Hbq  Elena (@nhplg) December 18, 2016

8. #PokemonGO

Nintendo took the world by storm when they released Pokemon Go. They got everyone off the couch and out the door in search of Pikachu and all his (or her, were not sure) other fictional friends in the real world.

When you're forced to enjoy nature because the #PokemonGO servers are down... pic.twitter.com/imFq2r3331  TGN Gamers (@tgnTV) July 13, 2016

Work, work

Team Valor

Work, work

Team Mystic

and Instinct! #PokemonGOpic.twitter.com/g5Jrhq9bta  Alp Ozcelik (@alplicable) July 12, 2016

9. #SoGoneChallenge

The #SoGoneChallenge brought us back to the good old days of early 2000 R&B vibes. The challenge was pretty simple, freestyle your own verse over an instrumental version of Monicas 2003 hit So Gone. The results were pretty awesome to watch. Even Monica got in on it!

In studio with @missyelliott and decided to join my own challenge #SoGoneChallenge you all continue to inspire me pic.twitter.com/IGaG28nYYH  Monica (@MonicaBrown) August 16, 2016

I'm not the best but my first time rappin on a video #sogonechallenge pic.twitter.com/tfNZsqrcBS  Brown_suga (@mariano112222) December 8, 2016

10. #NotMyPresident

Well let the tweets explain this one but trust us when we say, its completely unpresidented.

When I saw Donald Trump mocking people with disabilities, I saw that he is heartless...that broke my heart #NotMyPresident  Karen  (@_kcolatoo) November 9, 2016

That fact that people are legitimately scared and terrified of this man being president speaks volumes. #ElectionNight #notmypresident  Jenna Nogues (@HarleyJen05) November 9, 2016

As disgusted and afraid of the decision America made last night, I have no choice but to hope Trump proves us wrong. Still #NotMyPresident.  fickle (@duskvdawn) November 9, 2016

11. #RIP

The #RIP hashtag was the 9th most tweeted hashtag this year. Sadly, well be starting 2017 without some of our favorites.

So sorry to hear that Hollywood legend Zsa Zsa Gabor joins the long list of wonderful people who have sadly left us in 2016 #RIP  Philip Morris (@phil500) December 19, 2016

And there you have in, the happenings of 2016 as told by hashtags.

The post These 11 Twitter #hashtags of 2016 perfectly sum up what this year was *really* about appeared first on HelloGiggles.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) Four RSS functionaries in poll- bound Punjab have been accorded a VIP security cover of paramilitary commandos by the Union government.

Officials said the decision to accord an X category security cover of CISF personnel was taken after central security agencies assessed that there was a threat to these leaders in view of an attack on Jalandhar-based Sangh leader Jagdish Gagneja early this year.

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The four Rashtriya Sawayamsevak Sangh leaders are Rameshwar Dass (Ludhiana), Pramod Ji (Amritsar), Ramgopal Ji (Jalandhar) and Kuldeep Ji Bhagat (Jalandhar).

Sources said four separate Central Industrial Security Force teams will soon take over the task and a squad will be dispatched to Punjab.

Under the X category, about 5-6 armed commandos are deployed with each VIP, they said.

A similar cover was recently accorded to a senior journalist of a TV news channel.

The CISF has over 70 VIPs, including the new protectees, under it.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval are among prominent VIPs protected by the CISF, tasked primarily to secure major civil airports and vital installations in the country.

Elections to Punjab assembly are expected to be held in February-March next year along with four other states of Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur. PTI NES GVS

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WHAT WE LIKE: Our staff has made a habit of griping that we didnt order our long-term BMW 740i with adaptive cruise control. We normally wouldnt include this under the heading What We Like except that, in the cars logbook, this comment is always framed with the context that our 7-series is such a gifted long-distance runner. We love that long distances shrink and tired muscles actually relax when were behind the wheel. Online editor Alexander Stoklosa contributed one of the typical notes when he wrote, This car is adaptive cruise control and a massaging drivers seat away from road-trip perfection.

We relish the quiet cabin, the comfortable front seats, the spacious accommodations in the rear, and that theres a high-tech convenience feature for every needsave for adjusting our speed to traffic. The one defense of our $96,095 configuration came from associate online editor Joey Capparella on a drive from Michigan to Tennessee: I never really missed adaptive cruise because the standard system is so good. Its easy to adjust in both 1- and 5-mph increments and very smooth. I also was never bothered by the lane-keeping assist or forward-collision warning. Theyre both unobtrusive but still helpful.

Time has done nothing to blunt our enthusiasm for the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. This six is still magic, and its a joy to have it work a bit harder in one of its heaviest applications, senior editor Tony Quiroga noted. I wouldnt need any more power in a 7. And even though we do work the engine hard, our average fuel economy has climbed from 26 to 27 mpg since the last update. Were now exceeding the EPA combined rating by 3 mpg.

WHAT WE DONT LIKE: In the words of features editor Jeff Sabatini: God forbid it ever drive anywhere not on the freeway. In our jobs were constantly swatting down marketing pitches in which automakers claim theyve built a no-compromise, do-everything vehicle. This 7-series seems the exact antithesis of that (usually wishful) notion. It possesses a singular focus on luxurious comfort to the detriment of the handling.

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Theres a weird, nonlinear heft added to the steering in Sport mode and there is a good deal of float in the chassis on the highway in Comfort. I suppose I should just forget about having a sporty BMW, wrote Quiroga.

Quirogain chorus with the majority of the staffalso dismissed the Gesture Control system that debuted with the 7-series. It allows the driver or front passenger to twirl a finger to raise or lower the volume, wave a hand to ignore an incoming phone call, or slide a pinched thumb and forefinger to rotate the view from the exterior cameras. Gesture Control is the dumbest gimmick I can recall. How about a volume knob next to the iDrive controller instead? Hes right. At best, Gesture Control adds another level of redundancy that we almost never use, except to show off to easily impressed friends and family members.

WHAT WENT WRONG: A freakishly large raccoon crossed the 740is path in October, and while the encounter ended much worse for the trash burglar than for our driver, we shelled out $486 to have the dealer replace a damaged fog-lamp cover and side grille. Also, the right-front tire suffered impact damage and developed a bubble in the sidewall, necessitating our second tire replacement to date. The new Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT cost us $373.

Our pseudo-sentient 7-series also requested dealer visits at 21,000 and 25,000 miles. While the latter stop was only supposed to be an inspection, the service department changed the oil anyway. Both visits were covered under BMWs four-year, 50,000-mile no-charge maintenance scheme.

WHERE WE WENT: The 7-series is locked in a battle with our long-term diesel Range Rover Td6. Both sip frugally from large fuel tanks, delivering big range in addition to excellent comfort with plenty of luxury trappings. Since our last update, Capparella drove the BMW 520 miles to Nashville in a single shot. Stoklosa ran from Ann Arbor to Boston and logged more than 700 miles on one tank. Technology and mobility editor Pete Bigelow used the BMW to cover an assignment in Pittsburgh, and copy editor Jennifer Harrington used the 740i for a trip to Richmond, Virginia. Testing director Don Sherman returned to his Iowa alma mater to see the Hawkeyes defeat the Michigan Wolverines.

Months in Fleet: 8 months Current Mileage: 27,999 miles

Average Fuel Economy: 27 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 20.6 gal Fuel Range: 550 miles

Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0

Damage and Destruction: $1360

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan



PRICE AS TESTED: $96,095 (base price: $82,295)



ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection



Displacement: 183 cu in, 2998 cc

Power: 320 hp @ 6500 rpm

Torque: 330 lb-ft @ 1380 rpm



TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode



DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 126.4 in

Length: 206.6 in

Width: 74.9 in Height: 58.2 in

Passenger volume: 115 cu ft

Cargo volume: 18 cu ft

Curb weight: 4385 lb



PERFORMANCE: NEW

Zero to 60 mph: 4.8 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 11.9 sec

Zero to 130 mph: 21.6 sec

Rolling start, 560 mph: 5.6 sec

Top gear, 3050 mph: 2.9 sec

Top gear, 5070 mph: 3.5 sec

Standing -mile: 13.4 sec @ 105 mph

Top speed (mfr's est.): 155 mph

Braking, 700 mph: 159 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.86 g



FUEL ECONOMY:

EPA city/highway driving: 21/29 mpg

C/D observed: 27 mpg

Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt



WARRANTY:

4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper;

12 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;

4 years/unlimited miles roadside assistance;

4 years/50,000 miles scheduled maintenance





After 120,000 miles divided among a 2012 BMW 328i sedan, a 2014 BMW 328d xDrive wagon, and a 2015 BMW M3, were ready for a respite from the sixth-generation 3-series. Each one of those recent long-termers left us cold: too disconnected, too expensive, or too flinty, but most of all, just short of totally satisfying. BMWs quest to adapt the 3-series for mass-market appeal has watered down our decades-long love for the car that once combined control, practicality, and fun like no other.

Instead of hunting for the ghosts of BMW past with yet another long-term 3-series, weve redirected our focus toward a 2016 BMW 740i. Well spend 40,000 miles determining if BMWs apparent new prioritiesluxury and comfort before sporthave been perfected in the companys flagship.

The 7-series is less about driving and more about riding, and these days, that means a car packed with electronics. The sixth-generation 7-series takes the first baby steps toward automated highway driving with optional adaptive cruise control and brief stints of self-steering lane keeping. We assume that BMW designers also are fans of Minority Report, because the latest iteration of iDrive allows passengers to wave a hand or twirl a finger in front of the 10.2-inch touchscreen to accept an incoming call or to adjust the audio volume. Yes, the gesture controls are every bit as gimmicky and imperfect as they sound. Looking beyond the silicon and semiconductors, this new G11 chassis blends high-strength steel, cast and extruded aluminum, carbon fiber, and magnesium for a lighter unitized structure.

Expensive, But Not That Expensive

Weve been conditioned to think of the 7-series as a six-figure car, so we impressed ourselves when we ordered our long-termer with a $96,095 price tag. It helped to start with the least expensive 7-series, an $82,295 rear-wheel-drive, six-cylinder 740i, because from there we positively splurged on indulgences. The $3900 Luxury Seating package with Cold Weather brings heated, ventilated, and massaging power rear seats; a heated steering wheel; heated front and rear armrests; and a 7.0-inch Samsung tablet in the rear console that allows control of just about everything in the car except for the steering wheel and pedals. The $4100 Executive package adds power side-window shades, ventilated 20-way adjustable front seats, a head-up display, and ceramic trim for the shifter, the iDrive controller, and the radio.

We went for the $1900 Driver Assistance Plus package, which includes front-collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, speed-limit display, automatic parking, and blind-spot detection but is most notable for the included surround-view camera system with a 3D view. BMW uses four cameras to stitch together an image that looks as if your personal cinematographer is filming the car from 10 feet away, and you can pinch the air and wiggle your wrist to rotate around the car for different angles. The jury is still out on whether this is more useful than the birds-eye or traditional vantages (these are also selectable views in the 7-series), but this bit of tech feels less like a gimmick and more like something truly innovative. Notably, we skipped the Driver Assistance Plus II package that adds adaptive cruise control and active lane-keeping for $1700. We dont expect to miss either feature much. Our drivers typically prefer traditional cruise control, and, based on experience, we know that the BMWs steering assistant is merely a lane-keeping aid rather than a stand-in for two human hands.

Sundries include $2600 for 20-inch wheels and $900 for a larger panoramic glass roof with LED accent lighting. We also spent $250 for what weve taken to calling a key foblet. It features a tiny touchscreen that allows you to precondition the cabin and to check the status of the door locks or the windows. It was probably money we shouldnt have spent. Theres a phone app that accomplishes the same thing, and the key is merely one more electronic gizmo to keep charged. Finally, we dropped $150 for a space-saver spare, which adds some additional security against being stranded, over and above the standard run-flat tires, but comes with the penalty of raising the trunk floor by about six inches.

Driving the Thing

We werent expecting sports-car moves, so we were surprised when the 320-hp six-cylinder made such light work of the burden it carries. At the track, the 4385-pound 740i reached 60 mph in only 4.8 seconds, and a panic stop from 70 mph required just 159 feet of roadway. The skidpad figure of 0.86 g qualifies as respectable, although not exactly impressive.

Several logbook commenters have noted how soft the ride is, particularly in the cars Comfort Plus mode. One staffer even compared the 740i to a Kia K900, a recent and unloved long-termer in our fleet. Bizarrely, that plush suspension tune doesnt mean the ride is entirely comfortable. Our 7-series seems to be affected by a paradoxical chassis tuning in which the suspension doesnt provide enough body control, but the wheel impacts are too harsh. Over sharp lateral features such as expansion joints, the 740i pounds and smacks the pavement. The run-flat tires likely dont help, but weve never had this problem with a Mercedes-Benz S-class on run-flat rubber.

Despite the persistent drumbeat of complaints about the stiff tires, the 740i is still a wonderful way to cover big mileage. Assistant buyers guide editor Annie White logged almost 2000 miles driving from Ann Arbor to Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., and back to Michigan. By far the most comfortable car I have ever road-tripped in, she wrote. I had no back pain at allwhich is not normal for methanks to the truly excellent seats with seemingly endless adjustability. The small-displacement engine also is delivering on its end of the bargain: In addition to the impressive track-test performance, were averaging 26 mpg through the first two months.

Months in Fleet: 2 months Current Mileage: 7160 miles

Average Fuel Economy: 26 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 20.6 gal Fuel Range: 530 miles Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan



PRICE AS TESTED: $96,095 (base price: $82,295)



ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection



Displacement: 183 cu in, 2998 cc

Power: 320 hp @ 6500 rpm

Torque: 330 lb-ft @ 1380 rpm



TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode



DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 126.4 in

Length: 206.6 in

Width: 74.9 in Height: 58.2 in

Passenger volume: 115 cu ft

Cargo volume: 18 cu ft

Curb weight: 4385 lb



PERFORMANCE: NEW

Zero to 60 mph: 4.8 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 11.9 sec

Zero to 130 mph: 21.6 sec

Rolling start, 560 mph: 5.6 sec

Top gear, 3050 mph: 2.9 sec

Top gear, 5070 mph: 3.5 sec

Standing -mile: 13.4 sec @ 105 mph

Top speed (mfr's est.): 155 mph

Braking, 700 mph: 159 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.86 g



FUEL ECONOMY:

EPA city/highway driving: 21/29 mpg

C/D observed: 26 mpg

Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt



WARRANTY:

4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper;

12 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;

4 years/unlimited miles roadside assistance;

4 years/50,000 miles scheduled maintenance





WHAT WE LIKE: Commutes during Michigans construction season are just a little bit easier when cocooned inside a BMW 740i. The cabin mutes jackhammers, the numb steering neutralizes rumble strips, the suspension floats over milled pavement, and the seatsmy word, the seats. If you cant get comfortable in these thrones, you are probably a giraffe. The optional 20-way seats, part of the $4100 Executive package, include power-adjustable headrests, power thigh extensions, four-way lumbar, andwhat really sets them apartpower shoulder articulation. The latter allows the angle of the upper seatback to be adjusted relative to the lower portion, accommodating all forms of posture from the rigidly perfect to the appallingly hunched.

The seats have garnered only a single complaint to date: The drivers seat provides essentially no lateral butt/thigh support on entrance ramps, wrote one hard-charging driver using said on-ramp en route to discovering that the 740i cruises nicely at 100 with no show of effort.

That staffer wasnt the only one smitten with the 740is silky speed. Deputy online editor Dave VanderWerp noted that the 740i makes 100 mph feel like 70 and associate online editor Joey Capparella wrote in the logbook, I cannot imagine wanting more power in this car. That comment almost disqualifies Capparella from working at Car and Driver, except that he has a valid point. The single-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six has impressive low-end response and strong top-end pull, and it continues to deliver 26 mpg.

WHAT WE DONT LIKE: The driving dynamics have taken a back seat to, uh, the back seat. We werent expecting the 7-series to move like an M3, or even a 3-series for that matter. We were expecting our 740i to have more steering feel than a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe and more body control than a middle-aged dad at a trampoline park. BMW seems headed toward the old Cadillac paradigm, VanderWerp assessed, noting the 7-series increasingly buoyant body control and increasingly ostentatious bright bits found on the interior and exterior.

Those interior adornments are just one small reason our long-term 740i feels more opulent than its $96,095 price to almost anyone who passes through its doors. However, we have noticed a few whiffs of cost-cutting. For example, the doors no longer open with an infinite number of checks to hold them in place. Instead, its on the occupants to find one of the detents that keep the doors from swinging closed on their own, just like commoners in their Toyota Camrys. Also, the side glass isnt acoustically laminatedeven hoi polloi in the Honda Pilot can get quieting dual-pane side glass, and weve noted higher-than-expected wind-rush noise at highway speeds in our 7.

Other niggles reported in the logbook include a steering wheel that doesnt tilt down far enough. Some think the ceramic coating for some controls, also part of the Executive package, make the volume and iDrive knobs slick and difficult to use, and one driver caught the nav system displaying mislabeled roads, including major interstates.

WHAT WENT WRONG: The fuel door began to separate from its hinged inner plate around 6800 miles and departed the car entirely by 8600 miles. Our dealer replaced it just days before the 740i went in for its first service at 10,000 miles. We didnt pay a dime for either visit. The fuel door was covered under the warranty and the service was paid for under BMWs four-year/50,000-mile included maintenance.

We lost the drivers-side front tire to a pothole on a 35-mph Chicago side street. The driver, who had criticized the run-flat tires for compromising the ride quality a couple of months earlier, drove 20 miles on the deflated tire. I didnt even bother swapping for the compact spare, figuring it was a waste of time to change one tire rated for 50 mph for another one with the same restriction. We replaced the tire at a suburban Chicago BMW dealer at a cost of $501.

WHERE WE WENT: Other than the jaunt to Chicago and a quick run to Pennsylvania, our 740i has spent most of these past few months in and around Michigan. The 2000-mile East Coast trip mentioned in our 740is long-term intro story remains the longest trip to date.

Months in Fleet: 4 months Current Mileage: 13,569 miles

Average Fuel Economy: 26 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 20.6 gal Fuel Range: 530 miles

Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0

Damage and Destruction: $501

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan



PRICE AS TESTED: $96,095 (base price: $82,295)



ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection



Displacement: 183 cu in, 2998 cc

Power: 320 hp @ 6500 rpm

Torque: 330 lb-ft @ 1380 rpm



TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode



DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 126.4 in

Length: 206.6 in

Width: 74.9 in Height: 58.2 in

Passenger volume: 115 cu ft

Cargo volume: 18 cu ft

Curb weight: 4385 lb



PERFORMANCE: NEW

Zero to 60 mph: 4.8 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 11.9 sec

Zero to 130 mph: 21.6 sec

Rolling start, 560 mph: 5.6 sec

Top gear, 3050 mph: 2.9 sec

Top gear, 5070 mph: 3.5 sec

Standing -mile: 13.4 sec @ 105 mph

Top speed (mfr's est.): 155 mph

Braking, 700 mph: 159 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.86 g



FUEL ECONOMY:

EPA city/highway driving: 21/29 mpg

C/D observed: 26 mpg

Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt



WARRANTY:

4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper;

12 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;

4 years/unlimited miles roadside assistance;

4 years/50,000 miles scheduled maintenance




5th

The Gangnam Style video is uploaded to YouTube

JULY 15, 2012

The popularity of Psys K-pop ode to materialismand its signature horsey-dance move (above)would eventually require the video-streaming site to upgrade its views counter to track large enough numbers.

Also in style: May 7 marks 80 years of Ray-Ban sunglasses.

10th

Apple releases the iPhone to U.S. customers

JUNE 29, 2007

In honor of the retail debut of the much anticipated device, which had been unveiled by Steve Jobs that January, every Apple store in the U.S.164 at the timeremained open until midnight.

Also in retail: The then 4.2 million-sq.-ft. Mall of America turns 25 on Aug. 11.

20th

Princess Dianas passing

AUG. 31, 1997

The Paris car wreck that led to the death of the peoples princess also killed her companion, Dodi al Fayed, and their driver. An estimated million people came out for her funeral procession later that week.

Also in world-changing women: On Jan. 23, 20 years will have passed since Madeleine Albright, the first woman to be U.S. Secretary of State, was sworn in to office.

30th

AIDS drug AZT gets federal approval

MARCH 20, 1987

The O.K. by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was the first for any life-extending AIDS treatment.

Also in health: June 28 will mark five years since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a crucial component of the Affordable Care Act.

60th

Little Rocks Central High School is integrated

SEPT. 25, 1957

Under guard by hundreds of federal troops, nine black students (below) made civil rights history by entering their Arkansas school.

Also in integration: March 24 will be the 15th anniversary of Halle Berrys becoming the first black woman to win an Oscar in the Best Actress category.

75th

FDR signs Executive Order 9066

FEB. 19, 1942

Not long after the infamy of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made his own infamous move, giving the military new powers that would allow it to relocate Japanese Americans.

Story continues

Also in persecution: On June 12 of the same year, Anne Frank received a diary for her birthday.

80th

The Golden Gate Bridge opens

MAY 27, 1937

Members of the public first walked across the San Francisco landmark (above) on the day of its completion. Cars crossed the next day.

Also in California icons: Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered on TV 20 years ago on March 10.

100th

The U.S. enters World War I

APRIL 6, 1917

Following years of debate over neutrality, the U.S. formally declared war on Germany, joining Britain, France and Russia in the trenches.

Also in war: The Six-Day War, which redefined Israels borders, will have ended 50 years ago June 10.

125th

Walt Whitman dies

MARCH 26, 1892

The poet (above) passed peacefully at home after a career that revolutionized American literature with works like Leaves of Grass.

Also in verse: Twenty years will have passed since rapper Christopher Wallace, also known as the Notorious B.I.G., was fatally shot on March 9.

500th

Martin Luther nails his 95 theses to a church door

OCT. 31, 1517

The priest sparked the Protestant Reformationforever reshaping Christianityby posting his radical views on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

Also in faith: Mother Teresa, who became a saint in 2016, will have died 20 years ago on Sept. 5.

Compiled by Lily Rothman



This appears in the December 26, 2016 issue of TIME.
The minivan wars are heating up this winter. Honda will take to the stage at next month's Detroit auto show with its fifth-generation Odyssey minivan, which arrives just months after arch-rival Chrysler reinvigorated its people-carrier lineup with the new-for-2017 Pacifica.

Today, Honda released a couple of images teasing the new Odyssey. While they don't entirely give away the new van's look, the big take-away here is that its rearmost roof pillar is definitely rather un-van-like. The massive, swooping pillar stands in contrast to typical Honda designs that emphasize narrow roof pillars and large windows for maximum visibility.

DON'T MISS: Our 2016 Honda Odyssey review

Otherwise, any other news on the new Odyssey is merely speculation at this point. We expect that it will utilize the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine and 9-speed automatic gearbox found in the company's Pilot crossover, but a hybrid powertrain seems inevitable. It's possible that Honda will follow Chrysler's lead by developing a plug-in hybrid that can drive on electric power alone before the gas engine kicks in.

Look for an even more versatile interior than the current Odyssey. One thing we'd like to see is a second row of seats that can be moved with a child seat still attached. For now, that's something only the Pacifica offers in the minivan segment.

ALSO SEE: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica wins our Best Car To Buy award

We'll find out more about the new Odyssey when Honda formally unveils it in Detroit on January 9, 2017.
The tortured path that began with a left turn onto Dealey Plaza on Nov. 22, 1963, will find its unlikely end point this October in College Park, Md. At a National Archives annex, the last remaining documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy are being processed, scanned and readied for release.

For those who believe that the clues to who killed JFK are hidden somewhere deep inside the governments files, this may be the last chance to find the missing pieces. Under the terms of the 1992 JFK Records Acta result of Oliver Stones 1991 movie JFK, which revived fascination with the idea of a cover-upthe government was given 25 years to make public all related files. The time is up on Oct. 26, 2017. About 3,000 never-before-seen documents, along with 34,000 previously redacted files, are scheduled for release.

The filesmany of which trace back to the House Select Committee on Assassinations from the 1970spromise to be less about second shooters and grassy knolls and more about what the government, particularly the CIA, might have known about assassin Lee Harvey Oswald before Kennedys death. (The CIA declined to comment for this story, and the FBI did not respond to a request.) Already, the law has helped fill out one of the most significant periods of the 20th century, revealing information on military plots to invade Cuba; Kennedys plans to execute a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam; and the formation of the Warren Commission, which investigated the assassination.

According to the National Archives, the final batch includes information on the CIAs station in Mexico City, where Oswald showed up weeks before JFKs death; 400 pages on E. Howard Hunt, the Watergate burglary conspirator who said on his deathbed that he had prior knowledge of the assassination; and testimony from the CIAs James Angleton, who oversaw intelligence on Oswald. The documents could also provide information on a CIA officer named George Joannides, who directed financial dealings with an anti-Castro group whose members had a public fight with Oswald on the streets of New Orleans in the summer of 1963.

The records that are out there are going to fill out this picture, says Jefferson Morley, an author whos spent decades researching the assassination.

But Martha Murphy, who oversees the effort at the National Archives, warns that many of the documents may be of little value. She believes that any potentially revelatory information, like Oswalds CIA file, has already been releasedalbeit with redactions (that text will be restored for the new release). Most of the trove was deemed not believed relevant by the independent Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) in the 1990s. Still, John Tunheim, who chaired the ARRB, says something that was completely irrelevant in 1998 may look more tantalizing today.

For curious observers, even irrelevant documents are better than nothingand nothing is still a possibility. The law says that if an agency doesnt want certain files made public, it can appeal to the President, who could decide to hold them back after all. That has prompted almost two dozen authors, academics and former ARRB members to write to the White House counsel urging that all documents be released.

Were at the final chapter of JFK disclosure, Morley says. Sometimes I think were going to win. Sometimes I think its a fools errand. But were going to find out.



This appears in the December 26, 2016 issue of TIME.
Photo credit: Peter Murdock

From ELLE

This article originally appeared in the January 2017 issue of ELLE.

Photo credit: Peter Murdock

1. Because you like your editions (ultra) limited | Comme des Garcons, NYC

Amid the newly revamped far-out interiors, get Comme des Garcons x Nike VaporMax sneakers next month, before they're available anywhere else in the U.S.

2. Because you won't even recognize this place next season! | Dover Street Market, NYC

This seven-floor fashion temple (Supreme, Simone Rocha) completely overhauls its interiors every January and July.

3. Because Salt Lake is the new Dubai. | City Creek Center, Salt Lake City

A 700,000-square-foot mecca of choreographed fountains, 18-foot waterfalls, and a fully retractable glass roof that houses stores such as Tiffany & Co. and Michael Kors.

4. Because less- aesthetically and financially-can be more. | cuyana.com

Elevated basics and straight-from- the-manufacturer leather accessories that support Argentine artisans.

5. Because you can discover products that even beauty editors don't know about. | capbeauty.com

Come for the Odacite face oils, stay for the Tata Harper balms-plus a host of under-the-radar labels. Everything's all- natural, too.

6. Because Vetements mania shows no sign of slowing. | Maxfield The Gallery, West Hollywood

Ogle 14 of Demna Gvasalia's spring collaborations next month at this white-box space, which now plays host to designer pop-ups.

Photo credit: Joseph Branston/MacFormat magazine via Getty Images

7. Because you can shop Mexico City, London, and Paris from your sofa. | shoptiques.com

You do the math: exclusive access to 5,000 independently owned boutiques in 2,000 cities throughout 30 countries.

8. Because in Portlandia, even the fashion is locally raised. | Frances May, Portland

Shop14 Oregon-based designers among coffee-table books and retro planters.

Photo credit: Michael Stavaridis

9. Because you can drive straight in. | Alchemist, Miami Beach

On the fifth floor of Lincoln Road mall's parking garage, the concept store will celebrate its tenth anniversary in May with a new shop around the corner and its own branded jewelry, athleisure pieces, and housewares.

Story continues

10. Because the most cutting-edge couture this side of Paris is in...Alabama?! | alabamachanin.com

Project Alabama founder Natalie Chanin continues her work with the South's finest seamstresses but now also offers DIY kits to fashion your own dress or quilt.

11. Because shopping can be paradise. | International Market Place, Honolulu

Peruse beneath a century-old banyan tree in this state-of-the-art mall: A river runs through it (literally).

Photo credit: Courtesy of the store

12. Because going to the mall to get your ears pierced has been seriously upgraded. | Bergdorf Goodman, NYC

The classic department store's revamped first floor now hosts piercing parties with jewelry designer Sydney Evan.

13. Because it's like having Jeremy Scott on speed dial. | jeremyscott.com

Scott's customizable case for the new Google Pixel phone offers exclusive emojis and dispatches direct from the designer; the button on the back connects you to Scott's website and social hub with a tap.

14. Because museums and stores needn't be mutually exclusive. | Just One Eye, Los Angeles

Owner Paola Russo secures exclusive artist collabs (Damien Hirst x The Row) and decks the walls with the likes of Sterling Rubys and Murakamis.

15. Because you can learn from a real-life designer whisperer, IRL. | Susan of Burlingame, San Francisco

Owner Susan Foslien was among the first U.S. retailers to carry Junya Watanabe and Jacquemus-and is too cool to even have a website.

16. Because hospitality never goes out of style. | Linda Dresner, Birmingham, MI

In between ID-ing the perfect pieces from names like Juan Carlos Obando and Sies Marjan, the legendary Dresner herself serves coffee and homemade snacks.

17. Because paying it forward is the height of chic. | cooperativashop.com

Buy braided Caralarga jewelry and Adriana Castro crocodile bags and help support the next generation of emerging Latin American design talent.

18. Because of course your Edie Parker clutch should look like a Lone Star flag. | The Webster, Houston

The famed Miami boutique's new Westheimer outpost boasts location-specific finds-the secret weapon of the Bayou City's chicest denizens.

19. Because they're the total package, starting with the packaging. | matchesfashion.com

The site stays ahead of the curve with design talent, stellar sales, and epic NYC pop-ups, and it consistently delivers-in appealing marbled boxes.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the store

20. Because you can talk shoes with SJP herself. | Bloomingdale's Soho, NYC

With celebrity appearances galore, don't be surprised to see Carmelo Anthony or Heidi Klum manning the register come Fashion Week.

Photo credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Heidi Klum

21. BecauseCeline, plus young labels like Thierry Colson, plus Sunset cruises. | A'maree's, Newport Beach, CA

The coastal vibe of this boutique-owned by sisters Dawn Klohs, Apryl Schaefer, and Denise Schaefer and run by their family for 40 years-starts with its waterfront location.

22. Because you can have a virtual reality experience in the oculus. | Westfield World Trade Center, NYC

Tribeca Enterprises' programming team puts on events such as VR film screenings in the spaceship-like transportation hub.

23. Because you've got mail...and it's full of Roksanda and Rag & Bone. | Hampden, Charleston, SC

Adios, dressing rooms: This shop will ship out its wares so you can try on in the comfort of home.

24. Because online doesn't have to overwhelm. | plandevillenyc.com

Catherine Smith's razor-sharp emerging-luxury-designer edit includes Chloe Gosselin and Chris Gelinas and offers NYC same-day delivery.

25. Because it's one-stop shopping for the Silicon Valley set. | Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

Hit up SoulCycle, Pressed Juicery, and sustainable clothing brand Amour Vert while you charge your Tesla at one of 27 stations.

26. Because you can play Cinderella for the night-and keep the glass slippers forever. | armarium.com

The on-demand platform for high-end fashion rentals now links into Net-a-Porter, so you can buy the perfect pair of Charlotte Olympias to complement the Sonia Rykiel dress you're borrowing for tonight's party.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the store

27. Because we can't think of a service they don't have. | Nordstrom, Vancouver

The Seattle-based retailer's first international flagship has on-staff translators and a 24/7 express concierge service, should lost luggage leave you with a late-night fashion emergency.

28. Because you can sample the best of Latin America in South Florida. | Brickell City Centre, Miami

Miami's new downtown giant boasts luxe Mexican movie theater chain CMX and a Saks situated beneath a steel, glass, and fabric "climate ribbon" that harnesses bay breezes.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the store

29. Because the food is great...

Brooklyn streetwear emporium Kith serves the breakfast of champions: 23 cereals and 22 toppings.

At NYC's Armani/Ristorante, refuel with chef Michele Brogioni's decadent Italian fare (gnocchi!).

In L.A., Cafe Midi-inside Maison Midi's housewares boutique-dishes out a mean croque monsieur.

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MOSCOW (AP)  The death toll from alcohol poisoning in a Siberian city has risen to at least 49 Monday after the victims consumed a counterfeit bath lotion containing deadly methanol.

Local officials in Irkutsk went house-to-house in search for more victims and introduced a state of emergency Monday, while the Russian government called for tighter regulation of the alcohol market.

The sale of lotions and tinctures containing alcohol has risen in recent years as Russia has plunged into recession under the impact of Western sanctions and a slide in oil prices. Poisonings caused by cheap surrogate alcohol are a regular occurrence, but the Irkutsk case was unprecedented in its scale.

Russia's top investigative agency opened a probe into the incident and arrested several people suspected of involvement in selling the lotion.

Officials found that the lotion contained deadly levels of methanol and antifreeze. Police have found an underground facility that made the counterfeit lotion, and seized 500 liters (132 gallons) of the substance at about 100 shops in Irkutsk, according to the Tass news agency.

Bottles with the lotion were clearly marked with warnings that they weren't for internal use but labels warned that the product contained ethyl alcohol rather than methanol, officials said.

The death toll has been growing quickly since the weekend, and reached 49, local prosecutor Alexander Semyonov said, according to the Interfax news agency. He said that eight others remained hospitalized in grave condition. Officials were checking apartments and other locations in search for more victims.

Authorities in other Russian regions also launched searches for alcohol surrogates.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the mass poisoning as a "terrible tragedy," adding that the president was being briefed about the situation.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told a Cabinet meeting that authorities need to quickly ban such substances, saying their makers have been increasingly competing with legal alcohol producers.

"It's an outrage, and we need to put an end to this," he said in televised remarks.
Despite what some investors might think, 401(k) plans aren't free.

In fact, it's just the opposite. 401(k) plans are loaded to the brim with fees, including front and back load fees, 12b1 fees, and investment management expenses. Hey, you can't expect the Fidelity Investments and Vanguard Funds of the world to manage billions of dollars in 401(k) plan money out of the goodness of their hearts.

One problem is some 401(k) fund fees are so high, they can significantly impact fund performance. Another is that many 401(k) plan participants don't hold a clue on fees, with an alarming amount of retirement savers unaware of plan fees at all.

[See: How to Max Out Your 401(k) in 2017.]

According to Betterment for Business, a 401(k) service provider, 25 percent of so-called "savvy" participants believe there aren't any fees in their 401(k) plan. Additionally, another 14 percent of investors were unaware of the fees they paid, and 40 percent expect to pay less than 1 percent in of their total 401(k) plan assets all the way through to retirement.

How much damage can high 401(k) fees do to a career professional's retirement savings? Plenty, as it turns out.

Data from Demos states that "fees can cost a median-income two-earner family nearly $155,000 and consume nearly one-third of their investment returns."

"The worst 401(k) fees are the fees that are unseen," says Andrew Meadows, vice president of brand and culture at Ubiquity Retirement and Savings in San Francisco. "While providers are now required to provide reporting on asset-based fees, many don't proactively check to ensure their retirement savings aren't being eroded."

Additionally, education should always be available for savers to know all costs associated with their retirement plans, Meadows adds.

"A common misconception is that a participant's 401(k) is free to them, but that's not usually the case," he says. "Knowledge on this can be powerful and assist in making personal savings more secure."

Story continues

The good news is there are ways 401(k) plan participants can fight back, and reduce those onerous plan fees.

Add an investment advisor. Zachary Welborn, a money manager with Manske Wealth Management in Houston, says retirement savers should check with their employers and ask if there is a "fee conscious" investment advisor attached to their 401(k) plan.

"A 3(21) fiduciary investment advisor can offer a number of solutions to lower the overall fees related to offering and participating in a 401(k) plan," Welborn says.

"The investment advisor should be reviewing the plan's investment lineup at least quarterly. While the average expense ratio for an equity fund is around 1.25 percent, any advisor that has done their due diligence should have no problem finding funds that can achieve the same goal for a lower fee."

Use index funds. Welborn says index funds are a "great way" to capture a large piece of the market without having to pay steep investment costs.

"Fees as low as 0.2 percent and 0.5 percent are normal (as opposed to the 1.25 to 2 percent for many funds)," he says. "The management fees at the fund company level are significantly lower as tracking an index requires far less management and resources."

[See: 9 Psychological Biases That Hurt Investors.]

Bypass professionally sponsored funds. Andy Yadro, a financial advisor with Googins Advisors in Madison, Wisconsin, says if your 401(k) plan has a professional management option, you should always turn it down.

"There is rarely any value added that would justify the fee," he says. "I recently saw a plan where that service was offered for an additional 75 basis points, and the employees were essentially placed into a target-date fund, which they could have selected on their own for free."

Yadro says a great way to address the issue of high fees with your employer is by volunteering to do all the legwork. "Offer to reach out to a few local financial advisors and see if they have any lower-cost solutions," he says.

Shop around. Deborah Sweeney, chief executive officer at MyCorporation, a document filing service in Calabasas, California, says her firm saved money by beating the bushes to find a lower-cost 401(k) plan.

"Our company recently recognized ever-increasing fees in our growing 401(k) accounts," she says. "We shopped around to find the best, least expensive option."

Sweeney says there are "many companies" fighting for your business and who will provide you with good data so you can make a better, more informed, less expensive decision on your 401(k) plan. "We were able to get significant savings without much hassle," Sweeney says. "In fact, we cut our expenses from $22,000 in annual fees to $8,000, which was a significant savings for us."

Talk to your employer. Ask your employer what benefits are available to you, Meadows says.

"Does your plan offer brokerage accounts, Roth funding options, or even a loan provision," he asks. "Your employer is managing the plan from a different perspective and may be able to point you in the direction of some savings-changing resources. Your plan may also come with an advisor or investment support. If knowledge is power, your employer may have the secret tool to lower your 401(k) plan fees."

[Read: 4 Things Millennials Should Know About Mutual Funds and Retirement.]

When it comes to 401(k) account fees, knowledge really is power. Check your plan to see exactly what fees are in play, and talk to both a financial planner and your employer to figure out the best ways to cut those fees down to size.





More From US News & World Report


Despite what some investors might think, 401(k) plans aren't free.

In fact, it's just the opposite. 401(k) plans are loaded to the brim with fees, including front and back load fees, 12b1 fees, and investment management expenses. Hey, you can't expect the Fidelity Investments and Vanguard Funds of the world to manage billions of dollars in 401(k) plan money out of the goodness of their hearts.

One problem is some 401(k) fund fees are so high, they can significantly impact fund performance. Another is that many 401(k) plan participants don't hold a clue on fees, with an alarming amount of retirement savers unaware of plan fees at all.

[See: How to Max Out Your 401(k) in 2017.]

According to Betterment for Business, a 401(k) service provider, 25 percent of so-called "savvy" participants believe there aren't any fees in their 401(k) plan. Additionally, another 14 percent of investors were unaware of the fees they paid, and 40 percent expect to pay less than 1 percent in of their total 401(k) plan assets all the way through to retirement.

How much damage can high 401(k) fees do to a career professional's retirement savings? Plenty, as it turns out.

Data from Demos states that "fees can cost a median-income two-earner family nearly $155,000 and consume nearly one-third of their investment returns."

"The worst 401(k) fees are the fees that are unseen," says Andrew Meadows, vice president of brand and culture at Ubiquity Retirement and Savings in San Francisco. "While providers are now required to provide reporting on asset-based fees, many don't proactively check to ensure their retirement savings aren't being eroded."

Additionally, education should always be available for savers to know all costs associated with their retirement plans, Meadows adds.

"A common misconception is that a participant's 401(k) is free to them, but that's not usually the case," he says. "Knowledge on this can be powerful and assist in making personal savings more secure."

Story continues

The good news is there are ways 401(k) plan participants can fight back, and reduce those onerous plan fees.

Add an investment advisor. Zachary Welborn, a money manager with Manske Wealth Management in Houston, says retirement savers should check with their employers and ask if there is a "fee conscious" investment advisor attached to their 401(k) plan.

"A 3(21) fiduciary investment advisor can offer a number of solutions to lower the overall fees related to offering and participating in a 401(k) plan," Welborn says.

"The investment advisor should be reviewing the plan's investment lineup at least quarterly. While the average expense ratio for an equity fund is around 1.25 percent, any advisor that has done their due diligence should have no problem finding funds that can achieve the same goal for a lower fee."

Use index funds. Welborn says index funds are a "great way" to capture a large piece of the market without having to pay steep investment costs.

"Fees as low as 0.2 percent and 0.5 percent are normal (as opposed to the 1.25 to 2 percent for many funds)," he says. "The management fees at the fund company level are significantly lower as tracking an index requires far less management and resources."

[See: 9 Psychological Biases That Hurt Investors.]

Bypass professionally sponsored funds. Andy Yadro, a financial advisor with Googins Advisors in Madison, Wisconsin, says if your 401(k) plan has a professional management option, you should always turn it down.

"There is rarely any value added that would justify the fee," he says. "I recently saw a plan where that service was offered for an additional 75 basis points, and the employees were essentially placed into a target-date fund, which they could have selected on their own for free."

Yadro says a great way to address the issue of high fees with your employer is by volunteering to do all the legwork. "Offer to reach out to a few local financial advisors and see if they have any lower-cost solutions," he says.

Shop around. Deborah Sweeney, chief executive officer at MyCorporation, a document filing service in Calabasas, California, says her firm saved money by beating the bushes to find a lower-cost 401(k) plan.

"Our company recently recognized ever-increasing fees in our growing 401(k) accounts," she says. "We shopped around to find the best, least expensive option."

Sweeney says there are "many companies" fighting for your business and who will provide you with good data so you can make a better, more informed, less expensive decision on your 401(k) plan. "We were able to get significant savings without much hassle," Sweeney says. "In fact, we cut our expenses from $22,000 in annual fees to $8,000, which was a significant savings for us."

Talk to your employer. Ask your employer what benefits are available to you, Meadows says.

"Does your plan offer brokerage accounts, Roth funding options, or even a loan provision," he asks. "Your employer is managing the plan from a different perspective and may be able to point you in the direction of some savings-changing resources. Your plan may also come with an advisor or investment support. If knowledge is power, your employer may have the secret tool to lower your 401(k) plan fees."

[Read: 4 Things Millennials Should Know About Mutual Funds and Retirement.]

When it comes to 401(k) account fees, knowledge really is power. Check your plan to see exactly what fees are in play, and talk to both a financial planner and your employer to figure out the best ways to cut those fees down to size.

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.
Embracing Hygge Embracing Hygge @lusttforlife Navitas Naturals

The Danish concept of hygge (pronounced hoo-ga), which Pinterest predicts will be trending in 2017 via its annual list The Pinterest 100, is definitely something we wish had been imported soonerthat it exists at all explains why Danes are frequently called the happiest people in the world. Loosely translated to mean cosiness, hygge encapsulates self-care, quality time with loved ones and what Netflix-and-chill would look like if we paid more attention to the spaces in which we do it. Here, five simple ways to embrace hygge in your life and, we hope, become a happier person in the process.
By PTI: inter-caste marriages: Athawale

New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) Voicing concern over the rising cases of atrocities against SCs and STs in the country, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale today suggested to state governments to give cash rewards of Rs 25 crore to the district which records highest number of inter-caste marriages.

Athawale, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment further recommended giving jobs or land to couples who tie knots breaking the caste barrier.

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"State governments should give cash reward of Rs 25 crore to the district which records highest number of inter-caste marriages or make a provision to either give a job or five acre of land to such couple in order to promote inter-caste marriage which in turn will help in combating incidents of atrocities.

The Minister also talked about setting up of Helplines at the state and district level and forming a designated team of policemen, led by a sub-inspector in each police station to deal with complaints of atrocities.

"There have been instances where complaints are made but police do not take cognisance. The victims keeps reporting about the threats that they receive but no action is taken. It is important to take action at the initial stage to avoid a tragedy," Athawale said.

The Minister said that he has made the recommendations to the states in a meeting of the Committee to review the implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act held here today.

Athwale also stressed that periodic meetings of the High Power State Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees under the chairpersonship of Chief Minister should be held in the states to ensure that the Act is implemented.

Pointing out that only 14 states have set up Exclusive Special Courts to speed up the trial of cases under PoA Act, Athawale urged States which have not set up such courts to follow the rule under the Section 14 of the amended PoA Act which calls for establishing of such courts in one or more districts.

Athawale said that increasing levels of awareness among people is resulting in increased number of complaints under the PoA Act.

India recorded 46,114 crimes against SCs and STs in 2013, 47,124 such cases in 2014 and 44,839 cases in 2015.

BJP-ruled Rajasthan has registered 23,861 cases under the amended Prevention of Atrocities (PoA) Act between 2013-15 while UP and Bihar have registered 23,556 and 21,061 cases respectively during the same span, according to government report.

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Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil and Gujarat reported 14,016, 9,054, 8,084, 7,565, 6,546, 5,131 and 3,969 such crimes respectively during the years. PTI PLB RG

--- ENDS ---
Photo credit: Getty

From ELLE

While you were weeping into your Cheerios and trying to find out whether humans can survive on Mars yet, Donald Trump was interviewing potential cabinet members. A few weeks back, he met with former Marine General James Mattis for an hour and capped the meeting by tweeting about it, of course.

General James "Mad Dog" Mattis, who is being considered for Secretary of Defense, was very impressive yesterday. A true General's General! - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2016

Outside the estate where Trump held court this weekend, Trump deemed Mattis "the real deal." How sweet. Here are 6 more facts you need to know about him:

1. He served over four decades in the marines.

Mattis spent 44 years in the Marine Corps, rising in the ranks and ultimately running the U.S. Central Command. He retired from the post in 2013, which means...

2. Technically, he's not eligible for this job.

Federal law stipulates that the secretary of defense cannot have been on active duty for at least seven years, so, if Mattis is confirmed, he'll need Congress to issue him a waiver in order to take the position. Given that Republicans control both chambers, it doesn't seem Mattis has reason to be worried about it. It "would likely be a formality," according to CNN. Rules-why bother!

3. His nicknames are "Warrior Monk" and "Mad Dog," so you know he's chill.

At 66, Mattis has never been married and has no children. His single-minded focus on and penchant for combat have earned him these cute nicknames. Really paints a picture of just the kind of slow and cautious dude I want to guide of our armed forces.

4. He thinks it's "fun to shoot some people."

Discussing the use of force in Afghanistan, Mattis said in 2005 that he enjoyed the violence. "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil," he 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. Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot."

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"It's fun to shoot some people," he added. "I'll be right up front with you; I like brawling."

The comments generated considerable controversy. Responding, Mattis later said that he should have chosen his words more carefully.

5. He's a reader!

Some good news! Mattis is a "voracious reader," according to the Telegraph. He has at least 6,000 books in his personal library and likes to carry a book of quotes from Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and stoic, into battle.

6. He's a critic of the Iran deal (but he doesn't think we can scrap it).

Delivering a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in April 2016, Mattis said that he believed the Obama administration had been too lenient with Iran and was naive to accept the terms of the nuclear deal. But he isn't about to propose America start from scratch. "What we achieved was a nuclear pause, not a nuclear halt. We're going to have to plan for the worst," he said.

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For teenage procrastinators who wait until New Year's Eve to finish college applications due on Jan. 1, the night might not feel very festive.

Students completing applications on New Year's can use the following tips from students who have been in this situation and counselors to finish strong.

1. Don't waste time applying to schools you probably won't go to: "If it's not realistic that you would end up at that school, you shouldn't spend your entire New Year's trying to cram in all of those applications," says Kat Pickhardt, now a 19-year-old sophomore at Ithaca College in New York. She spent New Year's a couple years ago finishing college applications.

Applying to college shouldn't be a random exercise, says Jodi Rosenshein Atkin, an independent college admissions counselor based in Rochester, New York. It can be a waste of effort and money to do that, she says, and give students options they don't want.

2. Make a list of everything you have left to do -- and complete each task one at a time: Kids who defer getting it done are overwhelmed, says Atkin. She recommends students divide the big tasks they have left to do into manageable pieces.

"You are going to be more likely to complete them," she says, "Rather than trying to crash it all in, in two hours, with your mother screaming at you on New Year's Eve, when everyone wants to be somewhere else."

Shondra Carpenter, a counselor at Cherokee Trail High School in Colorado, says applicants should proofread their application and double, even triple, check everything -- including that the applicant's name and email address are consistent, along with correct school names -- before they hit submit.

[Avoid these big college application mistakes.]

3. Crank out an essay: "The first thing is to just vomit 500 words onto a page," says Atkin. "Tell a story about yourself that you want to tell. Don't worry about what the prompt is."

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Students should edit the essay, then tweak what they have written to fit one of the essay prompts available on the application, she says.

Once students are finished they should have one adult -- students don't want too many hands on the essay -- look it over for grammar and clarity.

But that adult shouldn't be a parent, Atkin says, since parents tend to want to rewrite essays. Students could consider a parent they babysit for, neighbor or uncle if they're in a bind on New Year's Eve.

William Ridley, now a 19-year-old freshman at Furman University in South Carolina, says he had to write three essays over the holiday last year for Wake Forest University's application, which was due on Jan. 1. "I didn't spend as much time as I should on them, which is probably why I didn't get accepted."

4. Avoid submitting applications right at the deadline: With thousands of other students online submitting college applications at the same time, websites can crash and servers can go down, says Carpenter, the Colorado counselor, who also runs Steele Street College Consulting.

[Check out scholarships for procrastinators.]

While students usually have until 11:59 p.m. in their time zone to submit college applications with Jan. 1 deadlines, Carpenter recommends students try to get applications submitted earlier to avoid technical glitches.

5. See if deadlines have wiggle room: Students will probably have to wait until after winter break to send out anything that requires the help of school officials -- like transcripts and letters of recommendation -- if they don't already have these documents, says Atkin.

But students can submit the application; fill out their Naviance profile, which schools use to manage paperwork electronically; and send emails to teachers asking for a letter of recommendation, she says.

Some schools, particularly highly competitive schools, will probably not accept admissions materials late, she says, but others are more flexible. Students can go to each school's website to see how rigid they are with deadlines, she says.

Schools that evaluate applicants more holistically, for instance, may give applicants more wiggle room, she says. But Atkin's experience has been that large flagship state universities are not flexible.

6. Remember there are many colleges with admissions deadlines after Jan. 1: If students can't make the New Year's deadline, their life is not over, Atkin says. "There are many, many schools that are on what's called rolling admission and they will accept applications as late as May."

Ridley doesn't recommend students wait until the night before an application is due to finish it.

[Get three tips to complete college applications on time.]

"You'll end up rushing through it and sacrificing the quality it needs to appropriately express your potential," he says. "But if you do find yourself in a bind, focus on just the application, take your time, be honest and be yourself."

Searching for a college? Get our complete rankings of Best Colleges.

Alexandra Pannoni is an education digital producer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at apannoni@usnews.com.
Avast, ye holiday shopping procrastinators!

Although Black Friday and Cyber Monday have long since passed and Christmas is days away, you still have time to catch great holiday deals. To woo last-minute shoppers, many retailers are launching spectacular sales across all major gift-giving categories, including electronics, toys and apparel. Others have unleashed free shipping promotions and offer rush or even same-day delivery to guarantee gifts are nestled beneath the tree on time.

To help you find your way through the crowds and discover the best deals, we've included a list of six marvelous last-minute holiday sales.

[See: Prepare Your Finances for the Holidays.]

Kohl's Last-Minute Holiday Sale

Dates: Dec. 12-24

Extended hours: Open 24 hours on Dec. 23; Open 7 a.m. -- 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

To catch the eye of holiday procrastinators, Kohl's is taking an extra 20 percent orders of $100 or more and 15 percent off orders under $100. Kohl's continues to offer free standard shipping on orders of $50 or more.

Last days to order: Kohl's guarantees Christmas delivery with standard shipping on orders placed before Dec. 19 at 11 p.m. Two-day shipping with Christmas delivery is available until Dec. 20 at 1 p.m., and one-day shipping is available until Dec. 21 at 2 p.m.

Best Buy Last-Minute Sale

Dates: Dec. 18-24

Extended holiday hours: Open 8 a.m. -- 11 p.m. on Dec. 23; Open 8 a.m. -- 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve

Best Buy is running its own week-before-Christmas sale, offering deep discounts on electronics and appliances. Top deals include:

-- $80 off a Samsung 40-inch LED Smart HDTV

-- $40 off Amazon Echo Hands-Free Voice Controlled Device

-- Up to 30 percent off select 4K Ultra HD TVs

-- Up to 25 percent off robot vacuums

-- Up to 30 percent off small kitchen appliances

Last days to shop online: Best Buy will provide free shipping with Christmas delivery until Dec. 21 at 10:30 a.m. CST. Two-day shipping with Christmas delivery is available until Dec. 21 before 10:30 a.m. CST. Best Buy offers in-store pickup on Dec. 24 for orders placed before 4 p.m. local time.

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[See: 14 Important Personal Finance Dates to Mark on Your Calendar.]

Target Last-Minute Holiday Sale

Dates: Dec. 18-24

Extended hours: Check locally

A week before Christmas, Target will release an array of deals on popular products. Noteworthy offers include:

-- 20 percent off LEGO items

-- An extra 10 percent off baby gear

-- 30 percent off cold weather accessories

-- 30 percent off boots

-- 15 percent off hair styling tools

-- 15 percent off fragrances

-- 25 percent off kitchen items

-- $70 off the Apple Watch Series 1

-- Up to 50 percent off select women's pajamas

-- An extra 20 percent off clearance items

-- Free standard shipping on all orders

Last days to shop online: Target is offering free standard shipping on orders made through Jan. 1, but shoppers should get their orders in no later than Dec. 17 to ensure Christmas delivery. The last day to order via premium shipping for Christmas delivery is Dec. 22 and via express shipping Dec. 23. Same-day delivery is available on Christmas Eve in select areas.

Macy's Last-Minute Holiday Sale

Dates: Dec. 21-25

Extended holiday hours: Check locally

A mere four days before Christmas, Macy's is launching a last-minute sale, giving holiday shoppers an extra 20 percent off.

Last days to shop online: Macy's is offering free shipping with guaranteed Christmas delivery on qualifying orders until Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. EST. Express shipping with guaranteed Christmas delivery is available until Dec. 22 at noon EST. On Dec. 24, same-day in-store pickup is available for orders placed by 12 p.m. local time, and same-day delivery is available in select areas until 10 a.m.

[See: 8 Big Budgeting Blunders -- and How to Fix Them.]

Sears Last-Minute Holiday Sale

Dates: Dec. 15-25

Extended hours: Check locally

During its Countdown to Christmas sale, Sears is unveiling new daily deals on popular apparel, fitness gear and appliances. The ever-changing offers may include:

-- An extra 20 percent off online orders over $50

-- 15 percent off any online order

-- Up to 60 percent off coats

-- 50 percent off women's boots

-- Up to 50 percent off bed and bath

-- Up to 50 percent off sleepwear

-- Up to 30 percent off snow removal

-- Free UPS ground shipping on orders over $49

Last days to shop online: Sears is promising free UPS shipping and Christmas delivery on orders placed by Dec. 19 by 11:59 p.m. CST. Standard shipping with Christmas delivery is available for orders placed by Dec. 21 at 4 p.m., and premium shipping with Christmas delivery is available for orders placed by Dec. 22 by 4 p.m. On Dec. 24, Sears offers free in-store pickup.

Tractor Supply Company Last-Minute Holiday Sale

Dates: Dec. 12-24

Extended hours: Open 8 a.m. -- 9 p.m. on Dec. 23; Open 7 a.m. -- 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve

To draw last-minute gift seekers, Tractor Supply Company is running a sale on thousands of items. Highlights from the sale include:

-- 30 percent off select ride on toys

-- 30 percent off select RC and drones

-- 20 percent off select insulated outerwear

-- 20 percent off leather footwear

-- 20 percent off select men and women's flannels

-- 20 percent off select stoves

-- 15 percent off tool sets

-- Free UPS standard shipping on all orders

Last days to shop online: Tractor Supply Company offers free UPS standard shipping with Christmas delivery for orders placed by Dec. 16. In-store pickup orders must be placed a week in advance, so last-minute shoppers must shop in-store if they want their gifts before Christmas.

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.
bana alabed

A 7-year-old girl whose tweets from inside the besieged city of Aleppo opened a window into the heinous situation there has been safely evacuated from the city along with her family, activists on the ground have confirmed.

Bana al-Abed, whose Twitter account offered a glimpse into the horrors unfolding on the ground in Syria's largest city, told Syrian journalist Hadi Alabdallah on Monday that she and her mother  who created and monitored the Twitter account  "came out of the rubble safely, thank God."

Bana's mother, Fatemah, created the account to give a face to civilians' suffering, amid the fierce bombing campaign and ground offensive launched by pro-Assad forces that killed nearly 1,000 people before a cease-fire deal was struck last week between Russia and the opposition.

The deal, which called for the evacuation of approximately 40,000 civilians and opposition forces from the city, was suspended Friday amid demands by Iran-backed, pro-government militias to first evacuate wounded civilians from Shiite villages around Aleppo that are being besieged by rebel fighters.

The militias' demands were accommodated and the evacuations resumed on Sunday.

This is our house, My beloved dolls died in the bombing of our house. I am very sad but happy to be alive.- Bana pic.twitter.com/9i0xxJrQtD  Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) November 29, 2016

Dear world, there's intense bombing right now. Why are you silent? Why? Why? Why? Fear is killing me & my kids. - Fatemah #Aleppo  Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) December 14, 2016

Bana, described by The Washington Post as this era's Anne Frank, was the subject of smear campaigns by online users who claimed that neither she nor her tweets were real. Many wondered how she or her mother had internet access, or why they wrote in English so well. Others claimed they weren't in Syria at all.

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In an interview, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad suggested that her Twitter account was a "game" and "propaganda."

But Bana's mother, who manages the account, speaks English  as many Syrians do, since many are required to learn it in primary school  and has studied journalism, the investigative news agency Bellingcat noted last week.

Bellingcat, which uses open-source information to geographically tag tweets and photos, also debunked the theories surrounding Bana's location.

"Examining videos posted on Periscope and Twitter from her roof, including footage in which she is clearly present, we can geolocate them to 361216N 371109E. While Bana was tweeting, this block was firmly inside rebel controlled East Aleppo," it said.

As for electricity and internet, Bellingcat said, Bana and her family have access to electricity through solar panels installed on their roof, and WiFi and 3G coverage is still available  albeit sporadically  inside the city.

afp seven year old syria war symbol evacuated from aleppo

In any case, Bana told Alabdallah, the Syrian journalist, that before she left Aleppo, "I saw bombing everywhere ... we saw the fighter jets in the sky, too."

"I am sad, really sad, because they're going to take over our land," Bana said, referring to the pro-Assad forces. "And we had to leave Aleppo. Aleppo is my land. My school is there, my home is there. But I have hope that one day I will go back to Aleppo."

Watch Alabdallah's full interview with Bana below:

NOW WATCH: Shockingly common misconceptions about Islam





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Robbers like Robin Hood, Jesse James and Australia's Ned Kelly are folklore heroes thanks to their depictions in pop culture.

But in 2016, brazen thieves have proven to be little more than bumbling idiots.

They've had to face shopkeepers ignoring their demands for money, they been forced to retreat after having bags of candy thrown them, and they've had shirtless dudes thwarts their devious plans.

But hey, at least no one got hurt.

SEE ALSO: Adult toy store employees fight off armed robber by throwing dildos at him

In case you missed them, here are the most bizarre foiled robberies of the year.

1. The kebab shop owner who ignored a robber with a gun

Instead of freaking out, when a thief came at him with a gun demanding money, kebab shop owner Said Ahmed ignored him and served the customer waiting for his order first.

"I am a businessman. I hadn't finished with my customer and my priority was to finish serving him," Ahmed told BBC News. "When the customer left I walked to the kitchen to called the police. I told him too and he couldn't believe it."

"For a moment I was scared he might shoot but then I just thought if that happens then it is my destiny, but my calm reaction just surprised him I think and he just ran away," he told the news outlet.

And the robber did, shrugging his shoulders at Ahmed's chill reaction with the firearm in hand.

2. The shirtless Aussie dude who foiled a robbery

These two Aussie dudes might be the least likely robbery thwarters, but James Ross-Munroe and Kane Wiblen basically became national heroes after they helped stop a theft at a Gold Coast fast food restaurant in January this year.

What's more, Ross-Munroe's response on TV to whether he works out is equally as entertaining: "Mate I don't go to the gym, haven't been to the gym in years. The only gym I go to is Jim Beam." Legend.

3. The guy who chased away a robber with a knife  with two knives

Noodle shop owner Hunter Hu from Brisbane channeled a bit of Crocodile Dundee when a robber threatened him with a knife in November.

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Hu chased the robber out holding two meat cleavers, and told the robber: "You have one knife? I have two." Amazing.

4. Two bros who pepper sprayed and stabbed themselves accidentally

These two robbers in Perth attempted to steal sleep apnea masks from a pharmarcy. Oh, and they managed to cut and pepper spray themselves in the meantime.

Clumsy, to say the least.

5. The wannabe robbers scared away by bags of candy

Trick or treating just got a whole lot more intense in this foiled robbery at a service station in Maitland back in November. The attendant threw candy at would-be robbers on approach. The robbers quickly fled.

6. The robber who forgot to look behind him when holding up this cab

Because (surprise, surprise) there was a police officer right behind the taxi.

7. The adult store employees who fought off an armed robber by throwing dildos at him

You heard right. Amy, as she's referred to by news outlet KABC7, started screaming at the attacker before an associate threw sex toys at the would-be thief, who left empty handed. Great work, all.
At least 9 people are dead and many more are injured after a truck plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin Monday evening, Berlin police announced on Twitter.

A suspect near the scene was taken into custody, Berlin police announced. A passenger in the truck was killed at the scene, police said.

German media have reported that police believe the incident was intentional, reports Reuters, but police have not publicly declared the incident a terrorist attack.

The incident happened in Breitscheidplatz in western Berlin.

 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.

Julian Reichelt, editor-in-chief at Bild, a German tabloid newspaper, told CNN the market would be busy every night of the week leading up to Christmas. Reichelt also said the market is difficult to access by accident.

It looks like something that was adapted by Nice, Reichelt said, referring to last years Bastille Day attack that killed 86 people.

 Pick up PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: Cases That Shocked America, on sale now, for the latest on Casey Anthony, JonBenet Ramsey and more.

CNN also reported that the truck seemed to be going about 40 mph and made no apparent effort to avoid people.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.




Its not over yet for Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV BUD, alias AB InBev, which is carrying the baggage of selling assets to satisfy the regulatory conditions for its recently concluded $100 billion buyout of SABMiller Plc. In this regard, the company signed its second assets sale deal recently, agreeing to sell SABMillers 26.4% stake in Distell Group Limited, a South African distiller of wine, spirits, and ciders to Africas largest pension administrator, the Public Investment Corporation (SOC) Limited.



While the agreed sale of the maker of Amarula liquor and Klipdrift brandy depends upon the approval from the South African antitrust authorities, Distell Groups major stakeholders Remgro Limited and Capevin Holdings Limited have decided to not exercise their blocking rights in relation to the deal. These firms together hold about 53% stake in Distell Group.



On Dec 13, AB InBev signed another pact to fulfill the antitrust commitments as it agreed to sell some of SABMillers eastern European businesses to Japans Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. for 7.3 billion (or US$7.8 billion).



Per the deal, AB InBev will dispose SABMillers businesses in five countries namely, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania (termed as CEE Business), as was already promised to the European Commission. The sale which awaits an approval from the European Commission, includes leading beer brands like Pilsner Urquell, Kozel and Tyskie, is likely to close in the first half of 2017. (Read: AB InBev to Sell SABMiller's Eastern Europe Assets)



Apart from this, the company signed many other similar deals in various countries to win regulatory nod for the SABMiller buyout. The most prominent one in the lot is definitely the sale of SABMillers 58% stake in the MillerCoors LLC joint venture (JV) to Denver-based Molson Coors Brewing Company TAP for $12 billion. This makes Molson Coors, which previously held a 42% stake in MillerCoors, the 100% stakeholder in the JV. Molson Coors now has full rights to all the brands in the MillerCoors portfolio for the U.S. market, including Redds and import brands such as Peroni and Pilsner Urquell.



However, we note that despite these divestitures the combined mega-brewing company still holds the top spot in the beer industry, controlling about one-thirds of the global beer market. This behemoth, which accounts for nearly 30% of global beer sales and 46% of global beer profits, leaves Heineken NV HEINY trailing in the second spot, with only 11% share of the global beer market.



On the other hand, in the U.S., AB InBev retains its leading position with 44% share in the beer market, while Molson Coors has grown incredibly to become the second-largest brewer controlling about 25% market share.



While these iterations raise the optimism of investors, we note that shares of AB InBev have dropped nearly 17.6% year to date. Moreover, this Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) stock has underperformed the Zacks categorized Beverages  Alcoholic industry which has witnessed a decline of 4.5% year to date.

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Key Pick



A better-ranked stock in the beverages  alcoholic industry is Constellation Brands Inc. STZ carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Constellation Brands, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 18.9%, has surged nearly 10.8% year to date.



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By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - African states narrowly failed on Monday for a second time 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 attempt was voted down in the U.N. General Assembly 84 to 77 with 16 abstentions, a month after African states made a similar unsuccessful move in the General Assembly's third committee, which deals with human rights. 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. 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. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said the bid by the African states on Monday was "rooted in a real disagreement over whether people of a certain sexual orientation and gender identity are in fact entitled to equal rights." "And it is being driven by a group of U.N. member states that believe it is acceptable to treat people differently because of who they are or who they love," she told the General Assembly. Russia, several African countries and Egypt, speaking on behalf of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, said last month they would not recognize the mandate of the gay rights investigator and would not cooperate with Muntarbhorn. Last week, Russia prevented the United Nations Security Council from thanking outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon specifically for promoting gay rights during his decade in office, diplomats said. In 2014, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said the U.N. 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. 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. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Alan Crosby)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Concentrations of airborne pollutants in a major northern Chinese city exceeded a World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline by 100 times on Monday as north China battled with poor air quality for the third straight day. In Shijiazhuang, capital of northern Hebei province, levels of PM 2.5, fine particulate matter, soared to 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday. That compares with a WHO guideline of an annual average of no more than 10 micrograms. In nearby Tianjin city, authorities grounded dozens of flights for the second day and closed all highways after severe smog blanketed the port city, one of more than 40 in China's northeast to issue pollution warnings. PM 2.5 levels hit 334 micrograms per cubic meter in Tianjin as of 4 p.m. local time, according to local environmental protection authorities. In Beijing, PM 2.5 levels were at 212 micrograms per cubic meter. On Saturday, 22 cities issued red alerts, including top steelmaking city Tangshan city in Hebei and Jinan in coal-rich Shandong province. A red alert is the highest possible air pollution warning. Red alerts are issued when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecast to exceed 200 for more than four days in succession, 300 for more than two days or 500 for at least 24 hours. The AQI is a different measure from the PM 2.5 gauge. Pollution alerts have become increasingly common in China's northern industrial heartland, especially during winter when energy demand - much of it met by coal - skyrockets. AQI readings at some monitoring stations in seven cities in Hebei peaked above 400 on Monday, with Shijiazhuang and two other cities breaking above the 500 limit, Xinhua said. Anything above 300 is considered hazardous by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The National Meteorological Centre warned on Monday on its microblog that this round of pollution is expected to affect 10 provinces, along with the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin, hitting as far south as Jiangsu and Anhui. (Reporting by Stella Qiu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
IMF chief Christine Lagarde was today convicted in the French tycoon payout trial. Despite the ruling, the judges did not hand down any sentence in the case on her decision to allow the rare out-of-court arbitration payment.

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde reacts before the start of her trial, Photo: Reuters

By Reuters: French judges today found IMF chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence for failing to challenge a 400 million euro ($417 million) state arbitration payout to a business tycoon in 2008 when she was the French finance minister.

Despite the ruling, the judges did not hand down any sentence in the case on her decision to allow the rare out-of-court arbitration payment. She has denied the negligence charges.

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Her lawyer said immediately after the ruling that his team would look into appealing the decision.

Meanwhile, the IMF spokesman said the IMF board was likely to meet shortly to consider results of Lagarde's negligence trial.

The ruling risks triggering a new leadership crisis at the International Monetary Fund after Lagarde's predecessor Dominique Strauss Khan resigned in 2011 over a sex assault scandal.

Also Read:

India remains bright spot in global economy: IMF chief Christine Lagarde

--- ENDS ---
TIRANA, Albania (AP)  Albania's government has proposed an amnesty to release hundreds of people from crowded prisons and detention centers.

Justice Minister Ylli Manjani on Monday told a parliamentary commission the draft law would release about 670 inmates or detained persons serving two-year sentences, those whose sentences have less than two years to run and those charged with a felony carrying a maximum two-year sentence. It also included women over 55 years old, men over 60 and minors under 18, but public officials or others sentenced for grave crimes like family or sexual violence were excluded.

There are 6,158 people in prison or detention in facilities designed for 5,455.

Manjani said the amnesty was intended to give another "opportunity to the convicts."

.
* Turkey says 20,000 brought out of Aleppo

* Evacuations delayed for days amid disputes

* Security Council resolution passed

* Turkey, Russia, Iran to meet over Aleppo on Tuesday

* Talks go on despite killing of Russian envoy to Ankara

* Recapture of city is Assad's biggest victory of war

By Angus McDowall and Ellen Francis

BEIRUT, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Thousands of people were evacuated from the last rebel-held enclave of Aleppo on Monday in return for insurgents allowing people to leave two besieged pro-government villages in nearby Idlib province.

In bitter winter weather, convoys of buses from eastern Aleppo reached rebel-held areas to the west of the city. More buses left the Shi'ite Muslim villages of al-Foua and Kefraya for government lines, according to a U.N. official and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group.

The foreign and defence ministers of Russia and Iran, President Bashar al-Assad's main supporters, and Turkey, which backs some large rebel groups, will meet in Moscow on Tuesday.

The talks, aimed at giving fresh impetus for a solution in Aleppo, will go ahead despite the killing of Russia's ambassador to Ankara by a gunman on Monday.

The United Nations Security Council agreed a resolution calling for U.N. officials and others to monitor evacuations from east Aleppo and the safety of civilians still there.

The Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Ja'afari, denounced the resolution as propaganda, saying the last of the rebels were leaving and Aleppo would be "clean" by Monday evening.

U.N. Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura intends to convene peace talks in Geneva on Feb. 8, his office said.

The recapture of Aleppo is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's biggest victory so far in the nearly six-year-old war, but the fighting is not over. Large parts of the country are still controlled by insurgent and Islamist groups.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said 20,000 civilians had been evacuated from Aleppo so far, but there were wide variations in estimates of how many people still sought to be taken out, from a few thousand up to tens of thousands.

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"Thousands of people still want to be evacuated," ICRC spokesman Krista Armstrong said of Aleppo.

An estimated total of 17,000 people have been evacuated from the enclave since Thursday, including 7,000 on Monday, she said.

"There are still 40 buses inside the enclave of east Aleppo with more people who are proceeding with evacuation. The operation is still ongoing," she said.

Senior rebel official Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim group said "the process is supposed to continue" throughout the night.

Nearly 50 children, some critically injured, were rescued from eastern Aleppo, where they had been trapped in an orphanage, the United Nations said.

The evacuation of civilians from the two villages had been demanded by the Syrian army and its allies before they would allow fighters and civilians trapped in Aleppo to depart. The stand-off halted the Aleppo evacuation over the weekend.

"Complex evacuations from East Aleppo and Foua & Kefraya now in full swing. More than 900 buses needed to evacuate all. We must not fail," Jan Egeland, who chairs the United Nations aid task force in Syria, tweeted.

INTENSE COLD, LONG WAIT

Ahmad al-Dbis, a medical aid worker heading a team evacuating patients from Aleppo, said more than 100 buses had left the city. "Some evacuees told us that a few children died from the long wait and the intense cold while they were waiting to evacuate," he told Reuters.

For those still in rebel-held Aleppo, conditions were grim, according to Aref al-Aref, a nurse and photographer there.

"I'm still in Aleppo. I'm waiting for them to evacuate the children and women first. It's very cold and there's hunger. It's a long wait," he told Reuters. "People are burning wood and clothes to keep warm in the streets."

Photographs of people evacuated from Aleppo showed large groups of people standing or crouching with their belongings or loading sacks onto trucks.

Children in winter clothes carried small backpacks or played with kittens. One older man, in traditional Arab robes and headdress, sat holding a stick.

BUSES BURNED

On Sunday, some of the buses sent to al-Foua and Kefraya to carry evacuees out were attacked and torched by armed men.

That incident threatened to derail the evacuations, the result of intense negotiations between Russia and Turkey.

The fate of those stuck in the last rebel bastion in Aleppo is still at stake after a series of sudden advances by the Syrian army and allied Shi'ite militias under an intense bombardment that pulverised large sections of the city.

They have been waiting for the chance to leave Aleppo since the ceasefire and evacuation deal was agreed late last Tuesday, but have been prevented from doing so during days of hold-ups.

In the square in Aleppo's Sukari district, organisers gave every family a number to allow them access to buses.

"Everyone is waiting until they are evacuated. They just want to escape," said Salah al Attar, a former teacher with his five children, wife and mother.

CAMP IN TURKEY

Thousands of people were evacuated on Thursday, the first to leave under the ceasefire deal that ends fighting in the city where violence erupted in 2012, a year after the start of conflict in other parts of Syria.

They were taken to rebel-held districts of the countryside west of Aleppo. Turkey has said Aleppo evacuees could also be housed in a camp to be constructed in Syria near the Turkish border to the north.

For four years, the city was split between a rebel-held eastern sector and the government-held western districts. During the summer, the army and its allies besieged the rebel sector before using intense bombardment and ground assaults to retake it in recent months.

A Reuters reporter who visited recaptured districts of Aleppo in recent days saw large swathes reduced to ruins, with rubble everywhere and sections of the famous Old City all but destroyed.

Traders began to return to their stores in the Old City to see if they could be fixed up.

One merchant, Jamal Deeb, said: "We are all here to see what the situation is like, and to consider reconstructing the stores. We do not want to leave things as they are, hand in hand we want to rebuild everything once again."

Assad is backed in the war by Russian air power and Shi'ite militias including Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iraq's Harakat al-Nujaba. The mostly Sunni rebels include groups supported by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies.

East of Aleppo, several villages held by Islamic State have been captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of militias backed by the United States that includes a strong Kurdish contingent, the Observatory said.

The advance is part of a campaign backed by an international coalition to drive Islamic State from its Syrian capital of Raqqa.

(Reporting by Angus McDowall, Humeyra Pamuk, Stephanie Nebehay, writing by Giles Elgood and Anna Willard; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
By Angus McDowall and Ellen Francis BEIRUT (Reuters) - Thousands of people were evacuated from the last rebel-held enclave of Aleppo on Monday in return for insurgents allowing people to leave two besieged pro-government villages in nearby Idlib province. In bitter winter weather, convoys of buses from eastern Aleppo reached rebel-held areas to the west of the city. More buses left the Shi'ite Muslim villages of al-Foua and Kefraya for government lines, according to a U.N. official and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. The foreign and defense ministers of Russia and Iran, President Bashar al-Assad's main supporters, and Turkey, which backs some large rebel groups, will meet in Moscow on Tuesday. The talks, aimed at giving fresh impetus for a solution in Aleppo, will go ahead despite the killing of Russia's ambassador to Ankara by a gunman on Monday. The United Nations Security Council agreed a resolution calling for U.N. officials and others to monitor evacuations from east Aleppo and the safety of civilians still there. The Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Ja'afari, denounced the resolution as propaganda, saying the last of the rebels were leaving and Aleppo would be "clean" by Monday evening. U.N. Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura intends to convene peace talks in Geneva on Feb. 8, his office said. The recapture of Aleppo is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's biggest victory so far in the nearly six-year-old war, but the fighting is not over. Large parts of the country are still controlled by insurgent and Islamist groups. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said 20,000 civilians had been evacuated from Aleppo so far, but there were wide variations in estimates of how many people still sought to be taken out, from a few thousand up to tens of thousands. Thousands of people still want to be evacuated, ICRC spokesman Krista Armstrong said of Aleppo. An estimated total of 17,000 people have been evacuated from the enclave since Thursday, including 7,000 on Monday, she said. There are still 40 buses inside the enclave of east Aleppo with more people who are proceeding with evacuation. The operation is still ongoing, she said. Senior rebel official Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim group said "the process is supposed to continue" throughout the night. Nearly 50 children, some critically injured, were rescued from eastern Aleppo, where they had been trapped in an orphanage, the United Nations said. The evacuation of civilians from the two villages had been demanded by the Syrian army and its allies before they would allow fighters and civilians trapped in Aleppo to depart. The stand-off halted the Aleppo evacuation over the weekend. "Complex evacuations from East Aleppo and Foua & Kefraya now in full swing. More than 900 buses needed to evacuate all. We must not fail," Jan Egeland, who chairs the United Nations aid task force in Syria, tweeted. INTENSE COLD, LONG WAIT Ahmad al-Dbis, a medical aid worker heading a team evacuating patients from Aleppo, said more than 100 buses had left the city. "Some evacuees told us that a few children died from the long wait and the intense cold while they were waiting to evacuate," he told Reuters. For those still in rebel-held Aleppo, conditions were grim, according to Aref al-Aref, a nurse and photographer there. "I'm still in Aleppo. I'm waiting for them to evacuate the children and women first. It's very cold and there's hunger. It's a long wait," he told Reuters. "People are burning wood and clothes to keep warm in the streets." Photographs of people evacuated from Aleppo showed large groups of people standing or crouching with their belongings or loading sacks onto trucks. Children in winter clothes carried small backpacks or played with kittens. One older man, in traditional Arab robes and headdress, sat holding a stick. BUSES BURNED On Sunday, some of the buses sent to al-Foua and Kefraya to carry evacuees out were attacked and torched by armed men. That incident threatened to derail the evacuations, the result of intense negotiations between Russia and Turkey. The fate of those stuck in the last rebel bastion in Aleppo is still at stake after a series of sudden advances by the Syrian army and allied Shi'ite militias under an intense bombardment that pulverized large sections of the city. They have been waiting for the chance to leave Aleppo since the ceasefire and evacuation deal was agreed late last Tuesday, but have been prevented from doing so during days of hold-ups. In the square in Aleppo's Sukari district, organizers gave every family a number to allow them access to buses. "Everyone is waiting until they are evacuated. They just want to escape," said Salah al Attar, a former teacher with his five children, wife and mother. CAMP IN TURKEY Thousands of people were evacuated on Thursday, the first to leave under the ceasefire deal that ends fighting in the city where violence erupted in 2012, a year after the start of conflict in other parts of Syria. They were taken to rebel-held districts of the countryside west of Aleppo. Turkey has said Aleppo evacuees could also be housed in a camp to be constructed in Syria near the Turkish border to the north. For four years, the city was split between a rebel-held eastern sector and the government-held western districts. During the summer, the army and its allies besieged the rebel sector before using intense bombardment and ground assaults to retake it in recent months. A Reuters reporter who visited recaptured districts of Aleppo in recent days saw large swathes reduced to ruins, with rubble everywhere and sections of the famous Old City all but destroyed. Traders began to return to their stores in the Old City to see if they could be fixed up. One merchant, Jamal Deeb, said: "We are all here to see what the situation is like, and to consider reconstructing the stores. We do not want to leave things as they are, hand in hand we want to rebuild everything once again." Assad is backed in the war by Russian air power and Shi'ite militias including Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iraq's Harakat al-Nujaba. The mostly Sunni rebels include groups supported by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies. East of Aleppo, several villages held by Islamic State have been captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of militias backed by the United States that includes a strong Kurdish contingent, the Observatory said. The advance is part of a campaign backed by an international coalition to drive Islamic State from its Syrian capital of Raqqa. (Reporting by Angus McDowall, Humeyra Pamuk, Stephanie Nebehay, writing by Giles Elgood and Anna Willard; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
BEIRUT (AP)  A Syrian girl from eastern Aleppo whose tweets from the war zone captivated world attention was evacuated to safety Monday, part of an evacuation deal that saw the remaining residents of the former rebel enclave head to other parts of the country.

"I escaped from East #Aleppo," she tweeted after arriving in Rashidin, an area west of Aleppo, after she and her mother were evacuated from the war-torn east of the city.

Seven-year-old Bana Alabed's mother Fatemah set up and began operating the account in September, tweeting on her daughter's behalf, they documented the horrors of living through the government's assault on eastern Aleppo, which destroyed much of the city. Their account eventually garnered some 334,000 followers.

Speaking to the opposition-run Qasioun News Agency Monday, Fatemah, said she was glad to have finally reached safety but expressed regret that she was forced out of her home city, and said she did not want to become a refugee.

An English teacher, Fatema said she created the Twitter account to tell the world about the suffering of children and all residents of rebel-held eastern Aleppo.

"We are happy because our voice reached to all the world," she said, flanked by little Bana, who wore a wool white and mauve-striped cap on her head. "I want for my kids a good future."

Bana's Twitter account became a hit during the siege and bombardment of Aleppo, sending out messages of distress that moved her many followers. She recorded and tweeted video messages from Bana to the world and photos of the long-haired child, sometimes using Periscope. She sent out messages to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. Often, the messages were signed by Fatemah.

In December, she sent out a harrowing message and disappeared for two days, leading to much speculation about the girl's fate.

"We are sure the army is capturing us now. We will see each other another day dear world. Bye.- Fatemah #Aleppo"

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And in her last message on Sunday before evacuating, Fatemah tweeted to the Turkish leadership to "make this ceasefire work & and get us out now. We are so tired."

Fatemah on Monday said she hoped she and Bana can return to Aleppo soon.

"I left my soul there," she said.
Last fall, when news organizations released photos of Alan Kurdi, the 2-year-old Syrian boy washed up on the Turkish coast, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service was bombarded with calls and emails. Americans from all over the country begged the refugee resettlement agency to allow them to adopt or foster Syrian children in need.

"It was a heartwarming, wonderful reflection of the community," says Kimberly Haynes, director for children's services for the organization. But then the group had to break the news: In the U.S. at least, there were virtually no unaccompanied Syrian children to adopt or foster.

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, or LIRS, and eight other refugee resettlement groups have worked with the federal government to resettle roughly 17,000 Syrian refugees, including many children within family units, since the conflict broke out in the country in 2011. But of those, the State Department says only one has been a minor without a parent or guardian to care for him or her. Out of privacy concerns, they could give no details about the minor.

The U.S. has the capacity to accept more orphans from the war-ravaged country, Haynes and other experts say. It's just that for now -- as jarring as it might sound while Aleppo's trapped children plead for help -- there aren't many Syrian minors who qualify for this particular form of assistance.

The Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program in the United States is the only formal program in the world that is specifically designed to bring unaccompanied refugee children into a unique domestic foster care system, says Haynes. Since its founding after the Vietnam War, the program has accepted about 13,000 minors. It's a relatively small program, admitting about 200 children last year.

The system gives refugees access to all the support available in the regular foster care system, but also provides additional assistance for things like language training and mental health services. It's a federally funded program, and like all refugee resettlement services, can be changed or terminated at the whim of the president.

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Children can come into the program a range of ways. They're frequently referred by United Nations refugee agency partners based in other countries. In other scenarios, they've crossed the southern border and are classified as victims of trafficking or asylum seekers. LIRS works with another group, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to place the children. The program prioritizes family reunification, meaning officials try to place minors with relatives who are able and willing to care for them before putting them in the foster care system.

There are several reasons why the UNHCR hasn't been referring unaccompanied Syrian refugee minors to the U.S., experts say.

More than 1.1 million Syrian children are refugees, according to the United Nations refugee agency, but it's unclear how many are unaccompanied minors. According to some reports, thousands of unaccompanied minors have streamed into Greece and elsewhere. But in general, experts say, these youth have been able to connect with family members.

In April 2016, for example, the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and other nonprofits led a trip to Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey to look into whether there were significant numbers of unaccompanied Syrian minors that would have benefited from placement in the U.S.

[ The tragic numbers behind Syria's refugees]

But in the three countries visited, "the mission found that almost every Syrian child who has been separated from parents or become unaccompanied is either quickly reunited with family or taken in by relatives," according to its follow-up report.

About 80 percent of Syrian children who are unaccompanied are reunified with family members within two years, Haynes says. She attributes part of the connections to information sharing. Unlike some countries that experience an exodus of refugees, Syria is a nation with a strong telecommunications infrastructure.

[Five refugee crises you don't know about, but should.]

Refugees show up on the border with a cell phone full of contact information, she says. Many find each other on Facebook. "This is a highly connected, highly communicative community," she says. "It's been astonishing to see the informal ways they learn about each other."

Haynes also points out that the Syrian conflict is only about 5 years old, which is a relatively recent conflict compared to others in Africa or Asia. Ensuring that minors are truly unaccompanied takes time, she says. And once they qualify and arrive in the U.S., they can't apply for any family member to join them in the U.S. until after they are 18.

"You don't want to remove kids into the U.S. system unless you are really, really sure that they have no alternative," she says.

If Syrian orphans do come down the pipeline, Ranya Shbeib encourages people to jump at the chance to foster them. A Syrian-American from Michigan, she has three biological children and one 17-year-old foster daughter from Somalia. Her city, called Bloomfield Hills, already has a significant Syrian-American population, and she's been helping local families understand how to participate in the program.

"It's definitely rewarding," she says. "I have a belief that this will build character in my children and make them more globally minded. I see myself being a foster parent for life."

Devon Haynie is news editor, international for U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at dhaynie@usnews.com.
More than 1,000 protesters formed a human chain between the United States and Russian embassies in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday, December 18. The protesters gathered to show solidarity with the people of besieged Aleppo.

The line stretched for a half-kilometer, reported the Times of Israel. As seen in this video, many held signs, sang and chanted against the massacre of Aleppo civilians. They sang a traditional Jewish song as well as another song that included the lyrics, We came to banish darkness. Credit: Facebook/Arieh David Scharnberg via Storyful
An amateur investigator has recently found 20 items  including shoes and handbags  on a beach in Madagascar that have since been handed over to the Australian Federal Police. An Australian air crash support group, which believes that the personal items may belong to passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, handed over the items to the AFP.

Sheryl Keen, who heads Air Crash Support Group Australia, said that most of the items were found by Blaine Gibson, an American lawyer turned amateur investigator, who has been probing the disappearance of the missing plane. Gibson previously found several debris pieces, of which three are likely to be from the missing jet.

The AFP said Monday they had been in contact with Keens support group concerning the latter's belief that the personal items belonged to crash victims.

"The Australian Federal Police has been contacted by the Air Crash Support Group Australia regarding a number of items in the groups possession, police said Monday, according to local media.

Police said that further questions about the items should be directed to the Joint Agency Coordination Centre, which is helping with the underwater search for the plane in a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean.

Keen has used her support groups website to publish photos of personal effects she believes could have belonged to passengers of Flight MH370. She also told the Daily Mail Australia that all of the items were found on the same stretch of Riake beach in Madagascar.

Keen reportedly said Gibson had handed over the items to authorities in Madagascar, believing Malaysian investigators would collect them.

But we waited and waited and nobody turned up, she said, following which her group took possession of the personal effects from Madagascan authorities, with a plan to hand them to Australian police.

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 for the plane has so far yielded no concrete clues as to the plane's disappearance. Authorities believe that the search of a 46,000-square mile area will be completed by February 2017.

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In the past few weeks, Russia has been accused by U.S. Intelligence agencies of influencing the results of the 2016 election in Donald Trumps favor. Former Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte said it remains to be seen how the president-elect will handle those allegations once he assumes office.

He said in order for the Trump administration to be taken seriously, it needs to look further into Russias alleged cyber hacking and how Russia may have impacted the election.

I dont think we are under any obligation to like or dislike Mr. Putin. I think the question is: What is best for the United States interest? And I would hope that this new administration will undertake very early in its term of office a complete review of the United States-Russia relationship, Negroponte said. In addition of course to looking into what happened during this election period with the cyber hacking and all of that and I would agree with those that are proposing some kind of commission. So we try to move this a little bit away from the headlines and a little more into analysis of what happened and what the implications are for further courses of action, he said during an interview with the FOX Business Networks Neil Cavuto.

Negroponte said Trump has a lot to learn and needs to start trusting intelligence officers.

I think the learning curve for President- elect Trump is going to be pretty steep and I think you are right to comment on the qualifications of the people who are entering. But the Senate is going to have something to say about it, he said. But to me it also suggests that they are going to need all the help they can get and I think they are going to have to learn to rely a bit more on the professional intelligence officers and diplomatic officers who have been at the moment, up until now at least, a bit of an object of scorn on their part.

He said the administration has to grow to respect the intelligence community.

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Theyve got to get accustomed to working in this Washington environment, he said, and Im hopeful that the evolution will over time be positive.

Negroponte also weighed in on Russias relationship with Turkey following the shooting death of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov.

As far as the implication regarding Russian and Turkish relations, he said, well, well have to see what information can be developed about who carried out this heinous act Given the recent history, this could add an element of tension to Russian and Turkish relations.



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By Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - This Christmas, for once, Bethlehem really can boast again that there is no room at the inn, as relative calm in the Israeli-occupied West Bank brings pilgrims and tourists flocking to the town of Jesus's birth. Elias Al-Arja of the Bethlehem hoteliers' association said the troubles of the surrounding region had boosted numbers in the biblical Holy Land, and bookings were up on last year. Tourism is a major source of revenue for the Palestinian economy - and provides livelihoods for about 5,000 families in Bethlehem, which has some 5,000 rooms in 46 hotels. "Hopefully all will go well, and there's full occupancy in all Bethlehem hotels on the 23rd, 24th and 25th of December," Arja said. Israeli-Palestinian violence has driven tourists away in the past, especially during the 2000-2005 Palestinian uprising when Bethlehem was a particularly lonely place. While the security situation is more relaxed now, Israeli roadblocks and a six-metre (20-foot) Israeli-built concrete separation barrier snaking through the landscape are still part of the Bethlehem vista. Palestinian Tourism Minister Rula Ma'ayah said 2.3 million tourists have visited the Palestinian territories this year, slightly more than last. The main attractions in Bethlehem are the 4th-century Church of the Nativity, built over a grotto where Christian tradition says Jesus was born, and the Christmas tree in Manger Square, where choirs sing carols during the holiday. The church, on UNESCO's list of endangered World Heritage sites, is currently undergoing its first comprehensive renovation since it was completed 1,700 years ago. On Christmas Eve, the acting Latin patriarch of Jerusalem will lead an annual procession to Bethlehem and then celebrate Midnight Mass in the church. Many of the pilgrims' Holy Land itineraries include nearby Jerusalem and Jesus's boyhood town of Nazareth in the Galilee, now the largest Arab city in Israel. Checking into her hotel, Evana, a tourist from Poland, summed it up: "Very nice place, very historical - and we came to see everything: Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem." Bethlehem's Christmas season lasts through the Eastern Orthodox celebration on Jan. 7 to Armenian Christmas on Jan. 18. (Editing by Jeffrey Heller and Kevin Liffey)
BANGKOK (AP)  The actions of Myanmar's military may constitute crimes against humanity, human rights group Amnesty International has warned, based on accounts of violence against the country's Muslim Rohingya minority.

Myanmar has come under heavy criticism for its army's forceful treatment of the Rohingya, and international human rights groups such as Amnesty have accused the military of mass murder, looting and rape.

"The Myanmar military has targeted Rohingya civilians in a callous and systematic campaign of violence," said Rafendi Djamin, Southeast Asia director for Amnesty International. "The deplorable actions of the military could be part of a widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population and may amount to crimes against humanity."

Amnesty released a report Monday outlining its accusations. The report comes as Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is set to meet fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asians Nations at a Monday meeting in Yangon.

The military sweeps were sparked by an Oct. 9 attack on police outposts in Rakhine state that killed nine officers.

Rakhine, located in Myanmar's west, has long been home to simmering tensions between the Rohingya and the country's Buddhist majority population. The last major outbreak of violence in 2012 left hundreds dead and drove 140,000 people into internal displacement camps.

Amnesty cautioned that the scale and extent of the violence is unclear, as the military has closed Rakhine to outside observers, including aid workers. But eyewitness accounts detail specific cases of murder, looting and rape.

In one incident on Nov. 12, following an alleged skirmish between the army and villagers armed mostly with swords and other simple weapons, helicopter gunships descended on a village and sprayed bullets indiscriminately, killing civilians fleeing in a panic, Amnesty said. This was corroborated to an extent by Myanmar army officials, who said helicopters opening fire that day and killed six people, who officials said were insurgents.

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Refugees told Amnesty that the military is torching villages. Satellite images Amnesty obtained show 1,200 burned structures, which they say is in line with images released by Human Rights Watch in November that showed 1,500 burned homes.

Amnesty's report follows concerns voiced in an International Crisis Group report released last week that repressive government policies are radicalizing the Rohingya, and sharp criticism from the U.N.'s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein.

"Myanmar's handling of northern Rakhine is a lesson in how to make a bad situation worse," al-Hussein said in Geneva on Friday. "The results have been catastrophic, with mass displacement, the nurturing of violent extremism, and everybody ultimately losing."

The border attacks were coordinated by a new insurgent group calling itself Harakah al-Yaqin, or the Faith Movement, according to the Belgium-based International Crisis Group. Organized by a network of Rohingya in Saudi Arabia and bankrolled by wealthy donors, the militant group is being called a "game changer" for drawing Muslims disillusioned and desperate from years of disenfranchisement by the Myanmar government.

Amnesty is urging the government to immediately cease hostilities, open Rakhine for humanitarian aid groups, and allow independent investigations.
By PTI: export control regime

New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) Amid its all-out efforts to get entry into the elite NSG, India today held talks with Czech Republic, a member of the 48-nation grouping, on terrorism and Multilateral Export Control Regime.

During wide-ranging discussions, Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar and Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek reviewed entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as important global and regional issues of mutual interest.

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"Two Ministers held discussions also on major global issues such as climate change, Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations Reforms, Terrorism, Multilateral Export Control Regime etc. They exchanged views on important developments in the neighbouring regions of both countries," MEA said in a press release.

The discussions also come in the backdrop of Indias intense outreach for its membership bid in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Czech, which is a member in four export control regimes- the Wassenaar Arrangement, NSG, Australia Group, and Missile Technology Control Regime, has been supportive of Indias aspirations.

Noting that defence cooperation is an important component in India-Czech ties, the release said there is a mechanism of India-Czech Joint Defence Committee meetings that met last in November 2016.

Zaoralek is accompanied by senior officials of Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a high-level business delegation representing various trade, industrial and financial sectors.

On trade front, the two countries have robust economic ties, with annual bilateral trade being USD 1.2 billion.

There is a mechanism of Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation co-chaired by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India and Minister of Trade and Industry of Czech Republic from the respective side, for discussing the ways and means of strengthening economic ties, the release added.

"Zaoralek and Akbar discussed in detail the possibility of further cooperation in these crucial sectors of mutual interest...They exchanged views on important developments in the neighbouring regions of both countries," the release said. PTI PYK ZMN

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SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)  The Ancient One is going home.

One of the oldest and most complete skeletons found in North America will be given back to American Indian tribes in Washington state for reburial.

President Barack Obama signed a bill Monday with a provision requiring the ancient bones known as Kennewick Man be returned to tribes within 90 days.

Experts estimate the remains found in 1996 on federal land near the Columbia River are at least 8,400 years old. The discovery triggered a lengthy legal fight between tribes and scientists over whether the bones should be buried immediately or studied.

In 2015, new genetic evidence determined the remains were related to modern Native Americans.

The bill transfers the skeleton, which the tribes call the Ancient One, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the state archaeology department, which will get it to the tribes.

"We will work closely with that state organization to transfer the remains in an expedited fashion," said Amy J. Gaskill, chief of public affairs for the Army Corps in Portland, Oregon.

It was too soon to say exactly where the bones will go, as several Northwest Indian tribes have been involved in the fight. "We don't know where the bones are going yet," Gaskill said.

The Yakama Nation is among the tribes that have pushed to rebury the bones in the manner their people have followed "since time immemorial," the tribe has said.

JoDe Goudy, chairman of the Yakama Tribal Council, noted that it took 20 years for the tribes to successfully fight for return of the bones.

"He will be returned so that he may finally rest," Goudy said after the bill passed Congress on Dec. 10.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray first introduced the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, and she was joined by senators from Oregon and Idaho. A provision in the bill called for returning Kennewick Man to the tribes of the Columbia River Plateau.
Another Glee star is engaged! Dean Geyer proposes to Code Black Actress Jillian Murray in the cutest way

It doesnt get much better than a hot fiance for Christmas, just ask actors Dean Geyer and Jillian Murray! Glees former star asked his girlfriend (who plays Heather Pinkney on the great Code Black) to marry him this week with a whopper of a rock in a totally private and still very special way. How might one guarantee photos of the big moment without a cameraman? He gets creativeor finds a photobooth! The couple snuck inside a Photo Booth after a broadway show (New York City in winter is just begging for proposalsjust dont kneel down into the melty gray street slush), where Geyer presented a stunning round solitaire two carat diamond ring to his longtime girlfriend. Needless to say, the two are not shy about sharing in their holiday Glee (sorry, couldnt resist)!

She said yes! Look at that smile!

So excited to call him my fiance  LINK IN BIO A photo posted by Jillian Murray (@jillianmurrayofficial) on Dec 18, 2016 at 5:30pm PST

People.com got their hands on a photo of the goods. You can check out the massive ring at the link!



The classic cut is timeless and gorgeous, as is this couple even on a bad day, we bet. Dean was momentarily thrown off by his partners last minute change of plans to skip their annual trip to Australia (Dean is Austrailianimagine being proposed to in that accent?) for work, so he quickly revamped his plan to include the show and the photobooth surprise. Whos to say what he was planning originally (Kangaroos? Koalas? Baby wallabies?!), but wed say the way it went down ultimately is still pretty darn cute. Somehow they avoided even one of four photos being of a tear-streaked ugly-crying face, which is a miracle in itself. Hey, thats what proposals are all about!

Such a blessing to have this beautiful specimen by my side #peoplesonestowatch A photo posted by Dean Geyer (@realdeangeyer) on Oct 14, 2016 at 5:19pm PDT

Best of luck to the happy couple! And have fun showing off that rock at Christmas, Future Mrs. Geyer!

The post Another Glee star is engaged! Dean Geyer proposes to Code Black Actress Jillian Murray in the cutest way appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Washington (AFP) - Emboldened by Donald Trump's imminent arrival at the White House, abortion opponents are mobilizing, taking severe measures that some say threaten constitutional freedoms.

Pro-choice activists, who support a woman's right to choose to use contraception or have a legal abortion, suffered setbacks in several US states in recent days.

In Ohio, Republican Governor John Kasich signed Tuesday a law banning abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy, making no exception for rape, incest or fetal anomaly.

The bill makes only limited concessions in cases where the pregnancy could harm the woman's health.

The move is a risky bet. The US Supreme Court has already ruled that states cannot prevent a woman from having an abortion before the fetus is viable -- experts say that threshold occurs around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Just over one percent of abortions in the US are currently carried out after 20 weeks, according to the pro-choice Guttmacher Institute.

But available data does not seem conclusive on how many abortions after 20 weeks take place for birth defects or other reasons.

- 'Heartbeat bill' -

As alarming as the measure may be for abortion backers, it could have been worse.

A separate, so-called "heartbeat bill" would have banned abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy -- even though women are often unaware they are pregnant at that time. But Kasich vetoed the measure.

In Tennessee, a woman who tried to abort her fetus at 24 weeks using a metal clothes hanger was recently slapped with bolstered criminal charges.

For the pro-choice camp, the case illustrates the growing fear that women denied an abortion may resort to desperate, clandestine measures that had not been prevalent for decades.

On the other side of the debate, anti-abortion activists feel wind in their wings with conservative Trump set to take power January 20.

The Americans United for Life group published a report of more than 200 pages detailing the "horrific abortion clinic conditions," finding that 227 abortion providers in 32 states were cited for more than 1,400 health and safety "deficiencies" between 2008 and 2016, and had violated hundreds of state laws.

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The study aims to provide state lawmakers, ahead of 2017 legislative sessions, with "an important tool for explaining the critical need for enhanced health and safety standards," said Denise Burke, an AUL vice president and the report's author.

Supporters are encouraged to help pass anti-abortion bills.

Conservative Republicans and evangelical Christians opposed to abortion are holding out hopes for the kind of change they want to see under a Trump administration.

Trump's Vice president-elect Mike Pence, and his pick to head the Justice Department, Jeff Sessions, both oppose abortion rights.

And incoming Health Secretary Tom Price is expected to lead a crusade against family planning and health care plan reimbursements for contraception.

Trump himself has vowed to nominate Supreme Court justices strongly opposed to abortion, which he claims would "automatically" overturn the high court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision of 1973.

There is nothing automatic about Supreme Court reversals, which are not common. But Trump stands a solid chance of pushing through a conservative agenda at the most powerful court in the land, with one seat on the nine-member panel currently left vacant and one or more others likely to come due to the advanced age of some justices.

- Cremating, burying fetal remains -

Ever since the Roe v. Wade decision was handed down in 1973, conservative activists have repeatedly sought to raise barriers for women seeking an abortion.

Oklahoma state's high court on Tuesday rejected a new law that required abortion clinic doctors to have admission rights for their patients at a local hospital within 30 miles (48 kilometers).

Earlier this month in Texas, a judge suspended a law that required abortion clinics to cremate or bury fetal remains after abortions.

But the US Supreme Court had strongly reaffirmed in June women's rights to an abortion, a hot-button issue that has incessantly torn at the US social fabric.

That ruling could be the last major victory for the pro-choice camp for a long time.
Washington (AFP) - America's Electoral College was poised Monday to make Donald Trump's victory official, despite a last-ditch campaign by Democrats hoping against the odds its members could revolt and keep the Republican billionaire out of the White House.

Normally, this step in a US presidential election is a rubber stamp formality that tends to go unnoticed. Not this time.

The country is bitterly divided following Trump's shock win over Hillary Clinton, with the Democrat finishing nearly three million votes ahead in the popular tally.

Plus, there's uproar over allegations of Russian hacking of Democrats during the campaign to sway the vote in favor of Trump.

When US voters cast their ballots on November 8, they did not directly elect the next president but rather 538 electors charged with translating their wishes into reality.

Trump won a clear majority of those electors: 306. At least 270 are needed for election.

Electors -- most of them party members without name recognition -- gathered Monday in each state plus the District of Columbia that houses the capital Washington to officially designate the next president and vice president.

In most states, electors must vote for whichever candidate won the popular tally in their state.

With results in from over half of the states Monday afternoon, there were no reports of Republican electors breaking ranks.

A CNN running tally counted 241 votes so far for Trump, as he neared the required threshold.

To prevent Trump from becoming president, Democratic activists needed to convince at least 37 Republican electors to abandon their candidate.

Protesters rallied Monday at statehouses from Pennsylvania to Texas to Utah.

In Wisconsin, where Trump carried a thin margin that was key to propelling him into the Oval Office, a few protesters chanted "Shame!" as the state's 10 electoral votes for Trump were announced at the statehouse, the New York Times reported.

"I feel the fate of our nation is at stake here," protester Ray-Ellen Kavey, 68, told The Washington Post outside the capitol building of the Rust Belt state of Pennsylvania.

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"I think the Constitution charges the electors with preventing exactly what is happening here -- a hostile takeover of our government by a bigot who has been supported by Russia. I know nothing will come of this, but my conscience won't let me do any less."

In New York, former president Bill Clinton cast one of the state's 29 electoral votes for his wife.

"I've never cast a vote I was prouder of," he was quoted as saying by the Post.

In Maine, elector David Bright said he was casting his vote for Bernie Sanders, the populist Vermont senator who garnered widespread support among young voters in the Democratic primary but was defeated by Hillary Clinton.

"I cast my Electoral College vote for Bernie Sanders today to let those new voters who were inspired by him know that some of us did hear them, did listen to them, do respect them and understand their disappointment," Bright said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

- Online petition -

One Texas Republican elector, Christopher Suprun, has publicly said that he will not vote for Trump, arguing he is unqualified to be president for various reasons including conflicts of interest created by his vast overseas business holdings.

Suprun, who called Trump a "demagogue," told MSNBC that he had reached out to other electors to try to persuade them to join him.

An online petition urging electors to reject Trump collected some five million supporters. Hollywood stars including Martin Sheen recently released a video to goad electors to dump Trump.

- Divided Democrats -

Russia's alleged cyber hack that many Democrats believe gravely wounded Clinton has added an extra layer of drama to the Electoral College vote.

Ten electors -- nine Democrats and one Republican -- wrote an open letter to National Intelligence Director James Clapper seeking an intelligence briefing on the matter ahead of their vote.

The answer was no, said Democratic elector Clay Pell of Rhode Island, one of those who signed the letter.

So, the Rhode Island electors on Monday will appeal to Congress for a probe of the hack "to make sure that the American people have the full information about this unprecedented foreign intervention into our election."

Incoming White House chief of staff Reince Preibus told "Fox News Sunday" that the pressure on the Electoral College not to elect Trump is "about Democrats that can't accept the outcome of the election. It's about delegitimizing the American system."

Trump also weighed in via Twitter.

"If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!" he wrote.

Even in the unlikely event that Trump loses the Electoral College vote, it would be up to the House of Representatives -- controlled by Republicans -- to designate the successor to President Barack Obama.

The final vote result will be announced in the US Congress on January 6, two weeks before the next president is to be inaugurated.
A crowd of protesters gathered outside the State House in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 19, as the Electoral College prepared to officially formalize Donald Trumps win in the 2016 US presidential election.

This protest was organized by December 19, a group that states its goal is to persuade members of the Electoral College to withdraw their votes for Trump in favor of someone else. Credit: Twitter/David Plazas via Storyful
A crowd of demonstrators assembled outside the State House in Boston, Massachsetts, on December 19, as the Electoral College prepared to officially ratify Donald Trumps win in the 2016 US presidential election.

The protest was one of a number planned for December 19.

A number of the protesters held signs that read Dump Trump. The crowd chanted, This is what democracy looks like, and No fear, no hate, USA was always great. Credit: Periscope/LatinSatin18 via Storyful
Aphex Twin will never be confused with Santa Claus, though like Father Christmas he's wrapped in mystery, rarely seen and he has been handing out gifts in late December.

The veteran electronic music producer made a rare live U.S. appearance on the weekend for Houston's Day for Night festival. And to mark the occasion, he released a new record.

The 12" recording was sold at the merch desk and appears to be an old-school plain-packaged white label, stamped with logos for Warp Records, Aphex Twin and Day for Night, along with the festival's date and location: "Houston, TX 12.17.16."

#dayfornight #aphexwhitelabel #aphextwin #afxafxafx #teneightsevenmastering

A photo posted by maikkonen (@cranked.kite) on Dec 17, 2016 at 1:13pm PST

A snippet of an untitled minimal track said to appear on the record has been posted online.

Aphex Twin ended a long, silent sequence with the release of his Syro album in 2014, followed by the Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2 EP in 2015. His Day for Night bonus follows the seven-track Cheetah EP which dropped in July of this year.

Richard D. James is booked for a string of 2017 European dates including Barcelona's Primavera Sound and London's Field Day Festival.

The leftfield British artist broke an eight-year U.S. drought with his performance Saturday night in Texas. See fan-shot footage below.
Apple has officially appealed a ruling by the European Union that would result in a $14 billion tax bill for the company. Apple charged Monday that it was singled out as an easy target, according to a report filed by Reuters.

At the core of the conflict between Apple and European Union officials is the companys long-standing practice to keep its overseas profits in Ireland, instead of having them taxed in the U.S., or other European countries. Ireland has long been a tax haven for big corporations thanks to comparably low corporate tax rates; the country until recently also didnt require companies to pay taxes on income generated outside of its borders.

As a result, European Union officials charge that Apples Irish tax rate was just 0.005 percent in 2014. Apple paid a total of $3.8 billion in taxes for $200 billion in overseas profits during the last ten years, according to Reuters.

Apples practice has been defended by Ireland, with officials charging that other countries were to blame for their own tax loopholes. Apple for its part has said that the E.U. ignored Irish expert opinion in its ruling.

The taxation of overseas profits has recently gotten more attention in the U.S. as well, with companies like Apple pushing President Elect Donald Trump for rules that allow them the repatriation of some of their foreign assets at lower tax rates. Repatriation was reportedly one of the points of discussion brought up between tech execs and Trump during a recent high-profile get-together at Trump Tower.

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According to a reality check by India Today, 60.1 per cent of people at banks were not able to withdraw Rs 24,000 per week. Just about 40 per cent said they did not face cash crunch.

By India Today Web Desk: More than a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes, queues at banks and ATMs might have reduced. The big question, however, is: Has the cash flow improved in the last 41 days?

A day after Supreme Court pulled up the Centre on the denial of withdrawal of Rs 24,000 per week from banks, India Today tried to find out the situation on the ground.

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We asked people standing in queues at 28 bank branches across 17 cities one question - Are you able to withdraw Rs 24,000 per week? Yes or No.

According to the reality check, 60.1 per cent of the people said they were not able to withdraw the amount. Just about 40 per cent said they did not face much difficulty in withdrawing cash.

IT's A NO FROM METROS

In metros, 66.6 per cent respondents said no they could not get Rs 24,000 per week from their banks.

ALSO READ: Modi forced Bengaluru florist to beg after demonetisation: Rahul Gandhi

In Delhi, it was a unanimous 'No' from everyone. People complained that despite standing in queues for hours they could not withdraw the amount.

In cyclone-ravaged Chennai, banks cited cash crunch.

In Mumbai and Kolkata, people at six of the nine banks India Today approached said they could not withdraw Rs 24,000 per week.

ALSO READ: Demonetisation stirs the lives of tea garden workers, forced to eat flowers and leaves for survival

SITUATION BETTER IN SMALLER CITIES

In relatively smaller cities, the situation was slightly better, with 57.1 per cent No against 42.9 per cent Yes.

In cities like Gwalior, Kanpur and Gaya, the cash supply seems to have improved as people said they could withdraw Rs 24,000.

In contrast, in Rajasthan's Barmer and Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, banks cited cash crunch and said they could provide the amount to their customers.

ALSO READ: Maharashtra: Teachers in Sholapur get Rs 900 salary as banks go dry after demonetisation

ALSO WATCH

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Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f31286%2fdbb8a89c-d1d5-4b8e-a941-2e77d0e08da0

An Asiatic lioness shocked villagers in India as she ventured into a village close to the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, a popular tourist destination in the state of Gujarat.

The lioness had also killed a calf in the Virpur-Gadhia village and terrorized villagers, who captured the incident on video, ANI reported.

The sanctuary is home to 45 Asiatic lions, and this is the second time in the year that the animals have managed to venture into nearby villages. In July, a pride of eight lions had made its way to the streets of Junagadh, located two kilometers away from the wildlife sanctuary.

A lion  entered in a village in Gir forest. Killed a calf & roamed in the village streets. @the_hindu @slakster pic.twitter.com/UlNw0CGu4h  Mahesh Langa (@LangaMahesh) December 18, 2016

The villagers have reportedly informed the forest department about the incident. The deputy divisional forest officer told a local newspaper that the lioness had been spotted around the village for three days.

Our staff is present there and we are trying to capture her in a ringed cage. We dont want to tranquilize her till possible. Once she is caged, we will release her in the forest again, he said.





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karlov

The assassination on Monday of Russia's ambassador to Turkey at an art gallery in Ankara is unlikely to fracture relations between the two countries as they work to improve their tumultuous relationship, analysts said.

"On the contrary, both Russia and Turkey will point to the murder as reason why they should cooperate more closely in fighting terrorism," geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer, president of the political risk firm Eurasia Group, told Business Insider on Monday.

"Erdogan will surely express great regret to the Russian, and acknowledge that Turkey must do more in their domestic security environment," Bremmer said, referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "That means more crackdowns at home, but not a sudden blowup with Moscow."

The death of the ambassador, Andrey Karlov, immediately prompted comparisons to the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914 that led Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, which ultimately sparked World War I.

But statements released by Russian and Turkish officials in the aftermath of Karlov's death suggested Moscow and Ankara were determined not to let the incident derail their rapprochement.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yldrm said in a statement that the government would not allow the assassination to harm Russian-Turkish relations.

Putin Erdogan

Erdogan echoed Yildirim's sentiment, calling the attack "provocation" aimed at damaging Turkey's normalization of ties with Russia. He said that Turkey and Russia will jointly investigate the assassination, reiterating that "intense cooperation with Russia" over Aleppo was "helping to save lives."

"I call out to those who are trying to break this relationship," Erdogan continued, "Your expectations are wasted."

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, called the assassination an attempt to "undermine" Russia-Turkey ties and derail Moscow's attempts to find, with Iran and Turkey, a solution for the Syria crisis.

The Kremlin, which declared the assassination a terrorist attack, said talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, over Syria would take place as planned in Moscow on Tuesday.

"Ankara and Moscow will likely seek to avoid a diplomatic crisis over Karlov's assassination," said Boris Zilberman, a Russia expert at the Washington, DC-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "Russia will, however, likely step up military actions in Syria and seek revenge against those connected with the assassin."

The Turkish government, meanwhile, was apparently preparing to blame a domestic opposition movement, known as the Gulenists, for the attack. The movement is led by Turkish preacher Fetullah Gulen, who has lived in exile in the US since 1999.

The mayor of Ankara alleged in a tweet shortly after the attack that the gunman was a Gulenist and that his declarations about Aleppo were merely a distraction  a narrative that was repeated and expanded upon by Turkish media in the aftermath of the assassination. A senior Turkish senior official later told Reuters that Ankara's investigation will focus on the gunman's links to the Gulen network.

Mark Kramer, the program director of the Project on Cold War Studies at Harvard's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, said he thinks Russia and Turkey are preparing to blame "certain forces  i.e., the United States that supposedly are trying to derail the Russian-Turkish normalization."

"This theme undoubtedly will become a staple of Russian (and maybe Turkish) propaganda in coming days to deflect attention from the egregious security lapse," Kramer told Business Insider on Monday, "and to put pressure on the outgoing and incoming US administrations."

erdogan putin

Turkish-Russian relations had been precarious but improving since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane along the Turkish-Syrian border in November 2015.

Though they are on opposite sides of the war in Syria, with Turkey supporting the opposition and Russia supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkish and Russian officials managed to broker a deal last week that resulted in a cease-fire and the evacuation of civilians and fighters from rebel-held eastern Aleppo.

"Russia will likely not overreact," Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Program at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said on Twitter. "Moscow has almost everything it wants from Ankara in Syria including Turkish acquiescence to Aleppo's fall."

Michael Koplow, a Middle East analyst at the Israel Policy Forum, said that he thinks Karlov's assassination "is likely to bring Russia and Turkey closer together."

"Neither side has an incentive to escalate things," Koplow said. "I anticipate this leading to a joint stand against terrorism and greater coordination on Syria."

That is especially true, Koplow said, given Turkey's dependence on Russian energy and tourism, and the current tensions between Turkey and the West over its poor human-rights record and censorship of the press following a failed coup attempt in July. Turkey's government has also blamed Gulen in the failed coup attempt.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan attend Democracy and Martyrs Rally, organized by him and supported by ruling AK Party (AKP), oppositions Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), to protest against last month's failed military coup attempt, in Istanbul, Turkey, August 7, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo

Erdogan's reluctance to sign on to certain European Union membership requirements and his increasingly authoritarian leadership over Turkey have also sparked concern among European leaders that he is not committed to a Western conception of human rights and civil liberties.

NATO has also expressed concern over Erdogan's purging of thousands of Turkish civil servants  as well as military personnel, police officers, academics, and teachers  from their positions on suspicion that they were associated with the coup attempt.

"Ankara is going to use this as an opportunity to embrace Russia tighter," Koplow said. "The analogy to WWI ignores the fact that there was a host of incentives, including entangling alliances and multiple competing great powers, that made war a more obvious choice for the parties involved. That is not the case here, particularly given that Turkey is hardly a proxy for the West these days despite its NATO membership."

Dmitry Gorenburg, an expert on Russian military affairs at Harvard's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, said that "a lot will depend on how the Russian government chooses to play it."

"My initial guess is that the two countries will pledge to work together against terrorism," Gorenburg told Business Insider on Monday. "But we will see soon enough."

NOW WATCH: Fashion designer Nicole Miller reveals what Donald Trump is really like





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Istanbul (AFP) - Russia's ambassador to Ankara was shot dead in a brazen attack by an off-duty Turkish policeman at an art exhibition on Monday in what both sides branded an "act of terror" aimed at damaging their improving ties.

The assassination, by a lone gunman shouting "Allahu Akbar" and "Don't forget Aleppo", came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia's role in Syria and on the eve of a meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran on the conflict.

Here is what we know so far:

- The attack -

Dramatic footage showed the moment the assailant -- dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie, shot his target in the back as the envoy spoke at the opening of the Russian photography exhibition shortly after 7 pm (1600 GMT).

The gunman was seen standing behind the ambassador and after opening fire he swaggered and pointed his automatic handgun aggressively into the air.

He shouted "Allahu Akbar" and spoke in Arabic about pledging allegiance to jihad.

He then switched to Turkish, shouting: "Don't forget about Syria, don't forget about Aleppo. All those who participate in this tyranny will be held accountable."

The gunman was killed in a police operation after a 15-minute standoff when he refused to surrender.

It later emerged that the gunman had fired nine shots into the envoy's back.

- The policeman -

Turkish authorities identified the attacker as 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, who had worked in the Ankara anti-riot police squad for the last two-and-a-half years.

He was off-duty but managed to get through the security controls by flashing his police identity card and he did not go through the metal detector security check.

According to the Hurriyet daily, Altintas had stayed at a nearby hotel to prepare for the attack, shaving and putting on a smart suit.

Six people have been detained over the Karlov assassination, including Altintas's sister, mother, father and uncle.

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Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek and pro-government press speculated the policeman may be linked to the group of exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen, blamed for the July coup aimed at toppling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish media reports said police are questioning former acquaintances to see if Altintas was sympathetic towards Gulen.

Gulen himself issued a statement firmly condemning the attack.

- The target -

The slain ambassador, Andrei Karlov, was a veteran career diplomat who helped weather rocky ties between Moscow and Ankara.

The 62-year-old was appointed to Ankara in 2013, a time when the two countries were seeking to boost trade despite deep differences over the Syria conflict.

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described his killing as a "tragic day in the history of our country and our diplomatic service".

The married father of one spent a large chunk of his career -- which stretched back to the Soviet period -- working on the volatile Korean peninsula, in both Seoul and Pyongyang.

His body was flown back to Moscow Tuesday in a coffin draped in the Russian flag.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his secret services to boost security at home and abroad after the killing and the attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.

Karlov was the first ambassador to be assassinated in the history of modern Turkey. The British consul was killed in an Istanbul bombing in 2003 and Israel's consul general in Istanbul was kidnapped and shot dead by leftist militants in 1971.

- The timing -

The shooting came on the eve of a meeting between the Turkish, Russian and Iranian foreign ministers on the Syrian conflict which nevertheless went ahead Tuesday.

At the very moment of the attack, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was on a plane flying to Moscow for the talks.

Protesters in Turkey have held Moscow responsible for rights violations in war-wracked Aleppo, with thousands massing outside the Russian consulate in Istanbul.

Moscow and Ankara remain on opposite sides of the conflict -- with Turkey backing rebels trying to topple Russia's ally President Bashar al-Assad.

Diplomatic relations between Ankara and Moscow sank to their worst levels since the Cold War in November last year when a Turkish jet shot down a Russian war plane over Syria.

But relations have since warmed, with intense contacts in recent days that led to a complex deal for evacuations from Aleppo that will allow the regime to take full control.

Erdogan swiftly called Putin and both countries described the killing as a "provocation", insisting it would not be allowed to cast a shadow over ties.

And at Tuesday's meeting, Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed to guarantee Syria peace talks and backed expanding a ceasefire in the war-torn country.
LONDON (Reuters) - AstraZeneca is losing its head of oncology, Mondher Mahjoubi, who is departing to lead French biotech company Innate Pharma. Innate said on Monday that Mahjoubi would take over as chief executive on Dec. 30, replacing Herve Brailly who is moving on to become chairman of the supervisory board. The loss of Mahjoubi is a setback for AstraZeneca, given the British drugmaker's focus on new cancer treatments. Mahjoubi previously worked at Roche's Genentech unit before joining AstraZeneca, where he has helped lead oncology strategy. His departure comes ahead of key clinical trial read-outs for the company's experimental immunotherapy drugs. AstraZeneca said Mahjoubi's successor would be announced shortly. For Mahjoubi, the move to Innate offers the opportunity to run a company that specializes in immuno-oncology, which is now transforming the fight against several different types of cancer. Innate said he would be paid a base salary of 470,000 euros ($490,000). He will also get free shares in the company and be eligible for pay and share bonuses, if certain targets were met. Shares in Innate were 4 percent higher by 1230 GMT while AstraZeneca slipped 1.4 percent. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Keith Weir)
Worlds the mass of Neptune may be the most common exoplanets present in the cold, icy and distant regions around the orbits of stars, according to a new statistical study of planets discovered using a technique known as gravitational microlensing.

We've found the apparent sweet spot in the sizes of cold planets. Contrary to some theoretical predictions, we infer from current detections that the most numerous have masses similar to Neptune, and there doesn't seem to be the expected increase in number at lower masses, lead researcher Daisuke Suzuki, a postdoctoral researcher at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County, said in a statement. We conclude that Neptune-mass planets in these outer orbits are about 10 times more common than Jupiter-mass planets in Jupiter-like orbits.

For the purpose of this study  published last week in the Astrophysical Journal  the researchers looked for a phenomenon called gravitational microlensing, wherein a massive foreground object can change the brightness of a background one by warping the fabric of space-time. The precise pattern of these changes in luminosity of background objects provides astronomers with clues about the nature of the lensing star and the planets around it.

Suzuki and his colleagues identified nearly 1,500 microlensing events, of which 22 displayed clear planetary signals. Using these observations, they determined the mass ratio of the host star to its planets, and eventually the mass of the planets.

snowline_chart_1280

Photo: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Doing so revealed that beyond the snow line  the region where the temperature drops low enough for snow to form  of a star roughly 60 percent our suns mass, the microlensing planet is likely to be between 10 and 40 times the mass of Earth. This is comparable to Neptune, which is roughly 17 times as massive as Earth.

Beyond the snow line, materials that were gaseous closer to the star condense into solid bodies, increasing the amount of material available to start the planet-building process, Suzuki said. This is where we think planetary formation was most efficient, and it's also the region where microlensing is most sensitive.

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Mogadishu (AFP) - The African Union mission in Somalia said Monday its troops had killed six people in a minibus which refused to stop at a checkpoint, responding to accusations it had gunned down civilians.

AMISOM troops have been accused by local officials of killing 11 civilians in two separate incidents in southern Qoryoley and Marka.

In the first, Qoryoley traditional elder Mohamed Maow said AMISOM "destroyed a civilian minibus, which was carrying vegetables to Mogadishu, with a missile. All the six passengers including the driver of the minibus have died."

According to the UN mission, its troops had set up a checkpoint in the region on Saturday after they came under mortar attack and noticed "an unusual movement of vehicles ... believed to have been ferrying Al-Shabaab fighters."

"A minibus approaching the roadblock was ordered to stop but the driver defied the order and reversed the vehicle in haste, forcing our troops to shoot, killing six people in the minibus," AMISOM said in a statement.

Another elder, Moalim Ahmed Idris, said an AMISOM vehicle killed a mother and her four children in Marka.

AMISOM said that in an incident near the port city, a convoy of its vehicles was "ambushed by Al-Shabaab militants after it hit an improvised explosive device (IED).

"Our troops fought off the attackers and managed to arrest one of the fighters. By the time AMISOM left the area, no civilian casualty had occurred."

AMISOM troops were deployed to Somalia in 2007 to defend the internationally-backed government against attacks by the Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab, which regularly carries out attacks on civilian, military and government targets.

The AU has said it plans to pull its soldiers out of Somalia by 2020, however the country has yet to form an effective national army.

AMISOM has run into difficulties with its main donor the European Union cutting funding by 20 percent saying African countries must bear more of the burden of soldier salaries.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya -- which has threatened to pull out of the force over the funding cut -- on Monday urged the EU to provide more support to AMISOM.

"The region's and the world's fight against Al-Shabaab in Somalia is one of the frontlines between stability and chaotic insecurity," he said.

Meanwhile the Burundi contingent has gone unpaid for months over a spat between the AU and EU -- which wants to pay them directly to avoid money being diverted to the regime in crisis-wracked Bujumbura.
France and Australia will sign a multi-billion dollar deal -- which Paris has billed as the "contract of the century" -- for 12 state-of-the-art submarines, their defence ministers said on Monday.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and France's Minister of Defence, Jean-Yves Le Drian, will ink the inter-governmental accord in Adelaide with the French shipbuilder DCNS designing and building the Shortfin Barracudas.

Defence Minister Marise Payne said in Sydney the fleet of subs was the "largest defence procurement programme in Australia's history".

The overall cost of the submarine fleet, which includes separate agreements with US and Australian contractors, totals Aus$50 billion (US$37 billion).

The new contract, which will be signed Tuesday, will lay out the "legal framework under which Australia and France will partner on the future submarine programme over the coming decades".

She added that it was "a critical milestone in delivering the regionally superior fleet of submarines".

Australia awarded DCNS the main contract in April to design and build its next generation of submarines, beating off competition from Germany and Japan.

The vessels will be a scaled-down, conventionally powered version of France's 4,700-tonne nuclear-fuelled Barracuda but boast the same stealth capabilities.

Design and mobilisation work has already been launched with Australian experts working in Cherbourg while DCNS will open new offices in Adelaide on Tuesday employing up to 300 engineers.

With Canberra insisting all the subs be built domestically, Payne said 2,800 jobs would be linked to the overall Shortfin Barracuda programme in Australia, with the first vessel expected to be ready by around 2030.

French officials expect 3,000 to 4,000 direct and indirect French jobs to come from Canberra's agreement with DCNS, which suffered a major leak of secret data on Scorpene subs designed for the Indian navy last August.

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Australia has rebuffed any security concerns and Le Drian said that a judicial investigation into the leaks was underway in France.

"Security priorities are embedded," in the sub programme, Payne said.

The leak was "intended to harm France", Le Drian added, noting the two countries had signed an agreement on handling classified information in Paris on December 8.

The Barracudas are to replace Australia's ageing diesel and electric-powered Collins submarines.

But Payne would not detail the speed and range of the new vessels, saying only that they would be "regionally superior" and better than the Collins class subs they replace.

US defence contractor Lockheed Martin was named in September to fit the combat systems for the Barracudas.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia and France are to sign a deal on Tuesday allowing French naval contractor DCNS to build a new fleet of submarines for Australia, said Australia's defence minister, in a deal worth 50 billion Australian dollars ($36.4 billion). "The contract will set out the legal framework under which Australia and France will partner on the future submarine program over the coming decades." Australian defense minister Marise Payne told reporters in Sydney on Monday. Payne added that the deal represented "a critical milestone in delivering the regionally superior fleet of submarines." Earlier this year, DCNS had been left reeling after details from more than 22,000 pages of documents relating to submarines it is building for India were published in The Australian newspaper, sparking concerns about the company's ability to protect sensitive data. The Australian government said at the time that it had asked DCNS to take new security measures in Australia. (Reporting by Colin Packham; Writing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)
If Putin cant mend ties with European governments, hell at least always have its far-right parties. On Monday, the leaders of Austrias far-right Freedom party, fresh off an election loss, traveled to Moscow to meet with Russian leaders on an unsanctioned diplomatic mission.

Heinz-Christian Strache, Freedom Party leader, and Norbert Hofer, the candidate who narrowly lost Austrias presidential election earlier this month, signed a working agreement on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putins United Russia Party, according to a statement from the Freedom Party. The statement also said Strache visited New York last month to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps nominated national security advisor, Michael Flynn. Trump team did not immediately respond to Foreign Policys request for comment.

Strache in the statement called the Freedom Party a neutral and reliable mediator and partner to mend ties with the United States and Russia. He said he hoped to broker an end to the harmful and ultimately useless sanctions the United States and European Union slapped on Russia after the onset of the Ukraine crisis in 2014.

The Russian and Austrian parties pledged to exchange their respective experience conducting legislative activity, according to Austrian newspaper Der Standard, which obtained a copy of the working agreement.

The Freedom Partys Moscow trip is just the latest in a growing trend of anti-establishment European parties from across the political spectrum forging ties with Russia. Fringe political parties from France, Hungary, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, have been accused of cozying up to Russia in exchange for financing, though it remains unclear who funded the Freedom Partys most recent Moscow trip.

But its not just Europe. Senior U.S. intelligence officials, including the CIA and FBI, have concluded that Russia meddled in the presidential elections in favor of President-elect Donald Trump.

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On Friday, President Barack Obama said his administration will conduct a full review into Russias reported hacking of U.S. political operatives during the election. Obama indicated that the hacks were directed personally by Putin. In October, the U.S. intelligence community stated it was confident that the Russian government directed hacks in relation to the U.S. elections, and only Russias senior-most officials could have authorized these activities.

Those revelations didnt faze the president-elect. Trump, who showered Putin with praise on the campaign trail, dismissed the allegations as ridiculous. The potential for a U.S.-Russia rapprochement under Trump may explain the Austrian Freedom Partys maneuvering to become a go-between for the U.S.-Russia relationship. Other anti-establishment parties have had success bypassing traditional diplomatic channels to reach the incoming Trump administration: Brexiter Nigel Farage, whose leadership of Britains UKIP party helped spur Londons divorce from Europe, has been in close touch with Trump during and after the campaign.

Intelligence officials worry that European countries are next on Russias electoral hit list. Germanys intelligence chief Hans-Georg Maassen warned in November that Russia could sway the countrys upcoming 2017 federal elections by falsifying media stories.

If there were any such hijinks in Austria during the most recent elections, though, they didnt work. Pro-European Union candidate Alexander Van der Bellen beat Hofer in Austrias presidential election 53.3 percent to 46.7 percent on Dec. 4; the first, vote, in May, was so close it had to be done again. Had Hofer won, he would have been Western Europes first elected far-right head of state since World War II (though Austria has flirted with rightists in 1999 and 2003, including the formation of coalition governments including Jorg Haider, then head of the Freedom Party.)

Hofer gave an interview to Russian state-funded media outlet RT on Dec. 16 urging Europeans to forge a new friendship with Russia. Hes not the first to make an RT cameo. In 2015, Michael Flynn gave a paid speech at RTs annual gala dinner, seated at a table with Putin. Flynn defended the move, straight-facedly comparing the state-run Kremlin mouthpiece to American news outlets like CNN or MSNBC.

Photo credit: Alexander Koerner/Getty Images
The Indian Coast Guard apprehended 26 Pakistanis in 5 unidentified rubber dhingies off the Gujarat Coast. They are being brought to the harbour for interrogation.

By Jugal R Purohit: The Indian Coast Guard has apprehended 26 Pakistanis off the Gujarat coast today evening.

Interceptor Boat C 419 operating off Jakhau port noticed five unidentified rubber dinghies with 26 Pakistani crew members on board. The five boats were immediately apprehended.

They were caught around 26 miles from the Jakhua port and are now being brought to the harbour for interrogation.

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More details awaited.

Also Read:

Cyclone Vardah to make landfall near Chennai today, Coast Guards on standby

US Coast Guard offers to train Indian officers and share expertise

Coast Guard Ship rescues distressed fishermen boat in Porbandar

--- ENDS ---
AFP has gathered testimonies from multiple Afghan families whose children were abducted for the practice of "bacha bazi" -- sexual exploitation of boys.

The stories come after an AFP report in June found the Taliban are exploiting the centuries-old practice, one of the most egregious violations of human rights in the country, to mount deadly insider attacks in the volatile south.

Here are some some key answers about bacha bazi.

What is it?

Powerful warlords, commanders, politicians and other members of the elite often keep "bachas" as a symbol of authority and affluence.

Bachas, sometimes dressed as women, are often sexually exploited. They can also be used as dancers at private parties.

Bacha bazi is not widely seen as homosexual behaviour -- popularly demonised as a deviant sexual act, prohibited in Islam -- and is largely accepted as a cultural practice.

How common is it?

"Women are for child-rearing, boys are for pleasure" is a common saying across many parts of Afghanistan.

The ancient custom, banned under the Taliban's 1996-2001 rule, has seen a resurgence in recent years. It is said to be widespread across southern and eastern Afghanistan's rural Pashtun heartland, and with ethnic Tajiks across the northern countryside.

How has it been allowed to flourish?

Tight gender segregation in Afghan society and lack of contact with women have contributed to the spread of bacha bazi, rights groups say.

Several other factors such as an absence of the rule of law, corruption, limited access to justice, illiteracy, poverty, insecurity, and the existence of armed groups have also resulted in the spread of bacha bazi, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) said in a report in 2014.

AIHRC points out that Afghanistans criminal law prohibits rape and pederasty, but there are no clear provisions on bacha bazi.

"There is a gap and ambiguity in the laws of Afghanistan regarding bacha bazi and the existing laws do not address the problem sufficiently," the report said.

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"Many of the perpetrators have connections with the security organs and by using power and giving bribes they get exempted from punishment."

Where do the boys come from? And what happens to them afterwards?

Bachas are typically aged between 10 and 18. Many of them are kidnapped and sometimes desperate poverty drives their families to sell them to abusers.

"The victims of bacha bazi suffer from serious psychological trauma as they often get raped," AIHRC's report said.

"Such victims suffer from stress and a sort of distrust, hopelessness and pessimistic feeling. Bacha bazi results in fear among the children and a feeling of revenge and hostility develop in their mind."

In turn, many adolescent victims are said to grow up to have boy lovers of their own, repeating the cycle of abuse.

"In the absence of any services to recover or rehabilitate boys who are caught in this horrendous abuse, it's hard to know what happens to these children," said Charu Lata Hogg, a London-based fellow at Chatham House, a think tank.

"We have heard anecdotal reports that many grow up to keep their own bachas, perpetuating the revolving door of abuse."

How is bacha bazi impacting Afghanistan's security situation?

Bacha bazi is having a detrimental bearing on the perpetual state of conflict in Afghanistan, helping the Taliban to infiltrate security ranks in provinces such as Uruzgan, officials say.

The abusive practice in security ranks also undermines support for NATO-trained Afghan forces.

"To date, the US has provided over $60 billion in assistance to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), including nearly $500 million to the Afghan Local Police," the US Congress said last year.

"Predatory sexual behaviour by Afghan soldiers and police could undermine US and Afghan public support for the ANDSF, and put our enormous investment at risk."

The practice also continues to embolden the Taliban's desire to reassert sharia law in Afghanistan and is fuelling their insurgency.

"Such wild abuses of the predatory mujahideen forces in the early 1990s drove the popularity of the austere Taliban, helping them sweep to power across most of the country. Similar behaviour of the government forces after 2001 is also helping to inspire the insurgency," a Western official in Kabul told AFP.
By Andrew MacAskill and Huw Jones LONDON (Reuters) - Banks in Britain are being advised they may be able to sue the European Union if it fails to grant them a staggered departure from the trading bloc using rights from an arcane treaty that usually governs international law. The advice was given in a document drawn up by some of Britain's largest law firms for banks lobbying to retain so-called passporting rights that allow them to operate across all the EU out of their London bases. The document says there are a number of laws giving them rights for a deal, including the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, that gives them "acquired rights" under a treaty that cannot be suddenly withdrawn. "EU law cites a number of different bases for requiring transitional arrangements," the document says. "A failure to do so could possibly create an entitlement for an affected EU firm... to take action against the commission." Finance companies are pressing Britain and the EU to agree to a transition deal that would keep many of the current arrangements for up to five years to help cushion them from the effects of Brexit. The issue of a transitional deal has emerged a potential flashpoint in Britain's plans to leave the EU. While some members of the British government and businesses are backing the demands for a deal, some European countries such as Luxembourg have ruled out an agreement. The Bank of England has warned that an abrupt departure could undermine financial stability, but how a bridging deal could work in practice remains a technical and political challenge. There is no indication yet that banks are considering using the law to challenge the EU. Other lawyers say it would have limited chances of succeeding. However, the fact that banks and lawyers are exploring these options shows the work they are doing to find work arounds, mainly to buy time before they decide if they will move some operations from Britain to the continent. VIENNA CONVENTION The banks may be able to appeal to the European Court of Justice to ensure that they can continue trading in the single market based on one of the four principles of EU law, which is "legal certainty", according to lawyers. Another key principle of EU law that can be used to demand a transitional deal is that companies have "legitimate expectations" of a stable regulatory environment, the document says. "EU firms utilizing their passport rights do have 'legitimate expectations' within the meaning of EU law that their rights will not simply disappear on Brexit," the document said. "They will have structured their businesses, and invested into them, in light of those rights." The document points to precedent when the Belgium government sued the European Commission in 2003 after it ruled that it would have to stop tax concessions given to companies on the grounds it was an unfair form of state aid. The European Court of Justice struck down the decision three years later saying that the ruling was unjust because companies had made substantial investments into businesses and made long-term commitments on the basis of the concessions. The commission had failed to couple the repeal of the tax rules with transitional measures. The Vienna Convention states that rights given under a treaty continue, even after the treaty has been withdrawn. But faith placed in the Vienna Convention to protect people's acquired rights may well be misplaced, and such rights would in any case need to be confirmed in Britain's divorce deal with the EU to hold water, said Sionaidh Douglas-Scott, a professor of law at Queen Mary University of London. Barney Reynolds, a partner at Shearman & Sterling, a lawfirm advising banks on Brexit, also cast doubt on the practicalities of relying on the convention. "Whilst it is possible that such an analysis would be upheld, it is by no means straightforward," Reynolds said. EU officials involved in preparations for the Brexit negotiations said they have been looking into the implications of the Vienna Convention and its provisions for acquired rights. The officials believe the convention applies to states, rather than to companies or individuals. "With regards to acquired rights under the Vienna Convention, it's simply not as clear as all that," one source said. The document was drawn up by three of Britain's biggest law firms - Linklaters, Freshfields and Clifford Chance. All the law firms declined to comment. Bernardine Adkins, head of EU, trade and competition at Gowling WLG, said it was unlikely that companies would be able to use it because Article 50 provides a legal framework for withdrawal of the treaty that override those laws. "It is one of these clever weasel arguments people come up with. I don't think it holds water," she said. (Additional reporting by Alastair Macdonald in Brussels, editing by Susan Thomas)
Philippine Catholic leaders and rights groups on Monday condemned as "barbaric" President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to restore the death penalty and execute "five or six" criminals daily.

Duterte, 71, has made reviving the death penalty in the mainly Catholic nation his top legislative priority as part of a brutal war on crime that has killed 5,300 people.

"There was death penalty before but nothing happened. Return that to me and I would do it every day: five or six (criminals). That's for real," Duterte said Saturday.

An official at the influential Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said the Church "totally opposed" Duterte's plan.

"The Philippines will be viewed as very barbaric," Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary at its public affairs office, told AFP.

"It's going to make the Philippines the capital of death penalty in the world."

The Philippines abolished the death penalty in 2006 following fierce opposition to the penalty from the Catholic Church, the religion of 80 percent of Filipinos.

Before assuming office in June, Duterte vowed to introduce executions by hanging, saying he did not want to waste bullets and believed snapping the spinal cord was more humane than a firing squad.

Duterte said he viewed the death penalty not as a means to deter crime but for retribution.

His allies in the House of Representatives quickly pushed for the bill and said they would vote on it by January.

The United Nations' human rights chief, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said in a letter to the Philippine congress this month that reviving the death penalty would violate the country's international obligations.

But on Saturday Duterte insisted executions were necessary to fight the drug scourge which he said was "destroying" the nation.

While his aides dismiss his incendiary statements as hyperbole, rights advocates said Duterte's remarks were alarming.

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"Setting a quota for executions is just too much. One death is too much because we are talking about lives," Amnesty International Philippines vice chairman Romeo Cabarde told AFP.

Catholic leaders and rights defenders have instead urged the government to reform a slow and corrupt justice system which they said was likely to send innocent people to death row.

Secillano said bishops planned to dissuade lawmakers from voting for the death penalty and would attend congressional debates next month.

- Fear of killings -

Duterte's crime war has drawn international criticism from the United States and United Nations over concerns about alleged extrajudicial killings and a breakdown in the rule of law.

Duterte won May elections in a landslide on a promise to eradicate drugs in society -- a mandate he often cited to defend his controversial campaign.

A survey by Social Weather Stations released Monday showed while a majority backed Duterte's drug war, 78 percent of Filipinos were worried that they or someone in their family would be a victim of extrajudicial killings.

The survey also showed 71 percent said it was "very important" that police keep drug suspects they arrested alive.

Police have repeatedly said they only shot at criminals who fought back but the nation's rights agency has questioned this argument and has begun investigating cases.

On Monday, Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa apologised for police killings of criminal suspects but insisted these were done in self-defence.

"Lord, I hope you forgive us even if the ones we kill are bad people," Dela Rosa said during the police's Christmas party.

"If the life of a policeman will be lost just to preserve the life of a criminal, that's a great injustice."

Dela Rosa added Duterte gave police hefty bonuses for leading the crime war.
Beauty vlogger Laura Lee talks about failed makeup trends, what makes her feel confident, and how being an influencer is a 24/7 job

YouTube makeup gurus are taking over the cosmetic industry with their relatable AF makeup videos, (mostly) authentic reviews, and charming personalities. Beauty vlogger Laura Lee is making her way to the top as one of the biggest beauty influencers, just after starting her channel three years ago! She has over 2 million followers on YouTube, and shes only getting bigger.

If you havent heard about Laura Lee, then you most definitely will come 2017, because she is about to have one of the biggest years yet! She recently worked on a special project with Too Faced for their Sweet Peach collection and her wildly popular Violet Voss eyeshadow palette was so coveted that the limited edition palette sold out immediately.

Check out my latest video on my night time routine to see how I get unready using @clinique skincare. Be sure to stay to the end for the epic pillow fight. #clinique #ad  link in my bio A photo posted by Laura Lee (@larlarlee) on Nov 19, 2016 at 4:12pm PST

Luckily for her followers, the brand dropped the beloved palette again! With cute Southern names like Mama Bird and Tickled Pink, its nice to see that Laura has stuck to her Alabama roots.

@larlarlee has all the deets A video posted by Violet Voss, LLC Cosmetics Co (@shopvioletvoss) on Dec 14, 2016 at 4:58pm PST

She has one of the most lovable personalities on YouTube, and its hard to not crack a smile when youre watching her beauty videos. Not only does she add her Southern charm when sharing makeup tips and tricks, but shes not afraid to be her quirky, eccentric self!

Hello Giggles: What inspired you to start a beauty YouTube channel?

Laura Lee: At the time, I was living in Alabama as a medical assistant and I had always watched a lot of the girls that were starting up on YouTube. I was watching Kandee Johnson and Nicole Guerriero  there werent that many beauty channels at the time  and I had always had a really, really big passion for beauty. Being a medical assistant, I wasnt even really allowed to wear that much makeup to work, so after, I would come home and do my makeup every day and post it to Instagram. It was just kind of like a creative outlet for me, and then I just went over to YouTube.

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Whatcha thinkin bout About to go watch some @go90 vids #go90 A photo posted by Laura Lee (@larlarlee) on Dec 7, 2016 at 3:18pm PST

HG: What is it like being in the same circle as the YouTubers you watched in the beginning when you were inspired to start your channel?

LL: You know its actually really, really weird just because I never ever in a million years thought that we would be in the same circle together. Of course, Im the type of person to let them know, Omg, I watched your videos for so long. I love you so much. But it is also really great because the people that I watched for so long are just as sweet as they are on the Internet. So, its truly inspiring and its surreal, honestly.

Wearing my @clinique beyond perfecting 2 in 1 foundation! I love this foundation it give me the perfect amount of coverage without getting cakey #clinique #ad #beyondperfecting A photo posted by Laura Lee (@larlarlee) on Nov 29, 2016 at 10:44am PST

HG: What is the most challenging thing about being a beauty YouTuber?

LL: Well, the most challenging thing in 2016 would be that YouTube is very saturated. There are over 70,000 beauty channels now and its hard to come up with fresh content because everything has already been done once. But I feel like if you put your own spin on everything and your own personality, then it will shine through.

HG: What do most people not know about you and your job as an influencer?

LL: It is an incredible amount of work. We stay up till 4:00 in the morning working. We take three hours to film a video and eight hours to edit it. Im posting three videos a week and then Im trying to run a vlog and Instagram. You know, get professional pictures for that, and then theres a lot of business on the back side of it. So I do have my husband helping me do that because I physically, absolutely could not do it by myself. This is not a 9 to 5. This is a 24/7 type of job.

Walking out of 2016 like #girlbye A photo posted by Laura Lee (@larlarlee) on Dec 8, 2016 at 5:01pm PST

HG: Its interesting that you say that because I feel like a lot of people just think that YouTubers are playing with makeup, but whole lot of work goes into it that people dont see.

LL: Yes, exactly! Its so crazy because I started my channel, like literally just playing with beauty, and it turned into this whole thing and its challenging sometimes. At the end of the day, I started my channel because I wanted a connection with people.

I wanted a creative outlet, and then it turned into me being a businesswoman and an editor and an Instagram  I definitely dont want to call myself a model  Instagram fashionista and you know a role model. It just turned into all these jobs and Im like, Whoa, what just happened? I just want to play with eyeshadow.

BACK IN STOCK AT 12pm PST. 3pm est. and 2pm central ShopvioletVoss.com Pre sale! $45 Direct Link in my bio @shopvioletvoss Holographic packaging A photo posted by Laura Lee (@larlarlee) on Dec 19, 2016 at 10:47am PST

HG: Speaking of eyeshadow, what was it like creating your own palette with Violet Voss?

LL: That was one of the hardest things Ive ever done in my life. That was the day I officially learned that you can never please everybody. I was like, Im gonna make a perfect palette and not one person is gonna hate it! Everybody in the whole wide world will love it forever.

I had to pick or create colors that represent me and the colors that I use, and they have to make sense in the palette. They cant just have these random colors all over the place. But then, they have to make everybody happy. They have to be matte and you have to have shimmers and it has to pop. So its actually a very, very difficult thing to do. The palette was such a success, though. I would say everybody was pretty happy with it and we sold out!

Watching Shamless... who else loves this show? @jeffreestarcosmetics liquid lipstick in redrum #jeffreestarcosmetics Lashes @lillylashes Mykonos #lillylashes Code LAURALEE for $ off! @benefitcosmetics #benefitbrows precisely brow pencil 4 A photo posted by Laura Lee (@larlarlee) on Nov 25, 2016 at 8:56pm PST

HG: What beauty product can you not live without?

LL: My MAC Cosmetics Paint Pot in soft ochre ($23). It is kind of like an all-in-one. Its an eye primer, but it has a lot of coverage. If you have red eyes or if your vein shows through on your eyelids like mine, it covers all that and it is the best eye primer Ive ever used in my life. Ive been using it for around eight to nine years now. I literally have been using it since high school and I want to use something else, but I always goes back to that!

HG: What makes you feel the most confident?

LL: I would like to say makeup makes me feel the most confident, but its definitely not makeup. I feel the most confident whenever I am able to be myself 100 percent. Its hard to do that actually, you know, because Im such a quirky, weird person and its so easy to try to be normal and act like everybody else. Whenever Im not being myself, it actually makes me feel really unconfident.

My precious WOOHOO thanks @youtube for the one Million Subscriber gold play button! Endless days and sleepless nights making shit happen! Can you believe we're amount at 2 million THANK YOU GUYS FOR MAKING MY DREAMS COME TRUE - in case you're wondering yes I'm dancing to lil Wayne A Milli right now A photo posted by Laura Lee (@larlarlee) on Oct 7, 2016 at 3:44pm PDT

HG: What would advice would you tell your 14-year-old self?

LL: Everybody has something special about them and I think were also different, but I feel like in society they try to tell us to be like everybody else, and be normal, and dont be loud, dont be too silly. Be really pretty. And thats not everybody. It definitely was not me.

So, I would just tell myself, Laura, be the weirdest version of you, you can be. Be you 100 percent, all the time. I think I would have gotten  I think Im pretty far in life  but, I think a lot of great things wouldve happened for me.

Hiiiii posted a new video on my FAVORITE drugstore foundations! Check it out! Link in my bio  A photo posted by Laura Lee (@larlarlee) on Nov 20, 2016 at 5:40pm PST

HG: Thats so true! I wish YouTube was big when I was in middle school. Its just nice to see people online share their quirks and beauty tips! God knows I did not know how to straighten my hair back then!

LL: Oh my gosh. At 14, I was really into straightening my hair. I would pluck my eyebrows super thin, but that was the thing at the time. I was all about the trends, like you. If I had YouTube back then, my whole world wouldve exploded.

HG: Who are your style icons?

LL: Kendall Jenner, I mean the girl is a fashionista. I really like the way the new Ariana Grande is dressing. Shes not so much as pink and skirts anymore. Its more like ripped jeans, a grungy t-shirt, and heels.

Lookin at the Thanksgiving dinner like... A photo posted by Laura Lee (@larlarlee) on Nov 24, 2016 at 7:25pm PST

HG: What has been the weirdest makeup trend youve followed and what trends are you super excited about now?

LL: I can tell you I tried really hard to follow non-touring, where you highlight under your cheek bones instead of adding bronzer to your cheekbones to contour. I tried it for a while and it doesnt work. It was a little silly to me. Honestly, it was a little gimmicky, too. Just contour your face if you want to contour.

Ive seen a lot on Instagram that girls are wearing their glasses, but they have no lenses in them. Its hard to describe them, theyre kind of like aviators, but without the lens. So, I actually ordered a pair to see if I could pull it off. I dont know if I can. You might see them on Instagram soon.

Using my @ofracosmetics Napa Valley liquid lipstick from my December @boxycharm #boxycharm @benefitcosmetics #benefitbrows precisely brow pencil 4 @shopvioletvoss x LAURALEE palette on the eyes COMING BACK TOMORROW shopvioletvoss.com 12pm pst. #violetvossxlauralee A photo posted by Laura Lee (@larlarlee) on Dec 18, 2016 at 6:43pm PST

You can watch all of Lauras fun, quirky videos on her channel, get some major fashion inspo on her Instagram, and pre-order her limited edition eyeshadow palette with Violet Voss for $45!

The post Beauty vlogger Laura Lee talks about failed makeup trends, what makes her feel confident, and how being an influencer is a 24/7 job appeared first on HelloGiggles.
The German Foreign Office expressed anger Sunday over a decision by a German-backed international school in Istanbul, Turkey, to bar teachers from talking about Christmas in classrooms this year. The Foreign Office said it will be discussing the completely unacceptable resolution with its diplomatic partners in Ankara.

Several of the 35 German teachers at the prestigious high school, Istanbul Lisesi, which is partially funded by the German government, said they were being reprimanded by administrators for talking about Christmas-related topics in class, the Guardian reported Monday. They said they were also instructed to remove any advent calendars they might have had in their classrooms.

A screenshot of an email sent by school leadership to the German teachers on staff last week showed they were mandated to discontinue teaching anything related to the holiday "immediately," including lessons about its traditions and the singing of Christmas carols in class, BBC News reported Monday.

Istanbul Lisesi is a Turkish bilingual state school where the students are Turkish and are taught in Turkish, but every teacher on the staff is German and paid by German taxpayers. The schools headmaster, however, is appointed by the Education Ministry in Ankara.

We dont understand the surprising decision by the management of the Istanbul Lisesi, the German Foreign Ministry said. It is too bad that the good tradition of pre-Christmas intercultural exchanges at the school with a long German-Turkish tradition has been suspended. We are of course taking this up with our Turkish partners.

The move comes a week after the schools choir abruptly dropped out of the annual Christmas concert at the German Consulate General in Istanbul scheduled for Tuesday, Reuters reported Monday. School officials accused the head of the German teacher administration of canceling the event because he did not support such a religious concert.

Turkey is a candidate to join the European Union. But the schools concert cancellation and Christmas ban are being viewed by some German politicians as attacks on secular and Western values in Turkey, which is 98 percent Muslim. Julia Klockner, a deputy chair of Angela Merkels Christian Democratic Party, said the schools decision not to celebrate the Christian holiday showed Turkey was dissociating itself from its relationship with Europe and the outside world. Other politicians are calling on Berlin to summon the Turkish ambassador to complain about the ways in which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was looking to eradicate secular views from everyday life in Turkey, BBC News reported Monday.

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Those who want to restrain free thinking in this way are so ignorant, they must be capable of worse, Klockner said.

The school denied the Christmas ban on its website Sunday, saying media reports were inaccurate. The statement also said the school had allowed its students to perform at the Christmas concert under the supervision of the Turkish Education Ministry and with the approval of each student's parents, but the concert had been canceled by the German teachers for reasons that were unclear.

The reports in German media about restrictions on Christmas festivities of German teachers do not reflect reality, the school said in its statement. A concert was canceled by the German teachers in question without explanation. There is no question of the school or its management placing an obstacle in its way or prohibiting it.

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At least 12 people are dead and 50 injured after a truck rammed into a busy Christmas market in the German capital of Berlin, according to several reports.

The attack took place Monday evening at the Breitscheidplatz, a major public square, in Western Berlin.

CNN reports that the crash is being investigated as an act of terrorism, citing a German intelligence official. Witnesses on the scene said that the crash looked deliberate.

Berlin police tweeted that a suspect has been apprehended and second person was found dead inside the truck at the crash scene. Its unknown if there are any other suspects. The police later tweeted that the truck had Polish license plates. The Berlin fire department posted that 45 wounded have been taken to local hospitals.

The market was filled with many holiday shoppers at the time of the incident. Emma Rushton, a witness to the crash, said the truck was traveling 40mph in a pedestrian area. She tweeted there were no roads nearby and she saw multiple people lying on the ground.

Lorry just ploughed through Christmas market in #berlin. There is no road nearby. People crushed. I am safe. I am safe pic.twitter.com/63iWMmdSKr  Emma Rushton (@ERushton) December 19, 2016

The crash follows a similar act of terror in Nice, when a truck driver plowed through Nice, France on Bastille Day, killing 86. ISIS claimed responsibility for the July 19 attack.

The person who carried out the operation in Nice, France, to run down people was a soldier of the Islamic State, who carried out the operation in response to calls to target states that are part of the coalition fighting Islamic State, said A Maq, the press agency supporting ISIS.

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On July 23, a German-Iranian teen, reportedly inspired by other mass murderers, gunned down nine people at a Munich mall. Authorities believe he was a loner and acted alone.

Both the White House and President-elect Donald Trump commented on Mondays crash.

A statement from the National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price read:

The United States condemns in the strongest terms what appears to have been a terrorist attack on a Christmas Market in Berlin, Germany, which has killed and wounded dozens. We send our thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of those killed, just as we wish a speedy recovery to all of those wounded. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the people and Government of Germany. We have been in touch with German officials, and we stand ready to provide assistance as they recover from and investigate this horrific incident. Germany is one of our closest partners and strongest allies, and we stand together with Berlin in the fight against all those who target our way of life and threaten our societies.

Today there were terror attacks in Turkey, Switzerland and Germany  and it is only getting worse. The civilized world must change thinking!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2016

The President-elect tweeted, Today there were terror attacks in Turkey, Switzerland and Germany  and it is only getting worse. The civilized world must change thinking!

This story is developing.

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BERLIN (Reuters) - German police have arrested a suspect near the scene of the Berlin Christmas market where a truck plowed into a crowd, and are investigating whether he was the driver, the police said on Twitter. A passenger in the truck was killed during the crash, which killed nine people and injured dozens, police said. They called on Berliners to stay indoors. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was being briefed on the incident by Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and the mayor of Berlin, a government spokesman said. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
MILAN (Reuters) - Silvio Berlusconi's Fininvest, which holds 38.3 percent of Italian broadcaster Mediaset, said on Monday it had filed a market abuse complaint against France's Vivendi with national market authority Consob.

Fininvest also asked Consob to exercise all the powers it has under an Italian financial regulation, which includes among other possibilities the seizure of company assets.

The French media giant, led by tycoon Vincent Bollore, became Mediaset's second largest shareholder behind Fininvest, picking up a stake of 20 per cent.

Berlusconi has already lodged a criminal complaint of market manipulation against the French company. Italian prosecutors are investigating.

Vivendi declined to comment.

(Reporting by Giulia Segreti, additional reporting by Gwenaelle Barzic in Paris)
There is no better metric than net profit margin when it comes to determining a companys profit level.



Net Profit Margin = Net profit /Sales * 100.



In simple terms, net income is a companys earnings after the deduction of all costs, interest, depreciation, taxes, and other expenses. It can also be defined as the net increase in shareholders equity, which the company can retain as earnings or distribute among shareholders as dividend.



Net margin helps investors assess the risks of investing in a company. Creditors also view it as a major factor in determining a companys ability to pay off debts.



Moreover, the strength in the metric not only attracts investors but also draws well-skilled employees who eventually add to the value of the business.



Moreover, a higher net profit margin as compared to peers lends a competitive edge.



Pros and Cons



Net profit margin helps investors gain clarity on a companys business model in terms of pricing policy, cost structure and manufacturing efficiency. Hence, a strong net profit margin is preferred by all classes of investors.



However, net profit margin as an investment criterion has its own share of pitfalls. The metric varies widely from industry to industry. While net income is a key metric for investment measurement in traditional industries, it is not that crucial for technology companies.



Moreover, the difference in accounting treatment of various items  especially non-cash expenses like depreciation and stock-based compensation  makes comparison a daunting task.



Further, for companies preferring to grow with debt instead of equity funding, higher interest expenses usually weigh on the net profit. In such cases, the measure is rendered ineffective for the analysis of a companys performance.



The Winning Strategy



A healthy net profit margin and solid EPS growth are the two most sought-after elements in a business model.



Apart from these, we have added a few other criteria to ensure maximum returns from this strategy.



Screening Parameters



Net Margin 12 months  Most Recent (%) greater than equal to 0: High net profit margin indicates solid profitability.



Percentage Change in EPS F(0)/(F-1) greater than equal to 0: It indicates earnings growth.



Average Broker Rating (1-5) equal to 1: A rating of #1 indicates brokers extreme bullishness on the prospects of the stock.



Zacks Rank equal to 1: In good markets or bad, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) continue to outperform. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



VGM Score of A or B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of 'A' or 'B' when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 (Buy) offer the best upside potential.



Here are five of the six stocks that qualified the screen:



Brazil-based Braskem SA BAK produces and sells thermoplastic resins. Together with its subsidiaries, the company is the largest petrochemical operation in Latin America. The stock has a VGM score of A. Last quarter, the company beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 83 cents (10.7.79%) Moreover, current year earnings estimates have increased by a nickel to $3.37 per share over the last 30 days.



Notably, Braskems year-to-date return of 46.01% fares better than the Zacks Oil & Gas Integrated International industrys return of 19.17%.



East Rutherford, NJ-based Cambrex Corporation CBM provides products and services that accelerate and improve the development and commercialization of new and generic therapeutics. The company has beaten earnings estimates thrice in the trailing four quarters, the average positive surprise being 19.78%. The stock has a VGM score of B. Moreover, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2016 earnings has remained steady at $2.55 per share over the last 30 days.



Moreover, Cambexs year-to-date return of 15.31% is way better than the Zacks Medical-Biomedical and Genetics industrys negative return of 25.17%.



Gibraltar Industries Inc. ROCK manufactures and distributes products to the industrial and buildings market. The company has its headquarters at Buffalo, NY. Gibraltar has outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 67.30%. The stock has a VGM score of B. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2016 earnings remained steady at $1.58 per share over the last 30 days.



Gibraltars year-to-date return of 68.73% is way better than the Zacks Building Products- Miscellaneous industrys return of 19.11%.



Bedford, TX-based State National Companies Inc. SNC is a leading specialty provider of property and casualty insurance in the U.S. The company has managed to beat earnings twice in the trailing four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 21.28%. The stock has a VGM score of B. Moreover, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2016 earnings has increased by a dime (10.5%) to $1.05 per share over the last 30 days.



State Nationals year-to-date return of 38.53% is better than the Zacks Insurance-Property and Casualty industrys return of 21.73%.



New York-based Leucadia National Corporation LUK is a diversified holding company with interest in financial services, beef processing, oil and gas exploration and development and automobile dealerships. The stock has a VGM score of B. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2016 earnings has been steady at 22 cents per share over the last 30 days.



Leucadias year-to-date return of 34.91% beats the Zacks Diversified Operations industrys return of 7.03%.



Story continues

Get the rest of the stocks on the list and start putting this and other ideas to the test. It can all be done with the Research Wizard stock picking and back testing software.

The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.

Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.

Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.

Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks' portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.

Zacks Restaurant Recommendations: In addition to dining at these special places, you can feast on their stock shares. A Zacks Special Report spotlights 5 recent IPOs to watch plus 2 stocks that offer immediate promise in a booming sector. Download it free 



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



LEUCADIA NATL (LUK): Free Stock Analysis Report



CAMBREX CORP (CBM): Free Stock Analysis Report



BRASKEM SA (BAK): Free Stock Analysis Report



GIBRALTAR INDUS (ROCK): Free Stock Analysis Report



STATE NATL COS (SNC): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
The stunned motorcyclist who filmed an out-of-control car swerving around a Florida highway on his helmet cam has come forward, describing the terrifying situation.

The chaotic scene unfolded near Jacksonville on December 10 as the car barreled down the roadway, striking a light pole and dividers.

Read: Police Rescue Frozen 'Elderly Woman' From Car, But She's Actually a Dummy

"That car took a lot of damage and kept going," the biker, who asked not to be identified, told Inside Edition.

The bikers helmet camera he used to capture the unbelievable video.

"He was going like 45, with no wheels or all or no tires at all, just pure rim," the motorcyclist said. "By the time we got him to the side of the road, he was out cold. They were doing CPR on him."

After coming to a stop in the ditch, the action stopped and the biker ran to the wrecked vehicle to help the driver.

Other good Samaritans came over to help and discovered the driver was a diabetic and showed the symptoms of a stroke. The driver was pulled out of the vehicle as it began to smoke.

Read: Motorist Caught Riding in HOV Lane With Mannequin as Passenger, Gets $490 Ticket

After an ambulance arrived, the driver was taken to the hospital. The driver told Inside Edition he had a medical condition. However, he refused treatment and left the hospital.

"We are thankful he was not seriously injured in this crash or anyone else in that matter," Police Master Sergeant Dylan Bryan told Inside Edition.

Watch: Women's Motorcycle Clubs Helps Deliver Breast Milk to Babies in NICU

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An official statement said the four assailants, who shot at police targets in the town before heading to the Crusader-era castle, carried automatic weapons.

Jordanian security forces stand next to their armored vehicle at the scene next to Karak Castle, during an ongoing attack, in the central town of Karak, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital Amman in Jordan

By Reuters: Jordanian security forces said they killed four "terrorist outlaws" after flushing them out of a castle in the southern city of Karak where they had holed up after a shoot-out that killed nine people.

An official statement said the four assailants, who shot at police targets in the town before heading to the Crusader-era castle, carried automatic weapons. Large quantities of explosives, weapons and suicide belts were seized in a hideout, the statement said.

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WHO ARE THEY?

It made no mention of their identity or whether they belonged to any militant group, raising speculation they could have been tribal outlaws with a vengeance against the state rather than Islamic State fighters, who control parts of neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

A Canadian woman, three other civilians and five police officers were among the nine killed during the exchange of gunfire between the assailants and security forces.

At least 29 people were hospitalised, some with serious injuries.Also Read: Canadian woman among 5 killed in shootout at Jordanian castle

Earlier, government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said a manhunt to "eliminate" the gunmen had entered its final phase.

Jordan's position made it vulnerable to spillover of violence, Momani said.

"When we are in a region engulfed with fire from every side you expect that such events happen," the official said.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Witnesses said exchanges of fire continued for several hours between the gunmen and security forces. Police said earlier they had rescued 10 tourists and trapped inside the historic site when the gunmen went into the castle.

A former government minister from Karak city, Sameeh Maaytah, said there were signs Islamist militants may have been behind the attack.

"This was a group that was plotting certain operations inside Jordan," Maaytah told pan-Arab news channel al-Hadath.

Video footage on social media showed security forces taking groups of young Asian tourists up the castle's steep steps to its main entrance as gunshots were heard overhead.

WHY THE CASTLE

The castle is one of Jordan's most popular tourist attractions.

Prime Minister Hani al Mulki told parliament "a number of security personnel" had been killed and that security forces were laying siege to the castle. The Canadian government confirmed one of its nationals had been killed.

Police and witnesses said gunmen had earlier gone on a shooting spree aimed at officers patrolling the town before entering the castle, perched on top of a hill. They used one of the castle's towers to fire at a nearby police station.

Police said the gunmen had arrived from the desert town of Qatraneh nearly 30 km northeast of Karak city, a desert outpost known for smuggling, where many tribal residents are heavily armed and have long resisted state authority.

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They had fled to Karak after an exchange of fire with the police at a residential building, security forces said.

Jordan is one of the few Arab states that have taken part in a U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State in Syria.

But many Jordanians oppose their country's involvement, saying it has led to the killing of fellow Muslims and raised security threats inside Jordan.

Several incidents over the past year have jolted the Arab kingdom, which has been relatively unscathed by the uprisings, civil wars and Islamist militancy that have swept the Middle East since 2011.

--- ENDS ---
Former President Bill Clinton cast a ballot for his wife, Hillary Clinton, as an elector in the state of New York on Monday. While the former secretary of state will almost certainly not be the next president of the United States, the 42nd president said he was proud of his wife, especially for overcoming the "email nonsense" that plagued her candidacy.

The Electoral College's electors began casting ballots Monday and seemed poised to hand the White House to Donald Trump in accordance with the results of the election, which saw him earn 306 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 needed to clinch the presidency. Amid Clinton's win in the popular vote and intelligence reports that Russia had worked to affect the outcome of the election, there had been efforts from some electors to deny Trump the presidency, but such a move would be unprecedented.

All that aside, former President Clinton described his feelings to reporters after he cast his largely meaningless ballot in Albany, New York Monday.

"I've never cast a vote I was prouder of. You know I've watched her work for two years, I watched her battle through that bogus email deal, be vindicated at the end," he said, via a video posted by Jon Campbel of USA Today. "She fought through that, she fought through everything and she prevailed against it all. But then at the end we had the Russians and the FBI deal, she couldn't prevail against that. She did everything else and she still won by 2.8 million votes."

Clinton seemed to be referencing multiple issues during the campaign: his wife's use of a personal email server during her tenure as secretary of state, a hack of her campaign chair's email and the subsequent release of stolen communications (which the CIA and FBI both reportedly said was done by Russia to get Trump elected) and the FBI's announcement that it was looking into more Clinton-related emails just before Election Day.

The former president made previous comments to the Record-Review, a local paper near his home, about his wife's loss. "[Trump] doesnt know much," he said this month in comments that are just now getting wider circulation with national outlets. "One thing he does know is how to get angry, white men to vote for him."

He also reportedly said that his wife had been way ahead and on track to win before the FBI Director James Comey announced the bureau was looking into more emails, which turned out to not change the finding that recommended no charges.

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Former President Bill Clinton says President-elect Donald Trump doesnt know much, but one thing he does know is how to get angry, white men to vote for him.

In an impromptu discussion with a reporter from the Bedford, N.Y., Record-Review, Clinton said those voters helped deliver Trump his victory.

According to exit-poll data published by the Washington Post, 71 percent of white men with no college degree voted for Trump, compared with just 23 percent for Hillary Clinton.

The former president also pointed to Russian cyberattacks against Democrats and FBI Director James Comeys decision to alert Congress about newly discovered emails related to the bureaus probe of Hillary Clintons private email server on the eve of the election.

James Comey cost her the election, Bill Clinton told the reporter and a small group of people who approached him at small bookstore in Katonah, N.Y., not far from the Clintons Chappaqua, N.Y., home.

Clinton scoffed at Trumps refusal to accept the CIAs assessment that Russia hacked Clinton campaign emails to try and tip the election in his favor.

You would need to have a single-digit IQ not to recognize what was going on, Clinton said.

Clinton also dismissed Trumps assertion that his victory  grabbing 306 electoral votes to Hillarys 232  was a landslide.

Landslide? I got something like 370 electoral votes, Clinton said, referring to his 1992 election victory over President George H. W. Bush. That was a landslide.

Clinton  who once praised Trump as a master brander who could win the GOP nomination but whose lack of experience would be exposed in a general election  said that the president-elect called him the day after beating his wife.

She was tougher than I thought shed be, Trump said, according to Clinton.
Now "Lonely Boy" won't be so lonely. The Black Keys have decided to put their most recent albums on Spotify. "After five years of struggling with this we agreed to put the keys songs on Spotify," Keys drummer Patrick Carney tweeted on Monday. "I'd rather people hear our music than not."

Until now, Spotify-using fans of the Akron, Ohio band have been relegated to only six of their eight studio releases, from 2002's The Big Come Up all the way to 2010's Brothers. The holdouts have been 2011's Danger Mouse-produced El Camino and their most recent effort, 2014's Turn Blue. (The band did release singles off those records to Spotify however, including the hits "Fever" and "Lonely Boy," their most popular song on the entire service at over 100 million spins.)

At press time both Turn Blue and El Camino had been made available, though a disclaimer was still displaying at the top of the band's profile. A Spotify representative declined to comment, but CEO/founder Daniel Ek and Spotify's official account did re-tweet Carney's announcement.

The Keys also have two proper extended plays, 2004's The Moan and 2006's Chulahoma, both of which were already on Spotify.

According to Carney, who has spoken out against Spotify before, the band was given no "advance" money to put the last two albums up. "I'm still an advocate for artists to be paid fairly. I'm still apprehensive."

In a 2014 interview with the Seattle Times, Carney acknowledged that the streaming model was the "way of the future," but that artists were not getting their fair share of revenue. "My whole thing about music is: if somebody's making money then the artist should be getting a fair cut of it," he said. "The owner of Spotify is worth something like 3 billion dollars he's richer than Paul McCartney and he's 30 and he's never written a song."

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While nothing compares to the holdout fervor of artists like the dearly departed Prince and reclusive rockers Tool (one song apiece on the service), the decision by the Keys should please diehard fans, at least. Other artists who have filled in the gaps in the last year include Radiohead, which made In Rainbows and various bi-sides available, and most recently Neil Young, who until early November only had a handful of quirky mid-career albums on the service, namely Trans. Spotify has returned the love to Young, heavily promoting his latest album Peace Trail both in their "New Releases" section and on Facebook.

After five years of struggling with this we agreed to put the keys songs on Spotify. I'd rather people hear our music than not.

- Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) December 19, 2016

No advance or money was exchanged. I'm still an advocate for artists to be paid fairly. I'm still apprehensive.

- Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) December 19, 2016
By Alastair Sharp

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's BlackBerry Ltd plans to invest C$100 million ($75 million) in a new autonomous vehicle testing hub over several years, the company's chief executive said on Monday, as the fallen smartphone pioneer looks elsewhere for growth.

Most of the money will go to engineering jobs, possibly hundreds in coming years, John Chen told reporters at the Ottawa-area headquarters of its BlackBerry QNX subsidiary, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at his side.

The company, which is racing to increase software sales as its handset unit and related legacy service access fees shrink, hopes to make itself indispensable in the automotive industry's looming self-driving arms race. [L1N1E12EX]

"One could make the argument that QNX is the strongest asset in their portfolio right now, so it's refreshing to see this investment," said IDC's consumer mobility analyst Brian Haven.

But he said scaling the business and dealing with rivals with more money to throw at autonomous driving initiatives would be challenges for the company.

BlackBerry is hoping its security and safety credentials help it win a seat at the table as an array of automakers, chip and sensor providers and software developers work in competitive co-operation to bring self-driving cars to the mass market.

"It will require significant cooperation between all those involved to be sure that the end product and its communication configuration is both safe and secure for the individuals that use them and those sharing the road," said David Masson, Canada country manager at cybersecurity firm Darktrace.

BlackBerry will initially work with middleware supplier PolySync and semiconductor company Renesas Electronics Corp, as well as its hometown University of Waterloo on its autonomous driving project, but hopes to welcome more companies to its Ottawa facility.

The company's Toronto-listed shares were up 2.9 percent at C$10.40, after earlier rising as much as 4 percent to a one-month high.

Story continues

The company's QNX unit, renamed BlackBerry QNX, currently employs around 400 engineers, some three-quarters of them at its facility in Kanata on the outskirts of Ottawa.

BlackBerry has about 5,000 employees in total.

While the embedded operating system market is likely to grow quickly as autonomous driving takes off, BlackBerry faces numerous competitive threats, including from independent embedded operating system producer Green Hills Software as well as chipmakers such as Intel Corp.

It must also convince system integrators including former QNX owner Harman International Industries Inc that its offering is compelling.

($1 = 1.3392 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Alastair Sharp in Ottawa; editing by Rod Nickel, Bernard Orr)
(Photo: Vai Sikahema/ Twitter)

The three-year-old daughter of former Philadelphia Eagles running back Reno Mahe died late last month  a week after she was found twisted in window blind cord in their family home.

Elsie Mahe was playing with her friend when the freak accident occurred, and adults were in a separate room nearby. Its reported the family doesnt how long Elsie was entangled before she was found unconscious.

Despite her mothers desperate attempt to save her, performing CPR until paramedics could arrive, Elsie was pronounced brain dead at a Childrens Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Her father took to Instagram to announce the tragedy, sharing a picture drawn by Elsies older sister, Evie.

Our Elsie girl has officially been released to heaven  at least from a worldly, paperwork stand point. Her second neurological death exam was also positive for brain death, Reno Mahe wrote on behalf of his family. We feel peace and we are again so grateful for the privilege of being Elsies parents.

The Mahes also said they will be donating Elsies organs.

(Photo: Getty Images)

A government statistic has shown 24 Canadian children were strangled to death on blind and curtain cords between the years 1989 and 2012. Most of these children were under the age of 3.

Story continues

While parents are encouraged to go cordless, there are safety guides available to help protect children against the silent killer.

Tell us what you think by tweeting @YahooStyleCA.




Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

From Road & Track

This is not just a Land Rover Defender. This is the best Land Rover Defender, built by BMW with a straight-six in South Africa. Called the Red Mamba, it belongs to Frank Isenberg, BMW Driver Training's top dog and the leader of the M2 project.

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

I'll let him walk you through what we're looking at here:

"It was in the nineties, when Land Rover was part of the BMW Group and I was working for BMW in South Africa. On a Friday afternoon, walking through the workshop, my boss introduced a Defender 110 with a 3.5 Rover V8 to me. Looking at the carburetors he said that many people in South Africa complain about the high fuel consumption, but otherwise, it would be a great vehicle. For me as a chassis man it was difficult to accept a truck with solid beam axles and a not that impressive engine in our BMW Test Centre. But after having a closer look, I started to fall for this Landy's character.

On the hoist next to her was a BMW 325i waiting for an engine upgrade. The new BMW M52 2.8i engine had already arrived, waiting to be fitted and tested for the local South African conditions. We grabbed a tape measure, checked the M52 engine and the Defender's engine bay and on Monday night this brand new 194 horsepower engine was hanging on a rope, now in the Defender`s front end.

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

It took a lot of phone calls to Munich and Solihull to get the right dimensions of the components we had to change and to sort out the electrics. Initially the engineers on the other side where quite confused by our questions as they had no idea what was going on  it was a top secret project.

After 2-3 weeks the very first Defender 2.8i was running  like hell. Everybody involved was impressed by the smoothness and performance of the conversion. This first prototype was used for some functional testing like drivability, off-road capability, hot environmental tests and so on.

To get sign off and full approval for production we had to prove durability according to Land Rover and BMW test standards. Therefore, we converted a green 90 soft top into the first Defender 90 2.8i  the so called Green Mamba, because of its power and speed. Testing happened all over South Africa and especially the government approved high speed testing at about 170 km/h was a lot of fun, even when a bit noisy because of the soft top and the NAS roll cage.

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We only had a few minor technical issues until in 1997 the Defender 2.8i went into production to become a big success. During this period, Ithe BMW chassis guyfelt in love with the Landy, off-roading and southern Africa.

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

Many years and some BMW projects later, on a rainy Saturday morning back in Munich, I spotted a red Defender 110 2.8i on Gumtree South Africa. As I've been looking for such a characterful car, I had a very bad sleep, only to ask my boss on Sunday for an unplanned leave. On Monday, I got a ticket and flew to Capetown. After arrival Tuesday lunchtime and a short test drive I signed the contract and the Red Mamba was mine.

With 75,000 miles on the clock, no strange noises and almost no rust I believe I made a good deal. It took me about a week to convert her into a basic camper equipped with only the most necessary goodies (roof rack with solar panel, deep freezer, coffee machine). It is still impressive how nice she runs. It's great on the highway (still capable of 94mph (GPS) fully laden), but comes alive even more in the dunes.

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

You can feel the power of the M52. It is amazing how the Red Mamba runs up the steepest slopes, with the roar of the natural aspirated BMW straight-six revving up to 6500 rpm. Maybe unusual for a 4x4, but great fun.

The best trips so far were the Namaqua Eco Trail with the famous "Road to Hell", Kunene 4x4 Trail with van Zyls Pass and a Namib Desert Crossing. Now the odometer shows 97,000 miles and there were only a few technical issues caused by...me. A broken propshaft joint (poor maintenance  no grease) and a blown clutch release bearing (heavy over revving when going downhill  the engine survived). From my experience across the "Road to Hell", I fitted a locking rear differential."

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

According to Land Rover Monthly's Patrick Cruywagen, the BMW Rosslyn-built Defenders had the following modifications to make the M52 conversion work and to get them ready for South African conditions:

"Every bit that was used came from the Land Rover parts bin. Obviously, the motor and everything up until the end of the crankshaft was BMW but the fly wheel, clutch mechanism, pressure plate, release bearing, bell housing and gearbox all came from the Range Rover P38 DSE, which had the 2.5 BMW diesel engine in. Thanks to the 1.667:1 LT 230 transfer box ratio, you now had a short gearing, high-revving engine, which resulted in one very nippy Defender with loads of power. In addition, some 'local' enhancements were made, including air con, interior trim and specially-developed 235/85/R16 Continental tires.

Land Rover South Africa also had to make tweaks to the suspension in order to handle the powerful BMW engine. Once the whole lot was wedged togetherincluding a fuel pump from the 3.9-liter fuel-injected Discovery 1 you had a Defender like no other."

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

Between 1997 and 2000, a little more than a thousand M52-powered Defenders were built in two body styles, exclusively for the South African market.

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

Photo credit: Frank Isenberg

Now, you know why the M2 ended up being so good to drive.

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Brasilia (AFP) - Testimony expected to set off a series of political bombshells in Brazil was filed Monday in the massive Operation Carwash corruption investigation.

The probe into an embezzlement and bribery scheme between politicians and executives at Petrobras state oil company and other big corporations has already upended Brazil's political establishment.

Now, testimony in plea bargains by 77 executives at the giant Odebrecht construction company is set to implicate potentially scores more politicians -- and possibly threaten President Michel Temer.

The testimony "arrived this morning and is in a safe," said a spokesman for the Supreme Court, which tries cases involving sitting politicians.

The justice overseeing the case, Teori Zavascki, will now inspect the mountain of testimony about Odebrecht's involvement with politicians in the embezzlement scheme, and decide in February whether it can be admitted.

Despite tight security, there have already been damaging media leaks about the contents of the plea bargains.

Ministers in Temer's center-right government and the president himself have been named as having taken undeclared campaign donations from Odebrecht -- what prosecutors say were bribes.

Executives from Odebrecht have told prosecutors that they paid bribes to politicians to win juicy contracts from Petrobras, whose own executives also collaborated in ransacking the company coffers. According to leaked reports, Odebrecht executives would also bribe politicians to push through favorable legislation.

Meanwhile, the chief Carwash judge, Sergio Moro, accepted a fifth court case against former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, an arch enemy of Temer.

Lula is accused of being part of a network that skimmed off two to three percent of the value of contracts signed by Petrobras and Odebrecht, according to the latest case. Some 75 million reais ($22 million) were stolen, prosecutors say.

Lula denies involvement in this or any of the other corruption cases stacking up against him, describing them as politicized attempts to stop him from running again in 2018.
Brasilia (AFP) - Brazil announced Monday it will open a case at the World Trade Organization against Canada over what it says are unfair subsidies for the aircraft builder Bombardier.

The government's foreign trade body authorized the opening of the case, claiming that "support given by the Canadian government to Bombardier has affected competitiveness in the market."

In 2016, the Quebec provincial government gave $2.5 billion to Bombardier and said "there are indications that the federal Canadian government intends soon to make another significant capital injection to ensure the viability of the new C-Series line of airplanes and its placement on the market at artificially lower prices," the government said.

Brazil's Embraer, a direct competitor with Bombardier in the executive jet market, welcomed the move.

"Canada's subsidies have caused significant distortions in the market and violate international commercial norms," said Embraer CEO Paulo Cesar Silva.

Embraer is the biggest aircraft builder after Boeing and Airbus.
By PTI: Los Angeles, Dec 19 (PTI) Actress Katie Holmes and her rumoured boyfriend Jamie Foxx reportedly jetted off to Mexico to celebrate her 38th birthday.

A few days before her birthday the "Dawsons Creek" alum and Foxx had a romantic getaway to Cabo San Lucas, reported Us magazine.

"Katie and Jamie took a private jet to Cabo on Friday morning from Van Nuys Airport (in Los Angeles). It was a quick trip in honor of Katies birthday. It was only them and two pilots on the plane," a source said.

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From the airport the two took a limousine to Las Ventanas al Paraiso resort.

"They stayed in one of the most private suites at the hotel, separate from other guests and entered by a small path. They wanted to be very discreet and had everything delivered to their room and taken care of by a personal butler," the source added.

The pair flew back to Los Angeles on Saturday night and Holmes spent Sunday with her daughter Suri.

The actress shared on Instagram a couple of pictures of her celebrating birthday with the 10-year-old girl. PTI SHD SHD

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DailyFX.com -

Talking Points

- GBPUSD little changed in holiday-thinned markets.

- Scotlands First Lady will likely push for second independence referendum unless terms are met.

- See the DailyFX Economic Calendar and see what live coverage for key event risk impacting FX markets is scheduled for next week on the DailyFX Webinar Calendar.

The pound moved marginally lower Monday morning after a weekend article in the Financial Times showed that Scotland may push for another referendum on independence. According to the article, Scotlands First Lady Nicola Sturgeon said that the best option for Scotland remains full membership of the EU as an independent member state, Sturgeon added. Independence must remain an option for safeguarding our European status, if it becomes clear that our interests cannot be protected in any other way.

Scotland rejected the chance for independence from the UK in a vote on September 18 2014 by 55% to 45% after a prolonged and bitter campaign. After the vote Spains Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy made it clear that Scotland would not be allowed to negotiate with the EU, saying that if the UK leaves, Scotland leaves. Spain has its own concerns with independence movements in the Basque and Catalonia regions and fears that any special arrangements for Scotland could boost further referendum calls.

In a BBC interview over the weekend, British trade minister Liam Fox said that the UK may look for a transitional period to ease the countrys exit from the European Union but warned against signing a deal that was too similar to bloc membership. UK businesses have been pushing for a transitional deal, or soft-Brexit to smooth the process of the UK leaving the EU, avoiding a cliff-edge if the Government misses the two-year Brexit deadline.

Markets

Index / Exchange Rate Change (Exchange Hours/GMT Session Rollover) Market Close/Last FTSE 100 +0.15% 7,010 DAX +0.31% 11,401 GBP/USD +0.42% 1.2468 EUR/USD +0.40% 1.0456 EUR/GBP +0.01% 0.8388

Upcoming Event Risk

Story continues

Events Date, Time (GMT) Forecast Previous Germany Ifo Business Climate Index (Dec) Dec 19, 09:00 110.4 UK PSNB (Nov) Dec 21, 09:30 4.3bn Euro-Zone Consumer Confidence (Dec A) Dec 21, 15:00 -6.1 UK GfK Consumer Confidence (Dec) Dec 22, 00:01 -8 Germany GfK Consumer Confidence (Dec) Dec 23, 07:00 9.8

The British Pound remained stable in morning trade, after giving back some of its recent gains last week. Against the US Dollar, the Pound traded at 1.2465 after having ticked above 1.2700 just under a week ago. From a technical point of view however, sterling may see fresh falls as we head into the year-end with the down-trend being reasserted, according to DailyFx senior currency strategist Ilya Spivak - GBP/USD Strategy: Looking to Enter Short Above 1.25.

Chart: 1-Hour GBP/USD (December 8  December 19)

Brexit Briefing: GBPUSD Brushes Off Talk of New Scottish Independence Vote, For Now

--- Written by Nick Cawley, Analyst

--- To contact Nick, email him at Nicholas.cawley@ig.com

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By Tova Cohen and Barbara Lewis TEL AVIV/LONDON (Reuters) - Israeli authorities placed billionaire businessman Beny Steinmetz under house arrest on Monday over allegations of bribery and corruption in Africa linked to his mining company, BSG Resources (BSGR). Steinmetz, along with other Israelis living abroad, is alleged to have paid tens of millions of dollars to senior public officials in Guinea to advance their businesses, a police spokesman said in a statement. The 60-year-old was detained earlier in the day for questioning and will remain under house arrest until Jan. 2. BSGR said in a statement that the allegations were baseless and Yuval Sasson, a lawyer for Steinmetz and BSGR in Israel, said the proceedings were "a recycling of an old process led by the government of Guinea...in order to illegally expropriate BSGR's mining rights". "These are continuous and baseless attempts meant to conceal the corruption aimed at illegally expropriating assets," Sasson said in a statement. BSGR said in a separate statement that the investigations were initiated by the government of Guinea with international police organizations in the United States, Britain and Switzerland. A Guinean government spokesman declined to say whether the African country was involved in the case, but said the government would fight corruption and uphold the principle of judicial independence. "The Guinean government will assume its responsibilities and will respect the commitment of the head of state to fight against corruption," Damantang Albert Camara said. BSGR described Steinmetz as an adviser to the company, which is headquartered in the Channel Islands and is a mining arm of Steinmetz's business conglomerate. A BSGR spokesman told Reuters that Steinmetz does not sit on BSGR's board or have an executive role, but "is the beneficiary of the foundation which owns BSG Resources". A Guinean government panel reviewing the West African nation's mining deals investigated how BSGR obtained the rights to the Simandou deposit, one of the world's largest untapped iron ore resources, in 2008. Mining giant Rio Tinto and BSGR have both launched legal claims over the rights to Simandou. Guinea's former minister of mines, Mahmoud Thiam, was arrested in New York last week on charges he was involved in bribery payments linked to Guinea's mining industry. (Additional reporting by Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem and Saliou Samb in Conakry; Editing by Alexander Smith)
By Laith Agha LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - About 2,000 people protesting against the rhetoric and proposals of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump marched peacefully through downtown Los Angeles on Sunday in advance of Monday's planned Electoral College vote to formally choose him as leader. Trump, a Republican businessman who campaigned against illegal immigration and threatened to imprison Democratic rival Hillary Clinton if elected, lost the popular vote in the Nov. 8 U.S. election but won the contest for the electoral college, which is calculated on a state-by-state basis. "I want to tell Mr. Trump that we are immigrants, we help this economy grow, we dont want nothing for free," said marcher Horalia Jauregui. In addition to marking the day before the Electoral College is set to vote, the march took place on International Migrants Day, designated by the United Nations to draw attention to the plight of refugees. Marchers in Los Angeles carried signs with phrases such as Stop Trump, Refugees Welcome, and Make America Think Again, a play on Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan. Heavily Democratic California voted overwhelmingly for Clinton in the election, and its leaders have begun positioning the most populous U.S. state to fight the incoming Trump administration on any challenges to its progressive policies on issues such as immigration, the environment and healthcare. On Sunday, state Senate leader Kevin de Leon, a Democrat from Los Angeles, said he would fight any moves by Trump that conflict with what he called California's values. There were no obvious pro-Trump protesters at the event. Lieutenant Al Labrada, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department, said the protests were peaceful, with no incidents or arrests. (Editing by Sharon Bernstein and Paul Tait)
And then there were four.

Camilla Cabello has quit Fifth Harmony, the girl group announced in an Instagram post on early Monday morning, hours after the group played the final Jingle Ball show of the year in Cabellos hometown of Miami. However, the remaining members  Normani Kordei, Lauren Juaregui, Dinah Jane and Ally Brooke  vowed to continue on as a foursome.

After 4 and a half years of being together, we have been informed via her representatives that Camila has decided to leave Fifth Harmony. We wish her well, the remaining members wrote to their fans  Harmonizers  in the post.

A photo posted by Fifth Harmony (@fifthharmony) on Dec 18, 2016 at 9:00pm PST

We are excited to announce that we will be moving forward with the four of us  We are four strong, committed women who will continue with Fifth Harmony as well as our solo endeavors.

The announcement comes weeks after Cabello, 19, released the music video for her latest solo track Bad Things, featuring Machine Gun Kelly.

Months earlier, Cabello abruptly left a St. Louis, Missouri, concert mid-set due to anxiety.

Hi Missouri, sorry I couldnt finish the set last night, she wrote in a September Snapchat after the incident. Was having too much anxiety and couldnt finish it  I love u. Im truly sorry.

She took to Twitter before the performance to share her exhaustion, writing, just wanna sleep for 3 days.
Ottawa (AFP) - Deaths from drug overdoses in November hit a new high in Canada's British Columbia province, epicenter of a raging national opioid crisis, health officials said on Monday.

A total of 128 people died as a result of illicit drug use in the month, an average of four deaths per day.

The previous high, set in January, was 82. Fentanyl has been detected in about 60 percent of cases this year, up from two percent in 2012.

"November saw the most tragic number of deaths so far this year," British Columbia Health Minister Terry Lake said in a statement.

Canada and the United States have been struggling to contain the sudden spike in opioid overdose deaths, pouring tens of millions of dollars into bolstering public health emergency responses, with little effect.

Morgues in British Columbia are at capacity.

Public health officials have distributed nearly 18,000 naloxone kits to addicts to treat emergency narcotic overdoses and opened pop-up consumption rooms in at-risk neighborhoods.

The city of Vancouver, meanwhile, voted recently to raise property taxes by 0.5 percent to fund a bigger response to the crisis.

The federal government also has ordered increased customs searches for fentanyl and partnered with China to stem its flow into Canada.

Highly potent and addictive, the analgesic fentanyl is estimated to be up to 100 times stronger than morphine. The related drug carfentanil is 100 times more powerful than fentanyl.

Two milligrams of pure fentanyl -- the size of about four grains of salt -- is enough to kill an average-size adult.
OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian government released on Monday the guidelines of its national security review of investments, laying out what factors it looks at when considering whether a corporate deal poses a security risk. An investment by foreigners that takes over all or part of a Canadian company or establishes a new business in Canada can be subject to a national security review. Among the issues the government may look at are what effects the investment could have on Canadian defense capabilities, the security of critical infrastructure and the transfer of sensitive technology out of the country, according to the guidelines. The government may also scrutinize the potential for the investment to allow for foreign surveillance or to have an impact on Canada's foreign relationships. Canada can block the proposed investment or set specific conditions on the deal if it so chooses. The government has 45 days from when it is notified of an investment to decide whether a national security review is necessary, which can also be extended by an additional 45 days. The release of the guidelines is meant to give greater clarity to companies looking to invest in Canada, the government said. Canada has come under fire in the past for what critics have said is an opaque process. The government said it plans to introduce changes to existing legislation that will require annual reporting on the administration of its security regulations. (Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Losing both breasts to cancer was already tough enough, but then Genevieve Esgate was faced with another problem  most of her wardrobe didnt work with the scar tissue that remained on her chest.

Along with learning to accept her new, thankfully cancer-free, body, the Kingscliff, Australia-based teacher had to figure out how to dress herself again.

It was a tough thing to see for the first time, Esgate, 38, tells PEOPLE of seeing her chest post-mastectomy. As I stared in the mirror, I couldnt believe how different my body looked with both breasts gone. I was happy that it was done, but I knew that emotionally more than physically, I would need to give myself healing time to get used to these enormous body changes and what it meant for me as a woman.

And then she tried to wear her old clothes.

I was someone who loved fashion and loved wearing a range of clothing that is on trend and stylish. I found that I had very limited items in my current wardrobe, she says. This came as quite a surprise, as I actually thought it would be as simple as throwing back on my old clothes but it was actually much harder than I thought it was going to be.

Anything tight is a no no without breasts as it hugs the scar area. Low things dont work either, so I really had to rework my wardrobe and start over with my new body.

Esgate says she tried searching for tips online, but everything on post-mastectomy dressing centered around an older demographic.

All I could find were websites that had you putting the prosthesis in and the fashion was directed to more mature ladies. There was absolutely nothing out there to help the ladies who chose to stay flat and that really surprised me, she says.

Instead, Esgate slowly figured out how to dress  and accept  her new body on her own.

It took time to learn and it was certainly a lot of trial and error, she says. Its also hard when you go to change rooms, as you want to be left alone more than anything. Now in a shop I am able to try on only about 20 percent of the clothes. I have just learnt along the way, trying different styles to see what works. I certainly dont know everything or have all the answers, but I definitely have a much better idea than I had at the start.

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RELATED VIDEO: Meet the Girl Whos Helping Families Impacted by Breast Cancer Through Photography

With her new-found knowledge, Esgate wanted to help other post-mastectomy women, and started a fashion blog called Leave Me Breastless.

I have had an amazing response, from women who connected with my emotional stories to other women who have gained the confidence to try some of the ideas I have suggested and come back to show me, she says.

I want to help other women believe that they dont have to get breast reconstruction if they dont want to, because there are other options open to them. It is still possible to be physically beautiful without breasts and clothing can have a huge impact on women believing this.




On Sunday, when the sun made its annual alignment with the black hole at the center of our galaxy, scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) trained their sights on the celestial event. Their aim in doing so? To detect and study hypothetical entities called axions and chameleons  particles that may constitute dark matter and dark energy, respectively.

The scientists used the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST)  a device originally designed to detect axions and chameleons that our sun may be emitting  to focus on the black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The hope was that the suns gravitational force would act as a lens that would warp the fabric of space-time behind it, thereby focusing slow-speed exotic particles that the supermassive black hole may be emitting.

Weve always looked for exotic particles from the Sun, we have been doing this for years, but for one specific day we can look beyond the sun, to see if something more happens, CAST experiment spokesman Konstantin Zioutas said in a statement released Monday. The galactic centre might send out exotics that we can detect now, which might tell us far more about the dark universe than we could know before, since the Sun can amplify a faint exotic stream by about one billion, provided it is aligned with the Sun-Earth system.

The existence of axions is predicted by an extension of quantum chromodynamics, which is a theory that lies within the ambit of the Standard Model of particle physics and explains how the strong nuclear force  one of the four known fundamental forces  works. Some estimates suggest that if axions do make up the bulk of dark matter, they would have a mass of between 50 and 1,500 microelectronvolts, making them up to 10 billion times lighter than electrons.

Chameleons, meanwhile, have been theorized to exist to explain what dark energy  the mysterious force that makes up over 68 percent of the universe  is made of. As its name suggests, it is a hypothetical particle capable of changing its properties based on its surroundings  gaining and losing mass as required.

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If matter were music, then ordinary matter would be like the keys on a piano, Amol Upadhye, a theoretical physicist at the University of Wisconsin, explained in an interview with Symmetry magazine. Each particle has a discrete mass, just like each piano key plays a single note. But chameleon particles would be like the slide on a trombone and able to change their pitches based on the amount of background noise.

However, even if these particles do exist, it has hitherto been impossible to detect their interactions with normal matter as they are invisible to most detectors.

Until now, its been impossible to detect particles through their specific direct interaction with matter because the equipment didnt exist. We had to build a special detector, called KWISP (Kinetic Weakly Interacting Slim Particle detector), Giovanni Cantatore, deputy spokesman for CAST, said in the statement. KWISP uses a special membrane force sensor  like the skin of a drum. When its hit by the chameleons, it vibrates at a frequency we can fix using the chameleon chopper, a device we invented for this purpose.

Researchers at CERN are now analyzing data gathered during Sundays experiment, although preliminary results indicate that no new particles were detected emanating from the black hole.

Related Articles
The students were stripped naked and made to do rigorous exercise for hours.

By Revathi Rajeevan: Two students of a government polytechnic college in Kottayam have been hospitalised in Kerala after allegedly being ragged by seniors.

One of the boys' kidneys have been affected and is admitted in a Thrissur hospital , the other is in Kochi.

According to a complaint filed by the student's father, his son was forced to consume adulterated liquor by a group of nine seniors.

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Five out of the nine accused have surrendered, while the police is on the lookout for the remaining.

The students were allegedly stripped naked and made to do rigorous physical activities for hours.

Also read: Sikh apex body asks Supreme Court to apply anti-ragging laws against 'racist' jokes

Watch the video here

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NEW YORK, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission ordered a Washington area wealth management firm to pay $800,000 on Monday in a fraud case involving the firm's chief executive, who apparently committed suicide in 2014.

Potomac, Maryland-based Convergent Wealth Advisors was ordered to pay the fine to settle charges that its former CEO David Zier defrauded Convergent clients who he solicited to invest in a private fund he managed outside of Convergent, named ZAM LLC.

Convergent Wealth Advisors did not respond to requests for comment.

From 2007 to 2014, the CFTC found that Zier falsely told clients ZAM was profitable and gave them fabricated performance statements that concealed substantial losses, according to a press release.

In October 2014, Zier was found dead at his Virginia home in an apparent suicide just weeks after Convergent's compliance officers began questioning him about irregularities in ZAM's records, Barron's previously reported.

Convergent did not disclose ZAM's total losses. However, the CFTC said that from December 2010 to Zier's death four years later, Zier fraudulently solicited $2.9 million in investments in ZAM.

The CFTC held Convergent responsible for Zier's activities because its compliance department monitored Zier's emails and tracked ZAM's performance.

Convergent is a registered investment advisory firm managing the assets of roughly 200 ultra wealthy client families, according to its website.

Previously owned by City National Bank, Convergent was sold to Pathstone Federal Street earlier this year, according to a press release on Pathstone's website.

Pathstone did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

(Reporting By Elizabeth Dilts; Editing by Tom Brown)
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f321564%2fa7fc6c9c-1e9c-4bde-ac0e-7cc8655e03e4

Here's a holiday pick-me-up that took place at a fried chicken sandwich restaurant.

A chance encounter at a Chick-fil-A in Indiana has ended with more the $40,000 raised for charity.

Local man Cameron Nelson recently stopped at the chicken sandwich fast-food eatery and noticed a man behind the cash register was in a neck brace and sling, according to a post on his Facebook page on Dec. 8.

SEE ALSO: This viral Christmas ad is giving us all the holiday feels

Nelson said he asked the man what happened and the cashier said he'd been in a car accident, but had to keep working to support himself and help feed the homeless on Christmas.

"Maybe I was supposed to go in there," Nelson wrote, adding that he was thinking of passing along a couple hundred dollars from his next paycheck. "I was amazed he's still workin despite his condition."

After posting the photo and message, Nelson went on to set up a GoFundMe online fundraiser to help the cashier out. The $2,500 goal was quickly surpassed with more than 1,600 people contributing more than $42,000.

The cashier has since been identified as Jakeem Tyler, an 18-year-old high school student in a suburb of Indianapolis and part-time Chick-fil-A employee, according to a Fox News report. He was told to go home and recover, but he insisted on pulling through his shift and that's when Nelson saw him working despite his injuries.

In a video interview on Fox News, Tyler, still in a sling, said the huge amount of support was "truly mind-blowing" and that he felt "very blessed and grateful." He credited his parents for teaching him to have a strong work ethic.

Fox News says Nelson got Tyler's contact information, so hopefully he'll be able to deliver the funds to him in time for the holidays. Tyler said he plans on giving all the money to the homeless.

This is sure to get you into the holiday spirit.
China has charged 10 people over a power plant collapse that killed 74 last month, state media reported Monday, after first detaining 13 in the immediate aftermath of the accident.

A platform more than 70 metres (230 feet) high in a cooling tower at the Ganneng Fengcheng power station in the central province of Jiangxi crashed to the ground in late November, killing 74 people and injuring another two.

The cooling tower was part of a 7.67 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) expansion plan for the coal-fired power station.

Prosecutors charged nine people, including the expansion project's director Deng Yongchao and its quality control head Yang Yunfei, with "dereliction of duty", Jiancha Daily, the newspaper managed by the Supreme People's Procuratorate -- the national prosecuting authority -- reported on Monday.

They "hold major responsibility for the occurrence of the accident", the report said.

Prosecutors also charged another person with bribery in relation to the accident.

The company had sought to "expedite construction progress" on the expansion project in September, previous statements on its website showed.

Industrial accidents are relatively common in China, which has a dire workplace safety record.

Official figures show 66,182 people were killed in such accidents in 2015.
Spring has come early to the South China Sea. Many analysts had assumed that China would do something to test the newly elected president once he was in office. George W. Bush faced an earlier incident when a Chinese frigate nearly rammed the USNS Bowditch in March 2001 and the spy plane collision a few weeks later, months after he was inaugurated. Barack Obama had the USNS Impeccable incident in March 2009. But for President-elect Donald Trump, Chinas seizure of an underwater drone, affiliated with the USNS Bowditch, has come ahead of schedule.

We can only speculate why. Perhaps this was a response to Trumps controversial phone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and subsequent comments about changing Americas stance toward the One-China policy. Perhaps it was something that was going to happen anyway.

The drone seizure has torpedoed the rapprochement between the U.S. and Chinese navies that President Barack Obamas administration has steadily pursued over the past few years. The goodwill built up through port visits, participation in joint exercises, leadership discussions, and practical agreements has been badly damaged. Theres a simple term for seizing a vessel at sea without lawful reason: piracy. In the eyes of international law, this action puts the Chinese navy in the same category as Somali pirates with AK-47 assault rifles.

Chinese officials have repeatedly said their country does not pose a threat to the rule of law in the South China Sea. President Xi Jinping told an audience so in Singapore in November 2015: There has never been any problem with the freedom of navigation and overflight; nor will there ever be any in the future, for China needs unimpeded commerce through these waters more than anyone else.

The seizure of the drone is a reminder to countries in Southeast Asia and beyond that Chinese actions are often inconsistent with their smooth assurances. It only adds to the alarm felt in regional capitals about the consequences of Chinas rise and increases their desire to mitigate the risks through new security arrangements  whether with the United States or with each other or among nearby friends such as Japan, India, and Australia.

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For China to increase these concerns, it must have decided that it had more to gain than lose from stealing the drone. It may want access to the technology and data on board the device, or it might wish to deter the United States from using drones near its submarines. Above all, however, it probably wants to send a message about the limits to U.S. power in the region and about the consequences of trespassing on its core interests, particularly over Taiwan.

The USNS Bowditch was an obvious target for a calculated escalation. Like the USNS Impeccable in 2009 (and the EP-3 surveillance plane in 2001), the ship is unarmed. It has a predominantly civilian crew, and its mission is surveillance and ocean research. The Chinese military loathes its activities, regarding them as a particular threat to the security of its ballistic missile submarines based at Yulin, on the southern tip of Hainan. For China, this is not peaceful research but preparation for military conflict. If the United States knows how to trace and follow Beijings submarines, it will be able to neutralize part of its nuclear deterrent.

Its theoretically possible that the seizure was entirely spontaneous. According to James Fanell, the former director of intelligence at U.S. Pacific Fleet and now at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, since October 2015 Chinese vessels have shadowed every American warship entering the international waters of the South China Sea; the Bowditchs shadow, according to the U.S. Defense Department, was a Dalang III-class rescue and salvage ship, the Nan-Jiu 510. The explanation given by the Chinese Ministry of Defense that a Chinese naval lifeboat located an unidentified device in the waters of the South China Sea is laughable, but it is at least conceivable that the Chinese crew just grabbed a target of opportunity without a direct order from Beijing.

The Pentagons account of the incident, however, makes this seem unlikely. The Bowditchs littoral battlespace sensing gliders can remain at sea for days, weeks, or even months, and the moments when they can be located and seized on the surface are rare. The fact that the Nan-Jiu 510 happened to be in a position to intervene at just the moment the Bowditch had retrieved one drone from the water and was about to retrieve a second suggests, in retaliation for Trumps recent comments, it had been ordered to follow the American boat with the explicit intention of seizing the drone.

The location of the incident offers further clues about Chinas calculated aggression. It happened about 600 miles from China, outside even the ambiguous U-shaped Chinese boundary marked on that countrys maps. One reading is that this marks a major escalation in Chinas efforts to attain control in the South China Sea. The EP-3 and Impeccable incidents took place just 70 nautical miles from Hainan. The 2001 Bowditch incident was in the Yellow Sea, within a couple of hundred miles of the Chinese coast. The drone seizure, by contrast, was well beyond any previously claimed Chinese waters.

However, its unlikely that Beijing has suddenly decided to expand its already expansive claims in the South China Sea to include an area just 57 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines. It seems more likely that, after Trumps comments, the crew of the Nan-Jiu 510 was given the green light to seize the drone at the first available opportunity. It was just coincidence that the opportunity only arose so far from China. The Trump team took its first step on the ladder of escalation with the arrangement of the Taiwan call on Dec. 2. Trump added a second step a little more than a week later with his comments to Fox News that the United States was under no obligation to follow the One-China policy. Now China is showing that it, too, can escalate and that its willing, for the sake of its prestige and sovereignty, to bear a significant price in terms of naval cooperation with the United States or regional criticism.

Where does the ladder lead to from here? Trumps interview comments suggest that at least some members of his team are looking for an agreement on a new status quo with China covering all these issues. I dont know why we have to be bound by a one China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade, he told Fox News Sunday. Trump mentioned other issues he and his team see with China, including devaluation, heavy border taxes, Beijings massive fortress-building in the South China Sea, and the problem of North Korea.

Trump advisor and former CIA Director James Woolsey has suggested a grand bargain in which the U.S. accepts Chinas political and social structure and commits not to disrupt it in any way in exchange for Chinas commitment not to challenge the status quo in Asia. The question to which the region is now seeking answers is how much disruption to Chinas political and social structure will Trump be willing to inflict in order to reach the new status quo? Or, to put it another way, how much damage to U.S. and regional interests will he be prepared to absorb in order to reach that position?

Amid all of these questions, the actual fate of the drone remains, at present, a mystery. Does it remain on the Nan-Jiu 510, or has it been offloaded at one of Chinas new artificial islands in the Spratlys? Are Chinese technologists currently probing its secrets? The Chinese Ministry of Defense has promised to return it but didnt specify how many pieces it will be returned in. Trump threw everyone off balance recently by tweeting, We should tell China that we dont want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it! Perhaps he has considered the likelihood that China may want some concessions in return. For the Trump camp, sticking to its assertive line seems more important than the loss of the drone.

However it ends, this years Bowditch incident will be seen as a fitting epitaph for Obamas strategy toward China, which has stressed cooperation on global challenges and the avoidance of conflict. A successful outcome, in which the drone is returned and a crisis averted, will be hailed as a vindication. Southeast Asian states, which regard a U.S.-China conflict in their neighborhood as the worst possible outcome, will be hugely grateful.

However, a large group of critics, well beyond the incoming Trump administration, believe that President Obamas aversion to risk has only emboldened Beijing in the South China Sea. Trump advisors Alexander Gray and Peter Navarro have written in Foreign Policy of their peace through strength approach to China. They are ready to bury the Obama strategy. We are about to see what an administration with a greater predilection for risk will unleash in East and Southeast Asia.

Photo credit: GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images
Oslo (AFP) - Norway and China announced Monday the resumption of diplomatic relations, six years after Beijing froze ties with Oslo over the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a Chinese dissident.

The announcement means talks can now resume on a free trade pact between mineral-rich Norway and China, the world's second-biggest economy.

Diplomatic relations -- and the trade talks -- were frozen after the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2010 to human rights activist Liu Xiaobo, imprisoned in his own country by authorities who consider him a "criminal."

But during a surprise visit to Beijing by Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende on Monday, the two nations issued a joint declaration announcing they were unfreezing ties.

"The Norwegian government reiterates its commitment to the one-China policy, fully respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, attaches high importance to China's core interests and major concerns, will not support actions that undermine them, and will do its best to avoid any future damage to the bilateral relations," the statement said.

Human rights issues were not mentioned in the two-page document.

"We haven't made any concessions but we have engaged in confidence-building work over a long period of time," Prime Minister Erna Solberg told reporters in Oslo.

Her Chinese counterpart Li Kegiang, quoted by the Xinhua news agency, meanwhile said China "hopes to work together with Norway to open a new chapter for bilateral ties, and push forward a sustained, healthy and stable growth of relations."

According to Norwegian media, China had demanded an official apology but Norway's government repeatedly refused, insisting that the Nobel Committee was an independent body free to make its own choices.

"Norway deeply reflected upon the reasons why bilateral mutual trust was harmed, and had conscientious, solemn consultations with China about how to improve bilateral relations," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

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Liu Xiaobo has been serving an 11-year sentence since 2009 for "subversion", after co-writing a text calling for democracy in China.

Solberg admitted that Norway's economy had suffered as a result of the spat with the Asian giant.

"Even if our trade with China has not decreased, we have not been part of the enormous upswing from China in the same way many other countries have," she said.

Salmon exports to China, one of Norway's biggest export items, suffered as a result of the row, dealing a heavy blow to the industry.

On Monday, stocks of salmon producers were up on the Oslo stock exchange.
Washington (AFP) - The Chinese military is expected to return a seized underwater probe to the US Navy in the South China Sea on Tuesday, a US defense official said.

The small craft, taken around 50 nautical miles (90 kilometers) northwest from Subic Bay in the Philippines last week, will be handed over to the crew of a US warship in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal.

"A US destroyer will be there," the official told AFP on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The handover was slated to occur sometime on December 20, though details of how it would happen were still being worked out.

The Pentagon says the marine probe is a commercial craft that gathers unclassified data that can be used to help submarines navigate and determine sonar ranges in murky waters.

The defense official said it was not the first time the US Navy had lost such a probe. One was taken near Vietnam earlier this year, but who took it and what became of it remain unclear.

Last week's seizure was the first time China had "brazenly stolen a piece of US government property," the official said.

China said the drone had been snatched since it might pose a safety hazard to other vessels.

It also said it "strongly opposed" US reconnaissance activities and had asked Washington to stop them.

The incident unfolded when a Chinese Dalang-III class submarine rescue ship stopped within 500 yards (meters) of the civilian-crewed USNS Bowditch and snatched one of a pair of probes. The Americans safely hoisted the other one back onto their ship.

The US official said the Chinese ship had been shadowing the Bowditch for "a number of days."

China's seizure of the bright-yellow, unmanned underwater vehicle has prompted sharp words between Washington and Beijing, with US diplomats protesting the "unlawful" incident.

President-elect Donald Trump further ratcheted up tensions by accusing China of theft.

"China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters -- rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented act," he wrote in a misspelled tweet he later corrected.
Chinas state media has again questioned the leadership qualities of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, gleefully highlighting the misspelling of the word unprecedented in a tweet he sent responding to the seizure of an American underwater drone by the Chinese navy on Thursday.

China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters  rips it of water and take it to China in unpresidented [sic] act, Trump tweeted, before deleting and reposting the message with the correct spelling of unprecedented.

He took again to Twitter to add: We should tell China that we dont want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it!

Both Washington and Beijing have sought to downplay the spat in official channels. On Saturday, China agreed to return the device, which was taken 57 miles northwest of the Philippine port of Subic Bay. China says the unmanned reconnaissance vehicle, which was apparently collecting unclassified scientific data, was seized to maintain the safety of passing vessels.

China resolutely opposes these [reconnaissance] activities, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun said, according to Chinese state newswire Xinhua.

On Sunday, the Chinese Communist Partylinked Global Times newspaper questioned Trumps response in an editorial and highlighted his misspelling in the headline: Unpresidented Trump adds fuel to fire.

He seemed emotionally upset, but no one knows what he wanted to say, read the article. Trump is not behaving as a President who will become master of the White House in a month.

During his campaign, Trump repeated accused China of currency manipulation and stealing American jobs, and vowed to slap 45% tariffs of Chinese imports. Since his election victory, Trump has further infuriated the Beijing leadership by accepting a phone call from the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen  breaking almost four decades of diplomatic protocol that saw no direct contact between American and Taiwanese leaders.

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Beijing claims sovereignty over the self-governing island of 23 million and has vowed to retake it by force should Taipei ever declare independence. When Beijing lodged a formal complaint about Trumps phone conversation, Trump said that American acknowledgement of Chinas position that Taiwan is part of one China was up for negotiation.

Since [Trump] has not taken office, China has kept a calm attitude toward his provocative remarks, read the Global Times editorial. But if he treats China after assuming office in the same way as in his tweets, China will not exercise restraint.

Ordinary Chinese, however, are seeing the funny side of Trumps spelling error. Dude, you would have failed the Chinese college English exam, posted one user on Chinas Twitter-like microblog Weibo.

What if Trump just is pretending to be stupid? posted another. Businessmen shouldnt be this dumb, and Trump is successful in business.

 With reporting by Zhang Chi / Beijing
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's top diplomat will visit Britain this week for regular talks and a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May, China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday, amid uncertainty about the process of Britain leaving the European Union. Britain has been a popular choice for Chinese investment, with many firms seeing it as a springboard for the far larger European Union market. But those plans could be at risk with the concerns surrounding what kind of market access Britain will get in future, given its vote in June to leave the EU. State Councillor Yang Jiechi, who outranks the foreign minister, will be in Britain from Monday to Wednesday for a regular dialogue on strategic issues, ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing. He will also meet British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, and talk about a range of issues, not just Sino-British ties, Hua said, adding she could not predict whether Brexit would directly come up. "But China's position on this is very clear. Brexit is an issue for Britain and the EU. We hope that they can appropriately handle the issue via talks and consultation," Hua said. "For China, we believe that Britain is a great country with important international influence. We hope to work hard with Britain to further promote the development of relations." Diplomatic sources say China has been seeking clarity from Britain about its Brexit plans, nervous about what it means for Chinese companies in particular. May has said she will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal process of leaving the EU, by the end of March to start two-year exit talks. However, her plans for those negotiations have been shrouded in secrecy and businesses and investors fear Britain might seek a "hard Brexit", where controlling immigration takes priority over access to the European single market. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel)
* Chinese vessel snatched drone on Thursday, triggering protest

* Handoff may happen near Scarborough Shoal as early as Tuesday

* Philippines says deeply troubled by incident close to its shores (Adds details on drone program, analyst comments)

By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Ben Blanchard

WASHINGTON/BEIJING, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The United States expects China to return soon an underwater U.S. drone seized by a Chinese naval vessel last week, with one U.S. official telling Reuters the exchange could happen as early as Tuesday at an agreed location in the South China Sea.

China's seizure of the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) triggered a diplomatic protest and speculation about whether it will strengthen U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's hand as he seeks a tougher line with Beijing.

A Chinese warship took the drone, which the Pentagon says uses unclassified, commercially available technology to collect oceanographic data, on Thursday about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines.

The U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said talks with Beijing on the timing of the exchange were advancing, with two saying they expected the incident to be resolved satisfactorily "relatively soon."

One said the exchange could take place near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea as early as Tuesday, local time. A U.S. destroyer would likely receive the drone, although the mechanics of the exchange were unclear.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook at a news briefing said only that "We're working out the logistical details with Chinese officials".

In Beijing, China's foreign ministry said the Chinese and U.S. militaries were having "unimpeded" talks about the return.

The seizure has added to U.S. concerns about China's growing military presence and aggressive posture in the disputed South China Sea, including its militarization of maritime outposts.

The U.S. Navy has about 130 such underwater drones, made by Teledyne Webb, each weighing about 60 kg (130 pounds) and able to stay underwater for up to five months. They are used to collect unclassified data about oceans, including temperature and depth. They are used around the world, but it is unclear how many are used in the South China Sea.

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KEEP THE DRONE!

Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, waded into the dispute over the weekend, saying in a tweet: "We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back - let them keep it!"

Trump has threatened to declare China a currency manipulator and force changes in U.S.-Chinese trade policy, which he says has led to the greatest theft of American jobs in history.

Trump has also raised questions about the most sensitive part of the U.S.-China relationship: whether Washington would stick to its nearly four-decades-old policy of recognizing that Taiwan is part of "one China."

Asked about Trump's comments, Hua said describing the drone as stolen was "completely incorrect".

"China's navy had a responsible and professional attitude to identify and ascertain this object," she said. "If you discover or pick something up from the street you have to examine it and if somebody asks you for it you have to work out if it's theirs before you can give it back."

Cook called the seizure illegal and said Washington was using military and diplomatic channels to secure the drone's return. Pentagon officials have sought to be firm without escalating the incident.

Another senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the somewhat muted U.S. response to the seizure, coupled with Trump's abandonment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's erratic policies and Malaysia's corruption scandal, has caused some U.S. allies to worry increasingly about the possibility of a declining American commitment to the region.

The Philippines said it was troubling that the incident took place inside its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), saying it increased the likelihood of "miscalculations that could lead to open confrontation" very near the Philippine mainland.

DEEP SUSPICIONS

China is deeply suspicious of any U.S. military activities in the resource-rich South China Sea, with state media and experts saying the use of the drone was likely part of U.S. surveillance efforts in the disputed waterway.

The overseas edition of the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily said in a commentary on Monday the USNS Bowditch, which was fielding the drone and was set to pick it up, was a "serial offender" when it came to spying operations against China.

Ni Lexiong, a naval expert at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, told Reuters he believed the Chinese navy probably had orders to take the drone.

But Ni said the incident was very different from the 2001 intercept of a U.S. spy plane by a Chinese fighter jet that resulted in a collision that killed the Chinese pilot and forced the American plane to make an emergency landing at a base on Hainan.

"This is a much smaller incident, it won't affect the overall picture of China-U.S. relations," he said, adding he did not expect China to seek an apology.

The 24 U.S. air crew members were held for 11 days before being released, souring U.S.-Chinese relations in the early days of President George W. Bush's first administration.

However, Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the U.S. military could feel compelled to take steps to further assert freedom of navigation in the region.

"For a lot of folks in the Pentagon, this over-stepped that line between legal contestation and a military threat," he said.

While the U.S. Navy under the Obama administration has sent warships periodically sailing near artificial islands claimed by China over the last year or so, it has mostly acted cautiously, seeking to avoid escalation with Beijing, which claims large swathes of the resource-rich waterway.

In October, the United States carried out a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, sailing within waters claimed by China, but not within the 12-nautical-mile territorial limits of the islands.

Despite Trump's more aggressive tone, he has given no clear policy on how he plans to deal with the dispute in the South China Sea.

(Additional reporting by Manuel Mogato in Manila and John Walcott in Washington; Editing by Lincoln Feast and James Dalgleish)
In a tweet on Monday, Rijiju said, "God is really kind! Some Congress MPs & leaders came & said sorry for their party's mistake of raising a false case to tarnish my image."

By India Today Web Desk: Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has claimed that some Congress MPs and leaders have apologised to him for raising the "false" case of Arunachal Pradesh hydro project.

In a tweet on Monday, Rijiju said, "God is really kind! Some Congress MPs & leaders came & said sorry for their party's mistake of raising a false case to tarnish my image."

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God is really kind! Some Congress MPs & leaders came & said sorry for their party's mistake of raising a false case to tarnish my image. pic.twitter.com/uppvZq8VFXKiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) December 19, 2016

However, the Union Minister did not reveal the names of the Congress MPs and leaders who called on him to say sorry for allegedly tarnishing his image.

Rijiju was in the eye of a political storm last week during the Winter Session of Parliament. Both the Houses of Parliament witnessed uproarious scenes as the Opposition raised the alleged corruption of Rijiju. They demanded the Minister's resignation. However, the government defended him and some local Congress Panchayat representatives also backed Rijiju's claims that he was innocent.

The matter pertained to an alleged Rs 450 crore scam in a power project in Arunachal Pradesh after the Minister wrote a letter to the Power Ministry to clear the bills of contractors, provoking opposition demand for his ouster but he denied any wrongdoing.

The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO), a Mini Ratna category Public Sector Unit, that has been mired into controversy with an alleged favour being extended to an acquaintance of Rijiju gave a clean chit to the Minister.

Power Minister Piyush Goyal's ministry said payments to a contractor of power plant in Arunachal Pradesh were released even before the minister forwarded a representation for the same.

ALSO READ: NEEPCO gives clean chit to Kiren Rijiju in Rs 450 crore scam row

--- ENDS ---
Paris (AFP) - Christine Lagarde is a high-flying former lawyer who rose to become the first woman to lead the International Monetary Fund but who may find her stellar career blemished by a conviction for negligence.

The silver-haired Lagarde, 60, is credited with steering the Washington-based IMF through turbulent economic waters since taking over in 2011.

She started a second five-year term as the organisation's managing director in February and has won plaudits for her handling of the Greek financial crisis.

But her conviction in Paris Monday for failing to challenge a 404-million-euro ($422 million) award to flamboyant French businessman Bernard Tapie in 2008 over the sale of sportswear brand Adidas is a setback.

However, in what might prove crucial for Lagarde's IMF future, the court ruled she will not be fined or face a jail sentence.

Her woes strike at the core of another of her tasks: restoring morale at the institution after both of her predecessors suffered legal problems.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a former French finance minister like Lagarde, resigned in disgrace in 2011 after being accused of attempted rape in a New York hotel.

Rodrigo Rato, a Spanish former banker who ran the Fund from 2004-2007, is on trial for embezzlement in his native Spain.

Before the trial, Lagarde, usually impeccably dressed in luxury French brands, dismissed the prosecution over the case of Tapie as "political". The court that tried her is staffed by judges and parliamentarians and hears the cases of former or serving French ministers.

The case is a stain on an otherwise stellar international career in business, government and finance that has seen her break through barriers as a woman.

She was the first female chairman of a major global law firm -- the US-based Baker and McKenzie -- and was France's first woman economy minister when named by then president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007.

The divorced mother of two sons, who is in a relationship with entrepreneur Xavier Giocanti, took over the reins of the IMF in 2011, overseeing the giant organisation which lends money to stricken countries and monitors the international financial system.

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- Stamina -

Economist Desmond Lachman, a former IMF official, recalls that "there are many instances of Ms. Lagarde's courageous truth-telling" -- often as the only women in the room.

This once included scolding her successor as French finance minister, Pierre Moscovici, who fell asleep during one of many crisis meetings on her watch at the IMF.

The stamina of the former synchronised swimmer, who represented France as a schoolgirl, is legendary and she says she gave up drinking alcohol 15 years ago to improve her performance.

When not attending international summits, negotiating bailout programmes for bankrupt countries or crunching data at the IMF headquarters, she likes to relax on a farm she owns in northern France.

Born to middle-class teacher parents, she went to school in the northern port city of Le Havre before going on to study at universities in France and the US.

During her time at the IMF, Lagarde has worked to increase the influence of emerging countries, particularly China, and has taken part in bailout talks for Greece and Ukraine.

She is a staunch defender of the international trade system and has spoken out about the dangers of rising nationalism and a "populist backlash" around the world.

She said in September that globalisation "has to benefit all, not a few", but argued that the fruits of a connected world were severely undersold by politicians.
Tis the season for royal cheer! Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince Harry celebrated one of their favorite causes on Monday with a festive charity party.

The trio dropped by a gathering of volunteers from their Heads Together initiative, the mental health campaign they kicked off in the spring. Kate brought stylish Christmas spirit with a red-and-green Vanessa Seward dress (currently on sale for $623) cinched with a black belt and $185 fern hoop earrings from London designer Catherine Zoraida.

Meanwhile, William told a deejay at the party that 3-year-old Prince George and 19-month-old Princess Charlotte are a little excited for the holidays.

He said the kids are really looking forward to Christmas and George is already ripping open his presents, London radio host A. J. King, an ambassador for the Princes Trust, tells PEOPLE.

William happily said this was the last week of work for the royals.

Theyre looking forward to downtime and a chill with the family.

The party was hosted by youth support service The Mix to celebrate the volunteers and counselors who support people through tough times in their lives. But they also invited charity partners from Heads Together, enabling them to catch up with some of those who have been working to increase awareness and spark the conversation this year.

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William and Harry (who said goodbye to his girlfriend Meghan Markle this weekend after her visit to London) joined a session where counselors and volunteers shared their knowledge and were trained on dealing with critical issues, like supporting people who are suicidal and helping young people coping with homelessness.

And Kate spoke with volunteers from an online chat site for those in crisis. The Mix gives young people a helping hand to find their way through any challenge, from homelessness to finding a job, from money to mental health, from breakups to drugs.

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The royals used the party to chat with volunteers and those receiving help from The Mix.

Theyve done a lot to raise the profile of the Mix, says the organizations CEO, Chris Martin. They are just very, very good with people. They are particularly interested in seeing how they can drive up engagement over the next year or so. They want to see a rise in people being involved and people accessing support services if they need them. Theres a strong belief that the first part of that journey is talking to somebody, engagement with other people.

Volunteer George Yeorghaki also spent some time with the royals.

It was good to see them getting involved, he says. We spoke about the stigma around mental health and volunteering and getting more people to volunteer. At The Mix young people can contact us and talk about any issue they want to talk about.

The trio took part in making decorations and building gingerbread houses and met with those doing workshops and talks on homelessness, suicide prevention and counseling.

He adds of the royals, They have total understanding about the issues around mental health and the importance of trying to raise it in the public eye. They have huge passion and understanding of what we need to do to raise mental health up the agenda.

Later this week, the trio will start their Christmas break. William and Kate are set to take their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte for their first Christmas at the Middletons family home in Bucklebury, in rural Berkshire.

Harry is likely to be with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and the rest of the royal family gathering at Sandringham House.
Chiles Cinestacion, a fast-emerging Latin American co-production force, has greenlit Los Fuertes, the debut feature of Omar Zuniga whose San Cristobal won a Berlin Festival Teddy Award last year.

Scheduled to shoot late 2017, Los Fuertes slots into a 2017 slate which is by far the biggest ever from Cinestacion, founded in 2008 by director Dominga Sotomayor (Thursday Till Sunday, The Island), Zuniga and post-production manager-editor Catalina Marin.

In the quality of creative talent involved and now scale of its slate, through both creative support and international co-production, majorly with Argentina and Brazil, Cinestacion has its pedal to the metal as it firms up its status as a arthouse platform for emerging voices from across Latin America.

In other banner news, Zuniga confirmed to Variety at Ventana Sur that Cinestacion is moving into TV production, with Alma, a scripted drama from Sotomayor and writer-director Manuela Martelli. It will also produce its first documentary feature, The Story of My Name, by first-time director Karin Cuyul, a producer at Cinestacion.

A New York Universitys Graduate Film Program alum now based out of Santiago and Brooklyn, in 2012 Zuniga directed On Learning Of a Friends Illness, a segment featuring james Franco and Zach Braff of omnibus feature The Color of Time. Introduced to sales agents and distributors at Ventana Sur, Los Fuertes snagged a U.K. distribution deal with arthouse outfit Peccadillo Pictures. It has now just won cornerstone financing from Chiles state-backed Arts and Audiovisual Industry Council (CNCA), allowing it to go into production late next year. Written by Zuniga, Los Fuertes, which received Ibermedia development funding, is inspired by San Cristobal, which won a best short Teddy Award at the 2015 Berlin Festival. Set in Southern Chile, it plumbs the large benefits of a love story, however unlikely and despite a social context caught halfway between tradition and modernity, between a middle-class man whos just about to move abroad and a struggling young fisherman.

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Their relationship forces them to confront their own realities and break their loneliness, learning to trust the people they can finally feel close to, said Zuniga, adding that they grow together towards a new space of independence in their adulthood.

Also a CNCA awardee, the semi-autobiographical The Story of My Name chronicles the search for a photo, taken of the director by the parents of Karin Eitel, who, incarcerated Augusto Pinochets regime, was tortured, sedated and interrogated on Chilean public TV in 1987.

The case inspired Cuyuls mother to given the director Eitels first name and the director, while attempting to locate the photo, to try to reveal a common memory, in which the things we remember and the things we forget are combined, while we create our own version of our past, the synopsis reads. That subject has of course a larger social resonance in post-Pinochet Chile.

Seeking to establish links and pool forces with other leading talent incubators in the region, Cinestacion is teaming to produce Sotomayors Late To Die Young, with Rodrigo Teixeiras Sao Paolo-based RT Features, which is backing new generation of Brazilian genre auteurs, and now Argentinas Ruda Cine, producer of Milagros Mumenthalers first and second movies and Eduardo Williams The Human Surge, a 2016 Locarno Filmmakers of the Present winner.

The Netherlands Circe Films also co-produces Sotomayors third feature, a coming-of-age film set in an isolated rural community as Chile returns to democracy. In pre-production for an early 2017 start, Late to Die Young is backed by a new Brazil-Chile bilateral film fund, said Zuniga.

Cinestacion has also taken a minority stake in Die Monster Die, lead-produced out of Argentina by La Union de los Rios and Alejandro Fadels second feature after The Wild Ones, which scooped Cannes 2012 Critics Week ACID/CCAS Distribution Support Award. Another minority co-production soon to shoot is El hombre de la Mancha, the second feature from Costa Ricas Neto Villalobos (Por las plumas), portraying the esprit de corps of despatch riders in Costa Rica. Project was developed at Cannes Cinefondation and Produire au Sud in Frances Nantes.

Cinestacion is moving forward with negotiations for a co-production with Italy and Germany on Martellis first debut 1976, about a woman who senses that life has passed her by. It also has Felipe Carmonas Cordillera and Fernando Lavanderos La hierba de los caminos in development.

Doubling down on international co-production, Cinestacion can diversify risk and spread investment across a far broader slate.

Co-production is also about creativity and distribution, however.

Its interesting how new possibilities are opening up for co-production in Latin America, which determines new languages and new possibilities for communication and visibility across the region, Sotomayor has commented.

Linking to international partners also forms part of a longterm mission, Zuniga observed.

This has been a benchmark year for us, promoting international collaboration from Santiago, he said.

He added: We are consolidating as an important and creative hub for film production in South America, and as producers and creators, we look forward to support the voices and directors from the region.
The Electoral College began voting Monday, and barring some unforeseen, unprecedented move from the electors, it will confirm Donald Trump as the president-elect of the United States. But even as that vote takes place, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton earned some 2.9 million more total votes than Trump.

The latest count from a Cook Political Report analysis, had Clinton at 65,844,594 votes, compared to 62,979,616 for Trump. That's a difference of 2.86 million votes. In all, 48.2 percent of the electorate voted for Clinton, while 46.1 percent voted for Trump.

Interestingly, a large number of Americans seemingly remain confused or uninformed about the election results. A Washington Post poll released Sunday found 52 percent of Republicans, and 29 percent of all Americans, thought Trump won the popular vote.

In fact, Trump won the presidency through the Electoral College system, with victories in key swing states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. He earned 306 electoral votes to Clinton's 232. The former secretary of state garnered the large popular vote lead through lopsided victories highly populous states such as New York and California.

The Electoral College is expected to confirm Trump's victory Monday as electors cast the votes that actually count, despite the urging of a handful of electors attempting to get enough votes to deny Trump the presidency. Such a move would send the decision to the House of Representatives, but voting early Monday suggested electors were set to award Trump the presidency.

Trump closed out his so-called thank you tour this weekend in Alabama. He was sure to praise the Electoral College he once criticized. He called it "genius."

"I never appreciated it until now, how genius it was, what they had in mind, because at the time they didn't want everybody going to Boston and New York and everything else would be forgotten," he said. "It's genius, I'm telling you, it's genius."

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(Reuters) - Four people were rescued from frigid waters off Annapolis, Maryland, on Sunday after more than a dozen sailboats capsized during a race held in rough, windy weather, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The Severn Sailing Association reported that 22 people had fallen into the water off 15 small sailboats during a race on Sunday afternoon, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

Rescue teams from the Coast Guard's Maryland-National Capital Region, the Maryland State Police, Anne Arundel County Fire Rescue and Maryland Natural Resources Police all responded.

A Coast Guard crew based in Annapolis rescued four people from the frigid seas.

"The water temperature in the Chesapeake Bay today was 42 degrees, an extremely dangerous temperature for people in the water," Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Sara Wallace said in the statement.

If the 22 people rescued without injury "weren't wearing a personal floatation device along with a wet or dry suit, we may have had a different outcome today," she said.

Wind speeds at the time of the race were sustained at 24 knots, with gusts up to 30 knots, the Coast Guard said.

Once all people in the water were rescued, the Coast Guard crew assisted Anne Arundel County Fire Rescue and the sailing association in recovering the overturned sailboats.

The Northeastern United States experienced a spell of unusually cold, stormy and windy weather at the weekend.

A fuel tanker skidded off a Baltimore highway and exploded on Saturday, sending sheets of fire into the path of approaching traffic and triggering a deadly 55-vehicle pileup on the ice-coated roadway. Two people, including the truck driver, were killed.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud; Editing by Paul Tait)
Photo credit: Audrey McAvoyundefined

From Popular Mechanics

The only U.S. ship capable of breaking through Antarctica's thick ice is getting scrubbed down, fixed up and loaded with goods in balmy Hawaii this week as it prepares to head to the frigid south.

The voyage by Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star comes as the U.S. looks to replace and expand its aging fleet of polar icebreakers so it can maintain a presence in the most remote corners of the world. The demand for icebreaking ships is expected to grow as climate change melts sea ice and lures more traffic to northern Arctic waters.

"The specter in the future is more marine use in the Arctic, more shipping, more offshore development, more tourism," said Lawson Brigham, a professor of geography and Arctic policy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The Coast Guard needs to be able to enforce U.S. laws as well as search for and rescue people in the Arctic like it does in other waters, Brigham said. Though sea ice is melting faster than before, the Arctic Ocean is fully or partially covered by ice for about three-quarters of the year.

The Seattle-based ship has stopped in Pearl Harbor to stock up on food and fuel. It was scheduled to leave Monday to carve a channel through 30 miles of ice in Antarctica so ships can resupply a U.S. research center, but it was delayed by last-minute repairs.

The Polar Star specializes in the Antarctic mission because it can handle the thicker ice, leaving the jobs in the Arctic to a medium icebreaker called the Cutter Healy.

The 40-year-old Polar Star was built to last only three decades of grinding through thick sheets of ice. It forces its way through by riding up on ice and crushing it. When it can't break through, it backs up and rams the ice.

Brigham, a retired Coast Guard captain who commanded a heavy icebreaker in the Arctic and Antarctic in the 1990s, said policymakers have debated boosting the icebreaker fleet for decades. Climate change adds a new element to the discussion.

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More cargo ships already have been taking Arctic routes as the planet warms. Last summer, a luxury cruise liner sailed to Nome, Alaska, then farther north to become the largest ship to ever traverse the Northwest Passage. Melting ice also will attract those seeking to extract oil, metals and other natural resources.

The U.S. should be present in the northern and southern reaches of the planet as a global power, Brigham said.

Russia has 40 icebreakers but owns more than half of the Arctic Ocean coastline and operates over a much larger stretch of icy seas. Russia's fleet is primarily used to escort commercial ships, while Coast Guard icebreakers only do so in emergencies, Brigham said.

The Obama administration proposed spending $150 million this fiscal year for early work on a new heavy icebreaker. The Senate Appropriations Committee instead voted to spend $1 billion, the estimated cost of one ship.

Neither proposal was adopted because the sides could not agree on a new federal budget, maintaining last year's spending levels through April.

Coast Guard Capt. Michael Davanzo, the Polar Star's commanding officer, told reporters Monday that the agency needs additional icebreakers partly in case something goes wrong.

"If we go down there on this trip and we run into problems, there's nobody down there who can come and help us," he said.

The Coast Guard has only one other heavy icebreaker, the Polar Sea, that also was built in the 1970s and isn't operational. The agency is using some of its parts to keep the Polar Star running.

The Coast Guard has said it needs three total heavy icebreakers, which can bust through ice 6 feet thick. It also wants three other icebreakers that can break slightly thinner ice, up to 4 feet thick, like the Healy.

On the Polar Star's upcoming journey to Antarctica, 14 months' worth of food will be aboard for the crew in case the ship gets stuck and it needs to wait until next year's thaw to get out.

If that happens, some of the crew would be flown off the ship, while others would stay behind until the vessel is able to break its way out or get a tow when the weather warms.

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The thought of giving up never occurred to Blake Alois and his girlfriend, Maddie Popolizio  not even when they couldnt feel their fingers and toes and had lost most of their food to a blizzard that had trapped them for three days last week near the top of Algonquin Peak, New Yorks second-highest mountain.

We just kept telling each other, Were not going to let each other die  were going to get through this together, Alois, 20, tells PEOPLE exclusively in his first interview since he was released from the hospital on Dec. 17. We held each other to keep warm and talked about what wed do when we were rescued. Popolizio wanted chicken nuggets and crepes, but more than anything, I wanted a hot shower.

As of Sunday, Alois still hadnt taken that shower because his feet are bandaged while he recovers from frostbite.

Maddie Popolizio

He doesnt smell that great right now, but I dont mind, Popolizio, 19, tells PEOPLE. Ill still hug and kiss him because Im so glad hes here. Without Blake, I wouldnt have made it.

December 11 looked like a bluebird day for Popolizio and Alois as they set out from their hometown of Niskayuna, New York, on a clear morning for a three-hour hike to Algonquins 5,115-foot summit in the Adirondacks.

Friends since high school who started dating 18 months ago in college (shes a history major while his interest is biology), the couple set out with winter hiking gear and snowshoes, their backpacks loaded with granola bars, pizza, fried chicken and plenty of water.

After reaching the summit around noon, they noticed heavy white fog moving in, so they snapped a few quick pictures then started their descent.

Within minutes, they were stuck in a whiteout and couldnt see their footprints to find a way down.

We were terrified  we didnt know which direction to go and we couldnt find the trail, Popolizio tells PEOPLE. Visibility was close to nothing.

Maddie Popolizio

It was like a white abyss, says Alois. And then it started snowing and became extremely cold and windy.

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Linking arms, the pair slowly walked toward what they thought was a clearing, but instead, walked off the edge of the mountain and tumbled 100 feet through deep snow, landing on top of a cluster of snow-covered trees.

We realized there was no way back up for us, says Popolizio, so we padded down the snow with our snowshoes to make it stable and made a little area to sit on with some of the tree branches. Then we built a wall of snow to try and help block the wind.

Using a fire starter kit, they attempted to light Popolizios backpack on fire, but the wind kept blowing out the flames. As darkness descended, they cried for help and blew a whistle that Alois had brought along. But we heard nothing except the wind, says Popolizio, and saw nothing but snow.

With no cell phone service available, the couple knew that they would have to wait for family members to become concerned and call for help.

Alois mother did just that, but weather conditions were too fierce for anyone to go up the mountain that night.

We talked to keep our spirits up, but it was so cold that we could barely feel our hands and feet, says Alois, who took everything out of his backpack so that he could zip it around Popolizios feet and lower legs in an attempt to keep her warm.

Maddie Popolizio

Maddie got on top of me a few times to help warm me up, he tells PEOPLE, and we kept pulling our arms into our jackets and putting our hands under our armpits to try and keep warm. Just having someone I loved next to me was huge. When I fell asleep, Maddie woke me up. We kept screaming for help together and reassuring each other. Thats how we made it through the first night.

With 90 percent of their food lost in the snow after Alois had removed it from his backpack, the couple gnawed on frozen chicken and granola bars and unthawed enough water to drink by holding their frozen water bottles against their skin.

One bright spot, says Popolizio, is that Alois had managed to salvage some Christmas cookies baked by his mother. Frozen M&Ms and coconut macaroons never tasted so good, she says.

During their second cold night on the mountain, Popolizio was so dehydrated that she began hallucinating. I thought I heard voices and people yelling our names, she says. I began to wonder if we would ever get out alive, but Blake kept reassuring me. I love you  were going to make it, you can do this, he said.

The next morning, when she heard a helicopter, she wondered for a moment whether it was real.

And when we realized that it was, we started screaming, hoping they would hear us, she says. Finally, we heard somebody scream back. A rescuer, on his way to help us. I cried with relief, knowing we were going to make it.

Ranger Scott Van Laer gave them warm coats and a thermos of hot tea, and was soon joined by other rescuers, who attached Popolizio and Alois to harnesses so they could be hoisted aboard a helicopter and airlifted to the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.

Although they were released the next day, Alois had to return for further treatment on his frostbitten toes and will now need minor surgery to remove dead tissue.

Its a small price to pay, he says, for being alive.

We had our moments of panic, he tells PEOPLE, but for the most part, we handled it very well, I think. Its a miracle that were both alive, and Im unbelievably grateful. Through this, I learned that Maddie is a lot tougher than I give her credit for. But I dont think Ill go hiking with her in the winter any time soon. Maybe just bird watching.

Adds Popolizio, Were so thankful to everyone who worked together to save our lives. And Im especially thankful to Blake for getting me through it.

Death wasnt an option. We were already inseparable, but now I know that I could spend the rest of my life with him, no question. After what we endured, I love him more than ever.




(Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis on Monday said it signed a licensing deal to co-develop a fatty liver disease drug with Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc, under which the small U.S. company will receive $50 million up front. The agreement will enable the companies to jointly develop the Conatus drug emricasan, an experimental first-in-class oral treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. Several drugmakers are pursuing treatments for NASH, a chronic, progressive fatty liver condition involving inflammation and scarring that is seen as a huge unmet need with a potentially enormous patient population. In addition to the upfront payment, Conatus is eligible to receive significant payments for certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones, and would get tiered double-digit royalties on emricasan single-agent sales and tiered single- to double-digit royalties on sales of combination products containing emricasan, the companies said. Conatus has the option to co-commercialize emricasan in the United States. Under the collaboration, Conatus will conduct multiple Phase IIb clinical trials with emricasan in NASH. If those succeed, Novartis would conduct Phase III studies of emricasan and begin development of the drug in combination with its own experimental treatment for chronic liver disease, known as an FXR agonist. "For Conatus, the near-term infusion of capital and Phase IIb cost-sharing allows us to fund ongoing operations through 2019," Conatus Chief Executive Steven Mento said in a statement. The Novartis commitment to fund Phase III trials means "the resources are in place to complete emricasan development both as a single agent for NASH cirrhosis and as a single agent or part of a combination therapy for NASH fibrosis," Mento said. It is estimated that NASH affects 3 percent to 5 percent of the U.S. population and could become the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States by 2020. (Reporting by Bill Berkrot; Editing by James Dalgleish)
Demonstrations erupted Monday in cities across the Democratic Republic of Congo as authorities attempted to contain public resistance toward President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down from office after his term expires at midnight.

Security forces reportedly responded by deploying in large numbers, arresting scores of activists and suspending the country's internet service. Protests struck the eastern city of Guma and the capital, where authorities faced off with crowds waving red cards against Kabila at Kinshasa University. In the northeastern city of Butembo, armed militias raided a jail in an attempt to free prisoners.

The resulting clashes killed a police officer, five attackers and a South African U.N. peacekeeper, sparking fears that the country's political crisis could devolve into renewed violence in the Congo. Sub-Sahara's largest country experienced wars between 1993 and 2006 that killed millions and destabilized the region in the world's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Exiled former politician Moise Katumbi urged Kabila to heed the calls of protesters and abdicate. Katumbi was governor of the southern Katanga province before fleeing from a fraud conviction in 2015. He remained popular with opposition supporters, who believed his charge to be politically motivated, and criticized Kabila's extension of power as he toured Western capitals to gather support.

If I want to go back I can go today or tomorrow, but I am a man of peace. I do not want my people to die. We want peace to be our priority. [Kabila] can shoot me, jail me, kill me and create more chaos. I dont want that. I want a peaceful transfer of power, Katumbi said, according to the Guardian.

Kabila came to power following his father's assassination in 2001 and became the country's first democratically elected president after decades of violence in 2006. After two successful elections, both of which were disputed by the opposition, Kabila's government delayed this year's scheduled runoff to 2018, citing financial and "logistical challenges." The decision caused widespread protests by opposition supporters, who accused Kabila of seeking an illegal third consecutive term, and clashes with security forces killed at least 17.

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Foreign organizations and governments including the Congo's former colonist Belgium have expressed concern toward the recent unrest. The International Criminal Court sent a team of representatives to the country in order to campaign for dialogue and restraint among its political parties.

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Lyle Denniston, Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent, says that unanswered constitutional questions about the presidents acceptance of financial gifts or things of value from foreign governments might reside in the White House itself.

THE STATEMENT AT ISSUE:

It is possible that many transactions between foreign states and the Trump empire would involve no actual impropriety, but it is a virtual certainty that many would create the risk of divided or blurred loyalties that the Emoluments Clause was enacted to prohibit. And while

in some instances the threat might be readily apparent, the majority of potential conflicts would be cloaked in secrecy, buried in technicalities, or impossible to prove definitively. That is true both because Mr. Trump has declined to make many of his business dealings transparent, and because any president often acts overtly and on the basis of extremely complicated motives. Disentangling any potential improper influence resulting from special treatment of Mr. Trumps business holdings by foreign states would be extremely difficult, at best. The American people would be condemned to uncertainty and innuendo, and our political discourse would be rife with unresolved and unresolvable accusations of corruption.

 Excerpt from a Brookings Institution white paper, issued December 16, on the Constitutions Emoluments Clause, by two former White House ethics lawyers  Norman J. Eisen and Richard W. Painter  and Harvard law professor Laurence H. Tribe.

WE CHECKED THE CONSTITUTION, AND

The founding generation was entirely familiar with a common practice among European royalty of doling out favors  financial and otherwise  to influence other governments. In writing the Constitution, that generation sought to make sure that this did not happen in the new American government. That is why they included the Emoluments Clause, barring foreign government gifts or anything of value to any officer of the U.S. government  unless Congress consented.

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America is getting reacquainted with that Clause, in the broad debate now unfolding over how President-elect Donald Trump will separate himself  if he will  from his far-flung business interests in the Trump Organization. Three central questions have tended to dominate that debate: first, will Trump actually violate the Clause; second, if he is suspected of doing so, how will that be proved, and, third, who would enforce the Clause?

There is little history surrounding the Clause since it was inserted in the original Constitution in 1787, but what history there is suggests quite strongly that it would mainly be up to Congress to enforce its restriction on foreign largesse for an American president or other federal officials. And it also suggests that most of the time a president or other official initiates an inquiry to Congress about whether it will consent to accepting and keeping a particular valuable item. In 1833, for example, President Andrew Jackson asked Congress if he could keep a gold medal given to him by a foreign government, and Congress said no.

But what if no inquiry is sent to Congress? Then, it seems, a discovery of a potential violation would depend upon the diligence of the lawmakers in monitoring how a president who also has extensive financial interests deals with foreign governments. If Congress is controlled by the same political party as the White House, what would the incentive be to engage in such 1monitoring? Perhaps only if potential violations otherwise became public knowledge might the lawmakers take notice.

If Congress did take notice, it could veto the gift or other thing of value, but its only real enforcement power  aside from potential adverse publicity  is the awesome authority to impeach a president.

There is considerable debate about the availability of another potential enforcement mechanism  that is, can any private citizen or private business (say, a competitor) sue? That would have to be tested, to be sure.

But, as the quotation above from the new Brookings Institution analysis illustrates, the biggest uncertainty about enforcing the Emoluments Clause is the question of proof of a violation. In the situation of a president who also is a business executive with wide holdings, and particularly one who does not make a full public disclosure of the extent and detail of those holdings, how can it be shown that the business benefited from a forbidden favor  and, in turn, how to show that the president benefitted?

Thus, the first question to be raised in monitoring what a President Trump might be doing that could raise concerns under the Emoluments Clause is how to find out when an arm of his business had dealings with a foreign government. How could that be probed by, say, investigative journalists? What kind of public reports, if any, might be revealing? Would the foreign government talk publicly about such a transaction?

The business, of course, would have to file U.S. tax returns, but would the Internal Revenue Service have any authority to investigate a potential violation of the Emoluments Clause? That is highly doubtful, especially if the companys revenues from abroad appeared to be, or actually were, the result of normal business deals.

And, even a gesture as simple as a payment of money by a foreign government to one branch of the presidents business empire may get complicated by issues of motive  on both sides of the transaction  and benefit. If the payment were for goods or services of a normal kind, and the money was paid at usual market rates, what effect might that have on the business entitys revenues, its profits, and the ongoing value of the business? Indeed, are profits for a business owned by a president even covered by the Emoluments Clause?

If the Emoluments Clause is thought of, fundamentally, as a check upon outright bribery or blatant favoritism, why would foreign actions in the normal course of business be a violation? And, even if the motive of the foreign donor were suspect, is the American business responsible, legally, for that?

What seems clear from even a cursory analysis of the constitutional problem is that fidelity to the Emoluments Clause may ultimately depend upon the good faith of the president as a businessman. The Constitution places enormous trust in the occupant of the White House and, in doing so, expresses an aspiration that the trust will not be abused.

Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011 and he has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com.

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By India Today Web Desk: He is one of Bollywood's most politically correct actors. And why shouldn't he be? Remember the intolerance debate? Anyway, that's an another topic altogether. But when you hear that he will be next on the couch with Karan Johar on his chat show, you expect a boring episode with many politically correct answers. But Bollywood's Mr Perfectionist was a revelation on the chat show by being his candid best. From being called a cry baby to all the nervousness before a film's release, Aamir Khan spilled the beans on many facets of his life.

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ALSO READ: Aamir Khan's support of demonetisation couldn't be more dishonest and foolish

ALSO READ: Aamir reveals why Rajini refused to dub for Dangal's Tamil version

The 51-year-old actor, who was accompanied by his Dangal co-stars Fatima Sana Shaikha and Sanya Malhotra, gave a sneak-peek into his true personality on the chat show.

Here's what he said:

Still get nervous before a film's release

Aamir Khan is three decades and 50 films in Bollywood, but he still gets the jitters before the release of any of his films. Yes, the PK actor, who is awaiting the release of his film Dangal on December 23, revealed that three weeks prior to the release of his film, he gets very edgy and nervous. In fact, he calls his friends at wee hours to give him company as he can't sleep.

Cried watching the trailer of Dangal

Aamir Khan can be easily called Bollywood's new-age Nirupa Roy. The actor can cry at the drop of a hat and openly admits to being too emotional in real life. From film screenings to Satyamev Jayate episodes, we have often seen him teary-eyed. And the actor admits that exactly the same happened while watching the trailer of Dangal. He revealed that he watched the trailer with Sanya and Fatima on a flight and couldn't control his tears.

Cast and crew of my film becomes a part of my family

For Aamir, making a film is a journey. As he spends almost two years on any film. And during this time, his co-stars and film's crew almost become a part of his family. And every person he has ever worked with becomes a part of his close-knit circle.

Won't mind playing father to Ranveer or Ranbir on screen

When his contemporaries are busy romancing girls half their age on screen, Aamir Khan says that he has no qualms in playing a daddy on screen to actors like Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor.

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I'd be a great sex therapist

Aamir Khan took everyone by surprise when he said that he'd be a great sex therapist. During the rapid fire round, Karan asked who would be the sex therapist in the industry, Aamir instantly replied, "Me." He also added that it's a hidden talent that many don't know about.

--- ENDS ---
The Cool Kids performed to a packed house at Chicago's Thalia Hall in Pilsen on Dec. 14, even as the temperature dipped into the single digits. This was to launch a major comeback for the duo, who influenced not just Chicago's burgeoning rap scene -- which began to bubble immediately as the group's friendly dissolution in 2011 -- but national trends in the late '00s.

The concert was bankrolled by Red Bull Sound Select, a sponsored series that allows new artists to capitalize on the headliner's notoriety; in this case, up-and-coming rapper Femdot was followed by Detroit stalwart Payroll Giovanni.

Femdot, a slightly-built, slyly lyrical rapper, moved with sharp, deliberate motion on stage. His small but passionate core fanbase was front and center, and rapped along with every lyric. He's a craft-first rapper whose career will likely lift off when his songs match the quality of his artful writing and energy. Payroll's set started with a bump as technical difficulties paused the action for five minutes, but quickly regained momentum. His Cardo-produced 2016 tape Big Bossin' Vol. 1 is G-funk-derived comfort food for fans of a legacy of Southern, Midwest, and West Coast hip-hop in the vein of labels like Rap-A-Lot, and his performance matched its consistency. As a performer, Payroll hits every mark.

But it was the Cool Kids' show. The duo of Chuck Inglish (Evan Ingersoll) and Sir Michael Rocks (Antoine Reed) had been on hiatus as a group since 2011, pursuing solo careers for five years. While they had done a handful of performances outside of their native state earlier this year, this was their first hometown performance since reuniting. The duo estimated they'd received 2,000 RSVPs; the 900-person theater appeared near capacity. They've been in the studio preparing a comeback album, and neither Ingersoll nor Reed seemed concerned with feeling boxed in by their past.

"Before we began [recording], we came to the conclusion that we should not think about, 'we should make this because we're The Cool Kids,'" Reed told Billboard backstage before the show. "Let's just make the hardest shit we can and forget who we are. Let's just treat it as, 'I just met this dude who's really tight for the first time and they put them in the studio.' That will put us in a place where we won't have restraints."

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"Our place is cemented," Chuck added. Then, humbly: "I'm not saying there was a whole bunch of options, but we were the option, and people grew from that. Our place is unshakeable."

Both rappers seem confident in the new direction, and resistant to feeding outside narratives that may have sparked their early career. "I feel weird in interviews now -- I'm starting to see what the questions are," said Reed. "It makes me want to stop talking and just put out dope shit. We could be the greatest of all time, but obviously people f--k with us, things f--k with us, the universe f--ks with everybody. We know what we need to be to be [the greatest], so we just need to stay focused on that."

The Cool Kids' early career was defined in large part by national press hype they were unable to capitalize upon. Artists like Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y struck a similar tone with laconic, hip, fashion-forward rappers who eluded neat boxes of "conscious" or "street" without making much of a big deal about it and banked more successfully in that lane. In their hometown, though, the Cool Kids were huge. Chuck points out correctly that many of today's buzzed-about Chicagoans used to attend their concerts. This was in part because, prior to social media's dominance, scarce were local artists who'd charted a path to national attention with a sound that stood apart from the status quo.

Chuck and Michael Rocks hit the Thalia Hall stage in complementary colored Neiman Marcus sweat suits, with Chuck in blue and Michael in burgundy. They drew on a deep catalog, switching between classics, solo records like Michael Rocks' sleek "Cell Dope" and new material. Their sound has aged surprisingly well, sounding as cool and contemporary today despite rapidly shifting trends. Chuck's beats were built upon spare, heavy, skeletal grooves which hit especially hard in a live setting, causing the audience to move compulsively in response. They recall hip-hop's '80s drum machine era, with the casual composure of groups like EPMD; their latest single, "Connect 4," captures the behind-the-beat sprezzatura of Slick Rick.

"I'm Mikey" and "Black Mags," the group's two earliest records, were innovative for the aesthetical novelty of their studied insouciance. Buoyed by nostalgia, they received an appropriately huge response from the crowd. Yet it was the continuity between their slightly stiffer early work and their more refined, newer material that suggested the group will one day be thought of for a decade's worth of music, rather than for their burst of press attention in the mid-00s.

After the show, Chuck stood in the hall outside the green room, clearly ecstatic about the crowd's generous response, that a decade after their big break and five years post break-up, their fans remained loyal and enthusiastic. Of course, it was then that he noticed his cell phone charger was missing, possibly stolen, and his phone was on 1 percent. The universe "f--ks with everybody," but the Cool Kids will probably withstand it.
San Jose (AFP) - Costa Rica saw an "unprecedented" migratory flow into the country this year, with tens of thousands of mainly Cubans, Haitians and Africans seeking passage to the United States, the government said.

"More than 26,000 irregular migrants entered the country" from the southern border with Panama, the ministry of communication said in a statement, released on Sunday.

Most of them arrived this year, though up to 8,000 were Cubans who became stranded in Costa Rica in late 2015 when neighboring Nicaragua closed its border to them.

Costa Rica eventually organized flights in early 2016 to let them skip over Nicaragua and make their way to the US border.

Since then, the biggest flow has been that of Haitians, along with smaller numbers of Africans.

Many of them also face difficulties trying to get through Nicaragua, staying in shelters and camps in northern Costa Rica while turning to people-smugglers for help to cross the border. They have been given temporary visas, but no right to work.

"This could have been the biggest migratory crisis in the country, but it was an opportunity for Costa Rica to show the world its vocation in defending human rights," Communication Minister Mauricio Herrera said.
The plight of Syrians displaced by civil war grew worse in 2016 as the fighting in that country continued with no significant hope on the horizon for peace. As the year is drawing to a close, the stop and restart of the evacuation of civilians from the city of Aleppo this past weekend has best reflected the international community's inability to end the fighting.

The human and economic costs of Syria's civil war will take years to tally, but early estimates suggest staggering tolls in Syria and in other countries. Earlier this year, The Associated Press collected a variety of estimates of the toll of the civil war. The estimates of the number of dead vary from 250,000 to 470,000. More than a million people have been injured.

A World Bank estimate at the beginning of this year estimated the damage in six Syrian cities to be as much as $4.5 billion, the AP reported. Additionally, nearly all of the country's UNESCO World Heritage sites have been either badly damaged or destroyed.

The fighting has taken an economic toll on Syria and surrounding countries, although accurate appraisals of the fighting's economic costs on Syria are unavailable. A nearly year-old report by the World Vision charity and Frontier Economics consulting organization stated that the fighting at the time had cost the country $275 billion in lost economic growth opportunities.

Nearly six years of fighting has also sent millions of Syrians from their homes and into refugee camps and resettlement programs scattered around the world in dozens of countries. More than 11 million Syrians -- nearly half of the country's population -- have been displaced either within the country or to other nations, according to the AP.

More than 4.8 million Syrians have fled their homeland and are living in other countries, according to the UNHCR, the United Nations' refugee agency. Turkey hosts more than 2.5 million Syrians, more than any other nation. In Europe, Germany hosts more than 450,000 Syrian refugees, the greatest number on that continent.

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[ Turkey struggles to educate Syrian refugees]

Lebanon, Syria's small coastal neighbor to the west, hosts the greatest number of Syrian refugees as a proportion to its native population, according to the UNHCR. For every 1,000 residents of Lebanon, roughly 182 Syrian refugees were in the country by the end of 2015, according to the UNHCR.

The costs of Syria's civil war reverberate around the world. In Jordan, for example, the decision to accept more than 600,000 Syrian refugees has cost the country more than $2.5 billion annually, according to one estimate by the World Bank. Lebanon's economy has been stretched to a near breaking point by accommodating more than 1 million Syrian refugees.

The chart below shows the countries that are hosting the greatest number of Syrian refugees in proportion to their own population, according to the UNHCR.

Countries With the Most Refugees Per Capita (source: UNHCR) Syrian Refugees Per 1,000 People at End of 2015 Total Syrian Refugees at End of 2015 Lebanon 182 1,062,690 Jordan 83 628,223 Turkey 32 2,503,549 Iraq 7 244,642 Armenia 6 16,611 Sweden 5 52,707 Malta 3 1,328 Cyprus 3 3,110 Denmark 2 12,988 Bulgaria 2 13,819

Deidre McPhillips is a data reporter at U.S. News. You can find her on Twitter or email her at dmcphillips@usnews.com.
MILAN (AP)  In the first trial in Italy involving foreign fighters operating inside the war zone, a court on Monday convicted an Italian woman and her Albanian husband in absentia on terrorism charges for traveling to Syria to join the Islamic State group.

The court sentenced Maria Giulia Sergio to nine years in prison and her husband, Aldo Kobuzi, to 10 years; both are believed to be in Syria.

Sergio had encouraged her parents and sister to join her, the first known case of an entire Italian family planning to join IS.

Sergio's father, who was arrested in mid-2015, six months after his daughter traveled to the Middle East, was convicted in the same trial of a lesser charge of charge of organizing the journey of jihadists and sentenced to four years in jail. Sergio's mother died while in custody pending trial, while her sister was tried separately under expedited procedures and received a five-year sentence for association with a goal of international terrorism.

The court on Monday also convicted in absentia Kobuzi's mother and sister, who are also believed to be in Syria, and sentenced them to eight years in prison. The presumed recruiter, a Canadian identified as Haik Bushra and believed to be in Saudi Arabia, was sentenced to nine years.

Prosecutors claim that the entire Sergio family had embraced Islam, with the women all wearing the traditional niqab head cover and the father adopting a beard typical of observant Muslims.

Sergio, 29, and Kobuzi, 25, traveled to Syria shortly after their September 2014 arranged marriage, along with the groom's mother. Sergio, who had converted to Islam some years earlier and was previously engaged to a Moroccan, was determined that her parents and elder sister would join her, prosecutors claimed based on wiretapped conversations.

Her father went so far as to quit his job, collecting a 25,000-euro ($26,000) severance payment, and put property up for sale to finance the trip, prosecutors claimed in court documents which also said her elder sister was planning to marry a fighter on her arrival in Syria.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has tightened his grip on power by stripping the parliamentary immunity of five lawmakers seen as opposing him, weeks after being reappointed chairman of the main political party. The move follows a decision by a Palestinian court last week to sentence Mohammed Dahlan, a former Fatah party member and vocal Abbas critic, to three years in prison over the disappearance of $16 million when he was in office several years ago. While Abbas has no immediate challengers, he appears to be at pains to shore up his authority amid criticism over his rule from neighboring Arab states, from the Hamas Islamist movement and from Israel. Some Palestinians say Abbas has achieved little during his 11-year presidency, with no progress on peace with the Israelis. While Palestine has earned representation at the United Nations, efforts to stall Israel's settlement building on occupied land have failed, and the economy struggles. Dahlan, who frequently assails Abbas's leadership from his self-imposed exile in Abu Dhabi, was tried, convicted and sentenced in absentia. He has dismissed the sentence as politically motivated and "ordered by Abbas". All five of those who had their immunity from prosecution revoked are regarded as allies or associates of Dahlan. Hassan Al-Awri, Abbas's legal adviser, said the attorney general had asked Abbas to strip them of their immunity so they could be "investigated over a number of issues". He did not provide details, but Palestinian media cited a number of broadbrush accusations. Three of the five sought refuge in the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ramallah on Sunday, before police escorted them out of the building. They were not detained since they are not wanted for anything, a spokesman for the Palestinian security services said. Shami Al-Shami, one of the five, said the removal of his immunity was an infringement of his rights. His association with Dahlan, he said, was not a crime. "(This) was an absolute violation of Palestinian law and the constitution," he told Reuters by phone. "If I have a personal relationship with Dahlan, this is none of anyone's business. I should only be judged by the law." RARE MEETING Dahlan, a former Fatah security chief, was removed from the party's central committee at a party congress this month, the first Fatah gathering in seven years - a reflection of the difficulty of convening delegates from around the world and the lack of issues to discuss. The four-day meeting reaffirmed Abbas, 81, as party chairman. In the run-up to the congress, Dahlan spoke critically of Abbas's leadership and urged his supporters to oppose him. It was seen as an attempt to undermine Abbas's rule rather than unseat him, and position Dahlan or his allies to take over if Abbas dies or loses when the next elections are held. But Abbas restricted the number of delegates invited to the gathering, making it harder for Dahlan loyalists to mount a challenge. The newly elected, 21-member Fatah central committee is largely made up of Abbas supporters. Abbas's increasingly strict rule -- he has removed several opponents from their posts, issued decrees and rarely speaks to the media -- has drawn criticism from within his party and from members of parliament. The latter has not met since Fatah and Hamas fought a brief civil war in Gaza in 2007, which led to Hamas seizing full control of the territory. Several Fatah legislators issued a joint statement late on Sunday demanding the decision to strip parliamentary immunity be reversed, arguing there was no clause in the Palestinian basic law giving Abbas the right to revoke it. "Removing immunity is conditional on the agreement of two-thirds of parliament members," they said. Abbas was elected president of the Palestinan Authority for a four-year term in 2005. Elections in 2009 were canceled and there is no indication of whether or when new presidential and parliamentary polls will be held. (Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta; Writing by Nidal Almughrabi; Editing by Luke Baker and Mark Trevelyan)
Havana (AFP) - Authorities across Cuba have cracked down on dissidents, arresting dozens, keeping others from marching in Havana, and detaining an American human rights lawyer, activists said Sunday.

In the first such anti-dissident operation since Fidel Castro's death last month, President Raul Castro seemed to indicate the Americas' only one-party communist state was in no mood for dissent.

A roundup in the country's east snared dozens and derailed street protests planned to demand that political prisoners be freed.

"There was a joint operation at 6:00 am in Santiago and Palma Soriano. They searched four homes, and so far we have 42 reported arrests -- 20 in Santiago, 12 in Palma and 10 in Havana," Jose Daniel Ferrer told AFP by phone.

The 46-year-old, who heads the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu), had called the demonstrations to demand that political prisoners be set free. Castro insists there are no political prisoners, just lawbreakers.

Ferrer said he was detained in Santiago, Cuba's second biggest city, at a police unit known as Micro 9.

"They threatened me, and said by calling the demonstration I was facilitating public disorder.... disobedience and espionage," Ferrer said.

Most arrests of dissidents in roundups are brief. Sometimes, the authorities prevent them from leaving their homes to attend a protest or march.

- Ladies in White, shut in -

In Havana, the award-winning Ladies in White group, which presses for the release of jailed dissidents who are their relatives, said that at least 20 of its activists were "under siege," kept from attending their weekly march.

"At least 20 homes were blocking the residents to keep us from marching today," said group leader Berta Soler.

It was a step backward for the Ladies in White. They long have been considered the only dissidents the Cuban government allowed to march regularly; they hold one weekly protest outside a church in Havana.

But not this Sunday, Soler said.

- US rights lawyer held, freed -

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Kimberley Motley, an American human rights lawyer, was briefly detained on Friday along with Cuban activists Gorki Avila and Luis Alberto Marino when they planned to visit graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado, known as "El Sexto," in jail.

Maldonado was also arrested on November 26, a day after the death of Cuban revolutionary icon Fidel Castro, after painting on a wall in Havana the phrase "He's gone," her relatives say.

According to online newspaper 14 y medio, Motley left Cuba at the request of the government.

She tweeted "Thanks for all the love and support safely back home in the U.S. Will not stop fighting to free @dmmelsexto."

Cuban authorities have not confirmed the arrests.

The United States and Cuba re-established ties in July 2015 after breaking them off for more than half a century.

Despite advances in relations between the former Cold War rivals -- which include a slew of bilateral agreements and more than 208,000 US citizens visiting Cuba this year -- Washington has not lifted the full economic embargo imposed on Cuba since 1962.
Mark Cuban

Billionaire businessman Mark Cuban has a suggestion for President-elect Donald Trump's infrastructure plan: Make sure to spend some cash on robotics.

In a Sunday night post on his blog, Blog Maverick, Cuban said a "big chunk" of the $1 trillion Trump proposal should be spent on research and development, software, and design for robots "and every other facet of the robotics industry."

Cuban said that if he were spending the money, he'd allocate 10%  or about $100 billion  to the effort.

"Unfortunately, none of the companies that actually make the robotics are based here in the USA," wrote Cuban, the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. "That's a problem that needs to be solved. We need to help develop domestic companies much like we did the electric-car and wind and solar industries. Even if it means trying to help pick winners."

"We have to win the robotics race," he continued. "We are not even close right now."

Cuban added that China, South Korea, and European countries are offering billions in credits to support their robotics industries, whereas the US spends a fraction of that.

"That ain't gonna work," he wrote. "The good news, if there is any, is that according to the report, China is only spending $3 billion dollars a year on robotics. We need to quickly pass them by."

"Why is this so important?" he continued. "Because technological change always accelerates. It never stagnates over time. Which means we are going to face the fact that if nothing in the States changes, we will find ourselves dependent on other countries for almost everything that can and will be manufactured in a quickly approaching future."

While many Americans voted for Trump in hopes of stunting globalization or stunting the rapidly increasing automation of jobs, Cuban said Americans "have to face the fact" that jobs are going to be lost to robotics.

"The only question that needs to be answered is which country will create and own the best robotic technology and have the infrastructure necessary to enable it," he wrote. "Right now it's not the USA, and that needs to change. Our 'infrastructure' spending should look forwards, not backwards, so that we can be the robotics hub of the world."

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Trump's infrastructure plan calls for $550 billion of the $1 trillion proposal to be publicly funded, and his push for increased infrastructure spending has been more vocally favored by congressional Democrats rather than Republicans.

Cuban, who was a prominent supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and a critic of Trump on the campaign trail, recently dubbed Trump the country's "No. 1 draft pick."

"He's who we put our hopes and dreams with, and we're going to believe in him," he said. "Right now it's a little bit easier because we haven't played a game yet."

NOW WATCH: Donald Trump's 'strange' morning habit tells you everything you need to know about him





More From Business Insider


PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech President Milos Zeman blocked a bill limiting politicians' business interests, his office said on Monday, returning to parliament a law that would clip the wings of billionaire Finance Minister Andrej Babis if it came into effect. Lawmakers are likely to try to overrule the president and need 101 votes in the 200-seat lower house to do so. The bill received 125 votes when approved last month. Babis, whose ANO party is seen as the frontrunner to win parliamentary elections due by October 2017, has pledged to fight the law, which has been pushed by opponents including from within the three-party center-left ruling coalition. The 'conflict of interest' law prevents ministers from accumulating media, business and political power. It would prohibit cabinet members from owning media firms and disallow companies of which ministers own more than 25 percent from accessing public contracts, subsidies and investment aid. Babis is the second-richest Czech and the country's largest private employer. His Agrofert group and other assets include over 250 companies from chemicals and food producers to media, forestry firms and fertility clinics, with over 30,000 workers. Zeman had at first said he would not stand in the way of the new law but, after studying it, decided to block it because it was in conflict with the constitution and breached the principle of open competition between political parties, his office said. Zeman has expressed support for Babis, whose ANO holds a double-digit poll lead over Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka's Social Democrats. Only Babis's party and several independents opposed the conflict of interest bill during a vote last month. (Reporting by Robert Muller; Editing by Catherine Evans)
For those who took the December LSAT and are planning to submit law school applications this cycle, the next two weeks are filled with uncertainty. When scores come out in the first week of January, many applicants will happily apply with their December scores, while others will feel that they can improve on their scores and might consider retaking the LSAT in February.

December LSAT takers face two challenges: registration for the February LSAT closes before December scores are released and law schools vary greatly in their treatment of February LSAT scores.

[Weigh retaking the LSAT in February, applying with a low December score.]

The first challenge is relatively straightforward to overcome: Register for the February LSAT by Dec. 21 at the regular registration fee of $180. If your December score meets or exceeds expectations, cancel registration and receive $50 back.

Taking this route is the equivalent of taking out a $130 insurance policy on your December LSAT score -- the alternative of waiting to retake the LSAT in June means waiting another year to apply.

Navigating law schools' policies regarding the February LSAT, on the other hand, is a more complicated challenge. Law schools generally fall into three camps: those that don't accept the February LSAT for admission in the fall, those that accept February LSAT scores only when the applicant petitions to have this score considered and those with application deadlines late enough that the February LSAT is accepted.

Let's look more closely at each of these categories and the policies of a few schools that fall within each.

[Decide if you should take the February LSAT.]

1. No February LSAT for fall admission: Very few schools categorically refuse to accept applications with a February LSAT score , though the University of California-- Berkeley is among them.

Many schools, however, particularly those in the top 14, accept February scores with the caveat that applicants who wish to have their February scores considered will not be guaranteed full consideration by the admissions committee because the release of February scores is so far past their deadlines. Law schools that follow this policy include Harvard University, and the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor , for example.

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2. By petition only: Columbia University and Stanford University both will consider a February LSAT score, but only if they approve an applicant's written petition requesting that they do so.

Columbia is generally liberal in granting such requests, but those requests must be approved by Jan. . As such, 2017 applicants should submit petitions as soon as possible.

[Get answers about common February LSAT concerns.]

Stanford is much more conservative in granting such requests. The school review s petitions on a case-by-case basis and look s for significant hardship that prevented the applicant from taking the December LSAT. Such hardship includes significant illness or the death of a loved one.

Note that applications to schools in both of the above categories must be submitted by the applicable deadline, even if the deadline is before the February LSAT administration or before the February LSAT scores are released. Some schools require separate written confirmation that the applicant is registered for the February exam. Others have a place in the application that allows the applicant to report a plan to take the February LSAT. Still others will automatically hold review of an application if the applicant is registered for the February LSAT.

3. February LSAT accepted: Most schools, particularly those outside the top tier, accept the February LSAT without petition and without it creating a significant disadvantage to the applicant. In general, the earlier the application deadline, the more of a disadvantage submitting a February LSAT score will create.

Keep in mind that, as with many aspects of the law school admissions process, each school's policies are a bit different. If you are planning to take the February LSAT, make sure to check the deadline for each school you are planning to apply to.

If any school has a deadline before March 2 -- the day the Law School Admission Council plans to release February LSAT scores via email -- make sure you know that school's policy regarding the February LSAT and take any steps necessary to ensure that your application is submitted on time and will be reviewed with your February score.
Hrithik Roshan apparently wanted to appear on the chat show, but with his new co-star.

By India Today Web Desk: Karan Johar 's chat show Koffee with Karan Season 5 has been creating a lot of waves lately, thanks to the celebs invited on the show.

Also read: Here's what Shah Rukh Khan thinks of Koffee with Karan Season 5

But according to recent reports, the host and the makers of the show apparently said 'No' to someone. If the rumour mills are to be believed, then the creators of the show apparently turned down Hrithik Roshan's request to appear on the show with his Kaabil co-star Yami Gautam.

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But before you jump to conclusions, we would like to clarify that creators of the chat show still want Hrithik to appear on the show, but without Yami.

Reason: Yami is apparently not popular enough to feature on the show.

But is this really true? Was such a request really turned down?

Koffee with Karan Season 5 airs every Sunday at 9 pm on Star World.

--- ENDS ---
Deer dashes into South Carolina Gold's Gym, leaps over some weights before completing its quick two-minute workout. https://t.co/S0lYeWaDYt pic.twitter.com/PFO8e2rOAj  ABC News (@ABC) December 19, 2016

The Planet of the Deer is upon us, fellow humans. Stockpile emergency food rations and make weapons out of anything you can get your hands on, because the rise of the woodland critters is beginning, and the deer are now even teaching themselves to condition for a long battle.

Case in point: On Friday, employees and buff clients of a Golds Gym in Anderson, South Carolina were startled when a deer burst through a window and ran through the joint like he owned the place.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in this attack, but as this additional footage shows, even the most shredded among us are woefully unprepared for battle with this quick and nimble species.



Employees and swole bros tried to run the deer out of the gym, but the four-legged monster only kept at his conditioning routine, so as to outrun any retaliatory efforts our worlds combined militaries might make in a last ditch effort to save the planet.

Hunter and Ross, bless their hearts, were simply outwitted against this diabolical agent of destruction. But we salute their bravery and hope they serve as inspiration to the rest of us who are currently staring at our own windows and asking, When?



This isnt the first deer assault of December either. Earlier this month, a Maryland teen was eating cereal in his kitchen when a deer jumped through his window and assaulted his Christmas tree. Thats right: The War on Christmas is REAL and it is being led by deer.

A Frederick, MD teen shoots a deer that breaks down the door to his home. Hear from him on @wusa9 at 5 pm and 6pm pic.twitter.com/dmUTajPEur  Janice Park (@JaniceparkNews) December 16, 2016

No longer will they guide Santas sleigh. Instead, they will guide our demise. All of this is undoubtedly in retaliation for the recent deaths of deer, like the nameless one-antlered victim of New York and New Jersey politics. That deer died from heavy sedation while fat cats argued over its fate. They may have determined ours instead.
Russian saber rattling and prodding from Washington are spurring more of NATO's European allies to step up their defense spending  and the makers of military hardware stand to benefit.

Since the U.S. presidential election, European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have announced plans to buy everything from surveillance aircraft and drones, to new air defense systems and warships. The announcements come amid U.S. criticism that European countries are not doing enough to uphold their part of the alliance.

As a result, NATO military spending this year is expected to bounce back for the first time since 2010, according to an IHS Jane's Defence Budgets report. Meanwhile, Russia's defense spending is seen falling this year for the first time since the late 1990s, as the low price of oil and Western sanctions batter its economy.

"There's already recognition among leaders in the European Union that countries need to do more [on defense]," said Phil Finnegan, a defense analyst at the Teal Group in Fairfax, Virginia.



NATO has been around since the late 1940s, when the trans-Atlantic military alliance had a dozen founding members. It kept the peace through the Cold War and now has 28 participants, including several countries that were once part of the former Soviet Union's orbit and the communist-led Warsaw Pact.

But during the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump referred to NATO as "obsolete," and suggested the alliance wasn't doing enough on the terrorism front. When asked over the summer whether he would defend the Baltic States in the event of an attack from Russia, Trump said, "If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is yes," according to a transcript of the interview from The New York Times.

President Barack Obama also has been critical of NATO members for "free riding" off U.S. protection.

From a practical standpoint, the U.S. is unlikely to let go of its involvement in the NATO alliance. Yet Trump can use his bully pulpit as the next leader of the free world to get a better deal for American taxpayers, and encourage European allies to step up their spending.

Story continues

"There's a lot of nervous allies who aren't heeding the warning from the Washington establishment to make a distinction between what to take literally and what to take seriously," said Lisa Samp, an international security analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

NATO's rules obligate alliance members to help each other in case of an attack. In 2014, the security partnership produced guidelines for members to spend at least 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense.

Only five of the 28 member countries of the Western alliance  the U.S., U.K., Poland, Greece and Estonia  currently meet the 2 percent of GDP target.



"Spending 2 percent of your gross domestic product on defense comes at the expense of other things," Toomas Hendrik Ilves, a former Estonian president, told CNBC on Sunday. "That's also political risk for any government."



But if the rest of the European NATO members paid the 2 percent target for defense spending set by the trans-Atlantic alliance, it would generate more than $90 billion in additional annual expenditures, according to Jefferies research.



"If Trump is able to get more NATO countries to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense, it would be good for both European and U.S. defense firms," Cowen said in a report last week.



According to the IHS Jane's forecast, concerns about security in Western Europe will boost defense budgets across the region by about $10 billion over the next five years.

U.K. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon recently visited California and announced a development deal worth $125 million for drones from privately held General Atomics. While in the U.S., the British official met with defense giant Boeing (NYSE: BA), a supplier of NATO's E-3 Sentry surveillance aircraft commonly known as the AWACS.



U.K.-based defense manufacturer BAE Systems (London Stock Exchange: BA.-GB) is mentioned frequently as a defense name to watch due to its exposure to NATO military spending.



"In our view 2016 has seen a marked inflection in the outlook for defense expenditures, and we see BAE as a key beneficiary of this moving forward," said Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Benjamin Heelan in a research note last week.



Germany, which spends nearly 1.2 percent of GDP on military outlays, has pledged to meet the NATO target. That could also lead to an uptick in defense spending.



"If Germany were to meet its 2 percent pledge ... it would be a significant increase in overall European defense spending," said Christopher Chivvis, associate director of Rand Corp.'s International Security and Defense Policy Center. "Germany is not going to do that overnight although they are moving in that direction."



Some NATO alliance members are pushing defense modernization plans after Russian military buildups in both the Baltic and Black sea regions.

IHS Jane's forecast sees tensions in the Baltic region pushing defense spending from $981 million in 2014 to more than $2 billion by 2020. That would make it the region with the fastest growth globally.



Earlier this month, Poland announced plans to spend $14.5 billion on its military forces over five years. The country also is getting the Raytheon (NYSE: RTN)-made Patriot Air and Missile Defense System from the U.S. as well as drones, helicopters and warships to deal with threats in the Baltic Sea.



Poland's announcement came on the heels of Moscow moving nuclear-capable ballistic missiles into Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave located on the Baltic Sea next to Poland.

Meanwhile, Romania is moving ahead with increases in its defense spending and plans to meet the 2 percent NATO target next year. The U.S. and NATO recently installed a missile shield facility in Romania. It comes amid tensions in the Black Sea region after Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in the Ukraine.

Russia last year invested more than 5 percent of its GDP in defense, but that figure is expected to drop to just 3 percent due to the country's economic woes.

"The huge military expansion on the part of the Russians in the last five to six years is not sustainable," said Ilves, who served 10 years as the fourth president of Estonia.

IHS Jane's forecast said, "2015 is expected to represent the zenith of Russian defense expenditures for the foreseeable future."

Weak oil prices have cut a major revenue source for the Russian federal government, and there's also been fallout from the ongoing Western sanctions.

"We expect the Russian defense budget to fall again next year and it will sit below France in the No. 7 position by 2020, based on current plans, with a total defense budget of $41.4 billion," said Craig Caffrey, a principal analyst at IHS Jane's.

By comparison, the U.S. defense budget this year is forecast to rise 1 percent to $622 billion, which according to IHS Jane's estimates represents about 40 percent of the world's total defense spending.
Photo credit: Snapchat

From Cosmopolitan

Photo credit: E! Entertainment

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna began one of the greatest modern day love stories the world has ever seen in early 2016. They had a baby together, survived one season of an E! reality series, and teased fans with their on-again-off-again status for 12-plus months. Things appear to be off again and perhaps this time, for good. Here's how we all got here.

Jan. 25, 2016: Rob - or rather, his arm - appears on Chyna's Instagram, along with the words "the beginning" and a shamrock emoji. Khloe writes a cryptic tweet about never going "against the family" and claims it's not meant for a specific family member. Rob shares an Instagram meme featuring a photo of Chyna carrying a car seat one day later.

Photo credit: Instagram

Jan. 26, 2016: TMZ reports that Chyna is helping Rob get back in shape by having "intense" workouts together.

Jan. 27, 2016: Rob moves into Chyna's place as People reports he's "no longer welcome" at former digs, Khloe's house. TMZ claims the move happened after Khloe found the couple at her house with "liquor bottles and trash strewn about." Chyna posts a winky selfie ;)

 A post shared by Blac Chyna (@blacchyna) on Jan 27, 2016 at 9:01pm PST

Jan. 28, 2016: Tyga gives his first public reaction to the budding romance, saying that "everybody deserves to be happy."

Jan. 29, 2016: Kris Jenner is photographed paying a visit to Rob after Chyna gets out of town, leading many to believe Kris is there for a confrontation of some sort. Later that day, Chyna is escorted off a flight in Austin, Texas and booked on charges of public intoxication and possessing a controlled substance.

Jan. 31, 2016: Rob drives his Bentley for more than 20 hours from Los Angeles to Austin to pick up his lady. TMZ reports that Rob and Chyna are offered a sex tape deal.

Feb. 1, 2016: Rob joins Snapchat with some help from Chyna, who announces that his username is "Robphukedme." His first video is literal gibberish:

Story continues

Feb. 9, 2016: Chyna sparks engagement rumors after a giant ring is spotted on her ring finger during the Trinadad and Tobago Carnival. BFF Amber Rose is there, too.

#Trinidad A post shared by Blac Chyna (@blacchyna) on Feb 9, 2016 at 6:19pm PST

Feb. 14, 2016: Rob celebrates his first Valentine's Day with Chyna by gifting her with a huge tree of red roses and a giant painting of his girl overlaid with the lyrics to a John Legend song. By the way, the lyrics are coated in actual diamond dust and cost Rob a cool $35,000, according to TMZ. NBD.

Feb. 18, 2016: Khloe posts an old photo of Rob along with a simple message.

One day later, Rob and Chyna give fans a tour of his pantry, which apparently includes healthy things like Raincoast Crisps and Irish Oatmeal.

March 6, 2016: Rob and Chyna survive their first break up rumor days after reportedly dropping the L-word to each other. Aw.

Rob posts a huge close-up of himself with Chyna, along with a caption saying that "it would be a lot healthier for our relationship if we kept a lot more to ourselves."

March 9, 2016: Rob attends a BBQ shirtless and shares the results on Snapchat.

March 13, 2016: Rob and Chyna head to Montego Bay, Jamaica for a club appearance. Rob wears Givenchy sandals while at said club.



March 15, 2016: Rob and Kylie shut down rumors that his family has turned against him since he began dating Chyna by appearing on Snapchat together. According to Kylie, she sees her brother "all the time."

Kylie in Nicky Diamond's snapchat (nicky_diamante) A post shared by Kylie Jenner Snapchats (@kylizzlesnapchats) on Mar 15, 2016 at 4:42pm PDT

March 16, 2016: Chyna, her son Cairo, and Rob head to Legoland for an early 29th birthday celebration.

Photo credit: Instagram

March 23, 2016: Kris says Chyna "seems like a really nice girl." She tells the Kylie and Jackie O radio show in Australia that Rob has been doing "really, really well" and is just trying to be healthy.

March 30, 2016: Amber Rose gives Rob and Chyna her blessing: "I feel like initially it looked like it was something that it wasn't, but really they're just very happy together. That's all it is, and they have a great time together, as you can see, and I'm so happy for Chyna."

April 4, 2016: Rob proposes to Chyna with a 7-carat diamond ring worth $325,000. She says yes. They celebrate with Chyna's mom at a strip club.

YES !...!...! A post shared by Blac Chyna (@blacchyna) on Apr 5, 2016 at 12:19am PDT

May 6, 2016: Rob and Chyna both post matching Instagrams that sure seem to imply that Chyna is pregnant.

 A post shared by Blac Chyna (@blacchyna) on May 6, 2016 at 11:14am PDT

May 11, 2016: Rob gives Chyna 28 bouquets of flower and 28 love notes for her 28th birthday.



Photo credit: Snapchat

July 25, 2016: Rob deletes all of his Instagrams and unfollows Blac Chyna. Is this the beginning of the end??

Photo credit: Instagram

However, same day, Chyna put any breakup rumors to rest by showcasing her engagement ring on Snapchat:

Photo credit: Snapchat

Sept. 11, 2016. Kris Jenner reveals that Rob and Chyna are having a girl. (Classic Kris!)

IT'S A GIRL! So happy for Rob and Chyna! Can't wait to welcome this new little love bug to the world. #RobandChyna pic.twitter.com/awSeqZnouh - Kris Jenner (@KrisJenner) September 12, 2016

Sept. 13, 2016: Not to be upstaged, Chyna shares a sonogram of their baby girl:



@robkardashian and I can't wait to meet our baby girl  A post shared by Blac Chyna (@blacchyna) on Sep 12, 2016 at 11:53am PDT

Sept. 28, 2016: Rob, seemingly out of nowhere, tweets Kylie's phone number, claiming she didnt invite the mother of my child" to a baby shower. It's such a big deal that Kim later says that she couldnt watch the debate because she was distracted by family drama.

Us Weekly reports that Kourtney, Khloe, and Kim had planned a baby shower for Rob and Chyna, but he didnt know that they were also planning on bringing TV cameras with them. He learned they were filming it for Keeping Up With the Kardashians and said, Fuck that, according to a source. So Chyna didnt go either. He messed everything up.

Oct. 4, 2016: Rob and Chyna find out about Kim's Paris robbery during their baby shower. "They were both extremely shaken up and upset by everything, but once they discovered that Kim wasnt hurt they calmed down," a source tells E! News. "It was a terrifying moment for the two of then. They were so worried about Kim."

Nov. 10, 2016: Rob and Chyna welcome their first child together - a daughter named Dream Renee, who already has her own Instagram account.

The one and only DREAM KARDASHIAN has arrived. Everything we know on her amazing arrival: https://t.co/fKlIoZTxcb #RobAndChyna  pic.twitter.com/f7s6qLSWEl - Kardashians on E! (@KUWTK) November 10, 2016

This first official photo confirms it. #RobAndChyna's daughter is literally a Dream. Click the link in our bio for all the details on this precious angel!  A post shared by Kardashians on E! (@kuwtk) on Nov 10, 2016 at 2:23pm PST

Dec. 10, 2016: Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe reportedly try to block Chyna from trademarking her name. TMZ claims to have obtained documents that show companies belonging to the sisters are in the process of blocking Chynas request to trademark what will become her name after her wedding to Rob, Angela Renee Kardashian.

Dec. 11, 2016: Everyone celebrates Dream's first month birthday. Chyna shares videos, and Kylie visits Dream.

Photo credit: Instagram

Dream has gotten so juicy! #Blacchyna #DreamKardashian #DreamReneeKardashian #KylieJenner #ChyNKylie A post shared by ChyNLauren (@chyboog) on Dec 10, 2016 at 1:47pm PST





Dec. 14, 2016: Rob and Chyna's E! show is renewed. E! says in a statement (via The Hollywood Reporter) that eight new episodes will premiere in 2017. Knowing what we know comes next, I'm all :( now.

Dec. 17, 2016: Rob and Chyna breaks the internet with several reveals - including Chyna's texts about Rob, Rob's subsequent Instagram and Snapchat expose on his empty house and lost love, and Chyna's response to that.

Dec. 19, 2016: Rob takes to Instagram to post an apology to Chyna, as well as a photo of Dream. Chyna then regrams Rob's first Instagram with the caption, " @robkardashian."

Jan. 1, 2017: Rob and Chyna spend New Year's together.

Happy New Years 2017  from @robkardashian and I! A post shared by Blac Chyna (@blacchyna) on Dec 31, 2016 at 11:29pm PST

Jan. 10, 2017: Dream goes for her two-month checkup as Rob reveals he originally wanted a boy "so bad," but he is "thankful and happy" to have Dream "and wouldn't want it any other way."

Photo credit: Instagram

Dream continues to dominate all the Snapchat filters.

 A post shared by Dream Kardashian (@dream) on Jan 11, 2017 at 9:42am PST

Jan. 25, 2017: Rob and Chyna mark their first anniversary, with Rob sharing a video montage of their relationship.

Feb. 16, 2017: Multiple sources confirm to Us Weekly that Rob and Chyna have split yet again. Rob thinks its the right decision, quips one source, who adds that Chyna has disappeared for days at a time without contacting her fiance. This wont end well. The engaged couple have reportedly been at odds and have been living apart ever since their brief breakup over the holidays. FYI, Us notes that season two of Rob & Chyna is still a go.

March 2, 2017: People reports that Rob has not been allowed to be alone with baby Dream since he and Chyna split up and ended their engagement. One source says Rob remains "physically and emotionally" unhealthy and that the Kardashians are "very concerned" about him. The day before, Rob posted an Instagram with his daughter, along with the caption, "Saying bye to my beautiful baby girl... she is smiling at me. U see how she looking at her daddy... I literally can't get enough of this girl... I never felt a love or happiness like this ever in my life and she makes me so happy... about to miss her so much."

March 8, 2017: Sources tell both Us Weekly and People that season two of Rob & Chyna has been put on hold in wake of the couple's split. While E! did not offer specifics on the future of the show, a vague statement about Keeping Up With the Kardashians was released: We are continuing to shoot with all the family members, and are covering Rob and his relationship with Chyna.

Meanwhile, People is also reporting that Rob and Chyna will soon engage in an "ugly" custody battle over Dream, 4 months. Chyna is reportedly seeking sole custody and is asking for Rob to only have visitation rights.

April 1, 2017: In a series of Snapchat videos, Chyna and Rob seem to be very much on. Chyna lip-syncs to Kendrick Lamar's new single, "Humble," as Rob hugs her behind. Chyna also captioned one photo, "Dreams Daddy," obviously talking about their 4-month-old daughter, Dream.

A post shared by blacchyna snapchats (@blacchynasnapchats) on Apr 1, 2017 at 5:28pm PDT

May 14, 2017: Rob gives Chyna a Mothers Day shout-out on Instagram, writing, Im so thankful for our beautiful baby girl and so thankful for you and never thought I could be this happy so thank you for giving me her.

Photo credit: Instagram | Screenshot

May 31, 2017: Us Weekly reports that Rob has been dating reality TV star Meghan James, whos appeared on Oxygens Bad Girls Club and VH1s Basketball Wives LA. According to one source, the relationship is still in its early stages. The next day, Rob tweets that the dating rumors are not true never even met her or heard of her before. Meghan retweets the post so make of that what you will.

Wait reading online about some chick I'm dating Megan something. Not true never even met her or heard of her before - ROBERT KARDASHIAN (@robkardashian) June 2, 2017

June 18, 2017: Rob and Chyna spend his first Father's Day together with their daughter Dream at Disneyland. Rob calls it the "best" Father's Day trip.

Happy Fathers Day @robKardashian  A post shared by Blac Chyna (@blacchyna) on Jun 18, 2017 at 6:34pm PDT

July 2, 2017: Chyna shares an Instagram of the words Single. Im happy before deleting it later that day.

July 5, 2017: Rob posts several Instagrams accusing Blac Chyna of cheating on him. "Hahahaha Chyna just sent me this video saying happy 4th of July what a crazy person, he wrote in the caption for one of the videos. Come spend time with your daughter instead of fucking me and then this dude right after. U need help." In another video, Rob claims that he paid 100K" to help Chyna lose baby weight after she gave birth to their daughter Dream in November 2016.

July 10, 2017: Days after retaining power attorney Lisa Bloom, Chyna and her attorney sit down with Good Morning America for an interview. Chyna says she was devastated and "felt betrayed by Rob's social media episode. I talked to Rob about everything. The moral of the story is, he doesnt respect me. So if you cant respect me you have to respect the law. As noted by her attorney, sharing graphic images online without the consent of the person in the images is a crime and civil wrong in the state of California. Its also domestic abuse, which allows us to go in immediately and get domestic violence restraining orders to protect Chyna, Bloom told GMA. According to Chyna, she sent a video of her with another man to Rob as a way to get him to leave me alone, adding that she and Rob had been broken up since December 2016.

Later that day, a Los Angeles judge grants Chyna a temporary restraining order against Rob following a court hearing. Chyna and her attorneys Lisa Bloom and Walter Mosley appeared in court together while Rob was represented by Robert Shapiro and Sam Klein. According to the order, Rob is to stay at least 100 yards away from Chyna and is prohibited from posting photos of Chyna, their daughter Dream, and Chynas son Cairo. Following the hearing, Chyna told reporters, Im just going to go back to co-parenting Dream. Robert Shapiro echoed that sentiment, apologizing on behalf of Rob and stressing that both parents are going to work towards that goal of protecting the health and welfare of 8-month-old Dream.

Photo credit: Getty

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Demonstrators staged a protest from within the State House in Montpelier, Vermont on December 19, as the Electoral College prepared to officially ratify Donald Trumps win in 2016 US presidential election.

This protest was one of a number planned for December 19.

The crowd chanted this is what democracy looks and one person one vote. Credit: Twitter/Neal P. Goswami via Storyful
Photo credit: Reshet

From ELLE

On Thursday, Arab-Israeli news correspondent Lucy Aharish went live at the same time she always does on the same show she always hosts to discuss the horrendous deterioration of the situation in Syria. But this time was different. She delivered the telecast in English.

"We're going to do this in English so maybe someone in the world will listen," Aharish said, starring directly into the camera. "Right now, in Halab, Syria, just an eight-hour drive from Tel Aviv, a genocide is taking place."

Aharish spoke of the "holocaust" that the world has allowed to take place there. She condemned a global culture that is too focused on deciding who is "right" who is wrong and to save innocent people.

"Maybe we don't want to hear about it or deal with it, that in the twenty-first century, in the age of social media, in a world where information can fit into the palm of your hand, in a world where you can see and hear the victims and their horror stories in real time, in this world, we are standing and doing nothing while children are being slaughtered every single hour," she said. She directed her palpable furor at the UN Security Council and the world leaders in Spain, Germany, France, the U.K., and the United States.

"Who is marching in the streets for the innocent men and women of Syria?" she demanded. "Who is shouting for the children? No one."

"I'm an Arab. I'm a Muslim. I'm a citizen of the State of Israel," she concluded. "But I'm also a citizen of the world, and I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed as a human being that we chose leaders who are incapable of being articulate in their condemnation and powerful in their actions. I'm ashamed that our world is being taken hostage by terrorists and murderers and that we are not doing anything. I am ashamed that the peaceful majority of humanity is irrelevant once again."

Forces allied to the Syrian government recaptured Aleppo on Thursday, releasing a torrent of bullets and bombs in their assault. Some news outlets have reported mass executions in the streets of the ancient metropolis. And while 6,000 civilians have escaped Aleppo since the recapture, evacuations halted after an agreement between the rebel armies and government militias fell apart. The BBC reports that "thousands of cold and hungry civilians remain stranded in the rebel-held east, waiting to be picked up."

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"Aleppo is now a synonym for hell," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently announced that Deutsche Bank has agreed to settle charges in regards that it misled clients about the performance of a core feature of its automated order router that primarily sent client orders to dark pools.

According to the agencys order, Deutsche Bank made materially misleading statements and omissions concerning the Dark Pool Ranking Model feature of one of its order routers, known as SuperX+. The Dark Pool Ranking Model is meant to measure execution quality and liquidity of venues to which it sent orders. Deutsche Bank used the Dark Pool Ranking Model to determine which venues would receive orders and the sequence in which Deutsche Bank would send them.

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Deutsche Bank described this model in its disclosures to clients and potential clients as the quantitative core of SuperX+, stating that it smartly routes and selects optimal pools of liquidity on an order by order basis.

However the SEC found that due to a coding error, Deutsche Bank updated the ranking model just once during a two-year period, causing at least two dark pools to receive inflated rankings and consequently millions of orders that SuperX+ would have sent elsewhere if the system was operating the way Deutsche Bank had described.

Furthermore, the SEC found that Deutsche Bank manually overrode the rankings on certain occasions and manually assigned fill rates for new venues based on subjective judgment that that turned out to be inconsistent with the venues actual performance.

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Robert Cohen, co-chief of the Enforcement Divisions Market Abuse Unit, commented:

Automated strategies for routing customer orders are a critically important part of the market. Broker-dealer customers expect to be told if a routing program like Deutsche Banks does not function properly, relies on stale data, and routes millions of orders contrary to the described methodology.

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Andrew Ceresney, director of the SECs Enforcement Division, commented:

Deutsche Bank claimed to be using ongoing data analysis to rank the dark pools best suited for customer orders when in reality its system failed to actually do this analysis. When broker-dealers tout their material products and methodologies, their statements must be accurate.

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The New York Attorney Generals office announced a parallel action, and Deutsche Bank agreed to admit wrongdoing and pay $18.5 million penalties to the SEC and attorney general for a total of $37 million.

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* Govt to seek approval to borrow 20 bln euros for banks

* Must raise 5 bln euros in capital, sell bad loans this year

* Government ready to step in if plan falls through

* Atlante agrees to go ahead with investment

* Go (Recasts, adds government measure, Atlante statement)

By Valentina Za and Stephen Jewkes

MILAN, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The Italian government decided on Monday to seek parliamentary approval to borrow 20 billion euros to underwrite the stability of its wobbly banking sector, starting with a likely bail-out of No. 3 lender, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, as early as this week.

Monte dei Paschi, recently judged the weakest of the European Union's major banks, needs to dispose of a mountain of bad loans and raise 5 billion euros in capital by the end of this month or else face the risk of being wound down by the European Central Bank.

Italy's Economy minister said on Monday the money it was seeking could be used to guarantee adequate liquidity in the banking system.

"These resources could also be used as part of a programme to boost capital at banks," he said in a press conference.

A government bailout could come as early as this week, if Monte dei Paschi fails to pull off its own privately funded rescue plan.

But it could prove to be politically explosive for the week-old administration of Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, given that investors are required to bear losses under EU bailout rules.

Earlier on Monday, however, the bank received some rare good news in relation to its faltering rescue plan. A key investor that was reconsidering its commitment to the plan issued a statement saying that its concerns had been resolved.

"(Quaestio)... has agreed to approve the Term Sheet for the senior bridge loan as agreed with the financing banks," the investor, private bank rescue fund Atlante, said.

Atlante has committed to spending 1.5 billion euros to buy some of Monte dei Paschi's bad loans, despite having expressed "deep reservations" in a Dec. 17 letter over the terms of a bridge loan that Monte dei Paschi had secured as part of the sale of bad loans.

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Even with Atlante's commitment to participate in the private rescue bid, Monte dei Paschi is still not assured to raise enough money to avoid the need of a state bailout.

Its 5 billion euros cash call is meant to conclude on Thursday, but is not underwritten by a consortium of investment banks.

Monte dei Paschi shares closed before both Atlante's statement and the government's announcement, having lost 11 percent and wiped out a week's gains.

Under a state bailout, the government would inject capital into Monte dei Paschi only after the forced conversion of 4.1 billion euros worth of subordinated bonds into shares, a source said on Friday.

As part of its own rescue plan, Monte dei Paschi has taken out a 4.7 billion euro bridge loan with JPMorgan, Mediobanca, Credit Suisse and HSBC, said another source, familiar with the loan.

JPMorgan and Mediobanca have been working on the bank's rescue plan and have already come under fire from opposition politicians who object to them earning fees in the event of a state bailout, especially fees accruing on the bridge loan.

Monte dei Paschi needs the loan to help complete the sale of 28 billion euros of gross bad debts, which are to be repackaged as debt securities worth 9 billion euros.

The loan is worth around half of that, but it is secured against all the securities -- which was the source of concern for Atlante, said a source familiar with the matter.

Atlante, whose shareholders include Italy's top banks and insurers as well as state-owned entities, is due to buy a 1.5 billion euro tranche of the securities.

It could see its notes claimed by the four banks if the bridge loan is not repaid. ($1 = 0.9579 euros) (Additional reporting by Paola Arosio and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Mark Bendeich/Keith Weir/Anna Willard)
Before the Kardashians had America keeping up with them, Zsa Zsa Gabor and her sisters were the original famous for being famous clan.

Read: Fit for a Queen: Inside the Opulent Mansion Zsa Zsa Gabor Called Home for More Than 40 Years

Gabor, who passed away Sunday at 99, was the middle sister between Magda and Eva.

The Hungarian-born actress broke out in America in 1952 thanks to her role in Moulin Rouge, but it was her love life that grabbed the most headlines.

She had romances with Frank Sinatra and Sean Connery and married nine times, including five years of wedded bliss with hotel magnate Conrad Hilton and a one-year marriage to Jack Ryan, who helped design the Barbie doll.

She once told reporters: "If I don't want to be with a man, I divorce him [and I] don't ask for alimony, and marry the next one."

In 1987, she was asked to speak at the American Bar Association Convention, where she discussed family law and her experiences with attorneys going through her divorces.

She told the room of legal experts: I have learned that not diamonds, but divorce lawyers, are a girls best friend.

Of all of her marriages, she only had one child  Francesca  with Conrad Hilton. Francesca passed away last year at 67.

Her marriage to Frederic Prinz von Anhalt is by far her longest, they got hitched in 1986 and he has been with her for 30 years.

Read: Boyfriend Describes Alleged Attack by 'Catwoman' Girlfriend: She Scratched My Face

In 1994, she told Inside Edition why their marriage worked: because he's not an actor, not even American. He's German and because I think Im a little bit wiser, I used to be terribly jealous of the man I loved and when they looked at somebody else I would get a divorce.

Three years after marrying her ninth and final husband, she was in the news for slapping a Beverly Hills police officer in the face during a traffic dispute.

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Years later, she poked fun at the incident during a guest appearance on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It was also mentioned during a Gabor cameo in A Very Brady Sequel in 1996.

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By PTI: Aurangabad, Dec 19 (PTI) Mahatashtra BJP chief Raosaheb Danve today dubbed the complaint of alleged violation of modal code of conduct levelled against him as "politically motivated."

Danve recently courted a controversy with his remark asking voters polls to accept Laxmi (the goddess of wealth) during the civic polls.

"On the eve of elections, Laxmi comes to your house and you should accept it," Danve had allegedly said during a civic poll campaign meeting at Paithan in Aurangabad on Saturday.

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Elections to municipal councils are being held in the state at present.

The opposition Congress and some social activists had objected to Danves remarks, saying it amounted to asking people to accept money during election campaign,and urged the State Election Commission to a register a case of violation of model code against him.

A notice was yesterday served to Danve by Returning Officer, Aurangabad,, and a report has been submitted to District Collector Nidhi Pandey.

"We talk about Laxmi at least 25 times in a day and that does not mean money. The move is politically motivated and I have this morning replied to the notice. Now the ball is in the court of Election Commission and it will take final decision on it," Danve told PTI.

Asked about Shiv Senas critcism against the comment of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that the ally should be ready to accept its development vision for forging a tie-up for Mumbai civic polls, the BJP leader said "Now we have got used to this kind of criticism and we take it as a mark of appreciation." PTI CORR GK NM

--- ENDS ---
(WASHINGTON)  Donald Trumps top aides on Sunday said the president-elect isnt ready to accept the finding by intelligence officials that Moscow hacked Democratic emails in a bid to elevate Trump. Even if its true, they said, Trump still won the White House fair and square.

The pushback came a day before members of the Electoral College are scheduled to formally cast votes for Trump as the 45th president. While Democrats likely are powerless to stop it, they suggested Trumps victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton would forever be tainted by Russian meddling.

Republican electors have been inundated by Trump opponents urging them to defy the results in their states and vote against Trump.

This whole thing is a spin job, said Trumps incoming chief of staff, Reince Priebus. And I think what the Democrats ought to do is look in the mirror and face the reality that they lost the election.

Trump himself weighed in Sunday evening, tweeting, If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!

The partisan swipes mostly ignored warnings by foreign policy experts that part of Russias calculation also was likely payback for years of U.S. criticism of its own elections and a desire to portray America as a flawed champion of democracy  potentially weakening U.S. power on the world stage. Russia has vehemently denied the accusation.

Many lawmakers, including some leading Republicans, say voters may not have been swayed by the release of tens of thousands of private emails. But the fact that a foreign power tried to intervene in U.S. democracy and exploit divisions in American politics is cause for alarm, they say.

Still, Trumps transition team and loyalists on Capitol Hill werent buying it, at least not on the eve of the Electoral College vote.

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Wheres the evidence? asked Kellyanne Conway, another close Trump adviser.

Asked about President Barack Obamas vow to retaliate against the Russians, Conway said: It seems like the president is under pressure from Team Hillary, who cant accept the election results.

Democrats say its unlikely the public will ever hear detailed evidence because doing so would disclose classified sources and methods. But with last weeks declaration by CIA Director John Brennan that there was strong consensus that Russia hacked Democrats to try to sway the election, lawmakers are stepping up demands for closed-door briefings and a separate congressional investigation.

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said an unclassified intelligence review could be released within the next two weeks or three weeks.

As president-elect, Trump would have access to high-level intelligence on the matter, although its unclear what hes been told. Trump has previously called the intelligence finding of Russian involvement ridiculous. On Sunday, Conway said she wasnt privy to the same intelligence briefings as the president-elect and couldnt say what he knows.

Donna Brazile, interim head of the Democratic National Committee, said the DNC was no match for a sophisticated foreign power in cyberspace that weaponized private emails to sow misinformation and to sow discord between Clinton and her primary rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Also on Sunday:

Brazile said the cyberattacks against the DNC occurred every day through the end of the election. The comment seemed to contradict Obamas assertion that they stopped after he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.

Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz., called for creation of a special Senate investigative committee focused on Russia, China and Iran potentially trying to interfere in U.S. elections through high-tech meddling.

Priebus said he was 100 percent confident that the Senate would confirm Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Trumps secretary of state. The oil company oil executive has deep ties to Russia and no government experience.

Priebus said the naming of lawyer David Friedman as Trumps ambassador to Israel doesnt mean that Trump rejects the notion of a two-state solution in the Middle East. Friedman has suggested Trump would support Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank, effectively eliminating the possibility of a Palestinian state.

Theres going to be things that individually people may believe in their hearts or in their mind, Priebus said of Trumps nominees to top posts. But ultimately, its their job to represent the president-elect of the United States and his foreign policy.

Priebus appeared on Fox News Sunday, Conway was interviewed on CBS Face the Nation and Brazile and Schiff were on ABCs This Week.
UPDATED 2:33 PM: Texas electors secured for Donald Trump the Electoral College win, with all but two votes going his way putting him over the 270 vote threshold. Despite pleas to electors from some Hollywood celebrities, and Michael Moores offer to pay the fines of any jumping ship, it was a day of few surprises on the domestic front, though much drama and violence on the international stage.

Its a relief tonight, certainly. Rep Chris Collins/Trump Transition Team surrogate told CNN. Its a shame its overshadowed by all the tragedy in Germany. Certainly our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those. But we are going to be moving on now. Donald Trumps cabinet is all but full.

Collins did mention the other big news that had pushed Trumps victory lap to the wings in todays news cycle. But, after hitting the 270 threshold, Trump issued a statement:

Today we offer our condolences to the family and loved ones of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, who was assassinated by a radical Islamic terrorist. The murder of an ambassador is a violation of all rules of civilized order and must be universally condemned.

Previous: Electors in Texas were poised to push Donald Trump over the threshold to officially be named our next POTUS, but bloody developments internationally pushed Trumps headline into the TV news cycle side wing.

At 12:42 PM PT, NBC News broke in to its network schedule with a special report when a truck that plowed into a Christmas crowd in Berlin, killing at least nine and injuring at least 50 more. That mass killing had followed by a few hours the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey at an art gallery in Ankara by an off-duty police officer. Video of the incident showed the gunman shouting, Do not forget Aleppo, do not forget Syria! after shooting Ambassador Andrey Karlov multiple times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said of the attack, per Reuters translation, A crime has been committed and it was without doubt a provocation aimed at spoiling the normalization of Russo-Turkish relations and spoiling the Syrian peace process which is being actively pushed by Russia, Turkey, Iran and others,

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In this screen grab taken from video, emergency services attend the scene, after an attack by a truck at a Christmas market, in Berlin, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. German media are reporting a truck has run into a crowded Christmas market in the center of Berlin, causing multiple injuries. Both the Berliner Zeitung newspaper and the Berliner Morgenpost reported the truck ran into the market outside the landmark Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on Monday evening. (AP)

Berlin authorities quickly told U.S. cable news outlets the truck slaughter was being investigated as a terror incident, though they cautioned it had not yet been officially classified as such. A suspect believed to be the driver quickly was apprehended, cable news networks began reporting at 12: 52 PM PT. TV news networks bailed on other stories to focus on the scene, which was packed with ambulances and holiday shoppers. By 12:30 PM PT, CNN intelligence and security analyst Bob Baer already was describing it as a Nice-like attack.

RelatedTruck Attacks Kills Dozens On French Riviera

In July, France extended its state of emergency for three months after what French President Francois Hollande said was obviously a terrorist attack in Nice, perpetrated by a driver in a truck. That attack left at least 84 people dead and hundreds injured, 52 of those critically, per French prosecutors, after a truck smashed through barriers and accelerated into a crowd gathered for a fireworks show to celebrate Bastille Day.

Meanwhile, at least three others were injured in the art-gallery assassination in Ankara. The assailant was killed by other officers in a shootout. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement calling it a despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world.

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Perhaps the best way to understand Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trumps pick to lead the U.S. Department of Education, is to see her as she sees herselfan insurgent fighting against a broken public-education industry. More and more parents are coming to realize their children are suffering at the hands of a system built to strangle any reform, any innovation or any change, she said in May at a conference held by the American Federation for Children, a conservative advocacy organization that she chaired until recently. This realization is becoming more evident as the momentum builds for an education revolution.

At the heart of that revolution, DeVos believes, is a simple idea: parents should be able to use public funds to send their children to whatever private, religious, charter, online-only or for-profit school they choose, including schools run out of the home. Its a vision that many teachers, the teachers unions and most Democrats say would come at the expense of traditional public education by draining funds from an already strapped system. It would destroy neighborhood schools, Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, tells TIME.

Slight, blond and partial to fitted blazers, DeVos doesnt look the part of a bomb thrower. Thats partly because she hasnt had to be on the front lines. The former chair of the state Republican Party attended a private Christian academy in Michigan and sent her four children to private schools. As the daughter of Edgar Prince, who sold his auto-parts manufacturing company for $1.35 billion in 1996, and the daughter-in-law of Richard DeVos Sr., billionaire co-founder of Amway, much of her influence has come from her ability to donate vast sums of cash.

But thats part of the reason that DeVos critics see her unexpected rise to Trumps chief of schools as so disruptive: her effort to reform the public education system is driven not by personal experience, but by a deeply held belief, rooted in her familys Calvinist-influenced Christianity, that its the right thing to do.

Since the 1970s, both the Prince and DeVos families have given tens of millions to conservative organizations. The Princes were key donors to the Family Research Council, and both families were major supporters of the Council for National Policy, an organization linking conservative activists and financial benefactors. DeVos brother, Erik Prince, founded the mercenary firm formerly known as Blackwater. The DeVoses, meanwhile, have given more than $1.3 billion, according to a Forbes estimate, to an array of conservative causes, including measures pushing anti-union right-to-work laws and opposing same-sex marriage. Betsy DeVos and her husband have followed suit, funneling millions to state and federal political campaigns, legislative efforts and ballot measures designed to expand access to vouchers, increase the reach of charters (independent schools that receive public funding) and usher in a free-market vision of public education. I have decided, however, to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence, DeVos wrote in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call in 1997. Now I simply concede the point. They are right. We do expect some things in return.

In 1993, DeVos helped pass a law that paved the way for charter schools in Michigan. In 2011, her organization, Great Lakes Education Project, helped pass another to remove caps on charters in the state. The move helped fuel an explosion of new schools, about 80% of which are now for-profit institutions. This year, DeVos fought an effort that would have imposed city oversight on Detroit charters, which rank among the worst in the country. In 2000, she helped bankroll a statewide school voucher initiative, which ultimately failed, but since then she has successfully helped push for related programs across the country. Partly because of her advocacy and money, nearly two dozen states, including Indiana, Arizona and Florida, now have voucher programs.

Trump, who campaigned on the promise of passing a $20 billion federal voucher program, has championed DeVos agenda on the national stage. And the Republican-led Congress will likely be sympathetic to her efforts. Both Representative Virginia Foxx, who chairs the House committee on education, and Senator Lamar Alexander, who chairs the Senate version, have supported voucher initiatives in the past. Last year, Alexander introduced an amendment that would have allowed federal funding to follow low-income students to the public or private school of their choice.

But DeVos power to revolutionize the K-12 landscape will likely run up against institutional limitations, such as Common Core. Both Trump and DeVos have promised to end the controversial state-based achievement standards. But the Education Department is forbidden under the new federal law passed in December 2015 from either setting such benchmarks or incentivizing states to adopt them. Common Core was adopted by state lawmakers, and will also have to be dismantled by them. DeVos power will be further confined by the realities of federal funding. While the U.S. spends more than $600 billion a year on public K-12 schools, less than 9% of that comes from the feds. That means any new education program, even if it originates on DeVos desk, will require state and local buy-in. Trumps federal voucher plan, for example, would require not only that Congress allocate $20 billion to the programa potentially heavy lift given that lawmakers have already promised tax cuts and a balanced budget. It would also require states to pony up another $110 billion. While voters have been willing to implement such programs for poor or disabled students, they have been wary of across-the-board school choice initiatives.

To get the job, DeVos will first have to answer concerns from Democrats, who have raised questions about unpaid state fines assessed against a political action committee she ran. Then there is the potential opposition she will face in office from fellow conservatives, who have long called for more local control over education. If DeVos and Trump love school choice and the children it benefits, they will keep the federal government far, far away from them, warned Joy Pullmann, a top editor at the conservative outlet the Federalist. Lindsey Burke, an education-policy fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, expects DeVos to focus on lower-hanging fruit, like pushing Congress to reauthorize Washington, D.C.s voucher program, or introducing voucher initiatives on Native American reservations and for the children of the active-duty military.

While its unclear what DeVos will accomplish, there is no doubt about her direction. Just months before Trump appointed her, she promised never to give up on her lifes work. To those outside this room who oppose our education revolution: make no mistake, we will not relent, we will not rest, she vowed at the May conference. If the Senate gives her the expected nod in January, it will be a significant victory for DeVos and the revolution she helps lead.



This appears in the December 26, 2016 issue of TIME.
Donald Trumps election victory was made official on Monday as electors gave him more than the 270 votes needed to win the presidency, despite a campaign to deny him a majority.

The meeting of the Electoral College  taking place at statehouses across the country  is typically a formality. But an extra bit of drama was added to the proceedings as a concerted campaign took place among activists and even celebrities to convince electors to vote their conscience.

Their efforts failed. Trump, who won 30 states with a total of 306 electoral votes, amassed enough votes on Monday afternoon when Texas electors cast their ballots, according to an Associated Press tally. In fact, the electors who switched their votes as were more at the expense of Hillary Clinton. Four electors in Washington state, which she won handily, cast their ballots for someone else. Three went to Colin Powell and one for Faith Spotted Eagle. One elector in Hawaii, which she also won, voted for Bernie Sanders. In Texas,Trump lost two votes: one elector cast his ballot for John Kasich and another for Ron Paul.

The effort to convince electors to vote against Trump was motivated in part by concerns over Russian influence in the electoral process. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia was behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee and of John Podesta, Clintons campaign chairman, in an effort to tilt the election toward Trump. Some activists pointed to the words of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers, and his intent for the Electoral College to be a guard against foreign influence of elections.

Today marks a historic electoral landslide victory in our nations democracy, Trump said in a statement. I thank the American people for their overwhelming vote to elect me as their next President of the United States. The official votes cast by the Electoral College exceeded the 270 required to secure the presidency by a very large margin, far greater than ever anticipated by the media.

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In fact, Trumps electoral college margin ranks 46th out of 58 elections, according to a New York Times analysis. Recent candidates with larger margins include Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, Bill Clinton in 1996, George H.W. Bush in 1988 and Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984.

And although Trump won the electoral vote, after breaking through in traditionally Democratic states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, he fell far short in the popular vote. Clinton won more than 2.8 million votes, and was more than two percentage votes ahead of Trump. Protesters gathered in some state capitals.

Clintons husband, former President Bill Clinton, was an elector in New York, which cast all of its 29 votes for her. He told reporters afterward, Ive never cast a vote I was prouder of. He blamed his wifes loss on Russian hacking and FBI Director James Comeys letter, which came 11 days before the election, that it was looking into a new batch of emails in its investigation of her use of a private server. Two days before the election, Comey informed members of Congress that the investigation had turned up nothing.

The results will be officially tabulated and announced in a special joint session of Congress on Jan. 6.

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At least 48 people in Siberia were dead Monday after reportedly drinking a bathroom tincture, according to reports. People living in the Siberian city of Irkutsk drank contaminated Boyaryshnik, a surrogate alcohol concentrate thats supposed to be used as a bath water relaxant but is sometime consumed as an alcoholic beverage, according to a Guardian report.

Boyaryshnik labels claim the liquid contains 93% ethanol, hawthorn extract and lemon oils. However, toxicology reports found the substance also contained methanol, an ingredient commonly found in antifreeze.

The surplus of deaths from Boyaryshnik came amid reports of counterfeit Boyaryshnik being sold around Irkutsk. Russian police forces confirmed two people were arrested in connection to the counterfeit Boyaryshnik after they discovered an underground warehouse filled with bottles of the concoction and other knock-off vodka brands. More than two tons of the liquid had been removed from vending machines around Irkutsk in an effort to prevent further poisonings.

After declaring a state of emergency on Monday, Irkutsk Mayor Dmitry Berdnikov placed a temporary ban on all liquids with alcohol concentration not intended for drinking. Back in October, Russia and various surrounding countries, including Serbia, begun selling tinctures like Boyaryshnik consisting of 70 percent ethyl alcohol or more in vending machines and kiosks, the Moscow Times reported.

In Siberia, Russia and other surrounding countries, people use surrogate alcohol, medical ethanol and liquids containing a potent alcohol concentration, as a cheap substitute to vodka. More than 12 million Russians ingest surrogate alcohol by consuming window cleaner, perfume, surgical spirits, aftershaves, cleaning products and other alcohol-based concentrates not meant for drinking, Guardian reported.

People are poorer, especially those who drink a lot, but the need for alcohol remains. Before, someone with alcohol dependency would go to the shop and buy the cheapest vodka, now hell go and buy something different like window cleaner, Russian toxicology specialist Oleg Kuznetsov said to Guardian.

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Alcoholism is considered a top killer in Russia and Eastern Europe. However, in the United States, alcohol is the fourth leading preventable cause of death and alcohol addiction affects roughly 16.3 Americans, according to a 2014 report by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

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Kinshasa (AFP) - Workers and schoolchildren stayed at home and patrolling soldiers outnumbered civilians in some parts of Kinshasa Monday as tensions rose with one day left of Congolese President Joseph Kabila's mandate.

Kabila's second term ends on December 20 but he has shown no sign of stepping down and mediation talks have failed, sparking fears of fresh political violence in the mineral-rich but unstable Democratic Republic of Congo.

Capital Kinshasa, normally a teeming megacity home to 10 million people, was a shadow of its normal self early Monday, according to AFP journalists there, with quiet main city arteries almost empty of traffic.

Public transport was running a minimal service and in the north and east of the city, soldiers and police outnumbered passers-by.

Shops were shuttered in the city's main square with an armoured police vehicle stationed on one corner.

Kabila, 45, is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term but has indicated he wants to stay in power until a successor is chosen.

However, no elections are planned and some opposition figures want him to hand over to a transitional leadership until a vote can be organised.

In a last-ditch bid to achieve a peaceful transfer of power, talks took place between the ruling party and fringe opposition groups allied against a mainstream opposition coalition led by 84-year-old Etienne Tshisekedi.

But despite more than a week of mediation they broke up on Saturday, with no progress made on the main issues that divide the two sides.

Negotiations are due to resume on Wednesday when Catholic bishops acting as mediators return from a long-planned trip to Rome -- a day after Kabila's term ends.

The president has been in power since his father Laurent Kabila was assassinated in 2001. He was elected in 2006, and again in 2011, in a poll the opposition decried as rigged.

Tshisekedi's opposition grouping has threatened to bring people into the streets from Monday if the talks failed.

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Leaflets urging people to retake Kinshasa "street by street, district by district until we retake the whole of the DRC", have begun to circulate in the capital.

But so far the opposition has refrained from urging a general mobilisation, while the international community has pleaded for calm on all sides.

Tensions were also running high elsewhere in the country, with security heightened notably in the towns of Lubumbashi, Goma and Kisangani.
Kinshasa (AFP) - People stayed home across Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, leaving troops to patrol ghost cities as tension peaked hours before President Joseph Kabila's mandate ends, but with no election in sight.

Kabila's second term officially expires at midday on December 20, but he has shown no sign of stepping down and talks on a peaceful transition are in limbo, sparking fears of fresh violence in the unstable mineral-rich nation.

The normally teeming capital Kinshasa, a megacity of 10 million people, was a shadow of itself with barely any traffic on the main roads, public transport at a minimum, and soldiers and police outnumbering passers-by.

Shops were shuttered in the main square and there were tense scenes at Kinshasa University, where dozens of police and troops held back hundreds of angry students, AFP journalists said.

The UN rights office in Congo said 28 people were arrested in Kinshasa on Monday and 46 in the eastern cities of Goma and Bukavu.

"This silence is hiding our anger but that means tomorrow will be bad," said a 20-year-old in Kinshasa who gave his name only as Moise.

"Kabila will be over at midnight. Tomorrow I'll be partying because it'll be over."

- Killings in volatile East -

In the volatile east, nine rebels, a South African peacekeeper, a Congolese soldier, a police officer and a civilian were killed when militia fighters attacked several buildings in Butembo, including the prison.

A supplier of minerals crucial for everyday items ranging from smartphones to lightbulbs -- tantalum, tungsten, tin and coltan -- the mineral trade in the east of the country has long been linked to armed groups and conflict.

Kabila, who has been in power for 15 years, is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term but under a recent constitutional court order, he may stay on until a successor is chosen.

The ruling party and some opposition leaders have agreed to schedule an election in April 2018, leaving Kabila in office until the vote. But the main opposition bloc rejects this plan.

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In Kinshasa, security forces cordoned off the university but students reached by telephone said they had been planning "to march peacefully" to parliament to demand Kabila step down.

An AFP video journalist and a fixer -- both Congolese -- were arrested at the university and detained for 10 hours before being released late on Monday.

They were questioned by officials from several services and they went through the contents of the video reporter's phone.

Franck Diongo, the leader of a minor opposition party, was arrested and accused of detaining three Republican Guards, Kabila's diplomatic advisor Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi said.

Security was also tight in the second city, Lubumbashi, in the southeast, with most shops closed and very little traffic on the roads.

Social networks have been cut or filtered since midnight Sunday on government orders and police at the weekend banned gatherings of more than 10 people.

- Talks to resume Wednesday -

In a last-ditch bid to achieve a peaceful transfer of power, the ruling party and fringe opposition groups held talks last week with the mainstream opposition led by 84-year-old Etienne Tshisekedi.

But after a week of mediation, the two sides broke up Saturday with no progress.

Negotiations are to resume on Wednesday when Catholic bishops acting as mediators return from a long-planned trip to Rome -- a day after 45-year-old Kabila's term ends.

A democratic handover would break ground for Congo's 70 million people who since independence from Belgium in 1960 have never witnessed a democratic transfer of power following polls.

The president has been in office since his father Laurent Kabila was assassinated in 2001. He was elected in 2006, and again in 2011, in a poll the opposition decried as rigged.

Tshisekedi's opposition grouping has threatened to bring people onto the streets from Monday if the talks failed.

"I don't see (Kabila) caving in to pressure," his diplomatic advisor Bin Karubi said Monday.

Some two decades ago, Congo sunk into the deadliest conflict in modern African history, its two wars in the late 1990s and early 2000s dragging in at least six African armies and leaving more than three million dead.
By John Chalmers (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's office, responding to a Reuters report, came to China's defense on Monday, saying it was unfair to hold Beijing responsible for the drug problem in the Philippines. "Many of those running the drug trade are Chinese triads, which are criminal syndicates. These are not government officials," the statement said, in response to a Reuters article published on Dec. 16 that focused on China's role as the main source of the drug methamphetamine and the precursor chemicals used to produce "meth" that are smuggled into the Philippines. "China has strict anti-drug laws, which carries even the penalty of execution when caught," the statement from the Presidential Communications Office said. Even as he wages a brutal drug crackdown at home, Duterte is warming to China, the main source of the methamphetamine consumed in his country. At the same time, he is distancing himself from the United States, the main source of foreign aid to the Philippines in fighting drugs. In October, during a trip to Beijing, Duterte announced his "separation" from the United States and his country's realignment with China. Philippine drug control officials say that Chinese nationals play a pivotal role in the drug trade in their country. According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, almost two-thirds of the 77 foreign nationals arrested for meth-related drug offences between January 2015 and mid-August 2016 were Chinese. And almost all the clandestine meth laboratories uncovered by police in the Philippines over the past 20 years have been run by, or at least involved, Chinese nationals, drug enforcement officials and prosecutors say. But the Duterte administration deflected blame from China, saying in the statement that it was a mistake to connect the drug traffickers with "their countries of origin". "It is not fair to blame all of China and her people for the drug problem perpetuated by some of its nationals," the statement said. "Not all Chinese are related to drugs." Philippine drug enforcement officials say that China has done little over the years to staunch the flow of meth and its precursors. In the Dec. 16 report, the national police spokesman told Reuters he was not aware of "any high-profile drug cooperation between China and the Philippines" since the visit by Duterte to Beijing in October. The statement from the communications office noted that an agreement to collaborate on drug control was signed by Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October and some 50 Philippine police officers had attended a drug control and law enforcement training program in Yunnan province in October. More than 2,000 people have been killed in police raids since Duterte took office on June 30, and a further 3,000 deaths are currently under investigation by the police. The killings have drawn international criticism, with some countries, including the United States, expressing concern about reports of extrajudicial executions. The United States recently acted on those concerns, saying it was shifting $5 million in funding for Philippines law enforcement away from police drug-control programs. Duterte seems unperturbed. "Efforts to eliminate drugs in the country will not stop even if the United States shifts its funding," the statement said. "Several countries have backed the President's war on drugs. These include China, Japan and Indonesia. They have offered us assistance, support and cooperation without any political strings attached." The statement also rejected criticism of Duterte's crackdown for focusing almost exclusively on drug users and small-time pushers, rather than the drug barons who supply them. It said that dozens of government officials linked to the drug trade had been arrested, and that local politicians and drug lords had surrendered to the authorities. The president, it said, "has a list of drug personalities with narcopoliticians and Chinese businessmen, and the authorities are doing their best to investigate and validate this list to catch the big fish." (Editing by Peter Hirschberg and Alex Richardson)
A&E is pulling back the hood on several prominent members of the Ku Klux Klan.

The cable network, on a buying spree of serious-minded documentary fare of late, has embedded cameras with the KKK over the last year in an effort to facilitate a dialogue between a handful of leaders in the hate group and members of their family who want to out. Sources confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the cable player has handed out an eight-episode order to Generation KKK, set to premiere in January.

Unlike members of the "alt right," the KKK has been anything about subtle about its vocal racism. The Anti-Defamation League calls the organization a "a racist, anti-Semitic movement with a commitment to extreme violence to achieve its goals of racial segregation and white supremacy." The project comes from This Is Just A Test (TIJAT), the production which went to A&E with the idea over a year ago.

To say that the series' arrival is timely would be an understatement. The racial divide and white nationalism emerged among the bigger themes of the recent election. David Duke, a former Klan leader and perhaps one of the most outspoken racists in America, was a vocal Donald Trump supporter and has called his presidential victory a win for "his people."

Read more: 'Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath': TV Review

Subjects include an "Imperial Wizard" trying to recruit his daughter into the KKK, an Iraq war veteran indoctrinating his four-year-old son with racist rhetoric and fifth-generation Klan family trying to recruit a close family friend. There are no obscured faces or changed names, as has been traditional when the group appears in film and TV - members of the KKK who participated gave full permission.

A&E, which gained attention in recent years with Duck Dynasty, has been making a concerted push into more hard-hitting documentary fare of late. Generation KKK follows Leah Remini's Scientology expose, cop-centric Live PD and Emmy winner Born This Way.

Generation KKK also comes at a time where reports of hate crimes in the U.S. are on the rise. In an effort to shine a light on mounting racism in America, the series also includes members of One People's Project, an anti-hate activism group that uses reformed hate-group members to speak with the Klan families about changing their ways.

The news was first reported by The New York Times.
By PTI: Aurangabad, Dec 19 (PTI) Mahatashtra BJP chief Raosaheb Danve today dubbed the complaint of alleged violation of modal code of conduct levelled against him as "politically motivated."

Danve recently courted a controversy with his remark asking voters polls to accept Laxmi (the goddess of wealth) during the civic polls.

"On the eve of elections, Laxmi comes to your house and you should accept it," Danve had allegedly said during a civic poll campaign meeting at Paithan in Aurangabad on Saturday.

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Elections to municipal councils are being held in the state at present.

The opposition Congress and some social activists had objected to Danves remarks, saying it amounted to asking people to accept money during election campaign,and urged the State Election Commission to a register a case of violation of model code against him.

A notice was yesterday served to Danve by Returning Officer, Aurangabad,, and a report has been submitted to District Collector Nidhi Pandey.

"We talk about Laxmi at least 25 times in a day and that does not mean money. The move is politically motivated and I have this morning replied to the notice. Now the ball is in the court of Election Commission and it will take final decision on it," Danve told PTI.

Asked about Shiv Senas critcism against the comment of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that the ally should be ready to accept its development vision for forging a tie-up for Mumbai civic polls, the BJP leader said "Now we have got used to this kind of criticism and we take it as a mark of appreciation." PTI CORR GK NM SDM

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A&Es upcoming documentary series will delve into the Ku Klux Klan.

The series has been in the works for more than a year and a half, with cameras following members of the Klan, and an A&E spokesperson confirmed to Variety on Sunday that the network has issued an eight-episode order for Generation KKK. It will premiere on Jan. 10.

The series, according to the New York Times, which first reported the news, will try to balance showing the lives of high-ranking Klan members and their families without endorsing the views of the KKK. We certainly didnt want the show to be seen as a platform for the views of the KKK, Rob Sharenow, general manager of A&E, told the Times. The only political agenda is that we really do stand against hate.

Along with members of the Klan, the series will also include anti-hate activists Daryle Lamont Jenkins, Arno Michaelis, and Bryon Widner, who will try to convince members of the group to leave, or at least not force their children into the KKK.

The documentary comes at a time when political tensions are high, to say the least. Former Klan leader David Duke made headlines when he openly endorsed President-elect Donald Trump, saying in February that voting against Trump is treason. After being pressed by reporters on whether or not he would disavow Duke, Trump said at a news conference later that month, Okay, all right. I disavow, okay?

Still, racial divides continued as a recurring theme in a brutal election. The so-called alt right, a group mixing racism, white nationalism, and populism, gained prominence over the past year, and Trump came under fire again when the KKKs official newspaper endorsed him for president. The Anti-Defamation League calls the KKK a racist, anti-Semitic movement with a commitment to extreme violence to achieve its goals of racial segregation and white supremacy.

Its only the latest big move in nonfiction for A&E, which made waves with its recently debuted Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath and won an Emmy for Born This Way, which followed young adults with Down syndrome.

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A highly anticipated new documentary series, which will take viewers through the daily lives and events of the Ku Klux Klan and its existing members, is set to debut early next month.

Generation KKK will be broadcast on the A&E network beginning Jan. 10 as an eight-part documentary series, the New York Times reported Sunday. The series will cast a look at the high-ranking Klan members and their families and delve into how the Klan operates today and recruits youth.

The struggles we were most drawn to were the struggles with the internal families, Aengus James, an executive producer of the television series, told the Times. We had a stance, as we were clear with folks that we were hoping for them to see the light and to come out of this world. Its an incredibly destructive environment for anybody to be in, let alone children.

Following the announcement of the shows air date, Twitter users spoke out against the controversial show, with some users accusing the docu-series of normalizing racism.

Ahead of the series premiere, here are several quick facts about the documentary and the Ku Klux Klan.

The series has been more than a year and a half in the making, coinciding with the presidential election when nationalist and white supremacist groups began to publically pledge their support for Donald Trump, the New York Times noted in its review. Anti-hate activists, including Daryle Lamont Jenkins, will make an appearance in the series. The series will follow the Imperial Wizard of the North Mississippi White Knights Steven Howard and a Grand Knighthawk with the North Georgia White Knights chapter, Chris Buckley, among others, according to the New York Times. In recent years, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) noted an increase in the Klans numbers. Between 2014 and 2015, chapters grew from 72 to 190. The Klan was first founded in 1866 in Tennessee, according to History.com. High ranking leaders in the Klan are given names like Exalted Cyclops and Grand Dragon. The Klan was revived, following a steady decline, during the early 20th century by Protestant nativists, and sought to denounce immigrants, Catholics, Jews, blacks and organized labor, according to History.com.

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Michigan elector Michael Banerian wants to cast his vote for Donald Trump, but says hes been overwhelmed with thousands of emails, Facebook messages, letters and even death threats since the billionaire businessman won the election.

Ive had people that have been talking about putting a bullet in the back of my mouth, burning myself and my family, sending pictures of nooses saying if I dont vote for Hillary Clinton, theyll get me, he told the FOX Business Networks Maria Bartiromo.

Banerian, whose number and email address were listed publically, said most of the harassing letters came from groups in California and New York.

I just think its funny that these people think their opinions are somehow something Im more beholden to than the millions of Michigan voters who sent the message that they want Donald Trump and Mike Pence as their next President and Vice President, he said.

While he thinks theres divisiveness on both sides, Banerian said the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton are to blame for the reaction.

Hillary Clinton not just called Trump and the Republican supporters deplorable but she said we were irredeemably so. She said the enemy she was most proud of was Republicans, he said. When you talk like that shes not only demonizing Republicans, but shes dehumanizing us, and doing that enables these people.

Banerian said he has filed a police report on some of the death threats and theyre currently being investigated.

Theyve been able to track some of those people down and have a stern talk with them, other than it its an open investigation, he said.

He added that the Michigan Attorney Generals Office has reached out and offered him support.

Banerian along with 15 other electors will officially cast their vote for President and Vice President of the United States in Lasing, Michigan on Monday.

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Washington (AFP) - America's Electoral College on Monday confirmed Donald Trump's election as the 45th president of the United States, unswayed by a desperate bid by die-hard opponents to bar the Republican's path to the White House.

Six weeks after his upset victory over the Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump sailed as expected past the 270 votes needed to make his victory official according to US media, clearing the way for him to succeed Barack Obama on January 20.

"We did it!" the 70-year-old billionaire tweeted after the results came in. "Thank you to all of my great supporters, we just officially won the election (despite all of the distorted and inaccurate media)."

In a statement released by his team, the president-elect welcomed the "overwhelming vote" in his favor, while reaching out to the Democrats who sought against the odds to block him.

"With this historic step we can look forward to the bright future ahead," he said. "I will work hard to unite our country and be the president of all Americans."

Under normal circumstances, the college vote is a little-watched, rubber stamp formality in which electors -- most of them party members -- officially cast ballots for the candidate that won the popular tally in their state.

This time, however, the divisive nature of the campaign, Trump's provocative personality, and Clinton's lead of nearly three million votes in the popular tally combined to raise the stakes.

The Electoral College vote works like this: when US voters cast ballots on November 8, they did not directly elect the president but rather 538 electors charged with translating their wishes into reality.

Trump won a clear majority of those electors: 306.

Democratic activists casting the Republican as a threat to the nation staged a vocal, weeks-long campaign urging electors to break ranks and refuse to vote for him.

To bar Trump's road to the White House, they needed to convince at least 37 Republican electors to abandon their candidate.

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The odds of that happening were considered next to none.

According to a New York Times tally, a total of seven so-called "faithless" electors defected for someone else than their party's nominee, the biggest number ever.

In Washington state, three of the state's 12 electoral votes went to former Republican secretary of state Colin Powell and a fourth went to Faith Spotted Eagle, a Native American leader who helped block the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.

An elector in Hawaii cast a vote for Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton's opponent in the Democratic primaries. Two Texas Republican electors defected, one voting for former representative Ron Paul and another for Ohio Governor John Kasich.

- 'Fate of our nation' -

One Texas Republican elector, Christopher Suprun, had publicly said he would not vote for Trump, arguing he is unqualified to be president for reasons including conflicts of interest created by his vast overseas business holdings.

Suprun says he received death threats as a result.

An online petition urging electors to reject Trump collected some five million supporters. Hollywood stars including Martin Sheen recently released a video to goad electors to dump Trump.

Undeterred by their outside chance of success, protesters rallied Monday at statehouses from Pennsylvania to Texas to Utah as electors gathered across the country to cast their votes.

In Wisconsin, where Trump carried a thin margin that was key to propelling him into the Oval Office, a few protesters chanted "Shame!" as the state's 10 electoral votes for Trump were announced, the Times reported.

"I feel the fate of our nation is at stake here," protester Ray-Ellen Kavey, 68, told The Washington Post outside the capitol building of the Rust Belt state of Pennsylvania.

"I know nothing will come of this, but my conscience won't let me do any less."

In New York, former president Bill Clinton cast one of the state's 29 electoral votes for his wife.

"I've never cast a vote I was prouder of," he was quoted as saying by the Post.

- 'Cynical' -

The Republican National Committee welcomed the result -- and urged Democrats to accept Trump's victory once and for all.

"This historic election is now officially over," RNC co-chair Sharon Day said in a statement. "For the good of the country, Democrats must stop their cynical attempts to undermine the legitimacy of this election."

The anti-Trump movement gained further momentum in recent days amid the uproar over allegations of Russian hacking aimed at swaying the vote in favor of the Republican.

Even in the unlikely event that Trump had lost the Electoral College vote, it would have been up to the House of Representatives -- controlled by Republicans -- to designate the successor to President Barack Obama.

The final vote result will be formally announced in the US Congress on January 6, two weeks before the next president is to be inaugurated.
The final chapter of the 2016 campaign ended up just as messy and unexpected as the eighteen months that led up to it.

As electors met around the country for the usually ceremonial voting of the Electoral College, protesters gathered outside and a last-ditch movement tried to sway them to become faithless and back someone other than the winner of their state to keep Donald Trump out of the White House.

But the effort ended up barely denting Trumps lead, with more faithless electors abandoning Hillary Clinton, or trying to.

In Texas, two electors defected from Trump. Chris Suprun, who had announced earlier in the month that he would not back Trump in a guest editorial in the New York Times, ended up voting for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary. Another Texas elector resigned rather than vote for Trump, while a third voted for former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who ran for the Republican nomination in 2008 and 2012.

In Washington state, four electors broke from their states victor, Clinton: three voted for Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a well-respected Republican, and one voted for Native American tribal leader and Standing Rock activist Faith Spotted Eagle. In Hawaii, an elector cast a vote for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. In Maine, a Democratic elector attempted to cast his vote for Sanders, who won the states presidential caucus due to enthusiastic youth support, but that vote was ruled improper. He then switched his vote back to Clinton. A Minnesota elector attempted to vote for nobody, but was replaced by an elector who cast a vote for Clinton, that states winner.

The votes for Colin Powell may have been part of an unlikely plan for Democratic electors to help to elect a Republican other than Trump, as championed by the so-called Hamilton Electors. That group encouraged Democrats to vote for a non-Trump Republican in the hope that anti-Trump Republicans might join in and deny Trump the 270 votes he needs to win. But despite nationwide protests and thousands of phone calls and messages, the plan gained little traction with Trump electors.

In Washington, some electors even broke from the norm on vice presidential picks. Eight voted for Clintons running mate Tim Kaine, one voted for Elizabeth Warren, one voted for Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, one voted for Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, and one voted for environmentalist Winona LaDuke.

If Trump wins all the votes he is expected to win, he will have the 44th largest share out of 54 presidential elections since the current system began. Clinton, meanwhile, has maintained a popular vote lead of more than 2.8 million votes.
split_AP_16308508011898

Members of the Electoral College are meeting in state capitals across the country today to officially cast their votes to name the 45th president of the United States.

While Donald Trump has earned the title president-elect and begun the transition to staffing his new administration, the results of the election wont be official until he collects 270 of the 538 total electoral votes.

The process for selecting electors varies widely from state to state, as do the rules stating whether or not an elector can go rogue and cast a vote for someone other than the candidate selected by their states vote. If no candidate receives 270 electoral votes, the House of Representatives would decide the election. Last month President-elect Trump tallied 306 electoral votes to Hillary Clintons 232.

Here are a few of the key players and familiar faces of the 538 Americans involved in the voting.

The faithless

An elector who doesnt cast the vote that aligns with his or her states popular vote choice from Nov. 8 is considered faithless. According to Politico, there have been only 157 in the history of the process, with most of those coming in the 19th century. One Texas elector, Chris Suprun, said he plans to vote for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, which would be going against the will of the voters in the Lone Star State. In August, a Georgia elector said he wouldnt vote for Trump if the candidate won the state but resigned his position shortly after making the statement.

An elector from Maine  won by Clinton  is reportedly casting his vote for Bernie Sanders. Prior to the election, multiple members of the Washington delegation  another state won by Clinton  said they werent certain about whether or not theyd cast their vote for the Democratic nominee.

The last time a ballot was not cast for the winning candidate from a state was 2004, when a Democratic elector from Minnesota cast his or her vote for vice presidential candidate John Edwards (spelled Ewards on the ballot) instead of John Kerry. The vote, which was anonymous, was assumed to be a mistake and not a protest.

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New York

The president-elects home state will be casting all of its votes for Hillary Clinton. Among the delegates are former president Bill Clinton, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City mayor Bill De Blasio. The states comptroller and attorney general and mayors from Syracuse, Rochester and Albany are also part of the delegation.

Pam Bondi

The Florida attorney general who spoke at the Republican National Convention is also a member of the Trump transition team. In 2013 the Trump Foundation made an illegal donation to Bondis reelection campaign. Days later, the state attorney generals office chose not to pursue a class-action fraud case against Trump University. (Trump agreed to pay back the Foundation from his personal account and also pay a $2,500 IRS fine for his charitys donating to a political campaign.)

Christine Pelosi

The daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is one of Californias 55 electors. Pelosi spearheaded an effort to get an intelligence briefing prior to voting regarding Russias involvement with the U.S. election process and defended her request in interviews with Fox News Neil Cavuto and Fox Business News Maria Bartiromo.





South Dakota

The states three electoral votes for President-elect Trump will be cast by three of the highest-ranking officials in the state: Gov. Dennis Daugaard, Lt. Gov. Matt Michels and Attorney General Marty Jackley.
Emma Roberts may have just debuted her (stunning) new engagement ring

On-again, off-again couple Emma Roberts and Evan Peters might have some news to share with the world. The two first got together in 2012 after they met on the set of Adult World, and they continued to star together in a couple seasons of American Horror Story. Their relationship over the past few years has been tumultuous, to say the least. They first got engaged in 2013, but unfortunately split up two years later.

In the midst of their up-and-down relationship, there has been some pretty public drama between the two stars.

Entertainment Weekly's Popfest

For instance, there was a domestic violence incident in September, in which Emma was allegedly arrested for attacking Evan in a hotel in Montreal. There were bite marks on him and he had a bloody nose. They reconciled through it, though, and continued to be seen out and about together.

Sources have recently been saying that, after everything the couple has been through, theyre engaged once again. Until now, however, we havent seen the actual ring that correlated with the second engagement. But Emma stepped out in L.A. wearing a white sweater with bell sleeves, under which were pretty sure is a gorgeous ring.

If you look really closely, you can see that theres a massive rock sitting on her left ring finger. It looks amazing, and were just waiting until Emma walks the red carpet so we can get a better view of it.

Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - December 13, 2016

It was confirmed over Thanksgiving by US Weekly that Emma and Evan were, in fact, engaged again, and that she had been wearing the ring on set. We like to imagine that Emma was on her way to look at wedding dresses because, come on, imagine the killer styles she would pick out.

The post Emma Roberts may have just debuted her (stunning) new engagement ring appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Mallika Sherawat recently slammed a newspaper for speculating about her marriage to French boyfriend Cyrille Auxenfans and made headlines one more time for something silly.

By India Today Web Desk: As Kamaal R Khan, Rakhi Sawant and Ameesha Patel have showed in the past, you can grab headlines by just existing and not doing films.

All you need to do is wear a dress with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hand on you boob and tadaa, you are in the news.

Recently, Mallika Sherawat grabbed headlines when she took to Twitter to express her resentment against a responsible newspaper speculating about her marriage to her French boyfriend Cyrille Auxenfans.

Pls DO NOT spread rumors,I haven't done any secret marriage!! @dnaAfterHrs is a responsible newspaper,not nice to spread false news abt me https://t.co/8rmTWta0DN Mallika Sherawat (@mallikasherawat) December 18, 2016

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Earlier in May, there was some noise surrounding her wedding to Auxefans as well but Mallika came forward and clarified that no such thing was happening.

SEE PICS | Five times Mallika did nude like no other

ALSO READ | Mallika and boyfriend punch and tear-gassed by masked men in Paris

ALSO READ | Takes more than 3 men to take me down, says Mallika Sherawat

OPINION | How is Mallika Sherawat still making headlines?

Mallika's ability to make news without films or, rather, any film worth speaking of, watching, mentioning, remembering or writing about is exemplary. After all, which celebrity does not get speculated about? Ranbir-Katrina themselves have had tomes of unsubstantiated gossip written about till date but do they care?

Here are five times Mallika Sherawat made news because of her antics

1. When Mallika said she beat up three masked men

Exactly a month ago, Mallika and her boyfriend had been assaulted by three masked men. The men apparently tear-gassed the couple and proceeded to beat them up but Mallika, by her admission in an interview with CNN, "fought them off".

If only she could fight off her dreadful filmography...

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

2. When Mallika swooned over our Prime Minister

Remember The Bachelorette India? Whether you do or do not tells a lot about you but that's another story. Anyway, the concept of the show was that a bunch of guys would compete to become the 'most perfect bachelor' for Mallika Sherawat...okay then.

Perhaps, the most memorable moment from the 2013 show which lasted for exactly one season was when Mallika went on camera to wish the country's "most elligible bachelor" Narendra Modi, a happy, happy birthday. You have to see it to believe it.

3. When Mallika Sherawat broke Vijay Singh's heart

A ridiculous show can only have a ridiculous epilogue. Vijay Singh, who won the key to Mallika's heart in The Bachelorette India, got a reality check when Mallika began avoiding him and ultimately not marrying him.

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"There was a one year contract after the show ended which stated that Mallika could marry me within a year and be with me, and after that she could choose to not marry me if she did not wish to. So for about a year, she kept inviting me to LA but I could not go there to visit her. After one year, she started subtly dropping hints that 'I was too young for her' and 'Long distance relationships never work' insinuating that the relationship was over. After a few months she even stopped taking my phone calls. And I also stopped. I also have self-respect and how much would I pursue her," Vijay told Times of India.

Self-respect, hmm.

4. When Mallika irked the moral police down south

Mallika Sherawat was in Kamal Haasan's Dasavatharam. So, she went to Chennai on the occasion of the film's audio launch wearing something 'revealing' or such was the allegation.

That was it. The moral police went crazy and lashed out at her for mentally agonising Tamil Nadu's residents. Serious stuff, this is.

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5. When Mallika called India "regressive" and "depressing" at Cannes

And then you wonder why Bollywood has shut its doors to Mallika Sherawat?

At the 66th Cannes International Film Festival, Mallika Sherawat had this to say about India: "So when I enjoy the social freedom in America and go back to India, which is so regressive for women, it's depressing. As an independent woman, it's really depressing."

Mallika said this in 2013 and received flak for it. Imagine her saying it in 2016 India when her "most elligible bachelor" Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister.

Also, speaking of "regressive", remember the time Mallika kissed a snake in Hisss and called it the best kisser and the best lover? This woman, dude...

WATCH: India is regressive for women, says Mallika Sherawat

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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Several EU countries, including Italy, France and Spain, have delayed the adoption of stricter car engine emissions' tests, despite evidence that this has allowed pollution to go above legal limits, a draft report by European Parliament said on Monday. The draft conclusions of the parliament's investigation into the Volkswagen emissions testing scandal also blamed delays on the EU executive's desire to protect Europe's powerful car industry following the 2008 financial crisis. "In 2012, there were already clear signs that something was wrong with the emissions of diesel cars," Dutch Liberal politician Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy said of the draft report, seen by Reuters. "Dieselgate would not have happened if our national governments and the European Commission had acted." The draft, which will go to a parliamentary vote early next year, recommends a shake-up at the European Commission to have a single Commissioner in charge of both policies on addressing air quality as well as the sources of pollutants. The Commission said it would not comment until the report was final. It began legal action this month against seven countries for not properly policing car emissions. On Tuesday the Commission meets with representatives of the bloc's 28 nations to decide on strengthening new on-road emissions tests that will supplement laboratory-based ones, whose flaws were laid bare by the dieselgate scandal. The new measures would extend testing from next September to ultrafine and health-harming particles emitted from the new generation of gasoline direct injection engines (GDI), but carmakers are calling for the measures to be delayed until 2019. "Regulatory uncertainty simply leaves too little time for manufacturers to make the necessary changes," Erik Jonnaert, the head of European Automobile Manufacturers' Association said in a statement ahead of the vote. The Commission said in turn it had long made clear its intentions: "Car manufacturers should already start designing vehicles with lower particle emissions," a Commission spokeswoman told Reuters. "Public health is at stake." The Transport & Environment campaign group says cheap technologies such as gasoline particulate filters (GPF) already exist to reduce pollution from GDI engines, which emit as much as 10 times more particles than previous generations of engines. A year after VW admitted to cheating in the United States, EU sources say France and Germany are expected to back the Commission's proposal for stronger rules by next year. But it remains unclear whether Italy, Spain and a number of states in eastern Europe will do so. "The vote is very much on a knife edge," Greg Archer of T&E said. If the new rules are approved, they will also regulate cold engine starts in a bid to reduce pollution from short city trips and require carmakers to make emissions performance information available to consumers. (Reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel; editing by Jane Merriman, Greg Mahlich)
In the wake of the Brexit vote in Britain and the recent Italian referendum, and with national elections looming in 2017 in the Netherlands, France, and Germany, there is concern that Europe may be inundated by a populist wave, driven in large part by right-wing parties exploiting anti-globalization, anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim sentiments. Indeed, the strategy seems to be working: Polls show that people who have a favorable view of the National Front (FN) in France, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Germany, and the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands tend to be more negative about immigrants, refugees, and Muslims than their fellow countrymen. In addition, they are more euro-skeptic and more wary of globalization than their compatriots.

While the often nasty, nativist rhetoric of Marine Le Pen, the leader of the FN, or Geert Wilders, the founder of the Dutch Party for Freedom, is certainly key to attracting supporters, the intensity and breadth of right-wing, populist sentiments among party sympathizers  as well as a substantial minority of the general public  is notable in France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The question that cannot yet be answered is whether this minority view could become widely shared in the coming months. A Pew Research Center survey in 10 European Union countries this year notes that it already has in Poland and Hungary, where there is not much difference in public sentiment about diversity, immigrants, or Muslims between those who favor the ruling right-wing parties and the views of those who do not favor them.

In France, 45 percent of those who have a favorable view of the FN say diversity makes their country a worse place to live. Only 24 percent of the overall French population believes that. But 34 percent of those who identify with the center-right Republicains agree with FN supporters. And their candidate, Francois Fillon, is a leading contender in next years presidential election. Meanwhile, about half of FN sympathizers voice an unfavorable view of Muslims, compared with only 29 percent who hold anti-Muslim sentiment among the general public. Roughly three-quarters of FN backers believe that refugees from Iraq and Syria pose a major threat to France, while just 45 percent of the French public agrees. So on most, but notably not all issues relating to the other in French society, FN sympathizers are far more negative and worried. But the anti-diversity sentiment among Republicains bears watching.

In Germany, roughly six-in-10 of those who have a favorable view of the AfD express the opinion that diversity is bad for the country. Only about three-in-10 in the German public share that view. But 39 percent of supporters of Chancellor Angela Merkels CDU/CSU party think diversity is bad. Anti-Muslim sentiment among AfD sympathizers is twice that among the general public (59 percent vs. 29 percent) as is the worry that refugees pose a threat to the country (63 percent vs. 31 percent). Chancellor Angela Merkels recent call for a ban on burqas and a vow that the refugee crisis must never be repeated suggests she is sensitive to the appeal of some of anti-other sentiments among her own CDU/CSU voters.

In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders  the founder of the right-wing populist Party for Freedom (PVV)  was recently convicted of inciting racial hatred. Those who hold a favorable view of his party are far more negative about the other than is the general Dutch population. More than six-in-10 of these party supporters say diversity makes Holland a worse place to live. Just 36 percent of the overall public believes that. And there is a comparable disparity in views on Muslims (62 percent of Party for Freedom backers are unfavorably disposed, compared to 35 percent among the general public) and on refugees (59 percent to 36 percent). A recent poll by the Maurice de Hond Institute in the Netherlands suggests the PVV could win the most parliamentary seats in the upcoming Dutch election.

Euroscepticism and the issue of national control, a major rallying cry among those who voted in the U.K. to leave the EU, also sets apart those who favor right-wing populist parties in other nations.

Among the Germans, two-thirds of AfD sympathizers voice an unfavorable view of the EU and six-in-10 want some power returned to Berlin from Brussels. This compares with roughly half (48 percent) of the German public that sees the EU in an unfavorable light and 43 percent who want powers returned to the nation state.

In the Netherlands, about seven-in-10 PVV backers are negative about the EU (compared with 46 percent of the general public) and six-in-10 say some EU powers should be returned to the Hague (compared with 44 percent of the overall population that share such views).

France is something of an exception. Not surprisingly, given the Eurosceptic stance of Marine Le Pen, 67 percent of her party supporters have a negative view of the EU. But so too does 61 percent of the general French population. Similarly 47 percent of FN backers want some EU powers devolved to France, as do 43 percent of Republicain supporters and 39 percent of the overall public.

Wariness of globalization also characterizes right-wing populist sentiment, even in countries deeply dependent on the world economy.

In France, more than half (53 percent) of those who favor the FN believe that Frances involvement in the global economy is a bad thing because it lowers wages and costs jobs. By comparison, 45 percent of the French population share that view.

Among the Dutch, 43 percent of PVV sympathizers say global economic engagement is bad, but only 24 percent of the general public agrees. In Germany, 38 percent of those who favor the AfD believe globalization is not good for Germany. Just 24 percent of all Germans voice that opinion.

The Dutch election is scheduled for March 2017. The French election will take place in April and May. The German election will likely be held in September. It is too early to know how their respective right-wing populist parties will fare. But based on current public opinion data, it seems that they have succeeded in rallying substantial numbers of potential voters, based on appeals to anti-immigrant, anti-EU, and anti-globalization sentiments. These views are not, for the most part, majority views among the general public. But significant minorities do share some of these opinions. But the impact of the rise of the right-wing populist parties can already be seen. Center-right politicians such as Merkel and Fillion have begun to espouse views that are more anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant than heard before by politicians in their elevated positions running for national office. Populist appeals are resonating with more and more voters in Europe. And the Brexit and U.S. election outcomes suggest we may not have yet seen the high water mark of this international tide.

Bruce Stokes is director of global economic attitudes at the Pew Research Center.

Photo credit: OLIVER KILLIG/AFP/Getty Images
MILAN (Reuters) - European shares fell slightly in early deals on Monday, weighed down by weaker financial stocks, while Danone was among the top losers after warning over its sales growth.

By 0809 GMT, the pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX) index was down 0.3 percent, pulling back from 11-month highs hit last week.

Danone (DANO.PA) fell around 2 percent. The French food group said it expected its 2016 sales growth to come in slightly below its original targets due to a weaker-than-expected performance at its European dairy business.

Banks (.SX7P) and insurance (.SXIP) sector stocks were among the biggest sectoral fallers, as investors took profit following strong gains in the past two weeks due to rising bond yields.

Miners (.SXPP) fell 1.3 percent, tracking weaker metal prices. [MET/L]

(Reporting by Danilo Masoni Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
The evacuation of civilians from the pro-government towns of Kefraya and al-Foua in rebel-held Idlib province was underway on December 19, a day after armed opposition militants attacked evacuation buses en route to begin the process.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Fatah al-Sham supporters set fire to buses that were due to enter the predominantly Shiite towns as part of an evacuation deal brokered with opposition forces. Syrian state media accused Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra of carrying out the attack, though Storyful cannot confirm this.

Evacuations continued in Aleppo on December 19, where thousands of people in rebel-held neighborhoods were awaiting transfer out of the conflict zone. Credit: YouTube/Shaam News Network via Storyful
The 538 members of the Electoral College will convene in states across the U.S. on Monday to cast ballots that will all but certainly put President-elect Donald Trump in the White House. The process is largely symbolic, seen as a formal end to the election that was decided by voters on Nov. 8. But given the controversy surrounding the 2016 election, the process is getting new attention. Ahead of the vote on Monday, electors have faced calls to reconsider casting their votes for Trump even if he was the candidate chosen by their state, in the wake of concerns about Trumps business conflicts and Russias efforts to influence the elections outcome. Some are hoping enough electors will vote against Trump to keep him from the White House, but the likelihood of that occurring is low. Heres a rundown of how things work:

What will happen on Monday?

Electors will convene in each state to cast two ballotsone for the president and another for vice presidentto select the next administration. The 538 members are not necessarily politicians, though most are, but are chosen by state party leaders to cast ballots. Each state has as many electors as it does members of Congress, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. After the ballots are cast, theyll be sent to the U.S. Congress, which will convene in early January to accept the votes.

Can electors vote for who they want?

Electors typically vote for the person who voters in their state selected during the general election. They are not required to do so under the Constitution, but there are laws in some states that would levy fines against so-called faithless electors who vote against the will of the people of their state. Thirty-seven electors would have to switch their expected picks and vote against Trump in order to sway the outcome, though few have said they intend to do so ahead of the vote.

What happens to the ballots after Mondays vote?

Once the ballots are sent to Washington, members of the House and Senate will convene on Jan. 6 to count the vote. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to preside over the proceedings and call the presidency for whoever wins at least 270 votes. The fact that the sitting Vice President oversees the count led to an awkward moment in 2001, when Vice President Al Gore had to announce his own loss. There is a process through which a lawmaker can object or challenge the results from a state or the vote of an individual elector. Votes that are cast against the state results can also be objected to or tossed at this point.
BlackBerry Limited (BBRY) is scheduled to report fiscal third-quarter financial results before the markets open on Tuesday. The consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters are calling for a net loss of $0.01 per share and $331.92 million in revenue. The same period from last year had a net loss of $0.03 per share and $548 million in revenue.

During the past quarter, BlackBerry entered into a licensing agreement with telecom joint venture in Indonesia, BB Merah Putih, to manufacture, distribute and promote BlackBerry-branded devices running BlackBerrys secure Android software and applications. This partnership is expected to accelerate BlackBerrys overall focus on driving software growth, specifically developing and licensing device software offerings, including security solutions and applications, through its Mobility Solutions business unit.

ALSO READ: America's Most Segregated Cities

At the same time, management said that the company is on track to deliver 30% revenue growth in software and services for the full fiscal year. It also upwardly revised the EPS outlook to a range of breakeven to a five cent loss for the fiscal year, compared to the previous consensus of a 15 cent loss. This reflected increased confidence based on improving margins and reduced interest expense from the recent refinancing of BlackBerrys debt, as well as planned investments in growth areas.

A few analysts weighed in on BlackBerry ahead of the earnings report:

Credit Suisse reiterated an Underperform rating with a $6 price target.

Wells Fargo reiterated a Market Perform rating.

MKM Partners reiterated a Neutral rating with an $8 price target.

TD Securities reiterated a Buy rating with a $10 price target.

Canaccord Genuity reiterated a Hold rating with an $8 price target.

Imperial Capital has an $8.50 price target.

RBC Capital Markets has a Neutral rating with a $7.50 price target.

Macquarie has a Neutral rating with an $8.50 price target.

Morgan Stanley has an Equal Weight rating with a $7 price target.

Goldman Sachs reiterated a Sell rating with a $6 price target.

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So far in 2016, BlackBerry has underperformed the broad markets with the stock down 16.5% in this time.

ALSO READ: American Cities Adding the Most Jobs

Shares of BlackBerry were last trading around $7.75, with a consensus analyst price target of $7.74 and a 52-week trading range of $6.23 to $9.46.

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Oil giant ExxonMobil successful lobbied against a bill that would have made it difficult for President-elect Donald Trump to lift sanctions against Russia, Politico reported Sunday. The Texas-based corporation can now restart its billion-dollar program in the country if Trump decides to ease restrictions against Moscow.

The bill, called STAND for Ukraine Act, would have extended sanctions imposed against Russia by the Obama administration in 2014  in response to Moscows annexation of Crimea  for five years, making it difficult for his successor to repeal the sanctions. The bill, which passed the House was introduced in the Senate on Dec. 9 with only Democratic cosponsors.

However, the Senate adjourned earlier this month without discussing the Russian sanctions making it easy for Trump to do away with the restrictions, should he choose to do so when he assumes office. Trumps pick for secretary of State, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, is expected to play a key role in influencing Trumps decision on the sanctions.

The restrictions imposed in 2014 reportedly forced ExxonMobil to abandon its oil drilling project in Russias Arctic, which cost the company nearly $1 billion. Exxon collaborates with Russias state-owned Rosneft on 10 ventures in the Russian Arctic, the Black Sea and western Siberia.

We do not support sanctions, generally, because we dont find them to be effective unless they are very well implemented comprehensibly and thats a very hard thing to do, Tillerson said at his companys 2014 annual meeting, adding that Exxon would go back to work, if the sanctions are lifted in 2017.

Exxon spokesman Alan Jeffers said the oil and gas giant sought and provided information about its ventures in Russia and Ukraine, and disclosed its lobbying as required. Our contacts were reported per congressional requirements, but were mainly in the first half of 2014, he said, according to Politico.

Tillerson's nomination has ruffled feathers across the aisle over his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Exxons partner Rosneft is led by Igor Sechin, a close Putin ally who was once sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2014.

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I am deeply troubled by Mr. Tillersons vocal opposition to U.S. sanctions on Russia following its illegal invasion, occupation and annexation of Crimea, Ukraine, and his close personal relationship with Vladimir Putin, Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, a senior Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said. Mr. Tillerson has demonstrated he knows the corporate world and can put his shareholders interests first, but can he be a respected Secretary of State that puts the national security interests of the American people first? It remains to be seen.

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facebook-mark-zuckerberg_getty.jpg Mark Zuckerberg Attends Mobile World Congress

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Apologies in advance for calling it fake news in the headline. Lets be more specific about what this proposed German legislation is targeting: propaganda and disinformation.

"Fake news" is lazy language.

Be specific. Do you mean:

A) Propaganda

B) Disinformation

C) Conspiracy theory

D) Clickbait  Tim Dickinson (@7im) December 5, 2016

Headline character limits notwithstanding, German politicians are taking no chances with disinformation campaigns from foreign sources affecting their future elections as they probably affected ours. Even though Mark Zuckerberg has said he doesnt think fake stories swayed the US presidential election, Facebook is already implementing a plan to reduce hoaxes. They may need to go even further to catch hoaxes (and maybe call these students) if Germany moves forward with the plan theyre mulling over.

Social Democratic Party chairman Thomas Oppermann has suggested a policy to fine Facebooks local office 500,000 [~US $523,000] for every fake news or hate speech post that isnt deleted within 24 hours of being reported. It isnt only the Social Democratic Party concerned about propaganda affecting 2017s parliamentary elections. The Christian Democratic Union  the party of chancellor Angela Merkel  has also called for similar laws.

It seems fitting that the country which elected Hitler, to their regret, would seem to be in agreement that extremists and con artists shouldnt hold sway ever again.

Oh, I get it. In World War III, Germany gets to save the rest of the world from fascists. That's a pretty solid third act.  Nathaniel Tapley (@Natt) November 20, 2016

(Via Quartz, Deutsche Welle, the Financial Times, Tim Dickinson, and Nathaniel Tapley)
While curfew has been imposed in several parts of the state, police and paramilitary personnel are patrolling restive areas to prevent a further escalation of law and order situation.

By India Today Web Desk: Widespread protests have erupted in Manipur in the last few days, with protesters setting on fire at least 22 vehicles in Imphal East district on Sunday to protest against the Naga economic blockade.

While curfew has been imposed in several parts of the state, police and paramilitary personnel are patrolling restive areas to prevent a further escalation of law and order situation.

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According to some reports, police sources fear that this may be the beginning of a repeat of ethnic cleansing witnessed in the 1990s which left over 1,500 dead and dozens of villages destroyed.

WHAT SPARKED THE PROTEST

On December 8 midnight, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his cabinet announced creation of seven new districts, taking the total number of districts in the state to 16.

ALSO READ: Manipur: Internet services suspended in West Imphal following chaos

"Manipur will now have 16 districts and the decision for formation of seven new districts was taken for administrative convenience and to enable the state government take up development works effectively even in the remote and underdeveloped parts of the state," the chief minister said.

The newly formed districts are Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl, Noney, Kamjong, Jiribam and Kakching.

Manipur earlier had nine districts - Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Chandel.

ALSO WATCH

As of now, three of these new districts have been inaugurated--Jiribam, which has been carved out of Imphal East, Pherzawl, carved out of Churachandpur district, and Noney, which was earlier a part of Tamenglong district.

The chief minister said that inauguration of the new districts would be taken up as soon as possible before the announcement of state assembly elections by the Election Commission of India.

ALSO READ: Manipur: Women vendors hold bandh to protest against NSCN attack in Imphal

NAGAS CRY FOUL

The announcement came in the backdrop of an indefinite economic blockade launched on November 1 by the United Naga Council (UNC). The Naga groups under the UNC alleged that the government was taking away ancestral Naga land without their knowledge or consent and protested against the formation of Sadar Hills (Kangpokpi) and Jiribam districts.

The indefinite blockade on the two national highways in the state have cut off supply of essentials to Imphal valley. On Sunday, protesters burnt down several vehicles heading to Ukhrul, a district dominated by Nagas. With the state on the boil, curfew was imposed in parts of Imphal East district.

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On Saturday, the government had shut down internet services in the state after a series of powerful explosions rocked Imphal city in a span of an hour. No one was injured in the attack that took place on Friday night. The government said that internet services were withdrawn to check spreading of rumours through social media.

ALSO READ: Manipur: Triple blast in Imphal, no injuries reported

POLITICS BEHIND BIFURCATION

According to a report in Firstpost, Ibobi-led government's decision has once again divided the Nagas and the Kuki-Meiteis in the state.

Ahead of the assembly elections in Manipur in 2017, political commentators are viewing the creation of new districts as a masterstroke by Ibobi to woo the Meiteis, who form the majority population in the state.

While BJP has not formally announced a tie-up with the Naga People's Front (NPF), which has a strong base among Nagas in the state and with whom BJP has an alliance in Nagaland, the Congress government knows the assembly contest will be a close one.

ALSO READ: 7 new districts formed in Manipur amid opposition by Nagas

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The BJP had put up an impressive performance in the civic polls of Imphal Municipal Council, winning 10 of the 27 seats. Ruling Congress just scraped through with 12 seats.

With Naga sentiment not in the ruling party's favour, appeasing Kuki and Meiteis can lead to significant electoral gains for the Ibobi government.

(with inputs from IANS, PTI)

ALSO READ: Petrol in Manipur gets three times costlier as indefinite UNC blockade hits transport services

ALSO WATCH

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PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  A Maine lobster boat owner had been drinking and using marijuana and oxycodone before he lost two crew members during a 2014 fishing trip, federal prosecutors said Monday in charging him with seaman's manslaughter.

Twenty-eight-year-old Christopher Hutchinson, of Cushing, Maine, was arrested and charged by indictment. A call to his defense attorney, Jeffrey Langholtz, was not immediately returned.

Hutchinson was owner and captain of the 45-foot boat, No Limits, which flipped in heavy waves several miles west of Matinicus after hauling in lobster traps for several hours on Nov. 1, 2014.

Crew members Tomas Hammond, 26, of St. George, and Tyler Sawyer, 15, of Waldoboro, died in the sinking. Hutchinson was later spotted floating on a raft and rescued.

"The indictment alleges that his negligent and unsafe operation of the boat in forecasted dangerous weather and sea conditions and after using controlled substances and alcohol caused the loss of life," the U.S. attorney's office in Portland said.

In July 2015, a justice ruled that $170,500 in damage stemming from the deaths would go to Michelle Miete, who is the personal representative of Tomas Hammond's estate, the Portland Press Herald reported . The remaining $139,500 of a settlement fund would go to Lisa Chickering and Travis Sawyer, the parents of Tyler Sawyer.

Seaman's manslaughter is a federal crime used to hold ships' officers accountable for actions that result in deaths. Hutchinson faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Women and transgender troops in the U.S. military, seeking to defend their hard-fought access to combat roles against attacks from conservatives in Congress, are worried President-elect Donald Trump will overturn revolutionary Defense Department policies as part of his declared war on so-called political correctness.

The Pentagon personnel changes, pushed through by Defense Secretary Ash Carter over the last year, have been portrayed by Trump and his incoming security advisors as ill-advised social engineering imposed on the armed forces. That puts the newly won rights for women and transgender troops at risk, activists say, and calls into question the fate of the groundbreaking policy changes that were years in the making.

Kate Germano, a recently retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, said women in the military are deeply anxious that newly opened career paths could be cut off under Trumps administration and that the tone of the next White House could undermine the status of female troops.

Here we have a soon-to-be commander in chief who has a pattern of groping women, who has a pattern of judging women based solely on their looks and on their physical attributes, and hes going to be in charge of the military, said Germano, the chief operating officer at Service Womens Action Network (SWAN), which provides support for women in the military.

We have reason to be concerned.

A Military Times poll taken just after the election in November found that 55 percent of female troops contacted said they are concerned their jobs will be adversely affected under a Trump presidency.

Many Republican lawmakers strongly opposed the changes to Pentagon personnel policies, and some plan to press the issue.

The feeling is that the president-elect is prepared to look at all the bad decisions or dramatic policy changes that dont serve to make the military more lethal or effective, Joe Kasper, a spokesman for Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), told Foreign Policy when asked to respond to the fate of women in combat and transgender troops.

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The California congressman, a retired Marine and Iraq War veteran who backed Trump early in his candidacy, has vocally opposed opening combat jobs to women and integrating transgender troops into the military. If Team Trump is true to their word about restoring the warrior mentality, then policies like ground combat integration and transgender advancement should get first look, Kasper said.

But its unclear whether the Republican leadership and the new administration will place a high priority on reviewing the personnel changes. Other concerns  including Russian hacking, Chinese moves in the South China Sea, the fight against the Islamic State, and plans to dramatically increase the defense budget  may dominate the first months, if not years, of the Trump administration.

Activist groups that supported the personnel changes are taking no chances and holding meetings with lawmakers to preserve the policies. Just days after the Nov. 8 election, the Palm Center advocacy group posted a statement from more than 30 retired generals and admirals warning the Trump administration against reversing recent changes to policies for transgender troops, arguing for purely merit-based criteria.

More than half a century of history and research has made clear that an inclusive military that prioritizes talent and ability over social judgment and personal prejudice is an essential ingredient of an effective fighting force, the statement said.

But retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, Trumps nominee to lead the Defense Department, has voiced skepticism about the Obama administrations policies. In a new book co-edited with FP contributor Kori Schake, Mattis criticized civilian leaders for pushing a progressive agenda that he said could weaken the force.

We fear that an uninformed public is permitting political leaders to impose an accretion of social conventions that are diminishing the combat power of our military, Mattis and Schake wrote.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford, a general who has served with Mattis, shares his fellow Marines misgivings about the personnel changes. As head of the Marine Corps, Dunford recommended in 2015 to hold off integrating women into some combat infantry roles. And when Defense Secretary Carter unveiled the decision to open the door to female troops, Dunford refused to participate in the announcement.

Mattis and Dunford are not alone.

Incoming White House National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, who will coordinate policy decisions among members of the presidents National Security Council, told the Republican National Convention in July that burdening troops with trivial matters about what words to use, what terminology is politically correct, and what bathroom door to open up is meaningless.

Trumps election alarmed the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in and outside the military, partly because of hard-line conservative language in the Republican Party platform  which opposes same-sex marriage and supports the idea of conversion therapy for gay and transgender children  and partly because of Vice President-elect Mike Pences long track record of opposing gay rights.

As a congressman, Pence voted against the 2011 repeal of the ban on openly gay troops in the military. As governor of Indiana, he opposed gay marriage and signed a law permitting businesses to refuse service to gay and transgender people by citing religious freedom.

Rescinding or revising the Pentagons personnel policies applying to women or transgender troops would not require new legislation. The next defense secretary will have authority to change the policies and only needs to notify Congress 30 days in advance.

This is not a change that would require a great deal of footwork or legwork on the part of DoD, Germano said.

The debate over what effect changing the policy would have on the armed forces has long moved past the point of what ifs. According to figures provided by the Army, 25 female officers have already gone to work in the infantry and armor branches since December 2015  career paths once closed to women. Twenty more female officers are currently enrolled in combat officer courses, all of whom are projected to graduate in 2017 and begin commanding soldiers.

And as of this month, 178 women have signed enlistment contracts and requested branch assignments into the infantry and armor career fields, said Lt. Col. Jennifer Johnson, an Army spokeswoman. They all will begin training in February, weeks after Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20.

As a result, rolling back the clock might not be so easy.

This is about as done and dusted as you can get, said Aaron Belkin of the Palm Center. Its pretty darn hard to force people back in the closet after theyve been honest about who they are.

Matt Thorn, the executive director of OutServe-SLDN, an advocacy group for LGBT service members, estimates that as many as 12,000 to 14,000 transgender troops are currently serving in the U.S. military. He said fewer than 100 have asked for gender conversion treatment.

With hundreds of women starting to fill combat jobs, and transgender troops allowed to serve openly, it would be more disruptive to roll them back than it was to implement them in the first place, Thorn said.

I dont know how they legally can do it, he added, noting that the chiefs of the military services  even if they opposed the LGBT policy change in the first place  are well aware of the potential lawsuits and other hurdles they would face if the new rules were scuttled.

These individuals have come out, and women have worked very hard to get into their position, Thorn said. What do you do with everybody once you roll [the policies] back?

For women aspiring to join the highest ranks of the military, gaining entry to combat jobs is a golden key that was long denied them. Generals with experience commanding troops in combat are often favored for the most powerful positions in the military.

The argument to permit women to serve in ground combat roles gained momentum after the past decade and a half of war. In counterinsurgency campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan where traditional front lines were often blurred, female troops regularly found themselves in battle and won praise and promotions for their performance.

A lawsuit filed four years ago by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of four female troops and SWAN argued the Pentagon was discriminating against women by barring them from thousands of combat assignments. Even after the Pentagon unveiled the policy changes for female troops in December 2015, the ACLU chose not to drop the lawsuit to keep pressure on the Defense Department to carry out the reforms promptly. Now with Trumps election, the legal motion could be the basis for a high-stakes battle over the future of women in the military.

Trumps election has raised expectations in Congress and among socially conservative activists. The partys platform, adopted at the Republican convention in July, calls for a review of all ideology-based personnel policies and vows that military readiness should not be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.

Trump has never articulated detailed positions on women in combat, sexual assault, and LGBT issues. In an October campaign event in Virginia, he promised to get away from political correctness in the military after being asked about openly transgender military service and women serving in the military.

And he came under sharp criticism for suggesting sexual assault among troops is the result of introducing women into the military, a view that would have earned him a reprimand if he were in uniform.

26,000 unreported sexual assults in the military-only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 7, 2013

Female troops and activists also worry that Trumps record of sexist comments about women, including a 2005 audio recording of Trump bragging about groping them, sets a terrible example for the military and could set back efforts to counter sexual assaults. Trump apologized for his comments caught on a hot microphone and denied allegations that he made unwanted advances on women.

But the new administration will have to weigh how much time, and political capital, it wants to expend to shred existing policy. Rather than taking drastic action at the outset, the Trump administration could choose to simply slow or freeze the new rules with a review of current personnel policies, rights advocates and defense officials said.

By July 1, 2017, new recruits who are openly transgender will be allowed to enlist. The Trump administration could decide to postpone that move, pending a review. As for women in combat, activists fear the Trump administration could allow the Marine Corps, which opposed the reforms in the first place, to slow-walk the policies or even be allowed to delay the changes indefinitely.

As it is, the Marine Corps has been accused of intentionally dragging its feet and criticized for lagging behind the Army in moving women into combat roles.

Were not seeing the same level of progress in all of the services, Germano said.

In essence, what weve seen the Marine Corps do is slow-roll the process, because there is clearly a desire for women not to move into these fields.

The Marine Corps has rejected the criticism and insisted that female service members so far have failed to pass the services grueling infantry officer course. The Army, meanwhile, has won praise from advocates for how swiftly it has moved to open up combat jobs to women.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley is an outspoken supporter of the changes, citing his own experiences of deploying with female troops.

Women are in combat. I dont know what the debate is, actually, frankly, on women in combat. Because women have been fighting in combat for quite some time, Milley said last year.

Milley, whose mother served in World War II in the Navys female WAVES service, added that he would not deny his daughter the chance to serve in combat.

Last time I checked, my daughter is every bit as much of an American as my son. I dont want to see either one of them get hurt, the general said. But I think both of them have a right to defend their country.

Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Elderly hospital patients may be less likely to die prematurely or be readmitted for serious complications when theyre treated by female physicians, a U.S. study suggests. With female doctors, patients had 4 percent lower odds of dying within a month after being admitted to the hospital and a 5 percent smaller chance of repeat hospitalizations within the first month after leaving the hospital, the study found. The difference in mortality rates surprised us, said lead author Dr. Yusuke Tsugawa, a health policy researcher at Harvard University in Boston. Previous studies have found differences in the way men and women practice medicine, Tsugawa added by email. For example, female physicians are more likely to adhere to clinical guidelines and focus more on communication and forging relationships with patients. However, it was largely unknown whether such differences have a meaningful impact on patient outcomes, Tsugawa said. While the findings dont necessarily mean patients need to seek out female doctors, the results do suggest theres room for some physicians to rethink how they communicate with patients and make treatment decisions, Tsugawa said. To assess differences in outcomes for male and female doctors, researchers analyzed data on more than one million adults 65 and older insured by Medicare who altogether were hospitalized more than 1.5 million times between 2011 and 2014. During those hospital stays, they were treated by general internists. The research team analyzed 30-day mortality rates - i.e., how many patients died within 30 days of being admitted to the hospital - and 30-day readmission rates, or how often patients returned to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. During the study period, 58,344 internists treated at least one hospitalized Medicare patient. Among this group of doctors, 18,751, or 32 percent, were women. After adjusting for patient and physician characteristics, there were small but clinically meaningful differences in mortality and readmission rates, researchers report in JAMA Internal Medicine. Patients treated by female physicians had 30-day mortality rates of 11.07 percent, compared with 11.49 percent for male doctors, the study found. With female doctors, patients had 30-day readmission rates of 15.02 percent, compared with 15.57 percent for male physicians. Researchers saw better outcomes for mortality and readmissions with female physicians across a range of common conditions treated in the hospital including bloodstream infections, pneumonia, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, urinary tract infections, kidney failure, heart rhythm disorders and gastrointestinal bleeding. The study is observational and doesnt explain why there might be better outcomes with female doctors, the researchers note. Its possible that gender serves as a marker of differences in practice patterns that might influence outcomes, they say. Still, the findings that female internists provide higher quality care should push hospitals to do a better job of promoting and paying women, who typically earn less and have fewer opportunities for advancement than their male peers in medicine, Dr. Anna Parks and Dr. Rita Redberg of the University of California, San Francisco, argue in an accompanying editorial. Some have suggested that home responsibilities might contribute to female physicians providing inferior care and thus justify these disparities, Parks said by email. The data from this paper should serve to highlight these inequities  female physicians provide equivalent or potentially better care compared to male colleagues yet get promoted less often and have lower salaries than their male colleagues, Parks said. We want to close that gap. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2h3RVvA JAMA Internal Medicine, online December 19, 2016.
Camila Cabello is breaking away from Fifth Harmony.

The band released a statement on social media on Sunday revealing the news of Cabello's unexpected departure.

PHOTOS: Quitting the Band: Musicians Who Left Popular Groups

"After 4 and a half years of being together, we have been informed via her representatives that Camila has decided to leave Fifth Harmony," the statement reads. "We wish her well."

"You Harmonizers have been there with us since the beginning, you've supported us, you've rejoiced and cried with us, you've grown with us, and with your love and support we will continue on," the statement continued. "We are four strong, committed women who will continue with Fifth Harmony as well as our solo endeavors. We are excited for our future, and we can't wait for what the new year brings."

WATCH: Camila Cabello Clears Up Fifth Harmony Breakup and Shawn Mendes Dating Rumors

Hours before the news was announced, Cabello appeared on stage with the other members of Fifth Harmony for a live performance at Y100's Jingle Ball 2016 in Sunrise, Florida. Cabello later joined Machine Gun Kelly for a performance of their hit track, "Bad Things."

Getty Images

Earlier this year, ET caught up with the group following the release of their sophomore album, 7/27, where they addressed break-up rumors that had plagued the band ever since Cabello collaborated with Shawn Mendes on the single, "I Know What You Did Last Summer."

"Regardless of everything that's been going on, that's always been the focus, Fifth Harmony," Dinah Jane Hansen told ET. "Fifth Harmony is definitely our first love... it's always been the foundation of everything." Check out the video below to hear more.

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Finn Balor, the impossibly fit Irish wrestler whose body houses an ancient demon, is still recovering from shoulder surgery and has set a hard target of Aprils WrestleMania 33 for his return. Incidentally, until I looked it up on Wikipedia, I had no memory of Jean-Claude Van Damme and John Woos Hard Target being about a guy who hunted homeless men for sport. But I suppose thats neither here nor there.

Anyway, although Balor has made it public that hes on pace to be back in April, hes not doing anything to dissuade Royal Rumble rumors. During an interview with ESPN focusing on the UK Champion Tournament, Balor again reiterated that hes on track for WrestleMania as his return date  but wouldnt it be interesting if he popped up at the Rumble? Wouldnt it just.

You know, thats obviously a huge rumor, and I would never be one to fuel the rumor mills, he said with a smile. But to be a surprise entrant in the Rumble would be a huge moment for me. Im sure it would create quite a buzz.

Balor, you scamp.

But right now, with the condition my shoulder is in, Im not willing to risk sustaining any more long-term injury, just for the sake of two or three weeks. Since I got hurt, it was six months [out]. The target was to be back for WrestleMania. Everythings on plan, everythings on schedule. He jokingly said there may be one way for WWE to tempt him back for the 30-man over-the-top rope elimination match, which traditionally provides its winner with a title shot at WrestleMania. If the day of the Royal Rumble Vince McMahon says, You got your gear with you? then Im sure Ill be around, he said with a smile. But pointing to his injured shoulder, he added, Its not something I want to risk unless Im 100 percent confident that this is 100 percent.

Over the past couple of years, Balor has elevated make people believe Finn Balor might show up fake-outs to a true trolling art form, so you should take his elfin tease with an entire bucket of salt. But still  that might be a WWE comeback on par with John Cenas return in 2008. I mean not really, but I would certainly enjoy the hell out of it.
Photo credit: Hyundai

From Road & Track

LUXURY GOODS are inextricably tied to geography. You want a timepiece from Geneva, a suit from Naples, a pair of handmade brogues from London. And what do you want from Seoul, other than a Samsung refrigerator? Hyundai thinks you might want a luxury sedan.

Hyundai started down this road eight years ago with the rear-wheel-drive Genesis sedan, which had about it a whiff of the original Lexus LS 400, at least in the way it upended previous notions about how an Asian automaker known for sensible transportation could pivot. That Genesis was successful enough for Hyundai to make the big leap, now establishing Genesis as a luxury subbrand.

If it hadn't, the G90 would have been the second-generation Hyundai Equus, a cut-rate Mercedes S-class. The G90 is still a cut-rate S-class, but it's a much better one than the doughy old Equus. The existing Hyundai Genesis, for its part, has been recast as the Genesis G80. The real proof of concept for the Genesis brand, though, will be the G70. This upcoming 3-series and C-class fighter-prescribed by two recent concept cars, the Vision G coupe and the New York Concept hybrid sedan-can't come soon enough.

For now, it's largely up to the G90 to carry the brand. To that end, it's a crazy bargain. Buyers choose between the new twin-turbo V-6 (Premium trim) and the carryover 5.0-liter V-8 (Ultimate trim), select rear- or all-wheel drive, and that's it. Every conceivable luxury and safety feature is standard, even the 17-speaker Lexicon stereo. (Upmarket audio systems are a common way for luxury carmakers to pluck an additional $5000 to $10,000 from your wallet.) Our test car, a Casablanca white 3.3T with all-wheel drive, stickered for $71,550, which means it costs the same as a well-equipped E-class while credibly imitating Mercedes's range-topping S-class.

And imitating is an art form that Genesis takes seriously. From 20 feet, much of the G90's exterior looks strangely familiar, from the winged badge (hello, Bentley), to the taillights and rear-three-quarter profile (thank you, Jaguar XJ), to the trapezoidal grille (Audi all the way). The strong- shouldered bodysides are an amalgam of S-class, 7-series, Lexus LS, and even Lincoln. The G90 unabashedly telegraphs "big generic luxury sedan," but it has presence. If its prestige is derived only from that visual presence, and not from brand perception, well, no one said it's easy to build a luxury-car brand from scratch.

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Photo credit: Hyundai

The G90's interior is also equal parts German, American, and Japanese. It's a user-friendly, cush cabin. The wood trim is a little plasticky and the leather on the multiadjustable seats isn't exactly Jaguar-grade, but fit and finish is impeccable and ergonomics are excellent. There's a ton of rear-seat space, and rear passengers get an imposing fold-down center armrest with HVAC controls.

Head away from a stop in the G90 and it's almost as quiet as an electric car. Select the Sport drive mode and the twin-turbo V-6 wakes up, the eight-speed automatic dispensing smooth, efficient shifts on your way to easy 80-mph cruising. Something to consider: The naturally aspirated V-8, an increasingly rare commodity, is only $1600 more and extracts a marginal fuel-economy penalty. We haven't driven that version yet, but the engine is a familiar friend from the original Genesis.

Hyundai chassis tuning has come a long way: The G90 is supple but not sloppy. Sure, the steering still feels slightly disconnected, but it's way more communicative than in the Equus. Body control is on par with the Lexus LS, not bad company.

Unlike Lexus and Infiniti, Genesis isn't initially requiring its retailers to have stand-alone dealerships, instead relying on the Genesis Experience, which provides three years of free valet service for routine maintenance. Owners can schedule service and arrange a free loaner via a dedicated Genesis app. Keeping owners out of the dealership altogether isn't a bad work-around, but it seems like the pampering ought to start during the purchase process. Although only certain Hyundai dealers with appropriate facilities will be allowed to sell the G90, it's difficult to sell $70,000 luxury sedans in the same place people are filling out credit applications for Hyundai Accents.

One imagines that if Genesis succeeds, dealers will eagerly build dedicated sales temples, because even within the confines of a dealership lot, it's still all about geography.

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There are plenty of ways to see in the New Year in Europe, from dancing to electro beats in Berlin, clubbing in Glasgow or taking in the fireworks from the London Eye. But why not try something different this New Year's Eve? Here's a selection of alternative European destinations for partying the night away this December 31.

> Lisbon, Portugal

Revelers head to the Praca do Comercio for the annual ritual of eating 12 raisins as the clock strikes midnight. Festivities usually include a light and sound show as well as a fireworks display. Traditionally, a fireworks display is also held in the Belem neighborhood, home to the Torre de Belem tower and the famous Pasteis de Belem shop, selling Portugals tasty "pasteis de nata" custard tarts. Celebrations start in the morning, with a 10km running race called "El Corte Ingles Sao Silvestre," starting 10:30am from Avenida da Libertade.

> Vienna, Austria

Visitors to Vienna can stroll through the Silvesterpfad (New Year's Eve Trail), the city's annual street party, sampling various specialties. The Vienna New Year's Eve Ball is another internationally renowned event, where dancing takes center stage. Vienna's dance schools even offer open-air waltz lessons to help revelers brush up on their skills. The Austrian capital has a magical atmosphere through the whole holiday season. New Year's celebrations start in the afternoon of December 31 in the old town. Head to Rathausplatz and the Prater. A fireworks display is held at the Rathaus (city hall). The party carries on into the next day, with a concert from Vienna philharmonic shown on a big screen while revelers tuck into a well-earned breakfast.

> Geneva, Switzerland

Three stages will be set up for partygoers on the Quai du Mont-Blanc, on the shores of Lake Geneva. Music will start at 7pm and there'll be something for everyone, with jazz, funk and disco. The main stage stars DJ Tim Paris, playing a set from 10pm. Electro fans can head to the Bains des Paquis, where a lounge area will offer a more chilled-out vibe. Festivities will continue until 3am. Visitors who don't fear the cold can return to Lake Geneva the following day for the traditional New Year's Day swim.

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> Zagreb, Croatia

The Croatian capital isn't just a hotspot for summer sunshine. Visitors can see in the New Year with a trip to the ice rink at King Tomislav Square, skating around to the sound of live music. Ban Jelacic Square, the biggest public square in the Croatian capital, is a meeting point for revelers looking to party through the night.

> Valletta, Malta

Visitors to Southern Europe can enjoy a musical New Year's Eve in Malta's capital, Valletta. This European Capital of Culture for 2018 is once again holding a free concert in St George's Square, with 10 local and international acts taking to the stage. Celebrations will be held on the seafront, where a fireworks and confetti display will add to the festive atmosphere.
Photo credit: Getty

From Cosmopolitan

It sounds like one of the stars of HGTV's Flip or Flop flopped into the arms of his children's caretaker.

TMZ is reporting that Tarek El Moussa had a brief fling with the 23-year-old nanny to his children. Yay men!

No, it wasn't during his marriage to wife/co-star Christina, but rather four months after they'd separated. Tarek allegedly started dating nanny Alyssa in September, and they broke up in late October.

Photo credit: Facebook/TMZ

From TMZ:

Sources connected with Tarek and Christina tell us ... when Tarek began having feelings for Alyssa, he was warned NOT to date her while she was still an employee. So he essentially canned her, which cleared the way for a romantic relationship.

Here's Tarek and Alyssa in early October at a Florida Georgia Line concert:

Sadly, the sweet duo lasted just two months, proving that women should always choose their jobs over some flip or floppin' old man.

Follow Laura on Twitter.

Watch TMZ on TV on Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

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A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said, "India and Czech Republic have robust economic ties, with annual bilateral trade being $1.2 billion. Additionally, a number of Indian and Czech companies have invested in each others' country."

By Indo-Asian News Service: India and the Czech Republic on Monday discussed the entire gamut of their bilateral relationship, stressing on defence and commercial ties.

At a meeting between Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar and visiting Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek here, the two sides discussed bilateral issues as well as important global and regional issues of mutual interest, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

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STATEMENT

"India and Czech Republic have robust economic ties, with annual bilateral trade being $1.2 billion. Additionally, a number of Indian and Czech companies have invested in each other's country," it said.

"There is a mechanism of Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation co-chaired by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India and Minister of Trade and Industry of Czech Republic from the respective sides, for discussing the ways and means of strengthening economic ties."

According to the statement, defence cooperation is an important component in India-Czech ties.

"There is a mechanism of India-Czech Joint Defence Committee meetings that met last in November 2016. There is a Joint Working Group on heavy engineering; the last JWG (Joint Working Group) meeting took place in October 2016," it said.

COOPERATION IN OTHER AREAS

The two countries also have a cultural exchange programme and an education exchange programme and engage regularly in discussions on cooperation in science and technology and research and development.

"Minister Zaoralek and Minister M.J. Akbar discussed in detail the possibility of further cooperation in these crucial sectors of mutual interest," the statement said.

"The two Ministers held discussions also on major global issues such as climate change, Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations reforms, terrorism, Multilateral Export Control Regime etc."

They also exchanged views on important developments in the neighbouring regions of both countries.

The last visit of the Czech Foreign Minister to India was in 2013, the Czech Minister of Trade and Industry visited in January 2015 and the Czech Defence Minister in March 2016.Also read:

Akbar takes dig at Sino-Pak friendship

--- ENDS ---
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Former Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will face a fifth corruption trial, a judge ruled on Monday, as charges pile up against the man seen as a front-runner to win the 2018 presidential election. Judge Sergio Moro, who has overseen the bulk of Brazil's biggest graft probe into a long-standing kickback scheme at state-run oil company Petrobras, ruled that Lula, his wife Marisa and seven others will stand trial. The latest case involves the acquisition of land that was to be used for the Lula Institute, the 71-year-old leftist politician's think tank, along with an apartment in a Sao Paulo suburb. Prosecutors allege that Latin America's biggest construction firm, Odebrecht, paid 12.9 million reais ($3.8 million) for the land and the apartment as a bribe to Lula in exchange for public contracts. In an email, the ex-president's lawyers said Lula was innocent of the charges. Lula is already facing a separate corruption trial before Moro, who is expected to issue a verdict in late January or early February. If convicted, Lula could face more than 15 years in prison. No dates have been set for the start of the other trials. Lula is the biggest figure to be caught up in Brazil's anti-corruption push, which began with the so-called "Car Wash" probe into Petrobras nearly three years ago. The unprecedented investigation has led to charges against 200 people and 81 convictions. The charges involve at least 6.4 billion reais in bribes. Lula's former finance minister, Antonio Palocci, was also charged in the latest case, along with Marcelo Odebrecht, the former chief executive of Odebrecht. The former CEO has turned state's witness along with nearly 80 other executives from the firm. Their statements are expected to implicate more than 200 politicians. (Reporting by Pedro Fonseca; Writing by Brad Brooks; Editing by Paul Simao)
Protesters gather at the state Capitol in Olympia to urge Electoral College members across the nation to break ranks. (Wash. Secretary of State Photo)

Only seven members of the Electoral College proved faithless to their pledged presidential candidates today, and four of them are in Washington state. The tally in Olympia was eight for Democrat Hillary Clinton, who won the state  plus three for retired Gen. Colin Powell and one for Native American activist Faith Spotted Eagle.

One of the four, Bret Chiafalo, was a leader in the Hamilton Electors movement, which sought to derail President-elect Donald Trumps move to the White House by denying him the 270 electoral votes required for a win.

If the Hamilton Electors had swayed 37 of the electors pledged to the GOP candidate, the presidential election would have been gone to the House, to be decided in an arcane procedure that hasnt been used since 1824.

In the end, just two Trump electors were swayed. Texas elector Chris Suprun had been saying for weeks that hed vote for Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich when given the chance. In an op-ed published today by The Hill, Suprun said he was gravely concerned about claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin helped Trump win.

Thirty-six of Texas electoral votes went to Trump. One vote went to Kasich, and another went to Ron Paul, a libertarian Republican from Texas.

Texas vote put Trump over the top in the Electoral College, formalizing his presidential victory with 304 electoral votes.

Later today, an elector who was pledged to Clinton in Hawaii voted instead for independent-minded Democrat Bernie Sanders.

A smattering of other electors said they intended to vote for other candidates but either changed their minds, were replaced or had their votes invalidated. Even so, this years seven renegades represent the highest number of electors to break away from their pledged presidential candidate. (Thats not counting 1872, when Horace Greeley died between Election Day and the Electoral College meeting.)

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Chiafalo knew that Democratic electors such as himself couldnt affect the Electoral College outcome directly, but they wanted to put pressure on Republicans to defect  and rally support for measures that would decide the presidency based on the national popular vote rather than the indirect electoral vote.

.@secstatewa Wyman & @GovInslee gather for group photo after Electoral College gathering that gave HRC 8 votes and 4 went with others. pic.twitter.com/c2ro3Tb9uN  Secretary of State (@secstatewa) December 19, 2016

The Associated Press quoted Chiafalo as saying he had originally planned to vote for Kasich, but changed his vote to Powell after conversations with other electors. Powell headed the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Operation Desert Storm and became the first African-American to serve as secretary of state during President George W. Bushs first term in office.

Robert Satiacum, a member of the Puyallup Tribe who backed Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary campaign, was the elector who cast a vote for Faith Spotted Eagle. Even before the election, Satiacum said he wouldnt vote for Clinton because he didnt trust her on tribal or environmental issues.

Spotted Eagle is an activist who helped lead the opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline, a cause thats close to Satiacums heart as well.

The electors also voted for vice-presidential candidates. Clintons running mate, Tim Kaine, won eight electoral votes. The others went to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Native American activist Winona LaDuke.

Washingtons faithless electors each face a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for going against their pledge to vote for Clinton. However, their vote will stand  just as the vote of state Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, stood in 1976 when he backed Ronald Reagan rather than Gerald Ford.

The civil penalty is part of a law that the Legislature passed soon after the 1976 election, which means its never had to be imposed before.

.@secstatewa Wyman will enforce "faithless" elector law, which provides for civil penalty of up to $1,000. Working w/ @AGOWA on process.  Secretary of State (@secstatewa) December 19, 2016

Several of Washingtons electors said theyd continue to fight to abolish the Electoral College, but the U.S. Constitution sets a high bar for such a change. The electoral system was put in place at the nations founding to balance the power between urban states and less populous rural states.

In a blog post, Secretary of State Kim Wyman, a Republican, acknowledged that the Electoral College has always been controversial in some circles. In this years election, and the 2000 contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore, the winner of the popular vote lost out in the Electoral College.

Washington has signed up as one of 11 states in the National Popular Vote compact, which would award a states electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. The interstate compact is designed to take effect when its enacted into law by enough states to constitute a 270-vote majority in the Electoral College. Right now, the tally stands at 165 electoral votes.

More from GeekWire:
BRUSSELS (AP)  France, Italy and Spain have been accused of trying to slow down the introduction of tougher auto emissions tests despite knowing that the old ones were causing more pollution.

A draft report released Monday by a European Parliament probe said the three, among others, "acted on several occasions to delay the adoption process of the ... tests and to favor less stringent testing methods."

The investigating committee, launched after the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal, said the European Commission did not do enough to ensure that the tests were quickly improved to reflect real-world driving conditions.

Some states were also accused of failing to enforce a European ban on defeat devices even though they should have suspected the stealth software was being used to get around the emissions tests.
BEIRUT (AP)  France struck a compromise Sunday with Russia on a U.N. resolution that it said would prevent mass atrocities in besieged areas of Aleppo, where thousands of trapped civilians and rebel fighters await evacuation in freezing temperatures.

On the ground, prospects for swift evacuations from Aleppo and other besieged areas were thrown into doubt again Sunday after militants burned buses assigned to the rescue operation, although one convoy of five buses was reported to have reached safety from the city late Sunday.

The Aleppo evacuations were to have been part of a wider deal that would simultaneously allow more than 2,000 sick and wounded people to leave two pro-government villages that have been besieged by Syrian rebels. Most villagers are Shiite Muslims, while most rebels are Sunni Muslims.

Six buses that were among those poised to enter the villages of Foua and Kfarya on Sunday were set on fire by unidentified militants, presumably to scuttle any deal.

A video posted online showed armed men near the burning buses as celebratory gunshots rang out. The buses that came to evacuate the apostates have been burned, the narrator of the video said. He warned that no Shiite pigs would be allowed to leave the towns.

The video could not be verified independently, but was in line with Associated Press reporting from the area.

Earlier Sunday, pro-Syrian government TV stations showed dozens of buses on stand-by at a crossing near eastern Aleppo, reportedly poised to resume evacuations from the oppositions last foothold in the city.

Later, a Syrian opposition war monitoring group said the first civilians and fighters to evacuate eastern Aleppo in over 48 hours arrived safely in the countryside from the city. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said shortly before midnight Sunday that government forces allowed five buses to leave Aleppo.

Evacuations were suspended two days earlier amid mutual recriminations after several thousand people had been ferried out of the war zone. Thousands more desperate civilians are believed trapped in the city.

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About 2,700 children were evacuated in the first rescue mission earlier this week, but hundreds more are now waiting in freezing temperatures, close to the front lines, said Shushan Mebrahtu of the U.N. agency for children, UNICEF. We are deeply worried.

The troubled evacuations are throwing into disarray an Aleppo deal that was brokered last week by Syria ally Russia and opposition supporter Turkey.

The deal marked a turning point in the countrys civil war. With the opposition leaving Aleppo, Syrian President Bashar Assad has effectively reasserted his control over Syrias five largest cities and its Mediterranean coast nearly six years after a national movement to unseat him took hold.

At the United Nations, France and Russia announced agreement on a compromise U.N. resolution to deploy U.N. monitors to eastern Aleppo to ensure safe evacuations and immediate delivery of humanitarian aid.

Frances U.N. ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters the compromise was reached after more than three hours of closed consultations on Sunday and the Security Council would vote on the resolution at 9 a.m. EST on Monday.

He said some countries want to report to their capitals overnight. He said he hoped for a positive vote, but that he remained cautious.

Russias U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, told reporters before consultations that Moscow could not accept the French draft resolution unless it was changed. He presented council members with a rival text.

After the consultations, Churkin said a good text had been formulated.

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Samantha Power, said the resolution would quickly put more than 100 U.N. personnel on the ground to monitor evacuations. The text contains all the elements for safe, secure, dignified evacuation, for humanitarian access to those who choose to remain in eastern Aleppo and for protecting civilians, she said.

She said that following the siege in eastern Aleppo, there have been many, many reports of people being pulled off buses and disappeared, whether into conscription or into torture chambers or killed outright. Deploying U.N. monitors would deter some of the worst excesses, she said.

Delattre agreed. Approval of the resolution, he said, would give us collectively the tools to avoid  a situation in which, after the end of major military operations, forces including militias, would commit mass atrocities.

He said the resolution could also offer leverage to negotiate a broader cease-fire.

___

Associated Press writer Karin Laub reported this story from Beirut and AP writer Edith M. Lederer reported from the United Nations. AP writer Philip Issa in Beirut contributed to this report.
PARIS (Reuters) - France's foreign minister said on Monday that the adoption of a U.N. humanitarian resolution on Aleppo was just a first step and that all sides, especially the Syrian government and its allies, needed to implement it immediately. "France calls on each side, in particular the regime and its supporters, to be responsible so that this resolution is implemented without delay and a lasting ceasefire is put in place across the country," Jean-Marc Ayrault said, after the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the French-drafted resolution. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)
PARIS (AP) -- French media group Vivendi says it is acquiring up to 30 percent of Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset empire in what the Italian company fears is aa hostile takeover attempt.

Vivendi, whose holdings include Universal Music and Canal+ pay-TV operator, said its board agreed Monday to boost its share of the Mediaset television and publishing empire through share purchases.

Tensions have mounted and trading has been volatile in Mediaset since Vivendi boosted its holdings to 20 percent last week.

Italy's government has warned Vivendi to obey the rules of the market.

Mediaset took Vivendi to court to try to recover losses after Vivendi pulled out of a bid for Mediaset's Premium unit.
Milan (AFP) - French media conglomerate Vivendi announced Tuesday it had raised its stake in Mediaset to 25.75 percent from 20 percent, as part of a strategy that has been met with fierce resistance from the Italian TV company.

Vivendi, led by corporate raider Vincent Bollore, said Monday it would boost to up to 30 percent its holding in Mediaset, which is controlled by former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's family.

Shares in Mediaset surged 23.3 percent to 4.44 euros at closing in Milan amid an unfolding battle for control of the TV company between Bollore and the Berlusconis.

Vivendi took its 20 percent stake in Mediaset last week in a lightning move which the family -- and the Italian government -- have called "hostile".

Since then it has continued increasing its stake.

"Vivendi owns 25.75 percent of the Mediaset share capital and 26.77 percent of the voting rights as of December 20, 2016," Vivendi said in its statement Tuesday.

- 'Market manipulation' -

On Monday, Berlusconi's company Fininvest said it had filed a complaint with Italian financial markets watchdog Consob against Vivendi for "market manipulation and abuse of privileged information".

This follows criminal proceedings Fininvest brought last week against Vivendi at a Milan court.

To counter the French company, the Berlusconi family last week bought more shares in Mediaset, raising their stake to 38.3 percent from just under 35 previously.

Vivendi executive board chief Arnaud de Puyfontaine denied that his company's intentions were aggressive.

"This is not an escalation by the French aiming to conquer an Italian crown jewel," he told daily Corriere della Sera in an interview published at the weekend.

But analysts said that relations between Vivendi and Mediaset are clearly unfriendly, after tensions erupted over Vivendi dropping a plan to take over Mediaset's Premium pay-TV channel.

- 'More brutal' -

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"A new game is beginning and it's getting more brutal," said one source close to the matter after Vivendi's surprise purchase of its current stake.

Late Monday, Fininvest called Vivendi's announcement part of a "very aggressive strategy".

In a statement Fininvest said that Vivendi's every action confirmed "all the irregularities and serious violations that Fininvest has highlighted".

Fininvest's current legal action would be followed by further criminal, civil and administrative proceedings, it said.

The Italian government wants operations between Vivendi and Mediaset to be "clear", Italian Infrastructure Minister Graziano Delrio said, also on Monday.

"But there is little clarity," he said.

Vivendi's charge on Mediaset is being led by supervisory board chairman Bollore, an experienced corporate raider, who has said he hopes to create a southern European media behemoth. Analysts said this could possibly also involve Telecom Italia in which it has a stake of more than 24 percent.

They said Vivendi may be aiming for a seat on the board of Mediaset to force the Italian company's cooperation, although Vivendi said last week that it was "too early" to talk about a director's seat.

Vivendi's plan to stop short of 30 percent in Mediaset probably means that the French company does not plan a full takeover bid which would, according to stock exchange rules, be triggered automatically once that level is breached, analysts said.

Vivendi spent about 800 million euros ($830 million) on its first 20 percent in Mediaset, and the next 10 percent will cost it about the same due to the sharp rise in the Italian company's share price, analysts said.
The group Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) has been formed to address several issues concerning the Muslim women.

By Mustafa Shaikh: Muslim Reformist Liberals have formed a group to fight for the right of Muslim women and abolition of triple talaq, more so the way it is practised. The group - Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) has been formed given the challenges that Indian Muslims are facing such as entry in Dargahs, triple talaq etc. This comes after a group of women campaigners won a legal battle on the ban on women entering the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.

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IMSD has been convened by Javed Anand, who had earlier formed Muslims for Secular Democracy (MSD) along with lyricist Javed Akhtar. IMSD held a two-day convention regarding the issue in Goregaon, Mumbai last weekend. A decision was taken to adopt declarations, which is the result of several months of formal and informal deliberations across a cross section of Muslims in Mumbai and Maharashtra.

Also read: Triple talaq should be banned immediately, not sure about UCC: Javed Akhtar at Sahitya AajTak

IMSD aims at addressing several issues which concern the Muslim community and bring together secularists from different religions across India to initiate intellectual reforms. As a priority, IMSD plans to become a petitioner in the ongoing triple talaq case in the Supreme Court.

"We are opposed to a theocratic state. Wherever Muslims are in majority, secularism is not practised; suggesting that non-Muslims are kafirs. Our priority will be fighting for women empowerment, hence we are against triple talaq practised in the current manner. Many secularists from different states of India have already joined us. We will reach out to more people," said Feroz Mithiborwala, co-convernor, IMSD.

IMSD also aims at abolishing female genital mutilation and Codified Muslim Personal Law.

Also read: On triple talaq and in UP election, BJP hopes to get Muslim women's vote

--- ENDS ---
The effort by a New Mexico lawyer to force a Senate vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Merrick B. Garland may have reached its final point on Monday morning, as Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., refused the request. The Chief Justice acted without giving any reason, without sharing the issue with his colleagues, and even without seeking a response from the Senate.

Merrick_Garland 535

Santa Fe attorney Steven S. Michel has now been denied a ruling on the merits of his challenge by federal courts at all three levels. He does retain the option of asking another Justice or the full Court to consider his plea, but the likelihood is that  at the very most  that would result in a 4-to-4 tie, and it would take five votes to support any definitive action.

A few other challengers have attempted what Michel has, but none of those other efforts has reached the Supreme Court.

Although Michel sought to raise a number of basic constitutional issues in his legal maneuver over nearly four months, he did not get a ruling on any point except that he was found to lack the right to sue because he could not persuade any court that he would suffer any personal harm that the courts could mend  a requirement of the Constitutions Article III controlling federal court powers.

The Garland nomination has been pending before the Senate since March 16, and that is the longest period of Senate inaction on any Supreme Court nomination in history. Just after Justice Antonin Scalia died on February 13, more than a month before President Obama chose the Circuit Court judge as the replacement, Senate Republican leaders vowed that they would take no action until after the November election. Later, the GOP leaders extended their resistance to any nominee by President Obama. That level of resistance has never occurred in American history.

Although some Democratic senators publicly claimed that the vacancy on the Court had been stolen by the Republicans, the minority party in the Senate lacked any workable power to do anything about it. The Democratic resentment may make it more difficult for a nominee by President-elect Donald Trump to get confirmed.

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The Court has been functioning, not altogether efficiently, with eight members for the past 10 months. A ninth Justice is not likely to join the Court until March, at the earliest.

Judge Garland has a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court judge. He has not been performing those duties since his nomination to the Supreme Court, but presumably will return to them in the near future. Once the Senate has adjourned for the year, the Garland nomination will be returned to the Obama White House.

There appears to be no way that President Obama could force Senate action before he leaves office at noon on January 20. He has shown no desire to try.

Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011 and he has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com, where this story first appeared.

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For some patients, a trip to the dentist ended in the emergency room when a piece of gauze became lodged in their throats, with some cases even ending in death.

Read: Is Some Store-Bought Meat Blasted With Carbon Monoxide to Keep it Red and Juicy?

John Santilli went into cardiac arrest at his dentist after a throat pack made from gauze allegedly became lodged in his throat.

I am so lucky to be alive, he told Inside Edition.

Jared Wakefield, 22, was declared brain dead after a piece of gauze allegedly became stuck in his throat during a dental procedure.

His brother, Lance, told Inside Edition: "He had a gauze like this in his mouth during basic oral surgery and he choked on it."

His family is now suing Provo, Utah, dentist Dennis Blume, who denies any negligence.

Inside Edition chief investigative correspondent Lisa Guerrero asked Dr. Blume how something like that could happen.

Well, Im not going to answer your specific questions to the accident because its still an ongoing investigation and case, which I cant comment [about], he said.

In Nevada, a young mom named Kimberly Ortiz also choked to death on gauze in the dentist's chair, as did businessman Marek Lapinksi in California.

Dentistry professor Jimmy Kilimitzoglou demonstrated on a mannequin, showing Inside Edition how easy it is for gauze to become lodged in a patients throat.

Read: The Chiro Kids: Some Moms Swear by It, but Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Babies?

Sometimes what happens is, as you try to get it out, you can lodge it further into the airway, he said. Under normal circumstances, patients have their protective reflexes so they can gag, they can choke, they can cough. But a sedated patient, they lose those protective reflexes so they can't help us determine if something's lodged in there.

He says there is a simple technique that could have prevented the tragedies: A piece of dental floss wrapped around the gauze.

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When this piece of gauze is tied to a piece of string, this piece of string is our lifeline. And it's as easy as pulling this string and this could keep our patient safe and save our patient's life, he said.

Lance Wakefield says if that procedure had been followed, his brother would be alive today.

Two feet of dental floss would have saved his life, he said. It's a tragic loss.

The American Dental Association told Inside Edition they do not have any recommendations for throat packs because materials used during dental procedures are chosen through the clinical judgement of the individual dentist.

Watch: Parents Devastated to Learn Infant Is Cremated After Unexpected Death in Hospital

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The Hague (AFP) - Populist anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders was Monday named Dutch politician of the year in a television poll that came on the heels of his conviction for discrimination.

The 53-year-old charismatic leader of the Freedom Party (PVV) got 26 percent of the 40,000 votes cast in the poll conducted by NPO1 public television.

"I thank the Dutch who elected me the politician of 2016," Wilders said in a tweet. His party's fortunes have been steadily rising in the approach to legislative elections in March.

A December 11 survey by the respected Maurice de Hond Institute found that if elections were held now, the PVV would pick up 36 out of the 150 seats in the lower house of parliament, making it the biggest single political group.

It is the fourth time Wilders has been chosen as Dutch politician of the year thrice. His previous wins were in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

In a ruling earlier this month, Wilders was found guilty of discrimination against Moroccans but acquitted of hate speech over remarks he made at an election rally in March 2014.

He had asked supporters whether they wanted "fewer or more Moroccans in your city and in the Netherlands." When the crowd shouted back "Fewer! Fewer!" a smiling Wilders answered: "We're going to organise that."
EXCLUSIVE: It is early days, but Smokehouse Pictures partners George Clooney and Grant Heslov are developing a narrative feature from The White Helmets, the Orlando von Einsiedel-directed documentary about one of the bravest groups of first responders imaginable. The White Helmets, also known as the Syrian Civil Defense, is a group of unarmed, politically neutral local volunteers who rush in when the Russian-backed Assad regime rains fire from the skies in its ongoing battle against rebel forces. Helicopters drop bombs on residential structures, including schools and hospitals, trapping innocent inhabitants in the demolished concrete. The White Hats dig furiously and tirelessly through the rubble, where they drag out survivors.

The Netflix documentary has been shortlisted for the Best Documentary Short Subject Oscar, and the group was featured on last nights 60 Minutes broadcast. According to both the docu and 60 Minutes, these politically neutral volunteers  ordinary craftsman who leave their own families behind to run toward the danger  have saved an estimated 70,000 victims of war over five years in Syria, but have lost 154 of the 2900 first responders in the process. Syrian and Russian troops often deliberately target them, flying over neighborhoods theyve bombed, specifically to hit them again in an attempt to wipe out the rescuers.

Smokehouse, which has covered hot-button topical fare including Syriana and Argo, will set a writer to develop a script, and try to make it work as a narrative drama. CAA is repping the docu.

Here is a trailer from the docu:

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DUBLIN, Ga. (AP)  Police in central Georgia say a deputy has been wounded during a shootout with a man at a hospital.

Authorities said the deputy's injuries are not life-threatening.

Dublin Police Chief Tim Chatman tells The Telegraph of Macon that officers were called to Fairview Park Hospital on Sunday night and encountered a gunman, who opened fire.

Authorities say officers returned fire and the Laurens County deputy was wounded in the lower leg. Police said the suspect initially got away, but was later apprehended. No other injuries were reported.

Chatman tells WMAZ-TV that the suspect had been treated overnight in the hospital Thursday, but many details about him or why the shooting occurred weren't immediately known.

Dublin is about 45 miles southeast of Macon.
A Laurens County sheriffs deputy was shot outside a hospital in Dublin, Georgia, Sunday by a patient who had been going in and out for the last three days for medical reasons that were not released, police said.

Dublin Police Chief Tim Chatman said the officer sustained his injury outside Fairview Park Hospital, which is roughly 135 miles southeast of Atlanta, when law enforcement officials responded to an active shooter report late Sunday, local reports said.

When police first encountered Akeem Woodward around 9 p.m., the suspect began shooting and hit the unidentified officer in the lower leg, local newspapers reported Monday. The sheriffs deputy was taken to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Woodward was not hit during the shootout but was taken into custody at Laurens County jail. Chapman said hospital staff members were able to identify Woodard because he had spent the night there Thursday for undisclosed medical reasons.

We saw a head popping up behind the hedges, and we challenged the individual, and we were able to lock him up, Chatman said during in a press conference late Sunday.

Chatman assured the public there was no second shooter. Police thoroughly searched the entire hospital.

"We are certain there was one person. We want the public to know that everything is safe," Chatman said. "In fact, the hospital is returning back to normal, the emergency room is functioning as it should."

After being closed by local police following the shooting, the hospital resumed operations around midnight Sunday. Hospital staff members had practiced an active shooter drill two weeks ago. Chapman said because the hospital knew how to conduct itself in such a situation, no staff members or patients were injured.

Were grateful to the Lord that he minimized [casualties]. It could have been bad, Chapman said.

Seven law enforcement officers were killed in Georgia while on duty this year. Recently, Americus Officer Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith, an officer with Georgia Southwestern State University, died after getting shot Dec. 7 while the two were responding to a domestic dispute call at an apartment in Americus, 130 miles south of Atlanta.

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Sixty-four officers across the country were killed in the line of duty in 2016, which is the largest number in five years, CNN reported Tuesday. There hadnt been a year where more than 50 officers were fatally shot since 2011 when 73 officers were shot dead.

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BERLIN (AP)  Germany's highest court has rejected a string of complaints against a decision by the country's parliament to label the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago as genocide.

The Federal Constitutional Court threw out eight complaints against the resolution approved by lawmakers in June.

It published one of the decisions Monday, in which judges said the plaintiff had failed to provide sufficient evidence that his fundamental rights had been violated and that no such violation was obvious.

The parliamentary vote infuriated the Turkish government and prompted it to withdraw its ambassador from Berlin for a few months.

Ankara also refused to let German lawmakers visit German military personnel stationed at Turkey's Incirlik air base, but relented after the German government stressed the resolution isn't legally binding.
BERLIN (AP)  An argument over whether German teachers at a school in Turkey can teach their students about Christmas appears to have been resolved after reports of a ban drew criticism from German politicians.

The Istanbul Lisesi school's German department has 35 teachers from Germany. News agency dpa on Sunday cited an email to German teachers saying its Turkish leadership had ordered there should no longer be any teaching of Christmas traditions.

The school denied any ban but said some German teachers had addressed Christmas without answering students' questions satisfactorily. On Monday, dpa reported the German department's leadership mailed German teachers after meeting with the school's Turkish heads saying there's "no ban on discussing 'Christmas' in teaching."

German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said Monday he was confident "misunderstandings" could be resolved.
(Reuters) - A seven-year-old Syrian girl who captured global attention with her Twitter updates from besieged Aleppo has been evacuated and will be brought to Turkey with her family, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. Helped by her mother Fatemah, who manages the @AlabedBana account, Bana Alabed has uploaded pictures and videos of life during the nearly six-year-old Syrian war, gaining around 331,000 followers on the micro-blogging site since September. Last week, mother and daughter shared a video of themselves asking U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama for help in reaching a safe place after advances by the Syrian army and allied Shi'ite Muslim militias into rebel-held eastern parts of the city. A ceasefire and evacuation deal was agreed last Tuesday but thousands of people have struggled to leave due to hold-ups. "This morning @AlabedBana was also rescued from #Aleppo with her family. We warmly welcomed them," Turkish aid agency IHH wrote on Twitter on Monday with a picture of the smiling young girl alongside an aid worker. Cavusoglu, who had replied to Bana last week on Twitter, said on Monday Bana and her family would be brought to Turkey. Speaking to the pro-opposition Qasioun news agency in al-Rashideen on the southwest edge of Aleppo, Fatemah said in English: "I am sad because I leave my country, I leave my soul there ... We can't stay there because there are a lot of bombs, and no clean water, no medicine. "When we get out, we had a lot of suffering because we stayed almost 24 hours in bus without water and food or anything," she continued. "We stayed like a prisoner, a hostage but finally we arrived here." An operation to bring thousands of people out of the last rebel-held enclave of Aleppo was under way again on Monday after being delayed for several days, together with the evacuation of two besieged pro-government villages in nearby Idlib province. (Reporting by Reuters Television; Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay in Istanbul; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
Zsa Zsa Gabor was a woman who never met a diamond she didnt like. Though the quintessential silver screen siren passed away this weekend at the age of 99, she leaves behind her an eccentric legacy that is pretty much the definition of Old Hollywood glamour and razor-sharp wit. From her over-the-top couture, her wrists forever dripping in enough carats to put Mariah Carey to shame, and her revolving door of husbands that would make Elizabeth Taylors head spin, Zsa Zsas life was all about more is more is more fabulous, dahlink.

So of course, we can think of no person more fitting to address the finer points of diamonds (both the art of attaining and keeping them) than the late solitaire-encrusted starlet. All aspiring ladies of leisure out there take note.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty

She once reportedly said, Diamonds are a girls best friend and dogs are a mans best friend. Now you know which sex has more sense.

Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty

I never hated a man enough to give him diamonds back, she told The Observer in 1957.

RELATED: Say What, Dahling? The Late Zsa Zsa Gabors Best Quotes

Pictorial Parade/Moviepix/Getty

One of the most famous lines attributed to her came after one of her divorces when Zsa Zsa was asked whether a lady should give back the ring. Her answer? Of course dahlink, but first, you take out all the diamonds.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

She wrote in her book, How to Catch a Man, How to Keep a Man, How to Get Rid of a Man, Diamonds are a better investment for a married woman than anything else because if it should ever happen that some day you wind up getting a divorce and all the property is being divided up, your husband will probably say, if he is a gentleman, We will share all of the other property, but you go ahead and keep all your diamonds. After all, I cant wear them. (I hope you are married to that type of man, because some men I know, theyll wear them).

The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty

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She was reported to have said, I love to put on diamonds and beautiful evening gowns and make my girlfriends upset.

Getty

I have learned that not diamonds but divorce lawyers are a girls best friend, she told the American Bar Association during a speech in 1987.

What do you think of Zsa Zsas advice? Will you be following it? Sound off below.




Howsoever hard the BJP may try and howsoever election oriented Uttarakhand government's decision may be, the latest notification is not unusual. The Namaz relaxation is allowed in many states and even at the Centre for Muslim employees.

The Namaz relaxation is allowed in many states and even at the Centre for Muslim employees.

By Prabhash K Dutta: In March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stopped his speech midway at Kharagpur on his maiden campaign for West Bengal assembly elections. Modi paused because he heard the sound of Azaan from a nearby mosque.

"Excuse me, Azaan was on. Because of me, there should not be any problem to anyone's prayer, so I paused for a few minutes," PM Modi had then explained. BJP president Amit Shah had done a similar thing at a Kolkata rally in December, 2014.

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The two leaders and their party, BJP tried to send a message to the Muslims. Now, the same BJP is up in the arms over Uttarakhand government giving a Namaz break to Muslim employees on Fridays. The BJP finds it very unusual. The BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, "What if Hindu community says that they need 2-hour break on Monday for Shiv Puja, on Tuesday for Hanumanji, on Sunday for Sun God?"

What if Hindu community says that they need 2-hour break on Monday for Shiv puja, on Tuesday for Hanumanji, on Sunday for Sun God?: N Kohli pic.twitter.com/KvvWFLcI7t ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2016

But, howsoever hard the BJP may try and howsoever election oriented Uttarakhand government's decision may be, the latest notification is not unusual. The Namaz relaxation is allowed in many states and even at the Centre for Muslim employees.

In an RTI reply in 2010, the Department of Personnel and Training told the petitioner that Muslim employees of the central government are allowed to take a break of one-hour during lunch time for Friday prayers. This practice has been continuing for the Central government's Muslim employees since British time. The RTI documents show that in 1963, the Ministry of Defence was directed to allow a similar break for employees in the military establishment.

Click here to Enlarge 2010 RTI says Muslims are allowed a break of one hour on Fridays.

Also read: What if Hindus ask for puja breaks: BJP on Uttarakhand's Friday namaz break for Muslims

No central government including the Vajpayee government rescinded the pre-Independence circular.

IN STATES

According to a 1980-circular of Andhra Pradesh government, the Muslim employees are allowed to take a 90-minute break between 12.30 pm to 2 pm on Fridays. Similarly in Bihar, the government, in 2012, fixed the time for Friday prayer break of two hours between 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm including the lunch recess.

Click here to Enlarge 1939 memorandum.

However, the breaks were allowed earlier also in Bihar. The 2012-Bihar circular reads, "Though Muslim employees have been availing special permission to offer Friday prayers since the British regime, we have received public complaints regarding fixing time limit for Friday prayers."

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THE JHARKHAND CASE

On the same issue, there was a ruckus in Jharkhand state assembly in January 2015, when the Speaker did not give a Friday's Namaz break- a practice that continued for 15 years. The Opposition cried foul saying that the practice had continued since the creation of the state. In response, Speaker Dinesh Oraon said that Namaz break was not included in the rules of the house.

Click here to Enlarge 1954 memorandum.

Former speaker Inder Singh Namdhari said the tradition of adjourning the House for lunch break at 12.30 pm on Fridays was inherited from unified Bihar to facilitate Muslim members offer Namaz.

A DIFFERENT CASE IN ASSAM

Last month, the Assam government withdrew the permission to state-run madrassas to close the educational institution on Fridays and during the month of Ramzan. Till then, it was practice for long. However, in the modification order, the BJP government allowed a one-hour break for Jumma Namaz (Friday prayers).

Also read: Govt-run madrassas in Assam will not be allowed Friday holiday

--- ENDS ---
The #GoRogue winners are here, and their Star Wars shorts are out of this world

Have you ever dreamed of making your own Star Wars movie? Its a dream that many of us have had throughout life  both as young kids playing with toys, and as adults gazing fondly at childhood Star Wars toys you *probably* still have on your desk. The crazy thing is that now, making your own Star Wars movie isnt such a farfetched idea, considering that that epic galaxy far, far away continues to expand and take us in brand new exciting directions. Those who grew up watching Star Wars are now making Star Wars movies (looking at you, Rogue One director, Gareth Edwards).

And you know what that means? Many of us might get the chance one day have a hand in bringing one of these movies to life. And that reality is a lot closer than you might think.

Over the weekend, millions of people flocked to the theaters to catch Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the latest installment in this sprawling space saga. One theater  specifically one in San Francisco, California  had roughly a dozen Star Wars fans in the theater who were seeing the movie for a completely different reason: Yes, it was because they love Star Wars, but also because they had made their own Star Wars shorts for the #GoRogue contest, and won the chance to see Rogue One early at Lucasfilm headquarters.

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If thats not the Star Wars dream, IDK what is.

Launched back in September (along with all the awesome Rogue One toys), Disney and Star Wars #GoRogue contest challenged aspiring filmmakers  both young and young at heart  to create their own short Star Wars story.

These fan-created shorts are a tribute to the incredible content that the Star Wars community posts online every day, Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media explained in a press release at the start of the contest. The #GoRogue campaign was designed with Star Wars fans in mind  we want them to be front and center in the run up to Rogue One by imagining and creating their own Rogue Stories.

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A few months, and a lot of Star Wars movie magic later, seven lucky winners of all different ages and from all over the WORLD were chosen and received the total VIP treatment. They were not only flown into San Francisco, but also given a tour of Lucasfilm and Rancho Obi-Wan (where all the really cool Star Wars toys are kept). And, even more impressive, their winning Star Wars videos were shown up on the big screen and then everyone got to see Rogue One early. All because they set out to add their own little touch to the Star Wars saga.

L-R: Winners Ian from Indiana, Robin from Malaysia, and Luke from Ontario, Canada.

Ive always wanted to make something Star Wars since I was a kid, Winner Robin from Malaysia explained to HelloGiggles. Now theres just so much opportunity now.

The contest winners were chosen by a panel of judges, that included Rogue Ones director, Gareth Edwards, and that awesomeness was not lost on the group.

fotorcreated

L-R: Winners Doug from New Zealand, Joel and Justin from Oregon, and Jose from Mexico.

Its really neat that the people who make the films that I really like liked my film, Winner Luke H. explained to HelloGiggles.

As for what they then all thought of Rogue One  no spoilers!  but the reviews were glowing.

Awesome. Epic. Brilliant. Overwhelming. Brilliant! Doug from New Zealand basically beamed.

Hes talking about Rogue One, but he also might be talking about his #GoRogue experience, too.

Since youve already seen Rogue One in theaters by now (YOU HAVE, RIGHT?) head over to StarWars.com to check out all the winning videos. The Force is very strong with them.

The post The #GoRogue winners are here, and their Star Wars shorts are out of this world appeared first on HelloGiggles.
ANKARA (Reuters) - The gunman who shot the Russian ambassador to Turkey in an attack at an art gallery on Monday was an off-duty police officer who worked in the Turkish capital, two security sources told Reuters. Russia's foreign ministry earlier confirmed that the ambassador, Andrey Karlov, had died in the attack. Turkish state media earlier reported that the gunman had been "neutralised" following the attack. (Reporting by Orhan Coskun and Nevzat Devranoglu; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Daren Butler)
Photo credit: Courtesy of Phelan Moonsong

From Esquire

Finally, some good news out of the year 2016. A Pagan priest can wear his goat horns in his driver's license photo, Maine's Bureau of Motor Vehicles has ruled.

When Phelan Moonsong went to get his license photo taken, he wore a pair of goat horns attached to his head with elastic, 50-pound fishing line. An official ordered him to remove the horns for his state-issued ID, but Moonsong objected, telling them the horns are his "spiritual antenna." Moonsong said he wears the horns every day.

"As a practicing Pagan minister and a priest of Pan, I've come to feel very attached to the horns, and they've become a part of me and part of my spirituality," Moonsong told the Washington Post. "The horns are part of my religious attire."

[contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="Illinois%20Pastafarian%20Driver's%20License" customimages="" content="article.46574"]

Moonsong felt so strongly, he wrote to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and asked for a religious exemption. He sent in a personal essay talking about the significance of the horns and cited four scholarly works to back up his claims.

Miraculously, Moonsong was victorious. Lucky him. A pastafarian was denied the right to wear a colander in her license photo earlier this year.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Phelan Moonsong

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Platinum Partners

Employees of a troubled New York hedge fund, Platinum Partners, were arrested Monday on charges of participating in a $1 billion fraud.

Mark Nordlicht, Platinum's chief investment officer, Uri Landesman, a Platinum marketer, and another coconspirator sent emails about fleeing the US, according to a government indictment out Monday.

This is how it went down, according to the charges. On or about December 13, 2015, Nordlicht, Landesman, and an unnamed coconspirator sent emails "that contemplated Nordlicht and Co-Conspirator 1 fleeing from the United States and illustrated their knowledge and awareness of the fraudulent scheme perpetrated on Platinum's investors and prospective investors."

The unnamed coconspirator sent the following email to Nordlicht, the indictment said:

"Don't forget books. Assume we are not coming back to ny[.] Just to be safe. Depends on Miami[.] We can fly straiggt [sic] to europe from miami on Tuesday[.] Take passport."

In response, Nordlicht asked for $2.5 million to pay off the firm's brokers and said he was ready to take $7.5 million from a second mortgage on his house to deal with the hedge fund's liquidity crisis, the indictment added.

Later, he sent another email to the unnamed conspirator.

"Am on my way to jfk with kids for their 6 pm flight to Israel," Nordlicht's email read, according to the indictment. "[My wife] is literally making me get on Israel flight if we don't connect and agree what we are doing."

Nordlicht then forwarded the email exchange to Landesman, according to the indictment. Landesman responded: "You should get on the flight if there is no bridge [loan], probably even if there is...We need to go through the mehalech of how we are going to share this with clients and employees, going to be very rough, big shame."

The Hebrew word "mehalech," roughly translated, means "overview" or "process."

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About two months later, Landesman told an investor by email that Platinum was "sound" and that he "hope[d] to be beyond liquidity concerns forever by end of May, we welcome your further investment."

A representative for Platinum declined to comment. Lawyers for Landesman and Nordlicht could not immediately be reached.

Platinum managed about $1.7 billion firm-wide as of March 2016, according to the indictment.

You can read the relevant excerpt from the indictment below.

Platinum indictment fleeing emails

NOW WATCH: The US is $19.9 trillion in debt  here are the countries we owe the most





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The number of known black holes is expected to double in the next couple of years thanks to a new detection method, researchers from the University of Waterloo in Canada recently announced.

Scientists developed a method that will spot about 10 black holes per year, which is twice the number currently known within two years, the institution says. The discoveries will help researchers understand the history of black holes within a decade.

Within the next 10 years, there will be sufficient accumulated data on enough black holes that researchers can statistically analyze their properties as a population, said Avery Broderick, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Waterloo. This information will allow us to study stellar mass black holes at various stages that often extend billions of years.

Researchers from the university and others from the U.S. and Iran developed a method that can detect black holes by combining microlensing and radio wave interferometry. Gravitational microlensing happens when a dark object, like a black hole, passes between us and another light source, such as a star.

Researchers say that even the biggest telescopes that observe microlensing events in visible light have a limited resolution, which means astronomers can learn only little about the object that passed by.

Instead of using visible light, Broderick and his team propose using radio waves to take multiple snapshots of the microlensing event in real time, the University explains. Taking a series of radio images over time and turning them into a movie of the event will allow them to extract another level of information about the black hole itself.

The method was published in The Astrophysical Journal.

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Banking

The pace of change and disruptive innovation happening around us is exhilarating.

We are not only rethinking and reimagining how people shop, bank, dine, and travel, we have an incredible potential to address a very real societal problem: the growing number of unbanked and underbanked individuals.

At last count, McKinsey & Company estimated that 2.5 billion of the worlds adults are currently unbanked, with just short of 2.2 billion of these in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. And in the U.S., one government study showed that 20% of US households are underbanked.

Financial inclusion is about much more than just having a bank account. At its root level, it is a key element of social and economic inclusion. It is about helping people participate in today's connected economy. Reaching the unbanked and underbanked population is a win for both sides  it can provide new customers for banks, while connecting people to financial services that can help them manage their money, save and obtain access to a wider range of welfare benefits.

Many large technology and banking providers are already looking at how we can address this problem, alongside governments who are introducing new policies to support this. The challenge is to create meaningful opportunities to bring banking services to underserved communities.

The problem of financial inclusion is global, and it is not just a third world problem. It is true that in developing economies, only 59% of adults have a traditional bank account. In India, more than 233 million people have never been to a bank. But highly developed economies have challenges too. A World Bank study showed that 11% of adults in high-income economies do not have traditional bank accounts.

And another recent study estimated that 93 million people in Western Europe are financially underserved. While solutions like online payments, mobile banking, and prepaid cards have made important strides in promoting financial inclusion, these sobering numbers make it clear that there is still a great deal of work to do.

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There are many ways that technology can help open the vaults of banking to the unbanked and the underbanked. Among these are:

Video tellers: Imagine an ATM where you can talk live with a bank teller 24 hours a day on a video screen. This technology allows banks to bring a wide range of always-on services at a fraction of the cost of a fully-staffed branch. Banks can now operate branches in low-income and rural neighbourhoods where it wasn't economical or sustainable in the past. Furthermore, customers have much more freedom in when they bank - someone who is holding down two or three jobs can now talk to a live teller at 2 am just as easily as 2 pm. In some parts of the world, people have to walk miles to reach a bank, so imagine the possibilities that can be created by bringing services to them in an affordable way.

Accessibility solutions: New technology innovations such as accessible ATMs now make it easier for people with vision and hearing impairments, and all types of disabilities, to access convenient financial services. NCR has a long history of creating accessible ATMs - something were particularly proud of is our current work building accessibility features for ATMs that match the highly regarded accessibility features on smartphones and tablets so people with disabilities can bank at an ATM just like they bank online.

The cloud for microbusinesses: Financial inclusion isn't just about individuals. It also means giving small businesses the tools they need to compete, and this is something that doesn't get enough attention. The cloud is opening new doors for SMBs, who can now take orders, manage inventory, accept payments and forecast demand on a mobile device at a price they can afford. This is a powerful competitive advantage and a great equalizer  you can have the same reach and access to big data and analytics as a small business that a billion-dollar corporation has.

These kinds of innovations are already in existence, and ready to roll out. However, if countries are to better support financial inclusion through technology, there are several steps they must take. First, they must have a clear national strategy, such as the goal set by India to ensure every household in the country has a bank account by 2018. This is where the government needs to play a pivotal role in encouraging financial inclusion.

Second, public-private partnerships are essential to ensure that new technologies reach underserved populations that need them. Governments and technology providers need to work together to ensure that the latest technology is embraced and capable of reaching a wider audience.

cell phone africa khartoum sudan

Third, more support is needed to extend the rollout of fast, reliable broadband technology, as this will underpin almost all of the technologies that are essential to financial inclusion. Without it, other technology solutions will not succeed.

Perhaps most importantly, countries must take an omni-channel approach to financial inclusion. While tools such as digital banking are immensely powerful, not everyone will have access to every solution, or will want digital channels. Likewise, physical channels themselves are not always the answer.



To open more doors to financial inclusion, we must not get locked into existing technologies  the pace of innovation is too fast for that. Government rules must be flexible and technology-neutral to allow the best technologies that drive financial inclusion to flourish, and technology providers need to ensure they are embracing the latest technology innovations in their products to be able to reach an ever-larger banking population.

The NCR Corporation is an American computer hardware, software and electronics company that makes self-service kiosks, point-of-sale terminals, automated teller machines, check processing systems, barcode scanners, and business consumables.

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By PTI: Moradabad (UP), Dec 19 (PTI) The inaugural cashless chaupal, an initiave of the Centre aimed at helping minorities connect with cashless economic system post demonetisation, was organised here today with Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi pitching for Muslims to join the campaign against "cancer of corruption".

During the chaupal, held in the districts Dalpatpur tehsil, the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) informed the attendees about benefits of digital transactions, propagating it as an "effective mission" to establish transparent economic system to fight black money.

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Bank officials helped people present at the event in downloading various mobile applications related to digital payment, net and mobile banking and also made presentation on digital payment system, a statement said.

"Digital transaction campaign is aimed at establishing an economic system which is based on less cash and maximum digital payment.

"Na nakad na udhar, karen digital len den aur karobar (neither in cash nor on credit, lets do digital transactions and business)," he raised the slogan while lauding the system, according to the statement.

"The Muslim and other sections should join this campaign and help eradicate the cancer of corruption," Naqvi said, adding the weaker sections of the society will benefit from the governments decision.

Stating that electronic voting system could attain 100 per cent success in worlds largest democracy, Naqvi exuded confidence that digital transaction, online and mobile banking too will be successful.

He claimed that cashless system will help farmers and small traders as he averred that e-payment and mobile banking can be helpful in places where banking system is not available.

Citing example of direct benefit transfer (DBT) system used by the Minority Affairs Ministry to dispense scholarships to students from minority communities, Naqvi emphasised that digital system can help remove middlemen and ensure benefits reach the deserving individuals.

He said the Minority Affairs Ministry has so far disbursed scholarships worth Rs 6,715 crore to 3 crore students into their bank accounts through DBT. (MORE) PTI ENM KIS

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How unbanked consumers use prepaid cards

This story was delivered to BI Intelligence "Payments Briefing" subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here.

New gamification features are coming to Walmart MoneyCard, the retailer's prepaid card issued by Green Dot.

The program, called Prize Savings, is an effort to encourage holders to keep more money in savings.

The firms believe theres a savings crisis in the US, which reportedly prompted the launch of the program, but it could also indirectly increase engagement with Walmart MoneyCard, which ultimately helps both the retailer and the issuer.

The program uses cash prizes to incentivize savings. The program enters MoneyCard customers into a monthly sweepstakes for saving funds. Users can use the MoneyCard app or website to transfer money from their card balance into the MoneyCard Vault, a free savings feature. For every dollar they enter into their Vault, they receive one entry in a sweepstakes, which draws 500 winners for cash prizes per month.

Indirectly, the program incentivizes users to engage more with their prepaid card, which could indirectly encourage usage.

The program pushes users to engage with their MoneyCards more often. Thus far, the program is working. Prize Savings soft-launched in August, and since then has seen a 35% increase in the average Vault savings balance. To transfer, customers are forced to log into their MoneyCard online  something they might not do otherwise  which could help them discover other available features, like reload or transfer options  that they might use down the line. In addition, the cash prizes are distributed directly into users' MoneyCard accounts, which means customers are forced to engage with and use their cards in order to redeem their winnings.

This could help users better form habits around the card, which could increase usage of the MoneyCard product. Customers are beginning to use their prepaid card accounts much more like traditional bank accounts than ever before, a move that Prize Savings encourages. That could ultimately improve engagement with MoneyCard, which might ultimately benefit both Walmart and Green Dot in the form of fees. In addition, Green Dot has been looking for ways to improve digital engagement with its offerings, and its plausible it could apply a similar model if Prize Savings continues to be effective.

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Prepaid cards such as this are just one piece of the much larger payments ecosystem, which has grown more complex in the last several years and now includes issuers, merchants, processors, and more.

John Heggestuen, senior research analyst at BI Intelligence, Business Insiders premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on the payments ecosystem that drills into the industry to explain how a broad range of transactions are processed, including prepaid and store cards, as well as revealing which types of companies are in the best and worst position to capitalize on the latest industry trends.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:



2016 will be a watershed year for the payments industry. Payments companies are improving security, expanding their mobile offerings, and building commerce capabilities that will give consumers a more compelling reason to make purchases using digital devices.

Payments is an extremely complex industry. To understand the next big digital opportunity lies, it's critical to understand how the traditional credit- and debit-processing chain works and what roles acquirers, processors, issuing banks, card networks, independent sales organizations, gateways, and software and hardware providers play.

Alternative technologies could disrupt the processing ecosystem. Devices ranging from refrigerators to smartwatches now feature payment capabilities, which will spur changes in consumer payment behaviors. Likewise, blockchain technology, the protocol that underlies Bitcoin, could one day change how consumer card payments are verified.

In full, the report:



Uncovers the key themes and trends affecting the payments industry in 2016 and beyond.

Gives a detailed description of the stakeholders involved in a payment transaction, along with hardware and software providers.

Offers diagrams and infographics explaining how card transactions are processed and which players are involved in each step.

Provides charts on our latest forecasts, key company growth, survey results, and more.

Analyzes the alternative technologies, including blockchain, which could further disrupt the ecosystem.

To get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options:

Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, youve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the payments ecosystem.





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It is expected to deliver 12% earnings growth next year.

Sembcorp Industries should look forward to next year, as it is expected to deliver 12% earnings growth, led by strong earnings in India.

According to UOB KayHian, this is likely to help offset the earnings decline from China as JV contribution from Yangcheng Coal PP expires.

UOB said, "Sembcorp Industries (SCI) utilities earnings are expected to shine in 2017, led by its power business. On an effective capacity basis we expect capacity growth of 28% yoy for 2017, higher than the 3% yoy growth expected for 2016."

This would then lead to the 12% growth in its utilities segment, driven by better earnings in India.

"Central to this earnings growth is Thermal Powertech Corporation Indias (TPCIL) Unit #2 which will move beyond its first year of teething issues and enter a phase of steady operations. Offsetting this growth is an estimated 14% decline in earnings from China as the JV's 25% stake in Yangcheng Coal PP expires," UOB noted.

TPCIL is expected to deliver good set of core earnings starting 4Q16, and earnings are expected to more than double in 2017.

"Higher electricity prices could provide a boost, having risen from Rp2.4/kWh in end-Sep 16 to Rp3.1/kWh in December," UOB stated.





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AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Chanette Hicks scored nine points and made two steals in overtime as No. 24 Virginia Tech battled past upset-minded Auburn 92-87 on Sunday night.

Hicks finished with 18 points, 13 assists and five steals for the undefeated Hokies (11-0). Sidney Cook led Virginia Tech with 23 points and Vanessa Panousis 20. Regan Magarity added 12 points and 10 boards. The Hokies shot 52-perecent from the field (33-63) and made 12 3-pointers.

Janiah McKay scored a career-high 28 points for Auburn (8-3) but fouled out after giving the Tigers a 79-77 lead less than a minute into overtime. In regulation, McKay drove to the hoop and was fouled, the 3-point play capping a comeback and forcing OT at 77-77. Auburn had trailed by nine with just over a minute to play.

Brandy Montgomery scored 20 and Katie Frerking 15 for Auburn, which made 33 of 65 shots for a season-best 51-percent, but was outrebounded 37-26.
Casey Affleck Dunkin

A "Saturday Night Live" sketch gave us an unexpected if parodied look at one of the biggest problems facing Dunkin' Donuts as it attempts to ditch its lowbrow reputation.

The sketch stars disheveled Massachusetts native Casey Affleck causing chaos in what would otherwise be a polished Dunkin' Donuts commercial.

"You want to talk real Dunkin' customers? That's me. I'm like the mayor of Dunkin' right here," Affleck says in a thick Boston accent as he smokes a cigarette half inside the store, half outside.

On the surface, the skit is an amusing jab at Dunkin' Donut's New England everyman image  especially as it contrasts with Starbucks' coffee-snob reputation.

But as Dunkin' Donuts tries to ditch its time-honored image and expand its customer base beyond the Boston Bruins-loving Afflecks of New England, the sketch nails the challenges that the coffee chain is facing.

While Dunkin' built its coffee empire as an inexpensive option for daily coffee drinkers in the Northeast, recently the chain has been taking notes from Starbucks' playbook with a West Coast expansion, more expensive and highbrow beverages, and a new app (mentioned in the sketch). The contrast puts the chain at risk of an identity crisis of sorts.

dunkin donuts doughnut sprinkles

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and also one of the easiest ways to lose your identity," Bloomberg's Shelly Banjo wrote of Dunkin's "identity crisis" in July.

Another problem is that while earning the coffee-snob-approved image allows coffee shops to charge higher prices and win over new customers, it is hard to maintain an upscale reputation and also open thousands of locations. It's a challenge even Starbucks is facing today, as the company attempts to double down on its premium image with its Roastery and Reserve brands.

"Even as Dunkin Donuts has grown into a global coffee beverages brand with restaurants around the world, we never forget we have deep roots in Massachusetts, as humorously parodied in the SNL skit," Dunkin' Brand's chief communications officer Karen Raskopf told Business Insider of the sketch in an email.

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As Dunkin' tries to win over new customers, it risks losing the loyalty of the Casey Afflecks of the world  something that "SNL" captured perfectly. Or maybe we're reading too much into a sketch. Watch it below and decide for yourself.

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Keeping Up With the Kardashians star Kylie Jenner concentrated on her business after brother Rob Kardashian broke up with fiancee Blac Chyna Saturday. Chyna and Jenner had a history of feuding because the Lash Bar owner used to be engaged to Jenners boyfriend, Tyga. Chyna and Tyga have a son together, 4-year-old King Cairo.

Kardashian was open about his split from Chyna Saturday, posting multiple Instagram and Snapchat updates. Jenner, however, took the opportunity to promote her Kylie Jenner makeup line, which restocked Monday.

I'm restocking @thekylieshop tomorrow at 10am pst on KylieJennerShop.com! limited quantities on all products & merch! See you there, she wrote Sunday. Hours later, the post was liked more than 1.7 million times by her 81.3 million followers.

Jenner, 19, did not mention Chyna or Kardashian. The women ended their feud in April after Kardashian and Chyna got engaged April 4.

Sister Kim Kardashian, who used to be best friends with Chyna, reportedly helped end their dispute. Kim had been working on this for a long time. She told Kylie that whatever Chyna had said about her was because she was hurt. Kim told Kylie to swallow her pride, an insider told Us Weekly at the time.

Chyna, 29, went to Jenners Calabassas home to meet. They spent the day together, a source said in April. It went well.

Jenner and Chyna confused their social media following when they posed for a picture together. Jenner wrote: When weve been best friends the whole time. Chyna said in her own message: Hanging out with my lil sis. Kardashian was happy they made up. So happy my girls got to talk and make peace, he wrote on Instagram April 22.

While they tried to make it seem like everything was always OK, Chyna and Jenner traded passive aggressive disses online for years.

Kylie Jenner

Photo: Getty Images

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JERUSALEM (AP)  In his first pre-Christmas address, the new top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land has decried the destruction in Syria and Iraq.

Rev. Pierbattista Pizzaballa said on Monday that "Syria and Iraq are destroyed" and the plight of the region's Christians is tragic. He bemoaned how "wars and the way of force have not been able to bring peace and justice, it only brought more violence, death and destruction."

Pizzaballa took office earlier this year as the apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, the temporary chief clergyman to the local Catholic population. As caretaker of Jerusalem's Latin Patriarchate, he has made his main task promoting dialogue among Christians in the Holy Land  and between Christians and others.

The Italian-born Pizzaballa, a Franciscan priest, replaced longtime patriarch Fouad Twal.
IC Power PTE has filed its fourth-amended F-1 form with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its initial public offering (IPO). No terms were given in the filing, but the offering is valued up to $100 million. This number is generally considered just a placeholder. The company plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ICP.

The underwriters for this offering are Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, UHS Investment Bank, HSBC, Scottabank and Credicorp Capital.

IC Power is a leading owner, developer and operator of power facilities located in key power generation markets in Latin America, the Caribbean and Israel, utilizing a range of fuels, including natural gas, hydroelectric, heavy fuel oil, diesel and wind.

ALSO READ: Merrill Lynch Out With 11 Top Stock Ideas for 2017

Currently, the principal focus is on Latin American markets, which typically have higher rates of growth of gross domestic product (GDP) and lower overall and per capita energy consumption, as compared with more developed markets. IC Power believes that economic growth in Latin American markets will drive increases in overall and per capita energy consumption and therefore require significant additional investments in power generation assets in those markets.

The company detailed in the filing:

As of September 30, 2016, our installed capacity and proportionate capacity were 3,894 MW and 3,114 MW, respectively, including Kanans 92 MW thermal generation project in Panama, which reached its commercial operation date, or COD, in April 2016, Samay Is 616 MW cold-reserve thermoelectric project in Peru, which reached COD in May 2016, and Cerro del Aguila S.A.s, or CDAs, 510 MW hydroelectric plant located in Peru, which plants three generating units reached COD in August 2016.

IC Power intends to use the net proceeds that it receives in this offering, along with readily available cash:

To develop greenfield projects

To acquire companies or assets in the electricity sector (e.g., generation, transmission or distribution companies or assets)

To prepay in full all obligations under its note payable to Kenon (which will be in an aggregate principal amount of up to $220 million), which note will be issued to Kenon as part of the consideration for Kenons contribution of ICP in connection with the reorganization

For general corporate purposes

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A French court on Monday found Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, guilty of negligence for misusing public funds during her tenure as French Minister of Finance, a position she held from 2007 to 2011. Though she will not face jail time or be fined, the ruling could push Lagarde out of her job at the IMF, adding instability to an institution already rocked by scandal and economic uncertainty.

In a statement, Gerry Rice, a spokesman for the IMF, said the funds executive board has met on previous occasions to consider developments related to the legal proceedings in France. It is expected that the board will meet again shortly to consider the most recent developments.

Lagarde has long maintained that the charges, dealing with her alleged role in the 2008 arbitration between the government of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and French businessman Bernard Tapie, are politically motivated. Lagarde was minister under Sarkozy, while the investigation was opened against her by the Socialist administration of Francois Hollande in 2014.

In 1993, Tapie, the owner of sportswear firm Adidas, accused Credit Lyonnais, a partially state-owned lender, of defrauding him by purposefully undervaluing the shares of a firm he sold. Tapie fought Credit Lyonnais in court until 2007. That same year, Lagarde became Frances finance minister, and agreed to allow the matter to be settled in arbitration, rather than in court. The next year, in the arbitration proceeding, Tapie was awarded more than 400 million euros from state coffers. Tapie, a long-time leftist-leaning businessman, then backed Sarkozys center-right party. Courts later overturned the decision, and Tapie never did receive his money.

In July, Frances Court of Cassation said that, though Lagarde had no relationship to anyone in the arbitration and had not influenced the decision, simply allowing arbitration to proceed showed a haste and lightness that constitute grave negligence on the part of a minister.

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The French Court of Justice of the Republic agreed with the Court of Cassation, brushing aside Lagardes dismissal of the scandal and her Friday assurance to the court that she had acted in good faith.

Lagardes lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, said she would consider appealing the ruling; rulings from the Court of Justice of the Republic are not subject to appeal except, apparently, in cases of procedural error. Maisonneuve said his reaction to the verdict is mixed.

On the one hand, she is found responsible, but given the circumstances, given the responsibilities that Ms. Lagarde had at the time  in 2008, we were in a major economic crisis  the court decided that it would not sentence Ms. Lagarde to anything, he said, according to the New York Times.

The verdict comes at a tricky time for the fund. Lagarde, who was appointed for a second term in February, is a figure of continuity in a time of ever-erupting, ever-evolving challenges. Like the World Bank, the IMF was created near the end of World War II to stabilize the global economy, and embedded a leading role for Western economies at the helm of global policymaking. Emerging markets, especially China and India, have for years pressed for a greater say in the IMF and similar bodies, and have only recently made progress, in part because of Lagardes backing of their demands for greater representation and reform.

And the IMF has its hands full with some simmering crises. The IMFs continued participation in the Greek bailout remains a question; Lagarde has long maintained the the emergency-lending bank would not participate in the rescue program without debt relief, something Germany, Greeces largest creditor, has refused. It is also propping up Ukraine with an ongoing $17.5 billion bailout package but is struggling to wrest political and economic reform out of Kiev.

And the IMFs future after Donald Trumps election is also unknown, given the frontal clash between the Funds orthodox economic prescriptions and Trumps throwback protectionism. In the funds latest World Economic Outlook, it warned of the potential costs of raising tariffs and other trade barriers, as Trump has proposed.

Once a tariff has been imposed on a countrys exports, it is in that countrys best interest to retaliate, and when it does, both countries end up worse off, IMF economists wrote.

Lagarde isnt the first IMF director to be embroiled in scandal. In 2011, Lagardes predecessor, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, resigned after a New York hotel employee accused him of sexual assault. The charges against Strauss-Kahn were later dropped, but the incident remains an embarrassment for French politics.

FPs Robbie Gramer contributed to this post.

Photo credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Glamour
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a rally in UP, said Narendra Modi's demonetisation forced a florist from Bengaluru to beg as she was deprived of any cash to buy the flowers to sell.

Rahul Gandhi attacked PM Modi on demonetisation while addressing a rally in UP; Photo: ANI

By India Today Web Desk: In Rahul Gandhi's fierce attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation at a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur today figured a florist from Bengaluru.

Rahul said the woman, named Lakshmi, is now forced to beg after demonetisation deprived her of any cash to buy the flowers to sell.

"A lady Lakshmi in Bengaluru used to sell flowers. At 4 am every day, she used to go and buy flowers through cash," he said.

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"People also bought from her through cash. Now after demonetisation, the same Lakshmi is forced to beg. This is due to you Modiji," Rahul lashed out.

ALSO READ | Mark my words, Modi will pay off rich people's debt using your money: Rahul Gandhi in UP

THE DEMONETISATION DECISION

In a televised address on November 8, PM Modi had announced the banning of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, a step he said will check black money and terror funding.

The decision triggered serpentine queues before banks and ATMs to withdraw the limited money. It has also affected many industries, especially the smaller ones.

Even the narrative in the last 41 days has shifted to a massive push for "less-cash" and digital transactions, forcing many in the Opposition to question the government's intent.

Earlier in the day, Modi also addressed a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur where he defended his demonetisation decision.

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Washington (AFP) - Despite her conviction by a French court for negligence, Christine Lagarde is likely to continue to lead the International Monetary Fund even at the risk of weakening the fund's image.

The fate of the former French finance minister -- who replaced another former French official caught up in a sex scandal -- now is in the hands of the IMF's board of directors, which represents the 189 member states and was expected to deliver its verdict later Monday.

There is no established procedure for this case. Lagarde has led the IMF since July 2011, when Dominique Strauss-Kahn was forced to resign, and she can remain in her post as long as she continues to enjoy the support of the board of directors, which is dominated by the US with a veto vote, and Europeans.

Under the terms of her contract, Lagarde is required to follow the highest standards of ethical conduct as IMF chief, but the court case dates from when she was finance minister. The French court found Lagarde guilty of negligence over a massive payout to the tycoon Bernard Tapie in 2008, but she will not be fined or face prison.

Everything therefore depends on the IMF board members who, so far, have been very understanding. Since her legal troubles began in August 2011, the fund's board has supported her, repeating at almost every step of the proceedings that they trusted in her ability to "effectively perform her duties" despite the distractions.

And despite her indictment and even facing a possible trial, the IMF in February unanimously re-appointed Lagarde to a second five-year term, which began in July.

According to several sources interviewed by AFP, this support should be reaffirmed on Monday, especially since Lagarde will not face punishment and was spared an embarrassing suspended prison sentence.

And, critically, the French government already said it continues to have "full confidence" in Lagarde, who was fulfilling her mandate to the IMF "successfully."

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- Reputation -

Lagarde is very popular inside the IMF, and the nature of her case is very different from that of Strauss-Kahn, who was accused of sexual assault of a maid in a New York hotel.

Working much more by consensus than her predecessor, Lagarde quickly managed to silence critics and restore the image of the institution by opening it more to emerging economies and to new fields of research such as income inequality and climate change, and by going to the aid of Greece or Ukraine.

In fact she showed that she was still at her post Monday, issuing two statements on a bank takeover in Ukraine.

Desmond Lachman, a former senior IMF official, told AFP that following the Strauss-Kahn scandal which hit the fund's credibility, "She's been very good toward the IMF's image in terms of the brand, having a seat at the table, and being readily involved for the European crisis, kind of keeping the fund very relevant."

The US political environment also may play a role: just a month before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, the fund's member states may not want a leadership change that would allow the White House the opportunity to have an outsized impact on the choice for her replacement.

Since the institutions were founded after World War II, an American has always led the World Bank and a European has had charge of the IMF, but the US has the biggest vote on the IMF board.

The US Treasury did not respond to an AFP request for comment on Lagarde's status.

- Tarnished image -

Whatever the outcome for Largarde, this new episode risks further tarnishing the image of an institution that demands the greatest discipline from the states it bails out, but which seems to be the victim of a curse on its managing directors.

Strauss-Kahn's predecessor at the head of the IMF, former Spanish economy minister Rodrigo Rato, is facing prosecution in Spain for embezzlement when he was banker.

"There is obviously a question of credibility for the IMF," says Lachman.

According to Peter Doyle, a former IMF executive and Lagarde critic who left the institution in 2014, this succession of scandals must force the fund to adopt "a serious process" to appoint the managing director.

Under an agreement brokered when the IMF shifted its voting shares in 2010 to give more weight to large emerging market economies like Mexico and the so-called BRICs countries -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- Strauss-Kahn's replacement was due to come from one of those countries.

But in 2011, with European economies again in need of IMF aid and advice, the board selected Lagarde over Mexico's highly-regarded central bank chief Agustin Carstens.
By Chine Labbe and David Lawder PARIS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde kept her job and escaped punishment on Monday despite a conviction on negligence charges by French judges over a state payout made while she served as France's finance minister in 2008. The Washington-based IMF executive board reaffirmed its full confidence in Lagarde's abilities to perform her duties leading the Fund, hours after the verdict was issued in Paris. "The Executive Board looks forward to continuing to work with the Managing Director to address the difficult challenges facing the global economy," the board said in a statement. In Monday's ruling, the judges did not find negligence in Lagarde's decision to seek an out-of-court settlement with tycoon Bernard Tapie. But they said her failure to contest the award to him of about 400 million euros ($417 million) was negligent and led to a misuse of public funds. "The context of the global financial crisis in which Madame Lagarde found herself in should be taken into account," Martine Ract Madoux, the main judge on the case, said in explaining the absence of any sentence. She also cited Lagarde's good reputation and international standing as reasons why the court did not order a punishment. The charge against Lagarde could have carried a sentence of up to a year in prison. Lagarde, whom IMF members reappointed in February, has won respect from global finance leaders for pushing governments to do more to boost economic growth and helping to include China's yuan in the fund's currency basket. Lagarde's lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, said immediately after the ruling that his team would look into appealing the decision. Though an appeal could clear her name, it could also turn out worse for Lagarde. "Since Madame Lagarde was not sentenced, I wonder about whether to appeal or not to the highest court," Maisonneuve told reporters outside the court. Lagarde, who described the case as a five-year ordeal, argued in the trial last week that she had acted in good faith, and with the public interest in mind. She said she had signed off on the arbitration - against the advice of some Finance Ministry officials - to end a costly 15-year-old legal battle between the government and Tapie, a supporter of then-President Nicolas Sarkozy. The case dates back to when Tapie sued the French state for compensation after selling his stake in sports company Adidas to then state-owned Credit Lyonnais in 1993. He accused the bank of defrauding him after it resold its stake for a much higher price. With the case stuck in the courts, the two sides agreed to a private settlement and Tapie was awarded a 403 million euro payout, including interest and damages. The case was only the fifth ever heard by a special French court created in 1993 to try government ministers. The court of 15 judges, including 12 lawmakers, has never handed down a firm prison sentence. (Additional reporting by David Lawder in Washington; Writing by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Dan Grebler)
The impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-Hye has set off an early scramble among her potential successors, even before the final decision has been made to remove her from office.

While some have openly announced their intention to run, others have been more circumspect -- resulting in a "phony campaign" where the declared and undeclared protagonists skirmish without really joining battle.

On paper, the next presidential election is still slated for December 2017, but Park's impeachment could see it held much earlier.

Last week's parliamentary vote to oust her needs to be ratified by the Constitutional Court -- a process that could take six months, although most observers believe the judgement will come sooner.

If the justices confirm impeachment, Park will be permanently removed and elections must be held within 60 days -- meaning a ballot could be held as early as March.

That isn't necessarily good news for the one front runner who still hasn't openly declared an interest in the race -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

Until recently, Ban regularly topped opinion polls and was widely expected to run as the nominee of Park's ruling conservative Saenuri Party.

Now, with other candidates already out of the starting blocks, Ban is hamstrung by the fact that he doesn't step down as UN chief until the end of this year.

- 'Serve my country' -

In his last press briefing as secretary general on Friday, the 72-year-old said he would return to South Korea and "consider seriously" how best to serve his country.

He then embarked on what sounded like a mini stump speech, bemoaning the "turmoil" of the impeachment crisis and stressing the need for a "new type of inclusive leadership".

Problematically for Ban, the political upheaval has ripped the Saenuri Party apart, leaving him without an obvious platform to launch and run his campaign.

"It will be difficult for Ban to win the election by himself," said Hahn Kyu-Sup, a communications professor at Seoul National University.

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"He is a little too old and there is considerable antagonism towards him among younger voters," Hahn said.

Since the start of the current crisis, Ban has ceded his spot atop the opinion polls to Moon Jae-In, the former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party who narrowly lost to Park in the 2012 elections.

A former chief of staff to the late liberal president Roh Moo-Hyun, Moon advocates forcing reforms on the South's all-powerful conglomerates and a policy of engagement with North Korea over its nuclear weapons programme.

- 'Honour' to run -

Moon has stopped short of declaring his candidacy, but organised a rare press briefing with foreign correspondents in Seoul last week and said what a "huge honour" it would be to run in the next election.

He also flagged some key policy changes he might implement, including reconsidering the deployment of an advanced US missile defence system to cope with North Korean threats.

If it was campaigning in all but name, his party said it was warranted given the circumstances.

"Once the court makes the ruling, we have to pick a new president in 60 days," said Kang Sun-A, deputy spokeswoman for the Democratic Party.

"The elections will happen at least six months earlier than scheduled so the candidates have no choice but to prepare," Kang told AFP.

The possible problem for Moon and Ban, who served as foreign minister from 2004-2006, is that they are both establishment figures at a time of growing anti-establishment sentiment.

The move to impeach Park was triggered by public outrage at a corruption scandal involving a close friend of the president's who is now facing trial for fraud and abuse of power.

But the anger has been fuelled by something more basic.

"The fact that millions of people are taking to the streets every Saturday reflects a level of deep-rooted dissatisfaction with society," said Hahn.

Slowing economic growth, rising unemployment and widening income disparities have left many younger Koreans disenchanted with the political status quo.

- Liberal insurgent -

Riding the call for change is the liberal mayor of Seongnam city, Lee Jae-Myung, whose vocal criticism of the president and calls for her to be "jailed for life" caught the public mood.

A recent Gallup poll showed Lee with 18 percent support, close to Moon and Ban and a leap of 13 percentage points from a pre-crisis poll conducted in October.

Unlike the other presumed contenders, Lee has declared his intention to run and has already started disparaging his likely rivals.

Asked to evaluate Ban's candidacy in a recent interview, Lee said his own experience as a local official dealing with local issues carried more weight than heading the United Nations.

"As pragmatic values gain more importance, fancy experiences are no longer attractive," Lee said.
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's central bank tightened cash deposit rules on Monday, just days before the demonetisation deadline, saying individuals can bank over 5,000 rupees ($73.83) of old notes only once until Dec. 30 if they provide a satisfactory reason.

Under the ongoing demonetisation scheme announced by the government, the public were allowed to deposit up to a total of 250,000 rupees of old currency notes with banks till Dec. 30. Customers with amounts above that level had to provide an identification number known as the permanent account number.

However, the central bank in a circular said that any deposit above 5,000 rupees would be subject to questioning by two bank officials and the explanation should be kept on-record in case of scrutiny at a later stage.

The timing and the low threshold of the cap raised questions about the intention behind such a move as 12.44 trillion rupees ($183.67 billion) which is more than 80 percent of the abolished cash has already been deposited with banks.

"Possibly the reason is to prevent any large scale money laundering towards the end of the scheme," said Soumya Kanti Ghosh, chief economist at State Bank of India.

It could also mean that the Reserve Bank of India is unlikely to extend the deadline beyond the end of the month, analysts said.

For a factbox on demonetisation see:

($1 = 67.7250 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Suvashree Dey Choudhury; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
An Indian court Monday sentenced two alleged leaders of a homegrown militant group and three others to death over twin bomb blasts in 2013 that killed 18 people.

Yasin Bhatkal, his brother Riyaz -- alleged co-founders of the Indian Mujahideen -- and three associates were found guilty of the blasts in February 2013, when two bombs strapped to bicycles exploded in a crowded marketplace in the southern city of Hyderabad.

Riyaz, who allegedly orchestrated the explosions, is on the run and remains on the nation's most-wanted list while the other four were in court.

Apart from the 18 dead, 131 people were wounded, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which carried out a probe into the case.

"All five, who were charged with murder, treason, terrorist act, have been awarded the death sentence," a lawyer involved in the case told reporters.

"The judge said that after going through the entire record... that this case especially, on facts and circumstances, falls under the category of rarest of rare."

The Supreme Court says capital punishment should only be carried out in "the rarest of rare" cases in India, among a dwindling group of nations that still have the death penalty.

The lawyer said all five would appeal the verdict, which was passed by a special NIA court in Hyderabad after examining 157 witnesses.

The hearing was closed to the media.

Yasin Bhatkal, once India's most wanted man, was arrested in the eastern state of Bihar in August 2013, on the border with Nepal.

The banned Indian Mujahideen came to public attention in November 2007 following serial blasts in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

It has been accused of a string of attacks since then, in Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi and Pune among other locations.

The group is thought to be the largest in a network of homegrown Islamic militant groups.

Yasin Bhatkal was named as a co-conspirator over an attack on the German Bakery restaurant in the western city of Pune in 2010 when a bomb in a rucksack under a table exploded and killed 17 people including five foreigners.

The Indian Mujahideen was also linked to bomb attacks on July 2013 at Bodh Gaya, a UNESCO world heritage site that is revered by Buddhists.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a fresh set of restrictions on cash deposits of demonetized notes adding to further confusion among consumers in India.

According to the new set of rules, individuals will be able to deposit bank notes above INR 5,000 ($74) only once until the official deadline of December 30. This can however only be done after an explanation to two bank officials as to why this was not deposited earlier. The deposit will then be made only after the bank officials merit it as a satisfactory explanation.

While these changes have been added to further tackle the spread of black money and corruption in the country, people have complained that this adds another layer of bureaucracy to the existing inconvenient process of exchanging bank notes and depositing cash into accounts.

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the radical step to demonetize the currency notes in order to tackle the rampant problem of the so-called "black money" - billions of dollars' worth of cash in unaccounted wealth and fake currency notes. The government has decided to introduce a new 500 rupee note and also introduce a higher denomination banknote of 2,000 rupees.





However, ever since the announcement on November 8, thousands of people have been waiting outside banks to exchange old currency notes for new ones. While analysts and celebrities across the country have applauded this move, the crowds have been getting more and more restless with every passing day.

But the new restrictions add further pain to the suffering of those who are dependent on cash. The new guidelines also require customers to complete all transaction by December 30 as no more bank notes can be deposited after that date.

"The move will have a short-term negative impact," Kannan Venkataramani, senior portfolio manager Asian Equity at NN Investment Partners, told CNBC via email.

"The demonetized notes can be exchanged at banks, but the government has imposed daily and weekly limits. Also, with banks requiring a photo identity proof before changing money, individuals who never declared the money in the first place may find it tough to prove why they need to change larger sums. That means a portion of the population might see part of their unaccounted wealth evaporate overnight, creating a negative wealth effect."

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However, the move is expected to create a gain in the longer-term as it may have a positive impact on the government's finances and help boost economic growth, Venkatramani explained.

The new guidelines also require deposits in excess of INR 5,000 to be credited only to accounts that are identified and verified by the banks through an official customer verification process that involves submission of official documents.





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NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is likely to produce surplus sugar in 2017/18 as farmers have increased cane-growing area, a leading industry body said on Monday.

The world's biggest consumer of sugar is unlikely to import the sweetener in the 2016/17 marketing year that started on Oct. 1, as the country have ample carry forward stocks from the last year, Abinash Verma, director general of the Indian Sugar Mills Association told reporters on the sidelines of a conference.

The country is likely to produce 23.4 million tonnes of sugar in 2016/17, down around 7 percent from a year ago as back-to-back droughts ravaged the crop in top-producing western state of Maharashtra.

(Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Malini Menon)
By Neha Dasgupta

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL.NS) is in talks with Japan's Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp and Kobe Steel Ltd for potential technical agreements to help the firm expand its global footprint, SAIL's chairman told Reuters.

SAIL - which has been in the red for six quarters - may also consider buying troubled domestic steel firm assets if offered a "cheaper price", Prakash Kumar Singh said in his first official response to a government proposal that state steel, power and shipping firms take over assets of indebted private companies.

India's biggest state-owned steel producer has already held an initial round of talks with Japan's top steelmakers, Singh said, adding that the steel produced through the tie-ups could be sold to India's defence sector.

"The defence sector is using a lot of steel. So for all those grades, there is continuous improvement in R&D. And for penetrating these markets also - Japan and Europe - we need to understand their technologies, their uses. Therefore these tie-ups will be handy," Singh said.

SAIL already supplies steel to the Indian navy and army, primarily for battle tanks.

Separately, the Indian company is in talks with two European steelmakers for similar partnerships, Singh said, without giving any specifics as the discussions were in initial stages.

SAIL is also ironing out details with the world's biggest steel producer, ArcelorMittal (ISPA.AS), for a proposed 60 billion rupees ($884.36 million) joint venture, Singh said.

"It will be difficult to give a time frame. But we are quite confident that we can sort it out."

GROWTH PANGS

SAIL plans to raise output of saleable steel in the year starting April 2017 by about 10 percent to 16.5 million tonnes, Singh said. It is aiming for a 10 percent jump in 2017/18 exports, versus an estimated 700,000 tonnes shipped this year.

"We need to reduce production from our inefficient units and produce more from the efficient (units) in order to survive," Singh said in the interview.

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SAIL has already received approval 'in principle' from the government to sell stakes in three of its loss-making units.

This comes at a time when India's steel sector remains in the woods, accounting for 28 percent of the banking sector's stressed loans.

While government steps such as duties and quality controls on cheap imports from top producer China have helped Indian steelmakers raise prices, SAIL has been asked to buy some troubled private steel assets or manage their operations as part of broader clean-up of lenders' bad debt pile.

Recently, India's steel minister said SAIL or fellow steelmaker RINL were not in a position to buy assets but they could help with "expertise" or people.

($1 = 67.84 rupees)

(Reporting by Neha Dasgupta; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
Several employees of troubled New York hedge fund Platinum Partners were arrested Monday on charges of participating in a $1 billion fraud.

These are the seven employees whom authorities charged, according to the indictment. (A copy of the 49-page indictment is published below.)

Mark Nordlicht, Platinum's chief investment officer.

David Levy, a senior executive.

Uri Landesman, who the government says was "heavily involved in marketing Platinum's funds" and investors' contact.

Joseph Sanfilippo, who was the chief financial officer for one of Platinum's funds and a member of its valuation team.

Joseph Mann, who marketed Platinum from 2013 to 2016.

Daniel Small, who was a co-portfolio manager for one of Platinum's strategies, Black Elk.

Jeffrey Shulse, who was Black Elk's chief financial officer, and later its CEO.

Here are some of the key allegations made in the indictment:

"Platinum reported that PPVA had returned profits of more than eight percent in 2015 and more than seven percent for the period from January 2016 through April 2016."PPVA refers to Platinum's value arbitrage fund, which the indictment says was invested "primarily in highly illiquid Level 3 companies despite representations to investors...that PPVA was a relatively liquid fund."

"In or about and between 2011 and 2016, the defendants Mark Nordlicht and David Levy, together with others, engaged in two separate schemes: (i) a scheme to defraud investors and prospective investors in funds managed by Platinum; and (ii) a scheme to defraud third-party holders of the BE Bonds." BE Bonds are bonds issued by Black Elk, a energy company that was controlled by Platinum from 2010 to 2015.

"In or about and between November 2012 and December 2016, the defendants Mark Nordlicht, David Levy, Uri Landesman, Joseph Sanfilippo and Joseph Mann, together with others, engaged in a scheme to defraud investors and prospective investors in Platinum through material representations and omissions relating to, among other things: (i) the performance of some of PPVA's Level 3 assets; (ii) PPVA's liquidity; (iii) the purpose of PPNE and the use of PPNE's proceeds; (iv) PPVA's preferential redemption process; and (v) related party transactions involving PPVA and PPCO."

"Specifically, Platinum fraudulently overvalued some of PPVA's Level 3 assets in order to, among other things, boost performance numbers, attract new investors, retain exiting investors and extract high management and incentive fees."

"Platinum's overvaluation of some of its Level 3 assets precipitated a severe liquidity crisis, which Platinum initially attempted to mitigate through high-interest loans between its hedge funds... When the...loans proved insufficient to resolve PPVA's liquidity problems, Platinum began selectively paying some investors ahead of others, contrary to the terms of its governing documents."

Beginning in at least early 2014, Nordlicht, Levy, Landesman, Sanfilippo and Mann "began relying almost exclusively on new investments and inter-fund loans to pay redemptions to PPVA's investors."

"Based in large part on Platinum's consistent overvaluation of PPVA's largest Level 3 assets, the defendants...extracted significant management and incentive fees from PPVA. In fact, from approximately 2012 through 2014, Platinum Management received more than $91 million in management and incentive fees." The firm charged investors a 2% management fee on assets and a 20% performance fee, according to the indictment, which is a standard fee model for hedge funds.

"Platinum never disclosed to investors and prospective investors that it was using new investments to pay redemptions."

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Platinum managed about $1.7 billion as of March 2016, the indictment says.

An external spokesman for Platinum declined to comment. Michael Sommer, Levy's attorney, said in an email that "we look forward to responding to these charges in court and clearing David Levy's good name."

Lawyers for the other defendants could not immediately be reached.

The case is US v. Nordlicht et al, US District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 16-cr-640.

Indictment - Signed and Stamped (BW) by Rachael Levy on Scribd

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An advisory on the national anthem has been sent to all state governments and administrators of union territories by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The detailed advisory lists down how and where the national anthem is to be played, and how it should not be commercialised.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: The Ministry of Home Affairs detailed advisory to the Chief Secretaries of all state governments and administrators of all union territories to comply with the Supreme Court's order on national anthem has left a gap for interpretation.

The MHA has listed down several instructions to states after the Supreme Court order on November 30 after a writ petition (civil) relating to the national anthem. The court had instructed MHA for necessary action in this regard.

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The MHA has asked states not to allow commercial exploitation of the national anthem. No one should be allowed to give financial advantage or any kind of benefit.

An officer in the MHA said "This could be, for instance, in reference to selling of CDs with the national anthem."

ALSO READ | National anthem mandatory in cinema halls, not Supreme Court

National anthem mandatory before every film in theatres, all must rise: Supreme Court

WHAT THE ADVISORY SAYS

The advisory says that the national anthem should not be utilized in a manner that the person involved with it has either directly or indirectly any commercial benefit or any other benefit.

There shall not be dramatization of the national anthem and it should not be included as a part of any variety show. This is because when the national anthem is sung or played, it is imperative on the part of every one present to show due respect and honour.

No part of the national anthem shall be printed on any object and never be displayed in such a manner at such places which may be disgraceful to its status and tantamount to disrespect.

Cinema halls will have to show the national flag when the national anthem is being played.

All the cinema halls in India shall play the national anthem before the feature film starts and all present in the hall are obliged to stand up to show respect to the national anthem. The cinema halls should close the entry and exit doors till the national anthem is being played- a measure to prevent any kind of disturbance. The doors will be opened when the national anthem is over.

ALSO READ | National Anthem: Ten things that you did not know

Is Supreme Court's national anthem diktat dividing Indians into patriots and anti-nationals?

COURT HAD MODIFIED ORDER, BUT MHA DIDN'T TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION

The Supreme Court, in December, had modified its order on the national anthem and exempted physically handicapped persons from standing before screening of a movie in cinema halls across the nation. It also clarified that doors of theatres need not be bolted when the national anthem was bieng played.

ALSO READ | On national anthem verdict, Supreme Court clarifies: Disabled need not stand up

However, the MHA's current advisory has left this factor ambivalent, mostly to the judgement of cinema holders whether they lock, bolt or close the door.

The abridge version of the national anthem made by any one for whatever reason shall not be played or displayed, the advisory says.

The Supreme Ccourt will hear the case again on February 14th until when the instructions have to be followed as per the advisory by the Home Ministry.

Also read:

Kerala: Writer in custody for insulting national anthem in his novel, Facebook post

By law, are we required to stand for the national anthem?

--- ENDS ---

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Rob Kardashian and Blac Chynas living situation throughout their time as a couple has been about as complicated as their turbulent relationship. The Rob & Chyna stars frequent bickering has kept them from living together for most of their relationship, even as they prepared for the arrival of their first child.

Although the birth of daughter Dream seemed to bond them and give a glimpse of more stable times ahead, Kardashian, 29, surprised everyone by sharing on social media over the weekend that his 28-year-old fiancee had unexpectedly moved out, taking the baby and all of her belongings with her.

This latest upheaval, which comes just two weeks after the couple finally moved in together, is just one more complication in the on-and-off couples efforts over the course of the past year to map out their living arrangements together. Starting with with 

Living with Sis

Kardashian was living with his sister Khloe when his romance with Chyna began early in 2016. In an interview with Complex magazine for the August/September 2015 issue, Khloe explained that her brother lived with her and ex-husband Lamar Odom throughout their marriage, only moving out toward the end. When she and Odom split, the siblings moved together into Khloes new house.

Not long before making their relationship public with an Instagram post, rumors circulated that Khloe kicked her brother out of the house and he temporarily moved in with Chyna.

Kris Jenner bought Kardashian his own $2.3 million home in February. The four-bedroom, 4,256 sq. ft. home is not far from the rest of his family in an upscale gated community in Calabasas, California.

A Pregnancy Apart

Kardashian and Chyna lived separately in the Calabasas area during her pregnancy due to their constant feuding. However, a Kardashian insider revealed to PEOPLE they had set up two nurseries  one in his house and one in hers  in advance of Dreams arrival.

They have separate nurseries because they both wanted to prepare for the baby, but they agreed it wasnt a good idea to live together while Chyna is pregnant because they were fighting too much, said the insider.

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In Rob & Chynas Baby Special, living apart appeared to be a point of contention between Kardashian and Chyna as she explained that they both hate each others homes so they didnt want to live in either house.

At one point in the special, Kardashian asked a friend for advice on getting Chyna to move into a new house with him before Dreams birth  but the friend pointed out that it would probably be too stressful to deal with while Chyna was in her last trimester.

RELATED VIDEO: The Timeline of Rob Kardashian and Blac Chynas Social Media Drama

Happy Family

Once Dream came and made them a family of three, however, another source told PEOPLE the couple would live together so Kardashian could be a hands-on dad.

Rob wants to live with Chyna and spend every day with Dream, says a Kardashian source. He is making a big effort to get along with Chyna. She seems very happy with him. They are getting along great and enjoying parenting together.

Drama Before the Holidays

The weekend before Christmas, Chynas Instagram account was hacked, with the anonymous hacker claiming she had left Kardashian. The hacker also said they were going to expose the reality star and how she was using Kardashian while allegedly cheating on him with other men  although the conversations that were posted in the hack didnt show any signs of infidelity on Chynas part. Chyna later confirmed that the private messages and text conversations the hacker leaked were real, and even implied that Kardashian was involved in her hack.

After the hacker released her messages, they pointed fans to check out Kardashians Snapchat, where he posted a series of videos of himself walking around his empty home. Appearing visibly upset, Kardashian claimed Chyna took the baby, took the whole nursery we built. He also said Chyna wasnt letting him see their daughter.

She blocked me or else I would ask to see her and she has the guard gate not letting me in the gate either, he wrote on Instagram, adding, I just miss baby Dream.

Priority No. 1: Dream

For now, sources tell PEOPLE that the couple are remaining separate as they consider the next steps in their relationship  both as romantic partners and co-parents.

One insider tells PEOPLE the Kardashian and Chyna had decided to test the waters of cohabitation during happier times: They said, Lets give it a try.  But now Chyna has vacated their shared home (which was once occupied by Kardashians little sister Kylie Jenner) and gone back to the home were she was living earlier this year.

But another source affirms that, despite these tumultuous times, the fiances focus remains on baby Dream, who will always stay with mom.




MILAN, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Intesa Sanpaolo has drawn at least seven non-binding bids for a bad loan portfolio worth a gross 2.5 billion euros ($2.6 billion) it is expected to sell early next year, four sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Two sources said bidders included KKR, Fortress Investment Group, a consortium comprising Christofferson Robb & Company and Bayview, AnaCap Financial Partners, Apollo Global Management, Cerberus and Lone Star.

The sources said Intesa Sanpaolo would select a shortlist of three investors this week, with the deal -- dubbed "Beyond the Clouds" -- expected to close in the first quarter of 2017.

One source said the portfolio was mainly made up of corporate loans and included also a 30 percent portion of mortgage loans.

All parties involved declined to comment or could not be immediately reached for comment.

Intesa has set up a bad loan unit called "Capital Light Bank" which carries disposals of problem loans on a regular basis. ($1 = 0.9571 euros) (Reporting by Massimo Gaia, writing by Valentina Za, editing by Steve Scherer)
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 19, 2016 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces a class action lawsuit against Xerox Corporation ("Xerox" or the "Company") (XRX). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares between April 23, 2012 and October 23, 2015 inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm in advance of the December 23, 2016 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you purchased Xerox 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 by 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, Xerox repeatedly touted its new software product, Health Enterprise, as an important growth area for the Company, which would operate at low cost and high profit margin. The Company's statements pertaining to the profitability and growth prospects of the Health Enterprise business were materially false and misleading because Xerox failed to disclose: that the Company's existing Health Enterprise projects were experiencing major delays and cost overruns; that Xerox would be unable to deliver Health Enterprise implementations at sustainable profits; and that as a result of the above, the Company's statements about its business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis. On October 26, 2015, Xerox released its third quarter 2015 financial results which were disappointing due to costs associated with the implementation of Health Enterprise and the termination of Health Enterprise contracts with the state agencies of California and Montana. When this information emerged to the public, the stock price of Xerox fell, causing investors serious harm.

If you wish to learn more about this lawsuit, at no charge to you, 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.

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This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

Contact:

Joon M. Khang, Esq.

Telephone: 949-419-3834

Facsimile: 949-225-4474

joon@khanglaw.com

SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 19, 2016 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces a class action lawsuit against Adeptus Health Inc. ("Adeptus" or the "Company") (ADPT). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares pursuant and/or traceable to the Company's secondary public offering (the "SPO") on or about July 31, 2015, or purchasers of common shares between June 25, 2014 and November 1, 2016, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm in advance of the December 27, 2016 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you purchased shares of Adeptus during the SPO or 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 throughout the Class Period, Adeptus Health made material false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: that the Company engaged in widespread predatory billing practices, particularly with respect to lower acuity level patients; that Adeptus Health's predatory billing practices subjected the Company to numerous known but undisclosed risks, such as financial risks, reputational risks, risks associated with improper financial reporting, civil or criminal sanctions, and even exclusion from federal and state healthcare programs; that the Company's financial statements were not prepared in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; that contrary to the Company's representations about its practice of referring lower acuity patients to urgent care facilities, Adeptus Health routinely treated lower acuity patients and excessively billed them for services; and that as a result of the above, Adeptus Health lacked a reasonable basis for its statements about its business and future financial prospects at all relevant times. On November 17, 2015, an NBC-affiliated television station located in Denver, Colorado aired an investigative report about the predatory billing practices at the Company's Colorado First Choice emergency rooms. When this information was released to the public, the value of Adeptus fell, causing investors harm.

If you wish to learn more about this lawsuit, or if you have questions concerning this notice or your rights, please contact Joon M. Khang, a prominent litigator for almost two decades, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or via e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

Contact:

Joon M. Khang, Esq.

Telephone: 949-419-3834

Facsimile: 949-225-4474

joon@khanglaw.com

SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP
By Tim Hepher

PARIS (Reuters) - Iran expects to get its first new jet within weeks under a multi-billion-dollar deal with Airbus for 100 planes, a senior official said on Monday, as Tehran and Western firms race to reopen trade almost a year after sanctions were lifted.

The first of the Airbus jets should be delivered in mid-January, part of plans to buy or lease 200 planes to renew IranAir's decaying fleet, against a backdrop of conservative criticism in Washington and Tehran of last year's international deal to allow such business after decades of sanctions.

Sanctions were lifted in January but were followed by months of regulatory delays, and Iran has only just finalised a deal to buy 80 jets from Airbus' U.S. rival Boeing.

"We have finalised negotiations with Airbus and any day we will be able to sign the deal in Tehran," Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan told Reuters in a telephone interview. "We are expecting some final clearances and expect to sign today or tomorrow."

The timetable suggests the first Airbus A321 could arrive before the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has opposed the deal to lift most sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities, and well ahead of Iranian presidential elections in May next year.

That could provide a boost to the government of President Hassan Rouhani and allow Airbus to find a home for some jets abandoned or deferred by other customers due to economic problems in South America and elsewhere, analysts say.

Airbus, which has revised up its forecasts for Iranian domestic demand, said it was still negotiating the IranAir deal.

However, a Reuters photographer spotted the first jet painted in IranAir colors at a plant in Germany, underscoring Airbus' commitment to start deliveries to IranAir, which sees itself as a potential rival to Gulf-based super-carriers.

Initial plans to buy a dozen A380 superjumbos were dropped after criticism from Iranian hardliners opposed to the emphasis on long trips rather than domestic use. Kashan said the Airbus deal will be roughly split between narrow-body jets including the A320 and A321 and wide-bodies including the A330 and A350.

Story continues

PACT 'VIOLATION' WARNING

Such deals are also under fire from U.S. Republicans.

President Barack Obama's outgoing administration has granted licenses to allow the sales, a step required by both Airbus and Boeing due to the use of U.S. parts, but analysts say completing them depends in part on Washington's new political climate.

Asked whether either deal could be derailed if Trump imposes new restrictions on trade with Iran, Kashan said: "We are not concerned, although we should not ignore such a possibility.

"The fact is that Mr Trump may impose certain new sanctions, but we would consider that to be a violation of the JCPOA (nuclear accord), which explicitly provides for the possibility for the purchase of aircraft and their sale by manufacturers."

Kashan also dismissed suggestions by some Republicans that Iran could misuse civil jetliners for military purposes such as ferrying arms and fighters to Syria or elsewhere.

"This has not been the case and will not be the case. These accusations are not based on reality and are propaganda against the Iranian society and people," he said.

Still, doubts remain over financing due to uncertainty over Trump's policy towards Iran and the reluctance by either Western or Iranian governments to provide financial guarantees.

Most Western commercial banks remain unwilling to get involved, fearing fines or commercial problems in the United States if relations between Washington and Tehran deteriorate.

Iran has reached agreements with at least two foreign leasing firms to finance a total of 77 jets, including 42 from Airbus and 35 from Boeing, Kashan said.

Those companies will arrange 'finance leases', a form of funding which is closer to a purchase than a standard rental.

Western export credit agencies will not be involved in either the Airbus or Boeing deal, Kashan added.

Also complicating implementation are core U.S. sanctions preventing Iran's use of the U.S. financial system.

Aircraft are usually paid for in dollars but France-based Airbus will receive euros.

Kashan said all the transactions would use foreign currencies initially, but that Boeing would ultimately receive its income in U.S. dollars.

People familiar with the deal say Boeing has U.S. approval allowing it to go ahead on this basis for 15 777-300ERs but that it will need renewed approvals for the remaining 65 aircraft.

(Additional reporting by Fabian Bimmer; Editing by Alexander Smith and Adrian Croft)
By Tim Hepher

PARIS (Reuters) - Iran expects to get its first new jet within weeks under a multi-billion-dollar deal with Airbus for 100 planes, a senior official said on Monday, as Tehran and Western firms race to reopen trade almost a year after sanctions were lifted.

The first of the Airbus jets should be delivered in mid-January, part of plans to buy or lease 200 planes to renew IranAir's decaying fleet, against a backdrop of conservative criticism in both Washington and Tehran of last year's international sanctions deal to allow such business.

Sanctions were lifted in January but were followed by months of regulatory delays, and Iran has only just finalised a deal to buy 80 jets from Airbus' U.S. rival Boeing.

"We have finalised negotiations with Airbus and any day we will be able to sign the deal in Tehran," Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan told Reuters in a telephone interview. "We are expecting some final clearances and expect to sign today or tomorrow."

The first Airbus A321 could arrive before the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has opposed the deal to lift most sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities, and well ahead of Iranian presidential elections in May next year.

That could provide a boost to the government of President Hassan Rouhani and allow Airbus to find a home for some jets abandoned or deferred by other customers due to economic problems in South America and elsewhere, analysts say.

Airbus, which has revised up its forecasts for Iranian domestic demand, said it was still negotiating the IranAir deal. The airline sees itself as a future rival to Gulf-based super-carriers due to its geographical position.

Initial plans to buy a dozen A380 superjumbos were dropped after criticism from Iranian hardliners. Kashan said the deal with Airbus will be split roughly equally between narrow-body jets including the A320 and A321 and wide-body jets including the A330 and A350.

Story continues

PACT 'VIOLATION' WARNING

Such deals are also under fire from U.S. Republicans.

President Barack Obama's outgoing administration has granted licences to allow the sales, a step required by both Airbus and Boeing due to the use of U.S. parts, but analysts say completing them depends in part on Washington's new political climate.

Asked whether either deal could be derailed if Trump imposes new restrictions on trade with Iran, Kashan said: "We are not concerned, although we should not ignore such a possibility.

"The fact is that Mr Trump may impose certain new sanctions, but we would consider that to be a violation of the JCPOA (nuclear accord), which explicitly provides for the possibility for the purchase of aircraft and their sale by manufacturers."

Kashan also dismissed suggestions by some Republicans that Iran could misuse civil jetliners for military purposes such as ferrying arms and fighters to Syria or elsewhere.

"This has not been the case and will not be the case. These accusations are not based on reality and are propaganda against the Iranian society and people," he said.

Still, doubts remain over financing due to uncertainty over Trump's policy towards Iran and the reluctance by either Western or Iranian governments to provide financial guarantees.

Most Western commercial banks remain unwilling to get involved, fearing fines or commercial problems in the United States if relations between Washington and Tehran deteriorate.

Iran has reached agreements with at least two foreign leasing firms to finance a total of 77 jets, including 42 from Airbus and 35 from Boeing, Kashan said.

Those companies will arrange finance leases, a form of funding which is closer to a purchase than a standard rental.

Western export credit agencies will not be involved in either the Airbus or Boeing deal, Kashan added.

Also complicating implementation are core U.S. sanctions preventing Iran's use of the U.S. financial system.

Aircraft are usually paid for in dollars but France-based Airbus will receive euros.

Kashan said all the transactions would use foreign currencies initially, but that Boeing would ultimately receive its income in U.S. dollars.

People familiar with the deal say Boeing has U.S. approval allowing it to go ahead on this basis for 15 777-300ERs but that it will need renewed approvals for the remaining 65 aircraft.

(Editing by Stephen Coates and Alexander Smith)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iran's president lashed out at the country's hard-liners on Monday, accusing them of ignoring human rights, which he said are enshrined in the constitution.

Hassan Rouhani's remarks were apparently an attempt to appeal to the liberal-minded among the country's middle class ahead of Iran's May presidential elections.

Without naming names, Rouhani said in a televised speech that "some individuals do not like to hear about some of the articles" and prefer to "ignore" Chapter 3 of the constitution, which secures the rights of the people. That part of the charter was approved in 1979 and is meant to support social and individual freedoms.

Rouhani spoke at the launch of a book compiling 120 legal articles on rights-related laws, codes and regulations in Iran, entitled "Charter of Citizenship Rights." Rouhani's government has backed the project.

The Iranian president, who promised a more open society when he came to power in 2013, said the book was one of his "dreams" and acted as a "voice from Iran in response to some Western countries" that have criticized Tehran over rights abuses.

Rouhani said he would do his best to keep his election promises "to young people, women and minorities," until his last day of term next August. Rouhani is, however, expected to run again.

Iran's moderate conservatives and reformists, who won a majority in the parliamentary elections earlier this year, support Rouhani and Iran's landmark nuclear deal with world powers.

Still, hard-liners wield strong influence over domestic or foreign policies and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remains the top decision-maker under the country's constitution.
Tehran (AFP) - Iran's President Hassan Rouhani unveiled a landmark bill of rights on Monday, guaranteeing freedom of speech, protest, fair trials and privacy, saying the achievement was "one of my oldest dreams".

Although many of the rights are already enshrined in Iran's constitution written after the 1979 Islamic revolution, Rouhani said it offered the first clear list of principles that could be used to check the performance of state institutions.

"I'm very pleased that today one of my most important promises is being delivered and I am achieving one of my oldest dreams," Rouhani told officials in a televised ceremony.

However, many institutions, including the judiciary and the powerful Revolutionary Guards, are firmly in the grip of hardliners who do not answer to the president and say the priority is to protect the revolution against dissenters and outside interference.

Rouhani said the authorities should respect limits on their powers.

"No one is allowed to enter another person's house, shop or private workplace without the permission of the owner... in the name of discovering whether crimes or sins have been committed," he said, quoting the founder of the Islamic revolution, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Having promised a bill of rights for citizens during his 2013 election campaign, Rouhani's announcement may mark a belated effort to rally reformist supporters ahead of a re-election bid in May.

Rouhani said the bill was not yet a formal law, but "must be implemented by everyone".

A new "special deputy for citizenship rights" will work with government departments to draw up reform plans and check their progress with annual reports.

"One of the major demands of Iranian people is citizenship rights," said Rouhani.

"This bill is a call by the Iranian nation against some arrogant Western countries who think they are ahead of Third World countries in human rights."

Story continues

Western rights groups and governments accuse Iran of wholesale violations, including arbitrary detention without trial, violent suppression of dissent, and restrictions on the press and free speech.

Yousef Molayi, a Tehran lawyer, told AFP the bill was "a step forward in guaranteeing parts of the rights and freedoms that people should enjoy".

"The president is highlighting the importance of citizens' rights and the need to observe existing laws which may not be implemented thoroughly now," he said.

"For example, in some trials the court decides that the lawyer should not be present, and this bill clarifies that this is not a correct interpretation."

Conservatives were quick to criticise the charter, saying it was the work of a reformist minority rather than the wider Iranian public.

"These days as people wait impatiently for the delivery of economic openings (linked to) the nuclear deal ... the government in its last months has remembered the rights of people. It's a joke," said Osulgara News, a popular conservative social media channel.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel's attorney general has ordered the investigation of an Arab lawmaker on suspicion of smuggling mobile phones to Palestinian prisoners.

Police said on Monday they will soon summon the lawmaker, Basel Ghattas, for questioning.

Israel's prison services said they received a tip that Ghattas would smuggle the phones on Sunday to Palestinian prisoners convicted of killing Israelis. Following the visit, prison officials recovered 12 mobile phones from the prisoners.

Israel's internal security minister, Gilad Erdan, says if suspicions prove true, Ghattas belongs in jail.

Ghattas is a member of the Balad faction, a Palestinian nationalist party that frequently clashes with the Israeli government. In 2007, Balad lawmaker Azmi Bishara fled Israel while facing charges of espionage for the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah group.

Arabs make up one fifth of Israel's population.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli police on Monday arrested billionaire businessman Beny Steinmetz on suspicion of bribing officials in the west African country of Guinea, police said, in what appeared to be a major development in bribery investigations over mining rights to one of the world's most important iron ore concessions.

Steinmetz, a prominent Israeli-born businessman and global player in the diamond-mining industry, is suspected in an international investigation stretching to Europe and the U.S., along with other unidentified Israeli businesspeople, of paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes to public officials in the Guinean capital of Conakry to promote business interests there, according to Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.

Israeli media reported Steinmetz is suspected of bribing the former leader of Guinea and his wife for rights to mine at the Simandou range, one of the world's largest sources of iron ore. Israeli police would not comment on the specific bribery claim.

A mineral-rich but deeply impoverished country, Guinea has long suffered from corruption while trying to exploit its natural resources. Steinmetz's company BSGR previously had its mining license revoked in Guinea because of corruption charges.

"The detention of Beny Steinmetz shows that the Israeli authorities are treating the Simandou bribery case with the seriousness it deserves," said Daniel Balint-Kurti of Global Witness, a London-based nonprofit group that battles corruption in the mining and natural resources industries. "Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world and was deprived of vast sums through BSGR's corrupt deal. It is vital that such cases are fully investigated and that those involved in bribery are brought to justice."

According to Global Witness, which investigated the case, BSGR and its affiliates engaged in a "sophisticated corruption scheme" over Simandou, cloaking their activities through secretive companies in the British Virgin Islands.

Story continues

It says it gained access to documentation, including bribery contracts, showing that BSGR and an affiliate offshore company had agreed to pay millions of dollars to Mamadie Toure, a wife of Guinea's then-leader, and that the company also promised her a stake in the Simandou mining project, as part of the deal to secure the mining licenses. BSGR, after investing $160 million into the project, later sold part of its stake for $2.1 billion to Brazilian mining company Vale, according to Global Witness.

Called a "secret billionaire" in Israeli media, Steinmetz is ranked by Forbes Israel as the 24th richest Israeli in the world, with an estimated net worth of about $1.5 billion.

BSGR did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A lawyer for Steinmetz, Yuval Sasson, told Israeli Channel 2 TV the claims were concocted by the Guinean president's "corrupt leadership, which is trying to illegally steal BSGR's (mining) rights."

In a rare 2013 interview with the Israeli news site YNet, Steinmetz called allegations of corruption by BSGR "a joke." He alleged the current Guinean leader sought to frame him and his company.

"The company doesn't pay anything to anyone, not one penny to politicians; we simply don't do this kind of things. This is a well-oiled, evil machine which operates against BSGR and me, run by the president and his associates," Steinmetz told YNet.

Steinmetz's arrest is the result of a joint investigation with law enforcement agencies in the United States, Switzerland and Guinea, police said  part of an international effort led by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, against bribery of public officials.

This summer, Israel renewed diplomatic ties with Guinea after 49 years, part of an Israeli effort to pursue closer security and other ties with Africa. Guinea, a Muslim country, was the first nation to cut ties with Israel after the 1967 Mideast war, when Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip from its Arab foes.

Israeli police raided Steinmetz's home and offices in Israel early Monday, police said. Steinmetz was detained and placed under house arrest in Israel for two weeks. An Israeli court confiscated his French and Israeli passports, prohibited him from traveling abroad for six months, and set his bail at about $26 million.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is serving a 19-month prison sentence for bribery and obstruction of justice, has been a close friend of Steinmetz and, according to the Haaretz daily, flew to Guinea with Steinmetz at one point. In a 2013 interview with the New Yorker, Olmert described Steinmetz as "a one-man show," saying he "can work ceaselessly and will move from one side of the globe to the other if he identifies a promising deal."
In the chargesheet filed in Pathankot attack case, the National Investigation Agency has given details of how Masood Azhar of Jaish-e-Mohammed planned and carried out terror act on Indian soil.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a 101-page chargesheet in Mohali court in Pathankot terrorist attack case.

The NIA probe establishes that the Pathankot terror attack conspiracy was plotted in and executed from Pakistan. Terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed picked up, trained and sent four fidayeens to carry out the attack.

The mastermind and the handlers of the terrorists, who infiltrated into Indian territory to carry out the attack, were all based in Pakistan.

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READ| Pathankot attack chargesheet nails Jaish-e-Mohammed's Masood Azhar

According to the NIA files, the following were the key conspirators and handlers of terrorists

Maulana Masood Azhar:

This 48-year-old terrorist is from Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Masood Azhar is the founder and chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The terrorists belonging to JeM carried out the instant terror attack at Air Force station under his instructions and leadership.

WATCH:

READ| Pathankot terror attack: Parliamentary panel raps MHA over security lapses

Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar:

He, 42, is the younger brother of Masood Azhar. Both are the sons of Allah Bakash Sabir Alvi from Bahawalpur in Pakistan. Asghar is the deputy chief of JeM.

Along with elder brother, Masood Azhar, he was one of the main conspirators of Pathankot attack. He is said to have played the role of motivator for the fidayeens, who carried out terror attack on Indian soil in the name of 'Jihad'.

Asghar had released an audio clip in his own voice and uploaded it on website www.rangonoor.com claiming responsibility for the dastardly terror attack in Pathankot. He had praised the attackers.

Kashif Jan- Masood Azhar's point person for Pathankot terror attack.

Kashif Jan:

This 35-year-old resident of Tehsil Dusra in Charsada district of Pakistan was the main JeM handler of the terrorists.

Kashif Jan was the conspirator, who actually planned and executed the Pathankot attack under the guidance of Maulan Masood Azhar and Rauf Azghar.

Kashif Jan was in continuous communication with terrorists over phone during execution of terror attack. He kept reassuring the terrorists of their 'noble' aim and motivated the terrorists to launch destructive attack till the end.

Shahid Latif- Handler of terrorists, who attacked Pathankot Air Force station.

Shahid Latif:

This 41-year-old terrorist is from Gujranwala, Pakistan. Shahid Latif was the other important handler of the four terrorists, who sneaked into the Pathankot Air Force station.

Shahid Latif is known as the launching commander of JeM. He had motivated and sent down the four JeM terrorists to Pathankot.

Sitting in Pakistan, Latif also coordinated with them before and during the terror attack.

READ| Pathankot terror attack: Now, government says 4 militants attacked airbase

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Shahid Latif was arrested in India in 1993 on terror charges. He was put to trial and jailed. He was deported to Pakistan in 2010 after completion of his sentence in India.

NIA probe says that after being deported from India, Shahid Latif went back to Jihadi factory in Pakistan.

--- ENDS ---
By Manuela d'Alessandro MILAN (Reuters) - An Italian woman who traveled to Syria two years ago proclaiming her support for Islamic State was sentenced in absentia on Monday to nine years in jail on terrorism-related charges, a court ruled. Maria Giulia Sergio, 29, converted to Islam in 2007 and moved to Syria with her Albanian-born husband in 2014. She later urged her parents and sister to join them and sign up to the 'jihad' or holy war announced by Islamic State rulers. "Dad, drag mum here by the hair. She doesn't have the right to any opinions," she said in a call home that was tapped by police. "I can't wait to die as a martyr," she said in another call, predicting that the holy war would one day reach Rome. Her parents and sister began to sell their possessions after agreeing to move to Syria too. But they were arrested in 2015 and prevented from leaving Italy. Maria Giulia was found guilty of international terrorism and organizing trips to facilitate terrorism. The father was sentenced to four years in jail on Monday after being convicted of aiding terrorists. The sister was tried earlier this year and sentenced to five years, four months in prison. The mother died of a heart attack shortly after her arrest in 2015. Maria Giulia's husband, Aldo Kobuzi, was given a 10-year term. He is believed to be still in Syria with his wife, but nothing has been heard from them in more than a year. The court sentenced a Canadian woman, Bushra Haik, to nine years in jail after finding her guilty of recruiting people, including Maria Giulia, to the extremist cause. She was tried in absentia and her whereabouts are not known. The father's lawyer said he would appeal against the ruling, arguing that his client had not wanted to join Islamic State but had simply looked to keep the family together. Maria Giulia was born into a Roman Catholic family in southern Italy. She moved to the wealthier north and changed her name to Fatima az Zahra after converting to Islam. Italian media reported that she became progressively radicalized and married Kobuzi in 2014, a man she barely knew, to facilitate her trip to Syria and to avoid being forced into marriage against her will on arrival there. She defended the actions of Islamic State in an interview via Skype with Corriere della Sera newspaper in 2015. "We decapitate people in the name of Allah. We kill because Sharia law demands it," she was quoted as saying. She was portrayed in court as a "foreign fighter" and nicknamed "Lady Jihad" by the Italian press. The prosecution said that as a woman she would not have been allowed to fight on the front line. But they said that they had telephone taps showing she had learnt how to use firearms and that she had repeatedly said she wanted to fight. (Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
MUNICH, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The troubles in Italy's banking sector are not having any impact on the mood in corporate boardrooms around Germany and neither is the election of U.S. Republican Donald Trump, an economist at the Ifo institute said on Monday.

"The Italian crisis is not having any effect. The markets know that the ECB (European Central Bank) is ready to use a fire extinguisher," said Ifo economist Klaus Wohlrabe.

Ifo's business climate index rose to its highest level in almost three years in December. Wohlrabe said the falling euro was making industrial firms more upbeat while German consumers were still spending freely.

(Reporting by Joern Poltz; Writing by Michelle Martin)
Rome (AFP) - Italy's new Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Monday he will ask parliament to approve a precautionary 20 billion euro funding package for the country's troubled banks.

The move comes as Italy's third-largest bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS), tries to raise five billion euros ($5.2 billion) in new private capital to stave off government intervention.

BMPS, the oldest bank in the world, is at the heart of an Italian banking crisis which has cost it over 80 percent of its market capitalisation in the past year.

"It's a precautionary measure. We believe it is our duty to take this measure to protect savings. I hope all the political movements in parliament share this responsibility," Gentiloni told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

BMPS needs to complete the five-billion-euro funding drive by the end of December after the European Central Bank refused to grant its request to extend the deadline to mid-January.
Rome (AFP) - It has been a record year for Italy's coastguard, with nearly 180,000 people rescued in the Mediterranean, longer days than ever before and, despite their efforts, thousands of victims.

In a small room in a soulless ministry building in the south of Rome, red telephones ring and operatives juggle with maps on giant screens on the walls as they coordinate all rescue operations off Libya.

"As soon as someone calls for help, we become conductors," directing any nearby vessels -- be they coastguard, military, private or commercial -- to detour to the rescue zone, spokesman Filippo Marini told AFP.

In the gloom of the operations centre, SOS calls are reduced to little more than coordinates, handled with military precision.

But the cries of desperate migrants, faces numbed by fear and hands outstretched for help as they slip off sinking dinghies, are not far off, with a video of past rescues playing on a loop on a giant screen in the corridor.

Spread up and down the 8,000 kilometres (4,980 miles) of Italian coastline, the 11,000 members of the coastguard are charged with ensuring maritime safety, protecting the ecosystem and regulating the fishing industry.

They traditionally survey an area of 500,000 square kilometres (200,000 square miles) off Italy's shores. But an underperforming coastguard in crisis-hit Libya means the Rome Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) actually has authority over most of the international waters between both countries.

- More boats, fewer phones -

The seas teem with activity. Around 170,000 people were rescued from migrant boats in 2014, with another 153,000 picked up in 2015 and nearly 180,000 this year -- including 4,000 just last week, despite worsening weather at sea.

And the smugglers have upped their game, sending more of their smaller boats -- and dinghies rather than wooden vessels -- and dispatching lots at the same time. This year saw a 40-percent rise in the number of boats rescued.

Story continues

"The smugglers used to send bigger boats, each with a satellite phone" to call for aid, said Sergio Liardo, the centre's head.

"Now they set off four boats out with one phone."

Patrolling vessels can easily find the dinghy with the phone but have to look out for the other three, which can deflate and take water quickly. Drowning is not the only killer here: overcrowding, hypothermia or fuel burns can also finish off in a few hours people weakened by terrible conditions endured trying to get this far.

As well as the thousands of migrants lost in seconds to the waves -- sometimes as the rescue crews look helplessly on -- the coastguard's near-daily press releases this year have provided a running tally of corpses discovered aboard dinghies.

- Duty -

The NGO-led rescue vessels patrolling the area have testified to how difficult it can be to spot a dinghy in the immense blue and regularly warn some may be sinking without a trace.

"We cannot rule that out," Liardo admits.

And while in the past each day of calm seas would see a handful of boats set off, this year saw a series of mass departures.

More than 13,000 people were rescued in one week at the end of May, some 14,000 others in five days of good weather in August -- with a record hit with 7,000 people on 53 boats picked up in one day -- and 6,000 more on October 3 alone.

In Italy, where reception centres are at bursting point, the figures have stirred up a storm, with the anti-establishment Five-Star Movement and anti-immigrant Northern League insisting it is not Rome's job to rescue foreigners off Libya and house them here.

The government says rescue ops at sea will have cost 1.5 billion euros this year, with an extra 2.3 billion euros spent on reception.

"We have a duty not to let these people die. If we ignored it, we would have to answer to the Italian justice system," Marini said.

"It's also a question of human kindness," he added.
(Adds potential cost savings, sales growth, global context)

By Takashi Umekawa

TOKYO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The Japanese government plans to start reviewing drug prices every year, instead of every two years, to try to reduce mounting healthcare costs, government officials with direct knowledge of the decision said on Monday.

The move reflects growing resistance to rising drug prices around the world.

Japan will also review all drug prescription prices instead of limiting its list to pharmaceuticals judged to be far more expensive than their overseas counterparts.

The current system has been criticised as keeping drug prices unnecessarily high in Japan.

The change follows last month's halving of the Japanese price of cancer drug Opdivo, developed by Bristol Myers Squibb Co's and Ono Pharmaceutical Co, and an earlier move to slash the price of Gilead Science Inc's hepatitis C drug Sovaldi.

Four cabinet members including Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Health Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki will make a formal decision on Tuesday, the sources said, declining to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

The overhaul is in line with a recommendation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's top economic advisory panel, which said it could save some 190 billion yen ($1.6 billion) a year in healthcare costs and cut government spending by 48 billion yen.

The move is opposed by foreign and domestic drugmakers who have said the changes will stifle innovation by creating greater uncertainty over pricing.

The global pharmaceuticals industry has benefited recently from the launch of a wave of new medicines for cancer and other serious diseases, but their high cost has prompted protests in many Western markets.

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump promised earlier this month to "bring down drug prices", while a number of European countries have taken a hard line on treatments deemed not to offer value for money.

Japan is the world's third largest market for prescription medicines, after the United States and China, but its annual growth rate in dollar terms from 2011 to 2016 is estimated at just 2 percent, against the global rate of 6.2 percent, according to Quintiles IMS.

(Additional reporting by Izumi Nakagawa and Ben Hirschler in London; Writing by Junko Fujita; Editing by William Mallard and Edwina Gibbs)
Jennifer Lawrences all-black ensemble totally reminds us of Sandy from Grease

Americas relatable sweetheart, Jennifer Lawrence, attended a press conference in China the other day to promote her new film Passengers. What Lawrence wore to the event gave us some major chills, and theyre multiplying  if you catch our drift. Lawrences all-black outfit gave us mega-Sandy from Grease vibes, and the power shes supplying is electrifying, if you know what we mean. Ok, sorry were done.

According to Vogue, Lawrences off-the-shoulder blazer is courtesy of designer Antonio Berardi. The off-the-shoulder style was wildly popular this past summer, Vogue reports. And we totally commend Lawrence for seamlessly bringing this trend over into the winter season.

Sometimes you just have to bring back last seasons trend to emulate your fave good-girl-gone-bad-girl, right Jen?

Lawrence did such a good job of drawing outfit inspiration from Olivia Newton Johns iconic character, that we could theorize that Jennifer Lawrence is actually Sandra Dee returned to earth post-Greased Lightning launch into orbit. This theory would definitely need some ironing out, but one cant deny the evidence has presented itself.

For example, along with the off-the-shoulder jacket, Lawrence rocked textured blonde hair, black skinny trousers and even her cherry red nails  just like Sandy.

And Lawrence also wore dainty gold accessories as a homage to Sandys gold hoops statement belt buckle. Subtle, but noticeable, amiright?

The only piece of evidence missing  the red heels. Lawrence opted for black sandals rather than Sandys red heeled slip-ons (we still cant understand how she danced in those btw).

shoes

Perhaps the choice of black shoes proves that Jennifer Lawrence is herself, and didnt even mean to look like Sandy to begin with  this outfit was just a happy accident, if you will.

Or this style choice could represent that Sandy is not yet ready to identify herself as the Sandra Dee! Only time will tell!

The post Jennifer Lawrences all-black ensemble totally reminds us of Sandy from Grease appeared first on HelloGiggles.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- State lawmakers gave final approval on Monday to a bill that would punish billionaire investor Carl Icahn for closing Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal casino.

The state Assembly voted 60-17 to approve a bill that would impose a five-year license suspension for anyone shutting down a casino after January 2016. That means it would apply only to Icahn at this point, even though four other casinos have closed since 2014.

The measure now goes to Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who hasn't said if he favors or opposes it. The state Senate gave it final approval in October.

Union president Bob McDevitt, of Local 54 of Unite-HERE, which went on strike against the Taj Mahal in July, said the bill "sends a strong signal that the referendum in 1976 that authorized casino gaming contemplated good jobs with benefits." The union was unable to reach a new contract with Icahn to restore union members' health insurance and pension benefits that the casino's previous owner had eliminated in bankruptcy court.

"The Legislature is doing a good job in trying to support that social compact," McDevitt said.

Republican President-elect Donald Trump, a New York real estate mogul, built the casino in 1990 but cut most ties with Atlantic City in 2009.

Icahn acquired the casino from bankruptcy court in March. He did not respond to requests for comment Friday and Monday, but he said in October that the bill is unconstitutional, would discourage investment in Atlantic City and would make it virtually impossible to reopen the casino should he decide to do so in the future.

Icahn decided in August to shut the casino down Oct. 10, eliminating nearly 3,000 jobs.

But McDevitt and many former workers believe Icahn plans to try to reopen the casino in the spring with or without a union contract.

There is no deadline for the owner of a shuttered casino to surrender its casino license. Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney has said he introduced the bill to prevent owners from closing casinos and then "sitting on" the licenses for years.

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Democratic Assemblyman John Burzichelli said the bill aims to prevent casino owners from "manipulating the licensing system."

"At the end of the day, this is designed to be a carrot, not a stick, by encouraging casino owners to remain open, rather than allowing them (to) hold onto their license while they shut down and leave thousands of working-class folks without a job," he said.

His bill would return the casino license to such an owner if he or she reaches a deal with casino labor unions to reopen the casino.

It would not apply to the Tropicana, another Icahn-owned casino that has a contract with Local 54. Nor would it apply to the four casinos that shut down in 2014: The Atlantic Club, Showboat, Revel and Trump Plaza.

___

Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC
The 2017 Peoples Choice Awards are ready to bring on the laughs with Joel McHale as host of the awards show, PEOPLE exclusively confirms.

The 45-year-old tells PEOPLE hes very excited about his upcoming gig, a departure from his previous hosting gigs at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2014 or the ESPY Awards in 2015.

I didnt expect it, he says of landing the hosting job, but now, here we are. With the ESPYs and the White House Correspondents Dinner, the first few rows are filled with people so rich and famous theyll never need to laugh again. With this, Ive watched it before but Im not sure what to expect with the actual audience.

The comedian says he rarely gets jitters when performing in front of a large audience, but that he still feels pressure to deliver.

I feel pressure in that I want to be funny, he says. I dont really get nervous anymore. I probably wont be nervous, but Ill definitely be amped up to do it.

McHale currently stars in the CBS comedy show The Great Indoors, and many of his writers on the show will also be writing jokes for the 2017 Peoples Choice Awards.

Along with his CBS show, he recently released a memoir and is starring in the upcoming Netflix film, A Futile & Stupid Gesture, portraying actor Chevy Chase.

The actor divulged a few secrets as to what audiences may expect from him as host, including some death-defying tricks.

 pyrotechnics, live exotic animals, the helicopter from Miss Saigon, Cirque du Soleil acrobatics from me, death defying tricks, he jokes.

Im very excited to host it and, hopefully, itll be funny!

The 43rd annual Peoples Choice Awards airs Jan. 18 at 9 p.m. on CBS.




By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Four gunmen who shot dead nine people in Jordan on Sunday had stored suicide vests and other weapons that indicated they planned wider attacks across the country, Interior Minister Salamah Hamad said. Jordanian security forces said they had killed four "terrorist outlaws" after flushing them out of a Crusader castle in the southern city of Karak. They had holed up there after killing a Canadian woman, three other civilians and five police officers. "This was a big terrorist operation but we are still in the stage of follow-up of information that relates to it," Hamad told a news conference on Monday. Authorities have yet to say if the attack, unusual for Jordan, was driven by Islamist militancy, tribal grievances or some other cause. Jordan is an ally of Washington and one of the few Arab states that have taken part in a U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State in Syria. But many Jordanians oppose their country's involvement, and officials worry about the potential for radicalisation, especially in poor urban centers and deprived outlying rural and desert areas. Hamad said at least five suicide belts were found, together with an ammunition store, automatic guns and explosives in a hideout in a house in the desert town of Qatranah, 30 km (20 miles) northeast of Karak. Many tribal residents in the region are heavily armed and have long resisted state authority. The gunmen had fled to Karak after an exchange of fire with the police, Hamad said. Based on the quantities of explosives and weapons, "I don't think the target was just Karak castle, it's more," he added. He gave no details on the identity or nationality of the attackers, saying investigations were continuing and disclosing details at this stage could hamper national security. The security forces were able to release around 10 tourists. At least 30 people were taken to hospital. Jordan has been relatively unscathed by the uprisings, civil wars and Islamist militancy that have swept the Middle East since 2011, but maintains a high level of vigilance. Last November three U.S. military trainers were shot dead when their car was fired on by a Jordanian army member at the gate of a military base. Washington disputed the official Jordanian version that they were shot at for failing to stop, and said it did not rule out political motives. (Reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Investigators have confiscated more than 2,000 litres of spirit and detained two people suspected of distributing the bath oil.

By Reuters: At least twenty-five residents of the Siberian city of Irkutsk have died after drinking bath oil, hoping it would give them the same sensation as alcohol, Russian investigators said on Monday.

Use of counterfeit or surrogate alcohol is rife in Russia's regions, where two years of economic pain have pushed more people below the poverty line, though the death toll from this latest incident is unusually high.

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Investigators in Irkutsk, a city of around 6,000 people around 2,600 miles (4184.29 km) east of Moscow, said in a statement they had detained two people suspected of distributing the bath oil.

Also read: India is famous in Russia: Watch Russian women dance to Indian song at a restaurant

The product had a warning on its label saying it should not be swallowed, but investigators said people had ignored that and consumed it as if it was alcohol. The bath oil contained methylated spirit, they said.

It was unclear whether those selling the product were marketing it as a cheaper substitute for alcoholic spirits such as vodka.

"Forty two people have been admitted to medical institutions of whom 25 have died," investigators said in the statement.

Also read: Condemning Condoms: Why Russian experts want rubber banned

"Investigators and the police are conducting searches at markets where the liquid was first obtained. More than 100 points of sale have been identified."

The Interfax news agency said the death toll had been revised up to 33 since the release of the initial statement.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told a government meeting he wanted to look at banning products that could cause so many deaths and said the country's criminal code was being amended to toughen the punishment for people caught selling them.

Also read: Russian President Vladimir Putin tells 9-year-old kid Russia's border doesn't end anywhere

Investigators, who said they had opened a criminal case into the poisonings, said they had confiscated more than 2,000 litres of spirit.

Stanislav Zubovsky, a local prosecutor, told the Interfax news agency that police were continuing to search residential areas and that "the number (of deaths) will increase further."

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See TIMEs year-long multimedia project Finding Home, about the lives of four Syrian refugee babies and their families, as they face an uncertain future. You can also follow the project on Instagram at @FindingHome.

There are few more wondrously terrifying moments in a womans life than when she gives birth, delivering unto the world the passenger she has been carrying for nine months and then meeting directly for the first time. Tissue skin. Lumpy feet. Deep-pool eyes and those first howling breaths, all real and raw and eternal and so fragile.

So I cannot conceive what it is like for the refugee women documented in our new year-long project Finding Homewomen who have fled their country by land or sea or both to give birth to their babies in a foreign hospital, far from family and home, surrounded by doctors and nurses whose language they cant understand, wrapping their newborns in borrowed blankets and returning to the tents they now call home.

TIMEs Africa bureau chief, Aryn Baker, renowned photographer Lynsey Addario and videographer Francesca Trianni have been telling the story of the great migration throughout the past year; for 2017, they are undertaking a special multimedia project that we are launching with this issue, called Finding Home. Over the past few months they have been reporting from inside the refugee camps in Thessaloniki, Greece, where very few reporters have been able to go. Dozens of babies are being born in Greece each week; maternal and newborn health is an often overlooked aspect of Europes refugee crisis, which itself is a topic that is increasingly afflicted by, in the words of Pope Francis, a globalization of indifference.

Our goal is to understand the intense and intimate challenges faced by these families. Our reporting team will follow four of these babies for the next year, being present with the mothers from the delivery room to returning to their tents and managing a newborn in a setting with no hot water or flush toilets, no toys, no place to play. We will follow them through the labyrinthine asylum process and the next journey, wherever it takes them, telling their stories in the magazine, on TIME.com and on Facebook, Instagram (@FindingHome) and more. Normally when we close a story for the magazine, it means that Im closing my notebooks as well, says Aryn. This time I get to finally answer the question, in real time, of what happens next. And then what happens after that. This project has been made possible with support from the Pulitzer Center.

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Nancy Gibbs, EDITOR

Behind the Scenes

In support of Finding Home, photojournalist Lynsey Addario has received support from the Pulitzer Center, Aidan SullivanCEO and founder of Verbatim, a recently launched commercial agency representing photojournalistsand the U.N. Population Fund, which has a unique mandate on reproductive and maternal health to ensure that every childbirth is safe. For the past 20 years, Addario has devoted her career to documenting the toll of war and other humanitarian crises on civilians, with a particular focus on womens issues. With her coverage of maternal mortality, rape as a weapon of war, and self-immolation in Afghanistan, she has turned an unflinching lens on women who might otherwise be forgotten. Over the past four years, Addario has built a significant body of work as a witness to the exodus from Syria, photographing in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Greece.

Finding Home is supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

Rahaf, born Nov. 1, 2016

Heln, born Sept. 13, 2016

Hamida, born Sept. 30, 2016

Faraj, born Oct. 2, 2016



This appears in the December 26, 2016 issue of TIME.
The royals are in the holiday spirit.

Kate Middleton, Prince William, and Prince Harry all attended a Christmas party together on Monday hosted by youth support service The Mix in London, England, which celebrated the volunteers and counselors who support people through tough times in their lives. The Mix is a charity which offers confidential support to young people online, through social media and via a phone helpline.

Middleton looked gorgeous as always, flanked by her husband, Prince William, and her brother-in-law, Prince Harry, who both looked sharp in blue suits.

WATCH: 16 Best Royal Family Moments of 2016: From Prince George's Pajamas to Prince Harry's New Romance

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The mother of two wore a festive red and green dress by French designer Vanessa Seward, which retails for $1245.

Getty Images

At the party, the trio attended group sessions and listened attentively to counselors and volunteers. Middleton also joined a live online chat about counselling with volunteers and young people from around the UK.

The Duke & The Duchess and Prince Harry chat to young people who use the @TheMixUK service, about their experiences #HeadsTogether pic.twitter.com/B1ZLqZSXCq  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 19, 2016

Prince Harry chats to some of the young volunteers& users of the club which is hosting the @heads_together @TheMixUK Christmas party. pic.twitter.com/y0Biaxz9Z7  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 19, 2016

The Duchess joins a live online chat about counselling with volunteers and young people from around the UK. #HeadsTogether pic.twitter.com/YCiOHXftft  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 19, 2016

Later, they made their own holiday decorations, adding words of support to paper chains.

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Next up, it wouldn't be Christmas without some paper decor! #HeadsTogether pic.twitter.com/zzoFPbxpKN  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 19, 2016

TRH and volunteers added their words of support to paper chains #TheMixVolDay #HeadsTogether pic.twitter.com/3OT0DOVaga  Heads Together (@heads_together) December 19, 2016

The party comes after Prince Harry's girlfriend, Suits actress Meghan Markle, was spotted at the airport, presumably headed home for the holidays after spending time with Harry in London. This past Monday, the two were spotted Christmas tree shopping at Pines in Needles in London's Battersea Park.

The couple also enjoyed an evening out at the theater, going to see the West End production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

WATCH: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Spotted Christmas Tree Shopping in London

Watch the video below to see Harry and Meghan's adorable first photo together!

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19 Dec - Indie actor Kiko Matos wasn't surprised the least bit with the recent controversy surrounding actor Baron Geisler.



As reported on ABS-CBN News, the actor, who made headlines earlier this year when his bar brawl with Geisler turned into a mixed-martial art fight, stated that it's hard to comment about the issue since the two of them are now friends.



The issue in particular is Geisler's 'creative' decision to pee on his "Bubog" co-star, Ping Medina during filming of the movie, which ended with a temporary ban on Geisler by PAMI.



"Baron will always be Baron. You should expect it," said Matos. "Don't implicate yourself further."



On the other hand, it was reported that Matos and Gesiler's previous controversial fights were staged as part of the documentary film, "Beastmode".



(Photo Source: Kiko Matos Instagram)
By Anuradha Nagaraj CHENNAI, India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Senthil Kumar's mother saw him being dragged off by policemen on charges of extortion. Standing outside the Vadamadurai police station in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, she heard him scream for mercy. The next day she was told her son was dead. "He didn't die, he was killed," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, recalling the events of April 2010. "And I know the name of every policeman who did it." Kumar is one of the 591 people who have died in police custody in India since 2010, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday, calling for the strict implementation of existing laws on arrest and detention. Citing government data, the report said 97 people died in police custody in 2015 alone, and there was not a single known case in the past five years in which a police official had been convicted for a custodial death. "In almost all cases, the police passes off these deaths as suicide or a heart attack," said Jayshree Bajoria, author of HRW's report. "And the brotherhood kicks in to shield the guilty, who are their own colleagues. The entire system collaborates to protect the guilty policemen instead of taking action against them." K S Dhatwalia, spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, the government department responsible for police, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Monday the ministry would "look into the report and take necessary action". The report examines investigations into 17 deaths in custody between 2009 and 2015. In each case, the police did not follow proper arrest procedures, making the suspect more vulnerable to abuse, Bajoria said. Leonard Valdaris trusted the policemen who wanted to talk to his son about a theft in the neighborhood in April 2014. But when he walked into the Wadala railway police station in Mumbai the next day, the report said, his son was "crying bitterly" and told him the police had beaten him all night and would kill him. Three days later, Agnelo Valdaris, 25, died, HRW said. "When I saw my son in the hospital, there everything changed," Valdaris was quoted as saying in the report. "There I saw the reality. He had been beaten black and blue with a belt." Forms of torture recorded in the report include severe beatings with boots and belts and sometimes suspending people from their wrists. Autopsy reports examined by HRW show injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. India has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and signed the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. According to the Indian Code of Criminal Procedure policemen are expected to prepare a memo of arrest with the date and time of arrest, ensure a medical examination is carried out on the accused, inform the family of the arrest and present the suspect before a magistrate within 24 hours. According to government records, in 67 of the 97 deaths in custody in 2015, police failed to present the suspect before a magistrate or the suspect died within 24 hours of arrest. "If police follow the rules designed to deter torture and mistreatment, deaths in custody could be prevented," said Meenakshi Ganguly of Human Rights Watch. "India can only boast of rule of law when those charged with enforcing it are held accountable." (Reporting by Anuradha Nagaraj, Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking and climate change. Visit www.trust.org)
After weeks of speculation over the state of Kim Kardashian West and Kanye Wests relationship, the couple stepped out together on Sunday for dinner at Santa Monica restaurant Giorgio Baldi.

The outing marked a rare public outing for the couple, who have rarely been photographed together since the reality stars October robbery and Wests recent hospitalization for exhaustion.

Kardashian West, 36, wore a white top and pants with a floor-length fur coat, while West  who is still sporting his new, blond hair  opted for sweatpants and a t-shirt. The reality star also showed off a more natural look, which her longtime makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic recently said he was trying to bring back via Kardashian West.

Kim and Kanye enjoyed an early dinner, an eyewitness at the high-end Italian restaurant tells PEOPLE. It was just the two of them.

The couple shared pasta, according to the onlooker, and while they werent affectionate, Kardashian West and the 39-year-old were very friendly and had good energy.

They both seemed very relaxed, the eyewitness says. Kanye helped Kim with her coat and her chair. Kanye also chatted with the waiters. He was very friendly and seemed happy. Kim was more quiet. She looked stunning.

Kardashian West and West have been plagued with rumors after a trying few months, but a source close to the couple told PEOPLE that splitting is not even a point of discussion.

Truly no truth behind divorce rumors. Its not something she would divorce him over, the source said, adding, He had a breakdown, but it does not pertain to them not getting along.

RELATED VIDEO: #HotMamma! Kim Kardashian Featured in LOVE Magazines 2016 Advent Calendar

Immediately following Wests release from UCLA Medical Center, the couple were living in separate homes for medical reasons, but they are together now and plan to spend the holidays together with their kids  daughter North, 3, and son Saint, 1  a source previously told PEOPLE.

It also seems the family is getting into the Christmas spirit. Kardashian Wests BFF Jonathan Cheban showed off the couples decked-out Bel Air home on Snapchat, Friday, declaring, Its literally Rockefeller Center in Bel Air.




SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The jailed confidante of impeached South Korean President Park Geun-hye denied on the first day of her trial Monday that she used her ties to Park to extort money from big companies.

The hour-long hearing at the Seoul Central District Court was the first public appearance in weeks for the woman at the heart of a scandal that led to Park's impeachment after millions took to streets in protests.

Choi Soon-sil, Park's friend of 40 years, wore white prison clothes and bowed deeply to the three judges before her lawyer, Lee Kyoung-jae, denied that Choi conspired with Park and her presidential aide to pressure companies to donate tens of millions of dollars last year to foundations controlled by Choi. When directly asked by a judge about the extortion charges, she denied the charges.

"I'm sorry for causing trouble. I'll faithfully engage in (my) trial," Choi said.

The court reviewed the charges against Choi, who prosecutors say manipulated state affairs and extorted businesses, and the arguments by her lawyer. The trial resumes again on Dec. 29, but it's not clear how long it will last. Courts normally issue a verdict within six months of an indictment, so Choi will likely get a verdict by May if prosecutors don't bring new charges.

Ten other people swept up in the scandal also face trial. Choi is also known as Choi Seo-won, which is how she was referred to in court.

It is South Korea's biggest trial since the 2014 court appearance of the crew of a ferry that sank and killed more than 300 people, mostly teenagers.

Choi last appeared in public on Oct. 31, when, after losing a Prada shoe in a crush of journalists and protesters, she told reporters at the Seoul prosecutors' office that she had "committed a sin that deserves death."

Lee, Choi's lawyer, said Monday that prosecutors violated Choi's rights by illegally investigating her after she had been indicted. Prosecutors denied that.

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Choi is charged with abuse of power, extortion and attempted fraud. If convicted on all charges, she could receive up to 15 years in prison, according to court spokesman Shin Jae-hwan. Before her arrest, Choi said that she received some of Park's speeches in advance, but that she didn't know if they included confidential information. She denied the other allegations.

Prosecutors allege that Choi helped pressure 16 companies to donate a total of 77.4 billion won ($65.6 million) to create two nonprofit foundations, Mir and K-Sports. According to the prosecution, Park first brought up the idea of launching the foundations and ordered her senior secretary for policy coordination at the time, Ahn Jong-beom, to ask companies to finance their establishment while letting Choi handle the appointment of foundation officials.

Another ex-presidential aide, Jung Ho-sung, has been charged with passing on confidential information to Choi. Jung didn't appear at Monday's hearing, but his lawyer said Jung has largely acknowledged that he transferred such documents at Park's instructions.

Park's representatives have questioned the legality of her impeachment by the country's parliament and said no serious crime was committed. The Constitutional Court is reviewing Park's impeachment. If it rules against her, she'll be formally unseated and must undergo a direct investigation.

Choi, 60, is a daughter of the late Choi Tae-min, a purported cult leader who served as Park's mentor. Park, 64, is the daughter of Park Chung-hee, a dictator who ruled South Korea for 18 years until his 1979 assassination.

The two women became friends in the 1970s, around the time when Park Geun-hye began serving as first lady after her mother was killed during a failed 1974 assassination attempt on Park Chung-hee. Park Geun-hye once headed a patriotic group set up by the elder Choi, while Choi Soon-sil served as head of its college unit.

Park has immunity from prosecution for most crimes while in office. She has acknowledged that she got help from Choi for editing speeches and unspecified "public relations" issues, but has denied any other legal wrongdoing.

___

Follow Hyung-jin Kim on Twitter at twitter.com/hyungjin1972
People depositing the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 in excess of Rs 5,000 will be questioned in the presence of at least two bank officials why this was not deposited earlier.

By Ilma Hasan: Old currency notes worth over Rs 5000 can only be deposited once per bank account till December 30, the Reserve Bank of India said today as it made its rule more stringent to check black money.

People depositing the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 in excess of Rs 5,000 will be questioned in the presence of at least two bank officials why this was not deposited earlier, the RBI said in a notification.

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The government said in such cases, the money will be credited to the accounts only after questioning the depositor as to why their money wasn't deposited earlier and after receiving a satisfactory explanation.

There will, however, be no limit on the quantity or value of specified bank notes tendered for payment and deposit under the Taxation and Investment Regime for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.

On the ground, as the day progressed, there was talk in favour of the new move.

MOVE GATHERS SUPPORT FROM SOME

"This will bring banks under pressure to not credit money to fake accounts. For common people like us, even if we want deposit over 5000, we are okay with questioning, we have all white money", said Pankaj, a Delhi resident standing outside Central Delhi's PNB bank.

Chairman of Policy Foundation and former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Virmani said, "I think this is a little top late in the day. RBI should have done this a month ago to keep banks under check, it would've greatly helped find perpetrators then."

Full value of tenders will also be credited only to accounts that are KYC (Know Your Customer) compliant. If accounts are now compliant then credits may be restricted upto 50,000 under such conditions.

Virmani said, "One would assume all accounts are KYC compliant, unless its made under the Jan Dhan Yojana. Why didn't they make all accounts compliant in the first place, this is little to late in the day"

Meanwhile, as demonetisation entered its 41st day today, there is no respite in sight for cash-strapped people as queues outside banks and ATMs for withdrawing money continued across the country.

Serpentine queues have been witnessed across the country after the government's November 8 decision to spike higher currency notes to curb "black money and corruption".

Watch the video here

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PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo's police force has arrested around 60 of its own officers following a four-month corruption investigation, after drivers filed complaints about traffic police asking them for bribes. The police said it had audio and video recordings that showed officers involved in incidents of bribery. "After interviewing, they were sent to a detention centre where they will stay for the next 48 hours," the police said in a statement. All the officers have been suspended, they said. The defendants are mainly from the northern town of Mitrovica, which is mostly Albanian but has a Serb minority. Police said 23 of the officers concerned are Serbs, one is Bosniak and the rest are Albanian. The prosecution will also file charges against 30 members of the public for allegedly offering bribes. Western governments that backed Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 have warned the small country that it must do more to fight endemic corruption. Graft and organized crime have been cited as the main obstacles for the Balkan country in attracting foreign investment. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
When your mom is Kourtney Kardashian, you've got some cool birthday parties coming your way.

The 37-year-old reality star proved exactly how awesome of a mom she really is when she threw her sons a turbo-charged party themed after The Fast and the Furious over the weekend.

Mason and Reign, who turned 7 and 2 respectively on Dec. 14, were treated to a tricycle race track outside their home, as well as a massive bouncy house shaped like a giant car.

A photo posted by Kourtney's Snapchat (@kourtneysnapchat) on Dec 18, 2016 at 5:17am PST

WATCH: Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick Celebrate Sons Mason and Reign's Birthdays at Disneyland

Kourtney even got her kids two separate racecar birthday cakes.

A photo posted by Kourtney's Snapchat (@kourtneysnapchat) on Dec 18, 2016 at 11:11am PST

A photo posted by Kourtney's Snapchat (@kourtneysnapchat) on Dec 18, 2016 at 11:11am PST

Kourtney rocked a black leather jacket and a patriotic bandana around her head as she posed with her pals under a silver balloon arch spelling out the name of the high-octane film franchise the party was modeled around.

A photo posted by Kourtney's Snapchat (@kourtneysnapchat) on Dec 18, 2016 at 11:05am PST

Several of Kourtney's friends were in attendance at the party, as was her sister, Kim Kardashian, who brought along her own kids -- 3-year-old North and 1-year-old Saint, People reports.

WATCH: Blac Chyna Celebrates King's 4th Birthday With Epic Lego and Ferrari-Themed Party

Earlier this week, Kourtney and Scott Disick celebrated their sons' birthdays with a super fun trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, where they rode some of the parks' most iconic amusements.

Their grandmother, Kris Jenner, was also in attendance, as well as their sister, 4-year-old Penelope, and cousin, 3-year-old North West, an eyewitness told ET. Check out the video below for a look at the family festivities.

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Welcome to the (TV) world, Dream Renee Kardashian!

On Sundays Rob & Chynas Baby Special, Rob Kardashian and his fiancee Blac Chyna welcomed their daughter on-camera for the world to see. While the two have been on quite the emotional roller coaster after an explosive Instagram hack this weekend (see a complete timeline of the drama here), it was all love during the hourlong special, which chronicled Dreams Nov. 10 birth at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

The episode opened with Rob, 29, and Chyna, 28, discussing their birth options. Chyna previously welcomed her son King Cairo, now 4, whom she shares with ex Tyga, via cesarean section and was interested in undergoing the same procedure with her daughter. However, Rob wanted her to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) because he wants her to be able to have more kids in the future, and repeat C-sections can create complications.

In addition to the C-section debate, the two were also at odds over their living situation: They were currently living at Chynas house, but Rob was anxious to move into their new home together. Chyna, however was hesitant to move until after the baby because she didnt want them taking on too much at once.

RELATED VIDEO: Rob Kardashian Shows His Empty Home in Emotional Plea After Blac Chyna Hack

All of that aside, however, the two were in a good place and looking forward to welcoming their first child together.

In the beginning of our relationship, we went through a roller coaster, said Chyna as flashbacks from the dramatic first season of Rob & Chyna unfolded. But since you guys have last seen us, weve kind of been chilling out, relaxing and preparing for the baby.

Were in a really great place, added Rob. Ever since we started communicating our problems to each other, its been very healthy.

Chyna had a few other reasons to smile: in addition to being the proud owner of one very adorable sonogram and finding out her pregnancy was going along smoothly, her entire family had flown in to be there for the birth. That included her best friends, as well as her three sisters and mother Tokyo Toni.

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Im just happy she gets to enjoy her week  with her friends and her mom staying with her, said Rob with a smile. Ill be fine. A bunch of women doesnt scare me!

But, of course, there was tension brewing underneath the surface as Chyna began to worry about who would be in the room when she delivered the baby  and the fact that her mother Toni was inevitably going to be face-to-face with Robs mother Kris Jenner. Though the two previously met a few years ago, they hadnt interacted since Chynas ex Tyga went public with his relationship with Robs sister Kylie Jenner soon after breaking off his engagement with Chyna  and before Kylie was even 18 yet. As you can imagine, that created a few waves, and Toni  never one to hold back  blasted the KarJenner family for all to see on social media. (Still with us? If you need a refresher on the Chyna/Tyga/Kylie/Rob drama, you can catch up here.)

With mom, you never really know her mood, said Chyna nervously. You just never know with Toni. I would love for my mom and Miss Kris to be in the room together, but them seeing each other face-to-face could bring a lot of drama.

Meanwhile, Rob was doing his best to reconnect with his old friends, especially the ones that are now dads, seeing as he was about to become one. The father-to-be hit up a shooting range with a few of the guys, and after a heart-to-heart with one of them, he finally agreed to wait to move into the new house until after Chyna gave birth.

I definitely want Chyna to have a happy and healthy stress-free pregnancy, he said. Maybe we have to wait until the baby is home  then well move slowly into this new house together.

Up next, the couple celebrated Chynas baby shower with all of her friends, her mother and King. Despite the fact that Robs family was in Paris for fashion week and unable to attend, Chyna was over the moon with all of the surreal excitement  especially because she never got to experience anything like a maternity shoot or a baby shower during her pregnancy with King as she was keeping it under wraps.

After the shower, Chyna found out the baby still hadnt dropped and was forced to schedule a C-section. Rob was disappointed but understanding  but Chynas worries werent over yet. As the due date loomed closer, she finally decided it was time to broach the subject of Kris with her mother.

Im worried, because sometimes youre a bit much, she told Toni. Sometimes you intimidate people.

Toni, for her part, wasnt exactly apologetic, which only stressed Chyna out even more.

The negative energy I just cant, she said. I know my moms personality and I just dont want anybody else to get offended by her because they dont understand her.

Finally, the day came for the much-anticipated meeting at Kris house. Though tense at first  as Chyna puts it, the two women are indeed totally opposite people  the mood eventually lightened when Toni offered Kris the opportunity to be in the delivery room instead of her. (In addition to Rob, only one other family member was permitted.)

This is Robs first baby, said Toni. I saw King and if its only two people that can be in there, Im willing to sacrifice so that you can be in there with Rob. I know Rob a little bit, and he wants his mom.

That really was so heartwarming, said Kris. You dont know that many people that would be as selfless. It really was an olive branch and I thought it was cool.

The day eventually arrived, and Rob and Chyna packed up their bags to make their way to the hospital together.

It is pretty surreal and amazing that in a few hours Im going to be a dad, he confessed. Im just trying to be calm and have a peaceful birth with Chyna.

Though Chyna was emotional, everyone comforted her  and no one was happier than Kris, who was about to become a grandmother for the sixth time.

I am so excited, she said. This day for me has always been with all of my kids such an amazing, beautiful day that gets stamped in your memory forever and I cant wait for Rob to experience this.

As the operation was underway, Rob gripped Chynas hand closely while Kris looked on and offered words of encouragement.

Youre doing great, Angela, she whispered.

RELATED VIDEO: Blac Chyna and Kris Jenner Mark Dreams 1-Month Milestone

Dream finally entered the world, and all three of them were overcome with emotion.

I think watching your babies have babies is extraordinary, said Kris. After all the ups and downs and everything these two have been through, theyve really overcome a lot of odds and hopefully this will be the start of a great new beginning.

Rob cut the umbilical cord, and the new father couldnt believe how much his daughter looks like him.

Its definitely crazy to see Dream looks just like me and just like my dad, he said. I know my dad is looking down and hes super excited to have a beautiful Armenian baby in our family.

This just makes me feel so good, said Chyna. Shes healthy, shes so cute, she looks just like Rob. Never in a million years would I think that I would have King and Dream and a man that actually loves me and supports me.

Eventually, the rest of the family was allowed in to meet the new addition while Chyna breastfed for the first time.

You have so much hair and Koko is so jealous! gushed Khloe Kardashian before Kim Kardashian West called in via FaceTime.

This is the first Kardashian of the next generation, remarked Kourtney Kardashian, who was joined by Scott Disick. Isnt that crazy?!

Its definitely very nice to see everybody, admitted Rob. It makes me very happy that everybody came to support Chyna and me. Ive been MIA for years and for them to make an effort and really do what they can to be there just meant a lot. Its a special moment for me.

Even Dreams big brother King made an appearance, and watching him hold her for the first time brought tears to Chynas eyes.

It really makes really happy, she said. Hes so sweet and caring and loving. This is super special  this is me and Robs family. This is something that Rob really wants  and its just love!

Ultimately, Dreams birth marked quite the occasion.

Today, said Rob with a smile, has definitely been the best day of my life.




Photo credit: Getty Images

From Delish

Back in August, Krispy Kreme released a Reese's-style doughnut that us American's could only look drool at from our computer screens, as it is only available overseas (rude). As a die hard Reese's fan, that's when I thought Krispy Kreme had his their peak.

I was wrong.

The donut chain is taking things to 11 with a Nutella donut aka the Krispy Kreme Nutty Cocoa Ring. That's right-the new treat dips a Krispy Kreme donut into one of God's greatest spreads (or desserts ... depending on your thoughts) and tops it off with crunchy hazelnut pieces, and drizzles it with chocolate icing.

Photo credit: Krispy Kreme

Nutella is already so amazing good in drinks or as the star ingredient of your favorite pie, that the thought of it blended with a soft and sweet Krispy Kreme doughnut is almost too much to bare. The ring will be available starting December 16th- a perfect way to celebrate Friday.

Follow Delish on Instagram.

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BEIRUT (Reuters) - Several villages held by Islamic State have been captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of militias backed by the United States that includes a strong Kurdish contingent, an organisation that monitors the war said on Monday. The advance is part of a military campaign backed by an international coalition led by the United States to drive Islamic State from its Syrian capital of Raqqa. It follows SDF gains against the jihadist group across the north of the country. The strongest group in the SDF is the People's Protection Units or YPG, a Kurdish militia, but Washington has said that any operation to retake Raqqa should be predominantly Arab, the ethnicity of most of the city's residents. The latest advances in the countryside about 50 km (30 miles) west and northwest of Raqqa follow an earlier phase of SDF gains on another front about 30 km north of the city. Three SDF soldiers were killed fighting Islamic State after the capture of five villages, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said on Monday. Islamic State had been on the back foot in both Syria and Iraq, where it is under attack in Mosul, its biggest and most important possession, and after a string of U.S. air strikes that have killed many of its leaders this year. However, earlier this month it launched a surprise attack 160 km southwest of Raqqa to retake the ancient desert city of Palmyra, which it had lost in March to Syrian army forces backed by Russian air power after a nine-month occupation. That attack demonstrated the risks still posed by the group across Syria even after its territorial losses there since mid-2015, including holdings along the Turkish border which were once its main route for supplies and recruits. Complicating the efforts against Islamic State is a second campaign being waged against it in northwest Syria by Turkey and Syrian rebel groups allied to Ankara. This has taken a large area from the jihadist group but is also aimed at stopping Kurdish expansion. The Turkish-backed Syrian rebels are now attempting to capture the city of al-Bab from Islamic State, a move that will end Kurdish hopes of uniting their two separated areas of self rule in northern Syria. Early on Monday, the Turkish military said one of its soldiers had been killed in a car bomb in al-Bab on Sunday and that 11 militants were also killed in clashes that day. (Reporting by Angus McDowall; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  A massive complex of amusement parks in the southern desert of Dubai has celebrated its opening.

Organizers held the event Sunday for the Dubai Parks & Resorts project after it formally opened Friday.

The park includes a Legoland, a Bollywood-themed park, a movie-themed Motiongate park, a hotel and a shopping district. The park hopes to have a Six Flags by late 2019.

The project, estimated to be worth over $3 billion, sits along the dusty highway connecting Dubai to the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi.

Dubai hopes to develop the previously empty expanse, which will host the 2020 World Expo, or world's fair. Dubai already has plans to one day handle over 200 million passengers a year at the nearby Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The last board member at South Africa's state broadcaster, the SABC, has quit after a parliamentary investigation into the board's failure to look into allegations of misspending and censorship, the presidency said on Monday. Professor Mbulaheni Maguvhe, who was subjected to stiff questioning by a cross-party panel of MPs last week, had been the sole board member following the resignation of his colleagues this year in the wake of a string of scandals. The SABC is the primary news source for South Africa's 54 million people but has been mired in controversy throughout most of President Jacob Zuma's seven years in office. At the parliamentary inquiry, journalists spoke of an unofficial SABC focus on "sunshine news" that included a ban on airing footage of violent protests ahead of August elections in which the ruling African National Congress (ANC) lost control of three cities. A court ruled this month that former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who introduced the ban on airing violent protest footage, should not hold any position at the broadcaster and barred him from entering the premises. The court ruling was one of the latest examples of an ally of Zuma being called to account for allegations of mismanagement of South African public bodies. Communications Minister Faith Muthambi denied last week that she had tried to get the SABC to suppress news of protests and discontent, when she testified to the investigation. ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu, who is among leading ANC figures to have called for Zuma's resignation, said Maguvhe's decision to go was better late than never and would enable the SABC to start repairing its tarnished reputation. "We are confident that his exit will speed up the process of addressing the leadership crisis at SABC," Mthembu said in a statement. In its statement, Zuma's office gave no reason for Maguvhe's decision. At the parliamentary hearing, Maguvhe defended his time in charge of the board, saying he had done a "sterling job". The parliamentary inquiry is due to deliver its findings at the end of February. (Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Editing by Ed Cropley)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  The Latest on a possible deal for the remaining 80,000 vehicles caught up in Volkswagen's emissions cheating scandal (all times local):

8:30 a.m.

A federal judge overseeing lawsuits stemming from Volkswagen's emissions cheating scandal has given attorneys for the government, company and car owners another extension to try to reach a deal for the remaining 80,000 polluting vehicles.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer said Monday that the negotiations were complicated with many details to be worked out. He granted the request for an extension to Tuesday, though he cautioned that would be a "final" deadline.

Breyer had asked the parties to update him on a potential settlement on Monday after twice postponing a hearing Friday to give them more time to negotiate.

The talks aim to hammer out what to do with the 3-liter diesel cars that were programmed to skirt emissions tests.

The German automaker previously reached a deal for 475,000 polluting 2-liter diesel vehicles.

___

12 a.m.

Volkswagen is facing a deadline to tell a federal judge in San Francisco whether it has reached a deal with U.S. regulators and attorneys for car owners on the remaining 80,000 diesel vehicles that cheated on emissions tests.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer gave the sides until Monday to update him on a potential settlement. He postponed a hearing twice Friday to give the parties more time to negotiate.

Breyer said the parties had made substantial progress and he was optimistic they would arrive at a resolution.

The talks aim to hammer out what to do about 80,000 3-liter diesel cars that were programmed to skirt emissions tests.

The German automaker previously reached a deal for 475,000 polluting 2-liter diesel vehicles caught up in the scandal.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 19, 2016 / Oil & Gas stocks surged Friday after a rise in oil prices signaled major producers were willing to abide by their agreement to cut production in 2017. U.S. crude futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange spiked 1.96 percent to close at $51.90 a barrel, while Brent crude futures closes at $55.21 a barrel, up 2.2 percent on the London's ICE Futures exchange.

Register with us now for your free membership and gain access to our latest Oil & Gas reports at: www.rdinvesting.com/subscribe-today/.

On November 30th, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) surprised skeptics when they announced their first production cut in eight years. The deal announced by OPEC would see their oil producers lower their production by a total of 1.2 million barrels per day January 1st. OPEC documents show that the world's largest oil producer, Saudi Arabia, will lower production by 486,000 barrels a day to 10.058 million a day, while the second largest producer, Iraq, has agreed to lower production by 210,000 barrels from the levels produced in October. Russia, a major Non-OPEC member, has also shown its support by agreeing to cut production by 300,000 barrels per day.

"Every country is already taking steps to do what they say they are going to do which, by my estimation, will put oil in a global supply deficit early next year," wrote Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at the Price Futures Group, in a note to clients.

RDInvesting Takes a Closer Look at Some Popular Oil & Gas Companies

Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY)

Get Your Up-To-Date Stone Energy Research Report at www.rdinvesting.com/company/SGY.

Stone Energy's shares surged 23.80 24.0 percent to close at $7.75 a share Friday. The stock traded between $5.86 and $8.50 on volume of 3.95 million shares traded. The company recently announced the filing of a prepackaged restructuring plan. On December 5th, the company provided an operational update on its Amethyst well. Production from Amethyst well has been discontinued since late April 2016 to facilitate technical evaluation. During first week of November, the company has initiated acid simulation work and intermittently flowed the well during November at a rate of 10-15 million cubic feet of gas per day and on November 30, company has performed routine shut in of the well. The estimated proven reserves associated with the Amethyst well at year-end 2015 were approximately 79 billion cubic feet of gas equivalent, however company does not guarantee that it will be able to restore the well's production to earlier levels or at all. Shares of Stone Energy have fallen approximately 81.9 percent year-to-date, but have rallied roughly 80.0 percent in the past month.

Story continues

Whiting Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: WLL)

Get Your Up-To-Date Whiting Petroleum Research Report at www.rdinvesting.com/company/WLL.

Whiting Petroleum's shares gained 0.92 percent to close at $12.02a share Friday. The stock traded between $11.60 and $12.05 on volume of 18.20 million shares traded. On December 1, Analysts at Stifel have recently upgraded the company's rating to "buy" from "hold" and have also raise its price target on the stock to $15 from $13, Recently analysts at Wells Fargo has downgraded the company from "outperform" to "market perform". Consensus forecast for the stock has changed from "hold" to "outperform" with median target price of $12.50, since early November as the sentiment of analysts has improved for the company. On November 21st, the company announced that it had entered into sales agreements for its North Dakota midstream assets. Shares of Whiting Petroleum have gained approximately 27.3 percent year-to-date and are up roughly 27.6 percent in the past month.

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Disclaimer: This article is written by an independent contributor of RDInvesting.com and reviewed by Hemal K. Gandhi, a CFA charter holder. RDInvesting.com is neither a registered broker dealer nor a registered investment advisor. For more information please read our full disclaimer at www.rdinvesting.com/disclaimer.

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Information from across the border suggests that more than 60 terrorists backed by Pakistani establishment are waiting along the international border to infiltrate into India.

By Ashwini Kumar: With chilly winter making it difficult for terrorist outfits operating out of Pakistan to infiltrate across the Line of Control, the groups seem to have shifted their focus southward along the international border.

Army sources have said that more than 60 terrorists belonging to Lashkar-i-Toiba and Jaish-i-Mohammad are waiting across the border to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.

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The Army sources say that they have information about their presence in Sialkot district of Pakistan's Punjab province adjacent to Jammu region.

Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) has recovered a night vision device (NVD) from Baba Chamliyal area in Samba district in Jammu region. The BSF jawans were searching the area as part of its regular combing activity.

READ| Terrorists in Samba used tunnel to infiltrate into India

Baba Chamliyal is the same area, where BSF jawans had killed three terrorists near international border when they used a tunnel to infiltrate into Indian territory from Pakistani side on November 29.

BSF DIG Ram Avtar said, "When our jawans were searching the area, they found Pakistani night vision device. The NVD camera might have been used by the three slain infiltrators."

WATCH:

READ| India to install modern anti-infiltration mechanisms on Pakistan, Bangladesh borders

Recovery of NVD camera is significant as the Pakistani terrorists infiltrating India had stopped using such devices.

The recovery signals to terrorists' return to old practice to escape being caught by the BSF and keeping an eye on their night Nakkas along the 200-km-long international border.

ALSO READ:

India to adopt multi-pronged approach to curb infiltration from western front

--- ENDS ---
Moscow (AFP) - A Russian city declared a state of emergency Monday after 49 people seeking cheap alcohol died after drinking bath essence containing methanol, a toxic substance used in anti-freeze.

The country's Investigative Committee, a powerful panel of inquiry, has launched a probe into the deaths in the Siberian city of Irkutsk caused by drinking the liquid, labelled as hawthorn-scented bath essence, and has detained several people.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the deaths a "tragedy" that required "very close attention."

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ordered his cabinet to "sort out" the problem of selling such alcoholic products not intended for drinking -- often labelled as cosmetics -- to impoverished alcoholics.

Medvedev called their widespread sale through vending machines, which takes place in cities including Moscow, "an absolute disgrace".

Dozens of people were taken to hospital in the Siberian city of Irkutsk about 4,200 kilometres (2,600 miles) from Moscow after consuming the toxic substance, investigators said.

An employee of the local prosecutor's office Alexander Semyonov told Russian agencies that 57 people were known to have consumed the liquid, 49 of whom have died, while the others were in a serious condition.

The official death toll grew by 20 people over the course of a few hours on Monday.

- 'State of emergency' -

Authorities were still searching places where the essence could have been ingested.

The product was sold for 40 rubles (65 US cents) for a 25 ml (0.8 fluid ounces) bottle.

The victims were between 35 and 50 years old, authorities said.

Irkutsk mayor Dmitry Berdnikov imposed a state of emergency in the city, pledging to "uncover and punish the perpetrators" and inform the public to prevent any further poisoning, the City Hall said on its website.

The city also halted sales of non-potable and uncertified alcohol products in the city, and municipal workers were going door to door and checking places where homeless people were known to gather, it said.

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Police uncovered a workshop producing the hawthorn-scented liquid as well as various brands of counterfeit vodka on the outskirts of Irkutsk, detaining its two owners. Five people suspected of selling the substance were also detained.

Authorities said the product contained methanol and carried a label warning that it was unsuitable for consumption, but the mixture was nonetheless "consumed like alcohol".

Cheap perfumes and facial toners containing alcohol are sold without the same trading restrictions imposed on alcoholic drinks.

Those who buy them to drink are usually the most socially disadvantaged.

Searches were being conducted at markets where the deadly product was being sold, investigators said, and a total of 500 litres (110 UK gallons, 132 US gallons) of the toxic liquid confiscated.

Homemade spirits and household products containing alcohol are popular throughout the former Soviet Union as a cheap alternative to standard brands, but are also blamed for a large number of alcohol-related deaths.
Trevor Chandler, associate regional field director for Human Rights Campaign, holds a flag during a Moral Monday rally in April calling for the repeal of House Bill 2 at the legislative building in Raleigh, N.C. (Photo: Jason E. Miczek/AP Images for Human Rights Campaign)

LGBT advocates celebrated the news Monday that North Carolina legislators were planning to repeal an unpopular law, known as House Bill 2 (HB2), which hurt the states reputation and resulted in job losses.

But the development came with a catch: In a deal with state lawmakers, the Charlotte City Council agreed to roll back a city ordinance that expanded protections for LGBT residents. The protections included the right of transgender people to use whichever restroom they prefer, as well as housing rights.

Simone Bell, the regional director of the southern office for Lamda Legal, an LGBT civil rights organization, told Yahoo News that the group was disheartened that the rights of LGBT people in Charlotte were sacrificed in order to get rid of HB2. She described the Charlotte policy as a good and necessary measure.

We definitely appreciate the fact that the Legislature is willing to go back and repeal HB2, she said in a phone interview. Its unfortunate that it had to come at the cost of protections that have already been in place. It seems a bit regressive.

People gather for a rally outside the North Carolina State Capitol in Raleigh in April in support of a law that blocks rules allowing transgender people to use public bathrooms aligned with their gender identity. (Photo: Gerry Broome/AP)

HB2 was a conservative response to the Charlotte ordinance, which was enacted in February. The intensely controversial bathroom bill, HB2, requires people to use the bathrooms in public buildings that correspond with the biological sex indicated on their birth certificates  as opposed to their gender identity. It resulted in a tense standoff between North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and state Attorney General Roy Cooper, who refused to enforce HB2, saying it puts discrimination into the law.

Cooper, a Democrat, narrowly beat McCrory, a Republican, in the recent gubernatorial race, and tensions are still high. On Monday morning, Cooper announced that legislators would hold a special session to repeal HB2.

Slideshow: House Bill 2  North Carolinas anti-LGBT bathroom law >>>

There had been conversations between the state legislature and the city of Charlotte for several months, so LGBT advocates were not surprised by the announcement, according to Bell.

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The city council had refused to take it up, Bell said, referring to HB2. So, understanding that it was a constantly moving target, we were not surprised.

Again, we are happy for the step to be taken. Were just disappointed that it comes at the cost of the protections in Charlotte.

Supporters at the rally outside the North Carolina State Capitol in April. (Photo: Gerry Broome/AP)

Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD, a prominent LGBT-rights nonprofit, released a statement saying that everyone should be able to live free of discrimination and that HB2 has been a scourge on the state, and indeed this country. She added that this repeal is long overdue.

While it is encouraging that this odious law targeting LGBTQ North Carolinians may finally be overturned, its extremely troubling that LGBTQ people in Charlotte and across the Tar Heel state are not explicitly protected from discrimination under the law, she continued. Full equality for every person should never be compromised, and state lawmakers must fulfill their constitutional duty to ensure that all North Carolinians are protected equally.

The North Carolina Family Council, a religious nonprofit dedicated to preserving traditional family values that has vocally supported HB2 since its inception, did not respond to a request for comment from Yahoo News. However, the organization released a statement arguing that the repealing of HB2 would undermine the safety and privacy of women and children.

House Bill 2 was designed to protect the safety and dignity of our states citizens, and it is unconscionable that Governor McCrory and our legislative leaders would push for its repeal, especially during the week of Christmas, NC Family president John L. Rustin said in the statement. Moreover, such a move would invite contentious battles in communities all across North Carolina, as proponents of open bathrooms and misguided political correctness seek to bully and pressure local elected officials to pass Charlotte-style social policies.
Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - German industrial gases maker Linde and US competitor Praxair are set to announce a $65-billion merger to create a global leader in the sector in the coming days, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

Linde and Praxair's previous attempt at a tie-up failed in September, but they are now expected to reveal preliminary merger terms "as early as Wednesday," people familiar with the talks told the FT.

The German firm said just two weeks ago that it was back at the table with Praxair.

A Linde spokesman refused to comment on "speculation" when contacted by AFP.

Combined, the two groups would overtake Linde's historic French rival, Air Liquide, as the global number one industrial gas supplier, with combined annual revenues of more than $30 billion (29 billion euros).

Praxair chief executive Steve Angel will be CEO of the combined firm, while Linde chairman Wolfgang Reitzle will retain that role, the sources told the FT.

The new company will be based in Connecticut but have its tax domicile in Europe.

Executive personnel and the site of the merged group's headquarters were vexed questions that helped scupper the deal the first time around, a source familiar with the discussions told AFP at the time.

Linde will also likely agree for its engineering unit -- which builds industrial plants for other firms -- to be spun off as part of the deal, the sources said.

Listing the engineering unit separately could calm fears of job losses among German worker representatives at Linde.

Changes in Linde's executive board since September -- including the departure of chief financial officer Georg Denoke, reportedly an opponent of the merger -- are also likely to smooth the path towards the tie-up.
UPDATE: 12:35 a.m. EST  Barring a move from electors unforeseen by election observers, the Electoral College was expected to confirm Donald Trump as the president elect Monday. Amid the voting, Democrats have begun to "point fingers" regarding the upcoming Trump presidency, Politico reported.

A Democratic elector reportedly told the outlet that a number of Democratic electors were willing to give their votes to a "consensus Republican," such as former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, in an effort to get GOP electors onboard to deny Trump the presidency. The elector apparently said all they needed was approval from the camp of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, which never came.

UPDATE: 11:48 a.m. EST  Early returns in Electoral College voting were overwhelmingly in favor of Preside-elect Donald Trump, according to the Associated Press. Most recently, South Carolina's nine electors cast their votes for Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence despite a raging protest going on at the state capitol.

Colorado electors initiated legal action over what type of oath they were required to take, according to a tweet from a local journalist.

Other states which cast their Electoral College votes for Trump and Pence include Tennessee, West Virginia, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

UPDATE: 10:45 a.m. EST  The Electoral College began voting for the next president at state capitals across the country Monday. Indiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Tennessee and West Virginia were scheduled to vote first.

Thus far, it seemed everything is running exactly as expected, with all the electors in Indiana, Tennessee and West Virginia voting to elect President-elect Donald Trump, in accordance with voters. Mississippi was expected to do the same.

Story continues

UPDATE: 10:26 a.m. EST  Protests have begun at state capitals across the country Monday ahead of the Electoral College vote on the presidency, according to media reports.

In Pennsylvania, one of the key swing-states that helped swing the election for President-elect Donald Trump, protesters chanted "the whole world is watching" and held signs urging electors to "Dump Trump," according to videos and photographs posted by John Micek of PennLive.

There were reports of protests, ranging in size, in a number of states, such as South Carolina and Florida. Progressive groups worked to organize a protest in every state, although it's unclear if that will actually happen.

Original story:

Monday is the big day for electors attempting to stop Donald Trump from ascending to the presidency. But while it's technically possible he could be denied the job, it's very likely that the Electoral College will confirm Trump as president-elect.

When Americans vote in the presidential election, they're not technically voting for the president, a responsibility that truly falls to 538 electors across the country. These electors meet in their state capitals Monday and cast ballots, usually in lockstep with voters in the state. In fact, electors have voted "as pledged" 99 percent of the time. The official results are scheduled to tallied Jan. 6.

The Constitution leaves some wiggle room for "faithless electors," who refuse to cast a ballot for the chosen candidate (some states do by law require electors to follow the will of the state, however). This is the last-gasp chance for electors who want to stop Trump and has been the aim of the so-called Hamilton electors.

As of Monday morning, there are just nine Democrats and one Republican that are publicly onboard with the plan to deny Trump electoral votes, Politico reported. They'd need 36 other Republicans to join the movement to deny Trump the presidency, which would then force the decision House of Representatives.

Chris Suprun, a Republican elector who has said he'll vote for Ohio Gov. John Kasich instead of Trump, wrote Monday that he was doing so because of intelligence reports that concluded the Russian government worked to get the GOP nominee elected.

"I'm gravely concerned that Russian President Vladimir Putin helped Trump win the Republican primary, in addition to the general election," he wrote in an opinion piece published at The Hill. "In light of the mounting evidence of foreign influence undermining our election, delegates to the Electoral College should have been briefed by the CIA."

A YouGov poll conducted late last week found that amid the reports of Russian involvement in the election, 52 percent of respondents said the Electoral College vote should be delayed, while 46 percent said electors should change or withold their vote. Of course, these results are not entirely surprising, considering Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won some 2.9 million more total votes than Trump, despite the fact that he won 306 electoral votes to her 232.

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LONDON (Reuters) - London's mayor Sadiq Khan appointed former EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson to a panel of business and financial leaders advising on Brexit which also includes the City of London's policy chief and the head of the London Stock Exchange. Londoners overwhelmingly backed remaining in the European Union in the June 23 referendum and Khan, the most senior Labour Party politician to hold power in Britain, has vowed to defend the capital from any Brexit-related hit. Fellow Labour Party politician Mandelson, a minister under ex prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, was in charge of EU trade policy between 2004 and 2008, including during fraught talks over textile quotas with China known as the "Bra Wars." Khan said the panel would provide insight and expertise as he pushes to protect key policy areas during monthly meetings with Brexit minister David Davis. "Securing privileged access to the single market, maintaining a world-class financial sector and ensuring London can continue to attract global talent are all recurring themes from my conversations with business," said Khan. Just over a dozen members will advise the mayor including the British chair of Spanish bank Santander, the Chairman of the Canary Wharf Group and the City of London's policy chief. "Londons success is based on the incredible number of interconnected businesses and sectors that support each other," City of London policy chairman Mark Boleat said. "If one sector suffers, the knock-on effects to Londons whole economy could be substantial." (Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison)
The Chief Minister is also likely to ask for Amma's lifesize bronze statue in Parliament complex, the official release said.

By India Today Web Desk: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today to demand a Rs 1000 crore package for cyclone relief operations in the state.

On December 13, a day after Cyclone Vardah wrecked havoc in the state, Panneerselvam had urged Modi to sanction Rs 1000 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund to the state for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

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Panneerselvam will also give a memorandum on several other demands of Tamil Nadu to the Prime Minister, a Tamil Nadu government release said on Sunday.

Also read:

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Panneerselvam's handling of cyclone Vardah surprises many

BHARAT RATNA FOR JAYA

Panneerselvam is also expected to urge the Centre to posthumously confer the Bharat Ratna on former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who died earlier this month of cardiac arrest.

The Chief Minister is also likely to ask for Amma's lifesize bronze statue in Parliament complex, the official release said.

The first Cabinet meeting chaired by Panneerselvam on December 10 had adopted a resolution in which the twin matters of the highest civilian award and a statue for Jayalalithaa had figured.

Also read:

Sasikala Pushpa moves Supreme Court alleging foul play in Jayalalithaa's death

After he took over as Chief Minister on December 6, it is Panneerselvam's first visit to Delhi. He is expected to follow up on the previous memorandums submitted to Modi by his predecessor Jayalalithaa.

Watch the video

--- ENDS ---
By Simon Lewis YANGON (Reuters) - Malaysia said on Monday the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar was a regional concern and called for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to coordinate humanitarian aid and investigate alleged atrocities committed against them. Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman was speaking at a meeting of the 10-nation bloc in Yangon called by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi after weeks of reports that the army has killed, raped and arbitrarily arrested Rohingya civilians. Myanmar has denied the accusations, saying many of the reports are fabricated, and it insists the strife in Rakhine State, where many Rohingya live, is an internal matter. In addition to fending off diplomatic pressure over the crisis, the Myanmar government has also invited a handpicked media delegation to visit the affected region this week. Anifah said events in Rakhine State were a matter of regional security and stability, noting that about 56,000 Rohingya now live in Muslim-majority Malaysia having fled previous unrest in Myanmar. "We believe that the situation is now of a regional concern and should be resolved together," Anifah told the meeting, according to a transcript of his speech provided by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Progress in improving the human rights of the Rohingya had been "rather slow", he said, noting the stream of reports about abuses being committed in Rakhine State. Anifah, who appeared to leave the meeting early, also warned that Islamic State militants "could be taking advantage of this situation". Malaysia's intervention in the Rakhine crisis marks a break with ASEAN members' tradition of non-intervention in each other's internal affairs. The bloc is also strained by its relations with China, with which several members are locked in maritime territorial disputes in the South China Sea. ASEAN faces an uncertain geopolitical outlook as Donald Trump prepares to become president of the United States in January. Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said "everybody was happy" with Monday's meeting, which he described as primarily a briefing by Myanmar on the situation in Rakhine State. Retno Marsudi, foreign minister of Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, said Myanmar had agreed to provide regular updates to ASEAN members and had pledged that access for humanitarian assistance "will be open". Suu Kyi "reiterated the government's serious commitment to the resolution of the complex issue and the need for time and space for the government's efforts to bear fruit," according to a statement from Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE" The government of predominantly Buddhist Myanmar has said that militants with links to Islamists overseas were behind attacks on security posts near Myanmar's border with Bangladesh, in the north of Rakhine State, on Oct. 9. Myanmar troops have poured into the Muslim-majority area since the attacks that killed nine police officers. At least 86 people have died and an estimated 27,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since Oct. 9. Refugees, residents and human rights groups say Myanmar soldiers have committed summary executions, raped Rohingya women and burned homes. The majority of the population in northern Rakhine State are Rohingya Muslims who are denied citizenship in Myanmar, where they are considered illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. Independent media and observers have been denied access to northern Rakhine State. Some Rohingya communities have also been off-limits to aid agencies on security grounds for more than two months, raising fears about the welfare of a population that was already experiencing high rates of malnutrition. A group of journalists chosen by the Ministry of Information to represent domestic and international media was set to visit Maungdaw, the main site of the conflict, on Monday. Officials did not invite most media organizations that have reported on the alleged abuses, including Reuters. Efforts to rebut accusations of army abuses were undermined by the release of a lengthy report from Amnesty International on Monday, accusing Myanmar of "a campaign of violence against Rohingya people that may amount to crimes against humanity". The rights group cited satellite images and testimony from Rohingya in Rakhine State and Bangladesh. Among myriad abuses, it alleged large-scale "enforced disappearances" of village elders and religious leaders in Maungdaw. "While the military is directly responsible for the violations, Aung San Suu Kyi has failed to live up to both her political and moral responsibility to try to stop and condemn what is unfolding in Rakhine State," Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty International's director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said in a statement. (With reporting by Shwe Yee Saw Myint and Aye Win Myint; Editing by John Chalmers, Robert Birsel and Himani Sarkar)
The NIA has claimed that it has obtained irrefutable evidence against the Pakistani handlers of the terrorists, who attacked Pathankot Air Force station on January 2 this year.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Pakistan has been in a habit of denying evidence shared by India in terror related case. It happened even in the case of Mumbai 26/11 attacks.

But, in Pathankot terror attack case, the National Investigation Agency has collected irrefutable evidence against Pakistani handlers.

The NIA has built water tight case against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar and his key associates including his younger brother Abdul Rauf Asghar, Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan.

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READ| From NIA files: The mastermind and handlers of terrorists, who attacked Pathankot air base

THE FACEBOOK CHATS

The NIA investigation revealed that the Pakistan number 923453030479 with whom terrorists had communicated during attack was associated with Facebook profile of Kashif Jan, whose profile ID was 100004609026581.

The data from Facebook account of Kashif Jan gave damning evidence. The NIA has got details from the media files and web chats of Kashif Jan with other Facebook users linked to JeM.

WATCH:

The probe agency produced the following chat messages in the court as part of its chargesheet: 02/01/2016 (Day of attack)

Hajma Mehboob Shakir in conversation with Kashif

Hajma: In one news channel, names of JeM and LeT have appeared. Has the encounter come to an end?

Kashif: No

Hajma: How many Mujaheed brothers were there for marriage (code word for fidayeen).

Hajma further asked for names, no answers were given.

Attack Day 1:

Kashif Jan to Adeel Bhai: Check the news regarding Pathankot attack.

Abdeel Bhai expresses happiness to Kashif Jan.

Attack Day 1:

Mohammed Zia to Kashif: What is happening in Pathnakot?

Kashif: It is over.

Kashif Jan to Ahmed Zarquari: How did you obtain photos of Nasir (one of the fidayeens)?

Ahmed: Waseem gave them to me. So, I uploaded the photo.

Kashif: (annoyed) delete the picture.

READ| NIA's Pathankot attack chargesheet nails Jaish-e-Mohammed's Masood Azhar

KASHIF- A KEY PLAYER

Kashif Jan had uploaded the photographs of terror attacks at the Air Force station for which he had called likes and shares. The profile was deactivated on January 5 this year- the day encounter ended.

Further Kashif's telephone number 923453030479, an IMO number, a web based chat and messaging service provider, registered in his name used on QMobile x600- a Pak based smartphone company. He used the number to put out pictures of 26/11, Ghazi Baba and of arms and ammunition.

Shahid Latif's number was extracted from Kashif Jan. Shahid Latif's number, 923138014038 was associated with his Google mail ID, shahid.lateef77@gmail.com

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WATCH:

AL REHMAT TRUST

One of the terrorists, who entered Pathankot air base, called on one Pakistani number 923213132786, which was found to be associated with Al Rehmat trust. The number is present on the information banner of Al Rehmat trust and on website www.rangonoor.com: the mouthpiece of JeM.

This trust is known to collect funds and donations for JeM. Al Rehmat trust has been banned by US Department of Treasury in 2010 on grounds of terror financing.

THE WEBSITE LINK

A transcript of audio clip claiming responsibility of terror attack was uploaded on www.alqalamononline.com.

The voice in the audio was later identified as that of Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Masood Azhar's brother.

MOBILE PHONES

On 31st December 2015, the terrorists snatched the mobile phone of Innova driver Ikagar Singh and used his phone to communicate with their handler, Kashif Jan and senior operatives of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan.

They dialed on three Pakistani mobile numbers- 923453030479, 923213132786 and 923017775253. Ikagar was killed and his car used as a getaway vehicle.

READ| Pathankot terror attack: Parliamentary panel raps MHA over security lapses

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The four terrorists, who escaped in Ikagar Singh's vehicle, next took Mahindra XUV of the Punjab SP Salwinder Singh.

The terrorists used mobile phones of Singh and his jeweller friend Rajesh Verma and cook Madan Gopal. They made calls to their handler, Kashif Jan and senior operatives in Pakistan on four numbers- 923453030479, 923466746667, 923000957212 and 923024880619.

THE SMALL CHIT

The terrorists carried a small chit in their pocket. They left behind this chit, which read- "Jaish E Muhamad Zindabad Tanghdar Se Le Kar Samba Kathua Rajbagh Aur Delhi Tak Afzal Guru Shaheed Kay Jan Nisar Tum Ko Meltay Rahege. Insha Allah. A.G.S. 25-12-15."

AGS stands for Afzal Guru Squad.

OTHER CONVERSATIONS

On January 1 this year, one of the terrorists, identified by the name Nasir, tried calling the Pakistan telephone number 923466746667 using the snatched Indian mobile number but could not converse.

The name of the user of the Pakistan phone number 923466746667 is Khayam Bhatti @Khayam Rasool @Babar Bhatti. He runs a local merchandise shop (kirana) shop at Rum in Sialkot, Pakistan.

WATCH:

JeM fidayeen also spoke to the plotters. Nasir called the Pakistan telephone number 923000957212.

In this conversation, Nasir disclosed the names of his three associates as Major, Abu Bakar and Umar.

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Nasir also spoke to his mother in Pakistan. Nasir talked to her in detail for around 18 minutes.

Nasir told the lady that they had infiltrated into the Indian territory at 'two o'clock' on Wednesday (which was December 30, 2015).

Nasir asked his mother to host a "dawat" (feast) for his Derawala friends after his death.

NIA CLAIMS IRREFUTABLE PROOF

On the basis above evidence, NIA DG Sharad Kumar told India Today, "Our officers and team have collected irrefutable and valuable piece of evidence against JeM terrorists including its chief Maulana Masood Azhar."

"The proof is physical, technical, digital and documentary. Investigation has been done scientifically and professionally," Sharad Kumar said.

The NIA teams have obtained empty food packets and medicines 'made in Pakistan' from the forest areas near Simbal Border Outpost.

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Bamako (AFP) - Mali's foreign minister on Monday denied an agreement had been reached with the European Union to take back migrants failing to get asylum.

The Dutch foreign ministry signed a joint declaration on the EU's behalf on December 11 which it said would tackle "the root causes of illegal migration" and "enable the return from Europe of Malian migrants".

But Abdoulaye Diop told a press conference: "At no point was there any question of signing an agreement that would allow the expulsion of countrymen (living) in Europe illegally."

Mali "does not intend to put a price on its dignity even if the EU is a development partner."

Expressing "astonishment" at learning via the media he had signed such a document, Diop said the visit of his Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders to Bamako had never been intended as the moment to make a deal.

The number of migrants from African nations who risk their lives at sea in a desperate bid to reach Europe has increased considerably in recent years.
Photo credit: Porsche

From Road & Track

Apple has hired all sorts of people in its quest to break into the automobile market. It's poached employees from companies like Aston Martin and BMW, and now, it looks like we can add Porsche to the list.

Alex Hitizinger, one of the lead designers for Porsche's 919 Hybrid Le Mans race car, has left the company to join Apple. As Reuters explains, German-language Manager Magazin broke the story today that Hitizinger parted ways with Porsche's race team in 2015. He recently joinrf an unspecified technology company as an engineering executive, according to his LinkedIn page. That company, the German business magazine concludes, is Apple.

Manager Magazin quotes Hitizinger saying he wanted to do something "which has a significant and direct impact on society," though he avoided mentioning his new employer's name.

Hitizinger was the technical director for Porsche's LMP1 team from 2011 up until his departure in April of this year. He helped Porsche secure its first Le Mans victory in 17 years in 2015, breaking Audi's five-year winning streak. Prior that, he worked as Technical Director for the Toro Rosso F1 team, and as Head of F1 Development for Cosworth.

Hitizinger's expertise-while unrelated to passenger cars-could come in handy for Apple as it attempts to break into the car industry.

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Margot Robbie and longtime boyfriend Tom Ackerley have tied the knot in Australia, according to local reports.

Australias The Daily Telegraph claims the couple wed in Byron Bay over the weekend, although they never announced an engagement. The actress was given away by her mother and her three siblings were in attendance, according to U.K.s The Telegraph.

A rep for the actress has not responded to PEOPLEs request for comment.

Suspicions of the 26-year-old Suicide Squad stars secret wedding arose when Robbie arrived at an airport in her home country last week wearing a T-shirt that read Say I Do Down Under.

Although no photos of the supposed ceremony have surfaced online, a couple of posts hint at a special occasion involving several of the couples family members. Robbies brother Cameron teased that he was on holiday, and another photo surfaced of him with four women believed to be friends of his sister.

The picture was captioned, The calm before the Summer storm.

In addition, Ackerleys brother James posted an image on Instagram with the location tagged as Harvest Newrybar, a popular wedding venue in Byron Bay, on Sunday.

Robbie herself shared a romantic black-and-white photo kissing her beau two weeks ago.

This guy, she captioned the pic.

The Australian actress and the British assistant director first met in 2013 on the set of the World War II drama Suite Francaise. The pair were spotted on several PDA-packed dates later in June 2014.

In the May issue of Vogue, Robbie described Ackerley as the best-looking guy in London, and gushed about how she fell for her beau.

I was the ultimate single gal. The idea of relationships made me want to vomit. And then this crept up on me, she told the publication.

We were friends for so long. I was always in love with him, but I thought, Oh, he would never love me back. Dont make it weird, Margot. Dont be stupid and tell him that you like him, she continued, adding, And then it happened, and I was like, Of course were together. This makes so much sense, the way nothing has ever made sense before. 

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For more celebrity videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.
By Will Boggs MD (Reuters Health)  Pregnant women who use marijuana to treat their nausea may be harming their unborn children, according to a warning from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Although more research is needed, there is strong reason to believe marijuana could be harmful to fetal development, NIDA director Dr. Nora D. Volkow told Reuters Health by email. Women who are pregnant should avoid using marijuana, even though it might seem like a 'natural' solution to their nausea. Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Volkow and associates from NIDA in Bethesda, Maryland cite studies that show a greater risk of anemia and lower birth weights, and a higher risk of neonatal intensive care unit admission for infants, when women use marijuana during pregnancy. These children are also more likely to have developmental problems later on. Despite these risks, marijuana use by pregnant women appears to be rising. According to a related report, the proportion of pregnant women who reported using marijuana during the past month rose from 2.37 percent in 2002 to 3.85 percent in 2014. By 2014, 11.63 percent of pregnant women  nearly 1 in 8  said they had used marijuana in the past year. Dr. Qiana L. Brown from Columbia University, New York, one of the authors of that report, told Reuters Health by email, The results from our study indicate that marijuana use among reproductive-aged women, especially those who are pregnant, is an increasing public health problem. If the current trends continue, with rates of use among pregnant women increasing as fast as they are in nonpregnant women, the U.S. may face a growing epidemic of prenatal marijuana use with associated consequences for maternal and child health. While more research remains to be done on this issue, the message for pregnant women and those planning pregnancy is that for the best chances of a healthy pregnancy outcome, a prudent approach is to avoid using marijuana, coauthor Dr. Deborah S. Hasin told Reuters Health by email. Dr. Marion P. Jarlenski from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who has studied public health messages about perinatal marijuana use, told Reuters Health by email, One point that I would like to raise, as a public health policy researcher, is that women who use marijuana in pregnancy may face legal harms from state laws requiring physicians to report to child protective services fetuses or infants who are exposed to substances. These state laws typically do not exempt marijuana use; although some state laws exempt substances that are used under medical supervision. NIDA is not alone in recommending against marijuana use during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests that physicians refrain from prescribing or suggesting the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes during preconception, pregnancy, and lactation, Dr. Brown said. This is particularly important in the context of political and social norms in the U.S. where attitudes and policies regarding marijuana use are becoming increasingly more permissive. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2hLYsIE, http://bit.ly/2gTBa1d and http://bit.ly/2hROwN5 JAMA, online December 19, 2016.
Photo credit: Saul Loebundefined

From Esquire

So, on what I can only assume was his morning constitutional to his Golden Throne, El Caudillo del Mar-A-Lago took a moment to address another issue of national import.

Are we talking about the same cyberattack where it was revealed that head of the DNC illegally gave Hillary the questions to the debate? - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2016

I was already pretty sure from his own career that the president-elect was unclear on the definition of "illegally," but this pretty much closes the case on that. In any event, he's being inaugurated in less than a month and here he is with the old gubba-gubba about a campaign talking-point that was past its sell-by date some time at the end of August.

At six o'clock in the damn morning.

So, on with the show. It seems that Pops let Junior pick the new Secretary of the Interior, and Junior persuaded him to go with the guy who likes to kill things as much as Junior does. Tiger Beat On The Potomac with the details.

The lines between the Trump administration and Trump Inc. are already becoming blurred. Donald Trump, the president elect's eldest son, was involved with the interview process for Interior secretary, according to sources familiar with the discussions. He sat in on interviews, and made calls to candidates, according to sources familiar with the process. Don Jr. is known as an avid outdoorsman, which is why he might have an interest in the next Interior secretary.

Jesus save us, they really are the Clampetts. Also, as regards to the president-elect and his family business, there are no goddamn lines! Thank you.

It's significant that Don Jr. took a hands-on role in hiring a Cabinet secretary. Either Trump's boys -- Don and Eric -- are running the Trump Organization, or they're helping advise their father, the next president of the United States. Doing both is exactly what Republicans and Democrats alike are worried about. If he's running the company, why is he helping his father assemble his Cabinet? The Trump transition team didn't reply when asked why he's meeting with prospective appointees when he's taking over his father's business.

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All of this should tell you something, but it probably won't.

But the really big noise out of Camp Runamuck on Friday was about this David Friedman guy, whom the president-elect intends to make our country's ambassador to Israel. In the truly bipartisan tradition, Friedman is rich and influential enough to be an ambassador. He also is something of a fanatic. The folks at Ha'aretz are not amused, as NPR relays.

According to the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz, Friedman is an Orthodox Jew who maintains a part-time residence in Israel. He is a regular columnist for the Israeli news website Arutz Sheva, which is identified with the settler movement. In his columns, Friedman has called the two-state solution an "illusion," and compared liberal American Jews to "kapos," Jews who aided Nazis during the Holocaust. In a statement from the Trump transition office announcing his nomination, Friedman indicated he is prepared to upend decades of U.S. policy regarding the location of the U.S. embassy, which is now in Tel Aviv: "I intend to work tirelessly to strengthen the unbreakable bond between our two countries and advance the cause of peace within the region, and look forward to doing this from the U.S. embassy in Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem." The U.S. position has long been that the legal status of Jerusalem is yet to be determined. A law passed by Congress in 1995 requires the U.S. to move its embassy to Jerusalem but allows presidents to waive that requirement, which all have done. During his campaign, Trump pledged to move the embassy.

So he's going to work to advance the cause of peace just as soon as the United States does the one thing guaranteed to set off a staggering outburst of violence throughout the entire region? Gotcha.

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He's also hip-deep in the settlement movement and believes that there is no legal barrier to Israel's simply annexing the West Bank. The New York Times brings us an anecdote about Friedman's appearance at a private forum. It is not an encouraging one.

Mr. Friedman has made clear his disdain for those American Jews - especially those connected to J Street - who support a two-state solution for the Israelis and the Palestinians. Writing in June on the website of Arutz Sheva, an Israeli media organization, Mr. Friedman compared J Street supporters to "kapos," the Jews who cooperated with the Nazis during the Holocaust. "The kapos faced extraordinary cruelty," he wrote. "But J Street? They are just smug advocates of Israel's destruction delivered from the comfort of their secure American sofas - it's hard to imagine anyone worse." At a private session this month at the Saban Forum, an annual gathering of Israeli and American foreign policy figures, Mr. Friedman declined to disavow the comments and even intensified the sentiment. Questioned by Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of the Atlantic, Mr. Friedman was asked if he would meet with various groups, including J Street. Mr. Friedman said he would probably meet with individuals but not with the group, according to several people who attended. Mr. Goldberg then raised the kapos comparison and asked if he stood by it. Mr. Friedman did not back away. "They're not Jewish, and they're not pro-Israel," he said, according to the people in the room.

Does one imply the other? If you believe that it does, then your attitude toward events in that region is well-nigh intractable. The settlement movement is both politically stupid and politically dangerous. (Some guy in Philadelphia decides that a 5,000-year-old real estate deal with Jehovah entitles him to a stranger's distant olive grove? Using families as bargaining chips and/or human buffer zones? There's undeniable courage there, but it's being employed in a terrible cause.) It's probably the worst thing that Israel has contributed to the cycle of mutual hostility and violence that seems never-ending.

I have a feeling that Friedman has a good idea how he thinks the cycle should end, and that makes me shudder. But he does have the one unrevocable golden ticket to a job with the incoming administration, which The Guardian dug up for our perusal.

Like Trump, Friedman is an admirer of Vladimir Putin, and has portrayed the Russian president as fighting Islamic State in Syria despite little of the Russian war effort being focused on Isis. "Vladimir Putin gets it," Friedman wrote in November last year. "He may be a 'thug,' as he was recently described by Senator [Marco] Rubio, but he knows how to identify a national objective, execute a military plan, and ultimately prevail."

The president-elect has been strangely silent on the butchery currently going on in Syria. I think we might have an inkling of why that is now, and why his Friday morning was spent lamenting Donna Brazile's perfidy regarding Bernie Sanders. And what fresh hell will be upon us by sundown, we can only guess.

Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  President-elect Donald Trump is the business titan who has spoken appreciatively of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Republican Sen. John McCain is the tough-talking national security hawk who warns that Russian interference in the U.S. election threatens to "destroy democracy."

McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, on Sunday joined Democrats in calling for a special select committee to investigate foreign cyberattacks, putting him at odds not only with the incoming GOP president but with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who favors allowing the Intelligence committee to take the lead on the inquiry.

"We need a select committee. We need to get to the bottom of this. We need to find out exactly what was done and what the implications of the attacks were, especially if they had an effect on our election," McCain said. "There's no doubt they were interfering and no doubt that it was cyberattacks. The question now is how much and what damage and what should the United States of America do? And so far, we have been totally paralyzed."

Trump calls reports of Russian hacking "ridiculous" and his transition team dismissed the CIA assessment, saying it was the work of the same people who claimed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

CIA Director John Brennan has said the intelligence community is in agreement that Russia tried to interfere in the U.S. presidential election, though there's no evidence Moscow succeeded in helping Trump win. But the charge, along with Trump's selection of a potential secretary of state with business ties to Russia, has divided a GOP riven by a fierce presidential primary and Trump's refusal to single out Moscow for criticism.

The fractures within the Republican Party will test longstanding GOP orthodoxy that saw Russia as a threat and responded to Putin's annexation of Crimea with tough sanctions.

"I think reality is going to intercede at one point or another," McCain said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," on the eve of the Electoral College vote expected to formalize Trump's victory. Trump, McCain suggested, "will very quickly understand what the Russians are all about."

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The Twitter-loving Trump did not immediately respond to McCain's remarks. But the president-elect's incoming chief of staff refused Sunday to say that the president-elect trusts the CIA's conclusion that Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee in a bid to help the real estate mogul defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"They haven't been totally up front and transparent in their opinion as to who, what, where and how this all happened," Reince Priebus said of the intelligence community on "Fox News Sunday."

Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina said Friday that his Intelligence panel "will follow the intelligence wherever it leads." McCain at Armed Services and Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of Foreign Relations, also plan inquiries.

McCain joined Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Jack Reed in pressing for a select committee in a letter released Sunday. An aide to McConnell said he would review the letter.

McCain and Trump have clashed throughout the campaign. Trump bashed McCain as a "loser" and "not a war hero" because he was shot down and captured during the Vietnam War. McCain criticized Trump for making disparaging remarks about NATO, immigrants, Muslims and a "Gold Star" family that lost a son in Iraq  and for refusing to say he'd accept the presidential election results unless he won. McCain dropped his tepid support for his party's nominee in October over the release of a recording in which Trump boasts about assaulting women.

President Barack Obama has ordered a full review of any Russian involvement before he leaves office next month.

While Trump's choice of Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state has drawn concern among some Republicans, he is expected to win confirmation despite ties to Russia.
Its a good thing Evan Antin has understanding parents. Growing up outside Kansas City, Kansas, I was always going to the creek in my backyard and looking for insects and turtles and reptiles, he says. Id take home what I found  a box turtle or water snake  and keep it as a pet for a week or two.

That childhood passion led to vet school at Colorado State University  and the two-time title of PEOPLEs Sexiest Veterinarian Alive.

Antin, 31, sees patients at Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital in Thousand Oaks, California, and spends his free time traveling to some of the most exotic places on the planet to check out the wildlife. His latest trip was to the Philippines, where he visited a rescue organization that breeds Philippine freshwater crocodiles, among the most endangered in the world. In the past, hes done dental work on primates in Indonesia, wrangled lizards in Botswana and watched the echidnas (spiny anteaters) of Australia. If it has good wildlife, maybe a jungle, cool people and neat history, Im there, he says.

Not that his day job is boring: In a new video series for PEOPLE, which launched Monday morning (check out the first episode above), Antin chronicles his patients and procedures at the animal hospital, where he specializes in reptiles in addition to the usual dogs and cats. And with a permit allowing the practice to treat wild animals native to California, Antin has operated on coyotes, opossums and raccoons and once faced a badger (That was unreal; I didnt even know they were in Southern California, he says).

At home in Agora Hills, California, Antin and his fiancee, travel journalist Nathalie Basha, keep a menagerie: Chihuahua/toy fox terrier mix Henry; cats Willy, a domestic shorthair, and Damien, a Russian Blue; a mangrove snake; a monitor lizard; and some fish. But theres one more animal on his list. Someday when Im old and retired and not traveling as much, he says, I see myself getting a parrot and spending time at home.

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Here are five more things you should know about Dr. Antin:

My most memorable pet: My first dog, his name was Bruno, and he was a Doberman/German shepherd mix from a rescue. He was a big gentle giant, by my side 24/7.

My favorite animal to work on: I love working with big reptiles. Im always stoked if I have a big monitor lizard appointment. I love crocodiles, but we really dont see them that often; you have to have special permits to have them as pets, but theyre fascinating.

The smartest animal I work with: Pot-bellied pigs! We see them pretty regularly, theyre becoming quite popular as pets. There was some recent research that showed pigs are as intelligent as chimps  though pigs in the veterinary hospital dont always act smart.

The animal surgery Ill never forget: We had this juvenile opossum come in. She was beat up by some animal and hiding in someones garage. She got bit in the arm, her bite wound was so bad that our only option was to amputate it. She was doing really poorly; it was scary going into surgery, since shed been so dehydrated, hungry and infected. So I took her right to surgery after stabilizing her, amputated the limb and rehabbed her personally. She ended up doing great, and I got her in with a wildlife education facility. (You can follow his animal adventures on Instagram, @dr.evanantin)

If I wasnt a vet, Id be  I love fitness and weightlifting; I was a personal trainer for a year before vet school. Thats when I knew I wanted to be a vet, but this was a neat career twist I wanted to explore.




Meghan Markle is headed home for the holidays without her prince.

The 35-year-old Suits actress was spotted leaving London, England, on Sunday, after spending quality time with her boyfriend, Prince Harry. Harry personally accompanied Meghan to Heathrow Airport, after which she was personally guided to her gate by airline staff.

Meghan dressed casually but still looked glamorous, sporting ripped jeans, sneakers, a sweater, and a floor-length coat. She also wore the black beanie she was photographed in on Monday, when she and Harry were snapped for the first time together in London.

WATCH: EXCLUSIVE -- Inside Meghan Markle's Life in Toronto: From Prince Harry's Low-Key Visits to Cozy Yoga Classes

The Image Direct

Meghan was born and raised in Los Angeles, but lives in Canada where Suits is filmed. The actress and her royal beau have been romantically jetsetting in order to spend time together -- Harry flew to Toronto earlier this month after finishing his Caribbean Royal Tour, and Meghan was spotted in London the week after. The couple's London activities included Christmas tree shopping at Pines in Needles in Battersea Park, and attending a theater performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

"It was super casual. They were really nice," Pines in Needles employee Zaqia Crawford told ET about the couple's cute outing. "They just looked like two people chilling on a date who picked up a tree. They weren't overly affectionate, but you know that air you get when you know that you're dating? You got the vibe, but it wasn't mushy."

WATCH: Meghan Markle Describes Struggles Growing Up Biracial

Harry's visits to Meghan's home in Toronto are also apparently pretty low-key.

"When Harry was in town it wasn't too crazy," a source told ET about the 32-year-old royal's visit earlier this month. "There were maybe five paparazzi on the house, but they were discrete. There was additional security on the street, but even that wasn't too intrusive. It was pretty low key. Meghan and Harry never left the home."

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Prince Harry resumed his royal responsibilities on Monday, attending a Christmas party for the charity organization, The Mix, with his brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton.

Watch the video below for more on Meghan's life in Toronto.

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The two others names in the chargesheet are Qashif Jan and Shaid Latif. All four will be tried under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) chargesheet in the Pathankot airbase terror attack has named Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, his brother Rauf Asghar and two other JeM terrorists as the main accused.

The NIA chargesheet was filed today in a special court in Punjab's Mohali, almost a year after terrorists stormed the Indian Air Force (IAF) base, killing eight people including seven personnel of the IAF and the NSG.

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The two others names in the chargesheet are main handler Kashif Jan and launching commander Shaid Latif. All four will be tried under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

According to NIA, the terrorists, who were killed after two days of gunfight, were identified as Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum. They were residents of Vehari (Punjab), Gujranwala (Punjab), Sanghar (Sindh) and Sukkur (Sindh) of Pakistan respectively.

Also read: Pathankot terror attack: Parliamentary panel raps MHA over security lapses

In an exclusive chat with India Today following the filing of the chargesheet, NIA Director General Sharad Kumar said, "This case has been important for us. Our officers and team have collected irrefutable and valueable evidence against Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists and its handlers including the JeM chief."

"The NIA has physical, technical, digital and documentary evidence. We have done a scientific and professional invistigation of the Pathankot case," he said.

Immediately after the Pathankot attack on January 2 this year, Asghar had posted a video message claiming the responsibility for the terror strike and glorified the role of his brother Azhar, who was released in exchange for passengers of a hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999.

India is expected to use the NIA chargesheet at various international fora to highlight the role of Masood Azhar in spreading mayhem in India and refer to the nefarious plans of his outfit.

The launch of a diplomatic offensive against JeM and its chief became imperative after China continued to block India's efforts to get a United Nations sanction against the Pakistani terrorist and his group.

Also read: Pathankot terror attack: Now, government says 4 militants attacked airbase

Watch the video here

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By Tracy Barnett LA YESCA, Mexico(Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Audelina Villagrana has run her ranch in Mexico's Western Sierra Madre mountains on her own since the death of her husband 23 years ago, herding livestock, hiring local Huichol people and even raising a young Huichol boy like a son. Now she and other ranchers are locked in tense confrontation with their indigenous neighbors over land that has been in contention for centuries. A series of recent legal decisions has brought the dispute to a boiling point. "It's a strange situation, when on the one hand I share my home with them, and on the other, they're suing me for my land," Villagrana told the Thomson Reuters Foundation from her terracotta-tiled farmhouse in the mesquite-studded hills. At issue are vast stretches of property that ranchers want for intensive agriculture and grazing, but the Huichols - also known by the traditional name of Wixarika - want it for subsistence farming and to practice their traditional ways of life. Each side wants the Mexican government to settle the dispute, but so far it has failed to do so. TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE The Huichol people hold land grants dating back to the 1700s from the Spanish crown, but the ranchers hold titles from the Mexican government, dated before the decade-long national revolution that began in 1910. Now, after a series of lawsuits were decided in favor of the Huichols, they are moving in to claim 10,500 hectares (nearly 26,000 acres) in the state of Nayarit, beginning with a 184-hectare (454-acre) hillside ranch. Since September, hundreds of Huichols have organized themselves to take turns camping on the land and standing guard. "This land is an inheritance that the ancestors left to us," said Luis Sanchez Carrillo, a Huichol elder who said he believes the land is necessary for upholding his people's traditions. The Huichols object to the ranchers' intensive grazing and planting, and use of chemicals and deforestation practices. They prefer subsistence farming and reforestation efforts. The Huichols also practice rituals to honor sacred sites such as the Cerro Cuate, a towering peak, where they leave offerings for ancestors and deities believed to reside there. The conflict echoes the Standing Rock dispute in the U.S. state of North Dakota, where Native American activists and supporters have camped on federal property to demand a halt to an oil pipeline project, said Paul Liffman, a professor of anthropology at Rice University in Texas and a Huichol expert. Indigenous groups have been making land claims more forcefully since a 1989 United Nations convention provided them with a legal framework, Liffman said. "There's been a major revival of indigenous claims amidst the enhanced possibilities that were afforded by the ratification of Convention 169," he said. "Even ... the countries that did not sign onto that have felt the pressure." 'LOSS OF LIVELIHOOD' But the ranchers in Nayarit fear they are losing their livelihoods. "I ask you, who generated the problem? Was it the Huichols, or us?" said rancher Lucio Gamboa. "Wouldn't you agree that it was neither of us? It was the government. So, who is responsible for solving this problem? The government." The Mexican government has rejected a request by Huichol leaders to reimburse ranchers with federal funds designated to help prevent land conflicts. A committee of Huichol leaders and ranchers recently wrote to the government asking for a commission to be set up to address the dispute, but the government has yet to respond. A spokesman for Mexico's Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development, which is charged with resolving land disputes, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that it lacks the resources to get involved and is already faced with some 323 pending land conflicts. But Gamboa said the government should step in. "If the two sides want an arrangement, why doesn't the government want that?" he said. (Reporting by Tracy Barnett Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org)
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 19, 2016 / Mezzi Holdings Inc. ("MEZZI", "MEZZI BRAND GROUP" or the "Company") (TSX-V: MZI, FSE: 0MZ) is pleased to announced that sales results for the month of November including pre-orders and fulfilled transactions exceeded $201,000.

During the month of October, the Company sold out of its existing MEZZI inventories and November's sales largely represented pre-orders on future production. A portion of these new inventories have been received with deliveries on certain pre-orders now being fulfilled.

About MEZZI BRAND GROUP

MEZZI Brand Group is a Vancouver-based consumer accessory brand management company. We believe that great brands are built one great product and one valued customer at a time. We have gathered a group of young talented experts ranging from accessory design, product development, marketing, branding, e-commerce, digital media and PR to build and scale our millennial-customer focused brands. A well-defined, strategic philosophy and clear mission statement promotes and protects MEZZI Brand Group's most valuable assets  our brands  MEZZI Smart Luxury, Capital Eyewear and MLine Cases.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Keir Reynolds

CEO

Tel: (778) 998-9242

Email: keir@mezzi.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Keir Reynolds

Chief Executive Officer

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

SOURCE: Mezzi Holdings Inc.
Michael Moore

Michael Moore made an eleventh-hour plea to the Electoral College not to vote for President-elect Donald Trump.

As state electors are gathering to cast their vote for president on Monday, the documentary filmmaker made a late-night plea on Sunday.

"I'm simply asking you to vote your conscience and PLEASE do not put our nation in danger by choosing Donald J. Trump," Moore wrote on Facebook in an open letter to the Republican members of the Electoral College.

He also made an offer that would encourage Electoral College voters to vote against Trump in states that would issue a fine for switching votes.

"If you do vote your conscience and you are punished for it, I will personally step up [and] pay your fine, which is my legal right to do," Moore said.

The filmmaker joins a growing number of citizens who have appealed to their state electors to consider voting for another candidate. A change.org petition has been signed by more than 4.9 million people as of the publishing of this article.

Last week, Martin Sheen and several other celebrities appeared in a PSA from Unite for America urging Electoral College voters not to vote for Trump.

Read Moore's full letter to Republican Electoral College voters below:

NOW WATCH: 'I'm asking you a simple question': Fox News host confronts RNC chair over Trump's denial of Russia hacks





More From Business Insider


As the Electoral College cast ballots at statehouses across the country on Monday, Michael Moore made a last-minute pitch to convince them to stop Donald Trump from reaching a 270 majority to win the presidency.

Why not choose a president who wont try to please Moscow, someone who believes the threat of terrorism is real and demands to be briefed on it daily? Moore wrote on Facebook. Why not let history record your moment of true courage and patriotism? Only 38 of you have to stand up and say, I love my country and I cannot in good conscience vote for a man who, whether he means to or not, may put our nation in jeopardy. I love my country more than I love this job as an elector.'

But Trump is expected to be well ahead of the total needed to win the presidency, given that he won states with a total of 306 electoral votes. That is not a landslide victory in the Electoral College, and he lost the popular vote by more than 2.8 million to Hillary Clinton.

Moore made the case that the intelligence communitys conclusion that Russia was behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee and the account of John Podesta, Clintons campaign chairman, was a reason for electors to hold off from casting their ballots for Trump.

Shouldnt we all wait until the investigation ordered by the president is finished before the Electoral College votes? If Trump did know or was involved in this unprecedented assault on our electoral process, wouldnt that be enough for you to exercise your constitutional power to stop a man like this from taking office?

Or just the fact that he has refused to attend nearly all the daily national security briefings  doesnt this give you some pause? Do we want a Commander-in-Chief who is too busy or too disinterested to protect us on a daily basis? he added.

Moore also offered to pay the fines for electors in states who face penalties if they fail to vote for Trump. In some states, electors are bound to follow the popular vote winner in that state.

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He wrote, I think you know something is wrong with this man. He just doesnt seem right. One crazy comment or action after another. He may not be well. Dont you have a responsibility to protect us from someone who might be mentally unstable?

A number of groups have been urging electors to deny Trump a majority. Martin Sheen, Debra Messing and James Cromwell were among those who appeared in a video urging electors to vote their conscience. One elector from Texas said that he would cast his vote for John Kasich, and not Trump, even though he won the Lone Star state.

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Sylvester Stallone Signals He Won't Take Trump Arts Post, Wants to Instead Focus on Veterans

'Saturday Night Live': Alec Baldwin, John Goodman Skewer Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin (WATCH)
With Showtime canceling Masters Of Sex, Michael Sheens schedule has been freed up. The actor, who played Dr. William Bill Masters in the drama series, has always had an interest in politics and political activism. Does this mean he is quitting Hollywood to focus on certain issues at home?

In an interview with The Times, Sheen reportedly told the interviewer that he plans to work less as an actor and possibly stop for the time being in order to become a political activist. Reports of him retiring from the film and TV industry started surfacing after it was learned that he moved from Los Angeles to Wales. Additionally, The Times reported that Sheen is uncertain if his relationship with comedian Sarah Silverman, who lives in Los Angeles, will survive the move.

However, on Sunday, the 47-year-old star took to Twitter and Tumblr to clarify his comments in the interview. In a tweet, the Welsh actor said that he is thinking of acting less. In a Tumblr post, the Frost/Nixon actor said, I did one interview with The Times of London a few weeks ago, parts of which (including a headline that is not a quote) have been picked up by a lot of other outlets. I DID NOT declare that Im quitting acting and leaving Hollywood to go into politics.

Sheen explained, In the actual original interview I said I have become more involved with community issues back at home over the last few years and because of the political situation its something I would like to focus on more. The interviewer asked me what that meant for my career and I said it might mean I work less as an actor and maybe even stop for a while AT SOME POINT. But I dont really know yet.

Sheen specified that he wants to stop certain anti-democratic forces. What I think must be resisted is the re-emerging spectre of fascism in the West, he penned, Our democracy must be defended and each of us needs to decide how we can contribute to that effort.

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In another Tumblr post, the Underworld star said, Like so many people, Im worried about the effects on our civilisation of what appears to be an increasing emergence of forces and instincts across Europe and the West with anti-democratic, deeply authoritarian and worryingly demagogic elements. Whether they come from the left or the right of the political spectrum. Whether they were part of voting For or Against Brexit. For or Against Trump. Or any other of the votes or referendums that are going on.

Sheen will be seen in a new movie Passengers that is releasing on Dec. 21 and has two other films lined up that will be released soon  Home Again and Brads Status. However, both these movies are in the post-production phase. Hence, he has a less busy schedule to look forward to next year.

Michael Sheen

Photo: Getty Images/Matt Winkelmeyer

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Michelle Obama gave her last interview from the White House where looked back on her eight years as First Lady, shared her feelings about the recent election and expressed whether or not she plans to run for any office in the future.

In her special with Oprah Winfrey, Obama talked about her meeting with the future First Lady, Melania Trump. She said that while she didn't give Trump any specific advice, she told her that "You really don't know what you don't know until you're here" and said, "The door is always open."

She said Laura Bush was very gracious and helpful to her when she first came into office. "I'm not new in this 'going high' thing," she said with a smile.

"We will do whatever they need to help them succeed," she added of the future First Family who's lives she said would be turned "upside down" once they move into the White House.

When asked if she would run for office, she responded "no" and expressed that the difficulties of living in the White House is not something she would wish on her kids for 16 years.

"It also speaks to the fact that people don't really understand how hard it is," she said. "t's not something that you cavalierly ask a family to do again."

Obama also talked about being labeled an "angry black woman" and how she reacted to it.

"That was one of those things where you think, 'Dang, you don't even know me,' " said Obama. "You just sort of feel like, 'Wow, where did that come from?' " She said she had to realize that it wasn't about her, it was about the person who wrote or said it.

Obama told Winfrey, "You start thinking, 'Oh, wow, we're so afraid of each other.' Color. Wealth. These things that don't matter still play too much of a role in how we see one another, and it's sad because the thing that least defines us as people is the color of our skin."

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The First Lady said that people can't judge other people's values by their race or religion

"I thought, 'OK, well, let me live my life out loud so that people can then see and then judge for themselves,' " added Obama. "And that's what I want young people to do: Just live your life. Live it out loud."

Looking back on her past eight years in the White House, the First Lady felt that her and her husband's administration "absolutely" achieved hope, the foundation of Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

"Now we're feeling what not having hope feels like. Hope is a necessary concept."

President Barack Obama joined his wife at the end of the interview where he echoed her statement that he believes the nation achieved hope and that looking to the future, he's most hopeful about the next generation.

When asked about what has surprised him the most about his wife as First Lady he said, "The way in which she blended purpose and policy with fun so that she was able to reach beyond Washington on her health care initiatives, on her military family work was masterful."

Read more: Michelle Obama in White House Special Interview: "Now Were Feeling What Not Having Hope Feels Like"
ROME (AP)  A Milan court has acquitted nine former Pirelli managers of manslaughter and of causing grave harm in factory workers' deaths or illnesses blamed on asbestos.

The Italian news agency ANSA said relatives of some the 28 workers shouted "shame" when the court delivered its verdict Monday.

The workers had worked in Milan factories of Pirelli in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 2015, a separate trial in Milan resulted in the conviction of 11 other former Pirelli managers of manslaughter for the deaths of some 20 workers who developed tumors or lung disease after exposure to asbestos. Prosecutors in that case said the workers weren't properly protected from asbestos. All 11 convictions were overturned last month upon appeal.

Pirelli had no comment on Monday's acquittals.
KINSHASA (Reuters) - Militiamen in the eastern Congo city of Butembo attacked a prison on Monday, local residents said, sparking a gun battle with security forces amid heightened tensions on the last day of President Joseph Kabila's mandate. "Since this morning, there have been incursions by the Mai Mai (militia). They wanted to liberate prisoners at the central prison," Fabrice Kakubuzi, a local activist told Reuters. "They want to take advantage of the day to liberate prisoners." A police spokesman said that the militiamen were trying to loot but were pushed back by security forces. (Reporting By Aaron Ross; Editing by Tim Cocks and Michael Perry)
Trump protests

The electors will gather at their state capitols on Monday and vote to formally make Donald Trump the 45th president.

Tens of thousands took to the streets in the weeks after the election, outraged that Trump is the new president-elect.

Over 4.9 million people signed a petition to encourage the Electoral College to make Hillary Clinton president instead, partly because she won the popular vote.

With so many citizens calling on the Electoral College to choose Clinton, and some electors even saying they will switch their votes, could it happen?

How does the electoral vote stand right now?

Each state has an elector for every member of Congress it has, plus Washington, DC, gets three, resulting in 538 people in today's Electoral College.

Trump won the popular vote in 30 states and one of Maine's districts  which, along with Nebraska, splits up its electors by district  giving him 306 electoral votes.

While Clinton won over 1.3 million more votes than he did overall because she carried population-heavy states like California and New York, she won the popular vote in only 20 states plus DC, giving her 232 electoral votes.

final 2016 electoral map

How would electing Clinton work?

Members of the Electoral College who decide to go against their state laws or party rules telling them who to vote for are quite ominously called "faithless electors."

They're pretty rare in modern political history. Thomas Neale, an expert in American government and the Electoral College for the Congressional Research Service, found that only eight electors have been faithless since 1900.

Only electors from the party that won the popular vote in the state get to cast their ballots on Monday, so only Republican electors will vote in the states that Trump won, and only Democratic electors in the states Clinton carried.

That means Clinton would need 38 electors to vote for her instead. As Neale told Business Insider in November, "that would require a lot of electors to change their mind."

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What are the chances of it actually happening?

electoral college

Several barriers are in place preventing electors from turning "faithless."

First, Neale said, 30 states plus DC have laws on the books "binding" their electors to vote for the candidate who won the state's popular vote. Punishments for becoming a faithless elector range from paying a fine to being replaced with an elector who will follow the rules.

Trump has 155 unbound electoral votes, so there are technically enough electors who could decide to vote for Clinton and wouldn't get punished legally for it.

Second, electors are usually selected by the political parties in each state, Neale said. Because 306 electors voting on Monday will be Republicans, the petitioners encouraging them to vote for Clinton instead would have to convince them to abandon their party.

"The important point here to realize is these are all party loyalists, and they are pretty carefully vetted," Neale said. "Part of that is because there have been the occasional faithless electors in the past who have been an embarrassment to the party, and they want to make sure they avoid it."

The Associated Press interviewed over 330 electors, and while they expressed widespread discontent with the electoral process, they said they don't intend to derail Trump's presidency.

A few electors have spoken out about voting for someone other than Trump, including Christopher Suprun from Texas. (The state doesn't have a law to punish faithless electors.)

"I am asked to cast a vote on Dec. 19 for someone who shows daily he is not qualified for the office," he wrote in a New York Times column published December 5. "The election of the next president is not yet a done deal. Electors of conscience can still do the right thing for the good of the country."

But unfortunately for Clinton, Suprun and other faithless electors  some saying it's "moral"  have said they plan to write in the name of Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, or Sen. Bernie Sanders. For his part, Kasich released a statement on December 6 urging electors not to vote for him.

Gov. John Kasich statement on the recent news about the upcoming Electoral College meeting: pic.twitter.com/dm9yOfBqwF  John Kasich (@JohnKasich) December 6, 2016

Even if electors turn faithless, members of Congress can formally protest elector votes, and have them thrown out, when they officially count the ballots in a joint session on January 6.

"One of my legal colleagues suggests that the joint session is the 'break glass in case of emergency'  it's the last line of defense against an election that may have been corrupted in some way," Neale said.

Finally, history isn't on Clinton's side.

"The argument can always be made that, 'Well, Secretary Clinton won the popular election, and therefore she should win the presidency.' This is the core argument of the direct popular election reform movement to eliminate the Electoral College," Neale said. "But that argument has been raised time and time again, and Congress hasn't acted on this proposal since 1979."

Plus, the few times a faithless elector has gone against their party's nominee, they've never swung an election.

NOW WATCH: The last time a losing candidate had a wider popular vote margin than Clinton was in 1876  here's the bizarre story





More From Business Insider
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  A Minnesota police officer who killed Philando Castile during a traffic stop in July has deferred entering a plea until a trial judge is assigned to the case.

St. Anthony officer Jeronimo Yanez made his second court appearance on Monday. Further hearings have not been scheduled.

Castile, who was black, was killed July 6 in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. The shooting's gruesome aftermath was streamed live on Facebook by Castile's girlfriend. Prosecutors said the 32-year-old was shot at seven times after he told Yanez he was armed and had a permit to carry.

Yanez, who is Latino, claims Castile never said he had a permit. Yanez's attorneys want the case dismissed, saying Castile was negligent because he was high on marijuana and didn't obey the officer's commands.
By PTI: Ahmedabad, Dec 19(PTI) BJP president Amit Shah today hit out at opposition parties over demonetisation saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking decisions in the larger interest of the country and not to suit their whims and fancies.

On the second and last day of state BJPs Chintan Shibir near here, Shah told the party leaders that running a nation is different from bringing a change to it.

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"Running a country and bringing change to it are two separate things, and BJP-led Centre has chosen the way to change the nation for the benefit of its citizens. Till now, Congress ran the country in an ordinary and corrupt manner," Shah was quoted as saying in a release issued by Gujarat BJP.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government is taking decisions in the larger interest of the country, not to suit whims and fancies of the opposition parties," said Shah.

The Shibir is seen as the partys exercise to chalk out road-map for 2017 Gujarat Assembly polls.

During these two days, Shah held discussions on various issues with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, deputy CM Nitin Patel, state unit BJP president Jitubhai Vaghani and several other key leaders and ministers, it added.

In his speech, Shah called upon the cadres to engage in a massive drive to spread awareness about cashless transactions.

"PM Modis decision on demonetisation has been well received by the citizens. To help people in learning various modes of cashless transactions, I urge all the MPs, MLAs and all the party leaders as well as workers to organise programmes across the state. For BJP, nation always comes first," the BJP chief added.

Vaghani exuded confidence that his party will once again come to power in 2017 in Gujarat.

"Our government under CM Vijay Rupani took several pro-people steps in a very short span. BJP has been receiving support of people since last 30 years and we will win with two-third majority in 2017 too," he said. PTI PJT PD NRB KJ

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Photo credit: Elizabeth W. Kearleyundefined

From Esquire

Someone stole a baby Jesus from a Nativity scene in Bethlehem. That is, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The baby Jesus figurine was taken from a local Nativity scene and dropped off at a nearby hospital with a bizarre note: "Child has broken right foot which is [sic] been neglected. Parents Joseph and Mary Christ got a warning. Apparently sheep has a baby toe nibbling fetish. Child has been taken to Anderson St. Luke's Hospital for evaluation repair."

Jacqueline Ross, 49, is suspected to be behind the strange crime. Ross told police that the theft was meant as a joke, but authorities are not laughing. According to police, Ross was identified using surveillance video and is currently in jail, charged with theft and institutional vandalism.

Photo credit: Bethlehem Police Department

The theft took place earlier this month. Police said that Ross took the figurine, worth $2900, from a display near Payrow Plaza. She took the figurine to St. Luke's Hospital where there is a "Safe Space" drop-off meant for mothers to anonymously and legally give up newborns they are unable to care for.

According to court documents, Ross has confessed to the crime, stating, "I did it. I took the statue. It was a joke, a prank. I took it to the hospital and dropped it off. I left a note."

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At least 591 people died in police custody in India between 2010 and 2015, Human Right Watch reported Monday. Despite finding Indian police had been accused of torturing suspects by inciting sexual abuse, conducting derivatives of waterboarding and beating them in many cases, the reports said no officers has been convicted.

While torture is illegal in India, police are permitted to extract information from those accused by utilizing the third degree, which is a euphemism for allowing officers to beat prisoners during interrogation. Ninety-seven people died in Indian police custody in 2015, the report said, citing government data.

Regulations that had been created to reduce the number of deaths occurring in custody, like the necessity to present a suspect before a judge within 24 hours of his or her arrest, regularly were cast aside, the Guardian reported Monday. The international nonprofit organizations dozens of interviews with family members of victims for the report revealed that in 67 of the cases in 2015, the deaths in custody occurred when officers failed to put the accused in front of a magistrate within a day of arrest.

The circumstances that resulted in suspects deaths while in custody were rarely investigated by Indian law enforcement authorities, the report said. Fewer than 32 of the deaths that occurred in custody in 2015 were pursued by Indian judicial officials while in 26 of these cases there was no autopsy performed on the bodies of the deceased.

The report said while government oversight bodies, which could potentially hold police officers accused of violent acts accountable, exist in India, they had largely failed.

Among the many actions the report suggested could curb the number of deaths in custody, the report proposed the Indian government establish a witness protection program so those accusing police officers of violence can state a case without being afraid of retribution.

Police in India will learn that beating suspects to confess is unacceptable only after officers are prosecuted for torture, said Meenakshi Ganguly, the director of the Human Rights Watch in south Asia.

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In one case from April 2012 brought to light by the report, Indian police officers said Shyamu Singh committed suicide while in custody by eating poison. But his brother, who was arrested at the same time, alternatively claimed four Indian policemen held them both down at the same time another officer poured water down my nose continuously.

Shyamu fell unconscious. So they started worrying and talking among themselves that he is going to die. One of the men got a little packet and put the contents in Shyamus mouth, he said.

While an internal investigation cleared the officers of having anything to do with the 35-year-olds death, a separate inquiry by state authorities determined the seven police officers tortured and poisoned Singh. The seven officers in question were ultimately cleared by the state authority's final report.

Indias National Human Rights Commission said there were more than 430 cases in which people reportedly died in police custody in India between April 2012 and June 2015. The commission recommended families of the deceased should be granted roughly $324,268 in compensation from the government but that none of the officers be prosecuted further.

In another case from December 2012, the report found, a police official beat Julfar Shaikh, 40, who was accused of counterfeiting money, with a truth seeking belt until he died of 22 mortal injuries to his body, the Huffington Post India reported Monday. Police had originally told state authorities Shaikh had died from meningitis" after being in custody for three days. The 4-foot "truth-seeking belt" can be found at every police station in Mumbai as it is utilized to try and extract confessions from suspects, a Mid-Day.com investigation found in January.

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Seventy-four journalists were killed worldwide in 2016. The majority, 19, lost their lives while doing their jobs in Syria, making it the most dangerous country in the entire world for journalists. Ten were killed in Afghanistan, nine in Mexico and five in Iraq, a report released Monday by Reporters Without Borders revealed.

The numbers actually show a decline from 2015 when 101 journalists were killed around the world. But RSF (the French acronym for Reporters without Borders) attributed the drop in deaths not to increased safety, but to fewer journalists operating in hostile territory after being forced to flee, thereby creating a black hole in information.

An estimated three-quarters of the deaths were deliberate and the majority of the victims were based locally. A breakdown by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) showed that of the journalists killed in Syria, 75 percent covered the war, 38 percent reported on politics, 19 percent reported on corruption and 17 percent reported on crime and human rights. CPJ also listed 2016 as the worst year for journalist arrests, with a total of 259 reporters jailed worldwide.

It is unfortunately clear that many of the worlds leaders are developing a form of paranoia about legitimate journalism, RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said.

Since the start of Syrias tumultuous civil war, professional journalists and citizen bloggers alike attempting to reveal the details have faced censorship, intimidation and violence. The latest journalist killed in Syria was Mohsen Khazaei, a reporter for the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Agency, killed Nov. 12, 2016, while covering clashes in Aleppo.

RSF urged incoming United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special representative for the protection of journalists.

This alarming situation reflects the obvious failure of international initiatives for the protection of journalists, Deloire said. It signs the death penalty for independent information in areas where censorship and propaganda, especially that of extremist groups in the Middle East, are imposed by all means.

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By Gina Cherelus

(Reuters) - A fire tore through a barn at a thoroughbred training center near Lexington, Kentucky, killing almost two dozen horses, the owner and local law enforcement said on Monday.

The blaze broke out early Sunday morning inside a yearling horse barn at the Mercury Equine Center, according to Lexington Fire Department Chief Joe Best. Lexington, the second-largest city in Kentucky, calls itself "the horse capital of world."

The center's owner, Eric Reed, said 36 young horses were in the barn at the time, and that staff were able to rescue only 13 of them.

"The barn is actually still smoldering right now," Reed told Reuters by telephone. "Carcasses haven't been removed yet until the investigation is over."

Reed said there was a big storm that night and that he thought the building may have been struck by lightning.

Chief Best said arson investigators are probing the scene and interviewing eye witnesses to determine what might have caused the fire.

Operations at the 60-acre facility, where race horses are trained and treated, were back to normal on Monday.

"Today we had 60 other horses to train, so we had to get back to the basics and get back to work," Reed said.

(Reporting by Gina Cherelus; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Dan Grebler)
The most googled actress of 2016 probably isnt who you expect  but it makes perfect sense

Google is a powerful tool, and we were just wondering who the most googled people were this past year. Well, the most googled actress of 2016 probably isnt who you expect  but it makes perfect sense. Refinery29 filled us in. Hint: The Royal Family.

If you guessed Meghan Markle from Suits, you guessed correctly.

Yes, were talking the same Meghan Markle whos dating Prince Harry. The news about the couple started coming out in October. And since we all care a lot about the princes well-being  after all, dating a prince is a ~huge~ deal  its no wonder people googled his significant other, right?

Heres Markle on Suits with Patrick J. Adams. Just think  soon, as Markle and Prince Harry become a more and more public item  we may see pictures like this of the two of them.

Suits - Season 6

Suits - Season 6

Suits - Season 6

Or not. Rn, this is the closest were going to get to seeing British-related posts by Markle  like this Instagram one from a couple weeks ago, when her dog was wearing this Union Jack sweater.

For the love of hand-me-downs. This was Bogart's sweater when he was a puppy, and now it's keeping Guy warm. #puppylove #adoptdontshop #reducereuserecycle A photo posted by Meghan Markle (@meghanmarkle) on Dec 3, 2016 at 12:54pm PST

Awwww.

More Insta posts, please  and with Prince Harry, too!

Prince Harry ICAP Charity Trading Day In Aid Of Sentebale

In a way though, good for them for keeping their relationship as private as they possibly can. Just think of your own social media feeds and what happens when you post a pic of you and your new bae. Then, magnify that by a million. Or perhaps a billion if youre a member of The Royal Family.

Exactly!

However, one photo has recently come out on social media of the couple. On December 14th, Markle and Prince Harry went to see a play on Londons West End, as seen in this photo from The Sun, reported People. The play? The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Gielgud Theatre.

WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry and girlfriend Meghan Markle have been pictured together https://t.co/XurKUPYtxJ pic.twitter.com/jDzWCetk1e  The Sun (@TheSun) December 15, 2016

This was the first time Markle and Prince Harry were out together as a couple, according to People, although they were also seen together on December 12th, shopping for a Christmas tree at Pines and Needles in London.

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Ah-ha, the plot thickens. But again, as much as we really want to see more pictures of them together, we also respect their privacy.

So while Markle and Prince Harry are busy this holiday season not posting pictures onto social media, we wish them nothing but the best. And well probably be adding to the googling-Markle tally as we check social for updates, just in case.



The post The most googled actress of 2016 probably isnt who you expect  but it makes perfect sense appeared first on HelloGiggles.
This holiday season, families across the United States will gather to enjoy special meals together.

But the dishes eaten during those meals can vary depending on where you live.

To get a fuller picture of Americans' favorite holiday recipes, Business Insider consulted Google. Looking at search data from December 9 to 15, Google's researchers found the most unique recipe that people in every state (plus Washington DC) looked up leading into the holidays.

The researchers didn't choose the most popular dish for every state (since that would've been green bean casserole in most). Instead, they focused on the recipe people searched for more in a given state than anywhere else.

Check them out in the map below:

BI Graphics_Most Googled Recipes 2

NOW WATCH: Mistletoe is actually a tree-killing parasite  here's how it became a Christmas icon





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By Will Boggs MD NEW YORK - Most delinquent youth achieve few positive milestones in the years after their detention, especially if they are boys, Hispanic, or African American. Researchers followed nearly 1200 boys and girls for 12 years after their detention in Chicagos Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. They looked for positive outcomes in eight areas: educational attainment, residential independence, gainful activity, desistance from criminal activity, mental health, abstaining from substance abuse, interpersonal functioning, and parenting responsibility. Twelve years after detention, only 22 percent of boys and 55 percent of girls were successful in more than half of these outcomes, according to a report in JAMA Pediatrics. Dr. Linda A. Teplin from Northwestern University in Chicago and colleagues found that among the boys, 46 percent of non-Hispanic whites had achieved more than half the outcomes, compared with only 29 percent of Hispanics and 19 percent of African Americans. Results for girls did not differ by race or ethnicity. As adults, the former delinquent boys fell into five broad categories: 24 percent were unlikely to have positive outcomes in any area; 28 percent were incarcerated; 21 percent were living independently but struggling; 6 percent were struggling family men; and 21 percent were functioning independently with positive outcomes in nearly all domains. More than half of the former delinquent girls were at-home mothers (60 percent); 14.4 percent were unstable mothers with positive outcomes only in parenting responsibility; 10 percent were substance free but struggling; and 16 percent had positive outcomes in every domain except interpersonal functioning. Minority boys were most likely to fall into the worst outcome classes, while there were no racial/ethnic differences among girls. The researchers recommend that services for delinquent youth be expanded, especially for minority males, and they urge support for policies that make it easier for these youth to obey the law and to overcome barriers to social stability and employment. Dr. Robert J. Sampson from Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, who wrote an editorial related to this report, told Reuters Health by email, The police and courts alone are ill equipped to handle the needs of adolescents who are falling through the cracks of societys support system. Constructing positive turning points is central to breaking the reinforcing cycle of adversities that institutionalization can trigger. Meaningful structural change will likely be long in coming, however, so how to prevent delinquency in the first place and how to steer delinquent youth onto a path of success after being involved in the criminal justice system are the immediate, challenging questions, he writes in his editorial. At the very least, we should redesign the juvenile system so that it does not exacerbate existing inequalities, he concludes. Because juvenile detention has durable consequences for later development, and because todays children and adolescents are tomorrows parents, there is urgency to breaking the stigma of a criminal record and the associated intergenerational cycle of compounded adversity. I anticipated that outcomes would be dire, Teplin told Reuters Health by email. But I had not realized that so few youth could achieve milestones that are considered quite routine for most young people - - for example, establishing independent residence, being responsible for ones children, steady employment. She continued, People do not realize the impediments and cycle of disadvantage faced by youth who are detained. Once detained, they miss school. When released, they will have fallen behind in school, may become discouraged, and never catch up. Without a proper education, they can never find a job. And if they become involved in the adult justice system, there face great impediments by employers who refuse to hire prior offenders. Our educational system is the root cause for many of these problems, Dr. Teplin said. Unlike other developed countries (France, the U.K., Australia), our school systems are funded by local tax dollars. Thus, the quality of your school is determined by your zip code. Overall, poor kids receive a much worse education than wealthier kids. Once they get in trouble with the law, they are on a one-way road. Dr. Teplin added, There is something called adolescent limited delinquency, meaning that kids may engage in delinquent acts, but then grow out of it. But for poor kids, who may have fewer people in their lives who can rescue them, delinquency may begin a cycle of disadvantage that lasts throughout adulthood.
This is the second story in a seven-part series looking at womens ambitions in the years following college. Nearly 35 years ago, Helen Gurley Brown published Having It All: Love, Success, Sex, Money, Even If Youre Starting With Nothing, a landmark bestseller in a pre-Oprah world about living your best life. In the 80s, this was a go-girl message about putting on that power suit, and having great sex while doing it. Becoming a mother always complicated the equation: Picture Diane Keaton from 1987s Baby Boom, a type-A management consultant in a smart suit awkwardly balancing an inherited toddler on her hip, as if to ask, What do I do with this?

This is the sixth story in a seven-part series looking at womens ambitions in the years following college.

Gloria Steinem famously quipped that some women are becoming the men we wanted to marry. Forty years later, Sheryl Sandberg argued that the most important decision a woman makes about her career is whom to marry. But neither Sandberg nor Steinem have said much about what mens careers look like in this scenario. Steinem did note in a 1984 commencement speech that she had yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career. And the implication in 2013s Lean In is that women should strive for marriages like the one Sandberg had: two hard-driving careerists who found it acceptable to live in one city and commute to another on weekends, or who routinely returned to work after a brief family dinner interlude.

We expected to see many marriages in the Sandberg modelpower couples consisting of two equal partners with equally big careers, both suiting up in the morning, shoving laptops into compact roller bags and jetting to assorted meetings around the country. These types of couples tend to get splashed across the media, and given that our classmates had been ambitious and aiming for prominent careers, it stood to reason that they would meet and marry spouses on the same career trajectory.

A 2016 study by Robert Mare at the University of California, Los Angeles, lent credence to our expectation. Mare found that there has been an increase in assortative mating in recent yearsspouses are more likely to have similar levels of education today than they used to. Logically it would seem that similar levels of education should lead to similar levels of career success. That is, when two MBAs get married, both are poised to become business executives and produce lots of little MBA-procuring children. But of the 39 women we graduated with who are either married or partnered, only 4 fit the classic power couple description: a chief marketing officer at a bank married a corporate real-estate vice president; a sought-after screenwriter married a music executive; a wealth manager at a large investment bank married a brokerage executive; and a prominent doctor married a general counsel at a brokerage firm.

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The Ambition Interviews

We believe that couples often behave as though there is a set limit on the amount of ambition that can be contained within one union. Sometimes this limit is clearly articulated; sometimes it is unspoken, and the ambition can be distributed in different ways. Some couples consist of a high-achieving woman married to a man who has chosen to stay at home with the children, and sometimes its the reverse. Sometimes both members of the couple have careers that theyve decided to scale back in order to be more available to children, or to pursue other passions like volunteering or hiking. But with only a few exceptions, our former classmates either consciously chose or happened into marriages that supported what feels like a finite cap on career ambition.

But, the assortative mating theory still holds. While nearly all of our highest achievers paired off with men who had comparable degrees, once they became parents ultimately only one person in the couple ended up with a classically successful career. The other spouse opted to stay home with the children, or to have a career with flexible hours that enabled them to be the primary caregiver. It is almost as though, in families where someone has a big job, all of the career ambition has been allocated to one person. So while nearly all of our stay-at-home contingent are married to highachieving spouses (which in some cases led them to choose to stay at home), our highest achievers are almost exclusively married to stay-at-home fathers or men who have scaled-back their careers.

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In terms of numbers: We have eight high achievers who are married with children; five of them are the sole or primary wage earner in the household. None of our former classmates who are Scale Backers or Opt Outers are married to stay-at-home fathers. A 2015 Pew Research study reports that 7 percent of American fathers are stay-at-home dads, which is roughly in line with the 8 percent of our former classmates married to men who do not work outside the home and are the primary caregiver. But for this group, only the high achievers are married to stay-at-home dads.

In some cases these women had conversations with their spouse about who would stay home and whose career would take precedence. An insurance-company executive met her husband back when they were working at the same management-consulting firm. They both knew they wanted their children to be raised by a stay-at-home parent. When she became pregnant she was earning more than her husband, and both spouses felt her career had better long-term prospects, so they decided together that he would leave work and she would become the sole breadwinner.

The level of ambition within their marriage stayed constant, it merely shifted from one spouse to the other.

In other families, husbands seemed to slip into stay-at-home fatherhood due to circumstances that made working difficult. A banking executive met her future husbanda British citizenwhen she was working in London. When they decided to move back to Chicago to be closer to her ailing father, he struggled to find work, and ultimately became a full time stay-at-home father and part-time freelancer. Ten years on, the couple has never really articulated their division of labor. We havent consciously had that discussion, she told us. I have been the primary breadwinner. If I did scale back or even step out of my role it would be a huge lifestyle change for us financially.

Both women have seen their careers flourish, as did others married to men who work but are also the parent shouldering more of the child-raising and household duties. A senior rabbi whose husband is the director of development at a Jewish summer camp said that she and her husband had a frank discussion about whose career would take priority. We fully articulated it, she told us, explaining that in the early days of her marriage shed kept her career ambitions modest in order to spend more time with her children. But after evaluating her own career possibilities, and factoring in her husbands professional trajectory, she decided to make a move to push her own career ahead. I was tired of making things happen for other people, she said. The family moved states for her job, and she and her husband agreed that he would become the primary caregiver as he had a more flexible, lower-stress job. The level of ambition within their marriage stayed constant, it merely shifted from one spouse to the other.

Recommended: What Happens to Women's Ambitions in the Years After College

Its not surprising that nearly all of our stay-at-home contingent are married to high-achieving spouses. Many of them met their husbands at work, and then chose to stay at home in part because they found the challenge of managing a two-career family overwhelming, and in part because they had the financial ability to do so. But what we found surprising was that our Scale Backers were almost exclusively married to men who had also chosen scaled back careers. In these couples both spouses work, typically full time, but theyve consciously downshifted their careers, or decided not to go for a big promotion, in favor of sharing child-raising duties, making homemade lunches or having free time to hike in the mountains.

A lawyer in Atlanta who removed herself from the partner track in favor of working from home one day a week is married to a man who had made the same decision. A non-profit lawyer married to an information architect at an advertising agency described flexible schedules for both partners that allowed them to limit their paid childcare and spend time with their children in the mornings and afternoons. Both spouses liked that their jobs didnt demand tons of time away from the family, and neither spouse was interested in moving into a higher position at work that might mean more hours, even though it might also mean more money, prestige, or new challenges to tackle.

And in a few cases, couples have switched roles over the course of their marriage. A lawyer for the State Department married to a man pursuing a graduate degree in International Relations came home one day, after years supporting the family and their four children, and told him that she was done juggling a demanding career with parenthood and that it was his turn. So did a woman in Connecticut who had been moving up the ladder at her corporate training job while her husband stayed home to care for their son. And a former teacher turned-stay-at-home-mom outside of Chicago, married to a trader at an investment bank, told us that she and her husband had talked about trying to get her screenwriting career going so that he could slow down and possibly switch careers. Shed recently received a prominent screenwriting fellowship, and was optimistic about her chances in that industry.

Knowing he was home, and having that flexibility to stay late when I needed to stay late [has been helpful]my hours are all over the place.

So is it the case that modern marriages with children, and without access to unlimited expensive childcare, can only support a constant level of ambition? And if so, how conscious were the couples decisions to shift ambition across partners? Did the bulk of our high achievers knowingly marry the type of man who would be willing to scale back his career in favor of hers, or was it random? Does the personality type that creates a strong, successful executive gravitate toward the type of partner who might be more interested in staying home and raising children? Or, perhaps a high degree of career success is only attainable if one spouse stays home. Maybe todays work and parenting worlds are so all-encompassing and demanding that there is only room for one person to have a big career while the other takes on the full-time responsibilities of running a home and raising children. Most of our former classmates werent sure.

What would my life have been like if I had an equally ambitious partner? wondered the senior rabbi, shrugging. I have a husband who may not buy me diamonds from Cartier but who is incredibly supportive in sharing the parenting, and who gets to do work that he finds meaningful.

Recommended: The Ambition Interviews: A Table of Contents

Several others thought that their career success had been driven by a combination of financial need and personality, but were mixed on the degree to which having a stay-at-home spouse had benefited their career.

If [my husband] were here he would say hes been my rock, hes been my sole champion and sponsor, but I really feel I probably would have done it anyway, the banking executive said. But she did acknowledge that logistically, having her husband home with their daughter meant she was able to handle last minute meetings at odd hours. Knowing he was home, and having that flexibility to stay late when I needed to stay late [has been helpful]my hours are all over the place. Sometimes I have to meet with an executive at 7AM. Sometimes I have to stay until after seven.

And a business development director at a fashion and fragrance company in Barcelona whose partnera former competitive cyclist turned spin instructor turned freelance video produceris the parent who takes on more of the responsibility for caring for the couples son, says that her personality fits well with a demanding career.

Im slightly hyperactive, she told us, laughing. I need to be growing mentally, always having new challenges.

But at the same time, her career is the familys most stable source of income, so downshifting into a less demanding role isnt an option. On the contrary, she recently moved her partner and son to Asia for her new job as the marketing and business development director for a global alcoholic beverage company.

My mom stopped working for six or seven years to watch us. she remembers. Its beautiful and I respect her for it. But at the same time I wonder: Am I doing the right thing? I havent scaled back, and where I am, I cant scale back. It would not be possible today.

Read the next piece in this series here.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Police Mitras, civilians who volunteer to act cops, will be deployed to put a check on drunken revellers during Christmas and New Year festivities at hotels, restaurants and pubs in upscale areas with traffic police personnel and local police.

Around 600-700 Police Mitras may be deployed alongside traffic cops at strategic points to check drunken driving and assisting people, said a senior police officer.

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"We will be looking at seeking help from Police Mitras but their participation will be voluntary. There will not be any binding for them. We understand they have families and might want to enjoy festivities with them.

"Also, the work hours are quite odd since the drive will pick up around midnight and continue till late in the morning," the officer said.

Besides deploying Police Mitras, the Delhi Traffic Police will also be cautioning party-goers with messages aired across FM radio stations.

These messages, that will also be published in newspapers, will be advising party-goers to opt for cabs instead of driving themselves after they are drunk and not to endanger their lives, said special commissioner of police (Traffic) Ajay Kashyap.

There will be adequate deployment of staff along with equipment outside popular restaurants, pubs and bars in the city and these arrangements will start from Christmas eve, he added.

Sources also said DCPs of different traffic ranges and senior officers are also holding coordination meetings with security agencies of pubs and bars, mall managers and pub owners asking them to keep a check on their customers and ensure that they dont drink and drive. PTI SLB TIR

--- ENDS ---
LONDON (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch said on Monday he had never asked a British prime minister for anything, seeking to play down his influence ahead of what is likely to be a politically charged approval process for his $14.6 billion bid for pay-TV group Sky (SKYB.L).

The 85-year-old's Twenty-First Century Fox (FOXA.O) made a formal approach to take full control of the British-based Sky last week, reigniting a row over whether the media mogul controls too much of Britain's media and had too much sway over politicians.

In a short letter to the Guardian newspaper on Monday, Murdoch rejected the suggestion that he had once said: "When I go into Downing Street, they do what I say; when I go to Brussels, they take no notice,".

"There is much fake news published about me," he said. "Let me make clear that I have never uttered those words. I have made it a principle all my life never to ask for anything from any prime minister."

The letter, signed "Rupert Murdoch, New York, USA", was published on the Guardian website.

Murdoch's previous attempt to buy the 61 percent of Sky he did not already own was scuppered in 2011 by a phone-hacking scandal at one of his tabloid newspapers.

The British government will have to decide in the new year whether to refer the new bid for further scrutiny by the media regulator Ofcom.

Murdoch's statement that he had never sought to influence prime ministers is in contrast to evidence one former British premier gave to a public inquiry into media standards sparked by the phone-hacking revelations in June 2012.

Former Prime Minister John Major recounted how he had had dinner with Murdoch before the 1997 national election and said the media mogul had tried to change his policy on Europe.

"It is not very often someone sits in front of a prime minister and says to a prime minister: 'I would like you to change your policy, and if you don't change your policy, my organization cannot support you'," Major told the inquiry headed by judge Brian Leveson.

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Andrew Neil, a former editor of the Murdoch-owned Sunday Times newspaper, told the same inquiry that Murdoch had used support for Tony Blair's Labour government as a means of securing changes to media ownership rules which made his current bid for Sky possible.

"When Mr Murdoch testified before this inquiry that he had never asked government for anything it gave me cause to wonder if he had forgotten this - or forgotten he was testifying under oath," Neil said.

(Reporting by Kate Holton and Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison and Adrian Croft)
Batsman Karun Nair hit an unbeaten 195 to help India build a commanding lead over England on the fourth day of the fifth and final Test in Chennai on Monday.

India, who resumed the day on 391-4, advanced to 582 for five at tea with Nair and Ravichandran Ashwin (54) in cruise control at the crease.

The hosts lead England's first innings score of 477 by 105 runs going into the penultimate day's final session.

Nair -- who recorded his maiden Test century during Monday's first session -- and Ashwin have put on an unbeaten 147 runs for the sixth wicket to frustrate England's bowling attack.

Ashwin, who posted his 10th Test half-century, was trapped lbw by medium-pacer Keaton Jennings just before the break only to successfully challenge the ruling using the Decision Review System.

Nair, 25, who is playing in only his third Test after making his debut earlier in the series, started patiently but changed gears after reaching the 150-run mark.

He put on 63 runs for the fifth wicket with Murali Vijay (29) before debutant Liam Dawson got his first Test scalp with his left-arm spin in the morning session.

All-rounder Dawson, who scored an unbeaten 66 in England's first innings, pinned Vijay in front of his stumps and he was given out lbw.

England skipper Alastair Cook's tactic of rotating his bowlers on a flat pitch at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium restricted India to just 72 runs in the first session but the Indian batsmen stepped on the gas after lunch.

The hosts added 119 runs in the afternoon session as England bowled 30 overs without getting a single wicket.

India have already secured the series with a 3-0 lead.
Photo credit: NASA

From Popular Mechanics

A bag used to collect lunar samples during the first manned mission to the moon legally belongs to an Illinois woman who bought it for $995 when it was mistakenly sold during a government auction, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Judge J. Thomas Marten, of the U.S. District Court in Wichita, said he doesn't have the authority to reverse the sale of the bag used during the Apollo 11 moon mission in July 1969, even though it shouldn't have gone up for auction.

The white bag, which has lunar material embedded in its fabric and which the government considers "a rare artifact, if not a national treasure," was mistakenly sold as part of a criminal case against Max Ary, the former director of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, a museum in Hutchinson. Ary was convicted in November 2005 of stealing and selling museum artifacts, including some that were on loan from NASA.

Investigators found the Apollo 11 lunar bag in 2003 during a search of Ary's garage. The government contends that due to a mix up in inventory lists and item numbers, the bag was mistakenly thought to be a different bag that the government recovered. Ary had auctioned off that bag, which was used during the 1972 Apollo 17 lunar landing, for $24,150 in 2001.

The U.S. Attorney's Office wanted Marten to set aside the final forfeiture order and rescind the Apollo 11 bag's sale to Nancy Carlson in Inverness, Illinois, saying that NASA hadn't been properly notified of its forfeiture because the bag was misidentified. When she bought the bag, Carlson only knew that it had been used in a space flight, but not which one.

But Marten ruled that he didn't have the authority to do that. The government obtained title to the bag and sold it to a good faith purchaser in a sale according to law, he noted.

NASA learned that the Apollo 11 bag had been sold without notice or permission when Carlson sent it to NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston for authentication. Carlson separately sued NASA in June in a federal court in Illinois, seeking the return of the bag.

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Marten stopped short of ordering NASA to return the bag, noting that such a motion must be filed in the district where the property was seized.

The judge said NASA was a victim in this case, and that the importance and desirability of the bag stems solely from the efforts of the men and women of NASA whose "amazing technical achievements, skill and courage in landing astronauts on the moon and returning them safely have not been replicated in the almost half a century since the Apollo 11 landing."

[contentlinks align="left" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="More%20Bag%20News" customtitles="How%20NASA%20Lost%20And%20Found%20An%20Apollo%2011%20Lunar%20Bag" customimages="" content="article.22213"]

"Perhaps that fact, when reconsidered by the parties, will allow them to amicably resolve the dispute in a way that recognizes both of their legitimate interests, including Ms. Carlson's legitimately acquired interest in the bag," the judge wrote.

It unclear how much the Apollo 11 bag might fetch if auctioned off again and with the full knowledge of its significance.

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By Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO and Russia held more than three hours of talks on Monday, discussing ways to reduce military accidents but also underscoring their deep disagreement on the conflict in Ukraine. Western diplomats said the fact that the NATO-Russia Council, where the Russian ambassador to the North Atlantic alliance sits with members states' envoys, had met at all was significant after an increase in Russian military deployments. "Without talking, we cannot solve our differences," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said after the meeting in Brussels. Russia has alarmed NATO by equipping its Baltic fleet with nuclear-capable missiles and stepping up Cold War-style aerial incursions to probe Western air defenses. In October, it demonstratively sent its sole aircraft carrier close to Europe's shores on its way to Syria. Russian Ambassador Alexander Grushko gave a detailed briefing on Russian military exercises involving around 120,000 personnel in recent months, NATO diplomats said. There was also discussion in Brussels of the tactics being used by Russian pilots, which NATO says are unsafe. These include flying barrel rolls over Western aircraft, not sharing flight plans, and flying without the transponders that allow jets to be identified by ground radar. But Stoltenberg said there continued to be "profound disagreements" on one of the central issues in east-west relations: Ukraine. He said NATO members would not recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and that the alliance remained deeply concerned about eastern Ukraine, partly controlled since 2014 by rebels whom NATO accuses Moscow of financing. Despite an internationally-monitored ceasefire, diplomats have cited increasing reports of shelling and civilian casualties. NATO for its part has responded to increased Russian military activity by planning to deploy troops to the Baltic states and Poland next year. Although it says its plans are defensive, Russia has been irked and sought explanations. Separately, Ukrainian Europe Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, who met EU officials in Brussels, told Reuters six Ukrainian soldiers had been reported killed on Monday and another 26 wounded in shelling by Russian-backed rebels. The EU extended economic sanctions against Russia on Monday due to a lack of progress in implementing the Minsk ceasefire deal, under which a cessation of fighting was due to be followed by Kiev agreeing to hold local elections in the region. "The ball is in the Russian court," Klympush-Tsintsadze told Reuters. "Without security guarantees, without a ceasefire holding ... it will be impossible for Ukraine to move on the political agenda." (Editing by Kevin Liffey)
A 15-year-old girl has died in Nepal after she was banished to a shed because she was menstruating, under an ancient Hindu practice that has been banned for over a decade, police said Monday.

Some Hindus view menstruating women as impure and in parts of Nepal they are forced to remain in a hut or cowshed for days, a practice known as chhaupadi.

"We are investigating the case. We suspect that she died of suffocation from the smoke of a fire she lit to keep herself warm," local district inspector Badri Prasad Dhakal told AFP.

Under the practice, women are banned from taking part in normal family activities during menstruation and after childbirth, and can have no contact with men of the household.

The government outlawed chhaupadi in 2005, but Mohna Ansari of Nepal's National Human Rights Commission said local leaders must do more to enforce the ban.

"We have a legal ban but the law enforcement forces have not been strong about implementing it," she said.

"It is crucial for us to work to change the attitudes of the people and raise awareness against this practice."
Mariah Carey got a special visit from her ex-husband, Nick Cannon, and their adorable 5-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan, while performing at New York City's Beacon Theatre over the weekend.

Cannon took to Instagram to share a pic of the sweet moment, showing Carey kissing her son while the couple's daughter looks on with a smile.

"What a festive night for #DemKids," the America's Got Talent host captioned the family photo.

What a festive night for #DemKids A photo posted by LORD NCREDIBLE ALMIGHTY IkeT (@nickcannon) on Dec 17, 2016 at 3:11am PST

WATCH: Nick Cannon Talks Holiday Plans With Mariah Carey

Earlier in the week, Cannon, Carey and their cute kids met up out of the spotlight at a confection shop, along with Cannon's mom, Beth Gardner.

On Thursday, Cannon posted a beaming family photo from their delicious night out which he captioned simply, "Family Time!!!"

Family Time!!! A photo posted by LORD NCREDIBLE ALMIGHTY IkeT (@nickcannon) on Dec 15, 2016 at 6:11pm PST

Since splitting in 2014, the former couple have had an amiable relationship and have been very forward about the importance they place on co-parenting and making sure the spend as much time together with their kids as possible.

WATCH: Mariah Carey's Ex-Husband Nick Cannon 'Has Been Really Supportive' Following James Packer Split

Cannon also has a baby on the way with his former girlfriend, Brittany Bell.

However, Carey is still going to be a topic of discussion in Cannon's upcoming comedy special. ET recently caught up with the comic, who admitted that his new stand-up will address his ex, as well as her new beau, Bryan Tanaka. Check out the video below to hear more.

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Six people in Colorado recently became infected with a "nightmare" superbug that until now, has mostly been limited to people in hospitals, according to a new report. The new cases suggest the superbug may have spread outside of health care facilities.

The superbug is known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, a family of bacteria that are difficult to treat because they are resistant to powerful antibiotics. So far, nearly all cases of CRE infections have been seen in people who stay health care facilities, or who have been treated with certain medical procedures or devices, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But the six people in the new report had not stayed in a health care facility for at least a year before they contracted the infection. They had not recently undergone surgery or dialysis, either, and hadn't received any invasive devices, such as having a catheter or feeding tube inserted  all of which can be risk factors for CRE infections, the report said.

Thus, the six cases appear to be "community-associated" CRE infections, meaning the patients may have picked up these bacteria from somewhere in their everyday lives, outside of a health care setting.

CRE infections outside of a health care setting are "unusual for these bacteria," said study researcher Sarah Janelle, a health care-associated infections epidemiologist at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. These six cases suggest that "these bacteria might be moving from health care to community settings," Janelle told Live Science. "Further surveillance of CRE is needed to determine whether this pattern continues in Colorado and to determine if this trend is occurring in other parts of the United States," Janelle said. [6 Superbugs to Watch Out For]

CRE have been dubbed "nightmare" bacteria because they are resistant to nearly all antibiotics, and they can be highly lethal, killing up to 50 percent of infected patients, according to the CDC.

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The type of bacteria that cause CRE infections can be found in human guts, where the bugs are usually harmless. But infections can arise if the bacteria enter another part of the body, such as the bloodstream, Janelle said. What makes CRE unique is that these bacteria have acquired the ability to produce enzymes that work against most antibiotics.

In the new report, the six patients ranged in age from 20 to 85, with an average age of 61. All of the patients had been diagnosed with urinary tract infections. (CRE can also cause pneumonia and blood infections.) The cases were identified from 2014 to 2016, and all of the patients survived.

All of the patients were infected with a type of CRE that produces an enzyme called New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase. The enzyme makes the bacteria resistant to certain antibiotics, including the powerful carbapenem class of antibiotics. This type of CRE is not very common in the United States, but some people have become infected when they received health care abroad.

Of the six patients in the new report, two had traveled internationally shortly before their diagnoses, one to an unknown country in Africa and one to the Bahamas, the report said.

Two of the patients had underlying medical conditions, another risk factor for CRE, but three patients had no such conditions. One patient was pregnant at the time she tested positive for CRE. Being pregnant is known to suppress the body's immune system, which can increase the risk of infection.

In addition, one patient who had an underlying medical condition reported having provided care for a family member at several different health care facilities before testing positive for CRE, the report said.

Another risk factor for CRE infection is taking antibiotics. Studies have shown that when a person's normal gut bacteria community is disturbed (which happens when antibiotics are used), it puts that individual at risk for becoming sick with "bad" bacteria, including CRE. In addition, use of antibiotics increases the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance to the drugs, either through a mutation or by acquiring genes from other bacteria.

"Any time antibiotics are used, this puts biological pressure on bacteria that promotes the development of resistance," Janelle said.

Of the six patients, two had taken antibiotics within the month before they tested positive for CRE and one had taken antibiotics 10 months prior to testing positive.

The findings point to the importance of prescribing antibiotics appropriately, Janelle said. Studies have shown that doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics when the medicines aren't needed (such as when patients have a viral infection that can't be treated with antibiotics).

"Proper use of antibiotics can slow the development of resistance in bacteria and can preserve this life-saving resource," Janelle said.

The six cases do not appear to be connected, and the source of these CRE infections remains unknown, the report said.

To prevent CRE and other infection, members of the general public can wash their hands frequently and take antibiotics only when they are prescribed, Janelle said. Patients should also expect their health care providers to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before touching patients, the CDC said. If the health care provider doesn't do this, patients should ask them to do so, the agency said.

Original article on Live Science.

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DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / December 19, 2016 / North American Cannabis Holdings, Inc. (OTC PINK: USMJ) today announced an anticipated fifty percent (50%) increase in next quarter sales compared to the current quarter. With approximately $500,000 in annual sales and averaging $125,000 in quarterly sales, the Company anticipates realizing an additional $60,000 in sales from January 1st through March 31st.

The Company acquired a health and fitness focused smoothie and restaurant operation last year in 2015 as part of an overall strategy to build its AmeriCanna Cafe business - a cannabis friendly, fast causal restaurant concept. The vast majority of currently reported revenue is realized from the acquired operation and the updates to the operation since its acquisition. The AmeriCanna Cafe is only one of several cannabis enterprise operations under development at North American Cannabis Holdings. Among other pilot enterprise operations, the Company is developing and market testing a variety of fitness, health and wellness supplements that stem from the in house expertise resident within the acquired operation. The Company has recently entered into a distribution agreement with one of its fitness, health and wellness supplements anticipated to add an additional $60,000 in sales next quarter. While the confidence is high that the increase will be realized in the next quarter, at this time, the distribution agreement does not extend beyond the next quarter.

To learn more about North American Cannabis Holdings: www.growusmj.com

Follow the Company on Twitter: twitter.com/US_HEMP

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and as such, may involve risks and uncertainties. These forward looking statements relate to, amongst other things, current expectation of the business environment in which the company operates, potential future performance, projections of future performance and the perceived opportunities in the market. The company's actual performance, results and achievements may differ materially from the expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements as a result of a wide range of factors.

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USMJ Contact:

Steven Rash

Phone: +1-972-528-0162

SOURCE: North American Cannabis Holdings
Are their answers anywhere close to what you might have said, had you been up there?

By India Today Web Desk: Let's just stop pretending and agree upon the fact that every time we watch beauty pageants from the comfort of our homes, we are playing out in our heads a scenario about us being put in the same spot as those contestants answering those trick questions.

So, for beauty-pageant nuts like us, here are the questions--and their respective answers--that the top 5 contestants were asked at the Miss World 2016 pageant last night.

Miss Kenya Evelyn Njambi Thungu. Picture courtesy: Instagram/githinji_kiss

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Miss Kenya, Evelyn Njambi Thungu

Her question was asked by Miss World 1988, Linda Petursdottir of Iceland

Q: What can you do to improve education in the world?

A: What we can do to improve education in the world? Obviously, it begins with empowering every child to understand that education is important, and Nelson Mandela said that it is the weapon that a child can use to face the future. So, first let's educate our parents that education is important and then we shall have all children on board to achieve their dreams.

Miss World 2016, Stephanie Del Valle. Photo: Reuters Miss World 2016, Stephanie Del Valle. Photo: Reuters

Miss Puerto Rico, Stephanie Del Valle (Miss World 2016)

Her question was asked by Miss World 1975, Wilnelia Lady Forsyth of Puerto Rico

Q: If you have an opportunity to change something about the world, what would it be?

A: If I have the opportunity to change something about the world, I think what I would do is send a message of how important it is to change exclusion for acceptance, to promote and provide justice for others, and the importance of helping those in need. Thank you.

Miss Indonesia Natasha Mannuela. Picture courtesy: Instagram/lia_christel.d

Miss Indonesia, Natasha Mannuela (second runner-up)

Her question was asked by Miss World 2002, Azra Akin of Turkey

Q: How would you convince others to help their communities?

A: How to convince others is? Have to start from myself first. Then to start with love, then other people could see our sincere (sic) and they can inspire on how, what we do. And then [we] can continue it and share it to others again. And then one world can be one and can inspire all the world with love. Thank you.

Miss Dominican Republic Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez. Picture courtesy: Instagram/real_missosology

Miss Dominican Republic, Yaritza Miguelina Reyes Ramirez (first runner-up)

Her question was asked by Miss World 2008, Ksenia Sukhinova of Russia

Q: What do you think should we be teaching the next generation about protecting our planet?

A: I think we should be teaching our next generation to protect our planet. This is the only one we have. We shall protect Mother Earth. We should all be together and encourage communities and contribute with making campaigns so people can collect their trash. We have already global warming. We cannot stop it but we can enhance opportunities to make it better.

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Miss Philippines Catriona Elisa Gray. Picture courtesy: Instagram/thereigningqueens

Miss Philippines, Catriona Gray

Her question was asked by Miss World 2015, Mireia Lalaguna of Spain

Q: Which qualities do you think it will take to wear my crown?

A: I think, first of all, it takes bravery. To be a Miss World is to carry a burning torch. It is like action carried out by one to illuminate the lives of many. And I would dedicate my whole self, my love for the arts and my voice to try to uplift, empower and educate people. And it would be my greatest honour and duty to hold this torch high enough so that all the world could feel and see its light. Thank you.

--- ENDS ---
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's former deputy ambassador to Britain said on Monday he defected to South Korea after becoming disenchanted with the North's regime under Kim Jong Un, a South Korean member of parliament said. Thae Yong Ho became the highest-ranking North Korean diplomat to flee the isolated country when he defected to the South in August, in an embarrassing blow to the North. Thae, speaking to some members of South Korean parliament's Intelligence Committee on Monday, denied that he had defected to the South out of fear of punishment after committing a crime, as alleged by North Korea's state media, saying he had anticipated such accusations. Thae spoke to the committee behind closed door but some of his comments were carried by South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, and confirmed by the committee's chairman, Lee Cheol-woo, to Reuters by telephone. Thae said he defected with his wife and two sons. He said he did not have a daughter left behind in the North, as some media outlets have reported. He said he would be released from the protection of South Korea's spy agency on Friday but he is likely to remain living under tight security. Thae said he had expected the North to level charges of a financial crime such as embezzlement, so he had kept a record of his finances during his time at the embassy and took photographs of the record. North Korea has not identified Thae as a defector but in August, its state media accused an unidentified senior diplomat who defected from his post in Britain of fleeing to escape punishment for various crimes including child rape. (Reporting by Ju-min Park; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Seoul (AFP) - Top-ranking North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-Ho, whose recent defection gifted a major propaganda coup to the South, vowed Monday to devote himself to exposing the cruelties of the Pyongyang regime and encouraging others to escape.

South Korean lawmakers who met with Thae in Seoul told the Yonhap news agency that he had fleshed out his reasons for defecting and testified to the precarious lives of senior officials in the North and the "capitalist" survival techniques of ordinary North Koreans.

Thae was living in London as the deputy ambassador to Britain when he escaped to the South with his wife and two sons in August -- becoming one of the highest-ranking diplomats ever to defect.

The North's state media denounced him as "human scum", and accused him of embezzling state funds, raping a minor and spying for South Korea in exchange for money.

According to lawmaker Lee Cheol-Woo, Thae said he had become increasingly aware of the "gruesome realities" of North Korea under leader Kim Jong-Un and decided defection was the only option.

Thae promised to devote his life to "freeing the North Korean people from repression and persecution," Lee told Yonhap.

"I will engage in public activities even if it threatens my own safety," he quoted Thae as saying.

Intelligence agents who had been debriefing Thae since his arrival in Seoul told the lawmakers that he would be released from protective custody on Friday.

For all North Korean defectors, life in the South begins with intensive interrogation by the National Intelligence Service that can last for months and is aimed at weeding out possible spies.

Most are then sent to a resettlement centre for three months' training, after which they are free to start new lives in South Korean society.

- Bugged homes -

Thae said life for high-level officials in North Korea could be extremely insecure, and it was perfectly normal for their homes to be bugged and monitored for any hint of disloyalty.

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Lee told Yonhap that Thae had confirmed the execution of North Korea's then-defence minister, Hyon Yong-Chol, in 2015.

"The reason Hyon Yong-Chol was executed was because he said the wrong things at home," Thae was quoted as saying.

The NIS had previously suggested Hyon was purged and executed for dozing off during events presided over by Kim Jong-Un.

Thae also described how many ordinary North Koreans had taken to small-sized market enterprise to help feed themselves given the failures of the state food distribution system.

"Although North Korea is under a socialist system, it is basically running in a capitalist form," Thae was quoted as saying.

"Now, rather than relying on the party, people have learned many ways for survival on their own," he added.

Thae said more senior officials would defect from the North if they were less concerned about making a new life in the South, and urged Seoul to offer jobs and opportunities to encourage more to escape.

Following Thae's arrival and several other high-profile defection cases, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye told her government in October to prepare for a large-scale influx of North Koreans.

Rejecting the criminal charges Pyongyang levelled against him as "completely untrue," Thae told the lawmakers that he had balanced out his embassy account and taken a photo as proof in anticipation of future embezzlement allegations.
STAVANGER, Norway (AP)  After years of strained relations with China, Norway's prime minister says the country has resumed ties with Beijing.

Erna Solberg told lawmakers Monday that Norway would now restore cooperation with "a major world economy."

The relationship between the two became frayed in 2010 when Beijing was infuriated by the Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision to award the peace prize to jailed Chinese dissident, Liu Xiaobo.

Although the Norwegian government has no say over the Nobel panel's choices, a bilateral trade deal was suspended and Norwegian salmon  a major export earner  faced restrictions in China.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired footage of premier Li Keqiang meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende in Beijing and said the two countries had "reached a consensus on the normalization of ties."
WASHINGTON (AP)  Allegations of retaliation against a whistleblower at the National Security Agency have left its top watchdog fighting for his job, according to an intelligence official and another individual familiar with the case.

The case could offer some credence to Edward Snowden's claim that he could not have reported the government's domestic surveillance program without facing reprisals.

George Ellard, the NSA's inspector general, was placed on administrative leave after he refused to give the whistleblower a certain job assignment. The Project on Government Oversight, an advocacy group, first reported last week that Adm. Mike Rogers, director of NSA, had placed Ellard on leave and recommended that he be terminated. Ellard is appealing that decision.

Ellard received attention in 2014 for remarks at Georgetown University Law Center criticizing Snowden, the former NSA contractor who had leaked secret documents about the surveillance program. Snowden says he went public because he feared retaliation from his superiors if he had raised his concerns with them. Ellard said at Georgetown that Snowden could have safely come to him.

Ellard's case is the first to move completely through a process created by President Barack Obama in 2012 to ensure that intelligence employees can effectively report waste, fraud and abuse while protecting classified information. The directive prohibits agencies from retaliating against them or taking away security clearances or an employee's access to classified information.

The case stemmed from a whistleblower's claims of financial misconduct by NSA officials involving a conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

The whistleblower, in a brief email to The Associated Press, said that after he raised his concerns, his name was disclosed to Ellard in violation of rules intended to protect government employees who want to report misconduct.

The whistleblower said his email response had been cleared by the NSA. The agency declined to comment independently on the case. Ellard's attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

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It's not clear who revealed the whistleblower's identity to Ellard. But the whistleblower said that after Ellard learned who he was, "I was denied an assignment within the NSA inspector general's office of investigations because of my whistleblowing." He sent the email to the AP on condition of anonymity because the case is still active.

Rogers' decision to recommend Ellard's dismissal followed an eight-month investigation by a panel of inspectors general at the CIA, Treasury and Justice Department, according to an intelligence official, who was not authorized to disclose details about the case and spoke on condition of anonymity. The trio was empaneled in October 2015 and issued its decision in May.

The Justice and Defense departments declined to comment on the decision.

Louis Clark, director of the Government Accountability Project, said he was happy that the process set up by Obama's directive was finally being used, but expressed disappointment that it has taken so long for it to happen. "It was so slow because the intelligence agencies are extremely hostile to whistleblowing," he said.

The fate of Obama's directive is uncertain. It will be up to Donald Trump, after he becomes president, to decide whether to continue it. Trump has said he doesn't trust the intelligence agencies, but it's not clear if that would make him more or less likely to protect whistleblowers.

Timothy Edgar, Obama's first director of privacy and civil liberties for the White House national security staff, says there is cause for serious concern about the future of whistleblowers.

"What we're left with, I think, is probably primarily the integrity and bravery of people in the bureaucracy, who, despite those obstacles are willing to say 'no' if they are involved in activities that they think are serious violations of the Constitution," Edgar said.

___

Associated Press writer Eileen Sullivan contributed to this story.
Photo credit: Sam Dangremond

From Town & Country

The increased security around Manhattan's Trump Tower has taken a toll on Tiffany & Co's Fifth Avenue flagship and other luxury retailers in the neighborhood.

And while the heavy security, which reportedly costs New York City about $500,000 a day, isn't going away anytime soon, the jeweler has come up with a creative strategy for the required barricades that cordon off a pathway to its front door.

Photo credit: Sam Dangremond

According to WWD, Tiffany partnered with the New York City Police Department to install branded, robin's egg-blue barriers outside its entrance, which is on the same Fifth Avenue block as Trump Tower.

[contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="How%20Trump%20Tower's%20Security%20Is%20Affecting%20Business" customimages="" content="article.8686"]

The retailer conveniently already had the Tiffany-blue coverlets on hand-they were made to embellish the barricades at its holiday window unveiling, an event that was canceled because of the increased security presence.

Photo credit: undefined

Tiffany employees in Tiffany-blue scarves are also positioned outside the store during business hours to assist shoppers with entry. No security check is necessary to enter Tiffany & Co., but pedestrians who want to get into Trump Tower (visiting Starbucks is a valid reason) must submit their bags to search by the U.S. Secret Service.

[contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="These%20Are%20the%20Best%20Holiday%20Windows%20in%20NYC" customimages="" content="gallery.3070"]

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By Ayesha Rascoe

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Monday issued long-awaited rules aimed at ending state policies that can leave prisoners saddled with crippling child support debts.

The regulations crafted by the Administration for Children and Families would require that prisoners be allowed to seek to lower the amount of child support they pay while in prison. The move aims to avoid inmates struggling to repay large debts after their release that can lead to reincarceration.

"By ensuring states set their orders based on actual circumstances in the family, we believe the rule will result in more reliable child support payments, and children will benefit," Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Mark Greenberg said in a statement.

Under the new regulations, states would not be allowed to treat incarceration as "voluntary unemployment," a policy that effectivly blocked prisoners from modifying existing child support orders. States would also be required to notify both parents of the right to seek changes to child support payments if one of the parents is incarcerated for more than six months.

It is unclear whether the overhaul will face pushback from incoming Republican President Donald Trump's administration. Some Republicans lawmakers have opposed the regulations, arguing they would allow parents to avoid their financial responsibilities.

The rules, first proposed in late 2014, are part of President Barack Obama's push to reform the U.S. criminal justice system and to make it easier for released inmates to re-enter society. [http://bit.ly/2h59Ba6]

A 2010 administration survey found 51,000 federal prisoners had child support orders, with almost 29,000 of them behind on payments. The average amount owed was nearly $24,000.

(Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Dan Grebler)
"That is for the RSS people to say, not for us," the 46-year-old leader said. The RSS (or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) is the ideological mentor of the BJP.

By Indo-Asian News Service: At a rally in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh today, Rahul Gandhi stopped people from hurling invective against Narendra Modi, saying he is the Prime Minister and "we must not say 'murdabad' (down with) for anyone".

As Gandhi began his speech at the public rally in Jaunpur, some people from among the crowd started shouting slogans against Modi over demonetisation.

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Gandhi asked them not to do that. "We have differences of opinion with Modi and the BJP. Do not use the word 'murdabad'... Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister. Political fight is there," he said.

"That is for the RSS people to say, not for us," the 46-year-old leader said.

The RSS (or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) is the ideological mentor of the BJP.

'MODI TOOK BLOOD OF 99% INDIANS OUT'

The Congress vice-president said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has taken blood out of the veins of 99 per cent Indians with its demonetisation decision.

He said the Congress would have assisted any move of the government to weed out corruption and black money from India but "the decision on demonetisation was neither against corruption, nor against black money".

He said: "We want to root out corruption from India. If the government takes any decisions against corruption, we will support it 100 per cent."

The Congress leader said the November 8 announcement to spike nearly 86 per cent of the country's total currency in circulation "was against poor people of India".

"It is against 99 per cent people of India, against farmers and labourers. Without seeking their permission, Modi has taken blood out of their veins."

ANTI-MODI SLOGANS RAISEDAlso read: Mark my words, Modi will pay off rich people's debt using your money: Rahul Gandhi in UP

--- ENDS ---
Photo credit: Getty

From Cosmopolitan

President Barack Obama is promising that the U.S. will retaliate against Russia for its suspected meddling in America's election process, an accusation the Kremlin has vehemently denied.

Amid calls on both sides of the political aisle on Capitol Hill for a full-bore congressional investigation, including assertions President Vladimir Putin was personally involved, Obama said in an interview that anytime a foreign government tries to interfere in U.S. elections, the nation must take action "and we will - at a time and place of our own choosing."

"Some of it may be explicit and publicized, some of it may not be," he told NPR News Thursday. "But Mr. Putin is well aware of my feelings about this, because I spoke to him directly about it."

White House officials said it was "fact" that Russian hacking helped Donald Trump's campaign against Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Administration officials on Thursday also assailed Trump himself, saying he must have known of Russia's interference. Obama was to hold a news conference at the White House on Friday afternoon.

No proof was offered for any of the accusations, the latest to unsettle America's uneasy transition from eight years under Obama to a new Republican administration led by Trump. The claims of Russian meddling in the election also have heightened already debilitating tensions between Washington and Moscow over Syria, Ukraine and a host of other disagreements.

In the NPR interview, Obama sough to contrast the current incident with "a traditional understanding that everybody's trying to gather intelligence on everybody else."

"One of the things we're going to have to do over the next decade," he said, is find an international understanding on rules involving what has become "a new game." Obama said that U.S. officials should not let "the inter-family argument between Americans" obscure the need for people to "stand together" on this issue.

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"My view is that this is not a partisan issue," the president said, exhorting people to "take it out of election season and move it into governing season."

Speaking to reporters earlier Thursday, presidential spokesman Josh Earnest said that "only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized these activities."

Obama's deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, connected the dots further, saying it was Putin who was responsible for the Russian government's actions.

"I don't think things happen in the Russian government of this consequence without Vladimir Putin knowing about it," he told MSNBC.

The explosive accusation paints Putin, the leader of perhaps America's greatest geopolitical foe, as having directly undermined U.S. democracy. U.S. officials have not contended, however, that Trump would have been defeated by Clinton on Nov. 8 if not for Russia's assistance. Nor has there has been any indication of tampering with the vote-counting.

The Kremlin rejected the claim of Putin's involvement, with Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissing it as "laughable nonsense."

There has been no specific, persuasive evidence shared publicly about the extent of Putin's role or knowledge of the hackings. That lack of proof undercuts Democrats' strategy to portray Putin's involvement as irrefutable evidence of a directed Russian government plot to undermine America's democratic system.

The dispute over Russia's role is fueling an increasingly public spat between Obama's White House and Trump's team that is threatening to spoil the delicate truce that Obama and Trump have forged since Election Day to smooth the billionaire businessman's move to the White House in little over a month.

Kellyanne Conway, Trump's senior transition adviser, said it was "breathtaking" and irresponsible that the White House had suggested Trump knew Russia was interfering to help his campaign.

That led Earnest to unload from the White House, arguing that Trump, who has dismissed the CIA's assessment of Russian interference, should spend less time attacking the intelligence community and more time supporting the investigation that Obama has ordered.

Earnest said it was "obvious" Trump knew what Russia was doing during the campaign, pointing out that Trump had encouraged Moscow during a news conference to find Clinton's missing emails, repeating the assertion Obama made in "The Daily Show" appearance.

Trump has said he was joking.

"I don't think anybody at the White House thinks it's funny that an adversary of the United States engaged in malicious cyber activity to destabilize our democracy," Earnest said. "That's not a joke."

Trump struck back Friday morning, saying in a Twitter post, "Are we talking about the same cyberattack where it was revealed that head of DNC (Democratic National Committee) illegally gave Hillary the questions to the debate?" He was referring to a controversy centering on now-acting DNC chair Donna Brazile, who was accused of tipping off Clinton to questions that were to be asked in a debate hosted by CNN earlier this year. Brazile at the time was a CNN political analyst.

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HONOLULU (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama shortened the prison sentences for 153 convicts, mainly low-level drug offenders, and pardoned 78 others, the White House said on Monday.

Obama has commuted the sentences of 1,176 federal prisoners, the White House said, as part of a push to reduce the number of people serving long sentences for non-violent drug offenses.

In 2014, Obama announced he would use his clemency powers to reduce sentences he saw as overly harsh. That came after criminal justice bills aimed at non-violent drug offenders stalled in Congress.

The White House said Monday's commutations and pardons were the most acts of clemency in a single day by any U.S. president.

In addition to commuting sentences, Obama has pardoned 148 people in total. White House Counsel Neil Eggleston said they were people who led "productive and law-abiding" lives and contributed to their communities after being convicted.

Eggleston said in a blog post released by the White House that he expected Obama would issue more commutations and pardons before leaving office in January, but he said only Congress could make broader changes to the criminal justice system.

(Reporting by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and; Dan Grebler)

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By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Odebrecht executives have testified the Brazilian engineering firm illegally funded the 2014 campaign of the country's impeached leftist president, a top newspaper reported on Monday, a development that could lead to the removal of her successor.

The testimony by the state witnesses as part of a leniency deal with the firm could, if accepted by the Supreme Court, bolster a request to annul the election two years ago of Dilma Rousseff and her running mate Michel Temer for abuse of power.

If that were to happen next year, Brazil's Congress would pick a caretaker to lead the country until a new president is elected at the end of 2018. Temer formally took over the presidency from Rousseff after her ouster in late August.

The Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, citing the testimony of Odebrecht executives, said at least one of them told prosecutors an illegal donation of about 30 million reais ($8.9 million) was made to the Rousseff re-election campaign, roughly 10 percent of its officially registered funding.

Temer has denied accepting illegal donations. His office had no immediate comment on the newspaper report.

The current Brazilian president has lost four ministers due to corruption allegations. That and a prolonged economic recession have threatened his political survival and given rise to calls for him to step down and allow new elections.

Last week, one of Temer's closest aides resigned following allegations he received bribes from Odebrecht, and two another members of his inner circle are under pressure to quit the besieged government.

The TSE electoral court will decide next year whether to annul the 2014 election result, though it can also separate Rousseff's campaign accounts from Temer's and rule that he can continue in office.

Odebrecht, the family-owned company that prosecutors said gained most from the sprawling graft scheme uncovered nearly three years ago at state-run oil company Petrobras, signed a 6.7 billion-real agreement with prosecutors on Dec. 1, admitting guilt and offering information on bribes paid.

Story continues

More than 70 of its executives, including family patriarch and Chairman Emilio Odebrecht and his jailed son and former CEO Marcelo Odebrecht, agreed to make plea statements that have been received by the Supreme Court to validate them as evidence. A court official said the lengthy pleas will be examined in January.

Odebrecht declined to comment but said in a statement that it is cooperating with the judiciary and adopting ethical and transparent compliance practices.

($1 = 3.3675 reais) (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Paul Simao)
(Adds Lula facing new corruption charges)

By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Odebrecht executives have testified the Brazilian engineering firm illegally funded the 2014 campaign of the country's impeached leftist president, a top newspaper reported on Monday, a development that could lead to the removal of her successor.

The testimony by the state witnesses as part of a leniency deal with the firm could, if accepted by the Supreme Court, bolster a request to annul the election two years ago of Dilma Rousseff and her running mate Michel Temer for abuse of power.

If that were to happen next year, Brazil's Congress would pick a caretaker to lead the country until a new president is elected at the end of 2018. Temer formally took over the presidency from Rousseff after her ouster in late August.

The Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, citing the testimony of Odebrecht executives, said at least one of them told prosecutors an illegal donation of about 30 million reais ($8.9 million) was made to the Rousseff re-election campaign, roughly 10 percent of its officially registered funding.

Temer has denied accepting illegal donations. His office had no immediate comment on the newspaper report.

The current Brazilian president has lost four ministers due to corruption allegations. That and a prolonged economic recession have threatened his political survival and given rise to calls for him to step down and allow new elections.

Last week, one of Temer's closest aides resigned following allegations he received bribes from Odebrecht, and two other members of his inner circle are under pressure to quit the besieged government.

The TSE electoral court will decide next year whether to annul the 2014 election result, though it can also separate Rousseff's campaign accounts from Temer's and rule that he can continue in office.

LULA FACES NEW CHARGES

Odebrecht, the family-owned company that prosecutors said gained most from the sprawling graft scheme uncovered nearly three years ago at state-run oil company Petrobras, signed a 6.7 billion-real agreement with prosecutors on Dec. 1, admitting guilt and offering information on bribes paid.

Story continues

More than 70 of its executives, including family patriarch and Chairman Emilio Odebrecht and his jailed son and former CEO Marcelo Odebrecht, agreed to make plea statements that have been received by the Supreme Court to validate them as evidence. A court official said the lengthy pleas will be examined in January.

Odebrecht declined to comment but said in a statement that it is cooperating with the judiciary and adopting ethical and transparent compliance practices.

A judge on Monday indicted the country's former president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as his wife Marisa and seven others on corruption charges in the Petrobras kickback scheme. Lula already was facing four other graft cases before the new charges.

A leftist who was Rousseff's mentor, Lula is still one of Brazil's most popular politicians and seen as a front-runner to win the 2018 presidential election, though a conviction would rule him out of the running.

Prosecutors allege that Odebrecht, Latin America's biggest construction firm, paid 12.9 million reais for the land to be used for Lula's think tank and an apartment in a Sao Paulo suburb.

($1 = 3.3675 reais) (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Paul Simao)
By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) - Odebrecht executives have testified the Brazilian engineering firm illegally funded the 2014 campaign of the country's impeached leftist president, a top newspaper reported on Monday, a development that could lead to the removal of her successor. The testimony by the state witnesses as part of a leniency deal with the firm could, if accepted by the Supreme Court, bolster a request to annul the election two years ago of Dilma Rousseff and her running mate Michel Temer for abuse of power. If that were to happen next year, Brazil's Congress would pick a caretaker to lead the country until a new president is elected at the end of 2018. Temer formally took over the presidency from Rousseff after her ouster in late August. The Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, citing the testimony of Odebrecht executives, said at least one of them told prosecutors an illegal donation of about 30 million reais ($8.9 million) was made to the Rousseff re-election campaign, roughly 10 percent of its officially registered funding. Temer has denied accepting illegal donations. His office had no immediate comment on the newspaper report. The current Brazilian president has lost four ministers due to corruption allegations. That and a prolonged economic recession have threatened his political survival and given rise to calls for him to step down and allow new elections. Last week, one of Temer's closest aides resigned following allegations he received bribes from Odebrecht, and two other members of his inner circle are under pressure to quit the besieged government. The TSE electoral court will decide next year whether to annul the 2014 election result, though it can also separate Rousseff's campaign accounts from Temer's and rule that he can continue in office. LULA FACES NEW CHARGES Odebrecht, the family-owned company that prosecutors said gained most from the sprawling graft scheme uncovered nearly three years ago at state-run oil company Petrobras, signed a 6.7 billion-real agreement with prosecutors on Dec. 1, admitting guilt and offering information on bribes paid. More than 70 of its executives, including family patriarch and Chairman Emilio Odebrecht and his jailed son and former CEO Marcelo Odebrecht, agreed to make plea statements that have been received by the Supreme Court to validate them as evidence. A court official said the lengthy pleas will be examined in January. Odebrecht declined to comment but said in a statement that it is cooperating with the judiciary and adopting ethical and transparent compliance practices. A judge on Monday indicted the country's former president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as his wife Marisa and seven others on corruption charges in the Petrobras kickback scheme. Lula already was facing four other graft cases before the new charges. A leftist who was Rousseff's mentor, Lula is still one of Brazil's most popular politicians and seen as a front-runner to win the 2018 presidential election, though a conviction would rule him out of the running. Prosecutors allege that Odebrecht, Latin America's biggest construction firm, paid 12.9 million reais for the land to be used for Lula's think tank and an apartment in a Sao Paulo suburb. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Paul Simao)
Olivia Culpo has had quite a year when it comes to hairstyles. From architectural up-dos to pin-straight bobs to ethereal braids, each time she stepped out, she dared to experiment with bold, stand-out looks. And although Culpo admits shes experienced her fair share of beauty blunders (like burning off an entire section of her hair!), this year, she truly dominated the red carpet with her versatility. So when we sat down with the former Miss Universe and new face of GHD hair styling products, there was no question we had to get her to spill all the details about her most memorable styles of the year.

As it turns out, Culpo admitted that some of her most memorable looks have been inspired by the 90s looks of the Spice Girls.

This sleek, super high ponytail was inspired by Sporty Spice and then the outfit was inspired by Victoria Beckham, Posh Spice, Culpo said of her look at the SoBe Las Vegas Bash at the SLS Hotel. This hair was totally posh for Vegas. This was like my Vegas moment!

RELATED PHOTOS: Braid Brigade! Hottest Star Hairstyle

The 24-year-old star also channeled Beckhams iconic look with the sleek straight bob she wore to the Gallant performance at the W Los Angeles. I was wearing this tight, metallic dress  I could not breathe in this dress, she said. And I said, I feel like Victoria Beckham and Posh Spice. I told I wanted to try the Posh hairstyle.

To see all of Culpos top hair looks of the year and what else inspired these statement-making styles, make sure to check out her Fashion Flashback in the video, above.

Whats your favorite hair look Olivia wore this year? Share your pick below.




baby surprised costco

The joy of bargain hunting is being replaced by the convenience of e-commerce  and Costco is struggling to keep up.

While companies such as Walmart and Target are making major investments in online shopping, Costco is lagging.

Part of the reason for Costco's reluctance to build its online business is tied to the retailer's business model.

"The key to warehouse club shopping is the hunt for new stuff that was not there last month or even last week  a real treasure hunt!" Frank Riso, principal at Frank Riso Associates, recently told Forbes of Costco.

Treasure hunts work well in person. However, in 2016, online sales is one of the biggest areas of growth in the retail industry as customers ditch brick-and-mortar stores.

E-commerce sales are expected to reach $385 billion in 2016 and $632 billion in 2020, according to BI Intelligence, Business Insider's research service. While the average growth rate in the US retail industry was just 2% in the first half of 2016, it reached 16% online.

Essentially, if retailers want to grow sales, e-commerce is key  and Costco is falling short.

Even Costco is realizing it needs to catch up.

"There are some things that perhaps we should've done earlier," Richard Galanti, Costco's CFO, said in a call with analysts earlier in December.

The company is currently focusing on increasing the number of items available online, making the checkout process more convenient, and working to deliver online orders faster. Galanti said in the earnings call that Costco plans to grow its online apparel business in particular.

As a result, online sales are growing, increasing 8% in the most recent quarter compared with the same quarter last year.

Walmart grocery pickup

Still, Costco has a long way to go. The company says it is not going to add click-and-collect, an area other retailers like Kroger and Walmart are exploring. Nor is it planning to compete with Amazon or Walmart in terms of the sheer number or variety of products.

Story continues

"To Amazon and others' credit, they're trying a lot of things," Galanti said. "Some will work and some won't, and we're pretty good at understanding what works [for Costco]."

A shortcoming Costco is trying to address is mobile sales. According to Galanti, the company has a lower ratio of mobile sales  a huge growth category  than the industry average.

In general, Costco seems to have less urgency in growing online sales than competitors such as Walmart, Target, or even grocery chains like Kroger.

"We have never been big on convenience. Our success has been based on pricing value, quality, and quantity at the lowest possible price," Galanti said during an earnings call in September. "You will see some differences, and mostly the differences are from an offensive standpoint, not a defensive standpoint. But we look at our core business of getting you in the store still is paramount to what we want to do."

For comparison, in October, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said that Walmart, "over time, is going to look like more of an e-commerce company."

Walmart has made some serious investments in e-commerce recently, purchasing the online retailer Jet.com and building new software called Electrode that it says helps its webpages load 33% faster.

NOW WATCH: 9 items you shouldn't buy at Costco





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In the annals of American history, only one presidential and vice presidential election was directly influenced by faithless electors. Today, it remains mostly forgotten in political lore.

richard johnson 536

Richard Mentor Johnson

Faithless electors occasionally come up as a discussion topic, especially in years with close presidential elections. In all, there have been 58 presidential elections since 1789, including the current contest featuring Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. In these elections, there have been 23,548 electors who have taken part in the Electoral College. Only 157, of 0.67%, have voted for candidates other than the ones they pledged to represent.

Of that group of 157 faithless electors, 71 couldnt pick their candidate in the Electoral College because the candidate had died between the popular vote and the Electoral College vote.

Its rare for more than one faithless elector to pop up at the Electoral College. The last time there were multiple faithless electors at the national Electoral College meeting was in 1896, when four electors for the Peoples Party voted for the Democratic Party vice presidential candidate, Arthur Sewell.

Ever rarer is the case of multiple electors switching their votes away from presidential candidate who was still alive. It has happened twice in 57 elections; in 1808, eight electors refused to vote for their pledged presidential candidate, James Madison. And in 1832, two National Republican Party members abstained from voting for their candidate, Henry Clay.

And then there is Richard Mentor Johnson, the only candidate in Electoral College history who saw a mass defection of electors push his race out of the Electoral College and into Congress to decide.

Johnson was on the Democratic ticket of 1836 as the vice presidential candidate for Martin Van Buren, the heir apparent to President Andrew Jackson. Johnson, a Congressman from Kentucky, was picked to balance the ticket as a partner for the New York-born Van Buren. But the Virginia delegation at the party convention in Baltimore refused to vote for Johnson as the vice presidential nominee. It rose to object after Johnsons nomination announcement, stating he couldnt be recommended to state voters and accusing Johnson of supporting the Bank of the United States.

Story continues

The vice presidential candidate was best-known nationally for claims made by his supporters that Johnson had personally killed the Indian leader Tecumseh during the Battle of Thames in 1813. It was also well-known in political and social circles that Johnson has inherited from his father a slave, Julia Chinn, who was an octoroon. Chinn became Johnsons common-law wife, since the couple couldnt marry under miscegenation laws in effect, and they had two children before Chinn died in 1833. Johnson then had two other relationships with womenwho were black or mixed race, and his personal life had been a campaign issue in several prior elections.

In the 1836 presidential election, Van Buren won the general election with 170 electoral votes, defeating William Henry Harrison and three other Whig candidates. But during the Electoral College proceedings, 23 electors in Virginia pledged to Johnson voted for another Democratic vice presidential candidate, William Smith of Alabama. The news became public in mid-December, leading to more speculation about Johnson.

On February 8, 1837, the Senate convened under the terms of the 12th Amendment under the following provision: The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President.

The candidates in the Senate contingent election for Vice President were Johnson, and Harrisons running mate, Frances Granger of New York. Johnson won the contingent vote, 33-17, on party lines, and became the ninth Vice President.

Johnsons four years as Vice President were marked by an unusually high number of tie-breaking votes required in his role as president of the Senate. But Johnson also frequently went home to manage his tavern in Kentucky.

Van Buren decided to run for re-election in 1840 with no vice presidential running mate after his experience with Johnson. But Johnson campaigned for re-election on his own and received 48 electoral votes for Vice President, compared with Van Burens 60. Harrison and John Tyler received 234 electoral votes to win the election easily.

After leaving Washington, Johnson spent a decade trying to continue his political career, until he died at the age of 70 in Kentucky in 1850.

As a footnote, there was a similar vice presidential faithless elector dispute four years before the Johnson situation. After the 1832 general election, 30 electors from Pennsylvania pledged to Van Buren, Andrew Jacksons running mate, voted for William Wilkins, a favorite-son candidate.

Scott Bomboy is the editor in chief of the National Constitution Center.

Recent Electoral College Stories on Constitution Daily

How the Electoral College voting will unfold on Monday

The Interactive Constitution: Understanding The Electoral College

What happened the last time we had a Faithless Elector?

What happens to a vote-switching Elector on December 19?
ANKARA (Reuters) - One Turkish soldier was killed in a car bomb attack in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab while 11 Islamic State militants were killed in clashes on Sunday, the Turkish military said in a statement on Monday. It said Turkish warplanes on Sunday destroyed 52 Islamic State targets in the area of al-Bab, which is controlled by the jihadists. The strikes were part of the nearly four-month old "Euphrates Shield" operation to drive IS and a Kurdish militia away from the border area. (Reporting by Orhan Coskun; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by David Dolan)
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today addressed a rally in Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held another rally in Kanpur.

By India Today Web Desk: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today addressed a rally in Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held another rally in Kanpur.

With Uttar Pradesh set to vote in less than five months, politics over demonetisation and other issues has intensified between the government and the main Opposition party, the Congress.

Highlights of Rahul's speech:

Congress wants to uproot corruption from India.

For this, we are ready to lend our support to the BJP.

But, demonetisation was not against corruption, it was against poor people of India.

RSS uses the word 'Murdabad,' not Congress.

Honest taxpayers are suffering.

The decision made on November 8 was not against black money or corruption, but against farmers, the poor.

Farmers are committing suicide everyday.

PM Modi snatched land from tribals.

All the cash is not black money in India.

You need to understand black money to fight against it.

PM gifted 60 per cent of country's wealth to 1 per cent of people.

Most of the black money is deposited in foreign accounts.

Did anybody get Rs 15 lakh in their bank accounts?

After November 8, PM Modi has handed over a toffee worth Rs 1,200 crore to Vijay Mallya: Rahul Gandhi

People working in the informal sector survive on daily wages, the government has snatched their livelihood: Rahul

Modi Murdabad slogans should not be used in Congress meetings, as Modi is the PM.We will defeat him politically: Rahul

About 50 families in the country own the majority of wealth: Rahul

PM Modi knows this and members of these families accompany him to America and China: Rahul

Modi has fire bombed the poor of the country: Rahul

In WW2, there was a new technique of bombing ppl, firebombs were dropped on a city by 200 planes. City would be burnt to ashes:Rahul

A lady Lakshmi in Bengaluru sold flowers. At 4 am she used to go and buy flowers through cash: Rahul

People also bought from her through cash,now after Demonetisation same Lakshmi is forced to beg. This is due to you Modi ji: Rahul

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--- ENDS ---
This Immigrant Doctor Is Reimagining Health in the American City

After witnessing the impact of the ongoing water shutdowns in her home city of Detroit, Monica Lewis-Patrick co-founded We the People of Detroit. The grassroots organization aims to help vulnerable populations gain access to clean water as well as tools and information that empower them to improve their quality of life.

As this video explains, many Detroiters lost access to water after the cost for the utility rose 120%+ in the last ten years. That surge in cost, coupled with increased poverty levels across the state of Michigan, has created third world conditions, Monica explains.

Monicas journey as an advocate and activist began after the city of Detroit cut off water to a 44-unit apartment building occupied by low-income mothers and senior citizens. She immediately sprang to action, establishing an emergency water station and recruiting neighbors to devise solutions  which she refers to as coalition building. Unemployed herself at the time, she used her own money to purchase food, baby wipes, hand sanitizer & water to support the residents in need.

We couldnt wait on anybody to save us or respond to not having water. So we began to help ourselves and to help each other, she says, reflecting on the grassroots approach her organization has taken since the beginning. Thus far, her efforts have been successful. Last year, We the People of Detroit delivered more than 125 tons of safe, drinkable water to residents across Detroit and Flint, and Monica shows no signs of stopping.

In recognition of her ability to empathize and mobilize, Monica has been named a $100,000 winner in The KIND Foundations KIND People program. She embodies a bold kind of kindness that so often escapes daily life. According to Monica, being kind means actively seeking opportunities to help others.

Take the Pledge: Dont Be Silent: Take the Pledge to Be an Ally for Racial Justice

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An artists conception shows a constellation of satellites in orbit. (Credit: OneWeb)

The OneWeb internet satellite venture says it has secured another $1.2 billion in investment, including a billion dollars from SoftBank Group.

OneWeb said the new infusion of capital will support the construction of a high-volume satellite production facility in Exploration Park, Fla., capable of producing 15 satellites a week. Production is to begin in 2018, with an eye toward having OneWebs network operating by as early as 2019.

The operation is expected to create nearly 3,000 new jobs in the U.S. over the next four years, including jobs in engineering and manufacturing, OneWeb said.

SoftBanks investment serves as an initial follow-through on a pledge made by the Japan-based conglomerates chairman and CEO, Masayoshi Son, to President-elect Donald Trump. During a meeting in New York this month, Son told Trump that hed invest $50 billion in the U.S. to create 50,000 jobs.

This is the first step in that commitment, Son said today in a statement. America has always been at the forefront of innovation and technological development, and we are thrilled to be playing a part in continuing to drive that growth as we work to create a truly globally connected ecosystem.

An artists conception shows OneWebs production facility in Exploration Park, Fla. (Graphic via Business Wire)

Some have speculated that SoftBanks investment strategy also includes pursuing a merger between telecom provider Sprint, which is majority-owned by SoftBank, and T-Mobile, which has its U.S. headquarters in Bellevue, Wash.

The newly announced investment is a shot in the arm for OneWeb, which is facing a 2019 deadline to take advantage of a spectrum license granted by the International Telecommunications Union to provide low-cost, high-speed internet service.

OneWebs plan calls for putting up a constellation of 720 low-Earth-orbit satellites, and adding to it as time goes on. The venture says it plans to provide high-speed internet access to every unconnected school in the world by 2022.

OneWebs longer-term goal is to fully bridge the Digital Divide by 2027, making Internet access available and affordable for everyone, said Greg Wyler, the companys chairman.

Story continues

Over the past couple of years, OneWeb attracted more than half a billion dollars in investment from Airbus Group, Qualcomm, Bharti Enterprises, Hughes Network Systems, Intelsat, Coca-Cola, the Virgin Group and Totalplay.

Previous investors joined SoftBank in filling out the $1.2 billion financing round. OneWeb said the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017. In connection with the investment, Ronald Fisher, a director on SoftBank Groups board, will join OneWebs board of directors as well.

Airbus is taking the lead role in designing and building the 330-pound satellites, while Europes Arianespace consortium and Virgin Galactic are slated to put them in orbit. Arianespace plans to use Russian-built Soyuz rockets, launched from French Guiana in South America. Virgin Galactic would use its Launcher One system, which is currently under development.

The first 10 satellites are to be built at Airbus plant in France, and Wyler said theyd be launched in early 2018 to test the system.

OneWeb isnt the only venture in the race to provide connectivity to the estimated 4 billion people around the world who dont have it today. SpaceX is also working on an internet satellite network, with its Seattle office playing a prime role. Other potential players include Boeing and Facebook.

More from GeekWire:
Investors in shares of NVIDIA Corporation NVDA need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Put which expires on Jan 20, 2017 for the $8 strike price had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.



What is Implied Volatility?



Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility could mean that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that could cause a big rally or a huge sell off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.



What do the Analysts Think?



Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for NVIDIA Corporation shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, NVIDIA Corporation is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) in the Semiconductor  General industry that ranks in the top 9% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, 11 analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while no analyst has revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from 56 cents per share to 86 cents in that period.



Given the way analysts feel about NVIDIA Corporation right now, this huge implied volatility could mean theres a trade developing. Often times, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.



Looking to Trade Options?





Each week, our very own Dave Bartosiak gives his top options trades. Check out his recent live analysis and options trade for the LULU earnings report completely free. See it here: Bartosiak: Trading Lululemon (LULU) Earnings with Options or check out the embed video below for more details:







Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



NVIDIA CORP (NVDA): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Investors in shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. VRX need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Call which expires on Jan 20, 2017 for the $200.00 strike price had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?

Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility could mean that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that could cause a big rally or a huge sell off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?

Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Valeant Pharmaceuticals shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Valeant Pharmaceuticals is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) in the Medical - Drugs industry that ranks in the top 29% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analyst has increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while 8 have dropped the estimate. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $2.06 per share to $1.34 per share in that period.

Given the way analysts feel about Valeant Pharmaceuticals right now, this huge implied volatility could mean theres a trade developing. Often times, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.

Looking to Trade Options?

Each week, our very own Dave Bartosiak gives his top options trades. Check out his recent live analysis and options trade for the LULU earnings report completely free. See it here: Bartosiak: Trading Lululemon (LULU) Earnings with Options or check out the embed video below for more details:



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



VALEANT PHARMA (VRX): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Islamabad (AFP) - Pakistan's embattled national carrier has been widely mocked for sacrificing a goat next to a plane to ward off bad luck, weeks after one of the country's worst air disasters.

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) turboprop plane built by European manufacturer ATR plummeted into a mountain in a northern region on December 7, bursting into flames and killing all 47 people on board.

The animal slaughter, which took place on Sunday at Islamabad airport and was captured in a photograph which went viral, was met with derision by many social media users -- who said the carrier was forgoing safety standards in favour of superstition.

"This is no joke: #Pakistan invents a new safety measure for its crashing air carrier #PIA," tweeted user Asim Yousafzai.

Another user Rahoon Rashid said: "(Black goats) don't keep the planes up and flying, efficiency does". Leading newspaper Dawn ran a front-page story on Monday headlined "PIA: on a wing and a prayer".

The sacrifice was confirmed by PIA spokesman Danyal Gilani, who said it was a "gesture of gratitude" by some employees before the resumption of flights of the airline's ATR fleet. It was not sanctioned by management, Gilani said.

PIA grounded its 10 remaining ATR planes in the wake of the disaster pending detailed inspections.

The airline's chairman Muhammad Azam Saigol last week tendered his resignation citing "personal reasons".

Before December 7 PIA had been crash-free for 10 years, and received a 7 out of 7 rating on the highly-cited AirlineRatings.com, which launched its annual listing in 2013.

But a 2014 analysis by US statistician Nate Silver based on data from 1985-2014, found the airline to have had a consistently high number of what he termed "near-misses" -- an indicator of risk.
Panamas leaders were defiant after the Panama Papers scandal broke open April 3 via hundreds of news stories circling the globe.

President Juan Carlos Varelas chief of staff, Alvaro Aleman, called the disclosures about suspect dealings inside the countrys offshore financial industry a campaign against Panama.

We will not allow Panama to be used as a scapegoat, Aleman told a news conference.

Some of Panamas anger was focused on the OECD, a Paris-based, multinational coalition that has been a key protagonist in the war over cross-border tax evasion. On April 4, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developments secretary general, Angel Gurria, called out Panama as a holdout amid the worlds progress toward financial transparency.

This story is part of The Panama Papers. Click here to read more stories in this series.

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Luis Miguel Hincapie, Panamas deputy foreign minister, responded with a letter blasting Gurria for making allegations and insinuations whose falsity is easily demonstrated. He said the Panama Papers were being used to distort the facts and tarnish the reputation of the country.

As pressure grew from media and governments around the world, Panamanian officials shifted to a more conciliatory stance.

On April 19, President Varela announced Panama was willing to join an OECD-sponsored initiative that encourages members to share information with other nations trying to track offshore tax dodging. Hincapie headed to Paris in May to discuss the details.

The OECD praised the deal as a sign Panama was stepping up to join the fight against offshore-fueled corruption.

But in a country where top-drawer lawyers move freely between high government posts and law firms selling secrecy-cloaked shell companies, bringing lasting change to the offshore industry is a challenge. The revolving door between Panamas government and its shadow economy has prompted some critics to refer to President Varelas top advisers as his offshore cabinet.

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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.
Washington (AFP) - A US strike against a senior Al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan in October also killed two other senior operatives, the Pentagon said Monday.

The Defense Department had already announced the death of Farouq al-Qahtani, Al-Qaeda's emir for northeastern Afghanistan, who was killed in the October 23 drone strike in Kunar province.

On Monday, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook confirmed the strike also killed Bilal al-Utabi, Qahtani's deputy, as well as Abd al-Wahid al-Junabi, described as "a senior Al-Qaeda explosives expert."

"All three were actively involved in carrying out and plotting terror attacks inside and outside Afghanistan," Cook said.

Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security had already confirmed Utabi's death.

The Pentagon had been actively hunting Qahtani for four years.

He had longstanding ties with Osama bin Laden before his death in a 2011 US raid on his Pakistan compound.

In October 2001, in response to the 9/11 attacks, the US launched military operations to dislodge the Taliban from Afghanistan and capture or kill Al-Qaeda militants they were harboring.

Their numbers have since been decimated, but the United States is still targeting remnants of the group.
Lima (AFP) - Peru's ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who is in prison for human rights abuses and corruption, has been hospitalized for pancreas problems, his doctor said Monday.

It is the latest in a series of health crises for the 78-year-old former leader.

"The ex-president has been suffering from pancreatic problems. He is having digestive pain. Upon evaluation, it was advised that since there was no improvement, the best option would be to hospitalize him," doctor Alejandro Aguinaga told the N news channel.

Fujimori was hospitalized Sunday with a cyst on his pancreas, and will undergo a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging exam (MRI), Aguinaga said.

The latest hospitalization -- the ex-president's second this month -- comes against a backdrop of friction between President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and the opposition, which is led by Fujimori's daughter Keiko.

The former president's health has become a hot-button issue as Kuczynski fends off attacks from the Fujimori camp, which holds a majority in Congress.

Kuczynski has rejected calls to pardon the ex-president.

But he has said that if Congress passes a bill granting Fujimori house arrest, he will sign it.

Fujimori is remembered for ruling Peru with a populist style and authoritarian grip from 1990 to 2000.

He was convicted in 2009 for his role in killings by a death squad targeting supposed guerrillas in the 1990s.

He has also been convicted of embezzlement and bribery. His sentence, which totals 25 years, began in 2007.
By PTI: Bangkok, Dec 19 (PTI) A rainbow-headed snake, a dragon-like lizard and a newt that looks like a Klingon from the Star Trek series are among 163 new species found in the ecologically diverse but threatened region of Greater Mekong, according to a new WWF report released today.

In all, nine amphibians, 11 fish, 14 reptiles, 126 plants and three mammalian species discovered last year in the Mekong region in Southeast Asia were described for the first time in the new report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

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The new rainbow-headed snake, Parafimbrios lao, found in Laos has been likened to David Bowies "Ziggy Stardust" character.

It has unique colouration pattern and different number of scale rows and upper teeth. Not only was this snake a new species, it was part of a whole new Genus: Parafimbrios.

The Klingon Newt (Tylototriton anguliceps) is the fourth newt species found to exist in Thailand.

It measures between six to seven centimetres long, and is distinguished by a dorsal ridge and unique red markings.

The Phuket Horned Tree Agamid (Acanthosaura phuketensis) is a lowland forest dwelling lizard species native to Phuket Island and the Phuket mountain range in Southwest Thailand.

This medium-sized species is distinct from its mainland relatives based on unique colouration, placement and size of its many threatening-looking horns on its head and down its spine.

As the Mekong River snakes its way through Southeast Asia, it passes through some of the most biodiverse land on earth.

From its origins in Chinas Tibetan-Qinghai Plateau to Southern Vietnam where it empties into the South China Sea, the river acts as the backbone of a region where the wildlife is as diverse as the 300 million people that call it home.

Between 1997 and 2015 there have been 2,409 new species described in this region, adding to the over 430 mammal species, 800 reptiles and amphibians, 1,200 birds, 1,100 fish and 20,000 plant species already known to science.

However, it is not all good news for wildlife in the Greater Mekong, according to the WWF.

The region is under unprecedented development pressure, threatening the survival of the natural landscapes that make it so unique.

Construction is well underway on the Don Sahong Dam in Laos, a project that could have disastrous effects on the last Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins and the millions of people depending on the rivers fisheries.

In Thailand, the proposed Mae Wong dam, presented as a solution to water management issues in Nakhon Sawan province, has the potential to irreparably damage one of countrys most important forest and wetland ecosystems, which also happens to be a critically important tiger habitat.

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Even more direct threats to these species are poaching for bushmeat and the multi-billion dollar illegal wildlife trade.

Hundreds of snares can be set in a single night in the regions dense forests and they do not discriminate among species. PTI MHN SAR AKJ MHN

--- ENDS ---
Warsaw (AFP) - Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday announced that the governing conservatives have scrapped controversial proposals to restrict media access in parliament that had set off an opposition outcry and street demonstrations.

But while the governing Law and Justice party (PiS) appeared to offer compromise on the media rules, a row over a budget vote deemed "illegal" by the opposition intensified.

The PiS "has abandoned its (media) proposal which triggered the row we saw in parliament... Everything has been reset," Duda said in an interview on Poland's TVP public broadcaster.

Senate speaker Stanislaw Karczewski, a PiS member, earlier assured journalists that the old media rules would remain in place for the time being. He said he would present new proposals by January 6.

Duda called on opposition lawmakers, who have been occupying parliament since Friday, to "offer a goodwill gesture" and cease their protest.

"I'm calling for just a little reflection and calm, because this is an important domestic issue. Plus the holiday season is upon us and Poles are concerned by the situation. I want the problem resolved," he said.

Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets since Friday in Warsaw and other parts of the country in the latest action against PiS moves deemed anti-democratic by its opponents.

Dozens of opposition MPs seized parliament's main chamber and protesters blocked the exits to the building on Friday in a show of anger.

Thousands of people -- grouped in a popular movement called the Committee for the Defence of Democracy -- rallied outside parliament in support of the opposition MPs until late Sunday.

A smaller pro-government rally took place outside the presidential palace.

In Krakow on Sunday, police removed protesters who lay on the ground to block the car of influential PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who was visiting the grave of his twin brother, former president Lech Kaczynski who died in a plane crash in Russia in 2010.

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- 'Illegal' budget vote -

The political crisis was triggered last week by PiS plans to restrict access to the parliament's press gallery to only two journalists for every media outlet, and ban them from shooting still pictures or video.

The moves would have prevented the media from recording images of lawmakers when they broke the rules, for example by voting for an absent colleague.

The PiS said it was seeking to ensure a comfortable working environment for both lawmakers and journalists.

Opposition lawmakers also called for a re-run of a parliament vote on next year's budget, which they claim was approved illegally when it was held in another part of parliament after the opposition takeover of the main chamber.

The Senate is due to examine the budget Tuesday.

Since taking office in November last year, the PiS has come under fire over a string of controversial measures including tightening control over the media and pushing through changes to the constitutional court which led to a standoff with the European Union.

Monday is the last day in office of the outgoing president of the constitutional court, Andrzej Rzeplinski, a symbol of resistance to the government.

The question of his successor has become another bone of contention between the court and the PiS-dominated parliament.
Police have identified the 3-year-old killed in a road-rage shooting Saturday as the hunt continues for the man who fatally shot the child.

Little Acen King was shot after a driver in Arkansas was reportedly angered that the boys grandmother, Kim King-Macon "wasnt moving fast enough at a stop light," so he stepped out of his Chevrolet Impala and reportedly fired one shot, killing the toddler.

Read: Amazing Chase: Driver Weaves Past Police Cruisers Twice in Bizarre Highway Pursuit

King-Macon drove to a nearby strip mall in Little Rock and called police, but Acen later died at the hospital.

Both King-Macon and a 1-year-old child who was also in the car at the time of the shooting were unharmed.

Read: U.S. Marine Arrested in the 'Road Rage' Shooting Death of a 20-Year-Old College Student

Crime Stoppers is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case.

The incident is the second shooting of a child inside of a vehicle in the area.

In November, a 2-year-old was murdered when a driver in a passing vehicle fired into the car.

The shooter in that incident was never caught.

Watch: Dad Dies Shielding Son From Gunman in Targeted Shooting That Killed 2 Children

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On Monday, Polands populist, nationalist ruling party effectively took control of the constitutional tribunal, the last bastion meant to check unconstitutional action by whatever party is in power. It is a frightening test case for what happens to a country when the institutions meant to safeguard the separation of powers and check potential tyranny are all squeezed by the same small fist.

The resignation Monday of Andrzej Rzeplinski, who was, until Monday, president of the constitutional tribunal whod fought a rearguard action against the Law and Justice Partys allegedly unconstitutional moves, opens the door to a government-friendly replacement. Julia Przyebska, the wife of Polands current ambassador to Germany, and by most accounts, a friend of the ruling party, will oversee the selection of a new president and vice-president for the tribunal.

The governments court-packing scheme began, by some accounts, last November, and by other accounts, more than a decade ago. In 2005, the then-ruling party (Law and Justice) tried to promote legislation that would open government records to reveal who had what dealings with the communist-era security services. The constitutional tribunal struck down that legislation  planting the seed of vengeance that would sprout more than ten years later.

We all believe that Law and Justice has this trauma, said Martin Matczak, a partner at an independent Warsaw law firm. He notes that the constitutional tribunal was Law and Justices first target for revenge when it returned to power in 2015.

The way it took its revenge was this: In November 2015, there were five open positions on the constitutional tribunal. Three were to have been filled by the previous government, and the other two by the incoming Law and Justice Party. But, in a move that U.S. Supreme Court appointee Merrick Garland might appreciate, Law and Justice decided that it would appoint all five, and refused to seat the three judges named by the outgoing government.

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At the same time, the Law and Justice-controlled parliament passed a series of statutes to weaken the constitutional tribunal. The court ruled against those statutes. The government elected neither to publish nor to follow the verdicts. Europe started to weigh in, with numerous

European Commission debates. But Poland got an assist from Hungary, which said it would block any measures taken against Poland for its illiberal actions. European officials said that they knew that it was a matter of time before Law and Justice really did control both law and justice in Poland.

That day has arrived. It was preceded by new laws restricting protests and rallies, especially (in effect) those that are critical of the government. Monday marked the fourth straight day of mass Polish protests, brought on by laws restricting media access to Parliament.

Opposition parliamentarians blocked the lectern on Friday, but lawmakers from the ruling party simply went into a separate room. There, by their lonesomes and without a pesky opposition, they voted on the 2017 budget, the most important bill parliament can pass.

That practically means we have become a dictatorship, Mateo Mazzini, a graduate student in Warsaw, told FP.

Though thousands have taken to the streets, and the police have gotten involved, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo played up child-support programs, instead. That gets a receptive audience from cash-strapped parents, Poles say.

They do not care about the tribunal and freedom of speech, the rights of minorities, they want bread said Karolina Gorecka, who recently immigrated from Poland to New York City.

There could be a silver lining, Matczak suggested. Now that the constitutional tribunal is a rubber stamp for the ruling party, cases challenging the constitutionality of laws may go to Polands other courts. That would create a more decentralized judicial system. But that risks making Polands other courts, and not only its constitutional tribunal, Law and Justices next target.

Photo credit: WOJTEK RADWANSKI/AFP/Getty Images
TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / December 19, 2016 / PPJ Healthcare Enterprises Inc. (OTC PINK: PPJE) has announced today that it closed two billing agreements with compounding pharmacies to provide Workers Comp. billing and lien collection.

"We have been successful in providing specialty billing services for a long time, and we are very excited to add two new accounts. Compounding pharmacy billing is complicated, but we have the expertise to handle these accounts. The initial term of this agreements is two years at 15% flat service fee of the collected amount," noted Ms. Basu.

The Company estimates gross revenue from these two contracts could be $150,000 or more for the term.

As always, PPJE management advises shareholders, company followers, and prospective investors to contact their financial advisors if they have any questions or concerns about their individual accounts and investment choices.

Regarding other news and events, the company reminds its followers to monitor OTC Markets filings tab for further newsworthy events and corporate updates, which will follow as they happen (http://www.ppjenterprise.com).

Forward-looking Statements

Information in this release may contain statements about future expectations, plans, prospects, or performance of PPJ Enterprise that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the Safe Harbor Provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words or phrases "can be," "expects," "may affect," "believed," "estimate," "project," and similar words and phrases are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc. cautions you that any forward-looking information provided by or on behalf of PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc. is not a guarantee of future performance. None of the information in this press release constituted or is intended as an offer to sell securities or investment advice of any kind. PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.'s actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, some of which are beyond PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.'s control. In addition to all discusses, PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.'s press releases, public filings and statements by PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.'s management, including, but not limited to PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.'s estimates of sufficiency of its existing capital resources, PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.'s ability to raise additional capital to fund future operations, PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.'s ability to repay its existing indebtedness, the uncertainties involved in estimating market opportunities, and in identifying contracts which match PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.'s capability to be awarded contracts and such forward-looking statements are current only as of the date on which such statements made. PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which any such statement is made to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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For information, please contact PPJ Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.

Websites: https://www.ppjenterprise.com

Email: info@ppjenterprise.com

SOURCE: PPJ Healthcare Enterprises Inc.
Having a baby may be one of life's greatest gifts, and these 31 preemies certainly looked the part as they were dressed up as Christmas presents.

Read: Ho Ho Hoax? Story of Boy Dying in Arms of 'Santa Claus' Called Into Question as Paper Can't Verify It

Families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City celebrated an early birthday with their preemie babies, who were decorated in bows, felt gift wrap, and hand-knitted Santa caps, thanks to The March of Dimes.

The #MarchofDimes & @saintlukeskc have reminded us that these new arrivals are the greatest gifts a parent could ask for this #holidayseason pic.twitter.com/xg9XiG81Te  March of Dimes (@MarchofDimes) December 16, 2016

The two organizations said it was especially important for them to provide families of premature babies with a normal holiday.

"The holidays can be an especially emotional time for families in the NICU," a press statement read. "Providing these special families with an opportunity to celebrate the holidays in a memorable way allows them a sense of normalcy, and an opportunity to celebrate their babies first milestones  even in the hospital."

So, they gifted each family personalized Christmas cards, candy, knitted caps, and holiday books for the families to read together. To really get into the holiday spirit, they even had Santa Claus deliver the gifts.

"Being a NICU parent is really tough. We didn't quite understand how tough it would be until we got here," said Kaitlyn Bunch, a mother of twin girls, in an interview with ABC News. "It makes us feel like we're part of a community, and not like we're in this on our own."

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Read: Mom Posts Viral Photo of Her Adorable Preemie Daughter Sporting a Huge Grin

Families celebrating Hanukkah were gifted blue and gold presents, and families celebrating Kwanza were given red, green, black and gold gifts.

Watch: Women's Motorcycle Club Helps Deliver Breast Milk to Babies in NICU

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Some of the "Star Wars" cosplayers that graced the annual celebration.

19 Dec - Malaysian exhibitor Premium-X Cinemas celebrated its third anniversary at One City, USJ Subang, last Friday.



Followed by a special appearance from "Star Wars" cosplayers, the event also saw a special screening of latest "Star Wars" spin-off "Rogue One: A Star Wars story".



A Jedi poses with Han Solo while a Stormtrooper figures out whether the Jedi is good or bad.



A cosplayer clad as a Sandtrooper tries to spoil the celebration,

but we all know he will miss his shot anyways.

The cinema opened in 2013 is equipped with 12 fully digital screens which allows it to screen films in the 2D and 3D format.



The efficiency of its automated teller machine (ATM) style of tickets purchasing and touch n go like ticketing system has been well received by the general public.



Speaking to Cinema Online, Premium-X's General Manager, Mr. Palaniyappan Bilichami said that the management is delighted on how the three years had turned out and wish to have more success in future.



A fan from the rebel alliance (centre) with Mr. Palaniyappan (right)

and Programming Manager, Mr. Danesh Sundaradass (left).

When asked on their upcoming cinemas, he said "We are currently focusing on our next project in Cyberjaya where we are aiming to complete the second quarter of the project by next year".



Premium-X Cinemas is a relatively a new cinema exhibitor in Malaysia and has been operating since December 2013 at Sky Park, One City Mall.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images; JodiJacobson/iStock

President Barack Obama will soon be moving out of the White House and into a potential construction zone. According to copies of permits obtained by TMZ, the new home that the first family will soon be inhabiting in the DC neighborhood of Kalorama is undergoing some major renovations to bring it up to snuff.

And the upgrades theyre getting go far beyond your run-of-the-mill kitchen cabinets. The nine-bedroom, nine-bath, 8,200-square-foot housewhich is valued at $6 million and sits on a half-acre lotis getting new fencing (all the better for privacy and security), new utilities, and a variety of hush-hush Secret Serviceready protective additions.

But by far the weirdest renovation afoot has to do with what could end up being Obamas new home office. According to the permit, contractors will temporarily convert one garage stall into an office with new bathroom.

A garage? Thats quite a downgrade from kicking back in the Oval Office. And not all real estate agents we spoke to agree that this home improvement is, well, much of an improvement.

The garage transition is one of the worst return on investment projects an owner can make, points out Rachel Valentino, a Washington, DC, real estate agent and owner of Valentino Associates Team at Keller Williams. Plus, in the photos, it looks like its only a two-car garage, so taking away one of these will be very challenging for future residents of the house.

If youre paying over $5 million for a house, most buyers expect a two-plus-car garage, she adds. The future owners will eventually have to take space away from the parking area to add more garage space once the Obamas move out.

This garage-turned-office may also be a bad idea from a safety perspective.

The garage appears to be right off the street, which is something that I would have tried to avoid for security reasons, says Valentino, adding that she has a much better idea. Given there are nine bedrooms, I would think one or two of those could have lent themselves to be a more private and secure office setting versus taking away one of the garage spaces.

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Plus, at the end of the day, this is just a rentalmore than likely a mere pit stop until first daughter Sasha finishes high school in 2018. Generally landlords hate when tenants knock down walls and overhaul rooms in ways that could make it harder to lease to future residents (which is why they may not return that security deposit).

Although in this case, were guessing this homeownerLockhart, Joseph P. & Giovannadoesnt mind one bit. After all, a former president is no ordinary tenant.

Im sure this particular owner will gladly allow that adjustment given the upside of having a presidential seal of approval for eternity, Valentino says. That value will never diminish, so basically as the owner, its not surprising that he is letting the man do whatever he deems necessary. He just hit the jackpot. This Kalorama houses stock just bounced big-league style, if we wanted to talk Trump style.

The post President Obama Moving to a Garage? His Odd Renovation Plans Revealed appeared first on Real Estate News & Advice | realtor.com.
Malaysia's top diplomat turned the screws on Aung San Suu Kyi at emergency talks in Myanmar on Monday, warning that an army crackdown on the Rohingya minority could spark a regional migrant crisis.

More than 27,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled northwestern Myanmar for Bangladesh since the start of November to escape a military counter-insurgency operation.

Myanmar's army says it is hunting militants behind deadly raids on police posts in October.

But Rohingya survivors have described rape, murder and arson at the hands of soldiers -- accounts that have raised global alarm and galvanised protests around Southeast Asia.

The exodus has sparked a rare dispute within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the 10-member bloc that prides itself on consensus diplomacy and non-interference.

On Monday ASEAN foreign ministers held talks in Yangon on the crisis.

Muslim-majority Malaysia called for an independent ASEAN-led investigation into the allegations of army abuse.

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman also urged full humanitarian access to the locked-down area, where more than 130,000 people have been without aid for two months.

He warned the crackdown could trigger a repeat of last year's boat crisis, when thousands of starving Rohingya were abandoned at sea by traffickers as they tried to flee southwards to Malaysia.

"We believe that the situation is now of a regional concern and should be resolved together," he told the meeting, according to a statement from Kuala Lumpur.

"Myanmar must do more in trying to address the root causes of this problem."

On Monday Amnesty International joined the condemnation, saying the army's "widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population" may amount to crimes against humanity.

Myanmar's more than one million Rohingya have been described as among the most persecuted people in the world.

More than 120,000 were driven by bloody sectarian clashes in 2012 into displacement camps, where they live in conditions many have likened to apartheid.

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- New wave of anger -

The latest crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state has generated a fresh wave of public anger, particularly in Malaysia, where tens of thousands of Rohingya eke out lives as undocumented workers.

This month Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak accused Suu Kyi of allowing "genocide" on her watch -- an unusually strong rebuke by one ASEAN state of another.

Myanmar, which has vehemently denied the allegations of abuse, angrily summoned Malaysia's ambassador and banned its workers from going to the country.

Suu Kyi also held talks with mainly Muslim Indonesia this month after cancelling a visit following protests and an attempted attack on the Myanmar embassy.

At Monday's talks ministers warned of the risk of a "spillover effect on Myanmar's neighbours in terms of security and stability" from the Rakhine violence, a diplomat told AFP.

Ministers also took aim at Nobel laureate Suu Kyi for not doing more to rein in the military, which still has a quarter of parliament seats and controls key levers of power in her elected government.

"Her hands are tied because of the military, but she has to shoulder her responsibility as a leader of Myanmar," said the diplomat, who asked not to be named.

Suu Kyi has pleaded for time and international understanding over the incendiary issue.

The Rohingya are reviled in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, denied citizenship and widely tagged as "Bengalis" -- or illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

In a statement after Monday's meeting Suu Kyi said talks were "candid and transparent" but also "emphasised the importance of strengthening ASEAN unity and resolving the differences between ASEAN family members".

Myanmar has faced a cascade of criticism from outside the region over the Rohingya crisis, including from the United States and the United Nations.

Last week, UN rights commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein criticised the government's "callous" handling of the crisis, describing it as "a lesson in how to make a bad situation worse".
Love is definitely in the air for Prince Harry and his new girlfriend, Meghan Markle. Although they have only been a couple for a few months, a new report claims that things are getting serious for the British royal and Markle.

Harry is more serious [about Meghan] then he ever has been about a woman before, a source told the E! Online.

According to the outlet, Prince Harry has also started introducing Markle to his family. So far, shes said to have met his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate Middleton. The Suits actress also got the chance to meet Prince George and Princess Charlotte, but she has not yet been introduced to Queen Elizabeth.

Because things are going so well for Prince Harry and Markle, E! reported last month that the 32-year-old royal could be thinking about proposing. It wouldnt surprise me if hes already thinking about engagement just because thats where his head goes but thats not where the relationship is at right now, the source said. This is totally Harry. The problem with Harry is when he falls, he falls hard. He goes in big time.

Prince Harry and Markle were first linked as a couple in October, but the romance wasnt confirmed until November when Kensington Palace released a statement asking the public to stop harassing the Hollywood star. His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment.  Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markles safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her, the statement read. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm.

Last week, the lovebirds were photographed for the first time together on a date night. They were seen strolling hand in hand through London before heading to see the play The Curious Incident of the Dog at the Nighttime.

Ahead of their London date night, Prince Harry and his girlfriend were spotted Christmas tree shopping together at the Pines and Needles store. However, the couple will be spending the holiday apart. Prince Harry is expected to celebrate with his family, and Markle is expected to fly back to Los Angeles to see her family.

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Prince Harry Meghan Markle relationship update

Photo: Getty Images

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Prince Harry was photographed dropping his American actress girlfriend Meghan Markle at the Heathrow Airport on Sunday, giving rise to speculation that the couple won't spend the Christmas together. Markle left the U.K. after enjoying a getaway in London with Harry, according to the Daily Mail.

Markle reportedly looked in good spirits after her romantic week with Harry. The California-born actress was accompanied by airline staff prior to boarding her flight.

Last week, the couple was pictured while on a romantic date in London, where they saw the play "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" at the Gielgud Theatre. During Markle's visit to London, the couple was photographed together in public for the first time since the two started dating  as confirmed by the Kensington Palace last month.

The Sun reported last week that Markle is staying with Harry at his two-bedroom Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

They were also spotted shopping for a Christmas tree together at Pines and Needles in Londons Battersea Park, according to an Us Weekly report.

Last month, Kensington Palace issued a statement accusing the media of harassing Markle and said Prince Harry was worried about the actress safety.

Prince Harry "is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her, the palace said. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm.

The Kensington Palace also said that the harassment has been very public  the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments.

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These party places in Delhi and Mumbai are not entertaining bookings for gay couples for New Year's eve parties.

By India Today Web Desk: The New Year may not be as welcoming for the queer community this year. If you are still finalising on the venue for your gala night on New Year's eve, make sure you screen them well before making reservations.

The Quint recently reported about certain pubs and restaurants in two major party hubs in the country, Delhi and Mumbai, banning same-sex couples this New Year's eve.

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When contacted, Soi7, DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon, stated that they were offering exclusive New year packages but that couples packages were to be valid for a man-woman duo only. Gay couples will be considered as single men (stags), and women and will have stag entries.

The pub categorically also mentioned that transgenders will ''not be allowed'' to enter the pub on 31st night.

Also Read: Not gay, not bisexual; why some straight individuals don't mind same-sex intimacy

In the Capital, a senior representative from Raasta, Hauz Khas Village, claimed to not know what a 'gay couple' meant and reiterated that they would be open to heterosexual couples only, besides single men and women.

Raasta got back to us a day after the publishing of this story (December 19) to let us know that they are indeed open to homosexual couples. "Being the supporter of Rastafarian culture, Raasta believes in spreading love and supports equality. Thus, we are open to all couples and there's no entry restrictions to homosexual couples. The sole reason for not highlighting it on our social media is to control stags to misuse it," says Joy Singh, co-partner, Raasta.

Shiro in Mumbai seemed to have tweaked their rules a little with regard to the gay couple "policy". Gay couples are most welcome to the lounge on New Year's eve, but needed to be accompanied by a woman, for "security reasons", explained the manager at Shiro, Hanif Sheikh. This statement, we're assuming, came after a news report about Shiro not entertaining gay couples on New Year's eve went viral earlier in the day.

Places like Summer House Cafe in Delhi, however, said that bookings were only being made in terms of packages and the cafe was definitely open to all.

--- ENDS ---
Prince Harry was only 12 years old when he tragically lost his mother Princess Diana in a Paris car accident, and hes continuing to open up in new ways about his grief.

In a documentary for ITV focused on his charity work in Lesotho, Africa, the 32-year-old royal admits that he spent a long time suppressing his feelings about his mothers death.

I never really dealt with what had happened. It was a lot of buried emotion, Harry said. For a huge part of my life I didnt really want to think about it.

He continued, I now view life very differently from what it used to be. I used to bury my head in the sand, and let everything around you tear you to pieces.

Prince Harry has found meaning  and a way to carry on his mothers legacy  in his charity work, including Sentebale, the charity he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to improve conditions for those affected by HIV and AIDS in the country. In May he spoke with PEOPLE about his ongoing charity work, saying, all I want to do is make my mother incredibly proud.

Tim Graham/Getty Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Princess Diana made strides at a time when stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS left many uninformed people afraid to touch those with the illnesses, famously shaking hands with patients without gloves on.

I need to make something of my life I was fighting the system, going, I dont want to be this person,  Harry explained of the difficult years following Dianas death. My mother died when I was very, very young and I dont want to be in the position. Now Im so energized, fired up, to be lucky enough to be in a position to make a difference.

Harry first traveled to Africa during his gap year in 2004.

What started as an idea of me turning round and saying, right, Ive got a year off, I want to do something really constructive with my life, want to do something that makes my mother proud, he shared. Someone said, right, go to Lesotho, its like where the hell is that? Now I can see exactly where I want to take it. I have huge amounts of passion for the causes and interests and charities Im involved with.




Prince Harry opens up about Princess Dianas death like he never has before

Our favorite royal, Britains Prince Harry (obvs), gets real tonight in a documentary airing in the U.K. on ITV. If youre stateside like we are and admiring Harry from afar, *sob*, no worries. Weve got the scoop on what he has to say. You might want to grab a tissue because TBH this documentary will really bring the feels.

The show focuses on Prince Harrys work in Lesotho, Africa, where he co-founded the charity Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006. Sentebale provides support for kids whose lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS. Harry visits Sentebale frequently to spend times with the kids hands-on and make us melt with adorable photos like this one:

Prince Harry set up @Sentebale over a decade ago, with the aim of transforming the lives of some of the worlds most vulnerable children. pic.twitter.com/1dA1jt7sYS  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 19, 2016

Oh and brace yourselves, because also THIS ONE:

For an inside look @Sentebale and its incredible work with vulnerable children in #Lesotho don't miss #PrinceHarryInAfrica at 9pm on @ITV pic.twitter.com/DwDmQybCC7  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 19, 2016

UGH, OUR HEARTS!!!

Prince Harry has been really open about the inspiration for his work in Africa. Hes spoken before about wanting to do something to make his mother, the late Princess Diana, proud. Diana had a heart for children and was a pioneer when it came to helping people suffering with HIV and AIDS.

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In the new documentary, Harry opens up even more and shares what it was like to lose his mom at such a young age. The prince was only twelve years old when Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris. According to People, he tells ITV I never really dealt with what had happened. It was a lot of buried emotion. For a huge part of my life I didnt really want to think about itI now view life very differently from what it used to be. I used to bury my head in the sand, and let everything around you tear you to pieces.

Diana and Harry

This just breaks our hearts. Losing a parent at such a young age has got to be one of most difficult things imaginable. Doing so in the public eye would be just about impossible.

Now Prince Harry is channeling his grief into something positive and dealing with those feelings in a way to honor his mothers legacy. He goes on to say:

I need to make something of my lifeI was fighting the system, going, I dont want to be this person. My mother died when I was very, very young and I dont want to be in the position. Now Im so energized, fired up, to be lucky enough to be in a position to make a difference.

Making a difference indeed. Were amazed at what Prince Harry is doing Africa, and we know his mom would be beyond proud!

You can follow Harrys work at Sentebale on social media under the hashtag #PrinceHarryInAfrica.

The post Prince Harry opens up about Princess Dianas death like he never has before appeared first on HelloGiggles.
KINSHASA (Reuters) - Protests erupted in several neighborhoods of the Congolese capital Kinshasa late on Monday, and police fired tear gas to disperse them, witnesses said, just before President Joseph Kabila's mandate expires at midnight. Demonstrators blew whistles to signal to Kabila that it was to leave in the communes of Kalamu, Matete, Lingwala, and at Kinshasa University, multiple witnesses said. A spokesman for the police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Amedee Mwarabu and Aaron Ross; writing by Tim Cocks, editing by G Crosse)
This Immigrant Doctor Is Reimagining Health in the American City

Picture four Muppet-style male figures discussing the best way to stay in touch with their women as they tote AK-47s through a war zone in Somalia.

I can send her an emojicon. I can send her, like, a smiley, and that is it, one tells his friends.

Things were never like this for Kermit and company in their day.

But then, youve never seen a reality show like this, says the female puppet who anchors Chicken and Chips. The new program on air in Uganda is putting topics from gender issues to bedroom antics and others not talked about publicly in the conservative country into the mouths of puppets.

Imagine a puppet complaining about her husbands drinking or spending her money on Waragi [a Ugandan gin] instead of school fees, says the host.

Thats not even the half of it.

In the 30-minute weekly edutainment show, named after a popular meal in the East African country, male puppets debate polygamy while on a desert island.

RELATED: Activists in Uganda Are Fighting for Better Maternal Health

Then, both sexes discuss their HIV status during a picnic. Contraception, which women usually cannot approach their partners about, and menstruation, which is often taboo in Uganda, also come up on the weekend program, albeit while the male and female characters are on a spaceship.

In a segment of the show titled African wife, a female puppet complains to another that women are supposed to take care of the family and work as a male snores loudly.

The husband can wash the clothes because they have the hands, and its these hands that wash, her friend insists.

As the host describes, Chicken and Chips is bold, funny, sometimes a bit shocking, but sometimes just like real life.

The conversations are based on actual recordings of unscripted discussions, selected for use during focus-group-style talks. The show also includes quick interviews with people on the streets of Ugandas capital, Kampala, answering such questions as Who last bought the condoms?

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But its Ugandas version of the Muppets that attract the most attention on the show.

Puppetry was a completely new thing in Uganda, and most people thought it was only for kids, says Nkumi Mtingwa, who directed the puppet segments.

When Chicken and Chips aired it was a new experience for most people, and they loved it, actually.

The show is filmed and edited in Kampala and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with the bits featuring the host shot in New York.

Ronald Binion, who worked on Muppets Tonight in the 1990s designing and building puppets, also designed and built the Chicken and Chips stars. He conducted a workshop in Tanzania on TV puppetry in February, training new performers in preparation for the show.

The whole idea of using puppets is simply to have characters that can talk about and deal with issues in a manner that is entertaining and fun but still raises important issues, he explains.

What was so enjoyable for me was seeing a whole variety of characters and dramas unfold that were unique to the area but at the same time universally appealing and understandable.

RELATED: From Surviving to Thriving: Ugandan School Provides Education and Safety

Binion says one of the scenes he found the funniest was the depiction of a little girl performed by a large man in his 30s.

One of the beautiful things about puppetry is that it can liberate a person from their own role in society, says Binion, who was nominated for an Emmy award for his work on the Disney Channels The Book of Pooh and has also trained aid workers in Haiti, Indonesia, and other countries in puppetry.

Binion conducted the workshop with Lisa Buckley, who has more than 25 years of experience as a puppeteer, has worked on Alf and Sesame Street, and has trained extensively in movement and yoga.

Puppetry can be strenuous physical work as well as a creative challenge, says Binion. It is a strange and wonderful combination of using ones body to bring life to these little tiny creatures that are projecting all sorts of different characters.

Mtingwa said the show has led to a new media genre in Uganda, and some of the artists who were originally part of Chicken and Chips are now venturing into creating other puppet shows.

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Original article from TakePart
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f31284%2fe67d37f4-3cf5-4c78-b786-1ee35b43a40d

LONDON  For many of us, the end of our birthday celebrations is heralded the moment the party ends and we have to clean up and deal with the inevitable champagne-induced hangover.

SEE ALSO: 'The Crown' is a low-key guide to outfoxing the men in your way

But, if you're Queen Elizabeth II, you don't have to worry about any of that. Except, perhaps, for the hangover.

No, the Queen instead got a special portrait with her son Prince Charles to signal the end of her 90th birthday festivities.

First look: As a year of 90th birthday celebrations draw to a close, we would like to share this special photo of The Prince and The Queen. pic.twitter.com/0qfB41c5VG  Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) December 17, 2016

It's the picture of mother-son tenderness; the current monarch with the heir apparent.

But some people looking at the photo for the very first time didn't put two and two together.

Some mistook Prince Charles for his dad, Prince Philip. Awkward.

@ClarenceHouse lovely picture. I thought Charles was Prince Philip for a second  Dorothy Parker (@PhaksiM) December 17, 2016

While others would have preferred Prince Philip over Prince Charles...

@PhaksiM @ClarenceHouse I apologize if I dare, but I would have preferred Prince Philip. Best wishes to the Royal Family and to you  Clementina Anceschi (@TinaAnceschi) December 18, 2016

Others, however, were more interested in the touching family photograph.

@ClarenceHouse Wish the Queen Mother was alive to see this. She would have loved it  Sonia (@Vestini4) December 17, 2016

@ClarenceHouse @RoyalFamily So much history represented in an amazing legacy. God Save The Queen - long to reign over us.  R J Jody Meguiar (@jmeguiar) December 19, 2016

Regardless of who's in the photo, it's not every day you turn 90.
The original Fox series 24 went into production in 2001, months before the news added rocket fuel to the idea of a counterterrorism operative racing the clock in real time to avert disaster. 24: Legacy has switched out the cast and the central threat, but the reboot (which begins on Feb. 5, following Super Bowl LI) arrives with a boost of its own: the edgy new political world surrounding an impetuous new President. Thats the success of most things, isnt it? Timing, says Miranda Otto, who plays a former CTU head drawn back into the action. Theres something thats addictive about watching, in the same way that people turn on the news during political events wondering, Whats the next thing thats going to happen? Whos scripting this?

Who indeed? 24 debuted seven weeks after the 9/11 attacks with Kiefer Sutherland as intelligence veteran Jack Bauer, the one man standing in the way of repeated existential threats to the Republic, from nuclear detonations to biological warfare. Its vision of a world of rogues and moles seeking to carry out mass-casualty attacks felt gripping, and its tough, seasoned hero unafraid to rough up some baddies was congruent with the cowboy mythmaking of the George W. Bush era. But Sutherlands decision to move on from 24 after a one-season revival in 2014he now plays the President on the similarly anxious Designated Survivorbrought new opportunities. In Bauers place, 24: Legacy introduces Eric Carter, a former Army Ranger living in seclusion after taking part in a mission that killed a top terrorist. Hes played by Corey Hawkins, coming off an acclaimed performance as Dr. Dre in 2015s Straight Outta Compton, an inclusive casting move that opens up new dramatic territory. After all, unlike Bauer, Carter is subject to an added level of scrutiny pretty much everywhere he goes. What would happen if a young black man is running around the street with a gun in his hand and hes no longer a commissioned officer? Hawkins asks. Once again, the shows power is in the timing.

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Donald Trumps already-fraught relationship with the U.S. intelligence community gives the show a whole new level of relevance, on top of lingering questions like torture. Fox co-chairman Gary Newman notes, Just this election cycle, theres been discussions about the use of intense interrogation techniques and whether theyre valid. These issues, which [the world of] 24 sometimes touches on, are still relevant issues today.

Oddly, 24: Legacy finds its roots in one of the most-hailed accomplishments of Barack Obamas presidency: the killing of Osama bin Laden. Producers Manny Coto and Evan Katz began pondering a take, separate from 24, on the lives of SEAL Team 6s members after that operation. One real-life detail that initially caught Cotos attention: a SEAL was offered a witness-protection-like job as a beer-truck driver. In the series, Carter and his Ranger colleagues face reprisal after a bad actor gets access to their identities and begins a systematic revenge. Other plot points turn on everything from the treatment of veterans to the threat of doxxing. We never got a call from the network saying, We need another 24,' says Coto, who serves as showrunner. It came in reverse.

The types of terrorism are different, but the feeling is the same: shiftless anxiety denied catharsis in favor of endlessly spiraling bad news. (The ever-ticking countdown clock returns too.) Moving past the showy villainy of the original, the ISIS-era 24: Legacy operates in an atmosphere of smaller-scale but more-incessant threats, the only constant the further ratcheting-up of the stakes. You look at what happened in Ohio, says Hawkins, referring to the car ramming and mass stabbing at a state university, for which ISIS claimed responsibility, how people can be radicalized at a moments noticethats what this show is tapping into.

That processfinding the newsy energy within a story worth telling, rather than searching for a way to leverage a much-loved brandmay set 24: Legacy apart from less-effective recent TV reboots, from MacGyver to Gilmore Girls. All parties involved are hoping for multiple seasons worth of storiesa distinction few TV reboots have been able to achieve lately once the dopamine hit of nostalgia dissipates. Again, the show seems to have its timing down. With President-elect Trump having won the election partly on the basis of his promise to take the fight to ISIS, Hawkins and the rest of the 24: Legacy team can likely look forward to mining at least four years worth of all-new real-life drama.



This appears in the December 26, 2016 issue of TIME.
Bangkok (AFP) - A rainbow-headed snake, a tiny frog and a lizard with dragon-like horns are among more than 150 new species confirmed by scientists last year in the ecologically diverse but threatened Mekong region, researchers said on Monday.

Winding its way from the Tibetan plateau through the mountains and jungles of Southeast Asia, the Mekong river helps sustain one of the most diverse regions on the planet.

Each year scientists announce new species, after an often lengthy identification process, highlighting how much more there is to learn about the region.

But there are fears many species may die out before even being discovered in an area of the world that is rapidly developing, where rule of law is notoriously shaky and wildlife smuggling rampant.

"The Greater Mekong region is a magnet for the world's conservation scientists because of the incredible diversity of species that continue to be discovered here," Jimmy Borah, from WWF's Greater Mekong team said.

"They are racing against time to ensure that these newly discovered species are protected."

The Greater Mekong region -- which includes southwestern China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar -- is under intense pressure from dam and road building as well as a thriving illegal wildlife trade, much of it centred around the lawless Golden Triangle area where the latter three meet.

"Many collectors are willing to pay thousands of dollars or more for the rarest, most unique and most endangered species," Borah said.

In total, scientists described 163 new species in 2015 including nine amphibians, three mammals, 11 fish, 14 reptiles and 126 plants.

Among the most eye-catching are parafimbrios lao, a snake found in the limestone karsts of northern Laos whose scales reflect rainbow-like colours around its head.

On the Thai tourist island of Phuket, which has seen huge development in recent decades, scientists found a lizard (acanthosaura phuketensis) with a fearsome-looking ridge of horns down its head and back.

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And in the country's northern Chiang Rai province researchers found a newt (tylototriton anguliceps) with dazzling red and black markings that they likened to a Klingon's head from the Star Trek franchise.

In Cambodia and Vietnam, a new frog species that could fit on a finger tip was also discovered.

At 3cm long, leptolalax isos, can fit on a finger tip. It was first spotted in 2006 but peer-reviewed confirmation that it was indeed a new species took nearly a decade.

Between 1997 and 2015 there have been 2,409 new species described in the Greater Mekong, the equivalent of two new discoveries a week.
* Intense bombardment pounded Aleppo's shrinking rebel zone

* Tens of thousands inside were homeless, bodies on the streets

* Cold and wet weather increased misery after services broke down

* Fears spread after reports of summary killings

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Ellen Francis

AMMAN/BEIRUT, Dec 19 (Reuters) - As the bombardment of Aleppo intensified in the days before the collapse of the city's rebel enclave, Mahmoud Issa would try to comfort his terrified children.

"My small daughter would sleep with her hands over her ears ... I would tell her 'don't be afraid, I am next to you.'"

Issa told Reuters there was another motive too. "What being close means of course is that we die together, so no one who stays alive would be sad about the others."

Thousands of people trapped in eastern Aleppo faced cold, hunger, destitution and an uncertain wait to leave their city as refugees while government forces seized the last rebel pocket, a major prize in the Syrian war.

As reports spread of killings by government soldiers and allied militiamen, denied by Damascus, many were hit by the painful reality that they may never return home.

The battle for Aleppo had begun in 2012, a year after the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, but it was only this summer that the army and allied Shi'ite militias backed by Russian air power besieged the rebels' eastern zone.

On Nov. 24, the attackers made a sudden advance prompting retreats by the rebels that ended with their acceptance of a ceasefire and agreement to withdraw last Tuesday.

Despite the evacuation of around 10,000 people, many more remained stuck after the agreement broke down, hostage to complex negotiations between armed groups on each side.

Images from within the last rebel-held area in recent days showed crowds of people huddling around fires, clothes pulled tight against the bitter weather, seeking shelter among piles of rubble and twisted metal.

"NOBODY TO BURY THEM"

"All the residents were crammed in three or four districts. People were in the streets, so any mortar shell that fell caused a massacre. The dead needed somebody to bury them. There was nobody to bury them," a man in his 40s who was evacuated from the city told Reuters.

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Like others interviewed for this article, the man asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.

On Wednesday, the area was pummelled by air strikes and artillery fire, a bombardment that reached a climax before midnight.

"The shells were falling around us at the rate of my breathing," said Modar Shekho, a nurse whose father and brother were both killed by bombs in the last two weeks. He escaped Aleppo last week in a convoy to rejoin his family in the rebel-held countryside outside the city.

The White Helmets civil defence rescue group, which operates in Syria's rebel-held areas, had suspended organised service after volunteers were scattered in the retreat and much of its equipment was lost or rendered useless by fuel shortages.

"We are working with our hands just to get people from under the rubble," said Ibrahim Abu Laith, a civil defence official.

Bodies were lying in the streets, residents said.

Photographs sent by a medic showed a man in a field clinic picking his way between people lying on the floor under blankets in a corridor with blood smeared on the wall.

FAMILIES SEPARATED IN CHAOS

Most people had only a bag or two of possessions with them.

"Everyone in Aleppo has moved nearly ten times. There was no longer any place. Every time I move to a house it gets shelled," said Adnan Abed al-Raouf, a former civil servant.

In the chaos, families were split up.

Wadah Qadour, a former construction foreman, described how a man carried his bleeding wife looking for help had failed to realise their daughter was not following behind -- one of the families separated in the chaos.

"The girl was put in an orphanage," said Qadour.

One Reuters photograph showed a mother cradling her child in a blanket as they sat by the side of a road beside rubble.

"It got dark outside. People squatted in the streets, and they started making fires to keep warm. Most people hid from the cold in open shops," said Shekho, the nurse whose father and brother had died. "Thousands of families slept in the streets waiting for the buses to come back."

Crowds attempted to reach buses on Thursday, when at least three convoys managed to leave Aleppo for the rebel-held areas in countryside to the west.

When vehicles arrived at midnight, everybody rushed for a place. "Each of us picked up his stuff and we went right away," said Shekho. "Thousands of families were crowding into the buses."

He managed to leave Aleppo. Still, thousands of people remain stranded, with estimates as high as tens of thousands.

"They were still waiting in the streets and it got really cold and the buses were late," said another nurse in Aleppo.

REPORTS OF KILLINGS

Growing panic centred around unconfirmed reports of summary killings and other accusations of abuses by the army and its allies in captured areas.

Five people told Reuters about the same incident involving young men from their neighbourhood in al-Kalasa who had fled into the basement of a clinic. They were not heard of again and their former neighbours were convinced they had been killed in the government advance.

Six other people from the Bustan al-Qasr quarter said they had been told by people who remain that the bodies of nine members of a family called Ajami had been found in a house.

Damascus and its allies - which include the Lebanese militia Hezbollah and the Iraqi militia Harakat al-Nujaba - have denied that any mass arrests or summary killings took place.

An elderly man told Reuters his identity card had been confiscated at a government check point and he was told to go to a school to collect it.

Once there, he and some younger men were put into a room. Soldiers told them they would be killed but at the last minute took him and some others out. Then they heard shooting from inside the room, he said.

Reuters was not able to verify the reports independently.

HARD CHOICES

For rebels trying to decide what to do in the face of defeat, fear for families and other civilians weighed heavily.

After vowing never to leave, rebels acknowledged they had no alternative as bombardments pounded residential areas.

They accepted the terms of a withdrawal set out in a U.S.-Russian proposal that offered them safe passage out of the city, after it was presented to them by U.S. officials, rebel officials said. But no sooner had they embraced the idea of surrendering, than Russia declared there was no deal.

Rebel commanders decided their only option was to fight to the death, said the commander of the Jabha Shamiya rebel group.

"They were very hard days, because we were responsible for civilians - women, children, the elderly," said Abu Ali Saqour, speaking from eastern Aleppo.

Later that night, the army and its allies made another lightning advance, taking the Sheikh Saeed district after intense fighting and pushing the rebels back during the next day to a last tiny pocket.

New talks between Russia and Turkey, the main foreign supporter of the rebels, led to a new evacuation deal, but implementation would be halting at best, leaving thousands of people in limbo in freezing temperatures.

Yousef al Ragheb, a fighter from the Fastaqim rebel group, was ordered by his commanders to shred stacks of documents and dump equipment from a headquarters.

After hearing that the ceasefire was holding, Abdullah Istanbuli, a protester-turned-fighter, spent hours burning his belongings and smashing his furniture to prevent it being looted after he left. "We are burning our memories ... No I don't want any one to live in my house after me," he said.

(Reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman and Ellen Francis in Beirut. Additional reporting by Tom Perry and Lisa Barrington in Beirut. Writing by Angus McDowall in Beirut; Editing by Michael Georgy and Peter Millership)
By PTI: Berlin, Dec 18 (PTI) Earths surface is shattered by roads into over 600,000 fragments - more than half of which are smaller that one square kilometre - severely reducing the ability of ecosystems to function effectively, a new study has found.

Roads have made it possible for humans to access almost every region but this comes at a very high cost ecologically to the planets natural world.

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Despite substantial efforts to conserve the worlds natural heritage, large tracts of valuable roadless areas remain unprotected, researchers said.

The researchers from the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development in Germany used a dataset of 36 million kilometres of roads across the landscapes of the earth. They are dividing them into more than 600,000 pieces that are not directly affected by roads.

Of these remaining roadless areas only seven per cent are larger than 100 square kilometres. The largest tracts are to be found in the tundra and the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia, as well as some tropical areas of Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.

Only nine per cent of these areas undisturbed by roads are protected.

Roads introduce many problems to nature. For instance, they interrupt gene flow in animal populations,facilitate the spread of pests and diseases, and increase soil erosion and the contamination of rivers and wetlands.

Then there is the free movement of people made possible by road development in previously remote areas, which has opened these areas up to severe problems such as illegal logging, poaching and deforestation.

Most importantly, roads trigger the construction of further roads and the subsequent conversion of natural landscapes, a phenomenon the study labels "contagious development."

"Our global map provides guidance on the location of the most valuable roadless areas," said Pierre Ibisch, from the Eberswalde University.

In many cases they represent remaining tracks of extensive functional ecosystems, and are of key significance to ecological processes, such as regulating the hydrological cycle and the climate," said Ibisch.

The researchers used a large data base generated through crowd-sourcing platform to produce a global map for roadless.

"Our figures overestimate roadless areas, and we know many of the areas have already gone or been reduced in size," said Monika Hoffmann from Eberswalde University.

"All roads affect the environment in some shape or form including timber extraction tracks and minor dirt roads, and the impacts can be felt far beyond the road edge," said Nuria Selva, from the Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poland.

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"The area most severely affected is within a one kilometre band on either side of a road," said Selva. PTI MHN MHN

--- ENDS ---
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 60 million tourists visited New York in 2016, the most ever, attracted by the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial, Broadway shows and four-star restaurants.

The number of tourists from across the United States and around the world exceeded forecasts, city tourism officials said on Monday, and topped last year's record by 1.8 million.

"The iconic attractions are always a big draw," said Fred Dixon, president and chief executive of NYC & Company, the city's official destination marketing organization. "These are the hallmarks of a New York City visit, especially for the first-time visitor."

The city's signature landmarks, including the Empire State Building and Central Park, remain high on the list of must-sees, but lower Manhattan has become a big draw for tourists as well.

Tourists are eager to pay their respects at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in the Financial District, peruse the exhibits at the new Whitney Museum of American Art and take a stroll on the High Line on the west side of Manhattan.

Many visitors are also venturing out of Manhattan to the so-called outer boroughs, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx, in search off-beat attractions and restaurants - trips that would have been inconceivable 40 years ago, when the city fell to a financial and crime-ridden nadir.

"We've seen a real growth in that offering in New York, whether it is small walking tours, sightseeing or double-deckers. Tours are continuing to grow in new neighborhoods," Dixon added.

The allure of out-of-Manhattan experiences in reflected in hotel stays in the five boroughs, which grew by 1.2 million to 34.9 million room nights, another record.

"Much of the hotel development is not limited to Manhattan. It is throughout the entire city," said Christopher Heywood, a spokesman for NYC & Company. "This idea of neighborhood travel has become very, very popular."

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About 80 percent of tourists in New York are from other parts of the United States, according to the city, which tracks visitors who have traveled more than 50 miles (80 kms).

Unsurprisingly, international tourists, estimated at more than 12 million this year, account for the biggest economic footprint. They contribute about half of hotel and direct spending.

Britain leads in the pack in foreign tourists visiting New York, but China is a close second, having overtaken Canada, which dropped to No. 3, followed by Brazil.

(Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
By Brenda Goh, Allison Lampert and Brad Haynes

SHANGHAI/MONTREAL/SAO PAULO (Reuters) - New rules governing Chinese airline startups are fueling hopes at Embraer SA <EMBR3.SA>, Bombardier Inc <BBDb.TO> and other regional jet makers for a spike in orders next year, but local competition and doubts about size restrictions still loom as major obstacles.

The new policy is aimed at encouraging fledgling carriers to boost domestic flights serving secondary markets in China rather than focusing exclusively on big cities. The three-month old policy has still not been published in its entirety, leaving the industry guessing on some key details.

But provisions include scaling back access to major hubs and a requirement that new regional carriers operate at least 25 smaller city-hopper jets before graduating to bigger aircraft, according to three industry sources familiar with the policy.

That could translate into Chinese demand for more than 250 new regional jets in the next two years, said one source familiar with a planemaker's outlook, providing a shot in the arm for a new generation of aircraft that has suffered a string of setbacks. Another source familiar with the market called the prospects more limited.

China is seen as anxious to prevent carriers from using niche markets as a back door to the main airline business by grabbing licenses to set up small regional or cargo airlines and then quickly defecting to the more lucrative big-city segment, dominated by Airbus and Boeing.

On paper, that should boost demand for regional jets including China's delayed ARJ21, developed by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).

The support for regional aviation in China should also encourage foreign market leaders such as Bombardier and Embraer, according to Yang Yang, a director at COMAC's Shanghai Aircraft Design Research Institute.

"This will potentially give them a big market to target," he said.

Story continues

Regional jet makers have been recovering from development hitches in recent years, only to find that demand has now slowed in their main markets in the United States and Europe as predictions of robust orders from Asia have yet to materialize.

A spokesman for Canada's Bombardier said the new policy offers regional airlines "many new opportunities" and Brazil's Embraer called it an "insightful ... new policy to promote regional aviation."

Russia's Sukhoi Civil Aircraft said the company started regular talks this year with potential Chinese customers for its recently introduced Superjet regional aircraft.

Others, such as Japan's Mitsubishi Aircraft, are keeping a lid on expectations, wary of competition from the ARJ21, China's first homegrown passenger jet, which COMAC put into service this year.

"We think in general China has a huge potential," said Yugo Fukuhara, a vice president for sales of Mitsubishi Aircraft, a unit of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd <7011.T>, which is developing another newcomer to the regional jet market.

"At the same time, we have competition from the ARJ21, developed by China themselves, and also some political barriers," Fukuhara said, alluding to diplomatic tensions between Japan and its neighbor across the East China Sea.

UNCLEAR DEMAND, COMPETITION Analysts say the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) wants to encourage a more diffuse network after most airlines launched in the past three years focused on busier mainline routes, leaving secondary markets underdeveloped.

But the regulatory changes in the country may also make it harder for new airlines, as feeder routes are often less profitable and face stiff competition from China's fast expanding high-speed rail network.

China had 57 airlines at the end of 2015, only 12 of which were regional carriers, according to a report from the Shanghai Aircraft Design Research Institute.

Embraer has made the most progress among foreign planemakers with those airlines, delivering 91 aircraft of 123 firm orders through September - about twice Bombardier's tally, according to the companies' latest quarterly reports.

However, Chinese order books for both companies are dwarfed by the ARJ21, which has racked up more than 400 orders since the program was launched in 2002.

Comac says the ARJ21 holds advantages such as its domestic service network and performance standards tailored to the country's hot and high-altitude western plateau.

But it has delivered just two planes to launch customer Chengdu Airlines so far, leading analysts to question the feasibility of the Chinese regional jet.

Development of the ARJ21 was delayed by nearly a decade, dogged by flawed designs for wings, wiring and computer systems, according to a 2012 Reuters investigation. The aircraft has yet to be certified by U.S. authorities.

"The ARJ21 is not a functioning aircraft," said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at aviation consultancy Teal Group, who publishes widely cited global aerospace forecasts.

SIZE LIMITS

Regardless of the ARJ21's prospects, labor disputes in the world's largest regional market also have regional planemakers pinning bigger hopes on new Chinese demand.

U.S. pilots are resisting pressure to allow heavier aircraft to be outsourced to regional affiliates, effectively protecting jobs at the mainline operations of Delta Air Lines Inc <DAL.N>, American Airlines Group Inc <AAL.O> and United Continental Holdings Inc <UAL.N>.

The standoff could lock out Mitsubishi's MRJ90 and Embraer's next-generation E175 aircraft in coming years.

Those size limits, along with low fuel prices, have also slowed new orders to replace aging U.S. aircraft this year.

The size issue could haunt manufacturers in China too. Aviation regulator CAAC has been slow to make public details of the new requirements, known as Rule 96. In particular, they are keeping mum on the specific seat count and weight limits for the loosely defined regional segment.

Embraer's head of commercial aviation, John Slattery, said at an industry event in October that Chinese size limits would prevent the company's 120-seat E195 and rival Bombardier's 110- to 130-seat CSeries from qualifying as regional jets.

Bombardier disagrees.

"We are confident that all aircraft with five-abreast seating or less qualify within the framework of CAAC Rule 96 and we are working with a number of Chinese carriers in that context," said public affairs director Bryan Tucker.

CAAC did not respond to requests for comment on specific requirements for regional airlines.

Privately-owned regional carrier China Express Airlines, which has been operating Bombardier CRJ900 jets since it began flying in 2006, said it was keeping an open mind.

"We don't have any specific preference for domestic or foreign manufacturers," said Zhang Jian, a general manager at the airline, which has spoken with Comac about the ARJ21.

(Additional reporting by Gleb Stolyarov in Moscow, Tim Kelly in Tokyo and Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Christian Plumb and Edward Tobin)
The true power of the Catholic Church can never be adequately measured. Had Jesus not anointed Peter the first Pope, there would be no Dan Brown novels, no Pedro Almodovar movies, no tartan mini-skirt school uniforms. And there would be no Assassins Creed video game. No Assassins Creed novels. No Assassins Creed movie. That would mean one less opportunity to see Michael Fassbender shirtless. Our world would be a dark one.

Assassins Creed the movie is fairly innocuous. Its also cheerless and dumb. Michael Fassbender stars as Callum Lynch, a death-row criminal whos executed before our eyes, only to be brought back to life by a beautiful scientist in flawless red lipstick and a nunlike hairdo. That would be Sofia (Marion Cotillard), and she has a special task for Callum, who is descended from Aguilar, one of the bravest members of a line of freedom fighters known as the Assassins. In 15th Century Andalusia, Aguilar and his cohorts devoted their lives to fighting the Knights TemplarCatholic alert!a hoity-toity religious military order whose goal was to procure the Apple of Eden, a gizmo with the power to deprive man of free will. (Disappointingly, its not even a real apple.) Sofia has built an elaborate apparatus that, when hooked into Callums spine, allows him to regress into the past and become Aguilar. Her goaland its the goal of her father as well, a Templar baddie played by the silky-cool Jeremy Ironsis to use Aguilar to figure out where, exactly, the long-lost Apple of Eden is hiding. When Callum regresses to become Aguilar, there is much fighting with handily concealed knife blades and so forth.

The plot of Assassins Creed is very confusing. No, scratch that: Its a mess. You might not really care, but the moviedirected by Justin Kurzel, the Australian director whose last picture was a supergritty version of Macbeth, also starring Fassbender and Cotillardis rife with squandered opportunities. At one point, some sort of 15th century enemy Knight scrambles along a rooftop on his horse. This is fascinating: A horse on a rooftop! How did he get there? How did he get down? These are questions the movie never answers. Cool image, though. There are other flaws: When Fassbender as Callum is shirtless, Assassins Creed at least nods in the direction of camp juiciness. But in the Aguilar sequences, Fassbender wears a robe of suitably penitential rough cloth, befitting the characters seriousness of purpose. Yawn.

The 15th Century wasnt a great time to be alive, and its not even such nice place to visit. We went all the way back in time with Assassins Creed and all we got was this lousy apple. Its not even a real one.
Getty Images

Rick Nash injured his groin against the New York Islanders on Dec. 6. He missed a few games for the New York Rangers, and then was basically their best forward in the three games since his return against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 15.

Alas, it appears the Rangers were only tantalized by Nashs return to the lineup. Larry Brooks for the NY Post reports that the winger is out again, hurting the other side of his groin:

Nash will be sidelined for an unknown period of time, beginning with Tuesdays showdown against the Penguins, whom the Rangers lead by two points in the battle for first place in the Metro Division, though Pittsburgh holds two games in hand.

Nash, who missed four games with what he said was the first groin injury of his career, recorded goals in each of his first two matches back in the lineup before creating numerous chances against New Jersey. The winger, who has scored six goals in his past 11 games, has 20 points (13-7) in 30 games. Nash has played with a couple of different units since his return; his absence will create more ice time for Jimmy Vesey and/or Michael Grabner.

Missing a showdown with the Penguins is a bummer, but at least the end of the calendar year affords Nash some extra days to mend thanks to the holiday break.

Just remember that Rick Nash has been taken from us because of Brooklyns ice, probably.

I havent had groin problems in a long time. Ice was really soft there, I dont know if that could have been an issue. Not to blame anything, Nash said.

Surrrrre.



Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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DUBAI (Reuters) - Ride-hailing app Careem has closed the first part of a $500 million funding round backed by investors including Japan's Rakuten Inc and Saudi Telecom Co (STC), the Dubai-based company said in a statement on Monday.

Uber's [UBER.UL] chief competitor in the Middle East and North Africa region said the tranche was worth $350 million and that it was advised by Credit Suisse on the financing.

The cash would be used to help with its expansion plans, the statement added.

STC said on Sunday it has agreed to buy a 10 percent stake in Careem for $100 million.

(Reporting by Celine Aswad; Editing by David French)
By Eveline Danubrata

JAKARTA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Uber Technologies and Indonesia's second-biggest taxi operator PT Express Transindo Utama Tbk announced on Monday a partnership on ride-sharing and vehicle financing.

The deal will give Uber, which currently operates in five Indonesian cities, some access to Express's fleet of more than 11,000 taxis and 17,000 drivers. It will also help the U.S. firm meet regulations on getting a local partner.

Express drivers who participate in the new program can take orders on the uberX service to "supplement their existing business", the joint statement said. UberX is typically a low-cost option that allows up to four riders.

Uber drivers, referred to as "driver-partners", can lease vehicles with no taxi attributes or branding from Express by making monthly payments, partly through the income generated from using the Uber app.

Uber's move follows partnerships of its rivals with local firms. Earlier this year, homegrown ride-hailing app Go-Jek teamed up with Indonesia's biggest taxi operator PT Blue Bird Tbk on technology, payment and promotions, while Southeast Asian firm Grab has a mobile payment partnership with the Lippo Group.

Ride-hailing services have met with regulatory obstacles in the country of 250 million people. The government has ordered them to pass vehicle safety tests and ensure that their drivers are licensed, among other conditions.

(Reporting by Eveline Danubrata; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
Photo credit: undefined

From Esquire

Donald Trump's victory has helped goose subscriptions at The New York Times, the company said, while a recent tweet calling Vanity Fair "dead" led to the magazine's biggest single-day spike in subscriptions ever. He's also helped book sales, according to Associated Press writer Hillel Italie, who called attention to six books that received a "Trump bump," all of which had an increase in sales thanks to Trump.

The Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance

Vance's book about his relatives in rural Kentucky and Ohio's rust belt explored the mentality of the white working class voter that turned out for Trump. The New York Times called it "a compassionate, discerning sociological analysis of the white underclass that has helped drive the politics of rebellion, particularly the ascent of Donald J. Trump."

Settle for More, by Megyn Kelly

Until the first Republican presidential debate, Megyn Kelly was perhaps best known among the non-Fox News faithful for saying Jesus and Santa Claus were white ("a verifiable fact," she said). Then she fired off the first debate question of the 2016 election, asking Trump about his vile comments towards women. This ignited a frenzied, sustained attack from then-candidate Trump. Incidentally, Kelly also had a memoir in the works that came out in November. It's now a best-seller.

It Can't Happen Here, by Sinclair Lewis

Lewis' book was written in the mid-1930s but seems more prescient than ever. "In It Can't Happen Here," the AP's Italie writes, "Lewis imagined the frightening rise of Sen. Berzelius 'Buzz' Windrip, whose defense of 'The Forgotten Man' and attacks on Mexicans and the media gave the novel renewed relevance in 2016."

The Plot Against America, by Philip Roth

Published in 2004, The Plot Against America is set in the early 1940s, when, according to Italie, President Charles Lindbergh establishes an authoritarian government that aims to stay out of World War II and not fight the Nazis. "Lindbergh can deal with Hitler, they said, Hitler respects him because he's Lindbergh," Roth wrote. Replace Hitler with Putin and suddenly you're quoting Breitbart News.

Story continues

During the Democratic National Convention, Khzir Khan, the Muslim father of a U.S. Marine killed in Iraq, held up a copy of the Constitution and asked whether Trump had read it. Trump responded by belittling Khan and his wife, who stood beside him during the speech, suggesting she didn't speak because their Muslim faith didn't allow her. (In fact, it was too painful for her to speak about her dead son.) Meanwhile, sales of the Constitution skyrocketed, although, as Italie points out, it wasn't the version that Khan held up that shot to the top of Amazon's best-seller list, but instead a pocket-sized version from the right-wing National Center for Constitutional Studies.

The Art of the Deal, by Donald Trump

Trump's book, published in 1987, launched him from New York real estate tycoon to international celebrity. Trump claims-incorrectly-that Art of the Deal is the all-time business best-seller, but the book has sold more than a million copies and spent much of the year near the top of Amazon's charts. The book's co-author, Tony Schwartz, gave a scathing interview to The New Yorker in which he called Trump a "sociopath."

With reporting from Associated Press National Writer Hillel Italie.

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Rob Kardashian is making amends.

After the Rob & Chyna star had a social media meltdown over the weekend that led his fiancee Blac Chyna to pack up, take 5-week-old daughter Dream and move out of the couples shared home, the star says hes seeking help for emotional baggage that has haunted him through his tumultuous relationship with Chyna, 28.

This weekend I was in an emotional bad place and did some things that embarrassed myself and my family, Kardashian, 29, wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. I apologize and Im seeking help to deal with my flaws/issues. Please pray for me and Im sorry @blacchyna. You are a great mother to our child and I love you.

He posted a second tribute to his baby girl: I am going to get better for you Dream. You are my life and gave me a new start on being a better me. Love you.

Less than an hour after Kardashians post, Chyna apparently accepted his mea culpa, regramming his first post with a simple heart emoji next to Kardashians Instagram handle.

Kardashian and Chyna first hinted at their whirlwind romance in late January, got engaged in April and welcomed Dream in November. In less than a year, theyve seen several highs and lows including this weekends hack of Chynas personal messages, which she alleged Kardashian might have been behind.

A source told PEOPLE over the weekend that one persistent problem in the relationship is that Kardashians emotional problems take over and he lashes out at Chyna over ridiculous stuff.

The source added, Rob is a dad and that should be his focus  but he isnt mature enough to not start fights with Chyna in the first place. Its just a crazy mess. A very sad crazy mess.

Chynas mother, Tokyo Toni, told a different story on social media Sunday.

They will be fine, she wrote. I love Rob and I am going to try to help them manage their relationship through love and wise words. At the end of the day they will still be together I promise you. Rob just have to get Mr. Insecure off of his back! Everything will be fine.




The Doctors welcome Robin McGraw who shares her new skincare collection that will help you achieve brighter, clearer and more youthful skin.

The philanthropist, entrepreneur and two-time New York Times best-selling author has partnered with dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu, who is also the skincare lines Exclusive Chief Medical Advisor, to create the Revelation New Luxury Skincare Collection.

We are all getting older, but we should do everything to look our best as we get old, be our healthiest, Robin tells ER physician Dr. Travis Stork, saying shes proud to embrace her age, but also strives to live her healthiest life possible.

After getting thousands of questions from viewers asking for advice, Robin decided to partner with Dr. Wu to create a product line to help women. Two viewers, who tested the Revelation New Luxury Skincare Collection, join The Doctors to share their results.

More With Robin's Revelation New Luxury Skincare Collection

New mom Bina, who has a non-existent skin care regimen and only washes her face with water, explains she was hoping for clear, beautiful skin. I found that it made my skin a lot clearer and it felt a lot smoother. And my complexion cleared up, I dont have blotchy skin  no red spots, she shares.

The job-seeking Nikki, who also does not have a skincare regimen and only uses water, is looking for a refreshed look for interviews. She explains that her skin is very sensitive and that other products have caused flare-ups. This is probably the only thing Ive put on my face [that has not caused problems], she says.

For other women like Bina and Nikki who only use water on their face, Robin says, Its never too early and its never too late to start with a skincare routine.

Find out which Revelation New Luxury Skincare Collection products Dr. Wus recommends for Bina and Nikki going forward, plus get details on Robins new luxurious jewelry piece, The Bow Ring, that she created as a reminder that everyone deserves to live their happiest and healthiest life.

For more information on the Revelation New Luxury Skincare Collection, visit Robins website!
Andrey Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey died of gunshot wounds in the Turkish capital, Ankara. The entire act of shooting by the gunman, who is reportedly a police officer from Ankara, was caught on camera.

A man holding a gun gestures as another lay near his feet at a photo gallery in Ankara on Monday. The Russian ambassador to Turkey was killed in the attack, Photo: AP

By Agencies: Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, died of his wounds after being shot in Ankara, the Turkish capital, Russia's state-run RIA news agency reported today.

The Russian ambassador to Ankara was rushed to a hospital after being shot at in an art gallery in the Turkish capital today.

The gunman has been reportedly identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas , who is a police officer from Ankara. He too was been killed by the police.

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The act of the killing of the ambassador was caught on camera.

What Turkish gunman said after killing the Russian ambassador. With English subtitles. pic.twitter.com/3UtXqj1kMUMahir Zeynalov (@MahirZeynalov) December 20, 2016

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the death of its envoy. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had earlier said that Ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot after he made a speech at the opening of a photographic exhibition.

Hurriyet newspaper said Turkish special forces had surrounded the building. NTV said three other people were wounded.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED:

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was in touch with Turkish authorities about the attack.

"Today, during a public event, an unknown person opened fire chaotically," Zakharova was cited as saying. "As a result, Andrey Karlov, the ambassador to Turkey, received a gunshot wound."

A Reuters witness said that while gunfire rang out for some time after the attack, it had now stopped. A Hurriyet newspaper reporter said the attacker chanted Islamist slogans.

Russia and Turkey have been involved in conflict in Syria across the border from where over two million Syrian refugees have settled. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of President Bashar al-Assad while Russia has deployed troops and its air force in support of the Syrian leader.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. Islamic State militants have been active in Turkey and carried out several bomb attacks on Turkish targets.

A photograph posted on twitter showed a man in a black suit holding a pistol, standing close to a podium in the gallery, its walls hung with pictures. Four people including what appeared to be the ambassador lay on the floor.

Also Read:

ISIS uses 'chemical gas' against Syrian rebels: Turkish media

Assad wins big, thanks to Russia; battle over Syria's Aleppo over WATCH VIDEO HERE

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sw-feat-uproxx

Lucasfilm

Like everyone else, our writers excitedly checked out the first Star Wars anthology film, Rogue One, over the weekend. Below, a handful of them share some thoughts on the film.

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Putting The War In Star Wars

Andrew Husband: On the one hand, claiming Rogue One is the first Star Wars film to feature an actual war is somewhat disingenuous. All seven of the previous Star Wars films have included aspects of the galactic war forged between the Empire and the Rebellion in the original trilogy, or the conflicts that led to its occurrence in the prequel films  including the Clone Wars. On the other hand, none of the seven dug anywhere near as deep into the grittier aspects of wartime combat operations as Rogue One. Where George Lucas movies and J.J. Abrams continuation play more like space operas, Gareth Edwards standalone seems like it wants to venture into territory occupied by bona fide war pictures like Saving Private Ryan and Hacksaw Ridge. It never quite gets there, but the final acts beach assault on Scarif comes closer than anything else before it in the Star Wars canon.

Dan Seitz: The wars in Star Wars are almost always pop culture references of some sort; its easy to forget Lucas, in addition to being a high-toned cineaste, loves the hell out of serials and other forgotten B-movies.. The X-wing battles owe a lot to the relatively obscure war movie The Dam Busters, among other flying hero movies, the prequels had these vast, formal elaborate sequences that were almost dance numbers with precise armies of droids unfurling, feeling like Cecil B. DeMille, and one critic hilariously pointed out theres a bit in Attack of The Clones thats more or less from The Navy Vs. The Night Monsters. Yes thats a real movie.

Theres definitely some of that here; this movie romanticizes death much like WWII movies do. But I think it speaks to Edwards frame of reference and how the war movie has changed. I dont think Lucas really could have made this movie in 1977.

Story continues

Jill Pantozzi: When discussing the politics of Star Wars last week, I reminded everyone the franchise started with the intent of comparing it to real-world events. Lucas took cues from the first and second World Wars as well as Vietnam for his stories and I think that last one especially has a heavy influence on Rogue One when you look at their last assault on the beach. Its gritty, its real, its pretty difficult to watch. Weve seen death in Star Wars plenty of times but never like this.

Donna Dickens: I touch on this a little further down the line, but Rogue One is the first Star Wars movie that doesnt let you forget people are dying for this cause. The original trilogy focuses so heavily on the Skywalker family that the cost of war is mere background noise while the prequels glossed over the atrocities of battle by having droids fight clones. The closest thing audiences have seen to this level of violence in a galaxy far, far away is the Jedi Purge and Anakins slaughter of the younglings. I agree with Andrew that Rogue One swings for fences with the reality of a rebel ground force fighting against the overpowered behemoth that is the Empire. Future generations of fans will see this film as Babys First War Movie. Its gritty  and lets face it, downright depressing at the end  but couches the violence in a veneer of bloodless palatability to keep it from crossing the line into Babys First Traumatic Movie Experience.



ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

Lucasfilm

Favorite Character

Donna: It seems unfair to ask me to pick a single favorite character as each member of Rogue One was simultaneously indispensable and completely one-dimensional. If asked for the motivation of anyone besides Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), Id have to respond with a shrug emoji. But such is the case when youre juggling an ensemble cast and finite amount of time. Yes, K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) is sassy and yes Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is hard-as-nails and arguably a borderline villain in his own right. But if pressed, Id have to say Admiral Raddus (Paul Kasey/Stephen Stanton), the Mon Calamari leader of the Scarif attack. A weird choice? Probably. But even with limited screen time Raddus proves himself to be a consummate leader. During the war room scene, he argues that Jyn is right and the Alliance must fight. He goes against orders to take an entire battalion to help Rogue One in their mission. He even spearheads an amazing piece of military stratagem involving two Star Destroyers and a Hammerhead ship. I dont know, something about his resolute stance and compassion for those lost under his command just really got me.

Jill: Well Ill just go ahead and say it because I know Im not alone: Tudyks K-2SO was tops. But Ill admit it might be because of what you said, Donna, that so many of the other characters lacked the kind of development we come to expect from a Star Wars film. Hell, any film. I dont know if the large ensemble plus the amount of story they needed to get through prevented them from going more in depth but regardless, it left K-2SO as the standout for me. Not only was he the obvious comedy relief, he also might have been the only character in the film who said what he meant and meant what he said.

Dan: While I love K-2SO, every movie must be subjected to a simple flowchart. Is Donnie Yen in this movie, and, if yes, is Donnie Yen kicking ass? The answer in Rogue One is yes to both questions, so Chirrut Imwe is the best character. Maybe this time around Yen will get better roles in Hollywood than Highlander and Blade sequels.

Andrew: I cant help but prefer complexity, and as Donna noted from the start, not many of Rogue Ones central and supporting characters were that deep. Yet writing a well-developed character, or turning a mediocre one into something more via a performance, doesnt require too many script pages or minutes on screen. Hence why the more I think about Forest Whitakers Saw Gerrera (whose name is eerily close to Che Guevaras, the Cuban revolutionary), the more I love him. That he helped Jyn Erso to safety and, in various ways, aided her family throughout its exile sets him off on the right foot with the audience. But when we meet him in hiding on Jedah, hes turned paranoid and violent  even capturing and torturing Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed). Whats more, his progress through life is one of the films strongest representations of its chief subject, war, and the terrible traumas it can inflict on people.

rogue-one-a-star-wars-story-felicity-jones-3_disney

Disney / Lucasfilm

How does it compare to The Force Awakens?

Jill: Right before I headed to the theater someone reminded me Star Wars: The Force Awakens hit theaters a year ago and I almost couldnt believe it. TFA had a big impact on me and I feel like Ive been living with that story for several years, not just one. Obviously I knew going in Rogue One would have a very different feel and boy, did it. The one area Ill say that The Force Awakens compares to Rogue One is the comedy-relief droid. Other than that, the two couldnt be further apart. And thats probably how it should be.

Dan: I have to agree with Jill, especially since Rogue One sunk so much time and effort into exactly imitating the look and feel of the original movies. Everything has that grimy 70s used future feel without being an overly obvious tribute (well, most of the time; see below), and its a much darker story. Its still not the grimmest story in the Star Wars canon, but up there, and a pretty sharp contrast to The Force Awakens new beginnings.

Donna: At our theater, there was one family with a toddler and about halfway through the first act, everyone knew those parents had made a huge mistake. Im sure they saw The Force Awakens and thought Rogue One would be a similar romp. But, as you said Dan, the latter is one of the darkest entries into the Star Wars lore and explores some heavy themes, such as the atrocities committed by all sides in a war and how those actions psychologically scar the men and women carrying out orders. By comparison, The Force Awakens is childs play. Despite Starkiller Base killing far more people, Episode VII remains aloof and the death of millions feels distant while Rogue One gets right in the audiences face and forces them to remember people are dying.

Andrew: Not only does Rogue One force this horrible reality into everyones faces, but it also emphasizes the finality of it. Quite literally, it turns out, as this standalone film cannot possibly inspire a sequel given how everything turns out for the central players. In a way Rogue One reminds me of the Tom Stoppard play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, in which two of the most unimportant characters from Shakespeares Hamlet are given their own story. Most of the characters featured in Rogue One didnt necessarily exist before the film came to be, but their thoughts and actions revolved around events already well-established by the previous movies. As a result, almost everyone watching knew what was going to happen to them.

Meanwhile, The Force Awakens is very much the new beginning Dan referred to in terms of the story and its finality. That is to say, we dont quite know where Episode VIII and Episode IX are going as those stories are breaking new ground and expanding the Star Wars mythos at every turn. Rogue One didnt really have anywhere else to go, aside from filling in a few plot holes unearthed by A New Hope, so its ability to tell a more mature story dealing with weightier concepts like war and death was practically built into its framework.



rogue-one-3

Lucasfilm

Fan Service Everywhere

Dan: One thing that stood out to me was how it was apparently super-important we understand that this movie had a bunch of ties to A New Hope. Like, not seeing the Death Star wasnt enough, we had to have Peter Cushing back from the dead and another CGI character at the end to remind us the Death Star plans were Hope. Krennic has a meeting with Darth Vader to get called out on performance targets. They even have those two guys Obi-Wan roughs up in the cantina bump shoulders with a character in Jedha for no good reason.

Ive got to ask why. Well, I know why: Toy revenue. But the movie is full of tributes to the original trilogy that are far more subtle and work a lot better: K-S20s anticipation of Han Solo sucking at improv, for example, or torpedoing (pardon the pun) every joke about Imperial engineering by revealing that exhaust port was intentional. Why not stick with those?

Andrew: The mouse-eared executives at Disney surely prize toy revenue (and other sources of income when it comes to their tentpole properties, though I doubt it was the reason Lucasfilm chose to plant so many references to the first film in Rogue One. After all, anyone with the smallest inkling of franchise knowledge will realize what the films getting at after the first few major beats. Yet the overabundance of callbacks  both big and little  does even more damage here than it did in The Force Awakens. For while J.J. Abrams et al. playfully wanted to add a few references here and there for the sake of the fans, Gareth Edwards (or the two new films common denominator, Lucasfilm) practically drowns the audience in finger-pointing. What results is a standalone movie that, despite that words use in the title, is never really given the chance to you know stand alone.

Donna: Say what you will about the ham-fisted insertion of fan service, but audiences love the little things. From the roughnecks on Jedha that later run afoul of Obi-Wan and Luke on Tatooine to a certain droid complaining no one ever tells him anything, people in my theater at least reacted with laughs and cheers. These touchstones can be grating  yes, we get it, Vader is wiping the floor with Rebel scum while the last Skywalker male is whining about moisture farming  but I dont mind the the little winks. What I do mind are things like the unholy abomination that was CGI Peter Cushing. Having read the Rogue One: Catalyst novel, I knew Tarkin and Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) had a long, contentious relationship but my monkey brain was not okay with Tarkins uncanny valley face. Id have been more happy with only seeing Tarkin from behind/reflected in glass or an actor with enough prosthetics to approximate the late Cushings gaunt features.

Jill: Im not opposed to fan service. We all love it sometimes. But I agree there might have been just a touch too much. Yes, the Cushing stuff was off-putting for sure. The Leia reveal, while nice in theory, was strange. I think the same reaction could have been accomplished with someone shouting Princess, you must leave NOW! and her saying the hope line without facing the camera, looking out into the space ahead of them perhaps. On the positive side, as a Star Wars Rebels fan, I was delighted to see Heras Ghost in the mix at the end, even as I was concerned about their possible demise. (I dont think Lucasfilm would have really been that mean.) I missed Chopper, sadly, but will look for the wonderful grump next time.

The best fan service though? Darth Vader using his skills. Holy cow. In the original trilogy, he didnt really have to do much, here he knows the stakes and doesnt hold back on the Rebel forces in his way. Its truly frightening. It reminds you why people love the character so much (after perhaps developed mixed feelings tanks to the prequels) and I bet many were longing for something like this to unfold in the film. Used sparingly, Vaders powers and presence have a fantastic effect on the audience.



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Lucasfilm

Overall Impressions

Dan: Honestly, I preferred this to The Force Awakens. Its a Star Wars movie that does something different with the franchise, and shifts the goal posts a little to offer something different from the main franchise. If were getting new Star Wars every year, and its up to this level, we may be looking forward to the even years instead of the odds.

Jill: The film was a bit slow to start for me but that ending. God, that ending. I cant believe how hard I was gripping my seat! Even though I knew what was coming (basically), it still hit me like a sack of bricks. Im actually really sad we wont get to see more of this group. As weve already mentioned, the characters didnt get enough development and another film would have been great for that but it was not meant to be. Also, where in the actual hell were all the women? As much as the female lead of this film was talked up over the last year or so, there was a severe lack of women spread throughout the film. While we had some pilots at the end, I didnt notice any on the ground. And besides Mon Mothma, the only other woman who spoke at the Rebel meeting didnt even get named on screen. Im still digesting everything, and Im going to see it a second time, but at this point Im seeing so many different reactions from fans. Im hoping everyone can be respectful and not get angry that someone didnt fall head over heels for the film. One more thing: Donnie Yens Chirrut and Jiang Wens Baze are in a loving relationship, right? Were all clear on that? OK. Good.

Andrew: Jill mentioned seeing Rogue One a second time, which should ring true with the fans whove already seen the movie at least once. After all, what truly makes us love Star Wars (prequels notwithstanding) is the fact that theyre so rewatchable. Yet theres a thought I had after my screening on Thursday that I keep coming back to  Im not sure whether or not Ill see Rogue One a second time in theaters. I didnt hate it, but I just wasnt drawn in deep enough by its inconsistent pacing, underdeveloped characters, or its barely passing the BechdelWallace test. That said, when its released on Blu-ray or begins airing on television, Ill be the first in line to watch it then.

Donna: I completely agree that Rogue One sticks the landing in a way that had me questioning the outcome of the mission despite knowing they would ultimately succeed. But I do wish theyd chosen to focus more on Jyns journey from lone wolf rebel (so sad that I rebel, didnt make the final cut) to Alliance leader. I know Lucasfilm tries to keep their Star Wars runtimes around two hours, but with all the juggling necessary to get the squad gelled into a cohesive whole, another 20-30 minutes of character building wouldve been extremely welcome. As it stands, the frenetic pacing of the first two acts meant that by the time sacrifices had to be made in the final battle, I didnt feel connected enough to the characters to be as distraught by their loss as the movie obviously wanted me to be. However, I highly applaud Disney for taking a chance on doing something different with the franchise. With a new addition coming each year, exploring new ways to tell stories in the Star Wars universe is the only way to keep the galaxy from getting stale.
Heres how Rogue One got THAT cameo into the movie

If youve seen Rogue One, you know how it ends  and if you havent seen it, Im about to spoil one of the biggest Star Wars surprises to come out of that galaxy far, far away in quite some time. As Scarif is destroyed below, high up above the Rebels are rushing to get the Death Star plans safety into the hands of the best guardian for them: Princess Leia. Yup, Princess Leia shows up in Rogue One, and I know what youre thinking

WHAT?!

The ending of Rogue One directly ties into the very beginning of Star Wars Episode IV, A New Hope. Theres probably like, 15 minutes between the end of Rogue One and the beginning of A New Hope, and thats crazy. Whats even crazier is the fact that Princess Leia is in the movie, and she is, without a doubt, Carrie Fisher playing Princess Leia.

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Actors are aged up for roles all the time  but very rarely are they aged down 40 or so years. It happened here with Rogue One, and its all thanks so some high-tech movie magic.

While Disney and Lucasfilm havent released exactly how they made this happen, its easy to guess. A real, live actress, Ingvild Deila, played Princess Leia in the movie, or rather, played the stand-in for Princess Leia. Remember how in Ant-Man, Michael Douglass was de-aged to look much younger and then in Captain America: Civil War, same thing for Robert Downy Jr.? Disney used a company called Lola VFX to do that, and basically the VFX company does their VFX magic to make someone look younger, and that image is then superimposed over the characters stand in for their younger scenes in the movie. Tah-dah!

Its actually 1,000% more technical and difficult than that, but thats the general gist.

So while that was Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in the movie, that wasnt exactly Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in the movie. It was her (and probably footage from the original Star Wars movie was used), but it wasnt her at the same time, and filmmaking is CRAZY. Fisher more than likely helped out a little with making her cameo happen  and she obviously knew it was happening and had to approve her likeness appearing in the movie  as she was listed in the credits as the very last (and apparently biggest) Special Thanks.

And you know what, theres one downside to this cameo, and it needs to be addressed: Carrie Fisher was in Rogue One all along, and we were totally deprived of a glorious Carrie Fisher Rogue One press tour. Ugh, next years Episode VIII cant get here soon enough.

The post Heres how Rogue One got THAT cameo into the movie appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Peter Cushing (the real one) and Carrie Fisher in the original Star Wars (Photo: Everett Collection)

Warning: Some spoilers for Rogue One to follow

At this point, Star Wars fans are accustomed to seeing their favorite characters return from the dead, and their favorite stories recycled with new computer effects. The new Star Wars movie Rogue One takes both ideas to the next level by resurrecting a familiar human character  Grand Moff Tarkin, Darth Vaders formidable right-hand man in A New Hope  in a CGI performance. True to George Lucass forward-thinking vision for the Star Wars films, its an impressive piece of special-effects craft thats never been attempted on this level. Whether it works  and what it bodes for the future of the Star Wars universe  is another story.

Grand Moff Tarkin, the ruthless general who presided over the Death Star and ordered the destruction of Princess Leias home planet Alderaan, was played by British actor Peter Cushing in the original 1977 Star Wars. The character was blown up with the Death Star at the end of the movie, and Cushing himself died in 1994 at the age of 81. Tarkin has returned to the big screen once before, for a wordless cameo at the end of the prequel trilogy. In 2005s Revenge of the Sith, the character was played by Wayne Pygram, outfitted with extensive prosthetics to resemble Cushing. Reportedly, George Lucas considered using stock footage to bring Cushings character back to life for Sith, but the poor condition of the existing footage made it impossible.

Watch Rogue One director Gareth Edwards talk about the lack of an opening crawl:





If this is true, then Rogue One is the fulfillment of Lucas dream. Rogue Ones Tarkin is an uncanny digital re-creation of late-1970s Peter Cushing with a voice to match. (Rogue One takes place immediately before the events of A New Hope, when a band of Rebels steals the Death Star plans from the Empire.) The characters first appearance elicited gasps from the audience at the New York press screening  but the real shocker is how much screen time he gets. Though it probably only adds up to a few villainous minutes, Tarkins role is a substantial one. And while CGI has been used to resurrect dead actors before (the most notable example being Paul Walker in Furious 7), its never been done with a major character for such a sustained amount of time.

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Related: Furious 7 Director James Wan Expected Oscar Nomination for Keeping Paul Walker Alive

The effect is so groundbreaking that when a report leaked last summer of a CGI Peter Cushing appearing in Rogue One, many outlets flat-out didnt believe it. Even with significant advances in motion-capture technology (allowing, for example, Robert Downey Jr. to play his younger self in Captain America: Civil War), it seemed too daunting a task. But Industrial Light & Magics John Knoll, who came up with the concept for Rogue One (and also co-created Photoshop), was confident that it would work.

John was always like No we can do this, we can do it, we can do it, director Gareth Edwards told RadioTimes. To be honest, a lot of people were nervous the whole time, like Is this gonna happen? And then we went all or nothing in.

So ILM set about creating a character based solely on Cushings scenes from a single (non-digital) movie. Fortunately, Cushing made plenty of other films  hes remembered in particular for his Hammer horror movies  which reportedly came in handy when the animation team realized they had no footage of Grand Moff Tarkins feet. (Cushing often told the story of how the leather riding boots worn by the Imperial troops were too small for his feet, so Lucas agreed to let him wear his house slippers and shoot him from the knees up. Heres photo evidence.)

They are going through hours and hours of old footage from the horror movies to recreate his legs and feet to produce realistic movements, a source tattled to the Daily Mail last summer. It is eerie to see someone who has been dead for so long come to life on a screen.

Related: Rogue One: Our Ultimate Guide to the Easter Eggs and Callbacks in the Star Wars Prequel (Spoilers!)

Still, a motion-capture character requires an actual actor, whose performance is then transformed by digital animators. (A more traditional example from Rogue One is the droid K-2SO, played by Alan Tudyk.) To play Tarkin, Edwards cast Guy Henry, a classically trained British actor who already had a few minor Hollywood baddies on his resume (Heyer in V for Vendetta, Pius Thicknesse in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2). It was very gracious of him, because essentially hes doing this big performance and getting zero credit for it, Edwards told RadioTimes of his actor. He was gonna be totally replaced, and then had to keep it all secret. (In order to cover its legal bases, Disney also obtained permission from Peter Cushings estate, which is managed by his former secretary.)

All this top-secret ILM work had one goal: To make it appear as though Peter Cushing has magically returned to reprise his Star Wars role. Whether they succeeded is debatable. Without a doubt, Digital Tarkin looks like Cushing. (Disney has not yet released any photos or clips of the digital recreation.) He sounds like Cushing. But he is not Cushing. One of the things that makes Cushings original performance so terrifying is how genteel he is. Take a look at the scene in which Tarkin destroys Leias home as she watches in horror (below). The cold glint in his eyes is that of a ruthless killer, yet hes so cordial, almost playful with Leia. Watching him, youre not sure if you want to cower in a corner or curl up and take a nap inside one of his mellifluous rs.

The cartoon Cushing, on the other hand, has none of those beguiling qualities: He is an English-accented attack dog, affixed with a permanent sneer. And the longer he is onscreen, the more two-dimensional he appears (literally and figuratively). While a few critics have complimented Cushing s performance, most are finding it distracting at best, an uncanny-valley nightmare at worst. Even [Cushings character] Baron Frankenstein would have been horrified by this kind of grave-robbing, writes New Yorks David Edelstein.

Rogue One contains one other cant-miss-it CGI character whose appearance is more convincing, if only for its brevity. But the effect is far from flawless. Much more satisfying is the reappearance of Return of the Jedi character Mon Mothma, played by lookalike actress Genevieve OReilly (the original performer, Caroline Blakiston, is now an octogenarian). Like Ewan McGregor playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequels, OReilly adds new dimension to a character whose original appearance was all too fleeting  and if Lucasfilm isnt bringing these characters back to make us see them in a new light, then why bother?

Maybe the answer is: Because its never been done before. Years from now, Rogue One will be noted as a landmark in movie special effects  and though Tarkin will no doubt look even cruder in retrospect, new animation technology can always be applied later (much like Lucas tweaked the rudimentary Jabba the Hutt character in his Special Edition of A New Hope between its 1997 theatrical premiere and the 2004 DVD release). Digital Tarkin may be divisive now, but in 40 years, when Lucasfilm decides to honor Harrison Ford by pairing off digital Han Solo and digital Indiana Jones for a buddy comedy, no one will blink an eye. The scariest thing about the Peter Cushing character in Rogue One is that hes only the beginning.

Watch the Rogue One cast critique their action figures:




Zavidovici (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (AFP) - Five years ago a bar owner refused to serve him but today Redzo Seferovic is the first Roma elected to head a municipal council in Bosnia.

The October vote is an "historic event", said Predrag Prastalo, head of the Bosnian branch of the European Movement non-governmental organisation which tries to promote EU values.

But the way ahead is long and the first session that Seferovic presided over in Zavidovici in central Bosnia was proof of that.

Lacking experience and ignorant of protocol, he had to be guided to open or close debates, prompting sarcasm and jibes.

"I am asking you to help me. I am doing this for the first time, there will be mistakes," Seferovic, who is in his fifties, told the council.

Some deputies posted videos of the session online to ridicule him.

"That hurt me," Seferovic told AFP. "But I have learned to face such challenges in life."

Human Rights Watch said in its 2016 annual report that "Roma remain the most vulnerable group in the country, facing widespread discrimination in employment, education, and political representation."

- 'No drinks for Roma' -

Seferovic has had his share of insults like other Roma throughout the Balkans, including some 50,000 to 75,000 in Bosnia out of a total population of 3.5 million.

In 2011 a waiter refused to serve him and his three cousins.

He "explained me that the owner had said 'No drinks for Roma'," Seferovic remembered.

Rejected by two courts, his complaint is now before a third, he said.

Seferovic is an atypical Roma -- he is a professional fireman while 95 percent of his fellow Roma in Bosnia are unemployed, according to a 2015 study of the Sarajevo-based Atlantic Initiative non-governmental organisation.

His three sons are jobless. Seferovic said he was the only Roma in Zavidovici to have a job.

In 2009, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Bosnia for its discriminatory constitution that reserves the tripartite presidency only for Croats, Muslims and Serbs and has not yet been modified.

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In Zavidovici the discrimination is obvious.

Poverty is endemic in this industrial town of some 36,000 residents where the unemployment rate has hit 67 percent, according to mayor Hasim Mujanovic.

The town's 750 Roma are the poorest of the poor and live separately in three districts.

In the area where Seferovic lives, children in rags play in the middle of iron scrapyard among small dilapidated houses, some made of wood.

"Around 75 percent of Roma in Zavidovici have no social security and only 28 children go to school, compared to 127 in 2011," Seferovic said, saying the plummeting numbers were because the Roma had got increasingly poorer and could not afford to buy school books and educational material.

The HRW warned that due to lack of a free and universal birth registration system, many Roma do no figure on the national public registry that records births, deaths, and marriages.

"This impedes their access to public services, including healthcare."

- Education is priority -

"I always tell my Roma that education should be the foundation," Seferovic said, adding that he has always wanted "to be someone."

He became a firefighter after completing military service in the Yugoslav army in 1988. During Bosnia's 1990s inter-ethnic war, Seferovic fought alongside Muslims.

Seferovic said that it was in the Yugoslav army that he had learned how to tie a tie.

"I knew that one day I would need it," Seferovic said at his fire station while changing into civilian clothes and tightening his tie.

Seferovic's neighbour Saban Bajric recently returned to Zavidovici after spending three years in Germany with his wife and three children.

He told AFP that his asylum request was rejected "like to the majority of some 30 families from the neighbourhood."

"Redzo is a good man. We gave him a chance by voting for him. We would like that he gives us a job," said Bajric.

Another neighbour, Meho Jusic, said the Roma lived on the fringes of society.

"But he alone cannot help us. I'm 60 years old, I do not work nor can I can retire. I cannot cure myself as I do not have social security," Jusic said.

"My grand-daughter does not have it either. Her parents do not work. "How to send her to school without revenues?" he said.
BRISBANE, Australia (AP)  After a tense and lengthy innings that was shaping as one of the greatest chases in test cricket, Pakistan's bold bid to beat Australia in the series-opening day-night test was wrapped up in five balls on Monday.

Asad Shafiq marshalled the Pakistan tail-enders from 173-5 to 449-8 in pursuit of the improbable target of 490, scoring 137 from 207 balls before he was caught at gully, fending off a Mitchell Starc short ball.

Four balls and one run later, skipper Steve Smith threw down the stumps from second slip to run out Yasir Shah for 33. That ensured Smith's young lineup held off Pakistan by 39 runs, maintained Australia's unbeaten at the Gabba since 1988 and avoided the embarrassment of losing the unlosable.

After frustrating Australia on an extended, rain-interrupted fourth day, Pakistan started day five needing 108 to win while Australia needed two wickets. Fewer than 1,000 people were in the crowd when play started under overcast skies, including a small but vocal group of ex-pats cheering every run and chanting "Pakistan Zindabad"  or long live Pakistan.

Shafiq and Shah kept the pressure on Australia in a 71-run partnership that went close to giving Pakistan an unlikely world-record victory.

After Shafiq's departure, the responsibility moved to Shah, who earlier had an lbw decision overturned on review. He dug out a yorker from Starc, steering it toward the slips, but moved out of his crease and Smith swooped. The Australian captain had dropped two catches at second slip, including Shafiq on 72, and admitted he was relieved he got to end the game.

New Zealand's 451 chasing 550 against England in Christchurch in 2002 remains the record for the highest fourth innings total to lose a test, but this was a closer call.

"The pleasing thing for me, first of all, is we got across the line and won the game," Smith said. "I'm very pleased with that. But I guess last night, sort of showed we're still not the finished product. We've got to continue to work hard, and keep the foot on the throat when we've got them in that position. We've got to be a little more ruthless and get the job done."

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Smith praised Pakistan's pluck, with Azhar Ali (71) and Younis Khan (65) contributing at the top of the order before Shafiq took charge to ensure no repeat of the collapse in the first innings, when the visitors lost 7-24 and were all out for 142 in reply to Australia's 429.

"Things got a little bit close for my liking," said Smith, admitting he was nervous when Pakistan got within 60. "It was an amazing game of cricket. Credit to Pakistan, they scored 450 in the last innings of a pink ball test match  no doubt pink ball test cricket is here to stay."

Australia ended a five-test losing streak last month with a win over South Africa in a day-night test in Adelaide, narrowing the losing margin to 2-1 in that series. Smith then led Australia to a 3-0 sweep of New Zealand in a limited-overs series, before the opening test against Pakistan  the first-ever day-night test at the Gabba. Pakistan won the second ever day-night test  beating the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates in October  but the conditions were vastly different with more swing in humid, subtropical Brisbane.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq praised his batsmen, particularly Shafiq, who equaled his highest test score with his 10th century.

"It set the tone for the series. I can't explain how happy I am for all the guys, especially Asad," Misbah said. "That is one of the classiest innings I have seen. In the context of the game, the way he handled the pressure playing with (the) tail, he made a match out of nothing."

Pakistan has lost 10 consecutive tests in Australia since 1995 and has never won a test at the Gabba, where Australia is unbeaten since 1988, but Misbah said they'd travel to Melbourne full of confidence ahead of the second test starting Dec. 26.
Senior diplomats from Russia, Iran and Turkey will meet in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the situation in the Syrian city of Aleppo, the Turkish foreign ministry said.

Evacuations from the city resumed Sunday after several interruptions last week over alleged ceasefire violations from both sides. U.K.-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reportedly said the evacuation proceedings for Monday would involve 50 buses carrying at least 3,000 people away from Aleppo.

[The meeting] will be to understand the views of all three sides, laying out where we all stand and discuss where we go from here, an official from the ministry told reporters in Istanbul on Monday. It is not a miracle meeting but will give all sides a chance to listen to each other.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council is expected to pass a resolution Monday that will deploy observers to the city. We expect to vote unanimously for this text tomorrow at 9 a.m., Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Sunday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had suggested holding a national Syria peace talk while on a call with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday.

Syrian forces have achieved success in allowing the Syrian people to lead their ordinary lives and return to their homes, next step is an agreement about stopping all the fighting, all the shooting, Putin told reporters in Japan during an official visit.

Aleppo, once Syrias industrial and financial center, became an important battleground in 2012 when rebel forces launched an attack on the government. The result divided Syrias largest city in two, with the eastern portion of the city under rebel control and the west under President Bashar Assad's regime.

In 2016, pro-government forces backed by Russian airstrikes launched an offensive to retake the entire city. Besieged eastern Aleppo was continuously bombarded with airstrikes that destroyed most of its hospitals and prevented the delivery of humanitarian aid while its civilians were trapped with dwindling food, water and medical supplies.

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The Assad government succeeded in regaining control of the city last week with the Syrian president describing the recapture as a milestone in the conflict.

Evacuations of civilians and rebels from the war-torn city, under a deal brokered by Turkey and Russia, were suspended several times over the last week and are currently back on with at least 1,000 civilians in 25 buses evacuated Sunday night to the western Aleppo countryside.

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ANKARA/MOSCOW (Reuters) - The foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey will discuss the future of Syria and the city of Aleppo at talks in Moscow on Tuesday, Turkish and Russian officials said. "(The meeting) will be to understand the views of all three sides, laying out where we all stand and discuss where we go from here," an official from Turkey's foreign ministry told international media in Istanbul on Monday. "It is not a miracle meeting, but will give all sides a chance to listen to each other," the official said. All three countries have emerged as important players in Syria, with Iran and Russia strongly backing President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey, a NATO member, would like to see him step down. Turkey's main priority however, is to ensure that Kurdish militias are unable to gain further territory in Syria along its borders. The Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement Tuesday's meeting would focus on how the multi-year conflict in Syria could be resolved and on fulfilling U.N. Security Council resolutions. The RIA news agency cited Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as telling reporters: "We hope to speak in detail and concrete terms with those who can really bring about an improvement in the situation on the ground, while our Western partners are busier with rhetoric and propaganda and arent influencing those who listen to them." (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Turkey and Alexander Winning in Moscow; Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by David Dolan/Andrew Osborn)
Washington (AFP) - In 2013, Donald Trump appeared poised to conquer a new frontier: Russia.

His Miss Universe beauty contest was taking place in Russia's capital and he thought it would seal a connection with its president, Vladimir Putin.

"Do you think Putin will be going to The Miss Universe Pageant in November in Moscow -- if so, will he become my new best friend?" the now US-president elect tweeted.

The meeting never took place, though Putin sent a close aide with a gift for the American.

It was just another false start in three decades of efforts by Trump to crystallize ties with a country that has long captivated him -- for its real estate development potential, but also for its steely, no-nonsense leaders.

Trump wrote in his book, "The Art of the Deal," that his attraction to the then-Soviet Union began in 1986, when a lunch with Soviet ambassador Yuri Dubinin turned into an investment opportunity.

"Dubinin's daughter, it turned out, had read about Trump Tower and knew all about it," Trump recalled.

"One thing led to another and now I'm talking about building a large luxury hotel, across the street from the Kremlin."

He traveled with his then-wife Ivana to view potential sites in Moscow the following year.

"It was an extraordinary experience," he wrote. "I was impressed with the ambition of the Soviet officials to make a deal."

- 'Tough and cold' -

Nothing came of it, and over the next decade Trump was bogged down in the bankruptcies of his Atlantic City casinos. But by 1997, he was back on the Russia file, bonding with rising political star General Alexander Lebed.

The two met at Trump Tower, where, according to a New Yorker article, Lebed lauded Trump's Moscow hotel plans as "a litmus testing paper" for American capital flowing to Russia.

Basking in the praise, Trump gave Lebed, a former boxer, a copy of his book. After the meeting, the New York tycoon said what he really liked about the Russian.

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"Does he look as tough and cold as you've ever seen? This is not like your average real-estate guy who's rough and mean," Trump said. "This guy's beyond that. You see it in the eyes."

Trump's trip to Moscow that year again came up dry, but he was smitten with the country and its hard-nosed leaders more than ever. Entertaining his first White House run in 2000, he wrote in a new book of his fascination with Russian power.

"What I don't understand is why American policymakers are always so timid in dealing with Russia on issues that directly involve our own survival," he said, pointing to his experience of Lebed, "a really tough guy" who he predicted would one day lead Russia.

Trump backed out of the 2000 race, and Lebed died in 2002 in a helicopter crash. By then, ex-KGB officer Putin was the country's president, and Trump's eyes turned to the vast sums of money newly rich Russians were moving out of the country.

- 'Look at Putin' -

In 2005, he went into business with New York developer Bayrock Group, led by two immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

They signed a deal to develop a Trump Tower in the Russian capital that went nowhere. Meanwhile, they built the 46-floor Trump Soho luxury apartment tower in New York City, and other Trump-brand developments in Florida.

The primary financing source and the marketing target, were both Russian money, including an Iceland-registered investment firm identified in later lawsuits as "in favor" with Putin.

Trump was not implicated in the lawsuits, but in a deposition he bared his view of the situation.

"Russia is one of the hottest places in the world for investment. We will be in Moscow at some point," he said.

Again eyeing the White House in 2007, Trump began singing Putin's praises.

"Look at Putin -- what he's doing with Russia," he told CNN.

"Whether you like him or don't like him -- he's doing a great job in rebuilding the image of Russia and also rebuilding Russia, period. Forget about image."

After Trump sold the Palm Beach, Florida estate Maison de L'Amitie to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev for a record $95 million in 2008, his name became bigger inside Russia, and he entertained journalists from Moscow.

"I really like Vladimir Putin. I respect him. He does his work well. Much better than our Bush," Trump told them.

By 2011, Trump began planning a serious White House challenge. For him, comparing President Barack Obama to Putin was a way of standing out.

- 'So weak' -

In his new political tract, "Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again," he praised Putin for "his intelligence and no-nonsense way."

"I respect Putin and the Russians, but cannot believe our leader allows them to get away with so much," he wrote. "Hats off to the Russians."

By 2013, the year of the Miss Universe contest in Moscow, Trump had another deal to build a Trump Tower by the Kremlin.

It didn't happen, but his praise of Putin stepped up. He lauded Putin's op-ed in The New York Times telling Washington how to make peace in Syria.

"He is lecturing to our President. Never has our Country looked so weak," Trump tweeted.

His pro-Russia views under increasing scrutiny in 2015 as he opened his campaign, Trump made waves for casually dismissing longstanding suspicions that Putin's regime condoned the murder of critical journalists.

"It's never been proven that he's killed anybody," Trump told ABC.

Having conquered the White House in a victory loudly cheered in Moscow, he continues to brush off reports of brutality and repression by Putin's Kremlin.
Ankara (AFP) - Russian investigators arrived in Turkey on Tuesday to probe the assassination of Moscow's ambassador as the Turkish government pointed the finger of blame at exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Veteran diplomat Andrei Karlov was shot nine times in the back by off-duty Turkish policeman Mevlut Mert Altintas at the art gallery opening of a show of Russian photography on Monday.

The brazen killing stunned Ankara and Moscow, which have rowed repeatedly over the Syria conflict but had recently begun to cooperate closely on the evacuations from war-wrecked Aleppo.

An unprecedented three-way meeting on Syria between the foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran went ahead in Moscow Tuesday despite the assassination, with the diplomats backing a widening of a truce.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, meanwhile, pinned the assassination on Gulen's group, which Ankara says also orchestrated an attempted coup in July, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.

In a conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Cavusoglu said "Turkey and Russia know that behind the attack... there is FETO," it said, referring to Turkey's acronym for Gulen's organisation.

The US-based Gulen had earlier issued a statement to condemn the assassination as a "terrorist act" that left him "shocked and deeply saddened."

Six people have been detained over the Karlov assassination, including the sister, mother, father and uncle of the 22-year-old Altintas, Turkish media said.

Adding to the jitters, with Turkey already on high alert after a string of deadly attacks, an individual also fired outside the US embassy in Ankara overnight.

The mission said in a statement that no one was hurt and the individual was detained but the embassy and consulates in Istanbul and Adana were closed for normal operations.

- 'Waved through security' -

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his secret services to boost security at home and abroad, and to step up cooperation with foreign intelligence services.

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A Russian investigative team visited the scene of the attack at the Contemporary Arts Centre in central Ankara as part of a joint probe with Turkey.

Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul that he and Putin agreed in a phone call after the murder that "our expanding areas of cooperation with Russia, particularly on Syria, will not be hampered by this attack".

Dramatic footage of Monday's assassination showed Karlov stumble and crash to the ground on his back as Altintas brandished his automatic pistol at terrified onlookers who cowered behind cocktail tables.

The lone gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") and "Don't forget Aleppo", vowing that those responsible for events in Syria would be held accountable.

Altintas did not go through the metal detector security check when he entered the exhibition and was warned by a security officer, according to the Cankaya municipality where the exhibition centre is located.

But after showing his police ID, he was allowed to proceed, it said.

The Hurriyet daily said Altintas, who had worked for Ankara's anti-riot police for the last two-and-a-half years, had stayed at a nearby hotel to prepare for the attack, shaving and putting on a smart suit.

He was killed by police after a 15-minute standoff.

Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek, known for his outspoken comments, became the first senior official to link the killing with Gulen's group.

His suggestion was also repeated in the pro-government press, before being amplified in the Anadolu report quoting Cavusoglu.

US President-elect Donald Trump had on Monday condemned the envoy's assassination, calling the gunman a "radical Islamic terrorist".

- Orthodox rites -

A Russian plane carrying the ambassador's body landed in Moscow, where it was met by Cavusoglu and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Turkey gave the murdered envoy a full honour guard on his departure from Ankara, as an Orthodox Russian priest, watched by Karlov's widow, read the last rites and swung incense over the coffin.

Cavusoglu announced in Moscow that the street where the embassy is located would be named after the 62-year-old envoy, a career diplomat who had notably served as ambassador to North Korea.

The killing came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia's role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from the battered city of Aleppo.

Turkey and Russia stand on opposite sides of the conflict, with Ankara backing rebels trying to topple Moscow's ally President Bashar al-Assad.

But the rhetoric has warmed considerably since a reconciliation deal was signed earlier this year and the tripartite meeting Tuesday was just the latest in a series of contacts.

Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed on Tuesday to guarantee Syria peace talks and backed expanding a ceasefire in the war-torn country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after the meeting.
By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Dec 19 (PTI) Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today reviewed progress on the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and directed officials to form a committee to advise the Chinese government on the economic viability of industrial zones that could be set up in different provinces.

The meeting chaired by Sharif at PM House here reviewed the benchmarks set for numerous energy, transport infrastructure and industrial projects with particular focus on development and socio-economic uplift projects in Gwadar.

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"The Prime Minister was informed that Chinese automobiles i.e. Foton has shown interest to establish its manufacturing plant in Pakistan," according to an official statement.

He was also briefed on the tentative agenda items for the upcoming meeting of China-Pakistan Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC).

Sharif directed that Karachi Circular Railways and Keti Bunder Port project must be taken up in the next JCC for inclusion in CPEC, as conveyed by the Sindh government.

The Prime Minister said that Chinese officials should be briefed on the immense economic viability of these projects so that they are included in CPEC.

He directed Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal to consult all the Chief Ministers for finalization of industrial zones? locations in their respective provinces.

Sharif further directed that industrial zones would be set up at places that have economic feasibility and viability for maximum economic returns and benefits for both China and Pakistan.

In this regard, the Prime Minister directed the formation of a committee to suggest and advise the Chinese Government on the economic practicability and benefits of these sites.

"China helped us a great deal in the economic revival at a crucial juncture for which the government and people of Pakistan are grateful to the Chinese leadership and people. China and Pakistan have translated its long-term strategic ties into a strong and durable economic partnership that would greatly benefit both the countries," he said.

The meeting was briefed on the energy projects under CPEC including Coal, Hydel, Wind, Solar, LNG as well as transmission lines. It was also briefed that infrastructure projects including Road, Rail, Aviation and Data Connectivity are being executed on fast track basis. PTI SH ZH

--- ENDS ---
(Adds Putin, gunman 'neutralised')

ANKARA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot in an attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital on Monday and the Russian RIA news agency said he had died of his wounds.

The Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been "neutralised" soon after the attack, which appeared to mark one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict in Turkey. Relations between Moscow and Ankara have long been fraught over the conflict, the two supporting opposing sides.

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the attack mounted as Ambassador Andrei Karlov made a speech at the opening of a photographic exhibition. Hurriyet newspaper said Turkish special forces had surrounded the building. NTV said three other people were wounded.

A Reuters witness said that while gunfire rang out for some time after the attack, it had now stopped. A Hurriyet newspaper reporter said the attacker chanted Islamist slogans.

Russia and Turkey have been involved in conflict in Syria across the border from where over two million Syrian refugees have settled. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of President Bashar al-Assad while Russia has deployed troops and its air force in support of the Syrian leader.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Russian-backed Syrian forces have fought for control of the eastern part of the city of Aleppo, triggering a stream of refugees.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. Islamic State militants have been active in Turkey and carried out several bomb attacks on Turkish targets.

A photograph posted on twitter showed a man in a black suit holding a pistol, standing close to a podium in the gallery, its walls hung with pictures. Four people including what appeared to be the ambassador lay on the floor.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Daren Butler; editing by Ralph Boulton)
* Russian ambassador gunned down

* No immediate claim of responsibility

* Russia, Turkey back opposing sides in Syrian war (Adds detail of attack)

By Umit Bektas, Orhan Coskun and Tuvan Gumrukcu

ANKARA, Dec 20 (Reuters) - The Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot in the back and killed as he gave a speech at an Ankara art gallery on Monday by an off-duty police officer who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo" and "Allahu Akbar" as he opened fire.

President Tayyip Erdogan, in a video message to the nation, cast the attack as an attempt to undermine NATO-member Turkey's relations with Russia - ties long tested by the war in Syria. He said he had agreed in a telephone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin to step up cooperation in fighting terrorism.

At a special meeting at the Kremlin, President Putin ordered increased security at all Russian missions and said "the bandits" who committed the act would feel retribution.

"We must know who directed the killer's hand."

The assassination of an ambassador, not least of a major power such as Russia, marks a dangerous escalation of tension in the region and beyond. Security sources said he was off duty and some witnesses said there was no security scanning machine at the entrance.

The attacker was smartly dressed in black suit and tie and stood, alone, behind the ambassador as he began his speech at the art exhibition, a person at the scene told Reuters.

"He took out his gun and shot the ambassador from behind. We saw him lying on the floor and then we ran out," said the witness, who asked not to be identified. People took refuge in adjoining rooms as the shooting continued.

A video showed the attacker shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" and "Allahu Akbar" ("God is Greatest") as screams rang out. He paced about and shouted as he held the gun in one hand and waved the other in the air.

Russia is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes helped Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo. Turkey, which seeks Assad's ouster, has been repairing ties with Moscow after shooting down a Russian warplane over Syria last year.

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The gunman was killed by special forces. Three other people were injured.

"We regard this as a terrorist act," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. "Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively."

GULEN

Erdogan, who has faced a string of attacks by Islamist and Kurdish militants as well as an attempted coup in July, identified the attacker as 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, who had worked for Ankara riot police for two and a half years. CNN Turk TV said police had detained his sister and mother.

A senior security official said there were "very strong signs" the gunman belonged to the network of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says orchestrated the failed coup in July. Erdogan has denounced Gulen as a terrorist, but the cleric, a former ally, denies the accusation.

Gulen described the killing as a "heinous act of terror" that pointed to a deterioration of security in Turkey resulting from Erdogan's wideranging purge of police as well as the army, judiciary and media following the coup bid.

The government says Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, created a "parallel network" in the police, military, judiciary and civil service aimed at overthrowing the state.

Suspicion could also fall on a group such as Islamic State, which has carried out a string of bomb attacks in Turkey in the last year as Ankara has pressed a military campaign against the militants in Syria. The group has urged "lone" attacks in the West.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to meet his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Russia on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Syria. Officials said the meeting would still go on, despite the attack.

"The attack comes at a bad time: Moscow and Ankara have only recently restored diplomatic ties after Turkey downed a Russian aircraft in November 2015," the Stratfor think-tank said.

"Though the attack will strain relations between the two countries, it is not likely to rupture them altogether."

However, both Russia and Turkey indicated that they were looking to work together to find the combat militant attacks.

The U.S. State Department, involved in diplomatic contacts with Russia in an attempt to resolve a refugee crisis unfolding around the city of Aleppo, condemned the attack, as did the United Nations Security Council.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Russian-backed Syrian forces have fought for control of the eastern part of Aleppo, triggering a stream of refugees.

(Additional reporting by Orhan Coskun, Nevzat Devranoglu, Tulay Karadeniz, Ercan Gurses and Gulsen Solaker in Ankara; Humeyra Pamuk and Ece Toksabay in Istanbul; Andrew Osborn and Andrey Ostroukh in Moscow; Writing by Daren Butler and David Dolan; editing by Ralph Boulton and Mark Trevelyan)
UPDATED: 2:28 p.m. EST - Turkish authorities detained Monday the mother and sister of Mert Altintas, the Turkish police officer who assassinated the Russian ambassador to Turkey as he spoke at an Ankara art exhibition, according to Turkish daily Hurriyet's English-language website. Altintas shouted political and religious slogans before he shot dead Ambassador Andrei Karlov one day before major talks between Russia, Turkey and Iran were set to place in Moscow regarding the conflict in Syria.

UPDATED: 1:48 p.m. EST - The man who shot dead the Russian ambassador to Turkey Monday has been identified as Mert Altintas, a former Turkish police officer. Ambassador Andrei Karlov was speaking at a photography exhibition before Altintas shouted political and religious slogans and shot Karlov dead just one day before major Syria peace talks were set to take place between Russia, Turkey and Iran in Moscow.

UPDATED: 12:30 p.m. EST  The Russian ambassador to Turkey was pronounced dead shortly after a gunman shot him in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Monday. Ambassador Andrei Karlov was speaking at an art gallery when he got shot in the back one day before major Syria peace talks were set to begin between Russia, Turkey and Iran.

Original Story - The Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot by suspected Islamists in the Turkish capital city of Ankara on Monday, Reuters reported.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov was gunned down while making a speech at an art exhibition, according to Turkish English-language daily Hurriyet, which accompanied the article with a graphic picture of an injured man and cited Russian embassy sources. The attackers spoke Russian and shouted "God is great" in Arabic before opening fire. They also destroyed artwork, according to AP.

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Conflicting reports have surfaced about Karlov's condition, while at least two others were also reported injured. Security forces have since surrounded the building.

The attack came one day before the foreign and defense ministers of Russia and Iran, supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad in his country's five-year civil war, were set to meet their Turkish counterpart, who backs the Syrian opposition. The meeting would have taken place in Moscow as an attempt to establish a consensus on the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly spoke with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani over the phone and expressed his desire for Moscow and Tehran to facilitate a timely resolution of the Syrian crisis.

Russia, Iran and Turkey have come to the table as a response to a recent major victory by the Syrian army and its allies in regaining control over Aleppo, the country's former commercial capital and largest city. As the army advanced into the city backed by Russian airstrikes and Iran-supported militias, rebels were forced into pockets in the eastern sections of the city, forcing a ceasefire among reports of heavy civilian casualties and subsequent humanitarian evacuations.

Turkey launched a major intervention against the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, in northern Syria in August. The operation, entitled Euphrates Shield, backed Syrian opposition forces, but alienated many Kurds, who have been at odds with both ISIS and the Turkish government.

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The Russian Ambassador to Turkey was shot dead Monday as he spoke at an Ankara art exhibition, one day before prominent Syria peace talks were set to take place between the foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov was a few minutes into his speech at the event, which was attended by a number of press photographers, when the diplomat was shot multiple times in the back, fatally wounding him. Three others were reportedly injured by gunfire, as well. The assailant, identified as an off-duty Turkish police officer Mert Altintas, could be seen wearing a black suit and tie and apparently used his police credentials to enter the event and stand behind the ambassador, waiting to strike.

After shooting the diplomat, Altintas reportedly spoke in Turkish and referenced the conflict in Syria. He yelled "Don't forget Aleppo!", the city of which the Syrian army  supported by Russian airpower and Iran-backed paramilitary ground forces  recently regained control, dealing a major defeat to Western and Turkey-sponsored rebels. Altintas is also quoted as saying "Allahu Akbar," or "God is great," in Arabic before opening fire on the diplomat, killing him. Turkish and Russian officials have pointed toward a possible Islamist inspiration for the assassination, which both have called it a terrorist attack and a "provocation."

As the events unfolded, a number of amateur and professional photographers such as AP's Burhan Ozbilici in the audience continued to operate their cameras, recording the attack in real time. These graphic images and videos have been shared across the internet. They capture the diplomat's last moments as well as the gunman's impassioned rant and bloody demise.

Some on social media have suggested the potential historic value of the images and drawn comparisons to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, who was gunned down in 1914 by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb, Yugoslav nationalist and member of a secret society known as the Black Hand. Ferdinand's killing is often regarded as one of the leading catalysts that sparked World War One.

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The following video footage and photographs are graphic in nature. Please view them at your own discretion.

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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- A Turkish policeman fatally shot Russia's ambassador to Turkey on Monday in front of a shocked gathering at a photo exhibit and then, pacing near the body of his victim, appeared to condemn Russia's military role in Syria, shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!"

The leaders of Turkey and Russia said the attack in Ankara, the Turkish capital, was an attempt to disrupt efforts to repair ties between their countries, which have backed opposing sides in the Syrian civil war.

An Associated Press photographer and others at the art gallery watched in horror as the gunman, who was wearing a dark suit and tie, fired at least eight shots, at one point walking around Ambassador Andrei Karlov as he lay motionless and shooting him again at close range.

The assailant, who was identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old member of Ankara's riot police squad, was later killed in a shootout with police. Three other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said.

The assassination came after days of protests by Turks angry over Russia's support for President Bashar Assad in the Syrian conflict and Russia's role in the bombardment and destruction of Aleppo, Syria's largest city.

The gunman shouted about Aleppo in Turkish, and also yelled "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great," continuing in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad."

The attack, condemned by the White House and the United Nations, was another sign of how Turkey, a NATO member and a partner in the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State group, is struggling to contain multiple security threats. The war in Syria has been a major problem for years, sending several million refugees into Turkey and, more recently, drawing in Turkish troops.

Turkey has become accustomed to deadly attacks  Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for Dec. 10 bombings in Istanbul that killed 44 people, many of them police.

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The spectacle of 62-year-old Karlov's assassination by a member of the Turkish security forces at a photography exhibit meant to highlight Russian culture reinforced the sense of unease over the region's conflict and complex web of alliances and relationships.

It came a day before a key meeting about Syria to be held in Moscow. Those attending include the foreign and defense ministers from Turkey, an opponent of Assad, and Russia and Iran, backers of the Syrian regime.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the killing of Karlov as an attempt to damage Russia-Turkey ties "and to thwart a peace process in Syria which Russia, Turkey and Iran have been actively trying to promote."

Putin said he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed in a phone call that Russian investigators would fly to Ankara to conduct a joint probe with their Turkish counterparts.

"We must know who was directing the killer," Putin said in televised remarks. He ordered top officials to strengthen protection of the Turkish Embassy in Moscow and asked Turkey to increase security at the Russian mission in Ankara.

In a video message shown on several Turkish TV channels, Erdogan said: "This is a provocation to damage the normalization process of Turkish-Russian relations. But both the Russian and Turkish administrations have the determination not to fall for this provocation."

Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when he was gunned down.

Altintas, the gunman, also fired shots in the air, sending panicked audience members running for cover, and smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition. The floor was splattered with blood, and the ambassador's eye glasses lay a few feet from his body.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman got into a 15-minute shootout with police before he was killed, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The shooter's family home in the western province of Aydin was later searched and his mother, father and sister were detained, the news agency said, without citing sources. The man's house in Ankara was raided and his roommate, also a police officer, was also taken into custody, it said.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Altintas, who was born in 1994, had been an officer with Ankara's riot police squad for more than two years. He did not give a motive for the attack.

"It's a tragic day in the history of our country and Russian diplomacy," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations," she said. "He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. It's a terrible loss for us and also the world."

Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang from 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department. He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

The White House condemned the assassination, saying "this heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable," President Barack Obama was briefed by his national security team while on vacation in Hawaii

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned what he called a "senseless act of terror," for which "there can be no justification."

Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplane at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkey's apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift. Putin and Erdogan have held several meetings in recent months and spoken frequently over the phone.

Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and also discussed the prospect of organizing a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.

Security threats to Turkey include the Islamic State group, and which has been blamed for attacks in Turkey. Additionally, Turkish security forces and courts remain preoccupied with purging state institutions of the supporters of an exiled Islamist cleric whom the government accuses of staging a failed coup attempt in July.

___

Associated Press writers Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Zeynep Bilginsoy in Istanbul contributed to this report.
Russias ambassador to Turkey was shot dead in Ankara on Monday by a police officer who shouted, Dont forget Aleppo! Dont forget Syria! in an attack that will unsettle the sensitive diplomacy around the civil war in neighboring Syria.

The shooting comes at a moment of high stakes negotiations between Turkey and Russia, with implications for the future of the Syrian conflict that has left as many as half a million people dead. Russia condemned the killing as an act of terrorism.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot at an art gallery in the Turkish capital on Monday. In video footage, the ambassador stands at a podium as gunfire rings out. He flinches and then drops to the floor. Standing behind him, a man holding a gun and wearing a dark suit and tie raises one finger skyward and shouts, Allahu akbar, Arabic for God is great.

The gunman continues in Turkish, Dont forget Aleppo! Dont forget Syria! Step back! Step back! Only death can take me from here. He adds: As long as our cities are unsafe, you will not be safe, and: Everyone who has a role in this cruelty will pay for it!

Turkeys Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu identified the attacker was a 22-year-old police officer named Mevlut Mert Altintas. During the attack, the assailant also recited a slogan in Arabic: We are those who pledged jihad to Mohamed.

Russian and Turkish leaders stressed that the assassination would not result in renewed hostility between the two countries. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the killing an unquestionable provocation to damage Turkish-Russian bilateral relations. He said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the same page on this issue. There is no controversy.

Putin echoed his Turkish counterpart, saying in televised remarks, This murder is clearly a provocation aimed at undermining the improvement and normalization of Russian-Turkish relations, as well as undermining the peace process in Syria.

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The countries have a long and difficult history, but lately its Russias support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad that has angered sections of the overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim public in Turkey, where the government supports Syrian rebel groups fighting Assad. Over the past several days, angry demonstrations took place outside Russias diplomatic missions in Turkey, denouncing the Russian bombardment of the rebel-held section of the city of Aleppo, with heavy civilian casualties.

Turkeys government, meanwhile, has directed much of its energy at other players in the Syrian conflict, including Kurdish militants who are arrayed against Assad but who Turkey, with a huge Kurdish minority, views as a threat to its sovereignty. Turkey is also moving against ISIS, which has carried out devastating terror attacks inside the country. At the same time, Ankara remains engaged with Moscow despite its strong alliance with Assad. The governments overcame the rift that followed Turkeys shooting down a Russian warplane that crossed into its airspace along the Syrian border in November 2015, after which Russia imposed sanctions on Turkey. Putin and Erdogan reached a rapprochement in June and Turkey hosted the Russian leader at an energy summit in Istanbul in September.

The assassination of the Russian ambassador in fact took place on the eve of a diplomatic summit in Moscow including the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Iran, a meeting of key regional powers that back opposing sides in the Syrian war. Russian and Turkish officials confirmed that the meeting would proceed as planned.

Last week, Turkey and Russia negotiated an agreement to evacuate the remaining civilians and rebel fighters from a besieged enclave in the city of Aleppo, marking a victory for the Assad government and a turning point in more than five and a half years of crisis.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the assassination a terrorist attack. According to Russias TASS news agency, she said Russia was in contact with Turkish officials who had had pledged an all-round investigation into the shooting. The attackers will be punished, she said.

The U.S. also condemned the attack. This heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable, and we stand united with Russia and Turkey in our determination to confront terrorism in all of its forms, said National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price in a statement.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump also denounced the killing in a statement, saying, Today we offer our condolences to the family and loved ones of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, who was assassinated by a radical Islamic terrorist. The murder of an ambassador is a violation of all rules of civilized order and must be universally condemned.

 With reporting by Simon Shuster
A gunman fatally shot the Russian ambassador to Turkey while he spoke at a photo exhibit in the countrys capital, Ankara, on Monday, according to the Associated Press.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed Andrei Karlovs death to CBS News, calling the incident a terrorist attack.

Karlov was attending the exhibit Russia as seen by Turks, according to the BBC, and was speaking to reporters when a man wearing a suit and tie opened fire.

The suspect reportedly fired at least eight shots before shouting Allahu Akbar  or God is great, according to the AP. The BBC also reported that the gunman could be heard allegedly yelling in Russian, Dont forget about Aleppo, dont forget about Syria.

An AP photographer in attendance said the alleged gunman also smashed several photos in the exhibit.

Burhan Ozbilici/AP

Turkish news channel NTV said that the gunman was fatally shot by police, according to the AP. The AP said that NTV also reported that three others were wounded in the attack.

The shooters identity has not yet been confirmed.

We have seen reports that the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov and others have been attacked by a gunman in #Ankara, State Department spokesperson John Kirby said in an online statement. We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

According to CNN, recent relations between Turkey and Russia had been less fraught than in the past. Russias President Vladimir Putin and Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had even spoken on the phone in recent weeks in order to reach a deal regarding the evacuation of Aleppo, CNN said.




Istanbul (AFP) - The assassination of Russia's envoy to Turkey will likely not harm warming bilateral ties but its impact will be felt more in Syria, according to analysts surveyed by AFP.

The Turkish and Russian leaders spoke immediately after the event and Turkey's foreign minister voiced its determination not to let the assassination cast a shadow over relations.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot by a Turkish policeman at an exhibition in Ankara apparently as an act of revenge for the Russian bombing of Aleppo.

Here are the views of three analysts questioned by AFP in the immediate aftermath of the attack:

-- Domitilla Sagramoso, a lecturer in security and development at King's College London, said the shooting would have a greater impact on Syria than relations between Ankara and Moscow.

"It will not substantially disrupt the relationship because the Turks have immediately said they will reinforce the security of the Russian embassy," she said.

Sagramoso saw the killing as a reaction to Russia's bombardment of Aleppo, where Moscow would likely focus its response.

"I think they're going to react how they usually do, which is to redouble their efforts, redouble their military involvement. So it might have more repercussions on Syria," she said.

"They're not going to bomb Turkey for this, but I think it may play out within the Syrian context."

-- James Nixey, head of the Russia and Eurasia programme at the Chatham House think tank, said Moscow will use the attack to claim it is on the same side as Ankara in fighting terrorism.

"Russia will paint it as part of a wider war on terror," he said.

"My sense is that the Russians won't blame the Turks for this but will seek to capitalise on it for wider gains."

Nixey suggested Moscow would use the killing to win backing for its policy in Syria from US president-elect Donald Trump.

A more immediate response from Moscow may come in Aleppo, he said: "It could well affect the proposed evacuations from Aleppo which the Russians were close to a deal on. They may be less sympathetic."

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"Clearly the Russian military will be baying for blood, they'll want revenge," Nixey added.

-- Dominique Moisi, from the Paris-based Montaigne Institute, agreed the two parties will do their best to ensure the killing doesn't harm ties between them.

"The two countries have decided to move closer together. The Turks have recognised that Bashar al-Assad is going to stay in power and they will have to live with a Russian presence in Syria," Moisi said.

"I don't think there will be significant consequences but, on a symbolic level, it shows that what happening in Aleppo is not acceptable for one part of the Muslim population."

"Assad has won. Russia has won, but the problem is far from being resolved. The deaths in Aleppo will hang over the international scene for a long time."
President-elect Donald Trump may be denying reports from the intelligence community that the Russian government interfered in the recent presidential election in order to help him win the White House. But he can hardly doubt that the Kremlin seems very interested in making sure his election gets the final stamp of approval from the Electoral College today.

With electors set to cast their ballots today -- the final stage in the presidential election process -- Russian state-run media is now warning that Trump faces what one popular television program host said is a coup detat being engineered by shadowy forces who prefer his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Related: Team Trump Is Singing from Putins Songbook on DNC Hacks

"Donald Trump has not had time to take office, but he's already faced with attempts to overthrow him. We are talking about a coup d'etat, said Dmitry Kiselyov, host of the Sunday night program, Weekly News.

Members of the Electoral College, Kiselyov said, are being told that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin chose Trump. Somebody is interested in pushing this theory, and this somebody has a lot of money. We are talking about large corporations and U.S. arms companies. They are for Clinton. She's compliant and quiet. These firms are not expecting any surprises from her, Kiselyov said.

Kiselyovs version of the coup supposedly being plotted against Trump isnt, in truth, much different from the objections that many Trump supporters are raising against a sputtering movement to convince members of the electoral college to vote for someone other than Trump. But other Russian media are peddling much darker predictions.

At Sputnik News, one of several international-facing news websites that the Kremlin funds, columnist Finian Cunningham warned of an even more devious plan to subvert the coming Trump presidency.

Related: Russia to Obama: Put Up or Shut Up About Hacking the Election

The coup against Trump could manifest in his impeachment from the White House after his inauguration in January, or less dramatically it could result in Trump being allowed to stay in office but under full control of the Deep State  the shadowy unelected forces of the military-intelligence apparatus that really govern America, he wrote.

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Over at RT, another Kremlin-run site, columnist Annie Machon, identified as a former British intelligence officer, wrote, I fear an American coup d'etat, possibly starting as soon as 19th December, the date when the Electoral College meets to ratify the election of Trump. All this Cold-War, anti-Russian hysteria is being used as a stick to beat the Electoral College members into ignoring their duty and vote in the way directed by the majority of the people of their state whom they are pledged to represent. Plus, who knows what juicy carrots may also have been offered?

She added, ominously, the CIA anti-Trump campaign may now have gathered so much momentum that it will find a way, any way possible, to stop Trump's inauguration as president. After that, she said, the establishment would install Clinton in the White House.

Should that happen, she wrote, We know all too well what lies ahead: war.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
DETROIT (AP) -- Highway safety advocates are worried that a government rule that would electronically limit speeds of tractor-trailers could be scuttled or ignored by the administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

The rule proposed by two federal agencies would cap the speed of newly manufactured trucks at 60, 65 or 68 miles per hour. A public comment period ended earlier this month. Safety advocates had petitioned for it in 2006, saying it would make highways safer, and they were hoping it would be in place before the Obama administration leaves office in January.

But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it normally takes at least a year after the regulation is first published for it to go into effect. In this case the agency and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published the rule last August. Spokesman Bryan Thomas says the agencies have to review more than 2,200 comments before making a decision.

"I am really disappointed if it's not done right away," said John Lannen, executive director of the Truck Safety Coalition who hoped for quick action because the measure has been in the works for more than a decade. "I'm hoping that safety regulations do get looked at differently than maybe just generic regulations because we're trying to save lives."

Trump has said he wants to get rid of unnecessary regulations that inhibit economic growth, and has even proposed that federal agencies scrap two regulations for every new one they adopt. His transition team wouldn't comment on the speed limiter regulation and said it is focused on cabinet appointments and building the new administration. "There will be plenty of time to discuss detailed policy specifics after the swearing-in," it said in a statement.

Steve Owings, co-founder of Road Safe America, who originally proposed the rule, said advocates will reach out to the new administration to keep the regulation going. "This, as well as other needed changes, certainly fits the description of 'common sense' which the president-elect has spoken of recently," said Owings, whose son was killed by a speeding truck while returning to college in 2002.

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Regulators and others favoring speed limiters say the rule is supported by simple physics: If trucks travel slower, the impact of a crash will be less severe and fewer people will be injured or killed. The rule is supported by the American Trucking Associations, the largest group of trucking companies in the nation. NHTSA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have to decide whether to proceed with the regulation and what speed that trucks would be limited to.

But independent truckers, many of whom filed comments against the rule, say the government is actually creating conditions for more collisions by focusing on the severity of the crash while ignoring the dynamic of trucks and cars traveling at different speeds. They warn of traffic jams caused by slower trucks and of a potential increase in crashes because fast-moving cars can hit the rear of trucks.

Owings says the rule should apply to existing trucks instead of just new ones because speeds could be limited with an inexpensive software update.

The speed limiters also would take care of the problem of trucks traveling faster speeds than their tires can handle. An investigation by The Associated Press last year found that most truck tires can't handle speeds above 75 mph, yet some states let trucks go 80 mph or even 85 mph.
After the hearing, Indrani's lawyer Gunjan Mangla demanded action against the CBI officials for not informing Indrani about her father's demise.

By Mustafa Shaikh: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday commenced arguments for framing of charges against former media baron Peter Mukerjea, his wife Indrani and Sanjeev Khanna (Indrani's ex husband) for the murder of Sheena Bora, Indrani's daughter from a previous relationship.

According to CBI's counsel Bharat Badami, Peter Mukherjea's justification that he was in London cannot prove that he was not aware about the crime. "Indrani made calls to Peter just after the murder. A day after the crime, Peter did not return to Mumbai to attend a society meeting of his Worli residence," said Badami.

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Indrani's lawyer Gunjan Mangla addressed the special CBI court after the hearing and requested it to take action against the CBI officials for not informing Indrani about her father's demise. Her father Upendra Kumar Bora passed away in Guwahati, Assam on Friday. Indrani broke out in the court after learning about her father's demise.

"Earlier, Indrani was not informed about her mother's death. This is insensitive on the part of agency," said Mangla.

Also read: Sheena Bora case: Peter Mukerjea turns author in jail, demands laptop, dry fruits

The court will take forward the hearing of the case on Tuesday when the CBI makes more submissions in the sensational murder case.

Sheena (24) was allegedly strangled by Indrani, Khanna and Indrani's former driver Shyamvar Rai in a car in April 2012. Her body was then dumped in a forest in neighbouring Raigad district.

The incident came to light in August 2015 when Rai was arrested for possession of illegal weapons. He later turned approver in the Sheena Bora murder case.

--- ENDS ---
SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is in talks with LG Chem Ltd to make it one of its smartphone battery suppliers, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said on Monday - a move that would diversify its supplier base after the failure of its Galaxy Note 7.

Samsung Electronics, the world's top smartphone maker, currently procures Note batteries from group firm Samsung SDI and China's Amperex Technology.

Chosun Ilbo quoted an industry official as saying that there was more than a 90 percent chance of a deal being struck and said that Samsung Electronics would likely begin procuring LG Chem batteries from the second half of next year.

A Samsung Electronics spokeswoman did not have immediate comment on the report, while an LG Chem spokesman declined to comment.

Samsung Electronics announced the recall of 2.5 million fire-prone Note 7s in early September, a fault that was attributed to a defect in Samsung SDI battery. In October, it pulled the plug on the $882 device after replacement phones using batteries from China's Amperex Technology also caught fire. [nL4N1CG3AW]

LG Chem currently makes phone batteries for its affiliate LG Electronics and U.S. company Apple Inc, analysts said.

(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is in talks with LG Chem Ltd to make it one of its smartphone battery suppliers, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said on Monday - a move that would diversify its supplier base after the failure of its Galaxy Note 7.

Samsung Electronics, the world's top smartphone maker, currently procures Note batteries from group firm Samsung SDI and China's Amperex Technology.

Chosun Ilbo quoted an industry official as saying that there was more than a 90 percent chance of a deal being struck and said that Samsung Electronics would likely begin procuring LG Chem batteries from the second half of next year.

A Samsung Electronics spokeswoman did not have immediate comment on the report, while an LG Chem spokesman declined to comment.

Samsung Electronics announced the recall of 2.5 million fire-prone Note 7s in early September, a fault that was attributed to a defect in Samsung SDI battery. In October, it pulled the plug on the $882 device after replacement phones using batteries from China's Amperex Technology also caught fire.

LG Chem currently makes phone batteries for its affiliate LG Electronics and U.S. company Apple Inc, analysts said.

(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
More than 150 executions were carried out in Saudi Arabia in 2016. At least 153 people, including some juveniles and some non-violent drug offenders, have been killed so far, according to data collected and published Monday by the human rights organization Reprieve.

Saudi Arabias 2016 execution total is fast approaching last years shocking high, with some 153 prisoners killed, said Reprieves director Maya Foa in a press release. Among those executed were political protesters, people arrested for alleged drug offenses, prisoners who were tortured into confessions, and juveniles.

One hundred fifty-eight executions were carried out in Saudi Arabia in 2015, including 63 for nonviolent drug crimes, according to Human Rights Watch. This year, 23 people were executed for drug offenses and at least four juveniles were killed during a mass execution in January. Many of the drug offenders were trafficking victims forced into drug smuggling. Reprieve also reported juveniles on death row were subject to severe mistreatment including being beaten and isolated in solitary confinement.

An estimated 47 of those executed were put on trial in Saudi Arabias secret Specialized Criminal Court in the capital of Riyadh. In December, the kingdom sentenced 15 people to death at the secret court for spying in Iran.

RTX20YY0

Photo: Reuters

A petition that circulated on the internet last year urged United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to step in and stop the execution of a youth activist named Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr, who was put on death row after being accused of crimes related to anti-government protests he participated in when he was 17 years old. In January 2016, a juvenile named Ali al-Ribh was arrested in school for protest-related charges, tortured into a false confession and executed.

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Human Rights Watch lists numerous other human rights violations happening in Saudi Arabia including repression of peaceful activism, discrimination against women, abuse and exploitation of migrant workers and unlawful airstrikes against forces in Yemen. In November, some Saudi Arabian social media users called for a Saudi woman to be executed after she posted a picture of herself on Twitter in public without a hijab. The woman was arrested and imprisoned for violating the countrys moral code.

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Riyadh (AFP) - The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen on Monday said it had made "limited use" of British-made cluster bombs, a type of weapon which 100 countries have pledged not to use.

In its 21-month campaign against Shiite rebels who have seized much of Yemen, the Saudi-led alliance has faced repeated allegations of killing civilians.

It said it used the BL-755 cluster bombs "against legitimate military targets to defend Saudi towns and villages against continuous attacks" by the Huthi rebels.

The insurgents have killed more than 100 civilians and soldiers on the Saudi side of the border.

The coalition deployed the weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law, and not in civilian areas, it said, adding that Saudi Arabia no longer uses the BL-755.

London-based rights group Amnesty International in June alleged that "at least 16 civilians -- including nine children -- have been killed or injured by cluster submunitions between July 2015" and May of this year.

Amnesty said its findings came from the rebel stronghold of Saada as well as the Hajja area. Both are near the border with Saudi Arabia.

One hundred nations are party to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions which bans their use.

Britain is a party to the convention but Saudi Arabia, its coalition partners, and the United States are not.

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told parliament on Monday he welcomed the Saudi decision that it will not use further BL-755 cluster munitions.

"We will continue to keep current sales of military equipment to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies under review," he said.

In January, the coalition spokesman said alliance forces had used CBU-105 cluster bombs against rebel vehicles.

President Barack Obama's administration moved in May to block sales of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia as concerns over civilian casualties in Yemen mounted, the journal Foreign Policy reported.

Cluster bombs contain multiple submunitions, which sometimes do not explode and become de facto landmines that can kill or maim long after being dropped.

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Human Rights Watch, a New York-based watchdog, on Monday said the British-made cluster munitions had been transferred years ago and are no longer sold to Saudi Arabia.

But Britain continues to sell other weapons to the kingdom "despite the clear risk" of their use in future coalition attacks, the watchdog said, calling for a suspension of British arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

Last week, the United States blocked the transfer of precision-guided bomb kits to Saudi Arabia out of concern over "flaws" in coalition targeting, a senior US administration official said.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Sunday dismissed such reports as "media propaganda".

Since fighting escalated last year, more than 7,000 people have been killed in Yemen, about half of them civilians.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in August reported that coalition air strikes were suspected of causing around 50 percent of all civilian deaths.
CAIRO (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told the Arab League on Monday that if world powers fail to pressure the Syrian regime there will be no political solution to the war. "The question is not how we reach a political solution; we all want that. The question is how we can enforce necessary pressures on the regime so that it heeds the will of the international community," Jubeir said at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo. "If we cannot find an effective way to pressure the Syrian regime then we will not reach a political solution and the killing, displacement, and injustice in Syria will go on. We will bear responsibility for this in front of God and the Syrian people," he said. United Nations Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura intends to convene peace talks in Geneva on Feb. 8, his office said on Monday. (Reporting by Ali Abdelaty; Writing by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
passengers

Warning: Major spoiler below.

In 2007, unknown screenwriter Jon Spaihts showed up on the coveted Black List, a yearly highlight of the best unproduced scripts floating around Hollywood, with a sci-fi love story set on a luxury star ship millions of miles from Earth.

Nine years later, that script, "Passengers," is finally coming to theaters on Wednesday, with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence as its stars. It's the most recent example of how no project is ever really dead in Hollywood.

Looking back on the close-to-decade journey out of development hell, full of false starts with numerous actors attached, Spaihts calls the time his "film school," as he took part in almost every creative facet of getting the movie made (he's also an executive producer on the movie). But at the same time, Spaihts also built up his career, as the "Passengers" script opened doors to him getting screenwriting gigs for prominent projects like "Prometheus," "Doctor Strange," and the upcoming "The Mummy" reboot starring Tom Cruise.

"Passengers" follows Jim (Pratt) and Aurora (Lawrence), two passengers on a 120-year voyage from Earth to a colony planet who wake from their sleep chambers too early as their ship is still 90 years from its destination. Now, awake and alone on a luxury spaceship with anything you'd ever need, the two learn about a malfunction on the ship and must fix it to save the thousands of people in hibernation on board the ship.

"It was my calling card for a long time," Spaihts told Business Insider of the script. "If we came right out of the gate with that Black List script back in 2007, and a studio had picked us up and started running, I would have almost certainly, as an unknown baby writer, had been replaced instantly with an A-lister that reassured the studio. And that would have been my last contact with the film until I ended up in a movie theater watching it. So I was very fortunate, in a way, for the long difficult road getting the movie made."

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Jon Spaihts Emma McIntyre Getty

Though Spaihts puts a positive spin on the experience now, for years he had to bear the responsibility of keeping the purity of the project intact (as is most often the screenwriter's duty) during various attempts to get the movie made. At one point, that even included coming up with a workable version that could be made at Warner Bros. on a budget between $50 million and $60 million, which would have starred Keanu Reeves and Rachel McAdams (the budget of the film that got made is $120 million).

"I think that would have been very strong, but it didn't quite get there," said Spaihts of the Reeves/McAdams version (there was also a version that would have starred Reeves and Reese Witherspoon for The Weinstein Company).

Sony would be the project's final home in 2015, attaching Lawrence (at a $20 million payday), Pratt, and director Morten Tyldum ("The Imitation Game").

But Spaihts' work was far from done. On the set every day as principal of photography, he did rewrites while staying true to the story's center, and in post-production, he was a major voice in locking the ending.

"Sticking the ending was one of the trickiest parts of the film," said Spaihts. "Not just during production, but all the years leading up to it."

Spaihts said multiple versions of the ending were shot during production and "a very small amount" of reshoots ("a day or two," he said) were also done to strengthen it.

But perhaps the movie's biggest sticking point is the important piece of the plot that has been kept out of the marketing of the movie. As "Passengers" looks like a love story in space, in fact it's a little more complex than that.

SPOILER COMING

In the movie, Jim is the first to wake from his space slumber after a malfunction in his sleep chamber and spends a year on the ship by himself. One day, while contemplating suicide, he comes across Aurora's sleep chamber. After presumably weeks of reading up her file and watching videos she did before the trip, he decides to wake her up so he has a companion. After the two fall in love Aurora learns what Jim did, and obviously shattered by the revelation, vows to never interact with him again. It's when the ship begins to malfunction that they are forced to reconnect.

Critics have taken the film to task for Jim's shocking act. "In space, no one can her you scream 'date rape!'" wrote The Playlist.

passengers sony

"I think if it succeeds, the movie will lead everyone in the audience to the question of what they would have done in that place given those options," said Spaihts of Jim's actions. "The justification is in the dilemma. It opens interesting questions, I think fascinating questions, about how we carry guilt and the dark power of secrets. Is it possible to forgive?"

There was one version of Spaihts' script where Jim stops his attempt to open Aurora's sleep chamber but it turns out has gone too far and the chamber inevitably opens.

"There was a momentary experiment in that direction," said Spaihts, "but I would say every official version of the script had Jim clearly make the choice he makes."

We'll find out in the coming weeks if general audiences feel the way about Jim's act as critics do, but regardless, it seems what is on screen Spaihts stands behind completely.

"I fought tooth and nail to preserve the essence and soul of 'Passengers' throughout the entire process, all the way down to the closing minutes of post-production," he said. "I never stopped pushing to protect it and movie it to the finish line."

NOW WATCH: Here are the 11 best memes of 2016





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Paris (AFP) - Physicists on Monday announced an important step towards unravelling one of the Universe's great mysteries: What happened to all the anti-matter created in the Big Bang?

A new technique has allowed them to study the behaviour of a single atom of anti-matter under ultraviolet light, a team wrote in the journal Nature.

"Imagine you are the first one to look at something about the Universe that no one else has seen. That's what makes us happy right now," Jeffrey Hangst of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) told AFP of the feat.

"It's opening up a completely new branch of inquiry."

The Standard Model of physics, which explains much of the Universe as we know it, postulates that the Big Bang should have created an exactly equal amount of matter and antimatter.

Physicists believe that every particle of matter should have a "mirror" antiparticle with the same mass but exact opposite charge.

The problem is: matter and antimatter cannot exist together.

When they meet, there is a violent reaction that annihilates both in a flash of energy -- the principle that powers imaginary spaceships in Star Trek.

Physicists believe most matter and antimatter did meet and implode shortly after the Big Bang.

But they cannot explain why some matter survived to create everything that exists in the visible Universe.

As for antimatter, rare atoms can be created in very high-energy events.

They have been detected in cosmic radiation rays, and created in CERN's Alpha lab in Switzerland, which has produced anti-hydrogen atoms for many years.

- Why are we here? -

Scientists have never been able to find anti-particles clumped together into anti-matter.

"We've had many successes in understanding how things work, but we can't explain why we're here at all," said Hangst.

"We shouldn't be (here). There should just be energy, there should just be some light. And no one can explain to you why there's matter and not anti-matter."

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Hangst and a team hope the new method, which will be further refined, will boost the in-depth study of anti-atoms.

In particular, they want to see if hydrogen and anti-hydrogen atoms react similarly to light.

All atoms absorb only specific frequencies of light. Under the prevailing theory, hydrogen and anti-hydrogen should absorb the same type.

But initial observations are inconclusive.

"We can say they are consistent," Hangst said. "But so far the measurement isn't precise enough."

Getting to a more emphatic answer could take "some years."

"I want the answer, I want the truth. And now I know I can get it," the physicist said.

Commenting on the study, physics professor Themis Bowcock of the University of Liverpool described it as a technical milestone.

"It marks a significant step forward in our ability to study anti-atoms in the laboratory and opens the door on a new avenue of research on anti-matter," he told AFP.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Security around the Russian embassy in Ankara has been stepped up after the Russian ambassador was shot by a gunman, the RIA news agency reported on Monday evening. The Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot in an attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital on Monday and the Russian RIA news agency said he had died of his wounds. (Reporting by Andrey Ostroukh; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Many members of the Electoral College felt honored as the cast their ballots in the 2016 presidential vote on Monday. Several of the 538 electors who gathered in state capitols to vote shared their feelings on the process via Twitter on Monday.

Chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party Alex Triantafilou tweeted that his hand shook a little when he signed his ballot.

I'll admit, my hand shook a little. A high honor to cast this ballot by signing my name. @HamCoGOP pic.twitter.com/o4rhzFrTzt  Alex Triantafilou (@ChairmanAlex) December 19, 2016

Controversy has surrounded the typically quiet process, where electors votes follow the results of the general election. This year, however, electors have faced calls from across the U.S. to reconsider voting for President-elect Donald Trump. Most electors, it seems, will vote for the person their state selected, but there was at least one elector who said he would vote for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders instead.

As an New York State Elector, I'm honored to have cast my vote today for @HillaryClinton #ElectoralCollege pic.twitter.com/PdlnwnCiv4  Tish James (@TishJames) December 19, 2016
Although Sonam Kapoor has never admitted to her relationship with Anand Ahuja, rumours of their romance refuse to die down.

By India Today Web Desk: Sonam Kapoor has kept fans guessing about her relationship status with Delhi-based businessman Anand Ahuja. Although their frequent public appearances and social media banter suggests otherwise, the actor claims that she is single.

SEE PIC: Sonam Kapoor and rumoured boyfriend Anand Ahuja colour-coordinate their outfits

ALSO READ: Did Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja have a hush-hush holiday in Los Angeles?

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SEE PIC: Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja make for a picture-perfect couple

Stories were even doing the rounds that she will tie the knot with her rumoured beau, but Sonam scoffed at the idea. Now, it seems that Sonam is warming up to the idea of making her relationship with Anand public.

Sonam recently took to Instagram to post a boomerang video of herself dancing with her Aisha co-star Ira Dubey. She captioned the photo: Pyaar koi toofan nahi hai joh aaye aur duniya badal de ... woh toh zindagi ke chote chote lamhon mein hota hai" Pinky Bose -Aisha ... @iradubey love you lots... and miss you tons!! #Aishathemovie #Aisha #pinkybose @anandahuja

It is the last tag that caught our attention. While it could mean that Anand was the man behind the camera, perhaps the quote mentioned in the caption is directed at him. Did Sonam just drop a major hint about her romance with Anand?

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By Jon Herskovitz

(Reuters) - New Orleans offered apologies and reached settlements totaling $13.3 million in civil rights lawsuits brought against the city for the killings of residents by police in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the mayor said on Monday.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu said the city reached deals with 17 plaintiffs to settle all claims in the cases that have prompted local police reforms and federal investigation into suspected misconduct by numerous officers.

The settlements included families of those killed on the city's Danziger Bridge in September 2005, where two unarmed people were fatally shot.

"We are here to proclaim from the highest mountaintop that the City of New Orleans, in all of its agony and in all of its joy, can transform itself from a city of violence into a city of peace," the mayor said.

Landrieu held a prayer service with family members and asked for forgiveness ahead of announcing the settlements.

The families have been in litigation for years and their suits alleging misconduct and cover-ups helped to change the narrative of police actions following the hurricane.

The storm led to more than 1,500 deaths in the New Orleans-area.

Mary Howell, a civil rights lawyer who represented families of victims, said the settlement marked a change for the city which typically settles without admitting wrongdoing. She said the apology was deeply appreciated.

"It has been a tortured path to this point," Howell said in an interview.

Those gunned down on the bridge included Ronald Madison, a 40-year-old with the mental development of a six-year-old. He had seven gunshot wounds in his back. James Brissette Jr., 17, was also fatally shot, court documents showed.

Five ex-New Orleans police officers pleaded guilty in April to charges in connection with the killings. Four other people were seriously injured in the bridge incident.

The bridge incident victims, all black and unarmed, were trying to survive the hurricane's wake when a group of officers, believing they were racing to the scene of a police shootout, barreled toward them in a commandeered truck.

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The death of Henry Glover was part of the settlement. A few days after the storm, he was fatally shot by a police officer, who was eventually acquitted. Another officer was convicted of setting Glover's body on fire.

The settlement included the case of Raymond Robair, 48, who local media said was beaten to death by police about a month before Katrina.

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas, additional reporting by Ronnie Greene; editing by Alan Crosby and Mary Milliken)
Berlin (AFP) - German police said on Tuesday they were treating as "a probable terrorist attack" the killing of 12 people when a speeding lorry cut a bloody swathe through a Berlin Christmas market.

At least 48 more were wounded when the truck tore through the crowd Monday, smashing wooden stalls and crushing victims, in scenes reminiscent of July's deadly attack in the French Riviera city of Nice.

Images showed the mangled truck with its windscreen smashed and a trail of destruction in its wake, with Christmas trees toppled on their side and festive stalls obliterated into splinters.

One of the survivors, Australian Trisha O'Neill, recalled the horror of "this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people", with "blood and bodies everywhere".

"It wasn't an accident," said another visitor, Briton Emma Rushton, who was enjoying a glass of mulled wine when the festive scene was shattered by a loud crash and screams.

"We heard a really loud bang and saw some of the Christmas lights to our left starting to be pulled down," she told Sky news.

"Then we saw the articulated vehicle going through people and through the stalls and just pulling everything down and then everything went dark."

Police detained the man believed to have deliberately mowed the Scania truck loaded with steel beams for 80 metres (yards) into the popular tourist spot near the capital's iconic Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

The suspect was an asylum seeker believed to be from Pakistan or Afghanistan who arrived in Germany via the so-called Balkans route in February, according to unnamed security sources cited by DPA news agency.

Local newspapers said that, after the truck driver left the cabin, a man followed him on foot and used his mobile phone to stay in touch with police, who arrested him about two kilometres away near Berlin's Victory Column.

- Refugee shelter raid -

The suspect was believed to have stayed in a Berlin refugee shelter, DPA reported.

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Overnight, police commandos raided Berlin's largest such shelter, a hangar of the disused Nazi-era Tempelhof airport, famous because of the Cold War-era Berlin airlift, public broadcaster ZDF reported.

The daily Tagesspiegel said the man behind the wheel was known to police but for minor crimes, not links to terrorism.

A Polish man, thought to have been the truck's registered driver, was found dead on the passenger seat, and police said he had not steered the vehicle.

The Polish owner of the lorry, Ariel Zurawski, had Monday confirmed his driver was missing, telling AFP: "We don't know what happened to him".

"He's my cousin, I've known him since I was a kid. I can vouch for him," he said.

Lukasz Wasik of the same company said contact was lost with the 37-year-old at around 3:00pm (1400 GMT).

Wasik said GPS data indicated that the truck was later started three times -- "as if someone was practicing how to drive it" -- before it drove off at 7:34 pm local time.

- 'We mourn the dead' -

World leaders expressed shock at the apparent latest attack to hit Europe, as social media users shared their grief on Twitter using the hashtag #prayforberlin.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert tweeted that "we mourn the dead and hope that the many people injured can be helped," while President Joachim Gauck called it "a terrible evening for Berlin and our country".

German flags flew at half-mast Tuesday and the church near the attack was planning a memorial service later Tuesday.

The suspected attack meant "our worst fears have come true," said conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer, who added that security will have to be reviewed for a all of Germany's Christmas markets and asked "whether they can take place at all."

More eyewitnesses meanwhile came forward to recall the horrific scenes.

One British visitor, Mike Fox from Birmingham, told how he helped rescue people trapped under collapsed market stalls.

"I saw one guy being dragged away with blood on his face. I helped several other people lift the side of one of the stalls up so that they could pull two other people from underneath."

- High alert -

Europe has been on high alert for most of 2016, with jihadist attacks striking Paris and Brussels, while Germany has been hit by several assaults claimed by the Islamic State group and carried out by asylum-seekers.

An axe rampage on a train in Bavaria state in July wounded five people, and a suicide bombing left 15 people injured in the same state six days later.

The arrival of 890,000 refugees last year has polarised Germany, with critics calling the influx a serious security threat.

Marcus Pretzell of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party labelled the Christmas market victims "Merkel's dead".

The attack in Berlin comes five months after Tunisian extremist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel ploughed a truck into a crowd on the Nice seafront, killing 86 people.

President Francois Hollande said "the French share in the mourning of the Germans in the face of this tragedy".

The United States condemned an apparent "terrorist attack", while President-elect Donald Trump blamed "Islamist terrorists" for a "slaughter" of Christians.
ZURICH (AP)  A gunman dressed in black stormed into the prayer hall of a mosque frequented by Somali immigrants and opened fire, wounding three people before fleeing, a Zurich police spokesman said Monday.

Police, who rushed to the scene in a central neighborhood known for trendy cafes and the citys red-light district, were also investigating a possible connection to the discovery of a corpse at nearby Gessner bridge over the Sihl River, police spokesman Marco Bisa said.

Authorities werent considering the attack as terrorism, he said. Police also said it was too early to determine whether there might be any link to an incident in Berlin also on Monday, where a truck rammed into a Christmas market, killing at least nine people.

The unknown person fired several shots and fled from the building, Bisa told reporters near the mosque, which was cordoned off by police. The shooting took place inside a prayer room with several people in it. Two victims were severely injured.

Bisa said the injured were hospitalized and were aged 30, 35 and 56 years old, but did not specify their nationalities. He said witnesses described the attacker as clad head to foot in black, and was believed to be aged about 30 years old.

At the scene, Abukav Abshirow, a 30-year-old Somali man who works at a Zurich car dealership, said his friend was among the injured. He recalled how they had been celebrating a religious occasion at the center the night before.

I am under shock, he said. Weve had great times here. The atmosphere was always friendly and happy at the center  I am very, very sad this happened. We never had problems here before. We spend the weekend here with our children in peace.

I am waiting to find out what happened, and who is responsible, he said.

Attacks by gunmen are rare in Switzerland. The country was shaken in 2013 by at least two multiple-fatality shootings.

The country has a long-standing tradition for men to keep their military rifles after completing compulsory military service  which partly explains a high rate of gun ownership in the country of about 8.2 million people.
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 19, 2016 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces a class action lawsuit against Pilgrim's Pride Corporation ("Pilgrim's Pride" or the "Company") (PPC). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares between February 21, 2014 and October 6, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm in advance of the December 19, 2016 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you purchased Pilgrim's Pride 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 by e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

There has been no class certification in this case yet. Until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. You may choose to take no action and remain a passive class member.

The complaint alleges that during the Class Period, Pilgrim's Pride made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: the Company systematically colluded with several of its industry peers to fix prices in the market for broiler chickens; that the foregoing conduct constituted a violation of federal antitrust laws; that Pilgrim's Pride's revenues during the class period were the result of illegal conduct; that as a result of the above, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On October 7, 2016, Pivotal Research downgraded its peer company Tyson Foods, Inc. from "buy" to "sell," due to fears of a class action against Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, and other peers over price collusion in the broiler-chicken market. Allegedly, in 2008, Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, and several other companies conspired by sharing proprietary data and reducing production to support prices. When this news was announced to the public, the stock price of Pilgrim's Pride decreased, causing investors harm.

If you wish to learn more about this lawsuit, at no charge to you, 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.

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This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in certain jurisdictions.

Contact:

Joon M. Khang, Esq.

Telephone: 949-419-3834

Facsimile: 949-225-4474

joon@khanglaw.com

SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP
Istanbul (AFP) - The assassin of the Russian ambassador to Ankara was a 22-year-old from a quiet region in the west of Turkey who had served with the anti-riot police for less than three years.

The man identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) and "Don't forget Aleppo" as he waved his gun around at a cultural centre in the Turkish capital.

But there has yet to be any indication Altintas, who was later "neutralised" by police", was attracted to religious extremism or had any history of activism.

Images showed the clean-shaven man smartly dressed in a suit, tie and white shirt pull out a gun and fire at ambassador Andrei Karlov from behind as the envoy opened a Russian photography exhibition in Ankara.

He then threatened terrified spectators, yelling "Allahu Akbar" and saying that the murder was vengeance for Russia's actions in the war-battered Syrian city of Aleppo.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Altintas was born in the town of Soke in Aydin province in western Turkey and attended a special school for training future policemen.

Altintas then joined the Ankara anti-riot police -- the Cevik Kuvvet in Turkish -- and had worked there for the last two-and-a-half-years.

The region of Aydin on the Aegean coast is one of Turkey's most peaceful regions well away from trouble-spots and the country's most religiously conservative areas.

- Family questioned -

After the attack on Karlov, Altintas refused to surrender and remained inside the exhibition centre as clashes took place with police for 15 minutes.

But he was then killed by police in an operation, authorities said.

Reports said that his mother, father and sister were immediately detained for questioning in their homes in western Turkey.

The mayor of Ankara, Melih Gokcek, known for his outspoken comments, speculated on his official Twitter account that the attacker may be linked to the group of Fethullah Gulen blamed for the July 15 coup aimed at toppling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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His suggestion has yet to be echoed by other officials.

In footage from the scene, Altintas talks about pledging allegiance to jihad in Arabic.

Switching to Turkish, he then says: "Don't forget about Syria, don't forget about Aleppo. All those who participate in this tyranny will be held accountable".

The attack came after days of angry protests in Turkey over Russia's actions in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

But Erdogan has spearheaded a rapprochement with Russia in recent months and the two countries had been working closely to remove civilians from war-torn Aleppo.
By Henning Gloystein

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - OPEC's efforts to hold market share in Asia by keeping its customers, which take about two-thirds of its exports, supplied amid wider output cuts could prolong the global fuel glut and frustrate its attempt to bolster prices.

Saudi Arabia, the de-facto leader of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), will target its supply cuts at refiners in the United States and Europe rather than Asia. Ally Kuwait is following a similar strategy, and OPEC's second-largest producer Iraq is even raising exports to Asia.

"U.S. and European refiners are having January allocations cut from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE (United Arab Emirates)," Morgan Stanley said on Monday in a note to clients.

This comes as refiners from Japan, China and South Korea have told Reuters they have not received reduction notices from most Middle East suppliers except for slight restrictions from Abu Dhabi that are within contractual limits.

The producers fear that their self-imposed cuts starting in 2017 would allow U.S. oil companies to sneak in and grab market share.

Yet shielding Asia could undermine OPEC's strategy to eat into the world's bloated stockpiles through supply reductions as Asia also sits on enormous fuel stocks, likely weighing on prices through 2017.

"It may take some time for crude supplies to tighten in Asia, which I expect around the second half of 2017," said Eng Hian, head of trading at AgriTrade Energy in Singapore, which owns three supertankers. "Consider the existing supply overhang."

Targeting the United States, OPEC is hoping that producers there will keep more of their own production at home to meet demand, instead of exporting to Asia, said Virendra Chauhan, oil analyst at Energy Aspects in Singapore.

Asian refiners have said they plan to buy oil from alternative sources, including the U.S., if OPEC cuts, and BP (BP.L) and Sinopec have already started bringing U.S. oil to Asian refiners.

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Even Russia, which led a group of non-OPEC oil producers to join a cut of up to 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) of supply, is showing few signs of reducing exports.

Russia this year over overtook Saudi Arabia as China's biggest oil supplier because of its pipeline connections.

Export schedules signed off by the energy ministry and seen by Reuters showed Russia plans to increase crude exports and transit across its territory by 200,000 bpd in the first quarter of next year.

OIL STILL HELD ON TANKERS

Even as oil flows to Asia look likely to continue, the region still sits on millions of barrels of unsold crude and refined products.

Shipping data in Thomson Reuters Eikon shows that between 26 and 30 million barrels of crude or fuel oil are sitting on around 20 supertankers just off of Singapore and southern Malaysia's Johor state.

Onshore, Asia is sitting on ample inventories as well. China's implied stockpile build up from March to October has averaged 740,000 barrels per day, based on monthly data from the General Administration of Customs and National Statistics Bureau, a higher increase than in the previous two years of the glut.

China's commercial crude stockpile sat 239.8 million barrels in October, with South Korea at 35.3 million barrels for the same month. The latest figures from Japan show them holding 91.2 million barrels. That compares with U.S. crude inventories at 483 million barrels.

Jonathan Chan of Singapore-based brokerage Phillip Futures said there was still an excess of 1 billion barrels of oil sitting in tanks globally.

"For prices to go up further decisively, these inventories will first have to be clear out," he said.

(For graphics on OPEC's market share struggle, click http://tmsnrt.rs/2cWq5NN)

(For graphics on OPEC's dwindling spare capacity, click http://tmsnrt.rs/2g7oeps)

(Reporting by Henning Gloystein; Additional reporting by Florence Tan, Roslan Khasawneh, Jane Chung, Osamu Tsukimori and Keith Wallis; Writing by Henning Gloystein; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP)  The children of a late Michigan businessman are donating $10 million to help build a memorial and museum in Alabama dedicated to black lynching victims.

Philanthropists Jon and Pat Stryker have each given $5 million toward the Equal Justice Initiative's $35 million campaign to build The Memorial to Peace and Justice. The group says the memorial honors the 4,075 black people killed by lynching nationwide from 1877 to 1950.

Jon Stryker, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and his sister, who lives in Colorado, say their donation honors their father, Lee Stryker, former president of the Stryker Corp. medical supply company.

They say he strongly believed in justice and equality, and would be humbled to support "an essential and long-overdue memorial."

The museum is scheduled to open next year, and the memorial in 2018.

___

This story has been corrected to show the last name of one of the donors is Stryker, not Styker.
Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj is all set to be discharged from AIIMS today after a successful kidney transplant surgery.

By India Today Web Desk: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who underwent a kidney transplant on December 10, is recovering steadily and would be discharged later on Monday, AIIMS said.

"MEA Minister Sushma Swaraj has shown a speedy recovery after her kidney transplant and is being discharged today (Monday)," said the statement issued by the communication department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

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According to the authorities, the minister's post-operative recovery was closely monitored by a team of specialists.

It further said her postoperative recovery was closely monitored by a team of transplant surgeons, physicians, critical care experts and physiotherapists.

External Affairs Minister @SushmaSwaraj to be discharged today, says AIIMS Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2016

They include transplant surgeons and a team of nephrologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists and pulmonologists, other than anaesthesists and critical care experts. The team also includes hysiotherapists, resident doctors and specialised nurses.

--- ENDS ---
Deadline is extended to 24 February 2017.

After the success of its inaugural event in June 2016, the Singapore Business Review Business Case Studies Awards aims to continue its tradition of recognising the best business solution providers on its second year.

Singapore Business Review is proud to announce that entries are still being accepted for the Business Case Studies Awards 2017.

If you have launched a noteworthy solution that made a mark in your industry and you believe that it will make for a good Case Study, you are encouraged and invited to submit an entry.

An esteemed panel of judges will decide the winners of this year's Business Case Studies Awards. The winning companies will be invited to the Awarding Ceremony and Summit on April 2017 to receive their certificates, present their respective case studies, and network with peers.

The deadline for confirmations has been moved to 24 February 2016.

Join our exceptional roster of winners and get the recognition your team deserves.

"Thanks to your magazine, the news and the overall communication created around the event, our company and our operations with FJ Benjamin have been spread, therefore contributing to a wider and profitable advertising to potential clients and industrial associations. Taking part to the SBR Business Case Studies Awards 2016 and be one of the winners was a great opportunity to recognize the value of our company besides increasing our visibility in Singapore. The SBR Awards allowed us to show our clients, partners and workers our expertise and commitment in the variety of worldwide services we offer," Bgroup CEO, Gianmaria Beretti, said.

To see the list of the 2016 winners, click here.

For 2016 case studies presentation and summit gallery, click here.

For more details, please click here or contact Julie Anne Nunez at +65 3158 1386 ext. 221 or at julie@charltonmediamail.com.







More From Singapore Business Review


By Josephine Mason and Meng Meng BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing's city government ordered 1,200 factories near the Chinese capital, including a major oil refinery run by state oil giant Sinopec, to shut or cut output on Saturday after authorities issued the highest possible air pollution alert. On Friday, China's environmental watchdog issued a five-day warning about choking smog spreading across the north and ordered factories to shut, recommended residents stay indoors and curbed traffic and construction work. Red alerts are issued when the air quality index (AQI), a measure of pollutants in the air, is forecast to break 200 for more than four days in succession, surpass 300 for more than two days or overshoot 500 for at least 24 hours. The Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Centre showed an air quality reading of 297 by Saturday afternoon as haze started to envelop the capital, after an earlier reading of around 120. Levels in the 301-500 band are considered hazardous to health. Traffic on the city's roads was lower than usual as residents complied with limits on car use and many of the city's 22 million residents sat out the haze at home. "I'll just take a rest and not go outside," said Wang Jianan, a 23-year-old Beijing resident and teaching assistant. With Christmas just a week away, others resorted to dark humour to help cope with the latest episode of toxic air. One Beijing resident posted a cartoon on WeChat, China's mobile messaging platform, showing Santa Claus on his slay almost completely obscured by smog, saying: "I can't find China." The city's municipal government said in a statement Sinopec's 10 million tonne-per-year Yanshan refinery, a Shougang Group steel product plant and a Cofco factory that makes instant noodles and crackers were among 500 companies it had ordered to limit output. The statement also listed 700 companies that had been ordered to suspend operations altogether. The national environmental watchdog was sending more than a dozen inspection teams to check that factories and heavy manufacturing plants were complying with the crackdown, it said. The hazardous air underscores the challenge facing the world's second-largest economy as the government battles pollution caused by the coal-burning power industry and other heavy industry after decades of breakneck economic growth. The government's colour-graded warning system was adopted as part of its crackdown on smog. More than 40 cities have issued warnings, with 22 on red alert, including top steelmaking city Tangshan in Hebei province around Beijing, and Jinan in coal-rich Shandong province. In Shijiazhuang, Hebei's capital, the air quality reading was as high as 500. Steel plants there have been forced to cut output. (Reporting by Josephine Mason and Meng Meng; Additional reporting by Natalie Thomas and Joseph Campbell; Editing by Paul Tait)
An Australian woman found an extra special ornament on her Christmas treea live tiger snake.

The toxic critter was doing its best imitation of a partridge in her pear tree, loitering among the branches of the womans Christmas tree in her living room on the outskirts of Melbourne. After spotting the snake, the woman snapped a photo of it and then sealed off the room until professional snake catcher Barry Goldsmith could come take care of Santas little cold-blooded helper. According to Goldsmiths Snake Catcher Victorias Facebook post, 20 minutes later [he] had the little bugger in a bag. Hopefully to be sent straight back to the North Pole in time for Christmas.

As Mashable noted, the tiger snake is a protected species in Australia, so if you find yourself in a similar situation, do not panic and decide to burn down the entire Christmas tree. Instead, keep the endangered animal safe and simply move to another country (or call a professional to take the snake to a better environment in which to celebrate Christmas).

[H/T Mashable]
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f31255%2fde0cf38d-36bd-4e99-924a-5d1c15af4970

If you've ever met an Australian, you'll know that they love talking about how different and special they are because they have nice weather during Christmas. Opposite seasons  who knew?!

But unlike the wealth of "Aussie Christmas carols" that came before it (yes, they're a thing), the latest carol from Down Under turns the "holidays in hot weather" cliche on its head.

The subversive YouTubers over at Aunty Donna have written a protest song disguised as a carol.

One minute they're singing about wearing shorts and thongs (flip flops to you) on Christmas Day. The next minute they're sharing horrifying facts about Australia that are too often pushed out of public discourse.

From refusing the LGBTQ community the right to marry, to the practice of locking up refugees who arrive by boat in offshore detention centres  this could be the one Aussie Christmas carol that's not totally pointless. #SorryNotSorry

Merry Christmas, from hell: Santa army fights penguin empire in epic virtual war

Kelly Clarkson helped a super fan get engaged at her concert

Frozen Michigan lighthouse is straight out of Narnia

Chance the Rapper and 'SNL' go all out for Barack Obama's final Christmas in the White House
Washington (AFP) - Satellite broadband firm OneWeb on Monday announced a $1.2 billion funding round led by SoftBank, the first concrete investment from the Japanese group which made a pledge to President-elect Donald Trump.

SoftBank, which is providing $1 billion of the funding for the project aimed at providing global internet access via satellite, made the announcement just two weeks after its chief executive Masayoshi Son met Trump and pledged to invest $50 billion in the US economy and create 50,000 jobs.

"Earlier this month I met with President-elect Trump and shared my commitment to investing and creating jobs in the US," Son said in a statement.

"This is the first step in that commitment."

About 3,000 new jobs are expected to be created in engineering, manufacturing and support in the US over the next four years as a result of the investment, the companies said.

The announcement suggests a path to delivering high-speed internet via satellite after several failed efforts in recent years.

The funding will help support a new facility capable of producing 15 satellites per week "at a fraction of the cost of what any satellite manufacturing facility in the world can produce today," a statement from the groups said.

Production will start in 2018, the companies said.

OneWeb, which has previously raised funds from British tycoon Richard Branson and whose partners include Airbus, Qualcomm and Intelsat, aims to offer satellite broadband to underserved parts of the world.

The investment will also support a program "to provide global access to affordable high-speed internet services for everyone, including every unconnected school in the world by 2022," said the statement.

OneWeb intends to launch 684 low-orbit satellites, to cover the entire planet and deliver internet to areas where conventional land systems are not economical.

The idea dates back to the 1990s, when Teledesic, a project backed by Microsoft's Bill Gates and Saudi royal family investors, died before it went into service. Another venture called SkyBridge, also failed, and its assets were eventually acquired by OneWeb.

Backers of the idea and an equally ambitious plan being developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX argue that improved technology and lower production costs can make space-based systems more feasible than in the past.
Far into the Indian state of Karnataka lies a hidden oasis for the the countrys unwanted dogs. Its leader is Rakesh Shukla, a software engineer who created this three and a half acre sanctuary, which now houses over 735 dogs.

The canine residents cover all breeds and backgrounds. Some are pedigree dogs abandoned by tragic circumstances, others are mixed breed pups who spent their entire lives on the street until now.

Im the last stop for these dogs. They are no longer cute and cuddly. Many are sick and no longer wanted, said Shukla, 45, who also responds to the name Dog Father.

According to BBC News, before he was Dog Father, Shukla started a software company with his wife which led to wealth and the adventures that come with it.

I had worked in Delhi, in the United States and then set up my own company in Bangalore, he told the BBC. Life was all about buying big cars and expensive watches and living a fancy life. I had travelled and seen the world many times over, but then I was not happy.

What changed this course of life for Shukla was the arrival of a golden retriever named Kavya.

RELATED VIDEO: Children Read to Shelter Dogs for Holiday Event

It was a physical feeling, my hair was tingling, I could feel a warm glow. And Ive never needed to ask myself that question  why am I here?  again after that, Shukla said.

Three months after that came Lucky, who the engineer rescued off the street during a downpour. Soon, Shukla was taking in any abandoned dog he found. Once the number of pups began to fill the house and overwhelm his wife, Shukla bought some land where the dogs could roam free and be well-cared for.

The land has grown into a haven for dogs, filled with ponds and areas to play. Shukla spends three to four days a week here, helping 10 employees look after the dogs, feed them chicken and rice, and tend to any illness.

To provide this kind of care to over 700 dogs costs about $663 a day, 93% of which Shukla pays himself. And while the engineer has faced critics over the years, he plans to help these innocent animals for as along as he can.




JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A South African soldier on a United Nations mission in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was killed in a rebel attack on their positions on Monday, the final day of President Joseph Kabila's mandated time in office, Pretoria said. Two South African soldiers were wounded, one critically, in the early morning assault by Mai Mai guerrillas, the South African military said in a statement. Four militiamen were killed in the fire-fight and two were captured, it added. (Reporting by Ed Cropley; Editing by Ed Stoddard)
Dec 19 (Reuters) - Southern California Gas Co (SoCalGas) has urged customers to reduce natural gas use to help lower the risk of possible gas and electricity shortages due to what it described as severe cold weather throughout the U.S. Southwest.

The notice, issued Sunday night, came as the utility continues to have only limited access to fuel in its giant Aliso Canyon gas storage facility in Los Angeles following a massive methane leak between October 2015-February 2016.

"We did not pull any gas out of Aliso, but we had to draw significantly on other fields to maintain system reliability," SoCalGas spokesman Chris Gilbride said on Monday.

In addition to residential customers, SoCalGas, a unit of California energy company Sempra Energy, told non-core customers, including refineries and power plants, that they may receive a notice to curtail service.

The independent system operator, which runs the power grid for much of the state, has not yet called on consumers to cut back on electric consumption.

Gas demand spikes in winter due to heating of homes and businesses, while power demand does so in summer when customers crank up air conditioners.

California agencies have said in a report looking at the ongoing outage of Aliso Canyon that SoCalGas could have a tough time meeting a forecast peak demand of 5.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) on the coldest days this winter without the facility.

Gas demand on Monday was expected to reach 4.0 bcf, with 2.9 bcf coming from pipeline imports and the remaining 1.1 bcfd from SoCalGas' other three storage facilities.

The state required SoCalGas to keep 15 bcf in the 86-bcf Aliso Canyon to minimize risk of gas shortages that could result in electricity outages.

But that may not be enough to prevent the utility from curtailing supplies to power plants and other industrial facilities this winter.

In past years, SoCalGas has pulled gas from Aliso Canyon on an almost daily basis during the coldest winter months to keep homes and businesses warm and fuel power generators and refineries.

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California government agencies looking into SoCalGas' request to start injecting gas into Aliso Canyon said a few weeks ago they would not complete their safety review until early 2017, keeping the field shut at least until later in the winter.

SoCalGas sought permission to re-inject gas into the facility on Nov. 1 to rebuild supplies before the winter.

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by Paul Simao)
By M.B. Pell and Joshua Schneyer

ST. JOSEPH, Missouri (Reuters) - On a sunny November afternoon in this historic city, birthplace of the Pony Express and death spot of Jesse James, Lauranda Mignery watched her son Kadin, 2, dig in their front yard. As he played, she scolded him for putting his fingers in his mouth.

In explanation, she pointed to the peeling paint on her old house. Kadin, she said, has been diagnosed with lead poisoning.

He has lots of company: Within 15 blocks of his house, at least 120 small children have been poisoned since 2010, making the neighborhood among the most toxic in Missouri, Reuters found as part of an analysis of childhood lead testing results across the country. In St. Joseph, even a local pediatricians children were poisoned.

Last year, the city of Flint, Michigan, burst into the world spotlight after its children were exposed to lead in drinking water and some were poisoned. In the year after Flint switched to corrosive river water that leached lead from old pipes, 5 percent of the children screened there had high blood lead levels.

Flint is no aberration. In fact, it doesnt even rank among the most dangerous lead hotspots in America.

In all, Reuters found nearly 3,000 areas with recently recorded lead poisoning rates at least double those in Flint during the peak of that citys contamination crisis. And more than 1,100 of these communities had a rate of elevated blood tests at least four times higher.

The poisoned places on this map stretch from Warren, Pennsylvania, a town on the Allegheny River where 36 percent of children tested had high lead levels, to a zip code on Goat Island, Texas, where a quarter of tests showed poisoning. In some pockets of Baltimore, Cleveland and Philadelphia, where lead poisoning has spanned generations, the rate of elevated tests over the last decade was 40-50 percent.

Like Flint, many of these localities are plagued by legacy lead: crumbling paint, plumbing, or industrial waste left behind. Unlike Flint, many have received little attention or funding to combat poisoning.

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To identify these locations, Reuters examined neighborhood-level blood testing results, most of which have not been previously disclosed. The data, obtained from state health departments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tracks poisoning rates among children tested in each location.

The resulting portrait provides a granular look at places where decades-long U.S. efforts to stamp out lead poisoning have fallen short.

The disparities youve found between different areas have stark implications, said Dr. Helen Egger, chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Centers Child Study Center. Where lead poisoning remains common, many children will have developmental delays and start out behind all the rest.

In children up to age 6, the CDC threshold for an elevated blood lead level is 5 micrograms per deciliter. Any child who tests high warrants a public health response, the agency says; even a slight elevation can reduce IQ and stunt development.

Nationwide, the CDC estimates that 2.5 percent of small children have elevated levels. In the communities identified by this analysis, a far higher rate of children who got tested had lead poisoning. In most cases, the local data covers a 5- or 10-year period through 2015.

Reporters visited several of the trouble spots: a neighborhood with many rundown homes in South Bend, Indiana; a rural mining town in Missouris Lead Belt; the economically depressed North Side of Milwaukee. In each location, it was easy to find people whose lives have been impacted by lead exposure. While poverty remains a potent predictor of lead poisoning, the victims span the American spectrum  poor and rich, rural and urban, black and white.

MAPPING LEAD HAZARDS

Most U.S. states disclose data on the percentage of child blood tests that show elevated levels of lead. Yet this data, often for statewide or county-wide populations, is too broad to identify neighborhoods where children face the greatest risk.

Instead, Reuters sought testing data at the neighborhood level, in census tracts or zip code areas, submitting records requests to all 50 states.

U.S. census tracts are small county subdivisions that average about 4,000 residents apiece. Zip codes have average populations of 7,500. In each area, a relatively small number of children are screened for lead poisoning each year.

Reuters found 2,606 census tracts, and another 278 zip code areas, with a prevalence of lead poisoning at least twice Flints rate.

The test results allow for local analysis, pinpointing neighborhoods whose lead poisoning problems may be obscured in broader surveys.

For example: Across Maryland, 2 percent of childhood lead tests were high in recent years, just a small fraction of the rate in the worst-affected Baltimore tracts. In Flint, while 5 percent of children citywide tested with high blood lead levels, the highest rate was in the downtown zip code, where about 11 percent tested high.

I hope this data spurs questions from the public to community leaders who can make changes, said epidemiologist Robert Walker, co-chair of the CDCs Lead Content Work Group, which analyzes lead poisoning nationwide. I would think that it would turn some heads.

The findings, Walker said, will help inform the public about risks in their own neighborhoods and allow health officials to seek lead abatement grants in the most dangerous spots.

There isnt much federal help available. Congress recently directed $170 million in aid to Flint. Thats 10 times the CDCs budget for assisting states with lead poisoning this year.

The nationwide map constructed through this analysis has empty spaces: The available data includes 21 states, home to around 61 percent of the U.S. population. Health departments in some states didnt possess the data or respond to records requests. Others wouldnt share it, saying they werent required to, or citing patient privacy laws.

Even with these gaps, the data shows that despite broad national progress in curbing poisoning, lead hazards continue to imperil many communities.

Since the heavy metal was phased out from paint and gasoline in the late 1970s, childrens average blood lead levels have dropped by more than 90 percent. That success story masks a sober reality in neighborhoods where risk abatement has failed.

The national mean doesnt mean anything for a kid who lives in a place where the risks are much higher, said Dr. Egger.

TINY PLUMES OF DUST

St. Joseph, Missouri, is filled with old homes that for a century featured lead paint and plumbing. From 2010 to 2015, more than 15 percent of children tested in seven census tracts here had elevated lead levels  well beyond the Missouri average of 5 percent.

Dr. Cynthia Brownfields family lives in a Victorian home on Museum Hill, overlooking City Hall. Built in the 1880s, it has restored tiger-stripe oak floors and an antique clawfoot bathtub.

As a pediatrician, Brownfield treats lead-poisoned children. A decade ago, her children were among them. Soon after moving into the home in 2006, her two youngest daughters tested high.

It was dramatically shocking to get a call from the health department, said Brownfield, who had sought to make her home safe.

Inspectors found the homes old windows released tiny plumes of lead dust. There was lead in the tiles near the fireplace, the original stenciled wallpaper and the bathtub. The family did extensive work to fix the hazards.

Residents take pride in preserving old homes, said St. Josephs community development manager, Gerald McCush. But many arent aware children can be poisoned during renovations. Others ignore explicit warnings.

McCush, a certified lead inspector, says his office told one family that sanding paint off their walls was poisoning their son. The dad said we were full of baloney, he said. He wasnt going to stop working.

The Mignery familys situation helps explain why problems persist.

When Mignery moved into an old, affordable home, the mother of four was aware of dangers like street crime. She didnt know the neighborhood also had alarming rates of lead poisoning. Over the past five years, 20 percent of tested children in the census tract showed poisoning.

At son Kadins one-year doctor visit, Mignery was told his lead levels were so high that, without quick intervention, he would need to be hospitalized. An inspector visited the home and found the culprit: old peeling lead paint.

The family could only afford a partial fix. It wasnt easy having to repaint all the rooms downstairs, she said. We want to do the outside here, too.

Children in at least 4 million U.S. households are exposed to high levels of lead, the CDC says.

MESSED UP IN THE HEAD

Lead continues to plague many industrial cities in the Midwest.

In Milwaukee last year, 11.5 percent of children tested had elevated lead. In a half dozen depressed North Side census tracts, about a third of tests showed poisoning from 2010 to 2014. One in 10 was highly elevated, at 10 micrograms per deciliter or more.

Childhood poisoning victim Brandon, now 20, lives with his mother DeeDee in an old two-story home. The family agreed to meet a reporter but asked that their last names not be published, citing the stigma attached to lead poisoning.

Across the street is the old rental house where, as a baby, Brandon was exposed to peeling lead paint. Health records show that before age 2, his levels reached nearly 10 times the current CDC threshold. He was hospitalized and received chelation treatment. The drugs remove heavy metals from the body and help prevent further damage, but once a child is exposed, the impact can be irreversible.

Brandon, who is easily excited, was at turns cheerful and mournful during an interview. He never finished high school and hasnt held a job. He has cognitive impairment, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and outbursts of anger. He was recently arrested after a dispute with a convenience store clerk over soda pop, and is now on probation.

Ever since I caught the lead, Ive been messed up in the head. I cant control my anger or feelings, Brandon said. I could have been better than I am.

A mile away, in Milwaukees census tract 88, Isaiah Martin, 18 months old, recently ingested old paint in a family home and on the porch outside, where he loved to watch a neighbors dog. Isaiahs initial lead test, in June, showed a level four times higher than the CDC threshold.

As a first-time mom, I freaked out, said Isaiahs mother, Shantrice, who moved her family to an apartment in another neighborhood.

Milwaukees health department inspected Isaiahs old home and has monitored his lead testing. The citys poisoning rates remain high, but are improving as public health officials and outreach groups combat the problem.

Federal law requires owners of homes built before 1978, when lead paint was banned, to disclose hazards to tenants or buyers. Pamphlets and warning statements, however, cant make the dwellings safe. Laws that can require owners to remediate lead from properties vary across the country.

Milwaukee frequently takes legal action against slumlords who rent dangerous properties, said Health Commissioner Bevan Baker. He also said childhood blood screening has more than doubled in the city since the late 1990s.

The city still has 135,000 prewar dwellings with lead paint, and 70,000 with lead water service lines. Most of its poisoning occurs in a few zip codes, where Baker says $50 million has been spent to protect children.

We need to do more, said Baker.

On a recent evening, hundreds of people lined up in a cold drizzle at Kosciuszko Park on Milwaukees south side, where poisoning rates are also high. The Sixteenth Street Clinic, a non-profit, was giving away tap-water filters.

Among them was Rebeca Velazquez, a mother of five. Her 5-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with lead poisoning. I dont want to take a risk with her, Velazquez said, motioning to her youngest child, age 4 months.

TOXIC IN BALTIMORE, CLEVELAND, PHILADELPHIA

Like Brandon, many children with lead poisoning fall into a vicious cycle: Cognitive deficits breed poor school performance, high dropout rates, few job opportunities, and brushes with the law.

Last year, one man mired in that cycle met a notorious end. At 25, Baltimore resident Freddie Gray sustained a fatal spinal cord injury in a police van, setting off months of tension in the city and fueling the national debate over policing in black communities.

In the 1990s, starting at age 2, Gray lived in a row house in Baltimores Sandtown-Winchester area tainted with old lead paint, according to a 2008 lawsuit filed by Gray and his siblings against the propertys landlord. He was exposed and suffered developmental problems, the legal filings say. The case was settled for an undisclosed amount.

Grays former home sits in an area where childrens lead exposure has persisted at shocking levels, testing data shows.

In several nearby census tracts, elevated lead levels were found in between 25 percent and 40 percent of children tested from 2005 to 2015.

Cleveland has similar problems. In the citys east side St. Clair-Superior area, nearly half of kids tested in the last decade had elevated lead. The state health department refused to provide census tract testing data; the news agency obtained the information from the CDC.

Cleveland is my home, so its deeply personal every time we see new numbers on lead exposure in our neighborhoods, said U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Brown has pressed federal and state agencies to increase childhood blood testing rates and fund more lead abatement efforts.

Pennsylvania has a dubious distinction. The state contains the most individual census tracts  1,100 in all  where at least 10 percent of childhood lead tests were elevated over the last decade. In 49 different tracts, from inner city Philadelphia to capital Harrisburg, at least 40 percent of children tested had high lead.

Those figures are disturbing  but not surprising  to health officials in the state.

I believe that, said Dr. Loren Robinson, Pennsylvanias deputy secretary for health promotion and disease prevention. Beyond the history of industry, our state has some of the oldest homes in the country.

The states health department has partnered with schools, daycare centers and nonprofits to remove lead from properties, and is working on drafting new municipal codes to ensure rental properties are free of lead hazards, Robinson said.

FUNDING DRIED UP

Even in some of the highest risk areas around the country, many small children go untested for lead, Reuters reported in June. The gaps make tracking poisoned children more daunting.

In South Bend, Indiana, where health officials face a cash crunch, lead testing is in sharp decline even as existing data points to a serious problem.

In one tract there, 31 percent of small children tested from 2005 to 2015 had high levels  more than six times Flints rate last year. The area, 1.5 miles southwest of the University of Notre Dames idyllic college campus, is home to about 250 children. Filled with old dwellings, it has one of the highest poverty rates in town.

Dr. Luis Galup, a pathologist and the county health officer, said funds to tackle the problem in South Bend have dwindled. We are the lowest of the low in terms of public health funding, he said.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg said the evidence that poisoning is widespread in parts of South Bend could cause public health administrators to seek more state funds or reallocate resources.

Its an eye-opener, he said of the Reuters study. As a community with lots of low income residents and lots of old housing, were vulnerable ... The county health department does everything they can just to keep up with child immunizations and restaurant inspections.

The county, with around 265,000 residents, has two nurses and one environmental inspector tasked with lead poisoning prevention. Thinly spread, they conduct home inspections only when a childs lead levels reach double the CDCs elevated threshold.

Finding those children is getting harder.

Housing and Urban Development grants that paid for South Bend lead testing ended in May. For years, the local Women, Infants and Children program, or WIC, conducted hundreds of childhood blood lead tests annually. That testing, which has stopped, relied on outside funds from HUD and others.

South Bend pediatricians and the local Head Start program still order screenings, but many children go untested.

I bet there are hardly any tests being done now, said WIC program director Sue Taylor. The funding dried up.

Edward Brown Jr., 2, was first tested last year. Hed been living with his mother, Victoria Marshall, in a central South Bend home. An inspector found lead paint inside and contaminated soil outside.

Marshall says Edwards blood lead reached 90 micrograms per deciliter. Levels that high can be life threatening, provoking seizures or coma. Edwards blood levels have receded since he was hospitalized for a week.

Now in a new home, Edward danced around and shared applesauce with his baby sister. He has met many of the typical developmental milestones for his age. Still, Marshall worries.

Hes got a lot of energy. Some people say he might have ADHD, she said. One-in-five cases of ADHD may be linked to lead poisoning, a recent American Academy of Pediatrics report concluded.

GETTING LEADED

In Missouri, its a six hour drive southeast from St. Joseph to rural Viburnum in Iron County, situated in a mining district known as the Lead Belt. Viburnums tract had the sharpest rate of elevated childhood tests in the state, or 30 percent since 2010.

Really? I didnt know about it, said Viburnum Mayor Johnny Setzer.

Mark Yingling, an executive in charge of health and safety at The Doe Run Company, which operates nearby mining and smelting works, said the high rates were news to me.

Doe Run deploys safety measures, Yingling said, such as washing all of its trucks that may come into contact with lead, and containing tailings and emissions. Lead workers shower and change outfits at the end of their shifts, to avoid tracking toxins into their homes.

Health officials havent recently informed Doe Run of any local children with lead poisoning, he said. Iron Countys health department said it isnt required to provide such information, and never has.

In fact, lead contamination in the community is pervasive. The Environmental Protection Agency has mandated so-called Superfund cleanups of two contaminated lead sites in and around Viburnum.

And Doe Run and other mining firms are currently under federal orders to clean up lead contamination from 150 properties in the region and test the soil at 250 more. The order, issued by the EPA in June, says these activities should prioritize properties where children have had high lead tests.

Among the spots the EPA ordered to be cleaned or tested: playgrounds, daycare yards or other places where small kids gather.

For some locals, poisoning is a cost of living in this mining town. They use a colloquial term for the syndrome  getting leaded. You can get very leaded, said Antonin Bohac, a mechanic at the nearby Brushy Creek Mine. But I make good money.

Bohac said he was nearly taken off the job a few years ago after he was poisoned himself, with a lead level four times higher than what federal officials consider healthy for adults.

(Editing by Ronnie Greene)
The government has planned to launch 600 such 'Swachhata Rathas' or cleanliness vehicles to take the message of ridding the country of open defecation to rural areas.

By Siddhartha Rai: The Narendra Modi government is all set to take its flagship 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' or Clean India Campaign further down the villages of India coming March as the ministry incharge of the movement is readying to flag off 'Swachhata Rathas' that will roam across the length and breadth of the country.

According to top sources in the ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, the government has planned to launch 600 such 'Swachhata Rathas' or cleanliness vehicles to take the message of ridding the country of open defecation. The ministry believes that apart from constructing toilets in the country, the real import of the campaign is to bring about awareness and education among masses regarding the ill-effects of open defecation and filth around habitations. The idea is to bring about a "behavioural change", said a top ministry official associated with the project.Also Read: PM Modi's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' faces implementation challenges

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On 2 October 2014, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission, which aims to eradicate open defecation by 2019.

Ministry sources also told Mail Today that a few rathas had already been launched in some districts on a pilot basis.

Those villages, the ministry said, that fell at the bottom of backwardness would be given priority in states such as Bihar where the pace of closed defecation was slowest.

On the other hand, ministry claimed that it had already achieved over 42 per cent of its target of constructing toilets under the Swachha Bharat Mission-Gramin (rural).

Also Read: 52 per cent of citizens find cities cleaner 600 days of Swacch Bharat mission: Study

"The rathas are an old way of disseminating ideas of social relevance in the country. These Swachhata Rathas will be mobile exhibition vans that will tell people about the advantages of becoming open defecation free. It will carry literature regarding the campaign. Moreover, we shall also be showcasing the ideals of the Swachh Bharat campaign through visual elements as these vans will also be equipped with projectors," said a ministry source.

Another official told Mail Today that apart from these elements the ministry of Sanitation had also tied up with the ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The latter are providing these exhibitions with its song and dance troupes which will organize 'nukkad nataks' or roadside plays for the people.

"The Swachh Bharat anthem, the one made by Piyush Pandey of the 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara' and 'Ab Ki Baar Modi Sarkar' fame will be played all along the route," the official said.

Meanwhile, in another major step, the sanitation ministry has decided to rope in an independent agency to verify the claims made by states and districts regarding open defecation. These would be, what the ministry has designated, 'national level monitors'.

Also Read: 6 states to be open defecation free this year: Birender Singh Swachh Bharat Mission awareness campaign in East Singhbhum

--- ENDS ---
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Hundreds of state employees caught in an unemployment compensation program funding dispute between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's administration and Senate Republicans spent their last day on the job Monday before they qualify for jobless benefits themselves.

Officials said there were no signs of a last-minute reprieve that could help about 520 people avoid being laid off less than a week before Christmas from the state Department of Labor and Industry's unemployment compensation call centers.

Wolf's administration is cutting jobs and closing unemployment compensation call centers in Allentown, Altoona and Lancaster without the $58 million from unemployment compensation tax revenue it said is necessary to maintain the centers at current staff levels.

Senate Republicans wrapped up the chamber's legislative business without voting on the funding bill sought by Wolf, saying they were unsatisfied with Wolf's answers on how the money would be used. Senate Republicans have not committed to approving funding when they return to the Capitol next month.

Diane Bowman, of the Service Employees International Union Local No. 668, which represents more than 300 of the affected workers, said, "I would hope that would be the case, but I don't have any reason to believe it's going to happen magically."

The final count of layoffs was still being settled Monday, as small numbers of workers were simply retiring or finding other positions.

One of the laid-off workers, Penny Erney, a claims examiner in Harrisburg, said she has no job prospects but hopes the state may call her back. She said the office held a goodbye luncheon on Friday for her and others facing layoffs but something was lacking.

"I mean, everything was there  the food was there, it was delicious," Erney said. "It's just, a celebrative mood wasn't."

Many of the workers have filed appeals to the State Civil Service Commission, saying they should not be laid off when funds are available and there is work that needs to be done. Commission spokesman Jack McGettigan said five more appeals were received Monday. He said the appeals will be presented to the commission at its January meeting.

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Wolf has blamed the Senate GOP for the layoffs, saying he has given it information about the Service Improvement and Infrastructure Fund.

The General Assembly approved a four-year funding bill in 2013 in response to the federal government's accusation the state wasn't paying first-time jobless benefits quickly enough. A fifth year of funding passed the state House overwhelmingly in October.

But Senate Republicans balked, saying they wanted more details about how the money would be spent. Sen. Scott Wagner, R-York, said he wants more accountability from the administration.

"You ask one question, you get an answer," said Wagner, who met with affected employees at the unemployment call center in Altoona last week. "And that answer prompts another question. It's like the gift that keeps on giving."

After the layoffs, the state will still have call centers in Duquesne, Indiana, Erie and Scranton and as part of its operations in Harrisburg.
Political leaders across the West piously lined up last week to identify the fall of Aleppo as a stain on our collective conscience. The West, they have said, should have done more to stop the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Syria.

At a purely humanitarian level, this is obviously true. States can always do more to deliver humanitarian aid to people on the ground. But in a military sense, the notion that the West should have done more is fantastical and learns exactly the wrong lesson from this carnival of carnage.

If there is a lesson for the West from the post-Cold War era of liberal interventionism, it is this: Either intervene decisively and be invested for the long term  or stay out.

Its true that in 2011 the West had a military opportunity to topple Bashar al-Assads regime by backing a rebellion not yet contaminated by radical Islamists. What is more dubious is that such a military victory would have put Syria on a path to democracy, stability, or peace. If only things were that easy.

In reality, in the absence of Western ground forces to keep the peace, a 2011 rebel victory in Syria would likely have turned out like the botched intervention in Libya the same year. After the initial euphoria, the country would have become fragmented, as various militias sprang up and took control of their local areas.

This would have opened the door to radical Islamists, as it did in Libya. The West would then have had to accept chaos and increasing Islamist influence in another failed state.

Conversely, if the West had hypothetically deployed its own forces on the ground in Syria in 2011, it is likely that our forces would have soon faced an Islamist insurgency, if Afghanistan and Iraq are anything to go by. And this would have been a long haul: Look no further than Afghanistan, where Western forces still havent left, or Iraq, where they had to return to avert state collapse.

All the commentators grandstanding over the fall of Aleppo to castigate the West for not having done more militarily are welcome to explain how they would have rallied U.S. public support in 2011 for another major counterinsurgency effort in Syria. By 2011, after thousands of soldiers had died in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the multitrillion-dollar cost of those campaigns, which was piled on the back of the 2008 financial crisis, the idea that there would have been U.S. public support for such an endeavor is fantasy.

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As then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates himself told an audience of West Point cadets in 2011, anyone who advised a president to put another big American force into the Middle East at that moment should have his head examined.

Indeed, those who say the West should have done more tend to agree that a large Western ground force was unrealistic but that we could have intervened at a lower level. The problem with this fallback argument is that the United States and its Persian Gulf allies did exactly that, by arming rebels.

But by 2012, the rebellion had already become infected by radical Islamists, which is why the pressure to do more ultimately translated into U.S. military aid for a handful of vetted rebel groups while the rebellion as a whole took on an increasingly Islamist character.

This led Western strategy into a dead end, ever vacillating between arming rebels and resisting an actual rebel victory that would open the door to an Islamist takeover of Syria.

But what if Barack Obamas administration had enforced its red line over chemical weapons and bombed Assad in 2013 or set up a no-fly zone: Could the United States then have pressured Assad into a negotiated peace with the rebels?

I think both of these hypotheticals are plausible. Superpowers have to enforce their red lines or lose credibility. And it is reasonable to assume that a credible U.S. threat in the form of bombing Assads forces could have encouraged the dictator to negotiate in 2013.

However, I dont see how a negotiated settlement (and its clear that many hard-line rebel groups would not have taken part in a deal anyway) would have led to anything other than a Libya-like outcome in rebel areas, with Islamist militants rapidly taking over governance. Unless, again, the West had put its own troops on the ground.

This seems to me to be the crucial point, to which all roads lead. Despite the complexity and anguish of the situation in Syria, the bottom line is whether or not the West is prepared to put its own troops on the ground to win the war and secure the peace.

That could have worked in 2011 when the rebels were ascendant, and it might have worked in 2013 to back up a bombing campaign after the red-line violation. Moreover, putting Western boots on the ground has worked relatively effectively in Iraq and northeastern Syria, where Western forces partner with the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting against the Islamic State.

But I predict that if Western forces dont stay in northeastern Syria to keep the peace after the Islamic State is cleared out, in conjunction with a clear political plan to secure an autonomous region of Syria for the Kurds, there will be chaos, infighting among the various factions of the SDF, and the risk that either Assad or Turkey attacks the area to secure their own interests.

Where does this leave us? Whether or not the West should have done more militarily, the only way it could have done more without causing more problems for Syrians and Westerners alike, it seems to me, would have been to put our own troops on the ground and strap in for a multiyear counterinsurgency campaign. However, those who make that argument must show that there would have been U.S. public support for such a move either in 2011 or 2013  and it seems to me that there was not.

Of course, there are the zealots among the liberal interventionists who go beyond strategic arguments and see the world in binary and absolute moral terms. They think that the West bears moral guilt for the omission of not stopping other peoples atrocities. I think this is nonsense. Assad, Moscow, and Tehran are squarely responsible for the humanitarian atrocities in Syria, not the United States or the West. Furthermore, the West does not bear moral responsibility for fixing the broken, corrupt, and dysfunctional politics of those Middle Eastern states whose leaders invited rebellion against them in 2011  but once youve toppled a regime for humanitarian reasons, thats the thankless job youre stuck with.

The basic truth is that despite technological innovation, war today is still won, and the follow-on peace is still determined, by infantry on the ground. There is a real limit to what proxy rebel forces can do, especially when they are fragmented and infected by Islamists. It follows that if the West is serious about a given intervention in the Middle East, it needs to send its own forces and prepare for the long haul.

Pious advocacy, and public support, for humanitarian military intervention dissolves very quickly when Western soldiers  actual 19-year-olds with real families  start getting ripped to shreds by daisy-chain IEDs in endless efforts to fix other countries dysfunctional politics.

I am far from being against intervention in general. I just think the future of Western military intervention lies in supporting the governments of fragile states, not toppling them. In this respect, the successful French intervention in Mali in 2013 is a good template: in support of a government, rather than a regime change; against a clear military target; and with good knowledge of local politics (i.e., an ability to distinguish Tuareg rebels from al Qaeda, as opposed to bluntly grouping all as terrorists).

But not every situation is like Mali. And not all problems have military solutions, unless you are prepared to go all in.

Although the West is not responsible for the atrocities in Aleppo, we are morally responsible for giving false hope to the rebels since 2011, when we offered them rhetorical and, later, material support but did not have the will to back them with our own troops.

Act decisively. Or stay out.

Photo credit: BARAA AL-HALABI/AFP/Getty Images
Amman (AFP) - Jordanian police said Monday they found suicide belts and other explosives in the hideout of suspected Islamic State group jihadists behind an attack that killed 10 people including a Canadian tourist.

The shooting spree in Karak, home to one of the region's biggest Crusader castles, is another blow to tourism in a country already grappling with the spillover of the wars in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

Another 34 people including a second Canadian were wounded in Sunday's assault in the city around 120 kilometres (70 miles) south of the capital Amman.

Four gunmen were shot dead by police during the course of a siege lasting several hours.

"The four dead militants are Jordanian members of a terrorist cell suspected of belonging to IS," a security source told AFP.

Interior Minister Salama Hammad told reporters there was no information about any militants still at large and there had been no arrests. He refused to give the nationality of the gunmen.

Prime Minister Hani al-Malki, who was addressing parliament at the time of the shootings, had spoken of as many as 10 gunmen.

Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting IS jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

It has carried out air strikes targeting IS, and also hosts coalition troops on its territory.

Maaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordanian fighter pilot, was captured by the jihadists when his plane went down in Syria in December 2014, and he was later burned alive in a cage.

Karak is Kassasbeh's hometown.

In June, a suicide bombing claimed by IS killed seven border guards near the Syrian frontier.

- Hit to tourism -

According to sources close to Islamists, almost 4,000 Jordanians have joined jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria, and an estimated 420 have been killed since 2011.

King Abdullah II said in a statement Jordan would stand up "to anyone who tries to attack or violate the security and safety of its citizens".

"Jordan is strong and able to stamp out terrorism and its criminal gangs," he said.

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But Mohammed Abu Rumman, of the Centre of Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, was less optimistic.

"No security measures can take on this kind of terrorism without heavy losses," he said.

"A year ago we were talking about a current of sympathy in Jordan for the jihadists."

But "today that current has turned into groups of youth who feel they're an integral part of Daesh", Abu Rumman said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

Jordan has struggled to revive a tourism sector dampened by the 2011 uprisings across the Arab world, as well as conflict in Iraq and Syria.

The Karak citadel, described by Jordan's Tourism Board as a "maze of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways", dates back to the 12th century and has withstood many sieges.

Shaher Hamdan, the head of Jordan's association for tourist and travel agencies, said Sunday's attack "will certainly have negative consequences" on tourism.

Jordan's tourism sector "is already affected by any event in the world or in the region, so imagine a terrorist event inside the country", he said.

Tourism accounts for 14 percent of Jordan's gross domestic product (GDP) and is its second highest source of foreign exchange earnings after remittances.

Revenues from the sector dropped from more than $4 billion in October 2015 to $3.1 billion in the same month this year.
Jonathan Simkhai has quickly built a celeb and model-favorite brand that appeals to ladies everywhere who like their clothing part sexy, part sporty, all cool. That aesthetic lends itself perfectly to swimwearwhich makes Simkhai's newest offering all the more prescient. To celebrate his new collection of slick suits in a palette of navy, white, black and red, the New York-based designer took the party off-site to Coral Sands on the Bahamas' Harbour Island. Ladies including Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Caroline Vreeland, Charlotte Groeneveld of The Fashion Guitar and a host of editors escaped winter for two days in the sun, sand and a number of looks from the 40-piece collection of maillots, bikinis and cover-ups like caftans and side-tie pants. See the photos from the seaside jaunt, complete with candlelight dinners and boat ridesand shop the collection on Lyndah Wells

Jonathan Simkhai has quickly built a celeb and model-favorite brand that appeals to ladies everywhere who like their clothing part sexy, part sporty, all cool. That aesthetic lends itself perfectly to swimwearwhich makes Simkhai's newest offering all the more prescient. To celebrate his new collection of slick suits in a palette of navy, white, black and red, the New York-based designer took the party off-site to Coral Sands on the Bahamas' Harbour Island. Ladies including Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Caroline Vreeland, Charlotte Groeneveld of The Fashion Guitar and a host of editors escaped winter for two days in the sun, sand and a number of looks from the 40-piece collection of maillots, bikinis and cover-ups like caftans and side-tie pants. See the photos from the seaside jaunt, complete with candlelight dinners and boat ridesand shop the collection on From Harper's BAZAAR
By Alastair Sharp

OTTAWA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Canada's BlackBerry Ltd will open an autonomous driving research center on Monday, as it tries to make itself an indispensable under-the-hood piece of the automotive industry's weaponry in the self-driving vehicle arms race.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend the launch by the Waterloo, Ontario-based smartphone pioneer, the prime minister's office said on Sunday. A Blackberry spokeswoman deferred any comment on the project until Monday.

Blackberry, once known for its phones but now betting its future on the more profitable business of making software and managing mobile devices after largely ceding the smartphone market to the likes of Apple and Samsung, is expanding subsidiary QNX's Ottawa facility to focus on developing advanced driver assistance and autonomous vehicle technology.

After a detour where QNX's industrial-focused software was used to reinvent the now-discarded BlackBerry phone operating system, BlackBerry is focused on how its embedded software interacts with the explosion of sensors, cameras and other components required for a car to drive itself.

But while deep-pocketed Silicon Valley has invested heavily in the artificial intelligence and machine learning required for autonomy, more financially-constrained BlackBerry has not, eyeing instead a niche role as a trusty sidekick.

"What QNX is doing is providing the infrastructure that allows you to build higher-level algorithms and to also acquire data from the sensors in a reliable manner," said Sebastian Fischmeister, a University of Waterloo associate professor who has worked with QNX since 2009.

"Our play in this is that we provide the software foundation for these high-performance compute platforms," QNX head John Wall said in an interview on Friday .

BlackBerry and the university's research teams got the green light to test Ford Motor Co Lincoln vehicles with autonomous features on Ontario's public roads late last month. The company has also inked a deal to work directly with the Detroit-based carmaker as it works to get fleets of robot ride-sharing vehicles to market by 2021.

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Wall said the company is in advanced discussions with "more than one or two" other major global automakers about similar partnerships, but also cautioned that the hype of robot cars would take a long time to be fully realized.

QNX already powers infotainment and telematics systems in millions of cars, giving an option to automakers watching the speed at which firms such as Tesla Motors Inc, ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc, and Alphabet Inc's Google have advanced their self-driving projects.

"If they can prove that they have the whole package and the security, they could absolutely dominate the market" for autonomous vehicle operating systems, said Sam Fiorani, an analyst at Auto Forecast Solutions.

Risks remain, including the challenge from chipmakers such as Intel Corp who, eyeing demand for their processors in future robot cars, could discount or give away their own security and safety software in order to sell more hardware.

"Some of these companies can afford to lose a lot of money in their pursuit of adoption and market share," said Chris Rommel, who leads embedded technology research at VDC Research.

(Reporting by Alastair Sharp, additional reporting by Andrea Hopkins; Editing by Alan Crosby)
Sylvester Stallone says that although hes flattered by reports that President-elect Donald Trump was eyeing him as the National Endowment for the Arts chairman, he would not be taking the job.

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the Rocky star suggested he would better serve the administration by working for veterans.

I am incredibly flattered to have been suggested to be involved with the National Endowment of the Arts, the 70-year-old actor said in a statement. However I believe I could be more effective by bringing national attention to returning military personnel in an effort to find gainful employment, suitable housing and financial assistance these heroes respectfully deserve.

On Thursday, reports claimed that Trump, 70, had approached Stallone about the top arts position in his administration. The NEA is responsible for distributing government grants to arts organizations.

Stallone has donated money to various charities that support veterans and wounded servicemen over the years. In 2015, the actor sold over 1,400 movie props and other memorabilia to raise $3 million to assist military veterans and wounded service members as well as The Motion Picture and TV Country House and Hospital.

Stallone, who says he is not a Republican despite supporting GOP candidates such as John McCain in the past, said in an interview with Variety earlier this year that he wasnt sure if Trumps bold character meant he was equipped to handle the office of commander-in-chief.

I love Donald Trump. Hes a great Dickensian character. You know what I mean? Stallone said. There are certain people like Arnold , Babe Ruth, that are bigger than life. But I dont know how that translates to running the world.

 with reporting by Julie Jordan




SAN FRANCISCO  Syrian refugees fleeing civil war have flooded into areas of Turkey that are riven with dangerous earthquake faults, new research shows.

As a result, traditional seismic hazard maps may underestimate by 20 percent how many people could die in a cataclysmic quake, according to research presented here today (Dec.13) at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union.

"The total scale of fatalities that the earthquake scenarios show are significant enough to potentially inspire some action," Bradley Wilson, a geoscientist at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, told Live Science. [Image Gallery: This Millennium's Destructive Earthquakes]

Over the last five years, Turkey has taken in more than 2.7 million Syrian refugees, according to the U.N. Refuge Agency. Many of these people have settled in areas that have experienced catastrophic earthquakes in the past.

However, typical seismic hazard maps may not include these newer residents.

To remedy that problem, Wilson used estimates of refugee population distribution collected by the State Department's U.S. Humanitarian Information Unit. Though the Humanitarian Information Unit keeps some of its methodology private, there are some basic elements to its population estimates. For instance, the Humanitarian Information Unit may combine data from registered refugees in camps, with surveys taken by workers on the ground, as well as aerial imagery, to estimate the number of refugees in particular districts of Turkey, according to Wilson.

More than 2.5 million Syrian refugees (shades of blue) are now living in seismically active areas on Turkey (fault lines in red). Bradley Wilson

It turned out that just 14 percent of the refugees lived in traditional tents or container refugee camps in Turkey, said Wilson, who's research is funded by a National Science Foundation graduate research fellowship and a fellowship from the University of Arkansas.

"A majority of the refugee population is not located in refugee camps and is distributed amongst the local cities and villages," Wilson said.

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By combining that data with other population data, Wilson estimated the population before and after the Arab Spring, or the uprisings that spread across the Middle East in 2011 and escalated into the Syrian civil war, to see how the most seismically vulnerable areas of Turkey were likely to be affected by the resulting refugees. His model assumes that most of the refugees, like the rest of the population in Turkey, live in more urban areas, he said.

Next, Wilson estimated fatality rates from earthquakes of different magnitudes, from 5.8 to 7.0. If a magnitude-7.0 quake struck the population centers, the fatality rate could be 20 percent higher than otherwise would have been predicted, Wilson said.

The refugee influx also shifted the areas with the highest fatality risk. Before the refugee crisis, the area with the highest potential for fatalities was in the heart of the country. But after the crisis, the highest risk areas shifted farther south, near the Turkey-Syria border, the study found.

Still, there are some limitations to the study. The population estimates are inherently uncertain, and there isn't much data on earthquake resistance of the buildings where refugees are living, though another study of a refugee camp in Palestinian territory found the structures were typically not very resistant to strong shaking, he added.

It's also not clear whether the new findings on increased mortality will affect Turkey's efforts to seismically retrofit buildings and prepare for the next big one, he said. Previous research, published in 2014 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, has suggested that a segment of the North Anatolian Fault just west of Istanbul is likely to cause the next major earthquake there. However, nobody can predict when that might happen.

"Whether the 20 percent makes a difference for the Turkish government, I'm not quite sure," Wilson said. "But I still think the analysis has important implications for the hazards community."

Original article on Live Science.

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(Adds background, context on western pipeline)

BENGHAZI, Libya, Dec 19 (Reuters) - An oil tanker docked at the east Libyan port of Es Sider on Monday to load the first cargo of crude since the terminal reopened following a two-year closure, port officials said.

Es Sider, Libya's biggest export terminal, had been shut due to a blockade by a military faction since 2014. It reopened in mid September, but repairs were needed before tankers could load at the port, and its capacity remains far below its pre-conflict level of 350,000 barrels per day (bpd).

Es Sider is one of four ports seized in September by forces loyal to east Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, which allowed Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) to reopen them, doubling national production to about 600,000 barrels per day (bpd).

Libya's oil production has been slashed by political disputes and armed conflict in recent years, and is one of two members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that is not bound by the bloc's pledge to cut oil production by about 1.2 billion bpd during the first half of 2017.

The North African country's output remains well below the more than 1.6 million bpd it was producing before a 2011 uprising.

The tanker that docked at Es Sider, the Alicante, is due to start loading 600,000 barrels of oil for export to Italy on Tuesday, two port officials said. A second tanker is expected to load before the end of the month.

Es Sider was badly damaged in several rounds of fighting and by attacks by Islamic State. In recent weeks the NOC has been loading the Es Sider crude grade, produced by joint venture Waha Oil Co, from the neighbouring port of Ras Lanuf.

The return of oil tankers to Es Sider comes after claims of a deal to reopen a pipeline leading from two major fields in western Libya last week failed to result in any restart of production.

The NOC has not commented officially on the claims, which came after long negotiations to end a two-year blockade. It is unclear if factions around the western town of Rayana are prepared to allow oil to flow through the pipeline, or whether armed groups present at the southern Sharara and El Feel fields will allow pumping to resume.

(Reporting by Ayman al-Warfalli; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Patrick Markey, Greg Mahlich)
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) Tamil Nadu is yet to make contribution towards pension accounts of its employees even as it has adopted the New Pension System, PFRDA Chairman Hemant G Contractor said today.

"Tamil Nadu has adopted our pension scheme under National Pension System (NPS). Though it does not contribute towards the employees pension account under NPS. So, we have to take them on board to make contribution," Contractor said. NPS has been made mandatory by the central government for its employees who joined service after January 2014. Besides, private employees can also subscribe to the scheme.

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Many state governments have also adopted the NPS for their employees who joined on or after the cut-off date.

It is a contributory pension system and contributions from a subscriber are collected and accumulated in an individual pension account called the Permanent Retirement Account Number.

For government employees, the monthly contribution by a subscriber under NPS has been set at 10 per cent of the salary and dearness allowance (DA) which is to be matched by the employer. Contractor said the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is in talks with the state government of Tamil Nadu for making a contributory payment to employees accounts under NPS.

Besides, West Bengal and Tripura have not adopted the NPS so far, and PFRDA is in discussion with both the states to take them on board, he said further. PTI KPM MR

--- ENDS ---
By Angus McDowall BEIRUT (Reuters) - Convoys of evacuees traveled from a rebel-held area of Aleppo and from two Shi'ite villages besieged by insurgents on Monday after a days-long stand-off. Dozens of buses carrying thousands of people from Aleppo's tiny rebel zone reached insurgent areas of countryside to the west of the city, according to a United Nations official and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. At the same time, 10 buses left the Shi'ite Muslim villages of al-Foua and Kefraya, north of Idlib, for government lines in Aleppo, the sources said. The evacuation of civilians, including wounded people, from the two villages which have been besieged by rebels for years, was a condition for the Syrian army and its allies to allow thousands of fighters and civilians trapped in Aleppo to depart. "First limited evacuations, finally, tonight from east Aleppo and Foua & Kefraya. Many thousands more are waiting to be evacuated soon," Jan Egeland, who chairs the United Nations aid task force in Syria, tweeted late on Sunday night. Syrian state TV and pro-Damascus stations showed the first four buses arriving in Aleppo from the besieged villages, accompanied by pick-up trucks and with people sitting on their roofs. Later on Monday, the Security Council will vote in New York on a resolution to allow U.N. staff to monitor the evacuations. The draft resolution was the result of a compromise between Russia and France, and the United States said it was expected to pass unanimously. On Sunday, some of the buses sent to al-Foua and Kefraya to carry evacuees out were attacked and torched by armed men, who shouted "God is greatest" and brandished their weapons in front of the burning vehicles, according to a video posted online. That incident threatened to derail the evacuations, the result of intense negotiations between Russia - the main supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - and Turkey, which backs some large rebel groups. At stake is the fate of thousands of people still stuck in the last rebel bastion in Aleppo after a series of sudden advances by the Syrian army and allied Shi'ite militias under an intense bombardment that pulverized large sections of the city. They have been waiting for the chance to leave Aleppo since the ceasefire and evacuation deal was agreed late last Tuesday, but have struggled to do so during days of hold-ups. The weather in Aleppo has been wet and very cold and there is little shelter and few services in the tiny rebel zone. 'THEY JUST WANT TO ESCAPE' Assad is backed in the war by Russian air power and Shi'ite militias including Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iraq's Harakat al-Nujaba. The mostly Sunni rebels include groups supported by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies. In the square in Aleppo's Sukari district, organizers gave every family a number to allow them access to buses. "Everyone is waiting until they are evacuated. They just want to escape," said Salah al Attar, a former teacher with his five children, wife and mother. Thousands of people were evacuated on Thursday, the first to leave under the ceasefire deal that ends fighting in the city where violence erupted in 2012, a year after the start of conflict in other parts of Syria. They were taken to rebel-held districts of the countryside west of Aleppo. Turkey has said Aleppo evacuees could also be housed in a camp to be constructed in Syria near the Turkish border to the north. For four years the city was split between a rebel-held eastern sector and the government-held western districts. During the summer, the army and its allies managed to besiege the rebel sector before using intense bombardment and ground assaults to retake it in recent months. A Reuters reporter who visited recaptured districts of Aleppo in recent days saw large swathes reduced to ruins, with rubble and other debris clogging the streets and sections of the famous Old City all but destroyed. (Reporting by Angus McDowall; editing by Giles Elgood)
Republican electors are gathering around the country to certify Donald Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. But Chris Suprun says he wont be one of them.

Suprun, a Republican elector from Texas, told Yahoo News on Monday that Trump is a demagogue who would violate the U.S. Constitutions Emoluments Clause, which prohibits any person holding any office from accepting foreign payments. Trumps business empire is entangled with businesses and governments around the globe.

He would be profiting off foreign governments from day one, Suprun said shortly before gathering with his fellow electors in Austin. Im trying to vote for a principle, and uphold the Constitution.

Trump had scheduled a Dec. 15 press conference to announce a plan for his business ahead of his inauguration, but he postponed the announcement until January.

Mr. Trump has had plenty of chances to figure out his finances prior to the election and since then, Suprun said.

Given all of that, Suprun says he has no choice but to vote for someone else.

The Founding Fathers were very clear when they set up the Electoral College, he said. It was to protect small states, but part two, to make sure we didnt elect a demagogue, we elect someone who has the national security interests of the country first in their mind and didnt have conflicts of interest.

Related: Electoral College whos who: Names to know in the pool of 538

The Electoral College has 538 members, each representing one electoral vote. On Election Day, Trump received 306 electoral votes, 36 more than the 270 he needed to clinch the presidency. It would take at least 37 so-called faithless electors like Suprun to block Trumps win and send the election to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Trump won Texas by 9 points, receiving all 38 of the Longhorn States electoral votes. Still, Suprun doesnt see his shunning the will of the people as a protest vote.

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I dont consider this a protest vote at all, Suprun said. I think theres entirely too many voters in the nation who were stuck going to the ballot box in November having to choose between one bad candidate and one they consider worse. Im trying to vote for someone whos better all the way around, and thats what Im going to do.

So whom is Suprun voting for?

I will be casting my ballot for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Suprun said.

Since announcing his intention not to vote for Trump, Suprun said hes received death threats and harassment online, including the sexual solicitation of one of his children.

His resume has also received scrutiny, with one report questioning his claim he was a first responder to the attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, when he worked as a volunteer firefighter in Virginia.

Suprun said those questions are part of smear campaign by Trump supporters to to try to demoralize and distract from the reasons Im not voting for Donald Trump.
Zsa Zsa Gabor has died at 99. (Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)

Zsa Zsa Gabor, an icon of glamour and glitz and a trailblazer of sorts for the famous-for-being-famous set, died Sunday. She was 99 and had persevered despite years of health setbacks.

The title of Gabors 1991 memoir said it all about the jet-set lover of Frank Sinatra, President Richard Nixon, and a few more: One Lifetime Is Not Enough.

Gabor lived the posh life in the Bel Air section of L.A. She had a catchphrase  darling, pronounced dah-ling. She married well, and she married a lot  she had eight (or nine) husbands by popular estimate, including Conrad Hilton, the hotel magnate and great-grandfather of Paris Hilton. Above all, she invented herself.

They have always lived with no reality, gossip maven Cindy Adams said of Gabor and her headline-friendly family in Vanity Fair. There was never any truth to anything.

Related: Celebrities We Lost in 2016

Gabor is reported have been born Feb. 6, 1917, in Hungary, and crowned a beauty queen, Miss Hungary, as a teenager.

In the early 1940s, she moved to the United States, already a divorcee from a Turkish politico, and soon bound for her next marriage, to Hilton.

Gabor went Hollywood in the 1950s. While she acted in A-list films, such as John Hustons Moulin Rouge and Touch of Evil from Orson Welles, she also appeared in enough B-movies, including cult favorite Queen of Outer Space, to warrant induction into the B-Movie Hall of Fame.

Gabors immediate family was famous too. Younger sister Eva, who died in 1995, starred on the sitcom Green Acres. Older sister Magda, who died in 1997, made headlines for her marriage to Zsa Zsas third ex-husband, actor George Sanders (All About Eve). Among the three of them, the Gabor sisters said I do roughly 20 times.

Related: Florence Henderson Mourned by Brady Bunch Stars, Hollywood Fans: A Dame and Funny as Hell

Most sources have Gabor down for nine weddings, though Gabor told Vanity Fair shed had 10 husbands. Two of Gabors marriages, to Berhan Belge and Felipe de Alba, were annulled. Further confusing things: press reports always count Belge as a husband, while some dont count Alba. In fairness, the latter didnt last a day. The 1982 union was nixed because Gabor wasnt yet divorced from her previous husband, Barbie doll designer Jack Ryan.

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Frederic von Anhalt, who wed Gabor in 1986, and who survives her, counted himself as Gabors lawful eighth husband. Von Anhalt, a tabloid figure in his own right, was definitely Gabors longest-tenured husband.

For all the confusing marriage math and numerous dalliances, Gabor had one child. Daughter Francesca Hilton, by her marriage to Conrad Hilton, died in 2015 at age 67. She had spent years feuding with von Anhalt over her elderly mothers care.

Long dubbed explosive by the press, Gabor always seemed to be engaged in a spat or scandal. In 1983, she made headlines for allegedly refusing to continue a dinner-theater performance until a group of handicapped audience members were moved to back tables. In 1989, she made even bigger headlines for slapping a Beverly Hills police officer.

In 2002, she was partially paralyzed in a car accident and retired from the public eye. She sued her driver, who was also her hairdresser.

More trouble followed. She reportedly lost as much as $10 million in the Bernard Madoff investment scam. In 2010, Gabor fell from her bed and broke a hip. The accident led to surgery, a slew of complications, and the amputation of her right leg. As her world got smaller, Gabor put her seven-bedroom Bel Air mansion on the market. It sold for $11 million in 2013, Curbed LA reported.

She had a great run, her publicist, John Blanchette, said as Gabors health declined. She knew five presidents. She knew kings and queens, celebrities.

In 2012, von Anhalt hosted a 95th birthday bash for Gabor. The invitation made a joke of her habit of editing her age. Over the years I may have overlooked a year or two (or 20), but not this year, it read.

Through it all, Gabor kept things simple. Well, simple by Zsa Zsa standards.

As she observed in her first memoir, 1960s Zsa Zsa Gabor: My Story, You can wear only the simplest frock if you cover yourself with gems.




ExxonMobil Corp. ( ) CEO Rex Tillerson, nominated by Donald Trump to be the next Secretary of State, may pay a steep price for the privilege of serving his country: forfeiting as an estimated $151 million in Exxon shares that don't vest for several years, unless his new boss manages to grant him a waiver.

Pay research firm Equilar estimates that the value of Tillerson's stock that would vest upon retirement at $32 million while the stock that would vest after retirement at about $151 million.

There is a statute that gives Trump an option of issuing a waiver and allowing Tillerson to keep his shares if the president determines that the interest is not so substantial that it would affect Tillerson's services, said Washington University Law Professor Kathleen Clark. Still, under those terms, it may be a bit of a long shot.

"It would be hard, I think, to say with a straight face that $150 million in stock options is not substantial," Clark said.

Conservative and Democratic transition ethics experts agree that if Tillerson is confirmed, he will need to sever all financial connections to ExxonMobil to avoid concern that he could be acting in his own interest - rather than those of the country. That means selling his equity stake in ExxonMobil stock, forfeiting any unvested shares, and placing the proceeds into a blind trust to invest in the markets broadly.

They contend that even shares that don't vest for ten years represent an important conflict of interest, in part, because the scope of Exxon's business is so great that it would require Tillerson to recuse himself so frequently that he couldn't do his job effectively. ExxonMobil has operations in dozens of countries, including a few geopolitical hotspots, including Angola, Nigeria, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. In fact, many contend that ExxonMobil, led by Tillerson, essentially has pursued an independent foreign policy all over the world in pursuit of its energy needs.

Norman Eisen, a former special assistant and counsel to President Barack Obama for ethics and government, said that even with a waiver the "taint of conflict" would hang over everything Tillerson did relating to ExxonMobil and all of its business lines, the energy industry, Russia and Iran. "It's just too profound a conflict even if technically waived," he said.

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It's also possible that ExxonMobil won't grant Tillerson the unvested shares. The ExxonMobil board will be responsible for determining whether to grant the shares. According to Equilar's analysis of Exxon compensation, Tillerson is not even eligible for much of the unvested shares until he turns 65 in March 2017. As a result, the energy giant's board compensation committee could take away all of his unvested shares if he is confirmed for the Secretary of State position. However, many believe it is unlikely the compensation committee would take away the unvested shares. In fact, it is possible that they could accelerate the vesting of those shares. An ExxonMobil spokesperson did not return calls for comment.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the waiver question.

Clark suggested that ultimately Tillerson has to choose-dump his unvested stock or recuse himself from anything Exxon-related.

Otherwise numerous conflicts would come center-stage. Tillerson, as ExxonMobil CEO, has opposed the Obama Administration's sanctions on Russia. Clark suggested Tillerson would need to recuse himself from any negotiations over U.S. decisions on whether to remove Russian sanctions if he continued to hold the unvested shares, based on the financial conflict statute.

"The question is going to be what it is that he does as Secretary of State that could, if he were to retain his Exxon stock, do that would affect the value of that stock," Clark said.

Eisen acknowledges that any move by Tillerson to forfeit his unvested stock would be "a very expensive sacrifice."

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Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna are experiencing a rough patch in their relationship. The couple, who recently welcomed their first child together, have called it quits. Chynas mother Tokyo Toni, however, believes the split is temporary.

I have talked to Rob and asked him to get therapy. He said he would but he [has] not [sought for help] yet, Toni said in reply to a fan, according to Us Weekly. At the end of the day, they will still be together I promise you. Rob just [has] to get Mr. Insecurity off his back. Everything will be fine.

Before she gave her assurance that the troubled couple will get back together, though, Toni called out Kardashians issues first. Rob goes into this womans phone all the time and never find anything in [it] this what he confesses to me, Toni said. He confesses to me that he know he has the issue but dont know how to handle it. Hes a very emotional guy with many many personal issues how do I know this he told me. [sic]

Kardashian revealed in an Instagram post that he and Chyna have broken up and that the model left him, taking their child with her. I have never been this heartbroken in my life, Kardashian said. I dont mind being so open or if anyone thinks Im being weak but I dont play when it comes to family and Chyna was my family and thought we were getting married.

Kardashian also said that he was hurt by the things Chyna said about him. Someone reportedly hacked Chynas Instagram account and posted screenshots of her conversations with her best friend. In the screenshots, Chyna told her friend that she was giving Kardashian one year to get his act together before she decides if she will leave him for good or not.

Blac Chyna, Rob Kardashian

Photo: Getty Images/Greg Doherty

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On Friday, the Washington Post introduced a Chrome plugin that will automatically display commentary next to Donald Trump's tweets. Spearheaded by the Post's politics team at The Fix, the plugin provides context and fact-checking of, for example, Trump's claims that millions of people voted illegally in the November election.

The Post has retroactively fact-checked Trump's recent tweets, and they say they'll continue adding commentary to new tweets in something close to real time.

the-fix-donald-context-1

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It's no surprise that the Post would roll out a tool that aims to undermine Trump's statements. The paper is owned by Jeff Bezos, who famously sparred with Trump on Twitter. During his campaign, Trump blacklisted Post reporters from campaign events for a time. The Post Editorial Board in September referred to Trump's business practices as "sleazy."

trump-tweets-4

Of course, while it might be convenient for those critical of Trump, the plugin is inherently an exercise in preaching to the choir--it's unlikely that anyone supportive of Trump is going to go to the trouble of installing a Chrome plugin that promises to undermine him.

The Post team seems to understand their constituency, in some cases providing commentary that pushes the boundary between fact-checking and partisan apologetics:

post-fact-check-3

Were now in a political climate where even studiously objective fact-checkers like Snopes and Politifact get branded as far-left when they comment on dubious right-wing news. If the Post truly wants to encourage more measured dialogue--rather than just flattering those who have done things that are in no way illegal--they may want to reassess their approach.

See original article on Fortune.com

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SYDNEY (AP)  A team of international investigators hunting for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 said Tuesday it has concluded the plane is unlikely to be found in a stretch of the Indian Ocean search crews have been combing for two years, and may instead have crashed in an area farther to the north. The conclusion raises the possibility that the search for the Boeing 777 could continue well beyond next month, when crews are expected to finish their deep sea sonar hunt of the current search zone west of Australia. But Australia's transport minister suggested that was doubtful. The latest analysis of the plane's whereabouts comes in a report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is leading the search for the aircraft.

SYDNEY (AP)  A look at the progressive searches for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which are the most challenging and expensive undertaken in aviation history. FIRST SEARCH: On March 8, 2014, an air and sea search begins in the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea on the assumption that the plane crashed on its way from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing. Malaysia reveals two weeks later that its military radar had tracked the plane flying far off course to the west. SECOND SEARCH: Analysis of satellite signals emitted by the plane in its final hours suggests that it crashed west of Australia.

BEIJING (AP)  Thick, gray smog fell over Beijing on Tuesday, choking China's capital in a haze that spurred authorities to cancel flights and close some highways in emergency measures to cut down on air pollution. Beijing and much of industrial northern China are in the midst of a "red alert," the highest level in China's four-tiered pollution warning system. The red alert affected 460 million people, according to Greenpeace East Asia, which calculated that about 200 million people were living in areas that had experienced levels of air pollution more than 10 times above the guideline set by the World Health Organization.

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BEIJING (AP)  U.S. assertions that China is the top source of the synthetic opioids that have killed thousands of drug users in the U.S. and Canada are unsubstantiated, Chinese officials told the Associated Press. Both the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy point to China as North America's main source of fentanyl, related drugs and the chemicals used to make them. Such statements "lack the support of sufficient numbers of actual, confirmed cases," China's National Narcotics Control Commission told DEA's Beijing field office in a fax dated Friday. In its letter to the DEA, which the commission also sent to AP, Chinese officials urged the U.S.

TORONTO (AP)  Canada called Monday for the unconditional release of a Canadian man and his American wife after a new video appeared to show them begging their governments to intervene on their behalf with their Afghan captors. The video, which was uploaded to YouTube on Monday and has not been independently verified by The Associated Press, shows Canadian Joshua Boyle and American Caitlan Coleman, who were kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2012. Coleman refers to "the Kafkaesque nightmare in which we find ourselves" and urges "governments on both sides" to reach a deal for their freedom. She then adds: "My children have seen their mother defiled." Two young children appear in the video with them, and Coleman has told her family that she gave birth to two children in captivity.

SYDNEY (AP)  Australia and France signed an agreement Tuesday to build the world's largest diesel-electric submarines in the Australian industrial town of Adelaide. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the agreement in Adelaide, where they officially opened the Australian headquarters of DCNS, a French state majority-owned company that will design the Shortfin Barracuda subs. Turnbull described the 56 billion Australian dollar ($41 billion) contract to build 12 subs as the largest capital project in Australia's history. The contract is also DCNS's largest outside France. A workforce of 2,800 people will begin building the first sub in an Adelaide shipyard in 2022.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The jailed confidante of impeached South Korean President Park Geun-hye denied on the first day of her trial Monday that she used her ties to Park to extort money from big companies. The hour-long hearing at the Seoul Central District Court was the first public appearance in weeks for the woman at the heart of a scandal that led to Park's impeachment after millions took to streets in protests. Choi Soon-sil, Park's friend of 40 years, wore white prison clothes and bowed deeply to the three judges before her lawyer, Lee Kyoung-jae, denied that Choi conspired with Park and her presidential aide to pressure companies to donate tens of millions of dollars last year to foundations controlled by Choi.

BEIJING (AP)  China's seizure of an American underwater drone is the latest sign that the Pacific Ocean's dominant power and its rising Asian challenger are headed for more confrontation once U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office, analysts said Monday. Chinese political experts said China seized the glider in the South China Sea last week to send a strong warning to Trump not to test Beijing's resolve over the sensitive issue of Taiwan, the self-ruled island Beijing considers part of its territory. Meanwhile, smaller countries in Southeast Asia are watching the back-and-forth closely for signs that U.S. naval dominance might be diminishing, others said.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A high-profile North Korean defector told South Korean lawmakers on Monday that he fled because of disillusionment with what he describes as a "tyrannical reign of terror" by leader Kim Jong Un, according to one of the lawmakers who attended their private meeting. Seoul announced in August that Thae Yong Ho, No. 2 at the North's embassy in London, had come to South Korea with his family because of his disgust with North Korea. Pyongyang later called him "human scum" who embezzled official funds and committed other crimes. Thae, who has been under the protection of the National Intelligence Service, met with South Korean lawmakers on Monday together with NIS officers, according to Lee Cheol Woo, one of the lawmakers.

WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. military conversations continue with China to gain the return of an unmanned underwater drone that was seized by the Chinese Navy last week, the Pentagon said Monday. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said that U.S. and Chinese officials, including military leaders, are working out the logistical details of the exchange. He provided no other specifics. Cook said the drone was seized illegally by the Chinese, and the U.S. is working to get it returned as quickly as possible. Final details for where and when the drone can be transferred are being discussed by the U.S. defense attache to China and officials from the Chinese military.
British brands Topshop and Topman are set to expand into mainland China reports WWD.

Owner Sir Phillip Green has confirmed he has signed a deal with existing Topshop partner Shangpin.com to open up to 80 standalone stores across the country.

Topshop currently has minimal presence in China, with just a shop-in-shop in Beijing's Galeries Lafayette and two stores in Hong Kong already launched in partnership with Shangpin, a members-only online fashion retailer which offers registered users access to Western brands.

The site has been working with Topshop since 2014, with the first new standalone store expected to open spring 2017 in either Beijing or Shanghai.

Green is hoping the new deal will continue to promote Topshop and Topman as a global brand after already expanding Topshop's presence in the US, opening 10 standalone stores across the country and a series of concessions in Nordstrom stores since 2009.
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP)  On the day that his election victory became official, Donald Trump on Monday experienced what life will be like as president as he condemned separate deadly incidents against a Russian diplomat and shoppers at a German Christmas market, blaming Islamic terrorism in both instances.

He offered no support for his claim that terrorists were responsible for the carnage.

Authorities in Turkey and Germany were still investigating when Trump issued back-to-back statements condemning the incidents, although the White House earlier had said that what happened in central Berlin when a trucked rammed a holiday crowd "appears to be a terrorist attack."

Trump called the brazen, daytime shooting of Russia's ambassador to Turkey as he attended a photo exhibit "a violation of all rules of civilized order." He added that the diplomat, Andrei Karlov, was assassinated by a "radical Islamic terrorist."

Turkish authorities said the gunman, who was identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a member of Ankara's riot police squad, was later killed in a shootout with police. Altintas shouted in Turkish about the Syrian city of Aleppo and also yelled "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great."

In the Berlin incident, in which at least 12 people were killed, Trump said the Islamic State group "and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad."

He added that these terrorists and their regional and worldwide networks "must be eradicated from the face of the earth" and pledged to carry out that mission with "all freedom-loving partners."

Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to requests to state the sources for his claims of terrorist involvement.

He later tweeted: "Today there were terror attacks in Turkey, Switzerland and Germany  and it is only getting worse. The civilized world must change thinking!"

In Zurich, police said three people were wounded when a gunman dressed in black opened fire in the prayer hall of a mosque frequented by Somali immigrants.

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Trump vowed during the presidential campaign to go after the Islamic State group, but repeatedly declined to describe his plan for the public.

His statements came at the end of a busy day, after the president-elect had announced his candidate for secretary of the Army, held a round of transition meetings and was formally elected president by the Electoral College, clearing the way for his Jan. 20 inauguration.

Trump's choice of Army veteran and fellow New Yorker Vincent Viola to be his Army secretary will put another billionaire in leading role in the new administration.

The president-elect also met with a group of businessmen and former U.S. government officials as he sought to fill other posts, including that of U.S. trade representative. Among those he met with was Robert Lighthizer, a former deputy U.S. trade representative in the Reagan administration.

Viola is a West Point graduate who joins a list of individuals with military backgrounds already chosen for the Cabinet. Trump's picks for defense secretary, homeland security secretary, national security adviser and deputy national security adviser are retired military.

In a separate written statement, Trump praised Viola, the son of Italian immigrants, as "living proof of the American dream" and someone who has a lengthy history of involvement with national security issues. Senate confirmation is required.

Viola was the first member of his family to attend college. He was trained as an Airborne Ranger infantry officer and served in the 101st Airborne Division. A lawyer, he started multiple businesses and bought the Florida Panthers hockey team for $250 million in 2013.

Trump announced Viola from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where he was spending the run-up to Christmas with his family and working on the transition. It also came as electors in all 50 states formally elected Trump as the 45th president.

"With this historic step we can look forward to the bright future ahead," he said in a statement in which he pledged anew that after the divisive campaign he will "work hard to unit our country and be the president of all Americans."

Viola would join a circle of wealthy businessmen Trump has chosen for the administration, including fast food executive Andy Puzder to lead the Labor Department, billionaire investor Wilbur Ross for Commerce, financier Steven Mnuchin for Treasury and Goldman Sachs President Gary Cohn as his top economic adviser.

More open posts remain. Trump also met Monday with Thad Allen, the retired Coast Guard commandant who oversaw the federal response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005; R. Donahue Peebles, board chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and founder and CEO of a real estate development company named for him; and J. Christopher Reyes, co-chairman of Reyes Holdings, a Chicago-based beer and food distributor.

Trump also had dinner Saturday at the Florida estate with Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, a surprising development given Trump's harsh criticism of Slim during the presidential election. Slim is a major investor in The New York Times, a frequent target of Trump's potshots on social media.

Neither did Slim spare Trump, who has criticized Mexicans and vowed to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico to stop illegal immigration.

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks confirmed the dinner, which was first reported by The Washington Post. People briefed on the conversation said it was arranged to open a friendly line of communication between the businessmen. A spokesman for Slim, Arturo Elias Ayub, tweeted that the dinner was "upbeat about Mexico and Mexicans."

The dinner was brokered by former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who remains close to the president-elect, after Lewandowski quietly visited Slim in Mexico City earlier this month.

Trump was expected to hold additional transition meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday in Florida.

___

Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap
By PTI: Kathmandu, Dec 19 (PTI) A 15-year-old girl has died in Nepal after she was banished to a shed outside the village during her menstruating cycle, under an ancient Hindu custom outlawed by the government over a decade ago.

The practice, known as chhaupadi, is a social custom of keeping menstruating girls and women in a narrow shed outside the village, under the ancient Hindu custom which views menstruating girls as unclean.

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The practice was outlawed by the government in 2005, but it is still prevalent among many village communities in Nepal, especially in western Nepal.

The victim, a ninth grade student, was found dead at a cowshed in Gagra of Achham district yesterday, police said.

However, a police officer investigating into the case said the incident was due to suffocation as the Chhaupadi shed was too congested, the Himalayan Times reported.

Meanwhile, Womens Development Officer of the district, Bhagawati Aryal, said more than 10 girls and women have lost their lives due to this practice since 2006. PTI SUA SUA

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Donald Trump has Beijings attention now that he questions the One China policy on Taiwan. But heres the question for the President-elect and his foreign policy advisers: Are you paying attention to the shifting balance of power in the Pacific that accelerates as we speak?

To put the conclusion first, it looks as if Trumps rehearsing to play Nero as Rome burns, while those advising him on Asia policy remain lost in a fog of nostalgia. Nobody in Trumps camp has said anything so far about Chinas ever-swifter accumulation of influence as a Pacific powereven among U.S. allies. Not a word about Russias warming relations in the regiona new and not inconsequential part of the picture.

Related: Trump Will Be Steadier on China Than His Taiwan Call May Suggest

Nature abhors a vacuum. The outgoing Obama administration couldnt have done a better job flubbing the American position in Asia, and this is a reality Trump doesnt seem to be facing squarely.

Trump can wonder aloud about adhering to One China all he wants, and he can complain about exchange rates, Chinese exports, and lost jobs. But this is just grandstanding intended to impress the folks back home.

Nobodys going to abrogate One China, the bedrock of SinoAmerican relations; economic ties are far more to mutual benefit than to Chinas one-sided advantageas Trump ought to know.

Looking tough mightve worked well on the campaign trail. Looking smart will be essential come January 20 if Trump is to avoid worsening the problems Obamas about to hand him.

Related: Trumps Vow to Abandon the TPP Hands China a Huge Victory

Obamas pivot to Asia, incessantly touted for years, is a bust. Its encouraging that Trump is not even nodding to the notion, but that doesnt suggest a new China policy.

The TransPacific Partnership was ill-conceived from the first. Pointedly excluding China, Obama and his people always considered the TTP more a strategic tool than an economic alliance.

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A little more than a year ago, when the U.S. and 11 other Pacific nations celebrated the conclusion of the deal, Beijing let it be known it was launching an alternative, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Now, Trump is going to kill the TTP, while the RCEP boasts 16 members, including longtime American allies such as Australia and New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines; in October members completed their 16th round of negotiations.

Related: As Trump Gets Tough With China, Facebook Plays Their Game

Obama and his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, thought they could divide Asia in us-against-them fashion and isolate China. It was sheer hubris, but whats done is done.

There are plenty of reasons to put the TTP out of its misery, but nickel-and-diming Beijingespecially about non-issues such as currency ratesdoesnt come close to filling the hole Obama and Clinton dug in our Asia policy.

Russia complicates this picture. It has long been customary to scoff at Moscows version of a multilateral alliance, the Eurasian Economic Union, but the EAEU is now in free-trade talks with dozens of nations, including the same U.S. allies in Asia that are joining the RCEP.

And heres a big one: Vladimir Putin finished two days of talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Friday. While there was no breakthrough on a territorial dispute that dates to World War II, the Russian leader went home with promises of new economic cooperation, and some modest deals were sealed; most important, in signaling friendlier ties with Moscow Abe said No to the Russophobia now reigning in Washington.

Related: Chinese Trade Data Shows Signs of Industrial Recovery

No comment from the Trump camp. You start to get the uneasy feeling that theres not a lot of room for complexity in the president-elects worldview.

And Asias no less complicated on the security side.

Last week a Chinese naval vessel picked up an underwater drone the U.S. Navy had deployed in the South China Sea. By the weekend the Chinese Defense Ministry agreed to return the device, but by then a minor incident had taken on disproportionate symbolic significance.

Chinas claim that it was inspecting unidentified equipment may or may not be true. But what was to be gained when the Pentagon shouted about unlawful seizure, giving Beijing an opening to complain Washington was hyping up the incident?

Trump fell into the same trap, tweeting that taking possession of U.S. property was unpresidenteda malapropism that deserves to stand uncorrected.

Related: U.S. Says 'One China' Policy Should Not Be Used As Bargaining Chip

Raising the decibels over who polices the South China Sea has been another feature of the famous pivotand another mistake. While allies in the region are fine with the U.S. presence, no one buys into the ObamaClinton idea that theres a black-or-white choice to be made between Beijing and Washington.

The worst of the resulting mess is now plain in U.S. relations with the Philippines. Beefing about President Rodrigo Dutertes anti-drug campaign betrays a serious lack of proportion in Obamas State Department. Its gruesome, but thats the business of Filipinos, not Americans.

Now its bad to worse. Last week a U.S aid agency announced it is withholding $450 million in promised anti-poverty aid in response to Dutertes campaign.

Its now half a century since Sukarno, Indonesias charismatic president, directed his famous blast at Washington: Go to hell with your foreign aid. On Saturday, Duterte said the same thing in milder languagewhile advising the Pentagon to begin packing its bags.

No incoming president would have an easy time cleaning up Asia policy after all the Obama administrations misjudgments. Will Donald Trump recognize the challenge and meet it? Neither is clear, though the outlook is not bright.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
(Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump condemned the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey on Monday, saying the killing was carried out by a "radical Islamic terrorist" and violated "all rules of civilized order." Trump, in a statement issued by his transition team, offered condolences to the family of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov, who was fatally shot while attending an event at an art gallery in Ankara. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton in Washington; Writing by David Alexander; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
By Doina Chiacu and John McCrank WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump will nominate Vincent Viola, an Army veteran and founder of a high-speed trading firm, to be secretary of the Army, adding another figure from the business world without government experience to his Cabinet. Viola is a West Point graduate who founded the highly profitable high-frequency trading firm Virtu Financial Inc in 2008, Trump's transition team said in a statement on Monday. Viola is a former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange, where he began his financial services career, and is a leader in electronic trading. Along with Virtu CEO Douglas Cifu, he bought the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League in 2013. In the Army, Viola trained as an Airborne Ranger infantry officer and served in the 101st Airborne Division, the transition team said. "Whether it is his distinguished military service or highly impressive track record in the world of business, Vinnie has proved throughout his life that he knows how to be a leader and deliver major results in the face of any challenge," Trump was quoted as saying in a transition team statement. After the Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington, Viola helped found the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. "A primary focus of my leadership will be ensuring that Americas soldiers have the ways and means to fight and win across the full spectrum of conflict, Viola said in the statement. As Army secretary, Viola would oversee 473,000 active duty soldiers. Trump met with Viola on Friday as the Republican president-elect considered candidates for top posts in his administration, which begins on Jan. 20. Cabinet positions yet to be filled include secretaries of agriculture and veterans affairs and the U.S. trade representative. Viola, 60, whose net worth is $1.8 billion according to Forbes magazine, is the latest wealthy financier or businessman tapped to join Trump's administration. Those nominees, with little or no experience in government, include Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson for secretary of state, Goldman Sachs chief operating officer Gary Cohn for director of the National Economic Council, private equity firm owner Wilbur Ross as commerce secretary and Andrew Pudzer, CKE Restaurants Inc chief executive as labor secretary. FROM WEST POINT TO HIGH-SPEED TRADING Viola was a leading figure in the emergence of high-frequency trading, in which rapid-fire machines place thousands of very short-term bets, making markets and profiting on tiny price imbalances. In 2014, Virtu Financial received a letter of inquiry from New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman as part of a wider investigation of such firms, which came amid heightened attention to such trading after the publication of author Michael Lewis' book "Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt." The firm was never charged with anything and has always backed more regulation for trading and market making. If Viola is confirmed by the Senate as secretary of the Army, his ownership stake in the Panthers would be placed in a trust, while Cifu would take over Violas role as chairman and governor of the teams parent company, Sunrise Sports and Entertainment, the Panthers said in a statement. Cifu currently has the role of vice chairman and alternate governor of the club. Viola was born to Italian immigrant parents in New York's Brooklyn borough, and was the first in his family to attend college. He left the Army after five years because his father suffered a massive heart, he told the West Point Center for Oral History, which he helped fund. Friends in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn where Viola grew up pointed him to Wall Street after he failed to find work elsewhere. Viola stood out on entering the trading pits in 1982 as a "local" on the New York Mercantile Exchange, as many of the floor traders did not have a college education. Viola has said the principles of West Point - duty, honor, country - are overwhelming and become ingrained. "It's very hard to come here and not leave not having a selfless sense of what duty means, what honor is, and the importance of your country," Viola said in 2011 the Oral History interview. (Additional reporting by Herb Lash in New York; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Bill Trott and Andrea Ricci)
WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump is lashing out on Twitter in advance of the Electoral College vote. The president-elect says: "If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!"

The Electoral College is gathering Monday to formally elect Trump. GOP electors have been inundated with emails, phone calls and letters urging them to vote against Trump. And protests are planned across the country in state capitals where electors will meet.

In fact, Trump and his supporters have threatened people before. He frequently whipped up audiences at his huge rallies by railing against reporters, immigrants, Muslims and his critics. He repeatedly threatened news outlets with lawsuits. And he and his supporters have bombarded his critics on Twitter.
By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump's drive to rebuild U.S. roads, bridges, ports and other public works projects with a $1 trillion infrastructure investment plan would come as the country faces a shortage of skilled laborers.

Before any dirt can be moved, Trump would have to get approval from Congress. But with Democratic support and a push from business groups, there is some optimism that Trump could win over skeptical Republicans who control Congress, if the plan does not add significantly to federal debt.

More than two-thirds of U.S. roads are in less than good condition and nearly 143,000 bridges need repair or improvement, the Transportation Department estimates.

At the same time, construction contractors have reported tight labor conditions in the South, Midwest and Southwest, causing project delays, the Federal Reserve noted last month.

Earlier this year, the National Association of Home Builders estimated there were around 200,000 unfilled construction jobs in the United States, an 81 percent increase in the last two years.

Infrastructure projects need highly trained workers, such as heavy equipment operators and iron specialists. But as a result of the 2007-2008 recession, which caused an estimated 25 percent of construction jobs to vanish, their ranks have thinned. (Graphic: http://tmsnrt.rs/2h9paJX)

Many of these workers went back to school, joined the military or got lower-paying jobs in retail, services and other sectors. Some just got too old for the rigors of construction.

"They wandered off into other careers," said Leonard Toenjes, president of Associated General Contractors of Missouri, which represents contractors in the state.

Undocumented immigrants, who otherwise might help replenish those ranks, are unlikely candidates however, since companies do not want to invest in training people with an uncertain status, especially given Trump's anti-immigrant bent.

The labor shortage is driving up construction costs, according to government and industry experts, which could cut into the scope of any new Washington investment scheme.

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In response to the construction "skills gap," the U.S. Department of Labor and Federal Highway Administration are aiming to expand help to localities training workers for road and bridge building, according to a FHWA spokesman.

Even if the scope of work is not as grandiose as Trump originally envisioned, it would benefit a range of businesses, from steel maker Nucor Corp and concrete firm US Concrete Inc to construction machinery companies such as Caterpillar Inc.

More infrastructure spending would boost trade unions, too, which appeals to Democrats.

MCCONNELL WARY

"We will build new roads, tunnels, bridges, railroads, airports, schools and hospitals," Trump boasted in a Dec. 1 speech in Cincinnati.

A Trump transition representative, who asked not to be named because the topic was still under discussion, said that enactment of "infrastructure funding legislation" is one of the top priorities for the first 100 days of the new administration. A Trump website refers to taking steps that would fill a $1 trillion gap in infrastructure investments over 10 years.

Like many Trump campaign proposals, his infrastructure plan is thin on details.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters earlier this month: "What I hope we will clearly avoid, and I'm confident we will, is a trillion-dollar stimulus."

In a departure from past fiscal policies, Trump has proposed slashing taxes and expanding infrastructure investment at a time of economic stability. Historically, such steps have been used by the government to provide economic stimulus in recessions.

Trump has discussed investor tax credits for infrastructure projects. Democrats have attacked this as a boon to Wall Street that would spark too few projects and create too few jobs.

House of Representatives Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters last week infrastructure is something her party could collaborate on with Republicans.

But she said Democrats would reject anything "disguised as infrastructure. It has to be a real infrastructure bill that grows the paychecks of American workers."

If Congress balks at writing a big check, there is talk of a mix of alternatives. One could involve new corporate income tax revenue from bringing foreign profits into the country. Others could be an infrastructure revolving fund, raising the gasoline tax or a new surface freight fee, experts said.

These could help marquee projects move forward: a Hudson River rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey; a deeper port in Charleston, South Carolina; expanded rail service in southern California; fixing the crumbling I-70 freeway in Missouri; replacing a key bridge linking Ohio and Kentucky.

Harry Holzer, professor of public policy at Georgetown University, said fixing roads and bridges would boost U.S. productivity and, depending on how it is structured, generate good-paying jobs for those without college educations.

Given shortages of high-skilled construction labor, he said government ought to ramp up the projects carefully to allow time to train a new generation of skilled workers. "I'm not sure anyone has thought that through," he said.

(Additional reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Lisa Shumaker)
Rex Tillerson

US President-elect Donald Trump's selection of ExxonMobil chief executive Rex Tillerson has been scrutinized for how Tillerson's time at the company may influence his attitude toward US foreign policy  in particular, how the US will approach Russia.

But Tillerson's experiences as a high-level oil executive, coupled with Trump's approach to US foreign policy, may augur trouble for Venezuela, the Latin American petrostate writhing in intense political and social turmoil.

Venezuela  where oil accounts for most of the government's revenue and almost all of its export earnings  has had an antagonistic relationship with the US since late President Hugo Chavez took office in 1999.

In the mid-2000s, Chavez set out to renegotiate many of the contracts held by foreign oil companies operating in Venezuela, aiming to bolster his socialist government's outreach to the poor.

A number of these companies played ball, but ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips blanched at the government's desired changes.

"While other corporations negotiated with the Venezuelan government so that Venezuela could obtain majority stakes in oil ventures throughout the country, only ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips rejected the deals and sought international arbitration," Tim Gill, a post-doctoral fellow at Tulane's Center for Inter-American Policy and Research who focuses on US-Venezuelan relations, told Business Insider.

Venezuela Exxon Mobil Tillerson oil protest

Venezuela expropriated both companies' assets, and ExxonMobil pursued legal recourse. Seven years later, the World Bank's international arbitration court ruled in favor of ExxonMobil but awarded the firm a significantly smaller sum than it was looking for  $1.6 billion, instead of the requested $16.6 billion.

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Tillerson "fell into the trap completely," Ghassan Dagher, a Venezuelan oil-industry consultant, told The New York Times. "In my opinion, he took it very personal with Chavez."

Tillerson again tangled with Venezuela  this time with Chavez's successor, Nicolas Maduro  in 2015, when ExxonMobil started oil-exploration efforts off the coast of Guyana, Venezuela's eastern neighbor.

"Even more than ExxonMobils unwillingness to negotiate, its efforts in 2015 to tap into oil off the coast of the Essequibo region enraged President Maduro and the Venezuelan government, including the opposition," Gill told Business Insider.

Guayana-Essequiba-Venezuela-claim

Guyana, an English-speaking country of less than a million people, has clashed with Venezuela over the Essequibo, a long-disputed territory in the western half of the country.

Venezuela's claim amounts to about two-thirds of Guyana's territory.

"Both Venezuela and Guyana have laid claim to this area, and, as a result, oil companies have generally decided not to rattle relations between the two countries by exploring for oil in the region," Gill added.

"ExxonMobil, however, sought to work with the newly elected, more centrist government [in Guyana] to tap into these resources."

Acrimony ahead

Tillerson still faces what is likely to be a fraught confirmation process before he can set up shop in Foggy Bottom.

A point of contention will likely be Tillerson's professed skepticism toward international sanctions  an attitude that informed Exxon's dealings with Russia and that people with knowledge of his business career say is likely to remain.

With that aversion to sanctions, should Trump pursue a true "America First" policy with Tillerson at the diplomatic helm, tensions between Washington and Caracas may subside, or at least not worsen.

Trump's "basic outlook would suggest he will withdraw from significant international engagement," David Smilde, a sociology professor at Tulane University, told Business Insider in reference to Trump's potential Latin America policy. "That would probably be the best scenario for US-Venezuela relations since the US is probably the least important and effective actor in the region for mediating in the Venezuela conflict."

An opposition supporter stands with the Venezuelan flag in front of police during a rally to demand a referendum to remove President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela July 27, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso

It's also possible, if Trump continues his warmth toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, that Maduro could work through Moscow  a close partner to Venezuela  to improve ties with the US.

But it's likely that Trump's approach to Venezuela will, in some ways, mirror that of the Obama administration and verge toward confrontation.

Obama has leveled sanctions at a number of Venezuelan officials and declared the country an "unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy" of the US.

While some Obama administration officials and Maduro himself have expressed interest in improving relations, the president has said he doesn't "anticipate major changes in policy from the new administration"  likely an accurate assessment, considering that Trump has lumped Venezuela in with Cuba for criticism over restrictions on political, social, and economic rights.

"The next President of the United States must stand in solidarity with all people oppressed in our hemisphere, and I will stand with the oppressed people of Venezuela yearning to be free," Trump said in October. Maduro has responded in kind, mocking the US president-elect.

donald trump

Moreover, Trump, despite his overtures toward an "America First" foreign policy, may eventually find tensions with Venezuela as a useful cudgel against domestic criticism.

"Populist leaders like Donald Trump usually find it helpful to create a foreign threat as the villain in their conspiracy theories," Smilde told Business Insider.

"With a weak and discredited government, Venezuela would be a very likely object of Donald Trump's attention," he added.

Trump's shifting stances make predicting his policies difficult, but considering Tillerson's history, the possibility that foreign-policy hawks may join him at the State Department, and the administration they would be representing, it's likely that US ties with Venezuela are headed for rougher waters.

"Given Tillersons background and ExxonMobils acrimonious relationship with Venezuela, I think we might actually expect to see Trump sanction more Venezuelan state officials," Gill told Business Insider. "It's also possible that the US and Venezuela return to the kind of verbal sparring we witnessed under the Bush administration that generally went nowhere for the relationship."

NOW WATCH: Trump's pick for secretary of state has a personal relationship with Putin that's been called a 'matter of concern'





More From Business Insider


Fox News host Tucker Carlson said Democrats trying to interfere with the Electoral College dont believe in democracy.

The Electoral College will cast their official votes for the president on Monday and some Democrats, such as filmmaker Michael Moore, are urging electors not to select Trump.

For my lifetime, the left has made a pretty strong case in favor of democracy, empowering people to choose their government. Its basic American understanding of how the government is supposed to work, Carlson said Monday Morning on Fox & Friends.

Also Read: Michael Moore Begs Electoral College to Dump Trump: 'Do Not Put Our Nation in Danger'

The Tucker Carlson Tonight host continued: They are making the opposite case now. They are basically saying it doesnt matter that 62 million people voted for Trump, it doesnt matter that we had an election, its immaterial.

Carlson said that, Its a crisis when the people running your democracy dont believe in democracy.

Watch the video above.

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Short Hair, Don't Care: Why Tucker Carlson Is Fox News' Latest Star (Exclusive)
Cilvegozu (Turkey) (AFP) - Clogged daily by dozens of aid trucks, a Turkish border crossing has become a key hub in efforts to get help to those who have fled the devastation in the war-ravaged Syrian city of Aleppo.

The Cilvegozu border crossing in Turkey's southern Hatay province just east of its main city Antakya is in a peaceful area, with little sign of the horror that lies just a few dozen kilometres beyond to the south.

Already home to some three million mainly Syrian refugees, Turkey has in recent months focused efforts on looking after victims of the conflict inside Syria, rather than encouraging more to come in.

But there is full mobilisation at the Cilvegozu crossing that faces Syria's Bab al-Hawa, with Turkish NGOs playing a key role in piling aid for desperate civilians from Aleppo evacuated to the neighbouring Idlib province.

Every day, dozens of aid trucks from the Turkish Red Crescent and the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) charity head into Syria, not to Aleppo itself but to camps that are accommodating thousands of people just inside the border.

The Turkish Red Crescent has so far dispatched 216 trucks and the IHH 381 trucks, all loaded with humanitarian aid, since the start of the month.

- '80,000 person tent city' -

"I have come all the way from Konya" in central Anatolia, a truck driver told AFP while waiting his turn to cross into the buffer zone.

"I am carrying food, baby diapers and clothes to be delivered for Syrians," he said.

Turkey has also stepped up efforts to set up a huge "tent city" in Idlib province to accommodate up to 80,000 Syrian refugees fleeing Aleppo.

According to Turkish officials, three possible sites have been identified in Idlib province.

"We are ready for any scenario," said a Turkish official.

"Turkey in the past managed such humanitarian operations with success. There's no problem there."

While Turkey is clearly keen to ensure most Syrians stay on their side of the border, it is also setting up a smaller 1,000-person tent city -- the preferred official term rather than refugee camp -- in its border town of Reyhanli.

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This will house "disadvantaged Syrians" including the injured, the disabled and their families.

- 'Demanding job' -

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since the start of the Syrian civil war championed an "open door" policy to allow all Syrians inside the country.

But in practice, access has now become much harder with Ankara preferring to see Syrians looked after inside Syria.

One of the aims of Turkey's ongoing military incursion inside Syria is to create a "safe area" that could house Syrian refugees.

Heavily injured are nonetheless being transferred into Turkish hospitals for treatment.

Since the evacuations began last week, 131 injured Aleppo people -- 46 of them children -- have been taken to Turkey as of Monday morning, a Turkish official told AFP.

Five of them have died in hospital. Funeral cars from Turkey have also been seen bringing the dead back to the Turkish border.

A vocal critic of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, Turkey has championed itself as the broker with Russia of a ceasefire deal opening the way for civilians and rebel fighters to be evacuated from eastern sections of divided city of Aleppo in a stuttering but ongoing process.

Turkish trucks cannot cross into Syria directly but load their humanitarian aid to Syrian trucks on the border, IHH's board member Izzet Sahin said.

"This is a demanding job," Sahin told AFP at the NGO's logistics centre at Bab al-Hawa around 1 kilometre from the Turkish border.

"The crossing of Turkish trucks into the Syrian territory is still considered a security problem," he said.

On Saturday, thousands arrived in bus and car convoys from across the country under the slogan "Open Road to Aleppo" close to the border gate.

The IHH, a pro-government Islamic charity, is playing a large role in the transport of aid for Aleppo and pressing for greater access.

It gained international prominence in 2010 when a ship it had chartered to break the blockade in Gaza was stormed by Israeli commandos in a raid that left 10 Turks dead and caused a crisis in relations that has only just been healed.
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A total of 12,000 civilians have so far been evacuated from Syria's east Aleppo, including 4,500 people since midnight, Turkey's foreign minister said on Monday. "Including 4,500 people in east Aleppo since midnight, 12,000 civilians in total were evacuated so far to the area under control of opposition," Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter. Dozens of buses carrying thousands of people from Aleppo's tiny rebel zone reached insurgent areas of countryside to the west of the city, according to a United Nations official and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. The evacuations are the result of intense negotiations between Russia - the main supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - and Turkey, which backs some large rebel groups. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Daren Butler)
The incident occurred when locals saw posters with demeaning words against the party. The outraged mob then set ablaze several buses.

By Manogya Loiwal : Tension broke out in Dinajpur district of West Bengal after an angry mob set ablaze several buses heading towards Siliguri on Monday.

The incident occurred when locals saw posters with demeaning words against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) pasted on the buses. The buses were coming from NH 31 near Kishanganj in Bihar.

The agitated locals objected to the posters but when the situation went out of control, police had to intervene. A team of police personnel removed posters at Panjipara in North Dinajpur. However, there were few more buses with similar posters on them.

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This angered the locals and they set on fire several buses.

Also read: Manipur: Internet services suspended in West Imphal following chaos

Tension continues to prevail in the area along the Bihar-Bengal border as the driver of a vehicle from Sabhadipati of Central Dinajpur district was also manhandled. The locals destroyed the vehicle and smeared coal on the driver's face. The vehicle had been to Kishanganj in Bihar for some personal work.

There is heavy deployment of police personnel in the area to prevent occurrence of any untoward incident.

--- ENDS ---
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey will not allow Monday's shooting of Russia's ambassador to Ankara to "cast a shadow" over Turkish-Russian friendship, the Turkey's foreign ministry said on Monday, expressing deep sadness and condemning the "lowly terrorist attack". The statement, paying tribute to the ambassador as being a well respected diplomat, said the attacker had been "neutralized" and that those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice. (Reporting by Tulay Karadeniz; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by David Dolan)
By Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Turkey's purge of its military since a botched coup in July has cut its armed forces by a third, the Council of Europe said on Monday, after NATO raised concerns that Turkey's response to the failed coup has worryingly thinned its forces. The council, Europe's leading human rights organization with 47 member states including Turkey, said that over 125,000 people across Turkish society had been dismissed from jobs, as of Dec. 9, and almost 40,000 people had been arrested. The study listed the arrest of 140 journalists and the closure of 177 media outlets, although 11 of those were subsequently reopened. More than 2,000 schools, universities and dormitories have been shut down. The data, which counts all military dismissals from July to October, indicated that almost half of all Turkey's generals have been fired while the number of new, low-ranking privates contracted had jumped by a fifth. "The dismissal of a number of members of the Turkish armed forces resulted in a decrease, by one third, of military personnel," the Council's Parliamentary Assembly said in its study. Turkish officials roundly reject any suggestion that NATO's second-largest army has been weakened. They say the military has become more loyal and effective with the removal of rogue officers, some of whom commandeered tanks, jets and helicopters in their attempt to seize power on July 15. Since the coup attempt, Turkey has launched a military incursion into Syria to clear Islamic State militants from its border, and stepped up its campaign against Kurdish militants in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq. That is evidence, the officials say, of the military's abilities to maintain its commitments to both NATO and Turkey. They also say that the scale of the crackdown was justified by the gravity of the attempted coup. NATO's top commander said this month said he had raised concerns with Turkey about the impact of the purge on its armed forces. Last month a sacked Turkish general assigned to NATO in Germany told Reuters the crackdown was inflicting deep, long-term damage on the Turkish military. The study by the Council of Europe, whose legal experts have said the scale of the purge is unconstitutional, showed that overall, the Turkish armed forces saw its numbers drop to 355,212 in October from 518,166 before the coup bid. The military counted 201 generals in October, down from 358 on July 1. However, a 20 percent surge in the number of newly contracted privates had offset some of the fall. Turkey's defense ministry also announced plans in November to hire 30,000 new personnel from military and naval academy students. The Turkish military has previously confirmed that its forces, excluding coastguard and gendarmes, totaled 391,695 as of Sept. 8. That includes 206 generals and admirals. Last month, the armed forces said it employed nearly 360,000. (Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Istanbul; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Screen Shot 2016 12 19 at 12.28.38 PM

The Turkish lira is tumbling after reports that Russia's ambassador to Turkey has been shot dead in Ankara, the Turkish capital.

The currency was down by 0.8% at 3.5351 per dollar as of 12:29 p.m. ET.

The lira has had a tough year. It has fallen by about 16% against the US dollar since the coup attempt in mid-July.

Turkish media is reporting that Andrey Karlov had just given the opening speech at the Ankara Center for Contemporary Art when he was attacked by an unidentified gunman.

The Russian RIA news agency reported that Karlov died from his wounds.

This story is developing. Head over here for the latest.





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By Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - The administrators of a prestigious Istanbul high school have warned teachers over Christian and Christmas-related content in German language classes, the school said on Monday, setting the stage for another diplomatic row between Ankara and Berlin. Relations between Germany and Turkey, a candidate to join the European Union, have been strained following a failed coup in July as Turkish authorities have detained, suspended or arrested more than 100,000 people, leading to widespread concern in Europe about the rule of law in Turkey. The Istanbul Lisesi, a state-run high school that offers a curriculum in both German and Turkish, said in a statement that administrators had met the head of the German department over concerns that teachers were devoting too much time teaching about Christmas and Christianity. "When we received information that German teachers were teaching increasingly more texts on Christmas and Christianity in a manner that is outside the curriculum ... our administration arranged a meeting with the German department and requested information," the school said. "It is out of the question to have any approach inside of the school that limits the most natural right of freedom of belief of German and Turkish teachers, students and personnel." A largely Muslim country, Turkey is constitutionally secular, though President Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling AK Party he founded have their roots in political Islam and have tried to restore the role of religion in public life. German media had widely reported that the school had banned its annual Christmas concert and some German politicians urged the government to summon the Turkish ambassador to complain. However, a spokesman for the German foreign ministry said Berlin was hopeful the issue would be resolved after talks between German and Turkish staff at the school. He said the school had never imposed a ban on celebrating Christmas. The school said in its statement that the concert had been canceled by the German teachers themselves for unknown reasons. However, one senior AKP lawmaker equated the teachers with "missionaries" and said Germany was attempting to subject Turkish children to propaganda. "Being a missionary is not allowed in public school," Mustafa Sentop said on Twitter. "The religious/political propaganda of the German state to this nation's children is not allowed in public schools," he said. (Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold in Berlin; Editing by David Dolan and Gareth Jones)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen's movement had no connection to the assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey on Monday, and he strongly condemns the killing, according to an official who advises Gulen on media issues. Allegations by an unnamed senior Turkish security official of "very strong signs" that the gunman who killed the ambassador belonged to Gulen's network are "laughable" and intended to cover up for lax security, the adviser, Alp Aslandogan told Reuters. "Mr. Gulen categorically condemns this heinous act," Aslandogan said. The Turkish government has accused Gulen of instigating a failed coup in July. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, denies this. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Alistair Bell)
By Nate Raymond and Lawrence Delevingne

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top executives of New York-based hedge fund manager Platinum Partners were arrested on Monday and charged with running a $1 billion fraud that federal prosecutors said became "like a Ponzi scheme" as its largest investments lost much of their value.

Led by Mark Nordlicht, Platinum was known for years for producing exceptionally high returns -- about 17 percent annually in its largest fund -- by taking an unusually aggressive approach to investing and fund management, as detailed by a Reuters Special Report in April. (http://reut.rs/1TRovwx)

Nordlicht, Platinum's founding partner and chief investment officer, was arrested at his home in New Rochelle, New York. Federal prosecutors accused him and six others of participating in a pair of schemes to defraud investors.

"The charges ... highlight the brazenness and the breadth of the defendants' lies and deceit," Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Robert Capers told reporters.

Capers added that the case was one of the largest and "most brazen" investment frauds ever and Platinum was ultimately exposed to have "no more value than a tarnished piece of cheap metal."

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced parallel charges Monday against the same executives and two Platinum entities for similar civil fraud charges.

A 48-page criminal indictment said since 2012, Nordlicht and four other defendants defrauded investors by overvaluing illiquid assets held by its flagship Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage funds, mostly troubled energy-related investments.

This caused a "severe liquidity crisis" that Platinum at first tried to remedy through high-interest loans between its funds before selectively paying some investors ahead of others, the indictment said.

"So to some extent, there is a Ponzi-esque aspect to this scheme," Capers said.

FLEEING TO ISRAEL

Founded in 2003, Platinum until this year had more than $1.7 billion under management, with more than 600 investors, authorities said.

Story continues

Some of those investors came from the same New York-area Jewish community as Nordlicht and other Platinum executives. They have included a charitable trust set up by day-trading pioneer Aaron Elbogen; the Century 21 Associates Foundation, led by department store executive Raymond Gindi; and the SFF Foundation, a non-profit controlled by the Schron family, known for its real estate investments.

Avi Schron declined to comment; Gindi and Elbogen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The indictment describes how angry investors sought to take their money out in late 2015 and early 2016 as Platinum hinted to clients that some assets were in trouble. It also cites emails between Nordlicht and another unnamed executive in which the men discussed fleeing to Israel as pressure on the firm mounted.

Prosecutors said David Levy, Platinum's co-chief investment officer, and Uri Landesman, the former president of the firm's signature fund, also participated in the scheme, which prosecutors said allowed Platinum to extract more than $100 million in fees based on inflated asset values.

Nordlicht, Levy and Jeffrey Shulse, former chief executive officer of Platinum's majority-owned Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC [BLCELB.UL], also schemed to defraud bondholders of Black Elk, a now-defunct Texas energy company, out of $50 million, prosecutors said.

The indictment said the scheme involved using a group of reinsurance companies called Beechwood, partially controlled by Platinum's principals, to rig a bond vote and pay the hedge fund manager ahead of creditors.

Nordlicht, appearing in court in a checkered shirt and blue jeans, pleaded not guilty to charges including securities fraud and was granted bail by U.S. Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom on a $5 million bond secured by $500,000 cash. Levy and Landesman also pleaded not guilty Monday.

A representative for Beechwood and Shulse, who was taken into custody in Houston, did not respond to requests for comment. A Platinum spokesman declined to comment.

This year, a series of investigations tied to Platinum came to a head. The firm hired an independent monitor in July to unwind its funds, and a Cayman Islands court in August placed its main offshore funds into liquidation.

Those moves came after the June arrest of Murray Huberfeld, a longtime Platinum associate, on charges in Manhattan federal court that he orchestrated a bribe to the head of the New York City prison guards' union, Norman Seabrook, to secure a $20 million investment with the firm.

Seabrook pleaded not guilty, as did Huberfeld who was also arrested.

Two weeks later, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection Service raided Platinum's Manhattan offices in a separate fraud investigation that culminated in Monday's indictment.

Others indicted on Monday include Joseph SanFilippo, Value Arbitrage's former chief financial officer; Joseph Mann, a former Platinum marketing employee; and Daniel Small, a Platinum managing director. The three men also pleaded not guilty.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Monday that it was seeking a court-appointed receiver for funds managed by Platinum Credit Management, the firm's second-largest vehicle after Value Arbitrage.

The case is U.S. v. Nordlicht et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 16-cr-640.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond and Lawrence Delevingne in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, David Gregorio and Lisa Shumaker)
(Adds pleas from defendants, additional background on Platinum)

By Nate Raymond and Lawrence Delevingne

NEW YORK, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Top executives of New York-based hedge fund manager Platinum Partners were arrested on Monday and charged with running a $1 billion fraud that federal prosecutors said became "like a Ponzi scheme" as its largest investments lost much of their value.

Led by Mark Nordlicht, Platinum was known for years for producing exceptionally high returns -- about 17 percent annually in its largest fund -- by taking an unusually aggressive approach to investing and fund management, as detailed by a Reuters Special Report in April. (http://reut.rs/1TRovwx)

Nordlicht, Platinum's founding partner and chief investment officer, was arrested at his home in New Rochelle, New York.

Federal prosecutors accused him and six others of participating in a pair of schemes to defraud investors.

"The charges ... highlight the brazenness and the breadth of the defendants' lies and deceit," Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Robert Capers told reporters.

Capers added that the case was one of the largest and "most brazen" investment frauds ever and Platinum was ultimately exposed to have "no more value than a tarnished piece of cheap metal."

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced parallel charges Monday against the same executives and two Platinum entities for similar civil fraud charges.

A 48-page criminal indictment said since 2012, Nordlicht and four other defendants defrauded investors by overvaluing illiquid assets held by its flagship Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage funds, mostly troubled energy-related investments.

This caused a "severe liquidity crisis" that Platinum at first tried to remedy through high-interest loans between its funds before selectively paying some investors ahead of others, the indictment said.

"So to some extent, there is a Ponzi-esque aspect to this scheme," Capers said.

FLEEING TO ISRAEL

Founded in 2003, Platinum until this year had more than $1.7 billion under management, with more than 600 investors, authorities said.

Story continues

Some of those investors came from the same New York-area Jewish community as Nordlicht and other Platinum executives. They have included a charitable trust set up by day-trading pioneer Aaron Elbogen; the Century 21 Associates Foundation, led by department store executive Raymond Gindi; and the SFF Foundation, a non-profit controlled by the Schron family, known for its real estate investments.

Avi Schron declined to comment; Gindi and Elbogen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The indictment describes how angry investors sought to take their money out in late 2015 and early 2016 as Platinum hinted to clients that some assets were in trouble. It also cites emails between Nordlicht and another unnamed executive in which the men discussed fleeing to Israel as pressure on the firm mounted.

Prosecutors said David Levy, Platinum's co-chief investment officer, and Uri Landesman, the former president of the firm's signature fund, also participated in the scheme, which prosecutors said allowed Platinum to extract more than $100 million in fees based on inflated asset values.

Nordlicht, Levy and Jeffrey Shulse, former chief executive officer of Platinum's majority-owned Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC, also schemed to defraud bondholders of Black Elk, a now-defunct Texas energy company, out of $50 million, prosecutors said.

The indictment said the scheme involved using a group of reinsurance companies called Beechwood, partially controlled by Platinum's principals, to rig a bond vote and pay the hedge fund manager ahead of creditors.

Nordlicht, appearing in court in a checkered shirt and blue jeans, pleaded not guilty to charges including securities fraud and was granted bail by U.S. Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom on a $5 million bond secured by $500,000 cash. Levy and Landesman also pleaded not guilty Monday.

A representative for Beechwood and Shulse, who was taken into custody in Houston, did not respond to requests for comment. A Platinum spokesman declined to comment.

This year, a series of investigations tied to Platinum came to a head. The firm hired an independent monitor in July to unwind its funds, and a Cayman Islands court in August placed its main offshore funds into liquidation.

Those moves came after the June arrest of Murray Huberfeld, a longtime Platinum associate, on charges in Manhattan federal court that he orchestrated a bribe to the head of the New York City prison guards' union, Norman Seabrook, to secure a $20 million investment with the firm.

Seabrook pleaded not guilty, as did Huberfeld who was also arrested.

Two weeks later, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection Service raided Platinum's Manhattan offices in a separate fraud investigation that culminated in Monday's indictment.

Others indicted on Monday include Joseph SanFilippo, Value Arbitrage's former chief financial officer; Joseph Mann, a former Platinum marketing employee; and Daniel Small, a Platinum managing director. The three men also pleaded not guilty.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Monday that it was seeking a court-appointed receiver for funds managed by Platinum Credit Management, the firm's second-largest vehicle after Value Arbitrage.

The case is U.S. v. Nordlicht et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 16-cr-640.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond and Lawrence Delevingne in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, David Gregorio and Lisa Shumaker)
By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday rejected a New Mexico lawyer's long-shot bid to force a Senate confirmation vote on President Barack Obama's Supreme Court pick, Merrick Garland, after Republican senators refused to act on his nomination. Steven Michel, a Santa Fe environmental attorney, filed suit in U.S. federal court in August, arguing that the Republican-led Senate's failure to act on Garland's nomination deprived Michel of his rights as a voter under the U.S. Constitution's 17th Amendment, which outlines how senators are elected. The U.S. Constitution calls on the president to nominate Supreme Court justices, with confirmation of the selection in the hands of the Senate. The Senate, in a move with little precedent in U.S. history, simply refused to consider Garland's nomination, saying the winner of the Nov. 8 presidential election between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton should make the pick. Michel lost in lower courts before Roberts denied the emergency application on Monday without comment. Obama nominated Garland, a moderate appeals court judge, on March 16 to fill the vacant seat on the high court created by the Feb. 13 death of long-serving conservative Antonin Scalia. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, will now make the appointment. On Jan. 18, Garland will resume hearing cases in his current position as chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, according to the court's calendar. Garland had stepped aside from hearing cases after Obama nominated him to the Supreme Court. The court currently has four conservative justices and four liberals. Scalia's replacement could tilt its ideological balance for years to come, restoring the long-standing conservative majority just at a time when it appeared liberals would get an upper hand on the bench. This could be pivotal in a wide range of issues including abortion, the death penalty, religious rights, presidential powers, transgender rights, federal regulations and others. Trump previously unveiled a list of 21 conservative jurists he would consider for the job and said this month he had whittled the list down to "probably three or four." Last week, Trump's incoming chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said the announcement would be made close the new president's Jan 20 inauguration. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)
By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. Electoral College is expected on Monday to officially select Republican Donald Trump as the next president in a vote that is usually routine but takes place this year amid allegations of Russian hacking to try to influence the election.

At meetings scheduled in every state and the District of Columbia, the institution's 538 electors, generally chosen by state parties, will cast official ballots for president and vice president.

It is highly unlikely the vote will change the outcome of the Nov. 8 election, which gave the White House to Trump after he won a majority of Electoral College votes. The popular vote went to Democrat Hillary Clinton.

But the conclusion by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia hacked into the emails of the Democratic National Committee in an attempt to sway the election for Trump has prompted Democrats to urge some electors not to vote as directed by their state's popular ballot.

The leaked emails disclosed details of Clinton's paid speeches to Wall Street, party infighting and inside criticism about Clinton's use of a private server to send emails while U.S. secretary of state. The disclosures led to embarrassing media coverage and prompted some party officials to resign.

Trump and his team dismiss intelligence claims of Russian interference, accusing Democrats and their allies of trying to undermine the legitimacy of his election victory.

Russian officials have denied accusations of interfering in the election.

On Sunday, Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta, said it was an open question whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia about the emails, an allegation that Trump's incoming White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, denied. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators called for a special committee probe of cyber attacks by Russia and other countries.

The number of Electoral College electors equals the number of representatives and senators in Congress, with each state receiving a share roughly proportional to its population size.

Story continues

When voters go to the polls to cast a ballot for president, they are actually choosing a presidential candidate's preferred slate for their state.

A candidate must secure 270 votes to win. Trump won 306 electors from 30 states.

The electors convene meetings in each state to cast ballots about six weeks after each presidential election.

If no candidate reaches 270 in the Electoral College, the president is chosen by the U.S. House of Representatives - currently controlled by Republicans.

(Additional reporting by Julia Harte in Washington; Editing by Peter Cooney)
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) THDCIL and the Coal Ministry have entered into an allotment agreement for Amelia coal mine in Madhya Pradesh.

"D V Singh, Chairman and Managing Director THDCIL and Vivek Bhardwaj, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Coal, signed the allotment agreement for Amelia coal mine on December 15, 2016," a press statement said.

The Coal Ministry had in August 2016 allotted Amelia coal mine to hydro power generator THDCIL in order to meet the requirement of its Khurja STPP(2X660 MW).

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The Amelia coal mine located in Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, is spread on around 1619.10 hectare of lease land excluding 240.70 hectare land outside lease area.

The total geological coal reserve stands at 393.59 million tonnes. Rated capacity of the mine is 8.4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of coal production.

The Khurja STPP shall facilitate overall development of the area, create job opportunities for the local people and improve the deficit power scenario of Uttar Pradesh, the statement said.

Besides, all major clearances viz land availability, water commitment, airport authority clearance, re-routing of NH-91 and railway siding for the project are already in place. PTI SID ABM

--- ENDS ---
By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday he feared genocide was about to start in South Sudan unless immediate action is taken, renewing his plea for the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on the world's newest country. "If we fail to act, South Sudan will be on a trajectory towards mass atrocities," Ban told the 15-member Security Council. "The Security Council must take steps to stem the flow of arms to South Sudan." Noting that his special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Adama Dieng, has described genocide as a process, Ban said: "I am afraid that process is about to begin unless immediate action is taken." Political rivalry between South Sudan President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and his former deputy Riek Machar, a Nuer, led to civil war in 2013 that has often followed ethnic lines. The pair signed a shaky peace deal last year, but fighting has continued. Machar fled in July and is now in South Africa. Ban said reports suggested Kiir and his loyalists "are contemplating a new military offensive in the coming days" against Machar-allied opposition troops, while "there are clear indications that Riek Machar and other opposition groups are pursuing a military escalation." Dieng told the council last month that he had seen "all the signs that ethnic hatred and targeting of civilians could evolve into genocide," and the head of a U.N. human rights commission said the country was on the brink of an all-out ethnic civil war. "How many more clues do you, do we all need to move from our anxious words to real preventative action?" U.N. aid chief Stephen O'Brien asked the council on Monday. U.S. PRESSES TO "STOP ATROCITIES" South Sudan's U.N. ambassador, Akuei Bona Malwal, on Monday said the descriptions were exaggerated and did not "reflect the reality on the ground." "There have been no attempts, that we are aware of, on the part of the South Sudanese masses to turn against each other," he told the Security Council. Following an outbreak of deadly violence in Juba, the capital, in July, the Security Council in August authorized a 4,000-strong protection force as part of a U.N. peacekeeping force already on the ground and threatened an arms embargo if Kiir's government did not cooperate. None of the new troops have yet deployed. "Obstruction and defiance," the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said of Kiir's government. U.N. peacekeepers have been in South Sudan since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011. There are currently some 13,700 U.N. troops and police on the ground. The United States has been struggling to secure the minimum number of votes needed for the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan. To be adopted, a resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes. Diplomats have said that so far only seven members were in favor, with the remaining eight planning to abstain or vote no. While veto powers Russia and China are skeptical whether an arms embargo would achieve much in a country awash with weapons, diplomats did not expect them to block the measure. Power said she wants to put a resolution to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan to a vote before the end of the year. "The situation is not getting better, it's getting worse, and we're sitting on our hands as a council," Power said. "We have to try to stop atrocities in South Sudan." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by James Dalgleish and Leslie Adler)
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Monday to rush United Nations monitors and Aleppo try to stanch a devastating humanitarian situation as the city falls to the Syrian government and forces backed by Iran and Russia.

The resolution called for the urgent deployment of monitors and demanded complete, immediate, unconditional, safe, and unhindered access to Aleppo for the U.N. and its partners to deliver aid and medical care. It also said the U.N. Secretary-General must consult with interested parties as the world body makes arrangements to deploy monitors  an awkwardly-worded compromise to assuage Moscows earlier demands for coordination with the Syrian government.

Western powers opposed Russias provisions, fearing it would give President Bashar al-Assads government a pretext to hamper the U.N. efforts to evacuate those most in need. The compromise was hammered out by France and Russia, which both initially issued competing resolutions on Aleppo to the U.N. Security Council.

Louis Charbonneau, the U.N. representative for Human Rights Watch, told Foreign Policy his group is skeptical that Syria, and its Russian and Iranian allies, will immediately work to make sure the evacuations take place properly and in a humane manner.

All three have dismal records when is come to protecting civilians, Charbonneau said.

The Turkish government announced that 20,000 people were evacuated from eastern Aleppo as of Monday. Somewhere between 15,000 and 40,000 civilians remain in the city, according to various reports.

Mondays unanimous vote followed a succession of Russian vetoes of Security Council measures aimed at pressuring the Assad regime to curtail its military activities. Council diplomats said Moscows support for the current resolution came after the U.S., Britain and France, threatened to support the convening of an emergency session of the U.N. General Assembly to take up the Syria crisis.

On Dec. 14, Turkey and Russia brokered a fragile ceasefire in Aleppo to evacuate rebels and civilians from the city as it fell to Assads forces. The ceasefire repeatedly collapsed and resumed over the weekend as reports emerged of delays, and of militants attacking relief workers.

Story continues

The newest U.N. resolution is a welcome sign for relief organizations, but some fear it may be too little, too late.

Evacuations have been taking place now for days, and in that time we have seen convoys being attacked. Why has it taken so long for this necessary step to be taken? said Sherine Tadros, Head of Amnesty Internationals U.N. office in New York. U.N. monitors should not just observe but also be allowed to investigate war crimes being committed, she added.

After the vote, Syrian Ambassador to the U.N. Bashar al-Jaafari said there was no need for new monitors in Aleppo because the chief humanitarian agencies had been in the area throughout the conflict. Are we going to implement the resolution, yes, he said.

But, Jaafari said, its key provisions have already been implemented by the Syrian government for the past five years. His remarks raised questions about whether Syria would permit new monitors into Aleppo, or insist that the U.N. rely on humanitarian aid workers already based in the area.

Jaafari also claimed numerous U.S., Israeli, Jordanian, Moroccan, Turkish, Saudi, and Qatari supporters and intelligence officers, remain in Aleppo and are seeking to escape. We are going to catch them and show them to you, he said, claiming that the U.S. and its allies sought Mondays resolution to guarantee their safety out of eastern Aleppo.

Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said Jaafaris remarks should come with a warning label noting that nothing he has said over the life of this conflict has been true.

On Tuesday, the Russian, Turkish, and Iranian defense ministers will meet in Moscow to discuss Aleppo and the situation in Syria. The meeting aims to understand the views of all three sides, laying out where we all stand and discuss where we go from here, a Turkish official told Hurriyet Daily News.

But the official added that Turkey would not budge from its longstanding position that Assad must step down to end the Syrian conflict: Someone who is the culprit in the death of 600,000 people cannot be a partner for a solution, said the official, who was not identified by name. With the Russians, we agree to disagree on this matter.

Also on Monday, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was reportedly shot and seriously wounded by a gunman in Ankara during a visit to a photo exhibition. He was taken to a hospital but his condition is yet unknown. The gunman is currently still at large.

Photo credit: STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images
(Adds comments by U.N. Syria mediator and U.N. aid chief)

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously called for U.N. officials and others to observe the evacuation of people from the last rebel-held enclave in Aleppo and monitor the safety of civilians who remain in the Syrian city.

The 15-member council overcame long-held divisions - that have pitted Syrian ally Russia and China against Western powers over the Syrian conflict - to adopt a French-drafted resolution calling for U.N. officials and others "to carry out adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations."

The recapture of Aleppo - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's biggest victory in the nearly six-year-old war - has left thousands of people stuck in the last rebel bastion in the city's east amid accusations by the United Nations and Western powers of atrocities against civilians by pro-government forces.

U.N. Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura announced on Monday he intended to convene peace talks in Geneva on Feb. 8.

Thousands of people were evacuated from eastern Aleppo on Monday.

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said it was hoped the presence of monitors would deter crimes against civilians as they leave Aleppo or against those who choose to stay in the city.

"Of course the Syrian government doesn't want more monitors," Power said. "If you're doing bad things you don't want monitors around to watch you doing them."

The United Nations said it has more than 100 people - mainly Syrian national staff - ready to monitor alongside officials from the International Committee for the Red Cross.

"We stand ready to scale up our presence and efforts across the entire city ... This can be done immediately, but only if the parties live up to this resolution and their most basic legal obligations," U.N. aid chief Stephen O'Brien said.

The Security Council reached consensus on a text on Sunday after several hours of negotiations. Russia had planned to veto the original French draft over concerns about sending U.N. monitors unprepared into "the ruins of eastern Aleppo," U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said.

Story continues

Russia wanted U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to arrange security for U.N. monitors to enter eastern Aleppo "in coordination" with interested parties, meaning the Syrian government. The council agreed that such arrangements would be made "in consultation" with interested parties.

"We keep contact with our Syrian colleagues here all the time ... they did not raise any serious objections to what we delivered," Churkin told reporters ahead of the vote.

Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari said the adopted resolution was already "part of our continued daily efforts," but he also described it as "just another part of the continued propaganda against Syria and its fight against terrorists" - a term it uses for all groups fighting Assad.

"The last terrorists in some districts of the eastern part of Aleppo are evacuating their strongholds and Aleppo this evening will be clean," he told reporters.

Russia, which has provided military backing to Assad's troops, has vetoed six Security Council resolutions on Syria since the conflict started in 2011. China joined Moscow in vetoing five resolutions.

Monday's resolution "demands all parties to provide these monitors with safe, immediate and unimpeded access."

Unlike previous heated Security Council meetings on Syria, no members spoke in the council chamber after the vote.

Despite the government's recapture of Aleppo, the fighting in Syria is by no means over, with large tracts of the country still under the control of insurgent and Islamist groups.

A crackdown by Assad on pro-democracy protesters in 2011 led to civil war and Islamic State militants have used the chaos to seize territory in Syria and Iraq. Half of Syria's 22 million people have been uprooted and more than 400,000 killed.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Frances Kerry and Matthew Lewis)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the killing of the Russian ambassador to Turkey on Monday, and said the United States was ready to help Russia and Turkey investigate the attack. Ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot in the back and killed while giving a speech at an art gallery in the Turkish capital Ankara. "The United States condemns the assassination today in Ankara of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov," Kerry said in a statement. "We stand ready to offer assistance to Russia and Turkey as they investigate this despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world." The U.S. Defense Department also condemned the shooting. (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati and Phil Stewart, editing by G Crosse)
By Letitia Stein

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Inside a sunny classroom at a church decorated with rainbow flags, two transgender teenagers exploded into giggles during a dance break from math at Pride School Atlanta.

They are among a handful of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) youth who have found a haven at the school, which opened this fall at a time when the number of discrimination complaints from transgender students has been soaring across the nation.

The non-profit private Pride School Atlanta is seen as the first school in the American South focused on the LGBT community and one of few addressing similar concerns in the nation.

"They don't have to fight for the right to exist here," Christian Zsilavetz, the school's transgender co-founder and director, said in an interview.

Court records and data reviewed by Reuters show a 12-fold surge in transgender student-related civil rights complaints lodged with the U.S. Department of Education - from seven in 2014 to 84 in 2016.

Many complaints involving bathroom and locker room access are going unaddressed following court developments, and there is uncertainty over the direction the administration of President-elect Donald Trump will take on the issue.

The inaction has shut down a process that increasingly had provided recourse to students fighting for access to facilities, names and pronouns matching their gender identities.

In recent months, federal authorities have suspended investigation or monitoring in 35 pending cases of alleged discrimination, court documents show. They are appealing restrictions that were imposed by a U.S. judge in Texas amid building backlash to the Obama administration's policies promoting transgender bathroom rights.

Amid the wrangling, a transgender high school student in Volusia County, Florida, has been failing a gym class, often late or improperly dressed due to complications about where he must change clothes.

Despite having a mustache and goatee, he cannot change alongside the other boys in the locker room, said his mother, Jennifer, who asked to be identified by only her first name to protect her son's identity. He is increasingly angry after already waiting for two years on a pending civil rights complaint.

Story continues

"It's hard to look at him and say, 'Yeah, what you are going through is unfair. But there's nothing we can do about it,'" she said.

SAFE HAVEN SCHOOL

At Pride School, where transgender students are the majority of its inaugural class, Josh Farabee, 14, feels comfortable showing off his spunky pink and lime hair and long mauve nails.

Under the gender-neutral restroom policy students voted for, he tried the men's restrooms but discovered he still prefers the women's.

The transgender student's days at the school are a far cry from his former public school, where classmates called him "tranny" and "fag."

"I don't wake up scared to go to school," he said.

Still, Josh and his mother, Stacia Oberweis, said his public school was relatively accommodating, with teachers adapting to his new name and "he" and "him" pronouns.

"The teachers can follow a policy but you can't make the kids get on board," Oberweis said. "And we all know kids are terrible to each other."

Even opponents of transgender bathroom access see benefits in the Pride School model, which is serving a small group of full- and part-time students in a multi-age classroom.

"We might disagree with the content but the notion of local solutions and school choice ... is probably a good thing," said Gary McCaleb, senior counsel at the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom.

GROWING BACKLASH

Stories like Josh's increasingly have alarmed officials at the U.S. Department of Education. In court records, the department says its research of transgender issues led to a 2013 landmark resolution of a civil rights complaint out of Arcadia, California. The agreement recognized a transgender boy's right to use gender-specific facilities, including the boys' cabin on a class trip.

The government soon saw an outpouring of complaints. The advocacy group Lambda Legal rewrote a brochure once focused on bullying protection.

"We have evolved to, 'You absolutely should not be sent to the nurse's bathroom,'" said Dru Levasseur, transgender rights project director for Lambda Legal, referring to the unisex bathrooms commonly offered in schools that block transgender students from their preferred bathroom.

As of late October, there were 32 open civil rights investigations into transgender discrimination complaints at elementary and secondary schools in 21 states, Education Department data shows. The agency did not disclose details.

One involves the student in Florida who filed his complaint alleging discrimination in his school district, said his lawyer, Asaf Orr, at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Now in his first year of high school, his mother says he feels stigmatized on the long walk to the media center to change clothes for physical education, which in his opinion was the best of the options offered to him. He once found himself locked out of the gym upon return.

His school district said in a statement that its policies are not discriminatory under current law and that it works with transgender students on a case-by-case basis.

"Things take time," said Thomas Krever, chief executive officer of the Hetrick-Martin Institute helping LGBT youth in New York City. "This is time that this current generation of young people just doesn't have."

(Reporting by Letitia Stein; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Bill Trott)
By David Morgan and Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican and Democratic senators called on Sunday for a special bipartisan panel to investigate cyber attacks against the United States by foreign countries with a focus on Russia's alleged efforts to influence the U.S. presidential election. Charles Schumer, who will be Senate Democratic leader in the new U.S. Congress in January, and Republican John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said separately on Sunday a select committee was needed to ensure effective congressional focus on the hacking of Democratic Party emails during the campaign. "The fact that they're hacking our political system and trying to influence the outcome, as it seems to be, that is serious, serious stuff," Schumer of New York told a news conference in New York. He said the panel should also examine hacking by other countries including China and Iran. Two other senators, Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island, joined Schumer and McCain of Arizona in sending a letter to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell requesting the panel. By having one dedicated committee on the subject, they said, the investigation could be targeted, while avoiding the jurisdictional overlap that would occur if multiple panels started conducting their own reviews. "Recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American," they wrote. "Cybersecurity is the ultimate cross-jurisdictional challenge, and we must take a comprehensive approach to meet this challenge effectively." A spokesman for McConnell's office said on Sunday he would review the letter from the four lawmakers. Last week, McConnell said he would support efforts to investigate Russian interference in the presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia tried to influence the Nov. 8 election by hacking individuals and institutions, including Democratic Party bodies. The matter has angered Republican President-elect Donald Trump, who says he won the vote fairly. Russian officials have denied accusations of interfering in the U.S. election. The U.S. Electoral College is expected to officially vote on Monday for Trump as the country's next president. At meetings scheduled in every state and the District of Columbia, the institution's 538 electors, generally chosen by state parties, will cast official ballots for president and vice president. Trump won a majority of Electoral College votes, while the popular vote went to Democrat Hillary Clinton. 'OPEN QUESTION' U.S. President Barack Obama suggested on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally authorized the Democratic Party email hacks. McCain told CNN's "State of the Union" program that the U.S. response to the Russian attacks had been "totally paralyzed" and said cyber warfare "is perhaps the only area where our adversaries have an advantage over us." The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment. John Podesta, Clinton's presidential campaign chairman, said on Sunday it was an "open question" whether Trump's advisers colluded with Russia to hack into Democratic Party emails to try to sway the election outcome. Leaked emails had revealed details of paid speeches that Clinton gave to Wall Street, party infighting and comments from Clinton top aides who said they were shocked about the extent of her use of a private server to send emails while U.S. secretary of state. The leaks led to embarrassing media coverage and prompted some party officials to resign. Podesta said there was evidence that Trump associates had contact with a Russian intelligence official and the website WikiLeaks before U.S. intelligence agencies accused Russia of being behind computer attacks of Democratic emails, including Podesta's. He did not specify what the evidence was. "It's very much unknown whether there was collusion. I think Russian diplomats have said post-election that they were talking to the Trump campaign," he told NBC's "Meet the Press" program. "Not what Mr. Trump knew, but what did 'Trump Inc' know and when did they know it? Were they in touch with the Russians? I think those are still open questions," he added. Trump's incoming White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, rejected the notion that Trump or his associates were aware of and in touch with the Russians during the hack attack. "Even this question is insane," Priebus told "Fox News Sunday." "Of course we dont interface with the Russians. (Additional reporting by Julia Harte in Washington; Editing by Caren Bohan and Peter Cooney)
Uber self-driving Volvo SUV

Uber is arguing that its self-proclaimed self-driving cars really aren't all that self-driving to justify its decision to forego an autonomous vehicles license in California.

Uber launched a pilot program for its self-driving cars in San Francisco last week, allowing users to ride in a self-driving car that's monitored by a trained driver and engineer sitting up front.

Uber first launched the pilot program for its self-driving cars in Pittsburgh in September.

But unlike the Pittsburgh program, which went off without major hitches, Uber's San Francisco launch had been underway only a few hours before the DMV threatened legal action against the company.

"If Uber does not confirm immediately that it will stop its launch and seek a testing permit, DMV will initiate legal action, including, but not limited to, seeking injunctive relief," the DMV wrote in a Dec. 14 letter to Uber.

Anthony Levandowski, Uber's Vice President of Advanced Technologies, is arguing that Uber doesn't need to get the license because the cars do not meet the definition of autonomous vehicles.

"When we look at how the Tesla vehicles operate, we see us operating in the same exact manner," Levandowski said on a Friday conference call with reporters.

But there are a few things wrong with using Tesla Autopilot as a defense.

uber self-driving car

Tesla Autopilot is at this juncture primarily intended for highway use. Tesla's first generation Autopilot, which has gotten a few updates since its 2014 release, allows cars to automatically steer, change lanes, and merge onto highways. There are some other convenience features consumers can purchase for extra as well, like the ability for the car to park itself.

Tesla is upgrading its Autopilot system in new cars to add abilities like changing lanes without driver input, matching the car's speed to traffic conditions for active cruise control, and merging off highways.

But as a whole, Tesla Autopilot really acts as an advanced cruise control with some useful parking abilities. Its capabilities fit it squarely as a Level 2 self-driving system.

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Uber's self-driving system, which I had the chance to experience behind the wheel, is intended for urban driving. Unlike Tesla's Autopilot system, it can respond to traffic light changes, make left turns, and generally navigate an environment with more pedestrians. That added complexity really qualifies Uber's cars under Level 3 autonomy.

Uber did not immediately return Business Insider's request for comment on all this.

SAE International, a US-based association that develops standards for automobiles, has a six-tier system to define autonomous cars ranging from Level 0 to Level 5. The distinction between Level 2 and Level 3 is slight but important.

sae driving levels

Level 2 is actually still considered a human-driver monitored system, where the system is responsible for steering, acceleration, and deceleration. The driver is technically responsible for monitoring anything that falls outside those three capabilities.

It's why Tesla is extra cautious to not use any self-driving branding when referencing Autopilot.

In August, Tesla removed a Chinese term for "self-driving" from its China website following a non-fatal crash while Autopilot was activated. A Tesla spokesperson said at the time the change was made to address "discrepancies across languages" and was not prompted by the crash.

The move shows how Tesla consistently brands Autopilot as a Level 2 system. As part of that, Tesla wants its drivers to keep their hands on the wheel when Autopilot is activated. If a driver refuses to do so, a warning signal will go off asking him to return his or her hands to the wheel.

If a driver were to ignore that warning signal, Autopilot would disengage for the remainder of the trip.

Meanwhile, Uber's cars act primarily as a Level 3 self-driving system, which is actually the first level where the car is qualified as an automated driving systems. That means the car is not only responsible for steering, acceleration, and deceleration, but for the monitoring of the driving environment as well.

The SAE International system notes that human supervision is still necessary at Level 3  something Uber has complied with by sticking two people upfront. But because the car is technically responsible for more driving tasks and is, therefore, considered an automated driving system, it follows suit that Uber would need an autonomous vehicles license.

That holds especially true considering Uber brands its car as self-driving. Its blog posts for the Pittsburgh and San Francisco pilots both refer to the cars as self-driving on numerous instances.

Additionally, there's no interface in the self-driving Ubers to make it clear human supervision is necessary. When I was behind the wheel of a self-driving Uber, I kept my hands on my lap for the majority of the time and never once heard a warning signal asking me to return them to the wheel.

Uber's self-driving Ford Fusions come with a toolbar indicating when a human needs to take over, but that's the extent of what you can see:

Uber self-driving car

Tesla cars, on the other hand, come with a digital interface behind the wheel to show you exactly what the car is seeing so you have real-time information about whether the car is struggling in certain environments before it even asks you to take over:

Tesla autopilot

All of this is to say that Tesla both brands itself and packages its cars to emphasize that the driver needs to stay in control when Autopilot is activated, emphasizing it's not a self-driving car.

Uber is lauding its cars as self-driving and then trying to back out of the responsibility inherent with that claim to avoid obtaining an autonomous vehicles permit in California, which costs a mere $150.

Smaller startups like Drive.ai and NextEV have gotten the California permit. Even Tesla has a California permit, which a spokesperson told Business Insider is for future testing, not Autopilot.

Uber should either get a license and own up to the fact that it's trying to advance Level 3 autonomy or stop branding its cars as self-driving. At the moment, unfortunately, it's trying to have things both ways.

NOW WATCH: We got a ride in a self-driving Uber  here's what it was like





More From Business Insider


LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament on Monday she was concerned about reports that Russia's Turkish ambassador had been shot in the capital Ankara.

"I was just looking at what I believe ... is some breaking news, that the Russian ambassador to Turkey has been shot, a matter which is yet to be confirmed, but I think is a matter of concern," May said in the middle of a question and answer session.

The ambassador was seriously wounded in a gun attack at an art gallery in Ankara and after May spoke, Russian news agency RIA said he had died of his wounds.

(Reporting by Andy Bruce and Camilla Hodgson, writing by David Milliken; editing by Stephen Addison)
(Adds Finance Minister, PrivatBank deputy chairman comments)

By Natalia Zinets and Pavel Polityuk

KIEV, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The Ukrainian government announced on Sunday that it will nationalise PrivatBank, the country's biggest lender, in one of the biggest shake-ups of the banking system since the country plunged into political and economic turmoil two years ago.

In a statement late on Sunday, the government made no mention of the size of the potential burden to the state budget, but said it would ensure a stable transition and the smooth functioning of the bank.

The Finance Ministry will take over PrivatBank, which is part-owned by one of Ukraine's richest men, the powerful oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky. Finance Minister Oleksandr Danylyuk said depositors' money was safe and secured by the state, and that the bank was functioning normally.

"The private shareholders of PrivatBank proposed to the government that it become the bank's owner in the interests of its clients," the government said in a statement.

"The transition period begins on 19 December. The state will ensure a smooth transition and the stable functioning of the bank."

Under Western-backed banking reforms, Ukraine is meant to shut lenders that cannot meet capitalisation targets, but with nearly $6 billion in private deposits - 36.5 percent of Ukraine's total - PrivatBank is considered too big to fail.

The bailout could fuel instability in Ukraine, where opposition parties have repeatedly called for snap elections to unseat the pro-Western leadership that took power after the 2014 Maidan protests.

The opposition has harnessed the anger of depositors from banks that were previously shut down in a sweeping cleanup of the financial system, mobilising rallies and demanding the central bank chief's resignation.

The announcement comes just days before parliament has to vote on next year's budget, which must stick to a shortfall of 3 percent of economic output, as agreed with Ukraine's international backers.

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There was no official statement from PrivatBank. Oleg Gorokhovsky, PrivatBank's deputy chairman, wrote on Facebook that the bank had seen increased withdrawals in recent days of 2 billion hryvnia ($76 million) daily against previous peaks of around 1.5 billion hryvnia ($57 million).

"Of course, the bank needed a capital increase and to improve the collateral for loans," he said.

The plan was to do this over a period to 2018. However, Gorokhovsky said after the outbreak of violence in the east and against the backdrop of a sinking economy, the bank experienced what he described as a series of "information attacks" that led to an outflow of funds from individuals and corporate clients.

"The decision on a voluntary and peaceful transfer of the bank to state ownership was made at a time when we realized that we could not survive the (latest) information attack," he wrote.

Over the past few months the central bank has repeatedly declined to comment on speculation that PrivatBank would be taken under state control due to an inability to meet an end-2016 recapitalisation target.

Recapitalising PrivatBank and other large lenders and reducing their lending to shareholders was one of the tasks mandated by a $17.5 billion International Monetary Fund aid-for-reforms programme.

Kolomoisky's control of strategic industries, including energy and media holdings, has put him at the centre of ongoing power battles among the political elite since street protests ousted Moscow-backed Viktor Yanukovich and the pro-Russian rebellion erupted in the east.

PrivatBank's nationalisation is the culmination of the banking sector cleanup, which has closed dozens of lenders that were seen as little more than personal piggy banks for their owners.

($1 = 26.2100 hryvnia) (Additional reporting by Alexei Kalmykov; writing by Alessandra Prentice and Matthias Williams)
Did you know Kishwer Merchantt got married in a lehenga gifted by her brother Prince Narula?

By India Today Web Desk: A year back, around this time, Kishwer Merchantt opted out of Bigg Boss 9, just to help her 'brother' Prince Narula move to the next level, in the show. It's another thing that her fans, who wanted Kish to win were disappointed. But it looks like Prince Narula, who ultimately won the show, found a sister for life.

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The reality TV star, who turned actor with &TV's soap Badho Bahu this year, gifted Kishwer her wedding lehenga, and the sister's joy knew no bounds.

Also read: Kishwer Merchantt gets trolled online; Suyyash Rai gives it back to the haters

"Kaun kehta hai reality shows mein rishtey nahi bante," wrote Kishwer Merchantt on her Instagram post, while sharing an image wearing her beautiful wedding lehenga.

this outfit is special .. got married in it and this is given to me by my brother @princenarula .. ? kaun kehta hai reality shows mien rishte nahi bante ???? jewellery @johri_by_amaze_jewels ?? captured by @deepikasdeepclicks ?? A photo posted by Kishwer (@kishwersmerchantt) on Dec 17, 2016 at 8:51pm PST

Bigg Boss 9 couple Suyyash Rai and Kishwer Merchant got married in a court wedding on December 16, followed by a grand reception. A web series called #SukishKiShaadi has been made around their wedding.

Check out other wedding pics:

He went down on one knee and her heart skipped a beat And her answer was a yes and his heart skipped a beat @suyyashrai @kishwersmerchantt #sukishkishaadi #knottingbells #proposal #brides #thatmoment #heart A photo posted by Knotting Bells (@knottingbells) on Dec 17, 2016 at 9:49pm PST

--- ENDS ---
By Alexei Kalmykov

KIEV, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Ukraine's takeover of its biggest bank follows a clash of kings between two of the country's richest men, Ihor Kolomoisky, who owned PrivatBank, and President Petro Poroshenko.

Kolomoisky fell out with Poroshenko in a dispute over state-owned energy companies that culminated in armed and masked men storming state-owned energy company UkrTransNafta in March 2015.

Asked last year whether he would ever use his ownership of PrivatBank for political leverage, Kolomoisky roundly dismissed the idea in an interview with news website Lb.ua.

But that has not stopped Kolomoisky from pursuing a political agenda and in June 2015 he formed the Ukrop party, the Ukrainian Association of Patriots, with so far mixed success.

"The bank is a sacred cow. It is on the plinth somewhere out there, and I am afraid to even look in that direction. I am not interfering in the bank's affairs," the 53-year-old said.

While PrivatBank may have been untouchable for Kolomoisky, it has become increasingly important to the Ukrainian banking system, with more than a third of private deposits, some $6 billion, and servicing more than 20 million Ukrainians, around half the country's entire population.

Its systemic importance was what Ukraine's central bank said had prompted it to take over PrivatBank, at a stroke making Kiev the largest player in the country's banking sector and depriving Kolomoisky of the jewel in the crown of his business empire.

Kolomoisky, who owns stakes in oil and metals companies, airlines and a media holding company, has not yet commented.

But PrivatBank's chairman on Monday said the owner's top priority was to meet obligations to depositors. He also denied the central bank's assessment of PrivatBank's balance sheet.

The chairman and deputy chairman both maintain the bank's lending practices were not to blame for its situation but a sustained campaign of "information attacks" on its reputation.

RECAPITALISATION

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The central bank had previously singled out PrivatBank as the only major lender yet to prove it was up to speed with a recapitalisation programme agreed with the International Monetary Fund to prop up Ukraine's economy.

Ukraine's central bank has for years tried to nudge PrivatBank to clean up its balance sheet and on Monday, it declared the lender -- already hit by economic turmoil and the war against Russian-backed separatists since 2014 -- insolvent, adding that it had also been was brought low by risky lending.

The clean-up of the sector is a vital part of a $17.5 billion International Monetary Fund aid-for-reforms programme, which over the last two years saw Ukrainian banks halve in number to fewer than 100 and their losses mount to 120 billion hryvnias ($4.57 billion).

Last year the central bank ran a stress-test of the top-20 banks and ruled 11 banks would have to gradually increase their capital over next three years. It did not name the banks needing recapitalisation.

According to Fitch Rating's estimates, PrivatBank's bad loans stood at 40 percent of its portfolio at the end of the second quarter while just 37 percent were covered by reserves.

After the nationalisation of PrivatBank, state banks will control half of all Ukrainian banking assets.

PrivatBank's two owners were worth $1.3 billion each, making them the joint second-richest in Ukraine, according to Forbes' 2016 ratings. But unlike Kolomoisky, Gennady Bogolyubov, 54, shies away from public attention.

(Editing by Matthias Williams and Alexander Smith)
Jerusalem (AFP) - The United Nations launched an appeal Monday for $547 million (524 million euros) to help 1.6 million people in the Palestinian territories in 2017.

The response covers 1.1 million residents of the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli blockade for the past decade, and half a million people in the occupied West Bank.

The most recent conflict between Israel and Gaza ended in August 2014 but Israel has maintained tight restrictions on the enclave, while Egypt has also closed its border.

The United Nations has warned that tiny but densely populated coastal enclave could become uninhabitable by 2020 if current trends continue.

"Needs in Gaza remain particularly acute and humanitarian services provided by the international community remain a lifeline," said Robert Piper, UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, in a letter accompanying the launch.

The appeal was down from $571 million the year before, of which about 47 percent, or $267 million, was met.

Politically there has been few positive trends in 2016, with plans for a unity government stumbling amid deepening divisions between rival Palestinian factions.

Attempts to encourage new peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian leadership, stalled since 2014, have also failed.

Piper said in a separate statement that without political reform and a meaningful peace process, international aid was "just trying to buy time".

"This humanitarian response must be coupled with bold political action," he said.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - With Russia's backing, the Security Council on Monday agreed to quickly deploy UN observers to Aleppo as the United Nations announced that political talks will resume in February on ending Syria's devastating war.

The council unanimously adopted a French-drafted resolution that marks the first show of unity in months among world powers struggling to put an end to the five-year war that has left more than 310,000 dead.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said he planned to convene a new round of negotiations on February 8 in Geneva, saying in a statement that it was "vital to build on this initial momentum with further steps."

The announcement of a new round of talks came after the council tasked the United Nations with carrying out "adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations" from east Aleppo and other besieged areas.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the international presence aimed to prevent Aleppo from turning into another Srebrenica, where thousands of Bosnian men and boys were massacred in 1995 when the town fell to Serb forces.

It remained uncertain however whether the Syrian government would give the observers quick access to the eastern districts of the city and allow operations there to come under international scrutiny.

"This is a starting point," Delattre told reporters. "We will be extremely attentive, extremely vigilant."

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said there were about 100 UN staff in western Aleppo -- the vast majority of whom are Syrian nationals -- who could begin monitoring quickly but he declined to give a timetable.

"We are looking at the modalities of who would go where, within the city," Dujarric said. "Obviously there are security concerns and issues of access that need to be worked out."

Russia, Syria's main ally, said the Damascus government was on board.

"We kept contact with our Syrian colleagues here all the time so they were aware of the process and they did not raise any serious objections to what we delivered," said Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.

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Russia had threatened to veto a first draft circulated by France on Friday but following nearly four hours of consultations on Sunday, a compromise text was agreed.

Ban is to report to the council within five days on whether access has been granted by the Syrian government, which has repeatedly blocked UN aid.

- Shift from Russia ? -

The adoption of the resolution could mark a shift from Russia toward renewed international engagement in efforts to settle the conflict.

"We need that change," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft.

"It's Russian policy that has blocked the unity that the Security Council requires in order to set a course to end this conflict."

The last round of UN-brokered peace talks ended in April, with no progress on the key issue of Syria's future government and the fate of President Bashar al-Assad.

Thousands of traumatized Syrians left the enclave Monday under a complex evacuation agreement that will see regime forces exert full control over the battered city.

These were the first departures since Friday when the government suspended evacuations, insisting on a tit-for-tat deal to allow civilians and fighters to leave two northwestern villages under rebel siege.

Syrian Ambassador Bashar Jaafari accused Western powers of scrambling to send observers to east Aleppo to rescue what he described as foreign spies supporting the opposition forces.

"The main purpose is how to rescue these terrorist foreigners, intelligence officers," Jaafari told reporters. "This is why you saw this hysterical move in the council in the last few days."

The Syrian ambassador said his government will abide by the resolution and denied that it had blocked access in the past to UN officials.

"The last terrorists in some districts of the eastern part of Aleppo are evacuating their strongholds," Jaafari said.

"Aleppo this evening will be clean," he declared.
A stone slab found off the coast of Israel has finally revealed the name of the ruler during one of the most iconic moments in Jewish history: the Bar Kokhba revolt.

The slab dates to the second century A.D., a bloody time in Jewish history when a fiery leader named Simon bar Kokhba led a failed revolt against Roman rulers. The huge chunk of stone was found at an underwater site called Tel Dor, located about 18 miles (30 kilometers) south of the city of Haifa. [Photos: 5,000-Year-Old Stone Monument in Israel]

The area once housed the Biblical city of Dor, which was occupied until the fourth century. Over the last 70 years, the site has yielded a treasure trove of pottery, anchors and other artifacts from ancient Israel. Ehud Arkin-Shalev and Michelle Kreiser, researchers from the Coastal Archaeology Laboratory at the University of Haifa, uncovered the giant slab while looking in the water of the Dor Nature Reserve.

The inscription was clearly visible, even beneath the water, the researchers said. The team eventually decided to bring the slab out of the water, to prevent damage to the inscription. Researchers discovered that the massive, 1,300-lb. (600 kilograms) slab had seven lines of ancient Greek inscribed upon it.

The stone slab is on display at the University of Haifa's library. University of Haifa

"The stone probably formed the base of a sculpture from the Roman period. As far as we know, this is the longest inscription found underwater in Israel," Assaf Yasur-Landau, the University of Haifa archaeologist who led the excavation, said in a statement.

Although the researchers have not completely deciphered the text, they have already made two discoveries: The inscription identified the Roman prefect in charge of Judea as Gargilius Antiques. Though researchers had found one other inscription bearing this name, that artifact did not mention the region Antiques ruled. In addition, the inscription confirms the name of the province involved in the revolt as Judea, which, until now, no inscription immediately preceding the Bar Kokhba revolt had stated, the researchers said.

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The inscription dates from a tumultuous time in Jewish history. The second temple was destroyed in A.D. 70, and around A.D. 132, tensions simmering between the Roman rulers of the province and the Jewish inhabitants boiled over once again. At that point, the Jewish leader Simon bar Kokhba led a revolt against the Romans. During the four years of fighting, both sides sustained heavy casualties, and many Jews were ultimately sold into slavery or scattered.

"Immediately after the Bar Kokhba revolt, the Romans decided to abolish the province of Judea and to obliterate any mention of its name. The province was united with Syria to form a single province called Syria-Palestine," Yasur-Landau said. "So what we have here is an inscription dated to just before Judea ceased to exist as a province under that name. Of the two inscriptions mentioning the name Judea, this is the latest, of course. Because such findings are so rare, it is unlikely that we will find many later inscriptions including the name Judea,"

Original article on Live Science.

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Consumer products giant Unilever Plc UL announced that it will acquire Living Proof Inc., the innovative premium hair care business. Though the terms of the deal were kept under wraps, the acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter 2017, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Founded in 2005 and co-founded by MIT professor Robert Langer, this Cambridge-based beauty products company brought on actress Jennifer Aniston as the co-owner and hair care spokesperson in 2012. The company holds 20 patents for the chemical technologies used in its shampoos and other hair care products.

Living Proof will now be part of Unilevers Prestige portfolio, which already includes brands like Murad and REN. Addition of Living Proof to the Prestige brand will lead to creation of a comprehensive portfolio of hair products, enabling customers to get stronger and healthier hair, while addressing a number of problems.

UNILEVER PLC Price and Consensus

UNILEVER PLC Price and Consensus | UNILEVER PLC Quote

We note that Unilever has been focused on shaping its portfolio to deliver sustainable growth. Further, the company has been relying on deodorants and hair care products to augment revenues this year, as sales of margarine and bread spreads continue to wane. Last year, the company had added personal care brands, including Dermalogica and Kate Somervile.

Notably, the Anglo-Dutch company has been on an acquisition spree over the last few quarters, especially in the home care market.

In September, Unilever acquired Vermont-based Seventh Generation Inc., which is known for its natural and eco-friendly cleaning products, including plant-based detergents and household cleaners. Then Unilever expressed interest in buying Honest Co., a company co-founded by actress Jessica Alba, which sells disposable baby diapers and other baby products, and also has a natural focus.

In August, Unilever announced the acquisition of Stockholm-based Blueair, which will benefit asthma patients as the purifier can remove allergens, thereby making it easier for them to breathe. It will also complement the companys water purification business. Also, Unilever completed the purchase of Dollar Shave Club for about $1 billion, which was announced in July. Dollar Shave Club is a men's grooming brand, and the acquisition could prove particularly lucrative for Unilever, which does not own a direct-to-consumer mens shaving product line yet.

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However, despite its strong fundamentals, Unilever is struggling with its food business due to lack of innovation and dwindling demand. Saturation of markets in the U.S.  the companys major revenue source  has been primarily hurting demand. As a result, it has been shedding assets from its portfolio.

Last month, the consumer giant received an "adverse judgement" from the Brazilian Judicial court in relation to an indirect tax case and was ordered to pay judicial deposit of approximately 590 million (504 million), which will be recognized as a non-current financial asset. Though no impact is expected on the companys reported free cash flow, it led to a decline in share prices.

Unilever has been delivering weak results throughout the past few quarters due to sluggishness in the emerging markets, which account for about two-thirds of the companys total revenue. Though the emerging markets offer robust long-term prospects, they are generally volatile.

The companys attractive Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), VGM score of B, and low beta of 0.78 instills optimism in the stock. However, shares of Unilever declined 7.9% year to date, significantly underperforming the Zacks categorized Soap and Cleaning Preparations industrys growth of 0.9%.

Other Stocks to Consider

Other favorably placed stocks in the broader consumer staple sector include Sysco Corp. SYY, Lancaster Colony Corporation LANC and Ingredion, Inc. INGR. All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2.You can seethe complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.

Ingredion has an expected earnings growth rate of 11.0%. Further, it has delivered positive earnings surprises in all of the trailing four quarters, leading to an average earnings surprise of 10.5%. Meanwhile, Lancaster Colony and Sysco have expected earnings growth rates of 3.0% and 8.8%, respectively.

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Delivery in Portland, Oregon, just got an efficient makeover. United Parcel Service, Inc. (ticker: UPS) is tackling traffic and helping the environment through an out-of-the-box approach in the city: delivery by electric tricycles, reports Fast Company.

The eBike started to deliver packages Nov. 21, according to a news release.

The tricycle can take just one-tenth of a regular truck's normal amount of packages. This is the first time that UPS is testing this different type of delivery in the U.S., trying out comparable strategies in Hamburg, Germany in 2012 and, as Fortune notes, Switzerland in 2015.

Our e-bike delivery system in Hamburg went so well, we brought the idea to Portland. #sustainability https://t.co/CHUWkpWsx4 pic.twitter.com/XPO1Eq825D

-- UPS Public Affairs (@UPSPolicy)

December 16, 2016

The process is simple: A normal truck takes packages to the tricycle to deliver and goes about its way. These tricycles work a dual approach for the company, battling both traffic congestion as well as pollution -- and they could be a boon in cities. UPS approximates that a five-minute delay per vehicle translates to $105 million in operating costs. In New York City, the average delivery driver faces a 16-minute delay.

The programs harken back to UPS's origins more than 100 years ago, as it started out as a bike messenger company. If the program performs well in Portland, it could grow and eventually hit more cities in the U.S.

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David Oliver is Associate Editor, Social Media at U.S. News & World Report. Follow him on Twitter, connect with him on LinkedIn, or send him an email at doliver@usnews.com.
ZURICH, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A man stormed into a Zurich mosque and opened fire on people praying on Monday evening, injuring three people, police said.

Two of the three men - aged 30, 35 and 56 years - were seriously injured, Zurich city police said.

The suspect, a man around the age of 30 years old according to witness accounts, had fled the mosque and was believed to have left the building, police said.

Police said a body was found nearby, but could not comment on any link to the shootings while investigations were still under way.

Police said they had collected evidence inside the building and could not further comment on the motive or the suspect's background. He was wearing dark clothing and a dark wool cap, they said.

(Reporting by Michael Shields; writing by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; Editing by Alison Williams)
New American carmaker, Faraday Future, has released a video apparently showing its new crossover (although still under wraps) beating several vehicles in acceleration tests, making it the world's leading electric vehicle on acceleration.

Faraday Future is expected to reveal its first all-electric, connected and customizable crossover at the upcoming CES tech show in Las Vegas, January 5 to 8, 2017.

To show off its speed, Faraday Future has tested the vehicle's acceleration against some of the most powerful and performance-topping cars on the market. First up is the Bentley Bentayga, the British brand's first SUV equipped with a 610Hp W12 engine (0-60mph in four seconds). Next comes the Ferrari 488 GTB with its 670Hp V8 twin turbo engine (0-60mph in three seconds). Finally, and perhaps more importantly, comes the Tesla Model X P100D in "Ludicrous Speed" mode, Faraday Future's real rival and a reference in the field, reaching 0-60mph/h in just 2.9 seconds. In each of the tests, the Faraday Future crossover performed best on acceleration. And, as if that's not enough, the manufacturer promises more torque to come for even more spectacular performances.

It's as yet unclear whether the vehicle will be fully or partially self-driving. The manufacturer has already revealed that it's working in the field and has been granted permission to carry out real-world tests on public roads in California. Faraday Future also happens to be a partner of Chinese firm LeEco, which manufactures electronic devices (smartphones, TVs, etc.), and also previewed a fully autonomous concept car called LeSEE. The two firms could one day pool their knowledge and resources to build a vehicle that's both 100% electric and 100% self-driving.

Note that Faraday Future burst onto the scene at the 2016 edition of CES, causing a sensation with a spectacular concept car called the FFZERO1, a 1,000Hp single-seater with a top speed of 199mph.

Check out the Faraday Future acceleration tests in this video: youtu.be/rm_CCR5tnRQ
Washington (AFP) - The United States labeled as an apparent "terrorist attack" a driver's move to plow his truck into a busy Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing at least nine people and hurting 50 more.

"Germany is one of our closest partners and strongest allies, and we stand together with Berlin in the fight against all those who target our way of life and threaten our societies," White House National Security spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

"We have been in touch with German officials, and we stand ready to provide assistance as they recover from and investigate this horrific incident."

In Berlin, ambulances and heavily armed officers rushed to the area after the driver mounted the pavement of the market in a square popular with tourists, in scenes reminiscent of July's deadly truck attack in the French city of Nice.

"The United States condemns in the strongest terms what appears to have been a terrorist attack on a Christmas Market in Berlin, Germany, which has killed and wounded dozens," Price said.

"We send our thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of those killed, just as we wish a speedy recovery to all of those wounded. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Germany."

German police also described the incident as a possible terror attack, cautioning it was unclear who was behind the assault at this time.

Police added they had no indications as yet to the nationality or age of the arrested man.

Traditional Christmas markets are popular in cities and towns throughout Germany and have frequently been mentioned by security services as vulnerable to attacks.

Europe has been on high alert for most of 2016, with terror attacks striking Nice and Brussels, while Germany has been hit by several assaults claimed by the Islamic State group and carried out by asylum-seekers.
As heavy fighting continues in ISIS' last Iraqi stronghold in Mosul, the terrorist group's forces retook the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.

The recapture of Palmyra comes just a few months after Syrian forces, aided by Russia and Hezbollah, took the city back from ISIS forces that captured the city in May 2015.

The US-led coalition has also continued to target ISIS and its weaponry around the historic city. In 10 airstrikes on December 15, coalition bombers targeted 14 tanks, artillery systems, buildings, and vehicles northeast of the city along a highway. You can see a clip below.

The tanks and other equipment destroyed in the strikes had been captured by ISIS when the group advanced on Tiyas military airfield near Palmyra, Operation Inherent Resolve officials said a release. The daylight operation involved 16 coalition aircraft, using 22 bombs or other munitions to go after 22 targets.

Despite facing pressure in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, ISIS has reportedly be preparing for more offensive operations. The group's success in retaking Palmyra suggests that the forces of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad are overstretched and having difficulty holding territory.

palmyra syria isis

"Even with all the Russian and Iranian support, and all the foreign fighters that have joined their side, the regime still struggles to gain additional territory in opposition strongholds while maintaining what they already have," Noah Bonsey, the senior analyst for Syria at the International Crisis Group, told Time.

Days after ISIS surged into Palmyra, the Syrian army began redeploying troops from the area around Aleppo, in northwestern Syria, including some units that retook the city from ISIS earlier this year.

It was reported this week that Syrian government forces had halted ISIS' advance west of Palmyra.

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US air forces and the Russian forces assisting the Assad regime usually cover different areas of the country, with Russian aircraft typically scouring the skies over Palmyra, according to USA Today.

The commander of the US-led coalition, Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, said on Wednesday that the coalition would target ISIS near the city if Russians did not do so first.

Syrian army soldiers stands on the ruins of the Temple of Bel in the historic city of Palmyra, in Homs Governorate, Syria in this April 1, 2016 file photo. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki/Files

The US has also been critical of Russia and Syria for losing control of Palmyra and the weaponry and equipment around the ancient city, saying Moscow and Damascus have been focused on attacking Aleppo.

"(Russia) has only had one operational gain on the ground inside of Syria against ISIL. It has had that  that gain rolled back," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

"In fact, the threat that is posed by ISIL is now worse because of Russia's failed strategy inside of Syria, because ISIL didn't just retake Palmyra, they retook Palmyra and all of the military equipment that the Assad regime, backed by Russia, had moved in there."

NOW WATCH: Obama on Syria: 'As president of the United States I feel responsible'





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By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) To support less-cash economy, telecom regulator Trai today recommended that a "reasonable" amount of free data access should be provided to rural subscribers on monthly basis and the scheme could be funded from the Universal Service Obligation Fund.

"In order to bridge the affordability gap for the persons residing in rural areas and to support governments efforts towards cashless economy by incentivising digital means, the Authority recommends that a scheme under which a reasonable amount of data say 100 MB per month may be made available to rural subscribers for free," Trai said.

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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has suggested that the cost of implementation of the scheme may be met from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). Under USOF, the government charges a cess, Universal Access Levy, from telecom licencees to fund setting up of telecom infrastructure in all uncovered rural and remote areas of the country.

Trai recommended =that to increase participation of other entities for incentivising free data, there is a need to introduce third party (Aggregator) to facilitate schemes which are telecom operator agnostic and non-discriminatory in their implementation.

It has recommended that scheme for free data must be telecom operator agnostic and must not involve any arrangement between the TSP (telecom service provider) and the aggregator/content provider. It should not be designed to circumvent its regulation on free mobile internet services as mentioned under The Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations.

Trai in February barred differential pricing on Internet which ended services of platforms like Facebooks Free Basics and Airtel Zero. The regulator in May also released a consultation paper on free data services.

The regulator has recommended that the aggregators providing free data service will need to register with the Department of Telecom and it should be a company registered under Indian Companies Act, 1956.

"The validity of registration shall be five years. The registrant shall not either directly or indirectly, assign or transfer the Registration in any manner whatsoever to a third party either in whole or in part," Trai said. PTI PRS MBI MR

--- ENDS ---
aircraft carriers

The US Navy's new Force Structure Assessment states that the "potential adversaries" have developed advanced capabilities that could "undermine" or "erode" the US military's edge in conventional warfare at sea.

The Navy's answer to the rising challenge is more ships. To be precise, 83 more of them.

The Navy requested the biggest increases in large surface combat ships, attack submarines, amphibious warfare ships, and an additional Ford-class aircraft carrier.

"A minimum of 12 Aircraft Carriers are required to meet the increased warfighting response requirements," read the Navy's assessment.

The US Navy operates more aircraft carriers (full on carriers or "helicopter carriers") than all the world's navies combined, but 2016 has seen threats rising to US forces around the globe.

For perhaps the first time ever, US Navy guided-missile destroyers had to fire interceptor missiles when Houthi militants in Yemen targeted them with anti-ship cruise missiles. Iran has also shown increasing hostility to US Navy ships in the Persian Gulf.

In the Pacific, China has continued to develop military installations on artificial islands in the South China Sea. While incoming President Trump has promised to shake up relations with Beijing, China has responded angrily by flying bombers in the South China Sea and by seizing an unmanned US Navy drone from international waters near the Philippines.

aircraft carrier

Meanwhile Russia has used the conflict in Syria to show off its naval might, by sending the Admiral Kuznetsov carrier group to the Mediterranean, where reportedly one of its submarines stalked a US carrier group.

DefenseNews.com notes that the Navy would have to come up with another carrier wing to support the additional carrier, and cites sources as saying today's Navy of nearly 324,000 uniformed personnel would have to grow to about 340,000 to 350,000.

Interestingly, the assessment calls for 355 ships, when earlier, hawkish observers, like Trump's supposed favorite for secretary of the Navy, Randy Forbes, had been calling for just 350. Today the Navy stands at 272 ships.

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But the assessment is only that  an assessment. The Navy will have to get its budget approved by the legislature, and it's unclear so far if the Trump administration will support the 355 figure.

F 35C Zumwalt navy

As we evaluate the options presented in these studies and move to include them in our plans for tomorrows Navy, current Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said to DefenseNews, this FSA will need to be updated to reflect those changes that are determined to be most beneficial to meeting the Navys missions of the future.

However, even the bullish 355 ships assessment wouldn't meet all of the security goals the Navy's combat commanders put forth, with Mabus saying doing so would require the US to double its current annual budget, which is essentially unrealistic in both current and expected future fiscal environments.

NOW WATCH: The US Navy is catapulting trucks off aircraft carriers





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United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United States on Monday stepped up its drive to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan, pushing ahead with plans for a vote at the Security Council on the proposed ban.

US Ambassador Samantha Power made the case for cutting off the weapons flow to the war-torn country during a council meeting, arguing that all sides were mobilizing for more fighting and that action was needed to prevent mass atrocities.

"The situation is not getting better, but worse, and we are sitting on our hands," Power told the council. "Large-scale attacks could start at any moment."

The United States last month presented a draft resolution on imposing an arms embargo following UN warnings that the war-torn country could descend into genocide.

An annex to the proposed resolution would also put South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar, army chief Paul Malong and Information Minister Michael Makuei on a sanctions blacklist.

The United States will request a vote on the arms embargo before the end of the year, Power said.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon backed the US call to ban arms deals with South Sudan, saying an embargo would reduce the capacity of all sides to wage war.

"If we fail to act, South Sudan will be on a trajectory towards mass atrocities," said Ban.

- Russia sees no risk of genocide -

France and Britain support an arms embargo, which could come up for a vote as early as Thursday, according to diplomats.

But veto powers Russia and China have voiced opposition, while non-permanent council member Japan, which has sent peacekeepers to South Sudan, is also balking at the proposal.

Japan has argued that imposing an arms embargo would antagonize President Salva Kiir's government and put peacekeepers' lives at risk in a conflict already marked by horrific levels of brutality.

Russian Deputy Ambassador Petr Iliichev cast doubt over UN warnings of a risk of genocide, arguing that criminal groups and "undisciplined" troops were responsible for mass violence, and not the government's policy.

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"We would refrain from concluding that there is any form of targeted systemic policy," he told the council.

UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien said the humanitarian crisis had "deteriorated dramatically" as South Sudan entered its fourth year of war.

More than 6 million people -- half of South Sudan's population -- are in need of urgent aid and humanitarian organisations expect this number to rise by 20 to 30 percent next year, O'Brien told the council.

Some 1.3 million South Sudanese have fled across borders as refugees, including 383,000 who have fled to Uganda since July, according to UN figures.

The world's youngest nation, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and more than 3.1 million people displaced.

The country won independence from Sudan in 2011 with strong support from the United States.
(Adds that Vale will become largest Mosaic shareholder, comments)

By Stephen Eisenhammer and Gustavo Bonato

BRASILIA/SAO PAULO Dec 19 (Reuters) - Vale SA's $2.5 billion sale of its fertilizer business to Mosaic Co , the latest step in the Brazilian iron ore miner's strategy to reduce debt, also makes it the U.S. company's biggest shareholder.

Mosaic, which made the deal to improve its access to Brazil's vast agricultural markets, will pay $1.25 billion in cash and $1.25 billion in newly issued shares for the unit.

In return, a Mosaic spokesman said, Vale will receive an 11 percent stake in Mosaic, bigger than those held by investment companies such as Vanguard, Franklin Advisers and BlackRock Inc .

After the deal closes, expected by late 2017, Vale will have the right to name two members to Mosaic's board. It will have to keep the stake for at least two years.

Mosaic shares were down 6 percent at $27.76 and Vale's preferred shares were off 6.3 percent at 22.79 reais at the close of trading on Monday. Vale's shares have risen 127 percent this year, as iron ore prices recovered, but Mosaic's shares are up a mere 1 percent.

Michael Underhill, chief investment officer of Capital Innovations LLC, a Mosaic shareholder, said he thought the price might have been too high for the U.S. company.

"We believe the price paid and the leverage involved could prove too high/risky, though we understand the 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to acquire large assets in the fastest growing agriculture/fertilizer market," he said.

Excessive global supply and attendant slumping prices are putting pressure on fertilizer makers and leading to consolidations such as a proposed merger between Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Inc and Agrium Inc.

Brazil is a major producer of fertilizer-intensive crops corn and sugar cane, and is a large importer of such crop nutrients as phosphate, making it a prized market.

"This deal enhances Mosaic's position as the leading phosphate producer in the world," Mosaic Chief Executive Joc O'Rourke told investors on a call.

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"We're getting first rate assets at a valuation reflecting the downside of the cycle and we will have the ability to benefit from a strongly growing Brazilian agricultural market as business conditions improve," he added.

In a video on Vale's website, Chief Executive Murilo Ferreira said the company never had the opportunity to become a world leader in fertilizers as it has with iron ore and nickel. "So we opted for an association with a highly competitive international company," he said.

Mosaic said it expects the deal to add to earnings per share by 2018. Brazilian unit will become Mosaic's largest by trading volume, surpassing North America, Floris Bielders, the president of Mosaic's Brazilian unit, told Reuters, adding that the North Americas unit will still lead in production.

Vale said that it will use the proceeds to reduce net debt, which stands at nearly $26 billion, according to the company's latest quarterly results.

Vale, which posted a record $12.1 billion loss last year, is selling assets after years of low iron ore prices that have slammed its balance sheet.

It will retain control of its nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer assets in Cubatao, a city in southeast Brazil, but said it expects to sell them in 2017.

Sources with knowledge of the deal told Reuters in October that Vale was also in talks to sell some of its fertilizer assets to Norway's Yara International ASA. In a note to clients on Monday, Credit Suisse analysts estimated the remaining fertilizers assets may be worth $625 million.

In addition to Vale's phosphate assets in Brazil, Mosaic will acquire Vale's stake in Peru's Bayovar mine and Canada's Kronau potash project. Mosaic has yet to decide whether to include Vale's Rio Colorado potash project in Argentina in the acquisition.

Plymouth, Minnesota-based Mosaic may pay an additional $260 million depending on future earnings of the fertilizer unit, the two companies said.

Analysts at Banco BTG Pactual estimate Mosaic is paying 8.6 times the fertilizer division's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), a gauge of operational profit, calling it an attractive multiple.

On June 17, Reuters was first to report on the talks between Mosaic and Vale.

(Additional Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer and Bruno Federowski in Sao Paulo and Rod Nickel in Winnipeg; Editing by Walker Simon and Steve Orlofsky)
Paris (AFP) - The French publishers of a book of "lost" Vincent Van Gogh sketches on Monday threatened legal action against a Dutch museum that has questioned the authenticity of the works.

The threat follows the publication in six countries last month of "Vincent Van Gogh, the fog of Arles: the rediscovered sketchbook" in which sketches apparently from the artist's legendary stay in the southern French city are reproduced.

The Vincent Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, however, has dismissed the sketches as fakes triggering a war of words with publishing house Le Seuil.

Le Seuil "intends to obtain compensation for the damage they have suffered as a result of an insidious and unfounded campaign" on the part of the Van Gogh Museum, the publisher said in a statement, without elaborating on the exact legal action they intended to take.

The owner of the sketches, who is said to have had them in her possession for 60 years, is also threatening legal action.

In a statement, the art expert Franck Baille, who was involved in the discovery, added that the owner, who has not been publicly identified, "reserved the right to undertake any appropriate action to repair the damage caused by these claims that describe her as a forgerer".

- Debate ruled out -

Canadian art historian Bogomila Welsh-Ovcharov, who authored the book and is the main expert behind the find, has accused the Amsterdam museum of basing its verdict on photographs of the drawings rather than properly examining 10 originals which she brought to them.

And in a point-by-point rebuttal of the museum's damning assessment of the sketchbook, the experts backing the find have also questioned its "monopoly" on deciding what is and is not by Van Gogh.

Le Seuil has also accused the Van Gogh Museum of twice rejecting work it later accepted as the artist's.

Australian researcher Felicity Strong of the University of Melbourne told AFP last month "the Van Gogh Museum has been wrong in the past.

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"Their unveiling of a long-lost painting 'Sunset at Montmajour' was examined by curators at the museum at least twice before they reassessed it in 2012 and changed their minds," she said.

The museum has ruled out a public debate on the authenticity of the sketches, saying it has sought answers directly from the publisher and that an open debate would not be useful.

"We will need to have all the hard facts first," it said on November 29.

"We therefore call on the publisher and the author to provide a clear and open response to all our comments, to all the issues in need of clarification and to the questions raised," it said.

"Until they have, we see no point in a scholarly debate and our contribution to the discussion ends here: we will no longer respond to further questions."
Palo Alto, CA-based Varian Medical Systems, Inc. VAR, a leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer with radiation, recently announced that its flagship product Edge Radiosurgery system is being installed at Croatia-based Radiochirurgia Zagreb Clinic. Radiosurgical treatments using the system are expected to start by Jan 2017.

Meanwhile, over the last six months, the stock represents a solid return of almost 11.5%, comparing favorably with the Zacks categorized Medical Instruments sub-industrys negative return of roughly 2.2%. However, Varians shares did not follow the favorable market trend, declining a nominal 0.6% to close at $91.06 following the news.

We are concerned about the unfavorable estimate revision trend for the stock as three estimates moved south in the last two months. Notably, the current year estimates for the stock dropped by 3 cents to $4.93 per share over the same time frame.

On a brighter note, one estimate moved north in the last one month. Additionally, a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 15% and an earnings yield of 5.4%, compared to the industrys negative yield of 4.3% instill investor confidence on the stock.

Coming back to the latest development, the system marks Southeastern Europe's first Edge product from Varian. In this regard, the system delivers full-body radiosurgery treatment with precision.

VARIAN MEDICAL Price

VARIAN MEDICAL Price | VARIAN MEDICAL Quote

Per management, the system will allow patients in the region to access a wide range of early-stage cancer screening procedures. The expansion in Croatia fortifies Varians foothold in Europe, a major participant in the global radiotherapy market. On this note, the global radiotherapy market is forecasted to reach a worth of $7,544.8 million by 2020, multiplying at a CAGR of 6.2% (Markets And Markets).

Our Take

Of late, Varian has been gaining prominence, courtesy of its solid oncology business prospects. We note that the company addresses both tier 1 and mid-tier markets through its Edge, Truebeam and VitalBeam products.

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We are also upbeat about the companys first-quarter fiscal 2017 guidance wherein revenues are expected to increase about 1% to 2% on a year-over-year basis.

Of the other developments, Varian was recently included in the inaugural JUST 100 List. Per the list, Varian is the nations Most JUST Company in the Healthcare Equipment and Services industry. Notably, the list was prepared by independent non-profit organization JUST Capital and Forbes magazine.

On the flip side, the company promises a negative return of 0.6% in terms of projected sales for the current year, comparing unfavorably with the industrys 6.3% sales growth.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Currently, Varian has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Better-ranked stocks in the broader medical sector include Addus HomeCare Corporation ADUS, LHC Group, Inc. LHCG and HMS Holdings Corp. HMSY. Addus HomeCare and LHC Group sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) while HMS Holdings carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Addus HomeCare has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of approximately 15%. Notably, the stock represents an impressive one-year return of 47.9%.

LHC Group has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 15%. The company has returned almost 2.4% in the last one month.

HMS Holdings has an expected earnings growth of almost 14.3%. The company posted a promising year-to-date return of 48%.

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Today, you are invited to download the full list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 ""Strong Buy"" stocks  absolutely free of charge. Since 1988, Zacks Rank #1 stocks have nearly tripled the market, with average gains of +26% per year. Plus, you can access the list of portfolio-killing Zacks Rank #5 ""Strong Sells"" and other private research. See these stocks free >>



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SPRINGFIELD, VA / ACCESSWIRE / December 19, 2016 / Versar, Inc. (NYSE MKT: VSR) announced today that the Versar-ERRG Joint Venture team was awarded the Environmental Services & Construction ID/IQ contract for the Pacific Air Forces Region (ES&C-PACAF) with a contract ceiling to be shared among eight awardees totaling $48 million. This new contract, for work on behalf of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), provides for the performance of Environmental Operations and Services, Environmental Restoration, and Environmental Construction services. It is intended to facilitate environmental programs and related work in AFCEC's PACAF region, including potential task order assignments in Alaska, Hawaii, and Korea/Japan. The contract vehicle has a five-year ordering period, during which task orders may be awarded and performed. Any awarded work may also be performed for three additional years following the basic five-year ordering period. Versar is the managing partner of the Joint Venture.

Tony Otten, CEO of Versar, said, "We are very pleased to continue our work with AFCEC and recognize the importance of the PACAF region to the U.S. Air Force and the Defense Department in the coming years. AFCEC is a significant and long-standing Versar customer. Through our proven remediation capabilities and ongoing environmental work with ERRG, Inc., the Joint Venture offers AFCEC a dedicated and highly qualified team for assignments in the United States and around the world."

Cindy Liu, President and CEO of ERRG, said, "We are honored that our Joint Venture team was selected by AFCEC to support PACAF, and we look forward to providing meaningful and practical solutions to the environmental challenges facing AFCEC. Additionally, we are delighted that this contract allows us to continue the highly successful working relationship between Versar and ERRG that began in 2011."

VERSAR, INC., headquartered in Springfield, Virginia, is a publicly-traded global project management company providing sustainable value oriented solutions to government and commercial clients in the construction management, environmental services, and professional services market areas.

VERSAR operates the following websites: www.versar.com and www.versarpps.com.

Find out more about VERSAR at:

https://twitter.com/VersarInc

https://www.facebook.com/VersarInc

http://www.linkedin.com/company/38251



This news release contains forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be significantly impacted by certain risks and uncertainties described herein and in Versars Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 26, 2015, as updated from time to time in the Companys periodic filings. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Versar does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.



Contact:

Karin Weber

M&A, Investor Relations Manager

(703) 642-6706

kweber@versar.com

Robert Ferri

Robert Ferri Partners

(415) 575-1589

robert.ferri@robertferri.com



SOURCE: Versar, Inc.
HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  A court in northern Vietnam sentenced a former army officer and another activist to more than 10 years in prison each for attempting to overthrow the communist government.

Tran Anh Kim and Le Thanh Tung were convicted of attempted subversion at a one-day trial for setting up "reactionary group in the name of National Force for Democracy," state-run online newspaper Vietnamnet reported. They were sentenced respectively to 13 years and 12 years and must serve 4 years of house arrest after their prison terms end.

Kim, a 67-year-old former army officer, served an earlier prison term of 5  years for violating national security law in a 2009 case also involving what Vietnam authorities called an attempted overthrow of the government.

Lawyers and court officials in Thai Binh province where the trial was held Friday were not available for comment Monday.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius said in a statement Monday that he was "deeply concerned by the sentencing" and that "all people should have the right to freedom of speech and association."

"The recent trend of arrests and convictions of peaceful activists is troubling and threatens to overshadow Vietnam's progress on human rights," he said.

He also called on Vietnam to release the two and all other prisoners of conscience and to allow all individuals in Vietnam to express their political views without fear of retribution.

International human rights groups, U.S. government and some other Western governments have criticized Vietnam for jailing people for peacefully expressing their views, Hanoi maintains that only law breakers were put behind bars.
In a further escalation of hostilities between two European TV giants, Vincent Bollores Vivendi announced Monday that it was planning to raise its stake in Silvio Berlusconis Mediaset to 30% of shareholding and voting rights  the upper limit above which Vivendi would be legally obliged to launch a takeover bid.

In a dramatic move, the French media conglom raised its participation in Mediaset first to 3% and then 20% last week. Its new declaration of intent comes in reaction to a meeting this Friday between Arnaud de Puyfontaine and Piersilvio Berlusconi, the chief executives of Vivendi and Mediaset, and the position taken by Fininvest, the holding company through which the Berlusconi family controls 39.8% of Mediaset voting rights, Vivendi said in a statement Monday.

Also this Monday, Fininvest filed a complaint with Italian market regulator Consob, accusing Vivendi of market manipulation and abuse of information and calling on Consob to intervene in the conflict. Fininvest also announced that its lawyers had provided Milan prosecutors with the latest documents related to the case.

Vivendi said Monday that it would buy more Mediaset shares depending on market conditions.

Analysts suggest various interpretations for Vivendis dramatic share hike. One is an attempt to persuade Mediaset to nix a 1.5 billion ($1.56 billion) lawsuit against Vivendi, deriving from the collapse of an earlier partnership deal, signed in April, which gave Vivendi control of Mediasets pay TV unit.

Another explanation is that Bollore is seeking to exercise larger control over Mediaset leveraging a large minority stake and alliances with smaller shareholders. Vivendi itself claimed Monday evening that the strategic interest of an industrial partnership between Vivendi and Mediaset, broached by the April agreement, surpassed any conflict. Just how the two managements, currently at daggers drawn, could work together, however, is another question.

Story continues

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5 Key Questions About the Vivendi/Mediaset Faceoff Pitting Vincent Bollore and Silvio Berlusconi

Vivendi Acquires a 20% Stake in Mediaset to Become Its Second Largest Shareholder

Vivendi Snaps Up 12% of Mediaset, Sparking Takeover Attempt Speculation
By Mathieu Rosemain and Gwenaelle Barzic

PARIS (Reuters) - Vivendi (VIV.PA) Chairman Vincent Bollore added pressure on Italian tycoon Silvio Berlusconi on Monday as the French media giant said it would beef up its stake in Mediaset (MS.MI) up to the threshold triggering an all-share bid.

The move comes about a week after Vivendi bought a fifth of Mediaset, the Italian broadcaster controlled by Berlusconi, in a move that stoked an ongoing row between the companies over a pay-TV deal.

"Vivendis management board met today and decided... to increase its investment in Mediaset by acquiring additional shares depending on market conditions within the limits of 30 percent of the share capital and voting rights," the company said in a statement.

Berlusconi's family holding Fininvest, which holds 38.3 percent of Mediaset, said earlier on Monday that it had filed a market abuse complaint against France's Vivendi with national market authority Consob.

Fininvest also asked Consob to exercise all the powers it has under an Italian financial regulation, which includes among other possibilities the seizure of company assets.

Mediaset declined to comment on Vivendi's statement. Vivendi declined to comment on Mediaset's complaint to Consob.

Vivendi denied on Saturday it was planning to take over Mediaset after buying 20 percent of the Italian broadcaster's capital in a move that has riled the government and stoked an ongoing row between the companies over a pay-TV deal.

(Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain and Gwenaelle Barzic; editing by John Irish)
The BJP and its ideological surrogates are betting that by confronting divisions within India's Muslim population about traditional divorce practices, they can win in two ways.

By Reuters: When Narendra Modi stood before faithful followers in October, on a stage swathed in the saffron colours of his Hindu nationalist movement, the Indian leader made an unexpected overture.

"It is the responsibility of the government and people of the country to give justice to Muslim women," the prime minister declared.

Modi's public political career took off as chief minister of Gujarat state in 2001, just before rioters killed about 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, leading to accusations that he turned a blind eye to the murder and rape going on around him.

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Modi denies involvement in the 2002 riots, but his rise to national power in 2014 was accompanied by groups of hardline Hindus attempting mass conversions of Muslims and cases of beating and whipping of Muslim men in broad daylight.

Now, his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is challenging an Islamic practice, known as "triple talaq", that allows a man to divorce his wife simply by uttering the word "talaq" three times.

The proposal is a bold ploy to win approval and votes from Muslim women and chip away at an important bloc of voters - there are around 170 million Muslims in India - that has thus far viewed Modi with suspicion.

The outreach could help decide the outcome of a bellwether state election early next year. Uttar Pradesh, with nearly 40 million Muslims out of 200 million people, is a key test of Modi's popularity as he prepares to seek a second term in 2019.

Some Muslim women there have said they support Modi's proposal, although they are less sure about him.

Also read:

Triple talaq: Kerala HC judge says law makers cannot remain mute spectators of injustices suffered by Muslim women

There is fierce opposition, meanwhile, from influential Muslim elders and teachers.

"They are using this tactic to attack Islam, to attack Muslims," said Abul Qasim Nomani, vice chancellor of the Darul Uloom Deoband madrassa, the largest Islamic seminary in India, located in Uttar Pradesh.

"Muslim women are being used as showpieces to fight a battle against Islam," added the 70-year-old, his face framed by a white beard and prayer cap.

A madrassa official sitting beside him muttered: "This is like a wolf advocating for the rights of goats."

MIXED REACTIONS

Triple talaq is banned in some Muslim countries, including India's neighbour and rival Pakistan, but is allowed under Indian rules designed to protect religious communities.

The BJP and its ideological surrogates are betting that by confronting divisions within India's Muslim population about those traditional divorce practices, they can win in two ways.

The move will appeal to the Hindu majority, by emphasizing the need to counter Islamic influence in society, while at the same time splintering off Muslim voters.

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That may help Modi curb electoral damage from another big political gambit - the recent abolition of high value banknotes that has led to cash shortages and dented key sectors of the economy.

It is difficult to tell on the streets of Uttar Pradesh, a poor state where water buffalos trudge through wheat fields and traffic alike, how much traction Modi and his Hindu supporters will get from the initiative.

Also read:

BJP members bring out Modi's 'lucky' chair to charm UP elections

His coalition won 10 percent of the Muslim vote in Uttar Pradesh during 2014 national elections, according to a post-election survey by the non-partisan Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.

A separate survey covering 10 other states found last year that 92 percent of Muslim women supported a ban on the immediate triple talaq divorce, raising the possibility that some, in the moment of pushing a voting machine button, might defy their community and choose the space next to the BJP's lotus flower.

The chairwoman of the Muslim women's advocacy group that did the national survey, Zakia Soman, ran children's schools in the relief camps for victims of the 2002 riots in Gujarat.

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"It is true that Muslims can't trust him (Modi) after the Gujarat riots, but triple talaq is a separate issue," Soman said in a telephone interview.

"Muslims will have to compartmentalize each issue for their own well being ... if the prime minister does the correct thing and thinks of (the) greater good, then it is natural for him to win votes from Muslim women."

"DON'T INTERFERE WITH QURAN"

The idea of expanding an existing article of the nation's constitution that calls for a "uniform civil code" to one that explicitly bans polygamy and the use of triple talaq in the Muslim community has been debated for decades.

As it stands now, that section of the constitution says a code should exist but does not describe its parameters.

Modi's government, though, has signalled that it wants to change the status quo.

A senior BJP leader in Uttar Pradesh said the party planned to highlight triple talaq during election campaigning there. The government filed a motion in support of a Supreme Court case this year in which a Muslim woman opposed triple talaq.

Also read:

Practice of Triple Talaq, un-Islamic not valid in Quran: Zakia Soman

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And in October, the Law Commission issued a public statement inviting formal discussion on the uniform civil code.

Indresh Kumar, who heads a division dedicated to Muslim issues within the hardline Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which helped create the BJP, said he thinks women voters will respond to Modi's call for change.

"Our views are offending Muslim politicians and so-called secular political parties," he said, "because they did not have the courage to bring about a reform and improve lives of millions of Muslim women."

The high profile given to the subject has sparked accusations of hypocrisy, given what has happened in the Hindu-dominated country of 1.2 billion people since the BJP's victory.

Hindu activists have in recent years held what they call large "ghar wapsi's", or homecomings, to convert people to Hinduism. Groups of Hindu vigilantes have grabbed headlines for assaulting Muslims accused of harming cows, an animal held sacred in Hinduism.

At the same time, there have not been similar grassroots uproars about many issues that plague the Hindu community.

For instance, there are reports of Hindu women committing suicide because of pressures on families to deliver large dowry payments, in a system that echoes feudal customs. And about a third of child brides in the world live in India.

Also read:

Will BJP's reliance on Modi backfire in UP elections?

In interviews this month in Uttar Pradesh, many Muslims, men and women, said they were opposed to triple talaq, but voiced conflicted emotions about the prospect of Modi's involvement.

"If it's repealed, women will get more freedom," said Reshma Khatoon, a 27-year-old teacher at the Zainabya Girls Inter College in the city of Muzaffarnagar, scene of deadly communal riots in 2013 that left thousands of Muslims displaced.

"There's been a lot of discussion, it comes up when women sit together."

Wearing a black sweater and traditional Muslim hijab head covering, Khatoon glanced around a table where other teachers from the school were seated. She said: "I also believe in the Quran. Nobody should interfere with this."

--- ENDS ---
Candice Swanepoel is tired of being shamed for breastfeeding her newborn son, Anaca, in public.

"I have been made to feel the need to cover up and somewhat shy to feed my baby in public places but strangely feel nothing for the topless editorials I've done in the name of art," expressed the South African supermodel in an accompanying photo that shows her breastfeeding her baby. Swanepoel welcomed her first child with fiance Hermann Nicoli in October.

A photo posted by Candice Swanepoel (@angelcandices) on Dec 18, 2016 at 4:02pm PST

"The world has been desensitized to the sexualization of the breast and to violence on TV...why should it be different when it comes to breastfeeding?" she continued. "Breastfeeding is not sexual it's natural."

Swanepoel is the latest model to normalize breastfeeding on Instagram. Model mamas Doutzen Kroes, Miranda Kerr, Gisele Bundchen and Natalia Vodianova have all posted about breastfeeding on the photo-sharing app.

Last year, Australian model Nicole Trunfio made headlines when she breastfed her son on Elle Australia's subscriber edition cover and was met with backlash.

"I didn't think it was going to be such a big deal. There's nothing worse than, as a mother, doing something that's so necessary like feeding your child and feeling like somebody could have an opinion about it or somebody's looking at you the wrong way," said Trunfio during her appearance on Good Morning America. "It's a huge part of being a woman and motherhood."

A photo posted by Candice Swanepoel (@angelcandices) on Dec 18, 2016 at 8:31am PST
Ottawa (AFP) - Canadian drivers of Volkswagen vehicles whose diesel engines were equipped with devices to cheat emissions tests will share up to Can$2.1 billion in a lawsuit settlement announced Monday.

The details of the agreement, which must still be approved by a court, were revealed by Canada's Competition Bureau in a statement.

"One of the largest consumer settlements in Canadian history" will allow approximately 105,000 drivers to return their vehicles to VW for a refund, trade them in or have them repaired.

The auto maker's luxury Audi and Porsche brands are also included in the settlement. Models with the affected 2.0 liter diesel engines include the Jetta, A3 and Cayenne.

Canadian court filings note that owners paid a premium for diesel-powered vehicles compared with gasoline-powered models.

After the scandal broke worldwide, the value of their vehicles plunged and scheduling repairs caused disruptions for owners.

The Competition Bureau became involved, it said, after concluding "that false or misleading environmental marketing claims were used to promote certain vehicles with 2.0 liter diesel engines."

Neither the company nor lawyers for the plaintiffs were immediately available to comment.

The settlement does not resolve the Competition Bureau's ongoing inquiry into VW vehicles equipped with 3.0 liter diesel engines.
Last night (Dec. 18) in Los Angeles, Fonda Theatre hosted a "We Rock With Standing Rock" benefit concert in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The concert saw performances from TV on the Radio, Sky Ferreira, Devendra Banhart, and Fiona Apple. All proceeds from the show went to the official Oceti Sakowin Camp (Seven Council Fires) Fund, the Seeding Sovereignty Project, GiveLove, and Native Children's Survival.

Fiona Apple isn't exactly known to perform live very often these days, which is why here appearance at the benefit show was particuarly special. To mark the occassion and in response to recent events in America, Fiona Apple gave those in attendance the live debut of her recent anti-Donald Trump Christmas song, "Trump's Nuts Roasting on an Open Fire." When she finished the song, she yelled "Donald Trump, fuck you!" to an enthusiastic response.

The protests in response to the Dakota Access Pipeline resulted in officials looking for alternative building routes, halting construction of the original plans.

Watch Fiona Apple perform "Trump's Nuts Roasting on an Open Fire" above.

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As the final summer of the 1980s was coming to its end, two affluent brothers made headlines around the world after committing a grisly act of parricide that gripped an entire nation, morphing them both into tabloid and pop culture fodder and landing them behind bars, each with life sentences and zero possibility for freedom.

Those whore able to recall the early 1990s will surely remember the names Erik and Lyle Menendez. In a matter of weeks, the tale of the Beverly Hills party boys who murdered their wealthy parents will be retold during an all-new, 120-minute documentary special entitled Truth and Lies: The Menendez Brothers  American Sons, American Murderers.

ABC promises that the special uncovers the hidden clues of the Menendez familys descent into hell including never-before-seen home movies and photos from the family vault and the testimony from members of the Menendez inner circle.

Additionally, the program will boast interviews with the brothers best friends and neighbors, the lead detectives, lawyers and jurors on the case, according to a press release. Also, several family members profile the intimate details of the Menendez family, including Eriks secret life. The special even features a jailhouse phone interview with Lyle Menendez.

Lyle and Erik, who were 21 and 18 respectively at the time of their crimes, entered the den of the familys Spanish-style mansion the night of Aug. 20, 1989, snuck up on their sleeping parents, and  armed with a 12-gauge shotgun  shot their film executive father, Jose Menendez, point-blank in the back of the head. Her husbands murder woke the boys mother, Mary Kitty Menendez, who fled for a nearby hallway, only to be cut down when a slug caught one of her legs.

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.

As they stood over their mother, who begged for her life from a pool of her own blood, the Menendez brothers killed her, shooting her several times in the chest, arms, and face, leaving her unidentifiable.

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The shocking murders  and Court TVs ensuing coverage of the killer sons trial  kept true crime fanatics well sated. It was perhaps Americas most notorious court case until O.J. Simpsons 1995 murder trial overshadowed it.

Nick Ut/AP

The murders were initially and inaccurately labelled a mafia hit, but investigators grew suspicious of the brothers, who lavishly spent their parents money in the weeks after the double-murder. After confessions to both an ex-girlfriend and a psychologist, Lyle and Eric were arrested and charged with killing their parents.

At trial, the Menendez brothers alleged that they suffered years of abuse at the hands of their allegedly drug- and alcohol-imbibing parents. Both defendants further claimed their father was a pedophile whod allegedly sexually assaulted them for years.

But after two deadlocked juries were unable to return a verdict, the brothers faced trial yet again, and were convicted in the cold-blooded killings of their parents.

Truth and Lies: The Menendez Brothers  American Sons, American Murderers airs Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, on ABC.




Things not going as planned is pretty much par for the course at most hip-hop shows. From the performer forgetting a lyric to a fan's misguided attempt at crashing the stage, whatever happens is very much a part of the experience. Very rarely, though, do these antics ever involve the venue's security, whose presence are not often felt.

During Travis Scott's performance at Houston's Day For Night Festival last night, the Houston native handed one of his fans the mic, presumably to have the fan rap along. It's something that Scott does fairly frequently at his showscertainly nothing out of the ordinary. But when a security guard intervenes and grabs the mic from the fan, that's when things went awry. Taking the mic back from the security guard, Travis Scott makes it known that mics are not to be handled in such a manner.

"I will smack the fuck out of you, n***a, don't ever fucking take the motherfucking mic out of my fucking fan, man," Scott yells, with autotune still on, asking for the security guard to be removed. "No security touches a Travis Scott fan, bro. It's not how we rockin', bro."

Needless to say, Trevor Scott's fans were appreciative of his sentiments, and with three more shows to go before the end of the year, security guards far and wide now understand not to do what this one Houston security guard did. Watch the clip of the incident below.

#TravisScott wasn't happy when a security guard took the mic out of a fans hand!  @travisscott (@lordtravisscott) #WSHH A video posted by WorldstarHipHop (@worldstar) on Dec 19, 2016 at 10:00am PST

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milky way

Eventually, stars die  not with a whimper, but with a bang.

When they do, there's the potential that any nearby planets could be devastated by destructive cosmic rays, potentially wiping out life on those worlds.

We're not quite ready to build any sort of defense for human civilization against a barrage of this sort, according to Milan Cirkovic and Branislav Vukotic of the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade, writing in a study published this month in the journal Acta Astronautica.

But they theorize that in a time span ranging from a few decades to a hundred years away, we might be able to construct the sort of barrier that could withstand a blast of electromagnetic or cosmic-ray radiation that would be caused by a supernova or gamma ray burst from the end of other sorts of star (though predicting these explosions and their trajectories may be more complex than building that barrier).

And if we aren't alone out here in the universe, other "emerging" civilizations may have built similar protective shields. With that in mind, we have another idea of what to look for out there in our search for alien life. Statistically, it makes sense that life has developed on other planets around other stars  it should be the case, even if we've never spotted it. Now there's something else we can look for, something we might associate with a civilization not too far technologically beyond our own.

Humanity+

It's not too surprising that we haven't yet spent much time thinking about how to prepare for a cosmic blast, according to Cirkovic and Vukotic. But in recent decades, scientists have started to consider and weigh the impact of various sorts of "existential disasters"  ranging from a supervolcanic eruption to the sort of asteroid strike that helped wipe out the dinosaurs to a cosmic blast.

It's true that in the short term, these events are incredibly unlikely. They happen on time scales that range into tens or hundreds of millions of years. But they do happen.

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star explosion, supernova

"For the present purposes, we note that no part of any spiral galaxy [like our Milky Way] can be considered safe from cosmic explosions in the long run," the authors write in the paper. "And as the timeframe considered by an intelligent species grows longer, more relevant becomes the issue of mitigation."

The longer we hope to live and more powerful we become as a species, the more we'll have to consider these possibilities.

The "shielding swarm"

Cirkovic and Vukotic theorize that a civilization slightly beyond ours, one that's still based on Earth but that makes regular use of resources on the Moon, Mars, as well as nearby asteroids and comets, would have one solution to a supernova blast.

They dub that future civilization "humanity+", and it sounds similar to what's known as a Kardashev Type 1 civilization (a civilization able to make full use of all energy on our planet; currently most estimate we are at about a Kardashev Type .7).

Humanity+ wouldn't be able to "prevent" the explosion in the first place. That would take the ability to literally control the full force of a star, something that would require technological leaps so far in the future we have trouble imagining how they'd work (a full Kardashev Type 2 civilization). Burying ourselves under the Earth wouldn't be feasible either. They cite estimates that we'd need to move all of civilization at least three kilometers below the surface of the planet for years, and even then, the surface would be devastated.

So to prevent a cosmic blast, we'd have to block it in the midpoint somewhere.

One way that we might be able to do this is to create a massive ice shield, according to the authors.

Kuiper Belt Object

Ice is plentiful in space. The Kuiper Belt, on the outer edges of our solar system, is full of it. While we can't conduct massive engineering projects out there, Cirkovic and Vukotic think a group on the level of humanity+ could. Fragments of ice could be polarized so they could be moved about in concert using electromagnetic forces. With enough ice, the authors think a sort of "shielding swarm" could be created that could then be kept ready to be used to block an incoming cosmic blast (though again, predicting those blasts may be further in the future, we have no idea how to do it now).

And as Paul Gilster writes on the blog Centauri Dreams: "The fact that we can imagine [this solution]  although we are a long way from being able to do it  means that more advanced cultures have probably run across the same idea, given that it contradicts no physical laws."

If that's the case, we can look for it. We can search for swarms around stars that don't obey natural laws of motion. We can look for strange optical properties that might be caused by electromagnetic forces. And we can look for strange reactions to the last phase of a supernova in historical data.

Gilster points out that this is exactly the sort of technology we want to look for when looking for the technological signatures of advanced alien civilizations: something we can understand. It's something that may seem far-fetched, but it's not impossible. If we know what could be out there, we're more equipped to see it.

NOW WATCH: A space engineer explains why humans will never go past Mars





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On Monday, the U.S. electors will decide, finally, who the next president of the United States is to be. Donald Trump, who won the electoral vote handily but lost the popular vote badly, is expected to get at least the 270 electoral votes he needs, but there is some small chance of a surprise. Some electors have said that they will change their vote, taking on the title of faithless elector. Electors in three states have already gone to court to vote according to their conscience, not their states voters wishes (in 29 states and the District of Columbia, to be a faithless elector is to break the law).

There are two main reasons. First, as many others have noted, the electoral college exists, in large part because the Founding Fathers worried the American people might vote an unqualified demagogue into power, and wanted an institutional firewall against that. As Alexander Hamilton wrote in The Federalist Papers, 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. Some electors, therefore, feel that to be a so-called faithless elector would actually be fully faithful to the Founding Fathers vision.

Second, since the election, intelligence officials have concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin directed the Russian hack into Hillary Clintons campaign emails, and those of the Democratic Party, with the specific intent of advantaging Trump. Ten electors wrote an open letter to National Intelligence Director James Clapper, asking to receive an intelligence briefing, to glean as much information about the hacking as possible before the vote. (They didnt get one.)

But it is unlikely that there will be 37 faithless electors, the minimum needed to send the decision to the Republican-controlled House; the highest count of potential dissidents so far seems to be 20. Still, this years electoral college is more than a formality  and worth keeping a wary eye on.

As is the cat-and-mouse standoff in the South China Sea, and the ever-evolving relationship between the United States and China. On Saturday, China said that it would return the unmanned U.S. underwater glider it had snatched on Friday. The reason for the seizure is unclear  many think it was in response to Trumps saber-rattling over Taiwan; others, that it had more to do with concern over U.S. snooping on Chinese submarines breakout capability.

The Trump team was quick to claim credit for the speedy promise to return it, although all Trump did was tweet that Chinas action was unpresidented. And on Saturday, Trump tweeted again, this time bizarrely waiving U.S. ownership of the device: let them keep it!

Photo credit: CHRIS SCHNEIDER/AFP/Getty Images
Experts have cited many factors trying to explain why West Virginia has been hardest hit by the opioid addiction crisis that has swept the country over the past decade, killing 33,091 Americans in 2015 alone.

Economic despair, widespread unemployment, inadequate mental health facilities and a sense of isolation in communities scattered throughout the rugged, mountainous coal state may have all contributed to the widespread abuse of OxyContin, oxycodone and other powerful prescription painkillers, experts say.

Related: The 20 Most Expensive Prescription Drugs in America

West Virginia has the highest rate of deaths from drug overdoses of any state. Between 2011 and 2013, West Virginia suffered from a rate of 33.5 drug overdoses per 100,000 people, compared to a national average of 13.4 deaths, according to a report by the non-partisan Trust for Americas Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

However, there is another more insidious explanation for what went terribly wrong in West Virginia: Unscrupulous drug manufacturers and out-of-state wholesalers bombarded West Virginia with huge supplies of these highly addicting drugs. This tidal wave of painkillers on pharmacists shelves allowed many physicians to freely prescribe the drugs at the behest of their patients and fueled an underground market of illicit drug sales.

A searing report over the weekend by the Charleston, W.Va., Gazette-Mail documented the trail of shipments of painkillers to West Virginias economically depressed southern coalfields  places like tiny Kermit, population 392, which received shipments of nearly nine million highly addictive and potentially lethal hydrocodone pills to a single pharmacy over a two-year period. Mingo County, where Kermit is located, has the fourth-highest prescription opioid death rate of any county in the United States.

In neighboring Wyoming County, where shipments of OxyContin have doubled in recent years, the countys overdose death rate leads the nation, with 54.6 per 100,000. One mom-and-pop pharmacy in Oceana received 600 times as many oxycodone pills as the Rite Aid drugstore just eight blocks away, according to the newspapers report.

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Related: How Big Pharma Lobbyists Make the Opioid Crisis Worse

During the past six years, major drug wholesalers flooded the state with 780 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills, while 1,728 West Virginians suffered fatal overdoses on those two painkillers, according to the Gazette-Mail investigation. West Virginia has 1.84 million residents, ranking 38th in population nationally.

The deluge of drugs was the equivalent of an astounding 433 pain pills per resident of the state, according to the report. And those shipments were apparently made without raising the suspicions of state public health and regulatory officials or triggering the intervention of federal drug enforcement officials.

More than half of all the pain pills coming into the state were provided by three pharmaceutical drug wholesalers -- McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen. For more than a decade, those distributors ignored rules to report suspicious orders for controlled substances to the state board of pharmacy, the newspaper charged.

Moreover, the board of pharmacy failed to enforce those same rules, while turning a blind eye to tiny pharmacies in southern counties that ordered absurdly large amounts of pain killers, far more than could possibly be needed by patients in such small communities.

Related: The U.S. War on Drugs in Afghanistan Is an $8 Billion Failure

McKesson and the other wholesalers insist they were doing nothing wrong, but simply meeting the demands of licensed pharmacies. They argue that since pharmacies were filling the prescriptions of licensed doctors, the pills never should have gotten into the hands of addicts or black market dealers unless unscrupulous physicians wrote illegal prescriptions.

John Saia, McKessons general counsel, said in a letter to the newspaper last week that the doctors who write the prescriptions and the pharmacists who fill them are in a better position to identify and prevent the abuse and diversion of potentially addictive controlled substances than the wholesalers.

Major drug companies that manufacture the painkillers also have worked to frustrate government enforcement. A joint investigation by the Center for Public Integrity and the Associated Press earlier this year found that major drug companies frequently lobbied state legislatures across the country to resist legal restrictions on their drugs, such as OxyContin, Vicodin and Fentanyl.

In fairness, federal authorities werent totally asleep at the switch. As the opioid epidemic raged throughout West Virginia and other Appalachian states over the past decade, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has gone after companies distributing millions of highly addictive pills, The Washington Post reported in late October.

Related: US Death Rate From Heroin and Opioid Abuse Rages Out of Control

While some distributors cooperated with federal authorities and tipped them off to irregularities in purchases, many others resisted. The investigation was subsequently dropped or curtailed beginning in 2013 after senior DEA officials and some members of Congress ordered a shift in enforcement emphasis, the newspaper reported.

Among 13 companies that had been targeted for the probe were McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen, which together control 85 percent of all prescription drug distribution in the U.S.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Dow 20K Watch

Is today the day? The markets have seen record highs since the election, and the Dow continues to hover near the 20,000 mark  but can it finally get over the hump? Dont miss Countdown to the Closing Bell beginning today at 3pm ET for the latest updates on all things Wall Street!

Electoral College Votes

Today, electors gather in each state to cast their vote for the president and vice president of the United States. Presumably the outcome will verify Donald Trump as president; but there have been rumors of faithless electors  people who vote for someone other than the person chosen by the voters of his or her state.

Reporter Blake Burman is live from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to see if the rumors are true. Tune in to Fox Business as the elector votes roll in!

China Drone

Political fallout continued over the weekend after China seized a U.S. drone Thursday. Senator John McCain (R., Ariz.) voiced his concern about Americas inability to convey strength, during an interview with CNN on Sunday.

Everybodys taking advantage of it. And hopefully that will change soon, said McCain.

Dont miss expert insight and analysis on Varney & Co., today at 9am ET!

Sherwin-Williams

John Morikis is counting down the days until President-elect Trump takes office in January, and theres a new chair at the Federal Trade Commission. The 53-year-old CEO has been dealing with pushback on its $11.3 billion buyout of Valspar, and he believes he can get a better deal under a Trump administration.

Dont miss Risk & Reward with Deirdre Bolton today at 5pm ET, as she breaks down Morikis' strategy to run out the clock!

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By PTI: From Aditi Khanna

London, Dec 18 (PTI) The UK government is planning to introduce a new oath of allegiance to British values such as tolerance and democracy for civil servants and other holders of public office in the country.

UKs Pakistani-origin communities secretary, Sajid Javid has indicated that he wants to tackle extremism by making it incumbent on every new recruit in the public sector, including councillors and school governors would be expected to commit to the oath which may have to be read out loud before starting the role.

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"If were going to challenge such attitudes, civic and political leaders have to lead by example. We cant expect new arrivals to embrace British values if those of us who are already here dont do so ourselves," Javid wrote in The Sunday Times.

The minister intervened after a report by Dame Louise Casey, the governments community cohesion in-charge, which warned that some Muslim communities were living in extreme isolation from the rest of society.

Javid wrote that he will enact Caseys proposal that those in public office make a pledge of allegiance.

The new oath would include "tolerating the views of others, even if you disagree with them", as well as "believing in freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from abuse? a belief in equality, democracy and the democratic process" and "respect for the law, even if you think the law is an ass".

Javid said he did not want to see a "government-approved, one-size-fits-all identity" but people would struggle to play a positive role in British life if they did not accept the "building blocks of our society".

Javid is set to lay out his official response to Caseys report on social cohesion by early next year. PTI AK AJR AKJ AJR

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Whether or not Margot Robbie got married this weekend, we are so happy for her

If the internet is to be believed, Margot Robbie married Tom Ackerley Sunday night in Byron Bay, Australia.

However, Robbie is yet to respond to anyones request for comment on her oh-so-stealthy nuptials to Ackerley, a British director she has been dating since 2013, so lets just go with this  no matter what, girlfriend is having the year of her life and we are super, super happy for her.

As comedian Billy Eichner made clear during the recent sketch Escape Margot Robbies Moment on Billy on the Street, Robbie (and Hailee Steinfeld, natch) is one of the few people actually having an amazing 2016. From her movie-stealing appearance in The Big Short to her dominating turn in Suicide Squad to, most recently, inspiring the very male-dominated DC Comics film universe to commission a Harley Quinn spin-off movie, Gotham City Sirens, the Aussie actor is capital-C Crushing It whether she has a ring on that finger or not.

For what its worth, there is some solid evidence that these nuptials actually went down. Just last week, Robbie was photographed in Australia wearing a shirt that read Say I Do Down Under. Then, on Sunday, Robbies brother Cameron posted an Instagram saying he was on holiday,, while Ackerleys brother James tagged Harvest Newrybar, a popular wedding venue in Byron Bay, on his account.

So the signs are obviously there, and speculation that the two would wed first picked up back in June, when Robbie showed up to the Legend of Tarzan premiere rocking an enormous pink diamond ring on her engagement finger. And her Instagram account, of course, makes it quite clear that shes totally and adorably in love with Ackerley.

This guy A photo posted by @margotrobbie on Dec 3, 2016 at 10:27am PST

Well likely found out whether it all went down on Sunday night or not very soon, but in the meantime, lets just be happy that someone out there is having the best year of their life.

I was the ultimate single gal, Robbie gushed Vogue about Ackerley. The idea of relationships made me want to vomit. And then this crept up on me. We were friends for so long. I was always in love with him, but I thought, Oh, he would never love me back. Dont make it weird, Margot. Dont be stupid and tell him that you like him. And then it happened, and I was like, Of course were together. This makes so much sense, the way nothing has ever made sense before.

The post Whether or not Margot Robbie got married this weekend, we are so happy for her appeared first on HelloGiggles.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Monday condemned what it called an apparent "terrorist attack" on a Christmas market in central Berlin. "We have been in touch with German officials, and we stand ready to provide assistance as they recover from and investigate this horrific incident," National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. A truck plowed into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin on Monday evening, killing nine people and injuring up to 50 others. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Photo credit: Pete Souza/Instagram

From Harper's BAZAAR

The Obama family's Christmas card this year may be bittersweet, since it's their last while in the White House, but it's nothing short of stunning. Barack and Michelle Obama stand with their arms around their grown-up-looking daughters, Sasha and Malia, and they're all dressed to perfection.

White House photographer Pete Souza, who took the stunning photo during a state dinner in honor of the Canadian Prime Minister, revealed that Justin Trudeau was actually behind the epic shot.

"At one point, the Prime Minister asked if we could do a photo of he and his wife with the Obama family. Click, click, click. Then, he said I should do a photo of just the Obama's. I could have said, 'sir we already did one before you arrived.' But instead, I clicked off a few quick frames," Souza explained on Instagram. Turns out, Trudeau's suggestion resulted in the First Family's final holiday card photo.

"And lo and behold," Souza continued, "It was this picture that Justin Trudeau asked me to take which everyone loved as the choice for the 2016 White House holiday card."

Good eye, Trudeau.

Read Souza's full backstory below:

"This family. What can I say. What an honor to have photographed them for eight years. A couple of months ago, the Social Office came to me and said they were thinking of using a family photo for this year's White House holiday card. So I thought of Justin Trudeau. I know you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about. Earlier this year we hosted the Canadian Prime Minister for a formal State Dinner. Malia and Sasha attended as guests. Before the dinner, I did a family photo in the White House residence. But later, when the Trudeaus arrived, the two families spent some time on the Truman Balcony with their respective delegations. At one point, the Prime Minister asked if we could do a photo of he and his wife with the Obama family. Click, click, click. Then, he said I should do a photo of just the Obama's. I could have said, "sir we already did one before you arrived." But instead, I clicked off a few quick frames. And lo and behold, it was this picture that Justin Trudeau asked me to take which everyone loved as the choice for the 2016 White House holiday card."

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Photo credit: Pete Souza Instagram

From ELLE

Remember those few shimmering moments last week when the Obamas released their final presidential Christmas card and the world seemed to inch closer to redemption for just one second?

Of course you do. It's the only shred of good news you've gotten since Election Day. Inside, the card shares a short message from the Obamas. And outside, the First Family is resplendent in their black-tie best. The photo was taken at the Canadian State Dinner in March, back when only most was lost, but not yet all. Anyway!

Photo credit: undefined

On Thursday, White House photographer Pete Souza explained that it was Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who'd urged him to take the shot. Souza wrote on Instagram that the Obamas and the Trudeaus had been standing on the Truman Balcony before dinner, posing for photos together.

"At one point, the Prime Minister asked if we could do a photo of he and his wife with the Obama family. Click, click, click," Souza wrote. "Then he said I should do a photo of just the [Obamas]." Souza "clicked off a few frames."

"And lo and behold, it was this picture that Justin Trudeau asked me to take which everyone loved as the choice for the 2016 White House holiday card," Souza concluded.

So, who's surprised that my boyfriend Justin Trudeau is secretly responsible for the only good thing I've seen in five weeks?

No one is surprised. He's the best boyfriend.

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Europe has just got another headache and this time the cause comes from north of the usual southern trouble spots of Greece, Italy and Spain.



Over the weekend, protesters took to streets of Poland demonstrating against the government's budget for 2017 and its plans to introduce new restrictions on the media.

This is not the first time that the Polish right-wing Law and Justice government has come under fire after taking office in late 2015 as public and international discontent grows over some of its policies, including on abortion and restrictions on press freedom.

CNBC takes a look at what's going on in one of the largest European economies and what might happen.





Why are people protesting in Poland?

The Law and Justice party has put forward new restrictions on the media last week, after previous proposals to oversee the appointment of newspaper editors.

Opposition lawmakers requested that the new limits to the media be dropped.

They have also demanded a new vote on the budget for next year after the government approved the spending plan by not putting it though parliament, but holding the vote in an nearby chamber, with a high number of government supporters  something that the country's opposition deemed as "illegal."

The country's Prime Minister, Beata Szydlo , said the attitude of her parliamentary opponents was "scandalous".

Thousands of opposition demonstrators decided to take to the streets to express their discontent with the government's actions.

"The current protests have to be seen under the wider political regression context," Steven Blockmans, senior research analyst at the Centre for European Policy Studies told CNBC over the phone.

What other policies have been controversial?

Since the Law and Justice government took office in October 2015, there have been several walkouts. Protestors have complained against changes to the constitutional court, surveillance reforms as well as changes to media law.

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More recently, nearly six million people protested against an effective ban on abortion.

"There has been a dramatic regression in respect of the rule of law (since) the new government took office," Blockmans added.





What has the European Union done to ensure democracy in Poland?

Last July, the European Commission opened an unprecedented investigation into the rule of law in Poland  a procedure that is started when there are concerns that a particular country is going against the EU's democratic values.

At the time, the commission said that it was only taking "preliminary action" but after several dialogues with the Polish government over the last 11 months, the commission could be close from proposing penalties to Poland for not addressing the EU's concerns.

"The Commission has already expressed concerns on a few occasions about the state of the rule of law in Poland," Mina Andreeva, a spokesperson for the commission told reporters on Monday.

Though there is no deadline for the European Commission to propose such penalties  which could go as far as removing the country's voting rights at the EU level, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has decided to include the issue on this Wednesday's weekly meeting.

The political discontent in Poland is another problem at the EU table at a time when the region needs to deal with Brexit, an economic crisis in Greece, the rise of populism, among others.

Donald Tusk , a former Polish prime minister and now head of the European Council, said last Saturday that whoever was undermining the "European model of democracy" in Poland was "exposing us all to strategic risks".

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Efforts by the Republican leaders in Congress to limit investigations of alleged Russia-backed computer hacking and its impact on the presidential election to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees have been facing stiff opposition from within and without the GOP. That only intensified over the weekend after the news broke that the agencies that make up the Intelligence Community believe that the Democratic National Committee and prominent Democrats were hacked at the direction of the Kremlin with the intention of aiding the candidacy of President-elect Donald Trump.

On Sunday, influential senators from both parties called for the establishment of a select committee with a mandate to find out the extent of the Russian effort and to help formulate ways of preventing future interference in U.S. elections.

Related: Russian State Media Warns that Trump Is Facing a Coup dEtat

In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday, Senate Armed Services Committee Chair John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) wrote, Recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American. Cybersecurity is the ultimate cross-jurisdictional challenge, and we must take a comprehensive approach to meet this challenge effectively.

In remarks to the press Sunday, Schumer said, Leader McConnell has said let the intelligence committee do this alone. That is not good enough.

The idea that a typical standing committee might not be the ideal place to house an investigation like this is not a new one, said Norman Ornstein, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

This is a problem that cuts across many jurisdictions; it is not just about intelligence or defense or cybersecurity, he said. Committees, he added, are in silos, meaning that they generally have access to only certain information sources. In addition, he said, committees can become captive to the agencies they oversee, making it difficult for them to make judgments critical of their performance.

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Related: Team Trump Is Singing from Putins Songbook on DNC Hacks

There are also concerns, Ornstein added, that a committee chair may not be the best person to run such an important inquiry. Ornstein did not mention anyone by name, but some observers have expressed concern about the suitability of House Intelligence Committee chair Devin Nunes, who is on the Trump Transition Team and at one point expressed doubts about the need for an investigation to lead the inquiry. Trump himself has repeatedly said that he doesnt accept the findings of the Intelligence Community and believes its findings are politically motivated.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Ornstein observed, Select committees have a long history of independence and importance. He cited the Senate Watergate Committee as a particular example. Select Committees can, in theory at least, be seen as above the political fray when examining issues of broad national significance. However, as the House Select Committee on Benghazi demonstrated in 2015 and 2016, they are not immune to partisanship.

Related: Russia to Obama: Put Up or Shut Up About Hacking the Election

Nevertheless, key members of the incoming presidents own party seem determined to keep the pressure on their leaders to form a committee with broad investigative authority and to do it quickly.

We need a select committee, McCain said on CNN Sunday. We need to get to the bottom of this, and we need to find out exactly what was done and what the implications in terms of the attacks were, especially if they had an effect on our election. Theres no doubt they were interfering the question now is how much, what damage, and what should the United States of America do. And so far, weve been totally paralyzed.
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI) UNICEF today commemorated its 70th anniversary by celebrating its achievements for the worlds most vulnerable children and also recommitting to the cause of children.

The worlds largest organisation for child welfare was established on 11 December 1946 to bring help to children suffering in the aftermath of World World II. In India UNICEF started its journey in 1949.

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"UNICEF was founded after World War II to bring help and hope to all children at risk or in need - no matter which country they lived in or what role that country played in the war. With so many children around the world in so much need, we are recommitting ourselves to delivering results for every child," said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

According to a press statement issued by UNICEF its key achievements in India include offering technical assistance for setting up the first Penicillin plant in 1949, joining hands with AMUL in mid-50s to embark on the journey of White Revolution in India, helping the government in 1970s to develop the worlds most famous hand pump called India Mark II in order to fight drought, Right to Education Act in 2009, and the country being declared "Polio Free" in 2014.

"Today we reaffirm this commitment to work alongside the government and ensure all children get a fair start in life. It is our joint responsibility that every child is healthy, safe, educated, cared for and protected," said Louis Georges Arsenault, UNICEF India Representative at the launch of the 70th anniversary celebrations. PTI JC TIR

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By nominating his bankruptcy lawyer as ambassador to Israel, President-elect Donald Trump is pulling off a transition trifecta: He is rewarding a loyal adviser; pleasing son-in-law Jared Kushner and his family; and paying back his biggest donor, Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino mogul who along with his physician wife, Miriam, donated at least $20 million to get Trump elected.

Like Trumps nominee, New York attorney David Friedman, Adelson is a far-right supporter of Israel who opposes a two-state solution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And Kushner and his family, as New Yorker Editor David Remnick pointed out on Friday, have an intense interest in Israeli affairs[and] are distinctly right-wing.

Related: How Trumps Cabinet Picks Are Payback to His Wealthy Pals

In March 2015, Jim Rutenberg wrote a New York Times Magazine story questioning the commitment of Republicans to side-by-side independent states, one for Israelis, one for Palestinians  an American foreign policy position embraced by both parties and multiple presidencies practically since Abraham left Ur.

As Rutenberg wrote, one reason for concern was that The most important Republican Jewish donor in the country, Sheldon Adelson, is passionately opposed to the formation of a Palestinian state, which he has compared to playing Russian roulette with Israels existence.

The quote comes from a 2013 panel discussion at New York Citys Yeshiva University in which Adelson also said, There is no such thing as a Palestinian.

Related: Trump the Populist Could Have the Wealthiest Cabinet in US History

A story on Friday in the liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz says that Friedman promised in a video address to Trump supporters in Jerusalem a few weeks ago that a Trump administration will never pressure Israel into a two-state solution or any other solution that is against the will of the Israeli people.

Thats a vastly different position than what Trump said 10 months ago when he vowed at an MSNBC town hall in South Carolina that he would be neutral when it came to the Israeli-Palestinian problem. Were he to win the presidency, he told Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski (now taking heat for being soft on the longtime friend of their show), he would be an honest broker in trying to achieve the elusive peace deal.

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Let me be sort of a neutral guy, Trump said. "I have friends of mine that are tremendous businesspeople, that are really great negotiators, [and] they say its not doable. You understand a lot of people have gone down in flames trying to make that deal. So I dont want to say whose fault it is  I dont think that helps.

But Trumps hands-across-the-checkpoint attitude began to change as Kushners power within the campaign grew. For example, Kushner was the adviser within the Trump camp who sat down with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer when he wanted to connect with the candidate.

And as The New York Times reported: It was in March, after Mr. Trump inflamed Jewish leaders with an improvised vow to remain neutral in dealings with Israel and Palestinians, that Mr. Kushner emerged as an unchallenged force in the campaign.

Late that month in an address to a packed and cheering audience of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Trump said: When I become president, the days of treating Israel as a second-class citizen will end on Day One.

Apparently, Trump is not waiting until Inauguration Day for a full-blown embrace of positions endorsed by right-wing Israelis and Jewish-Americans.

Related: Trump's pick for envoy to Israel expects embassy in Jerusalem

He has already said he would move Americas embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a symbolic move like likely to anger Muslims, who like Christians also claim the city as a holy site.

And by nominating an opponent of a two-state solution, Trump is putting himself to the right of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While he has sent mixed signals in the past, Netanyahu said just a week ago on 60 Minutes that he supports dual and contiguous states.

Friedman, a partner at the law firm Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP, also writes provocative op-eds for the Israeli website Arutz Sheva, which Remnick describes as being pro-settler, and for The Jerusalem Post. And he sometimes seems to be as much of a rhetorical bomb-thrower as Trump.

After a video surfaced during the campaign in which Trump joked about grabbing women by the genitals, Friedman didnt just try shooting the messenger, he empted the magazine of an assault weapon. If only the Times had reported on the Nazi death camps with the same fervor as its failed last-minute attempt to conjure up alleged victims of Donald Trump, imagine how many lives could have been saved, he wrote.

As has been widely reported, Friedman has compared members of the liberal Jewish lobbying group J Street with the kapos who were forced by the Nazis to help put their fellow Jews to death. Are J Street supporters really as bad as kapos? he asked in an op-ed. The answer, actually, is no. They are far worse than kapos The kapos faced extraordinary cruelty and who knows what any of us would have done under those circumstances to save a loved one? But J Street? They are just smug advocates of Israels destruction delivered from the comfort of their secure American sofas  its hard to imagine anyone worse.

So what if Friedman, who said in a radio interview that Trump wouldnt kowtow to lifelong members of the State Dept., is far from diplomatic? Or that he would scrap the possibility of a negotiated peace? The important thing is making the Kushners and Adelson happy.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Flight changes are often an unpleasant, stressful and ultimately a costly experience, but one woman shared a very different encounter on Facebook that has since gone viral.

Shaina Murry was catching a flight at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport when she came across a man, known only as Will K., lying on the floor in distress. Unsure of what was wrong, Murry called for medical assistance but after Will repeatedly expressed concern over missing his flight while waiting for the airports medical team to arrive, it dawned on Murry that Will was autistic.

That triggered me to switch gears, Murry wrote. I worked with American Airlines and the medical team at Dallas and told the medical team I would change my flight, grab some lunch with him and make sure he got on his flight OK.

American didnt charge me a dime for the flight change and even called me when he and I were eating lunch together to let me know his gate changed.

Murry also praised the airline and the airports medical and police for taking care of Will and ensuring that he boarded his flight safely to go home and see his mom for Christmas.

Today was not at all what I pictured it to be. It has turned out so much better, she wrote. Every once and [sic] awhile we all need a little help. Regardless of disability, age, or social status. Thanks for making my day Will!

What do you think of Murrys post? Let us know by tweeting us @YahooStyleCA.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)  Authorities have arrested a woman who had fled to Mexico with her 4-month-old son after being told she had to hand the child over to the Arizona Department of Child Safety.

U.S. Marshals Service officials say 25-year-old Elizabeth Morales has been booked into the Cochise County Jail and the child handed over to the DCS.

Morales was arrested Friday by Mexican authorities in Agua Prieta, Sonora.

She was wanted by the Cochise County Adult Probation Department for a probation warrant stemming from a narcotics possession charge.

Morales also was being sought by Tucson police for a failure-to-appear charge stemming from a burglary charge.

She gave birth to her son in August and was ordered by the Department of Child Safety to hand over the child but failed to do so.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  A Florida woman accused of threatening the parent of a boy killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting because she thought it was a hoax pleaded not guilty Monday and was barred from visiting websites that promote such false conspiracy theories.

Lucy Richards, 57, entered her plea in Fort Lauderdale federal court after a public defender was appointed to represent her. The lawyer, Michael Spivack, declined to comment after the hearing.

Richards was arrested Dec. 7 in Tampa on four felony counts of transmitting threats to Lenny Pozner, father of 6-year-old Noah Pozner who died in the 2012 mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Richards lives in Brandon, near Tampa, but threats were received by Pozner in Palm Beach County, according to court records.

Each charge carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Richards, who is free on $25,000 bail, entered the courtroom wearing furry slippers and using an aluminum walker. She told U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Seltzer she is on disability and has not worked in more than a decade when she was a waitress. She spoke softly in answering the judge's questions, telling him she is not married and has no children, and that she had only been arrested once before for stealing two sandwiches from a grocery store.

Others linked to the Sandy Hook massacre have reported harassment by conspiracy theorists who argue the event was staged to erode support for Second Amendment gun rights. Richards, however, said she owns no weapons.

"I've never touched or owned a gun," she said.

The four threats were made Jan. 10, according to authorities, and included messages that said, "you gonna die, death is coming to you real soon," and "LOOK BEHIND YOU IT IS DEATH."

Another threat said, "there's nothing you can do about it," according to court documents.

Federal prosecutors successfully got Richards prohibited from visiting conspiracy theory websites because she told investigators after her arrest that she had been viewing one when she sent the messages to Pozner, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Gilbert.

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"That's what she got angry over, which led to the conduct in this case," Gilbert said. "It's these specifically I'm looking to restrict. I'm not looking for general news websites."

Seltzer also ordered Richards to have no contact with Pozner or anyone else connected to the Sandy Hook killings.

Pozner has publicly sought to debunk conspiracy theories that claim Sandy Hook and other mass slayings were staged by the government as part of an anti-gun agenda.

In an interview last week with The Associated Press, Pozner said ignoring the deluge of hoaxes posted online about his son's death over the last four years is impossible and only emboldens people to threaten him.

"This is such an antiquated concept  'don't feed the trolls,'" Pozner said. "All the people that have said that and ignored it all are responsible for this problem festering and becoming even worse."

Pozner launched a website this year, www.honr.com, to expand his network of volunteers who report hoax-related harassment on social media and flag content that violates the terms of service for sites such as PayPal.

"All of these companies are not defending victims," Pozner said. "They need more accountability."

_____

Associated Press reporter Jennifer Kay in Miami contributed to this story.

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Follow Curt Anderson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Miamicurt
Susan didnt plan to date a sex offender, but she felt like she had finally met her dream guy in Josh  never mind that she was married at the time.

Susan, 33, and Josh, 31, met in September 2013 when Josh worked a job that delivered beds to the Missouri hospital where Susan worked. According to Susan, a month into the relationship, Josh told her he was on the sex offender registry for a crime he committed while he was serving in the Marines.

He told me within the first month. He told me very early on because he knew I had two children, Susan told InsideEdition.com.

Falling for Josh was easy for Susan because she said her marriage with her then-husband was tumultuous.

A few weeks after the pair began secretly dating; Susans then husband found out his wife was seeing Josh behind his back. Their children were 2 and 5 at the time.

Read: Violent Sex Predator Convicted of Abusing Boy, 6, Found Working as Santa in Petco: Report

"My husband came home early one day after having a big fight over the weekend and he caught Josh and me in the shower, Susan said. I did try to end our relationship a few times but the chemistry was just so strong that it was hard to let each other go. I didnt mean for it to happen."

After the discovery, Susans ex-husband filed for divorce in November 2013, but it wouldnt be until much later that he would discover Joshs status as a registered sex offender.

A few months into their relationship, Susan allowed Josh to meet her two children. She said she felt that she understood Joshs crime and knew him to be a good person.

He disclosed what happened and how it happened, all of that to me. I could see from his point of view. Its not totally his fault that this happened," said Susan. I didnt find him as a threat.

Susan isnt the only woman willing to overlook the past of the man she loves, even a man with his name on the sex offender registry.

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While it may seem surprising to many, some women are willing to go through being outwardly shunned by family and their communities in the defense of the men because to them, love trumps all.

Their experiences being in a relationship with a sex offender may be different, but these women have another thing in common: An undeniable faith in their men.

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Susans boyfriend Josh was 21 at the time of his crime. He was arrested in 2007 in California while serving in the Marines and remained in the brig, a military jail, until he was found guilty of wrongfully transporting and possessing child pornography in 2008.

Following the conviction, he was dishonorably discharged from the military.

According to court documents, Josh was found with a collection of more than 1,500 images and 20 videos of children ages six and older being raped, orally sodomized, and sexually molested.

Joshs mom, Vicki, has come to his defense by saying he was molested by a member of his family beginning at age 6, although it didnt come to light until after his crime.

Josh also told InsideEdition.com that he tried to get help when he realized he was in trouble, but was blown off by one of his commanding officers in the military.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but only served four due to a pre-trial agreement, according to records.

Read: Teacher Who Slept With Student While Her Fiance Was at His Bachelor Party Gets Jail Time

The last year of his sentence was spent at a treatment facility for sex offenders, which Josh said he wanted to participate in. He was released in 2011 and put on parole for three months.

It was then that Josh moved to Missouri, where he was required to register as a sex offender, and in accordance with Missouri law, he will be on the registry for the rest of his life. Not every state has lifetime registry requirements. Missouri, however, doesnt categorize the level of offense into three levels, as other states do.

Many other states follow the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) guidelines, which were authorized in accordance with Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. The guidelines provide a set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and categorize offenders into a three tier/level system, which is based on the severity of an offenders crimes  Level 3 being the most dangerous offender.

The SMART guidelines indicate Tier 1 means 15 years on the registry, Tier 2 means 25, and Tier 3 is life on the registry. According to Justice Department, as of 2014, 17 states had come into substantial compliance with SMART guidelines.

Josh is required to re-register every 90 days under Missouri law, which in some other states would only be reserved for Level 3 offenders. He is also not allowed to live within 1,000 feet of a school or loiter within 500 feet of a public park or swimming pool, among other constraints.

Because Josh is not currently on parole, however, he is not prohibited from being around kids and therefore nothing prevented him from forming relationships with Susans children or eventually moving in with her.

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The many stipulations that come with being a registered sex offender are something that Melissa knows all too well. She is married to a Level 3 offender.

If you look at him on paper he looks like a monster, but if you get to know him, hes not that, she told InsideEdition.com.

Melissa, 40, and her husband Jerry, 47, live in Minnesota with their 8-year-old daughter.

In 1985, when he was 15 years old, Jerry was convicted of second-degree criminal misconduct and received probation for fondling boys from the ages of 6 to 8 years old. He reportedly knew his victims. Melissa, however, told InsideEdition.com that Jerry explained to her what happened and she maintains the arrest was based on a falsified story.

Then in 1994, at 22 years old, Jerry was convicted of third-degree sexual contact for a second crime when he had sex with a 15-year-old girl. He was married to his now ex-wife and had a 1-year-old daughter.

Read: See How Parole Officers Ensured Kids' Safety by Checking on Sex Offenders on Halloween

Jerry was initially given probation and mandated to undergo treatment, but Melissa said because of his lack of consistency with the sessions, it was declared that he violated his probation. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 1997 and upped to a Level 3 offender.

Following his release, Jerry was also twice convicted for failing to register as a predatory sex offender in 2004 and 2006, a felony. Melissa attributed the convictions to the confusion and complications of the rules and paperwork that go along with being on the registry.

Sex offenders are often required to register anywhere from every three months to once per year. Re-registering can include reporting to the local police station to have an updated picture taken and filling out paperwork with information like any schools they are attending, residence, employment and car type, among other information.

In Minnesota, registered sex offenders must give written notice at least five days before moving or changing their primary address as well.

Although Jerry has been off probation since 2014, hell be on the registry for 20 more years because of his violations.

We have been married for almost seven years, and although the constraints of the sex offender registry can be brutal, we are so very happy with each other, Melissa said.

She met Jerry at a charity event in 2006  17 years after his second offense. She said they became friends before becoming romantically involved. When he told her his status on the registry soon after they began dating, and she made a conscious decision to stay with him.

At first I was like okay, wow, but I was also able to hear the whole story of things and confirm it with outside sources. So its just kind of like a 'wow, what kind of stigma does that carry?' I have my own faith and beliefs that people can change and grow and become better people, Melissa said.

She said she previously held the idea that once you were a child molester you are always a child molester, but she realized Jerrys story is different. She said Jerry owns up to his mistake. She added that he was young and it took him a while to realize that what he did was wrong.

His story was the story of someone who should have said no to someone who was a little too young, Melissa said. He doesnt like what he did. It took him a long time to understand that what he did was wrong because she was willing and he was willing. He was the adult. He should have said, 'this isnt something you shouldnt be doing at this age.' He didnt make that decision and he hates it.

Although some sex offenders may realize their crime and be able to move forward, Sherry Lewis, director of therapy at Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands, said its not that simple for the victims.

When we think about adult survivors of child abuse, the impact of that is really far-reaching. What we see is that trauma impacts a persons belief systems, Lewis said. The main emotion we see connected with childhood trauma is grief, so feeling as though something was taken from them and shame so they have to work through those emotions in their adult lives.

And while Melissa and Jerry want to move on, Melissa said their community hasnt made it easy.

When they married in 2009, Melissa chose to hyphenate her name and give their daughter her last name because of the torture that Jerrys two children from his previous marriage endured in school because of his known status around town.

When a Level 3 sex offender moves into a city, it is publicized on the radio and in the paper along with their address.

They had a town meeting when Jerry and Melissa moved to their current residence and Melissa said that someone reportedly announced what their car looked like.

We had our tires popped four times within the first two weeks of moving here, Melissa said. We have had people break our side mirrors as well. Weve had problems in three places that weve lived.

Jerry has also lost jobs because of his status.

He worked at one place as a dishwasher but he loved it. He told everyone about his past and status, said Melissa. We moved to a new town and they publicized him and put him on the front page because a resident complained the picture wasnt big enough. His job freaked out and let him go.

Having a child, who has to interact with other children, is another the bridge the pair has to cross.

The couple sits down with the parents of their daughters playmates and explains to them that Jerry will never be left alone with their children. Melissa also informs them that she has gone through sex-offender supervision courses to ease any of their concerns.

"The biggest effect the registry has in my life is the effect it has on my family because the community treats my entire family as if they are sex offenders as well," Jerry told InsideEdition.com.

According to Melissa, some of her family, however, does not agree with her decision to marry Jerry.

Ive had arguments with family members. Ive had people ask me how I can forgive someone like this, said Melissa. My grandma told me I should have walked away before I ever had children.

Melissa says her love for Jerry is greater than outside opinion.

He is the father of my children and I never want to live without him. I've found when love is solid and strong the outside world doesn't matter as much, said Melissa. We did not mean to fall in love. But as we got to know each other, I found him to be funny and kind, honest and sweet. There was something about him that made me feel safe, and that is not something that happens often.

---

In cases like Susans though, when your children are from a previous marriage, there is an entirely different bridge to walk over.

Josh moved in with Susan and her two daughters in November 2015, after two years of dating. Susan never disclosed to her ex-husband that Josh was on the registry.

When he found out in July 2016, he filed a motion to get an order of protection that would prevent Josh from being around his children. It was granted in October.

According to the order, Josh can no longer be around or talk to Susans children. Susans ex-husband also filed a motion to modify their divorce and obtain full custody of their daughters.

The parents currently share 50/50 custody.

I am very protective of my children. I am a mom. Given what the conviction is and everything there is some nervousness surrounding it but I have been with Josh for a long time and I knew what type of person he was, said Susan. I also monitor the things that he does at home in regards to the internet and that kind of stuff. If I thought that he was a threat to my children, I wouldnt even be in a relationship with him.

Susan does admit she may have made a bad judgment in not telling her ex-husband that Josh is a registered sex offender.

I didnt tell him and maybe that wasnt right but there is no statute that says I have to, Susan said.

Susans ex-husband, who did not want to speak for the article, made a GoFundMe account in which he asked for help with legal fees to get custody of his children.

In the post, he called Susan bipolar. He also calls Josh a creep and a pedophile.

He added that he wants to provide a safe home for his children by taking full custody of them.

They are in very real danger every day, the post said.

Susan confirmed that she is bi-polar and has been on-and-off medication for years due to the costs.

The custody battle and order of protection means Josh and Susan are only able to see each other when Susan doesnt have her daughters.

Read: Abducted 6-Year-Old Girl Found Alive - and Her Alleged Kidnapper Is a Sex Offender

I know we want to stay together but trying to make it work with him not being able to be around the kids and only being able to see each other half the time, I dont know if its going to work, said Susan. Hes that person you look for your whole life and hope to find and it sucks that he basically has to wear this scarlet letter for the rest of his life. He would not hurt a child.

Josh said he offered to speak with Susans ex-husband to sort this out in another way, but his attempt failed.

I treated them as my own kids, Josh told InsideEdition.com. I think if I stay with her she will lose her kids. I dont want to be responsible for that. If this wasnt happening Id still be living with her and wed still be together, all of that. We make mistakes. We are not all monsters.

(Last names have not been used to protect the identities of those involved.)

Watch: See What Happened When Parole Officers Visited Sex Offenders on Halloween

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Antonio Guterres takes over from Ban Ki-moon as U.N. Secretary-General on Jan. 1, becoming the first former head of government to lead the global body. Portugals exPrime Minister inherits the role amid rising nationalism around the globe and growing regional tensions in Asia and the Middle East.

WORLD LEADER

The 67-year-old is already a senior figure on the world stage, having led Portugals government from 1995 to 2002 and headed the U.N.s refugee agency for a decade. Fluent in four languages, Guterres was elected in 1976 to Portugals first democratically elected parliament after five decades of dictatorship.

BIG PLANS

Guterres has indicated that one of his first priorities will be to simplify and decentralize the world bodys sprawling bureaucracy. He is expected to name a female deputy, after his appointment disappointed gender-equality campaigners. The ongoing civil war in Syria and a feisty China also present immediate challenges.

BALANCING ACT

His biggest test, however, will be navigating a political environment increasingly hostile to multilateral organizations like the U.N. while securing favor from the bodys biggest donor country: the U.S. It will take delicate diplomacy to urge Donald Trump not to cut U.N. funding while also encouraging the U.S. to meet pledges made by the Obama Administration on climate change, refugees and more.

T.J.



This appears in the December 26, 2016 issue of TIME.
Peru police Santa Claus drug raid

A special division of Lima's police force has been known to dress as street sweepers, vendors, or as homeless people in order to patrol its territory and detect criminal activity.

With the Christmas holiday rapidly approaching, some of those cops have donned a new but familiar disguise: Papa Noel, or Santa Claus.

"We are able to imitate any type of character," Peru National Police Col. Jorge Angulo told America TV. "This is a special character. We have had the opportunity to raid a home for the issue of drug sales."

In a police video released online, an officer dressed as Santa Claus can be seen smashing through a door with a sledgehammer, conducting a search of a home, and leading drug suspects out in handcuffs.

During that raid, Peruvian police arrested four suspects and seized 4,564 packets of cocaine hidden in three houses. "The detainees were left with open months upon seeing Santa Claus," news site Metro Peru reported.

In the video below, police officers dressed as Santa Claus can be seen during the raid and on patrol.

Crime, particularly drug-related crime, is an issue of special concern in Lima and in Peru more broadly. Assaults and shootings have taken place in restaurants, and there have been killings of merchants and workers in broad daylight, all of which has contributed to a sense of insecurity, according to La Prensa.

Lima and the port city of Callao, which is just west of the Peruvian capital, have seen high levels of drug-related crime, as gangs compete for influence of the trafficking in the country that has become the second-largest producer of cocaine, behind Colombia, as well as a hub for counterfeiting and forgery.

"The best gift we can give is a little security to the people," Angulo said.

Police in Peru have received heightened scrutiny in recent months, as reports have emerged that members of the police forces have formed "death squads" and that successful operations have been staged.

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High levels of official complicity and of corruption within the government and law enforcement have long shielded police members involved in criminal activity, and the prevalence of such complicity seems likely to undercut some recent laws aimed at combating organized crime and official impunity.

NOW WATCH: The most popular Christmas traditions have nothing to do with Jesus





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Most Painful Death: Lexa, The 100 With 50% of the vote  besting the saddest casualties of The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones to date  you know this hit fans hard. Not only was the death of the Commander of the 12 Clans unexpected, it was a stupid accident  not a fitting exit for the fierce, strong, smart warrior who united all the Grounders. Even worse, Lexa died after finally consummating her relationship with Clarke, and that sparked outrage among fans who felt the death fed the "Bury Your Gays" trope (when LGBTQ characters are killed off, often right after having sex). Lexa was a fighter and a lover, and she deserved better. Kelly Woo



2. Abraham Ford and Glenn Rhee, The Walking Dead (31%)

3. Hodor, Game of Thrones (10%)

4. Poussey Washington, Orange Is the New Black (7%)

5. Nina Sergeevna Krilova, The Americans (2%)

(Photo: Diyah Pera/The CW)

The votes are in  all 76,885 of them. Over the past two weeks, weve asked Yahoo TV readers to help crown the winners in 12 categories honoring the best  and sometimes worst  of 2016. Here now are the winners of our second annual Yahooies.

Congratulations to Outlander for defending its Best Sex Scene title, to Rob Lowe for being right (The Grinder is the Best Show That Got Canceled), and to Bachelor Nation for helping The Bachelorette's Chad do the impossible: He beat out The Walking Dead's Negan for Best New Villain by 16 votes.

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Ken Tuckers Best TV Comedies of 2016

Toast of 2016 interviews with This Is Us's Sterling K. Brown, Game of Thrones's Bella Ramsey, Stranger Things's David Harbour, Full Frontal With Samantha Bee EP Jo Miller, and Rectify creator Ray McKinnon

Yahoo TVs Complete Best of 2016 Coverage
There has been very little research to actually understand the biology of creativity. So in November, with support from the John Templeton Foundation, we presented the results of our Big C project to the Society for Neuroscience of Creativity. ("Little C" creativity can be found in nearly all people; "Big C" creativity is relatively rare, involves breakthrough thinking and can be associated with greatness.) The Big C project studied differences in creativity between internationally renowned artists and scientists who have been acknowledged by their peers as showing high levels of innovation in their work. We studied 30 people in each of three groups: scientists, artists and a control group - people recruited from around UCLA who are very smart but not selected for being particularly creative.

Following a series of word-association exercises, we found in the scientists a particular randomness in the organization of their functional brain networks, which was greater than the patterns of neural activity of the smart control group. And the artists' brains? Their level of randomness placed in between the two groups. That was a big surprise to us. What is it about the randomness in connections that enables scientific creativity and seems to be present more in scientists than in the brains of such subjects as artist Doug Aitken, fine-art photographer Catherine Opie and conceptual artist Glenn Kaino? No one knows the answer yet, but now we have evidence of a relationship between brain organization and creativity.

Furthermore, we looked at the subjects' high-resolution brain scans and measured all brain regions and thicknesses of cortices. We found there seems to be an increase in the amount of brain tissue dedicated to visual processing and high-level visual integration centers for the artists. So this raises the question: Are these artists born and genetically predisposed to becoming artists because they have more brain allocated to that purpose? Or, through practice and hard work, did they build up and exercise these regions of their brain so much that they grew in volume? That's going to require further longitudinal studies.

Another study that we presented to the International Neuropsychological Society in February shows that there is an interesting correlation with agreeableness. We found that less agreeable people tend to be more creative. You can interpret that as these people showing aspects of non-conformism or challenging the status quo. Additionally, in our November Big C study, we reported that visual artists had more unusual perceptions, odd speech and more socially divergent tendencies, while our scientists were more likely to be married with beliefs that aligned with the smart controls. We think the data is in line with the idea that artists entertain unusual ideas and may reject social conventions more, but we saw little support for the notion of the "mad scientist."

This story first appeared in the Jan. 6 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
Last week, when it rained in the city due to the effects of the Cyclone Vardah that hit Chennai, the foam in the lakes caught fire.

By Nolan Pinto: The Bellandur and Varthur lakes in Bengaluru are like problem children for the residents living in its vicinity. The lakes are filled with effluents and one can only see froth and hyacinth in them.

But the problem accentuates every time it rains.

Last week, when it rained in the city due to the effects of the Cyclone Vardah that hit Chennai, the foam in the lakes caught fire. This foam also tends to fly thereby causing motorists to skid.

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Driving anywhere near the Varthur Kodi intersection is a living nightmare for bike riders who have to brave the foam flying right into the faces.

Also read: Day after Madurai fishkill, scores of fish found dead in Bengaluru lake

This has been a constant problem for the residents living over there and all their pleas to the authorities to do something about it have fallen on deaf ears.

According to Ambika Sen, a member of the lake committee of Whitefield Rising, there are only short term measures taken by the government which would not work.

She said, "When it rains, the water gets churned and all the effluents get mixed up and hence the froth comes up."

THE PROBLEM AREAS

These effluents are dumped into the lakes upstream by garment units and also by apartments who have no functioning sewage treatment plants.

Added to these problems, the effluents have killed the fish in the lake and this has led to mosquitoes breeding.

Residents complain of various mosquito and water-borne diseases which has become rampant, apart from the daily foul smell in the area.

There are also reports by the IISc of how the groundwater has been contaminated in the area.

Also read: 1,000 Bengaluru kids write to PM Modi: Get us clean air, water and environment

What is also shocking is that the last time the lake was desilted was way back in 1970.

According to scientists, desilting needs to be done every year especially for lakes that are heavily being polluted such as the Bellandur and Varthur to keep it alive.

--- ENDS ---
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A self-proclaimed white supremacist convicted on charges he planned to use a "death ray" to kill Muslims and President Barack Obama was sentenced on Monday to 30 years in prison, federal prosecutors in New York said.

Glendon Scott Crawford, 52, a Navy veteran and a member of the Ku Klux Klan, was found guilty in August 2015 of conspiring with another man to build a radiation dispersal device, dubbed a "death ray" by tabloids.

Crawford is the first person to be convicted under a law barring attempts to acquire or use a radiological dispersal device, which combines conventional explosives, such as dynamite, with radioactive material. Congress passed the statute in 2004 to punish individuals who try to set off a so-called "dirty bomb."

U.S. District Judge Gary Sharpe imposed the sentence at a hearing in Albany, prosecutors said in a statement. He was convicted on three counts, including conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Crawford from upstate New York plans to appeal the conviction as well as his sentence, his attorney Danielle Neroni said in a statement. His lawyers argued unsuccessfully at trial that he was entrapped by the government.

Crawford's co-conspirator, Eric Feight, pleaded guilty in connection with the case and was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison.

U.S. prosecutors had sought life in prison for Crawford. He faced a mandatory minimum of 25 years. After his release, he will be supervised for life.

"His plot to murder people he did not know was designed to, in his oft-repeated words, 'take his country back' from government leaders by forcing them to change government conduct he perceived as favoring Muslims," prosecutors wrote in a pre-sentencing court filing.

Authorities said Crawford, who worked at General Electric Co, carried out extensive research on radiation dispersal devices, learning what level of emission was required to kill humans and conducting reconnaissance on potential targets, including a local mosque.

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In conversations recorded without his knowledge by a confidential law enforcement source, Crawford spoke often of his hatred of Muslims and said he would go after Obama in the White House with the device.

Defense lawyers wrote in court papers that the device in question was constructed by federal agents and that Crawford never actually intended to use it.

"Mr. Crawford maintains that he never intended to endanger human life through the release of radiation or of radioactive nuclides," Neroni wrote.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Additional reporting by David Ingramediting by Andrew Hay and Jeffrey Benkoe)
Bana Alabed, the 7-year-old girl who chronicled the horrors of the assault on Aleppo on Twitter, has been safely evacuated from the city.

Several photos emerged on Monday that showed the girl and her mother, Fatemah, among a crowd evacuated from the Syrian city of Aleppo. The President of the Syrian American Medical Society, Ahmad Tarakji, said on Monday that NGO workers on the ground are assisting Alabed and others.

Alabeds Twitter account, which was operated by Fatemah, went viral in September for describing the horrors of daily life in the besieged city.

J.K. Rowling is among the thousands that took notice of Alabeds tweets, prompting the author to sent the girl a digital copy of Harry Potter. But there have been concerns that Alabeds account was too active for someone in a city that frequently suffers power cuts. Even Syrian President Bashar al-Assads suggested that her 140-character messages were merely propaganda, the Washington Post reports.

Alabeds supporters now hope the girls appearance on Monday will end criticism of the authenticity of her account.
Colorful and celebrated personality Zsa Zsa Gabor died Sunday, Dec. 18, at age 99. The Budapest-born socialite and great-aunt of Paris Hilton leaves behind a unique legacy: she was one of the first celebrities who was famous for being famous, she was married nine times and never shied away from drama or scandal. The only thing that seemed to slow her vivacious spirit in her later years was a string of serious health problems, including a lung infection and the amputation of her right leg.

Heres a look at Gabors most headline-grabbing incidents and health issues.

1982: Gabor Orders Handicapped Theatergoers to be Moved

Gabor made headlines in 1982 for reportedly demanding that several audience members in wheelchairs be removed from their seats close to the stage where she was performing. The alleged incident occurred during intermission of a recreation of her Broadway role in Forty Carats, when a row of six handicapped people were moved to the back of Philadelphias City Line Dinner Theater upon Gabors request. She told PEOPLE it was an usher who moved the paraleptics, she said. The theater owner, a terrible man, wanted me to take the rap.

1989: Escorted Off a Delta Airlines Plane

Gabor was removed from a flight bound for Los Angeles during a layover in Atlanta when she refused to keep her dogs in travel kennels. The Delta agent came aboard. He asked her six times to comply, spokesman William D. Berry told the Associated Press at the time. She refused to comply. Each time he was responded to with considerable vulgarity.

1989: Jailed for Slapping a Police Officer

When Gabor was pulled over in June 1989 for driving with expired registration tags, in her $110,000 Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible no less, she expected to get off with a warning. Usually they say, Zsa Zsa, whats the matter, are you married these days, do you want to marry me?  Gabor told PEOPLE a few months after the incident. Instead she ended up in an altercation with officer Paul Kramer, slapping him after he discovered her license was also expired and ordered her out of her car.

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Gabor was handcuffed, arrested and charged with five offenses: battery upon an officer, disobeying an officer, driving without registration, driving without a license and having an open container of alcohol (the latter of which belonged to her husband, Prince Frederick von Anhalt, of West Germany). Gabor blamed her reaction on her Hungarian blood. I admit I have a Hungarian temper, she said at the time. Why not? I am from Hungary. We are descendants of Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun. She was found guilty of battery and served a 72-hour sentence in prison in 1990.

1986: Ninth Marriage to Frederic Von Anhalt

Gabor was married nine times, divorced seven, and had one annulled. The most well-known of her ex-husbands are hotelier Conrad Hilton, with whom she had a daughter Francesca, born after their divorce was finalized and who died suddenly last year at age 67; All About Eve Oscar-winning actor George Sanders and Von Anhalt, who was 27 years her junior. With her marriage to Von Anhalt, who was adopted as an adult by Germanys Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt, Gabor earned the title Princess von Anhalt, Duchess of Saxony.

Von Anhalt was a controversial figure himself  in 2007, while still married to Gabor, he claimed to have fathered Dannielynn Smith, the baby daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith. DNA tests later proved his claim to be false.

2002: Gabors Final 14 Years of Health Issues

After being confined to a wheelchair due to injuries sustained in a 2002 car accident, Gabor suffered a stroke and underwent hours of surgery to repair an artery in 2005. After falling and breaking several bones in 2010, Gabor had to have her hip replaced at the age of 93. Six months later, Gabor had to have her right leg amputated due to a blood clot from the earlier hip replacement. And in February this year, after celebrating her 99th birthday, Gabor was hospitalized for a lung infection.

Through it all, Gabors husband said his bride remained feisty. Von Anhalt told the BBC at the time Gabor was yelling at nurses and at him, he said. Everything is back to normal.

On Sunday, Gabors rep said in a statement to PEOPLE that the legendary star had been suffering from chronic dementia in the final five years of her life.

I am pleased that she is finally out of her misery, her rep Ed Lozzi said in a statement. For the past five years, Zsa Zsa has suffered chronic dementia, locked away in her mansion laying in a hospital bed being fed through tubes in her naval, not able to speak, see, write or hear. Nor knowing who she was or how famous she was.




Zsa Zsa Gabor was never one to shy away from drama, but the family infighting that surrounded the final years of her life was scandalous even by her standards.

The Budapest-born socialite and great-aunt of Paris Hilton died Sunday at age 99. Plagued by health problems in her later years, including a lung infection, the amputation of her right leg and eventually chronic dementia, Gabor succumbed to a heart attack after spending the last five years on life support.

During that time, Gabor was locked away in her mansion laying in a hospital bed being fed through tubes in her navel, not able to speak, see, write or hear. Nor knowing who she was or how famous she was, her rep Ed Lozzi said in a statement to PEOPLE.

While she was incapacitated, long-held tensions between her husband, Frederic von Anhalt, and her only child, Francesca Hilton, continued to rise. Hilton, whose father, hotel magnate Conrad Hilton, was married to Gabor from 1942 to 1947, died suddenly of an apparent stroke/heart attack in 2015. She was 67. Before her death, Hilton and von Anhalt, her mothers ninth husband, frequently battled over Gabors finances and care.

Francesca Hilton.Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty

Von Anhalt, 73, sued his stepdaughter on behalf of himself and Gabor in 2005, claiming she had forged her mothers signature to take out a $2 million loan by using Gabors $14 million home as collateral, according to the Los Angeles Times. Hilton argued that she had her mothers permission to take out the loan, with the understanding that the money would be used to refinance the mansion and save it from foreclosure, according to Forbes. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed after Gabor failed to show up to court.

Von Anhalt, who is 27 years Gabors junior, created another scandal in 2007, when he publicly claimed to have fathered Dannielynn Smith, the baby daughter of Anna Nicole Smith. DNA tests later proved his claim to be false.

The familys bad blood made it back into the courts in 2012, when Hilton filed a petition requesting an independent conservatorship be created to monitor the health and financial interests of her mother. A judge granted the request, but Hiltons plan backfired when the court appointed von Anhalt as temporary conservator. While the judge ordered the money only be used towards Gabors medical needs, Hilton claimed her stepfather was using the money to throw lavish parties, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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Zsa Zsa Gabor and Frederick von Anhalt.DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty

After her death last year, Hiltons friend and publicist told Radar Online that she never reconciled with her estranged stepdad, Forbes reports. In fact, shortly before she died, Hilton left von Anhalt with a parting insult, reportedly saying, My mother wanted to be a princess, so she married an evil queen.

But the drama continued even after her death, which occurred so suddenly that no plans had been made for her final resting arrangements. With no immediate family outside of her mother, Hiltons body remained in the morgue for days until von Anhalt himself took control. After initially calling for an investigation into her death, alluding that she had committed suicide, authorities ordered an autopsy and did not allow her stepfather to claim the body.

Von Anhalt told the New York Daily News that he did not tell Gabor of her daughters death, explaining, Zsa Zsa is not aware of the news and I will not let anybody get close to my wife and tell her. She will not know about it  She is a target for strokes. Shell be 98 in a couple weeks with blood pressure on the rise. I dont want her to have bad news.

He also addressed his relationship with Hilton, saying, I didnt get along with her, but my wife loved her.




Zsa Zsa Gabor's widower has shed light on her final moments before the actress and socialite passed away Sunday.

Frederic Prinz von Anhalt was the 99-year-olds ninth husband. The two had been married for 30 years.

Read: Divorce Lawyers Are a Girl's Best Friend': The Affairs, Marriages and Relationships of Zsa Zsa Gabor

"The doctor came out and said, 'there is nothing we can do anymore,'" he told reporters Monday outside their home. "She was slowly slipping away, peacefully, without pain, and it was just the time for her to go."

Gabor died after suffering a heart attack at her Bel Air estate she has called home for more than 40 years. Her final years were spent in seclusion while she was confined to a hospital bed.

In 2011, Gabor had to have her right leg amputated after suffering from an infection.

A Hollywood fixture for more than 60 years, Gabor counted TV personality Larry King among her close friends.

"I got a lot of laughs from her," King told Inside Edition. "She had a great sense of humor. She was self-deprecating."

Gabor is also regarded as a pioneer of the "famous for being famous" phenomenon.

It can be said she paved the way for the Kardashians," People magazine staff editor Janine Rubenstein told Inside Edition. "Her antics, and her attitude, and specifically her love life kept her in the headlines year in and year out.

Read: Fit for a Queen: Inside the Opulent Mansion Zsa Zsa Gabor Called Home for More Than 40 Years

Gabor was married nine times only to divorce seven of her husbands and having one of the marriages annulled. Her longest marriage was her last.

She married Prinz von Anhalt in 1986.

I had to kiss a lot of frogs before I found my prince, she once famously remarked.

Her final husband called his late wife the love of his life.

Watch: The Test That May Determine Your Heart Attack Risk Before It Happens

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All iPhone 8 OLED versions might come with a curved display, supplied by Samsung. iPhone 8 would sport flexible OLED displays akin to the ones on the LG G Flex devices as opposed to glass displays used on previous iPhones, Korea Herald reported.

The OLED version of the new iPhone will all be curved as Apple ordered all plastic OLED -- not glass -- from Samsung Display. Samsung is capable of supplying a little less than 100 million units of curved OLED displays to Apple, Korea Herald quoted a source familiar with the matter as saying.

Devices sporting curved displays such as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge generally have plastic OLED panels while glass OLEDs are typically used on flat panel devices such as the iPhone 7. Unlike Samsungs upcoming flagships Note 8 and Galaxy S8, the 2017 iPhone is not expected to be foldable but it might come with a new touch-based feature.

The upcoming iPhone may use new sensing technology, which enables the phone to respond when users touch any side of the device. Korea Heralds report added. Apple is also expected to come out with a flat screened version of iPhone 8, for which it might source out displays from LG and Japan Display Inc.

Until now, the Apple-Samsung relationship has been full of paradoxes. While Samsung is one of main suppliers of components for the iPhone, it is also Apples main rival in the smartphone market, which is why the company is expected to branch out to more suppliers starting 2018 to avoid conflict of interest issues with Samsung.

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By Alastair Sharp OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's BlackBerry Ltd plans to invest C$100 million ($75 million) in a new autonomous vehicle testing hub over several years, the company's chief executive said on Monday, as the fallen smartphone pioneer looks elsewhere for growth. Most of the money will go to engineering jobs, possibly hundreds in coming years, John Chen told reporters at the Ottawa-area headquarters of its BlackBerry QNX subsidiary, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at his side. The company, which is racing to increase software sales as its handset unit and related legacy service access fees shrink, hopes to make itself indispensable in the automotive industry's looming self-driving arms race. [L1N1E12EX] "One could make the argument that QNX is the strongest asset in their portfolio right now, so it's refreshing to see this investment," said IDC's consumer mobility analyst Brian Haven. But he said scaling the business and dealing with rivals with more money to throw at autonomous driving initiatives would be challenges for the company. BlackBerry is hoping its security and safety credentials help it win a seat at the table as an array of automakers, chip and sensor providers and software developers work in competitive co-operation to bring self-driving cars to the mass market. "It will require significant cooperation between all those involved to be sure that the end product and its communication configuration is both safe and secure for the individuals that use them and those sharing the road," said David Masson, Canada country manager at cybersecurity firm Darktrace. BlackBerry will initially work with middleware supplier PolySync and semiconductor company Renesas Electronics Corp <6723.T>, as well as its hometown University of Waterloo on its autonomous driving project, but hopes to welcome more companies to its Ottawa facility. The company's Toronto-listed shares were up 2.9 percent at C$10.40, after earlier rising as much as 4 percent to a one-month high. The company's QNX unit, renamed BlackBerry QNX, currently employs around 400 engineers, some three-quarters of them at its facility in Kanata on the outskirts of Ottawa. BlackBerry has about 5,000 employees in total. While the embedded operating system market is likely to grow quickly as autonomous driving takes off, BlackBerry faces numerous competitive threats, including from independent embedded operating system producer Green Hills Software as well as chipmakers such as Intel Corp . It must also convince system integrators including former QNX owner Harman International Industries Inc that its offering is compelling. (Reporting by Alastair Sharp in Ottawa; editing by Rod Nickel, Bernard Orr)
According to a report that surfaced two weeks ago, Google recently decided to scrap any plans it may have had to build a self-driving car of its own. Instead, the search giant was said to be interested in partnering up with traditional car markers while refocusing its efforts on developing self-driving technologies.

Don't Miss: Amazons 12 best deals: $50 off the original AirPods, eero WiFi, 4K Roku TV, $8 earbuds, more

True to form, Google last night announced the fruits of its partnership with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Specifically, the search giants autonomous vehicle division, now called Waymo, will add 100 heavily modified and self-driving Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to its growing fleet of autonomous vehicles.

In a post published to Medium, Waymo CEO John Krafcik said that his team has been working with Chrysler since May to outfit the relatively sleek Pacifica Hybrid with the companys cutting edge autonomous driving technologies and sensors. Notably, the project was far more intensive than simply adding a few external sensors to the minivan. On the contrary, the initiative involved sweeping changes to the minivans electrical, powertrain, chassis and structural systems in order to optimize all aspects of the underlying technology.

Krafcik also explained that the self-driving minivan has already been subject to an extensive amount of testing.

Using several of our early prototype minivans, weve already run a gamut of tests, including over 200 hours of extreme-weather testing. Before starting production in October, wed put these early vehicles through their paces at our own test track in California, and FCAs Chelsea Proving Grounds in Chelsea, MI and their Arizona Proving Grounds in Yucca, AZ. Getting from program kickoff to production and full vehicle assembly in half a year is a testament to the strong teamwork and collaboration between FCA and Waymo engineers.

As a final point, Krafcik added that Waymo is aiming to bring its new minivans to public roads sometime in 2017.

Story continues

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  Clearer guidelines are needed for law enforcement's use of secretive and intrusive cellphone tracking technology, and police and federal agents should be upfront with a judge about their deployment, a House committee said in a report Monday.

The report from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee examines the use of cell-site simulators by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The technology works by mimicking a cellphone tower, allowing law enforcement to collect basic data  such as a unique subscriber number  from cellphones in a particular area or neighborhood. The data can help police determine the location of a targeted phone without the user even making a call or sending a text message.

The surveillance devices have been broadly adopted by police departments and federal agencies, which see them as vital in helping track the location of criminal suspects. But the technology has raised Fourth Amendment concerns among privacy advocates for its ability to collect data not only about the targets of an investigation but also innocent bystanders who happen to be within range of the simulator device.

"While law enforcement agencies should be able to utilize technology as a tool to help officers be safe and accomplish their missions, absent proper oversight and safeguards, the domestic use of cell-site simulators may well infringe upon the constitutional rights of citizens to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, as well as the right to free association," the report states.

The report says the Justice Department has 310 devices across its component agencies  including the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service  and spent more than $71 million between fiscal years 2010 and 2014 to acquire and use the technology, with individual devices costing as much as $460,000. The Department of Homeland Security has 124 cell-site simulation devices, according to the report.

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Local police departments across the country have used them repeatedly, too, and the Internal Revenue Service says it's deployed the technology to pursue investigations into money laundering, identity theft and other crimes.

The Justice Department issued new policies last year aimed at ensuring that federal law enforcement officials obtain a search warrant before using the technology, excluding certain emergency circumstances. The policy applied only to federal agencies within the Justice Department and not, as some privacy advocates had hoped, to state and local law enforcement whose own use of cell-site simulators has drawn scrutiny from judges. The Department of Homeland Security issued its own, similar policy.

But the House committee said there should be more consistent standards covering local agencies as well.

The House committee made several recommendations, including calling on state and local agencies to adopt policies that are on par with those in use by the Justice and Homeland Security departments.

The report also criticized the use of non-disclosure agreements that state and local law enforcement agencies sign with the FBI and the manufacturer selling the device. Those agreements, which prohibit local authorities from discussing their use of the simulators in court, "should be replaced with agreements that require clarity and candor to the court whenever a cell-site simulator has been used by law enforcement in a criminal investigation," according to the House report.

And it said the federal government should make funding to local agencies for cell-site simulators contingent on a requirement that they adopt "new and enhanced" guidelines of the Justice and Homeland Security departments.

___

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
Apple's so-called walled garden is at stake in a lawsuit contending it holds an illegal monopoly over iPhone applications (AFP Photo/GABRIELLE LURIE)

Brussels (AFP) - Apple on Monday launched a legal challenge against a landmark EU decision that the tech giant pay billions in back-taxes to Ireland, claiming the EU has ignored the law.

The European Commission, the EU executive arm, in August ordered iPhone maker Apple to reimburse a record 13 billion euros ($14 billion) in unpaid taxes in Ireland.

The EU, led by its competition chief Margrethe Vestager, accused Ireland of giving Apple a secret tax deal that allowed the iPhone maker to enjoy near zero tax on its huge sales worldwide for more than a decade.

The deal was in breach of the EU's state aid rules, argued Vestager, a former Danish finance minister who has made clamping down on tax deals a priority.

"It's been clear since the start of this case there was a pre-determined outcome," a spokeswoman for Apple told AFP, confirming the appeal.

"The Commission took unilateral action and retroactively changed the rules, disregarding decades of Irish tax law, US tax law, as well as global consensus on tax policy, that everyone has relied on," she added.

The appeal, lodged at an EU court in Luxembourg, came after the bloc's anti-trust teams released their full 130-page argumentation in the case.

"The Commission will defend its decision in court," the Commission said in a short statement, describing a court process that could take years.

With the release, the Irish government also laid out its arguments against the EU case, accusing Brussels of a major breach of national sovereignty.

"The Commission has exceeded its powers and interfered with national tax sovereignty," Ireland's finance department said in a three-page outline of its main arguments.

"The Commission has no competence, under state aid rules, unilaterally to substitute its own view of the geographic scope and extent of the member state's tax jurisdiction for those of the member state itself," the ministry added.

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- Pro-business reputation -

In August, the EU verdict shocked the business world and infuriated Apple, with CEO Tim Cook calling it "political crap".

It also raised tensions with Washington, which accused Brussels of "disproportionately" focusing on US corporations. Google, Starbucks and Amazon are also in the EU's crosshairs.

"We continue to believe the Commission is retroactively applying a sweeping new state aid theory that is contrary to well-established legal principles," the US treasury said in a statement.

By the Commission's calculations, Dublin allowed Apple to pay a tax rate of 1 percent of its European profits in 2003 which then dropped to 0.005 percent by 2014.

Ireland formally lodged its appeal in November after winning the backing of the Irish parliament, with MPs willing to forgo the decision's potential windfall in order to preserve Dublin's pro-business reputation.

Once a corporate backwater, Ireland found economic success by building a low tax entryway to Europe for multinationals seeking access to the EU, the world biggest market. Dublin's official corporate tax rate is 12 percent, one of the world's lowest.

Dublin also claimed procedural errors in the Commission's investigation, which was launched in 2014, arguing Ireland was not contacted to comment on findings contained in the ruling.

"The Commission breached the duty of good administration by failing to act impartially and in accordance with its duty of care," said the submission.

Apple -- with 6,000 staff in its Cork city campus -- is a valued employer in Ireland where it has had operations since 1980.
Samsung is keeping its hands off smartphone batteries after the Note 7 scandal, according to a South Korean report citing sources.

The countdown to Samsung Galaxy S8 launch has begun. It appears that the once bitten, twice shy tech giant is not taking any chances with its upcoming smartphone after the Note 7 fiasco.

According to a report, citing sources, Samsung has opted for rival LGs batteries for its 2017 flagship phone. LG Chemical has been reportedly in talks with Samsung for manufacturing the S8s batteries after the Note 7 scandal emerged.

Neither LG nor Samsung has made any comments on the matter. The companies have been having very productive talks and there is a strong chance that LG will start supplying smartphone batteries to Samsung around the second half of next year, South Korean daily Chosun reported citing an industry insider. However, it might take at least six months to test batteries, which might push the Galaxy S8 release further from its expected release at the Mobile World Congress in February.

"In the past, we tended to avoid buying products from LG out of pride," Chosun quoted a Samsung executive as saying. "But we can no longer let our emotions get in the way and we need to make decisions based on business feasibility."

According to another rumor making the rounds, if Samsung ditches the home button, it might add a fingerprint scanner on the rear of the device as opposed to a display-embedded one on the front, which had been earlier rumored.

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Samsung is thinking way ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show next year. The South Korea tech giant just announced its new Notebook 9 laptops that are mostly similar with the previous models save for the inclusion of a new processor and minor design tweaks.

On Monday, The Verge found out that Samsung refreshed its 13-inch and 15-inch Notebook 9 devices and added Kaby Lake processors on them. The inclusion of Intels 7th generation processors is expected to boost the performance of Samsungs thin laptops. This is regarded as a minor but a remarkable upgrade to the devices that debuted with Skylake processors.

In addition to the new processor, Samsungs Notebook 9 portable computers have also seen a few design changes. The chassis is now more curved than the usual and the bezels have become slimmer, but not quite unnoticeable for the laptop to feature edge-to-edge display technology. The minor alterations have contributed to the lighter weight of the two models. The 15-inch model now weighs 2.17 pounds, while the 13-inch model weighs 1.8 pounds. Finally, the backlit keyboard is a welcome addition to the laptops.

Although there are undeniably positive changes that Samsung has done to the Notebook 9 laptops, there is also a downside to the upgrade. Samsung says the new models can last up to 7 hours. It can be noted that for the previous models, Samsung claimed that they were good to run for around 12 hours. The Verge maintained that this is not a bad thing, however, for the predecessors also lasted for around 7 hours per its own testing and Samsung may have just overestimated the battery life of the laptops with Skylake processor.

For those who are not familiar with Samsungs Notebook 9 line of devices, TrustedReviews revealed that the 15-inch model sports 8GB of DDR4 dual-channel memory and up to 256GB of storage. Meanwhile, the 13-inch model comes with up to 16GB of DDR4 dual channel RAM and up to 256GB of SSD. Both models pack in Full HD displays with 1920 x 1080p screen resolution.

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Samsung has yet to provide the pricing details for the refreshed laptops and the dates when theyll be available for purchase. However, its clear that Apples biggest rival has timed the announcement of these upgraded models with CES 2017 already slated to happen this January. It wont be surprising if the tech giant would showcase the laptops at the annual Las Vegas technology trade show.

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BMJ has partnered with Guangdong Family Doctor Association to make their fully translated Chinese edition of BMJ Best Practice available to over two million primary healthcare professionals across China.

Last week, the UKs Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, attended the signing ceremony at the UK-China Healthcare summit in Shanghai.

The partnership builds on existing links between BMJ and China. It also forms part of the Chinese governments framework for Healthy China 2030 that aims to use innovation to drive health system reform across the country.

BMJ Best Practice is a clinical decision support tool that gives doctors fast and easy access to the latest information when making diagnosis and treatment decisions. Updated daily, it draws on the latest evidence-based research, guidelines and expert opinion on over 10,000 different diagnoses to offer step-by-step guidance on diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and prevention, say the publishers.

The Chinese edition is the result of a collaboration between BMJ and the Chinese Medical Association (CMA). In addition to the full translation of all BMJ Best Practice content, it also contains the latest clinical guidelines and expert opinion from the CMA, providing access to both international standards and local clinical practice recommendations.

It is available both online and offline, and as a mobile app, giving busy clinical staff an immediate head-start on making diagnosis and treatment decisions.

BMJ Best Practice is already in regular use by clinicians in more than 60 countries and is accredited by the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangzhou Municipality in China.

Yuyan Kong, Managing Director at BMJ China said: We are delighted to be partnering with Guangdong Family Doctor Association to help doctors in China practice evidence-based medicine and improve outcomes for their patients. Making BMJ Best Practice accessible in this way is also an important step for us towards our vision of helping to create a healthier world.

Yuxiong Wu, Executive Vice President of Guangdong Family Doctor Association said: Developing primary healthcare is the fundamental way to achieve the Healthy China 2030 goal. The Association will use BMJs advanced evidence-based resources and tools to establish a comprehensive and effective information system for the general practitioners, to better contribute the primary healthcare institutions in China.

A recent independent review of clinical decision support tools published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research ranked BMJ Best Practice equal first for breadth of disease coverage, editorial quality, and evidence-based methodology, says BMJ.
Don't fret, there's no threat here

succinctly noted in his post "t he chilling effect of a threat to sue, particularly where the defendant is a retailer, distributor or other business that does not make the (non)-infringing goods, can destroy the trade of perfectly innocent traders who are not even party to the threats and who may have no idea that they have been made." Groundless threats is one of IP's thorny issues which the IPKat most recently considered in the context of the UK Government's plans for reform. As Jeremy





He went on to note: " the current law is a dreadful mess and anything that can be done to make it more consistent, and indeed intelligible, is to be welcomed. It is however sad that businesses, IP owners and their professional advisers must work in an environment in which so much European substantive IP law has been harmonised -- especially with regard to registered rights -- but the extent to which threats to sue may or may not be made within Europe remains inconsistent and the opportunity to consider the impact of unwarranted threats to sue upon the operation of the single European market was not seized."





The lack of harmonisation was brought into sharp focus in the recent English High Court case of NVIDIA Corp v Hardware Labs Performance Systems Inc [2016] EWHC 3135 (Ch). [2016] EWHC 3135 (Ch).

(1) Where a person threatens another with proceedings for infringement of a registered trade mark other than

(a) the application of the mark to goods or their packaging,

(b) the importation of goods to which, or to the packaging of which, the mark has been applied, or

(c) the supply of services under the mark, any person aggrieved may bring proceedings for relief under this section.

(2) The relief which may be applied for is any of the following

(a) a declaration that the threats are unjustifiable,

(b) an injunction against the continuance of the threats,

(c) damages in respect of any loss he has sustained by the threats; and

the plaintiff is entitled to such relief unless the defendant shows that the acts in respect of which proceedings were threatened constitute (or if done would constitute) an infringement of the registered trade mark concerned.

a claimant can get relief for groundless threats if it can show that the trade mark is invalid or the relevant part of the mark is liable to be revoked (s. 21(3)); and

notification that a trade mark is registered or an application for registration has been made is not a threat of trade mark proceedings (s. 21(4)).

the letter was clearly a threat to sue (this was not disputed); all references to legislation were either to the Community Trade Mark Regulation (i.e. EU law) or German legislation; and all references to infringing activity concerned German (.de domain) websites.

The key question was whether the letter constituted a threat of infringement proceedings in the UK. According to Lord Neuberger in Best Buy at para 18, this is an objective test. In Lord Neuberger's words, it depends on "what a reasonable person, in the position of the recipient of the letter, with its knowledge of all the relevant circumstances as at the date the letter was written, would have understood the writer of the passage to have intended when read in the context of the letter of the whole."





But would this reasonable person have contacted a lawyer?





A key part of the Defendant's case was that a reasonable defendant would have contacted a lawyer following receipt of their letter. This (reasonable?!) lawyer would have appreciated that pan-European relief could only be obtained against the German company in Germany and consequently there was no prospect of infringement proceedings in the UK.





whether the Letter would have been understood by a reasonable recipient, who had received correct legal advice on the provisions governing where proceedings for infringements of Community design rights may be brought , as indicating that there was a realistic possibility of UK proceedings being brought in respect of the [alleged] infringement." (emphasis added by Mann J in his judgment).



The judge agreed that "in an appropriate case" threats letters should be treated as though viewed with the benefit of legal advice.



Was this a threat to bring proceedings in the UK?



The Claimant sought to rely on various factors (set out in para 24 of the judgment). Their main points were that the letter:

(i) was written in English;

(i) referred to various German websites "by way of example";

(iii) required pan-European relief; and

(iv) was sent in the context of various international trade mark disputes including an allegation of invalidity at the EU IPO based on an earlier unregistered right in the UK.



The Claimant tried to draw an analogy with Best Buy where a significant factor in finding groundless threats in the UK was the knowledge that the claimant's group was planning launch the EU business in the UK.



The judge was not impressed with these arguments and noted that the letter contained neither explicit nor implicit references to proceedings in the UK. A threat to cease and desist "from using [the marks] in the course of trade in the EU" was not sufficient to displace the primary threat which was of proceedings in Germany.



What about the letter in the surrounding circumstances?



Even if the letter itself was not a clear threat to bring proceedings in the UK, the Claimant suggested that it would be read in that way when the surrounding circumstances were considered - in particular the importance of the UK jurisdiction to the parties and the UK's status as one of the major IP litigation centres in Europe. The judge noted that Germany was also a major IP litigation centre and of commercial importance to the parties. As he put it "A reader of the letter would understand that he or she was being threatened with proceedings in one major IP litigation centre. He would not assume he was therefore being threatened with proceedings in another which is not mentioned."



Will this still be an issue if the Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Bill is passed - current draft here?



I'm sure readers will have an opinion... At the very least, this case is a useful reminder of the potential pitfall of groundless threats and how all jurisdictions should be alive to the potential risks.



Stays and shorter trials



Finally, there were some interesting comments at the end of the judgment regarding a stay application and the shorter trials scheme. The trial was considered too complicated for either IPEC or the Shorter Trials Scheme both in terms of evidence and disclosure. This issue was considered recently in Tech 21 UK v Logitech Europe [2015] EWHC 2614 (Ch). In that case, the judge, considered that it would be appropriate to consider: "" (emphasis added by Mann J in his judgment).The judge agreed that "in an appropriate case" threats letters should be treated as though viewed with the benefit of legal advice.The Claimant sought to rely on various factors (set out in para 24 of the judgment). Their main points were that the letter:was written in English;referred to various German websites "by way of example";required pan-European relief; andwas sent in the context of various international trade mark disputes including an allegation of invalidity at the EU IPO based on an earlier unregistered right in the UK.The Claimant tried to draw an analogy withwhere a significant factor in finding groundless threats in the UK was the knowledge that the claimant's group was planning launch the EU business in the UK.The judge was not impressed with these arguments and noted that the letter contained neither explicit nor implicit references to proceedings in the UK. A threat to cease and desist "from using [the marks] in the course of trade in the EU" was not sufficient to displace the primary threat which was of proceedings in Germany.Even if the letter itself was not a clear threat to bring proceedings in the UK, the Claimant suggested that it would be read in that way when the surrounding circumstances were considered - in particular the importance of the UK jurisdiction to the parties and the UK's status as one of the major IP litigation centres in Europe. The judge noted that Germany was also a major IP litigation centre and of commercial importance to the parties. As he put it "I'm sure readers will have an opinion... At the very least, this case is a useful reminder of the potential pitfall of groundless threats and how all jurisdictions should be alive to the potential risks.Finally, there were some interesting comments at the end of the judgment regarding a stay application and the shorter trials scheme. The trial was considered too complicated for either IPEC or the Shorter Trials Scheme both in terms of evidence and disclosure.

This judgment concerned the Defendant's application for strike out/summary judgment of the Claimant's claim to groundless threats, the Claimant's application to stay their groundless threats claim pending an EU IPO decision, and the Defendant's application for transfer to IPEC or the Shorter Trials Scheme.The groundless threats question turned on the location of a threat to sue. More specifically, can a letter sent in English from a Germany company to a US parent company regarding infringement of an EU trade mark constitute a threat to bring trade mark infringement proceedings in England and Wales?Section 21 of the Trade Marks Act 1994 explains that a groundless threat is:This section then sets out the available remedies:And goes on to note that:can be used as the basis for a claim for groundless threats but "[18]. This comes from[2010] Bus LR 1761 at para 15; on appeal at [2011] FSR 742 at para 24.Large excerpts from the letter are set out at paragraphs [7] to [9] of the judgment.For those less inclined to read the full text, in summary, the judge (Mann J) noted:
Professor Lionel Bently of the University of Cambridge, as well other leading scholars in the field of IP, Information Law and Digital Economy, recently responded to the call for views by the UK IPO on modernising the European Copyright framework. The response focused on article 11 of the proposal for a Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, entitled '

. The signatories concluded that the

proposed right is unnecessary, undesirable, would introduce an unacceptable level of uncertainty and be unlikely to achieve anything apart from adding to the complexity and cost of operating in the copyright environment

. Read more on the reasons why

.

reported the response of Angela Mills Wade (executive director of the European Publishers Council) to the opinion of the Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) regarding the EU proposal for a 20-year right for press publishers and the argument that it will be detrimental to authors interests. Angela said strong economic rights benefit publishers and authors alike and there has been misleading information regarding the so-called 'ancillary copyright', which will not have a negative effect on readers but only on organisations free-riding of links.
As reported by Al Arabyia on December 19, Kerry announced that ISIS is on its way to defeat. The Secretary of State said the US condemns the terrorist attacks that took place in the Yemeni city of Aden on Sunday. He said that the war in Yemen must end in a way that will protect the security of Saudi Arabia, and urged all Yemeni parties to return to the negotiating table. Kerry insisted that, like Saudi Arabia, the U.S. also rejects Iranian interference in Yemen.

Kerry, whose trip, coming just ahead of the inauguration of Republican President-elect Donald Trump, was received by King Salman, held meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, and other royalty in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.

In turbulent times, its good to have solid friends, Kerry told journalists Sunday night. Thats why the United States partnership with Saudi Arabia is rightly so valuable.

Diplomats from Britain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates joined Kerry earlier to speak withthe United Nations special envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. The UAE is part of the Arab coalition fighting Houthis, while Oman has served as an interlocutor for them.

On Twitter, British Middle East Minister, Tobias Ellwood, said the meeting discussed a political process to end Yemens war, something he described as the only way to bring peace, according to the AP.

Kerry said parties would hopefully agree to terms earlier set out by the UN within two weeks, but he and the Saudi Foreign Minister offered few specifics on how that would be accomplished. Now that the UN has proposed sidelining Saudi-backed President Abed-Rabbo Mansour Hadi and giving the rebels a share of power, concessions the kingdom strongly opposes, it seems unlikely to happen.

You can see from the humanitarian situation, which is dire and deteriorating rapidly, that it is urgent that we try to bring this war to a close, Kerry said. But we also need to bring it to a close in a way that protects the security of Saudi Arabia.
Keynote speakers the event were U.S. Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs (HFAC), and Eliot Engel (D-NY), ranking member of HFAC.

On December 7, 2016, UANI Chairman Senator Joseph Lieberman spoke at UANIs Capitol Hill briefing. His speech may be found here.

In her opening remarks Rep. Ros-Lehtinen stated, Its clear were about to enter a new phase of Iranian sanctions, and report that she said Congress strategy moving forward would be enforcing current sanctions, expanding the other non-nuclear related sanctions, and perhaps even rolling back or tightening provisions of the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action].

Rep. Engel emphasized the bipartisan support for holding Iran accountable for its continued meddling in the wider Middle East, but warned against revoking the JCPOA. He recommended that the U.S. utilize our ability under the deal [through] non-nuclear sanctions  to begin to address Irans malign activities.

UANI Chairman Senator Joseph I. Lieberman also headed a panel with Mark Dubowitz of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and J. Matthew McInnis from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Emphasizing the need to consult and include Israel and allied Arab states in discussions related to Iran as they have the greatest stake in any regional implications emanating from negotiations with Tehran, Senator Lieberman also called for strict policing of the existing nuclear deal. He also designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization; and recommended sanctioning sectors of the Iranian economy tied to its ballistic missile program, among other measures.

Senator Lieberman referred to the incoming administration, [w]hen it comes to our relations with Iran and the goal of stopping Iran from ever becoming a nuclear power, the coming of the Trump administration represents a sea change, and from my point of view, a sea change in the right direction.

Dubowitz emphasized that Trumps election would increase the risks for businesses seeking to enter the Iranian economy. He also pointed out to the need to identify the increased number of specially designated nationals in Iran which are tied to the IRGC. There are only 25 IRGC companies that have ever been designated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the Treasury, despite the fact that my organization has identified 575 IRGC companies that are eligible for designation, said FDDs Dubowitz. Treasury should be right off the bat in February, once everybodys in their seats, massively accelerating the number of IRGC designations, from 25 to 250 to 2500.

That the Iranian regime is already testing the incoming Trump administration and Congress, was highlighted by AEIs Matthew McInnis, who said that the United States has already lost leverage due to the nuclear negotiations that will be difficult to regain. He stayed that he thought that Tehran would be waiting for President-elect Trump to make the first move.

The event and UANI commentary on the future direction of Iran policy were covered extensively in The Weekly Standard, Al-Monitor, USA Today, and Arab News.
[December 19, 2016] CloudFX Group Launches its Latest Generation Cloud Management Platform, CloudSelect

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CloudFX, the global Enterprise transformation platform and advisory leader announced the launch of its 4th generation Cloud Management Platform, CloudSelect 3.1, www.cloudselect.com today which enables company's looking to maximize the monetization of the Digital Revolution or Enterprises looking to transform Enterprise IT via it's Anything as a Service capability. Damian Crotty, Founder and CEO of the CloudFX Group announced that the launch of the multi-dimensional CloudSelect platform enables businesses to easily align to and maximize their success in the 4th Industrial revolution the World Economic Forum (WEF) has described as the Digital Revolution. Crotty states, "We see unprecedented demand for our platform solutions from company's around the world looking to embrace a virtual services dimension to their business model as demand for physical technology assets continues to decline. In parallel, Enterprises looking for open, innovative IT as a Service platforms that are open, flexible, cost effective and capable of supporting multi-vendor, multi-generational environments are the future of Enterprise IT. As Company's desperately seek out ways to participate in the Digital and Cloud economy, be it start-ups to the largest Enterprises across the world, Platforms, or the "Platform Economy" as it's been termed by the WEF have become the most effective way for organizations to gain a foot hold in this multi-billion-dollar market, the WEF quantified at over $1.4 trillion dollars in the next 10 years. After establishing a global reputation for Enterpris transformation excellence, CloudFX decided to partner with Intel Capital to invest in the development of a platform strategy which Crotty describes as the single most important change in the company's strategy since he founded it in 2009.



"After completing more than 1200 Enterprise transformation projects with some of the largest financial and telecommunication institutions in the world, we quickly realized that the rate and pace of change relative to customer expectation around digital service consumption and more importantly service excellence were increasingly divergent in timeliness, so over the past 4 years, we've invested millions of engineering hours and tens of millions of dollars in building what is considered the world's best Digital and Cloud platform technology and frankly, that has been the difference," Crotty states. CloudFX have customers across the world using the CloudSelect technology platform in a multitude of different ways. E-Commerce Cloud Market Places, Enterprise Hybrid IT Platforms, Cloud Service Automation solutions and the creation of new, innovative and highly agile Digital Business Models.

"We've learnt a lot along the way by working intimately with our partners and investors. For example, our platform can be White labelled and rebranded, Consumed On-demand via a consumption economics model, supports over 30,000 Cloud Services, is completely customizable and open to integrating both legacy systems and cloud native systems, making it truly unique in today's market place," Crotty continues. Our goal is to become the global digital and cloud platform leader and we are well on the way to achieving that objective. Staying focused on being a partner, not a supplier, advising clients on business model innovation, bringing new capabilities to market with our global partners, remaining vendor neutral, flexible, agile and innovative makes CloudSelect an unparalleled choice for large and small businesses looking to secure a foot hold in this generational industry shift that will represent immense opportunity for those company's which move quickly and significant risk for those that don't. CloudFX is at the forefront of driving this industry shift and can be reached at [email protected] or for further information at www.cloudselect.com Contact: Damian Crotty

Founder | CEO, CloudFX Group

[email protected]

+61 437 838 558 (Mobile)

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The Communications and Business Transformation Event of the Year Takes an In-depth Look at the Latest Industry Trends for the Service Provider Community

Norwalk, CTDecember 19, 2016 TMC announced today the Service Provider Trends and Topics track at ITEXPO, to be held February 8-10, 2017 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale. ITEXPO is the communications and business transformation event where influential buyers gather to make their purchase decisions. The enterprise mid-market, resellers and service providers attend for three full days of content, eight different special events and training opportunities, powerful keynotes, an interactive exhibit floor and hours of dedicated networking time.

ITEXPO offers unique insight into the hottest trends and topics for the service provider industry. The education and case studies featured throughout this track will help attendees gain the expertise they need to succeed in the future, said Rich Tehrani, TMC CEO and conference chairman. We are excited to see the new business relationships and strategies that develop from this one of kind program.

The Service Provider Trends and Topics track takes place over all three days of ITEXPO. Current sessions and speakers include:

Mobility and Software Solutions for Asset Lifecycle Management and Capex Optimization Brian Hodges, Fulcrum

Panel: The Growth & Importance of Data Analytics James Martino, Avotus Corporation

Panel: The Evolution of Networks and Services: How Virtualization is Shaping the Solutions of Tomorrow Patrick Blesso, GlobeNet Nir Simionovic, Greenfield Technologies Ltd

Virtualizing the Network: Lowering CAPEX, OPEX and Increasing Flexibility

Talking Analytics in the Age of Software Defined Networks

When the FBI Comes Calling: What Every Service Provider Needs to Know About Lawful Intercept Henry Hodor, FBI/NDCAC

Panel: Cutting-edge Technology to Overcome Mobile Challenges Anthony Stiso, Telinta, Inc. Rafael Torreblanca, Acrobits

SIP Forum Session

Panel: Why Are Operators Struggling with Digital Transformation?

Monetizing Communications Services in a Digital World Brendan O'Brien, Aria Systems Ray Pasquale, Unified Office Inc.

Protecting Your Customers in a Digital Economy

ITEXPO is supported by Diamond Sponsors, Digium, Inc., RingCentral, Platinum Sponsors, 888VoIP, Fiber Mountain, Inc., Grandstream Networks, Inc., Sangoma, Sansay, Talkdesk, Telnyx, Yealink, Gold Sponsors, ABP Technology, IBM, NetSapiens, Snom, Sonus, Speech Mobility, Teli, Vitelity and Voxbone.

For more information or to register for ITEXPO, contact Frank Coppola at 203-852-6800 x131. For media inquiries, contact Jessica Seabrook. Companies interested in exhibiting, sponsorship or advertising packages for ITEXPO should contact TMC's Joe Fabiano at 203-852-6800 x132 or Maureen Gambino at 203-852-6800 x109.

For the latest ITEXPO news, updates and information follow the event on Twitter at @ITEXPO.

About TMC

Global buyers rely on TMCs content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. This presents branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities for vendors/sellers.

TMCs Marketplaces:

Unique, turnkey Online Communities boost search results, establish market validation, elevate brands and thought leadership, while minimizing ad-blocking.

boost search results, establish market validation, elevate brands and thought leadership, while minimizing ad-blocking. Custom Lead Programs uncover sales opportunities and build databases.

uncover sales opportunities and build databases. In-Person and Online Events boost brands, enhance thought leadership and generate leads.

and boost brands, enhance thought leadership and generate leads. Publications , Display Advertising and Newsletters bolster brand reputations.

, and bolster brand reputations. Custom Content provides expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts.

provides expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts. Comprehensive Event and Road Show Management Services help companies meet potential clients and generate leads face-to-face.

For more information about TMC and to learn how we can help you reach your marketing goals, please visit www.tmcnet.com.

Media and Analyst Contact:

Jessica Seabrook

Marketing Director

TMC

203-852-6800 x 170

[email protected]

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Edited by Alicia Young
Willie Sutton

William Francis Willie Sutton, Jr. born on June 30, 1901 gained national attention and the listing on the FBIs most wanted posters as a bank robber. His career as a bank robber spanned a forty-year criminal career where he is estimated to have stolen at least $ 2 million dollars. In addition, he spent more than half of his adult life in prison while escaping three times.

Willie found a passion for crime at an early age while growing up in Brooklyn. He was the fourth of five children and did not go beyond the 8th grade of school.

He was characterized as a short man standing only 5 7 and always with a cigarette in his mouth. While in prison he dispensed a large amount of legal advice to any of his fellow convicts that would listen. Although not associated with any Mafia organizations he did have friends who were made members of the mob.

Suttons very active period of robbing banks was in the 1920s and 1930s. It is interesting to know that being a very active bank robber he was never known to have killed any bank guards, bank employees or customers in his bank holdups.

Sutton carried a pistol or Thompson submachine gun while saying, You cant rob a bank on charm and personality. In an interview by Readers Digest published shortly before his death, Sutton was asked if the guns he used in robberies were loaded. He responded that he never carried a loaded gun because somebody might get hurt. Being very careful he allegedly never robbed a bank when a woman screamed or a baby cried.

Sutton was not always successful in robbing banks and spent nearly half his life in prison. Records have established that he spent 37 years behind bars. Yet, he broke out of maximum-security prisons three times. Other attempts of escape did not succeed.

One such bold prison escape came when Sutton dressed as a prison guard and carrying a ladder through the prison yard brought the ladder to the wall enclosing the prison. Once the search light exposed Sutton he yelled out, Its OK and went over the wall.

In 1952, Sutton received 30 to 120 years in Attica prison. But was released on Christmas Eve of 1969 for good behavior and for failing health, even though he wouldnt die until 1980.
CHARLESTON -- The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) has announced the 2016-2017 Lights for Learning program, funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. The program provides free educator resources to build an engaging lesson plan that stimulates student awareness of energy efficiency and inspires students to take action.

The program promotes energy-efficient products and practices in Illinois neighborhoods and communities by empowering students as community energy efficiency ambassadors. The habits that students adopt through Lights for Learning presentations and activities make energy-conscious and environmentally-aware choices an integral part of the rest of their lives.

Interactive energy demonstrations, presentations, student activity books and a free LED bulb for each participating student brings energy efficiency to life, teaching practical money - and energy-saving tips. Program resources are tailored for the following age groups:

Jr. Energy Heroes (Grades K-1)

Energy Heroes (Grades 2-4)

Energy Champions (Grades 5-8)

Energy Leaders (Grades 9-12)

Lights for Learning also offers three student contests during the 2016-2017 school year, encouraging students to apply their creativity toward developing posters, poems and videos that promote energy efficiency.

In the past, participating school representatives have called the program a great resource with fitting levels of knowledge and the content, and the majority participates in multiple years.

During the 2005-2014 period, more than 1,100 schools have participated in the program, giving more than 1,700 presentations to more than 130,000 students. Past participants include the Arbor Park Schools and the Oak Lawn-Hometown Schools. The Lights for Learning resources have yielded more than 66,000 MWh in lifetime energy savings for participants, which is equivalent to the annual energy use of 6,849 homes or 49,495,302 pounds of coal.

The Lights for Learning website also offers information on other energy efficiency and savings opportunities from the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, including ILLINOIS ENERGY NOW programs such as the Savings Through Efficiency Products (STEP) and Illinois Home Performance, also offered through MEEA, as well as other assessment, training, rebate and education-related programs.

Visit lights4learning.org for more information and to bring this program to the school.
CHARLESTON -- Prairie City Bakery founder Bill Skeens, class of 1977, said he learned to always be curious and to welcome challenges during his years as an Eastern Illinois University student.

Always be willing to look for a better solution and ways to improve yourself in the things you do, Skeens advised the class of 2016 during the EIU commencement ceremony Saturday morning.

Skeens, a Kenwood native, was looking to improve himself when he began his first company, Skeens Enterprises, in his dorm room while he was a student resident assistance at Thomas Hall.

The young entrepreneur bought peanuts, popcorn, and taffy apples in bulk and then sold smaller portions of these snacks in residence hall lobbies, at movie showings, and other venues. Skeens said he also dressed up as Santa Claus for events on campus.

After graduating from EIU in 1977, Skeens began a 16-year career with Sarah Lee Bakery that ultimately included serving as a director in sales and marketing. He left Sarah Lee and founded Prairie City Bakery in 1994.

Starting a business from scratch is not without challenges, Skeens said.

Nevertheless, he advised members of the class of 2016 to not be afraid of failure and to learn from their mistakes. He also encouraged them to be passionate about what they do in life, to persevere through setbacks, and to be persistent.

Prairie City Bakerys first product, Muffin Tops, ended up being featured on Seinfeld. The Vernon Hills-based company still sells muffins, as well as brownies, cinnamon rolls, donut holes, fudge, turnovers, and trademark Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes.

EIU President David Glassman noted during his introduction of Skeens that Prairie City Bakery is also the Official Cookie of the Chicago Cubs and added that, Cardinals fans like them too.

Glassman said Skeens is an EIU enthusiast extraordinaire who regularly gives presentations to business and entrepreneur students at Eastern.

Skeens advised the EIU graduates to always be on the lookout for mentors, have business cards ready to exchange with them, follow up with these mentors, and listen to their advice.

People love to tell their stories and, most importantly, they genuinely want to help young people who want to learn from them, Skeens said. He added that the graduates should be willing to be mentors themselves someday.

The morning student commencement speaker, Amanda Patterson, also addressed the importance of mentors during her presentation.

Patterson, a candidate for the masters in business administration, said the universitys faculty and staff have helped prepare her and her classmates for their next steps in life.

The Streamwood native said Eastern students also have had opportunities to serve while volunteering for events on and off campus, including blood drives, the Girls on the Run 5K for youths, and the Relay for Life fundraiser for cancer research.

We have been served at EIU, we have served through EIU, and together we will continue to serve the world, Paterson said.
CHARLESTON -- A man agreed to serve a prison sentence after he admitted trying to lure a boy into his vehicle while they were near a Mattoon park.

Derek A. Luckey pleaded guilty to child abduction and attempted aggravating kidnapping charges in connection with the Sept. 18 incident, which he later reportedly admitted to police was an attempt to molest the boy.

Luckey, 37, for whom court records list an address in the mobile home park at 1520 Shelby Ave., Mattoon, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with the agreement reached in his case.

The child abduction charge could have normally resulted in a three- to 14-year prison sentence with probation as an option. However, prison time was required for Luckey because of his criminal record.

The kidnapping offense also required prison time with a four- to 15-year prison term possible for the offense.

The plea agreement called for the two 10-year prison sentences Luckey received to run at the same time. Coles County Circuit Judge Teresa Righter imposed the sentence by accepting a plea agreement that Assistant State's Attorney Tom Bucher and Public Defender Anthony Ortega recommended.

Luckey was accused of trying to lure the 12-year-old boy into his vehicle while the boy was walking in Mattoon's Peterson Park, leading the boy to flee from the scene.

He has a history of child sex offenses and his cases' records say he also told police he was again "struggling" with his attraction to young boys.

The case's records say the boy was able to identify Luckey after the incident.

When he was questioned, Luckey said he'd been following the boy because he found him attractive, the records say. He said he wanted to set up sexual encounters with the boy and also admitted he would have molested the youngster had he been able to abduct him, according to the records.

Records in his case also say the boy told police that Luckey's car had an orange light on its top, though no additional information about that was included.

There were reports in connection with a 2008 sexual abuse case against Luckey that he portrayed himself as an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigator, but that was never confirmed.

Also, in 2002 he pleaded guilty to charges in connection with an incident during which he apparently tried to impersonate a police officer, using an oscillating light on his car to try to stop another driver.
SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Corrections is making headway toward the goal of a 25 percent reduction in the states prison population by 2025, but continued partisan gridlock over the state budget could undermine that progress.

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner set that goal shortly after taking office nearly two years ago and established a commission to make recommendations for criminal justice reforms to keep people out of prisons. The states inmate population has dropped from 48,214 on Jan. 12, 2015, the day Rauner was inaugurated, to 43,807 last week, a 9.1 percent decline.

Rauner made his case for criminal justice reform Thursday in Chicago, where he joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to sign a bill that will ensure people being released from state prisons or juvenile detention facilities have a valid state identification card.

Criminal justice is not just about punishment, Rauner said. If we think that its only about punishment, we will never keep the people of Illinois safe.

The criminal justice system is about punishment and keeping dangerous criminals away from the public, Rauner said, but its also about providing rehabilitation so that people dont continue committing crimes once theyre out of prison.

That idea has been a rare area of bipartisan consensus amidst Illinois bitter budget battles.

Prison reform advocates applauded the reduction in the states prison population, but they cautioned that theres still a long way to go to achieve the governors goal. And the inability of Rauner and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly to come to an agreement on the state budget will only make things more difficult, they said.

Its great that were down 9 percent, said Jennifer Vollen-Katz, executive director of the John Howard Association, a Chicago-based prison watchdog. Were seeing numbers we haven't seen in well over a decade.

However, Vollen-Katz added, the system is still overcrowded and we shouldnt rest on our laurels.

Alan Mills, executive director of the Uptown Peoples Law Center in Chicago, which has used a series of lawsuits over several decades to push for reforms within the Illinois prison system, agreed with that assessment.

This system would still be overcrowded if we had 35,000 people in it, Mills said.

The advocates said no single change is entirely responsible for the population decline that has been achieved thus far.

Its a combination things such as policy changes within the Department of Corrections, judges and prosecutors using their discretion in bringing cases and handing out sentences, and fewer people being sent back to prison for technical parole violations, among other factors, they said.

While theres a national push to re-examine incarceration, Mills said Rauner deserves credit for helping change attitudes in Illinois, especially among lawmakers who might otherwise fear being labeled as soft on crime.

The bully pulpit is a really important role that he can play, Mills said. The very fact that he says, This is my goal, allows a lot of people who are otherwise either neutral or actually would like to do something the motivation to get it done and the feeling that theyve got some political cover if they do it.

The General Assembly has passed several laws, like the one Rauner signed last week, that should help continue the downward trend in the prison population.

But Vollen-Katz and Mills said achieving an additional 16 percent reduction will be more difficult because it will require addressing more controversial issues like mandatory minimum sentences and so-called truth in sentencing laws, which make it harder for people to be released early for good behavior.

Making matters even more complicated is the ongoing budget impasse, which has damaged the ability to provide services both to inmates and to people outside of prison who might end up there.

One such service is Redeploy Illinois, a program designed to keep young people out of the juvenile justice system -- and potentially the adult correctional system down the line -- by connecting them with mental health treatment and other services.

Tyler Edmonds, states attorney in Union County in southern Illinois, said funding for the program after Dec. 31 is uncertain because the states stopgap budget runs out and no agreement appears forthcoming.

This comes after the program went all of the states last fiscal year, which ended June 30, without any funding. The $4.76 million included for the program statewide in the stopgap budget is supposed to cover all of last year and the first six months of this fiscal year, whereas the program received $4.89 million for the prior 12 months.

As a prosecutor in a small jurisdiction, I can tell you that if were not investing in programs like Redeploy, investing in our youth, then we are going to have an incredibly difficult time reducing our adult prison population, Edmonds said.

The same can be said for community-based mental health and addiction treatment programs and other social services that have been crippled by the impasse, the prison reform advocates said.
MATTOON -- Kenneth Virgil Sell already had served in the Army for more than seven months when the United States entered World War II following the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Habor.

The Mattoon resident ended up serving for a total of 27 months in the South Pacific, a world away from his home, before he was killed in action on April 6, 1944, on Bougainville Island.

As the 75th anniversary of U.S. forces fighting in World War II commenced this month, Mattoon resident Beverly Fleenor reminisced about her brother, Virgil, and about life on the home front when she was a youth.

Fleenor said Virgil, prior to being drafted, worked in downtown Mattoon at Bidwells, where he served up candy and ice cream. She said her brother was good looking and was known for flirting with the young women who frequented the shop while he manned the sales counter.

Everyone just loved him. He was a fun-loving person, Fleenor said.

On April 21, 1941, Virgil was inducted into the Army. Fleenor said he was later shipped out before he had time to marry his girlfriend.

Fleenor said two more of her brothers from their family of 11 children later followed Virgil into military service. Dale Rug Sell served in the Army and Gerald Sell served in the Navy.

My mom was worried all the time, Fleenor said of her three brothers being in the service during World War II.

With three brothers away from home, Fleenor said she needed to help out even more with chores on their family farm in rural Neoga. Fleenor said she was a tomboy anyway, so she enjoyed gathering eggs, shucking corn, and tending to the cows and pigs.

Fleenor said she also learned to drive the tractor and liked this work, but vividly remembers driving into a fence post one day on the farm.

They didnt let me use the tractor very much after that, Fleenor said.

Despite the worries about the war and the rationing of staple foods, Fleenor said her life on the farm was happy and full of other children to play with during this time period.

Fleenor said her parents, Kenneth and Maggie Sell, wrote often to their three sons while they were away from home in the service.

Virgils service record shows that he was deployed to Australia, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal and Fiji during the campaigns in the South Pacific.

After Virgil was killed in action on April 6, 1944, the Army sent representatives to the family farm to notify them. Fleenor, who was 14 at the time, said her family caught sight of these representatives as they drove down the long lane.

They knew Virgil had died even before they got up to our house, Fleenor said of her family.

Initially, Virgil was buried on Bougainville Island. However, Fleenor said her parents arranged for him to be disinterred and then reburied at Dodge Grove Cemetery in Mattoon.

The memorial service for Sgt. Kenneth Virgil Sell was held on July 11, 1948, at the Presbyterian Church.

Mom couldnt stand to think he was out there in those hills, Fleenor said of the burial site far away on a Pacific island. Mom couldnt stand for him to be over there.
Joan Wortmann has joined Bailey Lauerman's Brand Strategy and Management team. Wortmann is a Nebraska native and University of Nebraska alum, returning to the state after six years in Chicago and New York City working with Leo Burnett, BBDO and most recently, Droga5-AdAge and Creativity's 2016 Agency of the Year.

Her six years of experience working across a diverse group of national and global clients including, belVita, Dixie, Hennessy, P&G, New York State Tourism, Monster.com , and Honey Maid, where she was an account lead on the award-winning "This is Wholesome" campaign, brings a depth of experience seldom reached in so few years.

Wortmann's keen sense of how the world and its citizens shape and grow trusted brands is part of her world-view, having spent most of her childhood years in Uganda before moving to Nebraska. Though she considers both locations home, she has a strong desire to learn and explore the world and fulfills it by visiting locations such as Tanzania and Southeast Asia and writing about it in her travel blog, Traveling June. Since joining Bailey Lauerman, Wortmann eagerly jumped in to lead the Kendall rebranding on the Phillips 66 Lubricants team.
Bryan Medical Center and Bryan College of Health Sciences congratulates its nurses and nursing students honored at the recent March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards. These awards celebrate nursing excellence and recognize leaders in nursing from across Nebraska and Western Iowa.

Sara Seemann, APRN-CNS, received the Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year award. Seemann is a clinical nurse specialist in the Bryan Medical Center emergency department. Also honored was April Deis, RN, who was among the Top Nurse award winners. Deis is nurse manager in the Bryan Medical Center Family Birthplace. Other nurse award nominees: from Bryan Medical Center, Marisa Schaffer; from the Bryan College of Health Sciences faculty, Robin Kappler; from Bryan College of Health Sciences in the student nurse category, Lauren Kroeker and Lacie Ferguson
A 42-year-old man was robbed at a motel at 2732 O St. around 3:10 a.m. Saturday, Lincoln police said.

Police said the man was talking with a woman on social media who agreed to meet up with him at Budget Host Inn-Great Plains Motel.

While in the motel, the man told police the woman went through his things and took his wallet with cash in it. During the theft, another man knocked on the motel door and made threats of kicking down the door, according to Lincoln Police Capt. Bob Farber.

Farber said when the victim opened the door, the man had a handgun in his waistband. The woman and man then left with the victim's wallet.

Police have some leads, but are still investigating.
A Lincoln man accused of killing 41-year-old Jamie Watson will be held on $3 million bail.

During a court hearing Monday, Jamez Henderson was appointed a defense attorney through the Commission on Public Advocacy.

Eight people remain in custody in Watson's death. A ninth person was arrested Saturday but will not be charged.

Investigators are working to determine the relationship between the 10, and Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said it's possible more people will be arrested.

Watson's body was found wrapped in blankets and carpeting inside the trunk of a car about 1:30 a.m. Thursday in a parking lot at Northwood Terrace apartments, 1025 N. 23rd St.

Police have received information that Watson may have been killed at 215 Fairfield St., according to court documents. Investigators searched the home Thursday evening into Friday. Bliemeister wouldn't say what police found in the house and has not confirmed that's where Watson was killed.

He did say Monday morning that Watson died of a gunshot wound.

Investigators are still trying to piece together the timeline of events surrounding Watson's death. Although the chief said his death appears to be drug-related, it's unknown what led to the shooting.

Documents charging the group with the various offenses say the alleged crimes were committed between Tuesday and Thursday.

Records show police have been called to the 215 Fairfield St. home 47 times since 2013, including 27 times this year.

Those records say police were sent to the home for reasons including property damage, narcotics investigations, disturbances between neighbors, domestic assaults, abandoned vehicles, traffic violations and welfare checks.

The only residents police have reports of living at the address are not associated with the homicide investigation, Bliemeister said.

Henderson, 32, was arrested Thursday. He fled from police three times that day and was eventually caught hiding in a wooded area close to a hotel near Interstate 80 and 27th Street. He was charged Monday with second-degree homicide, use of a firearm to commit a felony, possession of meth, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of money while in violation of state statute and escape for leaving Arizona, where he was on parole.

Sidney Jackson, 25, Juanita Lara, 31, Jerah Stovall, 31, and Stacey Bigelow, 27, all of Lincoln, Brandi Bond, 22, listed as a transient, Ronald Auzenne, 19, of Glendale, Arizona, and Ivon Butler, 19, of Phoenix, were charged Monday with accessory to a felony. Lancaster County Judge Thomas Zimmerman set bail at $50,000 and appointed attorneys for each.

Additional details of what the state alleges happened were released during the group's arraignments.

The car in which Watson's body was found belongs to Bigelow, according to court documents. State prosecutors said Stovall purchased cleaning supplies after the homicide. Auzenne and Butler are accused of attempting to help Henderson get out of town, Jackson is accused of coming to Lincoln to help Henderson move Watson's body, and Bond is accused of being present at the time of the homicide. Prosecutors said Bond also was found in possession of a bag of clothes Henderson allegedly wore during the homicide.

Bliemeister said he didn't know what the group planned to do with the body. None of the eight people allegedly involved live at the apartment complex where police found Watson, Bliemeister said.

Police found nearly 10 ounces of meth and a small amount of marijuana in a car holding three of the suspects and an ounce and a half on Henderson when he was arrested, documents say.

Henderson spent 12 years in an Arizona prison on charges of manslaughter, aggravated assault and armed robbery. He was released in December 2015.

Jackson spent four years in prison on a charge of first-degree assault after shooting a man in the chest with a shotgun in 2009. He was released in 2014.

Watson himself completed a 10-year prison sentence for robbery out of Douglas County in July.

His death marks the city's 10th homicide in 2016, matching Lincoln's previous most deadly year in 1987.
Firefighters were out past midnight battling a house fire in the brutal cold in central Lincoln Saturday.

Crews were sent to a house on the 1500 block of South 21st Street around 10:15 p.m. It took 20-30 firefighters to get the fire under control.

Fire Inspector Don Gross said the fire was caused by occupants burning wood in a propane grill -- essentially using the grill as a fire pit at the back side of the house.

Gross said the fire spread from the propane grill to a wall. He said the house had what inspectors call "balloon construction," meaning wall space runs from the basement all the way up to the attic with no fire stops.

There was a significant amount of damage from the basement ceiling to the attic, as well as to a large portion of the roof. The estimated cost of damage is $40,000, depending on the roof's damage, according to Gross.

There were two occupants in the basement at the time, but the second floor was vacant. LFR is still trying to contact first floor residents. No one was injured. Basement residents have been relocated.

With temperatures in the negatives, fighting fires is a much more difficult task as ice develops on the streets. LFR Capt. Rick Schneider said extra steps are taken, such as keeping the water from freezing as it pumps through the hose.

Their most important step is to rotate firefighters and replace their wet clothes frequently for their own safety, he said.

"You're working up a sweat in the heavy clothing and then you're squirting water outside, so you're always surrounded by moisture. That moisture readily takes away heat from your body," Schneider said. "We live in Nebraska. Sometimes you just gotta bear with it."
Kevin Barret had a doctor he liked -- a psychiatrist more than a decade ago.

He can see his face, but the name wont come.

The former Marine rubs his eyes while sharing his story at a coffee shop.

My memory is full of holes, he says. I cant remember half my life.

Barret is 56 now, but he was a young man when he enlisted in 1980 and made the military his career.

In 1999, he received an honorable medical discharge -- shrapnel in his right leg from a grenade blast. He has arthritis in his left knee and drop foot, a bad back and bad shoulder. He has hearing loss. He has post-traumatic stress disorder. He was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury a few years ago, the result of the sounds of war blasting in his ears.

Hes on a host of medications to help with depression, anxiety and anger.

Its a cocktail of meds that help me stay mellow, says the disabled gunnery sergeant. I think Im always close to going over the edge.

And thats when he picks up his phone.

I reach out and call my Marine buddies.

Barret is a wiry man with short-shorn hair, the father of two and a grandfather. He got divorced a few years back but he married again last year. He shows a photo on his phone: His wife Teg and half a dozen others dressed in camo on a paintball expedition.

Its an adrenaline rush, Barret says. "A good way to blow off steam."

He has a basset hound named Daisy and a motocross-racing hobby.

And he has a home away from home in the local chapter of the Marine Corps League, a veterans service organization that helps connect him with other vets, young and old.

I was kind of in my own little world, he says. When you see Marines again, youre with your clan. It brings you back into the realm.

When Barret was discharged 17 years ago, he simply went home. It took him five years to get connected with the VA and a decade longer to discover he had a brain injury.

Hes grateful for that doctor, whose name he eventually remembers, and although he knows the medication he takes comes with side effects, there are benefits, too.

I know a lot of people who refuse to seek help, he says. But I know I need it.

The adjustment was difficult.

Life in the military was structured, you come back and people seem so, I dont know, undisciplined.

He was used to giving orders, and that didnt work so well in civilian life. He was used to getting angry -- fighting it out with his Marine buddies -- and that didnt work well in the civilian world, either.

In the Marines, you had to be hard and mean. I guess, Im still the same way.

Hes working on changing, all these years later. In some ways, hes better. Barret knows Marines who have died by suicide, during the war and after returning home. Hes had suicidal thoughts. He gets depressed.

But he gets up every day and engages with the world. He wears his Marine ball cap and his green Semper Fi hoodie, a calling card to fellow Marines.

Hes involved in the Marine Corps Leagues holiday gift-giving project and their efforts to help homeless vets find housing. He walks in their ruck marches and attends their social gatherings.

The veteran suicide rate is alarming, says the Marine veteran who has seen dark days.

Were trying to help fix that.
Editor's note: This is the second part of the Journal Star's in-depth look at veteran suicides and what is being done to prevent them.

Jaime Obrecht is a veteran.

He served in Vietnam, and he saw what war does.

The Marine came back to Lincoln in 1969 and became a teacher.

Years ago, he was part of a support group made up of fellow Vietnam veterans. One of them said hed tried to kill himself by overdosing on aspirin.

The group leader posed a question: Who here has seriously attempted or thought about suicide?

I was the only person in the room who didnt raise his hand, Obrecht said.

Suicide takes the lives of more than 40,000 Americans each year.

Statistics show that rate rising among the general population, male and female, young and old.

But veterans are dying at twice the rate of civilians -- the youngest among them at a rate four times higher, higher still if the veteran is both young and female.

A Journal Star analysis found that one in five suicide deaths during a five-year period in Nebraska was a veteran.

The why isnt simple. Veterans are a diverse group -- 22 million people who served in wars that span the past 75 years.

But a report released in August by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is a starting place for those who study suicide and those who are working to prevent it.

Up until August, we didn't know the actual suicide rate of veterans, said Rajeev Ramchand, a behavioral scientist at the RAND Corp. We only knew the VA rate, so this is a big, huge deal.

It gives tools to those who study suicide and work with veterans in hope of reducing those numbers.

And hope.

Really, it goes back to early detection and intervention, said Dave Tuttle, suicide prevention coordinator at the Nebraska VA. Veterans are a very proud people.

That pride often keeps them from seeking help until the need is great.

By the time they reach out, there might be DUIs, failed relationships, multiple lost jobs, substance abuse, Tuttle said. Theyre getting into that whole mental health cycle.

But reaching out is important and the August report showed how much. Although the rate of veteran suicide increased by nearly 9 percent in male veterans who accessed VA services, the rate increased nearly 39 percent for those who had not.

Tuttle urged struggling veterans to pick up the phone. Call the crisis line, well get you enrolled and see what youre eligible for.

He urged family and friends of veterans to get involved, too. "It's critical for people to take an active role when they become aware someone is in emotional distress."

In recent years, the VA has expanded its suicide prevention outreach with programs and tools aimed at younger, higher-risk veterans. Veterans can also text the crisis line or chat online. Several apps provide 24/7 help to veterans and their families.

The focus is prevention at the Nebraska Army National Guard, said Kelli Hatzenbuehler, resilience, risk reduction and suicide prevention manager for the Guard.

We saw a real need for training in resiliency, not necessarily suicide prevention, but coping mechanisms.

Guard members are required to take the training, which is also open to their spouses and children.

Often, media attention is drawn to suicide deaths among combat veterans who return from war with PTSD or traumatic brain injuries, Hatzenbuehler said. But just as important are the suicide rates among other groups -- older vets and those who had never deployed.

We want to make sure those things are emphasized, too.

A history of military service might not play a role in the deaths of middle-aged veterans, Hatzenbuehler said.

It could be someone who has financial issues or are going through a divorce.

No single thread connects all veterans who die by suicide, said Michael Schoenbaum at the National Institute of Mental Health.

And for any given risk factor, the vast majority of people with that risk factor dont have the outcome.

Most veterans with PTSD dont die by suicide, for example. The majority of those who experience battle go on to live full lives.

Most of them are resilient and they function well, Schoenbaum said. Some of them for periods of time need help, and we eggheads should be doing what we can to understand and help them.

Decades since his service in Vietnam, Jaime Obrecht has stayed involved with veterans. He helped start and continues to volunteer with a prison veterans group, and he helps organizes an annual Vietnam veterans reunion.

He doesnt know of any fellow veterans who have died by suicide, he said, not even those who sat around a circle decades ago talking about war and dark places in their minds.

And even though the soldier-turned-teacher hadnt raised his hand that day, he took a hard look at his life.

I made some changes.
WASHINGTON -- Political mildness is scarce nowadays, so it has been pleasantly surprising that post-election denunciations of the Electoral College have been tepid. This, even though the winner of the presidential election lost the popular vote by perhaps 2.8 million votes, more than five times the 537,179 votes by which Al Gore outpolled George W. Bush in 2000.

In California, where Democrats effortlessly harvest 55 electoral votes (more than one-fifth of 270), this year's presidential winner was never in doubt. There was no gubernatorial election to excite voters. And thanks to a "reform," whereby the top two finishers in a multi-party primary face off in the general election, the contest for the U.S. Senate seat was between two Democrats representing faintly variant flavors of liberalism. These factors depressed turnout in the state with one-eighth of the nation's population. If there had been more excitement, increased turnout in this heavily Democratic state might have pushed Hillary Clinton's nationwide popular vote margin over 3 million. And this still would not really matter.

Political hypochondriacs say, with more indignation than precision, that the nation's 58th presidential election was the fifth in which the winner lost the popular vote. In 1824, however, before the emergence of the party system, none of the four candidates received a majority of the electoral votes, and the House of Representatives chose John Quincy Adams even though Andrew Jackson won more popular votes -- 38,149 more, although only about 350,000 of the approximately 4 million white males eligible to vote did so. All four candidates had been together on the ballots in only six of the 24 states, and another six states, including the most populous, New York, had no elections -- their legislatures picked the presidential electors.

In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes won the electoral vote even though Samuel J. Tilden won 254,694 more of the 8,411,618 popular votes cast. (With 51 percent, Tilden is the only presidential loser to win a majority of the popular vote.) In 1888, Benjamin Harrison won the electoral vote 233-168 even though President Grover Cleveland won the popular vote by 89,293 out of 11,395,083 votes cast. In both years, however, exuberant fraud on both sides probably involved more votes than the victory margins.

So, two of the five 21st-century elections (2000 and 2016) are the only clear and pertinent instances, since the emergence of the party system in 1828, of the winner of the popular vote losing the presidency. Two is 40 percent of five elections, which scandalizes only those who make a fetish of simpleminded majoritarianism.

Those who demand direct popular election of the president should be advised that this is what we have -- in 51 jurisdictions (the states and the District of Columbia). And the electoral vote system quarantines electoral disputes. Imagine the 1960 election under direct popular election: John Kennedy's popular vote margin over Richard Nixon was just 118,574. If all 68,838,219 popular votes had been poured into a single national bucket, there would have been powerful incentives to challenge the results in many of the nation's 170,000 precincts.

Far from being an unchanged anachronism, frozen like a fly in 18th-century amber, the Electoral College has evolved, shaping and shaped by the party system. American majorities are not spontaneous growths, like dandelions. They are built by a two-party system that assembles them in accordance with the Electoral College's distribution incentive for geographical breadth in a coalition of states. So, the Electoral College shapes the character of majorities by helping to generate those that are neither geographically nor ideologically narrow, and that depict, more than the popular vote does, national decisiveness. In 1912, Woodrow Wilson won just 41.8 percent of the popular vote but conducted a strong presidency based on 81.9 percent of the electoral votes. Eighty years later, Bill Clinton won 43 percent of the popular vote but 68.8 percent of the electoral votes. In 2008, Barack Obama won 52.9 percent of the popular vote but 67.8 percent of the electoral vote.

The 48 elections since 1824 have produced 18 presidents that received less than 50 percent of the popular vote. The greatest of them, Abraham Lincoln, received 39.9 percent in 1860. So, on Dec. 19, when the electors cast their votes in their respective states, actually making Donald Trump the president-elect, remember: Do not blame the excellent electoral vote system for the 2016 choice that was the result of other, and seriously defective, aspects of America's political process.
On December 19, Nebraska's electors will have the awesome responsibility to cast their vote for president. I do not envy the responsibility that they bear during these difficult times. While I myself believe that Hillary Clintons popular margin of victory ought to convince the electors to vote for her, I would ask them to choose her for a different reason: that the electoral college was designed specifically to bar men like Donald Trump from the presidency.

Our presidential system, designed in 1787, empowers the electors to use their wise judgment to choose our president, as articulated by Alexander Hamilton in Federalist Paper 68, which reads, The process of election affords a moral certainty, 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. Donald Trump continues to demonstrate that he lacks the requisite qualifications.

There are many reasons to reject Donald Trump as unfit to be president. I will name just one: he will pervert our standards of law and ethics by using the presidency to enrich himself and his family, including his association with Russia, a sworn enemy of the United States. I am grateful for our electors' service to our nation. If they feel even the slightest bit of patriotism, I encourage them to join the past 156 so-called "faithless" electors in our nation's history and vote country over party and block Donald Trump from the presidency. Hamilton would have wanted them to do so.

Mark Daharsh, Lincoln
On December 19, Electoral College delegates will vote to elect the next president. As of right now, that will be Donald Trump. However, the delegates can step up and become true American heroes by the way they cast their vote.

First, let me say that, yes, I am a Democrat and, yes, I voted for Hillary Clinton but I am not asking the delegates to commit what many of them would consider political suicide by voting for her. I am simply asking that they do not cast their vote. This would deny both candidates the necessary 270 votes and would force the election to the House of Representatives. This would allow time for a true investigation into the suggested Russian involvement in our election and what we need to do to insure that a fair and untainted process is in place.

What I am asking them to do is vote for America and not their political party. By not casting their vote they would be sending a clear message that the outcome of an election cannot be determined by hacking of the system, rumors and innuendo, and threats of getting even with those who disagree with your views.

In the past, true Americans have stood up when they knew something was wrong. Many even gave their lives defending what they believed was right and the best for this country. Right now, there are too many unanswered questions that affect the way the majority of Americans feel about the election for all of us, to support the presidential election process. Now is the time to say we want our election free of influence from outside forces. The Electoral Delegates should be the first to show that our country is more than political parties and that their responsibility is to our Country first.

Michael Cook, North Platte
OMAHA  President Barack Obama has signed into law a measure allowing a public-private partnership to build a $136 million veterans medical facility in Omaha.

Democratic Rep. Brad Ashford, of Omaha, announced Friday's signing in a news release. Ashford pushed the bill through the House; U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, a Nebraska Republican, sponsored it in the Senate.

Under the measure, the Department of Veterans Affairs will provide $56 million to build 157,000 square feet of new medical space next to the current VA hospital in Omaha. Private donors will be asked to put up the remaining $80 million.

A 2007 study found the current hospital was plagued by problems in its electrical, heating and cooling systems. In 2011, the VA unveiled plans for a $560 million, 1 million-square-foot replacement. Congress approved $56 million to start the project planning, and the new structure tentatively was scheduled to open in 2018. But the plans and work were delayed by funding shortages and changing VA priorities.

The public-private funding of the new facility will be the first of its kind, Ashford said.

A trio of local businessmen who have signed on to provide the private donations for the facility are already in talks with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Ashford said.

The outgoing congressman said officials hope to have the design phase underway early next year, with the facility completed in 2018.

Ashford's bid for a second term in Congress was thwarted by the election of Republican Don Bacon for Nebraska's 2nd District seat in November.
Lincoln-based Silverhawk Aviation has weathered the storms of ownership changes over the years and even the Great Recession, but somehow the business has managed to fly for 25 years.

The key to survival, said current President Mike Gerdes, is maintaining sustainable growth.

Its hard for an aviation company to stay in business this long, especially with all the ups and downs in the economy, Gerdes said. Its obviously a high-capital industry. We position our company to grow sustainably so it can still be healthy during the next economic downturn.

Silverhawks growth has taken off, doubling profits in the last three years. Profits are 10 times what they were during the 2008-09 recession, Gerdes said.

Our plan is to double profits again in the next five years, he added.

As part of that growth plan, Silverhawk is adding to its fleet of charter planes at its headquarters, 1751 Kearney Ave., at the Lincoln Municipal Airport.

We have 10 charter planes now, and soon we will add a Citation Excel, which is a mid-size business jet, Gerdes said. That will be our first entry into the mid-size business market. Well add one more Excel in 2017 and two more light jets similar to those in our current fleet. Well be up to 14 planes by the end of 2017.

Constructing a new hangar

To facilitate that expanded fleet, Silverhawk plans to build a dual-purpose storage and maintenance hangar in the spring, Gerdes said. The companys current hangar will be used for storage and maintenance.

That will more than double our current hangar space, he said. The new hangar will hold 10 jets. Four or more will be out flying at any given time.

In addition to adding planes, Silverhawk has been enhancing its charter fleet, such as installing onboard Wi-Fi for customers and upgrading the avionics instruments that pilots use, said Schuyler Risk, Silverhawks business development director.

Theres a big reason that you dont see as much in the news about airplane crashes anymore, Risk said. Improved avionics technology has lowered that risk. We do upgrading work for other charter flight services, private owners and government aircraft as well.

In addition to having extensive experience in avionics repair and upgrades, Silverhawk Aviation is an FAA-certified repair station in general aviation maintenance, repair and upgrades, as well as phase inspections and routine maintenance.

We have one of the most respected aviation maintenance shops in the industry, Risk said. Were an authorized service center for Cessna, Beechcraft, Cirrus, and Pratt & Whitney engines. Weve done more engine upgrades in the Beechcraft King Air 90 than any aviation service in the world.

Upgrading airplanes is a common practice, Risk added. The owner gets essentially a brand new plane for a fraction of the cost. Often, upgrading makes a plane better than a new one, because new models tend to have extra things that add weight and hinder performance.

Being located in the middle of the United States also makes Silverhawk a popular refueling station.

Our line crews have a reputation for getting people in and out quickly, saving them time, Risk said. We just try to deliver the best service we can in all segments, and they all work well together. Theyre all complimentary services.

Silverhawk employs just under 80 staff members.

25-year history

In 1991, Mike Weatherl founded Silverhawk Aviation in Seward as a branch of his Silverhawk Security Specialists business. It was a case where he was flying anyway as part of his security business, so he started doing charter flight work, Gerdes said. The operation expanded to Crete, then opened the Lincoln facility on the general aviation side of the Lincoln Municipal Airport in the mid-1990s.

Bryan Heart (formerly called Bryan Heart Institute) was Silverhawk Aviations first customer and remains a customer today.

We couldnt do what we do without Silverhawk, said Dr. Dale Hansen, executive medical director of Bryan Heart. We bring echocardiography, nuclear testing and other equipment and see cardiology patients at over 30 hospitals in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri so they dont have to drive to Lincoln.

In 2001, Weatherl sold Silverhawk Aviation to Don and Nancy Allen, and the Allens acquired and consolidated Capitol Aviation into Silverhawk. In 2006, the Allens sold Silverhawk to Arkansas-based Gillum Group. Dan Hinnah oversaw the daily operations, and Weatherl returned as a silent minority owner. Hinnah bought Gillum Groups majority share in Silverhawk in 2010.

Dan (Hinnah) said he would do it for three to five more years until he got the company back into good financial shape, and in 2015 he turned it over to us, said Gerdes, current co-owner with Gene Luce, who has been Silverhawks maintenance director for 23 years.

Climbing the company ladder

Both Gerdes and Risk started working at Silverhawk in entry-level positions.

Gerdes started taking flying lessons in 2004 while studying math and finance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

As I started doing that, the flying bug bit, and I realized thats what I wanted to do the rest of my life, he said. After college I became a flight instructor, and I helped Performance Aircraft launch its flight school in 2006. So it was a natural transition to slide over to charter flying in 2007 for Silverhawk.

Promotions soon followed, including chief pilot in 2010 and director of operations/CFO in 2011. Gerdes became president and co-owner in 2015.

Risk is a third-generation pilot, following his father, Ken Risk, and grandfather, George Risk.

I was kind of a hangar rat as a kid, he said. I spent a lot of time at the airport with my dad, working on planes and vacuuming them.

Later, while studying political science and economics at UNL, Risk worked on the flight line and pumped gas at Silverhawk. After graduation and working in sales jobs across the United States, the flying bug hit me again in 2006, and I earned all the certifications I needed to fly professionally, Risk said.

He worked for a regional airline in Denver before moving back to Lincoln in 2008, when the recession hit and there were no flying jobs anywhere, he said. He worked in commercial banking for two years before returning to Silverhawk in January 2010 as a line service technician while waiting for a pilot position to open. He began flying for Silverhawk in October of that year and earned various promotions before being named director of business development in 2015.

The way we started, I dont think either Mike or I thought we would be doing what were doing now, Risk said. It was a great place to work, and we wanted to see it grow and flourish, and it has.

Charter service is all about saving time

Silverhawk started as a charter flight service in 1991.

In 25 years, Silverhawks charter planes have flown over 3 million miles, which equals 120 times around the world, said Risk.

As the company added planes, it made sense to add mechanics, and eventually it added the fuel service as well, said Gerdes. Its taken off from there.

Silverhawks charter planes fly a 50-50 mix of business and private clients, according to Gerdes. With a charter fleet ranging from King Air turboprops to a full lineup of Cessna Citation jets, Silverhawk gives clients the freedom to fly where they want, when they want, he said.

Since Silverhawk has its own planes and pilots and serves clients who live and work within 175 miles of Lincoln, the company does not need to bring in planes from other charter services.

A lot of national charter services serve clients from all around the country, and repositioning planes is built into their charges to customers, Gerdes said. Many other charter services are marketing companies, and they find clients but dont have their own jet fleet, or they only have some and supplement them with other companies planes. We have our own planes and pilots.

With light charter jets, Silverhawk has access to over 5,000 airports across North America, whereas major airlines can only access about 180 airports, Gerdes added. That greater airport access helps clients avoid the hassles of long lines, layovers, delays and cancellations typical of flying on an airline. And theres no need to drive long distances to and from an airport.

By the time people drive to an airport and go through security, assuming they can get on a flight and arent cut, we could have them to their destination often times before they would have even taken off on an airline, Gerdes said.

As an example, Risk said that he and Gerdes recently flew a client from Lincoln to Philadelphia on a Thursday, then to Knoxville, Tennessee, then to Las Vegas the next day and to Palm Springs, California, the day after that before returning to Lincoln  all in three to four days. The same round-trip would have taken at least a week using airlines, he said.

Other folks use us to go to Palm Springs, for example, for three to four days, or for a business trip up and back the same day, Risk added. What we can do is really only limited by our customers imaginations.

New jet card

At Silverhawks 25th anniversary celebration Nov. 11, Gerdes announced the companys new jet card, which is designed for clients planning to fly 20 or more hours per year. Because Silverhawk serves clients who live and work within a 175-mile radius, the jet card saves clients up to 50 percent of charter flight costs compared to other leading jet card providers.

In addition, Silverhawks jet card promises:

 No membership fees or dues;

 No fuel surcharges;

 No interchange fees;

 No charge for taxi time;

 No peak day/holiday charges; and

 No repositioning charges to pick up or drop off planes.

We are the only jet card program that can make these promises, Risk said. We save our clients time, so they can spend more time on their family, business and life.

For more details about the jet card, call 402-475-8600 or see silverhawkjetcard.com. For details about Silverhawk Aviation, see silverhawkaviation.com.
On a very chilly morning Dec. 8, Ann Billesbach, associate director for Education and Historic Sites for the Nebraska State Historical Society, introduced members of the Lincoln League of Women Voters to the newly-renovated Nebraska History Museum through a talk and slides about the exhibit Nebraska Unwrapped.

Of special interest to the group was the invention of the collapsible voting booth made by the Douglas Manufacturing Company, founded by William W. and Elizabeth Robb Douglas. Elizabeth is credited with the idea after using cardboard and sewing pins to put together a prototype. The Douglases patented their design in 1906. In 1912 the family built a factory in Crete where it still exists today. Elizabeth Douglas could not use the booth she designed until 1920, when the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.

The museum also has a journal that contains the minutes of the first meeting of the Nebraska Woman Suffrage Association, held in Omaha on May 30, 1880. On Aug. 2, 1919, Nebraska became the 14th state to ratify the 19th Amendment . The next year, the Nebraska Woman Suffrage Association reorganized as the Nebraska League of Women Voters.
President-elect Donald Trump secured the 270 votes needed to become Americas 45th president Monday as thousands of protesters across the country unsuccessfully urged members of the Electoral College to switch candidates.

Wisconsins 10 Electoral College members voted unanimously for Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence as a handful of protesters shouted shame and accused them of selling out the country. Dozens more marched around the Capitol in frigid temperatures or sang protest songs in the rotunda.

The Republican electors had all signed pledges to cast their votes for Trump and Pence, who won the state by nearly 23,000 votes, becoming the first Republican ticket to do so since 1984.

In a statement, Trump asserted, incorrectly, that the results mark a historic electoral landslide victory in our nations democracy. In fact, his margin ranks 46th out of 58 Electoral College vote percentages.

The official votes cast by the Electoral College exceeded the 270 required to secure the presidency by a very large margin, far greater than ever anticipated by the media, Trump said. I will work hard to unite our country and be the president of all Americans. Together, we will make America great again.

With all states voting, Trump finished with 304 votes and Clinton had 227. Texas put Trump over the top, despite two Republican electors casting protest votes.

The gatherings of the Electoral College in all 50 states and the District of Columbia is typically a non-event, but this year a national effort has been underway to persuade Republican electors to change their votes after hackers believed to be Russian attempted to sow chaos in the election by leaking Democrats emails in the final weeks of the campaign.

Im gravely concerned that Russian President Vladimir Putin helped Trump win the Republican primary in addition to the general election, Texas elector Chris Suprun wrote in The Hill newspaper on Monday explaining his vote for Ohio Gov. John Kasich. In light of the mounting evidence of foreign influence undermining our election, delegates to the Electoral College should have been briefed by the CIA.

But even Kasich, a Trump primary opponent, said Monday it was time to get behind the president-elect.

We want unity, we want love, Kasich said as Ohios electors voted to back Trump at a statehouse ceremony.

Clinton lost four electors in Washington state, where three voted for former Secretary of State Colin Powell and one voted for Native American tribal leader Faith Spotted Eagle. She also lost an elector in Hawaii to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Several Democratic electors in other states tried to vote for protest candidates but they either changed their votes to Clinton or were replaced.

As in other states, electors in Wisconsin have been inundated with letters and emails in recent weeks.

On Monday, they were given two sheets of paper, each bearing only one name and a box in which they marked an X.

The vote in the state Capitol went off with only minor disruption, as several members of the audience expressed their displeasure with the result, one woman shouting, Were all going to go to war and die because of you people.

Most quieted down when warned by a Capitol staff member, others left in disgust and one woman was escorted out by Capitol police.

Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Michael Haas said it was unusual to have so many people attend an Electoral College vote. The Joint Finance Committee hearing room was filled to capacity with about 100 people, and two overflow rooms were also crowded.

Elector Brad Courtney, state Republican Party chairman from Whitefish Bay, called the protests democracy at work and said he was proud to represent the 1.4 million people who voted for Trump in Wisconsin.

Its been a team effort, Courtney said. Were doing good things in this state and were hoping to export it to the national level.

Protests, but little change

Befitting an election filled with acrimony, similar scenes played out in capitols across the country Monday as thousands of protesters urged Republican electors to abandon their partys winning candidate.

More than 200 demonstrators braved freezing temperatures at Pennsylvanias capitol in Harrisburg, chanting, No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA! and No treason, no Trump!

In Augusta, Maine, they banged on drums and held signs that said, Dont let Putin Pick Our President.

But inside the capitols, the voting went pretty much as planned.

In Nashville, Tennessee, one audience member tried to read out some Scripture before the ballots were cast but was told he could not speak.

We certainly appreciate the Scripture, State Election Coordinator Mark Goins said from the podium. The answer is no.

The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

There is no constitutional provision or federal law that requires electors to vote for the candidate who won their state  though some states require their electors to vote for the winning candidate. Wisconsin law requires electors to vote for the winning candidate of the party that selected them, though it provides no penalty or recourse for a so-called faithless elector.

Such laws are rarely tested. More than 99 percent of electors through U.S. history have voted for the candidate who won their state. Of those who refused, none has ever been prosecuted, according to the National Archives.

Some Democrats have argued that the Electoral College is undemocratic because it gives more weight to less populated states. That is how Clinton, who got more than 2.6 million more votes nationwide, lost the election to Trump.

Some have also tried to dissuade Trump voters by arguing that he is unsuited to the job. Others cite the CIAs assessment that Russia engaged in computer hacking to sway the election in favor of the Republican.

When the founders of our country created (the Electoral College) 200-plus years ago, they didnt have confidence in the average white man who had property, because thats who got to vote, said Shawn Terris, a Democratic elector from Ventura, California. It just seems so undemocratic to me that people other than the voters get to choose who leads the country.

A joint session of Congress is scheduled for Jan. 6 to certify the results of the Electoral College vote, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding as president of the Senate. Once the result is certified, Trump will be sworn in on Jan. 20.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The 17 Wisconsin State Patrol officers sent to the protests over the Dakota Access oil pipeline in October believe they should drop the use of name tags in favor of badge numbers to protect privacy, employ a videographer or body cameras, and upgrade helmets and protective vests.

The troopers suggestions, which also included setting some physical requirements and finding more comfortable footwear, come in a report assessing the units response in the Oct. 9-15 deployment in North Dakota.

The State Patrols Mobile Field Force was joined by smaller groups of two to 13 deputies from four county sheriffs offices, including Dane County.

There were 43 officers from Wisconsin.

They were responding to a mutual aid request made by the Morton County Sheriffs Department for which the south-central North Dakota county would reimburse Wisconsin agencies for their response.

It was the second request this year met by Wisconsins State Patrol, the first being a July assignment to help at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, according to Col. Charles Teasdale, a State Patrol supervisor.

The process is governed under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a 1996 law passed in response to hurricane disaster relief that required large-scale regional relief coordination.

10-state response

The Morton County Sheriffs Department tallied the outside response to its request as 1,300 people from 24 counties, 16 cities and 10 states.

Their presence was not welcomed by the protesting side, which criticized and filed a formal complaint about what they saw as an unnecessarily hostile, physical response and a militarization of the law enforcement efforts.

While Wisconsin Emergency Management coordinated the disparate elements from the state, spokeswoman Lori Getter said no other after-action reports were known to have been filed. Dane County, for example, the next largest contingent, did not write one.

Teasdale warned that the after-action report, released to the Wisconsin State Journal at the newspapers request, is in no way a document that should be interpreted as things we are going to do. Rather, it is an objective look at results, positive and negative, and ways to improve, by the 16 men and one woman who were there.

The assignment in North Dakota coincided with mass arrests one day and an increasing number of pipeline opponents gathering 25 miles south of Bismarck, north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

The Wisconsin deputies and troopers arrived one day before a significant altercation on Oct. 10 resulted in disputed arrests, though the states officers did not participate in them.

Their duty was for one week, working 12-hour shifts on county and state highways along the pipeline, doing crowd control and vehicle patrol.

What went right? The team of volunteers mustered quickly, receiving the request in Wisconsin on Oct. 7, and arriving in North Dakota two days later.

In an interview, Teasdale noted the command team identifies best practices and opportunities for improvement, then creates a plan to improve responses.

It covered communications, equipment and uniforms, travel, preparation and training.

Suggestions, not requests

For example, said Teasdale, this one talks about the fact it would be nice to have a videographer on deployment, though that doesnt mean they are asking for a videographer. Just that it might be an equipment need in the future.

The action report says a videographer could capture any incidents i.e. use of force which may occur, and that it might be wise to have some officers wear body cameras because much propaganda and video editing was done to make police look like agitators.

An unsubtle suggestion for future deployments, according to the report, is to include physical fitness requirements in the selection process. Likewise, the unusual geography of the North Dakota assignment pointed to a training gap for crowd control situations in open (rural) areas.

Equipment improvements could be made, the report suggests, in boots more comfortable for extended periods of time standing, and high risk protective vests and Kevlar helmets. Drones could be used for intelligence gathering.

Also, the report suggests removing the name tag from the ... uniform and replace it with a call or badge number.

Teasdale, who described the states troopers as very well equipped, the best equipped and trained in the state, said the change to badge numbers in place of name tags is a national trend, and is considered necessary to deflect the potential use of social media to invade the private lives of officers.

Responding to the North Dakota call for help was a good test of the rapid deployment program, said Teasdale, because we in Wisconsin generally see ourselves as a first in group, and as soon as we get there we are already planning our exit strategy. We are not there to manage an event.
Welcome to KARMABrooklyn! We hope that the news and other information we post on this b log will be useful to residents and merchants in Kensington and Windsor Terrace. If you'd like to contact us, write to us at karmabrooklyn [at] gmail [dot] com.
Amnesty accuses Myanmar military of 'crimes against humanity'

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Brunei's Borneo Bulletin joins ANN

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DoFE launches online process for work permit

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Energy Ministry sacks 3 NEA board members

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Int'l Airport in Pokhara: Finance Ministry confirms $216m soft loan for project

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Bizline: Force Motors opens outlet in Janakpur

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Forche villagers forced to to buy salt for Rs 180 per kilo

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Give amendment a chance

No matter how difficult, political parties need to find common ground or risk irrelevance
India Banknote Ban: Govt clueless about IC exchange facility

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Gulmi gaining normalcy, shutdown lifted

Gumli has gained a degree of normalcy after 19 days of general shutdown called by the Joint Agitation Mobilization Struggle Committee in protest of constitution amendment bill to split Province No 5.
Fire destroys house in Lamjung

A fire in Gharedhunga, Ilampokhari-7 in the district has completely destroyed a house on Monday.
Its extremely difficult to stabilise Nepal without managing geopolitics properly

Little progress has been made on the constitution amendment bill that the government registered in Parliament Secretariat on November 29 and that it plans to table for parliamentary deliberations today, a move the CPN-UML has already threatened to block.
Lebanese Court directs police not to deport Nepali worker

A Lebanese Court has directed the local security directorate to stop deportation of Rose Maya Limbu, a Nepali woman working as domestic help in Lebanon.
Migrant workers continue to suffer appalling treatment

On November 9, 45-year-old Govinda Gyawali of Beltaksar, Gulmi, was waiting in a long queue alongside around 6,000 other fellow migrant workers on the Department of Foreign Employment premises at Soltimode to obtain the governments approval to work abroad.
Morcha lends conditional support to amendment

Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, has agreed to back the proposed constitution amendment but clarified that the regional parties would continue their protests unless the five disputed districts are realigned with the plains provinces.
National identity and belonging

Social anthropologists are familiar, at least since Diana Forsythes analysis of German identity, that what looks from the outside like a singular national identity,
Nepal remembers Bista, last king of Upper Mustang

Ceremonies are taking place in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu to mark the death of the last king of the isolated Himalayan region of Upper Mustang.
Police bust human trafficking racket

Police busted a foreign employment racket that had been trafficking Nepali women to various labour destinations in the Middle East where they were exposed to physical assault and domestic violence.
Rabies scare in Orang VDC

Around 50 people from Orang VDC of Dolakha district have arrived in Charikot, seeking treatment for rabies.
Ruling and opposition parties' meeting ends inconclusively

A meeting among three major political parties - the Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) - has concluded inconclusively.
YAN Rupandehi acting chairman shot at, dies in hospital

An unidentified gang shot dead Rupandehi chairman of UML affiliated Youth Association Nepal on Monday.
Sujata says she is cancer-free

Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala has said that she is now cancer-free following a second operation.
Take benefit from OBOR: Visting Chinese minister

The visiting head of Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) Publicity Department, Liu Qibao, has urged Nepal to be the part of One Belt One Road initiative undertaken by China.
WB provides Rs 5.94 billion additional loan for road development

The World Bank has agreed to provide US Dollar 55 million (approximately Rs 5.94 billion) additional loan assistance to the government for the implementation of Road Sector Development Project (RSDP) which has been under implementation since 2008.
What It Is

KauaiEclectic is a collection of observations, images and writings about Kauai  Kamawaelualanimoku  and the world as seen, felt, experienced and interpreted by me.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah , has told a meeting of European, Caribbean and African Members of Parliament that no one will pass resolutions that impose presidential term limits on Uganda.

Oulanyah made the remarks as the Committee on Political Affairs resumed consideration of a motion on a resolution on constitutional limits for presidential terms in Nairobi Kenya.

The speaker says Ugandas constitution has mechanisms through which political power can change hands and that the Constitution was the ultimate will of the people of Uganda which non-Ugandans should not undermine.

The Committee is part of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Parliamentary Assembly.

The proposals for presidential terms limits are being advocated by Members of the European Parliament with support from some Members from the ACP.

Oulanyah advocated for the dropping of the whole motion on term limits following concerns that these were being dictated by the European Parliament.

He added that despite the fact that the Motion was agreed on by the ACP in its earlier stages, it was possible to have it dropped all together at this point.

In the same meeting, the ACP Committee on Political Affairs called on President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia to respect the outcome of the recent elections and hand over power.
High Court Judge Margret Oguli Oumo has granted permission to a Rubaga South voter to file an election petition against his area MP Kato Lubwama challenging his academic qualifications in not less than 30 days.

This is after Justice Oguli ruled that there is unchallenged evidence on court records showing that Kato Lubwama lied to the Electoral Commission that he possessed a valid O Level certificate from Old Kampala SSS yet the same is not registered by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau.

Habib Buwembo says he has since learnt that Kato Lubwama scored aggregate 7 which could not be relied on to sit mature age entry exams to be admitted for a diploma in Music Dance and Drama at Makerere University.

The judge noted that fraud is a serious allegation and that the matter pertaining a legislators qualification is of a great national importance.

The judges decision to extend the time within which Buwembo can file an election petition is based on the fact that he has proved that it took him 7 months to discover the said fraud.
A Human rights lawyer Ladislous Rwakafuuzi has dragged the Attorney General to High court seeking compensation for loss of business through actions of the Uganda Police who blocked his client Dr. Kiiza Besigye from accessing his chambers at Uganda House along Kampala road.

Rwakafuuzi wants this payment of damages to atone for several violations of his rights to practice his legal profession, engage in free trade and business as per the Constitution and also for the inconvenience and embarrassment he suffered.

The lawyer contends that on the 16th day of November 2016, he had an appointment to meet his client Besigye for consultations and further instructions but no sooner had he (Besigye)reached at Uganda House, than police commanded by Geoffrey Kaheebwa blocked him from entering the parking area and accessing his lawyers office .

Rwakafuuzi has attached photographs as evidence to his suit showing police patrol vehicles and several officers preventing Besigye from proceeding to Uganda House and later towing his car to Kira road police station.

Its against this background that the lawyer seeks a declaration that the said actions of the Uganda Police are unconstitutional and that Geoffrey Kaheebwa is unfit to hold office as a Regional Police Commander .

Court has summoned the Attorney General to file his defense in court within 15 days.
After the holidays, lawmakers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives will return to the Indiana Statehouse for the 2017 legislative session, which will officially reconvene Jan. 3 and, by law, must end on April 29.

Lawmakers will be working together to pass a comprehensive budget that funds all state government services including education, infrastructure and public safety for the next two years. As I look ahead to the start of the legislative session, Ive compiled a list of 10 major issues I expect to be addressed, with the budget topping the list.

1. Maintaining Indianas balanced budget

2. Passing a balanced budget amendment to the state constitution

3. Providing long-term road funding for Indianas future

4. Replacing ISTEP

5. Addressing pre-k by expanding Indianas current pilot program in a financially responsible way and making sure it is leading to good academic results for participants

6. Supporting schools in attracting and retaining great teachers

7. Continuing to take steps to address Indianas drug-abuse epidemic

8. Expanding local community corrections programs as an alternative to prison for low-level, non-violent offenders

9. Continuing to fund improvements for the Department of Child Services

10. Addressing child abuse that occurs in schools  expanding background check requirements, making sure convicted school employees are reported to DOE

To stay informed and engaged on these issues and others as they move through the Indiana General Assembly, you can sign up for my e-newsletters by visiting www.in.gov/s14. As always, if you have any questions or suggestions for the 2017 legislative session, you can email me at Senator.Kruse@iga.in.gov or by calling 800-382-9467.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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It was a great year for movies, and while a few contenders like Martin Scorsese's "Silence" won't make it to Madison theaters until January, filling out a list of the Top 10 movies of 2016 wasn't difficult at all.

This year's list features 10 films I saw in the theater, although that is changing as Netflix produces more original films, such as "Selma" director Ava DuVernay's powerful documentary "The 13th." The problem for film fans now isn't finding good movies to watch as much as finding out where the good movies are  whether that's a local theater or streaming site.

To help out, I've included where you can find most of the movies on this list right now.

1. The Lobster  Watching Greek writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos English-language debut felt like watching the years best comedy and most unnerving horror film in one sitting. A dystopian satire about a single-shaming society where people must find their soulmates or be turned into animals, the film spoofs modern dating rituals but also goes deeper, asking us what of ourselves we would give up in order to not be alone. Now out on DVD and streaming on Amazon Prime.

2. Moonlight  Barry Jenkins beautiful and devastating drama feels like both a companion and a rebuke to Richard Linklaters Boyhood. Moonlight looks at a young African-American boy as he grows into a man, shaped by poverty and a masculine culture that prizes dominance over all else. His path is largely determined for him, and to forge an identity of his own requires an almost superhuman act of courage. Now in theaters.

3. The Handmaiden  Park Chan-Wooks twisted erotic thriller about a pickpocket hired to work as the servant of a rich woman in a strange mansion keeps surprising and tantalizing us. Underneath its sensuality and depravity, it may be one of the most resonant tales of female empowerment this year.

4. Manchester By The Sea  So many Hollywood movies (like Collateral Beauty) use grief as a plot point to humanize a character, but writer-director Kenneth Lonergans quiet masterpiece digs deep into the corrosive, consuming nature of grief and guilt, with Casey Affleck never better as a man returning to a hometown full of painful memories. Now in theaters.

5. La La Land  Damien Chazelles candy-coated musical is a movie in love with movies, with Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling singing and dancing through a Hollywood that is both fantasy and bittersweet reality. One of the best times youll have at the theater this year. Now in theaters.

6. Hell or High Water  It may take more than one viewing to realize how great this Texas thriller is, with Chris Pine and Ben Foster playing brothers who turn to robbing banks to save the family home, lawman Jeff Bridges in pursuit. Beneath the genre thrills, this film is a cry for help from parts of rural America that feel left behind. Now on DVD.

7. Dont Think Twice  Writer-director Mike Birbiglias ensemble comedy, about the varying fortunes of a New York improv troupe, is very funny. But its also wise about the cost of chasing your dreams, and the devastating effect it can have when one of your friends gets there first. Now on DVD.

8. Hunt For the Wilderpeople  Another great time at the movies is this joyful action comedy romp from New Zealand, in which gruff woodsman Sam Neill takes his adopted Maori nephew (Justin Morrison) on the lam from authorities. It was a delight when I saw it at the Wisconsin Film Festival in April. Now it feels like a gentle plea for understanding between Trump voters and immigrants. Now on DVD.

9. Cameraperson  Cinematographer Kristen Johnson has spent decades shooting documentaries around the world. This film is a scrapbook of sorts of her footage, jumping from home movies of her Alzheimers-stricken mother to a farmer in Bosnia to a CIA black site in Yemen. Stitched together, the images start to rhyme with each other, making a wonderful document of all that Johnsons camera has captured.

10. The Witness  Seeing this documentary in a theater at the Wisconsin Film Festival was one of the most moving theater-going experiences of the year for me. Everyone knows the story of Kitty Genovese, murdered on the street in New York in 1964 while her neighbors allegedly ignored her screams for help. Decades later, her brother investigates the story and finds the truth was very different. Its a powerful film about what we owe our fellow human beings, whether theyre our sisters or a stranger. Now on DVD and Netflix.

Honorable mentions: Green Room, Indignation, Almost Sunrise, "The 13th," Sing Street, Sunset Song, Love and Friendship, Other People, The Edge of Seventeen, Certain Women, Childhood of a Leader, Captain Fantastic, Embrace of the Serpent, Zootopia.
BURLINGTON  Tuesday was a day of elation mixed with sorrow for Burlingtons Nathan Libbey.

Libbey saw eating disorders legislation he championed pass the U.S. Senate as part of a wide-ranging health care bill which now goes to President Barack Obama.

Libbey began advocating for the bill after the death of his wife, Jennifer, who suffered from bulimia. She always wanted to shout from the rooftop once she beat the disorder, Libbey said. While she wasnt able to do that, Libbey said, hes excited others may benefit.

Jennifer and I frequently discussed the power her voice would have once she defeated her eating disorder, Libbey said. There is an adage that negative voices always play the loudest. Unfortunately, her voice resonated with lawmakers from the grave and not from a pedestal of triumph.

Today, however, she is triumphant, our children are triumphant and individuals with eating disorders in Wisconsin and throughout our great nation are triumphant.

Insurance change key

Jennifer Libbey taught kindergarten in the Burlington Area School District until her death on Aug. 14, 2014.

After she died, Nathan Libbey contacted the Eating Disorders Coalition and traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby legislators on the bill. Its named the Anna Westin Act, after a Minnesota woman who struggled with anorexia and committed suicide at age 21.

Among other things, the measure clarifies law to improve health insurance coverage for eating disorders and residential treatment. Thats a big deal, Libbey said, noting residential care could otherwise cost almost $100,000.

The legislation also provides resources for training for health professionals as well as education and prevention help for the public.

The bill, which advocates say is the first legislation on eating disorders passed by Congress, was co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.

I have heard from far too many Wisconsin families like the Libbeys who have struggled to find the quality eating disorder care and treatment that they need, Baldwin said in a statement to The Journal Times. The passage of the Anna Westin Act will take critical steps to improve health coverage and enhance prevention, treatment, and early diagnosis to better support the 192,000 Wisconsinites who are battling an eating disorder.

The Anna Westin Act was part of the 21st Century Cures and Mental Health Reform Act, which overwhelmingly passed the House 392-26 and the Senate 94-5. Obama has said he will sign the bill.

Besides eating disorders, the $6.3 billion package allocates money toward efforts such as cancer research and battling drug addiction. Most notably, the legislation invests $1 billion to fight the opioid epidemic.
DECORAH, Iowa  The Winneshiek County Sheriffs Office in Iowa announced late Thursday it has executed two search warrants in Fort Atkinson and Calmar, resulting in 10 arrests and four juvenile referrals. The 10 adults were all charged and transported to the Winneshiek County Jail.

The charges are a result of a lengthy investigation, which continues.

As a result of a search warrant executed at a rural residence near Fort Atkinson, Steven Anderson, 39, of Fort Atkinson, was charged with keeping a premises or vehicle for controlled substance, felony possession of marijuana, third or subsequent offense; and felony possession of methamphetamine, third or subsequent offense.

Also, Astyn Rouse, 26, of Fort Atkinson, was charged with a keeping premises or vehicle for controlled substance, possession of marijuana, second offense and felony possession of methamphetamine, third or subsequent offense.

The following people, all of Fort Atkinson, also were charged with keeping a premises of vehicle for controlled substance: Michael Koch, 33; Peggy Schneider, 58; Stephanie Six, 35; Steven Ashford, 62; William Anderson, 38, and David Alve-Frana, 33.

Also, Zackary Hoste, 23, of Ellsworth, Wis., was charged with no valid drivers license.

Following the execution of a search warrant at a rural residence near Calmar, Robert Coonradt, 46, of Calmar, was charged and jailed for possession of methamphetamine, third or subsequent offense.
La Crosse County home sales continued to lag 2015 levels in November as the statewide market continued a pattern of robust growth.

Closings on existing homes were up 19 percent compared to the same month in 2015, putting the state on pace for its strongest sales year in more than a decade, according to figures released Monday by the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

Sales in La Crosse County were down 2.3 percent compared with November 2015, and are down by the same margin for the first 11 months of the year.

New listings continue to trail 2015, shrinking the statewide supply to just 5.4 months. La Crosse County remains the second-tightest market in the state with only a 3.3-month supply.

Those tight inventories have contributed to rising prices.

The median price of La Crosse County homes sold this year is $167,000, 8 percent higher than the $154,600 last year. The statewide median price is $165,000, a 5.4 percent increase.

Its tight, said WRA economist Dave Clark. Thats obviously one of the things thats pushing these prices up.

Clark said its not clear why more people arent putting their homes on the market.

Foreclosures are back to pre-recession levels, and values have rebounded, which would suggest it is not an issue of homeowners being under water on their mortgages.

Prices are rising, he said. Those prices ought to get people looking at transitioning at least looking at putting their houses on the market.
From the smallest fleck of algae to your complex mind reading this column, nearly every life form on our planet depends on clean water. Aside from the air we breathe, water is the most important resource to sustain human life. Throughout history, inhabitants of the Coulee Region have been blessed with lakes, rivers and aquifers for drinking water, and it shows in our abundance in agriculture and wildlife. However, with the increasing demands of an oil-dependent society, we have to be careful. Even in La Crosse, our water is at risk.

Most recently, we have seen water in the Midwest threatened by the Dakota Access Pipeline. This pipeline aims to funnel oil from North Dakota to Illinois, crossing beneath the Missouri River and Standing Rock Sioux lands in North Dakota. The river is the Standing Rock Sioux tribes main source of drinking water. Originally, the pipeline was to pass through Bismarck, but it was rerouted due to residents concerns over water contamination.

Those same concerns about water contamination were ignored when voiced by tribal residents. Construction moved forward. In April 2016, members of the Standing Rock Sioux organized a prayer camp to resist the pipeline and protect their communitys water supply. This camp of water protectors rallied under a simple but profound assertion: Mni wiconi, which means Water is life. The movement has amassed thousands of allies, including hundreds of other indigenous nations from around the world.

It is easy to see why the issue of clean water has united so many. We have seen the tragedy of water contamination in Flint, Mich. We have seen the environmental devastation of oil well leaks in the Gulf of Mexico. And time and time again, we have seen the faultiness of oil pipelines throughout the nation, even in Wisconsin. In 2007, an Enbridge pipeline spill contaminated a water table in Rusk County. Enbridges own reporting admits to 804 spills from 1999 to 2010. Spills are not the exception with pipelines; they are the expectation. In 2015, there were 40 pipeline spills detected in the United States, leading to six deaths, dozens of injuries, millions of dollars in property damage, and incalculable ecological damage. This does not include the costs of short- and long-term health consequences of human exposure to crude oil, which is known to cause nerve damage, cancer and birth defects. Clearly, the risks of channeling oil through our lands and water supplies are real and long-lasting.

Thanks to the perseverance of the water protectors and solidarity actions around the country, as of Dec. 4, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has refused the permit to complete the Dakota Access Pipeline. However, we cannot assume this is the end of pipeline battles. During her keynote address at Viterbo Universitys Traditional Ecological Knowledge conference in October, Winona LaDuke, executive director of Honor the Earth, reminded us that the oil companies will be knocking on our door in Wisconsin soon enough. These pipelines cross the Midwest to move oil from northwest Canada down to refineries in Chicago, and Wisconsin is in this path.

We must remain vigilant to ensure that companies do not install unsafe pipelines through our lands and under our waterways. We already have a similar threat with trains running oil through La Crosse. However, when trains spill, there is a limited amount; with a pipeline, once it starts leaking, it just keeps coming until it is detected.

Ideally, we will do away with pipelines as we invest in clean energy systems that do not pose such risks to our environment, health and safety. The economic argument for our oil dependence no longer holds water as wind and solar energy become increasingly affordable. People have moved away from coal. They are divesting from oil and natural gas. Wind and solar power are booming, and fossil fuels will become obsolete. Nationwide initiatives like a carbon fee and dividend would help accelerate this process. Renewable energy is the only option for the future if we hope to sustain our society. Pipelines are a last ditch effort from oil tycoons who are stuck in the not-too-distant past when oil was king. But empires fall. We simply cannot let them drag us all down with them.

If water is life, then by resisting the Dakota Access Pipeline the water protectors at Standing Rock are asserting their communitys right to live. Will the La Crosse community be so brave when the time comes to defend our water and our lives?
Some machines can take something written in one language and give users the same or similar wording in another language.

These machines are designed to do this kind of work quickly and without mistakes. Some of the devices are so small they can be carried around the world.

The quality of translation software programs has greatly improved in recent years, thanks to new, fast-developing technologies.

This has led many people to start using machine translators. Some depend on the technology for day-to-day activities, while others use it in their job.

But how will this affect language learning across the world? Will fewer people decide to take traditional language classes? Will human language teachers no longer be needed?

One of the most widely used machine translation services is Google Translate. Google says the service completes billions of translation requests, involving 103 languages, each year.

Google Translate can translate whole websites, text messages and information inside programs on smartphones. It also can translate speech spoken into a device.

Sundar Pichai is Googles Chief Executive Officer. He told a recent launch event that the company has made important progress with machine translation in the past few years.

Pichai said Google had earlier used a system that translated on what he called a phrase-by-phrase level. This system created speech that could usually be understood, but did not sound natural.

Pichai said Google is now excited to be moving onto a new model -- one that provides better results.

Just recently we announced our first end-to-end self-learning deep learning machine translation systems. Rather than working at a phrase level, they take entire sentences and model sentences outputs.

The new system is known as neural machine translation. It uses large amounts of computer information to learn over time how to produce translations that sound more like real human language.

Pichai said Googles own research has shown progress in this area. He added that the companys neural machine translation system is even approaching human-level translation.

Google is developing the translation method along with other products using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Other companies and organizations are also studying neural machine translation. It is closely related to a machine learning method known as deep learning.

Deep learning involves putting large amounts of data into a computer for processing. The computer then uses an algorithm to learn how to recognize and organize different objects, including words and sentences.

Philipp Koehn teaches at Johns Hopkins University in the American state of Maryland. He has studied machine translation for many years. He says all methods work in a similar way. Over time, the software program learns to translate from billions of language examples.

Koehn agrees that the quality of machine translation has improved a lot. But he says machines still have a long way to go to catch up with humans.

I would be very cautious about any claims about near human-level quality. There are just too many problems. Ultimately, to solve the machine translation problem, you have to solve all the problems in AI and understanding, and we are not close to that by any means.

Koehn helped to create an open source machine translation system called Moses. Facebook, Amazon and other big companies now use this service. He is also working on neural machine translation methods.

Koehn says people can now expect fast translation of websites, texts and social media messages. But he does not think the wide availability and future improvements in software will lead people to stop studying languages.

He gives the example of Europe  where borders are open and people travel often, but speak different languages.

Things like automated translation  which makes it possible that everything gets translated into your native language  actually helps in preserving the diversity of languages.

Marty Abbott agrees. She is the executive director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Abbott says teachers can act as a bridge for students to learn about new cultures  something technology cannot provide.

And its that connection when you develop an insight into not just the culture where they speak the language that you're learning, but also insight into your own culture, and your own perspectives on the world.

Abbott says many young people want to try to learn one or more foreign languages to connect with people around the world. Some might start out using Google Translate, but then decide they want to expand their learning and knowledge in the classroom.

She added that technologies like machine translation are giving teachers many more tools to assist in teaching languages.

I think teachers are even using Google Translate with their students to have them analyze why they are accurate or inaccurate. So it really can be a useful tool for teachers in the classroom.

She added that some of these tools can be used by students to improve their own learning in larger classes. But she said nothing will be able to replace the help and guidance provided by human teachers.

Koehn says machines will just keep getting better at translating in many different languages. They will also be able to communicate and react to other requests.

But he added that getting the machines to think on their own in truly human-like ways is still a long way off.

To have a machine being as smart as a human and holding up a conversation - where you actually have a meaningful counterpart - thats still pretty science fiction at the moment.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn reported this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

What are your experiences with Google Translate and other machine translation services? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

approaching  v. moving in a path leading to a place or thing

artificial intelligence  n. the development of computers to perform intelligence-related tasks without human involvement

algorithm  n. a set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process

cautious  adj. taking steps to avoid risk or danger

preserve  v. to keep or save something

diversity  adj. reflecting different people and things

insight  n. a ability to understand something

perspective  n. the way a person thinks about something

counterpart  n. someone or something that has the same job or purpose as another
President-elect Donald Trump is pulling back from some of the immigration policies he proposed as a candidate.

Trump is still promising stronger enforcement of immigration laws. He also continues to call for a new wall along the United States southern border with Mexico.

But he no longer calls for the removal of 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. His campaign proposal to block all Muslim immigrants was modified before the November 8 presidential election. The new proposal calls for more careful vetting of people seeking to enter the United States.

Trump says he will cancel some of President Barack Obamas executive orders, but he is suggesting a willingness to compromise.

What About Dreamers?

During the campaign, Trump often talked about ending one immigration order by Obama. It permits about 700,000 immigrants brought illegally to the United States as children to remain in the United States and to apply for work permits. They are sometimes called, dreamers.

Trump softened his position in a recent discussion with Time magazine.

Were going to work something out thats going to make people happy and proud, Trump said. They got brought here at a very young age, theyve worked here, theyve gone to school here. Some were good students. Some have wonderful jobs.

Trump also said that he will not try, as he once said during his campaign, to remove all illegal immigrants. Instead, Trump said he will order the removal of undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.

But that will not be easy.

The Obama administration faced opposition from some countries that refused to accept the return of their citizens.

Still Promising to Build a Wall

Trump said he is keeping his campaign proposal to build a big wall along the United States southern border.

He spoke about the wall during a recent speech in Wisconsin.

Were going to build the wall, Trump said. We have to. We have got to stop the drugs from coming in and the wall is going to be a big, big factor.

During the campaign, he said Mexico would pay for the wall although Mexican officials have said they have no plans to do so.

Trump has said he also plans to move ahead with his proposal to cut federal funding for cities that refuse to hold undocumented immigrants.

He has pointed to serious crimes, including murder, committed by some undocumented immigrants who were released after serving sentences for earlier crimes.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sometimes requests to be told when a non-citizen is released from a state or local prison. This would permit the agency to take that person into custody and decide if the person should be deported.

But some local and state governments do not do this for several different reasons. One reason they give is that immigration enforcement is not their responsibility. Another reason given is that if they help to deport people it might lead to distrust between immigrant communities and local police agencies.

Cities that do not inform the federal government about the release of undocumented immigrants are sometimes known as sanctuary cities.

Some Mayors Say No

Rahm Emanuel is the mayor of the American city of Chicago. He is one of a number of mayors who say his city will continue its sanctuary city policy, even if results in loss of federal funds.

Since the presidential election, there has been a sense of uncertainty among many immigrant communities in Chicago and across the nation, Emanuel said. I want to assure all of our families that Chicago is and will remain a sanctuary city.

But Trump does not appear likely to soften his position on this issue. He nominated Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general, the federal governments top law enforcement position. Sessions proposed a bill as a senator to cut federal funding to cities that do not hold and turn over undocumented immigrants to federal immigration officers.

Roy Beck heads Numbers USA, a Virginia-based group that supports more limits on immigration. He said Trumps promise to limit immigration was a major reason he won the presidential election.

Beck expects Trump to focus on cutting temporary permits for foreign workers and other programs that might take away jobs from American citizens.

Bill de Blasio is mayor of New York City, Americas most populated city. He supported Hillary Clinton for president, but recently met with Trump. He urged Trump not to cancel President Obamas executive order that allows people who came to the United States as children to remain in the U.S. and get work permits.



One of the thing I thought was most important about my meeting with him (Trump) was to say -- This is your city, I know you love your city; and there are many, many thousands and thousands of people, hundreds of thousands of people who are fearful right now, the mayor said.

I'm Bruce Alpert.

And I'm Ashley Thompson.

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.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

undocumented - adj. not having the official documents that are needed to enter, live in, or work in a country legally

vetting - n. to investigate thoroughly to see if they should be approved -- in this case for entry to the U.S.

executive - adj. a decision made by the person in charge

funding - n. an amount of money that is used for a special purpose

custody n. the state of being kept in a prison or jail

sanctuary n. a place where someone or something is protected or given shelter

assure - v. to say something is certain
Agartala: Hefty amount deposited in the accounts of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in the Tripura banks has prompted the state lawmakers to demand probe.

According to United Bank of India officials, of the 830,742 PMJDY accounts in Tripura's 501 bank branches, 115,000 accounts were zero balance on November 8, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation.

"Rs 227 crore were deposited in the PMJDY accounts after November 8 raising the total amount deposited so far in these accounts to Rs 654 crore," an official of the UBI said on Monday on condition of anonymity.

The issue was heatedly debated in the ongoing winter session of the Tripura assembly and the lawmakers of the opposition parties demanded a probe.

Former opposition leader and sitting senior Congress legislator Ratan Lal Nath said : "It was extremely mysterious how such an amount was deposited in the PMJDY accounts in Tripura, as the scheme is meant for poor, women and economically weaker section of society."

"Central government or Reserve Bank of India must inquire how such a large amount was deposited in the PMJDY accounts.

"For tax evasion some people might have deposited their unaccounted money in these PMJDY accounts with the help of a section of bank officials," he added.

"As tribals in the northeastern states are exempted from paying income tax, government must inquire whether black money being adjusted as white money by taking scope of this rule of the scheme illegally," the Congress leader added.

People of rural, remote and unbanked areas were to get the priority in the PMJDY which was launched on August 28, 2014 with a deposit limit of Rs 50,000.

Bank official said that the PMJDY was a national mission to include all households in the country in the financial inclusion to ensure access to financial services that include banking, deposit accounts, remittance, credit, insurance, pension in an affordable manner.

"As the bank account under the PMJDY would be treated as Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account, no minimum balance would be required during the opening of the account," he said.
New Delhi: Reserve Bank Governor Urjit Patel will on 22 December brief the Parliamentary Committee on Finance about the demonetisation process and its impact.

"Briefing by the Governor, RBI, on the subject 'Demonetisation of Indian currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 and the impact thereof,'" said a schedule posted on the Parliament website.

The briefing will start at 11 AM at the Parliament annexe building on Thursday.

Since banning of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes on 8 November, government has taken a host of measures like service tax sops and incentives for making digital payments to ease out problems arising out of less currency being available in the market.

The move has led to wiping out of almost 86 percent of the currency which was present in cash before 8 November, in the form of Rs 500/1000 notes.

The RBI and government have been assuring the common people regularly that there is enough cash that has been pumped back into the system.

The Reserve Bank of India last week said that Rs 12.44 lakh crore in demonetised notes have been collected at banks.

Also, banks have issued Rs 4.61 lakh crore to the public since 8-9 November through ATMs and bank counters, it said.

"The RBI has issued 21.8 billion pieces of banknotes of various denominations since demonetisation," deputy governor R Gandhi said.
New Delhi: In a bid to promote less cash economy, the government today said small traders and businesses with a turnover of up to Rs 2 crore will pay less tax if they accept payments through banking and digital means.

Under the existing Section 44AD of the Income-Tax Act, 1961, in case of certain assesses (an individual, HUF or a partnership firm other than LLP) carrying on any business having a turnover of Rs 2 crore or less, the profit is deemed to be 8 percent of the total turnover for taxation.

"...it has been decided to reduce the existing rate of deemed profit of 8 per cent under section 44AD of the Act to 6 percent in respect of the amount of total turnover or gross receipts received through banking channel/digital means for the financial year 2016-17," the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a communication.

The decision has been taken to achieve the government's mission of moving towards a less cash economy and to incentivise small traders/businesses to proactively accept

payments by digital means, it said.

"However, the existing rate of deemed profit of 8 percent referred to in section 44AD of the Act, shall continue to apply in respect of total turnover or gross receipts received in cash," the tax department added.

Legislative amendment in this regard would be carried out through the Finance Bill, 2017, the CBDT added.

Following decision to demonetise old Rs 500/1000 notes, the government has taken several measures to encourage digital payments to promote less cash economy.
Exxon Mobil chief executive Rex Tillerson flew into balmy Goa a little over a decade ago, his giant aircraft carrying loads of Evian mineral water his office had advised him to drink during his maiden India visit. But Tillerson  now US president-elect Donald Trumps choice for the post of secretary of state  didnt display the sort of stiff attitude expected from a person of his stature but politely asked a butler at the Taj Exotica hotel to remove stacks of Evian bottles from his table and walked across the dinning hall to pick up a Himalaya bottled water for the perfect Indian feeling.

Saudi Aramco chairman, Abdullah Jumah, sitting close, smiled, describing to a friend Tillersons choice of water as a noble gesture because Exxon Mobil chairmen rarely break company advice and protocol. Within seconds, he had earned the warmth of the staff of the hotel, with many appreciating his refrain of Thank You for the smallest of deliverances.

His keynote address at the World Oil and Gas Assembly (WOGA)  considered by many as one of the finest oil and gas conferences in Asia organised by a Norwegian media outfit  offered the best worldview for Indias beleaguered hydrocarbon sector that left many completely baffled in the ballroom, heads of Indian oil and gas companies describing Tillersons speech a virtual eye-opener. He told Indian companies to boldly explore oil and gas across the world rather looking inwards, says Narendra Taneja, a top energy expert and WOGA convenor.

Once the speech was over, those in the room were in awe of Tillerson, one of the organisers timed the standing ovation a little over three minutes. A speaker, who had had read in US journals that Tillersons expansive desk in the Exxon Mobil headquarters at Irving, Texas is called Gods Own Pod because of jobs importance, asked Tillerson if he lived in a palace like all rich Americans.

Tillerson, laughed, and said he lived with his family in a ranch outside Dallas in rural settings. I stay in a log house, not palace, close to nature. Thats my style, Tillerson replied.

By then, he had already told his staff how he was liking Goa and its beaches, the brick and mortar of the Taj hotel did not interest the worlds most powerful executive. But he made queries about the Taj Mahal in Agra and some destinations in Rajasthan, including the tiger jungles of Ranthambhore, and top tourist destinations like Jodhpur and Jaipur.

"He found India a fascinating country and smilingly told the assembled Indians to join forces if this great nation has to make a global impact," said a former Indian Oil director who also interacted with him one on one.

Tillerson, described by his friends and foes as Mr Perfectionist, was once disrupted when his assistant played out a slide even before the Exxon Mobil chairman had finished making his point. A cursory glance at the technician (a member of Tillersons team) was enough to freeze him in his seat, laughs Taneja.

And before the start of the conference, Tillersons staff  three advance teams had done background checks of the coastal state, its facilities and security arrangements  had told their boss that his maiden visit to India could be cut short because his aircraft had given jitters to the Indian Navy which had no space for the huge plane. Interestingly, the only available space taken up by Indias liquor baron Vijay Mallaya who refused to shift his plane. Eventually, the aircraft was sent to a parking bay at the Mumbai airport. It was a clear cut deviation because as per company rules, the Exxon Mobil boss cannot stay in a city in which his aircraft is not parked.

Before landing in Goa, Tillerson had a two hour stopover in the Indian Capital where he met the then petroleum minister Ram Naik  conversation details not revealed by the ministers office, nor by the Exxon-Mobile communications team.

Tillerson, whose close ties with Moscow as Exxon's main man in Russia, was also instrumental in pushing the state-owned ONGC-Videsh to strike a deal with Russian national oil company, Rosneft, to acquire a 20 percent participating interest in the Sakhalin-1 offshore project in north Pacifics freezing waters. The deal, when signed was estimated at $1.7 billion, ONGC-Videshs largest ever overseas investment in 2001. Sakhalin-I has proven reserves of approximately 2.3 million barrels, its current output 250,000 barrels per day.

But the deal was not easy to sign. Many raised concerns about the projects commercial viability and the Congress, then in opposition, called it dubious and economically disastrous. But the NDA government went ahead, defending the deal in Parliament in August 2001.

The criticisms fell silent when in 2006, New Delhis first share of Sakhalin-I crude docked at the Mangalore port in a Russian tanker berthed at New Mangalore port with VLCC (very large crude carrier). In a quick change of stance, the Congress hailed the project  virtually as its own  and pushed images of the then oil and gas minister Murli Deora receiving a bottled sample from the Russian ambassador in the Indian Capital.

Tillerson, true to his reputation, had the farsightedness needed by the Indian companies scouting for overseas acquisition.
NEW DELHI Five men were sentenced to death by a court on Monday for their role in two deadly bombings in 2013 in the city of Hyderabad, including the co-founder of an outlawed Islamist group accused of involvement in a series of attacks.The convictions last week of Yasin Bhatkal, founder of Indian Mujahideen, and the others marked the first time members of the group had been found guilty, the National Investigation Agency, India's chief counterterrorism organisation, said after the sentences were handed down.Two bombs ripped through a busy market in Hyderabad, a major information technology centre in southern India, in February 2013, killing at least 17 people.

The man police accuse of masterminding the blasts remains on the run.The trial took place in a special court run by the NIA and the five convicted are expected to appeal against the judgment.

India sentences dozens of people to death each year but had been reluctant to carry out executions. An undeclared moratorium on capital punishment ended in 2012 when India executed a militant convicted for an attack in 2008 in Mumbai.

(Reporting by Tommy Wilkes; Editing by Alison Williams)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Anuradha Nagaraj

CHENNAI, India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Senthil Kumar's mother saw him being dragged off by policemen on charges of extortion. Standing outside the Vadamadurai police station in Tamil Nadu, she heard him scream for mercy. The next day she was told her son was dead."He didn't die, he was killed," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, recalling the events of April 2010."And I know the name of every policeman who did it."Kumar is one of the 591 people who have died in police custody in India since 2010, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday, calling for the strict implementation of existing laws on arrest and detention.Citing government data, the report said 97 people died in police custody in 2015 alone, and there was not a single known case in the past five years in which a police official had been convicted for a custodial death."In almost all cases, the police passes off these deaths as suicide or a heart attack," said Jayshree Bajoria, author of HRW's report."And the brotherhood kicks in to shield the guilty, who are their own colleagues. The entire system collaborates to protect the guilty policemen instead of taking action against them."

K S Dhatwalia, spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, the government department responsible for police, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Monday the ministry would "look into the report and take necessary action". The report examines investigations into 17 deaths in custody between 2009 and 2015. In each case, the police did not follow proper arrest procedures, making the suspect more vulnerable to abuse, Bajoria said.Leonard Valdaris trusted the policemen who wanted to talk to his son about a theft in the neighbourhood in April 2014.But when he walked into the Wadala railway police station in Mumbai the next day, the report said, his son was "crying bitterly" and told him the police had beaten him all night and would kill him.

Three days later, Agnelo Valdaris, 25, died, HRW said."When I saw my son in the hospital, there everything changed," Valdaris was quoted as saying in the report. "There I saw the reality. He had been beaten black and blue with a belt."Forms of torture recorded in the report include severe beatings with boots and belts and sometimes suspending people from their wrists. Autopsy reports examined by HRW show injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.

India has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and signed the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.According to the Indian Code of Criminal Procedure policemen are expected to prepare a memo of arrest with the date and time of arrest, ensure a medical examination is carried out on the accused, inform the family of the arrest and present the suspect before a magistrate within 24 hours.According to government records, in 67 of the 97 deaths in custody in 2015, police failed to present the suspect before a magistrate or the suspect died within 24 hours of arrest."If police follow the rules designed to deter torture and mistreatment, deaths in custody could be prevented," said Meenakshi Ganguly of Human Rights Watch."India can only boast of rule of law when those charged with enforcing it are held accountable." (Reporting by Anuradha Nagaraj, Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking and climate change. Visit www.trust.org)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Directing the Tamil Nadu government to curb unauthorised 'Sharia' courts, the Madras High Court on Monday, declared all sharia courts working out of mosques as illegal, reported ANI.

The High Court made it clear that religious places are meant to be used only for religious purposes.

The High Court bench comprising of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar also ordered the Tamil Nadu government to file a status report within four weeks, The Times of India reported.

The court passed the order after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Abdur Rahman, senior advocate A Sirajudeen told IANS.

The petitioner, an England-based NRI had first sought the intervention of a Shariat Council functioning from the Makkah Masjid in Chennai to reunite him with his wife. However, the Council forced him to divorce his wife following which he decided to approach the High Court.

The litigant's senior counsel, however, said that the PIL was filed to in larger public interest to safeguard the interests of large number of Muslims who suffered due to the Islamic courts, according to The Times of India.

The Makkah Masjid is located on Anna Salai, Chennai's main arterial street.

Madras High Court bans Unauthorised 'Sharia' courts functioning in mosque premises in Tamil Nadu.  ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2016

The Madras High court has directed Tamil Nadu Govt not to allow such unauthorised courts and file a report within four weeks.  ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2016

With inputs from IANS
Berlin: The Bay of Bengal hosts a 'dead zone' of an estimated 60,000 square kilometres  an area that contains little or no oxygen and supports microbial processes that remove vast amounts of nitrogen from the ocean, scientists including those from India have found.

Dead zones are well known off the western coasts of North and South America, off the coast of Namibia and off the west coast of India in the Arabian Sea.

"The Bay of Bengal has long stood as an enigma because standard techniques suggest no oxygen in the waters, but, despite this, there has been no indication of nitrogen loss as in other 'dead zones' of the global ocean," said Laura Bristow, a former postdoc at University of Southern Denmark.

Researchers, including those from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Goa, demonstrated that some oxygen does exist in the Bay of Bengal waters, but at concentrations much less than standard techniques could detect and some 10,000 times less than that found in the air-saturated surface waters.

The researchers also discovered that the Bay of Bengal hosts microbial communities that can remove nitrogen, as in other well-known dead zones and even some evidence that they do remove nitrogen, but at really slow rates.

"We have this crazy situation in the Bay of Bengal where the microbes are poised and ready to remove lots more nitrogen than they do, but the trace amounts of oxygen keep them from doing so," said Bristow, now a scientist at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) in Germany.

"Remove the last amounts of oxygen, and the Bay of Bengal could become a major global player in nitrogen removal from the oceans," said Wajih Naqvi, former director of NIO and a co-author of the study published in the journal Nature Geosciences.

Removing more nitrogen from the oceans could affect the marine nitrogen balance and rates of marine productivity.

Globally, warming of the atmosphere through climate change is predicted to lead to an expansion of 'dead zones' in the ocean.

It is currently unclear whether climate change would lead to the removal of these last traces of oxygen from the Bay of Bengal waters.

However, the Bay of Bengal is also surrounded by a heavy population density, and expected increases in fertiliser input to the Bay may increase its productivity, contributing to oxygen depletion at depth.

"Time will tell, but the Bay of Bengal is at a 'tipping point', and we currently need models to illuminate how human activities will impact the nitrogen cycle in the Bay of Bengal, and also globally," said Bristow.
An NIA special court on Monday sentenced to death five Indian Mujahideen operatives, including Mohammed Ahmed Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal, involved in the 2013 twin blasts in Hyderabad's Dilsukhnagar area, which had claimed 18 lives, and injured 131 others.

However, Yasin Bhatkal's brother, Riyaz Bhatkal, still remains at large and the NIA has issued a red corner notice for his arrest. Riyaz is allegedly the kingpin of the group and the prime conspirator in the case, according to NDTV.

The prosecution lawyer told NDTV that the NIA produced strong circumstantial evidence against the convicts in the court and the accounts of 157 witnesses, which helped in nailing down the charges against the Indian Mujahideen cadres in the terror case. He also said that the judges observed that the case fell into the rarest of the rare categories for awarding a death sentence.

Even as the convicts are likely to appeal in a higher court for relief, the NIA court's ruling is being seen as a landmark judgement as this is for the first time that top cadres of the banned Indian Mujahideen terror group have been convicted in a terror case.

"It was a wonderful investigation carried out by the team in which every evidence was examined minutely. This is the first ever conviction of Indian Mujahideen cadres," an elated Director General of NIA Sharad Kumar had said at the time of the conviction ruling.

The NIA special court had convicted Bhatkal and others under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on 13 December.

Besides Bhatkal, the others convicted were Asadullah Akthar of Uttar Pradesh, Zia-ur-Rahman alias Waqas of Pakistan, Tahseen Akhthar of Bihar and Aizaz Shaik of Maharashtra, all of whom have been sentenced to death.

The final arguments in the case concerning the attack, carried out on 21 February, 2013 had concluded last month. Trial in the case had begun on August 24 last year.

In its chargesheet, the NIA had claimed that Indian Mujahideen had hatched a conspiracy to wage a war against India and decided to carry out the bomb blasts in Hyderabad to create terror in the minds of people and further the activities of the outfit.

The main operative of the module, Riyaz Bhatkal, who is named as the first accused in the case, had allegedly directed his associates Asadullah Akhtar and Waqas to find a place in Mangalore to be used as a hide-out for explosive materials sent by him, it had alleged.

With inputs from agencies
New Delhi: Wrapping up investigations in the Pathankot airbase attack case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a chargesheet against Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother and two others for hatching the conspiracy of the January two audacious terror strike that left seven personnel dead and 37 others injured.

The chargesheet was filed in the NIA court at Panchkula in which all the four have been slapped with charges under Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Besides Azhar, his brother Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar and two handlers  Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan  have been named in the exhaustive charge sheet. While Interpol Red Corner Notice against three has been issued, the same was pending against Jan, the NIA said.

The chargesheet will also put to rest speculation about the number of terrorists involved in the attack as the agency gave details of only four militants. There was confusion about the number of terrorists as Defence Minister Manohar Parikar and Home Minister Rajnath Singh had informed that the number was six.

The charge sheet also hinted of lax security at the strategic IAF base in Pathankot and said that the four terrorists -- Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom  who were Pakistani nationals belonging to Jaish, had entered the premises at 0840 hours of January one and entrenched themselves in a drain and adjacent shed belonging to Military Engineering Services.

The terrorists were engaged in a gunfight only at 0320 hours of January two, 19 hours after they had entered the IAF base.

The charge sheet is likely to be used by India in advocating its case for imposing sanctions against Azhar, released in 1999 in exchange of IC-814 hijacked Indian Airlines Plane, under the United Nations anti-terror law, officials said.

The terror case saw an unusual move from India and Pakistan as Islamabad had sent its probe team to Pathankot. They were handed over all the documents and allowed to question everyone except security personnel involved in foiling the attempts of the terrorists.

However, the Pakistani team, upon their return, claimed that India neither shared much of evidence nor allowed it to interrogate the security personnel involved in dealing with the attack.

Giving details about the infiltration and activities of the four terrorists, the NIA said in its charge sheet that all the four terrorists underwent extensive motivational, physical, military and tactical training and were radicalized to carry out terror strikes in India.

The four terrorists armed with ammunition and other logistical items illegally crossed the Indo-Pak international border through the forest area near the Simbal Border Outpost on 30 December. Empty food packets manufactured in Pakistan and other food articles from the neighbouring country were recovered from the forest area near the Simbal Border Outpost, during investigation.

After infiltrating into the Indian side, these terrorists reached the road from Bhagwal village to Janial. On 31 December, at around 2130 hours, they hijacked a taxi bearing registration number PB06-G-0061, along with the driver, Ikagar Singh, who was going from village Bhagwal to Janial.

The terrorists snatched the mobile phone of Ikagar Singh and used the same to communicate with their handler, Kashif Jan and senior leaders and operatives of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pakistan, on three Pakistan mobile numbers 923453030479, 923213132786 and 923017775253. Their vehicle met with an accident at the Dhusi turn near the Ravi River Bridge after which the terrorists brutally killed Ikagar Singh and dumped his dead body in the nearby bushes.

Thereafter, the terrorists drove the damaged vehicle and abandoned it at a service station at Kolian Morh in Pathankot. During investigation, the DNA profiles recovered from the dagger, seized from the possession of one of the dead terrorists (Nisar), matched with that of Ikagar Singh, thereby conclusively establishing that he had killed Ikagar Singh.

Similarly, DNA profile of two terrorists was found on an energy drink can, recovered from the vehicle of Ikagar Singh. After abandoning the damaged vehicle of Ikagar Singh at Kolian Morh, the terrorists hid in the nearby sugarcane fields and waited for a vehicle to come.

They hijacked a Mahindra XUV bearing registration number PB02-BW-0313 of Salvinder Singh, Superintendent of Punjab Police, and moved towards the Air Force Station, Pathankot after taking control of the vehicle. They snatched the mobile phones of the victims and used them to communicate with their handler, Kashif Jan and senior leaders and operatives of the JeM in Pakistan on the four Pakistan numbers  923453030479, 923466746667, 923000957212 and 923024880619.

After some time, the terrorists tied, blindfolded and dumped Salvinder Singh and his cook Madan Gopal at an abandoned place in a forest area near village Gulpur Simli on way to the Air Force Station, Pathankot. However, they took the third occupant, Rajesh Verma, a jeweller, along with them.

Singh and his cook managed to untie themselves and rushed to the nearby Gulpur Simli village on foot for help, the charge sheet said, adding the terrorists, on learning later from Verma that Singh was a police officer, informed their handler who directed them to go back and look for him.

Since the duo had already left the spot, the terrorists resumed their journey to the Air Force Station. At around 0400 hrs on January one, the terrorists reached village Akalgarh near the Air Force Station in Pathankot and tied Rajesh Verma.

They slit his throat with an intention to kill him and abandoned him and the vehicle in the sugarcane fields at around 0400 hrs. Thereafter, they moved towards the IAF Station on foot.

Meanwhile, Rajesh Verma managed to untie himself and rushed to the Akalgarh village for help, the NIA said, adding as per the forensic report collected during investigation, the DNA profile of the genetic material lifted from the energy drink can, recovered from the Mahindra XUV vehicle, matched with that of a deceased terrorist.

The DNA profile of the genetic material lifted from the dagger recovered from the possession of another terrorist matched with that of the victims Verma and Ikagar Singh. Similarly, the profile of the trace DNA lifted from the handle of the dagger, matched with that of another terrorist. The seat belt of the Mahindra XUV was cut and used to tie one of the victims.

As per the forensic report, the seat belt pieces recovered from the forest area, where the terrorists had dumped Singh and his cook, matched with the remaining seat belt pieces of the Mahindra XUV vehicle.

One walkie-talkie set belonging to the terrorists and one slip written in English were recovered from the Mahindra vehicle. The terrorists had left the slip in which it was written, "Jaish E Muhamad Zindabad Tanghdar se le kar Samba Kathua Rajbagh Aur Delhi tak Afzal Guru Shadeed Kay Jan nisar Tum ko meltay rahege. Insha Allah. A.G.S. 25-12-15".

The iPhone of Rajesh Verma, which was snatched by the terrorists, was recovered from the 'nallah' near the perimeter wall inside the IAF station where the terrorists had hidden before carrying out the attack.

Investigation showed that after abandoning the Mahindra XUV vehicle, the terrorists moved to the western side of the IAF station on foot and forced their entry after cutting the wire fencing over the western side of the perimeter wall before getting inside the airbase in the wee hours of January one.

As per the forensic analysis report, the marks of the cutting tool recovered from the terrorists, matched with the marks on the cut portion of the fencing wire. Also the climbing rope used by them and recovered from the perimeter wall matched with the rope recovered from the Mahindra XUV vehicle.

A glove and a woollen cap, similar to those recovered from the terrorists, were recovered entangled with the wire fencing over the perimeter wall. Further there were marks of climbing over the eucalyptus tree, just outside the perimeter wall panel and also on the other side of the perimeter wall.

After getting inside the IAF Station, the terrorists hid themselves inside the 'nallah' and the dilapidated MES Store sheds till the time they launched the assault.

As per the forensic report, the shoe imprints lifted from the 'nallah' matched with the shoes of a terrorist.

One of the four terrorists identified as Nasir made attempts to call a Pakistan telephone number 923466746667, belonging to one Khayam Bhatti who runs a merchandise shop in Sailkot, using the snatched Indian mobile number but could not converse.

He again made a call to a different Pakistani number 923000957212 and during this conversation, he disclosed the names of his other three associates as Major, Abu Bakar and Umar.

During the day, as they were hiding, he again called and expressed his desire to the person on the other side to talk to a woman whom he addressed as his mother and the call lasted for 18 minutes.

Nasir told the woman that they had infiltrated into the Indian territory at 'do baje (0200 hours)' on Wednesday (which was 30 December) and also told her that he had killed two persons referring to Ikagar Singh and the injured victim Rajesh Verma, whose throat was slit by the terrorist but he happened to survive.

He also spoke to his brother and cousin, who is referred to by the name Babar, and to another person whom he called Munna.

While speaking to the woman addressed as his mother, Nasir asked her to record his conversation on the mobile set. During his conversation with her, Nasir mentioned about one "Ustad" who was supposed to come to her with his "Wasihat" (will) after his death.

He also disclosed that they were hiding inside the IAF station (referred to as Camp in conversation) and waiting to carry out the terror attack.

The terrorists launched the attack early in the morning on 2 January and the gunfight between the Garud commandos and the terrorists started in the MES yard at about 0320 hrs.

The terrorists fired and lobbed grenades indiscriminately towards the Garud Commandos, while moving out of the yard, the NIA said, adding during the gunfight one Garud Commando was killed and two others were injured.

The terrorists also specifically targeted fuel tanks of the vehicles parked in the section setting them on fire, causing severe damage to the vehicles and the buildings, so as to cause panic.

The four terrorists then moved southwards firing indiscriminately and lobbing grenades in which an IAF personnel

lost his life.

Thereafter they crossed the billets near the Peer Baba Mazar and kept on firing indiscriminately injuring one personnel, on the first floor verandah of the billet.

They then entered the mess area where they killed Hon Capt Fateh Singh and later two more IAF personnel, the NIA said, adding one of the terrorists was killed in the retaliatory fire by then.

The remaining terrorists hid in the thick dry vegetation near the DSC lawns and the NSG and Army units then cordoned off this area and, subsequently, neutralized these three terrorists on January two.

During the operation, seven persons were martyred and 37 persons were injured inside the IAF Station.

NIA investigators collected sufficient evidence in terms of statements of the witnesses to establish that the terrorists had been trained, motivated and radicalised by Maulana Masood Azhar and Mufti Abdul Rauf.

It has also been established through legal intercepts and statements of witnesses, that Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif had guided, equipped and launched the four terrorists, who carried out the terrorist attack at the IAF Station.

The recoveries from the scene of crime, material and documentary evidence, forensic reports and extensive call data analysis, conclusively establish the complicity of the terrorists of JeM, in the attack at the Airbase, the agency said.
While Kashmir is yet to come out of the trauma and despondency after months of violent protests, strict curfews and shutdowns that took an immense economic and human toll, the two major political parties from the Valley  the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party  are back to what they know best: Playing politics.

With the elections to the two key Lok Sabha seats of Srinagar and Anantnag set to be held early next year, the political leadership of the National Conference and PDP is leaving no stone unturned to appeal to the emotions of people who have been traumatised by the ongoing agitation in the Valley. It all began with the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah's criticism of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and the PDP-BJP coalition government headed by Mehbooba Mufti for failing to handle the unrest in the Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

The National Conference's working president, who himself faced a similar situation in 2010 during which at least 125 persons, mostly youths, were killed in retaliatory action against protesters, didn't stop there. He even said that it would be a "grave mistake" to blame Pakistan for flaring up the situation.

"Simply blaming Pakistan for the present situation, then, it would mean that we don't have to do anything to prevent the unrest, which I think would be a grave mistake. We need to have talked internally, we need to solve this political crisis and until we are conscious of this reality, I don't think we can take any concrete action," Omar told reporters in Srinagar.

Going a step ahead, on the 111th birth anniversary of his father, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Dr Farooq Abdullah asked the Hurriyat to unite under a single banner and extended his party to the separatists "at this hour". Addressing party workers at the mausoleum of Sheikh in Srinagar, Farooq said, I ask these Hurriyat leaders to unite. We are standing by your side at this hour. Dont think of us as your adversaries. We are not your adversaries.

As if not to be left behind, Mehbooba admitted that security forces had used excessive force in the past five months of civilian uprising in Kashmir, and urged the Jammu and Kashmir Police to change its line of action so that wounds inflicted on people are healed. She also directed security forces to differentiate between militants and their families and not to see everybody as a suspect.

Over the past five months, a lot of damage with regard to life and property took place here. Civilians, policemen and other security forces personnel sustained injuries. I will not shy away from speaking the truth. We were left with no option other than to take tough measures to protect life and property, the chief minister said, while addressing the passing-out parade of a batch of new police recruits at Commandos Training Centre (CTC) Lethpora in South Kashmirs Pulwama district.

So, why are all the political parties shifting their moral goalposts on the prevailing crisis in the Valley which has left at least 96 civilians and two security personnel dead, over 16,000 injured while more than 10,000 have been arrested during the past five months?

While many experts have argued that the political posturing, especially by the National Conference, shows that there are no dividing lines between mainstream and separatist politics in Kashmir, that would be denigrating their contributions to the process of establishing democracy in Jammu and Kashmir that has been hit by turmoil over the last three decades.

The upcoming parliamentary elections to Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha constituencies, which fell vacant after the resignation of PDP MP Tariq Hamid Karra and election of Mehbooba to the post of chief minister respectively, has forced the regional parties to take a populist view on the prevailing crisis so as to brighten their electoral prospects.

Farooq is at the fag-end of his political career and it is obvious he is trying to stage a comeback by giving it a last shot before retiring, whatever it costs. Mehbooba, on the other hand, is facing severe criticism for 'mishandling' the prevailing crisis in the Valley. Her party has lost the ground it gained during the 2014 state Assembly elections.

In such a situation, both parties would like to appeal to the passions of the people in order to restore their electoral credibility. Calling them 'separatist backers' or 'Hurriyat sympathisers' would be distorting what lies at the heart of the issue. These days, separatism sells like hot cakes and the political compulsions brought about by the prevailing crisis has forced the two parties to toe the populist sentiment.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.
Kottayam: Five of the seven students accused in the ragging case in government polytechnic, in which a first year student suffered kidney damage, have surrendered before police, police said on Monday. The five senior students surrendered before the Deputy Superintendent of Police at Changanassery near here last night.

According to police, there are a total of seven accused in the case and two are still absconding.

On the night of 2 December, eight first-year students of the polytechnic at Nattakom here were allegedly subjected to brutal ragging by a gang of senior students at the men's hostel of the college.

Two students  one hailing from Irinjalakkuda in Thrissur district, and another from Cheranallur in Ernakulam district  were seriously injured in the incident. They have been admitted to hospitals in Thrissur and Ernakulam respectively.

The student from Irinjalakkuda has been hospitalised with kidney damage, police said.

He was put on dialysis after doctors diagnosed him with kidney damage. The victim underwent dialysis three times after his admission in the hospital 11 days ago.

The accused allegedly forced the victim to consume liquor mixed with some harmful powder following six hours of brutal ragging which included hard physical exercises like push-ups.

The accused were absconding after police booked them for allegedly ragging their juniors in the hostel.

They have also been suspended from the institution.

Two cases have been registered against the accused based on two separate complaints by the two students, police said.

Meanwhile, the state human rights commission has sought a report from the education department on the alleged ragging incident.
Predictably, the governments decision of appointing Lt General Bipin Rawat as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) by superseding the senior-most eligible officers, the Eastern Army Commander Lt General Praveen Bakshi, and Southern Army Commander Lt General PM Hariz, has now become a political issue, with the Opposition Congress, Janata Dal (U) and the two Communist parties (CPM and CPI) questioning the decision.

In fact, as I had written in this platform last week, it is this unfortunate politicisation of the military appointments that prevents the new and better norms from being encouraged for the much required military reforms in the country.

The issue of seniority in top appointments always raises the question: Which should prevail  the quantum of experience or the quality of experience? And, if one goes by the examples of leading military powers of the world, there has been a systematic endeavour to go by the quality, not the quantum, of experience. It is in this context that it is interesting to know the Narendra Modi governments explanation behind its choice of General Rawat as the next army chief.

Apparently, the government sources have told The Times of India, that General Rawat is the candidate best suited to deal with emerging challenges, and that his operational experience and general dynamism tipped the scales in his favour. It is said that General Rawat has more than 10 years of experience in counter-insurgency operations and on the Line of Control, besides serving on the China border. He has the requisite experience considering the current situation.

Incidentally, it is not the first time in India that a senior-most officer has been denied the topmost position in his or her service, whether it is a civilian, judicial or a military job. Indira Gandhi was the prime minister when Justice AN Ray superseded three senior judges of the Supreme Court to become the Chief Justice in 1973. Again it was Indira Gandhi whose government in 1983 appointed General AS Vaidya as the Army Chief in 1983 superseding General SK Sinha.

In 2004, the Manmohan Singh government appointed Shyam Saran as the foreign secretary by superseding four senior officials in the Indian Foreign Service. But what it did in 2006 was even more eye-raising. It appointed Shivshankar Menon as foreign secretary, although 16 serving officers were senior to him; this was a decision that triggered a virtual rebellion in the Ministry of External Affairs, with many of the superseded diplomats deciding to quit the service. In 2014, the same Manmohan Singh government appointed Admiral Robin Kumar Dhowan as the Navy Chief, bypassing Vice-Admiral Shekhar Sinha, the flag officer commander-in-chief of the Western Naval Command and the senior most Naval officer at that time.

Of course, it is always debatable whether the above choices were based on the factor of merits or otherwise. But the point is that it is not a sacrosanct norm to go by the factor of seniority in the top-level military appointments. In neither the United Kingdom nor the United States, the countries that India will like to be compared with, the chiefs of the armed services are necessarily the senior-most officers; indeed in many a case their appointments have been least anticipated.

The appointment of Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach as the Head of the UK armed forces early this year was announced at a time when the military circles were expecting either Army General Sir Richard Barrons, or First Sea Lord Admiral George Zambellas for the coveted position. One remembers in this context the famous remark of the then Prime Minister David Cameron, "You do the fighting and I'll do the talking." Similarly, in the United States in 2011, President Barack Obama nominated a relatively junior General Martin Dempsey as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. But neither in Britain nor in the US, had these appointments become a political issue.

In fact, there is now an emerging school of thought in the military sphere that while efforts must be made to identify tactical commanders at battalion and brigade level, for higher posts officers with strategic leadership potentials should be rewarded. Strategic leadership includes attributes of being a combat genius (fighting beyond the plan, innovating as one fights, staying well ahead of the enemy in imaginative application of combat power); political genius ( wielding and melding the elements of military power with allies and politicians, mastering civil-military discourse); institutional genius ( managing a very large institution and making it relevant to the needs of the nation); and anticipatory genius (having the ability to think in time and imagine conceptually where the nature and character of war is headed).

Here, the experience suggests that those officers who had shown great tactical skill did not equal great strategic skill. Tactically talented officers can do a great job in making the convoys run on time, but they may not anticipate a battlefield that has yet to appear. On the other hand, those gifted with strategic foresights have often been found wanting in tactical maneuvers; they have been better at conceptualising warfare rather than practicing it.

As retired US Major General Robert H Scales says, Tactically talented officers can move hundreds. Strategically talented officers can maneuver hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Tactically talented officers know how to fight enemies they know. Strategically talented officers are prepared to fight enemies yet unforeseen. The tactically talented read the manuals and put existing doctrine into practice. Strategically talented officers continually question doctrine and eventually seek to change it. Tacticians see what is; strategists conjure what might be.

Viewed thus, let us hope that General Rawat has been rewarded by the Modi government for his strategic leadership (or its assessment that the new chief will provide such a leadership) attributes, not necessarily for his tactical achievements in Kashmir, the China-borders and dealing with counterinsurgencies.
New Delhi: Indiscipline on part of security force personnel must be "viewed seriously" and deserting work by disobeying orders of superior officers is an act of "gross misconduct", the Supreme Court has ruled. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur also said that past conduct of a delinquent employee can be taken into consideration while imposing a penalty on him.

The court's remarks came as it dealt with a plea filed by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) against the Delhi High Court's August 2014 judgement directing reinstatement of a constable, Abrar Ali, who was dismissed from service due to his alleged acts of indiscipline and misconduct.

In its verdict, the apex court held that though Ali was found guilty of deserting the force for a period of five days and not improving his conduct in spite of penalties imposed on him on three earlier occasions, the penalty of dismissal from service is "excessive and harsh" and "in our view, the penalty of compulsory retirement would meet the ends of justice".

The bench, which also comprised Justices D Y Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao, said "indiscipline on the part of a member of an armed force has to be viewed seriously. It is clear that the respondent (Ali) had intentionally disobeyed the orders of his superiors and deserted the force for a period of 5 days. Such desertion is an act of gross misconduct and the respondent deserves to be punished suitably."

The bench directed that Ali shall be entitled for notional continuity of service till the date of completion of minimum service required to make him eligible for pension but he will not be entitled for payment of salary and allowances for that period.

Ali was appointed as a constable in CISF in September 1990 and in October 1999, an inquiry was proposed against him under the CISF Rules for allegations of misconduct and misbehavior. According to the charges, he was posted at CISF unit in Dhanbad when he had disobeyed the orders of his seniors and was habitual of committing indiscipline.

In November 2000, Commandant of CISF unit in Dhanbad held him guilty of all the charges levelled against him and he was ordered to be dismissed from service.

Ali then filed an appeal to the Deputy Inspector General of CISF. While he was exonerated of the charges of maligning the image of the force, his appeal was rejected in 2001.

After his revision plea against the order was dismissed by the Inspector General of CISF, Ali had approached the Delhi High Court which allowed his plea and asked CISF to reinstate him as constable with notional seniority in his rank.
Around 8 pm on the evening of 13 December, as I walked past Parade Ground in Fort Kochi, I felt sure I could have sold 30 ml of my liquid soul for a glass of whisky. Even if it were Royal Stag. Beggars couldnt be choosers. Two days since I had arrived and Id had my fill of the kind of red wine that boasted a decent body but was lacking in finesse, and beer that could have been better refrigerated. Compared to the last two editions of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, this one had fallen squarely in the midst of Modis demonetisation blunder, which obviously complicated the sourcing of intoxicating substances, thanks to the ensuing cash crunch. Keralas alcoholic regulations compelled all bars to stop serving liquor  confined to beer and wine  by 10 pm, thereby imposing a limit on the amount of time that we had, in the past, spent socialising.

On the morning of 14 December, my last day at the Biennale, I had to borrow Rs 300 from a friend so I could make multiple trips between venues in an Arto rickshaw, official vehicular mediums that took visitors around for between Rs 20 and 30. After watching Joan Jonas performance lecture by the Chinese Fishing Nets by the beach, the unofficial plan among visiting artists was to reconvene at Seagull Hotel for an informal belated celebration of Pushpamalas 60th birthday. I shared a table with Amar Kanwar, Pooja Sood, Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam. When the waiter verified that the hotel wouldnt be accepting cards, I realised I was at their mercy. Needless to say, I was well fed and was privileged enough to additionally feast on a scintillating buffet of conversation.

Something truly incredible comes to pass when artists hang out with each other; a kind of subtle shift in cosmic energy that is greater than the sum vibrations of meditating monks or rotating prayer wheels. Anger gets subversively distilled into hope; disillusionment into an infectious strain of utopian zeal; banality into a profound, fecund reappraisal of the human condition. For art allows us to do precisely that: transcend the boundaries of reality, a proposition that was made abundantly relevant through Sudarshan Shettys curatorial strategy in assembling the third edition of the Biennale. Shetty achieved what the previous editions werent able to, he expanded the conceptual horizons of the event. In ushering a move away from the lure of Fort Kochis enormous history, he was able to liberate the biennale from the trap of site specificity it was threatening to get mired in. Titled Forming in the pupil of an eye, the edition which opened on 12 December 2016, and which will be on view for at least 108 days, takes the viewer on an invigorating and nuanced poetic journey through the infinite possibilities of the artistic imagination; a word that that has acquired an unpopular reputation in an age that has come to prefer the authenticity of facts and algorithms over alternative fictive possibilities, in a world that increasingly seems like a satirical version of itself.

Dearth of alcohol aside, what marked my experience of the four-day foray across the multiple venues that were to house works by 97 artists from 31 countries, no mean feat, was a previously unfelt but overwhelming sense of FOMO, the Fear of Missing Out, a millennial anagram that doesnt quite exist in most artists immediate vocabulary, but which perfectly encapsulates the challenges of viewing an event of such a magnitude over what will always seem like an immensely brief time span. If before I was ensured of the merits of being present at the opening week, now I am certain that it would have been wiser to have visited later, over the course of the coming two months, for both the luxury of time and the benefit of seeing works in a more heightened state of completion.

On 12 December, at least 30 per cent of the art had yet to be installed or rendered functional. There were artists like Khalid Samsabi who were still waiting for their work to be dispatched from customs. But given that Shetty had been cautioning the art world about his ambitious idea of a Biennale in progress, it seemed not as anomalous as one would imagine. In fact, at Pepper House, a prestigious venue, artists like Nicola Darvasula were actually attempting a studio-like set-up where works would be created in residence as the Biennale unfolded over 108 days. Praneet Soi, whose coir rope sculptures have been installed on the lawns has a collateral space in Aspinwall House, the foremost site, where he too will create work over time. Visitors are allowed to enter his gestative space for a glimpse of his process. The most evocatively in-progress installation was one that has been slotted to appear on the facades of multiple sites across the island town: 88 chapters of a novel by Argentine writer, Sergio Chejfec. Each disembodied chapter was still being painted by local painters whose brushes were working overtime to complete the spectacle. I would have liked to have read the entire book over my four-day stay, but since its probably only finished now, I suppose I might have to return to Kochi.

The FOMO turned out to be quite real, now having settled within me as the knowledge of having missed out, the only corrective for which is to return to Kochi over the next two months. Despite my best efforts, I didnt make it to at least two important venues  Durbar Hall, a quick ferry-ride away from Fort Kochi, and the historic Kottapuram Fort, and the Students Biennale, which by all accounts is apparently very impressive. I confess to having missed seeing Abir Karmakars work at Kashi Gallery because I went to their cafe by mistake, and didnt manage to retrace my steps because I was in a hurry to get to the TKM Warehouse to catch Aki Sasamotos performance at 2 pm. There were too many choices to be made, and no matter what you chose, you were still left with a twinge of regret for not having been able to act on the un-chosen.

Over dinner each night, we exchanged notes about what we had seen, attempting to compare this edition to its predecessors. I found myself defending Shettys stance and its outcome; satisfied, despite the overwhelming array, by the subtle intensity of it all, the refocusing on the inner workings of the artistic mind, the audacity that marked the non-spectacular overall display and all the ensuing poetry and contemplation. Shetty proved to us that the experience of a Biennale could go beyond ticking off artworks off a checklist, beyond visiting all that was on offer, beyond even the act of seeing and believing. It could be about a feeling, a feeling that is still forming, still evolving, still gestating and transforming. It was my most sober biennale, and the most unexpectedly poetic; the only time I ever left an art event armed with the suspicion that I, too, could stake claim to being an artist, that the term was indeterminate and open-ended.

Rosalyn D'Mello is former editor-in-chief of Artinfo India, and the author of A Handbook For My Lover
New Delhi: The CPM on Monday criticised the government for bypassing the established convention while naming a new army chief and said the military should not be subject to political interference.

"The appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff has been done bypassing the established convention of the senior most General assuming the post," the Communist Party of India-Marxist said.

"The Modi government's departure from this precedent has raised questions about the intent and motivation of the government," it said in a statement.

"The Indian Army should not be subject to any political interference."

The government on Saturday named Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the next chief of the Indian Army, overlooking the seniority of two senior Lt Generals.
On the 41st day of Prime Minister Narendra Modis 50-day promise to get back normalcy in common mans life post 8 November demonetisation announcement, yet another promise is broken.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in a press release said in the remaining days of this month, one can make a deposits in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in excess of Rs 5,000 only once per account.

If you want to deposit cash in banned currency in excess of that amount, youll have to explain in the presence of at least two officers on why you could not do it earlier. Even if the deposits are made in small amounts multiple times, if they add up to the magic number of Rs 5,000, again you stand exposed to questions.

One wonders what happened to PM Modis promise (read the full text of PM Modis 8 November speech here) to the nation that, Persons holding old notes of 500 or 1,000 rupees can deposit these notes in their bank or post office accounts from 10th November till close of banking hours on 30th December 2016 without any limit. Thus you will have 50 days to deposit your notes and there is no need for panic. Your money will remain yours. You need have no worry on this point.

The RBI circular is also silent on why should an honest citizen need to answer a banker on the timing of his deposit and the amount? A banker, after all, is not an investigator. Or is the assumption here that anyone who hasnt deposited invalidated currencies in their bank accounts are hoarders of black money?

Repeated flip-flops in withdrawal/exchange rules since 8 November makes one wonder what is the nature of the plan both the RBI and the government claims to have for the well-thought out rollout of currency ban. It reminds one the statement of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs caution to the RBI, an institution he headed once, about the trust deficit the central bank is facing with the way it dealt with the demonetisation from the very beginning.

It is no good that everyday the banking system comes with modification of the rules, the conditions under which the people can withdraw money. That reflects very poorly on the Prime Ministers office, on the finance ministers office and on the Reserve Bank of India. I am very sorry that the Reserve Bank of India has been exposed to this sort of criticism which I think is fully justified. The ardent fans of frequent rule flip-flops in government and the RBI would do well reading history and find the story of a former Delhi sultan, Muhammad bin Tughluq.

What do the government and the RBI achieve by breaking their promise by restricting deposits before the 30 December deadline? One possibility is that the government doesnt want a likelihood of all money demonetised returning to the bank counters. At the last count, almost Rs 13 lakh crore of the Rs 15.4 lakh crore demonetised currency notes had found their way back to the bank counters. If all the Rs 15.4 lakh crore returns, it will be an egg on the face of the government, which probably expected a good part of the unaccounted wealth to get destroyed. This would have helped it to say that much illegal cash is destroyed in the exercise. Earlier, the government was expecting only around Rs 10 lakh crore to return, but the public surprised the government by depositing money diligently.

If the action is to target hoarders, it is unlikely that the government finds any luck with this latest flip-flop. The tax evaders would have deposited their money much earlier in small doses either by creating fake accounts (like in the Axis Bank episode), donating to one of the 1866 political parties that enjoy no tax, no scrutiny under the current laws, by splitting the amount to several small bundles or depositing it multiple benami accounts.

Thus, the likely victims of this latest U-turn will be the common man, some of whom would have waited for the queues in banks to get short to deposit their old currency savings. If they have a large amount to deposit, they should get ready to face questions at bank counter to establish that this is their own money. Last month, the government had abruptly stopped the currency exchange facility at bank counters after initially promising until 30 December. Remember, a number of time rules have changed for the common citizens on cash withdrawals and deposits. Bankers, at one point, even inked customers to ensure people dont withdraw cash beyond certain specific limits, reminding one of war-time rationing.

Demonetisation story is taking new turns rapidly with changing goal posts and theories of as yet uncertain gains in the long term. But, no matter what the final gains of the demonetisation are, both the RBI and the government will have to answer the common man on the repeated breach of promises while executing a well planned operation and fight a growing trust deficit thatll also have likely political implications.
The ambit of the discourse of the dissidents against demonetisation has essentially travelled through these stages:

The obvious first was the shell-shocked reaction best symbolised by Mamata Banerjees simple but furious tweet

WITHDRAW THIS DRACONIAN DECISION  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 8, 2016

The second was the trickling of the cautious opposition to Modis bombshell, akin to not taking any firm position, best exemplified by Mulayam Singh Yadav who sought a temporary rollback of demonetisation.

The third, after the anti-Modi political spectrum realised that demonetisation was here to stay, was to launch street rallies best exemplified by the tactical alliance between Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee.

The fourth is represented by the ongoing efforts to confound the discourse by a variety of tactics, which include invoking stories of poor implementation, suffering of the farmers, and the poor people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yet again, with the decision to demonetise high currency notes, taken a bold step and set the national narrative. Forty-one days later, demonetisation still occupies the mind space of the nation  be it the media, political cirlces, coffee shops, restaurants or elsewhere. And as alleged, it is not possible that a prime minister would not think through a move like this before implementing it or the fact that this is also another reflection of Modi's style of politics of personalising everything.

A move like this, no matter how well thought out, is bound to encounter all sorts of implementation issues and other hurdles. It is pertinent here to compare the demonetisation drive with three similar bombshell-like moves that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had unleashed upon India:

The abolition of the Privy Purses, which essentially was a betrayal of the trust that Princely States had reposed in the Indian Union, and in the person of Sardar Patel.

The so-called Land Reforms  which was her way to repay the Communists for their support  which created chaos in the countryside, a subject for a separate exploration.

Bank nationalisation, which not only eroded the financial health of numerous private banks but paved way for their intense politicisation.

However, with demonetisation, the constant refrain seems to have been only one of inconvenience in the form of long ATM queues, and inadequate supply of new-denomination currency, which has, as expected, become a major political weapon in the hands of the Opposition.

It is amusing and revealing, at the same time, to examine the record of the anti-demonetisation champions. It is currently led by the Congress party. Apart from 40-odd years of uninterrupted rule, and then two consecutive terms, the party had ample time, opportunity and peoples trust to implement even a fraction of what the Narendra Modi government is currently attempting. And yet, despite the 2014 electoral drubbing it received, it continues to do more of the same: wasting taxpayer money both within and outside Parliament.

From wasting at least two full sessions of the Parliament since 2014 to blocking key legislations like the Land Acquisition Bill, and GST, it seems that the Congress' solely cares about bringing down Modi at any cost. The regional parties  Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress and DMK  have joined the Congress in criticising the government's move. However, the UPA-I and II had ample of time to do everything that they preach today and has little right to condemn a government which has taken strict steps and introduced reforms to improve Indias global standing.

The demonetisation naysayers also point, as evidence, to the fact that the corrupt have still managed to game the system by converting their dirty money to new currency as numerous raids over the past month have revealed. But one should view this development as a positive indicator: that these raids, etc have only exposed the pervasive extent of the rot that has corroded the system. From top officials of reputed and safe banks like Axis Bank to employees of the RBI itself to Karnataka government bureaucrats, it appears that the pestilence of corruption has become incurable.

But the most significant item missing in the anti-demonetisation discourse is how badly it has dented terror financing and effectively checked the use of FICN (Fake Indian Currency Note). Coming closely on its heels is this detailed Mint report, which reveals how demonetisation has brought the trafficking of women and girls for sex work  a Rs 20 trillion industry  to a grinding halt."

Yet, as it has continued to pan out, the mainstream media discourse seems to have singularly focused on the inconvenience of ATM queues, as if that was the only impact of the demonetisation exercise. The other important factor fuelling this one-sided narrative is the fact that this discourse occurs primarily in the realm of the mainstream English media, the purveyors and consumers of which happen to be mostly urban Indians. Thus, the incongruence of people willingly queuing up to avail the benefits of  for example  a Brand Factory mega sale and the belief in the aforementioned one-sided narrative is lost. The reality is that urbanites take for granted certain comforts  like not standing in queues  and any narrative thats focused on upsetting this applecart naturally finds takers.

But various journalists and workers across political parties that I spoke to, paint a dramatically different picture of the real sentiment towards demonetisation in small towns and villages. Suffice to say that the general view emanating from this quarter is this: Modi has undertaken demonetisation for the good of the country. Its not far from the truth to say that the mainstream discourse on demonetisation ignores or conceals this crucial, popular sentiment much like the narrative did during the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections and the US Presidential elections, where Donald Trump emerged victorious.

Indeed, it is impossible to issue grand predictions and prophecies  both positive and negative  regarding a far-reaching move like demonetisation even as it is unfolding. Fully analysing such high-impact moves  we can recall both the doomsday prophecies and splendid exaggerations when Prime Minister Narasimha Rao opened up the Indian economy  requires patience and level-headedness at the least. In this light, it is not until 2018 or 2019 that a reasonably clear picture of demonetisation will emerge.

Until then, we can only try and separate the wheat from the chaff in the ongoing discourse because, lets not forget that demonetisation is just one, but a hugely significant part of the prime minister's larger game plan.
The finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India have put in place new restriction on deposits of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 until 30 December in another effort to curb money laundering.

According to a finance ministry notification (read here), deposits of the demonetised notes above Rs 5,000 can be made only once until 30 December, the last date for banks to take deposits of old notes. However, there is no restrictions on depositing cash under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, a black money declaration scheme under amended taxation laws.

"Tenders of SBNs (specified bank notes) in excess of Rs 5,000 into a bank account will be received for credit only once during the remaining period till December 30, 2016," the RBI said in a notification to banks posted on its website.

The central bank has also said in such cases the notes will be credited to deposits "only after questioning tenderer, on record, in the presence of at least two officials of the bank, as to why this could not be deposited earlier and receiving a satisfactory explanation".

"The explanation should be kept on record to facilitate an audit trail at a later stage. An appropriate flag also should be raised in CBS to that effect so that no more tenders are allowed," the RBI has said.

However, banks can allow deposits of up to Rs 5,000 in value to be credited to bank accounts in the normal course until 30 December.

Moreover, if you have made deposits smaller that Rs 5,000 your account, and if such deposits taken together on cumulative basis exceed Rs 5,000 then they may still have to face the questions from the banks officials. In such cases, you may not be allowed to make more deposits thereafter until December 30.

Also deposits above Rs 5,000 shall be credited to only KYC compliant accounts and if the accounts are not KYC compliant the limit for deposits stays at RS 50,000.

However, these rules are not applicable to deposits under the Taxation and Investment Regime for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.
New Delhi: Seeking to check the use of blackmoney and money laundering in politics, the Election Commission has recommended that the government amend laws to allow exemption from tax only to parties that win seats in elections and ban anonymous contributions of Rs 2,000 and above to parties.

Section 13A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 confers tax exemption to political parties for income from house property, income by way of voluntary contributions, income from capital gains and income from other sources.

Only income under the head 'salaries and income from business or profession' are chargeable to tax in the hands of political parties in India.

The Commission has now proposed that exemption of Income Tax should only be extended to political parties that contest elections and win seats in Lok Sabha or assembly polls.

The Commission said, "There could be cases where political parties could be formed merely for availing of provisions of income tax exemption if the facility, that are at the expense of the public exchequer, is provided to all political parties."

There is also no constitutional or statutory prohibition on receipt of anonymous donations by political parties. But there is an "indirect partial ban" on anonymous donations through the requirement of declaration of donations under section 29C of The Representation of the People Act, 1951.

But, such declarations are mandated only for contributions above Rs 20,000.

As per the proposed amendment, sent by the Commission to the government, and made part of its compendium on proposed electoral reforms, "anonymous contributions above or equal to the amount of Rs two thousand should be prohibited".

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia clarified that political parties cannot accept old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes as donations as both these bills have ceased to be legal tenders.

"All reports on the alleged privilege to political parties are false & misleading. Political parties have not been granted any exemption or privilege, post demonetisation & introduction of Taxation Amendment Act, 2016," he said in a series of tweets.

"Post demonetisation, no political party can accept donations in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes since they were rendered illegal tenders. If there is any discrepancy, political parties are as liable to be questioned by IT authorities as is anyone else. They enjoy no immunity," Adhia added.

In yet another recommendation to check blackmoney, the EC has asked the Law Ministry to ensure that political parties are made to register details of donors for coupons of all amounts on the basis of a Supreme Court order of 1996.

Coupons are one of the ways devised by the political parties for collecting donations and hence are printed by the party itself. There is no cap or limit as to how many coupons can be printed or its total quantum.

Currently, the details of donors is not required for coupons with small amounts such as for Rs 10 or 20. "These smaller sums aggregate into a bigger amount and hence, they need to be accounted for, to ensure transparency," the Commission said.
Panaji: On Monday, the Goa Congress challenged Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to order an inquiry against former PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar who has been accused of being involved in corruption.

Parsekar has made a statement through media that Sudin Dhavalikar was involved in corruption through his PWD department. We dare Parsekar to initiate an action against Dhavalikar and imprison him," All India Congress Committee Secretary Girish Chodankar said on Monday.

The CM had sacked two MGP legislators  Sudin Dhavalikar and Dipak Dhavalikar  from his cabinet after they went public against the state government.

Parsekar's statement has broken all records. Parsekar is accusing MGP ministers of being involved in corruption. It is Parsekar who owns the responsibility of corruption. CM can't run away by making just a statement," Chodankar said.

"Mr Parsekar, you should know that you are the CM and not the Opposition leader. What you say matters a lot, but people of Goa heard nothing after your statement. People have voted you to power because you had promised Zero Tolerance to corruption, don't fool the people of Goa again and again, he said.

The Congress leader said that people want to know to the extent and volume of corruption in PWD and Transport Department and are waiting to hear it from the CM.

People are confused with your statement and also wonder if it is a blackmail technique to force an alliance with BJP. If you are not clear about your statement, it means you are incapable or are misusing your position, Chodankar alleged.
On Monday, at a Parivartan Rally in Kanpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to lay to rest certain fears about demonetisation, considering his self-declared 31 December deadline (before he can be judged) and the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are right around the corner.

Taking to the stage shortly after 1.30 pm, Modi said, "Over the past few days, wherever I've had the privilege of travelling in Uttar Pradesh, I see not a wave of change, but a cyclone of change. It feels as though in the upcoming elections, every citizen of UP wants to join the movement to usher in change."

After briefly discussing the inauguration of several Skill India schemes in UP and across the country, the prime minister trained his focus on the role of the Opposition in disrupting proceedings during the recently concluded Winter Session of Parliament. He said, "I'm upset that on one side, we are trying to stop corruption and black money, but the (Opposition) only want to stop Parliament. For an entire month, they did not allow Parliament to function. Despite President Pranab Mukherjee's pleas, they continued to disrupt proceedings." He explained that the Opposition parties were scared to discuss the topics that the government wished to discuss, and that is why felt they need to stop the functioning of both Houses.

Modi, at an all-party meeting convened before the Winter Session of Parliament, had suggested a debate on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies and donations to political parties. But Parliament was not allowed to function for a month as the opposition parties were not interested in a discussion on the two issue, the Prime Minister said.

Interestingly, and probably a counter to the argument that the BJP was equally disruptive while in the Opposition, he mentioned that Parliament used to be disrupted earlier too. "But at that time the disruptions took place because the Opposition (referring to the BJP and its allies) came together to take on corruption and bring the corrupt to justice," he reasoned.

"Our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money. But their agenda is to close (disrupt) Parliament...I am puzzled," Modi said. Singling out Congress, he said its leaders have often claimed that lat Rajiv Gandhi brought computer and mobile phone to the common man in India. But now when I say mobile phone can be used as a bank, they say the poor do not have cell phone...they said people do not have bank accounts. Now they claim poor went to the bank, but there was no money...they are spreading lies."

Further, he went on to discuss the idea of having one unified election, since the existing situation  elections at different times of the year across states, apart from the General Election  sees a lot of scope for black money to exchange hands. "I'd wanted to discuss this in Parliament, but proceedings were disrupted because the Opposition is scared of this. I appeal to the Election Commission once more to put pressure on political parties to work towards the idea of single elections as part of this war against corruption."

The prime minister also took further his comparison of Rs 100 notes with the poor of this country. "When we introduced demonetisation on 8 November, you know the kind of people who began to sweat  those who stole from the poor. Now they're queuing up outside the homes of the poor to stash away their ill-gotten wealth," said Modi, "When the Rs 1,000 note was in play, no one even looked at the Rs 100 note. Now that the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes are gone, everyone's looking for the Rs 100 note. Similarly people are now seeking the once-neglected poor."

While on the topic of demonetisation, he extolled the virtues of his 'imaandari ki sarkar (government of honour)' and how India has never before seen the powerful and wealthy being taken to task this way. And this, he added will continue, because "the country wants to win the war of honour and honourability".

Elsewhere over the course of his speech, the prime minister hailed India's youth, pointing to the fact that 65 percent of the country's population is younger than 35 years of age. "A country with young and energetic citizens can show the world its strength, but this is only when it has an opportunity to work and when it sees progress in the country. Today's government (the BJP at the Centre) is one for the poor. Since the first day, every project we've introduced has been aimed at the poor, underprivileged, deprived, and weaker sections of society." He also spoke of all the schemes introduced by the BJP and how they have benefitted the citizens of the country, particularly the poor.

It will be interesting to see how Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi counters this speech during his own rally in Jaunpur later on Monday.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is set to hold a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur on Monday, to address demonetisation woes.

Aside from the fact that the Congress will be looking to score points all over Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2017's Assembly polls, sources quoted by The Times of India claimed that the location was selected because Rahul's khaat sabha in Jaunpur (earlier this year) had been a great success. Following the washout that was the Winter Session of Parliament, the Congress will seek to push further the view that the ruling BJP wasn't amenable to discussing demonetisation.

This was evident in a rally held by Rahul in Karnataka's Belagavi on Saturday.

"Demonetisation, which was meant to curb black money and root out corruption, is a (Narendra) Modi-made disaster, as over 100 people died standing in queues at banks for a few notes across the country," said Gandhi at a public meeting in this Karnataka town, about 500 km from Bengaluru.

Addressing a huge rally to mark the birth centenary of former prime minister and his grandmother Indira Gandhi, Rahul said only the rich had benefitted from the note ban at the cost of the poor, farmers and labourers in millions across the country.

"The Modi government came to power in the name of the poor but is sounding death knell to the hapless population to help about 50 super rich families. Who are these families holding most of the wealth in the country? You can see them touring foreign countries with Modi at the government cost. This is your prime minister whom you had reposed hopes of bettering your lives," he alleged.

Noting that Modi failed to realise that black money hoarders invest their ill-gotten wealth in real estate, gold and in foreign banks, Rahul said a mere six percent of unaccounted wealth was in cash while 94 percent was either deposited in Swiss banks or in real estate.

"Unfortunately, in the name of the poor, honest and tax-paying people, Modi is going after them and ignoring the remaining 94 percent," he said.

Remembering his grandmother on the occasion, Rahul also said he was sad over the plight of the ordinary people facing hardship due to cash crunch for over a month.

"I want to ask Modiji why his government had not disclosed names of those who had stashed their black money in Swiss banks even after its government gave the list. Why he is not acting against crooks like Lalit Modi and liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who are staying in London?" asked Rahul in his speech.

With inputs from IANS
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that donation sources of an amount as little as one rupee to political parties should be disclosed.

Talking about the Election Commission's proposal to bring an amendment to laws to make political parties reveal donations above Rs 2,000 from anonymous sources, he said, "it's good and an amendment should be made in laws".

"Why only Rs 2,000 and above? Parties should reveal who has given even one rupee or Rs ten to it," Kumar said. He, however, expressed doubt if the BJP-led NDA government would bring an amendment to this effect.

The Election Commission has urged the government to amend laws to ban anonymous contributions of Rs 2,000 and above made to political parties so that flow of black money in polls could be checked.

Replying to a question over the appointment of Bipin Rawat as the new Army chief superseding two seniors, Kumar said the Army and Judiciary should be kept out of any controversy.

"I do not know much about it as I am busy with preparation of celebration of 350th Prakash Parva anniversary of Guru Govind Singh. But institutions like Army and judiciary should be kept out of any controversy," he said.

The chief minister also favoured filling vacancies of judges for speedy delivery of justice.

He was talking to reporters after the second "Lok Samvad" (dialogue with people) programme held in his Secretariat. In the programme, Kumar in the presence of ministers concerned and senior officials of the departments which have been earmarked date-wise, addresses grievances of the people.

The Lok Samvad is organised on the first three Mondays of the month except if the date coincides with any festival or gazetted holiday. It could not be held on 12 December due to the holiday on 'Eid-e-Milad'.
All eyes are on the forthcoming Union Budget, especially after the recently-concluded Winter Session was a total washout, and the ruling BJP is gearing up for it. The move to demonetise high-denomination notes ruled the month-long Winter Session in Parliament, where several Opposition parties came all guns blazing at the Narendra Modi government.

The government has said that that infrastructure investment needs a boost and the Union Budget in February will focus on encouraging more public as well as private spending to boost economic growth. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government is expected to focus more on the poor, the middle class and the business community, in bid to appease them. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is expected to present the annual budget for 2017-18 on 1 February.

During the BJP parliamentary party meet on the last day of the Winter Session, Modi told party members governments priority is to focus on welfare schemes for the poor, less exploitation of the middle-class and minimising harassment to the business community.

Demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 is an important milestone but not the end of the journey to fight black money. If the exploitation of middle class has to end and rights of the poor have to be protected then corruption has to be eliminated. "I have said this before, 50 days would be pinching and thereafter the problems would slowly ease. Nobody could have imagined the kind of success and popular support we have achieved," he said.

Speaking at an event recently, Jaitley said that India aspires to become a developed economy from a developing economy and a 7-7.5 percent GDP growth does not satisfy its requirements.

"Therefore spending more and now" is the focus, he said adding infrastructure spending "certainly needs a booster." On the impact of demonetisation on the economy, Jaitley admitted that "altering this normal is extremely disruptive" but "in the long run you will have a higher GDP, a higher revenue and probably far cleaner economy and far cleaner public life."

He further said it was "a courageous decision to withdraw 86 percent of the paper currency, replace it and then say that replacement will now be substantially and significantly in digital."

However, everything is not as hunky-dory as it seems in the BJP camp. On 15 December, veteran BJP leader and former Home Minister LK Advani, criticised the way Parliament was functioning and expressed distress. Advani invoked the party's gold standard that were set by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said, "Disruptions are so disappointing that I wonder if I should resign from the Lok Sabha."

That aside, BJP MPs have told the political leadership of the party that the goodwill the party garnered after the 29 September surgical strikes were being marred by the distress caused by the notebandi. According to The Indian Express, BJP MPs from eastern Uttar Pradesh warned party chief Amit Shah about the growing discontent among the populace over sudden decision to demonetise. The state goes to polls early next year, soon after the Union Budget is presented. The meeting of BJPs national office-bearers was meant to discuss partys strategy to spread the message among people about the benefits of demonetisation in the poll-bound states, particularly in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh.

However, if Uttar Pradesh elections have to happen in February, they will have to be announced sometime in early January. The model code of conduct will come into effect immediately, preventing any populist measures from being announced by both central and state governments. This restriction, though, is unlikely to apply to the Union Budget, another reason why it will have to serve as the platform for such measures.

Speaking to The Economic Times, sources from the party said that they expected the next Budget to provide some sops to people inconvenienced by the currency ban. "He is going to be focused on the Budget till 1 February. It is going to be a revolutionary Budget," a source was quoted as saying.

"In the last eight years, our plan budget has been hanging between Rs 4.2 lakh crore and Rs 4.8 lakh crore, and this money has to be allocated for rural roads, education and all other programmes... India cannot take a leap forward on a mere Rs 4.8 lakh crore budget. The parallel economy is eating into our economy like termite," Shah was quoted as saying on India TV's show Aap Ki Adalat.

Describing the demonetisation step as a "multi-dimensional, far-reaching" decision taken in the national interest, Shah said, the positive fallouts of the decision have been: "it has broken the back of terrorism and Naxalism in one stroke."

Regretting that a small section of people was trying to take advantage of the situation, Jaitley said, "This Indian normal where recovery of taxes is terrorism and non-payment is a way of life...has to change. With this new normal that is being created, if we succeed in doing, India would be a happier place."

On the controversy relating to tax scrutiny of political parties, Jaitley said, "This is a complete media creation" and pointed out that no changes have been made in the law in that regard.

"Has a single change made in the last two months or so or in the last two-and-a-half years with regard to taxation of political parties? The answer is "No". "Nothing has been done, whatever was the existing system which has been existed for the last 15 years is continuing and if somebody creates a political party for the purposes channelising funds ... obviously law will step in."

However, Modi's surprise decision to scrap high-value banknotes has upset preparations for the Union Budget because of the resulting disruption to growth, revenues and asset sales, two government sources told Reuters. Officials fear the move will slow economic activity for much longer than originally expected, as millions of people continue to queue at banks and ATMs for cash and companies struggle to pay wages and suppliers.

"We had thought the demonetisation will be a game-changer," Reuters was told by one official, who has direct knowledge of budget preparations, adding the Central bank should have taken more steps to ease the pain of ordinary people. "We still have to start work on the budget."

The official added that the cash crunch had hit sectors like construction, agriculture and auto makers, hurting tax receipts and complicating the government's asset divestment programme. Two-wheeler and commercial vehicle sales declined by over 10 percent in November from a year ago, with weakness in the retail, gems and jewellery sectors also impacting factory gate duty receipts. The government is likely to miss its annual target of raising Rs 565 billion ($8.4 billion) through the sale of stakes in companies by a wide margin due to uncertainty in the markets, said the official.

The government has so far raised less than half of the target for the whole fiscal year. NR Bhanumurthy, an economist at National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), a government-funded think tank, told Reuters that revenue collections could fall by up to Rs 350 billion ($5.18 billion) this year. "We are facing very uncertain times," said Bhanumurthy. "The government should weigh the impact of demonetisation on growth and revenue."

With inputs from agencies

For full coverage of Union Budget 2017 click here.
Moradabad (UP): The inaugural 'cashless chaupal', an initiave of the Centre aimed at helping minorities connect with cashless economic system post demonetisation, was organised in Moradabad on Monday with union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi pitching for Muslims to join the campaign against "cancer of corruption".

During the chaupal, held in the district's Dalpatpur tehsil, the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) informed the attendees about benefits of digital transactions, propagating it as an "effective mission" to establish transparent economic system to fight black money.

Bank officials helped people present at the event in downloading various mobile applications related to digital payment, net and mobile banking and also made presentation on digital payment system, a statement said.

"Digital transaction campaign is aimed at establishing an economic system which is based on less cash and maximum digital payment.

"Na nakad na udhar, karen digital len den aur karobar (neither in cash nor on credit, let's do digital transactions and business)," he raised the slogan while lauding the system, according to the statement.

"The Muslim and other sections should join this campaign and help eradicate the cancer of corruption," Naqvi said, adding the weaker sections of the society will benefit from the government's decision.

Stating that electronic voting system could attain 100 percent success in world's largest democracy, Naqvi exuded confidence that digital transaction, online and mobile banking too will be successful.

He claimed that cashless system will help farmers and small traders as he averred that e-payment and mobile banking can be helpful in places where banking system is not available.

Citing example of direct benefit transfer (DBT) system used by the Minority Affairs Ministry to dispense scholarships to students from minority communities, Naqvi emphasised that digital system can help remove middlemen and ensure benefits reach the deserving individuals.

He said the Minority Affairs Ministry has so far disbursed scholarships worth Rs 6,715 crore to three crore students into their bank accounts through DBT.

The union minister said digital transactions will strengthen taxation system as more people will become part of it.

Stating that several countries such as Sweden, France, Canada, Britain and Australia have become cashless economy, Naqvi said such a system can be implemented in India "easily".

In India, there are about 103 crore mobile phone users, 50 crore internet users, 144 crore bank accounts (figures include multiple accounts held by one person) and 25 crore Jan Dhan accounts. Besides, there are over 14 lakh Point of Sale (PoS) machines and 73 crore credit/debit cards in use, he claimed.

However, the statement quoting the union minister, did not mention source of the statistics.

The second edition of the chaupal will be held in Delhi on 21 December.
Kanpur: On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, as Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi gets ready to address crowds in Jaunpur in a bid to translate the post-demonetisation anger into votes, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

Ahead of Modi's scheduled rally, unidentified people in Sarvodaynagar area in the district burned rally hoardings, according to a report by CNN-News 18. Congress too staged demonstration in Kanpur against Modi opposing the demonetisation measure. BJP party workers demanded strict action against those responsible for the "undemocratic" and "shameful" act.

In Kanpur, Modi will unveil a clutch of skill development initiatives aimed at skilling unemployed youth and also lay the foundation stone of the Indian Institute of Skills in Kanpur.

"Apart from launching 31 Kaushal Kendras which will serve as skilling centres and target mainly unemployed youth for training purposes, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate an exhibition named Kaushal Mahotsav," a senior official in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship told PTI.

"The PM will also lay the foundation stone for the Indian Institute of Skills in Kanpur which will focus on providing industrial training," the official added.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is also set to enter into a strategic partnership with the leather and textiles industry in Kanpur to place one lakh youth under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

Moreover, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme will also be launched formally, the official said.

The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras are state-of-the-art Model Training Centres (MTCs) which the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship intends to establish in every district of the country.

The model training centres envisage to create benchmark institutions that demonstrate aspirational value for competency based skill development training.

They would focus on elements of quality, sustainability and connect with stakeholders in skills delivery process. The centres will transform from a mandate driven footloose model to a sustainable institutional model.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: BJP on Monday slammed the Uttarakhand government for declaring a special 90-minute Friday break for Muslim employees, saying it will set a wrong precedent and accused the Congress of "communalising" the state's politics ahead of the assembly polls.

Accusing the Congress of pursuing a divisive agenda in its greed for power, the party said few people will be left working in the government offices if Hindus, who observe different forms of pujas across the month, are also given a similar concession.

BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma told reporters in New Delhi that Congress has a history of "dividing" people on communal lines in its greed for power and what it has done in Uttarakhand is an attempt to hide the Harish Rawat government's failures.

"There is no issue with people of different faiths offering prayers of their choice. But this decision will set a wrong precedent on the matter of principle. From Monday to Saturday, faithfuls in our culture worship different Gods and offer prayers.

"If everybody is to be given a favour like this, then who will work in government offices. It is an attempt to communalise the state's politics ahead of the polls as the government has failed on all fronts. It has nothing to show to people for its work and is attempting to hide its failures under its communal agenda," he said.

Congress has given communal colour to terrorism in its greed for power, Sharma alleged, claiming that the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had gone on to say that minorities have the first right to the nation's resources. For BJP, the poor have the first right, he claimed.

The Uttarakhand government has announced a special 90-minute break will be given to the government employees from the Muslim community in the state for Friday prayers.
In recent weeks, news about the deaths of civilians in Syrian city of Aleppo ahs flooded news portals. Rebel resistance in Aleppo ended last week after years of fighting and months of bitter siege and bombardment that culminated in a bloody retreat, as insurgents agreed to withdraw in a ceasefire. The Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad 'recaptured' the eastern city, which media reported as "a victory for (Assad) and his military coalition of Russia, Iran and regional Shi'ite militias."

However, the war will still be far from over, with insurgents retaining major strongholds elsewhere in Syria, and the jihadist Islamic State group holding swathes of the east and recapturing the ancient city of Palmyra.

The plight of civilians has caused global outrage in the wake of a sudden series of advances by the Syrian army and its allies across the rebel enclave over the past two weeks.

"We appear to be witnessing nothing less than ... a total uncompromising military victory," UN secretary-general Ban ki-Moon told the UN Security Council.

However contradicting reports are pouring in from the city considering the dearth of information due to lack of independent foreign journalists in the area. The Independent noted that foreign media has allowed the news agenda to be dominated by al-Qaeda type groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham.

The foreign media as The Independent points out, are not stepping in the city because the impertinent risk of being kidnapped or killed. Hence the jihadis holding power in the city replace these news sources with "highly partisan" local activists "who cannot escape being under jihadi control."

Hence some of the most valued information coming out of the area is controlled by the jihadis, which has put international media in a bind, considering they are wary of entering the area following the beheading of James Foley on 8 August, 2014.

Syrians are afraid of the regime and the rebels

The Syrian army has denied carrying out killings or torture among those captured after the recapture, and its main ally Russia recently said that the rebels had "kept over 100,000 people in east Aleppo as human shields", reported Reuters.

But while efforts to evacuate thousands of people are ongoing in the city, some people are still gripped by fear. Some survivors have found shelter in government-held west or the few districts still in rebel hands. Others stayed in their homes and awaited the Syrian army's arrival.

For all of them, fear of arrest, conscription or summary execution added to the daily terror of bombardment. "People are saying the troops have lists of families of fighters and are asking them if they had sons with the terrorists. (They are) then either left or shot and left to die," said Abu Malek al-Shamali in Seif al-Dawla, one of the last rebel-held districts, according to the report.

But, according to Amnesty International the main armed opposition groups are equally severe on anybody differing from them.

A report by Amnesty International entitled Torture Was My Punishment, points out that independent activists are in fear of the rebels. The Independent quoted a 24-year-old media activist named 'Issa' who spoke of Jabhat al-Nusra (which has renamed itself Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and was formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda). He said, "they are in control of what we can and cannot say. You either agree with their social rules and policies or you disappear.

Conflicting reports on volunteer groups

The White Helmets (also called Syria Civil Defense, is a volunteer civil defense non-governmental organization that operates in rebel-controlled Syria) is hailed by the media as the messiah saving civilians in the city.

Last week, an independent Canadian journalist Eva Bartlett spoke at a pro-Syria event organised by the United Nations and debunked various notions related to the Syrian crisis. In a video which later went viral, she is seen battling with the present journalists on the legitimacy of the rescue work carried out by the White Helmets and the 'compromised' journalism carried out by western mainstream media in the area.

She said, Ive been many times to Homs, to Maaloula, to Latakia and Tartus [in Syria] and again, Aleppo, four times. And peoples support of their government is absolutely true. Whatever you hear in the corporate media is completely opposite.

On the subject of the aforementioned civilian organisation, she said, "They're relying on compromised groups like the White Helmets. Let's talk about the White Helmets." She noted,

The White Helmets purport to be neutral yet they can be found carrying guns and standing on the dead bodies of Syrian soldiers, and their video footage actually contains children that have been recycled in different reports. You can find a girl named Aya who turns up in month, say, August, and she turns up the next month, in two different locations. So they are not credible.

However it is important to note here that she is also a contributor at RT, a news site funded by the Russian government.

Snopes.com debunked the theory and provided enough information to question Bartlett's theory. They pointed out that there were infact three girls named Aya who were at different points reported about in the media.

However Bartlett's support for the Assad's regime does reflect that while he has brutally destroyed vast sections of Syria in his battle with those who wish to overthrow his regime, and tortured and murdered people, many of the rebels who garner support and sympathy in opposition are are among the cruellest and most ruthless of fighters in West Asia.

Robert Fisk, writing for the The Independent said, "Only a few weeks ago, I interviewed one of the very first Muslim families to flee eastern Aleppo during a ceasefire. The father had just been told that his brother was to be executed by the rebels because he crossed the frontline with his wife and son. He condemned the rebels for closing the schools and putting weapons close to hospitals. And he was no pro-regime stooge; he even admired Isis for their good behaviour in the early days of the siege."

The viral videos

The slew of videos emerging from the conflict area have gained sympathy for the rebels to the Assad regime, but the validity of these videos have also come under questioning.

Patrick Cockburn, writing for The Independent said, "It would be simple-minded to believe that this very appealing and professional PR for the Syrian armed opposition is all their own work." On the videos appearing on news portals, he said,

"There was no sign of the 8,000 to 10,000 armed fighters whom the UN estimated to have been in east Aleppo. In fact, I cannot recall seeing anybody with a gun or manning a fortified position in these heart-rending films. The only visible inhabitants of Aleppo are unarmed civilians, in complete contrast to Mosul where the Iraqi armed forces are battling thousands of Isis gunmen who are using the civilian population as human shields."

Cockburn prescribes to the theory that the jihadi-fuelled information received by the western media, makes it impossible to differentiate between facts and fabrications, hence giving them more power to commit atrocities and banish international media from covering it.



United Nations sending in observers

To remedy the lack of independent observers in the area monitoring the situation, the United Nations has drafted a resolution to deploy UN observers to Aleppo.

The new draft calls on Ban Ki-moon to make arrangements, in consultation with Syrian authorities and the rebels, to allow UN monitoring of "the well-being of civilians."

Moscow had presented its own draft resolution that requested that the United Nations make "arrangements" to monitor the situation, but made no specific mention of sending observers to east Aleppo.

With inputs from agencies
Seoul: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has criticised South Korean president Park Geun-hye's administration over a corruption scandal involving her longtime friend, voicing concerns over the country's "lack of good governance", the media reported on Monday.

Ban on Friday said South Korea has never experienced such political turmoil except during the 1950-53 Korean War, Yonhap news agency reported.

Ban's remarks sparked speculation that the Secretary General, long considered a potential presidential candidate, has started distancing himself from the impeached president.

"(South Koreans) were very much frustrated and angry about the complete lack of good governance," he said on Friday.

Addressing the scandal that has gripped South Korea over the past two months, Ban said the political turbulence in the country is "surprising and unexpected".

"When her father President Park Chung-hee was assassinated in 1979, those were the times when Koreans were going through a turbulent process. But this time, in a very peaceful society, very democratic, economically well-to-do society, this has happened," he said.

Pointing to South Koreans' resilience and respect for democratic institutions, Ban expressed hope that the country will soon get over the political crisis.

"I am convinced that soon they will be able to overcome this crisis. I hope that this will give good lessons to those in leadership in Korean society, whether political, economic or social," he said.

Although the outgoing UN chief has yet to declare his intention to run in the presidential election next year, his name has long been bandied about as a formidable presidential candidate.
Beijing: China and Norway on Monday agreed to normalise political and diplomatic ties after a six-year hiatus over granting the Nobel Peace Prize to a prominent Chinese dissident.

Beijing and Oslo also agreed to immediately resume negotiation on a free trade agreement, which did not materialise in 2010 as China put off the decision to conclude it, in a retaliation for granting the peace prize to jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende held a meeting in Beijing on Monday, following which China and Norway reached consensus on normalisation of ties, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Li said foreign ministers of the two countries had candid and in-depth talks, and reached an agreement on the normalisation of bilateral ties.

China hopes to work together with Norway to open a new chapter for bilateral ties, and push forward a sustained, healthy and stable growth of relations, Li said.

"I am very pleased that we are today normalising our political and diplomatic relations with China. This gives us a new opportunity to cooperate. We will resume negotiation on a free trade agreement," Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported, quoting Brende as saying in a statement.

According to a joint statement, "the Norwegian government reiterates its commitment to the one-China policy, fully respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, attaches high importance to China's core interests and major concerns, will not support actions that undermine them, and will do its best to avoid any future damage to the bilateral relations."

However, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in Oslo that "we haven't made any concessions but we have engaged in confidence-building work over a long period of time".

The controversy around the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the prominent dissident and events connected to the prize had deteriorated China-Norway relations.

China scaled down its ties with Norway after a vain bid to dissuade it from granting the Nobel prize to Liu, who along with his wife is still languishing in the prison serving an 11-year sentence since 2009 for "inciting subversion of state power".

He was the second after the Dalai Lama to get the Nobel Peace Prize.

While China alleges that the prize is being used to prop up dissidents, the Nobel committee has insisted it is independent of politics.

However, China welcomed Nobel Prize for literature to well-known Chinese writer Mo Yan in 2012.

Besides being a writer, he is also the prominent literary personality of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC).

China has also imposed restrictions on imports of Norwegian salmon, citing worries that the fish may carry disease.
By Roberta Rampton and Eric M. Johnson

| WASHINGTON/SEATTLE

WASHINGTON/SEATTLE At least five Democrats who had been committed to back Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Electoral College cast ballots for other people on Monday, the largest number of "faithless electors" seen in well over a century.The 538 electors were voting across the country to confirm Republican Donald Trump as the next president. The event is normally a formality but took on extra prominence this year after some Democrats urged electors to revolt and switch to Clinton, who won the national popular vote on Nov. 8. In the end, it was not Republicans breaking ranks. The Democratic dissidents - four from Washington state and one from Maine - underscored deep divisions within their party and effectively dashed long-shot hopes by some activists that Republicans pledged to Trump might back Clinton.By late afternoon, no Republican elector was reported to have cast a ballot for anyone other than Trump, although one elector from Texas had written that he planned to do so.The move by the five was a rare break from the tradition - and in many states a legal requirement - of casting an Electoral College ballot as directed by the outcome of that state's popular election. It appeared to be the largest number of electors not supporting their party's nominee since 1872, when 63 Democratic electors did not vote for party nominee Horace Greeley, who had died after the election but before the Electoral College convened, according to Fairvote.org. Republican Ulysses S. Grant had won re-election in a landslide.There is almost no chance that Monday's vote will change the outcome of the election, which gave the White House to Trump after he won a majority of Electoral College votes. The New York businessman is set to take office on Jan. 20.SYSTEM CALLED INTO QUESTION

Clinton lost last month's election on a state-by-state basis despite winning the popular vote nationwide by nearly 2.9 million votes, raising questions about the role of the Electoral College, established in 1787.It was a surprising twist to have Democratic electors change their votes and become what is known as "faithless electors."Four of the 12 Democratic electors in Washington state broke ranks, with three voting for Colin Powell, a former Republican secretary of state, and one for Faith Spotted Eagle, a Native American elder who has protested oil pipeline projects in the Dakotas.In Maine, Democratic elector David Bright said he would cast his vote for Clinton's rival for the party nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who carried the state in the party nominating contest.In Colorado, where a state law requires electors to cast their ballots for the winner of the state's popular vote, elector Michael Baca tried to vote for Ohio's Republican governor, John Kasich - and was replaced. Baca had waged an unsuccessful legal battle against the law.

A candidate must secure 270 votes to win the college. Trump won 306 electors from 30 states on Nov. 8. By late afternoon on Monday, electors in 43 states had voted, with 259 votes cast for Trump and 156 for Clinton, the New York Times reported, citing the Associated Press.The Electoral College votes will be officially counted during a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6.'FAITHLESS ELECTORS'

Twenty-four states have laws trying to prevent electors - most of whom have close ties to their parties - from going rogue. But once in a while, "faithless electors" will ignore their pledge and change their vote.

The most recent instance of a "faithless elector" was in 2004, according to the Congressional Research Service. There have been just eight since 1900, each in a different election.Some Democrats had urged Republican electors to change their votes to Clinton because of her victory in the popular vote.That outcome, combined with allegations by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia hacked into Democratic Party emails to try to sway the election for Trump, has put the spotlight on the Electoral College and spurred calls for constitutional reforms.In Austin, Texas, on Monday, about 100 people chanting: Dump Trump and waving signs reading: The Eyes of Texas are Upon You gathered at the state capitol trying to sway electors to change their votes. Texas is the largest state Trump won in the election.At least one Republican elector - Christopher Suprun from Texas - said he would not vote for Trump. In an op-ed in the New York Times, Suprun said he had concerns about Trump's foreign policy experience and business conflicts.The Electoral College assigns each state electors equal to its number of representatives and senators in Congress.When voters go to the polls to cast a ballot for president, they are actually choosing a presidential candidate's preferred slate of electors for their state. (Additional reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Del., Jon Herkovitz in Austin, Texas, and David Morgan and Julia Harte in Washington; Editing by Alistair Bell and Peter Cooney)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Washington: Three leading professors of psychiatry from America's prestigious universities have written to President Barack Obama, expressing their "grave concern" over his successor Donald Trump's mental stability.

In the letter addressed to the US president, the doctors  one from the Harvard Medical School and two others who have been associated with top US varsities over the years  have urged him to order a "full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation" before the President-elect takes office on 20 January.

"We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the mental stability of our President-elect," the letter published by the Huffington Post read.

The letter assumes significance as it is written by three distinguished professors of psychiatry  Judith Herman, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Nanette Gartrell, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry , University of California, San Francisco (1988-2011,) and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (1983-87); and Dee Mosbacher, Ph.D. Assistant Clinical Professor Department of Community Health Systems University of California, San Francisco (2005-2013).

"Professional standards do not permit us to venture a diagnosis for a public figure whom we have not evaluated personally. Nevertheless, his widely reported symptoms of mental instability -- including grandiosity, impulsivity, hypersensitivity to slights or criticism, and an apparent inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality -- lead us to question his fitness for the immense responsibilities of the office," the letter said.

"We strongly recommend that, in preparation for assuming these responsibilities, he receive a full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation by an impartial team of investigators," it said. In August, President Obama had questioned the 70-year-old business tycoon's judgement and temperament and called him "unfit to serve as president".

This is not the first time mental health professionals have weighed in on Trump's suitability for office. In June, Atlantic published a psychologist's findings that Trump suffered from "narcissism, disagreeableness, grandiosity". In August, an Oxford study claimed that Trump has more psychopathic traits than Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

Psychologist Kevin Dutton from Oxford University ranked the psychopathic traits of the US presidential hopefuls and historical figures using a standard psychometric tool -the Psychopathic Personality Inventory - Revised (PPI-R).

Trump outstripped Hitler on factors including social influence and fearlessness, while the Nazi dictator scored higher on cold-heartedness and Machiavellian egocentricity -which describes a lack of empathy and sense of detachment from others for the sake of achieving one's own goals.
Benghazi: A suicide bomber has killed eight Libyan army troops near the eastern city of Benghazi, an attack that showed the Islamic State group is still able to strike out in the North African country despite recent battlefield losses, Libyan security and health officials said on Monday.

The Sunday bombing in the besieged Ganfouda area was a counter-attack on the advancing troops that also wounded another eight soldiers, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombing in a statement circulated online, releasing images of an explosion hitting parked vehicles and buildings it said was taken from a drone.

"The fighting in Ganfouda is in its last stage, and terrorist group leaders are besieged inside," army spokesman Ahmed al-Mosmari said. Ganfouda is one of the last two extremist-held areas in Libya's east, besieged by Libyan army troops that answer to Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter.

Earlier this month, the Islamic State group lost control the city of Sirte, the militants' main stronghold in Libya, essentially ending any near-term ambitions to expand their self-styled caliphate.

But that victory has opened the door for multiple armed factions to potentially turn on each other in a scramble for control of Libya's vast oil wealth, the country's only source of real revenue.

A UN-brokered peace deal was reached a year ago, trying to establish a unity government to end the chaos that has plagued Libya since the ouster and death of longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi in a 2011 civil war. Instead, Libya remains divided between east and west, with no effective government and rival factions and militias  each side with backing from different foreign countries.

This month an escalation of violence between armed groups in the capital, Tripoli, prompted the UN Security Council to urge the parties to cease fighting, as fears grow that fresh conflict could erupt around the oil fields.

Libya is split into two governments, with a parliament in the east that has refused to approve the UN-brokered government in Tripoli. Hifter backs Libya's last elected parliament, which is based in the east, against rival militias loyal to the Tripoli government.
Amman: Gunmen killed 10 people including a Canadian tourist and police officers on Sunday in southern Jordan where security forces were hunting down the unidentified attackers.

The shootings took place in Karak, a tourist destination known for one of the biggest Crusader castles in the region, around 120 kilometres south of the capital Amman.

Jordan's general security department said seven policemen, a female Canadian tourist and two Jordanian civilians were killed in a series of shootings.

It said that 27 others, including policemen and civilians, were wounded.

A separate police statement said that "a number of outlaws who committed ugly crimes this afternoon" had been killed and that security forces were combing the Crusader castle for more gunmen.

The first attack took place when a police patrol went to check on a fire that had broken out in a house in Karak, the general security department said.

"As soon as they reached the area, unknown gunmen who were inside the house opened fire on the patrol, wounding a policeman, and then fled by car," it said in a statement carried by the official Petra news agency.

"Shortly afterwards, gunmen opened fire on another patrol without causing any casualties," it added.

At the same time, gunmen in the Crusader castle opened fire on the Karak police station, "wounding several policemen and passers-by" who were rushed to hospital.

"Police and security forces have surrounded the castle and its vicinity and launched an operation to hunt down the gunmen," the statement said, adding that the search was still under way.

A senior security source said some people were trapped in a lower floor of the citadel when the gunmen took shelter there, but denied media reports that they were being held hostage.

"There are no hostages. But some people who were on a lower floor were afraid of leaving as the gunmen traded fire with the security forces," said the source who did not wish to be identified.

He said that the gunmen were on a higher level inside the fortress.

The Jordan Tourism Board described the Karak citadel, which dates back to the 12th century and has withstood many sieges, as a "maze of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways".

The general security department statement said "five or six gunmen" were thought to be involved in the shootings.

However, Prime Minister Hani al-Malki, who was addressing parliament at the time of the shootings, said that "special forces and policemen are surrounding 10 gunmen holed up inside the Karak citadel".

It was not immediately clear who was behind the shootings, but Jordan has been hit by Islamist attacks in the past.
By Roberta Rampton and David Morgan

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON The U.S. Electoral College began voting on Monday to confirm Republican Donald Trump as the next president, with no sign that electors would revolt and switch to losing candidate Hillary Clinton as some Democrats had urged. The Electoral College vote is normally a formality but this year it has taken on extra prominence after Clinton lost the Nov. 8 election on a state-by-state basis despite winning the popular vote nationwide.There were protests at some state capitols on Monday, but no sign that the Electoral College's 538 electors, chosen by state parties, were switching to Clinton.There is almost no chance that Monday's vote will change the outcome of the election, which gave the White House to Trump after he won a majority of Electoral College votes. The Republican businessman is set to take office on Jan. 20.A candidate must secure 270 votes to win the college. Trump won 306 electors from 30 states on Nov. 8.The Electoral College votes will be officially counted during a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6."I don't think you have to wait for a surprise on January 6," said Robert Erikson, a political scientist at Columbia University, explaining it would be unlikely for Republican electors - most of whom have close ties to the party - to go rogue."If it's in the works, it sure has been a secret plot," Erikson said.

At midday on Monday, electors in 18 states had voted, with 117 votes cast for Trump and 79 for Clinton, the New York Times reported. Some Democrats have urged Republican electors to change their vote to Clinton who won the popular vote by a margin of nearly 2.9 million ballots at the last tally, according to the Cook Political Report.That outcome, combined with revelations by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia hacked into Democratic Party emails to try to sway the election for Trump, has put the spotlight on the Electoral College and spurred calls for constitutional reforms.

"FAITHLESS ELECTORS"

Twenty-four states have laws trying to prevent electors from swapping their votes. But occasionally, so-called "faithless electors" will ignore their pledge and change their vote.The most recent instance of a "faithless elector" was in 2004, according to the Congressional Research Service. There have been just eight since 1900, each in a different election.In a Facebook post, a 2016 Democratic elector from Maine, David Bright, said he would cast his vote for Clinton's rival for the party nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who carried Maine in the primary contest.

At least one Republican elector - Christopher Suprun from Texas - has said he will not vote for Trump. In an op-ed in the New York Times, Suprun said he had concerns about Trump's foreign policy experience and business conflicts.In Austin, Texas, on Monday, about 100 people chanting Dump Trump and waving signs reading The Eyes of Texas are Upon You gathered at the state capitol trying to sway electors to change their votes. Texas is the largest state Trump won in the election and its 38 electors were scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. CST (3 p.m. ET) to cast their ballots.There was also protests in Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona.The Electoral College was established in 1787 and assigns each state electors equal to its number of representatives and senators in Congress.When voters go to the polls to cast a ballot for president, they are actually choosing a presidential candidate's preferred slate of electors for their state. (Additional reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware, Jon Herkovitz in Austin and Julia Harte in Washington; Editing by James Dalgleish and Alistair Bell)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Yangon (Myanmar): Malaysia, the most outspoken of Myanmar's neighbours over its treatment of its Muslim ethnic Rohingya minority, told a meeting of regional foreign ministers on Monday, of its "grave concern" over the violence allegedly carried out by Myanmar's military.

In a formal document presented at the meeting called by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman noted "reports from many sources alleging arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings including of children, rape by soldiers, burning of Rohingya villages as well as destruction of homes and places of worship."

"It is troubling that these alleged violations occurred in the context of security operations conducted by Government authorities," the document said.

Suu Kyi called the meeting in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, to brief members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, amid growing international criticism of her army's alleged abuse of the Rohingya.

Earlier on Monday, Amnesty International released a report saying that based on the accounts of violence it had collected, the actions of Myanmar's military may constitute crimes against humanity.

Malaysia's presentation to the group proposed "unimpeded humanitarian access to the affected areas"  which have been mostly closed off to journalists and aid workers for about two months  and an effort by Asean to coordinate humanitarian assistance to the areas.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters that Myanmar agreed to allow access for humanitarian assistance. It has vaguely committed before to allowing access, but not fixed a date.

Myanmar also suggested setting up "an independent group of experts or an eminent persons group to investigate and verify the situation in the Rakhine State" to provide recommendations on how to ease the crisis, according to the document from Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim nation.

"We believe that in order to dispel these allegations of 'ethnic cleansing' or in some cases 'genocide', it is incumbent upon the Government to be transparent and to provide timely and accurate information as well as provide access to the affected areas," the document said.

It was unclear how Malaysia's suggestions were received at the meeting. Suu Kyi had earlier complained about foreign interference in the situation.

Myanmar's army went on a counterinsurgency offensive in northern Rakhine state after an October attack there on police outposts that killed nine officers. The area is home to most of Myanmar's estimated 1 million Rohingya, who face severe social and official discrimination in the overwhelmingly Buddhist country.

Rakhine, located in Myanmar's west, has been home to simmering tensions between the Rohingya and the country's Buddhist population. The last major outbreak of violence in 2012 left hundreds dead and drove 140,000 people into internal displacement camps.

The Malaysian statement noted that member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, along with Bangladesh, have long coped with Rohingya refugees, making the point that the Rohingya crisis affected the entire region.

The Malaysian document, presented at the meeting and released public afterward, was considerably stronger in tone than remarks afterward by other attendees.

"What we want to do is to make sure that before we consider moving forward to another possibility, options or any other methods to address the problems, we want to get the full picture," said Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.

Retno, the Indonesian foreign minister, expressed appreciation for the briefing, which she described as "a very transparent and honest exchange for peace." She said the two most important developments coming out of the meeting were agreement that Myanmar would regularly update fellow Asean members on the situation in Rakhine, and Myanmar's commitment to allow access for humanitarian assistance.
By Nate Raymond

| NEW YORK

NEW YORK A U.S. judge on Monday ordered the unsealing of the application used to obtain a search warrant that allowed the FBI to gain access to emails related to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's private server before the Nov. 8 election.U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in Manhattan directed the release by Tuesday of redacted materials used to obtain a search warrant after Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey informed Congress of newly discovered emails on Oct. 28.Comey's letter drew new attention to a damaging issue for Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, and roiled the campaign 11 days before the Nov. 8 election, won by Republican Donald Trump.The search warrant materials' release sought by Randol Schoenberg, a Los Angeles-based lawyer, who in court papers said transparency was crucial given the potential influence the probe had on the election's outcome.Sources close to the investigation have said the emails were discovered during an unrelated probe into former Democratic U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of top Clinton aide Huma Abedin.

In his order, Castel said he would allow the redaction of the identities of two unnamed individuals, one of whom is subject to an "ongoing criminal investigation."But he said the "strong presumption of access attached to the search warrant and related materials is not overcome by any remaining privacy interest of Secretary Clinton."Lawyers for Clinton and Abedin did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did the U.S. Justice Department. A lawyer for Weiner had no immediate comment.

Clinton used the server while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.In July, Comey recommended no criminal charges be brought over Clinton's handing of classified information in the emails, although he said she and her colleagues were "extremely careless" in handling such information.

In his Oct. 28 letter to Congress, Comey said emails potentially related to the Clinton server probe had been discovered in an "unrelated case."Sources close to the investigation have said the emails were discovered during an unrelated probe into Weiner following a media report that he engaged in sexually explicit cellphone and online messaging with a 15-year-old girl.Federal investigators got a warrant to examine the emails to see if they were related to the probe into Clinton's private server. Only two days before the election, Comey disclosed that the emails did nothing to change his earlier recommendation. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Alistair Bell and Alan Crosby)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
This article is second in a series on key members of US President-elect Donald Trumps national security team. You can read the first and second parts here and here respectively.

While James Mattis  Donald Trumps nominee for Secretary of Defence position  was pushing the new counter-insurgency doctrine into action in Iraq and Afghanistan, Trumps NSA-designate Michael Flynn was serving as the intelligence head of the United States Joint Special Operations Command (Jsoc). Jsoc integrates special operators from the army, navy, and the air force, and is tasked with command over all covert and other sub-conventional activity that the United States military undertakes in war. It also enjoys close working relationships with the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division.

The intelligence arm of Jsoc that Flynn led was responsible for intelligence-gathering to support on-ground operations, for interrogation of captured terrorists, and for interfacing intelligence analysts with combat teams in real time. Flynn's experience with Jsoc in Iraq, as Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, for the coalition forces fighting in Afghanistan and, finally, as the Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency  Pentagon's behemoth spy agency  shaped and moulded his world-view and led him to fall out with Obama  and to eventually endorse Trump.

This world view posits radical Islam as an existential threat to the United States, at par with Soviet communism at the height of the Cold War. The fight against radical Islam is a generational struggle that is nowhere near to being over, adherents to this world-view would hold. While this was also the implicit belief of the Bush-era neoconservatives, what makes Flynn stand out is his assertion that the enemy is not simply a motley crew of insurgents prowling the badlands of international politics  however threatening it may be. Rather it is a political ideology based on a religion, as Flynn told journalist Mehdi Hasan in January this year.

For Flynn, the enemy is Islamism. It is a weaponized faith out to settle historico-cultural scores with the rest of the world.

It is this very expansiveness of conception that worries Flynn's (and Trump's) detractors  and assures many around the world who have maintained that Obama, in hurry to end wars he didn't start, has relinquished American initiative in the fight against global jihad. While Obama's drone strikes has had limited utility in diminishing the threat emanating from the Af-Pak region, Islamist radicals have created a proto-state across Iraq and Syria. And as the ongoing difficulties in recapturing Mosul illustrate, the news of impending death of IS is vastly exaggerated.

A brilliant Politico profile of Flynn  published before Trump's election, in October  termed him as America's angriest general. Unlike most of Bush's neoconservative mouthpieces, Flynn's way of looking at the world was not shaped by debate in think-tanks and universities. Rather, as the Politico profile describes it, it was by his face-to-face encounters with the adversary  in form of captured high-ranking members of Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)  that shaped Flynn's conviction that 'core Al Qaeda' wasn't actually compromised of human beings, but rather it was an ideology with a particular version of Islam at its center. This is politically-incorrect stuff. But is it accurate?

Flynn's detainees were working for Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian who led AQI which would, in time, morph into IS as we know the group today. Zarqawi's career as a jihadist was shaped by his time in Osama bin Laden's pre-2001 Afghanistan where he formed a close relationship with jihadi theorist Abu Mus'ab al-Suri. Al-Suri literally wrote the most authoritative manual on the strategy of global jihad. (This Firstpost article summarizes some recent research on al-Suri's contributions.) His description of al-Qaeda  which was repeated by other suspects captured by the United States prior to 9/11  is notable:

Al-Qaeda is not an organization, it is not a group, nor do we want it to be [] It is a call, a reference, a methodology.

Nizam la tanzim; system, not organization  that was al-Qaeda 2.0, the precursor to IS. But a system of what? Of a restoration of the Islamic caliphate, following the calls of ideologues of political Islam like Sayyid Qutb.

Michael Flynn's subjects had provided him with a fundamental insight: this is not an amorphous war against terror (whatever that means). It is a war against a particular ideology. Obama, Trump's supporters would contend, either failed to see it as such or (much worse) ignored it as politically-inexpedient. And from this insight, other policy prescriptions that Flynn has advocated  and would now put in place as Trump's NSA  would follow.

But a war on an ideology is more than as-and-when kinetic action in far-flung areas of the world. By its very definition, it requires the deployment of all resources the United States has, much like the policy of containment against the Soviet Union American diplomat George Kennan had advocated at the start of the Cold War. How the Trump administration defines, and fights, this war will shape much of the future in the Middle East and North Africa in the years to come.

The author is a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi and a national security columnist for Firstpost. Views expressed here are personal. He tweets @AbhijnanRej

Part 1: Why 9/11 will shape what follows 11/9

Part 3: John Kelly and the narco-terror nexus
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The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cape Verde, Luis Filipe Tavares said that the possibility of Cape Verde being an extension of the free movement Schengen area in European countries that signed the agreement is under consideration.

The Schengen area is the result of an agreement signed by 30 European countries, including all members of the European Union (EU)  except Ireland and the United Kingdom  and three non-EU countries, namely Iceland, Norway and Switzerland with a view to opening up borders and allowing the free movement of people between signatory countries.

The head of Cape Verdes diplomacy speaking in Praia said the government was conducting the study and that it has an understanding from the European Union countries.

This possibility has arisen at a time when Cape Verde is experiencing strong growth in tourism, and the government intends to create conditions for tourism to improve in quality.

The aim is to increase the flow of tourists, reducing barriers through use of the framework partnership for mobility with the European Union and in the future, consider the possibility of Cape Verdeans also moving freely in the Schengen area. MDT/Macauhub
The Christmas market at Albergue SCM kicked off on Saturday, featuring 30 booths that offered Portuguese gourmet products, festive snacks and hand-

made childrens toys.

Co-organized by Albergue SCM and Rena Plus (Macau) Ltd, the Christmas market aimed to promote Portuguese products to locals and tourists alike.

The stalls at the event offered tastings of Portuguese gourmet food such as dried fruit, jams, honey, cheese, cookies, chocolate, olive oil, canned fish and wine.

Ana Maria de Senna Fernandes, project manager at Rena Plus, told the Times yesterday that the bazaar is different from the governments Christmas market in Tap Seac, which commences today.

Fernandes noted that the bazaar was also held in a bid to promote Albuergue as a tourist attraction and she emphasized that Portuguese merchandises was the main offering of the fair.

Many of the products available at the market have been made in Portugal.

We would like to promote Portuguese products. That is our main goal. [There] are around 15 tables [featuring] Portuguese wine, cookies [and] rugs, she said in a phone interview.

Market stall holders are required to pay a registration fee of MOP100 per day.

Although the Portuguese-themed Christmas markets aim is to offer Portuguese products, some local associations and businesses are also offering several of their own products.

Platform Art, a community that promotes art, is present at Albergue, offering painting activities for children.

Cristina Lao, a volunteer said that the number of participants at the art booth has already exceeded the firms expectations.

There were 20 to 30 kids staying here for drawing just this afternoon. Its really out of [our] expectation, she said.

According to Lao, such a bazaar is a vital place for the firm to promote its products and offerings.

She added that the art industry in the region is looking forward to the governments assistance its promotion.

As Ive heard, in the next coming years, they [the government] will put more effort into [promoting the] arts. It will be good for us, she concluded.

The Christmas market at Albergue SCM courtyard will be held on December 24 and 25. It will be open from midday to 9:30 p.m.




Sands China announced the winners of its creative arts competition with an awards presentation and the opening of an exhibition displaying the works at The Venetian Macao.

Launched in August, Sands China Presents: Macaos Past & Present Creative Arts Competition was created in support of the regions art and cultural industries.

The competition invited members of the public to create pieces of art demonstrating the unique local charm of Macaus past and present. Entries could be submitted in artistic and creative forms such as painting, photography and sculpture.

Winners were chosen from each category, including a special award in each category for entries themed on The Parisian Macao, Sands Chinas newest integrated resort.

Winners received valuable prizes from a total prize pool of over MOP150,000, with their winning pieces now displayed at the exhibition.

The awarded works can be viewed at the exhibition at The Venetian Macao until December 29.

CTM broadens wi-fi service coverage

CTM will offer free CTM Wi-Fi at more than 1,300 affiliated restaurants of iFood Macau.

The kick-off ceremony of Wi-Fi restaurant Project was held at China Civil Plaza last week, according to the companys press release.

Ebel Cham, Vice President of Commercial at CTM said that broadening CTM Wi-Fi coverage to more than 1,300 affiliated restaurants of iFood Macau would enable residents and tourists to enjoy the convenience brought by high speed Wi-Fi services. She added that both parties will further strengthen the partnership in order to offer a greater array of exclusive privileges to CTM customers and iFood Macau members.

By the end of this year, more than 2,000 CTM Wi-Fi hotspots will be located at entry ports, tourism spots, hotels, hospitals, libraries, shopping malls and on public transport. The company said it will continue to promote the development and application of the CTM Wi-Fi network.
Libya has made a surprise announcement undertaking to destroy its arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.

The government of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has also agreed to allow weapons inspectors into Libya immediately and unconditionally to oversee the elimination.

Under the agreement, Libya, which is included on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, will dismantle its weapons of mass destruction and limit the range of its missiles to no more than 300 km.

It emerged that Tripoli has already allowed US and British experts to see elements of the weapons programs during two trips to Libya in October and December this year.

In its statement today, the Libyan Foreign Ministry said: [Libya] believes that the arms race will neither serve its security nor the regions security and contradicts [Libyas] great concern for a world that enjoys peace and security.

The statement has been welcomed by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the US President, George W Bush, who made televised addresses almost at the same time.

President Bush said the agreement, signed after nine months of secret negotiations, would make the world and America a safer place, and the world more peaceful. He went on to hint that tough US sanctions on Libya would be scrapped if Tripoli kept its word.

Mr Blair praised the decision as historic and courageous. It shows that the problems of proliferation can be tackled through discussion and engagement, he said.

He revealed that Libya had approached Britain in March with an offer to open discussions on WMD. Until then, intelligence officers had suspected that it was working on chemical and biological weapons but had never been able to confirm it.

Mr Blair said Libya had acknowledged it was working towards developing a nuclear weapon, and had got close to achieving its objective. The breakthrough is the latest in a series of developments which have thawed previously frosty relations between Libya and the West.

One of the most significant was Tripolis admission of responsibility in August this year for the Lockerbie air disaster in 1988, in which 270 people died.

Colonel Gadaffi agreed to pay $2.7bn compensation to relatives of those killed in the attack, paving the way for UN sanctions against Libya to be lifted in September.

Courtesy of BBC

In context

In March 2004, Libya submitted a full report on its chemical weapons programmes to the UN.

In it, the country declared a 20-ton stockpile of deadly mustard gas, as well as large amounts of chemical agents used in the manufacture of sarin and other toxins.

Later the same month, British Prime Minister Tony Blair made a controversial visit to Libya to meet Colonel Gadaffi.

It was the first time a British prime minister had visited Libya since Winston Churchill in 1943.

Most US sanctions against Libya were revoked in April 2004, and diplomatic ties between the US and Libya were formally resumed in June 2004.

Libyas efforts to end its pariah status have also led to payouts for relatives of victims of two more bombings, one of a French airliner in 1979 and the other of a disco in Berlin, Germany, in 1986.

The United States boycotts on trade and importing Libyan oil were lifted in September 2004. In the same month, the EU lifted its last embargo, on the sale of arms to Libya. The US restored full diplomatic relations in May 2006.

Gaddafi was ousted from power in the wake of the fall of Tripoli to rebel forces on 20 August 2011. The civil war continued and he was killed on 20 October 2011 during the Battle of Sirte.
A scheme for eligible Macau-registered vehicles to enter Hengqin Island in Zhuhai will commence tomorrow, the Macau government and authorities from the Zhuhai Municipal Peoples Government confirmed during a press conference on Friday.

The dual authorities unveiled their arrangements regarding the implementation of the first phase of the scheme, including a management plan and information on the relevant application procedures to acquire the necessary vehicle registration. It was announced that as of Friday, the authorities have begun accepting applications under the scheme.

In accordance with mainland law, cross-border motor vehicles must be covered by Motor Vehicle Traffic Accident Liability Insurance before entering the Hengqin New Area, according to a statement issued by the Monetary Authority of Macau (AMCM).

Coordinated by the AMCM, Macau single-plate car owners can purchase the relevant insurance coverage through local insurance companies. At present, the only companies in Macau that have established cooperative agreements with mainland partners are China Taiping Insurance (Macau) Company and Asia Insurance Company, according to AMCM.

Officials from numerous Macau government departments, such as the Macau Customs Service, the Public Security Police Force and the Transport Bureau, in addition to officials from Zhuhai municipal authorities, attended Fridays press conference.

The director-general of the Macau Customs Service, Ng Kuok Heng, said during the press conference that the scheme represents a significant milestone in the continued cooperation between Guangdong and Macau, and that local authorities had therefore viewed it as a priority.

Meanwhile, the director of the Hengqin New Area Management Committee, Niu Jing, promised that the entry of Macau-registered vehicles to the island would enhance overall border-crossing efficiency between Macau and Zhuhai and improve the convenience of travel.

In June of this year, the negotiating parties of the Guangdong and Macau local governmental authorities agreed the initial terms of the scheme, which will allow Macau-registered vehicles to enter Hengqin.

On December 8, the Guangdong local government and Zhuhai municipal authorities issued provisional procedures and new measures to manage the presence of these vehicles in Hengqin.
The Office of the President of the Legislative Assembly (AL) has requested without precedent that a formal question in writing, issued by lawmaker Leong Veng Chai and be presented to the AL, be revised to not include references to the current Secretary for Administration and Justice, Sonia Chan, the former holder of the role, Florinda Chan, and the regions former top prosecutor, Ho Chio Meng.

Lawmaker Leong Veng Chai, who is a colleague of Jose Pereira Coutinho, was due to question the government on whether an investigation would be held into the alleged influence of Sonia Chan over the former top prosecutor, which may have resulted in the hiring of at least one of Chans relatives.

Chan, who denied that she abused her power to influence the hiring process when she was serving as the director of the Office of Personal Data Protection, said on Friday that she will be more careful with her behavior in future.

The denial is in response to a claim made by Ho Chio Meng during the trial of the former top prosecutor last week. Ho alleged that the current secretary, as well as the former holder of the post, Florinda Chan, had exerted their influence over the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) to recommend the hiring of their relatives at the MP.

Lawmaker Leong was informed by the Office of the President of the AL that it was inappropriate to use the names of Sonia Chan, Florinda Chan and Ho Chio Meng in his speech to the assembly, as the case is still being tried in court.

The lawmaker told Ponto Final that, having been caught by surprise, the lawmaker accepted the revisions, agreeing to the use of the term, holders of the top posts, in lieu of naming the current and former officials.

Sonia Chan admitted to reporters on Friday that although she recommended a relative to the position, the current secretary did not violate the law in doing so.

Being the director of the Office for Personal Data Protection at that time, it was impossible for me to put any pressure [on Ho] she told reporters on Friday.

I do have relatives working at the Public Prosecutions Office. During that time, I had a chance to mention to the former chief prosecutor that there was such a candidate, she added, according to TDM, [but] Ive had neither decision nor power on that matter, she said, cited by public broadcaster TDM.

She also denied that there was any exchange of benefits, adding that: I believe I did not violate the law or engage in any wrongdoing. I did not interfere in the procedures of the other party. [The hiring] procedures were carried out according to the regulations. DB

Friday session of Hos trial suspended

The trial of Ho Chio Meng had its latest session on Friday suspended shortly after its commencement following a procedural issue raised by the defense. The objection was raised by the defense when Ho was questioned about the delivery of contracts for his own alleged benefit. The defendant claimed that he was unable to adequately make his case without knowing the full details of the accusation.

The judges admitted that there was a discrepancy between the prosecutions initial charge and the questioning levied against Ho during Fridays session, however it was also noted that the discrepancy had been already redressed. Nevertheless, the court granted the suspension. The next session will take place today providing that Ho is in sufficient health to proceed.
Migrante-Macau and the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union celebrated International Migrants Day yesterday  continuing with their call for the protection of rights of domestic workers in the MSAR.

The celebration included the discussion of updated labor laws including the reduced number of days given to domestic employees who have had their contracts terminated by them or their employers.

Previously, local immigration authorities granted 10-day visas to these employees, but have now shortened their length to eight days.

Emer de Lina, chairperson of Migrante-Macau shared that, according to the Labor Affairs Bureau, those looking for jobs are not supposed to pay for agency fees as it is the employers duty to pay such fees.

Lina explained how Filipino and Indonesian nationals are paying substantial fees to several agencies in the region.

The collection of a big amount of agency fees is really rampant and that is a big burden to us, she explained to the Times.

Agencies require MOP18,000 from [someone] who applies and gets a job as a security guard, she lamented. For domestic workers, they ask for MOP5,000 to MOP6,000.

The chairman reiterated that domestic workers in Macau are in great need of having their rights protected. According to her, many members of vulnerable groups refuse to voice their concerns, as there is no protection for them.

Meanwhile, Migrante-Macau continues to call for the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) to open on Sundays.

Under the current plans yesterday was due to be the last week that the consulate is open on a Sunday.

Lina shared that the association is in an ongoing dialogue with PCG and was allegedly told by the consulate that they are also waiting for further updates from the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs.

Along with the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, Migrante-Macau is also calling for government-run shelters for its domestic workers.

There are a lot of Filipino migrant workers that experience premature termination. Its their [consulates] obligation to provide shelter to those who are in distress, she said.

Wari Yanti, a representative of the Indonesian association, also expressed her hope that an Indonesian consulate would be established in the MSAR. She noted that it is problematic for Indonesian domestic workers to seek assistance without a consulate that is based in Macau.
New Yorkers have become accustomed to waiting on the subway. But nearly 45 years?

Thats how long its been since construction began on a much-needed subway line beneath the east side of Manhattan. And if history is any guide, its anybodys guess whether a Dec. 31 deadline to open it will actually be met.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been pushing the end-of-the-year deadline set by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority hard in recent days, saying its become about more than the long-delayed Second Avenue subway  its about the faith people have in government.

Nobody believes its going to be done on time, nobody, the Democratic governor said in a radio interview this week. But, he added, if we can get it done on time.  if we can open that thing up at the beginning of the year, maybe people will start to say once again, Wow. Maybe we can do something.

The Second Avenue subway, seen as crucial to alleviating traffic on one of the worlds busiest transit systems, has been star-crossed since it was first envisioned by the citys transportation board in 1929. Those plans were derailed by the stock market crash a few months later.

It wasnt until 1972 that ground was finally broken on the project. But again, a financial crisis in the nations most populous city in the 1970s put to a halt to work. In the 1990s, two powerful U.S. senators from New York were able to secure vital federal funds. But then there were years of bureaucratic hurdles: zoning changes, environmental studies and pre-construction work to clear the citys underground of pipes and cables.

In 2007, the major tunneling work began on the $4.4 billion project thats now set to open: a four-station, nearly 2-mile expansion of an existing subway line from Lexington Avenue and 63rd Street to 96th Street, with stops at 72nd and 86th streets in between. .

It was supposed to be completed in 2013.

Quite frankly, its way overdue, said Richard Barone, of the Regional Plan Association, a transportation research and advocacy group. In the long run, does it matter if its a little late by weeks or months? No as long as it opens. But if the government says theyre going to do it at this time, people should have a reasonable expectation that they do.

Delays were due, at least in part, on the fact that construction is much different today than it was when most of the citys subways were built.

At the beginning of the 1900s, before certain worker safety protections were codified into law, New York subway construction was championed by the efficient so-called cut and cover method, where workers stopped traffic to dig up the streets, lay track and then covered up the holes again.

During the Second Avenue subway construction, officials employed a 485-ton, 450-foot-long machine that bored through 50 feet of bedrock daily. But the pace was slowed, in part, because of political concerns about noise from the work.

About 5.6 million riders take New York Citys subways on weekdays, according to the MTA, the state entity that controls the transit system. Ridership on Manhattans only north-south subway line on the east side has been surging, with overcrowded trains straining the system and causing delays that ripple throughout the citys underground.

Officials estimate about 200,000 daily commuters will take advantage of the new Second Avenue line, which is slated to expand north into Harlem.

But officials havent yet set a date for when that phase of construction will begin. Jake Pearson, New York, AP
Dozens of buses and ambulances were poised to enter east Aleppo to resume evacuating rebel fighters and civilians from the oppositions remaining districts in the city, pro-Syrian government media said yesterday.

As part of a wider deal, convoys were also preparing to evacuate more than 2,000 wounded and sick residents from two villages that have been besieged by rebels, the reports said. The oppositions Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said buses had begun entering the villages, Foua and Kfarya.

Evacuations from Aleppo had been halted amid mutual recriminations Friday, after several thousand trapped civilians had already been moved from the city. The suspension of the evacuations had thrown an Aleppo deal brokered by Russia and Turkey last week into disarray.

The deal marked a turning point in the countrys war. With the opposition leaving Aleppo, Syrian President Bashar Assad has effectively reasserted his control over the Syrias five largest cities and its Mediterranean coast nearly six years after a national movement to unseat him took hold.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which has overseen the Aleppo evacuations, had no comment yesterday on the possible resumption of evacuations. The agency has said thousands of people, among them women, children, the sick and the injured, remained trapped in besieged areas of the city, waiting in freezing temperatures for the evacuations to resume.

English teacher Wissam Zarqa, an Aleppo resident waiting to leave, said that families have been assigned bus numbers, in an apparent sign that evacuations would resume.

Syrias pro-government Al-

Ikhbariya TV and Al-Manar TV, the media arm of the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group that supports the Syria government, yesterday showed buses lined up at an access road leading into Aleppo. Al-Manar said 75 buses were to enter east Aleppo, and that convoys were also preparing to evacuate sick and wounded from the two rebel-besieged villages.

Also yesterday, the U.N. Security Council was expected to vote on a resolution demanding immediate and unconditional access for the United Nations and its partners to besieged parts of Aleppo and throughout Syria to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The council scheduled consultations yesterday morning on the French-drafted resolution followed by an open meeting where members are expected to vote.

The draft resolution calls on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to immediately redeploy U.N. humanitarian staff already on the ground to carry out neutral monitoring and direct observation and to report on evacuations.

It stressed that evacuations of civilians must be voluntary and to the destinations of their choice.

Russias U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Friday he would examine the draft, but was skeptical that monitors could be deployed quickly. Philip Issa, Beirut, AP
A smog-shrouded Chinese city canceled airline flights yesterday due to poor visibility and parents took children to hospitals on the second day of a pollution alert across the countrys north.

The official Xinhua News Agency said 35 flights in Tianjin, east of Beijing, were delayed or canceled. Highways into the city of 7.5 million people were closed due to extremely low visibility.

Beijing and 22 other Chinese cities imposed emergency measures Saturday, including ordering cars off the road and telling factories and schools to close, after pollution soared to more than 10 times safe levels.

Yesterday, news website said the number of children being taken to Beijing hospitals with breathing trouble soared. Photos showed waiting rooms crowded with parents carrying children who wore face masks.

Chinese cities are notorious for noxious air blamed on emissions from older cars and trucks, coal-fired power plants and factories.

Members of the public closely watch levels of PM2.5, particles measuring 2.5 microns across that are easily inhaled and damage lung tissue.

The alert, this winters first, lasts through Wednesday. The National Meteorological Center said pollution in a densely populated swath stretching from the countrys northeast across Beijing to eastern China was likely to worsen on Monday.

Visibility in some areas was as little as 1,000 meters (3,280 feet), according to the weather agency.

Authorities in Jinan, south of Tianjin, raised that citys alert to the second-highest level yesterday after the city basically disappeared in the haze, the newspaper Jilu Evening News reported. Photos on its website showed downtown office towers as ghostly silhouettes at midday.

Beijing and other cities have tried to improve air quality by switching power plants from coal to natural gas and rolling out fleets of electric buses and taxis.

The Beijing city weather bureau says that despite the latest spike, air in the Chinese capital has improved. It says days on which was it was rated good in the first half of the year increased by 19 to 107, while the number of heavily polluted days fell by two to 14. AP
A hotel brand of the Artyzen Hospitality Group, Artyzen Habitat, has been awarded the 2016 The Most Anticipated Hotel Brand at the National Tourism Award 2016.

Artyzen is the hotel management arm of Shun Tak Holdings. The award was presented in a ceremony held jointly by Tourism Media and Best Travel Media last week in Beijing.

As cited in a press release issued by the group, Robbert van der Mass, president of the Artyzen Hospitality Group said that its Artyzen Habitat hotel will open in April 2017 at the Dongzhimen area in Beijing. The president noted that the 138-room hotel incorporates Beijings local cultural elements in a modern way.

Meanwhile, Edmond Ip, vice chairman of the Artyzen Hospitality Group remarked, as an Asia-based international hotel management company, we view culture as an informed attitude shared and kept alive by communities of like-minded individuals.

According to Ip, each of their hotel brands bring the groups philosophy of Art, Culture and Emotional Wisdom to life through a concept that guides the respective brands design aesthetic and service style.

The vice chairman pledged that the group would continue to grow its hotel portfolio in Asia Pacific.

Fuelled in part by insights from the Airbnb phenomenon, the development of the Artyzen Habitat brand has focused on delivering accommodation that provides a more home-like environment with the living area forming the nucleus of the room instead of having the room designed around the bed.

This is the second award for the Artyzen Hospitality Group brands following its citizenM brand receiving the 2016 The Most Anticipated Hotel Brand award by the regions leading travel trade publication, Travel Weekly China, in May 2016.

Artyzen Hospitality Group currently has 10 hotels under development or in operation in Greater China, mainly in key getaway cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Macau and Taiwan.

The company said it is accelerating its development in Asia Pacific with more projects being developed in Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and other Asian market destinations.
A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a military camp in the southern Yemeni city of Aden yesterday morning, killing at least 48 soldiers, a Health Ministry official said. The Islamic State groups Yemen-based affiliate claimed responsibility.

Abdel-Nasr al-Wali, a Health Ministry official based in Aden, told The Associated Press that 84 people were injured in the blast. Security officials said that preliminary investigations showed the blast was the work of a bomber wearing an explosives-laden vest. The attack took place as soldiers lined up to collect their salaries, they said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

The IS affliate claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on IS-run Aamaq news agency. It identified the bomber as Abu Hashim al-Radfani and published a photo of him smiling and wearing a white vest as he stood next to the groups black flag. It also posted photos it said were of the blast that killed nearly 70. It was not possible to immediately verify the claim.

The blast took place at the same military base that was also struck by a suicide bomber on Dec. 10, killing 57 soldiers. The IS Yemeni affiliate also claimed responsibility for that attack.

In addition to IS, Yemen is the longtime home to an active branch of al-Qaida, widely regarded as the most dangerous of the international extremist group.

Aden is controlled by a loose coalition of troops loyal to the internationally-recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, local militias and jihadi groups. They are battling Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, who seized Yemens capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and later swept across much of northern Yemen.

The Houthis advances forced Hadi to flee the country and seek shelter in neighboring Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition, mostly consisting of Gulf Arab states, subsequently intervened in Yemen in early 2015, launching a punishing air campaign against the rebels and their allies. Ahmed Al-Haj, Sanaa, AP
BURLEY  For more than two decades, Ron Abramovich has studied snowpack depths and fall moisture readings at nearly 90 locations across Idaho. He factors climate patterns, and from all that data, makes a series of predictions about what he expects streamflow to be in the coming spring and summer.

Using reservoir carryover amounts and historical irrigation demand, he can estimate how much streamflow is needed to provide adequate irrigation supplies. Comparing the projected streamflow with the anticipated need allows irrigators and water managers to plan for the coming year.

At least, thats how it works in theory.

But the water forecaster for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Snow Survey is seeing more extreme weather events that can wreak havoc on his forecast model. Not only that, but water users often have dramatically different opinions about whether the extreme weather was good or bad which makes talking about an event somewhat treacherous.

Take for example the abnormally wet period in early August 2014 that caused wheat and barley to sprout in the field when growers couldnt get the crop out in time. Those rains hurt a lot of grain farmers, but recharged soil moisture in the fall which allowed the following spring snow melt to run off and fill reservoirs rather than soaking into the ground.

After a good snowpack last winter, the models were calling for good streamflows this summer. Based on the data, the Snow Survey forecast a streamflow of 112 percent of average in the Big Wood Basin, the actual was 96 percent. The 93 percent of average that the Oakley Basin observed was good, but not nearly as good as the 120 percent that NRCS had forecast on April 1.

The Bear River Basin in eastern Idaho was one of the few exceptions where the actual streamflow was greater than the spring forecast, 75 percent of average compared to 70 percent.

Usually our forecasts are closer than they were last year, Abramovich told participants at the University of Idaho 2017 Agriculture Outlook held in Burley in early December. The discrepancy was a function of elevation and temperatures in April that affected how fast the snow came off.

But after looking at how far off some of last years forecasts were and seeing some of the extremes that have been recorded since the water year began Oct. 1, Abramovich is leery about making early forecasts.

Weve had a record high start to this water year, he said, alluding to the 147 percent of average precipitation the state has received so far. Thats still good news for getting water into the soil now, which means more water will be available for storage in the spring.

Streamflows at Yellowstone, the headwaters for the Snake River, were at record lows last summer and now are at record highs. The same is true for the Big Wood. We are seeing more and more of these extremes, Abramovich said.

Lewis Lake Divide is a key SNOTEL site for canal companies that rely on the Snake River for their irrigation supplies. Soil moisture at that site is about the same as last fall. As of Dec. 15, the snowpack was at 75 percent of average for this date and about one-fourth of the peak snowpack had been reached.

Given reservoir storage, the Snake River at Heise (located west of Yellowstone) must reach 82 percent of average streamflow next spring.

Whether the Snake reaches that threshold or not, is largely dependent on what happens over the next three months.

Last year was a strong El Nino year (unusually warm Pacific Ocean temperatures), but the models now indicate 2017 is on a borderline between La Nina (unusually cold temperatures) and a neutral sea temperature situation.

Abramovich has tracked what happens to streamflows during strong El Nino years and the year following a strong El Nino. About one-third of the time, streamflows in southern Idaho are above normal in strong El Nino years while northern Idaho gets below normal streamflows.

The year after a strong El Nino leaves a lot of energy in the atmosphere, which spawns very active weather patterns. About two-thirds of the time, that means above normal streamflows in southern Idaho.

The last strong El Nino was in 1998-99, which was a good water year. Whether 2017 will be or not, is yet to be determined but Abramovich is cautiously optimistic based on the snowpack in Siberia. As of early December, 95 percent of Siberia was covered by snow. Thats the largest amount since 1998. And it was in 1998, that Mount Baker set a record of 1,000 inches of snow.

Let it snow.

Usually our forecasts are closer than they were last year. The discrepancy was a function of elevation and temperatures in April that affected how fast the snow came off. Ron Abramovich, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Snow Survey
Seniors wellness

The Twin Falls Senior Center will hold a presentation for senior citizens at 12:15 p.m. Monday at 530 Shoshone St. W.

Connie Campbell of Syringe Place will talk about simple and complex carbohydrates.

Free; 208-734-5084.

Victims support

Support group for victims of domestic violence, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the Mini-Cassia Shelter Haven of Hope, 323 First St., Rupert.

Information: Rachel, 208-312-7021.

Alzheimers support

Alzheimers Association, Greater Idaho Chapters Caregiver Support Group meeting, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone St. W., Twin Falls. The group meets on the third Wednesday every month.

Information: Pattie Dennis, 208-734-4264 or 208-539-4290.

Laughter exercise

Laughter therapy class, 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone St. W., with Mary Martinat, a retired physical education instructor. Learn how laughing can relieve stress and improve your breathing.

Free. 208-734-5084.

Grief support

Suicide Prevention Action Network of south-central Idaho, a nonprofit group that offers support and education, will offer a free support group for anyone who has lost someone to a suicide.

The group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. on the third Wednesdays at the Church of the Ascension, 371 Eastland Drive N. in Twin Falls., and is open to everyone. Information: Donna Stalley, 208-733-1462.

Grief support

Grief Share meetings, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, through Feb. 2, at Lighthouse Church, 960 Eastland Drive, Twin Falls.

Anyone who has lost a loved one or friend is welcome to attend. A separate class for teens will begin at the same time. Participants can attend any session. Enter through the east doors at the rear of the main building.

Information: 208-737-4667.

Childbirth

St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Centers prepared childbirth classes, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Dec. 27 through Jan. 24, in the Oak Room on the lower level of St. Lukes, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls.

Topics: Wellness during pregnancy; labor and delivery process with relaxation and breathing techniques; caesarean birth; postpartum care for mother and newborn; infant CPR; car seat and home safety; and a tour of the maternal and child units. Bring a labor-support person if possible.

Cost is $25 for a five-week session. Pre-registration is required: 208-814-0402.

Blood drives

The American Red Cross will hold blood drives next week in Twin Falls and Richfield.

Blood donation opportunities will be available in Twin Falls from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 27 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 667 Harrison St.; 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 28 at Twin Falls South Stake Center, 541 Orchard Drive; and from 1 to 7 p.m. Dec. 27, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 28 and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 29 at Church of the Ascension Episcopal, 371 Eastland Drive N.

In Richfield, the blood drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 29 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 440 E. Nez Perce.

Donors of all blood types are needed to help ensure a sufficient supply for hospital patients. To schedule an appointment to donate, use the blood donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.

Childbirth

Childbirth refresher course, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Jan. 3, in the Oak Rooms on the lower level of St. Lukes, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls.

Topic: Review of childbirth preparation and medical center procedures, and a tour of the maternal and child unit. Bring a labor support person, if possible.

Cost is $15; pre-registration is required, 208-814-0402.
TWIN FALLS  The final draft of the citys Transit Development Plan will be presented the City Council on Monday.

In the plan, Gridworks Consulting analyzed the citys existing conditions in public transportation, and made recommendations for future needs. Under federal law, Twin Falls will be designated as an urbanized area when its population exceeds 50,000. This is estimated to take place by 2020.

The city will then have to establish a Metropolitan Planning Organization and determine what type of public transportation, if any, it will provide for residents.

The council meets at 305 Third Ave. E.

Prior to the regular meeting, the City Council will meet at 3:30 p.m. to have a roundtable discussion about upcoming issues of the 2017 Legislative Session. The regular meeting will begin at 5 p.m.

The Council has also been asked to approve a request to apply for a $10,000 grant from the Idaho State Historical Society to develop a Historical Preservation Master Plan and reprint historical walking and driving brochures.

Also on the agenda is a request to approve Monica DAngelo as a library trustee, and to re-appoint Dan Brizee, Gary Bond and Darren Hall to the Building Department Advisory Committee.

The council will recognize Jeff Miller, Dan Gould, Will Blanton and Dave Owens with the Twin Falls Fire Department for completing certifications.
Contemplating the extermination of Aleppo and its people, I was reminded of a sentence that I read this summer. It appeared in an encomium to Elie Wiesel shortly after his death. It was a sterling sentence. It declared: We must never be bystanders to injustice or indifferent to suffering. That was Wiesels teaching, exactly. The problem with the sentence is that it was issued by the White House and attributed to President Barack Obama. And so the sentence was not at all sterling. It was outrageously hypocritical.

How dare Obama, and members of his administration, speak this way? After five years and more in which the United States inaction in Syria has transformed our country into nothing other than a bystander to the greatest atrocity of our time, they have forfeited the right to this language. Their angry and anguished utterances are merely the manipulation of the rhetoric of conscience on behalf of a policy without a trace of conscience. You cannot be cold-hearted and high-minded at the same time. Historians will recordthey will not have to dig deeply or interpret wildly to concludethat all through the excruciations of Aleppo, and more generally of Syria, the United States watched. As we watched, we made excuses, and occasionally we ornamented our excuses with eloquence. The president is enamored of his eloquence. But eloquence is precisely what the wrenching circumstances do not require of him. In circumstances of moral (and strategic) emergency, his responsibility is not to move us. It is to pick up the phone. Elie did more than just bear witness, Obama said in his eulogy, he acted. And he added: Just imagine the peace and justice that would be possible in our world if more people lived a little more like Elie Wiesel. Just imagine.

If Obama wants credit for not getting us into another war, the credit is his. If he wants credit for not being guilty of overreach, the credit is his. If he wants credit for conceiving of every obstacle and impediment to American action in every corner of the globe, the credit is his. But it is a shameful and incontrovertible fact of our history that during the past eight years the values of rescue, assistance, protection, humanitarianism and democracy have been demoted in our foreign policy and in many instances banished altogether. The ruins of the finest traditions of American internationalism, of American leadership in a darkening world, may be found in the ruins of Aleppo. Our ostentatious passivity is a primary cause of that darkening. When they go low, we go home. The Obama legacy in foreign policy is vacuum-creation, which his addled America-First successor will happily ratify. Aleppo was not destroyed by the Syrian army. It was destroyed by a savage coalition led and protected by Russia. While they massacred innocent men, women and children, we anxiously pondered scenarios of deconfliction.

We need to be unforgivingly clear. The obligation to act against evil in Aleppo was no different from the obligation to act against the evil in Sarajevo and Srebrenica. (Has anyone ever heard Obama mention Bosnia?) It was no different from the obligation to act against the evil in Rwanda. It was no different from the obligation to act against the evil in Auschwitz. And we scorned the obligation. We learned nothing. We forgot everything. We failed. We did not even try.

No, that is not quite right. It would be incorrect to analyze our delinquency in Syria in the dichotomously simple terms of action and inaction. The administration creatively pioneered a third option, which it pursued not only in Syria but also in Ukraine and elsewhere: Between action and inaction, it chose inconsequential action. There is the Obama doctrine! We backed moderate Syrian rebels, but not as seriously or as generously as the immoderate Syrian rebels were backed. We sent in small numbers of special operators. The CIA ran a few programs. We acted, in sum, only in ways certain not to affect the outcome. We were strategically feckless. I suspect that the president believes that the United States has no moral right to affect an outcome in another country. I suspect that he regards such decisive action as imperialism, or at least as Iraq-like. What this means in practice is that we will not help people who deserve our help. In the spirit of respecting other societies, we will idly gaze at their destruction. How would disrespecting them be worse?

As a direct or indirect consequence of our refusal to respond forcefully to the Syrian crisis, we have beheld secular tyranny, religious tyranny, genocide, chemical warfare, barrel bombs and cluster bombs, the torture and murder of children, the displacement of 11 million people, the destabilization of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, the ascendancy of Iran in the region, the emergence of Russia as a global power, the diminishment of the American position in the world, the refugee crisis in Europe, the resurgence of fascism in Europe and a significant new threat to the security of the United States. It is amazing how much doing nothing can do, especially when it is we who do nothing.

Not long after he mourned Wiesel, the president engaged in another one of his exercises in empathy without consequence. At the U.N. Summit for Refugees and Migrants,he spoke of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian boy who washed up dead on a beach in Turkey. That little boy on the beach could be our son or our grandson, the president moistly said. We cannot avert our eyes or turn our backs. And then we proceeded to avert our eyes and turn our backs. The people who had the power to prevent, stop or even mitigate this catastrophe should now bow their heads and fall silent and reflect on how it is that they brought us so low. Aleppo is no more, and we are weakened and disgraced.

The ruins of the finest traditions of American internationalism, of American leadership in a darkening world, may be found in the ruins of Aleppo.
For 40 years after World War II, the dominant national security issue for any new U.S. administration was dealing the Soviet Union. After a quarter-century hiatus, it's deja vu.

Donald Trump has praised President Vladimir Putin and nominated a secretary of state and a national security adviser with Russian connections. The president-elect has consistently rejected most criticism of Putin, including high-level intelligence reports that Russia illicitly hacked into private e-mails to try to affect U.S. elections.

This has overshadowed the most pressing short-term challenge -- battling Islamic terrorism -- and the biggest long-term concern, dealing with China, the other 21st century superpower along with the U.S.

But the most pressing question after Inauguration Day will be Russia and the intentions and motives of the new U.S. president. For secretary of state, Trump ended up picking Rex Tillerson, the Exxon Mobil chief executive officer, who has done a lot of business with Russia and who was awarded the Order of Friendship by Putin. The runner-up for the job was Mitt Romney, who described Russia as America's "No. 1 geopolitical foe" when he was the Republican presidential candidate in 2012. (The potential Romney appointment may have been a setup: A Trump confidant said the president-elect just wanted to "torture" Romney, who had criticized him during the campaign.)

It is indisputable that Trump is enamored of Putin. He really believes the Russians, who also face a threat from Islamic terrorists, can be important allies in that fight.

Moreover, the president-elect likes authoritarian figures. He has indicated that he believes the world would be less dangerous if Saddam Hussein and Moammar Qaddafi were still in power and that he would have no problem with a Syria deal that keeps the dictator Bashar al-Assad in control.

Putin has become a folk hero to right-wing white nationalists in Europe and America; many in this group also like Trump.

Trump says he wants to "get along" with Russia and expresses little support for the tough economic sanctions that President Barack Obama and the European Union imposed after Putin annexed Crimea and invaded eastern Ukraine. Even some supporters of those actions cite the need to bolster U.S.,-Russian relations, now at the lowest point since the Cold War. The U.S. and Russia have the the biggest nuclear arsenals and are both major players in the Middle East, so it's hard for them to avoid one another. Sure, Putin is a thug, but so were the Soviet dictators that every president from Franklin Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan dealt with.

Dimitri Simes, a Russian emigre, former top adviser to Richard Nixon and an advocate of closer ties, argues that "major irritants" in the relationship could be lifted thanks to the president-elect's aversion to democracy-promotion programs, military interventions and skepticism about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's mission.

Nonetheless, there are fears that Trump's excessive eagerness to do a deal could result in an agreement that disproportionately favors Russia: for example, phasing out the sanctions in return for Putin's reiteration of a commitment to align with the U.S. in the war against terrorism.

Michael McFaul, the U.S. ambassador to Moscow from 2011 to 2014 and now a Russia scholar at Stanford University, says any arrangement along those lines "would be a bad deal for America and a fantastic victory for Putin. He annexed and invaded another country and got away with it."

Rather than focus on getting along better, McFaul said the U.S. "should figure out what outcomes we want and when that would involve getting along and when it would involve confrontation."

The U.S. and Russia both face threats but have some significantly different approaches to Islamic terrorism and other issues. In Syria, Putin's forces are killing anti-Assad rebels that America considers the preferred opposition.

And, of course, there are the overwhelming indications that the Russians, probably under Putin's direction, interfered with the U.S. presidential election by hacking into the emails of the Democratic National Committee and top party officials and leaked negative information. Trump has dismissed these intelligence findings.

These tensions will be aired during the Tillerson confirmation hearings where the nominee will have to go beyond simply differentiating between the role of CEO and that of America's top diplomat. If he continues to take a soft line on the economic sanctions and if he plays down Russian hacking, his approval could be jeopardized.

In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan's policy in dealing with the Soviet Union was "trust but verify." Putin critics fear Trump may neglect the second part.
Please pardon the reminiscing, but the time of year encourages it, as did a newspaper column I read a few days ago.

The column from last weekend was by Bill Hall, whose writing base for about six decades has been the Lewiston Tribune. Its message was, that column would be his last.

By the time I arrived at the University of Idaho back in 1974, Hall already was renowned around Idaho for his editorials and columns at the Tribune. Soon after that he departed, for about a year and a half, to work for Senator Frank Church, and there wasnt a certainty hed be coming back. But Church lost his presidential bid in 1976, Hall wrote a book about it (Frank Church, D.C. and Me, from Washington State University Press, a great read on all three topics) and soon returned to Lewiston.

His departure and his return was much noted and not just in Lewiston, where Halls blistering, biting and often funny editorials so often launched political conversation in the mornings. It was a big deal statewide, even in the far reaches of the state, and even in the pre-Internet era. Politically-interested people considered it necessary to get hold of what Hall was saying.

One of the Tribune writers who worked closely with Hall, Jay Shelledy (now a journalism professor at Louisiana State University), was quoted in one article about Hall, There are not many papers in the United States where the best-read page is the editorial page. Without question, Hall is the best-known journalist in the states history.

He learned about Idaho in the three corners of the state, growing up in Canyon County, then attending college and starting his newspaper career in Pocatello. By the time in 1965 he left for Lewiston, he already was well-schooled in Idaho politics. When I arrived at the Idaho State Journal newspaper a decade-plus after hed left, I often prowled through his writings about local and state politics, using them to fill in gaps in what I was learning elsewhere.

By then I knew where to look because of Halls editorials, which Id read at college and afterward. They were a lethal combination: Well informed and witty, and up for taking on just about anyone. Even Idaho hunters, as he wrote when the idea arose of a wildlife council picking Fish & Game Commission members: That could be a two-edged sword because it might tend to give a disproportionate voice to those chronic whiners who want to blame state biologists every time they get too drunk, inept, or unlucky to kill an elk.

Many newspapers shrink from editorial heat, but the Tribune never has. Halls view as I heard it was that he was good business: People might yell at the newspaper but they sure kept reading it.

Part of what allowed this to work was the unusual atmosphere at the Tribune, which issued punchy editorials before Halls tenure and has continued to since, under the local control of the Alford family. But Halls humor has been a critical individual part of the mix. Since his mid-70s hiatus his columns have been humorous, personal, often gentle  different to an almost drastic degree from the sometimes fiery editorialist. But the two sides could never be separated entirely, and a serious sensibility underlies even many of his more recent columns, since he retired from editorial writing in 2002.

No more Hall columns. Hardly seems like Idaho.
Prime Minister Hariri has unveiled his 30-member cabinet that he described as a government of national accord following concessions by every party.

He said it is also an elections government as parliamentary polls are to be organized in mid 2017.

The new government dubbed as a reconciliation cabinet does not include the Kataeb Party after it rejected the portfolio that it was offered. Hariri said preserving the stability that is prevailing in Lebanon amid fires that are prevailing around the region will be at the top of its list of priorities.

Lebanon is a neighboring country to Syria but it has been able to stop the war from crossing over its border. Prime Minister Hariri said they would continue to protect the country away from the negative consequences of the Syrian crisis.

There are Syrian refugee camps in the country and the establishment of a State Secretariat for Refugees would be managing their affairs and also take responsibility for helping our country bear the burden according to Hariri.

The press release from the Prime Ministers office stated that enacting a new electoral law that takes into account proportional representation and right representation will be the first on its agenda as far as politics is concerned. Hariri urged for the spirit of national entente that emphasizes the message of coexistence in the coming months as the country steps away from its political impasse that had lasted for more than two years. He called for the cooperation of the Lebanese and their optimism.

An anti-corruption minister and that for the State of Women Affairs are the new additions to the Lebanese cabinet pending the approval of the parliament. The first cabinet meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday.
The United Nations has urged the Libyan people to work for national reconciliation in the wake of an end to operations for the liberation of Sirte from the Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

The head of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj announced Saturday night that the city of Sirte is no more the Libyan stronghold of the Islamic State group (IS).

Martin Kobler, head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said Libyans should seize this opportunity to promote national reconciliation.

Speaking at a news conference in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, Kobler called for the integration and rehabilitation of fighters and the collection of arms to give way to a professional security apparatus with a unified command.

The UN envoy hailed the seizure of Sirte as a major step forward in liberating Libya from terrorism. He, however, warned that Libyans should remain vigilant.

The control of Sirte does not mean its the end of terrorism in Libya, but represents an important victory, Kobler said.

He insisted on the need to defuse the explosive devices left by the insurgents in order to allow the rapid return of residents.

The GNA hopes to regain the trust of the Libyan people from the battle of Sirte as it has been struggling to establish its authority in the country since it settled in Tripoli last March.
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.
Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Sunday said he is considering authorizing the Burkinabe army to chase terrorist groups into Malian territory when they retreat after attacks.

The leader of the West African nation announced this measure when he visited Burkina Faso to show solidarity after a cowardly assassination of 12 Burkinabe soldiers at the Malian border.

It is unacceptable to kill with impunity in Burkina Faso and then to find refuge quietly in Mali, surely not. So that will be part of the things we have to look at in the days to come, President Keita said.

Their movement from one border to another is obvious and all that we can do in terms of cooperation, we will do it, the Malian president said at the Ouagadougou International Airport on his way from the summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria.

Twelve Burkinabe soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack against an army unit based in the northern region of the country.

Two more men were missing after around 40 jihadists riding pick-up trucks and motorbikes attacked the armys Nassoumbou base, some 30 km from the Burkinabe-Mali border.

A security source said the assailants were wearing turbans and waving black flags.

Troops at the Nassoumbou base are part of a 600-strong anti-terrorist battalion deployed in January 2013 when France sent in soldiers to counter a jihadist insurgency in northern Mali.

Authorities are concerned that the extended desert borders between the two countries could become a transit point for militants to cross over into Burkina Faso and carry out terrorist attacks there.
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Picture of nerve cells dying in the brain of prion-diseased mice. The nerves are stained pink and can be seen dying in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Credit: University of Leicester

"We have treated mice with a new type of drug, and found that these drugs can not only improve symptoms of brain degeneration, such as cognitive decline, but can also extend the life-span of these terminally-sick mice. Our study opens up avenues for researchers to look at new drugs that treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's and also slow disease progression"- Professor Andrew Tobin

An international team of scientists has announced a new advance in the fight against Alzheimer's disease by identifying a new drug target for not only improving symptoms of brain degeneration - but also to extend the life-span of the terminally ill mice.

The four-year study by Medical Research Council (MRC) scientists based at the MRC Toxicology Unit at the University of Leicester is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The study was led by Professor Andrew Tobin alongside colleagues from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company and the Monash Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences in Australia. The project was also partly supported by the Wellcome Trust.

Corresponding author Professor Tobin, who alongside the lead researcher Dr Sophie Bradley has since moved from the University of Leicester to the University of Glasgow, said: "The paper describes drug-like molecules that can restore memory loss and slow progression of prion neurodegenerative disease in a manner that relates to the potential of these drugs in human Alzheimer's disease.

"We have been using mice whose brain cells are progressively dying, similar to what happens in Alzheimer's disease. This project focuses on a particular protein in the brain, which is proposed to be involved in Alzheimer's disease, and as such could be a potential target for new drugs.

"We have treated mice with a new class of drug, and found that these drugs can not only improve symptoms of brain degeneration, such as cognitive decline, but can also extend the life-span of these terminally-sick mice."

The researchers state that drugs which activate this protein receptor in the brain have previously been tested in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease, and showed positive results with respect to improving cognition, but the patients experienced a large number of adverse side effects. This new class of drug is more selective and does not cause any side-effects when administered to mice in the study.

The study authors believe that this offers hope in the design of new drugs for improving cognition and extending life span.

Professor Tobin said: "This work may provide important information as to whether this protein is a viable drug target in the treatment of diseases associated with the progressive death of brain cells. This is of great importance to society, based on the fact that the treatment options for Alzheimer's disease are very limited - there are no cures for Alzheimer's disease and current treatments are focused on relieving some of the symptoms.

"What we have found is a novel class of drugs, called allosteric ligands, that target a protein called the M1 muscarinic receptor, which is present in the brain. Activating this receptor protein can not only improve cognitive function in mice with progressive brain degeneration, but when administered daily, can extend life span."

The scientists say the work is important because it focuses on identifying a treatment that not only improves symptoms associated with neurodegeneration, like current treatments, but also identifies a new strategy for slowing disease progression and extending life-span.

Professor Tobin said: "Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, and it affects an estimated 850,000 people in the UK alone. There are no treatments that can slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer's, and patients are treated with drugs which temporarily mask the symptoms of the disease. Often these treatments are associated with side-effects which can limit patient compliance.

"I am proud to be involved in a collaboration with researchers across the world to address one of the world's major healthcare challenges. Our study opens up avenues for researchers to look at new drugs that treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's and also slow disease progression."
Using cardiac imaging during heart surgery can detect serious residual holes in the heart that may occur when surgeons repair a child's heart defect, and offers surgeons the opportunity to close those holes during the same operation. Pediatric cardiology experts say using this tool, called transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), during surgery may improve outcomes for children with congenital heart disease.

"We focused on intramural ventricular septal defects, which are holes between two chambers of the heart," said Meryl S. Cohen, MD, senior author and pediatric cardiologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She and co-authors previously published a paper in Circulation that recognized these defects as being distinct from other types of residual holes. "These defects, which can occur after initial surgery for another defect, can increase the risk of complications and mortality in children with heart disease, so using imaging tools to quickly identify these defects can improve our care of these children," she added.

The study's first author, Jyoti K. Patel, MD, was a former cardiac fellow in the Cardiac Center at CHOP, and conducted the research during her fellowship. The study team published the research in the September 2016 issue of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

The scientists reported on the use of intraoperative TEE to identify intramural ventricular septal defects (VSDs)holes in the wall between two heart chambers. They performed a retrospective study of 337 children, mostly infants, who underwent surgery at CHOP for conotruncal defects from 2006 to 2013. Conotruncal defects are abnormalities in the heart's outflow tractsthe pathways that carry blood from the heart to its connected arteries. The resulting abnormal blood circulation may lead to a variety of health problems.

Cardiac surgeons repair some conotruncal defects by sewing a patch from the ventricle to one of the outflows, but a residual hole around the patch may allow blood to flow into the right ventricle. Although this complication is rare, it is potentially life-threatening.

The current study was the first to assess the accuracy of TEE in identifying intramural VSDs. The study team compared intraoperative TEE, which was performed during surgery, to another imaging tool, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), done after surgery.

Of the 337 surgical patients, 34 had intramural VSDs. Of those 34, both TTE and TEE identified 19 VSDs, while 15 were identified by TTE only. That data showed that TEE had modest sensitivity (56 percent), but high specificity (100 percent) in identifying intramural VSDs. The authors note that "the modest sensitivity suggests that many intramural defects are not detected in the operating room." However, they add, intraoperative TEE was able to identify most of the intramural defects requiring reintervention (e.g., further surgery).

"We hope that this research will increase clinicians' awareness of these intramural defects as an important distinct entity related to surgical complications," said Patel. "If a greater awareness enhances the use of TEE in the operating room, surgeons may better develop strategies to both help prevent these lesions and to consider revising their operations before the patient leaves the operating room if an intramural VSD exists."

More information: Jyoti K. Patel et al, Accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography in the identification of postoperative intramural ventricular septal defects, The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (2016). Journal information: Circulation Jyoti K. Patel et al, Accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography in the identification of postoperative intramural ventricular septal defects,(2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2016.04.026
Generalized 3 Hz spike and wave discharges in a child with childhood absence epilepsy. Credit: Wikipedia.

Why does exposure to rhythmic stimulation at certain frequencies facilitate the occurrence of epileptic seizures?

In 1997, flickering patterns in an episode of the series Pokemon triggered epileptic seizures in nearly 700 Japanese children. These spontaneous outbreaks in apparently healthy children were linked to so-called "photosensitive epilepsy", a type of epilepsy in which seizures are the result of certain visual stimuli.

Now researchers at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and the University of Exeter (UoE, UK) propose an explanation for the occurrence of epileptic seizures as a result of the exposure to certain stimuli.

The study has been published in the journal NeuroImage.

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 50 million people worldwide suffer from it and 30% do not respond to treatment. The disorder is characterized by epileptic seizures - episodes of the uncontrolled, synchronized activity of neurons that can lead to loss of consciousness and other serious impairments of brain functioning.

Considering the brain as a dynamic system allows engaging tools from engineering and physics in order to find out what factors lead to the occurrence of these highly synchronized epileptic discharges. The research by UPF, UPC and UoE has used a computational model of a cortical column - a putative basic functional unit of the cerebral cortex - to show that neuronal tissue displays epileptic-like activity when exposed to enhanced stimulation of certain frequencies. This increase may be due to the brain's own activity or a consequence of external stimulation, such as the flickering in the Pokemon cartoon.

According to the research results, this behaviour stems from dynamic properties of the neuronal tissue, such as an ability to undergo resonance. Visual stimulation with frequencies close to alpha rhythm (which was the case of the flickering in Pokemon) may interfere with the natural alpha activity prevailing in the visual cortex leading to an increase of amplitude of the discharges and consequently to epileptic seizures. This resonance phenomenon can be compared to what happens when we push a swinging child. If we push it at the right moment, with a frequency equal to the swinging frequency, it will swing further and further and eventually may fall from the swing.

This fall is an analogy to an epileptic crisis that may occur in the brain due to stimulation with a certain frequency. In the Pokemon series, the lights flashed at a frequency of 12Hz.

"The alpha rhythm of the brain is 8-12Hz and the cartoons were showing exactly the alpha frequency of 12Hz. This phenomenon coincides with the results of our research", says the author of the study, Maciej Jedynak.

Thus, a purely dynamic scenario can explain the susceptibility to driving with delta and theta rhythms, as well as a lack of susceptibility to very fast or very slow stimulation. The researchers showed how these phenomena manifest in the presence of random driving, which mimics the ongoing stimulation of a cortical column more faithfully than the periodic one.

"This research provides further insight into ways that communication within brain networks can possibly lead to the occurrence of seizures" comments Marc Goodfellow, senior lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Exeter and leader of the study.

According to Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo, group leader of the Dynamical Systems Biology Lab at UPF and collaborator in the study, "this work shows that the temporal characteristics of the random activity of the brain can have profound effects on its behaviour".

"In order to develop new alternative kinds of epilepsy treatment we need to understand more about the mechanisms underlying this disease", adds Jedynak, researcher at the same lab and the leading author of the article. "Our findings help to elucidate mechanisms of the generation and spreading of epileptic seizures in the brain. In the future they may improve the methodology of computational modelling aimed at devising tools for epilepsy treatment".

More information: Maciej Jedynak et al, Temporally correlated fluctuations drive epileptiform dynamics, NeuroImage (2017). Journal information: NeuroImage Maciej Jedynak et al, Temporally correlated fluctuations drive epileptiform dynamics,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.11.034
Credit: University of Plymouth

From lay input in research to how a clinic runs, from medical revalidation to patient forums, healthcare professionals increasingly need effective patient input if they are to provide a relevant, sustainable and effective service.

Conversely, patients and the public have the right to contribute to, advise and inform not just the professionals who care for them, but also the service structure within which they are treated.

When this double dynamic works well, it results in a responsive NHS service that has the confidence of all concerned. It also provides both healthcare professionals and patients the knowledge and voice to defend NHS services that are placed at risk.

However, until now there has been little, if any, definitive support for healthcare professionals about how best to engage patients and the public across all aspects of healthcare. If there was to be a random poll on any High Street asking ordinary people if they know how they can get involved, most would not know that any opportunities exist at all.

Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) experts from the Collaboration for the Advancement of Medical Education and Research (CAMERA) at Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (PUPSMD), have been working in partnership with the Patients Association with support from the Health Foundation, to bridge these knowledge gaps and close the disconnect.

They are to publish the first definitive guide book for all health professionals about how to engage and work with patients and the public across a wide range of health disciplines and across different activities, including services, research, education, policy and regulation. Running parallel to the guide book is an animation which explains to patients, carers and the public the many ways in which they can have a say in and influence the care they receive.

Both the guide book and the animation will be made available via the CAMERA and Patients Association websites and will be sent out to hospitals and doctors' surgeries.

The work is based on the evidence of PPI research carried out by CAMERA on behalf of the Health Foundation, as well as an extensive review of academic studies and information provided by patient groups and others on the internet in collaboration with the Patients Association. The CAMERA research has included round table discussions and interviews with people from all walks of society - from upmarket postcodes to homeless centres, city centre cafes to church halls, and country pubs to international student clubs.

Dr Sam Regan de Bere from CAMERA led the PPI research. She said:

"The overwhelming finding we came away with was that, regardless of background, age, gender, and other parameters, people really want to know more about how they can interact with the NHS in a positive way  whether to give feedback to help their doctor with their professional development, have input into how services are run, get involved with defending services in an appropriate manner or contribute to research."

Rebecca Baines, researcher on the study, added:

"On the one side we saw eager patients and members of the public who wanted to get involved but didn't know how: on the other we have seen health professionals who don't know how to start to get people involved  let alone how to keep them engaged and benefit from mutual working."

The team believe that the guide, book, and animation combined will increase meaningful interaction between health professionals and patients and public  to the benefit of the future of the NHS.

Sam commented:

"So much of what is perceived to be 'wrong' about the NHS can be attributed to a disconnect between the NHS, those who provide the care, and those who receive it. We want patient and public participation to move beyond making complaints to a culture in which we all work together to develop an NHS which is beneficial for everyone  and facilitating a healthy dialogue where everyone understands their roles is a great start. The opportunities for collaboration are out there; people just need to know exactly what they are and what they can do to get involved."

Niall Dickson, Chief Executive at the General Medical Council, said:

"At one time patients pretty much did as they were told  today they should be partners in their own care and sources of advice about how care should be organised. As partners, the feedback patients provide can be invaluable  it can make care safer, identifying where improvements are needed and it can boost the confidence of medical staff by highlighting good practice. Every doctor in the UK now takes part in a system of regular checks to make sure they are competent and fit to practise  as part of this every doctor has to obtain feedback from his or her patients  research has shown that doctors find this the most useful information they receive, helping them to reflect on their practice. Since the system was introduced under four years ago more than 1.6 million patients have provided feedback on their doctor."

Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said:

"We are very pleased to have been involved in the development of this guide which has been desperately needed for a long time. We are always recommending more involvement with patients and families at all levels but are often asked for advice by staff who don't know how to do it. We hope the guide will be really useful in many different settings as not only does it have a strong evidence base but was also heavily influenced by people using services which makes it all the more useful and practical."

Helen Crisp, Assistant Director of Research at The Health Foundation, added:

"There's a great desire to get service users, carers and the wider public engaged with health services. This is true at national policy level  wanting to reap the societal and economic benefits of people managing their care and appropriately using services, to health care workers - who want to understand how their service can better deliver what people really need, to patients - who would like a chance to get their views heard. Yet there's a dearth of information on how these aspirations can become a reality. For 10 years the Health Foundation has supported research and practical approaches to person-centred care and wider co-production of services. The work by the team in Plymouth that has resulted in this guide and supporting animation provides practical wisdom that can help to bring providers, policy makers and service users together for genuine exchange of views and experience. The Foundation is delighted to have funded this work. Anyone who wants to think about how to engage with service users and the wider community should find new ideas and inspiration in the handbook and animation."
J. Calvin Coffey, professor of surgery and deputy director of the Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Ireland and Consultant Surgeon, Health Services Executive. Credit: Alan Place

A University of Limerick (Ireland) professor has identified an emerging area of science having reclassified part of the digestive system as an organ.

The mesentery, which connects the intestine to the abdomen, had for hundreds of years been considered a fragmented structure made up of multiple separate parts. However, research by Professor of Surgery at UL's Graduate Entry Medical School, J Calvin Coffey, describes the mesentery as one, continuous structure.

In a review published in the November issue of one of the top medical journals, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Professor Coffey outlined the evidence for categorising the mesentery as an organ.

"In the paper, which has been peer reviewed and assessed, we are now saying we have an organ in the body which hasn't been acknowledged as such to date," Professor Coffey stated.

Better understanding and further scientific study of the mesentery could lead to less invasive surgeries, fewer complications, faster patient recovery and lower overall costs.

"When we approach it like every other organ...we can categorise abdominal disease in terms of this organ," professor Coffey said.

According to Professor Coffey, the Foundation Chair of Surgery at UL's Graduate Entry Medical School and University Hospitals Limerick, mesenteric science is its own specific field of medical study in the same way as gastroenterology, neurology and coloproctology.

"This is relevant universally as it affects all of us. Up to now there was no such field as mesenteric science. Now we have established anatomy and the structure. The next step is the function. If you understand the function you can identify abnormal function, and then you have disease. Put them all together and you have the field of mesenteric science...the basis for a whole new area of science," he said.

"During the initial research, we noticed in particular that the mesentery, which connects the gut to the body, was one continuous organ. Up to that it was regarded as fragmented, present here, absent elsewhere and a very complex structure. The anatomic description that had been laid down over 100 years of anatomy was incorrect. This organ is far from fragmented and complex. It is simply one continuous structure," Professor Coffey explained.

Already, medical students around the world are, from this year, learning about the mesentery as a continuous organ, after research by Professor Coffey prompted an update in one of the world's best-known medical textbooks Gray's Anatomy.

More information: J Calvin Coffey et al, The mesentery: structure, function, and role in disease, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology (2016). J Calvin Coffey et al, The mesentery: structure, function, and role in disease,(2016). DOI: 10.1016/S2468-1253(16)30026-7
James Hughes (QUT), Dr Georgia Livesay (ED consultant) and Rob Eley (UQ) have launched the study at the PA Hospital.

From lifting a mower to trim the hedges to lopping trees with a circular saw, it seems there are endless ways for DIY enthusiasts to end up in hospital emergency departments.

How and why these types of do-it-yourself disasters happen will be the focus of a University of Queensland and QUT study into power tool injuries and prevention strategies.

Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) Emergency Department Research Manager and UQ researcher Dr Rob Eley said anecdotal evidence suggested an increase in injuries since the emergence of television DIY renovation programs.

"Many past studies have been based on hospital admissions rather than visits to the emergency department, and we believe this missed a significant number of those who are injured," Dr Eley said.

"Many people who suffer simple fractures and lacerations are discharged from the ED following treatment and are not admitted to hospital, but their injuries may still be life-changing and require considerable rehabilitation.

"Grinders, circular saws, mowers, trimmers, nail guns and drills can all inflict terrible injuries if used inappropriately or without safety equipment, and many accidents occur due to a momentary lapse in concentration.

"We want to understand how these accidents happen, what age groups are most affected, the tools and tasks commonly involved, and what people could have done differently to avoid them."

Data will be collected at the PAH and the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

QUT Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety  Queensland researcher Associate Professor Kirsten Vallmuur said patients would be invited to participate in interviews, providing invaluable context as to what went wrong.

"We will be asking what caused the incident, where they bought the equipment, what training they had and what safety precautions, if any, they had taken," Dr Vallmuur said.

"This will give us some sound information to provide to consumer product safety agencies so they can better target injury prevention campaigns."

The researchers will gather data for six to 12 months, potentially capturing seasonal fluctuations as well as patterns across the days of the week.
THE TRUE COST OF ALL THAT 'CHEAP' LAOR THAT DESTROYED AMERICA THE BIG SECRET DEMOCRATS DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW: Heather Mac Donald of the Manhattan Institute has testified before a Congressional committee that in 2004, 95% of all outstanding warrants for murder in Los Angeles were for illegal aliens; in 2000, 23% of all Los Angeles County jail inmates were illegal aliens and that in 1995, 60% of Los Angeless largest street gang, the 18th Street gang, were illegal aliens.
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No two shows are the same with Reggie Watts, an absurdist comedian and musician who recently released a new Netflix special, "Spatial," and serves as bandleader on "The Late Late Show" with James Corden.

His performances in Montana, though, are even more unique. At these shows, one of the most creative stand-up artists in the world improvises material on his home state for home-state audiences.

These shows have the feel of a hometown hero commiserating with friends, and alluding to the quirks of life in a cold, rural state with jokes that wouldn't make much sense to his audiences in Los Angeles and around the world.

It's good to have people visit Montana, he said on Saturday night at the Wilma Theatre, the most recent of his nearly annual performances in Missoula each December.

We can't have them moving here permanently, though, he added. "We need the space," he said. "One in, one out."

As in past performances, the Great Falls High School graduate improvised a set that stretched nearly an hour and a half with material you won't hear anywhere else.

Many of Watts's bits start with a seemingly natural premise and then take a series of pretzel-logic turns, a skill he's honed since his high school days as a drama kid who competed in statewide competitions.

The cold, for instance, was a recurring joke. The visit home gave him a chance to break out his closet's worth of winter clothing, items that seem foreign to his friends in California. Like Gaiters, for instance.

"It's good to wear moisture-wicking fabrics," he said. In a parody of Montanans' gear obsession, he name checked high-end companies like Arc'teyrx, Marmot, Pendleton and Hydro Flask.

"I'm into it," he said. "I'm Inuit." He spontaneously broke into an a capella soul song about the thickness of socks and the importance of textiles.

He riffed on staples of Missoula life, like local bakery Le Petit Outre's signature Birdman Bread, a train of thought that soon evolved into a conversation with the alleged Birdmen who make the bread. (It's amazing they can make bread without any hands, for instance.)

A popular brunch spot downtown, the Catalyst, got a shout-out as well, mostly regarding its name. "I'm devoid of the ability to even begin. Come to the Catalyst. Where beginnings are made," he said.

Watts played a handful of new songs as well. With the help of a small table of electronic gear, he beat-boxes and loops them to set up a rhythmic base, and then adds layers of pitch-shifted vocals that reference pop and R&B styles, with the occasional dose of nonsensical speed rapping.

***

Watts, whose father was in the Air Force and who grew up in Europe as well, introduced one song in a faux-serious British accent. Everyone gets anxious about returning outside when the temperatures reach the single digits, he said, so he'd design us a soundscape. He queued up a synthesizer tone that would suit a documentary about Arctic life, and then added high-pitched vocals in the vaguely Middle Eastern style popular with movie soundtracks since "Gladiator." Soon Bobby McFerrin-like chants were in the mix, followed by an absurdist monologue in a stern, narrator-like tone that would work perfectly in a fantasy epic.

He alluded to the presidential election without directly mentioning it. No one knows what's going to happen, but no one will mess with Montana, he said. We've got Minuteman missiles and know how to aim. In one of the few moments of seriousness, he said Montana was a great state that made him who he is. He noted that it's a purple state, too, and people should listen to each other more.

Even his version of crowd work was surreal. He asked how many people in the crowd came to Missoula for school. Then how many were born and raised in Missoula. Then Great Falls. Anyone from Two Dot? One person yelled out Three Forks. That's not quite it, he said, but it's still a number-object place name. Anyone from Six Wings? Seven Beavers? West Glacier has the true Montanans, he said, people like the settlers. Get yourself a couple hundred acres and build yourself a structure, he said in an old-timey homesteader accent.

Glacier National Park's still wonderful, he said, even though there aren't any glaciers anymore. We've still got mountains, he said, and those are hard to melt.

And even his sign-off included an inside reference to a Missoula DIY rock festival that ended in 2015.

Don't forget to bring Total Fest back, he said.
"I've spent so many years not telling the story of Harrison and me having an affair on the first 'Star Wars' movie that it's difficult to know exactly how to tell it now," Carrie Fisher announces on page 49 of her brisk but vague new memoir, "The Princess Diarist."

"Excellent, here we go," any solid fan of the real "Star Wars" movies (certainly not the prequels) will think, settling in for the literary equivalent of an ice-cream sundae of the more offbeat flavors.

But Fisher, who accepts that she will be known as Princess Leia until the end of time, lets the reader down. Having waited 40 years to publish what one expects to be a dishy tell-all about the romance behind the iconic movie of Generation X (that generation mournfully sandwiched between the baby boomers and millennials), the actress, writer and raconteur only offers a few wisps of the goods.

Fisher blames her hazy recall of the behind-the-scenes affair with Harrison Ford on the potent marijuana they smoked on their lost weekends between scenes. She also decides that "with uncharacteristic reservation and scruples that I quash any details" of their first weekend together. Sex is private, she says.

No problem, but she also draws the curtain over the interesting bits: their chemistry, their conversations, her point-blank impressions of a man poised to become one of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Or maybe we're supposed to believe, as she insists, that Ford just didn't talk a lot when they were together. In any case, we are left with a few interesting glimpses wrapped around excerpts of the diaries Fisher says she kept while shooting "Star Wars" and recently discovered. Even the diary bits are not very revealing, being the moody musings, including poetry, of a young woman on the cusp of 20 years old.

It's clear from the final two chapters of the book, one of them titled "Leia's Lap Dance," that Fisher published this book with making money in mind. Her closing meditation on fame leaves Ford and the affair far behind. However, many "Star Wars" fans will read this book anyway or likely did so the instant it appeared.
A sixth-grade girl, age 11, is in need of a gently used violin, as the school does not have any more for rent. If you have a violin that you would be willing to donate to this young lady, please contact My Student in Need and let us know how you can assist. Washington No. 2116.

Missoula County Public Schools and My Student in Need would like to thank you for all of your generosity in fulfilling the needs of our students. Your thoughtfulness and generosity means more than words could ever thank you for. Please continue to watch this column for needs throughout the school year.
Years ago, Evie Bruins played a role in shutting down the Aryan Nation compound in Hayden Lake, Idaho.

"Everyone knew that there were white supremacists over there. Skinheads," said Bruins, now of Missoula. "We knew what they were, that they were dangerous people."

She remembers sitting shoulder to shoulder talking about the compound with lawyer Morris Dees, who founded the Southern Poverty Law Center and fought the white supremacists.

She worked closely with Victoria Keenan before a lawsuit by Keenan and the Southern Poverty Law Center against the Aryan Nations shuttered the compound and drove out its acolytes.

Now 87, Bruins is seeing white supremacy raise its head higher in Montana and the country. She places the blame on the election of Donald Trump as president, and she is passing on the torch of action to her son, Randy Bruins, of Charlo.

Randy Bruins, a retired nurse in forensic psychiatry, said the way forward involves patriotism of the highest order and compassion for white supremacists, who have the power to change.

"Their whole premise of being is based on fear," he said. "So it's a damage. They're really probably not bad people. They're damaged people."

He also said he has a responsibility to protect his country. The philosophy his father and uncles fought against in World War II is espoused by people now staking claims to the country and even the White House itself, he said.

President-elect Trump selected as his chief strategist Stephen Bannon, who used to run Breitbart News and called it a platform for the "alt-right," a white nationalist movement.

"We are a very patriotic family, and right now, I think dissent towards neo-Nazis and white supremacy in the White House ... is the most patriotic thing I can do," Randy Bruins said.

***

Aryan Nations founder Richard Girnt Butler moved to Hayden Lake in 1973 and set up a white nationalist compound there  a remote place that appealed to him because it was far from "the mongrel masses."

Around 1985, Evie Bruins started working for a court advocacy program in Northern Idaho. She was a battered woman herself, and she saw the need for victims of domestic and sexual violence to have support in the justice system.

"They're frightened. They're shameful they're in this mess. They're afraid of the court," Bruins said.

Back then, in the 1980s and 1990s, her children worried for her. Tense domestic situations can easily escalate and turn violent.

"I remember trying to talk you into getting a handgun, and you refused," said son Randy Bruins.

Said his mother: "I had other ways. I wasn't afraid, and they're chickens."

She remembers helping one victim of domestic violence flee the husband who had beaten her and taken their baby to the Aryan Nations compound. She told her colleague in the car that if the neo-Nazis killed her, she wanted to be buried in an open field with a tree planted at her grave.

"I wasn't afraid of batterers. I lost three clients. I don't run easily," Bruins said.

She counted down the minutes for the woman to grab some belongings at her home, and with two minutes to spare, the woman raced out the door with her suitcase, clothes flying.

They drove away, to safety.

***

Somewhere along the way, Evie Bruins crossed paths with Victoria Keenan. In 1998, Victoria's car backfired as she and her son, Jason Keenan, drove past the compound, and they were shot at during a car chase.

The Southern Poverty Law Center filed a civil suit against Butler and the Aryan Nations on behalf of the Keenans, and Bruins remembers the way the trial turned the city inside out.

"It was so horrible. On all the buildings around, there were riflemen. It was like a war," she said.

The plaintiffs won a $6.3 million award. They bankrupted Butler.

Bruins doesn't remember everything she did to support the cause, but she marched in rallies and had faith that the compound and its white supremacists wouldn't withstand the trial.

"I never had a doubt because we worked so hard," Bruins said. "And I can't tell you what we did. This is gone from my memory, which I feel thankful for in a way because it was painful."

She remembers seeing pictures in the newspaper of a large swastika on top of one of the buildings in the compound.

***

Just the other day, Bruins was watching a television program about veterans and Pearl Harbor, and the national anthem played. She was surprised to find tears rolling down her cheeks.

"What is my America going to be like?"

She believes President-elect Trump has fanned the flames of white supremacy despite his statement of disavowal. For her, the election brought back the fights and marches in Idaho, and for her son, it popped a bubble.

Bruins is from a county in western North Dakota that voted 80 percent for Trump, she said, and her late husband's relatives still live there.

"I know where they were politically. I didn't send any of them any Christmas cards this year," Bruins said.

This time around, she'll leave most of the activism to her son. Randy Bruins is retired, but he'll take up the charge, for love of country and because of a lecture from a friend.

"I would rather be retired and be going to sleep on a porch reading the New Yorker than being an activist, but my nature will not permit that," he said.

A friend of his, a black woman, had harsh words for him recently about his bubble.

"It's just you white people who get to rest from the idea that you're no longer a racist country," his friend told him. "None of us have ever gotten to rest."

So he's helping to promote a "Love Not Hate" rally on Saturday, Jan. 7, in Whitefish, and he wants people to "come out of their fear and be counted."

"What is going to be effective is a huge crowd of people," he said.

***

Evie Bruins believes that it's important to have good information about white supremacists to combat them.

"Learn as much as you possibly can about the enemy because then, you'll be more ready for whatever is going to come by," she said. "Don't back down. That sounds simple, doesn't it?"

Randy Bruins doesn't think of the people harboring hateful ideas against others  gay people like himself, blacks, Asians, Jews  as enemies.

"I think that fortifies them. They want to be the enemy," he said.

Plus, he's a nurse, and he said nurses don't get to have enemies.

"I was able to be a nurse to nuns and neo-Nazis," he said. "My belief system is if you see a man beating a dog, and you don't have the same compassion for the man as you do the dog, you're not competent in that situation."

Bruins' specialty is violent and aggressive people; he believes white supremacy is a mental illness, one that's curable. Someone with ambition can find the way out with compassion from others, he said.

"It's worth it to come out," he said. "And I've seen people to come out, and I would lovingly help someone to come out of that culture."

He wants others to do their part, too. Community members should to turn out for events such as the Jan. 7 rally, he said. The press should help educate the public, not provide a "forum for hate" for people such as Richard Spencer.

Spencer, who has been based in Whitefish and Washington, D.C., is a white nationalist who wants to protect a future for European descendants in the United States. Last month, the broadcast of a conference in Washington, D.C, showed Spencer at the microphone saying "Hail, Trump," and raising his arm with a glass in his hand; some others in the audience gave clear Nazi salutes.

"Our country cannot survive without an educated populace, and the press is dismal," Randy Bruins said. "It's only interested in the circus."

***

Evie Bruins is a survivor, and her story is one of hope. Butterflies arranged in flight shine from a frame hanging in her living room, and to her, they represent freedom.

She remembers a story from Morris Dees' book about a church burning in the South. The fire singed an old, old Bible dear to the congregation, but she said the minister could still make out a verse in Ecclesiastes.

"'There is a time to hate and a time to love. A time to tear down and a time to build up.' And that was when that black minister decided to rebuild this church. So I think now is the time that we all have to give what we can."

This article has been updated to reflect that Randy Bruins is helping to promote, not organize, the "Love Not Hate" event.
Congratulations are certainly due to Montanas lone congressman, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, for his appointment as President-elect Donald Trumps secretary of Interior. It is a huge honor to be put in charge of the vast public lands domain and all that they represent and support. But with that honor comes the responsibility to ensure that Americas public lands are treated with respect and a commitment to preserve this unique legacy for generations yet to come. In that regard, it will be instructive for Zinke to remember James Watt, Ronald Reagans infamous secretary of Interior who resigned in shame and remains Time magazines No. 1 worst cabinet members of recent history.

Like Zinke, James Watt was a westerner, having been born and raised in Wyoming. And like Zinke, Watt believed in expanding extractive industries on the publics resources. More coal mining? You bet; Watt quintupled coal leases in his short two years in office (1981-1983). More oil and gas drilling? Again, Watts agenda closely follows what Zinke has already said under the old and very tired rubric of making America energy independent.

When it came to listing endangered species, Watt held the worst record for listing the fewest number of species to receive Endangered Species Act protections and restoration for more than 20 years, which was only surpassed by George W. Bushs Interior secretary, Dirk Kempthorne, who listed not a single specie in his 15-month tenure in 2007.

In short, Watts philosophy, if you can call it that, was summed up in his own words: We will mine more, drill more, cut more timber. If that sounds eerily like an echo of Zinkes own view of how public lands should be managed, it is with good reason that so many public lands and environmental advocates find themselves viewing Zinkes appointment with significant trepidation.

Its no surprise so many who have worked so long to conserve our nations incredible natural resource legacy are so concerned when Trump says his administrations goal is to repeal bad regulations and use our natural resources to create jobs and wealth, adding he believes Zinke has built one of the strongest track records on championing regulatory relief, forest management, responsible energy development, and public lands, and has an attitude of doing whatever it takes to win.

Where Zinke differs from Watt, however, also deserves attention. Zinke has said he is opposed to transferring ownership of federal lands. He felt so strongly that he resigned his position as a delegate to the Republican nominating convention when the Republican Party inserted a provision into its platform supporting the sale of public lands. We can only hope that when the vast amount of resource extraction pressure is exerted upon Zinke, he will stand unflinching in his previous conviction.

Should Zinke falter and bend to the enormous development and extraction pressures sure to be focused on him, the consequences are daunting. Those of us with long memories will easily recall the protests that greeted Watt whenever he made a public appearance. When he toured Zion National Park, climbers hung a huge banner from an inaccessible cliff face providing a striking visual protest. It said Burn Watt, not Coal and hung until Watt left the national park he was supposed to be preserving. Park rangers had to hire Montanan George Schunk, an expert climber, to remove it.

While a particularly striking example of the anti-Watt movement, it was by no means a singularity in the hundreds of protests intended to drive Watt out. Under such intense scrutiny and pressure, Watt did finally resign in disgrace in 1983.

Make no mistake, the fierce green fire that Aldo Leopold described in the eyes of a dying wolf he had shot as a young man is alive and well. Should Ryan Zinke forget his Montana roots, he will be mercilessly hounded. Over a million people signed a petition for Watts resignation  and that was in the era before computers, social media and the internet made widespread communication, organization and protest much easier.

Its worth remembering that we are 34 years down the line since Watt disgraced the office and abdicated his duty as secretary of Interior. In those long decades, our public lands have suffered the abuses of ongoing resource extraction activities that show no sign of easing. The challenges facing Zinke are enormous. We can only wish him well and assure him the fierce green fire will be watching.
Many people are celebrating the recent introduction of a bill into Congress that would protect the Idaho portion of the Scotchman Peaks area as Wilderness. Idaho Sen. Jim Risch introduced the bill into Congress on Dec. 8. There is good reason to believe it will pass into law next year, with the support of the entire Idaho delegation of four Republicans.

The Scotchman Peaks proposed wilderness straddles the Idaho/Montana state line in a high, rugged mountain range between the Clark Fork and Kootenai rivers. It represents the largest area of wild and undeveloped land in northwestern Montana that is not permanently protected.

Besides celebrating, many people are also asking What about Montana? Senator Rischs bill protects only the Idaho portion of the Scotchman Peaks, and does not protect the larger potion in Montana. Only our Montana delegation can do that. People are asking Cant we join forces with Idaho and protect the entire Scotchmans area? If they can do it, why cant we?

This is magnificent wild country, with pockets of giant old growth cedar, abundant native wildlife, huge rocky ridges and peaks, and stunning views of Lake Pend Oreille and the Clark Fork and Bull river valleys as well as the glorious peaks of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, just across the beautiful Bull River Valley.

The rugged slopes of the Scotchmans are a natural for protection under the Wilderness Act. They are not suitable for roads or timber production, and wilderness designation would not affect the Kootenai National Forest timber program in any way. There are no significant conflicts with mining or other uses.

In this time of such conflict and polarization in our nation, it is wonderful to think of following Idahos example, and unifying around a positive goal that is good for our communities, and that ensures current and future generations will have access to the spirit-lifting solace of this wild and natural place.

The Friends of Scotchman Peaks now have over 6,700 supporters, of which over 80 percent live within a two-hour drive of the roadless area. We have also earned a great many endorsements from diverse people and groups on both sides of the Idaho/Montana border.

Check out our website, www.scotchmanpeaks.org, for fabulous photos and more information. We certainly invite one and all to sign up as a friend. It doesnt cost a dime and we need all the supporters we can get to convince our Montana delegation to take action.
The University of Montana is making plans to conduct speculative and unnecessary research on innocent, sentient pigs (Missoulian, Dec. 6). We expect that this will lead to further decline in university enrollment as students become aware of this deliberate plan to violently harm and kill pigs in a purported attempt to gain knowledge for spinal cord repair in the human population. This is extremely troubling given that there are alternative and innovative methods that can gain better and more accurate knowledge and which do not involve violence toward other sentient beings.

Because the moral, scientific and cultural issues are important, we have requested open public discussion with the university and have filed an official request for information under the Freedom of Information Act, but to date no one has replied in any meaningful way.

We submit that this ill-conceived plan to recover from failed fiscal policies came about through desperation and lack of contact with the greater Missoula and western Montana community, and will continue ongoing economic collapse at the university and in Missoula. We have completed extensive review of this type of speculative research, which is based only on hope and on the continuous flow of research money from the National Institutes of Health, but not on science. We have provisionally concluded that there is currently no empirical research available that proves unequivocally that this violent research will discover anything of value. In return, it subjects autonomous and sentient beings to the deliberate destruction of their spinal cords. For our science group, this is an example of the worst sadistic, anti-social, callous regard for other species that we have learned of in several years.

In American jurisprudence, we are stuck with the chattel doctrine, which taxonomically labels some things as property and some things as persons with constitutional rights. Unfortunately, this dialectic has subjected numerous human groups to property designation in various ways and levels throughout U.S. history, such as women, people of color, children, the poor, the disabled, and most recently, fetuses. Within this legal fiction, there is a lack of ontological parity within the human population and, to the extent that one is categorized as a thing, he or she loses the rights that come with personhood.

Further investigation reveals that the foundation of this insidious distinction is the concept of natural rights. As such, those with great ontological value, i.e., rich white males, propound that they have the highest degree of natural rights and concomitant protections, and those with different characteristics have the lesser. Moreover, by fiat, animals do not enjoy any natural rights, and are besieged with constant torture and murder for the benefit of the super-predator, homo sapiens. Animals used for highly speculative research are deliberately cut into, electrocuted, slammed, hit and destroyed in all sorts of ways.

The university has already perpetuated wrongful mistreatment of some animals. The University of Montana has held sentient, non-human primates captive and continues to imprison innocent rodents without fear of reprisal because they are not even considered animals by the Animal Welfare Act. Now, the university wants to increase its violent research so that a handful of university administrators can benefit financially, even though there is a lack of solid empirical evidence supporting it, and even though it causes the heinous destruction of the lives of other sentient beings.

What is just as concerning is the growing body of knowledge, research and understanding that there are very high correlations between violence toward animals and violence toward humans. There is a mounting body of research that reveals increased levels of domestic violence and increased levels of rape in towns with high levels of animal abuse and neglect, which includes the kind of semi-hidden violence toward animals that we see in in animal-model research labs.

Whether you focus on the scientific, moral, cultural, jurisprudential or economic domain, this proposal has serious conceptual problems which will only be exacerbated by the universitys refusal to immediately open them to full, transparent public inspection, discussion and debate. There are alternatives.
HELENA  Montanas three votes in the Electoral College helped make it official Monday: Donald J. Trump, as expected, will be the next U.S. president.

This year's proceeding was different from those in years past, with Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch allowing audience members to speak before the electors, two of whom were alternates, filled in their ballots.

Montanas electors had said before Monday they would vote for Trump. Though the odds of an Electoral College upset were minuscule, nationwide there had been calls for electors to vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton, who beat Trump by more than 2.5 million in the popular vote. Others asked electors to select anyone but Trump.

McCulloch told those gathered that the electors were bound by Montana law to cast their vote for Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence, and she couldnt accept ballots that did otherwise.

Before electors Thelma Baker and alternates Vondene Kopetski and Becky Stockton voted, a handful of Montanans spoke in support of and against Trump. About 35 attended.

Susan Reneau, who came over from Missoula, said she was proud to stand in support of Trump. She started to say that President Barack Obama had been an abomination to our military and everything economic in our entire country before McCulloch reminded her to keep her comments positive.

Lee Malcheski, of Helena, asked the three to hold off on voting until an investigation into Russian interference in the election was made public.

McCulloch said she made the choice to allow comment, saying at other public meetings shed attended that day the audience was allowed to speak.

It is a public meeting and I believe the public should have access, she said.

Elector Nancy Ballance, a Republican state representative from Hamilton, chose Monday to let an alternate take her place. Ballance said this was because state law says lawmakers cannot hold civil office. She said electors in other states with similar laws had been threatened with legal challenges. She said she consulted with the attorney general and others over what defined a "civil office," but couldn't find a clear answer.

In my mind it wasnt worth taking a chance to have the vote thrown out later, she said.

Ballance told her grandson, Jack, 8, who spoke in support of Trump before the vote, that he should look back on the day with pride.

"To my grandsons who are here today, who came to see their grandma participate in this historic event, I say to them 'When we look back and America is truly great again, we will know that we were part of something bigger than ourselves.'"

Controversial elector Dennis Scranton from Miles City did not attend. McCulloch did not say why. Parts of Interstate 90, which is between Helena and Miles City, were closed due to a blizzard the last few days.

Scranton, 92, had made comments disparaging gay marriage on a Facebook post earlier this year. He told the Billings Gazette in November, misstating his age: Dont forget, Im 93 years old. I come from a different era. I hadnt heard of anyone being homosexual until I joined the Navy, and then I encountered them. We were raised with good morals.

Elector Thelma Baker, the only non-alternate to vote Monday, said she received hundreds of phone calls and emails, both from those who supported Trump and people calling on her to cast her vote for someone else. About 75 percent of those who telephoned, Baker said, told her they didnt vote in the election.

This is Bakers fifth electoral vote. She said she received some comment before the 2000 election in which Republican George W. Bush won the electoral college but lost the popular vote to Democrat Al Gore, but received no comments in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Alternate Thomas Tuck also did not come to the vote. If enough electors had not shown up, McCulloch said, she would have had to appoint someone from the audience.

***

Earlier Monday morning, 30 protesters gathered on the steps of Montanas Capitol ahead the states electors casting their votes.

I fear his skill with public speaking and charisma with a crowd has blinded people to elect someone who is not truly qualified, the Rev. Cathy Barker said. There are serious questions about the Russian involvement, hes refused to share his taxes, his conflicts of interest and his integrity. These things break my heart.

Standing in a circle in 20-degree temperatures, the protesters struck a somber tone as they voiced their fears about a Trump administration, including climate change denial and nuclear weapons policy, sexual-assault allegations and foreign business interests.

The liberal media, one protester said facetiously, failed to investigate Trump sufficiently.

Jon Gengler of Helena said he wanted to challenge the assertion that Trumps win was either historic or a mandate, pointing to his loss of the popular vote and average margin in the Electoral College.

While he hoped to reach Montanas electors, Gengler said he spoke to anyone who would listen, including Trump supporters.

Radical individuals believe Trump speaks for them, and he must show that he is not willing to accept the support of racists or other exclusionary groups for political gain, he said.
The Montana Department of Transportation closed a section of Interstate 90 between Springdale and Park City for a second time Sunday due to worsening conditions caused by high winds and blowing snow. The closure was extended to Livingston on Sunday night.

Strong winds caused whiteout conditions on the 90-mile stretch of highway and forced MDT to halt traffic traveling in both directions. The interstate was first closed Sunday morning and was briefly reopened in the afternoon.

The strongest winds occurred in Livingston and Big Timber on Sunday with gusts as high as 64 mph recorded, said Wright Dobbs, National Weather Service meteorologist.

"For blowing snow, the further west you go youre going to see the bigger impacts," Dobbs said.

Gusts reached 35 mph Sunday at the Billings Logan International Airport and were expected to weaken slightly overnight. However, winds between 30 and 40 mph are expected Monday in Yellowstone County. The blustery conditions to the west will stick around during that time as well.

A blizzard warning is in place for the Livingston area and parts of the Beartooth foothills until noon Monday due to the blowing snow. Much of south-central Montana, including Billings, was also under a winter weather advisory for the same reason.

Dobbs said little new snow is expected in the area in upcoming days. Temperatures will likely be near the freezing point along the I-90 corridor Monday afternoon and the slight warm-up should help reduce the amount of blowing snow. Until that time, road conditions will be particularly hazardous.

Jefferson Lines bus passengers were stranded in the company's Billings depot Sunday after their routes were blocked by weather conditions.

***

Further east, dangerous, record-low temperatures caused cancellations of some holiday festivities in the Plains and Midwest over the weekend before the cold front pushed into the Ohio Valley and the Eastern Seaboard.

The National Weather Service forecast a warming trend to start early in the week in many spots as a quieter weather pattern was expected to develop.

On Sunday, temperatures plunged to minus 20 degrees and lower across much of the northern Plains with a fresh surge of bitter arctic air reaching into the Midwest.

A church in Lincoln, Nebraska, canceled its living nativity scene. Patti Crittenden, Trinity United Methodist Church's director of youth ministries, told the Lincoln Journal Star, "In my opinion, this is too cold for anyone to be standing outside  bundled up or not."

In suburban Chicago, an arboretum canceled its holiday light show planned for Sunday night and a holiday gift market was canceled in the Chicago suburb of Naperville.

Weather-related delays at Indianapolis International Airport caused about 100 passengers to spend the night in the terminal, but most travelers were on their way Sunday morning.

Chicago police said a commercial plane slid off a runway early Sunday at O'Hare International Airport. There were no injuries reported from the incident just after 1 a.m.

***

Bismarck, North Dakota, posted a new record low for the date of Dec. 17 with 31 degrees below zero on Saturday before midnight, said National Weather Service meteorologist Zachary Hargrove. Linton, North Dakota, was even colder at minus 33 degrees early Sunday.

In South Dakota, the city of Huron set a new low for Sunday's date of minus 31 degrees. Another record fell in Marshall, Minnesota, where it was 31 below zero. Spencer, Iowa's negative 27 degrees was also a record-breaker.

Colorado residents were digging out after up to 16 inches of snow fell across the state on Saturday, stranding motorists and leaving some areas of the state with subzero temperatures on Sunday. The National Weather Service said the thermometer dipped to 27 degrees below zero in Limon. Breckenridge reported the most snow, with 16 inches that gave skiers and snowboarders the heavy snow they have been hoping for all season.

Snow and freezing rain led to numerous highway accidents, some serious. Perhaps the biggest accident was in Baltimore, when a tanker carrying gasoline skidded off a highway and exploded, killing two people and causing a nearly 70-vehicle pileup on Interstate 95, authorities said. Hospital officials said nearly two dozen people were treated for injuries including broken bones and head trauma. A total of seven remained hospitalized Sunday with two in critical condition, two in serious condition and three in fair condition.
Love was in the air at President-elect Donald J. Trumps summit meeting last week with tech executives. Alphabet, Googles parent company, was really feeling it, coming as it did a day after the company announced that its self-driving technology was ready for commercialization. The meeting was a giant green light for an industry and the multitrillion-dollar investment it will represent, the cost largely to be borne by consumers and government.

Automobile, telecom, tech and e-commerce industries, and their marketers, have spent the last decade enabling the publics addiction to wired living, working feverishly to bring the phone and the internet into the driving environment. And yet this trend has never been voted on or discussed seriously by our politicians. Even when the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation brought industry leaders to Washington for hearings last spring, congressional interlocutors sought mainly to have their guests tell them how government could help usher in this new age of driverless technology. The assumption was: game on.

In the glorious future, we are assured that driverless cars will save lives, reduce accidents, ease congestion, curb energy consumption and lower harmful emissions. These purported benefits contain elements of truth. But the data is nowhere near complete. Even stipulating that all the claimed benefits will one day materialize, the near- and midterm picture from a public-interest perspective is not the same favorable one that industry sees. Legitimate areas of question and concern remain.

Take, for instance, the safety benefits of self-driving cars that include avoiding tens of thousands of highway deaths each year. The truth is, no one knows for sure how many lives could be saved by driverless cars, because data on the role of human error in crashes is incomplete and misleading, relying heavily on self-reporting. The types of accidents well face in this automated future, in which these cars are meant to run together in proximity at high speed, may be fewer, but theyll be new, different, unpredictable and, on occasion, larger and more grisly than the ones we know today. When 1,700 people leave the New Jersey Turnpike at more or less the same moment, all headed for the same parking spot near the food court at the Vince Lombardi rest area, you dont want to be there.
HELENA  The Montana Land Board voted unanimously on Monday to approve a controversial land swap between a private company and the state near Twin Bridges.

Swift River Investments (formerly the Seidensticker Ranch and Hamilton Ranches), offered 861.28 acres of land in Madison County and Butte-Silver Bow County, including 111 acres on the Big Hole River and 750 acres that will improve access to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

A total of 616 acres of state-owned land will be exchanged in Madison County, but its an 80-acre section on the Jefferson River that drew lengthy public comment at Monday's Land Board meeting.

Multiple organizations voiced their support for the exchange, which will bring in revenue for the school trust, increase public land access and boost economic development in nearby towns. However, numerous members of the Jefferson River Canoe Trail club were opposed to transferring the land to a private owner and said the land has a historical significance that should remain publicly accessible.

In 1805, Meriwether Lewis left a message for William Clark near the confluence of the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers. His advice on which river was best to navigate with a canoe was left on a tree. A beaver cut down the tree, and Clark never received the message.

The Jefferson River Canoe Trail club, a chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, used the land just downstream from the confluence as a campsite, where members enjoyed the outdoors and acknowledged Lewis and Clarks voyage. Multiple representatives from the club voiced their concerns, saying the public is rapidly losing access to land in Montana, and in this case, an educational opportunity would be lost.

The trail is there to teach people about our nations history, said Katie Bump, Dillon, of the Lewis & Clark Heritage Foundation, said.

SRI says the 80-acre parcel of land isnt where the incident, known as Beaver Chew, took place.

The canoe club and SRI have been in negotiations since March 2015, but were unable to reach a solution before the board voted on Monday.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation received the land exchange application from SRI in February 2015 to resolve trespassing issues and improve privacy. The 80-acre parcel is surrounded by SRI property, and is only accessible from the Jefferson River.

In June 2015, SRI offered to donate four acres of riverfront for camping to the Jefferson River Canoe Trail club, but it was refused in early September because of the poor condition of the site. SRI then proposed to title the 80 acres with deed restrictions prohibiting development and agreed to place a Lewis and Clark interpretive sign acknowledging the Beaver Chew incident at the confluence of the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers.

While negotiations were ongoing, the Land Board gave the land exchange preliminary approval in a 3-2 vote on Dec. 21, 2015.

The Jefferson River Canoe Trail club met twice with Skyline Sportsmen, a group advocating for the exchange, but didnt make any progress. The canoe club asked SRI to purchase 20 acres of land for sale on the Jefferson River, priced at $330,000. SRI denied the proposal, but offered seasonal access to a portion of the 80-acre parcel and a matching grant of $50,000 for the canoe trail club to acquire alternative land.

The canoe club rejected the last two offers. Because the 80-acre parcel is a navigable river, the DNRC will still own the riverbed. They will transfer 64 acres to SRI, none of which will be accessible to the canoe club.

Its a done deal now, said John Grassy, DNRC public information officer.

Proponents of the exchange celebrated the additional access that would come from acquiring SRI lands.

The SRI parcel will increase public access to the Big Hole River, but both river parcels are surrounded by private land and only accessible by water. Montanas Stream Access Law will allow the public to access the land in the same way they accessed the Jefferson River parcel.

No groups took issue with the exchange of the upper land parcels. The DNRC said their acreage isnt popular for recreation. The upper land offered by SRI will attract hunters and improve access by connecting tens of thousands of acres of Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and existing DNRC lands.

Madison County Commissioner Ron Nye said more land for hunting would have an economic benefit in Twin Bridges. Several outdoor stores will be able to extend their season to sell hunting equipment.

The exchange was also endorsed by two members of the Skyline Sportsmen Club; Vanna Boccadori, a wildlife biologist for Fish, Wildlife and Parks; and a representative from Trout Unlimited.

The project has been fully vetted, every criteria met, said Roy Morris of the George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Its a great deal and the right thing to do.

Auditor Monica Lindeen, who is a member of the Land Board, said she was disappointed the canoe club and SRI could not reach a better solution, but said she supported the swap because shes obligated to do whats best for the trust.

The Land Board is responsible for managing state-owned lands to generate the most revenue for schools in the state.

The two SRI parcels consist of 861.28 acres of grazing land, with an estimated annual income of $7,064.77. The two DNRC parcels would lose income of $2,935.50 from grazing, generating a net income of $4,129.27.

The state will also see a net gain in land value. SRI land has an appraised value of $1,471,780 and the DNRC land is worth $997,500.

Monday's meeting was the final one for Auditor Lindeen, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch and Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau. Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock and Attorney General Tim Fox won re-election and will resume the meetings with three Republicans in January.
The Burke and Balaklava claims were tiny little triangles on the northeastern flank of the Butte hill  no more than six acres or so, but prime real estate in terms of the subsurface, especially if one could use the apex law to advantage.

Pioneer miner James Tuohy (sometimes spelled Twohy) established Buttes Black Hawk, Pilot, and Burke and Balaklava mines in the 1880s. When he died in 1893, attended by Rev. Cyril Pauwelyn of St. Patricks church, he left the mining properties to St Joseph's Orphanage of Helena, the Ecclesiastical Province of Oregon, and the Burke and Balaklava went to the Roman Catholic diocese of Montana.

By 1907, with Bishop John Patrick Carroll ready to establish a Catholic educational institution in Helena, the Burke and Balaklava were sold for the tidy sum of $400,000  or at least $275,000. There were various lawsuits and it isnt perfectly clear how much the diocese ended up with, but it was enough to finance the construction of St. Charles Hall, the start of Carroll College. The cornerstone was laid by President William Howard Taft in 1909.

The war of the copper kings was largely over by 1907, with Augustus Heinze selling out and pretty much gone from Butte. But there were still plenty of little companies serving as thorns in the side of the growing Amalgamated (Anaconda) company, more than 25 in 1916. The Butte-Balaklava Companys tiny plots nonetheless supported a mine shaft that reached 1600 feet by the 1910s. It was just northeast of the Modoc and north of the Leonard, within the Berkeley Pit today, but in 1908 various railroads used by Amalgamated crossed the Balaklava Companys acreage, so they sued the rich giant corporation.

They appear to have won some settlement in that lawsuit, but within two years, the Amalgamated was bringing its big guns to bear, essentially though not overtly using the apex law that Heinze had used so well against them. The law said that if an ore vein reached the surface within a claim, that claim owner had rights to the vein in the subsurface, wherever it went, even under other claimants surface land. Much of the war of the copper kings was fought in the courts with plaintiffs and defendants each trying to prove the continuity of veins below ground. The Amalgamated-Butte Balaklava case was settled by a division of the ore body, centered on the Jessie vein.

Anaconda-Butte-Balaklava-North-Butte-Tuolomne-Amalgamated-French-Apex. Hyphens and hysterics! Are we to witness another apex war in Butte? was the way the New York based Copper, Curb, and Mining Outlook news reported the 1910 clash, and they were clearly opposed to the Amalgamated, which they characterized as ousting Heinze like a fallen angel. Angel or not, Heinze was pretty much out of the picture and within four years was dead at age 44 of cirrhosis of the liver.

The small companies held on, and the Butte-Balaklava company was acquired by Silver Butte Mines Corporation in 1920  but its unlikely they did much if anything in the post-war depression present in Butte at that time. The mine eventually came into the ownership of the Anaconda Company, but its lasting heritage is Carroll College.
MISSOULA  Nearly a month after Big Sky High School students were subjected to a racial epithet by a substitute teacher, a student's family is frustrated by the ongoing silence surrounding the incident.

The morning of Tuesday, Nov. 22, students in a Big Sky sophomore English class had a substitute teacher for the day. Cipriano "CP" Gutierrez, 15, said their regular teacher had written on the board that the class was to do any work they had.

But Gutierrez said the substitute, a white man, began talking to the class about Star Wars, "and how it related to white supremacy and the KKK." He reportedly told the class they didn't have to talk about it if they didn't want to, so Gutierrez and his cousin, Manny Hernandez, stayed out of the conversation.

Gutierrez said the sub asked for fiction ideas, and wrote "Bible" on the board. Gutierrez erased it, and the sub wrote it again. Gutierrez, Hernandez and two other students got passes to go to the library.

After they left, the sub said Gutierrez and Hernandez "were acting like n------," according to a text Gutierrez received from a friend still in the class. When Gutierrez questioned the sub, he said the sub became angry.

Gutierrez went to the main office and he and Hernandez were asked to write down what happened. Gutierrez texted his mother, Mary Peters, asking her to come pick him up. Peters said she got a call from assistant principal Matt Clausen, too, informing her what had happened.

A day later, Missoula County Public Schools issued a news release vaguely describing the incident. It said the sub had been removed and Human Resources had launched an investigation. Because it is a personnel issue, the sub's name has not been released, nor have the results of the investigation.

Gutierrez said the sub would not tell the class his name, instead telling them to call him "Mr. C."

Peters said she hasn't heard anything since. She wants to know how the district screens and hires subs, and she wants to know the results of the investigation. She wants to know what happens now.

"I want to know the details so I can have peace of mind," she said. "I think they need to open up communication with parents more, and I'm an involved parent.

"I know he's not teaching in Missoula anymore, but I think he shouldn't be allowed to teach in Montana."

There are few requirements for substitute teachers in Montana, and in turn few ways to track or evaluate them.

"MCPS does not routinely conduct formal evaluations of substitute teachers," according to the substitute teacher's handbook, though teachers can fill out a form describing the sub's work.

State law says short-term subs don't need a current teaching license, though preference is often given to those who do. But just as there's a teacher shortage, there's a substitute shortage, said MEA-MFT board president Eric Feaver.

"Now, it is a fact in places like Missoula, Bozeman, Helena, that you will have qualified, licensed and endorsed teachers substituting because they want to or they're looking for a job," he said. "But as you get further out into Montana, it becomes an ever more difficult matter."

The man involved in the Big Sky incident was a short-term sub.

MCPS director of technology and communication Hatton Littman reaffirmed that he is no longer a sub with the district, but she did not know whether he had a teaching license.

MCPS director of human resources and labor relations David Rott was unavailable to comment on this incident, as well as the sub screening and hiring process, until Monday.

Feaver said the requirements to become a sub are "really just about if you can breathe in and out and have a high school diploma or GED and can pass a background check.''

"You could be employed, anybody could be employed, as a substitute teacher" after completing a minimum three-hour training, Feaver said.

Once a sub has taught in a classroom at least 35 consecutive days, they become a long-term sub  if they're licensed. At that point, the sub is "placed under contract on the first step of the teachers' salary schedule and will not receive insurance benefits from the district," according to the Missoula Education Association's collective bargaining agreement.

Substitute teachers need school board approval and they're placed on a call list.

According to an MCPS job posting, a substitute teacher makes $11.43 an hour and a four-year college degree is required.

"If we paid subs more, I think we would demand more," Feaver said.

Often, teachers develop working relationships with certain subs and create a preferred substitutes list. MCPS also has an option for teachers who never want certain subs in their classroom; in the absence management system, the teacher can select a sub's name and add them to an "excluded substitutes list."

"But they are at-will employees," Feaver said. "There's nothing that requires a school district under law to say anything but thank you for your service, and never hire them again. It's not the sort of thing that has just cause or due process. There's no organized substitute organization out there.

"Unless there's criminal activity, you're not going to know really anything about a sub going forward. If a teacher commits an egregious act and loses their license, it goes on the national registry and they're probably done forever in that profession. If a sub does that, if it's not a criminal matter or causes a civil lawsuit, it's pretty certain they could probably go anywhere they want."

If a sub's name is known, anyone can check the status of their teaching credentials online through the Office of Public Instruction. If they're not in this system, it doesn't necessarily mean the sub doesn't have a license. They could have one from another state but are working toward getting their Montana license.

"It should be somewhat comforting to know there are subs out there who do a good job," Feaver said. "But it's discomforting to know that we don't have a way to measure, over time, that instruction. It's a function of resource that should be obvious to everyone. Yet, we do need subs."

Gutierrez said the problems with racism at the school didn't start or end that day. He said he and his friends have been the subjects of other racist comments, and Gutierrez said he's endured bullying and racism in sports, as recently as last week.

"I don't want to go back," he said.

He's planning to switch to Sentinel High.

"I send my kids to school for a safe learning environment," Peters said. "And I hold educators at a higher level. This broke down that barrier of trust, in a sense, though I know not all teachers are like that.

"It just kind of knocked me off my feet to see that happen in Missoula."

Gutierrez was one of the Big Sky students to receive a Most Inspiring Student Award this spring. He said he struggled a bit in school this fall, but did extra work and got his grades up so he could participate in sports.

November is the anniversary of his father's death, a difficult time of year anyway. A few days later was the incident with the substitute teacher.

Peters said she appreciated that the sub was quickly removed, but was dismayed to learn more information from the Missoulian than from the school district.

She wants to see more anti-racism education at the school in an effort to combat what she, Gutierrez and their family see as an ongoing issue there.

"It's about communication and education," Peters said. "I'm worried that kids will see adults doing things like this and think it's OK. I don't want to see an entire generation regress back."
After a third chief medical examiner in little more than a year has left the post, Attorney General Tim Fox will ask the Legislature to revise the management structure of the state crime lab.

Crime Lab Administrator Phil Kinsey described the proposals as clarifications that result in a clearer command structure that should prevent the kinds of problems that led two consecutive medical examiners to resign last year amid questions about the work quality of an associate examiner.

A third examiner has taken a demotion just a year after accepting the states top post.

Another piece of the proposed agency bill would clarify statutes requiring autopsies whenever someone dies in the custody of or during pursuit by law enforcement.

When we first started the transition, having bumps at the medical examiners office, my bosses wanted to know who was in charge of the medical examiner, Kinsey said. I was new on the job. I had been in the lab a long time but had never seen a hierarchical structure regarding the medical examiners.

The Department of Justices Forensic Sciences Division, colloquially known as the state crime lab, provides an array of services to law enforcement officials and coroners statewide.

The state medical examiner, who conducts autopsies, and the crime lab administrator, who oversaw other functions such as drug testing, both are appointed and hired by the attorney general. It was not always clear how the two interconnected positions should function nor who had authority to hire and fire associate examiners.

Dr. Gary Dale had served as state medical examiner for decades and was joined by Dr. Walter Kemp as deputy state medical examiner about a decade ago. The two performed autopsies out of the state crime lab office in Missoula, primarily working for coroners in western Montana.

Death investigators in eastern Montana typically turned to private pathologists. Since 1998, that work had almost exclusively been done by Dr. Thomas Bennett of Billings, who was recognized by the state as an associate medical examiner. Dale directed him not to perform child autopsies because his work on some infant death cases in Iowa had been questioned or discredited by several authorities.

Bennett performed child autopsies anyway, according to previous reporting by Lee Newspapers based on an extensive review of state records. Confronted numerous times by Dale over several years, Bennett did not stop pediatric examinations. He argued he worked directly for the coroners and Dale had no authority over him.

Records show the issue came to a head in late 2014 and appears to have been a factor in Dales resignation in April 2015. Kemp was promoted to the role of state medical examiner but announced his own resignation a couple of weeks after taking the helm, citing the ongoing unworkable situation.

More than a month after Kemps announcement and just a few days before his departure July 1, Foxs staff informed Bennett that his appointment as an associate examiner would end and that the medical examiner's office would be restructured so all coroner-ordered autopsies would be performed by state employees. Despite that statement, the office has continued to contract out autopsies. (See related story).

Fox said the dispute triggered a broader review of the state's system.

"We think the system was antiquated," he said of relying on contractors rather than state employees. "Back in the day it may have been more difficult given Montanas rural population and low population to attract lots of doctors that wanted to do medical examinations.

The changes to state law proposed by Fox are included in a bill to be carried by Rep. Kim Dudik, D-Missoula. The measure would make additional tweaks to clarify the definitions of a state, deputy and associate examiner. They would also give the state examiner explicit authority to hire and fire without having to seek intervention from the attorney general. The state medical examiner also would report to Kinsey.

We really need that cleared up, Kinsey said. There was no real clear line of who worked for who.

The proposal also would have the crime lab administrator take on some day-to-day duties of examiners such as communicating with coroners and managing the budget. That will leave the examiner to focus on medical functions of the post.

After Dale's departure in April 2015 and Kemp's in July 2015, the state struggled to fill three posts: one state medical examiner and a deputy to work from Missoula, and a third examiner to open a new Billings office.

In late August 2015, Dr. Jaime Oeberst started as the new state medical examiner after leading the largest county office in Kansas. Dr. Robert Kurtzman, who performed autopsies for several Colorado counties and had done contract work for Montana, started as a deputy medical examiner in December. Dr. Nikki Mourtzinos joined the Missoula office a month later after working at Childrens National Health System in Washington, D.C.

About a year after Oebersts arrival, she stepped down as chief examiner to become a deputy for personal reasons, Kinsey said. She is currently on leave, Fox said. Her workload involved coordinating with coroners and their deputies from 56 counties to perform autopsies as well as the administrative paperwork of the expanding office and an ongoing effort to secure national accreditation.

Kinsey said Oeberst had previously discussed those challenges with him, but declined to say whether they were why she stepped down.

Coroners interviewed for this story reported no complaints with Oeberst or the new crime lab structure. Montana Coroners Association President Greg Kirkwood said Kinsey notified them at an October board meeting about Oebersts changed title and that Kurtzman would be taking over as the chief examiner.

Citing work schedules or personal time off, both Oeberst and Kurtzman declined interview requests.

Foxs proposed changes also include changes to statute about when to require some autopsies and who will pay for them. Specifically, the statute will mandate an autopsy anytime someone dies in the custody of law enforcement or during an interaction with an officer, such as a traffic stop or chase. If the coroner should decide against an autopsy, the state would do one anyway and pick up the bill.

Thats just to make sure all the information in those investigations is available, Kinsey said. Given the current national conversations about deaths in police custody and shootings, we wanted to make sure everything is investigated that should be.
BILLINGS - Icy conditions and blowing snow persist on Interstate 90 between Livingston and Columbus, but conditions improved enough Monday to reopen the roadway to both directions of travel.

Blizzard conditions and zero visibility prompted officials to continue the closure in eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 90 between Columbus and Livingston Monday morning. Montana Department of Transportation first shut down the interstate Sunday morning, briefly reopened it, and after conditions worsened, closed it for a second time in the afternoon.

A winter weather advisory was in effect for much of south central Montana including Yellowstone County until about noon Monday. The National Weather Service forecasts west-southwest winds up to 25 mph in Billings with gusts as high as 41 mph. Temperatures will peak at about 28, and wind chills as low as zero are expected.

Farther to the west driving conditions are worse. A blizzard warning is in place for the Livingston area where winds of up to 45 mph with gusts as high as 65 mph are blowing snow and creating whiteout conditions.

The strong winds will continue into Monday night but will weaken slightly. Gusts could still reach 55 mph in the Livingston area and near 40 mph in Billings.

Columbus overflowed with stranded travelers and tractor trailers waiting for the interstate to reopen. Mary Rieb, assistant manager of the Pilot Travel Center, said their parking lot can hold about 80 big rigs but she estimated 130 were parked in the area Monday.

"The wind is the wind, and when you get the light snow this is what happens. Welcome to Columbus, because you aren't going anywhere," Rieb said with a laugh.

Rieb has worked at the truck stop for about 15 years and seen the town swell with trucks and travelers many times when the interstate has closed. She relays any information she can to her customers and offers recommendations on where to find lodging for those without bunks in their cabs.

John O'Rourke, a truck driver from Sheridan, Montana, spent Sunday night in his semi's cab waiting for officials to lift the road closure. He hauls U.S. Mail from Mandan to Butte and back. He said some people didn't heed warnings and tried to drive past Columbus. Many got stuck in Big Timber where even less parking was available than Columbus.

"I didn't think we'd be here this long," O'Rourke said. "And it's important for us to get through. I have a truck full of Christmas presents."

Other rigs hauled cars, boats, snowmobiles, travel trailers and agricultural equipment.

Calvin Murphy, of Mitchell, S.D., was on his way to visit friends and family for the holiday in his hometown of Butte. During the trip his pickup's heating system's blower motor began making noise, and he used the holdover in Columbus to work on his vehicle.

"It's just one of those little things. I'm not sure what I'll really do, but I'm just kind of killing time," Murphy said.
A doctor hired by the Montana Department of Justice for occasional autopsy work had resigned from his previous job in Washington after years of complaints and two lawsuits about workplace conditions.

When the states two longtime medical examiners resigned in quick succession last year, the state struggled to fill their positions. The crime lab and the county coroners for which it worked turned to private pathologists to perform autopsies.

Dr. Norman Thiersch was among the contractors paid by the state to travel to Missoula for the work.

In September 2014, Thiersch resigned his post as Snohomish County Medical Examiner as part of a confidential separation agreement, according to The Daily Herald newspaper in Everett, Wash. He had held the job he held for 16 years but left as criticism of his management mounted and in the wake of two lawsuits.

Thiersch, reached by email, declined two interview requests, suggesting the reporter speak with Montana Department of Justice Spokesman Eric Sell.

Sell said Thiersch had to disclose the incidents in Washington when applying for his Montana medical license. Additionally, he said Crime Lab Administrator Phil Kinsey asked employees who had previously worked with Thiersch about whether they would have an issue working with him and they all said no.

There havent been any concerns with his work product, Sell said. No issues or concerns have been reported by crime lab employees.

In 2010, The Daily Herald reported that high turnover and low morale led county leaders to call for an independent investigation of Thierschs office. Two incidents involving employees were subject to criminal investigations, though no charges were filed, reported the Herald.

In 2012, the newspaper reported that a city police department was upset that Thiersch refused to perform an autopsy on a 7-year-old boy who died of an apparent overdose of aspirin or similar medication. Police said they couldnt bring charges against the parents, in part, because they did not have evidence that might have been found during an autopsy.

Thiersch also was named in two related discrimination and retaliation lawsuits.

The first, filed by a former death investigator, alleged discrimination due to disability, sexual harassment and retaliation. In part, the suit alleged that after the death investigator confronted Thiersch about unprofessional conditions in the morgue, the pathologist forcefully ripped organs from a body then threw them back into the chest cavity so as to intentionally splash and splatter blood on the woman. The Herald reported that the case was settled in 2013 for $495,000 with a confidentiality clause that bars the parties from speaking about the case. A second case with similar allegations was settled for $125,000 a year later, according to the Herald.

Since August 2015, Thiersch has been paid nearly $22,000 to travel to Missoula and perform autopsies, according to state financial records. Although most of that was last year, Kinsey confirmed Thiersch also had worked for the lab earlier this month but had yet to bill the state.

The state saw a spike in contracting costs last year as it struggled to fill three positions, two left vacant by the departure of the states longtime medical examiners and a third that was new.

In the last six months of 2015, 39 bodies were transported hundreds of miles to out-of-state labs, according to a report Kinsey presented to legislators in March. Three private pathologists, including Thiersch, secured Montana licenses and traveled to Missoula to perform another 113 autopsies under contract.

Records show those services, along with recruitment expenses, cost the state $570,000 more than was available in the FY 2016 budget. For comparison, the full annual salary of a deputy medical examiner is $201,000.

The Department of Justice requested in May that Budget Director Dan Villa shift spending authority from FY 2017 to 2016 to cover the shortfall. The department has previously said the difference would be made up by holding open vacant positions and reducing FTE as well as increased revenues from a raised autopsy fee paid by county coroners.

The result of the reduction will be delays in processing forensic evidence and timely resolution of cases, Central Services Administrator Christi Jacobsen wrote in June.

This calendar year, the state also paid another $41,000 to a Minnesota-based pathologist to cover for absences by the Billings-based pathologist.

The March report from Kinsey notes that national guidelines recommend the state should hire another pathologist for the Billings office based on Montanas population, something many coroners also support. The Department of Justice did not request funding for an additional position as it put together a budget proposal earlier this fall. Given the states declining revenues, the creation of an additional position is unlikely.
LOLO  Its not a bad idea to keep your head on a swivel when walking anywhere near a herd of bison.

Theres a growing number of visitors to Yellowstone National Park who will attest to that.

Closer to Missoula, the owner of Bitterroot Bison has plenty of experience when it comes to the critters that reach upwards of 2,000 pounds of lightning-fast fury.

They can be a little unpredictable, said Troy Westre as he finished posing for a photo with the 2,000-pound former bottle baby bull he calls Dozer.

Westre said there are only three in his herd that he would walk up to and pet like Dozer. And one of those might still give him a run for his money if hes not on his toes.

Anyone who has spent some time around the brawny and powerful beasts knows that you can never been too careful.

Thats probably whats kept many in the cattle industry from converting their herds over to the animal native to this part of the world.

Its also why Westre doesnt worry at all about the current plunge in cattle prices.

When Westre bought his first five bison back in 2000, prices werent anything to brag about. Around 2006, the price for bison meat started moving upward and it hasnt stopped since then.

I can remember selling a bull for $1.20 a pound, he said. Now its $2.75 on the hoof. Over the last three years, the prices have really been banging upwards.

Westre credits media-mogul Ted Turner for creating the demand for bison burger.

He probably has about 60 percent of the bison market now, Westre siad. The National Bison Association has been doing a good job in marketing as well.

Bison remains a niche market and Westre predicts it will be for a long time to come.

They butcher about 173,000 cows a day, he said. We killed 60,000 bison last year. I think the prices will keep going up because the demand is so high for them right now.

That demand is being driven by people looking for a healthy alternative to red meat.

Westre knows from experience thats the case.

Every year, right after the general hunting season comes to a close, his phone lights up with calls from unsuccessful elk hunters hoping to fill their freezer with meat thats similar in fat content to elk and deer.

Westre raises his bison on a ranch just north of Lolo and on land adjacent to the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge between Florence and Stevensville.

This year he expanded his business with the purchase of a food truck where he sells bison burger, tacos, chili and breakfast burritos at locations around western Montana.

People always tell me its the best burger that theyve ever had, he said.

That favorable response has him considering franchising his food truck business with the hope that someday most of his Bitterroot Valley-raised meat would be sold through his own outlets.

Currently, people can sample bison burgers from Westres herd at the Lolo Peak Brewery, Broadway Bar and Lochsa Lodge.

The beauty of raising bison is that not much at all has to go to waste.

You can sell a bison hide for $1,000 and a beetle-bleached skull for $300, he said. Those are throwaway items on a cow.

Westre makes coats, caps and gloves from the hide, soap from the tallow from old calf-less cows, and drinking cups from the horns.

But bison arent for everyone.

You have to always remember that they can really move out, Westre said. They can go from zero to 35 mph right out of the chute. You better not be standing in the way when they get moving.

When they do escape from their pastures, it can be a challenge to get them back where they belong.

You dont try to push them, Westre said. That doesnt work at all. We try to pull them along with some feed.

Last summer, Westre found himself faced with a herd of 20 young bulls that found a hole in the fence on the property south of Florence.

It was late July when the calls started coming in.

The small herd walked across the refuge and swam the river on its way west.

They went right across Highway 93, Westre said. I had cops calling me every day. They would go in peoples horse pasture one way and go out another way.

He chased them for five days before finally catching up to them just before they ambled onto the Bitterroot National Forest.

Lacking any other options, Westre shot the lead bull.

The rest turned around and headed east. They stopped to rest on a three-mile-long island on the Bitterroot River that had grass up to Westres chest.

He decided that he was going to have to shoot them a couple at a time and haul them back across the river with a boat.

The next day  almost as if theyd been warned that their walk-about was about to come to a dramatic finish  the herd showed up at the ranch next to refuge at 5 a.m.

They had walked in the dark back to the ranch without anyone seeing them, Westre said, with a smile. They are pretty amazing animals.

To learn more about Bitterroot Bison, go to www.bitterrootbison.com
DES MOINES  The shape of Iowas next gubernatorial election was redrawn with the news that Gov. Terry Branstad will resign at some point next year to become the next U.S. ambassador to China.

The mid-term exit of the nations longest-serving governor means his lieutenant governor of the past six years, Kim Reynolds, gets a two-year tryout as governor ahead of the 2018 election.

Branstads exit also gives the next gubernatorial election more clarity for Democrats, who will be trying to win back the governors office for the first time since they held it for three terms from 1999 through 2010.

There will be much at stake for Iowa Democrats when the states voters choose their next governor in 2018.

Iowa Democrats are coming off consecutive elections  in 2014 and 2016  in which they suffered significant defeats. The 2018 election will be their first opportunity to right the ship, and the governors race will stand alone atop the ticket because there are no U.S. Senate or presidential races.

It also will be Iowa Democrats first opportunity to break up the Republicans trifecta of state power: For the next two years, the GOP controls the states lawmaking agenda with a Republican as governor and GOP majorities in the Iowa Senate and Iowa House.

For all those reasons, Iowa Democrats are in need of a victory in the 2018 governors race.

Obviously, with the shellacking that has occurred with Iowa Democrats the last couple cycles, the party needs to do quite a bit of soul-searching. And on paper, were still a purple (politically divided) state in some ways, said Grant Woodard, a former Democratic political operative who worked on Jack Hatchs unsuccessful 2014 gubernatorial campaign. I think (2018) is going to be an immensely important year and really a time for leaders to step up in the party, whoever they may be.

At least a half-dozen Democrats are commonly mentioned by political observers and party insiders as potential candidates for governor. They include current and former state legislators such as Liz Mathis, Rob Hogg, Jeff Danielson, Mike Gronstal and Steve Sodders and outgoing state party chairwoman Andy McGuire.

The list of names of potential candidates surely will grow in the coming months.

Whomever wins the June 2018 Democratic primary will carry with him or her the partys hopes in a crucial election.

I think theres no question that this is going to be a critically important election for Democrats, said Brad Anderson, who was the partys candidate for Iowa Secretary of State in 2014 and led President Barack Obamas 2012 re-election campaign in Iowa.

Anderson said he is optimistic about Democrats chances because the first non-presidential election in a new presidents first term historically favors the party out of power  Democrats, in this case.

We need to make sure we take advantage of that opportunity, Anderson said. So I think the question is if (2018) does set itself up to be a change election, if a majority of voters nationally and in Iowa think that the Republican rule is heading in the wrong direction policy-wise, the thing that we need to do most is figure out and articulate exactly what kind of change we have to offer. This is something we struggled with in this last election and in many of the Obama years, is articulating in a compelling way what we want to do when we get control.

Multiple party activists and insiders spoke of a need for a candidate who can articulate to voters the Democratic Partys vision.

Bret Nilles, chairman of the Linn County Democratic Party, said he thinks a candidate should have strong name recognition and be someone who is able to really articulate what the Democratic Party stands for, not so much on the extreme ends, but more of the core values of Democrats and what that means to urban counties, what that means to rural counties, what it means to lower-income people and what it means to middle-income people.

I think that message has gotten lost in the last few elections."

Multiple Democrats also said the partys candidate must be able to raise a significant amount of money. Unlike 2010 and 2014, there will be no U.S. Senate or presidential races to assist the gubernatorial candidate in 2018. The candidates for governor will set the tone, and although national political groups may get involved, the candidates largely will be on their own to raise money.

I think thats the first thing people need to have, because running for governor is an incredibly expensive ordeal, Woodard said. Running for governor is not glamorous. Its just you and that phone, trying to drum up resources to run that race.

Anderson said the Democratic candidate must be fully motivated to run  not just because he or she was asked to  and must be able to motivate voters. He said the recent elections have shown Democratic voters need to be inspired to turn out.

Its been interesting watching these elections, especially the midterms, over the last decade or so, and one thing has been clear ... Democrats need to be inspired more than Republicans to vote, Anderson said. We tend to get really passionate about elections and turn out if we are inspired, whereas Republicans will vote regardless. They just vote. Our party needs a little dose of inspiration to nudge us to the voting booth, and its really important for our candidate to figure that out. ...

If there isnt that intangible, inspiring effect, we just see low turnout, and we cant afford to have that in 2018.
WASHINGTON, Iowa  Southeast Iowa Symphony Chamber Orchestra will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, 2016 at the United Presbyterian Church in Washington, Iowa, 209 E Main St.

Join us for this Pre-Christmas Eve celebration with an amazing variety of seasonal, classical and folk music. The 11 member SEISO Chamber Orchestra will be joined by guest artist Soprano Donna DeBose and Countertenor Antonio Souza. The concert will also feature Don Hughes on Piccolo Trumpet performing the Fasch Concerto for trumpet, 2 oboes, and strings.

While the concert features a variety of music, much of it is seasonal music associated with the Christmas celebration throughout the centuries. In addition to the classical works, the program will feature a tribute to the recently deceased with Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, music from the Peanuts Christmas Special and music by The Piano Guys.

The group is under the direction of Robert McConnell who also performs as an oboist with the Chamber Orchestra.

The concert is free and open to the public and is supported by a free will offering at the concert.

For further information, log on to the SEISO web site at www.seiso.us or check us out on Facebook. You may also contact the SEISO office at 601 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; phone 319-385-6352; E-mail seiso@iw.edu
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 []
During the holidays, shoppers often hear many familiar sounds, and one of them is the ringing of Salvation Army bells. Many local organizations help Salvation Army assist those in need in the community.

Since 1993, two clubs  Kiwanis of Napa and the Napa Rotary Club  have vied to see which one could raise the most money by ringing bells.

The record, they report, is pretty much a tie. Kiwanis won in 2014 and Rotary in 2015.

The winner takes possession of the bell trophy for the following year.

The loser has to pour wine for the winner at a subsequent joint meeting held on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

This year, the competitors have been at Trader Joes, with Rotary ringing bells on Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Kiwanis there on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We hope to see the community there, they wrote in a joint release. And we wish you all joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year.

No matter who wins.
Theres no good way to describe the fallout since Donald Trump was elected president, but its been a fascinating glimpse at Americas intestinal fortitude.

Like many people, Ive been unable to get off this emotional carousel since the early-morning hours of Election Night when it began sinking in that Trump had pulled it off. Sure, the ride will slow and even reach a halt when Im caught up in something, but once I detach from it, the lights turn on, the music plays, and everything starts to spin again.

As the digestion process continues and we attempt to swallow each disconcerting addition to his Cabinet  in the search for answers  the most dynamic response has regarded the proliferation of fake news.

It has revealed just how difficult it has become to distinguish fact from fiction when our main sources of information are the Internet and social media.

Whats even scarier is just how easy it is for fake news to spread.

Notable faux newsman Paul Horner has been making the rounds on the media circuit lately, detailing the methods behind successfully duping the digital public. Hes so good, in fact, that Trumps son, Eric, and his former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, have actually tweeted links to his articles.

In a VICE News Tonight segment that aired on Nov. 28, Horner provided some clarity as to what drives a fake news writer, and the approach they take to creating stories that can go viral.

I just know what to write, he said. I know how to get traffic pretty easy. I know what stories work and whatll go viral. I guess its just a gut feeling.

Horner has created eight different websites for his articles. The most prominent is National Report, which has a Facebook page with over 28,000 likes.

Some of them, however, are under the banner of conglomerates like CNN or ABC News. He just alters the logo, uses an internationalized domain name, and the resemblance to an actual news site is uncanny.

Horner writes under different aliases like Jimmy Rustling, whose bio says he was born at an early age, and sometimes uses his real name for a source within the story.

He did this in one of his 10 latest articles to go viral, creating a narrative about Trump protesters that were paid by members of the Democratic Party. The article featured toxic quotes from Horner that were clearly enhancing the tension between each partys most aggressive supporters. It even had a fake Craigslist ad seeking protesters to make it seem more authentic.

That story has 82,748 views, which creates ad revenue  the driving force behind Horners life as a fake news writer.

Some of his other viral hits read like Onion articles. One of my favorites was Police officer on LSD attempts to save anti-masturbation dolphin mascot from imaginary fire. But then there are the not-so-obvious ones like an executive order President Obama signed that banned the national anthem from sporting events.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Horner said Donald Trump is in the White House because of me. He provided a screengrab of a Google search for The Amish vote for Donald Trump and there was his ABC News story on the made-up group of Amish lobbyists, at the top of the results.

This is one of the most dangerous aspects of a Trump America. We have lost our ability to divorce whats true and what isnt, and the structure of the Internet wasnt doing us any favors until Facebook, Google, etc. began taking steps to correct it.

Still, that doesnt change the fact that we are caught up in a continuous confirmation bias and only believe what we want to believe. Thats something our president-elect and many of his most loyal supporters did throughout the campaign. Thats something Democrats did, too, likening social victories and various milestones in equality to a false indication that the country has magically aligned with them.

Instead of engaging the other side, weve become quick to click unfollow and, poof, that opposing viewpoint disappears.

Whenever we do face the contrary, conversations devolve into confrontations and we lose any shot at sharing some perspective in the hope of possibly changing it.

Before we even worry about what Trump will do after his inauguration, we need to get ourselves straightened out first. We need to consider the source and bring a more balanced approach to the information we receive.

Otherwise, were going to have a hard time reconciling our reality these next four years.
21:45

Terming demonetisation a "monumental tragedy" and an "anti-poor" measure, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said whoever planted the idea should enrol in an undergraduate course in economics.

"I don't think demonetisation is a reform. It is a monumental tragedy which is anti-poor and has put millions in misery and hardships," he said at an event at the Mumbai University.

By demonetisation, the Modi government created a myth that all cash is black money and all black money is cash, he said.

Stating that the government did not know, either before November 8 or afterwards, the estimate of the black money in the system, Chidambaram said it is akin to a surgeon carrying out an operation without doing homework.

"It is like a surgeon operating upon a patient without knowing whether the patient has any disease at all, which part of the patient is affected and what kind of surgery is required," the former minister said.

Asserting that all cash is not black money, the senior Congress leader said black money is the income that has evaded tax, and there are large sections of the people who have cash but who do not evade income tax.

Agricultural income is not subject to taxation, income of charities is exempted, as is the income of religious trusts. Also, the people of Northeastern states do not have to pay income tax and they have cash in hand, he said.

"Is that all black money? Is the money in the hands of farmer black money?" he asked.

"I think whoever planted the idea of demonetisation did not know elementary economics. He should be asked to enrol in an undergraduate school of economics," Chidambaram quipped.
Amadeusz Lord, left, a junior in mining engineering, and Justin Bollini, a senior, confer during a training scenario as members of the Rescue Dawgs mine rescue team. (Photo provided)

Mine rescue team offers students hands-on training

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A low rumble shakes the shaft, the lights flicker and die as dust particles quickly fill the air.

Youre in the middle of an emergency, deep underground in a coal mine. Maybe its a collapse, or maybe its a fire. Or maybe its a medical emergency, and your stricken co-worker is in an area that is difficult to access. Any way you slice it, youre hoping that help -- skilled, proficient help -- is on the way.

A team of students in the Department of Mining and Mineral Resources Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is learning how to help in such a situation, and gaining knowledge that will help make them better mining engineers at the same time.

The Rescue Dawgs, SIUs mine rescue team, is part of a Registered Student Organization known as the Saluki Miners. It formed when mining engineering students became interested in learning more about mining safety and rescue, said Justin Bollini, a senior in mining engineering from Alton.

We decided that a mine rescue team would be the perfect blend of classroom knowledge and hands-on learning, Bollini said. Since we are a collegiate team we cannot be mobilized in the event of an emergency. But once a student graduates and joins a company or state mine rescue team, then they can be called to actual emergencies.

Our program trains students to be able to join a company or state team without the need to be trained by the state or company team from scratch, which can take up to two years, he said.

The Rescue Dawgs are believed to be the first collegiate mine rescue team in Illinois. The team began training at events last year, using the mine simulation and firefighting training center at Rend Lake College.

Since then, the team has spent time slowly acquiring equipment donated from local underground mines. Bollini said the professional miners and mining companies in the area have been strong supporters of the teams efforts.

Mining is a very tight-knit field and companies have been very helpful with supplying us with equipment in order to help us train, Bollini said. Mining companies are very interested in helping produce safety-oriented mining engineers here at SIU.

He hopes others will contribute as well.

We are always looking for monetary or equipment donors to help sponsor our team for trainings, contests and equipment, he said.

Being part of the team also means that once students such as Bollini graduate, they will have experience showing they are a safe, dependable applicant because of the health, safety and mine rescue experience they received at SIU.

Mining engineering students take safety very seriously and we all strive to learn as much as possible about safety practices, both in school and during internships, Bollini said. We believed that a mine rescue team would be a great hands-on way to learn about safety practices and emergency management focused on the mining field.

The 12 members of the team receive training in many areas that are critical to mine safety, Bollini said.

For instance, learning to take gas readings which test air quality levels underground, is a top team priority. Since gasses settle to different heights due to differences in specific gravities, students often relate what they learned in chemistry to gasses encountered in mines and their properties.

The team also works on finding different ways to re-establish ventilation in a mine, should it be lost due to an accident. Mine ventilation is a major subject in mining engineering, but being on the rescue team gives students an opportunity for practical application.

This is of paramount importance in underground mine rescue scenarios, Bollini said.

Students also are well-versed in mine environmental health and safety rules and regulations at both the state and federal levels. Such knowledge comes directly to bear in mine emergencies, Bollini said.

The list is endless on ways we tie in our classroom knowledge to the skills we learn and practice with the team, he said.

Bollini says team members strive to share their knowledge and skills with the public at every opportunity to demonstrate the care and professionalism within the mining industry.

Mining can be viewed negatively by the public and we hope to help show that mining is not only a safe and environmentally conscious field, but that the mining community is also a very good steward to the local economy. It supplies thousands of well-paying jobs to the Illinois economy.

This spring, seven members of the team will compete against mine rescue teams from other colleges and universities at the Eastern Collegiate Mine Rescue Contest at West Virginia University.
Chief Officer Jameel Jangian, one of those stranded on the ship, told Dawn that their shipping corporation based in Kuwait has not paid the workers their dues, which amount to around Pakistani Rs 20 million.

He said the shipping corporation also did not pay the Egyptian government to process their travel documents, which was why it has confiscated their passports.

"We are not allowed to disembark the ship and go on the shore for anything," Jangian said.

The workers have been stuck on the ship anchored in the sea, away from the seashore, for more than four months now. They were running out of food and other supplies of daily need.

Six of the Pakistani workers were critically unwell as they do not have access to medical treatment.

The workers left Karachi on August 8 and reached Kuwait via Dubai. They boarded the ship in Kuwait and sailed to Egypt, where they were currently stranded.

--IANS ahm/vt

( 196 Words)

2016-12-19-19:00:13 (IANS)
New Delhi [India], Dec 19 (ANI-NewsVoir): Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has vowed to ensure free pilgrimage to Sri Nankana Sahib and Sri Panja Sahib in Pakistan as an extension of ongoing 'Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra'. SAD-BJP government has already cherished the long desire of the people of all faiths from the state to offer an opportunity to pay obeisance at sacred cities of Sri Nanded Sahib, Varanasi, Katra (Mata Vaishno Devi), Ajmer Sharif and other holy places by embarking 'MukhMantriTirathYatra' Scheme. Speaking on the sidelines of a momentous show at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi to highlight the life and philosophy of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in commemoration of his 350th birth anniversary, the CM pledged to make concerted efforts to facilitate free pilgrimage to Pakistan if entrusted with responsibility to serve the state for another term. "In the daily prayers (Ardas), every Sikh yearns to pay obeisance at the sacred shrines situated at the birthplace of Guru Nanak Devji. But unfortunately a very few people get the opportunity to visit the shrines across the international border. We shall not only ensure smooth hassle-free passage of pilgrimage to Pakistan but will also bear the entire expenses so that no person in the state is denied from fulfilling this desire", said Parkash Singh Badal. The Punjab government has decided to celebrate 350th birth annivresary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, the tenth Guru of Sikhs at his birthplace, Sri Patna Sahib and has made a provision of Rs 100 crore for the yearlong celebrations in a bid to propagate the teachings and rich legacy of the great "Saint Soldier". The 350th Parkash Utsav of the tenth Master of Divine Light, is being observed with great religious enthusiasm, devotion and dedication all over the world. This function was a part of series of programs chalked out to commemorate this sacred occasion. Punjab government also presented a cheque of Rs.10 crore to the International centre of Sikh studies. On the occasion, the Chief Minister along with Deputy Chief Minister unveiled the life-sized statue of the legendary Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur installed at the Punjab Government's estate Nabha House near Mandi House Chowk. Punjab government decided to get it installed in the national capital as a humble tribute to the great Sikh martyr. SAD-BJP government has made many efforts to keep youngsters abreast with rich cultural heritage of Punjab. Memorials like Virasat-e-Khalsa, Waddha Ghallughara and Chhota Ghallughara memorial, Banda Singh Bahadur memorial at Chappar Chiri etc. would go a long way in this direction. Giving a facelift to Heritage Street from Town Hall to Sri Harmandir Sahib, the passage leading to holiest Sikh shrine has become the most beautiful in the world. Talking about tenth Guru, the Chief Minister said, "That Guru Gobind Singh ji always preached the lesson of oneness of God and love for humanity. He further also exhorted the Sikh community to be unified in true spirit as professed by Guru Ji." (ANI-NewsVoir)
The actress was spotted at the Mumbai airport where there was a frenzy of fans waiting for their favourite star with gifts and bouquets.

Looking lovely in a black dress and boots, Priyanka complied with the fans in giving autographs, taking selfies and even accepting some of the presents.

The 34-year-old, who is 'happy to be home', later took to her Instagram account to share a picture of her pet and wrote alongside, "Happy welcome.. Brando baby... happy to be home... nothing like it."

On the professional front, Piggy Chops is excited for the release of her Hollywood debut 'Baywatch' starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. (ANI)
"MEA Minister Sushma Swaraj has shown a speedy recovery after her kidney transplant and has been discharged today (Monday)," said the statement issued by the AIIMS' communication department.

According to the authorities, the minister's post-operative recovery was closely monitored by a team of specialists.

They included transplant surgeons and a team of nephrologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists and pulmonologists, as well as anaesthesists and critical care experts. The team also included hysiotherapists, resident doctors and specialised nurses.

Sushma Swaraj underwent the kidney transplant from an unrelated donor on December 10 at AIIMS overseen by a dedicated team of 50 medical staff, including several senior doctors like M. Minz, V.K. Bansal and Preet Mohinder Singh, led by AIIMS Director M.C. Misra.

The three-hour surgery was performed at the Cardio Thoracic and Neuro Sciences Centre of the AIIMS.

The 64-year-old minister, who has been in and out of AIIMS for the past few months, was admitted to the hospital on November 7.

--IANS rup/vd/vt

( 199 Words)

2016-12-19-17:31:21 (IANS)
If you consider standing up before a group of benign people and opening your mouth as a fate worse than death, then good news - conquering your fear of public speaking may be as easy as confronting the possibility of rejection. Despite the fact that the mere thought of public speaking makes some people's palms sweat, hearts race and stomachs reel, it is a vital skill that can help one get up in front of a crowd to make a pitch, present an idea, or close a deal. According to Teja Gudluru, the real brain behind UDO - a budding android app that lets you connect to thousands of experts in over a hundred categories, Glossophobia or "Fear of public speaking, stems out of a fear of being rejected or not being accepted. This usually indicates low self-esteem and the need to be accepted by others." "In India, I have interviewed and interacted with over 40,000 students. For most it's the fear of speaking in English. A complex that has been built over a period of time that speaking in English is synonymous with having good communication skills," Gudluru told ANI. He added, "Students are told that if they cannot improve communication skills, it is almost the end of their careers. While this may be true, the way the communication is sent causes more panic than motivation. Most students coming from rural backgrounds resign to the fact that they can ever speak as well as what is expected of them. And since the fear that failing to talk and communication in public is the end of their career opportunity, makes them even more nervous because they are anxious of the result even before they attempt to speak." Gudluru listed down some points that can help people overcome the stage fright: 1. Start with a simple good morning or hello when you make eye contact with someone. The more strangers you talk to voluntarily, the more confidence one builds. 2. Attend conferences and events, go introduce yourself to others, talk to them irrespective of how good you are at communicating. Watch videos online like TED and observe how public speakers are when they are on stage. 3. Take feedback. Video record yourself speak. Fear of public speaking is the most pertinent amongst all phobias, with an average person ranking it on a much higher scale as compared to other fears. The truth is, this fear has every chance of affecting your professional and personal life. Fear of public speaking is a form of performance anxiety in which a person becomes conscious and concerned of his/her appearance, gestures, dialogue and more. Time and again, people try to shelter themselves by avoiding public speaking, leading to a struggle against speech anxiety and by doing this; they get misled into making this social disease more potent, chronic and disruptive. At the professional forefront, it is important for you to be able to convey your views/opinions. Whether you are giving a formal presentation to an audience or simply asking your boss for a promotion, speaking skills are essential to getting ahead in a professional race. Therefore, public speaking should be promoted, instead of being avoided. For Alka Gupta, Director of BAFEL Academy- an Education and Training company, "The art of speaking is not only to convey messages but also influence minds." Universally, there are various types of public speaking that one can opt from. While monologue is there in the form of a speech, a dialogue is a one to one conversation. When it comes to a conference, the listeners can range up to 25, having a single speaker; while in a seminar, the audience doubles up as speakers. Gupta listed down the ingredients that are needed in any kind of speaking: 1. Knowledge of subject- Without profound knowledge on the subject, there are chances of the message getting hampered with the usage of unnecessary fillers. 2. Vocabulary- A good orator is always armed with sound vocabulary. Overuse of jargon-centric terms alienates people from what you are trying to convey. 3. Voice Clarity- Clarity of voice is needed to convey the objective, laying great emphasis on the keywords, to drive the message across. 4. Body Language- The correct body language ensures that the message gets disseminated and assimilated, in the ideal frame of mind. 5. Self Confidence- Self Confidence is like the salt in a dish. Without the self-confidence, all the above ingredients will fail and your dish will be a bland failure and will not induce any flavour to the person consuming it. "The first thing one must know is that attaining perfection is not humanly feasible. We all are born with diverse traits, which help us gain individualistic skill sets. Different scenarios call for different expertise, making us perfect in certain scenario while imperfect in some other scenario. It lies within us to hone our strengths and work upon our weaknesses," she added. (ANI)
The institute will be opened by the Skill Development Ministry in partnership with the Institute of Technical Education, Singapore.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Kaushal Pradarshani (Skill Exhibition) for the youth.

The Exhibition will showcase state-of-the-art vocational training practices of various sectors.

Prime Minister Modi will also launch a number of skill development initiatives including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras and Drivers' Training Institutes.

Later in the day, he will also address a Parivartan rally in Kanpur today. This will be the sixth Parivartan Rally to be addressed by Prime Minister in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, the Prime Minister had addressed rallies at Ghazipur, Agra, Kushinagar, Moradabad and Behraich. There are four Parivartan yatras taking round across the state which were initiated by BJP national president Amit Shah from Saharanpur.

These Yatras will cover almost 17 thousand kilometer journey across all 403 Vidhan Sabha segments in the state. (ANI)
The Tamil Nadu Cabinet had on December 10 decided to recommend Jayalalithaa's name for India's highest civilian honour.

In its first meeting chaired by Panneerselvam after Jayalalithaa's demise, the Cabinet also decided to recommend to the Centre installation of her life-size bronze statue in the Parliament complex.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will also relay the details of the damages caused by the Cyclone Vardah in the state.

Cyclone Vardah hit several parts of Tamil Nadu earlier on December 12.

The storm uprooted trees, overturned cars and did extensive damage to buildings as it tore across Chennai.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 10 people have died so far due to the cyclone. (ANI)
What comes in your mind when we say 'Yule tress?' Of course a brightly decorated balsam fir with gifts all around. But for Concordia University professor Lea Popovic, a Yule tree is actually an advanced way to describe evolution. In a new study published in Mathematical Biology, Popovic and recent Concordia graduate Mariolys Rivas show how the present-day distribution of physical traits across species can help explain how the evolutionary process unfolded over time. They used a tree-shaped graph called the Yule tree, first developed in 1924 by G. U. Yule to map genealogical history. Visualising how species change: "The full history of the evolutionary process of a given species can be neatly described by a Yule tree," said Popovic, adding, "We extended Yule's model so that we would be able to track evolutionary processes that are dependent on specific phenotypes." Reconstructing the evolutionary process has been a major challenge to scientists for decades because so much is unknown. With increased planetary changes resulting in growing numbers of extinctions, these questions are even more pressing. "The evolution of the visible traits of species -- their phenotypes -- is responsible for the diversity of all living organisms and for their ability to adapt to new environments," said Popovic. "Recent research has shown how differences in phenotypes can affect how quickly species evolve or become extinct. Mathematical models can go a long way in helping us determine various elements of this process. But the possibility that diversification may be trait dependent implies that standard methods are not adequate for measuring the rates of evolution," he added. To address these concerns, Popovic and Rivas used math to map the rate at which new species are created or become extinct. They developed a new mathematical model that describes evolution as a process in which the length of time that species live until they go extinct, or give rise to other species, depends on their phenotype. Their model includes the possibility for the phenotype of the new species to change. On a related note, the Yule tree is a graph with one edge coming in and two edges coming out of each branch-point. The branches represent the time periods between the evolution of new species. If the branch leads to a branch-point, it means a new species evolved. If the branch leads to a leaf, it marks extinction. The leaves represent the species present today. The graph also features "cherries," which represent two present species that are the closest to each other in evolutionary terms, and "pendants," which represent the evolutionary connection to another species that is slightly further from them in evolutionary terms. Counting the number of different types of cherries and pendants helps determine the particular dependence on the phenotype of new species being created or going extinct. (ANI)
Referring to a report in an English daily about her secret marriage to her French boyfriend, Mallika, in a post on her Twitter account , said, ''Pls DO NOT spread rumors,I haven't done any secret marriage!! not nice to spread false news abt me''

The report in an English daily had claimed that Mallika Sherawat had got secretly married to her French boyfriend.UNI AR SV SB 1053

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1071426.Xml
Keeping this in mind, the Chief Minister will organise a rally in this city of lakes tomorrow.

"Mr Kejriwal will address 'Parivartan Rally' in local Chhola Maidan and preparation for the rally has been completed," Aap leader and Madhya Pradesh unit Convenor Alok Agrawal told UNI.

He said that Mr Kejriwal would call upon the people to change the guard in Madhya Pradesh. He would also talk about demonetisation and 'misrule' by the BJP for past 13 years in the state.

Besides, Mr Kejriwal might attack the BJP regime in the state over the Professional Examination Board irregularities and the encounter of SIMI terrorists during the Diwali night this year.

This would be Mr Kejriwal's maiden visit to the state after assuming the office of Delhi.

Huge number of AAP workers across the state are expected to take part in the rally, Mr Agrawal added.UNI GV-BDG SHS SB 1222

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-1071493.Xml
His father Nandkumar Farate lit the pyre in presence of senior officers of the Army, police, civil administration, local leaders and a large number of local residents.

'Rantings of Saurabh amar rahe' (Long live Saurabh) and "Pakistan Murdabad" filled the air as the gun salute reverberated before the funeral pyre was lit.

Saurabh was killed in terrorist attack on an Army convoy in Pampore district of Kashmir.

His body was brought to Pune last night by a civilian flight.

Mr Farate has requested the government to take concrete steps before more precious lives are lost.

He is survived by his parents, wife Sonali and twin daughters Aarohi and Aaradhya.

Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar also met the slain soldier's father in Phursingi last night and assured all help to the family in future. UNI SP NV SV SB 1220

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1071467.Xml
Serendipity Arts Festival-- the country's premier, curated, interdisciplinary arts festival- that aims to mainstream arts in the country, had a host of different activities for art lovers and enthusiasts to indulge in on day three of the festival. Unfolding across multiple locations in Goa, the cultural melting pot of India, the one of a kind, multi-disciplinary festival celebrates diversity with a focus on music, dance, theatre, crafts, visual arts, and culinary arts. The day began with Estuary Talks held at Adil Shah Palace which intended to look at the different ways arts are demarcated and the problems that come with such disciplinary boundaries. The all-day conclave had five sessions with discussions around using theatre as an effective medium for bringing about social change; the coming together of art, science and technology and the impact it has on the lives; transference of legacy through craft; and art & use of varied media to unite, educate and possibly change public opinion. Renownednames and artistes, including Madhusree Dutta, Anuradha Kapur, Sanyukta Saha, Asim Waqif, Prateek Raja, Abhishek Hazra, Laila Tyabji, Ritu Sethi, Kalam Patua, Subodh Kerkar and Deepan Sivaramanwere on the panel of the conclave. Padma Shree Award winner and Goan fashion designer Wendell Rodricks turned project curator for the festival to put together a ten-piece collection called 'Ten Histories: Goan Costume' that were not mere museum pieces. Each exhibit had a story to tell about Goan mythology, Gods, people, customs, traditions, festivals and folklore. The objects on display included mesmerising historical items such as mother goddess photograph, a 17th century gold cross, a Narkasur effigy, Shantadurga & Kunbi saris, a Pano Bhaju garment, 1930's Womenswear Lingerie, a Muslim turban, Edwin Pinto shoes and zottim sandals and a 7th century Buddhist sculpture. The Adil Shah Palace, restored to its former glory, also had on display photographs captured in the 1970s by noted fashion and fine-art photographer, the late Prabuddha Dasgupta. The rare B&W images which have never been displayed in Goa before today capture the cultural dilemma faced by the Catholic community in Goa in the years following the state's freedom from Portuguese rule. Lucid Sleep, a project curated by Goa's HH Art Spaces, was part of the performances at the Palace. A multitude of live performances by Uriel Barthelemi, Bhisaji Gadekar and Yasmin Jahan Nupur eachhighlighting the artist's unique practice and visual conceptual imagination, created a parallel world of within these spaces. The Postcard Project leveraged what is probably the country's oldest way of communication-- the postcard-- as a means for Goa's young children to openly share with the world, their vision of the state. In tandem with the times, the Festival unveiled a unique Selfie Project at the Old Goa Medical College (GMC) compound. The initiative crowd-sourced over 1,50,000 individual images showing therelationship between technology and art. The festival will conclude on December.UNI AKM NV SB 1231 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1071473.Xml
Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation drive, Union Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday said it will transform the country in a better way. Talking to ANI, Meghwal said it is the duty of the government to bring economical and social equality in the country. "Who will bring the economical and social equality in this country? It is the duty of the government. After so many terms as a government they (Congress) couldn't get economical and social equality in this country. With the help of demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to bring these," he said. "They cannot digest the facts that how can a normal man like Modi ji can do so much for the country. Modi ji will bring reform and will transform the country. We have to change the way of life. Is it so important to work in cash? I believe that people will benefit with this. Even Congress somehow believes that it is a good step," he added. Responding to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's corruption charges against Prime Minister Modi, Meghwal said, "Rahul Gandhi says he was not allowed to speak in the Parliament. Like kharge ji even he could have spoken in the Parliament. He has nothing to say. His allegations are not true." Meanwhile, Gandhi is set to hold a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur today, to address demonetisation woes. Gandhi led a united opposition in a focused attack on the government all through the winter session of parliament over the notes ban and has now vowed to make it a key election issue in UP. Also, Prime Minister Modi will address a public rally in Kanpur this afternoon as political action shifts from parliament to Uttar Pradesh where crucial elections will be held soon. (ANI)
The Crime Branch team on Monday reached the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to begin its probe into missing student Najeeb Ahmed's case. The students of JNU have criticised the Delhi Police over the delay in tracing Najeeb, who has been missing from the campus after allegedly being beaten up by a mob of 20 students comprising mostly the ABVP members. JNUSU president Mohit Pandey last month told ANI, "The police has not taken any action for finding Najeeb. They have not followed the procedures and responsibilities. Those who had beaten him were not interrogated." Najeeb's family has so far been critical of the police for not being able to locate him. Denying reports that Najeeb was taking anti-depressant medicines, his sister had earlier alleged that the police was trying to give a different direction to this case. "We hope the Delhi Police works on the right path to find him and not defame him. Please don't try to defame Najeeb.The Delhi Police needs to go in the right direction. We have also requested for a CBI probe," she said. The Delhi Police had last month increased the reward from Rs. 2, 00,000 to 5, 00,000 for the person, who provides information about the missing JNU student. Earlier on October 14, Ahmed was allegedly slapped by an ABVP member canvassing for the hostel elections. The first year M.Sc Biotechnology student has been missing from the next day. Since then, the students along with Najeeb's family members have been protesting at the campus against the alleged police inaction and demanding the arrest of ABVP members. A police complaint was earlier filed under Section 365 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person, and a proctorial inquiry was also initiated by the varsity. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday criticised the Congress Party for politicising the issue of the army chief appointment, and said that this tug of war is unbecoming and national security should be paramount. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI, "Such kinds of tugs of war on such an important national security issue is unbecoming. We should all rise above petty-politics and think of national security first." On Saturday, the government announced the name of Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat as the new Chief of Army Staff and Air Marshal B.S. Dhanoa as the new Chief of Air Staff. Lt.Gen. Rawat, who took over as Vice-Chief of Army Staff in September 2016, bypassed Eastern Commander Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi (Armoured Corps) and Southern Commander Lt. Gen. P.M. Hariz (Mechanised Infantry) to bag the coveted post. Lieutenant General Rawat has remarkable experience of serving in combat areas and at various functional levels in the Indian Army over the last three decades. The Army veterans on Sunday came to the rescue of the government, which has been drawing flak post the decision to appoint Lt. Gen. Rawat as the next army chief, and said that seniority was not the only aspect taken into consideration prior to making an appointment for such a coveted post. (ANI)
Sabir Ali, 55, posted at the Barasat police station, was hit on Jessor Road. Witnesses said the Kolkata-bound van jumped a traffic signal.

While the police seized the vehicle, the driver escaped.

--IANS mgr/ssp/in/mr

( 69 Words)

2016-12-19-15:18:12 (IANS)
Five people, including 3farmers were killed on the spot in two different road accidents occurred in the state here today. According to the police, three farmers from Raichur districtwere killed on the spot when a vehicle in which they were travellingrammed against a truck on National Highway No 4 near Haveri. Police said one person had a miraculous escape and shifted toHaveri Government Hospital. The deceased farmers were identified asGovind Lamani (19), Komesh Lamani (39) and Narasappa Lamini (35). The all deceased farmers were belong to Naragod village in ManviTtaluk of Raichur District and they were on the way to Bedagi marketof Haveri district for selling chillies grown in their farm. In another road mishap, two persons were killed on the spot andfour others injured, one of them in serious, when the car in whichthey were travelling turned upside down after a puncture in one ofthe tyres near Talekote-Huven Hadagali road, Hulichindi cross ofBasavan Bagewadi taluk of Vijayapura district here today. Police said the deceased were from Shorapur taluk of Yadgirdistrict and they were on the way to Vijayapura for participatinga funeral ceremony of their relative. The injured were shifted tonear by Government Hospital and condition of the severely injuredperson was serious. The deceased were identified as Sivanna Fathepur(34) and Mallanna Jamadar (45) . Basavan Bagewadi Police Registered the case and further enquirywere going on, the sources added. UNI SD CNR ADB1445 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0287-1071740.Xml
Apart from Bhatkal alias Ahmed Siddibappa Zaraar, and Pakistani national Zia ur Rehman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu, and Aizaz Saeed Shaik alias Aijaz Shaikh were convicted by the court on December 13 for offences including waging war against the nation, criminal conspiracy and murder.

The twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar area on February 21, 2013, killed 18 persons, including one unborn child in mother's womb, and injured 131 others.

Prosecutor told reporters that the judge concluded that the case fell in the category of "rarest of rare" case and the convicts deserve capital punishment.

The convicts said they will challenge the NIA court's order in the High Court and sought a copy of the judgement, the prosecutor said.

Tight security arrangements were made since morning at Cherlapally Jail, where the special court pronounced the judgement.

--IANS ms/vd

( 186 Words)

2016-12-19-17:58:11 (IANS)
TIRUN, the exclusive India Representative for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., invites adventure seekers from all over the country to indulge in Salsa music, dominoes, Mojitos and historic Havana neighborhoods like never before, as RCI announces its first-ever sailings to Cuba. The newly revitalized Empress of the Seas will make history for the cruise line with its first visit to Cuba. The ship will homeport in Tampa for the 2017 summer season RCI's first-ever summer program from the destination offering a series of four and five night sailings, including port calls to destinations in Cuba. The largest ship to sail to Cuba from the United States, Empress will provide Indian vacationers with the opportunity to discover the timeless sights, sounds and culture of this island nation. The ship will make its first visit to Cuba during a five night sailing itinerary, departing from Miami on April 19, 2017. The ship will then reposition to Tampa offering two itineraries with calls to Havana on April 30 (seven night sailing) and May 20 (five night sailing). Indian cruise enthusiasts can now book their vacation aboard the Empress of the Seas and celebrate the New Year in style. TIRUN Chief Executive, Ratna Chadha expressed her enthusiasm about the announcement, commenting, "TIRUN is committed to providing Indian customers with the most memorable vacation experiences every season. With the latest RCI sailings to Cuba, cruise enthusiasts can indulge in a rejuvenating holiday aboard the spectacular Empress of the Seas and discover Cuba's vibrant culture through RCI's unparalleled immersion itinerary. There cannot be a more exciting way to ring in the New Year." Guests sailing onboard Empress of the Seas and visiting Cuba can enjoy curated people-to-people experiences created to immerse vacationers in the natural beauty of Cuba, its architecture, cuisine, music and art. All cruises will be designed in accordance with current US to Cuba travel regulations. While in Cuba, guests will explore Old Havana a UNESCO World Heritage site some of the city's most notable squares, historic neighborhoods, a local artisan market, Havana's rum museum as well as Hemingway's former residence and favorite haunts. Local experts will immerse guests in the history, culture and people of Cuba. These authentic encounters will give guests an unforgettable taste of what has made Cuba the gem of the Caribbean. The authentic experiences aren't limited to land. The vibrant culture will extend to Empress of the Seas, from cortaditos and cafe con leche in Cafe Royal to salsa music, guests will have a range of onboard activities developed to bring the spirit of the island to life during the entire journey. The revitalized Empress will bring the shipboard Cuban flair together with signature amenities, such as a thrilling rock-climbing wall for adrenaline seekers; new pools and whirlpools, including an adults-only Solarium; a Vitality Spa with an extensive treatment menu; and a complimentary Adventure Ocean youth program. Empress also will offer a variety of dining options with the casual atmosphere of the Windjammer Cafe, family-friendly Ben and Jerry's Scoop Shop, and fine dining at Royal Caribbean's signature steakhouse Chops. The summer program on Empress of the Seas provides travelers with more opportunities to sample the unique cruise experience from Tampa. Two other Royal Caribbean ships, Rhapsody of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas, will offer Caribbean itineraries from the homeport during the winter season. (ANI)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today expressed grief over the death of six people, including four farmers who have allegedly committed suicide, in a day in Punjab. In a statement here, AAP Punjab Convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich alleged that SAD and Congress have looted the state in the past two decades. Both the parties have done nothing to uplift the peasantry in the state, he charged. He said three out of four farmers took the extreme step because of debt and fourth has committed suicide as the company in which he had invested money, refused to refund his finances. The AAP leader criticised the Badals for running away from their poll promise to waive off the debt of farmers. He said that Akali Dal was the alliance partner at the Centre and can ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help the farmers of Punjab. Waraich said that if the Centre refused to accept the demand of debt waiver then Ms Harsimrat Badal has no right to stay in the Union Cabinet. He also took notice of suicide of cancer patient in Sangrur. He alleged that apathy of the State Government was pushing the people of the state to take the extreme step. The State Government has done nothing to strengthen the health system in the state, he charged. The AAP leader promised that after the formation of the AAP Government in Punjab in 2017, the State Government will provide free treatment to the cancer patients. The health facilities in the Government hospitals will be made at par with the private hospitals, he claimed. He said that AAP has promised to waive off debt of farmers.UNI DB RSA SNU 1719 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1071976.Xml
After the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), it was the turn of the Trinamool Congress (AITC) to suffer a severe jolt as one of its key leaders joined the Punjab Congress today, less than six months after he had left the party to join AITC. Punjab Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh welcomed the homecoming of Suresh Gogia, who quit AITC Patiala, citing serious problems in the party. Mr Gogia, who had joined Jagmeet Brar, and was appointed AITC halka In-charge of Rajpura, said Mr Brar heads a group of 'misguided missiles', which could do no good for Punjab and its people. Congress, under the leadership of Capt Singh, was the only party that could bring the state out of its current devastation and despondency, said Mr Gogia, who had joined the Youth Congress back in 1988. Mr Gogia remained Vice-President of Punjab Youth Congress from 1995 to 2000 and was also a member of the disciplinary committee in the party. During his Congress tenure, he also held the directorship of Punjab State Tubewell Corporation and was member of the Pepsu Township Development Board. On the occasion, Capt Singh said the disillusionment and disenchantment within other political parties in Punjab was complete and people of the state were looking at the Congress to provide them relief from their current state of gloom. The AITC, he said, had absolutely no standing in Punjab and it was obvious that sincere and committed political workers would see their future, as well as the future of Punjab, in the Congress.UNI DB RJ SNU 1721 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1071990.Xml
The body of Jawan Naik C Ratheesh (35) of 44 field regiment in Madukkari near Coimbatore, who was killed in a militant attack on an Army convoy at Pampore in Kashmir on December 17, along with other two soldiers, was cremated at his house premises at Kotalipram near Mattanoor today, with both State and Military honours. Large number of people from all walks of life, including Port Minister Ramachandran Kadanappalli, MP PK Sreemathy, MLA EP Jayarajan, BJP national leader PK Krishna Das, CPI (M) district secretary P Jayarajan, District Congress leader Satheeshan Pacheni and BJP District president P Sathya Prakash paid last tributes to late Jawan Chakkala Kandy Ratheesh. A condolence meeting was also conducted after the cremation. A hartal was observed in Koodali panchayat and Mattanur town as a respect to the departed Jawan at his native village. The body of Ratheesh reached Karipur Airport at around 0930 hrs from New Delhi and brought to his house by road and the funeral was held at around 1530 hrs. Defence Security Corpse (DSC) and 122 Inf battalion personnel and revenue officials, including District Collector Mir Muhammed Ali paid last respect, when the body was kept at a specially arranged plot near his house premises. The 35-year-old, who has served in the Army for the last 15 years, is survived by wife Jyothi of Kuttiyatoor and six-month-old son Kasinath and mother Omana. His father P Raghavan Nambiar, had died, when Rajeesh was just two-year-old. He returned to Kashmir on December 9 after his leave and was about to be relieved from his deputation. He was supposed to join his parent regiment at Madukkarai in this month.UNI AK RJ SNU 1840 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0098-1072072.Xml
The National Investigation Agency today denied the allegations of state Anti-Terrorism Squad that it conducted investigation in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blasts case in a pre-determined and calculated manner, to negate the effects of earlier probe by ATS and CBI. The NIA filed its affidavit before the Bombay High Court, in response to a petition filed by Maharashtra ATS, challenging the discharge of eight Muslim persons from the 2006 blast case. In April this year, a sessions court had discharged the eight accused (accused by ATS and CBI) of all terror charges after the NIA submitted that a "Hindu Right Wing" organisation was behind the blasts. The ATS approached the HC, claiming that the sessions court order was "illegal, unjust and goes against evidence on record". Its conclusion that "Muslims would not plant bombs inside a Mosque was absolutely wrong, and had no legal basis," the ATS claimed. In its affidavit, the NIA said it arrived at the conclusion that the blasts were carried out by Hindu group only after a thorough probe was carried out. "It is not correct to say NIA conducted investigation in a pre-determined and calculated manner to negate the effects of earlier probe by ATS and CBI," the affidavit filed by NIA Superintendent of Police Vikram Khalate said. The affidavit further said that as per NIA probe, Manohar Narwaria, Ranjendra Chaudhary, Dhan Singh Shiv Singh, Lokesh Sharma, Ramchandra Kalsangra, Sunil Joshi, Ramesh Mahalkar, Sandeep Dange and few others allegedly entered into criminal conspiracy between January and September 2006 to commit terrorist acts in Malegaon. "Training camps were organised in Indore, where bombs were prepared and then transported to Malegaon. Narwaria, Chaudhary, Singh and Kalsangra planted the bombs in Malegaon. They (accused) wanted to set off the bomb in a Muslim-dominated area, so that it would result in communal riots between Hindus and Muslims in Malegaon," the affidavit said. The bench of Justices Ranjit More and AM Badar after taking the affidavit on record, adjourned the further hearing till January 19.UNI AAA RJ SNU 1846 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0098-1072144.Xml
Working towards its vision of nurturing micro entrepreneurship, online transportation major Ola today said it will invest Rs 100-crore and would skill over one-lakh-driver partners in the next three years. Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO and Co-Founder, Ola said, "Ola is proud to be part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Skill India' and 'Digital India' initiatives. We believe skilling is critical to create sustainable livelihood in India. The mobility sector in the country is witnessing phenomenal growth and has the potential to empower aspiring individuals from all walks of life to become entrepreneurs." "We are extremely excited to partner with NSDC to invest in the training and skilling of drivers as this would help us in realising our larger goal to skill 50-lakh drivers in the next five years while contributing towards our mission of building mobility for a billion Indians," he added. Manish Kumar, MD and CEO, NSDC said, "We are extremely happy to work alongside Ola, driving this campaign that has the potential to significantly improve livelihoods and contribute to the economic growth of lakhs of Indians. Such initiatives will go a long way in promoting skill development and creating an environment of entrepreneurship for the people of the country." The MoU was signed by Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO & Co-founder, Ola and Manish Kumar, MD and CEO, NSDC in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and others. UNI ASH SNU 1820 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0388-1072252.Xml
Jet Airways, an international airline, has been adjudged 'Air-Cargo Airline of the Year' at the Logistics Asia Awards held in Ahmedabad in recognition of the airline's excellence in cargo sales and operations. Dharmavirsinh R Jadeja, Cargo Manager, Operations (Gujarat) received the award on behalf of Jet Airways at the ceremony held recently at the GMDC Ground of the Gujarat University Convention and Exhibition Centre, Ahmedabad. Evaluated on numerous criteria such as cargo tonnage handled, transfer cargo handled and revenue generated from cargo operations through the financial year 2016, Jet Airways achieved the highest rating amongst all its peers. Commenting on the recognition, Pradeep Kumar, Senior Vice-President, Cargo, Jet Airways, said, "Demand for safe and reliable logistical services is growing on the back of expanding industrial infrastructure, as India embarks on its journey to become an economic powerhouse. As a network carrier that connects 66 destinations worldwide, Jet Airways' consistent performance has positioned us perfectly to support this growth. "We continue to expand our cargo operations and improve the quality of our offerings in the areas of product, customer services and support. This award recognises the efforts taken by Jet Airways towards developing its cargo services and motivates us to take the lead in order to remain the preferred choice for the industry." Logistics Asia Awards were held to commemorate the efforts and achievements of the players involved in the logistics and supply chain industry across India. The awards received nearly 169 nominations from 74 companies across India for various categories. UNI ADP SW SNU 1838 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0429-1072248.Xml
The assembly also paid tributes to six-time sitting BJP legislator and former state education minister I.D. Dhiman, who died last month, before being adjourned for the day.

"Jayalalithaa was a versatile leader who displayed resolve through administration and public welfare schemes," said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Starting her career as a leading actor, she became chief minister for five times because of her popularity and "this showed her popularity among the masses, particularly the poor", said the octogenarian Chief Minister.

Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal also paid tributes to her.

The five-day session is likely to be stormy as the opposition BJP is set to corner the ruling Congress over corruption charges against the Chief Minister and delay in execution of central projects.

--IANS vg/vd

( 168 Words)

2016-12-19-19:26:12 (IANS)
The National Investigation Agency today denied the allegations of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad that it conducted investigation in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blasts case in apre-determined and calculated manner to negate the effects of earlier probe by ATS and CBI. The NIA filed its affidavit before the Bombay High Court in response to a petition filed by state ATS challenging the discharge of eight Muslims from the 2006 blasts case. In April this year, a sessions court had discharged the eight persons (accused by ATS and CBI) of all terror charges after the NIA submitted that a "Hindu right wing" organisation was behind the blasts. The ATS approached High Court claiming that the sessions court order was "illegal, unjust and goes against evidence on record". Its conclusion that "Muslims would not plant bombs inside a mosque was absolutely wrong, and had no legal basis," the ATS claimed. In its affidavit, the NIA said it arrived at the conclusion that the blasts were carried out by a Hindu group only after a thorough probe. "It is not correct to say NIA conducted investigation in a pre-determined and calculated manner to negate the effects of earlier probe by ATS and CBI," the affidavit filed by NIA superintendent of police Vikram Khalate said. The affidavit further said that as per NIA probe, Manohar Narwaria, Ranjendra Chaudhary, Dhan Singh Shiv Singh, Lokesh Sharma, Ramchandra Kalsangra, Sunil Joshi, Ramesh Mahalkar, Sandeep Dangeand few others allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy between January and September 2006 to commit terrorist acts in Malegaon. "Training camps were organised in Indore where bombs were prepared and then transported to Malegaon. Narwaria, Chaudhary, Singh and Kalsangra planted the bombs in Malegaon. They (accused)wanted to set off the bomb in a Muslim-dominated area so that it would result in communal riots between Hindus and Muslims in Malegaon," the affidavit said. A division bench of Justices Ranjit More and A M Badar, after taking the affidavit on record, adjourned the further hearing till January 19 next year.UNI AAA SS RSA SNU 1914 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1072329.Xml
This is the first visit of the Minister to DRDO labs inBangalore after he took over, according to a DRDO release here.

The Minister visited the DRDO labs including Gas Turbine ResearchEstablishment (GTRE), Electronic & Radar Development Establishment(LRDE), Centre of Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIR) andDefence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE).

Dr C P Ramanarayanan, Director General (Aeronautical system) andMs J Manjula, Director General (Electronics & Communication system)were present during the visit and briefed the Minister about theirprojects and the on-going projects in their respective establishments.

He was shown the engine run and other demos of radars, robots andother artificial intelligence products and avionics developmentrelated products.

The Minister was highly appreciated the achievements and projectdevelopments by the labs. He was pleased with the percentage ofindigenization by the DRDO labs and reiterated the necessity ofmaking it 100 per cent thereby fulfilling the dream of 'Make inIndia' concept.UNI MSP RS ADB1922

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0287-1072416.Xml
Karnataka Minister for Home G Parameshwaratoday announced that cyber squads will be established in the Stateto solve the information technology crimes. Presiding over the 60th All India Police Duty Meet (AIPDM) herehe said that now a days cyber crimes has been increasing not only inthe state but also across the country. Karnataka being the IT hubin the country there was a need for a special cyber squads andefforts are on to have squads at all the district headquarters. He pointed out that the state already in the forefront with theopening of a special cyber police station in Bangaluru, first of itskind in the country which had already handling the cyber crimes. Further, he pointed out that there was an advantage in using newinformation technology in the police services by solving variouscrimes, at the same time there was advantages in using thistechnology with hacking the sites. Referring to sharing of intelligence information, he said that atpresent there was lack in sharing the intelligence by the centralforces it needs to be looked in to better coordination. It was alsonecessary to share the information particularly terrorist who havebeen hiding in various states. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, in his inaugural address,called upon police forces to follow the rules and regulations tosafeguard the people of the country. He suggested that lower cadrepolice officers not to hear any kind of oral instructions from theirsuperior to over come any kind of lapses while performing theirduties. All police forces of different kind should also safeguardand protect the general public from the anti social elements whereever they are assigned their duties , at the same time the generalpublic should not take law in their hands to destroy the public andgovernment properties when the rites occurred, he added. More than 1,250 police personnel from different States and UnionTerritories are participating in the Meet. Over a period of next five days the police personnel will viefor Top Honours in variety of competitions under scientific aids toinvestigation, police photography, police videography, computerawareness, anti-sabotage check, and police dog investigation. The Meet also aimed at testing the police personnel'scapabilities in discharging their duties in the changing crimescenario.. Apart from police personnel from different States andUnion Territories, even personnel representing different securityagencies, including BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, NSG, RPF, and IndoTibetan Border Police forces are participating, Mr Parameshwara said that a 90-member team from the State isparticipating in the competitions. More than 50 officials from theCentral Detective Training School, Hyderabad, National PoliceAcademy, Hyderabad, and other renowned institutions will adjudicatethe competitions. As part of the event, seminars will also be heldon various issues, including tackling social media-related complaints.UNI BSP MSP ADB2035 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0286-1072605.Xml
The Chief Minister, who was in city to attend a series of programmes, first visited the Farate family along with his ministerial colleagues at his native village Fursungi and spent 30 minutes with the deceased's family.

Consoling Saurabh's father Nandkumar Farate, he said he was with him.

Saurabh was killed in Saturday's terror attack on an Army convoy in Pampore district of Kashmir. His body was brought to Pune last night by a civilian flight and was kept at the MilitaryHospital in Khadki till morning.

Saurabh was cremated here in the morning with full state honours.

Mr Fadnavis also assured the family that they can directly approach the government officials who will fulfil their needs.

Social Welfare Minister Dilip Kamble, Pune Guardian Minister Girish Bapat, Vijay Shivtare and city MP Anil Shirole, Sanjay Kakade and Madhuri Misal as well as district collector Saurabh Rao werewith the Chief Minister. UNI SP SS RSA SHK 2121

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1072448.Xml
The alleged accused, Ramesh Waghmare (54), had demanded Rs50,000 to send a positive proposal to the Savardari village in Khedtaluka to install a water connection to the village.

The villagers, who are the complainants, informed about thesame to ACB office here, sources in ACB said.

After verifying the complaint, an ACB team laid a trap at hisoffice and caught red-handed Waghmare while accepting firstinsallment of total bribe amount.

An offence under relevant sections of Prevention of CorruptionAct has been registered at the local police station against theaccused, sources added.UNI SP SS NP SHK 2205

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1072529.Xml
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on accused and indefault additional rigorous imprisonment of another six months.

The accused, Vikas Yashawant Madhavi, was found guilty undersections 342, 361 and 376(2)(f)(i) of Indian Penal Code as well assections 3(b), 4, 5(m) and 6 of the Protection of Children fromSexual Offences Act, 2012.

On December four, 2012, the toddler, studying in Junior KG,went to the house of the accused (her neighbour) along with hercousin for playing. The accused took the victim to a room inside andsexaully assaulted her, causing bleeding.

Then, the accused dropped the two girls at the house of thevictim. At home, the girl complained of pain to her mother whonoticed the bleeding.

Next day, the mother took her daughter to a hospital whereafter examination it was confirmed that the girl was sexaullyabused, then, the mother lodged a complaint with the police.

After examining seven witnesses, Special Judge Mridula V KBhatia convicted and sentenced the accused to ten years rigorous imprisonment.UNI XR SS HK SHK 2236

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-1072770.Xml
He said the role of regional countries is important for peace talks in Afghanistan.

Khaama Press quoted Karzai, as saying that the menace of terrorism is dangerous for the region.

Reaffirming Moscow's support in different sectors with Afghanistan, the Russian envoy reiterated efforts to restore peace and stability in the country.

Russia is mainly concerned about the worsening situation in northern provinces of the country due to an attempt by loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group to expand their foots in the country.

The Russian Envoy to United Nations, Vladimir K. Safronkov, had earlier stressed on the need to prevent foreign terrorist fighters from spilling into Afghanistan. (ANI)
Hundreds of people gathered in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, defying a ban on protests against the president's plans to stay in office past the end of his term today.Security forces blocked access to Kinshasa University, facing off against groups waving red cards telling President Joseph Kabila to go, as time ticked down to the official close of his mandate at midnight.Shops shut in other parts of the city, where streets were mostly empty. Militia fighters raided a jail in the eastern Congo city of Butembo in a bid to free prisoners, triggering clashes that killed at least six people, a security source said."They want to take advantage of the day," activist Fabrice Kakubuzi told Reuters.Opposition activists have accused Kabila of trying to cling to power by letting his term run out without an election in place to choose a successor."Kabila's mandate finishes at 1159 ... Tomorrow (Tuesday) it will be chaos," said Hugue Ilunga, a 21-year-old mechanics student, as dozens of soldiers deployed nearby in the capital, an opposition stronghold of 12 million people.The government and elections officials have blamed logistical and financial problems for the delay in the vote, currently scheduled for April 2018.Some opposition leaders have agreed Kabila can remain in office until that date. The constitutional court has also ruled that Kabila, leader since his father was assassinated in 2001, can stay on.But the main opposition bloc rejects the deal as a ploy, though it said it would not call protests. Talks mediated by the Catholic church failed to reach a compromise."FLIRTATION WITH DISASTER"The government has blocked most social media and outlawed protests in Kinshasa, raising fears of more violence in a nation that has been plagued by war and instability for two decades since the fall of kleptocrat Mobutu Sese Seko. Congo has not seen a peaceful transfer of power since independence in 1960.Diplomats fear any escalation of the violence could trigger a conflict like the 1996 to 2003 wars that killed millions, sucked in neighbouring armies and saw armed groups clash over Congo's mineral wealth and use mass rape as a strategic weapon.US Great Lakes envoy Tom Perriello on Thursday called Kabila's hanging on "an entirely unnecessary flirtation with disaster" in a speech at the United States Institute of Peace.Youth activists say they have taken inspiration from Burkina Faso, where Blaise Compaore was ousted in 2014 by popular protests while trying to extend his 27-year rule.As in Burkina, protests in Congo are in part driven by economic desperation. Congo is Africa's biggest miner of copper and metals used in gadgets, like cobalt and coltan, but a slowdown linked to falls in commodity prices has triggered steep budget cuts and a 30 per cent fall in the Congolese franc.The vast, forested country of 70 million people and more than 200 ethnic groups, is much more fragmented than Burkina, however, and previous protests achieved little.Former colonial master Belgium advised citizens to leave before today. The United States warned against non-essential travel, telling expatriates who remain to stay indoors. REUTERS AKC VN1426 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1071915.Xml
A local official said the incident took place in Ab Kamari district late on Sunday night after the Taliban militants stormed into her father's house in Maida Qul village, reports the Khaama Press.

The official said that the woman was forced to shift to her father's house after Taliban militants forced her to divorce her husband whom she had married after divorcing her first husband.

The Taliban militants punished the woman after her first husband returned from Iran and lodged a complaint with them.

The militant group has not commented regarding the report so far.

This comes as numerous incidents of public execution by the Taliban have been reported during the recent months across the country.

Earlier this month, the Taliban militants hanged a Kabul Polytechnic University engineering student accusing him of spying for the government. (ANI)
A South African soldier on a United Nations mission in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was killed in a rebel attack on their positions today, the final day of President Joseph Kabila's mandated time in office, Pretoria said.Two South African soldiers were wounded, one critically, in the early morning assault by Mai Mai guerrillas, the South African military said in a statement. Four militiamen were killed in the fire-fight and two were captured, it added. Reuters cj NS1800 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1072175.Xml
- Turkey's purge of its military since a botched coup in July has cut its armed forces by a third, the Council of Europe said on Monday, after NATO raised concerns that Turkey's response to the failed coup has worryingly thinned its forces.The council, Europe's leading human rights organisation with 47 member states including Turkey, said that over 125,000 people across Turkish society had been dismissed from jobs, as of Dec. 9, and almost 40,000 people had been arrested.The study listed the arrest of 140 journalists and the closure of 177 media outlets, although 11 of those were subsequently reopened. More than 2,000 schools, universities and dormitories have been shut down.The data, which counts all military dismissals from July to October, indicated that almost half of all Turkey's generals have been fired while the number of new, low-ranking privates contracted had jumped by a fifth."The dismissal of a number of members of the Turkish armed forces resulted in a decrease, by one third, of military personnel," the Council's Parliamentary Assembly said in its study.Turkish officials roundly reject any suggestion that NATO's second-largest army has been weakened. They say the military has become more loyal and effective with the removal of rogue officers, some of whom commandeered tanks, jets and helicopters in their attempt to seize power on July 15.Since the coup attempt, Turkey has launched a military incursion into Syria to clear Islamic State militants from its border, and stepped up its campaign against Kurdish militants in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq.That is evidence, the officials say, of the military's abilities to maintain its commitments to both NATO and Turkey. They also say that the scale of the crackdown was justified by the gravity of the attempted coup.NATO's top commander said this month said he had raised concerns with Turkey about the impact of the purge on its armed forces. Last month a sacked Turkish general assigned to NATO in Germany told Reuters the crackdown was inflicting deep, long-term damage on the Turkish military.The study by the Council of Europe, whose legal experts have said the scale of the purge is unconstitutional, showed that overall, the Turkish armed forces saw its numbers drop to 355,212 in October from 518,166 before the coup bid.The military counted 201 generals in October, down from 358 on July 1. However, a 20 percent surge in the number of newly contracted privates had offset some of the fall. Turkey's defence ministry also announced plans in November to hire 30,000 new personnel from military and naval academy students.The Turkish military has previously confirmed that its forces, excluding coastguard and gendarmes, totalled 391,695 as of Sept. 8. That includes 206 generals and admirals. Last month, the armed forces said it employed nearly 360,000. reuters cj -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1072493.Xml
The International Monetary's Executive Board is expected to meet shortly to consider the negligence verdict issued against Managing Director Christine Lagarde by a French court, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said on Monday."The Executive Board has met on previous occasions to consider developments related to the legal proceedings in France," Rice said in a brief statement. "It is expected that the Board will meet again shortly to consider the most recent developments.reuters cj shk 2030 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-1072608.Xml
British Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament today she was concerned about reports that Russia's Turkish ambassador had been shot in the capital Ankara."I was just looking at what I believe ... is some breaking news, that the Russian ambassador to Turkey has been shot, a matter which is yet to be confirmed, but I think is a matter of concern," May said in the middle of a question and answer session.The ambassador was seriously wounded in a gun attack at an art gallery in Ankara and after May spoke, Russian news agency RIA said he had died of his wounds. reuters cj 2256 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0098-1072781.Xml
An Italian woman who travelled to Syria two years ago proclaiming her support for Islamic State was sentenced in absentia on Monday to nine years in jail on terrorism-related charges, a court ruled.Maria Giulia Sergio, 29, converted to Islam in 2007 and moved to Syria with her Albanian-born husband in 2014. She later urged her parents and sister to join them and sign up to the 'jihad' or holy war announced by Islamic State rulers."Dad, drag mum here by the hair. She doesn't have the right to any opinions," she said in a call home that was tapped by police. "I can't wait to die as a martyr," she said in another call, predicting that the holy war would one day reach Rome.Her parents and sister began to sell their possessions after agreeing to move to Syria too. But they were arrested in 2015 and prevented from leaving Italy.Maria Giulia was found guilty of international terrorism and organising trips to facilitate terrorism.The father was sentenced to four years in jail on Monday after being convicted of aiding terrorists. The sister was tried earlier this year and sentenced to five years, four months in prison. The mother died of a heart attack shortly after her arrest in 2015.Maria Giulia's husband, Aldo Kobuzi, was given a 10-year term. He is believed to be still in Syria with his wife, but nothing has been heard from them in more than a year.The court sentenced a Canadian woman, Bushra Haik, to nine years in jail after finding her guilty of recruiting people, including Maria Giulia, to the extremist cause. She was tried in absentia and her whereabouts are not known.The father's lawyer said he would appeal against the ruling, arguing that his client had not wanted to join Islamic State but had simply looked to keep the family together.Maria Giulia was born into a Roman Catholic family in southern Italy. She moved to the wealthier north and changed her name to Fatima az Zahra after converting to Islam.Italian media reported that she became progressively radicalised and married Kobuzi in 2014, a man she barely knew, to facilitate her trip to Syria and to avoid being forced into marriage against her will on arrival there.She defended the actions of Islamic State in an interview via Skype with Corriere della Sera newspaper in 2015."We decapitate people in the name of Allah. We kill because Sharia law demands it," she was quoted as saying.She was portrayed in court as a "foreign fighter" and nicknamed "Lady Jihad" by the Italian press.The prosecution said that as a woman she would not have been allowed to fight on the front line. But they said that they had telephone taps showing she had learnt how to use firearms and that she had repeatedly said she wanted to fightreuters cj -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0098-1072798.Xml
The officers, during the meeting on Monday, exchanged information on people smuggling and trafficking activities linking Africa with the EU at a two-day meeting last week, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) said, Xinhua news agency reported.

Participants included 32 liaison officers of EU member states, as well as representatives of the European Commission and experts from Europol and Frontex.

They also discussed the main findings of the Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community (AFIC) report, which is expected to be published next month.

The AFIC was set up in 2010 to provide a platform for exchange of knowledge and intelligence in the field of border security between Frontex and African countries.

--IANS pgh/

( 146 Words)

2016-12-20-03:56:12 (IANS)
Photo taken on Dec. 18, 2016 shows the conference regarding the ceasefire in Yemen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday stressed that the war in Yemen should end in a way that protects the security of Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya News reported. (Xinhua/Wang Bo)

RIYADH, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday stressed that the war in Yemen should end in a way that protects the security of Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya News reported.

Speaking at a press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel Al-Jubeir, the visiting U.S. secretary of state urged all political parties to go back to the negotiating table to reach an agreement.

A UN plan on Yemen is not final and is negotiable, Kerry said, noting that the main goal of ending the war in Yemen is to reach a political settlement to deal with the humanitarian crisis there.

The top U.S. diplomat added that the U.S., like Saudi Arabia, objects the Iranian interference in Yemen.

Meanwhile, Al-Jubeir said that any agreement in Yemen should focus on the Gulf initiative and the UN resolution, urging the world for firm steps to stop the Iranian interference in regional issues.

Kerry's remarks highlighted the U.S. stance to end a Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen, which will enter its third year in March, causing a devastating crisis among civilians in the conflict-hit areas.
British Prime Minister Theresa May switches on the Downing Street Christmas tree lights, with children nominated by UK charities and a local school choir in London, Britain on Dec. 8, 2016. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of Britain's biggest trade union and business organisation sent a joint letter on Sunday to British Prime Minister Theresa May, calling for a unilateral move to agree EU migrants' stay in the country after Brexit.

In the open letter signed by union chief Frances O'Grady of the Trade Union Congress and Adam Marshall, the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, the two leaders called on May to end the uncertainty for businesses and millions of workers by confirming that the government will give current EU migrants a right to stay in Britain after Brexit.

In what was described as a "bold unilateral move," the commitment urged by the two leaders was explained as "both morally right and also in the interests of the British economy."

They also believe that it will send a signal of goodwill to the EU, which will benefit Britain's negotiating position.

"It's the right thing to do. But it's also about what is right for Britain too. Continued doubt about the status of workers from the rest of the EU is bad for business, and it puts services like the NHS at risk," said O'Grady.

Marshall holds similar worries, saying that "Business communities across the UK are deeply frustrated that ministers have declined to guarantee the residence rights of their EU employees and colleagues. Some firms are already losing key members of staff due to this avoidable uncertainty."

He also urged for a quick move to ease the anxiety.

"Such a move before the start of a complex Brexit negotiation would be bold, but it is the right thing to do for the individuals affected, for the businesses that employ them, and for the economy as a whole," said Marshall.

The two leaders urged the government in the letter to give an unequivocal commitment that EU citizens working in the country will have a permanent right to remain in the UK.

The publication of the letter coincides with International Migrants Day, which is marked on every anniversary of the UN's adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on Dec. 18, 1990.

But the government has so far refused to issue guarantees, saying what happens to EU nationals will depend on what happens to the millions of British people currently living or working in the other 27 EU member countries.

Meanwhile The Scottish government is preparing to publish on Tuesday its proposals for Scotland's future relationship with the EU after Brexit.

A paper titled "Scotland's place in Europe" will be published on Tuesday.

The Scottish government's Brexit minister Michael Russell unveiled on Sunday that "Scotland's place in Europe" will include plans to retain a place for Scotland in the single market and new devolved powers for the Holyrood parliament in Edinburgh.

In the June 23 referendum, although people across Britain voted 52-48 in favor of leaving, in Scotland the majority backed remaining in the EU with a margin of 62-38.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has already said she would push for a second independence referendum for Scotland if the wishes of Scottish people are not adopted in the negotiations with Brussels.

Ahead of the report being formerly published, Russell said the government led by his Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) would be for Scotland to become an independent EU member state.

He said the SNP had committed to putting forward "compromise proposals" to "mitigate the Brexit damage."

In media interviews Sunday, Russell said "At the heart of our plan is a framework to keep Scotland's place in the European single market. That is vital for jobs, investment and our long-term prosperity, which are all seriously threatened by the hard Brexit."
A bus drives through the Syrian government-controlled crossing of Ramoussa, on the southern outskirts of Aleppo, on December 18, 2016, during an evacuation operation of rebel fighters and civilians from rebel-held areas. (AFP/Xinhua)

ALEPPO, Syria, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Sunday's planned evacuation of rebels from their remaining strongholds in the northern city of Aleppo faced some snags, with the government accusing the rebels of breaching a deal for the second time, a military source told Xinhua.

A total of 75 buses entered eastern Aleppo on Sunday to evacuate the remaining rebels, a day after the suspended evacuation was resumed.

The buses entered the neighborhoods of Zibdiyeh, Salahuddien, Mashhad and Ansari in southeastern Aleppo to evacuate the remaining rebels and their families through the Ramouseh road toward rebel-held areas in the southwestern countryside of Aleppo, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, buses entered the Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa in the countryside of the northwestern province of Idlib on Saturday evening to evacuate as many as 1,200 Shiites besieged by the rebels.

The Shiite people are set to leave Idlib simultaneously with the rebel evacuation from Aleppo on Sunday, as part of a Russian-Turkish deal.

However, the rebels' Ahrar al-Sham group, which is besieging the two Shiite towns, burnt five buses at the entrance of the two towns, allowing only four buses to get in. The incident is still murky.

The rebels in Idlib posted a video online showing the buses on fire outside the towns.

Military sources said the burning of the buses is another violation to the deal, which was struck by Russia and Turkey.

After the burning of the buses, the government dispatched another batch of buses instead of the ones set on fire, in what appeared to be a resolve to carrying on with the deal.

This has caused a delay as the rebels in Aleppo will have to evacuate simultaneously with the civilians in the Shiite towns, which could take several hours or even until Monday, till the buses enter the towns and evacuate the people.

The evacuation of rebels and their families from the last remaining strongholds in eastern Aleppo started on Thursday, and over 8,000 have already left toward the western countryside of Aleppo.

The evacuation came after the Syrian army succeeded to retake 99 percent of the rebel-held areas in Aleppo, following a major offensive.

As a result, over 80,000 people fled eastern Aleppo toward government-controlled areas in western Aleppo, while the rebels and their families were included in a deal between Russia and Turkey, as Moscow negotiated on behalf of the Syrian government, while Ankara negotiated for the rebels.

However, the evacuation process was suspended Friday, due to many reasons.

One of the main reasons is that the rebels in Idlib were stopped short of allowing civilians in both pro-government Shiite towns to leave in tandem with the evacuation of rebels from eastern Aleppo.

On Saturday, a military source said the resumption of the rebel evacuation from their last few strongholds in the eastern part of Aleppo is expected to resume on soon, as the rebels agreed to abide by previous pledges to allow civilians out of the Shiite towns, among other conditions.

The deal was supposed to see the evacuation of 15,000 people, including 4,000 rebels.

With the last evacuation of the rebels from eastern Aleppo, the Syrian army will be on control of the entire city, a victory seen as a writing new chapter of history, as President Bashar al-Assad recently said.
Liu Qibao (L), the visiting member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department, hands over a book to Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari during the launching ceremony of the Nepali edition of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "The Governance of China" in Kathmandu, Nepal, Dec. 18, 2016. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma)

KATHMANDU, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali edition of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "The Governance of China" has been released on Sunday in Nepal's capital city Kathmandu.

The highly-acclaimed book was released by Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Liu Qibao, the visiting member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department at the Presidential House Sheetal Niwas.

The book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" contains 79 speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the Chinese leader between November 2012 to June 2014.

Releasing the book, Nepali President expressed belief that this book will help Nepali readers to better understand China and its development, foreign policies and social system.

"This book informs about the ruling system of China, dreams of Chinese leaders and deepens our world understanding. These sorts of publications help us to understand China from closer and boost our cultural relations," President Bhandari said in her speech.

Speaking highly of Xi as a visionary and committed leader for China's progress and prosperity, the Nepali President said that it's a matter of happiness to have a trustworthy friend like China, which has been supporting Nepal in its every development endeavor.

Liu Qibao, the visiting member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department, addresses the launching ceremony of the Nepali edition of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "The Governance of China" in Kathmandu, Nepal, Dec. 18, 2016. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma)

Distribution of the book, published in Chinese, English, French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Japanese in September 2014, has exceeded 5.2 million copies in some 100 countries and regions, according to the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration (CFLPA).

The latest Nepali edition is published by China Study Center (CSC), an organization based in Nepal to promote Nepal-China relations with a focus on academic and multi-dimensional policy dialogue level.

Madan Regmi, Chairman at China Study Center told Xinhua, "The book is a perfect medium for Nepali people and especially for policy makers to understand today's China correctly and learn from it. It has clearly embodied Chinese vision, strategy of governance and rule of law and its future roadmap that can be quite encouraging for a neighboring country like ours."

He was of view that Nepali leaders should learn China's development and reforms and try to implement similar at home. He further expressed confidence that the first Nepali edition of the book will hit the bookstores since it's an essential reading for all.

"The book shows a clear way how China's friends could be integrated with China's amazing development, reform and modernization. It analyses factors and relationships that promote national capability and the challenges the state leadership face and must accept in today's world", Dr Upendra Gautam, General Secretary at China Study Center told Xinhua.

Dr Gautam, also one of the team members of publication, shared that it took nearly one year to complete the translation, editing and quality assurance works of the Nepali edition.

The translation and publication work was held in close collaboration with the Embassy of China in Nepal, the State Council Information Office of China, CFLPA and the Information Office of People's Government of Yunnan Province of China.

According to a Chinese book store in Kathmandu, nearly 500 English copies were sold alone in a short instant of time. The book has been highly appreciated by the intellectuals, scholars, journalists and diplomats in the Himalayan nation.

Prem Kumari Pant, editor of a local newspaper The Weekly Mirror shared with Xinhua, "It is a comprehensive piece about China, its development and its presence in the world. It can be taken as a guideline for the policy reforms."
TOKYO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Japan posted trade surplus for the third consecutive month in November, with both exports and imports value declining from a year earlier, official data showed on Monday.

The country's trade surplus stood at 152.51 billion yen (1.29 billion U.S. dollars) in November, showed preliminary statistics released Monday by the Ministry of Finance.

In November, Japan's exports value fell 0.4 percent on year to 5.96 trillion yen, down for 14 months in a row, and imports value declined 8.8 percent on year to 5.80 trillion yen, down for 23 months in a row.

Last month, exports value to China, Japan's major trading partner, rose 4.4 percent on year to 1.10 trillion yen, and imports value from China slid 9.9 percent on year to 1.49 trillion yen.

In the same period, Japan's exports to the United States shed 1.8 percent to 1.21 trillion yen, while imports from the United States went down 5.1 percent to 630.12 billion yen.

Japan's exports to the European Union fell 2.2 percent to 633.26 billion yen in the period, while imports from the region tumbled 13.3 percent to 716.95 billion yen.
by Xinhua writers Dong Yue, Peng Qian, Zhang Yuan

BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- During excavations along the Belt and Road, various cutting-edge technologies, including remote-sensing, three dimensional (3D) scanning, virtual reality (VR) and unmanned aerial vehicles are being widely used to help archaeologists get a better idea of the lives of people in ancient times. What's more, China's advanced archaeological methods are now going global.

REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY GOES GLOBAL

The ancient city of Milan, lying southeast of the Tarim Basin in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, was an important town on the ancient Silk Road in the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.).

Once a prosperous oasis, Milan heavily relied on its Tuntian system, which placed garrisons in well-irrigated agricultural colonies so that soldiers in the frontier could cultivate the land during periods of peace.

Wang Xinyuan, a researcher at the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said "as a network of trading routes, the ancient Silk Road consists of three sub-systems, namely transportation, defense and supply sub-systems."

The coordination of these three sub-systems was vital to the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road, and Milan's Tuntian system could fulfill all the functions of the three sub-systems, said Wang, who is also the deputy director of UNESCO's International Center on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage.

However, after erosion in the past thousands of years, Milan's Tuntian system has disappeared, making it impossible for archaeologists to study the system with traditional archaeological methods, but remote-sensing technology provides a solution to the problem.

In April 2015, a team from the RADI, with the help of very high resolution satellite imagery and human-computer interactive interpretation technology, revealed the detailed structure of Milan's irrigation system in landscape-scale by means of remote sensing archaeology.

Combined with other spatial information technologies such as a Global Positioning System and Geographic Information System, remote-sensing archaeology has evolved into space archaeology.

As Wang pointed out, archaeological research along the ancient Silk Road is more challenging because of diverse geographical circumstances and the complex situation of relics. Yet space archaeology has great potential to overcome the challenges.

Since 2012, the RADI has used space technologies in archaeological research along the ancient Silk Road and discovered six sites of ancient cities at the same time. Before the application of space technologies, it took archaeologists almost 10 years to discover the ruins of the ancient city called Bazhou.

At the same time, China's space archaeology is going global, from the ancient Silk Road to the new Belt and Road routes. After successfully contributing to the protection of the famed Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, the RADI team will go to Tunisia next year for more international archaeological cooperation.

3D SCANNING TECHNOLOGY FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

The ancient Silk Road's network of routes dates back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-25 A.D.), during which the Chinese official and diplomat Zhang Qian was sent West on a diplomatic mission to form an alliance with the ancient nomad kingdom Darouzhi to fight against the Huns.

Archaeologists have been trying to unveil the mystery of Darouzhi and in July, Chinese and Uzbek archaeologists found a large tomb in Southern Uzbekistan during a joint mission, helping to determine the sphere of Darouzhi.

In the past, photographs and sketches were used to record the excavation site, but during this mission, 3D scanning technology was used to precisely record every key node of the excavation.

Wang Jianxin, a professor at China's Northwest University and chief archaeologist of the joint mission, said all the records, from those of the excavation to those of the cultural relics, were all three dimensional. The new technology has completely changed the way how archaeological achievements are understood and analyzed.

In fact, 3D scanning technology can accurately and intuitively record an excavation site and the spatial distribution of relics, providing a treasure trove of data for further analysis.

Meanwhile, unmanned aerial vehicles were also used to record the excavation.

"This was the first time Uzbek archaeologists have seen our advanced archaeological technologies. We have won their recognition and support and this is win-win cooperation," said Wang.

VR TECHNOLOGY VIRTUALLY RECONSTRUCTS ANCIENT CITY

With the combination of 3D scanning technology and VR technology, visitors can enjoy the sights of Tonguz-bash, a military stronghold from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) along the ancient Silk Road.

Excavations since 2013 have ascertained the architectural configuration of the ancient city. The site, stretching 250 meters from south to north and 230 meters from east to west, covers an area of approximately 57,500 square meters, with four tall corner turrets.

However, only ruins of the ancient city are left after thousands of years of sand and wind erosion.

Chen Ling, a researcher at Peking University's School of Archaeology and Museology, said that as opposed to ancient cities built with stones in the West, most remains of China's ancient cities, especially those along the ancient Silk Road, look more like clods, making them hard for ordinary people to appreciate.

"Technical means are required to help visitors know how ancient cities actually looked like," said Chen, who was in charge of the excavation of Tonguz-bash.

Besides 3D scanning and 3D reconstruction, Chen's team accumulated a large amount of video material for VR glasses.

Wearing VR glasses, visitors can enjoy a virtual reconstruction of the ancient city with every detail, including warehouses, residential buildings and guards.

Chen expected that there would be an experience hall which would present historical information and archaeological processes to visitors and give them a comprehensive view of the city, and it could also help raise the public's awareness of the need to conserve relics.

"In essence, making China's archaeology go global is to introduce our archaeological methods developed in the past decades to other countries. Traditionally, Russia is regarded as the top power in archaeology, followed by France and Italy," Chen said.

"But with increasing international cooperation, foreign archaeologists are beginning to realize that many technologies and archaeological methods we employ are far beyond their imagination," he added.
CANBERRA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Lights, baubles and other decorations are often dressed around Australian Christmas trees during the festive season, but one local woman was shocked to find a tiger snake playing the part of the tinsel.

After spotting the stowaway snake wrapped around the tree in her home on Sunday evening, the woman called a professional snake handler Barry Goldsmith who happily relocated the 'moving decoration'.

Goldsmith, whose photo of the slippery critter went viral on social media overnight, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) he'd never seen anything quite like it.

"Although I have found them around the base of a Christmas tree in amongst the presents in the past, I've never found one up inside a Christmas tree," Goldsmith said on Monday.

"This is a one-off thing, like lightning striking. It's not going to happen again for sure, not this year."

The snake catcher said the woman was "very happy to see the snake go" but acted appropriately in the situation, calling a professional to come and remove the unwanted Christmas decoration.

"She was very relaxed," Goldsmith said, adding "usually I get people screaming and hysterical and shaking and having seizures just at the thought of having a snake in the house. But she was pretty cool."

Goldsmith reminded Australians that while snakes in the house may be a scary thought, they are "never going to hurt anybody" unless they're provoked, and calling a licensed handler is always the best option.

"The only time the snake becomes a dangerous animal is when somebody tries to hurt it," he said.

"If you try to attack a snake or kill a snake then the chances of getting bitten increase hugely."

According to Goldsmith, the snake was safely removed and set free in nearby bushland.
HANOI, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is going to operate double-decker buses in its seven localities on trial basis, according to the Ministry of Transport (MoT) on Monday.

These buses will transport passengers from city centers to airports and vice versa, as well as carry tourists in seven popular tourist destinations nationwide including capital Hanoi, central Quang Nam province, central Da Nang and Thua Thien-Hue cities, Central Highlands' Lam Dong province, southern Kien Giang province and southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City, reported local Tien Phong (Pioneer) online newspaper on Monday.

According to the MoT, the operation of double-decker buses is expected to boost tourism development in cities, meeting up with the goal of bringing tourism to be Vietnam's key economic sector.

Vietnam aims to earn a total of 400 trillion Vietnamese dong (17.6 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue from welcoming international tourists and domestic travellers in 2016, said the General Statistics Office.
CARACAS, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday blasted U.S. President Barack Obama for "vengefully lashing" out at Venezuela's monetary reform.

During his weekly TV address, Maduro accused Obama of attacking Venezuela's monetary reform to leave Venezuelan people "without physical currency and to start a series of events aimed at a coup in the country."

Maduro criticized the U.S. Department of State for seeking to make 100-bolivar notes disappear "along with mercenaries, parties of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD, opposition coalition) and mafias from Cucuta (Colombia)."

Earlier in December, Venezuela developed a monetary plan to bring in higher-value denominations of currency and removed the 100-bolivar notes, which are the country's largest notes, each worth just around 2 U.S. cents on the black market.

This tactic, according to Maduro, "is needed to hurt mafias, recover Venezuelan currency and achieve economic, financial, monetary and social stability."

Maduro then extended the term for swapping the 100-bolivar notes until Jan. 2, by which time new denominations will be available.

Moreover, Maduro said the border with Colombia and Brazil would remain closed until then to avoid "the repatriation of 100-bolivar notes removed illegally."
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday welcomed the formation earlier in the day of a new 30-member government of national unity led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri in Lebanon.

Ban congratulated Hariri on the swift process and "encourages Lebanon's political leaders to build on the momentum of national unity," according to a statement released by his spokesperson.

Ban voiced hope that the new government would ensure a successful holding of the country's forthcoming parliamentary election within the time frame set by the constitution.

Hariri, who is the son of late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, served as prime minister between 2009 and 2011 and is currently a member of parliament.

Lebanon was in a political deadlock since the end of the six-year term of former President Michel Suleiman on May 25, 2014.

Hariri launched an initiative which led to the election of President Michel Aoun as the 13th president of Lebanon on Oct. 31, ending more than two and half years of political vacuum.

Lebanon is due to hold parliamentary elections next May.
TOKYO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military in Japan will resume use of its Osprey planes Monday afternoon, less than a week since a major accident occurred in the south, reported local media Monday morning.

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft belonging to the Futenma base in the city of Ginowan made a water crash-landing off southern Okinawa prefecture on Dec.13, injuring two of the five crew members aboard.

Following the accident, Japan asked the U.S. military to suspend its Osprey flights in Okinawa until the cause of the accident is known and safety is ensured.

The U.S. military said the aircraft has no problem.

"We are highly confident in our assessment that the cause of the mishap was due solely to the aircraft's rotor blades coming into contact with the refueling line," U.S. Forces and Japan Commander Lt. Gen Jerry Martinez was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.

Worried about safety, local people, however, want the U.S. aircrafts to keep grounded.

Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga called the Japanese government's approval of the flight resumption "outrageous," and the local government has urged the central government to forbid the resumption of Osprey flight operations, according to Kyodo.

The Japanese and U.S. governments have been seeking to move the Futenma base from Ginowan to the less-populated Henoko coastal area of Nago.

The people of Okinawa, however, have been demanding the Futenma base to be relocated outside the prefecture.
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The second Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) foreign ministers' meeting will be held on Dec. 22 and 23 in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province, Cambodian foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Cambodian foreign minister Prak Sokhonn and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will co-chair the meeting that will also gather foreign ministers from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, said the statement.

"The meeting will provide an excellent opportunity to review the progress made as well as to exchange views on the future directions of MLC framework since the successful convening of the first MLC Leaders' meeting in March 2016," it said.

According to the statement, the MLC foreign ministers will endorse the joint press communique of the 2nd MLC foreign ministers' meeting, the matrix of follow-ups to the outcomes of the 1st MLC Leaders' meeting, and the general principles for the establishment of the Joint Working Groups on the MLC key priority areas.

The six countries along the Mekong (known as Lancang in the Chinese stretch) launched the MLC mechanism in 2015 and convened the first Leaders' meeting in March 2016.

Five priority areas under the MLC include connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources, agriculture and poverty reduction.
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A haul of elephant ivory, tiger bones and pangolin scales was found at a dry port on the western outskirts of Phnom Penh on Saturday in hollowed-out logs imported from Africa, a senior official confirmed on Monday.

Un Vannarith, deputy chief of the Phnom Penh Forestry Administration cantonment, said the animal parts, weighed about one ton, were discovered at the Royal Railway Phnom Penh dry port hidden inside three pieces of timber.

"We have found elephant tusks, elephant tails, tiger bones and pangolin scales stuffed inside three logs which were imported from the southern African nation of Mozambique," he told Xinhua, adding that the raid was made following a tip-off from the NGO Regional Intelligence Liaison Office of the World Customs Organization.

He said the intended destination of the haul was unknown as an investigation was underway to find out the smugglers.

In August, some 613 kg of elephant tusks shipped from Africa were found concealed inside a corn container at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in southwestern Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk province.
NANCHANG, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Some 160,000 migratory birds have been spotted this winter at Poyang Lake, China's biggest freshwater lake, authorities said Monday.

Poyang in eastern China's Jiangxi Province is a seasonal destination for over a million birds every year. Since the first of this year's migratory birds were spotted at the lake in September, 14 species of birds, including wild geese, swans and white cranes have arrived at the wetland.

Experts with Poyang Lake nature reserve said the lake is now in the dry season, so the shore is exposed by receding water, offering abundant aquatic plants and fish for the migratory birds.

A campaign to protect the wetland and birds has been initiated by the nature reserve.

Poyang Lake is a major habitat for migratory birds in Asia. About 95 percent of the world's white crane population, 50 percent of white-naped cranes and 60 percent of swan geese spend winter at the lake.

Shengjin Lake in eastern China's Anhui Province has seen 80,000 migratory birds arriving for winter, including rare species such as white-headed cranes and Oriental cranes.

As a result of summer floods, the water receded later than normal this year, and more birds are expected to fly to the lake soon, said Wang Huanxi, head of the forestry protection station of Dadukou township of Dongzhi county.

As the birds enjoy eating wheat, local farmers in the lake reserve have left wheat, rice and rapeseed unharvested in the fields for the birds, and the reserve pay subsidies to the farmers.

Located near the Yangtze River, Shengjin Lake nature reserve covers 132.8 square kilometers and is a major habitat for migratory birds, attracting over 100 species every winter.
SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's fourth-quarter exports are forecast to grow for the first time in two years amid modest recovery in global trade, the country's trade minister said on Monday.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Joo Hyung-hwan told a press conference that the October-December quarter exports are expected to post the first quarterly growth in two years and that next year's export growth rate would record over 2 percent.

The country's exports, which account for about half of the export-driven economy, rose in August and November alone in the past 23 months.

Joo said the December exports would increase after expanding 2.5 percent in November, which would lead to the first quarterly growth in two years in the December quarter.

The minister predicted a moderate recovery in global trade in 2017 and higher crude oil prices that would help restore overseas shipments by local exporters next year.

However, the minister cited the launch of the Trump administration and stronger protectionist moves as risk factors facing the South Korean economy.

Concerns remain about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's trade policy as Trump negatively mentioned the bilateral free trade pact with South Korea during his election campaign.
ALEPPO, Syria, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ten buses carrying people from two Shiite towns besieged by the rebels in Syria's Idlib province arrived in the northern city of Aleppo Monday, as part of deal over the evacuation of rebels from eastern Aleppo, a military source told Xinhua.
SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Monday returned back eight sailors and two vessels of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that had been rescued by the country's coast guard, Seoul's unification ministry said.

Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee told a press briefing that the DPRK sailors and ships were returned back to their home country earlier in the morning in the open sea off the east coast.

Four DPRK patrol ships and towing vessels towed away the two ships and eight sailors, who were rescued by the South Korean coast guard last week as they floated along in the South Korean east coast for engine malfunctioning.

All of the eight DPRK fishermen had expressed the will to return to their home country.

South Korea had sought to contact the DPRK side through the truce village of Panmunjom in the inter-Korean land border and via military hotlines to discuss when and how to return the rescued sailors back home.

All communication hotlines between the two Koreas have been cut off by the DPRK, after South Korea shut down the inter-Korean factory park in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong in retaliation for Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test in January and the launch in February of a long-range rocket.

Last week, the South Korean authorities informed the DPRK of its plan to return back the sailors on Monday through loudspeaker in the Panmunjom village.
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 21 people have died of alcohol poisoning after consuming a surrogate alcohol liquid in the east Siberian city of Irkutsk, the Russian news agency TASS reported on Monday.

They were among the nearly 40 people locally hospitalized in grave condition.

The report said all of them got poisoned after consuming the liquid. Health authorities have found methanol in tests. Police are searching for shops selling the liquid, it is reported.

Poisonings caused by surrogate alcohol are often seen in Russia, but the Irkutsk case is the among deadliest in years.

Russian authorities have started a criminal investigation into the incident.
SINGAPORE, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Five maids working in Singapore were investigated over the past two years for suspected radicalism, said Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs in a statement on Monday.

The ministry said the maids were among some 70 foreigners investigated for radicalism.

"None of them had any plans to carry out acts of violence in Singapore at the time they were investigated, but as they were in various stages of radicalism, their presence posed a security concern for Singapore," said the ministry spokesperson.

It noted that the majority of the foreigners investigated were radicalized by propaganda on social media, and some in turn radicalized others.

The ministry added that it requires more than government effort to tackle radicalism as it has been a "prevalent phenomenon all over the world" to promote radicalism through social media platforms.

"Owners of social media platforms also have to play their part in ensuring that their platforms are not used to promote radicalism and terrorism," the spokesperson added.

"The security agencies meanwhile continue to work closely with their foreign counterparts to share intelligence on terrorism activities," said the ministry.

Four Bangladeshi nationals were put in jail for plotting to support Bangladesh's terror attacks in July. In August, four Singaporeans were dealt with under the Internal Security Act for supporting the Islamic State militant group.
ALEPPO, Syria, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- As many as 1,000 rebels and their families evacuated the rebels few remaining strongholds in the northern city of Aleppo overnight, a well-informed source told Xinhua on Monday.

20 busses carrying the rebels and their families evacuated through the Ramouseh crossing south of Aleppo city, after being delayed for hours, the source familiar with the evacuation process said on condition of anonymity.

The rebel evacuation from eastern Aleppo comes as part of a Turkish-Russian deal, which includes the rebels' acceptance to allow people they are besieging in the Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa in the northwestern province of Idlib to evacuate in exchange for the rebel evacuation from Aleppo.

10 busses carrying people from the two towns arrived in Ramouseh on Monday morning, a military source told Xinhua, adding that the operation is ongoing until the evacuation of all the rebels from eastern Aleppo.

However, he said that the process, which have faced many snags since started last Thursday, may take time.

"Maybe they finish today, tomorrow, we are not sure," he added.

A day earlier, the rebels in Idlib burnt 20 busses that were supposed to enter the besieged towns, allowing only five to enter.

While the government accused the rebels of breaching the deal, for the second time, said it had sent more busses to continue with the evacuation as planned.

On Friday, the government declared it had suspended the evacuation of the rebels and their families, after the rebels in Idlib prevented the evacuation of people from Kafraya and Foa. It also accused the rebels of smuggling heavy weapons in the busses they were using to evacuate eastern Aleppo.

But on Saturday, news came in that the process will continue after the rebels made new pledges, and undeclared items were added to the deal.

It's worth mentioning that most media outlets were denied access to the Ramouseh crossing, where the exchange of evacuees is taking place.

Sources at the site said there are fears of some sort of escalation at the site, especially after the rebels fired sniper shots and mortar shells on the same area on Friday, when the deal was declared suspended.

The deal was supposed to see the evacuation of 15,000 people, including 4,000 rebels and with the given numbers, it's estimated that 9,000 rebels and civilians have so far been evacuated from eastern Aleppo since the hobbling evacuation started last Thursday.

With the last evacuation of the rebels from eastern Aleppo, the Syrian army will be on control of the entire city, a victory seen as a writing new chapter of history, as President Bashar al-Assad recently said.
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A rainbow-headed snake, a dragon-like lizard, a newt, and a tiny frog are just four of the 163 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region last year, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said in a statement Monday.

The Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia that spans Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China's southwestern Yunnan province is one of the world's five biodiversity hotspots.

"Nine amphibians, 11 fish, 14 reptiles, 126 plants and 3 mammals were described for the first time," the statement said.

Four of the new species found by scientists are a new species of a rainbow-headed snake native to Laos, a dragon-like lizard and a Klingon newt native to Thailand, and an orange-eyed litter frog native to Cambodia and Vietnam, it said.

"The Greater Mekong region is a magnet for the world's conservation scientists because of the incredible diversity of species that continue to be discovered here," Jimmy Borah, Wildlife Program Manager for WWF-Greater Mekong, said.

Habitat destruction is a major threat to many of these new species, the statement said, adding that poaching for bushmeat or the multi-billion-U.S.-dollar illegal wildlife trade puts immense pressure on wildlife in the region, meaning many species could be lost before they are even discovered.

"Many collectors are willing to pay thousands of dollars or more for the rarest, most unique and most endangered species, often buying them at the region's illegal wildlife markets, especially in the Golden Triangle region where China, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar meet," said Borah.

"To save them, it's crucial that we improve enforcement against poaching and close illegal wildlife markets as well as the tiger and bear farms that openly flaunt wildlife laws," he said.

According to WWF, between 1997 and 2015, there have been 2,409 new species described in the Greater Mekong region with an average of two new species being identified every week.
BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Air pollution worsened on Monday in many parts of northern China, with poor visibility disrupting air and ground traffic.

Tianjin airport said that from 8:30 p.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday they suspended service, leaving 131 flights canceled and 75 delayed.

Meanwhile, all expressways in the northern municipality of Tianjin were closed.

Local authorities in Tianjin increased public transport capacity by 15 percent to accommodate passengers, as cars have been ordered to run on alternate days for five days until midnight Wednesday.

Beijing also increased its public transport and implemented the same odd-even number plate rule.

Beijing municipal environmental protection bureau has introduced a spate of pollution reduction measures, including the vehicle restriction, to help cut PM2.5 pollutant emission by over 20 percent.

In Shandong, over 100 toll gates on four expressways were closed and some flights in the provincial capital airport were delayed by more than two hours.

Smog started to envelop Beijing, Tianjin and provinces of Hebei, Henan and Shandong over the weekend and is forecast to clear Thursday. Over 20 cities have issued red alerts for smog.

On Monday, the PM2.5 reading in many cities in northern China, mainly in Hebei and Henan, exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter.

The reading at one monitoring station in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei, exceeded 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter at 1 p.m. Monday.
ANKARA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- One Turkish soldier was killed and five others wounded on Monday in a car bomb attack in the al-Bab region in northern Syria during an operation against the Islamic State (IS) group and Syrian Kurdish militants, the Turkish military said.

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement that Turkish warplanes destroyed a total of 52 targets belonging to the IS in the al-Bab region on Monday.

It added that 11 IS militants were "neutralized" in the clashes, according to Hurriyet News.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" to refer to militants who have been captured or killed.

On Aug. 24, the Turkish Armed Forces launched the Euphrates Shield Operation against both the IS and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).

Turkey regards the YPG and the PYD as terrorist organizations due to their links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
MANILA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has showered China with praise in his speeches for helping the Philippines in its tough war on drugs.

Last Saturday, he announced that China has pledged to build another rehabilitation facility in the country.

"China has the kindest soul of all," Duterte told a news conference in his home city of Davao, after he returned from visits to Cambodia and Singapore.

Were it not for China and "a good soul" (Chinese) philanthropist Huang Rulun," Duterte said the cash-strapped government would not have built a 10,000-bed facility big enough to house an increasing number of drug dependents in the country.

"(That's why) I said to China's Xie Xie. Thank you," Duterte said.

After he arrived from his four-day trip to China in October, Duterte reported that his visit "signaled a turning point in history and opened formal lines of communications" between Beijing and Manila, paving the way for the resumption of the bilateral consultations, which were on hold for several years.

"It showed that both countries are fully capable of working together for mutual beneficial cooperation, as we remain committed to settling disputes peacefully in full adherence of international law," Duterte added.

"In all meetings, we had productive and extensive discussions of the full-range of Chinese-Philippine relations, from trade to infrastructures and tourism, and to science and technology and health," The Filipino leader said.

Indeed, the Philippines' new ambassador to China, Jose Santiago Sta. Romana, is optimistic about the future relations between China and the Philippines.

In a message to Xinhua, Sta. Romana said Sino-Philippine cooperation is "improving," and that "prospects are bright for further development of Philippine-China ties in 2017."

"Philippines-China relations have entered a new chapter after the successful state visit of Duterte to China last October," Sta. Romana said in a statement.

He said diplomatic ties between Beijing and Manila "are improving with the resumption of bilateral talks between the two governments."

China is at odds with a number of its Asian neighbors, including the Philippines, over disputed claims in the South China Sea, through which 5-trillion-U.S.-dollars-worth of ship-borne trade passes each year.

However, Sta. Romana said the sea dispute "should not be and will not be an obstacle to the development of bilateral ties" between the two countries.

"The focus and the key driver of Philippines-China relations under the Duterte administration will be economic, trade and finance," he stressed, adding that "economic cooperation, not disputes, will drive Philippines-China relations."

"the disputes will not disappear overnight but there will be direct talks and bilateral talks to resolve them peacefully."

Sta. Romana said the Philippines "has shifted to seeking better political and economic ties with China but is not seeking a military alliance."

"At best, it would be an alliance of trade and commerce," he said. This time, he reiterated the fact that economic cooperation and not disputes, will drive Sino-Philippines relations.

"So it's basically normalizing relations again but it doesn't mean the dispute issue has gone away. The disputes and the contentious issues we've compartmentalized will be discussed individually with the use of quiet not megaphone diplomacy," he said.

Manila is "moving fast" to rekindle its ties with Beijing that had soured since 2012 when Manila lodged a case against China over Huangyan Island in the South China Sea in an interim tribunal at The Hague.

Over the weekend, Duterte restated that the Philippines would not press China on an arbitral ruling over the South China Sea issue.

"In the play of politics now, I will set aside the arbitral ruling," he told a news conference last Saturday, adding, "I will not impose anything on China. Why? Because the politics here in Southeast Asia is changing. Like us now, I will separate or I will demand that you (U.S. forces) go out of my country."

Since Duterte's visit in October, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said last week that Manila was able to close a 100 million-U.S. dollar contract for fruit exports to China, along with the lifting of Chinese bans on Philippine bananas and mangoes.

The widely-circulated Philippine Daily Inquirer ran an editorial on Duterte's Beijing visit.

"By design, his 'sum total' approach to Philippine-Chinese relation is now center stage: a calibrated attempt to lower tensions related to the South China Sea disputes, a greater focus on trade and economic issues, and also a willingness to use Chinese largesse to fill the infrastructure deficit in the Philippines," read the editorial.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin called the Duterte visit "highly successful," saying it "signifies the full return of China and the Philippine's friendship back to its normal level."

Liu said, after the bilateral talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Duterte, "A new stage is now open between the two countries to address the South China Sea issue though bilateral discussions, and it means a full recovery of the traditional friendship between China and the Philippines."

Duterte's so-called pivot to China is seen by many politicians and observers as the right move at the right time.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Pernia said Duterte has rebalanced Philippine foreign policy by ordering his cabinet to move quickly towards regional economic integration with ASEAN and North Asia's powerhouses, such as China.

Even before the victory of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Dominguez said the Duterte administration was already keen on joining the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, rather than the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which is being championed by outgoing President Barack Obama who framed the TPP as the centerpiece of the U.S. "pivot to Asia." The U.S.-led trade pact excludes China.

"With the TPP's fate uncertain," Dominguez said Duterte's "China pivot could not have come at a better time, especially with the Philippines chairing ASEAN next year on its 50th anniversary as a regional bloc."

Dominguez said the Philippines is more than ready to chair the ASEAN meetings in 2017, as Duterte "had apparently foreseen correctly the need to turn ASEAN's attention toward China, the world's second-largest economy that wants to establish a larger economic presence in the Asia-Pacific region."

Dominguez recalled how Duterte "had come under heavy fire for this sharp foreign policy turn, earning harsh criticism from certain sectors in the process, only to be seen as the leader who had presciently seen that a timely pivot to China is in the best interests of not only the Philippines, but of ASEAN as a whole."

Dominguez has said in previous interviews that the Duterte administration is more open to the RCEP than TPP, given its new policy of moving the country swiftly towards economic integration with its fellow-members in ASEAN and major trade partners in Asia and the Pacific.

"With the TPP now apparently dead in the water and a growing resurgence of protectionism in the U.S., Manila's recalibration of its foreign policy would benefit not only the Philippines, but would also help the rest of ASEAN move closer to China and its vast trading market," Dominguez said.

Last December, the Philippine senate voted 20 to 1 to ratify the Philippines' membership in the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Duterte is sending his economic team to China in January next year to firm up infrastructure projects that will be funded by the AIIB.

National Treasurer Roberto Tan said last week that the government is "looking at between 300 and 500 million U.S. dollars for the initial year" as a financial window that it can tap from the AIIB."

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said last week that he, Dominguez and Pernia will travel to Beijing to negotiate specific projects with the AIIB.

"The president's visit to China last October promises many positive outcomes," Diokno said. "It promises greater trade with China, which right now is already our country's second-biggest trading partner. It promises to double or triple agricultural exports to China. It promises more than a million Chinese tourists to the Philippines, and it promises fresh infrastructure financing for us."

AIIB President Jin Liqun visited Manila on Dec. 12 ti Dec. 14, during which he met with Duterte, Dominguez and other government officials.

"The bank looks forward to supporting the Philippines in its endeavor to develop world-class infrastructure, including in the transportation sector," Jin said in a statement issued at the end of his Manila visit.

Duterte's foreign secretary, Perfecto Yasay, said the strategy works. "What we are doing is that we set aside (the dispute) and we foster the other aspects of our relations like trade, investment even infrastructure development, cooperation in certain areas that we could do without violating or undermining our respective rights," he said.

"That's our strategy now, and we have somehow achieved some breakthroughs along that line," Yasay said in a recent TV interview. "In fact, we can see now that our fishermen have free access in that Scaborough Shoal (Huangyan Island) because of the confidence building measures that we have adopted in the meantime."

Political analyst Benito Lim clearly believes China is "extending a friendly hand."

"The first thing that China did was withdraw sanctions imposed during the previous Aquino administration. They did not buy our agricultural products like bananas and pineapples and such like. Now, they are buying our agricultural products ... There are concrete changes that we see now. They're showing us that they are extending a friendly hand," Lim told Xinhua in a recent interview.
by Ronald Ssekandi

KAMPALA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- In the wake of dwindling relief supplies and yet increasing number of refugees, humanitarian agencies in Uganda are only left with appealing to the world to help resolve the South Sudan crisis that made three years mid this month.

In a joint statement issued by the Ugandan government, UN agencies and other relief organizations in the east African country, there is need to deliver life-saving assistance to refugees crossing to Uganda and find a lasting solution to the conflict that broke out in December 2013.

"It remains vital that those with influence over the political leadership in South Sudan use all available channels to encourage the warring factions to come together in dialogue and bring an end to the bloodshed," according to the statement released over the weekend.

"For the sake of the South Sudanese people, the world cannot afford to fail. With political solutions to the crisis in short supply, further efforts are needed to find long-term solutions that will allow these refugees to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity," the agencies added.

New figures by the Ugandan government show that 527,472 South Sudanese refugees have fled to Uganda over the last three years, including more than 338,000 since July this year. The figures show that 64 percent of the fleeing refugees are children under 18 years.

A new settlement, Bidibidi, which was opened in August this year in the northwestern part of Uganda, has become one of the largest refugee-hosting areas in the world.

RELIEF CRISIS

Although the South Sudan conflict is seen as one of the world's biggest humanitarian crises, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, it has received minimal funding.

Currently, only 36 percent of the 251 million U.S. dollars needed for 2016 has been received. This, according to relief agencies, threatens to compromise their abilities to provide life-saving assistance and basic services.

"We urge the international community, both those already engaged and new partners to the response, to expedite their contributions of funds and expertise to ensure we can meet the needs of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda," the agencies said.

"We are grateful to our donors for their contributions so far but more must be done to end the suffering of the South Sudanese people," they added.

David Kazungu, Commissioner for Refugees in the Office of Prime Minister, Uganda, said that in the wake of dwindling funding, whatever resources trickle in, they must be put to proper use.

"At this time of so little funding, we must make good use of all resources we are given. I urge all agencies and partners to use these additional resources to address the most critical needs of the refugees," Kazungu said.

Continuing regional and international efforts to help resolve the crisis are yet to provide a lasting solution.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and his former deputy turned rebel leader Riek Machar led to the formation of a transitional unity government in April, but was again devastated by fresh violence in early July.

According to relief agencies, tens of thousands of people have been killed, with over two million displaced and another 4.6 million left severely food insecure since then.
ALEPPO, Syria, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of 23 buses carrying rebels and their families on Monday started leaving the northern city of Aleppo after being inspected by Syrian and Russian soldiers at the Ramouseh crossing of the city, according to Xinhua reporters at the site.

The buses started to leave toward the rebel-held area of Rashidien in the southwestern countryside of Aleppo, as part of a deal concluded by Russia and Turkey.

The deal also stipulates the evacuation of civilians from Kafraya and Foa, two Shiite towns besieged by the rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib.

The deal went into force last Thursday, and nearly 8,000 rebels and families evacuated eastern Aleppo.

But it was suspended on Friday, when the rebels didn't allow people from Kafraya and Foa to leave.

On Saturday the evacuation was resumed, after the rebels apparently agreed to allow the civilians to leave.

The deal was supposed to see the evacuation of 15,000 people, including 4,000 rebels from eastern Aleppo, and with the given numbers, it's estimated that 9,000 rebels and civilians have so far been evacuated from eastern Aleppo since last Thursday.

The whole evacuation comes as the Syrian army has captured 99 percent of eastern Aleppo over the past three weeks, as part of a major offensive aiming at driving out the rebels from the city.

With the last evacuation of the rebels from eastern Aleppo, the Syrian army will be on control of the entire city, a victory seen as a writing new chapter of history, as President Bashar al-Assad recently said.
BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Britain will hold their eighth strategic dialogue later this month in Britain, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Monday.

Facing a complicated international situation and challenges in global governance, it is important for China and Britain, two influential major powers, to further strengthen strategic communication and dialogue, Hua said at a daily press briefing.

According to Hua, the dialogue will be co-chaired by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, who will visit the country from Dec. 19 to 21 at the invitation of the British government.

Yang will also meet with Prime Minister Theresa May and discuss bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, Hua said.

China and Britain will witness the 45th anniversary of ambassadorial diplomatic relations in the next year.

Hua noted that China is ready to work with Britain on the basis of mutual respect and equality to enhance political mutual trust, deepen cooperation in all areas, and strengthen coordination on international affairs to promote sustained, sound and stable development of bilateral strategic ties.
BANGKOK, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- More than 100,000 police will be put on alert at and around 2,000-plus "risk spots" during the upcoming New Year season across Thailand.

National Police Commissioner Chakthip Chaijinda confirmed on Monday that more than 100,000 police personnel, including the plainclothes ones, will be put on alert at more than 2,000 "risk spots" nationwide from December 31 to January 3.

The police chief apparently referred to tourist spots and famous public venues where untoward incidents might possibly occur during the long holiday. He did not elaborate but assured that the 100,000-plus police will watch out for the safety of New Year revelers nationwide.

Road checkpoints and rapid deployment forces will be set up to help with security measures at and around those unspecified "risk spots" across the country, Chakthip said.

However, members of the public are prohibited from playing with fireworks or engaging in noisy fanfare activity during the year-end season in the face of a sustained mourning period for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, according to the police chief.
MOSCOW, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- All the 39 people aboard a Russian Il-18 plane survived a crash-landing in Siberia, but at least 16 of them were seriously injured, Russian media reported Monday.

Earlier in the day, the aircraft, belonging to the Russian Defense Ministry, crash-landed near the Tiksi airfield in Russia's Far Eastern Sakha Republic.

The ministry was quoted as saying by local media that after the incident, 32 people were delivered to the settlement of Tiksi, including 16 in grave condition.

"According to preliminary information there have been no fatal consequences," the government of the Far Eastern Sakha Republic said in a statement.

Other survivors would be evacuated shortly, it said, adding that a team of physicians would be helicoptered to the settlement, where 40 beds had been prepared.

The accident may have been caused by a strong side wind, according to the statement.
JERUSALEM, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military said on Monday that it attacked with artillery a Hamas post in the Gaza Strip after gunshots were fired toward Israeli troops near the Palestinian enclave.

A military spokesperson said in a statement that the post, east of the al-Buriej refugee camp in central Gaza, was demolished.

In the morning, shots were fired from Gaza, causing no injuries to the Israeli soldiers, who according to the spokesperson were carrying out maintenance works along the security fence around the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Israel's last military campaign in Gaza ended in July 2014 after 51 days of war. Since then, frequent fire incidents occur on both sides of the border but have never evolved into a full-blown war.
MANILA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government said on Monday it is willing to amend the constitution to lure the insurgents into signing a peace pact.

Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, said in his remarks during a peace consultation meeting in Davao City, that the constitution is a "stumbling block' in the ongoing government efforts to forge peace with the communist and Muslim rebels.

"If you really look up what (the rebels) aspire for, you have to open up our constitution to be able to accommodate them. That is the reality," Dureza said.

The government is talking peace with communist rebels, and the two Muslim groups - the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Dureza said all agreements previously signed with the major rebel groups in the past made no reference to the constitution. "We always refer to the international laws and protocols," he said.

As government peace negotiators, Dureza said they are forced to negotiate within the confines of the constitutions in order to allow both parties to continue working on a final peace settlement despite their opposing views and ideologies.

Duterte, who assumed office on in June this year, wants to sign peace pacts with the three decades-old rebels groups - the communist rebels, MILF and MNLF.
Thai army chief Gen. Chalermchai Sitthisart (L) receives a souvenir from Cambodian Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Dec. 19, 2016. Thai army chief Gen. Chalermchai Sitthisart made an introductory visit to Cambodia on Monday, meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh. (Xinhua/Phearum)

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Thai army chief Gen. Chalermchai Sitthisart made an introductory visit to Cambodia on Monday, meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh.

During a meeting with Hun Sen, Gen. Chalermchai pledged to enhance relations and cooperation between the two armies for the benefits of the two countries and peoples, according to Eang Sophalleth, a spokesman for the prime minister.

For his part, Hun Sen said strengthening cooperation between the two armies was very important to ensure peace, security and development along the border.

The prime minister also encouraged the two armies to work together closely to fight all forms of cross-border crimes.

Earlier in the day, the Thai army chief held bilateral talks with Gen. Tea Banh, discussing ways to enhance bilateral ties between the two armies.

"We agreed to boost bilateral cooperation along the border, particularly cooperation in combating cross-border crimes," Gen. Tea Banh told reporters after the talks.

Gen. Chalermchai was appointed the Thai army commander-in-chief in September, replacing Gen. Teerachai Narkvanich who got retired.
JERUSALEM, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli army seized on Monday a huge illegal weapon manufacturing warehouse in the West Bank city of Hebron, a military spokesperson said in a statement.

The weapons were found in the basement of a residential building in central Hebron, a city that has been a focal point of much of the Palestinian unrest over the past year.

In the raid, the troops seized 12 weapon manufacturing machines, ammunition, more than 150 weapon parts and an M-16 riffle, according to the spokesperson.

"Forces arrested the owner of the warehouse and seized equipment used to manufacture the illegal weaponry," the statement read.

The owner, whose name has not been disclosed, said the workshop was used to produce tools for agriculture. He was taken to interrogation at a facility of the Shin Bet security service, an Israeli official said.

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, said that over the past year, the military "has seized 40 weapon manufacturing warehouses and uncovered over 420 weapons."

Israel occupied the West Bank in the 1967 war, together with the Gaza Strip, and has been controlling it ever since, despite international criticism.
Afghan security force members inspect the site of a blast in Kunduz, Afghanistan, Dec. 19, 2016. At least four civilians sustained injuries as a bomb blast shocked Kunduz city, capital of Kunduz province, on Monday, a police spokesman in the province Mahfozullah Akbari said. (Xinhua/Ajmal Kakar)

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least four civilians sustained injuries as a bomb blast shocked Kunduz city, capital of Kunduz province, on Monday, a police spokesman in the province Mahfozullah Akbari said.

"A bomb planted by militants went off in Kunduz city today afternoon injuring four innocent civilians including a woman," Akbari told reporters here.

He also blamed the enemies of peace, a reference to the Taliban militants, for launching the bomb attack, but the armed outfit, which is active in parts of Kunduz province, is yet to claim responsibility.

This was the second bomb blast in Afghanistan since Monday morning. In the previous attack, a roadside bomb injured eight civilians in the eastern Nangarhar province.
YANGON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday reiterated the government's commitment to the resolution of the issue of Rakhine state, and the need for time and space for the government's efforts to bear fruit, according to a press release of the country's Foreign Ministry.

Aung San Suu Kyi was briefing a retreat of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers in Yangon on recent development in northern Rakhine state, following the coordinated armed attacks on three border posts in Rakhine state in early October.

She emphasized the importance of strengthening ASEAN unity and resolving the differences among ASEAN members through peaceful and friendly consultations.

She provided information on the government's efforts to address the issue including the provision of humanitarian assistance to both communities in Rakhine state in cooperation with the UN agencies.

Expressing their appreciation to the Myanmar government for the briefing, ASEAN ministers said they welcomed the steps taken by the government to address the challenges in the state, suggesting ways and means of promoting peaceful coexistence and harmony among the communities, protecting the human rights of the civilian population and providing greater humanitarian assistance and healthcare for all in the state.

The ASEAN foreign ministers voiced readiness of their countries to help with humanitarian and development assistance, while Myanmar government also reiterated its readiness to grant necessary humanitarian access and to keep ASEAN members informed of development in the state.

The retreat, chaired by Laos which is the current ASEAN chair, was initiated by the Myanmar government with the aim of apprising fellow member nations of Myanmar's efforts in ensuring peace, security and development in the Rakhine state and strengthening ASEAN unity and solidarity as well.
BETHLEHEM, West Bank, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority and the UN called Monday on the international community to donate 547 million U.S. dollars to meet the humanitarian needs in the Palestinian territories next year.

The call was made at a joint press conference in the West Bank city of Bethlehem that was held by Palestinian Minister of Social Development Ibrahim Al-Shaer and UN humanitarian coordinator in the Palestinian territories Robert Piper.

They launched the call under the title "Humanitarian Response for 2017" to save the lives of 1.6 million Palestinians in the Palestinian territories.

Al-Shaer said the call comes to push the international community "to exert utmost efforts to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories."

He added that the Israeli occupation "has put many Palestinians under severe conditions and is hindering them from achieving economic welfare and social cohesion while living under occupation without sovereignty."

For his part, the UN official said that the situation in Bethlehem "reflects the challenges faced by many communities in the occupied Palestinian territories, including land division, movement restrictions, weak access to services and pressures due to continued settlement expansion projects without deterrence."

Piper warned that the nearly 2 million populations of the Gaza Strip "are facing their 10th year under (Israeli) blockade that makes normal life impossible."

"This call comes to aid the most vulnerable segments of the society, and the most harmed among Palestinian families throughout the Palestinian territories," said Piper.

The plan includes implementing 243 projects through 95 non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

According to humanitarian organizations estimates, the number of Palestinians suffering from medium to severe food insecurity are about 1.6 million.

Some 70 percent of the required funding will go to the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007, after Islamic Hamas movement violently seized control of the coastal enclave.

Piper said that the international support is "necessary to continue to provide aid to threatened Palestinians."

However, he underscored the UN calls and efforts are meant to "buy time only, since the real humanitarian response must come hand in hand with the courageous political work to end the world's longest protection crisis."
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Norway have reached consensus on normalization of ties, according to a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende Monday in Beijing.

Li said the two countries' foreign ministers had candid and in-depth talks, and reached an agreement on the normalization of bilateral ties.

China hopes to work together with Norway to open a new chapter in bilateral ties, and push forward a sustained, healthy and stable relationship, Li said.

China-Norway relations deteriorated due to controversy around the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 and events connected to the Prize.

Li said China appreciates the new Norwegian government's adherence to the one-China policy and its wish to improve and develop ties with China.

The two economies are highly compatible, Li said, adding China is ready to negotiate with Norway on an FTA, to send out a clear signal of trade and investment liberalization.

Brende, in his turn, said the normalization of relations is of historic significance, and has sent a positive message to the international community.

Norway adheres to the one-China policy and respects China's core interests and major concerns, which are the political foundation for ties, he said.

Li told Brende the history of China-Norway relations shows mutual respect, equality and taking care of respective core interests and major concerns, serve as the precondition and foundation for strengthening political trust and developing ties.

Norway hopes to take the opportunity of normalization of ties with China to enhance high-level exchanges, boost bilateral FTA negotiation and expand win-win cooperation in such areas as investment, hydropower, and offshore oil and gas exploitation, Brende said.

Earlier on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had talks with Brende.

Related:

Full Text: Statement of China and Norway on normalization of bilateral relations

BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Following is the full text of a statement between China and Norway on normalization of bilateral relations released on Monday:
NAIROBI, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan government has ordered fresh review of the list of refugees in Dadaab camp in northeast region to help curb double registration and also weed out impostors.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said there are many cases of double registration of refugees, noting that by clearing such individuals from the register, the Dadaab Refugee Camp "will be left with bona fide refugees thus deserving the refugee".

The exercise of removing the double registered persons from the register commences on Dec. 19 and ends on Dec. 31, Nkaiserry said in a statement issued in Nairobi on Monday.

The double registered cases comprise of refugees who have irregularly registered as Kenyans on one hand, and on the other, Kenyans who have registered as refugees.

The CS said this is an offense under the Registration of Persons Act, the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act and the Refugee Act 2006.

"Those living outside the camp, should report at the nearest Deputy Commissioner's office while those at the camp should report to the office of the Deputy County Commissioner at the camp for the exercise," Nkaissery said.

He said the affected persons who will not have presented themselves to the designated offices at the expiry of the deadline on Dec. 31 will be arrested and prosecuted as provided for by the law.

The directive comes after the government decided to delay by six months the closure of the world's largest refugee camp after calls by the UN and aid groups to postpone it on humanitarian grounds.

Kenya which has since postponed the closure of Dadaab refugee camp says it has put solid measures in place to fast-track repatriation of Somalia refugees and their re-integration in their native country.

UNHCR has supported people's returns from Dadaab for years and in June, it worked with Kenya and Somalia to devise an action plan to that effect.

A survey between August and October found that 283,558 refugees were living at Dadaab, 58,000 fewer than in the past.

Dadaab, currently home to an estimated 350,000, was opened in 1991 as a temporary shelter for people fleeing civil war in neighboring Somalia.

In May this year, the Kenyan government cited security concerns as it announced that the vast camp in northeast Kenya near the Somali border would be shut down.
Syrians, who were evacuated from the last rebel-held pockets of Syria's northen city of Aleppo, arrive on December 19, 2016 in the opposition-controlled Khan al-Assal region, west of the embattled city. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

ALEPPO, Syria, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of 23 buses carrying rebels and their families on Monday started leaving the northern city of Aleppo after being inspected by Syrian and Russian soldiers at the Ramouseh crossing of the city, according to Xinhua reporters at the site.

The buses started to leave toward the rebel-held area of Rashidien in the southwestern countryside of Aleppo, as part of a deal concluded by Russia and Turkey.

The deal also stipulates the evacuation of civilians from Kafraya and Foa, two Shiite towns besieged by the rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib.

The deal went into force last Thursday, and nearly 8,000 rebels and families evacuated eastern Aleppo.

But it was suspended on Friday, when the rebels didn't allow people from Kafraya and Foa to leave.

On Saturday the evacuation was resumed, after the rebels apparently agreed to allow the civilians to leave.

The deal was supposed to see the evacuation of 15,000 people, including 4,000 rebels from eastern Aleppo, and with the given numbers, it's estimated that 9,000 rebels and civilians have so far been evacuated from eastern Aleppo since last Thursday.

The whole evacuation comes as the Syrian army has captured 99 percent of eastern Aleppo over the past three weeks, as part of a major offensive aiming at driving out the rebels from the city.

With the last evacuation of the rebels from eastern Aleppo, the Syrian army will be on control of the entire city, a victory seen as a writing new chapter of history, as President Bashar al-Assad recently said.
Photo released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on Dec. 19, 2016 shows a new species of lizard called Acanthosaura phuketensis in Phuket, Thailand. (Xinhua/Montri Sumontha at WWF)

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A rainbow-headed snake, a dragon-like lizard, a newt, and a tiny frog are just four of the 163 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region last year, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said in a statement Monday.

The Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia that spans Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China's southwestern Yunnan province is one of the world's five biodiversity hotspots.

"Nine amphibians, 11 fish, 14 reptiles, 126 plants and 3 mammals were described for the first time," the statement said.

Four of the new species found by scientists are a new species of a rainbow-headed snake native to Laos, a dragon-like lizard and a Klingon newt native to Thailand, and an orange-eyed litter frog native to Cambodia and Vietnam, it said.

"The Greater Mekong region is a magnet for the world's conservation scientists because of the incredible diversity of species that continue to be discovered here," Jimmy Borah, Wildlife Program Manager for WWF-Greater Mekong, said.

Photo released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on Dec. 19, 2016 shows a new species of snake called Parafimbrios lao in Laos. (Xinhua/Alexandre Teynie at WWF)

Habitat destruction is a major threat to many of these new species, the statement said, adding that poaching for bushmeat or the multi-billion-U.S.-dollar illegal wildlife trade puts immense pressure on wildlife in the region, meaning many species could be lost before they are even discovered.

"Many collectors are willing to pay thousands of dollars or more for the rarest, most unique and most endangered species, often buying them at the region's illegal wildlife markets, especially in the Golden Triangle region where China, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar meet," said Borah.

"To save them, it's crucial that we improve enforcement against poaching and close illegal wildlife markets as well as the tiger and bear farms that openly flaunt wildlife laws," he said.

According to WWF, between 1997 and 2015, there have been 2,409 new species described in the Greater Mekong region with an average of two new species being identified every week.

Photo released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on Dec. 19, 2016 shows a new species of newt called Tylototriton anguliceps in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand. (Xinhua/Porrawee Pomchote at WWF)
RAMALLAH, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli court sentenced a Palestinian girl from the West Bank city of Ramallah to 18 months in prison, the Palestinian Prisoners Club (PPC) said on Monday.

The PPC in a statement identified the girl as 15-year-old Natalie Shoukha.

Shoukha's lawyer said that she was accused of attempting to stab an Israeli soldier.

Shoukha was arrested on April 29 after she allegedly attacked Israeli soldiers with a knife. She was injured in the incident.

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Detainees Affairs Commission said that Israel detains over 400 Palestinian children in its jails, dozens of whom are sentenced for lengthy periods of time.

Last month, Israel sentenced 12-year-old Ahmad Manasra to imprisonment for attempted stabbing, and two others aged 16 and 15 to 11 years in jail.

Palestinians strongly criticized Israeli government measures under which it took a series of gradual legislation in the past two years to allow doubling punishment of Palestinian children for hurling stones.
BEIRUT, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese Foreign Affairs Ministry strongly condemned Monday the terrorist attack in Jordan, which killed ten people.

The Ministry noted in the statement that the attack "occurred a few days after the attack targeted a Cairo Church and the attacks in Turkey, which proves that the real imminent threat of the moving terrorism and its capability of carrying surprising brutal attacks in more than one field."

The statement stressed "the need to strengthen joint action and consolidate Arab and international cooperation so as to eliminate the ambulant terrorist threat."

Six policemen, three citizens and a Canadian tourist were killed on Saturday in the shooting when a group of unidentified gunmen opened fire at a police patrol near the Karak Castle in the south of Jordan, the report quoted Jordan's Public Security Department.
BEIRUT, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) received Monday a "Cessna" type airplane equipped with "Hellfire" air to ground missiles from the United States.

The National News Agency (NNA) reported that a ceremony was held at the Beirut air base at Rafik Hariri International Airport, in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Elizabeth Richard, Brig. Gen. Jean Farah and Gen. Jean Qahwaji, as well as high ranking officials.

"The United States has handed over the aircraft as part of an integrated package of support in maintenance and training, with a total of about 30 million U.S. dollars," Richard said.

She pointed out that "missiles were also offered along with the plane to help the Lebanese Army carry out its tasks along the border against the threats of extremist groups."

"The United States' assistance to the Lebanese Army represents a vital aspect of cooperation between the two countries," Richard said, stressing her country's clinging to strengthening the Lebanese Army's capabilities in protecting Lebanon's borders and defending the sovereignty of the State.
ISTANBUL, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Turkey said on Monday that it has no intention to bring in Syrian citizens evacuated from the city of Aleppo.

"Turkey prepares to keep these people in their home country in camps" to be built by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency and the Turkish Red Crescent, a Turkish foreign ministry official told the foreign press in Istanbul.

"The idea is to keep these people in and around Idlib" in northwestern Syria, the official said, adding only those wounded or sick in need of immediate attention might be brought to Turkey.

Turkey is currently hosting more than 2.5 million Syrians fleeing a civil war that has been raging for years.

The number of Syrians evacuated from Aleppo is expected to hit 30,000, according to Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak.

After the evacuation resumed on Sunday, 4,500 more had left eastern Aleppo since midnight, bringing the total evacuees to 20,000, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced on Monday in his twitter account.

The evacuation of opposition forces from eastern Aleppo came as part of a Turkish-Russian deal, and with the evacuation of the rebels from Aleppo's east, the Syrian army will take control of the entire city, a victory seen as a new chapter in history, as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said.

Foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran will meet in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the details of the evacuation.

"The priority of the meeting is the evacuation operation from Aleppo," said the Turkish Foreign Ministry official. "Then the trio will be able to discuss the evacuations from other parts of Syria."

As Ankara held al-Assad responsible for the deaths of more than 300,000 people in Syria, the Syrian president cannot be accepted by Turkey as a partner in the search for means to end the war, the official said.
JERUSALEM, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli diamond tycoon, Beny Steinmetz, was arrested Monday by the police for questioning over allegations of bribery and corruption related to diamond mining in Guinea, Israeli authorities said.

In the morning, BSG Resources, the mining company founded by Steinmetz, confirmed that the businessman was detained by Israeli authorities.

The company said in a statement that the allegations are baseless. "This development is in the aftermath of ongoing and what BSGR believes to be obsolete investigations surrounding bribery and corruption against BSGR," the statement read.

In the afternoon, a court notice said that Steinmetz was sent to two weeks of house arrest on bail of 50 million shekels (about 13 million U.S. dollars) in cash and additional 50 million shekels in collateral.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the businessman is allegedly involved in a large-scale bribery of foreign public servants in Africa and money laundering.

Samri said that the police suspect that Steinitz and other Israeli businessmen living abroad paid "tens of millions of dollars to senior public servants in Guinea in order to advance their business affairs there."

The investigation efforts involved law enforcement authorities in the United States, Switzerland, and Guinea.

Samri said it is "part of an international effort led by the OECD to struggle against the bribery of high-ranking officials worldwide."

Headquartered in the tax haven of the Channel Islands, BSG Resources mines diamonds, gold, copper, and other minerals in Africa. The company was founded in 1998.
Chinese PremierLi Keqiang(R) meets with Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Norway issued a statement in Beijing on Monday on normalization of ties.

"The Norwegian side is fully conscious of the position and concerns of the Chinese side and has worked actively to bring bilateral relations back on track," said the statement.

China-Norway relations deteriorated since the Oslo-based Nobel Committee conferred the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize on convicted Chinese criminal Liu Xiaobo. Liu was sentenced to 11 years in jail on Dec. 25, 2009, after a court in Beijing convicted him of engaging in activities designed to overthrow the government.

"Through numerous, meticulous conversations, the two sides have reached a level of trust that allows for resumption of normal relations," said the statement.

The Norwegian government will not support any action that undermines China's core interests and major concerns, and will do its best to avoid any future damage to China-Norway relations, said the statement.

According to the statement, the Norwegian government reiterates its commitment to the one-China policy, fully respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and attaches high importance to China's core interests and major concerns.

Both sides agreed to boost cooperation in various areas including trade, culture, education and polar region, and cement consultation on global issues.

In his meeting with visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the two countries' foreign ministers had candid and in-depth talks, and reached an agreement on the normalization of bilateral ties.

China hopes to work together with Norway to open a new chapter in bilateral ties, and push forward a sustained, healthy and stable relationship, Li said.

China appreciates the new Norwegian government's adherence to the one-China policy and its wish to improve and develop ties with China, said the premier.

The two economies are highly compatible, Li said, adding China is ready to negotiate with Norway on an FTA, to send out a clear signal of trade and investment liberalization.

Brende, in his turn, said the normalization of relations is of historic significance, and has sent a positive message to the international community.

Norway adheres to the one-China policy and respects China's core interests and major concerns, which are the political foundation for ties, he said.

Li told Brende the history of China-Norway relations shows mutual respect, equality and taking care of respective core interests and major concerns, serve as the precondition and foundation for strengthening political trust and developing ties.

Norway hopes to take the opportunity of normalization of ties with China to enhance high-level exchanges, boost bilateral FTA negotiation and expand win-win cooperation in such areas as investment, hydropower, and offshore oil and gas exploitation, Brende said.

Earlier on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had talks with Brende.

The Norwegian side has reflected profoundly on what damaged mutual trust, and consulted seriously with the Chinese side on improving ties, Wang said.

The two sides had reached consensus on learning from the past and resuming trust, which met the fundamental interests of Norway and the Norwegian people, complied with the UN Charter and set China-Norway ties on the correct path, Wang said.

China hopes Brende's visit will normalize relations and boost healthy and stable growth of ties, Wang said.

"The new Norwegian government does not want to bear the burden of history. It took a more pragmatic approach and was eager to improve relations with China," said Cui Hongjian, director of the department of European studies at the China Institute of International Studies.

Related:

Full Text: Statement of China and Norway on normalization of bilateral relations

BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Following is the full text of a statement between China and Norway on normalization of bilateral relations released on Monday:
RABAT, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) condemned on Monday the armed attack on a police station in the town of Qatraneh, Western Jordan.

On this occasion, ISESCO reiterated its support for the Kingdom of Jordan in confronting such criminal act and taking legal actions against the perpetrators.

Four unidentified gunmen were killed in Jordan's southern Karak city on Sunday night, after they launched a series of attacks and killed 10 people, including a Canadian tourist.
VIENTIANE, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The northern Lao province of Oudomxay is looking to develop tourist attractions so as to bring in more Chinese investors and visitors.

The number of Chinese visitors is steadily increasing at the province's main tourist destinations and now Oudomxay is planning to attract another 2 million people, Provincial Deputy Governor Somchith Panyasack was quoted by state-run Vientiane Times on Monday.

There are several places of interest in the province, including the Nam Kat waterfall. "This beautiful spot is popular among locals and foreigners and receives about 100 visitors a day," the official said.

Last year, about 215,000 foreigners visited the province. People driving from Vientiane to Lao northern provinces of Luang Namtha, Bokeo and Phongsaly often stay overnight in Oudomxay to break the journey.

A road connecting with Phongsaly through China's Yunnan province offers a shortcut for motorists visiting Phongsaly, but not many people use this route yet. Due to the number of trucks queuing at the Laos-China border in Luang Namtha province, many people prefer to drive to Phongsaly through Oudomxay instead.

According to the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, the total number of foreign tourist arrivals in Laos increased from 2.7 million in 2011 to 4.1 million in 2015.
JUBA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan hopes to finally reach an agreement on Tuesday with Sudan on outstanding major issues including border reopening, oil and power generation in the signed cooperation agreement between the two countries.

South Sudanese Minister of Petroleum Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth said on Monday that they will negotiate for extension of the signed 2012 cooperation agreement in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and resumption of oil production.

"We are all empowered to negotiate the extension of the cooperation agreement and the oil industry as a whole. We have to discuss and reach agreement with our brothers and sisters in Sudan," Gatkuoth said in Juba.

Sudanese President Omar Bashir had earlier issued December ultimatum for South Sudan to implement the cooperation agreement.

Gatkuoth urged for strong joint cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

South Sudan relies on oil production to finance 98 percent of its fiscal budget and yet more than three years of conflict has affected production in its northern oil fields.

Oil production has since 2014 reduced from 350,000 barrels a day to less than 130,000 bpd amid fall in global oil prices hitting hard the economy of the war-torn nation.
Image taken on Nov. 4, 2016 shows director general of the Police Hospital "Augusto B. Leguia" in Lima, Orlando Leiva Meza (L), treating a patient at the hospital in Lima, Peru. (Xinhua/Luis Camacho)

by Zhao Hui

LIMA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Peru, despite its distance from China, has embraced Chinese culture ever more as the two countries have developed their economic, trade and social ties over the decade.

Chinese traditions such as acupuncture and martial arts are great attractions for the Peruvian people, acting as windows on a distant culture.

MAGIC NEEDLES

Statistics showed that Lima is home to around 50 acupuncture clinics, with 70 percent of them staffed by Peruvian doctors.

Orlando Leiva is among them. In 1986, with his wife Ana Rioja, he obtained a post-graduate grant from the Chinese government to study at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, becoming one of the first Peruvian doctors to study acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

"The first thing I had to learn in China was the language before moving to study the TCM in every aspect, with especial focus on acupuncture, as it greatly impressed and motivated us," he told Xinhua.

After two years of studies and one year of practice, Leiva returned to Peru and opened a clinic. He dedicated himself to acupuncture, massages and other Chinese treatments.

After some patients presented themselves in the early years, Leiva began giving courses on the TCM in medical colleges. Over time, Leiva gathered a group of loyal patients, and he now receives 10-15 people a day.

He also practices Tai Chi and ping-pong in his spare time. "I am fascinated by everything Chinese, Tai Chi, ping-pong, and food. I even gave a Chinese name to my son Pedro, who was born in China," he said.

Juan I.Vasquez (front) practises Taiji with his learners in Lima, Peru, Oct. 5, 2016. 63-year-old Peruvian Juan I.Vasquez started to practise Taiji when he was 17 years old and has taught more than 100 Peruvian practising Taiji in the last decades. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

INNER HARMONY

Master Juan Vasquez, 63, has travelled to China over 20 times, with each time to further his study of Tai Chi.

Vasquez has been training in diverse martial arts since he was 17 but Tai Chi has been his favorite, because he thought it had "more complete and deeper" connotations in culture and philosophy than other kinds of martial arts.

In 1992, Vasquez met the great Chinese master Chen Zhengfei, the 11th generation master of Chen-style Tai Chi, and became his disciple.

For many years, Vasquez spent a month per year in China's Henan Province to learn Tai Chi from Chen.

After practicing four hours per day for over 40 years, Vasquez has gained international renown. He has been crowned the Peruvian champion multiple times.

Since 1994, Vasquez has taught Chen-style Tai Chi in Lima and has gathered over 100 disciples, ranging from children under the age of 10 to elders over 80.

Among them, Marleni Calcina has joined the training for 13 years. She said once "feeling great stress" at work and in her life, it is Tai Chi that has taught her the value of "going slowly".

"My transformation began with Tai Chi, which helped me gain peace and inner harmony. For me now, practicing Tai Chi is like speaking with my soul," she emphasized.
by Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 100 refugees and migrants out of a total 700 people accommodated in Souda camp on Chios island in Greece for months started on Monday a hunger strike in protest of dramatic living conditions, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

"We are humans, not animals," read posters raised by protesters inside the camp which has been sealed off by police forces.

Over the past ten days, the hospitality center set up by the municipality and run by UNHCR has been left with no electricity. Water supply was also cut off six days ago.

Municipality officials told AMNA that the electric power and water supply systems collapsed when UNHCR officials decided to replace the cooking gas devices used to keep families warm inside the tents with electrical stoves for safety reasons.

The decision was made after the death of a refugee child and his grandmother in Moria camp on Lesvos island in November due to fire caused by the gas canister.

Due to technical problems and a disagreement between local authorities and UNHCR on who should bear the 10,000 euros (10,420 U.S. dollars) per month electricity supply cost, according to the municipality representatives, refugees have remained with no running water and electric power as temperatures have dropped to two degrees Celsius.

"We need electricity, Aleppo has it!" a banner posted by protesters at the camp's entrance read on Monday.

Refugees have been also protesting about the quality of the food distributed by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), according to AMNA. Two days ago, 50 people got sick with gastroenteritis after the meal,they said.

Tension has also been fuelled by information that a group of migrants will be returned to Turkey in coming days.

About 20 migrants who were informed on Monday that their asylum applications had been turned down started breaking and burning objects on hand at the nearby Pyli hotspot, and police intervened to restore order.

Under the EU-Turkey agreement launched in March to stem the influx into Europe, all people who are entering Greece illegally on boats from Turkish shores will be sent back, should their asylum requests are turned down.

Due to the slow pace at which asylum applications are being processed, approximately 16,500 people are stranded in overcrowded facilities on the Greek Aegean Sea islands, out of a total of 62,500 trapped throughout Greece since February after the closure of the country's northern borders, according to the latest statistics released by the Greek government on Sunday.

Despite efforts made to improve living conditions, tensions have escalated in recent months. Refugees and migrants have often staged protests which turned violent.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City is poised to welcome over 5.2 million foreign visitors in 2016, up 10 percent against 2015, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said on Monday.

The city is estimated to receive 21.8 million domestic visitors this year. Meanwhile, its total tourism revenues are expected to rise 9 percent to 103 trillion Vietnamese dong (4.6 billion U.S. dollars).

Ho Chi Minh City plans to receive 5.5 million international arrivals and 24 million domestic visitors in 2017, and make total tourism revenues of 112 trillion Vietnamese dong (5 billion U.S. dollars), said the municipal Tourism Department.

The city is home to nearly 2,200 hotels and mini-hotels, and 1,314 travel agencies, including 647 foreign ones and 9 representative offices of foreign travel firms.
KINSHASA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A peacekeeper from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) was killed and five others injured on Monday morning in an attack in the city of Butembo, North Kivu province, according to army sources.

The same sources said five militiamen and one policeman were also killed in the attack by militiamen around 6 a.m..

Witnesses said assailants identified as Mayi-Mayi militiamen attempted to attack the town hall, where the MONUSCO office is located, and the city's police headquarters and central prison.

From the outset of the attack, the armed forces of the DRC with the support of MONUSCO fired back. The fighting lasted several hours.

Until Monday evening, the army and police have regained control of the city and its surroundings, according to General Fall Sikabwe, commander of operation Sokola 1 South.

Butembo in eastern DR Congo has faced the rise of a new group of a local militia since last October, which aimed to fight in a community way.

The authorities made several calls for the peaceful dissolution of the militia without success before launching an armed attack against them last month.
KABUL, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Saffron cultivation in Afghanistan has risen to record levels in 2016, with a 250-percent increase compared to last year, the Government Media and Information Center (GMIC) said on Monday.

"Saffron cultivated areas have been increased by 250 percent reaching to 2,811 hectares of land across the country. The coverage areas from the past 15 years were 1,020 hectares. This year alone 1,791 hectares new land has been cultivated saffron," GMIC said in a statement.

The saffron cultivation has expanded to 31 of the country's 34 provinces from only one province a few years ago, the statement noted.

The government has been encouraging farmers to switch from growing illicit opium poppies for drugs to saffron and turn the land-locked Afghanistan into a poppy-free country.

The government was determined "to assist Afghan farmers by providing financial support, machinery, cold storage, seeds, training and new processing methods, all of which will pave the way for Afghan farmers to export their products outside Afghanistan."

The growing of opium poppies and their byproducts have been on a constant rise since the collapse of the Taliban regime in late 2001. The country produced 4,800 tons of opium this year.

In 2016, about 6 tons of saffron was produced across against 3.5 tons last year, according to the statement.

Afghan saffron in terms of quality has been named as the world's "best saffron" by the International Taste and Quality Institute in Brussels earlier this year.

In local Afghan markets, 1 kg of saffron is priced at 25,000 afghanis (375 U.S. dollars) to 110,000 afghanis (1,654 U.S. dollars) depending on the quality of the saffron, according to officials.
DENVER, the United States, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- John Yee, a Flying Tigers veteran who just celebrated his 95th birthday, remembers the moment when Japanese bombs fell on Pearl Harbor.

He was in southwest China's biggest city of Kunming at the time, handpicked as one of 30 translators to work with the Flying Tigers there.

"We felt badly for the Americans, but to be honest, we all jumped with joy. It was a day of hope that something might stop the daily bombings of our cities and towns by the Japanese," Yee told Xinhua.

Yee says that his fellow Chinese translators all talked about having "a very powerful ally in the United States, and that we would no longer have to fight the Japanese alone."

During World War Two, Japanese slaughtered hundreds of thousands of innocent people in Nanking, capital of China at that time. Yee was 17-years-old then and living in Kunming.

"It was a horrible, sickening event, and shocked everybody in China. It started a long period of atrocities committed by the Japanese military against innocent Chinese people," Yee said Monday in an open letter to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will pay a visit to Pearl Harbor later this month.

"Just like Hitler trying to exterminate the Jews in Europe, the Japanese committed genocide against the Chinese," Yee noted. "But Western educators and media have yet to recognize the extent of the atrocities committed by Japan."

Two weeks after the Pearl Harbor attack, the first of General Claire Lee Chennault's 100 planes landed from Burma on a Kunming airstrip just north of the city. And Yee became one of those Flying Tigers as a translator.

The night before the Americans arrived, Kunming had been blown apart by bombs again, as the defenseless Chinese had no recourse but to run for cover. Yee remembers hearing the sound of wailing and screaming throughout the dark, powerless city that night.

"But they were in for a surprise the next time," Yee told Xinhua, with a smile. "The Americans had come, and the slaughter of innocent people would stop," he said.

The very next day, the scrappy force of all-American flyboys, led by Chennault, routed the Japanese by shooting down 10 of their planes, while the Americans lost none.

Yee remembers that moment like it was yesterday -- hearing the yells of joy, surprise and exaltation from people across the war-torn city that night -- the excitement, the smiles, and the hugs -- as Kunming residents savored the first of many American victories against superior Japanese forces over the skies of southwest China.

"It was the greatest success story in the history of aviation fighting," asserts Yee, who was a history professor at the University of Denver and University of Colorado in the 1960s. "It is a bond America and China will share forever."

Yee worked with legendary American General Chennault in the control room day after day, and later came to the United States to train at some of U.S. military bases.

Yee stayed in America after the war ended, becoming a leader in Colorado's Asian-American community, and enjoying an award-winning, 30-year teaching career.

"It seems like more Japanese-American back-rubbing in Pearl Harbor this month," Yee said, "There are several countries that Japan should apologize to, and China is at the top of the list."

"The visit to pearl Harbor by Shinzo Abe is more U.S.-Japan theater. The first people the Japanese should be apologizing to are the Chinese -- for the Rape of Nanking, for invading China, for murdering millions of Chinese people," the retired history professor said in his open letter.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met here Monday with 55 representatives from religious organizations nationwide, to listen to religious followers' opinions and proposals.

The prime minister directed ministries, sectors and localities to continue focus on improving the spiritual and material conditions for people, especially religious followers, while promoting cultural and moral values of beliefs and religions in the society, thus enriching the country's culture, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Representatives from many religious organizations lauded the Law on Belief and Religions, while proposing that the government direct central agencies and sectors to issue guiding documents as soon as possible.

According to the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Vietnam has recognized and granted licenses to 39 religious organizations, which have over 24 million followers, or 27 percent of the country's population, nearly 53,000 dignitaries, and 28,000 worshiping facilities.
KIEV, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian government said Monday it has nationalized the country's largest financial institution, the Privatbank, due to its huge capital shortage which threatened to hinder stability of Ukraine's financial system.

"Given the systemic importance of the country's largest bank, it was decided to transfer the Privatbank under the control of the state. This move will make it possible to protect deposits and rescue the domestic financial system," Oleksandr Danyliuk, Ukraine's finance minister was quoted as saying by the government press service.

According to the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), the Privatbank which serves about 20 million consumers, has failed to meet the government capitalization target.

The Privatbank's capital shortage was estimated by the NBU at 5.6 billion U.S. dollars.

To inject fresh capital into the bank, the finance ministry said it will issue domestic bonds. According to Danyliuk, the government targets to attract some 1.63 billion dollars at the first stage of bond issuing.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has welcomed the nationalization of the bank, saying it was a vital move to maintain the country's financial stability.

"This decision has saved both -- the bank itself and the banking system," Poroshenko said in a video address to the nation.

Meanwhile, Oleg Gorokhovsky, first deputy chairman of the Privatbank, said that the nationalization was a result of an "information attack" against the financial institution, which forced customers to withdraw their deposits and left the bank without enough funds.

"The decision on a voluntary and peaceful transfer of the bank to the state ownership was adopted when we realized that we cannot survive this information attack," Gorokhovsky wrote on Facebook.

Established in 1992, the Privatbank, based in Dnipro city in central Ukraine, operates 21.6 percent of Ukraine's banking assets and serves nearly half of adult population of the East European country.

The financial institution operates some 2,500 offices in Ukraine and has several overseas branches in European countries, particularly in Latvia and Italy.
KIGALI, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's genocide survivors' associations Ibuka on Monday condemned the early release of two convicted masterminds of the 1994 genocide, which killed close to 1 million Rwandans.

Ibuka decried the early release of Ferdinand Nahimana and Emmanuel Rukundo, as announced by the President of UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) Judge Theodor Meron.

Both convicts are jailed in Mali. Nahimana, described as a genocide ideologue, is serving 30 years, while Rukundo, a former Catholic priest, is serving a 23-year jail term.

Judge Meron, in a September decision published on the MICT website, said although Nahimana crimes were grave, "the fact that he already completed two-thirds of his sentence as of March 27, 2016, and having demonstrated some signs of rehabilitation weigh in favor of his early release."

The same would apply to Rukundo, a former military chaplain, according to MICT.

In a statement Monday, Ibuka President Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu said their release shows "how callous and unfair the ICTR has been to survivors of the genocide."

"Survivors had high hopes of this court, many cooperated with it, but we have not yet received the justice expected. Judges who release people like Nahimana and Rukundo, knowing very well what they did, are doing so deliberately and with suspicious motives that have nothing to do with justice," it said.

So far, ten genocide perpetrators convicted by the ICTR have been granted early release by Judge Meron.

Ferdinand Nahimana is a former history professor and co-founder of RTLM, an extremist radio station that spread hate speech and called for the killing of the Tutsi people before and during the genocide.

First arrested in 1996, Nahimana was found guilty in December 2003, of multiple genocide crimes.

Emmanuel Rukundo, a former military chaplain, was arrested in 2001, before he was convicted of genocide, extermination and murder in February 2009.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame last Friday also criticized the early release, describing the act as dubious.
ANKARA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, has been shot at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara, Russian embassy sources have confirmed to the Daily News.

Karlov was shot by a gun while making a speech at a painting exhibition in the Turkish capital, the embassy said, adding that it believed that it was a radical Islamist attack.

The attack comes one day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu heads to Moscow for talks on Syria with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.

Private broadcaster CNN Turk said Karlov was in a critical state.

Meanwhile, private broadcaster NTV said three other persons were also injured in the attack.

CNN Turk said the attacker might be still inside the building and that Karlov had not yet been sent to hospital.
ANKARA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, has been shot at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara, Russian embassy sources have confirmed to the Daily News.

Karlov was shot by while making a speech at a painting exhibition in the Turkish capital, the embassy said, adding that it believed that it was a radical Islamist attack.

Private broadcaster CNN Turk said Karlov was in a critical state.

Three wounded people were taken to Guven Hospital in central Ankara, reporters said but did not confirm whether the ambassador was among them.

The attack comes one day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu heads to Moscow for talks on Syria with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.

CNN Turk said the attacker might be still inside the building and that Karlov had not yet been removed to hospital.

Witness said attendants at the exhibit ran away after the attacker opened fire in the air. The attacker then targeted Karlov.

The witness also added that the attacker chanted Islamist slogans, but he did not remember the exact words.

Special forces surrounded the building in preparation for an operation amid the sound of gunshots, witnessed confirmed.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Monday condemned the assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov in Ankara.

"This heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable, and we stand united with Russia and Turkey in our determination to confront terrorism in all of its forms," said U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price in a statement.

Karlov was shot and killed on Monday at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

The gunman, who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo," was identified as a Turkish off-duty police officer, according to Turkish security sources.

Karlov was shot in the back while making a speech at a painting exhibition in the Turkish capital, the Russian embassy said.

Three other wounded people were taken to Guven Hospital in central Ankara.

The attack came one day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu heads to Moscow for talks on Syria with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.
TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- An officer of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps was killed in a car bomb attack in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan on Monday, Tehran Times daily reported.

In the attack, lieutenant Hassan Jazini was killed and another IRGC soldier was injured, the report said.

The car bomb was remotely detonated while the IRGC security team was returning from the clashes with the armed militants near the border with Pakistan in the Saravan region.

The militants fled back across the border to Pakistan, the report added.
Photo taken on June 21, 2014 shows army recruits of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in the central square of Donetsk, Ukraine. About 100 recruits will join to local militias armed units in hot spots of the region. (Xinhua/Alexander Ermochenko)

LONDON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Britain's training program for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) is to be extended for another year, the Ministry of Defense (MOD) announced Monday.

The extension will ensure more members of the UAF will benefit from training by British armed forces, Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said in a statement issued in London.

A statement from the MOD said: "As Ukraine continues to deal with an assertive and provocative Russia, Sir Michael Fallon confirmed that British personnel will now be deployed in the country until early 2018, continuing to provide defensive training to the UAF.

"This includes the identification of mines and other Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), life-saving first aid, logistics and operational planning."

Fallon also confirmed that the British forces currently based in the country were due to exceed their training target and by March 2017 were expected to have trained over 5,000 members of the UAF, over 1,000 more than initially planned.

Defense Secretary Fallon said: "Extending British training of Ukrainian Armed Forces sends a clear message that we support Ukraine and remain firmly committed to its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity."

Training teams from across the British Army have been deployed to Ukraine since 2015, with the army's armored infantry Mercian Regiment currently providing the majority of the activity until the end of this year.

Britain coordinates the training it provides to the UAF with four other nations, the United States, Canada, Lithuania, and Poland.

Britain also provides a senior adviser to Ukraine's defense ministry and donated over 1.25 million U.S. dollars worth of non-lethal equipment to Ukraine, including first aid kits and cold weather clothing to strengthen their defensive capability and increase their resilience.
A file photo taken on July 21, 2016 shows Ivanka Trump, daughter of the then Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, speaks on the last day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, the United States. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

By Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Before President-elect Donald Trump has even taken office, there are glaring questions over what role the billionaire's children will play in the new administration. That is because recent moves have sparked worries that Trump's kids will overstep the legal boundaries that ban nepotism in the White House.

The New York real estate mogul shocked the world last month when he clinched the election after the overwhelming majority of pundits, polls and analysts predicted that rival Hillary Clinton would win.

But already, Trump is spurring worries of nepotism. Last week, the nation's top tech executives met with Trump to discuss how they might work together with government to boost the U.S. economy. Participating in the meeting were Trump's children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, as well as Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Kushner has already raised eyebrows for allegedly speaking to a lawyer about how he could circumvent anti-nepotism laws and play a role in the new administration.

A 1967 federal anti-nepotism law, which was implemented after former President John Kennedy gave his brother, Robert Kennedy, the position of attorney general, states that no official can hire a member of his or her family.

"It is a serious problem. The issue is that they are deeply involved in the family business and so meetings like this blur the line between Trump's interest and the national interest," Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, told Xinhua. He was referring to Trump's children and how they plan to run the Trump business empire while their father is president.

"This is why there are many calls for him to create a firewall with the Trump industry," Zelizer said.

"It is clear that the kids will play a role in the administration, as advisors and as critical players in influencing policy," he said.

"There are clear nepotism laws put into the books after Robert Kennedy's appointment, but previous administrations have challenged rigid boundaries, including the Clintons... The conflict of interest laws are very lax for the president, but members of Congress are now pushing for tighter definitions of the rules for the executive branch," Zelizer said.

A file photo taken on July 20, 2016 shows Eric Trump, son of the then Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, takes the stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, the United States. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Last month, the incoming Trump administration already caused raised eyebrows on a number of fronts, including the role that the president-elect's son-in-law might play in the new government. The New York Times reported that Kushner spoke to a lawyer to find out if it would be legal, under federal anti-nepotism laws, for him to play a role in the White House.

This came just days after Kushner, who played a major advisory role in Trump's campaign, fired New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a major Republican Party figure who was expected to hold a position in the new administration.

Critics are also concerned about the blurring of lines between government service and running a wildly lucrative business, as Kushner heads a major real estate business and owns the New York Observer newspaper.

Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua that Trump does not appear to understand the nepotism and conflicts of interest represented by this behavior.

"His children will be running his business empire in coming years and he is positioning them to benefit financially from his service as president. This is a blatant conflict and will raise great controversy within the United States. It moves the country closer to crony capitalism than has been the case in many decades," he said.

"He doesn't understand the need to separate his personal financial interests from his government service. He is surprisingly tone deaf to how this looks to any knowledgeable outsider," West said.
Activists demonstrate against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump ahead of the meeting of the Electoral College at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, U.S. December 19, 2016. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The 538-member U.S. Electoral College is expected to officially confirm President-elect Donald Trump's presidency on Monday amid disputes and turmoil fuelled by the CIA conclusion that Russia intervened the U.S. election partly in bid to harm Trump's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

The electors, chosen by their state political parties, convene in statehouses and Washington D.C. on Monday and cast two votes -- one for president and one for vice president.

Though the former secretary of state takes a lead over Trump by nearly three million popular votes up to now, Trump is projected to win the most electoral votes. The Nov. 8 Election Day voting results showed he won 306 electoral votes to Clinton's 232.

The long-shot hope of the so-called "Hamilton Electors" aimed to dump Trump is that at least 37 electors vote against the will of their states so as to deprive Trump of the 270 electoral vote majority. However, it is widely thought that their chance is nearly zero since the number of would-be "faithless electors" are quite small and some of them are even Democrats.

So far only one Republican elector, identified as Christopher Suprun from Texas, has publicly claimed he will vote for an alternative candidate.

Another Republican elector, Christina Hagan from Ohio, said earlier on Monday that she decided to step down after a one-week lawsuit arguing that state lawmakers can not serve as electors under the Ohio state law. Ohio's electors will pick a replacement for her later on the day.

David Bright, a Maine Democratic elector, announced on Facebook that he will vote on Monday for Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton's strongest rival during Democratic primaries, in a bid to help the battled Democratic Party woo back young voters.

"I see no likelihood of 38 Republican electors defecting from their party and casting their ballots for Secretary Clinton," he said.

"So Hillary Clinton will not become President, and there is nothing I can do about that. Knowing this, I was left to find a positive statement I could make with my vote", said Bright on Facebook.

The number of electors each state has is equal to its number of representatives and senators in Congress -- 538 in total, with those extra three electors coming from Washington District of Columbia. Among them are state party leaders, elected officials or just individuals with a personal connection to a presidential candidate.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday condemned "in the strongest terms" the assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov, calling it a "terrorist attack."

Earlier on Monday, Karlov, who served as Russian ambassador to Turkey since 2013, was shot dead by a gunman when he spoke at the opening of an art exhibition in Ankara.

"The members of the Security Council expressed their deep condolences to the family of the Ambassador and the Government of the Russian Federation," said the 15-nation council in a press statement.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the assassination, saying it was a "senseless" act of terror.

The assassination came one day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu heads to Moscow for talks on Syrian with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.

According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been informed of attack, and is planning a consultation with the foreign ministry and the country's security services.
No charge for La Brea woman

Therefore, police said yesterday, charges are not likely to be slapped against her for wrongful use of police time.

Senior police officers from both the Southern and South-Western Divisions, told Newsday that based on information in the respective stations dairies, there were no reports of Barriteau, 35, stating that she was kidnapped and assaulted. We do not have a report in any station diary recorded, in which Mr Barriteau gave a report that she had been abducted. Barriteaus common- law husband Devon Paul, however, had made a report on December 9 at the La Brea Police Station, that Barriteau had been missing. Then subsequently, Paul received information from friends that his common-law wife was at the San Fernando General Hospital. He then went to the hospital where he saw Barriteau, but the woman told her husband that she was abducted by a group of men, assaulted and dropped off at a parang lime at Carat Shed in Marabella.

The couple lives at Sobo Village in La Brea. Since the news broke that she was not longer missing, CCTV footage of a woman in company with an unidentified man liming at the popular Carat Shed circulated on social media.

South-Western police confirmed that when questioned about her whereabouts, Barriteau admitted that she went to lime with some friends. But the senior police officers told Newsday that La Brea Police Station have no reports of her being kidnapped or assaulted. Because she was found, investigations into the missing persons report, the officers said, were closed.
skills on the web

As a matter of fact, this is one of the best times of the year to reinforce all that learning that has taken place from September until now.

Children can work on their reading skills and have fun on the sites featured below.

They wont even realise all the skills theyre learning.

See how Christmas is celebrated all over the world by checking out http://www.whychristmas.

com/cultures/.

Just click on the flag next to the name of the country to find fun facts about the country.

Student get cool geography lessons when they pull up information by clicking green countries on a map.

The History Channel offers a site with essays and videos about Christmas carols, Christmas celebrations, Christmas gift giving, Santa Claus and the origins of the candy cane at http://www.history.

com/topics/christmas/ history-of-christmas.

Did you know that Santa used to wear many different coloured clothes until a Coca Cola advertisement in the 1930s dressed him in red? On this site, students learn a lot about Christmas history.

Following directions can mean the difference between success and failure in life and school. Christmas offers a fun way to teach this skill to children through holiday baking.

The site below offers baking projects for children. Children learn the gift of giving when creating an apple pie cookie kit in a jar. Making Rudolph shortbread cookies teaches mathematics skills. Mini elf doughnuts teach the concept of scale, melted snowmen teach creativity.

Each recipe is rated for difficulty and each recipe provides the amount of time it takes to make the treat.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.

com/recipes/collection/ christmas-kids Children can practise their reading skills with a fun, interactive site called Northpole.

com. Click on one of the houses in the village and discover Christmas information to read about.

There are activities like Christmas ornaments to make. Small children can visit the reindeer barn where elves work and reindeer eat.

This is a good site for children four to six to learn how to navigate a website. Follow the directions and discover fun activities. This animated site with its vivid colours, sound and activities will appeal to small children. Santas mail room is a busy place where elves sort the mail.

Bells, gongs and other Christmas sounds abound in each place.

http://www.northpole.com/. Children find hidden stories in the kitchen where gingerbread is baking. Theres so much to discover on this site. A site called Internet for Classrooms provides hyperlinks to a variety of kid-friendly sites. At http://www.internet4classrooms.

com/christmas.htm children can find Santas instant report on whether they have been naughty or nice. They can send email messages to Santa, adopt an elf buddy, discover Christmas puzzles, craft ideas, Christmas music, daily updates on Santa news and much more.

Tech Digest provides a list of the Top 50 Christmas websites at http://www.techdigest.tv/2006/12/ top_50_christma.html.

Here, children can find very imaginative sites that help them to develop their analytical skills during Christmas vacation. What would children do if they met an alien on December 20? Educational games abound on this site.

Blackdog Christmas provides Christmas jokes, riddles, word searches, games and stories. Christmas with Virtual Finland shows children how Christmas is celebrated in Scandinavia and a Victorian Christmas helps them to explore Christmas celebrations in the past. The Christmas Truce is another good history lesson that explores the famous Christmas Truce of World War I.

There are so many great, fun-filled Christmas learning sites to explore so that no child is left behind at Christmas.
Tobago crash leaves 2 dead, 1 critical

The victims have been identified as Keylon Chapman, 23, of Mason Hall and Trevaughn Noray, 21, of Moriah. A third occupant of the vehicle, Quincy Daniel, 23, of Moriah was up to press time warded in a critical condition at the Scarborough General Hospital. He is said to be unconscious.

Tobago police reported that at about four oclock yesterday morning, a red car with the three occupants was proceeding along the highway when on nearing the Magdalena Grande Beach Resort, the driver lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road, smashed into several light poles befors coming to a halt in bushes.

The accident left parts of the the area without electricity for several hours as overhead electrical wires were pulled down by the cars impact.

Both Chapman and Noray were pronounced dead at the scene.

Firemen later freed Daniel from the mangled wreck of the vehicle and when it was found that he was still alive, he was rushed to the Scarborough General Hospital for emergency treatment.

Meanwhile, the bodies of Chapman and Noray were viewed by the district medical officer who ordered them removed to the hospitals mortuary for autopsies, which will most likely be done today. Efforts to reach head of Tobago Division Snr Supt Joanne Archie for a comment yesterday proved futile. Investigations are continuing.
Boy, 13, charged for killing boy, 17

The accused boy appeared in the Couva Magistrates court last Friday charged with manslaughter and was granted bail.

The charge alleges that at about 6.30 pm on November 26, Lewis of Freeport was shot in the head shortly after leaving a house where a prayer service was in session. He died on the spot. Lewis was at the time on his way to a snackette to buy a soft drink.

Homicide detectives conducted investigations and arrested the 13-year-old. A file was prepared and submitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

On Friday last, the 13-year-old appeared before Magistrate Cheryl Ann Antoine who read the charge to him that he unlawfully killed Lewis. The charge was laid indictably and as a result, the boy was not called upon to plead.

Attorney Frank Gittens announced that he was representing the boy and made a plea for bail to be granted.

The attorney submitted to Magistrate Antoine, that under new judges rules for children, a child shall must only be kept in custody for an offence as a last resort and for the shortest period of time. Gittens also submitted to the magistrate that the accused boy is not likely to abscond because he had co-operated with the police throughout their investigations.

Magistrate Antoine granted the boy bail in the sum of $50,000 with the step-father as surety. The case was adjourned to January 10.

After the accused teens step-father signed the surety, the accused boy was allowed to leave the courthouse.
Business set on fire

Police were also on the scene quickly, arriving about ten minutes after the fire fighters, said SJBA Public Relations Officer Abrahim Ali. Thank God, otherwise that building might have burned down.

A panel van did catch fire though.

It was parked close to the gate so when the men; seen on CCTV footage, threw something flammable into the compound, some landed on the van and the entire back of the vehicle got damaged. One tyre got scorched too. Ali noted that not only was this the third overall incident of arson in the San Juan area in less than a month, it was the second time the D&J business was targeted. This warehouse is owned by the same man Dugan Singh whose retail space, D&J Budget Mart Limited (D&J), was set on fire on November 21 and looted a few days later, when he removed the security detail.

Mr Singh had started selling from his warehouse after fire destroyed his other business but now, I dont know what hes going to do, Ali lamented.

Last week Tuesday in an interview with Newsday, Ali said reliable sources had informed him of their belief that criminal elements, inspired by the November 21 incident, had set fire to Benefit the People Supermarket off the Eastern Main Road, Barataria in the pre-dawn hours of December 12. A video posted to social media showed men and women unashamedly walking out of the smouldering business with everything from rum to baby diapers to a variety of food items.

In addition to putting its members on high alert, the SJBA will today make another request to meet with Head of the North Eastern Division, Senior Superintendent Surendra Sagramsingh, to discuss measures meant to nip this disturbing trend in the bud, Ali stated. As of late yesterday afternoon, Singh said he was undecided about re-opening his business today. He was also undecided about whether or not to relocate it, given that there was one incident of arson and looting and what seems to have been an attempted repeat of such.
Kamla not being truthful about FATCA

And Leader of Government Business in the House, Camille Robinson-Regis also disputed Persad-Bissessars claim that all of the deliberations of a joint select committee (JSC) would be debated when the JSC submits its report to the House. She said only the final decision of the committee is discussed by the House when its report is laid in the House.

Responding to Persad-Bissessars reiteration that the Tax Information Exchange Agreement 2016 Bill was not the legislation drafted by her former Peoples Partnership government, Imbert said, I have spoken about this before when I first introduced the FATCA Bill in September. I made the point that the Bill was identical to the Bill drafted by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel under the previous Attorney General and Minister of Finance under the PP government. He added, This is one of the reasons why we (Government) are so taken aback at their behaviour.

The FATCA agreement I signed with the USA on behalf of TT in August is identical to the agreement they (PP) agreed to sign in 2013. Imbert said the FATCA Bill now before the Parliament is identical to the Bills that the former administration drafted in 2015. On Tuesday last, Opposition Chief Whip David Lee said the UNC was holding to its position of sending the Bill to a JSC. On Persad-Bissessars claim that all of the deliberations of a JSC are made public when that JSCs report is laid in Parliament, Robinson- Regis said, On the contrary, a verbatim report is laid in the Parliament but only the recommendations of the committee are reported and may be debated. She added, So unlike a committee of the whole (House) where all the points are made in public and on camera, only the final decision of the committee is debated before the Parliament. The Opposition blanked debate on the FATCA legislation on September 23, December 9 and Monday. During Mondays sitting, in committee stage, Government made several amendments to the Bill. These included designating the Board of Inland Revenue as the competent authority to deal with the US Treasury and making the legislation specific to the 2016 inter-governmental agreement with the US and the 1989 US Tax Sharing Agreement.

The House next sits on January 6, to continue its deliberations on FATCA. Imbert previously said Government hoped to have the legislation passed by February.

The amended Bill indicates that once passed by Parliament, the Tax Information Exchange Agreements Act 2016 comes into operation on such date as is fixed by the President by proclamation, which date shall be on or before March 31, 2017.
Lee: We will not be bullied

This was the position advanced by party chairman David Lee ahead of meetings today between the Opposition, the Bankers Association and the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) legislation.

Both meetings take place at the Opposition Leaders Office in Portof- Spain. The Opposition meets first with the Bankers Association at 10 am and then with the Chamber at 11.30 am.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar will not be present for either meeting since she is still in London, where she attended a conference last week.

Lee told Newsday that after meeting separately with both organisations, Opposition members will caucus on what transpired and then some of those members will be in the Senate from 1.30 pm for debate on the Finance Bill.

We are hear to listen but we will not be bullied by any association, he declared. Lee said it was very unfortunate that the Bankers Association declined an invitation to meet with the Opposition last Friday at 10 am on FATCA but chose instead to hold a news conferencde on the same issue.

He added that the Opposition wrote the Association last week indicating last Friday was an opportune time for them to meet. While Lee said the Opposition will facilitate both groups today and hear their views. However he was non-committal as to whether the Opposition would change its position of calling for the Tax Information Exchange Agreement Bill 2016 to be referred to a joint select committee.

Last Friday, five of the countrys major business organisations called on Government and the Opposition to put aside political wrangling and pass the FATCA legislation. Bankers Association, Anya Schnoor, said that the association began discussing this issue with the previous government from 2012 to 2014 when the then government accepted the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) 1 option and entered into an agreement in substance with the US Treasury Service, a first step toward adoption of the legislation. In a letter dated December 15 to Persad-Bissessar, Schnoor said if the bill is made subject to existing laws such as the Data Protection Act and the Financial Institutions Act, as they relate to confidentiality, the bill would be rendered ineffective. Schnoor also told Persad-Bissessar that the Association does not consider the MOU between the competent authority ( Board of Inland Revenue) and the US Treasury should be subject to affirmative resolution of Parliament.
Lee: Time will tell

Speaking with Newsday, Lee said time will tell as to whether or not Al-Rawi is right on this issue. According to Lee, the party has obtained some expert information from eminent legal counsel which disputes the position advanced by Al-Rawi at a news conference in San Fernando on Saturday.

Lee declined to say what that information was or the attorney who provided the information.

Last week, Lee said Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar may seek legal advice on this issue in London, where she is attending a conference. He said Persad-Bissessar will return home early this week and when she does, there will be further dialogue within the UNC as to the way forward. Lee reiterated that the UNC maintains that what transpired last Thursday in Sangre Grande was an act of thuggery and the party is keeping its legal options open.

On Saturday, Al-Rawi said, I am not confident that the UNC will go to court on this issue because the law is pellucidly clear... I really do not think they have the guts to go to court on this. And if they do, then cest la vie, (due process). That is what the courts are there for.

We will meet them on the floor of the courts and we will beat them again. Al Rawi said that according to the Municipal Corporation Act and the Standing Orders of the SGRC, as amended post-2013, that a presiding officer has an original and casting vote. He explained, The law is the outgoing mayor sits as mayor until a new mayor is elected.

The outgoing mayor lawfully attends to the first meeting and the first order of business is the appointment of a presiding officer.

Last Thursday, UNC councillors and aldermen walked out of the swearing in ceremony at the Sangre Grande Regional Corporations office in objection to corporation chairman Terry Rondon chairing the process instead of the corporations CEO. Following the November 28 Local Government Elections, the PNM and the UNC each won four seats and also each have two aldermen, resulting in a 6-6 tie in the corporation.
Akbar meets Czech Foreign Minister

Delhi,National,Diplomacy, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar on Monday held a meeting with visiting Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Lubomir Zaoralek.

"In the closing weeks of 2016 diplomacy continues in Delhi. MoS @mjakbar holds talks with Czech FM Lubomir Zaoralek," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders.

India-Czech bilateral trade is estimated at $1.2 billion with much untapped potential. A number of Indian and Czech companies continue to operate in each other's countries.

India and the Czech Republic have strong linkages in various fields, including political, economic, defence, science and technology, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

The last visit of the Czech Foreign Minister to India was in 2013, the Czech Minister of Trade and Industry visited in January 2015 and the Czech Defence Minister in March 2016.

--IANS

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220 mn children live in conflict zones: UN official

United States,Crime/Disaster/Accident,Human Interest/Society, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

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United Nations, Dec 19 (IANS) UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, has said that over 220 million kids reside in 20 conflict zones around the world.

"More than 220 million children live in 20 countries hit by armed conflicts around the world, including eight Arab countries and eight African countries," Zerougui said, Xinhua news agency has reported.

Zerougui said this on the sidelines the 4th High Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa being held in Oran, 420 km from Algiers on Sunday.

The UN official said a total of 65 million people fled these conflict zones, including 28 million children, as these tragic events were affecting the future generations.

She also cited six major and serious violations against children -- mutilations, executions, sexual violence, forced recruitment, attacks on schools and hospitals, abductions and denial of access to humanitarian aid.

--IANS

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Ice brings deadly road conditions across US

Jamaica,Crime/Disaster/Accident,Environment/Wildlife, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

Richmond(Virginia), Dec 19 (IANS) A brutal blast of frigid air sweeping the US has created icy roads causing multiple-car pileups that left at least six dead in Virginia, Maryland and Oklahoma, authorities said.

In northern Virginia, authorities responded to more than 40 traffic accidents, some involving multiple vehicles, according to the state police, the CNN reported on Sunday.

A 55-vehicle crash on a icy stretch of I-95 in Baltimore left at least two people dead and motorists stranded for hours, said Chief Roman Clark, a Baltimore Fire Department spokesman.

Fifteen people were taken to hospitals.

A video posted on social media on Sunday showed a fuel truck flipping over a median on the interstate near the Washington Boulevard exit before erupting in flames.

A man was heard asking, "What is going on?" as flames and dark smoke rose from under the highway.

Mayor Catherine Pugh said good Samaritans helped pull people out of cars.

"This is the worst accident that we've seen," she added.

Emergency vehicles descended on the scene, stalling traffic for miles and leading authorities to urge stranded motorists on both sides of the interstate to "remain warm and calm and shelter in place" in their cars.

Clark described road conditions as "very slippery."

Over the weekend, a 40-vehicle wreck shut down westbound lines of Interstate 40 east of Albuquerque, New Mexico State Police spokesman Sgt. Chad Pierce said.

The highway was covered in snow and ice, Pierce said.

--IANS

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Zsa Zsa Gabor dies at 99

United States,Business/Economy,Cinema/Showbiz, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

Los Angeles, Dec 19 (IANS) Hungarian-born Hollywood's darling actress Zsa Zsa Gabor has died at the age of 99, her former publicist Edward Lozzi has said.

Born Sari Gabor, she ruled the silver screen in the 1950s and 1960s; the actress died on Sunday, ABC news reported.

She got her break in the show business in Europe, competing in the Miss Hungary beauty contest in 1936 and singing in Richard Tauber's Austrian operetta "The Singing Dream" later that year.

Her first major Hollywood movie was 1952's "Lovely to Look At." That same year, Gabor starred in her breakout film, "Moulin Rouge".

For the next two decades, she captivated audiences in a number of films, including "Lili," "Touch of Evil," "Death of a Scoundrel" and "Boys' Night Out."

--IANS

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Hefty deposits in Tripura banks prompts probe

Tripura,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

Agartala, Dec 19 (IANS) Hefty amount deposited in the accounts of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in the Tripura banks has prompted the state lawmakers to demand probe.

According to United Bank of India officials, of the 830,742 PMJDY accounts in Tripura's 501 bank branches, 115,000 accounts were zero balance on November 8, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation.

"Rs 227 crore were deposited in the PMJDY accounts after November 8 raising the total amount deposited so far in these accounts to Rs 654 crore," an official of the UBI said on Monday on condition of anonymity.

The issue was heatedly debated in the ongoing winter session of the Tripura assembly and the lawmakers of the opposition parties demanded a probe.

Former opposition leader and sitting senior Congress legislator Ratan Lal Nath said : "It was extremely mysterious how such an amount was deposited in the PMJDY accounts in Tripura, as the scheme is meant for poor, women and economically weaker section of society."

"Central government or Reserve Bank of India must inquire how such a large amount was deposited in the PMJDY accounts.

"For tax evasion some people might have deposited their unaccounted money in these PMJDY accounts with the help of a section of bank officials," he added.

"As tribals in the northeastern states are exempted from paying income tax, government must inquire whether black money being adjusted as white money by taking scope of this rule of the scheme illegally," the Congress leader added.

People of rural, remote and unbanked areas were to get the priority in the PMJDY which was launched on August 28, 2014 with a deposit limit of Rs 50,000.

Bank official said that the PMJDY was a national mission to include all households in the country in the financial inclusion to ensure access to financial services that include banking, deposit accounts, remittance, credit, insurance, pension in an affordable manner.

"As the bank account under the PMJDY would be treated as Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account, no minimum balance would be required during the opening of the account," he said.

--IANS

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Need to incorporate art and culture to make cities great: NITI Aayog

Delhi,National,Politics,Art/Culture/Books,Business/Economy, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Monday stressed the need to incorporate art and culture into the Smart Cities project to make them great and better.

During the event organised by FICCI, Kant said: "While urbanising cities, it is important that we create cities, which have cultural institutions, where artists can bring lives to the cities, stimulate our inspiration, provide better quality of life."

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre has chosen 100 cities across the country, which will be developed as Smart Cities.

"In India, cities are actually focusing on smart infrastructure like water, electricity, waste management. It makes cities safer along with better transportation and affordable housing. That is essential. However, it will not make them great unless you focus on cultural districts, critical mass of art galleries, cinema, restaurants etc," Kant added.

"Technology for smart cities without art and culture component will create lop-sided development only. Therefore, you need to take efforts to design, attract, retain and nurture the creative workforce of our cities.

"Technology and art and culture must embrace each other. We cannot have smart cities without art and culture. One critical thing is that we need to get all our city planners, who are frozen in time, to break their mindset," Kant said, adding that the planners must interact with artists and people who worked in the field of art and culture.

Pavan Varma, former MP and author, said the government should first introspect at the existing state of the arts and culture in the country before moving ahead.

"More than the blueprint, you need to have the soul for what happens," Varma said.

--IANS

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WHO calls for urgent resumption of medical evacuations from besieged east Aleppo

New Delhi, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 NI Wire

The World Health Organization is calling for medical evacuation of the sick and injured from east Aleppo to be resumed as quickly as possible. Almost 200 patients were safely transferred to hospitals in western rural Aleppo, Idlib and Turkey before all evacuations were aborted this morning, leaving many more in need of medical care stranded.

"The medical evacuation has only been underway for 24 hours, and there are still large numbers of women, infants and children under five amongst those who need medical care, says WHO Syria Representative, Elizabeth Hoff in Aleppo. They had to leave the collection area and return to their houses. We hope that the evacuation will resume promptly.

WHO has been supporting the medical evacuation, together with ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. The Organizations staff was told this morning that the operation has been aborted and they should leave the area.

The medical evacuation is being managed with the WHO field presence in Gaziantep, Turkey, from which 113 ambulances as well as 17 mobile teams have been deployed and coordinated. Eight hospitals in western rural Aleppo, Idlib, as well as hospitals in Turkey, are treating the medical evacuees, the majority of whom are suffering from trauma injuries. Medical supplies sufficient for more than 279 000 treatments and 6000 surgeries have been provided by WHO to ensure evacuees can receive the level of care they need.

By 7 this morning 194 evacuated patients had arrived at hospitals. Of these, 71 are being treated in Turkey - many of them for war wounds including brain and eye damage. Others are being given urgently needed help for chronic diseases such as diabetes that have been left untreated during the siege. But there are many more left behind with critical needs, said Dr Pavel Ursu, WHO Turkey Representative.

WHO, together with the rest of the UN and its partners are calling on all parties to the conflict to resume the evacuation of the injured and sick patients who are trapped in eastern Aleppo and to ensure the safety of all health workers.
Israeli court jails Palestinian girl over 'stabbing'

Israel,Immigration/Law/Rights,Defence/Security, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

Jerusalem, Dec 19 (IANS) An Israeli court has sentenced a Palestinian girl to 18 months in prison for allegedly attacking an Israeli soldier with a knife, the Palestinian Prisoners Club (PPC) said on Monday.

The PPC identified the girl as 15-year-old Natalie Shoukha from the West Bank city of Ramallah, Xinhua news agency reported. She was arrested on April 29 after the alleged attack, which left her injured.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation detainees commission said that Israel detains over 400 Palestinian children in its jails, dozens of whom were sentenced for lengthy periods of time.

In November, Israel sentenced 12-year-old Ahmad Manasra to imprisonment for attempted stabbing, and two others aged 16 and 15 to 11 years in jail.

--IANS

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Stop taking donations in cash - even small amounts: AAP

Delhi,National,Politics, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) The AAP on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go for cashless donations to political parties if he was serious about curbing black money in politics.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashish Khetan said as of now both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got three quarters of all donations in cash from anonymous sources.

"If the Prime Minister and the central government want to end black money in elections, they can do it in 48 hours," Khetan told the media here.

Under existing law, political parties do not need to furnish the details of their donors if they are contributing up to Rs 20,000.

This provision, Khetan explained, was used to break up large donations, including from corporates, into brackets of Rs 20,000 each so that they do not have to make public the details of donors.

"This will also happen if the upper limit is Rs 2,000," he said, in response to a recent suggestion.

"All political parties should go cashless. Since everyone is being encouraged to use ATM, credit card, debit card and Paytm, why should this not be applicable to political parties?" he asked.

The AAP leader also urged the Prime Minister to amend the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, so that a cap was placed on how much each political party can spend as compared to individual candidates.

He said political parties should also come under the purview of the Right to Information Act so that people can get answers from them.

--IANS

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Himachal assembly pays tributes to Jayalalithaa

Himachal Pradesh,National,Politics, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

Dharamsala, Dec 19 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh assembly, on the first day of its Winter Session on Monday, paid rich tributes to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, who died on December 5 following a prolonged illness.

The assembly also paid tributes to six-time sitting BJP legislator and former state education minister I.D. Dhiman, who died last month, before being adjourned for the day.

"Jayalalithaa was a versatile leader who displayed resolve through administration and public welfare schemes," said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Starting her career as a leading actor, she became chief minister for five times because of her popularity and "this showed her popularity among the masses, particularly the poor", said the octogenarian Chief Minister.

Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal also paid tributes to her.

The five-day session is likely to be stormy as the opposition BJP is set to corner the ruling Congress over corruption charges against the Chief Minister and delay in execution of central projects.

--IANS

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Cashless economy will help in establishing transparent system: Naqvi

Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said that the central government's campaign for cashless economy, involving digital transactions, net and mobile banking, is an "effective mission to establish clean, honest and transparent system".

Addressing a 'Cashless Chaupal' organised by his Minority Affairs Ministry at Dalpatpur in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad city, hei informed people about benefits of digital transactions, online and mobile banking.

"India being the largest democracy of the world, where 100 per cent electronic voting system has been successful, the same way digital transactions, online and mobile banking will be successful," an official release here quoted him as saying.

"As the electronic voting system has been a great success as it ensured transparency in elections, likewise the campaign of digital transaction will succeed," he added.

The minister said that digital transactions will strengthen the country's taxation system as more and more people will be brought under the income tax system.

"Cashless system will also help farmers, small traders of the country," he added.

Naqvi also appealed to the Muslims and other sections of the society to join the government's campaign and help in eradicating the "cancer of corruption".

He said that small shopkeepers, traders will be able to compete with big companies by adopting digital payment system, while the cashless economy will also reduce burden on the banking system.

--IANS

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Unicef celebrates 70 years, vows to work harder

Delhi,National,Health/Medicine,Human Interest/Society, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) Celebrating various milestones achieved over the last seven decades since it was founded, the Unicef on Monday vowed to strengthen its resolve to reach millions of children whose lives and futures are endangered by conflict, crisis, poverty, inequality and discrimination.

During the launch of the 'UNICEF@70' celebrations here, Unicef India Representative Louis Georges Arsenault said the organisation's engagement with the Indian government has helped create remarkable progress for children in recent decades.

However he added that more than 6 million children in India are still out-of-school, close to 3,200 die every day before reaching the age of five and 39 per cent of children under five are stunted.

"Unicef's journey in India has been a remarkable story of commitment, perseverance and learning that has helped millions of children to realize their dreams for a better future," Arsenault said.

"Today we reaffirm this commitment to work alongside the government and ensure that all children get a fair start in life. It is our joint responsibility that every child is healthy, safe, educated, cared for and protected," he added.

Former Chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Shanta Sinha said one of the major achievements have been the change in mindset of Indian parents who are now sending their children to school.

"Another huge achievement is the amendment to Child Labour Law which earlier allowed children to work in non-hazardous workplaces. But now, it has totally abolished child labour by making sure that no child can work during the school hours," she said.

Renowned Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Somajita Chakraborty said the focus is now on mother-child care as "new-borns still account for 50 per cent of child mortality".

To mark its 70 years, Unicef has published a new book "For Every Child, Hope: UNICEF@70 1946-2016" which captures the organisation's work for children.

Unicef started its journey in India in 1949 and has been working closely with the Indian government's initiatives to ensure that every child "survives and thrives".

In 1949, Unicef provided technical assistance to the government to establish India's first Penicillin plant.

In the mid-50s it joined hands with Amul to embark on the journey of White Revolution in India.

In 2009, the enactment of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act was a historic moment for every child in this country, which Unicef had actively campaigned for, a statement said.

"Sanitation is now a national priority under the Swachh Bharat Mission and Unicef supports the Prime Minister's mission to make India open defecation free by 2019," it added.

During the celebration event, social worker Sudha Varghese, senior consultant in Pediatrics and Clinical Epidemiology Dr H.P.S. Sachdev, and various local community mobilisation coordinators were also present and shared their experiences.

--IANS

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Cashless economy not possible in India now: Nitish Kumar

Bihar,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

Patna, Dec 19 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said cashless economy is not possible in India now and added that it will take its own time to take shape with the development of the country.

"At present, a cashless economy is not possible in the country. Cash-based transactions will decrease slowly with the pace of our development process," Nitish Kumar told media here.

He said even a developed country like the US has only 40 to 45 per cent cashless economy.

Nitish Kumar reiterated that his support to demonetisation has nothing to do with the BJP.

"Only demonetisation is not enough to root out black money. The central government will also have to initiate action against benami properties."

He said: "We will come out with a 'point-by-point' analysis of the note ban after December 30, the deadline fixed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for normalisation of the situation."

--IANS

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Mistry's resignation a strategy, says Tata Sons (Roundup)

Maharashtra,Business/Economy, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

Mumbai, Dec 19 (IANS) Tata Sons on Monday said that the announcement of its ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry quitting the positions held by him in the group companies is a deliberate strategy on his part.

Mistry on Monday informed that he will step down from all the group companies which have called extra-ordinary general meetings (EGMs) to remove him from their respective boards.

"Tata Sons has taken note of the public announcement of the resignation by Cyrus Mistry from the Boards of Tata companies. Mistry's resignation is a deliberate strategy on his part, knowing fully well that the overwhelming majority of the shareholders were not in support of his actions," Tata Sons said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, Mistry continues to make baseless, unsubstantiated and malicious allegations using selective disclosures of information against the very institution he claims to have the highest regard for."

"Tata Sons strongly resents the claims by Mistry to align with the values and ethics of Jamsetji Tata and the Tata Group. On the contrary, Mistry and his family companies have not upheld the high standards and values set by Jamsetji Tata and his successors. Mistry has done precious little to build the goodwill of the Tata Group, built through the hard work and dedication of its employees," the statement read.

According to the holding company of the industrial conglomerate, Mistry has been a Director of Tata Sons since 2006 and as such was fully involved in all the key decisions that the group had taken over the years.

"It is unfortunate that it is only on his removal as chairman that he began making allegations and misrepresentations about business decisions he was party to for over a decade," it said.

"As Tata Group, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of ethics and value systems put in place by the Founders. It is these that have made the group what it is today. We will do whatever it takes to protect the interests of all stakeholders of the Tata Group."

Earlier in the evening, Mistry revealed that he will step down from positions held by him in Tata Group companies.

"Having deeply reflected on where we are in this movement for cleaning up governance and regaining lost ethical ground, I think it is time to shift gears, up the momentum, and be more incisive in securing the best interests of the Tata Group," Mistry said in a letter.

"Towards this end, the objective of effective reform and the best interests of employees, public shareholders and other stakeholders of the Tata Group (the very people I sought to protect as Chairman) would be better served by my moving away from the forum of the extra-ordinary general meetings," Mistry said.

"It is with this thought in mind that I have decided to shift this campaign to a larger platform and also one where the rule of law and equity is upheld. I had initially not thought that one would need to seek an external forum to adjudicate issues that should never have arisen in the first place."

Mistry elaborated: "I believe my actions today are consistent with protecting the long-term interests of the Tata Group. By removing myself from the general meetings, I reinforce my consistent position that this is not a fight for a position but a fight to more effectively secure long-term reform to keep the Tata Group on a sustainable path."

However, he said that it was the "future of the Tata Group that was at stake and not his office".

"A journalist recently asked me 'What was your reaction when minutes before the meeting on October 24, Nitin Nohria and Ratan Tata walked into your office asking you to quit?' I answered that I had at all times acted only in the interest of the Tata Group and there was no reason for me to quit," Mistry's letter read.

"My resolve to always do the right thing for the right reasons had given me the strength to face the situation. It was the future of the Tata Group that was at stake and not my office. There began the journey of the last eight weeks."

Mistry underlined that until about 15 years ago the Tata Trusts wielded no voting power.

"Until about 15 years ago, the trustees of Tata Trusts wielded no voting power at all on the Tata Sons shares held by them. Company law vested voting power in the hands of a 'public trustee' appointed by the government who would decide how to vote shares held by public charitable trusts," Mistry said.

"My family's votig strength constituted the largest minority voice outside the government. In this role, over the decades, we consistently implemented the values and ethics of Jamsetji Tata and our actions protected this incredible institution."

Tata Trusts holds 66 per cent stake in the holding company of the industrial conglomerate Tata Sons, whereas Mistry's family holds over 18 per cent interest.

Tata Sons' board had ousted Mistry on October 24 and appointed Ratan Tata as interim Chairman.

Following the ouster, several Tata Group companies called for EGMs to decide whether or not to remove Mistry from their respective boards.

Tata Sons had earlier asked Mistry to follow his own assertions on corporate governance and step down from the boards of Tata companies.

Tata Industries was the first Tata Group company that removed Mistry from its Board of Directors. The company had taken the decision at its EGM held on December 12.

Last Tuesday, TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) ousted Mistry as a Director of the company in its EGM.

On December 14, Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) had removed Mistry from its Board of Directors.

Other Tata Group companies like Indian Hotels has called its EGM on December 20, followed a day later by Tata Steel. Tata Motors has convened its EGM on December 22, while Tata Chemicals will hold its extra-ordinary general meeting on Friday and Tata Power on December 26.

--IANS

rv/nir
Sushma Swaraj to be discharged later Monday

Delhi,National,Politics,Health/Medicine, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) Ailing External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who underwent a kidney transplant on December 10, is recovering steadily and would be discharged later on Monday, authorities said.

"MEA Minister Sushma Swaraj has shown a speedy recovery after her kidney transplant and is being discharged today (Monday)," said the statement issued by the communication department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

According to the authorities, the minister's post-operative recovery was closely monitored by a team of specialists.

They include transplant surgeons and a team of nephrologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists and pulmonologists, other than anaesthesists and critical care experts. The team also includes hysiotherapists, resident doctors and specialised nurses.

--IANS

rup/in/vm
PM Modi to lay foundation of first ever Indian Institute of Skills in India at Kanpur

New Delhi, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 NI Wire

In line with his vision of making India the Skill Capital of the World by empowering its youth to be more employable and self-sustainable, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the first ever "Indian Institute of Skills" in the country at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The Institute has been conceptualized by Narendra Modi during his visit to Singapore's Institute of Technical Education. Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in partnership with the Institute of Technical Education, Singapore has decided to open an institute first ever of its kind in the country, the institute is inspired by the Singapore model of training and would adopt various best practices from the country. The Ministry has decided to have six such institutes

Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Kaushal Pradarshini (Skill Exhibition) for the youth of Uttar Pradesh. The Exhibition would showcase state-of-the-art vocational training practices across different sectors, and would be open for public view at the Railway Grounds, Kanpur between 19th to 22nd December.

Shri Modi would also launch an array of skill development initiatives for the youth of the country, including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs) and Drivers' Training Institutes. The event would also witness strategic partnership with various industries that will train and employ approximate 4 Lakh youth over the next 3 years.

The event will also see the announcement of National Apprentice Promotion Scheme in the State where the State Government has a major role in its successful implementation. There are only 23000 private companies today that are engaging in apprenticeship across the country. It is MSDE's endeavour to encourage State Government support and ensure engagement with more corporates on apprenticeship trainings. This is one direct way of bridging the gap between the potential employee and the employer and has models under Apprenticeship training has benefited economies of many countries. The financial year target for 2016-17 is to ensure enrolment of 5 lakh apprentices at least across the country. The Hon'ble Prime Minister would also felicitate Public Sector Units showcasing significant advancement in apprentice engagement.

The event is being organized in the presence of Governor of Uttar Pradesh Shri Ram Naik, Union Minister of State(I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of Panchayati Raj, Uttar Pradesh Shri Ram Govind Chaudhary and MPs Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Shri Bhole Singh.

Talking about the launch plans, Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, It is a matter of great pride for us to have these array of initiatives being launched by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, for the youth of Kanpur and other cities. We are certain that people of Uttar Pradesh are keen towards a brighter and advanced future with changing times and will benefit from these skill development programs.

We have so far around 400 active skill development centres in Uttar Pradesh covering its 65 districts, run by partners in the ecosystem. Close to 3 lakh youth have already been trained and more than 50% of them have been placed in jobs of their interest. Whether it is agriculture, apparel sector, auto and auto components, banking and financial services, hospitality or leather sector, we have seen youth show interest across sectors and learn the skill of their choice, he further added.

Shri Rudy said that the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has plans to open one Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) each, in each district of the country creating opportunities of growth for the youth locally and the launch of some 31 PMKKs will be announced by the Shri Modi at the event on Monday. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras are iconic state-of-the-art skill development centres with modern infrastructure to facilitate skill trainings in the country.

MSDE also has plans to felicitate skilled candidates who have been trained under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (RPL) in Kanpur where the Hon'ble Prime Minister himself will distribute skill certificates to Street Food Vendors, Leather industry Workers under the recognition of prior learning program of the government. This program helps in assessment of the existing work experience of a person and certifies him on his current skill-set basis the National Skill Qualification Framework approved by both the industry and the government of India.

Source: PIB
Speech by the President of India at the Banquet Hosted in Honour he Mr. Emomali Rahmon, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan

New Delhi, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 NI Wire

Your Excellency, Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan,

1. It is a great pleasure to receive you at the Rashtrapati Bhavan once again. I warmly recall your previous visit in September, 2012. You were the first Head of State to make a State Visit to India after I assumed office as President of India. Your visit today, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, bears testimony to the abiding friendship between our nations.

Excellency,

2. You have long been a close friend of India. You come as the leader of a gracious people with whom our fraternal ties date back to antiquity. Tajiks, being the oldest inhabitants of the great Syr Dariya and Amu Dariya country, have the deepest civilization links with the people of the sub continent. Tajikistan was also a part of the Kushana Empire that covered large parts of todays India.

3. Throughout history, we have enjoyed rich exchanges of knowledge, ideas, secular and religious traditions which have linked our cultures and languages in a remarkable way. Poets and philosophers like the great Rumi, Sheikh Saadi, Amir Khusro Dehlavi and Mirza Abdul Qadir Bedil are cherished equally in both our countries - as are modern scholars like Sadruddin Ayini, Rudaki and others.

Excellency,

4. India was amongst the first to recognise Tajikistan when it emerged as an independent State in 1991. Since then, our co-operation has grown in substance and strength. We value your personal commitment to our relationship which has greatly contributed to its consolidation into a multi-faceted strategic partnership.

5. There is tremendous potential in our economic cooperation. We both seek to expand our co-operation in several sectors - including infrastructure and industry, trade and transport, energy and capacity building. India is committed to work with her friends and neighbours to develop greater connectivity with Tajikistan and other Central Asian Countries by sea transport, road and rail.

Mr. President,

6. India appreciates the close co-operation that we have in the United Nations and other international organizations. We have a convergence of our views on most global and regional issues. India is grateful for Tajikistans support for her rightful claim to a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and her membership of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation.

7. As neighbours with a shared vision of peace and stability in our region, we both desire to strengthen our defence and security co-operation in order to effectively address our concerns. The world  and particularly our region, is, today, faced by the growing threat of terrorism. Both India and Tajikistan are opposed to this menace in all its forms and manifestations. Our peoples, as secular and pluralistic societies, desire to live in peace. For us, development and progress of our nations is of utmost importance.

8. We are also committed to assist our mutual friend and neighbour, Afghanistan, to realise the goals and aspirations of its people - through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. I am very hopeful that our ongoing consultations and close co-ordination will succeed in accomplishing these objectives.

Excellency,

9. Your interactions with Government and the agreements that have been concluded will, no doubt, set the agenda for our collaboration in the days to come. As we reflect with satisfaction, on the outcome of our joint efforts in the past, we are confident of even greater success in the future.

10. With these words, Excellency, I once again welcome you. I wish you and your distinguished delegation a fruitful visit to India.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I request you to join me in raising a toast:-

- to the well-being and happiness of H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan;

- to the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Tajikistan; and

- to enduring friendship and co-operation between our two countries.

Source: PIB
Hollande welcomes UN resolution on Aleppo

France,Politics,Immigration/Law/Rights, Tue, 20 Dec 2016 IANS

Paris, Dec 20 (IANS) French President Francois Hollande welcomed UN humanitarian resolution on Syria's Aleppo, hoping the move will pave the way to a lasting ceasefire deal and talks of political transition in the war-torn country.

"This resolution must finally allow full respect for international humanitarian law in Syria. It must also pave the way for a ceasefire and negotiation of the political solution that are so much awaited by the Syrian people and the entire international community," a statement issued by Hollande's office on Monday said, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Monday, the 15-member UN Security Council adopted a resolution to send UN observers to monitor evacuations in Syria's war-torn Aleppo and facilitate access to humanitarian aid.

In a separate statement, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said UN resolution "brings first response to humanitarian emergency in Aleppo."

Once Syria's commercial hub, Aleppo has been divided roughly in two since 2012, with western parts under government control and eastern districts held by rebels.

The situation in Aleppo has deteriorated rapidly after a truce accord collapsed in September.

As part of a deal concluded by Russia and Turkey, buses carrying rebels and their families have started leaving Aleppo since Thursday.

The evacuation was once suspended when the rebels didn't allow people from Kafraya and Foa to leave but was resumed on Saturday after the rebels agreed to allow civilians to go.

The whole evacuation came as the Syrian army has captured 99 per cent of eastern Aleppo over the past three weeks, as part of a major offensive aiming at driving out the rebels from the city.

--IANS

pgh/
No questions if old notes deposited in one go: Jaitley

Delhi,National,Business/Economy, Tue, 20 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) Following RBI's announcement of stricter rules for depositing demonetised currency, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has clarified that no questions will be asked if any amount of old currency is deposited in one go, but repeated deposits may provoke queries.

"If they go and deposit with bank any amount of currency no questions are going to be asked to them and therefore the 5000 rupee limit does not apply to them if they go and deposit it once," Jaitley told reporters here on Monday night, after the Reserve Bank of India announced earlier in the day that deposits of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in excess of Rs 5,000 will now be allowed only once till December 30 -- that too after strict scrutiny.

"But if they are going to go everyday and deposit some currency, same person, that gives rise to suspicion that where is he acquiring this currency from. In that event a person may have something to worry about. Therefore everyone is advised whatever old currency you have please go and deposit it now," he said.

The Finance Minister said that since all exemptions to certain sectors and utilities, which had been allowed to accept the banned currency post demonetisation, ended last week, those in possession of the old notes are supposed to deposit them with banks.

"Anyone who has old currency notes is not allowed to trade in them. He can only go and deposit them with banks," he said.

Earlier on Monday, the RBI said when a person deposits over Rs 5,000 in withdrawn currencies, then credit shall be given to that person's account only after questioning him or her, in the presence of two bank officials, as to why the notes were not deposited earlier.

The bankers will keep the explanatory statement on record for future audit trail.

Deposits of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes up to Rs 5,000 in value received across the counter will be allowed to be credited to bank accounts in the normal course until December 30.

But if the deposits are less than Rs 5,000 at a time but cumulatively the value exceeds Rs 5,000, then the bank officials have to follow the procedure of getting on record the explanation from the depositor why the deposit was not made earlier.

These restrictions do not apply to deposits under the Taxation and Investment Regime for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.

The government demonetised the high value currency notes on November 8, in a move to combat the problems of black money, counterfeit currency and terror financing.

--IANS

bc/pgh/
Last week, the City Council approved plans for Atlas Capital Group and Westbrook Partners to acquire $100 million worth of air rights from Pier 40, overseen by the Hudson River Park Trust, to develop a 1,586-unit mixed-use complex at 550 Washington Street, in Hudson Square. The project is set to include five towers, the New York Times reported, although their height was not disclosed. Thirty percent of the units, or 475 apartments, will rent at below-market rates through the housing lottery. One of the residential towers will be geared towards older tenants. There would also be retail space and a 15,000-square-foot recreation center.

The project, to be built in multiple phases, will move forward pending market demand. COOKFOX Architects is responsible for the architecture. The sites existing four-story, 1.3-million-square-foot building could be utilized as commercial space in the short term.

The sports facility and parking garage on Pier 40 are slated to receive much-needed repairs once the deal goes through. The city will contribute $14.1 million for Pier 40s upgrades. The Hudson River Park Trust is also planning to build some form of commercial building on the pier, although the scope of that plan is not known.

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Ooredoo Qatar, in collaboration with network infrastructure supplier Nokia (News - Alert), has achieved speeds of up to 1gbps using 4.5G Pro technology. According to Nokia, this paves the way toward the commercial launch of 1gbps-capable Category 16 devices in 2017.





This demonstration employed a three-carrier aggregation technique, used 256 quadrature amplitude modulation, and leveraged 4.4. multiple input and multiple output (or MIMO) technology.

The Nokia gear involved was the AirScale radio platform. AirScale, which Nokia introduced in February at Mobile World Congress (News - Alert), is a radio access solution that can run all radio technologies simultaneously on a single base station. It is extremely scalable and requires 60 percent less energy than competing solutions, according to Nokia.

The gear was used to maximize user data rates and network capacity on Ooredoos existing base station sites and spectrum allocations at its headquarters in Doha. The carrier already uses carrier aggregation and 256 QAM to deliver data rates approaching 500mbps for Category 11 user devices running on the Ooredoo Supernet.

Image via Nokia

We launched the Ooredoo Supernet initiative to provide the best possible broadband experience for our customers, and we live up to our commitments, commented Ooredoo Qatar CEO Waleed Al Sayed. Our long-term strategic partner, Nokia, is supporting Ooredoo Qatar with its innovative solutions to enable higher speeds and superior performance on our 3G, 4G and 4.5G Pro networks. The current joint achievement is a milestone, and puts us on the evolutionary path toward launching 5G networks in the future.

Nokia introduced AirScale at Mobile World Congress this year in February. At the Barcelona event, Samih Elhage, president of mobile networks at Nokia, commented, The world will witness immense changes over the next few years. Broadband traffic will continue to surge as people go beyond video and take advantage of augmented and virtual reality. The Internet of Things will see billions of devices connected, and 5G will enable new scenarios such as Industry 4.0, smart cities, e-health, and mobile living. Nokia AirScale is designed from the ground up for this new era, while also introducing ground-breaking cloud-based capabilities.

Edited by Alicia Young
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A 49-year old Tunisian, identified as Mohamed Zawahri, was found dead in his car outside his house in Sfax on Thursday but his death is believed to be an assassination plot.

The Tunisian government said in a post on Facebook that the latest findings of its investigation into the murder have proven that foreign elements were involved.

Tunisian authorities which detained eight people, in connection with the assassination, stressed that they were determined to protect all Tunisian citizens and to pursue those guilty of carrying out assassination inside and outside the country.

All the detainees are Tunisians and authorities are searching for a Belgian national of Moroccan origin. The deceaseds brother, Radwan Zawahri, said there have been death threats before the assassination.

Palestinian group Hamas mourned Zawahris death and its armed wing al-Qassam Martyrs Brigade said he had worked with the resistance group for 10 years. Hamas held Israels intelligence agency, Mossad, responsible of the assassination and described the act as a Zionist treachery that would be revenged. The enemy must know the blood of the leader Zawahri will not go in vain, Hamas said.

Zawahri was a drone expert and is said to have registered for doctoral studies at Sfaxs school of engineering. He was planning to focus his thesis research on remote-controlled submarines.

Israel has neither denied nor affirmed its role in the assassination plot, in line with its policy of keeping silent whenever an alleged assassination is believed to be carried out by Mossad.

Zawahri has been credited with the development of the Gaza-based Hamas drone program. The group believes his assassination is a warning from Israel to Arab and Muslim countries.

The Tunisian Ennahda Movement strongly condemned the killing through its leader Rached Ghannouchi who said, international satanic forces were behind the plot.

The 49 year old engineer was gunned down on Thursday and was buried on Saturday.
Prime Minister-designate of the UN-backed Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Serraj has officially announced the end of military operations against the Islamic State in the coastal town of Sirte; eight months after the offensive was launched with aerial support from Western countries.

He was quick to add that the the liberation of the town signifies that the battle for Sirte is over but the war against terrorism in Libya is not finished.

In his bid to end the threat posed by extremist groups in the country, Serraj called for the unification of armed groups in the country under one single army.

Among the most influential armed groups in the country that are not under the command of the GNA are the Libya National Army, the Benghazi Brigade and the Zintan militia. He stressed that Libyans will is unconquerable.

The Prime Minister-designates televised announcement took place two weeks after pro-government forces fighting against IS stated that they have taken over the town and are combing the area for explosives left behind by the extremist militants.

the Libyan stronghold of the Islamic State group (IS).

head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Martin Kobler, on his part urged Libyans to seize this opportunity to promote national reconciliation.

Speaking at a news conference in Tunis, Kobler called for the integration and rehabilitation of fighters and the collection of arms to give way to a professional security apparatus under a unified command.

Meanwhile, Algeria is spearheading efforts to revive a political solution to the Libyan crisis. A Libya-Libya dialogue would aim at ending the political stalemate between the GNA in Tripoli and the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR) within the framework of the Libyan Political Agreement reached in Morocco in 2015 under the auspices of the United Nations. It also aspires to boost national reconciliation.

President Saleh Ageela of the HoR and Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar of the Libya National Army have met with Algerian government officials separately and a delegation of African leaders would be visiting Libya shortly to promote a peace plan.
As the next African summit scheduled in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in January 2017 draws closer, a summit during which Morocco is expected to rejoin the African Union, Algerian authorities are getting more and more nervous. They are already feeling the heat, knowing that they have no more room to play alone in the African court.

They have hatched many plots and deployed various decoys to distract the North African Kingdoms focus but to no avail. Algerian top diplomat Ramtane Lamamra has clearly expressed his countrys anxiety over Moroccos return.

He said that such a move could create a deep crack within the African Union, citing in this regard the massive walkout of several Arab countries during the latest African-Arab summit.

Last November, nine Arab countries, including Morocco, pulled out from the 4th Arab-African Summit in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), in protest against the participation of the Polisarios self-proclaimed SADR in the event.

The countries that withdrew from the summit in solidarity with Morocco are Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Sultanate of Oman, Jordan, Yemen and Somalia.

Last July, King Mohammed VI announced his countrys decision to rejoin the African organization in a message addressed to the 27th AU summit held in Rwanda.

After Morocco launched the process to retake its seat at the African Union after 32 years of absence, 28 African member countries out of 54 submitted a motion welcoming the Moroccan application, 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.

According to several analysts, Moroccos reintegration into the African Union is just a matter of time and formality because the large majority of African countries have overtly pledged they will vote yes for Moroccos readmission in the UA saying that the African continent will be stronger, safer and better with Rabat on board.

Besides, the imminent return of Morocco to the African Union will offer the Kingdom a platform to share its economic, political and security model that will breakaway with the dominant ideological rhetoric in the organization in favor of a south-south African cooperation model permeated by solidarity and co-development.

Morocco, thanks to its forward-looking strategies for social, human and economic development, and its active Africa foreign policy that matches words with concrete co-development projects, is poised, together with its partners in Africa, to usher a new era in the African Union. This new era would transcend narrow calculations of regional hegemony in favor of an inter-African solidarity approach. And This is what stirs Algerias fears.
Nigeria is poised to partner with Morocco to boost its energy security through developing solar energy, said Nigerian Today paper.

Nigeria is pursuing international partnership with Morocco to create collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies to enhance security and sustainable development, said the Nigerian paper.

Today quotes Nigerias environment minister, Amina Mohammed as saying that her country is willing to encourage the promotion of renewable energy solutions.

The partnership with Morocco which hosts the worlds largest solar plant, will help Nigeria promote investment in solar power projects in several rural villages to improve education, water supply, health, agriculture, commerce, security and all these would offer opportunities to women.

Renewable energies will thus be a major cooperation field between the two countries, which have turned a new page of win-win cooperation marked by largescale projects including the continental gas pipeline that will connect the two countries through west Africa and the fertilizers production plant, to be carried out in Nigeria in cooperation with Moroccos phosphates company, the OCP.
Its never a good sign when foreign-policy experts would rather quit than work with someone. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

An unusually high number of junior-level civil servants in the U.S. National Security Council are looking for other jobs over concerns about President-elect Donald Trumps choice for national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, according to current and former officials who spoke with The Guardian. Flynn, who ran the Defense Intelligence Agency until 2014, has emerged as one the most controversial picks Trump has made for his incoming cabinet on account of the retired lieutenant generals affinity for conspiracy theories and Islamophobia, as well as his partisan posturing and possible connections to the Russian and Turkish governments. Last week, it was also revealed that Flynn had inappropriately shared classified information with foreign military officers while serving in Afghanistan, though an Army investigation later determined national security was not damaged as a result.

Whatever their reasoning, it seems that many of the 400 or so foreign-policy experts who work on the NSC (but arent political appointees) arent sure its a good idea to stick around. Per an official who spoke with The Guardian, Career people are looking to get out and go back to their agencies and pressure is being put on them to get them to stay. There is concern there will be a half-empty NSC by the time the new administration arrives, which no one wants. In addition, many of these positions would be difficult to fill, a process that could take months, potentially leading to a talent shortage within a crucial part of the countrys national-security apparatus.

The Guardian reports that the Trump transition team hasnt been engaging with current NSC officials on many issues of substance, but rather concerning itself with mostly logistical questions. Explained Julianne Smith, a former national security adviser to Vice-President Biden, There are very important substantive hand-offs that need to be occurring, that are in fact not happening. That is creating added concern about the career civil servants who are in these agencies, wondering what they are in for.
The gunman gestures near the body of the Russian ambassador at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday. Photo: Burhan Ozbilici/AP

A gunman fatally shot the Russian ambassador to Turkey at a photo exhibit in Ankara, Turkeys capital, on Monday. Andrey Karlov had been speaking at the opening of the museum show at the Contemporary Arts Center in the Cankaya district when a well-dressed attacker opened fire multiple times at the diplomat, hitting him in the back. The assassin declared Do not forget Aleppo! after spraying bullets through the gallery space. At least three others were also wounded in the attack, according to Turkish media.

The lone gunman was reportedly killed by authorities. Turkish officials have identified him as Mevlut Mert Altintas, an off-duty riot police officer in his 20s with a little more than two years on the force, says CNN Turk. Altintas allegedly used his police badge to gain entry to the event.

Photo: Burhan Ozbilici/AP

A graphic video, believed to be taken at the exhibit, shows the gunman shouting in both Arabic and Turkish. The attacker paces the floor and brandishes his gun as the body of the ambassador lies splayed on the floor near the podium. The gunman screams, Allah Akbar! in Arabic. And then, reportedly in Turkish: Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria!

Until our regions are safe, you wont have safety, he cried. Go back! Go back! Only death can take me from here. Those who have a part in this atrocity will all pay for it, one by one.

He also declared, in Arabic, We are the one who pledged allegiance to Muhammad, to wage jihad.

Photo: Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

Russian officials have come out and called the violence a terrorist act. The gunmans affiliations are unknown, but early signs point to a politically motivated assassination of Karlov. ISIS-linked jihadists or one of Syrias other radical insurgent groups cant be ruled out, but Turkish security officials have also implicated the suspected gunman for ties to Fethullah Gulen, the self-exiled Muslim cleric who lives in the Poconos, reports Reuters. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Gulen of orchestrating a coup against his regime in July; Erdogan has since purged the judiciary, law enforcement, military, and education ministries of those with suspected ties to the religious leader. Turkey has asked the U.S. to extradite him, a decision that will most likely fall to President-elect Donald Trump. Gulen himself has condemned Karlovs murder.

Both Turkey and Russia are embroiled in the Syrian civil war. They have been at cross purposes  Turkey, which shares a border with Syria, backs the opposition, and Russia is allied closely with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad  but relations between the two countries have improved in recent months, and leaders worked closely together in the past week to broker a tenuous deal to evacuate civilians from the last patch of rebel-held land in eastern Aleppo. Still, over the weekend, protesters gathered en masse in Turkey to decry Russias involvement in Aleppo.

More Syrian talks were expected Tuesday in Moscow between Turkey, Russian, and Iran, which also supports Assad. A parliamentarian in the Russian Duma said, as of right now, the discussions will continue as planned.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Karlov was despicably killed in an attempt to disrupt the cooperation between the Turkey and the Kremlin, reports the New York Times. Erdogan echoed those sentiments in a video address:

#BREAKING Turkish President Erdogan: This attack is mounted against Turkish nation through the Russian representation in Turkey. pic.twitter.com/aLuKuvw5pm  CNN Turk ENG (@CNNTURK_ENG) December 19, 2016

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also condemned the assassination, saying in a statement: We stand ready to offer assistance to Russia and Turkey as they investigate this despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world.

This post has been updated throughout.
Rescue workers on the scene after a lorry truck plowed through a Christmas market on December 19, in Berlin. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

A truck plowed into a Christmas market in Berlin Monday night, killing at least nine people and injuring at least 50. Authorities are investigating the incident as a possible deliberate attack, though police cautioned against jumping to conclusions because the motive is still undetermined. Federal prosecutors are in charge of the investigation, says Bild, a German news outlet.

First pictures coming from the Christmas Market in #Berlin's Breitscheidplatz pic.twitter.com/OBBSoiNkkv  Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) December 19, 2016

The identity or identities of the people driving the truck are also not known. One person was found dead in the passenger seat. Another suspicious person was arrested near the scene. That man was originally identified as a suspected driver, but Berlin police said that was not yet confirmed.

A suspicious person was arrested near #Breitscheidplatz. Whether it is the driver of the truck, is currently under consideration.  Polizei Berlin Einsatz (@PolizeiBerlin_E) December 19, 2016

According to the Guardian, the vehicle, a Scania, is registered to a Polish trucking company. The truck departed Italy and was en route to Berlin to unload its cargo, before heading back to Poland, but the trucks owner  who was a cousin to the driver  said he had lost contact with him in the afternoon. Police have speculated that the truck  which was loaded with steel beams  might have been hijacked, but from a Polish site. Bild reports that passenger found dead is believed to be the Polish truck driver.

It is suspected that the truck was stolen from a construction site in Poland.

The investigations are still ongoing.#Breitscheidplatz  Polizei Berlin Einsatz (@PolizeiBerlin_E) December 19, 2016

Police and ambulances swarmed the area near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a landmark and popular attraction in the public square of Breitscheidplatz, where the massive truck crashed through the festive and bustling plaza full of revelers. Authorities warned people to keep away from Breitscheidplatz, which had been transformed into a disaster scene: crushed vendors stalls and mangled Christmas lights and garland.

Lorry just ploughed through Christmas market in #berlin. There is no road nearby. People crushed. I am safe. I am safe pic.twitter.com/63iWMmdSKr  Emma Rushton (@ERushton) December 19, 2016

This Berlin incident echoes an attack in July, when Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a French resident of Tunisian descent, rammed a semitrailer into a crowd gathered for Bastille Day festivities in Nice, killing more than 80. He was suspected of being self-radicalized, but had no direct ties to ISIS, which claimed the attack.

No terror group has claimed credit for any attack, though ISIS has called on its adherents to use vehicles as weapons to carry out mass murder. The U.S. Department of State had also issued a travel warning before Thanksgiving, warning its citizens of heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season.

1) Reports that #ISIS has claimed responsibility for #Berlin #Germany attack are false. No such claim as of yet.  Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) December 19, 2016

2) If indeed inspired by #ISIS, ISIS' Amaq won't claim since one is still alive&would likely wait until authorities confirm #ISIS allegiance  Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) December 19, 2016

Officials in the United States appear to strongly suspect a deliberate act, with U.S. National Security spokesman Ned Price calling it a horrific incident, which appears to have been a terrorist attack. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been under attack from the right for her refugee policies, described the incident as shocking through a spokesman. We mourn the dead and hope that the many people injured can be helped, the spokesman said on Twitter.

This is a breaking-news post and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The president-elect. Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump wont content himself with the standard-issue presidency  hes going to have his customized. Daily intelligence briefings are out, along with the norms that prohibit the appearance of corruption. Victory rallies are in  as is the private security force that policed dissent at Trumps events throughout his campaign.

Politicos Ken Vogel reports that Trump has retained his private security detail as president-elect, and hes expected to carry on doing so even after inauguration  a move thats both unprecedented and, in the eyes of some Secret Service agents, dangerous.

Its playing with fire, former Secret Service agent Jonathan Wackrow, who worked on Barack Obamas protective detail during his 2012 reelection campaign, told Politico. It creates greater confusion and it creates greater risk  you never want to comingle a police function with a private security function.

Trumps use of private security was aberrant long before he won the White House. Most presidential candidates drop outside security the moment theyre provided Secret Service protection. But the president-elect actually increased his spending on private security after he was provided such protection in November 2015: Even as Hillary Clinton outspent the GOP nominee by nearly 75 percent, Trump spent nearly three times as much on security contracting. In total, his campaign doled out more than $1 million on private security through the end of last month.

With that investment, Trump assembled an anti-protester intelligence squad, tasked with identifying people at his rallies who didnt look like they belonged. Shockingly, this security team wracked up dozens of accusations of racial profiling and the use of undue force.

But while this ragtag group of former New York cops and FBI agents has excelled at removing black protesters  and the occasional Indian-American Trump supporter  from the GOP standard-bearers rallies, theyve proven less adept at securing their bosss physical safety.

Former NYPD officer Keith Schiller has worked security for Donald Trump since 1999. He is the president-elects personal body guard and consigliere, and is expected to serve as his full-time physical gatekeeper in the White House.

But according to Vogel, Schillers relative inexperience at providing security for politicians caused occasional problems on the campaign trail.

In March, when a 32-year-old man jumped a barricade and rushed toward the stage as Trump was speaking at a rally in Dayton, Ohio, Secret Service agents immediately descended on Trump from opposite sides of the dais, encircling him in a human shield as a handful of other agents tackled the man before he could leap onto the stage. About a second after the first two agents reached Trump, Schiller leapt onto the stage and moved to position himself between the scrum and his boss  Schillers reaction was panned as too slow, and was the subject of disapproving conversation among agents, according to a law enforcement source briefed on the conversations. The source said one agent described Schiller as the JV trying to keep up in a varsity game.



Specifically, the source said that Schiller came from a position on the dais that the agents would have used to evacuate Trump if that were to have been necessary. If that happened, they would have run right into Keith. He was about three seconds too late, the source said.

The prospect of the American president retaining a personal security force that specializes in targeting dissenters is unsettling for fairly obvious reasons.

But the move is concerning even if one stipulates that the team will be used exclusively as an anodyne adjunct to the next presidents security detail, as it illustrates the depth of Trumps preference for loyalty over expertise. In this context, that preference may threaten Trumps personal security; in others, it threatens our national one.
Photo: Alexmumu/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Officials in the German government are considering comprehensive regulations for platforms  like Facebook  that are easily turned into machines for misinformation. According to Deutsche Welle, Social Democratic Party parliamentary chairman Thomas Oppermann has proposed rapid-response teams for people smeared by falsified stories.

Facebook did not avail itself of the opportunity to regulate the issue of complaint management itself, Oppermann told Der Spiegel magazine in an interview published on Friday. Now market dominating platforms like Facebook will be legally required to build a legal protection office in Germany that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.



This would allow victims of fake news and hate messages to contact the platform, prove that they have been targeted and asking for action to be taken.



The proposed penalty for platforms that do not adequately respond to service would be 500,000 ($531,000).

Speaking to Ars Technica, Facebook said:

We take the issues raised very seriously, and we are engaging with key politicians and digital experts from all parties and relevant ministries interested in this matter. Our announcement last week underlines our efforts to improve our systems. We have announced several new functions that address the issue of fake news and hoaxes.

The proposal is an interesting measure against a growing issue for large social-media platforms. But there are a number of potential issues. For one thing, 500,000 is chump change to a company like Facebook, which has a market capitalization north of $300 billion. Second, intent and practice are two different things. Much of the debate surrounding the catchall category of fake news concerns what actually constitutes fake, rather than slanted or mistaken versus willfully untrue. Its not difficult to imagine something like this being taken advantage of in the the same way that copyright trolls abuse YouTubes takedown system.

It may also end up being a moot gesture. Facebook has spent much of the last year testing new interfaces for its News Feed and placing bets on its many other products, like Messenger, and its not at all hard to imagine that Facebook in the future will  like Facebook-owned Instagram  disallow external links entirely, or severely limit them. Whats the point of regulating content you cant control when itd be easier  and better for your business  to get rid of it entirely?
isn't Glenn Beck sane now?

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well for him



he had some undiscovered neurological issue where he didn't reach REM sleep in a decade. he actually was clinical delusional

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sane? no. sane for glenn beck...yes

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Sane's being generous, but he hates Trump so he has that going for him.

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Sane for him

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He's moved away from the fringes, sane might be a bit too generous



Edited at 2016-12-19 04:52 pm (UTC)

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He used to be reasonable (I have a liberal friend that used to watch his very, very old show) and then he reached into the fringes to get rich. I think he's pulling away from that now, but how long will this last. The man has more eras than Gaga.

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he has basically admitted that a lot of the crazy shit he's spewed was in an effort to sell his books.

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I went to my statehouse today and saw all of our electoral votes cast for Hilary Clinton. Very interesting experience.

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one bright spot for the state of Illinois since 2012 lol

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Same esp since I've seen tweets from some electors with piles of letters from ppl reaching out trying to get them to be faithless electors and their response was just like "thanks for the letters but I'm still going to be faithful" 

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It says everything that basically the only electors interested in receiving a briefing on everything that's happened with Russia prior to the vote were the Democrat electors.



Get rid of the electoral college, the whole justification for its existence is to prevent populist demagogues from taking control and yet it is the ONLY reason we're stuck with Cheetolini.

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The enemy of my enemy...

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Pretty much

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I can't believe that Glenn Beck of all people grew a modicum of self-awareness in 2016.



As trash as most of his opinions still are, I'm glad that he's virulently anti-Trump and is even mildly mildly sane on stuff like BLM now since lbr here, 99.9% of his audience is trapped deep in the right-wing news vortex and isn't ever going to listen to respectable news institutions, so at least they're getting this message from someone (though I wonder if a lot of them won't turn on him for being anti-Trump alas.)

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When did Glen Beck get less crazy?

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When he realized this dumb country was gonna vote for Donald Trump

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this actually makes me feel really bad for him :( Hope he actually stays sane and maintains his health

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I think he had a come-to-Jesus (but actually) moment when he realized that not only did Trump have a non-negligible chance of becoming President but also that a lot of his listeners would happily vote for Cheetolini.

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Are you guys ready for Trump to be officially voted in?

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Apparently dick cheney is emerging as a key advisor for drumpf? this nightmare cannot get any worse.



how can these voters look back at 2000-2008 and think "i want more of this!"

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really draining that swamp

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i didn't realize haliburton (or whatever they changed their name to) was hurting for funds. i wonder which country he'll manufacture a war with this time.

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This is just about the level of interest I can muster anymore

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Lmao wtf is happening in this gif?

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(http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/9/29/4782166/wsu-football-popcorn-guy-gif) Just a man accepting reality and the utter futility of it all

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That's a WSU fan at a WSU-Stanford game. Stanford ultimately won 55-17.

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Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

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Glenn Beck is partially responsible for the Republican Party we have today, so his whole "what is happening!?" thing he has going on now is annoying.

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Glenn Beck can eat shit tbh. Too little, too late.

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Was this in the same interview that he mentions peeing himself because all this draws a different picture about the man's thinking patterns.

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now should be better

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um whut @ that second quote??

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it;s better now

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I wonder if minorities are told by their agents to say stuff like "Hollywood does not discriminate! It's an excuse. Word hard like me. No one ever told me no because I was _____. "?



It may effect their ability to get work if they are seen as calling out the system. A lot of people have been blackballed.

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Probably. :/



I follow an up and coming woc director online and she said her activism has been flat out mentioned in meetings and people are encouraging her to shut up but she won't.



That's why people who speak out are super brave. They know every time they call out racism it could end their career.

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Do you mind me asking what director you're referring to? Clearly I should be following her.

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i think it's partly that and partly that there has to be some degree of assimilation and conformity in these circles, so a lot of them probably are culturally indoctrinated or believe these things already.



that's why they're often the most unreliable to call these powers out etc and are mostly shills for the system



Edited at 2016-12-19 11:35 pm (UTC)

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Honestly i can't even tell what his first quote is supposed to be. "do your best and you'll be rewarded" or "yeah the academy sucks". "It sucks but live it"? that's already america, we should be trying to change that too.



I notice the actors of color with less to lose have no problem being real.

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It sounds like he was commenting on acting overall, not necessarily the Oscars?



Washington does acknowledge that the playing field is uneven when it comes to black actors and black films, but thats not stopping him from doing his craft.



Yeah, and so what? You going to give up? If youre looking for an excuse, youll find one.  You can find it wherever you like. Cant live like that. Just do the best you can do, Washington says.

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Hope that's not what he meant but I DESPISE it when white people say/imply things like "just work harder" as if POC don't have to work twice as hard, AND it makes it sound like the academy is not discriminating.



"One day when you work hard enough you'll be rewarded". I'm gagging.

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I think he's just saying to not give up on doing your best even when you know the sistem is unfair. People might give up on projects thinking HW will do nothing about it and that doesn't solve anything.

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When was he expected to win the Oscar but didn't, which of his nominations is he referring to?

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Malcolm X (which he should have run away with).

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Was he really expected to win tho or was it one of those everyone knows he /should/ win but realistically they'll give it to someone they "owe" to make up for past losses (in this case, seems Pacino?)?

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Malcolm X? lost to Al Pacino

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what does his second quote have to do with the lack of diversity? i think im confused

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Y'all stay mad at king Denzel

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Why is Oscars beginning and end of everything in Hollywood these days? Who cares if black( or any actors for that matter) are represented at the Oscars? Actors should act cause they love the craft and cause it gives them good amount of money. There should be more concern about POC representation on big screen in general , who cares if somebody wins an Oscar or not? I don't see The Rock having problem getting gigs without any award credits to his name, neither does Johnny Depp,Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt ,Will Smith etc. None of them won Oscar. This Oscar talks is so tiring, you can be an amazing actor with brilliant career without ever being even nominated by The Academy.



Edited at 2016-12-19 08:33 pm (UTC)

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It's not the beginning or end but it is an important part of the conversation especially because they have a lot of real influence both culturally and commercially.



The fact that it has so much importance and that it celebrates white men almost exclusively (except in the actress categories which are specifically gendered) deserves to be questioned and analyzed.

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Its not an important part, that's the thing.It's only important to the people who are closely tied to the movie industry. To general audience Oscars mean nothing.You can ask an average person on a street who won which Oscar, for what movie , what year........ 90% of people would have no idea. Oscars is bragging rights nothing more, people watch Oscars to see who wears what, who trips on stage, who will cry during their speech etc, very few people actually cares about who wins. There is a huge bunch of actors who won Oscars and nobody knows them, nobody knows their work, how they look, their name. Than there is equal bunch of actors who never won an Oscar but are movie legends, whoes faces and piece of work is recognizable all over the world. It's great when you win an Oscar, as it's an ultimate accolade you can get in this field, but it really isn't a measure of actors star power,talent or success in Hollywood.

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palcica123 is a trump supporter if anyone's curious.

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Mte

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Ia

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Exactly

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isn't there another word that we can use rather than diversity? diversity sounds like "we'll sprinkle a few POC here and there and call it a day" and the problem is much deeper than that. the entire industry should be reformed from film schools to casting methods and not just by strategically hiring tokens here and there. english isn't my first language so i don't have enough vocabulary for it but there definitely needs to be some other word.

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ia.



also people think diversity is just about poc, and they forget disabled people, LGBTQ+ people, women y women of colour, etc.



but especially disabled people.

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yes exactly, there's a long, LONG way to go before the film industry becomes more inclusive in all aspects. actually, i think the impulse should definitely be political but that's definitely not gonna happen anytime soon judging by the state of us politics rn

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Yeah, Hollywood loves casting able-bodied people to play people with disabilities and turn their lives into a sob story. I'm glad we're seeing a little more representation in that community, like that Speechless show with Minnie Driver.

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ive seen a lot of people use inclusive instead of diverse now.

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I saw Fences last night and omg. Watching him and Viola go back and forth a few times was just...incredible.

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Elle:

Jackie:

Zootopia:

Loving:

Nocturnal Animals:

Manchester by the Sea:

Arrival:

Fences:

Lion:

Moonlight:

SOURCES:

Screenplay: HERE Synopsis: A woman gets caught up in a game of cat and mouse as she tracks down the unknown man who raped her.Possible nominations: Best Actress - Isabelle HuppertScreenplay: HERE Synopsis: Shows First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy dealing with the grief of her husband President John F. Kennedy's assassination.Possible nominations: Best Actress - Natalie Portman and Best PictureScreenplay: HERE Synopsis: A bunny cop and a criminal fox work together to solve a conspiracy.Possible nominations: Best Animated FeatureScreenplay: HERE Synopsis: About Richard and Mildred Loving taking their case to the Supreme Court.Possible Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor - Joel Edgerton, Best Actress - Ruth Negga, Best Adapted Screenplay - Jeff NicholsScreenplay: HERE Synopsis: A woman reads a violent manuscript written by her ex-husband.Possible Nominations: Tom Ford will give you all the perfume you want for a nomination.Screenplay: HERE Synopsis: People with Boston accents mourn.Possible Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor - Casey Affleck, Best Supporting Actor - Lucas Hedges, Best Supporting Actress - white Michelle Williams, Best Director - Kenneth LonerganScreenplay: HERE Synopsis: Aliens.Possible Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress - Amy Adams, Best Director - Denis Villeneuve, Best Adapted Screenplay - Eric HeissererScreenplay: HERE Synopsis: A father struggles with race relations while trying to help his family and deal with the events in his life.Possible Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor - Denzel Washington, Future Best Supporting Actress WINNER - Viola Davis, Best Director - Denzel Washington, Best Adapted Screenplay - August WilsonScreenplay: HERE Synopsis: Saroo sets out to find his family.Possible Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor - Dev Patel, Best Supporting Actress - Nicole Kidman, Best Adapted Screenplay - Luke DaviesScreenplay: HERE Synopsis: Shows Chiron's struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life.Possible Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor - Mahershala Ali, Best Supporting Actress - Naomie Harris, Best Director - Barry Jenkins, Best Adapted Screenplay - Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraneySCREENPLAYS: Focus Features FYC TRAILERS: 1
If the ExxonMobil CEO is confirmed as the new U.S. Secretary of State, the evolving relationship between Russia and the United States will take an interesting turn. Rex Tillerson could be in a position to hand his former company a major victory if he helps orchestrate a removal of U.S. sanctions on Russia.

The close ties between Exxons Tillerson and the Kremlin  and Russian President Vladimir Putin specifically  have raised concerns in a few corners of Washington, which could complicate Tillersons nomination. While some Democrats are outraged that the CEO of one of the largest oil companies will be put in charge of U.S. international climate policy, many more have suddenly taken up an anti-Russian stance to oppose Tillersons nomination, likely in order to land a blow against Trump. Hawkishness against Russia is typically the purview of the Republican Party, and indeed a handful of hawkish Republicans are uncomfortable with the Trump administrations, as well as Tillersons, willingness to countenance a better relationship with Russia. But they will probably get over it.

Nevertheless, putting Tillerson at Secretary of State does present some questions over conflict of interest. After all, Tillerson could be instrumental in removing sanctions on Russia, which would be a highly favorable outcome for ExxonMobil, where Tillerson has worked for his entire 41-year career.

It may also benefit Tillerson personally. Tillerson may still hold onto huge stock holdings in Exxon, which due to a variety of complicated tax rules, may be difficult to unload. Fortune gives a good rundown of the situation with Tillersons stock, which raises the possibility that Tillerson doesnt sell off his positions in the company before becoming Sec. of State. He may have to wait years before he can get his hands on what is valued today at well over $200 million in stock. But if he does that, he is opening up a massive conflict of interest. The State Department, which he will run, will have enormous influence over U.S. foreign policy that could affect the oil industry, and thus, his personal fortune. He will be in charge of negotiations over war and peace, which often affects the fortunes of oil companies in the Middle East. He will also be able to arm twist foreign leaders over access to oil and gas reserves. Related: The Oil Mystery Behind Saudi Arabias Production Cut

And crucially, he will be one of the most important people in regards to sanctions policy on Russia. For Exxon, there is arguably not a more important part of the world that the State Department could influence than Russia. Back in 2014, Exxon worked in partnership with Russias state-owned oil company Rosneft to explore for oil in the Russian Arctic. In September of that year, Rosneft and Exxon announced a major discovery. Far offshore, in the Kara Sea, the two companies hit pay dirt. They announced that they had successfully completed the drilling of the northernmost well in the world  the Universitetskaya-1 well in the Arctic. The $700 million well was thought to hold at least 750 million barrels of high-quality light oil, a huge victory for the companies involved. Indeed, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said the field would be called Pobeda  the Russian word for victory.

The only problem was that shortly before the companies made the discovery, the U.S. had slapped sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Crimea. The sanctions prohibited U.S. companies from working with Rosneft, so Exxon was forced to pack up and leave despite leaving a lot of money on the table. Rosneft has had to put Arctic drilling on ice, so to speak, since Exxon left, lacking the capital and drilling capabilities to go it alone. In fact, that was part of the intention behind U.S. sanction policy, cutting off Russian sources of revenue by isolating it from international oil companies with which it could partner. Without the help of the oil majors to open up new frontiers, Russias oil output faces long-term decline as its aging fields deplete. Related: Combatting Cyber-Attacks In The Oil And Gas Industry

But Exxons work in the Kara Sea could resume if the U.S. government, with the help of Rex Tillerson, lifts the sanctions on Russia. That would help Exxon put a large volume of new reserves on its books, and open up the possibility for increasing production, which has been a challenge over the past few years. For Russia, growing production is central to the health of the governments long-term budget. As Voxs Brad Plumer succinctly put it, In a lot of ways, Putin and Exxon need each other. And Tillerson is now in the middle.

That puts the spotlight on Tillersons nomination. His enormous conflicts of interest could come up in his nomination hearings in the U.S. Congress, although Republicans seem to be more concerned with his friendship with Russia than his financial ties to his former company. While the Republicans would seemingly have the votes needed on the Senate floor, especially if they can peel off a few Democrats such as West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin and North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a few key Republicans are skeptical. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have expressed some opposition, but after a blitz by powerful figures in the Republican party as well as a key donor that assisted in Sen. Rubios reelection  as the Washington Post Reports  to convince undecided Republican Senators on the wisdom of Tillersons nomination, the roadblocks could be starting to clear for the Exxon CEO.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Google has spun off its self-driving car project X into a separate company called Waymo. Thats not a contraction of Way more, although it certainly sounds like it. The name of the company is actually an acronym of A new way forward in mobility, which, according to Waymos CEO John Krafcik is the mission of the brand new company.

Since Googles self-driving car is an electric one, this development could have, though perhaps a long way off at this point, implications for gas demand, after earlier this year, Wood Mackenzie said that Teslas first affordable car, the Model S, could shave off 300,000 bpd in gas demand in the U.S.

For the time being, however, its much too early to make any inferences about gas and oil demand for two reasons. First, Waymo is not restricting itself exclusively to electric cars. Second, electric cars have a long way to go before becoming part of the everyday landscape, and this way is even longer for self-driving vehicles.

On the first point, Waymo is not just working on its own vehicles. In fact, its not even focusing so much on vehicles. As Krafcik said, quoted by TechCrunch, We are a self driving technology company. Weve been really clear that were not a car company although theres been some confusion on that point. Were not in the business of making better cars. Were in the business of making better drivers.

In demonstration of this fact, Waymo is working on sensor load outs for Chrysler, which will be installed in a fleet of 100 Pacificas and tested in self-driving mode soon. The plan is to use this technology for ride-sharing services by the end of next year.

On the second point, there is still not enough evidence of all the stated and hoped-for benefits of autonomous cars. True, last month, an Uber 18-wheeler made a 120-mile journey through Colorado with a robot at the wheel and a human driver in the back. However, the driver had to first steer the truck to a weighing station before the robot took over, and then, when the truck entered Colorado Springs, the human once again took the wheel. Related: OPEC Not Expected To Deliver All The Promised Cuts

There is still a lot to do before self-driving cars become truly self-driving, despite Waymos own successful test with its self-driving car, which took a legally blind person around Austin, Texas, without a sighted person in the vehicle.

In addition to those hurdles, a new way of thinking needs to take place before self-driving cars become a common sight on the streets. And widespread changes in thinking take time.

So after working on its autonomous driving program for nine years, Google has made clear its belief in this technology by setting up project X as a separate company. How reasonable this belief is remains to be seen, and is for the time being, uncertain. As the AP notes, companies are expected to make profits, rather than devote their time to research only, although it is unlikely that Googles and Waymos parent, Alphabet, has completely abandoned the notion of seeking profits.

In any case, its safe to say that the oil industry shouldnt worry just yet about the ill-effects it may realize from either electric vehicles or self-driving ones. Both are a long way away from becoming a regular sight on roads and even when they do become a regular sight, chances are that a lot of the self-driving vehicles will be fuelled by oil or gas.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Investors have become the most bullish on oil prices since the collapse began more than two years ago, betting that the OPEC deal will tighten the oil market, resulting in higher prices in the weeks ahead.

"Theres been a full embrace of the OPEC, non-OPEC deal," John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC, told Bloomberg in an interview. "They are being given the benefit of the doubt. The consensus is that supplies will tighten quickly and as a result investors are positioning for higher prices in the near term."

The trends in long and short bets on WTI have been like a roller-coaster this year, surging and crashing depending on shifts in oil market sentiment. OPEC has jawboned the market all year long, raising expectations of a production freeze in the spring at the Doha meeting, only to disappoint. Then in September, the Algiers accord refueled expectations of coordinated action, leading to another two months of volatility.

But with the deal signed, which could take 1.2 million barrels per day of OPEC production off of the market plus the reduction of another 558,000 in non-OPEC production, there is arguably more certainty in the markets today than at any point in the past two years. And investors have taken note. Hedge funds and money managers are feeling optimistic, and they have taken net-long positions to the highest point since July 2014. For the week ending on December 13, the latest for which data is available, long bets on WTI rose 2.5 percent while short bets plunged by 30 percent.

Related: Oil Seesaws As Markets Wait For OPEC Cuts To Materialize

Of course, the pendulum could always swing back in the other direction, as it often does. OPEC has a tendency to cheat, as even former Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi recently admitted, so the production cuts are not inevitable. And because oil speculators have now built up such a preponderance of net-long positions, the risk is that some piece of news surfaces in the next few months  for example, OPEC data showing members not adhering to cuts  that sparks a selloff. Whenever speculators rush to one side, they increase the likelihood that things unwind, initiating a stampede back in the other direction. So, oil prices could rise in the weeks ahead as OPEC begins to cut, but speculators could be forced into a sell off if OPEC disappoints.

By Charles Kennedy of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
On December 4, a referendum in Italy rejected the sweeping constitutional reforms proposed by the government, ultimately resulting in the resignation of Matteo Renzi from the prime ministers post. One of the main proposed constitutional changes was the division of competences between the state and the regions on defining which governing body will retain the legislative power on land-use planning and transport and distribution of energy. According to Article 117 of Italys constitution, legislative authority on these specific issues is vested with the regions. Thus, the state was seeking to gain an exclusive legislative power on the issue of production, transport and distribution of energy, and therefore, on the question of launching the construction of the Trans-Adriatic Pipelines (TAP) in Italy. By 2020, TAP is expected to bring 10 bcm of natural gas from Azerbaijan to the coast of Italy, near the city of Melendugno in the Puglia region, via Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea.

The TAP Consortium has awarded Italian companies a contract for engineering and construction work for the onshore/offshore sections of the pipeline in Italy and for the pipeline-receiving terminal to connect TAP to the Italian Snam-Rete-Gass pipeline network. The construction of the pipeline in Greece and Albania had been already launched (EDM, June 16). The process was going smoothly, until TAP faced strong defiance from the local authorities of Italys Puglia region on the basis of environmental concerns. The opposition to the project came despite the fact that the Italian minister of environment had already signed the necessary decree of environmental compatibility of the projectfollowing an extensive environmental impact studyand Italys ministry of economy had granted the single authorisation permit for the pipeline in 2015 (Tap-ag.com). However, under Italys constitution, the regional governments have a veto power over land use and prospective energy infrastructure. The national government under Matteo Renzi has strongly supported TAP. However, Michele Emiliano, the governor of Puglia, voiced opposition to the planned pipeline path along Melendugno, by accusing the government of implementing the project without the regions consent. Emiliano demanded moving the construction to Puglias port city of Brindisi, where there is an available connection to the Snams national gas grid.

Related: Rosneft To Ramp Up Global Expansion Under Trump

Protests against TAP also were actively conducted by some human rights and environmental NGOs, notably the two NGOs Counter Balance (Belgium) and CEE Bank-Watch (Czech Republic). Both organizations incorporate a large network of human rights and environmental NGOs in Europe. The track-record of both NGOs demonstrates how they have been promoting a vehement anti-TAP campaign on the grounds of potential environmental damage caused by TAP in Italy, Greece and Albania. They aimed at hampering the prospect of securing financing for the Southern Gas Corridor from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) (Counter-Balance.Org, September 22, 2015; January 28).

In 2014, former Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen articulated the role of certain environmental NGOs behind anti-shale gas campaign in Europe. Several of them are partners of the CEE Bank-Watch (Pri.org and Natural Gas World, June 20, 2014). The anti-TAP campaign was further promoted by the protests of local authorities in Puglia and by the anti-TAP rhetoric of the Five-Star Movement, a Euro-sceptic political party in Italy (Bankwatch.org, February 17, 2015; Viniciopeluffo.it, December 6, 2013). The anti-TAP campaign is conducted in a coordinated manner, implying potential third partys involvement, a party that is evidently not enthusiastic to see the Southern Gas Corridor being successfully implemented.

Related: OPEC Not Expected To Deliver All The Promised Cuts

Despite protests, TAP continues to make progress in its construction across the three host countries, according to plan, confirmed by TAP Consortiums media advisor Luigi Quaranta. As Puglias local authorities were concerned with the preservation of the local olive trees, the TAP Consortium obtained a permit to move 231 olive trees in order to save them. The digging of the micro-tunnel for onshore/offshore installation started in January 2016 and will end in the fall of 2017. The underground micro-tunnel will not pose environmental risk to the Adriatic Sea, the Melendugno beach and the fishing areas. Italys Snams CEO, Marco Alvera, whose company holds a 20 percent share in the project, had told Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper that the company was not concerned about its investments due to the referendum in Italy (Italy24, November 24; Natural Gas World, December 1).

If Italy fails to come up with a solution for TAP, the Italian segment of the pipeline might be replaced with the planned Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) towards the Western Balkans. In August 2016, Azerbaijans SOCAR signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro for the construction of IAP through these countries. This followed on the 2007 Declaration of Intent signed by Croatia, Montenegro and Albania to connect IAP and TAP in Albanias territories. A fall-through on the project to build TAP would deprive Italy of the opportunity to become an energy hub and cause a tremendous loss of investment in the countrys local infrastructure (Azertag.az, August 27; Ilsole24ore.com, September 14; EDM, October 19). Meanwhile, Macedonias state-owned company, Macedonian Energy Resources (MER), has requested to join the TAP project. The request followed shortly after MER signed a MoU with Greeces DESFA (the countrys gas transmission system operator) in mid-October to construct a pipeline between the two countries, which will enable Macedonia to connect its gas network with TAP (Intellinews.com, November 6).

The failure of TAP in Italy will pave the way for the construction of the Poseidon pipeline, a proposed offshore leg of the Interconnector Turkey-Greece-Italy (ITGI) pipeline under the Ionian Sea, which was previously designed to transport Azerbaijani gas. In February 2016, Russias Gazprom, Italian Edison and Greeces DEPA signed a MoU to carry Russian gas across the Black Sea [via the prospective Turkish Stream pipeline from Russia to Turkey] and then through Greece to Italy by using the ITGI/Poseidon (EDM, August 2). However, the Poseidon pipeline may face almost identical obstacles from the local authorities in Italy. The Melendugno city council reportedly stopped a Russian conglomerate, which wanted to buy the land, where the TAP pipeline was supposed to be laid; otherwise TAPs construction would have faced yet another new challenge (Thedailybeast.com, October 12)

By Ilgar Gurbanov via Jamestown

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The IPO of Saudi Aramco in 2018 is expected to bring in an all-time high in fees for investment banks that help the oil company go public, a major payday for Wall Street. But the election of Donald Trump as well as a key piece of legislation that has offended Saudi Arabia could result in Aramco taking its IPO somewhere else besides the New York Stock Exchange.

The Wall Street Journal reports that several senior Saudi officials are reassessing not just the Aramco IPO, but broader investments in the U.S. as a result of the shifting political winds. Earlier this year, the U.S. Congress passed legislation that allowed the victims of 9/11 families to sue Saudi Arabia for its supposed role in the terrorist attack. President Obama vetoed the legislation, but Congress overrode his veto, even though shortly afterwards some members of Congress regretted having done so.

Saudi Arabia vehemently opposed the bill. Since its passage, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund has frozen investments in the U.S. until they assess the implications of the legislation.

The IPO of Saudi Aramco will be massive by any measure. Saudi officials believe that Aramco could be worth $2 trillion, so even taking just 5 percent of the company public could bring in as much as $100 billion. It could also hand U.S. investment banks $1 billion in fees, which would set a record. The New York Stock Exchange was the obvious choice for Aramcos listing, but now Saudi officials are reconsidering other locations as they lose confidence in their political ally in Washington.

Related: Google Spin Off Could Become Teslas Biggest Rival

Saudi Arabia is hoping to use the proceeds from the IPO to invest, via its sovereign wealth fund, in non-oil assets that will help the country diversify away from oil as its sole source of revenue. Shifting the IPO, as well as other investments, away from the U.S. is cropping up now not just because Saudi Arabia is losing confidence in the U.S., but also because the 9/11 legislation could expose Saudi assets to legal action.

The Saudis hoped that the Congress would amend the legislation after they overrode President Obamas veto, and immediately after the vote, a few members of Congress suggested that they should do so, perhaps after the presidential election but before Congress left town for the year.

The latest wrinkle for the Saudis is the election of Donald Trump. They thought that the incoming administration of Hillary Clinton, which would largely resemble that of Obama, would be easy to work with. At a minimum they could probably soften the effects of the 9/11 bill. However, Donald Trump supported the 9/11 bill at the time of the vote and is not expected to work to overturn it.

On top of that, one of Trumps advisers is Harold Hamm, the CEO of shale driller Continental Resources. Hamm has opposed the foreign ownership of refineries in the U.S., which threatens several assets that Saudi Aramco has along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Hamm said that foreign owners buy a refinery, and they move in just their oil, nobody else. They dont buy oil from me. They dont buy oil from anybody else Im sorry. Were on to that. It shouldnt be permitted.

The Trump administration has taken an America First approach to a lot of industries, but especially oil and gas, which doesnt bode well for Aramcos investments in the U.S.

By Charles Kennedy of Oilprice.com

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On Sunday, Dec. 18, Hamburger Marys (730 S. 5th St.) celebrated its grand reopening and relocation to the Walkers Point neighborhood with drink specials, local drag headliners and special appearances by "RuPauls Drag Race" stars Dida Ritz and Monica Beverly Hillz.

Previously located in Bay View, Hamburger Marys came to Milwaukee in October 2011 after five blockbuster years in Chicagos Andersonville neighborhood. Over the years, Marys has become a drag destination in Milwaukee, as well as a LGBTQ community landmark. The new location (formerly the home of La Perla) offers a fresh experience with greatly expanded bar and lanai spaces, a private rooftop patio and the brand new beercade.

Although Hamburger Marys has only been open in Milwaukee for five years, the restaurant has long and proud Milwaukee connections tracing back to 1970s San Francisco.

In April 1972, a tight-knit group of "gypsies, tramps and thieves" opened the original location at 1582 Folsom Street. A year later, 17-year-old Rose Christensen left Milwaukee to live with friends in San Francisco. She took a part-time cook job at Hamburger Marys, worked her way to assistant manager, became part owner of the restaurant and remains owner of the landmark building to this day. This week, I was fortunate enough to meet with Rose, who shared four decades of her Hamburger Marys memories.

"I grew up on Milwaukees near North Side, places like Holton and North and 1st and Burleigh," said Christensen. "Later, I lived in the Brady Street neighborhood around 1970. Thats where I met friends like Jan Hill and Chuckie Betz. My home life was rough growing up, so it was just wonderful to have gay friends. They taught me it was OK to be different. They showed me a whole new way of life."



Rose Christensen, 1974

Jan and his friends moved to Haight and Masonic, near Buena Vista Park, in 1971. After Roses arrival, the Milwaukee friends became regulars at Hamburger Marys and The Stud (1535 Folsom St.) across the street. Michael Wright, a Milwaukeean who worked the coat check at The Stud, would later become one of the founders of ACT UP San Francisco.

Jans family had long been in the restaurant business, operating the Westward Ho (4929 W. Greenfield Ave.) in West Milwaukee and the Big Top Steakhouse (8129 W. Greenfield Ave.) in West Allis, so he took a bookkeeping job at Hamburger Marys. Although there were bodies in the busy restaurant, the books were bleeding red ink. Jan quickly identified ways to take the business from sustainable to profitable. Working as relentlessly in the front of the house as he did in the back of the house, Jan won the respect of the restaurant's employees. Through his efforts, Hamburger Mary's became a viable commercial success.

Rose, who was working in a dress factory at the time, had worked at Nicolo on Brady Street in Milwaukee. She went in for an interview and was hired on the spot as a short-order cook.

"Hamburger Marys was a collective of hippies and gays back then," Christensen said, "and we all worked in other restaurants where we couldnt be ourselves. Men actually had to hide their long hair under wigs in order to work in straight restaurants. At Hamburger Marys, we could be whatever we wanted. We didnt change to suit people. We said, this is who we are, come or dont come."

The restaurant, envisioned as a "gay-friendly truck stop," grew from a tiny dive bar to occupy four storefronts. The origins of the name "Hamburger Marys" remain a mystery to this day. Whatever the intended meaning, "Mary" is a slang term of endearment between gay men that played well in San Francisco.

"The South of Market neighborhood was pretty much abandoned at the time," Christensen explained. "The City of San Francisco paid no attention to that part of town. It was this weird mixture of light manufacturing, auto shops and leather bars. Hamburger Marys was really the first hippie invasion south of Market. And it was beautiful!"

At the time, South of Market was one neighborhood by day and an entirely different neighborhood by night. Hamburger Marys fit into both worlds  whether it was the shop girls coming down from Market Streets high-end department stores, or young bucks on their way to long-lost landmarks like Ramrod, Ambush, the Black and Blue, Boot Camp, Brig or The Trench. In the 1970s, the Folsom Street corridor became known as the "Miracle Mile" and the "Valley of the Kings." It also became the world capital for the gay leather scene.

"When people moved to the city, they often landed at Hamburger Marys and The Stud as their starting point," Christensen said. "Some wonderful people got their start with us." Both venues were regularly mentioned in Armistead Maupins "Tales of the City" serial in the San Francisco Chronicle.

By the mid-1970s, there were Hamburger Marys locations in Portland, Maui and Honolulu. Tom Mulvey and Jerry "Trixie" Jones, two of the four owners of Hamburger Marys, split up their partnership in 1978. Tom retained the original Hamburger Marys location on Folsom Street, while Jerry took ownership of the satellite locations and franchise rights.

"We had a stand-alone agreement," Christensen explained. "We were like the first child from the first marriage, and the other locations were like our siblings from the second and third marriages. Even though they were part of the family, we really didnt know them at all."

Throughout the 1980s, franchise locations opened and closed around the country, but the original Hamburger Marys maintained its close-knit family feeling.

"We really didnt rely on drag shows," said Christensen. "We were gay-owned and -operated, but we werent overly gay. We were the type of place you could safely bring your parents visiting from the Midwest. Youd see just about anyone there. It was such a mish mosh of people: socialites, leather men, journalists, musicians, oddballs, outcasts, you name it. Punk rockers loved our come as you are vibe. We didnt judge. We always made people comfortable. We did a great bar business  probably 50 percent of our revenue  and we were famous for our Bloody Marys."

Across Folsom Street, Jan Hill owned and operated The Stud until returning to Milwaukee in 1979. Under his leadership, the bar  open since 1966, but never a leather bar  became one of the hottest nightspots in San Francisco.

In 1980, the AIDS epidemic began to cast a long shadow over San Francisco. The happy-go-lucky days were definitely over.

"The fabric of the city changed," Christensen said, "because you were confronted by AIDS everywhere you went. It was absolutely foreboding. I remember when the first people were getting sick. Suddenly, we were losing our friends, co-workers, suppliers, neighbors ... We lost two of our owners. We lost hundreds of people.

"Every day, you would hear about someone else who had died. It really hit home when regular customers started coming in and asking to eat their last meal at Hamburger Marys."

South of Market changed in a big way. The leather bars began to close in the 1980s, replaced by dance clubs that were more popular with "bridge and tunnel" crowds. Tourists, celebrities and paparazzi started to show up at Marys. The dot coms took over the neighborhood in the 1990s, bringing new money and new customers that were already fleeting by the turn of the century. Hamburger Marys adjusted its menu to changing times, but it never really changed its character.

By 2001, most of the original players of Hamburger Marys had either passed away or moved on. Although business was still strong, the remaining business partners were burning out. Rose managed many of the business responsibilities, but between raising a teenage daughter and managing her own health concerns, she knew something had to give.

The business was put up for sale  and sold almost instantly. On April 23, 2001, Hamburger Marys San Francisco hosted a last call party. After 30 years, the walls of Hamburger Marys were covered in iconic artwork that was beloved by customers. This artwork was supposed to be included in the sale, but at the last minute, employees swapped out the original art for copies. The replicas were later auctioned at a charity fundraiser, but some employees still own pieces of original artwork to this day.

After Jerry Jones death, his ownership of the Hamburger Marys franchise changed hands several times, finally ending up with Brandon and Ashley Wright (operators of the Chicago and Milwaukee locations). There are now over a dozen Hamburger Marys locations listed on the company website, but beyond the name, none of them have any affiliation with the original location.

Today, a craft beer and cocktails bar occupies the former Hamburger Marys space at 1582 Folsom Street.

"The owners reminded me of us," said Christensen. "Theyre young, bright and really committed to having fun."

Plans to reopen a Hamburger Marys in the Castro have stalled for over a year. This year, the Stud  now located at 399 9th Street  celebrated its 50th anniversary and avoided closure when 15 concerned citizens came together to purchase the bar and operate it through a cooperative.

Although she still owns and manages the Hamburger Marys building, Christensen no longer lives in the city of San Francisco. "I barely recognize Market Street nowadays. Theyve built so many tall buildings, you cant even see Buena Vista Park anymore!"

"Our little group really accomplished something special," Christensen said. "We brought a strong Midwest work ethic to San Francisco, along with valuable bar and restaurant experience. The long-time Milwaukee influence on the South of Market neighborhood is actually pretty incredible."
From Empire Burlesque

You're al Qaeda. You're being supported by the United States in your jihad to impose extremist rule on Syria, but you still have a PR problem; too many people remember all that unpleasant business from so long ago when you blew up a few buildings in the US. What can you do?

Well, first you change the name of your Syrian branch two or three times. You make sure your spokesmen -- who actually get respectfully quoted in the US media! -- say moderate things in English but speak with genocidal sectarian fury in Arabic. So far, so good.

But what if your new US media buddies actually got a peek at how you operate on the ground in Syria -- cutting off heads, hoarding food aid, colluding with ISIS, slaughtering religious minorities, oppressing women, etc.? That's easy: you simply make the zones you control so dangerous for reporters -- killing them, kidnapping them, etc. -- that they don't go there anymore. Instead, they "report" on your activities from far away, relying on you to provide their information, telling the story you want told.

And presto chango, that's how those who murdered Americans have become America's newest heroes, the brave defenders of freedom in Syria. What's more, anyone who dares point out the true nature of your organization, and how you operate, are now denounced as apologists for the loathsome Assad regime, or as Putin-lovers, even as traitors! Think of it; just a few years ago, you were the most reviled and hated group Americans had ever known -- and now Americans across the media and political spectrum hail you as heroes and defend you from all attacks!

Sure, you've lost your foothold in Aleppo, where for years you systematically persecuted people and forcibly prevented them from leaving. But America's still got your back, AQ! Even when you attack relief convoys in an attempt to scuttle a peace deal that would allow anyone who wants to leave East Aleppo to go free, the American media will fudge the headlines so no one will know that it was you who did the deed.

[And hey, let's not forget what America's been doing for you in Yemen! Remember how the Houthis had you on the ropes, nearly ridding the country of your presence -- and then the Americans stepped in with their Saudi allies, bombing the holy hell out of the place, choking off food and medicine supplies, destroying the infrastructure for basic survival, killing thousands of civilians and putting millions of people at dire risk of starvation! And suddenly you were back, making great gains, stronger than ever! You simply couldn't ask for a better friend, could you?]

So buck up, AQ! With the full weight of the American media and political establishment behind you, no doubt there are still great days ahead! In fact, the president has just made it easier for you guys to get even more American weapons so you can carry on your noble quest! It's just our way of saying Merry Christmas!
It was back in the nineteen-seventies that the third world began to formally demand a New world Information Order (NWIO), due to the lack of objective information, especially in the West, with regard to both the second world -- or socialist camp -- and the third world. Had this project come to fruition, it would have required journalists to be trained and licensed by their governments, like doctors or lawyers.

The idea was seen in the West as a threat to 'freedom of speech' so of course it didn't happen. Instead, technology ensured that the standard model became an unchallengeable behemoth. Corporate-owned media across the neo-liberal world does not protect the journalist's freedom of speech: rather it ensures that commercial messages get across to a largely gullible public. (The behemoth simultaneously complaining about the public's lack of basic knowledge about the world.)

Today, it's difficult to imagine what 'information' the Western media bases its stories on, but to hear Ann Applebaum claiming as fact that Russia 'invaded Crimea' or the BBC's Katy Kay stating that Russia is "massing its troops along its borders with Europe", shows that we are living, not in Alice's Wonderland, but in a Strangelovian dystopia. How do seasoned journalists like the two just mentioned live with their consciences? Are the pay checks beyond their wildest dreams? Have these bright people allowed themselves to be convinced by their governments' propaganda -- as if fact-checking had ceased to exist? Or is something else at work here: the fear of being dubbed a black sheep and ending up without work? (Nowhere does 'conforming' matter more to a career than in the world of journalism, in which the 'best' are those who adopt an almost prosecutorial manner when conducting interviews, a talent that can be easily turned on colleagues.) Reports of US journalists working for RT imply that they are committing treason, when in fact, they are refusing to betray their commitment to truth telling in order to keep a job in the US media.

You don't need to fact check whether Russia is massing troops on its European borders: NATO has officially pushed so far up against them that according to Professor Stephen Cohen it could hit St. Petersburg with ordinary weapons. And how to keep repeating the story that Russia invaded Crimea, when in fact, Russia has had a naval base there since the time of Catherine II! Were a few soldiers sent there to back-up the sailors at the time of the referendum? Big deal! Crimea has always been a majority Russian peninsula, and the inhabitants tried several times to hold referenda that would return them to Russia. What guaranteed their success this time was the US directed coup against their country's elected pro-Russian president in February, 2014, backed by Neo-Nazi club wielding militias. (Russians --including those in Crimea -- lost 26,000,000 to Hitler's army and even second and third generations are viscerally anti-Nazi.)

For Washington, Russian speaking Ukrainians in the east and in Crimea who fail to appreciate the benefits of US-brokered 'democracy' are Putin's pawns. As the accusations pile up, it would appear that even the most indifferent voter should begin to wonder what is behind the 'blame Russia' meme. But what is most disturbing is the appearance of so-called 'fake news' on websites like Facebook. Will the US government's version of the facts be used to tag real facts as fake news, and would this be the inevitable outcome of its refusal, in the nineteen seventies, to accept the world's call for a new information order?

It was in 1973 that the organization of Non-Aligned Nations, (a group that included over a hundred nations at its founding in 1961) first formalized its media concerns. In 1978, a 'Mass Media Declaration' calling for a New World Information Order was submitted to the MacBride Commission, a 16-member body created by UNESCO to study communication issues. (At that time, Soviet support ensured a more significant role for the UN's cultural organization than it has had since")

In brief, the NWIO called for government licensing of journalists, which the US saw as a priori censorship, incompatible with 'freedom of expression', opposed satellite broadcasting of television signals, widely perceived as a threat to national sovereignty and an unfair division of the radio spectrum in Third World countries. (A small number of developed countries controlled almost 90% of the radio spectrum, much of which was for military use.) The call protested the effects of the developed world's advertising on the developed world as well as an unbalanced flow of mass media from the developed world (especially the United States) to the underdeveloped countries. (The entire world watches American movies and television shows.) Last but not least, the emphasis on natural disasters and wars rather than on daily realities, so that people in the developed world have an idea of what life is like in faraway lands. (At the time four major news agencies controlled over 80% of global news flow.)

The United States saw all these things as potential barriers to the 'free flow of information' and especially, to the interests of American media corporations. (The Macbride Commission, a 16-member body created by UNESCO to study communication issues, questioned the role of the private sector in communications.) Officially, the US saw the NWICO (New world Information and Communication Order) as dangerous to 'freedom of the press' because it put an organization run by governments in charge of information, potentially allowing for large scale censorship. (Although there were also accusations of corruption among the UNESCO leadership in Paris, it was over the issue of communication and press 'freedom' that in 1984, the US withdrew its membership, causing a great stir in the international community. It did not return until 2003, during the George W. Bush presidency, and since that time UNESCO has ceased to be in the news").

Fourteen years after the US defection, 'news' in the West, has become unrecognizable. Is it the 'breaking news' trumpeted by television every ten minutes (between ads); is it the information carefully doled out by White House and the State Department press attaches (whose responses to journalists' questions are relayed by RT, but almost never by most US news channels). Is it what the presidents of important countries announce in their speeches (only those of the US president are given wide coverage in the US, with excerpts graciously offered to our allies). While President Putin is currently mentioned 'every hour on the hour' on US media, his speeches are NEVER featured, (not even in the alternative media, for fear of being black listed).

In the run-up to World War II, Hitler made many speeches, spelling out precisely his gripes and his plans to remedy them. The chanceries across Europe -- and in America -- knew that he was preparing for war (but hoped that soothing rhetoric such as that dispensed by British Prime Minister Chamberlain at Munich might alter his plan). Populations who will be incinerated if there is war against Russia are not privy to the Russian President's views about anything: they are fed images of him riding bareback on a horse -- or coming down a chimney as a bareback Santa on Saturday Night Live. Americans are repeatedly told that Vladimir Putin does not allow 'free speech' because his judiciary sent the p*ssy Rioters to jail, but they are not told that the bedrock of his international policy is cooperation rather than confrontation.

That knowledge would be inconvenient to our arms manufacturers and our military. (American foreign policy is not based on 'the national interest' but on the theory developed by Professor Carl Schmitt, godfather to the Neocons, that to rule successfully, governments must always provide their people with an enemy.)

The biggest purveyor of fake news, after all, is the US government and those who post 'fake news' on websites are merely taking their cue from the highest authority in the land.


fake news ??

(Image by powderedwigsociety.com) Details DMCA



There is an astounding double standard being applied to the US presidential election result.

A few weeks ago the corporate media were appalled that Donald Trump demurred on whether he would accept the vote if it went against him. It was proof of his anti-democratic, authoritarian instincts.

But now he has won, the same media outlets are cheer-leading the establishment's full-frontal assault on the legitimacy of a Trump presidency. That campaign is being headed by the failed candidate, Hillary Clinton, after a lengthy softening-up operation by US intelligence agencies, led by the CIA.

According to the prevailing claim, Russian president Vladimir Putin stole the election on behalf of Trump (apparently by resorting to the US playbook on psy-ops). Trump is not truly a US president, it seems. He's Russia's placeman in the White House -- a Moscovian candidate.

An assessment of the losing side's claims should be considered separately from the issue of who won the popular mandate. It is irrelevant that Clinton gained more votes than Trump. For good or bad, the US has operated an inherently unrepresentative electoral college since the 18th century. That has provided plenty of time to demand electoral reform. Concern about the electoral college now, only because it elected Trump, is simply ugly partisan politics, not political principle.

Launching last week what looked like a potential comeback, Clinton stepped up the establishment's attack on the result. She argued that Putin had personally directed the hacking operation that lost her the presidency. He had sought to foil the wishes of the US electorate in revenge for her claims in 2011, when Secretary of State, that Russia's parliamentary elections had been rigged.

"Putin publicly blamed me for the outpouring of outrage by his own people, and that is the direct line between what he said back then and what he did in this election," Clinton told campaign donors at meeting in New York.

Clinton's allegations, of course, did not arrive in a vacuum. For weeks the CIA and other intelligence agencies have been making evidence-free claims that Russia was behind the release of embarrassing emails from the Democratic party leadership. The last hold-out against this campaign, James Comey, the head of the FBI, was reported late last week to have caved in and joined the anti-Putin camp.

The Washington Post quoted CIA director John Brennan saying: "Earlier this week, I met separately with [the FBI's] James Comey and [director of national intelligence] Jim Clapper, and there is strong consensus among us on the scope, nature, and intent of Russian interference in our presidential election."

Craig Murray, a former British ambassador turned whistleblower on British government collusion in torture, has said he personally received the leaked emails on behalf of Wikileaks. The data came, he said, not from Russian security agencies, or even from freelance Russian hackers, but from a disillusioned Democratic party insider. Russia experts in the US have similarly discounted the anti-Putin claims, as have former US intelligence agents.

But either way, what is being overlooked in the furor is that none of the information that has come to light about the Democratic party was false. (Though the US intelligence services did indeed try to make that claim initially). The emails are real and provide an accurate account of the Democratic party's anti-democratic machinations, including efforts to undermine the campaign of Bernie Sanders, Clinton's challenger.

If Russia did indeed seek to influence the election by releasing truthful information that made Clinton and her allies look bad that would be far more legitimate interference than the US has engaged in against countless countries around the globe. For decades the US has been actively involved in using its military might to overthrow regimes in Latin America and the Middle East. It has also compromised the sovereignty of innumerable states, by sending killer-drones into their airspace, manipulating their media and funding color revolutions.

The NSA is not archiving every bit of digital information it can lay its hands on for no reason. The US seeks global dominance, whether the rest of the globe wants it or not.

The corporate media have been lapping up the CIA's evidence-free allegations as hungrily as an underfed kitten. Not only have they been credulously regurgitating the dubious claims of the same US intelligence agencies that knowingly spread lies about Iraq's WMD, but they have added their own dangerous spin to them.

The media have suddenly woken up to the supposed threat to western democracies posed by "fake news." The implication is that it was "fake news" that swept Trump to power. A properly informed electorate, on this view, would never have made such a patently ridiculous choice as Trump. Instead, Clinton would have been rightfully crowned president.

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From Truthdig

The media landscape in America is dominated by "fake news." It has been for decades. This fake news does not emanate from the Kremlin. It is a multibillion-dollar-a-year industry that is skillfully designed and managed by public relations agencies, publicists and communications departments on behalf of individuals, government and corporations to manipulate public opinion. This propaganda industry stages pseudo-events to shape our perception of reality. The public is so awash in these lies, delivered 24 hours a day through electronic devices and print, that viewers and readers can no longer distinguish between truth and fiction.

Donald Trump and the racist-conspiracy theorists, generals and billionaires around him inherited and exploited this condition, just as they have inherited and will exploit the destruction of civil liberties and collapse of democratic institutions. Trump did not create this political, moral and intellectual vacuum. It created him. It created a world where fact is interchangeable with opinion, where celebrities have huge megaphones simply because they are celebrities, where information must be entertaining and where we can all believe what we want to believe regardless of truth. A demagogue like Trump is what you get when you turn culture and the press into burlesque.

Journalists long ago gave up trying to describe an objective world or give a voice to ordinary men and women. They became conditioned to cater to corporate demands. News personalities, who often make millions of dollars a year, became courtiers. They peddle gossip. They promote consumerism and imperialism. They chatter endlessly about polls, strategies, presentation and tactics or play guessing games about upcoming presidential appointments. They fill news holes with trivial, emotionally driven stories that make us feel good about ourselves. They are incapable of genuine reporting. They rely on professional propagandists to frame all discussion and debate.

There are established journalists who have spent their entire careers repackaging press releases or attending official briefings or press conferences -- I knew several when I was with The New York Times. They work as stenographers to the powerful. Many such reporters are highly esteemed in the profession.

The corporations that own media outlets, unlike the old newspaper empires, view news as simply another revenue stream. Revenue streams compete inside a corporation. When the news division does not make what is seen as enough profit, the ax comes down. Content is irrelevant. The courtiers in the press, beholden to their corporate overlords, cling ferociously to their privileged and well-compensated perches. Because they slavishly serve the interests of corporate power, they are hated by America's workers, whom they have rendered invisible. They deserve the hate they get.

Most of the sections of a newspaper -- "life style," travel, real estate and fashion, among others -- are designed to appeal to the "1 percent." They are bait for advertising. Only about 15 percent of any newspaper is devoted to news. If you were to remove from that 15 percent the content provided by the public relations industry inside and outside government, news falls to single digits. For broadcast and cable news, the figure for real, independently reported news would hover close to zero.

The object of fake news is to shape public opinion by creating fictional personalities and emotional responses that overwhelm reality. Hillary Clinton, contrary to how she often was portrayed during the recent presidential campaign, never fought on behalf of women and children -- she was an advocate for the destruction of a welfare system in which 70 percent of the recipients were children. She is a tool of the big banks, Wall Street and the war industry. Pseudo-events were created to maintain the fiction of her concern for women and children, her compassion and her connections to ordinary people. Trump never has been a great businessman. He has a long history of bankruptcies and shady business practices. But he played the fictional role of a titan of finance on his reality television show, "The Apprentice."

"The pseudo-events which flood our consciousness are neither true nor false in the old familiar senses," Daniel Boorstin writes in his book "The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America." "The very same advances which have made them possible have also made the images -- however planned, contrived, or distorted -- more vivid, more attractive, more impressive, and more persuasive than reality itself."

Reality is consciously deformed to easily digestible sound bites and narratives. Those involved in public relations, political campaigns and government stay relentlessly on message. They do not deviate from the simple sound bite or cliche' they are instructed to repeat. It is a species of continuous baby talk. And it dominates the news and talk shows on the airwaves.

"The refinements of reason and shading of emotion cannot reach a considerable public," Edward Bernays, the father of modern public relations, noted cynically.

The rapid-fire, abbreviated format of television precludes complexities and nuance. Television is about good and evil, black and white, hero and villain. It makes us confuse induced emotions with knowledge. It reinforces the mythic narrative of American virtue and goodness. It pays homage through carefully selected "experts" and "specialists" to the power elites and the reigning ideology. It shuts out, discredits or ridicules all who dissent.

Is the Democratic establishment so clueless it believes its party lost the presidential election because of the leaked John Podesta emails and FBI Director James Comey's decision, shortly before the vote, to send a letter to Congress related to Clinton's private email server? Can't the Democratic leadership see that the root cause of the defeat was that it abandoned workers in order to promote corporate interests? Doesn't it understand that although its lies and propaganda worked for three decades, Democrats eventually lost credibility among those they had betrayed?

The Democratic establishment's outrage over the email leak to the website WikiLeaks ignores the fact that such disclosure of damaging information is a tactic routinely used by the U.S. government and other governments, including Russia's, to discredit individuals and entities. It is a staple of press coverage. No one, even within the Democratic Party, has made a convincing case that the Podesta emails were fabricated. These emails are real. They cannot be labeled fake news.

As a foreign correspondent, I was routinely given leaked, sometimes classified, information by various groups or governments seeking to damage certain targets. The national intelligence agency of Israel, the Mossad, told me about a small airport owned by the Iranian government outside of Hamburg, Germany. I went to the airport and wrote an investigative piece that found that, as the Israelis had correctly informed me, Iran was using it to break down nuclear equipment, ship it to Poland, reassemble it and send it on transport planes to Iran. The airport was shut down after my expose'.

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Aleppo street and citadel

(Image by varunshiv) Details DMCA



War crimes, and the liberation of Aleppo

It continues to amaze me - although I know it shouldn't because of its repetitious nature - but the mainstream media (MSM) content of Canada's CBC as represented by Rosemary Barton on Power and Politics is a combination of double standards, misinformation, and innuendo through choice of language.

Barton's main talking points today (Wednesday, December 14, 2016) came under the title "Fall of Aleppo", with her main theme being war crimes. The implications made for the latter put full blame for the declared crimes on the Assad/Russia combination. Her three guests today were: Louise Arbour, former Canadian Supreme Court Justice; Stephane Dion, current Liberal foreign affairs minister; and Stephen O'Brien, UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. All three avidly reflected and supported the "war crimes" thesis of Ms. Barton.

First, the "Fall of Aleppo"

From the many sources I have read, from the many history books and contemporary events books I have read, the very title "Fall of Aleppo" is a lie. Aleppo - at least a good part of it, "fell" to the al-Qaeda/al-Nusra related so called rebels about four years ago. These 'rebels' were aided and abetted by the U.S. CIA, indirectly through our great democratic allies in Saudi Arabia, and more discreetly, at first at least, by our Turkish NATO ally. Yes there were protests, but the violence came from outside (hmmm, perhaps the call for war crimes investigations should extend back in time...more later).

What is actually happening in Aleppo is a victory of government forces, aided by its allies, in retaking the part of Aleppo that was held under the severe hand of the Islamic fundamentalist groups. The way the CBC and other western MSM present the story is as if the "moderate" terrorists - which the U.S. failed to identify - were the ones besieged in Aleppo. Certainly the civilians trapped in this "cauldron" (the non-western term used for the surrounding and defeat of the rebel/terrorist groups) have suffered, as they do in all wars. They will continue to suffer until the Assad government - okay call it a regime, which it is just as much as Trudeau's government is a regime considering it governs with only 40 per cent of the populations approval (at last count) - until the government can restore some semblance of security to the city as a whole. The civilians were essentially hostages to the rebel/terrorist forces, not allowed to leave the area, killed if they tried, subject to enforced fundamentalist rules.

In short, Aleppo has not fallen, Aleppo has recovered from its hostage taking by the terrorists. Aleppo has been liberated.

- For sure, all wars are crimes, but how far back do you want to go?

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Hacker

(Image by GH) Details DMCA



In the last few articles I described a soft coup . There is a strong inform and influence operation against the American people still going on. The big question today is whether Russia had any influence on the election.

In a few moments of lucidity, people hired by the originators of the operation weighed in. Their job was not only to destroy media opposing the Ukrainian coup, but weigh results. One of those results show the Democratic National Party hiring Russian propagandists and actors.

"It is entirely possible the DNC hired online trolls, regardless their geographic origin, to undermine the US President Elect, since their party is currently reeling from a crushing loss. Perhaps the DNC is hiring Russian trolls to wage guerilla warfare on Donald Trump's nascent administration. I have no proof, so I put this in the form of a question."- Joel Harding

In response, another senior wrote: "Perhaps we could stop telling the Kremlin their ops were so successful, when there is little evidence their activities did anything to affect the outcome, and now for something completely different. Good news . Russian propaganda is being ignored in the United States."

We know by now that Alexandra Chalupa was the person in charge of the Democratic National Committee's "ethnic outreach" efforts. According to Yahoo News, she was one of the 16 people that shaped the national election in 2016. In the Yahoo story journalist Michael Isikoff described her as a normal person that shaped history.

Alexandra Chalupa has been the voice behind saying Russia illegally interfered with the election. And according to her story, she was almost hacked repeatedly while researching Paul Manafort. The Democrats say this caused the Clinton defeat. No one explained why "researching" Paul Manafort, an American, would excite Russian attention.

Strangely, every article about her neglects to mention that Chalupa and her family are not Democrats as suggested. Instead they are admitted ultra-nationalists bent on sending America to war with Russia by any means possible. And they are vocal about it.

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This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

When Donald Trump enters the Oval Office, awaiting him will not only be his own private air assassination corps (those CIA drones that take out terror suspects globally from a White House "kill list"), but his own private and remarkably secret military. Ever since John F. Kennedy first made the Green Berets into figures of military glamour, there's always been something alluring to presidents about the U.S. military's elite special ops forces.

Still, that was then, this is now. In the twenty-first century, the Special Operations Command, which oversees those elite forces cocooned within the regular military, has gained ever more power to act in ever more independent and secretive ways. In those same years, the country's elite troops, including those Green Berets, the Navy SEALs, and the Army's Delta Force, have grown to staggering proportions, while ever more money has poured into their coffers. There are now an estimated 70,000 of them -- a crew larger than the actual armies of some reasonably sizeable countries -- and from trainers to raiders, advisers to hunter-killers, they now operate yearly in an overwhelming majority of the nations on this planet. Moreover, they generally do so in remarkable secrecy and (as once might have been said of the CIA) their most secretive part, the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), responsible for the killing of Osama bin Laden, is in essence the president's private army.

In these last years, President Obama, who gained a reputation for being chary of war, has nonetheless taken on with evident relish both those special ops forces and the drone assassins, while embracing what Washington Post columnist David Ignatius recently termed the role of "covert commander in chief." Now, in these last weeks of his presidency, his administration has given JSOC new powers to "track, plan, and potentially launch attacks on terrorist cells around the globe" and to do so "outside conventional conflict zones" and via "a new multiagency intelligence and action force." As a result, whatever this new task force may do, it won't, as in the past, have to deal with regional military commands and their commanders at all. Its only responsibility will be to the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and assumedly the White House; even within the military, that is, it will gain a new patina of secrecy and power (while evidently poaching on territory that once was considered the CIA's alone, no small thing at a moment when President-elect Trump is not exactly enamored with that agency).

One of the strangest aspects of the growth of America's special ops forces and their global missions is how little attention those special operators get in the media (unless they want the publicity). The very growth of an enormous secret military, a remarkable development in our American world and a particularly ominous one for the Trumpian years to come, is seldom discussed (no less debated). And all of this, the firepower now available to a president and the potential ability of a commander in chief to wage a global campaign of assassination and make war just about anywhere on Earth, personally and privately, will now be inherited by a man to whom such powers are likely to have real appeal.

In this context, I admit to a certain pride that, thanks to Nick Turse, the exception to the above has been TomDispatch. In these years, due to Turse's work at this website, you could follow, up close and personal, the growing power and operational abilities of America's special operations forces. This was especially true, as with his piece today, of how they have moved, big time, onto a continent that may indeed, in the military's own phrase, be tomorrow's battlefield and yet that we hear next to nothing about. Tom

Commandos Without Borders

America's Elite Troops Partner with African Forces But Pursue U.S. Aims

By Nick Turse Al-Qaeda doesn't care about borders. Neither does the Islamic State or Boko Haram. Brigadier General Donald Bolduc thinks the same way. "[T]errorists, criminals, and non-state actors aren't bound by arbitrary borders," the commander of Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) told an interviewer early this fall. "That said, everything we do is not organized around recognizing traditional borders. In fact, our whole command philosophy is about enabling cross-border solutions, implementing multi-national, collective actions and empowering African partner nations to work across borders to solve problems using a regional approach." A SOCAFRICA planning document obtained by TomDispatch offers a window onto the scope of these "multi-national, collective actions" carried out by America's most elite troops in Africa. The declassified but heavily redacted secret report, covering the years 2012-2017 and acquired via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), details nearly 20 programs and activities -- from training exercises to security cooperation engagements -- utilized by SOCAFRICA across the continent. This wide array of low-profile missions, in addition to named operations and quasi-wars, attests to the growing influence and sprawling nature of U.S. Special Operations forces (SOF) in Africa. How U.S. military engagement will proceed under the Trump administration remains to be seen. The president-elect has said or tweeted little about Africa in recent years (aside from long trading in baseless claims that the current president was born there). Given his choice for national security adviser, Michael Flynn -- a former director of intelligence for Joint Special Operations Command who believes that the United States is in a "world war" with Islamic militants -- there is good reason to believe that Special Operations Command Africa will continue its border-busting missions across that continent. That, in turn, means that Africa is likely to remain crucial to America's nameless global war on terror. Publicly, the command claims that it conducts its operations to "promote regional stability and prosperity," while Bolduc emphasizes that its missions are geared toward serving the needs of African allies. The FOIA files make clear, however, that U.S. interests are the command's principal and primary concern -- a policy in keeping with the America First mindset and mandate of incoming commander-in-chief Donald J. Trump -- and that support to "partner nations" is prioritized to suit American, not African, needs and policy goals. Shades of Gray Bolduc is fond of saying that his troops -- Navy SEALs and Army Green Berets, among others -- operate in the "gray zone," or what he calls "the spectrum of conflict between war and peace." Another of his favored stock phrases is: "In Africa, we are not the kinetic solution" -- that is, not pulling triggers and dropping bombs. He also regularly takes pains to say that "we are not at war in Africa -- but our African partners certainly are." That is not entirely true. Earlier this month, in fact, a White House report made it clear, for instance, that "the United States is currently using military force" in Somalia. At about the same moment, the New York Times revealed an imminent Obama administration plan to deem al-Shabab "to be part of the armed conflict that Congress authorized against the perpetrators of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to senior American officials," strengthening President-elect Donald Trump's authority to carry out missions there in 2017 and beyond.

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A new large photo book has just been published called Un-American: The Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II.

People who support creating a Muslim registry should take a look. Here are the victims before, in their small farms and their LA mansions. Here they are being forcibly removed. Here they are incarcerated. Here is what was done to their homes in their absence. Here they are in the camps, prisoners for nothing, and after their release.

To this day, no proof has ever been produced that any Japanese American planned to assist Japan in war against the United States in any way. Nor was there reason to think so at the time. Instead there was open admission of racist and greedy motivations on the part of government officials and white farmers respectively.

These photographs were the U.S. government's own documentation of its crime, and the hired photographers included Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange and others with the talent to capture stories in stills. The accompanying text by Richard Cahan and Michael Williams expands one's understanding.

In 1936 President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the creation by the Office of Naval Intelligence of a list of Japanese-Americans who would be the "first to be placed in a concentration camp" once a war could be started.

In 1939 FDR ordered the ONI and the FBI to create a larger "custodial detention index" of primarily Japanese-, German-, and Italian-Americans, renamed and continued as the "security index" by J. Edgar Hoover after Attorney General Francis Biddle ordered it shut down.

The Alien Registration Act of 1940 required all non-citizen adults to register with the government. In early 1941 FDR commissioned a study of West coast Japanese-Americans, which concluded that they were no threat at all. He commissioned another study that reached the same conclusion.

On November 26, 1941, Roosevelt secretly ordered the creation of a list by Henry Field of Japanese and Japanese Americans.

On December 7, 1941, FDR issued a proclamation stripping Japanese in the United States of rights (and the very next day for Germans and Italians).

Within 24 hours of the Pearl Harbor and other Japanese attacks, the FBI broke into enough homes on its list to forcibly remove 1,212 Japanese Americans.

On January 14, 1942, FDR proclaimed that enemy aliens could be put in internment camps. On February 19, 1942, he ordered the internment of citizens and non-citizens alike.

From 1980 to 1983 a Congressional commission studied the history and concluded that Japanese-Americans and Japanese had been locked up in camps, not due to any evidence of a threat, but on the basis of racism and bigotry. The commission recommended $20,000 in reparations to each victim. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation authorizing those reparations payments, and apologizing to the victims. This law acknowledged "race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership" as the factors that motivated the crime.

In 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed a law appropriating more finds for reparations payments. On the anniversary of Pearl Harbor he issued another formal apology, which included this claim: "The internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry was a great injustice, and it will never be repeated."

In 2000, a memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., that includes, carved in stone, these words:

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From Smirking Chimp, Original at Truthout

Under President Trump, Americans are entering an historical conjuncture in which intolerant and racist ideologues are ascending to top White House posts.

Some of the most egregious appointments thus far have included Jeff Sessions as attorney general, Stephen Bannon as chief White House strategist, Mike Pompeo as head of the CIA and Tom Price as secretary of health and human services. All of these men are poised to promote policies that will increase the misery, suffering and policing of the vulnerable, sick and poor.

In increasingly overt ways, racism is becoming the major ideological force for establishing terror as a weapon of governance. Not only did Trump make "law and order" a central motif of his presidential campaign, he also amplified its meaning in his attacks on the Black Lives Matter movement and his depiction of Black neighborhoods as cauldrons of criminal behavior.

The repressive racial state is certain to intensify and expand under Jeff Sessions -- a strong advocate of mass incarceration and the death penalty, and a white nationalist spokesman for the Old South. The Nation's Ari Berman observes that Sessions is "the fiercest opponent in the Senate of immigration reform, a centerpiece of Trump's agenda, and has a long history of opposition to civil rights, dating back to his days as a US Attorney in Alabama in the 1980s."

Sessions has a long history of racist rhetoric, insults and practices, including opposing the Voting Rights Act and addressing a Black lawyer as "boy." He was denied a federal judgeship in the 1980s because his colleagues claimed that he made racist remarks on a number of occasions. Sessions has also called organizations, such as the ACLU, NAACP and the National Council of Churches "un-American" because of their emphasis on civil rights, which he has portrayed as being shoved down the throats of the American public. He was also accused of falsely prosecuting Black political activists in Alabama for voting fraud.

Sessions' racism often merges with his religious fundamentalism. As Miranda Blue observes, he has "dismissed immigration reform as 'ethnic politics' and warned that allowing too many immigrants would create 'cultural problems' in the country. Earlier this year, he cherry-picked a couple of Bible verses to claim that the position of his opponents on the immigration issue is 'not biblical.'"

Under Sessions, a racist militarism is set to serve as an organizing principle to legitimate ultra-nationalist endeavors to create a society strongly shaped by white nationalists. As Andrew Kaczynski points out, Sessions made his racist principles clear while appearing on the Matt & Aunie talk radio show on WAPI.

Sessions has praised Trump's stance on capital punishment by pointing to Trump's "1989 newspaper ads advocating the death penalty for five young men of color accused of raping a jogger in Central Park." Sessions made these comments knowing full well that the Central Park Five were not only exonerated by DNA evidence after serving many years in jail, but were also awarded a wrongful conviction settlement, which ran into millions of dollars. Moreover, Sessions was aware that Trump had later criticized the settlement calling it a disgrace, while suggesting that the Central Park Five were guilty of a crime for which they should not have been acquitted in spite of the testimony of Matias Reyes, who confessed to raping and attacking the victim.

Sessions' racism was on full display when he stated in the interview that Trump "believes in law and order and he has the strength and will to make this country safer." He then added: "The biggest benefits from that, really, are poor people in the neighborhoods that are most dangerous, where most of the crime is occurring." Trump's tweets falsely alleging voter fraud in order to defend the ludicrous claim that he won the popular vote is ominous because they suggest that in the future he could allow Sessions to make it more difficult for poor minorities to vote.

At the same time, Sessions is far from an anomaly and only one of a number of prominent officials appointed in the Trump administration who are overtly racist and run the gamut in arguing for a Muslim registry, to suppressing voter rights, to producing social and economic policies that target immigrants and Black people.

For example, Trump's appointment of Stephen Bannon as senior counselor and chief White House strategist is deeply disturbing. Bannon is an incendiary figure whom critics as politically diverse as Glenn Beck and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont have accused of being a racist, sexist, anti-Semite. While the head of Breitbart News, Bannon courted white nationalists, neo-Nazi groups and other far-right extremists. In doing so, Amy Goodman points out, he helped to rebrand "white supremacy [and] white nationalism, for the digital age" under the euphemistic brand of the "alt-right."

Bannon is on record stating that only property owners should vote; stating to his ex-wife that he did not want his twin daughters "to go to school with Jews;" calling conservative commentator Bill Kristol a "Republican spoiler, renegade Jew;" and publishing incendiary headlines on Breitbart's website, such as "Would you rather your child had feminism or cancer?" and "Birth control makes women unattractive and crazy."

What we see in Trump and his advisers and appointees is an America that embraces the values and ideals of an ultra-nationalist and militarized white public sphere. Even before Trump takes office, the threat of authoritarianism is becoming visible, "exploding in our face, through racist attacks on school children, the proliferation of swastikas around the country, name-calling, death threats, and a general atmosphere of hate," in the words of Rebecca Gould.

Given the vice-president-elect's abysmal record on women's issues, there is also little doubt that the war on women's reproductive rights will accelerate under the Trump administration. As NARAL Pro-Choice America Senior Vice President Sasha Bruce has observed, "With the selection of Tom Price as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donald Trump is sending a clear signal that he intends to punish women who seek abortion care. Tom Price is someone who has made clear throughout his career that ... he wants to punish us for the choices we make for our bodies, our futures, and our families."

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From Smirking Chimp

-- Thom Hartmann show transcript

Thom Hartmann: Hello. I'm Thom Hartmann, in Washington DC. Welcome to the Big Picture.

If you watched any of Donald Trump's rallies this year, you might have heard him rant and rave against China. The way he put it -- and continues to put it -- China is America's mortal enemy, an adversary for the 21st century and beyond. Donald Trump, however, isn't the only person who appears to think this way.

The so-called "pivot to Asia" that President Obama made the centerpiece of his long-term foreign policy agenda was also predicated in large part on the idea that China is a potential adversary that needs to be countered -- perhaps by force. But is China really our enemy? Or are we just turning them into one? And are we risking nuclear annihilation in the process?

These questions are at the heart of "The Coming War On China" -- a shocking new documentary by legendary filmmaker John Pilger, that is airing in the United States exclusively here on RT America with its premiere Saturday night at 9pm Eastern, 6pm Pacific time.

John Pilger joins us now from our London studios. John, welcome to the program.

John Pilger: Thank you, Thom.

Thom Hartmann: You start out this documentary not by talking about China, but with a long section about US nuclear testing in the Pacific. Why was that?

John Pilger: Well, it's about the possibility, if not the prospect, of nuclear war. The issue of nuclear war and the risk of nuclear war was said to have gone away. It never went away, of course, and we're reminded by this current situation with China and also with Russia, of course, two nuclear-armed powers. The whole Cold War issue that so consumed us, the possibility of us, of facing a nuclear Armageddon, that's very much an issue now.

The whole issue with China is, I mean, I would use that rather bland word "unnecessary." But it's happened and what's interesting is that it's happened, it's been happening for some years but it's almost as if it's only just been noticed. There has been quite a bit of news both in the US and over here about China building air strips in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and almost nothing about the fact that the US has surrounded China with some four hundred military bases that stretch all the way from Australia through the Pacific up through Asia, Korea, Japan and across Eurasia.

And that's one of the, probably the most revealing maps I've used in the documentary, based on David Vine's excellent research in Base Nation which shows China encircled as if by some noose and these are, as I say, warships, bombers, battle groups. The US Navy has low draft ships just outside Chinese waters. This is the kind of provocation, the kind of scenario if you like, just before a war.

But why? It makes no sense and of course it's all about dominance and the US feeling insecure, at least the administrations in the US feeling that they, their position as top dog in the world is being challenged.

Thom Hartmann: You in the movie describe an incident in Okinawa during the Cuban Missile Crisis that, you know, I was alive during the Cuban Missile Crisis, I had no recollection of that or had that story ever been told. Tell us about that. And what should that incident tell us?

John Pilger: Well, it's interesting isn't it? You're right, I was also alive then and I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis very well. And there was no suggestion of a possible threat in the East. But in fact what happened was, and we have one of the former missileers who gave a testimony to a United Nations Committee that a false order was received in a Mace missile site on Okinawa. These Mace missiles were aimed at China and at North Korea. A couple were aimed at the Soviet Union but mostly at China.

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*T*his is yet another example of the corruption of the mainstream media. If you like this blog's content please subscribe to our mailing at upper right c...
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...
Meteorologist Paul Douglas writes about Minnesota weather daily, trying to go beyond the "highs" and "lows" of the weather story to discuss current trends and some of the how's and why's of meteorology. Rarely is our weather dull - every day is a new forecast challenge. Why is the weather doing what it's doing? Is climate change a real concern, and if so, how will my family be affected? Climate is flavoring all weather now, and I'll include links to timely stories that resonate with me.
Credit: University of Queensland

Well-meaning people could do more harm than good by 'rescuing' baby birds they find on the ground, warn University of Queensland veterinarians.

UQ School of Veterinary Science experts say that  as difficult as it may be  resisting the urge to save a baby bird found on the ground is often the best thing you can do.

Associate Professor Bob Doneley of the UQ VETS Small Animal Hospital said summer storms often blow trees and branches down, unceremoniously dumping baby birds in their nests on the ground.

"If you find a fallen nest, the best thing to do is put it back in a nearby tree or shrub so the baby birds are out of harm's way and the parents can find their offspring," Dr Doneley said.

"Sometimes baby birds land on the ground while they're learning to fly, so in these situations just observe the bird for a short time to see if its parents return to feed it.

"If the bird is alone, injured or in danger from cats, dogs or road traffic, then take it to a vet or call a wildlife carer to look after it.

"They'll need to know exactly where you found the bird so they can release it in this spot later on."

Associate Professor Doneley said well-intentioned people sometimes removed the chicks of ground-dwelling birds such as masked lapwings (plovers), as they considered them abandoned.

"The parents are coming back to their chicks, so please leave them where you found them," he said.

Wildlife work is not paid for by the government, so if you find injured wildlife please consider leaving a donation for the care organisation or the Wildlife and Emergency Care Fund.

"We are always grateful for donations to care for our native animals," Dr Doneley said.
Artists conception of comet approaching Earth-like planet. The explosion of a comet near our planets surface, it was proposed, might have lofted enough dust and debris into Earths atmosphere to temporarily dim the sun. Credit: Shutterstock

It all began innocently enough. Tyrone Daulton, a physicist with the Institute for Materials Science and Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, was studying stardust, tiny specks of heat-resistant minerals thought to have condensed from the gases exhaled by dying stars. Among the minerals that make up stardust are tiny diamonds.

In 2007, Richard Kerr, a writer for the journal Science, knowing Daulton's expertise, called to ask whether nanodiamonds found in sediments could be evidence of an ancient impact.

Daulton said it was possible the heat and pressure of such a cataclysm could convert carbon in Earth's crust to diamond, but asked to see the paper, which had been published in Science.

The Science paper argued that a shower of exploding comet fragments over the North American ice sheet had triggered a sudden climate reversal called the Younger Dryas. Having read the paper, Daulton told the reporter, "It looks interesting, [but] there's not enough information in this paper to say whether they found diamonds."

Since then, Daulton has periodically been asked to evaluate Younger Dryas sediments for nanodiamonds. In the issue of the Journal of Quaternary Science released online Dec.19, he reviews the accumulated evidence and reports on his own analysis of new samples from California and Belgium.

For the second time in 10 years, Daulton has carefully reviewed the evidence, and found no evidence for a spike in nanodiamond concentration in Younger Dryas sediments. Since nanodiamonds are the strongest piece of evidence for the impact hypothesis, their absence effectively discredits it.

And so a great idea apparently has been brought low by the humblest of evidence.

What went wrong?

Three arrangements of carbon atoms: diamond (left), graphite (middle), and lonsdaleite (right). Credit: Michael Strock

Nanodiamonds, it bears emphasizing, are tinysmaller than bacteria. Impact supporters often claim to find them inside small spheres of carbon, and those spheres are about the size of the period at the end of this sentence.

Even so, how is it possible for some scientists to find diamonds in samples and others to find none? One answer is that carbon atoms can arrange themselves in many different configurations. These arrangements, which make the difference between pencil lead and diamond, can be confused with one another.

Impact supporters often claim to have found lonsdaleite, a rare form of diamond that has a hexagonal rather than the common, cubic atomic structure. "Lonsdaleite is usually reported in the literature associated with impact sites or in meteorites that were shock processed," Daulton said. "It can also be formed by detonation in the laboratory, so the presence of lonsdaleite to me would be a strong suggestion of an impact."

But when he examined Younger Dryas samples reported to contain lonsdaleite, Daulton couldn't find it. Instead, he found aggregates of single-atom-thick sheets of carbon atoms (graphene) and sheets of carbon atoms with attached hydrogen atoms (graphane) that looked "very, very similar to lonsdaleite." So the claim of lonsdaleite was based on a misidentification: Daulton published this result in 2010.

End of story? Not so fast.

In 2014, a group of researchers reported that they had found a nanodiamond-rich sediment layer that spanned three continents. While claiming to find cubic and hexagonal diamond, they also claimed to find much more abundant n-diamond, a controversial form of diamond characterized by electron diffraction patterns similar to diamond, but with extra "forbidden" reflections that diamond does not exhibit.

Pulled back into the controversy, Daulton again found no diamond or n-diamond in the samples from the Younger Dryas horizon. What he found instead was nanocrystalline copper, which produces diffraction patterns just like the controversial n-diamond.

Daulton also attempted to reproduce the analyses that found a spike in the concentration of nanodiamonds at the Younger Dryas but found flaws in the methodology that invalidated the result.

Paradoxically it was Daulton's experience finding nanodiamonds in stardust that prepared him not to find them in sediments.
Credit: Farmersalmanac

December is a month of celebration throughout the world and across cultures and religions.

Perhaps one of the most widely observed religious holidays in December is Christmas. Bright stars top many Christmas trees symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem, more commonly called the Christmas Star. It is mentioned in the Bible as the star which led the three wise men to the small town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

But was the Christmas Star really a star or some other astronomical occurrence?

Florida International University astronomy Professor Caroline Simpson provides scientific insight into what may explain the Christmas Star phenomenon.

Likely a stationary object. For an object in the sky to be useful for navigation over a period of days or weeks, it needs to be relatively stationary in the sky from night to nightdisregarding the apparent motion of the sky from east to west due to the Earth's Rotation. This rules out transient objects like meteors, or what most recognize as shooting stars, which last for mere seconds.

For an object in the sky to be useful for navigation over a period of days or weeks, it needs to be relatively stationary in the sky from night to nightdisregarding the apparent motion of the sky from east to west due to the Earth's Rotation. This rules out transient objects like meteors, or what most recognize as shooting stars, which last for mere seconds. Not a comet. Although a comet could appear motionless over days, comets were well known at the time and usually well documented by various cultures. More importantly, comets were generally regarded as harbingers of ill omen during the time of Jesus. It's safe to say any wise man would not have followed a comet. More likely, they would have gone the other way.

Although a comet could appear motionless over days, comets were well known at the time and usually well documented by various cultures. More importantly, comets were generally regarded as harbingers of ill omen during the time of Jesus. It's safe to say any wise man would not have followed a comet. More likely, they would have gone the other way. A nova or supernova? A nova suddenly brightens for a few days then slowly returns to its original state. A supernova is an explosion of a massive star that is visible for weeks. Both could have been possible, but these also tended to be well-documented and the only one noted at the time was in the wrong direction of the sky for the wise men to follow.

A nova suddenly brightens for a few days then slowly returns to its original state. A supernova is an explosion of a massive star that is visible for weeks. Both could have been possible, but these also tended to be well-documented and the only one noted at the time was in the wrong direction of the sky for the wise men to follow. A planetary conjunction. The most likely explanation is a planetary conjunctionwhen one or more planets appear very close together in the sky. If it involved Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, it would be visible for a few days or longer if it involved only Saturn and Jupiter as they move more slowly through the sky. There were some conjunctions during the right time period and in the right direction in the sky.

Simpson cautions these are all just likely scenarios. There is no indisputable scientific proof or evidence for a definite conclusion. Until such discovery occurs, the Christmas Star will continue to be a mystery that only faith can explain.

Simpson studies how galaxies and the universe evolve over time. She is the recipient of the 2016 Richard H. Emmons Award for excellence in college astronomy teaching and one of the first physics professors at FIU to transform a basic introductory astronomy course for non-science majors into an active learning class.
Geochemists use IEDA data in their research and contribute to its growing databases. Credit: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Most research databases are narrowly focused. They might contain only seismic data from earthquakes, for example, or chemical data from volcanic rocks. The Interdisciplinary Earth Data Alliance (IEDA) set out to create a different kind of research experience, and the result is fueling groundbreaking multi-disciplinary discoveries worldwide.

Created and managed by scientists at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, IEDA brings together diverse datasets from across geochemistry and marine geoscience into one system. Importantly, it provides the tools that allow scientists from a wide range of fields to easily search for and explore relationships among many different kinds of data.

"This is a new era of data mining," said IEDA Director Kerstin Lehnert, a geochemist and Doherty Senior Research Scientist at Lamont. Lehnert will be leading several sessions exploring advances in data preservation and storage this week at the American Geophysical Union's Fall Meeting in San Francisco. Two of those sessions will be streamed live online.

"Through IEDA, scientists can find the natural samples, the composition, the geochemistry of the samples. If you need to know the structure of the crust underneath those samples, you can get to the seismic data. You can check if there are experimental results for chemical composition from close to these rocks that can tell you where they come from. Are there any dated rocks? Where is geochronology in this particular area? The data starts to be networked, and it comes together in IEDA," Lehnert said.

Before IEDA, these kinds of data were largely inaccessible, often stored on scientists' local computers, in their lab notebooks, or fragmented throughout the scientific journals. By bringing the data together in an easily searchable format, IEDA has created a way for researchers to quickly access thousands of values for analysis and comparison. Two scientists were recently able to document a link between deep Earth geochemistry and a rise in oxygen in Earth's atmosphere by downloading 70,000 samples of continental igneous rock geochemistry from IEDA. Finding all the data would have taken years before IEDA was created.

"Integrating different kinds of observations and observations made from many different regions in order to gain a global perspective is a powerful way to gain new insights into science problems," said IEDA Associate Director Suzanne Carbotte, a marine geophysicist and Bruce C. Heezen Lamont Research Professor.

Transforming 21st Century Science

IEDA combines EarthChem, the world's largest geochemistry database, with the Marine Geoscience Data System, which serves data for studies of seafloor and deeper crust and mantle processes.

The Marine Geoscience Data Systems high-resolution images provide detailed views of sea mounts like these and other sections of the seafloor. About 8 percent of the seafloor has been mapped to 100-meter resolution like this. Credit: GeoMapApp

EarthChem started as the petrology database PetDB at Lamont in 1996, when relational databases were just beginning to be developed. Today it includes several partner databases and some 400,000 samples and 20 million analytical values from across geochemistry, along with the tools to mine the collections. The EarthChem Portal also connects with other large databases, including Germany's GeoRock, a database in Japan, and the U.S. Geological Survey's national geochemical database, allowing IEDA users to search across all these major databases at once.

The Marine Geoscience Data System traces its origins to the early 1990s, when Lamont oceanographer Bill Ryan launched a first-of its-kind web-accessible database of seafloor bathymetry data. Building upon this early resource, the Marine Geoscience Data System serves a wide range of marine geoscience data collected by research ships and other platforms, including data back to 1954. It includes global bathymetry data, seafloor imagery, seismic data that provide cross-sectional views beneath the seafloor, as well as other multidisciplinary data from a series of national research programs.

The IEDA system is also uniquely equipped to incorporate smaller, niche data sets, which it then makes open and accessible through interactive, map-based interfaces and other tools.

One focus is compiling what are known as "long-tail" data: what scientists do with observational data in their labs and how they analyze it.

"A lot of what people do with different data sets in their labs can be very innovative and unique and new," said Vicki Ferrini, an oceanographer who works with IEDA's marine geophysics data. "It all gets out through scientific publications, interpretations of it get out, but actually making the data that supports those publications accessible and reusable and into something that can be built upon is what we're really aspiring to do."

Understanding the Data Needs of Scientists

Part of IEDA's success stems from its team's close connections to science. Lehnert, Carbotte, and many of the IEDA team members are scientists who are intimately familiar with scientific workflows and how scientists search for and analyze data. They know what scientists need and how to customize solutions and incorporate different types of results.

In addition to the repositories and analysis tools, IEDA has identification systems that link published papers to their original data and samples. Openness of data is critical to scientists' ability to test theories and reproduce results, and data management plans are now required by the National Science Foundation, which supports IEDA. IEDA also makes data and samples available for reuse so scientists don't have to collect the same kinds of data from the same location again, saving time and money.

"IEDA builds upon Lamont's rich legacy of acquiring diverse multidisciplinary data to address science questions that dates back to the earliest days of Doc Ewing and the globally ranging expeditions of Lamont ships," Carbotte said. Maurice "Doc" Ewing, Lamont's founding director, ordered all ocean expeditions to routinely collect diverse sets of geoscience and oceanographic data. When new scientific questions arose, data and samples were often there for analysis.

"We're making the data available, and people can take the data for whatever they need," Lehnert said.

Provided by Earth Institute, Columbia University

This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University: blogs.ei.columbia.edu/
Aedes aegypti mosquito. Credit: University of Liverpool

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have shown that a change in weather patterns, brought on by the 'Godzilla' El Nino of 2015, fuelled the Zika outbreak in South America.

The findings were revealed using a new epidemiological model that looked at how climate affects the spread of Zika virus by both of its major vectors, the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus).

The model can also be used to predict the risk of future outbreaks, and help public health officials tailor mosquito control measures and travel advice.

The model used the worldwide distribution of both vectors as well as temperature-dependent factors, such as mosquito biting rates, mortality rates and viral development rates within mosquitoes, to predict the effect of climate on virus transmission. It found that in 2015, when the Zika outbreak occurred, the risk of transmission was greatest in South America.

The researchers believe that this was likely due to a combination of El Nino - a naturally occurring phenomenon that sees above-normal temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and causes extreme weather around the world - and climate change, creating conducive conditions for the mosquito vectors.

El Ninos occur every three to seven years in varying intensity, with the 2015 El Nino, nicknamed the 'Godzilla', one of the strongest on record. Effects can include severe drought, heavy rains and temperature rises at global scale.

Dr Cyril Caminade, a population and epidemiology researcher who led the work, said: "It's thought that the Zika virus probably arrived in Brazil from Southeast Asia or the Pacific islands in 2013.

"However, our model suggests that it was temperature conditions related to the 2015 El Nino that played a key role in igniting the outbreak - almost two years after the virus was believed to be introduced on the continent."

"In addition to El Nino, other critical factors might have played a role in the amplification of the outbreak, such as the non-exposed South American population, the risk posed by travel and trade, the virulence of the Zika virus strain and co-infections with other viruses such as dengue."

The World Health Organisation recently declared that Zika, which has been linked to birth defects and neurological complications, will no longer be treated as an international emergency, but as a "significant enduring public health challenge."

Professor Matthew Baylis, from the University's Institute of Infection and Global Health, added: "Zika is not going away, and so the development of tools that could help predict potential future outbreaks and spread are extremely important.

"Our model predicts a potential seasonal transmission risk for Zika virus, in the south eastern United States, southern China, and to a lesser extent over southern Europe during summer."

The researchers now plan to adapt the model to other important flaviviruses, such as Chikungunya and Dengue fever, with the aim of developing disease early warning systems that could help public health officials prepare for, or even prevent, future outbreaks.

The research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, a collaboration between the University of Liverpool, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Public Health England.

The paper 'Global risk model for vector-borne transmission of Zika virus reveals the role of El Nino 2015' is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Clockwise from top right, the genomes of a human, chimpanzee, mouse and zebrafish are arranged in a circle. Each colored square at the outside of the circle corresponds to a pair of chromosomes, the threadlike packages of DNA stored in the nucleus. Lines connect similar DNA sequences, visually emphasizing just how much DNA humans share with other species. The density of the connections indicates that humans have more in common with chimpanzees than zebrafish. Credit: Martin Krzywinski, Canadas Michel Smith Genome Sciences Center

Have you ever collected coins, cards, toy trains, stuffed animals? Did you feel the need to complete the set? If so, then you may be a completist. A completist will go to great lengths to acquire a complete set of something.

Scientists can also be completists who are inspired to identify and catalog every object in a particular field to further our understanding of it. For example, a comprehensive parts list of the human bodyand of other organisms that are important in biomedical researchcould aid in the development of novel treatments for diseases in the same way that a parts list for a car enables auto mechanics to build or repair a vehicle.

More than 15 years ago, scientists figured out how to catalog every gene in the human body. In the years since, rapid advances in technology and computational tools have allowed researchers to begin to categorize numerous aspects of the biological world. There's actually a special way to name these collections: Add "ome" to the end of the class of objects being compiled. So, the complete set of genes in the body is called the "genome," and the complete set of proteins is called the "proteome."

Below are three -omes that NIH-funded scientists work with to understand human health.

Genome

The genome is the original -ome. In 1976, Belgium scientists identified all 3,569 DNA basesthe As, Cs, Gs and Ts that make up DNA's codein the genes of bacteriophage MS2, immortalizing this bacteria-infecting virus as possessing the first fully sequenced genome.

Laura Kiessling , a professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, studies how carbohydrate coats are assembled and how cells use these coats to tell friend from foe. The implications of her research suggest strategies for targeting tumors, fighting diseases of inflammation and, as she discusses in this video, developing new classes of antibiotics. Credit: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Over the next two decades, a small handful of additional genomes from other microorganisms followed. The first animal genome was completed in 1998. Just 5 years later, scientists identified all 3.2 billion DNA bases in the human genome, representing the work of more than 1,000 researchers from six countries over a period of 13 years.

As more individuals' genomes have been sequenced, scientists have found that humans share 99.5% of their genome with each other. However, small differences can be quite important. As the cost of sequencing genomes has plummeted from an initial $3 billion to the current $1,000, scientists are sequencing the genomes of individuals as well as those of additional organisms used to investigate biological questions.

And all the effort has started to pay off. Genomics is beginning to reveal many of the basic components of cells and their interactions. Already, researchers are linking the presence of certain genes in the genome to specific diseases. Furthering our understanding of the genome will have a profound impact on the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Also, comparing the genomes of related and disparate species can shed light on how species evolve over time.

Composed of two layers of lipids (small brown spheres) studded with proteins (bigger purple spheroids), cell membranes form a barrier around cells. Credit: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Lipidome

The lipidome is the collection of all the lipids, or fat molecules, within a cell. Cells use lipids to form a continuous lipid membrane around themselves and to separate their inner organelles from each other. These cellular membranes aren't simply for protection. They're also highly organized and dynamic work zones, seeded with proteins that help regulate the way cells attach to other cells, talk to each other, collect nutrients and grow.

The lipid membranes inside the cell can similarly act as points of contact between cellular compartments, and they're involved in nearly every aspect of cellular physiology and function. Recent experiments have revealed hundreds of distinct types of lipids produced by cells. The lipidome has also been found to be remarkably flexible. It's capable of rapid, large- and small-scale rearrangements in response to different situations, including early development and disease. In the case of development, lipids within the membrane reorganize as a cell grows. In the case of disease, viruses delivering their infectious payloads can slam into and rupture the lipid membrane of human cells, causing localized reshuffling.

Disturbances to the lipid components of cellular membranes are associated with diverse diseases, including cardiovascular disease, autoimmunity, osteoporosis, neurological disorders and cancer. Experiments investigating the lipidome of specific cells with known roles in particular diseases could help researchers identify novel treatments.

Thousands of glycans protrude from the bacterium Bactillus subtillus, forming a unique carbohydrate coat. Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Allonweiner

Glycome

The glycome is the complete set of glycans, also known as carbohydrates or sugars, that cells produce. Many of these glycans are linked to proteins and lipids on cell surfaces, where they can interact with molecules on other cells. Single sugars can also act as signaling molecules inside cells, altering gene editing, protein folding and other cellular functions.

A recent study of 650 different species suggests that about 5% of an organism's DNA codes for the proteins that synthesize, degrade and/or recognize and bind to carbohydrates. Mutations in these genes can result in the dysfunction of many organs, underscoring the importance of carbohydrates to human health. In addition, changes in the patterns of glycans in a person's cells can be an indication of a range of diseases, including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular disease. One day, scientists may use imaging techniques to rapidly identify a cell's glycome to diagnose specific kinds of cancer, for example.

Cells also use the glycans on their outer surface, commonly referred to as "carbohydrate coats," to recognize one another. Likewise, viruses can recognize and bind to carbohydrate coats. By analyzing the carbohydrate binding properties of the flu virus, researchers have been able to design antiviral drugs that interfere with the virus' ability to infect our cells.

Provided by National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
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This is the latest in a series of posts about the 1916 presidential election between Democratic incumbent Woodrow Wilson and Republican challenger Charles Evans Hughes, a Glens Falls native.

The vote of the militia on the (Mexican) border may prove the deciding factor in the election, the New York Tribune reported on Nov. 9, 1916, the day after the close vote which Hughes was leading on election night but Wilson took a narrow lead the next day.

Minnesota, one of the states that was too close to call, had 4,037 National Guardsmen at the border, according to War Department figures.

California, another state that was too close to call, had 460 men at the border.

It is estimated by officials that about four-fifths of the Guard is voting age, the Tribune reported.

However, not all states had procedures for soldiers to vote while mobilized outside their home state.

New Hampshire, for example, had about 1,300 men at the border, but did not have a procedure for them to vote.

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.
Queensbury 3rd Ward Councilman Doug Irish will introduce a resolution at the Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday to eliminate the position of deputy supervisor, as Supervisor John Strough is poised to replace Deputy Supervisor William Van Ness.

Irish said the two town government actions are coincidence.

"In talking to the other Town Board members, I really don't see a need for that position. Any one of us can fill in that role in the absence of the supervisor," Irish said in a telephone interview on Monday.

All Town Board members have the authority to sign checks, and there it is not necessary to have a specific individual designated to lead meetings when the supervisor is absent.

The Town Board established the deputy supervisor position in 1975.

Usually the deputy supervisor has been a Town Board member, but not always, and it is not required.

Strough recently proposed increasing the annual salary of deputy supervisor from $1,400 to $5,000, so the deputy supervisor can take a larger role in leading supervisor initiatives.

"I really don't know that's a good use of taxpayer money at point for a placeholder position that we don't need," Irish said.

Strough said earlier Monday he will not reappoint 4th Ward Councilman William VanNess as deputy supervisor for 2017.

Strough, in an interview at Town Hall, said he recently told VanNess he will not reappoint him because VanNess voted to replace the town's long-time law firm, which Strough voted to keep.

Strough said the deputy supervisor must share the supervisor's vision for the town.

"I told Bill I can't have him as deputy supervisor if he doesn't have my back," Strough said.

Strough said he intends to appoint 1st Ward Councilman Anthony Metivier deputy supervisor, if the Town Board does not eliminate the position.

Strough is a Democrat. VanNess and Metivier are both Republicans.

Strough and Metivier, in November, voted against replacing the town's law firm. Irish, VanNess and 2nd Ward Councilman Brian Clements voted to replace the town's law firm.

Irish said his proposal to eliminate the deputy supervisor position is coincidental with Strough's decision to replace VanNess as deputy supervisor.

"That resolution was in last week prior, to my knowledge, John making any kind change in the deputy supervisor's office. My intent for the last few months was to get rid of that position," he said.

Irish said the proposal is the start of an increased focus on streamlining town government.

"I'm going to work towards streamlining town government over the next 12 months. That won't be the last position we eliminated in the town," he said.
Vermont State Police said Monday morning that investigators have located and arrested a man who was believed to have been a witness to a fatal shooting a day earlier in Poultney, Vermont.

Jonathan Testa, 21, was questioned by police late Sunday or early Monday in connection with the death of 19-year-old Daniel Hein.

Testa was charged with assault and robbery, aggravated assault burglary, possession of stolen property, petty larceny, false personation and involuntary manslaughter, Vermont State Police said.

Police believe Testa was one of four young men in a vehicle parked were in a vehicle parked in a driveway on Roberts Avenue in Poultney when Hein was shot in the head with a semiautomatic handgun early Sunday morning.

Former Granville High School student William Bailey, 19, of Poultney, was charged with manslaughter later Sunday. No one else has been charged in connection with causing Heins death.

Bailey was charged with manslaughter instead of murder because he is not alleged to have intentionally killed Hein, authorities said. Instead, it was believed he was handling a gun that he did not know was loaded.

The fourth man who was in the car, Dylan Czarnecki, 21, of Poultney, was jailed on a probation violation charge later Sunday. He was charged with felony aggravated assault in Poultney last April, and was on probation before that for an unspecified offense, officials said.

An electronic monitoring bracelet that he was supposed to be wearing had been cut off and was recovered by police in Hampton, authorities said.

Police are investigating what the men were doing in the car at 1:30 Sunday morning.

Bailey pleaded not guilty to the charge Monday in Rutland, Vermont District Court and was sent to Marble Valley Correctional Facility for lack of bail. Under Vermont law, manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Vermont State Police did not respond to requests for comment on the case Monday.

Poultney is the town that sits just east of Hampton along the state line.

A call to Granville Central School about Baileys tenure there was not returned Monday.

New York State Police assisted Vermont State Police and Fair Haven, Vermont Police with the investigation.
POULTNEY, Vt.  State Police have charged a former Granville High School student with manslaughter in the death of a Poultney, Vermont, man Sunday.

William Bailey, 19, of Poultney, Vermont, was charged and held by the Department of Corrections. Police said he allegedly shot Daniel Hein, 19, with a semiautomatic handgun.

According to a State Police news release, members of the Poultney Rescue Squad were called for a report of a man who had been shot at a residence on Roberts Avenue.

When police and rescue workers got there, they found Hein dead of an apparent gunshot wound in a vehicle in a driveway.

State Police said there were four men in the car, including Bailey and Hein.

Bailey is being held on no bail and will be arraigned Monday in Rutland, Vermont.

The incident is under investigation by members of Troop C Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Major Crime Unit.

One of the additional vehicle occupants, Dylan Czarnecki, 21, of Poultney, Vermont, was taken into custody on probation violations.

A fourth man who was in the car is being sought as a potential witness. He was identified as Jonathan Testa, 21, of Poultney, Vermont. Anyone with information as to the location of Testa is asked to contact the State Police in Rutland.

More information regarding details in the investigation will be released in the charging affidavit following arraignment Monday.
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The move forms part of efforts to maintain its position as the largest electronics company in Africa and to ensure consumers have easy access to world-class innovative electronic appliance and smart devices.

The new premium brand store, a magnificent building which can be spotted at Ring Road Central Former Alibert Building, near Paloma Hotel (about 200 meters away from the Kwame Nkrumah interchange, Circle, Accra) comes with a product experience zone and full range of Samsung Digital Appliances and other Smart devices to give customers true satisfaction. It also seek to offer consumers the exclusive opportunities to experience the latest range of Samsungs luxury products which include the Ultra High Definition Television (SUHD TVs), the worlds fastest cooling Triangle and Jet Engine Air Conditioners amongst others.

Speaking at a media launch prior to opening, Business Leader, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Vishwas Saxena said "This Samsung Brand store is offering our customers the full Samsung experience across our digital, audio visual and home appliances".

It will provide the end consumer with a stimulating environment in which to discover the full spectrum of Samsung's world-class offerings in one easily-accessible location".

Apart from the showroom we also have a customer service area and a shop so consumers who dont know where to go for after sales service can conveniently walk in here and have their issues addressed, Mr. Saxena added.

According to him the store will provide the end consumer with a stimulating environment.

Apart from the showroom the biggest Samsung store in West Africa also have a customer service area and a shop so consumers who dont know where to go for after sales service, "they can conveniently walk in here and have their issues addressed.

According to Mr. Nour Seklawi, Managing Director of Electroland Ghana Ltd., the shop will be manned by fully trained and experienced Samsung staff who will take cherished customers through the whole Samsung experience.

As a brand that always puts customers first, we want to provide them with the convenience of shopping in an easy-to-access environment.
This was revealed by the newly elected Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of the Volta River Authority, (VRA), Cephas Duse.

According to him the mining sector and the (ECG) are currently the major debtors of the company.

As at September 2016, the independent power producers owe the VRA to the tune of five billion Ghana cedis.

Speaking to Accra-based Citi FM Duse said this does not help the Authoritys work.

He explained that what is happening with the VRA is that, we basically procure LCO gas and these are very expensive inputs; and they are dominated in foreign currency and when you buy these inputs its expected that when you sell to the public you get your money back. And when we dont get the money back we turn to the bank to get loans to buy again and the cycle continues. We sell to them and they dont pay, he lamented.

READ ALSO: Environmental activists applaud VRA for move to wind power

He said government must largely be blamed for the challenges facing the VRA. Government is largely to be blamed for the problems of the VRA since it is not allowing VRA to operate as a commercial entity. VRA is a power generating company and if we sell power and we are not paid, how can we survive? He quizzed.
She explained that the program was created to remedy some of these acts of gross miscarriage of justice, but something more fundamental, something more far-reaching, needs to be done. The system is crying for a radical overhaul in terms of the procedural law in particular, and the sanctions to be applied following conviction.

She was speaking at a workshop themed: "Justice for All; Strengths, Weaknesses and the Way Forward.

She mentioned that a complete overhaul will help restore some faith in the criminal justice system and also reduce the congestion in the prisons in the countries nationwide.

She therefore suggested that the adoption of proceedings in partly heard criminal cases as is the case in civil cases, if not on a wholesale basis for all offences, certainly in relation to a large number of criminal cases which are heard in the lower courts.

Read below the full speech.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE LADY CHIEF JUSTICE, MRS. GEORGINA THEODORA WOOD, THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE JUSTICE FOR ALL WORKSHOP AT THE ACCRA CITY HOTEL ON THE 14TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2016

My Lord Chair;

Justices of the Court of Appeal and the High Court;

Honourable Attorney General and Minister for Justice,

Representatives from the Police Service, the Prisons Service and other stakeholders here present,

Members of the Ghana Bar Association,

Representatives of Civil Society,

Development Partners,

The Media,

Distinguished Invited Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is an honour for me to deliver this address this workshop on the Justice for All Programme, a programme which was initiated by the then Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, in collaboration with the Judicial Service, the Police and Prison Services.

I was privileged to be present at its maiden sitting, which was held at the James Fort Prison, on 27th September 2007. It was hugely successful and as I speak, I do recollect the joy on the faces of those beneficiaries at the time.

As we all know, the Justice for all programme is a special in-prison court sitting on remand prisoners, prisoners whose trials are unreasonably delayed. On all accounts, the programme constitutes a key component of the rule of law, access to justice and the sustained promotion and protection of the human rights of prisoners both remand prisoners and convicted prisoners and of course their handlers, that is officials of the Prisons Service, and by extension the families of these persons that I have identified.

This workshop, on the theme: Justice for All: Strengths, Weaknesses and the Way Forward, which stands to provide opportunity for introspection; with a view to strengthening our criminal justice system is definitely timely. I commend the two Justices at the helm of affairs of this programme, namely, Mr. Justice CJ Honyenugah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal and his Deputy, Mr. Justice Hometowu of the High Court, Nsawam Prison for their untiring effort in ensuring its continuing success.

Their commitment and dedication to duty, have brought not only hope and relief but JUSTICE to many. So we thank them. All stakeholders determination to work even harder to strengthen the criminal justice system through this medium also merits special mention.

A well-known constitutional legal principle, relevant to this workshop is that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The pertinent provision, Article 14(4) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana provides as follows: Where a person arrested, restricted or detained under paragraph (a) or (b) of clause (3) of this article is not tried within a reasonable time, then, without prejudice to any further proceedings that may be brought against him, he shall be released either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions, including in particular, conditions reasonably necessary to ensure that he appears at a later date for trial or for proceedings preliminary to trial

Understandably, the existing constitutional and other legal texts do not provide a contextual definition of the legal term reasonable time. Some have argued that the absence of a statutory definition for the expression reasonable time, has contributed to the general inordinate delays in the trial of remand prisoners.

It is a contention I find implausible, given that the decisional law is so sufficiently clear and strong that any judge or magistrate who is desirous of ensuring justice is met in any given case, would not hide behind this argument to perpetrate injustice.

Admittedly, over the years the Justice for All programmes has sought to remedy some of these acts of gross miscarriage of justice, but something more fundamental, something more far-reaching, needs to be done. The system is crying for a radical overhaul in terms of the procedural law in particular, and the sanctions to be applied following conviction.

One such important statutory intervention would definitely help bring sanity into the criminal justice system and therefore ease the congestion in the prisons.

I refer to the issue of non-adoption of proceedings in partly-heard criminal cases. I propose the adoption of proceedings in partly heard criminal cases as is the case in civil cases, if not on a wholesale basis for all offences, certainly in relation to a large number of criminal cases which are heard in the lower courts. I have no doubt that trials de novo are clearly disadvantageous to stakeholder participation in the criminal justice delivery system.

My Lord Chairman, the Justice For All programme, which has evolved over the years has been through a number of structural changes. The process has been structured to address nagging the problem of accused persons who are held in pre-trial detention for long periods, often on expired warrants.

The process through which cases are selected for these special court sittings is quite robust. This process is well-structured and transparent and hence cannot be manipulated or compromised to a large extent. I would propose that we come out with a manual or handbook on which the programme would operate.

The official remand list from specific prisons, which is obtained from the Prison Headquarters, is vetted by the Remand Review Task Force, made up of the four key institutions (AG, Judiciary, Police, and Prisons) in accordance with laid down selection criteria for each category of offence.

The approved list from the Remand Review Task Force is then submitted to the Defence team for remand prisoners (made up of lawyers and paralegals), to enable them to interview the selected remand prisoners and draft applications/motions for them.

The motions are appropriately filed at the Registry of the Regional High Court, for service on the concerned staff of the AG and the Judges, prior to the court sitting. Copies of these motions or applications are also kept for record purposes and for future reference.

My Lord Chairman, there is one matter of grave concern I would like to address briefly. Media reports suggest that some members of the public see the Justice for All Programme as a vehicle for releasing suspected criminals on to the streets.

I find this situation rather disturbing and unfortunate because the Justice for All Courts is courts of competent jurisdiction that follows due process. The determinations made by these courts must be respected by all, including investigators who fail to enforce them by their failure to enforce decisions on bail, in particular, granted by these courts.

We must bear in mind that the Justice for All Programme is beneficial to the vulnerable and poor, who find themselves in detention, for one reason or the other, and who are unable to afford the legal fees and so for some them they self-represent or remain unrepresented.

Nonetheless, their rights at law must be protected. We have a collective duty to ensure their rights are fully respected. They are deemed innocent until proven guilty.

Have we thought of those who end up being proven NOT GUILTY after trial? How do we compensate them for their, financial, psychological, emotional and sometimes physical harm arising from wrongful pre-trial incarceration?

I will, therefore, entreat the media to be circumspect in their reportage by ensuring that stories are verified before publication in order not to undermine the rule of law.

To the contrary, I would entreat the media to educate the public fully on what this programme seeks to achieve so as to enhance public trust and confidence in the justice system. This is the way to build strong and lasting institutions.

The Justice for All Programme is a unique model in Africa, where legal aid Pro Bono services are virtually non-existent. Through it, we take justice to the marginalised and unrepresented remand prisoner.

My Lord Chair, available statistics indicates that since the inception of the programme in 2007, out of a total of three thousand, two hundred and ninety-three (3,293) inmates who have appeared before the Justice for All courts, six hundred and two (672) were discharged, nine hundred and eighty-five (985) were granted bail and one hundred and thirty-five (135) were convicted.

Other applicants who have had their applications rejected had their expired warrants renewed to enable them to appear before the various trial courts for the commencement of their trials.

Others have also referred to psychiatric hospital for medical examination and treatment. As a result, locked and forgotten remand prisoners are no longer in existence. This will continue to be the situation for as long as the Justice for All programme lives. Let me also add that the Programme has saved millions of public funds in terms of the feeding grant of GHC180.00 the government spends on a prisoner daily.

This achievement is undoubtedly the result of the cooperation of all the stakeholders within the criminal justice system but more importantly, as a result of funding received from international bodies such as DANIDA, UNDP, USAID, Star Ghana, DFID/ the British High Commission and the European Union, just to mention a few.

I also wish to commend NGOs such as Churchill, POS Foundation, HelpLaw, the GIMPA Law Faculty and some public spirited individual Lawyers for their indefatigable contribution towards the sustenance of the programme. In the absence of these NGOs, most remand prisoners would have continued to languish in the various prison facilities nationwide.

My Lord Chair, permit me to mention that the detention conditions prevailing in the countrys prisons are deplorable and an affront to human dignity. Health conditions, characterised by a plethora of communicable diseases, inadequate ventilation, poor sanitation, poor food and many others, as portrayed by the two documentaries (Locked and Forgotten and Left to Rot) produced by Seth Kwame Boateng of JoyFM in March 2015 and June 2016 is the clearest testimony to these.

The Judiciary is committed to ensuring that the programme serves the justice needs of our people positively. From our records, especially, judging from the monthly returns on remand prisoners, I can say, with conviction and certainty that the remand population has reduced, thanks to the programme. The time has now come for us to do more as we await that glorious day when other interventions, would bring the situation under strict control.

CONCLUSION

I wish to congratulate all of you here present for your contributions to the success of the Justice for All Programme on the achievement chalked so far and highly commend your efforts. I encourage you to use this workshop as a forum to identify the strengths, weaknesses, and the way forward, bearing in mind plans for its continuity, sustainability, and maximum impact.

I wish you a successful deliberation.
Nana Addo left on Sunday (December 18) after the thanksgiving service of the New Patriotic Party for the landslide victory in the just ended 2016 elections.

He is expected to expected to deliver the keynote address at the 2016 Future of Africa Awards ceremony in Lagos.

He will also pay a courtesy call on the president of Nigeria , Mahammadu Buhari at the state house in Nigeria.

Nana Akufo-Addo is expected back in Ghana on Tuesday, December 20.

President Mahama is also in Nigeria currently. He is participating in the 50th Ordinary session of ECOWAS in Abuja.
There are over 100 first-time new parliamentarians in the new session of Parliament due to come into force in January 2017.

The new entrants to parliament include Zanetor Rawlings (Member of Parliament-elect for Klottey Korle Constituency), George Andah ((Member of Parliament-elect for Awutu Senya West Constituency), Ama Sey (Member of Parliament-elect Akwatia Constituency) and Vincent Sowah Odotei (Member of Parliament-elect for La Dade Kotopon Constituency)

Registration is taking place on Monday through to Wednesday December 23.

READ ALSO: Baba Jamal loses to hairdresser at Akwatia

"Members will be registered and issued with Identification Cards that will enable them to vote for the selection of a Speaker and other officials for the 7th Parliament. All Honourable Members-elect are therefore requested to note the following to enable a smooth and accurate recording of their data"  the statement said.

Three names have emerged to be the next Speaker of Parliament for the commencement of the Seventh Parliament of Ghana.
He will visit the Upper West, Brong Ahafo region on Wednesday. He will also tour the Eastern, Volta, Ashanti, Central and Western Regions in that order.

The President will be meeting traditional and religious leaders as well as regional and constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as part of his tour.

Akufo-Addo defeated President Mahama by 53.8 percent to 44.4 percent in the general elections.

Mahama had appealed for calm and told his supporters he would respect the outcome of the vote, whether he won or lost.

Meanwhile, President Mahama has been appointed Co-chair of the ECOWAS mediation committee in the political impasse in the Gambia.

He will be assisted by his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, the return of the suspended officers would happen soon to enable them to work towards the progress of the incoming administration.

It will be recalled that the National Democratic Congress campaigned against the NPP on the back of claims that the party is divided following the suspension of National Chairman Paul Afoko and General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong.

The two were suspended by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP for allegedly working against the interest of the party ahead of the just ended 2016 elections.

Mr. Afoko subsequently filed a suit against the party at an Accra High Court. But the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court on Monday, August 15, 2016, dismissed the suit.

Many have since asked the NPP to bring back all suspended officers, particularly the two to enhance the operations of the party and the incoming government in general.

Mr Ohene Ntow, in his response, said the party has already begun arrangements to bring back the two sooner than later.
In an address to the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 50th ordinary session in Abuja, Nigeria last Saturday, December 17, 2016, he said, "It is my hope that as many of our colleagues as possible will join us to inaugurate President Akufo-Addo."

Read more: President Mahama touts achievements to ECOWAS leaders

"I wish to say that elections were successfully held on December 7. I want to thank ECOWAS for its role in the success of the elections and other observer missions that were with us throughout the period, specifically the African Union, the EU and the Commonwealth missions," he noted.

He said the successful conduct of the general election in Ghana had further strengthened the country's democracy.

"Ghana has enjoyed a very positive reputation as the model democracy and I believe that this election has consolidated that reputation even further," he said.

He also expressed his gratitude to Ghanaians for the opportunity to serve them as their president, and also recalled his entry into the political scene.

He said, "I am grateful to the almighty and the people of Ghana for the opportunity to have served in the high office of the president.

"I have enjoyed a fulfilling career since I emerged onto the political scene in Ghana in 1996, I served as Member of parliament for three terms, I served as deputy minister, as a minister, as vice president and ultimately the president of my country."
The KQ Mobile app allows passengers to among other things assess flight schedules, book flights, select the preferred seats, check in at the airport, manage their luggage and contact customer service.

This is Kenya Airways' attempt to incorporate modern technology in its operations and meet the needs of increasingly sophisticated passengers.

The app has a simple user interface which makes it easy for passengers to navigate it and the full

The app is available for download on the apps stores of all Windows, Android and Apple smart phones.

Some of the reviews given by passengers on the Google Play Store include

Awesome app. This app is simply awesome. Being a regular traveller I know I'm going to love using it. I've just got it then changed my seat preference for my next flight which is 2 weeks away! KQ, you've nailed it with this one. Asante sana - Steve Muchai

This is truly helpful and makes travelling more simplified - Hamid Al-Timami

App works just fine It was timely and really nice to know flight schedule in advance  Kenna Newton.

The airline is currently running a promotion during this festive season, dubbed Live The Love Dream, which would reward a couple with a trip to Dubai.

Kenya Airways runs in over 60 destinations with London, Cape Town, Nairobi, Kampala, Dubai and Accra among its top destinations. This means that students will be spoiled for choice as to where they can travel to.

Kenya Airways is one of Africas leading air passenger carriers consistently winning top industry awards. Kenya Airways was adjudged Best Airline in Africa in the World Travel Awards 2016.
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Punch reports that the 30-year-old Peters, who lived on Ojelade Street, Jibowu area of the state, was employed as a supervisor for the company in 2013.

He reportedly collected the amount from some clients between 2014 and 2016 without remitting the money into the companys account and when the fraud was uncovered, he fled with the money and was later trailed and arrested by detectives from the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan.

A police source said the suspect was tracked down to his hideout and arrested on December 3, 2016, after being on the run for a while.

Peters was arraigned on one count charge of theft.

The charge reads:

That you, Emmanuel Peters, between 2014 and April, 2016, in Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal the sum of N4, 500, 000, property of Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 285 (8) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

When the charge was read to him, Peters pleaded not guilty to the charge and elected summary trial.
Mumuni who has been married on three occasions, carried out the shocking act on 9-year-old Maryam and Ojonla, 6, in Owo, Ondo State, Daily Post reports.

ALSO READ: Woman called out for burning 10-yr-old housemaid with hot iron

According to the reports, Kasali returned home to find out that the only fish in the pot had been eaten and when his food was served without fish, all hell broke loose.

Maryam revealed that Ojonla ate half of the fish in the pot and her step-mother ate the other half of the fish.

She added that when Kasali asked what happened to the fish, their step-mother told him that herself and her brother ate the fish before she returned from her outing.

Maryam said that their father beat them mercilessly before going into the kitchen to light the stove and put a knife on it.

When the knife was hot and turned red, he pressed it on our stomachs one after the other. We cried and begged but our father refused to remove the knife, the girl said.

Our neighbors, who heard our cries, rushed to the scene only to be told by our father that they should mind their businesses.

He held us down for several minutes as the knife was pressed on our stomachs, she added.

Maryam stated that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) rushed to the scene after they were informed of the incident by neighbours.

We were taken to the State Hospital, Akure by the officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps who later informed the Welfare Department of the state Ministry of Women Affairs, she said.

Daily Post reports that the mother of the children who relocated to Ila Orangun, Osun State following her divorce from the suspect, has returned to Akure to take care of the kids.

ALSO READ: Pastor burns young maid's buttocks for lying

An NSCDC official confirmed the incident, adding that the suspect has been arrested for allegedly inflicting injuries on his children.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the suspect, a resident of Sabon Gari quarters, Ingawa, in Ingawa Local Government Area of the state, allegedly raped the young victim, a student of Binta Abdullahi Marmade Secondary School, Ingawa, and in the process, infected her with the disease.

It was gathered that Bala had lured the girl into an uncompleted building near the school and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her, knowing that he was carrying the virus.

Apart from the victim whose health status has been determined, the health status of another 13-year-old girl Bala raped has yet to be determined.

The case, according to the report, came up for mention on Monday, December 19, 2016, before Hajiya Fadile Dikko of Katsina Senior Magistrates court.

The court heard that it was the school principal, Haladi Abdullahi, who reported the incident at the Ingawa Divisional Police Station.

Abdullahi had alleged that the suspect, early this month, lured the two girls on their way to school to an uncompleted building and raped them, one after the other.

The Police Information Report on the incident with case number KT/1457X/16, read in the court, also stated:

Maddaha Dan Bala, 48 years, of Sabon Gari quarters, attacked the girls while on their way to school and lured them into an uncompleted building and in several times, had unlawful intercourse with them one after the other when he is fully aware that he is HIV-positive.

As a result, Zainab, one of the victims, was infected with the sickness.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Kabir Mohammed, sought the adjournment of the case to January 24, 2017 because the suspect was not in court as he had gone to a hospital for treatment.
Odinme, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, was not represented by a counsel.

The Prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, prayed the court for the accused to be remanded in custody, and a trial date issued.

The trial Judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, in a short ruling, adjourned the case to Jan. 19 and ordered the accused to be remanded in custody.

The prosecutor alleged that Odinme committed the offence on May 3.

He said that Odinme was arrested on May 3 at the Lagos-Badagry highway and that he was carrying 2.1kg of restricted narcotics, known as Cannabis Sativa or hemp.

The prosecutor said that hemp was categorised as a psychotropic substance bearing similar characteristics as Heroine LSD.
According to Daily Post, the suspect identified asEsomchi Ojobowas arrested for sleeping with no less than 11 minors.

ALSO READ: 2 men in prison for having homosexual sex with 10-yr-old boy in Kano

Esomchi who is a resident of Opanda in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu state hails from Enugu Ezike in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of the State, Daily Post reports.

Police spokesman for Enugu state, SP Ebere Amaraizu told Daily Post that the suspect confessed to sexually abusing at least 11 minors through the anus.

The suspect further revealed that he has a white cloth, which he flashes on the face of his victims, usually within the age range of 3 to 11.

He revealed that as soon as the white cloth is flashed on their faces, they will loose their consciousness and follow him to where he will abuse them through the anus for the purpose of taking the victims destiny which in turns help to boost his process of his financial acquisition, Amaraizu stated.
Balogun disclosed this at a session on Medical Teaching: Cervical Cancer Screening, organised by Bishop Ajayi Crowther Memorial Anglican Church, Gowon Estate in Egbeda, Lagos State.

According to her, the countries are: Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda, Madagascar, Tanzania and Zambia.

It (cervical cancer) is the major cause of death among women in Africa.

Unfortunately, when there is cancer in the body, a lot of people have no symptoms. It takes 10 years for cervical cancer to develop in the human body.

God loves us so much and enables us to detect it at an early stage, she told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to her, it is advisable to do the screening because by the time the symptom appears, the cancer might have spread beyond control.

Balogun said that she would not encourage women under 21 years of age to do the screening unless, they are sexually active.

The medial practitioner said that cervical cancer screening did not apply to those who had removed their womb.

She said that it was better to do the screening and detect the cancer early in order to start treatments.

Balogun, however, said that a lot of cancer ailments had no total cure.

Before the cancer starts, 99 per cent of those affected have no symptom but when the cancer starts, there may be bleeding and there may be some abnormal discharge.

When the cancer starts, it spreads to the neighbouring organs of the body and is like a death sentence, she said.

Another medical expert, Mrs Ify Iwuchukwu, said cervical cancer was usually caused by Papillomavirus from men, when a woman is sexually active with a man that has such a virus.

Iwuchukwu, however, said that the virus is not in all men and does not affect men.
Adeowole said this on Monday in Abuja at the sideline of the Public Presentation of the 2017 Budget Proposals tagged Budget of Recovery and Growth.

He said in the 2017 Budget, about N51 billion was proposed for health infrastructure development, part of which would be dedicated to implementing the new National Health Policy.

He said that the policy would focus on strengthening primary healthcare centres and encouraging states to strengthen secondary healthcare centres while the Federal Government focused on the tertiary teaching hospitals in the country.

In the last 12 months, we have seen the rehabilitation of close to 3,000 of primary healthcare centres. This was done from both internal funding and funding from development partners.

In 2017, we intend to continue to support primary care. In addition to this, we intend to take more people away from tertiary hospitals.

 Many Nigerians go to tertiary hospitals for any kind of ailment, be it headache, fever, diarrhea they go to national hospitals. That is not where they ought to go.

They should go to the primary healthcare facility close to them. So we will de-congest the tertiary hospitals so that they can attend to serious cases such as cancer, heart disease among others, he said.

Adewole said that the ministry planned to leverage and partner with the private sector to get more funding for the sector, especially in the development of tertiary teaching hospitals.

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority will help us pull more money from the private sector so that we can grow this N12 billion.

The N12 billion is not up to what we need; but with the private sector, we can achieve our goals for the year, he said.

We have the human resources; we just need to upgrade the facility and give doctors space to achieve specialisation, he said.

ALSO READ:Adewole says ministry will establish Bank of Health
Udoma stated this in Abuja at the public presentation of the 2017 budget proposals for the ministry on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the recurrent expenditure of the ministry would gulp N41 billion.

The minister, who spoke during the question and answer session of the programme, had earlier apologised for the omission of the ministrys budget in the original document earlier presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said that the estimate for capital expenditure for the ministry was N8.3 billion.

In his remarks, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, commended the media and other stakeholders in the ministry for their support and resilience in the discharge of their duties.

He said that the public presentation of the budget was among the platforms created by the government for stakeholder to come together to share ideas.

Government must have a way of getting feedback of what is being done and that is why we started the town hall meetings.

It is a platform to showcase what the government is doing and also to get feedback from members of the public, he said.
The Senate called for the SGFs resignation following his alleged indictment in the mis-management of funds for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East.

The civil society group called on the Senate to stop playing politics with national issues, adding that the Senators want to get back at President Buhari.

According to Vanguard, the groups spokesman, Okpokwu Ogenyi, We charge the Nigerian Senate to stop playing politics with sensitive national issues, especially her deliberate attempts to mislead Nigerians at all time in their subtle attempt to discredit Mr. Presidents anti-graft war by blackmailing his associates.

It is no longer news that the National Assembly especially the present Senate as constituted has derailed from its primary function of law making to a mere blackmail of the executive and its persons perceived very sensitive to the day to day running of its activities. They are continuously being castigated on daily bases by the senate, with a view painting Mr Presidents war on corruption in bad light.

The report of the senate Ad-hoc committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East which claims that a contract was awarded to a company which Mr Babachir Lawal was the signatory and a director was false and should be discarded.

As civil society bodies, we went into a private investigation and discovered that Mr Lawal upon assumption of office resigned from the Board of Rholavision Engineering Limited on the 28th of August, 2015 and relinquished his shares and as a director of the same company, the letter was written on his letter-headed paper. On the 26th of October, 2015, the Same BabaChir David Lawal (SGF) wrote a letter to Eco Bank Plc requesting for a change of signatory which the bank honoured.

We have equally resolved as Nigerians not to fold our arms as this new trick of the National Assembly portends danger to the ongoing anti-corruption war of Mr President as they have proved to be visible enemies of Nigeria, working against the Nigerian State. We shall always stand on the part of the truth.

As responsible Nigerians, we appeal to the Secretary to the Goverment of the Federation, Mr BabaChir David Lawal not to be distracted by the Senator Shehu Sani led ad-hoc committees frivolous report. We are aware that it was doctored just to smear your good image and that of Mr. President before the world.

Meanwhile the Senate majority leader, Ali Ndume said a probe into the allegations against the SGF is still ongoing.
The comments were made via a statement released by IPOB spokesmen, Barrister Emma Nmezu and Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya.

The statement reads:

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have received information that Retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari who committed treason on December 31, 1983, and was rewarded with Nigerias presidency after 32 years, will be visiting Enugu-Biafraland on the 22nd of December, 2016.

We assert that inviting a killer and persecutor of Biafrans to our land is an insult to the memory of those killed by Muhammadu Buhari. Therefore, we object totally to this visit by the killer of Biafrans.

We recall that Buhari started his killing of Biafrans with the assassination of Major General J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi on July 29, 1966. He followed up with the mass-murder of over two million Biafrans in 1968 at Owerri during the war of genocide on Biafra by Nigeria and Britain. From June 17, 2015, till date, Buhari has killed over two thousand unarmed and peaceful Biafrans.

We warn any governor or Igbo politician that receives Buhari in Enugu will have himself or herself to blame. We make it public that should there be a breakdown of law and order in Enugu on the 22nd of December, greedy Igbo politicians will have themselves to blame.

Any Igbo governor or politician that is found among those hobnobbing with Buhari the killer of Biafrans becomes an enemy of the people and shall pay dearly for it.

Until all those detained are released, and Amnesty International report investigated, Buhari is not allowed into any part of Biafraland. Let Buhari know that if he (Buhari) comes to Enugu or any part of Biafraland, we will die with him there.

We are calling on all Biafrans to descend on Enugu on the said date of 22 December 2016 to show our anger and displeasure at this attempt by some greedy Igbo men to insult the memory of our glorious dead and those still in detention with our leader.

Should Buhari attempt to set foot on Enugu soil everybody involved, from Bart Nnaji to Governor Ugwuanyi will regret it. These criminal Igbo politicians without any iota of shame must know that Buhari is the Grand Patron of the terrorist Fulani Herdsmen that have been rampaging and killing our people in Enugu and other parts of Biafraland in the name of Islam.

Buhari is the person behind the rise of the terrorist Fulani Herdsmen and must be made to know that we Biafrans are not in support of sponsors of terrorism. We are the children of the Most High God and do not associate with mass murderers like Buhari. Therefore we dont want him anywhere around our sacred land.

ALSO READ:
Udoma announced this at Public Presentation of the 2017 Budget Proposals in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari presented the budget proposal of N7.30 trillion to the National Assembly on Dec. 14.

The minister identified the initiatives as the Social Housing Programme; Special Economic Zone Projects; Export-Expansion Grant; and Recapitalisation of the Bank of Industry.

He said "Some of the new initiatives are the provision of the N100 billion for new Social Housing Programme which the aim is to create a one trillion Fund. The government contribution is N900 billion.

Fifty (50) billion for Special Economic Zone Projects. The Minister of Investment has indicated that what is actually required is about N200 billion. So, the rest will from the private sector.

It is going to be Public Private Partnership (PPP), we are going to partner with private sector to get them to contribute toward building this Special Economic Zone Projects.

Our aim to stimulate export has led us to the revival of the EEG (Export-Expansion Grant). This time in form of the tax credit and we voted 20 billion for that.

Also, we intend to recapitalise Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture and we voted 15 billion for that.

Udoma said that the new initiative would support economic diversification and inclusive in the governments growth- drive.

He said that the thrust of the budget was to partner with the private sector and development capital to leverage and catalyse resources for growth.

The minister said that much of the capital provision would be directed at the projects which would facilitate economic growth, diversification and competiveness.

Other areas of focus, he said, would be to improve ease of doing business, jobs and social inclusion, and improved governance and security.

He said The spending focus will be on critical economic sectors that have quick transformative potentials such as infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals, services and social development, he stated.

NAN reports that the president said that N2.24 trillion, representing 30.7 per cent of the 2017 budget, would be committed to capital expenditure, aimed at pulling the economy out of recession as quickly as possible.

Buhari said the capital expenditure was increased from N1.8 trillion in 2016 to N2.24 trillion in 2017.

ALSO READ:Lawmaker claims budget will take Nigeria away from hardship

The President also announced N2.98 trillion as recurrent expenditure for the 2017 fiscal year.
Kashamu, who represents the Ogun East Senatorial District, also urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his attempts to end the recession.

President Muhammadu Buhari became the president of this country at the time the global economy was not only in the doldrums; the global economy was also battling recession. Oil prices were flunking lower and restiveness in the Niger Delta made matters worse, Kashamu said according to The Nation.

In some ways, you may want to say that he was not as lucky as his predecessor. I must say that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was the luckiest person to have been president of this country. Oil prices were phenomenally high and the amnesty programme that was still at the early stages of implementation maintained some kind of truce in the region.

External debt was actually very low and our excess crude account was heavily funded. But he mismanaged the resources at his disposal and left the country broke and vulnerable.

There is enough information and analysis that give an honest perspective to our current predicament. It is now common knowledge that the administration of our father and mentor, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, left behind $45billion external reserves and the late President Umaru YarAdua administration grew the reserves to $64billion within just one year.

That was why it was able to finance 15 months of imports despite the 2008/2009 world economic meltdown. Hence, Nigeria survived the meltdown because those administrations had the political will to save.

Even more commendable is the fact that in spite of the tough economic reality at that time, the administration left $47.7 billion in reserves and an external debt of $3.94 billion even though the administration earned only N9 trillion from crude oil sales within that short period.

But after the demise of President YarAdua, his successors lack of political will to save in the midst of an oil boom brought economic destitution. It would be recalled that Brent crude sold at over $100 /barrel and raked in N51trillion within a period of five years.

But because of corruption, governors demanding it was their constitutional right to take all the savings and other irresponsible acts of government, the administration did not only squander the oil revenue, it depleted the reserves left by President YarAdua, leaving $32billion and a huge external debt of $63billion," he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Idris gave the order at the inauguration of the squadron in Kontagora.

He said that the mobile police unit has been well equipped to tackle cattle rustling, kidnapping and activities of armed bandits especially in the central senatorial district of the state.

He solicited the support of Nigerians including traditional rulers in the task of ridding the nation of criminals.

Idris said it was the civic responsibility of all citizens to provide useful information to security agencies to track down and curtail criminal activities.

He particularly urged traditional rulers to mobilise their subjects to embark on community policing and remain security conscious at all times.

The IGP also encouraged Nigerians to form Police/Public Relations Committees to strengthen policing in the country.

Earlier, Muazu Zubairu, Commissioner of Police in Niger, said the command had taken measures to end the activities of cattle rustlers and other forms of criminal activities in all part of the state.

He said that the formation of the new police mobile squadron would strengthen the efforts.

Zubairu disclosed that over 300 cows were recently recovered by the police from cattle rustlers in Shiroro Local Government.
According to Daily Post, Ndume made the revelation to newsmen after a closed door meeting with President Buhari at the Villa in Abuja on Monday, December 19, 2016.

The Senator said the Senate only stepped down Magus screening till all security concerns are resorted out.

He also said the Senate will let the President know its next step regarding the confirmation of the embattled EFCC boss.

The Senate reportedly rejected Magus confirmation following a Department of State Security Service (DSS) report that raised some allegations against the EFCC boss.

According to reports, Daura, the head of DSS and Magu have endured a frosty relationship in the last couple of months over operational procedures.
The spokesman of the youths, Mr Nathan Chaweson, said the killing continued even with the presence of security operatives at flashpoints of the state.

Chaweson called on the government to ensure the security of the people and bring perpetrators to book to serve as deterrent.

We are pushed to the wall to question the government in what has been happening, he said.
The suspects were killed after one of them detonated her suicide vest while being interrogated by soldiers on the outskirts of the capital.

This was disclosed via a statement released by Police Public Relations Officer in Borno, ASP Victor Isuku.

The statement reads:

At about 2030hrs yesterday, two female suicide bombers were halted to stop for routine check at Geleri village which is about 5km to Muna Garage, an outskirt of Maiduguri.

One of the suicide bombers detonated IED strapped to her body killing her and her accomplice whose IED vest did not explode.

ALSO READ: 2 suicide bombers kill at least 9 in IDP camp
The IDPs made the call on Sunday when the UNHCR High Commissioner, Filippo Grandi, visited the camp.

Chairman of the Camp, Mr Buba Gamashi, who spoke on behalf of the IDPs, commended the commission and other donor agencies for providing shelter at the camp.

Gamashi said the government had been meeting their feeding needs, calling on the agencies to introduce skill acquisition programme to help them to be self reliant and take them out of idleness.

According to him, such programme like carpentry, tailoring, shoe-making and other skills will not only reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance but also help them overcome trauma and psychological imbalance.

We are also asking for provision of drugs and other consumables in our clinics and ambulance in case of emergency.

We also need more toilets because what we have at the moment is not enough and many of us are still sleeping on the bare floor because there are no enough mattresses, he said.

Gamashi, however, commended the federal and state governments for providing food and other necessities at the camp.

Also, Mr Said Alkali, Relief and Transportation Officer, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said the major challenge of the IDPs was idleness.Alkali, who is the Camp Coordinator, said that idleness could cause another crisis in future if something was not done to empower them while the plans to resettle them were on.

He disclosed that the camp currently had a population of 21,194 from five local governments of Monguno, Gwoza, Guzambala, Marte and Nganzai comprising 3,987 men, 6,116, 5,093 boys and 5,989 girls.

The coordinator also disclosed that the school in the camp currently had about 3,000 pupils, adding that more children needed to be encouraged to get enrolled.

According to him, feeding is good but nutritional food is important to enhance their health.

UNHCR has been able to provide shelter for the IDPs in this camp and we are really grateful to the agency and other donor groups, he said.

Responding, the UNHCR boss pledged to continue to give humanitarian assistance to the IDPs and collaborate with the government in its reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement programme.
Adeosun said this at the opening of a two-day workshop for personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service and Federal Road Safety Commission on the new system on Monday in Abuja.

Adeosun said that the collaboration of the three agencies on the system would boost security and needed revenue in the country.

She said that the collaboration was a clear departure from the past when heads of agencies were reluctant to work together to collapse unnecessary bureaucracies for common good.

There is no doubt that using ICT as an enabler; a common platform, to register vehicles in the country will help reduce cases of smuggling and deal with corruption in the system.

It will also boost security and much needed revenue to deliver on the change programme of the present Federal Government.

This collaboration will strengthen the ban on vehicle importation through the land borders, as smugglers will no longer have opportunity to register their vehicles without proof of payment of taxes and appropriate customs duty,  Adeosun said.

The minister commended the heads of the three agencies of government for the patriotic step.

Adeosun said that the current collaboration would help in early identification of stolen vehicles and reduce the rate of car smuggling.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali, said that INVIS would completely infuse sanity to the system of vehicle registration.

According to him, 70 per cent of vehicles registered for use in Nigeria is not documented for duty purpose.

Ali said that the collaboration was a positive step to complement the recent policy banning importation of vehicles through the land borders.

Through our collaboration, we are strong in our collective resolve to make smuggled cars unattractive to buyers.

Over the years, economic saboteurs have profited from the absence of an effective collaboration between agencies of government to perpetuate frauds associated with vehicle importation and registration.

While scores of lives are lost pursuing smugglers of vehicles across the borders, users of such vehicles succeed in registering the vehicles with fake customs duty papers.

With this collaboration, I am convinced that complete sanity will be infused to the system of vehicle registration, Ali said.

The Chairman, FIRS, Mr Tunde Fowler, said the initiative would enhance registration of motor vehicles and bring about reliable documentation and information on them.

Fowler, who was represented by Mallam Mohammed Abubakar, Secretary, Joint Tax Board, said that INVIS would help to eliminate activities of fraudsters involved in forging and faking motor vehicle documents.

ALSO READ:Finance minister speaks to Pulse on the economy

In his address, the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, said the partnership would boost revenue generation for the country.

Oyeyemi said it would also make registration of smuggled cars difficult.
This was disclosed by the President's spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Sunday, December 18.

"The attention of the presidency has been drawn to a number of reports in the media, in which various accusations of corruption have been levelled against some top officials in the administration," the statement said.

"In that regard, President Buhari has instructed the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate the involvement of any top government officials accused of any wrong-doing. If any of them are liable they will not escape prosecution."

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, have been accused of corrupt practices.

But Shehu's statement did not mention any names.

ALSO READ: Presidential aides block Magu from seeing Buhari

The Senate had accused Lawal of misappropriating funds from non-executed contracts in the north-east using one of his companies.

Although he denied the allegations, the upper chamber has since demanded his resignation and prosecution.
According to Punch, the Sultan said this on Monday, December 19, 2016, while on an official visit to Enugu state.

The monarch said It is not only the Fulani that are herdsmen, there are herdsmen from other ethnic groups in the country, he said, adding that those who commit crimes in the guise of cattle rearing should be described as criminals, and not as Fulani herdsmen.

He added that If anybody commits any crime, he should be given his real name, which is a criminal, whether he is Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo or Ibibio.

Fulanis have been living in peace with the people in communities where they rear their cattles, will they wake up one day and start attacking and killing these people? It is not possible. Something must be wrong somewhere.

We (Fulanis) will never support killing, we will not support killing.

I want to tell you that the Fulani people cannot do that.

Until we give these killers there reals name, which is criminals, we will not overcome the security challenges we have.

The Sultan was invited by the Enugu government for a reception which was held in honour of Rangers International of Enugu.
He made the appeal at a Christmas party organised by the Benin central Lions Club, District 404, A1 for the blind, orphans and vulnerable in Benin.

Obaseki, represented by his Principal Private Secretary (PPS) Dr Uyi Oduwa-Malaka, said that children and Jesus Christ were similar as both were innocent and pure of heart.

He said there was need to reach out to the vulnerable as the Christmas season was a time of caring, sharing and giving.

 Children and Jesus are similar. Both are innocent and of pure heart. This is Christmas season, a time of caring, sharing and giving. Christmas is a week away and there is no reason we cant share our Christmas joy with others.

 The children being celebrated today are like other children that surround us everyday, only less privileged and impaired in one way or the other. It is our duty to care for them, protect them and make them happy, he said.

He said he was happy to see the children being excited and displaying their various talents in various games.

 I am captivated by their innocent smiles which revealed that Christmas spirit is in the air, Obaseki said.

Earlier the President of the club, Mrs Joy Okor said that the initiative was put, in partnership with willing stakeholders, to make life better for the children.

She said that it was also part of the Clubs centenary celebration.

In her speech Mrs Vivian Ogbeide, Proprietress of Omosefe Orphanage, called on well meaning Nigerians to always extend hands of fellowship to orphans and the vulnerable in the society.
Udoma announced this while responding to questions from some stakeholders on the status of the programmes at the Public Presentation of the 2017 Budget proposals in Abuja on Monday.

He said that N500 billion had been allocated for the programme, which included Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Government Economic Empowerment Programme, Nigeria-Power Job Creation Programme, Conditional Cash Transfers and Social Housing Fund.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that N500 billion was allocated for same programmes in the 2016 budget.

Udoma said that 2016 was a year of planning and consultation for the programmes.

We have to get these programmes right, so excessive consultation and planning have gone into those projects because we dont want any waste.

We want to make sure that the funds get to the beneficiaries; you will see full implementation in 2017; that is why the same allocation has been made for the programmes.

We will not waste time in terms of preparatory work, it has been done already, he said.

Commenting on the level of implementation of the programmes, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, said a lot of processes had gone into the implementation.

Ahmed said that the implementation did not start until September/October.

He added that In October that the programme picked up, 200,000 youths have been employed and deployed to states to work.

The home school feeding programme has also taken off in Anambra, Kaduna and Osun and eight other states are ready to join.

There are a lot of processes that we have to go through to prepare the release of funds for this project.

We didnt want a situation where the programme will be like other social protection programmes in the past that the funds were misused.

The minister said that a lot of effort was done to identify beneficiaries, to enumerate them, to prepare the personnel that would be working and tracking the progress of the programme.

NAN reports that Federal Government earmarked N185 billion in the 2017 budget for initiatives.
Somkele Idhalama, who is popular for her role in 2016 movies including "93 Days," "The Arbitration" and "The Wedding Party" won The Future Awards and EbonyLife Prize for Acting.

The 28-year-old beat Adesua Etomi, Daniel K Daniel, Seun Ajayi and Rahama Sadau to win the award.

ALSO READ: undefined

The Future Awards Africa is a platform that celebrates young people between the ages of 18 and 31, who have made outstanding achievement in the year under consideration.

The awards, organized for young Nigerians below the age of 30, was conceived by Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams in 2004.
Speaking about his most memorable role yet as an actor, Afolayan mentioned the viral Airtel commercial which features him as a stranded young man.

According to the actor, it was a bit tasking acting without dialogue.

ALSO READ: undefined

"I think it's the new commercial with Airtel, because, it's a lot different. It's a form of acting without dialogue. We call it pantomimic dramatization in our field of study," Afolayan said.

"So, it's quite challenging when you have to act without saying a word. It says a lot about you going into the zone of your character, so we have to play a lot with facial expressions and body language. So it was a bit tasking for me because I am used to acting with dialogue, and this comes in, and it feels different. I made up my mind to give it a shot and it worked out"

The actor also spoke on what he contributed to the advert aside his acting talent. According to Afolayan, he borrowed experiences from a couple of people who have been stranded. The "King Invincible" also shared his experience being stranded in Ghana in 2005.

ALSO READ: undefined
She recounted with a sense of gratitude her tough experience during the actor's battle against a kidney disease.

According to the woman, she received many advice asking her to abandon her husband whose chances of survival seemed slim at the time.

Maureen described her experience in an interview published by Vanguard News on Sunday, November 18, 2016.

"I had mixed- feelings, and I told God I did not want to become a widow at this age.

"I asked God to give me an assurance that he will keep my husband.

"And sometimes fear, uncertain, so many feelings that I still cant explain passed through my mind.

"The feeling was one of, 'God, you cant take him now, please show mercy'.

"Sometimes, I was unable to figure out what was really happening.

"I tried hard to understand the situation and looking for answers that I just couldnt find or figure out. But the only place I had in mind to take him to was God."

Her belief in God was also what helped her overcome the increasing pressure being mounted on her concerning abandoning her marriage.

Despite her husband's crankiness at the time of his illness, she maintained her resolve to stay with him and nurse him back to good health.

"I must confess to you, some people advised me to abandon him and go and start a new life since I still have a long way to go.

"His handsomeness, complexion at this time were all gone. He was a shadow of himself.

"So, to them, what was I still doing with him? But, to me, that was not an option neither was it the reason I married him.

"I never headed their advice. Instead I was ready to fight the battle. My dear, it was tough, very tough."
Umahi made the pledge on Sunday during a Christmas Get-Together he organised for the State Working Committee (SWC) of the PDP including its local and zonal committee members.

The governor spoke against the backdrop of fears in the state that he would soon dump the party due to the crisis and to secure his second-term bid.

According to him, the current challenges confronting the party will not lead to its demise as it will soon fizzle out with the commitment of its dedicated members.

Anybody who believes that I would leave PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other party is sleeping and should be woken from sleep.

APC and other parties cannot win election in this state because PDP has performed marvellously and cannot be arm-twisted, he said.

The governor said that infrastructure projects, especially roads were being executed in all Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, courtesy of the PDP- led government.

We are not just constructing roads but doing so on asphalt and stone base and other sectors such as education, health, agriculture, human empowerment among others, are feeling our impact, Umahi said.

The governor advised the party leaders to shun corrupt and divisive tendencies in order to succeed and reposition the party for the onerous tasks ahead.

You must avoid taking bribes, embezzling party funds among other negative acts, as contentment and Godliness is very important to achieve success.

When you are given N10 million for instance, present the actual amount to the members because the worst thing in life is to embezzle funds meant for all, alone, he said.

The state PDP Chairman, Mr Onyekachi Nwebonyi, thanked the governor for the reception and pledged to support him in justifying the mandate given to him by the people.

We have learnt from the mistakes of the past and have been repositioned to maintain our resounding electoral success in 2019 and beyond.

The people are witnesses to your massive infrastructure strides and impact in all sectors of the state which would make us maintain our overwhelming dominance in the state, he said.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bernard Odoh, thanked the governor for identifying with various sectors of the state during the yuletide.

Ebonyi is the only state that earmarked N1.7billion to touch the lives of its people during this Christmas period.

This will definitely cushion effects of the current recession in the country and make the people part of the states governance, Odoh said
According to him, Nigerians should be able to practice their faith without worrying about religious molestation or discrimination, Channels TV reports.

Speaking at the centenary celebration of Catholic Arch-Diocese of Kaduna state, he was supported by other Catholic bishops who called for religious tolerance.

Using several cases of discrimination against churches and Christians in the North, the clergymen noted that there would be no meaningful progress in the country and the world until there was peace.

They also added that religion should never be the reason for friction among people regardless of the differences in faiths.

Another Catholic Bishop has preached a similar message of peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance in Nigeria.

In November, 2016, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Revd Matthew Kukah, encouraged people to stop focusing on their different religions, asking everyone to focus on the unity of the country instead.

Therefore, irrespective of our ethnicity, religion, social status, we all have a role to play in this country. Keeping this country united is paramount," he added.
The Niger Delta region has had it's environment devastated by the effects of oil pollution. This leads to chronic diseases that affect various parts of the body, most especially the kidney.

Ogochukwu Okoye saw a need, and so she took an online Masters in Public Health from the University of Manchester. Her dissertation was as you'd expect; It is about the risk of chronic kidney disease in young Nigerians exposed to crude oil.

Speaking about it, she said:

"I registered for this course to improve myself in areas of medicine that are key for a wholesome practice. The team at Manchester exposed me to a highly effective manner of teaching, thus made learning worthwhile."

"The skills and knowledge that I have acquired are already impacting on my professional and personal development. I am definitely a better teacher, doctor and researcher as a result!"

As regards the future, she now plans to apply for a grant to enable her to carry out more research on the issue with the long term goal of influencing government policy and eventually creating a better life for the young people of the region.

We're optimistic about her dreams because for starters, at least 25 Nobel laureates have at some point studied or researched at the University of Manchester.

We hope that the academic staff that churned out that much quality can convert to good in the long run.
This year, Paystack made our five biggest moments in tech as one of the first Nigerian companies to get into Ycombinator. In that time, they put their platform through its beta stage and raised 200,000 dollars in early-stage funding from the incubator.

Paystack owes a big part of its success to Ycombinator and that belief in their future has been motivated by their immense prospects.

The growth potential for fintech is enormous. Nigerian businesses collected about 150 billion dollars last year, most of which was collected offline. However the digital economy on the continent is growing fast, and Nigeria alone currently sees six million new Internet users every year.

Such a high proportion of payments are still conducted offline, but with more people coming online every year, the growth trajectory is staggering.

Paystack launched its beta in January and in less than a year, they have processed over one billion naira in payments. They are already working with iROKO, Jobberman, PayPorte and Hotels.ng and most recently, built an online paments gateway for one of the worlds biggest e-commerce companies, Shopify.

ALSO READ: 5 tips on how to get into the most successful incubator in the world

According to the co-founder, Shola Akinlade, the company intends to use its newest batch of funding to build out its engineering team, grow its sales and marketing operations and accelerate product development.

They understand that theres a real problem with online payment solutions in these parts and want to be equipped well enough to fix it.
Hooper had hoped to cross the ocean after leaving from Senegal on November 13, but lasted just 33 days at sea during which he was stung by a highly poisonous Portuguese man o' war jellyfish.

"In the interest of the safety of all souls on board Big Blue we have decided to postpone the expedition and sail directly to Natal in Brazil by the shortest route," Hooper wrote on Facebook.

"We were subjected to our fifth day of Atlantic storms as a result of which the expedition support vessel the sailing catamaran Big Blue suffered damage to her steering and standing rigging," he added.

Hooper managed to swim 87 of his planned 1,900 miles (3,000 kilometres), and lost half his time at sea to weather issues, technical problems and recovering from his jellyfish sting.

The 38-year-old said his crossing would resume at a later date.

"I reiterate that my attempt to become the first person to swim across the Atlantic Ocean, every single mile (that) remains, but that it has been postponed for the time being," Hooper wrote.

The former policeman had prepared for over three years for the immense journey and had trained himself to swim up to 10 hours a day.

Only one man has achieved a comparable feat to Hooper's dream: Frenchman Benoit Lecomte swam across the Atlantic in the other direction in 1998, from Cape Cod in Massachusetts to Quiberon in northwestern France.
Celebrating the longevity of their successful marriage, the First Lady of Rivers State shares a long, long message about how they met in University and how, after three years, they got to know each other through a mutual friend and a notebook...

"It's funny how life sometimes takes us where we never plan or expect to go. For three years, we sat in the same lecture rooms and halls but never passed a word between each other." she writes.

"It was only after I chanced upon his law notebooks in the possession of a mutual classmate that everything changed.

"At that time, the law books in our library were expired and in most cases not available and we had to find other means to report our Nigerian case law.

"Most of us resorted to copying from others who had lawyer friends they visited in chambers and while there, used their law reports/books...

"It surprised me then, to realise that he was indeed a serious minded student and not as I had earlier perceived. His notes were up to date as he took time to report more cases than were cited by our lecturers, which neccesarily meant better grades if you can put them all down in your answer sheets during tests and examinations."

ALSO READ:Top 10 celebrity and socialite weddings of the year

"I immediately coveted that notebook and pleaded with my classmate to loan me the book after she had finished, promising to return it in two days. She refused.

"Another request with the promise to return it in one day as I was prepared to sit up all night copying those cases, was declined.

"My last plea to photocopy the notebook and return it immediately fell on deaf ears. She told me to seek the permission of the owner, with the belief that I wouldn't dare.

"And of course, she was right to think that as she knew that we had never once spoken to each other. At that point, I inquired from her, his name.

"She replied simply: "Wike". I wondered how odd that name sounded as I'd never heard it before. I also wondered how to approach him as I believed that he disliked me as much as I did him.

ALSO READ:Actress Maureen Solomon celebrates 11th wedding anniversary

"But the desire to have that fully loaded note book was too strong. I could not give up without at least, making an attempt.

"As he passed by us, I called his name as I had just learnt: "excuse me, Wike". He froze and I noticed his shock and disbelief. I started putting my words together, expecting him to scowl at me, thinking in his head - "Oh! So you have decided to talk to me now that you need my notebook eh?

"He didn't let me complete my request. He caught the drift so fast and he spoke to our mutual classmate, telling her to give me his notebook after she had finished with it and he walked off. It was now my turn to be in shock! After I recovered, I started putting the heat on our classmate to give me the book ASAP.

"One borrowed book led to another and yet another borrowed book and soon after, we became friends. I got to see the hardworking, focused, studious and serious minded person he was and still is.

"Before long, there was a marriage proposal. I declined as I didn't see myself as the marrying kind but he wouldn't give up.

"He said to me that the moment he first set his eyes on me when he joined us in our second year out of the more than five years I was in that institution, he knew already that I was going to be his wife.

"That got me even more confused. Having noted all the qualities I had noticed in him, I knew that he was a man with very great prospects or potentials for success, as I'd told him then.

"I therefore decided to accept his proposal and took a chance, believing that he would make me a happy woman. Today, the 19th of December, marks the 17th year we have been together as a married couple.

"He is a man that has exhibited excellent taste .... no wonder he chose and continues to choose me.

"You promised to give me the world at that time but you have given me much more than I could have ever asked for. Our three adorable children are a testimony to that fact and I can't tell you enough, how fulfilled I feel.

"Please permit me to use this medium to share some of the life lessons I have learnt in these past 17 years of marriage, especially in reaching out to encourage our youths who have skewed perceptions about marriage.

"You have to make the right decision about your marriage. I made a decision to become a happy wife 17 years ago, by contributing to build a happy marriage.

"I learnt that marriage in itself doesn't make you happy. You have to make your marriage a happy one. Marriage is not what you get. Marriage is what you bring, what you give and what you do.

"There is no perfect marriage or perfect couples. Rather, when two imperfect friends honour and celebrate each other, they are empowered to build up a great blossoming marriage with flourishing children..."

Among other things, the first lady says everyone needs to challenge themselves to do better in marriage before adding...

"Today, on this occasion of our 17th marriage anniversary, I celebrate my hardworking classmate, friend, lover and husband... CON. We have been through thick, thin and thinner but just like old wine, it keeps getting better with time.

"Happy 17th Marriage Anniversary to you, my love. May we forever stay young in each others eyes."

Governor Wike and Justice Wike have three children together, a daughter and two sons.
ABC News(NEW YORK) -- Oscar Martinez, Disneyland's oldest employee, will be soon be celebrating 60 years of service at the California theme park.



Martinez, 81, first began his Disneyland career on Dec. 29, 1956, as a busboy at Fantasyland I and II, according to a Walt Disney Parks and Resorts blog post in 2012.



At the time, the park had only been open for a few months.



Martinez soon became famous for his delicious breakfast potatoes, and in 1967, Disney Parks and Resorts said he was hired as a cook for Carnation Cafe on Main Street, U.S.A.



He's been working there ever since.



"Over the last half-century, [Martinez] has trained thousands of cast members and has become a favorite of many guests who visit him year after year," according to the Disney Parks and Resorts post.



This Dec. 29, Martinez is set to become the first Disney Parks and Resorts cast member to ever achieve a "diamond anniversary" milestone, according to ABC station KABC in Los Angeles.



Martinez is still working at Carnation Cafe, which serves "Oscar's Choice" -- a breakfast dish named in honor of Martinez and his world-famous potatoes, KABC reported.



Martinez told KABC that he has no plans of slowing down any time soon.



"I'm not ready for retirement," he said. "I don't want to talk about it because it's way off."



Martinez added, "[Walt Disney] said follow the dream, and that's what I'm doing."



Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The Turkish and Russian leaders spoke immediately after the event and Turkey's foreign minister voiced its determination not to let the assassination cast a shadow over relations.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot by a Turkish policeman at an exhibition in Ankara apparently as an act of revenge for the Russian bombing of Aleppo.

Here are the views of three analysts questioned by AFP in the immediate aftermath of the attack:

Domitilla Sagramoso, a lecturer in security and development at King's College London, said the shooting would have a greater impact on Syria than relations between Ankara and Moscow.

"It will not substantially disrupt the relationship because the Turks have immediately said they will reinforce the security of the Russian embassy," she said.

Sagramoso saw the killing as a reaction to Russia's bombardment of Aleppo, where Moscow would likely focus its response.

"I think they're going to react how they usually do, which is to redouble their efforts, redouble their military involvement. So it might have more repercussions on Syria," she said.

"They're not going to bomb Turkey for this, but I think it may play out within the Syrian context."

James Nixey, head of the Russia and Eurasia programme at the Chatham House think tank, said Moscow will use the attack to claim it is on the same side as Ankara in fighting terrorism.

"Russia will paint it as part of a wider war on terror," he said.

"My sense is that the Russians won't blame the Turks for this but will seek to capitalise on it for wider gains."

Nixey suggested Moscow would use the killing to win backing for its policy in Syria from US president-elect Donald Trump.

A more immediate response from Moscow may come in Aleppo, he said: "It could well affect the proposed evacuations from Aleppo which the Russians were close to a deal on. They may be less sympathetic."

"Clearly the Russian military will be baying for blood, they'll want revenge," Nixey added.

Dominique Moisi, from the Paris-based Montaigne Institute, agreed the two parties will do their best to ensure the killing doesn't harm ties between them.

"The two countries have decided to move closer together. The Turks have recognised that Bashar al-Assad is going to stay in power and they will have to live with a Russian presence in Syria," Moisi said.

"I don't think there will be significant consequences but, on a symbolic level, it shows that what happening in Aleppo is not acceptable for one part of the Muslim population."
The announcement means talks can now resume on a free trade pact between mineral-rich Norway and China, the world's second-biggest economy.

Diplomatic relations -- and the trade talks -- were frozen after the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2010 to human rights activist Liu Xiaobo, imprisoned in his own country by authorities who consider him a "criminal."

But during a surprise visit to Beijing by Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende on Monday, the two nations issued a joint declaration announcing they were unfreezing ties.

"The Norwegian government reiterates its commitment to the one-China policy, fully respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, attaches high importance to China's core interests and major concerns, will not support actions that undermine them, and will do its best to avoid any future damage to the bilateral relations," the statement said.

Human rights issues were not mentioned in the two-page document.

"We haven't made any concessions but we have engaged in confidence-building work over a long period of time," Prime Minister Erna Solberg told reporters in Oslo.

Her Chinese counterpart Li Kegiang, quoted by the Xinhua news agency, meanwhile said China "hopes to work together with Norway to open a new chapter for bilateral ties, and push forward a sustained, healthy and stable growth of relations."

According to Norwegian media, China had demanded an official apology but Norway's government repeatedly refused, insisting that the Nobel Committee was an independent body free to make its own choices.

"Norway deeply reflected upon the reasons why bilateral mutual trust was harmed, and had conscientious, solemn consultations with China about how to improve bilateral relations," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

Liu Xiaobo has been serving an 11-year sentence since 2009 for "subversion", after co-writing a text calling for democracy in China.

"Even if our trade with China has not decreased, we have not been part of the enormous upswing from China in the same way many other countries have," she said.

Salmon exports to China, one of Norway's biggest export items, suffered as a result of the row, dealing a heavy blow to the industry.
The silver-haired Lagarde, 60, is credited with steering the Washington-based IMF through turbulent economic waters since taking over in 2011.

She started a second five-year term as the organisation's managing director in February and has won plaudits for her handling of the Greek financial crisis.

But her conviction in Paris Monday for failing to challenge a 404-million-euro ($422 million) award to flamboyant French businessman Bernard Tapie in 2008 over the sale of sportswear brand Adidas is a setback.

Her woes strike at the core of another of her tasks: restoring morale at the institution after both of her predecessors suffered legal problems.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a former French finance minister like Lagarde, resigned in disgrace in 2011 after being accused of attempted rape in a New York hotel.

Rodrigo Rato, a Spanish former banker who ran the Fund from 2004-2007, is on trial for embezzlement in his native Spain.

Before the trial, Lagarde, usually impeccably dressed in luxury French brands, dismissed the prosecution over the case of Tapie as "political". The court that tried her is staffed by judges and parliamentarians and hears the cases of former or serving French ministers.

The case is a stain on an otherwise stellar international career in business, government and finance that has seen her break through barriers as a woman.

She was the first female chairman of a major global law firm -- the US-based Baker and McKenzie -- and was France's first woman economy minister when named by then president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007.

The divorced mother of two sons, who is in a relationship with entrepreneur Xavier Giocanti, took over the reins of the IMF in 2011, overseeing the giant organisation which lends money to stricken countries and monitors the international financial system.

Stamina

Economist Desmond Lachman, a former IMF official, recalls that "there are many instances of Ms. Lagarde's courageous truth-telling" -- often as the only women in the room.

This once included scolding her successor as French finance minister, Pierre Moscovici, who fell asleep during one of many crisis meetings on her watch at the IMF.

The stamina of the former synchronised swimmer, who represented France as a schoolgirl, is legendary and she says she gave up drinking alcohol 15 years ago to improve her performance.

When not attending international summits, negotiating bailout programmes for bankrupt countries or crunching data at the IMF headquarters, she likes to relax on a farm she owns in northern France.

Born to middle-class teacher parents, she went to school in the northern port city of Le Havre before going on to study at universities in France and the US.

During her time at the IMF, Lagarde has worked to increase the influence of emerging countries, particularly China, and has taken part in bailout talks for Greece and Ukraine.

She is a staunch defender of the international trade system and has spoken out about the dangers of rising nationalism and a "populist backlash" around the world.
No elections have been organised and the opposition accuses him of seeking to retain power.

Here is a timeline of the crisis in the vast country of 70 million people:

Draft law inflames tensions

Kabila's opponents believe he wants to prolong his mandate by making the presidential and parliamentary elections contingent on a new electoral roll, after a census that was set to begin in 2015 but has yet to take place.

From January 19-22 clashes between police and anti-Kabila demonstrators erupt in Kinshasa and several other towns. They degenerate into riots and looting, with police using live fire and tear gas. Dozens of people are killed.

Speaking from Belgium, opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi calls on the Congolese people to force a "dying regime" from power.

On January 25, parliament votes in favour of a new election law which still leaves doubts over the timetable for fresh polls.

In December, the United Nations expresses concern over a government crackdown on opponents, pointing to "arbitrary arrests and detentions, in particular of political opponents, civil society activists or demonstrators".

Katumbi declares candidacy

On May 4, 2016, opposition leader Moise Katumbi declares he will stand in the presidential election and is seen as the leading challenger to Kabila.

A former Kabila ally, the wealthy businessman joined the opposition in September 2015 after stepping down as governor of mineral-rich Katanga province.

Later in May, he leaves for South Africa, ostensibly for medical treatment, after appearing in court twice over alleged use of foreign mercenaries.

He is sentenced in June to three years in jail over a separate real estate dispute, effectively making him ineligible to stand.

Kabila allowed to stay

On May 11, 2016, the Constitutional Court says Kabila can remain in office when his mandate expires, even without being re-elected.

On June 10, at a Brussels meeting organised by Tshisekedi, the mainstream opposition decides to set up a new coalition.

Tshisekedi returns to Kinshasa in July after two years in Belgium. Speaking before tens of thousands of supporters, he demands the election be held by year's end and the departure of Kabila.

Deadly unrest

In September, the opposition coalition calls for demonstrations to signal notice to Kabila, three months before his term expires.

Violence erupts in Kinshasa on September 19-20 between security forces and youths, leaving several dozen people killed.

On December 12 the United States and the European Union impose sanctions on top Congolese officials over the bloodshed.

Election put off

On October 17 the parliamentary majority and an opposition fringe minority sign an accord pushing the election back to April 2018 and keeping Kabila in place until his predecessor takes over. The mainstream opposition continues to demand the departure of Kabila at the end of his mandate.

Last-ditch mediation

On December 8 Congo's episcopal conference CENCO launches talks aimed at a deal on setting up a transition authority until a presidential election can be held. It sets a December 16 deadline.

But that deadline came and went -- and on December 17 Catholic church negotiators announced the talks would resume only a day after Kabila's term ends.

"There is no deal," said Jean-Marc Kabund, secretary general of Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS).
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto had earlier been indicted by the ICC in the run up to the last general elections in 2013.

However their cases along with four others collapsed at The Hague after the judges ruled they had no cases to answer as a result of insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution which was headed first by Louis Moreno Ocampo and later Fatou Bensouda.

Earlier this week, Raila had issued a strongly worded statement saying that the President and his deputy should have been locked up by the ICC prior to the last polls.

They further claimed that Raila was working with foreign powers in a bid to assume power through the back door.

During the Independence Day celebrations on Monday, President Uhuru warned Kenyans that foreign countries were planning to influence the outcome of the polls by funding shadowy projects.

"There is already money coming into Kenya from abroad in the guise of supporting good governance or civic education. However, its true intention is to influence our electoral choices," he said.

The pro-government MPs described the opposition leader as a man who was so greedy for power that he would do anything, including getting Kenyans to fight each other, to assume power.

They asked Raila to accept the dismissal of their cases at the International Criminal Court and move on.

Raila had said the ICC had allowed itself to be blackmailed by Kenya as he warned that African countries must not quit the International Criminal Court because the continent is the biggest violator currently of human rights.
Shirin is among 13 families AFP traced and interviewed across three Afghan provinces who said their children were taken for the pervasive practice of "bacha bazi", or paedophilic exploitation, in Western-backed security forces.

Their testimonies shine a rare spotlight on the anguished, solitary struggles to free sons, nephews and cousins from a tradition of culturally-sanctioned enslavement and rape.

Shirin recalled how his 13-year-old brother-in-law screamed and writhed as he was taken from his home earlier this year by a police commander in southern Helmand.

"When I begged for his release, his men pointed their guns and said: 'Do you want your family to die? Forget your boy'," Shirin told AFP in Lashkar Gah.

"Our boys are openly abducted for bacha bazi. Where should we go for help? The ?"

The heart-wrenching stories, mostly from Helmand but also from neighbouring Uruzgan and northern Baghlan, were revealed after AFP reported in June how the Taliban are exploiting bacha bazi in police ranks to mount deadly insider attacks.

The report, denied by the insurgents, prompted an Afghan government investigation.

AFP is withholding the names of the victims and the accused police commanders as many of the boys are still being held captive.

'Crazed with grief'

A common theme in the testimonies collected from stricken families was that of helplessness. Their boys were mostly abducted in broad daylight; from their homes, opium farms and playgrounds.

Once taken captive, they can be shuffled among police checkpoints, complicating efforts to trace them.

Sometimes they emerge into the open as policemen flaunt their spoils.

For fathers like Sardarwali, the crushed hope of such an encounter is almost too much to bear.

After months of fruitless searching, he caught a glimpse of his kidnapped son in a crowded marketplace in Helmand's Gereshk district.

The child -- a slight boy who loved nothing better than playing with his siblings -- was dressed in a fine embroidered tunic and wore a bejewelled skull cap.

Sardarwali was desperate to reach out to his son, to hold him -- but did not dare approach the bevy of policemen that surrounded him.

"I watched him disappear into the distance," Sardarwali said.

"His mother is crazed with grief. She cannot stop crying: 'We have lost our son forever.'"

Parents' agony of losing a child to sexual slavery is compounded by concerns that in captivity their boys will become addicted to the opiates some are given to make them submissive.

Worse still, many fear they could be taken to reinforce frontlines, where police are suffering record casualties in their fight against the Taliban.

Or -- as one Helmand family shockingly discovered ?- get killed in the crossfire as insurgents over-run the checkpoints where they are held.

Still, some families take grim solace in the knowledge they are not alone. Their villages are full of bacha bazi victims, many discarded when their beards begin to show.

'Unconscionable'

Bacha bazi has seen a chilling resurgence in post-Taliban Afghanistan, where it is not widely perceived as homosexual or un-Islamic behaviour.

Young boys dressed effeminately have an ornamental value in a society where the genders are tightly corralled. Their possession is a mark of social status, power and masculinity.

The practice has spurred a violent culture of one-upmanship within police ranks, as officers jealously compete to snatch the most beautiful boys, said a former top Helmand security official.

"Often the only escape for enslaved bachas is to make a deal with the Taliban: 'Liberate me and I will help you get my abuser's head and weapons'," the official said, referring to insider attacks.

The Afghan government has said it has zero tolerance for child abusers in security ranks.

But Uruzgan government spokesman Dost Mohammad Nayab acknowledged nearly every provincial checkpoint had a bacha. He fears any move to extricate them could see angry policemen abandoning their posts, paving the way for the Taliban.

"It is difficult to separate policemen from their bachas in this security situation," Nayab said, explaining that police serve as a pivotal first line of defence against insurgents.

But for campaigners like Charu Lata Hogg, a London-based fellow at the Chatham House think-tank, citing security as an excuse for inaction is unconscionable.

"The UN and Afghanistan signed an action plan in 2011 that explicitly calls for rehabilitation of sexually abused children," she said. "So why has no tangible action been taken?"

Culture of silence

Helmand activist Sardar Hamdard said the practice has undercut public support for Afghan forces, enabling the Taliban to exploit it as a recruitment tool.

"Rampant bacha bazi is ruining our society," said Hamdard. "Our children grow up believing that raping boys is normal."

With little legal recourse and a culture of silence and impunity, many families have abandoned hope.

The lucky ones may know someone in authority, whose ad hoc intervention can force an abuser to relinquish their child.

jpegMpeg4-1280x720Two weeks after Haji Mohammad's 11-year-old son was snatched by a commander in Helmand's Babaji area, he turned to a known intelligence official for help.

"'I want the boy back within three days or there will be consequences,'" the mosque imam recalls the official telling the commander by telephone.

The boy was released after 18 days, limping back to his father, terrified and scarred.

Mohammad's family, traced by AFP to a location outside Helmand, bemoaned a lack of psychosocial support for the boy, still visibly traumatised two years after he was taken.
Burkina Faso on Thursday circulated a letter to the UN General Assembly on behalf of African countries urging support for its demand to hold talks on the appointment.

The measure is scheduled to come up for a vote at the General Assembly on Monday.

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.

African countries failed last month to push for the adoption of a draft resolution demanding talks on the legality of the new expert's mandate during a vote in the assembly's human rights committee.

In Africa alone, 33 countries have anti-gay laws including Uganda, Nigeria, Sudan and Mauritania.

In the letter to UN member states, the African countries criticized Muntarbhorn after he set out goals for his mission in an address last month, including decriminalization.

"This shows clearly that the mandate is already being abused by the independent expert to promote legally baseless new rights that are not internationally recognized," the letter said.

Muntarbhorn, who began work as the UN expert last month, has been appointed for three years.
In just four years, small farmers in Ouinhi, southeastern Benin, have seen their harvest double from three to six tonnes of rice per hectare (1.2 to 2.4 tonnes per acre).

They produce so much, in fact, that they have created an unusual problem for West Africa: a local glut.

"People come here to ask us questions and they invite me to their fields to train them," beamed Aboko, after parking his motorbike.

"It's quite common in Ouinhi," he said.

They accepted an invitation from the Africa Rice Centre, or AfricaRice -- a not-for-profit research and training centre -- to change their irrigation system, and it's worked wonders.

"In 2013, there was a drought but the producers on the pilot sites had rice, while the others didn't," said Sander Zwart, a researcher at AfricaRice.

Specialists in rice breeding and irrigation, AfricaRice has devised a system called Smart-Valleys, in which humid inland valleys -- natural catchment areas for rainfall -- are scouted out for rice-growing potential.

The project's team then work with local farmers, explaining the benefits of an irrigation system that is cheap and sustainable -- provided it is built in the right areas, and used at the right times.

But for the change to happen, it needs the farmers' extensive knowledge of the terrain and characteristics of the soil.

'The plant gives back'

The work has entailed moving some paddy fields into moist valleys, which are flooded at key times, and tossing out concrete aquaducts, replaced them with earthen embankments forming rows of ditches.

"Rice needs water, but not all the time," explained Aboko, who is president of the Ouinhi cooperative.

"With this system, when the time comes to give water, we do so -- if we shouldn't, we drain it away.

"What you give to the plant, it will give that back to you!"

The aim of the project -- also being trialled in neighbouring Togo -- is not only to fight against drought but also to better use rainwater, which is often the only source of local irrigation for paddy fields.

"Before, people would choose somewhere and cultivate without thought," said Zwart. "And when there was no water, they couldn't do anything."

Local farmers are involved at every step.

"We clear the vegetation with them and they are the ones who design the layout according to the lanes of running water, the slope of the terrain and the size of plots," said Zwart.

No matter how little it rains, the new system allows farmers to produce crops.

But another part of the success story is due to the rice strain -- a hybrid of African and Asian cultivars called Nerica, which is shorthand for New Rice for Africa.

It brings together genes from high-yield Asian strains and an ancient African strain that is low-yield but resistant to drought and less thirsty than its Asian cousin.

The strain was created by AfricaRice, which gave producers their first seeds. Growers have since then bought more from their own profits.

Sales problems

Guaranteeing a consistent harvest does not mean the farmers' troubles are completely solved.

"The growers don't always manage to sell their produce because they have multiplied their yield in a short space of time," said Felix Gbaguidi, a director at the ministry of agriculture.

"They hadn't always anticipated that aspect. But some organisations are being set up to look after processing the rice, and marketing."

Even so, Aboko wants to increase his yearly harvest from one to three.

And there is room for Benin to increase its production.

Back in 2009 the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) envisaged Benin becoming self-sufficient in rice by 2011.

Yet last year, France's agriculture ministry said the west African country was still bringing in 50,000 tonnes of rice from abroad.

With surplus yields it is perhaps marketing and sales development that Benin needs to take its rice industry to the next level.
In the first such anti-dissident operation since Fidel Castro's death last month, President Raul Castro seemed to indicate the Americas' only one-party communist state was in no mood for dissent.

A roundup in the country's east snared dozens and derailed street protests planned to demand that political prisoners be freed.

"There was a joint operation at 6:00 am in Santiago and Palma Soriano. They searched four homes, and so far we have 42 reported arrests -- 20 in Santiago, 12 in Palma and 10 in Havana," Jose Daniel Ferrer told AFP by phone.

The 46-year-old, who heads the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu), had called the demonstrations to demand that political prisoners be set free. Castro insists there are no political prisoners, just lawbreakers.

Ferrer said he was detained in Santiago, Cuba's second biggest city, at a police unit known as Micro 9.

"They threatened me, and said by calling the demonstration I was facilitating public disorder.... disobedience and espionage," Ferrer said.

Ladies in White, shut in

In Havana, the award-winning Ladies in White group, which presses for the release of jailed dissidents who are their relatives, said that at least 20 of its activists were "under siege," kept from attending their weekly march.

"At least 20 homes were blocking the residents to keep us from marching today," said group leader Berta Soler.

It was a step backward for the Ladies in White. They long have been considered the only dissidents the Cuban government allowed to march regularly; they hold one weekly protest outside a church in Havana.

But not this Sunday, Soler said.

US rights lawyer held, freed

Kimberley Motley, an American human rights lawyer, was briefly detained on Friday along with Cuban activists Gorki Avila and Luis Alberto Marino when they planned to visit graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado, known as "El Sexto," in jail.

Maldonado was also arrested on November 26, a day after the death of Cuban revolutionary icon Fidel Castro, after painting on a wall in Havana the phrase "He's gone," her relatives say.

According to online newspaper 14 y medio, Motley left Cuba at the request of the government.

She tweeted "Thanks for all the love and support safely back home in the U.S. Will not stop fighting to free @dmmelsexto."

Cuban authorities have not confirmed the arrests.

The United States and Cuba re-established ties in July 2015 after breaking them off for more than half a century.
The authorities ordered some 30,000 security personnel into the streets for the vote in the wake of scattered incidents in recent months, including attacks on police posts.

An election monitor told AFP that the "vote was carried out on the whole peacefully" -- though turnout was low -- with polls closing and the count beginning just after 6:00 pm (1800 GMT).

The ruling coalition is seeking an absolute majority in the face of numerous dissidents and opposition candidates in the country, which was rocked by deadly unrest after the 2010 presidential election that saw Ouattara oust then leader Laurent Gbagbo.

Provisional results could start being released on Sunday night but the definitive outcome is not expected to be known until Wednesday, according to an official from the independent election commission.

Former prime minister Pascal Affi Nguessan, who leads Gbagbo's Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), called for the people to "reestablish the political balance".

Ivory Coast was long the star economic performer in the region until hitting years of political strife but is now back on the rails.

The International Monetary Fund has said the west African state will be the continent's fastest-growing economy this year.

"Give me a strong majority to enable me to speed up the work that I have set as an objective in the four years to come," Ouattara said in a TV broadcast, playing up his economic achievements to win support among the 6.2 million eligible voters.

The presidential coalition -- named the Houphouetist Rally for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) in tribute to the country's founding president -- is aiming for an absolute majority in the 255-seat National Assembly.

'Change and development'

Most observers and even some in the opposition acknowledge the economic benefits of Ouattara's rule, but find less convincing the political record of the man known to Ivorians by his initials "ADO".

National reconciliation remains unfinished, the judiciary is under fire, and the opposition shunned a referendum in October on a divisive new constitution.

"I voted for change and development of my neighbourhood," said Fousseni Diabate, a 25-year-old shopkeeper after voting at a primary school in Abidjan.

"I want a deputy at the (national) assembly who is close to the people, because I don't even know the name of the outgoing one for my commune."

In the country's second city Bouake, 300 kilometres (200 miles) north of Abidjan, polling stations also opened late.

"I voted to allow the Ivory Coast's president to win a majority in the national assembly, so that he can implement his plan to develop the country," said Karim Ouattara, a 63-year-old retiree.

The president's predecessor refused to accept defeat in a long-delayed poll in November 2010, sparking conflict that claimed 3,000 lives before Gbagbo was arrested in April 2011.

jpegMpeg4-1280x720Gbagbo is being tried by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity.

His wife Simone Gbagbo is also on trial in Abidjan on similar charges over the post-2010 election violence.

No fewer than 1,337 candidates are standing in the single-round poll, in which winner takes all in each constituency.
Toure, known by the acronym ATT, came to power in 2002, and fled to Senegal after being overthrown by a military junta in 2012 just as he was preparing to end his final term in office.

"The elected representatives of the people have voted by secret ballot on the fate of former president ATT, and have decided not to pursue him after leading Mali for 10 years," an opposition lawmaker told AFP after Friday's vote.

Under Malian law, it is lawmakers who sit in judgement on current or former presidents.

Toure was accused by the current government of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of treason related to the failure of soldiers to tackle an Islamist insurgency in the north of Mali.
The quake hit 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of the town of Esperanza at a depth of 550 kilometers, the Geophysical Institute of Peru said.

Deeper quakes like this one tend to cause less damage than ones that hit closer to the surface of the earth.

Civil defense authorities said that so far no injuries or damage had been reported, the state news agency Andina said.
"It's extremely important to vote this by the end of the year," said US Ambassador Samantha Power.

The Security Council was due to hold closed-door consultations later Monday on the crisis in South Sudan, where a devastating war entered its fourth year this month.

The United States last month presented a draft resolution aimed at cutting off the arms flow to South Sudan following UN warnings that the war-torn country could descend into genocide.

France and Britain support an arms embargo. But veto powers Russia and China have voiced opposition, while non-permanent council member Japan, which has sent peacekeepers to South Sudan, is also balking at the proposal.

"We are going to need to vote this resolution and countries are going to need to raise their hands and decide where they stand on issues of life-and-death as it relates to the people of South Sudan," said Power.

The world's youngest nation, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and more than 2.5 million people displaced.
The 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued its call in a statement at the end of a summit in Nigeria.

"The Authority calls on President Yahya Jammeh to accept the result of the polls and refrain from any act likely to compromise the transition and peaceful transfer of power to the president-elect," they said.

The summit vowed "to take all necessary action to enforce the results" of the December 1 poll, without spelling out what the measures would be.

Opposition leader Adama Barrow was declared the winner of the presidential ballot and Jammeh initially conceded defeat, only to reverse his decision a week later, condemning "unacceptable errors" by election authorities and calling for a new vote.

The summit in Abuja was attended by 11 heads of state but without the leaders of four members including The Gambia.

Earlier, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is also ECOWAS chairwoman, said Jammeh's reversal "threatened peace", calling on him in a statement on December 10 "do the right thing and take actions to facilitate a smooth and peaceful transition in The Gambia."

Gambian security forces seized the country's Independent Electoral Commission earlier this week, drawing international condemnation.

On Saturday Johnson-Sirleaf said a prompt resolution of the crisis was essential.

"It is now important that the Authority, at this summit, considers recommended measures to bring this matter to successful conclusion before January 19, the constituted date when the mandate of the incumbent president expires," she told the summit.

Mediators appointed

Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the UN top envoy for West Africa, said the global body would support efforts to resolve the election logjam.

"The UN remains concerned by some of the worrisome developments that occurred during the post election period in The Gambia," Chambas said after the opening of the summit.

These included "in particular, the seizure of the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission by the Gambian military," he added.

The summit also appointed Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama to mediate in the dispute and report back to the regional grouping

On Tuesday, Sirleaf led a heavyweight delegation to The Gambia to seek to broker a deal, meeting both Jammeh and Barrow.

But Sirleaf announced at the end of the talks there was no deal.

The situation has been further complicated by Jammeh's political party filing a legal challenge against the result at the Supreme Court.

The African Union, the UN, local and international rights groups have asked Jammeh -- who has been in power for 22 years -- to step down.

Ahead of the ECOWAS summit, around 200 politicians, human rights activists and Gambian diaspora figures gathered in Dakar, capital of Senegal on Saturday to call for a peaceful transition of power in Gambia.
His Miss Universe beauty contest was taking place in Russia's capital and he thought it would seal a connection with its president, Vladimir Putin.

"Do you think Putin will be going to The Miss Universe Pageant in November in Moscow -- if so, will he become my new best friend?" the now US-president elect tweeted.

The meeting never took place, though Putin sent a close aide with a gift for the American.

It was just another false start in three decades of efforts by Trump to crystallize ties with a country that has long captivated him -- for its real estate development potential, but also for its steely, no-nonsense leaders.

Trump wrote in his book, "The Art of the Deal," that his attraction to the then-Soviet Union began in 1986, when a lunch with Soviet ambassador Yuri Dubinin turned into an investment opportunity.

"Dubinin's daughter, it turned out, had read about Trump Tower and knew all about it," Trump recalled.

"One thing led to another and now I'm talking about building a large luxury hotel, across the street from the Kremlin."

He traveled with his then-wife Ivana to view potential sites in Moscow the following year.

"It was an extraordinary experience," he wrote. "I was impressed with the ambition of the Soviet officials to make a deal."

'Tough and cold'

Nothing came of it, and over the next decade Trump was bogged down in the bankruptcies of his Atlantic City casinos. But by 1997, he was back on the Russia file, bonding with rising political star General Alexander Lebed.

The two met at Trump Tower, where, according to a New Yorker article, Lebed lauded Trump's Moscow hotel plans as "a litmus testing paper" for American capital flowing to Russia.

Basking in the praise, Trump gave Lebed, a former boxer, a copy of his book. After the meeting, the New York tycoon said what he really liked about the Russian.

"Does he look as tough and cold as you've ever seen? This is not like your average real-estate guy who's rough and mean," Trump said. "This guy's beyond that. You see it in the eyes."

Trump's trip to Moscow that year again came up dry, but he was smitten with the country and its hard-nosed leaders more than ever. Entertaining his first White House run in 2000, he wrote in a new book of his fascination with Russian power.

"What I don't understand is why American policymakers are always so timid in dealing with Russia on issues that directly involve our own survival," he said, pointing to his experience of Lebed, "a really tough guy" who he predicted would one day lead Russia.

Trump backed out of the 2000 race, and Lebed died in 2002 in a helicopter crash. By then, ex-KGB officer Putin was the country's president, and Trump's eyes turned to the vast sums of money newly rich Russians were moving out of the country.

'Look at Putin'

In 2005, he went into business with New York developer Bayrock Group, led by two immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

They signed a deal to develop a Trump Tower in the Russian capital that went nowhere. Meanwhile, they built the 46-floor Trump Soho luxury apartment tower in New York City, and other Trump-brand developments in Florida.

The primary financing source and the marketing target, were both Russian money, including an Iceland-registered investment firm identified in later lawsuits as "in favor" with Putin.

Trump was not implicated in the lawsuits, but in a deposition he bared his view of the situation.

"Russia is one of the hottest places in the world for investment. We will be in Moscow at some point," he said.

Again eyeing the White House in 2007, Trump began singing Putin's praises.

"Look at Putin -- what he's doing with Russia," he told CNN.

"Whether you like him or don't like him -- he's doing a great job in rebuilding the image of Russia and also rebuilding Russia, period. Forget about image."

After Trump sold the Palm Beach, Florida estate Maison de L'Amitie to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev for a record $95 million in 2008, his name became bigger inside Russia, and he entertained journalists from Moscow.

"I really like Vladimir Putin. I respect him. He does his work well. Much better than our Bush," Trump told them.

By 2011, Trump began planning a serious White House challenge. For him, comparing President Barack Obama to Putin was a way of standing out.

'So weak'

In his new political tract, "Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again," he praised Putin for "his intelligence and no-nonsense way."

"I respect Putin and the Russians, but cannot believe our leader allows them to get away with so much," he wrote. "Hats off to the Russians."

By 2013, the year of the Miss Universe contest in Moscow, Trump had another deal to build a Trump Tower by the Kremlin.

It didn't happen, but his praise of Putin stepped up. He lauded Putin's op-ed in The New York Times telling Washington how to make peace in Syria.

"He is lecturing to our President. Never has our Country looked so weak," Trump tweeted.

His pro-Russia views under increasing scrutiny in 2015 as he opened his campaign, Trump made waves for casually dismissing longstanding suspicions that Putin's regime condoned the murder of critical journalists.

"It's never been proven that he's killed anybody," Trump told ABC.
The railroad hub on the edge of the war zone in January 2015 was the scene of one of the deadliest confrontation in the 31-month war.

"Today, the rebels staged a massive attack on our positions in the Debaltseve region," Matyukhin told AFP by telephone.

He said the firefight lasted for two hours and involved artillery and large-calibre grenade launchers.

"Unfortunately, five of our fighters were killed and six injured," the Ukrainian military spokesman said.

The January 2015 Debaltseve battle was won by the separatists and led to peace talks the following month that drew in the leaders of Germany and France.

The February 2015 deal that was also signed by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russia's Vladimir Putin was meant to end one of Europe?s bloodiest conflicts in decades by the end of that year.

But the so-called Minsk Agreements have been repeatedly broken by both sides and low-scale warfare continues in the European Union's backyard in a conflict that has claimed some 10,000 lives.

A sudden military flare-up in Ukraine would add headaches to EU leaders who are already grappling with Britain's decision to leave the bloc and Donald Trump's unexpected election as president of the United States.

Matyukhin said that 20 insurgents were killed and 30 wounded in Sunday's battle.

But both sides often exaggerate the others' losses and rebel spokesman Eduard Basurin said the number of his fighters killed remained unknown.

Basurin accused Kiev's forces of trying to win back positions they lost nearly two years ago.

"We beat them back," Basurin told AFP. "I have no information about how many casualties we suffered."

Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of taking an active part in the war in retaliation for Kiev's February 2014 ouster of a Moscow-backed president and tilt toward the West.

Russia flatly denies the charges and calls any of its soldiers killed or captured in the war zone volunteers.

But both the United States and the European Union have imposed economic sanctions for Russia's actions in Ukraine and the March 2014 annexation of the Crimea peninsula.

The Kremlin responded by banning the import of most Western food.

That step has proven to be unpopular with some European farmers in nations such as Italy and Spain.
Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
1. 'Holly Jolly Christmas'

With the countdown to Christmas Day on, here's a show to get you in the sing-a-long mood. "Holly Jolly Christmas," a revue-like musical features around 30 seasonal tunes, such as The Christmas Song, Jingle Bell Rock," "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" and Silent Night. You have only one chance to see it this week at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave, Rock Island. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and shows starts at 7:45 p.m. For more information, visit circa21.com.

6 p.m. Wednesday, Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse, $52.25

2. Honoring Ellis Kell

Ellis Kell, a Quad-City musician, icon and champion for the arts, died Friday after being diagnosed with cancer in October. To honor Kell, an open jam session has been scheduled at Cabanas Bar N Grille, 2120 4th Ave., Rock Island. The Quad-City community is invited to listen to music and remember Kell. Donations will be accepted to go to the Kell family.

6 p.m. Tuesday, Cabanas Bar N Grille. Free

3. Classic Christmas movie

The Putnam Museum, 1717 W 12th St., Davenport, continues its classic movie series with a holiday-themed film. Watch the timeless tale of "White Christmas" on the Putnam Giant screen. You could also see "The Polar Express 3D" on Wednesday. Check putnam.org for the full list of showtimes.

2 p.m. Tuesday, Putnam Museum, $5

4. Band together

Like the style of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra? Put this show on your to-do list. Wizards of Winter present a theatrical show in the vein of the rock opera powerhouse. The group is slated to perform original music as well as songs made famous by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Proceeds will benefit the Davenport West High School band.

7 p.m. Tuesday, Davenport West High School, $20

5. Rap show

In October, East Moline native Keith Simmons, better known by his stage name Poodie Ville, posted a freestyle rap video on his Facebook page that went viral. Last week, he signed his first deal with Dirty Money Records, an independent record label known for previously signing Nicki Minaj. Poodie Ville is slated to perform, along with Blazo, Torrian Ball, TAJ and Amazin', this week at Shenanigan's Irish Pub, 303 W 3rd St., Davenport.

9 p.m. Friday, Shenanigan's Irish Pub, $10

6. Holiday music

Looking for a combination of coffee and cozy tunes? A slew of Quad-City musicians are taking the stage at Milltown Coffee, 3800 River Drive, Moline. Hear holiday music from Lewis Knudsen, Jake Lyle, Faith Hardacre and Dan Fennesy. Don't forget to order an eggnog latte.

6 p.m. Thursday, Milltown Coffee. Free

7. For the kids

Pirates and Santa sharing one stage? It's happening in this kid-friendly Christmas musical on tap at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island. In Jingle ARRGH the Way: A How I Became a Pirate Christmas Adventure," follow along as a crew of pirates on their hunt for Christmas treasure. To purchase tickets in advance, visit circa21.com.

10 a.m. Friday, Circa '21, $10.50

8. Rockin' Christmas

Well, consider this another type of rockin' Christmas. Three area and regional rock bands are teaming up for a concert at the Rock Island Brewing Company, or RIBCO, 1815 2nd Ave., Rock Island. See Davenport-based Waking Robots along with Vanishing Kids, from Madison, Wisconsin, and Us-Mode, a group based in Rock Island.

9 p.m. Friday, RIBCO, Cover charge

9. Yoga pajama party

Grab your coziest pajamas and get stretched out before the holiday weekend. Tippi Yogis, a traveling yoga practice that holds pop-up sessions at various Quad-City pubs and bars, is going festive this week. For more information, visit facebook.com/tippiyogis.

6 p.m. Thursday, The Lodge at The Conservancy, $10
Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett said Monday he won't seek another term as mayor of Cedar Rapids. But it appears it will be a few months before he says whether he will run for governor.

Corbett's announcement set off speculation that he will run against Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds in a Republican primary in 2018. Reynolds will succeed Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to be the ambassador to China.

At a news conference Monday in Cedar Rapids, Corbett told reporters, "Im going to let things unfold over the next several months and make a decision sometime next year whether thats something I want to pursue or not.

The news conference was called to talk about his decision not to run for re-election as mayor. Earlier in the day, he announced the decision on the Simon Conway radio program, which is based in Des Moines but airs in other parts of the state, too.

Corbett did tell reporters that his annual state of the city address in February would have a surprise ending, but he didn't elaborate.

It has been widely thought in political circles that Corbett was preparing for a gubernatorial bid, even though he has not said so explicitly. He has been traveling the state as head of Engage Iowa, a conservative think tank. But after the announcement that Branstad would be going to China, Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said the party would be "100 percent" behind Reynolds once she took office.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, who also was thinking about running for governor, said fairly quickly that he would support Reynolds. But Corbett didn't do so, telling The Gazette in Cedar Rapids two weeks ago that he still considered the governor's post an "open seat" in 2018. That language is generally meant to refer to a seat where an incumbent is not running.

A GOP primary, if there is one, would be in June 2018, which would mean Reynolds will have been in office for more than a year before that vote.

On a conference call Monday, Kaufmann reiterated the party's support for Reynolds but said it would be neutral in any primary. Asked later how the party could express complete support for Reynolds yet remain neutral in a primary, Kaufmann said that the GOP would back the incoming governor's work but that it is not uncommon for states to have bylaws requiring neutrality in a contested primary.

So far, Corbett is the most prominent Republican thought to be a potential challenger to Reynolds. He served seven terms in the Iowa House, including five years as speaker, and two terms as mayor. He also has worked in the private sector, including as head of the chamber of commerce in Cedar Rapids.

(Gazette reporter James Q. Lynch contributed to this report.)
U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack said Monday the Democrats' review of the 2016 election cycle will be a wide-ranging in-depth analysis that will seek to help reset the party for the future.

Loebsack, D-Iowa, who is arguably the leading Democrat in the state, announced the effort at a meeting of the Iowa Democratic Party's state central committee this weekend.

The effort, to be done in conjunction with the state party, will feature a tour of the state to gain input, and a final report is expected in the spring.

The election last month was the latest in a string of victories for Iowa Republicans since 2010. Donald Trump won the state, and the GOP gained control of the Iowa Senate. And while President Barack Obama won Iowa in 2012, the GOP has wrested the governorship and both houses of the Legislature from the Democrats over the past six years and now hold three of the four U.S. House seats, along with both U.S. Senate seats.

Loebsack, who won a sixth term last month, has been taking on more of a public role as a party leader, and this is just the latest example. The Iowa City Democrat visibly helped state legislative candidates across the state this year. He also now has close to $1 million in his campaign account after having to spend relatively little on his own race.

In an interview Monday after he spent time volunteering at the River Bend Foodbank in Davenport, Loebsack said some of those funds would provide seed money for the review, and professionals would be hired to help out.

"I want to make sure that we do this in an evidence-based sort of way; it's not just seat of the pants. It's not just sort of my hunch," Loebsack said.

Previous post-election efforts have involved internal data analysis, but not like this, officials say. Norm Sterzenbach, former executive director of the state Democratic Party said there had been interest in the past in doing something more in-depth, but cost was an obstacle. He estimated this effort could cost $75,000 to $100,000. Still, he said it's needed.

"We do not look introspectively enough," he said. "And its critical moving forward."

Even Loebsack conceded perhaps this should have happened earlier.

"I think there's no question that if we'd done something more systematic, something more in depth in the past, we may have been able to avoid some of the failures this time," he said. "I can't say that for sure."

No dates have been set for the committee to take input yet, nor have members of the group guiding the effort been appointed. But Loebsack said elected officials and members of the state central committee would take part.

The party already is in the midst of deciding who will be the new state chair. There are several people competing for the job, and a decision is expected next month.
Former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley told Democrats in Davenport on Sunday that all things in politics are temporary, and he urged them to turn their grief over the Nov. 8 election into positive action, beginning with this months special election for the state Senate.

OMalley was in Davenport to campaign for state Rep. Jim Lykam, D-Davenport, who is seeking to win the District 45 seat in the Dec. 27 special election.

OMalley, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination but dropped out after finishing a distant third in this years Iowa caucuses, spoke to about two dozen people at Scott County Democratic Party headquarters. Then he was heading over to a fundraiser for Lykam.

Democrats suffered big losses Nov. 8 in Iowa, and party leaders are hoping the state Senate race will be the first step toward rebounding fortunes.

OMalley echoed that, telling activists, It is not how low you go, it is how high you bounce.

Lykam is facing Republican Mike Gonzales and Libertarian Severin Gilbert in the Senate race, which is in a district that leans Democratic.

In the aftermath of the election, O'Malley told reporters the left needs to focus its attention on economic issues. And he criticized President-elect Donald Trumps choice to be secretary of labor, saying he opposes the minimum wage, collective bargaining and even has a mindset against higher wages.

"Our challenge as a party now without a leader is to become more disciplined as a network in bringing everything back to wages and jobs and a stronger and growing American middle class, O'Malley said. Trumps choices, he said, are not consistent with that goal.

OMalley, who had briefly considered a bid for Democratic National Committee chair, spoke highly of South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg to be the new chair. Politico reported last week the 34-year-old was considering a run for the job, but Buttigieg wrote in an opinion piece over the weekend that he isnt interested.

As for his own future plans, OMalley said it was too early to be looking at the 2020 presidential race. But he said he intends to continue helping Democrats across the country.

OMalley flew into Chicago on Sunday then traveled by car through freezing weather to the Quad-Cites. He noted that he has worked to help the party in Iowa through a number of election cycles.

True friends dont show up just when times are good," he told reporters. "They show up when times are hard."
A friend of mine, an expert car mechanic, once told me of losing $30,000 in a commodity deal. It was one of those investment swindles then making the rounds. I asked my friend whether he felt angry.

"No," he answered. "I could have tripled my money."

He had no idea that he had been hosed.

Every successful scam ends with a "blow-off." That's when the con artist, having relieved the mark of his money, gets rid of the victim. That can be done several ways. Often the chump is too embarrassed to complain. Or he can be intimidated into silence.

The ideal victim is the one who, like my friend, gets taken but doesn't know it. Such trusting people often come back for more.

Donald Trump is now at the blow-off stage of his hustle to win the support of blue-collar whites.

He started with an in-your-face double cross, filling his administration with the very Wall Street financiers he promised to defang. Then he chose for labor secretary Andrew Puzder, a fast-food executive hostile to a decent minimum wage and several other worker protections.

Blue-collar America has indeed been hurt by mass immigration, especially the illegal kind. On this issue, Trump campaigned as a hard-liner. But Puzder has been a champion of cheap foreign labor. The department he would head is supposed to punish employers who hire undocumented workers.

Trump's low regard for working stiffs hasn't exactly been a closely held secret. He ran for president having already employed illegal labor, stiffed his contractors and defrauded the little guys attending Trump University. So how did he get their vote?

"There's nothing a con artist likes better than exploiting the sense of unease we feel when it appears that the world as we know it is about to change," Maria Konnikova writes in her book "The Confidence Game." Globalization and automation have put factory workers under enormous stress.

Trump checked off all boxes in the art of the con. 1) Learn what the target wants. 2) Play on that desire. 3) Create an emotional foundation based on rapport and an illusion of empathy.

The revolution in information technology also helps. The Trump campaign spread fake news to trap low-information voters in an alternate reality it could control.

As the famous imposter Frank Abagnale -- inspiration for the movie "Catch Me if You Can" -- said, "What I did 50 years ago as a teenage boy is 4,000 times easier to do today because of technology."

A common trait among fraud victims is a desire to believe that things will work their way. Vox asked Kentuckians dependent on Obamacare why they had voted for Trump despite his repeated vows to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

"We all need it," a woman responded. "You can't get rid of it." Right.

One can see why Trump would find casino gaming a business to his liking. Modern electronic slot machines are programmed to trick their marks into believing they barely missed the jackpot. The pigeon thinks: "I almost won the big one. Better keep dropping money in this machine."

How will labor respond to the Trumpian blow-off? Some may resist. The president of the local steelworkers union flatly announced that Trump "lied his a-- off" about the number of jobs he saved at the Carrier plant in Indianapolis. Trump hit back with an insulting tweet, and others threatened the labor leader's family.

Some may quietly obey rather than expose themselves to such intimidation. And still others will continue to believe that Trump has their interests at heart -- or that he's not doing what he's doing.
Sadly, the image most Americans have of Russian President Vladimir Putin is that of a shirtless, smiling man, riding a horse, and being joked about in a harmless way by Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show. That and more recently, President-elect Donald Trump talking him up to be this "great leader."

People are now taking the time to check out the real Putin. The best and quickest example is Russian Federal Security Service officer Alexander Litvinenko, whom Putin had poisoned with Polonium-210, causing him to die a horrible and slow death. He had worked for the Russian government in charge of going after organized crime. But he did his job too well, was fired, and fled to London, where he wrote two books exposing Putin the murderer. Hence, he's dead.

Trump went out of his way in debates and any other chance he had, to say it wasn't the Russians hacking the Democratic National Committee. Now, he selects Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, a man given a friendship award by Putin because of oil, as secretary of state.

You can be sure Trump knew he was being helped in the presidential election. It makes one wonder, after all the investigations are done, could Trump be charged with treason for helping to protect Russia, while knowing they were in the process of attacking the United States?

Tom Hebbeln

Davenport
Q. My mother recently received a call from someone who convinced her that she owed back taxes to the IRS. Thank goodness she called me before she sent any money. Unfortunately, this isnt the first time that shes been a target for this type of thing. Im worried that it will happen again. What can I do to help protect her?

A. We are all susceptible to scammers, but our elderly are especially vulnerable. It is a good thing that your mother let you know about the call and wise for you to be concerned about the potential for her to be a target for scammers.

Awareness is the first key to stopping would-be thieves. I encourage you to visit with your mother about some of the most common tactics scammers use to net their victims. Tax scams are particularly prevalent, especially during the months leading up to April. According to the IRS, scammers use a variety of schemes; one of the most common relies on automated calls where scammers leave urgent callback requests to settle a tax bill. Other scams target students and their parents, demanding payments for fictitious taxes, such as a federal student tax. And sometimes, telephone scammers try to capture personal information by claiming it is necessary to verify personal information on a tax return.

It can be overwhelming  and even scary  to think you owe money that must be paid immediately. Scammers capitalize on this fear in order to get people to act quickly, before they have time to think about the request. Everyone needs to know, however, that the IRS will never call to demand immediate payment by phone, threaten to immediately bring the police and have you arrested, demand you pay for taxes without giving you the opportunity to ask questions and appeal the amount, or ask you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

Another common scam involves work-at-home schemes. In these scams, fraudsters place ads on legitimate websites, promising easy money and asking for training fees paid up front. According to the National Consumers League, work-at-home scam complaints increased 17 percent in the first three months of 2016. To be safe, check a companys Better Business Bureau rating in the state they are located before you sign anything. And never send money under pressure from a would-be employer.

In addition to helping your mother become more aware of potential scams, you might also consider asking to her to contact you before she gives out any personal financial information or agrees to send money in response to calls or emails. If her capabilities are diminishing, the two of you may opt to visit with an attorney about the various types of Powers of Attorney that are available.

We can all be victims of financial exploitation, regardless of our age or experience. I encourage consumers to remain vigilant and to think carefully before giving out any personal financial information or agreeing to send money to anyone.
MANDAN, N.D. | The first pipeline protester trial scheduled to start Monday morning was postponed after the judge learned that not all 10 defendants had received all the evidence from the prosecutor.

Only one of the nine defense attorneys involved in the case had received about three hours of aerial video and 500-plus photos of the protest site from law enforcement, said Sandra Freeman, who was present during the closed proceeding. Freeman is the criminal case coordinator for the Water Protector Legal Collective, a group that assists Dakota Access pipeline protesters with their cases.

South Central District Judge Cynthia Feland reset the trial for Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, according to the Morton County court clerk's office.

Freeman said she did not believe there was bad intent behind the prosecution's failure to turn over the evidence.

"The volume of what is happening here is quite large," she said. "It doesn't seem to anybody that he was trying to hide things."

Ladd Erickson, who is prosecuting the case for Morton County, said that part of the problem is that some of the defense attorneys had been appointed in the past week.

Some of the defendants met their attorneys for the first time in the courthouse hallway Monday morning.

Joe Haythorn, of Oregon, one of the protesters charged, said he was glad for the continuance.

"I learned of (the additional evidence) today," Haythorn said. "That was nice to hear about, the 500-plus photos and something like three hours cumulative video.

"I'm just happy that the judge saw through to the point of view that we agree with, which we obviously think is the just one."

The case involves 10 people from nine states, including South Dakota, charged with disorderly conduct on Aug. 11, one of the first days of the Dakota Access pipeline protests. A police affidavit filed in the case accuses the defendants of pushing through law enforcement lines or police tape to access a work site on N.D. Highway 1806.

Two more pipeline protester trials are set for this week, today and Friday.

A total of 571 people have been arrested in connection with the pipeline protests, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Department.

Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and $1,500 in fines.
TWIN BUTTES, N.D. | Edwin Benson is making his journey to the spirit world and, if his prayers are answered, he will finally be in the company of others who can speak to him in a language now almost lost on Earth.

Benson, of Twin Buttes on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, died Dec. 9 at the age of 85. He was the last living soul who could fluently speak Mandan, and his death brings the possible extinction of a language that expressed the unique experiences and perceptions of a once-thriving tribe of Plains Indians.

A wake was held last Monday at Twin Buttes. On a night of frigid cold outside, the tradition of honoring the deceased with beautiful star quilts and woolen blankets was warm in remembrance.

The solitary coffin at the front of the hall  bedecked with elaborate headdresses and flower arrangements  held so much more than the mortal remains of a man. It contained all the diversity that a language adds to the world, and for that, most especially, Three Affiliated Tribes Councilman Cory Spotted Bear came to express his regrets at Bensons passing.

The world we live in becomes less. The language is the way the Mandan see the world, Spotted Bear said.

Spotted Bear has been behind efforts to preserve Nueta, the proper word for Mandan, not only through his earlier work with Benson and personal graduate work in linguistics, but also through a two-year, $1 million project funded by the tribe to document and collate all known records of the language.

Many of those were made by Benson himself, who for decades had worked with various linguists and others to document what everyone knew was a dying language. One by one, those few Mandan  maybe 150, according to historians  who survived 1830s smallpox epidemics eventually died, and their even fewer Mandan-speaking children died, too.

He never asked to be the teacher of the language; he was more called to be. He was a simple rancher at heart, Spotted Bear said.

Even with the money invested in documenting the language, its possible there may never be another fluent speaker, according to Spotted Bear. I believe that race is social. For our kids and for the sake of future generations, weve worked hard to revitalize the language, and here in Twin Buttes, we have the most extensive collection of the Mandan language and old-time recordings in the world.

Bensons daughter, Heidi Hernandez, said, in the end, her dads final effort to give so much of himself and his knowledge was becoming too much.

He said hed done enough now and he was tired, she said. This language, which made Dad so well-known across the world, Im afraid its extinct.

Bensons friend and tribal historian Marilyn Hudson recalls him telling her that the distinction was its own burden.

He said it was lonely to be the only one, Hudson said.

None of Bensons daughters learned Mandan, or Nueta, growing up with a mother who spoke Lakota and a father who could speak Mandan and Hidatsa.

They didnt want to confuse us, so they just spoke English, Hernandez said.

Art Smith, a tribal elder and senior pallbearer, said Benson was an important man who helped many in his community.

I honor him. He was a language teacher and a doctor, he said, referring to the honorary doctorate conferred on Benson in 2009 by the University of North Dakota.

Beyond the fact that Mandan speakers were the most affected by smallpox among the three affiliated tribes of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara, Smith said the early, white-influenced education of Native American children was brutal.

I saw some kids get beat so hard they couldnt get up because they talked their language in school, Smith said.

Indrek Park, a linguistics researcher with Indiana Universitys American Indian Studies Research Institute, is part of a university team that had worked for more than two years with Benson to preserve the language up until a month before he died.

Park said beyond being the last native speaker, Benson was a living anachronism, a 19th century man living in the 21st century.

His mother died when he was 1 year old, and he was brought up mostly by his grandfather, Ben Benson, who was among those who were born in an earth lodge and hunted the buffalo. Had his mother lived, his language would have been Hidatsa, Park said. Usually, behind every last speaker of a language is a personal tragedy. He was always lonesome. He lived with sadness.

Park said he had previously compiled a 2,000-page dictionary of Hidatsa words and grammar and hell continue to pull together 100 years worth of various writings and recordings of Nueta, including Bensons many contributions.

The work is not nearly over, but now, theres no one to consult with, he said. There are a few left who still understand a recording and could translate, but they could not form their own sentences. He was the last.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is considering creating a tribal utilities commission to regulate infrastructure projects on its land.

Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II said the tribe has started the process since Standing Rock has been in a months-long fight against the 1,172-mile Dakota Access crude oil pipeline, which is proposed to cross the Missouri River just north of the reservation. The tribe fears that a leak in the line would pollute the river and the tribal water supply.

Archambault said the pipeline battle has shone the spotlight on flaws in state and federal law pertaining to tribal consultation and feedback on infrastructure projects  something he believes a tribal utilities commission could rectify.

I think its in everyones interest to have some kind of regulatory authority, he said.

The tribe will first need to create a regulatory code before forming a commission, according to Archambault, who said the new code, once written, has to be posted for 30 days to garner tribal member feedback.

The process takes time. Its not going to happen overnight, he said.

Archambault said the commission would have authority over all utilities infrastructure, from water lines to power lines. And despite the opposition to Dakota Access, the creation of a commission would not rule out the possibility of crude oil pipelines on the reservation.

Opposition and 2007 tribal council action to prevent crude oil pipelines from crossing tribal lands came from fears the industry was not regulated well enough, Archambault said. If the tribe were to be more the master of its fate, with direct input on projects through its regulatory authority, there would be less reluctance to allow their development.

And though the Dakota Access pipeline would not cross the reservation, the chairman said he is hopeful a tribal utilities commission could also give the tribe more weight on the national stage should similar projects arise in the future.

Standing Rock is looking to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota as a model for its proposed commission, according to Archambault.

The Rosebud Siouxs tribal utilities commission just celebrated its 22nd anniversary, and Commissioner Ronald Neiss said it's one that other tribes have looked to as a success story.

Neiss said he had a recent conversation with Archambault about the creation of a commission on Standing Rock. On the Rosebud Reservation, its existence has allowed the tribe to be an advocate for utilities consumers within tribal homelands.

There was some opposition at first, Neiss said of the commissions creation. It came mostly from utilities cooperatives, used to dealing with the state for permitting, questioning why the tribe was taking up regulating.

Most of the utility infrastructure on the Rosebud Reservation is operated by cooperatives. One thing that has helped bridge gaps is the election of two tribal members to a local cooperative board. Neiss said the tribe had previously been unrepresented on the cooperative board despite tribal members making up 80 percent of the cooperatives membership.

With that board presence, Neiss is confident the landscape will change. An annual utilities forum between cooperatives and the tribe is another way Rosebud has tried to develop relationships.

Over the past two decades, most of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Utilities Commission work has been on easements for telecommunications and electric lines, particularly fiber for high-speed internet. The commission has been an advocate for renewable and energy-efficiency improvements, though there have been no major wind or solar farms developed on tribal lands that would have required permitting. Neiss said they recently completed a 50-year right of way with the Western Area Power Administration for a 115-kilovolt transmission line.

That was a big mission for us, he said.

The tribes next goal is creation of Rosebud Energy Services Co., which would be a tribal subsidiary developing infrastructure on the reservation for transmission of the tribes six-megawatt power allocation from WAPA.

Along with development of a utilities commission, Archambault said Standing Rock is talking with Rosebud about the possible establishment of an intertribal utilities commission.

Neiss said there has been interest from the Yankton and Ogala Sioux, too. And Rosebud has offered to share its Title 20 regulatory code with others. He said the benefit of an intertribal commission, or at least commissions with similar codes, would be a continuity of regulation across tribal homelands, making it easier for utilities companies to follow. There is also the opportunity for shared resources to save on cost and increase representation on the national scale.

The Rosebud Sioux are hosting a discussion of intertribal utilities regulation April 28-29 in Rapid City, Neiss said.

Though Neiss said it hasnt been a part of conversations between the Standing Rock and Rosebud Tribes to date, Archambault points to one more potential strength of an inter-tribal utilities commission. He said having a shared commission could help tribes initiate conversations with state governments about the possibility of sharing jurisdiction on projects that cross tribal treaty lands.

Wed love to build those relationships with the states, Archambault said.

The tribe defines treaty lands as lands within tribal territories established in the middle of the 19th century by various treaties between tribes and the federal government. Many parts of the treaties, which laid out rules for interaction among the tribes and provided easements for westward expansion, remain in effect today.

Areas on the Dakota Access pipeline route run through the 1851 treaty territories of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Yankton Sioux Tribe, as well as through the Great Sioux Reservation drawn up in the Treaty of Fort Laramie of 1868. Although Congress forced the tribes onto smaller parcels of land, the treaties of 1851 and 1868 didnt go away.

Archambault said joint jurisdiction on those lands would give tribes the opportunity to have a say as more than just stakeholders on projects crossing them. Tribal opinion could go from being recognized by state and federal regulators to having authority alongside them.

Chris Nelson, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission chairman, said he has no experience to draw upon to weigh how tribal and state regulators may work together on utilities projects. In the Rosebud Tribal Utilities Commissions 22 years of existence, no applications for permitting of projects that cross both tribal and state lands have come up.

There isnt really any interaction between what we do and what they do, he said.

Nelson also declined to speculate on how tribes and states might share jurisdiction on treaty lands, as its still a hypothetical proposal.
President-elect Donald Trump could still scramble North Dakotas political landscape.

Both Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., have been mentioned for Cabinet posts. The positions Cramer has been considered for have been filled, so its not likely hell leave Congress. Heitkamp reportedly is on the list for agriculture secretary. If shes asked to take the post and accepts, it could result in North Dakota Democrats losing the only office they hold in the state. It could create a scenario where Cramer runs for the Senate and a host of Republicans compete for the House seat.

The agriculture secretarys position remains important to North Dakota. Having someone with the presidents ear when setting farm policy could benefit the state. The new farm bill will impact North Dakota in numerous ways and having Heitkamp as ag secretary would be a positive. When Ed Schafer served as agriculture secretary the possibilities excited everyone.

Whether Heitkamp would leave the Senate and likely allow Republicans to increase their majority remains uncertain. The opportunity to shape farm policy might be intriguing to Heitkamp. One wonders if she would be comfortable working with Trump.

Theres no doubt Cramer is comfortable with Trump. An early supporter of the new president, Cramer seems content in Congress. Running for the Senate would be the next logical step. Facing re-election to the House, even when the competition is weak, every two years can become a drag.

If Cramer should run for the Senate, there are a number of Republicans being mentioned for the House race.

If neither Cramer or Heitkamp get a Cabinet post we could see Cramer challenge Heitkamp in 2018 and the Republicans battle for the House nomination.

Some might argue that Trumps trying to find a way to get a Democrat out of the Senate so his party can increase its majority. Its possible, and its also possible hes looking for a Democrat for his Cabinet or just the best person for each post.

If Heitkamp should become ag secretary she would provide a strong farm voice to the Cabinet. There havent been many North Dakotans in the Cabinet with two of the most recent being Schafer and Tom Kleppe.

It shouldnt be long before we have the answers.
Life sentence upheld for Russian killer of Armenian family

MOSCOW, December 19 (RAPSI) - A court in Armenia has upheld the life sentence for the Russian soldier Valery Permyakov, who had killed seven members of a family in the city of Gyumri, RIA Novosti reported Monday.

The ruling may be appealed in a month.

On August 23, a court in Armenia sentenced Permyakov to life in prison. He was found guilty on all accounts including murder, assault related to robbery and attempt to cross the border illegally.

The family, including a six-month-old baby, was killed as a result of an armed assault on January 12, 2015. Valery Permyakov, a soldier at a Russian base in the Armenian town of Gyumri, was arrested and later charged with the murder of two or more persons under the Armenian Criminal Code.

On August 12, 2015, Permyakov was found guilty of desertion, theft of weapons and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The murder case was singled out for considering it in a separate procedure and passed to the Armenian authorities.

On October 13, 2015, Permyakov was found sane despite certain deviations. According to experts, he was not in the heat of passion while committing the crime and could recognize the consequences of his actions.

On October 16, he was additionally charged with armed assault, home-invasion robbery and attempted border crossing.
Six other suspects in $13 mln embezzlement at Rostec Corporation arrested

MOSCOW, December 19 (RAPSI)  Moscow police have arrested six other individuals suspected of being involved in a fraudulent scheme to embezzle 800 million rubles ($13 million at a current exchange rate) from state-owned Rostec Corporation, the Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk told journalists on Monday.

Two defendants were put in detention, four others were placed under house arrest, she said.

Large sums of money, seals and stamps of dummy firms have been seized during the searches, the statement reads.

In June, Moscow economic security police in cooperation with the Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested four suspects in embezzlement of more than 800 million rubles ($12 million) from the state corporation.

An organized group participating in implementation of state defense procurement and acquisition and foreign trade contracts for the supply of civil and military purpose products made deals by using dummy companies from 2011 to 2016, according to the Interior Ministry representative.

Kommersant newspaper reported earlier that former Director General of the Moscow design bureau Compass Murad Safin and ex-head of Prompostavka company Ruslan Suleimanov are suspected of embezzlement.

Abovementioned companies are Rostec subsidiaries.
Investigators seek house arrest for detained RusHydro ex-head, chief accountant

MOSCOW, December 19 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko)  Investigators are seeking to put under house arrest Yevgeny Dod, chairman of the management board of hydroelectric power giant RusHydro, and Dmitry Finkel, chief accountant of the company, a spokesperson for Moscow's Basmanny District Court told RAPSI on Monday.

Both men spent almost six months in a pre-trial detention center after they were detained on June 23 on suspicion of defrauding RusHydro of 73 million rubles ($1.2 million).

Dod awarded himself a bonus for his work at the company in 2013 of 353.2 million roubles (about $5.5 million) which exceeded the amount to which he was entitled, according to the Investigative Committee.

Dod and Finkel pleaded not guilty. Dod expressed his willingness to reimburse the company for alleged damage.

On August 1, Moscow's Basmanny District Court ruled to seize assets belonging to Dod and members of his family. On September 5, the Moscow City Court lifted seizure on assets of Dod's wife and sent the claim for reconsideration.

Dod left RusHydro at his own request in August 2015.
Social network group admin charged with pushing teens to suicide to undergo sanity exam

MOSCOW, December 19 (RAPSI) - Philipp Budeykin, aka Philipp Fox, an administrator of a closed group on social network Vkontakte who stands charged with inciting teenagers to commit suicide, has been taken to hospital for psychiatric evaluation, RIA Novosti reported Monday.

A criminal case was opened in May after several Russian media outlets reported about so-called Groups of Death, numerous groups where young people were encouraged to kill themselves.

Investigators claim that from December 2013 to May 2016 eight Groups of Death were registered on Vkontakte network.

Fifteen teenagers from various regions of Russia were members of these groups and committed suicide.

Searches were conducted in ten regions of Russia.

About ten people testified in the case against Budeykin who was arrested on November 15. He remains in detention since his arrest.
European Union extends sanctions against Russia until July 31, 2017

MOSCOW, December 19 (RAPSI)  The European Union has extended economic sanctions against Russia until July 31 of the next year, announcement from the Council of European Union reads on Monday.

According to the Council, key condition set for lifting the sanctions, namely full compliance with a pact aimed at stopping the armed conflict in Ukraine, the Minsk Agreements, is yet to be fulfilled. Since this condition was not met, on December 15 leaders of the European Union decided to extend anti-Russian sanctions at the European Council meeting. On December 19, this decision was formalized and became final.

In addition to these sanctions, the Council of Europe named accompanying measures currently employed by the European Union against Russia. Among them are targeted individual restrictive measures against 152 people and 37 entities, which are in place until March 15, 2017, and restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, in place until June 23, 2017.

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. Among the companies affected by these sanctions are several of top Russian companies: Sberbank, VTB, Gazprombank and others.

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 and extended yet 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. This June ban was extended yet again until December 31, 2017.
BOULDER  Amanda Brum first shot herself up with methamphetamine when she was 12.

The potent drug was her payment for a babysitting job.

I loved it. Im not going to lie to you, the 33-year-old Billings woman said in July. It was a great feeling. It took away all my pain, all my anxiety. It was what I wanted. It was what I didnt have in my home life.

The slender woman with gray-blue eyes and a spray of freckles across her cheeks was one of several residents at Elkhorn Treatment Center in Boulder who agreed to tell their stories of addiction  journeys filled with abuse, sex exchanged for drugs, and children left behind.

The 47-bed center located about 35 miles north of Butte is a residential treatment-based correctional facility for women under the auspices of the Montana Department of Corrections, with a small number of beds under contract to the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Elkhorn is one of two nine-month programs created by the DOC to treat drug offenders, focusing on mental health and chemical dependency, including meth addiction. An 82-bed facility  Nexus  in Lewistown provides treatment to male offenders. Both programs regularly have months-long waiting lists.

The DOC supervises about 16,451 offenders as of Nov. 30, with 83 percent managed outside the states two prisons. Drug possession continues to be the top-ranked offense for both male and female offenders, according to the DOCs 2015 Biennial Report.

A large percentage of crimes perpetrated on communities can be linked to substance abuse, according to law enforcement officials. Spikes in offenses such as property crimes are inexorably tied to the prevalence of meth use in cities, small towns, and rural outposts across Montana.

Trauma begets addiction

Judy Kolar, one of three licensed addiction counselors at Elkhorn, said the damage inflicted by methamphetamine use affects the whole person. The length of the program is significant and more effective because it provides both mental health and addiction treatment  an approach the Elkhorn team excels at.

Its not the kind of drug you try once.  They certainly make a choice to start, but they dont have any idea what theyre getting themselves into, said Kolar. It takes a long time for their brains to clear up enough to function adequately, and it takes a long time to work through a lot of the problems theyve created.

Administrator Dan Krause said many of the residents have significant trauma histories, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse extending as far back as childhood. Various therapeutic groups target issue areas  such as a victim impact group  and allow the women to share their experiences.

Its very hard-hitting for them, he said, adding that residents will insist theyre victims of the system and later realize they, too, can be the bully or the one who doles out abuse.

Each resident is required to write a life story within the first 90 days after arriving at Elkhorn. Kolar said the stories resonate with trauma: broken homes, a lack of supervision and parents caught up in drug use, something she didnt see early in her career more than 20 years ago.

A lot of parents are using drugs with their kids. Some are introducing kids to drugs, and they dont always start with methamphetamine. Most of the time they dont  usually its alcohol (or) marijuana. When they get into meth, it seems like that becomes the primary drug of choice, she said.

Royale Ereaux of Billings first tried meth at 14. Shortly after, she starting shooting it. The high was amazing. She felt light, like she could do anything.

I felt powerful. I felt like I didnt have to worry about anything or anyone, and it just made me feel better than I was feeling, the 32-year-old Sioux woman said in June.

Ereaux blamed her home life for a string of convictions for drug possession and escape in Yellowstone and Missoula counties dating to 2004. She served seven years in the Montana Womens Prison in Billings.

In an unvarnished admission among fellow residents, Ereaux said, My mom was an addict; she cooked meth and I followed in her footsteps. Everything that she did (to me) I did to my son, and I kept doing it.

Ereaux described herself as ruthless when she was using drugs, and said she slept with men to feed her habit. It was heroin use that brought her to Elkhorn and where nine months  not 30 days  of treatment helped her to dig deep and recognize why she couldnt shake free of addiction.

As the DOC likes to say, Elkhorn is their silver bullet, so hopefully it really helps me this time, she said.

Ereaux has since graduated from the facility and was discharged to the Missoula Prerelease Center.

She is doing well in Missoula, said Krause, adding that Ereaux is working part time, keeping up with her bills and claims to have had no cravings to use drugs. Shes also preparing to take her final high school equivalency tests after Christmas.

Feeling blessed

In a heartfelt letter pinned to Teresa Ericksons bulletin board in the spare dormitory-style room she shares with another resident, Teresa's young son Chase wrote that he couldnt wait to wrap his arms around her.

Ill always Love you with all my Heart in every single second of the day. I love you mom, he wrote.

Erickson grew up in Butte and moved to Livingston in her early teens. Now she calls Bozeman home. Drug use  alcohol, meth and prescription medications  has plagued the 36-year-old mother of three since age 12. Her fathers absence and struggles with self-esteem were like open sores.

The alcohol and drugs made her feel better and changed her mood. She just wanted to feel good. When asked why she chose drugs, Erickson said she was still working on the answers and then paused  her face etched with sadness.

What was real difficult is that my children ended up being taken from me, and I went over the deep end. I just spiraled down. I just used more, she said. I couldnt stop, so I ended up getting in trouble with the law, and it was actually a blessing in my life to be stopped that way, because I couldnt do it myself.

Ericksons two oldest boys live in Livingston, but her youngest lives in the south-central U.S. with his father. The distance from all three  and a deep longing to be with them  was reflected in her blue eyes.

In late October, she graduated from Elkhorn and was discharged to the Butte Prerelease Center. Krause reported that Erickson was excited to start a full-time job after the Thanksgiving holiday and has immersed herself in counseling and doing community service.

Amanda Brum, now 34, has no back teeth, and her top and bottom front teeth are rotten from meth use. She contracted Hepatitis C, an infection of the liver, from sharing needles. And her jaw has been broken twice  once by a boyfriend in 1999 and the other by her husband about four years ago.

The two were drunk at a bar and got into a fight. Brums husband pushed her backward, and his hand deflected from her shoulder and hit her jaw, and it snapped. She said it was an accident and then quickly added, It wasnt.

I love him. I believe in him. I want us to work out. We have a kid together; we have a 4-year-old, Brum said. You know, for a long time, hes my world.

Brum said her time at Elkhorn has been an eye-opener, and she's looking forward to reuniting with her two sons.

Its been the biggest blessing of my life. Ive learned so much about myself being here and where I want to go in my life and how much I want to change for me and my sons, she said.

After her graduation, Brum was discharged to Passages prerelease center in Billings.

Addiction is treatable

Krause said at least 95 percent of the residents graduate from the program, with a majority discharged to prerelease centers across Montana.

A 2013 report by Missoula-based Dr. Timothy B. Conley on Elkhorn and Nexus used data over a five-year period from April 2007 to July 2012 to show findings of a nearly 80 percent graduation rate for Nexus and 86 percent for Elkhorn.

In a 2015 evaluation of Nexus, Conley noted that 75 percent of male offenders treated completed the program. The decrease reflects treatment of a diverse and complex population of offenders, which includes opioid use and mental illness.

Krause said Conleys Missoula-based Clinical and Research Consulting is currently gathering data to provide more of an accurate impact and outcome study of female offenders treated at Elkhorn. Over the summer, the administrator interviewed former residents at prerelease centers in Butte, Billings, Great Falls and Missoula to better assess the programs success and how it can be improved.

Krause believes addiction is treatable  even for those with a dependence on meth. At Elkhorn, the residents are not only seen as addicts but as women who need empathy and structure and lessons in accountability and honesty.
Daniel John Sobieski

President Obama, have you no shame? Your Middle East policy, indeed, your whole foreign policy has been a disaster. How dare you say after the slaughter in Aleppo and the genocide in Syria, that you did the best you could.? CNBC reported the statement President Obama made as he washed his hands of all guilt and responsibility:

"With respect to Syria of what I have consistently done is taken the best course that I can to end the civil war and having also taken into account of the long-term national security interest of the United States," he said[.]

... "Unless we were all in and willing to take over Syria, we were going to have problems," Obama said in the news conference, noting that it would have required "putting large numbers of U.S. troops on the ground, uninvited, without any international law mandate."

... "Responsibility for this brutality lies in one place alone: with the Assad regime and its allies Russia and Iran. And this blood and these atrocities are on their hands," Obama said.

No, the responsibility for this horror lies with Obama, and the blood of Aleppo is on his hands. It is he who drew the red lines in Syria, claiming that there would be consequences if they were crossed. It is he who said Assad must go. There were no consequences, and Assad, protected by Russia, is still there.

As Investor's Business Daily editorialized on Obama's disappearing red lines in Syria:

Syria's chemical weapons are on the move, their precursor chemicals having been mixed, a crossing of a line drawn by President Obama Aug. 20 when he said "a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized." So our resolute president decides to draw another line  that if Syria's Bashar al-Assad makes use of those weapons, presumably against his own people or neighbors, he will face "consequences." ... Obama's appeasement has come home to roost. Assad remembers how Clinton, appearing on CBS' "Face The Nation," dismissed the idea of U.S. military action or regime change in Syria, claiming that unlike Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, Assad was considered to be a "reformer" by "many of the members of Congress."

Yep, Obama's secretary of state and defeated presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called Assad a reformer:

Apparently neither Mrs. Clinton nor Defense Secretary Robert Gates sees Syria as an outlaw nation. Both said Sunday that Syria was different from Libya and that we would not be lobbing cruise missiles into Damascus in another "humanitarian" effort.

"Many of the members of Congress of both parties who have gone to Syria in recent months have said they believe he's a reformer," Clinton said without disputing the assessment. She also drew a distinction between Libya's use of tanks and aircraft against its protesters and "police actions, which, frankly, have exceeded the use of force that any of us would want to see."

Obama and Clinton intervened in Libya to prevent the slaughter of civilians, turning Libya into a failed state and an incubator of terrorism. Yet both did nothing to prevent the slaughter in Syria when they could have easily. We sacrificed four brave Americans at Benghazi in pursuance of this failed policy.

Why did we do nothing in Syria? Perhaps for the same reason we did nothing to prevent Russia's invasion of Ukraine  the Iran deal. Obama, who once promised Russia's President Medvedev more "flexibility" after Obama's re-election, didn't want to offend Putin. He needed Russia's help in securing the Iran deal. Taking out Assad would have offended Tehran. So Obama and Clinton sacrificed both Ukraine and Syria to get the Iran deal and put $150 billion in the hands of Iran, a state sponsor of terror and a mass murderer of U.S. troops in both Lebanon and Iraq.

This reformer moved his chemical weapons, and Obama did nothing. He used his chemical weapons, and Obama did nothing. Seeing no resistance, Russia moved in to protect Assad and safeguard its access to the Syrian port of Tartus on the Mediterranean.

Obama could have done a lot, and it did not involve ground troops. He could have parked an aircraft carrier, 90,000 tons of American diplomacy, off the Syrian coast. He could have ordered air strikes and destroyed the Syrian air force in 24 hours. Then he could have established a no-fly zone protecting a safe haven in Syria. He could have prevented the slaughter in Aleppo, as well as the flood of refugees into Europe. But he didn't.

The rise of ISIS, which Obama calls ISIL so he can omit the "S" that stands for Syria, is a direct result of the vacuum he created In Iraq by his precipitous withdrawal after victory had been won.

President Bush left a stable Iraq, one where Shiites and Sunnis had learned to coexist and resist a common al-Qaeda enemy. There were free and fair elections, and we all remember the pictures of Iraqi women holding up their purple fingersindicating that they had proudly voted. Now we have the mass graves of ISIS, beheadings, and what can only be called the ethnic cleansing of Christians.

It is a myth, as the White House now claims, that President Obama inherited an Iraqi mess from President Bush and had no choice but to withdraw U.S. troops in the absence of a status of forces agreement. The problem was not that Iraq and Prime Minister Maliki wanted the U.S. to leave, but that the force Obama wanted to leave was just too small. As Patrick Brennan has written in National Review:

These claims don't jibe with what we know about how the negotiations with Iraq went. It's the White House itself that decided just 2-3,000 troops made sense, when the Defense Department and others were proposing more. Maliki was willing to accept a deal with U.S. forces if it was worth it to him  the problem was that the Obama administration wanted a small force so that it could say it had ended the war. Having a very small American force wasn't worth the domestic political price Maliki would have to pay for supporting their presence. In other words, it's not correct that "the al-Maliki government wanted American troops to leave.

Obama destroyed Libya for no good reason and sacrificed Syria so that he could pursue the dangerous and flawed Iran deal. He created the vacuum ISIS filled in Iraq and Syria. The blood of Aleppo is on nobody's hands but his.

Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investor's Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications.
Guwahati : The law and order situation turned more violent Manipur after protesters on Sunday had torched more than 40 vehicles in Imphal East district, who protest against the economic blockade by NSCN(IM),United Naga Council (UNC) and recent attacks on police laid by militants.

According to the reports, thousand protesters came into road and vandalized several vehicles and set fire in more than 40 vehicles.

On December 17, the woman vendors of Manipur had called 48-hour Manipur bandh protest against a series of attack on state police by suspected NSCN(IM) militants.

To maintain the worsen situation, Manipur government had imposed curfew in certain parts of Porompat, Sawombung sub-divisions in Imphal East dstrict.

The curfew will continue till further directions, said an order issued by the District magistrate of Imphal East district.

On the other hand, Okram Ibobi Singh led state government had ordered to shut down the mobile internet services in Imphal West and Imphal East district to halt spreading rumours through social media.

NSCN(IM) and UNC had called economic blockade following the state government's announcement of formation of seven new districts.

Following the state government's announcement of formation of the new districts, suspected NSCN(IM) militants had attacked on Manipur police in four times in past 72-hours.

In the militant attacks, at least four policemen were killed and eight others injured.

Nearly 70 suspected militants of NSCN(IM) attacked the two post of Manipur Rifles and 7th Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) of Manipur police in Manipur's newly created district Noney on Saturday.

The incident took place at Nungkao near Jiribam at around 11 am and the militant group also snatched at least 20 loaded weapons of the security personnel.

On the other hand, Manipur based outfit group United National Liberation Front (UNLF) asked NSCN(IM) to leave Manipur before December 23.

Talking to media, a top leader of the outfit group said that, we are giving them a time to leave Manipur, if they would not leave the situation will turn more worsen.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Kathmandu, Nepal: Following the obstructions by the lawmakers of the opposition parties, the meeting of the Legislature-Parliament called for Monday has been postponed till Thursday.

Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar announced postponement of the meeting of parliament till 1.00 pm on Thursday after Parliamentary Party Leader of Nepa Rastriya Party, Laxman Rajbanshi said on behalf of opposition parties that they wont let the House run until the government withdraw the constitution amendment bill registered in the parliament.

During his address he argued that the constitution amendment bill registered in the parliament will invite more problems rather than solving the existing ones.

Earlier, Speaker Gharti Magar had held a meeting with the top leaders of the major political parties including main opposition CPN UML with the aim to urge the parties for consensus to end the obstruction in the parliament.

But the meeting was ended without any progress as the main opposition UML had reiterated that they wont let the House run unless the government withdraws the constitution amendment bill.
Kathmandu, Nepal : Opposition parties including the main opposition CPN UML have reiterated that the would continue their obstruction in the parliament against the constitution amendment bill registered in the parliament.

A meeting of the opposition parties head on Monday also decided to protest the constitution amendment bill in parliament and the streets. The opposition parties has declined to hold a mass demonstration in Kathmandu on January 1.

Likewise a meeting was called by the speaker Onsari Gharti also discussed to find out the way out of the ongoing obstruction in the parliament.
KATHMANDU, Dec 19: The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) today made public the details of property owned by Minister for Urban Development Arjun Narsingh KC and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Bahadur Shahi.

As per the property details unveiled by the OPMCM, Minister KC owns a plot of land measuring 15 anna 2 paisa in Gongabu, capital. He has 20 ropani 1 ana and 2 paisa land (registered in his name) at Okharpauwa, Nuwakot and a piece of land measuring 6 anna 2 paisa at Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot.

Besides, he has four houses constructed on a plot of 8 ana 3 paisa 1 dam at Sainbu of Lalitpur registered in the name of his spouse Pratima.

Property details filled up by Minister KC show that he owns five plots (9 ana and 2 paisa; 1 ropani, 11 ana and 3 paisa; 1 ropani and 6 ana; 14 ana and 2 paisa; and 1 ropani and 6 ana) in Kathmandu.

These plots of land have been registered in the name of his wife in Kathmandu. His wife has four plots of land measuring a total 2 ropani 6 ana and 12 paisa in Lalitpur.

More, Minister KC owns 50 tola gold and 525 tola silver and has bank savings including in his wife's name equivalent to Rs 14.1 million. He has provided Rs 3 million to his relative as a loan.

The KC couple has bank and cooperative shares worth Rs 225,000. He owns a vehicle bearing the number plate Ba 2 Cha 9147.

Minister Shahi's property details

similarly, personal property details of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Bahadur Shahi has been made public today.

The OPMCM released the ministers property as part of the provision to make public personal property details of sitting Prime Minister, ministers, and high ranking officials after assuming offices.

As per Minister Shahi's property details, he owns 15 ropani plot of inherited land at Matatirtha in Kathmandu, 200 ropani in Kharpunath in Humla and two bigha of land in Khajura in Banke district.

Likewise, Shahi has three ancestral houses in Kathmandu and Humla, all registered in his and his spouse's name.

According to the details furnished by him, he owns 57 tolas of gold and 1 kg silver, inherited.

He has Rs 1.6 million in his bank account at Citizens Bank, Rs 2.5 million in his spouse's saving account at the same bank and both have saved Rs 700,000 each at Shuvachintak Cooperatives.

The property details states that Minister Shahi has shares of different companies worth Rs 23.3 million.

Shahi owes debt worth Rs 650,000 to various cooperatives and individuals. RSS
Kathmandu, Nepal: Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar has called a meeting to consult with political parties mainly with the government allies and the main opposition CPN UML with the aim to end the obstructions in the parliament.

Speaker Gharti called a meeting of top leaders and chief whips of the three major parties- Nepali Congress, CPN UML and the CPN Maoist Center at 11:00am on Monday to urge the parties to end the obstruction of parliamentary proceedings through the consensus.

The meeting is called in the mean time when confrontation among the parties is afoot as the main opposition party CPN UML has challenged of confrontation in the parliament if the constitution amendment bill was tabled for the discussions.

The government had registered the seven point constitution amendment bill on November 29.

As the bill has proposed to split the hilly districts from the Terai of Province 5, not only the oppositions parties but also the lawmakers and leaders of the ruling allies and the people in general have also stood against of the bill.
Rupandehi, Nepal: Rupandehi District Chairman of Youth Association of Nepal (YAN), the youth wing of the main opposition party CPN UML, Durga Tiwari has been killed by an unidentified gang on Monday afternoon.

Motorcycle-borne assailants had opened fire Tiwari at the district at Devdaha-8, Khaireni of the district on Monday afternoon. Seriously injured Tiwari was declared dead at Devdaha Medical College.

Though he was rushed to the hospital immediately after the assailants opened fire him, doctors announced him dead rightly after he was admitted at the hospital.

Though the Police District Police Office, Rupandehi is clueless about the incident, DSP Mukunda Marasini has said that search operation is intensified in and around the areas to search the attackers. It s said that two men on a motorcycle had opened fire at Tiwari.

As Tiwari was actively participating in the protest against the constitution amendment bill, it is suspected that the supporters of the bill would have attacked with the aim to sabotage the ongoing protests.

However, a source close to the Police said that criminal gang would have involved in the attack.
John Dyer Baizley has confirmed four more bands for his curated event, with the line up now almost complete. In addition, he will also take part in a live interview at Roadburn 2017 as part of the festival's side programme.





Few others, if any, hardcore bands carry so much weight and impose so much respect outside their own scene as INTEGRITY do, perhaps because they have always transcended their "root" genre, both stylistically and conceptually. Baizley comments: "I hope to see you all there, while Integrity proves to all present that the ferocity has neither dulled nor become disingenuous throughout their career. Reality is bleak, but through darkness we are able to find connectivity and community."





DISFEAR have been one of the leading lights of the Swedish d-beat scene in the almost three decades they have existed. They might not record of perform often, but when they do, you know it's going to be something extraordinary, as John says: "I don't know exactly what to expect from this re-emergence, but Im sure it wont be a gentle one. This should be a no-hold-barred, fists-in-the-air, mandatory-circle-pit set, and you better believe Im not missing a minute of it."





OATHBREAKER have wowed audiences around the world with the release of their latest album, Rheia. John counts himself among the devoted, commenting of the album: "Therein exists a healthy reverence and understanding of the genres it references; yet its a record that is beholden to no style, genre or convention. There are layers upon layers of sound that recall black metal, pop, indie, hardcore, shoe-gaze, you-name-it; yet as I listen, I am aware of none of this - it has been presented so artfully and with such earnest and unpretentious conviction."





If you trace the history of post-rock, you'll go all the way down the family tree to find Nathan Means, Philip Manley and Sebastian Thomson, the three members of TRANS AM, at the very root of it all. "I have always been a massive Trans Am fan, and I think their performance at Roadburn will be an incredible moment during next years festival," John says, "Im sure Sebastian will have his work cut out for him, playing two very intense and completely different sets, with both Baroness and Trans Am (Friday and Saturday, respectively). Do not miss this show, it will be a truly incomparable experience during Roadburn 2017."





John Dyer Baizley will also be participating in Roadburn's popular side programme, having confirmed that he will take part in a live interview hosted by Ula Gehret. John will talk through his personal and professional highs and lows before taking questions from the audience.





Click below for more info on

BONGZILLA





In an unparalleled stoner celebration, reformed Wisconsin riffmasters BONGZILLA have been confirmed to perform their classic album Gateway in its entirety at Roadburn Festival 2017. Next year marks 15 years since BONGZILLA originally released Gateway in 2002. Their third album, it indeed was for many listeners a doorway into a new world  a dimension of crust-laden sludge that, in the years since, has gone on to put an entire generation of bands under its influence. Unmatched in its dankness, coated in purple and green tonal wash, Gateways weedian righteousness is no less potent today than a decade and a half ago.





BIG BUSINESS

The last time this dynamic duo set foot at Roadburn was way back in 2007, in the company of their Melvins bros, but now, fully grown up and with a bunch more records, experience and exactly the same amount of boundless creativity, they will return on their own, as the singular, unique musical force they are.





WHORES.

Their live shows have a reputation for being way beyond the norm in terms on intensity, so we are super stoked to bring this power trio, WHORES. to Roadburn for the first time. We have the feeling it just might be one of those shows that everyone will talk about for years afterwards, so make sure you don't miss WHORES. when they play Roadburn 2017 - they have a curious knack for melody that'll ensure these tunes stay with you long after the bruises have healed up.





ALSO CONFIRMED:





Alaric will deliver a hybrid of post-punks tense, angular structures with the size and spread of extreme metals most dynamic sonic components.





Author & Punisher heralds the rise of the machines with a unique take on industrial doom.





Cobalt offer atypical excursions through black metal via apocalyptic tribalism, old

Americana, and a doom-laden, ritualistic atmosphere.





Forn bring both soul-crushing lows and groovy assaults at higher moments.





Gnaw Their Tongues have promised "something special" for their Roadburn set. Prepare for aural torture.





Harsh Toke will perform a set comprised entirely of Roky Ericsson covers.





Hedvig Mollestad Trio touch on genre-blurring hardrock and metal riffery as well as the noisier realms of jazz improvisation.





Joy are a San Diego heavy psych power trio, inviting you to ride along with them at Roadburn.





King Woman heavy, dark, emotional, beguiling, confrontational.





Lycus - monolithic, mournful, and massive sounding doom.





Pinkish Black will be making waves and breaking hearts with their chilling synthesiser dirges.





Pontiak are primal and fiery and often fuzzy and psyched out; ready to give a lesson in rock.





Radar Men From The Moon will team up with Roadburn 2017 artist in residence GNOD for a collaborative performance known as Temple Ov BBV, as well as playing their own show.





Ruby The Hatchet invite you to follow them on their kosmiche trip.





Serpent Venom - theyre trippy, theyre heavy, they are long overdue a Roadburn appearance.





The Devil & The Almighty Blues are heavily inspired by Delta blues, and standing at the crossroads of both American and British blues-based rock.





True Widow return with more sultry yet syrupy fuzzed out trips.





Artists already announced for Roadburn 2017 include Coven, Warning (playing Watching from a Distance in full), Artists in Residence - GNOD, My Dying Bride (performing Turn Loose The Swans in its entirety), Ulver and Hypnopazuzu (David Tibet & Youth) and Zeal & Ardor, Mysticum, Deafheaven, Chelsea Wolfe, and our 2017 curator, John Baizley who will perform with Baroness, plus many more. Roadburn Festival will take place 20-23 April, 2017 at the 013 venue, Tilburg, The Netherlands.





Tickets (and campsite tickets) are on sale for Roadburn 2017 and can be purchased from this link









Thursday, Friday and Saturday single day tickets will be on sale on January 12 priced at 59 Euro.
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It was starting to look like 2001 again. That year, a Chinese naval fighter chased and hit a U.S. spy plane near its south coast, forcing it to land. The crew was detained for 11 days. Neither superpower was happy, and who could forget that the U.S. and China were Cold War rivals just a few decades ago. The Chinese seizure on Thursday of a U.S. Navy underwater drone that was exploring the widely disputed South China Sea raises the specter of another massive Sino-U.S. spat, even though President-elect Donald Trump loudly tweeted at China: let them keep it!

But the discovery of a U.S. drone in a politicized ocean on the other side of the world raises sticky questions that will become ever more relevant as China and the United States square off in the months, or years, ahead. Heres a list of answers worth knowing:

1. Whats the United States doing with naval drones in the South China Sea? Short answer: military surveillance. Target: China. The drone seized by China is officially called an unmanned underwater vehicle, UUV for short, or ocean glider if you like fancier terms. The Short answer: military surveillance. Target: China. The drone seized by China is officially called an unmanned underwater vehicle, UUV for short, or ocean glider if you like fancier terms. The Pentagon website says the vehicle gathers military oceanographic data such as salinity, water temperature and sound speed. A U.S. oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch responsible for the UUV was conducting routine operations in accordance with international law 50 nautical miles (92.6 km) northwest of the Philippines, the Pentagon website adds.

2. Why is United States exploring the South China Sea? The United States, being in another hemisphere, doesnt claim the South China Sea. China claims about 95% of it, along with Taiwan (and China claims Taiwan itself). Brunei, The United States, being in another hemisphere, doesnt claim the South China Sea. China claims about 95% of it, along with Taiwan (and China claims Taiwan itself). Brunei, Malaysia , Vietnam and the Philippines claim parts of the ocean. The United States is an old ally of all but Vietnam, and warmed towards Hanoi last year to help the Southeast Asian countrys resistance against China. In view of those alliances, China has accused the United States of trying to contain its expansion. China cites historical records to back its maritime claim to the 3.5 million-square-km (1.4 million-square-mile) ocean that stretches from Taiwan to Singapore. U.S. officials insist they want only freedom of navigation.

3. Why did China pick up the drone? Chinese officials said a naval lifeboat cleared the drone to ensure safe passage for other vessels. On Sunday the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said the vessel would be returned in an appropriate manner, perhaps meaning it would remove any equipment or footage. Or how about this explanation? China sees an American drone, like a spy plane, as an intrusion worthy of expulsion.

4. How does the drone seizures fallout impact other South China Sea claimants? Beijing irritates the Southeast Asian governments that call waters in the South China Sea their own by passing ships through their claims and militarizing some of the islets  including seven in the Spratly chain per data from the Beijing irritates the Southeast Asian governments that call waters in the South China Sea their own by passing ships through their claims and militarizing some of the islets  including seven in the Spratly chain per data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies last week. Although most wont say as much to avoid upsetting their prized economic ties with China, the other countries are glad the United States is poking around. Malaysia, Vietnam , Taiwan and the Philippines have all looked to Washington as a military benefactor either steadily for decades or here and there as needed. In exchange, the United States maintains a string of allies near Chinas coast, part of a containment strategy.
Courtesy Lisa Gwin(NEW YORK) -- One Louisiana woman has inspired thousands online with the way she decided to thank those delivering holiday gifts this season.



Lisa Gwin saw her local delivery man going the extra mile to ensure her Christmas presents reached her.



"He was doing a great job as he was delivering the packages, making sure he was handing me the packages," the mother of two told ABC News. "I had appreciated it because I had Christmas presents that would've been sitting outside.



"He was going above and beyond from what I'm used to, so I wanted to find a way to show appreciation," Gwin continued.



The Alexandria, Louisiana, woman said that after brainstorming with friends on Facebook, she decided to create a gift basket filled with goodies to delight delivery men and women who come to her door.



"I said, 'Why don't I do it for all of them and bless them at the same time?'" Gwin, 35, recalled.



So that's what she did. Gwin filled a basket with bottles of water, snacks and candy.



She then posted a sign that read in part, "Please take some goodies to enjoy while on your route! Thank you so much for making holiday shopping easier!" The graphic designer said that it only took approximately $20 to create.



Gwin said that when her favorite delivery man returned later that week, she knew he enjoyed the gesture.



"I heard him laughing so I knew he had seen it. He, of course, rang the doorbell and he said he wished he had his camera so he can take a picture,'" she recalled.



After posting her random act of kindness on Facebook, a photo of the basket quickly went viral. Nearly 200,000 liked the photo.



In an update on Facebook, Gwin wrote that she discovered that the delivery man "is seasonal help and is working to get hired full-time. I've put in a good word for him, so hopefully he'll continue to be blessed!"



Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
A look at the cost of gas the year you were born
A man and his dog were safely rescued Sunday, after the pup fell off a cliff and its master followed.

According to a tweet from the San Francisco Firefighters Union, crews were called to Fort Funston Sunday afternoon after the pair got trapped on the cliff face.

BREAKING: CLIFF RESCUE FORT FUNSTON, DOG WENT OVER THE CLIFF AND OWNER IS NOW STUCK.  SF Firefighters 798 (@SFFFLocal798) December 18, 2016

SFFD spokesperson Jonathan Baxter says the call reporting the imperiled duo came in at 1:38 p.m. Sunday, regarding an incident on the cliffs near Fort Funston Road and Skyline Boulevard.

Baxter says that dog had fallen over the edge of the cliff, and the dog's male guardian then climbed down in an effort to rescue the canine. Instead, both found themselves trapped on the rock face.

Baxter says firefighters were able to pull both victims to safety. The dog was fine, Baxter says, and the man suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Both the human and the canine are okay from todays 1:48 pm Fort Funston Cliff Rescue the adult required medical evaluation and was released pic.twitter.com/XVXeFtpA2r  San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) December 18, 2016

Related: Helicopter Crew Saves SF Couple Trapped During Abortive Dog Rescue


#Developing: Two people killed in a shooting in SF near 16th and S. Van Ness. Male and female in their 20s or 30s. pic.twitter.com/Fbnu2k8HkV  Christie Smith (@christies_nbc) December 19, 2016

A shooting near the Mission District South Van Ness Avenue and 16th Street claimed the life of a man and woman Sunday evening, sending San Francisco's tally of 2016 homicides to 57.

According to San Francisco Police Department spokesperson Officer Giselle Talkoff, the gunfire was reported at 8:46 Monday evening. When police arrived, they found a woman in her 20s-30s dead of what appears on initial investigation to be gunshot wounds.

A second victim, a man of similar age, was transported to San Francisco General Hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival, Talkoff says.

Citing the shooting's scenes proximity to an homeless encampment, ABC 7 reports that "a person who lives nearby says the victims had been living on the street." As of publication time, neither victim had been publicly identified by the San Francisco Medical Examiner's office.

"As of midnight," Mission Local reports, "the woman still lay draped under a tarp on 16th Street. Police had cordoned off the area on 16th Street between the 76 gas station on the corner and the Mission Neighborhood Health Center on Shotwell Street."

Mission Local reports that at 10:04 another shooting was reported nearby, this one at 14th and Valencia Streets. As of Monday night, Talkoff says that it was unknown if the two crimes were related. In that case, the male victim received non-life-threatening injuries, and was treated at the scene.

KRON 4 reports that police say that they have "no leads on suspects or motives" in the shooting, and as of Monday morning no arrests had been made in the case. Talktoff tells Mission Local that "there was no immediate threat to public safety" as a result of the violence, and that police are "'out and about' in the area."

These slayings follow last Friday's fatal shooting of SF resident Terrence Briggs, and bring the city's homicide count for the year to 57. There were 52 total homicides in SF at the end of 2015, 45 homicides in 2014, 48 in 2013, 68 in 2012, and 50 in 2011.

Related: Fatal Weekend Shooting Takes SF's 2016 Homicide Count To 55
A couple with an alleged history of domestic violence incidents had their tale come to a terrible close this weekend, when a San Francisco man was arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend in her Daly City home.

ABC 7 reports that in the past, police have made multiple trips to 18 Fairview Avenue, the Daly City home of 23-year-old Ariana Hatami. Neighbors "thought there was a history of domestic violence," the channel reports, so they were understandably saddened when police arrived at the residence again on Saturday, this time to investigate her death.

According to Daly City Police spokesperson Sergeant Ron Harrison, officers were called to the home at 12:05 a.m. Saturday on reports of a domestic dispute. When they arrived, they found "Hatami suffering from severe injuries." She was transported to San Francisco General Hospital, where she died.

23-year-old SF resident Fredrick Tran, Hatami's boyfriend, was at the home when police arrived. He "was arrested at the scene, and later booked into the San Mateo County Jail for the murder of Hatami," KRON 4 reports.

Early indications appear that blunt force trauma may have been the cause of her death and were looking into that with the help of forensic crews," Harrison says. ABC 7 reports that investigators believe that Tran hit Hatami with a bottle, causing the injuries that killed her.

Hatami was a student at San Francisco State, ABC 7 reports. In addition, Tran and Hatami worked together at the same Wells Fargo bank branch, according to ABC 7.

"It's absolutely devastating," Harrison told NBC Bay Area, nothing that this is the first homicide for Daly City this year.

"We're here two weeks before Christmas. Our victim is 23 years old, she was just staring her life. It's a completely devastating incident for the family, the community and for our department."

Tran is in custody at Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City, the Chron reports, and is being held without bail. However, Harrison says that this remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to to contact Detective Brandon Scholes at 650-991-8172.
Counting on some nice chunks of change from holiday shopping foot traffic, buskers set up in force around Union Square this time of year playing everything from drum kits, to trumpets, to keyboards  providing a non-Muzak soundtrack to season. According to the Examiner, those sounds are being silenced as SFPD has taken to confiscating musicians' instruments and holding them for sometimes weeks at a time.

What theyre really doing is they are seizing their instruments to intimidate those musicians, deputy public defender Seth Meisels told the paper. These musicians have told me that SFPD is working as private security for the St. Francis  that seems about right.

The St. Francis in question is not the city's namesake, Francis of Assisi, but rather the downtown Westin St. Francis hotel located right on Union Square. According to some of the buskers, the hotel has been complaining to police about the noise, and SFPD has been all too happy to respond. This has reportedly left some of the artists without the tools of their trade for extended periods, depriving them of earnings at what is typically a busy time of the year.

The officers asked for the drum set off the truck, and an employee came over from the St. Francis and she basically told the police officer what she wanted was the drum set confiscated, Parris Lane, one downtown busker, told the Examiner of one such confiscation.

Under city law, officials can enforce disturbances of the peace, but someone has to be offended. Because of that, musicians say enforcement is uneven. Ten [officers] can pass and none say anything, Market Street drummer Tony Light explained. Then, the one.

While the specific claim that employees of the Westin St. Francis are directing SFPD to take instruments is unproven, the Hotel Council did provide a potential motivation  essentially, the hotel is worried its guests will be offended by the music. The Hotel Council of San Francisco believes that unpermitted use of amplified and consistently loud sound on city sidewalks should be addressed by law enforcement to ensure our guests, our employees and our citys businesses can operate without disturbances that are violating city laws, Kevin Carroll, executive director of the Hotel Council, told the paper.

And so, in an apparent attempt to cater to the assumed tastes of hotel guests  possibly the very same tourists who throw a dollar or two in a busker's tips jar  downtown is being made sterile one confiscation at a time.

Related: San Francisco's Best Buskers
 Expand The lobby of the Grand Theater in 2011, still displaying posters from 1995as aFair Game,a which was the last film to show at the Grand.

As it has been reported all over town, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra wants to move into the long-shuttered Grand Theatre in downtown. The news has been met with quite a bit of excitement and certainly has local theater-philes like myself interested in the ongoing story. Of course, the announcement is only the first step in what will be a long process, but it is certainly a step in a hopeful direction.

There have been rumors and rumblings of the theatres rebirth before. Some hoped that it could once again be used as a movie theater. This was always, to my view, a completely ridiculous idea. Since the Grand closed in 1995, no venue downtown has held regular film screenings and  given the state of the Grand when it was shut down  it has probably been a quarter-century since an outfit made money running films downtown. Some thought it could become another concert venue. While more practical than the movies, it would most likely not be worth the required investment given its proximity to several other large show venues (one of which is the Milwaukee Theater, which is already of questionable viability).

But with the MSO as an anchor tenant, and if a fundraising drive can cover the extensive renovation and rehabilitation costs, the prospect of the Grand reopening appears very real. As I noted back in September of Bay Views Avalon Theater, it is a rare thing for a movie theater to return from the dead. Only a handful of theaters have ever closed and reopened as movie houses, the Avalon being the most notable example. A number of theaters transitioned from running films to hosting live music  including the Uptown on 49th St, the State on West State St., and the Modjeska on West Mitchell. But each of those used live acts as a kind of artificial respiration, a way to pay the bills when their spaces had badly declined.

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What the MSO hopes to do with the Grand is much more similar to the transition of the Riverside Theater in the early 1980s. The Riverside seemed destined for the same fate as the above mentioned theaters in the late 1970s, when it was worn-out and relegated to hosting musical acts between its sparsely-attended film screenings. After the theater finally closed in 1982, a Save the Riverside campaign got the attention of philanthropist Joseph Zilber, whose Towne Realty owned the building. Zilber poured over a million dollars into a renovation of the theater, which reopened in 1984 as a first-class live venue.

Early estimates for the Grand, however, put the cost of renovation at over $100 million. Unlike the Riverside, which was only shuttered for a few months before plans to save it were announced, the Grand has been dark for over 20 years. No other single venue in Milwaukee history has ever had such a long period of inactivity and reopened. Few theaters were able to stay vacant so long without being demolished. The task before the MSO is a substantial one, but it will have a history-making payoff if they can succeed.

Id also like to ruminate for a moment or two on the name of the theater. As a dork on theater history, I cringe whenever I need to refer to this place as the Grand. It was rechristened as the Grand Cinemas in 1982 after the opening of the cross-street Shops at Grand Avenue so yeah, its a movie theater named after a mall. Prior to that, it had been known as the Centre Theatre, renamed as such (for reasons Ive never been able to determine) when the Marcus Corp acquired it in 1966 and dropped the original Warner title  which dated back to its 1931 premier as a Warner Brothers property. The historically prudent thing to do, once the theater is ready to reopen, would be to rededicate it as the Warner with a period-appropriate marquee  similar to the beauty the Riverside installed last year. But, in the era of corporate branding, this is wishful thinking  especially given that the historic name itself was a form of branding and holds no connection to the building today. Theater buffs can only hope that, if the time comes to rename the theater, it is done in a tasteful and historically respectful manner.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Rapper Pitbull released his $1 million contract with Florida's tourism marketing agency via Twitter this week, two days after a lawmaker sued to find out details of the agreement that included production of a video for the song "Sexy Beaches."

Pitbull tweeted "*FULL DISCLOSURE - FLORIDA*" with a link to the 11-page agreement to produce the "Sexy Beaches" video for Visit Florida and to promote the hashtag #LOVEFL on his social media sites and during concerts. Visit Florida was also responsible for expenses and production costs.

Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to have details of the contract disclosed. Visit Florida refused to say how much it paid the rapper, whose real name is Armando Christian Perez, or details of the arrangement, saying it was a trade secret.

Corcoran found that unacceptable, saying taxpayers should know just how Visit Florida was spending its money.

"It is unfortunate that it took litigation to lift the veil of secrecy on this particular contract," Corcoran said in a statement. "This was a long unnecessary journey through claims of trade secrets, threats of prosecution, and corporate welfare paid for by taxpayers."

House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz said she was furious over the deal.

"The state watches every pen that I buy. We're subject to approval for everything that we buy in our state office," Cruz said. "Yet these guys have the audacity and the arrogance to think that they could spend a million dollars on talent and not have to disclose it."

A lawyer for Pitbull let the tweet speak for itself.

"There will be no further comment from the Pitbull camp," Leslie Jose Zigel said in an email.

Visit Florida didn't return an email and a phone call seeking comment.

The video features images of women frolicking in the surf and sand as well as pictures of iconic Florida hotels such as Miami Beach's Fontainebleau and the pink Don CeSar Hotel in St. Pete Beach. It ends with an image of #LOVEFL written in the sand.

Cruz called the video and song lyrics offensive and "awful."

Cruz pointed out lines in the song like, "Little mama wanna live it up/Well, little mama better give it up" and "I'm looking for a freak, not a soulmate."

The video has nearly 10.7 million views on YouTube.
Shaun Johnson did double duty Sunday night, opening the Tonic Sol-fa holiday show with his Big Band Experience, then joining Greg Bannwarth, Jared Dove and Theo Brown for the a cappella groups stand.

In both, Johnson got numbers that encouraged his one-of-a-kind gyrations and a sense of snark that goes over well in the Midwest.

With the Big Band Experience -- a group of seven (including Brown on piano) -- he embraced a jazzier vibe, rolling through songs you might have heard during the 1960s. His Blue Christmas wasnt as blue as Elvis Presleys; his rendition of Thats Life gave the band ample opportunity to shine, too.

Trumpet player Jeff Carver got the biggest workout, offering a heart-pounding riff on Spider-Man and joining Johnson to sing In Anothers Arms.

Interestingly, the holiday songs were at a minimum, suggesting the BBE might be a good choice for another time of year.

Johnson got his best showcase on Leonard Cohens Hallelujah, which opened the show. Bannwarth, Dove and Brown joined him on various songs and Johnson offered up Tonics Oklahoma Wind with musical accompaniment. It sounded similar to the a cappella version.

For fans of Tonic Sol-fa, the BBE also offered a few tidbits of info -- Johnson said he was married and had a baby daughter. Brown did a little vocal accompaniment when he sang My Kind of Girl, a sweet tribute, to Johnsons baby.

In the second half, a more familiar Johnson emerged.

There, he was the wisecracking Jason Bateman of the group, singing lead and offering Tonic its sense of sartorial style.

Filled with the Christmas songs fans were probably expecting, the a cappella portion offered some old favorites (including Plastic Santa) and cuts from the groups newest CD 30K.

While the BBE half found Johnson in a tux, the Tonic Sol-fa half featured a T-shirt, jacket and Timberlake loafers. The look felt cozier (and more in keeping with what weve come to embrace).

Winter Wonderland gave all four (Brown, remember, is now with Tonic, too) their vocal gymnastics workout.

The shows lighting and sound were tight as well.

When Dove (who was dressed nattily in gray pants and a V-neck sweater) sang Youre a Mean One Mr. Grinch the stage was bathed in green and featured a Grinch portrait on the back screen. Bannwarth and Brown provided percussion accompaniment, giving the old favorite a new twist.

Bannwarth got his big moment with The First Noel and came through with the offbeat humor that has been a Tonic hallmark.

As much as its good to try new things, there was something comforting about hearing Tonic Sol-fa on the same bill as Big Band Experience. It proved the gang hasnt abandoned the one that brought them.
SIOUX CITY | The Sioux City Council on Monday will decide whether to cooperate with efforts by the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors to offer property tax incentives to an expanding manufacturer located just south of the city limits.

Gelita USA Inc. is planning a $21 million expansion at its Port Neal manufacturing complex that would create at least 21 new jobs. The facility, which currently employs about 250 people, is in an unincorporated portion of the county along Port Neal Road, south of Sioux City and Sergeant Bluff.

Woodbury County plans to expand an existing tax-increment financing (TIF) district south of Sioux City to include the Gelita facility at 2445 Port Neal Industrial Road. The TIF district was originally formed to assist CF Industries.

TIF is a finance tool that diverts property tax increases that result from increased assessments to fund economic development projects.

Since the Gelita facility lies within two miles of the Sioux City limits, the city is required by state law to form an agreement with the county before the county can expand the district.

According to city documents, such an agreement would have no direct financial impact on the city. However, Sioux City does provide sewer service to the plant and has a 1999 agreement with Gelita that would allow the city to annex the land into the city limits if the Sioux City boundaries were ever to grow that far south.

Under Monday's proposed agreement, the city would have to wait until the end of a seven-year period before it could annex the property.

City staff have recommended council approval of the agreement.

Gelita was approved for $885,000 in state financial assistance toward the expansion project last month. The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors has since voted to provide a $500,000 local match for the project.

Gelita's expansion is slated to begin in May 2017 and be completed in 2018.

The addition will expand the companys capacity to produce collagen peptide, which is used in a variety of food, health and nutrition applications.

Bekins warehouse renovation

In other business, the council will decide whether to approve submission of an application for the state's Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program on behalf of Midnight LLC for renovation of the former Bekins Warehouse building at Wesley Parkway and West Fourth Street.

According to city documents, Sioux Falls developer Clint Stencil is planning to invest more than $6.5 million to renovate the 110-year-old building into a market-rate 70- to 75-unit apartment complex. Stencil is seeking $655,000 in investment tax credits and an additional $153,000 in sales tax refunds through the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program.
LE MARS, Iowa | A Cherokee, Iowa, woman was found guilty Monday of lesser charges related to a traffic accident in exchange for the dismissal of attempted murder charges.

Melissa Ebert, 30, entered an Alford plea in Plymouth County District Court to two counts of serious injury by vehicle and pleaded guilty to one count of second-offense operating while intoxicated.

An Alford plea allows a defendant to admit no guilt, but a judge enters a finding of guilty in the court record. District Judge Jeffrey Neary ruled that enough evidence existed to find Ebert guilty of the charges. He set sentencing for Jan. 23.

Under the plea agreement, Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond will make no sentencing recommendations, and Ebert's attorney, Montgomery Brown, of West Des Moines, will be able to ask the court that Ebert be placed on probation.

The sentencing judge will have the option of sentencing Ebert to probation to up to 12 years in prison. She must serve a mandatory seven-day jail sentence for the OWI charge, and a judge could order a longer jail sentence.

The plea agreement, which Neary approved Monday, will allow Ebert to avoid the potential of serving much more time in prison.

Two counts each of attempted murder and willful injury will be dismissed. Had she been found guilty of those charges, Ebert would have faced a 25-year prison sentence on each attempted murder count and 10 years for each count of willful injury.

Ebert had been accused in court documents of threatening to kill herself and her passenger, Damian Johnson, before veering her car into the path of an oncoming car driven by Dustin Boll, of Le Mars, on County Road C-38 on Sept. 9, 2015. All three were seriously injured.

Court documents said that Ebert and Johnson were arguing prior to the collision. Ebert's blood-alcohol level was 0.088 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, court documents said.
KINGSLEY, Iowa  Kingsley Fire Chief Paul Huth thinks an electrical problem was the cause of an early Sunday morning residential fire call on the north side of the Plymouth County community.

Firefighters arrived at 419 Main St. at about 3:30 a.m. after the dwellings occupants reported smelling smoke.

The people that live in the residence could smell smoke and it was just smoldering from the insulation in the attic from the power coming through, Huth said. The next hour we just tore down, took all smoldering insulation out and that was about it.

The fire chief said damages to the house werent real extensive, but substantial enough that the people who lived there had to find other lodging.

Firefighters were on the scene until about 6 a.m. There were no reported injuries.
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ORANGE CITY, Iowa | A Sheldon, Iowa, man was sentenced Monday to two years in prison for possession of methamphetamine.

Shaun Arispe, 26, pleaded guilty in Sioux County District Court to second-offense possession of a controlled substance, an aggravated misdemeanor.

He also pleaded guilty to a simple misdemeanor charge of assault with intent to cause pain or injury, which had been reduced from first-degree robbery as part of a plea agreement. District Judge Patrick Tott sentenced Arispe to 30 days in jail on the assault charge and credited him for time already served in jail.

On Sept. 20, Arispe assaulted another man in a Sheldon residence and was charged with taking the man's computer, speakers and cellphone and then threatening the man and a woman with a gun and holding them against their will for five hours. The woman later escaped unharmed. When Arispe was arrested, police found meth and drug paraphernalia in his possession.
SIOUX CITY  Sundays low temperatures didn't seem to deter many people from taking advantage of the last shopping weekend before Christmas.

Im wearing shorts, so no, said Alex Garcia when asked if he was bothered by the bone-chilling weather, which reached a new record low of minus 20 in Sioux City on Sunday morning.

The Sioux City resident was searching for gifts for his family at the J.C. Penney department store inside of Southern Hills Mall. Garcia wasnt the only shopper with exposed legs, as his companion, Rylei McNaughton, also from Sioux City, wore a skirt while also shopping for her family and friends.

Another J.C. Penneys customer, Kathy Bock of Sioux City, was also unconcerned about the cold.

Its my 40th anniversary with my husband and so we are out just doing a little shopping, she said. We had worship service this morning at 9:15 a.m. and it was colder then than it is now. Im from Minnesota and my husband is from Michigan, so we are totally used to this weather if not worse.

Maria Magana made the 90-minute trek to J.C. Penney from her home in Lakeside, Iowa, to find her brother a Christmas gift. She said even if it had snowed, she would have still made the trip because this was the only opportunity she had to shop recently.

It was worse yesterday, Magana said.

Hope Hubert-Webb, assistant manager of merchandise for J.C. Penney, said the store has been busy almost the entire weekend. The only slowdown she could recall was during Saturday morning's snowfall.

Slower than expected for one of our last Saturdays before Christmas, but we did pick up in the afternoon, Hubert-Webb said.

With just historic cold and no precipitation to worry about on Sunday, Hubert-Webb said things actually went better than expected.

Normally on Sundays, we get our rush around 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., but weve been busy  we opened early, as in 8 this morning  but weve been busy since about 10 oclock, she said. Our rush hit us early and I think we are going to pick up some of what we missed yesterday.

At the Bomgaars store on Gordon Drive, assistant store manager Sue Bubb said the cold has been good for business.

Its really increased our sales, Bubb said. "November was a fairly warm month, so our winter wear, outerwear and coats werent really moving. As soon as it started to get cold, the coats, the winter hats, the winter boots and stuff started flying out of here.

Like their counterparts at J.C. Penney, most Bomgaars shoppers didnt really seem to pay the cold much mind either.

Its not going to stop me, said Alfredo Perez of Sioux City, who was searching for new pair of shoes for his son. As soon as you start your car and warm it up, its not far from the parking lot to the store, you know?

Krista Asher, who was visiting Sioux City from Montana, said she just had to get her shopping done.

"I don't think the cold is that big a deal," she said. "It's normal; welcome to the Midwest."
STORM LAKE, Iowa | A Storm Lake man was sentenced Thursday to seven days in jail for assaulting a woman.

Pedro Ekchan Jr., 34, had pleaded guilty in Buena Vista County District Court to assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor. As part of a plea agreement, charges of first-degree burglary and a second count of assault causing bodily injury were dismissed.

In addition to sentencing Ekchan to jail, District Judge Patrick Carr placed him on probation for two years and fined him $315.

Ekchan was arrested March 26 after fleeing a residence in the 400 block of Hudson Street in Storm Lake. According to court documents, Ekchan had been asked to leave the home earlier in the night, then returned, forced his way inside and struck the woman with a beer bottle and punched her in the face.
STORM LAKE, Iowa | A Sioux Rapids, Iowa, woman pleaded guilty Monday to stealing a winning scratch lottery ticket and having her boyfriend try to claim the $250,000 prize.

Her boyfriend was placed on probation Monday for trying to cash in the winning ticket.

Ashley Bosler, 21, entered her plea in Buena Vista County District Court to one count of theft of a lottery ticket or share. Sentencing was set for Feb. 13.

Johnny Long Jr., 26, also of Sioux Rapids, had pleaded guilty in November to theft of a lottery ticket or share.

As part of a plea agreement, District Judge Patrick Carr gave Long a deferred judgment and placed him on probation for two years. Once Long successfully completes his probation, the conviction will not appear on his criminal record. Long must pay a $750 civil penalty.

Long and Bosler were arrested July 27 after Long had attempted to claim the $250,000 prize from an Iowa Lottery instant-scratch game ticket at the Storm Lake Regional Lottery office on June 17. The ticket raised suspicions, and state and local authorities launched an investigation.

Bosler, who was an employee at Casey's general store in Sioux Rapids, is accused of scratching off a corner of the lottery ticket and scanning the bar code that confirmed it was a winner.

She did not buy the ticket and was 20 years old at the time, not old enough to play the lottery, authorities said, so she asked Long to claim the prize. The prize was not paid.

Bosler's mother, Sally Bosler, 42, of Sioux Rapids, also was arrested, but charges were dismissed in October.
The Dec. 14 Mini writer's worries about the fox guarding the hen house are misplaced. We have three branches of government for checks and balances if Donald Trumps Cabinet is too pro-business. But if the government takes over our health care, the fox will be living in our hen house. VA much?
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KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific HR Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) I, Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) II , Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings Europe Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific IT Services GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Malta) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments Malta (Sweden Financing) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Invitrogen Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments III S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments IV S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life NL Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Netherlands Holding C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Switzerland Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Tech Korea Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Enterprise Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investments Holding LP, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Luxembourg Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Enterprise Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg German Holdings S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Life Technologies UK Holding S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings I S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings II S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malta Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Messtechnik GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Mexico City S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Middle East Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Milano Srl, Thermo Fisher Scientific NHK Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Holdings, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway Holdings AS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway US Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Operating Company LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 C.V, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Panama I Cayman Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Peru S.R.L., Thermo Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC.

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BP, plc, once known as British Petroleum, is one of the worlds 7 oil & gas supermajors with operations spanning the globe. In terms of revenue, it ranks 4th on the list and the company is vertically integrated as well with operations in all segments of the oil and gas sector. Operations are currently underway in 80 countries around the world, the company can produce 3.7 million barrels of oil equivalents per day, and it lays claim to nearly 20 billion barrels in proven reserves. On the retail end of the business, the company operates more than 18,700 fuel stations and its largest segment is in the US.

The company was founded in 1908 with the purpose of exploring for and producing oil in the middle east. The company expanded into Alaska in 1959 and then accelerated its expansion when it merged with Amoco in 1998. Another merger with Burhman Castrol in 2000 created the company that is traded today.

BP, plc rebranded itself in 2000 giving new meaning to its name. The once British Petroleum is now Beyond Petroleum and focused on a major shift in its business. The company is working hard to move away from non-renewable carbon-based energy and into biofuels, solar, and wind. The company hopes to be net-zero in regard to carbon emissions and production by 2050 or earlier and is well on the way to doing so. Among the many avenues of advance are the build-out of solar and wind farms as well as the expansion of a major EV charging network. The network totaled more than 9,000 stations around the middle of 2022 and expansion was ramping in order to meet the goal of 100,000 EV stations before 2050.

BP p.l.c. currently operates through 4 segments including Gas & Low Carbon Energy, Oil Production & Operations, Customers & Products, and Rosneft segments. The company produces and trades in natural gas and oil liquids, offers biofuels, and operates wind and solar power generating facilities. The company also provides de-carbonization solutions and services, such as hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, as part of its green agenda.

In addition, it produces and refines oil and gas for its downstream operations as well as invests in upstream, downstream, and alternative energy companies including advanced mobility. Advanced mobility is the future of transportation and includes technologies like EV, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cells. To that end, the company is building 7 hydrogen production and storage hubs in key locations around the world. The company aims to produce blue and green hydrogen for the global transportation industry with production beginning in 2027. Blue hydrogen is hydrogen captured from the companys natural gas deposits using a process that captures the waste carbon.
Carnival Corporation & plc is a leisure travel company operating a fleet of cruise ships, hotels, and resorts with international destinations. Brands under the Carnival Corporation umbrella include Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America, P&O Cruises, Seaborn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and Cunard. The companys goal is to provide extraordinary vacations at an exceptional value. As of 2022, the company laid claim to nearly half of the global cruising market share with several new ships in the works.

Carnival Cruise Line was launched in 1972 with one second-hand ship and a tank of fuel. The first port of call was San Juan, Puerto Rico, but soon more were added. The original growth strategy included a festive atmosphere, features and amenities unlike any other cruise line at the time. Slow to start, the growth strategy shifted into overdrive in 1980 when Carnival shocked the world by building its own ship. The Tropicale became an iconic name in the cruising industry and sparked a wave of shipbuilding that is still underway.

The companys growth hit a new stride in 1987 following the IPO which floated 20% of the company on the open market. The proceeds from the IPO allowed the company to embark on a voyage of acquisition and now Carnival is the worlds largest travel and leisure business.

Today, Carnival Corporations 87 ships visit approximately 700 ports worldwide and employ more than 120,000 people while serving more than 13 million guests annually for a total of 85 million passenger cruise days per year. Net revenue, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, peaked out at over $6.5 billion annually.

Carnival Cruise Line is the companys largest brand serving guests on all coasts of North America. The brand's 22 ships make 1500 voyages per year with trips ranging from 2 days to 3 weeks and ports of call from the Caribbean to Alaska. The company's largest ship is named Panorama and can accommodate more than 4,000 passengers.

Carnivals 9 brands provide access to a wide range of cruising styles and destinations including the Caribbean, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, England, and ports in Asia. The company is headquartered in Miami, Florida and has offices around the world. The company also has the distinction of being the only company included in both the S&P 500 and FTSE 250 indices.
The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.

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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Sarah Walters only had the doors to her henna studio, Sarahenna, in Bothell, Washington, open for a few months in 2010 when a request from her mother would change the course of her business.



My mom told me about a friend who was battling cancer and had lost hair so she asked me to do a crown for her, Walters, 41, told ABC News, referring to a henna design that covers ones head.



Walters drew the crown for her moms friend and then began offering her service to other cancer patients free of charge.



Many have never had henna before but see the beautiful artwork and its something different than wearing a hat or a wig, she said of patients who have lost their hair to chemotherapy. Others come by referral because they hear what a relaxing personal experience it is.



Walters described the process as "very personal," adding, "I'm touching their head and were also talking so its healing and beneficial."



Henna has been used as a natural type of body art for thousands of years. Walters, an artist, began practicing the art form in 2008.



She works with cancer patients of all types and ages, but predominantly sees women who are battling breast cancer.



It was completely unexpected and just sort of came to me, Walters said of expanding her practice beyond her typical clientele of weddings and corporate events. Every single time, every person I come in contact with and create a crown is a positive experience.



Yvonne Stevens, 51, of Olympia, Washington, is battling breast cancer. She drove nearly two hours to Walters studio earlier this month to receive a crown, her first-ever piece of body art.



More than anything, it is a beautiful way of facing what you have to face, said Stevens. You dont feel like you have to cover your head all the time  its like putting on a really fancy hat.



Stevens, like most of Walters clients with cancer, came in with an idea of what she wanted and then worked with Walters to make her vision of flowers and leaves a reality. Walters creates every crown by freehand.



I describe it as an explosion of life, the flowers and leaves, Stevens said. That was what spoke to me.



Each session with Walters typically takes around 90 minutes. The henna art will gradually fade away after a few weeks of wear.



Walters uses natural henna that she blends with water, sugar and lavender essential oil. She stressed that cancer patients in particular should seek out an artist using nontoxic, natural materials.



The combination is also a little bit of an aromatherapy for patients because it feels good and smells nice, she said.



The type of materials and care Walters puts into her work command rates that can run as high as $100 per hour. Walters did not hesitate to offer cancer patients her services free of charge after remembering her own familys struggle.



My stepdad had cancer in 2004 and that was a traumatic time and I also remember the financial impact that it had on my family, she said. I dont want a henna crown to be something that is inaccessible to most people.



Walters also benefits from her sessions with cancer patients.



They are having to display so much courage and strength and theyre fighting this illness, she said. Its always inspiring and I learn something from them every single time.



Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Zoetis Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and commercializes animal health medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic products in the United States and internationally. It commercializes products primarily across species, including livestock, such as cattle, swine, poultry, fish, and sheep; and companion animals comprising dogs, cats, and horses. The company also offers vaccines, which are biological preparations to prevent diseases of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts or induce a specific immune response; anti-infectives that prevent, kill, or slow the growth of bacteria, fungi, or protozoa; and parasiticides that prevent or eliminate external and internal parasites, which include fleas, ticks, and worms. It also provides other pharmaceutical products that comprise pain and sedation, antiemetic, reproductive, and oncology products; dermatology products for itch associated with allergic conditions and atopic dermatitis; and medicated feed additives, which offer medicines to livestock. In addition, the company provides portable blood and urine analysis testing, including point-of-care diagnostic products, instruments and reagents, rapid immunoassay tests, reference laboratory kits and services, and blood glucose monitors; and other non-pharmaceutical products, including nutritionals and agribusiness services, as well as products and services in areas, such as biodevices, genetics tests, and precision animal health. It markets its products to veterinarians, livestock producers, and retail outlets, as well as third-party veterinary distributors through its sales representatives, and technical and veterinary operations specialists. The company was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
ANNAPOLIS (Dec. 19, 2016)In Maryland, the county you are charged in may determine the quality of representation you receive from your public defender, according to legal experts and public defenders.



Throughout the state's suburban and rural areas, public defenders grouped into 12 districts are juggling many more clients than legal experts say they can effectively represent. While the state has set non-binding caseload limits for each region, certain districts exceed these standards far more than others.



As a result, indigent defendants in those jurisdictions run a higher risk of receiving ineffective counsel, legal experts and public defenders say. This creates an unequal justice system, with some clients enjoying a higher quality of representation than others.



"This is an ongoing problem," said Delegate Kathleen Dumais, vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee. "Some counties have fewer public defenders, and as a result their caseloads can be difficult because they may be handling more than they should."



The caseload standards, which the state adopted in 2005, aim to ensure effective counsel and vary according to region (urban, rural or suburban). Though every Office of the Public Defender district struggles to keep attorney caseloads below their respective limits, some exceed their targeted numbers by a greater rate than others, according to statistics published by the public defender's office.



Attorneys in the Upper Shore region, which constitutes Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties, exceeded their circuit court caseload standard by an average of 282 cases per attorney in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available. That's 148 percent above the circuit court caseload standard for the state's rural regions, the public defender's office reported.



Attorneys in Prince George's County exceeded their circuit caseload standard by an average of 30 cases per attorney in 2014; 21 percent above the circuit caseload standard for suburban regions, according to public defender's office statistics.



"The concept of uneven justice between counties is pretty common," said Shawn Armbrust, executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization that aims to overturn and prevent wrongful convictions.



One explanation for the disparity is the distribution of alleged crime, said Ricardo Flores, director of government relations for the Office of the Public Defender. The number and type of crime committed in each county fluctuates from year to year, meaning average attorney caseloads do, too.



"That's not anything anyone can control," Flores said in an interview with the University of Maryland's Capital News Service.



One example is a recent population shift away from Baltimore City and into Prince George's County and Southern Maryland, which the public defender's office rearranged resources to account for, Flores said.



"There have been shifts in our personnel to help alleviate caseload burdens produced because of those changes," Flores said.



However, these efforts can be stunted by public defenders who are unable or unwilling to be relocated.



"There's a certain limit because people may or may not be willing to transport themselves or travel to further offices in other counties or places in the state," Flores said.



'A processing system'



Regardless of their location, Office of the Public Defender districts across the state are struggling to keep caseloads low.



Caseload standards were met by just 25 percent of district offices in 2014 (the most recent year data is available). That proportion is not projected to change in 2016, according to statistics published by the public defender's office.



No district office met the standards in both circuit and district court.



This excessive volume of cases exacerbates the challenges of an already difficult job, lawmakers and public defenders say.



"There's an inherent problem in an enormous disparity of resources between the prosecution and the defense," said Michele Nethercott, director of the University of Baltimore Innocence Project Clinic, a legal clinic that helps secure exonerations for those wrongfully convicted in Maryland.



Public defenders face an intrinsic discrepancy in investigative resources, Nethercott said. While state prosecutors have access to police officers and the power of subpoena, public defenders must hire their own investigators and persuade witnesses to testify of their own accord.



Add to that inadequate funding, and it's almost impossible for public defenders to do their job, Nethercott said.



"There's a crisis in indigent defense," said Nethercott, who became a public defender herself in 1988. "There just aren't enough resources to get caseloads for attorneys to the place they need to be to get the appropriate amount of attention."



By being asked to represent far more clients than they can efficiently counsel, public defenders become unable to represent the accused efficiently, legal experts say.



"The constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel requires limitations on client representation," said Douglas Colbert, a professor of law at the University of Maryland who specializes in public defense. "Without a mechanism for lawyers to prevent their caseloads from becoming too high, the risk leads to having a warm body next to an accused rather than a lawyer zealously defending that person."



"It has hit this brutal level where you just cannot give proper representation to people," said Colin Starger, co-director of the University of Baltimore's Pretrial Justice Clinic, a legal clinic that works to aid poor people accused of crimes in Baltimore City. "There's less human dignity, less contact, less counseling.



"It moves on the spectrum away from a justice system towards one that's a processing system."



'Not unique to Maryland'



Maryland isn't the only state to struggle with overworking of public defenders.



Public defender agencies across the nation are underfunded and understaffed, disadvantaging poor defendants and jeopardizing the constitutional right to legal counsel, legal experts say.



"This is not unique to Maryland," Nethercott said. "It's a problem throughout the country."



Last month, a New Mexico district court judge held the state's top public defender, Bennett Baur, in contempt of court after Baur said the agency could not ethically take on a handful of cases without risking ineffective counsel.



In January, New Orleans's top defender, Derwyn Bunton, began refusing serious felony cases, also citing overworked attorneys.



"The underfunding problem has reached such crisis proportions in recent years that you're seeing a few brave public defenders take the extraordinary step of refusing to take more cases," said Starger.



'Perennially underfunded'



The Maryland Office of the Public Defender's budget increased by $5 million in fiscal year 2017, a 5.1 percent increase from fiscal year 2016, according to a Department of Legislative Services analysis of the Maryland Executive Budget.



"Under Governor Hogan's leadership, the Office of the Public Defender has seen a nearly 5 percent increase in funding, and will remain a priority going forward," Shareese N. DeLeaver Churchill, press secretary for Gov. Larry Hogan, said in a statement. "The Office of the Public Defender plays a critical role in our state, and the governor is committed to making sure they are effectively serving the people of Maryland."



However, the agency remains critically underfunded, some lawmakers and public defenders say.



"Unfortunately, OPD has been given less than they need," Dumais said. "It's hard to be a public defender and be handed the file the day of trial and only have a few minutes to talk to your client before you need to make a representation in court."



Rounds of cuts under Gov. Martin O'Malley and later, Hogan, have left the agency strapped for cash, Flores said.



"The public defender is perennially underfunded," said Starger. "They're always having to make difficult allocation of funding decisions."



Though the budget has grown, the number of people needing representation has grown faster, Flores said.



"We have been forced to do the same or more amount of work with the same or less resources," Flores added.



The lack of enough funding has resulted in fewer public defenders and thus, higher caseloads, lawmakers and experts say.



Though the Office of the Public Defender "puts on a strong case in the appropriations committee," Dumais said, lawmakers have shirked from allocating the agency more money.



A possible reason behind their reluctance is the perception that public defenders are representing clients who don't qualify for public counsel, Dumais said.



"The undercurrent to some of the pushback to funding is members of the General Assembly think the OPD doesn't screen well enough and is representing individuals that should not be qualified for their representation," Dumais said.



However, "public defenders don't have the sense that it's a major problem," Dumais said.



Steps forward



Beyond providing more funding, there are other steps lawmakers could take to alleviate and even up caseloads across the state, lawmakers, legal experts and agency officials said.



For instance, the Legislature could alter the penalties for some crimes, Dumais said.



Because public defenders only represent clients who could be charged with incarceration, removing the possibility of jail time would lighten the burden on attorneys.



Dumais co-sponsored one such bill in the 2016 legislative session. If passed into law, HB347 would have taken away the possibility of incarceration as a penalty for driving on a suspended license; meaning those charged with it would not qualify for representation by a public defender in court. The bill did not make it out of the House judiciary committee.



"That kind of thing and other sentence reductions make cases go more smoothly," Dumais said.



Another potential solution is the subcontracting of private attorneys.



Creation of a public-private partnership between public defenders' offices and the private bar would allow private attorneys to take on cases that exceed the caseload standards, resulting in a "more manageable caseload" for public defenders, Flores said.



"The private sector receives a business opportunity, and Maryland benefits by ensuring meaningful representation and ultimately receiving taxable income from the private bar," Flores said.



The public defender's office introduced a bill that would authorize and fund such a partnership in 2016 and 2015. Sponsored by Delegate C.T. Wilson in 2016, HB1582 "is just a couple of lines" but would have lowered caseloads drastically, Flores said.



However, it was not passed into law; instead, the bill died after its first reading.



"In order for the bill to be implemented, there would have to be substantial appropriations," Flores said. "From the perspective of the budget as a whole, it's not much, but from the kitchen table, it's billions of dollars."



The state's Department of Legislative Services estimates the bill could require an increase of $1.8 billion in expenditures.



The bill is expected to be reintroduced in the upcoming legislative session, which begins Jan. 11, Flores said.



'The bigger price'



By allowing unequal and excessive caseloads to go unaddressed, Maryland risks compromising the fair administration of justice, some lawmakers, legal experts and public defenders say.



"It's shortsighted to underfund fundamental justice, because ultimately the larger community pays the bigger price of alienating and marginalizing a large population," Colbert said. "It's in all of our interest to ensure necessary funding so people believe our system administers fair and equal justice."



For the state's public defenders to provide indigent clients with effective counsel, helpin whatever formmust be provided to keep their caseloads under the caseload standard, no matter their region.



"The constitutional right to counsel is very important," Dumais said. "Caseloads need to be taken into account so public defenders have the proper time to represent their client."
ANNAPOLIS (Dec. 19, 2016)Voucher holders' options for housing may soon broaden if Maryland lawmakers reintroduce and pass the Home Act in the upcoming 2017 legislative session.



The state legislation is intended to stop discrimination in real estate based on source of income.



It would prohibit landlords from turning away those paying with vouchers, adding to a list of other current illegal bases for discrimination, like race, sex, color, religion, national origin, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.



The bill is designed to help those with Section 8 housing choice vouchers. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the vouchers "assist very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing."



Public housing agencies receive federal funds to pay a housing subsidy directly to the landlord. Participating families then pay the difference between the actual rent and the subsidized payment.



Delegate Stephen Lafferty, D-Baltimore County, who sponsored the Home Act of 2016 (HB759), said the specifics of the 2017 bill are in progress. It failed to move forward in the 2016 session after its first reading and hearing in February.



Supporters of the bill say it would be critical in the effort to end homelessness and decentralize poverty in certain neighborhoods.



"I believe in providing as many opportunities to housing as possible," Lafferty told the University of Maryland's Capital News Service.



In an October work session of Maryland's House of Delegates subcommittee on housing, supporters of the Home Act said many landlords who accept vouchers are in impoverished neighborhoods that lack quality health care, grocery and transportation access. Limited voucher acceptance elsewhere only perpetuates a cycle of poverty.



Utah, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, Washington, D.C., and many local jurisdictions already have similar laws that prohibit discrimination based on source of income.



Lawmakers have proposed similar bills in the past to help voucher holders, but they have failed to pass through Maryland's General Assembly.



Housing associations say the housing choice voucher program, or Section 8, is a voluntary program and the decision to accept vouchers should be left to the housing provider.



Housing and real estate agent associations said the Section 8 voucher program puts additional contract and administrative burdens on landlords that they would otherwise not face with non-voucher tenants. Concerns include rent and security deposit limits, rent increases subject to government approval, uncertainty with rental payments, constraints on evictions and additional inspections and paperwork.



Adam Skolnik, executive director of the Maryland Multi-Housing Association, owns 34 rental units in Baltimore and Baltimore County. Skolnik said 25 of his properties are rented to Section 8 voucher-holders. But he said the decision to do so should be optional.



"We believe in the fair housing laws," Skolnik said. "This is genuinely different than religion or skin color. There are undue burdens that go along with the vouchers and that's why we believe this bill should never see the light of day again."



Skolnick said in a market-rate environment, he can move someone into a rental unit in about four days. But when dealing with vouchers, it can take 60 days, particularly in Baltimore. Skolnick said he loses money when this happens.



But supporters of the bill, like the Homeless Persons Representation Project and Maryland's AARP, are urging legislators to move the Home Act forward into law.



The Home Act is intended to give voucher-holders more options in housing and prevent landlords from turning down possible tenants strictly due to their voucher form of payment.



"We have heard from veterans who have vouchers who have been denied (housing)," Lafferty said.



Veteran and housing-voucher-holder Jill Brown-Williams, 58, faced this issue. After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard for six years, she worked as a commercial truck driver. She quit that job to be her husband's primary caretaker after he was diagnosed with cancer.



Her husband died, she suffered a stroke and found herself without income or a home.



Brown-Williams received a Section 8 voucher through the U.S. Housing and Urban DevelopmentVeterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.



The then-homeless veteran wanted to live in Baltimore County near her family for their emotional support.



But landlords consistently turned down her Section 8 payment in areas in close proximity to her family, she said, so Brown-Williams was forced to use her voucher in an area where she would not like to live.



Lafferty said he hopes the Home Act will help people like Brown-Williams move to better neighborhoods in order to succeed.



"It is a very important issue that the state needs to grapple with," Lafferty said.
Dingle, Irelands greatest claim to fame has long been Fungie the Dolphin. Irish children grow up with stories of Fungie and take summer boat trips out along the bay in hopes of spotting him.

Today, the small town on Irelands westernmost peninsula is carving out a name for itself as a food destination. In Dingle, farm-to-table is a way of life rather than a pricey trend, and annual food festivals have helped to showcase the growing culinary scene by drawing large and hungry crowds.

What Dingle was missing, Justin Burgess realized last year, was coffee.

25-year-old Burgess, who has lived in Dingle since the age of 10, fell for good coffee after running the machine at Murphys, the towns most famous ice cream shop. He went to Dublin to train with 3FE, and spent six years perfecting his pull in between scooping cones.

With a population of just 1,960 people, Dingle is small-town Ireland at its best. Numbers swell in the summer, with dolphin seekers and day-trippers passing through Dingles two main streets. Murphys was committed to good coffee, but would always put ice cream first.

Dingle, and Burgess, were ready for a standalone coffee bar.

Or at least a coffee cart.

Burgesss original plan was to create a seasonal pop-up along the pedestrian-heavy harbor road. However, challenges with licensing the coffee cart crashed plans for a temporary test run of the specialty coffee venture.

With the cart option out, Burgess worked with business partner (and brother) Luke Burgess to find a cozy space in the town center. With sister Georgia Burgess manning the Nuova Simonelli Aurelia T3, Bean in Dingle was up and running within weeks.

For coffee, Burgess tapped Brock Lewin of Badger & Dodo, and his enthusiasm convinced Lewin to create the roasting houses first ever customized blend. The coffee bar has had to find a kind of balance, Burgess explains, between the familiar and the cutting-edge in order to cater to locals with a high-quality product while tapping into the large market of visitors craving more than a typical cup.

The result is a menu that is straightforward and un-intimidating, but perfectly executed. The chalkboard menu lists choices between black or milky. The milk is sourced from a local County Kerry dairy, and those opting for black also have the choice of a V60.

Though the menu is unpretentious, the setup is serious. Bean in Dingle was the first cafe in Ireland with a Mahlkonig PEAK grinder, and the Aurelia sits gleaming in full view.

With sunny yellow touches, a communal table, and the occasional framed Marvin Gaye album, the shop is bright and approachable.

Bean in Dingle is a coffee shop idealfamily-run, great attention to detail, unwavering commitment to good coffee, all while symbiotically supporting other local businesses.

Its a bit mad, Burgess explains, but it works.

Natalie Kennedy is a California-born, Italian-based travel writer and the publisher of An American In Rome. Read more Natalie Kennedy on Sprudge.
My one major complaint about coffee is that, heretofore, its been completely unfreebaseable. But now, at last, from all the way in the mountains of Costa Rica no less (all the really good psychedelic shit comes from the rainforest), here comes the Bripe, a fully blowtorchable coffee brew pipe.

The Bripe is an ultra-portable, all-copper coffee making option made for outdoor enthusiasts looking to travel light. Some people might think it looks like smoking a crack pipe. We think it looks like an easy-travellin good time. According to their website:

Bripe was born in the mountains Costa Rica. Inventor and outdoors fanatic, Tim Panek, was on a 3-day hiking trip to see some of his buddies from a local indigenous tribe and wanted a simple solution to having great coffee during his adventures to the middle of nowhere! With so many coffee devices which are complicated and need expensive equipment and a kettle or stove to provide hot water Bripe makes great coffee  simple. Bripe requires only water, ground coffee and a simple handheld heat source, like a blue flame lighter.

Heres how it works: Add coffee and water to the Bripe and stir. Then bring the slurry up to 185F (85C) by heating the bottom of the Bripe with a blue flame butane lighter. Let it cool (this step cannot be overstated). Blow a little air into the stem to make bubbles and then suck the coffee through the stem.

The Bripe is currently on pre-order for $49.99 through their website with a scheduled ship date some this month. For $85 through their Indiegogo campaign, you can get a full Bripe travel kit: the brew pipe and accessories, a coffee container, a carry pouch, and a blue flame torch lighter. Its the perfect coffee accouterment for backpacking adventures in the deep jungles of the Amazon, heroic journeys through Middle Earth, or eight-hour trips to the edge of Existence.

This product is perfect for the hardcore camping trekker in your life. I am not its target audienceI love the outdoors, but my overnight arrangements fall squarely in the glamping categorybut there are people out there right now reading this from satellite phones who desperately want a Bripe because they understand its utility. They get it. Just uh, make it very clear to the security folks at the airport what this thing actually is. Your dialogue should sound something like this:

Yes, this is a butane torch. Yes, this my pipe paraphernalia. No, you dont understandits a Bripe. Its for coffee. Why are you detaining me? Back off. Back off my Bripe, bro. Dont tase me br

Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network.

*top image via Bripe
A female jockey lost her life during a race on Sunday (December 18) after having been dismounted during a racing accident.

According to an article by The Sydney Morning Herald, veteran rider Rebecca Black fell to the track during a race at Gore, which is located close to Invercargill on the South Island of New Zealand.

The rest of the days remaining races were then cancelled by the Tapanui Racing Club. The accident happened in Race 8. Point Proven (with Black up) and Misscattlecreek (with Terry Moseley up) went down in the accident. Misscattlecreek had to be euthanized after the fall.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Blacks three children were at the races on Sunday, as was her ex-husband, trainer Kelvin Tyler, who was quoted as saying, "It's shocking what's happened."

Black had ridden her mounts to 108 victories during her career in the irons.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Rebecca Black.

(With files from The Sydney Morning Herald)
Jo Ann Hertlein, 69, of Bronxville, New York, the daughter of the late Anna and Joseph Stivala, passed away on December 17, 2016 after a battle with cholangiocarcinoma.

She was born and raised in Scranton, Pa., before moving to Bronxville upon her marriage. For the last several years she had faithfully worked as an office administrator for the SOA of NY. She will be remembered for her incredible warmth and kindness, her delicious meals and her contagious laughter.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 42 years, William; loving daughters and sons-in-law, Victoria (Marco) and Deborah (James); and her brother, John Stivala.

Calling hours are at the Fred McGrath & Sons Funeral home, Bronxville N.Y., on Tuesday (December 20) from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 21) at St. Josephs Church. Private interment at Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to Save the Children.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Jo Ann Hertlein.

(SOANY)
WCC General Secretary Sends Birthday Greetings to Pope Francis

Contact: World Council of Churches, +41 79 507 6363

GENEVE, Dec. 19, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- As Pope Francis celebrated his 80th birthday, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit sent a greeting expressing gratitude for the steps Pope Francis has taken to foster the search for the visible unity of the church.

"I remember with joy your recent visit to Lund and the celebration of the journey from conflict to communion of the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation in which we could participate," reads the greeting from Tveit.

"You are speaking frequently from the unity on the way that grows when and where we pursue our journey as disciples of Christ together."

The WCC tenth assembly called Christians and all people of good will to trust God's mercy, turn around and join God's pilgrimage of justice and peace in faith, hope and love, notes Tveit.

"I am confident that we will have an opportunity to meet again in the future and explore together how to move forward with the vision of pilgrimage as model for the ecumenical movement," concludes the greeting.

Full message by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here.
BY OLIVIA ROSE

THE MINISTRY of Finance is in the process of finalizing the payment of terminal benefits (Ex-gratia Payments) to all waged persons who ended their tenure with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government during the period 2009 to 2016.





According to the Ministry in a release, issued on December 13, Cabinet granted approval at a meeting on October 26 for waged persons, who were not in receipt of severance payments, upon completion of their tenure with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government to receive a maximum ex-gratia payment of four months wages.





The release stated that: "These initial payments will be disbursed on the 12th December 2016.





It is important to note that a further review of pensions and gratuities will be conducted by the Ministry of Finance during the next financial year.





Premier Rufus Ewing told the House of Assembly some months back that his Government plans to comprehensively review the gratuity policy.





He said: "The works with regards to ex gratia payment has been going on for some time now and we have the list ready of those individuals who will be entitled to ex gratia payment.





"Every day we still find individuals coming forward and presenting their claims. We continue to receive more names to add to that list.





"The gratuity list is just about completed because they arent too many individuals who are entitled to gratuity per se.





"The vacation leave list has been going on for some time now and has proved to be most problematic because of the state of Governments records during that time and also due to improper documentation.





"Those are some of the challenges that we are facing, we have persons who claim that they were denied leave but yet still were not documented.





The Premier noted that while he is cognisant that some of these matters could reach the court, he assured that this will not disrupt the ongoing review.





The PDM said that if elected into government it will address these issues.





"This is not a political ploy, we said we will address these issues if they hadnt, and three years later they havent, and they cannot say that we jumped ahead of them, as they usually say.





"We are obligated to address those dangling issues that this government promised its people on the campaign trail in 2012, and ever since.




BY OLIVIA ROSE

ENTHUSIASTIC voters flocked polling stations across the Islands on Election Day (December 15) to cast their ballot for the candidates they believe are capable of representing them in the House of Assembly.





All polling stations in the 10 electoral districts, with the exception of one (ED9 the Bight), opened on the stipulated time -- 7am sharp and closed at 7pm.





The overall mood of the day was fairly quiet, due to early voting turnout in most districts.





Many voters complained about the late start experienced at the Bight ED #9 polling station (Tropicana Plaza), which saw a 45-minute opening delay.





Some of the voters were a bit agitated with the delay since they expected an early start, but nevertheless, they waited on to cast their votes.





Long queues were visible at most polling stations in Providenciales, although some voters complained about the long lines; they also noted that the process was smooth and easy.





National Chairman of the (PNP) Royal Robinson expressed disappointment with the delay at the Bight polling station.





He told the media that according to the Ordinance all polling stations must be open for 12 hours and any delays should be made up before the closing hour. Tropicana polling station closed at 7:45 pm.





According to the Supervisor of Election Dudley Lewis, the turnout started to slow down around 5pm, however a few late voters who came from work, voted after 6pm.





He said: "The voting process is better and smoother and means an expedited experience for electors.





He noted that the results from several Returning Officers would start pouring in after 9pm.





Although voters had a full slate of 52 candidates to choose from, many told the Weekly News that they went to the polls well informed and ready to exercise their electoral franchise.




By Daisy Handfield

Goldray Ewing, PDM candidate and winner of Electoral District 8 in the Blue Hills constituency, has accused the PNP of bribery in that electorate.





In an interview with Mr Ewing on Thursday night, he alleged that the PNP party handed out large sums of money to people, to either prevent them from voting or to convince them to vote PNP in the mentioned electorate.





Mr Ewing, who competed against his sister, Claudine Ewing-Pratt, PNP candidate, secured his seat after defeating her by 99 votes.





PDM secured 366 votes; PNP secured 267 and the PDA secured 37 votes.





He said: "I heard the rumours that there was a lot of money on the streets to keep the people away from the polls. Tickets were bought to send people awayPNPs was actually betting on winning the seat. They were betting people up to US $5,000, but I guess that they came up a dollar late and a day short. That seat will remain in the hands of the PDM for a long time to come





The PDM candidate said that he and his PDM team are ready to start working for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.





"We are ready to take office and go to work for the people. That is the whole idea of this whole operation, he said.





Ewing was born to parents, Hon. Hilly and Mrs Jane Ewing. He acquired his early childhood education at the Blue Hills primary school and later at H J Robinson high school in Grand Turk.








By Daisy Handfield

NORMAN Saunders Senior, the Turks and Caicos Islands longest serving member of parliament, will not be returning to the House of Assembly when it reopens for the upcoming season. Saunders is retiring, after 49 years of service.





Saunders did not seek re-election this year, as he has announced plans of retiring from frontline politics.





He said: "At my age, even though I still feel healthy, I did not want to run the risk of subjecting the electorate and the country to a situation where I may have not been able to give the best of my energy, as I have done in the past. So, I felt that it was better for me to move out and let somebody much younger take over.





Saunders, aged 73, told the media recently that he is at the age where he wants to centre his life on personal pursuits.





"I would like to spend some more time fishing and do what I can with my church, the Methodist church, he said.





In 1967, Saunders was elected as an MP for South Caicos under the Progressive National Party at the age of 23, making him the youngest elected official at the time. In 1985 Saunders became Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands.





In 1996, Saunders was re-elected to represent South Caicos as an independent candidate following fallout with his party, the PNP. He would go on to run under the PNP party and continue to hold the South Caicos seat until 2016.





As a business man, Saunders says he plans to focus on his life on business and involvement in his church in South Caicos. There has been no official statement from the PNP on his departure from politics.












BY DELANA ISLES

IN AN unexpected move on Friday midday (December 16), now defeated Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing resigned as leader of the Progressive National Party (PNP) after having suffered a massive upset at Thursdays polls.





At a brief press conference at the PNP headquarters in Providenciales, the former Premier, who was all alone at the head table, graciously accepted defeat and expressed well wishes to the incoming PDM government.





Reading from a prepared statement Ewing said that he had contacted Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson early Friday morning to extend his congratulations to her and her party at this historic general election.





Historic, because upon her swearing-in Cartwright Robinson will be first woman to ever hold the post of Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands.





"The people of the TCI have spoken and have indicated their wish for a change in governance, and the outcome of this election is a clear indication that democracy is alive in our islands, Ewing said.





Expressing his gratitude to all of the candidates who put their names forward to represent the people of the Islands, Ewing particularly thanked his party candidates for their hard work and dedication during the campaign.





"I know that each and every one of us had the interests of our people foremost in our hearts.





He then went on to take full responsibility for the PNPs defeat.





"I wish to now state that as leader of the PNP I take full responsibility for the partys loss in yesterdays general elections and as such I have made the decision to honourably tender my resignation as party leader with immediate effect.





"To my former colleagues in Cabinet and to our party, I can indeed say with all confidence that my administration can indeed be proud of its achievements and its record, and in particular history will credit us with the full economic recovery of our country, Ewing confidently stated.





He added that history will also reflect that the PNP conducted the affairs of the people with the highest standard of integrity over the years.





Ewings immediate resignation now leaves the defeated party leaderless, but as he stated, when asked, his resignation was a foregone conclusion as the constitution of the party stipulates that the leader of the party has to be an elected member of the House of Assembly.





And as the final recorded numbers out of the elections office show, Ewing only gained 2,234 of the votes in his at large candidacy, putting him squarely behind the Minister of Finance, Charles Washington Misick, who with his 2,335 votes got the fifth highest number of votes for the at large candidates.





Misick is the only PNP at large candidate who has been re-elected to serve in the House of Assembly.





He joins Akierra Missick, George Lightbourne and Ruth Blackman as the only PNP candidates who will be sworn into the Assembly upon its resumption.





As such, the next party leader and leader of the opposition will be elected or selected through the party constitutional machinery from those four elected members.





UNEXPECTED DEFEAT

Questioned whether he expected such a huge defeat, Ewing said no.





"I did not expect it, I knew that it was a tight race and I thought that we had a good chance of winning but I always knew that our chance of losing was dependent upon two things  voter turnout among PNPs and PNPs sharing their votes.





Asked if he credits the loss to the PNP Government over the last four years concentrating more on the economic recovery rather than the peoples welfare, Ewing admitted that this could have been part of the reason as well.





"That can be as well, and I would first and foremost state outright that when you look at the party I will admit that as a party over the past four years the accomplishments that we have achieved were not communicated as effectively as it ought to have been communicated so that persons could be fully informed.





"And we never really boasted about our accomplishments even though we accomplished so much, he said.





But the Premiers denial of boasts by the PNP is not quite accurate, as the record shows that over the years the governing party has been very vocal and boastful of its economic recovery efforts, prompting many calls by the PDM for them to listen to people and to stop boasting about their yearly surpluses while the people of the country suffered.





Ewing continued that other reasons for the loss could be attributed to the "tight campaign that the PNP ran, and many voters not turning up to vote and the sharing of the votes among the numerous independent candidates.





As for whats next for him and the PNP, Ewing said the party is now in the stage of regrouping to form an effective opposition to the PDM Government and as an organization for persons who want to put themselves forward to contest the 2020 general elections.





WEAK LEADERSHIP

One of the constant claims by opposition members and supporters is that Ewings leadership of the country over the years has been weak.





Asked what he would say to this, he responded: "I would say that my leadership style has been different.





"My leadership style is one that governs by consensus, my leadership style is one that is governed by being inclusive. It is one that is not based on rhetoric, and jumping up and down with loud mouths.





"It is one that is based on integrity. That is my style.





He also added that many persons are too used to handouts, and that is not his style.





"What we have been used to over these years in Turks and Caicos is persons being used to handouts, give-me-outs, and I am not that kind of person.





In a calm and composed voice, Ewing said he holds his integrity "close and dear to his heart.





PNP OPPOSITION

As for what sort of opposition the country can expect from the PNP  a party which has not worn that cap for a very long time - Ewing said the people can expect "a very forceful and effective opposition.





"Based on the persons who were elected I can see we are going to have an awesome opposition, much better than the PDM has ever been, he stated.





Ewings claim is certainly an ambitious one, as the PDM opposition was and prided itself on being one that "held the governments feet to the fire as they have repeatedly stated over the years.





He further called on the people of the TCI to put aside their political differences and personal biases, and to think logically in terms of country as a new period dawns.





WHATS NEXT FOR EWING?

Questioned about his plans going forward, the former premier and doctor of medicine in general surgery said that he is done with politics.





"I never intended to be a career politician, I came here for a reason and a season.





"I was looking forward to completing my agenda, the work that I started in this term, but I certainly hope that those individuals who are now put in a position of government could build on what we have achieved and make progress on behalf of the people.





He stated that the PDM has been given the country "on a platter to ride on, expressing the hope they do justice to it.





Asked if he feels a sense of accomplishment even in the face of defeat, given the economic stability the Turks and Caicos Islands has achieved under the PNP Government, Ewing said yes.





"I am very proud of my accomplishments. I leave this seat and this chair very contented and at peace because I am proud of those accomplishments.





"Even persons who do not see it now, history will tell.





"So, I leave with a sense of pride, pride for my team members who were part of this recovery team and also a team that has put the country squarely on a path to progress.




By Daisy Handfield

SEAN ASTWOOD, deputy leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, said he was ecstatic over his victory, and is looking forward to delivering on the promises he made to the people of the Turks & Caicos Islands.





The PDM Member of Parliament spoke to the TC Weekly about his partys victory in Electoral District nine, known as the Five Cays and Chalk Sound constituency.





Mr Astwood won his seat with 465 votes over PNP candidate Rachel Taylor, who only captured 264, and PDA candidate Bobby Chambers, who held 15 votes.





The Deputy Leader won ED9 by 201 votes in this election, compared to 94 votes in the 2012 election.





This win represents an increase of 53 percent, even though voters turnout dropped by seven percent.





He said ccommunities like the TCI have long sought for a serious leadership and good governance and have desired change.





"I have worked hard in that community in the last four years and today, that hard work has paid off. We have run a magnificent campaign -- real state of the art. We have showed to the public that the party can change, and therefore we are serious about what we are offering to the country. We brought forward a message of change and hope and we are going to govern in that style as well.





The Member of Parliament thanked residents and voters of the Five Cays and Chalk Sound community for giving him and the PDM the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.





"I want to thank each resident and voters who came out last night to cast their vote for change, and something new, he said.





The victory was a landslide one for the PDM, who beat the governing Progressive National Party in this years general election, after being in opposition for thirteen years.




By Delana Isles

EXACTLY ONE YEAR ago, the Special Investigation and Prosecution Trial (SIPT) officially commenced, and a year on it has managed to hear testimony from just over fifty witnesses, with fifty more to go in 2017.





Queens Counsel and lead Prosecutor, Andrew Mitchell sat down with this publication on Friday (December 16) for a roundup of the hearing over the past year, and what the Turks and Caicos Islands can expect in 2017.





Speaking on the 2016 advancement, Mitchell claimed that they have made "good and steady progress with some important witnesses being called for questioning and cross examination, most of which are almost finished.





"We will move on early in the new year to dealing with some of the developments and the issues arising specifically out of the developments and then we will move to dealing with the financials.





Mitchell said they are on target to finish the Crowns case by early summer 2017.





"I feel that we are making progress and we are getting towards the end, and I maintain that going forward for the country is for the process to be shown to be able to work and be seen to a conclusion, and thats the important thing.





The trial is the first electronic one that has been conducted here in the TCI, and with several hundred pieces of documents to be examined during its course, Mitchell said that the use of electronics (IPads, computers and televisions) has made the trial less cumbersome and has seen a smooth flow of documentation throughout the year.





When the trial resumes on Monday, January 16, 2017, the attorney general will retake the witness stand to complete her testimony, following which several witnesses will be called to the stand to give specific testimony about each of the developments named in the trial documents.





American actress and former TCI first lady LisaRaye McCoy is still to take the witness stand, but Mitchell could still not say definitively when this will take place.





Another significant witness will be Marsha Cummings, formerly of the attorney general chambers under the Michael Misick administration.





Cummings will testify sometime in February or March and her testimony will be similar to that of the current attorney general.





Mitchell said that Cummings was in more direct contact with the ministers when it came to some of the developments named in the case; as such her testimony is pivotal.





The prosecutor said that the former governor is not likely to be recalled to the stand to give testimony, although it is a possibility.





New Government and SIPT

When asked about the new governments role in relation to the controversial trial, the prosecutor said he did not expect any changes or difficulties to the way things are flowing currently.





"One would like to think that there would be no difference in the way that the case is regarded from the new government.





"The new government has got their job and that is getting on with governing the country and we all have our jobs and that is getting on prosecuting and defending people who have been accused of crimes before the courts, and it is for the judge to determine, Mitchell said.





He added that in the best interest of the Turks and Caicos Islands and its future, the last thing the new government would want to be seen to be doing, especially in its early months, is interfering with the trial process.





"It must be right for them to be able to attract investments going forward and that they can show that due process is well and truly entrenched in the way of life in the Turks and Caicos Islands.





Although he agreed that the SIPT trial is a special case (given the repeated calls by the now former government and then PDM opposition for the British to pay for the trial) Mitchell noted that if the TCI can prove that due process could be achieved here, it would give comfort to investors.





He stated that it is important to a government to say that they can do it.





As for chief defendant in the trial  former premier Michael Misick and his co-accused McAllister Hanchells bid for re-election on Thursday - the prosecutor would offer no comments.




PeaceHealth announced the appointment of Ron Saxton as its new executive vice president and general counsel last Thursday. Saxton assumes the role after serving as interim general counsel since February.

This is an exciting development for PeaceHealth, PeaceHealth CEO Liz Dunne said in a press release. Ron brings a wealth of strategic experience, wisdom and judgment to our organization, and his track record perfectly aligns with our commitment to build strong relationships in the communities we are blessed to serve.

Saxton previously worked for the Portland-based law firm Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, where he specialized in corporate strategy counsel and transactional, regulatory and financial guidance, according to the press release. Before that, he was a member of the executive team at a global door and window manufacturer. He also ran for governor in Oregon in 2006.

This begins a compelling new chapter in my life, and Im looking forward to the challenge, Saxton said in the press release. The combination of PeaceHealths compelling mission and wonderful people make this a truly exciting opportunity.

PeaceHealth is a Vancouver-based nonprofit Catholic healthcare system in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. It runs St. John Medical Center and a medical clinic in Longview and is one of Cowlitz Countys biggest employers.
tech2 News Staff

Acer has announced that it is stepping away from the smartphone business in India. The company reportedly sold only 30,000 units in the whole of 2016.

Speaking to Business Standard, Harish Kohli, Managing Director, Acer India confirmed that the company had backed out of the smartphone business. Kohli claims that Acer was unhappy that phones had become a commodity rather than an experience.

He adds that the majority of smartphone makers are focussing on cheaper price rather than quality. It is a decision you need to take, whether to produce a quality product and bleed or just copy others and make a product for a particular price-point, he tells Business Standard.

If Acer actually made a good, quality smartphone and couldnt sell it, wed be inclined to believe them. Right now, it just seems like the fox is calling the grapes sour.

Even at a time that the market appears to be saturated with all manner of smartphones, flagship phones are still making a killing and Samsung owes much of its success this year to its flagship Galaxy S7 Edge. In fact, if the Galaxy Note 7 hadnt met with such a fiery end, it would still be on the top of the charts.

On the lower end of the spectrum, the likes of Huawei, Xiaomi and OnePlus are also slugging it out for the budget-flagship crown. They have a number of compelling products to show for their efforts.

Acer doesnt. As Mashable is quick to point out, Xiaomi sold 3 million phones to Acer's 30,000.

Kohli suggests that Acer will focus more on its PC business, in which it has invested heavily. The company is also looking at multiple form factors, lightweight products and more.
tech2 News Staff

Ever wondered what it would be like if Bill Gates was your Secret Santa? Well, wonder no more, for its actually happened!

When Redditor Aerrix decided to participate in a Secret Santa, the last thing she expected was to get Bill Gates as her Santa.

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, philanthropist and richest man on this planet. Let that sink in for a minute.

So what did Aerrix get? Here goes, *takes deep breath*: Zelda mittens for Aerrix and her dog, a Minecraft Edition Xbox One, 3 Xbox One Wireless controllers, Zelda slippers, a Cajun cookbook, a Zelda tie blanket, a paper master sword (Zelda again), a Zelda picture frame made from perler beads with a photo of Aerrix, her family and a photoshopped image of Bill Gates, a bunch of movies, an NES Classic Edition console, a limited edition copy of Halo 5 Guardians and Tomb Raider and a couple of handwritten notes to go with all of the above. Whew!

Thats quite some list.

Aerrix was understandably overjoyed. She poured all of her excitement into a Reddit post that starts with IIm just speechless, and you can read the whole thing here. And you should. This is your only chance to vicariously experience the joys of having Bill Gates as your Secret Santa.

Its also very apparent that Bill Gates did his research. All of the gifts have a personal touch to them. The slippers for Aerrix dog, for example, were addressed to Clairrix (the dogs called Claire). He even sent a hand-written note with the Cajun cookbook saying, "Aerrix, Since you're originally from Louisiana and miss your Uncle's Cajun cooking, I thought you might enjoy trying some of the recipes from this cookbook."

And no, before you point a wavering finger and scream STALKER, all of this information is available on Aerrixs reddit account.

We can best summarise this whole account in Aerrix own, unedited words, Merry Christmas to all yall out there, and to Mr. Gates, who has the biggest heart and REALLY KNOWS HOW TO TREAT A GIRL TO SOME VIDEO GAMES (and video game paraphernalia)! I'm just blown away by his generosity, which went even further than all these gifts because he submitted a donation to code.org in my name to give more students the chance to learn computer science, which is AWESOME because it's something near and dear to my heart as my husband is a programmer and my brother has a degree in computer science!

Thank you SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO much Mr. Gates! I'll never EVAR forget this Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   :D

Bill Gates, youre awesome!
tech2 News Staff

The Indian cyber security establishment is still in a rudimentary stage, with a lot of loopholes in the current cyber policy. A key opportunity for strategy moving forward is to focus on our cyber assets. As a nation, were vulnerable to Chinese and Pakistani cyber warriors. In 2006-2007, China created approximately 2,50,000 cyber warriors. In fact, theyre giving a lot of thought in the area of cyber security.

On the other hand, preparedness is lacking on the Indian side. Were always reactive in our response, instead of being proactive. We also lack institutional measures. There exists a huge gap between what we say on paper and what is implemented.

In the past few years, our position on cyber security has inclined towards China and Russia. For instance, to curb the Tibetan movement and the TLA, information around the subject isnt allowed online in China. Similarly, India has moved from critical infrastructure protection towards information control. A case in point is the incident where two girls from Palghar were arrested after making posts on Facebook.

Information is monitored. It seems the State is using the cyber space as a tool to curtail information. Russia always feared revolution by the West, and Chinese feared trouble around Tibet. Both countries curbed information.

India now does it with Facebook and Twitter. The Government asks companies for information, which is not necessarily a great thing. As a liberal democracy, were more aligned to protecting critical infrastructure rather than curbing information access.

Good practices we can adopt

1. We need to have simple guidelines. Most importantly, use the Internet in an effective manner. Government agencies need to be standards-driven. We need to maintain ISO standardisation and certain specific standards. We also need a body to audit the implementation. If compliance isnt happening, and there are no penalties, then there is no accountability.

2. We also need to look at protecting infrastructure, rather than curb information. Certifications need to be tightened, strengthened and standardised.

3. We need monitoring capabilities and ensure compliance with standards.

4. We need to standardise cloud security. Services such as Apple, Google and Facebook are used on a wide scale. These factors are thought through in the US and Europe, but India needs to look at it seriously. Awareness is lacking. If you speak to Indian citizens online, who put photos online, the threat to security doesnt register. We need to add layers of security in regulation.

5. India needs to partner with the industry. The industry has a lot to offer for security. The industry puts into practice far more stringent measures than what the government requires. They invest a lot more to ensure their networks are secure. We could imbibe best practices. We need to look closely at security. In cyber security, it eventually comes down to the individual, not the establishment or a nuclear installation. Civil society and the industry should be consulted.

What could possibly be our response plan?

We need a standard operating procedure. We need to consider factors whether we need to police? Whether there is a plan in place to deal with cyber attacks.

We need to try simulations. It is easier for the adversary to attack cyber properties rather than nuclear facilities.

Other countries have taken simulations seriously and figure the best methods to a secure set up. Instead of being clueless, if you simulate a potential threat, you are better prepared and capable in terms of capability  mentally and psychologically.

We need anti-malware signatures with the latest technologies. We need to be mentally alert all the time, and with our systems. Instead of foreign tech, we need to develop indigenous technologies.

As told to Nash David

Rajeswari Rajagopalan is Senior Fellow and Head of Nuclear and Space Initiatives at Observer Research Foundation.
Aditya Madanapalle

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has had a busy year, and we look back at some of the most innovative technological solutions developed for the armed forces over the course of 2016.

Portable Telemedicine System for Armed Forces

The Portable Telemedicine System (PDF) for Armed Forces was developed by the Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru in early 2016. The system is a means of providing remote assistance to injured personnel in a field hospital or a ship out at sea. The rugged and portable system is capable of taking various readings including blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and includes an electrocardiogram.

The system can store and transmit annoted data, and can open up a real time live channel for high quality video conferencing. The data can be transmitted over various communication channels, and includes the capability to interface with satellites. The Biomedical Data Acquisition System (BioDAS) on board was developed indigenously. An archival software on board the system maintains records in a secure environment. The telemedicine system was successfully demonstrated on board the ships INS Deepak, Gomati, and Talwar.

Devastating new Tank Ammunition

Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), research wings of the DRDO based in Pune designed new ammunition meant specifically for the Arjun tank. The Penetration-cum-Blast (PCB) and Thermobaric (TB) Ammunition were successfully test fired in Odisha, demonstrating the devastating power of the ammunition against concrete structures, fortifications and armour plates.

The HEMRL lab researchers new high energy materials to be used in warheads and ammunition. The newly developed ammunition uses atmospheric oxygen for the explosions instead of the oxidiser included in the compound, as is done in conventional explosives. This means that the resulting mixture is far more explosive for the same amount of weight. The test firing successfully managed to destroy a derelict tank that had been fitted with various sensors to measure the shock, blast pressure and temperature of the new ammunition. It was the first time in India that the effectiveness of the new ammunition was measured in such detail.

Indian Navy goes green with biodiesel patrolling boats

The Indian Navy has created a Energy and Environment Cell that is tasked with making the Indian Navy an environmentally responsible force. The Indian Navy took the opportunity of World Environment Day to outline some of the initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of the Indian Navy. During the International Fleet Review held at Visakhapatnam in, the Navy showcased Fast Interception Craft (FIC) in the Presidential column that were running on biodiesel.

The biodiesel was produced by the Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER). The efficiency and performance of the machines and Navy equipment using the biodiesel is not compromised, but there are environmental benefits to using alternative fuels. The FIC running on biodiesel are marked with two green stripes, and are known as the Green Strike Force.

Indigenous Sonar Dome

The Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar flagged off the first indigenous composites Sonar dome during the Defexpo 2016. India joined a select group of countries capable of manufacturing such structures. The Sonar dome is attached to the bottom of ships, and scans the seas for submarine threats. The requirements of manufacturing such domes are technologically demanding, with a need for a solid and robust structure that is also acoustically transparent.

The research and development needed for manufacturing the dome was conducted by a Pune based DRDO lab known as Research and Development Establishment (Engrs) (RDE(E)). The dome was manufactured by Kineco Ltd, a composites manufacturing company based in Pilerne, Goa. The Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) Process with a process monitoring capability, to ensure that a quality product was manufactured. Sucessfully manufacturing the Sonar Dome indigenously means that India now has the capability for manufacturing more advanced structures, such as entire ship hulls. There are land based and aerospace applications that stand to benefit from the advancement in manufacturing capabilities.

Varunastra torpedo

The Defense minister Manohar Parrikar handed over the Varunastra to the Indian Navy at the end of June. Varunastra is a ship launched heavy weight torpedo, also known as an underwater missile. The torpedo was developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in partnership with Bharat Dynamics. The torpedo is manufactured by using 95 per cent of indigenous parts.

During the handover, Parrikar said "In these high technology areas, DRDOs contribution with 95 per cent of indigenous content is an apt example of Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured category." The torpedo was an important milestone in pushing India towards self reliance when it comes to underwater defense capabilities. The Rajput and Delhi class of warships can be equipped with the new torpedos, and future Anti-Submarine Warfare capable ships will also have the capability. The torpedo is capable of taking down stealth submarines in deep or shallow waters.

HAL Tejas

The Indian Air Force inducted two Tejas aircraft into its 45th Squadron on July 1. The Light Combat Aircraft were jointly developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The aircraft can take up a variety of roles in combat, and are supersonic. India has been developing the aircraft since 1980. Prior to the induction, the aircraft participated in 3,200 sorties to demonstrate their capabilities.

Prime minister Modi said "Induction of indigenously made Tejas fighter jet into the Air Force fills our hearts with unparalleled pride and happiness. I laud HAL and ADA on the induction of Tejas fighter jet. This illustrates our skills and strengths to enhance indigenous defence manufacturing." The Tejas is capable of carrying four tonnes of weapons. The aircraft are capable of firing air-to-air missiles, and dropping laser guided bombs. The aircraft includes a head mounted display for the pilot, and a glass cockpit on which realtime information is displayed. The Indian Air Force has placed an order for an additional 20 Tejas fighter jets.

Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile

Even as the Tejas fighter jet was being inducted into the Indian Air Force, there were a series of three tests of medium range surface-to-air missiles (MRSAM) conducted on the Integrated Test Range off Odisha Coast. The Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad developed the MRSAM in a collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). A number of other DRDO laboratories, private and public companies contributed to the various sub systems that are part of the missile.

All three tests went of flawlessly, and the missile hit the designated target every time. President Pranab Mukerjee said "I extend hearty congratulations to all those associated with the successful test-firing of the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM), developed jointly with Israel. The nation is proud of the achievement made by the DRDO and looks upon DRDO to make even greater efforts to boost Indias indigenous defence capabilities in technologically challenging areas." The missiles have a range of 70 kilometres, and are meant to handle any kind of aerial threats including fighter aircraft and helicopters.

Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile

In September, the DRDO conducted two tests of a Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM). The missiles were developed jointly by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries, similar to the MRSAM. The LRSAM was test fired against two pilotless target aircraft, at different ranges and altitudes. Both missiles successfully hit their targets. President Pranab Mukerjee congratulated the defence establishment by saying "The nation is proud of this achievement. I am sure that this success will further boost Indias defence capabilities in technologically challenging areas."

A number of Indian companies contributed various components to the missile. The missiles are tracked using Radar. During the tests, all the systems on board functioned as expected. These included the radar guidance system, the communications launch system, and the missile system. The missiles were also tested on a flying target in Israel. The MRSAM test was one of the landmark achievements of the cooperation of the two countries in an effort to create advanced weapons systems.

Rustom-II UAV

In November, DRDO successfully carried out the maiden flight of the Rustom-II unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV is combat capable and can be equipped with electro optic sensors, radar, electronic intelligence, communication intelligence and situational awareness payloads. The Rustom-II is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV. The maiden flight was carried out at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, near Bengaluru, a new facility dedicated to testing UAVs and manned aircraft. The tests proved the capabilities of the flying platform, including take-off, banking, level flight and landing.

The development of the UAV contributes to the Make in India initiative, as many sub systems were developed and manufactured entirely in India, with the participation of private companies. The air frame, landing gear, flight control, and avionics sub systems were made entirely in India. The UAV is meant for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles. The UAV is going to undergo further test and trials, for validation of the design parameters. The next step for the UAV is user validation trials.

Nag anti-tank missile

The Nag anti-tank missile joined the ranks of indigenously developed missiles by the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) a program that was lead by former president Abdul Kalam. The Nag joins Agni, Prithvi, Trishul and Akash. The Nag is a lockon-before-launch (LOBL), fire-and-forget, anti-tank guided missile, and was successfully tested against targets up to a range of four kilometres.

The test flights tested the the indigenously developed Thermal Target System and the Infrared Imaging Seeker on board the missile. Real time image processing algorithms on board the missile process the accuracy of the flight in real time. The Nag missile is meant to tackle modern battle tanks and other heavily armoured tanks. There is a high chance of neutralising the target with a single missile. The Nag can be fired from land or air based platforms, and and there are amphibious and mobility tests being conducted. The Nag missile is ready for induction into the Indian Army.

The many technological advancements over the year, show a serious dedication to developing the technological capabilities on home ground. A number of research labs by DRDO across the country are involved in the Make in India initiative, and the participation of private and public sector defense contractors increases the capability of manufacturing in India.
hidden

The FBI is supporting the CIA's conclusion that Russia interfered in the presidential election with the goal of supporting Republican candidate Donald Trump. In a message sent to employees, CIA Director John Brennan said he had spoken with FBI Director James Comey and James Clapper, the director of national intelligence.

Brennan said in the message that "there is strong consensus among us on the scope, nature, and intent of Russian interference in our presidential election." A U.S. official who had seen the unclassified message from Brennan confirmed it to The Associated Press on Friday.

President Barack Obama is promising that the U.S. will retaliate against Russia for its suspected meddling in America's election process, an accusation the Kremlin has vehemently denied.

This development comes days after CIA ascertained that Russian hacks on the DNC hack during the run up to USA Presidential elections were to help Donald Trump win the elections.

CIA detailed that hackers broke into servers belonging to both the parties while choosing to only publish data belonging to Clinton's Campaign. This report was followed by the revelation that the company hired to ensure that election ballots are secure was hacked after the elections in November.

With inputs from Associated Press
hidden

Mobile payment and e-commerce platform Paytm on Monday announced that it is setting up awareness camps in every district to help the country go cashless. The Paytm team is conducting sessions and workshops across schools, colleges, village panchayats and trade bodies to serve the dual purpose of informing customers about the benefits of digital payments and tap into the widest set of merchants across the country, the company said in a statement.

"Our aim is to reach every single market across all districts and assist millions of Indians in their efforts to adopt a digital lifestyle," said Kiran Vasireddy, Senior Vice President, Paytm.

Paytm has also made its user interface in Android available in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Oriya and Punjabi. With this, the company has expanded its reach to over 80 per cent smartphone users in India who prefer internet-based services in regional languages, thus making mobile payments and commerce now accessible to all.

This comes right after the Paytm seems to have taken the phrase, imitation is the best form of flattery, to heart and appears to have decided that the target of such flattery would be PayPal. PayPal took exception to Paytms trademark and today, on 18 November, submitted an opposition to the Paytms trademark application.

Inc42 found the timing of PayPals filing to be interesting. Quoting Rahul Dev, a patent and business lawyer, Inc42 asks if it wasnt a calculated move to steal Paytms thunder. This is because PayPal timed the filing of the opposition to the last day of expiry for filing an opposition against Paytms trademark application.

With inputs from IANS
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A report suggested that the cause of the explosions could be the lack of space and tight internal margins. But we no longer need to speculate the cause of the explosions as the company promised the release of a detailed report to the investors and the public regarding the reasons of the explosions.

According to a report by GSMArena, the company has submitted the reports to the Korea Testing Laboratory and UL, an American safety organisation among other regulators. We can expect the release of the report to the general public in coming days. This comes right after the reports that Samsung Electronics is in talks with LG Chem to source smartphone batteries.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 scandal is one of the most significant events of 2016. It not only stunned the tech world but made sure that the impact was felt outside the tech community as well. This is not the first time that phones have exploded, but what stands apart is that this is the first time that Samsung flagship smartphones exploded.

Instead, the most significant fact was that the company could not find the core cause of the explosions. Samsung recalled the explosive Note 7 devices and sent 'safe' Note 7 smartphones, but it was in deep trouble when these 'Safe' smartphones started exploding.

The company brand name and reputation took a major hit after the fiasco as the Note 7 was banned across Airlines and public transit systems with advisories issued by companies and countries. After the debacle, the company delayed the work on Samsung S8 to investigate the problem and it seems that the investigation has been completed.
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BlackBerry Ltd said China's TCL Communication Technology Holdings Ltd would make and sell BlackBerry-branded mobile devices globally, the Canadian smartphone pioneer's first licensing deal since its transition to a software company.

The devices made by TCL, which also makes Alcatel-branded mobile devices, will be coupled with BlackBerry's security software and service suite, the company said on Thursday. BlackBerry is betting its future on the more profitable business of making software and managing mobile devices after largely ceding the smartphone market to rivals such as Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.

BlackBerry said in September that would outsource the development of its smartphones, and a month later launched its last mobile device  the Android-based DTEK60, which was made under an agreement with TCL.

The new agreement gives TCL, the fourth-largest handset maker in North America, the right to make and sell BlackBerry-branded smartphones in all countries except India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia, some of BlackBerry's biggest handset markets.

BlackBerry in September signed a deal giving Indonesia's BB Merah Putih the rights to make and sell new devices in that country, its largest handset market. BlackBerry's revenue from software and services was $156 million in its latest quarter, down from $166 million in the prior quarter. The device business contributed $105 million in revenue.

Reuters
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Republican Senator John McCain has said Russian election-related hacks threaten to "destroy democracy" and faulted the American response as "totally paralyzed", media reports said on Monday. McCain from Arizona who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, also called for a select committee to investigate the CIA's finding on the Russia hacking, the CNN reported.

It was alleged that Russia hacked Democrats' emails in a bid to help President-elect Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton. "This is the sign of a possible unravelling of the world order that was established after World War II, one of the most peaceful periods in the history of the world," McCain told CNN.

"We're starting to see the strains and the unraveling of it, and that is because of the absolute failure of American leadership," the senator said in the interview to the CNN. McCain mocked President Barack Obama's statement on Friday that he had personally told Russian President Vladimir Putin to "cut it out."

"When America doesn't lead, a lot of other bad people do," he added.

McCain's calls so far for an in depth investgation was rejected by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan. Although both leaders backed investigations, but said they wanted to see them conducted through already-existing Senate and House committees.

"This is serious business. If they're able to harm the electoral process, they may destroy democracy, which is based on free and fair elections," McCain added. McCain sent a letter to the majority leader asking him to allow for a Senate select committee to probe Russian hacking. "Cyber is the rare kind of all-encompassing challenge for which the Congress's jurisdictional boundaries are an impediment to sufficient oversight and legislative action," McCain wrote in his letter to McConnell.

Only a select committee that is time-limited, cross-jurisdictional, and purpose-driven could address the challenge of cyber, a bipartisan quartet of senators said in the same letter. In the programme "State of the Union" McCain in his interview said the responsibility for cyber-security was spread too broadly at present.

He said in the US, the responsibilities for cyber was spread over about four different committees in the Senate. In the interview, McCain also spoke about China's seizure of a US underwater drone and the Syrian government's slaughter of the citizens of Aleppo -- in dire terms.

He said that there was no doubt about "interference" and "a cyber-attack". "The question now was how much and what damage and what should the US do?" McCain asked. Mc Cain mocked Obama's efforts and said: "I'm sure that when Russian President Vladimir Putin was told quote 'cut it out' unquote, Putin immediately stopped all cyber-activities." "The truth is, they are hacking every single day," came McCain's wake up call for the US authorities.

IANS
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The 2013 hack affecting a billion Yahoo users shows how seemingly innocuous bits of data gleaned from cyber attacks can be exploited for espionage and information warfare, as well as for profit.

The breach, disclosed Wednesday, is the largest on record and comes just months after Yahoo disclosed a separate attack in 2014 affecting data from 500 million users. On the surface, the trove of data is "a bunch of junk," said John Dickson of the security consultancy Denim Group.

But the ability to create a searchable database with data tidbits such as birth dates and phone numbers makes it enormously valuable to hackers seeking to make a profit or engage in industrial or state espionage, he said.

"If you're trying to research and get information about a target, you're going to use everything you can find," said Dickson, a former officer in the Air Force Information Warfare Center.

The Yahoo hack did not collect credit card or Social Security numbers, according to the company, leading some analysts to speculate that the goals were not financial. "For someone using data as a weapon, this is of tremendous value," said Steve Grobman, chief technical officer at Intel Security.

Information warfare?

James Scott, a senior fellow at the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology, a cybersecurity think tank, said that while details are still unknown, the attack could fuel disinformation campaigns by governments.

Scott noted that the data had not appeared for sale on Deep Web markets -- that is, in murky corners of the web that cannot be reached by standard search engines. "And since a significant number of victims (if any) have not reported identity theft resulting from the incident, there is a strong likelihood that the breach was not conducted for monetary gain," Scott said.

"This could indicate that the breach was an espionage stage of an information warfare effort." The disclosure of the breach comes amid intense scrutiny of cybersecurity in the US election campaign and of the potential impact of hacked email accounts from people close to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

US officials have claimed Russia was behind the attack aimed at disrupting the election. One of the hacks was a Gmail account of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. Media reports say he or an assistant was fooled by a fake email that prompted him to reveal his password.

Security analysts say such attacks are often preceded by lengthy data-gathering campaigns that might look for personal information such as a birth date or former school or university.

Signs of a state actor

Yahoo said it was not clear who was behind the billion-user hack but that some evidence pointed to "the same state-sponsored actor" believed responsible for the previously disclosed cyber attack.

The security firm InfoArmor said in September that its analysis of the first breach indicated "professional" hackers stole the Yahoo data, and only later sold it to a state entity. InfoArmor said at the time that the breach "opens the door to significant opportunities for cyber espionage and targeted attacks to occur."

Grobman said some attackers may mix real data with manipulated information to distort facts, creating further confusion and mistrust. "One of the things we are concerned about is that the public is conditioned to see leaked data as legitimate, and this data can be manipulated," Grobman said.

Some analysts argue that the hackers' goals may be more financial than political. Security researcher Graham Cluley said certain bits of information such as phone numbers could be of value to criminals.

"If a hacker or scammer has your telephone number, they can ring you up and trick you into believing they are an organization you already have a relationship with, which means that you might be tempted to hand over more personal information," Cluley said in a YouTube posting.

'A lot of money'

James Lewis, a senior fellow specializing in cybersecurity at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said new analytics tools can sift through databases for political espionage purposes, but that it is not clear if Russia has those capabilities. "If you're a criminal, you would think you could monetize a billion accounts," Lewis said. "Even if you got a penny or a dime for each, you would still be making a lot of money."

The attacks also pose a threat to the future of Yahoo, the former internet star which has seen its fortunes decline and is in the process of selling its main assets to telecom group Verizon. Dickson said that it's likely that "Verizon is doing a double take" on the $4.8 billion deal. "If this kills that deal, I think it will increase the focus on cybersecurity hygiene across the board," he said.

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'Tragedy' inside Mosul as food runs out, battle against ISIS drags on

Many of the residents in Mosul lack basic services by ongoing offensive against ISIS.

The Washington Post :

Hundreds of thousands of people who remain in this northern Iraqi city are struggling to find food and safe drinking water as the protracted offensive against Islamic State militants batters their neighborhoods.

When the battle began seven weeks ago, aid agencies feared that an exodus from the city would overwhelm already crowded camps. Instead, most people heeded government advice to stay in their homes as security forces advanced.

Now many of those residents lack even basic services, with water supplies cut by the fighting, and U.N. and government aid distributions unable to reach all of those in need. Some residents are moving from neighborhood to neighborhood in search of food or to escape the bombardment.

Meanwhile, in areas still controlled by the Islamic State, a siege by security forces is slowly tightening, pushing up food prices and causing shortages while the militants prevent people from leaving. Iraq is struggling to meet the needs of 3.2 million people displaced over the past three years during fighting against the Islamic State.

To limit the displacement from Mosul, the government airdropped leaflets over the city telling civilians to stay put.

But few commanders expect the battle to finish anytime soon, and the misery unfolding in Mosul is expected to worsen as winter sets in.

Reaching people inside the city is risky for humanitarian agencies, which also say they do not have enough aid to meet the need.

This month, Iraqi counterterrorism forces escorted a truck carrying bottled water into the neighborhood of Zuhoor, which had been retaken two days earlier. People quickly crowded around to grab whatever they could. "Is there any food?" they clamored. "We don't have any food."

Because of the shortages, some residents have decided to leave the recently reclaimed neighborhoods and move to others on the city's edge that are better supplied.

Only people who end up in the camps are included among the official number of displaced - 100,000 people - and the United Nations says it has no way to gauge how many internally displaced are in the city.

Jassim al-Attiyah, Iraq's deputy minister for migration and displacement, estimated that more than 150,000 are displaced within the city and that hundreds of thousands of others remain in their homes but still need aid.

"There is some aid, but it's a big battle," he said.

On the far eastern outskirts of the city, Haitham Mazin, 40, his wife and three children are living with a relative in Gogjali, where water and food are distributed more frequently, and some medical assistance is available.

Mazin had wanted his family to stay in their home in the Zahra neighborhood after the area was retaken by Iraqi security forces, but the food and fuel he had stockpiled ran out. He said aid distributions were haphazard, and while some people with connections to security forces had received enough assistance even to sell some, other families including his had gone without.

Dependent on well water, which is not safe to drink, residents had fought when water supplies arrived, he said.

"We became like beggars," he said. "The government at the beginning told us to stay home, but they didn't provide anything for us."




Climate scientist who got death threats says he fears more attacks under Trump

AP, Washington :

U.S. climate scientists say they worry the incoming Trump administration might do more than cut off their research funding. Some also fear they could receive personal attacks and death threats simply for doing their jobs.

Michael Mann, a climate researcher at Penn State University, said he knows exactly what that's like.

Over the last decade, Mann has been singled out by Republican senators and Pennsylvania and Virginia officials, who falsely accused the scientist of distorting his data and perpetuating the "hoax" that human activities are causing climate change.

"I've faced hostile investigations by politicians, demands for me to be fired from my job, threats against my life and even threats against my family," Mann said in a Sunday op-ed in the Washington Post.

Mann said those threats have diminished in recent years as more Americans have come to understand and accept the global scientific consensus on human-caused climate change - and as President Barack Obama accelerated efforts to fight greenhouse gas emissions and develop renewable energy.

But President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to undo many of Obama's gains on climate change.

Trump himself is a climate-denier who recently claimed, falsely, that "nobody really knows" what's happening to the planet. Many of his cabinet picks, including for Environmental Protection Agency administrator and Secretary of Energy, similarly reject the scientific conclusions shared by 97 percent of the world's climate scientists.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world's most authoritative group of climate experts, has said it is "extremely likely" that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions have been the "dominant cause" of observed global warming trends since the mid-20th century.

Mann said that he and his colleagues are now "bracing for a renewed onslaught of intimidation, from inside and outside government," given the coming changes in Washington.

"I fear the chill that could descend," he wrote in the op-ed.




Tense Aleppo evacuations resume before UN vote

Evacuees from Aleppo arrive at the town of al-Rashideen, which is held by insurgents, Syria.

Reuters, Beirut :

Convoys of evacuees travelled from a rebel-held area of Aleppo and two Shi'ite villages besieged by insurgents on Monday, a war monitor and rebels said, as a deal enabling evacuations held after a tense, days-long stand-off and before a U.N. vote.

About 10 buses left the Shi'ite Muslim villages of al-Foua and Kefraya, north of Idlib, towards the government lines in Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported.

The evacuation of civilians, including wounded people, from the two villages which have been besieged by rebels for years, is a condition for the Syrian army and its allies to allow thousands of fighters and civilians trapped in Aleppo to depart.

"First limited evacuations, finally, tonight from east Aleppo and Foua & Kefraya. Many thousands more are waiting to be evacuated soon," Jan Egeland, who chairs the United Nations aid task force in Syria, tweeted late on Sunday night.

Later on Monday, the U.N. Security Council will vote in New York on a resolution to allow the international body's staff to monitor the evacuations. The draft resolution was the result of a compromise between Russia and France, and the United States said it was expected to pass unanimously.

On Sunday, some of the buses sent to al-Foua and Kefraya to carry evacuees out were attacked and torched by armed men, who shouted "God is greatest" and brandished their weapons in front of the burning vehicles, according to a video posted online.

That incident threatened to derail the evacuations, the result of intense negotiations between Russia - the main supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - and Turkey, which backs some large rebel groups.

At stake is the fate of thousands of people still stuck in the last rebel bastion in Aleppo after a series of sudden advances by the Syrian army and allied Shi'ite militias under an intense bombardment that pulverised large sections of the city.

They have been waiting for the chance to leave Aleppo since the ceasefire and evacuation deal was agreed late last Tuesday, but have struggled to do so during days of hold-ups.

The weather in Aleppo has been wet and very cold and there is little shelter and few services in the tiny rebel zone.

Assad is backed in the war by Russian air power and Shi'ite militias including Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iraq's Harakat al-Nujaba. The mostly Sunni rebels include groups supported by Turkey, the U.S. and Gulf monarchies.

In the square in Aleppo's Sukari district, organizers gave every family a number to give them access to buses.

"Everyone is waiting until they are evacuated. They just want to escape," said Salah al Attar, a former teacher with his five children, wife and mother.




Ensuring eco-friendly sanitation, safe water underscored

City Desk :

Speakers stressed the need for environment-friendly sanitation and safe water to ensure sound health for mass people.

They said natural supply of safe water and effective measures for protecting safe water, as well as sanitation system must be ensured.

They also opined that drinking safe water can protect people of all ages including children from different diseases like Diarrhoea, jaundice and others water borne diseases.

They expressed this view at a project completion meeting on water, sanitation, sound health and changing livelihood of climate affected rural people in south western area.

The meeting was held yesterday at the Christian Service Society Center (CSS) auditorium in Khulna organised by Rupantar assistance with Water Aid Bangladesh.

Executive Director of Rupantan Sawpon Guha chaired the meeting while deputy commissioner of Khulna Nazmul Ahsan was in the chair.

Project Co-ordinator Zahid Hassan presented a video presentation while Director of Sundarban Academy professor Dr. Anwarul Kadir moderated the programme.The speakers also underscored to use of sanitary toilet of all members of the family.

Public representatives, stakeholders, journalists, concerned NGOs workers and officials attended the meeting.




BGB deployed in N`Ganj

137 centres vulnerable

Awami League candidate Dr Selina Hayat Ivy and BNP candidate Advocate Sakhawat Hossain passing their days in door to door hectic campaign for N\'ganj Mayoral election to be held on December 22. This photo was taken on Thursday.

Manir Hossain N'ganj :

The Election Commission has deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) specially for 137 risky centers to ensure peaceful voting in the Narayanganj City Corporation election to be held on December 22.

The deployment of BGB was completed on Monday to handle any untoward situation.

Meanwhile, sanction has already been imposed on the staying of the people coming from other areas of the country with effect from Tuesday.

Returning Officer Md Nuruzzaman Talukder said, the city will go under security blanket in the interest of a fair election. A total of 24 members of the law enforcers will guard each of the 174 risky centers.

He said a total of 5600 members of law enforcing agencies will be doing their duties during this election, adding that intelligence agencies identified 137 polling centers as risky.

There are 174 polling centers in 27 Wards of the City Corporation with 1304 polling booths. Seven Mayor, 156 General Councillor and 38 reserved Councillor candidates are contesting in the election.

Our Correspondent adds:

Jatiya Party on Monday extended support to the ruling Awami League nominated Mayor candidate Selina Hayat Ivy in Narayanganj City Corporation election.

Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader disclosed it to the media.

He said, we have not nominated anyone to contest in the Narayanganj City Corporation polls. So, as part of the party' decision, we have extended our support to Ivy. The election to Narayanganj City Corporation is scheduled to be held on December 22.

For the moment, Awami League nominated candidate for Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Mayor election Dr Selina Hayat Ivy has said that boat and Ivy are inseparable entities.

"I have been telling the Election Commission from the very beginning that I don't want any extra facilities as a ruling party candidate. I will rather ask the Election Commission to remain cautious so that none--neither the third party nor the fourth party--can influence the election," said the AL candidate during an election campaign at Khanpur under Ward No. 12 on Monday afternoon.

Surely the EC will not give any concession to any candidate in the polls. It is because a free and fair election in Narayanganj is a guarantee for the election symbol of boat's victory, firmly said the immediate past Mayor.

Seeking voters' support, she said: If you elect me, I will get more opportunities in the days ahead to build more roads and culverts in Narayanganj. This time I have got 'boat' as election symbol, which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given me. I think that the Naraynganj city residents will present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a grand victory by electing me again in the Narayanganj City Corporation election to be held on December 22 next. The election campaign will end on Tuesday midnight.
AI warns Myanmar of catastrophe

Staff Reporter :

The Myanmar security forces are responsible for mass killing, multiple rape and burning down of houses and villages of Rohingya people that may amount to crimes against humanity, reveals a report of Amnesty International on Monday.

Based on extensive interviews with Rohingyas in Myanmar and Bangladesh, as well as analysis of satellite imagery and photos and videos, the report also documents how dozens of people have been arbitrarily arrested during the military's vicious and disproportionate security campaign in Rakhine State over the past two months.

"The Myanmar military has targeted Rohingya civilians in a callous and systematic campaign of violence. Men, women, children, whole families and entire villages have been attacked and abused, as a form of collective punishment," said Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty International's Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

"The deplorable actions of the military could be part of a widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population and may amount to crimes against humanity. We are worried that the horrific tales of violations we have uncovered are just the tip of the iceberg.

"While the military is directly responsible for the violations, Aung San Suu Kyi

has failed to live up to both her political and moral responsibility to try to stop and condemn what is unfolding in Rakhine State," said Rafendi Djamin,

The Myanmar security forces launched a large-scale security operation in northern Rakhine State following an attack on border police posts on October 9. The attack was blamed on militants from the Rohingya minority, in which nine police officers were killed.

Amnesty International's research reveals how the military campaign has gone far beyond what could be considered a proportional response to a security threat. Multiple eyewitnesses described how soldiers entered their villages, fired randomly at - and killed - villagers, women, men and children.

In at least one instance, soldiers dragged people out of their houses and shot them dead. Amnesty International has not been able to determine the true death toll.

In one incident on November 12, military deployed two helicopter gunships to a group of villages in northern Rakhine State after a skirmish with suspected militants. The helicopters fired randomly on villagers fleeing in panic, killing an unknown number. The next day troops set fire to hundred of homes.

One 30-year-old man said: "We got scared when we heard the noise from the helicopter The soldiers were shooting randomly. If they saw someone, the helicopter shot. They were shooting for a long time We could not sleep that night. The next morning the military came and started shooting again."

Myanmar soldiers have raped and otherwise sexually assaulted women and girls during the security operations, usually as part of raids when the men of the village had fled.

Amnesty International has interviewed several Rohingya women who told us that they had been raped by soldiers, as well as other people who witnessed rapes. Aid workers in Bangladesh also confirmed that several rape survivors who had fled across the border were treated for their injuries.

Fatimah, a 32-year-old Rohingya woman who has fled to Bangladesh, said that military entered her village and dragged her out to a paddy field where they raped her: "Three military officers raped me I don't remember what happened next because I fell unconscious I woke up early the next morning. I could not get up so I crawled across the paddy field."

The military and border guard police have arrested hundreds of mainly Rohingya men, often targeting village elders, businessmen and community leaders.

The report has documented at least 23 such cases, where Rohingyas have been taken away from their families by police with no information about their whereabouts or the charges against them.

Myanmar State media has reported that at least six people have died in custody since the military operation began, raising serious concern of torture in detention.

Security forces often beat Rohingyas during the arrests. One woman described brutal tactics by the security forces when her two sons were picked up: "My two sons were tied up - the military tied their hands behind their backs-they were beaten badly. The military kicked them in the chest. I saw it myself. I was crying so loudly."

Through interviews with survivors and analysis of satellite imagery, Amnesty International has confirmed that the military has torched more than 1,200 Rohingya homes and buildings and sometimes burned down whole villages. Several eyewitnesses also described how soldiers used weapons, apparently rocket-propelled grenade launchers (RPGs), to destroy houses.

The destruction in villages where the military reportedly clashed with militants are particularly extensive, and indicates reprisal attacks by the armed forces.

Tens of thousands of lives are now at risk from a humanitarian crisis after the Myanmar authorities imposed a near blanket ban on aid in northern Rakhine State. Even before October 9, malnutrition levels were critically high in the region where 150,000 people were dependent on food aid for their survival.

The suspension of health services is particularly worrying for the sick, as well as pregnant women and new mothers, many of whom now have no way of receiving medical treatment. At least 30,000 people forced to flee from their homes over the past months have essentially been left to fend for themselves as humanitarian groups have no access to them. The Myanmar authorities have issued blanket denials that troops have committed any human rights violations during the campaign, despite the mounting evidence to the contrary.

The extent to which Aung San Suu Kyi, the State Counsellor and de facto head of Myanmar's civilian government, can influence events is questionable given that the military operates independently of civilian oversight, and retains control of significant parts of the government. However, she has failed to speak out against the atrocities, and appears either unwilling or unable to do so.

"The Myanmar authorities have been willfully ignorant over of the violations committed by the military in Rakhine State. These completely indefensible violations must end immediately, and independent investigations must be held to ensure that those responsible are held to account," said Rafendi Djamin.

Tens of thousands of Rohingya have poured across the border to Bangladesh over the last two months in search of safety. The exact number of refugees is impossible to determine, but the UN estimates it to be at least 27,000.

In response to the influx, Bangladesh has strengthened its long-standing policy of sealing the border to Myanmar, and detained and pushed back thousands who have tried to flee. This is unlawful under international law - which absolutely prohibits forcibly returning people to a country or place where they would be at real risk of serious human rights violations.

The threat of arrest and deportation has meant that fleeing Rohingya have been forced into hiding in camps, villages and forests across south-eastern Bangladesh. They live in miserable conditions as the government has imposed severe limits on aid to avoid a "pull factor."

"The Bangladeshi government must open its borders to asylum-seekers and stop treating Rohingya arriving in desperation as criminals. Aid Groups must be allowed unfettered access to the tens of thousands of people who have fled horrific abuse in Myanmar," said Champa Patel, Amnesty International's South Asia Director.
Drug sale in fake rate

Patients bound to pay extra price

Md Joynal Abedin Khan :

The patients bound to pay extra prices for drugs as most of the items generally are being sold without imputed face value on the covers, bottles and packets of medicines.

The unscrupulous traders and salesmen most of the time take extra charges by giving fake seal for price and showing the false document papers of extreme tax on drugs, sufferers said.

The patients buy life-saving medicines in any cost from drug shops or pharmacies as per the self-fixed price of salesmen across the country. Even, they purchase medicines at varied prices from different drug shops, mainly from shops nearer to hospitals and clinics. Besides, most of the salesmen refuse to sell drugs according to face value or the rate of local drug owners' association, the sufferers alleged.

Meanwhile, the prices of a good number of medicines have marked an abnormal rise in recent weeks prompting a refrain of disapproval by suffering patients and right bodies.

Eskayef Parhama has recently increased the price of Xinc-B, a combination of zinc and vitamin B, by 50 per cent from earlier Tk 60 to Tk 90 per pack and its popular generic omeprazole brand Losectil-20 capsule by 25 per cent from previous Tk 40 per strip to Tk 50, among other items. Renata hiked the price of its fexofenadin brand Fenadin-180 by 25 per cent from Tk 80 per strip to Tk 100 just within days after Square did the same.

Professor A B M Faroque, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology of Dhaka University and Convener of Sub-Committee of Drug Policy Formation-2016, told The New Nation on Monday, "The government will formulate the new Drug-Act to control over the irregularities from top to bottom of drug system." The Drug Administration Department (DAD) of the government will bound to follow the salesmen, traders, producers hanging price list around 1300 types of medicines to ensure the control on extra price, the professor said.

He said the DAD also will publish the price and other rules on print media, electronic media and internet so that everybody is enable to know the drug and its price, he said.

"The absence of an effective and autonomous regulatory agency to fix the prices and check the price manipulation of pharmaceutical drugs in the country has contributed to the skyrocketing prices of the items. The government should increase the punishment for violation of drug act," Professor Faroque said.

According to DAD, the drugs of 27,000 brands under 1400 generics produce Bangladesh government fixed prices of only 117 drugs. Afia Sultana alias Moni, a government primary teacher in the city, said, "A robbery system has been started to sell drugs and patients bound to purchase medicine to save lives." "We have no alternative to avoid purchasing of drugs and the unscrupulous traders take the opportunity of the helpless people," she said.

An injection that costs Tk 300,000 abroad will be available in Bangladesh for Tk 60,000 only, says Abdul Muqtadir, leader of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries.

Professor Dr Rashid-E-Mahbbu, President of the Safe for Health Right Movement, said, "The price of medicine is increasing day by day as pharmaceutical companies fix the prices of medicines. The DAD only imputes tax on drug."

"Golam Rahmman, President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), said that the government should take control from drug production to sell at any cost.

Md Ruhul Amin, Director of the DAD, admitted the irregularities and price hike of drug and said that government fixed prices of only 117 drug items.

"We also investigate the price of drugs considering their cost of production during giving the certificate," the director said.

Momenul Haq, Senior Vice-President of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, said only some medicines may see a rise in prices and the increase will be marginal.

Golam Sarwar, Director of Ramna Pharmacy, said, "The price of drugs has been increased from 20 per cent to 90 percent in last six months. But the government should ensure the price of the drugs while formulating a new act so that any company can't increase the price without government approval."

Meanwhile, the cabinet on Monday endorsed the draft of a drug law which aims to raise the standard of the country's medicine products to international level.

Proposed 'National Drug Act 2016' suggests a yearly review of the medicine products. Updates of the review will be published online, Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam said this while briefing reporters after the meeting on Monday.
Fake court orders undermining judiciary

Syndicate busy forging Justices` signatures

Gulam Rabbani :

A syndicate is allegedly busy in the Supreme Court (SC) to make fraud court orders, undermining the judiciary.

A section of SC lawyers and officers are also involved in the process, it was further alleged.

Making fraud court order has become a regular phenomenon now-a-days. Some incidents are being traced, but most events are not.

Although the Supreme Court is taking initiatives to investigate this kind of event after being traced, it does not stop.

Recently, an accused got out of jail showing a fraud court order forging signature of two justices of the High Court (HC) division of the Supreme Court. He was an accused of a case filed on charge of trafficking 18 thousand pieces 'Yaba'. According to the fraud court order, the order was passed on August 28, 2016.

On the same day, another fraud court order was made.

According to the order, the HC stayed the trial proceedings of a case filed on charge of 29 kg gold smuggling.

But those two cases were not in the cause list of the High Court division of that day. Even there was no entry in the registers about the cases. The concerned HC bench didn't take hearing on those cases. Justice A K M Asaduzzaman and Justice Zafar Ahmed got surprised seeing their forged-signs. Later the HC bench cancelled those two orders and ordered to investigate the matter.

A syndicate made the fraud order meticulously. The two orders had been sent to the lower court from the concerned section of the High Court after completing all process. In this circumstance, the issue came to the attention of the HC bench.

The HC bench said in their observation that a big syndicate occurred this great fraud. It needed an investigation. Legal action should be taken against them. The HC bench also ordered the Registrar General of the Supreme Court to file cases on the matter and ordered to send documents to the Bangladesh Bar Council so that the organization could take action against concerned lawyers.

Md Sabbir Faiz, Additional Registrar (Administration and Judicial) of High Court division of the Supreme Court told The New Nation that the two cases have already been filed with the Shahbagh Police Station. Concerned police officers are investigating the matters on their own way.

Syed Aminul Islam, Registrar General of the Supreme Court, told The New Nation that departmental investigation was underway in these matters. Arunava Chakraborty, Additional Registrar of the Appellate division of the Supreme Court, is leading the investigation.

Senior lawyer of the Supreme Court and former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain said occurrence of such malparactices are harmful to the Judiciary. These are undermining the image of the Judiciary.

"In some cases lawyers have been victimized. When any malpractices occur, then the court calls the concerned lawyer," he said. So the lawyers should always be cautious while dealing a case, he added.

Supreme Court Bar Association Secretary Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokan said it's a big threat to the Judiciary. Many innocent lawyers have been victimized with such incidents.

He also said that it could be prevented by digitalizing the system. So, he hoped that the Chief Justice would take proper initiatives to solve the problem immediately.
`Faithless electors` explain their last-ditch attempt to stop Donald Trump

The Guardian :

On Monday, the 538 members of the electoral college will gather in state capitols across the country to cast their votes for the next president of the United States. With 306 electoral college votes under his belt to Hillary Clinton's 232, that person will almost certainly be Donald Trump.

The iota of doubt that remains comes from an unprecedented eruption of discontent from electors, the body of 538 people chosen by the two main political parties to cast the electoral college vote. Under the peculiarities of the American system, the president is not chosen directly by a "one person-one vote" policy: indeed, Clinton won the popular vote on 8 November by some 2.9m ballots.

Instead, it is the indirect electoral college vote, parceled out by a complicated formula and awarded to the candidate who won each state, that is the final arbiter of who occupies the White House. This year, at least eight of the 538 have indicated that they intend to break ranks with modern tradition and vote against their party in a protest

directed squarely against Trump. All but one of those rebels are Democratic, which is not coincidental. Many of these Democrats see the electoral college as the last-ditch hope of stopping Trump - the idea being that if their example can encourage their Republican fellow electors to follow suit and rally around a compromise alternative candidate, the Trump presidency can yet be abated.

The chances of that are exceptionally slim. The only Republican rebel to come out so far is Christopher Suprun, an elector from Texas. On the Republican side, nobody knows the extent, if any, of a potential uprising by electors beyond him. A survey by Associated Press found little enthusiasm among Republican electors for joining the rebellion.

Yet the Harvard law professor Larry Lessig said this week that at least 20 Republican electors were seriously considering defecting. No names of that elusive 20 have emerged and no one knows how many will actually carry through with the protest by voting for an alternative Republican to Trump.

All that we do know is that 2016 will go down in the history books as a seismic year for the electoral college. Here, six of the so-called "faithless electors" who intend to rebel on Monday explain in their own words what is driving their historic action. In June 1968, I was in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles when Robert Kennedy, who I was working for as a campaign staffer, was assassinated. Kennedy was my hero and I was devastated by his death.

But the despair I had then doesn't even come close to how I'm feeling now. Today I'm afraid for my country. I'm afraid that we will be propelled into another war. My fear of Donald Trump is that his intent is not to ensure that the US is solid and safe and a leader in the world, but to aggrandize himself and make money. I had the privilege when I was younger of going twice to the Soviet Union as a guest of the American council of young political leaders. I learned there that the main factors that distinguish a dictatorship are efforts to destroy freedom of assembly and freedom of speech and the press. Those are precisely the same freedoms that Trump has been attacking relentlessly.

As electors, we have the responsibility to stop him. I would love to see 37 Republican electors vote for Hillary Clinton on Monday - after all, she did win the popular vote. But if we can't get that, then I am willing to support a viable Republican alternative. Though Donald Trump won my state of Texas, I'm intending to write in a different Republican candidate when I come to vote. I haven't decided yet who that will be.
Dr Atiur grilled for about 2 hrs

CID visits his residence in city

Staff Reporter :

A four-member team of Criminal Investigation Department (Investigation) of Police on Monday talked to the former Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman in connection with the central bank's cyber-heist of $81 million with the US Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Led by additional director general of CID Shah Alam, the team members went to Atiur's Dhanmodi residence at about 9.45am and stayed there till 11.30am.

During the visit, they discussed the cyber-heist issue with the former BB governor, CID sources said.

Earlier on March 14, Atiur Rahman resigned from his post over the heist of $81 million from the Bangladesh Bank's account with the US Federal Reserve Bank.

On that day Atiur talked to the media first about the hacking out of

$81 million from the Bangladesh Bank's account with the US Federal Reserve Bank after his return from India.

In February this year, unknown cyber criminals stole nearly $81 million from Bangladesh Bank through an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Meanwhile, eight months have already elapsed but the CID has failed to submit its probe report on sensational Bangladesh Bank heist.

The sources said the investigators have so far found the involvement of at least seven officials of the central bank. The number may rise at the end of the investigation.

On the other hand, another investigating source said that at least 23 foreigners of six countries are involved in the digital heist.

"The CID has failed again to come up with a probe report," said a court official on Sunday.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate court announced January 17 as the new deadline after CID failed to submit the report on Sunday, said court police's General Recording Officer Sub-Inspector Jalal Ahmed.

"This is the ninth extension of the deadline," he told the media.

They transferred the amount to four accounts with fake names at one RCBC (Rizal Commercial Banking Corp) branch in Manila, Philippines.

Deputy Director of Bangladesh Bank's Account and Budgeting Department lodged the case under Money Laundering Prevention Act on March 15.

The case was transferred to CID for investigation.

The CID failed to submit its report but echoed with government-formed probe committee led by former Bangladesh Bank governor Mohammed Farashuddin, which identified negligence by Bangladesh Bank officials.

Additional Deputy Inspector General of CID Mohammad Shah Alam recently said: "Some Bangladesh Bank officials had intentionally left the computer network unprotected for the hackers to steal the money."

Although the official expressed hope to nab the culprits soon, the CID is yet to identify anyone over the incident. Bangladesh has recovered $15 million or a fifth of the stolen funds from Kim Wong, a Chinese-born casino junket operator in the Philippines.
Ensure production of standard drugs

UNB, Dhaka :

The Cabinet on Monday approved the draft of the National Drug Policy, 2016 updating the policy of 2005, aiming to promote the pharmaceutical sector and help checking production, marketing and selling of fake, adulterated and sub-standard drugs. The approval came from the regular weekly meeting of the Cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the main features of the policy include implementation of and amendment to the existing laws and rules, availability of effective, safe and standard drugs, rationale and safe usage of drugs, registration of drugs, registration for importing drugs as well as production of drugs and its raw materials.

Proposal for formation of the National Drug Regulatory Authority, checking of fake, adulterated and sub-standard drugs, price fixing of drugs, controlling of ads and publicity of drugs, taking joint initiative for research and development of drugs are the other features of the policy, he said.

Besides, it would be a punishable offence to store, display drugs at pharmacies changing or distorting the expiry dates of the medicines.

The Cabinet Secretary said that the government considering the public interest would regularly update the price fixing rules as the price list would be updated once in a year.

Besides, legal step would be taken against those who would take additional prices of drugs from the consumers.

He said currently medicines are being exported to some 122 countries across the world and there is a need to control the standard of these drugs.

He said that many local drug manufacturing companies have so far received Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificates from the drug control administration of various developed countries while local reputed drug companies like Square, Incepta, and Beximco Pharmaceuticals also achieved WHO certificates.

The Cabinet Secretary said that the draft policy also reflects the demands of WHO, Food and Drug Administration of the US and the UK.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to form 'National Human Resource Development Fund' under the Finance Division to ensure additional financing in skill development activities.

Besides, it approved formation of a legal authority titled 'National Skill Development Authority (NSDA)' under the Prime Minister's Office to coordinate overall skills development related activities.
Stage `vote revolution` in NCC: Khaleda

UNB, Dhaka :

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday urged voters to stage a silent 'vote revolution' by casting their ballots in favour of her party's mayoral contestant on Thursday's election to Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) as a mark of their protest against the government's 'repressive acts and misdeeds'.

In a statement circulated to the media outlets, she said, "I hope, you (NCC voters) will stage a silent vote revolution in Narayanganj on December 22. I also hope common people and leaders and activists of the 20-party alliance will play a brave role with sincerity from the very beginning of voting to its closure in ensuring a fair balloting."

"You'll return home with victory after the announcement of the results," the BNP chief added.

Khaleda said their party demanded that the army be deployed in the polls so that the voters can exercise their right to franchise without any fear and threat. "But, our demand was not met."

However, she said no major terrorist incident has so far taken place there, except some stray incidents of intimidating opposition activists and creating obstacles to their electioneering.

"I call upon the Election Commission, local administration, law enforcers and the government to ensure a healthy and safe and peaceful atmosphere in Narayanganj before and after the voting," the BNP chief said.

Khaleda also urged her party leaders and activists to remain united and exercise restraint and peace by not responding to any provocation.

The BNP chief said she is very glad as she came to know that a mass wave has been created in favour of the BNP's mayoral candidate in the NCC polls. "I request you to reflect your support in the ballot boxes."

Khaleda also urged the voters to elect her party-backed councillor candidates.

She also called upon voters irrespective of their age, religion, sex and community, to go to the polling stations in time and cast their votes without fear in a festive mood.

"Encourage others to do so. Keep it in mind that this election is important to restore democracy, voting rights and peace in the country," the BNP chief said.
Rushanara to `strongly` help boost BD trade with UK

UNB, Dhaka :

British Prime M inister's trade envoy to Bangladesh Rushanara Ali MP wants to remain a 'strong voice' for Bangladesh to further boost trade and investment ties utilizing powerful historic links between the two countries and its people. "It's a great place to start," she told UNB in an interview at British High Commissioner's residence terming Bangladesh a very 'innovative, creative and dynamic' nation.

Rushanara, now in Dhaka on her first visit to Bangladesh as a trade envoy, laid emphasis on converting those relationships 'tangible' so that Bangladesh can see further advancement.

She is keen to ensure Britain continue to have a strong partnership with Bangladesh in promoting further development and tackling the threat of climate change.

"I'm very much looking forward to working with Bangladesh and our government to make sure that our countries benefit from stronger trade relations," said the trade envoy adding that it is a learning visit for her in the new role. The cross-party Trade Envoy programme was established in 2012 to build bilateral trade relationships and help drive economic growth in countries identified as key markets for the UK.

Rushanara, however, thinks that it is not just narrow focus on trade rather she is thinking about the combination of three areas -- economic development, social development and challenges around the climate change. "It's really important. I'm thinking of these three." The trade envoy who has been Shadow Minister for Education and International Development and a member of the Parliamentary Treasury Select Committee, said besides historic ties, Bangladesh has exciting opportunities for British companies as its economy is growing impressively. "The focus and attention Bangladesh is getting is an indicationas a great trading nation we in the UK are keen to deepen our trade relationship with Bangladesh," said Rushanara. The Labour Party MP for the constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow said Bangladesh is well-placed

strategically in terms of market. Responding to a question on investment climate, the trade envoy said she is very glad to hear that the government of Bangladesh is focusing on large infrastructure projects. "You've to have good infrastructure. That will make a massive difference." Rushanara laid emphasis on proper measures so that things can move "efficiently and effectively" and barriers to investors are removed. "That applies to other developing countries."

Asked about the impact on Bangladesh following Brexit and future trade negotiations bilaterally, she said as part of the negotiations different countries and envoys will play their part as champions of strong trade relations and strengthening the relations further.

Earlier, British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake said though the UK will be leaving the European Union (EU), it remains a globally engaged nation, remains open for business, international cooperation, for investment and trade. "There's every reason to believe that our trade partnership will be strengthened."

Asked about their interest in special economic zones in Bangladesh, Rushanara said it is her very initial visit and she cannot give specific answer as she wants to interact with businesses from both sides.

"I'm very interested in learning about what's happening here. We can learn many things from here," said Rushanara who currently serves as a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee for Energy and Climate Change. On readymade garment sector, the British trade envoy said Bangladesh is well-placed to showcase the improvement that has been made in terms of safety and standard after Rana Plaza disaster.

"You've to have safe conditions for employers. It's important," she said mentioning that she will keep absolute focus on it ensuring further support for Bangladesh. The UK has strong business interests in Bangladesh and remains the largest foreign investor. Over 240 British companies are operating in sectors, including.
BNP hits out at Quader for his dialogue remark

UNB, Dhaka :

BNP on Monday criticised Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for voicing 'doubts' about the success of the party's dialogue with the President on formation of the Election Commission (EC), saying his comment is unfortunate.

Speaking at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi feared that whether a free and fair election will be held in Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) on December 22. "His (Quader's) remarks have now raised our doubt about the government's intention. What do they exactly want? The President himself appreciated our chairperson's proposal on the Election Commission and said it was a good and constructive initiative," Rizvi said.

An 11-member BNP delegation had a meeting with President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban on Sunday as the President formally initiated talks with political parties over formation of the next EC.

At the meeting, the BNP chairperson presented the President her 13-point proposal on constituting a stronger EC. Giving his party's reaction to the meeting, Quader on Sunday evening said BNP's discussion with Abdul Hamid will be fruitless if the party continues to show a rigid attitude.

Opposing the ruling party secretary general's comment, Rizvi said, they saw a ray of hope in these dark days of democracy through the talks with the President. "He (Quader) has doubt about our stance. But in our proposal we didn't say the search committee or the EC will have to be formed with pro-BNP people. We've suggested forming the Commission based-on all party's opinions."

The BNP leader also said an acceptable search committee and a strong EC will be possible to constitute if the ruling party comes up with its good will and sincerity. He also warned that Awami leaders' image will be dented to people if they express doubt about BNP's efforts. About NCC polls, Rizvi said a good number of the ruling party 'cadres' are going to Narayanganj from different places ahead of the election as a mass wave has been created in favour of BNP's mayoral candidate Shakhawat Hossain Khan.

He said their party now fears whether Awami League resorts to vote rigging and election manipulation to ensure their candidate's victory as they did during other polls in the past.

The BNP leader alleged though most polling stations in the NCC are vulnerable, the administration and the Election Commission are not taking any visible step to ensure the security of voters and a fair election.
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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Courtesy Brad Slater(NEW YORK) -- A train conductor recently saved the life of a stowaway cat he said he found "frozen in ice and snow" under the engine of a train at a station in Canada.



The conductor, Brad Slater, told ABC News that he found the feline this past Sunday while performing a routine inspection on a train that had just arrived at Wainwright.



"I was making sure everything was OK, when I heard the most heartbreaking cat cry I've ever heard," Slater said. "With my light, I eventually found the little guy frozen in ice and snow under the engine above the wheels."



Slater said he thought it was "a miracle" the cat was alive -- especially given that temperatures had been around minus 40-degrees Fahrenheit, and the train that the cat was found on had traveled for 12 hours more than 400 miles from Melville, Saskatchewan.



After coaxing the cat out from under the engine, Slater said he took the cat to his home, which he shares with his wife and three other cats.



There, Slater said he nursed the cat back to health. He also nicknamed the cat "Q-199," after the identification number of the train he was found on.



Slater said he peeled ice and snow off "Little Q," gave him food and water and even took him to a vet.



Though Little Q did not have a collar or microchip, Slater said he believed the cat was likely a house cat because of how "friendly and docile" he was. So the conductor shared his story with news outlets in the hopes of finding the cat's owner.



After seeing the story on the news, Brent Hahn and his wife Lynn Hahn called Slater on Tuesday, claiming that the cat was theirs.



The Hahns are from Melville, Saskatchewan, where the train that the cat was found on had originally traveled from.



Lynn Hahn, 59, told ABC News that Little Q is actually "Tiger," and that she and her husband have been looking for him since late November.



"We were devastated, and our grandchildren were so upset," she said. Lynn Hahn added that she believed Tiger escaped to a train station just a half a mile from the farm she and her husband live and on.



"What's funny is that I actually picked up Tiger as a stray at a train station during my days working for CN [the Canadian National Railway Company]," she said.



Kate Fenske, a media relations lead for CN, confirmed to ABC News that Lynn Hahn and her husband were retired CN employees. Fenske added, "It's amazing. It's like the story has come full circle."



Lynn Hahn said that she now plans to take a train on Thursday to Wainwright, where she will meet with Slater and confirm that Little Q is indeed her beloved pet cat, Tiger.



She noted that her train will be taking the same route that Tiger likely took -- a journey nearly 12 hours long across over 400 miles of Canadian prairie, from Melville, Saskatchewan, to Wainwright, Alberta.



"It'll be quite the adventure, but we look forward to getting him back home," she said.



Slater told ABC News that letting go of the cat will be quite difficult for him since he's "gotten very attached," but he said the photographic evidence the Hahns have provided him with made him "pretty confident" that Little Q is indeed their Tiger.



"I'm just happy he's getting a second chance at life," he said. "The conditions I found him in, I didn't think he could survive. It's a miracle. There's no other way to put it."



Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Twice a year Acadiana residents travel to the Louisiana State Penitentiary to visit incarcerated family members, thanks to the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette.

Diocese of Lafayette's Office of Justice and Peace Director Stephanie Bernard

On Sunday, Dec. 11, a bus carrying about 40 Acadiana residents traveled from St. Pauls Church in Lafayette to Angola State Penitentiary. Its one of two annual trips organized by the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette that enables families of Angola inmates to visit their incarcerated relatives.

The program has been underway for at least six years, according to Deacon Barney LeJeune of Carencro, who works with the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace Director Stephanie Bernard to plan and coordinate the rides.

The Chicago-based group Catholic Extension included a segment on the bus rides in its Works of Mercy series (view the video here). In it, Bernard and LeJeune talk about the role of mercy and compassion that are at the heart of the bus rides.

Each year, a week or two before Easter and Christmas, we organize the bus ride to allow family members to connect with their sons, brothers, fathers or uncles who are imprisoned at Angola, LeJeune says.

The bus rides are part of a broader Catholic effort that also includes helping crime victims and their families deal with the impact of crime on them.

The bus ride to Angola is an expression of our mercy, Bernard says in the video. Because being on the bus with the people puts a face on a situation.

One aspect of the situation is that Louisiana has the highest per capita rate of incarceration in the U.S., which has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, according to various statistical resources. Another is that for decades, Acadiana had the largest concentration of black Catholics in the country.

Angola is a very old prison, LeJeune says in the video. There are more than 6,000 men incarcerated here. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mississippi River. It is a maximum security prison. Many of the men who are here will never leave.

The Office of Justice and Peace works to bring the families to the prison near the time of the churchs most important celebrations.

To get more information on the program, contact Stephanie Bernard at (337) 261-5694, or by email at [email protected]

Contributions to the program can be sent to the Office of Peace and Justice c/o the Diocese of Lafayette, P.O. Box 3387, Lafayette, LA 70502-3387.
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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.
A Metropolis man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, according to a Monday news release from the Illinois State Police.

Authorities received a 911 call from Allan Stephens, 61, at about 5:25 p.m. Sunday, the release said. After arriving at Stephens' home in Metropolis, a Massac County Sheriff's deputy found a female victim of a gunshot wound, later identified as Stephens wife, Deborah D. Stephens, 59. She was pronounced dead at the scene, the release said.

Stephens was taken into custody at 5:43 p.m. Sunday and is being held at Massac County Jail on the first-degree murder charge.

The Massac County Sheriffs Department, Massac County Coroners Office, Metropolis Police Department, ISP Zone 7 Investigations and ISP Crime Scene Investigations are assisting with the investigation.

 The Southern
WATERLOO, Iowa  The John Deere Engine Works can now hang a sign that says More than 2 Million Served.

Deeres Waterloo engine plant, which began production 40 years ago, built engine No. 2 million last month, produced for a Waterloo-made Deere tractor. On Monday the company marked that milestone as it completed assembly of that tractor, an 8345R model, at the Deeres East Donald Street plant. The customer watched the final assembly as part of Deeres Gold Key customer program.

In 1918 we purchased the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co., so our history with engines in the Cedar Valley goes back nearly 100 years, said Curt Cline, factory manager of the engine works. The partnership with the community is most significant. In that period of time, our employees have retained a commitment to building high-quality products in here. So we continue to be a strong partner with the community. It is a milestone for production here in Waterloo.

It isnt all about tractors. The engine works also has produced engines for external customers, Kline said.

That diversified customer base helps the company and the community when the agricultural economy is down, said Darren Treptow, manager of worldwide marketing support for John Deere Power Systems. That includes engines for generators that heat buildings, air compressors, portable industrial equipment, wood chippers, specialty equipment used for harvesting fruits and nuts, as well as marine engines.

The 2 millionth engine is a big deal for employees at the engine works, said Kenny Hager of Cedar Falls, a 20-year Deere employee and member of United Auto Workers Local 838.

Every engine is important, Hager said, but this one is of historic significance.

Its a milestone for all of us. Its a really neat thing, because its big for the community, Hager said. A lot of people asked me over the years, does this affect you? Well its brought up three or four generations of my family, working here. They told me the quality of the engine is what made that tractor green. So I take it real seriously. And the fact that its under one brand all these years is wonderful, the tractor and the engine. Im the third generation. My son is the fourth generation; hes an electrician at the foundry.

Its as much a milestone for Local 838 as it is Deere, Hager said.

Any time we can reach something like that, especially with the economies the way they are and the world the way it is ... Never lose sight of that. These people are our lifeline, Hager said.

Local 838 member and 12-year employee Kim Elliott doesnt just build Deere equipment, he uses it. He farms south of Waterloo. I use all John Deere equipment on the farm, he said.

Of the 2 millionth engine, Elliott said, Its pretty exciting to come and see it put in the actual tractor after you build it. Everyone in engine works has a lot of pride in what they do. I was proud of being a part of building the 2 millionth engine. And Ive been proud of the work that Ive done there for the last 12 years too.

The engine was manufactured for AgriNorthwest, a large potato farming operation in Washington state.

Its an honor, said Jerald Sanders, a farm manager with ArgiNorthwest, which maintains a fleet of Deere tractors. He signed the tractor during assembly, one of the traditions with Deeres Gold Key program.

Kevin Pasker, purchasing manager with AgriNorthwest, said, Its nice to be part of an organization that has customer service and reliability and has similar values as our organization does. John Deere does. Thats why weve aligned ourselves with them.

His company has been doing business with Deere more than 20 years.

I think this one well have to hang onto for a little while,  Sanders said of the tractor with the 2 millionth engine. He has no doubt the company will, based on its experience with Deere products.

Green paint definitely stands up, he said.
A Neeses man will spend the next eight years in prison after pleading guilty to several theft and burglary charges.

Jeffery Trey Appleton, 34, of 303 Lendel Drive, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two counts of theft of a controlled substance and two counts of burglary.

Circuit Judge Ed Dickson sentenced him to 15 years in prison. After he serves eight years, hell be eligible to serve five years on probation.

Dickson ordered Appleton to undergo substance abuse counseling and treatment and make progress toward completing his GED.

Appleton also faced two counts of grand larceny and possession of a controlled substance, but those charges were dismissed.

Appleton and Justin Dennis Davis, 27, of the same address, broke into R and J Drugs in North on Jan. 17 and again on Jan. 18.

Video surveillance showed the two men breaking into the pharmacy before taking prescription drugs.

When investigators searched the mens home, they recovered nearly 1,000 prescription pills and a guide listing the price to charge for each pill.

Davis pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary charges in September.

Circuit Judge Doyt Early sentenced him to prison for 15 years, suspending the sentence to 12 years with five years of probation. Early also ordered him to pay $5,000 in restitution.

In other pleas:

Donte Tyler, 20, of 959 Nance St., Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Dickson sentenced him to prison for three years, provided that after he serves 90 days, the balance of the sentence will be suspended to two years of probation.

Dickson credited him for having served 124 days in jail.

Derrick Lamont James Jr., 19, of 478 Woodlawn Drive, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted armed robbery. One of the robberies was committed in Orangeburg County and the other in Calhoun County.

Dickson sentenced him to two concurrent terms of seven-and-a-half years in prison.

James also faced four counts of attempted murder, but those charges were dismissed.

Lavaniece Nyjett Kelly, 28, of 2247 Hydrick Ave., Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining prescription drugs by fraud.

Dickson sentenced her to prison for two years, with the balance suspended to 18 months of probation.

Justin Charles Allen, 21, of 2020 Jackson St., Barnwell, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine.

Dickson sentenced him to one year in prison.

Chasity Head, 22, of 5722 Gumtree Road, Greensboro, N.C., pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, first offense.

Dickson sentenced her under the Youthful Offender Act to a maximum of two years in prison.

He credited her for having served five days in jail.

Penelope A. Hensley, 46, of 209 Quaker St., St. George, pleaded guilty to forgery.

Dickson sentenced her to prison for three years, suspending the balance to three years of probation.

He ordered her to pay $1,950 in restitution to IGA.

Daniel Devine, 37, of 130 Tarpon Court, Elloree, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, first offense.

Dickson sentenced him to prison for five years, with the balance suspended to two years of probation.

He ordered Devine to remain employed.

Victoria Michelle Chavis, 26, of 183 Buena Vista Drive, North, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, first offense.

Dickson sentenced her to prison for three years, suspending the balance to probation for 18 months.

Brenda Elaine Shealy, 50, of 101 Kathy Drive, Eutawville, pleaded guilty to DUI, second offense.

Dickson sentenced her to prison for one year and a fine of $5,100, provided that upon the service of 10 days and payment of $1,100, the balance of the sentence will be suspended to one year of probation.

She is allowed to serve time on weekends.

Lovaris Quita Keitt, 34, of 390 Seawright St., Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and distribution of cocaine base.

Dickson sentenced her to two concurrent terms of 10 years in prison, provided that upon the service of 90 days, the balance will be suspended to three years of probation.

Curlee Fludd, 64, of 3552 Old State Road, Santee, pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic violence.

Dickson sentenced him to prison for three years, suspending the balance to one year of probation.

Fludd is also required to successfully complete a batterers treatment program and anger management program.

Sawaksi Laquain Holman, 39, of 642 Cranbrook Drive, Holly Hill, pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic violence.

Dickson sentenced Holman to prison for three years, with the balance suspended to one year of probation.

Holman must complete a batterers treatment program and anger management.

Vanessa D.D. Washington, 41, of 840 N. Triangle St., Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, first offense.

Dickson sentenced her to two years in prison, suspending the balance of the sentence to 18 months of probation.

Willie Lee Void, 53, of 143 Avocado Drive, Santee, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, first offense.

Dickson sentenced him to prison for two years, suspending the balance of the sentence to 15 months of probation.

Dickson credited him for having served 30 days in jail.

Mark Allen Clark, 27, of 319 Sambo Lambert Road, Goldsboro, N.C. pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary, second offense.

Dickson sentenced him to prison for 20 months, crediting him for serving 343 days in jail.

Victor Keitt, 53, of 155 Northlake Drive, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to shoplifting third or subsequent offense, with enhancement charge.

Dickson sentenced him to prison for 10 years, provided that upon the service of two years, the balance of the sentence will be suspended to probation for three years.

Dickson credited him for having served 85 days in jail.
On Dec. 9, U.S. president Barack Obama ordered a "review" of -- an investigation into -- alleged Russian hacking aimed at influencing the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Supporters of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton lauded Obama's order, which seems aimed at, well, influencing the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

On Dec. 19, the electors chosen by voters on Nov. 8 will meet in their respective state capitals to choose the next president of the United States. Under the existing system, those electors are required to vote for the candidate who carried their state's popular vote. Many Clinton supporters want the electors to instead install Clinton (or a "compromise candidate") in a coup d'etat. They've added Obama's "review" order to their arguments in favor of overthrowing the US government.

When is it proper to investigate alleged wrongdoing by, or on behalf of, powerful politicians? Apparently it depends.

In the months leading up to the popular vote, Clinton and her supporters first praised, then condemned, FBI direct James Comey.

In July, Comey announced that he would recommend against prosecuting Hillary Clinton for her criminally negligent storage of classified information on an illegal private server as secretary of state.

Then, 11 days before the election, Comey informed Congress of possible new evidence in the matter. That evidence apparently came to naught, but the Clinton campaign blew its stack. Clinton's supporters are still calling for Comey's head. He's one of their scapegoats not just for Clinton's crimes, but for her mediocre campaign and losing performance (the other scapegoat is, of course, THEM RUSSIANS).

Throughout the "Servergate" controversy, Clinton's supporters routinely complained that all inquiries into her actions constituted illicit attempts to affect the outcome of the election, and that law enforcement should back away from politically sensitive investigations near election time.

Apparently that complaint only applies when the investigation might hurt Hillary Clinton. When Donald Trump might be damaged, the week before the final vote strikes them as perfect timing for an investigation.

The publicly disclosed evidence against Clinton was overwhelming. Comey's argument against prosecuting her came down to "well, after all, she's Hillary Clinton."

The publicly disclosed evidence that Vladimir Putin's regime attempted to influence the election of the outcome other than through propaganda? Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. The only thing we've seen so far are vague assertions about "methods consistent with" state-backed hacking. So far, the argument for an investigation that might hurt Trump is "well, after all, he's Donald Trump."

I'm perfectly willing to believe that both Clinton and Trump are bad actors, but when it comes to investigation timing, how about one set of rules for everyone?

Thomas L. Knapp (Twitter: @thomaslknapp) is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism (thegarrisoncenter.org). He lives and works in north central Florida.
subsequent non-observance of the commandments annuls the conversion.

, Rabbi Feinstein rejected this as unacceptable.

empty talk designed to deceive the rabbinic court.

The Rabbinates new conversion criteria committee? Same-old, same-old, but now its official HASKEL LOOKSTEIN

Israels Chief Rabbinate met this week to form a committee to draft criteria for recognizing the weddings, divorces and conversions of rabbis in the Diaspora. After the messy political firestorm following the rejection of a conversion conducted by Rabbi Haskel Lookstein as well as legal challenges demanding the full list of approved rabbis, the Rabbinate finally agreed to establish an official set of criteria.





To those who have hailed this move as an important step forward towards transparency and openness on the part of the Chief Rabbinate, I would caution a great deal of skepticism. From the details of the draft document that have been reported , the Chief Rabbinate seems poised to officially adopt its longstanding practices.





According to the Jerusalem Post





[Chief Rabbi David] Lau suggested that rabbis approved by the Chief Rabbinate must work where there are established and organized rabbinical courts that work in accordance with the principles of Jewish law and whose status is accepted by the community rabbis. He cited the rabbinical courts in London and Paris as examples.





In addition, Lau said rabbis who operate under the authority of rabbinical associations and rabbinical courts that are approved by such associations would be another criteria, citing organizations such as the Rabbinical Council of America; the US Agudath Harabonim and the Conference of European Rabbis.





Finally, the chief rabbi suggested that in instances where there is no organized rabbinate, the individual rabbis and their path in Jewish law must be examined by the Chief Rabbinates department with the rabbis of the community in question, along with an examination of the rabbis ordination and his decision making in Jewish law.





In other words, no individual rabbis conversions would be recognized automatically, and these conversions would be examined and scrutinized by the Chief Rabbinate. Meaning, the Rabbinate will continue to do what it has been doing until now, only in an official capacity. This means that the conversions of the London Beit Din, or the Beit Din of America (or South Africa or Detroit) will be accepted without question, but any other conversion will be examined on a case by case basis. Any other rabbi similar to Rabbi Lookstein would be examined and evaluated, as well as his ordination and his decision making in Jewish law. Thats a pretty broad definition of scrutiny.





In America, this will mean that a rabbi who performs a conversion outside the RCAs GPS system or another recognized Beit Din will not automatically be recognized, but will be evaluated individually. There will be no list of individual rabbis. Such a list is legally impossible to defend, ends up growing outdated (leaving many deceased rabbis approved to perform conversions), and generally smacks of favoritism and nepotism.





What does this mean for the thousands of converts who were converted by ad hoc batei din before the GPS system? For those that have been approved by the Beth Din of America and its poskim  and there are many  one hopes that the Rabbanut will have the good sense to automatically accept those conversions.





On the other hand, I do not believe that conversions performed by individual rabbis who established their own Batei Din will enjoy automatic approval and acceptance by the Rabbanut.





Moreover, liberal Orthodox rabbis and their batei din stand little chance (to my mind) of gaining acceptance by the Chief Rabbinate for their conversions. Does this mean that they shouldnt perform conversions? Of course not! But it does, in my view, obligate them to be honest and completely open with their prospective converts, and explain to them that currently, the Chief Rabbinate does not recognize them as Jewish for the purpose of marriage in Israel. Armed with that information, they will have the ability to make the best choice for themselves.





Finally, whats most alarming about this report is the fact that the committee does not include any rabbi with any personal familiarity with the rabbis it will actually be evaluating. The joint committee will be comprised of rabbinical judges Rabbis Aharon Katz Shlomo Shapira and Yitzhak Elmaliach , along with Council of the Chief Rabbinate members rabbis Yitzhak Ralbag and Yehuda Deri . I do not question the expertise, knowledge and piety of any of these rabbis. But their biographies demonstrate that each of the was either born in Israel or raised here from a young age  without any meaningful interaction with the English-speaking Orthodox community. How can rabbis who dont speak English and have no personal knowledge of the rabbanim in question  their attitudes, writings or teachings  or the scope and nature of the congregations  realistically evaluate whether a rabbi is appropriate to conduct conversions, and whether his conversions should, or should not be recognized? If you dont know the difference between KJ and BMG  nor what those letters represent, how can you have any understanding of conversions in those respective communities?





Rabbi Seth Farber of Itim has done important work to force the Chief Rabbinate to have taken this step at all. But it will have been in vain if they do not at the very least, add at least one member or advisor to the committee who speaks English, knows the communities in question, and can give the rabbis an honest and clear assessment of the facts on the ground. That, to me, seems to be a most basic demand that the rabbinate could and should accept.



Rabbi Reuven Spolter is the Overseas Rabbinic Coordinator for Irgun Rabbanei Tzohar, and coordinates Jewish status applications on behalf of Tzohar from English speaking countries.



Avrohom Gordimer adds: " Would we seek for a kosher agency to fail to properly assess the kosher status of a food product before certifying it? Would we fail to carefully make sure that our food bears reliable kosher certification before eating it? And as people who care about the well-being of others and of ourselves, would we approve of a hospital hiring a doctor or administering a drug before a comprehensive evaluation of competence and quality? Would we seek treatment from a doctor or take a drug that has not been thoroughly evaluated and vetted? Why should conversion not be held to the same high standards of scrutiny?"




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By Azernews

By Nigar Abbasova

The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) will issue some $3 million within the technical assistance on the second Financial Market Modernization Project to be implemented in Azerbaijan.

The agency, which is responsible for planning and implementation of economic and trade policy measures, is expected to initially allocate some $2.2 million ($ 1.25 million) after the conclusion of a deal.

Further, SECO will allocate additional $400,000 by November 30, 2018, and the same sum by November 30, 2019. The three tranches are expected to be totally drawn by August 2021.

Within SECO's technical support to Azerbaijani economy, WB experts will render their assistance to the government of Azerbaijan in the increase of financial stability via extending regulatory and legal frameworks of financial sector and enhancement of monitoring functions of the Financial Market Supervisory Body (FMSB). The assistance will cover five directions, namely supervision over the financial market, liquidation of banks, deposit insurance system, protection of consumers' rights and non-performing loans.

The WB is expected to develop recommendations on the revision of legislature in the sphere of bank liquidation, financial market, and improvement of supervisory function of the regulator.

Moreover, the Bank will also develop recommendations on changes in legal and institutional frameworks of the Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) to bring the activity of the institution in line with international standards, accelerate the process of compensations payment and improve the financing mechanism within unforeseen circumstances. Also, the assistance will extend to the sphere of non-performing loans, including classification of credits, creation of resources, strategy on work with such loans, as well as the restructuring of non-performing loans without judicial intervention.

Azerbaijan and Switzerland have been cooperating effectively for already 25 years, including the cooperation within the SECO, which covers the microeconomic policy and ensuring financial stability.

In 2012, SECO allocated funds for the implementation of the first WB project on modernization of the financial market worth $4 million. The project was accomplished in June 2016 after four years of implementation, while the overall project implementation was assessed as successful

The objective of the project was to deepen the capital market, strengthen the capacity of AzerPoct, and improve consumers' financial literacy through technical assistance and capacity building.

Azerbaijan became a WB member in 1992. As of September 2016, the Bank allocated loans to the country worth $3.99 billion, while the funds were used to finance more than 70 projects.
By Trend

Iranian, Turkish and Russian top diplomats are expected to meet on December 20 in Moscow to discuss the latest developments in Syria.



The spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Bahram Qasemi, has said that the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Sergey Lavrov and Mevlut Cavusoglu are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Trend's correspondent reported.



A plan for evacuation of the sick and injured from two government-held villages in Syria's Idlib province as well as evacuation of the last rebel-held enclaves in Aleppo City has stalled over the past several days.



On 18 December, the rebels reportedly set fire to several buses sent to transport the sick and injured from the two government-held villages of Foah and Kefraya in Idlib province.



Media reports suggest that the attack on the busses halted the latest efforts to evacuate the besieged areas.

Syrian army backed by Russian air strikes alongside with other allies has recently launched a massive assault to recapture the militant-held areas of the northern city of Aleppo.

Rebels took control of eastern parts of Aleppo in 2012. The latest media reports suggest that Syrian army has advanced through the rebel-held areas, though the rebels reportedly continued to resist in some parts of the city.
By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijans Defense Industry Ministry increased the volume of defense industry products by 1.6 times compared to 2015, while the product assortment rose by 1.8 times.

Minister Yaver Jamalov announced about this at an event marking the 11th anniversary of establishment of the Defense Industry Ministry in Baku on December 17.

Twenty-eight military factories are currently operating within the Defense Industry Ministry, which have manufactured 1,160 kinds of defense products so far. Azerbaijan`s defense products are exported to more than 10 countries.

Furthermore, Azerbaijan will start serial production of unmanned aerial vehicles Zarba. The serial production of the drones will begin in the near future in order to supply the Azerbaijani Armed Forces with Zarba drones, Jamalov said.

The minister mentioned that Zarba UAVs and reconnaissance drones manufactured at the Ministrys enterprises were successfully tested and presented on September 21 with the participation of Azerbaijans President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.

Zarba drone was also exhibited at ADEX-2016 international defense exhibition in late September in Baku.

The Azerbaijani pavilion at the exhibition presented over 260 kinds of defense products and special-purpose weapons and ammunition, including a high-explosive air bomb QFAB-100SAB, 14.5 mm-caliber NST sniper rifle, sniper machine gun Shimshek ,mine protected armored vehicles Ildirim and Gasirgha, the latest advanced types of UAVs, new models of small arms, special reconnaissance patrol vehicle Gurza, fitted with antitank guided missiles, ammunition and their warheads, etc.

The minister further emphasized that the locally-manufactured military products played an important role in the destruction of manpower and military equipment of the enemy during the April fighting.

Weapons and ammunition manufactured at the enterprises of the Ministry  anti-tank grenade launchers, mortars and ammunition, sniper rifles, universal machine guns, ammunition of different caliber were used in April battles, Jamalov said, reminding that the Azerbaijani Armys counterattack in response to Armenias provocations in early April led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements.

Jamalov noted that Azerbaijans Defense Industry Ministry is taking the necessary measures to expand the production of ammunition and military equipment, to improve their quality in order to fully equip the countrys army.

The minister further added that the country negotiates with well-known foreign companies in several projects. Following the talks we have reached agreement on two projects. Our main aim is the production of rockets of distant radius of action, Jamalov said.

The minister also spoke about new purchases of Azerbaijan  the country has reached an agreement with Israel regarding the purchase of Iron Dome missile defense system.

Iron Dome is a mobile all-weather air defense system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aircraft Industries. The system is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 kilometers to 70 kilometers away and whose trajectory would take them to a populated area.

Azerbaijan, which is in war with neighboring Armenia over the latter's territorial claims during more than 20 years, keeps in focus the armament, working closely with leading companies and firms in various fields of military industry.

The countrys military budget for 2016 is about $1.466 billion, which exceeds the overall state budget of occupant Armenia by more than $1 billion.

Azerbaijan leaves behind many CIS and regional countries to take its place among the first 70 strongest militaries of the world, according to the U.S.-based Global Firepower survey center.
By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

It is no secret that the Armenian government is not ready for constructive negotiations about the main problem of the region  the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenian authorities, keeping under occupation 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, suffocates any initiative directed moving the process out of stagnation.

This time the government has launched a campaign against those seeking a civil dialogue with Azerbaijan, which has been subjected to aggression for over two decades. They are threatened with cruel punishment should continue their peace initiatives.

In early November, some Armenian human rights activists visited Baku to participate in a peacekeeping conference. Right after that, these people became persecuted in their homeland Armenia.

In an interview with 1in.am newspaper Armenian political scientist Gagik Gmbaryan called to neutralize the people, who attented the Armenian-Azerbaijani peacekeeping platform.

The activities of our [Armenian] National Security Service should be aimed at neutralization of all these people by all possible means. I'm not saying they should be physically destroyed, but if it comes to that, this should also be done, he said.

The Armenian newspaper Ayonts Ashkhar and others also called for the punishment of the traitors and openly encouraged to murder the Armenians who joined the conference in Baku.

Such threats are often heard in todays Armenia. Just a week ago, Vahe Avetyan, Armenian human rights activist who also visited Baku for the conference, wrote on his Facebook account about these threats in his address.

I ask you to raise the issue at the international level. This happens not for the first time. Over the past ten years, such appeals and massive attacks have happened to the writers in exile and Armenian peacemakers," Avetyan wrote.

After the threatening statement of Gmbaryan, Avetyan again appealed to the society, where he called on all human rights defenders and journalists to address all international organizations because the Armenian media openly call for killing the members of the Baku platform.

The appearance of people with peace initiatives and any attempt of reconciliation with Azerbaijan is death for the Karabakh clan, which now rules Armenia. It is the collapse of their ideology of war and hostility with their neighbors, Elkhan Alasgarov, head of the Baku Network's expert council said, commenting on the issue.

Recently, the young writer and civic activist Lusine Nersisyan from the occupied Nagorno-Karabakhs Khankendi city was arrested by Armenian security forces because of the same reason  visiting Azerbaijan for peacekeeping discussions.

This issue received quite enough publicity by the international society. However, this incident should be put on the agenda of all human rights organizations. The Azerbaijani experts also wait the OSCE Minsk Group to comment on Nersisyans arrest and prosecution of other visitors from Armenia.

The silence of countries and international organizations who make statements on every occasion, promotes not peace but war, Elkhan Alasgarov said.

By and large, it is obvious that the Armenian authorities follow the terrorist methods to get rid of those Armenians who do not support the policy of their government in the Karabakh issue. Most of the Armenian society long ago understood that the constant feud towards Azerbaijan is pointless, whilst the Armenian government still reject this reality.
By Azernews

Ashgabat hosted a meeting between the heads of consular services of foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and Poland, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry reported on December 19.

The Polish side was represented by Miroslaw Stawski, deputy director of the Consular Department of Polands Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on prospects of bilateral cooperation. The two countries hold negotiations on intensification of cooperation in such promising areas as energy, textile industry, agriculture, high technologies and tourism.

Poland has a favorable geographical location in Europes center that allows actively developing transit routes for energy supplies from the Caspian region to Europe, which is an important stimulus for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation, said the message.

Turkmenistan sells gas at its borders and the country has significant gas reserves proven by independent Western auditors. Currently, negotiations are underway with the European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan, which can become a transit country in the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline project.
Deloitte, a leading professional services firm, has boosted its executive team in the Middle East region by hiring 35 new partners, directors and principals across the region.



The announcement was made in the presence of Deloitte Global CEO Punit Renjen at the company's Middle East annual partners meeting held recently in Dubai, UAE.



It was attended by over 150 partners from the Deloitte Middle East practices along with other network leaders from across Europe and the US.



Yusuff Ali, co-founder and managing director of Emke Lulu Group, and Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director of Marriott International, Middle East and Africa, also addressed the partners as guest speakers, offering their personal views on the Middle East marketplace, their sectors and their career journeys, , said a statement from the company.



Deloitte Middle East CEO Omar Fahoum said: This year marks our companys 90th anniversary in the Middle East with continued presence since 1926.



With close to 700 new hires in Fiscal Year 2016 in the region, and the admission of 35 new partners, directors and principals in December this year, we continue to play an important role in the success and growth of our clients in the private and public sectors in this region, he said.



As we forge new grounds for the next 90 years, we renew our commitment to serving our clients, people and our communities with the highest standards of skills and deep industry knowledge, making an impact that matters for each and every one of them, he added.



Addressing the gathering, Renjen lauded the partners for their role in driving the firms global strategy, providing consistently high-quality services to clients across the network and enabling exceptional development experiences for Deloitte people.



The Middle East is a critical part of Deloittes network, and its growth reflects the investments were making to deliver innovative solutions that help clients succeed not only within this region but around the world, he stated.



In FY16, Deloitte increased its global workforce in all geographic regions and businesses. Headcount grew by 8.5 per cent, the highest increase of the last three years.



Each of the new partners, directors and principals has demonstrated that he or she can be entrusted with building on our legacy by serving clients with quality and distinction, acting as a role model and mentor, and giving back to society, he added.



The company had hired nearly 72,000 new professionals during the last fiscal year and presently has a total global workforce of 244,400.  TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia's education ministry has announced plans to launch a partnership initiative with the private sector to promote development of school buildings and infrastructure across the kingdom.



The public-private partnership (PPP) plan is part of a wider initiative to support the kingdoms Vision 2030 strategy and provide exciting opportunities for investment by private companies in this sector, said experts ahead of a major conference in Riyadh.



The Investment and Finance in Educational Buildings Conference will be held at the Ministry of Educations headquarters in Riyadh from January 10 to 11.



The summit will see experts focus on new funding initiatives, including PPP models, investment opportunities and financing options, said Tatweer Building Company CEO Fahad Al Hammad.



The upcoming event will facilitate the involvement of investors, developers, suppliers and consultants from the construction, education and real estate sectors both at home and abroad together with banks, financial institutions, researchers and private education institutions to discuss how the industry can move forward as one to meet the vision set out by Saudi Arabias Vision 2030.



One of the key goals of Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 strategy is to promote the development of the kingdoms education sector and to upgrade its infrastructure," stated Al Hammad.



For Tatweer Buildings Company, this conference provides a unique opportunity to discuss the role that it will be playing to promote and fulfill the kingdoms Vision 2030, remarked Al Hammad.



The conferences most important topics will include sessions on financial mechanisms related to land-lease building (LLB), build maintain and transfer (BMT), public-private partnership (PPP) models for the private education sector, and asset investment vehicles, he added.



"As a partner with the ministry, Tatweer has benefited greatly from our work in preparing for and creating this initiative. We have employed international experts in the fields of construction and financing, with whom we have undertaken 10 research studies and reviewed 30 different mechanisms in order to promote public-private partnerships for the development of educational infrastructure," he noted.



According to him, the ministrys aim is to markedly improve the time it takes to build high-quality buildings designed specifically for educational purposes.



"Today, Tatweer Buildings Company is implementing over 590 real estate projects for the education sector, of which 117 have been completed and are ready for use," he added.



Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, the undersecretary to the Minister of Education for Private Education, said: "We are committed to strengthening our partnership with the private sector, so that we have the capacity to deliver the educational infrastructure the country needs."



"This events timing is important, as we want to highlight the investment opportunities in the private education industry which is expanding rapidly," he stated.



"We would like to see the private sector more involved in this growth, to support our aspiration for higher quality buildings and infrastructure which is in line with our policy of licensing buildings for educational purposes," noted Dr Al Fuhaid.



Yunus Bin Omar Al Barrak, the undersecretary to the Minister of Education for Infrastructure, said building and maintaining of infrastructure and facilities specifically designed for education will help improve the quality offered as well as reduce operating costs.



"This initiative will reduce the cost to the state while also providing the private sector with investment opportunities. We will also be able to rapidly boost the capacity for producing purpose-made education buildings and do away with the need to rent infrastructure that is not designed for this purpose," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Sage, a technology leader for integrated accounting, payroll and payment systems, has joined hands with development partner Specialized Application Workshop (Saw) and Software Mill to launch Sage X3 for Construction.



Sage X3 for Construction is an enterprise-class next-generation business management software solution built to address both front and back office operations of organisations in the construction sector, said a statement from the company.



It has core-capabilities of project and contract management, sub-contract management, support for estimating, full construction document management including transmitals management, project financial tracking and cashflow, personalized dashboard, work-flow automation and alerts, integrated HR (human resources) and payroll, time-sheet transactions, and development and integration tools.



The solution accelerates collaboration and reporting, and delivers real-time insight into all operations of the business. Designed to support multi-level and holding companies which are either construction centered or with construction relate subsidiaries, it stated.



As new technologies such as Industry 4.0 mechanisms, and technological processes are introduced into the construction sector, a strong business management solution is necessary to keep operations running smoothly, said the statement.



Sage X3 which runs entirely on a browser and across any device, assists in the smooth integration of newly adopted technologies with emerging workplace practicies such as BYOD and mobile apps, it stated.



Chris Wiener, the CEO of Saw Software Mill, pointed out that the construction sector in the Middle East as well as elsewhere was seeing vast technological influences and changes.



"In studying the requirement of the sector, we found a dire need for a business management solution capable of integrating usual business practicies with specific construction related procedures. The Sage X3 for Construction is our joint attempt at providing a holistic system for the sector," he noted.



According to him, the end-to-end Sage X3 for Construction solution is a product of the collaboration agreement between Sage and Saw Software Mill which seeks the further development of Sage X3 for regional and international distribution.



"This is an exciting new solution from Sage and Saw Software Mill. Sage X3 for Construction affords agility as well as scalability adapting easily to changing needs," remarked Keith Fenner, VP (Enterprise) for Africa and Middle East at Sage.



The solution is designed with efficiency and effectiveness in mind. We believe it will be instrumental in managing costs, projects, and ensuring a smooth working environment, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The northern UAE emirate of Umm Al Quwain is all set to launch the second phase of its free trade zone facility, which will include a smart city.



In keeping stride with the UAEs vision for sustainable economic development and decreased reliance on oil and gas industries, the Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone (UAQ FTZ) has picked up steam over the past year.



Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, the free zone has undergone a complete infrastructure makeover  both physically and digitally, said senior officials at the UAQ FTZ.



With the infrastructure masterplan already complete for Phase Two of the industrial area, which will house offices, labour accommodations, warehouses and residential complexes, UAQ FTZ looks to build a smart city where people will able to walk to work.



"Renewable energy, education, health, technology, water and space will be the primary target industries for us," remarked Johnson George, the general manager of UAQ FTZ.



Once Phase Two comes to fruition, the free zone will function as an independent industrial city with amenities for its employees and residents like a hospital, shopping centres, a school, a hotel and even an exhibition and convention centre, thereby promoting the walk to work concept.



The current ERP/CRM system of the free trade zone will become centralised to help its clients record sales, leads, account statements and other business activities, stated George.



Plans are also in place for a revamp of the website to facilitate online submission of company formation documents and automated issuing of licenses. The security mainframe and its peripherals have been set up to meet UAEs high standards of safety, he added.



UAQ FTZ has enjoyed a success-brimmed 2016, having already issued over 1,500 business licences and taking the overall count 2500-plus.



"This has been possible because of the foreign direct investment from countries like India, UK, France and from the other Asian subcontinent," remarked George.



As a marketing pathway, UAQ FTZ has welcomed manufacturing industries, IT companies and specialised consultancies, FMCGs (fast moving consumer goods, foodstuff-related companies, gem, precious metals, jewelry and automotive spare parts sellers as major players in the free zone.



It has also participated in marketing exhibitions in the BRICS countries, which is sure to attract more foreign investment in UAQs rumbling economy.



"The proximity to ports and UAQs super-reasonable costs of living and of doing business are sure to bring in more numbers in the coming years," observed George.



"Going forward, the free zone is looking to usher in white collar businesses like IT companies, back offices, call centres, R&D centers. Freelancers and micro-businesses have also found firm footing in UAQ, thanks to the free zones offering of these licences," stated the official.



"With a growing number of investors using UAQ FTZ as a catalyst to expand their business, there is no doubt that the free zone is on an upward trend and will contribute more to UAEs healthy economy," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
DuPont, a science-based products and services company, said that it will showcase its latest Tyvek Xtreme W50 Cargo Cover for the first time at the upcoming IQPC Temperature Controlled Logistics event in London, UK.



The event, one of Europes largest cool-chain gathering, will take place from January 30 to February 2, at the ExCeL London.



The new DuPont product builds on the huge success of the original Tyvek Solar W10 and Tyvek Solar W20 Cargo Covers and, in addition to providing outstanding screening from solar radiation, it extends the performance envelope of the range to provide beneficial cold temperature protection.



The new cargo cover combines high performance with low-weight and low-bulk in a fast-fit format. They provide tamper-protection, are fully weather-resistant and offer a highly effective barrier against air-borne contamination such as dust, pollen and bird droppings, said a statement from the company.



Tyvek covers are available for the majority of standard air freight pallet sizes and are very quick to install and remove. A typical pallet or ULD can be sleeved in as little as sixty seconds, it stated.



The new covers have been the subject of stringent testing at DuPonts state of the art technical facilities in Europe, Asia and North America, said a statement.



The Tyvek Xtreme W50 has been designed to bridge the gap between single-skin thermal covers and bulky thermal blankets, explains Yves Le Minor, European business development manager for the Tyvek Cargo Cover range.



It incorporates a special fleece insulation laminated to a tough overlay of non-woven Tyvek material which includes a silver low-emissivity coating, he said.



This configuration is much better able to maintain its thermal properties and withstand physical manhandling than plastic film and bubble-based alternatives, he added.



Alain Weimerskirch, technical specialist, DuPont, said: We investigated very carefully the various technical options open to us in order to insulate the new cargo cover.



We found that covers using insulation based on air bubble laminates are too easily damaged in use and this compromises their performance. They also have a low thermal capacity which reduces their ability to respond to rapid temperature swings and at the same time, being impermeable, they do not permit an exchange of air between the inside and outside, he said.



This mean that bubble-based covers have a limited ability to cope with conditions of high relative humidity. Fibrous insulation, on the other hand exhibits favourable properties in all these respects, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Careem, a leading ride-hailing service in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), on Monday announced a first close in its $500 million funding round.



The investment of $350 million is co-led by Rakuten, a global leader in internet services and innovation headquartered in Japan, and Saudi Telecom Company (STC), one of the largest telecom operators in the Middle East, said a statement from the company.



New and existing investors include Abraaj Group, Al Tayyar Group, Beco Capital, El Sewedy Investments, Endure Capital, Lumia Capital, SQM Frontier and Wamda Capital among others.



With this new inveastment, Rakuten executive and head of ride-sharing and fintech investments, Oskar Mielczarek de la Miel, and an STC Group executive will join Careems board of directors.



A local company established in 2012, Careem now operates in 47 cities across 11 countries and hosts over 6 million users and 150,000 captains (drivers) in the Mena and South Asia region.



The fundraise, supported by Credit Suisse, is one of the largest for a technology company in the Middle Easts history and a strong indicator of Careems ambitious vision.



The funds will scale up Careems transport services in existing and new markets, accelerate innovation across its platform of high-frequency transactions, and help Careem achieve its goal of creating one million jobs in the region by 2018.



We are inspired and humbled to work with world class strategic partners like Rakuten and STC remarked Mudassir Sheikha, the co-founder and CEO of Careem.



They not only bring significant institutional backing for Careems new horizons, but also global technology leadership and deep local experience bringing us closer to achieving our mission of improving the lives of everyone in the region, stated Sheikha.



The Mena region has a growing, connected, urban population with great potential for ride hailing and other e-commerce services, said Oskar Mielczarek.



"This investment directly aligns with Rakutens vision for global innovation as Careem has demonstrated its ability to scale to one of the largest shared economy platforms in the region, and to accelerate the adoption of new transit solutions," he stated.



Dr Khaled Biyari, the chief executive of STC, said: "We are excited to continue a strategic partnership that began in 2013 through STC Ventures first investment in Careem, and help build a mobility platform across the Mena region."



"Our investment is a clear bet on the future of mobility, strategic adjacencies, and Careems technology leadership in the region," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Zain Group, a leading mobile telecom innovator in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), said it was honoured with the Best Brand for telecom in the Middle East for 2016 at the recent Telecom Review Summit Excellence Awards, held in Dubai, UAE.



Telecom Review is a leading industry publication and the award recognises the outstanding performance of Zains brand across all its markets, which has come to represent the highest standard of customer service at all its touch points, said a statement from the company.



Winners were chosen based on recognised and demonstrated capabilities in their specific sector by an independent panel of 15 experienced industry veterans, it said.



Zains technology innovation is positively impacting customer experience, reinforcing the companys brand values and making it one of the most respected and recognised corporate brands in the Middle East, it added.



The company through its support for innovation and forging strong partnerships with other well-regarded brands such as Uber and Booking.com, for example, has reinforced the Zain brand itself, said a statement.



Scott Gegenheimer, CEO, Zain Group, said: We are proud to be recognised once again as a leading brand in the region and continue to adapt ourselves in ensuring the brand brings out the best in us and makes us strive to offer the best customer experience possible, as our loyal customers deserve no less.



Zain also made strategic investments in smart city consulting firm, neXgen, and mobility solutions developer and consultancy firm FOO to fast-track its digital lifestyle offerings, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
State-run oil giant Saudi Aramco will commission its first wind turbine project next month, the first in the kingdom and developed in partnership with GE aiming to support the renewable goals of Saudi Vision 2030.



Supplied by GE, the 2.75-120 wind turbine will provide power to Saudi Aramcos Bulk Plant located in Turaif, in northwest Saudi Arabia.



Abdulkarim Al Ghamdi, Saudi Aramcos executive head for Power Systems said: Saudi Aramco is actively promoting the reduction of energy intensity across the Kingdom by advocating responsible policies, awareness, and energy innovation. This milestone has been made possible with the skills and knowledge Saudi Aramco has attained over decades as the Kingdoms reliable supplier of energy and those of our partner, GE, as a wind industry leader.



Turaif was selected by Saudi Aramco from four potential sites, due to its good wind resource, ease of access, and proximity to power connection. The wind turbine will generate 2.75 mega watts of power at its peak, sufficient energy to sustain around 250 Saudi households. This provides the company the opportunity to reduce burning of diesel for power generation by 18,600 barrels of oil equivalent per year.



Hisham Albahkali, GEs president & CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, said: With the arrival of the first GE wind turbine in the Kingdom, we are demonstrating our strong commitment to support the aim of diversifying the energy mix. This is a momentous occasion as it highlights that wind energy generation in the Kingdom is real and heralds a new era of renewable energy that clearly shows to the world that action is being taken to support the renewable goals of Saudi Vision 2030.



Once commissioned in January, the wind turbine will present a striking landmark on the Turaif skyline. The tips of the blades will reach a height of 145 meters, or almost half the height of Riyadhs Kingdom Tower. The diameter of the wind turbine rotor blades will dwarf the span of the worlds largest passenger jet. At 120 meters, the rotor diameter is 50per cent wider than the wing span of an Airbus 380.



The wind turbine and its control system have been specifically designed by GE to minimize the potential noise emitted from the rotor blades, the tips of which can travel at one third the speed of sound.



GEs global wind footprint extends to more than 35 countries with over 50,000 mega watts of onshore wind turbines installed across the globe. GE has leveraged this experience to enhance the design of the wind turbine for this project to competently and reliably operate in high temperature, high dust environment within the Kingdom.



The wind turbine which arrived to Jubail port in October will be transported on a twelve vehicle convoy from Dammam to Turaif. The construction of the foundations for the turbine are underway and the first electricity is expected to be supplied to the Saudi Aramco bulk plant once commissioning of the wind turbine is completed in January 2017.



The demonstration project has been developed by Saudi Aramco in partnership with GE to highlight the viability of deploying wind power in the Kingdom. Since the inception of its Renewable Energy team in 2010, Saudi Aramco has been actively pursuing opportunities in support of the Kingdoms goal for the integration of renewable energy in the energy mix.



In 2012, Saudi Aramco commenced an extensive resource measurement program that confirmed the Kingdoms exceptional wind resource as perhaps one of the best in the region. Wind energy will become a key source of power under the National Renewables Program, which will deliver a combined 9,500 mega watts to the Kingdom from wind and solar energy by 2023.  TradeArabia News Service
Emphasising innovation as an essential constituent in creating the UAE among the top five nations, Canon Middle East, a leader in imaging products and solutions, led an expert panel discussion recently in Dubai, UAE.



Some of the senior industry leaders who participated in the forum `Frontiers of Innovation Forum held in partnership with Meed included Dr Ayesha Habib Al Mutawa, chief innovation officer, Ministry of Health & Prevention; Anurag Agrawal, managing director, Canon Middle East; Luciana Soledad Ledesma, manager, Innovation and Creativity-Innovation and the Future, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority; Ayman Aly- Professional Solutions marketing manager, Canon Middle East; Dr. Bashar El- Khasawneh, graduate programme chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering Khalifa University; Dominic Wright, co-founder, Generation 3D and Khaled Antoun, sales manager, Canon Emirates.



The speakers and panelists discussed the UAE Innovation Targets and how it is aiming to be among the Top five nations globally and win a Nobel Prize. The other areas which were discussed were the need to foster an environment of risk-taking and tolerance of mistakes and 3D printing opportunities for the future.



A vital outcome of the discussion was that innovation is critical in all industries, but when one talks about innovation in health, the reference is about peoples lives. The discussion also revolved around the UAE government playing a vital role as an enabler of innovation.



In his opening remarks, Agrawal focused on the continuously evolving digital world and how governments are adopting new technologies as they continue their shift towards building smart cities. He also emphasised Canon Middle Easts commitment to be aligned with the vision of the government by innovating in imaging solutions to support their smart city ambitions and the needs of todays tech-savvy youth.



He also highlighted the companys newly launched products, including the 8K Camera, 120MP Camera, 250MP CMOS,Sensor4 million ISO Camera, and Intelligent Imaging for Life, while also emphasising the importance of launching new technology products and updates, with a huge focus on sustainability.



Dr Ayesha Habib Al Mutawa, extensively spoke about on UAEs Innovation: From vision to reality: The quest for the Nobel Prize. She underlined the importance of organisations opening networks and relationships, while also collaborating to generate additional value. She referred back to a quote given by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in which she emphasised the importance of innovation and investing in a diversity of sectors to avoid any possible misfortune in the future.



Her speech also highlighted the fact that the UAE was ranked 1st in the Arab world and 41st globally by end of 2016, which is an improvement from the previous year where the country was ranked as 2nd in the Arab world and 47th globally. As we continue to witness technological breakthroughs, the aim for the country by 2021 is to be among the top five countries globally and consequently win a Nobel Prize for this new achievement, she further added.



Other major highlights of the event included two panel discussions on The endless possibilities of the 3D printing market and Utilising technology to challenge and revolutionalise current processes.



Panelist Aly highlighted the limitless opportunity which 3D printing has to offer and Canon`s planto service in all the emerging regions, in which they do not have a presence. Dr. Mohamad highlighted the huge positive impact of 3D printing when it comes to surgery, in which a patients kidney was healed by using this technology.



Dr Bashar El- Khasawneh was impressed to see a positive response to the adoption of 3D printing among the audience and the panel members, especially Dubai Health Authority. It is important to have the conversations such as the ones we had today to identify the challenges and discuss how we can overcome them. The future for 3D printing in the UAE is quite promising given the push from the government to adopt the technology in a variety of sectors such as construction, health, aerospace and many others.



The second panel discussion included Shadi Bakhour, general manager, Canon Emirates; Rohit Majhi, senior manager, Monitor Deloitte; and Zabeen Bint Ahmed, founder & chief innovation officer, SEVIA and provided the audience with an in-depth analysis on what exactly defines an innovative solution and how it should be implemented.



Bakhour explained how an innovative solution can be linked to where it is operating and how a dynamic country such as the UAE makes it easy to push through new technological innovations. The government is playing a vital role as an enabler of innovation, and encouraging new ideas and services to help in the technological evolution of the country.



Innovation is the hottest of hot topics in the UAE, said Meed editorial director Richard Thompson. The UAEs Vision 2021 strategy puts innovation at the centre of the countrys ambitions to become one of the worlds most creative and forward-looking nations, and its National Innovation Strategy identifies the potential opportunities to drive the innovation agenda in the emirates.



The challenge now facing us all in the UAE is: How can we change the way we live and work to turn the vision into reality? Frontiers of Innovation brought together innovators from business and government to address this issue. The forum was a fantastic opportunity to share ideas and experiences and to help us change the way we work and make the most of emerging disruptive technologies such as 3D printing, the Internet of Things and Big Data. It was a highly productive event and I look forward to many more such happenings in the future, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Some Native Americans hope that a Donald Trump presidency will give tribes more control over energy development on reservations.

The push has come out of talks with the president-elects Native American Coalition, a group of 27 members at its start, representing 15 states. While no members of Wyomings Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes were on the original coalition, energy development has historically frustrated some tribal members in the state.

A move to less federal oversight is often seen as a nod to Native American tribal government rights, but tribal members also want to strike a balance between traditional values of protecting the environment and the boon of fossil fuel development for local economies.

In April, a bill penned by Wyomings U.S. Sen. John Barrasso that sought to amend previous energy regulations on tribal lands passed in the Senate as part of a larger energy platform.

Though the bill doesnt go as far as the suggestion from Trumps coalition that energy development should be privatized in Indian Country, proponents say it reduces the bureaucratic hurdles to drill and mine on reservations, like streamlining the multi-step approval process for development.

It was first introduced in 2011 after consultation with Wyoming tribal leaders at the time, said Mike Danylak, spokesman for the congressman on the Indian Affairs Committee. The bill would have to pass the House before it becomes law.

Moves likes Barrassos highlight the important role industry might play in economic development on the Wind River Reservation. Some hope that less oversight will mend a history of frustration and bad deals, said Jason Baldes, director of the Wind River Native Advocacy Center.

A lot of those (energy) contracts that were developed early on were negotiated at an advanced stage, he said. We as tribes didnt have the legal expertise or the right legal department to really reap the benefits of oil and gas on the reservation.

The result was lost revenue, and the desire to change course goes back decades.

In a hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources in 2012, Wes Martel, then council vice chairman for the Shoshone Business Council, told congressmen that he had been appointed by the Secretary of the Interior in the early 80s on an advisory committee for mineral accountability. Their task was meant to set down new rules and regulations.

Thirty years later, we are still waiting for these regulations to be fully implemented, he told the House committee.

***

Though details differ from reservation to reservation, the heart of the issue is sovereignty, Baldes said.

Oftentimes the federal government, as well as other agencies, dont operate with tribes on a government to government relationship, he said. That sovereignty, that self-determination, must be something that is acknowledged.

What shouldnt continue is the reliance on the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which like other federal land agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, governs much of the permitting process for native development, he said.

Tribes are distrustful of federal involvement in local decisions based on a history of tension between agencies and the tribes, Baldes said.

Its a sentiment shared by Barrasso, who couldnt be reached for comment but provided a statement on his energy bill.

For years, Indian tribes have expressed concerns about the numerous job-crushing federal laws and duplicative regulations governing the management of Indian energy resources, he said. Instead of creating more barriers to energy development in Indian Country, Washington needs to focus on removing them.

However, despite the benefits of controlling development on reservations, there is another side to the energy debate that many tribal members are considering, Baldes said.

Different tribes have different feelings about oil and gas and natural resource extraction, he said. Personally, and based on the people I work with, we recognize the need to move away from our dependence on fossil fuels, and we need to begin to look at more renewable resources.

Particularly, on a small scale, solar and wind energy can be achieved on a reservation, he said.

But the economic benefit to fossil fuels is undeniable, and some tribes may choose to go in that direction, he said.

***

Revenue is a key issue in the discussion over tribal energy.

Some proponents of reduced federal oversight have criticized the taxing of companies that operate on tribal lands, that pay both federal and tribal government taxes in addition to state taxes.

That can inhibit development while drawing money away from the tribes toward state and federal government.

A series of studies paid for by the Eastern Shoshone and Arapaho business councils in the early 2000s indicated that the tribes pay significantly more each year to the state of Wyoming than they reap in services. That held true every year from 1979 to 2002, according to the study prepared by Charles River Associates in 2003.

What some tribes see as a recourse to the tax and sovereignty dilemma is ownership of the companies drilling on their reservations, said Baldes.

In the past the tribes have looked at developing our own oil and gas companies, Baldes said. So that we can dictate where these funds come from and how they are allocated.

Ultimately, each tribal government should be able to determine how and when they develop energy resources, he said.
Monthly vets ceremony Dec. 30

The Natrona County United Veterans Council and the staff of the Oregon Trail Wyoming State Veterans Cemetery conduct a monthly memorial service for those known Wyoming veterans who have died since our last memorial service which was held on November 30, when we honored 86 Wyoming veterans.

This months memorial service will be held at noon Dec. 30 in the Tom Walsh Chapel at The Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery. All are welcome.

This memorial service is provided on behalf of a grateful state and nation as an expression of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service rendered by each of these veterans.

The veterans name, Wyoming community and branch of service is read at roll call. There is a rifle salute, taps and the folding of a flag.

Creches at senior center

Central Wyoming Senior Services, 1831 E. Fourth St., is once again featuring creches collected by Ruth Ann and Marv Mitich. These nativities were gathered in trips with the Civic Chorale and various personal trips in the United States and Europe.

Casper Chronicles

II arrives

The newly published Casper Chronicles II is available at the Historic Bishop Home, Wind City Books, Fort Caspar, from DAR members, and by internet at www.cadomafoundation.org.

Following in the spirit of the 1964 Casper Chronicles, the new volume is a series of biographical articles that document families who have been in Casper and Natrona County for the past 100 years, and still have descendants living here that are contributing to our community life. The new book is a joint venture between the Cadoma Foundation, owner of the Historic Bishop Home, and the Fort Caspar Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The core of the book is possible because of the generosity of the Casper Journal in allowing these organization to republish the stories that were a part of a 2014 series of biographical articles on several of pioneer families that continue to be part of our community.

With the assistance of Rebecca Hunt, author of Natrona County, People Place and Time, the original group of articles was expanded to include additional families.

Casper Chronicles II will be available at Wind City Books, Fort Caspar, the Historic Bishop Home located at 818 E. Second St., or online at www.cadomafoundation.org. The cost is $15 plus tax, shipping and handling if appropriate. For additional information, call 235-5277 or write info@cadomafoundation.org.

Masquerade Ball New Years Eve

Stage III Community Theatre presents a Masquerade Ball on New Years Eve at the Black Gold Grille, 1650 English Ave. Enjoy dinner and dancing for $30 per person, $45 per couple, or $15 per person for the dance only. The ticket includes dinner, dancing, raffles, midnight munchies and two special numbers performed by the Keyhole Peepshow Cuties. Dinner is served from 7 to 9 p.m., dancing from 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are available at the Black Gold Grille.

New Years Eve senior dance

SwingSounds Band has scheduled a New Years Eve Senior Dance style dance at the Eagles Hall, 306 N. Durbin St., on Dec. 31. Admission is $10 per person. Dance starts at 7:30 p.m., and lasts until 12:30 a.m. Usual potluck is changed somewhat to bring salads and desserts. Sandwiches and finger food will be provided. Party favors will be available. Join in on the festivities and welcome in the new year. Entry at north parking lot door, additional parking across the street and the entire parking lot located at A and Durbin streets. Reservations are not needed, but calling 235-5130 and registering can give an estimated head count to prepare for the party.

Robbie Daniels  235-5130
The nations largest gay-rights organization ranked Wyoming low for its lack of explicit state-level protections for LGBT workers.

State lawmakers and gay rights proponents, meanwhile, said they will push for a nondiscrimination bill in the 2017 session of the Wyoming Legislature  two years after the courts required the state to allow same-sex marriage.

The Washington-based Human Rights Campaign released an index with four categories to rank equality in the country. Washington, D.C., and nine states, including Colorado, landed in the highest category for having the most robust laws covering employment, housing and public accommodations  including public restrooms.

Many people in conservative states want to bar transgender people from using the bathrooms of the gender with which they identify because they believe they might sexually assault other bathroom users. Research shows transgender people are more likely to be victims of sexual assault, with the most recent study showing nearly half had been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives.

Wyoming is among 28 states in the lowest-ranked category in the HRC survey, lacking protections in education, employment, jury duty, housing and other aspects of everyday life. But the report noted Wyoming doesnt prohibit local governments from protecting LBGT residents, as some states do. The state also lacks a so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which has been created in several states and exempts people of faith from gay anti-discrimination laws.

State governments have a clear choice between sowing the seeds of division and discrimination or building an economy that works for everyone by fostering fairness and inclusion, Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement.

In October 2014, gay marriage became legal in Wyoming. But gays and lesbians can still be fired or denied housing based on their sexual orientation, as the state lacks a law protecting people for their sexual orientation.

Rep. Cathy Connolly of Laramie, Wyomings only openly gay lawmaker, is working on a bill for the 2017 session, which begins Jan. 10, with Rep. Dan Zwonitzer of Cheyenne.

Connolly, a Democrat, was in budget hearings all last week, but she confirmed in a message that a bill will be drafted. Zwonitzer, a Republican, said he didnt have details at this point about whether the bill was going to be limited to workplace discrimination or if it would protect people in housing and other areas.

The last time the Wyoming Legislature saw a nondiscrimination bill was in the 2015 session. It was defeated. Last year, the gay community and lawmakers who are supportive of the cause decided not to push legislation, as the session lasted only about 20 days and was focused on Wyomings budget woes.

A third of the Wyoming House and a fifth of the Senate will be new this year. Some conservatives used the transgender bathroom issue on the campaign trail.

Sen. Dave Kinskey, a Sheridan Republican who supported the bill two years ago, said that a bill in 2017 would need to have wide exemptions for clergy, church employees and volunteers and not-for-profit church groups from following the provisions in the law if their religious organization disagrees with gay rights.

I think weve got to be respectful of all viewpoints, he said. I think that includes people of faith who have their concerns about the issue. I think weve got to respect that. Respect is a two-way street.

Although Wyoming continues to rank low in the three-year-old Human Rights Campaign study, the state is making progress that will be reflected in next years rankings, said Sara Burlingame of Wyoming Equality, a gay advocacy group.

School boards across the state are increasingly including LGBT students in bullying policies. Gillette, Jackson, Douglas and Cheyenne passed nondiscrimination resolutions in 2016. Resolutions dont have the teeth that ordinances do. But theyre a statement of affirmation and an important first step, Burlingame said.

Shes hopeful a statewide bill will pass in the upcoming session.

It is a bill that speaks to the values that we have in Wyoming: We value fairness. We value the Golden Rule. We value equality. Some would say its even in our name, she said, referring to Wyomings status as the Equality State.

In 2016, theres no good reason to not have a good law on the books to tell people to come work, raise your family in Wyoming.
The number of Wyoming residents who killed themselves so far in 2016 is about the same as the numbers for the past four years  a sign that awareness campaigns and prevention methods are working, according to suicide prevention advocates.

Through mid-December, 131 people have completed suicide in Wyoming this year, according to death certificate data from the state Department of Health. The number is comparable to those from the same time period in the past few years, department officials said, even as the rate of suicide nationwide continues to steadily climb.

However, Wyoming continues to have one of the highest rates of suicide in the nation. The state had the fourth-highest rate of deaths by suicide in the country in 2014, the most recent year for which nationwide data is available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide was the seventh-highest cause of death in the state that year.

For every 100,000 Wyoming residents, about 21 will kill themselves, according to the 2014 CDC data. The national average for that year was 13.

Through November of this year, 16 people killed themselves in Natrona County  the lowest number in the last five years, according to data from the coroners office.

Were keeping a lid on it

The rate of suicide per capita in Wyoming has remained relatively steady  a sign that prevention methods are working, said Terresa Humphries-Wadsworth, director of statewide suicide prevention at the Prevention Management Organization of Wyoming. Between 1999 and 2014, the average rate of suicide in the U.S. steadily increased by 24 percent, from 10 to 13 suicides per 100,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Were making progress, meaning we are not increasing like the rest of nation, Humphries-Wadsworth said. Were keeping a lid on it.

Between 2000 and 2014, the rate of suicide in Wyoming has fluctuated between a low of 18 suicides per 100,000 in 2005 and 30 in 2012, according to data from the Wyoming Department of Health. It is difficult to compare counties because the rates greatly fluctuate in counties with low populations.

About 65 percent of the people who killed themselves between 2007 and 2015 did so with a firearm, according to the department data. Nationwide, about half of all suicides are by gun.

Multiple factors contribute to Wyomings relatively high rate of death by suicide, Humphries-Wadsworth said. People who live in rural areas often have to travel long distances to meet with counselors and access other resources. Six of the 10 states with the highest rates of suicide are along the spine of the Rocky Mountains, a largely rural region.

The states economic downturn also hasnt helped, she said. Many organizations that work on suicide prevention and awareness have lost or will lose private and government funding.

Money troubles also affect the mental health of people as they struggle to make ends meet.

Anytime there has been economic challenges, it has made believing in hope more challenging, she said.

Cultural shifts

The Prevention Management Organization has been focusing on raising awareness of the reality of suicide in Wyoming, Humphries-Wadsworth said.

In three years, the group trained more than 44,000 Wyomingites in QPR, a three-step method that anybody can use to help someone who may be contemplating suicide. The method teaches people to recognize the warning signs of suicide and persuade a person in crisis to get professional help.

Since theres no single cause (of suicide), theres no single solution, Humphries-Wadsworth said. We all need training on how to bring it up and what to do.

The awareness campaign helped bring the issue to the attention of local governments, hospitals and health care companies  even the governors office.

Gov. Matt Mead held the first Governors Symposium on Suicide Prevention in September, where he urged all Wyomingites to become involved in suicide prevention. He also made QPR training available to all state employees.

In Wyoming we celebrate many things we do well on, he said at the symposium. But its time to recognize we arent doing well with this.

Wyoming law enforcement officers have also attended specialized training that helps them recognize symptoms of mental illnesses. Law enforcement are often the first responders to suicide attempts and other mental health crisis. Not only can they help mitigate the risk at the scene but they can also make sure a persons mental illnesses are considered if they enter the criminal justice system, Humphries-Wadsworth said.

Recognizing that there may be something else going on really helps divert people from going down a path that doesnt serve their best interest, she said.

Overall, the silence and stigma surrounding suicide and other mental illness issues have lessened, Humphries-Wadsworth said.

I think were beginning to see stigma around mental health issues shift and change, she said. But culture change takes time.
High winds slammed Casper on Monday, flipping over a semi-truck and forcing the temporary closure of Wyoming Boulevard.

The truck was traveling on the road near its intersection with McKinley Street about 9:30 a.m. Monday when high winds caused the driver of the truck to lose control. The truck then flipped and landed on its side, partially blocking the westbound lane.

Police believe the semis trailer was empty at the time of the crash, making it more easily pushed by the winds.

The driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, Sgt. Scott Jones said.

The road was closed from Casper Mountain Road to East 21st Street from about 9:30 a.m. to about noon Monday.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation reported gusts on the road up to 77 mph and sustained winds at 62 mph. Hurricane winds begin at 74 mph. Onlookers said even standing in the wind was difficult.

Before the truck blew over, the road was open with no light trailer advisories. The Department of Transportation later updated the roads condition to say it was slick in spots with dangerous winds, blowing snow and low visibility. The department advised against light trailers traveling on the road and said there was an extreme risk of being blown over.

The dip in Wyoming Boulevard where the truck was blown over is where some of the worst winds are, said Jeff Goetz, spokesman for the department. Two signs on the road warn drivers of potential dangers, he said, but drivers also need to use common sense.

We try to warn people the best we can, he said. But ultimately its the drivers responsibility.

Nine years ago, a semi flipped in high winds on the same stretch of road. The driver died in that crash.

Casper remained under a high wind warning through Tuesday night, with winds forecast to be up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

The high winds prompted the Natrona County School District to release early all middle school students who ride buses.
One of Raytheons newest missile killers hit its mark in a recent test against a ballistic missile near the end of its flight.

The U.S. Navy fired two Standard Missile-6 Dual I guided missiles, developed by Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems, from the destroyer USS John Paul Jones during a test Wednesday off the coast of Hawaii.

The test resulted in a successful intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile in the terminal, or final, stage of the target missiles flight, Raytheon said. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency said the test met all of its objectives.

The SM-6 Dual 1 succeeds the SM-2 Block IV missile as the Navys go-to weapon against enemy missiles nearing the end of their flight. Raytheons ship-based Standard Missile-3 is designed to engage ballistic missiles in mid-flight.
PHOENIX  The Latest on Arizona's 11 Electoral College voters gathering Monday to formally cast ballots for Republican Donald Trump (all times local):

10:11 a.m.

Arizona's 11 Electoral College members unanimously voted for Republican Donald Trump.

The meeting of the electors Monday at the state Capitol came as members were inundated with emails, hundreds of letters and untold numbers of calls urging them not to cast their ballots for Trump.

The same pressure was being placed on Republican electors across the nation.

About 150 protesters marched around the Capitol mall in opposition to Trump.

They carried signs that said, "Stop Trump," ''Our electors should be our protectors" and "Hand picked by Putin  what could go wrong."

The electors are all Republicans because Trump won the Arizona election with 49 percent of the vote compared with Democrat Hillary Clinton's 45 percent.

They were picked by the state party.

9:45 a.m.

About 150 protesters gathered outside the Arizona Capitol as the state's 11 Electoral College voters are set to formally cast ballots for Republican Donald Trump.

The protesters marched around the Capitol mall Monday in hopes of persuading electors not to vote for Trump.

They carried signs that said, "Stop Trump," ''Our electors should be our protectors" and "Hand picked by Putin  what could go wrong."

There were no signs of Trump supporters at the protest.

Ken Kobre, a college professor who lives in Scottsdale, worries says he that Trump will turn back progress on issues such as climate change and diversity.

The Associated Press interviewed eight of the 11, and those who responded say they're sure the Arizona vote will be unanimous for Trump.

1:14 a.m.

Arizona's 11 Electoral College voters are set to gather to formally cast their ballots for Republican Donald Trump.

Monday's meeting at the state Capitol comes as the electors have each been inundated with tens of thousands of emails, hundreds of letters and untold numbers of phone calls urging them not to cast their ballots for Trump.

Opponents of Trump are planning a protest before Monday's meeting. Electors say they are wasting their time.

The Associated Press interviewed eight of the 11, and those who responded say they're sure the Arizona vote will be unanimous for Trump.
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.  The 47th Fighter Squadron hosted a local Tucson child as part of the "Pilot for a Day" program, Dec. 4.

The program focuses on children of all ages who have terminal or chronic conditions. The goal of the program is to give each child and their family a special day and a break from the daily challenges they face.

The honoree for the day was Noah Hepner, 10. He was diagnosed with high risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, August 2015. He arrived at the base excited and nervous but he didn't face the unexpected alone. He was joined by his parents, siblings and two best friends.

Capt. Keith Madsen, 47th FS A-10C pilot, volunteered to "train" Noah for the day.

"I was very eager to be a part of this program," said Madsen. "The courage and perseverance this 10-year-old boy has, is an example to all of us."

The squadron had one plan for Noah.

"We want him to forget about his daily life and focus on getting into the role of becoming a fighter pilot," said Madsen.

"It was a rough year for us, we've spent every holiday and birthday in the hospital because he's been so sick," said Lisa Chuinard, Noah's mother.

Noah's disease has prevented him from doing most things that healthier 10-year-olds get to do. He missed his entire fourth grade year of school and rarely hangs out with other kids because of his compromised immune system, which means germs are life threatening to him. The day was a welcomed break for the family.

"He's been in his own fight and I really appreciate [the 47th FS] for honoring that and him," said Chuinard. "It's like a birthday party for him especially because he was able to invite his friends."

Noah shyly stood in front of fellow 47th FS pilots, in his personalized flight gear, to be indoctrinated into the honorary pilot training program. After the ceremony he and his family headed out to see the A-10C Thunderbolt II up close and personal.

"Whoa! We actually get to sit in the cockpit!?!" said Noah.

The squadron was aware that Noah's favorite thing to do was playing video games so they planned plenty of time for the A-10C aircraft simulator. After a basic rundown of what the flight controls do, Noah had his bearing. Everyone was left in awe of how quickly he picked it up.

"He's a natural. Look at that control, it's amazing," said Madsen.

For the full pilot experience the aircrew allowed Noah's siblings and best friends to sit in another simulator and play against Noah.

After some well spent time in the simulator, Noah headed to the one other place he wanted to go to, the Armory. He learned about the various different weapons and how they operate.

Noah completed his "training" and the 47th FS made it official in front of the entire 924th Fighter Group.

"I want you all to meet Noah, the newest pilot of the 47th FS," said Lt. Col. Brian Cusson, 47th FS commander. "Noah, you are welcome here anytime and keep kicking cancer's butt."
Wilson K-8 School is one of five finalists representing Arizona in a nationwide science, technology, engineering, arts and math contest by Samsung.

There are 255 state finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest, which calls on students to solve problems in the real world or their community using STEAM skills.

Wilson K-8 and other state finalists were chosen based on their creative proposals. The school now has to create a lesson plan that can put their ideas into action.

Wilson K-8s proposal was to create compost containers from upcycled materials.

The final prize of the contest is $2 million.
Could the familiar sound of a police helicopter patrolling the skies over Tucson someday be silenced by unmanned drones?

Maybe, says Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus.

Yes, we are looking at drones, Magnus confirmed last week, saying keeping the Police Departments two helicopters flying is extremely costly. A third helicopter owned by the department has been grounded and is being used for parts.

We have an air-support unit that is incredibly costly, he said Why wouldnt it make sense to look at drones as a possible option? From a cost standpoint (drones are) far less costly potentially than some of the costs over the long-term.

Typically, drones equipped with cameras are much smaller than helicopters and are flown by a person on the ground using a control pad. The Sahuarita Police Department is the only law enforcement agency in the Tucson area using drones. That department south of Tucson was testing a drone program with a private company earlier this year and had plans to begin regular use this month.

Other law enforcement agencies in the area, include the Arizona Department of Public Safety, are also looking at using drones. Federal law enforcement agencies on the border use drones.

Magnus made the remarks during an interview about capital needs for the department as part of the discussion of a proposed half-cent sales tax the Tucson City Council is considering putting on the May ballot.

If approved by city voters, the revenue from the tax would benefit law enforcement, the Fire Department and be used to repair city streets.

The police chief said the citys remaining two helicopters are also approaching the end of their useful lives.

They have costly components that must be replaced on different schedules and times, and so I think it would be financially foolish not to look at drones as at least a way to look at either augmenting or stepping away in part from that program, he said.

Drones would be helpful in other areas as well, with Magnus noting they could be used to get aerial pictures of crime scenes and vehicle accidents.

He was clear, however, that the issue is still unfolding and requires more consideration before moving forward with any plans. No decision has been made yet, he said.

The departments helicopters were grounded for two weeks a year ago after an outside audit determined the division was operating at a high safety risk.

But the president of the Tucson Police Officers Association, Roland Gutierrez, worries that no matter how good the cameras on drones are, they cant compete with the two officers on each helicopter flight.

Experienced officers on the flights, he said, are better equipped to help personnel on the ground than any drone could be.
Brandi Fenton Antique Fair

A vintage rocking horse is on display during the Brandi Fenton Antique Fair, at 3482 E River Rd. The vendor, Shawna Schwering who usually sells her goods on the southeast corner of the fair, is asking $75 for the wooden horse. The fair is held on the third Sunday of every month from October through March. Vendors sell their antique and vintage goods from 9am to 3pm.
iStock/Thinkstock(THORNTON, Colo.) -- A toddler who was left in a car for hours in subzero temperatures in Thornton, Colorado, was found alive by police on Saturday morning.

Authorities said the 2-year-old suffered severe frostbite and hypothermia, but he was expected to survive, according to ABC affiliate KMGH-TV.

The boy's mother, 26-year-old Nicole Carmon, called police Saturday when she realized her son wasn't home, according to KMGH-TV. She told authorities she became disoriented after an accident the night before and got a ride home, KMGH-TV reports.

Police found Carmon's car, a green Ford Fiesta, in a parking lot covered in snow, according to KMGH-TV.

A witness told KMGH-TV that the toddler wasn't moving when police rescued him from the car.

The mother is now being held in the Adams County Detention Center for investigation of felony child abuse, KMGH-TV reports.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
PHOENIX  Saying the American flag is a special symbol, a Republican lawmaker wants to make it a felony to steal one that is on display.

The proposal by Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, would carve an exception into existing law that generally determines the severity of a theft by the value of what is taken. That law says its a misdemeanor to steal anything worth less than $1,000, punishable by six months in the county jail and a $2,500 fine.

Kavanaghs proposal, SB 1009, would boost the penalty to a year in state prison, regardless of the value of the flag. And felonies allow a judge to impose a fine of up to $150,000.

Kavanagh said the enhanced penalty is justified.

You are not only stealing the flag, which is a venerable object to begin with, he said.

You are also stealing the expression of the person who is displaying the flag, perhaps in mourning for someone who is deceased, perhaps as an act of patriotism, perhaps as an act of protest, Kavanagh explained.

It is the First Amendment right of the person displaying it.

But Kavanaghs measure does not extend that same special protection to someones right of expression to other flags or banners. So it would remain a misdemeanor to steal a state flag, the flag of the University of Arizona or someones rainbow flag displayed to support gay rights.

You have to draw the line somewhere, he said. And the flag of our nation, which has a special place in the hearts of its citizens  and in law  is the one that I think is most appropriate.

The legislation comes amid renewed interest nationally in whether the flag should have special protections.

Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag  if they do, there must be consequences  perhaps loss of citizenship or a year in jail, President-elect Donald Trump tweeted last month.

There are, however, two separate rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court specifically protecting flag-burning as a constitutional right of expression.

And while the concept of a flag-burning law has some popular support, even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., issued a statement in response suggesting that while the act is unpleasing speech, the president-elect is legally off base, citing the high-court rulings.

In this country we have a long tradition of respecting unpleasant speech, McConnell said. I happen to support the Supreme Courts decision on that matter.

Attorney Will Gaona of the Arizona chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said what Kavanagh is proposing does not rise to the same level as Trumps statements. And Gaona said he knows of no court ruling that would say its illegal to provide an enhanced penalty for the theft of a U.S. flag while not covering other banners.

Kavanagh also pointed out that to trigger the law, one has to first commit a crime  in this case, stealing a flag  before the felony provision would apply. And theft, he said, is hardly a constitutionally protected right of expression.

Still, Kavanagh left the door open to having the measure challenged if it becomes law. And hes ready with a response.

If pressed by court decision to expand it to other flags, I would be open to that, he said.

Not every flag theft would become a felony.

The legislation covers only those flags that are on display by a resident or business.
On July 27, Rijiju said in the Lok Sabha that the BJPs ideology on the uniform civil code should be taken as the country's ideology on the same. Basil Islam | TwoCircles.net NEW DELHI  Union Minister Kiren Rijijus recent remarks on implementing the uniform civil code have re-ignited the debate on the viability of a uniform civil code and its possible...
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By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net

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Jammu: On the night of Saturday, November 26, Mohammad Saleem, 29, a native of Rakhine state of Myanmar living as a refugee in Jammus Narwal region, went to visit one of his relatives in nearby Jhuggi, leaving behind his wife and three kids.

At around 12 am, just when most of the refugees were going off to sleep, they saw sharp red flames started engulfing the makeshift homes one by one, starting from the one owned by Mohammad Saleem and leaving a trail of huge smoke in the air.

As the news reached Saleem, he came running towards his home, only to find the burnt bodies of his wife, three kids including one of his sisters. One of his sons who survived is currently in the state-owned hospital.

But it was only the next morning when the true scale of the damage was visible. More than 80 huts, primarily made of wood and polythene, had been reduced to ashes like they never existed, and the refugees had lost nearly all their possessions.

Mohammad Zubair, 22 who used to live with his family of six, was among the many who lost all his belongings and now lives in a temporary tent given by Red Cross.

I lost my hut along with my grocery shop which I used to operate from the very same hut. I lost everything. The fire spread so fast that people didnt had time to react. We could have either saved our lives or our belongings, Zubair told TwoCircles.net.

I and my family are putting up right now in a tent given for shelter by Red Cross, but it will be taken back in next few days because it was given to us until we can arrange our accommodations, he adds.

Another refugee fire victims, Hasaan Ahmed, 35 lost his shelter, which was home for two families comprising of 10 individuals. All are homeless now, living in a Red Cross makeshift tent.

This fire has made us refugees for the second time, says Ahmed. People in J&K are quite generous. They did came to help us with the ration and blankets but the question of constructing another hut is the bigger problem for us and we cant afford it, he adds.

In Jammu district of J&K, there are around 1,219 Myanmars Rohingya families comprising 5,107 members living as refugee after escaping persecution back in their country. Spread across different areas in Jammu, the refugees live in dozens of slum dwellings. Locals rent their pieces of lands on which refugees construct their homes and live along with the fellow refugees.

Most of the slums inhabited by the refugee are in abysmal conditions without proper toilets, water facilities and proper electricity.

Almost all the jhuggis of refugee people are made up of wood and polythene because they cant afford tins. And a little spark can lead to the major fire and this incident has instilled a fear into all our community living here in Jammu, says 20-year old Rohingya refugee Abdul Shakur.

Three weeks after the fire, victims are anticipating some help for shelter, so that they dont have to live under the open sky, when the winters have already set in the Himalayan region.

The winters are harsh in Jammu. We are praying to Allah that it shouldnt rain otherwise we will be caught bad, adds Shakur.

The US based Indian Muslim Relief and Charities (IMRC) has also taken note of the suffering of the Rohingya fire victims and has decided to intervene by providing tents and other essentials so as they can fight the harsh winters as well as summers.
Help India!

By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net

To mark International Minority Rights Day, the UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav decided to spend his time distributing pension to Muslims at a function in the Islamic Center of India, Farangi Mahal in Lucknow.

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But with elections coming, it was no surprise that the Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati used this to fire a fresh salvo against the Samajwadi Party.

Mincing no words, Mayawati charged that celebrating a day for the rights of Minorities in a token manner will not help. (Only) when the head of present SP government frees himself from the clutches of BJP and works honestly for the welfare of Muslims will it be of any help. But he has not done so in his tenure, Mayawati said.

She further stated that during the SP government, there were more than 400 riots including Muzaffarnagar and that this government will be remembered in the same manner as BJP is remembered for Ayodhya demolition and Congress for Hashimpura-Maiana carnage, Bhagalpur, Bhiwandi and other riots.

She also questioned why every time there is SP government in the state the BJP becomes stronger. She claimed that during her regime in UP, BJP became weaker and it shows that both SP and BJP are hand-in-glove with each other. She also stated that during BSPs rule, UP was free from riots and law and order was maintained.

She also raised the issue of relief for Muzaffarnagar riot victims, stating that the victims have not been provided relief and their families have not been give government jobs as promised.

Hitting out at SP, she stated that it is questionable why the SP government is soft on the accused of Muzaffanagar riots.

It is noteworthy that Mayawati has now decided to go after Dalit-Muslim combine in the coming assembly polls. After fielding over 100 candidates from Muslim community, she is making all out efforts to wean away Muslims from SP.
Help India!

By Anand Singh

New Delhi : One of the Pathankot terrorists, who attacked an IAF base at Pathankot, Punjab, on January 2, spoke to his mother in Pakistan over a cell phone to express his last wish and called for a feast for his friends after his death, according to intercepts by the NIA.

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Nasir Hussain of Vehari in Pakistan made multiple calls to his handlers and relatives from the two cell phones he and other terrorists snatched from two locals while the group made its way to the Indian Air Force base, according to an NIA chargesheet filed on Monday.

The chargesheet alleged that Hussain during his 18-minute conversation with a woman, whom he addressed as his mother, asked her to record his conversation on her mobile set.

He asked the woman to host a dawat (feast) for my derawala friends after my death, the anti-terror probe agency said, citing intercepts.

Hussain also took the names of some of his family members and relatives  Mudassir, Mariyam and Altamash.

He told his mother that the group infiltrated into the Indian territory at 2 a.m. on December 30, 2015  three days before they stormed into the military base and killed seven soldiers in a fierce gunfight.

He also spoke to his brother or cousin who was referred to by the name Babar, and to another person name(d) Munna, the chargeshet read.

During the conversation with his mother, Hussain mentioned about one ustad (teacher) who was supposed to come to her with his wasihat (last wish) after his death, said the chargesheet that named Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others as the masterminds of the terror attack.

The telephone call was made while the terrorists were hiding inside the air base as he told his mother that they were about to attack the camp.

The calls were made about 9.20 a.m. on January 1, 2016, to Pakistan telephone number +92 3000 957 212. The NIA said it belonged to Khayam Bhatti, also known as Babar Bhatti, a local merchandise shop in Sialkot of Pakistan.

Hussain also disclosed the names of his other three associates as Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom, the NIA said. It said that Hussain tried to call on the same number around 8.40 a.m. in the morning but the call was not responded to.


Help India!

By TCN News

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From last six years Syrians have been protesting for the establishment of democracy for which 4 million people have to pay the price by sacrificing their life and millions of people have to migrate and had to take refuge in other nations. Instead of respecting the dissent voices and stepping down, Bashar Al-Assad waged the war against his own people with the assistance of Iran and Russia, said Kashif Ahmed Faraz, National Convener of Youth Awakening Movement. He was addressing the protest gathering in Lucknow against the genocide in Syria. Questioning the role of International community, UNO and Human rights organizations he asked if UN exists for Middle East, their silence allowed Syrian regime to continue the slaughtering of innocent citizens.

Sajid Khan, a student activist from Lucknow University expressed his anguish on the destruction of Syria and said it is agonising to see the annihilation of whole civilization which was epitome for the world.

Imran Ali, a social activist discussed the historical background of Syria and said that it is Hafiz Al-Assad, the father of Bashar Al-Assad who toppled the democratic government in 1982 and continued the tyrant regime till his death and his son persisted his legacy of authoritarianism.

Kamranullah Khan, a student from IIT Bombay opined that Arab Spring enthused the hope for democracy in many Middle East nations and compelled Tunisian and Egyptian totalitarian establishment to step down but unfortunately Syria couldnt succeed with lust mongers of power and still bleeding.

Asif Akram, The State President of SIO UP Central said, The genocide in Syria is the biggest shame of our times that just merely for being in power Bashar Al-Assad didnt hesitate to slaughter his own people.

Concluding the program Masihuzzama Ansari, a student activist expressed his solidarity with Syria and said At the time when the international community is silent on the genocide, we the peace loving citizens of India express our solidarity with Syrians in their struggle for establishment of democracy.
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New Delhi : The AAP on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go for cashless donations to political parties if he was serious about curbing black money in politics.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashish Khetan said as of now both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got three quarters of all donations in cash from anonymous sources.

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If the Prime Minister and the central government want to end black money in elections, they can do it in 48 hours, Khetan told the media here.

Under existing law, political parties do not need to furnish the details of their donors if they are contributing up to Rs 20,000.

This provision, Khetan explained, was used to break up large donations, including from corporates, into brackets of Rs 20,000 each so that they do not have to make public the details of donors.

This will also happen if the upper limit is Rs 2,000, he said, in response to a recent suggestion.

All political parties should go cashless. Since everyone is being encouraged to use ATM, credit card, debit card and Paytm, why should this not be applicable to political parties? he asked.

The AAP leader also urged the Prime Minister to amend the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, so that a cap was placed on how much each political party can spend as compared to individual candidates.

He said political parties should also come under the purview of the Right to Information Act so that people can get answers from them.
After a rewarding career in the computer industry, Sybil decided to try her hand at writing mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in

and

, among others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Southern California where she enjoys tole painting, studying ancient languages and spending time with

friends and family. Find her at

.

Sybil Johnsons love affair with reading began in kindergarten with The Three Little Pigs. Visits to the library introduced her to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where she continued reading while studying Computer Science.
No one cares about Aleppo. The only people who truly care about what is happening there are either dead or dying.

While some Syrians celebrated the victory of Assads troops, others recorded their goodbyes and sent said videos to major media outfits. Although the latter is dubious and reason enough for many to no longer pay attention to Aleppo, we still dont know the real story. And this is where the conundrum begins.

The media has released an onslaught of information about Aleppo for the past few days. But even with this kind of media coverage, not many bothered to air their concerns.

The silence is deafening. Are we silent because of conflicting information? Are we silent because we dont care about Syrians? Or are we silent because we believe US propaganda?

Four forces, one war

On one corner you have the Syrian Arab Republic and its troops supported by Hezbollah, and the Russian army. This group gets its armament support from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Iraq, Egypt, and Belarus.

Another group is the Syrian opposition composed of the Free Syrian Army, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Greywolves  an extremist group from Turkey, and the Free Iraqi Army. It is funded by Qatar, Turkey, the US, France, Saudi Arabia, and Libya before it fell. The Syrian opposition is also supported by a US and Turkey-led task force.

The third force is Rojava's Syrian Democratic Council. It is led by the Syrian Democratic Forces and supported by the Kurdistan Workers Party, the United Freedom Forces, and since 2014, the Peshmerga. Military hardware support comes from France, the US, Iraqi Kurdistan, Syria, and the Czech Republic. It is also supported by a joint task force specific for targeting the terrorist group ISIL led by the US and aided by the UK, France, Canada, Denmark, Australia, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco.

Russia also supports this third group because of two targets  ISIL and the Syrian opposition.

The fourth force is the Islamic State and the Levant (ISIL) and its allies.

Unfortunate Events

In the 70s, Alawite military commander Hafez al-Assad brought order to a beleaguered nation by creating a one-party state. As one would expect, many Syrians and foreign powers disapproved of his government.

Upon his death in 2000, his son Bashar became President. Reforms were initiated but most of these changes only benefited Shiites and Alawites. The gap between rich and poor widened and the Sunni majority was enraged. Unemployment among the younger generation was high and in 2007-2010, Syria experienced an intense drought that forced farmers to migrate to major cities. Syria also welcomed 1.5 million Iraqi refugees during this period making life even harder for everyone.

The Damascus Cable

America lit a fire that it cant put out and as a consequence produced failed states out of Syria, Iraq, and Libya.

In a cable sent by William Roebuck to the White House in 2006, Roebuck wrote, Bashar appears in some ways stronger than he has in two years.

The country is economically stable (at least for the short term), internal opposition the regime faces is weak and intimidated, and regional issues seem to be going Syria's way, from Damascus' perspective. Nonetheless, there are some long-standing vulnerabilities and looming issues that may provide opportunities to up the pressure on Bashar and his inner circle.

Possible actions included in the cable are as follows:

Play on Sunni fears of Iranian influence

Encourage rumors and signals of external plotting

Highlight failures of reform

Discourage foreign direct investment

Highlight Kurdish complaints

What Does The US Want?

When talks of an Iran-Iraq-Syria gas pipeline started, the US formed a coalition with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and NATO.

The Qatar-Turkey pipeline was also in the works and it would have had to go through Syria. These two pipelines would open the doors for US influence in Europe and have the continent veer away from Russia.
Social media behemoth Facebook announced plans to combat fake news stories spreading across their website today. Recently, Facebook has faced a lot of criticism for failing to prevent the proliferation of fake news stories on their website.

Combating fake news

On Thursday, Facebook Inc (FB.O) announced that users of the social network will be able to flag items on their News Feed that they find suspicious. Facebook said that they will be working closely with fact-checking organisations such as Snopes, ABC News, Factcheck.com, Politifact and the Associated Press to ensure the veracity of stories appearing on users' News Feeds.

If fact-checking organisations determine a story isn't authentic, Facebook said, it will get flagged as "disputed" and there will be a subsequent article published that explains why the story isn't true. Facebook added that once a story is flagged, it cannot be promoted and will, consequently, be lower down in users' News Feeds.

Prior to the U.S. election, Facebook users were exposed to erroneous reports claiming that Pope Francis had endorsed Donald Trump and that a member of the FBI investigating Hillary Clinton had been found dead. Many of the fake news stories appearing on Facebook during the presidential election campaign were traced back to Eastern European teenagers, who were profiting from the spread of fake news.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was quick to dismiss suggestions that Facebook was to blame for Donald Trump's presidential win, labeling the notion as a "pretty crazy idea". Today's announcement marks a clear change in tact for Facebook, who have around 1,000,000,000 active accounts.

Historically, Facebook has relied primarily on users to report offensive or inaccurate stories.

However, these reports were subject to Facebook's "community standards" as opposed to being rigorously checked by a third party.

In a blog post, Adam Mosseri, the VP of Facebook's News Feed, said: "We believe in giving people a voice and that we cannot be the arbiters of truth ourselves, so we're approaching the problem carefully. We've focused our efforts on the worst of the worst, on the clear hoaxes spread by spammers for their own gain".
I already told you to sleep with clothes on because you are producing many babies was a statement made by Omar Fayad, Mexican governor of Hidalgo, to indigenous women at Acaxochitlan, one of the 84 municipalities of Hidalgo, while he was delivering ecological stoves to the local community. After making this statement, Omar Fayad apologized for not being clear about what he was trying to communicate. The discriminatory and misogynist remark was made by a member of the current Mexican Presidents party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

This political party has had a long history of governing the Mexican territory with corruption and lies.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)

Mexicans used to refer to the members of the party as dinosaurs, and with reason. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) has governed in Mexico for over 70 years, and while some of their politics have been the same through the years, the Mexican country has been evolving and in need of new political approaches. Enrique Pena Nieto, current Mexican President, has created controversy among Mexican citizens with his polemic declarations during his political mandate. But apparently, as seen on 14th December, Omar Fayad follows the steps of the Mexican President.

Fayad, like Pena Nieto, has had a long history of discriminatory statements during his political career. Something to take into account, as this might represent not just an inside issue of the political party, but a national problem reflecting the social inequality the country is living.

Indigenous communities

There have been mixed attitudes in regard of how to tackle poverty among Mexican indigenous communities.

While some claimed that this national issue should be resolved through better political policies which might become as a result of lowering corruption percentages among politicians, others have been stuck in the early 50s where people used to think that a national socio-economic problem should be resolve by simply telling women that they should cover themselves.

Fayads statement is not only misogynist, as he thinks women are one of the main problems of overpopulation, and therefore poverty, but he also sees them as simple objects that produce babies, as he said, you are producing many babies. This remark is anything but hilarious. It should not be taken as a simple mistake that could be forgotten and we should all focus on how he, as a man as a political leader, can simply make a mistake referring to indigenous women as one of the main reasons there are many kids on indigenous local communities. His statement is a reflection of something bigger, of a problem which not only affects Mexico, but it affects the entire world. Women are constantly underestimated and objectified leading to violent behaviour towards them. Omar Fayad should be more careful about how he uses language. As a political leader he should be leading through tolerant and inclusive policies, not discriminatory and misogynist statements.
Dialpad, SoftBank Improve Mobility in Japan

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By Alicia Young

Web Editor By Alicia YoungWeb Editor

Dialpad and SoftBank have teamed up to bring Dialpads pure-cloud business communications solution to Japan. The country is one of the worlds largest economies and technology markets, yet it doesnt have the best tools set up for unified communications (UC). As a result, the mobile workforce is suffering.





Under the terms of the agreement, SoftBank will offer Dialpad to its customers. Additionally, SoftBank will be the exclusive provider of Dialpad for five years. This arrangement is perfect for both companies. Dialpad will be able to reach a whole new market of customers thanks to its exclusive ties with SoftBank, and SoftBanks reputation will get a boost after people realize how beneficial the Dialpad UC solution is.

The people gaining the most out of this agreement, though, are Japanese workers. By accessing Dialpads UC solution through SoftBank, workers will be able to get rid of their office desk phones and start implementing BYOD policies. They will be able to work from anywhere, on any device of their choice, without suffering and call quality issues or other setbacks.

Out of all the available UC solutions, SoftBank chose to team up with Dialpad because of how easy it is to deploy. Since it is a pure-cloud solution, there are no on-premises servers, storage or hardwired phones. Additionally, the solution can be deployed in minutes, saving time and enabling employees to get back to work as quickly as possible. All an employee has to do is log into the application after it is set up, and they are instantly able to connect and collaborate in whatever format they wantvoice, video, messaging or SMS.

This is an important development being brought to Japan that will allow the mobile workforce there to be on the same playing field as the rest of the world.

"It's now clear that companies that remain tied to their old desk phones are falling further behind the competition every day," said Craig Walker (News - Alert), CEO of Dialpad. "As we continue our global expansion, we are extremely pleased to be working with SoftBank, which has had extraordinary success taking cloud solutions like G Suite to market. With close to 100 million smartphone contracts in Japan, we are confident that Dialpad will become the standard business communications solution, empowering organizations and connecting workers across Japan."

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Edited by Maurice Nagle
The aim of this study is to determine whether physicians have an age bias regarding sexual dysfunction presented by older vs. younger patients in terms of attributed diagnosis, etiology, proposed treatment and perceived prognosis.

An on-line survey consisting of one of two, randomly administered, case vignettes, which differed only by the age of the patient (28 or 78). In both cases, the patient was described as suffering from occasional erectile dysfunction with a clear psychosocial indication. A total of 236 physicians responded to the survey. Overall, 110 physicians received an "old" vignette and 126 physicians received a "young" vignette.

Even though both cases presented with a clear psychosocial etiology, the "older" vignette was more likely to be diagnosed with erectile dysfunction whereas the "younger" vignette was more likely to be diagnosed with performance anxiety. The "older" vignette's dysfunction was more likely to be attributed to hormonal changes, health problems and decreased sexual desire. Physicians were more likely to recommend testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5i; such as Sildenafil; Vardenafil; Tadalafil) as well as a referral to urology to the "older" vignette. In contrast, the "younger" vignette was more often referred to a sexologist and received a more positive prognosis than the older patient.

This study demonstrates an age bias among physicians regarding sexuality in later life. Of particular note is the tendency to prescribe PDE5i to the older patient, despite the clear psychosocial indication presented in the case vignette. Copyright  2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

International journal of geriatric psychiatry. 2016 Dec 16 [Epub ahead of print]

Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan, Liat Ayalon

The Louis and Gaby Weisfeld school of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.

PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27981728
It is always a matter of time before a famous group splits with the departure of just one member, and that time has finally come for Fifth Harmony. According to the statement released by the group on Monday morning, the 19-year-old did not notify her group mates about her decision but left her agents to break the news.

Agents announced the departure news after iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball

The agents decided to announce the news concerning the departure of Camilla Cabello from Fifth Harmony just hours after all the five of them leaving the stage in Florida at the iHeartRadios Jingle Ball.

According to the statement, Camilla Cabello had decided to leave Fifth Harmony after four and half years as a member of the group thereby leaving Fifth Harmony as a quartet. The all-female singing band announced this through their social media platforms like iInstagram and Twitter which spread through the platforms like wildfire since within 20 minutes of posting on Twitter, the tweet garnered nearly 11,000 retweets with more than 18000 likes. These are estimated to increase as more people will get enlightened with time.

Therefore, the group members took the chance to wish her all the best and stated that they intend to move forward normally as four members including, Lauren Jauregui, Dinah Jane, Normani Kordei and Ally Brooke for their fans because they are four strong women who will remain in the Fifth Harmony as four-piece.

It can be argued that Camilla Cabello was testing the waters at the beginning of the year through her solo collaboration with Machine Gun, an American hip hop artist when they released a hit track, "Bad Things" in October. The track had solder over 136000 copies in America alone just two months after its release.

More controversies in the Band

Additionally, Fifth Harmony has recently faced more controversy after one of the team members, Lauren was found in possession of Marijuana as she was preparing to travel to Brazil from America but was detailed at the airport and charged in a court of law. According to TMZ reports, the 20-year-old Lauren was going to Brazil where the band was set to perform at the VEVO FunPopFun Festival but was unable to join the group as the performance went on four-piece without her presence.
Proving that interest in using lunar resources for the benefit of businesses and to further the exploration of Space has become widespread, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has signed a memorandum of understanding with a small startup firm called iSpace Inc., based in Tokyo. The purpose of the memo is to develop an enterprise, for the mining, transport, and use of resources on the moon.

Besides delving into lunar mining, iSpace handles the business operations for Team Hakuto, the Japanese entrant in the Google Lunar X Prize competition to land a rover on the lunar surface by the end of 2017.

The winner will move 500 meters and will return hires images and video from the lunar surface.

A number of businesses and government space agencies are interested in a return to the moon, not only for science and political prestige but to exploit its resources. The moon is a repository of platinum group metals and a substance called Helium 3, thought to be fuel for future fusion reactors. However, the moon also has billions of tons of water ice, primarily deposited at the poles in shadowed craters. Water can not only be used to sustain a lunar settlement but can be refined into rocket fuel. That fact will make the moon into a way station to the rest of the solar system. No longer will spacecraft have to carry all the fuel it needs from out of the steep gravity well of Earth.

Such an architecture would help to change the economics of space travel in profound ways.

ISpace will have competitors in the race for lunar resources. Two American companies and competitors in the Google Lunar X Prize, Moon Express, and Astrobotic, are also interested in mining the moon for profit. Even though the European Union, Russia, China, Japan, India, and, belatedly the United States with the coming of a new president, the new race to the moon is as much a private one as it is a government-centric contest. The winner or, more likely, winners will reap untold riches.
Vowing to follow the Constitution rather than a State judge's ruling, Democrat Polly Baca says she is willing to risk loss of her position and even prosecution to try and get some other Republican the majority of votes or deny trump the necessary 270 votes in the Electoral College, and therefore send the decision to the Republican-dominated House of Representatives.

Polly Baca on CNN

She told CNN at 1:45 today that for the first time in half a century she is afraid for the future of The United States of America if Donald Trump is actually sworn in as President.

Polly Baca, a former Democratic State Senator for Colorado is a Clinton supporter and Electoral College Elector, but, knowing that it is likely impossible to get Republican votes for Clinton in the Electoral College, she is planning to vote for some alternate Republican candidate to either get that person elected or at a minimum get the election thrown into The House of Representatives for them to perhaps choose someone other than Donald Trump, even a Republican.

Polly Baca, along with others in several states (Including Washington) are joining together with other supporters of the Constitution as "Hamilton Electors" who vow to follow the Constitutional requirement for the Electoral College to make the actual first and in fact only decision as to who wins the vote and is actually going to be sworn in as President of the United States in January.

They take their name from Alexander Hamilton who, in The Federalist Papers, explained that the Electoral College was needed to buffer between voters who might be fooled by a demagogue or someone who they didn't know had vast foreign entanglements when they voted in November.

Since November Donald Trump has not yet moved to divest himself of his vast global investments and has only said so far that his kids would take over.

One of his kids, Ivanka Trump is going to move into the White House where she will act as First Lady temporarily.

Presumptive President-elect

Mr. Trump is only the presumptive President-elect because the President and Vice President are not voted for in November; only Electoral College electors who make the actual decision as to who becomes President and Vice President in January when they cast the first and only actual votes for the offices on January 19 (next Monday).

If a majority of one plus half (or 270 electoral votes) do not go to a single candidate, then the Replublican-held House will choose the President from the top three vote-getters in the College, and the Vice President will be selected by the Senate.
Lucid Motors' luxury electric sedan faces obstacles moving from being a prototype into production and mounting a challenge to Tesla, observers said.

Menlo Park, California-based Lucid revealed its first electric car, called the Air, on Dec 15, not far from Tesla's factory. The Air is designed to take on Tesla's Model S.

Peter Rawlinson, Lucid's chief technology officer, was the chief engineer for the Model S.

Rawlinson told TheStreet.com that Lucid's investors include Beijing Auto and the Chinese online video company LeEco, which is also a backer of Faraday Future, another electric vehicle (EV) startup that has plans to produce vehicles in the US.

Lucid plans to break ground on a $700 million assembly plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, early next year, with production set to begin in 2018. Similar to how Tesla started with the Model S, Lucid plans to build 10,000 Airs in the first year and eventually increase production to 60,000 cars a year.

Zach Edson, Lucid's director of supply chain, told the Phoenix Business Journal that the company has the funds to get through the design and permitting stages and into the construction stage. The company will also begin sourcing its supplies and partners.

Eric Paul Dennis with the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is skeptical that Lucid can meet that schedule.

"They have not yet even designed the factory? They haven't begun permitting? They haven't even started establishing a supply chain? No way they begin assembly in 2018, and I can't believe they would even claim that," he wrote in an email.

Lucid's David Salguero told China Daily in an email that the company's factory program is on track. "We will break ground in 2017 and start production in late 2018. The Arizona facility will be funded by a combination of current and future investment and will be constructed in phases."

EV companies need a lot of cash. Tesla, which reported sales of a little more than 50,000 vehicles in 2015, burned through $611 million in the first half of 2016 and $2.2 billion in 2015, according to a report in Investor's Business Daily.

"Whether they (Lucid) succeed will depend on continued access to capital over the next few years, a challenge for any startup automaker, as it's a capital-intensive business. They still need to ramp up to meaningful volume beyond production start to get scale, and Tesla isn't even there yet, so it does not make the odds of success high," said David Whiston, auto analyst for Morningstar Inc.

"Lucid is a well funded company. We have raised hundreds of millions of dollars in three rounds of funding from a worldwide group of investors. There are no majority shareholders," Lucid's Salguero said in response.

Initial Lucid Airs are expected to cost more than $100,000, with a special launch edition costing up to $160,000. The company hopes to offer less-expensive versions in the future and has started taking deposits of $2,500.

Dennis said that to sell a $100,000 electric vehicle the US, where the market is in the hundreds, possibly thousands of units, the company must "convince people it's better than a Tesla of similar price. So it will be competing with Tesla X and heavily-optioned S.

"At that cost, Teslas are wicked fast and have their industry-leading automation features. I would not want the task of trying to get a foothold in such a market with a startup," he said.

Salguero said the Air will retail for more than $100,000, but future models will start at $65,000. "We intend to sell approximately 10,000 units in the first year and will ramp up production to the point where we are making 130,000 cars by the end of 2022 (about 60,000 Air, 70,000 future models)," he said.

While initially focusing on the US, Salguero said Lucid will expand to China and the Europe.
Editor' note: The year 2016 witnessed China playing host to some of the biggest events in the world. From the launch of AIIB's operation to internet summit to G20, the country used these highly influential platforms to push for more inclusive growth, better governance and improved regulations. Let's look back at some of the most significant events that show how China is striving to create a better world.
Abe can hardly please both the US and Russia Updated: 2016-12-19 07:34 By Cai Hong(China Daily)

Many issues in Japan's foreign policy are legacies of World War II. However, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has seemed determined to try and settle two of them in the last month of this year.

One of them is the row over four islets seized by the Soviet Union in the closing days of the war. Abe treated Russian President Vladimir Putin to a visit to hot springs in his ancestral hometown of Nagato in Yamaguchi prefecture on Thursday in the hope that a close personal relationship will help him make a breakthrough. The territorial dispute has stood in the way of a peace treaty between the two countries since the end of the war.

His onsen diplomacy, however, did not move Putin to concede the isles, known as Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia. Putin walked away with deals on economic cooperation, including Japan's consent to starting talks on joint projects on the disputed islands under a "special framework". Still, Putin has insisted that joint economic activities on the four isles be done under Russia's sovereignty.

Tough negotiations lie ahead for Japan.

The second concerns Japan's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Abe will join US President Barack Obama in Hawaii on Dec 26 and 27 for "reconciliation", although without offering an apology.

The past several years have seen Abe's foreign policy chasing the "two rabbits" of the United States and Russia.

Abe has showed unprecedented support for the Japan-US alliance. The two countries revised their defense guidelines in 2015. Japan's security legislation, which allows the country's Self-Defense Forces to fight in aid of friendly countries that come under attack if Japan's security is also threatened, took effect in March.

The US has welcomed the biggest change in Japan's defense policy since the creation of its Self-Defense Forces in 1954. And the Abe administration is mulling the deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-ballistic missile system in Japan.

Also, Abe has wooed Putin with geostrategic and economic interests as well as the territorial issue in mind. He went to Moscow in April 2013 accompanied by a large business delegation. He attended the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 despite calls for a boycott from his Western counterparts.

And he pitched to Putin an eight-point economic cooperation proposal in Sochi in May, rejecting an appeal by Obama not to go to Russia. The G7 nations imposed sanctions on Russia for its takeover of Crimea in 2014. But Abe visited Vladivostok in September with a concrete plan to pour Japanese money into critical sectors in the Russian Far East, in the hopes of accelerating rapprochement with Moscow.

Walking a tightrope between the US and Russia is more easily thought than done, however, especially as the relationship between Putin and Obama is badly strained.

To what extent Obama's successor as US president Donald Trump will keep his predecessors' commitment to the US-Japan alliance remains unclear. That Abe was the first foreign leader to meet with the US president-elect indicates Japan's unease.

In spite of the economic cooperation between the two countries, distrust runs deep between Russia and Japan. In an interview with Japanese media before his Japan visit, Putin blamed Tokyo's sanctions against Russia for shattering trust. Russia has deployed missiles on two of the four disputed islands, which Japan called "deplorable".

With Trump vowing to reset the relations with Russia, Abe may have more room to pursue rapprochement with Putin for return of the four islands. But with the Trump administration, Russia may play a bigger role on the world stage, shifting away from Japan.

The author is China Daily Tokyo bureau chief. caihong@chinadaily.com.cn
A restored military transport plane re-creating the famed "Hump" route of World War II had to fly through some tense moments - about three months' worth.

"We were about halfway to Guilin, over the ocean an hour and a half out of Bali on the way to Malaysia when we blew a cylinder off the left engine, resulting in a fire in that engine," said Larry Jobe, president of the Flying Tiger Historical Organization (FTHO), the California-based nonprofit group that conceived the Hump flight.

The Hump was what Allied pilots called the eastern end of the Himalayas as they flew military transport aircraft from India to China to resupply the Chinese war effort and units of the US Army Air Force based in China.

Shutting down and handling the fire successfully, they made a beeline for Surabaya, Indonesia, the nearest suitable airport for landing. However, it took them six weeks and "a great deal of money and stress" to get airborne again.

"Getting the engine replaced and out of Surabaya is a story in and of itself," Jobe said.

The crew members then went to Singapore, where they were able to adjust and fix the replacement engine with the assistance of the Republic of Singapore Flying Club.

With both engines running well, they went to U-Tapao and Chiang Mai, then Mandalay without incident and over the Himalayan Mountains to Kunming, "just as so many in World War II did", Jobe said.

"But about 10 miles out of Kunming, the plane lost the second engine when the No. 1 cylinder head loosened up, causing the engine to vibrate violently and spewing oil all over the nacelle and wing," he said.

In Lingui county, the crew received help and financial assistance from the local government. Fortunately, on Nov 19, the crew had good weather and accomplished the mission.

The flight, which was supposed to take about 10 days, took more than three months. The plane had left Australia (where the aircraft was purchased) on Aug 15, and passed through Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar and Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan province, before arriving in Guilin on Nov 19, where the plane will be on display at the Flying Tigers Heritage Park and Museum.

"We met our goals of honoring the men and women of World War II, helped shine a light on their history and

promoted friendship and understanding along the way," Jobe said.

The flight's all-volunteer crew was made up of two Australian pilots, two Australian engineers and two American pilots, including Jobe. Five of the six crew are in their 70s and the other one is 54.

Florence Fang, a Chinese-American entrepreneur, donated $175,000 for the mission, and the FTHO raised $50,000.

"This truly turned into a flight of friendship and relationship-building as we progressed along the nearly 7,000-mile route in a 72-year-old aircraft," Jobe said. "Different cultures and religions pulled together to help make this mission a success, much as different nations pulled together in World War II to defend China and defeat Japan."

The aircraft will be repainted to authentic livery for World War II and placed on permanent display at the site of General Chennault's Command Cave at the Guilin Flying Tigers Heritage Park and Museum. A special ceremony will be held on March 25.

Luo Linquan, Chinese consul general in San Francisco, held a reception at his residence last Thursday to celebrate the mission.

"Flying Tigers is a familiar name to us all, well-known and respected both in China and the United States," Luo said. "The American Volunteer Group headed by General Chennault fought shoulder to shoulder with the Chinese military and made brilliant achievements."

He said that bilateral relations between China and the US have kept moving forward despite twists and turns. "We will surely carry on the Flying Tigers' legacy and the friendship of the two peoples from generation to generation," Luo said.

liazhu@chinadailyusa.com
ANKARA - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed to Russian news agencies on Monday that the Russian ambassador to Ankara, Andrey Karlov, had been gunned down in an attack and hospitalised.

Zakharova said Moscow was in touch with Turkish authorities about the attack.

"Today, during a public event, an unknown person opened fire chaotically," Zakharova was cited as saying. "As a result, Andrey Karlov, the ambassador to Turkey, received a gunshot wound."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Interfax news agency that President Vladimir Putin had been told about the attack and would be studying a report from the intelligence services and foreign ministry on the incident.

Hurriyet newspaper's English website said the ambassador was shot while making a speech and that Turkish special forces had surronded the building. NTV said three other people were wounded.

CNN Turk television said shooting was continuing in the building.

Russia and Turkey have been involved in conflict in Syria across the border from where over two million Syrian refugees have settled. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of President Bashar al-Assad while Russia has deployed troops and its air force in support of the Syrian leader.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. Islamic State militants have been active in Turkey and carried out several bomb attacks on Turkish targets

A photograph posted on twitter showed a man in a black suit holding a pistol, standing close to a podium in the gallery, its walls hung with pictures. Four people including what appeared to be the ambassador lay on the floor.
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Speeding the equitisation of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) and development of the stock market is important to secure a Government policy to restructure businesses over the next five years.  Photo taichinhplus.vn

HA NOI  Speeding the equitisation of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) and development of the stock market is important to secure a Government policy to restructure businesses over the next five years, a finance official said.

Hoang Van Thu, deputy head of the Ministry of Finances Corporate Finance Department, told a conference held by the Ha Noi Stock Exchange last week that the acceleration in equitisation was needed for the sake of enterprises and investors.

A report by the department said the nation has had 5,950 SOEs reorganised, with 4,460 of them equitised and the remaining firms restructured through mergers and acquisitions, dissolution, bankruptcy or conversion into limited companies with two members or more.

Forty-eight firms were equitised in the first 10 months of this year, after 591 companies were privatised during 2011-15. As many as 718 SOEs remain to be equitised.

The report said that in the five years until 2015, some 350 equitised companies showed better business performances, compared to the results they posted in pre-equitisation phases.

The combined charter capital of these firms increased 72 per cent, and their total assets rose by 39 per cent. Their combined pre-tax profits were up 49 per cent, and joint contributions to the State budget were 27 per cent higher.

The average workers income at these companies also increased 33 per cent.

Also, the local press cited several cases where equitisation notably improved operational efficiency of businesses.

The Viet Nam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company, or Vinamilk, has seen charter capital increase by 13 times from the VN1.59 trillion (US$71.95 million) level recorded before it was equitised in December 2003.

Revenues of the company grew by more than 10 times, from VN451.60 billion in 2003 to VN40.22 trillion in 2015, and its after-tax profits increased from VN56 billion in 2003 to VN7.77 trillion last year, posting an average growth of 29 per cent per year.

The Viet Nam National Seed Joint Stock Company, also known as Vinaseed, posted revenues of VN1.36 trillion last year, a rise of 20 times from the pre-equitisation figure recorded more than 10 years ago.

Its after-tax profits reached VN157 billion in 2015, growing by 40 times; and asset values were up 22 times at VN1.56 trillion, while equity was 40 times higher at more than VN1 trillion.

The Viet Nam National Petroleum Group, better known as Petrolimex, obtained more than VN3 trillion in profits last year, compared to a loss of VN1.67 trillion the company suffered before it was equitised in 2011. The firm also paid dividends at a rate of 12.14 per cent in the first year of equitisation.

On the other hand, some equitised enterprises have reportedly shown declining performances.

The Viet Nam Rubber Group saw profits fall from VN11.84 trillion in 2011 to VN2.2 trillion in 2015, while its debt amounted to VN21.22 trillion, compared to an equity of VN35.21 trillion last year.

In 2015, the average debt to equity ratio of SOEs was 1.23. However, 25 companies, including the Military Petroleum Corporation, the Viet Nam Machinery Installation Corporation and construction firm Corporation No 36, had a ratio greater than 3.00.

Overall benefits

Le Manh Ha, Vice Chairman of the Government Office and deputy head of the National Steering Committee for Corporate Renovation and Development, told news website Infonet that equitisation has, overall, benefited various subjects.

The State had more resources for socio-economic development, enterprises were better financed, and managed to improve production and business activities, and workers interests were more assured. Investors also saw more investment opportunities emerging in a manner closer to market rules.

Pham Hai An, another official from the Corporate Finance Department, said authorities must continue to complete policies and institutions needed to speed up equitisation.

Hundreds of companies, though equitised, have not yet listed shares on the stock market, as required. This makes SOE share auctions unattractive to investors and impedes transactions, he said.

On June 30, the Ministry of Finance issued Circular No 115/2-16/TT-BTC providing guidelines for initial public offerings and the use of money raised from SOE equitisations.

Last November, the Government issued Decree No 145/2016/N-CP revising a former decree on treatment for administrative violations in the stock market, including violations of listings and transaction registering regulations.

A better legal framework is expected to boost the transparency of stock transactions and enable more stable and healthy operations of the market, said Pham Thi Thanh Huong, Deputy Chief Inspector of the State Securities Commission.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged local-level authorities in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) province of Gia Lai Province yesterday to strive to become governments of dialogue, working together with businesses and ready to share failures and successes with them.

Speaking in front of 400 investors at an investment promotion conference in the province yesterday, Phuc pointed to the potential for investment, as well as shortcomings in the province.

Among the advantages he noted the many industrial parks and economic zones, organic agriculture, the processing industry, well-known brand names and high-tech.

But the local economic scale was still small and its processing industry does not match its large potential because its brands have not been developed on the international market, he added.

The PM said planning and developing water resources in the central highlands was crucial, as was preserving and developing forest and reservoirs.

He pledged that the Government would further develop infrastructure in the central highlands in general, and in Gia Lai in particular, to create favourable conditions for business development.

Phuc assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to study and formulate more preferential policies in order to reduce investment costs for local businesses in order to effectively carry out the strategy of connecting the development triangle of CambodiaLaosViet Nam.

The Government will maintain macro-economic sustainability and deep and wide economic integration and the valuation of Vietnamese ong, said Phuc at the conference.

Various levels of local authorities need to become governments of dialogue, innovative thinking and creativity. Authorities from province to communes have to take initiatives in going together with businesses and solving difficulties for them, Phuc said.

Local authorities will have to do three things together with businesses, he said: worry together, work together and share failures and success together.

Phuc said local authorities have to commit to help investors in order to double the number of businesses in the province.

Gia Lai representatives at the conference urged investors to carry out key and profitable projects, particularly in nine areas: rubber-latex products; unbaked bricks; instant coffee and coffee powder products; pepper product processing, building trade centres; building eco-tourism areas; infrastructure for industrial parks; and producing feed.

The chaiman of Gia Lai Peoples Committee, Vo Ngoc Thanh, sent ten proposals to the Prime Minister for approval.

The proposals include building a high-tech forestation area; adopting special policies on exempting and reducing land rent fees and supporting transport fees for businesses in the Le Thanh international border-gate economic zone; and building a price stabilization fund for key products such as pepper, coffee, rubber and cashew for the central highlands region.

Thanh said the province expected to reach 7.52 per cent GDP growth next year and an export turnover of US$450 million, 12.5 per cent higher than this year.  VNS
HA NOI  Businesses from Italys Trento Province have shown their interest in Viet Nams investment incentives, especially in technology, electro-mechanics, green agriculture, forestry and pharmaceuticals, which are its strengths.

The businesses attended the Viet Nam-Trento Economic Co-operation Forum organised during Viet Nams Ambassador to Italy Cao Chinh Thiens visit to the province on December 15-17.

At a working session on December 16, Ambassador Thien and Bruno Dorigatti, chairman of the Trento legislative council, discussed bilateral issues and agreed that a good bilateral relationship is a prerequisite for furthering co-operation between localities of the two countries.

The Trento official appreciated Ambassador Thiens recommendation on Trento and northern Phu Tho Province becoming twin localities and his plan for a Phu Tho Province delegation to visit Trento in the second quarter of 2017.

Thien also paid a visit to the Trento University where more than 50 Vietnamese graduates are studying and met representatives from the Vietnamese Student Association in Trento.  VNA
HA NOI  The HCM City Credit Guarantee Fund provided guarantees to eight projects of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in 2016 so they could get loans worth a total of VN360 billion (US$16.07 million).

The total investment of these eight projects is VN813 billion.

More than 200 SMEs received support from the HCM City Credit Guarantee Fund this year, which includes financial consultancy.

Credit guarantee for SMEs to procure bank loans was not as efficient as expected because of the requirement to mortgage assets, which SMEs found difficult to meet.

However, the situation is expected to improve as policies are to be amended and loans sanctioned based on the evaluation of a projects efficiency rather than the mortgage of assets.

There are more than 120,000 SMEs in HCM City, which account for 96 per cent of the total number of firms in the city.

Since it was formed in 2007, the HCM City Credit Guarantee Fund has provided loan guarantees to 121 SMEs, helping them procure loans worth VN871 billion.

Statistics with the Finance Ministry show that there are 27 credit guarantee funds nation-wide with total charter capital of nearly VN1.5 trillion. The outstanding loans that they have guaranteed total VN361 billion.

At a conference on December 13, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue has urged that a mechanism be put in place to improve the efficiency of credit guarantee funds so they can better support SMEs, in line with Government Resolution 35 about developing businesses.  VNS
HA NOI  South Korean exports to Viet Nam has increased by 11.8 per cent year-on-year as of October, according to the Korea Trade Promotion Corporation (KOTRA).

In a report released on December 19, KOTRA attributed the increase to the Viet Nam - Korea Free Trade Agreement (KVFTA), noting that it happened at a time when global trade has been sluggish.

This rise in Vietnamese imports from Korea is also very encouraging in the context of a 2.2-per-cent increase in overall import increase for Viet Nam during the same period, the KOTRA report said.

From January to October 2016, exports of household goods from South Korea to Viet Nam increased strongly by 14.2 per cent, especially in washing machines, on which a 5-per-cent tax was cut in accordance with the KVFTA.

The report also cited a survey as finding up to 42 per cent out of 60 South Korean respondent exporters had reported an increase in trade with Viet Nam after the implementation of the KVFTA, and 63 per cent expected to have the same results in 2017.  VNS
HA NOI  An exhibition of Ho Chi Minhs appeal for national resistance has opened at the preserved house used by the late President in Van Phuc Village in the capitals Ha ong District.

The exhibition displays more than 100 photos and documents, divided into three parts: Ha Nois struggle against the French colonisers; the house in Van Phuc Village where President Ho wrote the call for national resistance, and the response by the people and soldiers to his call to battle.

President Ho lived and worked at the house owned by Nguyen Van Duong from December 3 to 19, 1946. Here, he and other Communist Party leaders met and planned a long-term national resistance war.

The project upgrading and expanding the house has been completed in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary of National Resistance Day.

The first floor introduces images and materials relating to his life from December 3 to 19, 1946, as well as documentaries of the war against the French under the leadership of the Communist Party and President Ho. The simply furnished second floor has been preserved as it was when Uncle Ho lived and worked there. On a table, alongside a paraffin lamp, visitors can see the handwritten draft of The Call to National Resistance.  VNS
Le inh Quang, deputy head of the Labour Relations Department under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), speaks to the Lao ong (Labour) newspaper about longer working hours.

Could you tell us about the ministrys proposal to increase working hours in the revision of the 2012 Labour Code?

There are two scenarios in our proposal to increase workers working hours.

Scenario one: A worker can work 12 hours a day, including four hours overtime, for five days a week. However, in one year, a workers overtime hours are capped at 600 hours.

Scenario two: Overtime and normal working hours for a worker are the same as in scenario one, but there is no overtime cap.

What I want to emphasise is that the overtime put in by Vietnamese workers is the lowest among workers in the region.

Under the 2012 Labour Code, a work week is 48 hours, plus 200 hours of overtime a year, and 300 under special circumstances. In a calendar year, a Vietnamese worker can work up to 2,620 hours.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, overtime hours are capped at 728 a year and the working week is 40 hours. So in a calendar year, an Indonesian works 2,608 hours, 12 hours less than a Vietnamese one. In China, a worker is entitled to work 2,288 hours, and a Korean can work up to 2,446 hours a year.

So, if we apply scenario one, the total working hours of a Vietnamese worker will be the highest in the region.

If we apply scenario two, the Vietnamese will have the longest working hours in the world.

We should also take into account the physical health of the Vietnamese people and their working environment, which is less developed than in other countries.

Overtime hours are always coupled with labour accidents. This is a truth no one can negate. Thats why we have to think twice before making the decision, for the interests of both workers and employers.

In your opinion, what is the right number of overtime hours for a Vietnamese worker in a year?

Both the MOLISA and the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) have agreed that the overtime of Vietnamese workers should be capped at 300 hours per year, against the present 200. However, in special cases, this could be raised to 400 hours against the present 300.

During our discussions, both the MOLISA and the VGCL have agreed to lift the cap of 30 overtime hours a month to help employers under special circumstances.

One reason MOLISA wants to increase the overtime cap is to help employees increase their income. Whats your point of view on this?

I have to concede that a workers minimum salary at present is too low. They want to work extra hours to earn more money to cover their needs. In the long run we have to reform our salary system. Minimum salary must be on par with the minimum living wage.

According to Mai uc Chung, Vice Chairman of the VGCL, there is a roadmap for overtime pay. For example, the payment for 200 hours overtime on weekdays is proposed at 150% of normal payment, 200% for 201-300 hours overtime and 250% for 301 hours of overtime and up. Of course, the VGCL will negotiate this proposal with the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which represents employers.

The amended Labour Code is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly in the first half of 2017.  VNS
Dr Tran Kim Chung.  Photo tuoitre.vn

Dr Tran Kim Chung, deputy director of the Central Institute of Economic Management, speaks to the newspaper Tuoi tre (Youth) about advantages of building small flats for low-income residents.

What should the government do to have more affordable houses for low earners?

It is indisputable that the demand for affordable houses among low-income people is very high in our country, particularly in urban areas. But land in urban areas is becoming scarcer, while land in rural areas is still abundant, but with poor infrastructure. Local authorities in both urban and rural areas have complained about difficulties they are facing in building affordable housing.

Over the past 10 years, some one million students come to live in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City every year. In addition, each year tens of thousand of graduates choose to stay to work in the cities and look for accommodations.

In my opinion, we should focus our efforts on looking for land to build inexpensive, commercial housing within a radius of about 10-15 km from the city center. The estimated price of one square meter of housing space in such projects would be between VN 18-25 million/m2 ($800-1.100/m2). If we build flats with an area of 35-50sq.m, Im pretty sure we can sell them like "hot cakes.

Do you mean that such prices are suitable for young people?

Yes. Having a flat of their own has become a dream of many young university graduates or young couples. Under the 2005 Housing Law, only houses of more than 40sq.m are called commercial houses. Unintentionally, we have eliminated commercial houses with small areas ranging from 20, 30 and 35sq.m from the commercial housing scheme. But, in fact, flats of 20, 30 and 35sq.m are much sought after.

But management agencies think small commercial flats pose many risks. How do you respond to that thinking?

They many be thinking of slum houses. But in my opinion, if our management scheme is good, I dont think the 20, 30 and 35sq.m flats will become slum houses.

The other worry is that building small flats might apply pressure on the transport system and other public infrastructure. Im confident that with good planning, such problems will not occur.

In order to build one million apartments in the next five years, what must we do right now?

The first thing we have to do is the compile legal documents on such low-cost housing.

The schemes should be attractive to both housing developers and potential buyers.

Of course, from paper to implementation, a lot of things must be done, particularly amendments to the 2005 Law on Housing, improvement of urban infrastructure, and the financial mechanism and credit policy for the construction of one million small flats.

Im confident that if the Government approves the scheme, we will create a good housing market for many low-income people, particularly young people.

To turn this idea into reality, I think that we can apply the model of Public-Private-Partnership, which has been very successful in England, Germany, East European countries and China. I should say, the model was piloted in Viet Nam in 2012. But until now it has not been formalized. Im pretty sure if this proposal is approved by the Government and receives support from credit organisations, many people, particularly young people, will have houses of their own. VNS
by Tuan Nguyen

HA NOI  From the outside, the Thanh Nguyen Hair Salon looks like any other.

But a few minutes after you venture inside, you notice something unusual about this apparently run-of-the-mill establishment on Pham Hong Thai Street.

The familiar noises are there  the clickety-click of metal scissors, the white noise of blow-dryers. Then it dawns on you that many familiar noises are missing.

The place is strangely silent. No one is talking to each other.

Well, they are, but not in words, just a flurry of had gestures and movements that make the reason clear.

All the hairdressers, including the owner, Nguyen Thai Thanh, are hearing and speech impaired.

Then the place loses its run-of-the-mill character, and becomes inspiring.

How do they get around this huge disadvantage of not hearing and speaking? More importantly, how can customers communicate with them and leave the salon feeling satisfied?

I write down my ideas on what I want my hair to look like, and Thanh offers advice on styling, and I always like the haircut he gives me, said Tran Huy Dung, a frequent, fully-satisfied patron of this wordless salon.

In fact, many customers who put down their requests on pieces of paper or on their smartphones, do not just express their pleasure on a job well done with their smiles, they are moved to leave happy, colourful notes of appreciation.

Facing the truth

Thanh, 25, a stocky guy who never seems to stop smiling, is a native of the northern province of Bac Giang.

He was born deaf, and it is believed that his mother falling ill during pregnancy could have led to the hearing loss.

He was a healthy, plump child, and it was not until he was three that the devastating truth fully dawned on his family, that Thanh couldnt hear or talk like normal children.

I still remember my parents dragging me to every place that they thought might offer a cure, including prayers (at many pagodas) and many acupuncture sessions, Thanh said, using sign language.

But nothing worked, and I just felt hurt and uncomfortable.

There was no school for deaf children in the province, so his parents thought it would be best to send him to a normal school, to make friends with peers of his age.

There were, understandably, teething problems as he felt left out, since he couldnt hear the teachers and struggled with the spelling and meaning of words.

When I have to take a test, I would jot down images, scrambled figures that were supposed to be letters and numbers. There was this one time I even scored 10, everyone was surprised and kept asking me how, I jokingly said I copied my desk-mates results, Thanh said, a sheepish smile accompanying his memory.

But the challenges were too many, and his peers found it difficult to include him in their groups at school. This the parents could not take.

In 2005, he was sent to Nhan Chinh School for the Deaf in Ha Noi. He was 14  considered a late age to start learning sign language.

Again, struggling with a wholly new language, Thanh decided to take night classes, but the difficulties were assuaged by the sense of belonging, now that he was amongst people who shared the same plight.

After two years, as he finished with the school, Thanh started to have doubts about his career, but never felt too sad about the fact that I couldnt hear or talk.

His parents suggested he take up cooking or sewing, but he didnt like either, so he gave up on them.

Finding his calling

As it often happens, it was by chance, during a trip back to his hometown, that he was enthralled by a barbers skilful manoeuvres with a pair of scissors.

Hooked, he decided he would have a go at hair-styling as a vocation.

Thanhs family didnt learn the sign language, but seemed to understand what Thanh wanted, especially with his sister Nguyen Loan assuming the role of an interpreter, something she continues to do in interactions with customers.

The pair still remember the pain and frustration of the days they went from on salon to another in Ha Noi to apply for an internship.

Whether it was an upscale salon or a normal one, he got turned down everywhere; some people even told us straight to our faces that they wont admit a deaf person. Repeated rejections wore me down, but my brother was persistent, so we kept going, Loan said.

After some time, Thanh went home and luckily got his first training in a local barbers shop.

Thanh observed carefully what his barber-mentor would do, and later, in the evening, he would practice on mannequins, and sometimes on his parents and relatives.

Once he felt he had the necessary skills, his father informed villagers that Thanh would offer free haircuts to everyone, but most of his customers were old people and children.

Difficulties persist

In 2008, wishing to improve my skills, he once again went to Ha Noi, and this time, got into to a salon on Kham Thien Street one that had rejected him before.

While it seemed that he had realised his dream, there was no let up in the difficulties. Thanh struggled with the hairdressing terminology and the teachers theoretical lessons. But there was no let up in his perseverance and resourcefulness either. Eventually, he even surged past other peers in the training course and got to work at the salons VIP section.

After three years of working he Ha Noi, he left the salon and went to the South to learn new skills and study make-up.

Winning the Prospect Prize at a beautician contest in 2010 and Golden Brush in 2013 convinced Thanh, if any more conviction was necessary, that his passion was not misplaced.

In 2011, he opened his own hair salon with VN60 million ($2,670) borrowed from his parents, a sum he has since repaid.

The salon was a humble one, but it meant the world to him.

More than a business

Thanh didnt open the hair salon just to pursue his passion for hair-styling passion.

Having experienced numerous obstacles in his path, he understood well the suffering of deaf and mute persons, as well as their need for a job to stand on their legs. To this day, people with all disabilities have to struggle to gain some measure of independence in their lives.

His salon, therefore, is a hairdressing training class for other deaf and/or mute people.

I couldnt learn much at school, but under Thanhs tutelage, Ive developed a passion for hair styling and will pursue this profession, said Ha Nguyen Tran, a student at the Thanh Nguyen Cosmetology Social Enterprise.

The students that he has trained and worked have become an extended family, sharing with each other their joys and pains.

After finishing the training course, some have stayed to work at the salon, and others have returned to their hometowns to open their own establishments.

Until now, Thanh has conducted seven training courses for 35 students.

Besides learning a trade, the trainees are also encouraged to join charity activities, such as giving gifts to disabled children on Childrens Day or the Mid-autumn Festival, especially free haircuts.

Every year, Thanh and his colleagues organise a show called "Beauty In Silence" praising the work of deaf hairdressers in Viet Nam and helping to bridge the gap between those who cannot hear or speak, and those who can do so.

For his work, Thanh received the honour of being selected as one of the nations Outstanding Youth in the 2015 Awards.

He has fulfilled the dream of opening his own business and helping others, but Thanh is not done.

Big plans

His future plans include studying and improving his English skills, going to Europe and learning new styles, new skills, gaining experience in business development. Most of all, I want to have a chance to know other cultures in the world.

Vu uc Tien, founder of the Vinatoc Beauty Salon chain, was pleasantly surprised to learn that his former student was recognised as a promising talent in the make-up industry.

He admired Thanhs unflagging efforts and willingness to learn. He recalled the time when teacher and student struggled to communicate, resorting often to pencil and paper notes and pencils.

Thanh said he is grateful for another thing. Tien not only taught him hairdressing lessons for free; he even covered his lunch expenses.

Tien said: Success is difficult even for normal, healthy students without a strong will and hard work.

I want to impart my knowledge in the trade to everyone, the essential thing is that they want to learn and pursue the career with passion.

There is no doubt that Thanh has been a worthy student.  VNS
Police yesterday arrested a suspect in a robbery at a branch of the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV) in Hue City earlier this month.  Photo tienphong.vn

THUA THIEN-HUE  Police yesterday arrested a suspect in a robbery at a branch of the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV) in Hue City earlier this month.

The suspect, Nguyen Hoang Tam, 29, of the Central Highland province of ak Nong, was arrested in a market in a Nang City, colonel ang Ngoc Son, deputy head of the Hue City Police, confirmed.

The suspect is said to have admitted to police that he bought a motorbike from an online trader and rode it to the bank to carry out a robbery.

On December 7, a man was caught on surveillance cameras entering a BIDV branch on Mai Thuc Loan Street, pulling out a gun and ordering the cashier to hand over the money. He then made his escape on a motorbike with VN 725 million (US$ 31,900).

The case is under further investigation.  VNS
Nguyen Danh Dung.  Photo vietnamnet.vn

THANH HOA  Police in the central province of Thanh Hoa have arrested and charged a man for posting more than 700 video clips since October 2015 on social networks, saying the videos distort and blacken State and Government leaders.

The arrested man, Nguyen Danh Dung, 29, of Tao Xuyen Ward, Thanh Hoa City, created accounts including ThienAn TV on Youtube, ThienAn, quachthienan on Facebook, and a blog tinhhinhdatnuocvietnam in order to post public video clips that he retrieved from "reactionary" sources to blacken State and Government leaders.

Colonel Tran Trung Hieu, spokesman of the Thanh Hoa Police, said that Dung was charged with abusing democratic rights against the State and the legal rights of organisations and citizens.  VNS
HCM CITY  Nhan Dan Gia inh Hospital, one of largest general hospitals in HCM City, plans to use more high-tech medical treatments and buy more state-of-the-art equipment to improve medical quality, Dr. Nguyen Anh Dung, director of the hospital, has said.

Construction of a new 15-storey building at the hospital begins next year. It is expected to open in 2019.

Last Friday, the hospital was awarded a Second-class Labor Medal from the President at its 100th anniversary ceremony.

The 1,500-bed hospital receives 3,000-4,000 outpatients every day.

The top-tier hospital is also a practice centre for medical students from the HCM City University of Medical and Pharmacy, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine and other medical schools in the southern region.  VNS
QUANG NINH  A preliminary hearing today launched the second phase of the trial concerning the biggest drug trafficking case in Vietnamese history.

At the centre of the case is Hoang Van Tien, born in 1978 in the northern Son La Province, Tran Thu Hang, born in 1978 in the northern Bac Giang Province and dozens of other defendants.

During the 2003-13 period, apart from 5,346 heroin cakes, Tien and his partners in crime traded some 35,000 synthetic drug tablets and 1,100 grams of crystal meth in Ha Noi and the northern provinces of Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang and Lang Son, according to the 2013 indictment by the provincial Peoples Procuracy, making it the biggest drug trafficking case in Viet Nam.

The provincial investigative police seized 22 heroin cakes, nearly 33 grams of Ketamine, 60 tablets of synthetic drugs, over 1 gram of Methaphetamine and 122 grams of dried marijuana.

It was considered by the jury as a particularly dangerous case, involving heroin trade from Laos to Viet Nam to China and vice versa, with the use of several military weapons.

The preliminary hearing was conducted by the provincial Peoples Court at the detention centre of the provincial police.

Twenty-five defendants are being prosecuted during this phase of the trial.

The trial is expected to last until December 30.

In the preliminary hearing on 89 defendants during phase I of the trial held in January 2014, 30 defendants were sentenced to death and 13 to life imprisonment by the provincial Peoples Court.  VNS
The latest Indian eatery in Ha Noi adds spice to the Xmas Cheer with new dishes and matching wines, writes Hari Chathrattil

A collective head-scratching was in progress as we entered the restaurant.

Thu, Shiva and a few other staff standing around a cylindrical pillar covered with thin wooden panels, trying to figure out how that could be converted into a Christmas tree.

I could not think of any practically feasible idea, so I decided to focus on what we were there for. To eat.

And eat we did. More about that meal soon.

On my next visit, I was impressed with the simple, inexpensive solution that had created the Xmas tree at Spices, the new Indian restaurant to open in Ha Noi.

The mandatory gift boxes were placed around the pillar and red and green coloured paper had been cut and shaped to make a tree in three or four sections. The paper sections were bordered with silver White stickers of snowflakes, Santa and reindeer and other decorations graced the glass walls in front.

After congratulating Thu and her staff, I wanted to know if there were any Xmas specials to go around, food and spirit-wise.

Discount on wines specially selected to go with Indian food, I was told.

Going rarra: Minced paneer cooked with onions, capsicum and tomatoes is spicy, and can be spicier. Why its called rarra is anybodys guess.

I wanted to know more and o Thuy An, whose charming smile is part of the appetizer to every meal at Spices, obliged.

"Spicier wines are for spicier food," she said.

"Give me an example," I said.

"Well," she said, "if you have any of the Chettinad dishes, which are both spicy and a bit sour, the wine should be a strong one, with a sour tinge as well."

"And how do we know that a wine would have that sourness? Depends on the grape," she said.

To have a Vietnamese woman speak to you about Chettinad dishes and grapes that make wine spicy and sour was really cool. It also showed that the restaurant is serious about training its employees to provide good, informed service to their customers, most of whom are not Indians.

But I was a bit more curious. I asked An if shed tried any of the Indian dishes she talks about, and what her favourite dish was.

"Mutton tawa masala (VN150,000)," she said. "Hmm. Your favourite bread? Roti." Hmm again.

Usually, Vietnamese customers having Indian food go for the mildly spicy chicken makhini (chicken butter masala) or a panneer makhini (cottage cheese chunks in a tomato gravy) with garlic and/or butter naans as the bread of choice.

Ans favourite, and that of a lot of Korean customers who frequent the restaurant, is a really spicy lamb curry and her choice of bread is the more wholesome, dry roti.

The tastes, they are a changin.

Which brings us back to the meals my friends and I have had here.

Holiday spirit: A wooden pillar hosts Christmas Tree decorations at the Spices Restaurant, the newest Indian eatery in Ha Noi. Photo Hari Chathrattil

Aware of the need to be different, Spices has a menu with several dishes that are not found in other Indian restaurants in the capital city. The Amras ke Aloo (VN85,000) for instance, a potato curry made with green mango pulp. Given the sourness involved, this probably goes well with The Accomplice, a Shiraz wine from Australia (VN575,000), described as plum fruit with some spiciness finishing with soft tannins.

I have been to many places, but never had this dish before, said Harihara Ramachandran, a software professional based in Singapore visiting Viet Nam for the first time. The gaggle of adults and children he was with nodded assent, all of them satisfied with all the dishes theyd tried.

One of them thanked Shivam, the manager, for the thayir saadam that the chefs made after taking instructions from the guests themselves. Basically rice mixed with yoghurt and seasoned with mustard seeds, red chillies and curry leaves, it is a very simple south Indian dish that is quite difficult to get right. Its not on the Spices menu, but the crew of north Indian chefs, Manish Singh Rawat, Shyam Singh and Shashi Kumar, are open to suggestions and willing to innovate.

Their yoghurt-based starter, Dahi ke kabab (VN95,000), is another rarity in Viet Nam worth trying, as is another appetiser, Paneer Tikka Chatpatta (VN95,000), cottage cheese chunks marinated with tomato and garlic chutney before being grilled in the tandoor oven, and served like a sizzler on a bed of caramelised onions.

Texture of tofu and taste of cheese, said a Vietnamese friend trying the dish for the first time.

Grilled goodness: The Paneer Tikka Chatpatta comprises cottage cheese cubes marinated with tomato and garlic chutney, grilled in a tandoor.

Baingan Bartha (VN85,000), Khumb Mutter Masala (VN85,000), Paneer Rarra (VN95,000) and three different lentil curries (Dal Makhini, Dal Panchrangi and Dal Dhaba VN85,000) are some of the main vegetarian dishes I have tried and would recommend, alongside a bread selection comprising naans, parathas and rotis.

The selection of rice dishes in the Basmati Khazana also contains a spicy Mirchi Pulao (VN70,000) that I have not found elsewhere.

The Litchi ki Tehri dessert deserves a special mention. This is a lightly sweet condensed milk dish cooked over a low flame for a long time, chilled and served with nuts and fruits. Adding the litchi to it is an inspired choice.

Spices, which opened just three months ago, aims to be different, and going by the menu and the taste of dishes I have tried so far, it has succeeded.

Aesthetically the most pleasing Indian restaurant in town with a quietly elegant interior bathed in soft hues, and old sewing-machines converted into tables, Spices already has patrons who have become regulars.

Not surprising. Just the large number of new dishes is worth repeat visits. VNS
WARSAW  Polish President Andrzej Duda launched mediation talks on Sunday to try to diffuse the nations seething political crisis, as protesters staged a third day of mass anti-government demonstrations.

Opposition lawmakers were also continuing to occupy parliament in a defiant show of anger against the rightwing Law and Justice party (Pis) over the budget and plans to introduce new restrictions on the media.

Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets since Friday in Warsaw and other parts of the country in the latest popular action against moves deemed anti-democratic by the PiS since it took office after October 2015 elections.

In an unprecedented night of unrest on Friday, dozens of opposition MPs seized parliaments main chamber and protesters blocked the exits to the building.

Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and influential PiS party chief Jaroslaw Kaczynski only managed to leave the building after Fridays protest by forcing their vehicles through the crowd with the help of police.

After meeting with Duda on Sunday, opposition leaders told the press they had demanded the proposed media limits be dropped and called for a re-run of the parliament vote on next years budget.

The opposition claims the spending plan was approved illegally when the vote was held in another area of parliament after the opposition takeover of the main chamber.

"The president has asked for a legal analysis relating to the part of the parliamentary session" dedicated to the budget vote, said his spokesman Marek Magierowski.

Duda is to meet on Monday with Kaczynski and Marek Kuchcinski, president of parliaments lower house.

Since taking office, the PiS has come under fire over a string of controversial measures including tightening the abortion law, a crackdown on the media and changes to the constitutional court which led to a standoff with the European Union.

Impossible to function

Demonstrators were back out on Sunday, gathering outside the court in a show of support for its outgoing president Andrzej Rzeplinski, a symbol of resistance to the government.

The controversial changes to the courts decision-making rules alarmed the EU, which demanded the government reverse the measures or face sanctions.

Rzeplinskis mandate ends on Monday and the question of his successor has become another bone of contention between the court and the PiS-dominated parliament.

Smaller protests were held in other parts of the country, including Krakow, where demonstrators attempted to prevent Szydlo and Kaczynski getting through to his twin brothers tomb.

A pro-government rally drew about 1,000 people outside the presidential palace in Warsaw.

Emerging from a long silence, Duda had on Saturday called for calm, expressing his "worry" over the turmoil and offering to mediate.

"I think a deal of some kind is necessary because it is impossible to function in a system where the parliament cannot debate," his spokeswoman told news channel TVN24.

The prime ministers spokeswoman has denounced the occupation of parliament as a "a violation of the law".

The latest opposition outcry was triggered by PiS plans to grant access to the parliaments press gallery to only two journalists for every media outlet, and ban them from shooting still pictures or video.

The moves prevent the media from recording images of lawmakers when they break the rules, for example by voting for an absent colleague.

The PiS has defended the measure, saying it was seeking to ensure a comfortable working environment for both lawmakers and journalists.  AFP
AMMAN  Gunmen killed 10 people including a Canadian tourist and police officers on Sunday in southern Jordan, before security forces killed four attackers in a siege lasting several hours.

The shootings took place in Karak, a tourist destination known for one of the biggest Crusader castles in the region, around 120 kilometres (70 miles) south of the capital Amman.

Jordans general security department said seven policemen, a female Canadian tourist and two Jordanian civilians were killed in a series of shootings.

It said that 27 others, including policemen and civilians, were wounded.

Four attackers who had taken refuge in the castle were killed later Sunday by security forces who had besieged them amid exchanges fire lasting several hours, a security source said.

The Canadian foreign ministry confirmed that one of its nationals had been killed in the attack and another injured in "the heinous attack."

Canadian officials in Amman are "actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time," a foreign ministry official said.

"The government of Canada stands ready to assist Jordan in bringing the perpetrators of this attack to justice," a statement added.

Five or six gunmen

Earlier, the prime minister said 10 gunmen were holed up in the fortress, while the general security department spoke of "five or six gunmen" who were thought to be involved in the shootings.

The first attack took place early in the afternoon when a police patrol went to check on a house fire in Karak, the department said in a statement carried by the official Petra news agency.

"As soon as they reached the area, unknown gunmen who were inside the house opened fire on the patrol, wounding a policeman, and then fled by car," the statement said.

Gunmen later fired on another patrol while more shots rang out from inside the Crusader castle, aimed at the Karak police station and "wounding several policemen and passersby," it said.

"Police and security forces have surrounded the castle and its vicinity and launched an operation to hunt down the gunmen."

People trapped

A senior security source said some people had been trapped in part of the citadel when the gunmen took shelter there, but denied media reports that they were being held hostage.

"There are no hostages. But some people who were on a lower floor were afraid of leaving as the gunmen traded fire with the security forces," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He said that the gunmen were on a higher level inside the fortress.

The Jordan Tourism Board describes the Karak citadel, which dates back to the 12th century and has withstood many sieges, as a "maze of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways."

Prime Minister Hani al-Malki, who was addressing parliament at the time of the shootings, said that "special forces and policemen are surrounding 10 gunmen holed up inside the Karak citadel."

It was not immediately clear who was behind the shootings, but Jordan has been hit by Islamist attacks in the past.

Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in neighbouring Iraq and Syria.

It has carried out air strikes targeting IS, and also hosts coalition troops on its territory.

Maaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordanian fighter pilot, was captured by the jihadists when his plane went down in Syria in December 2014, and he was later burned alive in a cage.

Karak is Kassasbehs hometown.

In June, a suicide bombing claimed by IS killed seven border guards near the Syrian frontier.

According to sources close to Islamists, almost 4,000 Jordanians have joined jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria, and an estimated 420 have been killed since 2011.  AFP
When the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization asked Virginia Tech entomologist Muni Muniappan for a list of experts to help them set up a biocontrol facility in Saudi Arabia, Muniappan offered names, thinking that would be the end of it. He was pleased to hear from the international agricultural organization that, after careful consideration, Muniappan was the expert they sought.

The goal: to create a facility to grow and breed biological control agents  insects, fungi, and bacteria  to combat crop-killing pests.

Muniappan, who leads the USAID-funded Feed the Future Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab at Virginia Tech, recently advised officials in Saudi Arabia on the next steps, which start with a survey of crops pests and their natural enemies.

"This will allow for the prioritization of pests to tackle, as well as the identification of which natural enemies are already present in Saudi Arabia," Muniappan said. "It's vital to know the situation on the ground before considering introducing exotic natural enemies."

The facility's creation is part of the countrys push toward sustainable agricultural development by reducing chemical pesticides that cause environmental damage and health problems. The focus on using local, natural enemies to fight pests prompted plans for a biocontrol facility that would be a joint venture by the Food and Agriculture Organization along with the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

Muniappan met with officials from the plant protection department of the ministry at the capital city of Riyadh and visited regional stations at Al-Qassim and Al-Kharj.

The Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab's experience with similar facilities in other countries includes work in Ambo, Ethiopia. As part of the Innovation Labs project that develops controls for the invasive weed Parthenium in East Africa, the team helped their partners set up a quarantine facility for biocontrol agents.

This is the first time either the Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab or the Office of International Research, Education, and Development, both of which are a part of Outreach and International Affairs, has worked with Saudi Arabia.

Written by Stephanie Parker
CEDAR FALLS  Adam Carroll didnt know what he was in for, financially, when he went off to get his bachelors degree at the University of Northern Iowa.

Most 17- and 18-year-olds dont, he said. And thats the problem.

I was a rich college kid, living on borrowed money, and became a broke professional, Carroll said. I was a debt disaster.

Carroll, who graduated in 1997, soon realized he wasnt alone, which prompted him to co-author a book, Winning the Money Game, in 2005.

As he spoke on college campuses over the years about the dangers of taking on too much debt, he would ask his audiences the same question: How much debt are you in?

When I started, the amount of debt was in the low- to mid-20-thousands, Carroll said. Then it started creeping up to $40, $60, $80,000. I know students who have loans for $100,000  for an undergraduate degree.

Student loan debt in the United States reached $1 trillion in 2012.

Iowa ranks in the top 10 of states for overall student debt.

I thought, Something has to be done, Carroll said.

That something became a new documentary film, Broke, Busted and Disgusted, directed by Carroll, which chronicles higher educations financial pitfalls.

The movie came out in January on brokebusteddisgusted.com for rent or purchase, but this month was made available to stream for free on Veridian Credit Unions website at veridiancu.org/bbd. It includes interviews with former UNI president Bill Ruud and officials from Des Moines Area Community College and Grand View University.

Partnering with a film about paying for college makes sense for Veridian, as they offer loans as well as scholarships to help students pay for school.

We believe Broke, Busted and Disgusted starts important conversations to put students on the right path, and were proud to give more people the opportunity to view it, said Veridian CEO Monte Berg in a press release.

Carroll said he believes financial institutions have a stake in making sure students arent hopelessly mired in debt.

(Veridian) said, Our parents need to see it, our members need to see it, Carroll said. I think, candidly, more and more financial institutions are starting to see the effects of student loan debt  more people cant qualify for loans based on their debt-to-income ratio.

Carroll and his business partner on the film, Calvin Johannsen, also struck a deal with CNBC to show the film several times during 2017.

Broke, Busted and Disgusted aims to show how the cost of college has risen considerably in the last 30 years, while at the same time not necessarily educating workers what employers are asking for.

Not only are graduates from four-year institutions finding themselves with serious loans to repay, theyre having more trouble than ever finding work in their fields.

I think, in todays society, we protect kids from real life up to the age of 18. Then, we send them to college where theyre in this bubble where money is plentiful. So they get to the age of 25 and think, Oh my God, what did I do? Carroll said. Our goal is to close the gap between hope and despair.

The documentary looks at several possibilities to remedy this, from refocusing universities more narrowly  Iowa State would exclusively train engineers while UNI would focus just on teaching teachers, for instance  to taking a fresh look at community colleges and technical schools as a better choice for many.

Part of it  and Ive done this with my kids  I feel like we need to challenge the notion that, at 18, every single student needs to go to college, Carroll said.

A lot of them dont know what they want to do, and its a very expensive place to find yourself. Theres a hundred other things you can do.

Carroll said more students and parents need to treat the college discussion like a business decision. That includes looking at the return on investment  what will those years spent at college get you at the end of it all?

Indian Hills Community College (in Ottumwa) has a program in laser (and optics) technology  their graduates will get jobs in the $70 to $80,000 range, Carroll said.

Its a very high-end tech job, but its a (21)-month program that costs $13,000. When you talk about ROI, thats a great return on investment.

If students and parents arent sure, Carroll said dont rush it  take a year off and work, he said. Find out what working 40 hours a week means. Research your options. If you do decide to go, apply for as many scholarships as you can, he said  and dont treat student loans and pre-approved credit lines as free money.

Were a very pro-education documentary  we think educated societies are better societies. But mortgaging the next 20 years of your life is not the answer, he said.

There are a lot of ways to make college affordable. Were just not doing it.
Third in a series of stories on this years 20 under 40 winners.

WATERLOO  Paco Rosic is almost in awe of Pablo Picassos dedication to his art.

The 20th century Spanish artist, who started making art when he could barely form words, is said to have created nearly 50,000 original works and continued to paint until his death in 1973.

But Rosic, 37, of Waterloo, makes the distinction between the mans art and his personal life, giving a crude but accurate description of the notoriously colorful relationships Picasso had with women.

There is no such distinction for Rosic. His art is his life and his life is his art.

For me, its like, this is not what I do. This is who I am, said Rosic, whose best known work is a re-creation of the Sistine Chapel in his familys downtown Waterloo restaurant Galleria de Paco. Im not here to look to be rich. I like to do what I do, and thats it.

Rosics commitment to art and his adopted home community led him to be named one of this years class of 20 Under 40 winners.

Buzz Anderson, who nominated Rosic for the award, demonstrates in a single sentence how Rosic has used his art for the good of the community.

He has donated a lot of his art to local organizations in the area and continues to do so, Anderson wrote.

Anderson describes Rosic, who moved to Waterloo at the age of 17, as a unique individual who has a name that is widely recognized.

Though Rosic admitted to some culture shock at being brought to the relatively small city compared to where he was living in Germany, he said he quickly grew to love Waterloo and the U.S. Rosic was born in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, and his family moved to Germany in 1992 during the Bosnian war.

It was around this time  just before his family left Bosnia  Rosic had his first exhibit, a series of bird paintings on display at a local hospital. Now, he mostly associates the works with the shots the nurses delivered during his visits.

Rosic turned his one-time hobby into a successful business. He has exhibits, does artwork on commission and continues to increase sales through his website at http://pacorosic.com/ and on social media.

While his passion is for painting nudes, Rosic is like Picasso in the sense he likes to branch out and try new things. His most recent exhibit titled Cambodia showed the poverty and emotion Rosic saw on display in the Asian country.

He went to Cambodia to meet in person a young woman, Sokontheary Ek, whom he had known for four years through online gaming. Rosic has since secured her visa and the two wed in August 2015.

Rosic describes art as both a language and an emotion.

When I look at all my cans (of paint), I see inside those cans paintings, and I like to dig them out and put it to the canvas, Rosic said. Let me dig it out and just show it to the people what I see.
WATERLOO  A jury has acquitted a Waterloo man in connection with a 2015 home robbery.

Michael Maurice Lonnell Carter, 25, had been charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary in an August 2015 robbery at 702 N. Barclay St. Trial began Wednesday in Black Hawk County District Court, and on Friday, the jury returned not guilty verdicts on both charges.

Prosecutors said Carter was part of a group that kicked open the door to the home around 3:30 a.m. and threatened people inside with a tire iron that was held to look like a short shotgun. A 17-year-old girl was struck with the tire iron.

A safe was removed from the house during the robbery.

Defense attorney Matthew Hoffey said there was no physical evidence connecting Carter to the robbery, and the only person to place him at the house was a co-defendant who had struck a deal with authorities.

Larenzo Valdez Wilder and Alexander Austin were also arrested in the case. Their trials are still pending.

After Fridays verdict, Carter wasnt allowed to go free. He is still awaiting trial on burglary charges in connection with an April 2016 break-in where more than $1,000 worth of Nike Air Jordan shoes were taken from an apartment.
EVANSDALE  Pat Cummings Jones has had a rough year, but shes going to have a good Christmas  she and about 200 of her close friends.

Jones has organized a number of Christmas Day dinners in different venues around Waterloo-Cedar Falls for nearly a decade. Shes doing it again from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 25 at the Evansdale AMVETS Post 31, 706 Colleen Ave.

Its the second Christmas dinner shes held at the post. About 250 people attended last years dinner, some coming from towns all over Black Hawk and surrounding counties as well as a few visitors from out of state. And its been a long ride for her to this years event.

Jones took a year off in 2014 when she had an aortic valve replaced. She went to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics earlier this year for a checkup and took ill again, the result of a reaction during treatment.

After about two weeks at UIHC, she was released. Then the flu landed her in UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital followed by a long rehabilitation period at Ravenwood Nursing & Rehab in Waterloo. She bounced back this fall.

Its a miracle, she said. I said, Gods got me here for a reason. It must be for the dinner! Its her way of giving back.

Weve got good business donations already this year, Jones said. About 40 donors contributed to last years event, including a cadre of about 25 volunteers planning the dinner, including several family members active with the AMVETS in one capacity or another. Shes active in the Evansdale AMVETS auxiliary, and the Sons of AMVETS also are involved.

More information about participating in or contributing to the dinner may be obtained by contacting Jones at 429-6220.
DAVENPORT  U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack said Monday the Democrats review of the 2016 election cycle will be an in-depth analysis that will seek to help reset the party for the future.

Loebsack, D-Iowa, arguably the leading Democrat in the state, announced the effort at a meeting of the Iowa Democratic Partys State Central Committee this weekend.

The effort, in conjunction with the state party, will feature a tour of the state to gain input. A final report is expected in the spring.

The election last month was the latest in a string of victories for Iowa Republicans since 2010. Donald Trump won the state, and the GOP gained control of the Iowa Senate. And while President Barack Obama won Iowa in 2012, the GOP has wrested the governorship and both houses of the Legislature from the Democrats over the past six years and now holds three of the four U.S. House seats and both U.S. Senate seats.

Loebsack, who won a sixth term last month, has been taking on a more public role as a party leader. The Iowa City Democrat visibly helped state legislative candidates across the state this year. He also now has close to $1 million in his campaign account after having to spend relatively little on his own race.

Loebsack said Monday some of those funds would provide seed money for the review, and professionals will be hired to help out.

I want to make sure that we do this in an evidence-based sort of way; its not just seat of the pants. Its not just sort of my hunch, Loebsack said.

Previous post-election efforts have involved internal data analysis, but not like this, officials say. Norm Sterzenbach, former executive director of the state Democratic Party said there had been interest in the past in doing something more in-depth, but cost was an obstacle. He estimated this effort could cost $75,000 to $100,000. Still, he said its needed.

We do not look introspectively enough, he said. And its critical moving forward.

Loebsack conceded perhaps this should have happened earlier.

I think theres no question that if wed done something more systematic, something more in depth in the past, we may have been able to avoid some of the failures this time, he said. I cant say that for sure.

No dates have been set or members appointed. But Loebsack said elected officials and members of the state central committee would take part.

The party already is in the midst of deciding who will be the new state chair. There are several people competing for the job, and a decision is expected next month.
WATERLOO  After a weekend of sub-zero temperatures, warmer weather is on the way.

Temperatures dipped as low as minus 16 degrees with wind chill reaching minus 35 degree before the sun rose Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Sundays highs werent much better, remaining in the negative single digits during the day with a high approaching minus 2 degrees.

It didnt take too long for Waterloo firefighters to get their first call for a person with cold exposure. Shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday, a Waterloo woman walking to church decided the freezing temperatures were too much and turned back.

At the time, a National Weather Service wind chill warning was in effect with air temperatures of minus 15 and a minus 22 wind chill.

A neighbor spotted the woman near the 1000 block of West Mullan Avenue and called 911, and paramedics took her to a local hospital, according to Lt. Bill Beck with Waterloo Fire Rescue.

Then Sunday afternoon, fire crews were called to a rental home in the 300 block of Western Avenue were water pipes burst. Beck said the fire department has had few calls for burst pipes as of Sunday, but that is expected to change when the weather warms up and frozen water in pipes begins to melt.

Monday is expected to be sunny and warmer, with highs near 19 degrees. Southwest winds at speeds of 7 to 13 mph and gusts up to 20 mph will mean a minus 15 degree wind chill.

The forecast includes a high near 30 on Tuesday with a 40 percent chance of snow Wednesday.
WATERLOO  Bertch Cabinet manufacturing workers are heading south.

The companys not moving out of town. The employees are.

Theyre going on vacation.

All 800-plus of them. On the boss dime.

Company president Gary Bertch, who co-founded the company with his wife, Becky, told workers last week the company had met its goals for the year and they would go on a week-long Caribbean cruise, including a stop at the island of Cozumel off the coast of Mexico.

We leave Jan. 8, a Sunday, Gary Bertch said. Weve got four charter aircraft that will be flying directly to Miami Sunday and staying at a nice five-star hotel. Then on Monday, well bus over from the hotel to the port and load up on the ship. Theyll be gone about a week and back on the job the following Monday.

Its something Bertch has rewarded its employees with periodically over the years but not since 2005. We finally got into the black again last year after we made it though the recession that began in 2008.

He challenged employees a year ago to meet certain goals and offered the cruise as an incentive. We were anticipating wed have better sales again this year, he said. We just tried to get all of our people pumped up a little more to achieve the various goals, both customer-oriented goals and financial goals.

The company, founded in a Gilbertville barn in 1977, once employed more than 1,000 people, dipped to about 600 in 2011 and has steadily increased since then. Were back up about 240 or so, he said.

Theres been a very slow recovery in the industry, Bertch said. We have gotten into some more commercial areas, but still a lot of residential in the home construction industry and also in hotels and motels.

Bertch began offering mass-winter-vacation incentives to workers beginning in 1989. We went to Acapulco that time, he said. We did several cruises to various locations, various ports. And we did Hawaii. That was probably our biggest trip.

Were happy we were able to achieve our goals. And theyre never easy. The financial goal was the big one, one of the last to be met. We hit the other goals. Not by much. But we hit them. Were looking forward to the following year.

Theyre using Carnival cruise lines. Theyre a fun ship. And if anyone knows our crowd, they like to have fun. The first time we had them we ran them out of beer. Weve learned they stocked extra for our trip this time so we dont run out.
All Americans should be concerned if a foreign government tries to undermine U.S. elections.

In that regard, an intelligence assessment claiming Russia intervened in the 2016 election to boost President-elect Donald Trumps candidacy warrant an independent investigation  preferably removed from congressional infighting.

The Washington Post reported last week key senators were told in an intelligence briefing Russia tried to help Trump  also as part of vendetta against Hillary Clinton  by hacking the email accounts of key Democrats and leaking the information.

A senior U.S. official said, It is the assessment of the intelligence community that Russias goal here was to favor one candidate over the other, to help Trump get elected. Thats the consensus view.

Not all 17 intelligence agencies initially agreed about the extent of Russian involvement. The FBI deferred. But on Friday CIA director John Brennan sent his staff a message, Earlier this week, I met separately with (FBI director) James Comey and (director of National Intelligence) Jim Clapper, and there is strong consensus among us on the scope, nature and intent of Russian interference in our presidential election.

NBC News claimed U.S. intelligence officials believe with a high level of confidence Russian President Vladimir Putin, a former KGB director, was involved. It stated diplomatic sources and spies working for U.S. allies indicated Putin directed how material was leaked and used, motivated by a vendetta against Clinton and a desire to weaken U.S. influence.

Trump had dismissed the intelligence concerns, likening them to the CIA report on Saddam Husseins supposed weapons of mass destruction in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq.

President Obama ordered a full review of the Russian hacking. At a news conference Friday, he promised to retaliate in undisclosed ways.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Iowa Republican Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst have called for a bipartisan congressional investigation.

Any foreign breach of our cybersecurity measures is disturbing, and I strongly condemn any such efforts, McConnell said, adding, The Russians are not our friends.

Yet a congressional investigation is fraught with conflicts of interest and partisan posturing.

Trump has nominated McConnells wife, Elaine Chao, as secretary of transportation. The House Intelligence Committee is led by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., a Trump transition team member. Grassley has blamed the Obama administration for not stopping the attacks, as if it could have stopped WikiLeaks or fake news stories.

Russia has proven adept at sewing seeds of discontent in Europe against NATO, backing nationalist parties and capitalizing on anti-globalism and anti-immigration sentiments.

Its perceived end game is to have sanctions lifted, emboldening Putin to restore the Russian empire by re-annexing neighboring former Soviet states without Western threats.

The reasons to favor Trump then and now are many:

Putin called Trump brilliant. Trump called him a strong leader.

Trump has equivocated on support for NATO.

Putin accused Clinton of inspiring protests after his 2011 election victory.

Russia is chafing under U.S. sanctions imposed after its campaign against Ukraine. Its annexation of Crimea in 2014, Trump told ABC, was OK because from what Ive heard, (it) would rather be with Russia than where they were.

Paul Manafort, Trumps first campaign manager, was a political strategist for Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Russia Ukrainian president ousted in 2014.

Rex Tillerson, the Exxon Mobil chief executive, Trumps nominee for secretary of state, does massive deals in Russia, Trump said. He also is Putins friend and recipient of Russias Order of Friendship. He opposes sanctions, which stopped Exxons drilling there.

Trump adviser Carter Page, of Global Energy Capital, is close to the Russian oil industry.

Gen. Michael Flynn, Trumps nominee for National Security Adviser, appeared at a gala for the Kremlin-propaganda outlet RT (Russia Today).

This isnt to say Trump wouldnt have won the Electoral College regardless, given the inept Clinton campaign and her attendant baggage.

But Putin is a despot and a threat to democracies everywhere. His internal opponents  at home and abroad  invariably end up incarcerated, missing or dead. Neighboring states fear his next moves.

Russian actions concerning the U.S. elections demand independent scrutiny.
What is happening in Aleppo is not an isolated event. These mass killing have been happening for almost six years. Before Aleppo, there was Homs, Idlib, and the list goes on.

Syria and its people are misunderstood and often unfairly characterized. Stories from that part of the world, with ongoing wars and conflicts, are rarely covered in the media, and when they are the singular focus is ISIS. No one wants to see ISIS defeated more than the Syrians, as they have suffered enormously at the hands of this bloody terrorist organization. But rarely does the media cover the immense aspect of the human suffering of the Syrian War.

Since 2011, Bashar al-Assad, Syrias leader, with help from Iran, Russia and Hezbollah, has murdered more than 500,000 civilians and dispersed 7 million refuges internally and 4.8 million refugees worldwide, including my family. It is the largest refugee crisis in human history, including the Holocaust. Thousands have died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to any safe haven possible. I wish the world could see Syria with my eyes, the richness of its culture and the beauty of its people.

As the situation in Aleppo descends into what is being described by the media as a complete meltdown of humanity, shocking stories of mass execution, civilian arrests and sexual violence are emerging. People are sending their last goodbye messages, saying they cannot describe the horror, and if we dont hear from them back it means they are dead. Women are committing suicide in droves in order not to be raped by Assads troops.

Bana Alabed, a 7-year-old Syrian girl, has become the representation of the daily suffering our children are enduring by the hands of Assad. Her messages of fear and courage have already attracted more than 309,485 followers on social media. This is her last tweet: My name is Bana.  I am talking to the world now live from East Aleppo. This is my last moment to either live or die.

We are grateful the world is finally realizing the horrendous reality of Assads regime and the suffering of humanity at the hands of Russia and Iran. Keep your eyes on Aleppo and the rest of the country, as it will be subjected to the exact same genocide if not worse. Assad has already used chemical and biological weapons, airstrikes and barrel bombs (flying IEDs) against his own people, to ensure the continuation of his regime. In 1982, my hometown of Hama saw this same destiny with more than 30,000 people murdered by the government, all for dreaming of justice, democracy and freedom during the reign of Assads father. I am lucky to be alive to tell this story; I hope Bana is still alive to tell her story too.

Aleppos story will not end with civilian evacuations on peaceful green buses. These people believed in democracy and only asked for freedom, dignity and justice. Their hopes threaten the existence of the dictator Assads regime, and he will not stop until he silences their voices forever.

This is our one opportunity to tell the people of Aleppo, we have heard your cries, and we will help! I am urging you to contact Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst to tell them to take immediate actions to:

Stop gross violations of international humanitarian law.

Stop gross violations of the Geneva Convention.

Create safe passage zones for Syrians fleeing the Assad regime

This holiday season, maybe the best gift we can give is to help save lives in the name of each other. Please consider donating to the Syrian American Medical Society or CARE. Both are trying to get supplies to the victims.

The international community failed the Jews in Germany, Rwandans in Africa, Srebrenica in Bosnia and now Aleppo in Syria. Every time we say never again and yet somehow, here we are  again. The question is, what will you do about it?
Q: Does Kim Reynolds, Iowas lieutenant governor, have a college degree?

A: Reynolds attended classes at two community colleges and Northwest Missouri State University when she was younger. She has been taking online courses at Iowa State University and will graduate in a few weeks, according to the governors office.

Q: Which is the proper way: Im going uptown or Im going downtown?

A: It depends on what youre talking about. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, downtown is the lower part or the business center of a city or town. Uptown is simply the upper part of a town or city.

Q: You had an article that listed a Dr. Who Tardis mug as a gift. What was the price of that?

A: Thinkgeek.com lists the mug for $14.99.

Q: Will NBC have a DVD copy of Hairspray available?

A: NBC does have DVDs for sale  go to www.nbcuniversalstore.com.

Q: How did the Janesville School District bond issue turn out? Did it pass or fail and what was the vote?

A: As reported on the front page of The Courier on Dec. 7, the day after the referendum, the $5.4 million bond issue failed with 522 people voting in favor of it and 519 voting against it. Although 50.14 percent of those who cast ballots favored the measure, bond issues need a 60 percent super majority for passage

Q: Does the city of Cedar Falls have any plans to outsource its parking department like Waterloo did?

A: Jennifer Rodenbeck, director of finance and business operations with the city, replies: In 2000, the city of Cedar Falls outsourced the collection and administration of parking payments to an outside agency. This service has worked very well, and at this time we are planning to continue that service into the future. In regards to parking enforcement, the city of Cedar Falls does not have any current plans to outsource this part of the parking service.

Q: Why did you change the Sudoku puzzles?

A: It was something done by the company providing the puzzles and out of our control. We did complain to the company the new puzzles were too easy for our readers and they did make some changes they felt improved the situation.

Q: Why are the deer penned up in the Waterloo city limits?

A: The property owner has each deer licensed and tagged with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He must follow all rules and regulations and is inspected two times a year.
Advertisement

By West Kentucky Star Staff

Dec. 18, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Dec. 18, 2016 | 09:24 PM | PADUCAH, KY

One person was injured Sunday evening in a crash on US 62.



McCracken County Sheriffs deputies responded at around 5 pm to an injury collision at the intersection of US Highway 62 and Highway 286. The investigation showed 30-year-old Joshua Lefler of Hillsboro, MO was on Highway 286 stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of US 62. Deputies said 21-year-old Jordan Jewel of Bardwell began to turn left on US Highway 62, not realizing Jewel had the right of way. Lefler pulled into the path of Jewel, causing Jewel to strike him on the drivers side.



Both Lefler and Jewel were uninjured, but a passenger in Jewel's vehicle, 21-year-old Jamie Garret was taken to Lourdes Hospital for treatment of injuries.



US Highway 62 was restricted to one lane for about an hour after the crash.
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AFCENT helps deployed Airmen reach for their dreams

Deployed Airmen often miss opportunities afforded to those back home; but personnel specialists at Air Forces Central Command headquarters here ensured deployed enlisted Airmen did not miss one opportunity  to pursue their ambitions of becoming part of the first group of enlisted pilots since World War II.



In August, Air Force senior leaders widened eligibility for enlisted Airmen interested in the RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft program by opening the application process to Airmen from all Air Force specialty codes.



The submission process used a phased-application approach, giving interested Airmen a six-week window to complete the initial phase. Interested applicants were required to complete the computer-based Air Force Enlisted Pilot Qualifying Test and the Test of Basic Aviation Skills (TBAS) at the nearest testing center and submit their results to the Air Force Personnel Center.



For the nearly 17,000 Airmen deployed in the AFCENT area of responsibility, the nearest testing center was over a thousand miles away, a distance that could take them away from their jobs for an extended period of time.



Because deployed bases dont have the equipment to provide the tests, we needed to work quickly to figure out a way to support our Airmen who were interested in pursuing this opportunity without taxing our personnel and our mission, said Lt. Col. Ryan Richardson, the AFCENT Manpower and Personnel deputy director. Our Airmen do amazing things and support many missions across the Middle East, so we wanted to make sure they still had a chance to pursue their goals while getting them back to the fight as soon as possible.



To overcome these unique challenges, the AFCENT team coordinated closely with Headquarters Air Force, Air Combat Command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and AFPC to determine how to ensure every interested Airman was afforded the opportunity to apply for the program.



Our primary goal was protecting and securing the opportunity for every deployed Airman, Richardson said. We dont want a single Airman to look back and wonder what could have happened if they werent deployed in service of their country. Through the efforts of numerous individuals from a number of organizations, we were able to find a way to support our Airmen.



Ultimately, the group arranged a two-week deadline extension for Airmen deployed during the span between the program announcement and original testing due date.



The AFCENT team used Al Udeid Air Base as a central testing site by using a recently purchased TBAS machine and also trained its Airmen to properly administer the tests ensuring adequate time for each applicant.



Richardson said the collective efforts of personnel across the globe afforded 82 Airmen, who otherwise may have been unable to participate, a chance to pursue their dream.



Taking care of people is mission critical, he said. It was rewarding to watch groups of Airmen all over the world come together in a common interest to take care of their fellow Airmen. I think it shows what Air Force culture is about.



Of the 82 tested in the AFCENT testing center, 36 Airmen were selected to move on to the second phase of the application process, which included medical flight physicals at Ramstein AB, Germany.



The results of the inaugural Air Force Enlisted RPA Pilot Selection Board, which meets Feb. 6-9, is expected to be released in late February 2017, but Richardson said no matter the results, his team feels proud to have helped their fellow Airmen.



We dont measure our success on how many Airmen ultimately get their wings, he said. If there was even one Airman who got the opportunity to pursue their dream, we did our job.
BarTender has become an integral component of the compliance, traceability and supply chain labeling strategies of the world's food producers, logistics providers and manufacturers.

BELLEVUE, WA, December 19, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Food Logistics, the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global food supply chain, has named BarTender by Seagull Scientific to its 2016 FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list.



The FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list serves as a resource guide of software and technology providers whose products and services are critical for companies in the global food and beverage supply chain.



"This is the third straight year BarTender has been included in the Food Logistics FL100+," said Harold Boe, President and CEO of Seagull Scientific. "It's a great honor to be recognized as a technology leader and especially for our company's commitment to enabling a safer global food supply and demand chain.



"BarTender has become an integral component of the compliance, traceability and supply chain labeling strategies of the world's food producers, logistics providers and manufacturers," said Boe. "We're committed to understanding the regulatory and supply chain pressures of food production and processing, and enabling industry compliance with food safety standards."



"The software and technology sector continues to generate new and exciting opportunities for growers, food manufacturers, grocery retailers and the many logistics providers that support them," notes Lara L. Sowinski, editorial director at Food Logistics. "Today's cloud-based solutions and mobile connectivity are helping create tools that are more flexible, affordable and responsive, making software and technology even more valuable to those in the global food supply chain."



Companies on the 2016 FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list will be profiled in the November/December 2016 issue of Food Logistics, as well as online at www.foodlogistics.com



About Food Logistics

Food Logistics is published by AC Business Media, a business-to-business media company that provides targeted content and comprehensive, integrated advertising and promotion opportunities for some of the world's most recognized B2B brands. Its diverse portfolio serves the construction, logistics, supply chain and other industries with print, digital and custom products, events and social media.



About Seagull Scientific

BarTender software by Seagull Scientific enables organizations around the world to improve safety, security, efficiency and compliance by creating and automating labels, barcodes, RFID tags, plastic cards and more. Hundreds of thousands of companies in manufacturing, chemicals, healthcare, food and beverage, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, supply chain/logistics and other industries trust BarTender with the labeling and marking processes that keep their businesses running. With corporate headquarters and software development in Bellevue, Washington, USA, and branch offices in Madrid, Taipei and Tokyo, BarTender is available in more than 150 countries through a global network of local partners. Learn more at www.seagullscientific.com.



# # #
Dec 19, 2016 | By Tess

A doctor from Chinas Kunming Medical Second Hospital has made headlines for having used 3D printing to help grow an ear out of a patients arm. Yes, you read that right: a doctor is growing an ear on a humans arm. Read on to find out how.

About a year ago, the patient, one Mr. Zhang, was seriously injured in a car accident. Fortunately, and thanks to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, his life was saved and many of his injuries were appropriately treated. According to the patient, he underwent a total of nine surgeries before beginning his post-accident recovery.

Despite having saved his life, doctors were ultimately unable to save Mr. Zhangs ear, which was irreparably damaged in the accident. And though his hearing was relatively unimpaired, the physical appearance of missing an ear (and some other facial tissues) was difficult for Mr. Zhang and left him to struggle emotionally.

Fortunately, Mr. Zhang was given hope again by Dr. Wang Jihua, the director of Plastic Surgery at the Kunming Medical Second Hospital, who informed him there was a chance to give him a brand new ear. As the patient explained, When Director Wang told me that they can help me rebuild an ear, my first thought was it was only a substitute, I did not think it would be a real ear. Looking at the ear that gradually growing on my arm, I still feel incredible. 

Of course, growing an ear out of someones arm is a relatively experimental process, which involved a few less-than-standard steps. First off, the doctor had to prepare the patients arm for the implantation of a new ear, which required embedding a skin expander into his right forearm. To increase the volume of the skin, the doctors had to regularly inject water into the arm. The next step involved cutting out part of the patients costal cartilage (located near the ribs) to serve as the material for the new ear.

To get the shape of the ear, the doctor 3D printed an ear model and carved the extracted cartilage accordingly, to mimic the shape of the ear. Once the cartilage was the right shape, it was implanted into the patients right arm, under the skin flap that had formed. Now, through a process of microsurgical vascular anastomosis, the doctors are waiting for the ear to finish growing out of the arm so that it can be removed and transplanted onto the patients head.

According to Dr Wang, the procedure was inspired by Professor Guo Shuzhong from the Xi'an Jiaotong University, who was responsible for the worlds first ear reconstruction surgery. The situation of the patient and Mr. Zhang is basically the same, explained Wang. In the last ten years, our department has completed more than 300 cases of microtia deformity auricular reconstruction surgery and has a wealth of clinical experience. Under professor Guos technical guidance, we decided to carry out the operation.

As mentioned, 3D printing played an important part in carving the new ear out of cartilage, as a 3D printed model provided a carving guide for the doctors. Currently, the operation is in its second stage, which means the doctors are waiting for the arm-ear to grow properly until it is a proper enough shape to be removed from the arm and implanted onto the head. Dr. Wang estimates it will be another three months or so before they are ready to implant.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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by Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad

Much has already been written about the failure of data science in predicting the outcome of the 2016 US election but it is always good to revisit cautionary tales. The overwhelming majority of the folks who work in election prediction including big names like New York Times' Upshot, Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight and Princeton Election Consortium predicted Clinton's chance of winning being more than 70 percent. This is of course not what happened and Donald Trump is the president elect. And so on the night of November 9th people started asking if there was something wrong with Data Science itself. The Republican strategist Mike Murphy went as far as to state, Tonight, data died. My brush with election analytics came in in late 2015 when I was looking for a new job and talked to folks in both the Republican and the Democratic Data Science teams about prospective roles but decided to pursue a different career path. However this experience forced me to think about the role of data driven decision in campaigning and politics. While data is certainly not dead, Mike Murphy observation does lay bare the fact that those interpreting the data are all too human. The overwhelming majority of the modelers and pollsters had implicit biases regarding the likelihood of a Trump victory. One does not even have to torture the data to make it confess, one can ask the data the wrong questions to make it answer what you want to hear.

We should look towards the outcome and modeling approaches for the 2016 US presidential elections as learning experiences for data science as well as acknowledging it as a very human enterprise. In addition understand what led to selectively choosing the data and to understand why the models did not as well as they should have, it would help us to unpack some of the assumptions that go in creating these models in the first place. The first thing that comes to mind is systematic errors and sampling bias which was one of the factors that results in incorrect predictions, a lesson that pollsters should have learned after the Dewey vs. Truman fiasco. That said, there were indeed some discussions about the unreliability of the pollster data run up to the election. Although the dissenting voice rarely made it to the mainstream data. Obtaining representative samples of the population can be extremely hard.

It is notoriously difficult to predict which registered voters are going to actually vote in the elections. Fewer registered Democrats actually went to the polls to vote for Hillary Clinton than they had voted for their Democratic nominee in the last few elections. It is already well known that Hillary would have comfortably won had that not been the case. The opposite is also true, many people who are on the alt-right who normally do not engage with the electoral process voted for Donald Trump. There are many factors that determine how does one obtain a representative sample of the population. The Investors Business Daily (IBD) correctly predicted the outcome of the elections and in their own words they were able to do so because most of the other pollsters collected most of their data by calling smartphones while they polls that they conducted were representative sample even the types of phones that were used. It may be the case that IBD may have gotten lucky because even their approach, as far as we know, does not take into account voter apathy.

The real story about Data Science and the elections may be that even in the age of Big Data we have preciously little data to make robust predictions about the electorate even though we may pretend that that is not the case. Just because a simple model predicted that Trump would win the presidency doesnt mean the model is correct, there are just too few data points to make predictions with reasonable confidence. Many folks in the data science community observed that the Republicans were far behind the Democrats in terms of building a strong data science and may lose the elections because of this reason. Of course they were dead wrong about this. Cambridge Analytica is the British analytics company that led the Data Science efforts at the Trump campaign. It is now being touted by many outlets as the engine behind Trumps success after the fact, while others have decried that most of it is just post victory myth making. One of Cambridge Analyticas claims to fame is that they use psychographic data to make predictions about election choice. Many outsiders observe that even a sample size of a few million is not enough to generalize over a population of 350 million. The PR folks at Cambridge Analytica has played up the media fascination with the idea of data science team winning the elections What is however left in these accounts is that before the election day Cambridge Analytica put the chance of winning of its candidate to be 20 percent which they upgraded 30 percent as voting began. This does not exactly sound like predictions of winning in advance or actionable insight for strategizing. Thus, many journalists have stated that the claims of data science winning the elections are vastly exaggerations with there being no secret sauce to their data science approach.

If we are to take a critical eye to Cambridge Analytica then it is only fair that we apply the same critical eye retroactively to the previous elections and the success of Nate Silvers of the world. It may well be the case that the success of the predictions of the last elections was a fluke but there are important lessons that one can learn from flukes. One of the most insightful comments came from Pradeep Mutalik that aggregating poll results accurately and assigning a probability estimate to the win are completely different problems. The former is relatively straightforward while the later involves a host of assumptions that are not always clear and many a times are more art than science. Lastly there is the issues of how the populace and the media, both of which are not rocket scientists when it comes to interpreting the probability of winning or losing elections. Those with some know how of probability would be surprised to learn how many people are out there who think that a probability of 60 percent of winning implies almost certainly winning. Pradeep Mutalik of Yale has rightly pointed out that probabilistic forecasts should be done away with or if we to use them they should with margins of error disclaimers. Perhaps our predictive technology is not as good as we think. It is as good as or bad as the way targeting ads work, which is another way of saying not that well. One cannot really blame the data when the data that we select already have the conclusions that we want built into it. Alternatively we should stop worrying about the predicting the weather as much. Perhaps the outcomes dont matter as much as we like to think, certainly Nicholas Nassim Talib thinks so.
by Richard King

A blast from Hollywood's golden past 

In a dry valley in the Italian countryside, the remaining members of Spartacus' slave army sit in chains, surrounded by their Roman captors. At the front of the group sits Spartacus himself (Kirk Douglas) and next to him Antoninus (Tony Curtis), a slave entertainer and Spartacus' favourite. The victorious Roman general, Marcus Licinius Crassus (Laurence Olivier) sends a disdainful eye over the survivors. His herald speaks:

By command of His Most Merciful Excellency, your lives are to be spared. Slaves you were and slaves you remain. But the terrible penalty of crucifixion has been set aside on the single condition that you identify the body or the living person of the slave called Spartacus.

Cut to Spartacus, looking steely: he knows the jig is up and rises to his feet. But Antoninus rises with him and speaks first. I'm Spartacus! he shouts, as another slave stands: I'm Spartacus! And another: I'm Spartacus! And so on and so on, until the valley is alive with voices. I'm Spartacus! I'm Spartacus! I'm Spartacus!

Cheesy, yes; but stirring all the same. And Douglas's flinty visog is a picture: mud-streaked and tear-stained, like an Easter Island moai after a downpour. We know the scene was personal  an allegory of the solidarity shown amongst writers and performers in the face of intimidation from the HUAC  and it would be nice to think that Douglas had certain US Senators in mind when he aimed those piercing eyes at Olivier. At any rate, it was a great day's work.

Tomorrow (Tuesday, 20 December) is International Human Solidarity Day. Instituted in 2005 by the UN General Assembly, it is a day to celebrate our unity in diversity  to remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements  to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity [and] to encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals including poverty eradication. Fine aims all, though I note in passing that the permanent members of the Security Council still have a significant way to go before they can be deemed worthy of them, and that right now most people in Aleppo would probably settle for a lasting ceasefire and some bottled water. Still, the subject of solidarity is crucial to our current moment and it would be churlish not to say something in its favour.

The UN's conception of solidarity  certainly as set out in the General Secretary's statement for 2015  would be hard to distinguish from empathy or altruism, virtues (or capacities) that few would seek to criticise. It's very broad, in other words; and while there's something to be said for broadness, I'd like to express a preference for a different conception of solidarity as an expression of collective will mandated by self-interest. No doubt there is something of this in the UN's definition of solidarity  altruism, after all, is often reciprocal  but if there is it's implicit, not explicit, and certainly not as instrumental and hard-headed as it will need to be if solidarity is to be utilised in the name of real political change. In short: we need to think of solidarity, not in a spirit of kumbaya, but as a tactic in the struggle for social and political justice.

The first rigorous attempt to define solidarity, which derives from the French word solidaire, meaning interdependent or complete, was made by Emile Durkheim in The Division of Labour in Society (1893). Durkheim distinguished between two kinds of solidarity  mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity  the first arising in small-scale societies characterised by shared beliefs, types of work, and so on, the second in more complex societies characterised by specialisation of work and relationships of interdependence. (The terms mechanical and organic in this connection always sound slightly backwards to me, but organic refers here to the interdependence of the society's component parts, not to their natural character.) In this formulation, solidarity denotes the mores, laws, codes etc. that go to make a common life. It's the glue that holds societies together. It follows that a healthy society is one that displays a high degree of solidarity.

For some, however, and for the left especially, the interdependence posited by Durkheim masked relationships of exploitation. In particular, it masked the exploitation of the working class by the ruling class, and it is from that battle for material resources that our modern notion of solidarity takes much of its historical texture. Faced with economic hardship, with foul conditions and subsistence wages, and herded into factories in dirty, crowded conurbations, the proletariat formed into unions and sought to turn their collectivisation against the owner-class. Solidarity became the tactic in the struggle against the bourgeoisie, one that in the Marxist version of class struggle would resolve the contradiction between the forces of production and their relations in labour's favour, replacing private appropriation of the surplus with its socialisation. What we call the labour movement is unthinkable without the concept of solidarity. Solidarity is the soul of socialism, in both its reformist and revolutionary iterations.

Of course, no account of the twentieth-century left can afford to elide the gargantuan crimes committed under the banner of communism. But it is important to remember just how powerful this notion of solidarity was, and the massive improvements, in conditions and wages, that were achieved in its name. Indeed, its name became, itself, a sort of emblem of the struggle in general, a word-icon around which interests cohered, inculcating the very phenomenon it denoted. On the left it had an almost religious mystique, such that Ernest Hemingway named his great study of solidarity, For Whom the Bell Tolls, set amongst the International Brigades and Republican guerrillas in the Spanish Civil War, after John Donne's Mediation XVII. There's no reason to quote the relevant passage, and no reason not to, so here it is:

No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.

Exquisite, that. And exquisite too is the way the concept of solidarity had the power to spread beyond the Continent (precisely as the International Brigades had done), dissolving all the false identities of race and nation in the cause of freedom. This was the basis of the radical left's internationalism and, again, its reasoning was essentially hard-headed: only in the event that the revolution could be spread beyond national borders would it survive, capitalism having brought different nations into such a connection that economic independence was impossible. Just as the individual's interests were represented in the collective, and vice versa, so the fate of the individual nation was tied to the emergence of an international (class) consciousness.

In the event, of course, globalisation took a rather different course. Moreover, the particular course it took was designed in part to destroy the version of solidarity outlined above. As David Harvey has argued across a number of books, neoliberalism was a political project in which the power of labour was identified as the enemy and systematically undermined through off-shoring, anti-union legislation, financialisation and all the other economic goodies we associate with the last four decades. Capital, not labour, has globalised itself, with the result that workers in the developed world have lost much of their hard-won security.

It was the belief of the politicians who carried this process forward  conservative politicians, on the whole  that once the demands of labour had been tamed other forms of solidarity (as they would never have dreamed of calling them) would re-emerge as dominant: hence the emphasis that was always put on family values, the church etc. But the world they ushered into being proved corrosive of those forms of solidarity, too. Marketisation and monetisation are not conducive to settled communities; nor is the neoliberal ideal of a free individual exercising free choice in a free market a necessarily sturdy presence. Anomie, alienation and atomisation tend to be the consequences of a system based on profit and growth and the relentless transformation of everything  leisure, knowledge, identity  into a commodity. That, and environmental degradation on a scale unknown in human history. (This, perhaps, is the clinching tragedy: that neoliberal capitalism, in helping to create this society from which solidarity is increasingly absent, is also driving the world to a point where solidarity is more necessary than ever.)

The good news is that there is now some pushback against neoliberalism. The bad news is that in all but a handful of cases the form the pushback takes is nativist demagoguery of the kind favoured by a certain orange billionaire. The right is on the march, again, and determined to present itself as the saviour of the ordinary worker left behind by globalisation.

At any rate, the challenge is clear, even if the solutions aren't: progressives, the left, radicals, whatever, need to evolve, or re-evolve, a version of solidarity that can unite the interests of the individual with the interests of society, upon pain of increasing precarity, rule by nationalistic morons, and an uninhabitable planet. Easier said than done, I know, but something to be thinking about on International Human Solidarity Day 2016.

And so I wish you all a productive celebration thereof, and a solidarity-filled Christmas.

Oh, and happy 100th birthday, Kirk; you don't look a day over 98.

*

Visit me at The Bloody Crossroads.
by Mara Naselli

The literary debate over the role of fact and invention in essay now appears to have foreshadowed our own post-fact moment. Suddenly this is not an idle matter. When writers knowingly take liberties with the facts in the name of art, they demote the reader from fellow traveler to spectator. Trust me, they say, it will be fantastic. For those who feel tricked, the betrayal is more than just bad feeling. An essayist who flagrantly manipulates fact fails to appreciate the essays greatest strengththe convergence of intimacy and shared inquiry.

The most recent review to enter the fray is William Deresiewiczs In Defense of Facts, just published in The Atlantic. Deresiewicz attacks John DAgatas three essay anthologies for many things, notably a disregard for history. Deresiewicz rightly situates the historical origin of both fact and essay in tandem. For they are cousins, born out of the same revolutionizing changes that moved the Western intellectual tradition from the medieval world to the Renaissance. These changes laid the path for empirical science in the process. Montaignes scrupulous investigation, Deresiewicz writes, was the essays distinguishing feature in the sixteenth century.

If we pause to consider Montaigne and his time, we may make an even bolder claim that could renew our own contemporary relationship to the essay as an instrument of inquiry. Montaignes inward turn was not simply introspective. His scrupulous investigation was in service to a more ambitious endeavor: the relocation of the authority of judgment from the external authorities of the Church and ancient texts to the inward authority of the self. It was the act of investigation and inquiry toward understanding that made Montaignes work so remarkable.

His essays emerged as singular, idiosyncratic (even monstrous) explorations, subject to his limitations as well as his intelligent scrutiny. By locating the investigation and judgment in the body and mind of the writer, Montaigne invented the authority of authorship.

We recognize Montaignes inwardness because we inherited it from him. Our focus on Montaignes self-scrutiny, however, has perhaps subverted fuller interpretations of his project. Its true that Montaignes decision to write about himself was unusual and daring, but his subjects were also encyclopedicon prayer, on war horses, on friendship, on cannibals. The fact that he reflected on his own mind and body was controversial, but his method was the substance of his innovation. The authority to record and examine and investigatethis is what make Montaignes intellectual contribution so important.

One of my favorite lines from the essays comes from On Idleness. When Montaigne retires from public life, he finds that rather than settling into the gravity of its own repose, his mind takes off like a runaway horse. It gives birth to so many chimeras and fantastic monstrosities, one after another, without order or fitness, that, so as to contemplate at my ease their oddness and their strangeness, I began to keep a record of them, hoping in time to make my mind ashamed of itself. As contemporary readers, we dont quite know how to place the shame. What could that mean?

This passage shows just how radical Montaignes moves were in the late sixteenth century. Ive written about this elsewhere, but its important to note that three major historical changes were chipping away at the medieval closed universe while Montaigne wroteexploration in the New World, the new texts coming from Constantinople, especially the Skeptics, which were so important to Montaigne, and the Reformation. We mustnt forget that the wars of religion raged just beyond Montaignes doorstepwhen he nearly died from falling from his horse, he thought they had unwittingly wandered into a battle. In Montaignes lifetime, the cohesion of the medieval universe was falling apart; the universalizing power of the Roman Catholic Church was beginning to falter.

In this passage above, Montaigne distances himself from a conventional view of Church authority. By describing his mind giving birth to the chimeras and fantastic monstrosities, Montaigne rejects the medieval notion that deformity and oddness could be prognosticated or divined as Gods will. To make his mind ashamed of itself is a claim to his own moral judgment. By seizing his own agency to keep a record, as would a scientist recording observations, Montaigne claims the authority to interpret and judge the monstrosities of his mind himself.

Scientific inquiry and the hypotheses it generated were problems for the Church. Factsobservable, verifiable, testablehad the power to undermine the Churchs medieval cosmic order. To challenge the Churchs geocentric cosmology was to challenge the ultimate knowingness of God. To suggest the earth moved around the sun, as Copernicus did (when Montaigne was a boy), or that the universe was infinite, as Giordano Bruno did (during Montaignes lifetime), or to test and confirm Copernicuss hypothesis, as Galileo did (a generation after Montaigne), were heretical acts. Copernicus published his findings at the end of his own life to escape punishment. Galileos was tried and put under house arrest. Bruno was burned at the stake.

After Montaigne published his first edition of the Essays, in 1580, he journeyed to Rome, where he visited the Vatican and delivered the first edition of his essays to the Roman Censors. While he was there, he met with Pope Gregory XIII and with the Censors who read and evaluated his work.

Montaigne anticipated and even welcomed the Censors reading. I put forward formless and unresolved notions, as do those who publish doubtful questions to debate in the schools, not to establish the truth but to seek it, he writes in On Prayer. And I submit them to the judgment of those whose concern it is to regulate not only my actions and my writings, but even my thoughts. Equally acceptable and useful to me will be condemnation or approval.

The Censors objected to many things: the pagan word fortune, to take one example. Chance, luck, random eventsthese notions are hostile to a divinely ordered cosmos. Even today, when someone says everything happens for a reason, they are quoting a medieval view. On the matter of fortune, Montaigne made a few changes, but did not capitulate. Amending the passage quoted above in his second edition, Montaigne reaffirmed Church authority, but doubled down to defend his work. He welcomed condemnation by the church, since I would loathe to be found saying anything ignorantly or inadvertently against the holy teachings of the Church Catholic, but remained emboldened to treat all sorts of subjectsas I do here. While Montaigne granted the Churchs limitless power in one breath, he asserted his formless quest for truth in the next.*

In the same essay, Montaigne makes another revision in response to the Censors: I have also see in my time criticisms laid against some books [almost certainly referring to his own] for dealing exclusively with the humanities or philosophy without any admixture of Theology. These essays are a humanistic project, Montaigne replies, not a theological one. Christian Doctrine holds her rank better when set apart, as Queen and Governor, he writes, never ancillary nor subsidiary. Religion is better kept separate from such lowly concerns, and lowly diction, too, for that matter. The language of men has its own less elevated forms and must not make use of the dignity, majesty and authority of the language of God, he writes. I myself let it sayverbis indiscplinatis [using undisciplined words]fortune, destiny, accident, good luck, bad luck, the gods and similar phrases, following its own fashion. Dear Censors, Montaigne seems to be saying, I acknowledge your power, but the strength of my own intelligence will not yield to it. Your matters are theological, mine are earthly, and by the way, I will use the word fortune if I want to.

The essay form is essentially about authority. The anger with DAgatas performative interpretation of the essay is not just about his play with fact and form, I suspect, but the way he choses to use or abuse his authority under the auspices of the essay. Where Montaigne modeled the intelligent investigative mind, independent of dogmatic influence, DAgata models the Romantic fantasy of the artistic genius. Facts are foundational to the essay because they are the common ground of shared inquiry between reader and author, fellow travelers in a quest for clarity and insight. Facts are the things through which we connect. The popularity of the essay, I think, has something to do with our own time and place. It is an essentially democratic form: it relies on the limited, localized authority of the thinking, feeling mind in conversation with the world around it. We are hungry for authentic, rigorous discernment. Now it is more important than ever.

* I am indebted to Mihaela Carla Caponegro's Roman Censorship and the Shaping of Montaignes Essays, PhD dissertation (Princeton University, 2013).
Amy Maxmen in Nature:

Hans Rosling knew never to flee from men wielding machetes. The risk is higher if you run than if you face them, he says. So, in 1989, when an angry mob confronted him at the field laboratory he had set up in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rosling tried to appear calm. I thought, I need to use the resources I have, and I am good at talking.

Rosling, a physician and epidemiologist, pulled from his knapsack a handful of photographs of people from different parts of Africa who had been crippled by konzo, an incurable disease that was affecting many in this community, too. Through an interpreter, he explained that he believed he knew the cause, and he wanted to test local peoples blood to be sure. A few minutes into his demonstration, an old woman stepped forward and addressed the crowd in support of the research. After the more aggressive members of the mob stopped waving their machetes, she rolled up her sleeve. Most followed her lead. You can do anything as long as you talk with people and listen to people and talk with the intelligentsia of the community, says Rosling.

He is still trying to arm influential people with facts. He has become a trusted counsellor and speaker of plain truth to United Nations leaders, billionaire executives such as Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg and politicians including Al Gore. Even Fidel Castro called on the slim, bespectacled Swede for advice. Roslings video lectures on global health and economics have elevated him to viral celebrity status, and he has been listed among the 100 most influential people in the world by the magazines Time and Foreign Policy. Melinda Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation says, To have Hans Rosling as a teacher is one of the biggest honours in the world.

More here.
I guess they were too loud, but how am I, a deaf person, supposed to know that? I left the theater, returned the headphones and started to walk out the door. But then I turned around, went back into the theater, tapped the man on the shoulder and said very loudly, "Those are headphones to help me hear. I'm deaf."

I hope he was humiliated, because I certainly was.

The rudeness, in retrospect, was understandable. It's the technology that infuriates me. Why do I have to put on heavy, ill-fitting headphones that not only don't work for me, but can distract people around me? It's like installing a wheelchair ramp that not only doesn't get you where you need to go, but blocks the stairs for everyone else.

Captions are better, and the deaf and hard of hearing have been lobbying for them for years. But what the industry has given us is a clunky gooseneck screen that you carry to your seat and fit into the cup holder. Some chains also offer special closed-captioning eyeglasses, which are less intrusive, but if you wear glasses normally the closed-captioning ones have to fit over those. (Open captioning, which displays dialogue on the bottom of the movie screen for all audiences to see, is less common than closed captioning, and also less popular with hearing moviegoers.)

Digital film technology allows closed captions to be an intrinsic part of a movie, and they can be sent automatically to the devices I described above. But why can't the captions go directly to my smartphone instead? I hear some app developers are exploring the idea. My phone can do just about everything else  streamed captions should be a cinch.
Its a development year for USD football: What to still watch for

For USD and South Dakota fans who are still invested in the final three games, there are a lot of ways where this can be a productive end to the season for the Coyotes.
Bajaj Electricals Limited, the inspiring partner of Pinkathon focuses on spreading the message #LeaveitBehind to propel women all over India to leave their problems behind and move towards a new beginning. To amplify this initiative, Bajaj Electricals has installed an Art Wall for Pink Carnival at Phoenix Market City today and called various artists to paint their thoughts on#LeaveitBehind. Actor and founder of Pinkathon, Milind Soman, was also present at the event to boost the morale of the ladies.

Women in India face lots of social and domestic issues all through the life which are a big struggle for them right from the beginning of their life. Using Pinkathon as a platform, Bajaj Electricals wants women in India to rise up against their problems and encourage them to explore their potential. Through this inspiring initiative Bajaj Electricals is supporting participants to leave behind what is holding them back and move toward the future without any fear and hesitation.

Commenting on this initiative, Beena Koshy, Executive Vice President & Head - Advertising, Digital and Branding said, We are taking our long standing relationship with Pinkathon to the next phase with the #Leaveitbehind Campaign. Personally, it is very close to me and a lot of us resonate with it since us women, especially working Moms, have had to go through a lot of issues balancing work life and so it becomes critical to decide what we should choose to leave behind. Sometimes it is the call of the domesticity that forces women to leave behind a lucrative career or the pull of succeeding in the corporate world where we end up sacrificing family time. But whatever we chose to leave behind, we should move ahead towards making our lives beautiful.

Mr. Milind Soman, Actor and founder of Pinkathon, at the event took the opportunity to emphasize that, This year, with Bajaj Electricals Ltd. as the Inspiring partners for Pinkathon, we want to encourage women to take a little time out for themselves, every day, to keep lifestyle diseases at bay. #Leave It Behind is a step from our end where we want women to step away from their fears, from their nonbelievers, from everything thats holding them back. We want them to tell the world about the things that they are leaving behind and, in the process, inspire other women who have been facing dilemmas similar to theirs. You move ahead only when you leave things behind, whether its a small step towards a personal goal or a leap youre taking in life.
Parle Products has entrusted its media planning and buying mandate to Zenith India, part of Publicis Media India. Parle has a portfolio of iconic brands spanning the categories of biscuits, confectionery, snacks, rusk and chocolates. This win comes after a multi-agency pitch.

Since 1929, Parle Products has grown to become Indias leading manufacturer of biscuits and confectionery. As the makers of the worlds largest selling biscuit, Parle-G, and a host of other very popular brands, the Parle name symbolises quality, nutrition and superior taste. An in-depth understanding of the Indian consumer psyche has helped Parle Products to develop a marketing philosophy that reflects the needs of the evolving Indian consumer. They have made it a tradition to deliver both health and taste, with a value-for-money positioning that allows people from all classes and age groups to enjoy Parle products to the fullest. With a reach spanning the remotest villages of India and major cities across the world, the House of Parle has become synonymous with trust, globally.

Tanmay Mohanty, Group CEO, Zenith, commented, Parle Products is Indias front-runner, fast moving consumer goods company with a range of iconic brands in portfolio, and we are pleased to be handling their media business. Their brands have withstood the test of time and have successfully contemporised. Parle Products has over the years experimented, innovated and stayed ahead of the curve. It is a great opportunity for us to put forward our strategic thinking, integrated solutions and drive on ROI for Parles brand media investments. Indias packaged food industry is poised for significant growth this is a great time to be partnering with them.

Mayank Shah, Category Head at Parle Products, added, We were looking for an agency that is not just future-facing, but also future-first and has a significant and deep impact on the business of marketing communications in India. Zenith understands the pulse of Indian consumers. Their passion for the job, innovative thinking and strong play in consumer insights, digital, technology, content and analytics makes them the right partner for us. We look forward to a long and fulfilling partnership with them.
SAN RAMON, Calif., and HAMBURG, Germany, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BioVentrix, Inc. a pioneer of technologies and procedures for less invasive treatment of heart failure (HF), today announced the first closed-chest Revivent TC TransCatheter Ventricular Enhancement System procedure in Germany since receiving CE mark certification. The Less Invasive Ventricular Enhancement or LIVE procedure was performed by interventional cardiologists Dr. Christian Frerker, MD and Dr. Tobias Schmidt, MD and by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Ralf Bader, MD at Asklepios Klinik St. Georg in Hamburg, Germany. The St. Georg Heart team is led by Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Kuck, who is also the Chairman of the Department of Cardiology and Electrophysiology.

The physicians implanted 2 anchor pairs and achieved a left ventricular volume reduction of 24%, which is a significant improvement for a patient suffering from ischemic heart failure. Left Ventricular volume reduction is a common measure of cardiac performance that significantly impacts the short and long-term survival rates. By remodeling the LV to a more normal shape and size, the implant improves pumping efficiency, decreases wall stress, and immediately reverses patient symptoms.

"We are pleased to be the first center in Germany to perform the Revivent TC procedure after CE mark certification," said Dr. Frerker. "The Revivent TC procedure continues to show significant clinical benefits to patients who suffer from ischemic cardiomyopathy post-myocardial infarction. It's a viable solution when guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) is not suitable," continued Dr. Frerker.

"The 24% volume reduction should directly impact the heart's pumping efficiency, which is a positive outcome for ischemic patients. That will result in an improvement in the patient's quality of life," added Dr. Schmidt. "This is the only minimally invasive technology which enables plication of scar tissue resulting in complete exclusion outside the LV cavity," continued Dr. Schmidt.

"The Revivent TC procedure alleviates wall stress by the reshaping of the left ventricle and allowing for the heart to operate as it was intended to going forward. The immediate impact the Revivent TC procedure has on a patient is life-changing," added Dr. Bader.

About BioVentrix and the Revivent TC System

BioVentrix, a privately held medical technology company headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., is focused on developing and commercializing minimally invasive therapies for treating HF. The company recently received CE mark certification for its closed-chest Revivent TC TransCatheter Ventricular Enhancement System for plication of scar tissue in post-MI, ischemic cardiomyopathy patients. Placement of the Revivent TC System via the LIVE procedure obviates the need for more invasive surgery. Instead, small titanium anchors are placed along the outer surface of the heart and along one of the interior walls via a catheter-based approach. The anchors are then pulled towards one another, effectively excluding the scarred and non-functioning heart wall. Ventricular volume is immediately reduced as a result of the exclusion, by as much as 30-40 percent1.

Click here for corporate video with animation

Note: The Revivent TC System is approved for sale in Europe; it is not approved for sale in the United States.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bioventrix-announces-the-1st-revivent-tc-transcatheter-ventricular-enhancement-procedure-in-germany-after-receiving-ce-mark-certification-300379528.html

SOURCE BioVentrix Inc.
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Republic of Equatorial Guinea has detained three employees of the French bank Societe Generale de Banques en Guinee Equatoriale (SGBGE) for transferring confidential banking information to third parties outside the country.

The information involved the private data of several high-ranking members of the Government of Equatorial Guinea, including the Vice President, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue.

The transfer of private information violates the internationally recognized right of the confidentiality of bank data, which must be kept secure by banks and their employees.

The SGBGE employees will testify before the Equatorial Guinea Ministry of Justice in the coming days.

Societe Generale is a French multinational banking and financial services company based in Paris, where the Vice President has been accused of money laundering. The Republic of Equatorial Guinea has called on France to withdraw the charges against the Vice President.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/equatorial-guinea-detains-sgbge-employees-for-transferring-confidential-banking-information-to-third-parties-300381109.html

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea
HAMPSTEAD, N.C., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ClixSense.com, an online revenue source for those looking to earn extra money, just reached a milestone adding its 7 millionth member. The website averages more than 5,000 new accounts each day and is an Alexa top 600 website based on traffic. Alexa, an Amazon company, is a global pioneer in the world of analytical insight. Founded in 2007, as a pay to click website, ClixSense has since changed its business model and has become an industry leader in providing an easy way for its members to earn extra money. The company has paid out more than $23 million to its members to date.

Starting in 2012, ClixSense began providing quality market research through its surveys and has since grown to be one of the top-quality providers according to Lucid, a data technology company focused on the power of human answers based in New Orleans, Louisiana.

ClixSense offers one of the most lucrative affiliate programs online. Those registering with the website can earn commission whenever they direct referrals, click on paid-to-click ads, and complete surveys, simple tasks and offers. Because the company offers multiple opportunities to earn income, earning potential is unlimited.

"ClixSense is excited to reach this milestone adding our 7 millionth member," says Jim Grago, CEO of ClixSense.com. "Members love our program, and the website is constantly growing. Income is paid directly to members daily through multiple payment methods, and it's free to register an account. It's the perfect opportunity for those looking to earn extra money."

ClixSense is also an industry proven method that allows website publishers of every size and budget to direct targeted and unique traffic to their website. The largest online retailers across the globe utilize the same system to direct traffic to their sites. Through this program, ClixSense works with web merchants in every stage of development from start-up to those more established and looking for extra online exposure.

For more information and to learn more of the benefits for consumers and advertisers, visit ClixSense.com.

About ClixSense

ClixSense is an online rewards and advertising company. Founded in 2007, pay to click website, ClixSense has since become an industry leader in providing consumers a way to earn additional income. For more information, visit ClixSense.com.

Related Links

ClixSense home page

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com/.

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SOURCE ClixSense.com
Company signs multiple franchisee agreements and opens 9 new units

Taco Bueno, recently voted Americas favorite Mexican quick service restaurant chain, announced that it has opened nine new restaurants in 2016, two franchised units and seven company owned, with plans to open another 13-18 restaurants in 2017.

The company attributes its growth to the increasing demand for better quality, fresh-made Tex-Mex. While todays customers are demanding ever-increasing convenience, they are rejecting the factory-processed, heat n serve items offered by large chains, said Taco Bueno President and CEO, Mike Roper. Taco Bueno offers a made-in-house menu that delivers bold flavors crafted from fresh, real ingredients, a combination that is compelling to guests as well as to prospective franchisees.

The company is rapidly expanding its franchise program, having signed four new franchise agreements in 2016.

Taco Bueno has signed a multi-unit expansion agreement with their current franchise partner, Quality Brand Management (QBM), led by Rick Verity. Rick has been part of the Taco Bueno family for more than 10 years, operating four Taco Bueno Restaurants in Central Arkansas and one in Oklahoma, said Taco Bueno Vice President of Franchising, Matt Stanton. Given Ricks proven strength as a multi-brand and multi-unit operator, we are thrilled to expand with the QBM team. QBM opened two new restaurants in Oklahoma in 2016 and will continue to expand in 2017 and beyond.

Taco Bueno has signed a multi-unit franchise agreement with Larry and Kimberly Coon in their home town of San Angelo, Texas. The Coons are experienced restaurant operators in the San Angelo area as long-time franchisees for Little Caesars Pizza.

In the Shreveport/Bossier City area of Louisiana, Taco Bueno has signed a multi-unit agreement with Jed Blackburn and Brian Nelson, long-time residents of the Shreveport area. Jed is a successful entrepreneur and developer and Brian brings a host of skills obtained through a career in the Air Force.

West of Fort Worth, Taco Bueno has inked a deal with an experienced special venue operator to place a drive-thru restaurant in a new travel center. The travel center will feature dedicated semi-truck refueling and parking, with Taco Bueno as the primary dining option.

Roper stated, Special venues like this are an important part of Taco Buenos growth plans, and we are actively looking to provide dining options for customers in travel centers, airports, and other unique locations.

We are thrilled with the high caliber of franchisees in our system today as well as those who are joining our rapidly growing brand, said Stanton. We look forward to adding more multi-unit franchises in the near future.

In March 2016, Taco Bueno was voted Americas favorite Mexican quick service restaurant chain in a national survey conducted by Market Force Information, Inc. For 49 years, Taco Bueno has built its reputation by serving tacos, burritos, nachos, and quesadillas prepared with fresh ground beef, fresh-made salsas and guacamole, and scratch-made refried beans.

Building on significant growth in 2015, Taco Bueno has rapidly expanded in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas in 2016.

About Taco Bueno

Taco Bueno is committed to creating an authentic, fresher Tex-Mex experience. Taco Bueno is passionate about providing better tasting Tex-Mex, prepared daily with fresh, hand-selected ingredients. Founded in 1967 in Abilene, Texas, Taco Bueno operates more than 175 restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The company is privately owned by TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity investment platform of TPG, the global private investment firm. Learn more about Taco Bueno by visiting www.tacobueno.com or www.facebook.com/buenoheadquarters.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161219005528/en/

For Taco Bueno

Jeff Carl, 972-919-4806
LAS VEGAS, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermi, a world leader in temperature controlled radiofrequency devices, is pleased to host their third annual User Meeting from January 21-22, 2017 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. All Thermi customers are welcome to attend to learn more about the Thermi platform and share their experiences with the Thermi technology.

This two day forum will consist of discussions from many keynote speakers including top doctors from all over the country as well as Thermi's President, Kevin O'Brien and Thermi's CEO, Paul Herchman. Clinical Advisory Council (CAC) members are invited to participate in clinical presentations, panel discussions, and a free exchange of ideas amongst peers. There will be a user forum presentation of ThermiRF, which is temperature-controlled radiofrequency technology that produces aesthetic outcomes using the science of heat. It is used for a myriad of soft-tissue applications, including ThermiSmooth Face, ThermiRase and ThermiTight. Silhouette InstaLift training will also be offered, which is a device indicated for use in mid-face suspension surgery to fixate the cheek sub dermis in an elevated position.

Dr. Edward Zimmerman will be hosting Thermi University before the User Meeting, where he will be giving live demonstrations of all ThermiRF applications, including ThermiTight, ThermiRase, ThermiSmooth Face, and ThermiVa. Dr. Zimmerman will also demonstrate the ThermiSmooth Body application with the Thermi250 device. Thermi University will take place on January 20th from 8:30AM-5:00PM.

Currently, Thermi University is at capacity, but if you are interested in attending please contact Thermi to be added to our waiting list.

The User Meeting is an open event, free of cost for all Thermi customers. Also, attendees are invited to take advantage of the special Thermi Room Rate ($195/night) at The Bellagio Hotel.

Learn more about the Annual User Meeting and register here. For more information about Thermi please visit: http://www.thermi.com/

About Thermi: Thermi, an Almirall Company, is a leading global manufacturer of temperature controlled radiofrequency technology. The company's flagship product is ThermiRF, a platform technology that uses temperature as an endpoint for various minimally and non-invasive applications (ThermiTight, ThermiRase, ThermiSmooth Face, ThermiVa). Thermi also offers the Thermi250TM device as the newest innovative RF for body (ThermiSmooth Body) and is the distributor for Silhouette InstaLift (lifting to redefine mid-facial contours).

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thermi-to-host-their-third-annual-user-meeting-in-las-vegas-300381278.html

SOURCE Thermi
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL) provided a 2,800 square feet amber shingle roof replacement to a local disabled service member through the Owens Corning's national Roof Deployment Project in partnership with Support Our Troops.

After enduring an IED explosion and returning back home from two tours in Afghanistan, a local veteran learned that his roof did not pass windstorm mitigation inspection, causing his mortgage and insurance premiums to double.

"We are honored to help service members and military veterans that sacrifice so much for our country. We know that a roof can be one of the most expensive repairs on a home," says Stephen Shanton, CEO and president of Venture Construction Group of Florida.

Owen's Corning partners with Support Our Troops to select military members and their families throughout the U.S. that need home restoration help and repairs. Owen's Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor database, including VCGFL, is composed of over 300 contractors throughout the nation that volunteer their time and labor to those in need.

VCGFL aims to give back to more military families as the need arises. As an integral part of their mission statement, VCGFL actively gives back to the community. The National Roof Deployment Project is open to all Owen's Corning Platinum Preferred Contractors that want to give back to military personnel and veterans. Owens Corning informs Support Our Troops of the regions where its Platinum Preferred Contractors work and Support Our Troops then works with appropriate military officials to identify where needs exist. Support Our Troops is a 501c3 public purpose charity that works help current military service members and their families.

Venture Construction Group of Florida is a major advocate for community giving. With offices in Boca Raton, Ft. Pierce, Orlando, Stuart, and Tampa, Venture is a leading company servicing central and south Florida with construction, renovation and restoration services.

About Venture Construction Group of Florida

Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL) is a leader in residential and commercial construction, roofing, renovations, restoration, storm damage repairs, and 24/7 emergency services throughout the state of Florida. VCGFL is a full-service general contractor and assists residential and commercial property owners with construction and restoration needs. VCGFL is committed to operational excellence and exceptional customer service. VCGFL takes care of the details every step of the way including roofing, siding, windows, drywall, flooring, paint, gutters to rebuilding properties after major storm events from hurricanes, tornadoes, and hailstorms. VCGFL is a proud Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, an exclusive certified National Storm Damage Center Preferred Contractor, Platinum Preferred Certified Contractor with the National Insurance Restoration Council (NIRC), Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, WindStorm Insurance Network WIND Certified Umpire and WIND Certified Appraiser, member of the United Association of Storm Restoration Contractors, and a member of the Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractor's Association (FRSA). VCGFL credentials have been vetted and screened through independent third party Global Risk Management Solutions. Founded in 1998, VCGFL services commercial and residential properties throughout the state. For more information call 866-459-8351 or visit us online at www.vcgfl.com.

About Roof Deployment Project

The Roof Deployment Project is an initiative by Owens Corning and its Platinum Preferred Contractors to identify, honor and help protect deserving military families by installing new roofs. For more information on the Roof Deployment Project, visit RoofDeploymentProject.com.

About Support Our Troops

Support Our Troops provides simple constructive ways for citizens and community minded businesses to show their patriotism and appreciation for those who sacrifice so much to protect our country, our homes, our families, and our American way of life. Support Our Troops is a registered trademark licensed through SupportOurTroops.org. The official SupportOurTroops.org website is a nationwide platform for individuals, organizations, businesses and non-profits to bolster America's troops and their families in a multitude of ways. It is a moral covenant with those who serve to protect us and our families.

About Owens Corning

Owens Corning develops, manufactures and markets insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites. Global in scope and human in scale, the company's market-leading businesses use their deep expertise in materials, manufacturing and building science to develop products and systems that save energy and improve comfort in commercial and residential buildings. Through its glass reinforcements business, the company makes thousands of products lighter, stronger and more durable. Ultimately, Owens Corning people and products make the world a better place. Based in Toledo, Ohio, Owens Corning posted 2015 sales of $5.4 billion and employs about 16,000 people in 25 countries. It has been a Fortune 500 company for 62 consecutive years. For more information, please visit www.owenscorning.com.

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SOURCE Venture Construction Group
Global demand for lumber has increased in 2015 and 2016, resulting in a rise in trade by 10.2% in 2015, and WRI estimates that the increase will be as much as 13.6% in 2016. Lumber prices have been mixed in 2016 with increases in North America, Japan and China,while fairly stable in Northern Europe and Russia.

An excerpt from the newly released market report Wood Resource Quarterly. For subscription to the full 52-page report, please visit www.woodprices.com

Regulatory News:

Global Lumber Trade

The World Trade Organization (WTO) reported in September that world trade will expand by only 1.7% in 2016, a downward revision from earlier this year and the slowest pace since the global financial crisis in 2009. This gloomy forecast cannot be extrapolated to the global trade of softwood lumber. Rather, global demand for lumber has increased in 2015 and 2016, resulting in a rise in trade by 10.2% in 2015, and Wood Resources International estimates that the increase will be as much as 13.6% in 2016. The major markets that have been driving this surge in trade are the US and China.

Lumber markets  North America

The slow and steady improvements in the US housing market in 2016 have resulted in both higher production domestically and an increase in lumber imports. During the first eight months of 2016, lumber production was up 3.6% as compared to the same period in 2015.

US lumber imports are up 31% so far this year and may reach an eight-year high of almost 40 million m3 in 2016. Prices for lumber surged in late 2015 and throughout 2016 as exemplified by prices for southern yellow pine, which jumped over 35% in 12 months.

Lumber markets  Northern Europe

Lumber exports from Sweden have remained practically unchanged in 2016 as compared to 2015 with total shipments likely to reach about 12.5 million m3 this year. Although the total export volumes have not changed much, the destinations have. Shipments to the key markets in the MENA region have declined, while more lumber has been shipped to Asian and European markets so far this year. Lumber export prices in Finland and Sweden continue to track each other, with average prices for Swedish softwood lumber being slightly higher than prices for Finnish exports.

Lumber markets  China

During the summer and fall, China has seen strong demand for imported softwood lumber, with the import volumes for the 2Q/16 and the 3Q/16 reaching their highest level on record. Although the volumes were down in the 3Q/16 from the previous quarter, they were still 24% higher than in the 3Q/15. Russia continues to be the major supplier with a 59% market share in the 3Q/16. Import prices have remained at historically low levels in most of 2016.

Lumber market  Japan

Demand in Japan for overseas lumber has picked up this year with import volumes during the first nine months being about seven percent higher than during the same period last year. Importation in the 3Q/16 was 7.5% higher than in the 3Q/15, with Canada being the largest supplier, followed by Finland, Russia and Sweden. Prices for softwood lumber, both domestic and imported, have remained practically unchanged in 2016 in Yen terms.

Lumber market  Russia

Russian export prices have been fairly stable so far this year with only slight increases during the fall. In US dollar terms, prices continue to be at their lowest levels in over ten years, thanks to the weak Rouble, reports the WRQ. The very competitive prices for Russian softwood lumber in the export market have mainly resulted in higher production in the sawmilling sector in Siberia, while exportation of lumber from Northwestern Russia into the European market has fallen substantially the over the past decade.

Global lumber, sawlog and pulpwood market reporting is included in the 52-page quarterly publication Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). The report, which was established in 1988 and has subscribers in over 30 countries, tracks sawlog, pulpwood, wood chip, lumber and pellet prices, trade and market developments in most key regions around the world. To subscribe to the WRQ, please go to www.woodprices.com

Wood Resources International LLC (WRI), an internationally recognized forest industry-consulting firm established in 1987, publishes two quarterly timber price reports and have subscribers in over 30 countries. The Wood Resource Quarterly, established in 1988, is a 52-page market report and includes sawlog prices, pulpwood and wood chip price and market commentary to developments in global timber, biomass and forest industry. The other report, the North Americam Wood Fiber Review, tracks prices of sawlogs, pulpwood, wood chips and biomass in most regions of Canada and the US.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161218005062/en/

Wood Resources International LLC

Hakan Ekstrom

Seattle, USA

info@woodprices.com

www.woodprices.com
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan-- More than 14,000 K-cups arrived at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan recently, with 30,000 more expected before the end of this month.

The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing chapel corps will deliver the much-needed caffeine to units throughout the installation and have coffee made available at several locations, including Holy Joes Cafe in the Craig Joint Theater Hospital and the two Airman Ministry Centers at BAF.

We really run on caffeine, said Tech. Sgt. Amy Duley, 455th Medical Operations Squadron radiology department NCO in charge and Holy Joes patron. Were here all hours of the night and 24 hours, round the clock, so caffeine keeps us going.

For service members at BAF, the free caffeine offers a much-needed boost while serving far from home.

Its a tremendous morale builder, said Capt. Toby Burk, 455th AEW chaplain. From what Ive seen and what Ive heard, it gives people a luxury and a comfort from home that they really wouldnt have apart from this. It also connects them with people who care and want to reach out and serve them for all the service that they have done.
Coalition launches largest airstrike of the year against ISIL

The U.S.-led coalition launched one of its largest airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant near Palmyra, Syria, Dec. 8, dealing a significant blow to the terrorist organizations ability to finance and enable its means of war.



The strike packages, which included more than 20 aircraft from various locations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, achieved the functional destruction of 168 ISIL oil tankers. Coalition aircraft also executed an additional strike the following day destroying 20 more tankers operating within the same geographic area.



Since the inception of Operation Inherent Resolve, the coalition has systematically targeted ISIL-affiliated oil infrastructure to eliminate millions of dollars in potential revenue. The most recent strike resulted in an estimated loss of $2 million.



Although the coalition has executed more than 17,000 strikes in Iraq and Syria since 2014, the strategic strike against ISILs oil resources featured a new capability that is expected to significantly enhance the targeting of ISIL fighters and assets.



The recently developed Target Fusion Cell  an integrated cell of intelligence analysts, targeting experts and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tactical controllers  now enables expedited, historical data encompassing real-time discovery, development and vetting of potential ISIL-related targets. The strike against oil tankers in Syria serves as one of the core mission areas for the targeting cell, demonstrating a unique air component capability.



We're bringing more information, fusing it, and providing it faster to the decision makers, which allows us to get ahead of ISIL. This allows us to positively identify targets and strike them before the enemy can deny us that opportunity, said Lt. Gen. Jeff Harrigian, the Combined Force Air Component commander.



According to the chief of targets who oversees the cell, callsign Marvin, the TFC can significantly compress the amount of time required to locate the enemy, characterize enemy activity and develop a compelling intelligence picture built on analytical rigor for the Combined Air Operation Centers Target Engagement Authority.



What traditionally took weeks to months (in the CAOC) to develop, can take my team a matter of hours to days while maintaining the same detail, precision and confidence levels, said Marvin in reference to the strike. With the (Target) Fusion Cell, target analysts are integrated with ISR tacticians and collaborate with the CFACCs reach back enterprise to rapidly pull together critical data on ISIL activities. TFC uniquely harnesses and leverages the full-spectrum targeting capabilities that the air component brings to the fight.



In order to successfully develop a target, analysts go to great lengths to characterize an area; this includes movements, patterns of life and the impact on the civilian populous. Moreover, TFCs ability to immediately direct ISR collection and analytical activities via the teams ITC is one of the teams unique advantages.



The ITC is a tremendous capability for our team, Marvin said. Although special operations forces have used ITCs to control airborne ISR sensors since 2006, the CAOC has only had an ITC for a few months. In fact, Air Combat Command is resourcing U.S. Air Forces Central Command with three CFACC ITCs as a permanent part of the TFC in the coming months.



Making this purpose-built targeting team agile enough to keep pace with the enemy, is the future of warfare, according to the 25-year combat veteran.



Often times ISR collection management and the deliberate targeting process are not as flexible as we would like them to be or as adaptive as the enemy requires, said Marvin. But our new CFACC-organic fusion capability is able to overcome that by bringing all of our targeting capabilities together in time, space and purpose to dynamically and effectively get after ISIL. Bottomline, the CFACCs Fusion Cell is able to adjust and adapt at the speed of war.



Marvin added that one of greatest enhancements in capabilities presented by the TFC is the mitigation of collateral damage  a demonstrated mission success during the strike.



As Airmen and warfighters, we go to great lengths to mitigate collateral damage and civilian causalities, he said. Our ability to attrite ISIL without collateral damage is certainly one of the most rewarding aspects of what my team is able to accomplish.



Post-strike assessments confirmed that even with a strike of this magnitude, there were zero civilian casualties.



Operations of this order and magnitude have an immediate impact on the battlefield and strike a serious blow to the enemy, Marvin said. They force the adversary to change the way they do business and have an impact across the battlespace from Iraq to Syria.



Moving forward, the TFC will continue to play a key role in operations to eradicate ISIL from Iraq and Syria.



The TFC will help drive the fight in hunting down and eliminating this adversary, Marvin said.
BJP continue to get leads in the second phase of municipal polls though NCP claimed dominance over Baramati. In a shocking development, Congress lost in its stronghold Latur as BJP made inroads. Five BJP mayor and 100 councillors have won in these polls while NCP has two mayor seats and 99 councillors in all. After achieving success in the elections of local bodies the saffron party came out on top yet again in the municipal corporations in Pune district. Thus BJP surging ahead before the State elections and with the surgical strike and the demonetisation of Rs.500 and Rs.1000 notes in recent times all add to the credentials of the party at the local as well as national level.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
China on Monday rejected US President-elect Donald Trumps claim that it had stolen an American research drone, as state media said his diplomatic inexperience could spark a confrontation between the two nations.

Beijings seizure of the marine probe in international waters in the South China Sea raised already heightened tensions between the worlds two largest military powers.

On Sunday, after Beijing and Washington announced the drone would be returned, Trump tweeted: We should tell China that we dont want the drone they stole back.  let them keep it!

China objected to Trumps accusation that it had stolen the drone, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday, adding the claim was not accurate.

Imagine that you found something on the street  you would need to first check and verify it before handing it back to someone else, she told a regular press conference.

Hua said the two sides are in smooth communication through military channels, and we believe the incident will be properly handled. She gave no further details.

The Pentagon said Friday that a Chinese naval vessel unlawfully grabbed the unmanned underwater vehicle around 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines.
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n a move that aroused criticism for scrapping the long-enshrined seniority principle in appointing service chiefs, the government appointed Lt General Bipin Rawat as the next Army chief superseding two Lieutenant Generals. He will replace General Dalbir Singh Suhag on December 31. Lt. General Bipin Rawat (infantry), who took over as the Army vice-chief in September 2016, bypassed Eastern Command chief Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi (armoured corps) and Southern Army Command chief Lt. Gen PM Hariz (mechanised infantry). Even though, its well within the right of a government to appoint whoever it wants as the next chief, successive dispensations have almost always followed the seniority principle. All eyes are now on Lt. Gen Bakshi and Hariz to see whether they will quit in protest  as Lt. Gen SK Sinha had done in 1983 after being superseded by Gen AS Vaidya  since serving under a junior is unacceptable in the extremely hierarchy-conscious force. Lt Gen Bakshi and Lt Gen Hariz were commissioned in December 1977 and June 1978 respectively. Lt. Gen Rawat was commissioned into the fifth battalion of the 11 Gorkha Rifles in December 1978.

Anyway, I personally feel that the appointment of new Army Chief is a good decision. Capability should be the criteria and not seniority. Recently, CBI, Indian Army, Air Force, Intelligence Bureau and RAWs appointments were made bypassing traditions. None of the contenders or anyone serving, for that matter, has any real war experience, but still they are able personnel to secure the countrys borders. The government has rights to decide on the Army Chief. We have given them the power to do, so criticism is unnecessary at this moment. As I told earlier, Indira Gandhi too superseded Lt. Gen SK Sinha to appoint Gen AS Vaidya as the Army Chief in 1983. Similarly, Air Chief Marshal SK Mehra became IAF chief, superseding Air Marshal MM Singh in 1988. Lt. Gen Sinha, of course, quietly resigned but went on to become Governor of Assam and Jammu & Kashmir, and also served as Indias Ambassador to Nepal. Then why cant the Modi government appoint Lt. General Bipin Rawat as the next Army Chief superseding two Lieutenant Generals?

Lt. Gen Bipin Rawat was commissioned into the 5th Battalion of 11 Gorkha Rifles on 16 December 1978 and has vast experience in high altitude warfare and counter insurgency operations. He has commanded an infantry battalion in the Eastern sector along the Line of Actual Control, 5 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, 19 Infantry Division in the Kashmir valley, III Corps based in Dimapur and GOC-C Southern Command Pune. He has also held staff assignments which include an instructional tenure at IMA, Dehradun; General Staff Officer Grade 2 at the Military Operations Directorate; logistics staff officer of a RAPID in central India; Colonel Military Secretary and Deputy Military Secretary in the Military Secretarys Branch and Senior Instructor in the Junior Command Wing. He has also commanded a Multinational Brigade in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo where he was twice awarded the Force Commanders Commendation. During his career span of 37 years, he has been awarded for gallantry and distinguished service with the AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, COAS Commendation on two occasions and the Army Commanders Commendation. He presumed the post of General Office Commanding in Chief, Southern Command on 1st January, 2016 and assumed the post of Vice Chief of Army Staff on 1st September, 2016.

While commanding a Multinational Brigade in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), he has had a truly outstanding tour. Within two weeks of deployment in the DRC, the Brigade faced a major offensive in the East which threatened not only the regional capital of North Kivu, Goma, but stability across the country as a whole. The situation demanded a rapid response and North Kivu Brigade was reinforced, where it was responsible for over 7,000 men and women representing nearly half of the total MONUC Force. Whilst simultaneously engaged in offensive kinetic operations against the CNDP and other armed groups, Brigadier Rawat (Now Lt. Gen) carried out tactical support to the Congolese Army (FARDC), sensitization programmes with the local population and detailed coordination to ensure that all were informed about the situation and worked together in prosecuting operations whilst trying to protect the vulnerable population. This hectic period of operational tempo lasted a full four months and during this time Brigadier (Now Lt. Gen) Rawat, his Headquarters and his international Brigade, were tested to the full, across the operational spectrum. His personal leadership, courage and experience were pivotal to the success that the Brigade achieved. Goma never fell, the East stabilized and the main armed group was motivated to the negotiating table and has since been integrated into the FARDC. He was also tasked to present the Revised Charter of Peace Enforcement to the Special Representatives of the Secretary General and Force Commanders of all the UN missions in a special conference at Wilton Park, London on 16th May, 2009.

Appointing the new Army Chief, merit and suitability have been taken into account .Lt. Gen Rawat had more than 10 years of experience in counter-insurgency operations and on the Line of Control, besides serving on the China border. He has the requisite experience considering the current situation. Lt Gen Hariz, by contrast, had no experience in an operational area. And Lt. Gen Bakshi had mostly been posted in Rajasthan. The two postings he has done in J&K are both in staff  once as a Colonel in Doda and then as a Lt. General as the Chief of Staff in Northern Command.

The government also announced that Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa will be the 22nd Chief of the Air Force, replacing Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha who retires at the end of the year. Commissioned in the IAF in June 1978 as a fighter pilot, he is a Qualified Flying Instructor and has flown various types of fighter aircraft in his distinguished career. During the Kargil operations, he commanded a fighter squadron and he flew numerous night strike missions over mountainous terrain.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
Three leading professors of psychiatry from Americas prestigious universities have written to President Barack Obama, expressing their grave concern over his successor Donald Trumps mental stability. This, however, is not the first time mental health professionals have weighed in on Trumps suitability for office.

In the letter addressed to the US president, the doctors  one from the Harvard Medical School and two others who have been associated with top US varsities over the years  have urged him to order a full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation before the President-elect takes office on January 20.

We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the mental stability of our President-elect, the letter published by the Huffington Post read.

The letter assumes significance as it is written by three distinguished professors of psychiatry  Judith Herman, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Nanette Gartrell, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry , University of California, San Francisco (1988-2011,) and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (1983-87); and Dee Mosbacher, Ph.D. Assistant Clinical Professor Department of Community Health Systems University of California, San Francisco (2005-2013).

Professional standards do not permit us to venture a diagnosis for a public figure whom we have not evaluated personally. Nevertheless, his widely reported symptoms of mental instability  including grandiosity, impulsiveness, hypersensitivity to slights or criticism, and an apparent inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality  lead us to question his fitness for the immense responsibilities of the office, the letter said.

We strongly recommend that, in preparation for assuming these responsibilities, he receive a full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation by an impartial team of investigators, it said.

In August, President Obama had questioned the 70-year-old business tycoons judgement and temperament and called him unfit to serve as president.

In June, Atlantic published a psychologists findings that Trump suffered from narcissism, disagreeableness, grandiosity.

In August, an Oxford study claimed that Trump has more psychopathic traits than Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Psychologist Kevin Dutton from Oxford University ranked the psychopathic traits of the US presidential hopefuls and historical figures using a standard psychometric tool  the Psychopathic Personality Inventory  Revised (PPI-R).

Trump outstripped Hitler on factors including social influence and fearlessness, while the Nazi dictator scored higher on cold heartedness and Machiavellian egocentricity  which describes a lack of empathy and sense of detachment from others for the sake of achieving ones own goals.
Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and four others have been sentenced to death by a special NIA court in the Dilsukhnagar blasts case that claimed the lives of 18 people and injured 131 others on February 21, 2013, in Hyderabad.

This is the first case that any operative of the IM has been convicted.

Apart from Bhatkal, the other convicts are: Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu, Pakistani national Zia ur Rehman alias Waqas and Ajaz Shaikh.

The NIA, which probed the case, concluded that the blasts were engineered by the IM operatives. Out of the six accused in the case, the investigating agency arrested five. Main accused Riyaz Bhatkal, alias Shah Riyaz Ahmad Mohammed Ismail Shahbandari, is absconding.

On November 7, the final arguments had concluded in the case before the NIA special court.

The court convicted Yasin Bhatkal and others under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

For the last one year, the trial had been going on in the special court at Cherlapally Central Prison on the outskirts of the city where the five accused are currently lodged. The NIA produced 158 witnesses, seized 201 pieces of material evidence and furnished over 500 documents in the court.

Six months after the blasts, Yasin and Asadullah were arrested from an area in Bihar close to the Nepal border. Three other accused were arrested subsequently and the NIA filed two chargesheets against the five accused.

An elated Director General of NIA Sharad Kumar said it was a wonderful investigation carried out by the team in which every evidence was examined minutely. This is the first ever conviction of Indian Mujahideen cadres.

We will be appealing for maximum punishment for the culprits, Kumar said.

In its charge sheet, the NIA had claimed that Indian Mujahideen had hatched a conspiracy to wage a war against India and decided to carry out bomb blasts in Hyderabad to create terror in the minds of people and further the activities of the outfit.

The main operative of the module, Riyaz Bhatkal, who is named as the first accused in the case, had allegedly directed his associates Asadullah Akhtar and Waqas to find a place in Mangalore to be used as a hide-out for explosive materials sent by him, it had alleged.
Gunmen assaulted Jordanian police in a series of attacks, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing seven officers, two local civilians and a woman visiting from Canada, officials said.

Several armed men yesterday barricaded themselves inside the castle for hours, hemmed in by special forces soldiers.

At least 34 people, including two foreign nationals, were wounded in the days violence, which was one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory.

Security officials announced late yesterday, several hours after reports of the first shooting, that the operation had ended and that four gunmen were killed. They said troops continued to search the area.

The officials said large amounts of weapons had been seized. They made no reference to local media reports that at one point, the attackers had held hostages.

The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged this pro-Western kingdoms claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

A witness said attackers immediately targeted tourists when they reached the castle.

Four gunmen got out of their car at the castle, said Wasfi al-Habashneh, a local resident. They opened fire at the Canadian tourists. The woman was killed, the other Canadian tourist escaped and hid behind a car and one of the children was injured.

Al-Habashneh said the attackers also targeted other people. Security forces engaged with the gunmen and cornered the gunmen at the castle gate, he said.

The killing of the Canadian visitor could further hurt Jordans embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighboring Syria and Iraq two years ago.

Canadas global affairs spokesman, John Babcock, told The Associated Press that the dead woman was Linda Vatcher. Babcock said her son Chris was injured.

Canadian officials in Amman are actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time, Babcock said.

Barb Rhymes, a cousin of the slain tourist, said the victim was a retired elementary teacher from Burgeo, Newfoundland, and was visiting her son in Jordan where he works. Rhymes said Linda Vatcher, 62, was a widow and a mother of two adult sons.

She was very friendly, outgoing. She was nice to everyone. A friend to all, Rhymes said from Burgeo, a remote town of 1,400 people on Canadas East Coast. Its devastating. It has hit the town hard. My mind is not there right now. She was a beautiful person.

The Canadian Embassy in Amman issued an alert warning urging Canadians to avoid travel to Karak, a town in central Jordan about 140 kilometers south of the capital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in and near Karak.
The NIA on Monday filed charges against Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar as the mastermind of the attack and three others for plotting and executing the January 2 terror attack at an IAF airbase at Pathankot in Punjab that killed six Indian soldiers.

The chargesheet filed by the NIA at the Panchkula special court also named Azhars brother Abdul Rauf Asghar and two other associates  Shahid Latif and Kashif Jaan. It also contains details of phone conversations that took place between the four terrorists, among other evidence. The chargesheet was filed based on irrefutable digital, technical, oral and documentary evidences collected, said NIA Inspector General Alok Mittal.

Adding that the accused in the charge-sheet are all Pakistani nationals, the IG further said that a letter has been written in this regard to Pakistan officials along with a supplementary copy, but there has been no response so far.

Sanction for prosecution has been obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs, under the Section 45(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, as amended.

The NIA had technical and forensic evidence pointing to the involvement of Pakistan-based perpetrators in the deadly attack. The US also provided crucial evidence in the form of chats and email conversations of JeM members to the agency.

To arrest the remaining accused, Red Corner Notice had been issued by Interpol against Azhar, Asghar and Latif while a Red Corner Notice against Kashif Jan was in the process of being issued.

The submission also named four attackers  Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum  all residents of Pakistan.

In its formal charges, the NIA said the seven Jaish operatives set up training camps in Pakistan and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for recruitment and training of terrorists to work against India.

India is likely to use the chargesheet to push for designating Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, a move China continues to stonewall.

The government had launched a diplomatic offensive against the Jaish and its chief Masood Azhar after China continued to spurn New Delhis efforts in getting UN sanctions against the terrorist and his group.

The Pathankot terror strike had seen a joint investigation team from Pakistan also arriving in India for carrying out a thorough probe.

However, the Pakistani team, upon their return, claimed that India neither shared much of evidence nor allowed it to interrogate the security personnel involved in dealing with the attack.
Hitting back at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar over his notes ban remark, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has said Yashwantrao Chavans disciples should at least understand his teachings as things would have been different had Indira Gandhi listened to his advice on the notes ban.

The Congress party was in power at the time and if the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had listened to the advice of Mr. Chavan, her cabinet colleague, on cash ban, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not have been compelled to take the note ban decision, Mr. Javadekar said at a function at the Dombivili Gymkhana.

Chavan was firm on demonetisation but no one in the government was ready to take his advice on it. His disciples should at least understand his teachings today, he said, in a veiled dig at the NCP supremo.

Mr. Pawar has slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dragging Indira Gandhi into the currency ban demonetisation debate by saying that the then Prime Minister virtually rejected Mr. Chavans proposal in that direction.

Prakash Javadekar said black money and corruption had become cancerous to the society and to get out of its grip there was a need for a firm decision, which was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

For the last 70 years people have been standing in queues for procuring rice and kerosene but now for some time they are required to stand in queues for the betterment of the nation, he said, adding that most people have welcomed the decision.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2016  Mississippi River Basin states should be given a chance to address nutrient pollution first, before the federal government steps in, a federal court ruled late last week.

EPAs policy of partnering with the states and maintaining a states-in-the-first-instance approach is . . . an integral part of the (Clean Water Act) as enacted by Congress, U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey said in his opinion, issued Dec. 15.

Lead plaintiff in the lawsuit was the Gulf Restoration Network (GRN), which was joined by the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Iowa Environmental Council, Tennessee Clean Water Network, Sierra Club and others. They sought an order from the court that would force EPA to adopt numeric water quality criteria for nitrogen and phosphorus in the 10 Mississippi River Basin states.

On the other side of the lawsuit was EPA, along with dozens of farm groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, Agricultural Retailers Association, 15 state farm bureaus and a collection of commodity-specific organizations.

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GRN and other environmental groups released a report last month faulting EPA for failing to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the 1.1 million-square-mile Mississippi River Basin. The agency, they said, needs to use its authority under the Clean Water Act to force states to adopt numeric water quality criteria for rivers, streams and lakes.

But Zainey, who sits in the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans, said the CWA takes a state-driven approach to water pollution.

Despite undisputed scientific data surrounding the serious nature of the nitrogen and phosphorous pollution in the nations waters, Zainey said he had to defer to EPAs approach to continue in its comprehensive strategy of bringing the states along without the use of federal rulemaking.

Even if the court were to disagree with EPAs stance on rulemaking, the court cannot properly substitute its own judgment for that of the agency, Zainey said.

AFBF said it was happy with the decision, in particular the courts strong language supporting the purposeful design of the Clean Water Act to leave states in the lead role when it comes to water quality improvement, said Ellen Steen, AFBF chief counsel.

She noted, however, that the job of farm groups is easier when EPA itself is arguing for flexibility. We face a more difficult challenge when EPA is pushing to expand its own role  as it did in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, she said.

EPA worked with states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to develop a TMDL  Total Maximum Daily Load  with specific pollution reduction targets. Farm groups failed to get the federal courts to overturn the EPA program.

Steen said the latest decision isnt likely to be the end of the road  at least not for many years. But the agricultural community and the states in the Mississippi River Basin should take this opportunity to redouble our efforts to ensure the best practices are in place to demonstrate, when the next round of petitions and lawsuits come, that we are all doing our part for water quality.

Matt Rota, senior policy director for the Gulf Restoration Network, said the environmental groups are disappointed with Raineys decision and are looking at their legal options. But he added that it doesnt mean there arent avenues to pursue to effect nutrient reductions at the state, regional or national level.

Earlier this month, the Mississippi River Collaborative, which includes GRN, reached a settlement with EPA requiring the agency to set numeric water quality criteria for lakes in Missouri by Dec. 15, 2017.

#30
ABC News(NEW YORK) -- Electoral College members are meeting Monday across the country to place their votes for president of the United States.



It is a constitutionally mandated ritual every four years, and while it is normally just a logistical process that doesnt tend to get much attention, this year Americans will watch with interest.



The Electoral College's usually ceremonial role has come under focus in the aftermath of the 2016 election due to a number of factors -- including that Democrat Hillary Clinton won the national popular vote by a significant margin, and the finding by the CIA and FBI that Russia used hacking to try to influence the election.



In light of these circumstances, pundits and members of the public are considering what role the 538 electors can and should play in deciding the final outcome of the election.



Public demonstrations opposed to Trump are expected in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., Monday to encourage electors to vote in line with the national popular vote, protest organizers said. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which is spearheading several of the events, said its goal is to talk to electors as they enter the meetings in their respective states to help them feel supported should they decide to vote according to the popular vote.



While it is possible that a few electors who are pledged to Trump could go "faithless" and vote for Clinton or another candidate, most experts expect that Trump will get the 270 electoral votes he needs to win.



Here are some quick insights into the Electoral College vote:



What is happening Monday? Electors will gather in their respective state capitols to engage in a voting process that is open to the press. The earliest results will likely come in after 10 a.m. ET and the latest around 7 p.m. ET.



Who are the electors? The Electoral College has 538 members, a number drawn from the sum of the total number of U.S. senators and House members plus three additional electors for Washington, D.C. All states except Maine and Nebraska are winner-take-all, meaning that whichever candidate wins the states popular vote gets all the electors. Maine and Nebraska do it differently: Two electors vote for whoever won the state popular vote, plus one elector for each congressional district goes to whoever won that district.



In most states, electors are chosen among political party activists. Generally, the parties select members known for their loyalty and service to the party, such as party leaders, state and local elected officials and party activists, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.



Faithless electors? ABC News has identified only one elector pledged to Trump -- Chris Suprun from Texas -- who has said he wont vote for the Republican candidate. Suprun in an interview on ABC News Nightline this week referred to the Russian hacking, saying he was "concerned when a foreign government intrudes on our elections. They're not doing it with our best interest in mind. I don't think we deserve a classified briefing but I do think we should get as many facts as information we can without compromising sources or methods that the intelligence community can provide."



What about Russia? As of Sunday, 80 electors, all but one of whom are pledged to Clinton, have signed a letter urging Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to give them classified briefings on Russias hacking and any of its other cyberactivities related to U.S. elections. Christine Pelosi, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi's daughter, who spearheaded the action, said electors needed to be fully informed on the issue before they cast their votes.



What about Hamilton? Founding father Alexander Hamilton warned in Federalist Paper No. 68 that there may be "the desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils." The Electoral College, he implied, could serve as a fail-safe to prevent a candidate who may represent the interests of a foreign power from taking office. Some political activists and Hollywood celebrities opposed to Trump have said Hamilton's words provide a basis for electors to vote against Trump on Monday.



Could "faithless electors" put Clinton in office? Trump has 306 electors pledged to him and needs 270 to win. So at least 37 electors pledged to Trump would have to be "faithless" and vote for Clinton or another candidate instead for the Republican to lose. Thirty states have laws that require electors to vote as pledged. However, no elector in any state has ever been penalized or replaced, and none of these state laws has been fully vetted by the courts, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.



The last time an elector crossed party lines was in 1972, when an elector nominated by the Republican Party cast his ballot for the Libertarian ticket, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.



Faithless electors' votes could probably still be counted, according to Richard Winger, editor of Ballot Access News. Winger said there have been 157 faithless electors in our history, and Congress has counted every single one of those votes except for a case of three electors who voted for a dead man, Horace Greeley, in 1872. But Ned Foley of the Moritz College of Law said that Congress could still stop potential faithless electors, telling ABC News: "Even if there were 37 faithless electors, ultimately what matters is what Congress does on Jan. 6," when it counts electors' votes.



Congress certifies the final election results.



What if no one gets to 270? In the highly unlikely event that neither Clinton nor Trump gets 270 electoral votes, then the House of Representatives would vote and choose the next president.



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Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
President-Elect Donald Trump and President Barack Obama sure agree on one federal policy: Lobbyists Need Not Apply . That is unfortunate. While it may provide a good one-day sound bite, the policy eliminates a host of well qualified people from public service at a time when talented thinkers are desperately needed. Further, as pointed out by Open Secrets.com there is a whole set of statutes, regulations and executive orders that define ethical boundaries for current and former government employees and appointees.

Lobbyists have an institutional memory that is important in the drafting of legislation and the development of national policy. Lobbyists know the experts and key players in an area.

Lobbyists represent large numbers of people who are joined together by a trade association, public interest group or a single corporation enabling them to participate in the political process by representing their views. There are now more than 300 million Americans. It is not realistic for all of them to charge up Capitol Hill to Congress or meet with the various Departments of government. They need representation and that is what lobbyists dothey represent constituents, educate and, yes, try to make the case for their client or employer.

There are some 10,000 registered lobbyists in Washington , D.C. But some outside experts estimate the actual number might be closer to 100,000. Why is the business of lobbying thriving if they are held in such low regard? The answer is that there is a market need and lobbyists are effective at filling that need. They provide a valuable service allowing both private and public interests to be heard in the administration and the Congress. The lobbying business has grown even while lobbyists have become the focus of much criticism because they are effective and provide an important and legitimate service. Market forces are at work.

Lobbyists get their power from several sources:

 Historical knowledge of the substantive area, as most lobbyists have worked in government;

 The constituents they represent;

 Their personal credibility; and

 Yes, from participating in the campaign and fundraising process (for both Democrats and Republicans.)

To be sure, crooks like Jack Abramoff and the occasional bribe-taking Congressman smear the profession. The public hates inside influence peddling and sees the potential for abuse. So, as a registered lobbyist, I am happy to comply with registration requirements.

Just like doctors, attorneys, and teachers, the vast majority of lobbyists are professionals who provide an honest and important service.

Much of the negative focus on lobbying can be traced to the Watergate break-in during the Nixon Administration and the image of his henchmen carrying around bags of cash. (When our law firm moved to the Watergate with former Senator George McGovern, who was the Democratic nominee against President Nixon in 1972, the Senator put out a one sentence press release that said: I sure hope no one breaks into my office this time.)

Lobbying goes back a long way. In the 1880s there were political cartoons complaining that the Senate was being influenced by big money.

This famous cartoon, called Bosses of the Senate, first published in 1889, depicts corporate interestsfrom steel, copper, oil, iron, sugar, tin, and coal to paper bags and saltas giant money bags looming over the tiny senators at their desks in the Chamber.

The Obama-Trump policy banning lobbyists is having a real world and, I would argue, negative impact on the development of sound public policy. In 2009, the Obama ban on lobbyists prevented many qualified lobbyists from public interest, non-profit organizations, trade association and corporate lobbyists with a passion for public service from serving in his administration.

Lobbyists from non-profit organizations who work on the school nutrition and food stamp programs were kept from public service because of the Obama administrations blanket ban on all lobbyists. These days, almost all Americans are represented by lobbyists in Washington . Many organizations represents farmers, the National Association of Manufacturers represents the business community; the National Congress of American Indians represents Tribes; AARP represents senior citizens; States have lobbyists as do nurses, teachers, homebuilders and even the motion picture industry. Banning all lobbyists and painting with such a broad brush is unfair to the individuals involved and deprives the country of valuable expertise. Just recently, Michael Torrey, a highly regarded agriculture expert and lobbyist resigned from the President-Elect Trumps transition team issuing the following statement, in part:

Statement from Michael Torrey regarding the presidential transition process: I was asked several months ago to serve as a volunteer to help ensure a smooth transition at USDA. I have provided assistance since that time because I believe strongly in the importance of USDA's mission and the people it serves. USDA impacts every American household every day and its importance truly cannot be measured. Throughout my time assisting the transition effort, I have adhered closely to the code of ethical conduct and confidentiality agreement that was provided to me. Each transition has their own policies for the involvement of registered lobbyists. When asked recently to terminate lobbying registration for clients whom I serve in order to continue my role with the transition, I respectfully resigned from my role.

In short, in an effort to reform the system and prevent a conflict of interest caused by a revolving door there is no need to throw out the good with the bad. Lobbyists can be vetted like other applicants for public service and individual determinations made.

The First Amendment of the Constitution protects our freedom of religion, freedom of the press and free speech. It also protects our right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The public needs advocates who can represent their free exercise of that right, and that is the role of the lobbyist. It is an honorable profession. The bottom line is that lobbyists should not have to give up the opportunity to work in any administration and serve the public. It is bad national policy.

Marshall Matz specializes in agriculture at OFW Law and is a registered lobbyist. mmatz@ofwlaw.com
Less, not more, government will help labor
The Chilean Armys H215M fleet has already completed 10,000 flight hours

This tenth aircraft brings an end to a project that began in 2008 with the purchase of eight helicopters, to which two more were added in 2013 and 2014.

Santiago, Chile,

In early December, the Chilean Army took delivery of a tenth heavy-weight, twin-engine H215M, the last delivery in a project that began in 2008 with the purchase of eight of these helicopters, to which two more were added in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The new rotorcraft will serve alongside the previous nine in the Helicopter Battalion of the Chilean Armys Air Brigade.



Held at Airbus Helicopters facilities in Santiago, the handover ceremony was attended by General Humberto Oviedo Arriagada, the Commander in Chief of the Chilean Army; Brigadier-General Gustavo Nunez Kocher, the Commander of the Chilean Armys Air Brigade; and Airbus Helicopters Chile General Manager, Alexandre Ceccacci, among other civil and military dignitaries.



This helicopter complements the armys fleet, which now includes latest-generation aircraft with the ability to perform multiple missions across the entire country, said Brigadier-General Nunez Kocher. Our confidence in this helicopter is based on the positive operational results it has achieved since coming into service in 2009. The H215M has proved its versatility and reliability across the Armys numerous and demanding operations.



The armys H215M have completed more than 10,000 flight hours in a large number of missions that range from the provision of aid to remote areas and medical evacuations to firefighting and disaster relief. The Chilean Armys Air Brigade played a crucial relief role during the floods that hit the Atacama region in 2015, carrying out 56 missions to provide support for flood victims.



This project owes its success to the involvement of both parties and the relationship of trust that exists between them, said Alexandre Ceccacci. I would like to thank the army for all their support. It will be an honor to continue working together in the support of these aircraft as well as in other projects to come. Airbus Helicopters can be proud of the Air Brigades ten H215M, and I can assure you that we will be working hard to ensure they continue delivering high-value capability.



In addition to the ten H215Ms, the Chilean Army operates a number of other Airbus Helicopters rotorcraft, such as the single-engine AS350B3, the twin-engine AS355NP and the Puma SA330L.



The H215and its military version, the H215Mforms part of the Super Puma family. It boasts multi-mission capabilities and delivers optimum performance in extreme operating conditions. Combining modern avionics with a proven, robust platform the H215M offers long-range capabilities, power, speed and a large useful payload; making it the ideal aircraft to perform SAR missions. The H215 is also reliable and highly economical, with an availability rate of more than 95 percent.



The helicopters of the Super Puma family serve with the armed forces of more than 43 countries around the world. There are more than 100 helicopters from the family operating in Latin America alone, in virtually every country of the region. Their ability to operate in both high & hot conditions and jungle environments means they can rise to the operational challenges the region poses, particularly in the Andes and its high plateau, which have their own unique environment in terms of altitude and temperature.





About Airbus Helicopters

Airbus Helicopters, a division of Airbus Group, provides the most efficient civil and military helicopter solutions worldwide. Its in-service fleet includes nearly 12,000 helicopters operated by more than 3,000 customers in 154 countries. Airbus Helicopters employs more than 22,000 people worldwide and in 2015 generated revenues of 6.8 billion euros.

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December 15, 2016

CAIRO  Amr Hamroush, a member of the Egyptian parliament's Religious Committee, has been calling for action to prevent non-Azharites from wearing the distinctive dress of Al-Azhar, a restriction already observed for military and police uniforms. In press statements Dec. 2, several parliament members announced that Hamroush has prepared a bill that is under discussion within the Religious Committee.

The committee's deliberations may lead to the amendment of Law No. 51 of 2014, more strictly enforcing this law as it stands or passing the new law proposed by Hamroush. Possible amendments may include clearly defining the characteristics of Al-Azhar dress, widening the scope of the law to include the dress of Christian religious authorities and increasing the penalties for violations.

Hamroushs proposal came in response to the actions of Islamic preacher Mohammed Abdul Nasser, who appeared Nov. 21 on Dream TV's talk show Al-Ashera Masa'an wearing the uniform of Al-Azhar. In a Nov. 20 Facebook post that was later deleted after harsh criticism, Nasser claimed to be the awaited Mahdi, to much derision.

Shawki Abdel-Latif, the first undersecretary at the Ministry of Religious Endowments (Awqaf), responded to Nassers words Nov. 20, saying, Nasser ought to be admitted to a mental hospital. Latif called Nassers statements a desecration of Quranic verses and prophetic narratives and called upon Al-Azhar sheikhs to address them.

In a Nov. 24 statement, Mahmoud Mhanna, a member of Al-Azhars Senior Scholars Committee and of the grand sheikh of Al-Azhars Technical Office, demanded the enforcement of Law No. 51 of 2014, issued under interim President Adly Mansour, to protect the sanctity of Al-Azhar's uniform. His demand was supported by Abbas Shuman, undersecretary of Al-Azhar Sheikdom, in a press statement the same day.

According to Al-Azhar leaders, non-Azharites are wearing the uniform of Al-Azhar on television to issue radical fatwas, misleading people into thinking they have the authority to do so. They have demanded fines for the television channels that host these people and give them a platform from which to make their pronouncements.

The existing law stipulates in Article 3: It is permissible only for Al-Azhars graduates, workers in the fields of science or dawah, pre-university and university students, workers in the Ministry of Awqaf in the field of dawah, workers in the Dar al-Ifta in the fields of science and dawah, and those who are authorized to preach by the Ministry of Awqaf to wear Al-Azhar's uniform.

Article 5 of the law states: Whoever wears the uniform while not being included in any of the categories mentioned in Article 3 herein or who intentionally insults or ridicules said uniform shall be punished by imprisonment for a period no less than one month and no more than one year, and a fine of no less than 10,000 [Egyptian] pounds [$551] and not exceeding 30,000 pounds [$1,655].

In a statement to Al-Monitor, Abdul Fattah Idris, the former head of the Comparative Jurisprudence Department at Al-Azhar University, said that forbidding non-Azharites from wearing the uniform of Al-Azhar is not the answer to the problem, as many Al-Azhar graduates who wear the uniform are far from exemplary religious authorities. He added, Al-Azhars call to criminalize non-Azharites wearing the institutes uniform is an attempt to convince the public that radical fatwas are issued by non-Azharites who wrongfully wear Al-Azhar's uniform.

Idris added that Nasser, who some media outlets present as an Azharite, has an old fan page on Facebook that claims he is a holder of a master's degree from the Theology Faculty at Al-Azhar. His followers nickname him the "Rebel Azharite" because he was present in Tahrir Square during and after the January 25 Revolution.

Parliament member Shukri al-Gundi endorsed the proposal in a press statement to Parlmany news website Dec. 2, saying, The sanctity of the Islamic uniform is as important as the military one. Parliament member Mohamed Shimku told Parlmany, The proposed law will prevent the ignorant from wearing the institutes uniform, which is much respected by everyone. This will protect the nation from granting credibility to the ignorant and swindlers by allowing them to wear the uniform.

Parliament member Galila Othman disagreed, telling the news outlet, There should be a law to regulate the issuance of fatwas, not the Azharite uniform, as many non-Azharites are allowed to issue fatwas, not to mention that some Azharites have little knowledge of jurisprudence and ought not to be allowed to issue fatwas.

Commenting on the constitutionality of the proposal, former head of the Cairo Appeal Court Ahmed al-Khatib told Al-Monitor, The proposed law is in line with the constitution and is not in conflict with the citizens personal freedom. He added, Personal freedom is closely related to the public interest and protecting the latter against the misguided fatwas of those who pretend to belong to Al-Azhar necessitates the step to ban the institutes uniform for non-Azharites.

However, a lawyer specializing in the field of personal rights and freedoms at Egypts Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression disagreed with Khatib. Asking not to be identified, he told Al-Monitor, Any process that entails discrimination between groups is not in line with the principle of equality in rights and duties. In other words, restricting the uniform to a certain group of people is likely to instill in people's minds that said category enjoys privileges that are not accessible to others. For instance, a pro-Azhar government employee would likely to facilitate [services for] a person wearing the uniform at the expense of the interests of other citizens.

He added, Thus, the best course is to limit the uniforms of a particular occupation to the wearer's working hours. This could be applied to Al-Azhar, churches, the police and the armed forces. This proposal would guarantee that any official uniform would not be misused to grant Al-Azhar scholars any privileges by virtue of their uniform.
December 15, 2016

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  An exhibition of works by photographer Mahmoud Ezz al-Zaanoun has been traveling around the Gaza Strip since Sept. 25, starting at the Beach camp. However, his images depicting a Gaza most people never imagine aren't hanging on the walls of a gallery or museum, but on clotheslines strung in the alleys of the poorest and most populated refugee camps in Gaza and in neighborhoods devastated by war with Israel.

Under the banner Arts Are Not a Business, Zaanoun goes to devastated areas and marginalized camps to affirm that the arts are the best tool for delivering the message to Israel that Palestinians have a love for life and can use the simplest of tools to create joy.

For his exhibits, Zaanoun enlists the help of local Palestinian children to attach regular clothesline to the sides of buildings and walls and hang his photos from them. After they finish the installation, the children take a closer look at the images, and Zaanoun explains the details of each one, such as where and how they were taken, and answers the children's questions about them.

I have been taking photos for 10 years, but I have never taken part in any exhibitions in Gaza, nor have I posted them on social media, like photographers usually do, Zaanoun told Al-Monitor. I do not want my photos to be exhibited in private galleries like other photographers, as only a certain class of people visits them. I wanted them to be pinned on clotheslines to allow the largest number of people to view them.

Zaanoun also said, I wanted the photos to be different from the traditional ones filling social media pages and to show the beauty of the Gaza Strip, distant from the reality faced by the citizens. I have always wanted to visit marginalized and devastated places and hang photos taken with my simple cameras on clotheslines just like wet clothes are pinned to the lines.

Through his simple tools, Zaanoun believes he shows the world that a person can make something out of nothing. His photographs convey love and hope for life, despite its difficulties, and the sorrow and pain that the residents of the besieged Gaza Strip face daily.

Zaanoun likes to take pictures of nice scenes from Gaza, showing its bright sides, to send to the world the message that Palestinians deserve to live free and decent lives filled with love and joy.

There are plenty of beautiful things around us, which we should be looking out for by opening our eyes to them, Zaanoun explained. What I offer differs from that of other Gaza Strip photographers, as I focus on natural scenery, the sunset and reflections of light on water.

Through shots representing life and hope, Zaanoun reveals the rarely imagined side of Gaza. I tried to be unique with photos reflecting the sunset and showing children on bicycles and people playing in the sand at the seashore. Also, the photos were taken from a low angle to be flattering.

The photograph that gets everyone's attention shows a Palestinian bride in an alleyway of a camp amid photos of natural landscapes, a sunset, the sea, photos of young men taking selfies, children on a boat and others in a car. Zaanoun's photos reflect an attempt to overcome the harsh reality of Gaza.

Zaanoun explained that through his mobile exhibitions, he is trying to help children living in poor and devastated areas escape the psychological pressure they are under. He shows them pictures of places different from those where they live, teaches them about photography and releases their hidden talent and spirit by allowing them to use his cameras to snap photos themselves.

Mohammed Mustafa, 12, was surprised at the photos he saw hanging on the walls near his house one day as he returned from school. He saw beautiful outdoor scenes of Gaza for the first time. Having been focused on a boat in a photo displayed in the Beach camp, he told Al-Monitor, These photos are very interesting. I do not want the exhibition to end. I want to continue to enjoy looking at these photographs that show the beauty of our city.

Rahaf Hamdan, 13, was preoccupied with Zaanouns camera, holding something in her hands that she had previously only seen on television but had always dreamed of having. Hamdan asked if Zaanoun would be coming back, so she, along with her classmates, could again hold a camera and take photographs like his.

Zaanoun exhibited photos in mid-October in the Jabaliya camp, in mid-November in the Nuseirat, Bureij and Maghazi camps and is preparing an exhibition for mid-December in the Rafah camps. Zaanoun said he also plans to give photography lessons to children, seeing how it positively affects them psychologically, helping them overcome the scars of life in Gaza and its wars.

Zaanoun has won several awards for his work, including the 2013 Best Humanitarian Photography Award at an Arab photography exhibition sponsored by Dar Safi Publishing in Washington. In 2014, one of his photos reflecting the reality of women in Gaza won first prize in a contest sponsored by the Arab Cultural Association in Finland. He also won the Anadolu Agency's Best Photo of the Year prize in 2014 for his photo titled Struggle for Survival in Gaza.
December 19, 2016

As Iran approaches its May 29 presidential election, conservatives are striving to reach a consensus over a single candidate. However, it looks like they have a very long and difficult road ahead in achieving this objective as various conservative parties have been unveiling their preferred candidates.

On Dec. 16, Mostafa Mirsalim, the former minister of culture and Islamic guidance, was announced as the candidate of the Islamic Coalition Party (ICP) for the presidential election.

Hamid Reza Taraghi, a member of the central council of the ICP, told the Young Journalists Club on Dec. 16 that the party had decided to nominate Mirsalim. However, in an interview with ILNA news agency Dec. 19, Taraghi said, Declaring Mirsalim as the candidate of the [ICP] depends on his expressing his own view about the matter.

In July 1980, Mirsalim was proposed by then-President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr as a candidate for prime minister, but parliament did not vote him in. In 1994, he was appointed as the minister of culture and Islamic guidance in the presidential Cabinet of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. At present, he is a member of the Expediency Council, which is chaired by Rafsanjani.

During his time at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, authors and scholars were very critical of him over what were seen as excessive restrictions. For instance, Mirsalim banned use of the term rooye ham rafte in books, which is commonly used to say In general or In total in Persian, but could also be read as crudely referring to two people on top of each other.

Meanwhile, on Dec. 18, the conservative Front of Followers of the Line of the Imam and the Leader announced that Mohammad Reza Bahonar, the head of the party, is its candidate for the presidential vote.

Mohsen Koohkan, the deputy head of the front, told the semi-official Fars News Agency on Dec. 18, We are looking for a person who has the necessary mastery and knowledge of the major issues of the country. Thus, the emphasis  is that Mr. Bahonar enter the scene. Koohkan also said that Bahonar hasnt been convinced yet and he is still not in agreement with his candidacy in the election, but our efforts to persuade Mr. Bahonar on the nomination will persist.

After serving as a lawmaker for 28 years, Bahonar decided not to run again in the parliamentary elections in February. A champion should kiss the mats and leave [the venue] before he loses his gold medal, Bahonar said on Dec. 26, 2015, when asked by a reporter to explain the reason behind his decision to leave parliament.

In response to a question about his possible nomination for the presidential election or even to run for mayor of Tehran in May, Bahonar said, All of these events may happen in the future.  Right now, I have no intention to run in these kinds of elections. I mean, Im not a presidential candidate right now, emphasizing in Persian the term right now.

Bahonar is a moderate conservative and most recently served as deputy parliament speaker in the former conservative-dominated parliament (2012-16). Moreover, he served as the campaign manager for Ali Larijani in the 2005 presidential contest, which resulted in the surprise election of then-Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Larijani is currently the speaker of parliament.

Of further note, the conservative Yekta (Unique) Party unveiled its possible candidates Nov. 1: They are Rostam Qasemi and Hamid Reza Haji Babaee. Yekta mostly draws its ranks from members of Ahmadinejads former administrations. Qasemi served as oil minister under Ahmadinejad, and prior to that was an officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Haji Babaee was the minister of education in Ahmadinejads second term (2009-13) and is currently a member of parliament.
December 13, 2016

BEIRUT  The Lebanese army has started building a wall around Ain al-Hilweh, perhaps the countrys most restive Palestinian refugee camp, located in the southern city of Saida. Walls  like borders  come laden with symbolism, not least for Palestinian refugees.

Although now on hold, construction on the Ain al-Hilweh wall reportedly got underway at the end of November with the blessing of Palestinian factions inside the camp following months of tension between the Lebanese army and armed factions within. A local Hamas official commented that the wall aims to decrease the confrontation between [Ain al-Hilwehs] inhabitants and the army. Many camp residents didnt see things that way, though, drawing comparisons to Israels separation barrier in the occupied territories.

However, while some build walls, others traverse them. As all this was being discussed and debated on social media, on Nov. 27, a bus carrying two dozen children from Shatila camps self-organized Palestinian Scout troupe, Yaabad, was bounding its way down the coastal highway to Saida.

The Yaabad Scout troupe came to Saida to begin a performance tour of their play, All Because of the Banana, devised in partnership with Seenaryo, a small British-run nonprofit that produces participatory arts projects with Syrian and Palestinian refugees across Lebanon. The play premiered in Shatilas Yaabad school in August.

The play tells the story of a city in demise as the children portray the lives of families struggling to eat, work and get by. As the situation worsens, the characters become increasingly obsessed with bananas, which are used as a symbol of greed, self-interest and individualism. The moral of the story is that working together benefits everyone in the community.

After the Nov. 27 performance in Saida, the Yaabad Scout troupe took the play inside Ain al-Hilweh on Dec. 4. Several performances around Lebanon are also in the works.

Husband-and-wife Scout leaders Jamal and Mona al-Hendawi lead the project, and the whole family brings their own roles and skills to it. Their eldest son, university student Jihad, became a facilitator by leading script-writing workshops and helping the children devise the direction of the play. Their other son, Nidal, also trained by Seenaryo, now does the lighting for each performance. Their two daughters, Farah and Hanan, both act in the play.

The Hendawis want to share their production with Palestinian communities around Lebanon.

It was a new thing for me, Jihad told Al-Monitor, describing how he became heavily involved in the project because of his English and communication skills. After doing more projects with Seenaryos team, I  started helping children express their imagination and I got more and more involved in the directing and devising process.

Jihad said the project provides children with a new, fun experience, as well as more possibilities for their future lives.

Jamal, Jihads father, described the opportunities that drama provides to the children in similar terms. Speaking inside their Shatila home, the Scout leader and part-time actor said that although our Palestinian experience impacts us every single day, the family has tried to make the Yaabad Scout troupe something that unites children and prepares them for alternative futures that werent necessarily available to the camps older generations.

If you give people something to care about, theyll become scared to lose it and so wont be distracted by negative things, Jamal told Al-Monitor. Thats the whole idea with Yaabad  to get the biggest group of boys and girls and work with them to see what their hobbies and ambitions are and to work on positive projects with them.

Jamal added that it can work both ways. Performers grow in self-confidence after being observed by peers who recognize their skills, and the audiences learn about different activities and art forms that they might not have been exposed to before. Jamal believes in the power of art to change people.

Finding out that you have a skill  whether its dabke [folk dance], singing, acting  gives you confidence and makes you feel better about yourself, he said. "This also reflects not just on the performers, but the people who are watching it. Seeing art opens peoples minds to new things, and so it helps them think about themselves and their dreams."

The Palestinian experience in Lebanon that Jamal refers to is, of course, full of challenges  not least the system of socio-economic and legal exclusion that was gradually established in the wake of the 1948 Nakba, when at least three quarters of a million Palestinians were displaced and rendered stateless by proto-Israeli militias and the ensuing Arab-Israeli war.

While Shatilas older generations experienced war and, infamously, the 1982 massacre of more than 3,000 Palestinians by the Israeli-backed Lebanese Christian Phalange militia, today's children and teenagers face new hardships. In the latest reminder of Shatilas poverty, stories are circulating that increasingly powerful drug dealers inside the camp have started recruiting children, sometimes by selling drugs outside schools or actually handing out sweets laced with narcotics, to create a new generation of addicts and foot soldiers.

Other grass-roots Palestinian initiatives are also taking matters into their own hands. In November, a group of young Palestinians launched Campji, a youth citizen journalism initiative communicating from camp to camp  revealing our stories, our culture and our talents, according to the initiatives new Facebook page. Also in November, in the Burj al-Shemali camp in south Lebanon, two Palestinian teenagers unveiled an aerial mapping project, using balloons and a camera to craft a map of the camp. The project is intended to encourage our youth, said the leader of a camp youth support group.
December 16, 2016

BAGHDAD  The national settlement document, which put forward a project for national reconciliation, is facing some difficulties that seriously threaten the possibility of establishing this project. The main issue is that this national settlement is limited to the large groups in Iraq  Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds  while it excludes civil society as well as ethnic and religious minorities.

Iraqi parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri announced Dec. 13 that the Sunni blocs in the parliament have prepared their own version of the national settlement. The predominantly Shiite National Alliance announced recently the historical settlement document, in order for it to be a final agreement for the post-Islamic State (IS) phase. But in late November, the parliament passed the Popular Mobilization Units law, leading the Sunni blocs that opposed the legislation to withdraw from the reconciliation process and prepare a new version of it. Kurds also are expected to prepare their own version. What is missing here are the voices of smaller Iraqi minorities and nonsectarian entities such as civil society.

Yonadam Kanna, the secretary-general of the Assyrian Democratic Movement and a member of the Iraqi parliament, told Al-Monitor that he objects to the settlement document. Do Christians and other minorities have a say in drafting or even making suggestions for any national settlement? he asked. All political settlements are always made between major ethnic groups, according to their own interests, while ignoring those of minorities.

For instance, Kanna noted how the national settlement does not include one clause or item determining the fate of the disputed minority areas between the Kurds and Arabs, such as Sinjar for the Yazidis, Tal Afar for the Turkmens and the Ninevah Plains for the Christians and Shabaks. He added, Minorities do not have a say in this and they are not even allowed to determine their own fate. The settlement does not take into account the views of Christians or Yazidis or any other less influential minority groups.

Kanna had previously criticized the national reconciliation projects put forward by the larger groups due to their failure to provide clear guarantees to bring the criminals who committed massacres against minorities such as Yazidis, Christians and others to justice.

Iraqi civil society  much like the representatives of minorities  is concerned about the settlement project, which involves the redistribution of power and privileges between the political leaders of the three main groups, as if recreating the sectarian regime of 2003.

Hanaa Edwar, the head of the Iraqi Al-Amal Association, believes that it is difficult to produce a national settlement put forth by political elites who are part of the problem and among whom corruption prevails.

She told Al-Monitor that ideas for reconciliation should come from a cross-sectarian grouping such as civil society, which does not have a direct interest in power or is not locked in conflict over it; she said this grouping could also be formed by minorities that lack protection and that are not active political participants.

Other objections focused on how some Iraqi society groups are marginalized and have not been included in the process of reaching a vision for a comprehensive settlement.

Hisham al-Suhail, the chairman of the National Reconciliation Commission in the Iraqi parliament, said he objected to the commissions lack of involvement in drafting a document of national reconciliation. He told Al-Monitor, We were invited to a meeting of the National Alliance, and the draft was read and put to a vote, but we did not have a role in drafting it ourselves.

Suhail said, The documents main weakness lies in announcing it on behalf of the National Alliance. Meetings should have been held by representatives of the Shiites and Sunnis to openly discuss the reconciliation, a draft of which should have been the result of dialogue. However, the fact that it was announced by the National Alliance made it seem as if it were a Shiite vision, which would be confronted by a Sunni vision  both in form and substance  and perhaps be followed by a Kurdish vision later on.

He also pointed to the importance of involving unofficial social forces such as tribes that are cross-sectarian by nature, pointing out that his tribe, al-Tamim, includes both Shiites and Sunnis.

He explained that if such social forces are not included, the reconciliation would be a disappointing political settlement that would never turn into a comprehensive process that includes social forces along with political forces. Such a comprehensive process, he said, could lead both the state and the community to well-being and safety.

It seems that the settlement process has faced other challenges, which might have doomed it to failure even before its launch.

Ahmed al-Masari, the head of the Iraqi National Forces Alliance, spoke about an important timing issue in the framework of the negotiations over the national settlement document.

He told Al-Monitor, The National Alliance presented the settlement document to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq [UNAMI] and the head of UNAMI Mr. Jan Kubis was scheduled to deliver it to the Iraqi National Forces Alliance. However, the Popular Mobilization Units [PMU] law was approved by the parliament despite our opposition, so as a response, we refused to accept the settlement.

Masari added, Had the PMU law been approved a day later, we would have received the document according to plan, explaining that his bloc had previously stressed that the PMU law was a fatal sectarian blow against the state.

But Hussein al-Adli, the adviser to the Implementation and Follow-up Committee for National Reconciliation associated with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and who participated in drafting the national settlement document, dismissed the objections to the document, saying, National settlement is not an option but an absolute necessity for any conception of an Iraqi state in the post-Islamic State phase.

He added, Although the National Alliance was the one that presented the national settlement, it does not necessarily represent an exclusive Shiite vision. This document was the result of long and thorough discussions between experts, independent political parties and members of Shiite parties along with United Nations officials. This settlement is not exclusive to one political current or person.

The truth is that the difficulties that the national settlement faces reflect the true concerns about a conflict in the post-IS phase, which seem quite dangerous in the absence of a unified national vision to establish comprehensive reconciliation.
December 15, 2016

Nearly two months after its parliamentary elections, Morocco has not yet assembled a governing coalition. Meanwhile, its economic problems are piling up and causing anxiety among American and European investors.

The gross domestic product (GDP) in the North African nation was $100 billion in 2015, an almost 10% decline from $110 billion in 2014.

The long-term economic trend has not been positive. Moroccos GDP is slightly lower today than it was in 2011, when the ruling Justice and Development Party, an Islamist party, won a plurality in the national elections and built a governing coalition with smaller parties.

The economic downturn was partly caused by a drought last year that reduced farm production in an economy where agriculture accounts for about one-third of economic output.

Tourism, a major source of foreign currency, is down 5.6% over the first half of 2016 compared with 2015. Tourism and agriculture woes have contributed to an unemployment rate of 10%.

Even earnings from phosphates, which are usually an economic bright spot for Morocco, have declined roughly 26% in the past year. Morocco has the worlds largest phosphate reserves.

The economic stagnation is wearing on Moroccan voters. The Justice and Development Party (PJD) won re-election with a plurality of votes in the recent election. It is expected to form Moroccos next government. But negotiations among the parties have been stalled by horse-trading and clashing personalities.

Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, who also leads the PJD, has struggled to provide economic growth. This is the second time that Benkirane was forced to create a new Cabinet. The first shake-up occurred in 2013, when his coalition unraveled. He then saved his government by recruiting the more free-market-oriented National Rally of Independents (RNI) into the governing coalition. In exchange, the RNI was given several important ministerial portfolios, including finance, which it awarded to Paris-educated Mohamed Boussaid. By being in a coalition government with the PJD, we have tried to improve the economic situation, Boussaid said. In 2013, when I took over, the International Monetary Fund was very angry with the government. The PJD had pledged in 2012 that we would make a deficit target of 5.5% of GDP. In January 2013, when it was 7.2%, they were not pleased.

Nevertheless, it doesnt appear that the RNI is willing to join the Islamists in forming a new government.

Ive had Prime Minister Benkirane here in this very office, and my sense in talking to him is that he is an economic liberal at heart, Boussaid said of his decision to become minister of finance and economics. I dont think thats the case with most of the PJD leadership, which doesnt really have any knowledge or interest in economic issues.

Moroccos deficit dropped to 4.3% of the GDP in 2015. Government debt is 64% of GDP, a large figure for a developing country and an amount that Morocco will struggle to pay down.

Boussaid oversaw a period in which the current account deficit, money owned by the kingdom of Morocco, was reduced by 75%, from 9.2% of GDP in 2012 to 2.3% in 2015.

Moroccos previous government had approved a plan to abolish fuel subsidies, but the move proved unpopular, and the government postponed plans to implement similar reforms of food subsidies.

The RNI has indicated it is not willing to join in a new PJD government due to ideological differences. Boussaid told Al-Monitor he is unlikely to join the government as an independent.

Boussaid has earned grudging praise across the Moroccan spectrum. Yes, we can say Boussaid has done a good job, said Ilyas El Omari, governor of the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, the northernmost in Morocco. But in the context of a PJD-led government, his efforts to improve the economy are like pouring water into sand.

Not all of Moroccos economic news is negative. The French car maker Renault, which already has two plants in Morocco, announced plans in April to invest $1 billion more in the country. Ford opened a buying office in Morocco. Peugeot Citroen will open a factory in Morocco by 2020. Moroccan officials say that the country will become the worlds 19th-largest automotive producer by 2017. Earlier this year, Boeing signed a deal to develop an industrial zone near Tangier, where as many as 120 Boeing suppliers and subcontractors are planning to operate.
December 18, 2016

In December 1967, Saudi King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud added a new responsibility to his younger brother Prince Salman's duties as the governor of Riyadh: raise funds to support Palestinians resisting the Israeli takeover of Jerusalem. The funding was part of a broader change in Saudi foreign policy 50 years ago that put the kingdom on a collision course with the United States. Changes in American policy toward Jerusalem could do it again.

The 31-year-old prince took up his new mission with zeal and found an enthusiastic audience among Saudis  royals and the general public  eager to support the Palestinian resistance after the humiliation of the 1967 war. The Popular Committee for Aiding Martyrs, Families and Mujahedeen in Palestine raised tens of millions in the kingdom and is still at work today.

It was a milestone for Salman. He was so good at the fundraising mission that 12 years later, when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, Faisal's successor King Khalid bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud gave Salman the task of raising money for the mujahedeen to fight the Soviets. In the first years of the Afghan war, Salman raised more money from the Saudi public for the mujahedeen's cause than the CIA provided them each year. Later, King Fahd bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud gave Salman the same task in Bosnia.

Before 1967, Faisal's foreign policy priority had been to thwart Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser's quest to unite the Arab world behind his own brand of revolutionary Arab nationalism. Egypt was an existential threat to the monarchy. Faisal worked to bog Egypt down in a quagmire in Yemen by backing a royalist Zaydi insurgency against the Egyptian and Soviet-backed republican government in Sanaa. Nasser's June 1967 defeat in the Sinai Peninsula was due in large part to the Yemen war, as the best of his army was suffering in Yemen instead of fighting the Israelis.

Faisal even collaborated secretly with Israel in Yemen through British coordination. Mossad helped the royalist insurgents by flying supply missions down the Red Sea to drop weapons at their bases along the Saudi border. Jordan also provided aid in the form of experts and trainers for the Zaydi rebels.

The June war and the loss of Jerusalem changed everything for Faisal. He had invested heavily in the refurbishment of Al-Aqsa Mosque before the war. His favorite engineering company, the Saudi Binladin Group, had done the work, and a young Osama bin Laden visited the construction site. Faisal portrayed himself as the leader of an Islamic community that rose above national identity. He was the defender of Islam and the custodian of its holy cities.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia reconciled in 1967. The Saudis became the principal sponsors of the idea that the Palestinians should have their own independent state. They backed UN resolutions supporting the Palestinians and labeling Zionism a form of racism. In 1973, when Egypt and Syria went to war again against Israel, Faisal imposed the oil embargo on the United States, dealing the US economy its worst blow engineered by a foreign state.

Now the US president-elect's choice to be the next American ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, has promised to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv as a symbol that the United States considers Jerusalem the eternal and undivided capital of Israel. Eight American presidents refused to take this step and kept the embassy in Tel Aviv to avoid prejudicing the outcome of negotiations on the future of Jerusalem between the warring parties. It will be a major shake-up in American policy if the new administration follows through on the plan.

A year ago, when tensions flared in Jerusalem, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud contacted President Barack Obama to ask for US pressure on Israel to calm the situation. The king called all the major powers to protect the rights of Arab Jerusalem from the Israeli attacks that were encouraging extremists throughout the region.

The Saudi reaction to Friedman's appointment has thus far been quiet. The news was reported there with little comment, suggesting Salman is waiting to see what comes next and will give the incoming team time to carefully consider its decision on Jerusalem. After all, it would not be the first time an incoming president has reversed a promise to move the embassy after taking office. The Saudis probably expect that the president-elect's nominees for secretary of state and secretary of defense may have a different view. Rex Tillerson and James Mattis, respectively, are likely to understand the regional implications of changing American policy toward Jerusalem and what the move could cost American interests in this most volatile part of the world.

The Saudis already have another major concern with the policies of the incoming administration. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act that Congress passed this fall over Obama's veto allows litigation against Saudi officials for alleged involvement in the al-Qaeda attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The Saudis thought that issue had been settled years ago by the 9/11 Commission, which concluded that there was no credible evidence of Saudi government involvement. Riyadh wants the bill amended to grant the Saudis sovereign immunity. That development looks increasingly unlikely, as the incoming team is not pressing for a change.

The kingdom has a full plate. Low oil prices have hurt the economy and raised unemployment. The king's war in Yemen is an expensive quagmire, just like Nasser's. Iran is today's existential threat, and its proxies are on the march in Syria and Iraq. Tehran will hail an American shift in Jerusalem as validation of its decades of labeling Washington Israel's protector. If Salman is soft on Jerusalem, the Iranians will have a field day denouncing the king as a puppet of Zionism.

Jordan's King Abdullah will be in an even hotter seat than Salman. He has his own claim to Jerusalem and a majority Palestinian population. Just a few days ago, the Jordanian monarch presided over a formal reinterment of the remains of Jordanian soldiers killed defending Jerusalem in 1967 in a martyr's memorial in Amman. The king badly needs American help to cope with the Syrian crisis, but he can't ignore what happens to Jerusalem.

The Arab world is in the midst of an unprecedented tsunami of chaos, terrorism, sectarian violence and civil war. Al-Qaedism is rampant even if the Islamic State is contracting. All the causes of the Arab Spring are still unaddressed. It is not the time to pour oil on the fire.
December 19, 2016

BAGHDAD  The Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced Dec. 2 the formation of a high-level committee to start implementing the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA). This reflects Iraqs readiness for the era of US President-elect Donald Trump and to invest in the change of the US administration to garner support for its war on terror and for the reconstruction process.

The agreement, which was signed by both the United States and Iraq in 2008, affirmed political, diplomatic, defense, security and cultural cooperation in the fields of the economy, energy, health, technology and judiciary. However, Ahmed Jamal, the spokesman for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, told Al-Monitor, What has been achieved is merely limited to some security areas and the war on terror.

He said, The non-implementation of the agreement items falls mostly on the Iraqi side, especially in terms of technological, cultural, security, health and trade cooperation. This is due to the fact that the Iraqi ministries lack the plans and programs to implement cooperation and coordination with the American side, which prompted Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to work on the formation of a committee under his chairmanship in November 2016  dubbed the SFA Implementation Committee. Said committee includes many ministries undersecretaries as members.

Jamal added, The committee held a meeting last month and will continue to do so in order to prepare drafts for the plans that are being discussed with the Americans, to be converted into formal agreements that will be implemented within specific time frames.

He also noted, The Iraqi Foreign Ministry will work on starting coordination with the US State Department, stressing that Iraq expects Trumps administration to attach great importance to supporting Iraq in the war on terrorism  namely in terms of armament  and to provide Iraq with US experience in the reconstruction of war-affected areas.

The last US troops withdrew officially from Iraq on Dec. 18, 2011, marking the end of about nine years of US military intervention, which led to the fall of Saddam Hussein and the death of roughly 4,500 American soldiers. After the Sept. 20 meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and US President Barack Obama, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Iraq seems to be back on Washingtons list of priorities. Obama stressed the US willingness to provide humanitarian aid and start reconstruction of the liberated areas [of Iraq].

Indeed, the United States has shown clear renewed interest in Iraq, as the number of US troops stationed in the country has increased to 4,087 soldiers, excluding the special operations staff and some logistics support workers who work in rotation.

In this context, Saad al-Hadithi, the spokesman of Abadi's information office, told Al-Monitor, Iraq aspires to more US support. It also seeks to strengthen cooperation through the implementation of the SFA to diversify Iraqs benefits in more than one area. The cooperation and coordination under Obama did not live up to Iraq's hopes.

Hadithi said, The government is seeking to reinstate some of the SFA items that have remained a dead letter because of the lack of enforcement and implementation mechanisms. The agreement includes economic, security, cultural and military aspects, and its implementation will benefit Iraq. Iraqi ministries ought to start drafting plans to begin the implementation under the newly elected US president.

In fact, Iraq needs to reach a national consensus about the type of relations to entertain with the United States, taking into account the interests of both countries. This is especially true since some Iraqi parties in the government remain against cementing relations and cooperation with the United States.

If Iraq is seeking to take advantage of the United States in terms of security development, economic potential and the political support of Washington, it has to acknowledge and accept US interests in the region. In this regard, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said Dec. 4 that Iraq has to allow an American presence in the country after the expulsion of the Islamic State (IS) from Iraqi territories.

However, in a press statement Dec. 6, Hadithi replied to Carters statements, saying, The future of the relations between Iraq and the countries of the international coalition to fight against IS will be determined by Abadi in accordance with his powers  i.e., this would not contribute to building a strategic alliance with the United States.

In this context, political analyst Mahmoud al-Hashimi told Al-Monitor that Hadithis statement reflects "the weakness of the Iraqi government in the face of Iran, which does not want an American presence in Iraq."

Hashimi added, The Iraqi government ought to know how to benefit from Trumps administration, as the president-elect is employing a strategy to deal with central countries in the world to control chaos and diasporas in the Middle East. I believe this is in the interest of Iraq and its fight against armed groups and forces that seek division.

The United States is a great world power that played a pivotal role in the history of Iraq, driving out Saddams troops from Kuwait by military force in 1990, and ousting Saddam in 2003 and contributing to the establishment of a democratic system. It would serve the Iraqi government greatly to have the United States as its strategic ally, in light of the challenges in the fight against terrorism sweeping the world and Iraqs dire need for investments and contributions to the reconstruction process by US companies.
December 15, 2016

On Dec. 2, the Mavi Marmara case brought against Israel for its assault on a Turkish ferryboat carrying humanitarian relief to the Gaza Strip met in court for the 21st time. The prosecutor asked for the dismissal of the case based on the agreement signed between Israel and Turkey in June. The victims families and activists at the court were furious, so the judge adjourned the session until Dec. 9.

On Dec. 9, the court met under heavy security, and there were allegations on social media that the security personnel had told victims families, You will have 10 more martyrs here today. Attendees at the court tweeted that the police presence was to intimidate them. The tension was high at court, especially after the prosecutor said, Turkey, specific just to this case, due to the agreement made, conceded its sovereign rights. Then the activists started chanting slogans, such as Mavi Marmara is our honor followed by God is Great [Allahu akbar], Damn Israel, and This is not Israel, it is Turkey. Lawyers left the courtroom in an act of desperate protest.

Indeed, after the Israeli-Turkish agreement in June, Al-Monitor has surveyed various Islamist groups and reported their strong disapproval of the rapprochement. The terms of the agreement make it impossible for victims families to take Israeli soldiers and officials to court. The prominent figures in the Islamist movement were well-aware of this, but kept silent after Erdogan made his infamous declaration accusing IHH  the main nongovernmental organization leading the flotilla  and other members of the Mavi Marmara flotilla to have embarked upon the journey without consulting the state.

Yet the public at large was left in the dark after the agreement was signed. For example, in November, the International Criminal Courts decision not to probe the Mavi Marmara incident was not discussed on any prominent TV channel; hence the Turks had little to no idea about the impact of Erdogans decisions not only on their own 10 compatriots who died but also on the Palestinians.

The Dec. 9 dismissal had a thunderbolt effect on social media, immediately bringing the hashtag #MaviMarmara to the top of the trending topics list. Videos and tweets of Cigdem Topcuoglu, the wife of one of those who died in the raid, generated anger and frustration among Turkish Islamists. Topcuoglu complained about the police who harassed them while they were trying to enter the courtroom and later kicked them out of the courtroom by force.

Dec. 9 also happens to be the day Ottoman rule of Jerusalem ended in 1917. A Twitter account of Mavi Marmara activists tweeted about that happenstance: "The same day, they are dismissing the case of Jerusalem martyrs and veterans. God is the most generous. [Allah kareem].

Still, no one from the Islamist camp would directly criticize Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in public. One exception was the son of a Turk killed in the raid, Ismail Songur, who tweeted, The president is a good man, who has served his country well. Indeed, service to his country was not enough, so he bestowed many benefits on Israel.

There were hundreds of angry posts sharing photos of those killed with the statement, Embrace martyrs. Government sold you off for realpolitik, and the Islamists gave you up for a 'little sum of money.' It was particularly telling that one pro-government journalist (Fatih Tezcan) and one opposition parliamentarian (Aykut Erdogdu) provided the similar argument that the Mavi Marmara case was sold out. Indeed, Tezcan claimed that had it not been the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government in charge now, there would be hundreds of thousands on the streets protesting the decision.

Gulden Sonmez, an attorney for IHH, posted on Twitter that closing the case meant the victims families were banned from bringing criminal cases against Israeli officers. Sonmez wrote that Israel had been concerned that this case against its officials could set a precedent. She also tweeted that the agreement between Turkey and Israel is an amnesty in legal terms. This would mean that it needs 360 votes to pass in the Turkish parliament. She said that because the agreement only got 206 votes, it was not constitutional.

Sonmez also highlighted the fact that this is a criminal lawsuit involving almost 800 victims and family members from 37 different countries.

Still, mainstream media outlets were quiet about the Mavi Marmara case. A marginal Islamist daily, Milli Gazete, reported, Only Milli Gazete acknowledges Mavi Marmara [case dismissal].

Indeed, the Islamist daily Yeni Akit was criticized on social media for its inappropriate language against the Mavi Marmara activists and their treatment in court.

Even the ones who spoke up would not dare criticize the AKP government or Erdogan. Rather, most of the Islamists directed their anger toward the prosecutor and the judge. For example, on Dec. 11, Yeni Akit came to the defense of the Mavi Marmara activists and posted a piece titled That prosecutor [of flotilla case] was the prosecutor of Gezi [protests] The piece targeted the prosecutor, provided his name and criticized his performance in prosecutions involving the 2013 Gezi Park protesters and other cases: He is the one who persistently asked for the dismissal of Marmara case,  he is the one who dismissed the case against Fazil Say [a world renowned pianist] who had offended Muslims.

Pro-government daily Yeni Safak also reported that IHH chairman Bulent Yildirim said that if the prosecutor and judge in the case were sincere people of the law, the case would not have been dismissed. He claimed the case was rushed and the people were mistreated. He said the case could have continued, but its decision might not have been enforced. Yildirim argued the dismissal of the case was not one of the conditions of the agreement with Israel. Yildirim did not criticize Erdogan or the AKP, but rather targeted the prosecutor and the judge.

There were several other tweets targeting the prosecutor and judge of the case and asking them to be disbarred.

In sum, except for the few remaining opposition voices, none of the Islamists dared to hold Erdogan and his government responsible for the dismissal of the Mavi Marmara case. How can Erdogan remain so free from responsibility?

One explanation is that all mainstream figures have become Erdogan apologists. For example, Ismail Kilicarslan, who was courageous enough to write that realpolitik is not his concern and that he is displeased with the flotilla decision, explained that Erdogans position is different. Because he is a political leader, he has to take realpolitik into account. Kilicarslan also eloquently told his readers that Erdogans heart is in the right place, that he is confident Erdogan still views Israel as an occupier and terrorist state and that the president treats the Palestinian issue as if it were his own familys problem.

Other columnists who wrote about the flotilla also suggested never giving up on the cause and blamed the main opposition party for the lack of enthusiasm about Palestine.

Overall, the blame went to the usual suspects  anyone but Erdogan and the AKP government. The judge, prosecutor, Zionists, secularists and the main opposition party were all targeted. Once more, the Turkish government was not held accountable. Consider this: After a series of major terror attacks in the last 18 months in Turkey, not one single AKP member has felt responsible and resigned.

Instead, the angry and disappointed Islamists took to the streets Dec. 13 and protested against Russia, Iran and the world on behalf of the victims of Aleppo. There is not much one can accomplish by pointing fingers at Erdogan, other than being called a traitor, but marching for causes Erdogan favors are always smart ones to join for the shrewd Turkish Islamists.
Velocity Accelerator.jpg

(Thomas Coiner for Knight Eady)

No doubt, you've heard of West-Coast based accelerator programs TechStars, Y Combinator, and even 500 Startups. What you may not yet know is that home sweet home Birmingham, Alabama is now home to a Global Accelerator-affiliated accelerator program: Velocity Accelerator.

That's good news, folks. I've spent time on the West Coast. Sure, it's nice, but it's expensive...and if you're starting a company, you want the biggest bang for your buck. Speaking of dollars, y'all - Velocity gives its entrepreneurs $50k when they enter the program and is funded by an economic development venture philanthropy fund that allows Innovation Depot to make follow on investments in Velocity companies at program conclusion.

It gets better. Velocity is nestled inside one of the largest startup incubators in the nation: Innovation Depot, which is home to some 104 member companies that employ over 800 people and to a software developer bootcamp called Depot/U that boasts a 95% hire rate for its graduates. During the program, it's easy for companies to find talent: they can walk down the hall of Innovation Depot and meet with Depot/U front-end and fullstack software developers. And when Velocity companies finish the program, it's easy for them to transition into the supportive - and cost effective - environment of Birmingham's epicenter for startups and technology. It's possibly worth mentioning that the City recently secured a roughly $6M federal grant that is designed to equip and train 925 opportunity youth in the region for technology careers: this training will take place in the UAB iLab at Innovation Depot. Seriously, it's a real, real good time to be in Birmingham, AL.

Over 100 top-notch teams from around the world applied for a mere ten spots in Velocity's inaugural 2017 cohort, which is comprised of technology companies in diverse sectors. The top ten hail from Birmingham, AL; Washington, DC; New York, NY; and...even Slovakia.

The Velocity Fund is pretty cool, too. It's cool not just because it makes investments in Velocity companies, but because it is made possible by the support of a large number of corporate partners: we can look at what Michael Dell did in Austin, TX to see what an incredible impact the corporate community can have on entrepreneurship and innovation in a city. Regions Bank, BBVA Compass, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Alabama Power, and UAB are founding partners in the Velocity Fund. The program's operational expenses are supported through sponsorships from PNC Bank as a Venture sponsor, UAB's Harbert Center for Innovation and BBVA Compass as Startup Sponsors, and Warren Averett as a Seed Sponsor.

Take a peek at the first cohort:

Book-It Legal is founded by two lawyers: Jack West and Walker Beauchamp. It's an online marketplace that connects law firms to law students. Law firms currently rely on associates or interns to complete research projects - work for which an associate is overqualified, and projects for which a small law firm can't afford to hire an intern or associate. Law students have problems finding experience in the field they hope to pursue, and simply paying for school. Book-It Legal solves these problems by allowing law firms to post projects online, and students to pick up the project and get paid. *Book-It Legal recently secured funding via Alabama Launchpad.

Delect is founded by Serge Amouzou and Jeremy Feldman. It allows participating restaurants to market more directly to individual customers, and customers to pay individually for their bills, directly from their phones. It's a potential game-changer for restaurants...and it's well-known that Birmingham has a rockin' food scene - so they've come to the right place to implement their app.

Gender Reveal is founded by Matt Landers. Landers is the experienced successful startup CEO of Platypi and DepotU. Landers is developing a Gender Reveal App that makes the process - from doctor's office to party thank you's - much easier.

GLOW is founded by Yazmin and Jim Cavale. GLOW is like Uber for hair styling...it offers on-demand hair styling, spray-tanning, and makeup services from skilled professionals - in the comfort of your home. Users can arrange for GLOW services via the GLOW app. GLOW doesn't just make life easier for the customer: within the GLOW app, service providers (called GLOW-Pros) can schedule appointments, acquire new customers, and communicate directly with clients.

Healthfundit is founded Larry Lawal and Felix Kishinevsky. Healthfundit is a crowdfunding platform for medical research. The Birmingham-based company recently partnered with the National Institute for Health (NIH), sourcing top projects that weren't selected for government funding. Healthfundit is a funding alternative to federal funding for researchers and scientists seeking to commercialize technology.

Koyote is founded by Andrew Petrovics. Petrovics is a software developer who's developed hardware that more accurately and time-sensitively tracks population data. Koyote's utility extends from government, to business, to education, and military.

Likely AI is founded by Jozef Marko and Lukas Ruttkay. Marko and Ruttkay hail from Slovakia and come to Birmingham after completing internships at Facebook and Google. Their algorithm under-development identifies images that resonate most with an audience.

MetalView is founded by Andrew Wingard. Experienced in the metal industry, Wingard is creating an online marketplace for buyers to view materials' supplier inventory and more easily obtain quotes.

Planet Fundraiser is founded by Kasey Birdsong and Drew Honeycutt. Planet Fundraiser takes the pain out of fundraising: it offers an app that enables users to raise funds for schools and not-for-profit organizations through everyday purchases. Planet Fundraiser recently partnered with Chick-Fil-A and Birmingham-based Shipt.

Quantalytix is founded by Chris Aliotta and William Bryant. While working as analysts for Regions Bank, Chris and Will noticed an inefficiency and decided to leave their jobs to solve it. They were going to move back to New York but decided to stay based on the possibility of getting into the Velocity. They're developing new software to assess and analyze risk in small and large banks all over the country, seeking to create the Bloomberg of analytics.

A friend and cofounder of Austin, TX-based UShip said upon his recent move to Birmingham: "[Birmingham] feels like Austin felt before it exploded with growth." Compared with the South, entrepreneurs on the East and West coast may pay two to three times in rent per square foot. We're maximizing return-on-investment in Birmingham's technology ecosystem by giving bright-eyed, bushy-tailed entrepreneurs in the South every single thing they need to succeed, for less.
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Alabama's nine members of the Electoral College cast their ballots today for President-elect Donald Trump.

(Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

Alabama's nine electors voted for President-elect Donald Trump today, honoring their pledges to vote for the candidate who got the most votes for president of any candidate in state history.

The electors cast their ballots after a half-hour ceremony in the historic old House Chambers of the State Capitol.

Secretary of State John Merrill presided over the event, which included brief remarks by Gov. Robert Bentley and U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt.

After the electors voted, Merrill noted that they had all received emails and letters urging them not to vote for Trump.

Elector Grady Thornton of Center Point said he received more than 2,300 emails, 651 letters and some phone calls.

Thornton, a retired educator, said most of those who wrote and called were courteous and seemed sincere.

"They were strongly urging me to make a moral decision and I feel like I did that, although it wasn't what they wanted," said Thornton, who said his original choice during the Republican primaries was Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

Thornton is one of two at-large electors in Alabama, along with Perry Hooper Jr. of Montgomery.

They were chosen by the state Republican Party's executive committee.

The other seven electors were elected by the GOP's Congressional district executive committees.

They are Frank Burt Jr. of Bay Minette, 1st District; Will Sellers of Montgomery, 2nd District; James Wilson of Montgomery, 3rd District; Rep. Tim Wadsworth of Arley, 4th District; Elbert Peters of Huntsville, 5th District; Mary Sue McClurkin of Indian Springs, 6th District; and Robert Cusanelli of Carrollton, 7th District.

Electors in Alabama sign a pledge to cast their votes for the nominee of their party, a pledge found in state law at Code of Alabama 17-14-31 (c).

This story was updated about 3:15 p.m. to add the names of the electors and a paragraph about the pledge they sign.
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Trinetta Yvonne Pendleton and Quintrell Lashon Alexander were found slain inside their Ensley home on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016.

(Birmingham Police)

Authorities have now released the names of two men and a woman killed in two separate slayings in Birmingham on Sunday.

Tory Damon Parham, 37, was shot to death at a Birmingham shot house. Quintrell Lashon Alexander, 42, and Trinetta Yvonne Pendleton, 35, were found fatally shot inside their Ensley home, according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office.

South Precinct officers were dispatched to UAB Hospital about 4 a.m. after the victim arrived there suffering from a gunshot wound, said Birmingham police spokesman Sgt. Bryan Shelton. Authorities said Parham was dropped off at the public entrance to the emergency room. He was found there and taken inside, where doctors took him into surgery.

He was pronounced dead at 4:58 a.m.

It appears the shooting took place in the 4100 block of Fairmont Way in Birmingham. The preliminary investigation showed the man was shot at a place described to police as an illegal or unlicensed drinking establishment. Police say the altercation erupted over Parham's presence there.

Investigators have not yet identified the suspect. "In all of our homicides we look at three factors; people, places and behaviors. In this situation, you could have people in a place of 'ill repute,' engaging in dangerous and illegal behavior,'' Shelton said on Sunday. "Choices were made that unnecessarily cost a man his life, and now a family is without a loved one this holiday season."

About the same time, Alexander and Pendleton were found dead inside their burning home at 722 17th Street in Ensley. Birmingham police and firefighters responded about 2:30 a.m. Sunday to the Ensley home after a passerby saw smoke and flames coming from the home.

Alexander was found inside the home and first responders carried him outside in a life-saving effort, and then determined he had been shot, Shelton said. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 2:40 a.m. Once the fire was extinguished, authorities found Pendleton's body. She, too, had been shot and was pronounced dead on the scene. Both lived at the home.

"Senseless is an understatement,'' Shelton said. "Planning a funeral is not something we hope to do this time of year, especially under these circumstances."

The three homicides on Sunday put Birmingham's homicide tally so far in 2016 at 100, the first time the city has reached 100 homicides since 2006. Of those, Of those, eight have been ruled justifiable and two others were officer-involved shootings by outside law enforcement agencies - the Irondale Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office - and therefore aren't deemed criminal by the police department.

Birmingham ended 2015 with 92 homicides, a 55 percent increase over 2014, making 2015 the city's deadliest year since 2008 until 2016. Of the 92 Birmingham deaths ruled homicides by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office last year, two were considered accidental by Birmingham police and 10 others were ruled justifiable.

A shooting in Fairfield also on Sunday brought the total number of homicides countywide so far this year to 145, including the 100 in Birmingham. There were 143 countywide in 2015, up from 88 in 2014.

Anyone with information on the deaths of Parham, Alexander or Pendleton is asked to call Birmingham police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Four Alabama communities are among 11 across the southeast that will divvy up $2 million in federal grant money to improve customer service at passenger rail stations.

The Southern Rail Commission announced Monday that the grant money would be available for stations in Anniston, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Mobile as well as communities in Mississippi and Louisiana.

The four Alabama stations will receive a total of $728,957.

The grants have been dedicated to the 11 communities "for station-area planning and construction projects that will ensure safe access and better connectivity to and from the station, improved convenience for riders, updated facilities and leveraged economic opportunity that comes with station redevelopment," according to the announcement.

The projects at each Alabama station:

Anniston:

Birmingham:

Mobile:

Tuscaloosa:

The new passenger rail station in Birmingham, part of a larger $32 million construction project that began in 2014, is scheduled to open in March 2017.
Each year, volunteers join military personnel from the North American Aerospace Defense Command in making Christmas brighter for good little boys and girls around the world by tracking Santa's path across the globe.

It takes more than 1,000 volunteers to answer phone calls and emails from children all over the planet wanting to know when Santa will arrive.

NORAD receives more than 110,000 calls from 200 countries on Christmas Eve, along with 12,000 emails. Its website, NORADSanta.org, lets users track jolly old St. Nick's path in real time, attracting more than 20 million visitors on Christmas Eve.

Corporate sponsors foot the bill for the Santa Tracker and no tax dollars are used in the program.

How Santa Tracker got started

This holiday tradition dates to 1955 but its beginnings were anything but purposeful.

In December 1955, a young boy dialed a number he found in a Sears ad that promised a direct line to Santa. The number was a misprint, however, and instead of Sears, the number was the unlisted line for what was then known as the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Col. Harry Shoup was on duty that night but rather than hanging up on the boy, Shoup had operators find the location of Santa and report it to the child.

Shoup's children later told NPR their dad's stories from that night.

Terri Van Keuren, Shoup's daughter, said her father had two phones on his desk, one of which was red.

"Only a four-star general at the Pentagon and my dad had the number," Van Keuren said. "This was the '50s, this was the Cold War, and he would have been the first one to know if there was an attack on the United States."

On that night, Shoup head a small voice on the other end of the line asking if the person answering was Santa. Shoup, a hardline soldier, was upset at the call but softened when the boy became upset.

"So he talked to him, ho-ho-ho'd and asked if he had been a good boy and, 'May I talk to your mother?' And the mother got on and said, 'You haven't seen the paper yet? There's a phone number to call Santa. It's in the Sears ad.' Dad looked it up, and there it was, his red phone number. And they had children calling one after another, so he put a couple of airmen on the phones to act like Santa Claus."

Some airmen later joined in the fun, drawing a sleigh and eight reindeer coming over the North Pole into the U.S. That inspired Shoup to call a local radio station and report an "unidentified flying object" that looked like a sleigh.

The radio stations began calling every hour to inquire on Santa's whereabouts.

And the tradition was born.

Shoup - who carried letters from children in his briefcase the rest of his life - became known as the "Santa Colonel." He died in 2009.
An off-duty police officer was seriously wounded by gunfire during a surprise birthday party for his wife on Saturday night.

The shooting happened about 11 p.m. at High Forest Apartments in Jasper. Shelby Luttrell, a part-time Cordova police officer, was shot in the stomach and the arm. He remains hospitalized at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.

Cordova police spokesman T.J. Armstrong said the 25-year-old Luttrell had celebrated his son's second birthday Saturday afternoon and then was hosting a party for his wife at their apartment when the shooting happened late Saturday night.

An acquaintance of someone at the party showed up and got into a struggle with Luttrell, who wasn't armed at the time. The suspect, whose name has not yet been released, fired on Luttrell and then fled the scene.

Rescue workers wanted to airlift Luttrell to UAB Hospital, but the wind prevented the flight. He was taken instead by ambulance, and underwent surgery shortly after his arrival.

Doctors told police officials Luttrell is expected to make a full recovery.

The investigation is being conducted by Jasper police, who arrested the suspect early Sunday. Formal charges have not yet been announced.

Luttrell was a full-time Cordova police officer, but recently took a full-time job in the private sector. He remains a part-time police officer at Cordova, where he is a firearms instructor and a member of the SWAT team. He and his wife have three children.

"It was a full day of festivities that ended in tragedy. Everybody was overwhelmed,'' Armstrong said.

He said Luttrell and his family are getting a lot of support. "He's a family man, loyal, a good friend to everybody,'' he said.
People opposed to President-elect Donald Trump carried signs and chanted in front of Alabama's Capitol, where the state's nine electors as expected, cast their votes for Trump.

Jane Kissane of Montgomery said she considered it her civic duty to protest.

"I'll use my freedom of speech as long as we have it in this country," Kissane said.

She held a sign that read: "We do not consent to a Trump presidency."

Asked why she opposes Trump so strongly, Kissane said, "Everything he says and does. He's amoral. He's racist. He's sexist. He has no redeeming qualities as a person or a presidential candidate."

However, Kissane acknowledged that she did not expect Alabama's electors to defect from Trump.

Across the street from the protesters, a man and a woman held signs supporting Trump's election.

"Trump won, get over it," the woman's sign said.

The man's sign read, "Electors, thank you for voting Trump and keeping the law."

Protesters carried signs reading "Putin's puppet," "Make America safe again/Dump Trump" and "Trump is unfit for the presidency."

Carole Clark of Montgomery said she wanted at least 37 electors nationally to withhold their vote from Trump. The president-elect won 306 electoral votes, 36 more than the minimum needed to win.

She said the electors had a constitutional right to change their minds.

"He's unfit," Clark said of Trump. "He has no experience. His whole life he's been focused on making money, not public service."

Electors in Alabama sign a pledge to cast their votes for the nominee of their party, a pledge found in state law at Code of Alabama 17-14-31 (c).
Sighs and scoffs were heard on one side of a Morgan County courtroom this morning during the arraignments of two young Alabama residents charged with capital murder.

As the attorneys for Amani Goodwin and Cortez Mitchell entered their pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, the sounds came from the side of the room where victims and their families sit.

That sound wasn't heard when the two other suspects, Cedric Cowan and his brother Joseph, pleaded not guilty. And on the side of the room where the suspects' family and friends sit, there was silence.

The four suspects are charged with 11 felonies in connection with a May 2015 robbing, shooting and killing spree that left two men dead in southwest Decatur.

Each suspect was denied youthful offender status by Circuit Judge Jennifer Howell last month. Youthful offender status would have guaranteed the suspects serve no more than three years in prison if convicted.

The fatal shooting victims, who police say were chosen randomly, were Antonio Hernandez-Lopez and Joshua Davis.

Joshua Davis and Antonio Hernandez-Lopez

The killings were part of a crime spree that included six armed robberies and two shootings into homes.

When the alleged crimes occurred, Joseph Cowan was 20, Cedric Cowan and Mitchell each were 16, and Goodwin was 17.

Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson said he wasn't surprised by any of the pleas.

"It's just what we expected," he said.

Defense attorneys for the suspects were granted 60 days to prepare motions arguing why the defendants' cases should be tried separately.

"We anticipate that they all will be severed," Anderson said.

For the two defendants who pleaded not guilty by reason of mental defect, Howell will also have to rule on whether mental evaluations will be conducted.

A court officer escorts Cortez Mitchell and Amani Goodwin (front) into the Morgan County Courthouse for arraignment.

Particularly in question is the mental capacity of one of the younger suspects, Mitchell, who's now 18.

During a September hearing on the suspect's youthful offender applications, a Tuscaloosa psychologist testified the boy's IQ was 70 and he has the mental capacity of a 12-year-old, The Decatur Daily reported.

"He's functionally illiterate," Goff testified about Mitchell, according to The Daily. "He did not, in my view, understand his right to counsel and didn't have the mental faculties to waive his right to counsel."

Shortly after police began identifying suspects in the crimes, Mitchell agreed to speak with investigators and pinned the shootings on the older Cowan.

During today's hearing, defense attorney John Roberts questioned Mitchell as to whether he could understand the charges against him.

Mitchell nodded his head 'yes'.

A hearing on motions pending in the case is set for March 24 at 10 a.m.

Anderson said the case probably won't go to trial until 2018.

If convicted, the older Cowan, Joseph, faces the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The other three defendants face up to life without parole because of a Supreme Court ruling that states cannot put juveniles to death.
Deputies from an Alabama sheriff's office used a stun gun to subdue a woman who was waving a knife at them during a welfare check this weekend.

Heather Nicole Smith, 27, of Fort Payne, was taken into custody after deputies got the knife away from her, DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris said in a news release.

"Deputies and officers asked Smith several times to drop the knife but Smith would not drop it," Harris said in the release. "Smith was stabbing at the air, climbed up on a washing machine and started stabbing toward the deputies and officers. In order to keep Smith, the deputies and officers safe, deputies had to tase Smith to get the knife away from her."

The deputies and Sylvania police officers were at a home on DeKalb County Road 515 to perform a welfare check when the incident occurred.

Smith "appeared to be high on drugs," according to Harris' statement.

The woman was charged with misdemeanors third-degree assault and resisting arrest.

Further details of the incident were not immediately available.
The Electoral College vote is typically little more than a footnote at the tail end of a presidential election. This year, however, the process has taken center stage as last-ditch efforts are under way to keep winner Donald Trump out of the White House.

Here's what you need to know and what you can expect in today's Electoral College meetings:

Who are electors and how are they chosen?

The idea of an Electoral College dates back to the Founding Fathers, who saw it as an extra layer between the popular vote and the presidency. When voters go to the polls and cast a ballot they are actually selecting their party's slate of electors as opposed to a specific candidate. The electors that represent the candidate that won a state's popular vote - Trump electors in Alabama and Hillary Clinton electors in New York, for example - casts their ballots in the Electoral College. There are 538 electors - 306 Republicans and 232 Democrats.

How are electors chosen?

Electors are selected through a variety of ways and the process differs from state to state. In most cases, they are party loyalists chosen by Republican and Democratic leadership, even if they are not tied to particular candidate.

Who are Alabama's electors?

Alabama has nine votes in the Electoral College representing the state's seven House districts and two senators. The state's Republican electors are Alabama Rep. Perry Hooper Jr.; Jefferson County GOP Executive Director Grady Thornton; Baldwin County Commissioner Frank Burt; 2012 elector and attorney Will Sellers; James Eldon "Jim" Wilson, an attorney and former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama; Alabama Rep. Tim Wadsworth; former ALGOP Chairman J. Elbert Peters; ex-Alabama Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin; and Pickens County GOP Chairman Bob Cusanelli.

An elector fun fact

Former President Bill Clinton, husband of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, is a New York elector this year.

What happens today?

Electors will meet today but the gatherings aren't like political conventions. Electors meet in their respective states to cast their ballots. In Alabama, electors will meet at noon in the State Capitol. Each elector gets two votes: one for president and one for vice president.

How many electoral votes does each state get?

The number of electors in each state is equal to its number of seats in Congress plus two for its Senators. Alabama has 9 electors. The minimum number of electors in a state is three (Delaware, Alaska, District of Columbia, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming); California, Texas and New York have the most electors at 55, 38 and 29, respectively.

Trump vs. Clinton

Trump won the popular vote in 31 states, earning him 306 electoral votes - 36 more than the 270-threshold required to win the presidency. Clinton won the popular vote in 19 states and the District of Columbia, earning 232 electoral votes.

What's the controversy?

There are a couple.

Clinton has a historically large lead in the popular vote - 2.8 million at the most recent count - and her supporters are pushing electors to honor popular vote over electoral delegates. Others in the "anyone but Trump" camp have encouraged GOP delegates to pick any Republican but the president-elect. Electors report receiving hundreds of emails and calls pressuring them to dump Trump.

Nothing in the Constitution or federal law binds electors to vote for the winner in their state.

Recently, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a primary challenger to Trump, spoke against efforts to push him as an Electoral College option.

"Faithless electors"

Electors are tied to their state's winners by either party pledges or state law. If an elector ignores the state totals and opts to cast their vote for another candidate, they are what's known as a "faithless elector." There have only been 157 in history and none have changed the results - or even come close - of a presidential election.

Twenty-nine states have laws on the books that require electors to support their party's candidate, though those laws have never been tested in court. There have been a handful of recent suits trying to invalidate those laws but none have been successful.

Could Electoral College dump Trump?

Thirty-seven GOP electors would have to cast ballots against Trump to drop him below the 270 threshold for victory. So far, only one Texas elector has indicated he will not vote for Trump, who won his state. The chances of 37 electors abandoning their pledges is almost an impossibility.

In the very unlikely event that happens and no other candidate picks up 270 electoral votes, the election would be decided by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. They are limited to the top three Electoral College vote getters.

What happens after tomorrow?

Copies of the electoral votes are sent to several people, including the president of the Senate (the U.S. Vice President). The results will be read aloud during a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6.

Trump's inauguration is next.

Updated Dec. 19 at 8:58 a.m. to reflect Alabama's elector Jim Wilson is an attorney and former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.
The North Alabama U.S. Attorney's Office announced last week that it received $5.09 million in criminal and civil actions in fiscal year 2016.

The office worked with other U.S. Attorney's Offices and the Department of Justice to collect an additional $1.1 million in civil actions.

U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance said, "The people in my office pursue [seeking justice] every day, working to put criminals behind bars and to ensure that money taken through wrongful action is returned to the federal government and to victims of crime."

"In addition, we are dedicated to being good stewards of the public trust and the funding our office is given to do our work," she said.

The North Alabama U.S. Attorney's Office and partner agencies collected another $934,607 in asset forfeiture actions. That money will be deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund and used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

Approximately $1.4 million of the total amount was collected in civil actions. The largest civil collections during the fiscal year were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, where the federal government recovered money lost to fraud or collected fines from on individuals or corporations for violations of federal laws regarding health, safety, civil rights or the environment.

About $3.7 million of the total collection was collected in criminal cases. One of the largest criminal collections was $1.5 million received as part of the $5.9 million court-ordered restitution in the case of William Maurice Campbell Jr. and his three co-defendants.

Campbell, the former state director of a college consortium of business development centers, was convicted in 2011 on 96 counts of defrauding the the state for more than $7 million. He was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution and fines.

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch also announced last week that the Justice Department collected nearly $15.4 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30.

"Every day, the men and women of the Department of Justice work tirelessly to enforce our laws, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used properly and that the American people are protected from exploitation and abuse," Lynch said. "... I want to emphasize that the department remains committed to the well-being of our people and our nation."

The U.S. Attorneys' Offices, along with the litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the government and criminal debts owed to crime victims. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department's Crime Victims' Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Nomination of David Friedman as next US ambassador to Israel has further damaged prospects for Palestinian statehood.

Jerusalem  Donald Trumps nomination of David Friedman as the United States ambassador to Israel provoked widespread consternation over the weekend, amid heightened speculation that the president-elects selection would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

In a statement accepting the nomination, 57-year-old Friedman welcomed the chance to work from the US Embassy in Israels eternal capital, Jerusalem. That would signal US recognition of Israels illegal annexation of East Jerusalem, long viewed as the only feasible capital of a future Palestinian state.

But Friedmans appointment  if confirmed by the Senate  would mean more than a change of address for the US embassy and a further deterioration in the prospects for Palestinian statehood.

It ends any illusion of there being a diplomatic process, Diana Buttu, a former legal adviser to the Palestine Liberation Organization, told Al Jazeera. The next US administration isnt just going to have a pro-Israel agenda like its predecessors. Its going to have a pro-settler agenda.

That, say analysts, could mark a seismic shift in the special relationship between the US and Israel. The likely shockwaves could disrupt business as usual in Washington, Europe and Israel itself  and an early casualty might be the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas.

READ MORE: Palestinians decry Trumps choice for Israel ambassador

Friedman, a bankruptcy lawyer who has been close to Trump for the past 15 years, is a high-profile ally of Israels hardline settler movement. He is known to favour annexing large parts of the West Bank, if not all of it.

That puts him  at least on paper  to the right of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister. In fact, Friedman is ideologically closer to Jewish Home, the far-right settler party led by Netanyahus political rival, Israeli education minister Naftali Bennett.

Traditionally, ambassadors do not make policy. But Friedman had Trumps ear as an adviser on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the course of the presidential election campaign. It is hard not to interpret his nomination as a declaration of intent by a Trump White House.

In recent months Friedman has left few doubts about where he  and Trump  stand on the major issues.





His personal support for the settlers is no secret. He is the president of American Friends of Beit El, which helps finance an extremist settlement near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. He also contributes opinion articles to Arutz Sheva, the settlers main media outlet.

In September, Friedman was one of the few taking Netanyahus side after the prime minster equated the creation of a Palestinian state with the ethnic cleansing of Jews  the removal of settlers living in the occupied territories in violation of international law. Netanyahu, he said, had made exactly the right point.

Earlier, in the summer, Friedman said a Trump administration would put zero pressure on Israel to create a Palestinian state. If the Israelis dont want to do it, so [Trump] doesnt think they should do it. It is their choice, he told the Haaretz newspaper.

But the effect of Friedman as ambassador could be more significant than just ending the pretence of Washington as an honest broker, according to Israeli analyst Jeff Halper. It would herald the moment the US withdraws involvement.

Regarding annexation of parts, or even all, of the West Bank, Friedman has said Trump wouldnt have any problem with that at all.

This is when the US says, We are out of the picture. Let the parties work it out themselves, Halper told Al Jazeera. That gives Israel the green light to start annexing the West Bank. Israel does it with a wink.

Friedmans influence is likely to prove especially polarising among Jews in Israel and the US, said Yossi Alpher, who served as an adviser to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

A clear majority of American Jews are liberal and will be very unhappy if the Trump administration is openly supportive of the settlers, he told Al Jazeera. That would drive a wedge among them.

OPINION: How impunity defines Israel and victimises Palestinians

Tensions have been building in the organised American Jewish community since the presidency of George W Bush. Liberal lobby group J Street was created in 2007 specifically to challenge the dominance of the hawkish American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) lobby in Congress and push for a two-state solution.

Friedman has launched attacks of unprecedented ferocity against the liberal Jewish community. He has described J Street as worse than kapos  Jews who collaborated with the Nazis in the death camps.

Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Streets president, called Friedmans nomination beyond the pale, adding: Well fight this with all weve got.

Similarly, Americans for Peace Now denounced the nomination as a destabilizing move, which only adds fuel to the Israeli-Palestinian fire.

On the other side of the battle lines, Morton Klein, president of the hawkish Zionist Organisation of America, claimed Friedman had the potential to be the greatest US ambassador to Israel ever.

Michel Warschawski, an Israeli analyst, said the polarisation of pro-Israel lobbies in the US would accelerate. We have definitely reached the point now where the bipartisanship and unanimity of support for Israel in the Jewish community is coming to an end, he told Al Jazeera.

In addition, said Alpher, that split could widen the divide on Israel in the Democratic and Republican parties. Friedman does not look ready to send any messages of conciliation, he said.

During the election campaign Friedman accused both President Obama and the State Department of being anti-Semitic. Any State Department officials who try to oppose Trumps Middle East policy, he has said, will be told: You know what, guys? Youre all fired!

A statement Friedman co-authored in November with another Trump adviser, Jason Greenblatt, backed Netanyahus efforts to reverse one of Obamas key foreign policy achievements  a nuclear deal signed with Iran last year.

The question is whether this assault on Obamas legacy will turn support for Israel into an openly partisan issue in Washington for the first time.

It is similarly unclear how Europe will respond to a US change of tack in the Middle East. Tensions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict among European Union member states can be expected to intensify under a Trump administration.

[Friedman by Saeb

this region down the path of something that I call chaos, lawlessness and extremism.]

Trumps success is part of a broader trend being reflected in Europe, said Alpher. We could see three or four right-wing states breaking away and following the US in moving their embassies to Jerusalem.

Predictably, the Palestinian leadership has responded with alarm to the news of Trumps nominee and plans to relocate the US embassy.

Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), warned that Friedman would send this region down the path of something that I call chaos, lawlessness and extremism.

In this political climate, Abbas strategy of seeking legitimacy for Palestinian statehood through the United Nations appears futile, said Buttu.

In October, during a visit to Israel, Friedman told Trump supporters that there would be no opportunity for mischief at the UN. Trumps ambassador to the UN would be ordered to veto any resolutions hostile to Israel.

READ MORE: Bad Palestinians under Israels collective punishment

For years the Palestinian Authority has adopted a strategy of wait and see with successive [US] presidents, believing they were about to do something, Buttu said.

Even though the appointment of a pro-settler ambassador ends that illusion, my impression is that the PA is going to continue with its wait-and-see approach. Not only is the peace process discredited, but so is Mahmoud Abbas.

Halper said that Ambassador Friedman could prove to be the final nail in the PAs coffin. A collapse of the PA is on the cards, he said. That would provide Israel with the pretext for annexing much of the West Bank.

Friedman could spell trouble too for Netanyahu as he tries to keep a semblance of control over an unruly right-wing cabinet, parts of which are chomping at the bit to oust him and get on with annexing the West Bank.

Chemi Shalev, a Haaretz columnist, observed that Friedman made Netanyahu look like a left-wing defeatist  The last thing he needs is a US ambassador who supports his most feared rivals.

A group that would be empowered by Friedmans appointment, said Buttu, was the BDS  boycott, divestment and sanctions  movement.

This is a gift to them, she said. Unlike Abbas who will do nothing, BDS activists will run with this, now that the futility of the current diplomatic efforts are exposed.
Simon Peter is a former LRA child soldier who is fighting to change attitudes towards disabled people in Uganda.

Bweyale, Uganda  Simon Peter Otoyo had just returned from school when the rebels of Joseph Konys Lords Resistance Army arrived in his village in northern Uganda . They tied his hands behind his back and marched him, along with three of his brothers, to a rebel camp deep in the bush.

As a child soldier for the LRA , 11-year-old Simon Peter was given a gun and sent out to fight the government army.

During a fierce battle in 1996, a bullet pierced his temple, shattering his skull and lodging behind his left eye, leaving him permanently blind.

After he was shot, Simon Peter spent the next 10 days in a coma. The rebels took him to various hospitals, but none would attempt to remove the bullet from behind his eye, so for the next nine years he endured intense pain as he moved with them from camp to camp in the borderlands between Uganda and Sudan, staying behind with the women and children when the men went off to fight.

Eventually, an ambush by the army offered him a way out. As missiles rained down on the jungle base where the rebels were located, Simon Peter made a run for it, sprinting blindly through the trees.

A bullet smashed through his shin bone, but he kept going until the noise of the fighting died down. For three days, he wandered through the wilderness using only his senses of hearing and touch before he was found and taken to a hospital.

A decade later, he has turned his life around and is now fighting to overturn attitudes towards the blind in Uganda.

People see the blind as a burden, said Otoyo, sitting on a blue plastic chair outside his hut in the town of Bweyale. They look at us like we are dirty, and they think we cant work properly. But I wanted to show the community that disabled people can also be productive, he told Al Jazeera.

The 31-year-old now has a full-time job teaching knitting classes to students at the Amor Foundation Vocational Training Institute, enabling him to support his wife and 10-month-old son, and smashing stereotypes about the visually impaired.

Before, I was not free. Its so much better to work for myself and earn an income, instead of just receiving charity, said Otoyo.

READ MORE: The girls of the Lords Resistance Army

Finding employment while disabled

According to 2014 census results, of its 34.6 million population, 14 percent of Ugandans over five years of age are living with a disability, with higher figures in rural areas.

Despite more inclusive disability policies, a lack of data and statistics on those with disabilities makes the monitoring of and accountability for these policies very difficult.

As a result, insufficient attention and resources have been provided for disabled persons, further limiting the services offered to them and the investments made in changing societal perceptions of disability.

Edith Kagoya, the coordinator of a Sightsavers project that aims to help young disabled people find employment, said the biggest challenge is changing community attitudes towards disability.

Often, the community thinks that disabled people have been cursed, she said, adding that as a result, many find themselves either neglected by their families or over-protected, denying them the opportunity to gain independence and learn how to navigate the world on their own.

Many never finish school, and in a country with high unemployment across the board, persons with a disability find it especially difficult to secure a job.

READ MORE: Tales from Ugandas female former child soldiers

Sightsavers Connecting the Dots programme has trained more than three hundred young people with various kinds of disabilities in vocational skills such as carpentry, knitting and IT, before placing them in internships. It was through this project that Otoyo learned his trade.

Hassan Rajab is another graduate of the programme. The 29-year-old photographer, who has a physical disability, chairs the local Youth with Disability Association in Kiryandongo district.

They used to call me akalema, which means a person who cannot do anything, Rajab explained.

My clients used to say, How can this man take my photo? But when you have a job, the public realises you are not a person to ignore. And all those with disabled children see that their children could also succeed.

No condition is permanent

On a Monday in late November, Otoyo arrived at his workplace amid wild celebrations to mark graduation day. Dressed immaculately in a light grey three-piece suit and guided by the hand by his younger brother, he embraced his students and chatted with his fellow teachers.

At first I did not think he would be able to teach us anything, said Awello Younes, a 16-year-old student at the Institute who has spent a year in Simon Peters knitting class. My family asked me if it was true that a blind man can teach, and my brother even came here to see for himself..

Now, Awello is making money by selling scarves and sweaters to local residents, to ward off the chilly nights in this part of northwestern Uganda, and plans to continue knitting full time as a career.





I have worked hard to open the eyes of the community, to show them that the blind should be supported, said Simon Peter. We will change their minds, but we havent reached that point yet.

Learning a skill, and then passing it on to others, has helped Otoyo overcome the trauma of a decade spent in the bush with one of the worlds most brutal rebel groups, nine of those years being spent in total darkness.

They trained us to use guns and to abduct other children. They made us do things, said Otoyo.

But the teaching helps me to forget what happened. Friendship, a good home, living well, all these things help me to move forwards. No condition is permanent, and for the first time, I am free.
It is said: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend. I would propose a caveat to this: the love is perhaps even greater when he is willing to risk his life for a stranger, just another fellow traveller in the human race.

In earlier acts of genocidal horror, often the world learned only of statistics, unable to witness the individual horror suffered by a 14-year-old boy, clinging on to the lifeless body of his infant brother.

In Aleppo, with its diminishing cast of traumatised civilian survivors, daily we learn their stories. And daily those who remain hope that their tears may move the pusillanimous hearts of far flung politicians who play, each day, with the pawns on the Middle Eastern chessboard.

When British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called on the Stop the War Coalition to protest outside the Russian Embassy, he said: Its up to us in government to show a lead. It is well past time for a leadership, and yet we see very little.

The true leaders have been those who have risked their lives to report from Aleppo. Many civilians had no choice in the matter, finding themselves unwillingly between the Scylla of the rebel guns and the Charybdis of Bashar al-Assad and his bloodthirsty allies.

The journalists, on the other hand, made an active decision to put themselves in the path of danger in order to report the truth  normally an early casualty in warfare.

We are all in their debt. Who can fail to be moved by the pictures of the stunned child, shared with the world by filmmaker, Waad al Ketab? Salah Ashkar, Lina Shamy and others have brought the truth into our living rooms.

Aleppo has seen the rise of the citizen journalist, including Zouhir Al Shimale, reporting on how he and others were turned back when they tried to evacuate.

Then there is the truly amateur journalist in the age of the mobile phone camera, epitomised by the anonymous medic who sent out the video of a five-year-old reciting Quranic verses while undergoing an operation without anaesthetic.

It has therefore been my privilege to have been working recently with Bilal Abdul Kareem, justifiably voted Al Jazeera personality of the week by a large margin.

OPINION: Aleppo  The guilt, the resentment, the indifference

Bilal remains in the ruins of that once proud city, pumping out his media reports to the comfortable world. He is American, a stand-up comedian-turned war journalist who has been in Syria since 2012 reporting on the conflict from his independent network On the Ground News. Before that, he risked danger to filmed Torture Agreement, a documentary in post-Muammar Gaddafi Libya.

As he reports, the Russian barrel bombs periodically explode in the background. If there are only a handful of Syrians with operating generators in the dying city, they welcome Bilal in to charge his equipment, for they know that he speaks for them.

No doubt there are members of the Assad regime who hate a man who has interviewed members of the Free Syrian Army and carried their voice to the world. by

When news outlets were declaring the Aleppo evacuation over, he continued to dispatch his footage, and describe the rockets descending on the remaining women and children: There are thousands upon thousands of people who are still here, he said. They were so many, they look like ants.

And yet, he makes jokes in times of despair, his humanity setting him far apart from stony faced analysts of war who prognosticate from their studios, coffee in hand.

Recently, Bilal was interviewing members of the Free Syrian Army. One said he reckoned they could get $20,000 for kidnapping an American journalist. He made light of it, saying that since he was the only African-American in Aleppo they had miscalculated  a black man was worth very little.

We have been urging him to join the evacuation, and we wait for news that he is safe. Yet, at the same time, Bilal has reported on refugees being shot dead and men being snatched away as they attempt to leave.

OPINION: The Palestinisation of the Syrian people

No doubt there are members of the Assad regime who hate a man who has interviewed members of the Free Syrian Army and carried their voice to the world.

At the same time, there are misguided officials in the United States who think of Bilal as a traitor for interviewing members of al-Nusra Front. But the sane among us know that he represents the voice inside us all that we only wish we had the courage to let out.

Let it be known that the eyes of the world are watching over Bilal Abdul Kareem and his fellow journalists  professional and amateur  and we expect that they, and the other civilians in Aleppo, will be allowed a safe passage out.

Clive Stafford Smith is the founder of the legal action charity Reprieve.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Post-truth is the new reality we need all to deal with if we want to save the soul of democracy and its noble mission.

The electoral landscape in many democratic countries around the world witnesses the rise of a new political culture based on emotions and fear, instead of facts and policy.

The situation is not too new, but continuous economic and social setbacks, especially the rise of unemployment and poverty, since 2008, has exacerbated the recourse to irrational fears and reactions to a gloomy politico-economic reality.

Politicians cater to legitimate fears of a possibly bleak future ahead, among working and middle classes, by brandishing the spectres of migration, greedy Wall Street financiers, crooked politicians, and scheming foreign interest holders.

The significance of these alleged threats is not material, as long as they do the job of confirming the electorates worst fears and nightmares. Twisting facts, exaggerating or even inventing them is allowed because what matters is not objective truth, but the reality of the fear, the collective, as well as individual, sense of disenchantment, frustration and rage.

It is the age of post-truth. The prefix post does not so much mean a chronological state after the truth as its absence, its being downgraded to a level where it becomes irrelevant and secondary to the act of emotionally appealing to deep grievances and a sense of insecurity and loss.

Half-truths of Brexiters

Brexit and the US elections, which Donald Trump won to the surprise of pundits, pollsters and global public opinion, provide striking examples of the use of pseudo-facts to twist reality, so that it looks and sounds in line with the fears and anxieties of an already angry and frustrated population.

So much so, that the overuse of the term post-truth by analysts has pushed the Oxford Dictionary to declare it the Word of the Year for 2016.

The Leave campaign supporters in the United Kingdom made promises based on half-truths that the majority of voters not only believed, but shut their ears to warnings from observers and media analysts about the inaccuracy of the facts on which the claims were based.

The Brexit campaign supporters claimed that $437m was sent by the UK every week to the EU and that each transfer is enough to build a fully-equipped hospital back home. The figure was not checked for its accuracy. But even if it were true, half of it is returned to the UK as subsidies to farmers, universities, research labs and businesses.

The most significant collateral damage of the rise of anti-media and post-truth was not only the demise of the values of honesty, ethics and responsibility, but the exit of nut-and-bolt policy schemes to remedy the ills of society in front of grand and probably unfeasible ideas like building huge walls, deporting millions outside the country and killing predecessor's policies. by

Another false promise concerns curbing immigration, while still expecting the European Union to accept movement of Brits into its countries. A third concerns an alleged swift disengagement, while in reality, the operation could take years.

Leaders of the campaign reneged on their promises the day following the success of the Leave vote. Nigel Farrage, former head of UK Independence Party (UKIP), and a strong campaigner for Brexit, declared that the promise to reinvest the money sent to EU in health services was a mistake made by the Leave camp. He had never said that during the campaign because what had mattered then was the passion, the emotional momentum, the collective sense of victimisation.

The Trump phenomenon

Trump is a textbook case when it comes to the use of post-truth. PolitiFact has been fact-checking Trumps statements over the past 5 years. They found that 70 percent of his claims were mostly false or false, 15 percent half-true and 15 percent mostly true or true.

According to New York Times, Trump claimed that the number of policemen killed at duty rose 50 percent in 2016 while the reality-check shows that their number was 68 in 2015 and 69 in 2016. His claim that crime rate rose 50 percent in Washington DC and 60 percent in Baltimore was based on a study that didnt include a breakdown by cities, according to the same newspaper.

OPINION: Mainstream media fashioned post-truth, not Trump

Trumps relation to truth is at most elliptic, if not downright and deliberately industrial. Truths are supposed to be manufactured and modelled to suit the moment, to meet the aspirations and frustrations of an angry crowd.

For Trump and his campaign, the only truth worth worrying about is the image of a saviour whose facets as a misogynistic, racist, xenophobic, patronising, strong and violent figure are only metaphors used to reinforce a carefully crafted sense of will and capacity to rebuild, to fix things, to clean, to render justice to the victims of political correctness, liberal ideas, Washington corrupt elite, and foreign vested interests.

The reason post-truth stood fast in front of media scrutiny is due to a deeply ingrained mistrust towards the mainstream media by conservative circles and groups.

Media is not only supposed to be pro-liberal, but it plays a role in distorting the real sense of conservatism and the real suffering of the middle-class man, the now-famous ordinary half-educated white man, injured in his sense of masculinity and hurt in his identity by feminists, LGBTs, politically correct campuses, and liberal interest groups.

OPINION: The media in the post-truth era

Conservative groups and their various supporters developed their own alternative networks of information using the internet and social media. They developed, what Jurgen Habermas, the German philosopher, would call their own public sphere  an alternative space for information sharing, networking and production of ideas and values that is deeply anti-mainstream.

Anti-media belief was a rhetorical shield used by Trumps supporters to protect them against facts and stubborn reality.

Global trend

The Spanish philosopher, Daniel Innerarity, recently published an opinion piece entitled For a Complex Democracy. Innerarity calls what is happening in most democracies the negative sovereign: to vote not to look for solutions but to express a malaise; rejection and refusal have been more important to voters than projects and policies.

This phenomenon has been seen not only in the UK and the US, but also in Greece, Spain and Australia. France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Hungary will follow suit sooner, rather than later.

The most significant collateral damage of the rise of anti-media and post-truth was not only the demise of the values of honesty, ethics and responsibility, but the exit of nut-and-bolt policy schemes to remedy the ills of society in place of grand, and probably unfeasible, ideas like building huge walls, deporting millions outside the country and killing predecessors policies.

Post-truth is the new political sensibility on the arena of electoral politics in world democracies. It is the new reality we need all to deal with, if we want to save the soul of democracy and its noble mission.

But its also a deep cultural mutation that we need to better understand if we want to avoid the horrible spectres of the past, when the same rhetoric led to atrocities hitherto unknown in the history of mankind.

Lahcen Haddad is a member of Moroccan parliament and professor at Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco. He is an international expert on strategic studies and an opinion writer in Arabic, English and French.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Ruling party official says probe into killing of Russian envoy Andrey Karlov is focusing on Gulen movement links.

The investigation into the killing of the Russian ambassador in Ankara is focusing on possible links to the Gulen movement, a senior official with Turkeys ruling party told Al Jazeera.

The Gulen group, led by self-exiled Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, is accused by Turkey of masterminding the July 22 failed coup, and is seen by Ankara as a terrorist organisation.

The assailant who shot dead envoy Andrey Karlov on Monday evening was identified by Turkish authorities as a 22-year-old serving member of capital Ankaras riot police force.





Mevlut Mert Altintas shouted in Turkish: Dont forget Aleppo! Dont forget Syria! after killing Karlov at a photo exhibition in the capital.

Altintas then yelled: Only death will take me out of here. Anyone who has a role in this oppression will die one by one.

Kani Torun, an MP with Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party, told Al Jazeera that the attacker was a legitimate active officer, with no evidence of being in contact with groups fighting in Syria.

According to preliminary findings, he is not a person who has been to Syria and it is very unlikely that he has been in contact with groups in Syria, Torun, who also acts as the deputy chairman of the parliaments foreign affairs committee, told Al Jazeera.

Accordingly, the only likely culprit for this attack is FETO. They have been very active in police forces, Torun said, using an abbreviation referring to the Gulen movement as a terrorist group.

Although members of this group have been widely wiped out from the police forces. We believe, they can carry out suicide attacks like this.

Fethullah Gulen has been in self-imposed exile in the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and is wanted by the Turkish authorities.

READ MORE: Turkish minister  Fethullah Gulen is our bin Laden

Turkey says that Gulens supporters within the army carried out the failed coup of July 15, claiming that they have been running a parallel state within the civilian and military bureaucracy, and following their own agenda. Gulen denies the claims.

At least 290 people, including the plotters, were killed during the events of July 15.

Tens of thousands of civilian and military state employees were sacked or detained after the incident in efforts to get rid of the followers of Gulen, seen as a terrorist organisation in Turkey.
As Mosul residents prepare to return home, they fear that the city they once knew is gone.

Baghdad, Iraq  Karam Hassawy has Mosul on his mind.

For two years in enforced exile in Turkey, he has frequently thought about every street, every smell and every sound of the place he calls home. He hopes against hope that everything will be the same when he returns.

I have not forgotten Mosul  since the moment I left the city, I wander in its streets and alleys every day in my mind, Hassawy, 25, told Al Jazeera. Whenever I feel nostalgic, I go for a walk in its old alleys and smell the famous Mosul food that I have not tasted for more than two years.

I miss everything there, my family, friends, my childhood [haunts]  the bells of the churches  the many old neighbourhoods I cannot forget.

READ MORE: Mosul Dam collapse will be worse than a nuclear bomb

Two years after the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) captured Mosul , former residents say they remember Iraqs second largest city as boasting the best urban quality of life in the modern Middle East, in addition to its rich, illustrious past.

They recall a city of spires and minarets, of ruins hinting at ancient glories, of teenagers relaxing by the Tigris River. They remember Mosuls bookstores and learning centres, its restaurants and cafes offering local delicacies, and its lively music and gossip, shared among 2.5 million people ranging from Sunni and Shia Muslims, to Christians, to Kurds and Yazidis.

Now, as they prepare for the citys liberation, they fear the worst.

I have mixed feelings about going back to my city, said Samer Elias, 42, an Iraqi writer who fled Mosul for Dohuk in Iraqs Kurdish region in 2014, soon after ISIL took the city. I am afraid I wont find the same city I left more than two years ago because of ISIL [atrocities] against Mosuls churches and monasteries, our homes and monuments that form our collective memory.

I am haunted with fear of what might happen to me, seeing our home destroyed, along with all the memories we have of it.

In its old districts, you would find alley after alley where people from many religious sects lived together in peace. It's a place where a Christian chief builder would volunteer to restore the minaret of the old Great Mosque. It has been sad to see the city of date and honey cakes, of bookstores, and of mystical Sufi musicians in the hands of fundamentalist and puritanical ISIL. by Ghada Siddiq Rasool, Mosul novelist

Residents who remained after ISIL took over say that the destruction began soon after Mosuls capture. They detail the decimation of its cultural life: the shuttering of cinemas, music halls, and festivals; the destruction of ancient monuments; and the revision of school curricula and the burning of books.

Mosuls teens and college students used to play music, draw, and even make sculptures by the banks of Tigris River, said Hamza al-Fakhry, a 25-year-old filmmaker from Mosul who sought refuge in Turkey in 2014. All of those parties and carnivals happened just several years ago in whats now one of the most difficult cities in the world to live in.

Residents recalled a place where people of diverse ethnicities, languages and faiths lived harmoniously.

In its old districts, you would find alley after alley where people from many religious sects lived together in peace, said Mosul novelist Ghada Siddiq Rasool, the author of Nineveh Diaspora, who fled to Baghdad in 2015.

Its a place where a Christian chief builder would volunteer to restore the minaret of the old Great Mosque. It has been sad to see the city of date and honey cakes, of bookstores, and of mystical Sufi musicians in the hands of fundamentalist and puritanical ISIL, she told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: Mosul residents wont leave despite dire conditions

Today, residents and exiles say Mosul is characterised by impassable roads planted with explosives, shattered walls and windows, and abandoned places of worship. Christians, Yazidis and Shia Muslims are absent, having been forced to flee their homes.

What is happening in Mosul today follows the pattern of what happened in Fallujah, Tikrit and Ramadi, where ISIL left thousands dead and the cities in ruin. Many are worried about the implications for Mosuls treasured layers of history.

Around 700 BC, Assyrian King Sennacherib moved his empires capital to Nineveh, and expanded it to make it the largest city in the world, at the time. It was also one of the most lavish, with seven-mile-long fortification walls, 15 impressive city gates, a complex irrigation system and a royal park with trees from other parts of the world conquered by the Assyrian empire.

Since 2014, ISIL has posted videos showing fighters hacking and blowing up statues on the ancient city gates and looting antiquities from the Mosul Museum.

The monument I long for is the Assyrian Lamassu Winged Bull at the ancient Gate of Nergal  it was removed by the extremists, Hassawy said.

I cried when I heard they burned the books and manuscripts at the central library. Those were among the most precious treasures in the heritage of the people of Mosul. Mosul is inseparable from its history; those monuments had given the city its identity. It is a big loss.

READ MORE: How ISIL destroyed Nimrud

Researchers note that ISIL has used the territory it holds in a ruthless manner.

Theyve also looted the site of Nineveh, said Daniele Morandi Bonacossi, a professor of archaeology at the University of Udine in Italy. Well possibly see artefacts popping up in Europe or the US, in the next few years.

As the Iraqi armys offensive inches closer to dislodging ISIL from Mosul and its surrounding towns, locals say they hope to find the city they once knew, with all of its splendid details.

Hassawy longs for the ancient Clock Church that he used to pass on a regular basis, or the old bridge that used to revive him when he was tired because the sounds of the river used to give me hope and life. The mixture of smells in the area pulled him in different directions: To the right, at the entrance to the market, smoke wafted from a kebab grill as people savoured succulent grilled meats. Nearby was a fried fish stall and pastry shop, all tempting him with their flavours.

Everything in my city is beautiful  even the black columns of smoke as they pass over Nineveh, he said. Mosul is a living memory for all those who have passed through or lived in it, despite the tragedies, fatigue, and forced exile to other governorates and countries. Nineveh is still the mother that embraces me wherever I go.
The two countries have agreed to a land swap on the River Meuse to improve access and policing.

Land ownership has been at the root of many of the worlds biggest conflicts.

But in Europe, two countries have managed to buck this trend by agreeing to a peaceful land swap.

The Netherlands and Belgium have decided to switch their sections of land on the River Meuse to improve access and policing.

Last month the foreign ministers of both countries met in Amsterdam to sign and seal the landmark land swap.

The change become official in January 2018.

Al Jazeeras Neave Barker reports from the southern Netherlands.
Photographer was attending the event when an off-duty policeman killed Russias ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov.

Associated Press photographer Burhan Ozbilici was attending a photo exhibition when a gunman opened fire, assassinating Russias ambassador to Turkey. He recounts the chaos that unfolded as he captured the scene.

Dont forget Aleppo. Dont forget Syria! the gunman shouted in Turkish, referring to the Syrian city where Russian bombardments have helped to drive rebels from areas they had occupied for years during the war. He also shouted Allahu akbar but I couldnt understand the rest of what he said in Arabic.

Authorities would later confirm that Ambassador Andrey Karlov, 62, was dead. The gunman, identified as police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas, was killed after a 15-minute shootout.

The exhibition, titled From Kaliningrad to Kamchatka, from the eyes of travellers featured photos from Russias westernmost Baltic region to the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the east. I decided to attend simply because it was on my way home from the office.

When I arrived, the speeches had already begun. After the Russian ambassador began to make his address, I moved closer to photograph him, thinking the pictures would come in useful for stories on Turkish-Russian relations.

READ MORE: Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov shot dead in Ankara

He was speaking softly and  from what I could tell  lovingly about his homeland, stopping occasionally to allow the translator to relay his words in Turkish.

Suddenly, gunshots rang out in quick succession, followed by panicked audience members running for cover.

The ambassadors body lay on the blood-splattered ground.

It took me a few seconds to realise what had happened: A man had died in front of me; a life had disappeared before my eyes.

I was shocked and sad but I started to take photographs, sheltering behind a wall.

The gunman was agitated. He circled the body, smashing some of the photos hanging on the wall. He shouted at everyone to stand back and pointed his gun at us. Security guards ordered us to vacate the hall and we left.

Ambulances and armoured vehicles soon arrived and the police operation was launched.

When I returned to the office to edit my photos, I was shocked to see that the gunman was actually standing behind the ambassador as he spoke.
Thousands of people, including dozens of orphans, leave Aleppo in ongoing evacuation effort from besieged Syrian city.

Dozens of buses carrying evacuees including orphaned children from the last rebel-held district of Aleppo travelled to opposition-controlled areas outside the city early on Monday, according to Turkish officials and a monitoring group.

Turkey said that about 20,000 people have been evacuated from eastern Aleppo so far, as a fragile ceasefire between rebels and government forces was holding.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that the evacuees from the besieged city were bused to an area under opposition control, in an ongoing effort to get people to safety.

Nearly 50 children who were trapped in an orphanage in east Aleppo were evacuated, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said.

This morning, all 47 children trapped in an orphanage in east Aleppo were evacuated to safety, with some in critical condition from injuries and dehydration, Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF regional director, said in a statement.

UNICEF and other agencies were also assisting in reunifying other children evacuated in the past few days with their families and giving them medical care and winter clothes, he said.





Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said an estimated 500 people had been evacuated from two villages besieged by rebels in Idlib province on Monday as part of the deal.

SOHR said 10 buses had left the majority Shia towns of Foua and Kefraya carrying evacuees through rebel-held territory towards Aleppo.

The evacuation process in Aleppo got off to a shaky start last week, with agreements collapsing and four people reportedly killed by government-allied forces as they attempted to leave eastern Aleppo.

In the latest disruption on Sunday, gunmen attacked buses sent to take people out of Foua and Kefraya and torched them, killing a bus driver, the Syrian Observatory said.

Sleeping in the streets

Thousands of people remain in eastern Aleppo, many sleeping in the streets in freezing temperatures as they wait to be evacuated.

Conditions in eastern Aleppo remain extremely dire, said Al Jazeeras Imtiaz Tyab, reporting from Gaziantep on the Turkey-Syria border.





In the evenings it can go to -5C. They have access to very little food, fuel, water and medical supplies.

Most of the evacuees are taken to rebel-held Idlib province or Aleppo countryside.

Turkey has said that they could also be housed in a camp to be built near the Turkish border to the north.

UN monitors

Meanwhile at the United Nations, France and Russia announced agreement on a compromise resolution to deploy UN monitors to eastern Aleppo to ensure safe evacuations and immediate delivery of humanitarian aid.

Frances UN ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters the compromise was reached after more than three hours of closed consultations on Sunday and the Security Council would vote on the resolution on Monday.

Russias UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, told reporters before consultations that Moscow could not accept the French draft resolution unless it was changed.

He presented council members with a rival text.

After the consultations, Churkin said a good text had been formulated.

The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, said the resolution would quickly put more than 100 UN personnel on the ground to monitor evacuations.

The text contains all the elements for safe, secure, dignified evacuation, for humanitarian access to those who choose to remain in eastern Aleppo and for protecting civilians, she said.

She said that following the siege in eastern Aleppo, there have been many, many reports of people being pulled off buses and disappeared, whether into conscription or into torture chambers or killed outright.

Deploying UN monitors would deter some of the worst excesses, she said.

Russia, which has provided military backing to Assad, has vetoed six Security Council resolutions on Syria since the conflict started in 2011.

China joined Russia in vetoing five resolutions.

Aleppo had been divided between government and rebel areas in the nearly six-year war, but a major advance by the Syrian army and its allies began in mid-November following months of intense air strikes.

The offensive forced the opposition fighters out of most of their strongholds within a matter of weeks.
Electors unswayed by last-ditch effort by diehard opponents to bar the Republican candidates path to the White House.

President-elect Donald Trump has received a majority in the US Electoral College as votes from Texas electors put him over the 270 threshold.

Mondays result confirmed, as expected, Trumps election as the 45th president of the United States.

The Electoral College appeared unswayed by a last-ditch effort by diehard opponents to bar the Republicans path to the White House.

Six weeks after his shock victory over the Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump sailed past the 270 votes needed to make his victory official, clearing the way for him to succeed Barack Obama on January 20.
Officers not held accountable for deaths of almost 600 people in custody between 2010 and 2015, Human Rights Watch says.

At least 591 people died in police custody in India between 2010 and 2015, according to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The report published on Monday, Bound by Brotherhood, accuses Indian authorities of failing to hold officers responsible for the deaths and of failing to implement accountability mechanisms, that are already in place.

While investigations were ordered by courts, human rights commissions, or other authorities in some cases, Human Rights Watch is not aware of a single case in which a police official was convicted for a custodial death between 2010 and 2015, said the report, which added that torture is likely almost as soon as a person is taken into custody.

While torture is illegal in India, the report said that many were beaten to extract confessions, with the families of the victims often being bullied into silence.

Al Jazeera made several attempts to contact numerous police officials as well as the interior ministry but was unable to reach anyone for comment.

READ MORE: Dying while in police custody in India

Meenakshi Ganguly, HRWs South Asia director, told Al Jazeera that Indias policies to protect people in custody are bypased.

The Supreme Court has had several important rulings. The National Human Rights Commission has set up regulations, the government has put in policy, and yet we find that repeatedly the police just bypass these procedures, said Ganguly.

They [police] are not held to account when they do so, and when these abuses happen, then its worse, because when there is torture, when there is death in custody, then unfortunately the entire police force colludes to protect their colleagues, she said.

Riddled with problems

Responses to the report from police departments, Ganguly added, were mixed.

Until you use [the] third degree against them [prisoners], they will not speak, Jairaj Sharma, a retired police officer in the northern Uttar Pradesh state, told the Associated Press news agency.

The third degree is a term Indian police use to describe forceful tactics that can range from slapping to severe beatings.

IN PICTURES: Manipurs custodial killings

Others called for better practice.

Vikram Singh, a retired Indian police officer, acknowledged that the countrys criminal justice system is riddled with problems.

My feeling is that not many cases [against police officials] have been registered, not many police officers suspended, and certainly no one has been dismissed in recent years for being brutal on accused and wanted criminals, said Singh.

Colin Gonsalves, senior advocate to the Supreme Court, said that the number of people dying [in custody] is grossly underestimated  but thats a pretty shocking figure in itself.

As far as the non-prosecution of police officers is concerned, that is absolutely right, said Gonsalves, who also founded the Human Rights Law Network.

Its a basic licence to beat the people  the government, the politicians, the ministers, all allow police to beat at will  they beat any suspect. They may get information, they may not. They beat you because thats the way any investigation goes on in this country, he said.
At least 12 people killed and many injured in centre of Berlin, police say, as suspected driver is arrested.

The number of people who were killed when a truck ploughed into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin has risen to 12, German police have said.

The truck on Monday rammed into the market outside the popular market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

At least 48 people were injured, police said.

On Tuesday morning, Berlin police tweeted that investigators assumed the driver of the truck deliberately steered into the crowd at the Christmas market.

Ambulances and heavily armed officers rushed to the area, after the driver mounted the pavement of the market in a square popular with tourists.

Police later arrested the suspected driver near the scene, and said that another passenger riding in the truck had died. The truck had a Polish licence plate, police said.

Heiko Maas, Germanys justice minister, said that federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, are taking over the investigation.

He did not give further details in a post on Twitter on Monday night about the shocking news but added, we are mourning with the relatives of the victims.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said he was in constant touch with security authorities, but did not give any indication in a statement whether they believe the incident was an accident or an attack.

We dont yet have anything conclusive regarding the circumstances and the course of events, de Maiziere told ARD public television, adding that investigators were working hard to put together all the pieces of evidence.

I dont want to use the word attack yet, although a lot points to that, the minister said.

Deeply shaken

Photos and video posted to social media showed rescue workers at the scene of the incident in the centre of Berlin where the truck had eventually stopped.

One social media user, Emma Rushton, said that people were crushed, and that the truck had been going too fast at around 60 kilometres per hour.

Bild newspaper posted a picture of a large Scania truck with its windshield smashed out on the pavement alongside the market.

Im deeply shaken about the horrible news of what occurred at the memorial church in Berlin, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. Many people who visited the Christmas market today have died and even more are injured.

Images you dont want to see

Witness Jan Hollitzer told Al Jazeera that the truck drove about 50 metres through the market.

It was really horrible, there were many casualties and injured people, he said. I saw people hit by the truck and also people under the truck  I can tell you those are images you dont want to see.

The truck was travelling very fast through a pedestrianised area, Hollitzer said.

Witness Mike Fox told the Associated Press news agency that the truck missed him by only about three metres as it drove into the market, tearing through tables and wooden stands.

It was definitely deliberate, said the tourist from Birmingham, England.

He said he helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands.

Czech and French authorities said they would beef up security in light of the incident.

The White House condemned what appears to have been a terrorist attack in Berlin.

US President-elect Donald Trump linked the attack to Islamist terrorists, saying ISIS and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad, using an acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
A 15-year-old girl suffocated to death after she was made to sleep in a shed because she was menstruating.

A 15-year-old girl has died in Nepals western Achram district after she was banished to a shed because she was menstruating, under an ancient Hindu practice that has been banned for more than a decade, police said.

We are investigating the case. We suspect that she died of suffocation from the smoke of a fire she lit to keep herself warm, local district inspector Badri Prasad Dhakal told the AFP news agency on Monday.

Local media identified the girl as Roshani Tiruwa.

Some Hindus view menstruating women as impure and in parts of Nepal they are forced to remain in a hut or cowshed for days, a practice known as chhaupadi.

Truwas father told Nepalese newspaper My Republica that she had had an evening meal at around 6pm on Friday and went inside the shed to sleep.

When it was late in the morning and she had not been seen, he gave her a call from outside.

Then we saw her dead body, he said.

INTERACTIVE: Banished  Why menstruation can mean exile

According to the newspaper, Truwa was a ninth grader at Rastara Bhasah Secondary School and was undergoing the third day of menstruation at the time of her death.





Superstition

Under the chhaupadi practice, women are banned from taking part in normal family activities during menstruation and after childbirth, and can have no contact with men of the household.

The Hindu tradition is common to all castes in the region. Women who violate the practice are blamed for crop failures, illnesses and sudden deaths of animals.

There are previous reports of chhaupadi leading to deaths, attacks by wild animals, snakebites, diseases, rapes, poor mental health, and infants dying of pneumonia.

In recent years, some women have turned their back on the ritual: a few burnt their sheds, and some villages are known as chhaupadi-free zones.

But although the countrys Supreme Court banned practising chhaupadi in 2005, the custom dies hard. It remains firmly rooted in many villages, especially in remote hill areas.

Mohna Ansari of Nepals National Human Rights Commission said local leaders must do more to enforce the ban.

We have a legal ban but the law enforcement forces have not been strong about implementing it, she said.

It is crucial for us to work to change the attitudes of the people and raise awareness against this practice.

A 2011 UN report estimated that 95 percent of women in Achham district follow it.
Clashes between security forces and rebel fighters come amid rising tension as President Kabilas mandate runs out.

A South African peacekeeper was killed and two others were injured in a rebel attack in the city of Butembo in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a South African military statement.

UN and police sources told the AFP news agency that five rebels and one local policeman were also killed in Mondays attack.

The clashes between security forces and rebel fighters, who attacked the prison in Butembo, came amid rising tension across the country as President Joseph Kabilas mandate ran out.

Butembo is a city of around one million people in the troubled North Kivu province in the east of the country.





At around 6am (04:00 GMT), the assailants, who were likely Mai-Mai fighters, launched an attack against the prison and other places, AFP quoted the spokesman for the UNs MONUSCO peacekeeping force, Felix-Prosper Basse, as saying.

Mai-Mai rebels have staged several attacks in Butembo in recent months. Although the reasons for their return appear unclear, some residents say they have heard some fighters claim they are seeking to overthrow Kabila.

The country was due to hold a presidential election this year as Kabilas mandate ends on December 20, but the authorities failed to organise the polls and there is widespread fear of protests and violence.

Kabila is barred from a third mandate under the constitution and the opposition has accused the authorities of delaying the vote in the hope of reworking the constitution to extend his tenure.

The UN peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo includes a force intervention brigade with a mandate to take offensive military action against rebel groups.
Rights group says Myanmar army targets civilians in systematic campaign of violence as ASEAN discusses the issue.

Military action against Myanmars Rohingya Muslim minority may amount to crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said, as the government called a meeting of regional leaders to discuss the issue.

The Myanmar military has targeted Rohingya civilians in a callous and systematic campaign of violence, Rafendi Djamin, Southeast Asia director for the rights group, said in a statement on Monday.

The deplorable actions of the military could be part of a widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population and may amount to crimes against humanity.

The report comes as Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is meeting fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asians Nations (ASEAN) in Yangon amid regional concerns over the situation in western Rakhine state.

The deplorable actions of the military could be part of a widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population and may amount to crimes against humanity by Amnesty International

Al Jazeeras Florence Looi said Myanmar has been coming under a lot of pressure from fellow member states of ASEAN, which has traditionally followed a policy of non-interference in a member states internal affairs.

WATCH: Is the world ignoring the plight of the Rohingya?

But that seems to be changing, Looi said, reporting from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Myanmar says the purpose of the meeting is for the member states to air their concerns as well as to get a better understanding of what is happening in Rakhine state.

But some critics have pointed out that this could be nothing more than a public relations exercise.

Ethnic cleansing

Between 76 to 400 Rohingya have been killed in a military crackdown since October 9 attacks on police stations left nine officers dead.

Myanmar says at least 93 people  17 police officers and soldiers and 76 alleged attackers (including six who reportedly died during interrogation)  have been killed and some 575 suspects arrested.

An estimated 27,000 Rohingya have fled to the neighbouring Bangladesh for safety.

Rohingya advocacy groups, however, claim about 400 Rohingya  described by the United Nations as among the most persecuted groups worldwide  have been killed in the military operations, women have been raped and Rohingya villages torched.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman called for the 10-nation bloc to coordinate humanitarian aid and investigate alleged atrocities committed against Rohingya people.

Anifah said events in Rakhine state were a matter of regional security and stability, noting that about 56,000 Rohingya now live in Muslim-majority Malaysia having fled previous unrest in Myanmar.

Malaysia has heavily criticised Myanmars government and military over the violence, with Prime Minister Najib Razak and his cabinet referring to it as genocide or ethnic cleansing.

Rakhine, located in Myanmars west, has long been home to simmering tensions between the Rohingya and the countrys Buddhist majority population. The last major outbreak of violence in 2012 left hundreds dead and drove 140,000 people into internal displacement camps.

Many analysts are expecting ASEAN leaders to push for some of the things that the international community has been asking for, the most important of which is the full resumption of aid to Rakhine state where an estimated 160,000 people are in need of aid, Al Jazeeras Looi said.

Myanmar has denied the accusations, saying many of the reports are fabricated and it insists the strife in Rakhine state is an internal matter.

In addition to fending off diplomatic pressure over the crisis, the Myanmar government has also invited a handpicked media delegation to visit the affected region this week.

Amnesty cautioned that the scale and extent of the violence is unclear, as the military has closed Rakhine to outside observers, including aid workers. But witness accounts detail specific cases of murder, looting and rape.

READ MORE: Strong evidence of genocide in Myanmar

In one incident on November 12, following an alleged skirmish between the army and villagers armed mostly with swords and other simple weapons, helicopter gunships descended on a village and sprayed bullets indiscriminately, killing civilians fleeing in a panic, Amnesty said.

This was corroborated to an extent by Myanmar army officials, who said helicopters opened fire that day and killed six people, who officials said were insurgents.

Refugees told Amnesty that the military is torching villages. Satellite images Amnesty obtained show 1,200 burned structures, which they say is in line with images released by Human Rights Watch in November that showed 1,500 burned homes.

On Friday, the UN human rights office said it was getting daily reports of rapes and killings of the Rohingya and independent monitors were being barred from investigating.

UN human rights chief Zeid Raad al Hussein said in a statement that the government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, had taken a short-sighted, counterproductive, even callous approach to the crisis, risking grave long-term repercussions for the region.
Andrey Karlov was speaking at a photo exhibition event in the capital when he was shot by a Turkish off-duty policeman.

Russias ambassador to Turkey was shot dead in front of a crowd at a posh art gallery in the capital Ankara as the angry gunman screamed: Dont forget Aleppo.

Police later killed the assailant on Monday night, Turkish station NTV reported.

Andrey Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at an embassy-sponsored photo exhibition when a man who stood directly behind him in a dark suit shot the diplomat in the back from close range multiple times.

Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the announcement of Karlovs death in a live televised statement.

Burhan Ozbilici captures Andrey Karlovs final moments

The assailant was a 22-year-old off-duty police officer who worked in Turkeys capital, said Ankaras mayor, Melih Gokcek.

Turkish police detained six people over the killing, state media said on Tuesday. The state-run Anadolu agency said the attackers mother, father, sister and two other relatives were held in the western province of Aydin, while his flatmate in Ankara was also detained.

After the initial shot, the attacker approached Karlov as he lay on the ground and shot him at least one more time at close range, according to an AP photographer at the scene.

He paced angrily around the body, while shouting, and also smashed several of the framed photos on exhibition, but later allowed the stunned guests to leave the venue.

The spectacle of Karlovs assassination by a member of the Turkish security forces, at a photography exhibition meant to highlight Russian culture, reinforced the sense of unease over the regions conflict and complex web of alliances and relationships.

Several media outlets reported a gunfight later ensued after Karlov was shot.

Local broadcaster NTV television said at least three people were wounded and were taken to the hospital.

Mayor Gokcek told reporters outside the exhibition centre that the heinous attack was aimed at disrupting newly re-established relations between Turkey and Russia.

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone about Mondays attack.

On behalf of my country and my people I once again extend my condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the friendly Russian people, said Erdogan.

The implications of Andrey Karlov assassination

Putin promised a response to the assassination.

The crime that has been committed is undoubtedly a provocation aimed at derailing the ties between Russia and Turkey, as well as the peace process in Syria, said Putin from Moscow. There is only one possible response to this  the strengthening of the fight against terror, and the bandits will feel it themselves.

Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplane at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkeys apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift.

Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and discussed the prospect of organising a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstans capital, Astana.

Dont forget Aleppo

The assailant referred to the situation in Aleppo after he shot the ambassador in the back.

Dont forget Aleppo, dont forget Syria, the attacker said in Turkish, after gunning down the ambassador, as seen in a video shared by Turkish media from the scene.

Whoever took part in this cruelty will pay the price, one by one  Only death will take me from here, the man said while holding a pistol.

He then continued in Arabic, saying: We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad.

Diego Cupolo, a photojournalist in Ankara, told Al Jazeera there were about 100 armed soldiers in camouflage and police officers at the scene, along with armoured fighting vehicles.

The attack came a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defence ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria.

Ankara focuses on Gulen links in Karlov assassination

Those talks will go ahead on Tuesday despite the murder of Karlov, the Interfax news agency said, citing Leonid Slutsky, a senior parliamentarian.

The Russian ambassador to Turkey was a career diplomat.

Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russias ambassador to Pyongyang in 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the foreign ministrys consular department.

He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.
Interior minister says fighters who shot 10 in city of Karak were equipped with suicide vests, plotted more attacks.

Assailants who staged attacks in Jordans southern city of Karak on Sunday had suicide vests and other weapons, and were planning further assaults, Interior Minister Salamah Hamad has said.

Hamad did not give details on Monday on the identity or nationality of the attackers, saying an investigation was still ongoing.

The armed men killed at least 10 people, including security officers and a Canadian female tourist identified as Linda Vatcher. At least 27 others were wounded.

During the hours-long attack, videos posted to social media showed warnings to stay indoors being broadcast from the citys mosques minarets.

Four gunmen were killed in the confrontation with security officials which ended the attack. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the shootings.

READ MORE: Security officers end deadly Karak castle siege

On Monday, Jordanian troops with armoured vehicles blocked access to the popular tourist site  a Crusader-era castle  where the standoff took place.

The attack was the latest in a series of assaults over the past year that have challenged the kingdoms security forces.

The attack was likely to further harm Jordans battered tourism industry, on the decline since fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group seized control of parts of neighbouring Iraq and Syria two years ago.

Political analyst Labib Kamhawi told the Associated Press news agency that rising unemployment and poverty in Jordan have made the population more vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups.

People feel the response of the government was weak and that  the government is not prepared to counteract such actions, he said. Previous operations were extremely limited, even in their targets, and were not trying to involve civilians.

Kamhawi said Jordans claim to be an island of stability in a turbulent region is not valid any more.
The case against Assange is as political as it is legal; where does it go from here? Plus, Kenyas election influencers.
Fault Lines investigates why, despite advanced prenatal care, so many infant lives are at risk in the US.

Ten years ago, in November 2006, Al Jazeera English was launched. To mark that anniversary, weve created REWIND, which updates some of the channels most memorable and award-winning documentaries of the past decade. We find out what happened to some of the characters in those films and ask how the stories have developed in the years since our cameras left.

Every year, in the United States over 11,000 babies die on the day they are born. Most of them are just born too early, with their vital organs, heart and lungs, still unformed. And even those who survive beyond 24 hours often die before their first birthday.

In 2013, Fault Lines went to Cleveland, Ohio, which at the time was experiencing one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the industrialised world  disproportionately affecting African American mothers.

Just under 40 percent of the babies that are born are African American, but they contribute to 70 percent of the babies who die in the first year of their life. So you have this huge, huge disparity and thats kind of business as usual, its been going on for decades, says Dr Arthur James, the co-director of Ohio Better Birth Outcomes.

In Cleveland, the infant mortality capital of the US, the rates of premature birth and infant death in many neighbourhoods exceed those of developing nations. So what is causing these deaths? And what is being done to stop it?

Sebastian Walker went inside the neo-natal intensive care unit at Clevelands public hospital as doctors rush to save the lives of the citys premature infants.

Since the documentary was made, the racial gap has grown wider and many mothers continue to experience tragic loss. In 2016, the state of Ohio announced $26.8m to combat infant mortality after death rates rose again in 2015.

In September 2016, the Ohio Senate also passed a bill that aims to decrease the states high infant mortality rate by improving data access and reporting on infant mortality, holding hospitals and other providers accountable for making sure parents receive pre- and post-natal education and support.
After stealing street signs from a construction site, a Gainesville man led police on a 12-block scooter chase Saturday morning, Gainesville Police said.

At about 4:55 a.m., a GPD officer saw Daniel Lloyd Chambers, 20, in the 500 block of NW 17th St., hauling the signs on his scooter, according to a police report. The officer attempted to stop Chambers, but he eluded the police car, veering into oncoming traffic lanes twice.

With emergency lights behind him, Chambers kept driving, according to the report. He looked back at the police car and turned left into a driveway on Northwest 21st Street.

At one point, Chambers stopped to toss the signs and continued to drive while the officer followed, according to the report.

The chase ended once Chambers encountered a large body of water and his scooter got stuck in mud. Chambers walked back to the police holding his hands up and apologizing, according to the report.

After his arrest, Chambers told police he didnt try to run away, but the stolen signs had triggered his scooters throttle, and he was unable to stop, according to the report. He said he stole the signs from a construction site near the 500 block of NW 13th St.

The signs are valued at $150, according to the report.

Police arrested Chambers on charges of petty theft and attempting to elude a police officer.

Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail where he was released on his own recognizance Sunday afternoon.

When contacted, Chambers declined to comment on the arrest.

@merylkornfield

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Net Spurs Banks to Look Again at Using Artificial Intelligence

By Daniel McQuillen

Artificial intelligence systems are making a comeback in the financial services industry, due in large part to the rising use of the Internet and corporate intranets.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is a term for computer programming techniques that help systems sort data and solve highly complex problems while "learning" from the tasks.

After some false-start commercial application in the 1980s, artificial intelligence systems have gained new luster for their ability to provide tailored information to Web-using bank customers or knowledge-seeking employees.

"We've seen a resurgence-or what I call the second coming-of AI, basically because of the Web," said Allen Bonde, director of Internet computing strategies at Boston-based Yankee Group.

"If you look at what consumers are doing on the Web, they're having a dialogue through a Web site, they're shopping for things, they're doing a lot of self-service. If you can make that interface more intelligent and useful, it has a lot more value."

Artificial intelligence can involve a bevy of programming methods and computer theories, including case-based reasoning, expert systems, fuzzy logic, and neural networks. Though they typically performed well in laboratory environments, many AI technologies fell out of favor after underperforming in real-world applications.

"In the early to mid '80s the whole field was over-hyped," said Philip Klahr, vice president for customer quality with Inference Corp., a Novato, Calif.-based software company.

Now, says Mr. Klahr, with the increasing power and decreasing cost of computers and the wide-scale availability of large amounts of information, AI is again becoming an important area of investment for all companies.

Mr. Klahr said that knowledge management-the capturing and storing of a company's collective knowledge-is an area that benefits from AI.

Banks, for example, are using artificial intelligence programs to help employees sort through the immense amounts of information accessible through corporate intranets.

This information, whether used to educate employees on best practices or for improving the way a customer is served, is becoming more accessible through AI programs.

"A lot of financial institutions have huge data bases of loan histories and customers' preferences that can tell them what kind of people like to invest in what kind of products and so on," Mr. Bonde said. "But for the most part, there aren't a lot of people who understand how to get the information out of it."

The promise of these artificial intelligence technologies, he said, "is that more and more people will have access to information in a timely manner-without having to have a doctorate in computer science."

Nancy Markle, executive vice president and chief information officer at H.F. Ahmanson & Co.'s Home Savings of America, said her bank is an AI believer.

Home Savings uses artificial intelligence programs for analyzing portfolios and loans and for monitoring the bank's transactional Web site. It also plans to apply AI to its intranet.

"AI is not necessary for knowledge management, but with AI you can do it faster, easier, and more consistently," said Ms. Markle.

She also extolled AI's potential in other areas. "A new employee  can in very short order become as capable as an employee who has been there for years."

Swiss Bank Corp. also is using artificial intelligence to help employees sort through the data on its intranet.

Using CBR2 software from Inference, Swiss Bank is indexing all of its intranet-available documents and making them available via case-based reasoning, an artificial intelligence algorithm that learns to anticipate the types of information requested by different users.

Financial companies also are beginning to use AI to custom-tailor products for consumers. Swiss Bank and Washington-based American Finance and Investment, a subsidiary of Virginia First Savings Bank, are among the four financial companies now testing BrightResponse, an AI-based program produced by Novato, Calif.-based company, Brightware Inc.

BrightResponse, due to be released generally next month, uses case-based reasoning and natural language recognition to automatically answer customer E-mail.

According to John Knightly, director of corporate marketing for Brightware, "Using AI, BrightResponse can take the E-mail messages, read them, determine the intent, and either answer them automatically or route them to a sales officer if they're hot leads.

Others are planning to use intelligent software to offer personalized financial information to Web users.

Salem (Mass.) Five Cents Savings Bank plans to begin sending targeted product pitches and financial plans through its Web site in the next few weeks.

Working with Cambridge, Mass.-based software developer Vertigo Development Group, Salem Five hopes to give customers "a reason to stop by and visit the site every morning" said Michael Fitzgerald, the bank's senior vice president for marketing.

Rob Rosen, president and chief executive officer of Vertigo, warned bankers against using artificial intelligence systems that are too complex.

"You have to be really careful with the AI you use," said Mr. Rosen. "It has to be basic, because even though you might not produce the right answer all the time, you darn well better not give the wrong answer."
With all zeal of a convert, in the waning days of his presidency Barack Obama has abandoned the Russian reset policy and reprised the Cold War rhetoric that he mocked back in 2009, when he said:

"great powers do not show strength by dominating or demonizing other countries. The days when empires could treat other sovereign states as pieces on a chess board are over."

To date, there is precisely zero evidence that Russian hacking actually distorted the voting process of the US election. However, this has not prevented President Obama from stating that United States would retaliate for Russias efforts to influence the presidential election.

In fact, Russia's cyber-espionage and disinformation activity has nothing to do with a nefarious plan to install Donald Trump as a Putin puppet. Rather, the Russian president's goal is much more grandiose: to destabilize the western alliance and reassert his country as a great power. As a result, intelligence agencies and high-level officials in Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and elsewhere have all voiced concerns over the threat of cyber sabotage by Russia.

How could such an intelligent, sophisticated statesman such as Barack Obama have missed Russia's numerous attempts to influence Western European elections? Occam's razor is a principle that suggests that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

Since it's patently absurd to think that Obama wasn't aware of repeated Russian attempts to organize small minorities of angry people with the goal of dividing fearful majorities in Western Europe, the simplest yet most elegant answer is that he well understood Putin's modus operandi and even accepted, however reluctantly, that there is some value in supporting groups that can influence the outcome of an overseas election.

Obama's transformation from starry-eyed idealist to cold-blooded realist is glaringly apparent in his attempt to toss Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu out of office. Unlike the Russian hacker story, which is being fueled by circumstantial evidence, a US Senate inquiry published in June 2016 actually found that the US government supported a group that had tried to unseat Netanyahu in the 2015 Israeli elections, to the tune of nearly $350,000.

Vladimir Putin is undoubtedly an autocrat who talks like a democrat. Yet Barack Obama's soaring rhetoric is similarly contradicted by the findings of this report, which harshly criticized the State Department for having failed to prevent funds from being used, albeit legally and indirectly, to influence an allied countrys internal political process.

How can one explain the Obama State Department's support of OneVoice, a group of young grassroots activists in Israel and the Palestinian Territories that was openly and actively anti-Likud and anti-Netanyahu?

Again, let Occam's razor be our guide. There's no tangible evidence to suggest that the 44th President of the United States is obsessed with weakening Israel and demonizing the Jewish state on the international stage.

No, the most probable explanation for funding a politically active group in a politically sensitive environment, with taxpayer dollars, against the leader of the US's closest Middle East ally is that such meddling in the internal affairs of friends and foes alike has worked like gangbusters for Russia.

Barack Obama, ever the student of history, took a page from Vladimir Putin's chapter on realpolitik that is quickly turning Russia into an indispensable nation. It turns out that while Obama never tires of signaling his own personal virtue, underneath the radiant smile and winning personality beats the heart of an astute, calculating political operator. The die was cast once Netanyahu accepted House Speaker John Boehner's invitation to address Congress and speak out against Obama's signature foreign policy initiative, the Iran nuclear deal.

It's interesting to ponder how different the balance of power in the Middle East might be today had Barack Obama channeled his inner Machiavelli at the outset of his presidency, instead of being content to be adored as the nice, compassionate, liberal former lecturer on constitutional law.
President Obama, have you no shame? Your Middle East policy, indeed, your whole foreign policy has been a disaster. How dare you say after the slaughter in Aleppo and the genocide in Syria, that you did the best you could.? CNBC reported the statement President Obama made as he washed his hands of all guilt and responsibility:

"With respect to Syria of what I have consistently done is taken the best course that I can to end the civil war and having also taken into account of the long-term national security interest of the United States," he said[.] ... "Unless we were all in and willing to take over Syria, we were going to have problems," Obama said in the news conference, noting that it would have required "putting large numbers of U.S. troops on the ground, uninvited, without any international law mandate." ... "Responsibility for this brutality lies in one place alone: with the Assad regime and its allies Russia and Iran. And this blood and these atrocities are on their hands," Obama said.

No, the responsibility for this horror lies with Obama, and the blood of Aleppo is on his hands. It is he who drew the red lines in Syria, claiming that there would be consequences if they were crossed. It is he who said Assad must go. There were no consequences, and Assad, protected by Russia, is still there.

As Investor's Business Daily editorialized on Obama's disappearing red lines in Syria:

Syria's chemical weapons are on the move, their precursor chemicals having been mixed, a crossing of a line drawn by President Obama Aug. 20 when he said "a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized." So our resolute president decides to draw another line  that if Syria's Bashar al-Assad makes use of those weapons, presumably against his own people or neighbors, he will face "consequences." ... Obama's appeasement has come home to roost. Assad remembers how Clinton, appearing on CBS' "Face The Nation," dismissed the idea of U.S. military action or regime change in Syria, claiming that unlike Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, Assad was considered to be a "reformer" by "many of the members of Congress."

Yep, Obama's secretary of state and defeated presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called Assad a reformer:

Apparently neither Mrs. Clinton nor Defense Secretary Robert Gates sees Syria as an outlaw nation. Both said Sunday that Syria was different from Libya and that we would not be lobbing cruise missiles into Damascus in another "humanitarian" effort. "Many of the members of Congress of both parties who have gone to Syria in recent months have said they believe he's a reformer," Clinton said without disputing the assessment. She also drew a distinction between Libya's use of tanks and aircraft against its protesters and "police actions, which, frankly, have exceeded the use of force that any of us would want to see."

Obama and Clinton intervened in Libya to prevent the slaughter of civilians, turning Libya into a failed state and an incubator of terrorism. Yet both did nothing to prevent the slaughter in Syria when they could have easily. We sacrificed four brave Americans at Benghazi in pursuance of this failed policy.

Why did we do nothing in Syria? Perhaps for the same reason we did nothing to prevent Russia's invasion of Ukraine  the Iran deal. Obama, who once promised Russia's President Medvedev more "flexibility" after Obama's re-election, didn't want to offend Putin. He needed Russia's help in securing the Iran deal. Taking out Assad would have offended Tehran. So Obama and Clinton sacrificed both Ukraine and Syria to get the Iran deal and put $150 billion in the hands of Iran, a state sponsor of terror and a mass murderer of U.S. troops in both Lebanon and Iraq.

This reformer moved his chemical weapons, and Obama did nothing. He used his chemical weapons, and Obama did nothing. Seeing no resistance, Russia moved in to protect Assad and safeguard its access to the Syrian port of Tartus on the Mediterranean.

Obama could have done a lot, and it did not involve ground troops. He could have parked an aircraft carrier, 90,000 tons of American diplomacy, off the Syrian coast. He could have ordered air strikes and destroyed the Syrian air force in 24 hours. Then he could have established a no-fly zone protecting a safe haven in Syria. He could have prevented the slaughter in Aleppo, as well as the flood of refugees into Europe. But he didn't.

The rise of ISIS, which Obama calls ISIL so he can omit the "S" that stands for Syria, is a direct result of the vacuum he created In Iraq by his precipitous withdrawal after victory had been won.

President Bush left a stable Iraq, one where Shiites and Sunnis had learned to coexist and resist a common al-Qaeda enemy. There were free and fair elections, and we all remember the pictures of Iraqi women holding up their purple fingers indicating that they had proudly voted. Now we have the mass graves of ISIS, beheadings, and what can only be called the ethnic cleansing of Christians.

It is a myth, as the White House now claims, that President Obama inherited an Iraqi mess from President Bush and had no choice but to withdraw U.S. troops in the absence of a status of forces agreement. The problem was not that Iraq and Prime Minister Maliki wanted the U.S. to leave, but that the force Obama wanted to leave was just too small. As Patrick Brennan has written in National Review:

These claims don't jibe with what we know about how the negotiations with Iraq went. It's the White House itself that decided just 2-3,000 troops made sense, when the Defense Department and others were proposing more. Maliki was willing to accept a deal with U.S. forces if it was worth it to him  the problem was that the Obama administration wanted a small force so that it could say it had ended the war. Having a very small American force wasn't worth the domestic political price Maliki would have to pay for supporting their presence. In other words, it's not correct that "the al-Maliki government wanted American troops to leave.

Obama destroyed Libya for no good reason and sacrificed Syria so that he could pursue the dangerous and flawed Iran deal. He created the vacuum ISIS filled in Iraq and Syria. The blood of Aleppo is on nobody's hands but his.

Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investor's Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications.
Who would ever have predicted that the Electoral College would attract so much public discussion, let alone the last-ditch hope of the anti-Trump fanatics? Given so many misstatements about it, let me briefly set the record straight.

Begin with the argument that the Founders intended the Electoral College to act as a final quality control review board to weed out unfit demagogues  that is, Donald Trump. This is a complete lie, though some pundits quote Alexander Hamilton's Federalist 68 in support of this "final judge," argument, an argument lacking any legal standing. The Constitution stipulates only a single qualification  electors cannot at the time of their vote hold federal office (Article II, Section 1). Nothing is said about age, experience, background, or any other trait implying an ability to reject the unworthy. Especially relevant, there has never been any effort to enshrine this talent into laws. Picking judicious, independent-minded electors is a non-issue. The opposite is true  electors overwhelmingly tend to be party stalwarts.

Equally dubious is the oft heard claim from Hillary's fans that the College is inherently undemocratic, and since Clinton won the popular vote, the only true measure of democracy, she "really" won the election, and Trump's electors ought to honor "democracy" by stepping aside for Hillary. Totally false.

Prior to the Constitution's final form, the mechanism to choose our chief executive went through multiple versions and direct election was considered and then rejected. Opponents believed that such a mechanism in a vast nation lacking decent communications would cede power to only a few wealthy notables whose resources permitted a nationwide campaign. Rather than being the authentic voice of the people, this plebiscite would, in the words of South Carolina delegate Charles Pinckney (1757-1824), be led by "a few active and designing men." In other words, the staggering cost of a "national" campaign guaranteed plutocracy, not popular rule. By comparison, appealing to a hundred or so legislatively selected electors, though hardly easy, was at least possible for candidates lacking wealth and a towering nationwide reputation.

Moreover, in the context of the day, allowing state legislatures  not the voters acting directly  to choose electors was widely viewed as a democratic mechanism since state legislatures were dominated by farmers, tradesmen, small merchants, and other "ordinary" people. Nor is there anything undemocratic about legislatures' delegate power, including the power to choose a president. To further avoid "a dangerous tendency to aristocracy," the Constitution also authorized the directly elected House, not the Senate, to elect the president if no candidate secured a majority of the Electoral College vote. On balance, the Electoral College is a democratic element of the Constitution.

What about candidates winning the Electoral College vote but losing the popular vote, as occurred with Trump and Clinton plus the past elections of 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000? Surely, this is smoking-gun proof of the Electoral College's anti-democratic nature. Not quite. The Constitution is silent about how state legislatures choose electors, and in the Republic's early years, states used a district system where the state was divided into districts where each district picked a single elector. In fact, a similar system is currently used by Maine and Nebraska (four electors each)  you get a single electoral vote by winning a congressional district and then two for winning the state overall.

But by 1832, the district plan gave way to the unit or winner-take-all system (except, as just mentioned, Maine and Nebraska), so winning by a hair meant harvesting all the electoral votes. Thus, it is the unit rule intended to maximize a state's political clout, and less the Electoral College per se that produces this "undemocratic" outcome. Now, those preferring a tighter relationship between the popular and Electoral College votes need only to convince their state legislature (not pass a constitutional amendment) to make the allocation of electors more proportional to the popular vote. For example, since California has 55 electoral votes and if Trump received 40% of the state's popular vote, he would receive 22 electoral votes. To be sure, not perfect proportionality, but a big improvement.

What about the bias introduced by giving small states "bonuses" by awarding them two electoral votes regardless of population? Statistically true, but this was the price paid for the union  absent this "bonus," small states like Delaware might never have ratified the Constitution. Such distortion is certainly a bearable price of the Union (and eliminating this bonus would require a constitutional amendment).

Needless to say, today's political realities make it unlikely that Democrats would pursue this relatively easy way to boost proportionality. Yes, Democrats would pick up a few electoral votes in vote-rich GOP-dominated Texas, but they would have to surrender far more in their big-state strongholds of California; New York; Illinois; and, most of the time, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Meanwhile, the Republicans would lose a vote or two in Idaho, South and North Dakota, Wyoming, and other thinly populated states.

It is hardly surprising that Democrats are cool to this proportionality solution. Recall how the domination of large population states was commonly labeled Hillary's "Blue Wall" that gave Trump a far narrower path to victory. To be blunt, Democrats prefer only solutions to the popular vote-Electoral College distortion that gives Democrats an advantage.

Now for what appears to be the last-ditch effort for those horrified by the Trump victory: convincing Trump electors to jump ship and hand over victory to Clinton, i.e., hold Presidential Election 2.0. This is a complicated legal issue, and unlikely to happen, but one thing is clear  playing the unattached or faithless elector game opens a Pandora's box, and Democrats may rue the day they introduced this tactic to American elections.

To appreciate the two-edged sword nature of playing with the Electoral College, recall the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon contest. Back then, much of the South bitterly opposed black civil rights and sought to use the Electoral College to pursue this anti-civil rights agenda. Both Alabama and Mississippi offered voters the option of choosing unpledged presidential electors and 15 of these "free agents" were elected. All initially pledged support for Virginia's segregationist Senator Harry F. Byrd, but due to the interval between the election and the actual casting of the Electoral College vote, they had yet to formally cast their electoral vote for Byrd. The aim was not to elect Byrd, but to negotiate with Kennedy and Nixon over civil rights. Alternatively, if they did choose Byrd, it was hoped that neither Kennedy nor Nixon would secure an Electoral College majority, and the House, with each state casting a single vote, would decide the presidency. Now, given numerous Southern states (conceivably 12), the South would bargain to extract concessions from either Nixon or Kennedy. What saved the day from this devious strategy was Kennedy winning 303 electoral votes without these "free agents" (270 were then needed to win).

The 1960 maneuver came up short, but future machinations to peel off a few GOP electors of this sort do not favor the Democratic Party. Specifically, since, absent an Electoral College majority, the House decides, and the "one state, one vote" rule advantages the GOP, since Republicans tend to win more states. In this House-based game, a few voters in red Wyoming, North Dakota, and Idaho count the same as millions of voters in blue California, Illinois, and New York. Overall, throwing the election into the House via pressuring electors is an exceedingly difficult strategy and will succeed only if Democrats control 26 state delegations, a reality that may well be a long time in coming.

The moral of this story is clear: fiddling with the Electoral College is risky business, and today's winner could be the next election's loser. The Electoral College is not a perfect democratic instrument, but a system of direct popular election has its own flaws  for example, encouraging vote fraud nationally.

Recall Voltaire's adage about the perfect being the enemy of the good. To win elections in America, one plays by the rules, and losers should not try to win by retroactively altering the rules. It's that simple.
I have one great hope for a no-nonsense, business-oriented Donald Trump administration.

It's that the Federal Government finally begin to ask what the return was, and is, for money spent  just as every private enterprise, from the window cleaner's one-man show to Exxon's army of thousands, is forced to do.

Take for example WIC  the Women, Infants, and Children federal nutrition program. Very similar to food stamps, WIC spends billions and billions of tax dollars and in great measure was implemented because somebody noticed that drug-addled mothers were not feeding their children nutritious meals. Well? What happened? Have the dopers started baking their children homemade chicken pot pies? Or are they just buying their boyfriends more crack with the WIC assistance?

It's a question the Obama administration would never ask and was terrified of asking, but it must be asked and answered if you're a sensible steward of the taxpayer's money.

Another example is the close to a million civilian employees the Department of Defense has. Can't they get by with less? Say, with the much smaller proportion of civilians to the uniformed, the likes of which it employed during the height of World War II, when the military and naval establishments were fifteen times the size they are now?

But if you're going to hunt where the greatest number of ducks gathers it's hard to choose between the bloated Defense Department and an area in which federal and state resources commingle on a grand scale: K-12 education.

It's estimated that as a nation, we spend $620,000,000,000 on K-12 annually. So what do we get for a stack of dollars bills that would reach to the moon and back? Many if not most would say a nation that can read and write. But is that true? Because there is a fascinating tidbit offered in British historian Paul Johnson's The Offshore Islanders, which you can verify with your own Googling elsewhere on the net: that England had essentially the same high literacy rate in 1890, before public education came around in that country, as it does today.

In other words, and at least by that one measure, no or little net gain in literacy for the expense of a hundred and so years of public education.

True? Difficult to tell, because in an artful dodge, the educational establishment insists that the literacy rate today is higher by defining the ability to read and write not as any reasonable person would, but by the number of years someone sat in a classroom. And so, they insist, they have as close to 100% literacy as you can get, because close to one hundred percent of the population over fifteen has been required to sit in a classroom for at least five years.

This argument, of course, ignores the fact that modern public schools, both here and in the United Kingdom, regularly graduate illiterates or functional illiterates after ten or twelve years.

So what's the point? Simply put, it's based on Britain's experience, which admittedly Britain itself has not digested: public education is unnecessary, a waste of resources, and maybe the biggest boondoggle since the pyramids.

Why? Because the overwhelming majority of parents want to educate their children, have always wanted to educate their children, and will continue educate their children if it means a better life for them. And they're going to act that way whether or not they're no longer offered a "free" education.

Then there's the fact that modern free markets deliver. If the population of the United States requires sixteen million new cars and trucks every year, that's what the United States produce. Need a million tons of potatoes? You got it. A billion cheeseburgers? Get the ketchup ready. And so it follows that absent government education, one might confidently predict that if the nation has a requirement for 95 or 90 or 80% literacy among parents or the labor market, that's what the free market will hand off.

If the market is free to do so.

Make it homeschooling, small local private schools, expensive snotty private academies, distance learning  whatever. With whatever that is, parents have the means and the inclination to indulge themselves with.

And in sum, they'll probably achieve superior results, because as Friedrich Nietzsche remarked:

Let us have as few people as possible between the productive minds and the hungry and recipient minds! The middlemen almost unconsciously adulterate the food which they supply. It is because of teachers that so little is learned, and that so badly.

I leave you with a thought. The greatest advance in information distribution since the invention of movable type is the still unfolding computer revolution. But what we don't think about is that this revolution is accompanied by the most incredible educational effort ever undertaken in the history of the world as children learn how to use computers, smartphones, and other handheld devices in order to begin texting or talking to one another. To learn how to connect to the world's databases, encyclopedias, books, news, and opinion sites.

And every bit of this vital education has occurred outside the government's K-12 system and at zero cost to any taxpayer. Without public school teachers, "education presidents," school boards, state departments of education, without landscaped multi-million-dollar campuses or two-hundred-dollar boring textbooks, and without having most of a $620,000,000,000 annual bill for services vanish into teacher salaries and cushy retirement funds.

So ask yourself this: if the text messages your children compose and send already exceed by a factor of two hundred the word count of the essays they're required to produce in public school, who and what are actually teaching your child to write? If your children are accessing the millions of free or very inexpensive books and other information sources online in order to explore and master the subjects that excite them, who and what are teaching your child to read?

Or if the school taxes you're required to pay on your home run five, ten, or fifteen thousand dollars annually, is having a teacher show your child how to put glitter on his finger-painting worth that? Is the danger to your child from violent students the school cannot expel worth that? Or are the long bus rides, endless indoctrination in transgenderism, the really diseased obsession with "diversity," skewed history classes, dumbed down textbooks, having somebody sell your child drugs in a school bathroom, worth that?

In short, what's the real return on your, on our, investment in public education?

Help us with this, Donald.

Richard F. Miniter is the author of The Things I Want Most, Random House, BDD. See it here. He lives and writes in the colonial-era hamlet of Stone Ridge, New York; blogs here; and can also be reached at miniterhome@gmail.com.
You might think that, having just suffered a shellacking for the ages, the DNC would moderate its stance, sense the pulse of the American electorate, and move to the center. No, no  not this hardy group of "progressive" ideologues. With their ship floundering to the port side, they double down and shift more weight to their party's left.

Welcome to Keith Ellison, considered to be the next chairman of the DNC and a man who epitomizes the slanders the far left falsely attribute to Steve Bannon and others in the Trump cabinet.

Since 2007, Ellison has been the U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Having taken his oath of office with one hand on the Koran, Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to the U.S. Congress. A feel-good story so far, but it doesn't end here. By word and deed, Ellison is a virulent anti-Semite.

Deep into his 30s, this man, poised to head the Democratic Party, was a spokesman for the Nation of Islam. He publicly spewed anti-Semitism and later in life, as a congressional candidate, knowingly accepted $50,000 in campaign contributions given and raised by Islamic radicals who openly supported Islamic terrorism and were leaders of front groups for Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. His controversial statements and actions date back to the '90s, when he served as a local spokesman for Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam movement and raised eyebrows when he publicly claimed in 1995 that Farrakhan " is not an anti-Semite ."

In 1997, Joanne Jackson, executive director of the Minneapolis Initiative Against Racism (MIAR)  the acronym alone is a hint as to where his is going  said: "Jews are among the most racist white people." Ellison, at the time using his religious name, Mohammad, read a statement unequivocally supporting her on behalf of the The Minneapolis-St. Paul Study Group of the Nations of Islam: "We stand by Ms. Jackson."

As a congressman in 2012, Ellison voted against Israel on every proposition, resolution, and bill. Shy 11 other congressmen, no one has voted against Israel more than Ellison  five separate votes.

Despite this, Chuck Schumer, the new Senate minority leader and darling of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, is an ardent supporter of Ellison for the DNC chair. Why would a supposed moderate's moderate like Schumer support Ellison? In an eye-opening interview this month, he said he's backing the Minnesota congressman to lead the Democratic National Committee for a simple reason: Bernie Sanders likes him. Sanders, ex-presidential candidate and a key liberal voice in the Senate, also earned a spot this past week on Schumer's new 10-senator leadership team.

In the immortal words of former New York Knicks star Michael J. Richardson, for the Democrats, "the ship be sinking."

In other words, Schumer, the supposed unflinching supporter of Israel, is corroborative with an unrepentant anti-Semite due to the approval of another who never misses an opportunity to disparage the Jewish State. You might wonder whom this speaks most to: Ellison, Schumer, or Sanders? But it gets better.

With a propensity of finding commonality with their enemies and not their friends, far too common among liberal Jews, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)'s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, characterized Ellison as an "important ally in the fight against Anti-semitism" and "on record in support of Israel." I only hope marijuana is legal wherever Mr. Greenblatt lives.

This past summer, Ellison (aka Keith X. Ellison, aka Keith Hakim, aka Keith Ellison Muhammed) worked to insert anti-Israel positions and language into the 2016 Democratic national platform and to keep pro-Israel planks out. He complained in a DemocracyNow! interview that the Israeli "occupation" was to blame for a "humanitarian crisis" and lack of sewage processing in Gaza. This past June, following a trip to Hebron, he tweeted the following sign and stated:

I saw this as I walked down a street in Hebron. While window opens to street, no Palestinian can walk/drive on it

Unfortunately, this purportedly "important ally in the fight against Anti-semitism" fails to mention that if it were not for homicide bombers, blown up buses and restaurants and weddings, stabbings, and all other mayhem the Palestinians can think of, walls and fences wouldn't be needed, and they could walk in peace down every street in Israel.

During the 2014 war with Hamas, Ellison was among eight representatives who voted against funding the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, which Israel desperately needed due to incessant and indiscriminate incoming rockets from Gaza.

Likewise, in 2015, Ellison co-authored and spearheaded a letter (and obtained signatures on the letter of 23 Democrat members of Congress) demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress about the Iran deal be delayed until after the sanctions deadline, when the visit would have been useless.

This past month, the House of Representatives' Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the soon to be chairman of the DNC after Ellison failed to disclose that the Muslim American Society  a group that Muslim Brotherhood members founded to be the "overt arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in the U.S."  paid $13,350 for Ellison to visit Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 2008.

We could go on and on and on with this, but the wrap remains. To even consider Keith Ellison to head the party of Truman, Stevenson, and Kennedy is an affront to those great men. The once great Democratic Party that many of us grew up with in the '50s and '60s is long dead. The highly patriotic party that truly represented the hardworking class of the United States has now morphed into a far-left consortium of perverted liberalism that denounces this country at every twist and turn but is happy to take advantage of its largess.

Keith Ellison, head of the DNC. What will they think of next?
First Lady Michele Obama is not feeling the Christmas spirit this year. She had a sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey, who, by the way, is the left's version of Donald Trump: self-made, successful in business, wealthy, and influential. Michael Moore, mouthpiece for the left, thinks Oprah should run for president. Maybe she will someday.

Back to Mrs. Obama who is feeling bah-humbug this year. She has lost hope, telling Oprah, "We feel the difference now. See, now, we're feeling what not having hope feels like, you know." Wow what a difference an election makes.

Remember back in 2008, when there was another election, and the Obamas were poised to win the White House? She was brimming with hope in those days: "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback."

Doing the math, it seems that in her 52 years, Mrs. Obama has been hopeful for only eight of those years, when she and her family lived in the White House. I can understand why she, as a Democrat, might not feel hopeful during a Republican presidency, but she had four years of Jimmy Carter and eight years of Bill Clinton to be feeling hope. Or during decades of Democrat control of Congress. Or when her husband was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Barack Obama ran on a message of hope in 2008, specifically "Hope and Change." That was one of his campaign slogans. Nothing very specific, but the words provided the emotional tug felt by Mrs. Obama back in 2008  the hope that she no longer feels.

But Mrs. Obama insists that her husband's "hope and change" catchphrase wasn't just a campaign slogan, despite those words adorning campaign posters and other paraphernalia. She told Oprah, "And Barack didn't just talk about hope because he thought it was just a nice slogan to get votes."

As campaign slogans go, it was nice. It resonated with voters. Certainly more than John McCain's slogan, whatever that was. And it did get votes  enough to propel Mr. and Mrs. Obama into the White House.

Mrs. Obama was spot-on in her words to Oprah, but not in the way she intended. The hope that many Americans felt in 2008 was indeed gone. Hope for the first black president. Hope for healing the racial wounds of America. Change from the waning days of the Bush presidency. Economic doldrums. Endless war. Politics as usual.

Unfortunately, Mr. Obama didn't deliver. The wars continued. The economy worsened. Islamic terrorism arrived in the homeland. Illegal immigration increased with a wide open national border. American culture and tradition were under attack. Transgender bathrooms and killing cops became the new national focus.

Most Americans lost hope over the past few years, with the vast majority believing that the country was heading in the wrong direction. Change was certainly delivered, but not the change Americans hoped for. Perhaps it was what the Obamas hoped for. Otherwise, why would Mrs. Obama suddenly lose hope?

Along came a healthy dose of hope a year and a half ago, when a brash business mogul descended the escalator of his glitzy high-rise building on Fifth Avenue. His first words as a presidential candidate were a promise to build a wall. And make Mexico pay for it.

For millions, suddenly there was hope that one of the most serious national problems might be solved  not the Gang-of-Eight amnesty plans of John McCain and Marco Rubio, but a real solution.

I wrote about Trump and his optimism back in the fall of 2015 as a means of explaining his early and rising popularity. Optimism is another word for hope. He promised, "I'll fix it." Our crumbling infrastructure. The Iran nuke scheme. Lousy trade deals. The failing VA hospital system.

Trump's optimism and hope were embodied in his campaign slogan, four simple words: "Make America Great Again."

Disappointment with the past two presidents, 16 years of empty promises, and finally someone making a serious and compelling case for real "hope and change."

Yet Mrs. Obama has the opposite view of the voters, as she told Oprah  the voters who won't be jetting off to Hawaii aboard Air Force One for a luxurious two-week holiday over Christmas. Mrs. Obama bemoans the fact that there will no longer be a grownup in the White House. Yet I'll bet most voters have a different view. Instead, for the first time in eight years, there will be a grownup in charge of the country.

Mr. Trump will also surround himself with grownups in his cabinet. Compare the future secretary of state to past ones: the former CEO of one of the world's largest companies, experienced in negotiating deals with many countries, including those not friendly to the U.S., versus the wife of a former U.S. President, who, if not married to a former president, would likely be an attorney for a liberal advocacy organization  or a French-speaking dilettante whose major accomplishment is marrying into big money. Twice.

This the hope that voters saw on election day and voted accordingly  rather than Mrs. Obama's hope that was not shared by most of her fellow Americans.

She closed her interview with Oprah by saying, "What do we do if we don't have hope, Oprah?" Easy answer, as we learned on November 8. Vote Trump, and make America great again.

Brian C. Joondeph, M.D., MPS is a Denver-based physician and writer. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
I never thought I'd see the day when U.S. political elites went stark raving mad. But this is what Hillary Clinton told her big money donors recently.

HILLARY: Vladimir Putin himself directed the covert cyber-attacks against our electoral system, against our democracy, apparently because he has a personal beef against me. Putin publicly blamed me for the outpouring of outrage by his own people. And that is the direct line between what he said back then and what he did in this election. This is not just an attack against me and my campaign, although that may have added fuel to it. This is an attack against our country. We are well beyond normal political concerns here. This is about the integrity of our democracy and the security of our nation.

This is such a blatant pack of lies that no informed person believes it. Contrary to the despicable New York Times and WaPo, which lent themselves to this farce, the CIA does not have video cameras in the Kremlin to watch Vladimir Putin "himself directing the covert cyber-attacks against our electoral system."

Putin responded by calling Hillary's story "indecent," and he is right. Somehow, after eight years of Obama, the United States has lost the moral high ground, and Vladimir Putin is beating us  not by military power, but by moral honesty. This is an embarrassment.

What did Hillary actually mean  if anything  by saying"Putin publicly blamed me for the outpouring of outrage by his own people"? What is she talking about? This sounds like a phony script whipped up by Bill, Obama, and John Podesta in a five-minute phone call. It doesn't pass the smell test, and the world knows it.

American politics used to have a core of basic decency, but this is the worst kind of demagoguery. Hillary is waving the bloody flag in a style the left attributes to Joe McCarthy. Worse still, our own chief executive has backed an obviously false narrative directed against a major power, for pure domestic political gain.

The Soviet Union used to be our enemy, following the teachings of Marx, Lenin, and Stalin. But Putin is not our enemy. Russia is certainly a ruthless competitor, and Putin is a master of bluff. But he is very practical, unlike Soviet ideologues. He does not follow an ideology of world conquest, because he experienced the fall of the USSR in his own career. He is not likely to risk a return to the failed Soviet model. Putin's principal goal has been to restore domestic stability and some of the old power in foreign affairs.

Obama has foolishly played into Putin's hands, so that the United States has lost our major role in the Middle East, Asia, and maybe Europe. But our common objective is for Russia to be more stable and less of a threat to others.

In fact, Putin has been publicly angling for some sort of alliance with the United States against the worldwide danger of jihad. And yes, he has also sent this jet planes and naval ships to make provocative moves against U.S. forces and our allies. Every year of the Cold War saw the same kind of provocative gestures, but no sane nation benefits from nuclear instability. Putin is a rational actor, and there is nothing to be gained from picking fights.

But Hillary and Obama are doing exactly that today, with the support of the mendacious New York Times and its ilk.

Now the Democrats are setting up a "narrative" (i.e., a complete pack of lies) for the domestic politics. The story they are planting is called "Trump Stole the Election." Al Gore tried it in Florida, but the Supreme Court turned him down. Now Hillary and Obama are trying to plant the same story for next time. If they succeed, the crisis of the political classes will get worse and worse, because they have lost all credibility to the American public.

So the blame-Putin-for-Trump narrative is a hoax. Today's phony journalists went to college when postmodern leftism was all the rage. In journalism schools, the word "narrative" (i.e., deliberate fiction) took over from truth-telling, under the headings of post-modernism and moral relativism.

The Fakestream media you and I have learned to distrust is a direct result of the seductive doctrine that you can make up your own version of the truth, just as good as the real thing. J School students are still taught blatant nonsense today, and when they grow up, they will follow today's J professors. The term "political correctness" was actually coined by the Soviets during the Stalin era.

The habit of P.C. lying in the USSR was immensely destructive, because the party was convinced every five years that Russian agriculture would finally be able to feed the people. Yet agriculture always failed because it was based on lies, with every layer of the system lying to its own bosses and subordinates.

In an amazing irony, the Russians and Chinese have learned to value real science (not climate fraud). Truthful information is needed for market economies to work, contrary to leftist fictioneers. Ultimately, a regime of lies leads to suicide.

The Soviet Union fell from its own internal contradictions, and when the truth broke through in the Gorbachev era, the system collapsed. The bubble of lies burst.

Today, we can see the same thing happening in the Fakestream.

A few Fakestream voices, like Howie Kurtz, are trying desperately to restrain the vulgar mob, but the Bamster, Hillary, and John Podesta are actually validating the most paranoid suspicions of the left.

Psychologically, there is no difference now between the Democrats and Jim Jones or Scientology. Closed-minded utopian cults are all the same: they all follow messianic personalities like Obama and Hillary, and they all drive out any source of dissent.

But dissent and open debate are what keeps us in touch with reality, a point that applies to nations as well as individuals. North Korea is run by a closed cult, like Iran and Saudi Arabia. No dissent is allowed, and little by little a Party Line takes over that drifts out of touch with reality.

Because Eurosocialism is identical to Obamanoia, we are seeing stunning parallels between the U.S. and Europe. The same political ideology is running things over there and over here. These people are still stuck in soft Marxism, having learned nothing from the fall of the Soviet Empire. They are doomed to failure.

Mental disorders show up when people lose touch with reality. What we are seeing today is a kind of madness, and if the Democrats don't fix themselves, they will fail and fail again.
Life sometimes imitates art in the strangest ways. In the cult classic movie, The Big Lebowski, a group of German nihilists who falsely profess to have kidnapped the rich Lebowskis wife, Bunny, tries to collect the one-million-dollar ransom from Walter (played by John Goodman) and The Dude (played by Jeff Bridges) outside the latter twos favorite bowling alley. Once the nihilists realize that Walter and The Dude are no longer fooled, one of the nihilists complains, referring to his comrade, His girlfriend gafe up her toe! A second nihilist adds, She sought wed be getting million dollars! To that, the first nihilist cries, Iss not fair!

Only John Podesta could have played the role of the nihilists better. Podesta, whose involvement with religion is mostly limited to founding a faux organization in order to provoke a revolution in the Catholic Church and being invited to satanic dinners, recently complained in a similar manner on Meet the Press by declining to say the 2016 presidential election was fair and free.

Like the nihilists in The Big Lebowski, the DNC had its own fraudulent scheme. The cutting off of John Podestas girlfriends toe included his collusion with the media to skew the polls leading up to the election, the transmission of debate questions from Donna Brazile to the Clinton campaign, rampant corruption at the Clinton Foundation, and the countless other examples of coordinated MSM bias.

Of course, the million-dollar ransom was the presidency of which Hillary Clinton was deprived.

Only Walters response to the nihilists perfectly captures the sentiment of much of the right in regards to Podestas woes: Fair?! Whos the f------ nihilist around here, you bunch of f------ crybabies?

Which is funnier, The Big Lebowski or John Podesta? That is a tough one. I leave it to the reader.
For example, the activist who in 2008 was raped and killed in Turkey while on an worldwide peace tour meant to promote inclusion and tolerance with Muslims. Or the leftist Norway politician who felt remorse after the Somali refugee who sodomized him was deported.

These folks, deluded and dumb as they may be, didnt deserve their fate.

The same can be said of a journalist who recently found herself in hot water.

Julia Ioffe, a Russian-born, left-leaning writer, has been given the dreaded near-Christmas boot from Politico. Her crime? Tweeting the following: Either Trump is [f------] his daughter or hes shirking nepotism laws. Which is worse?

Yeesh. Ioffe implied that the president-elect is not only breaking the law, but also bedding his kin. Talk about a twofer. The honchos at Politico were quick to disavow, and they sent a message to staff stating, [W]e understand how absolutely infuriating it is to have incidents like this tarnish POLITICO and the great work being done across the company.

Mind you, this is the same publication that has faked stories, published profanity-laden gotcha messages, and employed a self-admitted hack for Hillary Clinton.

A den of journalistic integrity Politico aint.

But no matter. Ioffe has become a casualty of the buzzy publications attempt to gain credibility after licking Hillarys shoes for over a year. Canning her right before Christmas certainly will send the signal that Politico is no longer a Clinton-boosting, rumor-spreading, amateurish publication. Now theyll take professionalism seriously. Super seriously.

I should point out that Ioffes dismissal wasnt actually a career-killer. She was already tapped to go to The Atlantic, that old crusty American institution. The age-old periodical has put out a statement declaring its willingness to keep Ioffe on. Had the opposite occurred, however, it would be a sad consequence if the snappy journo was out of a paycheck come January 1.

I wont lie: it pains me to stick up for someone like Julia Ioffe. Her chosen profession has been completely delegitimized due to Trumps election. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence saw how in the bag the media were for Hillary. The presss fawning coverage of Queen Clinton, and its fastidious defense of her flaws, was disgraceful and disgusting.

Ioffe was very much on Team Clinton. Her punditry continues to be painfully liberal. From defending BLM rioters to calling Christianity a religion of violence to disseminating the fake news that Trump was financially in cahoots with the Russians, shes a loyal foot soldier in the war to spread the progressive narrative. Shes also enormously hawkish and highly critical of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

All that said, her pink slip was unjustified. News publications should certainly have standards of decorum. The media qua media is supposed to be predilection-free. Reporters covering a beat should be just the facts folks. Their personal views should have little to no bearing on the information they feed the public.

Ioffes incest implication was beyond the pale by even the loosest journalistic standards. A reprimand was in order. But termination? For one tweet, which she apologized for?

Im all for social shaming. Lewd behavior in public, crass language in sacred places, ungentlemanly behavior around women  these and more deserve a good tut-tutting. Idiotic tweeting deserves, if nothing, a barrage of berating. It shouldnt result in a summary firing, though.

Thanks to the lefts embrace of Alinskyte tactics, a persons livelihood has become a potent target for revenge. Even popular right-wingers have adopted the ploy and are willing to exact vengeance on their ideological enemies or, even worse, virtue-signal to the media. This is how we end up with small-town pizza parlor proprietors harangued into closing up shop because of their spiritual views.

Every time the mob bays for blood over someones racy thoughts, its never asked: whats really accomplished by cutting off someones income stream and health insurance? Do you really change someones view by humiliating him into applying for food stamps?

Anyone agitating for someone to lose his situation over a salty tweet should remember the old adage, there but for the grace of God go I. In the era of angry social media, were all one tweet, one Facebook rant, or one blog post away from getting called into H.R. A good deal of charity and humility should be exercised to keep social media from further turning into an ugly, coarse battlefield.

People shouldnt be fired for bad tweets. That goes for even the most biased journalist. I cant put it any simpler than that.
Nobody saw this coming, apparently, because no conservatives were consulted. Kate Hardiman reports on The College Fix:

This years University of California Students of Color Conference unproductively devolved into something of an oppression Olympics between different minority groups, prompting arguments between participants and ultimately leading to some canceled sessions at the annual event.

First question: Are there actually students at UC who have no color at all? Are they transparent? This arrogation of the concept of color as being limited to designated victim groups is disturbing to me. Nobody ever calls me a person of color even though my skin has a distinct pinkish cast to it.

UCLA student Jacqueline Alvarez told The College Fix as much in a recent telephone interview, standing behind an op-ed she wrote in the Daily Bruin campus newspaper detailing the same. She described the conference not only as an oppression Olympics but also a safe space gone wrong in her opinion article. Ralph Washington, president of UC Student Association, which organized and hosted the conference, confirmed there were tensions at the mid-November gathering, and that its schedule was altered.

It sounds as if the organizers caught a lot of flak. Washington continued:

this year there was a lot of harm thrown around to the various organizers, and some people came into the conference without understanding what the theme of the conference was. There are constructive things that we can do to prevent this happening in the future.

So what was this theme that caused harm to be thrown around (whatever that means)? American Thinker readers probably can guess:

The crux of the debate centered around the conference theme: Fighting Anti-Blackness. Apparently it was not communicated to students that the conference would have a particular theme this year. At the event, held at UC Irvine, students of different minority groups began arguing when it became known that the conference would focus almost exclusively on discrimination against the African American community. In one of the larger workshops, one of the students raised a question about why the only issues being discussed were those involving anti-blackness, prompting an African-American student to respond that black students are the most oppressed, to which a Muslim student made a comment about her people being bombed in the Middle East, according to Alvarez.

There is a basic principle at work here that is invisible only to leftists who deny the reality of human nature. If oppression is the currency of social advantage, there will never be enough oppression to go around.

Hat tip: Clarice Feldman
A group of ancient Greek intellectuals known as Pythagoreans believed that all mathematical figures could be expressed as a ratio of integers. When Hippasus proved to them that 2 was irrational and in fact could not be expressed as such a ratio, the Pythagoreans were so shocked and demoralized, as legend has it, that they decided to drown Hippasus by throwing him into the sea.

The Democrats are todays Pythagoreans, intellectual elites who dont accept being wrong very well. At first, they maintained the irrefutable belief that Hillary Clintons defeat would be impossible, and then, later, they desperately clung to the belief that racism was the real reason for her defeat, all the time ignoring the facts lying right in front of them that revealed otherwise.

Forget the fact that John Podestas leaked emails exposed that the Democrats were attempting to influence or collude with the media to rig polling through oversampling.

Forget the fact that polls such as Reuters-Ipsos continually sampled Democrats over Republicans by a margin greater than 10 percent.

Forget the fact that Hillary Clinton drastically underperformed in the primaries based on what the polls had projected. In Michigan, for example, Clinton enjoyed a whopping 21-point advantage over Bernie Sanders in the polls leading up to the Democratic primary there, only to lose to Sanders by 1.5%.

Forget the fact that Hillarys RCP average poll lead in Michigan was 3.6% (substantially less than 21%) prior to the election.

No, dont pay attention to any of this. Hillary Clinton cant lose.

Yet she did.

And when she did, racism became the reason. It was a whitelash and running on a platform of white supremacy that brought about this calamity.

Forget the fact that Trump outperformed both Romney and McCain with respect to African American voters (8% to 7% and 5% respectively).

Forget the fact that 33% of the counties that voted for Obama twice flipped to Trump, and forget the fact that President Obama enjoyed a 56% approval rating on November 8, 2016.

No, forget all of it. Racism is the reason.

Unable to accept facts that were counter to the beliefs in which they had invested so deeply, liberals attacked their fellow Pythagoreans who dared to point out that the data proved false the assertion that a Clinton presidency was all but inevitable and that racism may not be the reason for Hillarys defeat. While Hippasus has taken different forms over the last two months, Nate Silver and Jim Brown stand out as prominent examples.

Nate Silver suggested in the week prior to the election that the polls were skewed and that Trump had a 35% chance of winning the presidency. The backlash from the left was brutal. Ryan Grim, the Washington bureau chief for the Huffington Post (which estimated that Hillary had a 98% chance of winning the election), wrote that Silver was making a mockery of the very forecasting industry that he popularized.

Jim Brown, who supported Hillary, pushed back against the racism narrative. He said Trump won the election fair and square. Brown also said he was pulling for Trump, that Trumps going to be for all the people, and that he fell in love with Trump for talking about helping African-Americans.

The left, shocked and dismayed yet again, went on the attack. Marc Lamont Hill called Browns comments disturbing and, for making such a comment, likened him to a puppet or trinket being dangled in the air.

The Democrats are in desperate need of undergoing a paradigm shift they can better use to process, explain, and predict world events. The prescription is clear, and it does not involve James Comey or Vladimir Putin. Rather, they should take two deep breaths, read Thomas Kuhns The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, and call me in the morning.
By now virtually the entire world knows of the December 2, 2016 Oakland, Calif. Ghost Ship rave party fire, which killed 36 people. My sympathies and prayers are particularly with the family members, friends, and other loved ones of those killed. The presciently named Ghost Ship will, no doubt, live on in infamy.

Like many good ideas, live-work spaces are ripe for abuse.

The concept of live-work spaces came into vogue about 20 years ago in the San Francisco Bay Area, including my hometown of Oakland. Before the live-work tenancy concept, rental spaces were either residential or commercial, the former subjecting landlords (in my staunch libertarian opinion) to draconian rent control rules and obliging landlords to provide a habitable premises even where the tenant himself, through intentional abuse or negligence, rendered the premises uninhabitable. However, local rent control and landlord-tenant laws could not nullify the economic rules of supply and demand. Thus, the unintended consequences of such rules, along with moratoriums on building, reaped housing shortages, dilapidated low-income housing, and the bizarre scenario whereby successful, well-to-do long-term tenants continue to enjoy 1980s-era rental rates. I personally know three such professionals who enjoy residential rates at less than $1,000/mo.

With the live-work hybridization of commercial and residential tenancies, landlord-tenant rules were somewhat relaxed. They also created a seemingly win-win situation for both landlords and aspiring artisans and craftsmen: a reasonably priced place for craftsmen to live, work, create, and market their wares, and income for the landlords property, which otherwise might not be marketable as a commercial space, much less as a residence.

Over the years, Ive seen firsthand successful live-work arrangements. One is a building contractor-landlord (and artist himself) who has built live-work spaces, one of which is near the now gutted Ghost Ship. Another is a talented bicycle mechanic in Berkeley with a thriving business.

Enter Derick Ion Almena, the Ghost Ship captain who turned the concept of a live-work space on its collective ear. Under the guise of a live-work collective, Mr. Almenas only concern seemed to be to skirt the live-work concept in order to provide cheap digs for transients, drug addicts, partygoers, and orgy participants who were willing to sacrifice their own personal safety for low rents. Theres no indication any of the now former tenants were creating or marketing anything, much less selling any of their wares to support themselves. Mr. Almena himself seems to have supported his family from his rental revenues, not from any of his artistic renderings.

A former tenants account in the U.K. Daily Mail paints a horrendous picture of filth, squalor, orgies, backbiting tenants, and dilapidated and dangerous building conditions, all under Almenas tyrannical rule. Unfettered (or at least unimpaired) by landlord-tenant regulations, Almena could shut off utilities at will, and leave it up to tenants to create makeshift heating systems from (hap)hazardously plumbed propane tanks. The fact that Almena had to rent out the facility for rave parties  and secrete himself and his family from the nights debauchery  is proof positive that his collective was a failure. All of this should come as no surprise to anyone who has had read any book on economics. (I personally recommend Henry Hazlitts Economics in One Lesson for starters.)

Whether it was English commons pastureland, William Bradfords pilgrim colony, the old Soviet Unions command-and-control farming, or the now defunct communes of the late 60s and early 70s, commons (aka collectives) are consistent and abysmal failures. As Almena has said himself, his concept was a collective; it was certainly not a true live-work scenario, whereby the craftsman reaps the benefit of his own labors.

There will be at least 36 wrongful death lawsuits, a lot of finger-pointing, and a desperate search by a host of plaintiffs attorneys for a deep pocket or two. Their quest may be in vain.

Historically, the tragedy of the commons created death by starvation, with Russia and China providing the most stark examples. In the case of the Ghost Ship, the deathly consequences were by fire. The blood of the partygoers is on Mr. Almenas hands, as well as those tenant collectivists who eschewed safety in favor of cheap rents.
One of the underlying themes of Donald Trump's candidacy was that he would drain the swamp that is Washington, D.C. This was one of the reasons he won the presidency. And so far, Trump's cabinet picks demonstrate that he means to carry through on this long overdue reform.

Draining that swamp is music to America's ears. But not to the denizens who have grown not only fat, dumb, and happy there, but in all too many cases, also rich. So in the coming years, the Trump administration will be fighting not only the Democrats, the liberal media, and the loony left, but also the entrenched button-down bureaucrats in Washington.

Call me a cynic, but after observing how government operates for more years than I care to count, one thing is clear. A defining characteristic of the bureaucracy and the bureaucrats within is that they invariably put themselves first and foremost. Those in the civilian employ of the federal government like to think of themselves as civil servants. But any objective observer can see that in reality, federal bureaucrats have evolved into a privileged class.

One measure of this is income. Of the dozen counties with the highest median household income in the United States, the top three are in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, as are seven of the top twelve.

These are:

1. Loudoun, Va. ($117K)

2. Howard, Md. ($108)

3. Fairfax, Va. ($107K)

5. Arlington, Va. ($100K)

6. Stafford, Va. ($97K)

11. Montgomery, Md. ($95)

12. Prince William, Va. ($94K)

What accounts for such a concentration of income, given that these counties do not manufacture anything to speak of, nor are they at the forefront of medical or technical innovations? Of course, you know the answer. It's the federal government, which provides unbelievably bloated compensation packages to those in its employ and gives nectar to those servicing Big Government like consultants, lobbyists, and other such critters.

Is it any wonder that millions of Americans view the federal government as a money machine for bureaucrats and Washington insiders? Our tax money flows into the Imperial City, and far too much of it sticks to the hands of those entrusted to handle it.

The taming of Washington will not be a cakewalk. This is a situation that has grown in fits and starts over many years, and it will have to be dismantled the same way. This will be a long-term project and will have to be done incrementally. But like the old proverb notes, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

Trump's election and his cabinet selections are initial steps  albeit gigantic ones. Here is another step that makes eminent sense once you think about it. And as reasonable and commonsensical as this suggestion is, imagine the howls from the Washington crowd should it be implemented.

Paul Kupiec of the American Enterprise Institute writes:

One of the first steps the president-elect should take to restore balance is to move federal government agencies out of the Washington, D.C. area and distribute them throughout the country, targeting low-cost locations that need a catalyst for growth. Many towns and cities across America would welcome the economic development that would accompany the arrival of a stable, well-paid federal agency workforce. With modern communications technology, there is no technical reason that requires federal agencies to be located in the Washington, D.C. area. Why must the headquarters of Homeland Security be in Washington, D.C.? Why not in Texas or Mississippi? The FBI could just as easily be relocated to Utah or Vermont instead of to an expensive site in the nearby D.C. suburbs. Shouldn't the Department of Agriculture be situated in a state that grows something besides home-use marijuana?

And who but a Washington insider, snug and warm in his cocoon, could object with Kupiec's logic in what follows?

Perhaps the biggest benefit generated by federal agency relocation is an increased voter perception of equality and fairness. The expense of managing the federal government should be used to spread the wealth beyond the nation's capital. For many years, the D.C. region has prospered from its proximity to the federal government while many parts of the country have suffered. This longstanding imbalance has reinforced voters' beliefs that the system is rigged to benefit insiders. The technology is available and the national mood is ripe to embrace a plan to relocate the business of the federal government more equitably throughout the states.

The Republicans control the government, save the bureaucracies. Now is the time to act, not tomorrow. Trump talks about moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. Fine. Let him also move a number of government agencies out of the Washington area. For example, the FBI is slated to get a new headquarters. Let that be built in the heartland or in the South, but not in the Washington D.C. area, as the establishment expects. Decentralizing the federal government is an idea whose time has come.
Imagine a guy who play acted as a wartime doctor during the Korean War (when he was actually filming in Malibu Creek State Park in sunny southern California) telling some blind veteran whos in a wheelchair, missing several limbs because of an IED, that the vote that he and so many have fought and died for shouldnt count.

Or how about the celebrity who play acts as a cop from the safety of a sound stage, telling the surviving wife and kids of a real life hero patrolman, executed solely for wearing a badge, that their votes shouldnt count.

Well, these real-life play actors who get paid outrageous amounts for pretending to have skills they dont have appeared in a PSA calling themselves Unite for America  really. The PSA should be called Sore Losers.

With the sound turned off, it looks like a Medicaid ad, but turned up, it is a bunch of whiney liberal play actors urging the members of the Electoral College to ignore the law, centuries of fair play and tradition, and do what they say, because Hollywood actors know whats best for us rabble.

What qualifies these people who have personal assistants, makeup artists, stand-ins, stunt men, plush motor homes, and their specific brand of chilled sparkling water and treats to even think for a second that they are qualified to comment on real life issues, much less subvert a longstanding election process?

Apparently, when you play act as a ruthless bad guy who goes around shooting as many people on film as you can, that qualifies you in real life to push gun control on the millions of responsible citizens who dont commit gun crimes.

Perhaps an actress worth countless millions who tells real life working moms how tough it is being a working play actress, having to leave for weeks at a time to make millions, qualifies them?

Does working in an industry rife with addicts, alcoholics, and perverts qualify them?

Liberal Hollywood actors are entirely out of touch with reality  overpaid, pampered, egotistical, out of step with regular hardworking Americans  yet they somehow feel qualified to act as a force majeure and have the Electoral College consider disregarding their word of honor.

Those of us who go to work every day to take care of our families, often working two or three jobs to pay the bills, buy food, and hopefully have enough left over for gas and some extras, have spoken, and after eight years of these spoiled brats getting their way, we are sick and tired of their temper tantrums.

Were in the trenches, doing it every day, year after year, while whiney play actors receive thousands of dollars an hour, yet many Americans would be happy to earn $12.00 an hour.

Dont get me wrong: Hollywood has produced some great actors, one of the top being Jimmy Stewart. In Its a Wonderful Life, he tells Mr. Potter, Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about ... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community.

Were not rabble; youre just lousy losers.

Boy, do I miss Jimmy Stewart.
- Team Andersen honored the memory of those who served in Operation Linebacker II with a remembrance ceremony Dec. 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.The operation was carried out 44 years ago on Dec. 18-29, 1972. The strategic bombing over North Vietnam lasted 11 days and its success heralded the end of the conflict.Seventy-five Airmen died supporting the operation, 33 of whom died in the 15 downed B-52 Stratofortress bombers  the primary bomber flown during Operation Linebacker II. During the operation, also referred to as the 11-Day War or 11 Days of Christmas, more than 700 sorties were flown out of Andersen AFB and U-Tapao Royal Thai Airbase, Thailand. Fifteen thousand tons of munitions were dropped mainly on military targets in North Vietnam by the completion of the operation.The operation proved successful, said Jeffrey Meyer, 36th Wing historian. North Vietnam was brought back to the negotiation table, officially ending direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and obtained the release of 591 prisoners of war in February 1973.To ramp up for the flights, 153 B-52s and additional support aircraft filled Andersen AFBs runways. To support the increased bomber presence, the bases population rose to more than 15,000 Airmen and support personnel to enable the launch of more than 700 long-distance missions within 11 days.With over 15,000 Airmen working on Andersen, the base was taxed beyond its limits, Meyer said. Two-man rooms became six-man rooms. Every military dorm on this island was filled to capacity.Andersen AFB Airmen have maintained a rotational strategic bomber presence on Guam for more than a decade, strengthening regional security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

In honor of Andersen Airmen past and present, two B-1B Lancer aircrews with the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, performed a commemorative fly-over concluding the ceremony with a powerful roar.

The B-1B is the current aircraft deployed to Guam in support of the continuous bomber presence.
Following the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, Samsung is under immense pressure to deliver a fantastic flagship come spring and hopefully make consumers forget about the troubles caused by its 2016 phablet. Interestingly enough, while the Seoul-based tech giant is looking to innovate as much as possible with the Galaxy S8, latest reports suggest that the next Galaxy flagship will cost as much as 20% more than the Galaxy S7 series. This estimate was made by the multinational finance company Goldman Sachs. In a recent forecast published by Goldman Sachs, the said firm predicted that the Galaxy S8 will cost between 15% and 20% more than Samsungs 2016 flagship lineup.

The finance company clarified that this price increase will primarily be caused by the rumored Viv integration. For the uninitiated, Samsung recently acquired an artificial intelligence startup Viv Labs, which prompted rumors that the Galaxy S8 will come with a built-in version of the firms AI assistant. As explained by Goldman Sachs, Viv integration will result in increased raw material prices which the South Korean tech giant is expected to pass on to consumers. Given how the Galaxy S7 Edge starts at around $800, this report suggests that the Galaxy S8 could retail for approximately $950.

The practice of passing manufacturing costs to consumers is neither new nor unexpected in this case given how all of the industry rumors suggest that the Galaxy S8 will be a huge upgrade over the Galaxy S7 series. Of course, that doesnt mean all consumers will be thrilled if this predicted price increase ends up happening. However, if rumors of a phone with curved edges and without bezels powered by a 10nm system-on-chip end up being true, its certainly not surprising that such a device would cost more to manufacture and that Samsung is interested in maintaining its profit margins. After all, the Seoul-based company is still in the business of making money, and latest estimates suggest that the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco cost Samsung approximately $3 billion. Of course, it remains to be seen whether the Galaxy S8 will even ship with Viv seeing how its possible Google will prevent Samsung from integrating it.

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In any case, we will hopefully know more by spring. Recent reports indicate that Samsung may actually skip the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2017 scheduled to start on February 27th, so its possible that the Galaxy S8 wont be officially unveiled before late March or even early April.
Google Assistant has now become a lot more festive thanks to the inclusion of various Santa and Christmas-related tweaks. The newly-added Santa content seems to be available on all versions of the Google Assistant, including the integrated version on the Pixel and the Pixel XL, as well as the app-based version found in the likes of Googles Allo messaging service.

At the moment the bulk of the Santa-related content is joke-based. So you can now fire up any version of Google Assistant and ask the Assistant to tell you a Santa joke and the Google Assistant will comply. In fact, not only will the jokes be Santa-related, but they will also be told to you by Santa, complete with Santa voice and everything. Likewise, if you want to keep better tabs on Santa during Christmas 2016, then it looks like the Google Assistant will be able to help with that as well. In addition to the jokes, Google Assistant is also able to provide details on where Santa is and what Santa is currently doing to prepare for the big day.

Generally speaking, the tracking feature seems to work better through the integrated version of the Google Assistant (a la Pixel) as when asked wheres Santa, you are given an audio and written response on what Santa is currently doing. For instance, Santa is packing gifts into his sleigh or Santa is deicing his reindeer. This version of Google Assistant also highlights its contextual ability as when you ask the same question again, the answer will come back with the same response but with the inclusion of hes is still  denoting Google Assistants understanding that this question was just asked a short time ago. In contrast, when the app-based version (a la Allo) is asked the same question, it seems the app will direct the user to the web-based Santa Tracker feature. So while not as responsive as the integrated version, it is still able to answer the question and comply with the request. Although, telling the Google Assistant to track Santa does seem to bring back quite varied results between the Pixels Google Assistant and Allos version. Allo aside, if you are looking for some more Santa content, then Google has released a new Duo promotional advert which includes a touch of Santa and Christmas cheer.
By most accounts, 2017 is going to be an incredibly exciting year for smartphone enthusiasts. Among other things, we have the reportedly incredible Galaxy S8 to look forward to, as well as the 10-nanometer process which all major chipset manufacturers are getting ready to commercialize. In addition to that, 2017 will also be the year when the Nokia brand will reenter the smartphone market. Following Microsofts sale of Nokias phone business to Foxconn who paid $350 million for this division back in May, the Chinese tech giant opted to resurrect the Nokia brand through HMD Global, its recently established subsidiary based in Espoo, Finland.

While weve already seen some leaks of Nokias upcoming smartphones, all of them were related to either midrange or low-end devices. However, earlier today, a new leak originating from the Chinese social website Weibo seemingly revealed the Nokia P, a rumored flagship device slated for release at some point next year. The Weibo post included only two images of an alleged Nokia P prototype, both of which you can see in the picture above. Apart from that, the same source reported that this mysterious device will be powered by the Snapdragon 835 system-on-chip and 6GB of RAM, in addition to boasting a 23-megapixel camera with a sensor made by Carl Zeiss, the well-known German manufacturer of optical systems. A couple of months ago, this same smartphone was rumored to sport a QHD display, i.e. a display featuring a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels.

Now, while HMD Global already confirmed it will announce some Nokia devices at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2017 trade show scheduled to start on February 27th, its unlikely that this device will be showcased in Barcelona. Namely, Foxconns subsidiary already confirmed that its planning to gradually reintroduce the Nokia brand to the market in 2017, meaning that its planning to attack the low-end and midrange markets first before trying to compete with the latest and greatest devices Android OEMs will have to offer come next year. Of course, its also possible that this leak isnt legit and that HMD Global has no plans to launch a Nokia flagship next year, so theres not much to do but wait and see what Foxconn has in store for us in 2017.
BlackBerry has recently announced that it is moving away from building smartphones, but theres no need to worry: the name will live on as the manufacturing and distribution of BlackBerry-branded devices has been passed on to TCL, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer. TCL have manufactured devices for Alcatel and some own-brand Vodafone devices, as well as the newer DTEK 50 and DTEK 60 BlackBerry devices based around the Android platform. To date, TCLs devices have been competitive on the hardware front and when combined with BlackBerrys software knowledge and expertise, this should be good news for the BlackBerry brand going forward.

Of course, one of the questions was when might we see a BlackBerry-branded device again? That question appears to have been answered by TCL North Americas President and General Manager, Steve Cistulli, who has Tweeted that TCL are to be announcing new devices at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (known as CES 2017). This trade show kicks off in early January so we are only a few weeks away. The BlackBerry DTEK 50 and BlackBerry DTEK 60 devices are essentially very similar to Alcatel-branded devices, using similar screens and underlying hardware but, of course, the BlackBerry devices run their own software version, which includes BlackBerrys platform hardening and some of their special software. This approach could be successful going forwards, as BlackBerrys take on software is biased towards productivity and efficiency. BlackBerry have also very consistently applied Googles security patches to their portfolio of devices, as the company takes mobile security very seriously and shows the rest of the industry up for not being as efficient. It remains to be seen if this approach changes going forwards, but the terms of the arrangement are that TCL will build the hardware and BlackBerry will build the software, so we wouldnt expect any significant change.

In 2017, we are also expecting to see a return of Nokia-branded devices, now manufactured and distributed by HMD Global. Both BlackBerry and Nokia are former market leaders in a particular type of device, but both have fallen from grace because the company failed to move and keep up with the times. It is difficult to imagine either BlackBerry or Nokia taking a significant market share this time next year, but at their respective heydays it was difficult to imagine BlackBerry or Nokia devices being lumped into the Others slice of a market share pie chart.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are amongst the most powerful smartphones released this year. These two handsets are still Samsungs most powerful offerings, mainly thanks to the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco. The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge were introduced back in February, and Samsung had announced some new color variants of the Galaxy S7 Edge recently, just to keep consumers interested while theyre waiting for the Galaxy S8 to make an appearance. Speaking of which, the Galaxy S8 is expected to land in the first half of next year, some rumors have been suggesting it will launch during the Mobile World Congress (MWC), like its predecessors, other rumors have been pointing towards April as the release timeframe. Well, a new rumor has just popped up, read on.

According to a new rumor, the Galaxy S8s announcement could be pushed back to April, as some previous rumors suggested. This new info claims that the phone will be announced in New York in April, as the company is still recovering from the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco. Samsung is allegedly planning to work with external agencies in order to execute plans to recover confidence from consumers before they launch the Galaxy S8. In any case, do keep in mind that this is just a rumor at this point, Samsung did not officially confirm anything of the sort, and chances are well see quite a few additional rumors just like this one before the company introduces the Galaxy S8, in fact, weve already seen a ton of such rumors.

Previous Galaxy S8 rumors claimed that the company plans to ditch the physical home key below the display, and that the phones fingerprint scanner will be built into the devices display, or perhaps placed on the back of the phone. The Galaxy S8 will, allegedly, be a bezel-less smartphone, and its display will be curved. If rumors are to be believed, Samsung will not introduce a flat-screened version of the Galaxy S8, but will lay faith into the curved model(s), which is quite interesting considering the Galaxy S7 was really popular this year, even though the Galaxy S7 Edge is selling better than the regular Galaxy S7 model.
While everyone is expecting Samsung to make a lot of waves in early 2017 with the Galaxy S8, the South Korean phone maker also has a lot of other Android smartphones in the works, most of which were designed to offer mid-range specs at affordable prices. Most notably, were still waiting for Samsung to officially unveil the third generation of its Galaxy A lineup, i.e. the Galaxy A3, Galaxy A5, and the Galaxy A7. Recent reports had suggested that Samsung will be releasing the trio by the end of the year, but that launch has now apparently been delayed until January.

This new information comes from Roland Quandt, a reliable source for leaks who recently took to Twitter to reveal that the Galaxy A3 and the Galaxy A5 will be hitting the markets in Western Europe in mid-January. Both devices will allegedly be available in Black, Gold, Blue, and Pink colors. Furthermore, Quandt is claiming that the Galaxy A3 (2017) will retail for 349, while the slightly more powerful Galaxy A5 (2017) is expected to ship with a $449 price tag. For added context, thats around $365 and $470, respectively. Quandt claims this information comes directly from European smartphone retailers.

Interestingly enough, the source had no information on the Galaxy A7 (2017), which seemingly suggests Samsung has yet to provide its retail partners with details on the third generation of this mid-range smartphone. Of course, its possible that Samsung has no plans to debut the latest revision of the Galaxy A7 in Europe, but that doesnt seem likely. If the said device doesnt launch by February, its reasonable to expect that the South Korean tech giant will unveil it at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2017 in Barcelona which is scheduled to start on February 27th.

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Furthermore, if this information proves to be accurate, its likely that Samsung will launch the Galaxy A3 and the Galaxy A5 in other European countries shortly after their January debut in Western Europe. At least, thats what the companys previous release patterns would suggest. Unfortunately, theres still no word on when the third generation of Galaxy A phones will be available in the United States and other territories.
Xiaomi had released quite a few high-end devices this year. Back in February, the company had rolled out the Xiaomi Mi 5 and Mi 5 Pro, which are essentially identical devices, but come with a slightly different set of specs, and the Mi 5 Pro model comes in a ceramic variant as well. The Xiaomi Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus landed back in September, and Xiaomi also introduced the XiaomI Mi Note 2 and Mi MIX in October. Having that in mind, the next high-end Xiaomi-branded smartphone will probably be the Xiaomi Mi 6 which is expected to land in the first quarter of next year. We did not really see that many rumors or leaks when it comes to this phone, but some info just surfaced.

According to @KJuma, a China-based leakster, the Xiaomi Mi 6 will launch with the Snapdragon 835 SoC, which is Qualcomms upcoming flagship processor, but it seems like thats not the only Mi 6 variant that Xiaomi intends on selling. According to the source, Xiaomi is planning to introduce three different Xiaomi Mi 6 variants, the Xiaomi Mi 6S, Mi 6E and Mi 6P. Now, letters after the number 6 are supposed to represent different processors, the letter S stands for Snapdragon, while the letter E stands for MediaTeks Helio SoC for some reason, and last, but not least, the letter P is supposed to represent Xiaomis very own, rumored Pinecone SoC which were yet to see out in the market. Now, were wondering why would Xiaomi opt for the Mi 6E name instead of the Mi 6H if theyre going with the letter equals processor name shtick? Well, we dont know, do keep in mind that this is just a rumor at this point, and its even possible that the letter E represent Exynos and not MediaTeks Helio offering, but that seems quite unlikely at the moment.

We still have no idea what materials will the company use in order to build the Xiaomi Mi 6, it is possible that theyll go with metal and glass once again, but who knows. In addition to all those rumored processor variants, the Xiaomi Mi 6 will ship with Android 7.0 or 7.1 Nougat, while youll be able to find MIUI 9 OS on top of it. You can also expect to see 6GB of RAM inside of Xiaomis upcoming smartphone, and a Type-C USB port will be placed on the bottom of the phone. Do keep in mind that all of this info is based on rumors, so take it with a grain of salt.

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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- At least nine people have been killed, including some civilians, in an attack at a Crusader-era castle in Jordan, according to the country's Public Security Directorate (PSD).

One of the deceased is a female Canadian tourist, the officials said.

At least five of the deceased are Jordanian security officials, according to PSD.
Free The Press: reject Section 40 and keep stamping your feet

The assault on Press freedoms continues. If Section 40 is passed anyone who values free thought and free expression is damaged. On 1 November, the government launched a consultation on the Leveson Inquiry and its Implementation which will look into Section 40. It closes on 10 January.

Section 40 demands newspapers sign up to a State-approved body. Failure to sign up to the States Press regulator means publications will have to pay the costs of anyone who brings a civil suit, libel or privacy actions against them  even if they win their case.

Its blackmail.

Join Impress, the Max Mosley-funded press regulator backed by the censorious Hacked Off, or the State will cut your legs off. Write anything unpleasant against the rich and powerful, and watch your organ die.

In todays Sun, Trevor Kavanagh writes in support of a free Press. He comments on Mosley, the tycoon:

If he succeeds, newspapers will be gagged by a draconian law which puts paid to three centuries of press freedom. If enacted, Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act gives anyone with a grievance the power to take a newspaper to court, with all costs paid by the publisher  win or lose.

Is Mosley an altruist? No, says Kavanagh. He is out to exact a sick revenge.

Mosley loathes the press for revealing his German- themed sado-masochistic sex romps with prostitutes. He is on a witch-hunt which puts every newspaper in the land  local and national  in peril.

Who else stand to win if Section 40 is approved?

Every corrupt character in the land, public or private, would be able to take the press to the cleaners. The only alternative would be to surrender to a state- supervised watchdog funded  surprise, surprise  by Mosley.

Kavanagh is on the board of IPSO (Independent Press Standards Organisation).

Nearly every newspaper and magazine in the country signed up to Ipso which swiftly established a reputation as a prompt, free and impartial referee. Culture Secretary Karen Bradley must wake up to the threat Mosleys press regulator poses  if the press are made to pay court cases even in thrown out cases, suing will be a free-for-all This is not enough for Mosley. He funded Impress which, as the only applicant, was appointed as the industrys statutory regulator  without the support of a single major news organisation.

Over in the Mirror, Jeremy Armstrong has a disturbing tale.

A police force last night faced stinging criticism for unlawfully snooping on the Daily Mirror after we revealed its Chief Constable blew taxpayers cash to conduct an affair with a colleague. Bosses used powers designed to track terrorists and dangerous criminals to access my phone records as well as those of other journalists, officers and a solicitor in a bid to find who was leaking information about alleged racism within its ranks.

Worried? You should be. You can read it all here.

Kevin Maguire tells Mirror readers they are living in Stasi Britain, where cops spy on journalists investigating credible allegations of police corruption.

Like Kavanagh  who says Sunlight is the best disinfectant  Maguire notes, The disinfectant of daylight keeps the authorities honest.

Society of Editors director Bob Satchwell makes an appeal:

Everyone, not just journalists and publishers, must respond to the consultation and write to their MPs to persuade politicians and the Government to step back from a draconian measure that would take us back to the dark ages of press censorship, stifle freedom of expression and the publics right to know what is done in their name and with their money. It is a battle which goes back to the 1600s, a century in which a king lost his head for ignoring the interests of the people. Those who seek to neuter the press and whistleblowers, must not be allowed to win this fight for fundamental freedoms that are important for everyone but which are too easily taken for granted.

Its a big deal. And you can say no by signing the petition here.

People fought and died for the right to cause offence. Dont let them take it away.

One man, for instance, named Lilburne [John Lilburn; 1614  29 August 1657], was brought before the Star Chamber, charged with publishing seditious pamphlets. Now, in all ordinary courts of justice, no man is called upon to say any thing against himself. Unless his crime can be proved by the testimony of others, it can not be proved at all. But in the Star Chamber, whoever was brought to trial had to take an oath at first that he would answer all questions asked, even if they tended to criminate himself. When they proposed this oath to Lilburne, he refused to take it. They decided that this was contempt of court, and sentenced him to be whipped, put in the pillory, and imprisoned. While they were whipping him, he spent the time in making a speech to the spectators against the tyranny of bishops, referring to Laud, whom he considered as the author of these proceedings. He continued to do the same while in the pillory. As he passed along, too, he distributed copies of the pamphlets which he was prosecuted for writing. The Star Chamber, hearing that he was haranguing the mob, ordered him to be gagged. This did not subdue him. He began to stamp with his foot and gesticulate; thus continuing to express his indomitable spirit of hostility to the tyranny which he opposed.  Charles I, by Jacob Abbott (1848)

Sign the petition.

Paul Sorene

Posted: 19th, December 2016 | In: Reviews, Tabloids Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
(ANSA) - Milan, December 19 - Intesa Sanpaolo bank CEO Carlo Messina said Monday the private Atlante fund will make a decision "today or tomorrow" on non-performing loans (NPLs) held by Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) lender. "Intesa is in favor of the operation being concluded," Messina said. The Atlante ('Atlas') rescue fund was set up earlier this year to help Italy's weakest banks increase their capital and get NPLs off their books after an EU rule against public bail-outs went into effect. Giants Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit chipped in millions to the Atlante fund.

Messina added that he spoke only for Intesa Sanpaolo and not for other Atlante participants, but that the fund was set up specifically to step in in cases such as that of MPS.

"Atlante's objective must be to close the agreement" with MPS, Messina said. His remarks came after MPS made known that Quaestio, the asset manager running Atlante, has expressed "major perplexities" about the termsheet of senior bridge loans.

MPS President Alessandro Falciai told reporters at the end of a board meeting in Milan earlier that "everything is proceeding according to plan". Asked about Atlante, he replied: "everything is fine".


MILAN - A Milan court on Monday sentenced in absentia Italy's alleged first foreign fighter, Maria Giulia 'Fatima' Sergio, to nine years in prison for terrorism.



'Fatima', 29, is believed to be in Syria, where she has been a combatant for the so-called Islamic State (IS) extremist group since 2014.



Her father Sergio Sergio was sentenced to four years in jail and her husband, Albanian national Aldo Kobuzi, to 10 years in jail by the same court.



Sergio's sister was tried separately and sentenced to five years four months in prison. The family, all of whom were converts to Islam, were arrested in July 2015 when prosecutors said they and seven other suspects had joined IS and were on the verge of leaving to fight in Syria.



The mother, Assunta Buonfiglio, died of cardiac arrest aged 60 in October 2015, on the eve of her release into house arrest.



Monday's sentence was the first in Italy to be handed down against a foreign fighter still in the combat zone.
Jordan: tally of Kerak attack reaches 10 dead, 30 injured Four gunmen killed after hours of fighting

(ANSAmed) - KERAK, DECEMBER 19 - Jordanian police announced it shot dead four extremists after hours of fighting at Kerak touristic castle south the kingdom, in a gun battle that lead to death of 10 people, including a Canadian tourist, and more than 30 injured.



Security sources told ANSA that the gunmen are believed to be Jordanians, but declined to disclose their identities due to ongoing investigation.



The army special forces joined anti-terrorism squad from the police in a joint operation that lead to death of 7 policemen during fighting with the suspected members of the Islamic State (IS), said the police in an official statement.



"Loads of weapons and explosive belts were found in possession of the terrorists. Investigation is ongoing to determine their identities and their allegiances," said the statement.



Two foreign nationals were among the injured, who were visiting the ancient castle when the fighting took place.



Eye witnesses spoke of moments when bullets were flying everywhere as police chased down the gunmen inside the ancient castle.



"We were stranded in the castle when the gunmen entered shooting around. There were many tourists who got trapped in the castle before they were freed by police" said Hijazi, a town resident.



"We could not escape as the gunmen were on top of the castle, and shooting did not stop," he told ANSA.



The incident was triggered by a complaint to police by a landlord who suspected the group activities after he smelled gunpowder from their apartment. The group opened fire at the police patrol and escaped before being chased down to Kerak castle, according to eye witnesses. Jordan is considered one of the top targets for IS due to its role in the US lead coalition against the extremist group.



(ANSAmed).




ROME - More than 1,000 people were evacuated from the last rebel-held areas of Aleppo following long delays on Monday morning, according to medical sources reported by Al Arabiya citing the international press. While evacuations resumed in eastern Aleppo, 10 buses rescued civilians from the barricaded Shiite villages of al-Foua and Kefraya, under siege by anti-Assad militants, said the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.



The evacuation of wounded and other civilians from the two villages was a pre-condition of the government in Damascus and its Russian and Iranian allies for completing the evacuations in eastern Aleppo.


ISTANBUL - The EU-Turkey migrant accord signed last March has been extended to 2017, according to sources in the Turkish Foreign Ministry, despite recent threats by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to open the country's borders if Brussels doesn't grant visa-free EU travel to Turkish citizens by the end of the year.



Although currently no agreement exists on amendments to Turkey's anti-terrorism law - one of the EU's prerequisites for the visa exemption - sources said that recent meetings between the parties have shown a "positive approach" and an effective return to dialogue ahead of a likely EU-Turkey summit to be held in the first months of 2017.



In recent days Ankara presented Brussels with a new proposal to overcome the stall regarding visas.



Among the possibilities is the Council of Europe monitoring Turkey's application of its anti-terrorism law, without changing it on paper.



In Turkey the hope is that the dialogue will also involve a speeding up and redefining of the funds provided for in the EU migrant accord.



According to Ankara, up to now 667 million euros of the 3 billion euros promised by the EU have been transferred.
JERUSALEM - The situation for Christians in Syria, Iraq and Egypt is a "complete tragedy", Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Monsignor Pierbattista Pizzaballa said on Monday.



"In those lands, which are the origin of our civilisation, the vicious circle of violence that is underway appears to be without hope or end," Msgr. Pizzaballa told journalists.



"We have all seen the images of Aleppo last week, but also of the entire region during the long years of conflict," he continued.



"Syria and Iraq are destroyed," added Msgr. Pizzaballa, also warning against the situation in the Holy Land which "echoes the extremism and fundamentalism that are growing throughout the world".



The Apostolic Administrator lamented the lack of a vision for the future, but said there are some lights on the horizon particularly thanks to the leadership and preaching of Pope Francis.
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Foxcon Aviation, a producer of light sport aircraft (LSA), has had a brush with success in Australia and is now expanding its paw print to the MENA region.

The Australian firm has appointed Algeria-based Yahia Almouboudi as its exclusive agent in the region.

He explained: We are searching for partners and investors in the region as we are looking to build a facility in Libya or Algeria, or possibly Qatar or the United Arab Emirates.

The reasoning is clear. LSA products are economical and ideal for flight-training applications. And, as Almouboudi pointed out, flight-training is a growth area in the region.

He explained: When you look at the expansion of the likes of Emirates and Qatar, you can see there is a real need for cost-effective, yet robust trainers.

Foxcons range of aircraft is the result of global national airworthiness authorities (NAAs) adopting similar rules to address advances in sport and recreational aviation technology.

LSA rulings aim to allow for the manufacture of safe and economical light sport aircraft. In June 2008, Foxcon used the guidelines to create its Terrier 200 type.

The company says that the key to the aircrafts success is its lightness. Its maximum take-off weight of just 600kg comes from a construction that comprises a perforated foam-like board placed between the two layers of fibreglass, which loses its resin during the vacuum-moulding process as it is sucked through the boards perforations, bonding the two layers and providing very high-strength skin. This is particularly valuable when constructing the fuselage and aerofoils.

Its propeller is made of carbon composite, rather than wood, which can be subject to fatigue and distortion when entering rain during flight.

Its numbers also stack up favourably when compared to heavier types, such as Cessnas ill-fated, yet practical, Skycatcher. The Terrier200 is priced at $59,600 (according to the companys website) rather than the $95,500 for the Skycatcher.

It also offers a 600nm range, lands in 100 metres and cruises at 110kts. It is not particularly thirsty either, with a fuel burn of 13 litres per hour, as opposed to the Skycatchers 22 litres. It can also come with a glass cockpit, depending on customer specifications.

As a private pilot who has been involved in aviation for several years, Almouboudi said he could see the potential across the region as commercial carriers expand their routes and the requirement for pilots grows.

Indeed, should Foxcon succeed in its ambitions it will join Italys Tecnam, which has already had some success in the Gulf, with an installed fleet of at least 11 of its 14 different types. Distributor Aviation Home is one of the largest distributors in the Middle East region (GCC countries) and is Tecnams sole distributor in Qatar.

Aviation Home also offers shipping, customs clearance, registration, assembly, training and maintenance, and has aircraft flying with both private owners and flight-training schools in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Although Cessna only sold 195 Skycatchers, there are around 50 companies still producing LSAs, which are ideal for flight-training applications, as they are both robust and economical. I believe this product could succeed in the Middle East first, said Almouboudi, and then expand into northern Africa.


The arrangement is set to start in January 2017, subject to government approval.

The wet-lease agreement between Lufthansa Group and airberlin  in which Etihad Aviation Group indirectly holds a 29 per cent stake  was also announced today. Lufthansas point-to-point carrier Eurowings and Austrian Airlines, a Lufthansa Group airline, have signed an agreement to wet lease 38 aircraft from airberlin. 33 of these aircraft are to be operated for the Eurowings Group, an additional five aircraft are to be flown for Austrian Airlines. The agreement has a term of six years and becomes effective from February 2017 subject to any regulatory requirements. The leases have been agreed at competitive rates.

Under the codeshare agreement, the German airline will place its LH code on Etihad Airways twice daily non-stop flights between its home base of Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt and its twice daily non-stop services between Abu Dhabi and Munich, the biggest city in southern Germany.

The UAEs national airline will, in turn, put its EY code on Lufthansas long-haul, non-stop intercontinental services between its home base of Frankfurt, the business and commercial capital of Germany, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as well as Bogota, Colombia.

James Hogan, President and chief executive officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: We have long seen Germany as a key strategic market for Etihad Aviation Group and this new relationship with Lufthansa marks the next step in our commitment to the leading European aviation group. Lufthansa is highly respected globally and Im very pleased that we will work together in the future for the benefit of our customers. Additionally, we are, in our role as a minority shareholder in airberlin, fully supportive of the separate agreement reached today with the Lufthansa Group to wet lease 38 airberlin aircraft. It is very clear to us at Etihad Airways that Lufthansa is a like-minded, forward thinking organisation with which we can do strong, meaningful and mutually beneficial business.

Carsten Spohr, chairman of the board and CEO, Lufthansa Group said: We are looking forward to partnering with the Etihad Aviation Group. The wet-lease contract with airberlin fosters the growth of our Eurowings Group. The codeshare agreement of Lufthansa and Etihad will offer our customers more benefits and complement both airlines networks. We will consider extending our cooperation in other areas.

Analyst Saj Ahmad said: "This is a huge deal that pairs up a big EU carrier with one of the fastest growing GCC airlines.

"Lufthansa has come to understand that a deep partnership with Etihad is far more favourable in the long term since collaboration will break barriers and develop more network options for passengers.

"Equally, Etihad's desire to strengthen its European base gets a huge boost by tapping into Lufthansa's expansive regional network and the deal that sees almost 40 A320s wet leased to Eurowings from Air Berlin demonstrates the breadth of this cooperation.

"That said, Air France is now isolated and out in the cold here. With BA partnered with Qatar Airways, Etihad with Lufthansa and Emirates going it alone due to its sheer size, the French carrier will be wondering how it played it's hand so badly and got left on the shelf."
The circular was issued on December 3, 2016.

There are currently no flights between the two nations, which have technically been at war since 1948. Israeli citizens, or any people with an Israeli stamp in their passport, are forbidden entry to Lebanon.
Qatar Airways now operates four direct flights to Tbilisi from Dohas Hamad International Airport, complementing the existing seven weekly flights that operate via Baku in Azerbaijan.

Operated by a Qatar Airways Airbus A320 aircraft, the new direct scheduled flight time - of just over three hours from Doha - sees overall journey times drop significantly across the airlines global network to and from this increasingly popular tourist destination, complemented by seamless transfers through the airlines global home and hub, Hamad International Airport, in the State of Qatar.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: We are delighted to celebrate the launch of direct flights to Tbilisi, offering Georgian citizens shorter journey times to more than 150 destinations around the world. As both an economical and cultural hub, our new shorter flight times will attract many business and leisure passengers alike, while our tagged service via Baku will continue to offer a quick and efficient link between Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Qatar Airways also increased service to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, from a four to five weekly service on 15 December, with an additional frequency each week due to the popularity of the route which was first inaugurated in May 2016.
Director-General of the GCAA, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, representing the UAE, and the Ambassador of Sweden to the UAE, Jan Thesleff, signed the agreement. The signing ceremony took place in Sheikh Zayed Air Navigation Centre.

Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi said: Conducting air transport agreements with other countries plays a crucial role due to its positive effect in boosting investment and tourism and to strengthen business ties between the United Arab Emirates and countries from all around the globe.

The signed agreement enables both parties full flexibility on routes, capacity, frequency and types of aircraft, whether owned or leased, to be operated by the Designated Airlines of each country in any type of service and it also includes the exercise of fifth freedom traffic rights. This agreement is also in line with the federal government's approach that looks forward to wider horizons in terms of trade relations with various countries of the world.

Laila bin Hareb Al Muhairi added: The main aim of conducting open skies agreements is to continuously strive promoting open skies policy with countries around the world and to support national carriers like Emirates, Etihad, Fly Dubai and Air Arabia. Doing so, will benefit national carriers, business men, Commercial Companies, tourists as well as it will help enhance air transport services and encourage free competition.

In addition to that, this agreement guarantees sustainable growth for national carriers in both countries. Also, it helps support plans and investments related to air transport that is being targeted by national carriers in the United Arab Emirates. The agreement opens new horizons in cooperation by opening new routes for national carriers.

The UAE is working on urging countries to sign open skies agreements that will eliminate all restrictions on international air transport movement. The UAE has strong ties with all the European Union countries through agreements signed between them, which contributes in providing many investment opportunities and jobs in all EU states.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRES. First President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyans proposed solution around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will lead to a clear defeat, political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan said commenting on Ter-Petrosyans speech during the ANC Congress.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan wants to show that he stepped down unfairly in 1998. He attempts to solve his personal problem with this proposal, rather to solve a political problem for the state, Melik-Shahnazaryan said.

In Melik-Shahnazaryans opinion, as in 1998, currently Levon Ter-Petrosyans proposed solution is unacceptable. Making concessions with Azerbaijan, by not getting anything in exchange, is unacceptable and cant have vitality, Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
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Every year, we have our composition students do focused study of the works of a living composer, then Skype with that composer to discuss the music. This year, one of the composers we focused on was Chen Yi, and we met with her this past week.

Chen Yi is a fantastic subject for young American composers to study because her life experiences are dramatically distant from theirs, and that distance makes it easy to hear how her music reflects who she is. A child prodigy on violin, she was subjected to re-education in her adolescence when the Cultural Revolution attempted to wipe out, among other things, Western influences. In Chen Yis case, the process of ridding her mind of Western pollution included two years of nonstop, back-breaking labor.

After she (and China) emerged from this dark period, nothing she faced seemed difficult by comparison. She immersed herself in musical studies  Western and Eastern  with a formidable stamina. The results are easy to hear in her work: a seamless, gorgeous fusing of East and West into a voice that is unmistakably hers. An added bonus is her keen ear for raw sound: sounds of the countryside, of the world she grew up in, abound in her music.

And therein lies, to me, the key to successful fusion of disparate musical worlds: these worlds existed side-by-side in her childhood, as her musical personality was forming. Its very different from, say, a middle-aged composer from Iowa hearing Peking Opera for the first time and deciding to incorporate it into his music, or a Cantonese composer hearing Sibelius at the age of 45 for the first time and deciding to write a Sibelius-style symphony. When a mature composer adopts new-found styles for the first time, the result is exotic and condescending.

Thats why I encourage my students to engage with as many musics as they can in their youths, while making sure they stay in touch with their musical heritages. On the one hand, at a certain point  fairly soon, for most students  their musical voices will mature and trying out new styles will start to feel forced. On the other hand, the thing that we need most from them is smithy-of-their-soul forging: the music that says who they are, that speaks for all who share their sensibilities.

I cant leave this topic without noting what an engaging, effervescent speaker Chen Yi is: warm, thoughtful, and enthusiastic. We all came away from our time with her with newfound insights and energy.
A first year student suffered kidney damage in the ragging by nine people at a polytechnic college in Kottayam.

Kottayam: Five of the seven students accused in the ragging case in government polytechnic, in which a first year student suffered kidney damage, have surrendered before police, police said on Monday.

The five senior students surrendered before the Deputy Superintendent of Police at Changanassery near in Kottayam on Sunday night.

According to police, there are a total of seven accused in the case and two are still absconding.

On December 2 night, eight first-year students of the polytechnic at Nattakom were allegedly subjected to brutal ragging by a gang of senior students at the men's hostel of the college.

Two students--one hailing from Irinjalakkuda in Thrissur district, and another from Cheranallur in Ernakulam district-- were seriously injured in the incident. They have been admitted to hospitals in Thrissur and Ernakulam respectively.

The student from Irinjalakkuda has been hospitalised with kidney damage, police said.

He was put on dialysis after doctors diagnosed him with kidney damage. The victim underwent dialysis three times after his admission in the hospital 11 days ago.

The accused allegedly forced the victim to consume liquor mixed with some harmful powder following six hours of brutal ragging which included hard physical exercises like push-ups.

The accused were absconding after police booked them for allegedly ragging their juniors in the hostel.

They have also been suspended from the institution.

Two cases have been registered against the accused based on two separate complaints by the two students, police said.

Meanwhile, the state human rights commission has sought a report from the education department on the alleged ragging incident.
'We have some information that money robbed from the two banks may well have been used for financing Saturdays attack,' an official said.

New Delhi: In a bid to generate more resources for their activities, handlers of terror operatives from across the border in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are now directing their cadre in the Kashmir Valley to target banks as they are said to be facing a major cash crunch following Centres demonetisation move.

Wireless intercepts available with the security agencies reveal that handlers of terror groups in PoK are now asking their local commanders in the Valley to loot banks for financing those militants which are targeting security personnel. In fact, security agencies are now investigating the possibility of whether money looted from two banks in Pulwama and Charar-e-Sharif in the last few days was used in Saturdays attack on an Army convoy in Pampore in which three security personnel were killed.

We have some information that money robbed from the two banks may well have been used for financing Saturdays attack. A detailed investigation is being carried out on this aspect too in addition to the possible lapses. There is no doubt that post demonetisation terror groups in the Valley are facing a major shortage of cash as hawala network, which was their major source of funding, has been badly hit. Since militants are given cash incentive or rewards for killing security personnel there is a possibility that money looted form banks is being used for this purpose, a senior security official said.

The Union home ministry has already directed the J&K government and paramilitary forces that adequate security cover should be provided to all bank branches in the Valley and vehicles transporting cash. Following these intelligence inputs, the ministry is expected to send another advisory to the state government on providing security to banks, sources added.

In wake of the Pampore incident, fresh instructions have also been issued to the Army and CRPF to strictly follow the laid down standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the road opening parties which accompany convoys of security forces. Sources said the stretch of Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Pampore, where the attack happened, has been extremely vulnerable to such attacks in the past also and more precaution should have been taken.
The intelligence input had stated that banned outfits were planning a major stand-off with the Indian armed forces on the national highway.

Indian army soldiers takes position during a search operation after suspected rebels ambushed an army convoy in Pampore, on the outskirts of Srinagar Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday. (Photo: PTI)

Pampore: About 24 hours before a convoy of Rashtriya Rifles was attacked in Pampore town on Saturday afternoon, the Indian Intelligence agencies had warned the security forces about a possible terror strike.

According to a report in DNA, the intelligence input before the Pampore attack that killed 3 soldiers, had stated that banned outfits were planning a major stand-off with the Indian armed forces on the national highway. It even had specifics that there was a strong possibility that convoys would be targeted using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

At 12.30 pm on Friday, a message based on human intelligence was dispatched, warning security forces of an impending attack.

"Credible input suggests that militants have planned IED blasts followed by firing on NHW or a major town today (Friday). Take all necessary precautions," read a part of the warning.

The report adds that senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir police said that all precautions were being taken following the warning, but the terrorists ambushed at 2 pm on Saturday before the area could be secured.

The elaborate ambush plans, starting from planting IEDs, surprise attacks on convoys and a well thought-out escape route have now got security agencies thinking, said the report.

Areas in city outskirts like Pampore in south Kashmir is considered more vulnerable to such attacks, said the report. Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI), which is located in the area, had also come under attack earlier.

The area is strategic for militant activities as it is located between areas like Kakapora, Ratnipora and Khrew. Open vast fields on the other side of the river provide good escape routes.

"The presence of militants in Pulwama and in areas close to the banks of Jhelum river is the reason that the highway has witnessed so many attacks," a senior police official was quoted as saying.

This year alone, seven major attacks have occurred on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, mainly in south Kashmir.

Meanwhile, in the wake of terror attack, security of the forces during their movement on Srinagar-Jammu national highway was on Sunday reviewed at a high level meeting chaired by state police chief K Rajendra Kumar who pressed for devising foolproof mechanism.

The Director General of Police later held a meeting with Srinagar-based Corps Commander Lt Gen J S Sandhu and discussed implementation of different decisions with regard to strengthening and augmentation of security setup across Kashmir Valley.

At the meeting with officials of police, army and paramilitary forces, Kumar emphasised the need for greater coordination and cooperation among the various forces and agencies.

The meeting was held at District Police office in Awantipora in south Kashmir, some kilometres away from Pampore where terrorists struck at an army convoy yesterday, killing three soldiers.

Addressing the meeting, the Director General of Police asked the officers to devise a foolproof plan for the national highway for safe and secure movement of the people and the security forces, a police spokesman said.

Kumar asked the army to strengthen the corridor protection and asked the CRPF to finetune the Road Opening Parties (RoPs) along the highway.

While highlighting the need of tackling the militancy effectively, the DGP said surgical operations with minimum collateral damages should be conducted.

In their respective briefs, the officers gave details of the security arrangements made by their organisations for the highway, the spokesman said.

Earlier, Kashmir Zone Inspector General of Police S J M Gillani briefed the meeting about the security situation of south Kashmir and also highlighted recent operations conducted against the militants, he said.

South Kashmir has recently witnessed a number of terror attacks, including two bank robberies.

The DGP told the meeting about the measures taken by the police to investigate and solve the bank robberies.
Till date, 6,275 personnel have been killed in terrorist violence in J&K in the last 28 years.

New Delhi: In the last 80 days since the September 29 surgical strikes, about 51 soldiers of the Indian Army and the border security forces, including one from SSB, have lost their lives in militant attacks and cross-border firing by the Pakistani Army in Jammu and Kashmir.

The figures, arrived at by studying a compilation made by South Asian Terrorism Portal, a leading website dedicated to counter terrorism analysis, implied that every week more than four Indian soldiers are being killed in the area.

While the most recent militant attack took place on Saturday when three Army jawans were killed in an ambush on an Army convoy in Pampore, the last major attack took place on November 29 in Nagrota where seven soldiers, including two Army Majors, were killed.

In a tactical shift towards militants operating from across the LoC and to strike a hard state image, commandos from Indias elite special forces had carried out several coordinated and incisive strikes on militant launch pads across the LoC, inflicting huge damage in the intervening night of September 28-29.

This was also in response to a brazen attack on September 18 by Pakistani Army-backed militants on an Army base in J&Ks Uri that killed 19 soldiers.

In 2016, up to December 18, the number of personnel killed stood at more than 80 with more than 210 injured. This is by far the highest casualty number among security forces in the last three years. Last year, the number of personnel killed in J&K stood at 39. In 2014 it was 47 while it was 53 in 2013.

Till date, 6,275 personnel have been killed in terrorist violence in J&K in the last 28 years with the peak recorded in 2000 when 638 were killed. During this 28-year period, 23,131 militants have been killed.
The U-turn made by Russia has alarmed Indian policymakers, who have sought to isolate Pakistan on the issue of terrorism.

Russia has backed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and also plans to link it with its own Eurasian Economic Union project. (Photo: AP/File)

New Delhi: After denying reports that it had shown any interest in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Russia has not only fully backed the project, but also plans to link it with its own Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) project.

According to a report, the U-turn made by Russia has alarmed Indian policymakers, who have sought to isolate Pakistan on the issue of terrorism.

CPEC, which will link Gwadar in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province to Xinjiang in China, remains a major problem for Indian foreign policy as it passes through the Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Beijing on the other hand has shown scant regard for India's concerns despite PM Narendra Modi himself having taken up the issue with Xi Jinping.

Moscow last month emphatically denied Pakistan media reports that it was looking to involve itself in CPEC, said the report. But Russia's ambassador to Pakistan has now said that Russia and Pakistan have held discussions to merge the Eurasian Economic Union project with the CPEC.

Alexey Dedov said Russia strongly supported the CPEC, as it was important for Pakistan's economy and also regional connectivity.

Strategic affairs experts say that Moscow may no longer see India as a reliable friend and partner, and is challenging Indias core interests by making common cause with its enemies in the north.

India continues to officially maintain that it doesn't see any "downward trend" in relations with Russia, said the report. But Delhi and Moscow are not seeing eye to eye on Afghanistan. While Russia wants to use the Taliban to defeat Islamic State (ISIS) in the region, India wants any engagement with Taliban to respect the internationally recognized red lines, including giving up violence and severing ties with al-Qaeda.

Earlier this year, India was disturbed by Russia's decision to hold its first ever joint military exercise with Pakistan days after Uri terror strike which left 19 Indian soldiers dead.

Then at the Brics Goa summit in October, Russia chose not to help India publicly name Pakistan-based terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in the official declaration, given Chinese resistance.

Russia continues to insist that its ties with Pakistan will not come at India's cost. However, it contends that since India moved closer to the United States over the last few years, it should not complain about Russian cooperation with Pakistan
The PM, speaking at a rally in UP, also urged the EC to think about holding simultaneous polls for Centre and states.

Kanpur: Scaling up his attack on Opposition over demonetisation issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleged Parliament was not allowed to function as opposition parties were trying to defend the dishonest and were running away from a debate on the issue of corruption and black money.

Addressing BJP's 'parivartan rally' here, he also said some politicians tried to "provoke" people standing in ATM queues, but their designs were not allowed to succeed as the common man was patient and understood that larger interest of the country was at stake.

Modi said at an all-party meeting convened before the Winter session of Parliament, he had suggested a debate on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies and donations to political parties.

But Parliament was not allowed to function for a month as the opposition parties were not interested in a discussion on the two issue, the Prime Minister said.

He said earlier, the opposition used to disrupt Parliament as they wanted to expose the corrupt, bring out scams. But this time, Parliament was disrupted as opposition wanted to defend the dishonest and hence were running away from debate, he alleged.

"Our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money. But their agenda is to close (disrupt) Parliament...I am puzzled," Modi said.

Singling out Congress, he said its leaders have often claimed that lat Rajiv Gandhi brought computer and mobile phone to the common man in India.

"But now when I say mobile phone can be used as a bank, they say the poor do not have cell phone...they said people do not have bank accounts. Now they claim poor went to the bank, but there was no money...they are spreading lies.
O Panneerselvam would request the government to bestow the Bharat Ratna on former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to hand over a letter that would request the government to bestow the Bharat Ratna on former chief minister J Jayalalithaa and to install a bronze statue in the Parliament complex.

Panneerselvam arrived in New Delhi on Monday morning and will shortly meet the Prime Minister.

The Tamil Nadu Cabinet had on December 10 decided to recommend Jayalalithaa's name for India's highest civilian honour.

In its first meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam after Jayalalithaa's demise, the Cabinet also decided to recommend to the Centre installation of her life-size bronze statue in the Parliament complex.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will also relay the details of the damages caused by the Cyclone Vardah in the state.

Cyclone Vardah hit several parts of Tamil Nadu earlier on December 12.

The storm uprooted trees, overturned cars and did extensive damage to buildings as it tore across Chennai.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at least 10 people have died.

Prior to the storm's landing, Chennai already was pounded with heavy rain and winds.
This is the Kyrgyz leaders first Presidential visit to New Delhi.

Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev with his wife Raisa Atambayeva upon their arrival at Air Force station Palam, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Strengthening defence and trade ties would be on top of the agenda during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Kyrgyz President Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev in the national capital on Tuesday.

The visit of Mr Atambayev, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior ministers, will also provide an opportunity to sides to explore projects to increase surface connectivity. This is the Kyrgyz leaders first Presidential visit to New Delhi.

Maintaining that both countries share common concerns on threat of terrorism, extremism and drugtrafficking, the two sides had signed an agreement to boost defence cooperation and hold annual joint military exercises during Mr Modis visit there in 2015.

Besides joint military exercises, the two countries have been cooperating on high-mountain biomedical research to know impact on soldiers when they carry out operations at high altitude.

Bolstering existing defence cooperation, enhancing trade ties and exploring surface connectivity projects will be high on the agenda of talks between the two leaders.

Kyrgyzstan supports Indias bid for membership of the UN Security Council and welcomed its entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). During his four-day State visit, Mr Atambayev, who arrived in the Capital, will also have a meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee, who will host a banquet in his honour, according to news agency reports.

The Kyrgyz President will also attend IndiaKyrgyz Republic Joint Business Forum being organised by industry chambers FICCI, CII and Assocham on Wednesday. There are about 4,500 Indian students studying medicine in various medical institutions in Kyrgyzstan apart from a few businessmen, who are engaged in trade and services in the central Asian country.
The government had also asked people not to rush to banks as there was enough time to deposit the old bills.

Demonetised currency less than Rs 5,000 will be allowed to be credited to bank accounts normally until December 30. (Representational image)

New Delhi: The government tightened cash deposit rules, saying people can bank more than Rs 5,000 in old notes only once between now and December 30, subject to questioning and a satisfactory explanation for scrutiny at a later stage.

The government said it wanted to reduce queues at banks, already facing crowding after last months recall of high-value bills led to a cash crunch. The new move, which is in sharp contrast to an earlier norm, will also apply to cumulative deposits exceeding Rs 5,000 during December 19-30.

After banning old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8, the government had allowed all cash holdings with any person to be deposited in bank accounts till December 30. There was no limit on the quantity or value of the junked notes that could be deposited. The government had also asked people not to rush to banks as there was enough time to deposit the old bills.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Monday that a person depositing more than Rs 5,000 will be questioned in the presence of at least two bank officials to know why the sum could not be deposited earlier.

Deposits of old notes have been reviewed by the government from time to time. Already more than five weeks have elapsed since demonetisation was announced. It is expected that, by now, most people would have deposited such old notes in their possession, an official statement said.

However, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley claimed no questions will be asked if any amount of junked currency is deposited in one go but repeated deposits may raise queries.

Possibly the reason is to prevent any large-scale money-laundering towards the end of the scheme, a news agency report quoted Soumya Kanti Ghosh, chief economist at State Bank of India, as saying.

Demonetised currency less than Rs 5,000 will be allowed to be credited to bank accounts normally until December 30.

The RBI has asked banks to ensure that each amount of more than Rs 5,000 in demonetised currency is deposited only in KYC-compliant accounts, and if the accounts are not KYC compliant credits may be restricted up to Rs 50,000. The KYC process identifies and verifies identity of customers.

Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, black money holders can deposit unaccounted cash in accounts, which will be subject to 50 per cent tax and 4-year interest free lock-in for the remaining 25 per cent of the amount.
ABC News(DAMASCUS) -- A group of orphaned Syrian children who pleaded last week to be evacuated from the last rebel-held enclave of eastern Aleppo has left the besieged area.



The 47 orphans are now in Aleppos opposition-held western countryside, waiting to be relocated to Turkey, a source with the Afkar Foundation, which oversees the underground orphanage that housed the children in eastern Aleppo, told ABC News.



The orphans, some of whom are in critical condition, are among thousands of children who have been evacuated from eastern Aleppo in recent days, according to UNICEF.



This morning, all 47 children trapped in an orphanage in east Aleppo were evacuated to safety, with some in critical condition from injuries and dehydration, Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Middle East and North Africa director, said in a statement.



The evacuation of these orphans, along with thousands of other children from east Aleppo in the past days is a glimmer of hope amid a grim reality for the children of Syria.

The Syrian American Medical Society also confirmed that the orphans have been evacuated to safety.

We're happy to share that the 47 orphans who pleaded for their evacuation from E. #Aleppo last week were safely evacuated to #Idlib. pic.twitter.com/fCw2dGYjxC  SAMS (@sams_usa) December 19, 2016

In a video obtained by ABC News last week, the orphans pleaded to be allowed to leave the besieged part of Aleppo.



We have not been able to leave because of the airstrikes and we are scared of the continuous shelling, one 10-year-old girl says in the video, surrounded by other children at the orphanage. All we want is to live like any other child in this world.



The girl is one of the 47 children who lived at the eastern Aleppo orphanage, which was forced to move underground to protect the children from the dangers of regular airstrikes. The orphans are between the ages of 3 and 14, and have moved to the orphanage either after losing their parents or when their parents could no longer care for them.



Today might be the last time you see me and hear my voice, the 10-year-old girl says in the video. Please help us get out of Aleppo.



In September, ABC News profiled the underground orphanage in eastern Aleppo, where dozens of children have sought refuge from the devastating war.



Long-awaited evacuations from eastern Aleppo began Thursday, but broke down the next day before the orphans had a chance to leave. The children were told to turn back when they reached an evacuation checkpoint, the source with the Afkar Foundation said.



"We hope to eventually get the children to Turkey, where we are working on setting up another orphanage," he said.



He asked not to be named out of fear of repercussions.



Evacuations from eastern Aleppo resumed Monday after a deal was reached to also allow 4,000 civilians to leave Foua and Kefraya, two pro-government Shiite villages, besieged by rebel forces.



About 5,000 people were bused out of the besieged, rebel-held part of the area to the western countryside, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the International Committee of the Red Cross in Syria. Close to 14,000 people, including more than 4,000 fighters, have now left rebel-held Aleppo since Thursday, according to the Observatory.



At the same time, convoys of 500 evacuees, including sick civilians and orphans, left Foua and Kefraya, two pro-government Shiite villages, surrounded by opposition forces, the Observatory and the ICRC said. More buses are expected to arrive in the two villages to continue evacuations throughout the day.



The U.N. Security Council met in New York Monday and voted unanimously for the immediate deployment of U.N. observers to former rebel-held eastern Aleppo, which France says is crucial to preventing "mass atrocities" by Syrian forces and militias.



Before the war, Aleppo was Syrias largest city with a population of 2 million. The city had been divided into the rebel-held east and the government-held west since 2012. In recent months, the Syrian government, with help from Russia, Iran and other allies, intensified its airstrikes on eastern Aleppo and tightened the siege in an attempt to gain full control of the area, which was rebel-held until recently. Gaining control of the eastern neighborhoods is a strategic victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
India hopes evidence will help it get Azhar tagged global terrorist by UN.

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency on Monday filed its chargesheet over the attack on the Pathankot airbase that named Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother and two others for hatching the conspiracy. The chargesheet filed before the designated NIA court at Panchkula under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Besides Azhar the chargesheet also names his brother Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar and two handlers, Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan. It says four militants were involved in the attack, who were identified as Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom, all Pakistani nationals and Jaish operatives.

India is expected to use the chargesheet and details of the evidence to get Masood Azhar declared as a designated global terrorist at international forums, particularly the United Nations. The chargesheet clearly says the entire conspiracy was hatched by Masood Azhar and his brother Rauf Asghar, while the two handlers, Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan, helped execute the actual plan.

Giving details of the entire conspiracy, the chargesheet notes how the four terrorists underwent extensive motivational, physical, military and tactical training and were radicalised to carry out terror strikes in India. They were provided arms and ammunition and other logistical help, after which they infiltrated into India through the forest area near the Simbal border outpost on December 30. Empty food packets manufactured in Pakistan and other food articles from the neighbouring country were recovered from the forest area near Simbal during the course of investigations.

Importantly, the NIA document gives details of how the terrorists communicated with their handler Kashif Jan and senior Jaish-e-Mohammed figures in Pakistan, on three Pakistani mobile numbers 923453030479, 923213132786 and 923017775253. During investigation, DNA profiles were recovered from the dagger seized from one of the dead terrorists, Nisar. Similarly, the DNA profile of two terrorists was found on an energy drink can, recovered from a vehicle which they had snatched after killing its driver, Ikagar Singh.

The four militants had also hijacked a Mahindra XUV that belonged to Salvinder Singh, superintendent of Punjab police, and moved towards the Air Force Station. One walkie-talkie set belonging to the terrorists and one slip written in English were recovered from the Mahindra XUV. The terrorists had left the slip in which it was written: Jaish E Muhamad Zindabad Tanghdar se le kar Samba Kathua Rajbagh Aur Delhi tak Afzal Guru Shadeed Kay Jan nisar Tum ko meltay rahege. Insha Allah. A.G.S. 25-12-15.

The chargesheet also has details of DNA samples and other forensic material collected from the vehicles that the militants hijacked, which helped the NIA piece together the entire sequence of events. NIA officials claimed they had sufficient scientific, technical and oral evidence.

The NIA has also mentioned the names of six protected persons, a jailed terrorist and officials of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and US department of justice as witnesses in the chargesheet. The NIA has submitted the statements of six witnesses in sealed cover, and urged that the names of these people be kept secret.

The list of witnesses also includes the names of a FBI special agent and a US justice department official who had executed the Indian request sent under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty to get details from Facebook and other websites on which Jaish had uploaded an audio file claiming responsibility for the attack.
Rajnath said that there should be gender-friendly infrastructure at border posts where women are deployed

New Delhi: Women security personnel deployed at border posts will be provided with a better infrastructure and logistical facilities. Speaking at the Raising Day event of paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), home minister Rajnath Singh said it was important to have gender-friendly facilities in these remote areas for women as the present support system is deficient.

There should be gender-friendly infrastructure at border posts where women are deployed. I believe there is a deficiency in this regard. This needs to be improved. I believe those border posts where women personnel are deployed, more facilities should be provided there, Mr Singh said.

Apart from SSB, Border Security Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police has also deployed women security personnel at remote border locations. Speaking on the occasion the minister said the home ministry will give a serious thought to SSBs pending proposal to have its own intelligence wing. Despite not having a dedicated intelligence wing, you have been quite successful in your operations along the two borders you guard, Mr Singh said.

The home minister said was surely not an easy task to secure the two borders of Nepal and Bhutan which are guarded by SSB since these are not fenced and are fully open which leads to heavy movement across the frontiers.

While describing SSB as a multi-dimensional force, Mr Singh welcomed the forces proposal to get at least ten FM radio towers erected in the border areas along Nepal.

Also speaking at the event SSB Director-General Archana Ramasundaram said the force was facing vacancies in the officer cadres and has taken some of them on deputation from other sister forces.
Our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money, says Modi.

Lucknow/Kanpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the Opposition did not allow Parliament to function in its effort to defend the dishonest and run away from a debate on corruption.

Addressing a BJP rally in poll-bound UPs Kanpur, the PM also hailed and welcomed the Election Commissions efforts to rid the electoral system of black money.

I also urge the Election Commission to take up the idea of having simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas, and talk to other political parties because too many elections stall the process of development and cause financial a burden, he said.

He said that some politicians had tried to provoke people standing in ATM queues, but their designs did not succeed as the common man was patient and understood that larger interest of the country was at stake.

The governments November 8 currency replacement move to fight black money and fake currency led to a cash crunch, and queues have stayed outside low-on-cash banks and ATMs, even resulting in a string of deaths caused by chaos.

Our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money. But their agenda is to disrupt Parliament...I am puzzled, Mr Modi said, days after the Winter Session ended in a washout due to the standoff over demonetisation.

Thanking people for supporting his demonetisation drive, he said most wanted honesty in the system and his government was working towards it. It is only a few who thrive in corrupt practices and they are the ones who criticise us. After November 8, the strength of `100 has increased while that of `500 and `1,000 has been finished, he said.

He said he had given a suggestion at an all-party meeting convened before the Winter session that a debate should be held on simultaneous elections and political funding. But Parliament was not allowed to function for a month as the Opposition parties were not interested in a discussion on the two issue, the PM said.

Congress leaders often claimed that late Rajiv Gandhi brought computers and mobile phones to the common man. But now when I say mobile phones can be used for banking, they say the poor do not have cell phones...They first said people do not have bank accounts. Now they claim poor went to the bank, but there was no money...They are spreading lies, the PM said.

The PMs comments comes as the Opposition has sharpened its attack on the government, saying the drive to promote digital transactions was a move to cover up no real black money windfall for the economy.

The PM however said the Congress always shied away from being accountable to the people, and recalled a saying about then AICC treasurer Sitaram Kesri to drive home the point. Na khata, na bahi, jo Kesri kahe wahi sahi (neither accounts nor ledgers, only thing that matters is what Kesri says), he said.

Mr Modi said that he had travelled across Uttar Pradesh recently and sensed a storm of change. He said, If the youth of Uttar Pradesh come together, nothing can stop India from progressing.

He said that the people of UP were weary of anti-social elements being patronised by those in the government. He said that a change in the government was necessary to bring a change in Uttar Pradesh.
Digvijaya Singh asked the PM why he is not ordering an investigation into the Panama paper and Bahamas paper leaks.

New Delhi: Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Monday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to debunk his claims on transparency and accountability.

He asked the PM why he is not ordering an investigation into the Panama paper and Bahamas paper leaks. Those named in these leaks have been made brand ambassadors by the PM, he said.

The Congress leader also asked through the letter that why the Central government is not acting fast on the issue of appointment of Lok Pal, the Whistleblower Act and benami properties.

Besides, he also asked the Prime Minister why he was not initiating action against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah whose close aides are being accused of irregularities in the wake of demonetisation.

In the letter, he asked why arent fast track courts being made to try government servants and politicians.
Maliwal also urged Jung to constitute a task force on women safety as directed by the ministry of home affairs.

New Delhi: In a fresh confrontation, an L-G-appointed bureaucrat on Monday cautioned Delhi Commission for Women to not allow an official backed by Delhi government to carry out work as its member secretary, saying such act on his part would be untenable and shall attract penal action.

IAS officer Dilraj Kaur, who was appointed as DCW member secretary by lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung, wrote a strongly-worded letter to DCW chief Swati Maliwal, saying incumbent P.P. Dhal should not continue in the post as his appointment was illegal and devoid of any statutory basis. Earlier in December, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had directed chief secretary M.M. Kutty and Ms Maliwal not to allow Ms Kaur to function as the DCW member secretary. He had instead recommended P.P. Dhal for the post.

Ms Kaur, whose appointment has the approval of lieutenant-governor, wrote a strongly-worded letter to the DCW chairperson last week, saying Mr Dhal should should not continue in the post as his appointment was illegal and devoid of statutory basis. Responding to Ms Kaurs letter, the DCW chief shot off a letter to L-G Najeeb Jung calling the communication by the bureaucrat shocking and reflective of utter disrespect and disregard to the directions of the chief minister.

Ms Maliwal said on December 14, the commission had received a note from Ms Kaur stating that she had assumed charge as the member secretary of DCW. She said the commission informed her of the chief ministers decision and even sent a copy of his note to her, clarifying the legal position.

Ms Maliwal also urged Mr Jung to constitute a task force on women safety as directed by the ministry of home affairs. She said the task force, which should include elected representatives, Delhi police and the Delhi Commission for Women amongst others, should meet at least twice a month.

I wish to inform you that only 587 days are remaining of my tenure. It is a very short period and I wish to work day and night and leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety of women and girls in the capital. It is painful that due to the systematic attack, the Commission has been able to spend less than half of its budget till date.

I sincerely hope that your office displays sympathy for the women and girls of Delhi and without any prejudice, Ms Maliwals letter said.
The survivor is a Class X student whose father is an employee of the Central government.

Kolkata: A teenaged girl from Salt Lake was allegedly gangraped in Jagaddal of North 24 Parganas by two youths, one of whom had befriended her on Facebook six months ago. The accused, Viraat Thakur and Shivam Pandey, are residents of Jagaddal. The victim is a class X student whose father is an employee of the Central government.

On November 30, Viraat asked her to come to Bidhannagar railway station for a meeting. After the meeting she, accompanied by Viraat, travelled to Jagaddal in train. In the evening Viraat took her to the jute mill quarters where he lives with his friend Shivam.

Viraat and Shivam raped her in their room at night, preliminary investigation suggested. Next day the victim returned home and lodged a complaint with the Bidhannagar North police station. The police initiated a case on gangrape and abduction charges. On Saturday night the accused duo were arrested from Jagaddal.

On Sunday Viraat and Shivam were remanded in five days police custody by the Barasat Court. Meanwhile a teenaged girl was allegedly kidnapped by an OLA cabbie and his associate who molested her before deserting her in Rajarhat early Sunday.

At around 1.30 am she went out of her home at Raigachhi aparently to attend natures call. A youth dragged her by coving her head with a shawl into an OLA cab which waiting there. The cab then travelled through New Town. At around 4 am, the girl was dropped from the cab near Chinar Park from where she called up her father.

The police however found that the OLA cabbie Rocky knows the 15-year-old since their introduction at a wedding and had even called her to come out of home. A case on abduction and molestation charges was initiated at Rajarhat police station. In Kolkata a minor girl was allegedly raped her mothers employer at a factory in Thakurpukur. The accused, Bishwajit Sinha, is absconding now.

The victims mother works at his factory of packaged drinking water. Since it was Sunday the mother of the eleven-year-old girl took her to the factory on MG Road with her. But Bishwajit gave her some money and sent her to buy them.
H T Imam was in the city to attend the closing ceremony of the Bangladesh Vijay Utsab.

Kolkata: H T Imam, the political adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said his country was hopeful that the Teesta water sharing treaty with India would become a reality in future. Mr Imam was in the city to attend the closing ceremony of the Bangladesh Vijay Utsab. On the sidelines of the event, Mr Imam said, We are hopeful that the Teesta treaty will be a reality in future. We are hopeful that the Indian government and West Bengal government will give us the water of Teesta River in days to come.

Responding to queries on whether the Bangladesh government is hoping for a green signal on the treaty ahead of Sheikh Hasinas proposed visit to India in February next year, Mr Imam said, The trip has been postponed to February. It is not about positive noises on Teesta. There are lot of issues which need to be discussed and these discussions will be completed by December.

It may be recalled that chief minister Mamata Banerjee had in 2011 opted out of the delegation of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which visited Dhaka after the Teesta River water sharing deal. The deal was later cancelled following her opposition. However, Ms Banerjee was herself present in Dhaka in 2015 for the Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh.

When asked to comment on Ms Banerjees opposition to the Teesta pact, Mr Imam said, As far as we know, she had said that the Central government did not discuss the entire matter with her. We share very good relations with Mamata Banerjee and we know that she does not have such negative thoughts regarding the deal.
On pursuance, he made a payment of Rs 3 lakh but did not respond further to the victims calls.

According to the complainant Mahesh Badgujar, the accused Ashutosh Srivastava met him for the first time met him at Bangkok in September 2009. (Representational image)

Mumbai: The Kapoor Bawadi police of Thane has booked a man for allegedly duping a 40-year-old man from Andheri into paying Rs 23.17 lakh under the pretext of getting him a license for opening a liquor shop.

According to the complainant Mahesh Badgujar, the accused Ashutosh Srivastava met him for the first time met him at Bangkok in September 2009 and struck up a friendship with him. Badgujar had gone to Thailand along with his family for vacation.

Later, when Badgujar went to Riyadh in connection with his work in 2010, the accused offered to procure him a license for opening a liquor shop for Rs 26.17 lakh, which the victim promptly paid, the complaint said.

However, after some time, the victim was informed that the license could not be allotted to him and hence the amount would be refunded. Despite several reminders however, the amount was not refunded and the accused even changed his mobile number and residence.

On pursuance, he made a payment of Rs 3 lakh but did not respond further to the victims calls.
The Principia famously elucidates Newtons three laws of motion, explaining how objects move under the influences of external forces.

New York: A bound copy of Sir Isaac Newtons seminal work describing his famed three laws of motion has sold for a whopping $3.7 million, making it the most expensive printed scientific book ever sold at an auction.

The Principia Mathematica book written in 1687 was described by theoretical physicist Albert Einstein as perhaps the greatest intellectual stride that has ever been granted to any man to make.

Auction house Christies that handled the sale expected the goat-skin-covered book to fetch between $1 million and $1.5 million. An unnamed bidder bought it for nearly four times that value at $3,719,500.

The Principia famously elucidates Newtons three laws of motion, explaining how objects move under the influences of external forces. Students still use the laws, Live Science reported.

The crimson book measures about 9x7 inches and contains 252 leaves  some with woodcut diagrams, a folding plate, according to Christies. Only one other original leather-bound copy of Newtons Principia has been sold at auction in the past 47 years.

It was presented to King James II (1633-1701) and bought at Christies New York for about $2.5 million in December 2013.
Historically, electors only rarely defy the expressed wishes of the majority of voters in their district.

Trump won a clear majority of those electors -- 306, with 270 needed for election -- despite dramatically losing the popular vote to his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. (Photo: AFP)

Washington: Donald Trump's fiercest critics may be dreaming of a last-minute revolt, but the Electoral College, a peculiarly American institution, appears near-certain on Monday to select the 70-year-old real estate mogul as the 45th US president.

Its detractors -- and they are many -- have denounced an electoral system that flies in the face of the venerated "one man, one vote" principle, and which perversely encourages presidential candidates to campaign in only a few key states while ignoring whole swaths of the country.

But despite the torrent of criticism this method has faced for decades, no reform attempt has ever succeeded.

When American voters cast their ballots on November 8, they did not in fact directly elect the next occupant of the White House. Instead, they picked 538 "electors" charged with translating their wishes into reality.

Trump won a clear majority of those electors -- 306, with 270 needed for election -- despite dramatically losing the popular vote to his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

A similar scenario took place in 2000, when George W. Bush became president even though Democrat Al Gore won more popular votes.

However, the gap is far more dramatic in 2016, with Clinton scoring nearly three million extra votes over Trump.

This Monday, electors will convene in each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, to officially designate the next president and vice president.

Following an extraordinarily vitriolic campaign, this step in the electoral process -- normally little more than a formality -- has been thrust into the spotlight.

'Faithless electors'

Historically, electors only rarely defy the expressed wishes of the majority of voters in their district. And never have the votes of these "faithless electors" changed the outcome of a presidential election.

Still, some Democrats -- who see a Trump presidency as presenting an existential danger to American democracy -- are clinging to the slender hope that a few dozen Republican electors might decide not to vote for their party's populist leader.

Yet, should that happen, it would be up to the House of Representatives to designate the successor to Barack Obama. And Republicans hold a strong majority there.

An online petition calling on electors to reject Trump, has collected some five million supporters. Hollywood stars including Martin Sheen ("President Bartlet" on the popular television series "West Wing") recently released a video to goad electors to take that step.

"You have the position, the authority and the opportunity to go down in the books as an American hero who changed the course of history," the celebrities say, addressing electors who have been thrust overnight from the shadows into the spotlight.

But these efforts appear to have almost no chance of succeeding: There is no evidence that the requisite 37 Republican electors will decide to abandon Trump. To date, only one of them, Christopher Suprum of Texas, has publicly announced his intention to stage such a revolt.

The future White House chief of staff, Reince Preibus, told Fox News Sunday that the pressure on the electoral college not to elect Trump is "about Democrats that can't accept the outcome of the election. It's about delegitimizing the american system."

He added: "We're very confident that everything is going to be very smooth tomorrow."

The final result may not be known on Monday, as states are given several days to report their numbers. The Congress will, in any case, announce the name of the official winner on January 6, two weeks before the next president is to be inaugurated in a solemn and pomp-filled ceremony outside the Capitol.

A 'disaster' or bit of 'genius'?

Asked about it at his final news conference of the year before leaving for a Hawaiian vacation, Barack Obama acknowledged that the system was "a vestige, it's a carry-over from an earlier vision of how our federal government was going to work," and that it could disadvantage Democrats.

Still, the outgoing president urged his camp to draw needed lessons from their electoral failure and develop a strategy for the future rather than bemoaning the 2016 loss or trying to overturn it.

"The truth of the matter is that if we have a strong message, if we're speaking to what the American people care about, typically, the popular vote and the Electoral College vote will align," he said in a clear allusion to his own presidential victories in 2008 and 2012.

David Pozen, a professor at Columbia Law School, sees at least one silver lining to the intense focus on the Electoral College: it will draw attention to the urgent need for change.

"Either way, the renewed public interest in the Electoral College underscores the need to do away with this antiquated and fundamentally undemocratic institution," he said in an op-ed article in the New York Times.

In November 2000, Hillary Clinton, then the newly elected Democratic senator from New York, issued a clear call for an electoral reform that would result in direct, universal suffrage.

Trump, for his part, has radically changed his stance on the matter in just four years.

"The Electoral College is a disaster for a democracy," he tweeted in November 2012.

Last month, just days after a victory that seemed to stun even him, he sounded a rather different note: "The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different!"
Republican electors have been inundated by Trump opponents urging them to defy the results in their states and vote against Trump.

Trump's Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, left; Jason Miller, a senior adviser, second from left; Boris Epshteyn, a spokesman for Trump, fourth from left, and Michael Flynn, Trump's nominee for National Security adviser, fifth from left, listen as Trump speaks. (Photo: AP)

Washington: Donald Trump's top aides on Sunday said the President-elect isn't ready to accept the finding by intelligence officials that Moscow hacked Democratic emails in a bid to elevate Trump. Even if it's true, they said, Trump still won the White House fair and square.

The pushback came a day before members of the Electoral College are scheduled to formally cast votes for Trump as the 45th President. While Democrats likely are powerless to stop it, they suggested Trump's victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton would forever be tainted by Russian meddling.

Republican electors have been inundated by Trump opponents urging them to defy the results in their states and vote against Trump.

"This whole thing is a spin job," said Trump's incoming Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus. "And I think what the Democrats ought to do is look in the mirror and face the reality that they lost the election."

Trump himself weighed in Sunday evening, tweeting, "If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!"

The partisan swipes mostly ignored warnings by foreign policy experts that part of Russia's calculation also was likely payback for years of U.S. criticism of its own elections and a desire to portray America as a flawed champion of democracy - potentially weakening US power on the world stage. Russia has vehemently denied the accusation.

Many lawmakers, including some leading Republicans, say voters may not have been swayed by the release of tens of thousands of private emails. But the fact that a foreign power tried to intervene in US democracy and exploit divisions in American politics is cause for alarm, they say.

Still, Trump's transition team and loyalists on Capitol Hill weren't buying it, at least not on the eve of the Electoral College vote.

"Where's the evidence?" asked Kellyanne Conway, another close Trump adviser.

Asked about President Barack Obama's vow to retaliate against the Russians, Conway said: "It seems like the President is under pressure from Team Hillary, who can't accept the election results."

Democrats say it's unlikely the public will ever hear detailed evidence because doing so would disclose classified sources and methods. But with last week's declaration by CIA Director John Brennan that there was "strong consensus" that Russia hacked Democrats to try to sway the election, lawmakers are stepping up demands for closed-door briefings and a separate congressional investigation.

California Representative Adam Schiff, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said an unclassified intelligence review could be released within the next two weeks or three weeks.

As President-elect, Trump would have access to high-level intelligence on the matter, although it's unclear what he's been told. Trump has previously called the intelligence finding of Russian involvement "ridiculous." On Sunday, Conway said she wasn't privy to the same intelligence briefings as the President-elect and couldn't say what he knows.

Donna Brazile, interim head of the Democratic National Committee, said the DNC was no match for a sophisticated foreign power in cyberspace that "weaponized" private emails to "sow misinformation and to sow discord" between Clinton and her primary rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Also on Sunday:

-Brazile said the cyberattacks against the DNC occurred every day through the end of the election. The comment seemed to contradict Obama assertion that they stopped after he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.

-Senator Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and John McCain, R-Arizona, called for creation of a special Senate investigative committee focused on Russia, China and Iran potentially trying to interfere in US elections through high-tech meddling.

-Priebus said he was "100% confident" that the Senate would confirm Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Trump's Secretary of State. The oil company oil executive has deep ties to Russia and no government experience.

-Priebus said the naming of lawyer David Friedman as Trump's ambassador to Israel doesn't mean that Trump rejects the notion of a two-state solution in the Middle East. Friedman has suggested Trump would support Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank, effectively eliminating the possibility of a Palestinian state.

"There's going to be things that individually people may believe in their hearts or in their mind," Priebus said of Trump's nominees to top posts. "But ultimately, it's their job to represent the President-elect of the United States and his foreign policy."

Priebus appeared on Fox News Sunday, Conway was interviewed on CBS' Face the Nation and Brazile and Schiff were on ABC's This Week.
Mr Trumps trip to Moscow that year again came up dry, but he was smitten with the country and its hard-nosed leaders more than ever.

A couple kisses in front of a graffiti depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump on the walls of a bar in the old town in Vilnius, Lithuania. (Photo: AP)

In 2013, Donald Trump appeared poised to conquer a new frontier: Russia. His Miss Universe beauty contest was taking place in Russias capital and he thought it would seal a connection with its president, Vladimir Putin.

Do you think Putin will be going to The Miss Universe Pageant in November in Moscow - if so, will he become my new best friend? the US President-elect tweeted.

The meeting never took place, though Mr Putin sent a close aide with a gift for the American.

It was just another false start in three decades of efforts by Mr Trump to crystallise ties with a country that has long captivated him  for its real estate development potential, but also for its steely, no-nonsense leaders.

Mr Trump wrote in his book, The Art of the Deal, that his attraction to the then-Soviet Union began in 1986, when a lunch with Soviet ambassador Yuri Dubinin turned into an investment opportunity.

Dubinins daughter, it turned out, had read about Trump Tower and knew all about it, Mr Trump recalled.

One thing led to another and now Im talking about building a large luxury hotel, across the street from the Kremlin.

He travelled with his then-wife Ivana to view potential sites in Moscow the following year. It was an extraordinary experience, he wrote. I was impressed with the ambition of the Soviet officials to make a deal.

Nothing came of it, and over the next decade Mr Trump was bogged down in the bankruptcies of his Atlantic City casinos. But by 1997, he was back on the Russia file, bonding with rising political star General Alexander Lebed.

The two met at Trump Tower, where, according to a New Yorker article, Mr Lebed lauded Mr Trumps Moscow hotel plans as a litmus testing paper for American capital flowing to Russia.

Basking in the praise, Mr Trump gave Mr Lebed, a former boxer, a copy of his book. After the meeting, the New York tycoon said what he really liked about the Russian.

Does he look as tough and cold as youve ever seen? This is not like your average real-estate guy whos rough and mean, Mr Trump said. This guys beyond that. You see it in the eyes.

Mr Trumps trip to Moscow that year again came up dry, but he was smitten with the country and its hard-nosed leaders more than ever. Entertaining his first White House run in 2000, he wrote in a new book of his fascination with Russian power.

What I dont understand is why American policymakers are always so timid in dealing with Russia on issues that directly involve our own survival, he said, pointing to his experience of Mr Lebed, a really tough guy who he predicted would one day lead Russia.

Mr Trump backed out of the 2000 race, and Mr Lebed died in 2002 in a helicopter crash. By then, ex-KGB officer Mr Putin was the countrys President, and Mr Trumps eyes turned to the vast sums of money newly rich Russians were moving out of the country.

In 2005, he went into business with New York developer Bayrock Group, led by two immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

They signed a deal to develop a Trump Tower in the Russian capital that went nowhere. Meanwhile, they built the 46-floor Trump Soho luxury apartment tower in New York City, and other Trump-brand developments in Florida.

The primary financing source and the marketing target, were both Russian money, including an Iceland-registered investment firm identified in later lawsuits as in favour with Mr Putin.

Mr Trump was not implicated in the lawsuits, but in a deposition he bared his view of the situation. Russia is one of the hottest places in the world for investment. We will be in Moscow at some point, he said.

Again eyeing the White House in 2007, Mr Trump began singing Mr Putins praises. Look at Putin - what hes doing with Russia, he told CNN.

Whether you like him or dont like him - hes doing a great job in rebuilding the image of Russia and also rebuilding Russia, period. Forget about image.

After Mr Trump sold the Palm Beach, Florida estate Maison de LAmitie to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev for a record $95 million in 2008, his name became bigger inside Russia, and he entertained journalists from Moscow.

I really like Vladimir Putin. I respect him. He does his work well. Much better than our Bush, Mr Trump told them.

By 2011, Mr Trump began planning a serious White House challenge. For him, comparing President Barack Obama to Putin was a way of standing out.

In his new political tract, Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again, he praised Putin for his intelligence and no-nonsense way.

I respect Putin and the Russians, but cannot believe our leader allows them to get away with so much, he wrote. Hats off to the Russians.

By 2013, the year of the Miss Universe contest in Moscow, Mr Trump had another deal to build a Trump Tower by the Kremlin.

It didnt happen, but his praise of Mr Putin stepped up. He lauded Mr Putins op-ed in The New York Times telling Washington how to make peace in Syria. He is lecturing to our President. Never has our Country looked so weak, Mr Trump tweeted.

His pro-Russia views under increasing scrutiny in 2015 as he opened his campaign, Mr Trump made waves for casually dismissing longstanding suspicions that Mr Putins regime condoned the murder of critical journalists.

Its never been proven that hes killed anybody, Mr Trump told ABC.

Having conquered the White House in a victory loudly cheered in Moscow, he continues to brush off reports of brutality and repression by Mr Putins Kremlin.
Trumps tweets on China more dangerous than funny, says media.

Beijing: China on Monday rejected US President-elect Donald Trumps claim that it had stolen an American research drone, as state media said his diplomatic inexperience could spark a confrontation between the two nations.

Beijings seizure of the marine probe in international waters in the South China Sea raised already heightened tensions between the worlds two largest military powers.

On Sunday, after Beijing and Washington announced the drone would be returned, Mr Trump tweeted, We should tell China that we dont want the drone they stole back.  let them keep it!

China objected to Mr Trumps accusation that it had stolen the drone, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday, adding the claim was not accurate.

Imagine that you found something on the street  you would need to first check and verify it before handing it back to someone else, she told a regular press conference.

Ms Hua said the two sides are in smooth communication through military channels, and we believe the incident will be properly handled. She gave no further details.

The Pentagon said on Friday that a Chinese naval vessel unlawfully grabbed the unmanned underwater vehicle at least 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines.

China said the drone had been snatched since it might pose a safety hazard to other vessels.

It also said it strongly opposed US reconnaissance activities and had asked Washington to stop them.

The US said the device was collecting information on water temperatures, salinity and sea clarity.

In an earlier misspelled tweet on Saturday, Mr Trump also accused Beijing of theft.

China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters? rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented act, he wrote.

The state-owned China Daily rejected the claim in an editorial.

What is truly amazing about this tweet, was the soon-to-be US President completely misrepresented what had actually happened  that is more dangerous than funny, it said.

Mr Trumps behaviour could easily drive China-US relations into what Obama portrays as full-conflict mode, it added, next to a cartoon that depicted Trump riding a bull into a china shop while US businessmen looked on aghast.

A separate article quoted experts as calling Mr Trumps behaviour diplomatically inept.

Mr Trump has already infuriated Beijing by questioning longstanding US policy on Taiwan, calling Beijing a currency manipulator and threatening punitive tariffs on Chinese imports.

Mr Trump is not behaving as a President who will become master of the White House in a month. He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower, the often nationalistic Global Times, which has close ties to the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial.

No matter how powerful the US Navy is, it cannot act on the bottom line of Chinas security, said a second editorial about the probe seizure in the Global Times on Monday. If we see sonar and underwater gliders deployed by foreign ships in the South China Sea in the future, we would rather mistakenly capture a thousand than miss a single one.
The photo published by the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force showing a long-range strategic bomber flying within visible range of Yushan.

Beijing: A photo published by Chinese military showing its strategic bomber reportedly flying over Taiwan, days after Beijings spat with US President-elect Donald Trump over his questioning of One China policy, has sparked concerns in the island, official media here reported.

The photo published by the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force showing a long-range strategic bomber flying within visible range of Yushan, Taiwans highest mountain, has caused great concern in Taiwan amid debate about whether the mainland will reunify the island by force, state-run Global Times reported.

It said the PLA Air Force published the photo on its Sina Weibo account, showing an Xian H-6K bomber flying above the clouds with two mountain peaks rising in the distance.

Military commentators on the mainland believe the peaks are of a mountain in Taiwan, which has made many netizens marvel at the PLAs military capability, the report said.

However, the spokesman of Taiwans defence ministry, Chen Zhongji, told the Central News Agency that military aircraft from the mainland could only fly outside the air defence identification zone of Taiwan and the ministry could monitor their movements, saying the guesses were groundless.

The daily quoted a military expert Chen Weihao as telling Taiwan-based satellite television channel and cable TV network TVBS that it was the first time that mainland aircraft had been photographed with Taiwan landscapes, which has a psychological impact on the island.

Discussions about the possibility of the mainland reunifying Taiwan by force continues to gain momentum as pro- independence Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen keeps whipping up anti-mainland sentiment, it said.

The report in the official media here followed war of words between China and Trump after he spoke to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
Security officials said in a statement late Sunday that at least four gunmen were killed and that troops continued to search the area.

Jordanian security forces stand next to their armored vehicle at the scene next to Karak Castle, during an ongoing attack, in the central town of Karak, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital Amman in Jordan. (Photo: AP)

Karak, Jordan: Gunmen assaulted Jordanian police in a series of attacks Sunday, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing seven officers, two local civilians and a woman visiting from Canada, officials said. Several armed men were reported barricaded inside the castle after nightfall, hemmed in by special forces soldiers.

At least 34 people, including two foreign nationals, were wounded in the day's violence, which was one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory.

Security officials said in a statement late Sunday that at least four gunmen were killed and that troops continued to search the area. The statement said large amounts of weapons had been seized. It made no reference to local media reports that at one point, the attackers had held hostages.

The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged this pro-Western kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

The killing of the Canadian tourist could further hurt Jordan's embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighboring Syria and Iraq two years ago.

Another Canadian was injured in the shooting, Canada's Global Affairs spokesman John Babcock said.

"Canadian officials in Amman are actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time," he said.

The Canadian Embassy in Amman issued an alert warning urging Canadians to avoid travel to Karak, a town in central Jordan about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in and near Karak.

The chain of events began when a police patrol received reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district, said a statement by Jordan's Public Security Directorate. Officers responding to the call came under fire from inside the house, the statement said. Two policemen were wounded and the assailants fled in a car, it said.

In another attack, gunmen fired on a security patrol in Karak, causing no injuries, the statement said.

Armed men also opened fire on a police station at Karak Castle, a Crusader fort, wounding members of security forces. The statement said five or six gunmen were believed to be holed up inside the castle.

In all, seven members of the security forces, two local civilians and the tourist from Canada were killed, security officials said. Fifteen members of the security forces, 17 local civilians and two foreign nationals were injured.

Jordan faces homegrown extremism, with hundreds of Jordanians fighting alongside other Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more supporting the extremist group in the kingdom. Jordan is a key U.S. ally, and a member of a U.S.-led military coalition fighting IS.

Over the past year, gunmen have carried out several attacks on members of the Jordanian security forces and foreign trainers. Earlier this year, Jordanian security forces engaged in a deadly shootout with suspected IS sympathizers in a northern Jordanian town.

In the most recent incident, three U.S. military members were killed in a shooting outside an air base in southern Jordan in November. The three were in Jordan on a training mission, and came under fire while driving into the base.
At least 15,000 children are among the more than 300,000 people who have been killed in Syrias five-year war.

An aid worker takes a selfie with seven-year-old Bana al-Abed after she was evacuated from Aleppo. (Photo: AFP)

Cilvegozu (Turkey): Seven-year-old Bana al-Abed, whose Twitter account has offered a tragic account of the war in Syria, was evacuated from the divided Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, a Turkish NGO announced on social media.

This morning @AlabedBana was also rescued from #Aleppo with her family. We warmly welcomed them, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) wrote on its Twitter account, sharing an IHH aid workers selfie picture with the girl.

For her tens of thousands of followers, Ms Bana is a symbol of the tragedy unfolding in Syria, although Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime has slammed her and her mothers nearly daily tweets as propaganda.

Ms Banas account has posted pictures of the destruction in Aleppo including her rubble-littered street, while people have tweeted messages of support and concern, notably fearing for her life when tweets became less frequent.

At least 15,000 children are among the more than 300,000 people who have been killed in Syrias five-year war.

Tarakji Ahmad, president of Syrian American Medical Society, also posted a picture of Ms Bana, with an aid worker.

@AlabedBana and many children arrived to #Aleppo countryside. @sams_usa@UOSSM and partners arr coordinating the response plan there, he tweeted, also announcing the evacuation.

Ms Banas last tweet with her mother Fatemah before the evacuation made an appeal to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu for putting a fragile ceasefire back on track after frequent delays.

@MevlutCavusoglu & @RT_Erdogan please please please make this ceasefire work & get us out now. We are so tired. - Fatemah #Aleppo.

Responding in a tweet Monday, Mr Cavusoglu wrote: Difficulties on the ground wont deter us sister. Rest assured that we are doing all to get you and thousands of others to safety.

An IHH spokesman confirmed to AFP that the young girl was among the first batch of evacuees Friday morning, and was at Rashidin region at the moment.

She is likely to be transferred to the camps in Idlib province, he said.

The Islamic charity IHH is playing a large role in the transport of aid for Aleppo as well as the transfer of evacuated Syrians into camps in the Idlib province near the Turkish border.

There are still thought to be around 10,000 people stuck in eastern parts of Aleppo.
by Lucia Leung

Organised by the Holy See Study Mission, head by Mgr Jozic, the Hong Kong diocese and the Macau diocese, the event drew at least 1,200 people who saw the performance of young talents from the United States, Italy, and Croatia. For Card John Tong, the concert helps to prepare for Christmas.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  The Holy See Study Mission in Hong Kong, which focuses on the Church in China, and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception yesterday hosted a concert to celebrate Pope Francis' Birthday () at Hong Kongs Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Some 1,200 people attended the event to attend. Among the sponsors there was also the diocese of Macao, where the concert was performed two days earlier.

The Holy See Study Mission, which is led by Mgr Ante Jozic, invited David Damiani to be the musical director and conductor of the concert.

Damiani studied singing, bass, composition and conducting at the conservatories of Pesaro, Parma and Bologna. He was assistant conductor to Gustav Kuhn at the Arena Sferisterio in Macerata and has received many invitations from different opera houses and concert halls in Italy and elsewhere in Europe.

In presenting the evening, Mgr Jozic said that just 80 years ago, "a child, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, came into the world, innocent and unaware that one day he would lead the Catholic Church from the smallest country in the world: the Vatican.

This great religious leader continues to preach and inspire many, trying to make this world a better place for each and everyone, especially for those who are poor, marginalised and without freedom."

The concert included several special guests. One of them was soprano Olga Makarina, from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Born in Archangel, Russia, she has won several important awards like the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, the Musicians Emergency Fund and the Liederkranz Competition.

Another guest was organist Francesca Ajossa, a 17-year-old prodigy from Cagliari (Italy). She was admitted to the International Bach Academy for Organ in 2015, and has recently taken 2nd prize in the National Organ Competition Premio Abbado as the youngest winner. She is also one of eight young organists selected for the Young Talents Class at the Haarlem Organ Academy 2016.

Hailing from Mgr Jozics country of Croatia, the Klapa Mriza choir performed A cappella music from Croatias southern coastal region of Dalmatia.

Card John Tong spoke about the young talents who performed at the concert. "His Holiness taught us to use the talents we have, he said. They are the gifts God gave us. The young artists who are here with us are following his preaching and are helping us, not only to celebrate his birthday, but also to prepare for the birth of our saviour Jesus Christ, who in a few days will be among us."
In the last hours ambulances and buses have left the area controlled by the rebels. Those still waiting include many sick and injured children. Militiamen of al Nusra Front attack vehicles evacuating Fuaa and Kafrya. Today the UN will vote the resolution on international monitoring of the evacuation operations.

Aleppo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Evacuation of Aleppo east have resumed after several interruptions in recent days as a result of shootings of fleeing civilians and both government army and rebels blaming the other for violating the truce. In the last hours several ambulances and buses have been commuting to rebel held areas, to facilitate the evacuation of civilians.

Late yesterday evening, at least 350 people fled the enclave controlled by the opposition, heading towards the loyalist army territories. Among those still waiting to be evacuated are sick and injured children.

Earlier, some vehicles that went to Fuaa and Kafrya - two villages near Idlib, in the hands of government and besieged by the rebels - to evacuate civilians in the context of the Aleppo agreement were set on fire, effectively blocking the operations. Local sources said that behind the attacks were carried out by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham rebel group (the former al Qaeda in Syria), although there is no evidence to support the claims.

Even today thousands of people are waiting to leave the eastern sector of Aleppo, which is in ruins. The violence between the warring sides have left thousands of civilians in the various collection centers in the vain expectation of evacuation, without food or care. The bombing on the eastern sector also deprived the area of hospitals or medical facilities.



In less than a month, the government army offensive, supported by Russian air raids, Iranian Shiites and Lebanese Hezbollah, has annihilated the resistance of the rebels and returned almost the entire city to Damascus control.



Yesterday, meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council reached an agreement on a draft resolution on Syria. The document asks the Secretary General to "take urgent measures to provide for coordination arrangements with interested parties, to allow monitoring by the United Nations and other relevant institutions on the welfare of civilians in the eastern districts of the city of Aleppo". Added to this is the invitation to monitor adequately, either directly or neutral, the operation "evacuation from Aleppo".



The text, a modified version of the French draft with Russian amendments, will be voted on this morning at 9 at the UN in New York. Previously Moscow had threatened to veto the original draft, which called for the dispatch of United Nations observers to monitor the evacuation, instead insisting on the prior approval of the Syrian government.



In the new text it specifies "in coordination with interested parties", providing in some way the involvement of the government in Damascus.
by Nirmala Carvalho

The former rector of the Basilica of Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount in Bandra is a noted educator. Since the 1960s, he has held numerous positions in Catholic schools. His contribution has also been decisive in health care, as a promoter of Bandras Catholic hospital, one of Indias top facilities.

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  Christianity "changed the moral culture of the Indian people, this according to Mgr Nereus Rodrigues, a noted educator and former rector of the Basilica of Mount Mary Church in Bandra (Mumbai).

Speaking to AsiaNews during the celebrations for his 67 years of priesthood, he focused on Christian values, "which played an important role in influencing [Indias] culture and society through charity work in education and apostolate in medical care across the country, both in urban and in remote rural areas.

For the clergyman, 93, Through many charitable and welfare services, the Catholic presence has played a vital role in spreading Jesus system of values  and in transforming people's lives and society."

Catholic schools have had a decisive impact on Indias development. Through our schools and universities, he explained, Catholic education achieved positive change."

Mumbai "had many areas where Catholics lived in humble circumstances. We welcomed their children, who became the first generation of schoolchildren. At school they were treated as equals of students from wealthy families. There were no distinctions; all had the same opportunities."

As time went by, "these children have blossomed, both from an intellectual point of view and in their understanding of religion. Later they found good jobs to support themselves."

The former rector "is also very proud of the fact that many vocations blossomed among them. Today many of our priests and nuns serve the Church, both in India and abroad. They are missionaries in the world: all this thanks to Catholic education."

Mgr Rodrigues is an important figure for the Archdiocese of Mumbai and Indias education system. Ordained in 1949, after studying in London and Rome, he was appointed principal at St Andrew High School in 1958.

In the mid-60s, he became president of the All India Association of Catholic Schools (AINACS). Later he served as president of the non-religious Head Master's Association, something wholly exceptional in India. In the 1960s and 1970s, he was inspector of Catholic schools across the country.

In addition to education, Mgr Rodrigues has worked in health care. In the 1970s, he intervened when the Sisters of the Medical Mission wanted to close the Holy Family Hospital in Bandra in order to move to rural areas to serve the poor. Mgr Rodrigues opposed the closure, saying that it was "important to have a Catholic hospital to cater to the Catholic community that was growing in the citys suburbs."

Thanks to his intervention in 1978 and to the intercession of Card Valerian Gracias, archbishop of Bombay (Mumbai) at the time, the Ursuline Sisters of Mary Immaculate took over the management of the facility, which today is one of the countrys top hospitals with 260 beds and "continues to serve the most vulnerable and marginalised."

When asked to look back at his many achievements, he replied with a shy smile: "We are unworthy servants; we have only done our job.

"My life, he said, was spent in the service of the Church in India, moved only by service with love, a service rich in mercy and charity."
by Pierre Balanian

Tunis (AsiaNews) - An Israeli correspondent for channel 10 TV, Moav Vardi, famous for having covered the Egyptian "Arab Spring" from Cairo in 2011, appeared yesterday live from Tunis, capital of Tunisia, a country that does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.

In his report the renowned journalist broadcast from the site where Tunisian engineer Muhammad Al Zuari was killed. He was suspected by the Israeli press of being the mastermind behind the creation and supply of drones to the Palestinian fundamentalist group Hamas.



The journalist began his service gripping the microphone with the Israeli TV the logo from the central square, saying: "I greet you from Tunis, where Israel has assassinated Khalil Al Wazir, Abu Jihad, in 1988".

Moav said that he went into the house of the murdered engineer and had spoken with his family "without revealing that I was Israeli and without a camera", shortly after returning from the funeral.



Just how he entered Tunisian territory through the international airport of Tunis Carthage is unknown, but later he hired a car "up in Sfax, 270 km from Tunis," as he told viewers. The report broadcast live by Channel 10 of the Israeli television, shows Moav quietly moving around and indicating the bullet marks on the car park gate, which caused the Tunisian engineer's death.



The video from Sfax of ordinary people in front of the gas station was taken with a hidden camera. From the pictures one can see mainly peoples feet. However, the reporter still managed to film the police in front of the car, a black Polo, in which the engineer Zuari was killed, with what does not appear to have been a hidden camera.



He even interviewed eyewitnesses in French and received replies in Arabic, and, in particular, one old man who said: "I saw the broken glass and he [the engineer] slumped over [the steering wheel dead]. That's it ... It all happened very fast, the operation was quick and finished before that people could regroup and come to the spot. "

When asked if the witnesses have seen or heard someone, the old man responded three times "we heard nothing." Another person added it is the work of foreigners, God only knows. He had just left home and was pelted with bullets. It was the only goal. " Moav then shown two pictures of the engineer intent demonstrating craft drones and how he helped Hamas to manufacture drones in their possession.



Moav has even interviewed the murdered engineer's veiled wife, who said she thought "a gas cylinder had exploded, then I went out and saw it was my husband." Another member of the murdered engineer's family said: "All you have to do is look at how the shots were fired in the parking lot, to realize that this is the work of professionals."



The Israeli TV report also shows filmed images of Muhammad Al Zuari s arrival in Tunis. "He came to Tunis from abroad four days earlier" said Moav, confirming what he was "followed and monitored." The Israeli reporter added that "he used to make several trips between Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Tunisia" and was working on the project of remote-controlled submarines. According to Israel's Channel 10 TV "even the Tunisian intelligence services were following Mohamad Zuari, who was a member of Hamas."



The word "also" used by the Israeli press is certainly not enough to deflect suspicion from Israel, nor to belittle the enormous interest of the Israeli press that resulted in its sending - in spite of the risks - a journalist to the site to report on the facts and comments first hand. Meanwhile, the president of the Tunisian Council stated that it doubted the existence of foreign involvement in the assassination, while stating that they were closely following the investigation.

The Tunisian Republican Party has called on all citizens to demonstrate tomorrow, in a sign of national mourning, raising "Tunisian and Palestinian flags to condemn the assassination and express solidarity with the Tunisian government and the Palestinian struggle against the Zionist occupation."

Hamas has recognized the engineer's role in the creation of Zuari Abalil drones supplied by Kataeb Al Qassam. Spokesman Mushir al-Masri has accused the Israeli Mossad of killing Zuari, a leading figure of the movement while promising retaliation and that the "blood of the martyr Zuari will not be shed in vain."



If the operation was indeed carried out by the Mossad, it would be the first mission of the new head of the Israeli network Yossi Cohen and would indicate his willingness to restore Mossad's ability to perform preventive operations on foreign soil.

Commenting on the Channel 10 report, Israeli spokesman for Security Affairs Ronen Bergman - asked about the accusations against the Mossad directed by the Tunisian press - said: "Not everything journalists and Tunisian newspapers report is lies, wrong or invented. "



Mohamad Zuari, the engineer assassinated on 15 December last, was a former Tunisian airline pilot, an Air Force engineer who worked on drones programs. He had left Tunisia in 1991 and lived in Syria, where he had married a Syrian, and joined Hamas a decade ago. He left Syria at the beginning of the war and returned to live in his parents' house with his wife in Sfax.

According to Roni Daniel, an Israeli military expert, "Zuari was perfecting the Hamas and Hezbollah drone system, with capacity to transport explosives." According to the latest information, he had already passed this stage and was working on a project of remotely piloted submarines.
It took 45 days. A "national unity" government with 30 ministers from different parties. The Kataeb (Phalange) declined to participate. A ministry for women's rights and one for refugees. The appeals of Patriarch Bechara Rai.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - After 45 days of consultations, the new Lebanese government was born last night. It had been promised on November 3, following the appointment of Saad Hariri as prime minister by the president of the republic Michel Aoun.

The first government under Aouns leadership, who was elected last October 31 - after a power vaccum of two and a half years- includes 30 ministers, six ministers of state, divided equally between Christians and Muslims.

At the press conference held immediately after the announcement of the formation, Hariri stressed that the new government can be defined as one of "national unity" because it brings together representatives of the many political parties. He also said that the task of his cabinet will be to deal with the acute national emergencies (electricity, waste, water, security) and will draft a new electoral law to bring Lebanon towards new elections.

Hariris government is one of compromise, yet despite this it had failed to include anyone from the Kataeb Party (Phalange), who have also refused to participate with the Prime Minister and President.

The most striking novelties are a ministry for women's rights and one for refugees, given the presence of more than one million Syrian refugees on Lebanese territory. Other new ministries include: one for the affairs of the president of the republic, human rights and the fight against corruption. Among the 30 ministers only one woman was mentioned: Inaya Ezzeddine, from the group linked to Nabi Berry, chosen as minister of administrative reform.

Among the figures who pressed to end the two and a half years of institutional vacuum, is the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai. Yesterday morning, during Mass, he called on politicians to show "a spirit of responsibility and impartiality facilitating the mission to form a new government.

"We hope, together with all the Lebanese who are loyal to Lebanon, that the political and parliamentary groups perceive the crucial nature of the economic and social situation which weighs on our population.
The great writer and dissident is serving an 11-year sentence for "subversion of state power." His wife is under house arrest. Norway and China resume talks in order to achieve free trade.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Norway and China have resumed diplomatic relations, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

Ties between the two countries had been cut in 2010 when the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to dissident writer Liu Xiaobo.

Liu is considered one of the drafters of Charter 08, a manifesto in favour of Chinas democratisation and human rights signed by thousands of prominent people in China. He was sentenced in 2009 to 11 years in prison for "subversion of state power."

His wife Liu Xia has been under house arrest without trial and has often been denied the right to visit her husband.

Before the award ceremony, China threatened trade and diplomatic reprisals against Oslo.

Chinese authorities have also threatened Liu's family and friends against collecting the prize.

The ceremony took place with an empty chair, on which the awards motivation had been placed, next to a photo of Liu Xiaobo (pictured).

At the time, Norway and China were engaged in discussions over a free trade agreement, which were discontinued.

I am very pleased that we are today normalising our political and diplomatic relations with China, Norwegian Foreign Minister Brge Brende said in a statement.

This gives us a new opportunity to cooperate. We will resume negotiation on a free trade agreement, he added.
In Kuching, 10,000 people join march organised by various Churches with Nativity scenes, traditional songs and dances enlivening the citys streets. Participants handed out gifts to the members of the public. Some 45,000 take part in a similar parade in Miri.

Kuching (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Some 10,000 people took to the streets yesterday in Kuching (Sarawak) for the annual Christmas parade, which combines religious and traditional celebrations.

The crowd, which included people dressed as Mary, Joseph and Jesus, angels, Santa Claus etc., gathered in the southern part of the city.

After a moment of prayer and worship, participants from various Christian denominations began their march towards the city centre.

This is the 10th edition of Kuchings Christmas parade. It was organised by the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS), which includes Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Seventh Day Adventists, the Salvation Army and other Christian denominations. This years theme was God so loved the world.

The parade saw people on foot, bicycle, motorbike and sleighs pulled by reindeers. People from local churches joined the main crowd.

The streets were decorated with lights, coloured ribbons and banners. Nativity scenes were placed at various points along the route.

Music filled the streets as thousands of people joined the choir and the six brass bands from the Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade.

Traditional carols were accompanied by shofar* players, as well as tribal drummers and dancers with tambourines. Parade participants handed out Christmas presents to members of the public who turned out to watch the event.

Meanwhile, in Miri (Sarawak, near the border with Brunei), some 45,000 people from 15 churches and members of the public thronged the Miri City Fan for their another Christmas parade.

In Sarawak, the tradition of Christmas parades began in the city of Sibu in the 1970s, and have been held on 12 December ever since.

The celebration is a symbol of unity for the whole state, uniting not only Christians from different denominations, but also people of every race and religion, sharing love and peace for one another.

* The shofar is ram's horn used as a musical instrument.
China insights report: Confectionery opportunities in China





As incomes in China continue to rise, snacking between meals has become increasingly popular. Traditionally, nuts and seeds were often consumed as snacks in China  particularly when travelling  yet confectionery has grown as a snack of choice for many Chinese today.

The retail chocolate market in China is estimated to have grown at a CAGR of 8% between 2011 and 2016, reaching RMB 27.5 billion in 2016, up from RMB 18.7 billion in 2011. (Mintel report Chocolate Confectionery  China June 2016).

Chinas gift-giving culture and tendency towards regular gatherings of relatives and friends further drives demand in this category, particularly during Chinese New Year.

Western influence has led to a greater acceptance of sweet confectionery in China, though less sweet domestic brands are still extremely popular. Unlike chocolate, a number of Chinese consumers indicated they did not have a preference for Western confectionery brands over local ones.

Aside from the large multinationals and coffee chains such as Nescafe and Starbucks, manufacturers from Taiwan and Korea dominate the packaged iced coffee market. However, there are still opportunities for manufacturers who can differentiate their product through innovative flavours and/or packaging, such as Austrian brand Landessa.

Brands

Major brands

Haribo  White Rabbit  Fosters  Bonumee

Niche brands

Yum Earth Organics  Pierrot Gourmand  Sugarpova  Pandora Bell

Selected product information

Product Retailer Manufacturer Origin Serving Size Price (Rmb) Milk candy Lianhua White Rabbit China 227g 14.30 Peanut nougat Carefour Ma Da Jie China 300g 16.00 Pear drops mini boilies Ole Fosters Turkey 100g 29.80 Strawberry lollipops Jenny Wangs Yum Earth Organics US 85g 25.20 Fruit Marbles City Super Mrs Bridges UK 155g 68.00

Packaging and flavours

Local confectionery typically comes in smaller-sized packaging than Western confectionery, though larger sizes are more common in hypermarkets. A number of Western European manufacturers, from the UK in particular, have developed strong branding in the premium confectionery category in China through packaging that evokes a sense of old-fashioned, authentic, hand-made and reliable confectionery. These products are also well-suited to gift-giving.

Localised confectionery flavours include red bean, sesame, nut, coconut and milk. Sour, fruit (lemon, berry, sour cherry) and cola candies are popular flavours among local and Western brands alike.

Promotions

A range of confectionery is often presented in displays close to check-outs at Chinas international supermarkets. Some manufacturers leverage festivals such as Halloween and Christmas to launched themed confectionery products and packaging, or accompanying gifts. Gondola displays for confectionery are also common.

Trends and opportunities

There are opportunities to localize flavours in the confectionery category in China (for example, leveraging Australias strong milk brand in China to launch a milk-based confectionery product). Manufacturers will be able to differentiate their products through premium and/or functional ingredients. Contains real fruit juice, reduced sugar, organic ingredients and vitamin C were some of the branding messages observed on confectionery products in China. Sugar and gum confectionery, bakery, desserts and ice cream, snacks and dairy are the top five food categories adopting chocolate flavours according market data, which could be prioritised when companies consider tapping into more categories. Innovative packaging, perhaps targeting Chinas gift-giving culture, weddings and Chinese New Year  or promotions and themed products targeting Christmas and Halloween may also present opportunities. As an example refer to the following Hershey fruit filled Chocolate and Dove Blueberry & Cherry dark chocolate.

This report is a part of Food Innovation Australia Limiteds China Insights series which explores different food products in mainland China.
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By Adrian Carter, Senior Research Fellow, Monash University

Shutterstock/Rawpixel.com

Innovation has become the mantra of the day with the launch of the recent #IdeasBoom and Australias National Innovation and Science Agenda.

But how effectively is Australia supporting the PhD graduates required for a successful research and development (R&D) sector?

There used to be a clear pathway for people who wanted a career in research. After finishing a PhD, they would first complete one or two postdoctoral appointments, which is a temporary job that functioned as a post-PhD apprenticeship.

The postdoc would provide the specific skills needed for entry into a government, industry or academic role.

In Australia, over the past 20 years, the average age of chief investigators receiving funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has increased substantially.

In 1983, 84% of NHMRC chief investigators were aged 3049 and 16% were aged 5074. In 2013, 43% of chief investigators were aged 3049 and 57% were aged 5074. This has lead to either extended years as a postdoctoral researcher or moving out of the research sector.

In the United States, PhD qualified graduates are skipping the postdoctoral period altogether for careers at biotech startups. Could we better prepare Australian scientists for opportunities like this?

Researcher hopes

In a recent survey conducted by the Australian Academy of Sciences Early and Mid-Career Researcher Forum (EMCR Forum) more than half of Australian postdoctoral researchers said they wanted a long-term career in research. For most, this means a research career at a university.

More than a third of the same postdoctoral researchers believed this would be unlikely, due to inadequate job security  such as short-term contracts  and a lack of funding to conduct research in Australia.

This fear is not unfounded. Success rates for the current round of NHMRC Career Development Fellowships  a major scheme supporting EMCRs in the health and medical sciences  was around 13%, and only 8% for women.

We rely on research to inform our local and national government policies, and we currently have a government that emphasises science, innovation and ideas. So, it is alarming that such a large proportion of the scientific sector believe they do not have a clear future in research.

More than half of the respondents thought Australian researchers had to leave to work overseas in order to be competitive for grant funding and promotion.

Working longer hours was also seen as essential for being competitive, with 39% of the research hours in Australia conducted by PhD-qualified researchers for free, as unpaid overtime.

Funding issues

In 2015 alone, Australia produced nearly 10,000 higher degree research graduates. These students include people working towards Masters and Doctorate degrees.

In the 20152016 budget, A$300 million over four years was redirected to provide operational funding to support infrastructure through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

Each year, the Australian Government allocates block funding to higher education providers based on an equation that relies in part on research income, publications and the number of higher degree research student graduations.



Despite nearly doubling the number of higher degree research student graduates in the past 20 years in Australia, we still largely train them in the same way we always have. They expect a clear career pathway in research at a university.

Options, options, options

There are many other opportunities for these graduates in government, industry and other non-academic sectors. But proven training for these opportunities is difficult to source.

Most PhD graduates and postdocs are unaware of professions outside of academia, and are poorly prepared to identify pathways into these careers. Funding models and the structure of most PhD programs do not support students and graduates to obtain the necessary training and experience to work in these non-academic sectors.

We need to start the conversation about switching between academia and industry in a more supported way, such as internships with industry, government and the nonprofit sector.

The Academy of Sciences EMCR Forum recently published a discussion paper for researchers and bureaucrats working within and outside the academic sector to help drive this conversation.

Celebrating and rewarding researchers who work across sectors and training higher degree research students to aim for these careers will lead to a more innovative R&D sector. This will see more opportunities for Australian taxpayers to reap the benefits of their investment in Australian research.

It will also help reduce the anxiety that many PhD students and postdocs currently feel about their future career prospects.

These graduates have high levels of transferable skills that are valuable to all workplaces. These include data collection and analysis, project and team management, problem-solving, communication and leadership.

If youre in the market for someone to tackle an important problem, try someone with a PhD. Their evidence-based approach and advanced problem solving skills might be just what you need, and you might find hiring one to be surprisingly affordable.

Adrian Carter receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is co-Deputy Chair Executive Board of the Australian Academy of Science Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Forum

Maggie Hardy works for The University of Queensland. She is a former member of the Executive Board of the Australian Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Forum.

Nikola Bowden is employed by the University of Newcastle. She receives funding from the Cancer Institute NSW, Ramaciotti Foundation and the Hunter Medical Research Institute and has previously received funding from the NHMRC, Cancer Australia and Cure Cancer Australia. Dr Bowden is the current Chair of the Australian Academy of Science Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Forum Executive.

Originally published in The Conversation.
The refreshed Corolla Altis is available in three petrol and two diesel variants; base J trim discontinued; no top trim diesel.

Toyota has launched the facelifted Corolla Altis starting at Rs 15.87 lakh, going up to Rs 19.91 lakh. The updated car is sleeker, thanks to heavily revised front and tweaks to the rear, in line with the automakers latest design language. The cabin too has been updated with a revised dashboard with new trim inserts, revised air-vent design and new air-con controls.

Apart from the styling changes, the car gets a revised variant line-up. The entry-level J trim has been discontinued with the previous mid-level G trim now becoming the entry model. The petrol car is available in three trim levels  G, GL and VL  with the top trim coming only in automatic. The diesel comes in only two trim levels  G and GL  with no top variant on offer.

Toyota has also updated the equipment on offer across the trim levels. Here is a look at what it has to offer:

Toyota Corolla Altis G (Petrol M/T: Rs 15.87 lakh; Petrol CVT: Rs 17.52 lakh; Diesel M/T: Rs 17.36 lakh)

Airbags  5 for petrol, 3 for diesel

ABS with EBD and brake assist

15-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels

LED daytime running lamps

Fog lamps (in petrol cars only)

LED tail-lamps

Electric adjust and retract wing mirrors

Keyless entry

7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with MirrorLink connectivity, voice and gesture control (petrol only)

Reclining rear seat

Sport drive mode and paddle shifters (petrol CVT only)

Reverse camera and sensors (diesel gets only rear parking sensors

Toyota Corolla Altis GL petrol (petrol M/T: Rs 18.30 lakh; diesel M/T: Rs 19.05 lakh)

Stability control (petrol only)

Hill start assist (petrol only)

Clutch start system

Auto bi-beam LED headlamps with self levelling

16-inch 15-spoke alloy wheels (petrol only, diesel gets 15-inch 10-spoke units)

Auto fold and reverse linked wing mirrors

Rain sensing wipers

Infotainment system with navigation (petrol only)

Leather seats (petrol only)

10-way electric adjust driver seat

Push button start

Toyota Corolla Altis VL (petrol CVT: Rs 19.91 lakh)

Seven airbags

Cruise control

Sport drive mode and paddle shifters

Powering the facelifted car is the same 140hp, 1.8-litre petrol and 88hp, 1.4-litre diesel engines as the pre-facelifted model. Both engines are paired with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard with the petrol being offered with a CVT gearbox option.

With the facelift, Toyota hopes to attract more customers and further consolidate itself as the best-seller in the executive sedan segment whose sales have declined (April 2016 to Jan 2017) year on year. The facelifted car rivals the likes of the Hyundai Elantra, the Volkswagen Jetta and the Skoda Octavia which too, is set to get a facelift in the coming months.

Also read:

Toyota Corolla Altis facelift launched

Toyota Corolla Altis facelift image gallery
Mistry says the battle will shift to a 'larger platform' than the extraordinary general meeting.

Former chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry, has announced his resignation from the Tata group of companies as a whole. Mistry had earlier been replaced by Ratan Tata as interim chairman in a sudden move.

Mistrys resignation follows a letter from interim chairman Ratan Tata appealing to shareholders to help remove the former from his post at all Tata companies. Announcing his retirement, Mistry in an official statement said that he had felt it was in the best interest of employees, shareholders and other stakeholders of the Tata Group that he moved away from the forum of the extraordinary general meeting.

"Having deeply reflected on where we are in this movement for cleaning up governance and regaining lost ethical ground, I think it is time to shift gears, up the momentum, and be more incisive in securing the best interest of the Tata Group," reports quoted Mistry as saying.

Mistry also revealed in his statement that he had decided to shift his campaign to a larger platform where the rule of law and equity is upheld seemingly saying that the battle could head to court following weeks of ongoing speculation.

As with other companies, the battle is likely to affect Tata Motors where Mistry was personally involved and had an exciting line-up of future products that promised to rejuvenate Tata Motors passenger car division. Now future products beyond the Nexon which need board approval are likely to get delayed.

Tata Motors had called an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on December 22, 2016 to seek shareholders' approval for removing Cyrus Mistry as director of Tata Motors.
Over the five-month voyage dedicated to Ducatis 90th anniversary, Indian globetrotter Vir Nakai, Frenchman Laurent Cochet, Belgian rider Jessica Leyne, Brazilian Eduardo Generali, Australian Steve Fraser and Brit Hugo Wilson all played a leading role. Each one an expert motorcyclist, passionate traveller and, above all, skilled storyteller.Day after day on the Globetrotter90.ducati.com blog, they kept an on-board diary, telling the many Ducati fans exactly what was happening during their exciting adventure. Stage after stage, the seven globetrotters passed on the special torch, the symbolic baton created by the Ducati Design Center and equipped with an inbuilt camera to allow for every emotion experienced during the trip to be filmed and shared.From Bologna to Scandinavia, then to Russia and across the legendary Trans-Siberian Highway, to Japan, the USA and back across Europe, before the torch and Multistrada 1200 Enduro finally returned home, having visited all those symbolic places that have played a part in Ducati history.The seventh and final globetrotter was German Timo Schafer, a mechanical engineering student who left from the Isle of Man on December 2nd. He traveled on the Multistrada 1200 Adventure first to Maidstone, then crossed to channel to France from where he continued through Belgium and a good part of Germany, with temperatures that were constantly below zero.Timo then reached Bavaria, where he attended the More Than Red - Passione Ducati exhibition after which he crossed the Alps back to Italy reaching the Monza racetrack. The Multistrada then reached Florence to meet with living legend Giuliano Maoggi after which he crossed the Futa pass and finally reached Borgo Panigale, concluding the Globetrotter 90th.
Both brands failed to meet their predetermined emission limits on a fleet level, and will suffer penalties that amount to approximately 500,000 euros.Ferrari will get the biggest part of that fine, which amounts to 410,760 euros for the Italian automaker. Meanwhile, Aston Martin will get a sanction set at 36,370 euros, according to Automotive News Europe The said fines had been calculated using a formula that was established by the European Environmental Agency, which sanctions each gram of CO2 per kilometer that exceeds the set limit on a fleet level. The calculation method is complicated, but the report of the EEA states that only two automakers will have to pay penalties, and the two supercar manufacturers have been nominated.We must note that Aston Martin Lagonda and Ferrari were both cataloged as small volume automakers, which is a threshold for companies that only make 10,000 cars a year or less. Both have complied with this restriction, but their figures were not small enough to meet the targets agreed with the European Union.Automakers are allowed to join a pool, which is a group of brands that gets counted as a single entity. Evidently, this is tricky for Aston Martin Lagonda because it is an independent automaker, and not other company on the market would be interested in overshadowing its emissions when it could receive environmental super credits.The organization that made this report stated that several automakers would have to accelerate the rate of reducing their fleet emissions. However, the representatives of some of those brands have said that numerous factors influenced the figures presented in the chart, and that they should not be extrapolated into the future.Instead, most of the automakers that were judged as having to accelerate their efforts claim they will succeed in reducing their average fleet emission results by 2021. The launch of new engines, product cadence, and sales will influence these figures each year, so expect more eco-friendly options from European automakers in the next few years.
Truth be told, a lot has changed during those 111 years. From a single production facility in Mlada Boleslav, the Czech automaker now manufactures its cars in places as far away from Europe as India and China. Call it a chance meeting with the Volkswagen Group back in 1991, but there is no denying that the Volkswagen-owned brand is on an upward trend as of late.We have 19 million reasons to be proud, said Michael Oeljeklaus, the board member responsible for production and logistics. This milestone underscores the performance of our Czech and international production sites, as well as the competence of our team. That would be "teams" with an s, not "team," for a couple of reasons: a) 7 model series from the Citigo city car to the Kodiaq and Superb; b) 14 assembly plants located in 7 countries.The 19th millionth Skoda was built on December 19, 2016, less than a year after the automaker announced that it had completed the 18th millionth vehicle on January 19, 2016. The 18th millionth car was a Superb Combi. To put these numbers into perspective, Skoda produced its 5th millionth vehicle in 1991, the same year Volkswagen acquired 30 percent of the company.Whats next for Skoda? Well, according to the motherships Strategy 2025 plan, the future is three things: electrified, autonomous, and a place where alternative taxi services reign supreme. The first Skoda models slated for electrification are the Superb sedan and Kodiaq crossover SUV Michael Oeljeklaus reiterates VAG's plans for Skoda Auto as follows: We are going to build on this development over the coming years. The foundation for this is our Strategy 2025 , which will prepare Skoda sustainably for the processes of change in society and the automotive industry.
EV

Yes, that would have to be a very large pocket indeed, but that's not the main issue here. The problem is that the State officials were all too happy to offerstartup Faraday Future tax credits amounting to $335 million, without even bothering to check the company's financial status.Dan Schwartz, the Nevada State Treasurer, told Jalopnik that the financials of the company were marked confidential and not shared. We [the Treasury] asked for a financing plan, but have never seen it, and that was a year ago. Well, if things go South for Faraday Future, this could end up being another one of those examples of how nonchalantly the officials make decisions concerning taxpayers' money.As you probably know, Faraday Future is one of the several companies backed by Chinese magnate Jia Yueting that are planning to release an electric vehicle over the coming years. Faraday has currently reached the phase where it releases teaser videos and images and tries to build up hype over the official launch of its first vehicle.The unveil is scheduled right after the last alcohol vapors from the New Year's Eve party have passed, on January 3, 2017. Most details about the company's electric crossover have remained a secret, but the real worry is that not even the car's makers have the answer to all these questions.Early last month, Jia Yueting confirmed his company was struggling with a cash shortage , but he didn't reveal how this would affect the rest of the initiatives he was involved with. However, even before this, work on Faraday Future's $1 billion factory in Nevada had ceased after the startup failed to make the required payments toward the contractor.Faraday Future's situation isn't looking great at the moment, and the only thing that could give it a breath of fresh air is a successful launch of its model. Even then it would face an uphill battle to convince investors and gather capital, but at least the first step in the right direction would have been made.
News





Bookmark + GMC Updates Sierra HD for 2024 In addition to the debut of the Denali Ultimate trim, the 2024 Sierra HD will introduce the off-road optimized Sierra HD AT4X trim later in the model-year.
When the object (in the white circle) gets in the border of the cameras field of view (ABCD), it is very difficult to recognize. Self- driving vehicles Artificial intelligence complements the knowledge about the current traffic situation with the RAM data (modeling human hippocampal function). A'B'C'D Picture ', recorded a moment earlier, contains information about the object, sufficient for its recognition. Photo: Cognitive Technologies

Autonomous vehicle technology is currently being tested around the globe  with the U.S., Western Europe, and Japan being some of the leading hotspots with high-profile demonstrations of the autonomous vehicles.

Russia is also contributing to the self-driving research and demonstrations. Moscow-based Cognitive Technologies has developed autonomous vehicle technology designed specifically for Russian driving conditions, including heavy weather, such as snow and rain, poor road markings, and various road obstacles, such as humans and animals.

The C-Pilot autonomous driving system, which was unveiled in August, can be installed as an aftermarket solution. The self-driving vehicle prototype includes numerous safety features to warn the driver about road or driving conditions, including lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and pedestrian protection, according to a company representative.

The company expects to introduce the system outside of the Russian market to manufacturers and fleets in the second quarter of 2017, and sign contracts with automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers by 2020, according to the company representative.

The system is designed to function similar to the human brains hippocampus, allowing the system to learn from its environment, according to a company release.

While many aspects of the C-Pilot system are similar to other systems being developed, one key difference of Cognitive Technologies system is that it's chip free, meaning that it can interface with any vehicle the same way a mobile device does. It can be updated numerous times and remotely, according to the company representative.

Another advantage the Russian system has over some of the others available in other markets is that it can recognize images on the border of the image, according to a company release.

The company is also working with Russian truck manufacturer KAMAZ to test an autonomous truck on a closed track  Russian traffic laws currently prohibit autonomous vehicles on private roads, according to a Cognitive Technologies representative  and has performed simple maneuvers, such as turning, turning around, snaking motion, and others. The field tests are being carried out in poor driving conditions such as low visibility and with road obstacles.

Beyond the traditional automotive market, Cognitive Technologies has been working with agricultural farm equipment manufacturer Rostselmash and Souz Agro, the largest agricultural holdings of the Republic of Tatarstan, to develop agricultural self-driving technologies.
FCA has delivered 100 uniquely built Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Minivans to Waymo for its self-driving test fleet. Photo courtesy of FCA.

One hundred Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans, engineered to enable self-driving operations, have just been produced to join Waymos autonomous vehicle test fleet in early 2017, according to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Waymo.

Waymo is the new name for Googles self-driving car project.

The minivans are now being outfitted with Waymos fully self-driving technology, including a purpose-built computer and a suite of sensors, telematics, and other systems, the companies said.

The collaboration between FCA and Waymo brought together engineers from both companies to integrate Waymos autonomous driving system into the 2017-model year Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan. The task called for engineering modifications to the minivans electrical, powertrain, chassis, and structural systems.

The Pacifica Hybrid will be a great addition to our fully self-driving test fleet, said John Krafcik, Waymo CEO. FCAs product development and manufacturing teams have been agile partners, enabling us to go from program kickoff to full vehicle assembly in just six months.

Waymo and FCA co-located part of their engineering teams at a facility in southeastern Michigan to accelerate the overall development process. In addition, they carried out extensive testing at FCAs Chelsea Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Mich., at FCA's Arizona Proving Grounds in Yucca, Ariz., and at Waymo test sites in California.
(Saturday, December 17)

168 Zham reports that the European Unions legislative body, the European Parliament, has given the green light for the scrapping of EU visa requirements for the citizens of Georgia and Ukraine. Along with Georgia and Ukraine, Armenia was included in the EUs Eastern Partnership program and rapidly headed to an Association Agreement with the EU, comments the paper. So what the European Parliament has done about Georgia and Ukraine could and should have also applied to Armenia had there been no [Armenian foreign policy U-turn in] September 2013  If Armenian citizens too had been granted visa-free travel to the EU, they would have opened their eyes and realized that the world does not start and end with [the Russian cities of] Krasnodar and Vladikavakaz.

When former Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian was appointed as head of the Eurasian Economic Commission there were some expectations that he will act to further Armenias interests in the Eurasian Economic Union, writes Zhoghovurd. Tigran Sarkisian will soon mark the first anniversary of his appointment but there is no visible positive change. The paper claims that Armenia has drawn no economic benefits from its membership in the EEU despite sharp rises in Armenian exports to Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan recorded this year. True, the Russian economy is in decline. True, global economic trends are on the whole negative. But the fact that Armenia has the worst indicators in the EEU is the fault of officials representing Armenia in that structure and Tigran Sarkisian in particular.

Haykakan Zhamanak reports that the prices of some foodstuffs in Armenia have shot up on the eve of the New Years and Christmas holidays. The paper blames the price hikes on soaring consumer demand which in turn results from the Armenian tradition of celebrating the New Year at excessively abundant dinner tables. It is bordering on mass hysteria, it says.

(Tigran Avetisian)
19 December 2016 10:27 (UTC+04:00)

Armenias armed forces have 33 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops over the past 24 hours, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry reported on December 19.

The Azerbaijani army positions located in Kemerli village of the Qazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in Dovekh village of the Noyemberyan district of Armenia.

Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions also took fire from the Armenian positions located near the Armenian-occupied Chilaburt and Goyarkh villages of the Tartar district, Javakhirli village of the Aghdam district, Horadiz and Ashagi Seyidahmadli villages of the Fizuli district, Mehdili village of the Jabrayil district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of the Goranboy, Khojavand, Fuzuli and Tartar districts.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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19 December 2016 10:01 (UTC+04:00)

By Vinod Thomas

Climate change is the single biggest challenge facing humankind. Yet the next president of the United States  the worlds second-largest greenhouse-gas emitter and a critical actor in climate policy  does not believe it is happening, or at least that humans have a role in driving it. If Donald Trump actually wants to Make America Great Again, as his campaign slogan declared, he will need to change his attitude and embrace the climate agenda.

So far, the situation does not look promising. Despite a mountain of scientific data, Trump claims that there is no evidence that humans contribute to global warming. He once even called climate change a hoax, invented by the Chinese to make US manufacturing less competitive (though he later walked back that accusation). He has not, however, rethought his broader skepticism about human-driven climate change.

Reflecting this line of thinking, Trump has announced his intention to reverse carbon-emission limits for coal-fired power plants, step up fossil-fuel production, and roll back support for wind and solar power. He has also pledged to pull the US out of the global climate-change agreement concluded last December in Paris. Such a reversal would be catastrophic for global efforts to tackle climate change.

Just as US President George W. Bushs refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol on climate change in 2005 initiated a spiral of rising emissions, a decision by Trump not to fulfill Americas commitments under the Paris agreement could spur others to follow suit. After all, many countries are already worried about the costs of meeting their national commitments, especially at a time of sluggish economic recovery. And burning fossil fuels remains, in most economic activities, cheaper than using cleaner energy (when one does not account for the relevant environmental damage).

Of course, in the longer term, burning more fossil fuels will drive up health-care costs and impede worker productivity. Then there are the economic and human costs of increasingly frequent and severe climate-related disasters  including floods, droughts, storms, and heat waves, all of which are already on the rise worldwide.

To be sure, Trump recently met with the former US vice president and vocal climate activist Al Gore. Nonetheless, it seems unlikely that Trump will change his tune on climate change, not least because the cabinet members he has selected are largely singing the same song.

The good news is that he may not have to. In fact, there are actions that Trump can take for other ends  from boosting the US economy to enhancing Americas global influence  that would also advance the climate agenda.

The first such action is to increase investment in research and development in climate-friendly sectors, such as energy efficiency and storage, renewable-energy systems, and safer and smaller cars. Technological breakthroughs in these areas  which the US is particularly qualified to realize  would be great for business. And building high-tech production and efficient energy sectors may be Trumps best chance of fulfilling his campaign promise to create a large number of jobs for Americans.

As much as Trump might like to revive steel and coal in the so-called Rust Belt states that were crucial to his electoral victory, that is likely impossible (as is bringing back large numbers of manufacturing jobs from abroad). Indeed, coal power is already on its way out in the US, as health and environmental (not just climate) concerns force plants to shut down.

Natural-gas production, meanwhile, is at an all-time high; its 33% share in power generation now exceeds that of coal. Renewable-energy sources and nuclear power are also on the rise, a trend that is almost certain to continue. To create a Rust Belt revival, Trump must capitalize on these trends, advancing a more innovative, energy-efficient approach, much like the one that is helping to support growth in the economies of California and New York.

Trump could reinforce progress in dynamic and profitable energy-efficient industries by entrenching energy efficiency in construction codes. New buildings and other infrastructure should feature energy-efficient lighting (including better use of sunlight), heating, and air conditioning. There are also huge payoffs from retrofitting existing buildings for more efficient energy use.

There is one more key reason why Trump, the climate-skeptic, might be convinced to sustain progress on climate action: preserving and enhancing Americas international influence. Other prominent global leaders  including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel  have expressed concern about the devastation caused by pollution and environmental degradation. If the US repudiates its leadership role in this area, it risks considerable reputational damage.

Global climate leadership will require the US, first and foremost, to fulfill its Paris commitments. It is vital that Trump upholds Americas Clean Power Plan, which establishes state-by-state targets for carbon-emissions reductions, with the goal of lowering national emissions from electricity generation by one-third relative to their 2005 level by 2030. The extension of tax credits for renewable-energy producers and consumers would go a long way toward advancing this goal.

But even achieving the Paris agreements goals will not be enough to avert a catastrophic rise in global temperature. We must overshoot our targets by advancing clean energy, clean transport, and clean industry. For that, American know-how and savvy will be indispensable.

Trump already wants to invest in energy and infrastructure. If he does so in a climate-friendly way, the US will reap enormous benefits  and so will the rest of the world. If the mogul-turned-president does not recognize the threat that climate change poses, he should at least be able to recognize a tremendous business opportunity when he sees one.

Copyright: Project Syndicate: How Climate Action Can Make America Great

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19 December 2016 11:44 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) has so far paid compensations worth over 718 million manats ($409.584 million) 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 430.53 ($ 245.59 ) 460($262.4) Zaminbank 52.38 ($29.88) 60($ 34.22) Dekabank 3.02 ($1.72) 5.59($3.18) Kredobank 27.77 ($ 15.84) 30.21($ 17.23) Caucasus Development Bank 1.94 ($ 1.10) 2($1.14) Atrabank 14.27 ($ 8.14) 14.55($ 8.30) Bank of Azerbaijan 24.15 ($ 13.77) 24.2($13.80) Gandjabank 0.98 ($ 0.55) 1($0.57) Texnikabank 120.05 ($ 68.48) 122.6($ 69.9) Parabank 42.91 ($ 24.47) 43.79($24.98)

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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19 December 2016 13:24 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) will issue some $3 million within the technical assistance on the second Financial Market Modernization Project to be implemented in Azerbaijan.

The agency, which is responsible for planning and implementation of economic and trade policy measures, is expected to initially allocate some $2.2 million ($ 1.25 million) after the conclusion of a deal.

Further, SECO will allocate additional $400,000 by November 30, 2018, and the same sum by November 30, 2019. The three tranches are expected to be totally drawn by August 2021.

Within SECO's technical support to Azerbaijani economy, WB experts will render their assistance to the government of Azerbaijan in the increase of financial stability via extending regulatory and legal frameworks of financial sector and enhancement of monitoring functions of the Financial Market Supervisory Body (FMSB). The assistance will cover five directions, namely supervision over the financial market, liquidation of banks, deposit insurance system, protection of consumers' rights and non-performing loans.

The WB is expected to develop recommendations on the revision of legislature in the sphere of bank liquidation, financial market, and improvement of supervisory function of the regulator.

Moreover, the Bank will also develop recommendations on changes in legal and institutional frameworks of the Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) to bring the activity of the institution in line with international standards, accelerate the process of compensations payment and improve the financing mechanism within unforeseen circumstances. Also, the assistance will extend to the sphere of non-performing loans, including classification of credits, creation of resources, strategy on work with such loans, as well as the restructuring of non-performing loans without judicial intervention.

Azerbaijan and Switzerland have been cooperating effectively for already 25 years, including the cooperation within the SECO, which covers the microeconomic policy and ensuring financial stability.

In 2012, SECO allocated funds for the implementation of the first WB project on modernization of the financial market worth $4 million. The project was accomplished in June 2016 after four years of implementation, while the overall project implementation was assessed as successful

The objective of the project was to deepen the capital market, strengthen the capacity of AzerPoct, and improve consumers' financial literacy through technical assistance and capacity building.

Azerbaijan became a WB member in 1992. As of September 2016, the Bank allocated loans to the country worth $3.99 billion, while the funds were used to finance more than 70 projects.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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19 December 2016 14:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

The Strategic Road Map for the manufacture and processing of agricultural products in Azerbaijan is expected to provide a significant GDP growth.

Some 20,000 new workplaces will be created in the country until 2020, while the increase in GDP will amount to 1.2 billion manats ($ 0.68), according to the document. Direct effect of the measures envisaged in the Road Map will amount to 575 million ($ 328.1 million), while indirect effect will provide an additional increase of 660 million manats ($ 376.5 manats).

Moreover, it is planned to establish an agricultural insurance fund in 2018, while Azerbaijans Financial Markets Supervision Body (FMSB), the countrys Agriculture Ministry, as well as private insurance companies will study the possibility of creating an insurance fund to expand the coverage of agricultural insurance.

The country will study international experience in this area and prepare reports, which will contain an analysis of the potential impact of the funds creation on insurance of producers and development of the sphere as a whole.

Also, it is planned to create an information base that includes climate data, information on natural disasters, animal and plant diseases as well as data on productivity.

The Road Map comprises short-term (until 2020), medium-term (until 2025) and long-term measures (post 2025) measures to be implemented in the sphere. Some nine strategic objectives were defined in the Map to create an advantageous environment, which will increase the competitiveness of the sector.

The main objectives of the Road Map are strengthening the sustainability of food security, simplifying the access to financial resources, improving the quality of professional education, development of consulting and information services, simplification of the access to the markets for manufacturers, development of market infrastructure, improving the business environment in the sphere of agriculture.

A recent decree endorsing Strategic road maps for the national economy and main economic sectors signed by President Ilham Aliyev on December 6 targets to define the development goals and priorities and ensure their proper and timely implementation.

The strategic road maps cover almost all sectors of the economy, including, development of the oil and gas industry, the manufacture and processing of agricultural products, the manufacture of small and medium entrepreneurship-level consumer goods, development of heavy industry and machinery, tourism, logistics and trade, vocational education and training, financial services, communication and information technologies and utilities.

The Strategic Road Maps will require some 27 billion manats ($ 15.4 billion) to be implemented, while the sum will be provided through the state and private sources.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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19 December 2016 18:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Director General of MBA Group consulting company, real estate expert Nusrat Ibrahimov forecasts a 10-percent growth in the real estate market of Azerbaijan.

He told Trend that the gradual adaptation to the current economic situation, as well as recovery of activities by the Azerbaijan Mortgage Fund (AMF) will help stabilize the market and return it to the growth path.

Next year, the situation on the real estate market should gradually stabilize, Ibrahimov said, adding that several factors will contribute to this.

First, there is the psychological factor  if revenues increase and the economic situation gradually stabilizes, the population begins to adapt and activates on the market.

The second factor is associated with the restoration of AMF activities  the market will recover and regain the previously lost positions.

The expert noted that the current year was one of the most difficult years for the real estate market.

This year, the Baku real estate market reached its lowest figure. By the end of November, the market decreased by 25.41 percent compared to the beginning of the year, Ibrahimov said.

He explained this by the decrease of money supply in the market, which was caused by the closure of a number of banks, suspension of the activities of AMF, as well as departure of foreign investors.

In terms of numbers, in January-November 2016 prices on the primary housing market of Baku decreased by 14.77 percent and by 29.06 percent n the secondary housing market. The decrease in the land market made 28.85 percent, while in the market of commercial properties it was 22.29 percent.

Rental housing has fallen in price by 26.04 percent since the beginning of the year, while the rental of commercial properties  by 33.12 percent.

Currently, Azerbaijan intends to promote its real estate market and attract local and foreign investments in this area. To this end, the 2nd Azerbaijan International Real Estate and Investment Exhibition was held in Baku in late November, which featured the most attractive real estate projects of Europe, the Middle East and the Caucasian countries.

The exhibition became a pivotal stage in terms of demonstrating the extensive investment climate in Azerbaijan's real estate market to foreign investors, as well as involving the investors in the privatization process carried out in the country.

The state seeks to attract real-estate investments to revive the local market, especially the real estate market of the capital city of Baku.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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19 December 2016 16:05 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Ukraines Zhitomir region is keen to involve Azerbaijani investors in the implementation of different investment projects.

Governor of the Region Igor Gundich said that over 90 investment projects have already been developed in the region, adding that the projects cover different spheres of economy, which may interest Azerbaijani investors. The governor mentioned that more than 10 Azerbaijani entrepreneurs are currently working in the region.

Gundich made the remarks while addressing a meeting with Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine Azer Khudiyev.

The sides also discussed perspectives of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Zhitomir region, which is deemed to be one of the most economically-developed regions in Ukraine.

The envoy, in turn, gave thorough information about the economic development of Azerbaijan and expressed his readiness to assist businessmen of the two countries in the development of business ties.

Along with being one of the main partners of Ukraine in the region, Azerbaijan also ranks among major foreign investors of the country.

Investments of Azerbaijan in Ukraine totaled $189.6 million as of December 31, 2015. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) operates more than 60 fuel stations across the country.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Ukraine made up $234.7 million in the first nine months of 2016, with some $201.8 million of the sum falling to a share of imports from Ukraine, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.

Azerbaijans imports from Ukraine include tobacco, iron and steel, machinery, cocoa, pharmaceuticals.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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19 December 2016 17:17 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan's State Committee on Property Issues will hold another auction for privatization of state objects and enterprises on January 17, 2017.

The auction will put on sale 72 state properties, including 20 joint stock companies, 21 small enterprises and facilities, 30 non-residential areas, and an unfinished building, the Committee informed on December 19.

The facilities put up for auction are located both in Baku and regions of the country. Their activities cover the areas of repair, industry, public nutrition, food, agriculture, transport, construction, production, etc.

The most expensive objects and enterprises among them are a non-residential area in Sabunchu district of Baku ($608,650) and a shop ($364,630).

The third stage of privatization started in the framework of the presidential decree dated May 19, 2016. Under the decree, the acceleration of the state property privatization process has been defined as an important direction of the economic policy.

The portal for privatization  privatization.az, launched in July 2016, reflects all necessary information about the facilities, their addresses, location, and even initial cost and aims at facilitation of the process. The website is available in two languages - Azerbaijani and English. Why Azerbaijan is special section available on the website explains the reasons and advantages of investing in the country.

The privatization process is designed to attract both foreign and local investors, as well as improve the business environment of Azerbaijan.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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19 December 2016 17:53 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

A delegation of Azerbaijani officials and businessmen led by Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev visited Belarus on December 15-17 to discuss trade and economic cooperation.

Azerbaijani and Belarusian companies signed about 40 agreements and protocols of intent on export of Azerbaijani goods to Belarus during the business meeting "Prospects of development of business relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus" held in Minsk.

The signed agreements cover export of such products as carpets, wine, tobacco, cotton, and vegetables, fruits, fruit juices and other products.

The business meeting provided the representatives of the two countries companies with an opportunity to eye interaction in the fields of agriculture, especially fruit and vegetable production, rug weaving and wool articles manufacturing, animal breeding, car making.

The sides also agreed on opening of trade house of Azerbaijan in Belarus as there is huge desire to increase the trade turnover between the two countries.

Speaking at the business meeting, the minister said that the trade house will initially be established in the capital city, but the country intends to set up sale points throughout Belarus. Mustafayev highly assessed the quality of the Belarusian products that are in great demand in Azerbaijan.

The minister underlined that the relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus are developing steadily on political and socio-economic levels, mentioning that the countries intend to increase the volume of trade turnover to $700 million.

Mustafayev went on saying that the countries are interested not only in trade cooperation but also in investment making with Belarus. Particularly, the sides are discussing the possibility of construction of an enterprise on drug production in Baku. Moreover, the countries are discussing cooperation in such spheres as food industry, production of tobacco goods, carpets, wool, as well as dairy and meat production.

A store of Belarusian goods is expected to open in Ganja (the second biggest city of Azerbaijan) by late 2016, while similar sale points are already operational in the capital city Baku.

During the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko, the sides discussed the ways of developing cooperation between two countries in the fields of trade, industry, economy, agriculture, tourism, and pharmaceutical industry.

Mustafayev noted that today Azerbaijan has 30 companies with Belarusian capital, and in turn Belarus has 60 companies with Azerbaijani capital.

The trade turnover between the enterprises of the Ministry of Industry of Belarus and Azerbaijani organizations amounted to $25 million in the first nine months of 2016, according to the Ministry of Industry of Belarus.

The Belarusian products worth $24.3 million were imported to Azerbaijan, while the export of Azerbaijani goods to Belarus stood at $700,000, the Ministry of Industry of Belarus reported. Every week more than 50 kinds of products are exported from Minsk to Baku.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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19 December 2016 17:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

The volume of revenues of Azerbaijans oil fund SOFAZ is expected to exceed the forecasted indices for 2016.

Head of the Fund Shahmar Movsumov said that the expectation is linked to the fact that initially the budget of the Fund was based on the oil price standing at a low level.

In early 2016, the budget of the Fund was based on oil price standing at $25 per barrel. The average oil price stabilized during the year and exceeded the level of $42 per barrel. Therefore, the revenue of SOFAZ is expected to exceed the forecast significantly, Movsumov clarified.

Revenues of the SOFAZ budget are approved at the level of 4.58 billion manats ($ 2.61 billion), while expenditures stand at 10.67 billion ($ 6.08 billion). The budget deficit is forecasted at 6.09 billion manats ($ 3.47 billion).

Movsumov further commented on the existence of the manat [national currency] in the assets of the Fund, saying that the existence of such aggregates is due to the low need for manat reserves in the state budget and the fact that the demand for such reserves does not have a regular character.

The Fund continues the sale of the currency at auctions in accordance with the schedule. We hope, that all reserves will be generated to the budget till late 2016, he said.

SOFAZs transfers to the 2016 budget are forecasted to stand at 7.6 billion manats ($4.3 billion), while the index for 2017 is forecasted at 6.1 billion manat ($3.4 billion). A balanced budget, with oil prices standing at $40 per barrel taken as a basis, will be effective in 2017.

Assets of the Fund as of October 1 stood at $35.82 billion, with some $33.95 billion accounting for the investment portfolio and 1.87 billion falling to a share of manat account. The Fund plans to increase its assets by $1 billion in 2017.

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19 December 2016 11:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

It is no secret that the Armenian government is not ready for constructive negotiations about the main problem of the region  the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenian authorities, keeping under occupation 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, suffocates any initiative directed moving the process out of stagnation.

This time the government has launched a campaign against those seeking a civil dialogue with Azerbaijan, which has been subjected to aggression for over two decades. They are threatened with cruel punishment should continue their peace initiatives.

In early November, some Armenian human rights activists visited Baku to participate in a peacekeeping conference. Right after that, these people became persecuted in their homeland Armenia.

In an interview with 1in.am newspaper Armenian political scientist Gagik Gmbaryan called to neutralize the people, who attented the Armenian-Azerbaijani peacekeeping platform.

The activities of our [Armenian] National Security Service should be aimed at neutralization of all these people by all possible means. I'm not saying they should be physically destroyed, but if it comes to that, this should also be done, he said.

The Armenian newspaper Ayonts Ashkhar and others also called for the punishment of the traitors and openly encouraged to murder the Armenians who joined the conference in Baku.

Such threats are often heard in todays Armenia. Just a week ago, Vahe Avetyan, Armenian human rights activist who also visited Baku for the conference, wrote on his Facebook account about these threats in his address.

I ask you to raise the issue at the international level. This happens not for the first time. Over the past ten years, such appeals and massive attacks have happened to the writers in exile and Armenian peacemakers," Avetyan wrote.

After the threatening statement of Gmbaryan, Avetyan again appealed to the society, where he called on all human rights defenders and journalists to address all international organizations because the Armenian media openly call for killing the members of the Baku platform.

The appearance of people with peace initiatives and any attempt of reconciliation with Azerbaijan is death for the Karabakh clan, which now rules Armenia. It is the collapse of their ideology of war and hostility with their neighbors, Elkhan Alasgarov, head of the Baku Network's expert council said, commenting on the issue.

Recently, the young writer and civic activist Lusine Nersisyan from the occupied Nagorno-Karabakhs Khankendi city was arrested by Armenian security forces because of the same reason  visiting Azerbaijan for peacekeeping discussions.

This issue received quite enough publicity by the international society. However, this incident should be put on the agenda of all human rights organizations. The Azerbaijani experts also wait the OSCE Minsk Group to comment on Nersisyans arrest and prosecution of other visitors from Armenia.

The silence of countries and international organizations who make statements on every occasion, promotes not peace but war, Elkhan Alasgarov said.

By and large, it is obvious that the Armenian authorities follow the terrorist methods to get rid of those Armenians who do not support the policy of their government in the Karabakh issue. Most of the Armenian society long ago understood that the constant feud towards Azerbaijan is pointless, whilst the Armenian government still reject this reality.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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19 December 2016 12:02 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan expects new efforts from the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, established to mediate for peaceful resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the countries they represent in regard to the conflict resolution.

Bahar Muradova, vice-speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCE PA, made the remark while talking to Trend on December 19.

She said Azerbaijan expects positive changes next year in the settlement of the conflict.

Conflicts, which threaten international security, people's lives and cooperation between the countries in the region, should be settled, Muradova said, emphasizing that the territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries should be maintained, and the aggressor must leave the occupied lands.

Muradova noted that Azerbaijan wants a fair approach. "The fair approach is to comply with the principles of international law. If these principles are respected, then the conflict will be resolved fairly," she said.

The vice-speaker further noted that the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution was active this year also, mentioning that visits were carried out and meetings were held. "However, there was no progress in the process," Muradova noted.

Muradova stressed that the April events demonstrated not only to Armenia, but also to the whole world that this situation cannot continue.

"The international circles wishing to preserve the status quo and acting in this direction now are convinced that the status quo does not suit everyone and needs to be changed," she said.

She noted that the April events indicated that the prolongation of the conflict and the lack of an appropriate approach to its solution can lead to serious consequences for the region.

The conflict between the two neighboring countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts. The Armenian hostilities resulted in killing more than 20,000 Azerbaijanis. Furthermore, over 1 million had to leave their homes and were displaced. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

However, 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.

After the clashes in April 2016, the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents met in Vienna and St. Petersburg for negotiations. However, the process of resolving the conflict came to stagnation after that due to Armenia's reluctance.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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19 December 2016 12:43 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The vital role of Azerbaijan in Heart of Asia (Istanbul Process) in particular, co-chairing Heart of Asia meetings and hosting its ministerial conference in 2017, is a clear sign of Azerbaijan's enduring commitment to Afghanistan on its path towards peace and stability, said Afghan Ambassador to Baku Taqi Khalili.

"Indubitably, the cooperation between our two countries have gained momentum in addressing regional challenges. We have a common understanding of our regional problems and issues and are joining forces to tackle them, Khalili said, the Afghan embassy reported.

Azerbaijan assumed the co-chairmanship of the Heart of Asia  Istanbul process for 2017 in early December 2016.

The Heart of Asia Conference is an intergovernmental organization founded in November 2011 by Istanbul, Turkey. The aim is to provide a platform to discuss regional issues, particularly encouraging security, political, and economic cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbors.

This region-led dialogue was launched to expand practical coordination between Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners in facing common threats, including counterterrorism, counternarcotics, poverty, and extremism.

The envoy further voiced his countrys gratefulness to the leadership and government of Azerbaijan for this initiative to co-chair and host the Heart of Asia conference in 2017.

This positive relationship in the continual strengthening of our two countries is a pivotal interaction of Islamic and regional significance for future prosperity, he concluded.

Azerbaijan, as a reliable partner of NATO and friend of brotherly Afghanistan, is committed to continue its significant contribution to the Resolute Support Mission beyond 2016 by providing troops, multimodal transit, training and financial assistance.

The country has several times made substantial donations to the Afghan National Army (ANA) Trust Fund. Moreover, Azerbaijan supports Afghanistan on its path of reforms towards integrating into regional and global economy.

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19 December 2016 15:08 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijans Defense Industry Ministry increased the volume of defense industry products by 1.6 times compared to 2015, while the product assortment rose by 1.8 times.

Minister Yaver Jamalov announced about this at an event marking the 11th anniversary of establishment of the Defense Industry Ministry in Baku on December 17.

Twenty-eight military factories are currently operating within the Defense Industry Ministry, which have manufactured 1,160 kinds of defense products so far. Azerbaijan`s defense products are exported to more than 10 countries.

Furthermore, Azerbaijan will start serial production of unmanned aerial vehicles Zarba. The serial production of the drones will begin in the near future in order to supply the Azerbaijani Armed Forces with Zarba drones, Jamalov said.

The minister mentioned that Zarba UAVs and reconnaissance drones manufactured at the Ministrys enterprises were successfully tested and presented on September 21 with the participation of Azerbaijans President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.

Zarba drone was also exhibited at ADEX-2016 international defense exhibition in late September in Baku.

The Azerbaijani pavilion at the exhibition presented over 260 kinds of defense products and special-purpose weapons and ammunition, including a high-explosive air bomb QFAB-100SAB, 14.5 mm-caliber NST sniper rifle, sniper machine gun Shimshek ,mine protected armored vehicles Ildirim and Gasirgha, the latest advanced types of UAVs, new models of small arms, special reconnaissance patrol vehicle Gurza, fitted with antitank guided missiles, ammunition and their warheads, etc.

The minister further emphasized that the locally-manufactured military products played an important role in the destruction of manpower and military equipment of the enemy during the April fighting.

Weapons and ammunition manufactured at the enterprises of the Ministry  anti-tank grenade launchers, mortars and ammunition, sniper rifles, universal machine guns, ammunition of different caliber were used in April battles, Jamalov said, reminding that the Azerbaijani Armys counterattack in response to Armenias provocations in early April led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements.

Jamalov noted that Azerbaijans Defense Industry Ministry is taking the necessary measures to expand the production of ammunition and military equipment, to improve their quality in order to fully equip the countrys army.

The minister further added that the country negotiates with well-known foreign companies in several projects. Following the talks we have reached agreement on two projects. Our main aim is the production of rockets of distant radius of action, Jamalov said.

The minister also spoke about new purchases of Azerbaijan  the country has reached an agreement with Israel regarding the purchase of Iron Dome missile defense system.

Iron Dome is a mobile all-weather air defense system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aircraft Industries. The system is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 kilometers to 70 kilometers away and whose trajectory would take them to a populated area.

Azerbaijan, which is in war with neighboring Armenia over the latter's territorial claims during more than 20 years, keeps in focus the armament, working closely with leading companies and firms in various fields of military industry.

The countrys military budget for 2016 is about $1.466 billion, which exceeds the overall state budget of occupant Armenia by more than $1 billion.

Azerbaijan leaves behind many CIS and regional countries to take its place among the first 70 strongest militaries of the world, according to the U.S.-based Global Firepower survey center.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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19 December 2016 16:31 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan, one of the leaders of the aviation community of the CIS countries, plans to fly to more destinations until 2025.

The country is going to launch direct flights to 100 major European cities until 2025 as it will realize the Strategic Road Map on the national economy and main economic sectors.

One of the key priorities set by the Strategic Road Map is increasing the number of direct flights between Baku and major European cities from 49 to 100.

Moreover, it is planned to raise the number of low-cost charter flights in winter and summer seasons with the aim of boosting tourist flow.

Azerbaijan Airlines, AZAL, is the national flag carrier operating flights to destinations across Asia, the CIS, Europe and the USA.

Staring last year AZAL provided its passengers with low-cost flights. The tickets (including all dues) for these flights cost 99 euros one way if purchased through the AZAL website and the airline ticket offices.

Flights to 13 popular destinations are operated under AZALJET brand since March 2016. Sales and flight scheme on these flights is close to low-cost airlines, that is, passengers have a choice of several services in the form of paid options.

Meanwhile, AZAL plans to establish a national low-cost carrier BUTA AIRWAYS. The airway, which is expected to begin flights in autumn 2017, will have its own fleet on the basis of Embraer aircrafts in its own livery, its own staff and independent tariff policy.

Earlier in September Azerbaijan was listed among the countries with the lowest prices on domestic and international flights, the Daily Mail reported with reference to the Kiwi.com travel service.

The country was ranked the 8th in the list of international flights charging an average of $3.02 per 100 km, while its legacy airlines cost is $6.25 per 100 km.

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19 December 2016 16:53 (UTC+04:00)

By Fatma Alakbarova

Azerbaijan and France have inked a Memorandum of Understanding on inter-regional cooperation.

The document was undersigned by Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev and Secretary General of the National Commission on Decentralization and Interregional Cooperation of France Bertrand Fort in Baku.

The agreement lays a legal framework for deepening and diversifying cooperation between regions of the two countries.

Under the MoU, the two countries will set up a joint management committee that will work to develop interregional cooperation and collaboration in the field of decentralization. The committee will be co-chaired by representatives of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Economy and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.

While addressing the signing ceremony, Mustafayev stressed the importance of high-level political relationships between Azerbaijan and France and noted the contribution of mutual visits by the heads of the states.

The sides emphasized that establishment of Azerbaijani Culture Center in France and Azerbaijan-France Intergovernmental Economic Commission positively contributes to the expansion of relations.

Highlighting the significance of continuing cooperation between the two countries, the minister stressed that the inter-regional cooperation is one of the important directions of French-Azerbaijani cooperation.

Mustafayev further mentioned that the International Wine and Winegrowing Festivals held in Ganja played an important role in expansion of ties between businessmen of the two countries and exchange of experiences in winegrowing sector, which is one of the high export-potential non-oil sectors.

Moreover, the parties emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation on personnel training in various directions.

Baku and Paris enjoy a common interest in developing the collaboration and partnership in economy, as the bilateral ties rely on strong political ties.

The French companies invested about $2.4 billion in Azerbaijan's economy, while over 40 companies with French capital operate in Azerbaijan. French companies are also involved in projects implemented by public investment.

Bulk of French investments, surely falls to share of the oil and gas industry. However, given the priority to diversify the economy, Azerbaijan wants to see more investment in other sectors of the economy.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and France amounted to $557.1 million in January-October 2016, $430.3 million of which accounts for exports to France, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.

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19 December 2016 12:22 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan exported 19,098,957 tons of oil products in January-November of this year, according to the State Customs Committee.

The official figures suggest that the total value of the exported oil products made $5,896 million.

The country produced over 37,717 million tons of crude oil and 26.8 billion cubic metres of natural gas in the eleven months of the year.

The total value of the production in the mining industry was 18.8 billion manats in the eleven months, which is 0.8 per cent less than last year.

By late 2016, the volumes of oil extraction in the country will hit 41.307 tons, while gas production volumes will amount to 242.5 mcm.

Energy-rich Azerbaijan produces three grades of crude oil - Azeri BTC, Azeri Light, and Urals. Azerbaijan exports not only crude oil, but also petroleum products. The only producer of oil products is SOCAR, which owns Baku Oil Refinery named after Heydar Aliyev.

SOCAR is the sole producer of oil products in Azerbaijan. In 2015, the company announced the liquidation of Azneftyag oil refinery and its merger with the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery, which is currently being modernized.

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19 December 2016 13:44 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Iranian, Turkish and Russian top diplomats are expected to meet on December 20 in Moscow to discuss the latest developments in Syria.



The spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Bahram Qasemi, has said that the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Sergey Lavrov and Mevlut Cavusoglu are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Trend's correspondent reported.



A plan for evacuation of the sick and injured from two government-held villages in Syria's Idlib province as well as evacuation of the last rebel-held enclaves in Aleppo City has stalled over the past several days.



On 18 December, the rebels reportedly set fire to several buses sent to transport the sick and injured from the two government-held villages of Foah and Kefraya in Idlib province.



Media reports suggest that the attack on the busses halted the latest efforts to evacuate the besieged areas.

Syrian army backed by Russian air strikes alongside with other allies has recently launched a massive assault to recapture the militant-held areas of the northern city of Aleppo.

Rebels took control of eastern parts of Aleppo in 2012. The latest media reports suggest that Syrian army has advanced through the rebel-held areas, though the rebels reportedly continued to resist in some parts of the city.

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19 December 2016 14:37 (UTC+04:00)

By Fatma Alakbarova

Russia and Turkeys negotiations on a ceasefire and evacuation deal for Aleppo was a surprise for the U.S. and European powers, which were seemed not to be aware of it until the media was blasted with the news.

This made the Western world, namely the U.S. become more of a spectator than an active participant in post-ceasefire Syria. While the evacuations are ongoing and negotiation continues the U.S. fails to become a part of this procedure.

Today, the U.N. Security Council will vote for a draft resolution on U.N. officials monitoring evacuations from the Syrian city of Aleppo. The interesting part about this resolution which is under the spotlight of world media with its long discussion and negotiations, veto-threats and compromises is that U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations is likely to agree with Russia on its text and thus, it is expected to be one of the rare resolutions on over five-year civil war in Syria.

While the Security Councils meeting is due to start at 14:00 GMT U.N. New York headquarter, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told reporters that that the Council is expected to vote unanimously.

Mark Weber, director of Institute for Historical Review, said all these alignments, Turkey with Russia and Iran over Syria is a clear illustration on how the "major shift" happens in power relations of states interested in the Middle East, which reflects a rather "dramatic" decline of U.S. as a player in the region.

Meanwhile, Russian, Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers scheduled meeting in Moscow on December 20, a day after the Security Council vote is another message of confirmation for U.S. exclusion from establishment of new era in Syria.

Moreover, the Kazakh capital Astana is another potential host for the next round of talks on Syria as Russian President Putin told reporters.

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19 December 2016 16:38 (UTC+04:00)

Ashgabat hosted a meeting between the heads of consular services of foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and Poland, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry reported on December 19.

The Polish side was represented by Miroslaw Stawski, deputy director of the Consular Department of Polands Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on prospects of bilateral cooperation. The two countries hold negotiations on intensification of cooperation in such promising areas as energy, textile industry, agriculture, high technologies and tourism.

Poland has a favorable geographical location in Europes center that allows actively developing transit routes for energy supplies from the Caspian region to Europe, which is an important stimulus for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation, said the message.

Turkmenistan sells gas at its borders and the country has significant gas reserves proven by independent Western auditors. Currently, negotiations are underway with the European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan, which can become a transit country in the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline project.

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19 December 2016 21:50 (UTC+04:00)

The Russian ambassador to Ankara has been killed in a gun attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.

Moscow qualified the killing of Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov as a terrorist attack.

"We qualify the events as a terrorist attack, we stay in contact with Turkish officials who have pledged that a through all-round investigation will be carried out. The attackers will be punished. Today this issue will be brought up at the UN Security Council," TASS quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.

"This issue will be immediately raised today with the members of the UN Security Council," Zakharova said. "There is no place for terrorism and we will be resolutely fighting against it."

***

21:02

Andrey Karlov, Russian ambassador to Turkey, has come under an armed attack in Ankara, the Hurriyet newspaper reports.

The attack was committed at the Contemporary Art Center in Ankara during an art exhibition.

Karlov was delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of a photo exhibit when an armed assailant opened fire on him.

The envoy was seriously wounded and was taken to hospital immediately.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has already arrived in the Center, NTV reports. NTV television says police have shot and killed the gunman who attacked the Russian ambassador.

The Russian foreign ministry said it was in contact with Ankara over the events, RIA Novosti reported.

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ABC News(ANKARA, Turkey)  A gunman who shot and killed the Russian ambassador to Turkey Monday shouted in the immediate aftermath of the shooting for attention to be paid to Syria and the besieged city of Aleppo.



Video of the incident showed the gunman, 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, yelling "God is greatest" in Arabic over the fallen Russian ambassador, Andrey Karlov, at the Museum of Modern Art in Ankara, Turkey.



Dont forget Aleppo. Dont forget Syria. Dont forget Aleppo. Dont forget Syria," the gunman also yelled in Turkish. "Until these places are safe, you will not taste any safety either.



Altintas, born in 1994, was a member of the riot police in Ankara, Turkey, who used his police ID card to enter the building before the shooting, according to Interior Ministry sources.



Altintas was killed after the shooting by the Turkish anti-terror police, the Turkish Interior Ministry said.



After the incident, Altintas' mother and sister were taken into custody in the Turkish city of Izmir.



A team of 18 investigators arrived in Ankara from Moscow on Tuesday to help investigate the assassination. The team includes a prosecutor, one psychiatrist, several security experts and a number of autopsy specialists.



Turkeys foreign minister announced that the street where the Russian embassy is located will be renamed after the slain ambassador.



There have been numerous prominent protests in Turkey against Russia's role in Syria and the country's support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.



The shooting occurred as Syrian rebels, the Syrian government and its allies agreed to a deal to allow thousands of civilians and fighters trapped in eastern Aleppo to leave the area.



About 7,000 people have been evacuated from the besieged city of Aleppo since Sunday night, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Syria.



The evacuation was allowed under the condition that about 4,000 civilians, including the wounded in Foua and Kefraya, two pro-government Shiite villages, surrounded by opposition forces, are also evacuated. Convoys of 500 evacuees, including sick civilians and orphans, left Foua and Kefraya, both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the ICRC said. More buses are expected to arrive in the two villages to continue evacuations throughout the day.



The U.N. Security Council met in New York today and voted unanimously for a resolution urging the immediate deployment of U.N. observers to Aleppo. French officials have said it is crucial to allow the observers to prevent "mass atrocities" by Syrian forces and militias.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
From the deadly Pulse terror attack to the Polk County sinkhole Tropical Storm Colin, this has been a tumultuous year in Florida news, to say the least.

The Bay News 9 staff selected 10 headlines and put them to our readers and viewers for a vote over the last few weeks.

Here are the most impactful stories of 2016, as you, our viewers, voted for them:

Revolutionary, unprecedented, historic, disastrous.

Everyone has a word for the 2016 presidential election. Unpredictable may be the most biggest one. Not that the result of the year was completely unpredictable, but the way it all went down was pretty surprising, keeping politicos, journalists and lay people alike off-kilter all year long.

How it all started



The conventions

The debates

It's been a little over six months since the Pulse nightclub shooting, killing 49 people and injuring mjore than 50 others. It has been called an act of terrorism by many politicians and agencies, including Gov. Rick Scott, President Barack Obama and the Orlando Police Department



Pulse shooting is the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history

Many vigils have been held throughout the months to honor the victims.

Victims, families and friends continue to share their memories

2016 saw police shootings and officers shot while on duty in the national headlines almost every week. The bloodshed sparked protests in major cities, talk on the campaign trail by both presidential candidates, and worst of all, violence in reprisal for lives lost at the hands of law enforcement.

Controversial police shootings of Alton Sterling, Philando Castille

Police officers ambushed in Dallas during peaceful protest

Black Lives Matter vs. Blue Lives Matter

Sewage spills saw a sharp increase during hurricane season in 2016, particularly along the Gulf Coast.

The City of St. Petersburg released more than 190 million gallons of partially treated sewage into Tampa Bay and other local waterways

One whistleblower attributed the massive failure on the citys part to the closing of the Albert Whitted Water Reclamation Facility



The mayor has proposed a $304 million plan to resolve the problem

A major environmental saga unfolded this year when a massive sinkhole opened in Mulberry that allowed more than 200 million gallons of contaminated wastewater to sink into the ground.

Workers at the New Wales plant off Highway 640 discovered the sinkhole under a gypsum stack on Aug. 27

The sinkhole measures 152 feet wide by at least 220 feet deep

Mosaic said it has paid for testing nearly 1,400 water wells on residential private property

Zika became a big concern in Florida in 2016. By Feb. 2, Florida already had 9 confirmed cases of Zika -- Miami-Dade (4), Hillsborough (2), Lee (2), and Santa Rosa (1).

Zika had big impact on Florida in 2016

Number of Zika cases rose to 600 is Sept.

By Dec. 9 Florida was cleared of any active Zika transmission

As the year comes to a close, 2016 saw quite a few alligator attacks in Florida. Some attacks left people maimed, while another attack left a family broken.

2-year old taken by gator at Disney World

Lakeland man lost hand to gator

Man attacked by alligator in Sumter County



Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc on Central Florida in October after it left the Bahamas and then slowly drifted north just off the coast. The storm brought heavy rains, gusty winds and damage to several counties, including Brevard, Volusia and Flagler. Hurricane Matthew thrashed the area and battered State Road A1A in Flagler County, causing a 1.3-mile chunk of the roadway to plunge into the Atlantic Ocean.

Hurricane Matthew impacted Florida Oct. 6-7

Matthew was a Category 3 storm at the time

More than 1 million lost power for several days

Tornadoes (1%)



Dangerous storms swept across the Bay area in the early morning hours Jan. 18, bringing tornadoes that killed two people and injured five.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for James Luis Scott, 22, for first degree premeditated murder. They consider him to be armed and dangerous.

Scott, also known as Snoop, is accused of murdering Evelyn Woodham, 26.

Woodhams body was discovered in a ditch in Palm River on Nov. 1.

Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the location and arrest of Scott. Anyone with any information regarding this fugitive and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or send a mobile tip using the P3 Tips Mobile application, which is a free download for iPhones and Droids. Crime Stoppers must be contacted first in order to be eligible for a cash reward.


A group of Lake Wales students have taken it upon themselves to restore a piece of local railroad history. They're looking to their community to help them get the job done.

Caboose at Lake Wales Depot Museum dates back to 1926

Restoration effort idea came from Lake Wales High School IB student

To donate to the effort, visit gofundme.com/caboose-restoration-project

The railroad caboose at the Lake Wales Depot Museum dates back to 1926. Both inside and out, it's seen much better days.



"The caboose was allowed to deteriorate by a previous organization, and we're trying to set things right," said Robert Connors from the Lake Wales Museum Association.



Adding to the toll time and the elements have taken, the caboose was recently vandalized, according to former Lake Wales Mayor Alex Wheeler.



"[Vandals] splashed paint, just busted everything they could," said Wheeler.

Photo: Stephanie Claytor, staff



Lake Wales High School International Baccalaureate student Grady Owens proposed the idea to restore the caboose.



Its heartwarming, its astounding, its emotional," said Owens. "I love railroads, I love anything history. You know just being apart of restoring something this old is amazing.



Owens recruited about a dozen of his fellow IB students to help him with the restoration effort.



Its something that we learned, to not be so selfish and to do stuff for our community, said Owens.



From railroad spikes to lunch pails, the caboose is a treasure trove of history. The group's goal is to preserve that history for generations to come.



It tells the story of how this country was settled really, by the railroad and how this region of Florida was settled, because it was opened up by the railroads," said Connors.



The group is looking to the community for help in completing the restoration. They need additional volunteers to help with the work, and they've also started a GoFundMe campaign to collect donations to fund the remainder of the project.



To find out more and/or to donate to the effort, visit gofundme.com/caboose-restoration-project.

Robert Connors from the Lake Wales Museum Association and student Sarah Mossad are part of the group working to restore the caboose to its former glory. (Stephanie Claytor, staff)
Nov. 8, may have been Election Day, but Dec. 19, is the day that Donald Trump will be formally elected the 45th president of the United States.

Some electors are saying they have been getting threats

Those who opposed Donald Trump have been protesting his win

37 electors need to change their vote to keep Trump from being president, but that has never happened

RELATED stories:

FAQ: Why do we have the Electoral College? Donald Trump to 12,000 in Orlando: 'We will bring our country back together'





But some people are still pushing members of the Electoral College to change their votes and instead elect Hillary Clinton. And some are giving those electors threats, apparently.

"I've had death wishes. People just saying, I hope you die. Do society a favor, throw yourself in front of a bus, said Republican Michigan elector Michael Banerian.

Convening at state capitols across the country, 538 electors, selected by their political parties, will cast their votes for president and vice president Monday.

Florida elector Kat Gates-Skipper will cast her ballot in Tallahassee.

He will do a wonderful job as our next commander and chief, said Gates-Skipper.

But those who are opposed to a Trump presidency are writing letters, posting on social media and protesting in the streets, as a last ditch effort to keep the businessman from the White House.

Clinton won the popular vote on election night, with 2.6 million more people voting for her, rather than Donald Trump. But in the U.S., the electoral college is what matters and Trump got more than the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

And its expected most electors wont change their vote.

I signed the oath for the state of Florida and Im going to do what Im supposed to do, said Gates-Skipper.

A group called Hamilton Electors is leading the effort to block Trump from winning.

Through the work of hundreds of volunteers and many, many conversations through Republican electors, we do believe there is a realistic chance of 37 Republican electors voting for someone other than Donald Trump, Hamilton Electors Bret Chiafalo said on CNN.

Chiafalo said the 37 electors would need to change their vote and then the election would go to the U.S. House of Representatives to decide.

But that has never happened in the U.S.

President-elect Trump tweeted this on Sunday about those who are opposing him:
Oregon Coast Scientists Discover New Whale Sound in Faraway Mariana Trench

Published 12/18/2016 at 5:33 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Newport, Oregon) - Scientists based on the Oregon coast have helped make a new discovery about whale calls  a find which happened in the faraway Mariana Trench. (Photo courtesy Hatfield Marine Science Center: a dwarf minke whale).

Researchers from the Hatfield Marine Science Center out of Newport and Oregon State University in Corvallis came across a complex sound in this part of the world  known as the deepest point in any of Earth's oceans  made by baleen whales, and one which has a wide frequency range and is especially complex. It is essentially a new call made by the species.

Nicknaming it the Western Pacific Biotwang, it lasts between 2.5 and 3.5 seconds, and it contains five parts that include deep moans at frequencies as low as 38 hertz and a metallic finale that pushes as high as 8,000 hertz.

Its very distinct, with all these crazy parts, said Sharon Nieukirk, senior faculty research assistant in marine bioacoustics at Oregon State. The low-frequency moaning part is typical of baleen whales, and its that kind of twangy sound that makes it really unique. We dont find many new baleen whale calls.

Yet scientists are not quite sure from what kind of whale it comes from, although the standout possibility is that it's a minke whale. For one thing, the sound resembles the so-called Star Wars sound that is made by minke's off of northeast Australia, researchers said.

Nieukirk said the Western Pacific Biotwang has enough similarities to that Star Wars call to make it a good candidate. Both calls are complex in structure, have a large frequency sweep and then a metallic conclusion. Little is known about the minke at these lower depths, however, and this creature spends most of its time below the surface, more so than other whales.

The species is the smallest of the baleen whales, doesnt spend much time at the surface, has an inconspicuous blow, and often lives in areas where high seas make sighting difficult, Nieukirk said. "But they call frequently, making them good candidates for acoustic studies.

Recordings of these sounds were made via passive acoustic ocean gliders, which are scientific drones that can travel without human intervention for months at a time and have the ability to dive down to 1,000 meters.

This mix of Oregon coast and Corvallis scientists is also puzzled that since this is a baleen whale  meaning it takes in food through a filter called a baleen  most calls made by that species are in the course of mating. And most often in winter. Yet these calls are being heard year-round, making this a mystery, Nieukirk said.

The hope is that by publishing this data other scientists will be able to sift through their recordings and make more discoveries about the call's frequency during other times of the year and other aspects, thus better understanding this unique sound.

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SOUTHEAST TEXAS TALES

As you sip your hot chocolate or creamy eggnog on your couch and admire your Christmas tree, you might well wonder who were among the first to observe the holiday in Beaumont and what it might have looked like.

Was there Santa?

A tree inside the home? Candles perched precariously on its branches? A fire department to respond in case the cat knocked it over?

In the haze of history, it isn't recorded whether Noah and Nancy Tevis, who lived in a cabin they built in 1824 on a bluff above the Neches River, had anything to give their kids, Delilah, Napoleon, Ronald, Louisa and Noah Jr.

That first Tevis home site was where Edison Plaza is now.

The family chose the site because there were no hostile people around - Attakapas lived in the area and were hunters and anglers - and the area still belonged to Mexico. Tevis managed to acquire 3.5 acres from Mexico in early 1835.

By the time Noah Tevis died, Dec. 6, 1835, he had sold 50 acres of land to one of Beaumont's founder's, Henry Millard.

His widow, Nancy, joined with Millard, Joseph Grigsby, Joseph Pulsifer and Thomas Huling to establish the Beaumont town site along the Neches River.

In a history written by Judith Walker Linsley, now the curator of interpretation and education at the McFaddin-Ward House, Christmas in frontier Texas in the 1820s and 1830s usually was noted rather than observed.

(Story continues below.)

In late 1835, with the Texas Revolution in full swing, some "Texians" were in a celebratory mood as the result of a small victory in Bexar, which was the San Antonio area.

Millard had gone to join the revolution. Pulsifer, his partner in a pharmacy and general merchandise store, wanted to go, too, but Millard told him to remain in Beaumont and mind the shop.

On Christmas Eve 1835, men on horseback rode up to Pulsifer's store, firing guns and shouting. Pulsifer had just heard the news about the Texian victory and so had his visitors.

"Two men came into his store to drink wine," Linsley wrote. "When they got rowdy, he refused to sell them more, whereupon one of them pulled a knife and 'made to stab' him.

"The other man began to 'reason' with Pulsifer, so he gave them another bottle and they left," Linsley wrote in a Beaumont Journal article 20 years ago.

Even after the Revolution, Christmas retained its raucous nature and by the 1840s, "whiskey punch" seemed to be the Texas "national drink."

After statehood in 1845, larger towns offered fancy gifts and masked balls and string ensembles.

In 1857 Beaumont, the Chaison family made popcorn balls with molasses and butter that were paired with milk. Popcorn undergirded lots of holiday meals - with salt and gravy or in its "naked state."

The Civil War years saw a return to homemade items shipped off to faraway soldiers.

Post-war, a Beaumont newspaper reported a quiet Christmas of 1871 except for the "usual eggnogging, exhibition of fireworks and a 'free fight' on (now defunct) Front Street."

A decade later, Beaumont boasted a community Christmas tree and by the late 1880s, Christmas trees were so common an Austin newspaper declared that, "You must have a Christmas tree or there will be no Christmas."

At the dawn of the 20th century, a feed store advertisement urged people, "Don't forget your horse this Christmas."

By 1903, a newspaper observed a decline in drinking and brawling associated with the holiday.

In 1909, an Enterprise editor noted the passage of another Christmas with this message:

"Well, the holiday season is all over, but the unpaid bills."

Southeast Texas Tales is a weekly feature covering regional history.

DWallach@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/dwallach
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Caleb Morrison's arm has been to Beaumont, though he never has.

The 16-year-old Scotland resident soon will receive a prosthetic arm made with a 3-D printer by robotics and computer science students at West Brook High School.

Morrison, who is missing part of his arm below his elbow, and his mother connected with West Brook teacher Joy Schwartz through the e-Nable Community, a network that connects children in need of prosthetic limbs with 3-D printers that can make them.

"His mom reached out to me and it's the largest arm we've done," said Schwartz, who shipped the silver plastic arm to Morrison on Friday, hoping it would reach him by Christmas.

"We worked on it for quite a while," said senior Jordan Jones, demonstrating how the fingers clench when the elbow is bent, which will allow Morrison to pick up and hold objects with the hand.

West Brook is the second high school at which Schwartz has launched a prosthetic-printing program, starting last year at Hardin-Jefferson High School, where she worked with current West Brook principal Diana Valdez. When Valdez returned to Beaumont ISD, she asked Schwartz to come back with her and bring the program to the campus where both previously taught.

"I thought it would be a good way to reach a larger audience and perhaps work with other teachers," said Schwartz, who is still in touch with children she designed arms for last year. "I would love to see this happening on each campus at BISD."

That's already started, thanks to a grant from the Beaumont Public Schools Foundation, which awarded a 3-D printer and other materials to a group of students at South Park Middle School who work with technology teacher Lisa Weber. The five eighth-graders have the same goal as Schwartz - to use the low-cost technology to make prosthetic hands and arms more accessible.

The limbs generally cost in the tens of thousands of dollars, a steep price to pay for children who quickly outgrow them and need constant adjustments and replacements.

While the initial investment in a 3-D printer is several hundred dollars, each individual prosthetic costs the students "about $30 to $50 for all the materials, roughly," Schwartz said.

Weber, who applied unsuccessfully for a grant for a 3-D printer last year, learned about making prosthetics from Schwartz at a district training session over the summer, she said, and took the idea to a group of five honors students this year, who were excited to start their own.

"I talked to these young men, and they were ready," she said. She worked with them to revise and fine-tune their application this year, which was awarded on Dec. 2.

Next semester, they'll meet before and after school to learn how to use the printer and eventually use the e-Nable network to connect with clients and build limbs for them.

The process for a basic prosthetic is fairly straightforward, Schwartz said. Using open designs available online, students work on scaling and modifying them, using computer-aided drafting (CAD) and printing software. The prosthetic is printed in small plastic components and assembled using elastic string, glue and other materials.

The simple design leaves room for creativity and hands-on work for students - like senior Eastin Kent, who has modified the designs online, and sophomore Kaleb Sparks, who worked on shaping and molding the arm for Morrison by hand.

Next semester, while Weber and her students start their first projects, the high school students will "venture out even further," Schwartz said, using materials awarded in another BPSF grant this month. They're excited to work on programming the arms for more complex movements using micro-processors they received.

All of her students have learned how to set up and fix problems with the printers, which she hopes will help them in future jobs.

"It's a lot of fun, and you're not doing a school project just for a grade," Kent said.

Schwartz, who credits Valdez with introducing the concept to her, said turning an online design into a physical object that someone wears has caught the attention of even her most apathetic students.

"It's just cool, I'm mesmerized by it and so are they," she said. Some of her students had behavior issues at the beginning of the class, but "they've completely changed with this project-based learning. Now they're wanting to work in biotechnology or robotics. It's really made a difference in their lives."

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz
Here are seven things ASC leaders should know for the week of Dec. 19, 2016.

Parkview Medical Center unveils multimillion-dollar expansion plans featuring surgery center

Pueblo, Colo.-based Parkview Medical Center is planning a multimillion-dollar expansion which includes building a surgery center. The nonprofit hospital also plans to double the size of its emergency room and build an employee parking lot.

Nobilis Health voluntarily delists from Toronto Stock Exchange

Houston-based Nobilis Health is voluntarily delisting from the Toronto Stock Exchange. Nobilis will delist its shares at the close of the markets on Dec. 30, 2016. The TSX delisting will not impact Nobilis' listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

AAO President Dr. William Rich to retire after 40-year career

William L. Rich, III, MD, will retire in December 2016. Dr. Rich has been in practice for 40 years at Northern Virginia Ophthalmology Associates, with locations in Falls Church, Fairfax and Alexandria. He is currently the president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Tenet Healthcare pens deal with Centene, renews contract with UnitedHealth

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare signed a deal with Centene as well as renewed and extended its contract with UnitedHealth Group. Tenet's deal with Centene allows Centene members access to Tenet's ASCs, hospitals and employed physicians in 18 states. UnitedHealth Group commercial and Medicare Advantage members have access to Tenet's hospitals, ASCs and employed physicians.

Humana CEO highlights company's relationship with Aetna during trial

Humana CEO Bruce Broussard told a judge that its deal with Aetna would reap success as Mr. Broussard and Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini "almost finished each other's sentences" when they first met and share similar passions.

The Joint Commission to lengthen ASC surveys, add survey team members in 2017

The Joint Commission will make changes to the Medicare-deemed ASC surveyor process for 2017. The accreditation body will update its guidelines to align with the CMS surveyor guidelines by lengthening the survey and adding members to the accreditation team.

Providers trying out disposable scopes in wake of superbug outbreaks

Throughout the nation, news has surfaced about superbug outbreaks at numerous facilities, leading some providers and hospitals to try out disposable scopes.

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The Mercer County Surgery Center located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey offers a detailed and extensive same day outpatient total joint program for their community. This past month, the talented surgeons and staff celebrated their 50th total joint replacement case performed in the outpatient setting.

Here are six key notes:



1. Mercer County Surgery Center is the first ambulatory surgery center in the central and southern regions of New Jersey to offer outpatient total joint replacement procedures.

2. Mercer County Surgery Center continues to be the leader in patient care by recently launching an outpatient spine program.

3. Mercer-Bucks Orthopaedics, in conjunction with Mercer County Surgery Center, offers hip, knee, ankle and shoulder replacement surgery in an outpatient setting.

4. The board certified surgeons at the center have a long standing history of performing thousands of total joint replacement procedures.

5. Mercer County Surgery Center features two operating suites and one procedure room.

6. The surgery center offers surgical services in orthopedic and podiatric surgery, pain management and gastroenterology.
Medicaid expansion and mental health services are among the issues addressed in the latest budget proposal from Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), reports The Washington Post.

Here are four things to know.

1. The spending plan, which covers the second year of the 2016-2018 biennial budget, relies on improved revenue and modest spending cuts, according to the article.

2. Ultimately, the state aims to close a shortfall while throwing money behind some new initiatives. Gov. McAuliffe said in the report projected shortfalls for 2017 and 2018 now total a combined $1.2 billion.

3. While Medicaid expansion is not the focus of the proposed budget, the proposed budget does include language that would give the governor authority to use hundreds of millions in federal Medicaid expansion dollars if the ACA still exists in a year, according to the report. Virginia is among the states that has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to repeal and replace the law.

4. The proposed budget also adds spending for mental healthcare and substance abuse treatment. Specifically, the governor's proposal would call for $31.7 million in new spending to improve state mental health services and treat substance abuse issues, according to the report.

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Former HHS secretary and former governor of Utah Michael Leavitt offered his view on the future of the ACA during a radio show called "Conversations on Health Care."

Mr. Leavitt is founder and chairman of Leavitt Partners, a healthcare intelligence firm based in Salt Lake City. He is an expert in health policy and currently advises President-elect Donald Trump's healthcare transition team.

Here are five key takeaways from Mr. Leavitt's remarks.

1. The ACA likely faces repeal. "The one certainty in the next several months about healthcare is that there will be a bill that will pass Congress that will be titled repeal and replace," Mr. Leavitt said. How this will be defined is still unclear, but Republicans face a mandate from voters to change the law, according to Mr. Leavitt. However, he added, "Pretending that the [ACA] never happened is not an option," indicating a replacement will be conscious of the progress that has been made.

2. A few portions of the law are certain to disappear. In particular, Mr. Leavitt pointed to the individual mandate as an item on the chopping block. He noted that lawmakers will have to carefully consider a replacement for this due to the millions of Americans who have gained coverage under the law.

3. The replacement must be bipartisan. "One of the commitments that Republicans have made is that they don't intend to do this in a way that does not involve a bipartisan support," Mr. Leavitt said. The current political climate, he said, is one "driven by the fundamental belief that the other party won't do the right thing," and those in power often also overreach. He blamed bipartisanship for lack of success with the ACA.

"We've got this appetite now because [Republicans] haven't had power to do everything exactly the way we want it done. I believe the Republican Party has a very impressive and historic opportunity to put in place a governing structure that will last for a very long time if they have the discipline not to overreach," Mr. Leavitt said.

4. Medicaid will change to give states more flexibility. Because states are divided in adopting Medicaid expansion, the program is in a "peculiar situation," according to Mr. Leavitt. Due to this discord, he says the program is likely to undergo change in the next administration, "mostly giving states more flexibility." This is consistent to Mr. Trump's plans to give states block-grants to fund the program. "We may actually see less funding in certain of the optional populations but I don't think there's any lack of commitment to taking good care and helping those who are in hardship," he said.

5. Value-based care is here to stay. Mr. Leavitt called the transition to value-based care one of the most important changes in healthcare in the last 60 years, and felt certain Mr. Trump will be supportive of continuing the transition. "The change is not being driven simply by political ideology; it's being driven by an economic imperative that if we want to continue to have great healthcare, we have to change the way it's paid for," he said. "I believe the Trump administration will not only agree with that but they may in fact hasten it.

Listen to the full interview here.

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Dr. Henry Heimlich, inventor of life-saving choking maneuver, dies at 96

Maryland health secretary leaves position
Henry Heimlich, MD, the thoracic surgeon behind the Heimlich maneuver, has died at age 96, reports NPR.

Dr. Heimlich died Saturday at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati after experiencing a major heart attack six days earlier, according to Bryan Reynolds, a spokesperson for Episcopal Retirement Services, which ran the retirement home Dr. Heimlich lived in.

While Dr. Heimlich helped popularize the Heimlich maneuver in the 1970s, the iconic technique was first penned under a different name  "subdiaphragmatic pressure." In June 1974, Dr. Heimlich described the maneuver in the Journal of the American Medical Association using this term. A few months later, the editors of the journal called Dr. Heimlich and said they wanted to name the maneuver after him, since his technique had already saved so many lives, according to NPR.

Earlier this year, Dr. Heimlich made headlines when he used his own maneuver to help an 87-year-old woman and fellow nursing home resident who was choking on a hamburger.

According to a statement from the Heimlich family, the surgeon's legacy encompasses more than just the Heimlich maneuver. Dr. Heimlich was the first American to devise and perform a total organ replacement and also developed the Heimlich Chest Drain Valve, which helped save thousands of soldiers during the Vietnam War, according to the family's statement.

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From a physician sentenced to prison for his role in a Medicare fraud scheme to a judge halting fetal burial rules in Texas, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits making headlines.

1. 20 states sue generic drugmakers for price fixing: 5 things to know

Twenty U.S. states filed a lawsuit against six generic drugmakers, alleging they colluded to set fixed prices of two common drugs and split up market share.

2. Judge halts fetal burial rules in Texas

U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks blocked a new regulation in Texas that requires healthcare facilities that provide abortions to pay for the burial or cremation of fetal remains instead of disposing of them as biological medical waste.

3. Physician sentenced to 40 months for role in Medicare fraud scheme

U.S. District Judge John Tharp Jr. sentenced Banio Koroma, MD, a physician at now-shuttered Mobile Doctors in Chicago, to 40 months in prison.

4. 2 ex-pharmaceutical executives charged with price fixing generic drugs

Two former executives of Eatontown, N.J.-based Heritage Pharmaceuticals were charged with conspiring to fix prices on generic drugs.

5. Merck wins $2.5M in patent lawsuit against Gilead Science over hep C drugs

Kenilworth, N.J.-based Merck & Co. received $2.54 billion in royalties on Dec. 15 in a patent lawsuit against Gilead Sciences.

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OIG expands Anti-Kickback Statute safe harbors: 6 things to know

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Hospitals' billion-dollar pension dispute heads to Supreme Court
A sheriff's deputy was injured Sunday in a shootout with a recently discharged patient at Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin, Ga.

During a news conference Sunday night, Dublin Police Chief Tim Chatman said police received a report around 9 p.m. of an armed man on Fairview Park Hospital's campus, according to WMAZ-TV. When officers approached the suspect, he opened fire, leaving a sheriff's deputy with a gunshot wound in his lower leg, said Mr. Chatman, according to the report.

Police returned fire and were able to take the suspect, who has been identified as Akeem Woodward, into custody. Mr. Woodward, who wasn't injured in the incident, is being held at the Laurens County jail, according to the report.

The injured deputy was treated at the hospital and is in stable condition.

Police Chief Chatman said the motive in the case is unclear. He said Mr. Woodward was treated overnight at Fairview Park Hospital on Thursday for undisclosed reasons, and authorities aren't sure why he came back to the hospital with a gun, according to WMAZ-TV.

In a Facebook post early Monday morning, Fairview Park officials expressed gratitude to those who responded to the incident. "Many thanks to the Dublin Police and our community partners for their help last night. We are so proud of our team and grateful that our employees, patients and guests are safe."

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BP Group chief executive Bob Dudley said the oil giant's entry into Mauritania and Senegal represents an exciting strategic opportunity

BP is to inject almost 1 billion US dollars (800 million) into a gas field off the coast of west Africa as the industry continues to battle low energy prices.

The oil giant said it has struck an agreement with Kosmos Energy to explore the Tortue field off the coasts of Mauritania and Senegal.

The deal will see BP pick up a 62% stake in Kosmos's Mauritanian operation and 32.5% of its Senegalese unit.

BP boss Bob Dudley said: "BP's entry into Mauritania and Senegal represents an exciting strategic opportunity to work with Kosmos Energy in an emerging world-class hydrocarbon basin.

"We believe our expertise in integrating the gas value chain, together with a talented exploration partner in Kosmos, along with the support of the Mauritanian and Senegalese governments, brings together all the elements needed to create a new liquefied natural gas hub in Africa."

BP added that the field could contain roughly 50 trillion cubic feet of gas resource potential.

Over the weekend, BP struck a deal to snap up a 10% stake in Abu Dhabi Company, giving it access to emirate's largest oilfields. In exchange, the government of Abu Dhabi will take a 2% stake in BP, worth around 2.2 billion US dollars (1.8 billion).
1.9 billion was spent on holiday parks and caravan trips in 2015, according to VisitEngland

Private equity firm Caledonia Investments has sold caravan park operator Park Holidays to Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) for 362 million.

Park Holidays is Britain's fourth largest caravan operator and is set to see earnings of 36.5 million this year. The price tag represents a significant increase on the 172 million that Caledonia paid for the firm in 2013.

The sale process was put on ice following the EU referendum result, but the rise in staycations following the collapse in the value of the pound has meant that caravan operators have become highly sought-after assets.

Over the weekend, the country's biggest operator, Parkdean Resorts, was sold by Epiris to Toronto-based Onex Corporation for 1.35 billion.

Duncan Johnson, Caledonia's head of unquoted investments, said: "Caledonia's unquoted strategy is to invest in leading businesses which combine an ability to grow profits whilst also paying a healthy annual cash return to shareholders. Park Holidays has delivered in every respect."

ICG will retain Park Holidays' current management team, including chief executive Jeff Sills.

According to data from VisitEngland, 1.9 billion was spent on holiday parks and caravan trips in 2015.
A missing persons appeal for east Belfast woman Catherine Johnston is continuing after her disappearance last Tuesday.

The married mother of one (39) is a teacher at Hazlewood College and had been on sick leave in the days before going missing.

She is described as being approximately 5ft 9ins tall and of average build, with light brown, shoulder-length hair.

Yesterday a family member said they did not wish to make any further comment on the search at this time.

On Wednesday, December 14 a massive air and sea rescue operation was launched when her car was found at Ballintoy harbour on the north Antrim coast.

Police have continued to appeal to the public for any information and have concentrated the search around Dunseverick Castle and Carrick-a-rede areas.

PSNI Sergeant David Armour said: "We have information that a Vauxhall estate car, possibly an Insignia or an Astra, was parked at Ballintoy on Tuesday afternoon. The car is described as being duck-egg blue in colour.

He continued: "A man, woman and three children were using the car and it is thought that the adults took photographs while they were there. I would ask these people to please contact police so that we can check the photographs and see if they can assist us with the investigation.

"It is also thought that a white Transit van with a yellow taxi sign on the roof was parked in Ballintoy later that afternoon. Again I would ask the driver to please get in touch with police, quoting reference number 889 of 13/12/16."
The BBC offered to drop footage of Jonathan Bell praying before the start of his explosive interview with Stephen Nolan about the Renewable Heat Incentive, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.

But the DUP MLA said no, and insisted that he wanted the pictures to be included in the recording which went out on air.

Mr Bell went into the BBC's Belfast studios to claim that his party leader Arlene Foster had overruled him after he wanted to shut down the controversial RHI scheme.

But the First Minister has denied his allegations about the scandal - which is set to cost taxpayers over 400m.

Mr Bell stunned Nolan, his producers and studio technicians after he arrived for the interview by getting down on his knees beside a chair to pray.

He was accompanied by two men, including his father, Pastor Fergus Bell, who laid their hands on his back and prayed for the Holy Spirit to come upon the politician and his interviewer, to direct them in all that they thought and said.

Throughout the interview Mr Bell insisted that he had been motivated by a desire to give an honest account of what happened in the RHI scheme. He told Stephen Nolan: "I have undertaken before God that I will tell you the truth."

Afterwards, BBC producers discussed the filming of the pre-interview prayers with Mr Bell. A BBC source said: "It was thought that maybe it was too private, too personal to show to viewers. But Mr Bell said he wanted the prayers to be seen."

The Strangford MLA has been criticised on social media for not praying away from the cameras. A number of his critics said to do it in the studio was "cringeworthy".

One social media post said: "The man may well have deeply held religious convictions. That's his own business. But being filmed kneeling in prayer before an interview savaging the leader of a party with many religious hard-liners ... that is no accident or happenstance."

Another said: "If they wanted no-one to see, it they could have easily done this backstage or in the car before going in. They wanted it to be filmed."

Another post quoted a passage from Matthew Chapter 6, verses 5-6, which urges people to pray in private unlike those "who love to pray standing in the synagogues and street corners to be seen by others".

It added: "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."

The BBC source also said that Stephen Nolan's interview with Mrs Foster, just hours before it was broadcast, was conducted in a "hostile" atmosphere.

The source added: "It seemed that everybody who was anybody was there, including the SPADs.

"To say that Stephen Nolan got a frosty reception would be an understatement. There were no pleasantries exchanged before the interview, but Stephen didn't pull his punches and after the interview ended, Mrs Foster took her microphone off and left hurriedly without a word."
A pro-choice campaigner says she fears Precious Life may have used her name in a controversial petition to oppose abortion in the event of fatal foetal abnormality.

Sarah Wright is calling on the 'pro-life' group to remove her name from an anti-abortion petition she signed as a child 10 years ago, and says she believes her signature could have been submitted as part of a recent petition which is thought to have used older petitions.

She says she is considering lodging a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office.

The recent 300,000-name petition, presented to the Assembly by DUP MLA Jim Wells on behalf of Precious Life on November 28, has been branded "potentially dishonest" by Alliance health spokeswoman Paula Bradshaw.

Her remarks came after Justice Minister Clare Sugden revealed that what she had received was 47 boxes of material containing nine separate campaigns dating from 2001 to 2014.

Responding to a written question put by Ms Bradshaw, the minister said the boxes included material from a 2012 Precious Life campaign to stop Marie Stopes International opening a clinic in Northern Ireland.

"There was no petition relating to termination of pregnancy for fatal foetal abnormality, and no petition dated after September 2014," the minister said.

"There were also addresses identified in the material provided which were not in Northern Ireland."

Last night, pro-choice campaigner Sarah Wright said she had signed a Precious Life petition 10 years ago when she was under 18, but has since become a pro-choice activist and is horrified that her signature may now have been used in this petition. "I had long suspected that the anti-choice organisation Precious Life had been using decades-old signatures from various campaigns on their petitions, but it was only confirmed by Minister Claire Sugden last week through ministerial questions in the Assembly," Ms Wright said.

"I have been in touch with Precious Life to ask for my signature to be removed, via email and Twitter.

"I have received no response as yet, and have been blocked by Bernie Smyth (of Precious Life) online, after enquiring whether my signature could be removed.

"I have been advised by the Information Commissioner's Office to allow 28 days for a response before lodging a formal complaint with their office.

"It horrifies me, and has caused me considerable distress, that my signature from a decade ago could have been presented in this way, particularly as I do not agree with their stance on reproductive justice issues. The Precious Life petition is a gross misrepresentation of public views, and an improper use of personal data.

"It is regrettable that such an unscrupulous petition was put forward to the Assembly by Jim Wells MLA, who should issue an apology to Assembly members and the general public."

Ms Wright added: "I would ask Bernie Smyth and Precious Life if they can remove my signature, comply with Data Protection requirements regarding the misuse of personal information, and publicly apologise for the distress the organisation has caused to myself and others."

She explained that when she was a pupil at Methodist College Belfast, she had signed the Precious Life petition at their stall in Cornmarket around 2005-2007, when she was under 18.

Ms Wright said that, since she began university, she has been an active and passionate pro-choice activist.

"I have volunteered with Alliance for Choice for the last five years, fundraised for the Abortion Support Network, and proposed pro-choice policy whilst an elected councillor at Queen's University Belfast Students' Union.

"On the 22nd November, I was proud to sit in the public gallery at Stormont when Clare Bailey MLA presented the Amnesty International NI petition to the Assembly, which 45,000 people signed," Ms Wright said.
Proinsias O'Coinn as the 13-year search for the original owner of the old military jacket with a mysterious letter in its pocket has come to an end.

Proinsias O'Coinn's 13-year search for the original owner of an old military jacket with a mysterious letter in its pocket has come to an "overwhelming" end.

Mr O'Coinn, 28, from Mullaghbawn in County Armagh, bought the jacket in a vintage military shop for 40 on a rare shopping trip to Belfast when he was 15.

He became known for wearing it to fancy dress events, at Halloween and at house parties in his college days at Queen's University, but he has never given up his pursuit of finding who he believed was its true and rightful owner - a man who signed a short letter tucked away in the jacket's pocket.

The letter said: "To whom it may concern, The uniform was given to David Griffiths from his uncle George Nelson who resides at N. Atlantic Ave Cocoa Beach, Florida. Signed, George Nelson."

Speaking to the Press Association about his hunt, which is the subject of a BBC Radio 4 documentary, the show's presenter Mr O'Coinn, said: "As soon as I read that letter I knew that I had to give the jacket back.

"As much as I liked the look of the jacket and the style of it, there was a pride attached to this jacket that I could not emulate in any way.

"I felt this pride coming from the letter. Even though the letter doesn't really say very much, but for someone to take the time to write the letter and put it in the pocket, they wanted somebody to know that this is a genuine jacket, that this meant something to somebody. From that day I started to look for George Nelson."

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Whatsapp Undated BBC handout photo of Proinsias O'Coinn as the 13-year search for the original owner of the old military jacket with a mysterious letter in its pocket has come to an "overwhelming" end. PA

Mr O'Coinn made attempts to find Mr Nelson in the days of dial-up internet connection with hopes of returning the jacket and also maybe becoming pen pals, but it was when he began working in the media years later that he made real progress.

"Life does get in the way. You get distracted and big events come up, and you don't think about it for a few months. But I always came back to it, so he's been in my head since I was 15, this George Nelson ... I've thought about him for 13 years," he said.

Mr O'Coinn, who wanted to keep the details of his final discovery under wraps ahead of the documentary being broadcast , said he liked to think the jacket was living a "second life" with him.

Reflecting on his search and its conclusion, he said: "It was quite a difficult process because it was probably a lot more overwhelming than I thought it would be."

Mr O'Coinn is calling for help in finding the jacket's matching hat and tie which have gone missing.

"To me the jacket is complete with the hat and tie. This 13-year journey has been amazing and it would be fantastic to be able to locate the hat and tie to complete the uniform, so if anyone has seen them, please get in contact with me," he said.
Some people tried to make a legend out of Joe McCann. A song was written and sung every Sunday night in a club in Lagan Street to a hushed and reverent silence in the months after his death.

'They murdered our hero, brave Joseph McCann.'

Some of his photographs show him as lean and handsome enough to be an iconic figure.

He was friendly with the media at the time and he allowed a Pacemaker photographer to photograph him from behind, close to a burning barricade, crouched with his M1 Carbine held out into the light so that there could be no mistaking it.

Many who were alive in 1972, the year he died, will have perked up their ears at the news that two soldiers have been charged with his murder, and reflected on how come the books never came to be written or the movies made that would have cemented the legend in the making.

But essentially McCann was in the wrong IRA to be made famous for long. He was a Stickie, a member of the Official IRA, the group from which the Provisionals broke away in 1970.

Yet he had been part of the republican revival in the mid-1960s. He was recruited by Billy McMillen and sworn in as an IRA volunteer in the old Ard Scoil building in Divis Street, which was at the centre of Irish language teaching and gaelic culture in Belfast at the time.

His closest friend in those days was Gerry Adams, who later wrote that they were conspicuous at riots by their height and were too easily identified for comfort.

McCann was a fighter. In 1965 he was one of a group of republicans who attacked a British Army recruitment meeting at St Gabriel's secondary school.

They smashed a projector with hurley sticks.

The fact that Army recruitment could happen in a Catholic school in Belfast at the time tells you how different the culture then was.

He was arrested later that year and jailed for possession of an Army bayonet and details of police movements.

He was a rebel, but he didn't fit the modern idea of what a rebel would be.

He was, for instance, a lay Franciscan and spent weekends in robed retreat and in silent prayer, something some of his comrades mocked him for.

Some didn't even know that. But that was a period in which a republican might be expected to be a devout Catholic anyway.

He was part of the organisation of riots on Belfast in August 1969.

A plan was hatched to create a massive riot in Divis Street on August 13 and 14 to overstretch the police at a time when they had been losing control of street fighting in Derry, the Battle of the Bogside.

Liam McMillen had called IRA units from around the city to bring their limited stocks of weapons to the Lower Falls and to prepare hundreds of petrol bombs. McCann was at the front of a protest march to Hastings Street RUC station to hand in a letter of protest.

In the second night of rioting, the police and IRA exchanged gunfire, loyalists joined in from the streets adjoining the Shankill, there were several deaths and the city was traumatised by the eruption of warfare.

The IRA would split over its management of that battle.

Nearly all of McMillen's IRA men would stay with him in the Officials.

One would leave and join the Provisionals.

That was Gerry Adams.

He had already had a falling out with them and had been suspended for a time in the autumn of '69.

But two friends, he and McCann, were now on opposite sides of a split, and that split would turn deadly in circumstances that could easily have led to one of them being killed by the other.

A year later, in the Spring of 1971, the feud turned bloody.

The spark was in Adams' territory when a group of Provos shot and wounded a man linked to the Officials.

The Officials retaliated and the quarrel escalated into armed attacks on Official IRA drinking clubs.

A truce was put in place that night but one of the Provos, Charlie Hughes, stayed on the street, armed.

He was attacked and shot dead by two Officials, one of whom was Joe McCann. This was almost certainly the first time that McCann had killed.

The peace between the two sides after that was negotiated on behalf of the Provos by Gerry Adams.

Among the Officials, McCann was seen as an eager militant.

On one occasion he and another man stopped two RUC men on the Ormeau Road and took their guns from them.

In the spring of 1972, after the introduction of Direct Rule, the new secretary of state William Whitelaw was making overtures to the two wings of the IRA to entice them into a ceasefire and talks.

The Officials were initially more interested in this but McCann is remembered as one who opposed the move.

Ostensibly the trigger for the Official IRA ceasefire was the outrage in Derry after they murdered a young soldier, Ranger Best, home on leave.

McCann was sent to Dublin to be out of the way, but he had come back to Belfast against orders in the week that he died.

He was based in a house in Essex Street in the lower Ormeau Road.

He moved about in disguise and he had a young Fianna boy scouting for him, to keep him safe.

That scout was Anthony McIntyre, later sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and later still an academic and an eloquent critic of the Good Friday Agreement and of Gerry Adams.

McIntyre says he had seen two policemen in the area and had gone to McCann's safe house to warn him.

He had walked some distance down the Ormeau Road with him and then parted from him to kick a ball about with a friend.

He heard the shots.

Probably Gerry Adams heard them too from the Maidstone Prison ship docked in Belfast Lough.

Journalists arriving in Kelly's Cellars that Saturday afternoon, where they might have expected to meet McCann, were greeted with the news that he was dead and given an account of how it had happened.

The Official IRA ceasefire went ahead, though it was often lightly broken.

Gerry Adams has written much about his early friendship with Joe McCann.

He must also reflect at times, surely, on how easily he might have met the same fate, died early in his campaign and been forgotten.

And those who knew and revered McCann and sat hushed over their pints through the rendition of his ballad in Lagan Street, might wonder too how the legend died.

It died because the ideology that prevailed from those days was not the militant republican socialism of Joe McCann, it was the reformist politics of the SDLP, adopted and refashioned by his sidekick, Gerry Adams.

Malachi O'Doherty's biography of Gerry Adams will be published by Faber and Faber in September 2017
A notorious republican shot dead by the Army "got what he deserved", the daughter of one of the first soldiers to be murdered in the Troubles has claimed.

Anna-Marie Bankier (47) was just weeks from her second birthday when her father Robert, a corporal in the Royal Green Jackets, was shot dead in Belfast on May 21, 1971.

The 25-year-old father-of-two was shot in the leg and bled to death.

A year later, leader of the Official IRA, Joe McCann, who was suspected of, but not prosecuted for, the killing, was shot dead by members of the Parachute Regiment.

Last week, the men accused of shooting him, identified only as Soldier A and Soldier C and now aged 67 and 65-years-old, have been told they will face prosecution. A third man has since died. All three were cleared in an initial investigation into the shooting in 1972.

Now, a decision by the Public Prosecution Service to reopen the case has sparked outrage from politicians, veterans and the families of murdered soldiers, who branded the move as a "witch-hunt".

Ms Bankier, from Ipswich, who cares for her widowed mother Cathie, criticised the potential prosecution in an interview with the Telegraph.

She said: "From what I have been told, there was an investigation many years ago and these men were cleared of any wrongdoing. So why, after all these years, are they being re-investigated?

"It seems to me like they are being hounded just for doing their jobs.

"It is diabolical and disgusting after all this time. They are old guys now. What purpose is it serving?

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"I believe in karma, and that what goes around comes around. If he killed my dad, then he got what he deserved."

She added: "We knew that McCann was killed a year after my father died, and the two others were killed later. As far as I know, all the people responsible for my dad's death are now dead.

"I feel sorry for the families of these two soldiers who have been charged. It is not good for them to have this raked up again. I hope they get off."

A review of the case carried out by the Historical Enquiries Team said an unarmed McCann was shot three times as he tried to flee.

In 2014 the Attorney General requested a further inquest into McCann's death following pleas from his family. The action led to the fresh charges being brought against the soldiers.
A 51-year-old man arrested by detectives investigating the murder of Joe Reilly in Poleglass, west Belfast, has been released unconditionally.

Mr Reilly was gunned down after killers burst into his Glenwood Court home on Thursday, October 20.

The 43-year-old was shot twice in the chest in the living room of his home, while two other people in the house were forced to lie on the kitchen floor.

Despite the efforts of paramedics, he died at the scene.

The man was detained in west Belfast on Monday morning in connection with the shooting.

He was taken to Musgrave police station for questioning and has since been released.
A man was remanded into custody on Monday accused of stabbing his friend during a drink-fuelled weekend row at his home in east Belfast.

Darren Shah, 35, faces charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a kitchen knife with intent to commit an indictable offence.

He allegedly attacked another man at his Upper Frank Street address on Saturday, inflicting wounds to his body.

As Shah appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court police opposed his application for bail due to fears of possible re-offending.

A judge was also told he had failed to take his medication before the incident

Shah's solicitor, Denis Moloney, said he made full and frank admissions to police but raised issues of acting in self-defence.

The alleged attack occurred during a row in the accused's home, the court heard.

He was said to have been struck himself, sustaining injuries to his head and neck.

Mr Moloney stressed that if released his client would immediately go to his doctor to get back on the appropriate medication.

Refusing bail, however, the judge remanded Shah in custody to appear again by video-link on January 16.
Sinn Fein Assembly member Gerry Kelly (63) has suffered injuries to his face after he was the victim of an assault in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter on Saturday night.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of common assault.

He was in custody yesterday assisting police with their inquiries.

According to the PSNI, the suspect was arrested following a report of an assault that occurred in Gordon Street in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter at approximately 11.20pm on Saturday.

Police said a man in his 60s received facial injuries.

In a statement issued by Sinn Fein yesterday, the North Belfast MLA said: "I have made a formal complaint to the PSNI after I was assaulted in Belfast city centre last night. One man has been arrested and is being interviewed by the police in connection with the incident."

Last night, Mr Kelly appeared to be bearing up well after his ordeal.

He took to social media to send a message of ressurance to well-wishers that he was on the mend. "Hi ya'll. Yes, I was assaulted last night," he wrote in a message to his more than 28,000 Twitter followers.

"I am OK and a man has been arrested."

"I want to thank all those who were in touch to see how I am," the Assembly member added.
Proinsias O'Coinn as the 13-year search for the original owner of the old military jacket with a mysterious letter in its pocket has come to an end.

A 13-year search for the original owner of an old military jacket with a mysterious letter in its pocket has come to an "overwhelming" end.

Proinsias O'Coinn, 28, from Mullaghbawn in County Armagh, bought the jacket in a vintage military shop for 40 on a rare shopping trip to Belfast when he was 15.

He became known for wearing it to fancy dress events, at Halloween and at house parties in his college days at Queen's University, but he has never given up his pursuit of finding who he believed was its true and rightful owner - a man who signed a short letter tucked away in the jacket's pocket.

The letter said: "To whom it may concern, The uniform was given to David Griffiths from his uncle George Nelson who resides at N. Atlantic Ave Cocoa Beach, Florida. Signed, George Nelson."

Speaking to the Press Association about his hunt, which is the subject of a BBC Radio 4 documentary, the show's presenter Mr O'Coinn, said: "As soon as I read that letter I knew that I had to give the jacket back.

"As much as I liked the look of the jacket and the style of it, there was a pride attached to this jacket that I could not emulate in any way.

"I felt this pride coming from the letter. Even though the letter doesn't really say very much, but for someone to take the time to write the letter and put it in the pocket, they wanted somebody to know that this is a genuine jacket, that this meant something to somebody. From that day I started to look for George Nelson."

Mr O'Coinn made attempts to find Mr Nelson in the days of dial-up internet connection with hopes of returning the jacket and also maybe becoming pen pals, but it was when he began working in the media years later that he made real progress.

"Life does get in the way. You get distracted and big events come up, and you don't think about it for a few months. But I always came back to it, so he's been in my head since I was 15, this George Nelson ... I've thought about him for 13 years," he said.

Mr O'Coinn, who wanted to keep the details of his final discovery under wraps ahead of the documentary being broadcast , said he liked to think the jacket was living a "second life" with him.

Reflecting on his search and its conclusion, he said: "It was quite a difficult process because it was probably a lot more overwhelming than I thought it would be."

Mr O'Coinn is calling for help in finding the jacket's matching hat and tie which have gone missing.

"To me the jacket is complete with the hat and tie. This 13-year journey has been amazing and it would be fantastic to be able to locate the hat and tie to complete the uniform, so if anyone has seen them, please get in contact with me," he said.

:: Objet Trouve: To Whom It May Concern will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 4pm on Tuesday December 20.
Strike action by check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew could hit airports all over the UK, including Belfast International

Northern Ireland is to be hit by a wave of disruption as strikes will see post offices shut and airports without baggage handlers in the run-up to Christmas. File image

Northern Ireland is to be hit by a wave of disruption as strikes will see post offices shut and airports without baggage handlers in the run-up to Christmas.

A series of bitter industrial disputes have flared over issues including jobs, pay, pensions and safety, involving some of the country's biggest trade unions.

Six of Northern Ireland's main post offices are set to close today because of UK-wide industrial action by the Communications Workers' Union (CWU).

CWU members will strike for five days, including Christmas Eve, in protest at job losses, the closure of a final salary pension scheme and the franchising of Crown Post Offices. The post offices affected here are:

Antrim: Castle Centre

Belfast City: Bridge Street

Bangor: Main Street

Coleraine: New Row

Londonderry: Custom House Street

Newtownards: Frances Street.

The Consumer Council is advising people posting parcels and cards this week to be aware of the planned strike action taking place over Christmas week.

Michael Legg, senior policy officer at the Consumer Council, said: "If your post office is one of the six branches affected, and you cannot visit the post office on a different day or use another nearby branch, you can take your cards to a post box, as collections from Royal Mail will operate as normal."

The other 480 smaller post offices in Northern Ireland are unaffected by the strike, and they will continue to operate as normal.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "There will be little or no impact on Royal Mail as a result of the CWU strike at the Post Office. Deliveries will carry on as normal and the last posting dates for Christmas remain unchanged."

CWU general secretary Dave Ward accused the management of rejecting a peace offer and warned of a continuing closure programme which would mean that the Post Office will cease to exist on high streets.

Meanwhile, both Belfast International and Belfast City airports will be affected by a baggage handlers' strike on December 23 and 24, and action by British Airways staff will hit Belfast-Heathrow flights.

From yesterday right up until Christmas Eve, Belfast International Airport will handle almost 700 inbound and outbound flights carrying about 110,000 passengers.

Friday is set to be the busiest day, with more than 120 flights carrying 20,000 passengers.

"We have contingency plans in place to deal with any industrial action," said an airport spokesperson. "We have teams on stand-by to minimise any disruption."
Abby with some of the shoeboxes for the homeless

Gavin Dunlop, owner of Moda in Newtownards, and his daughter Abby with some of the shoeboxes for the homeless

An Ulster retailer has been stunned by the incredible response of the Northern Ireland public to his appeal for items to help the homeless this Christmas.

Big-hearted Gavin Dunlop (47), who owns Moda Shoes in Newtownards, issued the appeal after seeing the plight of homeless people in his native Glasgow.

He hit on the idea of filling shoeboxes with clothes and goodies and - helped by daughter Abby (16) - distributing them to local homeless people as a special kind of Christmas box.

"We put out an appeal through our Facebook page at the end of October and we've been overwhelmed by the generosity of customers and local people, the response has been tremendous," he said.

Tomorrow night, Gavin and Abby will head to Belfast to distribute 80 shoeboxes packed with everything from hats and gloves to food, chocolate and toiletries.

It's the first time Gavin has done anything like this and he's thrilled at the generosity of spirit with which customers and fellow retailers have responded to his appeal.

"Homelessness in Belfast is just getting worse and worse every year," Mr Dunlop told the Belfast Telegraph.

"It's just an idea that came up from going over to Glasgow, visiting my mum, and visiting Manchester where my son is at university, and seeing the scale of the street sleeping that happens there.

"It's heartbreaking. So I wanted to collect and do what I could for local homeless people who desperately need our help. Rough sleeping is something you didn't see much of in Belfast up until recently. I wanted to get involved and help, and thankfully others wanted to donate and help, too.

"And one lady told us that five or six years ago she herself fell on hard times, and somebody did something similar to what we're doing this year - and it helped her out of a big hole.

"The lady gave us an envelope - and there was 100 inside it!

"We bought fleece blankets with the money, and I put more money to her gift so that every single shoebox we give out will come with a fleece blanket. We have quite a number of warm jackets and jumpers to give out as well.

"People have been handing us filled shoeboxes, others have brought carrier bags full of stuff. They've really gone to town. It's been nothing short of incredible."

Gavin revealed that two of the bedrooms in his home are piled high with items that have been donated.

"We've got about 80 boxes fully packed and ready to distribute," he said.

And in a move which will touch the heart of animal lovers, Gavin and Abby have included doggie items in their Christmas shoeboxes, which they will be giving out to rough sleepers in Belfast.

"Often you see rough sleepers with their dogs by their side," said Gavin.

"People will always try to make sure that their dog is okay, before they think of themselves.

"We've had dog food and dog chews donated, as well as some leads and collars.

"It's been wonderful what people have given.

"People have been absolutely magnificent."

He added: "It's been truly overwhelming just how kind people have been."
The scene of a paramilitary-style shooting in Aitnamona Crescent (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

The scene of a paramilitary-style shooting in Aitnamona Crescent (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

The scene of a paramilitary-style shooting in Aitnamona Crescent (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

A 16-year-old teenager has been shot in both legs in a paramilitary-style attack in west Belfast, which police described as "blatant child abuse".

The incident happened in Aitnamona Crescent in the city shortly before 9pm on Sunday.

The teenager was taken to hospital for treatment to gunshot wounds, which police said are not believed to be life-threatening.

The PSNI has condemned the attack as a "horrific act of violence".

Chief Inspector Norman Hanslet said: "This is blatant child abuse and there should be no place for the shooting of a child in todays society.

"I know that the local community abhor this type of behaviour and I ask for their support and assistance to help bring these people to justice."

It was the second paramilitary-style shooting in the area in just over 24 hours.

A 32-year-old man was shot in the leg in the Cluain Mor Drive area of west Belfast on Saturday evening.

The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information about both incidents to come forward.
Police at the scene outside Harrods after the bombing in 1983

Victims and the families of those killed and injured in the Harrods bombing have attended a service to mark 32 years since the attack.

They were joined at the service - which took place outside the upmarket department store in Knightsbridge, London, on Saturday - by victims of other terrorist atrocities.

On Wednesday, December 17, 1984, the IRA, aided by then Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and his regime, detonated a massive car bomb adjacent to Harrods, marking the end of a 17-month ceasefire.

The IRA sent a warning 37 minutes before it exploded, but the area was not evacuated.

Six people were killed - three police officers and three civilians - and 90 were injured, among them 14 police officers. Campaigner William Frazer, of Families Acting For Innocent Relatives (FAIR NI), said victims should not be forgotten.

"It's very important that we remember the innocent victims of terrorism because this is all about re-writing our history," he commented.

"And what happened that day in London is embedded in the minds of the people who were affected by it."

He added: "There are quite a few victims who have come together in the mainland which is encouraging, because victims never used to work together."

Speaking ahead of the service, Susanne Dodd, who was only seven-years-old when her father, Inspector Stephen Dodd (34), died of his injuries days after the bombing, said it was a heartbreaking atrocity. "A day never goes by without me thinking of my poor dad," she said.

"It breaks my heart to think of my dad and all those killed and injured that day."

Ihsan Bashir, whose brother was killed in the 1996 London Docklands Bombing, also attended the service, along with fellow members of the Docklands Victims Association.

He commented: "I lost my brother, Inam. I have tremendous sympathy with all victims of terror. All terrorism is evil as they have taken innocent life."

Shop owner Inam Bashir (29) and employee John Jeffries (31) were killed when the IRA detonated a powerful truck bomb in the Canary Wharf financial district of London on February 9, 1996.

The blast injured 39 others, some permanently, and caused an estimated 150 million worth of damage.

The IRA had sent warnings 90 minutes beforehand but the area was not fully evacuated.

Earlier this year, IRA victims called for compensation from Libya after it emerged the war-torn country has almost 10bn being held in frozen assets in the UK.

US victims of the Lockerbie disaster were paid compensation by Libya, but UK victims suing the country have so far received nothing.
Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland 19th December 2016 Stormont recalled over Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and his Sinn Fein party colleagues arrive in the Great Hall before heading into the Assembly Chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye.

Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland 19th December 2016 Stormont recalled over Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and his Sinn Fein party colleagues arrive in the Great Hall before heading into the Assembly Chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye.

Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland 19th December 2016 Stormont recalled over Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme. UUP leader Mike Nesbitt and his party arrive in the Great Hall before heading into the Assembly Chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye.

Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland 19th December 2016 Stormont recalled over Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme. Jonathan Bell arrives in the Great Hall before heading into the Assembly Chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye.

Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland 19th December 2016 Stormont recalled over Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme. First Minister Arlene Foster arrives in the Great Hall before heading into the Assembly Chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye.

Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland 19th December 2016 Stormont recalled over Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme. First Minister Arlene Foster arrives in the Great Hall before heading into the Assembly Chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye.

Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland 19th December 2016 Stormont recalled over Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme. Jonathan Bell arrives in the Great Hall before heading into the Assembly Chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye.

Stormont recalled over Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and his Sinn Fein party colleagues arrive in the Great Hall before heading into the Assembly Chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye.

Stormont recalled over Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme. First Minister Arlene Foster arrives in the Great Hall before heading into the Assembly Chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye.

Deputy First Minster Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein addresses media into the Great Hall accompanied by party colleagues at Parliament Buildings in Stormont, Belfast, as First Minister Arlene Foster faced a vote of no confidence in her leadership at the devolved Assembly as the fall out from a botched green energy scheme intensifies

Stormont recalled over Renewable Heat Initiative Scheme. First Minister Arlene Foster arrives in the Great Hall before heading into the Assembly Chamber. Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye.

Dramatic scenes in NI Assembly as MLAs walk out - vote of confidence in Arlene Foster [Photos] Close

A motion of no confidence in First Minister Arlene Foster has been defeated in the Assembly.

Seventy-five MLAs voted in the matter. Of which 39, or 52%, voted in favour. However, the motion was defeated as it did not obtain cross-community backing.

Stormont was plunged into crisis after all members - except those in the DUP - walked out ahead of a disputed statement by Mrs Foster on her role over the Renewable Heating Incentive. Unprecedented scenes saw the DUP leader Arlene Foster address empty benches in the chamber, with only her party faithful remaining in their seats. On Monday afternoon a motion of no confidence made in Assembly. Follow the live updates below:

#RHI at Stormont, in 60 seconds - watch the key moments. pic.twitter.com/zitz6whTtT  BBC News NI (@BBCNewsNI) December 19, 2016

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Stormont's First Minister launched a blistering attack against political rivals and the media as she defended her handling of a botched green energy scheme.

DUP leader Arlene Foster denounced opposition parties as "irrelevant and impotent" as she responded to an Assembly motion of no confidence in her.

"For almost two weeks I have listened on an almost daily basis to lies presented as facts, the truth distorted out of all recognition and a public narrative created and relentlessly pursued which bears no relationship to reality," she said.

All other parties in the Assembly - including the DUP's partner in government, Sinn Fein - have called on her to stand down pending an independent probe into an error-ridden scheme that has landed the Northern Ireland taxpayer an estimated bill of 400 million.

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was due to offer a proportion of the cost businesses had to pay to run eco-friendly boilers, but it ended up paying significantly more than the cost of fuel, enabling applicants to "burn to earn" - getting free heat and making a profit as they did it.

Claims of widespread abuse include a farmer allegedly set to pocket around 1 million in the next 20 years for heating an empty shed. Mrs Foster was the minister in charge of the scheme at its inception.

Assured of the party strength to defeat the SDLP motion of no confidence, Mrs Foster branded it a "kamikaze" attempt at a "constitutional coup d'etat".

"I have to say it's a coup d'etat more worthy of a Carry On film," she added.

The DUP leader said she would not run away from her responsibilities.

"I remain as committed today as I did on the day I was elected as First Minister to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith."

All non-DUP MLAs had earlier walked out of the chamber ahead of a statement by Mrs Foster.

The bitter row unfolded after Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness withdrew his approval for Mrs Foster to appear to explain her role in the RHI.

All statements by Mrs Foster and Mr McGuinness's joint office need the support of both sides of the power-sharing executive.

Mr McGuinness's move prompted members from all parties but the DUP to question the validity of Mrs Foster's appearance.

It led to the bizarre situation of Mrs Foster giving a statement to a three-quarters empty chamber and then answering questions tabled by her own members.

The majority of absent MLAs returned later for the motion of no confidence debate. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood tabled the proposal.

"This is biggest public finance scandal ever to hit these institutions," he said.

"As this scandal has unfolded it has suited some to muddy the waters but we must not be distracted.

"So far, digging into this scandal has uncovered staggering incompetence - digging deeper has the potential to uncover corruption."

Mr Eastwood said Mrs Foster must do the "dignified and decent" thing and stand down.

"We can't go on like this. The longer the First Minister clings on the more her credibility will fade," he said. "And let me assure the First Minister, Christmas will not save her."

The SDLP later said in a statement: "As of this moment, Arlene Foster no longer enjoys the support of the Assembly as First Minister.

"The First Minister lost todays confidence vote, even in spite of a disappearing act from Sinn Fein who talked tough but went missing when it counted. Despite saying that Arlene Foster should stand aside, Sinn Fein couldnt muster a single member to vote to stand her aside. People will cast their own judgment on that particular abdication of responsibility.

2Over 400m of taxpayers money has gone up in smoke. When the budget is presented in January, that will manifest itself in cuts to already stretched public services. This situation is not going away and Christmas will not save the First Minister.

"What is needed now is a judge led public inquiry will full powers to compel evidence and witnesses. The SDLP will now begin to chart an alternative way to hold this government to account."

The "cash for ash" scandal reached fever pitch last week when former DUP economy minister Jonathan Bell broke ranks to level a series of claims against his leader and party advisers.

In a TV interview, a tearful Mr Bell said God told him to come clean as he claimed a "highly agitated and angry" Mrs Foster demanded he keep the RHI open for an extra fortnight despite its huge losses.

Mrs Foster strongly rejected the claims. Mr Bell was suspended by the party over the weekend.

On Monday, Mr Bell claimed he had an email containing critical information about the scandal. He said he was being prevented from publishing details of the message and called for that ban to be lifted.

Much of the scrutiny on Mrs Foster has focused on how she responded to concerns raised by a whistleblower during her time as economy minister.

There was a flurry of claims last week about whether the individual raised concerns directly to Mrs Foster, or if she only outlined them after Mrs Foster passed her on to meet officials.

The DUP published an email from the whistleblower last week that made no mention of her RHI concerns - the party cited it to demand an apology from those who said she should have done more.

Another email has since emerged, sent directly to Mrs Foster in 2013, that raised specific concerns about the scheme.

During her statement, Mrs Foster said of the whistleblower: "She deserves our high respect and a sincere apology on behalf of my former department, which should not have dismissed her claims with disbelief, but examined them with diligence.

"It is no exaggeration to say that had she been listened to on any of the three occasions when she approached DETI, this crisis would have been avoided."

Regarding what information was passed directly to her, she added: "Unfortunately, it has been difficult to establish the exact facts around contact between this concerned citizen and myself and the department."

How each MLA voted in motion

Mr Steven Agnew Other AYE

Mr Steve Aiken OBE Unionist AYE

Mr Andy Allen Unionist AYE

Mr Jim Allister Unionist AYE

Mr Sydney Anderson Unionist NO

Ms Kellie Armstrong Other AYE

Mr Alex Attwood Nationalist AYE

Ms Clare Bailey Other AYE

Mrs Rosemary Barton Unionist AYE

Mr Doug Beattie MC Unionist AYE

Mr Roy Beggs Unionist AYE

Mr Maurice Bradley Unionist NO

Ms Paula Bradley Unionist NO

Ms Sinead Bradley Nationalist AYE

Ms Paula Bradshaw Other AYE

Mr Keith Buchanan Unionist NO

Mr Thomas Buchanan Unionist NO

Ms Joanne Bunting Unionist NO

Mrs Pam Cameron Unionist NO

Mr Gerry Carroll Other AYE

Mr Alan Chambers Unionist AYE

Mr Trevor Clarke Unionist NO

Mr Stewart Dickson Other AYE

Mrs Jo-Anne Dobson Unionist AYE

Mr Gordon Dunne Unionist NO

Mr Mark Durkan Nationalist AYE

Mr Alex Easton Unionist NO

Mr Colum Eastwood Nationalist AYE

Dr Stephen Farry Other AYE

Mr David Ford Other AYE

Mrs Arlene Foster Unionist NO

Mr Paul Frew Unionist NO

Mr Paul Girvan Unionist NO

Mr Paul Givan Unionist NO

Mrs Brenda Hale Unionist NO

Mr Simon Hamilton Unionist NO

Ms Claire Hanna Nationalist AYE

Mr David Hilditch Unionist NO

Mr William Humphrey Unionist NO

Mr Ross Hussey Unionist AYE

Mr William Irwin Unionist NO

Mr Danny Kennedy Unionist AYE

Mrs Emma Little Pengelly Unionist NO

Ms Carla Lockhart Unionist NO

Mr Phillip Logan Unionist NO

Mrs Naomi Long Other AYE

Mr Trevor Lunn Other AYE

Mr Gordon Lyons Unionist NO

Mr Chris Lyttle Other AYE

Mr Eamonn McCann Other AYE

Mr Nelson McCausland Unionist NO

Mr Daniel McCrossan Nationalist AYE

Mr Patsy McGlone Nationalist AYE

Mr Colin McGrath Nationalist AYE

Miss Michelle McIlveen Unionist NO

Mr Harold McKee Unionist AYE

Mr Justin McNulty Nationalist AYE

Mr Richie McPhillips Nationalist AYE

Mr Adrian McQuillan Unionist NO

Ms Nichola Mallon Nationalist AYE

Mr Gary Middleton Unionist NO

Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley Unionist NO

Mr Gerry Mullan Nationalist AYE

Mr Mike Nesbitt Unionist AYE

Mrs Sandra Overend Unionist AYE

Mrs Jenny Palmer Unionist AYE

Mr Edwin Poots Unionist NO

Mr George Robinson Unionist NO

Mr Alastair Ross Unionist NO

Mr Philip Smith Unionist AYE

Mr Christopher Stalford Unionist NO

Mr Mervyn Storey Unionist NO

Ms Claire Sugden Unionist NO

Mr Peter Weir Unionist NO

Mr Jim Wells Unionist NO
The owner of P atrick Pearse's handwritten surrender letter has been blocked from taking it out of the country.

The note, which marked the end of the 1916 Rising, failed to sell at auction earlier in the month with the Government insisting the guide price of between 1 and 1.5 million euro (840,000 - 1.25 million) was too dear for it to make an offer.

The surrender letter was signed into the Register of Cultural Objects by Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys last Friday and a request to take it out of the country was made on Monday.

After effectively blocking an export licence, Ms Humphreys raised the prospect of the owner availing themselves of a massive tax break if it is donated to the state.

"I remain of the view that the guide price on this letter is too high," she said.

The minister said she took the decision to put it on the register because of the letter's heritage value and it now means an export licence cannot be granted for a year.

"This will provide some space and time, when other potential buyers may come forward and I think it is the right thing to do in this case," Ms Humphreys said.

"It is worth repeating that should an individual wish to donate this letter to the state, they could claim 80% of its value back in tax relief under the very generous Section 1003 scheme. As set out in the legislation, it is not open to me to refuse to grant the export licence, but by delaying it for a year, I am providing an opportunity to allow other options to keep the letter in the country to emerge."

The letter was th e final instruction from Pearse to soldiers in the Four Courts in Dublin.

Pearse wrote the surrender letter in his prison cell on April 30 1916 shortly after he had given up the fight.

He was executed three days later.

Auctioneers regarded it as one of the most historically significant artefacts from the rebellion years to have been offered publicly.

At an auction held by James Adam's in Dublin earlier in the month the letter was withdrawn from sale after falling short of the guide when bidding stopped at 770,000 euro (650,000).

There had been a number of calls for the Government to buy it including from Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.

Diarmaid Ferriter, professor of modern Irish history at University College Dublin, said the letter did not belong in an auction and that the sale debases Irish heritage on the 100th anniversary of the rebellion.

The seller has not been named and was described by the auctioneers as non-Irish and living outside the country.

They paid 800,000 euro (670,000) for it at auction in 2005 despite a guide price as low as 50-70,000 euro (42,000 - 59,000).
The problems gripping the country's prisons could last for months, the Justice Secretary has warned.

Liz Truss addressed MPs on last week's riot at HMP Birmingham, which saw hundreds of inmates wreak havoc in the jail over more than 12 hours of chaos.

She revealed that 380 inmates have been moved out of the jail, while damage on the wings is being assessed.

Daily meetings are being held with senior officials to monitor prisons for risk factors that might indicate potential violence and unrest.

Ms Truss said levels of violence in prisons are too high, but insisted ministers are taking "swift action" to deal with drugs, drones and phones.

"The issues in our prisons are long-standing and they are not going to be completely solved in weeks or even months," Ms Truss warned. "We are working to ensure our prisons are stable while we deliver our reforms.

"The next few months will be difficult but I am confident we can turn this situation around."

A full investigation has been ordered into the incident at Birmingham, a Category B facility run by private firm G4S.

Setting out the current understanding of the disturbance, the Justice Secretary said six prisoners in the jail's N-wing climbed onto netting at 9.15 on Friday morning.

"When staff intervened, one of them had their key snatched," she said. "At that point staff withdrew for their own safety. Prisoners then gained control of P wing."

Specialist teams were dispatched to the jail while inmates gained access to two more wings at 1.30pm, sparking a call for further reinforcements.

At 8.35pm, ten Tornado teams of highly trained officers swept through the jail and shortly after 10pm, they had secured all four wings.

The Birmingham episode was the third major disturbance in less than two months following trouble at Bedford and Lewes prisons.

John Thornhill, president of the National Council of Independent Monitoring Boards, said the disturbance at HMP Birmingham is "yet more evidence" of concerns about rising levels of violence.

He said IMBs - which provide a monitoring presence in every prison in England and Wales - have regularly questioned staffing levels and regimes across many establishments in recent years.

"IMBs are perturbed that their dedication to the monitoring role on a weekly basis is frustrated by a failure to respond to the issues raised at a national level in their annual reports," Mr Thornhill said.

He warned that low staffing levels mean prisoners are denied access to a range of facilities.

"They become frustrated, tension and violence increase and become more widespread," Mr Thornhill said. "The result, as we have seen in recent weeks, is an increase in riots that damage the system and individuals.

"The impact of this unrestrained violence is that a large number of prisoners have to be transferred to other prisons that are already stretched with their own problems and staffing issues."

There have been warnings that violence could spread to other facilities amid "simmering tensions"

As well as tensions reported at HMP Hull, it emerged that four inmates barricaded themselves in a cell at HMP Cardiff on Sunday.

The incident was resolved quickly when the prisoners surrendered to staff. No one was injured and the jail is running a normal regime.

Surging levels of assaults and self-harm behind bars have prompted fears of a safety crisis and l ast month thousands of officers walked out amid claims the system was "in meltdown".

Ms Truss has announced a string of measures aimed at tackling the issues including a recruitment drive to add 2,500 staff and mandatory drug testing across the estate.
Gunmen have ambushed Jordanian police in a series of attacks, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing seven officers, two local civilians and a woman visiting from Canada.

At least 27 people were also injured in one of the bloodiest attacks in the country in recent memory.

A stand-off between Jordanian special forces and armed men holed up inside the castle continued after nightfall on Sunday, several hours after the first shooting. Government officials declined to comment on local news reports that the attackers had taken hostages who were later freed.

Shots could still be heard at the scene on Sunday evening, and security forces fired tear gas to flush out the gunmen.

The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged the pro-Western kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

The killing of the Canadian tourist could further hurt Jordan's embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighbouring Syria and Iraq two years ago.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in and near the central town of Karak, about 87 miles south of the capital Amman.

The chain of events began when a police patrol received reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district, Jordan's Public Security Directorate said in a statement.

The officers responding to the call came under fire from inside the house, the statement said. Two policemen were injured and the assailants fled in a car.

In another attack, gunmen fired on a security patrol in Karak, causing no injuries.

Jordan faces home-grown extremism, with hundreds of Jordanians fighting alongside other Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more supporting the extremist group in the kingdom. Jordan is a key US ally, and a member of a US-led military coalition fighting IS.

Over the past year, gunmen have carried out several attacks on members of the Jordanian security forces and foreign trainers. Earlier this year, Jordanian security forces engaged in a deadly shootout with suspected IS sympathisers in a northern Jordanian town.

In the most recent incident, three US military members were killed in a shooting outside an air base in southern Jordan in November. The three were in Jordan on a training mission, and came under fire while driving into the base.

AP
A gunman dressed in black has stormed into the prayer hall of a mosque frequented by Somali immigrants and opened fire, wounding three people before fleeing, police in Zurich said.

Officers who rushed to the scene in a central neighbourhood known for trendy cafes and the city's red-light district are also investigating the discovery of a body at nearby Gessner bridge over the Sihl River, police spokesman Marco Bisa said.

Authorities are not considering the attack as terrorism, he said. Police also said it was too early to determine whether there might be any link to an incident in Berlin, where a truck rammed into a Christmas market.

"The unknown person fired several shots and fled from the building," Mr Bisa told reporters near the mosque, which was cordoned off by police.

"The shooting took place inside a prayer room with several people in it. Two victims were severely injured."

Mr Bisa said the injured were aged 30, 35 and 56, but did not specify their nationalities. He said witnesses described the attacker as clad head to foot in black, and he was believed to be aged about 30.

At the scene, Abukav Abshirow, a 30-year-old Somali man who works at a Zurich car dealership, said his friend was among the injured. He recalled how they had celebrated a religious occasion at the centre the night before.

"I am under shock," he said. "We've had great times here. The atmosphere was always friendly and happy at the centre.

"I am very, very sad this happened. We never had problems here before. We spend the weekend here with our children in peace.

"I am waiting to find out what happened, and who is responsible."

Attacks by gunmen are rare in Switzerland, although the country was shaken in 2013 by at least two multiple-fatality shootings.

The country has a long-standing tradition for men to keep their military rifles after completing compulsory military service - which partly explains a high rate of gun ownership in the country of about 8.2 million people.

AP
Tourists from the UK, Canada and Malaysia hid inside a Crusader castle during armed clashes between troops and gunmen at the Jordanian site, officials have said.

Jordan's interior minister denied that foreigners had been held hostage at any point during the incident at Karak Castle.

Sunday's violent stand-off capped a series of shootings that killed 10 people, including a Canadian tourist, and wounded 34 others. It is the deadliest and most high-profile attack in Jordan in recent memory.

Interior minister Salameh Hammad said at one point, four gunmen were firing at police and bystanders from the roof of the castle.

"Inside the castle, there was a group of tourists," he said, adding that he did not believe the attackers were aware of the presence of the tourists during the stand-off.

"There were some foreigners that we can't say were taken hostage, but they were hiding," he said.

The Canadian woman who was killed was later identified as 62-year-old retired elementary school teacher Linda Vatcher.

Her adult son, Chris, was injured in the jaw and is being treated at a hospital in the Jordanian capital of Amman, the minister said.

The minister said a Malaysian tourist was able to escape the castle during the stand-off, while two British tourists got out after the four gunmen were killed by Jordanian security forces.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the shootings. Mr Hammad did not release the identities of the attackers or their nationalities, but said some of them appeared to have been familiar with the castle.

Jordan has faced homegrown extremism, with hundreds of Jordanians fighting alongside Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more supporting the extremist group in the kingdom.

Jordan is a key US ally, and a member of a US-led military coalition fighting IS.

Sunday's events began when a police patrol received reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district. Officers responding to the call came under fire from inside the house. Two policemen were wounded and the assailants fled in a car to Karak.

Mr Hammad said other weapons including five or six explosives belts were found in the possession of the gunmen, suggesting they had planned other attacks.

"I don't think the target was only Karak Castle," he said. "Maybe there were more targets, but Allah helped us discover this cell before more attacks took place."

In all, seven members of the Jordanian security forces, two local civilians and the visitor from Canada were killed.

Barb Rhymes, a cousin of the slain Canadian tourist, said the victim was from Burgeo, Newfoundland, and was visiting her son in Jordan where he works. Ms Rhymes said Ms Vatcher was a widow and the mother of two adult sons.

Sunday's shootings were the latest in a series of attacks over the past year that have challenged the pro-Western kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region increasingly threatened by Islamic extremists.

Political analyst Labib Kamhawi said rising unemployment and poverty in Jordan have made the population more vulnerable to recruitment by extremist groups.

The high-profile Karak shootings highlighted Jordan's vulnerability to such attacks, he said.

"People feel the response of the government was weak and that the government is not prepared to counteract such actions," he said.

"Previous operations were extremely limited, even in their targets, and were not trying to involve civilians."

Mr Kamhawi said Jordan's claim to be an island of stability "is not valid any more".

The attack is likely to further harm Jordan's battered tourism industry, which has been on the decline since IS seized control of parts of neighbouring Iraq and Syria two years ago.

AP
A truck has run into a crowded Christmas market in the centre of Berlin

A truck has rammed into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin, killing at least nine people as it tore through tables and wooden stands.

Police said about 50 people were injured, several critically, when the vehicle crashed into the market outside the popular market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

Spokesman Winfried Wenzel said the fatalities included a passenger in the truck, who died as paramedics treated him at the scene. He offered no details on how the passenger was injured.

He also said a suspect believed to be the driver was arrested nearby .

Mr Wenzel said the truck was registered in Poland, but officers are still investigating where it came from and who the driver was.

The Polish owner of the truck said he feared the vehicle, originally driven by his cousin, may have been hijacked. Ariel Zurawki said he last spoke with the driver around noon, and was told he was in Berlin and scheduled to unload on Tuesday morning.

Mr Zurawki told TVN24: "They must have done something to my driver."

Berlin's senior security official, state interior minister Andreas Geisel, told RBB television it was too early to say whether it was an attack, and said that reports the truck may have been hijacked were "pure speculation".

Federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, have taken over the investigation, according to justice minister Heiko Maas, who said in a tweet "we are mourning with the relatives" of the victims.

Interior minister Thomas de Maiziere gave no indication in a statement whether authorities believe the crash was an attack.

Television footage showed a large Scania truck with its windscreen smashed on the pavement alongside the market. A large Christmas tree with a gold star on top was toppled over nearby in the street.

It came less than a month after the US State Department called for caution in markets and other public places, saying extremist groups including Islamic State and al Qaida were focusing "on the upcoming holiday season and associated events".

IS and al Qaida have called on followers to use trucks in particular to attack public places.

On July 14, a truck ploughed into a Bastille Day crowd in the southern French city of Nice, killing 86 people. IS claimed that attack, which was carried out by a Tunisian living in France.

Mike Fox, a tourist from Birmingham, said the truck missed him by about three metres as it drove into the market.

"It was definitely deliberate," he said, adding that he helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands.

Dozens of ambulances lined the streets waiting to take the injured away, and heavily armed officers patrolled the area. Police on Twitter urged people to stay away from the area, saying they need to keep the streets clear for rescue vehicles.

AP
The year of commemoration of the Somme has had many positive effects

I was brought up in Dublin by my historian father to understand that the history of Ireland should be the history of all the people in Ireland. That was a revolutionary notion, for post-partition Ireland separated history as much as territory.

As a friend from the Republic remarked in wonderment the other day, she got through her convent-school years without being told anything about either world war.

All Irish history in the nationalist world was parochial and to do with the struggle against the British oppressor, so it stopped with the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921.

Apart from anything else, the educational establishment didnt want to mention the civil war that followed.

In the same way, those in control of the curriculum in state schools in Northern Ireland avoided teaching students anything about the history of their island.

Fast forward to now, when many people in both jurisdictions realise the truth of what my father spent decades preaching.

The year of commemoration of the Somme and the Easter Rising had many positive effects.

There was a growing realisation that one cannot understand the past by regurgitating myths.

Irish nationalists have been discovering their family links to members of the British Army, as Unionists find out about their Republican relatives.

The nine-volume Dictionary of Irish Biography that came out in 2009 from the Royal Irish Academy was evidence of how far the teaching and writing of Irish history had come.

Written by hundreds of historians, it covered the lives of 9,700 noteworthy men and women born in Ireland, or outsiders who had significant Irish careers.

The word inclusive is much overused, but thats what that dictionary set out to be.

It included actors, artists, clergy, criminals, industrialists, lawyers, musicians, politicians, saints, scientists, trades unionists and writers.

It also set out to be as objective as is humanly possible and tell peoples stories straightforwardly and honestly.

A by-product of the dictionary is the recently published Ulster Political Lives 1886-1921, which looks at 50 people, some famous, some unknown, crucial to aspects of the history of the nine counties.

As the editors explain in their illuminating introduction to the history of the period, there was much more to it than simply the Catholic/nationalist-Protestant/Unionist clash.

There were many other groups and individuals that were major players in the development of the Ulster politics of that period.

Splits in Westminster political parties frequently had consequences in Ulster, as did events down south.

The usual suspects are here: key politicians like unionisms Edward Carson, James Craig and Edward Saunderson, and nationalisms Joseph Devlin and Cahir Healy.

There are the revolutionaries: Frank Aiken, the Armagh gunman who ended up as Minister for External Affairs in the Republic, Bulmer Hobson, the Quaker from Belfast who became the Irish Republican Brotherhoods most impressive strategist, and Winifred Carney from Bangor, who was by the side of her boss James Connolly in the General Post Office in 1916, and while a Republican socialist activist in the Northern Ireland Labour Party in the 1920s married a Protestant socialist Unionist who had joined the UVF in 1913 and fought throughout the war in the British Army. Other fascinating characters include Lindsay Crawford from Lisburn, founding editor of the evangelical Irish Protestant, a founding member of the Independent Loyal Orange Institution who wrote its radical egalitarian manifesto, Alice Milligan from Tyrone, the cultural nationalist whirlwind and friend of Roger Casement, William Trimble of Fermanaghs Impartial Reporter and the trades unionist Mary Galway from Moira, who organised low-paid textile workers in Belfast.

What these biographies show so clearly is how much more there is to Ulster political history than the dreary steeples of Fermanagh and Tyrone that so depressed Winston Churchill.

I often think we Irish have far too much history for our own good, but we might as well get the most out of it by appreciating its richness, complexity and vibrancy. The editors, James Quinn and Patrick Maume, warn in their introduction against the historic tendency of supporters of one viewpoint to assume that its opponents were self-evidently delusional and need not be taken seriously.

If youre trying to understand people from a different tradition, this book is a good place to start.
This is the engineering firm boss set to benefit twice from the botched Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.

Jonathan McAuley, who owns the Co Antrim based McAuley Engineering, has four wood pellet boilers at his Ballymoney works which will see the company cash in to the tune of 960,000.

There is also an RHI scheme wood pellet boiler at Hebron Free Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder, that will see the church reap 270,000 in savings and grants over 20 years.

Former DUP minister and north North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey is also an elder at the same church and has visited Mr McAuleys factory on a number of occasions including earlier this year with First Minister Arlene Foster.

There is no suggestion that either Mr McAuley or the church are abusing the scheme but they have benefitted from the flawed schemes generous terms.

Mr McAuley has previously provided testimonials about the RHI scheme, both on behalf of his firm and the church, to boiler supplier Solmatix Renewables.

The statements (below) were previously published on Solmatixs website but have since been removed although cached versions remain available online.

Of his multi-million pound companys boilers he said: We were attracted to biomass for two reasons. The RHI incentives, which make it highly cost effective, and its environmental credentials, which mean we can substantially reduce our carbon footprint.

His company is paid 38,000 a year in grants from the RHI scheme and will save 10,000 a year on oil, netting it 960,000 over 20 years.

The firm produces components for the likes of Lear Jet aircraft, the petrochemical industry and the New Routemaster bus, made by Wrightbus.

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On behalf of Hebron Free Presbyterian Church, he said: We recognised that biomass would meet all our heating requirements for the church and free up around 10,000 a year for us to use in other mission works.

The Ballymoney church is paid 12,500 per year in grants and will save 1,000 every year on oil which amounts to 270,000 in payments and savings over the life of the scheme.

When contacted by Sunday Life last night Mr McAuley refused to comment on whether he was a DUP supporter and declined to discuss the RHI scheme.

Last week, Reverend David Park said the church had decided to give at least 5,000 a year to charitable causes in light of the financial benefits of installing a boiler under the scheme.

He also said that Mr Storey had nothing to do with the churchs decision to install an RHI scheme boiler and that it was another elder who had suggested applying to the scheme.

First Minister Arlene Foster, who introduced the RHI scheme when she was enterprise minister, has visited McAuley Engineering on at least two occasions.

In 2012, she visited the plant in her capacity as enterprise minister, the same year she brought in the hugely costly scheme.

Mrs Foster went back to the factory in February this year where she met with Mr McAuley and Mervyn Storey.

In 2010, then DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson along with Mr Storey opened McAuley Engineerings new plant. Mr Storey recently cited McAuley Engineering as an example of successful industry. He told the Assembly in October: His late father, whom I knew well, Albert McAuley, a man of huge integrity, said to Jonathan, Now, see what you can do with that. Last year, Jonathans company recorded a turnover in excess of 10 million.
Schoolchildren hold the Indian flag and sing the national anthem during a celebration of Republic Day in Mumbai, Jan. 26, 2016.

Indian writers Monday slammed police for charging a regional language author with sedition over a social media post that allegedly insulted the national anthem.

Police in the southern state of Kerala filed sedition charges on Sunday against Malayalam language writer Kamal C. Chavara  popularly known as Kamalsy Prana  two days after he posted a controversial excerpt from his novel, Smashanangalude Nottupustakam, on Facebook. Malayalam is a language spoken in Kerala.

The charge against Prana came amid growing resentment over an order issued by Indias Supreme Court on Nov. 30 that makes it mandatory for movie theaters to play the national anthem before every screening and for all audience members to stand.

The excerpt from his book mentioned a situation at a school where teachers barred students from using the restroom during class. The students were made to recite the national anthem once the class ended, and that meant they could go to the restroom.

What he [Prana] posted was something that came out of a young and immature writer. His post about urinating is indeed offensive, but certainly does not amount to sedition, renowned Indian author and columnist Shobha De told BenarNews.

At least 20 people have since been arrested for defying the order from the Supreme Court, which has given right-wing groups affiliated to Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) an opportunity to aggressively further the partys nationalist agenda, according to observers.

Twelve of those arrests as well as the action against Prana occurred in Kerala, which is ruled by the left-wing Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), a BJP spokesman said.

The national anthem is not just connected with the BJP. It pertains to the entire country. There should not be any discussion on this. We are a nationalist party, which is interested in carrying out development and take the country forward, BJPs Bizay Sonkar Shastri told BenarNews.

Police: We had simply called him

In subsequent posts on Facebook, Prana said he was arrested and released only after he posted bail.

Police denied placing Prana under arrest.

He was not arrested. We had simply called him to the police station and questioned him regarding his Facebook post. He was allowed to go after we recorded his statement, S. Sateesh Bino, police chief of Keralas Kollam city, told BenarNews.

Charges of sedition were brought against Prana after seeking legal opinion, Bino said, adding that a BJP worker brought the complaint against the writer.

We are still investigating the matter, and these charges could be modified or removed, he said.

Efforts to contact Prana failed.

While criticizing the sedition case against him, Prana told the Indian Express on Monday: Police are depicting me as a terrorist. I had mentioned in my novel what schoolchildren do when the national anthem is being sung. Dubbing comments in the novel disrespectful to the national anthem, police have slapped the sedition charge against me.

It is sad that Indian citizens are being forced to respect the national anthem, author Preeti Shenoy said.

I feel bad about the case filed against him. Nobody said anything when his novel was published. But now that he has posted an extract from the book after the [Supreme Court] order, he is being treated like a criminal, Shenoy told BenarNews.

You cant force someone to respect the national anthem. Respect has to come from within, or else it ends up fanning resentment, she said.
A bid from Pulte Homes to rezone and add 465 residences and possibly a school near Sandy Run Creek on Jedburg Road wasn't met with open arms at a Oct. 26 community meeting on the part of local homeowners seeking to preserve the area's rural characteristics. Read moreJedburg Road residents tell Pulte Homes: 'Keep it rural'
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The Bowen-Thompson Student Union is the heart of BGSU campus life. Its where students, alumni, friends and faculty go to grab a Starbucks coffee  or meet with friends over a slice of pizza or a sub  or run in to buy a hoodie or a T-shirt before a big game.

And thats not all.

Now that BGSUs Career Center and Student Employment Services is located on the second floor of the Union, so much more is possible. From individual or group internships and co-ops, undergraduate research and field experience, to clinicals and practicums, BGSUs gateway to experiential learning has a front row seat to 50,000 students who pass through the Union doors on a weekly basis.

Experiential learning, or learning through experience, can happen in myriad ways, such as student teaching, studying abroad, internships  anything that gets students out working, and learning, in their potential field. The Universitys holistic approach to student education is a hallmark of the BG experience, said President Mary Ellen Mazey.

This commitment to the student experience was validated in September 2016, when BGSU was named a No. 1 public university for student engagement. This inaugural ranking of U.S. colleges and universities by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education is based on data from a variety of sources, including the U.S. government, The U.S. Student Survey, The Academic Survey and the Elsevier bibliometric dataset. The overall methodology explores four key areas: resources, engagement, outcomes and environment.

The Career Center, which facilitates experiential learning opportunities for students, is central to this recognition. The new Career Center made its debut at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union in fall 2016. No longer sharing space with other occupants of the Mathematical Sciences Building, the new center now boasts eight interview rooms, a lounge for employers to interact with students and convenient parking.

For the students, its easy access, said director Jeffery Jackson, assistant vice president for student career success. Its right here in the student union and the students know where we are now. We have new signage and comfortable seats that draw them into the area, so we expect increased drop-ins.

The Career Centers mission is to engage students from day one, even if those students arent yet enrolled in the University.

The Office of Admissions has incorporated the center into its tours, so when parents are on campus for a visit, they see that BGSU is serious about career outcomes and about engaging students early in their college career.

Our goal is to help our students participate in multiple experiential learning activities to help them validate what they would like to do and prepare them for the future, for the world of work, Jackson said.
By Bob Cunningham



Dr. Christopher Bernheisel 98 has always had a love of learning.



Bernheisel said it's a trait that was nurtured by the late Dr. Eliot Blinn at Bowling Green State University.



Bernheisel, who grew up in Perrysburg, Ohio, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Bowling Green State University in 1998. He earned a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and is board certified in family medicine.

I have wonderful memories of BGSU and am quite thankful for the education I received, Bernheisel said. Probably as would be expected during the formative years in college, one of the most influential people in my life was a chemistry professor at BGSU, Dr. Blinn. My trademark feature of wearing a bowtie is actually in honor of Dr. Blinn. who passed away my junior year.

Dr. Blinn was just one of those really great teachers who you really enjoyed going to his class. It was that wonderful combination of being entertaining and very educational. You were learning and having fun doing it.



Bernheisel recalled the reason Blinn loved bowties so much: their association with being a chemist.



As the story goes, you could always spot a chemist because they wore bowties so they didnt ruin their neckties by all the chemicals and all that, Bernheisel said. He said, This is a mark that youre a chemist. One time I had a meeting with him and he said, Remember, wherever you go, no matter what you do, youre a chemist first, and he always wore that bowtie.



Its always been one of my things: Im a chemist first, and Im going to wear that bowtie like he did.

Bernheisel's love of learning contributed to him being honored with the 2016 Family Medicine Educator of the Year Award by The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians in Columbus.



Bernheisel is the program director at The Christ Hospital/University of Cincinnati Family Medicine Residency Program, where he has practiced family medicine since 2002 when he was a resident in the program.



Its a nice honor, said Bernheisel, who lives with his wife and four sons in Wyoming, Ohio, a suburb north of Cincinnati. I think the really cool thing is hearing the comments from former graduates and even my colleagues. Its special and motivating, and it helps keep you going to work every day excited about your job.



Bernheisel said his teaching style has also been influenced by his BGSU experience.



The thing about Bowling Green is, the teachers were excellent educators and I really enjoyed learning there, he said. As I look back, my lecture style certainly took a lot from what I saw at Bowling Green, and Dr. Blinn specifically. He just made it fun and was so excited to teach. I try to do the same thing, because if you get the impression that this subject is just the coolest thing in the world, your learners are more likely to believe that too. Thats certainly thats what I saw role-modeled at BGSU.



One of the youngest program directors in the state, Bernheisel has a personal investment in each resident from a professional development, education and personal life standpoint. He has transformed the University of Cincinnati family medicine residency curriculum and made the residency an example of true excellence in family medicine education.



His encyclopedic knowledge of clinical medicine is made approachable with a teaching attitude that says Come join my side, lets figure this problem out together, said Dr. Jeffrey Schlaudecker, program director for the University of Cincinnati Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program.



Also an associate professor of family medicine and director of inpatient family medicine service at the residency, Bernheisel has received many awards from the residency including the Family Medicine Inpatient Teacher Award four times in his short career, the Excellence in Residency Training Award, the Family Medicine Mentor Award and the Family Medicine Positive Changes Award.



The cornerstone of Chris effectiveness is made up of his incredible clinical acumen, extensive knowledge of medicine, passion for learning and teaching, internal motivation to excel, ability to discern in the moment and his consummate integrity, said Dr. Philip Diller, chair of the University of Cincinnati Department of Family and Community Medicine. He is quite extraordinary and leaves many in awe of his abilities, but at his core he is selfless and humble as a servant leader, enabling him to lead those around him by example.



Bernheisel, who also discovered his passion for volunteering at BGSU, is a founding member of Passion for Life, a nonprofit designed to empower patients and communities. He volunteers at Price Hill Free Medical Clinic and is an active member of Ascension Lutheran Church, serving in multiple roles. He has made several mission trips to St. Lucia and Honduras.
Media Advisory, December 19, 2016 Contact: Valerie Love, vlove@biologicaldiversity.org, (510) 274-9713 Trump Resistance Roadshow, Earth2Trump, Coming to Oakland OAKLAND, Calif. Earth2Trump, a cross-country roadshow heading to Washington, D.C., and building a vast network of resistance to incoming President Trump, is coming to Oakland on Jan. 2, 2017. The tour is organized by the Center for Biological Diversity in coordination with 350 Bay Area, Sierra Club, Global Exchange, Food and Water Watch, Rainforest Action Network, Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace and Justice, and many more local groups. Beginning in Oakland and Seattle on Jan. 2, a pair of Earth2Trump Roadshows will tour the country bringing speakers, musicians, outrage, fun and hope to 16 cities as it progresses toward the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20. The shows will feature national and local speakers, musicians, and an opportunity to join a growing movement of resistance to all forms of oppression and all attacks on the environment. What: The Earth2Trump roadshow of resistance. When: Jan. 2, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: Omni Commons, 4799 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. The Oakland event will include music performances by Namorados Da Lua and Casey Neill. When we all speak together with a single voice of resistance, our power grows  and so do our chances of defeating the Trump administration, said Blake Kopcho, an organizer with the Center. People in Oakland will have a crucial role to play in building this movement and were excited to get there. Background

The Earth2Trump roadshow will rally and empower defenders of civil rights and the environment to resist Trump's dangerous agenda. Stopping in 16 cities on its way to Washington, D.C., it will bring the messages and support of thousands of people to protest at the presidential inauguration.

Each show will give participants a chance to: Sign the national Pledge of Resistance to Trump's dangerous agenda.

Write a personalized #Earth2Trump message that will be carried to D.C. in a massive globe and delivered to Trump.

Create a huge, viral social media #Earth2Trump messaging campaign.

Connect with community members resisting oppression and find out how to join the million people who will protest in Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day. Learn more at www.Earth2Trump.org and follow #Earth2Trump.
For Immediate Release, December 19, 2016 Contact: Michael Robinson, (575) 313-7017, michaelr@biologicaldiversity.org Despite New Jaguars in United States, Feds Release Plan to Recover Endangered Jaguars Only in Mexico New Plan Fails to Guide Recovery in U.S. Southwest SILVER CITY, N.M. Just weeks after the news broke of a new jaguar in the United States, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a draft jaguar recovery plan that puts the onus of recovery of northern jaguars entirely on Mexico. The plans criteria for recovery and removal of the jaguar from the endangered list could be met without any jaguars occupying any of their vast historic range in the United States. This month a young, male jaguar was photographed in the Huachuca Mountains of southern Arizona. From 2011 until last year, a mature male jaguar known as El Jefe was repeatedly photographed in and around the Santa Rita Mountains southeast of Tucson. Another jaguar called Macho B was photographed repeatedly from 1996 until he was killed by the Arizona Department of Game and Fish as a result of a botched capture operation in 2009. Jaguars are making their presence known in the southwestern United States so its disappointing to see the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service put the focus of jaguar recovery solely in Mexico, said Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity. By excluding the best remaining unoccupied jaguar habitat, this plan aims too low to make a difference in saving the jaguar. Its an extinction plan, not a recovery plan. The draft plan, which the Service reluctantly wrote after its 2009 loss in a lawsuit filed by the Center and Defenders of Wildlife, assumes without evidence that 300 jaguars live in Sonora, Mexico  a more optimistic starting point than the Services 2012 citation of studies pointing to a maximum of 271 jaguars in the province and possibly as few as 50. Since 2013 conservationists monitoring the northernmost breeding jaguars in Sonora, via automatic cameras, saw a poaching loss of six of the areas eight individually identified jaguars, leaving just two known alive. The remainder of the population is less closely monitored but equally at risk. Jaguars are primarily killed by ranchers who use pesticides imported from the United States to poison the carcasses of collared peccary, or javelinas, which are among the jaguars natural prey animals. While the plan, importantly, outlines measures that Mexican authorities can take in protecting jaguars, thats simply not enough, said Robinson. Leaving the vast Gila National Forest and Mogollon Plateau off the table leaves the jaguars in Sonora effectively stranded, likely cut off from jaguars farther south and with no genetic rescue on the way from reintroduction to the north. The draft recovery plans overly optimistic assumption that 300 jaguars inhabit Sonora underpins the Services laissez-faire approach to jaguars in the United States, where no measures will be taken to restore these apex predators. This month a young, male jaguar was photographed in the Huachuca Mountains of southern Arizona. From 2011 until last year, a mature male jaguar known as El Jefe was repeatedly photographed in and around the Santa Rita Mountains southeast of Tucson. Another jaguar called Macho B was photographed repeatedly from 1996 until he was killed by the Arizona Department of Game and Fish as a result of a botched capture operation in 2009. The last known female jaguar in the United States was shot by a hunter in 1963 in the Apache National Forest on the Mogollon Plateau in Arizona, in an area where Mexican gray wolves have since been reintroduced. The draft recovery plan also estimates that Sonora has habitat sufficient to support 1,166 jaguars  an order of magnitude higher than the most recent previous estimate that the province could support just 172 jaguars. Raising the so-called carrying capacity also justifies ignoring the high-quality but unoccupied jaguar habitat in the Gila National Forest and Mogollon Plateau in the U.S. Southwest. The draft plan divides the jaguars vast range in South, Central and North America into two zones  a Pan-America Recovery Unit and a Northwestern Recovery Unit  and leaves the question of how to protect jaguars in the former unit to another day. The plan also ignores the plight of another, isolated jaguar population in northeastern Mexico south of Texas. As for the Northwestern Recovery Unit, comprising the area from Jalisco, Mexico northward to Interstate 10 in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, it divides this region into primary and secondary zones, the former consisting of the area in which jaguars currently live and breed and the latter the area farther to the north, including part of the United States, in which jaguars are known to inhabit but not reproduce during the past 50 years. Conservation actions are prescribed for the primary area, with little attention to the secondary area. Moreover, a so-called peripheral area farther north includes the highest-quality jaguar habitat remaining in the U.S.  on the Mogollon Plateau in Arizona and the Gila National Forest in New Mexico  a region dismissed from consideration for recovery. Background

In 2014, in response to a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Fish and Wildlife Service designated 764,207 acres of critical habitat to conserve jaguars in southern Arizona and New Mexico. The designation prohibits federal actions that would harm the habitat, and will be at issue in upcoming Center litigation over the Services approval of an open-pit copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains, part of the critical habitat, where the jaguar El Jefe has been photographed. The jaguar was placed on the U.S. endangered species list in 1997 in response to a previous Center lawsuit. Jaguars evolved in North America thousands of years before colonizing Central and South America. Their fossil remains have been found from as far afield as Nebraska and Maryland; depictions in American Indian art and stories range throughout the South and Midwest; and European explorers and later Americans wrote of their jaguar encounters in states that ranged from California to the Carolinas.
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
Pam Golding Properties was award Best International Real Estate Agency Marketing at the recent International Property Awards (IPA) 2016-2017 in recognition of its 'I am Pam' marketing campaign.

I am Pam, says Lebogang Moloto, Pam Golding Properties agent in Johannesburg South.

The awards celebrate the highest level of achievements by companies from around the globe operating in all sectors of the property and real estate industry. In winning the award as the Worlds Best in this category, the group competed as the international nominee for Africa against top winners from around the world.

An integrated approach

Commenting on the success of the campaign, which has been executed in an integrated approach across all platforms including TV, website, mobile, billboards, print, social media and direct customer relationship marketing, the Pam Golding Property Groups head of Marketing, Mimi Nicklin, says the campaign resonates among consumers both nationally and internationally.

I am Pam, says Andy Collett, Pam Golding Properties agent in the Karoo Midlands.

The campaign adopted a simple yet unique approach by using our people to honestly and credibly tell their own stories against the backdrop of a solid professional legacy of over 40 years of success. The work stands out because it is authentic, honest and personal. We didnt direct the TV ad in the traditional sense, instead the shooting style is a true reflection of our people and their voices, making this award worthy in our industry.

Authenticity demanded

In todays global consumer communication landscape, authenticity is a characteristic that is both demanded and needed. It is the brands that are telling their own authentic and original stories that are the ones that consumers are committing to and becoming fans of. Whether buyers and sellers are based in Africa or beyond, there is a human connection in this campaign that strikes a chord beyond the functional transaction of purchasing or selling a house.

More and more, we are seeing a move towards more emotionally compelling and engaging stories that are driving the industry forward. Buyers and sellers want more than a property photograph in the advertising they are exposed to. We live in a creative era where ideas sell, and the property industry is fast changing to keep up with the need to capitalise on an emotionally connecting approach to communications.

Are you Pam?

I am Pam, says Doug Gurr, Pam Golding Properties agent in Franschhoek in the heart of the Cape Winelands.

Nicklin says importantly, the concept enabled agents nationwide to make the campaign their own and in so doing create their own brands in their own locales. This amplification and personalisation meant a national campaign could truly become local in a way we havent seen before. The response has been emphatic. Across the country consumers are greeting our team members with the question Are you Pam? and in social settings clients gleefully proclaim I am Pam! The consumer uptake of this is the true measure that the campaign is connecting with South Africans all over the country.

Nicklin says all top communication campaigns seek to create social currency and the I am Pam campaign has done just that, with results beyond expectation. Since the campaign launched, weve seen awareness increase in local areas and the brand is now on the lips and minds of South Africans nationally. The work has led to a great internal morale boost as well as buy-in from our agents, superseding our initial goals.
Starting out in any industry can be tough, which is why winning an award while still studying - being crowned the AdFocus 'Student of the year', no less - is such a boon. Here's how Red & Yellow's Carina Bonse is taking this in her stride as we get ready for 2017.

Bonse

Bonse says she was absolutely shocked when her name was called out as the FM AdFocus student of the year a few weeks ago. I was with the two other talented finalists, Carel Pretorius and Michelle van Sittert, [both of the Stellenbosch Academy of Design & Photography] and was certain one of them would take it. Michelle had to push me out of my chair, she confirms.

While Bonse may have been surprised, industry stalwarts werent. Shes already made a name for herself with a handful of Pendorings and Loeries under her belt, before officially starting her advertising career, for work on projects like See The World The Garmin Way, Swimming In It - Cause Campaign and Drill Sergeant. Ever humble, shes quick to point out that she didnt do it alone, having had some awesome copywriters, art directors and lecturers over the last three years at Red & Yellow.

Bonse with fellow Red & Yellow creative talent Gabi van Niekerk on the Loeries red carpet earlier this year.

Bonse says some of her work is quite personal, so: Its strange to have people looking at something thats come from the heart or your crazy brain. But its also great when people see that and go hey, thats cool'.

From creating cocktails to work that makes a difference

Perhaps part of her ability to tap into those ideas that resonate with others is that she was a late bloomer as an advertising student; its working in a bar frequented by local creatives that finally convinced her to study the creative arts. She had been wanting to study for a while, and found managing bars was always fun, but also hard work and long hours. So while she met and worked with a lot of interesting people there, she needed something more, because at the end of the day she had nothing physical to show for the work she had put in, apart from a few cocktail creations, and needed that to change. As to how she ended up at Red & Yellow, Bonse almost elected to study part-time through correspondence, but got some good advice from an art director who said when it comes to studying creatively, its best to have lecturers and people around to guide you and to bounce ideas off. So she went around to Red & Yellow, immediately felt like it was the place to be, and dived in.

She dived in so well that Red & Yellow has nicknamed Bonse 'The Wizard' for her seemingly magical ability to push her work further than anyone else. Letting us in on a few secrets of how she does so, Bonse says she doesnt know about magic, but does know that if you dont put in the time youre not going to get your desired outcome. Some of those things take quite a lot of time and you have to be patient. For example, shes been hands-on in taking her own photos and made boxes and books for her projects, which she says helps in the vision of what you want to create. Through trial and error, making your own stuff also teaches you how to do things, not just drop it off and hope somebody else will get it right for you, she explains. Key to getting that right lies in making to do lists, and then making some more to do lists because, You often misjudge how long things are going to take. If you have everything you need to do written out, its easier to move forward, especially when you are working in a group. That way, you know exactly whats expected of you and what you have to do to get it done.

Shes also a firm believer in sticking to your guns when someone doubts you. So if you think you can pull it off, go for it, but always be willing to learn, as everyone has a story and can teach you things you didnt know, and always be willing to help them in return.

Bonse's work: Swimming in it cause campaign. Bonse's work: See the world the Garmin way. Bonse's work: The Drill Sergeant.

But weve all been there: Theres nothing worse than experiencing creative block when a deadline looms. Bonse overcomes this on tougher briefs by not thinking about the problem too hard. I find if you spitball silly ideas with the team, something someone says might not be right but will spark an idea in your head and you can expand the idea from there. She also does some of her best thinking when shes trying to fall asleep, so finds it helps to have her phone close by to take notes when that happens.

Going forward, Bonse responds to my question of What are you most looking forward to when you project forward a few decades by saying shed really like to do things that make a difference. For example, she found working and doing the research on the 'Swimming in it' campaign really eye opening and says it felt great to come up with a solution for a subject that people were finding hard to relate to. There are so many people that want to make a difference, but dont have the platform or solutions to do so.

Heres to all the good things to come from Bonse as she enters the creative space! Click here for more from Bonse on winning Student of the year, here for more on the FM AdFocus Awards 2016, and here for Bonses views on gender equality in the industry. She says, If you want something badly enough, you will make it happen! You can also follow her latest creative concepts through her Behance portfolio.
A senior Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) manager was hired for a R1-million-a-year job despite allegedly not meeting all the requirements for the top position.

Fikiswa Jakeni-Gomba got the nod as the BCM municipal health services general manager earlier this year.

This was despite her not being registered with the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA), council inspector Mamadiga Mamabolo alleged yesterday.

The position, which was advertised on 16 May, clearly stated that one of the requirements was registration with the HPCSA or the SA Nursing Council (SANC) or to be registered within six months.

Mamabolo said the council was now considering laying criminal charges against Jakeni-Gomba.

"I am going to send compliance letters to the municipality saying they must release her from her duties until she is registered because the act does not allow for a person to hold that position without registration," Mamabolo said.

Jakeni-Gomba denied the allegations, but declined to comment any further.

Source: Herald
What was supposed to be a scoop for the troubled SABC turned into a Caribbean holiday for a large group of its journalists and technicians when coverage of Fidel Castro's death went pear-shaped.

Shortly after the news that the veteran revolutionary had died and that President Jacob Zuma would fly to Cuba to pay his respects, the SABC decided to send three teams to Havana to cover the events.

But it has now emerged that most of the 15 journalists and technicians who were sent, at a possible cost of about R1-million, did little more than tour the Cuban capital, taking pictures and posting them on social media.

They could not cover Zuma's speech, delivered to thousands of Cubans during a rally at the Plaza de la Revolucion on 29 November, as the three-person reporting team assigned to cover the president missed their connecting flight in New York.

However, SABC insiders said the reporters and cameraman could not help it because their SAA flight to New York had been delayed. The SABC had to rely on a news agency to broadcast Zuma's speech live.

The day after the team - known as the presidential press corps at the SABC - landed, Zuma flew back to South Africa, leaving them with little to do.

But then the SABC decided to send in a second team led by head of TV news Nothando Maseko, acting political editor Sophie Mokoena and director of live broadcasts Paul Molefe.

This team was supposed to be responsible for the coverage of Castro's funeral on 4 December.

When this team arrived in Havana via Paris, Zuma was already back in South Africa. They also discovered that equipment they needed to do live broadcasts had gone missing.

SABC staffers questioned the organisation of the whole trip, saying the public broadcaster wasted about R1-million. They also questioned the logic of sending Mokoena and Maseko when, as senior managers, they had no major reporting role to play.

"What were Sophie and Nothando doing there? They were just there, they hardly did any work," said one SABC staffer.

Another said the second team could not do a live crossing because of the missing equipment, which might have been confiscated by Cuban authorities.

The SABC teams also struggled to transmit pre-recorded packages to Auckland Park as Cuban authorities limited their access to the internet.

"It was not just us, other broadcasters had problems as well, they also had access to the internet blocked," said another employee.

But SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said the broadcaster was happy with the work done by its staff as they were able to produce "at least three stories a day" despite the loss of some equipment.

"Yes, some luggage bags were lost by the airline but that did not stop the team from working and sending stories," he said.

He defended the decision to send Maseko and Mokoena, saying the assignment needed senior editorial and technical staff, and denied that the coverage had cost R1-million. But he was not willing to say how much the state broadcaster would have to pay.

Kganyago said that although SABC staffers missed Zuma's address, "we still did not miss the stories. We managed to broadcast the story of President Zuma addressing the crowds at a rally in Cuba."

Asked what stories were produced in Cuba, Kganyago cited interviews about Castro with Zuma, former president Thabo Mbeki, SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande, AU Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and EFF leader Julius Malema.

But only Dlamini-Zuma, Nzimande and Malema were interviewed in Cuba. Mbeki and Zuma were recorded in South Africa.

Kganyago said the SABC had sent two teams from South Africa and one from its UN bureau in New York because of the magnitude of the event and its significance for Africa.

"Given the fact that we broadcast to 50 African countries, SABC news management saw fit to cover this historic event in a manner that would cover both current affairs programmes and news programmes," he said. Kganyago denied that some members of the team were effectively on holiday.

"All did their part, both editorial and technical. Given the time difference, our team slept very little, if at all, while in Cuba," said Kganyago.

Source: Sunday Times
The Public Investment Corporation, which invests state-employee pension funds, will buy global brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev's stake in Distell.

AB InBev bought SABMiller for $103bn, expanding its global footprint, but as part of the takeover it has had to relinquish a number of brands because of competition concerns and obligations.

One of the stipulations set by SA's Competition Tribunal was the sale of the stake in Distell.

On Thursday, the brewery said it had entered a binding agreement to sell its entire indirect shareholding of 26.4% in Distell to the PIC, which manages the investments of the Government Employees Pension Fund.

The deal is contingent on the competition authorities approving the transaction.

No price was given for the sale of the 58.7-million shares over which the other shareholders in Distell, namely Remgro and Capevin Holdings, will not exercise their pre-emptive rights.

AB InBev has sold brands in China, central and eastern Europe as it digested the takeover. Bloomberg has reported these sales will contribute towards paying down net debt, which analysts have pegged at about $97bn this year.

The sale of SABMiller's 49% share in China Resources Breweries realised $1.6bn and the sale of central and east European breweries to Japan's Asahi Group would fetch $7.8bn.
The announcement by Eskom that the Council for Geoscience has confirmed that there is nothing preventing the development of a nuclear plant at Thyspunt near Oyster Bay has been slammed by academics, who say there are serious risks which were not taken into consideration.

African Earth Observatory Network's National Research Foundation A-rated scientist and geologist, Professor Maarten de Wit, said the reports were not thorough enough.

He said a master's student had picked up that the potential for disaster was an imminent one when considering historical geological and geomorphological data which De Wit claimed was not fully reviewed in the Eskom and GCS reports.

Stakeholder meeting

The foundation for the establishment of a project steering committee for the proposed nuclear plant at Thyspunt was laid when executive members of the Kouga Municipality and Eskom met government stakeholders in Jeffreys Bay after a number of engagements between relevant parties.

Eskom nuclear new build programme director, Loyiso Tyabashe, said Eskom was mindful of the importance of complying with all regulatory requirements and had followed the right process in engaging key stakeholders in preparation for the project.

"The people of Kouga remain the primary stakeholders in this project and we are pleased to see them taking their rightful place," he said.

This followed a statement by CGS, which confirmed there was nothing in the geology, bedrock topography or seismology of the proposed site that disqualified it for the construction of a nuclear plant.

"Based on the extensive geoscientific database established for the Thyspunt locality and surrounding region, as well as a significant body of research undertaken to date, we are confident that the site geology is well understood and that all potential major geological hazards have been identified and considered," CGS spokeswoman, Mahlatse Mononela said.

"As documented in the scientific literature, the seismic hazard analysis assessed all credible seismic sources and scenarios."

She said that over the past two decades the CGS had undertaken a number of geoscientific investigations that assessed the suitability of several coastal locations for the development of critical infrastructure such as nuclear power plants.

The research had included seismic monitoring, geological mapping and specialised neotectonic studies to assess hazards of a geological nature.

Reports miss the point

However, De Wit said the statement by Eskom and the CGS was a knee-jerk reaction and their seismic reports completely missed the point.

"We really need to think about sea levels and potential tsunamis," he said, adding that there was not enough fossil earthquake data available to clear the site for nuclear development.

"They are taking a hell of a chance to put a nuclear power plant there," he said.

However, Eskom said it had comprehensively studied the seismic and tsunami risks at the Thyspunt site.

All results had been accepted by the international scientific community.

Eskom has assured the Kouga council that it will communicate if there are developments that affect the status of the proposed nuclear plant.

"As we stand, Eskom is awaiting the outcome of the environmental impact assessment and a determination by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa," Tyabashe said.
A doyen of SA's listed property sector, Gerald Leissner, died on Friday, 16 December.

Arrowhead Properties CEO Gerald Leissner has passed away.

Leissner's most recent position was CEO of Arrowhead Properties. The brief biography on its website said: "Gerald, 72, was CEO of ApexHi from its founding in 2001 until ApexHi was acquired by Redefine Properties Limited in 2009, after which he served as a non-executive director of Redefine. He retired from Redefine when Arrowhead was formed in 2011.

"Gerald has served as non-executive director of the Johannesburg Housing Company and the Housing Development Agency, and helped found the Central Johannesburg Partnership in the 1980s."

Notice of Leissner's death was emailed by Vukile CEO Laurence Rapp on behalf of the SA Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit) Association on Friday.

"I have unfortunately just received news that Gerald Leissner passed away this morning. In line with Jewish custom, he will be buried as soon as possible and the funeral will take place today at 1pm at Westpark Jewish Cemetery.

"As an iconic figure in our industry, we had the opportunity to recognise Gerald's contribution to the property industry at our last SA Reit conference.

"We wish his family comfort and strength at this difficult time. He will be fondly remembered and sorely missed," Rapp said.

Texton Property Fund CEO Angelique de Rauville said in an email on Friday: "In my 20 years of knowing him, I regularly held onto his shirt-tails.

"He was one of the strongest property operators in the country. Gerald was a property purist, tough but fair in business and always unquestionably principled. A great loss for the South African property sector."

De Rauville described Leissner as "a pioneer in SA property and integral in the transformation of the sector from a neglected asset class into what it is today".

Source: BDpro
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has clinched a deal with two taxi associations which it hopes will see the implementation of the Integrated Public Transport starter service on Port Elizabeth's Cleary Park and Njoli routes.

A memorandum of agreement was signed last week by the municipality, the Northern Areas Taxi Operators' Association (Natoa) and the Algoa Taxi Association. The document provides a formal basis for the municipality and the taxi associations to formulate a blueprint for the roll-out of the IPTS.

Transport portfolio chairman Rano Kayser said committees would be formed and meetings would be held to engage on issues of compensation, operation and training. The deal follows months of negotiations between the municipality and individual taxi associations in an effort to reach an agreement on how to get the stagnant bus system up and running next year.

However, Laphum'ilanga, the body which previously represented the majority of the 10 taxi associations, is said to be preparing to put up a fight, feeling it has been side-stepped by the city's leaders. The metro previously negotiated with Laphum'ilanga on behalf of the taxi industry.

The latest move by the municipality to bypass Laphum'ilanga is seen as an attempt to scrap its control over the implementation of the IPTS.

"Our surveys of current services operating on the Cleary Park route picked up a number of Algoa buses on the route," Kayser said.

"We have therefore started preliminary discussions with the industry in general and with three of the potentially affected starter service operators."

Natoa chairman Christian King said they were happy to have signed an agreement and this meant the bus system would operate smoothly.

"It is long overdue and we are very excited about it. We hope this is the start of a bright future for everyone involved," King said.

"We need to work together as a collective.

"All leaders of associations need to understand better what the municipality is trying to do."

Laphum'ilanga chairman Mtutuzeli Madwara declined to comment, saying they would deal with the matter next month.

Source: Herald
Sage has launched a holiday ad that pays tribute to all those that are open over this holiday season. Small business owners do not stop working just because it is the holidays.

The ad goes out to the high-street retailer that stays open until midnight on Christmas Eve for all the last-minute holiday shoppers and to the chef at the local pub pulling double shifts on Christmas Day to give families a memorable meal together.

Small business owners do not stop working just because it is the holidays. If anything, the pressure escalates as they try to juggle the demands of the busy holiday season with spending time with family and friends.

Sage champions these business builders  the heroes of the economy who provide 2/3 of the worlds jobs. According to a Sage survey, in South Africa around 44% of local business owners have chosen their work over their family and 26% have taken less than five days holiday in the year. Furthermore, 50% compromise taking holidays in order to make their business successful.

The holiday advert tells the story of a mother who is unable to join her family to celebrate Christmas every year, because she works so hard to run her business  year after year, theres an empty chair at the table. However, this year on Christmas Eve, she follows a trail of fairy lights to her storeroom to find that her family have taken Christmas to her  laying out a full Christmas dinner in the store, so they can celebrate the holidays together.

The public may join the initiative in thanking and celebrating these small business heroes by sharing the advert on social with the hashtag #ThereForUs. Watch the holiday advert below:
SAN FRANCISCO: Uber said on Friday it planned to keep its self-driving cars on the streets of San Francisco, defying a state order to halt the test programme.

The ridesharing giant said it disputed the interpretation by the California Department of Motor Vehicles that the cars require a special permit, saying they had the same autonomy capabilities as Tesla cars which have an optional "autopilot" feature.

Anthony Levandowski, Uber's vice president for advanced technologies, said that as with the Teslas, the cars driven by Uber still have a driver capable of assuming control at any time.

"We respectfully disagree with the California DMV's interpretation of autonomous regulations, in particular that Uber needs a permit to operate in San Francisco," Levandowski told a conference call with journalists.

"While these are considered state of the art today, they still require monitoring by a vehicle operator at all times."

Levandowski said Uber did not plan on seeking a state permit and for now planned to continue picking up passengers in San Francisco despite the threat of legal action. He called it "an important issue of principle" about "uneven application of statewide rules."

"We cannot in good conscience sign up for regulation of something we are not doing," he said.

Levandowski said Uber was having "frank conversations" with regulators and hoped to convince them that its autonomous cars were no different from Tesla's, which allow a driver to turn over many operations to an onboard computer but still need a human behind the wheel.

"We have a person sitting in the driver's seat, and there's also a person next to them looking at the system and trying to confirm that everything is going well," he said.

"They are able to override and take control of the vehicle at any time."

The announcement by the global ridesharing colossus came two days after state regulations said the testing programme was not authorised. In a letter to Uber, DMV counsel Brian Soublet said the permit is required to protect public safety.

"It is illegal for the company to operate its self-driving vehicles on public roads until it receives an autonomous vehicle testing permit," he wrote.

"It is essential that Uber takes appropriate measure to ensure safety of the public. If Uber does not confirm immediately that it will stop its launch and seek a testing permit, DMV will initiate legal action."

Backers of autonomous vehicles say the technology can reduce more than 90 percent of accidents, which mostly are due to human error.

Since its debut in 2010, Uber has grown into a worldwide phenomenon despite regulatory hurdles and resistance from traditional taxi operators. In its latest funding round, Uber was valued at more than $60 billion, but has racked up losses at it expands and takes on competitors such as Lyft.

Source: AFP
South Africa's roads will carry several stories as people embark on their journeys this festive season, and the Road Accident Fund (RAF) is committed to ensuring these stories get told.

In a unique take on road safety promotion, the RAF has launched a festive season campaign which will seek to ensure that lifes many stories are carried on SAs roads so they can be shared with loved ones when people reach their destinations. Whether its a recent promotion, the excitement of an impending wedding, managing to write exams in the midst of campus turmoil, disappointment at not getting a bonus again this year, or the anxiety of a possible retrenchment, everyone will have a story to tell when families and friends reunite.

RAF Chief Executive Officer Dr Eugene Watson said not everyone will be travelling far this holiday season. For some, it may only be a kilometre or two, while for others it will be hundreds of miles away. Its not about distance but safety  yours, your family, friends and, above all, everyone who shares the road with you. The common thread is that everyones life matters, particularly at this time of year when we have stories to tell. Family news, exam results, job woes  our roads carry many stories; lets make sure they end well.

The messaging breathes new life into the RAFs existing MyRoadYourRoad road safety campaign, which talks to the roads belonging to all of us; it appeals to our sense of community and above all encourages empathy and respect by acting responsibly when travelling over the holiday season.

The RAFs approach to fulfilling its mandate is three-pronged: firstly, we promote awareness on a regular basis through various marketing and public relations campaigns; secondly, we facilitate proactive programmes such as educating drivers and motor cyclists about defensive driving skills, creating infrastructure such as speed humps to reduce speed together with local authorities, or providing child car seats; and lastly, covering, compensating and rehabilitating accident victims and their families as the consoling arms of government in the unfortunate event of major injuries or death after a car crash.

RAF official assists a claimant during the RAFs road safety drive taking place across all provinces in SA during the festive season.

RAF Chief Marketing Officer Phumi Dhlomo explained: We have taken the #MyRoadYourRoad concept up a notch this festive season by appealing to peoples emotions or tugging at their heart strings during this time of togetherness. All we ask is that people please keep their senses and get home or wherever theyre travelling to in one piece so they can recap all the highs and lows of 2016, before entering the new year.

The look and feel of the festive season campaign is one that will show the beauty of SAs roads, while painting a picture of the many stories that the roads carry. The campaign will consist of both an internal communication, as well as a consumer-facing campaign that will include video, radio, social media, activations and public relations. Mortimer Harvey was tasked to develop and implement this years RAF festive season road safety campaign.

Radio adverts have been produced in all 11 official languages to ensure the widest possible reach, while a #MyRoadYourRoad video will be re-purposed so that the campaign can also have a presence among commuters through Taxi TV. The video will be uploaded to YouTube, and also shared on social media where the public will be encouraged to share their stories.

With traffic volumes increasing throughout the country and traffic conditions constantly changing, the RAF has made road safety awareness a priority through various activations over the holidays which will encourage road users to also think of others when making use of SAs vast road network. Greater road safety awareness and other opportunities to educate people about the RAF products and services will be created throughout the festive period during activations in shopping malls, taxi ranks, forecourts, and at roadblocks together with local traffic officials.

Should claimants need to make an enquiry in the unfortunate event of being involved in an accident, kindly contact the RAF call centre on 0860 23 55 23. In the event that the call centre cannot be reached, claimants are asked to leave a message and a call centre agent will return your call at the soonest opportunity. Claimants can also access more information and services from any of the RAFs five regional offices in Pretoria, Johannesburg, East London, Cape Town and Durban; the 100 hospital service centres (HSCs); five customer service centres or four Walk-in centres countrywide. They can also follow us on social media: Twitter, @RAF_SA; Facebook, Road Accident Fund; and Instagram, RAF_ROAD.




WASHINGTON: Yahoo said on Wednesday personal data from over a billion users was stolen in a hack dating back to 2013 - twice as big as another breach disclosed just three months ago.

Bevan Lloyd Von Weichardt via 123RF

In a huge blow to the struggling internet pioneer, Yahoo said it made the discovery as it was investigating what was already the largest data breach of a single company.

"Yahoo believes an unauthorised third party, in August 2013, stole data associated with more than one billion user accounts," it said in a statement.

Yahoo said this case "is likely distinct from the incident the company disclosed on September 22, 2016" affecting 500 million users.

The news poses a fresh threat to Yahoo's deal to sell its core operating assets to Verizon for $4.8 billion.

In November, Yahoo disclosed that as part of its investigation into the prior breach, it had received data files from law enforcement "that a third party claimed was Yahoo user data."

Using outside forensic experts, Yahoo now confirms that this was indeed user data but added that it "has not been able to identify the intrusion associated with this theft."

The statement added that "Yahoo has taken steps to secure user accounts and is working closely with law enforcement."

Yahoo's chief security officer Bob Lord said in a blog post that some of the intrusions were done by hackers who accessed accounts without a password by using "forged cookies", or data files which verify a device or user.

"We believe an unauthorised third party accessed our proprietary code to learn how to forge cookies," he said, adding that "we have connected some of this activity to the same state-sponsored actor believed to be responsible for the data theft the company disclosed on September 22."

Yahoo also said it was requiring affected users to change their passwords, and had invalidated unencrypted security questions and answers.

Yahoo said in September it believed the breach of information on 500 million users was "state sponsored" but some analysts have questioned this theory.

The stolen user account information in the newly disclosed breach may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, "hashed" passwords and, in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers, Yahoo said.

The hackers did not obtain passwords in clear text, payment card data, or bank account information, it said.

The latest breach discovery is a further embarrassment to a company that was one of the biggest names of the internet but which has failed to keep up with rising stars such as Google and Facebook.

Steve Grobman, chief technical officer at Intel Security, said the two incidents show "there were clear weaknesses in the architecture" used by Yahoo but that such hacks are not just about technology.

Large organisations holding vast amounts of user data, Grobman said, "need to rely not just on technology but use independent or internal resources to defend against attack scenarios."

Grobman said Yahoo can recover from the debacle but that "it needs to be transparent and show that it will emerge with the best security."

Patrick Moorhead, analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, said it is possible the disclosure will kill the tie-up with Verizon.

"In the end it will be determined by how Yahoo customers react and what Verizon thinks about this," Moorhead said.

"I don't think Yahoo is worth nearly as much as it was before these two breaches because they can no longer be trusted. Yahoo can build back trust but it will take investment and focus."

Yahoo, after a series of reorganizations, decided late last year to sell its main operating business as a way to separate that from its more valuable stake in Chinese internet giant Alibaba.

Yahoo's plan would place its main operating business within Verizon, which has already acquired another faded internet star, AOL. The remaining portion would be a holding company with stakes in Alibaba and Yahoo Japan.

Verizon said in a statement late Wednesday that it would await further news of the investigation before making any decision.

"As we've said all along, we will evaluate the situation as Yahoo continues its investigation," the statement said.

"We will review the impact of this new development before reaching any final conclusions."

Verizon had said the prior breach was likely "material", meaning it could allow the telecom giant to scrap the deal or lower its offer.

Yahoo's valuation hit $125 billion during the dot-com boom, but it has been losing ground since then despite several efforts to reboot. In the mid-1990s, Yahoo was among the most popular destinations on the internet, helping many people navigate the emerging web.

It became the top online "portal", connecting users to news, music and other content. But its fortunes started to fade when Google began to dominate with its powerful search engine.

Source: AFP
21st Century Fox, which belongs to media mogul Rupert Murdoch, has reached an agreement to acquire British subscription broadcaster, Sky for 11.7 billion. The British culture minister, Karen Bradley, now has more than a week to refer the matter to the regulator Ofcom which will then evaluate the merit of the agreement.

Murdoch had reached the price agreement with Sky's directors who will now take the offer to the shareholders for consideration. Sky currently has 22 million customers across five countries namely, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy and Austria.
Aleppo--not the only part of Syria in ruins

Syria is Turkey's and Saudi Arabia's disaster.

For years they have openly supported war in that embattled country.

What started as an uprising against Bashar Assad's despotism was quickly hijacked by the outside world, especially Turkey, Saudia Arabia and Qatar.

Turkey provided the training and the invasion route into neighboring Syria, including for ISIS. Many of ISIS fighters from the U.S., France, Britain and other parts of the West, not by coincidence traveled through Turkey.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar, both Salafi Sunni states provided the billions of dollars in financing for the war on Syria. It appears that Saudi foreign policy is to finance havoc overseas to deter it from Saudi Arabia itself.

Turkey wanted to depose Bashar Assad and to destroy the Kurds in Syria believing that's the way to crush Kurdish separatism within Turkey itself.

Turkey has failed in its objectives and instead empowered Kurds. As reward for helping defeat ISIS in parts of Syria, and in Iraq, respectively, the Kurds now have essentially a state of their own in both Syria and Iraq. They will eventually support their brethren in Turkey.

The Saudis and Qatar oppose Assad who is Alawi and affiliated with Shia Islam. Syria's population is about 75% Sunni, which is also the dominant branch of Islam in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar also want to counter Iran, which is predominantly Shia.

The U.S. supported Turkey and Saudi Arabia, its traditional allies; even when it was clear ISIS was getting financing from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

http://www.salon.com/2016/10/11/leaked-hillary-clinton-emails-show-u-s-a...

The Turks, the Saudis and Qataris failed in their regime-change objectives when Iran, Hezbollah and then finally Russia intervened. This dramatically shifted the tide in Assad's favor.

Had the Saudi-, Turkey-, and Qatari- backed ISIS won, Syria would be exactly where Libya is today -- a failed state.

The invasion of and destruction of Libya was financed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar and backed by its ally the United States, with diplomatic isolation of Libya then bombardment of the country. The extremists who seized power executed Muamar al-Quathafi.

Russia could not intervene in Libya because Dimitri A. Medvedev was President and Putin prime minister at the time. Putin denounced the invasion and said the UN resolution in 2011 permitting airstrikes on Libya was like "a medieval call for a crusade."

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/world/europe/27putin.html

Putin was not going to allow this conduct to be repeated in Syria. Assad was a brutal dictator; the Saudi-, Turkey-, and Qatar-backed ISIS were even far worse as they demonstrated early in the war, beheading their enemies and captured Syrian army soldiers. Any so-called "moderate" rebels are pure fiction in such a bloody theater of war.

The best decision President Obama made was not to order missile attacks on Assad when he supposedly crossed the red line by allegedly using chemical weapons.

This is because, even though major media outlets like The New York Times which was rooting for the rebellion ignored the story, there were credible evidence that the rebels were in fact the ones who used chemical weapons.

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE94409Z20130505

The weapons are believed to have been provided by Saudi intelligence services. The objective was to draw the U.S. into a fullscale war to overthrow Assad.

What's more Obama had observed the rebels brutality. Videos of beheadings of captives were posted on YouTube --the same MO as in the Libyan war. Obama was not about to repeat Libya and help install blood-thirsty killers into power.

So for the last three years Obama gave essentially lip-service and low level support to the rebels. The Saudis and Turks and Qataris stepped up their support. Then when the Russians entered with their airforces Assad gained the upperhand.

Today, as the world witnesses ruin, destruction and death in Aleppo, the major corporate media have developed amnesia on other phases of the war.

Media no longer recall the many victims killed during the six years brutal war by all sides. The entire Syrian calamity is cynically reduced to Aleppo and the victims killed by the brutal Russian and Syrian air force bombardments.

The brutal killings, including beheadings by the numerous rebel groups -- including al-Qaeda, Nusra and ISIS -- trained, armed and financed by outsiders

are whitewashed. The only "bad guys" are Putin and Assad according to this narrative.

The biggest losers as with all wars are the civilians. Tens or hundreds of thousands of children, women, and men have been killed and millions displaced as refugees.
The CSO representatives recommended over 50 points during the draft review. These included that there isnt much involvement from the public whilst only the municipal committee can make decisions.

This draft is concerned with everyone in Mon State. If only the Hluttaw [Parliament] fix the law, it may be suitable for everyone or it may not. Therefore, that is why we civil society organizations gathered and reviewed the draft. As needed, we will add points while we amend, said U Min Win Po, development pillar organization.

The CSO representatives have selected 7 representatives to present their advice and reviews at the Hluttaw on December 27.

There are guidelines in the municipal law draft for the public to follow, but the focus on what the municipal team will do for the public is very weak, said U Aung Thant Oo, of Nyein Foundation.

On December 19, officials from the Mon State Municipal Department will meet with CSO officials at the Township Municipal Office, in Mawlamyine, in order to share information on Mon State Municipal activities.

On November 21, the Mon State Hluttaw informed the Mon State CSOs to have the Township Level Committee grow stronger and the State Level Committee removed, as Hluttaw re-wrote and drafted the municipal law.

Mon State Municipal Law was first passed in 2012 but was amended in 2013 and 2015.
Sai Tun Ngan, a Kyaukme MP from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), told Shan Herald that villagers from Pang Kwan had been evacuating their homes since December 11, a day after 24 men from the village had been arrested and detained by the by Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

People are afraid because the TNLA is conscripting new soldiers, he said. Many from Pang Kwan have left to stay with relatives in other villages, while about 150 have sought shelter at a temple in Kyaukme town.

The SNLD MP added: They are still too afraid to return home.

Situated in Kyaukme Township in northern Shan State, Pang Kwan has a population of over 600, living in some 170 households.

Col. Tar Phong Kyaw, a TNLA spokesperson, told The Irrawaddy news agency this week that his group has launched a new policy of recruiting soldiers into its ranks.

We have a new military recruitment policy for our party, he said. However, we only recruit soldiers from amongst our Taang [Palaung] people. We do not recruit from the ethnic Shan villages.

Shan Herald reported on December 1 that some 200 villagers from Mantong and Mong Maw in Kyaukme Township had fled their homes due to hostilities between the TNLA and Burmese government forces.

The TNLA is a member of the newly formed Northern Alliance, alongside the Arakan Army (AA), Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). The coalition conducted synchronized offensives against Burmese military positions around the Chinese border in northern Shan State on November 20, and clashes between the sides have since intensified.

Thousands of people have been displaced in the region due to the recent conflict. It is estimated that more than 4,000 are still unable to return to their villages.

By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, there have beenA 816A New York law enforcement officers who have died in the course of duty. Most of those who have died in the page six yearsA succumbed to 9/11-related illnesses. The last firearm-related death, Paul Tuizzolo,A sadly came just a last month, killed in a gunfight in the Bronx.

The official count considers all NY officers from as far back as 1802 and the days of the New York City watch under the supervision of its renown High Constable Jacob Hays, pictured below. (See our podcast Case Files of the NYPDA for more information.) Hays would be the sole administrator of this early form of law enforcement and would lead the group until the formation of the New York Municipal Police in 1845.

The gruff looking Jacob Hays.

The watchs first casualty came in 1806. The mans name was Christian Luswanger, murdered in the line of duty during a very unthinkableA altercation.

In 1806, New YorkA was still a city shaking off its colonial trappings and still finding its identity. The mayor of New York that year was 37-year-old DeWitt Clinton, the well connected nephew to the former governor of New York and a man with great things in his future. The British had been gone for over two decades, and the city and its port were rapidly growing. But the real jump starts to the citys economy and expansion  the Erie Canal, the debut of the steamboat, the Commissioners Plan  would come in the next decade.

New York was small but restless. When mayor Edward Livingston formed the night watch in 1801, it required only a handful of men, overseen by a Watch Committee on the city council (or Common Council). By 1806, all watchmen reported to Hays, and the constable reported to the council, who often directly advised on priorities. The Captains of Watch in the first district [should] be particularly attentive to the neighborhood of Burling Slip, according to the minutes of one council meeting.

Broadway and City Hall, in 1809. The mobs of the so-called Augustus Street Riot would have scuffled just to the west of this illustration. (Courtesy NYPL)

Hays supervised a couple captains for each of New Yorks wards  captains with such sturdy names as Magnus Beekman, Nicholas Lawrence, Gad Dumbolton and William Van Wart. Those captains had other men reporting to them, including Christian Luswanger, of which almost nothing is known  regular watchmen didnt appear in the council payrolls, only the captains  nothing at all, except for the event which took his life. An event sometimes referred to as the Christmas Riot, the Highbinders Riot or the Augustus Street Riot, so named forA the forgotten street where many of the rioters lived*.

The original St. Peters Church at the corner of Barclay and Church Streets.



In 1806, St. Peters ChurchA  at Barclay and Church Street  was the only parish in town if you were a practicing Catholic. (The current St. Peters, sometimes called Old St. Peters, a simple, neo-classical gem near the WTC site, was built over the location of the old structure in 1840.) Its most famous congregants would be Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American to be declared a saint, and the venerableA Pierre Toussaint, whos currently interred at St. Patricks Cathedral.

Built in 1785, St. Peters was a perpetual target of anti-Catholic sentiment, and indeed, horrific violence would erupt here on Christmas morning 1806. As worshippers gathered for midnight mass, a group of nativist rowdies gathered outside, prepared to disrupt services.

One source, perhaps drawing from a contemporary New York Evening Post article, calls the group of about fifty a gang called the Highbinders. However Im not exactly sure it was any kind of an organized gang. The word highbinder would eventually come to mean any kind of gangster and would even be slang for a corrupt politician. The first gang of New York is commonly thought to be the Forty Thieves, who wouldnt surface for at least another twenty years.

Simply consider them a massive of drunken, anti-Catholic thugs  sailors, according to one source, a nativist gang of apprentices and propertyless journeyman butchers according to Edwin Burrows and Mike Wallace  all looking to cause trouble.A Still another newspaper referred to them asA a desperate association of lawless and unprincipled vagabonds. [source]

Parishioners ran to get their alderman whoA successfully convinced the group to disperse for the evening.

However the mob whichA returned the next night  Christmas night  far more incensed, only this time the churchgoers were ready, armed with weapons. The defenders at St. Peters were not merely parishioners butA other Irish immigrants who had heard about the prior evenings altercation and came looking for a fight.

Many other Irish New Yorkers stood watch over their homes on Augustus Street, waiting forA the anti-Irish mob to arrive there. That night, the two groups clashed inA the streets, a few dozen men on each side,A attacking each other on the streets around City Hall.

In this melee, the watch were called to quell the violence and arrest the rioters. Jacob Hays may have been there; several of his captains certainly were. Watchman Luswanger was called to join them. Somewhere along the way, a rioter stabbed Luswanger, and the watchman expired without a struggle.

The streets of Five Points in 1827, a short distance away from the riotous events of 1806.

Apparently, this did nothing but bring more rioters into the chaos.

Diarist and fellow rowdyA William Otter presents a vivid recollection of these events, although he does not mention Luswanger:

The church was surrounded with a motley crew of Irish and sailors  engaged in deadly conflict  The mob fought from the door of the church to Irish town, being the distance of about a fourth of a mile .A

[W]e fell to and drank as much as we pleased, and while we were refreshing ourselves the mob came in and began to break bottles, glasses, pitchers, barrels and all and every thing they could find in the shop; and fought on till day light through Irishtown; laying all Irishtown waste; a great deal of property was d was destroyed by the mob, and a great deal of human blood shed.

It took most of the night watch and the light of day to dissolve the rioters. Ten men, all Irishmen, were arrested. The mayor offered a reward for any information on Luswangers demise, but danced around firm condemnation of either group. Im gathering from the lack of evidence that the case of who stabbed the watchman remains unsolved.

NOTE: One of my prime sources on this article states that the watchmans name was Christopher Newfanger, not Christian Luswanger. I believe the latter is correct, and it is the name officially recognized by the police department.

*According to Forgotten New York, Augustus Street was later called City Hall Place and in 1941 it was again renamed for Patrick Cardinal Hayes who had died in 1938. Today the street is gone, contained in the pedestrian plaza of Civic Center, near St. Andrews Church.A

NOTE: There are no images or illustrations of the Highbinders Riot. The riot depicted at top is actually of a Lower East Side riot in the 1860s.
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BEIJING (PTI): China's first aircraft carrier battle group has carried out its maiden live-fire exercises on a massive scale, in a show of strength amid increasing tensions with the US over the South China Sea and Taiwan.



Aircraft carrier 'Liaoning' conducted the mammoth drills with live ammunition in the Bohai Sea involving dozens of ships and aircraft as well as several air-to-air, air-to-ship and ship-to-air missiles, the PLA Navy said in a statement on Friday.



The exercise was aimed at testing combination of various types and numbers of ships to optimise the carrier's combat ability, the navy said.



The carrier, destroyers and frigates carried out exercises covering air interception, sea-based attacks and air-defense as well as reconnaissance, early warning and anti-missile systems.



The carrier's original design allows it to carry about 30 fixed-wing aircraft.



The time and exact location of the exercises were not disclosed accept that they were held in the Bohai Sea which is located between Chinese coast off Dalian and North and South Korea.



Earlier reports said the aircraft carrier would be deployed in the disputed South China Sea when it is ready.



It was the first time that the weapons used on the carrier were displayed in public since it entered service in 2012.



Videos of the Liaoning's J-15 fighters firing missiles were broadcast on China Central Television, the first time images of J-15 live-fire exercises have been shown to the public.



Rear Admiral Chen Yueqi, commander of the Liaoning carrier battle group, said the exercise is a "milestone" for the unit.



"It enabled us to explore how to organise a carrier battle group exercise and to test the training levels of our sailors and pilots. It can also boost the battle group s efforts to become combat ready as early as possible," he told CCTV.



The exercises were conducted as China struck a more aggressive posture over the disputed South China Sea issue and braces to have a showdown with US President-elect Donald Trump, who questioned 'One-China' policy and held an unprecedented phone talk with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, which drew strong diplomatic protests from Beijing.



China has become more assertive over the South China Sea after an international tribunal struck down its claim over all most all of the area.



The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have counter claims over the disputed SCS.



China on Thursday confirmed that it is building military facilities in some of the reclaimed islands, saying the deployment of necessary defensive facilities on some islands in the South China Sea is legitimate and normal.



Reacting to the reports showing satellite images of the military facilities in the islands revealed by US think tank, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said the South China Sea islands are China's inherent territory and China is building necessary defensive facilities on its own territory which is completely normal and has nothing to do with militarisation.



"If China's building normal facilities and deploying necessary territorial defensive facilities on its own islands is considered militarisation, then what is the sailing of fleets in the South China Sea?" he said questioning the movement of US naval fleet in the area.



Besides Liaoning, China is currently building two more aircraft carriers one of which was expected to be ready by next year.



Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said in earlier briefings that there will surely be more carriers in future.



Commander Xu Ying, chief of a J-15 squadron that participated in the event, was quoted by the State broadcaster as saying that through the exercise, pilots improved their use of tactics and weapons and enhanced confidence in their equipment.



Though the Navy did not disclose components of the carrier battle group, Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, told China Daily that the battle group would have three Type 052C or Type 052D destroyers, both of which have advanced vertical-launch missile systems and cutting-edge air defence radar, three Type 054A frigates, one replenishment ship and one attack submarine.



"The recent exercise is really a landmark for the carrier battle group because it means the group's ships and aircraft have achieved a high level of integration and cooperation and that the unit is closer to gaining combat readiness," Zhang said.



"Next, the group would focus on honing its air defence and counter-submarine capabilities."



Wu Peixin, an aviation industry observer in Beijing, said the news indicates that the J-15 fighter force has obtained initial operational capability.



"The J-15 is as mighty as the United States' F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. It is capable of carrying out multiple operations such as fleet air defense and anti-ship strikes," he said.



"Given that dozens of ships were used in this drill, the aircraft carrier was likely to be accompanied by submarines, depot ships and fast combat support ships, in addition to guided missile destroyers as well as two guided missile frigates," Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, told state run Global Times.



Liaoning is a refitted vessel based on an unfinished Russian-made carrier and delivered to the Chinese Navy on September 25, 2012.



Its battle group took shape in December 2013, when the carrier and several escort vessels, including two guided missile destroyers, two guided missile frigates and an attack submarine took part in a long-range formation drill in the South China Sea.






NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba is on a five-day visit to Japan during which he will explore new avenues of cooperation with the country which has emerged as a close partner of India in recent years, both on the nuclear energy front as well as military.



The visit also comes at a time when India, Japan and the US are preparing for their next edition of the Malabar exercise which will focus on submarine hunting amid increasing forays by the Chinese underwater vessels in the Indian Ocean.



"The visit aims to consolidate existing maritime cooperation initiatives as well as explore new avenues," a statement by the Navy said.



India and Japan share similar maritime challenges such as long coastline, extensive Exclusive Economic Zone, coastal security, large coastal shipping and fishing fleet, wherein both navies have opportunities to learn from each other's experiences, it added.



In addition, common ground exists for cooperation on a number of issues for the navies.



Defence cooperation between India and Japan is robust and is primarily focused towards maritime cooperation. Bilateral defence cooperation was institutionalised with commencement of the India-Japan Comprehensive Security Dialogue which was initiated in 2001.



Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) has participated in the Malabar exercise in 2007, 2009, 2014 prior being included as a regular member in the exercise since 2015.



JMSDF participated in Malabar 15 and 16 held in the Bay of Bengal and Western Pacific respectively.



In 2014, Japan has also been included as an observer in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a maritime cooperation construct conceptualised and pioneered by Indian Navy in 2008.



Both navies also engage in navy to navy staff talks which commenced in 2008. The 7th such talks are scheduled to be held in 2017.



JDS Matsuyuki participated in the International Fleet Review 2016 held at Visakhapatnam. The Chief of Staff of the JMSDF, Admiral Tomihisa Takei also attended the Review.



Indian Navy too participated in the International Fleet Review conducted by the JMSDF in October 15 at Sagami Bay, Yokosuka, Japan.



JMSDF for the first time participated in the Admiral's Cup Sailing Regatta conducted by the Indian Navy in 2016 at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala from December 5 to 11 this year.



Warships of both countries regularly visit each other's ports.



During the visit, Admiral Lanba is scheduled to hold discussions with Chief of Staff, JMSDF, Minister of State for Defence, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff besides other senior dignitaries and naval officers.






NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian government has appointed vice chief of army staff Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the new Army chief superseding his two senior officers, while vice chief of air staff Air Marshal B S Dhanoa has been made the new chief of the Air Force.



"Government has decided to appoint Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, vice chief of army staff, as the next chief of army staff with effect from afternoon of December 31," the Defence Ministry said on Saturday in a tweet.



It also tweeted that Air Marshal B S Dhanoa will take over as IAF chief with effect from afternoon of December 31.



Rawat will replace General Dalbir Singh, while Dhanoa will take over from IAF chief Arup Raha.



Lt Gen Rawat, an infantry soldier, superseded senior most army commander Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, who headed the Eastern Command and was next in line to be the army chief, besides Southern Command Chief P M Hariz.



Government sources said Lt gen Rawat was found best suited among the Lt Generals to deal with emerging challenges, including a reorganized and restructured military force in the north, continuing terrorism and proxy war from the west, and the situation in the North-East.



They said Lt Gen Rawat has tremendous hands-on experience of serving in combat areas and at various functional levels in the Indian Army over the last three decades.



He has handled various operational responsibilities in many areas, including along the LoC with Pakistan, the LAC with China and in the North-East.



He is known for his balanced approach towards soldiering, compassion, and connect with civil society.



His experience as GOC-in-C Southern Army Command in Mechanised Warfare has been focused towards the western borders, in coordination with the other two services, the sources said.



Supersesion in the army is not new though there has not been any such instances in the recent past. In 1983, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had appointed Lt Gen A S Vaidya as army chief superseding Lt Gen S K Sinha, who resigned in protest.



Earlier in 1972, the Gandhi government side-stepped the very popular Lt General P S Bhagat, one of the handful of Indian Victoria Cross awardees from World War II, who was in line to succeed General (later Field Marshal) Sam Manekshaw.



This was done by giving his junior, General G G Bewoor a year's extension, during which time Bhagat retired. Bewoor, thus, succeeded Manekshaw.



Defence Ministry sources said the focus was on suitability and merit for the selection of the new Army chief.



They said that Lt Gen Bakshi, an Armoured corps officer, spent most of his career in Jodhpur and had two postings in Kashmir but the positions he was in were not considered field posting.



The sources added that Lt Gen Hariz had no experience in operational areas in terms of counter insurgency or seeing action along the LoC.



With Lt Gen Rawat's sudden promotion as the army chief, the line of succession in the force will get affected.



The IAF, which has also seen supersession in the past, was set for a smooth transition with Dhanoa, the first in line for the post, named its new chief.



He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in June 1978. He has served in various squadrons and in the Intelligence Directorate of Air Headquarters.



Rawat was commissioned in the Fifth Battalion of the Eleven Gorkha Rifles in December 1978, from IMA, Dehradun, where he was awarded the Sword of Honour.



The General Officer has vast experience in high altitude warfare and counter insurgency operations.



He commanded an Infantry battalion along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern sector, a Rashtriya Rifles sector and an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley. He has tenanted instructional appointments at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and Army War College, Mhow.



Lt Gen Rawat also held important staff appointments at Directorate General of Military Operations and Military Secretary s Branch at Army Headquarters.



He has been Major General General Staff at HQ Eastern Command. The officer commanded a Multinational Brigade in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).



An alumni of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Higher Command and National Defence College Courses, the General Officer, during the span of over 35 years of service in uniform, has been awarded for gallantry and distinguished service.



Prior to taking over as the VCOAS, Lt Gen Rawat was holding the post of the GOC-in-C, Southern Command.




A representational photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): India, Japan and the United States are set to focus on "anti-submarine warfare" by deploying "different machines" during the next round of their marine wargames named the Malabar Exercise, amidst increasing presence of Chinese underwater vessels in the strategic Indian Ocean region.



The three countries will come together in the Indian Ocean for the 21st edition of the Malabar exercise - Malabar 2017, aiming for a "bigger" and "more complex" exercise than before.



"We want to (use) different machines especially now that India flies the P8I (Poseidon). We fly the P8A," Commander of the US Seventh Fleet, Vice Admiral Joseph P Aucoin said.



"I would like those two aircraft working together and to hunt submarines. So anti-submarine warfare is one area which I think would be very beneficial. So I am looking forward to that in Malabar," he told reporters here.



Vice Admiral Aucoin met Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba and other senior officers to chalk out the dates and strategy of the exercise, likely to be held after the monsoon.



The exercise has assumed significance as it is being held at a time when China has become more assertive, and their submarines' forays in the Indian Ocean region have increased.



The Chinese are set to monitor the exercise like they did last year when India, US and Japan participated in the exercise together in the Japanese waters off the Pacific.



Vice Admiral Aucoin, who spoke on a number of issues, said he was looking forward to the implementation of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement between India and the US.



He said the implementation of LEMOA may take some more time, but hoped that within a couple of years, it would be clear what possibilities are there.



The US has shared its "points of contact" - the details of designated officials to whom the US military would have to send its request for logistics support under LEMOA - but India is yet to share the list.



Another problem is that common accounting system for the three services also needed to be worked out.



The US commander also spoke out against militarisation of the strategic South China Sea region, through which an annual trade of USD 5 billion flows.



He termed the situation in the region "dynamic" and asked countries to desist from aggressive land reclamation.



He said India's settling of maritime disputes with Bangladesh should be a "terrific path forward" for other countries.


Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/12/2016 (2145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

From sunrise to sunset, volunteers walked through fields, bushes and back lanes identifying and counting birds as part of Brandons 36th annual Christmas Bird Count on Sunday.

Its fun, each year you see something interesting, something different  its good for the science, and its a fun group, too, said Gillian Richards, who has been participating in the Christmas Bird Count for more than 30 years.

My mom was interested in birds, so when I was a kid my interest grew from there, Richards said. When we came over (to Canada) there were a whole bunch of other interesting birds to see. Theyre different compared to in the U.K.

Erin Debooy/The Brandon Sun A white-breasted nuthatch perches on a bird feeder during Brandons 36th annual Christmas Bird Count on Sunday.

While Richards covers quite a large section, from Park Avenue to just south of Richmond Avenue and from First Street to around 42nd Street, other bird counters help by counting birds from their feeders at home.

Dave Barnes, who has been counting birds since moving to Brandon in the 1980s, has multiple feeders set up around his home, and ventures out about a mile in search of different species, he said.

This is a National Audubon Society long-term research project. Its over 100 years old, Barnes said. They do statistical counting in the coldest days, during the winter solstice  its a continent-wide survey of birds to sample the population.

Barnes has also been interested in birds since he was a child, he said. He still remembers seeing a ruby-throated hummingbird feeding her babies in a nest outside his window when he was 10 years old.

New species come as other species diminish  theres a lot of science that depends on this, Barnes said.

Erin Debooy/The Brandon Sun Gillian Richards, who has been bird counting for about 30 years, takes a close look at a bird feeder in search of bird species they haven't counted yet. As of Sunday afternoon, her group had found and tallied about nine different species.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooy
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/12/2016 (2145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Stevie Quinney was thrilled to receive her 23rd birthday gift from her mother  two empty containers.

It was exactly what she needed to call a place in rural Manitoba her own.

She bribed me to move home, she bought me shipping containers for my birthday, Quinney chuckled about her mothers present.

Kayla MacGranachan Stevie Quinney sits in the kitchen of her home, which is comprised of two storage containers melded together.

The quirky gift helped Quinney abandon the high-rises of Vancouver for a simpler lifestyle outside Winkler. She intends to move her abode

next spring to a lot at Moore Park, a small community approximately 35 kilometres northeast of Brandon.

It is home ownership on the cheap.

That appeals to me, I didnt want to be stuck paying the bank for the majority of my life, that just gives me anxiety, Quinney said. I could own a house and not have to pay it off for the rest of my life.

Now 24, Quinney is part of a growing movement of young people spurning traditional house ownership  be it out of necessity or desire  for something smaller.

In Quinneys case, she has melded two offset storage containers for a homey 600-sq.-ft. dwelling. It would on the bigger end of the so-called tiny house craze, which promotes simple living in modest accommodations.

The native Brandonite wants to move closer to home, where as a website developer, who also works at the citys Rotary Villas retirement residence, she already spends half her time.

A year into living at alternative lodgings, Quinney explained theres no question her home will move to Moore Park with her.

This is my home, I put a lot into it, she said. I want it close enough where I can show it off and have friends over and be able to come home to it every night.

Kayla MacGranachan Stevie Quinney sits in the living room of her home, comprised of two storage containers melded together.

Previously living at a shared Vancouver basement suite, a city she moved to for school, Quinney was captivated while reading The Big Tiny: A BuiltIt-Myself Memoir, a book promoting the trend of home downsizing.

Inspired by her readings, Quinney scoured the Internet for examples of other early adoptees and the homes they built. It helped that her mother was supportive, buying storage containers to get her daughter started.

By summer 2015, Quinney moved to Winkler to build her home on her mothers lot. Her stepfather and other family spent six months adhering to the floor plan Quinney mapped out. She moved in around Christmas last year.

As a renter, she didnt have many possessions to her name but was still cutting back.

I had to get rid of a lot of stuff, but its freeing. You dont realize how much stuff you have that you dont need until youre in a situation like that.

Mainly, her wardrobe was reduced, and she realized some luxury items, like bigger couches, arent going to fit.

She has an open-concept kitchen and living room, a bathroom and fashioned space for two bedrooms.

She uses a wood stove in the wintertime, which keeps her home warm.

Its been eye-opening, Ive definitely learned a lot, as you would with home ownership of any kind, Quinney said. Its a lot of work, but its really rewarding to see it come together right from the idea stage.

Kayla MacGranachan The exterior of Stevie Quinneys miniaturized home. She plans to move her 600-sq.-ft. home from the Winkler area to north of Brandon.

She credits the alternative housing push as a mentality difference between generations. More young people, she believes, are valuing experiences and flexibility over the prestige home ownership historically retained. Housing, also, has become increasingly out of reach for young people due to high prices.

Quinney used Brandon, where affordable housing is lacking, as an example.

Obviously container housing or alternative housing isnt extremely popular around here, but hopefully in the coming time, maybe with my house moving, people will become aware that this is also a solution.

 ifroese@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ianfroese
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/12/2016 (2145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hannah Koversky and Brooklyn Maguathi are two ordinary girls doing extraordinary things.

Koversky, a Grade 7 student at St. Augustine School, and Maguathi, a Grade 5 student at Riverview School, teamed up to raise more than $10,000 in the past four years to build a school in Ecuador, earning them the Governor Generals Caring Canadian Award last month.

We just thought that everyone should be equal in the world and every child should be able to go to school, Maguathi said, adding the duo were inspired by We Day, where they were told they were never too young to make a difference.

Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Hannah Koversky of St. Augustine School and Brooklyn Maguathi of Riverview School recently received Governor Generals Caring Canadian Awards for raising more than $10,000 to build a school in Ecuador.

To raise the money, the girls held countless bake sales, selling pumpkin pies, bread, cupcakes and cookies. They also sold various items at craft sales.

I knitted scarves and hats to sell at craft sales, and then the Urban Trails owner here in Brandon allowed me to sell them in the store, Koversky said. It was a lot of knitting.

We also sold Christmas ornaments last year, Maguathi said.

The two were nominated for the Governor Generals Caring Canadian Award by Maguathis aunt, Carla Paddock, and accepted their medals Nov. 17 in Winnipeg.

The award recognizes the unsung heroes who volunteer their time, their efforts and a great deal of their lives to helping others while asking for nothing in return. Koversky and Maguathi both received a letter, certificate and a lapel pin to honour their work.

Paddock said the girls deserved the recognition for their dedication to their goal.

We are very proud of them. It was a big goal and they stuck to it until it was done, Paddock said.

And this is only the first step completed in what will be a long, but rewarding, journey.

Were going to go build the school (in Ecuador)  were going to help start it off. Were really excited, Maguathi said.

The two will be joined by Paddock and a group of about nine fellow girl guides, Paddock said.

Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Hannah Koversky and Brooklyn Maguathi show their Governor Generals Caring Canadian Awards, which recognizes unsung volunteer heroes. The girls held countless bake sales and sold items at craft sales as they raised more than $10,000 to build a school in Ecuador.

I think it will be wonderful for them to see where all the money they raised is going, Paddock said. Their commitment just to serve others is amazing. The money is phenomenal, its amazing that they did that, but its their commitment to volunteer work and to constantly do it and constantly wanting to help somebody else is pretty amazing  theyre tackling some pretty big problems at such a young age.

The girls are still in the beginning stages of planning the trip, and will move on to tackle another project in the meantime, Koversky said.

Right now we want to make a video that will help girls  to be able to go to the school, Maguathi said. Were going to try and get pictures of women that work, like a teacher, and were going to get them to hold up a sign with their name and their age  and what their job is and make a video to try and raise money so that girls can go to the school too.

Koversky and Maguathi plan to travel to Ecuador in the summer of 2018.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooy
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/12/2016 (2145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three Winnipeg men are trying to change the way tenants rent properties  and they are hoping it will catch on in Brandon.

Brothers Ken and Don Purdy, along with business partner Brad Wery, created the website Rent it or Not after Don Purdy rented an apartment that had issues he wasnt happy with.

Its kind of weird because you can go read hotel reviews where you are only staying a few days, but theres nothing for apartments where youre locked in for a lease, Ken Purdy said. From there, the idea sort of took flight.

Submitted Brad Wery, from left, Don Purdy and Ken Purdy started the Rent it or Not website to help renters make informed decisions before signing a lease.

After searches came up short on websites like it, Wery said he was quick to jump on board.

There was nothing really like this across Canada, so the concept of creating something relatively new for people all across Canada really peaked my interest, Wery said.

Renters can rate their apartment buildings on Rent it or Not from one to five stars on a 12-point system, including management, cleanliness, parking, safety and neighbourhood. They are also encouraged to leave a review as well, good or bad, to give future renters the best idea of what they are getting into.

The website also has a built-in bedbug and cockroach meter, which alerts renters what buildings have had issues with pests in the past, and also includes a heat map option of the city that shows what areas are most affected.

People can relate to the site because they want to know what they are moving into before they move in  for homes, you can get a home inspection, but for apartments, there is nothing, Ken Purdy said.

It could alert (renters) to potential issues or things they need to be aware of, Wery said. For example, trouble with parking  that may be a deal breaker, but if youre a student and youre taking the bus  that might not be an issue for you.

For a city like Brandon that sees a lot of students come to town to attend Brandon University or Assiniboine Community College, Rent it or Not can help guide first-time renters in the right direction, Ken Purdy said.

University students and first-time renters sometimes dont even know what to look forand looking at the ratings can give you a better idea, he said.

The site also might reassure people  youre coming to this town, youre moving in, and youre going to be in a good place, added Wery.

Rent it or Not has also been helpful for new Canadians looking for housing for the first time in Canada, Ken Purdy said.

We had one guy from the Philippines who used the site and found it really helpful because he was new to the country and didnt know what to look for. As a new Canadian they are looking for the most affordable (apartment), not knowing that sometimes that can come with some serious ramifications, Ken Purdy said. At least this can give you some insight. The whole point of the site is to help people.

More and more people are visiting the site daily to search addresses and add reviews, Wery said. However, most reviews are coming from larger cities, like Winnipeg, Toronto and Vancouver, whereas places like Brandon have very few.

Were really focusing on Canada  we want to be the one site that people go for information on rentals, Ken Purdy said. What we need is for all renters to go on and share their  rental experiences with other renters, because it really helps the community.

Tenants can share reviews for future renters by inputting their address at rentitornot.com.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooy
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/12/2016 (2145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As another Christmas nears, the horrors of Aleppo have shown how far humanity remains from peace on Earth  and how it lacks the moral compass to show it the way.

What was once Syrias biggest city fell to government forces last Tuesday, signalling a sinister turning point in a nearly six-year-old civil war that has left half a million dead and driven 4.8 million into exile.

While an unmitigated disaster for the people of Aleppo, its capture means Syrian dictator and mass murderer Bashar Assad has won  not just the battle but the war.

His Russian, Iranian and Hezbollah militia enablers have emerged victorious, too.

In contrast, the United Nations, which has been impotent in stopping the bloodshed, has lost. So has the United States, which refused to back up its threats to Assad with action.

As for the various rebel forces that will continue to oppose Assad elsewhere, the loss of Aleppo proves resistance is futile. Theyve lost it all.

But the biggest losers are the ordinary Syrians who simply wanted freedom and began peacefully protesting to get it in early 2011.

More than 30,000 of them died in the siege of Aleppo, the victims of barrel bombs, mortar shells, bullets and poison gas. Pro-government militia casually executed women and children last week while men disappeared, presumably to internment camps.

It hurts to see the human suffering and misery captured in the photos and film footage coming from a city pounded into rubble.

Even more heartbreaking is listening to the pleas for help coming from the citizens of Aleppo, then admitting that the outside world heard, yet stood by and did nothing.

Humankind often takes pride in how far it has come, in how safe, how wonderful, how comfortable its science and machines have made everyday life. We talk glowingly of progress and we feel good.

There is no reason to feel anything but collective shame when looking at Aleppos ruined buildings and lives.

More than seven decades after the Second World War, the most destructive conflict in the sad annals of our species, and despite our best efforts, we have not found a way to peacefully settle violent disputes.

The United Nations is too feeble, too disunited to matter in places like Aleppo.

After costly interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, for which it was censured at home and abroad, the U.S. lacked the stomach for invading another Middle East country, or even using its air and sea power to make a difference.

Once, the Americans were praised as the worlds welcome police force for ending the civil war that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia, and later stopping Serbia from persecuting rebellious Kosovars. After the disastrous invasion of Iraq in 2003, that changed.

If anything, incoming U.S. president Donald Trump will be even more wary of foreign entanglements than his predecessor. Americas critics will cheer such isolationism.

Yet the tragedy of Aleppo shows that however messy and problematic American intervention may be in ending a conflict, we have not

found a more humane and just alternative.

 Waterloo Region Record
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/12/2016 (2145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The world is a complicated place. When someone dies, the natural thing to do is pay your respects to the family of the deceased. But what if the deceased also happens to be a ruthless dictator?

For that reason, people around the world have had a difficult time expressing their condolences for former Cuban president Fidel Castro.

Today, I am going to shed some light on Castros story and share a few remarks about his passing from certain world leaders.

File Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau visits with Cuban President Fidel Castro in Havana in 1976, during which time the leaders became good friends. Jordan Adamski writes that current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wasnt just speaking as a world leader when he offered condolences after Castros death  he was doing what his father likely would have done if he were alive today.

Fidel Castro was born in Biran, Cuba, on Aug. 13, 1926. His father was a sugar cane farmer originally from Spain. Castro studied law at the University of Havana and developed an anti-imperialistic view of politics.

Later in life, Castro played an important role in the revolution against the Cuban president at the time, Fulgencio Batista. In 1959, after Batista had been overthrown, Castro assumed the role of prime minister. He held this role from 1959 to 1976. In 1976, he became the 17th president of Cuba. He held this position until 2006.

Although Castros official title was president, there are some countries that would prefer the term dictator.

One of them is the United States. One of the reasons that the U.S. didnt exactly agree with Castro is because of an event that started on Oct. 14, 1962. This event was, of course, the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Around that time, Castro had agreed to install nuclear missiles in Cuba for defensive measures. However, the United States saw this as an offensive act. This eventually led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Due to that conflict, the United States considered Cuba a threat to the American way of life.

Other politicians had a different view of Castro, however. One was Canadas 15th prime minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

When Trudeau first visited Cuba in 1976, he became very good friends with Fidel Castro. In fact, they became lifelong friends. Castro gave Trudeaus son Michel his lifelong nickname of Miche. When Trudeau died in 2000, Castro served as an honorary pallbearer at his funeral.

World leaders reacted very differently upon receiving word of Castros passing. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Castro was a legendary revolutionary and orator who improved Cubas health-care and educational systems.

Although he meant well with his statement, it has become the subject of serious controversy. Many people believe Castro was a ruthless man who held a position of power in his country for 47 years, and therefore can no longer be referred to as a president, but as a dictator.

Critics of Trudeaus statement included U.S. senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, both supporters of bringing back the embargo on ships entering Cuba. Both are Republican senators who ran for the partys nomination for president this past year.

Rubio called Trudeaus statement shameful and embarrassing, questioning if it was a real message from our prime minister or a parody. This could have been stated because Castro, in the United States, is still considered to have been a brutal dictator, although like I mentioned earlier, he was a close family friend of the Trudeaus.

Obviously, someone like Justin Trudeau, who first met Castro as a young boy, is going to have a more sympathetic reaction than a United States senator.

Castro did violate numerous human rights, and Trudeau did eventually clarify that Castro was indeed a dictator. But Trudeaus father, Pierre, still took great pleasure in calling him his friend, because he considered him to be a great intellectual sparring partner.

Justin Trudeaus statement received nowhere near the amount of ridicule that a Twitter post from United States president-elect Donald Trump received. The day after Castro died, Trump posted that Fidel Castro is dead!

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his respects by saying that Castro was one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century. He finished by saying that India was mourning the loss of a great friend.

Fidel Castro was many things to many people. He is usually praised or criticized, depending on who you ask, and to Canadians, a close friend of the man who repatriated our constitution.

In my opinion, it is still correct for world leaders to express their condolences regarding his passing, because you are consoling the family and friends of the departed.

Usually world leaders will offer their condolences when one of their colleagues passes away to accomplish that.

In the case of Justin Trudeau, he wasnt just speaking as a world leader, he was also offering condolences as his father likely would have done if he were alive today.

 Jordan Adamski is a Grade 10 student at Ecole secondaire Neelin High School.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/12/2016 (2145 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Something we need to talk about

Regarding the sex-selective abortion issue. Holy! Didnt realize they were performed in Canada, I thought only in China. Does Canada have any regulations regarding abortion? Hats off to federal Conservative leadership candidates Pierre Lemieux and Chris Alexander for braving this politically correct issue.

No limit to Justins spending

I sincerely hope they dont find life on another planet because Prime Minister Trudeau will give them money as well  when he is not taking it himself.

Move it or pay for it

It is Dec. 11 and we have just had our Madison Crescent cleared of snow in a timely fashion by the City of Brandon. However, because of ignorant and lazy people who leave their vehicles parked on the street, we now have a very dangerous mess because the city crew cannot clear the street properly. This costs all taxpayers extra. There is a solution to this age-old problem. Have bylaw officers follow the street cleaning crew and issue $100 tickets to the people who park on this street. I am sure this would discourage this stupid act.

The return of the Filmon years?

According to The Brandon Sun, we can cut some school funding. Next will be health care. Last time they did this was when Gary Filmon was premier and Brian Pallister was part of that outfit as well as Connie Curran. She tried to knock off $45 million from health care and she did get rid of a lot of nurses. So is this what we have to look forward to?
France, Italy and Spain have been accused of trying to slow down the introduction of tougher car emissions tests, despite knowing that the old ones were causing more pollution.

A draft European Parliament probe report said the three countries, among others, "acted on several occasions to delay the adoption process of the ... tests and to favour less stringent testing methods".
Police in England are warning the public not to make time-wasting 999 calls after they received complaints of an undelivered fridge freezer and a hissing cat.

Scotland Yard said Christmas and New Year is the busiest time of year for the emergency services in the UK, adding that over the last year 999 calls have increased by 11.2%, which equates to an additional 216,000 calls.

The Met Police have released a list of 12 calls which did not require a response including a caller who said their dog was shaved instead of trimmed by a groomer and another who said they needed a lift home.

The increase in demand on the 999 service over the past 12 months is thought to be, in part, due to factors such as an increasing population and the reduction of some out-of-hours services by other service providers.

This increase has impacted upon service levels with 999 call handlers answering 999 calls, on average, in 11 seconds, with 75% of calls answered within 10 seconds.

Chief Superintendent Pippa Mills, who leads the Met's Command and Control Unit (MetCC), said: "Although the majority of people who require police assistance use the numbers correctly, there are still too many calls to emergency lines where the 999 number is being used as an information service.

"In many cases a simple internet search would provide the answer to the question posed by the caller."

She said the 999 number must be reserved for situations where a crime is actually in progress or someone is in danger, adding that calling the 101 number does not change the police response people would get in a non-emergency situation.

Extracts from 12 inappropriate 999 calls made to police in the UK this year:

:: "I am [at] Heathrow and I have left one of my bags in a taxi?"

:: "I have seen a fox walking outside the window and I wanted to report it in case it's dangerous."

:: "Basically, I'm in N8 and I'm trying to get home to Finsbury Park and I don't have any money on me for a taxi - I want police to come and pick me up and take me home..."

:: "My mum put a deposit down on a fridge freezer and they haven't delivered it - they keep changing the delivery date..."

:: "I'm lost and I'm looking for a building that I can't find, can you tell me where it is?"

:: "I sent back my headphones because they are faulty and the manufacturer said they haven't received them..."

:: "There was a bird in the store but it's ok, someone has removed it now..."

:: "I want to report that I have lost my driving licence..."

:: "I have a dispute, I took my dog to be groomed and they shaved him instead of trimming him."

:: "There is a cat following me down the road and it keeps hissing..."

:: "What time do the betting shops close in N18?"

:: "Can you give me the number for the non-emergency police?"
An emergency motion is being submitted to Dublin City Council today calling for the official recognition of Apollo House in Dublin.

The NAMA-owned property has remained occupied over the weekend by activists providing accommodation for the homeless.
The State has given an undertaking not to extradite an Irishman described by the FBI as the world's 'largest facilitator of child porn' pending the outcome of a Supreme Court appeal.

Eric Eoin Marques, who is alleged to be the owner and administrator of an anonymous hosting site known as Freedom Hosting, is wanted by the US authorities to face charges relating to conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography and advertising and distributing child pornography.

The charges against Mr Marques relate to images on over 100 anonymous websites described as being extremely violent, graphic and depicting the rape and torture of pre-pubescent children.

The 30-year-old with an address at Mountjoy Square in central Dublin, has been in custody since his arrest in August 2013.

His surrender to US authorities was ordered by the High Court last December but this was stayed pending two appeals.

Last week, the Court of Appeal dismissed Mr Maques' appeal against his extradition order as well as a legal challenge to the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision not to prosecute him in Ireland.

The Court of Appeal finalised orders today dismissing Mr Marques' appeals.

The three-judge court also noted the giving of an undertaking in open court by lawyers for the Justice Minister to lawyers for Mr Marques that surrender would not be effected until the Supreme Court determined an application for leave to appeal.

In the event of that application being granted, surrender would not be affected until determination of that appeal.

In the event of the application for leave being refused, surrender will then take place, the court noted.

Dismissing Mr Marques' judicial review last week, Mr Justice Michael Peart said he agreed with the High Court's conclusion that the DPP's decision not to prosecute Mr Marques in Ireland was not reviewable and the Director was not obliged to give reasons for her decision not to prosecute.

Mr Marques had no right be it statutory, constitutional or otherwise to be prosecuted for an offence here even where he offers to plead guilty. There was simply no such right known to the law, Mr Justice Peart said.

Citing case law, he said the constitutional right of access to the courts is a right to initiate litigation, not a right to compel suit or prosecution.

Mr Justice Peart said Mr Marques had no free standing right to be given reasons for the decision not to prosecute. If he had no right to even request what he was requesting, he had no right to reasons why his request was refused.

Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan said they agreed with Mr Justice Peart's judgment.

Dismissing Mr Marques' appeal against his extradition order, Mr Justice Peart said the single ground of appeal was essentially that, if he was convicted, Mr Marques would be exposed to a sentencing regime in America that would be unconstitutional here.

It was submitted that a sentencing jugde in America is obliged to take account of other uncharged conduct as well as conduct an accused has been acquitted of at sentencing and to do so on the lower standard or proof  on the balance of probabilities.

Mr Justice Peart said the apprehensions expressed by Mr Marques were based on speculation. In so far as he feared that a potential sentence could be enhanced by reference to him allegedly making a financial gain, that fear could not amount to a substantial or real risk of unfairness.

Mr Justice Peart said he agreed with the High Court judge's conclusions that all of the common law cases referred to the court concerned the burden of proof at trial. None of them demonstrated a universal requirement that all matters at sentencing be determined beyond reasonable doubt.

Referring to the European Court of Human Rights case known as 'Abu Qatada v the United Kingdon', Mr Justice Peart said the facts relied on by Mr Marques cannot by any stretch of the imagination be compared to the heinous and egregious prospect of a conviction based upon evidence or confessions  extracted through the use of torture.

That, unlike the apprehended regime in the present case, was something that very clearly breached an international norm.

Mr Justice Birmingham and Mr Justice Sheehan again said they agreed with Mr Justice Peart's judgment.
Update 10.38pm: A truck has rammed into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin, killing at least nine people as it tore through tables and wooden stands.

Police said about 50 people were injured, several critically, when the vehicle crashed into the market outside the popular market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

Spokesman Winfried Wenzel said the fatalities included a passenger in the truck, who died as paramedics treated him at the scene.

He offered no details on how the passenger was injured.

He also said a suspect believed to be the driver was arrested nearby.

Mr Wenzel said the truck was registered in Poland, but officers are still investigating where it came from and who the driver was.

The Polish owner of the truck said he feared the vehicle, originally driven by his cousin, may have been hijacked. Ariel Zurawki said he last spoke with the driver around noon, and was told he was in Berlin and scheduled to unload tomorrow morning.

Mr Zurawki told TVN24: "They must have done something to my driver."

UPDATE: Police in Berlin now suspect truck was stolen from a construction site in Poland. https://t.co/fVeKtafojq  Conflict News (@Conflicts) December 19, 2016

Berlin's senior security official, state interior minister Andreas Geisel, told RBB television it was too early to say whether it was an attack, and said that reports the truck may have been hijacked were "pure speculation".

Federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, have taken over the investigation, according to justice minister Heiko Maas, who said in a tweet "we are mourning with the relatives" of the victims.

Interior minister Thomas de Maiziere gave no indication in a statement whether authorities believe the crash was an attack.

Update 9.30pm: A truck has rammed into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin, killing at least nine people as it tore through tables and wooden stands.

Police said a passenger in the truck died at the scene, and the driver was arrested nearby after the vehicle crashed into the market outside the capital's popular market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

Television footage showed a large Scania truck with its windscreen smashed on the pavement alongside the market. A large Christmas tree with a gold star on top was toppled over nearby in the street.

Police are investigating whether the crash was an accident or an attack.

It came less than a month after the US State Department called for caution in markets and other public places, saying extremist groups including the so-called 'Islamic State group and al Qaida were focusing "on the upcoming holiday season and associated events".

IS and al Qaida have both called on followers to use trucks in particular to attack public places.

On July 14, a truck ploughed into a Bastille Day crowd in the southern French city of Nice, killing 86 people. IS claimed that attack, which was carried out by a Tunisian living in France.

Mike Fox, a tourist from Birmingham, said the truck missed him by about three metres as it drove into the market.

"It was definitely deliberate," he said, adding that he helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands.

Dozens of ambulances lined the streets waiting to take the injured away, and heavily armed police patrolled the area. Police on Twitter urged people to stay away from the area, saying they need to keep the streets clear for rescue vehicles.

Police spokesman Winfried Wenzel told ZDF television that the suspect was arrested nearby, but offered no further details.

Update 8.45pm: German police say the driver of a truck that rammed into a Christmas market in Berlin has been arrested near the scene.

Update 8.22pm: Berlin police say a truck has run into a crowded Christmas market in the centre of Berlin killing at least nine people, and causing multiple injuries.

Police said on Twitter that the truck rammed into the area outside the capital's popular Christmas market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church this evening.

Police say they are still investigating whether the incident was an accident or an attack.

Earlier:

A truck has been driven into crowded Christmas market in Berlin; causing multiple injuries, according to reports.

Both the Berliner Zeitung newspaper and the Berliner Morgenpost reported the truck ran into the market outside the landmark Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church this evening.

A photo posted by the Morgenpost showed damaged tables and stalls.

The Berliner Zeitung said police believed there to be multiple injuries, but police could not immediately be reached to confirm.

"It didnt feel like it was an accident": Witness to Berlin truck incident speaks to @CNNi https://t.co/cEVh67rXJb https://t.co/4CHkS79XBC  CNN (@CNN) December 19, 2016

Both newspapers reported that it was not immediately clear whether the incident was an accident or some kind of an attack on the market.

More as we get it.
Update 8.22pm: Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that the killing of Ambassador Andrei Karlov was a "provocation aimed at derailing Russia-Turkey ties and the peace process in Syria".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a video message being shown on several Turkish TV channels, says that "this is a provocation to damage the normalisation process of Turkish-Russian relations".

"But both the Russian and Turkish administrations have the determination not to fall for this provocation," he added.

Both leaders said that Russian investigators will be part of the official probe into the assassination.

Turkey's interior minister later said that the gunman who assassinated the ambassador was a policeman.

Suleyman Soylu said that the gunman was working for the riot police squad in Ankara for the past two-and-a-half years.

He identified the attacker as Mevlut Mert Altintas, who was born in 1994.

Earlier:

Russia's ambassador to Turkey has died after an attacker opened fire at a photo exhibition in Ankara.

The ambassador, Andrei Karlov, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in the capital when a man wearing a suit and tie shouted "Allahu Akbar" and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience.

The gunman is seen at rear on the left as Andrei Karlov speaks at the gallery in Ankara, moments before his death. Picture: AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici

Turkish police have also fatally shot the gunman involved, according to the NTV news channel. He is understood to have been a police officer in his early 20s.

Three other people injured were still inside the gallery, according to reports.

It was reported that the gunman shouted in Turkish ahead of the shooting: "Don't forget Aleppo. Don't forget Syria."

The man then yelled: "Stand back. Stand back. Only death will take me out of here...Anyone who has a role in this oppression will die one by one."

He also smashed several photos which were part of the exhibition.

Video showing the moments after Russia's ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was shot dead in Ankara. https://t.co/VguZ5TZp8S  Sky News (@SkyNews) December 19, 2016

Hasim Kilic, a correspondent for the daily Hurriyet, told AFP: "He said something about 'Aleppo' and revenge."

There was panic as people ran for cover after the shots were fired, with three other people reportedly wounded in the attack.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Mr Karlov was shot "when an unidentified assailant opened chaotic gunfire during a public event in Ankara".

She later confirmed the ambassador had died, adding that Russia was in contact with Turkish officials about the incident.

Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek told reporters outside the exhibition centre that the "heinous" attack had aimed to disrupt newly-re-established relations between Turkey and Russia.

US state department spokesman John Kirby said US officials are aware of reports about the shooting.

"We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source," Mr Kirby said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

Photographs of moments just before the armed attack on Russian Ambassador Karlov #Ankara@Sabah pic.twitter.com/O60MCC6jNr  Global News (@ofirzarfati) December 19, 2016

Three other people were wounded in the attack, NTV said.

Mr Karlov, 62, joined the diplomatic service in 1976, and went on to serve as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang from 2001-2006.

He later worked as the chief of the foreign ministry's consular department, and had been Russia's ambassador to Turkey since 2013.
A 101-year-old paedophile has been jailed in England for 13 years for committing a string of sex offences against young children in the 1970s and 1980s.

Retired haulier Ralph Clarke had already been warned to expect a significant custodial sentence for 17 offences of indecent assault, 11 of indecency with a child and two attempted serious sexual assaults.

Clarke, believed to be the oldest person ever convicted by a jury in Britain, pleaded guilty to nine offences relating to a male victim part-way through a two-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Judge Richard Bond QC told him: "You present as a fragile old man; however, what was plain to see was that, despite your guilty pleas, you have no remorse whatsoever."

Sentencing Clarke, Mr Bond told the pensioner his offending against three vulnerable youngsters, one as young as four, had been "repeated and sustained" over many years.

He said the children had been "powerless" to stop the former RAF serviceman, who would threaten and beat those who defied his word.

Mr Bond told him: "One of your victims remembers you as a nasty man, free with your fists, and he would get belted by you."

Clarke would also try to "bribe" his other young victims after abusing them, with sweet money of "10p or 20p".

Praising the victims for coming forward and giving evidence, he contrasted the emotional and psychological damage the offences had done to them with Clarke, who, he said, had been "able to lead your life without being punished for your dreadful acts".

Throughout the sentencing today, Clarke shook his head and said "No, no, no".

The judge also said the case meant "those who have been sexually abused, either recently, or in the distant past can rest assured the police and courts will do all they can".

He added that victims "need to know the passage of time does not mean they (their abusers) will escape justice".

Those who had suffered for years at widower Clarke's hands branded him "evil" for his crimes, after he was convicted by a jury at the city's Crown Court last week.

Back in court to hear Britain's oldest prisoner sentenced, the three victims broke down in tears and hugged.

As frail Clarke was led out with the help of an intermediary, two dock officers and his walking stick, he was heard asking how long he had been jailed for before being taken down.
Ten people, including a Canadian woman, have been killed after gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in Jordan.

One of the attacks targeted a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing seven officers, two civilians and the Canadian victim, Linda Vatcher.

Several armed men were barricaded inside the castle in Karak, a town in central Jordan about 87 miles south of the capital Amman, after night fell, surrounded by Jordanian special forces.

At least 34 people, including two foreigners, were wounded in Sunday's violence, one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory.

Several hours later security officials announced that the operation had ended and four gunmen were killed. They said large amounts of weapons had been seized and troops continued to search the area.

They made no reference, however, to news reports that at one point the attackers had held hostages.

The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged the pro-West kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

A witness said attackers immediately targeted tourists when they reached the castle.

"Four gunmen got out of their car" at the castle, said Wasfi al-Habashneh. "They opened fire at the Canadian tourists. The woman was killed, the other Canadian tourist escaped and hid behind a car and one of the children was injured."

Mr al-Habashneh said the attackers also targeted other people. Security forces "engaged with the gunmen and cornered the gunmen at the castle gate", he said.

The killing of the Canadian tourist could further hurt Jordan's embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighbouring Syria and Iraq two years ago.

Canada's global affairs spokesman John Babcock said Ms Vatcher was a former teacher from Burgeo, Newfoundland. Her son Chris was injured in the attack.

"Canadian officials in Amman are actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time," he said.

The Canadian embassy in Amman issued an alert warning Canadians to avoid travel to Karak.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in and near Karak.

The chain of events began when a police patrol received reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district, Jordan's Public Security Directorate said.

Officers responding to the call came under fire from inside the hous. Two policemen were wounded and the assailants fled in a car.

In another attack, gunmen fired on a security patrol in Karak, causing no injuries.

Armed men also opened fire on a police station at Karak Castle, a Crusader fort, wounding members of security forces. The statement said five or six gunmen were believed to be trapped inside the castle.

In all, seven members of the security forces, two local civilians and the Canadian woman were killed, security officials said. Fifteen members of the security forces, 17 civilians and two foreign nationals were injured.

Jordan faces home-grown extremism, with hundreds of Jordanians fighting alongside other IS militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more supporting the extremist group in the kingdom.

Jordan is a key US ally, and a member of a US-led military coalition fighting IS.

Over the past year, gunmen have carried out several attacks on members of the Jordanian security forces and foreign trainers. Earlier this year Jordanian security forces engaged in a deadly shoot-out with suspected IS sympathisers in a northern town.

In the most recent incident, three US military members were killed in a shooting outside an air base in southern Jordan in November. They were in the country on a training mission and came under fire while driving into the base.

Barb Rhymes, a cousin of widow and mother-of-two Ms Vatcher, 62, said she had been visiting her son in Jordan where he worked.

"She was very friendly, outgoing. She was nice to everyone. A friend to all," Ms Rhymes said from Burgeo, a remote town of 1,400 people on Canada's east coast.

"It's devastating. It has hit the town hard. My mind is not there right now. She was a beautiful person."
Tourists from the UK, Canada and Malaysia hid inside a Crusader castle during armed clashes between troops and gunmen at the Jordanian site, officials have said.

Jordan's interior minister denied that foreigners had been held hostage at any point during the incident at Karak Castle.

Sunday's violent stand-off capped a series of shootings that killed 10 people, including a Canadian tourist, and wounded 34 others. It is the deadliest and most high-profile attack in Jordan in recent memory.

Interior minister Salameh Hammad said at one point, four gunmen were firing at police and bystanders from the roof of the castle.

"Inside the castle, there was a group of tourists," he said, adding that he did not believe the attackers were aware of the presence of the tourists during the stand-off.

"There were some foreigners that we can't say were taken hostage, but they were hiding," he said.

The Canadian woman who was killed was later identified as 62-year-old retired elementary school teacher Linda Vatcher.

Her adult son, Chris, was injured in the jaw and is being treated at a hospital in the Jordanian capital of Amman, the minister said.

The minister said a Malaysian tourist was able to escape the castle during the stand-off, while two British tourists got out after the four gunmen were killed by Jordanian security forces.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the shootings. Mr Hammad did not release the identities of the attackers or their nationalities, but said some of them appeared to have been familiar with the castle.

Jordan has faced homegrown extremism, with hundreds of Jordanians fighting alongside Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more supporting the extremist group in the kingdom.

Jordan is a key US ally, and a member of a US-led military coalition fighting IS.

Sunday's events began when a police patrol received reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district. Officers responding to the call came under fire from inside the house.

Two policemen were wounded and the assailants fled in a car to Karak.

Mr Hammad said other weapons including five or six explosives belts were found in the possession of the gunmen, suggesting they had planned other attacks.

"I don't think the target was only Karak Castle," he said. "Maybe there were more targets, but Allah helped us discover this cell before more attacks took place."

In all, seven members of the Jordanian security forces, two local civilians and the visitor from Canada were killed.

Barb Rhymes, a cousin of the slain Canadian tourist, said the victim was from Burgeo, Newfoundland, and was visiting her son in Jordan where he works. Ms Rhymes said Ms Vatcher was a widow and the mother of two adult sons.

Sunday's shootings were the latest in a series of attacks over the past year that have challenged the pro-Western kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region increasingly threatened by Islamic extremists.

Political analyst Labib Kamhawi said rising unemployment and poverty in Jordan have made the population more vulnerable to recruitment by extremist groups.

The high-profile Karak shootings highlighted Jordan's vulnerability to such attacks, he said.

"People feel the response of the government was weak and that the government is not prepared to counteract such actions," he said.

"Previous operations were extremely limited, even in their targets, and were not trying to involve civilians."

Mr Kamhawi said Jordan's claim to be an island of stability "is not valid any more".

The attack is likely to further harm Jordan's battered tourism industry, which has been on the decline since IS seized control of parts of neighbouring Iraq and Syria two years ago.

- AP
British Government analysis has indicated that British-made cluster bombs have been used by Saudi Arabia-led forces in the war in Yemen.

Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon is among ministers to have been made aware of the analysis, sources told the Guardian.

The British Government said it takes the allegations "very seriously" and has raised them with the Saudi-led coalition.

The analysis comes after the prime minister of Yemen's rebel Houthi government accused the UK of "war crimes" for supplying arms.

Media reports have repeatedly suggested cluster bombs made in the UK had been used in the war.

Because of their extraordinary risk to civilians, cluster bombs were banned in 2010 in an international treaty signed by Britain.

The UK's signature on the Cluster Munitions Convention also means it must be committed to preventing the banned weapon's use by other nations.

Rebel PM Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour previously said the UK Government was profiting from the humanitarian crisis by selling munitions.

He told Sky News: "They have sold cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia.

"They know the Saudis are going to drop them on Yemen ... in Sa'adah and in Sana'a and other provinces.

"I don't think they are guilty of war crimes, I believe so. They are participating in the bombing of Yemen people."

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the latest claims but a government spokesman said: "The Government takes such allegations very seriously.

"We have analysed the case carefully using all available information, considering all possibilities, and raised the issue with the Saudi-led coalition."
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ACT police have called for witnesses to a robbery at a North Lyneham Minimart on Colville Street on Tuesday December 13.

CCTV footage showed two male suspects entering the store, bringing a four-pack of pre-mixed drinks to the counter before one pulled a knife from his jumper pocket and demanded cash and cigarettes form the attendant.

ACT police are looking for two men who were allegedly involved in an armed robbery in North Lyneham. Credit:ACT Policing

The pair appeared calm as they left and the attendant was unharmed.

Police have described the first male offender as Caucasian, approximately 170cm - 180cm tall and aged in his late teens or early 20s.
The Australian National University plans to build a swimming pool on campus as part of its new recreation building at Union Court.

The university unveiled plans for the $14 million multipurpose recreation building that will include a 25-metre six-lane indoor pool. However, the university is in talks with the ACT government about possibly building a 50-metre Olympic pool instead of a 25-metre pool.

An artist's impression of the planned new recreation area, which will include a pool.

ANU vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt announced the plans on Monday on the campus' Fellow Oval with him and several staff slinging beach towels, bodyboards and floaties in anticipation.

"ANU will be building a pool as part of our union court development, something more than seventy years in the making," Professor Schmidt said as the small crowd behind him cheered.
Canberra's top prosecutor has taken aim at "inefficient" Magistrates Court listing practices causing lengthy and "unnecessary" delays to a soaring number of family violence cases.

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Jon White used his annual report to highlight a "critical" resource shortage in his office as an influx of domestic abuse matters and an additional Supreme Court judge meant prosecutors battled surging workloads.

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Jon White has renewed calls for more efficient practices in the ACT Magistrates Court. Credit:Graham Tidy

The most striking increase his office had seen in the past year had been a "staggering" jump in the number of family violence prosecutions, which Mr White said stemmed from greater community awareness and more victims reporting offences.

Prosecutors launched 710 family violence cases in 2015-16, a 37 per cent rise from the previous 12 months and 207 more matters than in 2012.
Since almost all of us have lived in a market economy all our lives, you'd expect the effects of supply and demand on price would be well understood, particularly by anyone who managed to get themselves into Parliament.

In fact, however, our politicians on both sides have terrible trouble working out how supply works. Sometimes they tell us increasing supply will put downward pressure on price and sometimes they tell us it won't.

The Santos Fairview Gas Processing Hub near Roma, west of Brisbane. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Turns out they're wrong on both counts.

When it comes to natural gas, Industry Minister Greg Hunt  like his predecessors Ian Macfarlane and Martin Ferguson who, purely by chance, have since gone on to jobs lobbying for the mining and gas industries  tells us the solution to the high price and looming "shortages" is for the Victorian and NSW governments to give gas companies free rein to do their fracking wherever they choose on the states' farmland.
REA Group's website will start offering its own home loans - and taking commissions - thanks to a new partnership with National Australia Bank.

Under the new deal announced on Monday morning, realestate.com.au will offer NAB home loans, its own branded financial products and loans from other lenders.

NAB will provide financial products to REA Group, which will sell them under its own label and also the NAB brand. Credit:Glenn Hunt

"Under the terms of the commercial agreement, realestate.com.au will receive funding from NAB to enable development of the experience, and commissions for home loans settled," a statement to the stock market revealed.

A team led by REA's executive director of financial services, Andrew Russell, will introduce the new products in 2017. Both parties declined to detail what products would be available, but described it as an 'integrated experience'.
Australian iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group on Monday said a potential tie-up with larger Brazilian rival Vale to customise orders for Chinese steelmakers was unlikely to proceed.

"Negotiations are continuing between the parties on an amicable and commercial basis, however, it is looking less likely that any transaction will be completed," Fortescue said.

Fortescue takes delivery on Monday of the first of eight custom-built carriers aimed at giving it greater control over the timing of iron ore shipments to China. Credit:Dave Tacon

Vale, the world's biggest iron ore miner, and Fortescue, the world's number four, said in March they were in talks to blend up to 100 million tonnes of their ore in China.

The aim was to win a bigger share of the market by matching the quality of the ore produced by Rio Tinto, which is seen as the benchmark in China.
Powerful senator Nick Xenophon has predicted 2017 will be a "very unhappy year for the gambling industry" as he pledges to haul retail giant Woolworths and pokie machine makers to a Senate inquiry to explain their opposition to limiting pokie bets to $1.

The pokie machine manufacturing industry has hit back, saying limiting pokie bets would be time-consuming, ineffective and cost it more than $3 billion. Machines can currently swallow up to $10 a spin.

The Alliance for Gambling Reform's Rev. Tim Costello (r) with Senator Nick Xenophon (C) and Andrew Wilkie MP. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Fairfax Media revealed on Monday that supermarket giant Coles had sought to introduce bet limits on its 3,069 machines but five major poker machine manufacturers - Aristocrat, IGT, Konami, SG Gaming and Ainsworth Game Technology - refused. Close to $200 million a year is lost on Coles pokies, anti-pokies MP Andrew Wilkie said.

Legislation stops anyone but manufacturers from altering how gambling machines work, meaning the manufacturers can easily block Coles' request.
Peter Travis, a flamboyant artist with a passion for colour, brought that to many things, including the interior of federal Parliament and the skies above Sydney. Brilliant with ceramics and design, he saw his works exhibited internationally. But he came to widespread public notice when he designed the Speedo swimming brief, in an age where beach inspectors still walked round with tape measures and women in skimpy swimwear were prosecuted. Men, if not wearing a full-body swimming suit, usually had a small skirt over the top of their trunk pants. Travis burst upon the swimming world with a male swimming brief that consigned that, along with the beachside bathing closet, to history.

The Speedo Golden Sands Series catalog for the summer of 1960-61 introduced a dramatic range of swimwear and beachwear to the Australian market. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The brief came quickly into vogue from the time he introduced it in 1961. But it was, Travis stressed, designed for ease of swimming. Himself a surfer, he had become tired of the trunk swimsuits which he said were "too big, too long and uncomfortable". The new briefs were fitted round the hips which were stable and moved with the body. "If you lifted your leg as high as you could, that was the shape of the cut," he said. Travis was aware of the enthusiastic reception by the gay community, but said that sexuality aspect was "just a bonus". He was an outstanding ceramic artist, designer and lecturer, consulted for the interior design of prominent buildings and sought after for his works. Even his early swimwear designs were acquired by the Australian National Gallery.

Peter Noel Moncrieff Travis was born in Manly on February 22, 1927, the elder of two sons of John Travis, who was a compositor on the Sydney Sun, and Gertrude (nee Whiteman). He went to school in Balgowlah and Manly, and North Sydney Technical High. He began studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, with the aim of becoming a music teacher but was dissatisfied and moved on to study sculpture and ceramics at the East Sydney Technical College. He began his working life in 1947 selling silks at Farmers department store in Sydney, and prided himself as having designed Australia's first teenage fashions. Girls had been wearing dresses that were all the same, top to bottom, he said, and he introduced "mix and match" tops. For a time he worked on radios and television sets for Phillips Electric. He was offered a job in America by Janzen Swimwear but by then, on his account, he had fallen in love and in 1959 opted to join the Australian Speedo Company.

Speedo gave Travis a range of clothing to design, including cardigans, pullovers and bowling jackets. He was then asked to design a version of a Hawaiian swimming trunk in fashion at the time. But he felt it was unoriginal, they could be easily copied, and he had another idea. In 1960 he came up with the idea of a swimming brief, arguing that having the brief anchored higher than the hip was "tying something around your stomach." The new briefs came in 17.5 cm, 12.5 cm and 7.5 widths, the greater the width the greater the allowance for modesty. Initially, men tended to buy the larger size. But it was still a culture shock. In 1961, when some men first wore speedos at Bondi Beach, beach inspector Aub Laidlaw summoned the police, who arrested them for indecent exposure. The charges were dismissed on the grounds that they did not display pubic hair, and the publicity was a huge boost for Speedo. The second year buyers' preference was for the 12.5 cm size. The third year they went for the 7.5 cm style. Sales took off round the world and were sported by the likes of Mark Spitz in the Olympics.

Travis was not at all surprised by the success. But did think there were limits. He thought the practice of people walking the streets in their speedos lacked "decorum". Leaving Speedo, he linked up with his technical college teacher, Phyllis Shillito, who had retired and set up a School of Design, focusing on "basic design and basic colour drawing". Travis became her project director. For several years he was accommodated at the Presbyterian Church in Kings Cross, producing art works and playing the church organ to earn his keep. His creations were featured in art exhibitions throughout the country. Every few weeks in that period he went touring NSW on behalf of the Arts Council of Australia, tutoring ceramics groups. He became visual arts adviser to the council.
Pauline Hanson has been accused by Rob Culleton of ''personal attacks and undermining''. Credit:Andrew Meares Rick Johnston Tamworth One down and two to go? Shades of Clive Palmer! As Pauline and Rod settle into a good old-fashioned stoush, Malcolm Turnbull must be breathing a sigh of relief. It should divert public interest from his disgruntled backbench well into the next year. Nice Christmas present! Scott Morrison's constant blaming of Labor is wearing thin. Credit:Andrew Meares Nola Tucker Kiama

Problem is, the Treasurer doesn't rate It is time for Malcolm Turnbull to find a AAA Treasurer ("Get real: Morrison sounds alarm on AAA rating", December 19). Rather than tell us to get real, Mr Morrison should get off fantasy island. Continuing to blame Labor to distract from his own inadequacy is now a turnoff. Illustration: Cathy Wilcox Bragging about cuts to government expenditure as his big achievement simply makes it more obvious that he has no idea how to repair the budget. I suggest that Australia will not take him seriously until the planned tax breaks for big business are axed. It is Mr Morrison who requires the reality check.

Graham Lum North Rocks The person who needs to get most real about the economic circumstances in this country is Scott Morrison himself. Someone needs to remind him that his job is to manage the economy in this country's best interests, and not to do the bidding of rent seekers like the property industry and the big end of town. Scrapping large company tax cuts should be the start and reeling in the economic fiasco that is negative gearing would be a clear sign our broken tax system is being addressed. Greg Loder Springwood Scott Morrison continues to blame the Labor Party for the anticipated budget blow-outs even though the Coalition has been in power for four years. If you are driving a car and have a crash then the responsibility is on the driver for the crash. Time that Mr Morrison got the message, if we lose our AAA credit rating the blame must be placed on the Coalition because of their incompetence and mismanagement. The blame stops with them.

Bruce Apps Townsend Well may Scott Morrison tell us to get real about the AAA credit rating and regale Labor for the "deficit legacy". He needs to think of the "revenue legacy" left in the form of the "carbon tax" which his party scrapped losing billions since they have been in power. Is he really for real? Don Leayr Albury Did the Scott Morrison and Mathias Cormann MYEFO show provide Australians succour as they finish off their Christmas shopping? Not really ("Mid-year budget update: $10.4 billion hit to Morrison's budget bottom line", smh.com.au, December 19). A miniscule drop in the budget deficit and most positives still in the never-never years of the unreliable forward estimates. Will we ever transition from the mining boom? Why is this government's economic management so wedded to changes in international commodity prices that are beyond its control?

Maybe every Australian family needs to buy a tonne of Christmas coal to use in cooking their Christmas dinners. Channelling Ebenezer Scrooge, Morrison and Cormann provided little Christmas cheer for those on government "handouts". And finally, of course, nothing is ever their fault. After three years of Coalition government, even today Morrison and Cormann were falling over each other to pillory Labor. In a time of goodwill and giving no such thing from these two. Ian Caddy Cheltenham Ministers should save us first, not fossil fuel industry I too am very afraid of an Exxon Mobil boss becoming US secretary of state; but even more alarming is the influence the fossil industry has over our own politicians. Ross Gittins explains well the hypocrisy ("Mining makes pollies confused about demand and supply", December 19). The other hypocrisy our government is willing to constantly spruik for the coal industry is the "moral obligation to lift the world's poor out of energy poverty". Thankfully the Indian government has recognised that increasing coal imports is not the answer and no longer wants any more coal or coal-fired power stations.

Can our energy ministers now concentrate on the moral obligation of not flooding the world with unwanted coal, and perhaps look to the moral obligation of saving us and more urgently our Pacific neighbours from the flooding as sea levels rise. Peggy Fisher Killara As Ross Gittins gently suggests, the mining boom has bought or otherwise compromised ministers from all sides of politics, at all levels of government and it's a disgrace that such conflicts of interest are allowed to continue. It's long past time to introduce a federal ICAC and to implement total bans on ministers ever earning a single dollar from conflicting interest groups post politics. If that means paying ministers more in post political pensions to dissuade them from accepting these highly paid positions that compromise the national economy, national security and global climate stability, then I'd wholeheartedly support paying them a million dollars a year each to remain consultants only to the people of this nation in perpetuity. Anything to stop the rot. Simeon Glasson Elizabeth Bay

Christmas sales can't end soon enough The news that the Sport and Recreation camps are not to be flogged off brings great cheer to Christmas ("Baird government drop plans to sell off school camps", December 18). The cherry on the Christmas cake would be a similar outbreak of common sense in regard to the sale of the registry of lands and titles office and its functions. Gus Plater Saratoga Good sports do no harm I may be "slow out of the barrier", Rosemary O'Brien (Letters, December 19), but if a "glorious animal-involving sport" requires the use of whips to keep the horses' minds on the job, then it is no longer a sport.

Gay O'Connor Manly Turn it off and on again As a Mac lover, I always find PC Christmas divisive and hard to use (Letters, December 19). Peter Fyfe Erskineville Lesser of two evils

Regardless of what the government M5 cashback amount is ("True cost of toll rebate: $1.5b and counting", December 19), it is still nothing more than a slow moving parking lot. If the rebate were removed, the traffic on Sydney's arterial roads along the M5 would be a motorist's worst nightmare. Peter Miniutti Ashbury Woollies over our eyes So, Woolworths have a shiny new ad with a sweet little girl putting out carrots for reindeers. At the end they tell you they are the official supplier of reindeer carrots. I'd just like to know who signed the agreement saying who the official supplier was? Was it Rudolph or Santa? Liz Mackson Edgecliff

Sorry, Geoff Linn (Letters, December 19) but your Anglican minister is a plagiarist. God responds to all prayers, but often He answers "No", is a line spoken by the character Father Mulcahy in the TV series MASH, 30 years ago. Tony Clarke Constitution Hill At least let's get republic ready If we are to accept PM Malcolm Turnbull's argument that the Queen must die or abdicate before we switch to a republic ("Queen's reign must end first, says Turnbull", December 19), then wouldn't it be a good idea to get the new structure in place before the "event"? It's entirely consistent with his argument that we hold the referendum as soon as possible: let the people select the model for electing the president, and await the demise of the monarch, at which time the process kicks into effect.

Neil Burnside Narooma No, Peter Leonard (Letters, December 19), I for one will not give an in-principle tick to a republic until I see the detail of exactly how it will operate. I want pragmatism to take precedence over ideology; and all the wattle-clutching, lofty sentiment in the world about having an Australian head of state is no substitute for the hard-nosed reality of how it would work in practice. If the bright-and-shiny choices are, on closer examination, too risky, I'll stick with the steadiness and safety of what I've already got, however quaint it might be. Adrian Connelly Springwood As a committed republican  of the "Parliamentary appointment" model  I would love to hear from any of those "direct electionists" who cruelled the referendum in 1999, as to whether, in light of the popularity contest that saw Donald Trump recently elected in the US, they still favour such a model for a future Australian head-of-state. Martyn Yeomans St Ives

It would seem from comments in yesterday's Herald letters that the fear of coming up with a train wreck like Trump as president has killed off any chance of Australia becoming a republic for years to come. Richard Keyes Enfield Surely we are also capable of designing a republic system which will work at least as well as our current model. The Irish have done so and have had a succession of outstanding Presidents. Malcolm Turnbull's "broad based movement in favour of the change" will probably require demonstrating how changing to a republic will significantly and specifically improve the lives of everyday Australians. The logical argument that Australia should have an Australian as head-of-state is inescapable but as we saw at the 1999 referendum it is not enough on its own to offset misinformation and fear mongering. David Hind Neutral Bay

The last time I looked we had an Australian as head-of-state. His name is Sir Peter Cosgrove. True, the figurehead is the Queen of England but the power is vested in our Governor-General. A constitutional monarchy is far better than a republic. A republic introduces a third participant into governing. The party in power, the opposition and the president. The governor-general is separate from the operations of government unless there is a need to dissolve Parliament. On top of this the cost of having a republic is much higher, resulting in an extra election and associated advertising costs to elect a president. Just look at the cost in electing Donald Trump. In conclusion, be careful what you wish for. The grass is not greener on the other side. Barry O'Connell Old Toongabbie

Don't smile just yet Jessica Irvine in her "Pollyanna" column forgets to mention what should be addressed before you can consider "Seven reasons to smile about our future" (December 19). All economists need retraining to address at a minimum the negative affects of population growth, biodiversity and native vegetation loss and, of course, climate change. If we don't take each of these into account in any "economic" plan we create our own demise. We are a koala that sits in one tree only, eating all its leaves, and will perish along with the tree. Ecosystem failure is the biggest threat of all. More coal mines instead of renewables is a step in that direction. Duncan Bourne Ultimo

Wrong way to teach Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham, I don't care what is happening in Asia but I can assure you that The Teach for Australia Program, "13 weeks of intensive training" is grossly inadequate preparation for a career in teaching, especially in communities of low socio-economic disadvantage ("Radical teacher scheme promised more funding", December 19). Promised "intensive mentoring, classroom observation and professional development" will have the trainee out of the classroom for signification amounts of time and will place an additional burden on existing teachers required to provide the above support. Consistency in the delivery of lessons will also be affected as the "trainee" comes and goes to fulfil training requirements. Ironically, student learning will suffer. Is this really what Australia wants for our most vulnerable students? Elizabeth Starr Chiswick

Beware the nudgers The NSW government's Behavioural Insight Unit appears to be doing some helpful proactive work in the health arena by encouraging patients to attend for preventative testing. As reported ("Nudge unit to tackle jobs, health", December 19), the unit now has their eyes on bigger projects, such as how to nudge commuters to travel outside of peak periods. One might suggest that the unit look within government agencies first. While many public servants work under a flexible working hours agreement the flexibility does not extend outside of the peak travel periods. One also wonders how long until the unit morphs into a 1984 scenario where subliminal messages are broadcast on public transport suggesting that you aren't really squashed and uncomfortable but you are all gleefully on the one team making this state great and have a great day because we told you to.

Paul Townsend Narara Sea-ing opportunities Don't know what all this melting glacier fuss is about ("Big melt for world's largest ice sheet", December 19). Baird can privatise it, while Turnbull can offer the frozen goodies to overseas miners, tax- and rent-free for an initial 20 years. Send in a few bulldozers to assist with what nature obviously intended, and you have jobs and ocean growth. Donald Hawes Blayney A bright spark idea
Rod Culleton with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "Because the web of lies will always catch you. ". . . All of this sweet innocence would be OK if there was just a shred of evidence to back it up, but so far there has been none and everything I am looking at points to the opposite." Federal MP Bob Katter condemns the move. Credit:Darrian Traynor Mrs Menzel said Senator Culleton had been under pressure from Senator Hanson and her chief of staff James Ashby to resign "quite early on".

"She hasn't so much as offered him a cup of coffee, she has lunched and dined others in the Senate, but she has never so much as invited him, or his staff, for a cup of coffee," she said. Illustration: Cathy Wilcox "I have phoned her office to organise appointments and they were denied. Including that day she looked down the ABC camera. "To suggest he had been the one dodging and avoiding is stretching the truth a little bit." Illustration: Ron Tandberg

Mrs Menzel also took umbrage with Senator Hanson's suggestion her boss was courting media attention. "He has not gone against one of the One Nation commitments, but everyone of them has," she said. "And as far as egos go, well, there is only one person who has a morning spot on television and has sought out the media and it is not Senator Culleton," she said. "The media has come to Senator Culleton and he has been very generous. We don't expect favours from the media, but we do expect them to do their job. And if they come wanting information, we tell them the truth." Bob Katter, leader of the fledgling Katter's Australian Party, has emerged as Senator Culleton's only ally in Canberra and is laying out the welcome mat for him.

"There's something weird going on," he said in a statement, arguing that Senator Culleton had rightly backed several measures in Parliament and that One Nation leader Pauline Hanson "was on the dark side on each of these issues". "A bloke has been punished for courageously sticking to the core values of the One Nation supporters . . . This will be one of the weird watersheds in recent political history." In Perth on Monday, Senator Culleton represented himself to challenge a court order that he pay a $280,000 in damages to former Wesfarmers director Dick Lester. At one stage, he demanded an adjournment, claiming two people in attendance were breaching violence restraining orders, taken out by his wife Ioanna. The pair - Bruce Bell and Frank Bertola - have also petitioned the High Court to find Senator Culleton ineligible for the Senate. "If you're not going to remove them, I will stand down," Senator Culleton said during a brief spell in front of the judge before walking out on proceedings.

"If you're not going to address the issue, I will remove myself, I need my wife here now. I will not be bullied." The judge ordered a number of brief adjournments and it took more than an hour for the hearing to recommence. Once back in court, Senator Culleton asked how proceedings could continue, to which Justice Barker responded: "I'm running this court, not you." In another bizarre turn of events, police arrived at court to forcibly remove the Mr Bell and Mr Bertola to a waiting police van. Senator Culleton is also awaiting an unrelated High Court judgment on whether he was eligible for election in July because he had a larceny conviction against his name.

The offence carries a potential sentence of more than 12 months in prison, which renders a candidate ineligible under section 44 of the constitution. The senator's barrister, Peter King, has argued that because the conviction was annulled after the election, there should be no consequences. If he is ruled to have been ineligible, a recount would award his spot to the person who was second on One Nation's Senate ticket: his brother-in-law, Peter Georgiou. But Senator Hanson has sought to avoid such an outcome, suggesting that Mr Georgiou might not be able to take the job. "I'm also hearing that his brother may be a guarantor for him in that bankruptcy. So if that be the case, his brother-in-law may not be eligible to stand. So if that be the case, then the seat comes back to the party," she said.

Mrs Menzel denied Mr Georgiou was involved. "The funding that is there has nothing to do with Senator Culleton's brother-in-law," she said. "And since she has never spoken to him or Senator Culleton about that matter, it is interesting to know where that information is coming from. Loading "She has very poor sources if that rumour is the result of it."
Getting your make-up done professionally is a wonderful treat for the face  and the soul. But have you ever wondered what it would cost to create those make-up looks from scratch at home?

No need, I'll tell you: $873.

When I recently had a make-up lesson at a popular store, that's how much it would have cost me to buy everything used on the day.

A "free" makeover can end up costing hundreds if you get sucked in by the sales pitch but it doesn't have to be that way if you follow some simple tips.
In the days after the presidential election, Jessa Blades, an herbalist and makeup artist in New York City who supported Hillary Clinton, was devastated. "All I could think to do was blend a tea to control my stress," she said.

Blades, 37, mixed 3 pounds of lemon balm, nettle, chamomile, rose and oats together "for soothing the nervous system, calming, giving the right amount of boundaries and opening the heart" and put it in brown paper bags with "love for you and the world" written on the front. She gave them out to friends with instructions to use the combination for self-care.

In recent weeks, self-care has often been invoked as a way of dealing with open-ended anxiety. Credit:Stocksy

The term self-care has, over the past few years, become part of the vernacular. But what does it mean? "I always say it's a daily practice," she said. "It can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be: making sure you get enough sleep and drink enough water, monthly facials, fermented foods, a meditation app for your phone or packing healthy snacks for the plane."

In recent weeks, though, self-care has often been invoked as a way of dealing with open-ended anxiety.
Products of Oral-B on display at an expo in Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan province, Oct 13, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

American oral hygiene brand Oral-B, a sub-brand of P&G, said it is bullish on the growth potential of the electric toothbrush market in China, as a rising middle class and an increased awareness of oral care are set to drive the sales of various high-quality products.

The company recently launched a new intelligent electric toothbrush. The product set is priced at 2,099 yuan ($302), which buyers can tailor their names, constellations and catch lines on the toothbrush. One thousand sets were sold within three hours after it launched on Alibaba Group Holding's Tmall.com, one of China's largest e-commerce shopping websites.

Nancy Liu, general manager of oral and healthcare public relations communications of P&G Greater China, said in the past three years, Oral-B's sales of its electric toothbrush products surged two to threefold every year.

"The emerging middle-class consumers are increasingly paying attention to the quality of life, and they are more willing to spend money on those health-related products," she said.

"We sell most of our products through e-commerce websites. This year, we keep a double-digit sales increase year-on-year, and I expect a similar growth rate in the next few years, as the market penetration rate of electric toothbrush in China is still very low."

Overall, two percent of Chinese residents use electric toothbrushes, and the proportion is 10 percent among those families with higher incomes. In the United States and Europe, the penetration rate is around 35 to 40 percent, according to the company.

The iBrush toothbrush uses Bluetooth technology, and provides an individual oral care database. It enables the toothbrush to connect with mobile phones through WiFi, so consumers can download an "Oral-B" APP on their phones and customize their oral healthcare management.

"The app will help analyze personal data and provide advice on brushing behavior and oral health, and electric brush can better help people to develop brushing habits and keep the gums and teeth clean."

In the next 15 years, the market scale of China's oral care market, including oral disease prevention, nursing and treatment, is expected to reach 500 billion yuan, according to a report released by Chinese toothpaste brand Saky.
In the two decades that Angela Smith has been a hairstylist in Chicago, Illinois, she has heard countless intimate stories from the women who have sat in her chair. Mostly, the banter is carefree. But sometimes, there are whispers of mistreatment by spouses or partners, of being choked, chased or emotionally abused.

"They say that the hairdresser gets all the secrets," Smith said. "They let go here. Everybody doesn't talk, but once you build a relationship with someone, that's when it happens. It's just like when you have a best girlfriend."

Cosmetologists in Illinois must take domestic abuse recognition training after January 1. Credit:Stocksy

A new state rule taking effect on January 1 recognises that the unique relationship between hairdressers and their customers may help curb domestic abuse and sexual assault. The amendment to a law that governs the cosmetology industry will require salon workers to take one hour of training every two years to recognise the signs of abuse and assault and will provide them with a list of resources to which they can refer clients for help.

Without the training, cosmetologists in Illinois will not be able to renew their licenses. The professionals covered by the law  believed to be the first in the nation  include hairstylists, nail technicians and aestheticians.
Leo*, 18, was distracted in school, scrolling through Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat on his phone in class, abusing drugs and alcohol afterwards.

That was before he committed a serious offence and began classes in the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre on the Central Coast, where there are no such diversions. Phones are banned and internet access is a rare, supervised privilege.

Hayden received the class premier sporting award during the presentation day at Girrakool School at Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre on the Central Coast. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Pens are audited after each lesson to ensure they are not stolen to be made into shivs and self-harm instruments.

"I was playing catch-up the whole time," said Leo, who began his work towards his HSC 10 weeks late.
A man arrested on Sunday following a string of ATM ram raids across Sydney had been out on parole for less than five months.

Jason Arthur West, 32, was released from prison on July 28 following a three-year stint for a siege in the Chinese consulate that made global headlines on December 30, 2013.

Mr West was back in custody again on Sunday, charged over two unsuccessful ATM ram raids this month.

Police will allege Mr West was one of two men behind an unsuccessful ram raid attempt in a bank within a shopping centre on Lexington Drive, Bella Vista.

The pair allegedly broke into the bank at 3.40am on December 7 and tried to access the ATM. A fire alarm was activated and they fled the scene in a white Audi.
A Gold Coast man accused of punching a paramedic in the chest will be free to spend Christmas with his terminally-ill mother.

Jason Coates, 27, was granted bail in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday after making a brief appearance on a charge of serious assault of a person performing lawful duty.

An ambulance officer was allegedly punched in the chest on the Gold Coast. Credit:Quentin Jones

Mr Coates is accused of punching the paramedic after an ambulance was called to a Burleigh Waters address in the early hours of Monday morning.

The court heard Mr Coates, who had been drinking at a Christmas party, had fallen down some stairs at the property.
Security guards and extra Translink officers should ride on Queensland buses as an interim measure ahead of the findings of a safety review, unionists said on Monday as they protested outside one of their biggest employers.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union, along with the Transport Workers' Union, organised the Reddacliff Place protest on Monday ahead of a meeting with Brisbane City Council.

Bus drivers and union supporters outside Brisbane City Council on Reddacliff demanding better safety conditions. Credit:Cameron Atfield

They demanded that employers, including but not limited to the council, introduce interim protection measures ahead of the state government's review, which was expected to be completed by March.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe announced the safety review in September, almost a month to the day before council bus driver Manmeet Alisher was burnt to death in a horrifying attack at Moorooka.
A corrections officer assigned to watching inmates on CCTV will be given the chance to explain why he failed to observe for 15 minutes a prisoner hanging himself, a pre-inquest has heard.

Dane Benjamin Sloan died in the exercise yard at Brisbane Correctional Centre in October 2013.

A prisoner committed suicide despite being monitored by CCTV in 2013.

Counsel assisting Peter Johns told the Coroner Terry Ryan that the inquest on January 30 would focus on CCTV monitoring, the adequacy of the facilities and the performance of the officer observing the CCTV that day.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
An estimated 128 cranes dot Melbourne's skyline but down below their impact is being felt all too keenly.

While the situation has led to gridlock on the streets it is set to get far worse next year, when construction of the $11 billion Melbourne Metro begins and lanes on major thoroughfares like St Kilda Road, Franklin Street and Flinders Street partially or completely close.

New figures released by Melbourne City Council show the construction boom's impact on the streets: in 2012, there were 1400 applications to close streets or parking lanes for construction. This year, there were 3500.

Across the five years, a third of temporary street closures were for gas, water or infrastructure works. The rest was for building.
Police have removed bags of evidence from a rural area north-west of Melbourne where they are searching for clues to the disappearance of missing mother Karen Ristevski.

A police officer carried two brown paper bags from the search site that takes in bushland on Blackhill Road in Toolern Vale about 3.30pm on Tuesday.

However, detectives did not say whether the bags contained evidence that would directly assist in the hunt for Ms Ristevki, who was last seen at her Avondale Heights home six months ago.

Police and State Emergency Service crews returned to Toolern Vale for the second consecutive day on Tuesday where they drained dams and scoured bushland and grassland hoping to yield any clues to the whereabouts of Ms Ristevski.
That's it for Melbourne Express. We will be back on deck tomorrow.

The answers to our quiz questions are January and 1950.

As we endure the rain, lightning and thunder in Melbourne's summer, check out what it looks like in space when hot and cold conditions collide.
The body of a diver believed to have been a Westerner has been found with his throat slit and tied to a concrete post in waters off the resort city of Pattaya in Thailand.

The man was wearing a Mares brand wetsuit and flippers and had about 1500 baht (about $58) on him, the Bangkok Post reported.

The Thai resort island of Koh Larn. Credit:Ilya Plekhanov

He was also wearing a backpack that had been tied to the pole, about 200 metres off Samae Beach on the tourist island of Koh Larn.

AsiaOne reported the body was found on Friday by a jet-ski driver who was circling around the area to warn tourists against riding in the rocky parts of the water.
Beirut: With Russia's backing, the UN Security Council voted on Monday to monitor evacuations from the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo and to report on the plight of civilians there.

Russia had threatened to veto an earlier resolution proposed by France, which had sought to place the evacuations under UN supervision - but a compromise was reached overnight that would allow the monitors to observe after consultations with "interested parties". The resolution passed unanimously.

The move could give any number of groups on the ground - including Syrian soldiers and the Shiite militias fighting alongside them - the ability to block access. Fighters from the array of rebel groups, including extremists, could also block access to areas they control.

"After so many delaying tactics and obstruction, this resolution should finally allow the full respect of international humanitarian law in Syria," French President Francois Hollande said in a statement. "It should also pave the way for a cease-fire and negotiate a political solution that is much awaited by the Syrian people and the entire international community."
Prague: Josef Bilek is sure the Kremlin notices the work he and others are doing in the Czech Republic.

Bilek is a volunteer with the East European Information Centre, a Czech group that aims to "fight Kremlin propaganda against western countries".

Over a beer in central Prague, he laughs as he tells me about a conference he helped organise about combating Russian disinformation.

"Quite a few people came from the Russian embassy [in Prague] to watch," he says  an embassy that the Czech government has long believed houses dozens of Russian spies under diplomatic cover.
Bangkok: Some of the fiercest fighting in years has broken out between Myanmar's army and ethnic rebel groups as evidence mounts of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in a separate conflict in western Rakhine state.

A peace deal the country's State Counsellor and de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi made the cornerstone of her government after winning landmark elections 13 months ago is in tatters as Myanmar's army faces a newly formed rebel Northern Alliance of more than 17,000 fighters in north-eastern Shan State.

A Rohingya man living in Malaysia cries during a December 4 protest in Kuala Lumpur against the persecution of Rohingyas in Myanmar. Credit:AP

Fighting has also escalated between the army and the Kachin Independence Army, one the country's strongest rebel groups in Kachin State.

Ms Suu Kyi, whose fledgling administration has almost no control over the military under a junta-era constitution, has called an unprecedented informal meeting of foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) amid growing alarm over Rakhine, where Rohingya militants allegedly attacked a police border post in October.
Cairo: Ten policemen in Egypt have been charged with torturing a man to death at a police station in Cairo in November, a judicial source and the victim's lawyer said on Sunday.

Rights groups say police brutality is widespread in Egypt, enabled by a culture of impunity, and a string of incidents have triggered protests and riots in the past year. Anger at police was also major factor in setting off the 2011 uprising that ended dictator Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.

Fayza Makeen holds a portrait of her husband Magdy Makeen, who died in police custody, at their home in the Cairo district of al-Zawiya al-Hamra. Credit:Abdel Rahman Mohammed

Magdy Makeen, a middle-aged street vendor, died in custody at a police station in al-Amiriyeh in Cairo in November. He was taken in after a traffic argument with police but not formally arrested or charged with a criminal offence, according to local media.

Photos purported to be of Makeen's body baring signs torture on his legs and face circulated on social media.
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This bar is fully booked!

Bookworms in Ditmas Park will have a new chance to nerd out  and to booze up  in their own neighborhood starting next week. The creators of Ditmas Lit, a monthly reading series launching Dec. 20 and running through March at Sycamore Bar and Flower Shop, aim to showcase local talent and give local literature lovers a chance to bond over booze, books, and tacos. The reading series is a funky twist on hitting the books, said one creator.

A night of listening to readings doesnt have to be a stuffy affair, said Rachel Lyon, who co-created the series with Sarah Bridgins. Im hoping that people who dont think of themselves as writers or specifically as lit nerds show, up meet people, have a drink, and that it all gets wrapped up in this literary backdrop.

The inaugural event will feature Isaac Fitzgerald, discussing his non-fiction book about tattoos, Gabrielle Moss reading from the lifestyle-magazine parody Glop, poet Tommy Pico, and writer and cartoonist Jeanne Thornton.

In Sycamores recently opened backyard space the Lodge, bookworms can nestle in blankets or chow down on tacos and tamales while the writers read excerpts of their work. After the series of 10-minute readings, people will be free to mingle, talk about the lit, and hopefully leave with some new friends. The watering hole is a book lovers paradise, said Bridgins.

Its a cozy little place that kind of makes you want to curl up with a book, said Bridgins. The series grew out of a lack of literary events in Ditmas Park, but we also want it to be for everyone in a fun place that gets people excited about books.

Ditmas Lits four-month stint at Sycamore is a trial run for future jaunts in the neighborhood. The organizers will study what works and what doesnt and maybe find the series a more permanent home, said Lyon.

If it gains some traction we hope to find a new venue and maybe a home, she said. We have the sense that Ditmas is hungry for this sort of thing and I hope that were right.

Ditmas Lit at Sycamore Bar and Flower Shop [1118 Cortelyou Rd. between Stratford and Westminster roads in Ditmas Park, (347) 2405850, www.sycam orebr ookly n.com ]. Dec. 20 at 8 pm. Free.
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Are they just feeding cyclists a line?

A panel of local transit watchdogs endorsed a city proposal to add unprotected path bike lanes along Seventh Avenue in Park Slope on Dec. 15, despite members and area residents worrying that painting some stripes along the stretch will only give cyclists a false sense of security on what is really a terrifying obstacle course of motor-vehicle mayhem.

I dont see this working on Seventh Avenue, said Matt Silverman, who co-chairs Community Board 6s public safety committee, which voted alongside the transportation committee. Theres constant cars coming in and out, constant doors opening.

The committee members nevertheless voted 92 in favor of the Department of Transportations plan to paint on bike lanes along Seventh Avenue between 15th and Carroll streets, after which the road narrows by 10 feet and it would add shared-lane sharrow markings  which let motorists know theyre in the mix with bikers but dont physically separate the two  to Park Place.

The Seventh Avenue lanes would help fill the four-block gap between bike lanes on Fifth Avenue and Prospect Park West, and form a connection with existing bike lanes on Carlton Avenue, transit reps said.

The plan wont nix any existing traffic lanes or parking spots, but does include a 4-foot-wide painted medium, intended to narrow the width of car lanes and encourage motorists to drive more carefully.

But locals are worried that stationary vehicles will pose just as much of a problem as speeding ones  delivery truck drivers and other motorists frequently double-park right where the proposed lanes will merge cyclists and vehicular traffic, according to one citizen.

What are you going to tell all the people double-parking on Seventh Avenue? said transportation committee member Pauline Blake. That double-parking isnt allowed?

The city wont do anything about it, a rep for the transit agency said, but insisted savvy bikers will have the good sense to navigate around the hazards.

Cyclists are used to this type of thing, said Ted Wright, director of the agencys bike and Greenway programs. The smart cyclist is going to slow down, wait for traffic to go, and go around.

Residents were also concerned about the area around Methodist Hospital, between Fifth and Seventh streets, where there is heavy traffic including constant taxi drop-offs and deliveries.

To add bikers there, people with no helmets, nothing  youre going to have pedestrians being hit, your going to have bikers getting hit, said Slope resident Denisa Tomlinson.

The reps claimed the bike lanes wont attract more riders to the area, however  theyll merely safeguard the roughly 382 weekday and 708 weekend cyclists the city estimates are already navigating the hellish stretch.

Were responding to existing cyclists on the street, said project manager Preston Johnson. What were doing is organizing the street, so people know where theyre supposed to be, and where youre going to see a cyclists.

The full community board will vote on the plan next at a meeting next month, and those members are on board, construction is slated to begin in spring 2017.

Reach reporter Colin Mixson at cmixs on@cn gloca l.com or by calling (718) 260-4505.
Photos: Phillies fans converge on CBP for Game 4

Phillies fans were hyped up for Game 4 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park and the stadium complex Wednesday.
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...
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October 31, 2022

Buddy TV

In November, there are hundreds of new and returning TV showsit can be overwhelming to try and choose what to watch. That's why we've selected some of the best options...
Through architecture, studio aims to bridge disconnect between police, community

Student rendering of UB Police headquarters, called the Wellness Gateway and located near the department's current home in the arts and athletics section of UB's North Campus.

Student rendering of UB Police headquarters, called the Green Gateway and positioned on the Solar Strand site at the Flint Road entrance to North Campus.

Students in Jin Young Song's fall 2016 architecture studio toured Bissell Hall, the longtime home of UB Police, to learn more about how the university's police personnel use the space. Students created renderings for a new UB Police building in one of three different locations on North Campus.

Our aim was that through the architecture itself, the building should be fostering that relationship with the campus community every day. 

BUFFALO, N.Y.  In October, University at Buffalo Police held a one-day event called Coffee With a Cop as a way to foster good relations with students and the larger campus community.

Students in Jin Young Songs fall studio in the School of Architecture and Planning spent the fall semester creating designs for a new UB Police headquarters that would, in essence, have the same effect as Coffee With a Cop, but on a daily basis.

Our aim was that through the architecture itself, the building should be fostering that relationship with the campus community every day, said Song, assistant professor in the Department of Architecture and a founder of DIOINNO Architecture, which has offices in Buffalo and Seoul.

Song has been interested in viewing the contemporary building facade as a mechanism that integrates manifold technical and non-technical elements, thereby generating a specific relationship between people and the culture. Now, the studio is searching for the new face of the campus police.

Members of the UB community are encouraged to visit the studio website, Architecture for Campus Policing and vote for the scheme they like best.

UB Police are headquartered in Bissell Hall on the North Campus, near Alumni Arena and UB Stadium. Completed in 1938, the former church is the oldest building on the campus, and is one of two  the other is the nearby Campus Mail Center  that predate construction of the North Campus in the 1970s.

At only 6,000 square feet, its also far smaller than the 24,000 square feet that a recent space-needs study determined is necessary for an operation the size of UB Police, according to UB Police Chief Gerald W. Schoenle Jr. Anyone who has toured our building quickly realizes that we are really pressed for space, he said.

Students in the studio saw that firsthand when they toured Bissell Hall to learn more about UB Police at the start of the semester.

One of the major issues they have is not being able to hold larger functions there. We tried to create different program spaces that would bring the community to the building to develop a positive interaction between the police and the campus community, said Pete Urban, a student in the studio.

Police stations are considered very private  you only go there if youve committed a crime, added student Michael St. John. The challenge for us was balancing the public and private aspects of a new police building.

The studio was split into three teams, each charged with developing designs for a new police headquarters in one of three different named locations: the Green Gateway (Solar Strand site); University Link (near Lake LaSalle); and the Wellness Gateway (near the current location).

The designs all strive for spaces that make it easier for police to do their job, while removing the visual barriers that can make a building seem closed off and uninviting.

The architect is always trying to suggest something innovative to improve the clients everyday life, Song said. But based on their interviews with UB Police, the students tried to introduce additional elements, such as natural lighting and making parts of the building visible from the outside, to improve transparency.

For our project we were trying to increase the visual connection. Obviously, the police need their private spaces, but how do you open it up so you can see police walking between those spaces and see whats happening inside the building, said Patrick OBrien, a student in the studio.

The idea for the studio came about after a conversation between Schoenle and Philip Glick, chair of UBs Faculty Senate and a professor of surgery in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Glick, who had attended the UB Police Citizens Police Academy a few years ago, suggested that Schoenle reach out to Robert Shibley, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, about the possibility of using the services of the architecture students.

They are so creative and such an amazing, underutilized resource on campus for capital projects, Glick said. I really hope this project goes from idea to drafting board to getting funded. Its a true UB community project.

Song felt the timing for the studio was perfect, given the increased tension that exists between police departments nationally and the communities they serve. There is a huge disconnect, he said. While a campus police station is a bit different from a municipal one, it offers a perfect opportunity for education and to improve that perception.

Song and the students lauded UB Police for the departments participation in the studio. Theyve been very engaged. They were responsive to suggestions and offered good feedback, Song said.

We think all three designs are excellent, and all have their advantages, Schoenle said. All three of these designs incorporate new and exciting ways that the police could work more closely with students on our campus.

Thats a priority for the department, according to Schoenle.

The police truly need to be part of the community they serve, and at UB we strive for that, he said. The appropriate new police/community building could be an asset to the campus in this regard. There is also a need for an Emergency Operations Center, which would be housed in such a building and would be used for all campus emergencies.
This video, from Briggs and Travis Perkins, explores how the relationship between the two companies continues to evolve to support the changing needs of Travis Perkins Group's 2,500 branches and the Wickes operation.

This video, from Briggs and Travis Perkins, explores how the relationship between the two companies continues to evolve to support the changing needs of Travis Perkins Group's 2,500 branches and the Wickes operation.

Specifically, it shows how the relationship, which is currently being driven by technological developments and wider commercial challenges, is enabling the Travis Perkins Group to grow its business by maximising key efficiencies.
Croydex has appointed two commercial experts to its sales team as part of its continued growth and expansion into new markets.

Daniel Peek and Tim Barrett both join the Andover-based company as commercial managers and will be responsible for business development as well as strengthening relationships with existing customers.

Jon Langford, Commercial Director, Croydex said: We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Peek and Mr Barrett, whose retail sector experience will be invaluable as we realise our vision for expansion and growth. Both share our commitment to service and quality, and I have no doubt that they will contribute significantly to our future success.

Mr Peek, who was previously a national account manager for JML with a portfolio that included AO.com, Boots and Robert Dyas, will focus on domestic and export retail accounts.

Mr Barrett, who has a remit for developing national accounts, has 25 years experience of the retail sector and has worked in similar roles at Astracast, Whirlpool and Aqualux.
IKO UK Group was awarded Highly Commended Supplier in the People category at a recent Willmott Dixon Supply Chain Partner Event at Warwick Racecourse. The event recognised the achievements of Midlands-based supply chain partners.

We were delighted to receive the award on behalf of IKO UK Group, said Anthony Carlyle, managing director of IKO Polymeric. Weve worked with Willmott Dixon for many years now  its a very successful relationship for both companies and this award is recognition of the effort and commitment of all our staff.

IKO UK Group signed a mandated supplier agreement with Willmott Dixon earlier this year. IKO Polymeric supplies its Spectraplan TPE and Armourplan PVC single ply roofing membranes. Meanwhile, IKO supplies its IKO Permatec hot melt range of bituminous systems, IKO Permaphalt mastic asphalt and IKO Polimar cold-applied liquids.
Bank employee admits role in scheme that targeted South Jersey cash

Feds say call-center workers took customers' ID and account information, then used that to take their cash.
has submitted a preliminary proposal to revive the Nokia facility at Sriperumbudur, which was shut in 2014 causing more than 15,000 direct employees to lose their jobs. The state has said that has recently come forward to takeover and revive the plant.
IBMs decision to generate 25,000 new jobs in the US might not have an immediate impact on its outsourcing arm in India. However, the companys focus in emerging areas such as cloud and digital with clients closer home could potentially reduce expansion of its offshore teams here.
Navin Jindal-owned and Power Ltd (JSPL) has lined up Rs 8,000 crore additional investment for its Odisha operations. The money will be spent on the addition of a blast furnace to take its Angul steel plant capacity to 6 million tonne, setting up of a cement plant, laying of the slurry pipeline to carry iron ore from mines to the steel plant and setting up of a pellet plant.
Navin Jindal-owned Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) has lined up Rs 8,000-crore additional investment for its Odisha operations. The money will be spend on addition of a blast furnace to take its Angul steel plant capacity to 6-million tonne, setting up of a cement plant, laying of slurry pipeline to carry iron ore from mines to steel plant and setting up of a pellet plant.
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The Crime Branch team on Monday reached the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to begin its probe into missing student Najeeb Ahmed's case.

The students of JNU have criticised the Delhi Police over the delay in tracing Najeeb, who has been missing from the campus after allegedly being beaten up by a mob of 20 students comprising mostly the ABVP members.

JNUSU president Mohit Pandey last month told ANI, "The police has not taken any action for finding Najeeb. They have not followed the procedures and responsibilities. Those who had beaten him were not interrogated."

Najeeb's family has so far been critical of the police for not being able to locate him.

Denying reports that Najeeb was taking anti-depressant medicines, his sister had earlier alleged that the police was trying to give a different direction to this case.

"We hope the Delhi Police works on the right path to find him and not defame him. Please don't try to defame Najeeb. The Delhi Police needs to go in the right direction. We have also requested for a CBI probe," she said.

The Delhi Police had last month increased the reward from Rs 2,00,000 to 5,00,000 for the person, who provides information about the missing JNU student.

Earlier on October 14, Ahmed was allegedly slapped by an ABVP member canvassing for the hostel elections. The first year M.Sc Biotechnology student has been missing from the next day.

Since then, the students along with Najeeb's family members have been protesting at the campus against the alleged police inaction and demanding the arrest of ABVP members.

A police complaint was earlier filed under Section 365 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person, and a proctorial inquiry was also initiated by the varsity.
Congress vice-president on Monday once again attacked Narendra Modi over the government's demonetisation drive and said that note ban was not a move against corruption or black money but against farmers and poor people.
Seeking to check the use of undisclosed wealth and money laundering in politics, the has recommended the government amend laws to allow exemption from tax only to parties that win seats in elections and ban anonymous contributions of Rs 2,000 and above to parties.

Section 13A of the Income-Tax Act, confers an exemption to political parties for income from house property, income by way of voluntary contributions, income from capital gains and income from other sources.

Only income under the head salaries and income from business or profession' are chargeable to tax in the hands of political parties.

The Commission has now proposed that exemption of income tax only be extended to political parties that contest elections and win seats in the Lok Sabha or Assembly polls.

The Commission said, "There could be cases where political parties could be formed merely for availing of provisions of tax exemption if the facility, that are at the expense of the public exchequer, is provided to all political parties."



There is also no constitutional or statutory prohibition on receipt of anonymous donations by political parties. But, there is an "indirect partial ban" on anonymous donations through the requirement of declaration of donations under section 29C of The Representation of the People Act.

But, such declarations are mandated only for contributions above Rs 20,000.

According to the proposed amendment, sent by the Commission to the government, and made part of its compendium on proposed electoral reforms, "anonymous contributions above or equal to the amount of Rs 2,000 should be prohibited".

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia clarified that political parties cannot accept old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as donations, as both these bills have ceased to be legal tender.

All reports on the alleged privilege to political parties are false and misleading. Political parties have not been granted any exemption or privilege, post demonetisation & introduction of the Taxation Amendment Act, 2016, he said in a series of tweets.

Post demonetisation, no political party can accept donations in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes since they were rendered illegal tenders. If there is any discrepancy, political parties are as liable to be questioned by I-T authorities as is anyone else. They enjoy no immunity, Adhia added.

In another recommendation to check black money, the EC has asked the law ministry to ensure political parties are made to register details of donors for coupons of all amounts on the basis of a Supreme Court order of 1996.

Coupons are one of the ways devised by the political parties for collecting donations and hence are printed by the party itself. There is no or limit as to how many coupons can be printed or for what total amount.

Currently, the details of donors are not required for coupons with small amounts such as for Rs 10 or 20. "These smaller sums aggregate into a bigger amount and, hence, they need to be accounted for, to ensure transparency, the Commission said.
Cottage industries across the country have suffered heavily because of the ban on high-value notes. The second of a six-part series examines how the power loom industry in Bhiwandi is coping after five weeks of demonetisation.
Against the backdrop of seizure of valid currencies across country, NCP chief Sharad Pawar questioned the "cash distribution sources" at a time when the common man is facing liquidity crunch.

Continuing his attack against demonetisation, the veteran politician said while the common man is standing in queues outside banks to get his money, crores of rupees in new notes are being seized from people with "wrong intentions".

"Nowadays on news channels, news reports are shown about seizures of crores of cash in new notes of Rs 2000. However, the question is when common man is not getting cash from the banks, despite standing in queues outside the banks, how come such a huge cash in new notes being seized in raids in the country?" Pawar asked.

The former Union minister said there are four sources from where the cash is distributed in the country.

"First, the four printing presses, the Reserve Bank of India, State Bank of India and other banks..And when common man is having hardships getting his money through banks, crores of rupees in new currency are seized from people with wrong intentions. Is it that this huge cash coming from these sources?" Pawar questioned.

He was speaking at a state-level summit of non-teaching employers in Pimpri near here.

"Government is pitching for cashless society, but even in country like America, 52 per cent transactions are done through cash. Before November 8 (when was announced), 98 per cent transactions were done in cash. That percentage might have gone down after demonetisation," Pawar said, adding people are finding it difficult to do cashless transactions.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal that cash crunch will gradually ease after 50 days since recall of old notes, Pawar said, "Modiji sought 50 days. Now we are counting the days. Forty days are over, 10 days are left, let's see what happens."

He said some MPs in ruling government are "scared" after and the announcement of proposed curbs on unaccounted properties and gold.

"Some MPs who in power speak privately that they are scared of going to their towns after note recall. They fear that with Modiji deciding to go after properties and gold, it would be their last tenure as members," the Maratha leader said.
In the backdrop of demonetisation and its after effects still playing out for different sectors  the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME)  in Uttar Pradesh are now bracing for a less-cash' and more 'digital' business environment being talked about by the Narendra Modi government,
The bespectacled 30-year-old marketing manager at the TGI Friday's restaurant chain had thought of every detail. Then on Nov. 8, something Jhamb couldn't have expected: Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared as of that evening all 500 and 1000 rupee notes were invalid. The fiat, in one swoop,cancelled 86 percent of the nation's cash by face value. The money Jhamb was holding, he recounted with a tone of disbelief, "suddenly became pieces of paper."
The government over the next few days will examine the status of 72 coal blocks allocated either through allotment or auction route to companies like NTPC, JSW Steel, Hindalco and Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL).

"...It has been been decided to hold a meeting under the Chairmanship of Joint Secretary and Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal to review the status of 72 coal mines," an official said.

The meeting is scheduled to be held on December 21 and December 26, the official added.

The status 35 coal blocks in the states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh allocated to the companies like Hindalco Industries, Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd, NTPC, SAIL, JSW Steel will be reviewed on December 21, the official said.

While the status of remaining coal blocks in states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha allocated to companies like Reliance Cement, UltraTech Cement and GMR Chhattisgarh Energy Ltd will be examined on December 26, the official added.

The government had informed Parliament last month that it has so far generated a revenue of approximately Rs 2,779 crore from the auction and allotment of 83 coal blocks.

The amount, it had said, is being transferred to the state governments where the are located.

Earlier, three rounds of mines auction were held after the Supreme Court in 2014 cancelled the allotment of 204 coal blocks.
Even as the cash crunch following hit advance tax collections for the quarter ending December, economists say the fiscal deficit target of 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) for this financial year (FY17) is not a difficult one.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a well-attended public rally in Kanpur, the precursor to what many expect to be his game changing rally in Lucknow on January 2. The Lucknow public rally will come at the end of his promised 50 days of pain of note ban.
The BJPs surgical strikes are not just confined to the Line of Control or the Indian rupee. The government is also strategically funding development programmes more than it did in the past in Indias most electorally crucial state  Uttar Pradesh.
The Tamil Nadu Government has sought assistance of about Rs 22,500 crore from the Centre to meet the losses caused by the cyclonic storm Vardah, which hit three districts in the state, including Chennai, on December 12. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Monday met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi in this connection.
The governments efforts to reduce pending litigation under the Direct Resolution Scheme have received a lacklustre response. Only around 300 assessees have come forward, with disputed tax liabilities amounting to Rs 10,000 crore.
Post government's demonetisation decision, Chennai-based met the payment needs of customers in 2.11 crore transactions with a total amount of Rs 10,986 crore. Also, 1.17 crore transactions accepting deposits of Rs 29,115 crore were done till December 16.

These were done by around 20,000 employees serving in 2,581 branches and are directed towards providing 'ease of banking'.
Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa to be the next IAF chief

Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC will takeover as Chief of Air Staff on 31 December 2016, on retirement of Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha PVSM AVSM VM ADC. Air Marshal BS Dhanoa will be the 25th Chief of the IAF since independence. The appointment was formally announced on 17 Dec.

Air Marshal BS Dhanoa took over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) on 01 June 2015. He was commissioned in the IAF in June 1978 as a fighter pilot. He is an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, the National Defence Academy and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. The Air Marshal has mainly flown the Kiran and MiG-21 aircraft with flying experience across the entire spectrum of fighter aircraft from the Jaguar to the state of the art MiG-29 & Su-30 MKI, with an immaculate record of flight safety throughout his distinguished career as a field commander. The Air Marshal has many feathers in his hat. As Commanding Officer of a front line ground attack fighter squadron, he led the IAF punch during the Limited War against Pakistan to evict the enemy from their dug in defences in the icy heights of Kargil region. During the conflict, under his leadership and supervision, the squadron devised unique and innovative methods of bombing in the night at altitudes never before attempted in the history of Air Warfare. While prior to the war, the squadron, for its high degree of professionalism and peace time training had been adjudged as the best fighter squadron of HQ WAC, post the conflict it emerged as the most decorated IAF unit of Kargil War. The Air Marshal himself was awarded Vayu Sena Medal for his exceptional devotion to duty prior to the war and the coveted Yudh Seva Medal post war for his outstanding bravery and leadership during the conflict, both in the year 1999. His command tenure of a Forward (Fighter) Base Support Unit was equally illustrious with the base being adjudged as the best in maintenance despite being an FBSU and was runner-up for the Pride of SWAC Trophy. He also holds the highest flying instructional category in the IAF and was handpicked to establish the IAF Training Team abroad. The Air Marshal has the distinction of having held a number of significant staff appointments at Operational Commands, Joint Training Establishments and Air Headquarters. The appointments include Director Targeting Cell at Air Headquarters, Director Fighter Operations & War Planning at Headquarters Western Air Command, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Intelligence) at Air Headquarters, Senior Air Staff Officer of two Operational Commands (Eastern and Western) and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of South Western Air Command. He is presently the Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. During his staff tenure, he developed the aerial targeting philosophy against our potential adversaries and transformed the concepts of Air Operations of the Indian Air Force to contemporary war fighting practices of Air Power. The success of performance of IAF units during international exercises in United Kingdom and United States of America under his tenure as VCAS is evident by the fact that all aircraft travelled half way across the globe and still maintained 100% serviceability throughout the exercise. The Air Marshal is also an avid reader and writer of Air Power and Joint Operations. He has held the appointments of Senior Instructor (Air) and Chief Instructor (Air) at the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. In recognition for his meritorious Services he was awarded Yudh Seva Medal (YSM) & Vayusena Medal (VM) in 1999 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2015 by the President of India. He was appointed Honorary ADC to the President of India on 01 Aug 15 and awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in 2016 by the President of India. He is married to Mrs. Kamalpreet and they have one son Jasman who is a law graduate.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Defence Secretary inaugurates workshop on tunnelling in North and North Eastern Region

A one day workshop was organized by the Ministry of Defence on tunnelling in North & North Eastern Region on 17 December 2016 at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi.

In his opening address, Defence Secretary Shri G Mohan Kumar highlighted that infrastructure Development in North and North-Eastern part of the country has always been a matter of challenge due to adverse climatic conditions, fragile and young geology and remote location. Growing awareness on forest, environmental and ecological issues to minimise instability of hill slopes and avoid phenomena of flash floods and cloud burst has also been a matter of serious concern which need urgent attention. Underground structures like tunnel could help a great deal to minimise the disturbances to natural settings and provide straight alignment and thus reduce length of roads.

Highlighting the need for all weather connectivity to the Ladakh region the Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Bipin Rawat and GoC-in-C Northern Command Lt Gen D Anbu brought out that this region which has high significance from strategic considerations remains cut off with rest of the country for almost six months of the year due to intensive snow fall, avalanche and icing at passes viz Zozila on Srinagar Kargil Leh road and Rohtang, Baralacha La, Lachung La and Tanglang La on Manali Sarchu Upshi Leh Road.

It therefore needs a special focus and network of tunnel to have all weather connectivity.

As many as eight expert speakers presented their papers during the workshop and highlighted various issues involved in planning, design and construction of tunnels in Himalaya Region and High Altitude areas. The proceeding of the Workshop were summed up by Executive Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Shri Sahadev Singh.

The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Defence with an aim to generate adequate awareness on the subject, understand various issues related to planning, design and construction of tunnels and orient executives to include tunnel proposals in road design for all weather connectivity and minimise disturbances to natural settings.

The workshop was attended by a large number of delegates including DGBR Lt Gen Suresh Sharma with 50 officers of BRO from different parts of the country. Officers of E-in-C Branch, Indian Army and delegates from various organizations viz DMRC, Konkan Railway, NPCC, HCC, IL&FS, L&T, D2 Consult, AFCON, STRABAG etc. also attended the workshop.

NAo/DM/RAJ
New Director of LBSNAA Mussoorie calls on Dr Jitendra Singh

Newly appointed Director of Mussoorie's Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Smt Upma Chaudhary today formally called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh who is also MoS in-charge DoPT (Department of Personnel & Training) with which the Mussoorie Academy is affiliated.

This was Smt Upma Chaudharys first visit to union capital after taking over the charge as Director, LBSNAA. Smt Upma Chaudhary is a 1983 batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre and has held senior positions in Government of India as well as in Government of Himachal Pradesh where she was last posted as Additional Chief Secretary.

In a meeting lasting over 40 minutes, Smt Upma Chaudhary discussed with Dr Jitendra Singh, a number of issues pertaining to the Ministry and also the road-map ahead. Among the issues discussed were the vacancies at the faculty level as well as in the administration which are affecting the working in the Academy.

Dr Jitendra Singh assured Smt Upma Chaudhary that he will promptly look into the issue of filling of vacancies of Joint Secretary and other administrative posts at the Academy.

However, he said, for filling up of faculty posts, we need to be more discreet, because this is a job which calls for aptitude, teaching skills and knack of communication for which every individual may not be suitable.

Dr Jitendra Singh also suggested that the panel of visiting faculty can be made more wide - based and should include scholars from every stream and every school of thought. He said, the future civil servants are a part of bureaucratic hierarchy of India and deserve to be exposed to all the diverse influences and streams of thought.

Dr Jitendra Singh underscored the point that the present government had, following personal advice and intervention by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, introduced, first time in the history of independent India, a new designation post of Assistant Secretary for probationers coming out of the Mussoorie Academy wherein they are expected to spend three months under mentorship of different Ministries and Secretaries in Government of India before they proceed on to join their postings in the respective State cadres allotted to them. This experiment, he said, has not only proved immensely successful, but has provided a different kind of exposure to the probationers soon after completing their probation in Mussoorie Academy and has also offered them the lifetime opportunity of having an audience with the Prime Minister of India not once, but twice, first in the form of an interaction with the PM before starting their 3-month stint and second time after completing this period.
Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot Releases 'Saanjhi Saanjh' Newspaper

Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment released the first issue of a National Newspaper dedicated to Senior Citizen, 'Saanjhi Saanjh' here today. Shri Gehlot congratulated the publisher and editor of the newspaper for bringing out such a valuable newspaper especially for elderly people and wished them good success.

This Newspaper for Senior Citizen is edited by Ms. J.

V Manisha Bajaj, Secretary, Harikrit, an NGO for elderly people. This bilingual newspaper has got 8 pages which will be published from Delhi by Harikrit publishers. This newspaper will carry important and useful pertaining to elderly persons besides inspirational stories. It will serve as a bridge between old and new generations.
Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) & Parliamentary Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi holds Cashless Chaupal at Dalpatpur in Moradabad (UP)

New Delhi, 19th Dec, 2016: Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) & Parliamentary Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said that in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh the campaign for cashless economy", digital transaction, net and mobile banking is an effective mission to establish clean, honest and transparent system.

Cashless Chaupal" was organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs at Dalpatpur in Moradabad where thousands of people joined the digital transaction system. Shri Naqvi informed the people about benefits of digital transaction, online and mobile banking.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Naqvi said, India being the largest democracy of the world, where 100 per cent electronic voting system has been successful, same way digital transaction, online and mobile banking will be successful. As the electronic voting system has been a great success as it ensured transparency in elections, like wise the campaign of digital transaction will succeed.

Bank officials helped the people present at Cashless Chaupal" in downloading various mobile apps related to digital payment, net and mobile banking and briefed the people about these apps. Bank officials also gave presentation on digital payment system.

Shri Naqvi said that after digital transaction system, taxation system will be strengthened and more and more people will be brought under income tax system.

Cashless system will also help farmers, small traders of the country.

Shri Naqvi appealed to the Muslim and other sections to join this campaign and help in eradicating the cancer of corruption". Shri Naqvi said that Ministry of Minority Affairs is promoting digital payment, online transactions. The Ministry has given scholarships worth Rs 6715 crore to 3 crore students into their bank accounts directly.

Shri Naqvi said that small shopkeepers, traders will be able to compete with big companies by adopting digital payment system. Digital, cashless economy will also reduce burden on the banking system.
Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that former president and party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, who had left the country in mid-2015 soon after accusing the military establishment of overstepping its domain, will return back to Pakistan from Dubai on December 23.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Bilawal, said doctors have allowed Zardari to travel to Pakistan and he would be landing in Karachi on Friday.

"Army chiefs come and go every three years but the political leadership is here to stay. We know the country better and we know how to run its affairs. If you do not stop, I will come out with a list of accused generals since Pakistan's creation," he had said then.

"We need the great strategic skill of Zardari to overwhelm the Sharif government so that despite their two-third majority, they will have to implement my four demands," the Dawn quoted Bilawal, as saying.

The PPP chairman had announced earlier that the party will launch an 'anti-government drive' on December 27 if its four demands are not met.

The four demands of the PPP were formation of a parliamentary committee on national security, adoption of a PPP-drafted bill on Panama Leaks probe, implementation of the decision of a multi-party conference chaired by Asif Zardari on CPEC and appointment of a full-time foreign minister.

Bilawal said our four demands will be fulfilled soon if Zardari is in Pakistan.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the murder of the in Turkey, saying he was "appalled by this senseless act of terror."

Ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot dead while attending an art exhibition in Ankara by a Turkish policeman who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo" and "Allahu akbar" (God is great).

Ban is "appalled by this senseless act of terror and emphasises that there can be no justification for the targeting of diplomatic personnel and civilians," said a statement from his spokesman yesterday.

"The secretary-general is following the unfolding situation closely and wishes the other people who were reportedly injured in the attack a speedy and full recovery."

The UN Security Council will on Monday observe a minute of silence to pay tribute to the Russian diplomat, said Spanish Ambassador Roman Oyarzun, the current council president.

The council was preparing a formal statement condemning the attack.

Venezuela's Ambassador Rafael Ramirez denounced what he termed as a "campaign of hatred" against Russia, in reference to mounting criticism from Western powers of Moscow's role in Syria.

"Everything that is said, everything that is done in a situation which is so fraught with extremist actions, such as the situation in Syria, it does have, unfortunately, consequences," said Ramirez.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the murder of the in Turkey, saying he was "appalled by this senseless act of terror."

Ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot dead while attending an art exhibition in Ankara by a Turkish policeman who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo" and "Allahu akbar" (God is great).

Ban is "appalled by this senseless act of terror and emphasises that there can be no justification for the targeting of diplomatic personnel and civilians," said a statement from his spokesman yesterday.

"The secretary-general is following the unfolding situation closely and wishes the other people who were reportedly injured in the attack a speedy and full recovery."

The UN Security Council will today observe a minute of silence to pay tribute to the Russian diplomat, said Spanish Ambassador Roman Oyarzun, the current council president.

The council was preparing a formal statement condemning the attack.

Venezuela's Ambassador Rafael Ramirez denounced what he termed as a "campaign of hatred" against Russia, in reference to mounting criticism from Western powers of Moscow's role in Syria.

"Everything that is said, everything that is done in a situation which is so fraught with extremist actions, such as the situation in Syria, it does have, unfortunately, consequences," said Ramirez.
Ireland set out its arguments against a European Commission ruling that tech firm should pay billions in back-taxes to Dublin, claiming the EU executive arm has interfered in state sovereignty.

"The Commission has exceeded its powers and interfered with national tax sovereignty."

"The Commission has no competence, under State aid rules, unilaterally to substitute its own view of the geographic scope and extent of the Member State's tax jurisdiction for those of the Member State itself," said Ireland's Department of Finance in a three-page submission outlining its main arguments in the case.

The document follows the Commission ruling in August that Ireland had granted undue tax benefits, ordering the US tech company to repay 13 billion euros ($13.5 billion).

By the Commission's calculations, Dublin allowed to pay a tax rate of 1 per cent of its European profits in 2003 which dropped to 0.005 per cent by 2014.

Ireland immediately said it would appeal the ruling, which was formally lodged in November.

The Department of Finance's release provided further detail of Dublin's line of argument, claiming the Commission "has misapplied State Aid law" and is wrong in claiming Apple was granted an advantage.

"The Commission attempts to re-write the Irish corporation tax rules," the government said.

Dublin additionally claimed procedural errors in the Commission's investigation, which was launched in 2014, arguing Ireland was not contacted to comment on findings contained in the ruling.

"The Commission breached the duty of good administration by failing to act impartially and in accordance with its duty of care," said the submission.

Apple is a valued employer in Ireland, with 6,000 staff in its Cork city campus.

Although claiming the tax windfall would boost state coffers, Dublin fears it would ultimately damage the economy by making Ireland less attractive to foreign investors.
The Japanese government plans to start reviewing every year, instead of every two years, to try to reduce mounting healthcare costs, government officials with direct knowledge of the decision said on Monday.

The move reflects growing resistance to rising around the world.

Japan will also review all drug prescription prices instead of limiting its list to pharmaceuticals judged to be far more expensive than their overseas counterparts.

The current system has been criticised as keeping unnecessarily high in Japan.

The change follows last month's halving of the Japanese price of cancer drug Opdivo, developed by Bristol Myers Squibb Co's and Ono Pharmaceutical Co, and an earlier move to slash the price of Gilead Science Inc's hepatitis C drug Sovaldi.

Four cabinet members including Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Health Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki will make a formal decision on Tuesday, the sources said, declining to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

The overhaul is in line with a recommendation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's top economic advisory panel, which said it could save some 190 billion yen ($1.6 billion) a year in healthcare costs and cut government spending by 48 billion yen.

The move is opposed by foreign and domestic drugmakers who have said the changes will stifle innovation by creating greater uncertainty over pricing.

The global pharmaceuticals industry has benefited recently from the launch of a wave of new medicines for cancer and other serious diseases, but their high cost has prompted protests in many Western markets.

US president-elect Donald Trump promised earlier this month to "bring down drug prices", while a number of European countries have taken a hard line on treatments deemed not to offer value for money.

According to Quintiles IMS, Japan is the world's third largest market for prescription medicines, after the United States and China, but its annual growth rate in dollar terms from 2011 to 2016 is estimated at just 2%, against the global rate of 6.2%.
Christine Lagarde was convicted of negligence by a Paris court over her handling of a multimillion-euro dispute during her time as Frances finance minister nearly a decade ago, raising questions about her role as head of the International Monetary Fund. The 60-year-old managing director of the IMF wont face a fine or prison term, Judge Martine Ract-Madoux said on Monday. The judges on the Cour de Justice de la Republique, which specialises in ministerial misconduct, said that Lagarde should have done more to overturn a Euro 285 million ($300 million) payout to a businessman in ...
Oil hovered near $52 a barrel as investors eyed the potential return of crude volumes from Libya and await output cuts in January as part of an Opec and non-Opec deal. Futures were little changed in New York after swinging between gains and losses. Libyan oil-facility guards backtracked on an agreement to allow supply to flow from the El Feel and Sharara fields, two of the countrys biggest fields. Investors await production cuts by Opec and non-Opec producers starting early next year. Oil has traded near $50 a barrel since the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) ...
Russia is prepared to use its veto to block a French-drafted resolution on sending UN observers to Aleppo to monitor evacuations and help protect civilians, Moscow's envoy said today.

"We cannot allow it to pass because this is a disaster," Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters.

The UN Security Council was set to meet for closed-door consultations followed by a vote on the proposals.

Churkin said Russia, Syria's ally, would put forward its own proposals for monitoring, but he declined to give details.

France circulated a draft text late Friday stating that the council is "alarmed" by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Aleppo and by the fact that "tens of thousands of besieged Aleppo inhabitants" are in need of aid and evacuation.

Russia has vetoed six resolutions on since the conflict began in March 2011.
The U S Department of Justice has asked to pay between $5 billion and $7 billion to settle a probe over its sale of toxic mortgage securities in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis, a source with knowledge of the matter said, but the bank has resisted settling for that amount.

The size of the suggested settlement indicates that the cost to the bank may be higher than analysts had expected and explains why management has been pushing for a smaller penalty.

" is confident of reaching a better solution," said the person with knowledge of the discussions. Should talks break down, U S legal authorities could sue the bank, prolonging the uncertainty.

In a sign that negotiations may be reaching their final stages, U S Attorney General Loretta Lynch last week met with Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam, another person familiar with the matter said.

A potential resolution could come as early as this week.

The sources did not want to be identified because the talks are ongoing and sensitive.

Credit Suisse and the Department of Justice declined to comment.

The penalty stems from a 2012 initiative launched by U S President Barack Obama to hold banks accountable for selling mortgage debt while misleading investors about the risks, a practice that helped cause the worst economic crisis since the 1930s.

The penalties, which for U S banks reached $46 billion, are set to deliver another setback to European lenders, many of which remain fragile, with scant capital, in the wake of the financial crash.

After record settlements were reached with U S banks such as Bank of America and JPMorgan , the focus has turned to Europe's Deutsche Bank , Royal Bank of Scotland , Credit Suisse , Barclays , UBS and HSBC.

News in September that the Justice Department made an initial demand of Deutsche of $14 billion to settle its case sent the German lender's stock plummeting and raised fears Credit Suisse could also face a stiffer penalty.

Just prior to Deutsche confirming that the Department of Justice was seeking $14 billion, JP Morgan analysts estimated Credit Suisse's fine at around $2 billion.

Deutsche Bank could this week agree its penalty over the sale of toxic mortgage debt, one person with direct knowledge of the matter said on Monday. The bank has said it expects to pay materially less than $14 billion.

Credit Suisse's litigation provisions at the end of 2015 totalled 1.605 billion Swiss francs ($1.56 billion). In November, the bank said it had upped litigation provisions by 357 million francs, mainly in connection with mortgage-related matters.

President-elect Donald Trump will take office on January 20, which means key government players involved in the negotiations would change, complicating the banks' efforts to reach settlements.
have asked the central government to extend the market intervention scheme (MIS), currently offered to growers in Karnataka till December 31 this year, up to May 2017. Farmers also want the scheme to be extended to growers in Kerala, said S R Satishchandra, president, Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco).
Shares of oil marketing companies (OMCs) were trading higher in otherwise weak market after these companies raised petrol and diesel prices with effect from midnight of 16th / 17th December 2016.
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has vowed to ensure free pilgrimage to Sri Nankana Sahib and Sri Panja Sahib in Pakistan as an extension of ongoing 'Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra'.

SAD-BJP government has already cherished the long desire of the people of all faiths from the state to offer an opportunity to pay obeisance at sacred cities of Sri Nanded Sahib, Varanasi, Katra (Mata Vaishno Devi), Ajmer Sharif and other holy places by embarking 'MukhMantriTirathYatra' Scheme.

Speaking on the sidelines of a momentous show at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi to highlight the life and philosophy of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in commemoration of his 350th birth anniversary, the CM pledged to make concerted efforts to facilitate free pilgrimage to Pakistan if entrusted with responsibility to serve the state for another term.

"In the daily prayers (Ardas), every Sikh yearns to pay obeisance at the sacred shrines situated at the birthplace of Guru Nanak Devji. But unfortunately a very few people get the opportunity to visit the shrines across the international border. We shall not only ensure smooth hassle-free passage of pilgrimage to Pakistan but will also bear the entire expenses so that no person in the state is denied from fulfilling this desire", said Parkash Singh Badal.

The Punjab government has decided to celebrate 350th birth annivresary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, the tenth Guru of Sikhs at his birthplace, Sri Patna Sahib and has made a provision of Rs 100 crore for the yearlong celebrations in a bid to propagate the teachings and rich legacy of the great "Saint Soldier".

The 350th Parkash Utsav of the tenth Master of Divine Light, is being observed with great religious enthusiasm, devotion and dedication all over the world. This function was a part of series of programs chalked out to commemorate this sacred occasion. Punjab government also presented a cheque of Rs.10 crore to the International centre of Sikh studies.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister along with Deputy Chief Minister unveiled the life-sized statue of the legendary Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur installed at the Punjab Government's estate Nabha House near Mandi House Chowk. Punjab government decided to get it installed in the national capital as a humble tribute to the great Sikh martyr.

SAD-BJP government has made many efforts to keep youngsters abreast with rich cultural heritage of Punjab. Memorials like Virasat-e-Khalsa, Waddha Ghallughara and Chhota Ghallughara memorial, Banda Singh Bahadur memorial at Chappar Chiri etc. would go a long way in this direction. Giving a facelift to Heritage Street from Town Hall to Sri Harmandir Sahib, the passage leading to holiest Sikh shrine has become the most beautiful in the world.

Talking about tenth Guru, the Chief Minister said, "That Guru Gobind Singh ji always preached the lesson of oneness of God and love for humanity. He further also exhorted the Sikh community to be unified in true spirit as professed by Guru Ji.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid has expressed his hope for the formation of a strong Election Commission through talks with political parties.

He began a dialogue process for the formation of the next Election Commission which will oversee the 2019 general elections through a discussion with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

"I think today's discussion and your well-thought-out opinions will play an important role in the formation of a strong Election Commission," the Daily Star quoted the President, as saying to an 11-member BNP delegation led by party chief Khaleda Zia.

He said any dialogue opens up multiple paths to resolving a problem.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia presented her party's proposals to the president.

Proposals included forming a search committee to pick the EC members, bringing amendment to the Representation of the People Order and strengthening the EC.

Khaleeda proposed for having a former chief justice to be the convener of the search committee and for the membership of the search committee.

She said an Appellate Division judges, a neutral and honest professor and competent senior female citizen might be considered for the membership of the search committee.

A sealed envelope containing the names of 10 prospective members of the search committee was given by Khaleda to the president.

"I believe your proposals will play positive roles in forming the next Election Commission," President Hamid told the BNP delegation.

The BNP said the president informed the delegation that procedural issues for forming a search committee would be examined by him.

Khaleda said during the talks that it would be a right step towards the advancement of the country if the Election commission can be constituted on the basis of consensus among all political parties.

Pointing out the need for formation of a polls-time government, she said people were frustrated at home and abroad by the questionable roles of the Election Commission in the last two national elections and local body polls for the last several years.

Thanking the president for inviting the party to the discussion, Khaleda a wished him success in his initiative over the formation of election commission.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party was happy and hopeful after meeting the president.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Residents of areas around Bengaluru's Varthur and Bellandur lakes have complained of foul smell and pollution emanating from these frothing water bodies post-Cyclone Vardah.

A local group has written to the civic authorities, saying the matter requires immediate attention, especially as the city is expecting a dry summer.

"There is nothing new but now pollution has increased as the lake smells bad, which is going to be harmful and something should be done," a resident said.

"The lake stinks and causes diseases. Civic authorities are yet to take any action, but a few students are seen trying to clean the lakes sometimes," a local resident told ANI here.

The toxic froth is caused by allowing untreated sewage water to flow into the lakes. It has spilled over onto roads and into drains around the lakes in the last two days.

This has also led to poor visibility on roads, and motorists risk skidding while riding. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board had sent a tanker to sprinkle water and bring down the froth's intensity.

A local group, 'Whitefield Rising', has written to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA) to take cognizance of the issue.

"This matter needs more attention, especially since we are looking at a dry summer," a member of Whitefield Rising said. "Wasting a resource as precious as water and dealing with health and safety issues alongside is not good."

The lake must also be desilted and cleared of weeds like hyacinth to allow sun light to penetrate. The BBMP and BWSSB efforts to check frothing by spraying chemicals have failed.

Municipal authorities need to install a sewerage treatment plant at Varthur Lake. The water body is supposed to be desilted every year, but the last time this was done was in 1970.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today to hand over a letter that would request the government to bestow the Bharat Ratna on late All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief J. Jayalalithaa and to install her bronze statue in the Parliament complex.

The Tamil Nadu Cabinet had on December 10 decided to recommend Jayalalithaa's name for India's highest civilian honour.

In its first meeting chaired by Panneerselvam after Jayalalithaa's demise, the Cabinet also decided to recommend to the Centre installation of her life-size bronze statue in the Parliament complex.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will also relay the details of the damages caused by the Cyclone Vardah in the state.

Cyclone Vardah hit several parts of Tamil Nadu earlier on December 12.

The storm uprooted trees, overturned cars and did extensive damage to buildings as it tore across Chennai.

According to the Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 10 people have died so far due to the cyclone.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to hand over a letter that would request the government to bestow Bharat Ratna on former chief minister J Jayalalithaa and to install a bronze statue in the Parliament complex.

The Tamil Nadu Cabinet had on December 10 decided to recommend Jayalalithaa's name for India's highest civilian honour.

In its first meeting chaired by Panneerselvam after Jayalalithaa's demise, the Cabinet also decided to recommend to the Centre installation of her life-size bronze statue in the Parliament complex.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will also relay the details of the damages caused by the Cyclone Vardah in the state.

Cyclone Vardah hit several parts of Tamil Nadu earlier on December 12.

The storm uprooted trees, overturned cars and did extensive damage to buildings as it tore across Chennai.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at least 10 people have died.

Prior to the storm's landing, Chennai already was pounded with heavy rain and winds.
A visiting Chinese Communist Party delegation led by Liu Qibao, Senior Chinese Communist Party leader and head of the party's propaganda department, called on Nepal's President Bidya Devi Bhandari here on Sunday.

A press statement issued by the President's Office said both sides stressed on developing bilateral ties to a more harmonious and stronger level.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong was also present on the occasion, reports the Himalayan Times.

Nepali officials are viewing Liu's visit as a significant one, as he is one of the influential leaders in the CPC.

It is also being speculated that during Liu's three-day long visit that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's possible visit to China and the possibility of Chinese President Xi's visit to Nepal will be firmed up.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Demanding legal action against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP for his "disgusting" remarks against Muslims, the Congress on Monday attempted to corner the ruling dispensation while asserting that this episode should be considered a part of the saffron party's agenda as it believes in inciting communal violence.

Congress leader Sandeep Dixit condemned Verma's assertion that all terrorists are Muslims.

"Verma's statement is highly condemnable and I would say a legal action should be taken in this regard," he said.

Dixit said Verma's statement is dangerous and disgusting.

"The BJP is known for inciting communal violence and this episode should also be considered as part of it," he added.

The Congress leader further said every community is at liberty to choose its leader, adding it was extremely disgusting on the BJP's part to give it a communal colour.

Verma, who is a Member of Parliament from West Delhi Lok Sabha Constituency, had earlier on Sunday stirred up a hornet's nest with his assertion that Muslims had never cast their vote for the BJP as they perceive it as a patriotic party. He has also said that all terrorists are Muslims.
The Congress Party on Monday called the Narendra Modi government's demonetisation-cum-remonetisation drive a 'Fair and Lovely' scheme which would only help the corrupt turn their black money into white.

"Modi government's new policy of asking corrupt people to pay 60 per cent fine on your black money and convert it into white is only a 'Fair and Lovely scheme'. So this 'suit-boot' government is only for the suit boot people and not for the common people," Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza said.

Oza added that party Vice President Rahul Gandhi will address a rally on Monday in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, where he will highlight the "real objective" behind .

Earlier, Gandhi had said at a rally in Belgaum, Karnataka, that is a Modi-made disaster.

"As there is a man-made disaster, similarly is a Modi-made disaster," he said.

He further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attacked the economy by announcing demonetisation.

"More than 100 people have died because of demonetisation drive and PM Modi is responsible for it," Rahul said, adding that Modi government has been attacking the poor people for last two-and-a-half years.

"Nothing will happen in 50 days. The Prime Minister will give your money to the rich. Modi wants to waive off bank loans," he added.

He further said that Modi has mocked farmers and the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which is the backbone of the farmers.

Earlier, he claimed that he had some 'information' of the PM's 'personal corruption' which he will only reveal in the Lok Sabha.

The Congress vice president has been strongly opposing demonetisation ever since its announcement.
Jack Ma, chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, briefs a Thai delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak (left) about the e-commerce group's businesses. [Photo/Xinhua]

US major set to challenge Chinese behemoth's Lazada platform in regional online shopping

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Amazon.com Inc are about to clash in Southeast Asia.

And Singapore-based online marketplace Lazada Group SA, which Alibaba bought in April for $1 billion, will be right at the heart of that conflict.

Lazada, Southeast Asia's largest e-commerce site, is rolling out a series of initiatives in anticipation of the US giant's entry next year.

It's expanding its delivery network within the region and beyond, via partners in China and South Korea.

It's on the prowl for investments and acquisitions to shore up its supply chain. And it intends to delve deeper into online groceries in 2017, a notoriously difficult market it got into by buying RedMart.

That's because Lazada's home turfSoutheast Asiais shaping up to be the next battleground for Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma and Amazon Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos.

Lazada covers six countriesIndonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnamand runs 12 warehouses and 92 distribution centers from which it conveys goods directly to buyers.

While still lacking the transport and payments infrastructure crucial to the widespread adoption of e-commerce, the region has become the world's fastest-growing internet arena, with a combined populace of 620 million people getting more comfortable with online shopping.

Asked about the anticipated imminent incursion by the world's largest online retailer, Lazada CEO Maximilian Bittner said: "It's a jungle out here. We're looking forward to seeing how they (Amazon) will differentiate themselves."

Now that Alibaba has established its dominance in China and Amazon has taken the lead in the US, both are looking to make their mark overseas. The US company in particular has made huge strides in India.

A Thai vendor scans the Alipay barcode on a Chinese buyer's smartphone for payment in Bangkok. [Photo/Xinhua]

Alibaba took control of Lazada from Rocket Internet in what remains its largest overseas move to date. The company Bittner started in 2012 is now pivotal to quickening the Chinese e-commerce giant's so-far tentative steps abroad, and fulfilling Ma's ambitions of becoming a truly global business.

Amazon meanwhile hasn't yet voiced its intentions for Southeast Asia, but the industry expectation is that its constant quest for growth will lead it there by 2017.

Techcrunch reported in November the company is likely to bring its Prime delivery service and Amazon Fresh to Singapore in the first quarter, using the wealthy, cyber-savvy city state as a springboard to the rest of the region.

It has demonstrated a willingness to spend on building a local presence, and an ability to thrive in the difficult, fragmented market conditions that characterize Southeast Asia.

Indeed, the US company was among the investors with whom RedMart negotiated to sell its business, said the startup's co-founder and CEO Roger Egan. He wouldn't elaborate and Amazon representatives didn't respond to requests for comment.

"Both of them will want to dominate Southeast Asia," said Thompson Teo, an associate professor at NUS Business School in Singapore. "Alibaba has acquired companies to shorten the learning curve and grow faster. It's going to give Amazon a good fight."

Alibaba's experience quashing Amazon in China may yet prove indispensable. Central to Lazada's effort is building a system that can deliver goods into Southeast Asia from merchants in other countries, a cross-border model akin to Alibaba's.

The region is now split between a mere handful of operators dominant in certain areas, including MatahariMall and Tokopedia in Indonesia and unicorn startup Garena.

Lazada counts Kerry Logistics Network Ltd, DHL in Thailand and JNE Express in Indonesia among its more than 100 logistics partners. In recent months, it's also teamed up with China's State-backed postal service and CJ Korea Express Corp. In September, Lazada's volume in Indonesia grew 2.5 times from a year ago, Bittner said.

"We see ourselves as a logistics control tower in Southeast Asia," he said. "We are looking at building a better, more sophisticated logistics capability. The world is shifting toward borderless e-commerce system and that's very much the vision of Alibaba and us."

Now that RedMart's given it a foothold in Singapore, Lazada also plans to begin selling groceries online in one of the capital cities of Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand as early as the second half of 2017, he said.

RedMart has more than 150 trucks ferrying an average of 22 food items from chocolate to frozen dumplings per order. It plans to cut delivery times to four to six hours (from mostly next-day) by the end of the first half of 2017, Egan said. By the second half, the company will offer an express service, shipping groceries within an hour or two of ordering online, he said.

"Grocery is seen as notoriously difficult one to do online, but it's the largest market representing 60 percent of overall Southeast Asian retail," Egan said. "Customers are much more engaged. They visit twice a week so the frequency allows you to develop a deep relationship with customers."

Bloomberg
As Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Paneerselvam will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to seek relief for damages caused by Cyclone Vardah, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has urged him to press the Prime Minister to declare it a drought state.

"Apart from demanding money from the government for damages caused due to Vardah, the Chief Minister should also take up the farmers' issue. They should press the government of India to declare the whole state a drought state and all farmers should be compensated, otherwise suicides would not stop," leader TKS Elangovan said.

Elangovan said Cyclone Vardah had affected only three districts of Tamil Nadu, whereas farmers of the state are suffering from scarcity of water.

He asked Paneerselvam to seek Rs 10,000 crore, instead of Rs 1,000 crore, as compensation under the National Disaster Response Fund to take up rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the state.

On Sunday, an official release said that the Chief Minister will hand over a memorandum to Prime Minister Modi seeking assistance for the damages caused due to the severe storm.

Chennai and the neighbouring Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram suffered heavy damages due to the cyclone that occurred on December 12.

More than 1,000 trees were uprooted and the city lost power supply after the collapse of electricity poles.

Panneerselvam will also present a letter to the Prime Minister recommending 'Bharat Ratna' award to late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

He will further urge the Centre to take steps for installing a life size bronze statue of the former AIADMK chief in Parliament.
The Additional Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday announced double life sentence for 11 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activists in Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activist Vishnu's murder case.

One of the accused got life imprisonment and the 15th accused in the case got three years imprisonment for helping the accused to hide after committing the crime.

According to the prosecution, the accused armed with swords, iron rods and other weapons attacked Vishnu and killed him at Kaithamukku.

Out of the total 16 accused in this case, one died in 2008 and another was acquitted by the court on Friday while one is still absconding.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister on Monday will lay the foundation stone of the country's first ever Indian Institute of Skills in Kanpur, the idea of which was conceptualised by him during his visit to Singapore's Institute of Technical Education.

The institute will be opened by the Skill Development Ministry in partnership with the Institute of Technical Education, Singapore.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Kaushal Pradarshani (Skill Exhibition) for the youth.

The Exhibition will showcase state-of-the-art vocational training practices of various sectors.

Prime Minister Modi will also launch a number of skill development initiatives including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras and Drivers' Training Institutes.

Later in the day, he will also address a Parivartan rally in Kanpur today. This will be the sixth Parivartan rally to be addressed by the Prime Minister in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, Modi had addressed rallies at Ghazipur, Agra, Kushinagar, Moradabad and Behraich. There are four Parivartan yatras taking round across the state which were initiated by BJP President Amit Shah from Saharanpur.

These yatras will cover almost 17,000 kilometer journey across all 403 Vidhan Sabha segments in the state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised the Congress party for politicising the elevation of Lt.Gen. Bipin Rawat as the next Chief of Army Staff, saying that the latter's frustration of losing power is driving them to comment on every step of the present NDA regime.

"For past two-and-a-half years, the Congress is politicising every issue and every sensitive issue is a political matter for them, whether it is defence or economy or foreign affairs. It is very unfortunate that the frustration of losing power is driving them to comment everything about the present regime," BJP leader S. Prakash told ANI here.

"We should not politicise the elevation Lt.Gen. Bipin Rawat for the top post. Defence should be kept out of politics. Even in the Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh-led governments, seniority has been ignored," he added.

Prakash said, "Congress with its 60 years of rule and experience, still politicising these issues is a very dangerous trend. The lack of mature leadership is out in the fore."

The Centre's announcement of Lt. Gen. Rawat as the new Chief of the Army Staff superseding two seniors for the coveted post, led the Congress to demand answers over the decision, while asserting at the same time that the army is a public institution and the nation deserved an answer.

Speaking to ANI here, Congress leader Manish Tewari said this was not to be seen as a personal attack on the new Chief of Army Staff, but must be seen only as a legitimate question.

"With all due respect to General Rawat's professionalism and brilliance as a soldier and no personal animosity to anybody, there is a legitimate question as to why has this supersession taken place. After all, Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi who commands the Eastern Command, the Southern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ali Hariz and the Central Army Commander Lt. Gen. B. S. Negi are all senior to the gentleman who is being designated," Tewari said.

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The Madras High Court on Monday banned all unauthorised 'Sharia' courts functioning from mosque premises in the state of Tamil Nadu.

The court has also directed the Tamil Nadu government not to allow such unauthorised courts and file a report within four weeks making it clear that religious places and other places of worships are meant for religious purposes only.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by an England-based Non-resident Indian (NRI) Abdur Rahman who had earlier approached one of such courts with the hope to reunite with his wife but instead was forced to sign a letter of divorce or talaq and was made to pronounce the same.

The Supreme Court had earlier declared such Sharia courts running from the mosque premises as illegal, which have by far dealt with such disputes that run in hundreds. Shariat is a set of law derived from the Quran and the Hadiths and has a binding on the followers of the Islamic faith.
Michael Sheen recently cleared the air on The Times of London's reports that say the actor is leaving acting.

In an official statement on social media, the 47-year-old wrote, "I DID NOT declare that I'm 'quitting acting and leaving Hollywood' to go into politics."

A recently published interview by the English daily wrote of Sheen as switching to political activism.

"Once I'm in, I'm fully in, and this is big," he was quoted in the paper.

Other sites quickly picked up on the interview noting that the 'Passengers' actor was taking a break from acting and putting his acting career on hold.

However, in his statement on his Twitter page under the headline 'What I Did Not Say,' Sheen suggests that paper mischaracterized his interview.

"I did one interview with The Times of London a few weeks ago, parts of which (including a headline that is not a quote) have been picked up by a lot of other outlets," he tweeted, asserting, "I DID NOT declare that I'm 'quitting acting and leaving Hollywood' to go into politics."

Sheen also wrote another post to clarify his position again.

"Before this gets ridiculous I said I'm thinking I might start acting less and maybe even stop for a while at some point but don't know yet," he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Reacting to the advice given by the vice chancellor of Madhya Pradesh's Bhoj Open University (MPBOU) to women students in NIFT to wear "decent" clothes, social activist Brinda Adige termed the suggestion as absolutely 'nonsense' and patriarchal.

She said, "It is absolutely nonsense coming from the vice chancellor of a university that women should wear decent clothing. Why does he not look at men who do not look at women in a decent manner?"

"Nothing is going to change if he thinks that sexual assaults will reduce and other people will not feel bad because of some kind of dressing that women wear is absolutely wrong because it is his perception and his patriarchal outlook," she added.

Adige asserted that the directive being issued goes against the system of education and gender parity in a democracy.

Adige urged the vice chancellor to teach his male students and professors to look at women with dignity and change perceptions.

The vice chancellor of Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University, Tariq Zafar had earlier advised the Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) to issue a directive to its women students to wear "decent" clothes.

NIFT rents its premises on the campus of Bhoj Open University.

"In the name of modern or Western clothes, students can't be allowed to come in clothes which do not look good in classes on the university campus. There are students of Bhoj University as well as Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University on the campus," said Zafar.

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After drawing flak from all quarters post his assertion that Muslims do not vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma on Monday said the "nationalist" saffron party does not have any problems with the said community.

Verma, however, told ANI that the Muslim community has problems with the BJP.

"Our government did not bring schemes for any particular community. Even the Muslims can get benefits from all those schemes. But still I believe the Muslim community keeps a distance when it comes to voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Muslim community votes for all political parties except the BJP," he added.

Asserting that all political parties have always seen the Muslims as vote bank, Verma said the community does not want to get associated with development.

"Are the Muslim children in madrasas provoked against the BJP? When I was asked why only the BJP is called a nationalist party, I said why terrorists in the nation are only Muslims and why Muslims do not vote for the BJP.because it does not want to come in the mainstream and does not want to get associated with development. Mayawati has said that if the Muslims vote for her then she can make the government," he added.

"Responding to a poser as to why the Muslim community doesn't vote for the BJP, Verma said, "I think the most relevant issue is the relation between India and Pakistan. Why are terrorists only Muslims? From where do they get all the funding and from where they get all the weapons?"

The BJP MP said the Muslims should think of getting associated with the nation, adding that this would benefit them.

"They should not send their children to any terrorist organisation or oppose the BJP," he added.

Verma had earlier said that the Muslim community, which has never voted for the BJP, would continue to do the same in future.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Today the country is observing the first 'Vijay Divas' or 'Victory Day' to remember the liberation of Goa from the Portuguese rule. On this day, Indian forces Commander Major General K. P. Candeth arrived at Panjim and hoisted the Indian flag, signifying the takeover by India of Goa.

On December19, the Indian forces had successfully reached Betim, the previous day arrived at Panjim at around 7:30 A.M. Those soldiers, who tried to move to the capital via Banastarim, swam across the river and arrived at Panjim about 8:30 A.M. At 10 A.M., the Indian flag was hoisted by Major General K.P. Candeth.

Goa was taken over by the Portuguese from the Maratha rule in 1641 and and began the minor Bicholim conflict, which ended in peace treaty between the Portuguese and Maratha Empire.

In the 19th century, when there was a movement for independence in India, the effects of which were felt on a smaller scale in Goa as well. Goans participated in satyagraha in the late 1940s. After India got independence, the Portuguese refused to give up their hold over Goa.

Finally on Dec 19, 1964, India conquered Goa from the Portuguese and Goa became a part of India.

The Indian Government under Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru attempted an economic blockade of Goa in 1955 so as to pressurise the Portuguese Government to leave Goan soil. But, the blockade made little or no impact on the Portuguese Goan economy, because the assistance provided by Pakistan helped neutralise the ill-effects of the blockade.

According to reports, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's non-violent policy toward the Goa liberation movement came under severe attack from Afro-Asian countries at the Belgrade Conference in early September 1961. The African leader opined that the Indian policy of inaction in Goa enabled Portugal to take advantage in Africa. At the close of the seminar, which continued its sessions in Mumbai, they emerged a new Afro-Indian solidarity. Freedom of Goa was linked to liberation of other countries under the Portuguese.

The Government of India under Nehru adopted a plan called 'Operation Vijay' to free the Portuguese colonies in India. General J.N. Chaudhari was in charge of carrying out this plan. By December 11, 1961, Indian forces were placed at Belgaum, Vapi and Una for attacks on Goa, Daman and Diu, respectively.

Operations against Goa were directed by Major General K.P. Candeth. The plan was to advance into Goa from the north and east. The attack from the south was meant to divert attention. On December 12, 1961, the two main land routes connecting Goa and India were sealed for the civilian population. This was a move to facilitate the movement of the army. December 18, 1961, was the day determined for the attack.

All the three sections of the Indian armed forces participated in Operation Vijay. The Indian Air Force planes at about 6:30 A.M bombarded the radio station at Bambolim and the airport at Dabolim. The attack was led by Air Vice Marshall A Pinto do Rosario of the Indian Air force in Hawker Hunter aircraft.

The Indian Navy Ships were positioned outside the Marmagao port. The only Portuguese warship Afonso de Albuquerque was beached by the Portuguese Navy after attack from the Indian Navy comprising of the frigates INS Betwa and INS Beas. Both INS Beas and INS Betwa were part of an advance force which included the Indian Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant carrying Sea Hawk aircraft.

The Indian Army attacked Goa from the north the moves began on two fronts. At 5 A.M. The Indian troops entered Goa via Matna. They moved forward to Pilligao and then to Banastarim. On reaching Banastarim at around 6 P.M. in the evening, they discovered that the bridge had been blown up. The troops, therefore, halted there for the night.

Another platoon entered Goa via Dodamarg around 6:30 A.M. and advanced towards Assnora, Tivim, Mapusa and eventually Betim. The onward move of these soldiers was difficult as the Portuguese tried stopping them by blasting bridges and culverts on the way. The local population helped with information on places which were mined and unsafe.

The troops reached Betim, which is 600 yards from Panjim, the capital of Goa, around 5 P.M. On hearing the firing at Betim, the Portuguese flag in front of the secretariat was lowered and the white flag was hoisted to indicate surrender at 6 P.M. on 18th December 1961.

On the northeastern side a platoon which entered Goa around 4 A.M. proceeded to Sankhelim, Usgao and then Ponda. The situation in Ponda was one of chaos and confusion. The Portuguese had left it after setting fire to their equipment and some buildings. Hooligans were seen looting shops and whatever they could lay their hands on. After occupying Ponda, the force moved towards Panaji only to be halted in their advance by the blasted bridge of Banastarim.

On the eastern side, two platoons entered Goa via Anmod. One of them moved to Mollem with an aim of reaching Ponda via Dharbandora and Khandepar. The other proceeded to Mollem and Khandepar via Surla.

The attack from the south had the objective of drawing the Portuguese attacks from the other fronts. The attack began at 6 A.M. and the entry point into Goa was at Poinguinim. At 1:00 P.M., the Indian soldiers arrived at Ardifond.

A Portuguese post opened fire on the Indian troops, who had numerical superiority. The Indians took over the post during the exchange along with the arms and ammunition stocked there.

On the eastern front after occupying Ponda, the Indian troops moved towards Margao via Borim. The people of Margao thronged the streets to accord them a warm welcome.

The atmosphere around was rent with cries of joy and slogans. The forces, then, advanced towards Vasco da Gama and the port of Marmagao via Verna and Dabolim. They captured Marmagao at about 4:30 P.M. The Indian soldiers who had occupied Canacona on the previous day reached Margao the next morning. They restored law and order in the town and took over and sealed all the public buildings, banks, treasury, police station post office etc.

On December 19, the Indian forces, which had successfully reached Betim the previous day, arrived at Panjim at around 7:30 A.M. Those soldiers who tried to move to the capital via Banastarim swam across the river and arrived at Panjim about 8:30 A.M. At 10 A.M. the Indian national flag was hoisted by major general K.P. Candeth.

All operations in Goa came to a halt at 6 P.M. on December 19, 1961. Arrangements were made for receiving the formal surrender at the hands of the Portuguese governor General salo e Silva. The document of surrender was signed at 7:30 P.M. on a street at Vasco da Gama under the headlights of the car of the Portuguese Governor General and submitted to Brig. K.S.Dhillon. Major General K.P.Candeth was appointed the military Governor of Goa.

Within 40 hours of the start of the operation, the Indian army had successfully carried out operation Vijay and centuries of foreign domination in Goa came to an end.

The media was taken along by the Indian authorities to cover the operations. The representative of the Visnews, Mr. Prem Prakash, now the Chairman of the Asian News International, covered the war for the foreign visual media.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, is on an official visit to Japan from today.

The visit aims to consolidate existing Maritime Cooperation initiatives as well as explore new avenues.

The friendship between India and Japan has a long history rooted in spiritual affinity and strong cultural and civilisational ties.

India's earliest documented direct contact with Japan was with the Todaiji Temple in Nara, where the consecration or eye-opening of the towering statue of Lord Buddha was performed by an Indian monk, Bodhisena, in 752 AD.

In contemporary times, among prominent Indians associated with Japan were Swami Vivekananda, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, JRD Tata, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Judge Radha Binod Pal. The Japan-India Association was set up in 1903, and is today the oldest international friendship body in Japan.

Defence cooperation between India and Japan is robust and is primarily focused towards Maritime Cooperation.

Our defence cooperation was institutionalised with commencement of the India-Japan Comprehensive Security Dialogue which was initiated in 2001.

Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) has participated in the MALABAR exercise in 2007, 2009, 2014 prior to being included as a regular member in the exercise since 2015. JMSDF participated in MALABAR 15 and 16 held in the Bay of Bengal and Western Pacific respectively.

In 2014, Japan has also been included as an observer in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a Maritime Cooperation construct conceptualised and pioneered by Indian Navy in 2008.

Both navies also engage in Navy to Navy Staff Talks which commenced in 2008. The seventh Navy to Navy Staff Talks are scheduled to be held in 2017.

JDS Matsuyuki participated in the International Fleet Review 2016 held at Visakhapatnam.

The Chief of Staff of the JMSDF, Admiral Tomihisa Takei, will also attend the review. Indian Navy too participated in the International Fleet Review conducted by the JMSDF in October 15 at Sagami Bay, Yokosuka, Japan.

JMSDF for the first time participated in the Admiral's Cup Sailing Regatta conducted by the Indian Navy in 2016 at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala from December 5-11.

Warships of both countries regularly visit each other's ports.

India and Japan share similar maritime challenges such as long coastline, extensive EEZ, coastal security, large coastal shipping and fishing fleet, wherein both navies have opportunities to learn from each other's experiences. In addition common ground exists for cooperation on a number of issues common to both navies.

During the visit, Admiral Sunil Lanba is scheduled to hold discussions with Chief of Staff, JMSDF, Minister of State for Defence, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff besides other Senior Dignitaries and Naval Officers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday urged the Election Commission to take cognizance of Maharashtra BJP chief Raosaheb Danve's remark that 'lakshmi' comes a day before polls and said if proper action is not initiated on this matter then there will be no democracy left in the state.

NCP leader Nawab Malik said Danve's remark proves that the BJP has spent black money in the local bodies polls, adding the complaint filed against one of the BJP MLAs for demanding liquor from the Excise Department makes the matter more serious.

"This is misuse of power.His remarks prove that there was distribution of liquor in the local bodies polls. We will meet the Election Commission in this matter and demand a probe into the matter. The Election Commission must take this matter seriously otherwise there will be no democracy left in the state," Malik told ANI.

Danve had last week said that the day before polling was an important one as 'lakshmi' comes home a day before the elections and one should accept it.

"Do not refuse it and be determined to cast your vote," he said while addressing a rally at Paithan in Aurangabad district on Saturday.

The Maharashtra Election Commission later issued a showcause notice to him for his remark.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A team of doctors at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have recently set a new world record in effectively treating social anxiety disorders.

"We've set a new world record in effectively treating social anxiety disorders," said researcher Hans M. Nordahl.

A team of doctors and psychologists from NTNU and the University of Manchester in England, led by Nordahl, examined the effects of structured talk therapy and medication on patients with social anxiety disorders.

This study has been published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

Until now, a combination of cognitive therapy and medication was thought to be the most effective treatment for these patients. The researchers' results show that cognitive therapy on its own has a much better effect over the long term than just drugs or a combination of the two.

Nearly 85 percent of the study participants significantly improved or became completely healthy using only cognitive therapy.

"This is one of the best studies on social anxiety disorders ever," said Nordahl.

He added, "It's taken ten years to carry out and has been challenging both academically and in terms of logistics, but the result is really encouraging."

Mistreating with "happy pills": To clear up some terms, social anxiety is not a diagnosis, but a symptom that a lot of people struggle with. For example, talking or being funny on command in front of a large audience can trigger this symptom.

On the other hand, social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, is a diagnosis for individuals who find it hard to function socially, and anyone with this diagnosis has high social anxiety.

Medications, talk therapy or a combination of these are the most common ways to treat patients with this diagnosis. NTNU researchers set out to examine which of these approaches is most effective.

"A lot of doctors and hospitals combine medications, like the famous 'happy pill,' with talk therapy when they treat this patient group. It works well in patients with depressive disorders, but it actually has the opposite effect in individuals with social anxiety disorders. Not many care professionals are aware of this," said Nordahl.

Drugs camouflage the problem: 'Happy pills,' like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may have strong physical side effects. When patients have been on medications for some time and want to reduce them, the bodily feelings associated with social phobia, like shivering, flushing and dizziness in social situations tend to return. Patients often end up in a state of acute social anxiety again.

"Patients often rely more on the medication and don't place as much importance on therapy. They think it's the drugs that will make them healthier, and they become dependent on something external rather than learning to regulate themselves. So the medication camouflages a very important patient discovery: that by learning effective techniques, they have the ability to handle their anxiety themselves," said Nordahl.

World record in treating social phobia: NTNU researchers set up the project to compare the most recognized methods for treating social anxiety disorders. Well over 100 patients participated in the study and were divided into four groups.

The first group received only medication, the second group received only therapy, the third group received a combination of the two, and the fourth received a placebo pill. The four groups were compared along the way, and researchers conducted a follow-up assessment with them a year after treatment ended.

During treatment and right afterwards, the patients in groups two and three were managing equally well. But after a year, it was clear that the group two participants, those who had only received cognitive therapy, were faring the best.

Only with the help of cognitive therapy have researchers managed to increase the recovery rate in patients with social anxiety disorders by 20 to 25 percent, as compared with the norm for this group.

"This is the most effective treatment ever for this patient group. Treatment of mental illness often isn't as effective as treating a bone fracture, but here we've shown that treatment of psychiatric disorders can be equally effective," said Nordahl.

Many patients don't get adequate treatment: Torkil Berge is a psychologist at Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo and head of the Norwegian Association for Cognitive Therapy. He says that social anxiety disorder is a public problem with major negative consequences for the individual and for society. Nearly twelve percent of the population will be affected by this illness during their lifetime.

"This is a hidden disorder, and many patients find it difficult to communicate their struggle to their healthcare providers. Thousands upon thousands of individuals end up not receiving adequate treatment. Of those who do get treatment, most are probably offered drug therapy," Berge said.

"I can well imagine that the combination of drug therapy and cognitive therapy isn't the best approach, as NTNU researchers have determined in this study," he said.

Using metacognitive therapy: Nordahl and the rest of the research team have also worked to improve standard cognitive therapy. They have added new processing elements, which have shown greater effectiveness.

"We're using what's called metacognitive therapy, meaning that we work with patients' thoughts and their reactions and beliefs about those thoughts. We address their rumination and worry about how they function in social situations. Learning to regulate their attention processes and training with mental tasks are new therapeutic elements with enormous potential for this group of patients," said Nordahl.

The researchers now hope to develop standardised cognitive therapy further for patients who suffer from social anxiety disorders.

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The Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday questioned the Uttarakhand Government over the issue of relief and rehabilitation of villagers residing inside Rajaji Park, who are facing threat from wild animals.

Today, on the plea of Ex Jila Panchayat Member, for the relief and rehabilitation of thousands of poor villagers residing inside the Raja Tiger Reserve, the NGT issued notice to the Uttarakhand Government and asked them to file a proper response.

Madan Singh, an ex zila Panchayat member has stated in his application that about 10 villages which are inside the Rajaji Park r not only facing threat from dangerous wild animals but have been deprived by the Uttarakhand Govt of basic fundamentals facilities like Water, Electricity etc.

The court after hearing the submission made by the counsel of the applicant orally directed the Counsel of the Uttarakhand Government to look into the matter and to file proper reply till next date of hearing.

The next hearing in the matter is on 9th February 2017.

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Taxi aggregator Ola on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to train, skill development and empower 100,000 driver partners in the next three years.

The joint project will involve Ola and NSDC identifying people from various section of the society and skilling them to become driver entrepreneurs. Ola aims at investing Rs. 100 crore in adding 100,000 drivers to its platform.

This is part of Ola's larger vision of adding 50 lakh drivers over the next five years. The MoU was signed by Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO and Co-founder, Ola and Manish Kumar, MD and CEO, NSDC in the presence of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Union Minister of State Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Murli Manohar Joshi, Member of Parliament, Kanpur, UP, Ram Naik, Governor, Uttar Pradesh, Devendra Singh, Member of Parliament, Akbarpur, UP.

"We are extremely excited to partner with NSDC to invest in the training and skilling of drivers as this would help us in realizing our larger goal to skill 50 lakh drivers in the next five years while contributing towards our mission of building mobility for a billion Indians," said CEO and Co-Founder Ola, Bhavish Aggarwal.

"We are extremely happy to work alongside Ola, driving this campaign that has the potential to significantly improve livelihoods and contribute to the economic growth of lakhs of Indians. Such initiatives will go a long way in promoting skill development and creating an environment of entrepreneurship for the people of the country," said MD and CEO NSDC, Manish Kumar.

"We are immensely proud to participate in this initiative. Together with NSDC, and Ola we will be able to enhance the capacities of driving training programmes effectively enabling economic development for lakhs of people in the country. This is a one of a kind campaign that will not only contribute to the Prime Minister's Skill India Mission, but also create a robust skill ecosystem for the youth," said CEO Rise India, Ajay Chhangani.

Ola has partnered with leading Indian financial institutions and car manufacturers to give the driver partner community easy access to capital, insurance and vehicles at discounted prices. Over the last five years, Ola has been successful in on-boarding over 5.5 lakh skilled driver-partners onto its platform.

It recently launched India's first state-of-the-art dedicated training center for drivers in partnership with Rise India and NSDC at Chapra, Bihar.

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Investigation Agency (NIA) inspector general Alok Mittal on Monday asserted that the chargesheet filed against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and others JeM commander in the Pathankot attack probe are on the basis of irrefutable, digital, technical, oral and documentary evidences that has been collected through detail scientific investigation.

"After a very detail through scientific investigation, today we have filed a charge-sheet against t Jaish chief Masood Azhar name, his brother and two handlers Latif and Kashif Jan are there in the special NIA court Mohali. Chargesheet filed based on irrefutable, digital, technical, oral and documentary evidences collected," Mittal told ANI.

Adding that the accused in the charge-sheet are all Pakistani nationals, the IG further said that a letter has been written in this regard to Pakistan officials along with a supplementary copy, but there has been no response so far.

The NIA today filed a chargesheet in the NIA special court against senior commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed including its Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, for their involvement in the terrorist attack at Pathankot Airbase on 2nd January, 2016.

Sanction for prosecution has been obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs, under the Section 45(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, as amended.

The chargesheet states that the offences as noted above were also established against the attackers of JeM, namely Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum, who executed the terror attack at Pathankot Airbase on January 2nd, 2016.

Prosecution against these attackers was recommended to be abated since they are dead.

A Red Corner Notice (RCN) has been issued by the Interpol for the arrest of the three accused.

It was established during investigation that the terrorists entered into a criminal conspiracy to infiltrate into the territory of India and to commit terrorist attack and wage war against the Government of India.

In pursuance of the said criminal conspiracy, the accused persons, their leaders, handlers and co-conspirators including but not limited to Maulana Masood Azhar, Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif, set up training camps in Pakistan and the PoK area, for recruitment and training of terrorists, in order to carry out terror attacks on the Indian soil.

During investigation, NIA investigators collected sufficient evidence in terms of statements of the witnesses to establish that the terrorists had been trained, motivated and radicalised by Maulana Masood Azhar and Mufti Abdul Rauf.

It has also been established through legal intercepts and statements of witnesses, that Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif had guided, equipped and launched the four terrorists, who carried out the terrorist attack at the Air Force Station, Pathankot, killing and injuring innocent persons and destroying public property.

The recoveries from the scene of crime, material and documentary evidence, forensic reports and extensive call data analysis, conclusively establish the complicity of the terrorists of JeM, in the attack at the Pathankot Airbase.

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The Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a chargesheet in the NIA special court against senior commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed including its Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, for their involvement in the terrorist attack at Pathankot Airbase on 2nd January, 2016.

Sanction for prosecution has been obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs, under the Section 45(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, as amended.

Sanction of the District Magistrate, Pathankot as required under section 39 of the Arms Act, 1959, and under section 7 of the Explosives Substances Act, 1908, has also been obtained and has been submitted along with the chargesheet.

The NIA has filed charge sheet against four accused persons namely:

1. Maulana Masood Azhar: Chief of the terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), resident of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

2. Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar: Deputy Chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad and brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, resident of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

3. Shahid Latif: launching commander, resident of Mor Aminabad, Gujranwala, Pakistan.

4. Kashif Jan: main handler of Pathankot attackers, resident of Charsada, Pakistan.

They have been charged for commission of offences under sections 120B, 121, 121A, 302, 307, 364, 365, 367, 368, 397 of the Indian Penal Code, sections 16, 18, 20, 23, 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, section 25, 27 of the Arms Act, 1959, Sections 3(b) of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 and section 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, in the chargesheet.

The chargesheet states that the offences as noted above were also established against the attackers of JeM, namely Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum, who executed the terror attack at Pathankot Airbase on January 2nd, 2016.

Prosecution against these attackers was recommended to be abated since they are dead.

A Red Corner Notice (RCN) has been issued by the Interpol for the arrest of the three accused.

It was established during investigation that the terrorists entered into a criminal conspiracy to infiltrate into the territory of India and to commit terrorist attack and wage war against the Government of India.

In pursuance of the said criminal conspiracy, the accused persons, their leaders, handlers and co-conspirators including but not limited to Maulana Masood Azhar, Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif, set up training camps in Pakistan and the PoK area, for recruitment and training of terrorists, in order to carry out terror attacks on the Indian soil.

They illegally crossed the Indo-Pak international border through the forest area near the Simbal Border Outpost.

After infiltrating into the Indian side, these terrorists reached the road from Bhagwal village to Janial. On 31st December 2015, at around 9:30 p.m. they hijacked an Innova taxi bearing registration number PB06-G-0061, along with the driver, Ikagar Singh, who was going from village Bhagwal to Janial.

The terrorists snatched the mobile phone of Ikagar Singh and used the same to communicate with their handler, Kashif Jan , and senior operatives in Pakistan, on three Pakistan mobile numbers 923453030479, 923213132786 and 923017775253.

Their vehicle met with an accident at the Dhusi turn near the Ravi River Bridge. The terrorists brutally killed Ikagar Singh and dumped his dead body in the nearby bushes. Thereafter, the terrorists drove the damaged Innova vehicle and abandoned it at a service station at Kolian Morh, district Pathankot.

During investigation, the DNA profiles recovered from the dagger, seized from the possession of one of the dead terrorists, matched with that of Ikagar Singh, thereby conclusively establishing that he had killed Ikagar Singh. Similarly, DNA profile of two terrorists was found on the Red Bull can, recovered from the vehicle of Ikagar Singh.

After abandoning the damaged Innova vehicle of Ikagar Singh at Kolian Morh, the terrorists hid in the nearby sugarcane fields and waited for a vehicle to come. They then hijacked a Mahindra XUV vehicle of Salvinder Singh, Supdt. of Police, Punjab Police, and moved towards the Air Force Station, Pathankot.

The terrorists pushed the three occupants inside the vehicle and took control of the vehicle. They snatched the mobile phones of the victims, and used them to communicate with their handler. After some time, the terrorists tied, blindfolded and dumped Salvinder Singh and his cook Madan Gopal, at an abandoned place in a forest area near village, Gulpur Simli, district Pathankot, on way to the Air Force Station, Pathankot.

However, they took the third occupant, i.e. Rajesh Verma, along with them. The dumped victims managed to untie themselves and rushed to the nearby village, Gulpur Simli, on foot for help.

The terrorists, on learning later from Rajesh Verma that Salvinder Singh was a police officer, informed their handler who directed them to go back and look for him. Since Salvinder Singh and Madan Gopal had already left the spot, the terrorists resumed their journey to the Air Force Station.

On January 1st 2016, the terrorists reached the village Akalgarh near the Air Force Station, Pathankot, where they tied Rajesh Verma and brutally slit his throat with an intention to kill him and abandoned him and the vehicle in the fields.

Thereafter, they moved towards the Air Force Station, Pathankot, on foot. Meanwhile, Rajesh Verma managed to untie himself and rushed to the nearby village, Akalgarh, for help.

Investigation revealed that after abandoning the Mahindra XUV vehicle, the terrorists moved to the western side of the Air Force Station on foot. The terrorists forced their entry into the Air Force Station, Pathankot, after cutting the wire fencing over the western side of the perimeter wall and then crossed it and entered the airbase on January 1st, early in the morning.

After getting inside the Air Force Station, the terrorists hid themselves inside the 'nallah' and the dilapidated MES Store sheds till the time they launched the assault. As per the forensic report, the shoe prints lifted from the 'nallah' matched with the shoes of a terrorist.

The terrorists launched the attack early in the morning on January 2nd. After noticing suspicious movement, the Garud Commandos of the Indian Air Force followed the terrorists from the MES Stores towards the MES Motor Transport (MT) Section.

In the gunfight that ensued between the Garud commandos and the terrorists, one Garud Commando, Cpl Gursevak Singh, was killed and two others were injured. The terrorists also specifically targeted fuel tanks of the vehicles parked in the MT Section setting them on fire, causing severe damage to the vehicles and the buildings, so as to cause panic.

During the operation, seven persons were martyred and 37 persons were injured inside the Air Force Station, Pathankot.

During investigation, NIA investigators collected sufficient evidence in terms of statements of the witnesses to establish that the terrorists had been trained, motivated and radicalised by Maulana Masood Azhar and Mufti Abdul Rauf.

It has also been established through legal intercepts and statements of witnesses, that Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif had guided, equipped and launched the four terrorists, who carried out the terrorist attack at the Air Force Station, Pathankot, killing and injuring innocent persons and destroying public property.

The recoveries from the scene of crime, material and documentary evidence, forensic reports and extensive call data analysis, conclusively establish the complicity of the terrorists of JeM, in the attack at the Pathankot Airbase.

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Rejecting the charges levelled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on opposition parties over demonetisation drive, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Monday said the former is trying to mislead people, who will not forgive him for this.

"If he says the demonetisation will help to arrest black money holders, then first he must answer as to why till now not even one accused has been arrested. Prime Minister's remark is beyond reality. He is trying to mislead people by his statement and people will not forgive him for this," BSP leader Sudhindra Bhadoria told ANI.

Echoing similar sentiments, Samajwadi Party leader Shahid Siddiqui said the Prime Minister should get his facts correct before making such statements.

"The entire nation is against black money, but the Prime Minister is not telling the exact truth to the people. It is the people who are suffering the most, despite of having money they are not able to withdraw their cash, this is a very shameful situation," said Siddiqui.

Prime Minister Modi earlier on Monday criticised the opposition for disruptions in Parliament, maintaining that the government only wanted to scrap black money, whereas the opposition wanted to shut Parliament.

Addressing a Parivartan rally in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Modi said, "It has happened for the first time that some people raised slogans in parliament to help dishonest people. The agenda of the government was to scrap black money, but the opposition wanted to shut parliament. The government wanted to debate, but the opposition ran away; they were scared."

He further said the nation is divided in two parts, on one side there are political leaders who are working to protect black money, corruption and dishonesty, and on the other side, is the nation which is ready to do anything to walk the path of honesty.

Talking about donations to political parties, PM Modi said, much time is wasted and no development activities take place because the nation almost always is in election mode.

Taking potshots at the Congress party, the Prime Minister said, "People used to say that Rajiv Gandhi has given computers, and today when I say to make mobile phones your bank, they say where is the phone?"

"One side they (the opposition) say that the poor people don't have bank accounts, and on the other side, they say poor people are not given money when they go to the banks.don't mislead the people," PM Modi said.

"Before demonetisation, there was 1,000 rupee note, nobody cared for Rs. 500 and Rs. 100 notes, and now, the value of Rs. 100 is seen post the November 8 directive," he added.

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Reserve Bank Governor Urjit Patel will brief the Parliamentary Committee on Finance about the demonetisation process and its impact on Thursday.

Since banning of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes on the 8th of last month, the Government has taken a host of measures like Service Tax sops and incentives for promote digital payment and ease the problems arising out of less currency being available in the market.

RBI last week said that 12.44 lakh crore rupees in demonetised notes have been collected at banks. Also, banks have issued 4.61 lakh crore rupees to the public since November 8-9 through ATMs and bank counters.

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The Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai in a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Alexander Mantytskiy, said that Moscow's support is necessary for effective talks with the Taliban.

He said the role of regional countries is important for peace talks in Afghanistan.

The Khaama Press quoted Karzai, as saying that the menace of terrorism is dangerous for the region.

Reaffirming Moscow's support in different sectors with Afghanistan, the Russian Envoy reiterated efforts to restore peace and stability in the country.

Russia is mainly concerned about the worsening situation in northern provinces of the country due to an attempt by the loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group to expand their foots in the country.

The Russian Envoy to United Nations, Vladimir K. Safronkov had earlier stressed on the need to prevent foreign terrorist fighters from spilling into Afghanistan.

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Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai has in a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Alexander Mantytskiy said that Moscow's support is necessary for effective talks with the Taliban.

He said the role of regional countries is important for peace talks in Afghanistan.

Khaama Press quoted Karzai, as saying that the menace of terrorism is dangerous for the region.

Reaffirming Moscow's support in different sectors with Afghanistan, the Russian envoy reiterated efforts to restore peace and stability in the country.

Russia is mainly concerned about the worsening situation in northern provinces of the country due to an attempt by loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group to expand their foots in the country.

The Russian Envoy to United Nations, Vladimir K. Safronkov, had earlier stressed on the need to prevent foreign terrorist fighters from spilling into Afghanistan.

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Two goals from star striker Luis Suarez saw Barcelona thrash local rivals Espanyol 4-1 in their La Liga clash at the Camp Nou here on Monday.

The Spanish giants remained in possession throughout the match, with Suarez putting his side ahead in the 18th minute after a brilliant pass from Andres Iniesta.

The Uruguayan, who recently signed a new five-year extension deal with Barcelona, then doubled his side lead in the 67th after a mazy run from Lionel Messi, the Guardian reported.

Just a minute later, Barcelona pulled back one more goal via defender Ramos Jordi Alba before Espanyol's David Lopez finally opened their account in the 79th minute.

After assisting Suarez and Alba, Messi scored the goal of his own in the dying minutes to bring Barcelona's league commitments for 2016 to a stylish close.

With the win, Barcelona have moved to second place in the table and slashed down their gap with the La Liga leaders Real Madrid to three points ahead of the winter break.

Barcelona will now lock horns against Villarreal in their next La Liga clash on January 9.

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After the elimination of gangster Nayeem on August 8, the Telangana Police have filed charge-sheets in two cases against the gang and another 15 charge sheets are ready to be filed, a statement issued by the state government.

Police claimed that so far the involvement of Nayeem's gang had been established in 27 murder cases and their involvement is suspected in another 25 murder cases. Within a short period, police said, they have collected details of several cases in which the gang is involved and secured material evidence.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao said the public are relieved with the atrocities and extortions of Nayeem and are feeling sigh of relief and breathing freely after his death. He also appreciated the state police for exhibiting high efficiency with full dedication in handling the Nayeem issue.

Considering the serious nature of the crime committed by the Nayeem gang, the state government has appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the crimes comprehensively, following which four special teams were constituted under the supervision of SIT to "effectively" carry out investigation of the cases registered against the gang, the statement said.

During the raids conducted on the hideouts of Nayeem gang across the state, police seized 21 fire arms,21 cars, 26 motorcycles and cash worth Rs 2 crore, 95 lakhs, 9 thousands and eighty.

They also seized documents of properties registered in the names of the family and friends of Nayeem - including land to the extent of 1,015 acres, house sites to the extent of 1,67,000 Sq. Yds, and 27 residential houses. The registered value of the properties seized is estimated to be Rs.143,94,05,198, said the statement.

Nayeem was killed during the exchange of fire with the Telangana Police on August 8.

Acting on a tip-off that Nayeem's gang was moving with deadly weapons in the Millennium Township area of Shadnagar, a police reached the spot and tried to arrest of the gang. But the exchange of fire ensued, in which Nayeem lost his life.

Police seized one AK47 rifle, one 9 mm pistol and ammunition from the scene.

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Another feather has been added to Rajasthan tourism's cap with the inauguration of a wax museum in the state's capital, Jaipur.

The Jaipur Wax Museum, which has wax sculptures of around 25 personalities, was opened on Saturday at the 18th century built Nahargarh Fort, which overlooks the city.

Bollywood actor Govinda, who was accompanied with his wife Sunita Ahuja inaugurated the museum and unveiled the statue of megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

"I would like to congratulate the organisers for the museum and I hope there will more activities like this in Jaipur," the actor told media here.

He also thanked the organisers and said that such talented artists should be encouraged for their good work.

Speaking to media about the museum, the creators said that the people would get to see the sculpture of the personalities and great warriors like Maharana Pratap and Sawai Jai Singh here.

Although it is tough task for museum operators to maintain the wax temperature as it might melt due to scorching heat in Rajasthan.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday criticised the Congress Party for politicising the issue of the army chief appointment, and said that this tug of war is unbecoming and security should be paramount.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI, "Such kinds of tugs of war on such an important security issue is unbecoming. We should all rise above petty-politics and think of security first."

On Saturday, the government announced the name of Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat as the new Chief of Army Staff and Air Marshal B.S. Dhanoa as the new Chief of Air Staff.

Lt.Gen. Rawat, who took over as Vice-Chief of Army Staff in September 2016, bypassed Eastern Commander Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi (Armoured Corps) and Southern Commander Lt. Gen. P.M. Hariz (Mechanised Infantry) to bag the coveted post.

Lieutenant General Rawat has remarkable experience of serving in combat areas and at various functional levels in the Indian Army over the last three decades.

The Army veterans on Sunday came to the rescue of the government, which has been drawing flak post the decision to appoint Lt. Gen. Rawat as the next army chief, and said that seniority was not the only aspect taken into consideration prior to making an appointment for such a coveted post.

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Engineers India gained 3.37% to Rs 315.50 at 15:06 IST on BSE after the company announced that it has fixed 2 January 2017 as the record date for issuing 1:1 bonus shares.

The announcement was made during market hours today, 19 December 2016.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 81.36 points or 0.31% at 26,408.20

On the BSE, 2.34 lakh shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 2 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 317.80 in intraday trade so far, which is 52-week high for the counter. The stock hit a low of Rs 307.30 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 143.25 on 17 February 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past 30 days till 16 December 2016, rising 14.61% compared with the 1% rise in the Sensex. The scrip also outperformed the market in past one quarter, gaining 19.22% as against Sensex's 7.38% decline.

The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 168.47 crore. Face value per share is Rs 5.

Engineers India had on 16 November 2016 said that its board has approved 1:1 bonus issue of shares.

Engineers India's net profit rose 21.42% to Rs 93.75 crore on 22.6% decline in total income to Rs 394.99 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

State-run Engineers India provides engineering consultancy and EPC services, mainly to the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. The company has also diversified into sectors like infrastructure, water and waste management, solar and nuclear power and fertilizers to leverage its strong technical competencies and track record. The government of India holds 59.37% in Engineers India (as per shareholding pattern as on 30 September 2016).

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Record date is 02 January 2017

Engineers India has fixed 02 January 2017 as the record date for the purpose of ascertaining the eligibility of shareholders for issuance of Bonus shares in the ratio of 1:1 i.e. 1 (one) new equity bonus share of Rs. 5/- each for every 1 (one) existing fully paid-up equity share of Rs. 5/- each held, subject to the approval of shareholders in the 15th Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the Members of the Company to be held on 23 December 2016 at 3:00 p.m. (IST) at Engineers India , NH-8, Sector-16, Gurugram-122001 (Haryana).

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For Rojmal Wind Farm and others

Gujarat Industries Power Co announced that the Company has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) for a period of twenty five years with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam (GUVNL) for the entire 26 MW (13 x 2 MW) Wind Farm capacity of the Rojmal Wind Farm viz.; for 18 MW (9x2 MW) on 20 September 2016 and for 8 MW (4x2 MW) on 16 December 2016.

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For manufacture of EHV cables above 220 kV and up to 400 kV

KEI Industries has signed Technical Collaboration Agreement with Brugg Kabel AG, Switzerland based 116 year old group to manufacture Extra High Voltage Cables above 220 kV and up to 400 kV at its manufacturing plant/ facility located at Chopanki, Alwar, Rajasthan.

Earlier, the Company had signed Technical Collaboration Agreement with Brugg Kabel for manufacturing of Extra High Voltage cables above 66 kV and up to 220 kV in December 2009 which was later extended in November 2014 for a period of five years.

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MSR India rose 2.16% to Rs 52 at 14:19 IST on BSE after the company said it bagged an order worth Rs 50 lakh from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

The announcement was made during trading hours today, 19 December 2016.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was down 58.42 points, or 0.22%, to 26,431.14.

On the BSE, so far 2,398 shares were traded in the counter, compared with average daily volumes of 21,214 shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 52.15 and a low of Rs 51 so far during the day.

The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 150 on 20 April 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 35.10 on 30 November 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past 30 days till 16 December 2016, sliding 15.87% compared with the 1% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, falling 24.14% as against Sensex's 7.38% decline.

The small-cap company has equity capital of Rs 31.44 crore. Face value per share is Rs 5.

MSR India said it secured prestigious Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (ISRO) order for manufacturing special purpose components. The company bagged this contract for second time after completing its first order in a record time.

After entering into aerospace & defense sector, this is a biggest achievement for the company to bag consecutive order from ISRO. The company said it expects to generate huge revenue from these work orders.

Net profit of MSR India rose 137.5% to Rs 0.19 on 9.7% rise in net sales to Rs 41.69 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

MSR India's product portfolio consists of copper bottles, ready-to-eat energy powder, FMCG products, extrusion and forging products. The company makes special purpose components for aerospace & defense industry.

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On 16 December 2016

PTL Enterprises announced that the scheme of demerger of Medicare and Healthcare Undertaking of PTL Enterprises into Artemis Global Life Sciences (formerly known as PTL Projects ) was sanctioned by the Hon'ble High Court of Kerala on 16 December 2016.

The Company is yet to receive the certified copy of the order from the Hon'ble High Court of Kerala for the same.

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Some 1,000 policemen on Monday searched the sprawling JNU campus here for Najeeb Ahmed but failed to find clues which could lead them to the student who went missing over two months ago.

The Crime Branch personnel, assisted by other wings of Delhi Police, will resume the search on Tuesday at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, officials said.

The massive search operation, the first of its kind since Najeeb went missing on October 15, involved all 18 hostels, dhabas, the administrative block, the academic centres as well as sewer lines and drains.

The search began around 7 a.m. and ended some 10 hours later when it began to get dark.

Twenty sniffer dogs were involved in the operation that covered 60 per cent of the forested area in the campus, a police officer said.

"There could be a strong possibility that someone killed Najeeb and buried him or decomposed his body inside the campus," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav said.

Najeeb's family, however, complained that the search had come too late.

"The police officers were not inclined to talk for most part and just kept on with the search," Mujeeb, a cousin of Najeeb, told IANS.

"We have been telling them to search the campus from day one but they wouldn't listen. Nor did the JNU administration pressurise police to take action in earnest, I believe," he said.

"Moreover, the whole exercise is largely futile now as one of the dog handlers himself told me that clues, if there had been any, would have vanished by now," he added.

The JNU Students Union (JNUSU) denounced the campus search as absurd and the police methodology as clueless.

"After 65 days of Najeeb's disappearance, this is the state of affairs," JNUSU President Mohit Pandey said.

"The police earlier worked like a puppet of the central government. Now, to save their face before the court, they are doing absurd exercises," he said.

The search teams were divided into 11 zones, headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police G. Ramgopal Naik.

"The search operation was conducted on the order of Delhi High Court," officer Yadav said.

"Police may also conduct polygraphic test on suspected individuals, if needed."

Some residential areas in the campus and interiors remain to be scanned.

Police said the possibility of Najeeb meeting an accident outside the campus was not ruled out. And so records at hospitals and mortuaries here were also looked into.

Police are trying to crack the mystery behind Najeeb's disappearance.

The young student went missing after a reported brawl on the night of October 14 with activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad (ABVP), the RSS student wing. The ABVP has denied any link with his disappearance.

Najeeb was last seen at the JNU campus main gate while hiring an auto-rickshaw to reportedly go to Jamia Millia Islamia campus on October 15.

Police have raised the reward amount for providing information that could help locate Najeeb from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

The Delhi High Court has said the police were free to search Jamia Millia too.

--IANS

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UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, has said that over 220 million kids reside in 20 conflict zones around the world.

"More than 220 million children live in 20 countries hit by armed conflicts around the world, including eight Arab countries and eight African countries," Zerougui said, Xinhua news agency has reported.

Zerougui said this on the sidelines the 4th High Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa being held in Oran, 420 km from Algiers on Sunday.

The UN official said a total of 65 million people fled these conflict zones, including 28 million children, as these tragic events were affecting the future generations.

She also cited six major and serious violations against children -- mutilations, executions, sexual violence, forced recruitment, attacks on schools and hospitals, abductions and denial of access to humanitarian aid.

--IANS

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At least 3,500 people have left government-besieged areas in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo since the evacuation resumed Monday, a British war monitor said.

Some 500 others left Shiite towns besieged by rebels as part of the same deal, it said, Efe news reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) on Monday said 65 buses left the final pocket of rebel-held territory in Syria's largest city, Aleppo.

To the west, in Idlib, some 500 people left Fua and Kefraya which were encircled by fighters from the Front for the Conquest of the Levant (formerly known as the al-Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda).

The evacuation operations were organised by opposition-aligned Turkey, alongside pro-Syrian government Russia and Iran.

The evacuation of Aleppo was suspended on Friday when the ceasefire collapsed.

On Saturday, a new agreement was reached that included the evacuation of Fua and Kefraya, a clause pursued from the onset of negotiations by the Iranian militias fighting on Syrian soil.

On Sunday, the evacuations were thwarted again when Islamist fighters from the Jund al-Asqa group (a Nusra Front offshoot) burned the buses that had arrived to evacuate the besieged Shiite settlements.

According to SOHR estimates, by the time operations were halted on Friday, around 8,500 had left eastern Aleppo.

A doctor who remained in east Aleppo told Efe that some 50,000 people remained in the embattled rebel-district.

Aleppo was effectively divided in two, when it was drawn into the conflict in 2012.

For years opposition factions held on to the eastern districts, while Bashar al-Assad's government was largely restricted to the west.

Since the launch of the November 15 military advance by Assad troops (backed by Russian airstrikes and foreign militias on the ground) the Damascus government has recaptured the overwhelming majority of the ancient city.

--IANS

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At least 33 persons have died in the Siberian city of Irkutsk in the last 24 hours after drinking an alcohol-based lotion, local emergency services said on Monday.

The regional department of the Russian investigation committee reported that 54 persons have been hospitalised and 33 have died, reports Efe.

Irkustk Mayor Dmitri Berdnikov declared a state of emergency in the city on Monday and announced a provisional ban on the sale of all kinds of liquids containing alcohol if they are not certified alcoholic beverages.

Additionally, the committee ordered the seizure of the product, which on its label clearly indicates that it is only for external use.

The Russian Ministry of Health said product samples were being analysed.

According to local media, because of recession in the Russian economy, low-income Russians cannot afford to buy legitimate liquor and use alcohol-based products such as fragrances and lotions.

This has increased the number of fatal poisonings, especially during winter, when alcohol consumption usually increases.

--IANS

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An eventful year in terms of Delhi politics, 2016 saw a new chapter in the AAP versus central government tussle continuing the drama of last year when the Anti-Corruption Branch was "hijacked" and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office was raided -- with experts saying development had suffered and this situation needs to be rectified once and for all.

This year saw a severe setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) when the Delhi High Court recognised Lt. Governor as the administrative head of the Delhi government.

This prompted Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to set up a panel to probe over 400 files related to various decisions taken by the Delhi government ever since coming to power, which it called "illegal".

However, the AAP government quickly moved the Supreme Court against the August 4 High Court decision and hopes to gain back lost ground in 2017.

"We have full faith in the Supreme Court and that's why we have approached them. It is our firm belief that in the coming days, things will become clear and we will get justice from the Supreme Court," Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said when asked about the AAP government's expectations from the apex court.

What may boost the Delhi government's confidence was the Supreme Court's observation made last Wednesday that the elected government should have "some powers" in order to function properly. The Supreme Court has listed the case for final disposal on January 18.

The confrontation between the Delhi government and the Centre escalated from the very first day of the year when Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lt Governor Jung of allegedly masterminding the CBI raid at the Delhi Secretariat and the mass casual leave taken by IAS officers here just a day before the first edition of the odd-even scheme was to take off.

In March this year, the AAP government appointed former Chief Income Tax Commissioner Krishna Saini as Chairperson of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) without taking Jung's approval.

In September, after the August 4 High Court verdict giving primacy to the LG, Jung scrapped Saini's appointment ab initio, rendering all decisions taken by him void, and asked the government to start the selection process from the beginning as per the law.

Kejriwal called it a "conspiracy" by the BJP-led Centre to increase power tariff in the national capital as "Saini had issued many orders since his appointment to fix the accountability of power companies".

Another flashpoint in the AAP-LG row was when Jung removed Delhi's Health Secretary Tarun Seem and PWD secretary Sarvagya Srivastava -- both officers instrumental in the implementation of the Delhi government's Mohalla Clinic (Neighbourhood Clinic) project.

In response, Kejriwal said Modi was "hell bent on destroying Delhi through the Lt Governor".

Interestingly, Seem's replacement, Chandraker Bharti, has constantly been at loggerheads with the government, the most recent instance being his "refusal to visit a hospital along with Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain where a patient died due to non-availability of a ventilator".

The tension between LG and the elected government extended to the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) as well when Jung appointed Alka Diwan as its Member Secretary in October.

Diwan stopped payment of salaries to contractual employees of DCW, prompting Kejriwal to seek her removal, terming her appointment unconstitutional and against the Delhi government's wishes.

Jung then replaced Diwan with another IAS officer, Dilraj Kaur. Kejriwal rejected her appointment and directed P.P. Dhal to officiate in the position.

Constitutional expert and former Lok Sabha Secretary General Subhash C. Kashyap feels that the tussle is taking a toll on development in the national capital.

"It is a very sad state of affairs. The tussle between the Centre and the Delhi government is certainly affecting the development works in the city. Those suffering are the people who voted AAP to power," Kashyap told IANS.

He said the government is run with "cooperation" and "collaboration", not with "confrontation".

Pointing to Kejriwal's predecessor, Sheila Dikshit, Kashyap said if the elected government had taken the Lt. Governor in confidence from the beginning, this situation would not have arrived.

As for the future prospects of the tussle, Kashyap said: "It will depend on the results of the Punjab, Goa and Uttar Pradesh assembly elections (in 2017) and what lesson the AAP takes from them."

Former Lok Sabha Secretary General P.D.T. Achary said the Supreme Court will decide the matter of jurisdiction once and for all, putting all controversies to rest.

"Whichever way the Supreme Court decides, at least the public will know the government's powers. Whether the High Court verdict is upheld or overruled, all controversies will end," Achary told IANS.

Achary, however, said the elected government should enjoy certain powers, otherwise there is no point in creating an assembly and a council of ministers.

"As per the constitution, the elected government and the council of ministers are collectively responsible to the legislature. If the LG has all the powers then this provision of the constitution loses its meaning," he said.

"In that case who will be responsible for governance?"

Achary added that Delhi currently faces a peculiar situation due to the prevailing confusion over the matter of jurisdiction.

"Due to this, the governance in the city is at a standstill and the government has become powerless. The only hope is that the apex court takes the final decision and ends all the confusion," he added.

In the meantime, several decisions of the elected government -- including the bus lane policy, mohalla clinics in schools and raising the minimum wages of labourers are still under the Lt Governor's scrutiny.

(Ashish Mishra and Vishav can be contacted at ashish.m@ians.in and vishav@ians.in)

--IANS

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Amnesty International (AI) has released a report on Monday saying the alleged attacks against the Rohingya Muslim minority by the Myanmar army may be considered crimes against humanity.

The report came on the day the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' foreign ministers were to meet in Yangon to address the ongoing Rohingya crisis in the western Rakhine state, Efe news reported.

Amnesty said Myanmar soldiers were responsible for executions and rapes in a campaign of violence against Rohingyas in Maungdaw district, north of Rakhine, flouting international law.

Neighboring Bangladesh was pushing back thousands of refugees as the crisis continued, it said.

Following interviews with Rohingyas in Myanmar and Bangladesh and analysis of satellite images, the London-based NGO accused Myanmar military of shooting Rohingya civilians and burning their houses.

"The deplorable actions of the military were part of a widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population and may amount to crimes against humanity," said Rafendi Djamin, AI's Southeast Asia director.

Djamin said the de facto leader of the Myanmar government, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has "failed to live up to both her political and moral responsibility".

"She has failed to try to stop and condemn what is unfolding in Rakhine State," Djamin added.

The Myanmar army launched a military operation in Maungdaw following an armed assault, blamed on Rohingya insurgents, on three border police posts on October 9, which left nine officers dead.

Independent observers and humanitarian aid was blocked from the area and more than 30,000 people, most of them Rohingya, were forced to flee. At least 27,000 fled to Bangladesh, according to the UN.

Amnesty said the Myanmar army has raped, shot and killed men, women and children, fired on villagers from helicopters, and burned down hundreds of houses.

Fatimah, a 32-year-old Rohingya woman who fled to Bangladesh, told Amnesty that soldiers raped her in a rice field near her village.

"Three military officers raped me. I don't remember what happened next because I fell unconscious. I woke up early the next morning. I could not get up so I crawled across the paddy field," she said.

Amnesty said the Rohingya fleeing the soldiers were forced into hiding in camps or in the jungle, living in miserable conditions.

It urged Bangladesh to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees.

Rakhine is home to more than one million Rohingya, a community not recognised as citizens in Myanmar and often shunned as Bangladeshi immigrants.

Around 120,000 of them live severely restricted lives in 67 camps since the outbreak of sectarian violence in 2012, when at least 160 people were left dead.

Bangladesh, for its part, also considers the Rohingyas as foreigners.

--IANS

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said cashless economy is not possible in India now and added that it will take its own time to take shape with the development of the country.

"At present, a cashless economy is not possible in the country. Cash-based transactions will decrease slowly with the pace of our development process," Nitish Kumar told media here.

He said even a developed country like the US has only 40 to 45 per cent cashless economy.

Nitish Kumar reiterated that his support to demonetisation has nothing to do with the BJP.

"Only demonetisation is not enough to root out black money. The central government will also have to initiate action against benami properties."

He said: "We will come out with a 'point-by-point' analysis of the note ban after December 30, the deadline fixed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for normalisation of the situation."

--IANS

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Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said that the central government's campaign for cashless economy, involving digital transactions, net and mobile banking, is an "effective mission to establish clean, honest and transparent system".

Addressing a 'Cashless Chaupal' organised by his Minority Affairs Ministry at Dalpatpur in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad city, hei informed people about benefits of digital transactions, online and mobile banking.

"India being the largest democracy of the world, where 100 per cent electronic voting system has been successful, the same way digital transactions, online and mobile banking will be successful," an official release here quoted him as saying.

"As the electronic voting system has been a great success as it ensured transparency in elections, likewise the campaign of digital transaction will succeed," he added.

The minister said that digital transactions will strengthen the country's taxation system as more and more people will be brought under the income tax system.

"Cashless system will also help farmers, small traders of the country," he added.

Naqvi also appealed to the Muslims and other sections of the society to join the government's campaign and help in eradicating the "cancer of corruption".

He said that small shopkeepers, traders will be able to compete with big companies by adopting digital payment system, while the cashless economy will also reduce burden on the banking system.

--IANS

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The CBI on Monday said that it has filed the chargesheet against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's former Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar and others in a corruption case.

"We have filed chargesheet recently in the court against Rajendra Kumar and other people and also against the Endeavour systems," Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spokesperson Devpreet Singh told IANS.

Rajendra Kumar, a 1989-batch IAS officer, was accused of abusing his official position in awarding Delhi government contracts totalling Rs 9.5 crore to private firm Endeavour Systems Pvt Ltd.

Arrested on July 4 on charge of involvement in corruption, he was granted bail by the court on July 26 and has denied the charges against him.

--IANS

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A special NIA court here sentenced to death five convicts, including the banned Indian Mujahideen's (IM) co-founder Yaseen Bhatkal and a Pakistani national, in the 2013 Hyderabad bomb blasts.

Apart from Bhatkal alias Ahmed Siddibappa Zaraar, and Pakistani national Zia ur Rehman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu, and Aizaz Saeed Shaik alias Aijaz Shaikh were convicted by the court on December 13 for offences including waging war against the nation, criminal conspiracy and murder.

The twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar area on February 21, 2013, killed 18 persons, including one unborn child in mother's womb, and injured 131 others.

Public Prosecutor V. Surender Rao told reporters that based on the peculiar facts and circumstantial evidence, the judge concluded that the case fell in the category of "rarest of rare" case and the convicts deserve capital punishment.

The convicts said they will challenge the NIA court's order in the High Court and sought a copy of the judgement, the prosecutor said.

The death sentence was pronounced under sections 302 Aand 121 of Indian Penal Code, section 3B Explosive Substance Act and section 16 of Unlawful Activities Act.

Rao said the court would send the record to the high court and after it confirms the death sentence, it will be implemented. The convicts, however, will still have option to challenge it in Supreme Court and even seek President's pardon.

Tight security arrangements were made since morning at Cherlapally Jail, where the special court pronounced the judgement.

The public prosecutor said the court asked the convicts if they have anything to say but they just asked the judge to pronounce his sentence. After the sentence was pronounced, the convicts showed no emotion. "They were absolutely normal. They were not angry or showed any remorse or repentance," he said.

Earlier, the convicts submitted letters to the court stating that they have no confidence as the trial was conducted in a hasty manner.

After taking the letters into consideration, the judge pronounced the sentence. He found that the cruel act of the convicts fell in the "rarest of rare" case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought death penalty on the ground that the accused planned and executed bomb blasts, killing many people and later went on to carry out another bombing.

According to NIA, this is the first case in which any operative of the Indian Mujahideen have been convicted and sentenced.

The NIA counsel termed the verdict as a victory for investigations and for people who came out as witnesses. They include witnesses who recorded their statements regarding the stay of the accused in Mangluru, their visit to Hyderabad, stay in Qutbullapur on the city outskirts, purchase of pressure cookers and cycles.

Bhatkal is brother of Riyaz Bhatkal, the brain behind the blasts, who is absconding and suspected to be hiding in Pakistan. The NIA has already issued Interpol Red Corner notice for him.

The public prosecutor said NIA had collected evidence against Riyaz and once he is arrested, the record will be produced before the court.

Bhatkal brothers are from Bhatkal town of Karnataka, while Rehman is a resident of Mustafabad of Pakistan's Punjab province, Asadullah Akhtar from Uttar Pradesh while Tahseen Akhtar and Aizaz Saeed are residents of Bihar and Maharashtra respectively.

All five were convicted for offences including waging war against nation, criminal conspiracy and murder.

The investigating agency filed three charge sheets in the case. Charges were framed against the five accused on July 16, 2015 and the trial commenced on August 24 the same year.

The NIA said during the trial, the prosecution examined a total of 157 witnesses.

The twin blasts occurred within a distance of 100 metres at crowded places in shopping area Dilsukhnagar on the evening of February 21, 2013.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A special NIA court here sentenced to death five convicts, including Indian Mujahideen (IM)) co-founder Yaseen Bhatkal in the 2013 Hyderabad bomb blasts.

The court had on December 13 held Bhatkal and four other operatives of the banned IM, including a Pakistani national, guilty in the twin blasts in the city's Dilsukhnagar area on February 21, 2013, which killed 18 persons, including one unborn child in mother's womb, and injured 131 others.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Madras High Court on Monday declared that a Shariat court cannot function from the Makkah Masjid a mosque here, said a senior advocate.

The court also ordered the state government to ensure that such a court does not function and file a status report.

The court passed the order after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Abdur Rahman, senior advocate A. Sirajudeen told IANS.

The Makkah Masjid is located on Anna Salai, Chennai's main arterial street.

According to the petitioner, the Shariat Council was functioning like a court.

The High Court made it clear that religious places are meant to be used only for religious purposes.

The petitioner approached the Shariat Council first so that he can live again with his wife. But he was forced to give a divorce and hence he decided to approach the High Court, Sirajudeen said.

--IANS

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India and the Czech Republic on Monday discussed the entire gamut of their bilateral relationship, stressing on defence and commercial ties.

At a meeting between Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar and visiting Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek here, the two sides discussed bilateral issues as well as important global and regional issues of mutual interest, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"India and Czech Republic have robust economic ties, with annual bilateral trade being $1.2 billion. Additionally, a number of Indian and Czech companies have invested in each otheras country," it said.

"There is a mechanism of Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation co-chaired by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India and Minister of Trade and Industry of Czech Republic from the respective sides, for discussing the ways and means of strengthening economic ties."

According to the statement, defence cooperation is an important component in India-Czech ties.

"There is a mechanism of India-Czech Joint Defence Committee meetings that met last in November 2016. There is a Joint Working Group on heavy engineering; the last JWG (Joint Working Group) meeting took place in October 2016," it said.

The two countries also have a cultural exchange programme and an education exchange programme and engage regularly in discussions on cooperation in science and technology and research and development.

"Minister Zaoralek and Minister M.J. Akbar discussed in detail the possibility of further cooperation in these crucial sectors of mutual interest," the statement said.

"The two Ministers held discussions also on major global issues such as climate change, Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations reforms, terrorism, Multilateral Export Control Regime etc."

They also exchanged views on important developments in the neighbouring regions of both countries.

The last visit of the Czech Foreign Minister to India was in 2013, the Czech Minister of Trade and Industry visited in January 2015 and the Czech Defence Minister in March 2016.

--IANS

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An Israeli parole committee has decided to grant an early release to former President Moshe Katsav, who is jailed for rape and other sexual offences.

A court on Sunday said Katsav could walk free next week, after serving five years of his seven-year sentence, Xinhua news agency reported.

Zion Amir, Katsav's attorney, said the former President burst into tears when he heard of the decision.

His release was postponed for a week to allow the State Attorney's Office, which objects the parole, to appeal against the decision.

Under the terms of his parole, Katsav would have to join a Prison Service rehabilitation programme, and stay under house arrest every night until the end of his parole period.

The committee also imposed restrictions on speaking to the media and forbid him to hold a job position in which he will have woman subordinates.

Katsav, 70, served as Israel's seventh President between 2000 and 2007.

In 2011, he was convicted of two counts of rape of women who worked for him, as well as sexual harassment of others, and obstruction of justice.

He served approximately two-thirds of his sentence, making him eligible to apply for early release, but the parole committee has twice declined his requests because he failed to acknowledge his offences or express any remorse.

Katsav also refused to enroll in a rehabilitation programme for sex offenders inside the prison, a condition required for early release.

However, last week the parole committee said Katsav for the first time acknowledged the suffering of his victims, although he still did not admit committing any crime against them.

It said Katsav was willing to join a rehabilitation programme of the Prison Service outside jail.

--IANS

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Milan (Italy), Dec 19 (IANS/AKI) A court here on Monday handed prison sentences, in absentia, to an Italian woman and her Albanian husband for travelling to Syria to join the Islamic State jihadist group.

The court sentenced Maria Giulia Sergio for nine years jail and her husband Aldo Kobuzi for ten years in what is the first case involving foreign fighters inside the war zone.

The couple is believed to be in Syria after travelling there in early 2015. They were sentenced to prison in absentia, as were Kobuzi's mother and sister, and a woman named Bushra Haik.

Haik was jailed for nine years for converting Sergio and her sister to radical Islam, while Kobuzi's mother Donica Coku and his sister Seriola Kobuzi each got eight years. A Canadian citizen, Haik is believed to be in Saudi Arabia, while Coku and Kobuzi are thought to be in Syria.

The court sentenced Sergio's father, Sergio Sergio to four years in prison for the lesser charge of organising the jihadist journeys. He was arrested in mid-2015.

Sergio cut off relations with his daughters and never wanted to travel to Syria and fight, according to his lawyer, Erika Galati, who said he did not deserve the jail term.

"He just wanted to keep the family together and for this reason allowed himself to be swayed by his daughters," Galati said.

Sergio's other daughter Marianna Sergio was jailed earlier this year after a fast-track trial.

--IANS/AKI

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US President-elect Donald Trump's incoming Chief of Staff has cast doubt on the US intelligence community's finding about the Russian hacking affecting the November 8 presidential poll results, media reports said on Monday.

It has been alleged widely that Russia was responsible for hacks into Democratic emails in an effort to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"It sure would be nice to hear from everybody. If there is this conclusive opinion among all of the intelligence agencies, then they should issue a report or stand in front of a camera and make the case," Reince Priebus told Fox News on Sunday.

Priebus is currently the chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC).

On what it would take for Trump to accept the Russian hacking to be true, Priebus said: "He would accept if these intelligence professionals would get together, put out a report, show the American people that they're actually on the same page."

This was as opposed to "third parties through The Washington Post" that Trump refuses to buy, Priebus told the Fox News.

Meanwhile, CIA Director John Brennan had sent an unclassified letter on Friday to the agency's employees that FBI Director James Comey and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper agree with the CIA's findings on the Russian hacking.

But Priebus said that it was not enough and the intelligence leaders should defend their findings publicly, CNN said in its report on the Fox News interview.

"I mean, we haven't heard from Comey. So, look, I think that these guys should be straight with the American people and come out and say it."

"I don't think they've been clear about it. I think that it's been all over the map," Priebus said.

He said Trump might accept the US intelligence agencies' conclusion, if "They were totally up front and transparent in their opinion as to who, what, where, and how this all happened."

"And I think they'll get there," the RNC chair said, "And when they do, we can hear from the President-elect and get his opinion."

However, Priebus said, "the reality of all of this...that are spinning these reports are... for a political purpose", which, Priebus said, "is to delegitimise the outcome of the election."

Priebus' comments came amid a public spat between Trump's aides and President Barack Obama's White House over Russian hacking.

--IANS

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Dubbing the Narendra Modi government 'deaf and dumb', West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday targeted the Prime Minister, saying the one-time 'chai-wala' has now become a 'Paytm-wala'.

"The Prime Minister used to call himself a 'chai-wala' (tea seller) before. Now he has become a millionaire 'Paytm-wala' (one who endorses e-wallets like Paytm)," Banerjee said addressing a public meeting in West Bengal's Bankura district.

"It is not for him to dictate where the common people would keep their hard-earned money," Banerjee said attacking Modi and the central government over demonetisation, "which has plunged the nation into a big crisis".

"Our nation is now governed by a deaf and dumb government that does not empathise with the common people's sufferings. They are pushing the entire nation towards a crisis through their 'forced governance'," she said.

The Trinamool supremo also accused the Prime Minister of not understanding the real situation in the country and blatantly promoting some private companies.

"The entire nation is troubled since the decision was made, but the Prime Minister is not able to comprehend the real situation.

"If demonetisation is beneficial for the common man, then why are the shopkeepers, farmers and labourers suffering so much," Banerjee asked the crowd present at the meeting.

"The government won't be allowed to suck the poor's blood and take commission from the corporates " she added.

Banerjee has been in the forefront of protests against the Narendra Modi government over the demonetisation issue.

She has already toured states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, besides the national capital Delhi, in her efforts to rally support of all opposition parties.

--IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday awarded HAL with a cheque of over Rs 82 lakh for providing training to apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), an official said.

Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) T. Suvarna Raju received the cheque of Rs 82,19,368 on behalf of his company for playing a constructive role under the NAPS at the 'Kaushal Mahotsava' programme organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, was also present on the occasion.

"As per the scheme, 25 per cent of the prescribed stipend payable to an apprentice is reimbursed to the employers directly by the Government of India. Rs 1,500 per month per apprentice is given by the Government of India to the employers who engage apprentices," an official release said.

HAL engages maximum numbers of apprentices under NAPS.

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), launched on August 19, is a new scheme of Union Government to promote apprenticeship.

In addition to the share of stipend, the Centre also reimburses the cost of basic training, up to a limit of Rs 7,500 for a maximum of 500 hours for three months to Basic Training Providers (BTPs) for apprentices without any formal training.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday laid the foundation stone of the country's first Indian Institute of Skills (IIS). He also inaugurated the 'Kaushal Pradarshini' (Skill Exhibition) for the youth of Uttar Pradesh.

--IANS

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The BJP is contemplating early Gujarat assembly polls to cash in on the recent demonetisation decision, as it believes people perceive the move as a big-ticket initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi against black money.

The elections are due in December next year, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is said to be considering advancing the dates by at least six months, party sources said.

Discussions are in progress among top BJP and RSS leaders, they added.

Frequent visits of the Prime Minister to Gujarat -- he has come five times in recent months -- as well as that of national party President Amit Shah, have given strength to the speculations of early polls which were already going on for some time.

In all, Modi has visited Gujarat eight times since he become Prime Minister.

Shah is at present in Ahmedabad holding "chintan baithaks" (strategy meetings) with state party seniors since Sunday, while Modi will be in the state capital Gandhinagar to inaugurate the much-hyped Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Meet starting January 10.

Meanwhile, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is camping in Gujarat, heading a four-day "pracharak meeting" and is believed to be focusing on the tribal belt of the state.

"We believe the general mood among the people in the state is strongly in favour of Narendrabhai despite all the difficulties caused by demonetisation. They see a dedicated effort to curb black money and fight terrorism," said a senior BJP leader.

The leader, who is privy to the discussions within the party, says that with the passage of time, this mood may not last and "so it is better to go for early elections, along with that in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Goa".

Party leaders feel the Congress, which has been out of power for over two decades, has yet not been able to rustle up public opinion against demonetisation in Gujarat or to build up any local issue against the state government.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov was attacked by unidentified gunmen late Monday in Ankara.

Karlov was shot with a gun while making a speech at a painting exhibition in the Turkish capital, the Russian embassy said, adding it believed that it was a radical Islamist attack.

The attack comes a day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu heads to Moscow for talks on Syria with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.

Private broadcaster CNN Turk said Karlov was in a critical state.

Meanwhile, private broadcaster NTV said three other persons were also injured in the attack.

CNN Turk said the attacker might be still inside the building and that Karlov had not yet been sent to hospital.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Army soldier Saurabh Nandkumar Pharate, who was killed by gunmen in a military convoy attack on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated here on Monday morning with full military honours, officials said.

Pharate, 32, was among the three soldiers killed when gunmen opened fire on the military convoy near Kadlabal in Pulwama district on Saturday.

Hailing from Bhekrainagar in Fursungi, his body was brought from Jammu to Pune on Sunday and kept at the Armed Forces Medical College here, where several thousands of people paid their homage.

Among those who offered their last respects, included Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, who also met the family members of the dead soldier, besides other local political and social bigwigs.

"We remember him a lot... We cherish many memories of Saurabh, how he was always courageous since his childhood and wanted to do something for the nation," said the grieving father, Nandkumar Pharate to Pawar, who consoled him.

Recalling his son's supreme sacrifice for the country, Pharate demanded toughest action by the government against the terrorists responsible for his death.

Saurabh had spent two months on vacation with his family and celebrated the birthday of his twin daughters on October 24.

Following in the footsteps of his elder brother, Saurabh had joined the army around 2003.

After his vacation, he had resumed duties barely a week ago when his entirely family had given him a fond farewell.

He is survived by his wife, twin daughters, a brother also posted in Jammu and Kashmir, and their aged parents.

Many of the grieving mourners from Bhekrainagar and surrounding villages joined the funeral procession amid cries of "Saurabh Pharate Amar Rahe" and "BharatMata Ki Jai".

--IANS

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A soldier was injured in a landmine explosion on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on Monday, police said.

"A soldier identified as Minter Singh of 21 Punjab Regiment was seriously injured in a mine explosion on the LoC in Mendhar sector.

"The injured soldier was immediately evacuated to Mendhar hospital for treatment," said police here.

Landmines are used by security forces to secure infiltration-prone areas on the LoC.

--IANS

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The AAP on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go for cashless donations to political parties if he was serious about curbing black money in .

Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashish Khetan said as of now both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got three quarters of all donations in cash from anonymous sources.

"If the Prime Minister and the central government want to end black money in elections, they can do it in 48 hours," Khetan told the media here.

Under existing law, political parties do not need to furnish the details of their donors if they are contributing up to Rs 20,000.

This provision, Khetan explained, was used to break up large donations, including from corporates, into brackets of Rs 20,000 each so that they do not have to make public the details of donors.

"This will also happen if the upper limit is Rs 2,000," he said, in response to a recent suggestion.

"All political parties should go cashless. Since everyone is being encouraged to use ATM, credit card, debit card and Paytm, why should this not be applicable to political parties?" he asked.

The AAP leader also urged the Prime Minister to amend the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, so that a cap was placed on how much each political party can spend as compared to individual candidates.

He said political parties should also come under the purview of the Right to Information Act so that people can get answers from them.

--IANS

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Ailing External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who underwent a kidney transplant on December 10, is recovering steadily and would be discharged later on Monday, authorities said.

"MEA Minister Sushma Swaraj has shown a speedy recovery after her kidney transplant and is being discharged today (Monday)," said the statement issued by the communication department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

According to the authorities, the minister's post-operative recovery was closely monitored by a team of specialists.

They include transplant surgeons and a team of nephrologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists and pulmonologists, other than anaesthesists and critical care experts. The team also includes hysiotherapists, resident doctors and specialised nurses.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday rejected the opposition demand for a CBI probe into the case relating to slain gangster Nayeem, who allegedly had links with top politicians and police officials.

He assured the state assembly that those found involved in the activities will not be spared, irrespective of the positions they hold and the parties they come from.

Stating that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police is doing is job efficiently and in an impartial manner, Rao said there was no need for handing over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The chief minister made a statement in the assembly on the activities of Nayeem and his associates.

Renegade Maoist-turned-gangster Nayeem was gunned down by police in an alleged exchange of fire on Aug 8 in Shadnagar town near Hyderabad. An AK47, a 9mm pistol and ammunition were recovered.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said for last two and half decades, Nayeem gang committed heinous crimes in Telangana and was carrying out its activities without any hindrance under the rule of the previous governments.

He said soon after the formation of TRS government, it decided to contain Nayeem gang's activities with iron hand.

After the death of Nayeem, people living in fear had a sigh of relief and his victims came out to lodge complaints, he said. Police registered 174 cases. It examined 741 witnesses and arrested 124 accused.

The Chief Minister said during the raids on the gang's hideouts, police seized 21 firearms, 21 cars, 26 motorcycles and Rs.2.95 lakh cash. Police also seized documents of properties registered in the name of the family and friends of the gangster. The registered value properties including over 1,000 acres of land, 27 houses and 1.67 square yard residential plots is estimated to be over Rs 143 crore.

He said the gang's involvement was established in 27 murder cases and it was suspected to be involved in 25 other murder cases.

KCR said police had filed two charge sheets and 15 more charge sheets were ready to be filed.

During the debate, Congress legislator Jeevan Reddy said CBI probe was necessary for an impartial probe as politicians from all political parties were suspected to have links with Nayeem. He wanted the government to produce Nayeem's diary and other material in the court.

Targetting Congress and Telugu Desam Party, KCR said it was no secret which parties created the monster and allowed it to have free run. He reminded Jeevan Reddy that it was during Congress rule that Nayeem escaped from a court.

As a Maoist, Nayeem had killed an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, K.L. Vyas in 1993. After being expelled from the People's War Group (PWG) for indulging in extortion, he turned a police spy to help them effectively counter Left-wing extremism, which was then at its peak. Nayeem had close links with politicians and top police officials and eliminated some top Maoists and their sympathisers in the then united Andhra Pradesh.

--IANS

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Turkey on Monday said it has no intention to bring in Syrian citizens evacuated from the city of Aleppo.

"Turkey prepares to keep these people in their home country in camps to be built by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency and the Turkish Red Crescent," Efe news quoted a Turkish Foreign Ministry official as saying to the foreign press here.

"The idea is to keep these people in and around Idlib," the official said, adding only those wounded, sick or in need of immediate attention might be brought to Turkey.

Turkey is currently hosting more than 2.5 million Syrians fleeing a civil war that has been raging for years.

According to Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak, the number of Syrians evacuated from Aleppo is expected to hit 30,000.

After the evacuation resumed on Sunday, 4,500 more had left eastern Aleppo since midnight, bringing the total evacuees to 20,000.

The evacuation of opposition forces from eastern Aleppo came as part of a Turkish-Russian deal and with the evacuation of the rebels from Aleppo's east, the Syrian army will take control of the entire city.

Foreign Ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran will meet in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the details of the evacuation.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two Maoist guerrillas were arrested after a gun battle with security forces in Jharkhand's Latehar district on Monday, the state police said.

The gun battle between the forces and the Maoist rebels took place at Kasmar village under the jurisdiction of the Herhanj police station of Latehar district, around 140 km from the state capital, according to the police.

The police seized one AK-47 rifle, one Insas rifle, one local-made rifle, live cartridges, three mobile phones and Rs 16,880 in cash.

Maoist guerrillas have been active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The most troubled state in the Indian Union is Jammu and Kashmir and the issues and problems emanating there are largely manufactured ones. Dirty parochial politics has been ruining the state for long. As a matter of fact, Jammu and Kashmir has been lucky enough to get special packages and privileges almost consistently and yet it has failed to translate these benefits into economic gains. However, these privileges do not automatically confer any right on the state to think and act beyond the Constitution of the country. In this context, the recent Supreme Court ruling against any sovereignty to Jammu and Kashmir outside the Indian Constitution is most welcome and appropriate. It is perfectly right that the constitution of the frontier state is subordinate to the nations Constitution.
Sanjiv Kapoor, chief strategy officer of Vistara, the full-service airline from the Tata group, took an AirAsia India flight to Goa. Amar Abrol, CEO of AirAsia India, which is a low-cost airline part-owned by the same group, expressed his gratitude almost instantly. In a late night tweet, Abrol said, Thank you for flying @airasiain to Goa tonight @TheSanjivKapoor. Kapoor returned the favour and called Air Asia family: Always enjoy my flights on AirAsia... Lovely crew and good flight, Kapoor tweeted. Abrol is on record as saying that there is no concept of a full-service airline in India  it is only pricing that affects the choice of an airline in India.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener will kick-start his party's campaign for the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls by addressing a rally here on Tuesday.

"Delhi Chief Minister is going to address a Parivartan rally at Chhola Dussehra Maidan on Tuesday," AAP's convener in Madhya Pradesh, Alok Agrawal, told reporters here on Monday.

"With this rally, we will kick-start our campaign against MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's corrupt government. AAP aims to unseat the BJP in the 2018 state assembly polls," he added.

Kejriwal will reach the state capital at 7.30 am and is scheduled to reach the venue around noon, he added.

"At the rally, Kejriwal will speak on the issue of demonetisation, which has been causing great hardship to the people and was the biggest scam since Independence," Agrawal alleged.

Accusing the Chouhan government of indulging in corruption, he said, "People are tired of the BJP government as it has failed on all counts. The state has been grappling with issues like unemployment, poverty and hunger, among others."

"AAP is an alternative in MP given that the Congress is dead in the state," Agrawal claimed.
The South African military says rebels in eastern Congo have attacked a South African unit that is part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission, killing one soldier and injuring two others.

The military says four rebels were killed and two were captured in the fighting Monday morning near Butembu in Congo's Beni region.

South Africa's statement says its soldiers repelled the rebel attack.

The UN peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo includes a force intervention brigade with a mandate to take offensive military action against rebel groups.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A local court today sentenced 11 RSS activists to double life imprisonment for murdering a CPI(M) worker here in 2008.

Additional Sessions Court judge T K Unnimol said the sentences will run concurrently.

The judge also awarded life imprisonment to another accused and three years to another person.

The court found all the 13 accused guilty of murdering CPI(M) worker Vishnu at Kaithamukku in the city on April 1, 2008.

According to the prosecution, the accused had attacked Vishnu with swords, iron rods and other weapons over political rivalry.

There were 16 accused in the case, of which one was acquitted, one died and another is absconding.

The prosecution examined 77 witnesses, produced 162 exhibits and 65 material objects during the trial.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least 14 people, including women and children, have been injured in a hand grenade attack on a musical programme at a wedding party in restive tribal region in northwest Pakistan, police said.

The incident occurred last night in tehsil Jamrud of Khyber Agency.

The injured, including women and children, have been shifted to hospital, police said.

Khyber Pakhtukhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra has condemned the attack on the wedding ceremony and ordered inquiry into the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two Nepali citizens have been arrested at the airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle 3-kg hashish capsules concealed with dried meat to Hong Kong.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of Nepal Police arrested the two, identified as Abir Sherpaja Magar, 41 and Narman Gurung, 65, on Friday after screening of their baggage at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

"While searching a green suitcase possessed by Magar, the security officials found two bags filled with 308 hashish capsules, mixed with dried meat of buffalo and goat," NCB Inspector Ghanashyam Shrestha said.

During preliminary investigation, police found that the two were supposed to swallow those capsules and smuggle to Hong Kong as per the instructions from their agents based in Hong Kong.

They had purchased the illegal drugs in Kathmandu for NRs 50,000 and were assured of NRs 600,000 for the job.

However, as they were not experienced and feared swallowing hashish capsules, they decided to mix them with the dried meat having similar colour to avoid detection during screening, according to police.

On Sunday, the two were remanded in police custody for further investigation. If proved guilty, the two will be penalised with up to 10 years of imprisonment.

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The year 2016 could go down as one of the worst for Indo-Pak ties as terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups stalled the peace process and India's surgical strikes inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) followed by the trading of heavy fire at the border raised fears of a large-scale conflict.

The year began on a sordid note when on January 2, Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants stormed the Pathankot airbase in Punjab and killed seven security personnel before they were eliminated.

India demanded answers from Pakistan while linking the peace process to action against terrorism emanating from its soil.

The Pathankot attack was devastating for bilateral ties as it followed a brief but important visit to Lahore by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the birthday of his counterpart Nawaz Sharif on December 25 last year.

That trip had come on the heels of a high-level visit by an Indian delegation led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad in early December to attend the Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan.

On the sidelines, she had fruitful talks with Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and the two countries agreed to revive the stalled peace process.

The Indian Foreign Secretary was scheduled to visit Pakistan in mid-January but the Pathankot incident effectively scuttled the momentary thaw in ties.

The relations had not fully recovered from the blow when Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with Indian security forces in Kashmir in July, setting in motion a chain of events which drove Pakistan and India in opposite directions.

In September, matters again came to a head between the two sides when JeM militants assaulted an army camp in Uri and killed 19 soldiers. The Indian government again demanded action from Pakistan.

Just days after the assault, the two sides clashed at the UN General Assembly's (UNGA) annual session, blaming each other for militancy and violation of human rights.

Raking up Kashmir at the UN, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif glorified Wani as a "young leader". Sharif devoted much of his 20-minute speech at the UN General Assembly session to Kashmir and the situation in the Valley and said Pakistan "fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination".

Swaraj delivered a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir, saying those accusing others of rights violations must introspect. India also censured Pakistan for the first time at the UNGA for perpetrating the "worst form of state oppression" in Balochistan.

India's response to the Uri attack, came in the form of "surgical strikes" which Pakistan denied. India carried out "surgical strikes" on seven terror launch pads across the LoC with the Army inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from PoK.

However, the move created a war-like situation on the Line of Control. Dozens of soldiers and civilians were killed and injured in intermittent clashes at the border which went on for weeks.

The two sides blamed each other for "unprovoked firing" and took reciprocal diplomatic action by summoning each other's envoy many times.

A major diplomatic row erupted between the two countries at the end of October when India declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer as persona non-grata for espionage activities after he was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents including deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border.

In swift tit-for-tat action, Pakistan also declared an Indian High Commission official as persona non-grata and asked him to leave the country within 48 hours.

In a further blow to Indo-Pak ties, Pakistan pulled out six officials at its High Commission in November.

The six Pakistani officials, including four senior diplomats, named for spying by a High Commission staffer, who was arrested and expelled for espionage, left India for home as bilateral ties continued to slide.

Pakistan then claimed that the Indian High Commission officials were involved in "espionage, subversion and supporting terrorist activities in Balochistan and Sindh, especially Karachi, sabotaging China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and fuelling instability in the two provinces."

Those Indian officials named by Pakistan also returned to India subsequently.

In late November, another terror attack took place at an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Nagrota in which seven soldiers were killed, leading to further strain in ties.

The animosity between the two countries also shifted to the waters with the Indus Waters Treaty soon coming into focus.

India took strong exception to the World Bank's decision to set up a Court of Arbitration and appoint a Neutral Expert to go into Pakistan's complaint against it over Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, in December, the World Bank paused the separate processes initiated by India and Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements.

Pakistan was also caught on the wrong foot when Aziz admitted that the government was presented with only "insufficient evidence" on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav who is under detention.

Addressing a full Senate chamber, Aziz said the dossier on Jadhav contained mere statements.

December again proved to be an important month for improving the situation.

This year, Amritsar was the venue for the Heart of Asia conference and Pakistan decided to send Aziz for the meeting amid the strain in ties. But, no bilateral meetings with the Indian side could take place and he only exchanged pleasantries with the top Indian leadership.
There has been a 50 per cent drop in poaching by Indian trawlers in Sri Lankan waters due to enhanced patrolling by the Navy and coast guard, the country's fisheries minister has claimed.

The main reason for the decrease is the arrests made by Sri Lanka Navy and coast guard, Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said while addressing a fishing event in the southwestern town of Warakapola yesterday.

Amaraweera said he was so informed by Sri Lankan coastal guards in the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

"At least three Indian fishing boats enter Sri Lankan waters every week, which is nearly 5,000 fishing boats entering our waters illegally each year. This is a huge threat to the Sri Lankan fishing industry," the minister said in the statement.

They harvested 6000 metric tonnes of fish causing Sri Lanka an annual loss of Rs 9000 million.

This has now been reduced by 50 per cent, he said adducing the action by the Sri Lanka Navy and the coastal guard to arrest them as the reason for the drop.

Till 2015 we released the Indian boats after seizing them.

Since I became the fisheries ministers we have not allowed any release and have confiscated them, Amaraweera said.

Indian fishermen practise bottom trawling, which entails scraping the seabed. This not only adversely impacts our marine ecosystem but also has a direct implication for the lives of fisherfolk in Sri Lanka's Northern Province.

India and Sri Lanka has set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries to meet every three months and hold a meeting between the Ministers for Fisheries every six months during extensive ministerial-level talks on possible mechanisms to find a permanent solution to the emotive issue of fishermen.

Last month both governments agreed to the request by the fishermen associations that there should be no violence and no loss of life in the handling of fishermen by the Navies and Coast Guards of the two countries.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Adani Group has entered into a pact with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to train 300,000 youth across the country by 2022.

As a part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), over 40,000 youth will be trained and assisted towards attaining employment per year, the company said in a statement.

To be spearheaded by the Adani Skill Development Center in partnership with the NSDC, the initiative is the brainchild of Adani Foundation, which is the philanthropic, CSR and sustainability arm of the Adani Group.

"Skill development is integral to nation-building and inclusive socio-economic development. We are committed to the government's 'Skill India' initiative which aims to train millions of youth across some of the most remote & underdeveloped parts of the country," Adani Foundation Head- Skill Development Jatin Trivedi said.

"ASDC, with the support of NSDC will facilitate some of the most sought after skills to youths, which will enable broad-based & sustainable economic growth," Trivedi added.

The project involves dredging 1.1 million cubic metres



of soil near the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which will then be disposed of on land.

Asked for her reaction to the letter opposing the project, Palaszczuk quipped, "Those who are writing such letters have good jobs. I know how tough the people are doing in my state."



"We have had some closure of companies like Queensland Nickel, and the Clive Palmer's. With the downturn in the resources industry I have had other mine closures," she said.

"This project is not just a sign of confidence in Queensland. This project by the Adanis is a sign of confidence in regional jobs for families. It will give them such a boost. And all the mayors have commented about that on this trip," the premier said.

She said the Adanis have committed to create 10,000 direct jobs and many thousands indirectly.

Strongly backing the project, Palaszczuk, however, refused to set a time-line for the project, saying "that's a matter for the federal parliament. I understand that we are getting a report back today (last Friday when the interview took place)."



"So, hopefully they will be able to debate it. I know it's very hot on my Prime Minister's agenda. So I am quite sure they will debate it as soon as they possibly can," the premier said.

She also said that the federal parliament will sit in the near future to get the piece of legislation through as the project is a high priority for them.

Asked if her government is ready to offer any warranty for the project against public protest even after the final federal approvals, Palaszczuk said the Australian laws do not provide any such provisions by a state but the federal government can do that.

"Also, there is a legislation pending with the federal parliament in this regard which will insulate large infrastructure projects from public disruption. That federal legislation is before the national parliament at the moment," she said.

"It's been introduced and so that will be debated. But that is the sphere of the federal government and not the state government. So the project is happening in Queensland which I fully support. My government fully supports it," she said.

"I have brought eight regional mayors with me here to India to show our support. We have had a fantastic meeting today (March 17), and tonight with Adani and the board members," she said.
INLD leader Ajay Chautala, who is serving a 10-year jail term in a teachers' recruitment scam case, today approached a Delhi court seeking transfer of a disproportionate assets case against him to another court.

Chautala claimed he apprehends he would not get a fair trial if his case is continued to be tried in the court presided by a special CBI judge, raising questions about the conduct of the presiding officer.

District Judge Ravinder Kaur after hearing the arguments on the transfer petition fixed the matter for January 6, 2017.

Advocate Vaibhavi Sharma, who appeared for Chautala, said "Reasonable apprehensions exists with the applicant/accused that he would not get a fair trial and a fair opportunity to defend himself and prove his innocence" incase the trial is continued in the present case before the special judge.

A similar transfer plea of co-accused Abhimanyu Singh is also pending before the district judge.

The court is currently recording evidence in the DA case in which Ajay, son of former Haryana Chief Minister and INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala, are facing trial.

Two other similar cases are pending before it against his brother Abhay and their father. The cases were filed on a complaint by Haryana Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala.

Ajay is serving 10-year imprisonment awarded in January 2013 by another CBI court in the 1999-2000 junior basic trained (JBT) teachers recruitment scam.

O P Chautala was also sent to 10 years in jail in the JBT case. The Supreme Court had dismissed the appeals of Chautala and Ajay and had upheld their jail term.

CBI had chargesheeted Ajay in 2010 indicting him for possessing assets exceeding his legal income by 339.27 per cent. His legal income between May 1993 and May 2006 was Rs 8.17 crore, but had acquired assets worth Rs 27.7 crore, it had alleged.

All the charges have been denied by Chautala and his sons.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader Akhil Gogoi today alleged the Centre's move to grant citizenship to Bangladeshi Hindu immigrants was a "big conspiracy" and vowed to thwart it.

"I urge all the workers, farmers and common people of Assam from today itself to protect the identity of the state. You will see that in the next three months, we will thwart any attempt to grant citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis," Gogoi told reporters just after coming out of Golaghat jail here.

Assam is in a "crisis" and there is a "big conspiracy" behind granting citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshi immigrants, the RTI activist and KMSS president alleged.

"The BJP government is trying to amend the Assam Accord by amending the Citizenship Act. KMSS will raise a united fight against this move," Gogoi said.

He also declared a fight against "privatisation" of oil fields in Assam through auctions and vowed bring about a logical conclusion to the ongoing investigation on the corruption in Assam Public Service Commission.

The Gauhati High Court had granted Gogoi bail on December 16, paving the way for his immediate release.

On October 2, he was arrested from the middle of a press conference for allegedly instigating people during eviction near Kaziranga National Park, leading to death of two protesters.

Gogoi was first lodged in Nagaon jail for the case, but subsequently he was arrested in connection with various old cases, some as many as 10 years old, registered across the state.

He charged Assam Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of "hatching the conspiracy" of putting him behind bars, mainly to keep him away from the by-polls in Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat and Baithalangso Assembly constituency, besides the recently held Autonomous Council polls.

"I also urge Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to not bow in front of Delhi and Nagpur. He should be the real 'state leader' and work for the people of Assam," Gogoi said.

Talking about the demonetisation measure by the Centre, the peasant leader said it has affected the farmers severely and they are in "deep crisis".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Exporters' body FIEO has requested the RBI to grant permission to Iranian banks for opening branches in India as it could help in facilitating bilateral trade.

According to FIEO Director General Ajay Sahai, five Iranian lenders -- Bank of Pasargad, Saman Bank, Parsian Bank, Bank Mellat and Persia International Bank -- have applied for setting up branches in India.

"We want the RBI to expedite granting permissions for Iranian banks to establish branches in India," Sahai told reporters here.

However, he added, "Let us keep in mind that Iran has not been a very favourable country so far as the RBI is concerned. RBI has its reservations because they are looking at terrorism and other issues".

"The norms which are being followed by RBI for this country (Iran) are a little different than what they follow for others. I am personally of the view that since the sanctions have been lifted, hopefully by January we will see that RBI gives permission to some of them," he said.

Sahai added that the issue of opening branches of Indian banks in Iran has already been taken up.

"Commerce Secretary has already spoken to the chairperson of State Bank of India and UCO Bank. Even IDBI Bank is being encouraged to open a representative office in Iran," he said, addressing an Iranian delegation at a conference.

Sahai said the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has approached the RBI on the issue of granting permission to Iranian banks for opening branches in India.

"This is something which we have referred to the deputy governor of RBI and cited that European Union, which was instrumental in putting the sanctions on Iran, has already provided opening of three branches of an Iranian bank in the city of Munich.

"Therefore India should also come forward and take the lead as the trade opportunities which are coming need to be fructified," Sahai said.

Elaborating on the exports prospects with Iran, he said that India did exceedingly well after the carving out of the rupee payment mechanism in 2012 and 2013 and its bilateral exports rose to close to USD 5 billion in 2014-15.

"Unfortunately, with the softening of crude and commodity prices the exports took a hit in 2015-16. We expect that India's trade to Iran will grow by leaps and bounds particularly now since sanctions have been completely lifted.

"I am aware of some of the challenges which have definitely come in the way of facilitating trade between the two countries. There are numerous issues on the banking front," Sahai pointed out.

Moreover, he said that although a line of credit has been extended by EXIM Bank, the quantum which has been provided is not enough and the products are very limited.

"We have to look into not only extending a large amount of line of credit but looking at the concessional rate which can be provided through these mechanisms," Sahai noted.

He said a feasibility study has been carried out by India on a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Iran, expressing confidence that "very soon we will be ushering into an era of a PTA with Iran".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two armed motorcycle-borne men today looted more than Rs 6 lakh from a businessman when he was going to deposit the cash at a bank here, police said.

Yogendra Nath Shukla, owner of a poultry farm, was robbed of Rs 6.62 lakh when he was going to deposit the cash at a bank along with his business partner Sandip Singh, SHO JagdishpurRK Yadav said.

The incident occurred on the Varanasi-Lucknow National Highway near Jagdishpur Industrial Area. The victim raised an alarm but the accsued managed to escape, he said.

A case has been registered by the victim at the Jagdishpur police station, police said.

Meanwhile, the police rescued 525 tortoise, kept in least 11 bags, from Piparpur area here.

The bags fell after a van carrying them overturned on the Amethi-Durgapur road, they said.

The police informed and handed over the tortoise to the district forest department.

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Security forces today seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition following an encounter with activists of ultra outfit Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) in Latehar district.

Superintendent of Police Anoop Birtheray said one AK 47 rifle, one Insas rifle, two .303 rifles, a 315 bore rifle, 140 cartridges of Insas and 3 magazines, 375 cartridges of AK 47 with two magazines, 294 cartridges of .303 rifle and three magazines, 85 ammunitions of 315 bore were seized.

Besides, Rs 16,380, three mobiles, eight chargers, four pair of uniforms and other items were seized from the hideout of the ultras.

Two persons were also arrested after the encounter that took place at Kasmar village under Harehunj police station area, the SP said.

TPC activists fired at security forces consisting of CRPF personnel who also retaliated following which the ultras fled, he said.

Birtheray, who was accompanied by the Assistant Commandant of CRPF 11 Krishna Choubey, said police had a concrete information about the TPC activists presence in the village.

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Advertising sector watchdog ASCI upheld complaints against 151 misleading advertisements in September, including those of Cadila, Grofers, United Breweries, Hitachi, Berger Paints, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Nissan and Godrej Consumer.

The Customer Complaints Council (CCC) of Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) received 199 complaints for the month. It upheld 75 in the education category, 39 in healthcare category, 10 in food and beverages and 8 in the personal care segment, among others.

The CCC found an advertisement of Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor India for its entry level car Datsun redi-GO "misleading".

"The advertisement's claim, 'Datsun redi-Go starting from Rs 2.39 lakh' was not substantiated with supporting evidence of genuine customers who have availed of this offer, and is misleading by implication," said the ad regulator.

ASCI also pulled up grocery delivery start-up Grofers for its ad claiming to sell Dunky Doos Donut Box of six at Rs 199. According to CCC, it was "misleading by ambiguity and omission" of mention that the price quoted is subject to taxes.

Commenting on the matter, a Grofers spokesman said: "The advertisement carried the price of the product as Rs 199, followed by an asterisk and a further caveat with the words 'T&C Apply'. We firmly believe that this leaves no scope for ambiguity, especially in the context of an online marketplace where a customer is provided the final price chargeable well before purchase."



ASCI also upheld claims against Vodafone India for its ad of Vodafone HD voice calling.

"The advertisement's claim 'Enjoy life-like sound with HD voice calls' was inadequately substantiated and is misleading," said ASCI.

Similarly, it pulled up Idea Cellular for its 'Idea 3G - Exclusive offers' campaign.

"The advertisement's claim, 'Unlimited 2G after free data usage', is misleading by omission of the condition that the 2G data speed is capped at 10 kbps," ASCI said.

ASCI also upheld a complaint against Berger Paints India, which claimed in an advertisement of Berger Express Painting that 'You will be amazed to see how the trained painters use the hi-tech sanding machines to scrape your walls without any dust and use the automatic paining machines to paint the walls perfectly in no time'.

According to the ad regulator, the claims "were inadequately substantiated with supporting evidence and are misleading."



Mails sent to Emami, Vodafone, Idea, Nissan and Godrej Consumers seeking their response remained unanswered.

Cadila Healthcare claimed in an advertisement for



Nutralite that 'indulge in your favourites without worrying about health', which implies that with Nutralite, one can indulge even in not so healthy food, ASCI said.

"It was noted that many other factors contribute to cholesterol in the body and contribution of the advertised product to 'cholesterol lowering' by virtue of being a 'replacement' product is negligible," ASCI said



"The advertisement is likely to exploit consumers' lack of experience and knowledge. It was concluded that while the product does not contain cholesterol, the claim '0 per cent Cholesterol, 0 per cent worries' is misleading by ambiguity and implication," it added.

Godrej Consumer Products also failed to substantiate its claim of Godrej Aer Pocket lasting 30 days.

CCC pulled up Emami Agrotech for an advertisement of its sunflower oil, soyabean oil and refined rice bran oil claiming that their regular consumption helps reduce risk of heart disease, improves skin health and immunity, without inadequately being substantiated.

"In absence of clinical evidence specific to the advertised product, the claims in the advertisement, 'Regular consumption helps reduce risk of heart disease' and 'Lowers bad Cholesterol', attributed directly to the advertised product were inadequately substantiated," it said.

United Breweries Ltd was also pulled up for ad of Heineken, where it placed the brand against a foaming beer background, with the statement 'Born in Amsterdam. Raised in Bengaluru'.

It "appears to be an advertisement for promotion of a liquor product - beer," the ad regulator said.
BJP-ruled Rajasthan has reported the highest number of cases of atrocities against SCs and STs during 2013-15, followed by poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, a new government report said, even as the Centre today flagged the issue of poor conviction rates in such cases.

Rajasthan has registered 23,861 cases under the amended Prevention of Atrocities (PoA) Act, while UP and Bihar registered 23,556 and 21,061 cases respectively, according to the agenda papers for a meeting of a committee to review the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 held here today.

Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil and Gujarat reported 14,016, 9,054, 8,084, 7,565, 6,546, 5,131 and 3,969 such crimes respectively during the years.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment observed that during 2013-15, only 43.3 per cent of the total cases registered (13,8077) were disposed of by courts and 25.7 per cent of total cases disposed of by courts (59,779), ended in conviction.

"In certain states, i.E. Andhra Pradesh (6.3 per cent), Gujarat (3.1 per cent), Karnataka (3.5 per cent), Maharashtra (7.6 per cent), Odisha (4.3 per cent), Tamil Nadu (7.5 per cent), Telangana (7.5 per cent) and West Bengal (3 per cent), the conviction rate was in single digit," the agenda note read.

The committee headed by Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot sought action taken report from state governments to improve the disposal and conviction rates in such cases.

During the meeting, Gehlot pointed out that only 14 states have set up exclusive special courts for speedy trial of cases registered under the PoA Act.

However, he rued there was no information about formation of such courts by 22 states and Union Territories including Delhi, Punjab, Jharkhand, Haryana, Goa, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam etc and urged them to do the needful.

Section 14 of the amended PoA Act provides for establishing of exclusive special courts for one or more districts and where number of cases under this Act is less, specification of Court of Session as a Special Court, with powers to take direct cognisance of the offences under the PoA Act.

The Committee also wanted to know if the relief amount, that has been raised and made between Rs 85,000 to Rs 8,25,000 depending upon the nature of offence, is being given within seven days to the concerned persons as specified in the PoA Rules amended on April 14, 2016.
A gunman who badly wounded Russia's ambassador to Ankara, Andrey Karlov, at an art exhibition today shouted out "Aleppo" and "revenge" as he fired, an eyewitness said.

"When the ambassador was delivering a speech, a tall man wearing a suit fired into the air first and then took aim at the ambassador," Hasim Kilic, a correspondent for the daily Hurriyet, told AFP.

"He said something about 'Aleppo' and 'revenge'." The attack came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia's role in Syria.

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Australia today signed a 10-year aid partnership arrangement to support Pakistan's stability and economic growth, the high commission here said.

Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Margaret Adamson and Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Tariq Bajwa today signed the Australia-Pakistan Aid Partnership Arrangement 2016-2025.

"The arrangement expresses a shared commitment to promote prosperity, reduce poverty and enhance stability in Pakistan," according to statement by the high commission.

It said that the agreement underpinned the continuation of Australia's long-term Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Pakistan, confirming Australia's commitment to support Pakistan in building its economic prosperity and to promote sustainable, equitable development.

"The Australian Government is providing an estimated AUD 47.0 million in total development assistance to Pakistan in 2016-17," it said.

"Australia's aid partnership aligns with and supports Pakistan's development policy, Vision 2025 as well as Australia's own development policy of promoting prosperity, reducing poverty and enhancing stability and is aligned with our mutual international commitments, including on gender equality and human rights," Adamson said.

"The Australia-Pakistan development partnership invests in Pakistan's human capital, as well as building agricultural productivity and the sustainable management of water," Adamson added.

"Australian engagement in the mango value chain has resulted in better mango production, marketing and distribution, strengthening exports of this iconic Pakistan product," she said.

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US assertions that China is the top source of the synthetic opioids that have killed thousands of drug users in the US and Canada are unsubstantiated, Chinese officials told The Associated Press.

Both the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy point to China as North America's main source of fentanyl, related drugs and the chemicals used to make them.

Such statements "lack the support of sufficient numbers of actual, confirmed cases," China's National Narcotics Control Commission told DEA's Beijing office in a fax dated Friday.

In its letter, which the commission also sent to AP, Chinese officials urged the US to provide more evidence about China's role as a source country.

DEA officials said their casework and investigations consistently lead back to China. DEA data also shows that when China regulates synthetic drugs, US seizures plunge.

"China is not the only source of the problem, but they are the dominant source for fentanyls along with precursor chemicals and pill presses that are being exported from China to the US, Canada and Mexico," said Russell Baer, a DEA special agent in Washington.

Beijing is concerned enough about international perceptions of China's role in the opioid trade that after AP published investigations highlighting the easy availability of fentanyls online from Chinese suppliers, the narcotics commission made a rare invitation to a team of AP journalists to discuss the issue at the powerful Ministry of Public Security, a leafy complex just off Tiananmen Square at the historic and political heart of Beijing.

US-China cooperation is essential for mounting an effective global response to an epidemic of opioid abuse that has killed more than 300,000 Americans since 2000.

The presence of fentanyl, a prescription painkiller up to 50 times stronger than heroin, and related compounds in the US drug supply began to rise in 2013, after dealers learned they could multiply profits by cutting the potent chemicals into heroin, cocaine and counterfeit prescription pills.

Even as the US Congress considers legislation to punish opioid source countries, no government agency has produced comprehensive data on seizures of fentanyl-related substances by country of origin.

The national database on drug seizures overseen by DEA does not require reporting by source country and may not accurately reflect seizures of all fentanyl-related compounds. Baer said it didn't even have a "fentanyl" category until around two years ago.

It also takes time for chemists to identify seized drugs, which means fentanyl-related samples may get incorrectly logged as other drugs.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy declined to comment.

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Union Minister Uma Bharti today expressed grief over the demise of noted water conservationist and environmentalist Anupam Mishra.

"Tributes to respected Anupam Mishraji for having a great consciousness towards water. We will continue with his great works," the Union Water Resources Minister tweeted.

68-year-old Mishra, known for his book 'Aaj Bhi Khare Hai Talab', passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences here today morning due to prostate cancer.

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Norway and China announced today the resumption of diplomatic relations, six years after Beijing froze ties with Oslo over the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a Chinese dissident.

The Nobel Peace Prize in October 2010 to human rights activist Liu Xiaobo -- imprisoned in his own country by authorities who consider him a "criminal" -- had angered the Chinese regime so much that it suspended its ties with Norway.

During a surprise visit to Beijing by Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende on Monday, the two nations issued a joint declaration announcing the thaw in their ties.

"The Norwegian government reiterates its commitment to the one-China policy, fully respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, attaches high importance to China's core interests and major concerns, will not support actions that undermine them, and will do its best to avoid any future damage to the bilateral relations," the statement said.

Human rights issues were not mentioned in the two-page document.

"We haven't made any concessions but we have engaged in confidence-building work over a long period of time," Prime Minister Erna Solberg told reporters in Oslo.

According to Norwegian media, China had demanded an official apology in order to restore ties, but Norway's government repeatedly refused, insisting that the Nobel Committee was an independent body free to make its own choices.

"The situation since 2010 has been difficult," Brende said in a press statement issued in Oslo.

"The normalisation of our relationship is the result of long and painstaking diplomatic efforts at many levels to restore trust between our two countries," he said.

The announcement means talks can now resume on a free trade pact between Norway, rich in raw materials, and China, the world's second-biggest economy.

The talks were frozen following the Nobel brouhaha.

"There is no doubt that the Norwegian economy has suffered," Solberg said.

"Even if our trade with China has not decreased, we have not been part of the enormous upswing from China in the same way many other countries have," she said.

Salmon exports to China, one of Norway's biggest export items, suffered as a result of the row, dealing a heavy blow to the industry.

On Monday, stocks of salmon producers were up on the Oslo stock exchange.

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China today rejected President- elect Donald Trump's charge that it "stole" an American drone, saying the device was picked up to prevent "harm" to freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea, from where Beijing claims the US is spying on Chinese coast.

"First of all we did not like the word stealing. This is also not accurate," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a media briefing, hitting back at Trump's charge.

"China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters -- rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act," Trump tweeted. His claim had come hours after the Chinese government had said it had been in touch with the US military about the incident.

Hua said both militaries are handling the issue "smoothly".

She also denied US allegations that the Chinese naval ship picked it up and took it away despite messages from the US survey ship USNS Bowditch which controlled the drone.

"As really what happened you can see from Defence Ministry statement that the Chinese navy found this unidentified device and examined in a professional manner to verify it," Hua said.

"No matter how they see this unidentified device, most important thing is that Chinese navy took a professional and responsible decision to do this in order to prevent from causing harm to freedom of navigation," she said.

"I think this is easy to understand. Just imagine that you found something on the street and you to first check and verify it before handing it back to someone else. So I believe it is something easy to understand," Hua said.

Asked whether China did not know that it belonged to US, she shot back saying, "what is your point. Do you think this fell from the pocket of US?"



However, she said the militaries of both US and Beijing are in close touch to handle this issue smoothly.

"All I can tell you is that the two sides are handling this issues properly handling through smooth military channels," Hua said, adding that she has nothing to offer on specifics like when the drone would be handed over to the US.

Hua said only the defence ministry will clarify that from where the drone was picked by the Chinese naval ship.

The US military had said it was taken away from outside the nine dash line of the South China Sea.

The line in the Chinese maps indicates China's claims over the area, which is disputed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan.

(Reopens FGN 17)



"Regarding President elect tweets, I noticed there are lot of comments in the world. We will not make any extra comment on that," Hua said.

On the details of the glider, "if you read through the defence ministry statement, you can find the answers," she said. The Chinese navy found this device in the South China Sea, Hua said.

"In order to prevent it from causing harm to the freedom of navigation and safety of passing vessels, the Chinese navy verified and examined the device and found that it belonged to US and we have decided to hand it over through appropriate means. The two sides are in communication through military channels and we believe this will be properly handled," she said.

But at the same, Hua accused the US of indulging in close surveillance of the Chinese coast.

While the drone incident is being properly handled, "I want to emphasise that for long time US has been deploying vessels to conduct close reconnaissance and surveys in China's coastal waters. China urges US to stop such activities. We will continue to be vigilant against such activities," she said.

Hua, however, declined to specify whether the drone was conducting espionage as alleged by the state-run Chinese official media.

"We are opposed to US deploying vessels and aircraft to conduct surveillance and survey in China's costal waters," she said, without elaborating.

Meanwhile, Chinese state-media attacked Trump for his tweets targeting China, saying that he lacked diplomatic experience and was unfit to lead a super power.

"What is truly amazing about this (Trump) tweet, was the soon-to-be US president completely misrepresented what had actually happened -- that is more dangerous than funny," an editorial in the state-owned China Daily newspaper said.

Trump's behaviour "could easily drive China-US relations into what Obama portrays as 'full-conflict mode'," said the editorial which was published alongside a cartoon showing Trump riding a bull into a China shop much to the shock of US businessmen.

"Trump is not behaving as a president who will become master of the White House in a month. He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower," said another official daily Global Times, which is known for striking nationalistic postures.

"He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower. Even the US military did not use the term 'steal' to describe the move by the Chinese navy. Trump's second tweet makes people worry that he will treat China-US relations as child's play," it said.

"Now people don't know if Trump is engaged in a psychological war with China or he is just unprofessional, even though he will be sworn in soon. Regarding the Sino-US relationship, he challenged the one-China policy and despised the principles which both countries have adopted to manage crises," the daily said.

"Since he has not taken office, China has kept a calm attitude toward his provocative remarks. But if he treats China after assuming office in the same wayas in his tweets, China will not exercise restraint," it said.
China and Norway today agreed to normalise political and diplomatic ties after a six-year hiatus over granting the Nobel Peace Prize to a prominent Chinese dissident.

Beijing and Oslo also agreed to immediately resume negotiation on a free trade agreement, which did not materialise in 2010 as China put off the decision to conclude it, in a retaliation for granting the peace prize to jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende held a meeting here today following which China and Norway reached consensus on normalisation of ties, state- run Xinhua agency reported.

Li said foreign ministers of the two countries had candid and in-depth talks, and reached an agreement on the normalisation of bilateral ties.

China hopes to work together with Norway to open a new chapter for bilateral ties, and push forward a sustained, healthy and stable growth of relations, Li said.

"I am very pleased that we are today normalising our political and diplomatic relations with China. This gives us a new opportunity to cooperate. We will resume negotiation on a free trade agreement," Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported, quoting Brende as saying in a statement.

According to a joint statement, "the Norwegian government reiterates its commitment to the one-China policy, fully respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, attaches high importance to China's core interests and major concerns, will not support actions that undermine them, and will do its best to avoid any future damage to the bilateral relations."



However, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in Oslo that "we haven't made any concessions but we have engaged in confidence-building work over a long period of time".

The controversy around the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the prominent dissident and events connected to the prize had deteriorated China-Norway relations.

China scaled down its ties with Norway after a vain bid to dissuade it from granting the Nobel prize to Liu, who along with his wife is still languishing in the prison serving an 11-year sentence since 2009 for "inciting subversion of state power".

He was the second after the Dalai Lama to get the Nobel Peace Prize.

While China alleges that the prize is being used to prop up dissidents, the Nobel committee has insisted it is independent of politics.

However, China welcomed Nobel Prize for literature to well-known Chinese writer Mo Yan in 2012.

Besides being a writer, he is also the prominent literary personality of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC).

China has also imposed restrictions on imports of Norwegian salmon, citing worries that the fish may carry disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A delegation from China's ruling Communist party has called on Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari and discussed the bilateral relations here, days after Beijing provided Rs 15.80 billion to the Himalayan nation for post-quake reconstruction activities.

The meeting between the President and Communist Party of China (CPC) delegation led by their Chief of Publicity Department Liu Qibao took place at the presidential residence Sheetal Niwas here yesterday.

The team discussed the current bilateral relations.

The leaders also discussed about taking the bilateral relations to a more harmonious and stronger level, according to a press statement issued by the President's office.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong was also present.

China has provided Rs 15.80 billion to Nepal for post- quake reconstruction activities after a Cabinet meeting on December 11 decided to accept the grants worth Nepalese Rupees 15.80 billion provided by China.

China on December 9 launched a new cargo service linking Tibet and Nepal as dozens of trucks carrying goods worth USD 2.8 million left the Tibetan border port of Gyirong en route to Kathmandu.

The new rail and road cargo service linking Guangdong, Tibet and Nepal aims to boost trade with the South Asian neighbour as China pushes forward its Belt and Road (Silk Road) initiative.

It was the first such consignment being sent to Nepal after the new Prachanda government took over from his pro-China predecessor K P Sharma Oli, who had signed the transit trade deal with Beijing in March this year in a bid to reduce Nepal's dependence on India despite it being expensive due to the mountainous terrain.

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India's largest marine fisheries research body, CMFRI is formulating a comprehensive mariculture policy to address the ever increasing demand for quality seafood for human consumption and to some extent, bridge the gap between demand and supply in marine fish production.

The city-based Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) functioning under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said it has geared up to formulate a draft mariculture policy to be submitted to the government.

Scientists working in the sector believe that mariculture is the hope of future generation to meet the growing demand in food industry.

Unfortunately, the lack of a proper mariculture policy is a major lacuna in the country, they said.

CMFRI officials said the institute has already developed economically viable open sea cage farming models to boost the mariculture activities in the country.

Round the year seed production of cobia, silver pompano and orange spotted grouper (commercially important fish species) was also achieved by the CMFRI, they noted.

"At a time when capture fisheries production is undergoing through a stagnation period, the mariculture can be considered as the only option to meet the ever increasing demand for the marine food products," Director of CMFRI, A Gopalakrishnan said.

He said mariculture can be considered as one of the best alternate livelihood options for the coastal fishermen community.

"Lack of a suitable mariculture policy in the country is a major hindrance to the commercialization of the marticulture practices in India.

The CMFRI is in the process of framing the policy," he said.

The scientist said the institute will intensify the work on demarcation of potential mariculture sites along Indian coasts on a GIS platform, helping to prepare an adequate national policy for the development of mariculture activities in India.

"A long-term view of sustainable coastal and open-sea mariculture should be envisaged and appropriate measures must be taken in view of the long coastline of the country, which has a high population density and very high potential with its tropical waters for increasing aquaculture production, employment generation and improving overall socio-economic status of coastal communities," he said.

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The Coast Guard today apprehended 26 Pakistani fishermen and seized their five fishing boats off Gujarat coast near Kutch as they crossed the Indian territorial waters.

These Pakistani fishermen on five boats were held when they were inside Indian territory, said a release by Defence PRO.

"The ICG vessel C-419 apprehended five Pakistani fishing boats with 26 crew members on board in Indian waters. These boats and the crew are being escorted to Jakhau port for further investigation," it added.

This is the second such apprehension in recent times by the Coast Guard off the Gujarat coast.

Earlier in October this year, ICG ship 'Samudra Pavak' seized a Pakistani boat and apprehended 9 crew members onboard, off Gujarat coast during patrolling.

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The Opposition Congress managed to salvage some pride in the third round of polls in Maharashtra wherein 19 municipal councils and two nagar panchayats went to the elections, as the results started coming this afternoon.

Congress won 113 seats and bagged eight posts of municipal council president, while the ruling BJP won 114 council seats and seven seats of council president.

At the end of three phases, BJP continued to remain the single largest party with 1,061 seats, while Congress finished with 885 seats, followed by NCP at 785 and Shiv Sena at 590.

In the third phase, BJP won seven and Congress won eight seats of municipal council president. NCP and an independent candidate bagged one seat each.

So the break-up of council presidents' tally at the end of phase 3 is: BJP 63, Congress 33, NCP 21. Sena had won 26 council chief posts earlier but drew blank in the third phase. Independents bagged two council president posts.

Elections were held in Aurangabad, Bhandara, Gadchiroli and Nanded districts in the third phase.

Apart from BJP and Congress, NCP won 77 municipal council seats in the third phase, independents 28, Lok Bharati five, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha two, Samajwadi Party one and Shiv Sena 38.

In Nanded district, MIM bagged five seats while BSP won two.

State Congress chief Ashok Chavan managed to defend the



Congress bastion to some extent in his home district of Nanded, where the party won 72 of the 197 seats. Congress also won six municipal council presidents' post in the district.

BJP did well in Bhandara and Gadchiroli, winning 70 of the total 132 seats in the two districts.

In Umari municipal council in Nanded district, NCP swept all the 17 seats.

State BJP president Raosaheb Danve thanked the people for reposing faith in his party in the third phase as well.

This success was an endorsement of the change at the Centre and in Maharashtra in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in 2014, and development agenda of BJP governments, he said.

Ashok Chavan expressed satisfaction over phase 3 results, noting that in Nanded district, where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed five rallies on a single day, people still backed Congress.

BJP's use of money power in the elections was evident from Danve's statement during the campaign (where the BJP leader asked people to "accept goddess Lakshmi coming home on the eve of polls), he said.

Goverment's misuse of official machinery was also proved when Animal Husbandry Minister's Mahadev Jankar was seen (in a video clip) pressurising election officials to reject a Congress candidate's nomination, Chavan alleged.

Last phase of polls is yet to take place.
The opposition Congress today won 122 seats and bagged eight municipal president's post in the third round of municipal council and nagar panchayat polls in Maharashtra while the ruling BJP won 116 seats, taking its tally in three phases to 1061 councillors.

Polling was yesterday for the third phase of elections in 19 municipal councils and two nagar panchayats in Aurangabad, Nanded, Bhandara and Gadchiroli districts, the results of which were announced today.

BJP retained its overall top position. In the third phase it won 116 seats, taking its tally in three phases to 1061 councillors. The ruling party also won eight posts of municipal council president in the third phase, taking the tally of its council presidents to 64.

At the end of three phases, BJP continued to remain the single largest party while Congress finished second with 894 seats, followed by NCP at 786 and Shiv Sena at 598.

NCP and an independent candidate bagged one post of council president each.

The break-up of council presidents' tally at the end of phase 3 is: BJP 64, Congress 33, NCP 21. Sena had won 26 council chief posts earlier but drew blank in the third phase. Independents bagged two council president posts.

Elections were held in Aurangabad, Bhandara, Gadchiroli and Nanded districts in the third phase.

Fourth and last phase will be conducted on January 8, 2017.

Apart from BJP and Congress, NCP won 78 municipal council seats in the third phase, independents 28, Lok Bharati five, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha two, Samajwadi Party one and Shiv Sena 38.

In Nanded district, MIM bagged five seats while BSP won two.

Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan managed to defend



the Congress bastion in his home district of Nanded to some extent, where the party won 72 of the 197 seats. Congress also won six municipal council president's posts in the district.

BJP did well in Bhandara and Gadchiroli, winning 70 of the total 132 seats in the two districts.

In Umari municipal council in Nanded district, NCP swept all the 17 seats.

Reacting to the third phase poll results, BJP state unit president Raosaheb Danve said they showed that BJP had maintained its numero uno position.

"In the third phase, 116 BJP nominees won the polls as members of the civic bodies," he said. "This is a significant rise compared to the last poll figures of 25 in these bodies," he said. "BJP has taken a decisive lead and is on top spot," he added.

This was an endorsement of the change at the Centre and in Maharashtra in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in 2014, and of development agenda of BJP governments, he claimed.

Ashok Chavan expressed satisfaction over results, noting that in Nanded district, where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed five rallies on a single day, people still backed Congress.
To boost the prospects of silkindustry, the Central Silk Board (CSB) will launch its secondCentre of Excellence here tomorrow.

Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani will launch the Centre, CSB Chairman K M Hanumantharayappa told reporters here today, adding, it would boost the silk industry which has been stagnating for some time.

The first centre was set up at Ranchi in Jharkhand.

Irani would also launch tomorrow, the Automatic Reeling Machine at the CSB premises here which will enable the Board to attain self-sufficiency and bring silk import to zero level by 2020, he said.

"The country is importing nearly 4,000 metric tonnes of high quality raw silk from China and with the establishment ofindigenous automatic reeling machines, the Board will be ableto attain self-sufficiency and bring silk import to zero levelby 2020," he said.

The commercial model of indigenous automatic silk reelingmachine has 160 to 200 ends per machine suitable for mediumscale filatures, Hanumathraayappa noted.

The machinery package of 200 ends capacity can produce about 20 MT of silk per year utilizing cocoons produced by around 200 farmers, he added.

Built by CSTRI vendors in Coimbatore, the machine costs Rs 65 lakh, and the Board would offer 50 per cent subsidy to reelers who install such machines, Hanumathraayappa said.

At present, the country is producing nearly 4,000 tonnes of 4A grade of silk, equivalent to the top grade of silk imported from China, Hanumanthraayappa said.

Under the "Make in India" initiative, CSB had been supporting installation of ARM units by private entrepreneurs to promote production of import-substitute bivoltine silk, he said.

Total raw silk production also witnessed a marginal fall last fiscal at 28,523 mt, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Observing that prima facie evidence points to offence of murder and unnatural sex against 10 police officials booked in the 2014 custodial death case of a 25-year-old man, the Bombay High Court today directed CBI to carry out further probe and file supplementary chargesheet.

A division bench of Justices R V More and A M Badar was hearing a petition filed in 2014 by Leonard, the father of victim Agnelo Valdaris. Following the petition, the case was handed over to CBI for probe.

The CBI, in its FIR, booked 10 police officials from Wadala railway police on charges of murder, unnatural sex, kidnapping and falsifying evidence and so on.

However, in its chargesheet filed in January this year, CBI charged the accused only for criminal conspiracy, voluntarily causing hurt and other lesser charges. The charges under which the policemen have been booked will attract maximum punishment of three years, in comparision to life sentence had they been charged with murder.

Petitioner's counsel Yug Chaudhary argued that CBI has failed to consider material evidence which clearly points out to offence under IPC section 377 (unnatural sex).

The bench, after perusing the witness statements, postmortem report and doctor's report, observed that Agnelo had not suffered an accidental death.

"There is prima facie material against the police officials which discloses commission of offence under IPC sections 302 (murder), 304 (II) (culpable homicide) and 377. We also find that CBI in its chargesheet has not invoked the proper charges. We therefore direct CBI to carry out further probe in the case and file supplementary chargesheet,"it said.

The bench directed the agency to complete the probe and file the chargesheet within eight weeks.

"After going through postmortem report, the position of the body in the spot panchnama and other witness statements we are unable to accept the CBI's contention that the deceased committed suicide or suffered accidental death," the HC said.

The bench further observed that it was surprised that CBI, considered a premier investigating agency, was conducting probes in such manner without "applying its mind".

Agnelo and three others were picked up by Wadala railway police on charges of robbery on April 15, 2014.

For next three days they were allegedly stripped, tortured and even forced to have oral sex with each other. On April 18, Valdaris died in custody while the others were released on bail on April 22.

After his death, Wadala police claimed that Agnelo died while trying to escape from custody and was run over by a train.

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The Kerala High Court today commuted the death sentence of 'Ripper' Jayanandan, accused in several cases of murder and robbery, to life imprisonment in one of the murder cases against him.

A division bench headed by Justice K T Sankaran said the accused should undergo rigorous imprisonment till the end of his life.

The court gave its verdict considering Jayanandan's appeal against the sessions court awarding him death sentence for murdering a housewife at Puthenvelikkara in 2006.

Earlier, in a double murder case also the death sentence was commuted by the high court.

In its judgement, the high court said the case will not fall within the category of rarest of the rare case.

However, the bench following the judgement in Swamy Shraddananda case of the apex court, said that the accused should remain in jail till the end of his life without parole or remission.

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Strengthening defence and trade ties would be on the top of the agenda during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Kyrgyz President Almazbek Sharshenovich Atambayev here tomorrow.

The visit of Atambayev, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior ministers, will also provide an opportunity to sides to explore projects to increase surface connectivity. This is Kyrgyz leaders's first presidential visit here.

Maintaining that both countries share common concerns on threat of terrorism, extremism and drug-trafficking, the two sides had signed an agreement to boost defence cooperation and hold annual joint military exercises during Modi's visit there last year.

Besides joint military exercises, the two countries have been cooperating on high-mountain biomedical research to know impact on soldiers when they carry out operations at high altitude.

According to Joint Secretary (Eurasia) in the Ministry of External Affairs G V Srinivas, bolstering existing defence cooperation, enhancing trade ties and exploring surface connectivity projects will be high on the agenda of talks between the two leaders.

Kyrgyzstan supports India's bid for membership of the UN Security Council and welcomed its entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

During his four-day State visit, Atambayev, who arrived here yesterday, will also have a meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee, who will host a banquet in his honour.

The Kyrgyz President will also attend India-Kyrgyz Republic Joint Business Forum being organised by industry chambers FICCI, CII and Assocham on Wednesday.

There are about 4500 Indian students studying medicine in various medical institutions in Kyrgyzstan apart from a few businessmen, who are engaged in trade and services in the central Asian country.

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Cash crunch continued to hit the people in Mumbai over 40 days after the demonetisation move, even as the queues for depositing the old scrapped notes at the banks eased.

However, the people are irked as ATMs at many places continue to run out of cash.

"There is a short queue for withdrawal and almost no queue for the deposits. You can see it here," said a senior executive of a leading private bank in Fort area.

A senior officer at Department of Post, Maharashtra and Goa Circle, said, "The numbers of depositors as well the amount of deposits across the five regions in the circle have reduced by over 80 to 85 per cent and so is the case with opening new accounts."



However, some people in the city complained that the note ban has increased their difficulties.

Sheetala Prasad, a grocery owner from suburban Kandivili, said, "These days have been the worst days for my business. We are facing a lot of problems for want of cash."



He expressed unhappiness over the Rs 50,000 withdrawl limits for current account and Rs 24,000 for savings account.

Expressing his anguish over the ATMs running out of cash, Ramesh Tripathi, a trainer at a gym in South Mumbai, said, "The ATMs have virtually become defunct. The 'ATM Closed' boards are now a permanent feature."



"But, we are able to withdraw money from banks. I got Rs 10,000 from a bank in Worli today in less than 5 minutes," he added.

A real state broker from suburban Mulund, on condition of anonymity, said, "The deals in real estate sector have dropped drastically. Even the deals which were made before the demonetisation move, have got cancelled now."



He also said that the note ban is expected to cause a dip in real estate prices in the coming months.

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Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Rameshwar Dudi today demanded the state government released adequate water from Indira Gandhi canal, saying farmers may face irrigation and drinking water crises.

Dudi said that the canal is getting only 7200 cusec water due to some problem in Punjab's Harike Barrage from where the canal starts.

"This is a very sensitive issue for farmers which should be addressed by the government. If this situation was not improved, this may lead to crisis for irrigation and drinking water," he said.

Dudi said that he has kept drawing attention of the chief minister over the poor condition of the canal but no concrete steps have been taken up by the government.

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The Enforcement Directorate today conducted searches at the head office of Ahmedabad District Co-operative (ADC) Bank and collected some documents related to their operations, agency officials said.

As per the official website of ADC Bank, BJP president Amit Shah is one of its directors.

"ED had conducted searches at ADC Bank's head office on Ashram Road here today," said an ED official attached to its zonal office.

Bank officials have confirmed the search was conducted and said they are extending full cooperation to the officials.

"ED officials today visited our bank. We have handed them over all the documents which they sought from us," Chief Executive Office of ADC Bank, Mangilal Bahediya told PTI.

After demonetisation was announced last month, the RBI barred the district central cooperative banks (DCCB) from exchanging and depositing old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.

While some of the DCCB challenged the RBI's decision in the Gujarat High Court, some approached the Supreme Court.

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced former Goa's Inspector General of Prison Elvis Gomes as party's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming state Legislative Assembly election.

"Amongst all the AAP candidates, there is a gem. (His name is) Elvis Gomes. He has been in the government service for 20 years but did not make any money through ill means. He has been an honest officer," he said during an election rally in South Goa's Cuncolim constituency.

"The people from all religions love him. I propose his name as the next chief minister (candidate) of Goa," Kejriwal said.

Gomes had resigned from the government service where he was serving as Inspector General of Prisons to join AAP.

He will be contesting from Cuncolim constituency which is currently represented by BJP.

"I feel proud to present before you (my) party's candidates. We have given party tickets to honest people," he claimed.

"We are against the people who are criminals, communal or with bad character. If you find any proof against our candidates, even a day before (the polls), we will drop the candidate," Kejriwal said.

Claiming that Delhi has witnessed "sea change" under AAP rule, Kejriwal said, "We will die but will never compromise on corruption. There will be no compromise on corruption."



"I believe that we don't know to play politics. I concede, we don't understand politics, we are small people," he said.

Taking on BJP and Congress, the Delhi Chief Minister accused that both the parties have made Goa a "drug destination".

"Who will save us from drugs and gambling? Who will save our forests and lands? It is our responsibility. It is responsibility of the common man to save our land and forests and protect Goa from being drugs and prostitution destination," he said.

AAP has announced the list of 30 candidates in Goa out of the total 40 assembly constituencies.

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Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that the government will provide enhanced infrastructure and logistical facilities at border posts where women personnel have been deployed, under the command of various frontier guarding forces.

Singh, after taking salute at the 53rd Raising Day event of paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at its camp here, said it was essential to have "gender-friendly" facilities at these far flung areas for women as the present support system is deficient.

"There should be gender-friendly infrastructure at border posts where women are deployed....I believe there is a deficiency in this regard. This needs to be improved. I believe those border posts where women personnel are deployed, more facilities should be provided there," he said.

Apart from SSB, Border Security Force (deployed along Pakistan and Bangladesh borders) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (along Sino-India frontier) has deployed its women personnel as part of their border guarding charter.

While the forces have upgraded or created new infrastructure facilities at the border posts after women combatants were posted at these locations for the first time few years back, reports from the field units of these forces have desired that much more needs to be done in this regard.

Singh said that his ministry will give a serious thought to a pending proposal of SSB to have its own dedictated intelligence wing to aid its ground troops mandated to secure Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan.

"Despite not having a dedicated intelligence wing, you have been quite successful in your operations along the two borders you guard," Singh said.

He said it was surely "not an easy" task to secure the two borders as they are not fenced and are fully open which leads to heavy movement across the frontiers.

The Home Minister lauded the force for detecting and apprehending narcotics, arms, ammunition and other banned susbtances estimated at Rs 274 crore when they were being illegally transacted across the two borders this year.

Calling SSB a "multi-dimensional" force, Singh welcomed the forces' proposal to get erected at least ten FM radio towers in the border areas along Nepal.

During the event, SSB Director General Archana Ramasundaram said the force was facing vacancies in the officer cadres and has taken some of them on deputation from other sister forces.

The force, raised in 1963, has 67 operational battalions (about 67,000 personnel) at present and secures the 1,751-km Indo-Nepal border and the 699-km long Indo-Bhutan border apart from being deployed to render a variety of internal security duties in the hinterland.

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The European Union today extended for another six months damaging economic sanctions against Russia over its intervention in Ukraine.

EU leaders decided at a summit last week to roll over the sanctions first imposed in 2014 and the European Council, which groups the 28 member states, confirmed the decision today.

"The Council prolonged the economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy until 31 July 2017," said the statement from the council.

The sanctions target the financial, energy, and defence sectors and items that could be used for both industrial and military means.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande said last week they wanted the sanctions extended because Moscow was not living up to its Ukraine truce commitments.

They said there had been no progress in implementing the Minsk ceasefire accords which they helped broker between Ukraine and Russia, and so there was no option but to keep the measures in place.

The 28-nation EU imposed economic sanctions on Russia after a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet was shot down over rebel-held eastern Ukraine in July 2014.

The sanctions have been rolled over regularly since then but several member states, led by Italy, have increasingly questioned their effectiveness and cost.

Donald Trump's shock US election victory added to the doubts given his apparently softer line on Russia, prompting a debate over whether they should be extended for six months or three.

The West says Russia supplies the rebels with military hardware and assistance, a charge Moscow denies although it says it does support their cause.

Besides the economic measures, which target Russia's oil, financial and military sectors, the EU has also imposed a separate series of travel bans and asset freeze sanctions against Ukraine and Russian figures deemed to have undermined Ukrainian territorial integrity. These sanctions expire in March.

Similar sanctions imposed over Russia's annexation of Crimea run until the end of June 20.

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A 45-year-old farmer has been gunned down allegedly by his cousins over a land dispute in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, police said today.

Anup Singh was shot dead after a dispute over erecting a boundary wall in Dulla Kheri village under Gharipukta police station.

A case has been registered against Singh's cousins - Jasbir, Antbir and Vir Singh, police said, adding the three have been absconding.

The body has been sent for autopsy.

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With the harvesting of paddy crop drawing near, the age old practice of 'Badalia', a system of exchanging labour services prevalent in coastal districts, is showing signs of revival in some pockets of Odisha.

A small and marginal farmer like Jugal Kishore Lenka is all set to work in a fellow farmer's plot during harvesting to cut down his need for cash in the post-demonetisation scenario.

Together with Sudam Sahu, a fellow farmer facing the same predicament, 45-year-old Lenka of Goda village in Jagatsinghpur district has decided to work in each other's land as cash crunch has come in the way of landowners hiring farm labourers for paddy harvesting.

"We will begin paddy harvesting soon. Note crisis has forced me not to involve farm labourers in harvesting. Sudam Sahu of my village is facing the same crisis. We both have four workers who were engaged in kharif cultivation work. We will now exchange labour with each other for smooth crop cutting", said Lenka, who owns half-an-acre of irrigated land.

Badalia is a system wherein a farmer, who is not necessarily a farm labourer, works in another's field without taking any wage. Subsequently, he gets similar hours of labour in return.

In other words, it is called barter of labour. Though this practice was in vogue long back, farmers used to resort to this practice when they face crisis of farm labour, Deputy Director Agriculture, Prafulla Mishra, said.

"This practice of labour exchange is slowly picking up in some pockets due to the deepening of farm labour crisis. It was the only way out for farmers, who could not necessary arrange cash for wage payment in many coastal pockets. We have received reports of labour exchange from some areas", he said.

Another farmer Mukund Behera (53) of Nikirai village in Kendrapara district had no clue how to harvest his paddy crop as he had little cash to pay wages to labourers.

He negotiated an understanding with a fellow farmer Gokuli Rout living in the same neighbourhood to get the harvesting done with the latter's help. In return, he pledged to work in Rout's field.

"We have begun the harvesting. After Rout's harvesting comes to an end, it will be my turn. We hope to finish the joint operation in eight to ten days from now," Behera said.

"We usually hire labourers for paddy cultivation. This year, we have a good crop and unless it is harvested in time, there will be huge waste. The Centre resorted to demonetisation move, hitting us hard. Without adequate cash, finding farm labourers was very difficult," he said.

"It is a crisis situation. Toiling in other farmer's field would not lower one's dignity. But it is the need of the hour. Labour exchange also fosters a cordial social bond among farmers", he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LOS ANGELES - About 2,000 people protesting against the rhetoric and proposals of US President-elect Donald Trump marched peacefully through downtown Los Angeles on Sunday in advance of Monday's planned Electoral College vote to formally choose him as leader.

Trump, a Republican businessman who campaigned against illegal immigration and threatened to imprison Democratic rival Hillary Clinton if elected, lost the popular vote in the Nov. 8 US election but won the contest for the electoral college, which is calculated on a state-by-state basis.

"I want to tell Mr. Trump that we are immigrants, we help this economy grow, we don't want nothing for free," said marcher Horalia Jauregui.

In addition to marking the day before the Electoral College is set to vote, the march took place on International Migrants Day, designated by the United Nations to draw attention to the plight of refugees.

Marchers in Los Angeles carried signs with phrases such as "Stop Trump," "Refugees Welcome," and "Make America Think Again," a play on Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan.

Heavily Democratic California voted overwhelmingly for Clinton in the election, and its leaders have begun positioning the most populous US state to fight the incoming Trump administration on any challenges to its progressive policies on issues such as immigration, the environment and healthcare.

On Sunday, state Senate leader Kevin de Leon, a Democrat from Los Angeles, said he would fight any moves by Trump that conflict with what he called California's values.

There were no obvious pro-Trump protesters at the event.

Lieutenant Al Labrada, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department, said the protests were peaceful, with no incidents or arrests.
A founding partner of a hedge fund at the center of a scandal involving the head of the nation's largest jail guard union was charged today in a USD 1 billion fraud case.

Mark Nordlicht, chief investment officer of Platinum Partners, was to appear in federal court in Brooklyn to face securities fraud conspiracy and other charges.

Six other people, including other hedge fund executives, were named in an indictment that alleges a scheme beginning in 2012.

Former Correction Officers' Benevolent Association President Norman Seabrook pleaded not guilty last year to charges he steered USD 20 million in union pension money to Platinum Partners in 2014 in exchange for a USD 60,000 bribe -- delivered in a black Ferragamo bag -- and luxury trips.

The case stemmed from overlapping federal probes that resulted in several police officers being charged or disciplined and scrutinized the fundraising of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Court papers in the Platinum Partners case accuse the defendants of lying to investors about the value of funds they were managing.

The evidence includes emails between Nordlicht and others that "illustrated their knowledge and awareness of the fraudulent scheme perpetrated on Platinum's investors and prospective investors," the papers say.

There was no immediate response to a message seeking comment from Nordlicht's attorney. Platinum representatives did not immediately respond to a comment request.

As the New York City-based hedge fund began to go under in December 2015, Nordlicht wrote that he was thinking about using USD 7.5 million from a second mortgage on his home to try to keep it afloat, the papers say. He also was considering fleeing the country, they say.

"Am on my way to JFK with the kids for their 6 p.M. Flight to Israel," he wrote in one email, according to the indictment.

"My wife is literally making me get on Israel flight if we don't connect and agree what we are doing."



One of his cohorts responded: "You should get on the flight if there is no bridge (loan), probably even if there is.

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Five of the seven students accused in the ragging case in government polytechnic, in which a first year student suffered kidney damage, have surrendered before police, police said today.

The five senior students surrendered before the Deputy Superintendent of Police at Changanassery near here last night.

According to police, there are a total of seven accused in the case and two are still absconding.

On December 2 night, eight first-year students of the polytechnic at Nattakom here were allegedly subjected to brutal ragging by a gang of senior students at the men's hostel of the college.

Two students--one hailing from Irinjalakkuda in Thrissur district, and another from Cheranallur in Ernakulam district-- were seriously injured in the incident. They have been admitted to hospitals in Thrissur and Ernakulam respectively.

The student from Irinjalakkuda has been hospitalised with kidney damage, police said.

He was put on dialysis after doctors diagnosed him with kidney damage. The victim underwent dialysis three times after his admission in the hospital 11 days ago.

The accused allegedly forced the victim to consume liquor mixed with some harmful powder following six hours of brutal ragging which included hard physical exercises like push-ups.

The accused were absconding after police booked them for allegedly ragging their juniors in the hostel.

They have also been suspended from the institution.

Two cases have been registered against the accused based on two separate complaints by the two students, police said.

Meanwhile, the state human rights commission has sought a report from the education department on the alleged ragging incident.

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Voicing concern over the rising cases of atrocities against SCs and STs in the country, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale today suggested to state governments to give cash rewards of Rs 25 crore to the district which records highest number of inter-caste marriages.

Athawale, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment further recommended giving jobs or land to couples who tie knots breaking the caste barrier.

"State government's should give cash reward of Rs 25 crore to the district which records highest number of inter-caste marriages or make a provision to either give a job or five acre of land to such couple in order to promote inter-caste marriage which in turn will help in combating incidents of atrocities.

The Minister also talked about setting up of Helplines at the state and district level and forming a designated team of policemen, led by a sub-inspector in each police station to deal with complaints of atrocities.

"There have been instances where complaints are made but police do not take cognisance. The victims keeps reporting about the threats that they receive but no action is taken. It is important to take action at the initial stage to avoid a tragedy," Athawale said.

The Minister said that he has made the recommendations to the states in a meeting of the Committee to review the implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act held here today.

Athwale also stressed that periodic meetings of the High Power State Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees under the chairpersonship of Chief Minister should be held in the states to ensure that the Act is implemented.

Pointing out that only 14 states have set up Exclusive Special Courts to speed up the trial of cases under PoA Act, Athawale urged States which have not set up such courts to follow the rule under the Section 14 of the amended PoA Act which calls for establishing of such courts in one or more districts.

Athawale said that increasing levels of awareness among people is resulting in increased number of complaints under the PoA Act.

India recorded 46,114 crimes against SCs and STs in 2013, 47,124 such cases in 2014 and 44,839 cases in 2015.

BJP-ruled Rajasthan has registered 23,861 cases under the amended Prevention of Atrocities (PoA) Act between 2013-15 while UP and Bihar have registered 23,556 and 21,061 cases respectively during the same span, according to government report.

Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil and Gujarat reported 14,016, 9,054, 8,084, 7,565, 6,546, 5,131 and 3,969 such crimes respectively during the years.

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BSP chief Mayawati today countered Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charge that opposition had stalled Parliament, saying it was the government which had not allowed proceedings as it had no justification to offer for the "ill-planned note ban".

"It is the ruling party which had been running away from debate on demonetisation and other issues as they did not have the courage to give reply on the issue of ill-planned demonetisation," she said in a statement in Lucknow.

"It is the BJP and its government which is responsible for stalling the proceedings of the Parliament since the Prime Minister either stayed away or took no part in the debate...He issued wrong and misleading statements outside the House...In rallies, thereby lowering the dignity of Parliament," she said.

Earlier, Modi had said at a rally in Kanpur that opposition had disrupted the Winter session of Parliament as they were trying to defend the dishonest people.

Mayawati, who is a member of the Rajya Sabha, said it was the ruling party members who created hurdles in conduct of business.

"Because of the wrong policies of Modi government, there are continuous reports about death of jawans on borders and people standing in long queues but they seem to have no concern ...Modi is asking such people to make more sacrifices and this is most unjustified," she said.

Referring to Modi's rally in Kanpur earlier in the day, Mayawati said he had nothing concrete to say on the plight of 90 per cent poor, farmers and middle class and it appears that government knows how to trouble people but has no concern to redress them.

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Tightening rules for depositing junked 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, the government today said individuals can deposit over Rs 5,000 in old currency bills only once until December 30 and that too after explaining why it had not been done so far.

After banning old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes on November 8, the government had allowed all of the cash holdings with any person to be deposited in bank accounts till December 30. There was no limit on the quantity or value of the junked notes that could be deposited.

However, the government on December 17 issued a gazette notification putting restrictions on deposits henceforth.

"The deposits of old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations have been reviewed by the government from time to time. Already more than five weeks have elapsed since the time of the announcement of the cancellation of the legal tender character of these notes. It is expected that, by now, most of the people would have deposited such old notes in their possession," an official statement said.

With a view to "reduce the queues in the banks", the government said it has now been decided that "amounts exceeding Rs 5,000 in old notes can be deposited only once between now and December 30, 2016."



"The banks have been advised to conduct due diligence regarding the reasons for not depositing these notes earlier," the statement said.

Amounts of Rs 5,000 or less may continue to be deposited with banks in the customer's account, as at present.

"However, cumulative deposits exceeding Rs 5,000 between December 19 and December 30, 2016 will be as per the procedures advised by the RBI in respect of deposits exceeding Rs 5,000," it said.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) too came out with deposit guideline stipulating that restrictive conditions will also apply on the cumulative deposit of such notes in a single account when it exceeds Rs 5,000.

However, the defunct currency up to any amount can be deposited under the new black money amnesty scheme, PMGKY.

Also, the government said a separate notification has been issued allowing District Cooperative Central Banks (DCCBs) to deposit the old notes they collected between November 10 and 14.

"NABARD, which supervises the DCCBs, will conduct complete audit check of the Know Your Customer (KYC) documents of the individual customers who have deposited these notes or of the members of the Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) who have deposited these notes," the statement said.

The RBI in a notification said certain restrictions have



been placed on deposits of Specified Bank Notes of 500 and 1,000 denominations, but there is no limit for payment of tax using such notes under the Taxation and Investment Regime for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2016.

Under the PMGKY scheme, black money holders can deposit unaccounted cash in account which will be subject to 50 per cent tax and 4-year interest free lock-in for the remaining 25 per cent of the amount.

The RBI said old notes in excess of Rs 5,000 into a bank account will be received for credit only once during the remaining period till December 30, 2016.

"The credit in such cases shall be afforded only after questioning tenderer, on record, in the presence of at least two officials of the bank, as to why this could not be deposited earlier and receiving a satisfactory explanation," it said.

The explanation, RBI added, should be kept on record to facilitate an audit trail at a later stage. An appropriate flag also should be raised in CBS (Core Banking Solution) to that effect so that no more tenders are allowed.

However, old notes up to Rs 5,000 received across the counter will allowed to be credited to bank accounts in the normal course until December 30, 2016.

"Even when tenders smaller than Rs 5,000 are made in an account and such tenders taken together on cumulative basis exceed Rs 5,000 they may be subject to the procedure to be followed in case of tenders above Rs 5,000, with no more tenders being allowed thereafter until December 30, 2016," the RBI said.

It said that equivalent value of specified bank notes tendered may be credited to an account maintained by the tenderer at any bank in accordance with standard banking procedure and on production of valid proof of identity.

"The equivalent value of specified bank notes tendered may be credited to a third party account, provided specific authorisation therefor accorded by the third party is presented to the bank, following standard banking procedure and on production of valid proof of identity of the person actually tendering," the RBI said.

Following the demonetisation of Rs 500/1,000 notes on November 8, government had allowed people to use such notes for certain public utility bill payment as well as for payment to government hospitals and asked them to deposit the amount in bank accounts.

(REOPENS DEL50)



The central bank said that now-defunct notes in excess of Rs 5,000 shall be credited to only KYC-compliant accounts and if the accounts are not KYC-compliant, credits may be restricted up to Rs 50,000 subject to the conditions governing the conduct of such accounts.

The equivalent value of specified bank notes tendered may be credited to an account maintained by the tenderer at any bank in accordance with standard banking procedure and on production of valid proof of identity, the RBI said.

"The equivalent value of specified bank notes tendered may be credited to a third party account, provided specific authorisation therefore accorded by the third party is presented to the bank, following standard banking procedure and on production of valid proof of identity of the person actually tendering," it added.

The above restrictions shall not apply to tenders of SBNs for the purpose of deposits under the Taxation and Investment Regime for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2016.

Meanwhile, in a notification, the Finance Ministry said: "There shall not be any limit on the quantity or value of the specified bank notes that are tendered for payment and deposit made under the Taxation and Investment Regime for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2016".

It further said that deposit of such notes collected between November 10-14, by the District Co-operative Central Bank shall be subject to RBI instructions.

Also such notes deposited by individual customers or by the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies complete audit check of the veracity of the Know Your Customer documents of the said individual or the members of the said Primary Agricultural Credit Societies shall be conducted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

"The linked currency chest to District Co-operative Central Banks shall give the exchange value for verified specified bank notes only and subject to usual checks relating to identification of fake Indian currency notes," the notification said.
Government will soon launch a new programme, Digital Village, to provide services like health and education in villages with the help of technology.

The programme would be rolled out in 100 villages initially and will be expanded later, Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today.

"We are going to unleash another important initiative-- Digital Village. As per my understanding, it will be a collector-driven initiative. We propose to begin with 100 villages and expand it later," Prasad said at the Digital India Awards event here.

He said a collector with the help concerned local bodies may select a village to provide health, education and other virtual world service through Wi-Fi connectivity.

The minister appealed officers at the event to join pro-actively in government's digital initiative aimed at transforming the country.

"We have trained 18 lakh people over a span of four days. We may scale it (digital payments training) up in January," he said.

Government has set a target of training 1.25 crore people on digital payments by March 31, 2017.

Minister of State for Law and IT P P Chaudhary appreciated National Informatics Centre and said that there are about 8,000 websites carrying information about government work and facilitating transactions.

"I would like to suggest some of the areas where we have to perform. We are far behind in the generation of Intellectual Property. In the area of cyber security, we have to be pro-active and not only be reactive," Chaudhary said.

IT secretary Aruna Sundararajan said this is the first time Indians are having access to government without intermediaries.

At the event, e-governance service of departments from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Jharkhand won Digital India awards, earlier known as Web Ratna Aawards. Rajasthan won platinum award in the state category while Tamil Nadu received Gold and Haryana silver award for e-governance services.

North Goa won platinum award in districts category. Kupwara received Gold and Udham Singh Nagar bagged silver award for e-governance. Municipal Corporations of Surat, Greater Visakhapatnam, Madurai and UP's e-NagarSewaUP bagged award.

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Three leading professors of psychiatry from America's prestigious universities have written to President Barack Obama, expressing their "grave concern" over his successor Donald Trump's mental stability.

In the letter addressed to the US president, the doctors -- one from the Harvard Medical School and two others who have been associated with top US varsities over the years -- have urged him to order a "full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation" before the President-elect takes office on January 20.

"We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the mental stability of our President-elect," the letter published by the Huffington Post read.

The letter assumes significance as it is written by three distinguished professors of psychiatry -- Judith Herman, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Nanette Gartrell, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry , University of California, San Francisco (1988-2011,) and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (1983-87); and Dee Mosbacher, Ph.D. Assistant Clinical Professor Department of Community Health Systems University of California, San Francisco (2005-2013).

"Professional standards do not permit us to venture a diagnosis for a public figure whom we have not evaluated personally. Nevertheless, his widely reported symptoms of mental instability -- including grandiosity, impulsivity, hypersensitivity to slights or criticism, and an apparent inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality -- lead us to question his fitness for the immense responsibilities of the office," the letter said.

"We strongly recommend that, in preparation for assuming these responsibilities, he receive a full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation by an impartial team of investigators," it said.

In August, President Obama had questioned the 70-year-old business tycoon's judgement and temperament and called him "unfit to serve as president".

This is not the first time mental health professionals have weighed in on Trump's suitability for office.

In June, Atlantic published a psychologist's findings that Trump suffered from "narcissism, disagreeableness, grandiosity".

In August, an Oxford study claimed that Trump has more psychopathic traits than Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

Psychologist Kevin Dutton from Oxford University ranked the psychopathic traits of the US presidential hopefuls and historical figures using a standard psychometric tool - the Psychopathic Personality Inventory - Revised (PPI-R).

Trump outstripped Hitler on factors including social influence and fearlessness, while the Nazi dictator scored higher on cold-heartedness and Machiavellian egocentricity - which describes a lack of empathy and sense of detachment from others for the sake of achieving one's own goals.
The Gujarat High Court today started hearing appeals in the 2002 Naroda Patiya case, including those filed by former BJP minister Maya Kodnani and Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi.

Defence lawyers started arguments before the division bench of justices Harsha Devani and A S Supehia.

While Kodnani, Bajrangi and other convicts have challenged the verdict of the trial court, the Supreme Court- appointed Special Investigation Team has filed appeals against acquittals of 29 accused. It has also sought enhanced punishment for some of the convicts.

The hearing is likely to be conducted on a daily basis.

Last month, Justice Akil Kureshi had recused himself after which the case was transferred to the present bench.

Before that, Justices M R Shah, K S Jhaveri, G B Shah, Sonia Gokani and R H Shukla had recused themselves from the matter.

Also, in April 2015, the apex court had stayed the proceedings after SIT complained that Justice R R Tripathi of the high court was hearing only Kodnani's appeal expeditiously. Tripathi retired and the case went to another division bench.

97 people belonging to the minority community were killed by a mob during a riot in Naroda Patiya area of Ahmedabad on February 28, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident in which 59 karsevaks died.

The trial court had on August 30, 2012 awarded life imprisonment to Kodnani and 29 others, and "imprisonment till death" to Bajrangi. It had acquitted 29 others.

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Shouting "Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!" a Turkish policeman in a suit and tie fatally shot Russia's ambassador to Turkey in front of stunned onlookers at a photo exhibit on Monday.

Police killed the assailant after a shootout.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara when a man fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience.

"Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" the gunman shouted in Turkish, referring to the Syrian city where Russian bombardments have helped drive rebels from areas they had occupied for years during the war.

He also shouted "Allahu akbar".

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu identified the gunman as Mevlut Mert Altintas.

He said Altintas, who was born in 1994, had been an officer with Ankara's riot police squad for more than two years. Soylu did not give a motive for the attack.

The gunman approached Karlov as he lay on the ground and shot him at least one more time at close range, the AP photographer said. The attacker also smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition, as panicked people ran for cover. Three other people were wounded in the attack, Turkey's NTV television said.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman climbed to the second floor of the same building and was killed after a 15-minute shootout with police, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported.

The attack comes a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defence ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria. Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nearly six-year conflict, while Turkey has supported Assad's foes.

"It's a tragic day in the history of our country and Russian diplomacy," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in televised comments.

"Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations," she said.

"He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. It's a terrible loss for us and also the world."



Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang in 2001-06, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department.

He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013. US State Department spokesman John Kirby said US officials were aware of reports about the shooting.

"We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source," Kirby said.

The United Nations also condemned the attack.

"There can be no justification for an attack on an ambassador ... And we very much hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Gunmen assaulted Jordanian police in a series of attacks, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing seven officers, two local civilians and a woman visiting from Canada, officials said.

Several armed men yesterday barricaded themselves inside the castle for hours, hemmed in by special forces soldiers.

At least 34 people, including two foreign nationals, were wounded in the day's violence, which was one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory.

Security officials announced late yesterday, several hours after reports of the first shooting, that the operation had ended and that four gunmen were killed. They said troops continued to search the area.

The officials said large amounts of weapons had been seized. They made no reference to local media reports that at one point, the attackers had held hostages.

The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged this pro-Western kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

A witness said attackers immediately targeted tourists when they reached the castle.

"Four gunmen got out of their car" at the castle, said Wasfi al-Habashneh, a local resident. "They opened fire at the Canadian tourists. The woman was killed, the other Canadian tourist escaped and hid behind a car and one of the children was injured."



Al-Habashneh said the attackers also targeted other people. Security forces "engaged with the gunmen and cornered the gunmen at the castle gate," he said.

The killing of the Canadian visitor could further hurt Jordan's embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighboring Syria and Iraq two years ago.

Canada's global affairs spokesman, John Babcock, told The Associated Press that the dead woman was Linda Vatcher. Babcock said her son Chris was injured.

"Canadian officials in Amman are actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time," Babcock said.

Barb Rhymes, a cousin of the slain tourist, said the victim was a retired elementary teacher from Burgeo, Newfoundland, and was visiting her son in Jordan where he works. Rhymes said Linda Vatcher, 62, was a widow and a mother of two adult sons.

"She was very friendly, outgoing. She was nice to everyone. A friend to all," Rhymes said from Burgeo, a remote town of 1,400 people on Canada's East Coast. "It's devastating. It has hit the town hard. My mind is not there right now. She was a beautiful person."



The Canadian Embassy in Amman issued an alert warning urging Canadians to avoid travel to Karak, a town in central Jordan about 140 kilometers south of the capital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in and near Karak.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
: Dairy products maker Hatsun Agro Products Ltd, has inaugurated the company's 1,000th Hatsun Daily outlet here and has planned to treble the number of its outlets during the next 12 months, to meet the rising demand of its products, a company official said today.

The 1,000th outlet, which sells entire range of products by the company was formally inaugurated by the senior company officials in this city, a company statement said.

"Retail expansion is a key step in meeting the increasing demand for our products and to reach out to new consumers in smaller cities as well.

While we are expanding to new geographies, our Research and Development is completely focussed on new product innovations," Hatsun Agro Products Ltd, Marketing and Sales, J Prasanna Venkatesh said.

"Hatsun Daily would continue to grow and become a strong chain of 3,000 outlets in the next 12 months as part of the pan-India expansion programme aiming to reach out to more customers in tier II and III cities," he added.

The company that set up its first outlet in 2014 sells popular milk brand Arokya, curd, paneer, ghee, butter, skimmed milk and dairy whitener.

Recently, it had forayed into frozen food business under the brand 'Oyalo.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog is visiting Iran for the second time since a landmark nuclear agreement with world powers went into effect at the start of this year.

Yukiya Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said today it is very important for Iran to fully implement the agreement.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would abide by the deal if other nations do as well, and said IAEA reports should be "technical and impartial."



He also reiterated that Iran will carry out its commitments "until when the other sides remain loyal to their commencements," under the deal.

The IAEA said last month that Iran exceeded its heavy water limit by 100 kilograms over the 130 metric tons allowed under the agreement. Heavy water is used to cool reactors that produce plutonium, which can be used in atomic bombs.

Iran later said it transferred 11 tons of heavy water to Oman.

Earlier today Amano met Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi to discuss relations between the agency and Iran.

After the meeting Amano told reporters, "Full implementation by Iran on this commitment is very important for the future of (the deal)... A net gain from the verification point of view."



Salehi said, "We have always insisted that the IAEA must act as a neutral authority and not allow the influence of others to be reflected in its reports."



In response to any possible breach of the deal, he added that "Iran's hands are not tied and it has not burned all its bridges. We are ready to take any necessary action."



Today's meetings came after a recent vote by the US Congress to extend some sanctions against Iran, what it believes constitute a breach of the deal.

Responding to the vote Tuesday, Iran decided to draw up plans to build nuclear-powered ships, and on Friday called for a joint commission meeting with world powers on the nuclear deal.

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H T Imam, the political adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said his country is hopeful that the Teesta water sharing treaty with India will become a reality in future.

"We are hopeful that the Teesta treaty will be a reality in future. We are hopeful that the Indian government and West Bengal government will give us the water of Teesta river in days to come," Imam told reporters at the sidelines of a programme here.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had in 2011 opted out of the delegation of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which visited Dhaka after the Teesta river water sharing deal.

The deal was infact cancelled following her opposition as she argued that the pact was not in interest of West Bengal.

However, Banerjee was herself present in Dhaka in 2015 for the Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh.

Asked to comment on Banerjee's opposition to the Teesta pact, Imam said, "as far as we know that she had said that Central government has not discussed the matter with her. We share very good relations with Mamata Banerjee".

Asked whether the Bangladesh government is hoping for any positive signal on the treaty ahead of Sheikh Hasina's proposed visit in February next year, Imam said, "the trip has been postponed to February. It is not about positive noises on Teesta. But there are lot of issues which need to be discussed and these discussions will be completed by December".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hordes of residents of China's capital are "fleeing" to south in pursuit of cleaner air after the year's worst smog prompted authorities to issue a national "red alert", according to a media report.

This year's first red alert for air pollution till December 21 was issued in several northern cities, including Beijing, last Thursday, after thick choking smog was forecast to blanket much of the north until Wednesday.

Air pollution worsened today in many parts of northern China, with poor visibility disrupting air and ground traffic.

At least 23 cities in the world's most populous nation have issued red alerts for air pollution since Friday.

Tianjin airport said that from 8:30 pm Sunday to 10 am Monday they suspended service, leaving 131 flights canceled and 75 delayed, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

Meanwhile, all expressways in the northern municipality of Tianjin remain closed.

Local authorities in Tianjin increased public transport capacity by 15 per cent to accommodate passengers as cars have been ordered to run on alternate days for five days until midnight Wednesday.

Beijing also increased its public transport and implemented the same odd-even number plate rule.

Hordes of Beijing residents are fleeing China's capital, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported today.

Searches made on the travel website for tickets on flights to inland areas in the west and coastal areas in the east of the country were three times higher than before the red alert was issued, the Post quoted Beijing Evening as saying.

The report quoted a man saying that he had immediately booked tickets for a five-day trip to Hainan province's seaside resort of Sanya after learning that schools would be closed until Wednesday.

Another report issued over the weekend estimated that 150,000 people in China would travel overseas to avoid the choking smog in December, and that each year more than one million tourists travelled abroad for that reason, it said.

Residents in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Tianjin are those who travel the most to avoid the smog at home, it said.

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The Himachal Pradesh Assembly, the winter session of which commenced today, was adjourned after the House paid homage to former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa and former state minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman, who died in November.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal, Ministers and members paid rich tributes to departed leaders and observed two minutes silence.

Singh and Dhumal described former chief minister J Jayalalithaa as an able leader who was not only loved by the people of her state but had earned a name for herself in national politics.

Joined by other members, they also paid tributes to former minister and six times MLA from Bhoranj Ishwar Dass Dhiman.

Dhiman had earned the distinction of winning for the same seat six times and serving as education minister twice. He was not only an able teacher but also earned a place for himself as an honest, hardworking and popular leader, they said.

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The Haryana government today said it has increased the travelling distance limit of free bus pass facility from 60 kilometres to 150 kilometres for female students studying in universities and colleges.

While stating this here today, Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar said that Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has given approval to this effect.

Panwar said that information was also received on CM Web Portal that some educational institutes at district headquarters are located at a distance more than 60 kilometres as per which the girl students of these areas are not taking benefit of free bus pass facility being given to them.

The Minister said that this decision would further promote the education of girls and will help in achieving the target of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao programme.

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The deadly heat waves that killed nearly 2,500 people in India and 2,000 people in Pakistan last year were exacerbated by human-induced climate change, scientists including those from IIT-Delhi have found.

Researchers examined observational and simulated temperature and heat indexes and found that the heat waves in the two countries "were exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change."



While the two countries typically experience severe heat in the summer, the 2015 heat waves - which occurred in late May/early June in India and in late June/early July in Pakistan - have been linked to the deaths of nearly 2,500 people in India and 2,000 in Pakistan.

Researchers used "factual" simulations of the world and compared them to "counterfactual" simulations of the world that might have been had humans not changed the composition of the atmosphere by emitting large amounts of carbon dioxide, said Daithi Stone from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) in US.

"It is relatively common to run one or a few simulations of a climate model within a certain set of conditions, with each simulation differing just in the precise weather on the first day of the simulation; this difference in the first day propagates through time, providing different realisations of what the weather 'could have been,'" said Stone.

"The special thing about the simulations used here is that we ran a rather large number of them. This was important for studying a rare event; if it is rare, then you need a large amount of data in order to have it occurring frequently enough that you can understand it," Stone added.

Researchers, including those from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, examined both observational and simulated temperature alone as well as the heat index, a measure incorporating both temperature and humidity effects.

From a quality-controlled weather station observational dataset, they found the potential for a very large, human-induced increase in the likelihood of the magnitudes of the two heat waves.

"Observations suggested the human influence; simulations confirmed it," said Michael Wehner, climate researcher at Berkeley Lab.

The heat waves in Pakistan in late June/early July of 2015 were also similar killing around 2,000 people.

The research team also found that, despite being close in location and time, the two heat waves were "meteorologically independent.

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Five senior operatives of banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen were today awarded death penalty by a special NIA court here in the February 2013 Hyderabad blasts case.

This is the first case that any operative of the IM has been convicted.

On December 13, the court convicted the five members, including IM co-founder Mohd Ahmed Sidibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal, Pakistani national Zia-ur-Rahman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahaseen Akhtar alias Monu and Ajaz Shaikh, who are at present in judicial custody and lodged in the Cherlapally Central Prison here.

Eighteen people were killed and 131 injured in two deadly explosions in Dilsukhnagar, a crowded shopping area in the city, on February 21, 2013.

On November 7, the final arguments had concluded in the case before the NIA special court.

Since IM founder Riyaz Bhatkal, the prime accused in the case, is absconding, the trial was split up against him.

The court convicted Yasin Bhatkal and others under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The NIA special court, after hearing the defence and prosecution's arguments, pronounced the quantum of sentence.

According to NIA, 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. They had planted them in two separate places in Dilsukhnagar which resulted in powerful explosions, it had said.

(Reopens LGB5)



NIA Special Public Prosecutor K Surender said the court, after going through their record, found the case is based on facts and falls in the category of the "rarest of rare case" (thus inviting death penalty).

"As per as investigation...Evidence that is placed on record clearly reflects that the five IM members planned and executed the bomb blasts. We sought capital punishment (for convicts) and accordingly the court gave death penalty to them," he said.

The prosecutor described the verdict as a "victory" for NIA's investigation and the witnesses.

The five IM convicts said they will go for an appeal, according to the NIA counsel.

All relevant records will be submitted in the high court for confirmation of the death sentence, Surender said.
A French court today found IMF head Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence over a massive state payout to a tycoon when she was French finance minister but spared her a fine or prison sentence.

The ruling was a rare setback in Lagarde's glittering career but it was not clear how it would affect her position at the International Monetary Fund, whose board was to meet in Washington to discuss the court's decision.

A special court in Paris found against Lagarde over her handling of a dispute between the state and flamboyant businessman Bernard Tapie, which ended in a 404-million-euro (USD 422 million) award for Tapie.

The court rapped Lagarde for failing to contest the massive payment, which was linked to Tapie's sale of the Adidas sportswear brand to Credit Lyonnaise bank.

Crucially, however, the Paris court exempted her from any penalty, citing her "international reputation" and the fact that at the time of the events in 2008 she had been busy fighting a global financial inferno.

The high-flying 60-year-old former corporate lawyer became the first female IMF chief in 2011, succeeding her disgraced compatriot Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

She was not in the Paris court for the ruling. Her lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve told reporters she was in Washington for "professional reasons".

He welcomed the absence of a sentence but said he "would have preferred that she be cleared outright".

The French government expressed continued support for Lagarde, saying it "retained its utmost confidence in her capacity to carry out her responsibilities".

Lagarde was tried over her decision to allow the long- running dispute over Tapie's sale of Adidas to be resolved by a private arbitration panel instead of by the courts.

The court cleared her of negligence over that decision but upheld the charge over her failure to contest the staggering amount of the resulting award.

An investigation later showed the arbitration to be fraudulent.

Tapie, who was later ordered to pay back the money, is among six people charged with fraud in a separate criminal case, along with the boss of Orange telecoms company, Stephane Richard, a former aide to Lagarde.

Lagarde's case was heard by the Court of Justice of the Republic - a tribunal of judges and members of parliament that hears cases against ministers accused of wrongdoing in office.

The punishment for negligence theoretically carried a one-year prison sentence and a 15,000-euro (USD 15,676) fine.

Lagarde told the court during her five-day trial last week she had acted in good faith.

"My sole aim was to defend the general interest," she said.

The court noted however that her inaction allowed Tapie and his wife to pocket 45 million euros in "moral damages" for alleged emotional harm - a sum included in the arbitration award.

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For the first time in the history of Republic Day celebrations, the 'black cat' commandos of the elite counter-terror force NSG may march down Rajpath in full armed gear on January 26 next.

Officials said a decision in this regard has been taken after a meeting between the Union Home and Defence Ministries following which the National Security Guard (NSG) headquarters here has begun preparations to choose a contingent of about 60 commandos to showcase its prowess and commando-style fast march past.

"This would be the first time when the federal contingency force would participate in the Republic Day events by marching down Rajpath. The first clearances have been issued and hopefully the NSG contingent will march," they said.

Once at Rajpath, the 'black cats' will reflect a dashing sheen to the parade as they will be dressed in their trademark black coloured overalls, balaclava headgear and special assault rifles MP-5 along with the iconic commando dagger.

Till now, the troops of Army's Special Forces were the only commando force to take part in the Rajpath during January 26 celebrations.

The NSG contingent is expected to include commandos from both the army and paramilitary-based units of the force, stationed at their garrison in Manesar near here.

However, it is expected that like last year, some regular paramilitary contingents may not be included this time too.

While the iconic Border Security Force camel and band contingent has been given a go ahead for inclusion in the parade that straddles down from the citadel of power at Raisina hills to the 17th century-built monument Red Fort, the contingent of border guarding Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) may miss the show.

"While the CRPF's special anti-riot unit RAF and Central Industrial Security Force contingents have been included, the inclusion of Indo-Tibetan Border Polices' squad is still uncertain and SSB may be a no show.

"Last time, the Central Armed Police Forces squad at Rajpath did not have ITBP, CISF and SSB contingents," they said.

Senior commanders of the SSB and ITBP, they said, have already made official requests to the Home Ministry to take up the matter of the inclusion of their contingents with the Defence Ministry, the nodal authority for conduct of January 26 celebrations at Rajpath.

The NSG, raised in 1984, is the federal force to undertake counter-terror and counter-hijack operations across the country and till now it was associated with the Republic Day celebrations by way of providing its crack teams for special combat deployment around the parade route and sanitising it by deployment of snipers.

NSG commanders, taking cognisance of the emerging terror



scenario, have prepared a blueprint to equip its commandos with the latest gadgets as they foresee a situation where the contingency force will have to undertake multifarious operations, ranging from closed spaces of a five-star hotel like during 2008 Mumbai attacks and acres of open field at the Pathankot air base.

The force has also procured light-weight (3.8kg) Israeli and US-made 'corner shot' rifles that can pin down terrorists and save hostages with precision, without the commando being exposed.

A favourite weapon of the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) teams and Special Forces, the 'corner shot' have also been improvised for better aim after the NSG felt their use after the 26/11 terror attacks.

In order to better protect its commandos right in the line of fire, the force has got new ballistic helmets with glass visor that can save them from eye injuries through splinter or grenade blasts.

The helmets, of the top notch NIJ-III specifications that define the best bullet proof protection, weigh 2.6-kgs.

A special combat gun, SPAS-15, is also now in the combat inventory of the force. The Italian shotgun can hold a six round magazine and is popular among commando forces as it is used to blast the locks of closed doors.

"The NSG did a lot of door busting when a number of rooms in two five-star hotels had to be forcibly opened during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Then door-charge ammunition was used which is crude and could result in collateral damage. The SPAS-15 does this job effectively and efficiently," the official said.
Amid its all-out efforts to get entry into the elite NSG, India today held talks with Czech Republic, a member of the 48-nation grouping, on terrorism and Multilateral Export Control Regime.

During wide-ranging discussions, Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar and Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek reviewed entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as important global and regional issues of mutual interest.

"Two Ministers held discussions also on major global issues such as climate change, Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations Reforms, Terrorism, Multilateral Export Control Regime etc. They exchanged views on important developments in the neighbouring regions of both countries," MEA said in a press release.

The discussions also come in the backdrop of India's intense outreach for its membership bid in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Czech, which is a member in four export control regimes- the Wassenaar Arrangement, NSG, Australia Group, and Missile Technology Control Regime, has been supportive of India's aspirations.

Noting that defence cooperation is an important component in India-Czech ties, the release said there is a mechanism of India-Czech Joint Defence Committee meetings that met last in November 2016.

Zaoralek is accompanied by senior officials of Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a high-level business delegation representing various trade, industrial and financial sectors.

On trade front, the two countries have robust economic ties, with annual bilateral trade being USD 1.2 billion.

There is a mechanism of Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation co-chaired by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India and Minister of Trade and Industry of Czech Republic from the respective side, for discussing the ways and means of strengthening economic ties, the release added.

"Zaoralek and Akbar discussed in detail the possibility of further cooperation in these crucial sectors of mutual interest...They exchanged views on important developments in the neighbouring regions of both countries," the release said.

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In a bid to make Rajasthan an education hub, the state government will organise a first of its kind 'Festival of Education' in Jaipur next year which will see convergence of academicians and faculty from across the globe.

The two-day event, to be held in April, will provide students and teachers a unique opportunity to interact and share ideas with their global peers, and improve teaching and learning experience.

The event, dubbed as an 'entertaining and informative extravaganza' by the state government, will be organised in partnership with Dubai-based education organisation 'Gems Education' with whom it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September this year to fill the infrastructure gap and promote education.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, while unveiling the logo and the theme of the event here, said, "In Rajasthan, more and more students are getting enrolled in government schools than private schools as the government has taken a lot of initiatives in its three years tenure."



"The state government is working hard to provide a level-playing field to every student in the state. The condition of government-run schools has improved manifold. The percentage of students getting enrolled in schools has increased so as the pass percentage of students.

"A lot of work has been undertaken in the three-year tenure of this government and a lot of initiatives are underway. The government has also started placing photos of teachers on the school walls so that students can recognise their teachers by face," she said.

Underlining that teachers make a lot of difference by making students learn, Raje said the state government will provide training to teachers for the betterment of education.

"One teacher can change the lives of many students," she remarked.

Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Vasudev Devnani was also present during the event.

Educationist and group president of GEMS Education India Amreesh A Chandra said this is a first of its kind education festival in the country which is a welcome step.

(Reopens NRG 13)



Unemployed youths demonstrated during the Chief



Minister's rally. Raje allegedly called the protesters "goons".
Indian-origin metal tycoon Sanjeev Gupta today said he will invest a whopping 120 million pounds in Britain's last aluminium smelter as part of a deal to rescue the site and safeguard hundreds of jobs.

Gupta's Liberty House and his father's related business, Simec, will pay around 330 million pounds to acquire the plant at Lochaber, in the western Scottish Highlands, and two hydro-electric plants that power it.

The group has committed to invest a further 120 million pounds, creating up to 600 jobs in coming years, Gupta said.

"Today is the start of an exciting new chapter in Scotland's manufacturing story and the Scottish government and its agencies will keep working with Sanjeev Gupta and the GFG Alliance to help them realise their enterprising vision for Lochaber," said Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Strugeon, during a site visit.

Gupta, in his 40s, is executive chairman of Liberty House Group and of the wider family concern - GFG Alliance - strategic board.

He said: "We hope this day will come to be recognised as the start of a bright new future for Highland industry. It puts Lochaber right at the heart of our vision for sustainable and integrated local production that can revitalise British manufacturing."



Today's announcement follows a deal unveiled last month involving Liberty House and Simec to take over the site formerly owned byRio Tintoin Scotland.

Gupta's plans include creating an aluminium wheel manufacturing facility with 300 jobs directly and another 300 in the supply chain.

Liberty has also said that it aims to protect the existing 170 jobs at Lochaber and expand metal manufacturing and downstream engineering in the region.

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Indonesian police have detained dozens of people ahead of a West Papua independence protest today.

At least 200 people were arrested in several cities in Papua and Java, said Veronica Koman, a lawyer for Papuan independence activist Filep Karma.

Today is the 55th anniversary of the official declaration of an Indonesian military campaign to take control of Papua from the Dutch.

Koman said several people were arrested last week when they applied for demonstration permits.

She said the headquarters of the pro-independence National Committee for West Papua in Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, was vandalised during a police raid today.

The Dutch colonisers of the Indonesian archipelago held onto West Papua when Indonesia became independent after World War II. It became part of Indonesia following a UN-supervised referendum in 1969 criticised as undemocratic.

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Rapid population decline among vertebrate species began at the end of the 19th century when industrialisation was at its peak, according to new study that will help better inform conservation efforts.

Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Centre (UTHealth) in the US and the Chinese Academy of Sciences reviewed thousands of scientific articles about the genetic diversity of vertebrate species.

Their efforts yielded genetic data from 2,764 vertebrate species, 600 of which are endangered.

"Industrialisation is the most natural explanation as to why we have rapid population decline in that period of time. It has to be somehow caused by human impact," said Yun-Xin Fu, professor at UTHealth School of Public Health.

The researchers used a population genetics approach to model when each threatened species began to rapidly decline in population size.

On average, the population size of endangered species declined by about 25 per cent every 10 years starting 123 years ago.

Rapid population decline is widespread among endangered species and when it occurs, genetic diversity suffers.

While conservation efforts have typically focused on maintaining genetic diversity within a species, Fu believes that preserving ecosystems and natural habitats should hold more weight.

"Genetic diversity is important to preserving a species from a long-term standpoint.

"However, preventing the rapid population decline by protecting the native habitats of species appears to be and should be more important because the overall difference of genetic diversity between threatened and non-threatened species is not at an alarming level," said Fu.

Fu hopes the study will better inform conservation efforts and encourage more of an emphasis on the effects of human impact on habitats and ecosystems.

The research was published in the journal PNAS.

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To facilitate his and friend's journey to Egypt, ISIS recruit from Mumbra Tabrez Tambe had deposited Rs 5.17 lakh in his brother's bank account before leaving the country in January, ATS officials said today.

Tambe had had left in January along with his friend Ali Al Shahri, a Saudi national.

Tambe was detained in Libya recently.

Few days before his journey to join the terror group, Tambe had deposited Rs 4.20 lakh on January 5 and Rs 97,000 on January 8 in his brother Saud Tambe's account with a private bank.

The money was meant for their ticket fare for Mumbai to Cairo, Cairo to Dar-E-Salaam and back, Cairo to Khartoum and back, according to the officials.

Tambe was to undertake the Cairo to Khartoum journey alone as Ali was to travel separately.

ATS is investigating whether the duo undertook their planned journeys or not.

Ali, who was Tambe's friend since they worked together in Saudi Arabia, had indoctrinated Tambe and also visited India later.

It is also revealed that Ali had sent Rs 26,883 to Tambe through Western Union Money Transfer in November 11 this year.

ATS is investigating the purpose of the transaction.

Investigation is conducted into visa applications (of Tambe and Ali) for Egypt which were made through a Delhi-based travel agency and ticketing done by a famous travel company which has its office in Gurgaon (and) regarding transaction through Western Union Money Transfer, ATS officials said in a press statement.

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ISIS has offered a USD 1 million reward for the killing of a Kurdish-Danish woman who dropped out of university in 2014 to fight the terror group in Syria and Iraq.

Joanna Palani, 23, is currently behind bars and facing trial in Copenhagen for leaving the country after a 12-month travel ban imposed in June 2015, The Independent reported.

Her trial begins tomorrow and if found guilty she faces up to two years in prison under the new laws designed to stem the flow of ISIS militants from Denmark to the Middle East.

Palani is often the subject of vicious threats both on and offline following her return to Denmark.

The latest offerings of financial reward for her death were made by ISIS social media channels in several different languages over the weekend, the paper said, citing Arab media.

"How can I pose a threat to Denmark and other countries by being a soldier in an official army that Denmark trains and supports directly in the fight against [ISIS]?" she posted on Facebook shortly after her passport was confiscated by cops last year.

Palani, whose family originate from Iranian Kurdistan, was born in a refugee camp in Ramadi in Iraq during the first Gulf War. Her family won asylum in Denmark when she was a child.

She quit a politics degree to join the Kurdish revolution against ISIS after the extremists rose to prominence in 2014, fighting with both the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria and Peshmerga forces in Iraq, it said.

In a Facebook post, Palani said she was inspired "to fight for women's rights, for democracy - for the European values I learned as a Danish girl.

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A 29-year-old female Italian jihadist was sentenced in absentia to nine years in jail today in the country's first such conviction, according to media reports.

Maria Giulia Sergio adopted the name Fatima after converting to Islam and married an Albanian in September 2014 so she could join the so-called Islamic State militants who hold ground in Syria and Iraq.

Several days into the marriage the couple flew from Rome to Turkey and clandestinely entered Syria.

Her husband, named as Aldo Kobuzi, trained at an IS camp and the female militant learned how to handle weapons.

She also sent congratulatory messages about a jihadist attack at the Paris offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, in January 2015.

Kobuzi was also convicted in absentia and sentenced to 10 years in jail.

After encouragement from the female jihadist her parents and younger sister, Marianna, converted to Islam, sold their furniture and applied for passports to try and follow her.

But all three were arrested in July 2015 for "organising travel for terrorist purposes", an offence recently added to Italian law and being used for the first time.

The father received a four-year jail term from the court in Milan for trying to organise the trip to areas held by IS, having come under pressure from his daughters.

Marianna was convicted in a separate trial and sentenced to five years and four months in jail.

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Delhi Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain today met residents of Kathputli Colony, a JJ Cluster, following complaints that they are allegedly being "forcefully" evicted from the area.

Kathputli Colony is around 40 years old slum in West Delhi.

After meeting with people, Jain said, "Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officers have assured him that no one is being forcefully evicted from there. There is also a high court order which states that nobody can be forcefully dislodged," Jain said.

"I have asked colony's residents that if DDA remove them from their places, they should inform the government. Thereafter, we will stage a sit-in here to protest the move," the minister said.

He said there are 700 JJ Clusters in the national capital. Of them, 400 fall under the jurisdiction of the DDA.

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Riding on his consistent performance as left-back for Chennaiyin FC, 18-year-old Jerry Lalrinzula bagged the Emerging Player award of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2016.

The teenager's rise to glory over the last three months for Marco Materazzi's team, is a testament to his stolid defensive work as well as his marauding runs along the left wing and his clinical crosses into the box.

Lalrinzuala's energy and youthful fervor also appeared to rub off on to the 'Super Machans' during the team's ISL journey this year.

The other Indian player who made it to the awards list was Mumbai City shot-stopper Amrinder Singh, who won the Golden Glove award.

Amrinder's sharp reflexes, positioning and vision helped Mumbai City FC to the top of the league standings this season.

Former Chelsea FC midfielder and Delhi Dynamos' marquee player, Florent Malouda was named the Hero of the League.

His contribution to the Dynamos' cause saw the team reach the semi-finals for the second consecutive year. With three goals and five assists, the Frenchman was instrumental in creating plenty of opportunities for his side.

Borja Fernandez was named the Fittest Player of ISL. He has been a mainstay of the Atletico de Kolkata midfield from the first edition of the tournament and was already an ISL winner before the closing of the third season, after a stupendous victory for his side in the inaugural edition.

Tasked with the responsibility to captain the side this season, Borja took his team to the knockout rounds of the competition for the third successive time.

The ISL has seen a number of goals scored across the three seasons. In 2016, a season which saw many of the teams tighten up their respective defense strategies, it took a special performance from Delhi Dynamos' Marcelo Pereira to win the Swift Golden Boot Award.

Pereira scored 10 goals from 26 chances which came his way throughout the tournament.

There were a number of contenders for the prize with a number of notable assists through the course of ISL-3. However, South African winger Sameehg Doutie walked away with the Winning Pass of the League award for his contribution to Atletico de Kolkata through the course of the league.

The NorthEast United FC won the award for the Best Pitch, while Chennaiyin FC's co-owner Abhishek Bachchan picked up the Fair Play Award on behalf of his team.

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JMM General Secretary and



former MLA Salkhan Soren today passed away in a hospital in Ranchi, party General Secretary S K Sonu said here.

Soren, who was 64, was a four-time MLA from Gandey, he said.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das expressed grief and prayed that may the departed soul rest in peace and the Almighty give the bereaved family strength at this hour, according to an official release.

Former Chief Ministers Shibu Soren, Babulal Marandi, Hemant Soren and a host of political leaders condoled the leader's demise.

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Union Minister P P Choudhary today said that Rajasthan's Jodhpur-Pali area will be developed as an Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR).

"Electronic and hardware manufacturing will be beneficial as it will reduce India's reliance on imports and save the country precious foreign exchange," he said here.

The ITIR should specifically focus on research and development (R&D) and human resource development as it will help create intellectual property and thereby make the nation competent in developing cutting edge technologies, electronics and software products, Choudhary said.

The MoS for Electronics and Information Technology said his ministry had approved a proposal for the project by IIT-Jodhpur.

"The project is in its final stage after rounds of deliberations at different levels for identification of land and other formalities," IIT-Jodhpur deputy registrar Amar Deep Sharma said.

The state government has assured support as the project has immense potential to transform the electronics, IT and ITeS sectors of India and Rajasthan, besides increasing job opportunities, he said.

"The proposed ITIR will have three major activities. These are research and development; software and hardware product development; and manufacturing in the electronics, IT and ITeS sectors," Advisor (industry-academia interface for the IIT) M L Bapna informed.

It was informed that the IIT, DRDO Defence Laboratory and AIIMS in Jodhpur will also establish a joint multi-disciplinary R&D center to anchor indigenous sensor technologies in India.

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Jordanian police said today they found suicide belts and other explosives in the hideout of suspected Islamic State group jihadists behind an attack that killed 10 people, including a Canadian tourist.

Another 34 people were wounded in Sunday's shooting spree, including a second Canadian. Four gunmen were shot dead by police during the course of a siege lasting several hours.

The attack took place in Karak, a tourist destination known for one of the region's biggest Crusader castles, around 120 kilometres south of the capital Amman.

Police said they suspected IS jihadists were behind the attack.

"The four dead militants are Jordanian members of a terrorist cell suspected of belonging to IS," a security source told AFP.

It was unclear whether any militants were still at large.

Prime Minister Hani al-Malki, who was addressing parliament at the time of the shootings, had spoken of as many as 10 gunmen.

Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting IS jihadists in neighbouring Iraq and Syria.

It has carried out air strikes targeting IS, and also hosts coalition troops on its territory.

Maaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordanian fighter pilot, was captured by the jihadists when his plane went down in Syria in December 2014, and he was later burned alive in a cage.

Karak is Kassasbeh's hometown.

In June, a suicide bombing claimed by IS killed seven border guards near the Syrian frontier.

According to sources close to Islamists, almost 4,000 Jordanians have joined jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria, and an estimated 420 have been killed since 2011.

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Jordanian troops with armored vehicles have blocked access to a popular tourist site a Crusader castle following attacks in the area that killed 10 people the previous day, including a Canadian visitor.

State-media said today that Jordan launched an investigation into the shootings, among the bloodiest attacks in recent years.

The attack was also the latest in a series of assaults over the past year that challenged the pro-Western kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region increasingly threatened by Islamic extremists.

Canadian officials identified the slain tourist as Linda Vatcher.

The attack was likely to further harm Jordan's battered tourism industry, on the decline since militants from the Islamic State group seized control of parts of neighboring Iraq and Syria two years ago.

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Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, who led the five-judge constitution bench in the Supreme Court which had struck down the controversial NJAC Act for appointment of judges, was today appointed as the next Chief Justice of India.

Sources in the government said President Pranab Mukherjee has cleared his name and the notification is being issued shortly.

A copy of the notification will be formally handed over to Justice Khehar by a senior Justice Department official tomorrow morning, the sources said.

He will be the 44th Chief Justice of India.

CJI T S Thakur had earlier this month recommended the name of Justice Khehar, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, to be his successor.

He will take oath of office on January 4.

Justice Khehar, 64, will be the first Chief Justice from the Sikh community. CJI Thakur demits office on January 3.

Justice Khehar will hold the tenure for over seven months till August 27 next.

Besides heading the bench in NJAC matter, Justice Khehar has also headed a bench which had set aside the imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh in January.

He was a part of the bench which sent Sahara chief Subrata Roy to jail while hearing the matter relating to the refund of money invested by people in his two companies.

Justice Khehar also headed a bench which recently gave a significant verdict holding that the principal of 'equal pay for equal work' has to be made applicable to those engaged as daily wagers, casual and contractual employees who perform the same duties as the regulars.

While the turf war between the judiciary and the executive over the appointment of judges for higher judiciary has intensified, Justice Khehar on the occasion of Constitution Day on November 26 had responded to the tirade from Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi by saying the judiciary was working within its "lakshmanrekha".

"Judiciary is mandated to shield all persons, citizens and non-citizens alike, against discrimination and abuse of State power. Liberty, equality and dignity of citizen have flourished substantially in India due to the pro-active role of judiciary in the country," he had said.

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US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed the hope in Saudi Arabia today that a new ceasefire in the Yemen conflict could be agreed within two weeks.

On his last visit to the kingdom as secretary, Kerry said the US will work with Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to achieve a new pause in the fighting, which would be the eighth ceasefire attempt since hostilities escalated early last year.

The group of four nations, formed previously to focus on Yemen, "hopes that within two weeks it might be possible to achieve" a pause in fighting, Kerry told reporters at a joint press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir.

"The failure to achieve a lasting cessation of hostilities is disturbing to all of us," Kerry said.

Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia has led an Arab coalition conducting air strikes against Huthi rebels and providing other assistance to local forces in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The coalition intervened after the Huthi rebels allied with elite members of security forces loyal to Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh seized the capital Sanaa and overran other parts of the country.

Previous ceasefire attempts collapsed when new fighting broke out.

The group of four nations -- which also met Oman's foreign minister as well as UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed -- reaffirmed UN proposals for a peace "roadmap" made in October.

Sources have said the plan calls for agreement on naming a new vice president after the rebels withdraw from Sanaa and other cities, and hand over heavy weapons to a third party.

Hadi would then transfer power to the vice president who would appoint a new premier to form a government in which the north and south of Yemen would have equal representation.

Hadi, who has spent most of his time in Riyadh since early last year, rejects the plan, however, saying that he would only cede power to an "elected" leader.

The rebels, in turn, in late November formed a 42-member government of "national salvation" in areas they control.

Ould Cheikh Ahmed called the rebels' move an obstacle to the peace process.

Riyadh and Washington accuse Iran of arming the Huthis, a charge Tehran denies.

Since early last year the war in Yemen has killed more than 7,000 people, about half of them civilians, while the humanitarian situation is "dire and deteriorating rapidly", according to Kerry.

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People now have a reason to look forward to the start of the workweek with the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) declaring free entry to all events and all venues, on Mondays.

From 11 am to 5 pm every Monday, India's only Biennale will be open to visitors free of charge, organisers said here today.

In order to make the works at the Biennale more accessible to a wider group of visitors, there will also be guided tours conducted by specially trained volunteers at Aspinwall House, the primary venue, twice daily at 11 am and 3 pm, they said



The tours will survey the artworks on display and explain how they tie into KMB 2016 curator Sudarshan Shetty's vision for the Biennale in English, Malayalam and Hindi.

"We want to have as many people as possible attend.

This is an event for everyone and we want to make sure everyone can afford to see the Biennale. Since KMB 2016 started on a Monday, we have chosen Mondays as the day when people should be allowed in for free," said KMB co-founder Bose Krishnamachari in a release here.

"At the same time, selling tickets is crucial because it helps pay our daily maintenance costs," Krishnamachari added.

The third edition of the Biennale has already seen more than 30,000 visitors, accounting for both ticketed and non-ticketed entries and attendance at shows, programmes and events across venues, through its first seven days.

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Korean companies are keen to invest in Maharashtra and can join hands with the state to set up international hubs with 10 smart cities and 100 smart villages, state Industries Minister Subhash Desai said here.

"The state has attracted 50 per cent of the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) coming to India in the last six months. With the growing strength of Maharashtra's industrial development, Korea is keen to invest and partner the state in terms of exchange of ideas and technologies," Desai said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the two-day Korean Expo 2016 here today organised by Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), in association with FICCI.

"There are several emerging opportunities, such as the development of Aurangabad in the Mumbai-Delhi corridor and the new international airport therein; industrial parks in Khed, Nagpur and Chakan. Korea can partner Maharashtra to create international hubs with 10 smart cities and 100 smart villages," he added.

"We are also exploring partnerships with Korea to create small business centres and startup hubs in Maharashtra. We are exploring sustainable business initiative partnerships, including the use of tidal power and renewable energy projects," Desai said.

Kim Doo Young, Vice-President, KOTRA, said, "India and Korea are among the top four economies in Asia and they have a long history of collaboration. PM Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' mantra has become familiar terminology amongst world economists. The new driving force for Korean exports comprises beauty, wellness, fashion, health and household products and brands. Korean Expo is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Korea's consumer brands along with industrial acumen."



Hosted by Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, Korean Expo is a consumer and trade focused exhibition featuring 1,000 plus premium products from 100 plus exhibitors showcasing household goods, beauty and fashion products; electronic items; wellness and medical products; industry material and machine equipment among others.

More than 10,000 visitors from India, including hundreds of overseas buyers from Middle East, Russia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South-west Asia are expected to visit the show.

"Korean Expo 2016 is bigger than ever before, after India's Commerce Minister launched Korea Plus, a platform for promoting and facilitating South Korean investments in India following the review of the free trade agreement called Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and South Korea in mid 2016," KOTRA Director General Dongwon Lee said.

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Army Chief-designate Lt Gen Bipin Rawat and Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D Anbu has underlined the need for a "special focus" to achieve an all-weather connectivity to the strategic Ladakh region, which borders China.

The Ladakh region, which has high significance from strategic considerations, remains cut-off for almost half of the year throughout the winter season from the rest of India.

This happens due to intensive snow fall, avalanche and icing at passes viz Zozila on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road and Rohtang, Baralacha La, Lachung La and Tanglang La on Manali- Sarchu-Upshi-Leh road.

"It, therefore, needs a special focus and network of tunnel to have an all weather connectivity," a statement by the army quoted them as saying at a one-day workshop organised by the Ministry of Defence on tunnelling in North & North Eastern Region on December 17 here.

Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar highlighted that infrastructure development in North and North-Eastern part of the country has always been a matter of challenge due to adverse climatic conditions, fragile and young geology and remote location.

Growing awareness on forest, environmental and ecological issues to minimise instability of hill slopes and avoid phenomena of flash floods and cloud burst has also been a matter of serious concern which need urgent attention, he said.

Underground structures like tunnel could help a great deal to minimise the disturbances to natural settings and provide straight alignment and thus reduce length of roads, he added.

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The law students of DU with less than 70 per cent attendance have been allowed to appear in the exams and admit cards are being issued to them following a communication from Bar Council of India.

The students had been protesting against the decision of the DU to debar them from exams this year due to short attendance for past few days.

"We have received a letter from BCI requesting us to sympathetically look into the cases of students with less than 70 per cent attendance. In accordance with it, the admit cards of such students are being issued," said Dean (Law Faculty) Prof Ved Kumari.

Following the decision, the students will be able to appear in the exams beginning tomorrow.

A total of 550 students were barred from appearing in the Law exams due to short attendance. A section of students were holding protests over the decision demanding DU administration to allow them in examination.

A group of students had ransacked the office of Dean (Law Faculty) during the agitation, on Saturday.

"I have given a written complaint to the Commissioner of Police but no case has been registered so far," said Prof Ved Kumari.

A complaint has been received from Prof Ved Kumari and enquiry is on but no case has been registered so far, said a senior police officer.

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Mahatashtra BJP chief Raosaheb Danve today dubbed the complaint of alleged violation of modal code of conduct levelled against him as "politically motivated."



Danve recently courted a controversy with his remark asking voters polls to accept 'Laxmi' (the goddess of wealth) during the civic polls.

"On the eve of elections, Laxmi comes to your house and you should accept it," Danve had allegedly said during a civic poll campaign meeting at Paithan in Aurangabad on Saturday.

Elections to municipal councils are being held in the state at present.

The opposition Congress and some social activists had objected to Danve's remarks, saying it amounted to asking people to accept money during election campaign,and urged the State Election Commission to a register a case of violation of model code against him.

A notice was yesterday served to Danve by Returning Officer, Aurangabad,, and a report has been submitted to District Collector Nidhi Pandey.

"We talk about Laxmi at least 25 times in a day and that does not mean money. The move is politically motivated and I have this morning replied to the notice. Now the ball is in the court of Election Commission and it will take final decision on it," Danve told PTI.

Asked about Shiv Sena's critcism against the comment of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that the ally should be ready to accept its development vision for forging a tie-up for Mumbai civic polls, the BJP leader said "Now we have got used to this kind of criticism and we take it as a mark of appreciation.

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Congress today hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of transparency, telling him to disclose first how many hundreds of crores of Rupees were deposited in BJP accounts in months preceding the demonetisation before attacking other parties.

"Prime Minister is a habitual offender when it comes to speaking on transparency and accountability. May I ask Modi Ji while you speak about transparency and accountability of the democratic process, why are you not making the accounts of BJP and its units and RSS public", Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

He said that this would enable the country to know that like on the "pattern of your Bengal unit", how many hundreds of crores of Rupees were deposited in Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in BJP accounts all over the country in few months preceding the demonetisation.

"Why is Modiji not showing courage of conviction to disclose the details of properties purchased by BJP and RSS in the preceding months leading to demonetisation", Surjewala asked.

He told the Prime Minister that unless and until he held himself accountable to the claims that he make, words will not do, it is action and intent that will prove his bonafides.

At a public meeting in Kanpur, the Prime Minister earlier accused the Congress of always shying away from being accountable to the people and recalled a saying of then AICC Treasurer Sitaram Kesri to drive home the point.

"Na khata, na bahi, jo Kesri kahe wahi sahi (neither accounts nor ledgers, only thing that matters is what is said by Kesri)," Modi said.

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh in a letter to the Prime Minister sought to debunk his claims on transparency and accountability. He asked Modi why he was not ordering a probe into the leak in Panama papers and Bahama papers where those allegedly involved have been made brand ambassadors by the Prime Minister.

He also wanted to know from the Prime Minister why his government was not acting fast on the issue of appointment of Lok Pal, the whistle blower act and benami properties.

Besides, he asked the Prime Minister why he was not initiating action against BJP chief Amit Shah whose close aides are being accused of irregularities in the wake of demonetisation.

Singh in the letter and Surjewala at the briefing detailed the steps enlisted by Congress President Sonia Gandhi at the Burari plenary of the party way back in 2010 to usher in transparency and accountability.

On the question on the proposal of the Election Commission to cleanse funding of political parties, Surjewala said Congress has always welcomed every move which would make the funding of election transparent, more accountable as also holds political parties accountable to the expenditures that they do including donations received by political parties.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The National Investigation Agency has refuted allegations of state Anti-Terrorism Squad that it conducted investigation in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blasts case in a pre-determined and calculated manner to negate the effects of earlier probe by ATS and CBI.

The NIA today filed its affidavit in response to a petition filed by Maharashtra ATS challenging the discharge of eight Muslim persons from the 2006 blasts case.

In April this year, a sessions court had discharged the eight persons (accused by ATS and CBI) of all terror charges after the NIA submitted that a "Hindu Right Wing" organisation was behind the blasts.

The ATS approached HC claiming that the sessions court order was "illegal, unjust and goes against evidence on record". Its conclusion that "Muslims would not plant bombs inside a mosque was absolutely wrong, and had no legal basis," the ATS claimed.

In its affidavit, the NIA said it arrived at the conclusion that the blasts were carried out by Hindu group only after a thorough probe was carried out.

"It is not correct to say NIA conducted investigation in a pre-determined and calculated manner to negate the effects of earlier probe by ATS and CBI," the affidavit filed by NIA Superintendent of Police Vikram Khalate said.

The affidavit further said that as per NIA probe, Manohar Narwaria, Ranjendra Chaudhary, Dhan Singh Shiv Singh, Lokesh Sharma, Ramchandra Kalsangra, Sunil Joshi, Ramesh Mahalkar, Sandeep Dange and few others allegedly entered into criminal conspiracy between January and September 2006 to commit terrorist acts in Malegaon.

"Training camps were organised in Indore where bombs were prepared and then transported to Malegaon. Narwaria, Chaudhary, Singh and Kalsangra planted the bombs in Malegaon. They (accused) wanted to set off the bomb in a Muslim dominated area so that it would result in communal riots between Hindus and Muslims in Malegaon," the affidavit said.

The affidavit further relied on a statement of Swami Assemanand, accused in the Mecca Masjid blast, in which he has said the Malegaon blast was handiwork of "his boys".

The NIA in its affidavit also said that the ATS's claim that accused Mohammad Jahid Ansari had planted bomb in Malegaon on September 8, 2006 is wrong.

"It is revealed in NIA probe that on the day of the blast, Ansari was in Yavatmal, which is about 400 kms from the blast site. Twelve witnesses have supported this," it said.

It further claimed that Shabbir Batterwala, who according to ATS had supplied explosives, was in judicial custody from August to September 2006 after he was arrested by Crime Branch Mumbai.

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A man charged with murder in the death of a college student is now accused of killing another woman, authorities said.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray told NJ.Com yesterday that Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, 20, of Orange, is charged with murder in the death of 33-year-old Joanne Brown.

Wheeler-Weaver remained jailed today in lieu of USD 5 million bail. It's not known if he has retained an attorney.

Brown was last seen October 22 in Orange, Murray said. A work crew found her body December 5 at a vacant house in Orange. Brown was strangled and apparently killed at the house, Murray said.

"The connection between the defendant and the victim remains under investigation," Murray added.

Wheeler-Weaver recently pleaded not guilty to murder in the strangulation death of 20-year-old New Jersey City University student Sarah Butler, whose body was found December 1 in West Orange. He's also charged with disturbing human remains.

Prosecutors have said Butler and Wheeler-Weaver were "acquainted" and encountered each other in Orange on November 22. They have said there's no evidence they were dating.

Possible motives for both slayings have not been disclosed.

Murray said the investigation into their deaths is ongoing and urged anyone with information on either death to contact her office.

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A 40-year-old man was allegedly



duped by a conman into paying Rs 23.17 lakh under the pretext of getting him a license for liquor sale, police said today.

According to complainant Mahesh Badgujar, the cheating took place between 2009 and 2011, after accused Ashutosh Srivastava from suburban Andheri in neighbouring Mumbai struck a friendship with the victim while he was on a family vacation in Bangkok in September 2009.

Srivastava had then offered to help the victim in getting his daughter admitted to a boarding school at Musoorie. After a requisite payment of Rs 1, 86,000 the accused secured an admission there for Badgujar's daughter.

Later, when Badgujar went to Riyadh in connection with his work in 2010, the accused offered to procure him a license for liquor sale for Rs 26.17 lakh, which the victim promptly paid, the complaint said.

However, after some time, the victim was informed that the license could not be allotted to him and hence amount would be refunded. But despite several reminders the amount was not refunded and the accused even changed his cell number and residence.

On pursuance, he made a payment of Rs 3 lakh but did not respond further to the victim's calls.

On one occasion, when the complainant met the accused at an airport, the latter told him that his mother had expired and he was in great difficulty and would refund the money later but he never did, till this date.

Police said an offence was registered in this regard under section 420 and 406 of the IPC with Kapurbawdi police station of Wagle division last night.

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A sensational highway robbery of gold bars allegedly committed by the officer and soldiers of a paramilitary force, mob violence in a court premises, delay in the repatriation of Brus, a lottery scam and talks with Hmar rebels were some of the developments that kept Mizoram in news in 2016.

The northeastern state was also jolted several times during the year including a 6.9-magnitude quake in April and a 6.7-magnitude one in January.

After repeated delays, the Food Security Scheme was finally implemented in the state on March 1 when 6.44 lakh people were selected under the scheme while the government also decided that rice would be provided to 5.52 lakh people at a higher price.

The top news, however, was the highway robbery. A resident of Electric Veng area here lodged an FIR on April 21 alleging around eight gun-totting soldiers waylaid his car on the southern outskirts of the capital last December and decamped with 52 gold bars worth Rs 14.5 crore which he smuggled from Mizoram-Myanmar border.

The complainant claimed he did not file the FIR earlier as the soldiers, belonging to Assam Rifles, threatened him of dire consequences if he approached police.

In the investigation, the eight Assam Rifles personnel reportedly told the interrogators that the dacoity was committed on the orders of the then battalion commandant and they submitted the gold bars to him at his official residence in Aizawl.

At least 14 people, including the officer, an Aizawl-based non-tribal businessman and a former student leader were arrested in this connection along with a Naik Subedar, four Havildars and three jawans of Assam Rifles.

The officer denied the charges and said he was at Silchar when the dacoity took place and claimed gun runners smuggling weapons from Myanmar were behind the heist.

The state government subsequently decided to hand over the case from the special investigation team to the CBI though the investigating agency is still to respond.

The launching of the Food Security Scheme was marred by widespread mistakes committed while printing 2.45 lakh ration cards inviting attacks from Opposition parties. In some cases, date of birth of all the members of a family was shown as January 1, which prompted the state government to reprint the ration cards.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) outbreak hit the state in the early part of May causing death of almost 4,000 pigs and piglets.

Mobs attacked district court buildings and official residents of judges in south Mizoram's Lunglei district on September 22 resulting in the Gauhati High Court withdrawing all the judicial officers from Lunglei.

The repatriation of Brus lodged in six relief camps in neighbouring Tripura which was scheduled to begin from November 30 could not take off due to a series of problems.

Demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 old notes saw people in Khawbung area in Champhai district along Myanmar border adopting a novel way to beat the cash scarcity by using paper notes in which the value of what was owed was written.

The 'lottery scam' caused quite a furore after the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said that the Mizoram government lost Rs 11,808.77 crore during 2012-13 to 2014-15 fiscal due to non-deposit of Minimum Guaranteed Revenue (MGR) and Administrative Expenses by four lottery distributors.

Following pressure from people, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla initiated peace talks with the Manipur-based Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) rebel group.
Even as theatre owners in Pakistan have decided to lift the self-imposed suspension on Indian movies, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) today said its opposition to featuring Pakistani actors in the films made in India will continue.

"Though Pakistan resume screening of Indian cinema, our stand will remain unchanged, until Pak stops attacks on Indian lands," Ameya Khopkar, who heads the cinema wing of the MNS, said in a tweet today.

Cinemas in Pakistan will start screening Indian movies from today as film exhibitors and cinema owners lifted the a two-month self-imposed suspension on their screening that was put in place amidst Indo-Pak tensions following the Uri terror attack.

Following the Uri terror attack in September, the MNS Chitrapat Sena had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artistes to leave the country and had even threatened physical violence against them and anyone who cast them in their productions.

The row had erupted ahead of the release of filmmaker Karan Johar's movie, "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", which featured Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. Although the film was set to hit the screens on October 28, the MNS had threatened that it would not allow the release of any movie.

However, decks had been cleared for the film after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis mediated a dialogue between the filmmakers and Raj Thackeray. The controversy-hit film was finally released as per its schedule without any hiccups.

Before the truce was clinched, the producers had to give some assurances such as that they would not work with Pakistani artistes and technicians in their future projects, given the people's sentiments in the wake of Uri terror strikes.

On December 11, Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan had met Raj Thackeray at the latter's residence here. The meeting assumed significance as Khan's upcoming film "Raees", which features Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, is scheduled for a release next month.

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More than six hundred Delhi Police personnel assisted by sniffer dogs scanned the inhabited and forested areas of the sprawling JNU campus today to search for clues that could help them trace MSc student Najeeb Ahmed, who has been missing for over two months now.

The men and women of Delhi Police began their search around 11 am under the supervision of DCP (Crime Branch) G Ram Gopal Naik. A team visited Mahi-Mandvi hostel where Najeeb stayed and took help of sniffer dogs who smelled Najeeb's clothes.

The sniffer dogs failed to make any headway and stopped after circling around in the hostel.

"All agencies of Delhi Police including Special Cell, Special Branch and the local police pooling more than 600 personnel scanned the hostels, residential areas, academic blocks and forested area today till 5 pm. Help of Mounted Police was also taken to scan the vast area but nothing was found," said a senior police officer.

About 65-70 percent of the campus was covered today and rest including the residential areas and the interiors of the campus will be scanned tomorrow, he said.

The exercise is being undertaken by 12 ACPs, 30 inspectors and 60 sub inspectors along with hundreds of constables under monitoring of two DCP rank officers.

Najeeb has been missing since October 15 after a scuffle at his hostel allegedly with ABVP students on the night of October 14. A reward of Rs 10 lakh has been announced by Delhi Police on any information about Najeeb.

Najeeb's mother Fatima Nafees who was present at the hostel termed the police search "too late" and "futile".

"They should have carried out this search immediately after Najeeb went missing. But now, its of no use. I appeal to police to bring back my son and I will take him home from here," she said.

The massive search was mounted following a Delhi High Court order last week directing Delhi Police to scan the entire JNU campus including hostels, classrooms as well as rooftops of the buildings with help of sniffer dogs.

The JNU Students Union(JNUSU) which was asked by court to furnish affidavit regarding its cooperation with police also expressed dissatisfaction with it.

"Sixty five days of Najeeb's disappearance, what did Delhi Police do? In last 3 hearings in the court counsel for crime branch himself accepted that there has been delay by Delhi Police in searching Najeeb," said a JNUSU statement.

Accusing Delhi Police of "paying lip service" after court order, the students union charged it of indulging in "absurd exercises with "clueless methodology.

"Now to save their face in front of court they are doing absurd exercises with clueless methodology," said the statement.

(REOPENS DEL 62)



The police is searching JNU campus right now and JNUSU will cooperate with them but this has been already communicated that they have to avoid "disturbances" to students, teachers and staff," it said.

JNUSU also warned that if the police search caused "disturbance" then they will not be "entertained" on the campus.

The students union also extended its "suggestion" to police to search the Vice Chancellor's residence accompanied by students union leaders. Because 'our' VC is not separate from students & staff of JNU.

The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad(ABVP) said that they want police to leave no stone unturned in search of Najeeb but hit out at JNUSU and JNU Teachers Association(JNUTA) for heavy presence of police on the campus.

"After 1983 its first time that such a huge number of policemen have come on the campus. This is a result of direction less politics of JNUSU and JNUTA. Why are all those who earlier spoke against police presence on campus silent today?" said former JNUSU joint secretary and ABVP leader Saurabh Sharma.

Najeeb had disappeared following a scuffle at his hostel allegedly with ABVP students on the night of October 14. The JNU administration in its probe has identified four students who were involved in the scuffle and directed for their transfer to other hostels.

A reward of Rs 10 lakh has been announced by Delhi Police on any information about Najeeb and Crime Branch is trying trace him.
Jails in Madhya Pradesh located in densely-populated areas will be shifted out as part of a security overhaul exercise undertaken by the Government in the backdrop of escape of eight SIMI men from a prison in October.

Madhya Pradesh Government has proposed to shift jails from densely-populated areas to outskirts of cities in a bid to strengthen security of prisons, said an officer from the Public Relations Department today.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan issued directives to officials to prepare a proposal in this regard at a review meeting of Jail Department here, he said.

"The officials were told to prepare the proposal to shift jails located in the densely-populated areas to other places," he said.

The department officials were also told to look into requirements of the high-security jails and take steps to increase vigil in and around their premises, he said.

In the early hours of October 31, eight operatives of the banned outfit SIMI had escaped from Bhopal Central Jail after killing a prison guard. The police, however, hunted them down and killed them in an encounter within hours of the jailbreak.

Since then the Government has been focusing on scaling up the security of jails.

"In the meeting, the Chief Minister also told the officials to look into the possibility of constructing jails covered with concrete roof and also egg-shaped cells (to house dreaded criminals)," the official added.

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Badjhiri in Madhya Pradesh will soon become first 'cashless' village in the state having shops equipped with Point of Sale (PoS) machines, ATMs and kiosks for online payment facilities.

"A nationalised bank has come up with a plan in cooperation with the state government to transform Badjhiri into a cashless village," MP's Finance Minister Jayant Malaiya told PTI today.

Badjhiri is located on the outskirts of MP capital - Bhopal. "I will visit the village tomorrow with the bank officials to know how the plans will be materialised on ground to make this village entirely cashless," Malaiya added.

Finance Minister said that the Bank would provide PoS machines to all shopkeepers in addition to installation of ATMs and kiosks and all other measures ensuring digital transactions.

Earlier in the morning today, Malaiya held a meeting with the officials to discuss measures of cashless transactions being adopted by various state government departments.

"I held a meeting with the officials. They informed me that the training of 'master trainers' has been completed. These trainers would further educate other employees across the state about the cashless transactions," Malaiya said adding, no deadline has been set for completion of this training programme.

A meeting of MP cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan this morning also discussed measures for going cashless across the departments.

"Chief Minister has told all his cabinet colleagues to ensure cashless transactions in dealings of their respective departments," Minister for Public Relations and MP Government spokesman Narottam Mishra told reporters after the cabinet meeting



"Finance Minister will oversee all the plans in this regard," Mishra added.

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Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has met with regional foreign ministers to tackle growing international criticism of her army's forceful treatment of the country's Muslim Rohingya minority, which some critics say constitutes crimes against humanity.

Human rights groups have accused the military of perpetrating mass murder, looting and rape against the Rohingya in the western state of Rakhine, where the army went on a counterinsurgency offensive after an October attack there on police outposts that killed nine officers.

The roughly 1 million Rohingya in overwhelmingly Buddhist Myanmar face severe social and official discrimination.

Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, along with Bangladesh, have long coped with Rohingya refugees.

Suu Kyi met with ASEAN foreign ministers Monday in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.

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NATO has urged Russia to use its clout with insurgents in eastern to make a troubled truce stick, as the two sides held talks to defuse the worst tensions since the Cold War.

But NATO said gaps with Moscow remained wide as the alliance also raised "particular concern" over Russia's use of snap military exercises near eastern Europe that it says fuels instability.

"Allies called on Russia to use its considerable influence on the militants to meet their commitments in full," NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement after the ambassador-level talks ended in Brussels.

Under the Minsk agreements in 2014 and 2015, Moscow agreed to a ceasefire in and to halt support for separatist pro-Russian rebels that have carved out an enclave in the east of the country.

Provisions in the ceasefire deal call for the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

"Allies raised particular concern over the excessive use of snap exercises. These are destabilising," Stoltenberg said.

He added that many participants in the talks called for updating the OSCE's Vienna Document on military exercises and activities.

Russian ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko repeated accusations against Kiev, saying it was breaching the peace agreements.

"We pointed at the violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian military forces, their use of artillery systems forbidden by the Minsk agreements and the presence of heavy equipment in 'the security zone'," he said.

"We called on the... Members to exert their influence on the Kiev authorities to encourage them to proceed from the de facto sabotage of the political process to real actions."



In August Russia conducted a large-scale snap drill, putting its troops on full combat readiness in military districts bordering and the Baltic States.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine surged over the summer after Moscow accused Kiev of attempting armed incursions into Crimea.

Ukraine and its Western allies have been locked in a bitter confrontation with Russia since Moscow seized the strategic region from Kiev in March 2014.

The third NATO Russia Council this year did not appear to bridge the divide  Stoltenberg said "our meeting does not indicate a return to business as usual."



The NRC, which brings together ambassadors from the 28 NATO member countries and Russia, met regularly until the Ukraine crisis plunged relations with Moscow into the deep freeze in 2014.

US-led NATO has suspended all practical cooperation with Russia over its role in Ukraine but Stoltenberg has said political channels of communication have always remained open.
: Navy Children School (NCS), Kochi team,comprising class 10 students,were adjudged winners of the prestigious National Aerolympics 2016, held under the aegis of Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) from December 16 to 18 at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Bangalore.

The AeSI has been organising the event for classes 10, 11 and 12 students for the eleventh time in a row, with an aim tokindle basic interest in the field of aviation among youth of the country.

The quiz involves testing the knowledge in the field of not only aviation, overall awareness, innovative skills, presentation skills,as well as handling of questions by domain experts like scientists and retired Air Force officers.

The National Aerolympics 2016 was conductedin two phases with a total of eight individual events.

In the first phase, three-member teams from 58 schools from across the country prepared a project report on "Naval Aviation".

Twenty-four top teams from nine states, including many schools of repute such as VSSC school, Thiruvananthapuram, DAV public School, Amritsar and Delhi Public School were shortlisted for the second phase.

Last year's winners Bhonsala Military school, Nagpur and DAV Public School, Amritsar, won the second and third places respectively, a Navy press release said.

The Kochi team, comprising Pratyush Padmanabhan, Ashish Nayak and Aryan R R Ayyar also won individual firsts in three events - Technical Quiz, awareness quiz and project presentation, as well as individual second in Surprise Event (Gadget making).

In addition to the individual prizes, the school also won an overall Rolling Trophy,the release added.

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A plea highlighting human- wildlife conflict and seeking rehabilitation of villagers living inside Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand today led the National Green Tribunal to seek responses from the Centre and the state government.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Uttarakhand government, state environment and rural development ministry and others while seeking their reply before February 9 next year.

The green panel was hearing a plea filed by Uttarakhand resident Madan Singh Bisht seeking constitution of monitoring committee to look into the issue of rehabilitation of the revenue village 'chaks' (estates) which lie within the boundaries of the Rajaji National Park.

The plea contended that in 1983, MoEF and Uttarakhand government had issued a notification and formed Rajaji national park. However, there was no mention of revenue estates falling within the park.

The villagers then raised objections, following which some committees were constituted and after a few meetings some resolutions were adopted on taking necessary steps to exclude revenue chaks from the Rajajai National Park.

However till date, the authorities have not taken any decision regarding exclusion of the revenue chaks from the national park, the plea, filed through advocate Gaurav Bansal, said.

Bisht claimed that besides non-development of the area which falls within the national park, the villages were facing many difficulties as there was always a looming threat of life from wild animals.

"The Chief Conservator Forest wrote a letter to Satpal Maharaj, (then a) Member of Parliament from the region, about increase in human-wildlife clashes and said that rehabilitation was the only option available," the plea said.

It sought the exclusion of all revenue village 'chaks' (estates) from the boundaries of the Rajaji National Park and provision of basic facilities to these chaks which are not excluded from boundaries of the National Park.

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Nine naxals, three of them allegedly involved in the murder of a police jawan last month, were arrested from separate places in insurgency-hit Bijapur district over two days, police said.

"While five ultras were held from Kutru police station area last evening, four others were held today from two different places under Bhairamgarh police station limits," Bijapur Superintendent of Police, KL Dhruv told PTI.

According to police, Sonsai alias Boti Yadav (30), Baman Kunjami (26) and Banaru Mandavi (28) had allegedly hacked to death Assistant Constable Rahul Raidu in Bhairamgarh town, around 450 kms away from here, on November 10 with the help of their four associates.

Bhairamgarh Police were on their trail for around a month, he said, adding the four Maoists who were also involved in the murder are yet to be arrested.

Another naxal cadre, identified as Aaytu alias Doba (26), was arrested from a separate place in Bhairamgarh.

In another incident, a joint team of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and district force rounded up five naxals from Hurrenar village under Kutru police station limits during a search operation.

They were allegedly involved in crimes like murder, attempt to murder, abduction and loot in the region, the officer said, adding further investigation is on.

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today mourned the death of soldier Shashikant Pandey who was killed in a terror attack at Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Our country will remember with gratitude the supreme sacrifice made by Shashikant Pandey," he said in a condolence message.

Kumar said the government would take steps for development of the martyr's native village Babhnauli under Ararej block in East Champaran district, an official release quoted him as saying.

Pandey, resident of Bihar, was among three soldiers killed in a terrorist attack on an army convoy at Pampore on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

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Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij today said there was no "political vendetta" behind the state government handing over the case pertaining to re-allotment of a plot to Associated Journals Limited (AJL) in Panchkula to the CBI.

"The state government has no political vendetta in the AJL issue, and action has been taken as per the outcomes of the investigations conducted so far," he said after launching the VIBGYOR Bed Linen programme at the Panchkula Civil Hospital.

The central agency will examine the irregularities thoroughly and punish the guilty accordingly, the Minister said.

"Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda during Assembly sessions always asks (the government) to get the investigation done by an (independent) agency, and now he is alleging political vendetta when the case has been referred to the CBI," Vij said.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on December 16 had said the state government had handed over the matter pertaining to re-allotment of a plot to AJL to the CBI for probe.

Describing the Sutlej-Yamuna-Link (SYL) canal as Haryana's lifeline, the Minister said the Supreme Court has given its verdict in favour of the state and it must be given its legitimate share of water.

On demonetisation, Vij said people are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it reflected as Congress' Bharat Bandh call had failed to get public response.

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In its bid to ensure success of the investment proposals received in different meets including the Make In Odisha Conclave, the state government today decided to set up an inter-ministerial committee and a special task force for smooth industrialisation.

The state aims to ensure implementation of projects worth at least Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the next three years and create 30 lakh jobs by 2025.

The two panels will conduct monthly reviews and oversee co-ordination between all departments involved in the various investment projects.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has insisted on follow up of the proposals worth Rs 70,000 crore in Make In Odisha's Mumbai edition, Rs 90,000 crore in the Bengaluru edition and Rs 2,35,000 crore worth investment proposals in the 'Make In Odisha' Conclave here.

While the ministerial group would be headed by Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Chief Secretary A P Padhi will preside over the Special Task Force. Industries Secretary Sanjeev Chopra will be the convener of the task force.

The Ministerial Group will recommend measures to facilitate investment, while the Special Task Force will implement them. The decision in this regard was taken at a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.

Besides Mishra, Ministers of Mines, MSME, Forest and Information Technology will be members of the Ministerial Group to oversee implementation of different projects. The Ministerial Group would submit reports to the chief minister every month, Mishra said.

"In order to expedite investment process, bureaucrats too will be entrusted with responsibilities. Decision to form a task force comprising bureaucrats was also taken at the meeting. The task force will have secretaries of 11 other departments as its members," Mishra said.

Patnaik has set a target of three years for execution of different proposals. "The Chief Minister has directed for ensuring a minimum investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore within three years," Mishra said.

In January, officials said government delegates will hold discussions with interested companies in Kolkata, Mumbai and Bengaluru and those that participated in the 'Make In Odisha' events.

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Thousands of mourners gathered here as the mortal remains of gunner Saurabh Farate, who was killed in the Pampore attack on Saturday, were today consigned to flames at his native place in Phursungi with full military honours.

Member of Parliament from Pune Anil Shirole and local leaders were among those who paid tributes to the martyr.

As soon as Saurabh's last journey began from his house, slogans like 'Saurabh Farate Amar Rahe' and 'Jab Tak Suraj Chand Rahega, Saurabh Tera Naam Rahega' rent the air.

The 33-year-old gunner, who served the Indian Army for 13 years, is survived by parents, wife, twin daughters and a brother, who too is in the Army.

According to Saurabh's father Nandkumar Farate, his son had come on a two-month leave in October to celebrate the first birthday of his twins and had left in December.

He said that before leaving for duty on Saturday morning, Saurabh had spoken on telephone with the family.

"On Saturday, I received a call from his unit. However, the person on the other side gave incomplete information and only informed us that Saurabh was shot," said the bereaved father.

"I then called up my younger son, Rohit, who too works in the Army in Jammu and informed him about the call. It was he who informed us about his (Saurabh's) martyrdom."



Three soldiers including Saurabh were killed in a militant attack on an army convoy at Pampore on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Saturday.

(Reopens BOM 2)



Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis visited the bereaved family members of the soldier at their residence in Pune and consoled them.

The CM assured Saurabh's parents, brother and wife of all support and help from government.

Fadanvis was in city to attend various programmes organised by local BJP workers.
NIA on Monday filed a charge sheet in the Pathankot airbase terror attack, naming Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and three others of his organisation as accused.

In a comprehensive charge sheet filed at Panchkula Special Court about a year after attack, NIA has highlighted the role of terror group Jaish in spreading mayhem in India and referred to the nefarious plans of the outfit, sources said.

The charge sheet which also named Azhar's brother Rauf Asghar as accused, alleged that immediately after the Pathankot incident, he had hosted a video message claiming responsibility for the terror strike and glorified the role of Azhar, who was released in exchange for passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999.

The charge sheet is likely to be used by India at various international fora to highlight the role of Masood Azhar in Pathankot terror strike carried out on January 2 this year.

Launching of a diplomatic offensive against the Jaish and its chief Masood Azhar has become imperative after China continued to stonewall efforts of India to get UN sanctions against the terrorist and his group.

The Home Ministry had given sanction to NIA to file the charge sheet against Azhar, his brother and the two handlers  Qashif Jan and Shaid Latif  of the four terrorists, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The four terrorists, after entering India from Bamiyal area of Gurdaspur, had carried out the strike at Pathankot IAF base killing eight people including seven personnel of IAF and NSG.

The charge sheet named four terrorists involved in the attack.

According to NIA, the terrorists, who were killed after two days of gunfight, were identified as Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum and they were residents of Vehari (Punjab), Gujranwala (Punjab), Sanghar (Sindh) and Sukkur (Sindh) of Pakistan respectively.

The charge sheet includes evidence of linking the footprints of one of the terrorists obtained from Bamiyal besides matching of DNA sample found from a soft drink can in the hijacked car of Punjab Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh, the sources said.

The Pathankot terror strike had seen a joint investigation team from Pakistan also arriving in India for carrying out a probe.

However, the Pakistani team, upon their return, claimed that India neither shared much of evidence nor allowed it to interrogate the security personnel involved in dealing with the attack.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has tapped a China-backed multilateral lender to help fund his government's "unprecedented infrastructure buildup", the finance minister said today, as he seeks closer relations with Beijing.

The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has been viewed by some as a rival to the World Bank and the Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Duterte has vowed to boost spending to address crumbling infrastructure, saying he would seek funds from China as he pivots his nation's foreign policy away from traditional ally the US.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said he met with AIIB president Jin Liqun in Manila last week, who confirmed the lender would fund two projects.

"The Philippines' membership to the AIIB would provide the government another source of long-term funding ... For the Duterte administration's unprecedented infrastructure buildup," Dominguez said in a statement today.

Duterte, 71, increasingly turned to China for loans and aid as he took exception to United States criticism of his drug war that has killed thousands.

Over the weekend Duterte attacked Washington for deferring aid because of human rights concerns over his anti-crime crackdown.

"Eat your aid and we will survive. I'll go to China," he said.

Jin said the AIIB would provide loans for a Manila flood management project and a bus rapid transit system in the capital, according to the statement.

The 23 billion peso (USD 470 million) Manila flood control project would be co-financed with the World Bank, while the 37 billion peso (USD 756 million) bus system, which includes construction of 63 stations, would be partly funded by the ADB, the statement added.

"We are all very eager to finalise the infrastructure projects ... This time, we are very happy we can really talk about something to do in your country," the statement quoted Jin as saying.

The Philippines under the government of then president Benigno Aquino joined the AIIB last year despite conflicting territorial claims with Beijing over the South China Sea.

Duterte signed the treaty in October and the Senate this month approved its ratification.

The Philippines is among 57 members of the AIIB, with China the largest shareholder with 30 per cent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A photo published by Chinese military showing its strategic bomber reportedly flying over Taiwan, days after Beijing's spat with US President-elect Donald Trump over his questioning of 'One China' policy, has sparked concerns in the island, official media here reported.

The photo published by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) showing a long-range strategic bomber flying within visible range of Yushan, Taiwan's highest mountain, has caused great concern in Taiwan amid debate about whether the mainland will reunify the island by force, state-run Global Times reported.

It said the PLA Air Force published the photo on its Sina Weibo account, showing an Xian H-6K bomber flying above the clouds with two mountain peaks rising in the distance.

"Military commentators on the mainland believe the peaks are of a mountain in Taiwan, which has made many netizens marvel at the PLA's military capability," the report said.

However, the spokesman of Taiwan's "Defence Ministry," Chen Zhongji, told the Central Agency that military aircraft from the mainland could only fly outside the air defence identification zone of Taiwan and the ministry could monitor their movements, saying the guesses were "groundless".

The daily quoted a Military expert Chen Weihao as telling Taiwan-based satellite television channel and cable TV network TVBS that it was the first time that mainland aircraft had been photographed with Taiwan landscapes, which has a psychological impact on the island.

"Discussions about the possibility of the mainland reunifying Taiwan by force continues to gain momentum as pro- independence Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen keeps whipping up anti-mainland sentiment," it said.

The report in the official media here followed war of words between China and Trump after he spoke to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen which is unprecedented as US follows One China Policy under which China claims the breakaway province of Taiwan as part of its mainland.

"Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the US doesn't tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I don't think so!," angry Trump said after China lodged protests over his talks with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Later Trump said in an interview that "I don't want China dictating to me. I don't know why we have to be bound by a one -China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade".

This prompted China to react saying that One China policy formed the bed rock of its foreign policy and US-China ties will be "out of question" if Trump compromised with One China policy.

Since then, Chinese military analysts have been saying that any plans by Trump to alter One China policy may heighten tensions in Taiwan Straits.

(Reopens FGN 3)



"The Taiwan regional government has lost its independence and become an agent of US and Japanese anti-China forces," Wang Zaixi, former vice president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, said at an annual meeting of the Global Times on Saturday, adding that the mainland is the only force at present that could curb "Taiwan-independence" forces.

"Military conflicts would occur between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan by 2020. It is quite possible that the mainland will take the island in one stroke," former deputy commander of the Nanjing military region Wang Hongguang said, adding that US President-elect Trump has pushed cross-Straits ties to a critical point, given his recent words on the Taiwan question.

However, Chen Yixin, a political expert from Taiwan-based Chinese Culture University, told the paper that Chinese leadership might not favour reunification by force, which would hurt both sides' interests.

"The mainland is upset about some of Tsai's policies such as Taiwan's culture independence, but they haven't had a great impact yet," Chen said.

"Even though Tsai wants to pave the way for jurisprudential independence, she does not have the nerve to do it, and the US will not necessarily admit the independence," Chen said, adding the mainland should show some restraint.
BJP president Amit Shah today hit out at opposition parties over demonetisation saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking decisions in the larger interest of the country and not to suit their whims and fancies.

On the second and last day of state BJP's 'Chintan Shibir' near here, Shah told the party leaders that running a nation is different from bringing a change to it.

"Running a country and bringing change to it are two separate things, and BJP-led Centre has chosen the way to change the nation for the benefit of it's citizens. Till now, Congress ran the country in an ordinary and corrupt manner," Shah was quoted as saying in a release issued by Gujarat BJP.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government is taking decisions in the larger interest of the country, not to suit whims and fancies of the opposition parties," said Shah.

The 'Shibir' is seen as the party's exercise to chalk out road-map for 2017 Gujarat Assembly polls.

During these two days, Shah held discussions on various issues with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, deputy CM Nitin Patel, state unit BJP president Jitubhai Vaghani and several other key leaders and ministers, it added.

In his speech, Shah called upon the cadres to engage in a massive drive to spread awareness about cashless transactions.

"PM Modi's decision on demonetisation has been well received by the citizens. To help people in learning various modes of cashless transactions, I urge all the MPs, MLAs and all the party leaders as well as workers to organise programmes across the state. For BJP, nation always comes first," the BJP chief added.

Vaghani exuded confidence that his party will once again come to power in 2017 in Gujarat.

"Our government under CM Vijay Rupani took several pro-people steps in a very short span. BJP has been receiving support of people since last 30 years and we will win with two-third majority in 2017 too," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Attacking the Prime Minister, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today said 50 families in India have most of the country's wealth, courtesy Narendra Modi who takes members of their families with him in his plane on his trips abroad.

"60 per cent of the country's wealth is amassed by the rich. Most of the wealth is with only 50 families of the country. It is courtesy Modiji. I don't want to name these families, as you know them... Members of these families travel with the Prime Minister on his plane when he goes to the US, China..," he said addressing a 'Janakrosh Rally' here.

This was his first rally in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh after the Winter Session of Parliament which was washed out over demonetisation.

Last week, Rahul had threatened to "expose personal corruption of Modi" while claiming that he was not being allowed to speak in Parliament as it would lead to an "earthquake".

He said 99 per cent of the people of the country are honest who sweat it out to earn their living but "the Prime Minister mocks at them in Parliament."



Insisting that "All cash is not black and all black money is not in cash", the Congress leader said, "94 per cent black money is stashed away in foreign banks, real estate and investment in land deals and gold. But why is PM running after only the rest 6 per cent?"



He said only one per cent people have 60 per cent of the country's wealth and that "Modi has made fun of 99 per cent honest people through demonetisation".

Rahul alleged that Modi had waived Rs 1,200 crore loan of Vijay Malya and Rs 1.10 lakh crore taken by 50 wealthy families, but did not care about writing off farmers' loans.

The Congress leader, who had undertaken a 'Deoria to Delhi' padayatra to highlight the plight of farmers, said he had met the Prime Minister to seek waiver of farmers' loans but the latter was non-committal.

The purpose of note ban was "Garib ka khincho, Amir ko sincho (extract from the poor and help the rich)", he said.

Interestingly, at the rally, when some workers shouted slogans against Modi, Rahul asked them to desist from making personal attacks.

"Our fight against Narendra Modi is political, please don't raise 'murdabad' slogans against him...Such language is used by fascists and RSS, not Congress," he told them.

(Reopen DEL91)



In a poser to the Prime Minister, Rahul asked, "In



September, before your speech (announcing note ban on November 8), how come six lakh crore rupees were deposited in banks all over the country?"



The Congress leader went on to add, "Such a huge sum has never been deposited in the history of the country. There should be an answer as to whose money it was and how come it was deposited just before the note ban annoncement."



He said, "Since Modi does not have a reply to it, every Congress worker needs to tell the truth of demonetisation and truth of suit-boot government to the country."



The Congress leader exhorted partymen to visit each household and tell farmers and labourers that "Narendra Modi has snatched your cash and on its basis, the loans of the wealthy is going to be waived."



Citing an example of a flower seller in Bengaluru, Rahul said all her transactions used to be in cash and after demonetisation, she has been left to beg for her living.

"Normally a person donating blood has to go to donation camp to give it on his own free will but Modi has extracted blood of 99 per cent poor and honest people without seeking their consent," he said.

"Modi has ruined small industries through note ban... labourers survive on daily wages...We gave MNREGS and you snatched their money...Modi wants that the money of poor and honest remain in banks for as long as possible so a maximum limit was fixed for all withdrawlas and rules have been changed a 100 times," he said.

Alleging that Modi cannot recover the loans of 50 wealthy families as they have made him the PM, Rahul said note ban was brought to waive it.

Rahul said Modi talked about black money, fake currency and then about terror funding to justify note ban and now when all these have failed, he is talking about cashless economy.

But the reality is that five per cent of the money withdrawn from the accounts will go to the pockets of Modi's friends, he claimed.
PNB MetLife today announced the launch of ConVRse, a virtual reality (VR) based customer service platform.

ConVRse is an experiential virtual reality platform built in collaboration between MetLife's innovation centre LumenLab in Singapore and PNB MetLife in India, senior officials of the life insurance company said.

In the initial phase, the VR platform would be launched in 15 branches covering ten cities, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PNB MetLife, Tarun Chugh told reporters.

Explaining features of ConVRse, a company statement said when customers put on the VR headset they find themselves in a 3D simulated virtual room, face-to-face with an 'avatar' "Khushi", the firm's life insurance expert.

"The customers simply need to walk into the select PNB MetLife branches, wear the VR headset and get all their servicing requirements fulfilled by Khushi," it said.

"The platform will display policy related information and uniquely engage the customers through visual assist elements like animations," it further said.

In the next phase, PNB MetLife is working towards equipping the sales teams with VR devices and set up conVRse zones at bank partner ATMs, it said.

The conVRse was inaugurated by Chairman of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) T S Vijayan along with IRDAI Member Life Nilesh Sathe, in the presence of Chugh at the company's regional office.

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Polish President Andrzej Duda has announced that the governing conservatives have scrapped controversial proposals to restrict media access in parliament that had set off an opposition outcry and street demonstrations.

But while the governing Law and Justice party (PiS) appeared to offer a compromise on the media rules, a row over a budget vote deemed "illegal" by the opposition intensified.

The PiS "has abandoned its (media) proposal which triggered the row we saw in parliament... Everything has been reset," Duda on Sunday said in an interview on Poland's TVP public broadcaster.

Senate speaker Stanislaw Karczewski, a PiS member, earlier assured journalists that the old media rules would remain in place for the time being. He said he would present new proposals by January 6.

Duda called on opposition lawmakers, who have been occupying parliament since Friday, to "offer a goodwill gesture" and cease their protest.

"I'm calling for just a little reflection and calm because this is an important domestic issue. Plus the holiday season is upon us and Poles are concerned by the situation. I want the problem resolved," he said.

Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets since Friday in Warsaw and other parts of the country in the latest action against PiS moves deemed anti-democratic by its opponents.

Dozens of opposition MPs seized parliament's main chamber and protesters blocked the exits to the building on Friday in a show of anger.

Thousands of people -- grouped in a popular movement called the Committee for the Defence of Democracy -- rallied outside parliament in support of the opposition MPs until late Sunday.

A smaller pro-government rally took place outside the presidential palace.

In Krakow on Sunday, police removed protesters who lay on the ground to block the car of influential PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who was visiting the grave of his twin brother, former president Lech Kaczynski who died in a plane crash in Russia in 2010.

The political crisis was triggered last week by PiS plans to restrict access to the parliament's press gallery to only two journalists for every media outlet and ban them from shooting still pictures or video.

The moves would have prevented the media from recording images of lawmakers when they broke the rules, for example by voting for an absent colleague.

The PiS said it was seeking to ensure a comfortable working environment for both lawmakers and journalists.
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested an interstate gangster, who was the main accused in the sensational murder of Rajpal Thekedar.

According to police, a tip-off was received that Sanjay Sharma (40), would come near CRPF Stand in North Delhi's Jharoda Kalan to visit someone.

"On this information, a team led by ACP Sanjay Sehrawat was constituted under the supervision of DCP Bhisham Singh. The team laid a trap near CRPF Camp Stand and Sharma was apprehended," Joint Commissioner (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said.

Yadav said that accused was wanted in a sensational murder of one Rajpal Thekedar of Haryana's Sonepat and he has been declared Proclaimed Offender by the court.

During interrogation, it was revealed by the accused that he was the main accused of the sensational Kapil (satta and liquor thekedar) murder case in Jaipur (year 2010).

He had been arrested with weapon, therefore, case of Arms Act was also registered against the accused at Police Station Gandhi Nagar.

"The accused was on bail in that case but he did not attend the Court for last four years. He was declared Proclaimed Offender (PO) in that case by the Court concerned.

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Former Army chief Gen (Retd) Shankar Roychowdhury today described the political slugfest over the new Army chief's appointment as "detestable", saying it was the prerogative of the government to select the chief of army staff.

"It is detestable. You can't stop politicians from commenting because it is a democracy. Their comments are ill-advised and ill-informed. It is futile to tell politicians not to drag the Army into this", he told PTI when asked about the controversy over the appointment of Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the new Army chief.

"It is the prerogative of the government to select the chief of Army staff. All the three names which cropped up in the media - Eastern Army Commander, Southern Army Commander and the vice-chief Lt Gen Bipin Rawat - are the best of the best. They are extremely experienced with total integrity," he said.

Asked whether the morale of the Army gets affected by such political controversies, he replied in the negative.

"The morale doesn't get affected. The Army will continue to do its duty but they take note of what has been said. The feeling is always there in their mind. But they know that politicians will always say something to suit their own interests," Gen Roychowdhury said.

A highly decorated war hero, Gen Roychowdhury fought the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war.

A political slugfest broke out over the new Army chief's appointment by superseding two officers with Congress asking the Prime Minister to spell out the "compelling reasons" for it and the Left questioning the move even as BJP hit back, saying they should not politicise an issue related to the defence forces.

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Noted social worker Prakash Amte will be conferred D.Litt during the convocation ceremony of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) to be held here tomorrow.

Amte will be conferred with the honour at the hands of Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao.

A release issued by MUHS, said, 8887 students who completed their graduation, post-graduation, degrees in different medical faculties in 2015-16 will be conferred degrees during the ceremony.

42 students will be presented gold medals, Vice-Chancellor of MUHS Deelip Mhaisekar said in the release.

Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan, pro Vice-Chancellor Mohan Khamgaonkar, social activist Mandakini Amte will attend the said ceremony, the release added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has warned the government against antagonising the Sinhala majority by "appeasing" the country's Tamil community by mulling to grant more powers to provincial chief ministers in the proposed constitutional reform process.

In the recent weeks there has been a debate over a reported demand by the main Tamil Party -- Tamil National Alliance (TNA) -- to curb the powers of the provincial governors in order to empower the provincial chief ministers.

Addressing public gatherings, Rajapaksa said even in India the provincial governor executes the presidential authority.

"In India the governors can dissolve provincial assemblies, in our country they can't do it, he said, adding that it would be dangerous in terms of preserving the unitary character of the state in Sri Lanka," he said.

Rajapaksa's Opposition Block in the recent weeks have stepped up their anti-constitutional reform campaign.

They label the attempt as a "give in" to Tamil demands.

He said the current government headed by his successor Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were attempting to "appease the Tamil minority while antagonising the Sinhala majority".

Sirisena has been advocating a constitutional solution to the Tamil demand for political recognition.

His electoral victory over Rajapaksa in 2015 was overwhelmingly backed by the Tamil minority.

The constitution making process to replace the 1978 adopted existing constitution was set in motion by Sirisena in January this year.

Reports of six sub committees now await to be received by the 21-member steering committee comprising members from all parties represented in parliament.

The government blames Rajapaksa's Opposition Block for misleading the population in order to gain political advantage in the constitution reform process.

Rajapaksa was also critical of the government's decision to create an industrial zone in his home district of Hambantota by granting 15,000 acres of land to the Chinese state-owned firms.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Maharashtra government today assured the Bombay High Court it had initiated a process at Regional Transport Offices (RTO) across the state to provide land to lay down road track for testing four-wheelers.

The government also assured a division bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka it would conduct a special drive to check vehicles for the purpose of issuing fitness certificate.

The government pleader informed the bench that process had been initiated to provide land for tracks at 35 RTOs.

Three more RTOs-- Baramati, Osmanabad and Satara-- would get land for this purpose within two weeks, the court was informed.

Hearing a PIL on the issue, the bench took on record the government's statement and deferred the matter for further hearing on January 31.

In August, the high court had warned the government to follow its earlier order of constructing 250-metre road track at all the RTOs in the state to test four-wheeler for issuance of fitness certificates or face contempt action.

The court had asked the government to give an assurance it would construct the track at all the RTOs. The assurance was given today by the Maharashtra government.

Currently, few RTOs have road tracks and the test is conducted on public roads, which is very unsafe for the person driving the vehicle as well as pedestrians, the PIL, filed by social activist Srikant Karve, alleged.

The state government had filed an application earlier



stating it would not be possible to construct 250-metre track at all the RTOs citing "unavailability" of land.

However, it told the court today the process for building tracks at RTOs had begun and would be completed soon.

Two years back, the high court had restrained four RTOs -- Latur, Nashik, Pune and Mumbai Central-- from issuing fitness certificates, saying they were not fully equipped to conduct tests required under the Motor Vehicles Act and also they had not complied with its order of February 28, 2014.

The high court had then passed orders asking all the 49 RTOs to maintain necessary infrastructure to carry out the tests.

The RTOs were warned they would be restrained from issuing fitness certificates in case of non-compliance.

Under the Motor Vehicles Act, it is mandatory for RTOs to have road track for testing. The vehicles are made to run at a speed of 40 kmph and asked to apply brakes suddenly. By doing this, the authorities find out at what distance the vehicles stop after applying the brakes.

It is also mandatory under the Act to make the headlight beam adjustment with a machine so that the light does not fall on the face of oncoming drivers. Even this condition was not complied with by the RTOs, the PIL alleged.
The Russian ambassador to Ankara died today after being shot in the Turkish capital, the foreign ministry in Moscow said, describing the incident as a "terrorist act".

"Today in Ankara as a result of an attack the Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov received wounds that he died from," ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in televised comments.

"We qualify what happened as a terrorist act," she said. "The murderers will be punished.

"Today this issue will be raised at the UN Security Council. Terrorism will not win out."



The gunman, identified by the Ankara mayor as a Turkish policeman, shot the ambassador at an Ankara art exhibition, shouting "Aleppo" and "revenge".

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had been informed.

The incident came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia's role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from the battered city of Aleppo.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's largest steel maker SAIL is in preliminary discussions with Japan's Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp and Kobe Steel Ltd on various areas of operations with regard to steel plants.

"SAIL is in preliminary discussions with Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp and Kobe Steel on various areas of operations of steel plants," a source said.

The source declined however to divulge further details but added that "the parties (SAIL, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp and Kobe Steel) will be looking at their individual strengths".

Domestic steel major SAIL had last month entered into a pact with South Korean giant Posco for technical collaboration for operational improvements.

"A MoU was signed on November 7, 2016, between Posco and SAIL on technical collaboration for operational improvements and Human Resource Development," it had said.

SAIL Chairman P K Singh had said that the MoU is an important milestone in SAIL-Posco's long standing relationship and in future the companies would be collaborating in many more areas.

The state-owned firm had reported a decline in standalone net loss at Rs 730.72 crore for the quarter ended September 30, helped by a strong marketing push and cost optimisation measures.

The minister also pulled up SAIL for inability to ramp up



capacity and thereby failing to meet the demands from major customers terming it "unacceptable", the sources said.

Also, he warned RINL for not utilising their full capacities.

On ICVL (International Coal Ventures Ltd), Singh directed that no more time should be wasted in operationalising the coal assets including Mozambique mines that has not yet begun production.

ICVL is a join venture formed by five PSUs including SAIL, RINL and NMDC to scout assets abroad for securing raw material.

The minister also expressed unhappiness over delays in operationlising SAIL-ArcelorMittal joint venture besides delays in steel processing units saying henceforth complacency would not be tolerated.

On NMDC, he said the ministry was inundated with complaints about "differential iron ore pricing" and should be resolved soon.

He directed NMDC to develop more resources for a secure future.

NMDC is the country's top iron ore miner.

Also, the minister made it clear that performance of all PSUs will be assessed on monthly basis and no official will be allowed to sit over files keeping things pending.

Apart from the CMDs, Directors and CEOs from PSUs, those who attended the meeting held on Friday included key officials, include Steel Secretary Aruna Sharma and Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor, Steel Saraswati Prasad.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today reviewed progress on the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and directed officials to form a committee to advise the Chinese government on the economic viability of industrial zones that could be set up in different provinces.

The meeting chaired by Sharif at PM House here reviewed the benchmarks set for numerous energy, transport infrastructure and industrial projects with particular focus on development and socio-economic uplift projects in Gwadar.

"The Prime Minister was informed that Chinese automobiles i.E. Foton has shown interest to establish its manufacturing plant in Pakistan," according to an official statement.

He was also briefed on the tentative agenda items for the upcoming meeting of China-Pakistan Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC).

Sharif directed that Karachi Circular Railways and Keti Bunder Port project must be taken up in the next JCC for inclusion in CPEC, as conveyed by the Sindh government.

The Prime Minister said that Chinese officials should be briefed on the immense economic viability of these projects so that they are included in CPEC.

He directed Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal to consult all the Chief Ministers for finalization of industrial zones' locations in their respective provinces.

Sharif further directed that industrial zones would be set up at places that have economic feasibility and viability for maximum economic returns and benefits for both China and Pakistan.

In this regard, the Prime Minister directed the formation of a committee to suggest and advise the Chinese Government on the economic practicability and benefits of these sites.

"China helped us a great deal in the economic revival at a crucial juncture for which the government and people of Pakistan are grateful to the Chinese leadership and people. China and Pakistan have translated its long-term strategic ties into a strong and durable economic partnership that would greatly benefit both the countries," he said.

The meeting was briefed on the energy projects under CPEC including Coal, Hydel, Wind, Solar, LNG as well as transmission lines. It was also briefed that infrastructure projects including Road, Rail, Aviation and Data Connectivity are being executed on fast track basis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The CBI today started arguments on framing of charges in the sensational Sheena Bora case, saying it was her relationship with Rahul, former media baron Peter Mukerjea's son from earlier marriage, that led to her murder.

Indrani Mukerjea, her husband Peter and former husband Sanjeev Khanna are the accused in the case. Her driver Shyam Rai has been made an approver.

Special public prosecutors Bharat Badami and Kavita Patil contended that the trouble started when the accused learnt that Rahul (Peter's son with first wife) and Sheena (Indrani's daughter from earlier relationship) were in a relationship.

"There was total and full support to Vidhie (daughter of Indrani and Khanna) and total disregard towards Sheena," Badami argued.

Badami also told judge H S Mahajan that I-T returns of Indrani between 2005-08 showed she gave more money to Vidhie than to Sheena.

The reason for the murder was property, he said, adding that CBI added a charge of forgery against the accused in connection with a suspicious sale of property in Delhi.

Indrani had a soft corner for Vidhie and was worried if Rahul-Sheena marriage materialised, all the Peter's property will go to Rahul, the prosecutor said.

Badami also said Peter was fully aware of the crime. He was Rahul's father, but he did not take any "appreciable step" over Rahul's concerns when Sheena went missing.

In one of her emails to Indrani, Sheena expressed her desire to marry Rahul and said she was happy and safe with him, the prosecutor said, adding "it discloses true love and affection between them (Rahul and Sheena)".

On her return to India on April 23, 2012, Indrani and others planned to kill both Sheena and her brother Mikhail and even decided the place for disposal of the bodies, but Mikhail luckily escaped, Badami said.

"Indrani gave biggest gift to Sheena, she ended her



daughter's life," Badami said.

On the day of murder, after Rahul dropped Sheena at a place (in Mumbai) where Indrani was waiting for her, Indrani hugged her daughter. No previous instance where Indrani may have hugged Sheena came to light in the probe, he said.

Indrani purchased bottles of water, vodka and some sleep inducing medicines, which were given to Sheena. "After Sheena became drowsy, Indrani killed her and said (to the co-accused) that 'Sheena got her 3BHK flat'", said the prosecutor.

Investigators had earlier said that Sheena had demanded a 3BHK flat from Indrani.

Indrani could have used some other way to separate Rahul and Sheena, Badami pointed out, asking "why murder?"



As to Peter's defence that he was not aware of the conspiracy, Badami said Indrani had had a talk with him (on phone). "Never before the incident they had such a long chat, it was not ordinary call but she was reporting (about the murder) to Peter," Badami argued.

After strangling Sheena, Indrani could have hidden the body in the boot of the car, but she placed the body in the sitting position beside her and travelled (to the place where it was disposed), which showed her mental status, Badami said.

The prosecutor also asked why Peter, who was close to a senior police officer, did not use his contact to trace the missing Sheena when his son was distressed.

"These days even if a dog goes missing, advertisements are put, then why not for Sheena," Badami said.

About the co-accused Khanna, Badami said he had three objectives. "Vidhie was his daughter, for her uplift Sheena was a hurdle, and after Sheena's death Vidhie will be the ultimate beneficiary (of property)."



Khanna was like "Spiderman" (in his movements), as he came to Mumbai, committed the crime (alongwith Indrani) and went back to Kolkata, the prosecutor said.

CBI will continue its arguments tomorrow.
At least six people were killed in an eruption of communal violence at the weekend between herders and farmers in central Nigeria, police said today.

The violence was sparked on Saturday after the body of a herder, who had been robbed of his motorcycle, was found in a village in eastern Taraba state, the region's police commissioner Yunana Yakubu Babas said.

"The kinsmen of the deceased attacked the (farmers) with guns whom they accused of the killing," he told AFP.

The violence has forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes, according to local media reports, which also gave higher death tolls.

Fulani herders had accused members of the Tiv farming community of banditry resulting in loss of life and earnings, Babas said.

"Calm has been restored and we have been holding reconciliatory meetings between the Fulani and Tiv community leaders on how to bring an end to such incidents in the area," he added.

Deadly violence between herders and farmers is common in Nigeria, especially in the centre of the country where clashes over grazing and water rights between Fulani herdsmen and farmers have led to several killings in recent years.

The clashes have led Nigeria's government to consider creating grazing reserves for Fulani herders across the country although lawmakers from the affected areas have opposed the idea.

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Delhi Police teams today scanned the JNU campus with sniffer dogs to search for clues that could help them trace student Najeeb Ahmed, who has been missing for over two months now, police said today.

The Crime Branch team that is probing the case after it was transferred to them reached the campus this morning with sniffer dogs and the search is currently underway, police said.

Concerned over disappearance of the JNU student, Delhi High Court had last week directed police to "scan" the entire campus, including hostels, classrooms and rooftops, of the varsity by using sniffer dogs.

The directions had come on a Habeas Corpus plea by Najeeb's mother, Fatima Nafees, who has moved court to trace her son.

Najeeb went missing on October 15 following an on-campus scuffle allegedly with ABVP members the night before. The case was transferred from South District Police to Crime Branch last month.

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Soil and water is collected from 19 locations, including forts and rivers across Maharashtra, for the ground breaking ceremony of Shivaji Maharaj memorial on an island off city, to be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 24.

"The 'Kalash' (vase) will contain water of some rivers that have cultural importance in the state. Similarly, other 'Kalash' will carry some soil from historical important places such as Shivneri, Raigad, Pratapgad and Panhala forts and they will be taken to Mumbai on December 22," Vinayak Mete, chairman of the committee set up for the memorial, said today.

He said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will welcome a van carrying the 'Kalash' containing water and soil at the Gateway of India on December 23.

"Two kalash carrying portion of soil and earth will be taken to the island for the ground breaking ceremony. The PM, Fadnavis and senior state functionaries will visit the island along with the two vases on December 24," he said.

Mete told reporters that two families, said to be the descendants of the Maratha king, along with the descendants of aristocrats who had served with him are invited for the function. "It's a gesture from the state towards the contribution of their ancestors," he added.

On Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's participation in the ceremony, Mete said, "The CM is in talks with him. Thackeray will definitely be there but whether he will be at the island or attend the PM's rally at Bandra Kurla complex is yet to be decided."



When asked about the presence of Maharashtra Bhushan awardee and noted historian Babasaheb Purandare at the event, Mete said, "the invitation and arrangement for the event is being worked out. CM Fadnavis is holding a review meeting tomorrow. I hope there will be some decision about these things as well."



A section of society has been opposed to Purandare over his his 'portrayal' of Shivaji.

"We are inviting all the historians because they do have played a key role in making Maharaj's history relevant to people. The organisers of Maratha rallies held recently across the state will be invited as well. I personally feel that every village representative should be invited for the BKC function because it is not a political event," Mete said.

Proposed on some 15-hectare spread island, the memorial is going to be as high as 210 meters of which 60% would be the height of the statue alone. The total cost of the project is Rs 3,600 crore of which first phase would be of Rs 2,500 crore.

"We are planning to complete the first phase by 19 February, 2019," Mete added.

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Sri Lanka has banned the import of cinnamon substitutes in a bid to safeguard the reputation of its legendary spice "Ceylon cinnamon," a government minister said today.

Primary industries minister Daya Gamage said the cabinet had ratified his proposal to outlaw the import of a cheaper variety known as "cassia cinnamon."



He said he took the step after several container loads of the fake cinnamon that had been imported from Madagascar were found.

"Cassia looks similar to the real thing, but it is inferior in quality and cheaper than Ceylon cinnamon," the minister said in a statement. "When it is re-exported as real cinnamon, it damages our reputation."



The aromatic spice -- used in both savoury dishes and desserts -- was native to Sri Lanka. Dutch invaders grew it on a commercial scale in the 17th century for export.

The commodity which brought in over $150 million in the first 10 months of this year is known by the country's colonial era name "Ceylon."



Sri Lanka's cinnamon industry, which supplies about 85 percent of the world market, is enjoying high earnings. Top-grade cinnamon oil, extracted from the bark, fetches over USD 510 a kilogramme ($232 a pound).

Cinnamon oil is used in fizzy drinks as well as in the manufacture of high-end perfumes.

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Veteran action star Sylvester Stallone says he is "flattered" to be considered for an arts post by President-elect Donald Trump but feels he will be more effective working for veterans.

Stallone's publicist released a statement in which the actor said that he is more interested in brining attention towards the military personnels.

"I am incredibly flattered to have been suggested to be involved with the National Endowment of the Arts.

"However I believe I could be more effective by bringing national attention to returning military personnel in an effort to find gainful employment, suitable housing and financial assistance these heroes respectfully deserve," the statement read.

Last week a British publication reported that Trump had approached Stallone about a top arts-related position in his administration, perhaps as chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. At the time, Stallone's spokeswoman declined to comment.

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Syria today condemned the murder in neighbouring Turkey of the ambassador of its key ally Russia as a "despicable crime", state agency SANA said, quoting the foreign ministry.

"The Syrian republic condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly terrorist attack that led to the death of the Russian ambassador in Turkey, Andrei Karlov," a ministry statement said.

"This despicable crime confirms once again the urgent need to expand all efforts and means to fight and eliminate terrorism," it added.

Russia is Syria's main ally in the nearly six-year war, and has helped President Bashar al-Assad's forces to retake the battleground northern city of Aleppo from rebels.

On September 30, 2015, Russia began a campaign of air strikes in Syria to help government forces.

The gunman who shot Moscow's envoy at an art exhibition in Ankara shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge", a witness said.

Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek has identified the shooter as a Turkish policeman.

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Tamil Nadu is yet to make contribution towards pension accounts of its employees even as it has adopted the New Pension System, PFRDA Chairman Hemant G Contractor said today.

"Tamil Nadu has adopted our pension scheme under National Pension System (NPS). Though it does not contribute towards the employees' pension account under NPS. So, we have to take them on board to make contribution," Contractor said.

NPS has been made mandatory by the central government for its employees who joined service after January 2014. Besides, private employees can also subscribe to the scheme.

Many state governments have also adopted the NPS for their employees who joined on or after the cut-off date.

It is a contributory pension system and contributions from a subscriber are collected and accumulated in an individual pension account called the Permanent Retirement Account Number.

For government employees, the monthly contribution by a subscriber under NPS has been set at 10 per cent of the salary and dearness allowance (DA) which is to be matched by the employer.

Contractor said the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is in talks with the state government of Tamil Nadu for making a contributory payment to employees accounts under NPS.

Besides, West Bengal and Tripura have not adopted the NPS so far, and PFRDA is in discussion with both the states to take them on board, he said further.

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A 15-year-old girl has died in Nepal after she was banished to a shed outside the village during her menstruating cycle, under an ancient Hindu custom outlawed by the government over a decade ago.

The practice, known as chhaupadi, is a social custom of keeping menstruating girls and women in a narrow shed outside the village, under the ancient Hindu custom which views menstruating girls as unclean.

The practice was outlawed by the government in 2005, but it is still prevalent among many village communities in Nepal, especially in western Nepal.

The victim, a ninth grade student, was found dead at a cowshed in Gagra of Achham district yesterday, police said.

However, a police officer investigating into the case said the incident was due to suffocation as the Chhaupadi shed was too congested, the Himalayan Times reported.

Meanwhile, Women's Development Officer of the district, Bhagawati Aryal, said more than 10 girls and women have lost their lives due to this practice since 2006.

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The total revenue receipts of Telangana Government till end of September this year stood at Rs 47,027.59 crores, the Legislative Assembly was told today.

"As per the Civil Accounts to end of September 2016, the total receipts of the government including Central grants, loans, market borrowings and share in taxes etc. Is Rs 47,0257.59 crores," Finance Minister E Rajender said in the reply to a query in the House.

Till end of September 2016, the total non-plan expenditure was Rs 28,858.33 crore and Plan expenditure was Rs 22,756.77 crores, he said.

The Centre had allowed borrowing up to 3.5 per cent for the current Financial Year as the state "achieved revenue surplus" in last two years.

The minister was asked whether the state is facing a huge revenue deficit due to hike in salaries for employees, crop loan waiver, tuition fees reimbursement, social security pensions and increased rice quota for BPL families.

The revenue figures for the current fiscal would be known only after the March (annual) figures are furnished by the Accountant General, the minister stated.

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A sum of Rs 20,000 was allegedly stolen from bag of a 70-year-old man near a bank here today, police said.

The incident occurred when Nasir Baksh, after withdrawing Rs 24,000 from the bank under Kotwali police station area, was busy making entry of the transaction in his passbook at a machine adjacent to an ATM located near the bank.

In the meantime, somebody cut his bag and stole Rs 20,000.

Baksh realised about the theft later and approached the police.

"We started investigation after Baksh approached us. We are going through the recording of CCTV camera installed at the machine," said Kotwali police station Assistant Sub Inspector, Kailash Rathore.

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Three persons were killed today and three others injured all of them seriously when a car in which they were travelling met with an accident on the Mumbai Nashik highway here in Vashind police station limits.

The mishap took place under Sahapur division in the wee hours when the victims, all hailing from Wada taluka, were on their way to attend a Kunbi Sameelan at Asangaon, PI Anil Pawar of Vashind police station told PTI.

When their car neared Khativali it rammed into a speeding truck from the rear resulting in the accident.

The deceased were identified as Samir Mohan Patil (25) Aksahy Sawant (25) and Suraj Patil (26), police said.

The injured were admitted to Sahapur Rural Hospital and later shifted to a hospital in Thane in a critical condition.

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: A Singapore based firm today made a donation of Rs one crore to the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala here with a request to use it for a temple run trust which gives free meals daily to thousands of devotees visiting the shrine.

"Representatives of Helix Limited handed over a bank Demand Draft for Rs one crore to Dr D Sambasiva Rao, Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)," temple's Public Relations Officer Dr Talari Ravi told PTI.

The TTD governs the world famous hill temple.

The PRO said the representatives requested TTD to use the amount for 'Sri Venkateswara Anna Prasadam Trust, meant for providing free meal to thousands of visiting devotees daily on the hills.

Earlier this month a devotee from New Delhi had also donated Rs one crore to the shrine with a request to use it for Sri Venkateswara Praanadaana Trust, meant for free medical facilities to poor patients suffering from life threatening ailments at TTD run hospitals here, he added.

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Transaction charges need to be kept at a minimum level to encourage digital payments and make it "ubiquitous" as India is a "cost-sensitive" market, TRAI Chairman R S Sharma said today.

Citing example of the telecom sector, Sharma said mechanism can be worked out to ensure that small payments are financially sustainable.

"There are three things which are extremely important for digital transactions to become ubiquitous - cost, convenience and confidence. India is an extremely cost-sensitive market...You can't have Rs 5 commission on Rs 100 transaction. That is not going to work," Sharma said speaking at a seminar on 'Demonetisation to Digital Remonetisation' organised by FICCI.

Urging financial institutions to emulate the telecom sector where average value of pre-paid digital recharge is Rs 10, is "financially sustainable", Sharma said that charges levied on digital transactions should be based on 'work done' principle.

"My view is that not only in the short run, in the longer run too, if the work done principle is adopted in digital transactions, this whole merchant discount rate (MDR) and other issues will go away. I am not saying that they (banks) should stop earning any money but if they earn money they should earn money in a reasonable manner," Sharma said.

He further pointed out that two per cent charge on credit card transactions would prompt people to use alternative, which is cash.

"That thing has to go in the long run, if we want cashless to continue...Otherwise there is a danger than once these incentives end, people will revert back to cash, which should not happen. India has to become cashless," he said.

"I think there is a need to reduce these MDR and other digital charges..." Sharma said.

Asked about Vodafone's move to challenge in court TRAI's Rs 1050 crore penalty recommendation for denial of interconnectivity to newcomer Reliance Jio, Sharma declined to comment on the matter.

"This is a free country, every entity has the right of legal recourse and they are well within their rights to go to approach the courts, which is fine. Why should I have any comments, reservation or problems with that," Sharma said on the sidelines.

Vodafone last week told the Delhi High Court that the TRAI's recommendation to the Centre to impose Rs 1050 crore penalty on it for not giving interconnectivity to Reliance Jio was an "arbitrary" decision.

TRAI had recommended imposition of a fine of Rs 50 crore for each of the 21 circles of Vodafone, except in Jammu and Kashmir, coming to a total of Rs 1050 crore.

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After barring contentious programmes like Facebook's Free Basics and Airtel Zero, telecom regulator TRAI today recommended government to fund around 100 MB data per month for rural consumers and mooted introduction of third party platforms to provide in a non-discriminatory manner to promote digital economy.

The regulator has given clean chit to model of providing data credit in subscriber's account as reward if "it is structured in a manner that is open and non-discriminatory."



"In order to bridge the affordability gap for the persons residing in rural areas and to support government's efforts towards cashless economy by incentivising digital means, the Authority recommends that a scheme under which a reasonable amount of data, say 100 MB per month, may be made available to rural subscribers for free," TRAI said.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India estimates 100 Megabyte (MB)free data for 50 million rural subscribers in a month would cost Rs 600 crore.

The regulator has suggested that the cost of implementation of the scheme may be met from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)-- which is meant to promote telecom services in rural areas.

Under USOF, the government charges a cess in the form of Universal Access Levy, from telecom licencees to fund setting up of telecom infrastructure in all uncovered rural and remote areas of the country.

"It is a good start. Anything sustains if subscribers understand its value and then they start paying for it. With 100 MB of data, our wallet user can make thousands of transaction which is more than enough," MobiKwik COO Mrinal Sinha said.

For third party aggregator platforms, the regulator has cautioned the data through aggregator should not be designed to circumvent 'The Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations' which bars operators from entering into exclusive pacts with internet companies to subsidise their access.

However, net neutrality volunteers see loophole in Trai's aggregator model and feel that it leaves room for zero rating model.

"Government subsidising data for subscribers is a great step. However, aggregator model would lead to violation of differential pricing regulation. Whether you give data back immediately or later, it will be same a zero rating platform," Internet Freedom Foundation, Co-founder Nikhil Pahwa said.

Zero-rating, is a term that is generally used to describe schemes that provide free access to data services for subscribers of a particular service provider for accessing specific content.

TRAI in February barred differential pricing on Internet which ended services of platforms like Facebook's Free Basics and Airtel Zero. The regulator also released a consultation paper in May where it explored the reward model, toll free model, Direct Money Transfer Model for provision of free data services.
To support less-cash economy, telecom regulator today recommended that a "reasonable" amount of free data access should be provided to rural subscribers on monthly basis and the scheme could be funded from the Universal Service Obligation Fund.

"In order to bridge the affordability gap for the persons residing in rural areas and to support government's efforts towards cashless economy by incentivising digital means, the Authority recommends that a scheme under which a reasonable amount of data say 100 MB per month may be made available to rural subscribers for free," said.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has suggested that the cost of implementation of the scheme may be met from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

Under USOF, the government charges a cess, Universal Access Levy, from telecom licencees to fund setting up of telecom infrastructure in all uncovered rural and remote areas of the country.

recommended =that to increase participation of other entities for incentivising free data, there is a need to introduce third party (Aggregator) to facilitate schemes which are telecom operator agnostic and non-discriminatory in their implementation.

It has recommended that scheme for free data must be telecom operator agnostic and must not involve any arrangement between the TSP (telecom service provider) and the aggregator/content provider.

It should not be designed to circumvent its regulation on free mobile internet services as mentioned under 'The Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations'.

Trai in February barred differential pricing on Internet which ended services of platforms like Facebook's Free Basics and Airtel Zero. The regulator in May also released a consultation paper on free data services.

The regulator has recommended that the aggregators providing free data service will need to register with the Department of Telecom and it should be a company registered under Indian Companies Act, 1956.

"The validity of registration shall be five years. The registrant shall not either directly or indirectly, assign or transfer the Registration in any manner whatsoever to a third party either in whole or in part," Trai said.
The Tripura Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishment) Amendment Bill 2016 was today placed for passage and later withdrawn following a debate in the Assembly.

Placing the bill, Finance Minister Bhanu Lal Saha said it would help take stringent measures against chit-fund companies so that they could not deceive common people in the name of giving high rate of interest



The bill was also aimed at stopping entry of such companies in future, he said.

However, Congress member Ratan Lal Nath and Trinamool Congress' Sudip Roy Barman said that the existing acts have sufficient scope to protect the depositors, but what was required was a strong will of the government.

Barman said, many raids were conducted by government agencies earlier against chit fund companies, but their accounts were not frozen and so they were able to flee.

Nath alleged that 114 NBFCs that looted over Rs 5,000 crore from the state had huge assets in the state, but the government did not take any step to seize their properties.

Both Barman and Nath demanded that the properties of chit-fund companies be attached to return the depositors' money.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said the amount of money looted by NBFCs was yet to be ascertained by the Special Investigating Team (SIT) set up by the High Court so far.

However, it was established that Rose Valley had cheated at least Rs 97.84 crore from Tripura.

Sarkar said, "We are against chit-fund companies and non banking financial institutions. I would request both finance and law ministers to jointly consult experts to explore the possibilities to take stringent measures against chit-fund companies. I also appeal to withdraw the bill."



The bill was then withdrawn.

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US president-elect on Monday nominated billionaire businessman and army veteran Vincent Viola to be his secretary of the Army.

As Secretary of the Army, Viola will combine a deep background in national security affairs with an impressive track record of leading and managing high-performing teams within the military and the private sector, the presidential transition team said.

Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, Viola worked to support the Army philanthropically in the areas of counterterrorism, cybersecurity and leadership development, including helping to found the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.

He has also founded multiple high-value companies, including Virtu Financial, and chaired the New York Mercantile Exchange. Viola's business experience makes him well positioned to help guide a Fortune 10-sized company, the US Army, to accomplish its broad mission in the most innovative and efficient way possible.

"Whether it is his distinguished military service or highly impressive track record in the world of business, Vinnie has proved throughout his life that he knows how to be a leader and deliver major results in the face of any challenge," Trump said.

"He is a man of outstanding work ethic, integrity, and strategic vision, with an exceptional ability to motivate others. The American people, whether civilian or military, should have great confidence that Vinnie Viola has what it takes to keep America safe and oversee issues of concern to our troops in the Army," he said.

"A primary focus of my leadership will be ensuring that America's soldiers have the ways and means to fight and win across the full spectrum of conflict," Viola said in a statement.

A living proof of the American dream, 60-year-old Viola was born and raised in an Italian immigrant family in Brooklyn, and his father worked a truck driver. He was inspired to join the military after witnessing his father's service in the US Army in World War II.

Viola was the first member of his family to attend college, and after graduating from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1977, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the US Army that same year.

In the 1980s, Viola worked as a trader on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and also founded the first of many business ventures, including Pioneer Futures and the Independent Bank Group. After a long and influential career, Viola was appointed Chairman of NYMEX in March 2001.
started racking up electoral votes today even as anti-Trump protesters across the country tried to persuade the Electoral College to prevent him from winning the White House.

Trump didn't lose any electors with votes counted in a half dozen states he won November 8: Tennessee, West Virginia, Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

Initial results gave Trump 44 votes and Democrat Hillary Clinton, 10. It takes 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the presidency.

Electors were voting throughout the day and there was scant evidence many GOP electors would peel away from their Election Day winner. More than three dozen would have to abandon him to complicate his path to the presidency.

More than 200 demonstrators braved freezing temperatures at Pennsylvania's capitol, chanting, "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!" and "No treason, no Trump!"



Protesters also gathered in Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Nebraska and other states.

The protesters, however, were unlikely to persuade the Electoral College to dump Trump. An Associated Press survey of electors found very little appetite to vote for alternative candidates. Only one Republican said he would vote for someone else.

Republican electors have been deluged with emails, phone calls and letters urging them not to support Trump. Many of the emails are part of coordinated campaigns.

"The letters are actually quite sad," said Lee Green, a Republican elector from North Carolina. "They are generally freaked out. They honestly believe the propaganda. They believe our nation is being taken over by a dark and malevolent force."



Wirt A Yerger Jr, a Republican elector in Mississippi, said, "I have gotten several thousand emails asking me not to vote for Trump. I threw them all away."



A joint session of Congress is scheduled for January 6 to certify the results of the Electoral College vote, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding as president of the Senate. Once the result is certified, the winner -- almost certainly Trump -- will be sworn in on January 20.

The Electoral College was devised at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It was a compromise between those who wanted popular elections for president and those who wanted no public input.

The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.
There were many protesters but few faithless electors as Donald Trump appeared to cruise toward 270 votes in the Electoral College today -- ensuring he will become America's 45th president.

Even one of Trump's fiercest Republican rivals, Ohio Governor John Kasich, said it was time to get behind the president-elect.

"We want unity, we want love," Kasich said as Ohio's electors voted to back Trump at a statehouse ceremony.

Thousands of protesters converged on state capitols across the country today, urging Republican electors to abandon their party's winning candidate.

More than 200 demonstrators braved freezing temperatures at Pennsylvania's capitol, chanting, "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!" and "No treason, no Trump!"



In Madison, Wisconsin, protesters shouted, cried and sang "Silent Night." In Augusta, Maine, they banged on drums and held signs that said, "Don't let Putin Pick Our President," referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But despite the noise outside state Capitols, inside, the voting went pretty much as planned.

In Nashville, Tennessee, one audience member tried to read out some Scripture before the ballots were cast, but was told he could not speak.

"We certainly appreciate the Scripture," State Election Coordinator Mark Goins said from the podium. "The answer is no."



With more than 30 states reporting, neither Trump nor Hillary Clinton had lost a single elector.

At that point, Trump had 219 votes and Clinton had 120. The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator.

The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

Republican electors have been deluged with emails, phone calls and letters urging them not to support Trump. Many of the emails are part of coordinated campaigns.

In Atlanta, Governor Nathan Deal empathized with GOP electors.

"I, too, regret that you have been the subject of harassment by those who perhaps are not as dedicated to the proposition of what this body is supposed to do as they are agitated by the fact that the people didn't do what they wanted them to do," Deal told the state's 16 electors, who all voted for Trump.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, elector Charlie Buckels reached out to Trump's opponents after the New York businessman got all of the state's eight votes.

"For those of you who wished it had gone another way, I thank you for being here," said Buckels, the state GOP finance chairman. "I thank you for your passion for our country."



There is no constitutional provision or federal law that requires electors to vote for the candidate who won their state -- though some states require their electors to vote for the winning candidate.

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Two soldiers were killed Sunday in an attack the Colombian army has blamed on guerrillas with the National Liberation Army (ELN).

The soldiers, who were on a motorcycle patrol in Arauca, in eastern Colombia on the border with Venezuela, were gunned down by "terrorists of the ELN" traveling in a vehicle, the army said in a statement.

Reinforcements were rushed to the area to search for the culprits, the statement added.

The ELN is Colombia's second-largest rebel group after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

President Juan Manuel Santos and the FARC signed a peace accord on November 24 to end five decades of warfare, after a first agreement was unexpectedly rejected by Colombians an October 2 referendum.

The ELN and the government began secret talks in January 2014 to pave the way for official peace talks, but the process has stumbled over the issue of hostages and prisoners.

The Colombian government has suspended the preparatory talks until January 10, insisting that the ELN first release hostage ex-congressman Odin Sanchez.

The ELN in turn called for the simultaneous release of two imprisoned rebels.

More than 260,000 people have died in Colombia's decades-long conflict, which drew in other guerrilla forces, right-wing paramilitary groups, drug traffickers and government troops.

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Police have seized Rs 23 lakh in new Rs 2000 banknotes from two persons in Kalyan and detained them on suspicion the money was meant for exchange with scrapped currencies for a premium.

Niteen Jain (32) and Arvind Jain (34), both residents of Khadakpada in Kalyan, were detained yesterday from near Andhra Bank on a tip-off.

During the search, police seized Rs 23 lakh in Rs 2000 banknotes, stated an official release issued today.

According to police, the duo had brought the cash with the purpose to exchange it with the scrapped banknotes.

They were handed over to Income Tax department along with the cash for further action.

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A parliamentary report released today warned the British government against plans to deport EU nationals residing in the UK which includes around 25,000 Goans who acquired Portuguese nationality.

The report, prepared by the House of Commons Joint Committee on Human Rights (JHCR) and led by Labour MP Harriet Harman, said "the government must not use human rights as a bargaining chip" and added that attempting to deport EU nationals could lead to months of "significant, expensive and lengthy litigation".

It highlighted the continued uncertainty faced by the 2.9 million EU nationals living in the UK, which include an estimated 25,000 Goans who hold a European passport as a result of their Portuguese ancestry.

"The UK government could not deport the large numbers of EU nationals currently in the UK. In the unlikely and unwelcome event that the government sought to deport EU nationals, there could be the potential for significant, expensive and lengthy litigation, leading to considerable legal uncertainty for a prolonged period of time.

"These cases would have the potential to clog up and overwhelm the court system," Harman warned in her report.

According to data from the Election Commission of India, 11,500 Goans surrendered their Indian passports in favour of Portuguese citizenship between January 31, 2008 and January 31, 2013.

This figure is now estimated to be closer to 25,000. Majority of these Goans have settled in the UK.

Their fate now also hangs in balance along with other EU nationals who have made Britain their home over the years but are uncertain of the kind of residency rights they would have based on Britain's exit deal from the European Union after the June 23 referendum favouring Brexit.

The report said the government would not be able to establish a rule that would allow the deportation of EU nationals merely on the grounds that they had only been resident for a fixed period of time.

Other factors, such as family connections and the residence rights of children, would be relevant, and each case would need to be considered on its own facts, it said.

The committee called on the government to lay out a detailed list of fundamental rights currently guaranteed to such people by virtue of the UK's EU membership and what approach it intended to take towards them.

The report also said any changes to the status of EU citizens must be voted on by both Houses of Parliament, and not put through in secondary legislation.

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Ukraine has nationalised the country's biggest bank in a bid to avert a financial meltdown in the war-scarred former Soviet state.

The government moved to take over PrivatBank after months of rumours that the lender was heavily burdened by bad debts.

PrivatBank controls one-third of the east European country's bank deposits and even has branches in the Baltic states.

The Ukrainian government yesterday said in a statement that it was now the "100 per cent owner of PrivatBank and guaranteed the uninterrupted functioning of this institution and the safety of its clients' money."



Kiev's decision falls in line with International monetary Fund's demands for Ukraine to clean up and stabilise its murky financial sector in order to achieve sustainable growth.

It was owned by Igor Kolomoyskiy -- a politically powerful billionaire who became an early target of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's uphill fight against corruption.

The bank has also been the subject of local media reports suggesting it issued loans to select insiders that may never be repaid.

That talk alone saw the value of PrivatBank's bonds fall by nearly 50 per cent in late November.

Ukraine's central bank had wanted Kolomoyskiy to refinance his bank with billions of dollars if he wanted to keep it.

But that money never emerged and Kiev's patience snapped yesterday.

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The leaders of Russia and Iran, military allies of Syria's president, talked today about joining forces to reach a quick political settlement in Syria, as the country's largest city, Aleppo, was poised to return to full government control.

Syrian state TV said it expected the evacuation of thousands of civilians and fighters from the last opposition footholds in Aleppo to be completed by tomorrow.

The departure of the last rebels from Aleppo would close another chapter in Syria's civil war and would give President Bashar Assad a significant symbolic and strategic victory.

Almost six years after the outbreak of an armed rebellion against Assad, the Syrian leader will be in charge again of the country's five largest cities and the Mediterranean coast.

The presidents of Russia and Iran spoke by phone today to discuss the next moves. The Kremlin said Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani "underlined the need for joint efforts to launch a real political process aimed at a quick settlement in Syria."



The leaders noted that a quick launch of talks between the Syrian government and the opposition in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, would be an important step toward that goal, a Kremlin statement said.

The conversation came a day before a scheduled meeting of foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran in Moscow. Russia and Iran have backed Assad, while Turkey has supported the opposition.

In the Turkish capital of Ankara, meanwhile, the Russian ambassador was shot and killed by a man shouting, "Don't forget Aleppo. Don't forget Syria!" The gunman fired at least eight shots, killing Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, at an embassy-sponsored exhibition, and was then shot dead by police.

At the United Nations, officials said more than 100 UN humanitarian staff on the ground in Syria, most of them Syrian nationals, could start monitoring the Aleppo evacuations.

Earlier today, the UN Security Council had approved a resolution urging the immediate deployment of the monitors, following a French-Russian compromise over the text.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said there will also be observers from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Crescent.

France said the monitors were needed to prevent "mass atrocities" from being committed by Syrian government forces, especially militias. But thousands have already been evacuated from the city and the operation could be completed before the observers arrive.

The resolution also demands that all parties allow unconditional and immediate access for the UN and its partners to deliver humanitarian aid and medical care, and "respect and protect all civilians across Aleppo and throughout Syria."



Syria's UN Ambassador, Bashar al-Ja'afari, claimed that one of the "main purposes" of the deployment was to rescue foreign intelligence officers from the former rebel-held area.

He named 12 alleged officers still trying to get out of Aleppo -- six from Saudi Arabia and one each from Turkey, the United States, Israel, Qatar, Jordan and Morocco. He said: "We are going to catch them ... And show them to you.

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From left: Deng Fanhua, deputy Chinese consul general in San Francisco, Larry Jobe, president of Flying Tiger Historical Organization, Luo Linquan, Chinese consul general in San Francisco, Florence Fang, a Chinese-American entrepreneur, and Qiao Li, Luo's wife attend a reception held at the Chinese consul general's residence in San Francisco on Dec 15 to celebrate the success of the honorary flight over the Hump route. [Photo by Lia Zhu/China Daily]

A restored military transport plane re-creating the famed "Hump" route of World War II had to fly through some tense moments  about three months' worth.

"We were about halfway to Guilin, over the ocean an hour and a half out of Bali on the way to Malaysia when we blew a cylinder off the left engine, resulting in a fire in that engine," said Larry Jobe, president of the Flying Tiger Historical Organization (FTHO), the California-based nonprofit group that conceived the Hump flight.

The Hump was what Allied pilots called the eastern end of the Himalayas as they flew military transport aircraft from India to China to resupply the Chinese war effort and units of the US Army Air Force based in China.

Shutting down and handling the fire successfully, they made a beeline for Surabaya, Indonesia, the nearest suitable airport for landing. However, it took them six weeks and "a great deal of money and stress" to get airborne again.

"Getting the engine replaced and out of Surabaya is a story in and of itself," Jobe said. The crew members then went to Singapore, where they were able to adjust and fix the replacement engine with the assistance of the Republic of Singapore Flying Club.

With both engines running well, they went to U-Tapao and Chiang Mai, then Mandalay without incident and over the Himalayan Mountains to Kunming, "just as so many in World War II did", Jobe said.

"But about 10 miles out of Kunming, the plane lost the second engine when the No. 1 cylinder head loosened up, causing the engine to vibrate violently and spewing oil all over the nacelle and wing," he said.

In Lingui county, the crew received help and financial assistance from the local government. Fortunately, on Nov 19, the crew had good weather and accomplished the mission.

The flight, which was supposed to take about 10 days, took more than three months. The plane had left Australia (where the aircraft was purchased) on Aug 15, and passed through Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar and Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan province, before arriving in Guilin on Nov 19, where the plane will be on display at the Flying Tigers Heritage Park and Museum.

"We met our goals of honoring the men and women of World War II, helped shine a light on their history and promoted friendship and understanding along the way," Jobe said.

The flight's all-volunteer crew was made up of two Australian pilots, two Australian engineers and two American pilots, including Jobe. Five of the six crew are in their 70s and the other one is 54.

Florence Fang, a Chinese-American entrepreneur, donated $175,000 for the mission, and the FTHO raised $50,000.

"This truly turned into a flight of friendship and relationship-building as we progressed along the nearly 7,000-mile route in a 72-year-old aircraft," Jobe said. "Different cultures and religions pulled together to help make this mission a success, much as different nations pulled together in World War II to defend China and defeat Japan."

The aircraft will be repainted to authentic livery for World War II and placed on permanent display at the site of General Chennault's Command Cave at the Guilin Flying Tigers Heritage Park and Museum. A special ceremony will be held on March 25.

Luo Linquan, Chinese consul general in San Francisco, held a reception at his residence last Thursday to celebrate the mission.

"Flying Tigers is a familiar name to us all, well-known and respected both in China and the United States," Luo said. "The American Volunteer Group headed by General Chennault fought shoulder to shoulder with the Chinese military and made brilliant achievements."

He said that bilateral relations between China and the US have kept moving forward despite twists and turns. "We will surely carry on the Flying Tigers' legacy and the friendship of the two peoples from generation to generation," Luo said.

Contact the writer at liazhu@chinadailyusa.com
UNICEF today commemorated its 70th anniversary by celebrating its achievements for the world's most vulnerable children and also recommitting to the cause of children.

The world's largest organisation for child welfare was established on 11 December 1946 to bring help to children suffering in the aftermath of World World II. In India UNICEF started its journey in 1949.

"UNICEF was founded after World War II to bring help and hope to all children at risk or in need - no matter which country they lived in or what role that country played in the war. With so many children around the world in so much need, we are recommitting ourselves to delivering results for every child," said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

According to a press statement issued by UNICEF its key achievements in India include offering technical assistance for setting up the first Penicillin plant in 1949, joining hands with AMUL in mid-50s to embark on the journey of White Revolution in India, helping the government in 1970s to develop the world's most famous hand pump called India Mark II in order to fight drought, Right to Education Act in 2009, and the country being declared "Polio Free" in 2014.

"Today we reaffirm this commitment to work alongside the government and ensure all children get a fair start in life. It is our joint responsibility that every child is healthy, safe, educated, cared for and protected," said Louis Georges Arsenault, UNICEF India Representative at the launch of the 70th anniversary celebrations.

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The United States moved quickly today to condemn a gun attack in Ankara that left the Russian ambassador to Turkey severely wounded.

"We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family," State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

The US spokesman did not suggest who might have been behind the attack, which witnesses said was carried out by a gunman demanding "revenge" for Aleppo.

Russian forces were instrumental in helping government troops recapture the city of Aleppo from rebel forces in Turkey's neighbor Syria last week.

Washington has previously warned Moscow that its support for Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime risks radicalizing moderate rebels and boosting support for extremists.

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Violence today spread to Senapati district of Manipur with two vehicles being torched even as indefinite curfew remained in force in Imphal East district and mobile data services suspended after protests over economic blockade by the United Naga Council.

However, curfew was lifted from Imphal West district early this morning.

Amid heightened tension, unidentified persons torched two vehicles including a passenger bus at Naga Taphou area in Senapati district this morning, a police officer said.

Last night, four vehicles of former minister Marung Makunga were vandalised at Saombung in Imphal East district, the police said.

The police are on high alert to contain spread of violence in the wake of yesterday's incident at Imphal-Ukhrul Road during which 22 vehicles were vandalised by a mob.

Mobile internet services were snapped till December 25 and Imphal East district was brought under indefinite curfew till further orders yesterday after locals resorted to violence and vandalised vehicles on Imphal-Ukhrul road while protesting against the ongoing economic blockade by the United Naga Council (UNC) on the National Highways since November 1.

The landlocked state has been experiencing severe hardship in supply of essential items since November 1 after UNC imposed an indefinite economic blockade on the two national highways that serve as lifeline for the state.

The blockade was imposed following the state government's announcement of formation of seven new districts, four of which have been formally inaugurated.

Tension in the state escalated after militants ambushed Manipur Police and other state forces in the last few days that left three policemen dead and 14 others injured last Thursday.

The attack was followed by triple bomb blasts at Nagaram area in Imphal West district allegedly by Manipur Naga People's Front the very next day.

In another incident, suspected militants overpowered a small outpost of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) at Nungkao area yesterday in Tamenglong district and fled with nine service weapons.

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The Enforcement Directorate today handed over certain documents to LIC agent Anand Chauhan, an accused chargesheeted in a money laundering case involving Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

The papers were handed over to the accused on the direction of Special Judge Vinod Kumar that the documents filed along with the final report in the case be provided to him. The plea had been filed by Chauhan.

The court has now put up the matter for further hearing on Janu



The court had on September 7 taken cognisance on the charge sheet filed against Chauhan, who is currently in judicial custody, while asking ED to provide him a copy of the final report and other documents.

The charge sheet was filed for offences under sections 3 (money-laundering) and 4 (punishment for the offence) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Act.

Chauhan was arrested from Chandigarh on July 9 under the provisions of PMLA on the grounds that he was allegedly not cooperating with the probe.

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said demonetisation was not enough to root out black money and that he will come out with a "point-by-point" analysis of the note ban after December 30.

Kumar, who has been stressing the need for a launching a crackdown on benami properties and prohibition along with demonetisation, said it is "not possible to transform the country into a cashless economy".

"My stand has been very clear. Only demonetisation cannot root out black money. It should be coupled with a simultaneous attack on benami properties... Land, real estate, gold and diamond and liquor ban to yield results," he told reporters.

Asked to comment on the situation 40 days after the decision to scrap high-value notes was announced by the Prime Minister, Kumar said he will come out with a "point-by-point study after the 50-day period comes to an end".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while announcing the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes on November 8 had said it will lead to some inconvenience for the initial 50-day period.

"I had supported demonetisation on November 9... But on November 16, I had highlighted the poor implementation of the move," he said.

Kumar, who was flanked by his deputy Tejaswi Yadav and minister Ashok Choudhary, said it not possible to transform the country into a cashless economy.

"Dealing in cash is a habit of the common man. A cashless economy is not possible," he said and claimed that even in the US about 40-50 per cent of transactions are made in cash.

Asked about Mamata Banerjee denouncing Rahul Gandhi for meeting the PM when Opposition is attacking him over demonetisation, Kumar said, "It's between the two parties. I cannot say anything about it.

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Apple has launched a legal challenge to a record $14 billion EU tax demand, arguing that EU regulators ignored tax experts and corporate law and deliberately picked a method to maximize the penalty, senior executives said.

Apple's combative stand underlines its anger with the European Commission, which said on Aug. 30 the company's Irish tax deal was illegal state aid and ordered it to repay up to 13 billion euros to Ireland, where Apple has its European headquarters.

European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, a former Danish economy minister, said Apple's Irish tax bill implied a tax rate of 0.005% in 2014.

General Counsel Bruce Sewell and Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri outlined in an interview with Reuters at Apple's global headquarters in Cupertino the company's plans for its appeal against the Commission's ruling at Europe's second highest court.

The iPhone and iPad maker was singled out because of its success, Sewell said.

"Apple is not an outlier in any sense that matters to the law. Apple is a convenient target because it generates lots of headlines. It allows the commissioner to become Dane of the year for 2016," he said, referring to the title accorded to Vestager by Danish newspaper Berlingske last month.

Apple will tell judges the Commission was not diligent in its investigation because it disregarded tax experts brought in by Irish authorities.

"Now the Irish have put in an expert opinion from an incredibly well-respected Irish tax lawyer. The Commission not only didn't attack that - didn't argue with it, as far as we know - they probably didn't even read it. Because there is no reference (in the EU decision) whatsoever," Sewell said.

The European Commission accused Ireland in 2014 of dodging international tax rules by letting Apple shelter profits worth tens of billions of dollars from tax collectors in return for maintaining jobs. Apple and Ireland denied the accusation.

On Monday the Commission published the detailed version of its decision which may provide clues as to how the Commission will deal with similar tax cases in future.

It cited, for example, notes of a meeting in 1990 between Apple's tax adviser and the Irish revenue service discussing an appropriate level of profits Apple's Irish unit would pay tax on - Apple's adviser suggesting a ceiling of $30-40 million.

"[Apple's tax adviser] confessed there was no scientific basis for the figure. However the figure was of such magnitude that he hoped it would be seen to be a bona-fide proposal," the excerpt read.

Ireland's tax treatment has allowed Apple to avoid tax on tens of billions of dollars of non-U.S. profit. Over the past 10 years, the company has paid tax at a rate of 3.8% on $200 billion of overseas profits, filings show. This is a fraction of the tax rate in the countries where Apple's products are designed, made and sold.

The low rate is achieved by Apple telling U.S. tax authorities that the profits are earned by Irish units. Meanwhile it tells Ireland the profits are not earned in Ireland.

Some lawmakers in the United States and in countries where Apple has large sales have criticized the arrangement.

Ireland says if it's not fair, it's other countries' fault for not closing loopholes. On Monday Ireland accused the Commission of exceeding its powers and interfering with EU member states' national sovereignty over tax affairs.

Apple also intends to challenge the EU enforcer's basis for its case, arguing that what Sewell called the "crazy notion of non-residency" was chosen on purpose to produce a punitive amount.

Other arguments the EU could have used could have been based on transfer pricing - the pricing strategy between a company's units - or the "arm's length" principle adopted by companies to sell and buy from affiliates as if they were unrelated firms.

"Both of those other two theories at least could be fleshed out, but they produced much lower numbers," Sewell said.

He added it was not possible for Apple to comply with the EU decision because it would mean Ireland violating its own past tax laws setting different rules for residents and non-resident companies.

Apple plans to tell the court that the Commission erred when it ruled that the head office of Irish-registered units Apple Sales International (ASI) and Apple Operations Europe existed only on paper, with no justification for the billions of euros it posted in untaxed profits.

Sewell said the fact that an entity was a holding company with no employees on its books did not mean it was inactive and it could be actively managed by employees of its parent company.

"So when Tim Cook, who is the CEO of our company, makes decisions that impact ASI, the Commission says we don't care because he is not an ASI employee, he is an Apple Inc employee. But to say that somehow Tim Cook can't make decisions for ASI is a complete mis-statement of corporate law, it's a misunderstanding of how corporations operate," he said.

Maestri said the Commission over-estimated the importance of the company's European headquarters in Cork in the south of Ireland.

"(Vestager) is arguing that the base on which we should pay taxes in Ireland is essentially all the profits we generate outside the United States ... in a place that doesn't do any engineering, doesn't generate any intellectual property for us," he said, adding it was an "absurd theory."

The company hopes U.S. president-elect Donald Trump will enact tax reforms, Sewell said.

The U.S. tax system, Sewell said, was a worldwide system while the rest of the world had territorial systems.

"The difference between those two creates exactly the kind of loophole that the Commission has now been able to exploit," he said. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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Banks in Britain are being advised they may be able to sue the European Union if it fails to grant them a staggered departure from the trading bloc using rights from an arcane treaty that usually governs international law.

The advice was given in a document drawn up by some of Britain's largest law firms for banks lobbying to retain so-called passporting rights that allow them to operate across all the EU out of their London bases.

The document says there are a number of laws giving them rights for a deal, including the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, that gives them "acquired rights" under a treaty that cannot be suddenly withdrawn.

"EU law cites a number of different bases for requiring transitional arrangements," the document says. "A failure to do so could possibly create an entitlement for an affected EU firm...to take action against the commission."

Finance companies are pressing Britain and the EU to agree to a transition deal that would keep many of the current arrangements for up to five years to help cushion them from the effects of Brexit.

The issue of a transitional deal has emerged a potential flashpoint in Britain's plans to leave the EU. While some members of the British government and businesses are backing the demands for a deal, some European countries such as Luxembourg have ruled out an agreement.

The Bank of England has warned that an abrupt departure could undermine financial stability, but how a bridging deal could work in practice remains a technical and political challenge.

There is no indication yet that banks are considering using the law to challenge the EU. Other lawyers say it would have limited chances of succeeding.

However, the fact that banks and lawyers are exploring these options shows the work they are doing to find work arounds, mainly to buy time before they decide if they will move some operations from Britain to the continent.

The banks may be able to appeal to the European Court of Justice to ensure that they can continue trading in the single market based on one of the four principles of EU law, which is "legal certainty", according to lawyers.

Another key principle of EU law that can be used to demand a transitional deal is that companies have "legitimate expectations" of a stable regulatory environment, the document says.

"EU firms utilising their passport rights do have 'legitimate expectations' within the meaning of EU law that their rights will not simply disappear on Brexit," the document said. "They will have structured their businesses, and invested into them, in light of those rights."

The document points to precedent when the Belgium government sued the European Commission in 2003 after it ruled that it would have to stop tax concessions given to companies on the grounds it was an unfair form of state aid.

The European Court of Justice struck down the decision three years later saying that the ruling was unjust because companies had made substantial investments into businesses and made long-term commitments on the basis of the concessions.

The commission had failed to couple the repeal of the tax rules with transitional measures.

The Vienna Convention states that rights given under a treaty continue, even after the treaty has been withdrawn.

But faith placed in the Vienna Convention to protect people's acquired rights may well be misplaced, and such rights would in any case need to be confirmed in Britain's divorce deal with the EU to hold water, said Sionaidh Douglas-Scott, a professor of law at Queen Mary University of London.

Barney Reynolds, a partner at Shearman & Sterling, a lawfirm advising banks on Brexit, also cast doubt on the practicalities of relying on the convention.

"Whilst it is possible that such an analysis would be upheld, it is by no means straightforward," Reynolds said.

EU officials involved in preparations for the Brexit negotiations said they have been looking into the implications of the Vienna Convention and its provisions for acquired rights.

The officials believe the convention applies to states, rather than to companies or individuals.

"With regards to acquired rights under the Vienna Convention, it's simply not as clear as all that," one source said.

The document was drawn up by three of Britain's biggest law firms - Linklaters, Freshfields and Clifford Chance. All the law firms declined to comment.

Bernardine Adkins, head of EU, trade and competition at Gowling WLG, said it was unlikely that companies would be able to use it because Article 50 provides a legal framework for withdrawal of the treaty that override those laws.

"It is one of these clever weasel arguments people come up with. I don't think it holds water," she said. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
French judges on Monday found IMF chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence for failing to challenge a 400 million euro state arbitration payout to a business tycoon in 2008 when she was French finance minister.

Despite the ruling the judges did not hand down any sentence in the case on her decision to allow the rare out-of-court arbitration payment. She has denied the negligence charges.

Her lawyer said immediately after the ruling that his team would look into appealing the decision.

The ruling risks triggering a new leadership crisis at the International Monetary Fund after Lagarde's predecessor Dominique Strauss Khan resigned in 2011 over a sex assault scandal. (Reuters)

The International Monetary's Executive Board is expected to meet shortly to consider the negligence verdict issued against Managing Director Christine Lagarde by a French court, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said on Monday.

"The Executive Board has met on previous occasions to consider developments related to the legal proceedings in France," Rice said in a brief statement. "It is expected that the Board will meet again shortly to consider the most recent developments."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Uzbekistans and Tajikistans independence in 1991 raised the Shakespearean To be or not to be? question concerning the ambitious construction of a dam on the mountainous Vakhsh river in Tajikistan, which would embody the Rogun Hydro Power Station. Uzbekistan  a downstream country  has permanently and vigorously rejected and resisted the project referring to numerous risks associated with Rogun for all downstream countries. Uzbekistans president has been the principal political antagonist of this project. Two months after his death in September 2016, Tajikistans president has decided to move on with the project.

BACKGROUND: In Central Asia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are up-stream countries where the regions two major rivers originate  Sir-Darya (in Kyrgyzstan) and Amu-Darya (in Tajikistan). Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are down-stream countries. As is well known, the up-stream countries have pursued an energy strategy when it comes to the management of rivers water flows. They need to produce more electricity during the winter season; whereas downstream countries need water for irrigation in the summer season. The conflicting interests pursued until now by Central Asias upstream and downstream countries with respect to sharing the waters of these two rivers were expressed most acutely and aggressively in the relationship between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan over the construction of the Rogun Hydro Power Station (HPS). Rogun became a stumbling block in the development of the overall relations between these two neighboring nations.

The construction of the Rogun HPS has for a quarter century been an ideological mantra for independent Tajikistan. This project was unilaterally decided by the Tajik government and, like a shrine, turned into a matter of national pride long before its real embodiment. For Uzbekistan, on the contrary, it became a geopolitical bogey. Tashkent has taken all possible direct and indirect measures to thwart Dushanbes endeavor on Rogun, including diplomatic pressure and threatening signals. Due to numerous political and public campaigns, Uzbekistan mobilized domestic public opinion against Tajikistans plans on building the HPS. Official representatives of Uzbekistan regularly raised this issue and promoted the states principal position in various international organizations  from the UN General Assembly and OSCE to Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), calling for an objective international investigation of the project and its possible consequences.

Meanwhile, the relationship between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, albeit strained, has been far from completely antagonistic. In essence, this problem is of a technical character and resolvable. The author of this article wrote some time ago that if they fail to take steps towards each other, reconcile and overcome deadlock this will be detrimental not only to their bilateral relations but also have negative consequences for the whole region of Central Asia.

Uzbekistans President Islam Karimov  the main opponent of the Rogun mega-project  died on 2 September 2016. In about two months after his death Tajikistans President Emomali Rakhmon personally launched the construction of the dam. This stirred speculations as to whether Karimovs presence had been the only inhibitor of the Rogun construction, and whether the disappearance of that factor became a catalyst of this process.

IMPLICATIONS: Surprisingly, Tashkent has so far not officially reacted to Dushanbes unilateral action. On the surface, it seems that Tajikistan takes revenge and Uzbekistan loses face, as if the former won the strategic game and the latter appeared to be wrong in its quarter century long anti-Rogun policy.

The silence of post-Karimov Tashkent may seem tantamount to a green light to Dushanbe to start the construction of the dam. However, connecting Uzbek-Tajik tension on the dam issue only to Karimovs personality would be a significant oversimplification. The consideration of objective national interests must not be ignored in this analysis; and obviously these include not only Tajikistans, but also Uzbekistans interests.

At least two principal aspects of this dramatic situation must be taken into account. First, the permanent question of the official thumbs-down position of the Uzbek side is not yet removed from the agenda; which is why the rush of the Tajik side regarding the launch of the dam cannot but cause bewilderment on different levels, including the expert community and civil society. The power transition in Uzbekistan does not affect objective material, geographical and climatic factors as well as consumer needs and irrigational interests of this country to which Tashkent has constantly pointed when expressing its position towards the Rogun HPS. These concerns have not yet been satisfied.

There are hypotheses that the Uzbek side has covertly been given assurances by the Tajik side regarding satisfaction of all concerns. If so, any agreements achieved between the two sides must be publicized, because Uzbekistans entire anti-Rogun stance was until recently broadly publicized and actively promoted. The negotiations and decisions made by Tashkent and Dushanbe on this highly galvanized and publicized issue can therefore no longer be kept secret or offstage.

Second, the issue of compliance with international conventions on trans-boundary rivers is also not removed from the agenda. Dushanbes unilateral actions in this case would have been justified only if the river on which the dam is supposed to be constructed was an internal river of Tajikistan. Uzbekistan has up until now sought to lift the problem from bilateral frameworks to the international stage, calling for an international investigation of the project. However, none of the attempts at engaging external legal entities, including great power mediation between Uzbekistan and Dushanbe, have so far proven to be mutually acceptable and efficient.

From this point of view, the question arises as to the implementation of the norms of international law regarding the Uzbek-Tajik water dispute. Moreover, this dispute per se, given the trans-boundary character of the river flow and the existence of international law in this sphere, probably should draw immediate international attention and reaction, which should not wait until one side of the dispute appeals to the international community for its resolution. The actual question in this context is whether the international community (the UN, for instance) can and should automatically react to any unilateral action on the part of one state affecting the trans-boundary river flow even as the other side in the dispute is silent (perhaps temporarily).

The sudden launch of the construction of the dam revealed, among other things, what can happen when the overall bilateral relations of two countries are over-personified, non-transparent, based on a narrow understanding of well-known national interests, and dependent on the political climate inside a particular country rather than on objective, material conditions of the regional reality.

CONCLUSIONS: It is timely to recall the golden rule of medical ethics Primum nn nocere! (Do no harm!) when we discuss the post-Karimov reincarnation of the Rogun HPS construction, since none of the respective agenda items in Uzbekistan-Tajikistan relations related to this problem have yet been clarified. The would-be harmful consequences of this construction cannot be reduced or averted by the will of one leader or lack of will of another.

By and large, this issue is not merely a matter of bilateral relations. Uzbekistan under Karimov had managed to correlate the water policies of three down-stream countries in Central Asia vis-a-vis two up-stream countries. What will be the policy of post-Karimov Uzbekistan in terms of this correlation? But even this question is becoming obsolete. Today, the countries of the region should go beyond such simplistic and tactical reasoning. It becomes more and more obvious that the time has come to move from the up-stream versus down-stream division of Central Asia to a common vision of regional perspectives, implying common, not individual development; common, not individual sovereignty; common, not individual projects.

Particularly, the five countries concerned could return to the common regional integrated energy system as part of a new process towards revitalization of the frozen regional integration of Central Asia. Rationally speaking, despite the seeming unilateral approach to this issue by Tajik authorities, the launch of a construction process on such a scale necessitates a resolution of the question of mutual concessions and mutual gains. If so, the win-win outcome should not be a backroom deal because projects like Rogun are not a matter of lucrative interests of certain business circles or political classes, but a matter of common destiny of the respective nations and the entire region.

AUTHORS BIO: Dr. Farkhod Tolipov holds a PhD in Political Science and is Director of the Education and Research Institution Knowledge Caravan in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons, accessed on December 8, 2016
European Council: Six fun end-of-year facts

Published on December 16, 2016

Story by Raquel Lorenzo

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The Heads of state and government of the still-28 Member states met yesterday in Brussels to discuss business ranging from Ukraine, Aleppo, security, economy and of course Brexit. But not everything needs to be serious at the Justus Lipsius building. Cafebabel went around collecting the best EU "fun facts" of that day.

1. Merry Christmas all!

Christmas is just around the corner and everyone at the EU summit wanted to celebrate. Wednesday morning, as we collected our press badges, we noticed that some had been having fun decorating them with snowflakes. So cute.

Thursday, while strolling through the main hall of the Justus Lipsius building (nothing interesting was going on and we really needed to move after more than 8 hours of sitting), we spotted something which immediately caught our attention. Bringing the whole Christmas tree with them would have been a little bit difficult, so some journalists decided to decorate their laptops with light garlands instead. The result was priceless.

2. Paella for lunch?

The informal dinner scheduled after the European Council was cancelled. Well, it does seem fair enough knowing that lunch finished at 6pm. Top Spanish and Portuguese chefs were in charge of the meal, so maybe they had their share of responsibility there. Spanish eating habits, you know Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who once said that the European Council is where we eat the worst and that he is always forced to live on bread with olive oil, was really happy tonight. Hake and Rioja wine. Yummy!

3. Schulz's last European Council

Martin Schulz, who is soon leaving for Germany, gave his last press conference at the European Council as President of the European Parliament. All the questions from journalists started with I know this is your last answer as President of the EP so. Everyone seemed to be getting ready for his funeral, so Schulz made a point of avoiding exaggeration : I am just changing jobs, he insisted. Schulz, who usually takes only two or three questions, was feeling chatty yesterday. Although his spokesman wanted to finish early, Schulz preferred to devote all his time to journalists. He will miss us, that's for sure. The conference lasted so long that video editors from the Council had to divide his Q&As into 8 clips: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (2h later)...Part 25?

4. One-day Council turning into a two-day Council?

Yesterdays European Council was supposed to finish around 7pm. Supposed to. Although Donald Tusk had announced back in October that everyone would go to bed early at the December Council, nothing changed and there was a more than three hour delay. Journalists feared that the one-day council was turning into a two-day summit. Last national briefings finished at midnight, but, of course, we still had work to do. Coffee then becomes your best friend, and the key to success.

5. It's called "interpretation", but nevermind...

Interpreters hate being called "translators". Is it so difficult to make the difference between the concepts of "translation" and "interpretation"? Simply put, translation is all about written texts, whilst interpreting deals with spoken words. The EU has one of the most important translation services in the world and yet they keep calling "those strange people inside the booths at the back" translators.

6. Theresa May, forever alone

Poor Theresa May... UK Prime Minister felt a little bit left out. And that's putting it nicely. Just before the roundtable, she did not have anyone to talk to, so she just decided to shuffle random papers she found in front of her so that nobody noticed. Maybe this is the price you have to pay when you're in charge of making your country leave the EU.

She was not invited to the informal dinner, where the 27 leaders were supposed to tackle Brexit. No problem though. She would not have been the first EU leader to eat french fries in famous Maison Antoine friterie in Brussels. Also, she could just have called Deliveroo...

One thing is clear: there is always room for humour, even during EU Council meetings.

Story by Raquel Lorenzo
Refugees and the EU: "Believe me, no one is indifferent"

Published on December 19, 2016

Story by Silvia Giacon Translation by: Emily Spencer

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In spite of a twelve-hour meeting between heads of state, little progress has been made on the reform of EU migration policy. However, major European representatives seemed to be mildly pleased following talks.

Speaking before Brita Haj Hassan, the mayor of Aleppo, last week, European Council president Donald Tusk said on behalf of the European Union: "Please believe me. No one is indifferent in the European Union. I'm talking about people, institutions, politicians... We should and we will try to do everything we can to help you and the civilians in Aleppo."

"European policies are driving people out of Europe"

"When it comes to humanitarian organisations and the protection of human rights in Europe, we are seriously concerned by the fact that European policies are increasingly trying to drive people out of Europe, making applications for asylum difficult, and leaving the burden of assuming responsibility at the external state borders, as was the case with Greece." These remarks come from a joint statement by a group of NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam and Human Right's Watch, addressed to members of the European Council on 15 December.

It was an important day. An opportunity to discuss European migration policy and to talk about the EU's declaration on Turkey, made last March. First and foremost, it was about making an initial assessment of the Partnership Framework of Cooperation, the new plan launched in June 2016 by the European Commission which anticipates special partnerships with third countries of origin in order to "save lives at sea, increase the number of return journeys, allow migrants and refugees to stay in the host country and in the long term, to support the development of third world countries, thereby tackling the root causes of irregular migration."

Prior to the EU summit, the statistics were in favour of European action. According to the UNCHR, in 2016 the irregular arrivals in Greece went from roughly 20,000 a week in February to 5,000 a week from April - one month after the declaration on the EU-Turkey statement and the closure of the famous "Balkans route." Moreover, this year also saw the number of lives saved as a result of operations led by the European Union surpass 110,000. Undoubtedly, the most effective operation has been Triton; launched in 2014 and costing more than 2.9 million Euros per month, whose ships operate within 30 nautical miles of the Italian coast.

No new conclusions were made at this summit, the focus is the same as it was in October: the strengthening of engagement with Turkey, and calling on member states to join the efforts.

The Council renewed its commitment to five African countries and urged member states to ensure that their work is in line with the Partnership Framework. Finally, they encouraged member states to provide the European Asylum Support Office with sufficient resources. The heads of state and the government haven't changed its stance on the principles of responsibility and solidarity, which are at the heart of their operations. But there remains much work to do in order to reach a consensus, even if the need to reform the asylum system under the Maltese presidency seems to create unanimity. If there is an agreement it must be signed before the 30th of June; the new presidency begins in January.

According to one diplomat, Angela Merkel called for an agreement before then, but the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat went against her and declared that the Maltese people "would do their best."

"We are making slow progress"

"The focus today is to evacuate as much of the population as possible, of those who can no longer endure the bombings and the massacres," Francois Hollande declared upon his arrival. Charles Michel, Belgian prime minister, added: "We are supporting all of the efforts being made to protect as many of the Syrian people as possible. It is a painful, difficult crisis. I regret that Europe will no longer be able to play a political and diplomatic role."

Following the summit, the leaders congratulated the adopted positions. Paolo Gentiloni, in attendance for the first time as Italian prime minister following the resignation of Matteo Renzi, stated that he was happy that the EU is giving prime importance to the migration issue, but admitted that "we are making slow progress." The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Moghereini underlined the importance of strengthening relationships with African countries, Nigeria especially, to stop people from arriving in Libya and boarding ships.

This view is shared by Jean-Claude Juncker, who was visibly pleased following the meeting, saying: "The objective now is to reach a consensus on the reform of asylum policy." Strong advice, which wasn't at all surprising. All that's left now is to ask: will the people accept the results of the summit?

Story by Silvia Giacon

Translated from L'UE et les refugies :  Croyez-moi, personne n'est indifferent 
CAMEROUN :: Cameroon: Enforcing laws protecting the pangolin

The Court of Appeal, East Region, shall review a case on the 10th of January 2017 against Anthony Nwabu Nwanne, a Nigerian national who was sentenced to 75 days imprisonment by the Bertoua Court of First Instance for trafficking in pangolin scales. He was found with five bags of pangolin scales weighing over 200 kg and 12 elephant tusks. The operation that enabled the arrest and prosecution of the trafficker was carried out under the framework of the wildlife law enforcement programme of the Ministry and Forestry and Wildlife that was launched in 2003 to track and prosecuted those breaking the wildlife law. Under the same programme three other pangolin scales traffickers were been arrested and tried within this year.

Early this month, Nwana Doh Felix and Ndjoheu Jean Marie were given 3 months imprisonment term for trafficking in over 128 kg of pangolin scales. They were arrested in Ngaoundal in August 2016 as they attempted to sell the scales. The trial that was followed by many in Tibati, in the Adamoua Region, lasted 3 months and many feared that the case could be seriously undermined by the popularity of Nwana Doh alias Etoo. He is well connected and has strong links with the local administration and law enforcement officials. But the presiding judge stood firm and made a decision which although not very stern, wildlife law enforcement specialists say, provided some form of acceptable punishment for the two.

These two cases illustrate the problems with conservation measures geared toward the pangolin that is also widely consumed as food in the country. While it was never in doubt as to the guilt of the Nigerian trafficking in pangolin scales, the court that tried the matter seemed not to have successfully evaluated the damage done to the species by Anthony and observers say this could have jeopardized the chances of giving a commensurate punishment to the trafficker by the court. Over 50 giant pangolins must have been slaughtered to provide the over 200 kg of scales and at least 6 elephants killed to obtain 12 elephant tusks, although it could have been more because the tusks were not all in exact pairs. An elephant has two tusks.

The judge in the case in Tibati clearly had many exogenous factors that could potentially wreck the process but decided to apply a stronger penalty. The rather poor understanding by the public and surprisingly by some professionals, of the threat trafficking in pangolin scales is posing to the survival of the species is astonishing. Little is known of the plight of the pangolin, an animal that is increasingly coming under intense poaching and trafficking mainly for its meat and scales. This is facilitated by the pangolins docility and almost defenseless nature. Its only amour, the scales, rather than being a real armour, is attracting fatal attention from poachers and traffickers.

Until recently, not only the extinction status of the species was a matter of interminable discourse but no specific measures were put in place to conserve the animal. Today it is known to be the most trafficked mammal in the world and the Washington Convention CoP 17 that held in South Africa in September responded by upgrading it to Appendix I reserved for animals with the highest level of protection. This is a welcome relief for those fighting for the survival of the pangolin but government needs to move fast to upgrade the species to class A, aligning it with the latest CITES decision and giving it the fullest of protections it deserves. The faster this is done the better for survival of the species.

Some of the work needed to be done is already being carried out by the US-sponsored Progress on Pangolin Mentor Fellowship Programme that is hosted by the ZSL in Bastos,

Yaounde. The programme that aims to build pangolin champions is the first of its kind in the country and the sub-region as far as pangolin conservation is concerned. A survey is currently being undertaken by this group and this could help provide enough data for policy decision and messaging in pangolin conservation. The pangolin has long been in the dark but light, it seems, is beginning to enter the tunnel. Hopefully many more initiatives shall join enforcement activity to stem the decline to extinction of the pangolin.
CJA Cameroon President Chief Nkemanyang making a point Wilson MUSA

Members of Common Wealth Journalist Association in Cameroon have condemned the use of forces on striking Lawyers and Anglophone teachers by Government forces while meeting in Limbe on Saturday December 17,2016 ,CJA- Cameroon frowns at the use of excessive force against striking Cameroon Common Law Lawyers and Anglophone Teachers.

During the 2016 Extra Ordinary session the journalists noted:

Immediate Origin

CJA- Cameroon notes that what has become known today as the Anglophone problem has lingered, but what led to the escalation of the situation on the ground is a strike action started by Cameroon Common Law Lawyers on the 8th of November and Anglophone Teachers on the 21st of November, 2016, demanding the respect of the bi-jural nature of Cameroon as well as the protection of the values enshrined in the Anglophone sub system of education; which industrial actions were and are still being brutally repressed by security and defense forces. Worse still, the Regional Delegate of Communication in Buea and the Senior Divisional Officer for Meme has signed anti-constitutional decisions aimed at stifling press freedom and the free speech in the region.

Acknowledgement

While acknowledging efforts being made by the government to address these issues through dialogue, CJA- Cameroon points out with dismay that the approach taken by the authorities in arresting protests in the South West and North West Regions resulted in torture, maiming, degrading treatment, looting and wanton destruction of both public and private property in total disrespect of the principles democracy and human rights as stipulated in international instruments to which Cameroon is a signatory. CJA- Cameroon strongly condemns the use of violence in all its forms by whosoever as a way of either presenting or resolving problems.

CJA- Cameroons Position

Faced with the prevailing situation in Cameroon at this point in time, CJA- Cameroon considers that bi-cultural concerns can be better handled within a federal system of government. That is why CJA- Cameroon is calling on Cameroonians in general and the government in particular to understand that federalism is not and should never be misconstrued as secession; rather it should be perceived rightly as an alternative approach to governance.

CJA- Cameroon calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all students of the University of Buea still in detention and all charges brought against them dropped. Members of the security and defense forces who carried out the unacceptable exactions on the students should be identified and brought to justice.

Recommendations

- Mindful of the fact that Cameroon is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations,

- Cognizant of the fact that the Commonwealth works to promote democracy, good governance, accountability and respect for human rights and the rule of law,

- Aware of the fact Cameroon is a signatory to the 1971 Declaration of the Commonwealth Principles and the 1991 Harare Commonwealth Declaration,

CJA- Cameroon recommends as follows;

1) That the government engages into concrete, constructive dialogue devoid of threats of all forms with Anglophone advocacy groups.

2) That all parties go to the negotiating table as partners; no party should patronize the other.

3) That the Head of State, His Excellency President Paul Biya directly address the Anglophone problem as a matter of urgency.
They have been holdings meetings at different levels to prepare ahead of the.

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While waiting for the effective work by the Inter-ministerial Ad hoc Committee to review and propose solutions to the concerns raised by Cameroon Anglophone Teachers Trade Unions, the North West Region has been strategizing to get their points through.



Ever since members of the committee were made public, the different stakeholders have been holding planning meetings to see into it that the committee comes up with lasting solutions. In Bamenda, the meetings have multiplied as members hold different reflections. The executive secretary of the of the Cameroon Teachers Trade union- CATTU, Tassang Wilfred said on Thursday 15 December that ever since the strike started, hardly does a day go by without them having to meet.



With the setting up of the committee by the Director of the Prime Minters Cabinet, Prof Ghogomu Paul Mingo he said they have intensified reflections. He added that; the meetings are to ensure that we go through our papers so as to fine-tune our presentations. We want solutions to our problems. The committee is a good one and we hope that it will bring lasting solutions to the English sub system of education. We are ready to work and prepared to bring sensible proposals, he explained.



On the sidelines, inhabitants in Bamenda are reacting positively towards the creation of the committee, they hold that including PTA presidents as well as denominational representatives is a clear indication that the government has listened to the peoples. From the look of things the people in Bamenda though moody have not forgotten the end of year feast as well as the feast of nativity.



The various markets are full to capacity with queues in almost every shop in town. Bamenda is busy again but not without the presence of the forces of law and order ready to intervene whenever need arises.

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Meeting in Nigeria over the weekend, Heads of State promised to attend his inauguration on January 19, 2016.

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Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, have made their stance known on the deadlock following the disputed results of the December 1, 2016 presidential polls in The Gambia, Thisday newspaper reported yesterday, December 18, 2016.



Rising from a summit meeting in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, Nigeria on December 17, 2016, the Heads of State declared that the recognised winner of the election as announced by the Independent Electoral Commission was opposition leader Adama Barrow; not President Yahya Jammeh.



Some 11 Heads of State attended the summit, while four were represented. Participants requested all 15 leaders of the sub-regional body to be present in Banjul on January 19, 2017, for Barrows inauguration, promising to take charge of his security from henceforth. The Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, urged sub-regional leaders to recommend other long-lasting solutions to the crisis.



Liberias Foreign Affairs Minister and Chairperson, ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Marjon Kamara, said the body had called on President Jammeh to accept the result of the polls and refrain from any action likely to compromise the peaceful transfer of power to the President-elect. He charged Gambian defence and security forces to perform their role in a nationalistic manner and protect lives and property, Thisday said. Meanwhile, Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari is to head a mediatory committee on the Gambian crisis, assisted by President John Mahama of Ghana.



ECOWAS has also solicited the African Union and United Nations to endorse all decisions taken on the crisis in The Gambia, including the provision of technical assistance to the mediation efforts. In neighbouring Senegal, some 150 exiled Gambians on December 17, 2016, staged a protest march calling for the will of the people to be respected, Radio France Internationale, reported.

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| BY Kim Shaw |

Entries to the 2017 AdFest Lotus Awards are open.

2017 is the 20th Anniversary of AdFest and its going to be one not to miss. The theme for the four-day festival is 20 Years of Diversity and Droga5 New Yorks chief creative officer Ted Royer has been named to head the jury.

Jimmy Lam, President of AdFest, says: Its incredible to think that AdFest is celebrating its 20th anniversary next year. In 20 years, we have grown from a tiny festival on the hills of Chiang Mai into one of the best-loved industry events in Asia. The 2017 Lotus Awards will be a celebration of the world-class creativity that is now abundant in our region, and we cant wait to see which agencies are leading our industry into the future.

The theme of 20 Years of Diversity, reflects AdFests passion and celebration of the regions richness and cultural diversity. It is a testament to their commitment to creative excellence for the past 2 decades, and looks forward to the constantly changing landscape ahead in the future.

There are 18 categories to enter. The deadline for categories that are judged remotely is Friday 13th January 2017. These categories are: INNOVA Lotus, Integrated Lotus, Interactive Lotus, Mobile Lotus, Internet Film & Other Film (under Film Lotus), and Radio Lotus (including Lotus Roots in these Lotus categories).

The deadline for all other categories is Friday 20th January 2017.

Vinit Suraphongchai, Chairman of AdFest (pictured right), says: Weve come a long way in 20 years. Weve grown. Weve adapted. And weve emerged as a festival that truly reflects creativity thats Made in Asia. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us along our journey, and we look forward to welcoming you to the 20th AdFest Lotus Awards.

The Lotus Awards gala will conclude next years festival, which runs from Wednesday 22nd to Saturday 25th March at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Pattaya, Thailand.
| BY Ricki Green |

Sydney independent, DDI, has announced two senior appointments Angie Laxton (right) and Stephanie Levy (left), following a year of strong growth.

Laxton, a highly experienced planner, has been promoted to lead strategist at DDI. Laxton joined DDI eighteen months ago as strategist and during that time has proven to be invaluable in helping clients discover that mysterious point where creativity and business reality meet, and the wonderful things that can happen when they do.

Originally a suit who moved into strategy, Laxton has spent over 15 years at agencies like BWM, Clemenger BBDO, JWT and Leo Burnett working on brands including Diageo, Kelloggs and Adidas, and has also experienced life on the other side of the fence at Blackmores.

In her new position Laxton will head up the strategy team at DDI working directly with Caroline McLaughlin (managing director) and Chris DArbon (creative director).

Says McLaughlin: Angie has a way of seeing what no one else can see and making it seem so simple. That incisiveness is the gift of a truly great planner, and were delighted to have her inimitable firepower at the helm of our strategy team here at DDI.

Says Laxton: Its easy to over complicate strategy and underestimate intuition. DDI is a place where solid thinking can lead anywhere without being inhibited or overburdened.

In a further move at the agency, Levy has joined as client partner. Levy started her career in Sydney at Nielsen working in the grocery retail team helping clients understand their customers behaviour. In 2005 she moved to London and joined customer experience firm, dunnhumby (the team in charge of the Tesco Clubcard). In 2008, a move to Abu Dhabi saw her work in a multitude of roles including manager of loyalty operations at Etihad Airways, research and planning manager at Edelman and account director at Place Communications, a boutique communications and PR firm within the property sector.

After moving back to her hometown of Sydney in 2016, Levy commenced working at DDI.

Says McLaughlin about Levys appointment: We knew the minute we met Steph that she would be a great addition to our collective. She is one of those infectious people whose energy everyone wants to be around. Equally, shes a consummate professional with global experience thats a little outside the box for an ad agency including PR, research and a client-side role  exactly the richness we love here at DDI.
| BY Ricki Green |

Australian pet supplies retailer Petbarn has appointed Vizeum as its national media agency.

Vizeum, which is underpinned by the buying power and resource of Dentsu Aegis Network, will be responsible for delivering a strong media strategy linking social, mobile, offline and online, generating emotions and trust, and building powerful connections between Petbarn and its diverse audience of Australian pet owners.

Says Anne Brown, general manager, retail marketing, Petbarn: The Petbarn business has evolved rapidly in the last five years and grown to a network of over 165 retail stores. In line with our growth, we felt it was an appropriate time to seek a fresh vision for our media strategy and believe Vizeum is an ideal partner for our business.

We look forward to continuing our growth and working with Vizuem to help bring the Petbarn brand and our ethos of bringing happiness to more pet owners across the country.

Says Travis Day, managing director, Vizeum: From the outset it was evident that Petbarn is a very future facing organisation. It is a business with a clear vision, a compelling business strategy and an enviable first party data set at their disposal.
| BY Ricki Green |

To raise awareness of preventable backyard drowning incidents for Royal Life Saving Australia, 303 MullenLowe has partnered with Matt Preston to host a mock internet content program The Worlds Most Costly.

It opens innocently with Preston suited and smiling, but goes on to reveal a shocking statistic: 14 children drowned in Australian backyard swimming pools last summer  most often due to everyday distractions like going inside to check the oven, answering the door, taking a phone call or simply going to the bathroom.

Says Richard Morgan, ECD, 303 MullenLowe: Given the importance of the message, we knew we needed to take a multi-disciplinary approach to this campaign. The most costly meme is a classic piece of clickable internet content, in this case made highly relevant by landing what the true cost of a seemingly simple item could be. Partnering with Matt Preston, a father himself and one of Australias most famous chefs and television personalities to present our message, means we can grab peoples attention as they scroll through their news feeds, before educating them in a different way.

According to the Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2016, 83 children died in private swimming pools between 2002-2015, with children under five years old most at risk.

Royal Life Saving NSW operations manager Michael Ilinsky said the recent tragedies resulting in a 22 month-old drowning and a two year old lifted to hospital, have again highlighted the urgency of this message.

Says Ilinsky: A supervised child doesnt drown. Its common at this time of year to have family gatherings and backyard BBQs with friends, which brings with it all sorts of distractions. We hope this campaign will make parents aware its these seemingly innocuous distractions that have led to so many deaths in the last decade, meaning active supervision is critical and 303 MullenLowes campaign highlights this very effectively.

NSW minister for local government Paul Toole said the Government had recently more than doubled its financial support for Royal Life Savings campaign. This summers campaign will work in collaboration with the NSW Ambulance and The Childrens Hospital at Westmead. Their stories are told in a series of interviews that can be watched here.

303 MullenLowes in-house PR division has been working closely with Royal Life Saving Australia to maximise the campaigns reach through parenting media, bloggers and key influencer outreach, while the agencys media buying and social strategy teams are driving exposure through paid media placements and social platforms.

The Worlds Most Costly campaign is part of Royal Life Savings Keep Watch program.

Campaign: #KeepWatch

Client: Royal Life Saving  Australia

Agency: 303 MullenLowe

ECD: Richard Morgan

Copywriter: Harry Standford

Art Director: Nick Plomp

Business Director: Felix Curry

Director of PR: Melissa Grove

Director of Content: Lenni Andronicos

Digital Design Director: Alex Beech

Managing Partner & Client Services Director: Tony Dunseath

Managing Partner, Digital & Innovation: Brad Morris

Production Company: Hecktown Pty Ltd

Editor: Mark Parry

Director/Producer: Adam Blaiklock
| BY Lynchy |

Carat Taiwan has promoted Y.C. Chu to Vice Chairman and current General Manager, Joanne Liu, to Managing Director. Y.C. Chu will provide operational and strategic guidance while Liu will assume responsibility for driving integrated services and long-term business development.

Chu (pictured right) has over 30 years experience in the advertising and media industry and has been with Carat Taiwan for over a decade, joining in 2002. With extensive experience and influence, he established an operating system, trained talent, and facilitated the collaboration between Carat Taiwan with the industry and schools, leading the company to position itself as a market pioneer.

Liu (pictured centre) has over 20 years experience in the industry. Since joining Carat Taiwan in 2002, she was promoted to General Manager in 2012 and received the honor of Outstanding Ad Personnel of The Year in 2015. In a continuously digitalizing landscape amidst market decline, Carat remains a growing business, demonstrating Lius ability and leadership as an important contributor to the companys success.

Isao Miyauchi, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Taiwan (above left), said, Having only lived in Taiwan for almost a year, I have since recognized Carat Taiwans competent leadership within this short period. The experienced team will not only provide clients with quality services, but will also build cohesion amongst all staff. I view the promotions as a well-deserved, natural progression  a wonderful succession plan which will bring Carat to a brighter future.

Chu said, Joanne has shown that she is nothing but the best during her time in Carat. As we work together to lead the brand, she has always shown positivity and prioritizes her clients needs. She really cares about her employees, and I am confident that she can lead Carat forward. I will do my best to provide her with guidance, helping clients and Carat to achieve greater success.
Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 10:09PM

Google switches things up with its Google Keyboard app on Android. Now called Gboard, the app brings with it built-in Google search and easy multilingual typing. Voice and Glide typing is still present on Gboard but with improvements. Google search is within reach on your keyboard now, so when you want to look something up while chatting with someone, just tap on the G icon and start searching. Multilingual typing doesnt need you manually switching languages this time. Itll just let you keep typing what you want. There is now also auto-correct for other supported languages (which Google touts as over 100).

Aside from these changes, Google also lets you search for emojis and GIFs with the keyboard app. You just need to type in the emoji or GIF youre looking for and the suggestions will show up. However, GIF sharing is currently only available on Google Messenger, Allo, and Hangouts.
Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 8:44PM

The LEGO Batman Movie promos have always been amusing to us. Now, The movies Twitter account shows us how The Caped Crusader celebrates the holidays. It looks to be a bit dark and mildly seductive if we take into account Will Arnetts scruffy voice for Batman. What we get from the short clip is Arnetts Batman in a red robe showing his LEGO chest and reading us the end of the holiday classic The Night Before Christmas and ending it with Happy Holidays to all, and to all a dark knight. What we would give to see and hear the entire tale told to us by this Dark Knight.

Theres nothing like celebrating the holidays with your butler and over-enthusiastic sidekick. #LEGOBatmanMovie pic.twitter.com/dgxzPBpD58  LEGO Batman (@LEGOBatmanMovie) December 15, 2016

Source: io9
Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 7:54PM

Theres a report coming from Ubergizmo that claims we havent seen the last Project Tango device from Lenovo. This Google Project introduced around two years ago makes use of special sensors embedded into mobile devices to map out 3D spaces for augmented reality purposes. Lenovo first introduced a Project Tango-enabled device called the Phab 2 Pro. And it seems that isnt the last weve seen from Lenovo. According to Jeff Merideth, general manager of Android and Chrome at Lenovo, the company plans to launch new Project Tango devices next year. That would put Lenovo ahead of other manufacturers, since this will already be a second-generation device and other makers have yet to introduce their first version.

At the moment, there are only a few dozen apps available that take advantage of the depth-sensing capabilities of Project Tango. But perhaps with more devices coming out, we hope to see more apps.
"My partner is quite a meat head as well so we were going backwards and forwards to Sydney and going to different suppliers and we thought, 'why don't we try and do this as a business and give everyone access to the sort of meat the top restaurants are selling?' That was the philosophy behind it."
The main public sector union, the CPSU, says the government is trying to "starve" its public servants out by freezing their wages until they agree to accept the deals that are on offer and the latest round of no votes represents a failure of the strategy.
Sinclair take the reins on 1 January 2017 and will be responsible for strategy, financial performance and reputation at C&W Caribbean. He will also be tasked with driving new growth opportunities for the company, especially in the convergence of mobile data and fixed-mobile convergence, and triple play services.

Sinclair was previously head of investment bank Dehring Bunting & Golding, and has more than 20 years experiencing developing growth for businesses across the Caribbean.

His most recent role was as CEO of Cable & Wireless Jamaica, where he has spent seven years in which its mobile subscriber base has grown from 200,000 to almost one million.

I am honoured to lead our Caribbean business into the next chapter of its development, Sinclair said. I look forward to working with our 3,300 employees across the region as we look to seize the opportunity to develop our products and services, continue the transformation of our operations, and lead the region in innovation and quality of customer experience.

He will continue to oversee C&Ws Jamaica business until the operator appoints a replacement in the New Year.

He will report directly to C&W CEO John Reid, who himself was confirmed as permanent CEO in November. Reid had been interim CEO since May 2016, when Liberty Communications completed its $17.6 billion buyout of the operator.

Reid said: "Our business is entering a new phase of its development and evolution, and I am excited about the expertise, experience and passion for customers that Garry brings to what is a critical role."
According to reports from Italy, the so-far unnamed merged operation will give ZTE a contract to replace existing network equipment with a single 4G network.

The merger, which was completed in November, has created a new company that is a 50-50 joint venture owned by VimpelCom and CK Hutchison.

No deal has yet been signed, according to reports from Corriere Comunicazioni and the Reuters news agency. Corriere Comunicazioni suggested the ZTE deal could be worth from 800 million to 1 billion. Reuters said around 1 billion.



The merger, valued at 7.9 billion, received final regulatory approval in October. The new company is set to become potentially the largest mobile operator in Italy, with a market share of 36%, slightly above TIMs 35%. Vodafone has 29%. In the fixed market, Wind/Three will be in second place to the dominant TIM, which has 50%. The new company will have 16%, with Swisscoms Fastweb at 15% and Vodafone at 13%.

In order to secure approval for the merger Three and Wind agreed to sell spectrum and mast access toFrench company Iliad for 450 million so that it could set up a new fourth mobile operator.

Wind, owned by VimpelCom, currently uses Huawei, Nokia and Ericsson mobile equipment. Three, owned by CK Hutchison, is an Ericsson user.
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 ...
Mediterranean Shipping Co.s 13,092-TEU containership MSC Regulus collided with the Ecuadorian fishing vessel Don Gerardo II early Saturday morning, reportedly killing at least five people and injuring a dozen more.



A Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) containership collided with an Ecuadorian fishing vessel in international waters off the coast of Peru early Saturday morning, according to a statement from MSC.

The 13,092-TEU MSC Regulus collided with the Don Gerardo II at 5:02 a.m. local time about 220 miles from Zorritos-Tumbes in northwest Peru while en route from the port of Callao to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico.

According to the Peruvian Navy, Marina de Guerra del Peru (MGP), the fishing boat capsized and sank, killing at least five people and injuring a dozen more.

MSC said it immediately alerted the relevant authorities in both Ecuador and Peru at the time of the incident, and initiated search and rescue procedures, bringing any wounded on board the ship for medical treatment.

MGP said it has opened an investigation into the cause of the collision in coordination with Panamanian authorities, and MSC said it would cooperate fully with any inquiries.

Our first priority is to understand the circumstances which led to this tragic incident, the ocean carrier said.

As a family-run company, MSC is deeply shocked and saddened by the deaths and injuries that have occurred in connection with this tragic incident, it added. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the fishermens families and their loved ones.

The MSC Regulus serves on the carriers joint Asia-West Coast South America and Mexico Andes Express/NEWACSA2 loop with CMA CGM, HMM and COSCO, on which Hamburg Sud, Hapag-Lloyd and subsidiary lines Alianca, ANL and CCNI also purchase slots, according to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting.

The Andes Express/NEWACSA2 operates with 12 vessels with an average capacity of 11,632 TEUs and a full port rotation of Busan, Shanghai, Xiamen, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Busan, Manzanillo (Mexico), Lazaro Cardenas, Balboa, Buenaventura, Callao, San Antonio, Coronel, Lirquen, Mejillones, Callao, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo (Mexico) and Busan.
Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front row taxi ridesymbolic of the shows content as a fun ride that takes audiences from point A to point B. Gabina VOAs main goal is Enlightening young people, introducing them to cutting-edge technological innovations, exposing them to new processes and ideas so they can be productive, informed and self-governing citizens.
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.
Liu Qibao, head of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department delivers a speech at a release ceremony for the Nepali edition of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "The Governance of China" in Kathmandu, Nepal, December 18, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

KATHMANDU -- The Nepali edition of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "The Governance of China" has been released on Sunday in Nepal's capital city Kathmandu.The highly-acclaimed book was released by Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Liu Qibao, the visiting member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department at the Presidential House Sheetal Niwas.The book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China contains 79 speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the Chinese leader between November 2012 to June 2014.Releasing the book, Nepali President expressed belief that this book will help Nepali readers to better understand China and its development, foreign policies and social system."This book informs about the ruling system of China, dreams of Chinese leaders and deepens our world understanding. These sorts of publications help us to understand China from closer and boost our cultural relations," President Bhandari said in her speech.Speaking highly of Xi as a visionary and committed leader for China's progress and prosperity, the Nepali President said that it's a matter of happiness to have a trustworthy friend like China, which has been supporting Nepal in its every development endeavor.Distribution of the book, published in Chinese, English, French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Japanese in September 2014, has exceeded 5.2 million copies in some 100 countries and regions, according to the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration (CFLPA).The latest Nepali edition is published by China Study Center (CSC), an organization based in Nepal to promote Nepal-China relations with a focus on academic and multi-dimensional policy dialogue level.Madan Regmi, Chairman at China Study Center told Xinhua, "The book is a perfect medium for Nepali people and especially for policy makers to understand today's China correctly and learn from it. It has clearly embodied Chinese vision, strategy of governance and rule of law and its future roadmap that can be quite encouraging for a neighboring country like ours."He was of view that Nepali leaders should learn China's development and reforms and try to implement similar at home. He further expressed confidence that the first Nepali edition of the book will hit the bookstores since it's an essential reading for all."The book shows a clear way how China's friends could be integrated with China's amazing development, reform and modernization. It analyses factors and relationships that promote national capability and the challenges the state leadership face and must accept in today's world", Dr Upendra Gautam, General Secretary at China Study Center told Xinhua.Dr Gautam, also one of the team members of publication, shared that it took nearly one year to complete the translation, editing and quality assurance works of the Nepali edition.The translation and publication work was held in close collaboration with the Embassy of China in Nepal, the State Council Information Office of China, CFLPA and the Information Office of People's Government of Yunnan Province of China.According to a Chinese book store in Kathmandu, nearly 500 English copies were sold alone in a short instant of time. The book has been highly appreciated by the intellectuals, scholars, journalists and diplomats in the Himalayan nation.Prem Kumari Pant, editor of a local newspaper The Weekly Mirror shared with Xinhua, "It is a comprehensive piece about China, its development and its presence in the world. It can be taken as a guideline for the policy reforms."
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.
In a gory incident in Kottayam, Kerala, a first year student of the Government Polytechnic College has been injured internally after eight senior students ragged him in a cruel manner. He was hospitalised with kidney damage and underway treatment, police said on Sunday.

According to police officials, the student has been diagnosed with kidney damage after he got admitted to a hospital in Thrissur. Doctors have recommended dialysis for his kidney injury.

The victim was subjected to injury when the accused allegedly forced him to drink liquor mixed with some harmful powder. The victim was reportedly subjected to six hours of brutal ragging which included hard physical exercises like push-ups.

However the eight accused students from the institute at Nattakom in the district are missing after police booked them for allegedly ragging their juniors in the hostel. Five out of the eight accused have surrendered, while the police is on the lookout for the remaining.

Early this month, the accused were booked for ragging first year pupils in the hostel attached to the polytechnic. The institution has suspended them.

The victim underwent dialysis three times after his admission in the hospital ten days ago, police said. Police in Chingavanam in the district is looking into the case.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy paid visit to the student at the hospital in Thrissur. Chandy has asked the government to sponsor money for the expenses incurred during the student's treatment.

Also, in two separate complaints lodged with police, two students, including the one currently undergoing treatment at the Thrissur hospital, had alleged that they were subjected to brutal ragging by their seniors at the institute.

The other student is admitted to a private hospital in Eranakulam, police said. It is to be noted that the accused in both the incidents are members of the same group. Two cases have been registered against them, police said, adding that investigation is underway. Meanwhile, the state human rights commission has sought a report from the education department on the alleged ragging incident.

Educational institutions must show zero tolerance for ragging
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Who Is Shannon Bream Of Fox News? Her Husband, Children & Net Worth Shannon Bream who hosts the iconic primetime program started her journalism career in the late 1990s debuting as the evening and late-night news reporter for the CBS affiliate, WBTV. The beauty from America currently works for the Fox News Channel and she is best known for anchoring the primetime program. She also hosts Americas News ...

Is Troye Sivan Gay, Who Is His Boyfriend and What Is His Net Worth? Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and songwriter best known for songs like Happy Little Pill, Youth, Heaven (with Betty Who) and The Boyfriend Tag (with Tyler Oakley) which have all garnered him different awards and ranked on the Billboard Charts. Sivan, who was born in South Africa but now resides in the United States, is ...

Did iDubbbz Have Cancer, Is He Gay and Who Is His Girlfriend Now? iDubbbz is one YouTuber who has made a career out of courting controversy. Renowned for his absurdist channels and comedy video series, the Los Angeles based personality is the owner of two channels, iDubbzTV, and iDubbzTV2, as well as the brains behind comedy video series such as Content Cop, Kickstarter Crap, Gaming News Crap, and ...

Inside Greg Gutfelds Love Story With Wife Elena Moussa and Why Fans Thought He Was Gay Greg Gutfeld is a seasoned American television producer whose career in the media industry has spanned over a decade. He is a man of many talents who makes extra income through comedy, journalism, and editorial works. Gutfeld regularly appears on Fox News Channel as a panellist and co-host of the political talk show The Five ...

Works That Made Bo Burnham A Household Name and How Much He Is Worth Now One of YouTubes first viral stars and the worlds most exciting young comedian, Bo Burnham, has always amazed critics and comedy aficionados alike. Often regarded as the Justin Bieber of comedy, thanks to his fresh looks, floppy blond hair and hoodies, he has a multi-faceted career bigger than many comedians twice his age. It wouldnt ...

Is Louie Anderson Gay And What Is His Net Worth? Louie Anderson has one of the most abstract faces in the industry and equally knows how to use it to his advantage. He is not only a stand-up comedian but also an actor and television host who is known for his distinctive comic wits. Some of his notable projects include Family Feud, where he was ...

Is Don Lemon of CNN Gay, Who is His Partner and What Is His Salary? Don Lemon has risen to become one of the most recognizable faces on CNN over the past few years. The fiery journalist, who anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, is liked and somewhat disliked for his strong and candid opinions on a variety of matters that do not just include politics but also race, significantly, matters that ...

Is Rachel Maddow Gay, Who is the Wife and How Much Does She Earn in Salary? Rachel Maddow is an award-winning American journalist, political commentator, and television news anchor. She is best known for hosting the popular nightly TV show The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Prior to this, she hosted a talk radio program on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. As of now, the TV sensation co-anchors MSNBCs ...

Demystifying Pokimane  Her Real Name, Ethnicity & Boyfriend Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Pokimane Thicc is one of those stars who took advantage of the internet to make a name for herself. Given the unlimited potentials which the social media space offers, many people have been instantly propelled to fame just by posting creative online contents. Not only has ...

A Breakdown of Kris Jenners Net Worth, Sources Of Income and Relationships Over The Years Standing outside and looking in, Kris Jenner looks like the oil that greases the wheels of the entire Kardashian/Jenner machine. She has been dubbed a momager and rightfully so because she seems to have had a part to play in the trajectory of each and every one of her daughters individually and the Kardashian brand ...

Pursuits That Brought Liza Koshys Fame To its Zenith and Her Love Life Since David Dobrik Liza Koshy is an American actress who has leveraged YouTube as a platform to promote her comedy while also serving as a television host on occasions. She is talented and funny and has gathered a lot of fans from around the world. Koshy started on Vine in high school and was able to get millions of ...

Alex Aiono Biography  Inside The Life Of The American Singer Not everyone who started from the streets has attained the heights where Alex Aiono is currently. His story could be referred to as the perfect definition of rising from Grass to Grace. He came into the limelight after he started out as a YouTuber, singer, and producer. One fascinating thing about the young YouTuber is ...

Virginia Vallejo Biography And Her Love Story With Pablo Escobar Virginia Vallejo can be referred to as one of the oldest whistleblowers in history after her involvement with Pablo Escobar which made her famous. Over the years, many questions have been raised about her relationship with the drug lord and why she endangered her life to be with him despite his notorious acts. The death ...

Princess Love Bio  Ethnicity, Real Name & Parents For many people, Princess Love is simply Ray Js wife but there is so much more to this feisty lady than meets the eye. She is a star in her own right and has many feathers on her cap. Princess Love is a reality TV star, a model, video vixen, and fashion designer. She and her ...

Who is Papa Franku Also Known As Filthy Frank or Joji, Where is He Now? The social media as we all know today has given people the opportunity to be creative and innovative and at the same time, make something of themselves. YouTube is one of the known social platforms we have today that makes it possible for people to express their God-given talents and post videos they created to ...

Who Is Molly Qerim, How Did She Become a Famous Sports Anchor and Who Is Her Husband? Molly Qerim is an American sports anchor popularly known for moderating First Take, a highly rated sports talk show, on ESPN. Prior to joining ESPN, Qerim hosted Fantasy Live and NFL AM on NFL Network. It is quite obvious that the widely acclaimed television personality is in a class of her own when it comes ...

Safiya Nygaard  Height, Parents & Net Worth Safiya Nygaard is an American YouTuber, writer, content producer, and director who is popular for posting makeup, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. Her videos regularly top at least one million views, thanks to her lively character as well as her willingness to experiment with outrageous outfits and different beauty products. Here are the things to ...

The Rigors of Sunlen Serfatys Career Journey Until CNN and Fun Facts About Her Personal Life CNN correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty is an Emmy Award-winning journalist known for covering a broad range of breaking news stories, national news, and Washington politics. She has been able to garner widespread recognition for herself which even goes beyond the sphere of her work. Her profile also increased with the extensive work she did in covering ...

Demystifying Jazz Jennings Real Name, Boyfriend & Family Of One The Youngest Transgenders Jazz Jennings is an unusual personality who became famous as a transgender activist and was recorded as the youngest documented public figure to be seen as transgender. She is also a YouTube personality and spokesmodel for brands, her fans, and other transgenders. She fought for acceptance in her high school with her super supportive family for over ...

Inside Fred Armisens Life  Ethnicity, Romantic Relationships and Gay Rumors Fred Armisen is an award-winning American comedian, he is also a writer, an actor as well as a musician. He was a cast member of the legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live for 13 years and also one of the brains behind the successful satirical show Portlandia. Find out more about this incredibly talented guy ...

Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography: Cases, Kids, and Family Life Have you ever woken up with fear you could not explain, or felt a strange presence that made the hair at your nape rise or even experienced strange occurrences around you? Well, these were some of the promptings that made the well-known paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren delve into trying to explain the ideas ...

Truth About Tony Romos Wife, Kids and Life Since His NFL Retirement Tony Romo grew from the field as a quarterback to the screens as an American Football Analyst. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the richest football league in the world (NFL) before retiring. As a junior, he was honored as an All-Ohio Conference Member, an Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and ...

Who is Brittany Venti, The Controversial Game Streamer and YouTuber? In recent times, many people live stream themselves playing video games. This has become a popular pastime on the internet and many highly skilled gamers have become internet celebrities through this means. However, some of them rather than becoming renowned for their gaming skills and great commentary, have become controversial and infamous. A good example ...

Rob Dyrdeks Family: His Kids And Relationship With Wife Bryiana Noelle Flores A multi-talented star and an elite pro skateboarder, Rob Dyrdeks success story began at a remarkably young age. Yet another proof that schooling doesnt always correlate with success, Rob has established himself not just as a phenomenal sportsman but also as a successful entrepreneur. Besides perfecting his skill as a natural talent on the board, ...

xChocobars  Biography and Everything You Should Know About Her Having distinguished herself and recorded massive successes in an industry notably dominated by men, it is very safe to say that Xchocobars deserves all the attention and cash she makes from her career. A household name on Twitch (a smart live streaming video platform), the online-gamer is popularly known for streaming classic games such as Stardew ...

Everything To Know About Mary Padian, Her Boyfriend and Net Worth Mary Padian is a famous American television reality personality best known for her involvements on the Reality show Storage Wars. She also has her own shop called Mary finds where she displays her antique collections. Since her childhood, Padian has been a creative learner. At the time, she used to create new items out of reusable ones and ...

Betsy Woodruffs Family Life: Is She Married or Related To Bob Woodruff? An old name in the world of journalism, Betsy Woodruff has warmed her way into the hearts of many with her impressive talents. Through hard work, Woodruff has carved a niche for herself in a very competitive field. Betsy has strong family and work values and is also an advocate for equal opportunities for everyone ...

Matpat (Matthew Patrick)  Wife, Height & Net Worth As far as internet business is concerned, Matpat remains one of the most dynamic and seasoned figures. He boasts a wealth of experience that has helped him in growing his business from one level of greatness to another. Like most successful people, MatPat started out small but today, he makes millions of dollars from his ...

Facts About Ricegum  His Girlfriend, Real Name & Net Worth Ricegum is an online gamer and YouTube sensation who ditched college; took advantage of the digital era, and made a name for himself on the internet. Though he began as a gaming YouTuber, Ricegum soon gained recognition as a controversial internet star following his many diss tracks. Here is everything you need to know about the youngster ...

Joy Taylor Once Married MLBs Richard Giannotti  Inside Look At Her Love Life and Family The erosion of the sexist idea that women have no business in sports broadcasting created a host of women celebrities who attained fame outside of modeling and acting. One of them, Joy Taylor, a radio personality and TV host for Fox Sports 1, has been in the industry since 2009, becoming one of the most ...

What To Know About Conan OBriens Wife, Kids & Family Today The name Conan OBrien is one that jumps right at you almost immediately you start talking about the most popular television hosts in the USA and this is no surprise because the man behind that name has risen to become one of the most admired men in the business. Known for hosting the late-night talk ...

David Letterman  Net Worth, Wife & Son In all of American, one man whose face has been seen frequently by late night TV talk show lovers is none but David Letterman. The comedian and TV show veteran has been hosting late night talk shows for more than three decades. His Late Night with David Letterman show began on February 1st, 1982 aired ...

Demystifying Sssniperwolfs Family Background And The Boyfriends Shes Had Since she launched her eponymously named channel in 2013, Sssniperwolf has been on the rise when it comes to video game influencers. She is one of the biggest names in the online gaming subgenre of YouTube videos. Real name Lia Shelesh, she started with Call of Duty: Black Ops II but has diversified with other ...

Lester Holt  Wife, Family & Net Worth Lester Holt is a multiple award-winning journalist, newscaster, reporter, and actor who has worked for notable media houses like WCBS TV, CBS, MSNBC and among others. His remarkable feat in journalism has endeared him to the hearts of many and earned him some awards and recognitions. Read on to get acquainted with his biography, ethnicity, ...

What Is Louis C.K. Doing Now, Where Are His Family And How Much Is His Net Worth? It is not easy to make it in comedy. It takes more than a funny bone and the ability to elicit a few giggles from a listening audience. For all the complexities that go into making a successful career in comedy, Louis C.K, the Washington D.C-born comedian, did it. For years, he was at the ...

The Progression of Hoda Kotbs Career, Her Ancestry and Family Life Hoda Kotb gained fame as a television host and news anchor for NBC. She anchors the shows signature show Today, and it has been an excellent vehicle for her skills in front of a camera. Kotb has won several awards, including Daytime Emmys and Peabody Awards. Simply put, she is one of the most successful ...

Jerry Seinfelds Family: All About The Amazing Comedians Wife and Kids Apparently one of the highly important entertainers in America, Jerry Seinfeld is a man of many talents. A very funny man, he is considered to be one of the most successful comedians in the USA who has been in the business as a professional rib-cracker for more than 40 years. As an actor, he has ...

The Rigors Of Sarah Silvermans Rise To Prominence And Rundown Of The Men She Has Dated A comedian, writer, and actress, Sarah Silvermans art and craft is as unique as you would ever find. Her poignant use of comedy to discuss social issues such as race, sexism, politics, and religion has gained her an impressive following. As unorthodox as her style is, so is her life experiences. She previously suffered from epiglottitis ...

Who Is Hannibal Buress, Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend & Why Was He Arrested? Making people laugh when they are tense or not in the mood is a tough order and to ply the trade, it must indeed take some guts and expertise, this is what the humor maker, Hannibal Buress has been able to achieve and sustain after his inital teething process. The African-American is a screen writer, stand-up ...

The Success of John Mulaneys Career Efforts Since His Work On Saturday Night Live and Facts About His Wife John Mulaney had been working as a professional comedian for years before Saturday Night Live changed his status for life and like many who are now his fans, you probably did not know of him then. However, that changed when he joined the sketch comedy show in 2008. Since then, he has been one of ...

Jeff Dunham  Wife, Children and Net Worth Ventriloquism is a very subtle method of making an inanimate object (like a puppet, doll or dummy) appear to be saying words which are actually coming from the person (holding the inanimate object). In effect, the individual throws his/her voice to the puppet and can even appear to be having a conversation with it. Not ...

Ellen DeGeneres  Net Worth, Wife  Portia de Rossi & Parents Ellen DeGeneres is an American female standup comedian who has proven that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do. Since her journey as a standup comedian started in 1981, she has held swirl as one of the finest comedians America and the world at large has seen. She is often referred to ...

Revisiting Joan Rivers Death  The Daughter, Husband & Net Worth She Left Behind Joan Rivers was a renowned American comedian, TV host, writer, and actress. Her brand of comedy consisted of scathing one-liners and no individual or topic is spared. She hosted her own talk shows in the 80s and 90s and was a pioneer for women in stand up comedy. She was the first woman to host a late night ...

The Struggles of Margaret Chos Childhood, How It Influenced Her Career Growth and Love Life Margaret Cho is best described as a comic star who knows how to maneuver everything related to life into a rib-cracking joke. She is also known to criticize every social and political problem, especially those involving race and sexuality. Apart from her talents as a comic actress, she does amazingly well as a singer and ...

Where Is Eric Bolling Today? Who Is His Son & What Is His Net Worth? Eric Bolling who was once a notable figure on Fox News, is an American TV personality, an author, and versatile Journalist. As a political and financial analyst/commentator, he anchored discussions bothering on finance for Fox Business Channel. Here is everything there is to know about his career, family, and allegations that led to his exit ...

Who Is Chelsea Handler and Does She Have A Husband or Boyfriend? Chelsea Handler is one of Americas top female comedians. She is also an actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist. She is known to be very outspoken even with things that are very personal. In separate interviews with The New York Times, Handler revealed that she had an abortion twice when she was 16. She has authored five books ...

How Did Laura Lee Achieve Fame, How Much is She Worth and Who is Her Husband? Laura Lee is a popular American YouTuber, make-up artist and beauty blogger. From posting videos of her makeup routines on Instagram, Lee has transformed into a beauty influencer and a YouTube sensation. Today, her YouTube Channel has over 630 million views and 4.5 million subscribers. Asides having millions of followers across all social media platforms, ...

Madison Gesiotto Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Measurements Madison Gesiotto is no ordinary woman; although she excelled in quite a number of pageants and competitions while she was in school, it is her views on politics and issues in America that has made her name known to most people. She possesses beauty and intelligence in a seemingly equal measure and has been able ...

Who Is Lil Tay? Parents, Brother, Sister, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity Child stardom is nothing new in the entertainment world. With the advent of social media, we have seen more stars made from the internet than ever before, and Lil Tay is one of them. Her uploaded rap videos trademark is cursing, swearing, cash-throwing, and use of obscene languages. Her fame went wild after she dropped ...

What To Know About Tig Notaros Wife, Kids and Family Today Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comic star, writer, actress, and radio analyst. Since she started her career in 2001, she has become one of Americas best comedians, particularly when it comes to observational comedy. One prominent aspect of her routine involves her family, which includes a wife and two children. Interestingly, Tig Notaro is part ...

Who Is Chantel Jeffries? What To Know About Her Age, Ethnicity & Net Worth Chantel Jeffries is a lady of many talents. Beyond being celebrated as a DJ, she has fared well as a model, an actress, musician, and as an artist. She first rose to fame on Instagram where she has a large following. However, in recent times, she has hit the spotlight for her rumored relationships with some ...

Is Ellen DeGeneres Married, Who Is The Brother  Vance DeGeneres and Family Members? Ellen DeGeneres is one of a kind celebrity in todays world as she has used her wealth for the greater good for many people. She has served a host of famous awards shows like the Grammy, Primetime Emmy and Academy Awards. Moreso, she is probably one of the most decorated entertainment personalities around the world and ...

Carli Bybel Bio  Height, Boyfriend & Net Worth Video blogging is now on the rise and YouTube is the place where most of it happens. If you are a lady who cares about her looks or a guy who likes to help his woman out with her looks, then one person whose name rings a bell when it comes to giving beauty tips ...

Who Is Lexy Panterra? What To Know About Her Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth Lexy Panterra is one of the YouTube personalities whose breakout came through the Twerk dance videos she posted on her social media handles and YouTube which has so far generated over 13 million views for her. From there on, she created her LexTwerkOut workout program in 2014. She is sure very talented as she as moved ...

Who Is AnneMunition? What Is Her Ethnicity & Does She Have A Girlfriend or Boyfriend? AnneMunition is a professional gamer and content creator of American origin. She is one of the most sought-after streamers on Twitch  a popular online platform for watching and streaming videos, especially video games. AnneMunition has almost half a million followers on Twitch and her channel has accumulated at least 13 million views. Her favorite games ...

Norm MacDonald  Former Wife, Son & Net Worth Recently, 59-year-old former Saturday Night Live stand-up comic Norm MacDonald caused a not-so-funny stir when he expressed his personal opinion about the #MeToo movement speaking in defense of Louis CK and Roseanne Barr. Following the backlash of his actions, he is diligently doing damage control for his questionable opinion by posting a public apology on ...

Inside Iliza Shlesingers Life With Husband and How Much She is Worth Now Witty, spontaneous, and truly humorous, Iliza Shlesinger is an American comedian who is clearly proving that the stereotypical claim that women are not really funny is not only incredibly wrong but completely outrageous. Having been in the game for more than 10 years, Shlesinger has grown bigger with each step, stunning fans with her incredible ...

Who Is Nessa Diab? Details of her Parents, Ethnicity & Relationship With Colin Kaepernick Nessa Diab has gained more fame as the girlfriend of different footballers than in her career. She is currently with the popular National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, and has stood by his side during his most trying times. Also known for her mononym, Nessa, she recently engaged in a tweet battle with the ...

Samantha Bee  Inside the Life of Full Frontal Comedian and Presenter We have over the decades seen various brands of humor and personalities who have walked the ropes. One of the formidable forces in the world of comedy is no other than the iconic Samantha Bee of the Daily Show who now runs her own television show on TBS channel. She is a Canadian-American political commentator, ...

What Happened To Jessica Williamss Boyfriend And Which Are Her Best Works? Jessica Williams is a woman who has a lot of feathers in her cap  and keeps acquiring more. The former senior political correspondent of the comic Daily Show, who is also a comedian and actress whose recent movie appearance include starring as a playwright just recovering from a recent split with her boyfriend, Damon, and ...

Who is Nicole Byer? Here are 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Comedian Nicole Byer, an American comedian, actress, and writer, made a name for herself after she played supporting roles on MTVs prank show Ladylike and the reality show Girl Code. The latter was a series that featured comedians who analyzed in minute details, all the issues that young women deal with daily, from period to dating, to weird friendship dynamics and questions about sex. Currently, ...

A Closer Look At Bart Kwans Ethnicity, Height & Personal Life Bart Kwan is one of few Asians who is known for being successful in the comic industry at an international level. His fame broke out after the YouTube channel which he created with his close pal Joe Jo garnered up massive followings. The talented duo has been running the channel since 2007 and their success ...

Heres How VanossGaming Achieved Fame Online, His Worth and Other Facts About The Gamer For many years, the decision to drop out of college to pursue an online career was considered to be foolish and self-destructive by conventional wisdom. It was no different when Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, dropped out of college to pursue a YouTube career. However, that radical move paid off, and he stands shoulder to ...

Desi Perkins  Ethnicity, Net Worth & Husband YouTube is littered with videos of makeup tutorials by different people but if you are interested in learning how to do your makeup like a pro, there is just one person on that platform who you must follow. She is none other than Desi Perkins! She is a popular make-up artist, Instagram star, and vlogger. Desi, ...

The Phases of Casey Neistats Pursuits and His Love Story With Candice Pool YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and creator extraordinaire; these are just a few hats that Casey Neistat wears and the story of how he got here is incredible. A native of Connecticut, Neistat started out by making refreshingly-authentic short films and videos that featured content that was based on everyday life and called attention to serious issues. He ...

Connor Franta  Inside The Life of American YouTuber YouTube has produced a lot of young celebrities in modern times and Connor Franta happens to be one of them. Apart from being a YouTuber, the young American is also an entrepreneur, entertainer, and writer. His journey to fame began almost a decade ago when he started a self-named YouTube channel where he uploads content ranging ...

Rhett and Link  Bio, Who are Their Wives, Net Worth and Family Facts Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The show has featured guests such ...

A Walk Through The Maze of Ryan Higas Career Pursuits And Relationship With Arden Cho Ryan Higa is not only celebrated as a YouTube star, but he is also famed for appearing on television screens as an actor and comedian. Nigahiga, his Youtube channel, has gathered over 20 million subscribers and billions of views with his different comic acts, short films, and music videos uploads. With the rise in his career, ...

What to Know About The Shows That Made Craig Ferguson a Star and His Family Ties Rising to the top of your profession can sometimes be a hard and difficult process. It requires days and nights of working consistently hard to be better than what you were yesterday. It requires not giving up when all of your experiences seem to be pushing you to quit. It is because of these challenges ...

David Dobrik Married Liza Koshy for One Month  Inside His Family and Relationships David Dobrik is a YouTube sensation who has garnered fame not just for his vlogs but his love life too. Given his career as a YouTuber, his channel is one place where he shares his romantic escapades. With a cute boyish look like his, this Slovakian young man is definitely a good catch, and not ...

Merrell Twins Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Boyfriend One of the beautiful things about modern life is social media. As rudimentary as it might seem, it could turn out to be the greatest thing that would be invented in the next 50 years because of its impact on human life. Very few tools have revolutionized human behavior and culture as much as social ...

Who Is Bunny Meyer, Is She Married & What Is Her Net Worth? Bunny Meyer is a YouTube celebrity who has amassed over 8.8 million subscribers with 1.5 million viewers on her channel. She is popularly known as Grav3yardgirl and is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. She initially started out as a fashion designer and later chose the path of a YouTuber. Grav3yardgirl has used her knowledge on fashion, makeup, ...

Ninja  Inside The Life of The American YouTuber and Internet Personality Ninja is a talented video game player known for his mastery of Fortnite and other seemingly difficult games he plays with ease. The video gamer made a career out of what is ordinarily the hobby of many people and has since then amassed a huge online following. Find out about him here, including the controversies that ...

What Is Eva Gutowskis True Sexuality and How Did She Rise So Fast As an Influencer? Ever since Eva Gutowski joined YouTube in 2011, it has been an interesting journey for her, moving from one milestone to the other. Backed by an army of young women and teenage girl fans known as Evanators, she has risen to become one of the most-talked-about personalities in the digital stratosphere. She has also leveraged ...

Emma Chamberlain Biography  Age, Height & Net Worth Before now, people in the entertainment industry could only achieve popularity after many years of dedication and hard work but since social media came into the scene, massive success and overnight popularity became possible. That is the story of Emma Chamberlain who encountered fame as a fifteen-year-old. Emma is one of the many young people who became ...

Anna Akana  Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth There is a new crop of YouTubers known by their different contents with a very strong uniqueness that stands every one of them out, some upload video games, some fashion while some others have comedy video contents to showcase on their channels. Anna Akana has used her platform to showcase her comedy contents to the ...

Revealing Truths About Lilly Singhs Ethnic Background, Family and Her Relationship With Yousef Erakat Lilly Singh is an Indian-Canadian YouTube personality, actress, and comedian also known as Superwoman. She kicked off her YouTube career in 2010 with the launch of her channel IISuperwomanII and followed it up with a vlog channel in 2011. This paved the way for her fame and success which led to a world tour. The ...

Who Is Andrea Constand, Is She Married and What Is Her Connection With Bill Cosby? Many people got sexually molested but could not voice out due to the stigma victims suffer and what will become of them thereafter. Very few of the victims danm every consequence to seek justice and bring the perpetrator to the book, like Andrea Constand. She never got any media buzz, not until her friend cum molester; ...

Who Is Lazarbeam (Lannan Eacott)? Here Are Facts You Need To Know Lannan Eacott became a person of interest after his YouTube channel, LazarBeam pulled him to the limelight. Initially, he started with uploads of Madden Challenge videos before deciding to build his own channel in January 2015. Within the space of three years, his YouTube channel had gathered over 7 million loyal subscribers. Today, he has not ...

Puzzling Facts About Wengies YouTube Success and More About Her Fiance Among the many YouTubers who have succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of people is Wengie. She is a Chinese-Australian YouTube personality, vlogger, singer, and voice actress. Wengie is famous for a lot of things, from her simple life hacks, DIYs, craft ideas to fun experiments, tricks and pranks. Her content portfolio also includes hair tutorials, diet & fitness tips, lookbooks, ...

Is Jeffree Star A Billionaire and How Much Does He Make On YouTube? If looks can be deceptive then theres no other person who proves this maxim better than Jeffree Star. A quick look at Stars pictures would likely leave you wondering whether or not to tag him a male or female. But who says being controversial has to be a curse? For Star, his looks have caught ...

The Place of Rosanna Pansinos Career Hats In Her Rise To Fame and Facts About Her Personal Life There are a few phrases that could summarize Rosanna Pansinos rise to fame. None of them can do it better than the famous axiom, no knowledge is lost. Her popularity YouTube comes out of her foray into other professions, specifically acting. Although acting now occupies one of the major professional hats in Rosannas resume, it was ...

Muselk (Elliott Watkins) Biography  Age, Girlfriend and Net Worth The new and best in-thing in terms of career is video gaming and we have over time seen young men and women make massive income from an activity that was purportedly designed to serve as a hobby or a relaxation activity. One of such individuals is the Australian-born YouTube Celebrity and Twitch streamer, Muselk, whose ...

PopularMMOs Biography: 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know We have over the years seen social media millionaires, especially on the YouTube social platform. These celebrities cum millionaires have made names for themselves after carving out niches on the internet, and a typical example of one of such exciting media personality on the YouTube is American Minecraft gamer and YouTube star, PopularMMOs whose channel ...

Jason Nash Once Married Marney Hochman  What To Know About His Ex-Wife and Kids The now-defunct video-sharing app Vine was the path that led Jason Nash to fame. With it, he built an audience of over two million followers, which he parlayed into a significant YouTube career. That move has seen him become one of the most popular personalities on the internet, with the cash income to go with ...

Where Does Dantdm Live? What Do We Know About His Net Worth, Wife and Brother? Most parents buy video games for their kids to occupy their time leisure, while other parents frown at their kids when they play video games. Despite the disparity, every parent would be proud of their child if he/she eventually turns a celebrity or millionaire through playing video games like Dantdm. Biography of Dantdm Dantdm was born Daniel ...

LaurDIY  Biography: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTuber LaurDIY is the YouTube channel of Lauren Riihimaki which she created on December 1, 2011, when she was still a college undergrad with the sole aim of giving Do It Yourself (DIY) as well as practical fashion and beauty tips to her followers. She has used the channel to establish herself as a YouTube personality ...

Lachlan Ross Power  Bio And Family Life Of Australian The YouTube Star It is amazing the varied sources of income that the internet has made possible in this day and age. Internet fame can get its holder a whole lot of monetary and social benefits, but it must be noted that it does not come easy or cheap. For those who desire fame, content is the sacrifice ...

Alfie Deyes  Bio and Net Worth: Everything You Need To Know Alfie Deyes is one internet personality you definitely would like to know about. He boasts of over 10 million subscribers on three of his YouTube channels and has three bestseller books to his name. He is probably the most renowned young personality on YouTube today and his vlogging empire continues to grow by the day. ...

Colleen Ballingers Love Story With Husband Erik Stocklin and How Much She Is Worth Now Colleen Ballinger is an American comedian and YouTuber who is a very funny, adventurous, and highly talented woman. She is also an actress, singer, and writer. Collen is widely known for her work on YouTube where she posts content on her channel, Miranda Sings. The comedian has gained many subscribers over the years and has ...

Who Are The Dude Perfect Members and How Much Are They Worth? Entertainment in the 21st century can be digested in many forms and with platforms like YouTube, the creators and purveyors of entertainment have been democratized. Today, one of the most popular platforms to exhibit ones creative talents is YouTube, even though there are other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, who suffer in comparison to YouTube because ...

Who Is Rudy Mancuso, What Is His Earning Power and What Do We Know About His Girlfriend? Rudy Mancuso started his internet journey on Vine. He would later transition to YouTube where he solidified his place among the internets most beloved comedic creators. He is now regarded as one of the renowned internet personalities in the world, with a presence in mainstream TV and film projects like Comedy Centrals Drunk History and ...

Vsauce (Michael Stevens) Biography and Net Worth: All You Need To Know The advent of YouTube and the internet as a whole revolutionized how human beings consume information. With each passing year, the percentage of learning that is done in a traditional classroom decrease as a seismic shift to internet-based learning happens in our education industry. From open courses online to YouTube classes and videos, there are ...

How did Jake Paul Make His YouTube Big Break and Who is His Wife? One of the most interesting Social Media personalities of the 21st century is the young and popular Jake Paul whose elder brother is the famed Vine star, Logan Paul. Jake has utilized the power of the internet to bring himself to the limelight with a channel named JakePaulProductions that has amassed up to six billion ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About Reaction Time (Tal Fishman)  The American YouTuber Before 2015, the leading meaning of reaction time was the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus, until Tal Fishman started his channel, Reaction Time on YouTube and the dominant meaning changed. Today, a google search of Reaction Time would deliver Tal Fishmans videos and YouTube channel link with a few physics ...

Grace Helbig  Net Worth, Boyfriend and Family Life of The YouTuber Grace Helbig is an American internet personality, comedian, actress, and writer. She became popular due to her daily vlog series, DailyGrace, which ran on My Damn Channel from 2008 to 2013. Helbig is also popular for her own indie series on YouTube, ItsGrace, which she launched in 2014. Her vlogs which feature random stuff such as ...

Mark Wiens Bio  Ethnicity, Wife and Parents Food is a great way to connect with people. We all love to eat, if not for the pleasure of food, the satisfaction of quenching hunger, and the very process of providing and sharing that food is part of the strongest bonds that bind humanity together. Maybe it is our historical connection to food, where ...

Is Filthy Frank Dead, What Happened To Him and How Much Is He Worth? As George Kusunoki Miller, he was a nobody. However, as Filthy Frank, George was one of the most famous internet personalities on the planet. The Filthy Frank Show, a sketch series on his YouTube channel, TVFilthyFrank, was one of the platforms most influential creations. He is the reason a crazy dance song, Harlem Shake, made it ...

CaptainSparklez Bio  Net Worth, House and Cars of The Famous YouTuber Sometimes, what society wants from its citizens is quite different from what the citizens want for themselves. This is evident in the life and career of video blogger and American YouTube personality, Jordan Maron famous for his YouTube channel CaptainSparklez. He dropped out of school after discovering his talent in playing an online game called Minecraft. ...

Who is Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg)? Here are Facts You Must Know Canadian Youtube personality, Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg) originally started out polishing and designing nails even before it became a trendy culture in the social media. Simply Nailogica started out her showbiz career in her early days as a child actress, acting in commercials for game and toy companies. Aside from acting, she is blogger, vlogger, specializing ...

5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Huda Beauty In the world of entrepreneurship, it is interesting when an individual has a mentor who he/she looks up to, this yield more productivity on the part of the individual. The iconic and rich American beautician and makeup artist Huda Kattan nicknamed Heida is the founder of the Huda Beauty blog which is number one Instagram beauty blog ...

Is Dino MasterChef Gay? Details About His Ethnicity, Girlfriend, Where He Is Now Food, for the better part of the early years of human life, was nothing more than what we needed for survival. There was no artistry or curation to the method of cooking. The scarcity of food left no room for artistic expression until we figured out agriculture and we could make as much as we ...

Who Is Gabbie Hanna And How Did She Become Famous? As the world shifts to digital media and depends more and more on streaming services for its news and entertainment content, YouTubers have become one of the leading creators in the new media world. Their understanding of the online audience: how to create, maintain, and increase followers, are all handy skills that have primed them ...

Jacksepticeye  Height, Girlfriend & Net Worth Jacksepticeye is a YouTuber and actor who gained popularity with a series of gaming videos he uploads on his channel to the delight of millions of his subscribers. He is Known primarily for his comic video game series titled Lets Play and his vlogs. His channel was formerly ranked 46th in the list of most subscribed ...

Chris Heria Personal Details: About His Wife, Height & Ethnicity Background In this generation, keeping fit has become one of the major criteria for being hale and hearty. In fact, most occupations these days are majorly concerned with ones body mass, weight and looks. Unlike the past where most people have to register in a gym to keep fit, social media has made it quite easy ...

Everything You Need To Know About Game Grumps Gaming is becoming incredibly popular on YouTube these days with game vloggers make millions of dollars out of them yearly. One of the most popular up-coming gaming YouTube channels is Game Grumps. The Lets Play series was created in 2012 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on July 18th, 2017. In six years of its existence, the ...

Daithi De Nogla Biography, Girlfriend and Net Worth YouTube has created an avenue for many to make wealth and become famous from the comfort of their homes while having fun. Many have built a career out of the platform, uploading numerous videos that have earned them the admiration of viewers across the globe. For Daithi De Nogla, he is loved for his humorous commentary on ...

Does Phoebe Robinson Have A Boyfriend or Husband and What Do We Know About Her Family? Phoebe Robinson is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-host of the WNYC Studios podcast 2 Dope Queens. Just like some other female comedians, she never had any original plans of becoming a stand-up comedian even though, according to her, she took a class on a whim at Carolines on Broadway. After ...

Who Are Lex and Alana from Listed Sisters? What Is Their Ethnicity & Is the Show Cancelled? America is a country built on diversity. Everywhere you look all over the country, a countless number of immigrants or children of immigrants have become an integral part of the fabric of the country. From entertainment to business, immigrants are creating a niche for themselves and climbing to the summit of their respective professions. One ...

Riveting Facts About Danielle Lombard And What She Is Best Known For The American entertainment industry is one that provides many avenues for aspiring hopefuls to express their talents and become famous. From films to television shows and game shows, there is no shortage of ways for men and women who desire fame to pursue and earn it in the United States of America. Another tested medium ...

Unearthing New Details About The YouTube Success And Personal Life of Alex Burriss of Wassabi Productions Wildly hilarious and truly audacious, Alex Wassabi is an American YouTuber who has become a very popular face on the video-sharing platform after having garnered millions of subscribers over the years by keeping people glued to his channel with his witty parody video releases. If you have always loved parody videos, there is every chance ...

Everything You Need To Know About H2O Delirious H2O Delirious whose full birth name is reported to be Jonathan Gormon Dennis has successfully kept himself mystified by hiding his face behind the masks leaving his loyal fans speculating who he really is for many years. The American YouTube star is easily identified by the Jason Mask Style with make-up which he wears on his ...

Who Is HolaSoyGerman and What Happened To Him? German Garmendia has certainly seen it all when it comes to internet success. His channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman are in the top twenty most subscribed channel on YouTube. The Chilean YouTuber found a way to tap into one of the worlds greatest inventions and make a living from it. He has been able to build ...

Who Are Glenn Becks Family, What Is His Net Worth And What Happened To Him? The American political commentary space is filled with different personalities. A few of them, through their rhetoric, charisma, and resources have been able to build a large following of men and women who listen to them for insight and direction for various political and social issues in the United States. For Conservatives, the story is ...

Following Charissa Thompsons Rise Through The Ranks Of Sports Casting and All About Her Boyfriend Superstar TV host and sportscaster, Charissa Thompson, has been hailed as one of the highest-profile women journalists in America, and the reason is there for all to see. She has worked for popular establishments such as Versus, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, GSN, and Big Ten Network. She currently hosts the popular pre-game show, Fox NFL Kickoff, ...

Is Chris Kattan Gay or Does He Have A Wife? What Is His Net Worth? Chris Kattan is a popular American comedian and actor. He has appeared in several comic movies and TV series such as The Middle, A Night at the Roxbury and Bunnicula. Kattan is, however, most popular for his six-year stint as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. During his time on the legendary show, he ...

Everything You Should Know About the Rise of Insta Star Claire Abbott and Why She Gave It All Up A lot of young Americans have shot into the limelight for uploading different kinds of videos on YouTube. Some of these young stars include Connor Franta, Desi Perkins, Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson), and Claire Abbott. The latter became a social media celebrity for uploading sexy bikini pictures of herself on social media. Apart from ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTube Channel  h3h3Productions H3h3Productions is a YouTube channel that specializes on Comic responses or reactions of other contents or trendy stories. The celebrity couple that created the channel has over time racked up sizable views for their commentaries and contents. Even though they had their own fair share of copyright cases, thankfully they scored an unprecedented victory in all ...

Lilypichu Bio  Height, Brother and Love Story With Albert SleightlyMusical Chang Like most popular internet celebrities, Lilypichu is one of those Twitch streamers who spend their lives on camera. From daydreaming about the possibility of becoming a full-time professional streamer, she grew to live out her dreams on the popular live streaming platform where people play games, make crafts, and showcase their day-to-day activities. Given the rise of ...

KSI  What To Know About His Girlfriend, Brother  Deji Olatunji & Net Worth Assuredly, when Internet inventors Vint Cerf and Bob Khan created the technological masterpiece, they probably did not know how massive the creation will be harnessed by many for different purposes including as a platform for earning money through content creation. One of such person who smiles to the bank regularly today for spending time creating ...

The Interesting Progression and Highlights of Carrie Keagans Career as a Host and Actress Carrie Keagan has garnered huge fame through her various stints on television. She is not just your regular TV host but one with a difference. Keagan has hosted several high profile events and TV shows, including VH1s Big Morning Buzz Live and Fox News Channels Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. However, not many know she ...

The Gist On Elise Jordans Marriages And Her Rise To Prominence Political commentaries tend to be boring when it is handled by someone who does not have a knack for it. However, when you see the likes of Elise Jordan run the same commentary, you will have a lot of reasons to look forward to watching her again as the journalist is well-versed in the field ...

What Is Timmy Thick Best Known For and How Successful Is The Star? Thanks to the internet, many people whose talents would have ordinarily gone unnoticed have become famous. A very good example of this modern-day internet celebrity is Timmy Thick, an American social media star. He became popular on Instagram due to his penchant for posting raunchy pictures of himself. He also often posted videos of himself ...

What Does Heather Storm Do For a Living and Who Is She Dating? Reality Television is a great way to make a name for oneself as well as amass a fortune. Heather Storm can attest to this as she is one of those who have made a name and earned a lot from reality TV. She made her name appearing on shows like Car Fanatics, Awesome Autos, and, ...

Matt Carriker Biography  Net Worth, Wife & Height Unlike your regular veterinary doctor next door, Matt Carriker chose to spice up his noble profession with the unusual. Though he is known to many as a medical practitioner, Carriker is better renowned as a YouTube star and an animal lover. Having recorded huge successes on his various YouTube channels, the vet doctors name and ...

Jillian Mele of Fox News Career Achievements, Husband & Measurements There are quite a good number of presenters on radio and television who listeners and viewers may never wish to miss any of their shows because of their sensational golden voice, beauty or the special way or artistry they anchor their shows. Jillian Mele is one of such. She has been at the top of ...

Who is Gillian Turner of Fox News? Her Fiance or Husband and Net Worth Gillian Turner is well-known as a news correspondent for Fox News Channel but before she became a TV personality, she built an intimidating resume working for different institutions, including the American government. She served in different capacities at the White House National Security Council during the administration of former US Presidents  George W. Bush and Barack Obama. ...

Gloria Govan Bio  Age, Ethnicity & Height Even as Gloria Govan is famous as an American actress, author, a TV host, and reality television star, shes more popular as the wife of the former NBA player, Matt Barnes. She became known after appearing on the Florida version of the reality television series, Basketball Wives and later, Basketball Wives: LA  after Matt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, ...

Michael Fishmans Interesting Start as an Actor and Why He Divorced His Wife of Many Years When one door closes, another one opens. As silly as that axiom may seem, it is the story of the resurgence of Michael Fishman, who plays D.J Conner on the popular show, Roseanne. Having played the character for several years as a child actor into his teenage years; when the show originally ended, Michael did ...

Who Is October Gonzalez  Tony Gonzalezs Wife? All You Need To Know October Gonzalez is a popular American TV host and media personality. Additionally, she is also a model. Gonzalez has hosted several TV shows such as Beat Shazam, Entertainment Tonight, and Rachel Ray. She has also featured in several reality TV shows. Gonzalezs fame is not just due to her profession but also because of her ...

Who Is Tony Berlin  Harris Faulkners Husband: His Children and Family Facts Tony Berlin is a popular American media guru. He has variously worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer for some of the biggest TV networks in America. They include CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC (where he hosted the popular Good Morning America). Berlin has now diversified into public relations and owns his own PR firm. ...

The Progression of Gianna Tobonis Journalism Career and Details About Her Marriage to Kyle Buckley Gianna Toboni may not be your ideal newscaster but her unusual reporting is what made her a household name. The American journalist is renowned for her hard-hitting and authentic reportage. A motivator and activist for total press freedom, Gianna loves to explore pervasive cultural issues. Not only does this unique and ambitious journalist call for all ...

Dog The Bounty Hunters Family Including Details of His Late Wife and Kids Popularly known as Dog, a name which he got from the television series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, Duane Chapman, an American bounty hunter, and one-time bail bondsman, went from being convicted for a felony to being a reality TV star. He was brought to the limelight following the capture of the convicted criminal, Andrew Luster in 2003 and this eventually made ...

Vicky Karayiannis, Chris Cornells Wifes Bio, Children and Family The world of showbiz is made up of different people who serve different roles, and function in a variety of capacities, and one of the most important people are those in the background. Publicists are undoubtedly one of these background people yet they are vital to the life and fame of most of our favorite ...

Joe Rogan Has A Step-Daughter and 2 Other Kids With Wife Jessica Ditzel  Meet His Family Joe Rogan is a popular American stand-up comedian and TV host. His journey to stardom began in the late 80s and has seen him host several shows, the most popular is the game show titled Fear Factor. The exciting show dares contestants to face some of their greatest fears and embark on challenging stunts. The ...

Josh Gates and Wife Hallie Gnatovich Have 2 Kids But Who Has the Higher Net Worth? Best known for his explorations and adventures, Josh Gates, is a television presenter with a voracious appetite for seeing the world and the beauties in it. Some of that beauty, however, is in his home, in the form of two children he shares with his wife, Hallie Gnatovich. Not excluded is their marriage which has lasted ...

Holly Sonders Wiki, Plastic Surgery & Why She Divorced Her Husband  Erik Kuselias After trying everything within her capacity to have a low key wedding, Holly Sonders was drawn to the public because of her husbands controversy at his workplace. Well, the two are rumored to be divorced but the article below will give more light on how true these rumors are. Meanwhile, Holly Sonders is yet to ...

Nadeska Alexis Bio  Age, Boyfriend & Net Worth Journalism is one diverse profession that allows the practitioners to choose their area of specialty, build a career on it by reporting the truth and facts which in the long run will distinguish them as deserving commendation and recognition among their peers. Some choose to specialize in political journalism, while to others it is sports ...

Media Platforms Charlamagne Tha God Has Explored and All The Controversies He Has Courted Charlamagne Tha God is an American on-air personality, radio presenter, and more recently, author. He is popularly known as a co-host on New York radios nationally syndicated show, The Breakfast Club, a program he has been hosting alongside DJ Envy and Angela Yee since 2010. However, his early years had no connection to his current career ...

A Look At Jimmy Fallons Net Worth and Family Including His Wife & Kids Sometimes, a childs passion for something is a pointer to what he/she would become in the future. As a child, Jimmy Fallon was literally obsessed with watching the late-night comedy program, Saturday Night Live (SNL). Then, his parents would tape the clean parts for him to watch and later, he and his sister would re-enact sketches from the ...

Kay Adams Biography  Does The Sportscaster Have A Husband or Boyfriend? When you hear the phrase sports enthusiast, women are hardly the first group that comes to mind. Well, thats changing pretty fast. Especially with the rise of female sports analysts and broadcasters like Kay Adams who is famed for knowing more about sports than most men do. And why not, shes paid handsomely for it ...

Ben Shapiros Family  Meet His Wife, Kids and Sister Who is Popular for the Wrong Reasons A multi-talented man, Ben Shapiro is a man of controversial nature, an attribute that has made him an unusual public figure. An intellectual whose career path was clearly defined even before he became a man, the Jewish conservative commentator has always had his way with words. He became popular by sharing his critical and often ...

QVC Shawn Killinger Bio  Husband, Net Worth & Facts To Know Shawn Killinger is a prominent TV personality who has worked her way to the top. Though not initially a journalist by training, she defied the odds and today has established herself as a household name, as well as, worked alongside some industry legends. More than just being a reporter, newscaster, and anchor, heres all you ...

Liv Lo  Dissecting the Ethnicity, Parents and Personal Life of Henry Goldings Wife While many are aware that Liv Lo is the better half to Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, only a few understand why his beautiful wife appears increasingly endearing to fans. A former model turned TV personality, and fitness star, Liv has an impressive resume which when combined with that of her statuesque spouse is considered a perfect ...

Stpeach Age, Husband and Other Facts About The Twitch Streamer Lisa Vannatta, famously known by her online alias, STPeach is a Canadian video game streamer cum vlogger who has garnered fame through her appearances on different video-sharing/social networking platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, Twitch, Reddit, and Twitter. The beautiful lady got her career to a start in August 2015 when she joined the live streaming video platform, Twitch. She rose to ...

Insights into Seth Meyers Wife, Family and What His Net Worth Is Celebrities are mostly remembered and known for the work they do. For Seth Meyers, his career as a comedian, writer, actor, TV host, and producer is his biggest identifier. He was on Saturday Night Live SNL show as a head writer and cast member for more than ten years during which he built a reputation ...

Who Is Jessica Gadsden  Age, Net Worth & All About Charlamagne tha Gods Wife Jessica Gadsden is an American fitness coach as well as a personal trainer. She is better known as the spouse of popular American media personality, Charlamagne Tha God. Charlamange Tha God is a well-known TV and radio personality in the U.S. He has featured in several shows (both on the radio and TV) and is ...

Who Is Collins Tuohy  Michael Ohers sister ? Her Wedding, Husband & Net Worth Collins Tuohy is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, blogger, and social media personality. She is also better known as the adoptive sister of NFL player, Michael Oher, whose life story inspired the Hollywood blockbuster The Blind Side. The Blind Side tells the true life story of Oher who grew up in an impoverished background consisting of a ...

Eye-Popping Facts About The Personal Life And Career Success Of Sportscaster Heidi Watney Heidi Watney is a media personality who has created a niche for herself as a sportscaster. Starting out as a radio presenter, the brilliant young lady has gone on to work for several prominent sports networks, and currently, she is with the MLB. The sportscaster is also known to have been an avid sports lady right ...

Marty Lagina Bio  Siblings (Martina and Rick Lagina), Net Worth and Wife Marty Lagina is an American engineer and businessman who has risen to fame as a reality TV star. This is thanks to his involvement in the adventure TV series, The Curse of Oak Island. The Curse of Oak Island is a long-running TV series which airs on the history channel. The show aims to solve ...

Is Jordan Schlansky Just A Character or a Real Life Person and What Does He Do? The world of late-night television is an interesting one. Shows during that time are geared towards giving viewers comedic relief from a long day at work through interviews and comedy sketches. The often charismatic host of this show requires the balancing talent of a producer whose primary job is to deliver great episodes. It is ...

Heres How Wealthy Jimmy Kimmel Is From All The Phases of His Career, Marriages and Sons Health Jimmy Kimmel is a renowned late-night talk show host known for his charm, wit, and the A-list guests he features on his show. As the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! On ABC, Jimmy has been serving comedy to television viewers for years which played a pivotal role in launching him into mainstream fame and enabled ...

Natasha Bertrand Biography  Is She Married? Who Is the Husband & What Is Her Age? Natasha Bertrand is not just a young prominent journalist but a first-rate investigative reporter. With her natural beauty and smile, Natashas sharp, insightful political commentary also makes her a thorough reporter. Her sound political perspective and coverage in the country have made her a force to be reckoned with in the profession. Renowned for her ...

What Happened to Shane Kilcher? His Injury Update, Net Worth and More Shane Kilcher is well-known thanks to the Discovery Channel series Alaska: The Last Frontier. It is a show that documents the daily lives of the extended Kilcher family, people who live without plumbing or modern heating. The episodes follow their routines as they rely on hunting and farming for their nutritional needs as well as ...

Is Stephanie Gosk Gay or Lesbian, Who is the Wife or Partner  Jenna Wolfe? In August 2013, NBCs Today viewers were greeted with two shocking news. Today weekend anchor, Jenna Wolfe, announced that she was as a lesbian, introducing her partner as NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk, and said the two are expecting their first child. A long time has passed since then and certainly, a lot of things ...

Nikki Mudarris  Bio and Net Worth: 5 Interesting Facts You Need to Know Nikki Mudarris, also known as Miss Nikki Baby, is a reality television star, model and fashionista. Shes best known for VH1s reality TV series Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood. Her entrepreneurial skills enable her to create and run a successful lingerie line Nude by Nikki. Not only that, but Nikki has also successfully run the Las ...

5 Interesting Things You Need To Know About Kelly Nash Ever heard of the lady who gained national prominence for taking a selfie with a dangerous ball just a few inches away from hitting her? Its no other person than Kelly Nash, an American sports broadcaster currently working as host of The Rundown show which airs on MLB Network every weekday at 2 pm ET. ...

Understanding The Height of Fame John Oliver Achieved With The Daily Show and How He Met His Wife Without knowledge of who he is and his exemplary career, John Oliver cuts an unassuming figure of a regular man but he is one of the most influential personalities in America, especially on television. Since he began his career in 1998, he has been a loud and unapologetic agent of change, using his wit and ...

Why Did Big Chief Leave Street Outlaws, Where Is He Now And Why Did He Divorce His Wife? Justin Shearer, otherwise known by his professional name Big Chief is a famous street racer and television personality. He is famously known for being one of the main characters on the racing reality television series, Street Outlaws. Justin, who had been a significant part of the show since its premiere in 2013, appeared in a ...

Who is Josina Anderson of ESPN? Her Husband and Family Facts There has been a gradual paradigm shift in the world of sports which has today produced the likes of Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and other female athletes that are pulling great feats in different sporting fields. Their achievements have also been followed by the emergence of female sports journalists such as Jillian Mele, Eboni Williams, ...

Is Brittany Wagner Married, Who Is The Husband, How Old Is She? Brittany Wagner has been an inspiration to a lot of sports youngster. She has won the hearts of many athletic students with her role as a life coach and an academic counselor. She is well groomed in her career and has worked over a decade for The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and The National ...

Tati Westbrook Bio  Age, Husband & Net Worth With five videos dished out every week, alongside running her own brand, beauty guru, and YouTube superstar Tati Westbrook has proved to the world that theres utterly no impossibility or limit to whatever one is passionate about. Tati is best known for being the owner and manager of the worlds most-viewed beauty and lifestyle YouTube channel, ...

Cathy Areus Long Road to Becoming a Freelance Journalist and What to Know About Her Kids An American freelance journalist, news analyst, and author, Cathy Areu has built a lasting reputation for herself on cable television. Popular for her skillful and sassy presentation of professional views on varying topics including cultural and feminist issues, Cathy is an inspiration to many women across the globe. In addition to being a journalist, she ...

Tucker Carlsons Love Story With Wife Susan Andrews, their Children and Net Worth Today On the TV screens, Tucker Carlson is that fiery fellow who passionately dishes out his conservative and often controversial views on issues of national importance. Such brazenness has fetched him many enemies, especially on the left-wing, but it has also helped him cement a reputation as one of the foremost broadcast journalists in America. His ...

Paige Wyatts Net Worth, Boyfriend and Where She Is Now Paige Wyatt became popular after the Wyatt family began running the reality television show, American Guns. The Wyatt family comprises Rich Wyatt (father), Renee Wyatt (mother), Paige and Kurt Wyatt (children). Rich Wyatt originally ran a gun shop, the Gunsmoke Guns in Wheat Ridge, Colorado which is outside of Denver. The business which he ran together ...

The Progression of Howard Sterns Career As A Media Personality And Why He Divorced His First Wife Howard Stern is a legendary American radio host, who has also done some notable work as an actor, producer, author, as well as photographer. The radio personality achieved worldwide fame as a result of his self-titled radio program, The Howard Stern Show. As a professional radio personality, he has worked in different radio stations. Since 2006, ...

Lisa Joyners Biography  Ethnicity, Net Worth and Other Key Facts Lisa Joyner is an American Journalist, TV talk show host, and actress. Some of her well-known works are her correspondences for the Los Angeles based TV KCBS, inFANity show, Find My Family Show including her film and television appearances in Brimstone, American Sweetheart, The Bold and The Beautiful among others. Lisas passion for reconnecting people with their biological families ...

Amanda Balionis Rise Through the Ranks of Sportscasting and the Identity of Her Boyfriend Amanda Balionis is an American sportscaster currently working as a golf broadcaster for CBS Sports. Among so many of her works in the field of sports reporting, Amandas PGA Tour coverage seems to be the most popular so far. She covered the Super Bowl working with CBS Sports social media team in Atlanta, where she ...

Dissecting Charles Paynes Sexual Allegations, Its After Effects and More About His Wife Charles Payne had a respectable career as an analyst on Wall Street before he made the transition to television and became a contributor and later a host on Fox. In that time, his expertise has come under scrutiny, and he has been at the center of at least one major controversy. The major controversy in question ...

Erik Asla And Tryra Banks Split: Everything You Need To Know Tyra Banks and Erik Asla have called it quits! The couple, who began dating in 2013 and have a son named York Banks Asla, has decided to end what everybody taught was the perfect relationship. Neither person has come out to give a reason for the breakup, but what is obvious right now is that ...

What to Note About Dr Terry Dubrows Qualifications, TV Works and Marriage to Heather Kent In the realm of people that we expect to see regularly on our screens, medical doctors are closer to the bottom of the list. Aside from the fact that their work has little correlation with TV, they are presumably too busy to pursue life as TV personalities. Yet, a few of them have usurped this ...

Jessica Goch  Bio: 5 Things You Didnt Know About Ninjas Wife Jessica Goch is the Schofield-born American Social Media Influencer who has worked as a model but is now better known as a host and interviewer of prominent Electronic sports celebrities at popular gaming events/tournaments. The screen queen also serves as the manager of her famous husband Ninja aka Tyler Blevins whose exploits on Twitch and Fortnite has ...

CNNs Chris Cuomo Biography  Wife, Family & Net worth Chris Cuomo needs no elaborate introduction as he has starred graced many prominent Television cable networks and his voice has been heard through acknowledged radio shows. He is a television journalist and Lawyer who has previously worked for ABC News as Chief law and justice correspondent as well as a co-anchor on 20/20. If you still ...

Neil deGrasse Tyson  Family, Religion & Net Worth Neil deGrasse Tyson is a distinguished American astrophysicist and author who has been able to achieve so much after falling in love with astronomy at the age of 9. He has since attended and become an alumnus of prestigious universities such as Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia, and also recorded numerous achievements in his field of ...

Is Simon Cowell Gay? Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend and Why is He Famous? Simon Cowell is a well-known talent show judge, TV producer, entrepreneur and one of the most popular TV personalities that Britain has ever produced. In conjunction with his company, Syco, Cowell is the brain behind hugely successful talent hunt shows such as The X-Factor UK, The X-Factor US, Britains Got Talent, Americas Got Talent and ...

Everything To Know About Joanna Gaines Life With Chip Gaines, Their Business Pursuits and Kids Joanna Gaines and her husband Chip Gaines became celebrities after their television show Fixer Upper began airing back in 2013. The show which was about home renovation and decoration ran for about 6 seasons with a total of 79 episodes before the couple bade farewell to it in April 2018. Apart from their appearances on ...

Who Is Larry The Cable Guy? What To Know About His Wife And Net Worth Larry the Cable Guy is a self-professed country kid renowned for his trademark Southern accent and sensational catchphrase Git-R-Done! The famous comedian who talks about anything under the sun has gone on to become one of the most memorable characters in comedy history. Join us in unearthing lesser-known facts about the former on-air-personality, standup comedy superstar, movie ...

Who Is Patrick Starr, What Is His Net Worth and Gender? The make-up industry over the years has grown to become a billion dollar industry not just because there are probably more women wearing make-up but because a whole lot of men, especially the young ones, have become bold enough to wear it unlike before. A few of these men, like Patrick Starr, have even gone ...

How Did Chris Jansing Become a Senior Correspondent at MSNBC and Who Is Her Husband? An award-winning American television news reporter and journalist, Chris Jansing has succeeded in carving a spectacular niche for herself in the field of TV journalism. Outstanding for not just her excellence in journalism, Chris is also cherished for her incredibly gorgeous looks post 60! For close to four decades, Jansing has continued to soar in her ...

Jaclyn Glenn Biography  Age, Height & Ex-Boyfriend American Youtuber, Jaclyn Glenn, rose to prominence through her self-titled YouTube channel Jaclyn Glenn. She has remained an acclaimed atheist and continues to air her views on hot issues from politics, religion, animal rights, to atheism. During the heated 2016 US Presidential elections, Glenn featured in Hump Trump: Official Donald Trump Song. Her parallel acting career ...

Is Pat Sajak Married to a Wife or is He Gay With a Partner? Pat Sajak is one of the most popular TV game show hosts in America. He commenced his career as a radio disk jockey as well as a TV weatherman before being tapped to host Wheel of Fortune, the longest-running syndicated game show in the United States. Sajak has hosted the popular game show from 1983 ...

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Meet Phil Mudd of CNN  The Former CIA and FBI Exec, Is He Married, Who Is The Wife? When it comes to discussing issues surrounding terrorism, American Counterterrorism and National Security Expert, Phil Mudd, occupies a globally significant position. He has voiced his interest in the fight against terrorism and insecurity on many popular media platforms, both print and broadcast, such as CNN, BBC, CBS, MSNBC, al-Jazeera, ABC, NBC, Fox, The New York Times, ...

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This Is Everything You Should Know About Caroline Heldman, Her Career Portfolio and Other Facts Love it or hate it, there is no escaping the fact that feminism has come to stay in our world. The movement has continued to garner momentum over the years and this is due to the sustained push by several women, and even men, including the likes of Caroline Heldman. A Professor of Politics at ...

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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The hearings on Istanbul-Armenian reporter Hrant Dinks murder will be held December 19-23 in the Istanbul Justice Palace. Members of the Hrants friends initiative gathered outside the Justice Palace ahead of the court session, demanding to reveal the real perpetrators of the murder, Agos reports.

Byulent Aidyn  member of the Hrants friends initiative, delivered a speech mentioning many structures knew that the murder is being planned many years ago. He emphasized that the long lasting court proceedings showed that police and intelligence agencies tried to avoid responsibility and none of them has done anything to prevent the crime.

Hrant Dink was shot dead on January 19, 2007, outside Istanbuls Agos office.
Being that Iceland is more accessible than traveling toanother galaxy, and since Matthew McConaughey is a brand ambassador for Lincoln, the actor is back to promote the all-new 2017 Continental.



This video was directed by acclaimed cinematographer Wally Pfister, a man known for leaving his mark on famous movies such as The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, plus he won an Academy Award for his work on Inception back in 2011.

According to Lincoln marketing manager John Emmert, this new ad campaign is very important to their brand seen as how its fresh, contemporary and very visual.

While many are familiar with the Continental nameplate, we wanted them to see our all-new flagship in a whole new way. A car as iconic as Continental could only be shot in a unique locale  one not familiar to viewers.

Furthermore, this is the first time we get to see McConaughey featured in the back seat, showcasing some of the rear seat amenities available for the Continental, such as the chauffeur switch which he uses to move the front passenger seat forward for extra legroom.

Lincolns new Thats Continental ad campaign will begin airing December 31.

PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO
Renault and Mitsubishi are set to borrow the platform of the next-generation Nissan Leaf as the automotive conglomerate looks to drop the prices of its future range of electrified vehicles.



Japanese publication the Nikkei Asian Review reports that Nissan intends on launching a plug-in priced at around 2 million yen ($17,000), or 20 percent lower.

With the Leaf and Renaults all-electric Zoe, the two companies have sold over 370,000 units since their respective introductions, allowing the two companies to old the largest proportion of the electric car market. Despite this, the two models have been developed separately and could benefit from a closer collaboration.

Beyond the Leafs platform being used by Mitsubishi and Renault in the not-too-distant future, the trio are also set share batteries and the same motor and inverter, further aiding in the planned cost savings.

Just last week, the company said that the next-generation Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf will use the same platform.

PHOTO GALLERY
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Heads of CSTO member states on December 26 will discuss issues related to countering terrorism and extremism in the upcoming session in St. Petersburg, the Kremlin press service said, reports Armenpress.

Russias President Vladimir Putin on December 26 will take part in the Eurasian Supreme Economic Councils session and the CSTO Collective Security Councils sitting.

Within the framework of the CSTO session, the heads of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan will discuss the contemporary sectors of allied mutual cooperation within the CSTO, as well as provision of its ongoing activity. An exchange of opinion is expected on a number of global and trade turnover issues, including combating terrorism and extremism threats, the fight against drugs and illegal circulation of weapons, the statement said.
Short, perhaps, of washing down bratwurst with a pilsner while wearing lederhosen in October, we could hardly imagine anything more quintessentially German than Volkswagen. But Germanys largest company has also developed into one of the largest automakers in the entire world, and to reflect its now global standing, VW is taking the significant step of shifting its official language of communication from German to English.



Big deal, you say? The move may have significant symbolic value, but it also has serious implications for a company thats long been ingrained in the German way of doing things.

For one thing, it will help the Volkswagen Group recruit new talent from outside Germanys own borders for whom the language barrier may have otherwise proven virtually insurmountable. Where the company has historically placed native Germans in its most senior executive positions almost exclusively, it has in recent years opened the doors to its top executive suites to foreigners, particularly from Italy.

While the heads of the VW, Audi, Porsche, Skoda, Bentley, and Bugatti brands are all German, the Seat and Lamborghini divisions are currently lead by Italians poached from the rival Fiat empire. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, of Spanish extraction, is currently the only member of the groups management board to come from outside Germany. Two representatives from state shareholder Qatar and a union representative from Swedish truck manufacturer Scania are among the only supervisory board members to come from outside Germany.

Along with appointing more senior executives from abroad, VW also aims to foster the advancement of more female executives, and place greater emphasis on overseas experience in its promotion process. These steps are being implemented as guidelines until 2021, at which point they become binding regulations for the companys human resources departments.

As a globally positioned Group, we need the best people in the world, said VWs personnel chief Dr. Karlheinz Blessing. We want managers to cooperate in the overall interests of the Group and leverage the potential available within this great company with comprehensive knowledge and a concerted effort.

Switching from German to English (like Honda recently did) also promises to open up the famously insular company and its corporate culture to the international language of business. VW is based in the otherwise backwater town of Wolfsburg, far away from the international cities of Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, and Cologne. The company even enjoys the benefit of a federal law protecting it from foreign takeover. While those bits arent likely to change any time soon, the shift in the corporate culture from provincial to international may yet help Volkswagen further surpass General Motors and maybe even Toyota to become the worlds largest automaker  and even challenge the big oil companies in the rankings of the largest companies in the world.

Photo Gallery
Photo: Google Maps

UPDATE DEC 19, 10:30 AM

A planned power outage will affect approximately 50 customers in lower Glenmore. Homes on Kane Rd, Rojen Rd and Glenmore Rd will be without power from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. today as Fortis BC workers repair damaged power lines.

"We found evidence birds had come into contact with the power lines," says Fortis BC Spokesperson David Wylie.

The damages affected over 100 homes on two consecutive days, as residents were without power for approximately two hours on each day.

Wylie says the repairs will prevent further interruptions to customers, while ensuring the protection of wildlife.

UPDATE DEC 18, 7:15 PM

Power was out for over an hour again this afternoon from 4:10 p.m. to 5:55 p.m. in lower Glenmore.

This is the second afternoon in a row over 100 homes have been without power.

Fortis BC says they are aware of the issue but it is unclear what is causing the outages at this time.

We are sending more crews out tomorrow to continue to investigate and figure out what is going on there, says Fortis BC Spokesperson Grace Pickell.

Pickell says when there is a power outage their crews typically go and patrol the line.

They are looking for is things like a motor vehicle accident, trees on the line, things like that. In this instance they werent able to find that so it could be an equipment failure or something else, explains Pickell. We are sending more crews out tomorrow to do a thorough investigation on what has been causing the outages.

Whether there will be any further outages is unclear at this time and will depend on what Fortis BC crews find tomorrow.

If they find something that is amiss they will be taking the necessary steps to make the repairs and continue to provide safe and reliable electricity for our customers, adds Pickell.

If you have questions about Fortis BC power outages you can call their 24-hour power outage line at 1-866-436-7847.

For the second evening in a row, lower Glenmore residents have come to dark houses as power outages continue to plague the area.

Fortis BC tells Castanet they are aware of the issue and have teams investigating but they do not know when power will be restored.

Power was out in the same area yesterday for over an hour and has been out for several hours today. Fortis says there have been reports of flickering lights in the area over the past 24 hours as well.

They have not given any reasons for the outages as of yet.

We will provide more details as they become available.
Photo: Getty Images

Remember the story of Rumpelstiltskin? He was a master of the spinning wheel, spinning straw into gold.

Few of us use spinning wheels any more, but you can still be a master, or doctor of spin.

Mirriam-Webster defines a spin doctor as:

"a person responsible for ensuring that others interpret an event from a particular point of view."

Politicians rely heavily on spin doctors.

You might not be running for public office, but you can become a happier person by becoming your own spin doctor.

Be responsible for interpreting the things that happen in your life, in a positive light rather than a negative one.

Getting laid off can be the worst thing that has ever happened, or an opportunity to discover a new career path.

You may not see the positive in a situation right away, but be confident that with the right mindset, one will appear  and it will.

It is like having a door close, only to find a window opening.

Our brains are programmed to find consistency between our thoughts and the world. It is uncomfortable to think some people are are nasty and then watch them helping homeless people in a kind and caring way.

If we think they are nasty, we want their actions to prove we are right.

Your brain works tirelessly to find evidence that supports your thoughts and feelings. It recalls and interprets information in such a way to confirm your opinions and beliefs.

For example, if you think about how much you like your colleagues, you will notice all the good things they do and interpret events that happen with a positive spin.

On the other hand, if you think you work with terrible people, the same events may be interpreted negatively and your attention will be drawn to events that show your colleagues in a negative light.

When you know about the confirmation bias, you can work it to your advantage. By viewing your life in a positive light, your brain will find evidence to prove that belief is true.

This fits with the law of attraction  what you think about is what you attract. Your brain does everything in its power to make sure this happens.

I remember the first time I became aware of this happening. I was newly pregnant with my first child and walking through the centre of Northampton in England.

As I progressed down the street, I saw pregnant women and babies in prams  everywhere. Had everyone suddenly become pregnant?

Of course, not! I just hadnt noticed them before, because pregnancy wasnt something I was consciously thinking about.

Once I became conscious of pregnancy, my mind was drawing my attention to other woman who were pregnant or had just given birth.

Strategies to improve your spinning

If you are unhappy with your job, your marriage, or any area of your life, put these thoughts aside, at least temporarily.

This isnt always easy, but the resulting boost in positivity by letting go of negative thoughts and emotions will make it worth the effort.



You believe what you hear, even if it is your own voice that is doing the talking. Just like with your thoughts, your words will kick your brain into action to find evidence to support what you say.

Use that knowledge to your advantage by talking in the most positive terms possible. If your words are positive, your brain will believe what you are saying and you will feel happier.



Put your energy and focus into sharing the good things that have happened to you rather than the bad ones. If you must talk about negative experiences, try to add a humorous spin to the story, or mention a lesson you learned as a result.

Youll be amazed how talking about events in a positive light can alter a negative mood. The most embarrassing and outrageous situations make the best stories later.



If you need to share something negative or sad, set a timer for five minutes. When your timer goes off, shift your words and thoughts to more positive topics.



Stop negative thoughts when they first pop into your mind. Remember that your brain will endeavour to find evidence to support how you feel and ignore any evidence that isnt supportive.

With practice, you can train your brain to automatically look on the bright side.

Choose to remember good experiences and pass over the bad ones. We have control over what we think about and how we colour our memories.

Train yourself to think about periods of boredom or monotony as short-lived rather than long lasting.

Look for positive opportunities that they provide you with, like being able to listen to music, or increasing fitness if it is a physical activity.

By adding spin doctor to your list of skills, you can learn to see the positive in any situation and create a happier life.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: David Ogilvie

Few injuries are being reported from a pair of car crashes in the Kelowna area that occurred within about half an hour.

A car heading toward Kelowna on Highway 97 appears to have rear-ended another vehicle just before Bartley Road in the left lane.

A pair of fire engines, police, ambulance and a tow truck attended that scene at around 4 p.m., closing the lane for about 40 minutes.

It appears only minor injuries were sustained in that crash.

In another incident at around 4:30 p.m., another two vehicles crashed on Highway 97 and Burtch Road.

No injuries are reported from that crash.
Photo: CTV

A camper in Surrey suffered second- and third-degree burns Sunday afternoon after catching fire.

It's not known at this time how the man caught fire, but a woman walking her dogs nearby called police after she heard him screaming.

Fire crews received the report of the man on fire near the 5300 block of 55 Avenue at around 12:30 p.m.

Officials had to cross a creek to get to the man, but were able to rush him to hospital with serious burns.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: CTV

A Surrey child has died after drowning in a bathtub early Sunday evening.

Surrey RCMP were told by BC Ambulance just before 5 p.m. that they were en route to a home in the area of 109 Avenue and University Drive for a child that had apparently drowned.

Police attended the residence, and upon arrival, paramedics and Surrey fire crews were attempting to revive the six-year-old boy.

Crews performed CPR on the boy for just under an hour, but were unable to revive him.

The B.C. Coroner's office has been informed and the coroner has attended the residence.

The incident is being investigated by Surrey RCMP, and the adults in the residence are being interviewed to determine what happened.

No names are being released at this time, and Surrey RCMP says it will not have anymore information forthcoming until Monday.
Photo: CTV

Search and Rescue volunteers recovered the body of a kayaker, Sunday evening, who fell into waters off the east coast of Vancouver Island.

Two young men launched their kayaks from Union Bay with a plan to paddle to the nearby Tree Island about 11 p.m. Saturday.

They ended up in the water, and one of the two made it to shore to signal an alarm for help.

Search manager Paul Berry says rescue teams and the coast guard worked through the night and located the kayaks much further north from where the pair entered the water.

The man who made it to shore was treated for hypothermia in hospital and has since been released.

Weather conditions were mild at the time, but Berry says the men were not using ocean kayaks and warns other outdoor enthusiasts to always carry appropriate gear and supplies.
Photo: Twitter

Russian health officials say that at least 30 people in a Siberian city have died of alcohol poisoning after drinking a bath lotion.

Tatiana Lebedeva of the local health department said Monday that 30 people had died of methanol poisoning after consuming the bath lotion containing alcohol in Irkutsk, Russia's sixth-largest city with a population of 1.1 million. Another 15 people were in grave condition in the city's hospitals.

Officials said the bottles with the lotion were clearly marked with warnings that they weren't for internal use. Russia's top investigative agency has opened a probe into the incident.

Poisonings with surrogate alcohol are a regular occurrence in Russia, but the Irkutsk case was one of the deadliest such incident in years.
Photo: The Canadian Press

And you thought Election Day was in November.

Electors are set to gather in every state today to formally elect Donald Trump president even as anti-Trump forces try one last time to deny him the White House.

Protests are planned for state capitals, but they are unlikely to persuade the Electoral College to dump Trump. An Associated Press survey of electors found very little appetite to vote for alternative candidates.

Republican electors say they have been deluged with emails, phone calls and letters urging them not to support Trump. Many of the emails are part of co-ordinated campaigns.

"The letters are actually quite sad," said Lee Green, a Republican elector from North Carolina. "They are generally freaked out. They honestly believe the propaganda. They believe our nation is being taken over by a dark and malevolent force."

Wirt A. Yerger Jr., a Republican elector in Mississippi, said, "I have gotten several thousand emails asking me not to vote for Trump. I threw them all away."

A joint session of Congress is scheduled for Jan. 6 to certify the results of the Electoral College vote, with Vice-President Joe Biden presiding as president of the Senate. Once the result is certified, the winner  likely Trump  will be sworn in on Jan. 20.

The Electoral College was devised at the constitutional Convention in 1787. It was a compromise between those who wanted popular elections for president and those who wanted no public input.

The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

To be elected president, the winner must get at least half plus one  or 270 electoral votes. Most states give all their electoral votes to whichever candidate wins that state's popular vote. Maine and Nebraska award them by congressional district.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The official anti-Armenian policy adopted by Azerbaijan is the reason of committing war crimes by the Azerbaijani people, Philippe Raffi Kalfayan - Legal Counsel and Associate Researcher in International Public Law at Paris 2 University - said in an exclusive interview with Panorama.am.

He said the issue can be discussed to develop international judicial processes. This process can have a significant role in the legal struggle of the Armenian people, which is the recognition of the independence of Nagorno Karabakh.

Kalfayan, who served as Secretary General of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) 2001-2007, said the Armenian Genocide denial in Europe and US is no longer being financed by Turkey, rather it is financed by Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is also engaged in the cause of denial of the Armenian Genocide, although, the issue doesnt relate to it. This shows that the denialism is a clear policy which aims to spread hatred against Armenians. It can be stated that here there is a link since it has its impact on Nagorno Karabakh. Recently the NKR Ombudsman published a report on the war crimes committed by the Azerbaijanis during the April war. Examples of tortures and mutilations against Armenians are a vivid evidence of hatred policy, Kalfayan said who specializes in the field of public international law.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Tourists from Canada, Britain and Malaysia were hiding inside a Crusader castle during armed clashes between Jordan troops and gunmen at the site, Jordan's interior minister said Monday, denying that foreigners had been held hostage at any point.

Sunday's violent standoff capped a series of shootings that killed 10 people, including a Canadian tourist, and wounded 34 people. It was the deadliest and most high-profile attack in Jordan in recent memory.

Interior Minister Salameh Hammad told reporters Monday that at one point, four gunmen were firing at police and bystanders from the roof of Karak Castle.

"Inside the castle, there was a group of tourists," he said, adding that he did not believe the attackers were aware of the presence of the tourists during the standoff.

"There were some foreigners that we can't say were taken hostage, but they were hiding," he said.

Hammad did not explain how the Canadian woman, later identified as 62-year-old retired elementary school teacher Linda Vatcher, was killed. Vatcher's adult son, Chris, was injured in the jaw and is being treated at a hospital in the Jordanian capital of Amman, the minister said.

The minister said a Malaysian tourist was able to escape the castle during the standoff, while two British tourists got out after the four gunmen were killed by Jordanian security forces.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the shootings. Hammad did not release the identities of the attackers or their nationalities, but said some of them appeared to have been familiar with the castle.

Jordan has been facing homegrown extremism, with hundreds of Jordanians fighting alongside other Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more supporting the extremist group in the kingdom. Jordan is a key U.S. ally, and a member of a U.S.-led military coalition fighting IS.

Sunday's events began when a police patrol received reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district. Officers responding to the call came under fire from inside the house, officials said. Two policemen were wounded and the assailants fled in a car to Karak, it said.

Hammad said weapons and five or six explosives belts were found in the possession of the gunmen, suggesting they had planned other attacks. "I don't think the target was only Karak Castle," he said. "Maybe there were more targets, but Allah helped us discover this cell before more attacks took place."

In all, seven members of the Jordanian security forces, two local civilians and the visitor from Canada were killed Sunday. One of the Jordanian officers, Lt. Col. Saed al-Maayta, was laid to rest Monday in his hometown of Ader, about 15 kilometres from Karak.
Photo: CTV

An early morning snowfall paralyzed the commute around Greater Vancouver today.

Snow that fell Sunday was expected to shift to rain overnight, but instead the region was surprised by a soggy white blanket at least five centimetres deep, although the Environment Canada website was calling for rain by midday.

Downed branches cut power to more than 28,000 BC Hydro customers from Vancouver east to Mission and as far north as Pemberton.

Transit officials say buses were challenged by impassable roads, while snow on the SkyTrain tracks triggered alarms, slowing down the system.

Crews maintaining the Port Mann Bridge over the Fraser River, east of Vancouver, warn temporary closures might be required as teams worked to keep bridge cables free of ice that could fall on passing vehicles.

The University of British Columbia cancelled exams slated for 8:30 a.m., and students due to write exams later in the day were advised to check the university website for further updates.
Photo: Facebook - Eric Tate

Investigators are releasing more details about a fatal crash on Highway 1 near Kamloops Saturday morning.

Two people in a Nissan Rogue were killed when a Ford pickup truck crossed over the centre line and crashed into the smaller vehicle.

The two were from the Lytton-area.

Meanwhile, the two Prince George occupants in the pickup truck were taken to Royal Inland Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police are not releasing names or ages.

"Investigators are working to determine the cause of this tragic collision," said Sgt. Mike Pears, with the Kamloops RCMP.

"Weather and road conditions at the time of the collision were good. As emergency personnel arrived on scene, snow began to fall in the area and continued as members worked to re-construct the scene of the head-on crash."

Police are asking witnesses who have not spoken with investigators to contact Const. Mark Blacklock with the Central Interior Traffic Services unit in Kamloops at 250-828-3159.
Photo: The Canadian Press

An Ankara police officer dressed in a suit and tie shouted slogans about Syria's civil war after he killed Russia's ambassador to Turkey in front of stunned onlookers at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital on Monday, according to officials and an Associated Press photographer who witnessed the shooting. Police later killed the assailant.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when a man identified by Turkey's interior minister as Mevlut Mert Altintas fired at least eight shots, according to the AP photographer in the audience.

"Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" the gunman shouted in Turkish, referring to the Syrian city where Russian bombardments have helped drive rebels from areas they had occupied for years during the war.

He also shouted "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great" and continued in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad."

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Altintas, who was born in 1994, had been an officer with Ankara's riot police squad for more than two years. Soylu did not give a motive for the attack.

The gunman approached Karlov as he lay on the ground and shot him at least one more time at close range, according to the AP photographer. The attacker also smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition. There was panic as people ran for cover. Three other people were wounded in the attack, Turkey's NTV television said.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman climbed to the second floor of the same building and a 15-minute shootout with police ensued before he was killed, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported.

The attack comes a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defence ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria. Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nearly six-year conflict, while Turkey has supported Assad's foes.

"It's a tragic day in the history of our country and Russian diplomacy," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in televised comments.

"Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations," she said. "He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. It's a terrible loss for us and also the world."

Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang in 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department. He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said U.S. officials were aware of reports about the shooting.

"We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source," Kirby said.

The United Nations also condemned the attack.

"There can be no justification for an attack on an ambassador ... and we very much hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Photo: Contributed

UPDATE: 11 a.m.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said the latest overdose death numbers have left officials asking why there has been a spike in the number of deaths.

"Why, with all the new harm-reduction measures in place, are we still losing so many members of our communities to illicit drugs, and why was the loss so much higher in November?" she asked at a news conference.

"Clearly illicit drugs are becoming increasingly unpredictable and increasingly perilous. It may be that there has been more toxic fentanyl than usual circulating, or we may be facing the terrifying possibility of carfentanil being introduced broadly into the illicit drug stream, or the arrival of another particularly lethal analogue of fentanyl."

Lapointe said the service will work with the provincial toxicology centre to try to determine what caused the increase in deaths.

ORIGINAL: 9:50 a.m.

B.C. has a new infamous record  the highest number of overdose deaths recorded in one month.

The BC Coroners Service released its latest statistics Monday morning, and they show 128 overdose deaths in November. The previous high for a single month was 82 in January 2016.

"On one day last week (Dec. 15), at least 11 persons died of illicit drug overdose deaths, a majority of them on the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver," says the Coroners Service in a statement.

In Kelowna alone, there have been 40 OD deaths so far this year. That's already more than twice last year's 19 recorded deaths.

Throughout the entire Okanagan, the report notes nearly 20 deaths per 100,000 people.

Fentanyl is blamed for 60 per cent of all OD deaths.

"With the number of deaths remaining so high, the BC Coroners Service continues to stress the importance of harm-reduction measures that need to be followed by anyone using any illicit drugs or accompanying anyone who is using," says the Coroners Service.

Those measures include not using alone, having naloxone and medical help readily available when using, using an overdose-prevention site or supervised-consumption site wherever possible, and knowing the signs of an overdose and calling 911 immediately.
Photo: CTV

UPDATE: 2:35 p.m.

Vancouver police say a man shot by an officer is still in hospital.

"No further information is available about his condition at this time," said the Vancouver Police Department in a statement.

Transit police received reports Monday morning that a man was allegedly threatening passengers with a machete.

"When officers located him in a SkyTrain car, they evacuated the train and the surrounding area, and closed the doors to the car, containing the man inside," said the VPD.

Vancouver police arrived. As negotiations continued, police said the man broke his way out through the closed train doors with the machete.

He was then shot by an officer.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is looking into the incident.

ORIGINAL: 10 a.m.

Police shot a man wielding a machete inside an East Vancouver SkyTrain station this morning.

The man was carrying the machete at the 29th Street station during the morning rush hour and was shot as shocked commuters looked on.

CTV reports the man appeared to walk towards officers who had their guns drawn before a gunshot was heard by witnesses.

The station was evacuated.

VPD Const. Jason Douchette says the suspect has been taken to hospital. His condition is not known.

The Independent Investigations Office has been notified of the police shooting.

VPD officers were assisting Vancouver Transit Police when the incident unfolded.

During the drama, trains did not stop at 29th Street. Riders were told to get off at Joyce and take buses.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Dear Premier Clark,



Re: Your acceptance of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Expansion seven fold tanker increase, and the danger to the Second Narrows highway and railway bridges Further to our earlier email of December 1, 2016, we are setting out in more detail why a risk assessment must take place before you decide on the Trans Mountain Expansion.



Please consider the following:

1. The expansion will increase oil tanker traffic transiting the Burrard Inlet from five Aframax tankers per month to 34 per month. This increase means that there will be three or four days each month when two tankers will need to transit the Inlet in the same day, in order to make up the number of 34. In order to comply with the Port of Vancouver Authority regulations for transit at the bridges and for public safety, these transits must take place during the two-hour period of slack water, and this must occur during daylight hours. In winter, some days will have no slack water while there is still daylight, resulting in pressure being applied to get approval to transit during the hours of darkness.



2. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is concerned about possible collisions with the SecondNarrows bridges. Dirk Nyland, your Chief Engineer at the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, has sent me a letter stating, Given the changes to vessel usage in Burrard Inlet over time, we are in the midst of undertaking a review of the vessel impact protection for both of these superstructures. The Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code S6-14 is being used in the work.



3. Despite current assurances from the Port of Vancouver Authority and the Pacific Pilotage, who have carried out many simulations to show how Aframax tankers can safely transit the bridges, they cannot guarantee that there will be no collisions with the bridges, as illustrated in our animation.

They can be commended for using simulations for training pilots and for determining the safest way of using tugs. However, this is not enough. What is needed is a proper risk assessment that includes mitigations to reduce the risk, including : the use of tugs, the proper training of pilots, and improved navigation aids. These transits and the regulations of the Port Authority should be input into the CSA S6 Highways and Bridge code analysis.



4. We also need an examination of worldwide statistics of similar accidents and the probability of these accidents occurring in the Second Narrows transit. This analysis should consider the consequences of collision to both the railway bridge and the highway bridge. Once this is done, we would have a proper risk assessment.



5. We would like to point out that Kinder Morgan states they have had no tanker incidents in the past sixty years, however Port of Vancouver Authority can only say for certain that Aframax tankers, which are the tankers Kinder Morgan uses for oil transport, have been transiting the Burrard Inlet since the mid 1990s. In addition, just because there have been no accidents of Kinder Morgan vessels in the Burrard Inlet, that doesnt mean that it cant happen. You may recall that Westshore Terminals went without major incident for 42 years until Dec 7, 2012, when the vessel Cape Apricot, at 1:00 am, was supposed to berth at Berth 2. Vessels have to make a turn into the berth that requires tug assistance to keep the vessel from turning too wide, and in turning into Berth 2, they are working against wind and currents. In this case, the pilot attempted the manoeuvre without the required tug aid at the start of the approach, and ran into the Berth 1 approach conveyor, severing it and putting Berth 1 out of commission for two months. Coal was spilled into the sea.



6. When the risk assessment is completed, the assessment needs to be peer reviewed, and the results from that should be discussed with the public.



7. In addition to the concern with bridge collision, the current risk of ten percent over 50 years, that a major bitumen spill of eight million, two hundred and fifty thousand litres will occur as projected by Kinder Morgan, is unacceptable.



We hope you will consider the above, and ensure that the BC government conducts a thorough risk assessment before supporting the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Expansion project.

Brian Gunn

Spokesperson, Concerned Professional Engineers
Photo: File photo

The fate of a North Okanagan man accused of willfully neglecting his horses and threatening SPCA officers is in the hands of provincial court judge.

Armstrong resident Gary Roberts, 70, is facing charges of causing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal and failing to provide the necessities of life. He also faces one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

Crown Counsel Alexandra Janse and defence lawyer Julian van der Walle made their closing arguments Monday morning before Justice Mark Takahashi.

Van der Walle argued Roberts did not willfully neglect the care of his more than 100 horses, but they fell into ill health because of a variety of factors and he was doing his best to care for the animals.

Earlier in the trial, Roberts said he placed several of his horses in the care of a neighbour who was supposed to pasture the animals, but when he got them back seven weeks later, he said several of them were very skinny.

Roberts also testified soon after he got the horses back, winter conditions covered his own pasture with ice, making it difficult to feed and water the horses.

Van der Walle said Roberts did the best he could under the circumstances and did not willfully cause harm or neglect to the animals and should not be saddled with a criminal record.

The defence lawyer also pointed out his client did admit in court some of his horses were in need of care and that he was doing what he could to provide that care.

Meanwhile, Janse said Takahashi should put little weight on Roberts' testimony that several horses were returned to him in poor health, saying he had not proven that was true.

Janse said even though the horses were not on his property, he was still responsible for their well being and noted Roberts did not check on the horses during those seven weeks.

Roberts is also facing a charge of threatening SPCA officers Kathy Woodward and Dan Chapman when they attended his property on Dec. 10, 2014 to seize the animals.

Earlier in the trial, Woodward testified Roberts said he had guns and that the RCMP better have their guns ready because he was going down with his horses.

Roberts was also described at extremely angry when the SPCA attended his property.

Van der Walle argued Roberts did not mean it as a threat toward the SPCA, but rather it was suicidal ideation.

Janse argued it was a threat toward the SPCA officers who felt concern for their safety.

Takahashi questioned both the defence and Crown on a couple matters before adjourning court.

He is expected to deliver his ruling this afternoon at 2 p.m.
Photo: Contributed

A teen who pleaded guilty to taking part in brutal sex attacks against two women in Winnipeg will be sentenced as an adult.

The youth, who cannot be named because he was 17 at the time of the 2014 attacks, pleaded guilty earlier this year to two counts of aggravated sexual assault.

Court has heard he suffers from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, has a very low IQ and was sexually abused as a child.

A co-accused, Justin Hudson, 22, has also pleaded guilty to the same charges.

During the attacks, a 16-year-old girl was sexually assaulted, struck with a hammer and left for dead along the shores of a frigid Winnipeg river.

The pair went on to beat and sexually assaulted a 23-year-old woman who suffered a concussion and severe facial injuries.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. I think we are paying too much attention to the Perincek case (Perinces vs. Switzerland, ECHR Grand Chamber verdict, 2015, October 15), because the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) didnt deliver a verdict on the lawfulness of the Swiss law on criminalizing denial of Armenian Genocide, and Armenians should perceive the verdict in a more broader sense, which is from the point of view of the Armenian Cause. The Court simply made a ruling in terms of a specific sanction. First of all, no assessment or labeling is given in the Grand Chambers verdict on the crimes (genocide). The Court brought itself out of that dispute, Philippe Raffi Kalfayan - French lawyer and international law expert, Legal Counsel and Associate Researcher in International Public Law at the University of Paris told Panorama.am in an interview.

The 2013, December 17 verdict of the Lower Court of the ECHR contained a reevaluation of the historical and political reality of the Armenian Genocide, which was completely unacceptable. ECHR crossed the limits of its jurisdiction, based on rather unserious arguments, Kalfayan said, adding that such comments forces the Government of Armenia to intervene in the Grand Chambers case, with the purpose of making some corrections in the Courts conclusions.

Commenting on the consequences of the ECHR Grand Chambers verdict on the Perincek vs. Switzerland case, Kalfayan said it is often a subject of misinterpretations and incorrect comments both by the press and the society.

Kalfayan, who had been the Secretary General of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) 2001-2007, says all parties involved in the ECHR Grand Chamber discussions: Switzerland, France, Turkey and Armenia, affirmed that they dont have the desire at all to make the Genocide debate a subject of a Court proceeding.

Since it cannot be viewed in the circles of the European Convention (Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms European Convention), the ECHR is not a criminal court, and they dont have any jurisdiction in that issue, Kalfayan said, adding the Grand Chamber has made a correction in the unlawful verdict of the lower Court, admitting they dont have the jurisdiction to examine the Genocide issue, at the same time acknowledging the Swiss Courts right on labeling these historical facts as genocide.

Kalfayan added it is extremely important for Armenians to understand that the European Court did not reject the evaluation of the Swiss Courts over the historic facts, which label the mentioned facts and a crime of genocide.

It is not the decision of the Swiss Courts that the ECHR appealed, rather just the inadequate sanction for the violation of the law documented by them, Kalfayan said.

In a way, the verdict of the Perincek case (adopted by ECHR Grand Chamber) is victorious for Armenians, he said, citing the fact that neither European judges, nor Turkey and Perincek denied the fact of massacres and mass deportations of Armenians.

There is an interesting paragraph in the Grand Chambers verdict, where the Court acknowledges Genocide to be a consistent part of the Armenian identity, which reaffirms Armenians right to recognition of dignity. The Court admits, that disputing Perinceks announcements, where he denied that Armenians have survived genocide, was aimed at defending that identity and therefore the dignity of present day Armenians (Paragraph 156).

This formulation implies the recondition of the reality of Genocide, because they clearly recognize its existence, as a component of the identity of Armenians, avoiding giving any legal assessment to it and engaging in any debate. They acknowledge these facts as reality. The seven judges were even more decisive in their joint opinion. They announced that the mass massacres and deportations of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire is obvious and undeniable Genocide, as the judges have put it  self-evident  Kalfayan said.
Photo: Contributed

A team of researchers from the University of Toronto says they have discovered the world's oldest water in Canada.

Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar says the water was found at a mine in Timmins, Ont., about three kilometres beneath the Earth's surface.

Lollar, who lead the research team, says laboratory tests revealed the water was about two billion years old.

She says the discovery of the "smelly" liquid pushes back the understanding of the Earth's oldest flowing water and that its composition can support life.

Lollar says the finding has implications for life on Mars because the Canadian Shield, where the water was discovered, is geologically similar to the neighbouring planet and it's likely that similar energy-rich water is somewhere deep beneath its surface.

The research was presented last week at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco.
Photo: Nobleford FD

High winds are creating traffic havoc on some highways in southern Alberta with reports of big semi trucks being toppled.

Semi rollovers were reported Monday in the Claresholm and Nobleford areas south of Calgary and south of Airdrie.

RCMP in Raymond were advising against travel due to the strong gusts of wind.

Environment Canada has issued wind warnings for about half of the province.

Forecasters say wind gusts as high as 100 km/h are possible in some areas.

Environment Canada says there is a significant risk the wind in some areas could damage buildings or blow loose objects around that could cause injuries.
Photo: File photo

This holiday season, the Okanagan Science Centre is giving the gift of science to families in the Vernon area.

The centre will be giving away more than two dozen one-year family memberships to families in need.

Jim Swingle, OSC executive director, said the centre is partnering with the Salvation Army, Vernon and District Immigration and Community Services and All Saints Anglican Churchs refugee committee to distribute the memberships.

At our recent Science Pub fundraiser, 14 Okanagan Science Centre memberships were donated to go to families in the community, said Swingle. The Okanagan Science Centre matched the donations, bringing the total number of available memberships to 28.

Swingle said of those, 22 memberships are being distributed to families in need in Vernon as part of the Salvation Army Christmas hampers.

Six of the memberships were set aside for refugee families newly arriving in Vernon. Of those, four have been distributed. If you know or have sponsored a refugee family in Vernon, please contact the science centre at 250-545-3644, he said. We still have two more memberships available for refugee families.
The mother of a 37-year-old parolee missing from a Kelowna halfway house since May is desperate for information on her son.

Photo: Contributed - RCMP Phillip Lyons

Phillip Lee Lyons has not been seen or heard from since leaving the halfway house back on May 26. He was on day parole at the time of his disappearance.

He has not contacted his family since leaving the halfway house.

Family members say it is unusual for Lyons to not have contact with his family, even when he knows he has outstanding warrants.

The family reported him missing October 3.

Police say Lyons may still be in the Okanagan but say the New Brunswick native had expressed a desire to return to the Maritime province.

If he travelled back to New Brunswick, police believe that he would most likely be in either Fredericton or Doaktown.

A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for Lyons.

Lyons has a long and diverse criminal history dating back to when he was 19 years of age.

At the time of his disappearance, he was serving an eight year sentence for Robbery, Possession of a Weapon Obtained by the Commission of an Offense, Theft Under $5000 and Fail to Attend Court.



He is described as:

Caucasian man

37 years of age

5'10", 223lbs

Brown Hair

Hazel Eyes

Tattoo on his left shoulder: tribal symbols

Tattoo on his left forearm: Sabrina , tribal symbol surrounding an eye, FTC

, tribal symbol surrounding an eye, Tattoo on right shoulder: Skull art

And various tattoos on his right forearm

If you have any information regarding his whereabouts please contact your local RCMP.

Do not approach Lyons as he may become violent.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. A famous specialist in international law, Legal Counsel and Associate Researcher in International Public Law at Paris University Philippe Raffi Kalfayan suggests to develop counterattack strategy against the Turkish-Azerbaijani anti-Armenian campaign.

I personally think that the separate laws on criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial are useless and take a defensive nature by Armenians. We, it seems, always want to prove that we have been committed to genocide. Why? There is no need to prove anything, Philippe Raffi Kalfayan said in an exclusive interview with Panorama.am.

The Armenian Genocide is a historical and political fact which has been recognized by states, the majority of international community, as well as any serious scientist. We spend time, energy and money on doing that, whereas, such laws are not so welcomed by the representatives of public living in democratic systems, which is being more and more perceived as a restriction on the exercise of the right of free speech. Such actions are not effective, he said on the eve of third anniversary of the initial judgment delivered by the European Court of Human Rights on December 17, 2013 in the case of Perincek v. Switzerland.

Referring to the consequences of the decision of the European Court, as well as opportunities on suppressing the internationally spreading anti-Armenian hatred campaign by Azerbaijan and Turkey, Kalfayan said Armenia must adopt new and fresh approaches.

We need to move forward and start taking counterattacks by submitting reparation lawsuits, he said and added: Every Armenian individual, every Armenian structure, who have the documents over the lost property, must depart for Turkey and submit lawsuits in the local courts. Currently there are curtain such cases in Turkeys justice system that are being examined, Kalfayan said.

He stated that another manifestation of that strategy must be the submission of collective lawsuits that will relate to the reparation of the damage (be it financial or moral) of the Armenian people as a one unity. This is much more difficult issue that will require legal and strategic approach, he said.






YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Romania, Edward Nalbandian and Lazar Comanescu have exchanged messages on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, Edward Nalbandians message runs as follows,

Excellency,

It is with great pleasure that I am writing to you to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and Romania.

Romania was among the first states to officially recognize the independence of the Republic of Armenia on December 11, 1991, a short while after the proclamation by Armenia of its sovereign statehood. Days after, on December 17, the Agreement on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Armenia and Romania was signed in Bucharest, anchoring on centuries-old ties of friendship between Armenian and Romanian nations. In 1994, Armenia opened one of its first diplomatic missions in Bucharest.



Throughout a quarter of a century, the Armenian-Romanian relations flourished, based on high level visits and extensive political dialogue, a solid legal framework of over four dozens of bilateral agreements, the activities of the Armenian-Romanian Intergovernmental Mixed Commission on Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, and on the vast cultural exchanges carried out through successive Programs of Cooperation in the field of culture, education and science. Apart from bilateral dimension, our countries have enhanced cooperation within multilateral frameworks, including the United Nations, EU Eastern Partnership, International Organization of La Francophonie, and others.

The Armenian-Romanian relations have vastly benefited from the contribution of the vibrant Armenian community which for centuries has been present in Romanias political, economic and cultural life.

Please rest assured that Armenia will continue to do its utmost to further strengthen and enhance the relations between our countries to bring to new heights our cooperation in the next quarter of century and beyond.

I would like to use this occasion to wish you and the friendly people of Romania prosperity and progress.

Your Excellency, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Accompanied by Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan visited a road sector of key importance for the capital ensuring the southern entry to the city, where he attended the opening ceremony of the newly constructed Arshakunyats Avenue- Shirak street- Artashat highway road.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office, the President of the Republic familiarized himself with the works done, talked to those responsible for the works and builders during the tour.

The construction of this section of the road was implemented with the support of the Asian Development Bank in the sidelines of Sustainable Urban Development Investment Program and is a part of the complex bypassing Yerevan. The main goal of the project is to ensure a smooth connection between southern and northern entries of the city and to reduce the traffic of Yerevan center.

According to the program managers, as a result of the project the newly constructed road will take on its shoulders the entire traffic burden of south-Yerevan city and the opposite directions.

The length of this road meeting the international standards is 5 kms, while the average width is 24-28 meters. To ensure nonstop traffic a 270 meters cloverleaf interchange has been constructed above the railroad on Artashat highway.

Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan reported to the President on the results of the construction of the southern entry to the city, as well as on the future works in the sidelines of Sustainable Urban Development Investment Program. Accordingly, the main road consists of 4 main traffic lanes. An elevated pedestrian crossing has been constructed on Artashat highway, which is the first in Yerevan equipped with elevators designed for people with disabilities.

It is planned that the construction of the road bypassing Yerevan will be completed in 2019. The total length of the road will be 23 kms which will significantly reduce the traffic in the city center.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenia exported goods worth 312.4 million USD to EAEU member states in January-October, 2016, Armenpress reports, citing the statistical data of the EAEU, this is an increase of 54.7% against the same period of the previous year. Imports from EAEU states to Armenia amounted to 835.3 million USD, which is a growth of 5.4% against January-October, 2015.

Belarus exported goods worth 9 billion and 144.6 million USD to EAEU member states, which is a decrease of 1.3% against January-October, 215. Imports to Belarus amounted to 12 billion and 595.3 million USD, which is a decrease of 11.5%.

Kazakhstans exports declined by 28.6%, amounting to 3 billion and 139.9 million USD, while imports also declined by 20.7%, amounting to 7 billion and 578.7 million USD.

Kirgizstans exports amounted to 289.9 million USD, which is a decline of 25.8%. Imports amounted to 1 billion and 291.3 million USD, declining by 20.2%.

Russias export to the EAEU member states amounted to 20 billion and 592.9 million USD. This is a decline of 14.4% against January-October of 2015. Russia imported goods worth 11 billion and 153.2 million from EAEU member states  declining by 7.1% against the same period of 2015.
AfricaRice is a CGIAR Research Center  part of a global research partnership for a food-secure future. It is also an intergovernmental association of African member countries. For more information visit: www.AfricaRice.org

A propos dAfricaRice

AfricaRice est un Centre de recherche du CGIAR  un partenariat mondial de la recherche agricole pour un futur sans faim. AfricaRice est aussi une association intergouvernementale composee de pays membres africains. Pour plus dinformations, visiter : www.AfricaRice.org
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. In line with the Action Plan 2016 on bilateral cooperation between Armenia and Greece, the official visit of the delegation led by Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan to Greece kicked off on December 19.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of MoD Armenia, following the official welcoming ceremony held at the Ministry of National Defense of Greece, an extended-format meeting between the Armenian and Greek delegations took place, followed by the private conversation between the Defense Minister of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan and his Greek counterpart Panos Kammenos. Issues related to Armenian-Greece bilateral defense cooperation were discussed.

Highly assessing the current cooperation level, the sides reached an agreement on deepening and expanding the bilateral cooperation, as well as exchanging experience in a number of spheres.

Issues of regional and international security were also discussed at the meeting.

After the talks were over, Vigen Sargsyan and Panos Kammenos met with media representatives and briefed on the results of the talks.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. We do not plan to cooperate with a state at the expense of another, Armenpress reports Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan announced in an interview with fdiintelligence.com.

When it comes to our foreign policy, we will definitely send a signal, through our actions and policies, that we are very honest and frank with our partners. We are not going to be co-operating with one country to the detriment of other countries. The size of our country and our neighbouring countries brings us to the idea that we really need to focus on stimulating regional co-operation. From that perspective, I think that regional co-operation will open new opportunities for our businesses, Karapetyan told.

PM Karapetyan also stressed that Armenia is known by many people as a conflicting country, therefore it is necessary to show them that Armenia is also a tolerant state. I think our lifestyle is proof of that, since about three-quarters of our nation is living abroad and serve as law-abiding citizens of other countries. We have suffered enough from wars to be very sensitive about the value of peace and we are very concerned about our security , he said.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Direct foreign investments are of key importance for Armenia, Armenpress reports Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan announced in an interview with fdiintelligence.com.

According to the Head of the Executive, these investments are of key importance not only for economic growth, but also for bringing in a new management culture, and demonstrating the openness of our country, which will certainly have a positive multiplying effect on other areas of our life, such as tourism.

When it comes to privatisation, I think Armenia is one of the most liberal countries among the post-Soviet countries. There is really very little state property. However, I am confident that private management is always better than public. It reduces corruption risks, increases efficiency, etc. Therefore, our intention is to transfer everything that has business logic, except for very specific areas such as security and defence, either through privatisation or submission for management, he said.

Karen Karapetyan also states that Armenias IT sector is very attractive, since it has huge potentials and opportunities. Our agriculture, jewellery, mining, light industry, energy and tourism sectors also have big potential of attracting foreign investment, he noted.
October 31, 2022 17:51

World wheat prices up

At the opening of trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, world wheat prices jumped by almost 5 percent, trading data show. The trigger for the rise in prices was the fact that Russia announced it was suspending the grain deal, news.am informs.
The traffic department of Georgias Ministry of Infrastructures and Territorial Development informs on December 19, as of 10:00, the Stepantsminda-Lars Highway is open for all types of vehicles, including also cargos.

December 19, 2016, 10:16 Stepantsminda-Lars Highway open for all types of vehicles
The European Stability Initiative (ESI) has issued the second part of its investigation into Azerbaijans caviar diplomacy.

December 19, 2016, 12:36 Mammadov: PACE President received money from Azerbaijan

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 19, ARTSAKHPRESS: Contact.az news agency of Azerbaijan informed about the aforesaid citing the Facebook commentary by Democracy for Azerbaijan (AND) organization co-chair, Arif Mammadov.

This section of the report exposes the flagrant facts of the corruption schemes organized by the Azerbaijani authorities, [and] in which dozens of senior European politicians are involved, wrote Arif Mammadov. PACE [i.e. the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe] Peoples Party Group Chairman, Italian parliamentarian Luca Volonte, whose active involvement in corruption mechanisms has been proved by the prosecutors office of Italy, agreed to collaborate with Italian investigative bodies. He gave the names of numerous European politicians who received money from Azerbaijan; the [respective] tracks lead all the way to incumbent PACE President Pedro Agramunt.

Volonte himself received around 3 million euros from Azerbaijan, for dirty lobbying services; he transferred a part of these means to other MPs.

In all likelihood, the names of some Azerbaijani MPs that are mentioned in the report, [and] whose photos you can see in the report, can be transmitted to Interpol.

Our AND organization actively collaborates with ESI.

The investigation continues. So, wait for the next commotion."
President of Iran Rouhani will leave Tehran for Yerevan on December 21.

December 19, 2016, 13:30 Irans Rouhani to arrive in Armenia on December 21

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 19, ARTSAKHPRESS: During his one-day stay in Armenia, the President is to confer with his Armenian counterpart on bolstering mutual relations and cooperation as well as deepening of relations with the neighboring as well as regional states, IRNA reported.

The Iranian and Armenian officials will also sign some memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to broaden cooperation.

After Armenia, President Rouhani will go Kazakhstan to meet Kazakh president and high ranking officials to sign some memorandums of understanding and take part in a joint press conference with his Kazakh counterpart.

Kyrgyzstan, is the last leg of the president's central Asian tour to confer with Kyrgyz president and senior officials to sign MoUs for economic cooperation.
Carbon dioxide doesnt have a very positive image, as it is generally only considered to be a greenhouse gas. But scientists involved in the German Government-funded eEthylen project expect their research to yield important insights into how CO2 can be efficiently converted into ethylene, thus enabling them to optimize electrochemical synthesis processes for large-scale industrial applications.

For us, carbon dioxide isnt a waste product, but rather a valuable raw material with great prospects, explains Dan Taroata, the project manager from the consortium leader, Siemens. In the eEthylen project, Taroata and his colleagues are working together with experts from Evonik, the Technical University of Berlin, Ruhr University Bochum, and the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nurnberg to study how CO2 can be converted into ethylene. Taorata is convinced that CO2 will not only help to produce coveted materials but will also open up new business opportunities for Siemens.

With the help of a direct single-stage electrolysis system, the researchers are using electricity to synthesize ethylene out of carbon dioxide and water. Their work focuses on electro catalysts, because these materials can charge inert CO2 with its energy-rich electrons into ethylene. If the electrons instead congregate in the surrounding water, the process produces only hydrogen. Thats why the choice of which catalyst to use determines whether the method will be successful or not.

Putting Carbon Dioxide to Work

Together with their eEthylen partners, scientists from Siemens are now looking for a solution that will allow them to realize their vision. For the ethylene production process, Siemens is contributing a system from one of its key areas of expertise: an electrolysis facility for continuous operation. The system is based on electrolyzers for hydrogen production, which are already part of the Siemens product range.



The Technical University of Berlin is responsible for analyzing the systems catalytic capacity and the range of chemical products, while Ruhr University Bochum is investigating the chemical composition of the catalysts. The Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nurnberg is contributing its electrode expertise, and Evonik is developing powder catalysts for the production of large electrolysis electrodes.



The three-year project, which was launched in October 2016, is part of the German governments CO2Plus research initiative to investigate the use of CO2 in the production of raw materials. Siemens is the leader of the project consortium. Equipped with a total budget of 2.9 million, eEthylen could well revolutionize the manufacture of ethylene.

From Renewable Energy to Cheaper Ethylene

Traditional ethylene production methods are expensive and energy intensive. Typically, steam cracking is used  a process in which the petroleum distillate naphtha is heated to around 800850 Celsius until its long chains of hydrocarbons break down into short-chains. This process results in 15 different materials, which then have to be laboriously separated from one another. One of these materials is ethylene. But if an electrochemical process were used instead, the resulting ethylene would be economically attractive in part because the price of solar and wind power is steadily falling.



Ethylene is currently used in a wide variety of ways. For one thing, it is the feedstock material for the production of polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, and polyester. As such, it is contained in most plastics. Ethylene also helps to make fruits and vegetables ripen at precisely the right time  an important application in a world of globalized food-supply chains.



If the eEthylen research team manages to optimize the electrolytic production process, the result could seriously challenge conventional manufacturing methods. And it could be a big money maker too. Thats because one ton of ethylene costs between 850 and 1,200  a hefty sum, considering that around 180 million tons are used annually worldwide.
In 2012, ONeill promised to address the issue and, to his credit, established the Investigation Task Force Sweep (ITFS). ITFS was an inter-organisation agency that included the Police Fraud Squad. Little did the prime minister know that he himself would become a person of interest, engulfing a considerable amount of ITFS work.

Then police commissioner Tom Kulunga requested that ONeill attend a police interview on allegations of fraud regarding payments of an estimated K71 million by the State to a national law firm, Paul Paraka Lawyers. But the scheduled interview never happened.

A LETTER to prime minister Peter ONeill on the morning of 16 June 2014 started off what would become the most controversial anti-corruption story in the history of Papua New Guinea.

But the case against ONeill was never going to be easy. Since it began, two and a half years ago, a series of convoluted legal cases have jammed the path of the investigators. An interview, let alone any resolution of the serious allegations of fraud against the prime minister, now looks unlikely in light of recent national court judgements against ITFS.

I want to briefly reflect on the most significant court cases against the ITFS this year and assess their implications for anti-corruption efforts in PNG.

The first significant case was in February 2016. The issue was whether or not members of the Fraud Squad (itself part of ITFS) should engage the service of private lawyers instead of the state prosecutors.

The prime minister argued that members of the Fraud Squad should engage the service of state prosecutors because they are acting in their capacity as police officers. Further, it was argued that the Attorney-General Act 1989 (PNG) prevents brief-outs to private lawyers unless approved by the Attorney-General and that approval was not given.

The Fraud Squad, however, questioned the neutrality of the state prosecutors in light of the successive appointments of Police Commissioners and the consensus among the lawyers acting for the police and the Prime Minister as evidence of a concerted effort to frustrate the case.

They argued, inter alia, that the engagement of private lawyers was to ensure that the case against the PM is not derailed or suppressed as often seen in many high-profile cases in PNG.

The court was asked to look beyond the narrow confines of institutional limitations to that of national interest. It is a view that appeared consistent with the notion under the PNG constitution that the court has inherent power to do justice in circumstances where injustice would otherwise arise. However the court refused the Fraud Squads arguments, stating: Even if the court was of that view, it is not a reason for this court to depart from or to disregard the provisions of a statute.

Although the Attorney-General Act 1989 required the Fraud Squad to seek approval from the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, the minister is not a neutral party. He is an appointee of the prime minister and a member of ONeills cabinet. It is therefore unlikely that the Attorney-General would appoint an objective and competent legal representation against the prime minister.

The courts ruling suggests that, despite these circumstances, it is bound to follow the letter of the law. This strict interpretation by the court was again evident in a later court judgement in September 2016.

The issue in this case was whether the two leading investigators, Matthew Demaru and Timothy Gitua, should be part of a judicial review proceeding that challenges the power of the chief magistrate to issue the arrest warrant. The court refused their affirmative argument and ruled that the proper person to be a party to a judicial review proceeding on behalf of the police force and to challenge the warrant if thought necessary, is the Police Commissioner.

According to the court, it is the police commissioner, not the Fraud Squad investigators, who should argue the case for the merits of the warrant of arrest against the prime minister. While this view may be in line with the constitutional power of the commissioner to exert superintendent of the police, it arguably overlooks the circumstances that strongly suggest the commissioner may not be acting in the best interest of the case.

These two cases raise profound jurisprudential questions for PNG. Should courts apply the provisions of legislation strictly to the letter even if such application may arguably be unfavourable to the overall interest of justice? What should be the proper standard of interpretation?

On Friday 2 December, the PNG national court ruled that the decision made by the National Executive Council (NEC) in June 2014, under the chairmanship of the prime minister, to disband ITFS was a policy decision and cannot be reviewed by the courts.

ITFS was disbanded at the height of the allegations against the prime minister but the court initially intervened to stay the disbanding. The fallout resulted in the sacking and suspension of other senior state officials including Attorney-General Kerenga Kua, Acting Solicitor General Jubille Tindiwi and Assistant Police Commissioner Simon Kauba.

Although it received no funding, the stay order enabled ITFS to continue its operation, with Chairman Sam Koim remaining in that role on an unpaid basis. This latest court judgement effectively ends the work and indeed the very existence of ITFS, although there could still be an option for appeal to the Supreme Court.

The decision raises a critical question.

Should the NEC escape accountability even if its policy decision appears repugnant to the course of justice? The court reasoned that elections and votes of no-confidence schemes are two avenues through which NEC can be held accountable for policy decisions, not through the courts.

However, the issue is not whether the NEC has the power to disband ITFS but whether the decision is a proper use of their power, given the timing of their action in light of pending allegations against the prime minister who is the chairman of the NEC.

One may argue that courts have a duty to intervene because the NEC decision to disband ITFS was intended to frustrate the criminal process and undermine the overall justice system which the courts are constitutionally charged to jealously protect.

On the issue of the proper use of NECs power, it is a trite constitutional understanding in PNG that the executive power of the People is vested in the executive (NEC). PNG courts have long accepted this to mean that whatever policy decision undertaken by the NEC must be in the best interest of the people.

One may then question whether the NEC decision to disband ITFS was a proper exercise of the executive powers and in the best interest of the people. The executive should not be allowed to set up investigative authorities or commission inquiries and when they themselves are incriminated, move hastily to shut it down or suppress reports.

It may be apparent from this analysis that these cases raise profound jurisprudential and constitutional questions. There is need for legislative and institutional reform as well as greater research.

Unless there are grounds for appeal, the most recent court decision effectively brings to closure the operations of ITFS. The Fraud Squad continues to exist, but has a limited role in the PMs case. The anti-corruption responsibility will most likely be transferred to the Interim Office for Anti-Corruption chaired by former supreme court judge Graham Ellis who has already indicated his readiness to undertake the task.

Originally from Australia, Ellis is an appointee of the NEC and will coordinate the interim office according to the NECs terms of reference until the proposed Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is established.

The ultimate challenge for the interim office and ICAC (if established) is whether they will proceed with the PMs corruption case. Elliss recent speculation on Sam Koim as allied with a political party hardly inspires confidence in the formers independence.

Initially, there were mixed reactions to the establishment of Investigative Task Force Sweep (ITFS). Some argued it was a political witch hunt by the ONeill-Namah government. However, the successful prosecution of Paul Tiensten, who was a sitting member of parliament at the time and a senior minister in the Somare Government, to nine years imprisonment appeared to change much of the perception. But it was the investigation against the prime minister that proved to the critics even the creator of the agency is not immune.

The successes of ITFS in the fight against corruption is remarkable compared to any other existing or previous anti-corruption initiative. It effectively utilised domestic inter-agency investigatory mechanisms and improved banking and investment procedures in order to prevent the transfer of corrupt money to Australia.

Corruption remains a major concern for PNG but the people are always resilient. Aside from these worrying court decisions, the judiciary has generally shown commitment to addressing the issue. The story of ITFS is an inspiration to many. As (now former) ITFS Chairman Sam Koim has stated: The wheels of justice have been set in motion and will not stop.

Bal Kama is a PhD Candidate at the ANU College of Law and a sessional lecturer at the University of Canberra Faculty of Business, Government and Law.
What's it really like to work at Chicago startups and tech companies? Blue Sky's Inside Job lets people on the ground tell us in their own words.

Bobby Cho, 32, trader of cryptocurrencies at Cumberland Mining, a DRW company.

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Cumberland Mining is a subsidiary of DRW, one of the largest principal trading firms in the financial sector, mostly in traditional products and securities.

It came about that all the cryptocurrency, let's say bitcoin activity, was going to happen out of Cumberland Mining. So we handle anything and everything related to trading and liquidity related to those products.

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DRW is 725 members. We're about three core members at Cumberland Mining, but we're supported by DRW and the folks that work in different capacities, whether it's treasury, operations or different back-office functions.

People contact us to either buy or sell institutional-sized amounts of bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Generally, that comes through me.

Very simply put, a cryptocurrency is a digital asset. One of the primary use cases is for the transfer of value, and the transactions are secured through cryptography.

Bitcoin is probably the most notable one because it has the largest market cap. There are about 2,000 or so cryptocurrencies out there now. If you think about it, bitcoin is just data. It's nearly frictionless to use and send.

Both my parents are from Seoul. They moved to the East Coast, to Philadelphia, in the 1970s from Venezuela. I was born and raised in Philadelphia and stayed for college there at Villanova University. After school, nearly a decade ago, I moved to New York because that's where I saw my career going. I found a job at a company called SecondMarket, a startup at the time that was a marketplace for illiquid assets or securities.

My wife, Hyemi, and I, met in college; she went to New York University, where my cousin went. But we never paid much attention to each other until I moved to New York and had no job and no money, and we just started to hang out because I had no friends. We started dating when I had no job. Four years later, we ended up getting married.

I started here in September, but I had been working at DRW since May in their New York office. I was at a place in my career and really, in my life, when I was prepared to uproot, for the future of our baby, Charlotte, who's six months.

One of thing that will always stand out in my mind is the first few hours I was here, Don Wilson, the (DRW) CEO, just walked over and said, "Hey, I just wanted to welcome you to Chicago." That to me, was a very welcoming sign of what to expect from leadership.

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When you think about startups, you think about someone who created an app, or someone who created some sort of retail-focusing product. When I looked at DRW and started thinking about what Cumberland Mining was doing, I was like, "Wow, Cumberland Mining is actually a startup within a broader organization."

Having come from startups that had nothing  you had to build everything from scratch, everything was on you  to a company like Cumberland Mining that needed some of that but still had the structure of over 20 years of history, that was really great.

There's no model for bitcoin trading firms. Our team basically works together to collaborate on different strategies. One of the big things Cumberland Mining and DRW allows me to do is become more of a person within the bitcoin community, and I think that helps. That level of autonomy, to be able to do what I think is correct, to build relationships and build the brand, is great.

The one perk that kind of screamed at me coming to DRW was the fro-yo machine. There are two new flavors every single week. There's one called toasted marshmallow, and they really got it right.

There's catered breakfasts and catered lunches every day. We have yoga twice a week, meditation once a week and there's a massage person who comes in. We have wine tasting, beer tasting, whisky tasting. If you're interested in something, there's probably a club or group for it. DRW provides an environment for their workers so they feel like they can really concentrate on their goals and what they want to do for the business.

It's, "Hey, don't worry about food, certain comforts that you need in the workplace. We'll take care of that for you. We just want you to be the best thinker, entrepreneur, trader, whatever it may be that you can possibly be at DRW."

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As told to freelance reporter Erin Chan Ding. Stories are edited for length and clarity.
Union pilots who fly products for Amazon.com are taking concerns about pay, working conditions and staffing shortages directly to online shoppers with a digital marketing blitz that suggests the internet retailer may struggle to deliver holiday gifts on time.

The union began running advertisements on Facebook and Google last week, targeting Amazon customers. If clicked on, the ads send people to the website www.canamazondeliver.com, paid for by the Airline Professionals Association, Teamsters Local 1224.

"This holiday season, Amazon customers may want to think twice before ordering last-minute deliveries," the website said.

The ad campaign could haunt Amazon even after a federal judge last month ordered striking pilots back to work on the second day of a walkout. Even a minor disruption this time of year can be costly. Online spending in November and December will increase 11 percent this year to $91.6 billion, according to Adobe Systems. Amazon has to increase capacity to grab as big a slice of this spending as possible.

At issue are contract negotiations with about 1,650 teamster pilots and their employers  Air Transport Services Group and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. The companies both agreed this year to fly planes stuffed with Amazon inventory.

This is Amazon's first holiday season since it unveiled Amazon Prime Air, a fleet of about 40 planes that reduce its dependence on FedEx and United Parcel Service. The labor issues involving its contract partners signal the initiative is off to a rocky start.

The contracted airlines "don't have enough pilots to meet the demands of Amazon because their experienced pilots are leaving for better jobs at other airlines," according to a statement on the website. "At this rate, there may not be enough pilots to deliver for Amazon around the holidays."

An Amazon spokesman didn't respond to a request for comment on the issue.

Pilot strikes in the U.S. are rare due to the Railway Labor Act, a 90-year-old federal law intended to prevent labor disputes from disrupting commerce. This latest attempt was short-lived, so the pilots involved are trying to pressure their employers by appealing directly to Amazon shoppers as they browse for holiday gifts.

A recent Amazon flight was grounded in Dallas for about 15 hours because the pilots were fatigued and there was no backup crew nearby, an indication of a pilot shortage, said Bob Kirchner, a captain with Atlas Air.

"People are being run ragged because of the pilot shortage," he said. "We want everyone to know and we want the public and Amazon to pressure these companies to sit down with us and do a fair negotiation."
Problems in the beleaguered for-profit college industry are shrinking the ranks of college students.

Plummeting enrollment at for-profit colleges drove a 270,000-person decline in the number of undergraduate and graduate students across the U.S. this fall, and Illinois was among the hardest-hit states.

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Nearly 165,000 fewer students enrolled in for-profit colleges nationwide, a 14.5 percent year-over-year decline, according to a report released Monday by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

The sudden closure of ITT Technical Institute in September amid ongoing federal scrutiny of the for-profit college industry played a role in the shrinking enrollment figures, said Jason DeWitt, research manager for the center. "That is a big factor right there," he said. "They had around 40,000 enrolled, heading into the fall term."

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Enrollment at all college and graduate schools  private, public and for-profit  was down 1.4 percent to about 19 million, according to the report.

Illinois had 26,089 fewer students across the state this fall, a 3.9 percent decline, according to the report. Only New York lost more students, down 30,695 over last year.

The size of the student bodies at four-year public and private universities were roughly flat across the U.S., while two-year community colleges were down 2.6 percent, according to the report.

Meanwhile, years of federal investigations and sanctions have taken a toll on for-profit enrollment, which was at 970,267 students this fall, down from a peak of 1.6 million students in 2010, DeWitt said.

"That was kind of the high-water mark for the sector," DeWitt said. "We've seen declines every year since then."

Women make up about two-thirds of the students enrolled at for-profit colleges. The gender gap got even wider this fall, with the number of men enrolled down 21 percent, while women students declined by 10.8 percent.

The for-profit population also is getting older, with the sharpest declines among students age 24 and under, where enrollment fell more than 20 percent.

The Obama administration began a crackdown in 2011 on the for-profit college industry, taking on everything from inflated job placement claims to predatory financial practices.

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Last week, Downers Grove-based DeVry University agreed to pay $100 million to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit alleging the for-profit college misled tens of thousands of students about their job prospects and income levels after graduating from the school.

In September, ITT Technical Institute ceased operations at its more than 130 campuses nationwide after the Education Department cut off access to federal financial aid for new students over accreditation criteria. California-based Corinthian Colleges sold or closed most of its 107 campuses and liquidated its assets through Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year after it was sued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for allegedly deceptive practices.

The ITT Tech and Corinthian closures did not contribute to Illinois' declining student population, DeWitt said. Enrollment at national for-profit colleges is categorized as multistate, meaning their losses are not part of the Illinois total.

The culprit in Illinois, DeWitt said, is demographics.

"For Illinois, the declines aren't due to one particular institution or major event," DeWitt said. "At least some portion of that has to do with declining numbers of high school graduates."

rchannick@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @RobertChannick
If you're running a business, you might as well shut up shop for Christmas now. More than half your employees might be there, but they're not putting their heart into it.

"Christmas seems to be starting earlier every year," said Dan Rogers, co-founder of Peakon, a Danish startup that collects and measures data on employees.

A survey by the company found that 54 percent of British workers mentally check out for the holidays by Dec. 16.

At the younger end of the workforce, the great Christmas check-out comes sooner. Already Friday, six in 10 millennial workers have switched off, compared with just 40 percent of baby boomers, the survey of 3,000 workers found. It takes until Dec. 20 for the lion's share of older workers.

"It's extremely hard to concentrate on tasks when you're excited about meeting up with loved ones, socializing and being merry," said Lorraine Black, 28, an internal auditor based in New York for an insurance and investment company.

She's not putting things off on purpose, but she knows she's less productive. "Realistic managers aren't in denial," she said. "It's not the ideal situation for them but one that they experience and have to accept nonetheless."

In the run-up to Christmas, it can seem like just about everyone's sneaking onto Amazon or trying to find the perfect gift.

Some employers are giving in, offering employees a day off for shopping so that they won't do it on company time. London-based company Jargon PR gives workers "bonus Christmas shopping days" every December.

"We offer this so the team know they have a day dedicated to shopping without having to use (vacation days) or cram things in during the working day," said Simon Corbett, managing director.

There's less work, Corbett says, because clients are taking off anyway. The insouciance inevitably spreads.

"I try to make sure the team enjoy the build up with regular socials, Christmas (sweater) days and a few long wet lunches," Corbett said.

For working parents, school holidays can also be a blunt on productivity. Most British schools let out for the holiday break today. Some parents take days off, but battling with co-workers for prime vacation real estate is easier said than done.

With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, many office workers won't have to work beyond the 23rd.

"Inevitably it's more difficult to be as productive or have as much continuity," said Carly Donovan, who manages a team of employees at Monitor Deloitte. "At my work, generally, when people are in, they're in, and are still very productive and on it."

Anyway, you should probably get back to work. Christmas is just over a week away, and leaving your to-do list unfinished until 2017 is a surefire way to kickstart an unhappy new year.
Im not sure whether Papua New Guineans would agree with that formula nowadays. Many read long and complex books and quite a few Papua New Guinean writers produce long and complex books.

Sir Paulias stuck to that formula in the many books that he wrote after his first one, My Childhood in New Guinea, which had big type, simple language and was only 112 pages long.

A LONG time ago Sir Paulias Matane suggested that the best books for Papua New Guinea should be small, simple and cheap.

An Uncertain Future by James Thomas, Pukpuk Publications, 2016, ISBN: 978-1541143739, 124 pages, available from Amazon Books US$6.03 plus postage.

Perhaps there is a dual dynamic at work now that allows for both types of books in Papua New Guinea.

An Uncertain Future fits very neatly into Sir Paulias formula. It is simply expressed and not too long and has an engaging narrative.

The story revolves around Wak, who travels from an uncertain future to success.

The turning point in Wak's life comes when he is nearly sent to the prison. Faced with this personal crisis he decides to make a drastic change to his life.

Wak is smart enough to listen to his uncle Santana, who tells him that he can be a success if he finds where his true interests and talents lie. Santana knows that a very negative experience can be used to create something positive provided things are thought about in the right way.

Wak discovers that success comes from careful planning, hard work, perseverance and a determination to overcome the obstacles that arise from time to time. And a little luck - like having an uncle like Santana.

What is striking about the novella is the message it contains about education. This is why it is a tale worth telling.

It seems young people are constantly bombarded with the message that a good education is the secret to a successful in life. This is largely true but it has limitations and exceptions.

With Wak we have a central character who did not do well at school but succeeds in life anyway.

It is a timely message that should have appeal to the growing numbers of disenchanted youth in Papua New Guinea because it offers them encouragement and a sign of hope that they can succeed against the odds.

The appeal of the book lies with young people and, perhaps, older people who need to understand their wayward sons and daughters.
On Christmas Day, dine on a Chinese takeout buffet under the holiday lights at Slippery Slope. (Jude Goergen)

The holidays are always a hectic time  visiting family, gift shopping, braving the weather, gift wrapping, braving your partner's company party, gift exchanging. Cooking dinner in between all of that can feel impossible, at least if you want to enjoy the rest of the festivities.

Dont fret. Chicago restaurants are the Santas little helpers of Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners, with an array of dine-in and carry-out options available throughout the city.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Everest Christmas dinner will last nearly two weeks at Everest. The restaurants prix-fixe Christmas menu is happening now through Christmas Eve and includes favorites like foie gras, pike and roasted goose. Reservations recommended. $135 per person, plus tax and gratuity; $98 optional wine pairings. Through Dec. 24. 440 S. LaSalle St., 40th floor, 312-663-8920, www.everestrestaurant.com

Honey Butter Fried Chicken Its no cooked goose, but Honey Butter Fried Chicken will offer another poultry option for the holiday. Throughout the month of December, Honey Butter offers an American-Chinese menu, with items like an orange chicken sandwich ($9), Sichuan wings ($8), sesame lo mein noodles ($5) and more. The restaurant will not be open on Christmas Day, but you can grab these specials through New Year's Eve. Daily through Dec. 31 excluding Christmas Day; 3361 N. Elston Ave., 773-478-4000, www.honeybutter.com

Intro Another Chinese-influenced Christmas dining option comes from Intro, which will host a multicourse family-style dinner in the days leading up to the holiday. Courses include black truffle egg-drop soup and roasted Peking duck. Reservations recommended. $98 per person, plus tax and gratuity. 4:30-8 p.m. Dec. 21-24. 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 773-868-0002, www.introchicago.com

L. Woods If youre looking for a full-on Christmas Eve dinner for carryout, L. Woods has you covered. Order a la carte from a menu of classics such as oven-roasted turkey, au gratin potatoes and butterscotch bread pudding, then pick up and reheat on Christmas Eve. All orders must be placed by Wednesday, Dec. 21; pickup Dec. 24. 7110 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, 847-677-3350, www.lwoodsrestaurant.com

La Storia Ristorante The Gold Coast restaurant's Feast of the Seven Fishes, the Italian-inspired holiday celebration, lasts for a full week. A seven-course tasting menu features five seafood dishes, including salt cod, braised baby octopus and charred prawns, followed by gelato and tiramisu for dessert. $95. Daily Dec. 16-24. 1154 N. Dearborn St., 312-915-5950, www.lastoriachicago.com

Nacional 27 A Cuban-themed holiday feast includes a sampling of tapas and pumpkin flan for dessert. $45. 5-10 p.m. Dec. 24. 325 W Huron St., 312-664-2727, www.nacional27chicago.com

Nico Osteria hosts a Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve.

Nico Osteria Find another Feast of the Seven Fishes at a different Gold Coast Italian spot. At Nico Osteria, the five-course prix-fixe menu ($125) will feature oven-roasted clams and scallops. Diners can also choose from an a la carte menu. Reservations recommended. 3-10 p.m. Dec. 24. 1015 N. Rush St., 312-994-7100, www.nicoosteria.com

Osteria Via Stato There's no shortage of Seven Fishes feasts. Chef David DiGregorio will cook another traditional menu of seafood, along with plenty of sides and Italian pastries. Reservations recommended. $60, plus tax and gratuity. 4-9:30 p.m. Dec. 24. 620 N. State St., 312-642-8450, www.osteriaviastato.com

Porkchop Turkey is a classic choice for Christmas dinner, but it also requires a fair bit of work. Porkchops Randolph location will offer the fowl without the effort, carving a smoked and fried turkey for its prix-fixe Christmas Eve meal. An equally classic collection of sides includes mashed potatoes and roasted root vegetables, with a variety of pies for dessert. $27, $13 children ages 11-17, free children 10 and younger. 941 W Randolph St., 312-733-9333, www.chicagoporkchop.com

Roka Akor Along with its full dinner menu, a four-course tasting menu will be available at both the city and suburban locations. Reservations recommended. Chicago location: $85, $55 optional wine pairings, plus tax and gratuity. 5 p.m. to midnight Dec. 24. 456 N. Clark St., 312-477-7652; Skokie location: $65, $25 optional wine pairings, plus tax and gratuity. 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 24. 4999 Old Orchard Shopping Center, Skokie, 847-329-7650, www.rokaakor.com

RPM Italian Add one more to the lineup of local restaurants celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes. RPM crafts a festive menu with seafood-infused selections, including frutti di mare and roasted Maine lobster. Reservations recommended. $75, plus tax and gratuity. 3-11 p.m. Dec. 24. 52 W. Illinois St., 312-222-1888, www.rpmrestaurants.com

CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY

Fogo de Chao Besides the usual selection of 16 grilled meats and market table buffet, the Brazilian steakhouse offers a holiday menu of beef roast, sweet potato casserole, roasted butternut squash salad and more. 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Dec. 24, noon to 9 p.m. Dec. 25. Locations in Naperville, Rosemont and downtown Chicago, Besides the usual selection of 16 grilled meats and market table buffet, the Brazilian steakhouse offers a holiday menu of beef roast, sweet potato casserole, roasted butternut squash salad and more. 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Dec. 24, noon to 9 p.m. Dec. 25. Locations in Naperville, Rosemont and downtown Chicago, www.fogodechao.com

Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club Bring a canned good, and get 50 percent off the holiday menu at this Boystown lounge. A seasonal cocktail like eggnog or fire apple cider leads off the prix-fixe meal, followed by roasted turkey with stuffing and traditional sides. Reservations recommended. $50, $25 with canned good. 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 23-25. 3700 N. Halsted St., 773-525-1111, www.kitkatchicago.com

Mercat a la Planxa Get in a visit to this Spanish restaurant before it closes for renovation during the early part of next year. On Christmas Eve, chefs are roasting a whole suckling pig; Christmas Day brings a $75 Spanish feast. Reservations recommended. 638 S. Michigan Ave., 312-765-0524, www.mercatchicago.com

Morton's the Steakhouse The classic Chicago steakhouse has its full menu available on both holidays. 4-9 p.m. Dec. 24-25. Multiple locations, The classic Chicago steakhouse has its full menu available on both holidays. 4-9 p.m. Dec. 24-25. Multiple locations, www.mortons.com

CHRISTMAS DAY

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312 Chicago In the Loop, Italian restaurant 312 Chicago offers a prix-fixe menu on Christmas Day with antipasti, primi, secondi and dolci courses. Reservations recommended. $55. 5-8 p.m. Dec. 25. 136 N. LaSalle St., 312-696-2420, www.312chicago.com In the Loop, Italian restaurant 312 Chicago offers a prix-fixe menu on Christmas Day with antipasti, primi, secondi and dolci courses. Reservations recommended. $55.

Harvest The restaurant at the Chicago Marriot Downtown hosts an all-you-can-eat holiday celebration with both a hot and cold buffet, carving stations, local cheeses and charcuterie, shrimp cocktails and a dessert table. Reservations recommended. $40 per person ($20 children 10 and younger), plus tax and gratuity. Noon to 10 p.m. Dec. 25. 540 N. Michigan Ave., 312-836-6334, www.marriott.com The restaurant at the Chicago Marriot Downtown hosts an all-you-can-eat holiday celebration with both a hot and cold buffet, carving stations, local cheeses and charcuterie, shrimp cocktails and a dessert table. Reservations recommended. $40 per person ($20 children 10 and younger), plus tax and gratuity.

Michael Jordan's Steak House On special for Christmas: a roasted 60-day dry-aged prime rib with Yorkshire pudding, Madeira jus, caramelized onions and mushrooms for $49. You can also order off the regular menu. Lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner 4-9 p.m. Dec. 25. 505 N. Michigan Ave., 312-321-8823, On special for Christmas: a roasted 60-day dry-aged prime rib with Yorkshire pudding, Madeira jus, caramelized onions and mushrooms for $49. You can also order off the regular menu. Lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner 4-9 p.m. Dec. 25. 505 N. Michigan Ave., 312-321-8823, www.mjshchicago.com

Slippery Slope Dig into a Chinese takeout buffet under a canopy of twinkling lights at this industry-favorite bar, which always turns into a dance party. 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 25. 2357 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-799-8504,

Dig into a Chinese takeout buffet under a canopy of twinkling lights at this industry-favorite bar, which always turns into a dance party. 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 25. 2357 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-799-8504, www.slipperyslopechicago.com

Travelle Kitchen + Bar If you're in the market for Christmas brunch, Travelle in the Langham Hotel has a buffet packed with favorite likes eggs Benedict, made-to-order omelets and a carving station. Each ticket includes a complimentary mimosa, but you can get bottomless refills for an extra $20. Reservations recommended. $145. 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 25. 330 N. Wabash Ave., 312-923-7705, www.travellechicago.com

adlukach@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lucheezy






For years, Goose Island Beer Co. has traded on its identity as a Chicago brand.

The brewery is named for an actual island in the North Branch of the Chicago River, and three of its most prominent beers are meant to evoke its hometown: 312 Urban Wheat Ale (area code), Green Line Pale Ale (train line) and Four Star Pils (flag).

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But as craft beer grows, so do the stakes. And since selling to Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2011, the brand and the beer have grown far beyond the nation's third-largest city. Now, in its boldest move yet, it's going global.

Say ni hao to Goose Island Shanghai.

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And ola to Goose Island Sao Paulo.

And annyeong haseyo to Goose Island Seoul.

And hola to Goose Island Monterrey, Mexico.

Plain old hello will do for Goose Island in Toronto and London.

In a fevered battle among American craft-beer-makers, Goose Island is planting its international flag with marked speed, opening properties in six countries, with more possibly on the way. Word of the international movement has been slowly leaking out (including news of the Toronto location), but Goose Island is finally making its strategy clear. It is also rapidly increasing its export footprint, flooding more countries with Goose Island IPA by the year. Though the brewery is getting a head start with its international growth, plenty of competitors also have their maps out.

American craft beer exports are up 12-fold during the past six years, including 16.3 percent growth in 2015, according to the Colorado-based Brewers Association  the exports are a $116 million sliver of a $22 billion industry. (The Brewers Association does not count Goose Island in its figures, or as a craft brewer, due to its ownership.)

In recent months, Southern California's Stone Brewing has launched a brewery in Berlin. Founders Brewing, of Grand Rapids, Mich., sold a 30 percent stake to Spain's Mahou San Miguel. Brooklyn Brewery sold 24.5 percent of itself to Japan's Kirin brewery. Lagunitas Brewing sold 50 percent last year to Dutch-owned Heineken, a move that Lagunitas founder Tony Magee said, at the time, "is about the world  beginning in Mexico." Lagunitas has since begun construction on a massive new Southern California brewery, in part to supply the Mexican beer market.

The new Goose Island Brewhouse in Sao Paolo, Brazil, is opening in December. (Goose Island)

But Goose Island has one significant leg up: its ownership.

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Goose Island was the first of nine American craft breweries bought by Anheuser-Busch InBev and quickly became the company's national craft flagship, with distribution in all 50 states. Now it is poised to do something similar on an even bigger stage. In the run-up to opening abroad, it has taken its "Migration Week"  a variety of tasting events over several days in one city  to many of the countries where it is planting roots, including England, Belgium, the Netherlands, China, Mexico, Canada and South Korea.

"It's plain and simple  if we don't do it, somebody else is going to," Goose Island President Ken Stout said. "The biggest advantage for us, of course, is we are now part of the largest brewing concern on planet Earth. And we have access to these markets."

Since being acquired, Goose Island has also upped its exports, which included England, Canada and parts of Scandinavia, to add Mexico, Brazil, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Korea and China. Next year, France and Italy will be added to the list. Anheuser-Busch InBev's High End division  the umbrella for its American craft brands, plus Shock Top and Stella Artois  has developed a global sales force that is pushing Goose Island in those markets.

"The global team sees opportunity, and in this regard, we're very spoiled," Stout said. "We're like the oldest child in this whole craft acquisition thing, and we get access to things first."

But succeeding abroad requires more than just sending kegs and bottles across the ocean, Stout said; an intimate and hands-on experience is required, just like the comfortable and lively taproom Goose Island opened last year at its Fulton Street production brewery.

Part of the international push therefore includes hands-on experiences with three different concepts: Goose Island Brewhouses (brewpubs, where the beer is made on site), Vintage Ale Houses (no brewing on site, but a kitchen to accompany a focus on high-end Goose Island beers such as Sofie, Matilda and Bourbon County Brand Stout) and branded pubs (bars bearing the brewery logo and serving Goose Island beer). In addition to the properties in the works, a pub in Brussels is on hold pending the reaction to the London property. Goose is also opening a pub in Philadelphia.

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"You've got to be alive and well out there  touching people and interacting," Stout said. "There's the authenticity side. We've got to do everything we can to be sure we're not this mysterious being."

Harry Schuhmacher, publisher of industry trade publication Beer Business Daily, speculated that Goose Island would be Anheuser-Busch InBev's strongest international American craft brand regardless of being the first acquired.

"It's a solid, well-made craft brand from the heart of America, and that branding power has legs overseas," Schuhmacher said.

Migration Weeks tasting events took place at Goose Island locations around the globe, including this event in Sao Paolo Brazil. The brewhouse is expected to open in December. (Goose Island)

Though leading with Goose Island and a series of branded properties "is a great strategy" for Anheuser-Busch InBev, he said, the American craft beer export market still has room for multiple players. The mystique of U.S. craft beer buoys it abroad, but so does the fact that many of the American craft brewers already exporting  Lagunitas, Founder's, Sierra Nevada and Goose Island, among them  make some of the best and most consistent beer in the world.

"American craft beer is the hottest thing overseas and will continue to be," he said.

Goose Island is uniquely positioned to succeed due to its ownership, Schuhmacher said. With its takeover of SABMiller earlier this year, Anheuser-Busch InBev accounts for nearly 30 percent of the world's beer sales, and boasts breweries and salespeople all over the world.

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"It's in their strategy to scale everything as far and as wide as they can," Schuhmacher said. "They have the distribution overseas to pull this off."

Goose Island is already planning to brew some of its core beers at an Anheuser-Busch InBev-owned brewery in China, though Stout declined to say which one. Brewing in Europe and Brazil could follow, but no plans have been finalized.

Though still a fairly small niche, the international market has caught the attention of the industry's pre-eminent trade group, the Brewers Association. More than 100 American craft breweries export to 35 countries with the assistance of the Brewers Association's Export Development Program, said Bob Pease, the association's chief executive officer.

This Goose Island Brewhouse was to open in Seoul, Korea, in December. (Goose Island)

Breweries that sell significant stakes abroad  like Goose Island and Lagunitas  are primed to dominate, he said, Goose Island in particular.

"But I'm not so sure that those are American brands," he said. "Certainly Goose is a Chicago brand, but they're owned by a company that's not headquartered in the United States. The beers they make are great, and I'm sure Goose Island pubs around the world will do very well. But while there are plenty of people who will want to drink Goose Island products, plenty want to support small, local and independent brewers as well."

The Brewers Association's priority remains the U.S. market, but staying involved in the international market on behalf of American craft breweries is key, he said. Pease said he has speaking engagements lined up in England and China where, among other issues, he plans to address "the value of supporting small and independent businesses."

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"We have nothing but respect for the quality of the beers coming out of Goose Island, but do I think that it's a good thing for one company to have that much control of the domestic and international market? No  I do not think that's a good thing," he said.

Goose Island is more concerned about exporting its brand while also maintaining it at home. The only way international growth succeeds, Stout said, is by holding onto its Chicago roots.

"We're still all about Chicago," he said. "We're just bringing our little piece of it to the world."

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Goose Island's rollout plan

Goose Island is in the midst of opening three styles of pubs, mostly international, as it becomes a global brand.

Brewhouse (brewpubs where the beer is made on sight): Sao Paolo (open in December), Seoul (December), Shanghai (December), Toronto (early 2017), Philadelphia (summer 2017)

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Vintage Ale House (no brewing on site, but a kitchen and focus on high-end Goose Island beers such as Sofie, Matilda and barrel-aged beers): London (December)

Branded pubs (a branded Goose Island bar serving Goose Island beer): Monterrey, Mexico (December) and Las Vegas (opened summer 2016)

jbnoel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @joshbnoel






Zsa Zsa Gabor, the jet-setting Hungarian actress who made a career out of multiple marriages, conspicuous wealth and jaded wisdom about the glamorous life, has died. She was 99.

The middle and most famous of the sisters Gabor died Sunday of a heart attack at her Los Angeles home, husband Frederic von Anhalt told The Associated Press.

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"We tried everything, but her heart just stopped and that was it," he said. "Even the ambulance tried very hard to get her back, but there was no way."

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Gabor had been hospitalized repeatedly since she broke her right hip in July 2010 after a fall at her Bel-Air home. She already had to use a wheelchair after being partly paralyzed in a 2002 car accident and suffering a stroke in 2005. Most of her right leg was amputated in January 2011 because of gangrene and the left leg was also threatened. Von Anhalt duly reported her misfortunes to the media.

The great aunt of Paris Hilton and a spiritual matriarch to the Kardashians and other tabloid favorites, she was the original hall-of-mirrors celebrity, famous for being famous for being famous. Starting in the 1940s, Gabor rose from beauty queen to millionaire's wife to minor television personality to minor film actress to major public character. With no special talent, no hit TV series such as her sister Eva's "Green Acres," Zsa Zsa nevertheless was a long-running hit just being Zsa Zsa  her accent drenched in diamonds, her name synonymous with frivolity and camp as she winked and carried on about men, dahling, and the droll burdens of the idle rich.

She was like popcorn for the public and, for sociologists, the seeming fulfillment of the mindless future imagined in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World," a creation made possible by mass, electronic media; her words and image transcribed and beamed into theaters and living rooms, on the internet and the shelves of newsstands and supermarket checkout lines.

Her secret, in part, was being in on the joke, once saying about a 1956 TV role, "I play a fabulously rich woman who has just bought her fifth husband; she is very unhappy. I won't tell you who it's supposed to be." Ever game for a laugh, Gabor spoofed her image in a videotaped segment on David Letterman's "Late Show," which had the two stars driving from one fast-food restaurant to another, sipping sodas and digging into burgers like they were slabs of wedding cake.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 15 Hungarian-born actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, photographed in Budapest circa 1940. (Laszlo Varkonyi / European Pressphoto Agency)

Amid all the trivia, she had a peripheral part in two big scandals of the early 21st century: the death of Anna Nicole Smith (von Anhalt claimed to have had an affair with her) and the alleged financial scam of Bernard Madoff (a lawyer said she might have lost $10 million through him). And she was in the spotlight for a dustup from the late 20th century: "The slap heard 'round the world."

In June 1989, Gabor smacked Paul Kramer, a police officer, on a Beverly Hills street, after he pulled over her Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible for a traffic violation. She was convicted of misdemeanor battery on a police officer, driving without a driver's license and having an open container of alcohol in the car. She served three days in jail, performed community service at a woman's shelter and paid $13,000 in fines and restitution.

When she was freed, she told reporters the jailers were kind but "at first I was petrified. They even took my makeup away."

Gabor kept up the act in the advice book "How to Catch a Man, How to Keep a Man, How to Get Rid of a Man," and in the exercise video, "It's Simple Darling," in which she banters and stretches with a pair of muscular young trainers. Her memoir, "One Life Is Not Enough," came out in 1991 and dished about everything from her virginity (gone at 15) to the endless men who came on to her (She would claim that William Paley of CBS promised Gabor her own show if only she would spend an afternoon with him.)

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Gabor had one child, Francesca Hilton, from her marriage to hotelier Conrad Hilton. (She would allege the child was conceived after Hilton raped her.) In later years, Gabor, von Anhalt and Francesca battled in court over family finances. Francesca Hilton died of an apparent stroke in 2015.

Sari Gabor  Zsa Zsa is a family nickname  was born in Budapest in 1917, according to a finishing school yearbook kept by a former classmate. Various references over the years have given other birth dates; Gabor usually avoided the subject. She was still in Hungary when she won a beauty contest and married and divorced a Turkish diplomat, Turhan Belge.

Gabor, sisters Eva and Magda, and their mother, Jolie, emigrated to America around World War II. Zsa Zsa gained notice when she became the wife of Conrad Hilton, whom she married in 1942 and by the following decade all the Gabors were celebrities. (Eva died in 1995 at age 74. Mother Jolie died in April 1997 at age 97 and sister Magda died two months later at age 78).

In 1998, cultural historian Neal Gabler diagnosed her kind of celebrity as "The Zsa Zsa Factor."

"When she first came to fame in the early 1950s, Zsa Zsa wasn't an actress or a singer or a dancer or an entertainer of any sort," he observed. "She was the beautiful wife of actor George Sanders who happened to appear on a quiz show dispensing offhanded advice to lovelorn viewers. By being herself she became such a success that she immediately landed movie roles."

Her film career was, as The Film Encyclopedia notes, "mostly decorative." Among Gabor's more prominent credits: as dancer Jane Avril in John Huston's Toulouse-Lautrec biopic, "Moulin Rouge," 1952; and Orson Welles' classic "Touch of Evil," 1958. More recently, she appeared in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series and in the "Naked Gun" spoofs.

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Her love life, meanwhile, rolled on, like a B-melodrama on a double-bill with Elizabeth Taylor's A-list spectacular.

In 1954, Gabor made headlines being seen with Dominican Republic playboy-diplomat Porfirio Rubirosa within weeks of his marriage to dime store heiress Barbara Hutton. Her 1958 romance with Rafael Trujillo Jr., son of the Dominican dictator, became a scandal in Congress. Ohio's Rep. Wayne Hays  eventually caught in his own adulterous affair  cited the expensive gifts Gabor was allegedly receiving from the young man to argue that foreign aid for the island nation should be eliminated.

She wed eight times  nine including a 1982 shipboard ceremony that was quickly annulled and may not have been legal. Other husbands included businessman Herbert L. Hutner and prolific inventor Jack Ryan, credited with designing everything from missiles to the Barbie doll. She is survived by von Anhalt, whom she married in 1986.

Part of Mama Jolie's advice to her daughters, as recounted in a 1953 Associated Press interview with Zsa Zsa, has a modern touch. She said she told them: "You must be independent and able to do for yourself. Then you do not have to marry a rich man, you can marry a poor one. And if it is wrong, you can go."

Associated Press
"The (Yehudi) Menuhin Century," which includes 80 CDs of the violinist's music, DVDs and a book is among the classical highlights of 2016. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)

Here are 10 albums from 2016 that I have returned to again and again, with renewed pleasure each time. May they bring you comparable listening enjoyment this holiday season.

Beethoven: "Missa Solemnis"; Concentus Musicus Wien, Arnold Schoenberg Chorus, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor (Sony Classical): After his retirement last December, Harnoncourt expressed the desire to have this album  derived from concerts and rehearsals in Graz, Austria, in summer 2015  be his recorded testament. And so it is: A magnificent performance of Beethoven's great mass, filled with joy, wonder, humility and, above all, devotion.

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Morton Gould: "The Complete Chicago Symphony Orchestra Recordings" (RCA Red Seal, six CDs): Gould was one of the most popular guest conductors to appear with the CSO during the Jean Martinon era, and the six albums he recorded for RCA Victor between 1965 and 1968 (including pathbreaking performances of Charles Ives) set standards for musical and technical excellence. Their reappearance in a bargain-priced boxed set should win new fans for Gould and the orchestra, especially among those who missed them in their LP incarnations.

Bach: "Goldberg Variations"; Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord (Deutsche Grammophon): Every decade or so, an interpreter comes along who takes you beyond what you thought you knew about this baroque keyboard masterpiece and makes the music feel startlingly alive. So it is with Esfahani, who scrubs Bach's intricate contrapuntal designs to reveal their structural logic, observing all repeats and the original tunings. A back-to-Bach performance that lives wondrously in the present.

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Schumann: Violin Sonata No. 1 and "Fantasiestucke," works by Brahms and Bach; Itzhak Perlman, violin, and Martha Argerich, piano (Warner Classics): The freshness and immediacy to this live 1998 performance of the Schumann sonata shows what can result when two towering artists make music on the same intuitive wavelength. The three studio-made companion works get much the same royal treatment.

"Sephardic Journey: Wanderings of the Spanish Jews"; Apollo's Fire, Jeannette Sorrell, conductor (Avie): Most of the 20 selections gathered on this disc are traditional folk songs and liturgical chants of the Sephardim, whose expulsion from Spain in 1492 led them to spread their culture to, and be influenced by, the various cultures of the Mediterranean world. Psalm settings, in Hebrew, by the early Italian baroque composer Salamone Rossi complete an absorbing collection of early music, beautifully performed by the Cleveland-based instrumental-choral ensemble and three vocal soloists.

Gavin Bryars: "The Fifth Century"; PRISM Quartet, The Crossing, Donald Nally, conductor (ECM New Series): The otherworldly surface calm of the composer's setting, for chamber chorus and saxophone quartet, of texts by the 17th century English poet and theologian Thomas Traherne, belies the intense spirituality beneath. A fine premier recording brings us a glimpse of the infinite.

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 3, 6 and 7; Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vanska, conductor (BIS): This release, which concludes the ensemble's Sibelius symphony cycle under its Finnish music director, is a winner in every respect. Instrumental detail registers luminously within ice-blue musical landscapes.

Johnson: "Considering Matthew Shepard"; Conspirare, Craig Hella Johnson, conductor (Harmonia Mundi): Choral director Johnson's 106-minute oratorio for chorus, soloists and chamber ensemble is a powerful, highly personal response to the horrific hate crime  the 1998 murder of a gay college student in Laramie, Wyo.,  that raised America's awareness of the need to push back as a nation against bigotry and homophobia. Moving among styles ranging from Lutheran hymnody to blues to Broadway, this modern-day Passion will move many listeners to tears even as it reaches beyond tragedy to peace, understanding and forgiveness.

Glass: "Einstein on the Beach"; soloists, Philip Glass Ensemble, Michael Riesman, conductor (Opus Arte, two DVDs): If you have the time and patience to absorb all that this bizarre if fascinating 1976 opera by composer Glass and director-designer Robert Wilson throws at you in the course of four hours and 40 minutes, you will find it a music theater experience unlike any other. Recorded in performances at Paris' Chatelet Theatre in 2014, "Einstein" is a visual and aural mind-blower.

"The Menuhin Century"; Yehudi Menuhin, violin (Warner Classics): Few if any recorded collections ever issued on behalf of any classical musician can approach the quality or scope of this mammoth Menuhin centenary set, which spans 53 years of his singular career and comprises 80 CDs, 11 DVDs and a hardcover book, lovingly produced and housed in a sturdy, LP-sized box  a bottomless grab bag of musical riches honoring the noblest and most humane of the great violinists.

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John von Rhein is a Tribune critic.

jvonrhein@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @jvonrhein

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Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
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!)
As 2016 draws to a close, the Zonta Club of Auburn and its Z Club at Auburn High School remain active and visible in the community. In October, both clubs participated in a national project called Petal it Forward. Members of the Zonta Club of Auburn could be seen distributing flower bouquets in downtown Auburn, brightening the faces of those randomly selected to accept one bouquet and pledge to pass the second one on, brightening someone elses day.

Z Club members were thrilled to participate and show their appreciation toward someone special as they focused on their school community. Throughout the day, teachers at Auburn High School received a visit and were welcomed with flowers from their very own students. Students came bearing two bouquets of flowers as they delivered them to the teachers of their choice. One bouquet was for the teacher to keep, and instructions were to petal the second bouquet forward. This continuous chain of good deeds spread from door to door at Auburn High School and spread positivity throughout the school community. This event proved that something as simple as giving someone flowers can brighten anyones day and it was quite obvious that the teachers and citizens of Auburn appreciated this gesture.

It would be remiss not to thank Cosentinos Florist, as it provided the flowers and donated time for this project. A few of the Z club members even helped the staff at Cosentinos cut and prepare the bouquets for distribution. Pictures and videos from this day can be viewed on the Auburn Z Club Facebook page.

October is also the month when attention is focused on the seriousness of domestic violence. In light of this, members of the Z Club wanted to spread awareness in the community. The main goal for this project was to bring attention to this serious topic and to also bring the community one step closer to putting an end to it. Twelve members of the club volunteered their time by going around town to different businesses hanging purple ribbons and posters in the windows to raise awareness around the community that domestic violence affects many communities, including our very own, Auburn.

2015 statistics provided by Marla McGinn, client services coordinator of the Sexual Assault Victims Advocate Resource of Cayuga County, show SAVAR responded to 69 hotline calls, accompanied 21 victims to the hospital, provided 828 therapy sessions and spent 8,760 volunteer hours on the 24/7 hotline. These statistics may be difficult to acknowledge, but the problem exists and Z Club is striving to help eliminate it through service and advocacy. Z Club hopes to be known for the many good deeds it has done in the community, and hopes to inspire others to do the same.

Families in poverty, victims of domestic violence and substance abuse, and children in need do not disappear during the holiday season. In New York state, there are approximately 500,000 children under the age of 18 living in homes where the householders are grandparents or other relatives. Of this number, more than 300,000 are living with a grandparent. This year, the Zonta Club of Auburn collaborated with the Rescue Mission to identify five families in Cayuga County where grandparents were raising their grandchildren and were in need of assistance.

As a result, the Zonta Club of Auburn, with assistance from Z Club, worked together on the holiday fundraiser gala Give the Glow. Zontians, Z Club members and families, guests and community members came together at the Springside Inn to experience the inner glow one feels from the gift of giving rather than receiving. After a brief introduction, a mood-setting rendition of "Winter Wonderland" sung by Z Club members Luke Mock and Samantha Lesch, and a delicious buffet dinner, the evening began in earnest. Tickets were pulled from raffle bags and winners were announced. Silent auction bids were accepted on a variety of donated items and winners proclaimed. With club president Jessica Cosentino acting as auctioneer, the live auction followed and some serious bidding ensued. The evening concluded with the announcement of the 50/50 winner. But the real winners of the evening were the participants, donors and sponsors who helped make the event a success. Because of this kind of support and generosity, $2,514 was raised to help grandparents raising their grandchildren and other Zonta local service projects.

We wish everyone a happy holiday season and look forward to 2017 and the opportunity, through service and advocacy, to continue working to make a difference in the lives of women locally, nationally and around the world.
A few years ago, I started listening to audiobooks during my commute to Liverpool. Audiobooks opened a whole new world of reading/listening for me. The audiobook that converted me into a rabid audiobook fan was "Beka Cooper," written by Tamora Pierce and read by Susan Denaker. I would never have picked this book up to read in print. A friend kept recommending it, but it was too long and a fantasy story I didnt think Id like. Listening to the story when read by someone else allowed me to enter the fantasy world of Tortall without thinking about all the details of world-building. I went on to read the rest of the series in print, but it was that first audiobook that got me hooked into the story.

The experience of being immersed in a story by listening to the audiobook also happened with "Wintersmith," written by Terry Pratchett and read by Stephen Briggs. I listened to the story of a boy with a crush trying to impress a girl. The problem is the Wintersmith isn't exactly a boy  hes Winter itself, and his nature is icicles, snow and wind. Listening to the story of Winter trying to impress Tiffany was made more real as I drove home through a snowstorm.

Its been five years since Ive had the kind of commute that allows me to listen to audiobooks regularly. In my five-year absence from regular audiobook listening, a lot has changed! I used to wrestle with changing CDs in the car stereo. I would pull into rest stops to change to the next disc so I could keep up with the story. Or there was that time I accidentally hit the randomize button and kept thinking the book was poorly edited with all that jumping around in the story. While I still listen to audiobooks on CD, I also download and stream digital e-audiobooks from Overdrive or Hoopla. At Seymour Library, were also working on providing another e-audiobook service: RB Digital. More information will be available in January!

Another audiobook format is the Playaway, a portable media player (about the size of a deck of cards) that stores about 80 hours of audio. The book is preloaded, so all you need is earbuds or one of those wires to play it through your car stereo. No messing with CDs or worrying about maxing out your data plan  just plug in and listen. You can find the titles available in this format by typing Playaway in the search box in our catalog. Seymour Library is working with the Finger Lakes Library System to increase the existing playaway collection, so watch for this format in the audiobook section at the library.

Some snowy titles you may enjoy:

 "Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod" by Gary Paulsen: Recounts the author's survival adventure running the 1,180-mile Iditarod dogsled race across the Arctic wilderness. Enduring frostbite, sleeplessness, moose attacks and countless trail hazards, he finishes the race eager to run another.

 "A Prairie Boys Winter" by William Kurelek: The author's warm memories of his boyhood on the Canadian prairies depict the rigors and pleasures of winter life on the farm.

 "The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Ingalls family moves from its stake on the Dakota prairie to their store in town to escape the severe winter. One blizzard follows another until trains stop running and the community, isolated for months, faces starvation.

 "Wintering" by Diana Kappel-Smith: An extended personal essay on one New England winter chronicles the transformations of the natural world  plants, animals and the earth itself  from autumn into early spring.

 "The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty" by Kenneth Libbrecht and Patricia Rasmussen: The pre-eminent snow scholar of the 21st century, Caltech professor of physics Libbrecht explains in layman's terms how snow works, while Rasmussen's photographs of individual crystals are stunning for their detail. Libbrecht is the heir to a tradition of scientific study of ice crystals that runs back to Johannes Kepler and includes Rene Descartes, Robert Hooke, the Vermont farmer Wilson Bentley and the Japanese snow scientist Ukichiro Nakaya.
The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office has made two more arrests related to a reported armed robbery that occurred in Genoa on Saturday.

Authorities said Monday that Christian Reynolds, 19, and Dylan Krause, 17, have each been charged with first-degree burglary, a felony. The announcement follows the arrest of 17-year-old Moravia resident Jahree Cathcart on Saturday with felony burglary and robbery charges related to an alleged home invasion.

The accused burglars forced their way into a Route 90 home in Genoa just after midnight Saturday, deputies said. Cathcart, according to the sheriff's office, was believed to have been armed with a handgun, and the burglars confronted a resident inside the home and stole property.

The incident was not random, investigators said Monday. Deputies have not yet located the weapon.

Sheriff's deputies charged Cathcart early Saturday morning  several hours after the reported incident, deputies said  with first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery and resisting arrest. Investigators said Cathcart physically resisted during the arrest, but not enough to injure himself or the officers.

Cathcart was then remanded to Cayuga County Jail with $200,000 cash bail, $400,000 bond. Meanwhile, Reynolds and Krause were both identified as persons of interest in the investigation.

County sheriff's deputies issued a request Saturday evening for other area authorities to be on the lookout for the pair. Within 24 hours, however, both Reynolds and Krause separately contacted the sheriff's office to turn themselves in, deputies said Monday.

Reynolds, of 36 Aurora St. in Moravia, was taken into custody late Saturday night. He was arraigned in the Town of Genoa Court and was remanded to the county jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail, $10,000 bond.

Krause, also of 36 Aurora St., was arrested at around noon Sunday, deputies said. Arraigned in the Town of Owasco Court, Krause was also remanded to the county jail on the same bail and bond terms.

The investigation is still open, though investigators said they do not believe any other individuals were involved in the robbery.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Frederick Cornelius at (315) 253-6562. Tips can also be left at cayugacrime.com. Deputies said callers may remain anonymous.
Preferential tax policies implemented for advanced technology service enterprises

On November 10, 2016, the Ministry of Finance, the State Administration of Taxation (SAT), the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly issued a notice regarding an initiative for implementing preferential enterprise income tax (EIT) for advanced technology service enterprises that are located in cities with service trade innovative development pilot progams. Eligible business scopes include information system integration services, data services, research and experiment development services, industrial design services, intellectual property right cross-border license and transfer, cultural product digitalization and related service, translation, dubbing and production services of cultural products, and Chinese herbal medicine, medical, health care and related services. Between the period of January 1 to December 31, 2017, enterprises meeting the requirements in cities such as Tianjin, Shanghai, Hainan, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Suzhou are eligible for to pay a reduced rate of 15 percent EIT. Employee education expenses incurred for such activities are also eligible for deduction from taxable income for up to eight percent of the enterprises wages; any excess is able to be rolled over to the following financial year.

RELATED: Tax and Compliance Services from Dezan Shira & Associates

Updated Catalogue of Industries for Guiding Foreign Investment released for seeking comment

The Ministry of Commerce is seeking comment for a revised edition of the updated Industries for Guiding Foreign Investment. It now allows for investment into rail transit equipment, auto electronic equipment and new-energy auto batteries, motorcycles, edible oils, corn processing, fuel ethanol, as well as the mining of unconventional petroleum and gas, and rare metals. The revised edition reduces the amount of restricted items from 93 in 2015 to 62.

SAT issues trial implementation procedures for stamp tax administration

The SAT has issued trial implementation procedures for stamp tax administration, which standardizes the issues of tax source administration, tax collection, management of tax reduction, tax exemption and tax refund, and risk management in the process of the collection and administration of stamp tax. It suggests that tax authorities may implement an information exchange mechanism with banking, insurance, business, and real estate regulators to reinforce tax source management. It also stipulates that if the payable tax amount on a document exceeds RMB 500, taxpayers may supplement a tax payment voucher or tax payment certificate with the document in replacement of stamps.

State Council encourages the development of Central Chinas economy

An executive meeting of the State Council on December 7, 2016 reviewed and passed planning to promote the development of information technology in Chinas central regions in accordance with the 13th Five Year Plan, which focuses on the upgrade of the regions economic structure. The meeting also passed an amendment to the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law. All efforts that encourage the economic gradient transfer of environmental protection enterprises operating in the southeast coastal regions to the central regions will be supported, and any efforts for opening to the outside world will be advanced, and bonded areas will be encouraged.



About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email china@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight.

Tax, Accounting, and Audit in China 2016

This edition of Tax, Accounting, and Audit in China, updated for 2016, offers a comprehensive overview of the major taxes that foreign investors are likely to encounter when establishing or operating a business in China, as well as other tax-relevant obligations. This concise, detailed, yet pragmatic guide is ideal for CFOs, compliance officers and heads of accounting who must navigate the complex tax and accounting landscape in China in order to effectively manage and strategically plan their China-based operations.

An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2016

Doing Business in China 2016 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. Compiled by the professionals at Dezan Shira & Associates in June 2016, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Chinese market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to keep up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes

Human Resources and Payroll in China 2016-2017

A firm understanding of Chinas laws and regulations related to human resources and payroll management is absolutely necessary for foreign businesses in China. This edition of HR and Payroll, updated for 2016/17, navigates Chinas laws and regulations related to HR and payroll management  essential information for foreign investors looking to establish or already running a foreign-invested entity in China.
Four men working in a steel store in Putuo District, Shanghai, are killed when panels fall on them December 18, 2016. [Photo / Shanghai Daily]

Four men working in a steel store in Putuo District, Shanghai, were killed when panels fell on them yesterday morning, according to the district government.

The four were confirmed dead at the scene.

The men were arranging steel panels at Shanghai Zhongxin Stainless Steel Store when the panels tilted to one side and fell on them, and they were allegedly killed due to "suffocation," the police said, adding that the owner of the store was being questioned.

An employee of the store, who was absent when the incident happened, said there were seven or eight people inside the store and that they are relatives of the boss. He said in the stores six years of existence, nothing like this had happened before.

A man who runs a similar business nearby told Shanghai Daily that a steel panel weighs at least 50 kilograms and that a full shelf of panels could weigh up to 4 to 5 tons.
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MOD) has clarified the collection of a U.S. underwater drone in the South China Sea, saying that the PLA Navy recovered it as an "unknown device" and would "hand over it to the United States in a proper manner."

The MOD made the statement late on Dec. 17, two days after the incident happened.

"On the afternoon of Dec. 15, one lifeboat of the PLA Navy spotted an unknown device in the South China Sea. To prevent the device from causing damage to passing ships and personnel, the Chinese lifeboat identified the device in a professional and responsible manner," read the statement.

The MOD said that the navy has identified the device as a U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle, and China has decided to hand it over to the United States in a proper manner, adding that the two sides had been in communication over the issue.

The U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement that it "called upon China to immediately return an unmanned underwater vehicle," and claimed China's act was unlawful. But the same statement also proved that the drone was there to gather oceanographic data such as salinity, water temperature, and speed of sound for military use, confirming that the United States has been conducting military activities off China's southern coastline.

The MOD expressed regret that the United States exaggerated its own side of the story, saying such acts would not help facilitate solving the issue.

The Chinese defense authority also pointed out that the U.S. military has frequently sent aircraft and vessels to conduct intelligence activities and military measurements off China's coastline.

"We resolutely oppose this and demand that the United States stop such activities. Meanwhile, we will continue to stay alert to U.S. activities and will take necessary measures in response," the statement read.
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A draft Chinese law enhancing traditional Chinese medicine's (TCM) role in China's medical system will support ethnic minority medicine in the country.

According to the draft law, tabled for a third reading at the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the state will enhance support, innovation, application and development, as well as professional training in ethnic minority medicine.

The state will step up the establishment of medical institutions practicing ethnic minority medicine and provide better training for practitioners, it said.

Ethnic autonomous regions should also create their own measures to develop local ethnic minority medicine in accordance with relevant laws, the draft said.

TCM has gained increasing global attention since Chinese pharmacist Tu Youyou was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her work using artemisinin to treat malaria.

Ethnic minority medicine is an important part of TCM. According to a white paper issued by the State Council Information Office this month, 60,000 TCM and ethnic minority medical drugs have been approved.

At the end of 2015, there were 3,966 TCM hospitals and 42,528 TCM clinics across the country, including 253 hospitals and 550 clinics specializing in ethnic minority medicine.

There has also been steady progress in the standardization of ethnic minority medicine, the white paper said.

Monday's draft also said China will protect TCM's intellectual property, adding that it will provide "special protection" for TCM formulas that are considered "state secrets."

It vowed enhanced supervision on the quality of TCM materials, banning the use of highly toxic pesticides during the planting of herbs.
Right after Tsai Ing-wen, the incumbent head of China's Taiwan, phoned Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect, in early December, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured the public by labeling the contact a "small trick played by Tsai."

The standpoint of the foreign minister reflects the Chinese government's consistent policy hopes of maintaining good relations with the United States, where the transition of power is taking place. In other words, China expects the U.S. to continue to uphold the fundamental principles.

"I believe the U.S. government will not scrap the One China Policy as this primary principle has always been considered the bedrock to building good bilateral relations which, as we expect, should develop with no interruptions nor sabotages," Wang said.

But, taking Trump's adherence to the One China Policy for granted after he assumes the presidency may put China's national interest at stake.

One day after Wang's remark, Trump posted comments on his twitter condemning China on issues of FOREX, trade taxes and the South China Sea  showing his belligerence even without touching on the issue of Taiwan. Therefore, Trump's words discount the efforts of Foreign Minister Wang who tried to understate the impact of the phone call.

The challenge for the mainstream political order, which is governed by a number of elites in the United States, is looming large with Trump set to become the U.S. president next month. It is speculated that he may undermine the political model that is essentially shaped by the rotating governance of two major Parties  Republican and Democratic  and manifested by the bipartisan contentions for power through general elections that have consecutively progressed since the end of World War II.

By disobeying mainstream rules, Trump may actually end both the revolution of new liberalism and the roadmap of idealism that are valued much by the American intelligentsia after WWII.

With his astute sense as a businessman, Trump may disapprove of the country's balance sheet following the roadmap of idealism, which has assisted the post-war reconstruction in Germany and Japan, spread Pan-America Peace, decolonized the Third World, set up the system of global capitalism, directed globalization after the Cold War and established global free trade mechanisms, although, at a huge expense and with many unexpected results.

He will definitely reverse the trend of globalization and derail the locomotive of the United States from the rail of idealism.

China has access to the global capitalist economy and free trade system dominated by the United States since the rise of new liberalism in the later part of globalization. By stereotyping their views and thoughts, the Chinese politicians and scholars are blindly confident of the mainstream U.S. political models, roadmaps and structures  ignoring the challenges that may lead to the derailment of bilateral ties.

When assuring their audience to be easy at Tsai's attempt to get in touch with Trump, the media outlets in China have made a blunder to believe that the president-elect will focus on America's economic growth only. On the contrary, he will in no way leave the international arena to fully focus on domestic restructuring. With the enormous debt and tax reductions that he promised, won't he need mammoth investments to finance the domestic market? Or does he have any other options other than to let the rest of the world to compensate the stratospheric costs of America's efforts to restructure its economy?

It is nothing new for the United States to encroach on the interests of other countries, such as Japan, Germany and the countries from the Third World. However, when the interests of the above mentioned countries diminish, the United States starts to prey onto China, which it believes, benefits a lot from its role as a "free rider."

Therefore, the confrontation between China and the United States is supposed to happen after Trump assumes office as the U.S. president. Otherwise, his promise to "make America great again" will be nothing but empty words.

Those who believe Trump will not jolt the foundation of China-U.S. bilateral ties will find themselves too naive. The president-elect will play extraordinarily on Sino-U.S. bilateral ties to fulfill his purposes.

Moreover, in its ensuing foreign policies, the United States is much more likely to continue to direct Japan, South Korea and even Taiwan to constrain China.

In dealing with Trump, China should abandon its mirage of expecting the continuance of the new liberalism which prevailed in the past four decades.

Even though China has been paid with fat rewards by not challenging the world order ruled by the United States, in terms of its dominance and support for globalization and free trade, it's time to say goodbye to the train driven by Uncle Sam, who plans to jump from the locomotive. Therefore, China should either replace the U.S. as the train driver or get off for a new train.

Besides, China should make great efforts to work out solutions to counteract the modern "Operation Barbarossa," that is rigged by the upcoming U.S. administration. The phone call from Tsai may be a start point of the plan.

Last but not least, China should prepare well for the grim challenge of the new U.S. administration headed by Trump, predicting and evaluating the businessman-turned-politician's styles, strategies and measures so that China may no longer be passive in defense, but take the upper hand during the confrontation.

Wen Yang is a researcher at the Center for China Studies of Fudan University.

The article was translated by Wu Jin. Its original unabridged version was published in Chinese .

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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The supporting rate for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet dropped from the previous month to 54.8 percent, as a result of controversial legislation to lift ban on casinos and failure to make breakthrough in sovereignty dispute during Abe-Putin summit, showed a latest poll on Sunday.

Disapproval rate for the prime minister's cabinet increased 3.7 percentage points from a month earlier to 34.1 percent, and the supporting rate was 60.7 percent in November, according to the two-day poll conducted nationwide by Japanese news agency Kyodo News at the weekend and released on Sunday.

As for the new casino law, 69.6 percent were opposed while only 24.6 percent showed support, said the survey.

Japan's ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe passed a controversial bill to legalize casino gambling in Japan in the upper house of parliament on Wednesday, believing the legislation will help enhance revenue from tourism.

However, most of the opposition parties and the public have been vehement about the casinos' potential negative effects on society, with gambling addiction often cited as a possible harmful byproduct, along with organized crime.

The survey also found that 54.3 percent of respondents gave a negative assessment to the result of this week's Japan-Russia summit.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a two-day summit in Japan ended Friday, failing again to make breakthrough in a long-held territorial dispute which has been a major stumbling block for bilateral relations.
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The Islamic State (IS) group on Sunday claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that struck a gathering of pro-government forces in Yemen's temporary capital of Aden, leaving about 49 soldiers killed.

An online statement by the IS revealed in twitter said that "more than 70 apostates were killed in the jihadist attack launched by our martyr against soldiers in Aden."

The suicide bomber who carried out the terrorist operation was identified as Abu Hashim Radfani, according to the statement.

One of the group's suicide bombers detonated his explosive belt at a crowd of pro-government forces who gathered to receive their salaries near the house of Brigadier Nasser Anbouri in Aden's neighborhood of KhorMaksar.

Earlier, a military source anonymously told Xinhua that an attacker dressed as a soldier sneaked into a gathering of pro-government troops and then blew him up causing a huge blast that left 49 and injured 39 others.

Yemeni security forces sealed off the area and blocked the roads leading to the scene, while ambulances and police vehicles evacuated the killed and wounded people to the city hospitals, the Yemeni sources said.

The Yemen-based affiliate of the IS terrorist group has frequently targeted military bases where crowds of pro-government soldiers gather.

Sunday's suicide attack comes less than two weeks after a similar attack claimed by the Yemen-based affiliate of the Islamic State group struck an army base near Aden's international airport, leaving 50 pro-government soldiers killed and more than 40 others injured.

The southern port city of Aden is the headquarters of Yemen's internationally-backed President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his government.

Aden witnessed several well-planned assassinations and armed attacks after Saudi-backed forces drove the Shiite Houthi rebels out from the strategic city in July 2015.

However, the newly-trained anti-terrorism troops supported by UAE armored vehicles made substantial achievements in recent weeks, disabling several explosive material factories used by terrorists to manufacture car bombs in Aden.

In addition, several commanders of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch were captured in the successful raids conducted by the UAE-backed Yemeni forces in Aden and neighboring provinces.

Yemen, an impoverished Arab country, has been gripped by one of the most active regional Al-Qaida insurgencies in the Middle East.

The Yemen-based Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), also known locally as "Ansar al-Sharia," emerged in January 2009, claiming responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks against Yemen's army and governmental institutions.

The AQAP and the IS-linked terrorists took advantage of the security vacuum and ongoing civil war to expand their influence and seize more territories in southern Yemen.

Security in Yemen has deteriorated since March 2015, when war broke out between the Shiite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and government forces backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition.

Over 10,000 people have been killed in ground battles and airstrikes since then, many of them civilians.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  New York's 29 members of the Electoral College have cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton, who won the state despite losing the presidential race to Republican Donald Trump.

Among the electors gathered Monday in the state Capitol's Senate chambers was former President Bill Clinton, who says he's never been prouder of any vote.

Others in attendance included Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, both Democrats.

In a rebuke to Trump, the electors agreed to donate their $15 compensation to the New York Immigration Coalition, an advocacy group for immigrants and refugees.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside to oppose the president-elect and to urge electors in other states to vote for Clinton or another candidate, even if their states voted for Trump.
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Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said Sunday that his talks with the visiting director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were focused on Tehran's programs to develop nuclear propulsion systems of boats announced recently.

IAEA Chief, Yukiya Amano, arrived in Iran's capital Tehran on Sunday to discuss the implementation of Iranian nuclear deal, known as JCPOA, and the related issues with the senior Iranian officials.

Salehi said that his talks with Amano on Sunday revolved around Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's recent order for reaction to the U.S. "violation of the JCPOA," after the U.S. legislators passed a bill extending Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) for 10 more years.

The earlier vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to extend the ISA was endorsed by the Senate last week.

The White House said in a statement on Thursday that the bill renewing the ISA was becoming law without U.S. President Barack Obama's signature.

The White House said that an extension of the bill "is entirely consistent with" the U.S. commitments in the Iran nuclear deal reached in July 2015.

The ISA was first adopted in 1996 to sanction Iran over its controversial nuclear program.

In a letter to Salehi on Tuesday, Rouhani said that "The United States has not fully delivered its commitments in the JCPOA," asking Iranian nuclear scientists to start developing systems for nuclear-powered boats in marine transportation.

In the letter, he also demanded the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to plan for designing and manufacturing nuclear propeller to be used in marine transportation with the help of scientific and research centers.

Also, they need to conduct study and design production of fuel to be used by the nuclear propeller with the help of scientific and research centers, the letter read.

Enrichment of uranium to run the nuclear propellers may vary from a purity of 5 percent to 90 percent, depending on its type, the purpose and the time available, Salehi said, stressing that all such activities will be carried out in conformity with the Safeguard Agreements.

The Iranian nuclear chief also denied that Amano has passed on a message from the United States to the Iranians.

He also pointed out that the IAEA should remain an impartial and independent body without coming under the influence of any party.

Amano will also discuss Iran and IAEA cooperation in technical and safeguard aspects as well as the state of the implementation of the JCPOA.

This is the second visit by the head of IAEA to Tehran following the clinch of the nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers in July 2015 and its implementation in January.

The deal between Iran and six world major countries, namely the United States, Britain, China, Russia, France and Germany, on the former's nuclear issue put Iran on the path of sanctions relief but more strict limits on its nuclear program.

The deal sets limits on Iran's nuclear activities and allows regular inspections of the facilities inside the Islamic republic.

In return, the U.S. and the European Union will suspend nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.
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A total of 75 busses entered eastern Aleppo city in northern Syria on Sunday to evacuate the remaining rebels, a day after the suspended evacuation was resumed, a military source said.

Buses evacuating rebels stand by in Aleppo, Syria on Dec. 18, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

The busses entered the neighborhoods of Zibdiyeh, Salahuddien, Mashhad and Ansari in southeastern Aleppo to evacuate the remaining rebels and their families through the Ramouseh road toward rebel-held areas in the southwestern countryside of Aleppo, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, busses entered the Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa in the countryside of the northwestern province of Idlib on Saturday evening to evacuate as many as 1,200 Shiites besieged by the rebels.

The Shiite people are set to leave Idlib simultaneously with the rebel evacuation from Aleppo on Sunday, as part of a Russian-Turkish deal.

The evacuation of rebels and their families from the last remaining strongholds in eastern Aleppo started on Thursday, and over 8,000 have already left toward the western countryside of Aleppo.

The evacuation came after the Syrian army succeeded to retake 99 percent of the rebel-held areas in Aleppo, following a major offensive.

As a result, over 80,000 people fled eastern Aleppo toward government-controlled areas in western Aleppo, while the rebels and their families were included in a deal between Russia and Turkey, as Moscow negotiated on behalf of the Syrian government, while Ankara negotiated for the rebels.

However, the evacuation process was suspended Friday, due to many reasons.

One of the main reasons is that the rebels in Idlib were stopped short of allowing civilians in both pro-government Shiite towns to leave in tandem with the evacuation of rebels from eastern Aleppo.

On Saturday, a military source said the resumption of the rebel evacuation from their last few strongholds in the eastern part Aleppo is expected to resume on soon, as the rebels agreed to abide by previous pledges to allow civilians out of the Shiite towns, among other conditions.

The deal was supposed to see the evacuation of 15,000 people, including 4,000 rebels.

With the last evacuation of the rebels from eastern Aleppo, the Syrian army will be on control of the entire city, a victory seen as a writing new chapter of history, as President Bashar al-Assad recently said.
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US president-elect Donald Trump's inexperience in diplomacydemonstrated over the weekend after the Chinese Navy's seizure and return of an unmanned US drone in the South China Seamight lead to more confrontations between China and the US as well as fissures between the US and its allies, Chinese experts on international studies warned.

Trump, whose inauguration is five weeks away, took the drone issue to Twitter on Saturday, accusing Beijing of "stealing" the equipment in an "unprecedented act".

He posted another tweet on Sunday, saying, "We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole backlet them keep it!"

By then, China and the United States had already agreed on returning the underwater US drone seized on Thursday in the South China Sea, according to statements by the Pentagon and China's Defense Ministry.

The drone, a 3-meter-long unmanned underwater vehicle, was launched by USNS Bowditch to collect bathymetric data as well as the water's salinity, temperature and current flow, according to the Pentagon.

It was operating about 93 kilometers northwest of Subic Bay off the Philippines, and was retrieved by a Chinese naval lifeboat to prevent "danger to the safe navigation of passing ships and personnel", China's Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said in a statement on Saturday.

"The Chinese boat adopted a professional and responsible attitude in investigating and verifying the device," Yang said. He added that after identifying the device as belonging to the US, China decided to hand it over in a proper way.

"The fuss that the US unilaterally made was inappropriate and did not contribute to a favorable solution to the problem," said Yang. "We express regret over this matter."

China resolutely opposes the US military's long-standing practice of conducting close-in reconnaissance and military surveys within Chinese waters, Yang said, adding, "China will maintain vigilance against the relevant US activities and take necessary measures in response."

The USNS Bowditch is an "infamous" military reconnaissance ship that has been surveying China's coastal waters since 2002, said Ma Gang, a professor at the People's Liberation Army National Defense University.

"Oceanic data is crucial for ship formations, submarine routes and battle planning," Ma said. "Therefore, it is normal for the Chinese Navy to be suspicious of Bowditch's activities given past experience."

Ma said frictions between China and the US would increase if the diplomatically inept Trump continues to undermine China's territorial integrity. "Trump might eventually learn the hard way that China's sovereignty is absolutely nonnegotiable," Ma said.

Zhong Feiteng, a senior researcher on relations among major powers at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Trump initially hyped the drone issue as leverage against China. But he quickly discarded the issue when China and the US resolved it peacefully.

"The whole drone fiasco proves that Trump only cares for things that benefit himself, and will abandon them once they lose value," Zhong said. "This must be disheartening for US allies like South Korea and Japan."
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As Christmas is drawing near, the Hellenic Post Office (ELTA), the state-owned postal services provider in Greece, is flooded with tens of thousands of letters addressed to Santa Claus, with many asking for world peace and an end to the country's seven-year debt crisis, Sunday's "Eleftheros Typos" newspaper quoted an official with ELTA as reporting.

"Dear Santa, please bring some warm clothes and shoes for poor children," a boy named Apostolis wrote in one of the first letters that ELTA employees opened this year, Eleni Kontou, head of the ELTA's Public Relations department, told the newspaper.

ELTA receives about 100,000 such letters each year.

ELTA employees have tried to respond to each of the colorful letters addressed to Santa since 1990.

In recent years the gloom of the debt and refugee crises testing Greece has been reflected on the letters.

Official statistics show that a quarter of Greece's working force is suffering from chronic unemployment, and one in three households is earning incomes beneath or close to the poverty threshold.

And the ongoing refugee crisis worsened the financial situation of the debt-ridden country, as it is managing to provide aid to more than 62,000 refugees who have been stranded in Greece since last winter.

In this context, next to the usual wishes to Santa such as "a tablet and a blanket for my dog," demand for a job for dad or help for the thousands of refugee children started to frequently occur in the letters.

"Dear Santa Claus, although they are telling me that you are a fake invention of a multinational company, I believe in you. I want to keep believing. Please bring peace to the world," a Greek girl wrote.

And Santa Clause is appealing to children and adults alike.

"Dear Santa, bring innovation and whatever you think will help to make a difference in our future. Bring anything that can help us rebuild Greece... They are saying you can pull out miracles. I need to believe you can. You are our last hope," read the letter of a jobless woman.
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Sunday's planned evacuation of rebels from their remaining strongholds in the northern city of Aleppo faced some snags, with the government accusing the rebels of breaching a deal for the second time, a military source told Xinhua.

Syrians are evacuated from a rebel-held area of Aleppo towards rebel-held territory in the west of Aleppo's province on December 16, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

A total of 75 buses entered eastern Aleppo on Sunday to evacuate the remaining rebels, a day after the suspended evacuation was resumed.

The buses entered the neighborhoods of Zibdiyeh, Salahuddien, Mashhad and Ansari in southeastern Aleppo to evacuate the remaining rebels and their families through the Ramouseh road toward rebel-held areas in the southwestern countryside of Aleppo, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, buses entered the Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa in the countryside of the northwestern province of Idlib on Saturday evening to evacuate as many as 1,200 Shiites besieged by the rebels.

The Shiite people are set to leave Idlib simultaneously with the rebel evacuation from Aleppo on Sunday, as part of a Russian-Turkish deal.

However, the rebels' Ahrar al-Sham group, which is besieging the two Shiite towns, burnt five buses at the entrance of the two towns, allowing only four buses to get in. The incident is still murky.

The rebels in Idlib posted a video online showing the buses on fire outside the towns.

Military sources said the burning of the buses is another violation to the deal, which was struck by Russia and Turkey.

After the burning of the buses, the government dispatched another batch of buses instead of the ones set on fire, in what appeared to be a resolve to carrying on with the deal.

This has caused a delay as the rebels in Aleppo will have to evacuate simultaneously with the civilians in the Shiite towns, which could take several hours or even until Monday, till the buses enter the towns and evacuate the people.

The evacuation of rebels and their families from the last remaining strongholds in eastern Aleppo started on Thursday, and over 8,000 have already left toward the western countryside of Aleppo.

The evacuation came after the Syrian army succeeded to retake 99 percent of the rebel-held areas in Aleppo, following a major offensive.

As a result, over 80,000 people fled eastern Aleppo toward government-controlled areas in western Aleppo, while the rebels and their families were included in a deal between Russia and Turkey, as Moscow negotiated on behalf of the Syrian government, while Ankara negotiated for the rebels.

However, the evacuation process was suspended Friday, due to many reasons.

One of the main reasons is that the rebels in Idlib were stopped short of allowing civilians in both pro-government Shiite towns to leave in tandem with the evacuation of rebels from eastern Aleppo.

On Saturday, a military source said the resumption of the rebel evacuation from their last few strongholds in the eastern part of Aleppo is expected to resume on soon, as the rebels agreed to abide by previous pledges to allow civilians out of the Shiite towns, among other conditions.

The deal was supposed to see the evacuation of 15,000 people, including 4,000 rebels.

With the last evacuation of the rebels from eastern Aleppo, the Syrian army will be on control of the entire city, a victory seen as a writing new chapter of history, as President Bashar al-Assad recently said.
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Thousands of people across Turkey on Sunday gathered in rallies condemning the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorism in the wake of recent deadly attacks, local NTV reported.

The protests came after a suicide car bomb attack on Saturday left 14 soldiers dead and 55 others wounded in the central province of Kayseri.

One week ago, twin bombings claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), PKK's affiliated organization, killed 44 people in Istanbul.

In Diyarbakir, the largest city in the southeast, people demonstrated in the central Yenisehir district despite the cold weather and marched in the streets holding Turkish flags.

In Hakkari, around 3,000 people in Yuksekova district took to the streets to protest the PKK group.

Hundreds of people in Cukurca, another district of Hakkari, also condemned the attacks and chanted anti-PKK slogans.

Bordering Iraq, Cukurca district usually suffers from intense clashes between security forces and PKK terrorists since the latter use the region to cross the Turkish border from its camps in northern Iraq.

Another rally was held in the town of Cizre near Syria, where locals were joined by others from adjacent towns of Silopi, Idil and provincial center Sirnak.

Southeastern Sirnak, Mardin and Sanliurfa provinces saw local residents and NGOs gather at streets and squares to protest the PKK terrorism.

Thousands of others also gathered in eastern Elazig, Erzurum and Kars provinces to condemn the PKK's attacks on civilians, security forces and soldiers.

Meanwhile, at least 15 Turkish leading business organizations on Sunday strongly condemned and expressed sorrow in a joint statement over the deadly terror attack in Kayseri, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

"Our country is passing through a very critical process... All of the terrorist organizations are targeting our country at the same time," read the joint written statement.

"We are all united against terror attacks. We will not break apart, we will unite," the statement said.

Top representatives from 15 Turkish business organizations visited Kayseri to voice their condolences with local people, according to the statement.

Turkish Industry and Business Association said in a separate statement that the terror attacks aimed at destroying the peace of the Turkish people by creating a climate of fear in the country.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the EU and Turkey.
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The death toll in a shooting in Jordan on Sunday rose to 10, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

Jordanian policemen stand guard near Karak Castle, where armed gunmen carried out an attack in the city of Karak, Jordan, Dec. 18, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Six policemen, three citizens and a Canadian tourist were killed in the shooting when a group of unidentified gunmen opened fire at a police patrol near the Karak Castle in the south of Jordan, the report quoted the Public Security Department.

The police said an operation to take down the gunmen who were hiding in the castle is underway.

"I was near the castle around 2:00 pm when I heard a heavy exchange of fire. It was scary," a tour guide who works in Karak told Xinhua.

"I was with a group of tourists when the shootout happened, people started running in panic," the guide said.
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The leaders of Britain's biggest trade union and business organisation sent a joint letter on Sunday to British Prime Minister Theresa May, calling for a unilateral move to agree EU migrants' stay in the country after Brexit.

British Prime Minister Theresa May switches on the Downing Street Christmas tree lights, with children nominated by UK charities and a local school choir in London, Britain on Dec. 8, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

In the open letter signed by union chief Frances O'Grady of the Trade Union Congress and Adam Marshall, the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, the two leaders called on May to end the uncertainty for businesses and millions of workers by confirming that the government will give current EU migrants a right to stay in Britain after Brexit.

In what was described as a "bold unilateral move," the commitment urged by the two leaders was explained as "both morally right and also in the interests of the British economy."

They also believe that it will send a signal of goodwill to the EU, which will benefit Britain's negotiating position.

"It's the right thing to do. But it's also about what is right for Britain too. Continued doubt about the status of workers from the rest of the EU is bad for business, and it puts services like the NHS at risk," said O'Grady.

Marshall holds similar worries, saying that "Business communities across the UK are deeply frustrated that ministers have declined to guarantee the residence rights of their EU employees and colleagues. Some firms are already losing key members of staff due to this avoidable uncertainty."

He also urged for a quick move to ease the anxiety.

"Such a move before the start of a complex Brexit negotiation would be bold, but it is the right thing to do for the individuals affected, for the businesses that employ them, and for the economy as a whole," said Marshall.

The two leaders urged the government in the letter to give an unequivocal commitment that EU citizens working in the country will have a permanent right to remain in the UK.

The publication of the letter coincides with International Migrants Day, which is marked on every anniversary of the UN's adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on Dec. 18, 1990.

But the government has so far refused to issue guarantees, saying what happens to EU nationals will depend on what happens to the millions of British people currently living or working in the other 27 EU member countries.

Meanwhile The Scottish government is preparing to publish on Tuesday its proposals for Scotland's future relationship with the EU after Brexit.

A paper titled "Scotland's place in Europe" will be published on Tuesday.

The Scottish government's Brexit minister Michael Russell unveiled on Sunday that "Scotland's place in Europe" will include plans to retain a place for Scotland in the single market and new devolved powers for the Holyrood parliament in Edinburgh.

In the June 23 referendum, although people across Britain voted 52-48 in favor of leaving, in Scotland the majority backed remaining in the EU with a margin of 62-38.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has already said she would push for a second independence referendum for Scotland if the wishes of Scottish people are not adopted in the negotiations with Brussels.

Ahead of the report being formerly published, Russell said the government led by his Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) would be for Scotland to become an independent EU member state.

He said the SNP had committed to putting forward "compromise proposals" to "mitigate the Brexit damage."

In media interviews Sunday, Russell said "At the heart of our plan is a framework to keep Scotland's place in the European single market. That is vital for jobs, investment and our long-term prosperity, which are all seriously threatened by the hard Brexit."
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China and Norway have reached consensus on normalization of ties, according to a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende Monday in Beijing.

Li said the two countries' foreign ministers had candid and in-depth talks, and reached an agreement on the normalization of bilateral ties.

China hopes to work together with Norway to open a new chapter in bilateral ties, and push forward a sustained, healthy and stable relationship, Li said.

China-Norway relations deteriorated due to controversy around the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 and events connected to the Prize.

Li said China appreciates the new Norwegian government's adherence to the one-China policy and its wish to improve and develop ties with China.

The two economies are highly compatible, Li said, adding China is ready to negotiate with Norway on an FTA, to send out a clear signal of trade and investment liberalization.

Brende, in his turn, said the normalization of relations is of historic significance, and has sent a positive message to the international community.

Norway adheres to the one-China policy and respects China's core interests and major concerns, which are the political foundation for ties, he said.

Li told Brende the history of China-Norway relations shows mutual respect, equality and taking care of respective core interests and major concerns, serve as the precondition and foundation for strengthening political trust and developing ties.

Norway hopes to take the opportunity of normalization of ties with China to enhance high-level exchanges, boost bilateral FTA negotiation and expand win-win cooperation in such areas as investment, hydropower, and offshore oil and gas exploitation, Brende said.

Earlier on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had talks with Brende.
Associated Press photographer Burhan Ozbilici was covering a photo exhibition in Ankara when a gunman opened fire, assassinating Russia's ambassador to Turkey. He recounts the chaos that unfolded as he captured the scene.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  The event was routine enough  the opening of an exhibit of photographs of Russia  and when a man on stage pulled out a gun I thought it was a theatrical flourish.

It was anything but. Moments later the Russian ambassador was sprawled on the floor and the attacker was waving his gun at the rest of us, shouting slogans. He shot the ambassador at least once more at close range and smashed some of the framed photos on the wall. In all there were at least eight shots.

Guests ran for cover, hiding behind columns and under tables. I composed myself enough to shoot pictures.

___

EDITOR'S NOTE: Associated Press photographer Burhan Ozbilici was covering a photo exhibition when a gunman opened fire, assassinating Russia's ambassador to Turkey. He recounts the chaos that unfolded as he captured the scene.

___

"Don't forget Aleppo. Don't forget Syria!" the gunman shouted in Turkish, referring to the Syrian city where Russian bombardments have helped drive rebels from areas they had occupied for years during the war. He also shouted "Allahu akbar" but I couldn't understand the rest of what he said in Arabic.

Authorities would later confirm that Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, was dead. The gunman, identified as police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas, was killed after a 15-minute shootout.
Ill start with a disclaimer. Its very difficult to follow, much less write about, a story that is unfolding rapidly. Yet sometimes there is a story of such paramount importance that it must be addressed right away. Although I would love to write something nice and fluffy about Christmas, the prospect of Russian interference in the American election represents something much more important.

Our president-elect's reluctance to accept the input from the highest levels of our intelligence community regarding this issue is discomforting to say the least. What facts there are available to the public suggest that Vladimir Putin, a man Trump has praised and admired publically, had direct knowledge of the attack. He may have even given the order to carry it out.

Some may forget that Putin was a lieutenant colonel in the KGB up until the failed 1991 coup that led to the break-up of the Soviet Union. Putin next became the leader of the successor to the KGB, the Federal Security Service (FSB), under Boris Yeltsin. Since he first joined the KGB in 1975, his entire career has been as an agent of espionage. Just as Trump no doubt envisions himself remaking the United States government into more of a business, Putin too has created the Russian government in his own image. It has evolved into a world of deception and subterfuge, fueled by money and Machiavellian principles. Lets not forget about Alexander Litvinenko, the Russian whistler-blower who died a very public death as the result of FSB poisoning 10 years ago. He coined the phrase Mafia state when describing Putins Russia.

Trump may actually see the future of America in similar terms, as a type of oligarchy in which the richest men in the country hold the reigns, and have dispensed with any kind of democratic pretense. His way is the way of Putin, in that a growing number of us will work for an increasing few. For just as the extreme edge of liberalism is said to be socialism, the logical conclusion to conservatism is nothing short of feudalism.

If in other lands it be high treason to compass the death of the king, it shall be counted no less a crime here to strangle our sovereign power and stifle its voice. So said President James Garfield during his inaugural speech in 1881, speaking on the issue of black suffrage and the suppression of voters in the South. Garfields point holds a timeless weight that extends beyond his contemporary issue.

When we are asked to determine what the fundamentals of our republic and what our democracy holds sacred, the one singular and inarguable feature is our vote. Politics aside, we all surely agree that the cornerstone of American freedom is the individual right to determine the course of ones own destiny. Faced with the knowledge that a foreign power has purposefully attempted to subvert that vote, a feeling of insecurity can set in.

Lets hope our leaders at every level take this existential threat as serious as they should.
China Aid

(BeijingDec. 15, 2016) Plainclothes authorities raided the apartment of the brother of a missing human rights lawyer on Dec. 4 and have been holding one of its tenants incommunicado ever since, the lawyers wife confirmed today.

In a report given to China Aid, Jin Bianling, the wife of disappeared human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong, verified that public security bureau officials raided her brother-in-laws apartment, possibly to ascertain whether or not it contained any of her husbands personal belongings. Recently, the brother began renting the space to Mo Xiaowei, a person who has no connection to Jiang. However, government personnel took Mo into police custody and switched off his phone. Since then, no one has been able to contact him.

Jins statement can be read below.

China Aid reports abuses, such as those suffered by Jiang Tianyong and Mo Xiaowei, in order to promote religious freedom, human rights and rule of law in China.

Jin Bianlings statement

Editors note: The following statement has been edited for clarity and grammar.

Jiang Tianyong has remained untraceable since his disappearance on Nov. 21, 2016. I, however, have continuously received information from indirect sources. Here, below, is information that I, after verification with prudence, can confirm.

1. A residential premises in the northern district of the Changping region of Beijing, in which Jiang Tianyong once lived, was broken into and searched by public security officers.

The source of information notes that on Dec. 4, plainclothes officers from Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau arrived at the premises with a locksmith. They broke in and searched the property, in which Jiang Tianyong once resided. They also took away some personal belongings. As [I] understand, police have been stationed to monitor the premises for long hours multiple times.

2. Mo Xiaowei, a tenant of the apartment in Changping, which belongs to Jiang Tianyongs younger brother, was taken away by police and cannot be contacted [to this day]. His apartment has been searched.

Before the 709 crackdown in 2015 [Editors note: The 709 crackdown refers to the mass incarceration of human rights lawyers in China, which began on July 9, 2015], Jiang Tianyong occasionally stayed in his younger brothers home. Jiangs younger brother lately rented the apartment to Mo Xiaowei, who has nothing to do with Jiang. However, since Dec. 4, Mos phone has been switched off, and he cannot be contacted since. A credible source confirmed that Mo was taken away by several police officers as well as plainclothes [officials]. His apartment was also raided. It is possible that the objective of the public security officer was to search [and find out] if there were any personal belongings of Jiang Tianyong, and, at the same time, [keep] the tenant from leaking information.

Jiang Tianyong has disappeared for more than 20 days. We, as family members, have had no channel for any official information. The above incidents suffice to state that the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau is directly related to the enforced disappearance of Jiang Tianyong. I, on behalf of Jiangs family, strongly condemn the act of enforced disappearance by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, the unlawful search of [Mos] home and in particular, the implication of another individual unrelated to the case.

Jin Bianling

[redacted]

Dec. 15, 2016

ChinaAid Media Team

Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985

Email: [email protected]

For more information, click here
City

 Donald L. Merritt, 26, 290 Grant Ave. Apt. 9, Auburn, was picked up on a warrant Dec. 17 and charged with second-degree criminal contempt.

 Sean M. Neagle, 40, 30 Fitch Ave., Auburn, was charged Dec. 18 with driving while intoxicated and aggravated driving while intoxicated.

County

 George T. Graham, 31, Sterling, was charged Dec. 6 with criminal obstruction of breathing and blood circulation.

 Salvador A. Caban, 26, Auburn, was charged Dec. 7 with disobeying a court mandate and aggravated family offense.

 Hector O. Cabrera, 34, Auburn, was charged Dec. 7 with disobeying a court mandate and aggravated family offense.

 Corddereal M. Tompkins, 28, Auburn, was charged Dec. 7 with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree criminal mischief and petit larceny.

 Brandon A. Dutcher, 31, Auburn, was charged Dec. 8 with second-degree obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

 Erinn E. Lepak, 26, Auburn, was charged Dec. 9 with fourth-degree grand larceny.

State

 Ryan M. Curry, 40, Jordan, was charged Dec. 17 with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

 Garrett L. Partin, 19, Springport, was charged Dec. 16 with second-degree criminal contempt.

 Tammy M. Kennedy, 51, Auburn, was charged Dec. 16 with two counts of petit larceny and third-degree identity theft.

 Lisa M. Garrison, 48, Hannibal, was charged Dec. 17 with first-degree promoting prison contraband and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Visitors at the fourth Macao Business Aviation Expo check out a small jet on display. Participating makers of business jets from the US, France, Brazil said they received numerous enquires from potential buyers in China. [Photo/Xinhua]

Business jet makers launch new models, increase staff in China to serve a market that is expanding very fast

In China and the Asia-Pacific region, inveterate wealthy fliers are fast upgrading to small- and mid-size jets for purposes as varied as tourism and business travel.

Typically, such jets hold eight to 10 passengers.

Andy Gill, senior director of business and aviation for the Asia-Pacific at Honeywell Aerospace, a major provider of aircraft hardware and avionics systems, said: "As the economy grows, Chinese customers are starting to use business jets for travel within the region as opposed to flying out of the region.

"We think travel by business jets is going to become more prominent for short-distance flights, for purposes like business trips, tourism, and cross-sea flying. We are already seeing that trend a little bit, and we think it's going to grow."

For a long time, wealthy Chinese fliers favored buying or chartering large, long-range aircraft, mainly because they traveled a lot for business outside of the Asia-Pacific region.

Such fliers had businesses in Europe or the United States. To reach such places in exclusive comfort, they needed long-range aircraft.

As their wealth increased, and more successful people turned wealthy, the tribe's tastes, preferences and requirements, too, have evolved.

Currently, there are about 300 business jets in China. Compared to the West, the business jet market in China is small and underdeveloped. But China is seeing strong growth in the sector, a contrast to the relatively sluggish growth in mature markets.

Last year, China saw 28 percent growth in people looking to buy or replace their business jets. In the Asia-Pacific region, the growth rate was around 14 percent, according to Honeywell Aerospace data.

"If you compare with the US, where there are nearly 20,000 business jets, China has three to four times the US population, so there is a huge opportunity for the business jet market to grow in China. I'm very confident about the growth potential," Gill said.

"Obviously, the business aviation sector is still in its infancy in China. I think there's still a lot of learning going on in the industry about the benefits and positive impact of business aviation. For example, the investment in the new technology of business jets will drive the growth for many related areas."

Signs to that effect are appearing already. For instance, Jiangsu Jet Co Ltd, a Nanjing, Jiangsu province-based small aircraft-operator, started flying a new 15-seat airplane this summer.

The business jet costs $16 million. Operating expenses would entail 35,000 yuan ($5,090) for every flying hour of a chartered flight, including wages for pilots, flight attendants and other related bills.

"We have seen a few chartered flights in recent months, mostly for domestic travel. We arrange everything for passengers. I expect to see more people choosing to fly in business jets," said Pei Shanfeng, an engineer for Jiangsu Jet Co Ltd.

Pei's expectation is based on the fact that those who prefer exclusive jets are often entrepreneurs, heads of states, top government officials and high net-worth individuals. For the growing number of such fliers, business jets become essential for business trips where time is at a premium.

To meet the needs of such potential customers, French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation SA launched a new jet model, the Falcon 8X, two months ago.

The Falcon 8X is the quietest in its class. It also offers the longest rangefor instance, it can fly from Beijing to Los Angelesand the longest cabin among the Falcon series.

Dassault said Falcon 8X is expected to get certification from China shortly. In coming months, the new aircraft will likely be on track for deliveries to Chinese operators.

"We are very confident about the growth potential of the China market. It's one of our key markets, and we have added more staff to our team in China. For the Falcon 7X, China is our second-largest market, in terms of demand," said Kathy Liu, general manager of Dassault China.

This year, Honeywell had projected global deliveries of about 650 to 675 business jets worth around $18 billion. The projected volume was a low- to mid-single-digit percentage decline year-on-year, largely due to slower order rates for mature models and stabilization in some types of deliveries, according to its report.

The company said aircraft manufacturers typically make many models, and are always looking for niche markets for their new offerings of business jets.

The Asia-Pacific region has about 700 business jets. The market is showing an increasing optimism, despite the ongoing Chinese austerity measures. In the next five years, the region could garner up to 6 percent share of the global demand for new jets. And it is the fastest-growing region, the report said.

Currently, business jets share the same airports with other commercial airplanes in China, but the situation is likely to change for the better.

"As the business aviation sector grows, specific general aviation airports will come up. They will offer access to business jets or provide better access to business jets. In Europe and the US, major cities typically have their own dedicated business airports," Gill said.
Pilots learn how to fly a business jet at a training institute in Xiangyang, Hubei province. [Photo/Xinhua]

China faces a shortage of pilots and exclusive airports for business jets. Experts said the industry needs to respond to the situation soon as the business aviation segment continues to grow. The gap has already increased pressure on the growth of the segment.

Currently, China has around 300 business jets. This segment of the aviation market needs at least 1,200 pilots, if every jet is equipped with two pairs of pilots.

Last year, China saw 28 percent growth in individuals looking to buy or replace their business jets. This would mean the demand for business jet pilots and cabin crew will grow, according to Honeywell Aerospace.

By the end of 2015, China had 1,225 pilots with licenses to fly small aircraft for commercial transportation, according to the latest pilot report by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Compared with commercial airline pilots, business jet pilots require more abilities and need to perform more tasks. For example, business jet pilots need to communicate individually with the passengers, in addition to doing some ground work after landing.

Chinese business jet operators usually offer high salaries to attract captains, but it is not easy to draw staff from large commercial airlines, as many pilots prefer to stay on for career progression, stability and job security.

With confirmed routes and scheduled time at commercial airlines, pilots can accumulate more flying experience. In comparison, business jets fly less frequently and their schedules could change at short notice.

Besides, only a few major Chinese business jet operators such as Deer Jet are able to train business jet pilots. Training costs are very high. So, some domestic operators have to hire pilots from abroad.

Industry experts suggest that domestic operators and flying schools should further improve their training systems and mechanisms for business jet pilots.

Liao Xuefeng, chairman and chief executive officer of China Business Aviation Group, said: "China's business jet sector needs to hire a large number of foreign pilots, and the costs are two times higher than hiring domestic pilots, as the operators need to take care of pilots' family relocation issues.

"The costs of using business jets in China are also among the highest worldwide, about 50 percent higher than the United States'. This is part of the problems that arose during the growth of the sector. But the business aviation segment still shows a very promising development momentum."

That momentum needs to overcome infrastructure shortage though. In China, business jets now share the same airports with commercial airlines. Some airports have difficulty in arranging parking lots for business jets.

In addition, it takes about one to three days for business jets to apply for flying rights. The process is more complex than in other countries such as the US and those in Southeast Asia. This has also inflated costs in China.

It is projected that by the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period, China will have 500 new airports, and more than 5,000 general aviation aircraft will be in operation. The general aviation industry's worth will exceed 1 trillion yuan ($1.4 billion), according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

"It's very positive that there are specific policies aimed at the sector. I think it will have a very positive impact, and will encourage more new people join the sector," said Andy Gill, senior director of business and aviation in Asia Pacific at Honeywell Aerospace.
Technicians inspect a power line in a residential area of Huaibei, Anhui province. [Photo/China Daily]

State Grid Corp takes lead by building Brazil hydropower plants with UHV technology

State Grid Corp of China, which runs the majority of the nation's electricity distribution network, has big plans to play a key role in the clean energy industry in South America.

"The company's landing ultra high-voltage electricity transmission projects in Brazil marks a major breakthrough in China's 'going global' strategy in the field of UHV technology," said Li Lequan, deputy director of State Grid International Development Co Ltd, SGCC's subsidiary for global operations.

"The first phase of the Belo Monte UHV DC Transmission Project, which is expected to start commercial operations by February 2018, will create more than 36,000 local jobs. It'll also use Chinese electrical equipment worth 5 billion yuan ($720 million)."

UHV technology provides large-scale power delivery over long distances and can reduce energy loss during transmission.

According to Li, the project is the first overseas UHV direct current transmission project operated by a Chinese power enterprise. It is also the first UHV DC project in South America.

A group led by SGCC won the bid to construct the hydropower transmission lines for the Belo Monte project, a hydropower plant in the Amazon region, in February 2014.

So far, major equipment like converter stations has arrived on-site, and 40 percent of the construction of the substation, and 95 percent of land acquisition, have been completed, he said.

In July 2015, the company won the bid for Phase 2 Belo Monte UHV Transmission Project independently and received the concession for 30 years.

The project, which will integrate investment, construction and operation of UHV transmission projects, includes an 800KV UHV DC transmission line with converter stations at both ends.

The construction period will last for 50 months and is expected to start commercial operations by December 2019.

Analysts said China's UHV technology has become key to the company's presence and expansion in Brazil, where distances of thousands of kilometers separate hydroelectric dams and the communities they serve.

Han Xiaoping, an analyst at Beijing-based cnenergy.org, said the technology helps transmit large amount of power over long distances. That is what Brazil needs, given its vast and varied geography.

In hydropower potential, Brazil ranks third in the world after Russia and China. Eighty percent of the energy consumed in the country originates from hydroelectric plants, he said.

"The upcoming UHV line will signify Brazil's, even South America's, first 'electricity superhighway'. Besides, State Grid's UHV technology will gain lead in the global power plant and distribution grid construction market," Han said.

Insufficient power and its uneven distribution have put new pressures on economic development the world over. Statistics show the price of electricity for home use increased by 50 percent last year, according to Xinhua News Agency.

"China is a country with rich experience in building large-scale power transmission infrastructure, so it has become the first choice for other countries in need," Han said.

UHV is a world-class Chinese innovation with intellectual property rights. State Grid manages hybrid grids with the world's highest voltage level and on the largest scale, said Li.

"It owns advanced large grid operational control technology and system protection technology and is the world's sole grid type with no major outage."

SGCC, which was set up in 2010, has so far erected power lines stretching 6,748 kilometers in Brazil, with 6,054 kilometers more under construction.

SGCC's overseas arm also has a presence in the Philippines, Portugal, Australia and Italy. Its overseas investment has reached $9.8 billion; its overseas assets are worth $29.8 billion.

The parent company plans to use its domestic market experience to win more export orders for its technology and equipment.

Last year, it inked framework deals with Russia and Kazakhstan for cross-country electricity transmission lines.

The parent company has invested more than $10 billion overseas so far, with gross value of assets reaching $40 billion, all earning profits, said Lv Shirong, deputy director-general of the Department of International Cooperation, SGCC.

"The company has successfully invested in and operated key backbone energy networks in six countries and regions, including the Philippines, Brazil, Portugal, and Italy.

"Its overseas business has extended from developing countries to emerging economies and developed countries."

According to Lv, SGCC highly values the key role of standards in international competition, while enhancing China's voice and influence in the power sector worldwide.

"State Grid leads the world in a number of grid technologies. It's the first in the world to establish a complete UHV DC/AC power line and smart grid technology system. It also has a presence in new energy and large grid operation," he said.

"State Grid will work on its international business and major projects centered around the Belt and Road Initiative, and strongly promote China's 'going global' push in technology, equipment, management and power industry standards."
A technician writes the program for a robot bound for export in Hefei, capital of Anhui province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The returns earned by Chinese companies from investments in overseas manufacturing this year are estimated to have risen by 19.8 percent year-on-year, to $225 billion, according to a senior official.

Zhang Ji, the assistant minister of commerce, said as more outbound direct investment has flowed into manufacturing sectors, such as automobiles, cement and clothing, companies have found new growth points and built industrial chains.

"Their investment can effectively drive trade growth," Zhang said at an economic forum held by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges on Saturday. "We've also discovered an alternative benefit: Part of the country's gross domestic product has been transformed into gross national product."

The ODI from the nonfinancial sector stood at $161.7 billion in the first 11 months of this year, up by 55.3 percent year-on-year, the ministry's data show.

Over the same period, Chinese companies completed 561 merger and acquisition deals overseas, with $82.4 billion, or 30 percent, of the total investment going into manufacturing businesses.

"The investment categories of Chinese companies have further expanded overseas. High-end manufacturing, information transmission and software technology services were hot areas for ODI this year," said Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice-chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.

The major investment destinations have been Association of Southeast Asian Nations members, Australia, the European Union, Russia and the United States, he said, adding that countries along the Belt and Road Initiative are also hot destinations.

The initiative is a trade, services and infrastructure network that includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, covering about 4.4 billion people in more than 60 countries and regions in Asia, Europe and Africa.

"We have also welcomed companies from the US and Japan to form partnerships with Chinese companies to develop markets along these two trading routes," Zhang Xiaoqiang added.

To enhance its earning ability, China has built 56 economic and trade cooperation zones in over 20 countries and regions, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Southeast Asia. By September, the efforts had created 160,000 jobs.

More than 100 countries and international organizations are involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. China has signed cooperation agreements with more than 40 countries and regions along the routes, and has started to cooperate on international industrial capacity with more than 20 countries, data from Zhang Xiaoqiang's center show.

"Chinese companies need to further absorb quality resources from global brands through overseas M&A activities and build core strengths in market popularity, technology and talent rather than low-end manufacturing," said Lin Guijun, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.
A caretaker conducts a health check for a senior citizen at Vanke's Dignified Life Project in Liangzhu, Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Vanke, the country's largest property developer in terms of market value, has branched out into senior citizen care services.

In fact, the realty behemoth sees the segment as one of its future growth engines. That is because the traditional real estate sector has been slowing of late.

The company recently unveiled its ambitious plan for the senior care industry. Called the Dignified Life Project, it includes the country's first senior care industry ecosystem in the Yangtze River delta area.

"Over the next three years, the Dignified Life Project will set up 1,000 branches, covering more than 600,000 senior people with over 50,000 direct clients," said Li Wei, general manager of Vanke's Hangzhou unit.

The project consists of three lines: apartments for senior citizens who can look after themselves; a family-style elderly rehabilitation nursing center; and a community service center for senior citizens.

Seven years ago, Vanke Hangzhou set up a "Dignified Life" project in Liangzhu, a scenic spot 16 km from Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang province. The community covers about 63,000 square meters. There are 615 senior care apartments, a nursing home with 122 beds, and communal amenities like a hospital, banks and a supermarket.

Such apartments are rented out for a long period, and not sold outright. Typically, the 15-year rent for a two-bedroom apartment works out to around 1 million yuan ($143, 000), and the monthly service fee starts at 2,000 yuan and can go up to 3,000 yuan.

The group has employed 200 people for the senior care business unit that can serve 100 communities, according to Li.

Although seen as one of the future growth engines, the new line of business is not driven by the profit motive, said Zhang Hai, senior vice-president of Vanke.

Nor is there any plan to go public right away, though potential opportunities to do so abound, said Zhang. "We need to consolidate our business first. We're not doing senior care real estate, but senior care services. The capital market foray will usually lead to short-term behavior, which is definitely not what we want."

China's fast-growing aging population is a huge market for senior care services, he said, citing industry data that the elderly population will reach 260 million in 2020, almost nearing the total population of the United States.

By the end of 2015, those aged 65 and above accounted for 10.5 percent of China's total population of 1.37 billion, surpassing the global average of 8.5 percent.

According to Wu Xiaobo, a financial writer, the senior care industry will become China's biggest industry with over 10 trillion yuan market value in 13 to 15 years, replacing the real estate industry.

"The senior care services are just a part of Vanke's overall property ecosystem," said Zhang. "The senior care subsystem can be mainly divided into three levels. First, to establish the network layout with three major product lines; second, to set up the Dignified Life plus cooperative ecological platform, including cooperating with medical service providers and equipment suppliers; third, to build an extendible ecological service in the future."

Tian Yuanyuan contributed to this story.
Shu Yinbiao, chairman of the State Grid (middle, front row), celebrated with his peers after the company won the bid for the Matiari-Lahore DC power transmission line. [Photo/Xinhua]

China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co Ltd or CET, a subsidiary of State Grid Corp of China, said it will participate in the largest direct-current high-voltage transmission project along the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The 910-km, 660-kilovolt Matiari-Lahore DC transmission line, a project to be built on engineering, procurement and construction or EPC basis, also includes two converter stations. EPC contracts are common in the construction industry.

The transmission line is being constructed as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC. It starts from a converter station at Matiari near Hyderabad city in Sindh province and ends at Nankana Sahab near Lahore city in Punjab province.

The contract is worth over $1.76 billion and will take 27 months to construct, according to CET. Construction would begin soon, CET said.

"The project, once completed, will help transmit 4,000 MW of electricity and fuel exports worth about 10 billion yuan ($1.44 billion) annually," said Zheng Baihua, deputy manager in general of CET.

Zheng said the project would mainly use Chinese products, standards, design and construction.

"The project is of great importance to sustain Pakistan's GDP growth. As per market consensus, it is expected to rise at a rate of 5 percent in 2017 and 5.5 percent in 2018, from a forecast rate of 4.7 percent for 2016," said Joseph Jacobelli, senior analyst of Asian utilities and infrastructure research at Bloomberg Intelligence.

"The construction ... should become another proof of SGCC's technical prowess. Just like in China, the project may be important to better distribute power from one location, which has high electricity generation resources, to faraway load centers," Jacobelli said.

The CPEC is a major pilot project under China's Belt and Road Initiative, highlighting energy, transport and industrial cooperation between the two countries.

Sun Weidong, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, said in a previous interview: "The corridor will come up with more business opportunities while providing tens of thousands of new jobs for locals."

According to the company, the project would improve power network structure in Pakistan, make full use of electricity, and promote bilateral relations and cooperation.

Between 2013 and 2016, CET has won more than 20 overseas orders from Africa, Europe and the US, which were worth $11 billion. The contract value posted double-digit annual growth rate in the same period, with 2015 alone accounting for more than $3.3 billion.

"All our overseas investments are making a profit so far, as we conducted scientific and strict reviews before decision-making," said Lv Shirong, deputy director of State Grid's international department.

The parent company said its total overseas investment exceeded $10 billion by June-end, and its overseas assets reached $40 billion.
Employees of an online store process orders in Qingyanliu village, East China's Zhejiang province on Dec 29, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Chinese top legislature is deliberating a draft law that will regulate and facilitate e-commerce in the country.

The draft law was tabled for review by legislators at the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which runs from Monday to Sunday.

It is the first reading of the draft by the top legislature.

Explaining the draft to lawmakers on Monday morning, Lyu Zushan, deputy director with the NPC's Financial and Economic Affairs Committee, said booming e-commerce in recent years had served to reveal loopholes in China's legal system and commercial rules.

The draft law will facilitate e-commerce growth, help maintain market order and protect consumer rights.

The draft law said the nation should put online and offline commercial activities on an equal footing, and protect the safety of e-commerce transactions.

All e-commerce operators have an obligation to pay taxes and should acquire the necessary business certificates, under the draft.

Operators must also ensure personal information security for consumers. Those that fail will face fines up to 500,000 yuan ($72,000) and could have their business certificates revoked.

They must also work to protect intellectual property, the draft said.

The draft requires third-party e-commerce platforms to offer technical support for "law enforcement activities by relevant authorities."

China is the world's largest e-commerce market.

According to Lyu, e-commerce trade amounted to over 20 trillion yuan ($2.87 trillion) in 2015, with online retail sales totaling 3.88 trillion yuan.

Last month, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba saw 120.7 billion yuan in gross merchandise volume during its 24 hour Singles' Day event, an annual online shopping spree on November 11.
China's economy underwent a tough year in 2016 and showed the world its resilience despite headwinds at home and abroad.

With the year coming to an end, let us take a look at the top 10 key words that tell the stories that made headlines in the world and China.

G20

President Xi Jinping addresses the media on Sept 5 after the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Feng Yongbin / China Daily]

Under the theme of "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy," this year's G20 Summit was held on Sept 4-5 in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

China has demonstrated unswerving commitment to globalization, more specifically to defending free trade and cross-border investment and business cooperation during the summit.
Chinese leaders concluded the Central Economic Work Conference, an annual meeting that decided the countrys economic direction for the next year, in Beijing on Friday.

Ning Jizhe, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission and head of the National Bureau of Statistics, expounded the six points agreed by the leaders, at a forum in Beijing on Saturday.

1. New normal

A bullet train passes by a flower field in Northwest China's Qinghai province, July 27, 2016. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

New normal is the general logic of China's economic work at present and in the years ahead. The stage of new normal calls for changes in speed of growth, economic structure and growth drivers, namely, the change from high speed to medium-to-high speed, the change from low-and-medium end to medium-and-high end, and the change from old growth drivers to new growth drivers.
US President-elect Donald Trump speaks at election night rally in Manhattan, New York, US, November 9, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

US president-elect makes accusation on Twitter after drone issue resolved

US president-elect Donald Trump's inexperience in diplomacydemonstrated over the weekend after the Chinese Navy's seizure and return of an unmanned US drone in the South China Seamight lead to more confrontations between China and the US as well as fissures between the US and its allies, Chinese experts on international studies warned.

Trump, whose inauguration is five weeks away, took the drone issue to Twitter on Saturday, accusing Beijing of "stealing" the equipment in an "unprecedented act".

He posted another tweet on Sunday, saying, "We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole backlet them keep it!"

By then, China and the United States had already agreed on returning the underwater US drone seized on Thursday in the South China Sea, according to statements by the Pentagon and China's Defense Ministry.

The drone, a 3-meter-long unmanned underwater vehicle, was launched by USNS Bowditch to collect bathymetric data as well as the water's salinity, temperature and current flow, according to the Pentagon.

It was operating about 93 kilometers northwest of Subic Bay off the Philippines, and was retrieved by a Chinese naval lifeboat to prevent "danger to the safe navigation of passing ships and personnel", China's Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said in a statement on Saturday.

"The Chinese boat adopted a professional and responsible attitude in investigating and verifying the device," Yang said. He added that after identifying the device as belonging to the US, China decided to hand it over in a proper way.

"The fuss that the US unilaterally made was inappropriate and did not contribute to a favorable solution to the problem," said Yang. "We express regret over this matter."

China resolutely opposes the US military's long-standing practice of conducting close-in reconnaissance and military surveys within Chinese waters, Yang said, adding, "China will maintain vigilance against the relevant US activities and take necessary measures in response."

The USNS Bowditch is an "infamous" military reconnaissance ship that has been surveying China's coastal waters since 2002, said Ma Gang, a professor at the People's Liberation Army National Defense University.

"Oceanic data is crucial for ship formations, submarine routes and battle planning," Ma said. "Therefore, it is normal for the Chinese Navy to be suspicious of Bowditch's activities given past experience."

Ma said frictions between China and the US would increase if the diplomatically inept Trump continues to undermine China's territorial integrity. "Trump might eventually learn the hard way that China's sovereignty is absolutely nonnegotiable," Ma said.

Zhong Feiteng, a senior researcher on relations among major powers at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Trump initially hyped the drone issue as leverage against China. But he quickly discarded the issue when China and the US resolved it peacefully.

"The whole drone fiasco proves that Trump only cares for things that benefit himself, and will abandon them once they lose value," Zhong said. "This must be disheartening for US allies like South Korea and Japan."
SKANEATELES  The Skaneateles Town Board is looking to save on the cost and consumption of its energy by installing LED streetlights and implementing a community solar array at the town Transfer Station.

Following Thursday's town board meeting, Supervisor Jim Lanning said the board discussed a cost analysis that the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board will conduct for the town free of charge to look at purchasing streetlights from National Grid to convert them to LED.

Lanning said the board previously received a report regarding leasing the equipment through the utility company in which the town would essentially pay National Grid to convert the streetlights to LED.

"We're absolutely thrilled that there's a three-year payback on that investment, and that makes it hard not to do that," he said.

Now, however, he said the Public Service Commission is coming out with what amounts to a tariff that requires National Grid to sell municipalities their streetlights.

So, Lanning said, the second report will look at the cost if the town bought all of its streetlights and had its own streetlights within the town.

"We have to do a cost analysis of that," Lanning said. "This is going to be a very strong initiative for me in 2017. Savings like that cannot be overlooked."

He said many municipalities are switching over to self-owned streetlights, and the board is excited about the savings in cost and consumption.

In terms of another initiative led by the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board, Lanning said the regional board is in the process of reviewing proposals from potential contractors for community solar projects across the region, including a proposed solar panel array at the Skaneateles Transfer Station.

"It looks like it won't be one vendor that will be given all 23 communities because it will too much for them to do," Lanning said. "It looks like out of the 12 vendors, they will vet four or five as responsible contractors and allow a number of contractors do to the work."

He noted the regional initiative includes "a lot of solar capacity" and represents another exciting venture for the town board.

He added that the town is close to drafting language for community solar zoning code regulations so that it can end the moratorium on so-called solar farms and allow those projects in the town.

"We've got a number of initiatives. We're really excited about 2017," Lanning said. "We're proud of what we accomplished this year, but we've got some exciting stuff going on."

MEETING NOTES

 The transfer station will close at noon Thursday, Dec. 22 for an employee holiday lunch. It will be open Saturday, Dec. 24 and Saturday, Dec. 31 but will be closed Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2.

 The town hall will be closed Friday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Dec. 26.

 The board is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27 to adopt its annual resolution. Its next regular meeting is slated for 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, and regular meetings with take place on the first and third Mondays of the month after that.
New law would hold owners personally liable for hazardous conditions

Business owners could be charged criminally in the future if their operations have the potential for a major accident, even if no accident has occurred, according to a new guideline on work safety.

The guideline on the reform and development of workplace safety, which was made public by the central government on Sunday, said lawmakers will consider amendments to the criminal law to punish company behaviors that could lead to an accident.

The guideline came as the country saw five major work safety accidents, including four involving coal mines, in the past three months in which a total of at least 179 people were killed, according to the State Administration of Work Safety, the country's watchdog.

Amending the law would address the problem of a lack of a deterrent force in the work safety area, where neglect or irresponsible acts by management lead to an accident, a statement from the watchdog said.

Yu An, vice-president of the China Administrative Law Society and a professor at Tsinghua University, said that only criminal charges can effectively prevent dangerous neglect.

"Previously the authorities were only focusing on the actual damage," he said. "Given that certain actions are capable of resulting in major harm to the public interest, criminal charges are appropriate."

Yu said it could take at least six months for the amendments to the criminal law to be reviewed by the country's legislature.

The guideline said that people's congresses at city or provincial levels should also be allowed to make safety regulations of their own to prevent workplace accidents. It said the country will also review the consistency of current work safety laws and remove parts that are inconsistent or even in conflict with each other.

China saw 282,000 work safety accidents in 2015, which were responsible for the deaths of 66,000 people, the watchdog said.

The number of accidents and deaths were down by 73.6 percent and 52.8 percent, respectively, compared with 2002.

The guideline said the country will strengthen risk evaluation and management in new materials, new production methods and new operations, as well as establish an information management system for major sources of risks.

It will also push forward the use of industrial robots and smart equipment to perform dangerous work, and it will employ big-data technology to analyze safety patterns and relevance.

Ling Wen, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said investment in science and technology is crucial to prevent accidents.

"To me, safety management is all about whether safety technologies are in place. It is important to identify all the sources of risks and monitor them in real time," said Ling, who is also general manager of Shenhua Group, China's largest coal miner.

In the coal sector, for example, it is important to push forward practices to monitor gas density in real time and establish an alarm system to evacuate miners before the density reaches dangerous levels, he said, adding that providing adequate training for workers is also important.

"We need all workers to realize where the risks lie and how to avoid or fix them before going into the shaft," he said.

The guideline said the country will also improve its safety standards for infrastructure in cities, as well as step up safety supervision in places of public accommodation, given China's intensified urbanization rate.

xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn
A woman and three children make their way through heavy smog in Dongzhimen, Beijing, on Sunday. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

The severe smog blanketing northern regions, which covered more than 750,000 square kilometers by Saturday, worsened in several cities on Sunday, although officials have insisted that tough measures to reduce the pollution have been effective.

Air quality index readings in Beijing, Tianjin and cities in Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi and Henan provinces began to rise on Friday.

The worst levels over the weekend were recorded in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei, where five monitoring stations recorded an AQI of 500, the most hazardous level, as of 4 pm on Sunday.

Due to the weather conditions, which have made it hard for accumulated pollutants to disperse, the smog is forecast to ease off slightly before reaching another peak on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Twenty-three cities on Saturday issued red alerts. The measure comes with strict restrictions on industrial production and vehicle use to cut emissions, and calls for the suspension of work on construction sites.

Sinopec Beijing Yanshan Co, for example, a major discharger of pollutants, has been ordered to reduce production by at least 30 percent.

The central and provincial authorities have sent teams to conduct field inspections and oversee the implementation of air quality controls, which the ministry said has helped to cut emissions and slow down the accumulation of pollutants.

"Preliminary estimates show the restrictions have helped Beijing to reduce pollutant emissions by about 33 percent and ensure that the concentration of PM2.5 remains at 20 percent (lower than forecast)," Fang Li, head of the capital's environmental protection bureau, said.

The ministry said one-third of the 23 cities that issued red alerts have recorded smog levels below their expectations and added that the pollution peak arrived later than forecast.

Inspection teams have reported violations, such as companies illegally discharging excessive levels of pollutants. According to previous warnings, offenders face fines and temporary or permanent suspension, while severe cases could result in the detention of senior employees.

Liang Shuang contributed to this story.

zhengjinran@chinadaily.com.cn
US president-elect Donald Trump has been urged to take his predecessor's warnings on the one-China principle seriously, to prevent further conflict between the two countries next year.

In his last news conference of the year on Friday, President Barack Obama cautioned Trump against challenging Beijing on the Taiwan question, saying that it could lead to serious consequences for bilateral relations.

The status quo has kept the peace and allowed the Taiwan people to enjoy successful economic development and a high degree of self-determination, he said.

His remarks came five days after Trump told Fox News he did not feel "bound by a one-China policy" and about two weeks after he broke four decades of diplomatic precedent by talking on the phone with Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen.

Under the decades-old policy, China has recognized Taiwan is its own entity and does things its own way, while Taiwan has agreed that, with some autonomy, it would not declare independence, Obama said.

"There's probably no bilateral relationship that carries more significance (than the United States and China), and where there's also the potential if that relationship breaks down or goes into a full conflict mode that everybody's worse off," he added.

Li Haidong, a professor of American studies at China Foreign Affairs University, said Obama's warning was not groundless, as China will "definitely take countermeasures" in economic, trade and regional affairs if Trump keeps challenging the one-China principle.

However, he said Trump, who has no diplomatic experience, is likely to turn a deaf ear to such suggestions as he is being influenced by conservative advisers who see China as a threat.

The China-US relationship will probably see a period of turbulence for at least a year until Trump "eats bitter fruit" for provoking China, Li said, adding that there could be more friction in other areas, such as China's seizure of a US underwater drone in the South China Sea on Saturday.

Zhou Zhihuai, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Taiwan Studies, said Obama's comments were in line with the "one China, two systems" framework, under which Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao enjoy a high degree of autonomy.

It would take a long time to resolve the Taiwan question, and any suggestion of "Taiwan Independence" will never be tolerated by the mainland, he added.

anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
Visitors can have a camel-riding tour of the Tengger Desert in Shapotou, Ningxia Hui autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

En route to Shapotou, there is not much to see except an endless sea of sand. The district, in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, is located where the Yellow River meets the Tengger Desert. For more than five decades researchers have been coming here to fight desertification. Li Xinrong is one of them.

His mantra is: "Sands are as precious as forests", and having been here for three decades, he has clearly developed a close connection to this arid land. "Deserts are landmarks god has given us. They nurture special biotic resources. We must protect them," he said.

Shapotou first hit the headlines in the 1950s with the construction of the Baotou-Lanzhou Railway, an artery that traverses the Tengger Desert six times. The project ran into difficulties in Shapotou's ever shifting sand dunes - hardly an ideal foundation for a railway track. That was when the first group of scientists arrived.

When the trains finally began running in 1958, Shapotou had become renowned as a paradigm of successful sand control, principally the result of the "straw checkerboard" technique. This requires straw, usually made from wheat or rice, to be laid out in a grid shape across the desert and partially buried.

The checkerboards have remarkable, though poorly understood, properties - acting as a windbreak and helping to keep dunes in place, allowing topsoil to form. When a sufficient amount of soil has been established, drought-resistant plants can be grown. However, a receding water table has led to recent degradation of vegetation and a decline in the checkerboards effectiveness.

"We can't just sit back and relax. We must become tireless tree planters so that others may rest in the shade," said Li to his colleagues when he first arrived in Shapotou in 1987.

"Upon our arrival, my colleagues were gnashing their teeth and wringing their hands," he recalled. "There was no toilet. There were rat holes all over our dorm. The only way to receive a radio signal was to climb up to the top of the dunes."

So isolated were they that they almost starved. "In the end, we survived by eating the seeds of elm trees," Li said.

One third of China's territory faces the threat of desertification, and almost 400 million people are subject to frequent sandstorms and strong winds. An old saying goes, "People in Gansu province eat three jin (1.5 kilograms) of dust every day."

The latest weapon in the war against erosion is a microbe that inhabits the soil above the straw checkerboards. It can lock up the soil by forming a crust, but the process is much too slowly, taking at least five years to grow.

Li's team has extracted similar microbes from algae and moss and cultured them in the lab. When sprayed on the sand, the crust grows much faster, and holds the soil "just like a carpet", Li said.

"This biotechnology protects local plants from invasive species. It helps defend the original desert ecosystem."

Shapotou now has more than 30 kinds of cultivated vegetation. Biodiversity is crucial to combating desertification, according to Li.

"The oldest vegetation has been here for a little over 60 years, while the youngest was planted 10 years ago," said Zhang Zhishan, deputy chief of the Shapotou research center. "Time has shown that we made the right choice of vegetation for this area."

The lessons learned at Shapotou have helped many other places, such as the Muus Desert in Shaanxi province; Horqin, China's largest sandy area; and Erdos in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Researchers from the Middle East and Africa have also been trained in Shapotou.

"Li's research is an important benchmark and all our data can be freely shared," Zhang said.
Parents with hearing-impaired children learn sign language at a workshop held at Guiyang School for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb in Guiyang, Guizhou province. [Photo/China Daily]

Parents take weekly classes to help them communicate with their deaf children

Every Friday morning, a dozen parents with hearing-impaired children gather to learn sign language at a workshop in Southwest China's Guizhou province.

Xiong Wei, the lecturer who is deaf, uses a projector to demonstrate the different signs for dozens of words and sentences to the participants - mostly mothers - who imitate the hand gestures in groups.

Whenever a student wants to ask a question, they must write it on a piece of paper for Xiong.

Yuan Fengmei's daughter lost the ability to hear at 4 months of age, due to complications associated with surgery for bronchiolitis - an inflammation of the smallest air passages in the lungs.

Doctors said the risk of this happening were "1 in 10,000".

"After it happened, I stood by the railway tracks near my home holding my daughter in my arms, hoping the rumbling of the trains would make her cry," Yuan said.

"She simply stared up at me with her big eyes, like nothing was going on."

Having accepted her daughter would never hear again, Yuan tried her best to raise her as normal. But this proved to be no easy task.

"One time she wanted me to buy her some candy when we were out shopping together, but the doctors had specifically told me not to," Yuan said.

"I couldn't explain such a complicated concept to her, however, so she began to cry. The sales clerk said I was a miserly mother for not buying my daughter candy. I will never forget those words or the spiteful look the clerk shot at me."

With the help of Xiong, Yuan gradually learned the basics of sign language. The first word she learned was "thank you".

"My daughter can't hear, but she can see," Yuan said. "So she must learn to be polite and grateful, just like everyone else."

Yuan puts what she has learned to use whenever she can. She uses the "thank you" gesture if her daughter gives her something or holds open a door.

"Now she is the same with me," Yuan said. "Whenever someone gives her a seat on a bus, she says 'thank you' using the sign."

Dan Qilin, dean of the Guiyang School for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb where the workshops take place, describes sign language as "the mother tongue of the deaf".

"What parents need to do is to break down the wall," he said. "Children will feel lonely if they can't be understood by their parents."

Xiong, the lecturer, said parents can learn to be their children's ears.

"This is their only way to communicate, and it brings them closer," he said.

Chen Na, a 28-year-old mother whose 4-year-old son was born deaf, has been studying at the workshop for three weeks.

"It gives me great consolation when my boy 'talks' to me using sign language all on his own," she said.

Liang Shuang contributed to this story.

yangjun@chinadaily.com.cn
Chinese tourists receive souvenirs from airport greeters during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand in February.Reuters

People still heading out, but exchange rates will play an outsize role in deciding where they spend holiday

Recent depreciation of the yuan has not dampened Chinese tourists' enthusiasm for outbound trips, but it has affected where they are going and what they are doing abroad, industry insiders said.

Ctrip, one of China's leading online Shanghai-based travel agencies, said on Saturday that a record 6 million trips would be made by Chinese tourists to overseas countries during the coming Spring Festival holiday. Total outbound consumption is expected to surpass 100 billion yuan ($14.37 billion).

Wang Zhenyue, deputy director of UTour International Travel Service Co's direct-marketing center, didn't provide specific numbers but said the company expects to see 15 to 20 percent growth in terms of tourist numbers during the Golden Week.

"Yuan depreciation will not have a direct impact on the Spring Festival travel market, because the cost of about 70 percent of outbound trips were priced months in advance," he said. "However, self-planning travelers and shopping lovers might want to think twice before making any plans."

According to China Youth Travel Service, popular overseas destinations including Thailand, the United States and the Maldives have seen a 3 to 15 percent price increase.

"It means a 10,000 yuan trip to the US would cost 300 to 500 yuan more, which is not a big enough difference to change people's minds," said Xu Xiaolei, spokesman of CTYS. "In addition, overseas destinations such as South Korea, Singapore, Italy and Turkey have seen a 10 to 30 percent price drop."

Since 2012, China has become the world's leader in international tourism consumption and outbound tourism. However, uncertainties such as fluctuating currency exchange rates are influencing outbound tourists' decision-making.

On Dec 15, the yuan fell to its weakest level in eight years after the US Federal Reserve signaled a faster pace of rate hikes. Many people have concerns that it will affect the travel industry because Chinese outbound tourists are cost-sensitive and love shopping.

Xu said the changing currency exchange rates would significantly affect where tourists want to go and what they do abroad.

"Many tourists have no plans or preference when they consult with us," Xu said. "They simply want to get a deal that is reasonably priced. Travel to destinations with favorable currency exchange rates has become a phenomenon."

"Shopping would certainly be curtailed in countries such as the United States."

Yang Wenli, 30, manager of a music hall in Wuhan, Hubei province, said she is still considering where to go with her family.

"Traveling abroad is still a big decision in terms of consumption for my family. We only go abroad once a year, so we want to make it enjoyable as well as economical," Yang said.

suzhou@chinadaily.com.cn


A night view of Fenghuang, a tourist hot spot in Hunan province that is dominated by the culture of the Miao ethnic group.Photos By Yuan Qingpan / China Daily

A fresh approach to a local delicacy dish has resulted in rising living standards for residents of a remote Miao village. Cao Yin and Feng Zhiwei report from Jinsha in the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture, Hunan province.

Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of special reports China Daily will publish in the coming weeks focusing on efforts to eradicate poverty and raise living standards in the rural areas, especially among members of ethnic groups.

As a child, Liao Yanfei's greatest pleasure was eating meat once a month. Now, as the owner of a successful cured-meat factory, the 34-year-old is no longer as keen.

"When I was a kid, I loved eating meat, but my family was unable to afford it very often. My life improved greatly after I set up my business, but the desire to eat meat has waned because I package and sell meat products every day," he said.

In addition to his business interests, Liao, a member of the Miao ethnic group, is head of Jinsha village, Fenghuang county, in the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture, Hunan province, Central China.

His father died when Liao was 4, so he lived with his mother and elder brother. Without their main breadwinner, they were the poorest people in the village, living in a shabby stone house on virtually no income.

"My mom once picked up a piece of meat in the street. She came home, cooked it and called us to eat. I was so excited to see the meat, but when I took some she suddenly changed her mind and stopped me eating it. She said it might have been rotting and had been thrown into the road to poison stray dogs," Liao recalled, adding that the experience left a deep impression on him.

The family's impoverished status meant that his schooldays were not happy.

"I was afraid to talk with the other kids because I lacked confidence," he said. "But I was eager to do everything well, so I made the decision to become the outstanding person in my village."

In 1999, Liao dropped out of school, and a year later he traveled to South China's Guangdong province in search of work. At first, he worked in the electronics processing industry, but later became a waiter.

He wasn't the only villager to head to the city in an attempt to break out of the poverty trap even in 2014, Jinsha was home to 84 households that earned less than 2,800 yuan ($400) a year, which meant they were officially designated as poverty stricken.

Despite his new, higher income, Liao still wasn't satisfied. "I was earning 3,000 yuan a month, but that didn't signal any real improvement in my life, plus my mother was elderly and I had to leave her on her own," he said. "So, after working 'on the outside' for about six years, I decided to return home and start my own business."

The move not only improved Liao's life, but also those of many other villagers.

Realization

Although he was determined to start his own business, Liao didn't know what he wanted to do until he realized that every family in Jinsha produced cured meat, a dish traditionally eaten by Miao people during the last month of the lunar calendar.

The curing process is distinct - the meat is salted and then slowly baked to reduce moisture.

Liao decided to make the dish, but with a twist. "I wanted to produce it as a kind of packaged snack," he said. "The idea hit me when I sold packaged betel nuts in a store in the county. I found that packaged food was convenient because I could eat it anytime, anyplace. So I thought, 'Why don't I present our cured meat in the same way?' I always wanted my own business, and that was the best opportunity."

Starting the business proved problematic, though: "I didn't know how to obtain an operating license and was unaware of the State hygiene and sanitary standards."

Lacking business experience and capital, Liao and his wife, Wang Yinhua, were lucky to meet Tian Yunguang, then-director of the county's quality supervision bureau, who encouraged the young couple to concentrate on their business and escape the poverty trap.

"Tian helped me a lot by explaining how things worked and the government policies that applied to the food business," Liao said. "With his help, I got a business license and ensured that hygiene was a top priority."

One day, while selling their home-cured meat in Fenghuang, a tourism hot spot, a visiting businessman expressed an interest in the product.

"Luckily, he was willing to loan us 100,000 yuan to expand our business," Liao said. That loan, plus some savings donated by Wang's family, saw the couple officially open their factory in 2010.

A better Life

"Producing cured meat in packets was an experiment, and I never thought it would be as successful as it has been. Now, my factory can brings us about 8 million yuan a year," Liao said

A sales assistant at a food store in the county confirmed the soaring sales. "In the past two years, packaged meat snacks have become very popular. Almost every day, the tourists come to us to buy two or three packets each," she said.

Even better, Liao's factory also provides work for more than 30 villagers, helping them to climb out of poverty too.

Liu Xiaodong, an official at the civil affairs department in Fenghuang, praised Liao's initiative, saying people should not rely solely on government subsidies to improve their circumstances: "Instead, real poverty alleviation is finding a way to become richer and free our minds from poverty."

A guide to wealth

As a result of the factory's growing revenue and importance, Liao was elected head of Jinsha village. "We wanted him to show us how to become rich," said villager Liu Menkao, whose son works at the factory.

"Liao has a good business brain. He is young and finds it easy to learn new things. The economic burden on my family has been alleviated now my son earns about 2,000 yuan a month in Liao's factory."

Ma Xiaoying, 46, has worked at the factory since 2013. "In the past, our income depended on whether our land was fruitful. We were at the mercy of nature, but now we rely on our own labor," she said.

"I can earn more than 1,000 yuan every month. Added to my husband's income from building houses, we can feed our two children and pay for their education, while the short distance between the factory and my home is convenient because it allows me to look after my 80-year-old mother."

Liu said Liao's efforts have benefitted every resident of Jinsha. Last year, 20 house-holds were lifted out of poverty, and by June, the entire village was living above the national poverty line.

One of eight counties in the prefecture, Fenghuang had a population of about 420,000 in 2012. Last year, just 23 percent of the population was still classified as officially poor, he added.

"Under a series of poverty-relief policies and thanks to Liao's factory a further 10 percent of the population has escaped the poverty trap," Liu said. He estimated that the prefecture will achieve the government's goal of eradicating poverty by 2020 by the end of next year.

Liao is keen to see his fellow villagers succeed on their own terms. "One man's poverty alleviation doesn't equate to real poverty relief - our lives will only be turned around for the better if all of us become rich," he said.

Contact the writers at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn


One man in China has become an unlikely ambassador of promoting reading culture at a time when young Chinese are increasingly spending more time gawking on their digital gadgets.

Chen Guangweis private library offers thousands of books, encouraging people to read or borrow for free. The 69-year-old from southwest Chinas Sichuan Province has a collection of some 50,000 titles, including over 1,600 ancient scrolls.

And recently, Chen donated 1,166 rare ancient books, including some medical classics and a Kangxi Dictionary, the historical root of which could trace back to 1979, to a provincial library. Chen said he wanted the books to have a wider audience.

'The value of a book is realized more in being read than simply being cached', Chen said, adding he would continue collecting and sharing books as long as he can.

Chens passion for reading is an indicative of his generation that prioritized reading culture as compared to the millennials.

In recent years, reading rates have plummeted in China. The average number of books a Chinese person reads a year is lower compared to Japan and South Korea. While the Japanese read 8 books and South Koreans 11, Chinese only read an average of 4.58 printed books in 2015, according to Chinese Academy of Press and Publication.

Last month, many Chinese celebrities joined the book-sharing bandwagon after actress Emma Watson publicized a British campaign that left books on the subway for people to read while commuting.

While some criticized the Chinese version of the Books on the Underground for having their own agenda, people like Chen are the unsung heroes quietly trying to make a difference, inspiring many.

But its just not Chens work that is inspiring, his story is equally stirring.

Chens book collection started in 1983 when the man began to work as a recycler in an attempt to earn his family a livelihood. And while looking for recyclable trash, the man found his treasures  he carried the worn out books home, which one day would turn into a library.

'My grandfather cherishes the books even more than his own live,' said Chen Xin, his grandson.

Chen was once offered to 3,000,000 yuan ($431,220 dollars), equivalent to 150 years worth of his annual income, for his collection. However, he has declined.

After all, knowledge knows no boundaries, and one cant put a price tag on it.
BEIJING -- A draft Chinese law enhancing traditional Chinese medicine's (TCM) role in China's medical system will support ethnic minority medicine in the country.

According to the draft law, tabled for a third reading at the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the state will enhance support, innovation, application and development, as well as professional training in ethnic minority medicine.

The state will step up the establishment of medical institutions practicing ethnic minority medicine and provide better training for practitioners, it said.

Ethnic autonomous regions should also create their own measures to develop local ethnic minority medicine in accordance with relevant laws, the draft said.

TCM has gained increasing global attention since Chinese pharmacist Tu Youyou was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her work using artemisinin to treat malaria.

Ethnic minority medicine is an important part of TCM. According to a white paper issued by the State Council Information Office this month, 60,000 TCM and ethnic minority medical drugs have been approved.

At the end of 2015, there were 3,966 TCM hospitals and 42,528 TCM clinics across the country, including 253 hospitals and 550 clinics specializing in ethnic minority medicine.

There has also been steady progress in the standardization of ethnic minority medicine, the white paper said.

Monday's draft also said China will protect TCM's intellectual property, adding that it will provide "special protection" for TCM formulas that are considered "state secrets."

It vowed enhanced supervision on the quality of TCM materials, banning the use of highly toxic pesticides during the planting of herbs.
Lots of migratory birds are spotted this winter at Poyang Lake, China's biggest freshwater lake, in Yongxiu county, Jiangxi province on Dec 16, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

NANCHANG -- Some 160,000 migratory birds have been spotted this winter at Poyang Lake, China's biggest freshwater lake, authorities said Monday.

Poyang in eastern China's Jiangxi province is a seasonal destination for over a million birds every year. Since the first of this year's migratory birds were spotted at the lake in September, 14 species of birds, including wild geese, swans and white cranes have arrived at the wetland.

Experts with Poyang Lake nature reserve said the lake is now in the dry season, so the shore is exposed by receding water, offering abundant aquatic plants and fish for the migratory birds.

A campaign to protect the wetland and birds has been initiated by the nature reserve.

Poyang Lake is a major habitat for migratory birds in Asia. About 95 percent of the world's white crane population, 50 percent of white-naped cranes and 60 percent of swan geese spend winter at the lake.

Shengjin Lake in eastern China's Anhui province has seen 80,000 migratory birds arriving for winter, including rare species such as white-headed cranes and Oriental cranes.

As a result of summer floods, the water receded later than normal this year, and more birds are expected to fly to the lake soon, said Wang Huanxi, head of the forestry protection station of Dadukou township of Dongzhi county.

As the birds enjoy eating wheat, local farmers in the lake reserve have left wheat, rice and rapeseed unharvested in the fields for the birds, and the reserve pay subsidies to the farmers.

Located near the Yangtze River, Shengjin Lake nature reserve covers 132.8 square kilometers and is a major habitat for migratory birds, attracting over 100 species every winter.




A federal judge said Volkswagen Group has made "substantial progress" toward a settlement to get about 80,000 Audi, VW and Porsche vehicles with emissions-cheating 3.0-liter diesel engines fixed or off U.S. roads.

Lawyers for the carmaker, consumers and the Justice Department have assured the court that negotiations are ongoing, but VW may be headed to trial if an agreement isn't reached. In a hearing Friday in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said "intense discussions" were taking place and ordered lawyers to return to court Monday.

Since legal proceedings started in December 2015, Breyer has demanded swift progress to get the almost 600,000 cars off U.S. roads. That pressure may be intensifying, especially on consumers and regulators, as President-elect Donald Trump is expected to move quickly after his Jan. 20 inauguration to deregulate the energy industry and scale back the EPA's role.

How to deal with the three-liter vehicles is one of the last matters in U.S. courts for VW. Its resolution would be a major milestone for the carmaker as it tries to move beyond the self-inflicted, diesel cheating scandal.

Lawyers for the consumers said in March that they would ask for a non-jury trial. Breyer responded then that he would "seriously consider whether to hold a bench trial'' if a concrete solution wasn't reached. In August, Breyer asked plaintiffs to propose trial dates.

Elizabeth Cabraser, the lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, declined Friday to comment on the status of negotiations and remaining issues.

'Continued patience'

"Volkswagen is working hard to make things right, and we thank our affected customers in the United States for their continued patience," Jeannine Ginivan, a VW spokeswoman, said in an email Friday.

VW should get this part of the case settled now instead of waiting for a possible better deal with the incoming Trump administration, said law professor Carl Tobias. What Trump would do is unpredictable and there are other parties in the litigation, including consumers and state attorneys general, who could pursue claims no matter what the federal government does, said Tobias, of the University of Richmond in Virginia.

"Trump could just say, 'Stuff it,' to VW,'' particularly since it's a foreign company, Tobias said. The remaining plaintiffs could push for a trial, which would prove risky and a "reputational hit" for VW, he said.

VW also needs to get the civil claims resolved while the criminal investigation is still "hanging fire," the professor said. "They'd be wise to try to wrap up the civil given all the uncertainties of a new administration, especially if they can get a figure they can live with," Tobias said.

Two-liter engines

Breyer gave his final approval in October to the carmaker's settlement covering 480,000 Volkswagens with 2.0-liter engines. Breyer allowed parties in the two-liter dispute to come to an agreement before regulators approved a repair for the engines. He hasn't given them the option with three-liter vehicles to settle first and work out the details, including fixes, later.

Volkswagen has agreed to pay as much as $16.5 billion, an industry-record, to resolve claims over the two-liter diesel cars. As of Nov. 20, more than 80 percent of the two-liter owners have registered to participate in the settlement. Eighty-five percent of those cars must be removed from U.S. roads or VW will face additional penalties.

Progress on a settlement for the three-liter vehicles has been kept under wraps. Under an accord with the Environmental Protection Agency and California's Air Resources Board, Volkswagen would get the go-ahead to fix some 60,000 vehicles and offer to repurchase about 19,000 older models that would be too complex to repair, people familiar with the negotiations said last month. The people asked not to be identified because the talks are confidential. The recall plans involve a simple software update, and avoiding a full buyback of all the cars would save the company about $4 billion, the people said.

Reuters reported Friday that VW had agreed to pay more than $200 million to offset emissions from the three-liter vehicles that exceeded pollution limits.

As VW heads toward a settlement in the U.S. with consumers and the government, Breyer is already queuing up the next phase of litigation -- shareholder claims of securities fraud against the company and former CEO Martin Winterkorn. They are accused of deliberately misleading investors about the "diesel issue" before the scandal blew up and VW stock tanked. The company and Winterkorn have denied the allegations, saying the investors can't prove they knew the extent of the problem.

The case is In Re: Volkswagen "Clean Diesel" Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, 15-02672, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).
BEIJING -- Air pollution worsened on Monday in many parts of northern China, with poor visibility disrupting air and ground traffic.

Tianjin airport said that from 8:30 pm Sunday to 10 am Monday they suspended service, leaving 131 flights canceled and 75 delayed.

Meanwhile, all expressways in the northern municipality of Tianjin were closed.

Local authorities in Tianjin increased public transport capacity by 15 percent to accommodate passengers, as cars have been ordered to run on alternate days for five days until midnight Wednesday.

Beijing also increased its public transport and implemented the same odd-even number plate rule.

Beijing municipal environmental protection bureau has introduced a spate of pollution reduction measures, including the vehicle restriction, to help cut PM2.5 pollutant emission by over 20 percent.

In Shandong, over 100 toll gates on four expressways were closed and some flights in the provincial capital airport were delayed by more than two hours.

Smog started to envelop Beijing, Tianjin and provinces of Hebei, Henan and Shandong over the weekend and is forecast to clear Thursday. Over 20 cities have issued red alerts for smog.

On Monday, the PM2.5 reading in many cities in northern China, mainly in Hebei and Henan, exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter.

The reading at one monitoring station in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei, exceeded 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter at 1 pm Monday.
BEIJING - Chinese top legislature on Monday deliberated a draft decision on piloting supervisory system reform in Beijing and the provinces of Shanxi and Zhejiang.

The draft was submitted for review by legislators at the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which runs from Monday to Sunday.

According to the draft, new supervision committees will be established in the three areas to produce an integrated supervision system that will be more authoritative and efficient.

The new supervision committee will integrate the supervision departments, the corruption prevention department, as well as People's Procuratorate departments for handling bribery and dereliction of duty cases or prevention of duty-related crimes, according to the draft.

All public servants that exercise public power will be supervised by the new committee, the draft says. It confers on the committee the power to supervise, investigate and hand out punishment.

Explaining the draft to lawmakers, Li Jianguo, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said deepening supervisory system reform is a major issue in the country's political life and is of great and far-reaching importance for strengthening the Party's leadership, deepening reform and advancing rule of law.
SHENYANG - Sui Fengfu, former deputy head of the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for taking bribes, according to Shenyang City Intermediate People's Court on Monday.

Sui was found guilty of taking advantage of his positions between 2003 and 2014 in various areas, including selection and promotion of several individuals.

He accepted gifts and money totalling over 10.4 million yuan ($1.6 million).

The court in Northeast China's Liaoning province showed leniency as Sui admitted his crimes, gave account of cases that were not found by investigators and voluntarily returned his profits.
HONG KONG - The Hong Kong food safety authority said on Monday that it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from Japan's Hokkaido and Britain's Lincolnshire.

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) of Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said in view of a notification from Japan about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Hokkaido prefecture and a notification from Britain about an outbreak of H5N8 in Lincolnshire, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products from the two areas with immediate effect.

In addition, an import ban on poultry meat and products from Serbia has been imposed with immediate effect following notifications from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Serbia to protect public health in Hong Kong.

A CFS spokesman said that in the first 10 months of this year, Hong Kong imported about 6,000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 40.6 million poultry eggs from Japan, and about 13,250 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and 600,000 poultry eggs from Britain.

The spokesman said since Hong Kong has not established any protocol with Serbia for imports of poultry meat and eggs, there is no import of such commodities from Serbia.

"The CFS has contacted the Japanese, UK and Serbian authorities over these issues and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks in the countries concerned. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
China and Norway agreed on Monday to normalize bilateral ties, which deteriorated six years ago, with Oslo vowing not to support acts that hamper China's core interests.

Premier Li Keqiang and Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende confirmed in their meeting that the two countries would negotiate a free-trade deal.

China-Norway relations deteriorated due to controversy around the Nobel Peace Prize award in 2010 and events connected with the prize.

"The Norwegian side adheres to the one-China policy and respects China's core interests and major concerns," Brende told Li, according to a news release.

He said normalization of the ties bears historic significance and sends a positive signal to international society.

Li said the two mutually supplemental economies have a bright future of cooperation. Beijing will also deepen cooperation with Oslo in international and regional affairs, he added.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said while meeting with Brende in Beijing earlier on Monday that in recent years, relations had taken a step backward, according to the Foreign Ministry's website.

"Norway deeply reflected upon the reasons why bilateral mutual trust was harmed and had conscientious, solemn consultations with China about how to improve bilateral relations," Wang said.

He said the two sides reached an important consensus on the lessons learned and restoration of mutual trust.

Brende told Wang that Norway will "fully respect China's development path and social system, and will not support any move hampering China's core interests and major concerns".

Shares of Norwegian salmon exporters, which have largely been shut out of the lucrative Chinese market, rose on Monday, with Grieg Seafood up by 2.1 percent and Marine Harvest up by 1.1 percent, according to Reuters.

Pang Zhongying, professor of international relations at Renmin University of China, said the change of Norway's stance follows the logic of economic interdependence in global trade.

"The European economy is not performing well, while China still has relatively rapid growth. That's the basic reason," he said.

Hu Yongqi contributed to this story.
A traffic officer directs a driver at a toll station in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, on Monday after the freeway linking Beijing and Hong Kong was partially closed due to heavy smog. ZHAI YUJIA/CHINANEWS SERVICE

Zhang Juan, a stay-at-home mom in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, usually would not consider taking a trip until Spring Festival. However, smog seems to have left her no choice.

"I have a 1-year-old baby who is extremely sensitive to smog, and the air cleaner at my apartment doesn't look like a problem solver," she said. "So, since governments have issued smog alerts, I will take my son to Sanya in Hainan province or another city with clean air."

Industry insiders said heavy smog has become the major driver of winter travel. The online travel agency Ctrip said on Monday that it expected to help send more than 150,000 travelers to overseas destinations in December, simply to escape the smog.

UTour International Travel Service Co didn't give specific figures, but it said the number of travelers in December has increased by 10 to 15 percent compared with the same period last year, and smog is the major reason.

Since Friday, vast regions in northern, central and eastern China have faced severe smog, which is considered the most serious since autumn in terms of area affected and severity.

As the smog lingered, 24 cities, including Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang, issued red alerts, the highest response level, as of Sunday, and more than 50 issued orange alerts, the second highest level.

Wang Zhenyue, deputy director of UTour International Travel Service's direct-marketing center, said smog has been an issue for a long time. "However, people can arrange trips in advance now, because governments usually issue red alerts for air pollution one or two days in advance."

"Schools stop classes and companies allow employees to work remotely," Wang added. "All of these contributed to an increase of travel to escape smog."

Travel agencies including UTour, Lvmama and Ctrip said Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei still account for the largest number of tourists who want to escape smog. Chengdu, Sichuan province, and Chongqing in Southwest China also saw a surge of tourist numbers in the past two weeks.

Domestic tourism destinations that offer a good natural environment and air quality are the beneficiaries, including Sanya, Hainan province and Lijiang, Yunnan province. Overseas destinations with loosened visa policies also are drawing many Chinese tourists.

Additionally, many lesser-known tourism destinations have gained popularity among clean-air seekers.

"For example, Xunliao Bay is a very small and quiet place in Guangdong province. No one wanted to visit there before, because it doesn't have any famous scenic spots," said Wang Zhenyue from UTour. "However, with many elderly people and children wanting to find a peaceful place to rest and stay away from smog, it becomes a perfect choice."

Zheng Jinran contributed to this story.



Clean-air vacations

TOP 5O VERSEAS DESTINATIONS

1. Thailand

2. Japan

3. Indonesia

4. Australia

5.Maldives

TOP 5 DOMESTIC DESTINATIONS

1. Sanya, Hainan province

2. Xiamen, Fujian province

3. Lijiang, Yunnan province

4. Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region

5. Zhangjiajie, Hunan province

Source: Ctrip
Supporters of impeached South Korean President Park Geun-hye clashed with protesters on Saturday, as large crowds of demonstrators again gathered in Seoul to demand the scandal-ridden leader's immediate ouster.

The weekend protests over a corruption scandal pushed South Korea's opposition-controlled parliament to vote this month to impeach Park. The impeachment suspended Park's powers until the Constitutional Court decides whether she should permanently step down or be reinstated.

While polls measure Park's popularity in the low single digits, her impeachment has become a rallying point for her conservative supporters, who turned out in the tens of thousands on Saturday.
An exhibition featuring traditional Chinese paper culture was held at the Nanjing Museum in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, Dec 16, 2016. The showcase included three parts, which showed the history, skills and protection of traditional papermaking in China. The application of paper in people's daily lives and repairing paper cultural relics were also featured at the exhibition. [Photo/Xinhua]
Human settlement sites from the pre-Qin period are discovered along the Anning river valley plain in Southwest China's Sichuan province. [File photo/Western China Metropolis Daily Micro-Blog]

More than 20 human settlement sites from the pre-Qin period were discovered scattered along the Anning river valley plain for nearly 100 kilometers in Southwest China's Sichuan province, according an archaeological achievements briefing in Xichang on Dec 18, 2016.

These ruins from the Neolithic Age, dating back more than 4,000 years, prove human activity in the area of Anning river valley plain, the second largest in Sichuan province.

So far, a field covering 10,000 square meters has been excavated, but it is far from completion, Chen Wei, an expert working at the site from Relics and Archaeology Institute of Sichuan Province, told Western China Metropolis Daily.

Through excavation, more than 280 tombs, 500 sites including pits, house settlements and kilns, as well as other articles of daily use were unearthed, which provided valuable materials to study the ancient society and culture of the pre-Qin period.

Chen said the archaeological discovery is of great significance. It proves to be the earliest human settlements from the Neolithic Age in southwestern Sichuan. Besides, this area had the most widely distributed and largest number of human settlements from the pre-Qin period discovered in Sichuan province except for the Chengdu Plain. The findings will offer materials to study the ancient tribes' formation and settlement distribution.

The discovery of settlement sites from the pre-Qin period was only part of the archaeological achievements made on the construction project along the extended section of Chengdu - Kunming Railway from Emei to Miyi. Since 2014, 48 relic sites have been spotted.
Hans Christian Andersen. [Photo/art.china.cn]

An exhibition for Hans Christian Andersen's work will launch in April to bring his fairytales to life. A press conference for the exhibition was held at the Danish Embassy to China on Dec 14.

The exhibition will tour a series of cities in China, including Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai.

The showpieces include Andersen's original manuscript, love tokens, family pictures and private letters. And the event will feature a series of 3D characters from the tales to give young visitors a more interesting experience.

The first Chinese version of the Danish writer's story The Emperor's New Clothes was translated by Liu Bannong in 1914.
Colin Firth wins Academy Award for best actor for The King's Speech in 2010. [Photo provided to China Daily]

British actor Colin Firth dwells on the virtue of restraint in a wide-ranging conversation with Raymond Zhou on the art of acting.

Colin Firth joked that he was looking for offers in Chinese films, adding that he hoped to work with Chinese directors Zhang Yimou, Feng Xiaogang, Chen Kaige, Lou Ye and Jia Zhangke, to name a few.

The light-hearted revelation came at the end of an hourlong talk, moderated by yours truly, which was designed to encompass the highlights of an illustrious career of the much honored British actor.

Titled "A Colin Firth Retrospective", the conversation was, in turn, part of a program for the 2016 China-Briton Film Festival held in the Beijing suburb of Langfang.

Firth received a lifetime-achievement award at this festival when it opened on Dec 12.

The 2010 Academy Award winner for best actor (for The King's Speech) did not randomly pick a few big names from China's booming film industry to please the host country. He did his due diligence.

He was impressed by how seamlessly American actors Tim Robbins and Adrien Brody fitted into Feng's epic tale on the 1942 famine. He liked Lou Ye's 2012 movie Mystery and, when I explained that Chen's Farewell My Concubine is widely viewed as the best Chinese film in history, he chimed in, saying it was one of the best in world cinema.

And he was plugged in to the latest in Chinese showbiz, aware of the publicity blitz whipped up by The Great Wall, Zhang's epic tale of fighting monsters on the best-known Chinese landmark, which would premiere in China in a few days. It is a Sino-US co-production that stars Matt Damon.
By (chinadaily.com.cn)

2016-12-19

Twenty-eight-year-old, Tan Jiangyong once dreamed of becoming a world famous costume designer, however the fickle hands of fate have made him a world famous bike designer instead. Why are his bikes famous? They're all made of bamboo.

Born in Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county, Hechi, Tan's talent for design was noticed early, and by 2007 he was admitted to study at Shanghai Donghua University.

During his college days, Tan took on several jobs to make ends meet. One day, while working in a bamboo factory, his childhood friend, Tan Chengjie, sent him a photograph of a pair of young boys riding bicycles made of bamboo in Africa  it was love at first sight.

The bikes were like nothing he had ever seen before. "Bamboo bicycles were so interesting to me," said Tan. "They looked so unique and stylish, and I'm sure they would encourage more people to get riding."

But there was just one question lingering -- how could bamboo bikes be strong enough to support a man?

After graduation, Tan set about trying to answer this question, and so established a startup company focused on designing and building bamboo bikes, as well as making other bamboo products.

Together with his close friend, Tan began researching how to make sure the bamboo was strong enough. The pair quickly discovered that the A-frame structure of a bike is extremely rigid and that the bamboo was more than capable to do the job. He looked at similar products on the market, but was unimpressed by their design and only limited use of bamboo.

The partners, Tan and Tan, decided to build their own bike from scratch, complete with a more "natural feeling".

The next obstacle in their way was the city itself. Shanghai is not exactly famous for its bamboo forests, but Tan's small hometown was.

In 2013, Tan finally made the decision to quit the big city in search of his dream costume designing job, and return to his hometown to realize his newly-acquired passion to build bamboo bikes.

Back in Huanjiang, Tan invested all of his money into setting up a workshop, purchasing a sander, cutting and grinding machines.

Tan Jiangyong inspects bamboo for use in making his bikes. [Photo/ www.hcwang.cn]

At the beginning of their first week of operation, the two Tans acquired more than 3,000 pieces of bamboo from local forests, by the end of it, they had completed their first bike.

Tan Jiangyong rides one of his bamboo bikes. [Photo/ www.hcwang.cn]

Tan Jiangyong was so thrilled at the sight of his DIY bamboo bike that he posted a picture of his newly-built treasure on an online bicycle forum. A bicycle enthusiast from Sweden fell in love with Tan's bike and quickly made him an offer of 4,500 yuan ($649). Sold.

That first sale pushed Tan's entrepreneurial spirit and encouraged him to keep rolling along that path. After two year, Tan has raised more than 300,000 yuan in funds from his friends and investors, allowing him to establish a workshop covering almost 1,000 square meters.

Several of Tan Jiangyongs bamboo bikes. [Photo/ www.hcwang.cn]

Tan's workshop has received more than 500 orders in the past two years for bikes ranging in price from 2,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan depending on each one's quality and style.

As Tan's fame grew and grew, customers from around the world, including Israel and Taiwan, have visited his workshop to place orders for bespoke designed bamboo bikes.

Tan Jiangyong works in his workshop. [Photo/ www.hcwang.cn]

In 2016, Tan was invited by the government to attend several prestigious competitions and events, such as the 2016 Guangxi Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and the 6th Guangxi Innovation Exhibition and Trade Fair. His bamboo bike designs have also won a silver medal for its design and creativity.

With his business now fully established, Tan faces new challenges, such as getting his brand noticed by more people and capturing a greater market share. He is also looking at ways in which he can integrate his products with the local Maonan ethnic culture and how to create intricate and dynamic artwork on his bamboo wares.

(Edited by Owen Fishwick)
Many issues in Japan's foreign policy are legacies of World War II. However, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has seemed determined to try and settle two of them in the last month of this year.

One of them is the row over four islets seized by the Soviet Union in the closing days of the war. Abe treated Russian President Vladimir Putin to a visit to hot springs in his ancestral hometown of Nagato in Yamaguchi prefecture on Thursday in the hope that a close personal relationship will help him make a breakthrough. The territorial dispute has stood in the way of a peace treaty between the two countries since the end of the war.

His onsen diplomacy, however, did not move Putin to concede the isles, known as Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia. Putin walked away with deals on economic cooperation, including Japan's consent to starting talks on joint projects on the disputed islands under a "special framework". Still, Putin has insisted that joint economic activities on the four isles be done under Russia's sovereignty.

Tough negotiations lie ahead for Japan.

The second concerns Japan's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Abe will join US President Barack Obama in Hawaii on Dec 26 and 27 for "reconciliation", although without offering an apology.

The past several years have seen Abe's foreign policy chasing the "two rabbits" of the United States and Russia.

Abe has showed unprecedented support for the Japan-US alliance. The two countries revised their defense guidelines in 2015. Japan's security legislation, which allows the country's Self-Defense Forces to fight in aid of friendly countries that come under attack if Japan's security is also threatened, took effect in March.

The US has welcomed the biggest change in Japan's defense policy since the creation of its Self-Defense Forces in 1954. And the Abe administration is mulling the deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-ballistic missile system in Japan.

Also, Abe has wooed Putin with geostrategic and economic interests as well as the territorial issue in mind. He went to Moscow in April 2013 accompanied by a large business delegation. He attended the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 despite calls for a boycott from his Western counterparts.

And he pitched to Putin an eight-point economic cooperation proposal in Sochi in May, rejecting an appeal by Obama not to go to Russia. The G7 nations imposed sanctions on Russia for its takeover of Crimea in 2014. But Abe visited Vladivostok in September with a concrete plan to pour Japanese money into critical sectors in the Russian Far East, in the hopes of accelerating rapprochement with Moscow.

Walking a tightrope between the US and Russia is more easily thought than done, however, especially as the relationship between Putin and Obama is badly strained.

To what extent Obama's successor as US president Donald Trump will keep his predecessors' commitment to the US-Japan alliance remains unclear. That Abe was the first foreign leader to meet with the US president-elect indicates Japan's unease.

In spite of the economic cooperation between the two countries, distrust runs deep between Russia and Japan. In an interview with Japanese media before his Japan visit, Putin blamed Tokyo's sanctions against Russia for shattering trust. Russia has deployed missiles on two of the four disputed islands, which Japan called "deplorable".

With Trump vowing to reset the relations with Russia, Abe may have more room to pursue rapprochement with Putin for return of the four islands. But with the Trump administration, Russia may play a bigger role on the world stage, shifting away from Japan.

The author is China Daily Tokyo bureau chief. caihong@chinadaily.com.cn
The city of Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region draws millions of tourists from home and abroad every year as one of the world's most beautiful places, with rivers, karst landscapes and idyllic sceneries. Tourism development over the past few decades has produced a diversification of accommodation options. [Photo by Zhan Weike/China Daily]

Guilin's tremendous topography has in recent years lured luxury accommodation that complements its legacy as a backpacker destination. Erik Nilsson explores its hospitality's development.

Guilin has long been a bastion of backpackersand still is.

But the city in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region's progressively elevated position on the global tourism map is driving an accommodation diversification that embraces upscale travelers.

The city's scenic Yangshuo county arguably hosts the most boutiques opened by foreigners.

And global luxury brands are proliferating.

That's perhaps partly because the area was among the first to open to international travelers. And its contorted karts chisel stupendous scenery that literally sculpts its international allure in stone.

Over 10 million visitors arrived in Yangshuo last year. Tourism accounts for 65 percent of its GDP, the United Nations World Tourism Organization reports.

Its accommodation explosion is said to have started when an American man and his Indian wife opened the first homestay along the Lijiang River's banks in the 1990s.

They leased and converted farmhouses into the Shendi Yangshuo Mountain Retreat.
A sculpture showcases the process of making tofu in Lujia village. [Photo by Zhan Weike/China Daily]

Terrific tofu and serene scenery are mutually reinforcing appeals that propel an appetite for Lujia village as an ecotourism destination.

Both largely flow from the Taohua River.

Its water bestows the settlement of about a hundred households in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region's Yangshuo county with lovely landscapes and bountiful bean curd.

The pollution-free production of the handmade foodstuff ensures the waterway's purity, which, in turn, guarantees the curd's quality.

And the brook buttresses the appeal sired by the area's geology.

It's believed the water makes the tofu tasty and contributes to the residents' abnormal longevity. Lore holds washing your face with it enhances your looks.

It also supports a healthy ecosystem beyond the human dimension.

Many of the ethnic Han and Hui villagers run shops, stands and restaurants that sell over 100 snacks and dishes crafted from tofu.

The two most popular incarnations are respectively sweet and runny, or salty and deep-fried.

The soggy, saccharine kind is piled with sugar.
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A bus drives through the Syrian government-controlled crossing of Ramoussa, on the southern outskirts of Aleppo, on December 18, 2016, during an evacuation operation of rebel fighters and civilians from rebel-held areas. [Photo/Xinhua]

ALEPPO - Sunday's planned evacuation of rebels from their remaining strongholds in the northern city of Aleppo faced some snags, with the government accusing the rebels of breaching a deal for the second time, a military source told Xinhua.

A total of 75 buses entered eastern Aleppo on Sunday to evacuate the remaining rebels, a day after the suspended evacuation was resumed.

The buses entered the neighborhoods of Zibdiyeh, Salahuddien, Mashhad and Ansari in southeastern Aleppo to evacuate the remaining rebels and their families through the Ramouseh road toward rebel-held areas in the southwestern countryside of Aleppo, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, buses entered the Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa in the countryside of the northwestern province of Idlib on Saturday evening to evacuate as many as 1,200 Shiites besieged by the rebels.

The Shiite people are set to leave Idlib simultaneously with the rebel evacuation from Aleppo on Sunday, as part of a Russian-Turkish deal.

However, the rebels' Ahrar al-Sham group, which is besieging the two Shiite towns, burnt five buses at the entrance of the two towns, allowing only four buses to get in. The incident is still murky.

The rebels in Idlib posted a video online showing the buses on fire outside the towns.

Military sources said the burning of the buses is another violation to the deal, which was struck by Russia and Turkey.

After the burning of the buses, the government dispatched another batch of buses instead of the ones set on fire, in what appeared to be a resolve to carrying on with the deal.

This has caused a delay as the rebels in Aleppo will have to evacuate simultaneously with the civilians in the Shiite towns, which could take several hours or even until Monday, till the buses enter the towns and evacuate the people.

The evacuation of rebels and their families from the last remaining strongholds in eastern Aleppo started on Thursday, and over 8,000 have already left toward the western countryside of Aleppo.

The evacuation came after the Syrian army succeeded to retake 99 percent of the rebel-held areas in Aleppo, following a major offensive.

As a result, over 80,000 people fled eastern Aleppo toward government-controlled areas in western Aleppo, while the rebels and their families were included in a deal between Russia and Turkey, as Moscow negotiated on behalf of the Syrian government, while Ankara negotiated for the rebels.

However, the evacuation process was suspended Friday, due to many reasons.

One of the main reasons is that the rebels in Idlib were stopped short of allowing civilians in both pro-government Shiite towns to leave in tandem with the evacuation of rebels from eastern Aleppo.

On Saturday, a military source said the resumption of the rebel evacuation from their last few strongholds in the eastern part of Aleppo is expected to resume on soon, as the rebels agreed to abide by previous pledges to allow civilians out of the Shiite towns, among other conditions.

The deal was supposed to see the evacuation of 15,000 people, including 4,000 rebels.

With the last evacuation of the rebels from eastern Aleppo, the Syrian army will be on control of the entire city, a victory seen as a writing new chapter of history, as President Bashar al-Assad recently said.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has prevented series of terrorist attacks in Moscow planned by Daesh terrorists group.

According to the FSB, the attacks were planned by a senior Daesh commander in Turkey who had been put on an international wanted list by Tajik authorities.

Four members of the terrorist group have been detained on Thursday. Improvised explosive devices, firearms and a "significant amount of explosive material to develop explosives of high capacity" have been found and seized from the suspected terrorists.

Earlier in December, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with senior officers and prosecutors that the FSB prevented 10 terrorist attacks in the first 10 months of 2016.
Jordanian policemen operate in the vicinity of Karak Castle, where armed gunmen carried out an attack, in the city of Karak, Jordan, December 18, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

AMMAN - The death toll in a shooting in Jordan on Sunday rose to 10, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

Six policemen, three citizens and a Canadian tourist were killed in the shooting when a group of unidentified gunmen opened fire at a police patrol near the Karak Castle in the south of Jordan, the report quoted the Public Security Department.

The police said an operation to take down the gunmen who were hiding in the castle is underway.

"I was near the castle around 2:00 pm when I heard a heavy exchange of fire. It was scary," a tour guide who works in Karak told Xinhua.

"I was with a group of tourists when the shootout happened, people started running in panic," the guide said.
TOKYO - The US military in Japan will resume use of its Osprey planes Monday afternoon, less than a week since a major accident occurred in the south, reported local media Monday morning.

A US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft belonging to the Futenma base in the city of Ginowan made a water crash-landing off southern Okinawa prefecture on Dec 13, injuring two of the five crew members aboard.

Following the accident, Japan asked the US military to suspend its Osprey flights in Okinawa until the cause of the accident is known and safety is ensured.

The US military said the aircraft has no problem.

"We are highly confident in our assessment that the cause of the mishap was due solely to the aircraft's rotor blades coming into contact with the refueling line," US Forces and Japan Commander Lt. Gen Jerry Martinez was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.

Worried about safety, local people, however, want the US aircrafts to keep grounded.

Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga called the Japanese government's approval of the flight resumption "outrageous," and the local government has urged the central government to forbid the resumption of Osprey flight operations, according to Kyodo.

The Japanese and US governments have been seeking to move the Futenma base from Ginowan to the less-populated Henoko coastal area of Nago.

The people of Okinawa, however, have been demanding the Futenma base to be relocated outside the prefecture.
BRUSSELS - The Council of the European Union (EU) on Monday decided to extend the sanctions against Russia for another six months, until July 31, 2017.

The Council said in a press release that after assessing the implementation of the Minsk agreements at the EU summit on Dec 15, the EU leaders paved the way to renew the sanctions.

The sanctions include limiting access to EU primary and secondary capital markets for five major Russian majority state-owned financial institutions and their majority-owned subsidiaries established outside of the EU, as well as three major Russian energy and three defense companies.

The sanctions also involve imposing a trade embargo on arms, an export ban on dual-use goods for military use or military-end users in Russia, and curtailing Russian access to certain sensitive technologies and services that can be used for oil production and exploration.

The EU slapped the sanctions on Russia in July and September 2014 in response to an alleged role that Russia had played in conflicts in east Ukraine.

In March 2015, EU leaders decided to align the existing sanctions to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements.

Taking stock of the situation in east Ukraine, the EU in July extended the sanctions against Russia until Jan 31, 2017.

In response, Russia imposed a year-long embargo on food imports from Western countries in August 2014, and extended the anti-sanction measures for one more year in June 2015.

In late June, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to extend embargo on food imports from the EU and other countries until the end of 2017.
BEIJING - China on Monday said it supports a new draft resolution aimed at sending UN observers to monitor evacuations from besieged parts of Syria's war-torn Aleppo.

The UN Security Council Sunday held closed-door consultations on sending observers to monitor evacuations and to report on the protection of civilians inside Aleppo. A vote on the France-drafted resolution is expected Monday night.

China has an eye on the humanitarian situation in Syria and supports the UN's coordinator role in assistance efforts, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

"All parties have preliminarily reached an agreement on the draft," Hua said, adding that China hopes UN Security Council members will work together and ensure passage of the resolution on the basis of consensus.

China has participated in consultations in a constructive way and maintained a just and objective stance to promote Security Council members to work in the same direction and garner consensus, Hua said.

Security Council resolution 2254 is fundamental for easing the tension in Syria, according to Hua.

"China will continuously take an active role in the political settlement process in Syria and make constructive contributions to peace and stability in Syria," Hua added.

Once Syria's commercial hub, Aleppo has been divided roughly in two since 2012, with western parts under government control and eastern districts held by rebels.

The situation in Aleppo has deteriorated rapidly after a truce accord collapsed in September. According to the UN, tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped in Aleppo and are subjected to air strikes.
PARIS - French judges found IMF chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence on Monday for failing to challenge a state arbitration payout to a business tycoon in 2008 when she was French finance minister, but they did not punish her.

"The context of the global financial crisis in which Madame Lagarde found herself in should be taken into account," said Martine Ract Madoux, the main judge, in explaining the absence of any sentence.

She also cited Lagarde's good reputation and international standing as reasons why the court did not hand down a punishment in a case that could have carried a sentence of up to a year in prison.

In their ruling, the judges did not see negligence in Lagarde's decision to seek an out-of-court settlement with businessman Bernard Tapie, but they said her failure to contest the award to him of 400 million euros ($417 million) was negligent, and led to a misuse of public funds.

Lagarde's lawyer said immediately after the ruling that his team would look into appealing the decision.

The ruling risks triggering a new leadership crisis at the International Monetary Fund after Lagarde's predecessor Dominique Strauss Khan resigned in 2011 over a sex assault scandal.

The Washington-based institution's executive board was expected to meet shortly to consider the implications of the verdict, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said.
An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Dec 19, 2016. [Photo/IC]

ANKARA - The Russian ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot by a gunman in Ankara, where he was attending a photo exhibition, reported Russia Today citing information from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The assault in Turkey is an act of terrorism, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters on Monday evening.

Zakharova said Moscow was in touch with Turkish authorities about the attack.

"Today, during a public event, an unknown person opened fire chaotically," Zakharova was cited as saying. "As a result, Andrey Karlov, the ambassador to Turkey, received a gunshot wound."

Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, pauses during a speech at a photo exhibition in Ankara, Dec 19, 2016, moments before a gunman opened fire on him. [Photo/IC]

The ambassador was injured after he was about to deliver a speech on the opening of the exhibition "Russia in the eyes of Turks."

Photos purportedly showing the perpetrator bearing a firearm are now increasingly circulating on social media. Users are also posting pictures which they say show the Russian ambassador lying on the ground after having been shot, according to Russia Today.

Turkish broadcaster NTV said three other people were wounded.

Russia and Turkey have been involved in conflict in Syria across the border from where over two million Syrian refugees have settled.
ANKARA -- Russia's Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was shot and killed on Monday at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

The gunman, who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo," was identified as a Turkish off-duty police officer, according to Turkish security sources.

The Yeni Safak daily said on its website that the attacker, named as M.M.A., worked with anti-riot police in Ankara.

Karlov was shot in the back while making a speech at a painting exhibition in the Turkish capital, the Russian embassy said.

Three other wounded people were taken to Guven Hospital in central Ankara.

Witnesses said attendants at the exhibit ran away after the attacker opened fire.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the ambassador was killed in the attack.

The attack came one day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu heads to Moscow for talks on Syria with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.
WASHINGTON -- The United States on Monday condemned the assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov in Ankara.

"This heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable, and we stand united with Russia and Turkey in our determination to confront terrorism in all of its forms," said U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price in a statement.

Karlov was shot and killed on Monday at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

The gunman, who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo," was identified as a Turkish off-duty police officer, according to Turkish security sources.

Karlov was shot in the back while making a speech at a painting exhibition in the Turkish capital, the Russian embassy said.

Three other wounded people were taken to Guven Hospital in central Ankara.

The attack came one day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu heads to Moscow for talks on Syria with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.
BERLIN - A truck ploughed into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital Berlin on Monday evening, killing nine people and injuring up to 50 others, police said.

German media, citing police at the scene, said first indications pointed to an attack on the market, situated at the foot of the ruined Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, which was kept as a bombed-out ruin after World War Two.

The incident evoked memories of an attack in France in July when Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne truck along the beach front, mowing down people who had gathered to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day, killing 86 people. The attack was claimed by Islamic State.

The truck careered into the Berlin market at what would have been one of the most crowded times for the Christmas market, when adults and children would be gathering in the traditional cluster of wooden huts that sell food and Christmas goods.

Berlin police said nine people were killed

"I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos...many injured people," Jan Hollitzer, deputy editor in chief of Berliner Morgenpost, told CNN. "It was really traumatic."

Police cars and ambulances converged quickly on the scene as a huge security operation unfolded. The fate of the driver of the truck was not immediately clear, but Bild newspaper said he was on the run.

Emma Rushton, a tourist visiting Berlin, told CNN the truck seemed to be traveling at about 40 mph (65 Kmh).

Asked how many were injured, she said that as she walked back to her hotel, she saw at at least 10.

Julian Reichelt, editor in chief of Bild Berlin, said that there was currently a massive security operation under way.

"The scene certainly looks like a reminder of what we have seen in Nice," Reichelt said.
Parts of a Christmas market decoration stick in the windscreen of a truck following an accident with the truck on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, Dec 19, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

BERLIN -- A lorry ploughed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday night, killing nine people and injuring 50 others, Berlin police have announced.



The truck drove over the sideway at Breitscheidplatz, a major public square near the location of the iconic Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, in the inner city of Berlin, the police tweeted.



According to witnesses, people screamed and ran desperately for shelter after the truck veered towards the crowd near the Christmas market.



According to the police, the passenger of the truck died on the spot, while a suspicious person was arrested near Breitscheidplatz following the incident. "Whether it is the driver of the truck, is currently under consideration," the police tweeted.



The motive of the incident remains unknown. Police have begun investigations which point to a possible terrorist attack.
GENEVA -- The United Nations(UN) intends to convene the Syrian peace talks in Geneva on Feb. 8, 2017, the Spokesperson of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Syria said in a statement here on Monday.

"The Special Envoy will be comprehensively consulting the parties and the broadest spectrum of Syrian stakeholders, and the countries of the region and the wider international community, to carefully prepare negotiations," the statement said.

The statement added the Special Envoy will follow with interest the meeting on Tuesday between Russia, Turkey, and Iran, saying that any effort that can bring about a cessation of hostilities will be welcomed.

The latest statement from the Envoy's spokesperson also welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2328 on Syria, which was just unanimously adopted in New York to send UN observers to monitor evacuations in Syria's war-torn Aleppo.

"The UN Special Envoy hopes that this could be a beginning of the restoration of the unity of the Security Council, and along with the wider UN system, the Office of the Special Envoy will be fully engaged in promoting the operational implementation of the resolution on the ground," said the statement from the Envoy's spokesperson.

According to the latest resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on Monday, the UN should carry out adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations of civilians and fighters from eastern Aleppo.

The 15-nation council also demands in the resolution that all parties allow safe and unhindered access for the UN in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches people in need.

Earlier last week Syria's Foreign Ministry said that the Syrian government was ready to resume the inter-Syrian talks without preconditions, responding to the latest comments of UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura.

Mistura told reporters recently that it's about time to look seriously into the possibility of reviving political talks on Syria.

Previous Syrian talks in Geneva ended without achieving results, amid an increasing military showdown in Syria, mainly in the northern city of Aleppo.
State Councilor Yang Jiechi has flown to Britain and will meet Prime Minister Theresa May this week, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced in Beijing on Monday.

During his three-day visit, Yang will co-host the eighth China-Britain strategic dialogue with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

He will also meet British leaders, including the Prime Minister, to discuss bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern, according to Hua.

Hua said it is important for China and Britain, "two influential major countries", to strengthen strategic communications and dialogue at a time when the international situation is complicated, the world economy is sluggish and global governance faces challenges.

China hopes, on the basis of mutual respect and equality, to deepen political mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation with Britain, as well as to strengthen coordination between the two countries in international affairs, Hua said.
Premier Li Keqiang shakes hands with Norway's Foreign Minister Borge Brende in Beijing, Dec 19, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Premier Li Keqiang said China is willing to start negotiations on a free trade agreement with Norway, after the two countries agreed to normalize bilateral ties.

Premier Li met with the northern European country's Foreign Minister Borge Brende on Monday.

Historical exchanges between the two countries have demonstrated that political trust and bilateral ties are fundamentally based on mutual respect and taking good care of core interests and major concerns, Premier Li said.

Both foreign ministers have undertaken frank meetings to reach a consensus on normalizing ties and China appreciates the One China policy adopted by Norway's new administration and its sincerity to promoting bilateral ties, he said.

Norway was one of the first countries in the West to establish diplomatic ties with China in 1954, but diplomatic ties have been deteriorated since 2010.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said recent years had seen serious backward steps for bilateral ties.

After meeting with Brende in Beijing he said Norway had reflected on the reasons and negotiated with China on how to improve the ties.

China hopes to work with Norway to open a new chapter for bilateral ties and promote a consistent, healthy and stable development, Premier Li said.

Brende said Norway would stick to the One China policy and respect the Asian country's core interests and major concerns.

The two countries have now agreed to start negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement that Premier Li said would benefit both countries economically and promote trade liberalization and investment.

Norway's companies are also welcome to make investments in China, he added.

Last year, China purchased 2.8 percent of Norway's exports, ranking the ninth largest buyer for the northern European country, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
PHOENIX -- Ignoring hundreds of protesters outside and reports of Russian hacking, the state's 11 Republican electors cast their votes as expected Monday for Donald Trump.

State Party Chairman Robert Graham, one of those electors, said those hand-picked by the GOP had an obligation to support Trump who won the most votes in Arizona on Nov. 8.

"When someone runs for the Electoral College they understand that they're actually running to support the popular vote for our state,'' he told Capitol Media Services. Still, he conceded, they were under no actual legal obligation to vote that way.

"There's nothing binding them outside their conscience,'' Graham said.

And Graham said he was not bothered by the reports by both the FBI and CIA which concluded that Russia hacked into various emails, including of the Democratic National Committee, in a bid to sway the outcome of the election.

"The irony behind this is that good old Hillary Clinton has all these email discrepancies with Benghazi, her work with the Clinton Foundation,'' he said. "And now they're making a point of finding some kind of moral or ethics around this?''

Anyway, Graham said, what Russia did is irrelevant.

"If they're bad actors, they are what they are,'' he said.

"And it's just a bunch of accusations,'' Graham continued. "And the DoJ is politicizing it a very pathetic way,'' leaking information to the media rather than taking what they know to Congress.

"DoJ is using this as another opportunity, a last-ditch opportunity, to make hay out of what they suppose, the media suppose, as a black eye for Donald Trump,'' he said. "They keep trying to blemish a great victory, which was a movement of the people in this country.''

That comes as Arizona Sen. John McCain is siding with Democrats -- and against his own party leadership -- in seeking a special select committee to look into the role that Russia played in the election. Majority Leader Sam McConnell of Kentucky prefers it be handled by the existing Intelligence Committee.

Graham declined to weigh in on the issue.

"It's not my job to weigh in on their perspectives and their opinions,'' he said.

The Electoral College vote comes as a new statewide poll shows Arizonans nearly equally divided on the question of whether the president should be elected strictly by popular vote.

That system gives each state a set number of electoral votes based on the number of people in Congress. So Arizona, with nine representatives and two senators, gets 11.

The automated survey of 700 registered voters, conducted earlier this month by OH Predictive Insights, found 46 percent favor electing president on direct popular vote, with an identical amount wanting to keep the current system and the balance undecided.

But there was a decided, if not surprising, partisan split: Three-fourths of Democrats like the poplar vote, versus 44 percent of independents and 21 percent of Republicans.

This year, Clinton gained about 2.8 million more popular votes than Trump. And there was a similar situation in 2000 when Democrat Al Gore outpolled Republican George W. Bush but lost the electoral vote.

Secretary of State Michele Reagan, who presided over Monday's event, said there's a reason the Electoral College was created.

"Our Founding Fathers feared a candidate could unjustly manipulate public opinion and people wouldn't be able to make an informed choice,'' she said during the ceremonies.

"The thought was that by voting for a qualified group of individuals, it would be more difficult to manipulate voters,'' she explained. saying Alexander Hamilton believed the Electoral College would "protect'' voters.

Reagan also noted that giving each state votes based on representation in Congress gives smaller states a bigger say, proportionally, as no state has fewer than three electors no matter how few people live there.

The same survey that asked respondents about the Electoral College found that approximately one out of five people questioned believe there was widespread voter fraud in the last election.

But there was no partisan divide in that question, with an identical percentage of Republicans and Democrats reaching the same conclusion.

The margin of error in the survey is 3.7 percent.
(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) Sri Lanka's $1.12 billion deal with China to sell 80 percent of its Hambantota Port may trigger legal concerns, according to experts.

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Sri Lanka's $1.12 billion Hambantota Port deal with China is poised to spark legal issues as amended legislations are reportedly required before the port could be handed over to a private company, legal experts said as reported by the Sunday Times.



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Earlier this month, Sri Lanka has signed an agreement in principle to sell 80 percent of its deep-water port to China's Merchants Port Holdings Co. (CHMPC). And the Hong Kong-based firm is set to start the port's takeover early next month.



The Sunday Times reported that the main services offered by the port owner, operator, regulator, navigator, and others now under the custody by the SLPA are to be handed over to the CHMPC under the joint venture.



However, a senior official at the Attorney General's Department said that the changes could not be carried out unless the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) Act has been amended. The official further noted that even before entering the joint venture agreement, the Act should be have been amended with parliamentary approval after it has sought a legal advice from the attorney general.



Then if at least a 99 percent lease agreement has been signed and terms fulfilled or waived, the deal now becomes a binding contract between the SLP and CHMPC and cannot be amended unless both parties favor the changes.



It is not clear though if the Hambantota Port contract will specify the roles of who owns and manages. "While ports are managed by private parties, harbors are generally under the control of a state as it involves national security," an expert noted.



Meanwhile, the Arjuna Ranatunga, Minister of Shipping and Ports, also stressed that the Hambantota Port "deal" with China is not the "Final Agreement" yet and it could still be negotiated. Changes could be made between now and Jan. 8, 2017 during the signing of the Final Agreement, the New Indian Express reported. He added that if the SLPA will not be granted power to ensure port security, then he will not sign the agreement.



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TagsHambantota Port, Hambantota Port China, Hambantota Port Project
(Photo : PLAAF) J-20s show-off.

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A Chinese military "expert" in an effort to deride the capabilities of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor indirectly admitted the other U.S. stealth fighter -- the Northrop Grumman F-35 Joint Strike Fighter -- is superior to China's Chengdu J-20 low observable fighter.



The F-22 is the first fifth generation fighter (a class commonly described as stealth fighters) to see active service in any air force in the world. The F-22, which is a stealth air superiority fighter, entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 2005. The USAF admits to having 187 of these stealth fighters in its inventory.



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Chinese "expert" Li Li, however, disagrees with the designation of the F-22 as a fifth generation stealth fighter. Instead, she claims the F-22 is a fourth generation fighter at par with China's J-20, which she said is a fifth generation fighter.



But in so doing, the "expert" indirectly admitted the F-35's superiority to the J-20 since she claims the F-22 and J-20 are roughly equal in capabilities.



The F-35 first entered service with the U.S. military (with the U.S. Marine Corps) in August and deploys technologies more advanced than the F-22.



Li derided the performance of the F-22 as "not satisfactory." She arguers the J-20 will be able to match the stealth, radar-evading properties of the F-22.



She also claims the J-20 might break the monopoly of Western countries on fourth-generation fighters, perhaps even exerting a bigger influence than the F-22 Raptor.



Li also revealed something new about the J-20. She said information from an electronics plant in Suzhou revealed the main data display of the J-20 can be controlled and adjusted using voice commands.



On the other hand, western experts and even the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) agree the F-22 is a fifth generation fighter, making Li's assertion the F-22 is otherwise totally inaccurate.



Western experts also tend to view the J-20 as not a true stealth fighter but a "low observable" jet without the "all aspect stealth" (or stealth from any angle) that qualifies an aircraft as a true stealth aircraft.



The J-20 stealth is mostly forward facing, meaning its radar cross section is at its smallest when seen by radar head-on. From other angles, the big J-20 with its many un-stealth like surfaces like its canards, appears as large as a fourth generation fighter on radar screens.



On the other hand, the radar cross section of the F-22 has been described as being equivalent to that of a small steel marble, which means it's practically invisible to radar.



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TagsLockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Chengdu J-20, U.S. Air Force, Li Li, Northrop Grumman F-35
(Photo : Getty Images) Chinese military experts said Beijing would return the US drone with several conditions.

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Political and military analysts on Sunday said Beijing is likely to present a list of demands to Washington before it hands back a US underwater drone it seized in the South China Sea waters last week.



According to the analysts, among the demands that Beijing is likely to present is a request for the US to scale down its surveillance activities in the disputed waterway amid fears of heightened tension following the transition of power in Washington.



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China is also expected to ask Washington to widen the scope of the code for unplanned military encounters in the disputed waters to include drones like the one seized by a Chinese warship off the coast of the Philippines' Subic Bay last Thursday.



Unplanned encounters at sea



Zhang Zhexin, a professor from the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said Beijing might return the drone within 10 days and this would come together with China's demands.



"China is worried that there will be more action from the US during its power transition period," he said. "Beijing will possibly talk to the US about expanding the code for unplanned encounters at sea to include unmanned underwater vehicles."



In an interview with the People's Daily, Zhang Huang, a professor from the PLA National Defence University, said the US drone could be used to spy on Chinese naval activities such as gathering navigation data of Chinese submarines and ships in the South China Sea.



Battle plan



Another Chinese military observer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the US military was dependent on these drones in preparing and mapping out its action in the South China Sea based on the data collected by the unmanned underwater vehicle.



"If the US wants to step up surveillance against China, or even make a battle plan, it can use the updated data collected from those drones," he said.



China's defense ministry said on Saturday that the underwater drone would be returned by China to the US "in an appropriate manner" amid the unnecessary tensions being created by officials in Washington.



Furor



China's confiscation of the drone, which belongs to the US oceanographic survey ship "Bowditch," has caused a furor in Washington, with top officials calling Beijing a "thief."



In yet another twist to the drone drama on Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump ranted against Beijing and tweeted, "We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back - let them keep it."



The US has officially lodged a diplomatic protest before the Chinese embassy demanding the return of the drone, which, it said, was "unlawfully" seized by the Chinese Navy.



According to Washington, the drone was an unclassified ocean glider that was being used to gather data on salinity. Beijing, on the other hand, justified the seizure reiterating that it might harm naval personnel and interfere with navigation in the South China Sea waters.



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TagsUS drone, South China Sea, US President-elect Donald Trump, Chinese warship, espionage, battle plan, china, US surveillance activities
(Photo : Getty Images) Russia now has made a surprise u-turn on the CPEC project by showing keen interest to become part of the multi-billion dollar project.

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Following Russia's recent open denial that it wants to become a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the former Soviet Union giant has now made a u-turn. It is now showing keen interest to link its own mega infrastructure project with CPEC in a bid to reap mutual economic benefits.



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Russia's Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) project is just as ambitious project as the CPEC. It predominately passes through Eurasian countries such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Russia.



Russia's ambassador to Pakistan, Alexey Y Dedov, has been quoted saying that leaders of both countries have held meetings to connect the two mega infrastructure projects.



Dedov reportedly said that Russia "strongly" supports the CPEC project as it offered twofold benefits of Pakistan's economic growth and helping regional connectivity.



According to reports from reliable sources, Russia's overtures towards the CPEC project have left Indian leaders feeling completely restless.



Russia and Indian Relation on a Downward Spiral



Once a most loyal friend, now Russia is getting increasingly estranged with India over its increasing cosiness with the US and other countries. The strain in bilateral relationship is easily reflected in divergent views held by both countries on several sensitive issues.



The contrasting views on Afghan Taliban and Pakistan's alleged nexus with terrorist organizations certainly rank very high in this list. Russia's new found friendship with Pakistan was openly visible at this year's BRIC Summit.



At the summit, Moscow refused to back India's decision to publicly name Pakistan based terrorist organizations in the official declaration.



The growing chasm between India and Moscow has not escaped the attention of foreign experts.



Strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney said "It is as if Moscow no longer sees India as a reliable friend or partner. Indeed, by seeking common cause with India's regional adversaries (Pakistan and China). Russia is challenging India's core interests."



India's Security Concern on CPEC Project



New Delhi has never been comfortable with the Chinese-backed CPEC Project, which aims to connect Gwadar port in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province to Chinese province of Xinjiang. India fears that this mega project would give China a strong foothold in South Asian region, which New Delhi considers as its own backyard.



Besides, Indian leaders are equally apprehensive about CPEC Project passing through the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). New Delhi claimed that the project's presence in POK posseses a huge security concern for India.



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TagsRussia, CPEC Project, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, India, China and India
(Photo : Getty Images) A driver depresses the brake pedals in a 2010 Toyota Prius February 4, 2010 in San Francisco, California.

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China's safety watchdog revealed that some of the imported brake pads used by global carmakers were faulty, according to a report by China Central Television on Sunday as cited by Reuters.



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Based on the issued statements by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine in March and May, at least 226 of the 467 shipments inspected contained sub-standard brake pads.



CCTV noted that over 60 brands were involved. However, nine foreign automakers, namely, Volkswagen, Audi AG, Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover Ltd, BMW AG, Daimler AG's Mercedes Benz, Hyundai Motor Co, Kia Motors Corp., and Volvo, as well as parts supplier Textar were discovered to have at least 10 or more issues.



The report said that several issues were noted including potential break failure at high temperatures and incorrect labeling. Affected brake parts failed to meet the standards in terms of model information, friction, shear strength, and comprehensive strength.



The assessment was based on the country's national standards (GB 5763-2008 - brake linings for automobiles. It includes domestic market fields, cross-border e-commerce, and import distribution centers, CRI English noted.



The automakers and supplier did not respond for immediate comments when requested by Reuters.



In a related news, a senior Chinese official has warned US automakers on Wednesday that China could slap penalty for monopolistic behavior.



"The penalty comes as authorities work to step up against oversight and expand the industries they scrutinize in order to promote fair market," Zhang Handong, the director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)'s price supervision bureau, said.



The names of the companies involved as well as the amount of the penalty were not divulged.



The warning, however, came after US President-elect Donald Trump's comment on the decades-long US policy of acknowledging Taiwan as part of China. However, this was contradicted by other sources, saying Chinese officials have already been carrying out investigations on several car makers even before Trump's controversial remark.



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(Photo : Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump's top aide on Sunday suggested that Trump's recent comments on 'One China' Policy should not be taken literally. He further claimed that there is less possibility of 'One China' policy being reviewed.

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President-elect Donald Trump's top aide on Sunday played down Trump's recent controversial comment on 'One China' policy. The top aide, who will be the new White House chief of staff, suggested that there is less possibility that the incoming president would overhaul the US government's stance on 'One China' policy.



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"We are not suggesting that we're revisiting 'One China' policy right now," Trump aide Reince Priebus said in an interview with Fox News channel. "He is not president right now and he's respectful to the current president."



Washington recognized 'One China' Policy during Jimmy Carter's presidency in 1979. The policy basically denotes that China and Taiwan are one nation, impinging on the sovereignty of the island nation.



Trump's comment on the 'One China' principle was made last week during a television interview on Fox News channel. He called on to review the US government's commitment to the 'One China' policy "unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade."



Before offering this controversial statement, Trump took an even more proactive step that left Chinese leadership completely miffed. He broke the decade-long diplomatic protocol by accepting a phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.



Although the roughly 10-minute phone conversation was very formal in nature, it was enough to cast concern on the future of Sino-China relationship.



The US President-elect's aggressive stance against China prompted cautious warning from outgoing President Barack Obama last week. Obama warned that a shift in traditional foreign policy could have an adverse effect on bilateral relationship with China.



Trump has been firing salvos against China right from the days of election campaign, calling China a "job thief" and "currency manipulator." He also warned in one of his election campaigne that China would behave under his presidency.



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Abortion centers in the United States often are far from safe and sanitary, according to a recent report by the pro-life group Americans United for Life.



The 140-page report cites 1,400 health and safety violations given to 227 abortion centers in 32 states between 2008 and 2016. It also tells 11 stories of maternal injury or death due to abortion.



Examples of health and safety violations gleaned from public records include rusty, blood-encrusted surgical instruments; failure to teach employees how to properly wash their hands; allowing administrative assistants or other unqualified persons to help with abortion procedures or take blood pressure in the recovery room; and failure to keep medical equipment like defibrillators and sterilizers calibrated.



Really, this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, and its also just a snapshot of time, because were only covering an eight-year period, Denise Burke with Americans United for Life (AUL) told me. Given those two things, we can probably deduce that the problem is worse than even our report shows.



The organization hit multiple road blocks while gathering data: Many states dont regulate or inspect abortion facilities. Some regulate but dont conduct inspections, and some conduct inspections but dont publish findings.



Everything we know about the abortion industry, we know because they allow us to know, or there was a police report, AUL spokeswoman Kristi Hamrick told me.



Maternal deaths or 911 calls due to abortion complications not only generate police reports, they often make news. In one such instance, Maryland schoolteacher Jennifer Morbelli died after abortionist LeRoy Carhart performed a third-trimester abortion that sent amniotic fluid into her bloodstream. Her blood was unable to clot following the procedure.



Another case involved a botched abortion at a New Jersey clinic that led to an investigation and a $1.9 million settlement with Rasheedah Dinkins, whose uterus abortionists perforated beyond repair. After returning home, Dinkins had to be rushed to the hospital where doctors discovered blood loss had caused a stroke and a collapsed lung. She received blood transfusions and a hysterectomy, and spent three weeks in a coma.



Some botched abortions come as a result of negligence from abortionists such as Carhart, named in the report as one of many circuit-riding abortionists who fly in and out of cities to perform procedures. In Morbellis case, Carhart was already headed back to one of his other abortion facilities in Nebraska or Indiana when she started having complications. Morbellis family members and staff at the hospital where she died repeatedly tried to reach Carhart, who never picked up his phone.



The AUL report also details the history of abortionist Steven Brigham, who lost his medical licenses in New York, New Jersey, and Florida over negligence claims. Brigham also operated abortion centers in three other states where he did not hold a medical license. In 2014, the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners found Brigham endangered his patients with illegal activities and further exposed them to harm because he didnt have admitting privileges at a local hospital.



Women leaving his centers often turned up later at emergency rooms with uterine perforations that required hysterectomies, The New Yorker reported.



Many safety violations cited in the AUL report are for repeat offenses, showing abortionists gave little regard to state regulations. In Florida, 31 of its 82 abortion facilities received citations for health violations between 2009 and 2014, and 14 of those centers received multiple citations in the same year for the same type of violation.



In one Texas facility, the number of citations in a 2010 review is alarming: Staff did not have active CPR certification; thick layers of dust coated treatment rooms, scrub sinks, and an anesthesia cart; biohazard boxes were left uncovered and full of bloody supplies; a mop was sitting in brown water in a utility closet; the facility did not have a contract with a cleaning service; staff were observed failing to wash hands or change gloves between abortion procedures and improperly washing surgical equipment.



The AUL report follows the June U.S. Supreme Court decision in Whole Womens Health v. Hellerstedt, which struck down a Texas law mandating abortionists have hospital admitting privileges and that abortion facilities meet surgical center standards.



Burke said she hopes her organizations work will challenge the Supreme Courts assumption that abortion is always safe.



And its also going to go a long way toward educating the American public about the true state of the abortion industry, and exposing the lies that abortion is between a woman and her doctor, that abortion is somehow safe, that these facilities are somehow safe, or that any single incident that we might hear about is an aberration instead of revealing the true state of the abortion industry, she said.

Courtesy: WORLD News Service

Publication date: December 19, 2016
The Nigerian army on Dec. 14 said it rescued more than 600 women and children in a two-week crackdown on Boko Harams stronghold in northeast Nigeria. The rescue operation has not been verified.



Maj. Gen. Leo Irabor, commander of the operation, said in a news conference the troops rescued 69 men, 180 women, 227 boys, and, 129 girls between Dec. 7 and 14 from Sambisa forest. The forest, in Nigerias Borno state, is known widely as Boko Harams enclave and the location of many of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped in April 2014. The army has not said whether any Chibok girls were among the rescued.



The victims are in our custody for further investigation and interrogation, Irabor said.



Boko Harams insurgency has plagued northeast Nigeria and other neighboring regions. The extremist group has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced another 2 million others. Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon set up the 8,700-member Multinational Joint Task Force last July to combat the group.



Martin Ewi, a terrorism analyst with the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa, said the armys rescue report lacked detail but could be possible.



In late November, the African Union Peace and Security Council renewed the mandate of the task force for 12 more months beyond its initial commission until Jan. 31. The council called on the force to completely eliminate the Boko Haram menace. Following the order, Nigerias Chief of Army Staff Gen. Tukur Buratai said the army was deepening its advance into the forest.



They are seeing this as the final stage in countering Boko Harams operation, Ewi said. Thats why were having these attacks that specifically target Boko Haram.



But Boko Haram continues with its sporadic strikes. Two female suicide bombers killed at least 30 people last Friday in an attack on a market in Adamawa state. A similar bomb blast two days later in front of a market in Maiduguri, Bornos capital, killed three people and injured 17 others.



Country officials need to fight the terrorism mentality to successfully counter Boko Haram, Ewi said. He called for the prosecution of Boko Haram extremists and suspects in addition to military efforts.



Military force can help eliminate some of the most dangerous individuals, but they can always replace them, he said.

Courtesy: WORLD News Service

Publication date: December 19, 2016
As Iraqi coalition forces claw their way into Mosul, the retreating ISIS fighters have booby trapped streets, sent suicide bombers against the liberating army, and used civilians as human shields.

The civilians left in their wake are hungry, thirsty, terrified, and exhausted.

One of the first humanitarian groups to aid Iraqs once second-largest city, moving in even as ISIS moves out, has been a group of persecuted Christians from Burma (also known as Myanmar).

Free Burma Rangers (FBR) is a Christian group originally formed to bring humanitarian aid to the Burmese minorities displaced by ongoing persecution from their military government. Led by David Eubank, a former US Army Ranger officer, the group supplies medical assistance, food, and shelter to combat areas. It also documents human rights abuses.

Members of FBR began working in the Kurdish regions of Iraq and Syria two years ago. The Burmese nationals and American volunteers have provided medical care, food, and water to Iraqis that were fleeing ISIS or recently liberated. They have evacuated and treated the wounded in an Iraqi supply truck ambushed by ISIS, prayed with a man whose family was killed by friendly fire, and provided programming for school children in northern Syria and northern Iraq.

And as ISIS leaves parts of Mosul, FBR is close behind, providing supplies, medical assistance, childrens programming, and the first store in the southeastern part of the city.

CT spoke with Eubank, whose answers are brief because he was in Mosul outskirts, and FBR operations coordinator Hosannah Valentine about why Burmese Christians have traded their own conflict zone for another.

CT: FBR is set up to help oppressed people in Burma/Myanmar. How did you decide to add a ministry to Kurdistan?

DE: I was asked to come and help in February 2015 by a friend, Victor Marx of ATP ministries. I was on a relief mission in Burma, and he set me an email via a satellite link and asked us to come in seven days. But the Burma army was blocking us, and it [had taken] me three weeks walking to get where we were. We prayed, and the next day all the Burma army units moved. We walked 80 miles in three days, and then were able to get to a border, cross it, and get to Kurdistan in seven daysa miracle for us and a sign God wanted us there. Once in Kurdistan, I asked God what to do and felt he said, Give up your own way and the FBR way, and come help these [Kurdish] people. I have three prayers: that ISIS is stopped, people are freed, and the hearts of all enemies will change to love in Jesus name.

HV: We were invited to go see the situation and see if our experience in Burma could be useful in Kurdistan. We had already begun thinking through the idea of missions outside of Burma, to other oppressed people, and had gone to Sudan to help the Nuba people in 2014. We saw the value of oppressed people from Burma coming to help oppressed people in Sudan. The ethnic FBR members connected with the people there in a special way, born of having a shared experience of living through oppression, and still having joy and freedom. This same dynamic happens in Iraq as well.

However, international missions haven't been a formulaic policy decision, but the following of what we feel is a specific call of God to individual situations. As Dave said, we received an invitation to visit Kurdistan and a series of events happened that seemed to really be God opening the door to the opportunityboth being able to race through Kachin State on the heels of a moving Burma army force and financial support to make the missions happen.

On our initial missions [in Kurdistan], we were able to make good friends and meet a need. All this is enabled by God opening doors and drawing people to support these specific missions, as we continue to use all of our general funds on the work in Burma.

Image: Free Burma Rangers

CT: Does FBR still work in Burma, or is it now primarily active in Kurdistan?

DE: Our main work is still very much in Burma. We have 70 teams there. We also do missions in Syria and Sudan in addition to Mosul.

HV: Our main work is still in Burma, where we have 70 ethnic relief teams responding to needs in many different parts of the country. While there has been a decrease in fighting in parts of Burma, in other areas such as Kachin and the northern Shan states, there is more than ever. Right now, our staff there are in the middle of training [approximately] 30 new teams. While much of the narrative about Burma is that it is improving, the people living there still see a need for teams that can respond to crises. Also, if we do more international missions, it will be crucial to keep building up FBR teams in Burma to a higher standard of excellence in all areasfor the sake of the people in need in Burma, and for those in need wherever else we are called.

CT: Who is doing the work in Kurdistan? Are these Burmese Christians that youve freed from oppression in Burma, who are now paying it forward by helping out in Iraq and Syria?

DE: Yes. We have pastors, medics, and videographers from Burma on our team [in Mosul], along with my family and some American volunteers.

HV: Yes, there are Burmese ChristiansKaren, Karenni and Kachin so farmedics, pastors, cameramen, as well as American volunteers, and the Eubank family, doing the work in Kurdistan. They are people who feel called to stand against oppression and with people who are oppressed everywhere. They have a unique opportunity and ability to help these people. They have prayed about it, discussed it with their teammates, and responded when they feel God calling them. This is in the face of continuing oppression in their own home country. But they feel they are part of a team whose job has grown to help people in other countries. And so they go, confident they are called and with the support of their team back home.

CT: Why would Burmese Christians, who are barely out of oppression themselves, head to Kurdistan to put themselves right back into danger?

DE: They feel Gods call. They feel many have helped them for so long, so they should help others. They love the Kurds and Iraqis and feel they can understand them. They are used to war and can function well here. They feel this is where Jesus calls them.

HV: As they've come, they've found themselves able and effective here [in Mosul], and have come to love the people they help. Toh Win, a Karen medic and director of our medical school in Burma, was in Kurdistan in September and October. He said:

Why did God want me to go there? To share the love of God and stand with those who face a difficult situation. God opened the way for our group, step by step, in the right time, so I know very well this is the calling from God to go and help these people. These people are very good in welcoming guests and friends. They love us, and are happy that we help them and stand with them. We said, We are a small group. We cannot help a lot. But what we can do is pray for you and stand with you, because our God sent us. One of their leaders said, You are a small group, but you are very important, like a cup of water is important for a thirsty person.

This touched my heart a lot. I know God is doing a big thing that I cannot imagine. Most of the people we met do not share our religion, but they let us pray for them.

Image: Free Burma Rangers

CT: Why is this important for Burmese Christians to do? What does this ministry tell us about the strength of the Burmese church?

DE: It is a very strong, outward-looking church.

HV: I think its important for Burmese Christians for the same reason its important for all Christiansits following God's call in obedience. I think its especially significant for Burmese Christians to be doing this because it demonstrates that Gods callings do not depend on our strength, but on our reliance on him. He does not ask us to wait until were squared away, safe, have money in the bank and have a safety net before we go do his work. Not that theres anything wrong with those things. But I think we can learn from these Burmese Christians about obedience.

It does also demonstrate the strength of the Burmese church, which has held up under decades of oppression and continues to be outward-looking and not merely in self-preservation mode.

CT: Whats different about doing ministry in combat zones?

DE: There is real danger, violence, deprivation, constant changes, rage, destruction all around, people suffering and often no one to help, kids terrified and bewildered. [But] Jesus is the same all the time, and he brings love, truth, comfort, healing, and new ways.

HV: I think our ministry stays the same. We want to bring help, hope, and love to people under oppression and to meet their emergency needs. The needs change depending on the situation: Sometimes they are serious medical needs, sometimes they are material needs for food, shelter, supplies, etc. Usually the biggest need is simply security. People everywhere need Gods love and to be drawn to him as the ultimate meeter of their needs. One thing about ministry in combat zones is that usually we cant stop the combatwe cant fix their biggest need, which is to be secure. So we offer help as we can: medical, material, etc. But by simply being there with them, we also step into and share some of the powerlessness of the people we are with. As we point people to God, we are at the same time, very immediately, depending on him ourselves. This realitywhich is true all the timeseems especially stark when under fire.

However, some of the mechanics of how we do things change. For example, if theres not immediate fighting, we can do more training of local relief teams or more educational things with the kids. In more intense fighting, our work is more immediate relief provision.

Image: Free Burma Rangers

CT: Do we need more "paramilitary" ministries?

DE: We need people who follow Jesus into war zones and are not led by comfort or fear but by the Lord and his opportunities.

HV: I agree with Dave that we need ministries that are willing to follow Jesus call into war zones and other danger zones, who are not led by comfort or fear. There is no formula, and I wouldnt encourage someone who doesnt feel called here to come. Obedience is what we are called to, not counting the costwhether it be little or high.

Also, I wouldnt call FBR paramilitary as we are not designed or organized as a fighting force. But we do undertake to prepare our relief teams to be functional in combat zones, which entails an understanding of how combat happens and how to move in those situations.

CT: How do you persuade donors to shift from helping oppressed people in Burma to doing ministry in Kurdistan?

DE: We need help in Burma still, as it is our main focus. We do not persuade. We only report on the needs and pray that God provides for all.

HV: We havent tried to persuade donors to shift support. We dont really fundraise for specific parts of any of our work. Instead, we report on the situation in the areas where we are and the activities of our teams, and trust God to provide the support we need for the work he wants us to do.

Also, the kind of ministry we do in Burma and Sudan and Syria and Iraq is all basically the same. Its providing help, both medical and material; hope, by telling the stories of the people we meet to the rest of the world, and encouraging them that they are not forgotten; and love, by being with them in their situation, praying for them, doing programs for their children, training them to be able to help themselves, and pointing them to the God who is love.

CT: What have the challenges and rewards been of branching out of your niche ministry into this new area?

DE: Learning new things, and to love people I knew almost nothing about and seeing the power of Jesus cut through all barriers. I pray for patience and love, as I am weak here in both.

HV: Challenges are learning to operate in a brand-new area, new people, and different culture. This presents both logistical and relational challenges, and requires patience, flexibility, tenacity, love, and faith. Personal challenges have been feeling stretched and pulled between different places and commitments.

The rewards have been lots of learning, new friends, and personally, I think my faith has grown as well. Its a wonderful opportunity to have more and more of this world, Gods creation, opened up to me, and this happens when you go to people and stand with them in the middle of their worst situations. I think God opens their hearts, and yours too.
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.
Tim LaHaye and Verna Linzey Honored at Wreaths Across America Contact: Chaplain David Wagner,



SAN DIEGO, Dec. 19, 2016 /



Photo: Colonel Jason Woodworth speaking at Wreaths Across America. (by James F. Linzey, high resolution version available).



Colonel Jason G. Woodworth, USMC, Commanding Officer, MCAS Miramar, was the guest speaker. The invocation and benediction were delivered by Commander Don Biadog, CHC, USN, Command Chaplain, MCAS Miramar. The National Anthem was sung by Valerie Costantini who is a member of the Navy Wives Clubs of America. The call to order and the opening remarks were delivered by Steve Lewandowski who is a former Naval Officer. He now serves as the Commander of the American Legion, Post 416. The presentation of the colors was conducted by the Civil Air Patrol, Camp Pendleton, San Diego Young Marines. The 21 Gun Salute was rendered by the Marine Corps Air Station Rifle Team. "Taps" was played by Bugles Across America. The event concluded with the retiring of the colors at which time Commander Don Biadog and Chaplain, Major James F. Linzey, ARNG (Ret.), laid wreaths at the tombstones of Tim LaHaye and Verna Linzey to honor them in particular, though the mission of the ceremony was to honor all American Veterans.



Participants included the American Legion, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Patriot Guard Riders, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Confederate Veterans, Camp 302, USMC Squadron Wives, Vietnam Veterans of America, Women Marines Association, and the Wounded Warrior Project.



Verna May (Hall) Linzey (May 17, 1919-- November 11, 2016), "Mother of the Fleet," United States Navy, and former president of the Military Bible Association, was the great, great grand-daughter of Jacob Mulford Hall, who was an Army Chaplain in George Washington's Army, wife of Battle of Midway survivor Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr., CHC, USN (Ret.), who was a sailor in WWII. She was the mother of three military chaplains and grandmother of one Navy chaplain. She was a crusade, television, and radio evangelist; Bible translator for the Modern English Version; and she authored several books on the Holy Spirit.



Timothy Francis "Tim" LaHaye (April 27, 1926  July 25, 2016) enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1944, at the age of 18, after he finished night school. He served in the European Theater of Operations as a machine gunner aboard a bomber. He was an American evangelical Christian minister, speaker, and author. He wrote more than 85 books, both fiction and non-fiction, and is best known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-authored with Jerry B. Jenkins.



About 3,500 people attended the event.

Share Tweet Contact: Chaplain David Wagner, MilitaryBibleAssociation.com , 760-855-3905, info@militarychaplaincy.com SAN DIEGO, Dec. 19, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- Tim LaHaye and Verna Linzey were honored at Wreaths Across America at Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego, California.Photo: Colonel Jason Woodworth speaking at Wreaths Across America. (by James F. Linzey, high resolution version available).Colonel Jason G. Woodworth, USMC, Commanding Officer, MCAS Miramar, was the guest speaker. The invocation and benediction were delivered by Commander Don Biadog, CHC, USN, Command Chaplain, MCAS Miramar. The National Anthem was sung by Valerie Costantini who is a member of the Navy Wives Clubs of America. The call to order and the opening remarks were delivered by Steve Lewandowski who is a former Naval Officer. He now serves as the Commander of the American Legion, Post 416. The presentation of the colors was conducted by the Civil Air Patrol, Camp Pendleton, San Diego Young Marines. The 21 Gun Salute was rendered by the Marine Corps Air Station Rifle Team. "Taps" was played by Bugles Across America. The event concluded with the retiring of the colors at which time Commander Don Biadog and Chaplain, Major James F. Linzey, ARNG (Ret.), laid wreaths at the tombstones of Tim LaHaye and Verna Linzey to honor them in particular, though the mission of the ceremony was to honor all American Veterans.Participants included the American Legion, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Patriot Guard Riders, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Confederate Veterans, Camp 302, USMC Squadron Wives, Vietnam Veterans of America, Women Marines Association, and the Wounded Warrior Project.Verna May (Hall) Linzey (May 17, 1919-- November 11, 2016), "Mother of the Fleet," United States Navy, and former president of the Military Bible Association, was the great, great grand-daughter of Jacob Mulford Hall, who was an Army Chaplain in George Washington's Army, wife of Battle of Midway survivor Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr., CHC, USN (Ret.), who was a sailor in WWII. She was the mother of three military chaplains and grandmother of one Navy chaplain. She was a crusade, television, and radio evangelist; Bible translator for the Modern English Version; and she authored several books on the Holy Spirit.Timothy Francis "Tim" LaHaye (April 27, 1926  July 25, 2016) enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1944, at the age of 18, after he finished night school. He served in the European Theater of Operations as a machine gunner aboard a bomber. He was an American evangelical Christian minister, speaker, and author. He wrote more than 85 books, both fiction and non-fiction, and is best known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-authored with Jerry B. Jenkins.About 3,500 people attended the event.
WCC General Secretary Sends Birthday Greetings to Pope Francis

Contact: World Council of Churches, +41 79 507 6363

GENEVE, Dec. 19, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- As Pope Francis celebrated his 80th birthday, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit sent a greeting expressing gratitude for the steps Pope Francis has taken to foster the search for the visible unity of the church.

"I remember with joy your recent visit to Lund and the celebration of the journey from conflict to communion of the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation in which we could participate," reads the greeting from Tveit.

"You are speaking frequently from the unity on the way that grows when and where we pursue our journey as disciples of Christ together."

The WCC tenth assembly called Christians and all people of good will to trust God's mercy, turn around and join God's pilgrimage of justice and peace in faith, hope and love, notes Tveit.

"I am confident that we will have an opportunity to meet again in the future and explore together how to move forward with the vision of pilgrimage as model for the ecumenical movement," concludes the greeting.

Full message by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
home Faith Ancient stone tablet reveals name of biblical-era ruler of Judea

The discovery of a 1,800-year-old stone tablet on the seabed off the coast of Israel reveals the name of the ruler during one of the bloodiest periods in Jewish history a the Bar Kokhba revolt, during which the Jews of the Judea revolted against the Roman Empire.

Archeologists from the University of Haifa found the stone slab at Tel Dor, an underwater area 18 miles south of Haifa. Tel Dor was once the site of the biblical city of Dor. The massive stone tablet has an inscription that consists of seven lines of ancient Greek. It has since been brought out of the water.

The researchers have yet to decipher the text its entirety, but they have already achieved two important things in the discovery of the stone tablet.

The first one is the definite identification of Gargilius Antiquus as the governor of Judea during the period. The same name also appeared on another inscription that was unearthed seven decades ago, but the first one did not indicate what province he commanded.

The other achievement is the discovery of a second artifact on which the name "Judea" appears. Such is important in the archeological world because following the Bar Kochba revolt in 131 C.E., the Romans changed the status of the province of Judea and wiped out mentions of its name. What was then Judea was merged with Syria to form the province of Syria-Palaestina. The only other item that bears the name "Judea" has an inscription that also mentions the name Pontius Pilate.

Researchers from the university are currently working on deciphering the inscription. "Together with the inscription that was found around the time the State of Israel was established, we have here two monuments honoring and lauding the governor Antiquus. The question is a why? Do these inscriptions mark two different significant events, or was it the usual practice to erect a new sculpture for the patron of the city without any special reason?" a press release from the researchers reads.
home World Canadian diplomats visit pastor detained in North Korea

Canadian officials paid a visit to a pastor who was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor in North Korea for alleged crimes against the state.

Hyeon Soo Lim, a pastor of Light Korean Presbyterian Church of Mississauga, Ont., received the harsh sentence last December. He was convicted by Pyongyang's Supreme Court for allegedly trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system.

He was also convicted for helping U.S. and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens, according to CTV News.

According to a report from Korean Central News Agency, the delegation that arrived in North Korea on Tuesday was led by Sarah Taylor, director general for North Asia and Oceania for Global Affairs Canada. The Canadian officials will discuss Lim's case as well as other issues. The officials were able to meet with Lim, but no further details were revealed.

On Thursday, Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Kristine Racicot confirmed that a ministry delegation was able to visit the pastor.

"The Government of Canada is very concerned about the health, well-being and continued detention of Mr. Lim. We have been actively engaged on this difficult case," she said, according to The Star.

Canada, which does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, was able to arrange the visit with the help of the Swedish embassy.

"Minister (StAphane) Dion and Parliamentary Secretary Omar Alghabra have met with Pastor Lim's son, and consular officials are aZworking actively to secure the release of Mr. Lim," Racicot continued.

She added that privacy considerations have kept the government from revealing further details about Lim's case, but she assured that it remains a priority.

Lim has made more than 100 humanitarian mission trips to North Korea since 1997. Before his conviction, he publicly confessed to criticizing Kim Jong Un's regime.

In October, Canadian diplomats disclosed that Lim had been hospitalized for two months due to deteriorating health.

Lim's congregation is praying for his release every Sunday. "We are hopeful that this (Global Affairs Canada visit) is a positive sign that we will see Reverend Lim released and home soon," Richard Ha, a spokesman for the congregation, said in a statement.

"We are also grateful to the Canadian government and for the community's support," he added.
home World Dozens of Christian statues vandalized in Germany

German police are suspecting a religious motive in the destruction of around 50 Christian statues in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Havixbeck, a municipality on the north-east edge of the Baumberge, is the focus of the investigation. The local state broadcaster WDR released a video showing the broken and defaces statues.

Police spokesman Mirko Stein said that the noses and eyes of the sculptures are the primary targets of the perpetrators.

"In particular, faces [of the figures] are made unrecognizable, noses are being cut off, eyes are scratched," he said.

According to a report from Express, the police passed on the investigation to the secret police department due to the religious nature of the attacks.

The police stated that: "This is property destruction that is in the open and is of course noticed right away. Also a large number of the people in the neighbourhood where the sculptures are, were shocked and scared. The police want this fear to disappear as soon as possible."

Criminologist Christian Pfeiffer suggested that the attacks are a form of revenge against the Church.

"From my point of view much would indicate that it's about someone who feels powerless against the Catholic Church, who couldn't have his 'revenge' in any other way," said Pfeiffer.

In an effort to stop the destruction of the statues, a five-member investigative group was formed in November.

The police have acknowledged that the progress of the investigation will depend on the quality of information they have gathered from the public. They are appealing for witnesses who might have noticed any suspicious people around the sculptures in the past few weeks.

Earlier this year, a series of desecrations of Christian symbols have been reported by several news outlets. In the district of Steinfurt, around 40 cases of desecrations of Christian statues have been recorded.

Six people, who were allegedly linked to Islamic extremists, were investigated in relation to the attacks in Steinfurt. However, the inquiry was cut short after three of the men went to Syria. One of the suspects was believed to be dead, and another has moved to an unknown address. The fate of the sixth suspect remains unverified.
home World Ethiopia releases teenage girls who were imprisoned for sharing their faith

Ethiopian authorities have released the four teenage girls who were imprisoned in Babile last September for sharing their faith.

Martha Solomon Kebede, 18, Miheret Abera Mulat, 17, Gifti Dabesa Fekyisa, 17, and Eden Serawit Mekuria, 15, were freed on Dec. 15, almost three months after their initial arrest.

The four girls were initially arrested in September after they distributed a book called "Let's speak the truth in love: Answers to questions by Ahmed Deedat," which aims to answer questions about Christianity posed by the late Deedat, a well-known Islamic scholar.

Local Muslims, who considered the book to be an insult to Islam, went to attack the Protestant Meserete Kristos Church on Sept. 19.

According to International Christian Concern (ICC), the prosecutors demanded a jail term of 15 years for the girls, but it was overruled by a High Court Judge in Harar. The judge granted a release date of Oct., 1 but the girls were rearrested that same month.

A prosecutor renewed the request for the 15-year prison sentence before the Regional court of Adama, but the case was dismissed. The girls were rearrested again to face the local court in Babile. They were sentenced to one-month imprisonment and moved to a high-security prison in early November.

Mekuria said that she was beaten on her first night in prison, but a source said that the faith of the girls remained strong.

"This [suffering] is an honour for us. We should expect persecution. We are not afraid. We are singing and praying here in prison," Eden reportedly said.

During the court proceedings, local radicals allegedly threatened the girls' families. "We will burn your families alive," the mob reportedly shouted.

"I am worried what is going to happen to me once I get out. If I get out," Kebede told ICC.

Family and friends of the girls are also worried that the radicals follow through with their threats now that the girls are out of prison.

A federal government official who wished to remain anonymous noted that it is illegal to put minors in prison with adults.

Sara Solomon, ICC's Regional Manager, accused the local authorities of ignoring the Ethiopian Constitution and the decisions of the two higher courts. She called on the federal government to make sure that the constitution is being followed at the local level.

"These four girls' lives have already been disrupted and are now in imminent danger simply for sharing their faith. We hope that the girls and their families will be able to find safety and that similar incidents will be prevented in the future," she said.
home World Facebook confirms it won't help build a Muslim registry

Facebook announced on Thursday that it would not participate in building a Muslim registry, an idea which U.S. President-elect Donald Trump floated during the campaign period.

The company released a statement to the Intercept, and it read, "No one has asked us to build a Muslim registry, and of course we would not do so.

Facebook's announcement came after online publication The Intercept sought a response from nine tech giants on the question "Would [your company], if solicited by the Trump administration, sell any goods, services, information, or consulting of any kind to help facilitate the creation of a national Muslim registry, a project which has been floated tentatively by the president-elect's transition team?"

Apart from Facebook, only Twitter has so far provided a direct reply to the hypothetical question. Twitter referred to a November blog post, which stated that helping the government build such database is against company policy. It reads in part, "We prohibit developers using the Public APIs and Gnip data products from allowing law enforcement a or any other entity a to use Twitter data for surveillance purposes. Period."

Microsoft opted not to comment, reasoning out that it doesn't engage in hypotheticals.

Shortly before Facebook went on record that it would not help in building such database, 22 advocacy groups reached out to the companies in question to provide a response. So far, Google, Apple, IBM, Booz Allen Hamilton, CGI, and SRA International have yet to break their silence.

While campaigning for the presidency, Trump suggested creating a database of Muslims in the United States but walked it back later on. According to a November CNN report, however, a source with ties to Trump's camp told the publication that the database being planned would be similar to the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), which President Barack Obama suspended in 2011. NSEERS, built following Sept. 11, 2001, was a selective registration system applied to 25 countries, of which 24 were Muslim-dominated.
home World Franklin Graham calls on Christians to pray for Jakarta governor

Franklin Graham, son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, asked Christians to pray for Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama who is currently on trial in Indonesia for blasphemy.

"We need to pray for the Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama, who is on trial for what Muslims are calling blasphemy, which is ridiculous. He's the first non-Muslim governor of the Indonesian capital in more than half a century. They're coming after him because he's a Christian," Graham wrote on Facebook.

Purnama, who is seeking reelection in the upcoming Feb. 15 poll, came under scrutiny in September when he told residents of Thousand Islands that Al-Maidah, verse 51 of the Quran, is being misused by politicians to tell Muslim voters not to support non-Muslims.

He has repeatedly apologized for his comments, but the outrage over the incident led to two massive rallies on the streets of Jakarta.

"Hard line Muslim groups have organized protests against him and some have even called for him to be lynched. This is the kind of persecution that is going on around the world in countries that are controlled by Islam. Pray for this man and his family," Graham continued.

The governor tearfully denied insulting Islam when he testified at his trial on Tuesday. He pointed out that he was raised by his adoptive family which is composed of Muslims, and he had provided many facilities and assistance to his Muslim constituents.

Purnama is currently on leave as the governor as he campaigns for reelection. Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo announced on Friday that he will be temporarily suspended when his leave is over. The Christian governor may be sentenced to five years' imprisonment if found guilty.

Meanwhile, Buni Yani, the professor who shared the video of the governor's remarks, has been named by the Jakarta Police as a suspect for inciting religious and ethnic hatred. The professor insisted on his innocence and said that he only intended the post to be shared by his inner circle of friends.

Purnama, however, stated that the post caused harm to him and the residents of Jakarta. During the police questioning, the governor asserted that the two mass protests held on Nov. 4 and Dec. 2 were triggered by Buni's post.
home US Judge strikes down Louisiana governor's LGBT anti-discrimination executive order

A judge has ruled on Wednesday that Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards' executive order, which is aimed at prohibiting discrimination against members of the LGBT community, violates the constitution.

State District Judge Todd Hernandez ruled that Edwards overstepped his authority because the order creates a law, which is a function reserved for legislators, according to Advocate.

The order was challenged by Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry who claimed that the order was excessive because it demanded organizations to compromise their beliefs on marriage and sexuality as a precondition for winning government contracts.

Similar orders covering sexual orientation discrimination was issued by previous Democratic governors, such as Edwin Edwards and Kathleen Blanco, but it does not cover gender identity.

Landy told Hernandez that he was willing to let the sexual orientation provision stand if the protections for gender identity were thrown out, but the judge decided to quash the entire order.

According to World Magazine, the order contains an exemption for religious institutions, but there are no protections for others who hold Biblical beliefs on marriage and sexuality.

Landry hailed the judge's decision in a statement, saying: "we do not live under a King in Louisiana; we have a Governor, an independent Attorney General, an elected Legislature, and a Court system who are all involved in governance along with others. Governor Edwards must live within the Constitution."

Numerous legal services contracts that contained the anti-discrimination language were blocked by Landry since the order was issued in April. Due to Landry's refusal to include the executive order language in the agreement, the Edwards administration refused to release $18 million to the attorney general's office.

Edwards said that he will appeal the judge's ruling. The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT activist group, intends to help the governor with his appeal.

"We are disappointed in the court's ruling today. With great respect for the role of the Louisiana Legislature, we continue to believe that discrimination is not a Louisiana value and that we are best served as a state when employment decisions are based solely on an individual's qualifications and job performance," the governor said in a statement.
home Life Mark Driscoll: Children could question Jesus after discovering truth about Santa

One of the longest standing debate in many cultures around the world is whether parents should tell their children the truth about Santa Claus. Pastor Mark Driscoll of Arizona-based Trinity Church recently provided insights on the topic.

In a video message posted on his website, Driscoll said he can relate to the dilemma that parents face when it comes to Santa Claus. If they tell their kids that there is no Santa, they might spread the word and spoil Christmas for other kids. If they tell the kids about the cultural Santa who is believed to travels all the way from the North Pole to come down chimneys to deliver presents to kids, sooner or later the youngsters will realize that the story is not real, and such could create trust issues. They might question if they can still trust their parents and wonder if Jesus was also a lie.

Driscoll's views on telling the children the truth about Santa is in line with psychologist professor Christopher Boyle and social scientist Dr. Kathy McKay wrote in the Journal "The Lancet Psychiatry."

"If they (parents) are capable of lying about something so special and magical, can they be relied upon to continue as the guardians of wisdom and truth?" they stated in a paper titled "A Wonderful Lie," adding, "If adults have been lying about Santa, even though it has usually been well intentioned, what else is a lie? If Santa isn't real, are fairies real? Is magic? Is God?"

The pastor recommends that parents find a middle ground by telling their kids about St. Nicolas, a Christian saint and former Bishop of Myra who lived and dedicated his life to serving Jesus many centuries ago and to create a family tradition that celebrates his life.

"We told them the truth, that there really was in history past a guy who we now know as Santa Claus, who did love and serve Jesus, he was a pastor and a godly man," Driscoll states in the video, sharing what he himself told his own kids.

He also encourages parents to tell their kids about the good deeds of St. Nicolas that could be the bases of some of the modern-day beliefs about cultural Santa Claus. Such include that St. Nicholas was a generous man a he liked giving food and toys to children a and that he was well-loved by many people. He also advises parents to explain to the young ones that stories about St. Nicolas' life and good deeds over the years got intermingled with folklore and customs from different places around the world, which were eventually included in the Christmas celebration as Santa Claus and Kris Kringle.
home World Muslim businessman sets up giant Christmas tree in Baghdad to show unity with Christians

As the battle to defeat the Islamic State (IS) rages in northern Iraq, a Muslim businessman in Baghdad is sending out a message of unity by erecting the tallest Christmas tree in the city.

Yassir Saad said that his goal is to join "our Christian brothers in their holiday celebrations and helping Iraqis forget their anguish, especially the war in Mosul," AP reported.

The tree, which stands at 85 feet, with a diameter of 33 feet, was placed at the center of the Al-Zawra Park in Baghdad. The businessman said that it cost around US$24,000.

The Christian population in Iraq has declined significantly since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. According to Christian Today, it was estimated that there were 1.5 million Christians in the country in 2003. The number of Christians living in Iraq is now believed to be as low as 200,000.

Thousands of Christians fled from Mosul and surrounding regions when ISIS overran northern Iraq in 2014. Christians were forced to convert to Islam or pay a special tax, and they often saw their properties confiscated by the terror group.

Saba Ismael, a teacher who took their students to see the Christmas tree said: "This tree represents love and peace. I wish all Iraqi Christians could return to Iraq and live normal and peaceful lives."

Many Christians have managed to return to the villages recaptured by Iraqi forces only to find their homes and churches in ruins.

The Nineveh Protection Units (NPU) and Iraqi Special Forces have recently liberated the villages of Bashiqa, Bartella, Karamles, Qaraqosh, and Tellisqof, but the villages were devasted by ISIS.

Most of the infrastructure in some of the towns has been reduced to rubble. Other villages became a dumping ground for dangerous chemical compounds.

Robert Nicholson, executive director of the Philos Project, said that rebuilding the towns could take years, and he added that funding is badly needed.

"The road is long, but the journey is made up of single steps. We need to start small, focusing on the most important villages and work outward," he said, according to Fox News.

"We need the international community to step in. All those countries in Europe and around the world that talk about preserving minority peoples, indigenous peoples, need to step up and put their money where their mouth is," he continued.
home Tech NASA scientist warns of 'extinction-level' event

A decorated NASA scientist warns that a catastrophic event that could wipe out life on earth is very much a possibility and that the world may not have enough time to prepare for such an event.

At the American Geophysical Union's annual meeting held in San Francisco, California last week, Joseph Nuth, an award-winning senior scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, stated that asteroids that are big enough to pose danger to earth are rare, but there's still a possibility that one could get into the earth's path.

"But on the other hand they are the extinction-level events, things like dinosaur killers, they're 50 to 60 million years apart, essentially. You could say, of course, we're due, but it's a random course at that point," Nuth told attendees at the event.

Nuth highlighted the need to reduce the time to prepare to react to such as possibility, citing that scientists had only 22 months heads up before a comet came into close encounter with Mars back in 2014. He said that such amount of time would not have been enough had earth been the one on the comet's path.

With a disclaimer that he's not a policymaker, Nuth shared his team's scientific recommendation of building two spacecraft a an interceptor rocket and an observer spacecraft a which will be put in storage. Once there's is a threat, the observer can be launched to gather information that will help maximize the effectiveness of the interceptor. Once there is a "predefined level of certainty," the interceptor can then be released to deflect the heavenly body from impacting earth.

The scientist emphasized that building a spacecraft that is highly reliable takes time, but it can be built prior to need. A stored spacecraft can be launched within a year, which is much shorter than the five years that it normally takes to build and launch one.

NASA officials, however, assure that there is no immediate threat of a major asteroid or comet potentially hitting the earth for at least the next 100 years.

A statement released by NASA to the post reads in part, "The agency continues to aggressively develop strategies and plans with partners in the US and abroad to enhance our identification and tracking efforts, and develop options for mitigation and planetary defense."

It further states, "To date, approximately 95 percent of potentially hazardous asteroids and comets larger than 1 kilometer in size that could pose danger to Earth have been found. Additionally, there are no detected impact threats for the next 100 years."
home US Ohio pastors urge lawmakers to override governor's veto of 'heartbeat bill'

A group of pastors representing 2,500 churches has called on members of the Ohio House on Thursday to override Gov. John Kasich's veto of a bill that would have banned abortions once an unborn baby's heartbeat is detected.

"We're asking the Speaker of the House to call for a vote to override this decision that the governor has made, because we're here to promote and advocate for life," said J.C. Church, senior pastor of Victory in Truth Ministries, at a press conference at the Statehouse.

Kasich vetoed the "heartbeat bill" last Tuesday due to concerns that it might be challenged in court and result in a waste of taxpayer money. However, he signed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act into law, which would ban abortions from about 20 weeks gestation.

The governor said in a statement that he is working hard "to strengthen Ohio's protections for the sanctity of human life."

According to The News Leader, Ohio currently bans abortion after 24 weeks, when a fetus is viable outside the womb. Ohio Right to Life and other pro-life groups have supported the 20-week ban and opposed the heartbeat bill.

Pastors said that they intend to pursue the passage of the heartbeat bill via a veto override or future legislation.

"The lives of 60 million aborted babies compel as we consider the weight of this bill and what it can accomplish and the lives that it can save," said Tim Throckmorton, senior pastor at Crossroads Church in Circleville.

"Let me suggest that the millions of unborn whose lives are in the balance plead with us that we continue to stand for life, that we continue to stand together." he added.

State Rep. Christina Hagan (R-Alliance), the primary sponsor of the proposal, also said that she intends to keep working towards the passage of the bill.

The heartbeat bill was approved 56a39 in the House and 21a10 in the Senate. It would require at least 60 votes in the House and 20 in the Senate in order to override Kasich's veto.
home World R.C. Sproul Jr. leaves Ligonier Ministries a year after public confession on Ashley Madison visit

Prominent Christian minister Robert Charles Sproul Jr., also widely known as R.C. Sproul Jr., has resigned from Ligonier Ministries, a year after he confessed having visited the adultery matchmaking website, Ashley Madison.

Sproul Jr. is the son of Robert Charles Sproul, founder of Ligonier Ministries, a reformed international Christian organization with headquarters in Florida.

His resignation was announced in a statement issued by the organization last Monday, which read in part: "Last Friday, the board of directors of Ligonier Ministries and Reformation Bible College received and affirmed the resignation of Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. He is stepping away from his duties at the ministry and the college for personal reasons. This was communicated by phone to his father, Dr. R.C. Sproul, the founder of Ligonier Ministries and chancellor of Reformation Bible College, and it was later communicated in writing to the entire board of directors of Ligonier Ministries."

The minister had been suspended from Ligonier Ministries from August 2015 until July 2016 because of his admission that he accessed Ashley Madison back in 2014. In a now-deleted blog post, Sproul Jr. confessed that he visited the site long enough to leave an old email address, not for research purposes but to "fan the flames of my imagination." He wrote that he did so "in a moment of weakness, pain, and from an unhealthy curiosity."

The younger Sproul, however, maintained that he never made a second visit to the controversial website and that no physical relationship was formed from it. He stressed that he had remained faithful to his wife even after her passing in 2011.

In their recently released statement, Ligonier Ministries thanked Sproul Jr. for his contributions and wished him well. While he was still with the ministry, Sproul Jr. served as a teaching fellow as well as rector and chair of philosophy and theology at the organization's Reformation Bible College.
home US Religious leaders issue statement denouncing anti-discrimination laws

Over 75 religious leaders came together to sign a statement to affirm religious freedom and oppose government coercion or censorship of citizens who holds different views about sexual orientation and gender identity.

The formal statement, titled "Preserve Freedom, Reject Coercion," was released by the Colson Center for Christian Worldview last Wednesday, according to report from the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB).

The signatories include NRB President and CEO Dr. Jerry A. Johnson, Lousiana College President Rick Brewer, Best-selling author Eric Metaxas, Master's University & Seminary President John MacArthur, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore, and Care Net President & CEO Roland C. Warren.

The statement addresses the efforts to add sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) as protected classifications in law.

It argues that the proposal threatens basic freedoms of religion conscience, speech and association and it also violates privacy rights.

"In recent years, we have seen in particular how these laws are used by the government in an attempt to compel citizens to sacrifice their deepest convictions on marriage and what it means to be male and femaleapeople who serve everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, but who cannot promote messages, engage in expression, or participate in events that contradict their beliefs or their organization's guiding values," the statement reads.

"Under SOGI laws, people of good will can face personal and professional ruin, fines, and even jail time, and organizations face the loss of accreditation, licensing, grants, contracts, and tax-exemption," it continued.

The statement asserted that SOGI laws are being used by the government to silence or punish Americans who exercise their freedom to live and work peacefully according to their convictions.

The signatories contend that the SOGI laws pose a serious threat to fundamental freedoms that are guaranteed to every person and it should be rejected at the federal, state and local levels.

The Family Research Council (FRC) recently released a list of cases in which Christian business owners were punished or threatened with punishment for not complying with anti-discrimination laws.

One such case was that of Aaron and Melissa Klein, owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa. They were fined $135,000 by the state's Bureau of Labor and Industries in 2013 for refusing to bake a gay wedding cake due to their religious convictions.

Some of the cases listed by the FRC are not yet settled and still going through court battles.
home World Saudi Arabia adopts Gregorian calendar to cut employment costs

The Islamic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has dropped the use of the Islamic lunar-based calendar in favor of the "Western" Gregorian calendar in an effort to cut employment costs.

The Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri, has 12 months in a year, but it is 11 days shorter than its Western equivalent. The dates of Islamic festivals will still be based on the Hijri. according to Christian Today.

The decision was made in a recent cabinet session headed by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz. The switch is part of an austerity measure to reduce the kingdom's budget deficit. Public sector employees stand to lose 11 days of salary as a result of the switch. Previously, only the private sector used the Gregorian calendar to compute salaries.

The Economist reported that Islamic puritans are decrying their loss of control over the calendar. The Guardians of the Wahhabi rite, who seek to be guided by Muhammad's acts, expressed their concerns that the switch might lead to forgetting of the fasting month of Ramadan.

The clergy considers it as a move to rewind the clock to the jahiliyyah or the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. The judiciary still insists on using the old calendar to sentence criminals.

The calendar switch, along with other cost-cutting measures, came into effect this October.

Minister's salaries have been cut by 20 percent, and bonus payments for state employees were canceled. Wage increases were put on hold, and allowances for public-sector employees were also reduced, according to a report from Independent.

The government also decided to stop providing cars to senior state officials for the next financial year. Ministers will also have to pay their fixed and mobile phones fees. Members of the legislative body that advises the monarchy also saw their salaries cut by 15 percent.

The government aims to reduce public-sector wage bill from 45 percent down to 40 percent by the year 2020.
home US Texas judge issues TRO on rule requiring burial or cremation of aborted babies

A federal judge prevented a rule requiring burial or cremation of aborted fetuses in Texas from being implemented, at least until January.

Austin-based U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks issued a temporary restraining order on rules a which was set to take effect on Dec. 19 a that mandate health clinics to bury or cremate bodies from abortions and miscarriages.

The Center for Reproductive Rights and other groups advocating abortion rights filed a lawsuit on Dec. 12, arguing that the rules prevent women access to safe and legal abortion by hiking the costs of undergoing the procedure. The groups also charge that the rules cause women shame and encourage stigma surrounding abortions and miscarriages.

"We are pleased that the court has prevented these outrageous restrictions from going into effect in Texas, where they would have created immediate and dangerous new barriers on women's access to health care," David Brown, CRR senior staff attorney said in a statement released to the public.

Sparks is allotting two days in January to hear testimonies, and he is expected to give a ruling by Jan. 6.

The new rules were proposed in July just a few days after the U.S. Supreme Court shot down laws that would have reduced the number of abortion clinics in Texas to 10 from more than 40 in 2012.

Currently, most clinics throw fetal remains in sanitary landfills, with the cost of doing so factored into the price of the abortion procedure.

Proponents of the rules pushing for the burial or cremation of the infant bodies call for preserving the dignity of the unborn babies, and at the same time, preventing the spread of diseases coming from improper disposal of the dead fetuses.

Meanwhile, the Texas Catholic Conference has announced plans to provide free burial for fetal remains at Catholic cemeteries. In a statement, TCCB Executive Director Jennifer Carr Allmon said, "To bury the dead is a work of mercy." He added, "As Pope Francis reminds us, the victims of our 'throwaway culture' are 'the weakest and most fragile human beings.' It is right and just for us to be assisting the victims of abortion."

Apart from more than 50 Catholic cemeteries in Texas, the TCCB also aims to recruit other cemeteries, funeral homes, and mortuaries to their cause.
home US Texas judge orders school district to restore Charlie Brown Christmas display

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is back on display at the Patterson Middle School in Killeen, Texas after a judge ordered the school district to restore the decoration.

The door-length poster, which featured the Peanuts character "Linus," was displayed on a door inside the school on Dec. 5 by Dedra Shannon who is a nurse's aide at the school, according to The Christian Post.

The display quoted Linus as saying, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord. That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

A few days later, the Killeen School Board members voted for the removal of the poster, claiming that it imposes Shannon's personal beliefs on the students.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton made an appeal to the state district court to have the poster restored. He cited the state's 2013 Merry Christmas law, which stipulates that Biblical references to Christmas cannot be silenced by any school official.

Last Thursday, Bell County State District Judge Jack Jones issued a temporary injunction against Killeen Independent School District in order to prevent it from enforcing its decision to remove Shannon's display.

"Religious discrimination toward Christians has become a holiday tradition of sorts among certain groups. I am glad to see that the court broke through the left's rhetorical fog and recognized that a commitment to diversity means protecting everyone's individual religious expression," said Paxton regarding the injunction.

The judge also ruled that the display should include a disclaimer saying, "Ms. Shannon's Christmas Message."

The school district said in a press release that they support the judge's decision.

Shannon was represented in court by Jonathan Saenz, the president of Texas Values. He said that the school district could have avoided the court dispute. He argued that the display did not ask anyone to convert to Christianity, and it only stated the reason why Christians celebrate Christmas.

"This scenario is exactly why the Merry Christmas law was written a to protect teachers, staff, and students in their expression of the Christmas season," Saenz said in a statement.
UNC excavation crew in Galilee region of Israel uncover first known depictions of biblical heroines An excavation team in Israel has discovered the first known depiction of two biblical heroines from the Old Testament.

World to reach 8 billion people in November, India to unseat China as most populous in 2023: UN By Nov. 15, the worlds population is projected to reach 8 billion, and by 2023, India is projected to surpass China as the worlds most populous country, according to a new report from the United Nations.

Single, non-religious young adults are most unhappy Americans post-COVID-19: report Young adults under 35 who are single and non-religious report the highest levels of unhappiness since the COVID-19 pandemic began and since 1972, when the General Social Survey began measuring levels of happiness among Americans, a new analysis from the Institute of Family Studies suggests.
home US UPS driver instrumental in rescue of captive woman who wrote 'contact 911' on package

A UPS driver in Franklin County, Missouri is hailed a hero after his vigilance enabled authorities to rescue a woman who had been held captive and abused by her husband.

On the morning of Dec. 6, the driver went to pick up a package from the victim's home and noticed a message that was scribbled on the package, telling him to "contact 911." The driver then alerted the authorities.

The driver's action led to the arrest of 33-year-old James Jordan, who, according to court records, as reported by KMOV, had been subjecting his wife to sexual and physical abuse and had been preventing her from leaving the house or using the phone since the previous day. Court documents also state that Jordan put a gun against the woman's head and threaten her life. Furthermore, the couple's three-year-old child was locked in his room with no food nor water for several hours.

Jordan was arrested for domestic assault, sodomy, felonious restraint, unlawful use of weapons, and putting the welfare of a child in danger. He was assigned a bond cash of $100,000.

According to authorities, the UPS driver was instrumental to the rescue of the captive woman and her child and the arrest of the perpetrator. "He made a huge difference," Franklin County Sheriff's Department Sergeant T.J. Wild told News 4.

UPS officials praised the driver for following protocols and responding to a request for help. "We are grateful this UPS driver with more than a decade of service followed protocol when he saw a customer in distress and contacted authorities after he saw her message to contact 9-1-1," they said in a statement released to The Post, adding, "Our drivers are very familiar with their routes, and are trained to be aware of their surroundings and respond to requests for assistance."
5 Surprising Truths About Nonchurchgoers

What sets regular churchgoers and nonchurchgoers apart? Their differences aren't all that stark, and they aren't the antagonistic, argumentative bunch that some Christians peg them to be.

"Because many church leaders and members have such misperceptions about them, churches often fail to reach them, or even attempt to reach them," Thom Rainer, President and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, wrote on his website, referring to Christians who do not go to church.

LifeWay Research conducted a study on 2,000 of these unchurched Christians in partnership with Billy Graham Center for Evangelism in Wheaton. The "unchurched," as defined, are people who have not attended worship service in the past six months.

Rainer and his team discovered five surprising truths about the unchurched. First, most of them have some church background. "Contrary to some perceptions, the great majority of unchurched have a church background. Almost two-thirds of them (62 percent) went to church regularly as a child," he said.

Next, most unchurched quit church because they got out of the habit of going to church. A number of them left the church for negative reasons, but majority simply quit because they felt like quitting.

Third, one-third of the unchurched actually have plans to return to church in the future. Rainer said this is good enough reason for the church to actively invite them and get them interested.

Fourth, the unchurched are actually very open to gospel conversation. "Nearly half (47 percent) would interact freely in such a conversation. Another third (31 percent) would listen actively without participating," shared Rainer.

He said it's time that Christians stop using the "poor excuse" that the unchurched aren't really interested in gospel conversations, because in reality, it is the church members themselves who are not interested in initiating gospel conversations.

Lastly, Rainer said if Christians invite the unchurched to attend worship services, they will definitely come. "Among the unchurched, 55 percent said they would attend church if invited by a family member. And 51 percent said they would attend church if invited by a friend or neighbor. These numbers are staggering. The opportunities are incredible."

Rainer said this is an incredible opportunity that the church must take, wondering just how many will even seize this God-given moment.
Are Education Inspectors Unfairly Targeting Christian Schools?

A group of Christian schools that use Bible-based education methods are claiming they have been targeted unfairly by inspectors.

The independent schools are appealing against Ofsted and seeking advice from the Christian Legal Centre about whether there is potential for a judicial review on the grounds that the government's schools inspectorate has exceeded its powers.

The nine schools that belong to the Christian Education Europe network were criticised earlier this year for failing to promote British values adequately and told they are inadequate or require improvement. Two of the schools have now closed.

The schools use the Accelerated Christian Education programme, where the emphasis is placed on learning rather than teaching and children are taught to take responsibility and use their initiative.

This curriculum is based on the Bible and takes children from pre-school at age four to university entrance at 18.

Among the criticisms by Ofsted this autumn were failing to teach enough about Darwin's theory of evolution and about other faiths.

Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Centre told Christian Today: "What the schools are going to do is appeal the Ofsted report. It is inconceivable that a set of schools that did so well when last inspected now find themselves in the 'inadequate' category or 'needing improvement'.

"Parents of children at these schools want the children to be educated using the curriculum that they have. The children do very well on this curriculum. It is right that parents should be free to decide how their children are educated. It seems the Ofsted inspectors cannot think outside the national curriculum. There is a lack of understanding by Ofsted on what this curriculum means for the children."

Chris Oakey, principal of Luton Pentecostal Church Christian Academy, claimed Ofsted had targeted Christian schools to show "even-handedness" after the scandal of the so-called Trohan Horse plot in Birmingham where Islamists were accused of plotting to take over schools. "I think they have done it to show they will do it to everyone and not just the Muslims," he told The Sunday Times.

Wesley Richards, of The King's House School, Windsor, said one inspector asked: "Do you teach pupils about other religions or do you pretend they don't exist?"

Ofsted denied it was being unfair and said it had been specifically asked to look at schools using the Accelerated Christian Education programme.

"Ofsted said found them to be failing to meet the government's standards in a number of areas, including safeguarding, leadership and governance, and the quality of the curriculum. In addition, a number of these schools were not promoting British values effectively enough."

Last year, Sir Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools, denied that Ofsted had a political agenda against Christian schools after strong criticism from MPs following after inspectors issued critical reports on some other Christian schools.

Labour MP Alex Cunningham said one parent claimed her daughter had been asked whether she was a virgin. The headteacher of one of the schools accused Ofsted of asking inappropriate questions on lesbianism and transexuality.

Grindon Hall Christian school in Sunderland was among the Christian schools those placed in special measures in 2014. The latest inspection of Grindon Hall this summer concluded: "Leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures."
Brexit: What Will Happen To Human Rights When Britain Leaves The EU?

Brexit means Brexit, only no one is quite sure what that means. The Prime Minister, Teresa May, suggested it meant a "red, white and blue" Brexit, which is hardly enlightening.

If anything is clear about the national embarrassment that was the vote to leave the European Union, it is that no one had a clue what it would actually involve or how much it would cost. The spectacle of politicians scrabbling to conceal their treasonous ineptitude suggests a new take on the parable of the Emperor's New Clothes: the chicken that claims to be on a purposeful march to take its country back has, in fact, no head.

One of the many things that has yet to be clarified by the government is what it thinks about human rights. This was a right-wing dog-whistle theme in the referendum campaign. 'Europe' was stopping us controlling terrorism because it wouldn't let us deport undesirable people who had families here.

One of the ramifications of the Brexit muddle is that EU nationals living here and Britons living abroad don't know whether they're going to be able to stay. The government has also declined to say what will happen to rights currently protected under EU law when it publishes its 'Great Repeal Bill'. EU law underpins many fundamental rights; what will happen to privacy and data rights and rights against discrimination? No one knows.

Now parliament's Joint Select Committee on Human Rights has stepped in with a surprisingly sharp report. It has urged the government not to use individuals' fundamental rights as a bargaining chip with the EU. It notes that international trade secretary Liam Fox has reportedly described EU nationals in the UK as one of the "main cards" in Brexit negotiations. The report says it's wrong to treat people as collateral; the government should clarify residence rights as soon as possible to avoid causing "continuing and distressing insecurity".

It also notes that current trade agreements under EU law include human rights clauses; British companies can't do business with oppressive and violent regimes. The government "should, at the very least, ensure that the standards included in current agreements are maintained", the report says, adding that "there is an argument to be made that if the UK enters into any new agreements, this is an opportunity to raise standards".

Now, the complicating factor in all of this is Britain's continued membership of the European Convention on Human Rights, from which EU law in this area flows. Conservatives are not natural cheerleaders for the ECHR; when Teresa May was Home Secretary she said Britain should pull out, though she later backtracked. However, repeal EU law and there is still an appeal to the ECHR  expensive, protracted and infuriating to Brexiters.

The political and ideological turmoil around Brexit has sickened many of us to the point where we feel an actual aversion to engaging with it. However, Christians ought to be concerned about human rights. Human rights are about protecting the vulnerable. Among them are people who think they might be deported if governments can't strike a deal. Among them are also people oppressed and exploited in their own countries, whom EU law prevents Britain exploiting too.

In the US, Donald Trump's slogan is 'Make America Great Again'. We have nothing quite so catchy in the UK, but there's no doubt that large numbers of Leave voters were driven by the same sort of tainted nostalgia. However, human rights legislation represents a moral and practical advance. It has made life better for everyone. It needs to be guarded against those who want to unpick it for the sake of a return to an imagined past, which  as we will surely find out during the next few years  wasn't nearly as good as the future we are throwing away.

Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
Christians Mourn As Death Toll From Cairo Church Bombing Rises

The death toll from the Cairo church bombing has risen to 26 after an injured woman died at the weekend.

The attack by militants on the church of St Peter and St Paul on December 11 killed 25 people outright and wounded 49, 23 of whom are still being treated in hospital. Three of the injured are said to be in a critical condition.

According to Daily News Egypt, Audet Saleh Michael (70) had suffered injuries to her lungs and intestines and had undergone three bouts of surgery before her death.

The church where the attack took place is attached to St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, seat of the Coptic Pope. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as a "martyrdom operation". ISIS said it would target "apostates" or "infidels" in Egypt or anywhere else in the world.

A state funeral was held for the victims at which Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi spoke and three days of mourning were declared.

The bombing sparked waves of anger across Egypt with hundreds protesting outside the cathedral in Cairo.

The crowd demanded Magdy Abdel Ghaffar, the interior minister, be dismissed after a perceived security failure led to the attack. Christians are convinced attacks on them are not seriously investigated.

Protesters also demonstrated outside the St Mary and St Athanasius church in Cairo's Nasr City because they were denied entry to the funeral.
Church Of England To Debate Suggestions On Sexuality

There will be no immediate major changes to Church teaching over gay relationships, it has been hinted.

A timetable published on Monday for the Church's next general synod in February reveals bishops will make a report on sexuality but there will be no major legislative changes.

Time for "group work" followed by a 90-minute "take note debate" on the work of the bishops' reflection group on sexuality is allocated for one afternoon of the three and a half day sitting.

But synod will not make a decision on changes to teaching and will only have a chance to acknowledge the bishops' work, suggesting no major changes will be proposed.

Any change in Church teaching requires a two-thirds majority in all three "houses" that make up the CofE's parliament.

The meeting in February comes at the end of two years of private talks at all levels of the Church in an attempt to heal deep divisions over the issue.

But the apparent lack of action prompted fury from liberals within the Church who said "there will be huge disappointment and frustration" if there is no change.

Colin Coward, founder of the pro-LGBT pressure group Changing Attitude, told Christian Today: "There is a high level of expectation among many LGBTI people and supporters in the Church that the bishops will propose positive changes to Church teaching and practice.

"If there isn't I think the level of disengagement and disillusionment will increase and there will be further losses to the Church.

"I think more people will abandon ministry."

After the latest meeting of the Church's College of Bishops, a body of senior clerics, a statement said they had received an update from the chair of the reflection group on sexuality, Rt Rev Graham James, Bishop of Norwich.

"The Bishops agreed to consult the General Synod in February as well as updating Synod as to where their discussions had reached," a statement read.

One possible change will be an end to celibacy vows for gay priests. Under current rules clergy living with a same-sex partner have to promise to abstain from sex.

But sources have suggested to the Mail on Sunday that bishops may call for an end to the law meaning they would not have to make a solemn vow but would still be expected to remain celibate.

Another option muted has been a form of "pastoral accommodation" whereby clergy could be allowed to offer official welcome, prayers and possibly blessing to gay couples in Church.

The secretary general of the worldwide Anglican Communion will also address the synod.

The Most Rev Dr Josiah Atkins Idowu-Fearon will speak for half an hour on the final day of the meeting. The Nigerian bishop has long opposed any change to the Church's ban on same-sex marriage.
Jediism Is Not A Religion, Says Charity Commission

You might have seen Rogue One and decided you'd quite like to be a Jedi, but whatever you put on your census form, it's not a religion.

In 2011, 177,000 people said they were members of the military order with awesome mind-powers, making Jediism the seventh most popular faith in the country. And that represented a sharp drop from 2001, when adherents numbered 390,000.

However, the Charity Commission has rejected an application by the Temple Of The Jedi Order (TOTJO) to grant it charitable status. It said it was "not satisfied that TOTJO is established for exclusively charitable purposes for the advancement of religion and/or the promotion of moral and ethical improvement for the benefit of the public".

In charity law the definition of a religion does not necessarily include belief in God. However, the commission said: "Despite being open to spiritual awareness, there is scope for Jediism and the Jedi Doctrine to be advanced and followed as a secular belief system. Jediism therefore lacks the necessary spiritual or non-secular element."

It also said Jediism was primarily an online phenomenon and that adherents didn't worship together, and that it was not a "sufficiently structured, organised or integrated system of belief to constitute a religion".

Jedi knights and their system of mental discipline drawing on the 'Force' are a feature of the Star Wars film franchise.

On the Jedi Church's website it says the Church believes "there is one all powerful force that binds all things in the universe together. The Jedi religion is something innate inside everyone of us, the Jedi Church believes that our sense of morality is innate. So quiet your mind and listen to the force within you!"

It says all are welcome to the Church: "The Jedi Church recognises that there is one all powerful force that binds all things in the universe together, and accepts people from all walks of life, from all over the universe as members of our religion.
Jesus, Other Christian Statues Smashed, Defaced in Germany; Police Fail to Arrest Anyone

Jesus Christ  or the way he is depicted in statues  is under relentless attack in Germany.

In a bizarre crime wave sweeping the European country, at least 50 statues of Christ and other Christian figures have been defaced and smashed to pieces, reports said.

In one of the vandalised statues, Jesus Christ had its head lopped off, according to Heatstreet. Other statues of Christ and Christian saints have missing limbs or other fragments, while others have their faces bashed.

Many of the defaced and destroyed statues are found in the Munster region in west Germany, which has a dense Muslim population, according to German authorities.

"Not a day goes by" without attacks on religious statues in the town of less than 50,000 people and the immediate surrounding area, Breitbart quoted a newspaper from one town in Munster as saying.

Despite the rampant attacks, not a single culprit has been arrested and charged in court. All that German police officers could tell local media is that they suspect a "religious background" to the crimes and that they were driven by "pure lust for destruction."

The police said they were investigating six men with alleged links to Islamic extremists, but gave up after three left for Syria, one died and the other two dropped off the radar, according to the German tabloid Bild.

The destruction of the statues and the failure of the local police to address the crime wave have dismayed Christian residents in Munster. "We're all very concerned by what is happening, and we're also angry," said Gunther Fehmer, who oversees the town's finances.

Fehmer said the Christian residents of the town will be paying for the statues' repair and replacement, adding that the damage will cost them a "whopping six figure sum."

He said the town is helpless to counter the wave of vandalism. "You can't take these sculptures inside in the evening and you can't watch them all night," he said. "And a video camera in public spaces is also problematic."

This is not the first time religious statues and artefacts have been targeted for destruction in the town. For the past two years. 40 sculptures have been defaced, according to Bild.
Miroslav Volf: You Cannot Follow Christ And Follow Trump

Miroslav Volf has said you cannot be a Christian and follow Trump.

The celebrated Croatian theologian caused consternation with a series of posts on social media condemning Trump's character, policies and vision of the world.

"You can be a conservative or a liberal and a follower of Christ, but it is not possible to be a follower of Trump and a follower of Christ (meaning that to the extent that you agree and seek to advocate with most of what Trump stands for you do not agree and do not advocate what Christ stands for)," he wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

Minutes later he added: "Trump's character: contrary to Jesus' character. Trump's political vision: contrary to Jesus' kingdom. Trump's way: contrary to Jesus' way."

Later in the day he posted: "We should honor Trump (1Pt 2:17). We should pray for Trump. BUT we should not support Trump: We mustn't support what is contrary to the Gospel."

He added: "If you're a Christian, you won't expect POTUS to be Christ, but for his character/political vision at least not to collide with Christ's."

The professor at Yale Divinity School faced a severe backlash for his pointed remarks on social media.

.@MiroslavVolf FWIW I've been very critical of Christians who support Trump...but I still think they are Christians  Kirsten Powers (@KirstenPowers) 17 December 2016

@MiroslavVolf since you publicly supported HRC I'd love to hear you defend how her character was like Jesus and her vision was like Jesus'  Exe-Jesus (@crbates1) 17 December 2016

@MiroslavVolf are you serious!? I voted for Trump because of HRC's abortion position. So, I'm no longer a Christian or never was?  Ken Stephens (@Kstephensjr) 17 December 2016

During the presidential campaign Volf openly backed Hillary Clinton, to the outrage of many conservatives.

In an interview about his new book in October Volf said Clinton was a "more competent" candidate for President, while suggesting the Democratic nominee was, "more in line with the Christian faith than is Donald Trump".

He said: "The best case to be made for Hillary Clinton is that on balance she better represents the convictions and character that should concern Christian citizens. No candidate is perfect."

Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, California, was among a list of prominent Christian leaders to argue a Christian worldview led to him supporting Trump for president.

"I was told if I voted for Trump I needed to open my Bible to find out why it was morally wrong," he posted on Facebook. "So I did, and this is what I found."

Among the top reasons was abortion.

"I found that murder/abortion was wrong, which Clinton approves of even up to the point of delivery. Changing the name from baby to fetus doesn't change reality. It's a baby."
Muslim Group Forces Christians to End Christmas Church Service Preparation in Indonesia

Minority Christians in Indonesia may have to celebrate Christmas quietly this year since Muslim hard-liners in the predominantly Muslim Southeast Asian country remain intolerant of such a celebration.

Last week, a Muslim group forced a church to end their preparation for their Christmas service, the Jakarta Globe reported. Members of a group called Defenders of Ahlus Sunnah (PAS) barged into a building serving as a church in Bandung, West Java on Tuesday last week. They found the members of the church choir practicing their Christmas carols and ordered them to stop singing and leave the building immediately.

The Muslim hard-liners also told the pastor to stop holding religious service inside the facility, saying it's a public building, not a church.

The members of the church reportedly sang "Oh Holy Night" and prayed before leaving the premises.

A church source said the members of the church acceded to the demand of the Muslim group to avoid trouble despite the fact that they have all the required legal permits to hold services in the building.

Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil learned about the incident and apologised to the church on Instagram, pledging to protect their state-mandated religious rights.

Meanwhile in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, the trial of its Christian Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as "Ahok," began last week.

The governor cried as he denied allegations that he insulted Islam, the BBC reported.

Purnama, the first non-Muslim governor of Indonesia's capital in 50 years, is accused of having insulted Islam by misusing a Quranic verse which suggests Muslims should not be ruled by non-Muslims, to boost public support ahead of February's governorship election.

The case is being seen as a test of religious tolerance in Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the worldsome 202.9 million, constituting 87.2 percent of the country's population in 2011.

Defending himself, Purnama said his videotaped comments were aimed at politicians "incorrectly" using a Quranic verse against him, not at the verse itself.

If convicted, he faces a maximum five years in jail. The trial was adjourned until Tuesday, Dec. 20.

In the streets outside court, hundreds of protesters chanted, "Jail Governor Ahok now," shouting, "We must defend Islam from those who insult the holy book."

A smaller group of the governor's supporters were also there. One of them told the BBC that she believes the trial is an attack against all Christians, saying that the country's founding principles of unity and diversity were being tested.
Muslim Refugees In Britain See Jesus In Their Dreams - Convert And Spend First Christmas As Christians

Every person in this nativity tableau bar one is spending their first Christmas as a Christian.

And two of them, a shepherd and an angel, were baptised at the very service in which they performed this nativity, to the music of a Christian version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

They are truly men and women from the East, being born again in a stable.

Their miraculous stories are among the remarkable events that have been taking place this year at St Mark's, part of the Hanley team ministry in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, which has seen more than 50 Muslims convert to Christianity in one year alone.

The vicar, Rev Sally Smith, compares the church as it was to a pool - one that was even a little bit stagnant. Then the Home Office began settling dozens of asylum seekers and refugees in this part of Stoke-on-Trent, where there is a vibrant Muslim community.

Now, she says, the church has grown from about 12 to 50 people or more. People leave as they move to join relatives in other cities and towns - and they are constantly being replaced. She likens it now to a living river of faith. Eight in ten of the congregation now are converts from Islam.

Smith set up a drop-in centre, Sanctus, to help welcome the newcomers, mainly from Iraq and Iran. Many are referred there by agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Sanctus, based in the church, being sensitive to the surrounding Muslim community, explicitly does not proselytise. It is now a social enterprise and reliant on donations. Smith is looking for ways to make it more financially independent.

"I am very open about the fact that we are not here to convert people. I say to volunteers, leave your religion outside the door," said Smith.

Nevertheless, many Muslims do convert, moved to do so by the warmth of the welcome and worship at St Mark's and Sanctus.

One of the new converts acts as her translator, rendering her sermons each Sunday into Farsi for the Iranians.

Often destitute and arriving in Britain having lost absolutely everything and after going through desperate struggles and sufferings, they are moved by the kindness of the Christians, said Smith.

They respond to the sense of becoming part of a family.

"We say everybody is welcome. We worship one God. What we do in church, we do in the name of Jesus. Sanctus is for people of all faith and none, it does not proselytise."

At least two of the converts came to Christ as a result of dreams.

Smith told Christian Today: "One man, Hassan, had a dream. In this dream, Jesus came to him as a light. He told him to come to this church and be baptised. He knew it was the Lord who had wrapped himself around him.

"Another man saw Jesus in a dream and he was shown a picture of this very church.

"So many supernatural or mystic experiences seem to be happening. It is wonderful to be part of. It is all quite messy, we are not organised at all.

On the day of the nativity tableau, there were seven baptisms of converts from Islam. And in this church, that is not unusual. Some of the recent baptisms will feature in Songs of Praise on BBC television to be broadcast next month.
Myanmar Accused Of 'Crimes Against Humanity' In Violence To Muslim Minority

Myanmar's military have been accused of committing "crimes against humanity" after their treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority.

Amnesty International's latest report on Monday accuses the mainly Buddhist Burmese forces of murder, rape, torture and looting in the northern Muslim-majority state of Rakhine.

Myanmar's military have denied the allegations and said it is merely fighting terrorists.

But the 'We are at breaking point' report by the human rights charity documents a "campaign of violence" against the persecuted Muslim minority.

"Soldiers and police have randomly fired on and killed civilians, raped women and girls, torched whole villages and arbitrarily arrested Rohingya men without any information about their whereabouts or charges," the report's summary read.

"These actions have been a form of collective punishment targeting Rohingya in northern Rakhine state, and may amount to crimes against humanity."

The report comes after a separate UN official said Myanmar was conducting "ethnic cleansing" against the Rohingya.

Amnesty said at least 27,000 have fled to neighboring Bangladesh since October, putting the already impoverished country under heavy strain.

But many refugees are also turned away at the border, the report said.

The Rohingya are largely seen as illegal immigrants in the Buddhist-majority Myanmar, also called Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the country's first credible elections in 25 years in 2015, has defended the actions of her army. She has accused the international community of stoking resentment by highlighting the issue.

The report comes at the same time as a highly unusual meeting of Asean, the 10-nation regional body representing South East Asia, in Yangon.

In a rare move the body will discuss affairs in Myanmar after months of criticism over the violence.
Nigerian Muslim Woman Donates Food To Christian Widows For Christmas

A Nigerian Muslim woman's kindness will help more than 50 Christian widows enjoy Christmas this year.

In a show of inspirational cross-faith generosity, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani donated bags of rice to the families and widows of men who had died at a church in the north western state of Kaduna.

The region has been subject to many attacks, primarily from Islamist Fulani herdsman on Christian communities.

But Tijjiani said her offering was part of efforts to strengthen peaceful relations between the two groups.

She gave the food to vulnerable families at the Christ Evangelical Ministry, Sabon Tasha, according to Pulse.

Tijjani said the gift was inspired by Pastor Yohanna Buru, leader of Christ Evangelical Church Ministry, for consistently giving out food and water to refugees and prison inmates during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan in recent years.

Buru would cook food and hand out drinks to the poor while his Muslim neighbours fasted, said Tijjani.

She said Buru's attitude prompted her to start her own initiative in response.

Northern Nigeria has been struck by repeated conflicts between Muslim and Christians as Boko Haram's insurgency was forced into retreat by the Nigerian army. The ISIS-linked terror group has continued to sporadically target villages and market places with suicide attacks.

More than 2,000 women and girls have been abducted by the militant group and forced into sexual slavery or trained to become bombers.

Many have now been freed but face shame or stigma as "Boko Haram wives" if they return to their own towns.

"We would prefer that they are taken away from the community and this country because the stigmatization is going to affect them for the rest of their lives," said the chairman of the Chibok Development Association Pogu Bitrus.

"Even someone believed to have been abused by Boko Haram would be seen in a bad light."
Oscar Romero's Aide Guilty Of Child Sex Abuse, Vatican Inquiry Concludes

Three Catholic priests from San Salvador have been removed from the priesthood after being found guilty of sexual abuse.

The Archbishop of San Salvador, Jose Luis Escobar, confirmed that the well-known clergy Jesus Delgado, Francisco Galvez and Antonio Molina have been laicised, "totally and definitively" losing all priestly functions, La Prensa reports.

"From now on, they can not exercise any office or priestly function according to canon 292 of the Code of Canon Law. These resolutions of the Holy See have already been communicated respectively to each of the aforementioned priests.

"We have also communicated it to the victims, to each one of the cases respectively, and today we make it known to all," said Archbishop Escobar.

Jesus Delgado was removed last year from his post as third in command of the Catholic Church of El Salvador.

He was the country's first priest to be suspended for child sex abuse.

His accuser was a woman, now aged 43, who reported that she had been abused by Delgado when she was aged between nine and 17 in the 1980s.

There cannot be a civil prosecution because the time limit has passed on the cases. Delgado has indicated he is willing to meet his victim to ask for forgiveness.

Galvez was suspended as parish priest of Nuestra Senora del Rosario church in Rosario de Mora, San Salvador, also for having sexually abused children. Molina, removed from his post at Santa Cruz de Rome in Panchimalco, was denounced twice for for sexual abuse against minors more than 20 years ago.

Archbishop Escobar said the main concern was for the good of the children and the girls.

He said the Church had to be like "a loving mother" - as Pope Francis said, in favor of the small, the weakest. The Church had to be with the victims. And there had to be zero tolerance in these cases. The depositions of the priests were a step forward, he said.

"I hope there is a mature attitude on the part of all to see the goodness of this situation, because after all, the Church acts like this for the good of all."

There are currently no other cases pending in El Salvador, whose most famous Archbishop was the martyr Oscar Romero, beatified last year. Delgado, 77, was Romero's private secretary and biographer.

"But we are open for any denunciation and follow-up. We are in total harmony with the pope's feeling of zero tolerance over this," said Archbishop Escobar.
Scott Pruitt Is 'Not A Climate Change Denier' But Just Wants Ongoing Debate, Say Christian Evangelical Backers

Evangelical leaders stood their ground against scientists with a warm letter sent to President-elect Donald Trump welcoming his choice of climate change sceptic Scott Pruitt to head the Environment Protection Agency.

Signatories include Danny Akin, president of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Albert Mohler, president, of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

The 48 evangelical, mostly Southern Baptists, insist Pruitt is well qualified to lead the agency and that he deserves "the full support of the United States Senate".

Pruitt, attorney general in Oklahoma and a deacon at First Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma as well as a trustee of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is not a climate change denier, the evangelical leaders state. Instead, he wants continuing debate.

The letter, published by Baptist Press, was released after the choice of Pruitt was criticised by scientists.

Quoting the psalms, the letter states: "We are evangelical Christians who are committed to a proper stewardship of all creation, driven by our knowledge that 'the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof'. We believe that every human being is called to this stewardship, and we believe that our Christian responsibility is to bear witness to the truth that God created the cosmos for His own glory and that He created human beings in His own image, bearing responsibility to advance human flourishing through many forms of human activity, from agriculture and enterprise to technology and innovation."

The evangelicals reject "any ideology that sees human beings as a blight upon the planet" and that would "harm human flourishing" by restricting or preventing rightful use and enjoyment of creation.

"We do not deny the existence of climate change nor the urgency of this concern," the evangelicals say. "We affirm an ongoing debate on the proper balance between the unleashing of human enterprise and the protection of creation. We call for justice, righteousness, and compassion in every dimension of our national life, including our government.

"We believe that Attorney General Pruitt has been misrepresented as denying 'settled science', when he has actually called for a continuing debate. This is in the very best tradition of science."

Pruitt was announced as Trump's choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency earlier this month. According to Washington Post, the move represented an assault on President Obama's climate change legacy. As attorney general, Pruitt has until now found himself mainly on the opposing side to the agency.

A press release from the Presidential Transition Team made it clear there will be a change of direction and Pruitt's combative approach would continue.

Pruitt pledged to move America toward energy independence, create millions of new jobs and protect clean air and water, as well as to "rescind all job-destroying executive actions and eliminate all barriers to responsible energy production."

This would create at least a half million jobs each year and produce $30 billion in higher wages, he promised.

But scientists were outspoken in their criticism.

America's largest environmental organisation, the Sierra Club, said: "Having Scott Pruitt in charge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is like putting an arsonist in charge of fighting fires. He is a climate science denier who, as Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma, regularly conspired with the fossil fuel industry to attack EPA protections.

"Nothing less than our children's health is at stake. Scott Pruitt, whose own bio describes him as 'a leading advocate against the EPA's activist agenda' cannot be trusted to head the EPA, an agency charged with protecting all Americans from threats to their water, air, and health. We strongly urge Senators, who are elected to represent and protect the American people, to stand up for families across the nation and oppose this nomination."
Single Adults Now Outnumber Married Ones in U.S. as Fewer Millennials Marry and Go to Church, Speaker Says

Marriage between man and woman today "is becoming extinct."

That was the view shared by Jennifer Murff of Millennials for Marriage at a recent speech to an audience of young people from various countries who attended a conference promoting marriage and families in Beverly, Massachusetts, CBN News reported.

Because fewer millennial couples are marrying, for the first time in U.S. history, single adults now outnumber married ones, she revealed.

"25 percent of Millennials do not get married at all," Murff said. "They don't want to get married. They've said 'this is not for me.'"

Why?

One reason cited by young adults is the fear of trauma caused by divorce as they've seen in their community, even in their own home, some with their own parents.

"They're concerned and hesitant to jump into a relationship because they don't want to see that same kind of pain and heartbreak in their own lives," Josh Craddock of Personhood U.S.A. told CBN News.

However, not all millennials share this view. Josh Hester of Beverly, Massachusetts is one of them.

"I was not one of the statistics," said Hester, who got married at 22. He said many millennials simply feel they need "to achieve something before getting married."

Dallin Leota of New Zealand, just like Hester, is also "not one of the statistics."

"I really feel that my life truly began when I got married. I was able to see a whole new perspective about life, about the value of life, especially when my son came along as well," Leota said.

"The importance of family, the importance of marriage, between a man and a woman, and the importance of having our children, and raising them in the way that we know best, that God has given usthis is the plan that the Lord wanted for us to experience," he elaborated.

But the problem, according to CBN News, is that it's hard to convince people of that plan if they don't regularly hear it or see it in action in their community and in their church.

But how can millennials see or hear it when many of them don't go to church? According to the Pew Research Center, only 28 percent of millennials attend weekly services.

Hester, who often leads worship at his church, said he feels one of the reasons for this is that a lot of millennials "have seen a lot of the hypocrisy of the church" and that they "are just fed up with it."

He said times have changed and new ways to reach out to young people need to be explored.

"The way that they need to be reached, the way that they engage with culture and society isn't the way the older or other generations do it," he said.

The problem is that instead of trying to reach a compromise with the young people, the older generations tend to shun them, especially since these millennials are now more often accepting of gay marriage, premarital sex and even abortionthings that are non-negotiable for many adult churchgoers.

"They just leave the church because of that," Hester said.
Why Is Christmas Missing From John's Gospel?

Most of us are familiar with the opening to John's Gospel: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God..." It's inspirational stuff, pointing to the fact that Jesus, the Word, the Son of God, is fully God. He has always existed, he was involved in creation and, amazingly, he came and lived among us. For the Christian, this prologue is one of the deepest and most meaningful passages of the Bible.

But there is also something strange about it. There is no manger, no star, no wise men, and no angels. In fact, there are none of the familiar Christmas themes at all. John manages to introduce Jesus without making any reference to the amazing events of the first Christmas. Why would he do that?

The first thing to notice is that John isn't the only Gospel writer to miss out Christmas. Mark's Gospel starts right at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and makes no mention of his birth or childhood. However, this is easy to understand. Mark was the first of the Gospels to be written and it doesn't go into much detail at any point. It's as if Mark was trying to get the essential things written down, perhaps knowing that others would come along and fill in the details later. John's Gospel, on the other hand, was the last of the four to be written and is more reflective than the other three, dwelling on the significance of events in a way that the others don't.

Some people suggest that John didn't include the Christmas story because he didn't know about it. The idea is that the details of Jesus' birth were embellished by the first Christians to give support to their claim that he was the Messiah. John, who lived a long way from Jerusalem, wasn't aware of these embellishments, so they didn't find their way into his Gospel.

However, there is another explanation. The first thing to note is that John admits he didn't give all the details of Jesus' life. There was much more that could have been written if he'd had the space (John 21:25). So John doesn't tell us anything about Jesus birth and childhood, but despite that he drops a couple of hints along the way.

Toward the end of the first chapter of John, Philip tells his friend Nathanael about Jesus, who he calls "Jesus of Nazareth". To which Nathanael replies: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" John just drops Jesus hometown into the story without a word of introduction. The best explanation is that John expected his readers to know already where Jesus came from.

Moving on to Chapter 7, there is an intriguing incident where people are arguing about whether or not Jesus is the Messiah. In 7:42, people say that Jesus can't be the Messiah because he comes from Galilee, not from Bethlehem, the city of David. Just think about this for a moment. If John and his readers did not know the Christmas story  the story of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem  this incident would prove that Jesus wasn't the Messiah. If Jesus had been born in Nazareth or Capernaum, he would have been an imposter. But as we know and John and his original readers must have known, Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

John didn't retell the Christmas story or give any details about Jesus' childhood, but he clearly expected that his readers would know enough to fill in the missing details for themselves. There is no Christmas story in John's Gospel, because Matthew and Luke had already said what needed to be said; leaving John free to write his amazing poetic introduction to the Messiah.

Eddie Arthur is director of strategic initiatives for Global Connections, a network of UK agencies, churches, colleges and support services that seeks to serve, equip and develop churches in their mission.
Meet the curator of the best watch collection in the world

Dr. Peter Friess, Director and Curator of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, talks to Christies John Reardon about his lifelong love of watchmaking, an early encounter with Steve Jobs and the art of strategic collecting

John Reardon: What is it like to work for Patek Philippe? Dr. Peter Friess: Working for Patek Philippe is, simply put, the perfect job for somebody with my interests. It is an honour to work for a manufacturer whose watches tick on the wrists of the worlds most famous people, and it's truly inspiring to be part of a company that employs the smartest people in their field. If you stroll through the workshops where the watches are individually made you cant help but feel the passion and the knowledge of the craftsmen. They match skills grounded in hundreds of years of watchmaking with todays technology to build watches  or, better said, pieces of art  for the next generation. JR: What's the best part of your job? PF: The best part for me is to explore the history of our timepieces. It is a joy for me to weave our watches into stories that bring them alive for our visitors. Each watch plays a major role in the 500-year history of the portable timekeeper. Our collections include priceless historical timepieces (1530 to 1850), watches made by Patek Philippe (1839 to 2000), and enamelled paintings showing portraits of famous people, not to mention one of the premier horological libraries in the world. It is a tremendous advantage to have the owners full support to acquire watches at auctions and from world-famous collectors, which enables us to fill gaps in our collection. To have the resources to publish comprehensive catalogues in gorgeous colour is the icing on the cake. Its a curators dream.

Open a larger version of this image When he arrives for work Dr. Peter Friess takes a walk through the Patek Philippe collection for the sheer pleasure of it all

JR: In the beginning, what brought you to the world of watches? PF: I come from a family of watchmakers and, as a child, I loved taking apart my toys  sometimes even putting them back together! There was never a question of what I would become. When I was an apprentice watchmaker, the guild organised an excursion to the Bavarian National Museum in Munich. At the end of his tour, the curator, Dr. Klaus Maurice, asked if anyone was interested in working on an exhibition his museum was then preparing. I raised my hand and got a six-month contract  a contract that launched me on my lifes work. Working in and for museums around the world became my passion  one that sustained me for more than 30 years. I started out as a conservator of watches and clocks, then got trained as a historian, and eventually became a manager and museum director. JR: Your curatorial work brought you to the U.S., first to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and then to the Getty Museum in Malibu and The Tech Museum of Innovation in Silicon Valley, California. PF: At the Getty I was part of a team tasked to catalogue its clock collection. I had a fantastic time in Los Angeles, working in the villa of J. Paul Getty himself with all the other curators and conservators working on the project. What a joy it was to take these pieces apart and examine them for as long and as closely as we wanted. After finishing my Ph.D. in art history the great Deutsches Museum in Munich gave me the rare opportunity to build a satellite museum for it in Bonn, which was then still the capital of Germany. Some years later I was recruited by some of the founders of Silicon Valley to direct and reorganise The Tech Museum of Innovation. Running a museum is a big, complicated business in todays media-driven world, requiring more than just curatorial skills. I was on a very fast learning curve. I was much inspired by American museum professionals, especially colleagues in the field in Silicon Valley.

I showed [Steve Jobs] how to take a watch apart. It was a day that I will never forget

JR: With your background, you seem a natural fit for the Patek Philippe Museum. How do you use todays technology as a tool to educate about technology from the past? PF: Watches are extremely complex devices, and difficult to display since you only see one aspect  its almost a black box to the uninitiated. Do you want to focus on the dial, or the case, or the movement? You cant focus on them all. Thankfully, we now have technology available to enrich the experience of the museum visitor. Smartphones and tablets allow us to show a watch from all angles, to focus in, for instance, on enamel paintings that many of the old ones have; on the movement; and on its various functions. We can create animations of the escapement; we can show how the automatons go through their motions; we can provide sound; and we can explain it all by audio. There are now so many opportunities we just never had before, and we use all of them to make the visit an emotional experience for our visitors, from technical experts to aficionados  even for the young generation. JR: How does your day at the museum begin? PF: When I arrive in the morning, I usually stop the elevator on the first floor to take a walk through the Patek Philippe collection for the sheer pleasure of it all. Even after three years, I never tire of doing this. These contemplative moments in the morning pique my imagination and give me the energy to manage the day.

Open a larger version of this image Dr. Friess inspects a watch made by Breguet, acquired from Christies in 2016

JR: Can you explain your deep interest in computers? PF: The interplay of the parts in an analogue watch movement has almost the same precision as a digital computer  errors in the programme or in the wheel-work can have fatal consequences. Computers are a blessing for creating a powerful visitor experience. Fortunately I was born at just the right time to benefit from this revolutionary technology. In 1980, I already owned my first laptop computer, and I have to admit I really enjoy programming. The first time I made use of this computing power was at the Bavarian National Museum in order to compare various types of Swiss watches. I took them apart, measured them, counted their teeth, etc, then put the data into a computer file and wrote a programme that created a cross section of its mechanics. I achieved good results. By comparing a few hundred movements, I was able to attribute unsigned 18th-century watch movements to particular watchmakers  based not on guess-work but on hard facts. In 1982, when I wanted to have a more powerful computer, I called Apple, when the company was still in its early stages. Two days later, Steve Jobs dropped by at my workshop at the Deutsches Museum in Munich.



There are a number of watches on my list still remaining to be found

JR: To visit you personally? PF: Yes. He came with two Macintosh Plus computers and said, Peter, here is one for your interesting work, and there is one for the director general. We spent some time at the bench and I showed him how to take a watch apart. It was a day I will never forget.

Open a larger version of this image A pocket watch by Piguet & Meylan recently bought at Christies. The motif is based on a painting by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, which Dr. Friess stands in front of at the Museum of Art and History in Geneva

JR: What do you consider the Mona Lisa of the Patek Philippe collection? PF: If I ever dared to elevate one of our almost 3,000 pieces on display to the level of the Mona Lisa, all of the others would protest by ticking as loudly as they could to insist that they are equally as important! Honestly, every piece in our collection is part of a bigger story, and we depend on all of them at some point. JR: What do you want the experience to be for first-time visitors? PF: First of all, to better understand the concept of time. Secondly, to get an idea about the emergence of the portable timekeeper in Europe over the last 500 years. And last but not least, to get a feeling for Patek Philippe, the company which creates the best and most interesting mechanical watches in the world. JR: How many visitors do you have in a given year? PF: Right now we greet around 50,000 visitors a year, which is just about the right number to enjoy the visit  enough not to feel lonely, and not too many, to allow room and time to contemplate and savour these beautiful objects.

Open a larger version of this image Dr. Friess inspects some of the many rare pieces on display from the Stern Collection

JR: What is the holy grail of watch collecting? What is the one elusive piece, Patek Philippe or non-Patek Philippe, that youve been searching for? PF: When we were trying to explain the evolution of the perpetual calendar, a complication you find in many Patek Philippe watches, we found we were missing important historical pieces in the line of development. For quite a while we scanned the world market, and, lo and behold, just recently we discovered the critical missing piece: a pocket watch made in 1762 by Thomas Mudge, which had the first perpetual calendar ever made for a portable timekeeper. I call this strategic collecting, and there are a number of watches on my list still remaining to be found. JR: Many people are surprised to learn that the museum is not actively buying Patek Philippe watches for its collection at international auctions. In fact, youre looking for pieces that are important historical firsts  pieces that pre-date Patek Philippes founding in 1839. Are there any examples you can tell us about? PF: We acquire important pieces for the Patek Philippe collection from time to time, although perhaps not as often as we used to, since our collection is already quite complete. As a company, we dont want to be seen as pushing up prices for vintage Patek Philippe watches. At this high level it is probably wiser to be modest and, for the sake of all collectors, not to interfere in the market. For our collection of historical non-Patek Philippe watches we recently acquired a pocket watch made by Piguet & Meylan, featuring two barking dogs, an automaton on the front dial, bought from Christies. This motif is based on a painting by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, which is part of the Museum of Art and History here in Geneva.

Its an honour, a pleasure, and a high responsibility to work with the founder of a collection of this magnitude

JR: It sounds as though your job is like being a part-time treasure hunter. Does it ever feel like that? PF: I have a clear idea of what I would like to suggest to Mr. Philippe Stern for acquisition. Over the past few years Ive developed a huge network of watch people. So, in addition to buying through auctions, I now have access to private collections that I didnt know about before, and we sometimes acquire very interesting pieces that way. JR: The museum has assembled the most important horological library in the world. How is this library used by you and horological scholars around the world today? PF: The library is an essential part of our museum. We could never have published our catalogues as quickly and efficiently as we have if we didnt have it at hand. I only need to travel 10 metres to have the key books by the most important authors in my hands. Its extremely convenient, and a huge asset and resource. When we get requests, we have the option of opening our shelves, even the books in my office, to researchers. Theyre always impressed.

Open a larger version of this image Peter Friess with Philippe Stern, Honorary President of Patek Philippe, whose personal collection of watches housed in the museum is widely regarded as the finest in the world

JR: Many people believe the museum collection is Patek Philippes corporate collection, which I understand is not true. These watches are Mr. Philippe Sterns personal collection, and it continues to grow. PF: For a curator, its an honour, a pleasure, and a high responsibility to work with the founder of a collection of this magnitude, one regarded as the best collection of watches in the world. Adding new pieces to it, organising it, and keeping it alive is a huge privilege. JR: Mr. Philippe Stern, in my opinion, embodies the spirit of what collecting is all about  searching for the best and the finest, and using informed academics and trusted partners to find these timepieces. Are there any comments youd like to add about Mr. Philippe Sterns collecting life or collecting philosophy in respect to the museum?

Open a larger version of this image Dr. Friess with a copy of The Emergence of the Portable Watch, the catalogue of the Patek Philippe Museum

PF: The museum has several purposes that distinguish it from any other museum I know of. First of all, the Patek Philippe Museum is a keystone institution within the cultural infrastructure of Geneva, since there is no other museum for watches in this capital of watch manufacturing. Philippe Stern has done something very significant with this collection over the last 35 years, an endeavour started by his father Henry Stern and which Philippes son Thierry Stern will carry forward. Secondly, the museum provides an extensive overview of watches from 1500  when Leonardo da Vinci first introduced the concept of the mainspring for driving the watch mechanism, and replaced the weights to make the watch a wearable device  up to the present. Thirdly, the museum is a crucial reference resource for the people who work at Patek Philippe  for the designers of the cases, the watchmakers who create the Patek Philippe watches of tomorrow, our sales forces who need this knowledge to sell Patek Philippe watches worldwide in our salons and stores. And, finally, for all of us at Patek Philippe, it provides the foundations for our corporate culture. JR: What is it you hope people who visit the museum will take away with them? PF: The beautiful designs of the watch cases (you have to know I was trained as an art historian). The multitude of ways in which time can be indicated on a dial. And a passion for the mechanical watch in our digital age. Of course, it is important that our visitors come away with a new appreciation of the many dimensions of value a watch from Patek Philippe has. JR: You recently completed the catalogues of the Patek Philippe Museum pre-1839 collection, which are already considered to be some of the most important horological books ever to be published, and The Emergence of the Portable Watch, a survey of the development of timekeeping from 1500 until the early 1800s. What did you find most surprising when undertaking this project? JR: I have worked on many books before, but producing two volumes and an index on 1,093 watches in just two years was an especially challenging undertaking. The project needed to be attacked strategically, requiring a top team and a carefully coordinated approach. I realised that very quickly, otherwise it could easily have taken five or 10 years. I am also happy to admit that I stood on the shoulders of illustrious predecessors. JR: How much do the volumes weigh? PF: We used top grade paper and there are 1,381 pages, so it ended up weighing, I think, 11 kilograms. We wanted to show collectors not just the front of the watch, as most conventional catalogues do. With an enamelled piece, for example, we would photograph all the beautiful miniature paintings it contains, which could be as many as six. The book has 4,204 photographs. All the watches had to be taken apart, partially cleaned and prepared for the photographers, with watchmakers always present. Photographing all the watches was in itself a two-year process. JR: Patek Philippe celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Nautilus watch this year. How do you think the Nautilus will be recognised at 100 years old, given your understanding of watch design evolution over the past 500 years? PF: The Nautilus is an iconic piece. It was developed as Patek Philippe started to brand the company with a very specific design. It was not alone  branding was pursued by most watch companies at the time. I consider the Nautilus a top piece of the genre  it is a piece of art, pure and simple. It is a milestone in the design history of watches. I know that sounds like a bold statement, but I think this watch has what it takes to be seen as a turning point in design, even 100 years from now.

Open a larger version of this image Jacob Auch, circa 1790, Heliocentric Planetarium with Calendar dial Open a larger version of this image Planetarium with Calendar
President-elect Donald Trump's pick for the Department of Housing and Urban Development secretary has strong feelings about affordable housing.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson expressed his feelings in this 2015 opinion piece. His words are relative to Houston, where there's been a heated debate over where the city should build affordable housing.
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"Global soul" is the term chef/co-owners Ross Coleman and James Haywood use to describe the multi-cultural fare at their Kitchen 713 restaurant.

And if the definition means embracing flavors such a Szechuan peppercorns, Thai chiles, and Ethiopian spices across a spectrum of Mexican, Italian, Cajun, and Asian cuisines, then they got it right.

"It's the culture of Houston," Coleman said of the style of cooking he and Haywood have forged. "We try to bring it all together. It's not fusion at all. It's just good food."

The dining public will get to decide that for itself when Kitchen 713 opens on Dec. 26 in a new, larger location at 4601 Washington (for former TQLA and Commonwealth space). They simply outgrew the space and managed to find new digs in a primo spot on the busy Washington corridor.

The new home is a huge jump from 713's previous space at 4515 Canal in the Second Ward, a 33-seat eatery that didn't serve beer, wine, or alcohol. Now the chefs have 220 seats to fill and a huge bar with a full liquor license.

If they're worried about the enormity of the project where they'll get to spread their wings with a larger menu, they're not showing it.

"It's a dream come true," Haywood said. "We've been inspired to get here for a long time."

The initial menu, still being tweaked, includes starters such as Szechuan ribs with peppercorns, garlic, ginger, and chile oil; Thai fried chicken with sweet plantain chile dip, sticky rice and Thai hot sauce; Ethiopean beef tartar flavred with cardamom and served with fermented greens and crispy injera bread; mezcal plank roasted langoustines with pipian verde and habanero sauce; ceviche flavored with kumquat, lime, chile, and coconut; and cured egg ravioli with crispy Brussels sprouts served on chicken consomme. Salad options include fritto misto Caesar salad; grilled beef and glass noodle salad with fish sauce vinaigrette, and fig and chicory salad with candy cane beets, blue cheese and port vinaigrette.

Small plate options include shrimp over poblano and cheddar grits with tasso; pork trotter with ricotta gnudi; seared scallops with crispy celeriac and broccoli rabe; Ethiopian fish stew with charred okra and boiled egg; and wagyu hanger steak with mushroom Bordelaise, crispy leeks and horseradish whipped tofu.

For larger appetites, the chefs are planning to served whole fried fish with smoked tomato-tamarind butter; black vinegar braised oxtail with black-eyed pea fried rice; Spaghetti with "big boy meat sauce" (short ribs, hot Italian sausage and veal meatballs); berbere roasted lamb chops with pumpkin gnocchi; and smoked adobo pork chop with roasted sweet potato, apples, goat cheese, and watercress.

If it sounds like a wild ride, that's just what the co-chefs intend.

"The old 713 was a canvas to explore what it was all about," Haywood said. "This is a bigger canvas that allows us to paint a bigger picture."

Coleman said preparing for the new restaurant has been both scary and exciting. But, he added, "We're going to work our tails off to pump up the food."

In a two-star review in January 2016, Houston Chronicle restaurant critic Alison Cook called the restaurant a "big-hearted magic carpet ride" where the chefs have "They've combined their rootsy Southern soul influences with everything that modern Houston offers: the dizzying array of Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean cuisines in Bellaire Boulevard's Asiatown; the deep local penchant for the flavors of next-door Louisiana; the heat and earthiness of our beloved Mexican influences; and the invigorating sawtooth of our treasured cowboy woodsmoke."

Even the restaurant's new cocktail menu is invested with the chefs' sense of global outreach. One drink, which could become the house signature, was inspired by Haywood's love for Szechuan cuisine. His cocktail creation, called Fragmented Glory, is made with Szechuan peppercorn-infused tequila, mezcal, and a house-made cordial of herbs and aromatics. It is served with drops of Szechuan oil across the surface of the drink.
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A Texas Southern University student accused of fatally stabbing his mother broke down at the sight of his family in court Monday.

Blake Jefferson, 22, was arrested Friday on a charge of murder, accused of killing Dedre Jefferson.

As he was led out of a holding cell into the courtroom of state District Judge Jeannine Barr, Jefferson, handcuffed and wearing an orange jail uniform, sobbed and doubled over when he saw family members sitting in the gallery.

ORIGINAL STORY: Alief ISD mourns trustee stabbed to death, allegedly by her son

After a brief hearing in which the judge read Jefferson his legal rights and he was uncuffed to sign a document, Jefferson put his hand over his heart and cried as he tried to mouth words to his family.

As bailiffs led him out of the courtroom to a holding cell, he wailed and doubled over in tears again.

Neither his attorney, nor family, spoke to reporters as they left the courtroom.

Jefferson is accused of stabbing his mother in the west Harris County townhouse they shared, according to authorities.

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On Friday, friends and family said the allegations were a surprise because Jefferson had never been in trouble with the law. He had been acting strangely in the days leading up to the incident and had asked for help, according to police and the family's pastor.

Jefferson's estranged stepfather said the accused killer had contacted him and begged to meet up to talk. They had agreed to meet Saturday.

The 48-year-old victim was an alumna of Alief ISD's Elsik High School. She taught in the district for nearly 20 years before winning election last year to the board of trustees, where she was vice president.

The school district announced it would hold a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Monday in the Alief ISD administration parking lot, at 4250 Cook Road.
Enrollment in two- and four-year degree programs declined 1.4 percent this semester from last falls figures, a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found. The trend has accompanied a strengthening economy, demographic shifts and higher scrutiny on the for-profit sector.

Texas universities and colleges outperformed the national statistics: Though the total student population declined about .8 percent to 1.46 million students in the state from fall 2015, that figure is slightly up from 2014s fall tally, about 1.44 million students.

Tracking enrollment is important because universities depend on consistent tuition revenue to balance a budget and plan future spending.

More than 19 million people are enrolled in all institutions nationwide, but fewer adult students are pursuing additional degrees, and the number of high-school graduates is stagnating, said Doug Shapiro, the NSCs executive research director.

These forces show no signs of slowing and will continue to challenge institutions in their planning, Shapiro said in a statement.

Universities around Houston have said they aim to lift enrollment as they depend on tuition revenue for stable budgets.

At the University of Houston-Downtown, enrollment stagnated between 2012 and 2013 as regents approved admissions standards for incoming students in an effort to grow retention and graduation rates. In a recent strategic plan, administrators said they wanted to lift enrollment to about 18,000 students. That figure is now 14,251.

UH-Downtown wants to suggest to applicants that it is a serious place to come to with its admissions standards, said interim President Michael Olivas in a recent interview. The university has worked on strengthening its enrollment in an aggressive, prayerful way, he said.

Most recently, UH-Downtown signed a partnership with Houston Community College in which new HCC students can commit to continuing their education at UH-Downtown after graduation. Administrators will outline different degree paths between the two institutions, too, and UH-Downtown advisers will spend time at HCC campuses.

Texas Southern University signed a memorandum of understanding with HCC earlier this fall, too, focusing on easing the transfer process.

TSUs student body is about 25 percent smaller than it was in 2005, and Austin Lane, the universitys new president, has said that he wants to deepen relationships with Houston public schools and local community colleges to grow enrollment at the Third Ward campus.

Lane set a high goal of enrolling 15,000 students by 2020, up from roughly 8,900 now.

Four-year public universities like UH-Downtown and TSU had a .2 percent year-over-year enrollment increase for the fall semester nationwide. Two-year public colleges lost 2.6 percent of their students, and four-year for-profit universities lost 14.5 percent of students.

A potential bright spot for these universities? Earlier this month, the NSC found that 54.8 percent of students completed college in six years, 1.9 percentage points higher than those who began college in fall 2009. The group attributed the increase, in part, to slower enrollment growth, which can ease overcrowded classrooms.
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The Houston Zoo offers trips that focus on wildlife through the Travel with the Zoo program.

The zoo's travel program promises an "adventure of a lifetime," with trips such as Yellowstone National Park in both winter and spring, the Great Sandhill Crane Migration and Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

"We wanted to take our public into the wild to see how the zoo is protecting the counterparts of the animals they see on grounds, in the wild. We partner with biologists from the area where ever we go so we also wanted to give public specialized wildlife focused trips," said Renee Bumpus, senior director of wildlife conservation programs.

Trips to locations like Yellowstone and Galapagos Island are offered each year, but other trips change from year to year.

"We try to go with locations that align with our zoo's programs and animals," Bumpus said.

According to Bumpus, some highlights of this year's trips include: meeting up with wolf researchers in Yellowstone, witnessing the biggest migration in North America, traveling with the zoo's head veterinarian to the Galapagos Islands, who has assisted with saving Galapagos tortoises for the past 20 years, and trekking through the forest to see wild gorillas.

"We work with partners to ensure we have the best wildlife experience possible. We arrange times to meet with local researchers [during the trips]," Bumpus said.

The first trip offered in 2017 is "Wildlife and Landscapes: Greater Yellowstone in Winter."

The trip is Feb. 2-8, and is $3,899 based on double occupancy. The price of airfare is not included. The maximum capacity of this trip is 14 travelers.

According to the itinerary listed on the zoo's website, "This trip offers the best wolf and bear viewing opportunities in the country. This program is a must if you are a wolf enthusiast or are just curious about large predators."

Travelers will fly into Bozeman, Montana, and from there travel toward Mammoth Hot Springs and through the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone. There will be opportunities to see wolves, elk, bald eagles, bison and more. Travelers will get a chance to see Old Faithful, Yellowstone's famous geyser.

After Yellowstone, it is onward to Grand Teton National Park with stops at West Thumb Geyser Basin and the Snake River Basin. There will be a chance to see animals such as moose, river otters and trumpeter swans.

The trip ends in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with a visit to the National Museum of Wildlife Art and more time to search for wildlife. Guests can choose to add on more days to stay in Jackson Hole.

Other trips later on in the spring include:

"The Great Sandhill Crane Migration," March 13-15. Cost is $785 per person and the maximum capacity of the trip is 14 travelers.

Travelers will visit a section of the Platte River in Nebraska to witness an estimated 500,000 cranes come to rest and feed before continuing on north. Travelers will stay at the Crane Trust's Wild Rose Ranch which is located on 4,500 continuous acres of native grassland prairie and wet meadows that are owned and managed by the Crane Trust. There will be time to watch the cranes from blinds, as well as nature hikes.

"Masai Mara and Mountain Gorillas," May 13-21 and May 20-28. Cost of the trip is $8,999 per person based on double occupancy.

Guests will visit Masai Mara, which is a large game reserve in Kenya, and have the opportunity to track endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

For more trips and to see full itineraries, visit www.houstonzoo.org/experiences/travel-with-the-zoo.

"The experience people have is transformative for them," Bumpus said. "Our goal is to have everyone realize they are a conservationist by the end of the trip. Seeing what is happening to the wild makes people want to act and that is how we believe wildlife will be protected."

For the traveler to likes to prepare and be organized, don't worry, because the zoo takes care of all of the details once the travelers arrive at their destination. All of the food, transportation and lodging is included. For more information, e-mail conservation@houstonzoo.org.
Dec. 6

At 8:35 a.m., Officer Andrade was dispatched to the 4900 block of Bellview in reference to an identity theft. Upon arrival, Officer Andrade met with the victim who advised a credit account was opened using his identifying information without his consent.

At 7:17 a.m., Officer Vorhees was dispatched to the 4600 block of Pin Oak Lane in reference to an identity theft. The victim stated an unknown person obtained his personal information and opened a credit card account without his permission.

At 11:44 a.m., Officers Trujillo and D. Guerra were dispatched to the 4600 block of Birch Street in reference to a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, Officers Trujillo and D. Guerra made contact with the victim who stated her pickup truck was stolen from the street in front of her home on 12/06/2016 between the hours of 0600 and 1000.

At 2:12 p.m., Officer Carson was dispatched to the Bellaire Police station (5110 Jessamine) in regards to the victim having his identity stolen from an unknown suspect(s).

At an unknown time, an unknown suspect broke out the front driver side window of the victim's vehicle, reached inside and stole an apron with $3 cash from the driver's seat in the 4600 block of Valerie Street. Officer Manriquez is the reporting Officer for this case.

Dec. 7

At 12:25 p.m., Bellaire Police Officer H. Lopez was flagged down by a citizen who stated a unknown person entered her vehicle and stole her wallet which was inside her purse.

At 1:59 p.m., Officer Younger was dispatched to the Bellaire Police Department in regards to a stolen vehicle report. Officer Younger arrived at approximately 1:59 p.m. and made contact with the reportee who advised the company vehicle was stolen by an unknown suspect from the parking garage. The vehicle information was entered into NCIC and TCIC as stolen.

At 1:42 p.m., Officer Trujillo was dispatched to 5110 Jessamine Street, Bellaire Police Station, in reference to an identity theft call. Upon Officer Trujillo's arrival, he spoke to a victim who stated an unknown person(s) used his identity fraudulently without his permission to obtain a loan.

Dec. 8

At 9:16 a.m., Officer Andrade was dispatched to the 4400 block of Basswood Street in reference to found property. Upon arrival, Officer Andrade met with the reportee who advised he found items in the bed of his pickup truck.

At 6:20 a.m., Officer Bellard was on patrol in the area of the 5100 block of Bellaire Boulevard when he observed a vehicle run a red light. Officer Bellard initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and after further investigation the driver was arrested for outstanding warrants and felon in possession of a firearm. The single passenger in the vehicle was also arrested for outstanding warrants.

At 11:54 p.m., Officer Bellard was on patrol in the area of the 7600 block of Renwich when he observed the suspect vehicle with an expired temporary tag. Officer Bellard initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and after further investigation the driver and passenger of the vehicle were arrested for possession of controlled substance.

Dec. 9

Sometime between 5:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and 7:10 a.m. Dec. 9, unknown suspects cut the lock on the gate around the residential construction site in the 5000 block of Mimosa. The suspects then stole a pallet of shingles and four rolls of felt paper. The suspects fled in an unknown direction. Officer Lysack is the reporting Officer for this incident.

At 11:28 p.m., Officer Bellard was on patrol in the area of the 8000 block of Renwick when he observed the suspect vehicle traveling at 45 MPH in a 35 MPH zone. Officer Bellard initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and after further investigation the driver was arrested for possession of marijuana. The driver qualified for the First Chance Intervention Program.

At 6:02 p.m., Officer Liccketto was dispatched to the lobby of the Bellaire Police Department in reference to an I.D. Theft. The victim stated that an unknown suspect, using his identifying information, opened a Verizon Account in the victim's name.

Dec. 10

At 12:53 a.m., Officer Proctor was patrolling the 4700 block of Bissonnet St. when he observed a Green Nissan Sentra traveling E/B in front of him. Officer Proctor observed the vehicle to have defective brake lights on both sides of the vehicle. Officer Proctor initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver. Officer Proctor immediately noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and saw a bunch of empty plastic bags laying around the floorboards of the vehicle. At approximately 1:16 a.m., Officer Proctor placed the driver into custody for possession of marijuana. The suspect was a first offender and was given an opportunity to participate in the First Chance Program.

At 4:02 p.m., Officer O'Sullivan observed the suspect vehicle displaying expired motor vehicle registration in the 4200 block of Bellaire Boulevard. Officer O'Sullivan executed a traffic stop on the vehicle where he contacted the driver. The driver was arrested for driving with license invalid, and failure to secure child in safety seat. The passenger was arrested for public intoxication, open container and possession of marijuana.

At 4:23 a.m., Officer Bellard was on patrol in the 5300 block of Bellaire Boulevard when he observed a black Chevrolet Camaro run a red light. Officer Bellard initiated a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle and after further investigation the driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated. The passenger of the vehicle was arrested for public intoxication.

Dec. 11

At 1:24 a.m., Officer Clisham was dispatched to a disabled vehicle at 6800 IH 610 Northbound in the outside shoulder. After arrival and investigation, Officer Clisham found the vehicle to be unoccupied and confirmed stolen out of the city of Houston. The vehicle was towed to a storage lot for further investigation by the Houston Police Department.
Adjusting family life and holiday traditions after a loved one has a change in health can be a challenge for families.

As the number of people living with Alzheimer's and dementia grows each year, it can be tough for families to experience the holidays as they have in years past due to their loved one's mood, cognition or severity of the disease. Parkway Place, a senior living community in West Houston, has some tips for families who may be seeking advice on how to make the holidays magical once again for their family and their loved one.

"It is important to plan ahead to ensure that you get the most out of the holiday season," said Sunny Chatagnier, executive director of Parkway Place. "We find that incorporating activities families can do together while keeping expectations realistic are key components to success. We work hard in our community to help families enjoy the holidays together, especially when a loved one has dementia."

Chatagnier offers the following advice that has proven to help residents of The Harbor, Parkway Place's certified Alzheimer's assisted living community:

1. Keep familiar objects around them. They can offer support and familiarity when a person might feel anxious or nervous about change. Whether it is a favorite holiday decoration or a photo of a favorite birthday, these treasures can provide comfort to someone experiencing memory loss.

2. Work to continue as many family traditions as possible, but adapt them to their new lifestyle. While your loved one may not remember these occasions, they are still treasured memories for your family to have. Work with your family or with outside caregivers to ensure you plan these experiences to set your loved one up for success.

3. Adapt gift giving. Diminishing capacity may make some gifts unusable or even dangerous to a person with dementia. If someone asks for gift ideas, suggest items the person with dementia needs or can easily enjoy, like comfortable clothing, audiotapes of favorite music, videos and photo albums.

Families with loved ones living in The Harbor know firsthand the benefits of these tips. When 84-year-old Mary Sue Ferguson had a stroke a year ago, which worsened her existing dementia, her family members knew their lives would not be the same. They had to adjust Ferguson's daily living routines and moved her to Parkway Place from Beaumont to be closer to family.

"She is treated with respect, and even during the holidays we don't feel like we miss out on our traditions because Parkway Place allows us to carry those on just as we would at home," said Lisa Herman, Ferguson's daughter.

Parkway Place in Houston, a Buckner Retirement Services community, is a nonprofit, faith-based senior living community located on a 15-acre campus at 1321 Park Bayou Drive in west Houston.
The Red Cross Texas-Gulf Coast Chapter's Service to the Armed Forces Division prepared around 400 care packages for deployed National Guard soldiers in Afghanistan at their Upper Kirby headquarters Thursday.

David Carpentier, Red Cross Service to Armed Forces Regional Program Manager, is retired 30 years from the U.S. Army and was deployed to the country three times. He said most recipients are from Texas and that a gift during Christmas lets them know that people back home care about them.
Residents who live near the White Oak Music Hall are calling for Mayor Sylvester Turner to pull all of the venue's permits for outdoor performances and its permit to construct a permanent outdoor stage.

On Sunday residents raised the $7,500 bond needed to enforce the temporary restraining order issued Friday against the live music complex by state District Judge Michael Gomez. The order will temporarily stop outdoor concerts while a lawsuit filed by nine neighbors against all outdoor performances featuring electronically amplified sound continues.

Cris Feldman, an attorney representing the Near Northside residents, turned in the bond funds Monday morning at the Harris County Clerk's office. He said it's now up to the mayor to act on the community's concerns over how the loud music has negatively impacted their lives.

"We've given him the benefit of the doubt but it's on him. The community needs him badly," Feldman said.

RELATED: Judge temporarily blocks amplified music at White Oak Music Hall

He added that when neighbors have taken their concerns to the mayor's office, they've been told to wait and that the city would work it out. Yet the city granted permits to the venue all the while, Feldman said.

He also noted that neighbors have gotten a deaf hearing from their city council representative, Karla Cisneros.

In the meantime, the issuing of the temporary restraining order, which expires Dec. 30, was a significant win for the residents, Feldman said.

"For the first time, an elected official recognized the impact on community health," he said.

Feldman and residents claim the loud noise from the live music venue has physically harmed local children with auditory sensitivity.

As they wait to see if and how the mayor responds, residents are looking to extend the temporary restraining order until their Jan. 12 injunction hearing.
Each year, the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation, in conjunction with the Houston Young Lawyers Association and local law firms, HYLA members, HYLF Fellows and other attorneys and businesses, bring holiday magic to Houston-area children in the organization's annual gift-giving program, "Adopt-An-Angel." This year more than 2,500 children from eight local early childhood centers and elementary schools, as well as four private charities will benefit from this year's program.

Participants include Morton Ranch Elementary in Katy Independent School District as well as Casa De Esperanza and Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services in southwest Houston. Participating Houston Independent School District schools include Bastian Elementary, Bellfort ECC Headstart, Burnet Elementary, DeChaumes Elementary, Petersen Elementary, Rucker Elementary, and Woodson Leadership Academy Elementary. Private charities benefiting also include Catholic Charities and SEARCH's House of Tiny Treasures and Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services.

The Adopt-An-Angel Program was started more than 10 years ago, as part of a mission for the Houston legal community to give back.

"Adopt-An-Angel provides many needy children with holiday cheer who might not otherwise have any during this holiday season," explained Arthur L. Bryan II, HYLA's President. "HYLA and HYLF are organizations whose focus is on the development of young attorneys, but also bettering the community, not for any other reason other than it is the 'right' thing to do."

Chaired by Michelle Gray, a partner at the trial boutique law firm of Fogler, Brar, Ford, O'Neil & Gray LLP along with co-chairs Kristen Baker Bates, Sherry Hill and Samantha-Anne Horwitch, the Adopt-An-Angel Committee organizes the program and coordinates the efforts of more than 1,000 volunteer attorneys from more than 60 local law firms and businesses. The local firms and businesses sponsor individual children and families by purchasing holiday gifts, in addition to other necessities.

"The organizers take special care to ensure that children receive things that they need, like school uniforms, and also things they want that make the holidays extra special," said Cristina Lunders, chair-elect of the HYLF board of trustees. "Adopt-An-Angel allows participants the chance to positively impact the community in which they work and live."

During the first few weeks in December, Adopt-An-Angel volunteers will deliver more than 2,500 gifts to the participating schools and charities. Several of the elementary schools, including Burnet Elementary, a Title 1 Houston Independent School District school located just east of downtown, will enjoy a school holiday celebration on delivery day.

Kathy Foster, Director and Founder of Casa de Esperanza, one of the local participating charities, can also attest to the benefits of the program. "There is nothing like seeing the magic of Christmas through the eyes of these children," Foster said. "Casa de Esperanza continues to be amazed by the Adopt-An-Angel Program and the incredible generosity of HYLA's members who come together to make this happen. When our children open their gifts on Christmas morning, they are also receiving joy, hope and the knowledge that their community loves them."

The Adopt-An-Angel Committee thanks and recognizes those firms and company legal departments that adopted 100 angels or more or had 100% of the firm or company attorneys adopt angels by giving them the distinguished designation of "Holiday Heroes." Thirty firms, ranging from BigLaw to small firms to solo practitioners earned this year's coveted Holiday Heroes designation.

Holiday Hero firms include: Axiom Law; Barker Botts L.L.P.; Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP; Bracewell LLP; Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry; Dobrowski, Larkin & Johnson LLP; Dresser-RandA Siemens Business; Fogler, Brar, Ford, O'Neil & Gray LLP; Fulkerson Lotz, LLP; Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP; Gibbs & Bruns LLP; Giron Kirby Law Group; Heim, Payne & Chorush, LLP; Holland & Knight LLP; Hughes Watters Askanase, LLP; Hunt Law Firm, PLLC; The James Street Group; Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Law Office of Morgan Rivera-Hybner, PLLC; Law Office of Sherry E. Hill, PLLC; McFall, Breitbeil & Eidman, PC; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP; Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP; Shell Oil Company; Sprott Newsom Quattlebaum Messenger; Strong Pipkin Bissell & Ledyard, LLP; Thompson & Knight LLP; Vinson & Elkins LLP; and Winstead PC.
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The British royals are spreading their holiday cheer Monday morning.

Kate Middleton, Prince William and Prince Harry all attended a charity Christmas party together Monday at youth support service The Mix in London to celebrate the volunteers and counselors of the organization.

The young royals looked just as handsome as ever and were all smiles at the event. Middleton wore a red and green flowing dress donned with a flower pattern and a black belt (not her best look since the belt made the dress look kind of Santa-inspired).

THESE ARE THE BEST: The Duchess of Cambridge's best looks of 2016

Her husband, Prince William, and her brother-in-law, Prince Harry, also attended the charity event, both wearing dashing blue suits and smiles.

The royals joined in on group discussion sessions, both online and in person, during the beginning of the event and then moved on to making their own holiday decorations, which were paper chains with positive messages and words of support scrolled on each chain link.

FROM THE BEGINNING: Kate Middleton's fairy tale life in pictures

A photographer at the event captured a photo of an intensely-concentrating Prince William building his own gingerbread house.

Click through the gallery above to see the royals at the party, including Prince William's gingerbread masterpiece.

DUCHESS SLANT DEFINED: This is why Kate Middleton always sits the same way
When Carolyn Monroe - a retired Humble Independent School District teacher - turned 60, she received a letter from Social Security informing her of her benefits.

That number, combined with pension from the Teachers Retirement Service would have been enough to live on.

However, when Monroe retired, she only received one third of her Social Security allotment because of a Windfall Elimination Provision, a formula established in 1983 to prevent public servants from receiving both pension and Social Security pay.

I started paying into Social Security in Florida, Monroe said. Then I moved to Georgia and continued paying into Social Security. In 1984, I came to Texas and started teaching. I had no clue that I was giving up everything I had paid into back in Florida and Georgia. It was a shock.

Im a single woman; I didnt have a second income. So I went back to work at the local college and worked until I was 72.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady and Massachusetts Democrat U.S. Rep. Richard Neal introduced a bill Monday to permanently repeal the WEP to allow public servants, who have paid into Social Security, to receive their full benefits.

It penalizes public servants whove earned Social Security and have also earned pension from their work like so many Americans, Brady said. Since 1983, it has treated these workers, I believe, unfairly. It is costly, it is wrong and it is time that it be changed.

For years, we have worked with our teachers, firefighters and police to find a right solution and Im here to announce we have. We have introduced the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act this Congress and we are going to work hard in a bipartisan way to make it law this next year.

The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act repeals the current WEP guarantees that public servants will receive the benefits they earned while they paid into Social Security and reduces WEP penalties by one-third for current retirees and up to one-half for future retirees.

What the Social Security actuary tells us is that for current retirees, over their lifetime, it will add about $20,000 to their retirement and for future retirees, as much as $32,000, Brady said.

It guarantees public servants receive the benefits they earned while they paid into Social Security just like everybody else.

According to Brady, the original WEP was designed to prevent upper-echelon government employees from double-dipping into government retirement programs but, government employees like firefighters, police and teachers suffered the collateral damage.

It assumed that everyone who was receiving both pension payments and Social Security benefits was wealthy. Well, if you talk to our firefighters and teachers and police, wealthy would not be the phrase that comes to mind, Brady said. I think no matter where you are in America, no matter how you paid into Social Security, you just want to be treated fairly at the end of the day, and thats what this is.

According to Bradys office, public servants who turn 62 on or after Jan. 1, 2017 will benefit from the new Public Servant Fairness Formula. On average, they will receive an estimated $1,620 in additional Social Security benefits per year.

For more information about the bill and its implications, contact Bradys office at 936- 441-5700.
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Winterfestcelebrated in Katy

Typhoon Texas, 555 Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy, offers holiday attractions that include a Texas-size outdoor ice rink as a 4-D holiday light show. Hours are 6-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 6 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday through Dec. 31. Tickets are $19.95-$24.95. Visit typhoontexas.com for information.

Registration for childhood center

Registration for the 2017-18 school year for St. Peter's United Methodist Church  Early Childhood Development Center begins Jan. 9 and continues through Jan. 20. Registration forms will be available in the St. Peter's ECDC Preschool office. The center, 20775 Kingsland Blvd., offers classes that are developmentally and socially appropriate for children ages 15 months through 5 years. Visit www.stpkaty.org or call the St. Peter's ECDC Office at 281-492-0623 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Santa at Katy Mills through Dec. 24

Santa will visit with guests at Katy Mills Mall through Dec. 24 in Neighborhood 6 near the food court. Hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays. The mall is located at 5000 Katy Mills Circle. Photo prices vary. Visit katymills.com for information.

CommunityChristmas Eve set

A community Christmas Eve service will begin at 5 p.m. Dec. 24 at Katy High School, 6331 Highway Blvd., Come at 4:30 p.m. for hot chocolate and holiday treats. This is a joint service presented by The Church at Cane Island and Cross Community Church. Childcare will be available for babies through preschool age. Free. Email info@caneisland.church for information.

Lights dance to music in Cane Island

Candy Cane Island continues 5-9 p.m. nightly through Dec. 31 with a display of lights synchronized to music dance as people drive through the Living Arches and stroll through our Amenity Village. Visit http://caneisland.com for details.

Artist's exhibitcontinues in Katy

Alfredo Gisholt's "For the Love of Paper" is on display at the KCAM Contemporary Art Museum Fort Bend, 805 Ave. B in Katy now through Jan. 15. Visit katy.cam.com or call 823-857-1340 for information.
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Foundation wins Chick-fil-A award

Chick-fil-A customers nationwide helped select the recipients of more than $1.1 million in grants, thanks to the new Chick-fil-A One app.

The 2017 True Inspiration Awards honor and provide financial support to 22 not-for-profits in 16 states to help further their work with youth, fostering leadership skills and developing an entrepreneurial spirit. For the first time since the awards program began in 2014, Chick-fil-A utilized its new mobile app to allow customers to vote for organizations in their local communities. As a result, the Katy Independent School District Education Foundation was selected as a $15,000 award recipient.

Chick-fil-A's True Inspiration awards recognizes community organizations that align with the Chick-fil-A Foundation's mission to enable children to be all they were created to be. The Katy ISD Education Foundation rewards teacher inspiration of students by funding innovative classroom projects that go beyond district budget limitations. The Foundation was nominated by local Chick-fil-A operator Rusty Wylie who said "Our community has more than its fair share of the brightest kids around. If we can help our children develop a love for learning while giving them hands-on, fun educational experiences, we'll give them the tools and encouragement they need to be great leaders. I'm just grateful Chick-fil-A can be a part of what is great about our community."

Men Who Mentor Breakfast set

Keep Encouraging Youth toward Success  KEYS  the Katy ISD mentor program, will host the Men Who Mentor Breakfast on Friday, Jan. 13, from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Katy ISD Education Support Complex. This annual event provides support for existing male mentors and information for men interested in becoming a mentor. Campus liaisons and administrators will guide table discussions for learning and networking opportunities.

Every Katy ISD campus has boys and young men who are waiting for a male mentor to serve as a listener and encourager. Recent KEYS program statistics showed that:

88 percent of KEYS students increased grades

80 percent of KEYS students decreased absences

87 percent of KEYS student decreased discipline

Together those numbers prove that one hour a week can make a difference in a child's life.

Go to www.katyisd/dept/pie.org to rsvp.

To learn more, visit Partners in Education under the "Community" tab at www.katyisd.org.

Tompkins Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors'

Feed the need for musical hilarity with Tompkins Theatre Company's presentation of the musical comedy, Little Shop of Horrors, a sci-fi smash about a man-eating plant.

The comedy will be presented at 7 p.m. Jan. 19-21 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 21 in the Tompkins High School Performing Arts Center, 4400 Falcon Landing Blvd.

The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names "Audrey II" - after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II's out of this world origins and intent towards global domination. The production is rated PG.

Tickets are $12 for students and $15 for adults.

Reserved seating tickets will be available for purchase Jan. 2 at www.tompkinstheatre.com. General admission seating tickets will be sold in the PAC Jan. 16-20, from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and one hour prior to each performance. Email boxoffice@tompkinstheatre.com for details.
Qualified Memorial Assistance Ministries clients may receive free representation through its Immigration Legal Services Program thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation.

The clients who qualify for humanitarian-based petitions fall at or below 150 percent of the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines.

MAM's Immigration Legal Services Program provides information, education and legal assistance on a variety of matters, including family-based petitions, renewal of lawful permanent resident cards, naturalization/citizenship applications, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and adjustment of status for refugees, Cubans and asylees.

The program also helps with U Visas for crime victims who have helped in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity, and VAWAs for victims of domestic violence by a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Information sessions are hosted twice each week and include a free one-on-one consultation with the immigration staff attorney.

"The undocumented are especially vulnerable to crimes like domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. We have seen first-hand how much of an impact an approval of a U visa or VAWA can make," said Raquel Barajas, MAM's staff attorney. "Through this grant, we will not only represent these individuals but better their lives."

MAM's Immigration Legal Services Program began in 2013, and provides low-cost services to the growing immigrant population in northwest Houston. What began as a two-year pilot project in collaboration with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston quickly grew to become the primary low-cost immigration legal services program in MAM's service area.

In early 2015, MAM hired its own immigration staff attorney and legal caseworker, establishing an independently managed Immigration Legal Services Program. Since then, MAM has provided immigration legal services to victims at reduced cost. Last year, MAM's Immigration Legal Services Program served 480 clients, conducted 528 consultations and held 73 weekly informational sessions in both English and Spanish, with 608 attendees.

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $16 million in grants to law-related programs.

MAM was created in 1983 by the local faith community when Spring Branch families were no longer able to provide stable homes for their families in the midst of the economic recession of the early 1980s. Visit www.maministries.org/legal for information.
Spring Branch ISD has announced that Assistant Police Chief Bruce Dareing will become the district's new police chief.

Dareing, a war veteran who has held various jobs in law enforcement, including as a Spring Branch ISD police officer since 2013, will be sworn in on Jan. 4.

He succeeds Chuck Brawner, who retired earlier this year.

Dareing said his years of military and law-enforcement experience have taught him what it takes to lead.

"We need to impact the students' lives in a positive way by being role models, and whenever possible we need to look beyond the problem at hand and see if there is a root cause that we can give guidance to help solve the issue," Dareing said. "We must work hand in hand with the school staff as an integral part of the team."

Dareing has worked for the Lewisville and Memorial Villages police departments, and as a reserve officer with the SBISD police department.

He has served as an investigator, field training officer, SWAT team member and police academy instructor. He was police chief in Holland, a small Texas town, as well.

Dareing served 24 years in the Army as a member of its Special Forces group, with training in intelligence, weapons and demolitions. He saw combat in Afghanistan in 2002 during Operation Enduring Support. He also served as a Special Forces Qualification Course instructor.



Before that he served six years as an armor officer and in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2012, he retired from the Army with the rank of captain.
This week's investigative and long-form reporting included a look at the new police chief's plans, looming layoffs at MD Anderson and the estimated costs of the Baylor sex assault scandal.

Houston's new police chief: Body cameras should start recording automatically after police leave vehicles

By Andrew Kragie and Lise Olsen

@AndrewKragie and @chrondigger

After just two weeks on the job, Art Acevedo, Houston's new police chief, is calling for two major changes in department policy to improve transparency. He wants body cameras to start recording automatically when police officers exit their vehicles and he plans to create a specialized unit to investigate officer-related shootings and alleged wrongdoing by police.

Layoffs, research cutbacks on the table as MD Anderson moves to improve its financial health

By Mike Hixenbaugh

@Mike_Hixenbaugh

MD Anderson Cancer Center officials are taking urgent steps, including the possibility of layoffs, to cut expenses and boost revenues after operating losses caused a deficit of more than $111 million in the first quarter of the 2017 fiscal year. The situation is serious enough that even the vaunted Moon Shots cancer research program could face cutbacks, said Dan Fontaine, MD Anderson's executive vice president of administration.

Texas prosecutors pursue a spate of police prosecutions in big counties with one exception - Harris

by Lise Olsen

@chrondigger

Prosecutors in all but one of Texas' biggest counties have launched a spate of police officer prosecutions in the shootings of unarmed or mentally ill people over the past three years that parallels a similar rise in police prosecutions nationwide.

Harris County, which leads the state in police shootings by a wide margin, is the exception. Prosecutors have presented evidence in more than 200 officer-involved shootings that happened since 2012 to grand juries. One of every five individuals shot by police was unarmed. But in every case, the officer was not indicted, records show.

Angry parents speak out against special ed cap

By Brian M. Rosenthal and St. John Barned-Smith

@brianmrosenthal and @stjbs

Hundreds of angry and frustrated parents turned out Monday night at forums in Houston and Dallas to tell federal education officials how hard it has been to get their children into special education services and demand an end to an arbitrary cap that has made special education enrollments in Texas plummet. The scene repeated itself in subsequent forums in Edinburgh and El Paso and in Austin. The meetings were called in response to Denied, a Chronicle investigation into the state's special ed policies.

Baylor alums claim financial toll of assault scandal could reach $223 million

By Lindsay Ellis

@lindsayaellis

The sexual assault scandal at Baylor University could cost the Waco-based university as much as $223 million, according to a report commissioned by a group of high-profile alumni. The Chronicle report probed the methodology behind that estimate.

Addison Thompson

Chronicler of Texas Revolution now receiving overdue attention

By Joe Holley

@holleynews

One afternoon a few weeks ago, New York City photographer and private art dealer Addison Thompson dropped by the diabetes thrift shop in Manhattan's East Village, one of his regular haunts, to see what kind of vintage photos had arrived. In a frame atop the display counter sat a print of a man Thompson eventually identified as Herman Ehrenberg, a soldier whose memoir offers one of the most accurate surviving accounts of the Texas Revolution.
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For many who celebrate Christmas with a meal, it's all about picking out that perfect turkey or ham from the grocery store.

But for many parents at South Houston Elementary School and South Houston Intermediate School, the focus is on the perfect tamale, usually made by the dozen.

And in most traditional Hispanic families, that perfect tamale starts with masa (dough from hominy), pork or chicken, but mostly with grandmothers, mothers and grandchildren laughing and talking in the kitchen.

"When my family would make them, I couldn't wait to hear the conversations," said Claudia Magallan, the community liaison for Harris County of Education Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment for Kids.

Magallan recently organized a tamalada at South Houston Elementary as part of CASE's program to build community bonds through after-school programs. Those bonds often start with the parents, and the tamalada, a traditional Mexican and Central American celebration where a community of family and friends come together in an assembly line to prepare tamales, was the perfect choice right before Christmas.

For this party, it took roughly 30 pounds of masa to make approximately 60 dozen.

The idea came last year when a group of parents from both schools and members of CASE were discussing what to do for the next Christmas party. The talk turned to tamales - how they made them and with what.

The parents had roots in Mexico and the countries of Central America. Each culture has a different take on tamales.

"We're trying to create community bonds while celebrating the diversity," Magallan said.

In Central America, tamales are encased by a banana leaf and filled with chicken; in Mexico, the tamales are wrapped with corn husks and include pork, chicken or beef.

"I told them that if they would commit to making the tamales, I would do my best to put it together," she said.

They agreed.

"This year started and they told me, 'Mrs. Claudia, didn't you say we were making tamales this year?' So, they held me to it," she said.

Staff from CASE was on hand at the tamalada, and the parents were excited to share information about recipes and ways of making tamales.

"There are a lot of different styles, everybody makes them a little different, and so we had some interesting discussions when they were talking about and debating about the different seasonings, the different meats they use," Magallan said.

Tamales are labor-intensive, and these days, there are fancy tamale-making machines mass-producing the kind bought at some food establishments. But for families who still make them the traditional way - by hand and by heart from watching grandmothers, mothers and aunts - the old way is still the best.

"There are younger people that remember their family making them, but they were never a part of that," Magallan said.

At the tamalada, some of those young parents were watching and taking note, and that was something to celebrate in itself, said Alma Quiroga, the CASE site coordinator at South Houston Elementary, who helped organize the event.

It's a fading cultural experience in many ways, she said.

"That's one of the things I wanted to tell the parents (to hold on to the tradition of making tamales) because I think it has been dying," Quiroga said. "Based on my experience, you get together with the family and hear the stories they had."

Everyone had opinions on which meat or covering is best, but one thing they shared was the important aspect of family or community bonding in the kitchen, or cocina.

Crucial, said Magallan, are the conversations that occur during the process.

"It's a long process, and so the conversations are endless," she said.

"That's when we catch up on everybody's life throughout the year, that's when we catch up with family. I always look forward to hearing the conversations that are going to happen."
Average rent prices for single-family homes in Katy's Cinco Ranch subdivision have fallen this year and in November reached their lowest mark in at least two years, according to the Multiple Listing Service provided by Aaron Layman Properties, a local real estate brokerage firm.

The rent price fall is reflective of a Katy real estate market that is being affected by Houston's energy industry downturn, which since 2014 has hurt local markets due to dismally low oil prices. Both the house and apartment markets in Katy have been derailed by the downturn because of the area's close ties with Houston's Energy Corridor.

"We have a situation where we are overbuilt in the single-family sector," said Aaron Layman, who heads the firm. "That's going to put pressure on landlords. There's more (housing) options available than before."

Average home rent prices in Cinco Ranch are down 20 percent since the oil crisis started in 2014, Layman said. MLS data provided by his firm shows the subdivision's average rent just below $2,000 per month, with the average having been about $2,650 in January and roughly $2,500 at the start of 2014.

Layman said his firm picks Cinco Ranch as an example because it's one of the largest and most recognized communities in Katy.

As oil prices have crashed these past two years - the current price per barrel remains below $60 - people throughout Katy have lost jobs and the housing market has been affected. According to the Katy Area Economic Development Council, the labor market in the area from Sealy to downtown Houston has lost about 38,000 jobs in the past two years, 22,000 of which have been in the energy industry.

Layman Properties' MLS data also shows that average home prices in the area are stagnant, with Cinco Ranch in November experiencing its ninth month this year with lower average home prices when compared to last year. Similar can be said for west Katy's Cross Creek Ranch subdivision, which has posted lower year-to-year average prices for five months in a row, according to the MLS data.

The area's apartment market has also not fared well recently.

In August, Apartment Data Services, which tracks rental trends across the region, published a report that says the overall occupancy rate in the west Houston/greater Katy area was about 83 percent.

A mid-year analysis by the Greater Houston Partnership says renters control the market when occupancy rates fall below 90 percent.

Economy experts and energy industry analysts have predicted that Houston's tough economic times could take years to overcome. During that time, it's uncertain how Katy's housing market will continue to be affected, Layman said.

"It's a situation where it's going to take several years to absorb luxury homes and especially luxury apartments," Layman said. "(Katy's real estate market) softened up so fast - probably faster than other parts. Sellers will have to notch down their expectations."
A Texas jail supervisor is guilty of bribery after a cartel leader gave him money to use a cell phone, a federal jury found last week.

Donald Roy Kelly, 43, is one of four defendants accused in a scheme to supply Gulf Cartel bigwig Juan Saenz-Tamez with a cell phone while he was locked up in a Beaumont correctional facility, according to a DEA press release.

The former Jefferson County Jail supervisor offered Saenz-Tamez a phone in exchange for money when the cartel honcho was behind bars for federal drug trafficking charges in October 2014.

Kelly drew other people in to help with the scheme, including Darwin Barlow, 41, and jail guard Donald Turk, 45.

Barlow - one of Kelly's relatives - bought the phone and Turk smuggled it in and out of the facility every day, court documents allege.

At one point, Kelly boasted to Turk that Saenz-Tamez had offered to pony up $2 million for help escaping.

Even though Turk turned down the $300,000 share Kelly offered, he didn't tell any jail staff about the cell phone scheme.

Ledarris Limbrick, 28 - one of Barlow's friends - arranged to pick up money transfers as compensation for the phone smuggling, according to court documents.

The plot eventually fell apart after authorities seized the illicit cell phone in early January 2015.

Limbrick, Barlow and Turk all pleaded guilty to federal charges for their roles in the scheme and Turk is slated for sentencing on Wednesday.

Saenz-Tamez - who later cooperated with the bribery investigation - was sentenced to 30 years in prison for drug distribution and money laundering, the Beaumont Enterprise reported.

Following a three-day trial, a federal jury Wednesday found Kelly guilty of providing an inmate with a prohibited object and bribery of a public official.

At sentencing, the Beaumont man could face 15 years in federal prison.
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Outgoing Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson personally has dismissed the drunken-driving case against prominent Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee.

Buzbee, who was arrested on March 31, had his case dismissed Dec. 9, after completing "pretrial intervention" a type of informal probation that, if successfully completed, means a case will be tossed. It is common among first offenders, especially shoplifters or other nonviolent crimes.

On Monday, Anderson stood by her decision and issued a brief statement: "Based on the circumstances of the case, this was the right thing to do. He qualified for pretrial intervention and completed all of the requirements typically mandated for a first offender DWI defendant," she said. "He did not contribute to my campaign in 2016 cycle."

The dismissal raised eyebrows around the courthouse for several reasons.

First, the elected Virginia DUI attorney signed off on the case personally, which is exceedingly rare, especially misdemeanors.

Second, the DWI pretrial intervention program, which lets people walk away from their first offense without a conviction, generally lasts a year. Buzbee went from arrest to completion in just over 8 months.

Also, the judge presiding over the case is the only jurist in Harris County who does not allow pretrial diversions for DWI cases. The DWI pretrial diversion program, formerly known as DIVERT, has firmly drawn guidelines - the terms of which generally are spelled out in a contract that a judge signs off before it begins. There is no such contract in Buzbee's file.

Generally, when a DWI case that is eligible for the pretrial diversion program falls in County Court at Law Judge Bill Harmon's court, it is transferred to a different court. That did not happen in Buzbee's case.

On Monday, Harmon acknowledged that he signed the dismissal forms for the high-profile Houston lawyer, but declined to comment at length. The judge said he had not approved any diversion for DWI suspects, and would continue to refuse to participate in the program.

Harmon chalked up the handling of case to the district attorney's discretion.

"The district attorney has the discretion of placing defendants on pretrial diversion and dismissing the cases," he said. "It's solely in their discretion, whether I am in agreement with it or not. It's what the district attorney gets to do."

'Expected this result'

Buzbee, who emailed from Europe, said his case was dismissed for lack of evidence.

"My case was dismissed because there wasn't enough evidence to prove in court that I was driving while intoxicated," he said. "I shouldn't have been arrested in the first place."

Although the dismissal form has a category to show insufficient evidence, that reason was not indicated.

Buzbee noted that he is not a criminal lawyer and said he had no involvement in the process.

"I hired great lawyers and expected this result," he said. "I've never met Devon Anderson and don't know who signed the dismissal. I would assume it is the judge who dismisses cases, not a DA."

Buzbee's DWI attorney, Allen Tanner, declined to comment on the case.

Buzbee said it was "silly" to link political connections to a dismissal by the elected district attorney 21 days before she leaves office.

"I give money to most of the politicians in Houston and the state of Texas. To try to connect one thing to the other is silly."

Well-known fundraiser

Courthouse observers said Buzbee's statement makes the dismissal look like a gift from Anderson as she prepares to leave the office.

"Based on what (Buzbee) said, this is definitely not a diversion. If it's not, then it is nothing but a political favor," said JoAnne Musick, past-president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyer's Association. "Unless (Anderson) just completely lied on a court document, because it appears, on the dismissal, that he completed a diversion - that he participated in some sort of program in lieu of prosecution."

Buzbee, who is a regent at Texas A&M, his alma mater, worked on the team representing Rick Perry after the then-Texas governor was indicted in an abuse-of-power case in 2014.

The trial lawyer has been a fundraising powerhouse for candidates and causes he has championed.

Earlier this year, he hosted a lavish Republican fundraiser for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. In 2014, he opened his River Oaks mansion to raise more than $100,000 for Democrat Adrian Garcia's mayoral race.
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Houston, we all tried to warn you that winter was coming, but apparently, not everyone got the message.

On Saturday night, the Houston area witnessed a 30-degree drop in temperatures as a massive arctic cold front blew through the area with icy rain and 20 mph winds. This didn't really sit very well with most people dressed for the 78-degree high on Saturday.

HOUSTON HAS IT EASY: What the polar vortex looks like from space

From around 10:40 to 11 p.m. the cold front, rain and wind quickly coated the entire Houston area and dropped the temps from the high 70s to the low 40s.

Weather Underground perfectly captured the dramatic chance in their temperature graph for Saturday, December 17. It shows the temperatures throughout the entire 24 hours of Saturday. Though the majority of the day is a steady, straight line in the mid to high 70s, there is a quick drop around 10:40. This drop shows temperatures dropping down to the mid-40s - 30 degrees lower than the high of the day.

NOT A WINTER WONDERLAND: You know it is winter in Houston when...

Many social media users in the Houston area was calling the weather in Space City "bipolar" and "moody."

"Can someone go ahead and charge Houston Weather with attempted murder?" Krystal D. Carter asked on Twitter.

"Yes, my AC was just on but now I have to switch it to heat...because Texas," Kaite complained in her tweet.

SEASON OUTLOOK: What winter 2016-2017 will look like for the south

These are just a few of the freak-outs that Houstonians had after the dramatic drop in temperature on Saturday night. Click through the slideshow above to see the other best reactions from the latest cold front in Houston.
Planning on boycotting Israel? A Texas lawmaker wants to make sure you don't do business with the state if you do.

State Sen. Brandon Creighton is pushing S.B. 134, which would forbid the state from signing contracts with any company or person engaging in a boycott of the Jewish state. Rep. Phil King is pushing a similar measure in the House.
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It's not often NASA goes to court and loses.

In 2015, Nancy Carlson of Inverness, Illinois, purchased an old, white zipper bag with the words "Lunar Sample Return" printed on it.

SPACE EXPLORATION: NASA, Stephen Hawking are working on a 'nano-spaceship'

Acquired at a Texas auction, the item would later be revealed to be an "outer decontamination bag," or a pouch used to protect the first moon rocks gathered by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

The priceless space-history artifact was part of a legal forfeiture that ended up at the auction, but nobody, even NASA, knew the bag was part of the Apollo 11 mission.

It was not until Carlson sent the bag to NASA to check for moon dust that the space agency realized the item's connection to the Apollo 11 missions.

BEAUTIFUL BLUE PRINTS: What architects think NASA's Mars settlements will look like

The matter eventually went to a U.S. District Court for Kansas, where Space.com reports that a judge recently ruled in favor of Carlson's right to keep the bag as "a good faith purchaser, in a sale conducted according to law."

Despite the ruling, the judge noted that "NASA was a victim in this case, not a wrongdoer," since the bag was lost "due to a mix up in inventory lists and item numbers."

Click through above to see myths about the moon landing explained.


Lt. Gov. Dan Forest at his Sept. 13 debate against Democratic challenger Linda Coleman at Barton College in Wilson. (CJ photo by Dan Way)

Fresh off a successful re-election race at home, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest has won another election on a national platform. He was chosen by his GOP peers as 2017 vice chairman of the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association.Results of the RLGA leadership team elections based on votes by membership were announced this morning. Nevada Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison succeeds 2016 Chairman Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch of Wisconsin. Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera was elected co-chair for policy, and Indiana Lt. Gov.-Elect Suzanne Crouch won the vote for co-chair for finance.Kleefisch said.The RSLC spent $850,000 this year on efforts to re-elect Forest. He picked up 51.81 percent of the ballots cast, defeating Democrat Linda Coleman 2,393,514 votes to 2,093,375. Libertarian Jacki Cole received 132,645 votes. Forest also beat Coleman in their 2012 contest, but by just 6,858 votes.Forest said.On the night of Forest's re-election, the first time ever that a Republican lieutenant governor has been re-elected in the state, RSLC President Matt Walter issued a statement on behalf of the organization extolling the North Carolina politician's efforts.Walter said.Republicans currently hold 31 out of 45 lieutenant governor seats.Hutchison said.The RLGA provides lieutenant governors and candidates with financial support and assists in message development. Lieutenant governors, more than any other statewide office holders, have ascended to become governors. Lieutenant governors also have moved on to serve in the U.S. House and Senate.The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country, and the only national organization whose mission is to elect Republicans to multiple down-ballot, state-level offices. Since 2002, the RSLC has been working to elect candidates to the offices of lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state legislator, the judiciary and other down-ticket races.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
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Martin Sheen "wants you" to do as he says, since he has now, remarkably, become an inexplicable constitutional authority on the Electoral College issue: Above.

Witness these actors, who have become fast track authorities on the Electoral College article of the U.S. Constitution. For some, one might consider which of these actors sniggered in approval of L. Hillary Clinton's "Basket of Deplorables" at this private fundraiser: Below.

Steven Crowder of the Louder with Crowder fame does not shrink from offering his well considered unvarnished opinion of these celebrities, who now are advising our representative electors by the sheer weight of their constitutional scholarship: 24 Pixels Below.

With the Democrats losing the presidency, after winning the popular vote by over 2 million votes more than the victor, Donald J. Trump: Should the constitutional provision of the Electoral College be scrapped? Yes, the votes for president should be concentrated in the population centers. No, the Electoral College provides for better representation from the less populated states. I rarely vote because I have little knowledge of the issues. 103 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?



But, will the Socialist Liberals accept this inevitable bitter pill?Incredibly, many Socialist Liberals are in such a grieving process that they can not accept the Trump presidency, which leaves these intellectual, emotional children but one recourse - to act out, and act out badly, and loudly ... often unintelligible.Currently, here before Donald J. Trump takes Office: Liberal actors, Obama's Socialist White House, the Democrat Media, and other unprincipled Democrats are uniting to bring to the fore the non public, unpublished findings of an alleged "17 intelligence agencies" that 'the Russians hacked into Democrats' emails, and then leaked that information gained by that hacking to rig the election in Trump's favor'.The reasoning for Socialist Democrats, like Hussein Obama, is to: 1) seek to influence states' electors in the electoral college; 2) when that does not work, to delegitimize the presidency of President-elect Trump. Some Socialist Democrats are already calling for Impeachment of the President-elect as soon as he takes office.Incredibly, does anyone, with a full working brain, actually believe that an overwhelming majority of Republicans in the U.S. House will Impeach a Republican president because Liberals are whining about "illegal servers", and the Democrat definition of selective conflict of interest, or whatever other unproved problem that these Socialist Liberal "snowflakes" have with the "dreaded President-elect"?But, thankfully, not everyone agrees with those celebrities' opinion on the Electoral College, or the propriety of liberal celebrities advising Republican electors on their Constituional duty, or their patriotic duty, for that matter, to vote as they say to vote after the free and fair election by the people of each state that empanels these electors for their Electoral College. Before the election for president, all voters were informed to "Save the Day" by another set of celebrities to take the time out of their Liberal schedules to vote against Donald J. Trump.The barrage of celebrity advice notwithstanding, there has been a full frontal attack on the results of this election that Socialist Liberals are having a terrible time accepting. It began with the poorly considered recounts in three battleground states (Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania), resulting in an even larger lead for President-elect Trump; and, is culminating with a barrage of harassing correspondence, even "death threats" to dissuade Republican Electors of their moral duty, some would say constitutional duty, to competently, and accurately, represent the voters of their individual states.So ridiculous has been this visceral condemnation of Donald J. Trump, and those that complete their duty as is their sworn duty as electors, i wrote these words on my Facebook timeline, which received a fair amount of attention:Today, December 19, 2016, the Electoral College will meet in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and they will collectively elect Donald J. Trump the 45th President of the United States.The Socialist /Liberal meltdown, notwithstanding, which was both moderately sad, but immensely funny, Donald J. Trump will become the official President-elect sometime this afternoon.Liberals / Socialists, other crybabies and egregiously bad losers: Today may be the day that you should collect your government issued coloring books, find a safe space , curl up with your therapy dog and find an American flag to burn, if you must, and get the Hell over it.You had your 8 years of Open Borders, Retreat and Surrender from ground gained in wars won, the end of Work First Welfare, Unsecured Servers for Elitists, ObamaCare, a War on Police, etc.ad infinum; so, it is over for now.Liberals / Socialists, your Democrat Party lost the presidency, both houses of congress, soon to lose your politicized judiciary, many governorships, many state legislatures, and even an net loss of around 200 county commissions across the nation, so its over for you, for at least right now.You played the Socialist card, the Race card, the Gender card, the Planet card, the Fascist card, even the Species card, etc., and you got trounced.If you ever want to gain back your 'Elitist Liberal high ground', you need a real message, because: Other Peoples Money, if not their collective patience, is running out, and that ... is very real.
The BBA Made Simple

Give him an ENUMERATED LIST of what you want him to buy: 1 chicken, 5# of apples, two heads of cabbage, a 2# sack of brown rice, and a dozen eggs. Whatever amount he spends for these enumerated items will be charged to you. Tell him he may spend on whatever he wants, and ask him to please don't spend more than 18% of your weekly income. But whatever amount he decides to spend (on pork and other things) will be charged to you.

Our Constitution Limits Spending to the Enumerated Powers

Using the Federal "Budget" to Snap the Trap on an Unsuspecting People

Creating the all-powerful federal government by Amendment

A BBA Doesn't Reduce Federal Spending

all versions permit spending limits to be waived when Congress votes to waive them; and

Congress can always "balance the budget" with tax increases. Compact for America's "balanced budget amendment" delegates massive new taxing authority to Congress: it authorizes Congress to impose a national sales tax and a national value added tax (VAT) in addition to keeping the income tax.

Typical Misconceptions

The federal government doesn't need a budget because Congress' spending is limited by the enumerated powers. Congress is to appropriate funds to carry out the handful of enumerated powers, and then it is to pay the bills with receipts from taxes.

But State Constitutions created State governments of general and almost unlimited powers. Accordingly, State governments may lawfully spend money on just about anything. So State governments need budgets to limit their spending to receipts.

Conclusion

1 State governments are voracious consumers of federal funds. THIS shows what percentage of your State's revenue is from federal funds. Contrary to what RINO State Legislators say, they don't want federal spending reduced: They want to keep those federal dollars flooding in.

State governments are voracious consumers of federal funds. THIS shows what percentage of your State's revenue is from federal funds. Contrary to what RINO State Legislators say, they don't want federal spending reduced: They want to keep those federal dollars flooding in. 2 George Washington's Cabinet had 4 members: Secretary of War, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of State, and Attorney General.

George Washington's Cabinet had 4 members: Secretary of War, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. 3 Our federal Constitution is short and easy to understand. The only way you can avoid being misled is to find out for yourself what it says. Be a Berean (Acts 17:10-12).

Our federal Constitution is short and easy to understand. The only way you can avoid being misled is to find out for yourself what it says. Be a Berean (Acts 17:10-12). 4 Amendments change all language to the contrary in the existing Constitution. Eg., the 13th Amendment changed Art. I, 2, clause 3 & Art. IV, 2, clause 3 because they were inconsistent with the 13th Amendment.

Amendments change all language to the contrary in the existing Constitution. Eg., the 13th Amendment changed Art. I, 2, clause 3 & Art. IV, 2, clause 3 because they were inconsistent with the 13th Amendment. 5 In Federalist No. 45 (3rd para from end), James Madison said:

In Federalist No. 45 (3rd para from end), James Madison said: "The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State."

Say you want your Butler to buy some groceries; so you give him your credit card. You can:The first illustrates how our Constitution is written: The items on which Congress is authorized to spend money are listed - enumerated - in the Constitution. To see the list, go HERE The second illustrates how a balanced budget amendment (BBA) works: It creates a completely new constitutional authority to spend on whatever the federal government wants to spend money on. And there is no enforceable limit on the amount of spending.Our Constitution doesn't permit the federal government to spend money on whatever they want. If Congress obeyed our Constitution, they would limit spending to the enumerated powers listed in the Constitution. Since the Constitution delegates to Congress only limited and narrowly defined authority to spend money, excessive federal spending is not the result of a defective Constitution, but of disregarding the existing constitutional limitations on federal spending.Because everyone has ignored these existing limitations for so long, we now have a national debt of some $20 trillion plus a hundred or so trillion in unfunded liabilities.Various factions are now telling conservatives that the only way to stop out of control federal spending is with a BBA.Obviously, that is not true. The constitutional answer is to downsize the federal government to its enumerated powers. Eliminate federal departments (Education, Energy, Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban Development, etc., etc., etc.), for which there is no constitutional authority.Since our Constitution delegates only a handful of powers to the federal government, most of what they've spent money on since the early 1900s is unconstitutional as outside the scope of powers delegated.Yet our Constitution is still legally in place; and can be dusted off, read, and enforced by a Repentant People. They can shrink the federal government to the size established by the Constitution which created it.Our Constitution doesn't provide for a budget.Spending is to be limited by the enumerated powers. Pursuant to Art. I, 9, clause 7, the Treasury is to publish periodic Statements and Accounts of the Receipts and Expenditures. Since the list of objects on which Congress is authorized to spend money is so short, it would be a simple matter to monitor federal spending and receipts.But since the unconstitutional Budget & Accounting Act of 1921 , Presidents and Congress have been putting into the "budget" whatever they want to spend money on.Do you see that if the federal government is given constitutional authority (via a BBA) to spend money on whatever they want, they are ipso facto granted constitutional authority to exert power over whatever they want?Oh, Americans! False friends lead you astray and confuse the path you should take. Under the pretext of imposing "fiscal responsibility" with a BBA, they would legalize the totalitarian dictatorship which has been developing in this Country for 100 years.A BBA changes the standard for spending from whether the object is an enumerated power to whatever the federal government wants to spend money on.So a BBA would transform the federal government created by our Constitution from one of enumerated powers only, to one of general and unlimited powers because it would authorize Congress to appropriate funds for - and hence have power over - whatever they or the President decide to put in the budget!A BBA wouldn't reduce federal spending because:Americans think, "I have to balance my budget; so the federal government should have to balance theirs."They overlook the profound distinctions between the economies of their own family unit and that of the national government of a Federation of States. Our federal Constitution sets up a system where Congress is to appropriate funds only to carry out the enumerated powers; and the bills are to be paid with receipts from excise taxes and import tariffs, with any shortfall being made up by a direct assessment on the States apportioned according to population (Art. I, 2, clause 3).Americans also think that since States have balanced budget amendments, the federal government should have one. They overlook the profound distinction between the federal Constitution and State Constitutions:A BBA would have the opposite effect of what you have been told. Instead of limiting the federal government, it legalizes spending which is now unconstitutional as outside the scope of the enumerated powers; transforms the federal government into one which has power over whatever they decide to spend money on; and does nothing to reduce federal spending.Twenty-eight States have already passed applications for a BBA. Go HERE to check the status of your State. Warn your friends and State Legislators . For a model your State can use to rescind its previous applications, go HERE and look under "Take Action" column, or contact me. Do not let the malignant elite complete their revolution by replacing our Constitution.
AO Centrul de Drept al Avocatilor anunta concurs pentru procurarea/elaborarea panourilor informative pentru Inspectoratul General al Politiei de Frontiera
Choking down flaccid, gray Szechuan dumplings and dealing with bathrooms that transport diners to the experience of desperately searching for toilet paper at a Venezuelan grocery store were uncomfortable enough. But Vanity Fair reporter Tina Nguyen feared a more severe round of indigestion after her Wells-ian skewering of the Trump Grill attracted the Twitter ire of the president-elect.

Nguyens piece, which was posted to Vanity Fairs website last Wednesday, characterizes both the restaurant and its namesake as a cheap version of rich. The response from Donald Trump came at 5 a.m. Thursday, when the president-elect tweeted about Vanity Fair (Way down, big trouble, dead!) and its no talent editor in chief, Graydon Carter.

Has anyone looked at the really poor numbers of @VanityFair Magazine. Way down, big trouble, dead! Graydon Carter, no talent, will be out!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2016

Astute Twitterati quickly connected the outburst to Nguyens review, and the writer was alerted to the coming deluge of attention by one of her editors. Emotionally, I was kind of shocked, Nguyen tells CJR. I was expecting that piece to get some pick-up, but I didnt think it was going to get the attention of the man who is going to be the most powerful person in the world in about five weeks.

Along with the shock, Nguyen also expressed some level of fear. Rationally, I was worried I would be doxxed, she says, referring to the practice of publishing peoples private information with malicious intent. Trump supporters have already doxxed dozens of journalists they viewed as anti-Trump.

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Related: The Mar-a-Lago meeting and journalisms worst impulses

In a set of actions that other media outlets would be wise to study, the Vanity Fair public relations team quickly contacted Nguyen. They kept an eye out for anyone who tried to release my address or my phone number or even tried to call me through the Conde [Nast] switchboard, she says. They were on top of their game, so big credit to them.

Carter, the Vanity Fair editor, has a long-running feud with Trump dating to the formers days at Spy Magazine, where he coined the phrase short-fingered vulgarian to describe the real estate mogul who served as society page catnip. In 2013, Trump issued his own review of Carters restaurant, The Waverly Inn: worst food in city [sic]. So it should come as no surprise that Carter delighted in getting under Trumps skin.

Dopey Graydon Carter, who is presiding over dying @VanityFair magazine, is also presiding over dying Waverly Innworst food in city.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2013

He was pretty happy with it, Nguyen said of Carters reaction to her piece. She declined to give details about his feedback, but noted that it was very flattering, and I still dont quite know how to process it. Trumps criticism has been good for Vanity Fairs bottom line, too. In the day after the president-elect posted his tweet, the magazine reported signing up 13,000 new subscribers, the best single-day number in Conde Nasts history.

Nguyen says the threats she feared have not materialized, and she has received congratulations from around the industry. It feels like far too strong praise for someone who has strong opinions about burgers and eating eyeballs, Nguyen says. But if it takes something as absurd as that and something as straightforward as saying, Look Donald Trump, I just dont like your cocktails, then I give Vanity Fair the credit for allowing me to write something like that, and supporting it even when a very scary man tweeted his displeasure toward it.

Related: Eight steps reporters should take before Trump assumes office

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon.
The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a request from a woman raped by a pastor when she was 15 to boost the amount of damages paid by the church where the minister worked.

Attorneys for the woman and her father argued a state law that limits non-economic damages to $350,000 violates the constitutional rights of underage sexual assault victims.

They argue that sexual abuse is typically more emotionally damaging than physical injury and sexually abused minors often spend years dealing with the trauma.

Attorneys for the church argued that distinguishing between sexual abuse and physical injury isnt arbitrary or unreasonable. They also said the woman didnt suffer the types of catastrophic injuries needed to override the cap.

As evidence, they said the woman finished high school, attended college, has a full-time job and hasnt participated in mental health counseling or treatment since 2008, the year the assault occurred.

The court agreed, ruling 3-2 to uphold the caps with two additional justices saying the court shouldnt have taken the case.

The womans injuries from the assault dont meet the extreme qualifications required by Ohio law to avoid the caps, wrote Justice Judi French.

She added, we do not doubt the reality and seriousness of the womans emotional and psychological injuries.

The attack happened at Sunbury Grace Brethren Church in Delaware in central Ohio. The churchs senior pastor, Brian Williams, was counseling the girl in his office about her falling grades and issues at home surrounding her parents separation when he forced her to perform oral sex, then forced intercourse on her, according to the ruling Wednesday.

Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Justices William ONeill and Paul Pfeifer dissented by criticizing the 2005 law that limited damages in such lawsuits, sometimes known as tort reform. The court previously upheld the overall law.

It turns out that tort reform (and the justices who sanctioned it) also ensured that rapists and those who enable them will not have to pay the full measure of the damages they cause  even if they rape a child, Pfeiffer wrote.

The courts decision reduces a $3.6 million jury award to the woman and her father to about $385,000, out of which she must pay attorneys fees and other costs.

The court didnt rule on several issues raised on appeal, meaning the woman still has the chance to argue for punitive damages at a new trial.

Nonetheless, her attorney was deeply disappointed by Wednesdays decision.

Its shocking that our Ohio Supreme Court would protect those who rape children and limit the rights of a raped child, said Columbus attorney John Fitch.

A lawyer representing the church said the court made the proper decision.

We did not suggest in any way that this rape had not been emotionally traumatizing to her. Certainly it was, said attorney Charles Curley. But the argument was that in the eyes of the law you need a catastrophic injury which the legislature defined, to get away from these damage caps.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Negotiations over whether Uber must stop its newly launched self-driving car service in San Francisco have concluded without a clear resolution, according to California transportation regulators.

The state has threatened legal action if the ride-hailing company continues to pick up passengers in a handful of cars without having gone through a permitting process. Uber says the cars are exempt from the permit requirement because they have a backup driver behind the wheel who must monitor the cars performance.

State officials had a positive conversation Thursday with Uber about how the company plans to comply with state regulations for self-driving vehicles, Melissa Figueroa, a spokeswoman for Californias State Transportation Agency, told The Associated Press. Talks will resume Friday morning, she said.

Uber did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, the cars could be seen traveling San Franciscos streets Thursday evening.

RED LIGHT WARNING

The two sides met privately in Sacramento the same day that dash cam video posted online showed a self-driving Uber run a red light on Wednesday, the same day the company launched the pilot program with several Volvo SUVs.

On Thursday, Uber said in a written statement that the driver was suspended and attributed the infraction in front of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to human error. That was an apparent reference to the companys policy that employees behind the wheel of the cars must constantly monitor them and be prepared to take over if the technology stops working, or is about to do something dangerous or illegal.

Far from playing defense, Uber offered the drivers failure as evidence of the need to continue pushing ahead a technology that proponents say will one day drive far more safely than humans.

This is why we believe so much in making the roads safer by building self-driving Ubers, the company said in a written statement, which said the red light-running car was not one of those in its pilot program and was not carrying passengers.

Getting a permit is not a complicated or lengthy process, and regulators would likely approve Ubers application, as they have permits for 20 other companies.

Instead, Uber has insisted it will not apply out of principle, saying its cars do not meet the states legal definition of an autonomous vehicle and therefore do not need a permit.

Though the cars are tricked out with sensors so they can steer, accelerate and brake, and even decide to change lanes, Uber says they are not nearly good enough to drive without human monitoring. And, according to Ubers reading of state law, that means they are not, legally speaking, autonomous vehicles that need special state permission.

PUSHING THE LEGAL LIMIT

Pushing legal boundaries is a proud tradition at Uber. During its meteoric rise into a multibillion dollar company, Uber has argued with authorities in California and around the world about issues including driver criminal background checks and whether those drivers should be treated as contractors ineligible for employee benefits.

Both the California Department of Motor Vehicles and its parent transportation agency insist Uber is wrong  and hours after the self-driving services launch the state sent a letter saying the service was illegal because it lacked the permits.

If Uber does not confirm immediately that it will stop its launch and seek a testing permit, DMV will initiate legal action, DMV Chief Counsel Brian Soublet wrote the company. He referenced the possibility of taking Uber to court.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee joined the chorus of officials denouncing the move, calling it unlawful and ill-advised in a statement. Lee said he was worried about the safety of the citys cyclists and pedestrians, especially with the experiment launching in a week when streets are slick with rain.

Meanwhile, the company is sending another message to California: Other places want us if you dont.

In a blog post Wednesday, the leader of its self-driving efforts, Anthony Levandowski, warned that complex rules and requirements could have the unintended consequence of slowing innovation and named several places outside California he characterized as being pro technology.

(Pritchard reported from Los Angeles. Contact him at https://twitter.com/lalanewsman.)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
BEREA -- Master Chief Clyde "Al" Albergottie served in the U.S. Navy for nearly 40 years and then spent another 22 at NASA Glenn Research Center while also volunteering in the community.

Albergottie died in September 2016 at age 85.

Albergottie was honored with the Col. William H. Beyer Commendation for Outstanding Military Service, which is awarded by Berea City Council twice a year at Memorial Day and Veterans' Day. Accepting the award was his widow, Erma Payne Albergottie.

Albergottie enlisted in the Navy in 1951, serving 12 years on active duty and 27 1/2 years in the Naval Reserves. His duty stations took him to Hawaii, Japan and the South Sea Islands as an electronics technician on submarines. He retired in 1991 with the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer - the highest paygrade for enlisted personnel.

He was a member of the United States Submarine Veterans, the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 17 and the Chief Petty Officers Association.

Albergottie also worked at NASA, retiring as branch chief of the Test Installations Division.

He was a deacon at People's Community Church, founding member of the North End Foundation, a coordinator for Baldwin Wallace University's Institute for Learning in Retirement and a longtime member of the Berea Civil Service Commission.
CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio - Suspicious, West Washington Street: A man called police 3:50 p.m. Dec. 8 after receiving a threatening email from a University of Arizona address. The message said he would be dead in 48 hours if he did not respond to the email. Authorities there said the college email was hacked and thousands of threatening emails had been sent to different locations.

Driving Under Suspension, North Main Street: Police stopped a Cleveland man, 31, Dec. 6, after he failed to stop his car for a red light. He was also driving with a suspended license. He was charged with both violations.

Harassment, Solon Road: Police opened an investigation Dec. 10 after a woman left unwanted items in and around a man's mailbox. The man said she has left a basket of food and a medicine bottle with her name.

Driving Under Suspension, North Main Street: A Chagrin Falls man was turned over to Aurora police after being stopped and charged for driving with expired plates Dec. 8. He was wanted in Aurora for failing to appear in court for a traffic violation there.

Theft, East Washington Street: A police report was filed Dec. 10 for a case of someone stealing a $100 bill from a girl's wallet in her locker at Chagrin Falls High School Nov. 29. Other cash in her wallet was not taken.

Drunken Driving, Monticello Drive: A Chagrin Falls man, 38, faces charges after an officer saw him drive off the road and strike a wooden retaining wall Dec. 11. He had a blood alcohol level of .176 percent, twice the legal limit. He was transported to the Solon jail.
In a surprise announcement, President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Congressman Ryan Zinke, At-Large Republican representative for Montana, as his nominee to be Secretary of the Department of the Interior.Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and OIAPAC endorsed Zinke in the 2016 election citing his understanding of the outdoor recreation economy and his support for investment in and the protection of America's public lands and waters. Specifically, Zinke was a co-sponsor of the Outdoor REC Act in the House of Representatives, supports reauthorization and full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and co-sponsored the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act (WDFA), a fix for the fire suppression budgeting issues that dry up federal agencies in years of devastating forest fires. Zinke also voted for the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act and has taken a vote against the state takeover of public lands. Earlier this year, Zinke resigned from the 2016 Republican Platform Committee at the RNC Convention citing the GOP's position in support of the selling off of public lands.said OIA Executive Director Amy Roberts.News reports had previously indicated Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Republican of Washington state and House Republican Caucus Chair, would be nominated by Trump, but that changed after Zinke met with Trump Monday afternoon in New York.After receiving the OIA endorsement earlier this year, Zinke said,
Cleveland police car.png

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office identified a man who died after he was shot multiple times on Cleveland's East Side.

(File photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Officials released the name of a Cleveland man who died after he was shot several times Friday on Cleveland's East Side.



The death of Lanell McKinney-Lillard, 22, is being investigated as a suspected homicide, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner said.

The Cleveland police department has released little information about the shooting, including whether the shooter remains at large or whether investigators have any suspects in the slaying.

McKinney-Lillard was shot several times in the head and chest about 5:30 p.m. Friday at East 55th Street and Bessemer Avenue, on the border of the city's North Broadway and Kinsman neighborhoods, according to police.

He was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he died, police say.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments section.
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Douglas Shine Jr. was sentenced Monday afternoon to life in prison without the possibility of parole, a month after a jury recommended he be executed for killing three people inside a Warrensville Heights barbershop in February 2015 and then plotting the death of a witness.

(Cory Shaffer, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A judge on Monday spared the life of Douglas Shine Jr., the 21-year-old Heartless Felon who faced death by lethal injection after he was convicted in the 2015 barbershop massacre and conspiracy to execute a witness.

Cuyahoga County Judge Joan Synenberg chose not to follow a jury's November recommendation that Shine be executed, citing a "transient, non-nurturing and violent childhood" that left Shine with undiagnosed mental disorders and the emotional maturity of a 5 year old.

"The adults involved in Douglas's life failed him," Synenberg said as she handed down the sentence.

Synenberg sentenced Shine to four life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 380 years, shocking the courtroom packed with relatives of the victims of Shine's shooting spree.

"Say your prayers, Duke," one woman shouted from the back of the back of the courtroom as court security escorted Shine back to his holding cell after the sentencing.

Shine was convicted in November of killing three people inside Chalk Linez Barbershop in Warrensville Heights in 2015, and for orchestrating the killing of a witness to the shootings.

Jurors deliberated for two days before recommending on Nov. 16 that Shine be sentenced to the death penalty

Shine spoke at the hearing for the first time since his trial began in September.

"All I gotta say is, I'll be back," Shine said as he rocked back and forth.

Synenberg handed down the sentence after hearing from family members of Walter Barfield, Brandon White and William Gonzalez, who were killed Feb. 5, 2015 inside Chalk Linez Barbershop, and Aaron "Pudge" Ladson, the witness who was gunned down in his driveway several months later.

"This is a mother's worst nightmare," said Angela Ladson, mother to Aaron Ladson and Brandon White. "I never thought I would bury my sons before me."

Prosecutors at trial painted Shine as a cold-blooded and vengeful gang member whose affinity for retribution erupted in gunfire inside Chalk Linez.

Shine, whose criminal history began when he was 10 years old, took a handgun from a member of the Loyal Always gang on a party bus that January, prosecutors said. That one slight spurred a weeks-long exchange of gunfire between rivals on the southeast side of Cleveland, prosecutors said.

Shine fired 13 shots at one member of the gang, and engaged in a shootout with Barfield, whose gun Shine had taken on the bus.

The next month, a hooded Shine burst into Chalk Linez Barbershop on Harvard Road in Warrensville Heights, clutching two pistols with extended clips, and opened fire into a crowd of people. He fired dozens of bullets, including 16 into Barfield as he and White looked at plane tickets to Las Vegas on a cellphone, prosecutors said.

Shine walked over to Barfield's body and fired three execution-style shots into his head before he ran out of the shop, prosecutors said.

Barfield and White and head barber Gonzalez all died in the killing. Three more people were wounded.

Aaron Ladson, was gunned down in June 2015 in his driveway as he prepared for a court hearing in an unrelated case.

Aaron Ladson was sitting in his car just outside the barbershop at the time of the shooting. He recognized Shine as the barbershop gunman, and went to police days after the shooting. He likely would have testified at Shine's trial.

Prosecutors played Aaron Ladson's videotaped statement identifying Shine to Warrensville Heights police during the trial, and seven more witnesses in the barbershop testified that Shine was the shooter.

Shine's brother, Kevin McKinney, is also charged with conspiracy and aggravated murder in Aaron Ladson's killing. His trial was delayed until after Shine's case ended.

During the penalty phase of the trial, Shine's lawyers argued that he had no clear role model growing up to pull him away from gang influence. He was coerced into joining the Heartless Felons in a youth prison, and was threatened when he tried to leave, his attorneys said.

His mother spent four months in jail when Shine was just six months old, and frequently abused him physically and mentally, psychologist Robert Kaplan testified at trial. Shine told a psychologist that his mother berated him, called him names, refused to celebrate his birthday, threw skillets at him and once ordered Shine's older brother to beat him with a belt.

She also refused to sign the paperwork to get Shine into a specialized education plan when he was in elementary school, and pulled him out of football practice when he was 8 years old because she didn't want to take him to practice, Shine's stepmother, Stinner Shine, testified at trial.

A psychologist and a social worker who was tapped as a mitigation specialist by the court testified that they believed Shine suffered from undiagnosed mental and personality disorders, and fell through the cracks of the social service safety net.

"If appropriately diagnosed and treated....Douglas could have been administered counseling, family preservation services and possible medication to change the trajectory of his life, possibly avoiding the criminal justice system all together," the social worker, Ceci McDonnell, testified.

One of Shine's relatives is accused of trying to tamper with jurors and witnesses, even after Shine was convicted, prosecutors say.

LaSandra Johnson, Shine's aunt, is charged with obstruction of justice after prosecutors said she approached a relative of a juror in the case outside a school and tried to convince her not to convict Shine.

Cuyahoga County prosecutors countered that growing up in a dysfunctional household did not excuse Shine's own choices to lead a life of escalating crimes that started when he was 10 years old and culminated a decade later when he opened fire inside a crowded barbershop.

To comment on this story, please visit Monday's crime and courts comments page.
Housing: $29 million to provide short-term housing for areas not covered by FEMA, along with grants for rental assistance, construction of new rental units and repairs to damaged homes. Close to 4,500 homes were destroyed as a result of Hurricane Matthew, and over 1,600 families are still living out of hotel rooms.

$29 million to provide short-term housing for areas not covered by FEMA, along with grants for rental assistance, construction of new rental units and repairs to damaged homes. Close to 4,500 homes were destroyed as a result of Hurricane Matthew, and over 1,600 families are still living out of hotel rooms. Community infrastructure: $41 million to help local governments fund repairs to infrastructure, trash pick-up, river maintenance and other local needs.

$41 million to help local governments fund repairs to infrastructure, trash pick-up, river maintenance and other local needs. Economic development and stabilization: $5 million to help impacted businesses get back on their feet and revitalize the communities hit hardest by the storm.

$5 million to help impacted businesses get back on their feet and revitalize the communities hit hardest by the storm. Natural resources: nearly $38 million to help the agriculture community respond and recover from disasters across the state.

nearly $38 million to help the agriculture community respond and recover from disasters across the state. $24 million to aid in the wildfire response in western North Carolina.

Almost $14 million to help rebuild farm roads, ponds, dams and agricultural facilities hit hard by the hurricane.

Planning: over $11 million to help local communities implement sustainable rebuilding plans that safeguard against major destruction during future disasters.

over $11 million to help local communities implement sustainable rebuilding plans that safeguard against major destruction during future disasters. Direct aid: more than $75 million used primarily to partner with the federal government in providing nearly $600 million combined state and federal direct aid to North Carolinians.

Contact



300 N. Salisbury Street

Room 525  Raleigh, NC 27603

Phone: (919) 715-8293  Fax: (919) 754-3296  bill.cook@ncleg.net

The North Carolina General Assembly passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2016 by a unanimous vote of 49-0 in the Senate and a unanimous vote of 115-0 in the House. Governor Pat McCrory is scheduled to sign the $200 million disaster relief package into law tomorrow morning. I thank Governor Pat McCrory for his commitment to the people of North Carolina - he has stood as a strong leader in our state during these strenuous times. The demands on Governor McCrory's time, attention and emotional energy have been intense for the past several months. He has been a selfless inspiring leader in guiding North Carolina's recovery efforts from these devastating natural disasters.Due to a $1.6 billion Rainy Day Fund and sizable budget surpluses, our state is well-prepared financially to provide disaster victims with significant relief. In essence, our state can fund the recovery efforts without borrowing money or raising taxes because legislators spent responsibly and saved taxpayer dollars in our emergency fund over the last four years. House Bill 2 - the Disaster Recovery Act of 2016 is the first step in addressing the state's immediate needs and includes:The bill also allows the governor to waive certain Division of Motor Vehicle fees for citizens impacted by the hurricane. Additionally, it provides calendar flexibility to schools forced to cancel days in the aftermath of the storm. Affected schools will make up two missed days, while the rest will be forgiven.After North Carolina experienced some of the worst natural disasters in state history in October and November, Gov. McCrory took charge of the state's short-term emergency response and long-term recovery efforts. His Hurricane Matthew Recovery Committee held five regional meetings around the state to hear the needs of disaster victims. North Carolina's congressional delegation also secured an additional $300 million federal appropriation to support hurricane recovery efforts. As we move forward, we will plan to assess any remaining unmet needs in 2017 and again in 2018.On Friday, Dec. 9, it was my pleasure to present Josie Hookway the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award on behalf of Governor Pat McCrory in Bath, N.C. I thank Josie for her 30+ years of service to the State of North Carolina in public nursing education and decades of volunteer service to the Historic Bath Site as well as the Historic Bath Commission. Her dedication and commitment in the wide variety of roles is admirable. Thank you Peter Krogh for the photo.
A van lurched to a halt in a snow drift on North Broadway Avenue. The Rev. Glenn Fournier got out and approached two women huddled against a building, covered by a thin blanket.

Kinda cold to be out tonight, isnt it? he said. It was minus 5 degrees at 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

Fournier wanted these women to come with him to the Montana Rescue Mission, out of the cold and onto a cot. After Fournier woke up the women, they demurred.

After more pleas, they accepted and went to the womens shelter. Another person, a man laying in a sleeping bag, opted to stay where he was. The forecast called for temps as low as minus 20 that night.

Fournier and some volunteers have been searching the streets since the weather turned frigid, which could be deadly for those who spend their days on the sidewalks and their nights sleeping in alleys and along storefronts.

For those who provide services to Billings' homeless population, it can be a struggle just to get people in for help. Many of their clients deal with addiction or mental health issues, and above all, they simply can't force someone to get help.

For a number of reasons, some just want to stay where they are.

Theres a lot of them who know where the warm places are, said Ed Zabrocki, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul in Billings.

His organization opens up at 8:30 a.m. with hot coffee and baked goods for anyone who stops by. They hand out sack lunches later in the day. Since St. Vincent de Paul bought its Montana Avenue property 42 years ago, people without another place to go have gathered outside its doors, day and night.

Zabrocki and his staff hand out cold-weather gear and also offer services for job seekers, renters and others. But they don't have an overnight shelter, which become increasingly important in dangerous temperatures.

I believe were going to see more (deaths) if the weather stays this way, Zabrocki said.

On Dec. 11, 65-year-old Gary Ames was found dead outside the St. Vincent de Paul building. An autopsy found he had prior medical issues and didn't die from exposure to the cold. The Montana Rescue Mission, one of just a couple overnight shelters, was blocks away.

Out at night

The Montana Rescue Mission adopted its "Code Blue" strategy in 2010. When the weather turns frigid, they suspend some of their rules to bring people into the shelter. Normally, residents have to be sober to stay the night.

No one is turned away, unless they've caused problems in the past. In his office, Fournier keeps a box of knives that he's confiscated from residents.

Sometimes the Mission will tell people to stay away for a few days. Other times they have to go through a court process for a yearlong ban.

Fournier and a volunteer, Doug Graves, were out in the van on Friday, scanning the streets. They carried sleeping bags, socks and a bag of sandwiches in the back and took the same route they'd followed all week. Often, they see the same people.

The greatest challenge that anybody faces out there is themselves, Fournier said.

After dropping off the two women at the shelter, they passed the St. Vincent de Paul building. Seeing no one, they went to check on a man named Troy in an alley off of First Avenue North.

They enticed Troy with ideas of color TV and hot coffee. He usually wants to stay where he is, Fournier said, and he deals with substance abuse issues. When Fournier stood him up, he wasn't wearing shoes. It was about minus 6 degrees outside.

The compounding disorders definitely have a lot to say about why they're out on the street, Fournier said.

There are many reasons why people choose to sleep outside, even in extreme temperatures. Sometimes they've had bad experiences at a shelter and don't want to go back. Often, mental health and substance abuse interferes.

A lot of them dont want help. They want to continue living where theyre at, said Josh Schoening, a downtown resource police officer.

Alongside a counselor, David Kobold, the officers work within a program that offers treatment to serial offenders who live on the street. Often, those offenses are for an open container.

But in extreme cold, Schoening said they do what they can to get people inside. They work with the Community Crisis Center most often. The organization is run by local health care organizations and focuses on mental health and substance abuse cases, and it has beds for overnight stays. Schoening said that the Crisis Center hasn't turned down their referrals.

In the elements

Fournier and Graves were able to get Troy, the man without shoes, to come back to the Mission. But others just decline. On cold nights, the goal is to get people to safety. Other times, it's an attempt to get them on a treatment path.

If someone stays at the shelter, maybe theyll eventually comply with house rules to stay longer. Then maybe theyll take advantage of services to get a job and secure a place to live. That's the hope.

But Fournier knows people who have been on the streets for decades, and making those changes can mean leaving behind some of the consistencies in that life.

"They all know each other, Kobold said. Theyre all friends.

And no one can make those choices for them. Fournier said he once met with a homeless man outside of a Wendys and asked him why he didn't want to come to the shelter.

"He said, 'Then I depend on you, and I'm not independent,'" Fournier said.

With the Code Blue effort, they sometimes bring a dozen people in from the streets. Most times it's just a couple, and other times no one.

On Friday, Fournier and Graves drove by the Jefferson Lines bus station. They checked on footprints at a dead end off of Sixth Avenue North and under a bridge at Coulson Park. They looked through the South Side streets, at The Vegas Hotel and in a bush behind the downtown Denny's.

There seemed to be few people outside as the temperature dipped to minus 10. Some people remained in the weather though, and Fournier said there's no single reason why they stay.

It still bewilders me. I still dont have an answer for that," Fournier said. "But its their choice.

On another night, they'll go out and try again to bring them inside.
Serbia begins official negotiations to join the European Union (EU) on Tuesday, talks which it hopes will allow it to join the trading bloc by 2020 and give its sluggish economy a boost.

As talks between the Balkan nation and the 28-nation bloc started in Brussels Tuesday, the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said they represented "the start of an entirely new chapter in our relations and a major success."

Indeed, relations have been thorny between Serbia -- a traditional ally of Russia -- and the EU over a number of issues that are politically and historically painful for both sides. A particular source of tension has been the fallout of the bloody conflict following the dissolution of the Balkan bloc of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Accession talks have previously been delayed or unsuccessful due to the Serbia's reluctance to give up suspected war criminals, recognize the independence of Kosovo and to reform its judiciary along European lines.

Why does Serbia need the EU?

Serbia needs access to the EU's 28-nation market after several years of financial crisis including two recessions. Deputy Prime Minister Aleksander Vucic himself caused a huge controversy late last year when he told national TV that his country was on the verge of bankruptcy  an assertion that was dismissed by economists.

(Read more: Experts dispute Serbia's 'bankruptcy' scare)

Serbia's consolidated budget deficit has risen to 7.1 percent of output, however, and there are concerns over delays to much-needed economic reforms. Such fears prompted ratings agency Fitch to downgrade Serbia's long-term local and foreign currency ratings from BB minus to B plus last Friday.

However, according to the Serbian Ministry of Finance, the country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 2 percent in 2013, having contracted 1.7 percent in the previous year. Although its debt to GDP ratio stood at 59.1 percent in 2013, it's worth bearing in mind that the figure stood at 34.8 percent in 2009.

(Read more: Where are the best opportunities in emerging Europe?)



Responding to the Fitch report, the Finance Ministry said in a statement: "The ministry will insist on the diligent implementation and broadening of reforms to lower the fiscal deficit and public debt and to secure growth."

European Commission President Manuel Barroso commended for its reform efforts and for the progress made over the past years on Tuesday, however, and said the EU would "continue to support Serbia to make progress, step by step, on its European path."

Signalling that the road to the EU won't be easy, however, Barroso underlined the challenges for Serbia, a press release from the EU noted. The list said these challenges centered on "the key areas of rule of law, including the reform of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and against organized crime, public administration reform, independence of key institutions, media freedom, anti-discrimination and protection of minorities."



Timothy Ash, the head of emerging market research at Standard Bank, told CNBC that Serbia would not let its chance of EU membership pass it by, however.

"Serbs see themselves as having a European outlook and EU accession is important for the country and investors. It has a lot of economic problems -- particularly on the fiscal side and the country is servicing a lot of debt. EU membership would act as an anchor for them," Ash told CNBC on Tuesday.

He believed that the sticking point to talks could lie around the unresolved issue of the Republic of Kosovo, whose independence Serbia has, as yet, failed to recognize along with its political ally Russia.

"They've set this 2020 date but the Kosovo issue remains outstanding. I think the EU is pleased with the progress that the current nationalist administration has made since it came to power in 2012 in normalizing relations with Kosovo."

"Awarding Serbia this EU candidate status is a sign of that."

- By CNBC's Holly Ellyatt, follow her on Twitter @HollyEllyatt.
The timing of the letters that has raised eyebrows, however, as relations between Russia and its neighbor Finland sour.

The letters have been sent as a result of "an extensive reform starting in 2008 affected the task of many reservists and the Defense Forces contacted the reservists to inform them what their individual role would be should Finland enter a conflict," the military's website noted.

The letters campaign by the Finnish army has ostensibly been carried out to "keep in touch" with its reservists, the Finnish Defense Ministry said on its website, and reservists have been asked to update their personal details that the army holds for them.

Finland has informed its 900,000 military reservists of what their roles would be in the event of a military crisis against a backdrop of rising tensions between Russia and its neighbors.

Russia has become increasingly isolated on the global stage for over a year now as a result of its annexation of Crimea and role in the recent conflict in Ukraine. Nonetheless, it has been conducting military exercises over the last year, including in the Baltic Sea near the shores of Finland  as well as other northern European countries.



Read MoreUkraine's economy may shrink 10% in 2015

Finland shares a land border with Russia but neither country is a member of the military alliance NATO, potentially making it more vulnerable to any future Russian aggression.

Seemingly aware of the potential military risks, the defense ministers of Nordic nations Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland warned in April this year that Northern Europe must prepare for possible crises or incidents because of Russia.

Read MoreNew sanctions on Russia are 'economic war'

"Russia's leaders have shown that they are prepared to make practical and effective use of military means in order to reach their political goals, even when this involves violating principles of international law," the ministers wrote in a joint statement in Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, Reuters reported.

Finland's army has around 16,000 members, although the number rises when including its Naval and Air Forces. The forces would be given a significant boost were reserves to be called up.

Reservists are those "who are liable for and have completed their military service," the Finnish Defence Forces (Finland's military) said on its website.

Read MoreThis key indicator shows how bad it is in Russia



The first letters were sent at the start of May with the final batch sent out in the last few days. Reservists were told by Finland's Defense Forces that within the letters:

"You will find your own details and your wartime assignment in the appendix with the letter. In other words, you can see whether you have an assigned wartime task, are in the reserve or have been reserved for other tasks by your employer."
Ratan Tata, interim chairman of Tata Sons, leaves a meeting at Bombay House in Mumbai, India, on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. Dhiraj Singh | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The controversy engulfing India's Tata Group has deepened after a senior ruling party lawmaker filed a complaint calling for the prosecution of its chairman Ratan Tata in connection with a fraud allegation. The complaint by Subramanian Swamy, a former justice minister, accuses criminal investigators of having failed to follow up evidence linking Mr Tata to an allegedly corrupt telecoms transaction. His filing, made on Friday at New Delhi's Central Bureau of Investigation Court (CBI), included a preliminary report apparently produced in 2013 by officials at India's Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), which the Financial Times has seen. More from the Financial Times:

Tata: Boardroom divide in Mumbai

Mistry's Tata allegations spark official probe of AirAsia India

ThyssenKruppreveals data stolen in cyber attack The report states that Mr Tata and several other Tata Group executives were liable to prosecution for "cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property"  an offence with a maximum prison sentence of seven years. Group holding company Tata Sons, speaking on behalf of Mr Tata and all the Tata companies involved, said that allegations about the transaction "had been thoroughly inquired into by the CBI and no evidence was found which could attribute any criminality or violation of any law or regulation".

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A person close to Tata questioned the authenticity of the document, saying that the SFIO had not provided a copy of it when requested by the group. The SFIO declined to comment on the document's authenticity. The document, addressed to the director of the SFIO, accuses Tata Group companies of having conspired to channel Rs17bn ($250m) to the real estate group Unitech, over the course of a year beginning in March 2007. Unitech allegedly used these funds to acquire a telecoms licence for Rs16.5bn in February 2008. The document alleges that this transaction was intended to secure spectrum access through Unitech in three Indian regions for Tata Teleservices. The group's telecoms business had encountered regulatory hitches in its own application for the licence. It goes on to accuse Tata Realty and Infrastructure, which made the payment to Unitech after allegedly receiving the funds from group holding company Tata Sons, of having cheated its shareholders by disguising it as an advance for a land purchase. Unitech was one of eight companies that acquired 2G telecom licences in a sale process in 2008, only to have them cancelled after the Supreme Court found that they were sold at unreasonably low prices. The licence sales were "probably . . . the biggest scam in the history of Independent India", wrote Vinod Rai, the country's former comptroller and auditor-general, whose investigation of the scandal estimated the losses to the exchequer at Rs1.76tn ($26bn).

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"I think there's a will to exploit any opening," Proithis said. "So the trick is to engineer what you're doing, assuming the worst. But the other fact of the matter is, you're willing to pay a lot more for that sort of security when it's the vice president's pacemaker versus an agricultural sensor. And the trick is to match security to the threat, throughout the ecosystem."

Data transmitted by your smart thermostat may seem harmless  but a cooler temperature could signal a house that's empty and ripe for robbery, Allen Proithis, president of Sigfox North America, told CNBC's " Squawk Alley " on Monday.

After a hack attack blindsided major websites around the world this year, companies are exploring ways to better protect valuable data from connected devices.

Sigfox, a secure platform for connecting so-called "internet-of-things" (IoT) devices, works sort of like a wireless carrier for everyday items. Sigfox, backed by companies like Intel and Salesforce , recently completed a funding round and has expanded rapidly worldwide over the past year, powering projects in places like Finland and Hong Kong.

"This is a technology that enables the masses  the unserved market  that want to participate in the benefits of IoT, but really haven't been able to play because of the limits of technology," Proithis said.



Sigfox's expansion comes after countless web cams and smart home devices, powered by Dyn, were hijacked and used to bring down major websites including Amazon, Twitter, Spotify and CNBC.com in the fall. Proithis said that many smart devices come pre-programmed with passwords like "admin" and are set to always stay connected, making them vulnerable to attacks.

"The way our network works is, to get this really long battery life, 99.9 percent of the time, they're not even connected," Proithis said. "They're only really connected when they have something to say and then they go back to sleep."

As it becomes more affordable, the internet of things can be incredibly useful for industries like agriculture or shipping, by finding the best time to water a plant or by tracking pallets that are lost in transit, Proithis said. Even Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is exploring the advantages of a smart home.

But attackers are constantly finding more ways to monetize stolen data and stay anonymous, said Scott Harrell, vice president of product management and enterprise networking at Cisco Systems , which blocks millions of cyberattacks.

Harrell says connected devices like a Smart TV or MRI machine pose more of a challenge, since they may not have a traditional operating system with software security updates the way an iPhone or PC does.

Cisco bought OpenDNS last year, a company that's very similar to IoT hacking victim Dyn. Domain names and IP addresses, like those used by Dyn and OpenDNS, can be used to monitor threats to connected homes, Harrell said.

Despite the huge amount of threat intelligence to be gained by inspecting internet of things connections, Harrell said there's no silver bullet.

"We know it's going to become a problem," Harrell said. "There is money to be made out of it. You should expect them to do it, and they will replicate it again and again."
A qualification test to earn the maroon beret of the Russian Federal National Guard Troops Service, at the Gorny training centre, Russia. Kirill Kukhmar | TASS | Getty Images

Russian saber rattling and prodding from Washington are spurring more of NATO's European allies to step up their defense spending  and the makers of military hardware stand to benefit. Since the U.S. presidential election, European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have announced plans to buy everything from surveillance aircraft and drones, to new air defense systems and warships. The announcements come amid U.S. criticism that European countries are not doing enough to uphold their part of the alliance. As a result, NATO military spending this year is expected to bounce back for the first time since 2010, according to an IHS Jane's Defence Budgets report. Meanwhile, Russia's defense spending is seen falling this year for the first time since the late 1990s, as the low price of oil and Western sanctions batter its economy. "There's already recognition among leaders in the European Union that countries need to do more [on defense]," said Phil Finnegan, a defense analyst at the Teal Group in Fairfax, Virginia.

NATO has been around since the late 1940s, when the trans-Atlantic military alliance had a dozen founding members. It kept the peace through the Cold War and now has 28 participants, including several countries that were once part of the former Soviet Union's orbit and the communist-led Warsaw Pact. But during the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump referred to NATO as "obsolete," and suggested the alliance wasn't doing enough on the terrorism front. When asked over the summer whether he would defend the Baltic States in the event of an attack from Russia, Trump said, "If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is yes," according to a transcript of the interview from The New York Times. President Barack Obama also has been critical of NATO members for "free riding" off U.S. protection.

Estonian Special Forces soldiers seen reading a map after raiding the woods during a NATO troop exercise in Estonia. Dmitri Beliakov | Washington Post | Getty Images

From a practical standpoint, the U.S. is unlikely to let go of its involvement in the NATO alliance. Yet Trump can use his bully pulpit as the next leader of the free world to get a better deal for American taxpayers, and encourage European allies to step up their spending. "There's a lot of nervous allies who aren't heeding the warning from the Washington establishment to make a distinction between what to take literally and what to take seriously," said Lisa Samp, an international security analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. NATO's rules obligate alliance members to help each other in case of an attack. In 2014, the security partnership produced guidelines for members to spend at least 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense. Only five of the 28 member countries of the Western alliance  the U.S., U.K., Poland, Greece and Estonia  currently meet the 2 percent of GDP target.

"Spending 2 percent of your gross domestic product on defense comes at the expense of other things," Toomas Hendrik Ilves, a former Estonian president, told CNBC on Sunday. "That's also political risk for any government."

But if the rest of the European NATO members paid the 2 percent target for defense spending set by the trans-Atlantic alliance, it would generate more than $90 billion in additional annual expenditures, according to Jefferies research.

"If Trump is able to get more NATO countries to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense, it would be good for both European and U.S. defense firms," Cowen said in a report last week.

According to the IHS Jane's forecast, concerns about security in Western Europe will boost defense budgets across the region by about $10 billion over the next five years. U.K. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon recently visited California and announced a development deal worth $125 million for drones from privately held General Atomics. While in the U.S., the British official met with defense giant Boeing , a supplier of NATO's E-3 Sentry surveillance aircraft commonly known as the AWACS.



E-3 AWACS radar aircraft built by Boeing operating from NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen in Germany. Source: NATO

U.K.-based defense manufacturer BAE Systems is mentioned frequently as a defense name to watch due to its exposure to NATO military spending.

"In our view 2016 has seen a marked inflection in the outlook for defense expenditures, and we see BAE as a key beneficiary of this moving forward," said Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Benjamin Heelan in a research note last week.

Germany, which spends nearly 1.2 percent of GDP on military outlays, has pledged to meet the NATO target. That could also lead to an uptick in defense spending.

"If Germany were to meet its 2 percent pledge ... it would be a significant increase in overall European defense spending," said Christopher Chivvis, associate director of Rand Corp.'s International Security and Defense Policy Center. "Germany is not going to do that overnight although they are moving in that direction."

Some NATO alliance members are pushing defense modernization plans after Russian military buildups in both the Baltic and Black sea regions. IHS Jane's forecast sees tensions in the Baltic region pushing defense spending from $981 million in 2014 to more than $2 billion by 2020. That would make it the region with the fastest growth globally.

Earlier this month, Poland announced plans to spend $14.5 billion on its military forces over five years. The country also is getting the Raytheon -made Patriot Air and Missile Defense System from the U.S. as well as drones, helicopters and warships to deal with threats in the Baltic Sea.

Poland's announcement came on the heels of Moscow moving nuclear-capable ballistic missiles into Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave located on the Baltic Sea next to Poland.

The huge military expansion on the part of the Russians in the last five to six years is not sustainable Toomas Hendrik Ilves Former Estonian president
"It's been clear since the start of this case there was a pre-determined outcome. The Commission took unilateral action and retroactively changed the rules, disregarding decades of Irish tax law, US tax law, as well as global consensus on tax policy, that everyone has relied on," Apple said.

The U.S. firm said in a statement on Monday that it was "the largest taxpayer in the world, in the U.S. and in Ireland."

The European Commission ruled in August that Apple should pay back 13 billion euros ($13.6 billion)  a decision contested by the Irish government, who argued that the EU was interfering with its sovereignty. Apple has previously argued that the commission's decision is "maddening" and "political" and was confident that the bill would be overturned.

In August, competition authorities in Europe accused the U.S. multinational of accepting illegal state aid with its tax arrangements in Ireland  where its European headquarters are located. The U.S. multinational is said to be launching this week a legal challenge against that decision.

The battle between the tech giant Apple and the European Commission is only just getting started.

However, it doesn't seem like the European Commission will be softening its position. A spokesperson told CNBC on Monday that "the Commission would defend its decision in court."

The Commission also justified its decision arguing that Ireland has not provided any basis for its "special treatment" to the U.S. firm, according to a report Monday by the Irish Times.

One area of contention is the matter of Apple paying taxes on the profits it recorded in Ireland as well as sending money back to the US to pay for research and development. Such an arrangement can be seen as a "cost-sharing agreement," and could alter Apple's tax status in Ireland.

Brussels also said Monday that the two tax rulings issued by Ireland reduced significantly the tax paid by Apple since 1991, in a way that "did not correspond to economic reality," the newspaper reported.

Margrethe Vestager, the EU's commissioner for competition, argued shortly after presenting the decision in the summer that the ruling was "based on the facts," which showed that Apple was paying a corporate tax rate of just 0.05 percent in Ireland.

The standoff between the EU and Apple could risk relations between Brussels and one of its member states at a time of multiple crises across the region. The Irish government said it is joining Apple in the appeal, arguing that it had to protect the tax arrangement that has brought several multinationals into the country.



"Apple paid all the taxes that was due for their activities in Ireland," Michael Noonan, the Irish Finance minister told CNBC in September.

The Irish Finance ministry said in a statement on Monday that "the commission has misunderstood the relevant facts and Irish law".

"The Commission has manifestly breached its duty to provide a clear and unequivocal statement of reasons in its decision, in relying simultaneously on grossly divergent factual scenarios, in contradicting itself as to the source of the rule that Ireland is said to have breached, and in suggesting that Ireland granted aid in relation to profits taxable in other jurisdictions," the statement said.

Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook.


European shares closed little changed on Monday as investors digested economic data from Germany and eyed a speech from Janet Yellen, the chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve.

BMPS down 11%

European markets



The pan-European Euro Stoxx 600 ended 0.12 percent down with sectors mixed. Markets entered the usually quiet week for volumes ahead of the holiday season. Basic resources were among the worst performers on news that Chinese authorities are foreseeing a lower growth rate in 2017. In individual stocks news, the embattled Monte Dei Paschi slumped more than 11 percent at the close - the first day of its cash call.

The German lender Deutsche Bank was among the worst performers on Monday, falling more than 4.4 percent. The bank has agreed to pay $37 million to end government investigations into dark pool private trading venues, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile in the U.S., the Dow Jones industrial average continued higher as investors look forward to the index breaking through the 20,000 mark. Janet Yellen is poised to deliver a speech on the state of the jobs market at 1.30p.m ET.

Elsewhere, shares of Danone were also down after the French company reported a lower-than-expected growth target for 2016. However, Mediaset shares closed up 1.5 percent following reports that Vivendi had denied it was taking over Italy's largest private broadcaster.

German data released
Dolan Hornbeck has come up with a unique way of helping people focus on their bodies, minds and spirits.

The longtime Billings trainer is opening Telos Fitness, a hybrid gym in the West End. Its goal is to provide clients with an opportunity to work out and take classes, with trainers on hand to guide them.

Then hell take things one step further. Hornbeck plans to open a church at the same location to encourage people in their spiritual lives.

And though the two undertakings are separate, they will come together in one way.

Well have a contemporary service on Sunday morning with worship and a message  a normal format, he said Thursday, standing inside the gym that formerly housed Hancock Fabrics. Then Sunday afternoon well have a free workout for anybody who wants to come and a truncated message.

The gym, at 100 24th St. W., No. 7, is scheduled to open Jan. 2. He hopes to launch Telos Church at the beginning of February, after the gym is on firm footing.

Its not a stretch that Hornbeck would undertake such an enterprise.

The two things Im most passionate about are the kingdom of God and fitness, he said. And to be able to marry the two is awesome.

Years ago the 1999 Skyview High graduate was working at the front desk at the Billings Family YMCA and studying business management at Montana State University Billings when he first came up with the notion of personal training.

I was competing in a fitness competition, and a guy approached me and said I really like the way you train, the dedication you have, would you be willing to train me?  Hornbeck said. There wasnt really a personal trainer program at the Y, so that gave a boost to the program.

He switched majors, to health and human performance, and started helping others figure out fitness routines. Hornbeck worked as a trainer in Billings for 17 years, spending eight years at the YMCA and nine at Granite Fitness.

He views physical training holistically, seeing how helping clients improve their physical health also boosts their emotional health. Hornbeck talked about one woman who was 100 pounds overweight and, while she was carrying her child, fell as she walked up a flight of stairs and injured her knee.

After working with the trainer, she lost many pounds and turned herself around.

Her whole outlook has changed and shes highly motivated, Hornbeck said. Its things like that that really make it worthwhile.

He calls the gym a hybrid because its in the middle between big multiuse fitness centers and small studio gyms that focus on one aspect of fitness.

Telos Fitness will offer strength-training and cardio machines, classes, personal training, locker rooms and child care, like the larger gyms. But it will also provide the kind of community found in the smaller studio gyms.

When you come in and you dont want to do exercise but you know you have Joe or Angie whos coming in and theyre going to wonder where youre at, Hornbeck said. It motivates you to be part of the team.

That aspect of community is another reason he decided to open a church on the same premises. The son of a pastor, Hornbeck grew up in the church. He spent several years as the college pastor at Word of Life Fellowship in Billings, and then he felt called in a different direction.

Hornbeck was part of a small group of people who met regularly with the Rev. Nate Poetzl, pastor of Faith Chapel in Billings, to learn about church planting. He is also licensed through the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, Faith Chapels denomination.

Along the way Hornbeck also got encouragement from another source.

When I was a trainer, I had several people come up to randomly and say, Dolan, Ive never stepped inside a church, but if you start one Id check it out, Hornbeck said.

The way the interior of the 6,000-square-foot gym is arranged, it will be easy to set up chairs for church services. Child care also will be available.

Joel Bath, another trainer, shares Hornbecks passion for ministry. Bath will work in the gym and serve as worship leader for the church.

Hornbeck wants to make clear that he wont be running a Christian gym. He wants anybody whos looking to get in shape to feel comfortable.

But he hopes that people who dont feel comfortable inside a church will be relaxed enough in the gym to consider staying for a brief message on Sunday afternoon, to get a taste of faith.

For Hornbeck, the name Telos, is what its all about.

Telos is Greek for 'all things for the same end,'" he said. It is very fitting  spiritual, physical, emotional for the same end.
So the question that begs to be asked: Is the fiduciary rule in jeopardy under President-elect Donald Trump?

The U.S. Department of Labor's new fiduciary rule is set to begin implementation on April 10 and is expected to affect more than $3 trillion of retirement assets in the United States. It requires financial advisors and brokers to act in the best interests of their clients when dealing with retirement accounts. That regulation will affect investors' retirement accounts and the relationships they share with their advisors.



It doesn't affect non-retirement accounts.



It's traditional for incoming presidents from opposing political parties to try to undo what their predecessors did in office. Trump will be no exception. To that point, one of Trump's top Wall Street supporters, Anthony Scaramucci, managing partner of SkyBridge Capital, promised that Trump would rip up a Labor Department investment advice rule once he takes office. That's why financial services industry experts believe the jury is still out about what may happen to the DOL regulation.

Despite all the debate around the rule, however, the Labor Department has made it clear that it is moving forward with the fiduciary rule.

When the rule becomes effective, all financial advisors will be required to recommend what is in the best interests of clients when they offer guidance on 401(k) plan assets, individual retirement accounts or other qualified funds saved for retirement.
Investors may be surprised by capital gains distributions from their mutual funds this year. The size of the payout depends on the fund and its investment strategy. A fund that holds stocks for long periods, such as an index fund, will have fewer distributions than actively managed funds that frequently trade. Mutual fund research firm Morningstar has estimated the average distributions for U.S. stock funds with capital gains by percentage of net asset value from 2011 through November 2016. Distributions are lower so far this year because most payouts take place in December. (See chart below.)

Investors should start by gauging how meaningful the capital gains distributions are to their portfolios. Distributions are only an issue for investors if they hold mutual funds in a taxable account. (If you keep funds in retirement accounts, such as traditional or Roth IRAs, you need not worry about the distributions because taxes on those gains are deferred until you withdraw money from those accounts.) Most funds give investors estimates of what their capital gains will be for the year in November. It's not just how the fund performed in one year that causes the distribution. A fund could have held onto its winners from last year and sold them this year, generating a larger capital gain.

"First, determine if the distribution is significant, 5 percent or higher, or insignificant, less than 5 percent," said Sterling Neblett, a certified financial planner and founding partner of Centurion Wealth Management in McLean, Virginia. "If the distribution is significant, we compare the tax consequences of taking the distribution with the tax consequences of selling the fund or sidestepping the distribution." For example, if you bought a stock fund this year that gained 14 percent and has a long-term capital distribution of 6 percent, you might be better off taking the distribution rather than incurring a 14 percent short-term capital gain, Neblett said. Why? Because short-term capital gains are taxed at a higher rate than long-term ones.

Tax-loss harvesting

You can avoid capital gains altogether if you have losses to neutralize them in a strategy called tax-loss harvesting. Here's how it works: You sell investments to generate losses. You use those losses against your capital gains. If your losses are larger than your gains, you can apply up to $3,000 a year in capital losses to reduce your ordinary income. If you still have capital losses, you can carry them forward for use in future years until you use them all. "You might be able to offset a large distribution, but you need to act before year-end," said Mark Wilson, a CFP, portfolio manager at the Tarbox Group in Newport Beach, California, and founder of CapGainsValet.com, which provides free capital gains distribution estimates for the funds offered by the 250 largest sponsors.



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Be aware of the wash-sale rule, which can thwart your tax-loss harvesting strategy. The Internal Revenue Service prohibits you from claiming a loss on the sale of a security or fund if you buy a "substantially identical" security or fund within 30 days before or after the sale.

"If our analysis suggests that the most tax-efficient strategy is to sidestep or sell the fund to avoid the capital gains, we will typically purchase a similar [exchange-traded fund], different enough to avoid a wash sale, for 31 days before repurchasing the fund," Neblett said. That way a portfolio maintains its asset allocation while harvesting the tax loss. However, the Trump rally had made it harder for investors to find tax losses. "At this point in the year, there are not many losses to take," said Kerry Mayo, a CFP and certified public accountant at Capital Financial Advisors of New York in Clifton, New York. "There may be some in foreign bonds, but that's about it."

Position your portfolio for 2017
Iran expects to get its first new jet within weeks under a multi-billion-dollar deal with Airbus for 100 planes, a senior official said on Monday, as Tehran and Western firms race to reopen trade almost a year after sanctions were lifted.



The first of the Airbus jets should be delivered in mid-January, part of plans to buy or lease 200 planes to renew IranAir's decaying fleet, against a backdrop of conservative criticism in both Washington and Tehran of last year's international sanctions deal to allow such business.

Sanctions were lifted in January but were followed by months of regulatory delays, and Iran has only just finalized a deal to buy 80 jets from Airbus' U.S. rival Boeing .

"We have finalized negotiations with Airbus and any day we will be able to sign the deal in Tehran," Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan told Reuters in a telephone interview. "We are expecting some final clearances and expect to sign today or tomorrow."

The first Airbus A321 could arrive before the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has opposed the deal to lift most sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities, and well ahead of Iranian presidential elections in May next year.

That could provide a boost to the government of President Hassan Rouhani and allow Airbus to find a home for some jets abandoned or deferred by other customers due to economic problems in South America and elsewhere, analysts say.

Airbus, which has revised up its forecasts for Iranian domestic demand, said it was still negotiating the IranAir deal. The airline sees itself as a future rival to Gulf-based super-carriers due to its geographical position.

Initial plans to buy a dozen A380 superjumbos were dropped after criticism from Iranian hardliners. Kashan said the deal with Airbus will be split roughly equally between narrow-body jets including the A320 and A321 and wide-body jets including the A330 and A350.

Pact 'violation' warning

Such deals are also under fire from U.S. Republicans.

President Barack Obama's outgoing administration has granted licences to allow the sales, a step required by both Airbus and Boeing due to the use of U.S. parts, but analysts say completing them depends in part on Washington's new political climate.

Asked whether either deal could be derailed if Trump imposes new restrictions on trade with Iran, Kashan said: "We are not concerned, although we should not ignore such a possibility.

"The fact is that Mr Trump may impose certain new sanctions, but we would consider that to be a violation of the JCPOA (nuclear accord), which explicitly provides for the possibility for the purchase of aircraft and their sale by manufacturers."

Kashan also dismissed suggestions by some Republicans that Iran could misuse civil jetliners for military purposes such as ferrying arms and fighters to Syria or elsewhere.

"This has not been the case and will not be the case. These accusations are not based on reality and are propaganda against the Iranian society and people," he said.

Still, doubts remain over financing due to uncertainty over Trump's policy towards Iran and the reluctance by either Western or Iranian governments to provide financial guarantees.

Most Western commercial banks remain unwilling to get involved, fearing fines or commercial problems in the United States if relations between Washington and Tehran deteriorate.

Iran has reached agreements with at least two foreign leasing firms to finance a total of 77 jets, including 42 from Airbus and 35 from Boeing, Kashan said.

Those companies will arrange finance leases, a form of funding which is closer to a purchase than a standard rental.

Western export credit agencies will not be involved in either the Airbus or Boeing deal, Kashan added.

Also complicating implementation are core U.S. sanctions preventing Iran's use of the U.S. financial system.

Aircraft are usually paid for in dollars but France-based Airbus will receive euros.

Kashan said all the transactions would use foreign currencies initially, but that Boeing would ultimately receive its income in U.S. dollars.

People familiar with the deal say Boeing has U.S. approval allowing it to go ahead on this basis for 15 777-300ERs but that it will need renewed approvals for the remaining 65 aircraft.
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde escaped punishment and kept her job on Monday despite a conviction on negligence charges over a state payout made while she served as France's finance minister in 2008.

he executive board representing the IMF's 189 member countries reaffirmed its full confidence in Lagarde's ability to lead the crisis lender, hours after the verdict was issued by a panel of judges in Paris with no fine or jail term.

Lagarde told reporters at IMF headquarters that she would not appeal the decision after vigorously fighting the charge since she took the IMF's helm in 2011.

"I have been held negligent, but without penalty, without sanction, without registration of the decision," she said. "I am not satisfied with it, but there's a point in time when one has to just stop, turn the page and move on and continue to work with those who have put their trust in me."

In Monday's ruling, the judges did not find negligence in Lagarde's decision to seek an out-of-court settlement with tycoon Bernard Tapie, but they said her failure to contest the award to him of about 400 million euros ($417 million) was negligent and led to a misuse of public funds.

The lead judge on the case, Martine Ract Madoux, explained the absence of any sentence by citing Lagarde's preoccupation with the 2008-09 financial crisis that was raging at the time of the payout as well as her strong international reputation. The charge could have carried a maximum one-year prison sentence.
maxkabakov | Getty Images

A "staggering" number of businesses have suffered from poor cybersecurity, according to the CEO of the world's oldest insurance market. Recent Lloyd's of London data revealed that 92 percent of businesses asked had experienced a breach, Inga Beale, CEO of Lloyd's, told CNBC's Squawk Box. "Apart from businesses in the U.S., there is not a lot of take up of cyber insurance," Beale detailed, despite the problem "affecting almost every single business because of technology these days." Beale explained that successfully dealing with the threat was "not about building walls to prevent an attack," but also "what you do to mitigate any disaster." Having contingency measures in place are essential, Beale argued, as businesses can "limit an attack, but can't necessarily eliminate the chance of an attack."



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With regards to the cost of insurance premiums, "reputational damage is usually the thing that's most difficult to quantify," Beale added. But, she said that by taking out cyber insurance, firms can essentially "limit (their) share price reduction by the action (they) take." Responding appropriately to an attack includes liaising with PR companies and crisis management firms, Beale said. Beale asserted that Lloyd's of London considered itself global market leader in the cyber insurance space, with 20-25 percent of market share. Evaluating "new risks" was the "essence" of the company, despite the question marks which may remain over data which may inform their new remit of cyber insurance. Beale also discussed how her historically London-based company was dealing with Brexit, explaining that "we are looking at various different countries and their regimes to relocate some people into the EU." While Beale qualified the relocation strategy by saying that "11 percent of our business comes from the EU, excluding the UK," she did add that just under five percent of total revenues would be directly impacted by Brexit.

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The first wind turbine has been delivered to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and will be commissioned in January 2017, it has been announced.



In a news release on Sunday, Saudi Aramco said the delivery of the turbine marked an "historic milestone for renewable energy" in the oil rich Kingdom.

Saudi Aramco said that it had partnered with GE to show the "viability" of wind power in Saudi Arabia. The turbine will be located in the north west of the Kingdom, in Turaif, and will provide power to Saudi Aramco's Bulk Plant there.

The tips of the turbine's blades will reach 145 meters in height and it will produce 2.75 megawatts of power at its peak, enough energy to meet the needs of roughly 250 Saudi homes, Saudi Aramco said.

"Saudi Aramco is actively promoting the reduction of energy intensity across the Kingdom by advocating responsible policies, awareness, and energy innovation," Abdulkarim Al Ghamdi, executive head for power systems at Saudi Aramco, said in a news release.

A huge exporter of oil, Saudi Arabia is looking to strengthen its renewable energy credentials. Under the Saudi Vision 2030 plan, authorities there have set themselves the target of producing 9.5 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030.

"With the arrival of the first GE wind turbine in the Kingdom, we are demonstrating our strong commitment to support the aim of diversifying the energy mix," Hisham Albahkali, GE's President & CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, said.

"This is a momentous occasion as it highlights that wind energy generation in the Kingdom is 'real' and heralds a new era of renewable energy that clearly shows to the world that action is being taken to support the renewable goals of Saudi Vision 2030," Albahkali added.
Forget the days of grabbing an old t-shirt and moseying on over to the local gym.

Today's consumers are demanding more dynamic answers to their fitness cravings.

GuavaPass, a startup launched just last year, allows users to book classes at boutique studios, usually reserved for members only. Buoyed by strong demand in Asia and the Middle East, it has already set up flags in ten cities.

"People are looking for a change," Rhyce Lein, Singapore's manager for GuavaPass told CNBC. "Gone are the days of them just going to a gym and lifting weights. They want to discover different types of workouts."

The business model creates a mutually beneficial scenario for both guests and business owners alike.
To be clear, none of these people actually serve in the government yet, since almost all of them will require Senate confirmation. And that's not a slam dunk: There's already been plenty of public discussion from current senators about whether Exxon Mobil CEO Tillerson is an appropriate choice to be secretary of State, especially because of his connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But for now the index is worth following.

We'll be updating the index as time goes on depending on who is in and out of the government, and which companies they have direct relationships with. It will be interesting to watch whether these companies get an added benefit for having one of their own in government, or whether they sell off harder than normal when the difficulties of managing the nation become a daily reality.

Some notes about the index: We did not include WWE because Linda McMahon is no longer on its board of directors, having left to run for senate several years ago. But we did include Goldman Sachs, because Cohn is on that board. Even though Cohn's future nomination as director of the National Economic Council doesn't require Senate confirmation since it's not a Cabinet position, we thought it was a relevant and powerful enough job to include in the basket. We also included Steve Mnuchin's connection to Sears, which he gave up in early December specifically to join the incoming team.
In-flight networking is a growing trend among the business set. How does traveling make it different from networking on terra firma? All Nippon Airways (ANA) invited Karl Chong  angel investor, co-founder of Groupon (Singapore) and a seasoned networker  to discern the differences.

We connected him business class from Singapore to Tokyo and flew him to New York on one of ANA's nonstop services from Tokyo to ten cities in North America, which also includes Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Vancouver and Washington D.C. These routes come with a wide variety of connecting times, giving the business traveler a broad range of departure and arrival schedules to choose from.

On this journey that took him from Asia to U.S. almost as quickly as a direct flight on account of a short transit in Tokyo, we tasked Karl to meet people from three nationalities, three industries, across three locations, and to share his observations on what we've come to call the 3-3-3 Challenge.

This is his account.
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has expressed sadness over the state of the economy noting that Indians are gradually buying over MTN Nigeria.

According to Onu, not less than 75 percent ownership of MTN has been acquired by Indians.

The minister disclosed this in Abuja at the weekend during the inaugural press conference of the Computer-Based Test, (CBT) Centre Proprietors Association of Nigeria, (CPAN) with the theme: the impact of ICT in CBT system of examination.

Government, Onu said, does not want foreigners to take away technological opportunities meant for Nigerians.

Represented by the Assistant Director, Information Communication and Technology, (ICT) at the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Adeyemi Adebayo, the minister said: Indians are gradually buying over MTN in Nigeria now and one of the bad things about this development is that Indians now have the capacity to administer what MTN does by physically employing Nigerians.

They want the capacity to do that from their country and if we in Nigeria allow all these opportunities to go it will not speak well.

Indians have now taking over not less than 75 percent of MTN and the control of MTN is not from Indian not even from Nigeria and if your association is not taken over this CBT may be Indians will come and take over CBT.

You people are doing a great work. Government does not want people from other countries to come and take away our technology. I believe that if we have associations like CPAN, they can regroup from the telecom companies they can take back what Indians have taking away from Nigeria.

MTN Nigeria is actually a Nigerian company, they came from South Africa but who are the people doing the work, are they not Nigerians?

Onu said Nigeria has not adequately exploited the potentials of the Information Communication and Technology, (ICT) hence weakening the economy.

Onu said the countrys productivity capacity to compete with the world has also been weakened.

The repercussion according to the minister, is that Nigeria may not have international competitive products in the world.
Running Antelope received an Indian peace medal depicting President Andrew Johnson (though not the piece shown). He is probably wearing his medal in the Gardner photograph, and in the engraving Smillie translated from it.

BEP souvenir card represents an inexpensive means of collecting the Ta-to-ka-in-yna-ka portrait note. This souvenir card was issued in August 1977 during the American Numismatic Associations 86th Anniversary Convention in Atlanta.

Running Antelope, the Hunkpapa Lakota Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka, may be one of the most familiar Native Americans to collectors through his portrait on the Series 1899 $5 silver certificate. The note is considered a classic design by many paper money collectors.

Running Antelope, or Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka, posed for two photographs for Alexander Gardner, the famed Civil War photographer. This image, a model for the engraving used on the note, shows him wearing a modest three feathers in his hair.

This Hunkpapa Lakota tribal leaders portrait appears on the Series 1899 $5 silver certificate, making it probably the most familiar image of a Native American on a piece of U.S. paper money.

Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka may be the most famous Native American whose name most people get wrong.

This Hunkpapa Lakota tribal leaders portrait appears on the Series 1899 $5 silver certificate, making it probably the most familiar image of a Native American on a piece of U.S. paper money.

To his people, he was Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka (the Americanized spelling differs from source to source). To the white Americans who knew him, he was Running Antelope. And to generations of collectors, he is known as Chief Onepapa.

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Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka was born in 1821 near present-day Grand Forks, S.D. Forrest W. Daniel, writing in the January-February 1969 issue of Paper Money, notes that at the time of his birth, few whites could be found in the region, though that would change by the time he reached adulthood.

Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka was a member of the Hunkpapa (or Oncpapa) band of the Lakotas, the western or Teton Sioux. The Lakotas lived in the western Dakotas and Nebraska, where they hunted bison. The other two Sioux groups were the Dakotas, who lived in what became Minnesota, and the Nakotas, who lived in the eastern Dakotas.

Ta-to-ka-in-yan-kas lifetime paralleled the period of near obliteration of Native American culture, as it ran into the human juggernaut that was the American westward expansion.

Some of the greatest native heroes were those who fought the invaders: Tecumseh, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse were just a few of the great leaders among the continents native population.

According to Daniel, who researched Ta-to-ka-in-yan-kas life in more than 60 books, articles and pieces of official correspondence, the Hunkpapa Lakota leader considered himself an early convert to cooperation with Americans rather than conflict. In language that to some today might seem naive, considering the outcome of the conflict between the two cultures, Ta-to-ka-in-yna-ka in 1867 described his way of life, reportedly saying: Since the days when we first allied ourselves with the whites I have been faithful to them at all times and all places. The skin of my body is red but my flesh is white, since for many years I have eaten the bread of the whites.

Ta-to-ka-in-yna-ka was among the Hunkpapa Lakotas who met with the great council of whites and Sioux in 1868 that resulted in the Treaty of 1868. He was among those signing the treaty (Ta-to-ka-in-yan-kas signature, preserved on a series of pictographs, is of a running antelope), for which he received a peace medal depicting President Andrew Johnson.

Four years later, Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka was invited to Washington to meet the president. While there, he sat for the famed photographer Alexander Gardner, who took two photos, a profile and full face, one of which would serve as the basis for the portrait on the Series 1899 $5 silver certificate.

Gardners original portrait depicts Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka sitting, and as described by Daniel, wearing three feathers in his hair, fur braid wraps, and dentalium earrings, and holding a wing fan and a peace pipe. Around his neck is a peace medal; although the resolution of the image makes it impossible to accurately identify the medal, its probably the Johnson peace medal awarded him for signing the Treaty of 1868.

The two photos went to the Bureau of Ethnology, which was using the new art form to record the physical characteristics and accouterments of the various Indian tribes, writes Daniel.

When gold was discovered in the Black Hills, Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka protested the seizure of the lands by the American government, but signed the treaty ceding the lands nonetheless.

After his visit to Washington, Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka used his visit with the president as leverage to force the ouster of an unpopular Indian agent, the local government official assigned to deal with the native population in a specific region. As the years passed, he was pulled between both peoples. He was considered an orator, negotiator and diplomat, even being called a politician Indian by one Indian agent.

He was one of the leaders of the great Sun Dance of June 29 to July 4, 1880; escorted Sitting Bull as he returned from his exile in Canada; and led the Siouxs last major bison hunt, in June 1882, according to Daniel.

Ta-to-ka-in-yan-ka died sometime in later 1896 or early 1897, based on the annual census taken on the Sioux reservation. He thus never saw the note depicting his likeness, based on the Gardner portrait.

The silver certificate

By 1899, when the $5 silver certificate was issued, Native Americans had been appearing on paper money in the United States for more than a century. Crude representations of Indian warriors appeared on various Colonial-era notes in the 18th century, and on many private bank issues in the 19th century.

The depiction of the people in the way, as Richard Doty calls Native Americans in his insightful book Pictures From a Distant Country: Seeing America Through Old Paper Money, changed over the decades, he writes. Earlier in the 19th century, Native Americans were often depicted as an onlooker, passive rather than active, and often shown as confronting some form of progress (various vignettes show Native Americans watching distant steam locomotives belching smoke as they cross the no longer pristine plains).

As federal paper money replaced private and state-sanctioned issues during the Civil War, federal engravers often turned to Native American themes on the new national issues. Vignettes depicting Native Americans interacting with Europeans featured such subjects as Pocahontas rescuing John Smith and Pocahontas being baptized (both vignettes obviously showing a Native American becoming or behaving civilized), and of the explorer DeSoto discovering the Mississippi River, as though the Native Americans knowledge of the river did not count.

Following the end of the Civil War, as the American Army focused more of its attention on subjugating the Native Americans, agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of American Ethnology began to photograph Native Americans in an effort to preserve a pictorial record of a vanishing life. The Gardner portraits of Running Antelope are part of those important records. However, in translating the original image into a portrait for the silver certificate, the engraver made a significant change.

Ta-to-ka-in-yan-kas portrait on the 1899 $5 silver certificate differs from Gardners original. The three-feathered headdress was deemed too tall for use on the note, so Bureau of Engraving and Printing engraver George F.C. Smillie removed it and replaced it with a war bonnet.

As explained by Gene Hessler in his book U.S. Essay, Proof and Specimen Notes:

A headdress was pasted into position over the photograph of Running Antelope, which Smillie then used as a model for his modified engraving.

The portrait, as used on the silver certificate, includes the representation of the Indian peace medal worn around Ta-to-ka-in-yan-kas neck, though it appears only as a featureless disc.

The new note was introduced in 1899, and served as the design for the denomination until 1923, when it was replaced by a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.

Today, the 1899 $5 silver certificate is considered a classic design of U.S. paper money. The note  available with a number of signature combinations  is very popular with collectors.

While the note is readily available from dealers in paper money, more inexpensive forms of the notes face are available. The BEP produced a souvenir card illustrating the note in 1977 for the American Numismatic Association convention in Atlanta. This card is inexpensively priced yet captures the design perfectly, having been printed from an original plate.
On the Dec. 12 front page, The Gazette reported: "Man found dead downtown." He was found in front of St. Vincent de Paul's on Montana Avenue. It was reported that he "had warm clothes and a sleeping bag with a low temperature rating."

As far as I know, there are no sleeping bags with a rating for sleeping on frozen concrete. Toward the end of the article there is a quote from someone at another faith based organization, "There's been men who have stayed with me in the past and chosen to go back out and passed away in the community." Having worked in mental health and chaplaincy for 34 years, I am able to assure the community that no one choose to lie down on the sidewalk and freeze to death.

Every winter Billings watches as a few people die on our streets from the elements. Each year on Dec. 21 Riverstone Health holds a memorial service at noon on the courthouse lawn to remember those who have died on our streets.

I think this is a spiritual problem for our city. It is not that faith-based organizations are not doing all they can to help the homeless; they do their fair share. We have countless agencies in place to help the homeless; they are also doing their part. We are just sunsetting a 10-year Mayor's Committee on Homelessness, and yet we still have homeless people dying on our streets. Agencies and committees cannot stop the problem. This is a community problem; the homeless, the indigent, the mentally ill, and the addicted, are all part of this community. We cannot continue to see them as a problem, or different than ourselves. We are all human; some of us just have different stories.

Some of us are able to consistently make reasonable choices; some of us are able to make good choices part of the time; and some people are not able to make, what someone else might think is, a reasonable choice any of the time. Billings needs a low-barrier warming center such as what Bozeman was able to put together several years ago, after a man froze to death in a downtown dumpster. A low barrier shelter is one that allows persons in, who may be under the influence of alcohol or substance. It is a non-judgmental system funded by public donations. When enough money is collected to open the shelter, it would open, usually November and stay open until the funds ran out.

In Bozeman, an agency eventually took over the administration, but it began as a community effort. These shelters have one focus: warmth during cold winter nights. Typically they are open only during the night and might provide soup supper light breakfast. Billings is an incredibly generous and wealthy community. No one should be dying on our streets. I think we could put together a public-private partnership and create a warming center, maybe not for this year, but certainly for next winter. Let's make that our goal: no one freezes to death in Billings anymore!
This counterfeit 20 note is from Germanys Operation Bernhard. One of the last two concentration camp prisoners forced to work on the project, Adolf Burger, aged 99, has died.

Adolf Burger, one of the two remaining survivors of Operation Bernhard, the counterfeiting workshop at the Nazi concentration camp in Sachsenhausen, died December 6 in Prague. He was 99.

According to his obituary in the newspaper iDnes.cz, Burger was born Aug. 12, 1917, in Velka Lomnica, Slovakia. In 1942, he was arrested and transported to the town of Zilina and then to Auschwitz. Since he was a printer by profession, he was transferred to Sachsenhausen for Operation Bernhard, a secret German plan to destroy Britains economy by counterfeiting 5, 10, 20, and 50 notes. The 142 prisoners in the scheme forged, not only bank notes, but also postage stamps, foreign passports and ID cards. The operation was named for its director, SS Major Bernhard Kruger. Burger and his team forged close to 9 million notes with a value of more than a hundred million pounds.

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The Operation Bernhard notes are still considered among the most perfect counterfeits ever made, with properly engraved plates, rag paper, correct watermarks, and even valid serial numbers. Today, says Colorado specialist William M. Rosenblum, the fakes can be identified with 99 percent certainty based first on serial number ranges, and then by carefully looking for a minuscule anomaly:  Bank of England is found in the watermark at the bottom of the note. There is a triangle at the base of the first N in England. On the counterfeits there is a line that originates from the center of the base of the triangle while on the originals the line is off-center.

Shortly after the war, Burger wrote a book, Number 64401 Speaks. It was made into a movie, The Counterfeiters, that won the Oscar in 2008 for best foreign language film.

He said in an interview for the newspaper Mlada Fronta Dnes 10 years ago, Although I had everything in the counterfeiting workshop  my own bed, white [clean] pillows, bread, how much I wanted and the radio played  I was falling asleep with the thought, Youre on a vacation, but dead. We were not supposed to get out. The fact that the Americans came faster and SS ran away, thats more than luck. I never believed that I would survive the secret printing shop.

The last survivor of Operation Bernhard is 95-year-old Hans Walter, who lives in Ohio.
A silver denarius struck during late summer to autumn in 42 B.C. by a traveling military mint in western Asia Minor or northern Greece is offered in Classical Numismatic Groups Jan. 10 and 11 Triton XX auction.

The assassination of Julius Caesar in ancient Rome spawned a crisis with lasting results, one that includes coinage. A silver denarius struck during late summer to autumn in 42 B.C., by a traveling military mint in western Asia Minor or northern Greece, is offered in Classical Numismatic Groups Jan. 10 and 11 Triton XX auction in New York City.

The man responsible for Caesars assassination, Brutus, and co-conspirator Gaius Cassius Longinus occupied Rome, but fled when a funeral oration delivered by Caesars protege, Mark Antony, turned public opinion against them. Brutus and Cassius went their separate ways, but met again in early 42 B.C. in Smyrna, Ionia, where they began preparations for the inevitable conflict to ensue between them and Mark Antony and Octavian, Caesars grandnephew.

They began using their armies to conquer cities, but armies required pay, and this coin was undoubtedly struck to pay those soldiers, according to the auction house.

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The obverse shows Neptune, the Roman god of the sea; Victory is depicted on the reverse, which also bears the name of Brutus and an inscription of propaganda. The title IMP on the reverse shows that Brutus still styled himself the savior of the Republic, as that was a title only the Senate can award, and the Victory breaking the royal symbols of diadem and scepter is a clear allusion to their anticipated victory over the forces of tyranny, according to the auction house, which said the coin is superb Extremely Fine, attractively toned, [with a] minor spot of deposit below wreath tie on reverse.
Darn! I thought once the election was over, we would get a great reprieve from all the critical negativity in the media. But, it seems to go on and on. Geezee, you would think everyone would get back to just making America work.

Interesting what is going on in the rest of the world while we in America seem to be caught up being unmerciful critics of everything rather than proposing the right things.

For example: Venezuela continues to fall apart because of their extreme Socialism and it is escaping the attention of most Americans when we need to learn from this.

Colombia ended a 50-year civil war with rebels by genuinely welcoming them back and both sides win without a shot fired. This has escaped most Americans and we should learn from this too.

Israel has made peace and allies of many of their former detractors while Americans debate our commitment to that longtime friend. We need to learn from this example.

And now, many are looking to keep up the Cold War with Russia, and even criticize those who get along with Russia. Have we forgotten how to be friends? Arent the rules between friends decidedly more powerful and easier than the rules between adversaries? How could so many not know this?

We are at the cusp of significant world changes. Will these changes be positive if our thoughts and words are predominately negative? We are never lead by critics, but by positive visionaries.

Tony Seitz

Molt
City receives feedback on Whitegate Park proposal

Community members had an opportunity to provide feedback on a proposal for a new neighborhood park on Whitegate Drive in Columbia.
A white supremacist website called The Daily Stormer has posted a call to "TAKE ACTION" against Jewish people in Whitefish, providing personal contact information and urging a "troll storm" against them.

The story claims the "vicious, evil race" has harmed the Whitefish business of Richard Spencer's mother. It quotes a story from the British newspaper Daily Mail that said Sherry Spencer "said she is being forced to sell a building she owns in the small town because residents are rebelling against her son."

The site posted phone numbers, email addresses, and Twitter handles for the Whitefish residents it alleges are harassing Sherry Spencer, along with a disclaimer that it opposes violence.

Richard Spencer is president and director of the National Policy Institute, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified as a hate group. The institute is "dedicated to the heritage, identity, and future of people of European descent in the United States, and around the world."

Spencer said Friday he's thinking about running for the U.S. House seat that would be vacated if U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana is confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump's choice to head the Department of Interior. (See related story.)

The Daily Stormer website has a tab called "Jewish Problem." It asks for donations from readers with a plea: "These bastards are always at our throats."

The piece by Andrew Anglin  described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a "a prolific Internet troll"  about Whitefish uses a vulgar term to describe Jews, and also uses slurs against other minorities on its site. Its "call for action" in Whitefish says, "So then, let's hit em up. Are yall ready for an old fashioned Troll Storm?"

Some of those targeted by Thursday's post are involved in Love Lives Here, a group that fights discrimination  racial, ethnic, religious and gender  in the Flathead. It was founded in 2009 in response to screenings of pro-Hitler films by a white separatist group called Kalispell Pioneer Little Europe. Daily Stormer calls Love Lives Here a "Jew terrorist group."

Earlier this month, Whitefish Mayor John Muhlfeld signed a proclamation that declared, among other things, "The City of Whitefish repudiates the ideas and ideology of the white nationalist and so called alt-right as a direct affront to our community's core values and principles."

"Love Lives Here has never promoted the idea of a protest of a boycott of a building," Will Randall, the organization's chairman, said Friday. One of the people targeted by the Daily Stormer post "is a beloved member of our community who entered into this conversation trying to help."

The Stormer posted pictures of several Whitefish residents, including a child, with a yellow Star of David with the word "Jude"  German for Jew  added to each photo. During World War II, Jews in Germany and Nazi-occupied territories were forced to wear such stars on their clothing.

Randall said that his research into neo-Nazi groups has accustomed him to such images.

"But when your own personal friends are affected, it's gut-wrenching," he said. "These are some of the best people around, and to see them attacked because they're Jewish or have a Jewish-sounding name is disgusting."
Donna James Leads a Bold Plan to Revive Victorias Secret

James has a proven record as a C-suite executive and adviser. Now, shes guiding the lingerie giant toward a more inclusive, financially sound future.
The President Should Be the Winner of the National Popular Vote

Editors note: This post originally appeared at Medium.com

From the White House to the courthouse, every elected official in AmericaDemocrat, Republican or independenthas something in common: he or she got more votes than any of the people they ran against.

That adherence to majority rule changes on January 20, as it has five other times in our history. While ballots are still being counted, the final tally is likely to find President-elect Donald Trump trailing Hillary Clinton by close to 3 million votes; he will be the second of our last three Presidents to be elected with less than a majority, indeed less than a plurality, of the popular vote.

That does not make his presidency less legitimate. Like many members of Congress and state legislators who won actual majorities thanks to partisan gerrymandering of their districts, Trump won under the rules of a broken system. But in a nation that thinks of itself as a beacon for democratic governance, the President-elects triumph is nonetheless jarring. Trump himself has acknowledged that something is askew, telling interviewers he believes future presidents should be chosen by a popular majority.

Assuming intelligence reveling Russias role in destabilizing the 2016 election doesnt cause a delay or defections, Trump will finalize his win on Monday in the Electoral College. His triumph there will be the product of a deal struck and written into the Constitution more than two centuries ago and effectively refined since then by state laws. Its time to refine it once again, this time in a way that breaks the dominance of a few swing states in our elections and gives every voter in every state an equal voice.

We can do that through the National Popular Vote Compact, an agreement that has been embraced by legislatures in 10 states and the District of Columbia but still has considerable ground to cover before it can be implemented. Add your name here to Common Causes petition urging lawmakers in your state to join the National Popular Vote Compact.

A bit of history is in order here. Wary of popular democracy, a radical idea in the 18th century, the nations founders fiercely debated the process for selecting the President, ultimately entrusting the job to electors selected by the states. Each state was awarded one electoral vote for each of its two U.S. Senate seats and an additional vote for each of its congressional districts. States could then decide how to award those electors. As part of the compromise, southern states included slaves in their population, giving them more congressional districts even as they denied slaves the right to vote. Northern and southern states alike also barred women and in most cases non-landowners from the ballot box.

Today of course, almost every adult citizen over age 18 has the right to vote, protected by law. But the Electoral College endures; although the way electors are chosen has changed many times over our history, now all but two states now award their electors on a winner-take-all basis based on the popular vote in each state. Maine and Nebraska award theirs based on the returns in each congressional district plus two for winning the state overall.

Those winner-take-all rules are state laws, not in the Constitution, and they effectively direct candidates away from safe states that are either deep red or true blue; Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump mostly ignored California and Texas respectively because those states were safe. Trump and Clinton spent 94% of their campaign money and post-convention visits in this election in only 12 states; 25 states were ignored and essentially had no role in picking the president.

The National Popular Vote Compact would bring every state and every voter into play. National candidates would be incentivized to campaign all over the nation, not just in todays battleground states.

The compact would take effect once states with 270 electors (an Electoral College majority) pass identical legislation adopting it. Once its in effect, presidential electors in participating states would be required to vote for the candidate who wins the national popular vote, regardless of who carried their states popular vote.

This is a constitutional and practical way to implement nationwide popular election of the President. Washington, DC and the 10 states already on board have 165 electors, so states with an additional 105 electoral votes must approve the compact before it goes into effect. Polls suggest 70 percent or more of Americans believe the President should be the candidate who wins the most popular votes.

Part of the genius of our Constitution is its built-in flexibility. The National Popular Vote Compact is in keeping with the spirit of our nations charter; it will refine the Electoral College for the 21st century, carrying us further toward the more perfect union, the Constitution was drafted to provide.

Sign Common Causes petition urging lawmakers in your state to join the National Popular Vote Compact.

###

Karen Hobert Flynn is President of Common Cause.
This is the final Patch Tuesday for the year and also the last one using the "per-patch" detailed format. Starting in January, we will match the latest Microsoft patch deployment grouping or "roll-ups" and provide patch-related insights and deployment guidance based on the Windows Security, Quality, Office, and .NET cumulative updates.

For December, Microsoft has released 12 updates, six of which are rated as critical, with the remaining six rated as important. This month also includes a fix for those Windows 10 users who had trouble connecting to the internet after the last wave of patches from Microsoft. For this month, Microsoft did not provide any mitigating factors or workarounds for any of the updates bar one. MS16-154 is the Microsoft wrapper for the Adobe Flash patch that comes with some advice, "Disable Flash."

MS16-144 -- Critical

MS16-144 resolves seven privately and one publicly reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) relating to memory corruption (both browser and scripting engine) and security bypass issues that left un-patched could lead to a remote code execution scenario. This update will be included in the December monthly security update for Windows. Though there are no zero-day issues related to IE for this month, this patch is rated as a "Patch Now" due to a publicly disclosed memory vulnerability. As this update applies to all currently supported versions of IE, add this patch to your "Patch Now" update deployment effort.

MS16-145 -- Critical

Unusually, Microsoft's newer evergreen browser Edge has more reported issues than IE with 11 issues, three of which have been publicly disclosed. Like IE, these reported vulnerabilities relate to the usual memory corruption and security bypass issues we have seen in the past with both browsers. MS16-145 attempts to resolve these reported vulnerabilities, the worst of which could lead to a remote code execution scenario. Add this update to your "Patch Now" list.

MS16-146 -- Critical

MS16-146 is the second update for the Windows Security Only cumulative or "roll-up" update for this month. This patch addresses three privately reported vulnerabilities in the Microsoft graphic component and replaces last month's graphic component update for all Windows 10 and Server 2016 systems. As this update will be deployed with the security roll-up for Windows 7 and Server 2012 systems like Windows 10 and Server 2016, deploying this patch is a priority.

MS16-147 -- Critical

MS16-147 addresses a single reported vulnerability in the Microsoft Uniscribe handler that could lead to a remote code execution scenario. The Uniscribe component is a collection of API's that relate to how fonts and typography are handled within Windows systems across different languages. This update will be included in this month's security roll-up.

MS16-148 -- Critical

MS16-148 addresses 16 privately reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office that if left unpatched could lead to a remote code execution scenario on the target system. This update applies to all currently supported versions of Microsoft Office including Mac versions, going all the way back to Office 2007. This patch is separate from the two-other security and quality roll-ups for this month and must be deployed independently.

MS16-154 -- Critical

MS16-154 is the Microsoft wrapper for the Adobe Flash update that then attempts to resolve 17 vulnerabilities. There have been reports of a zero-day vulnerability that has successfully compromised 32-bit IE systems and so this is an urgent "Patch Now" update. This month, Microsoft has not offered any work-arounds or mitigating factors for any of the other Microsoft patches or updates. However, for this update Microsoft offered the simple advice, "Disable Flash." I agree.

MS16-149 -- Important

MS16-149 addresses two privately reported issues in how Windows cryptography components handles objects in memory. These vulnerabilities are relatively easy to exploit and could lead to an elevation of privilege scenario. This patch will be added to this month's security roll-up.

MS16-150 -- Important

MS16-150 attempts to resolve a single, privately reported vulnerability in the Windows kernel that could lead to an elevation of privilege scenario. This vulnerability requires a user to execute a specially crafted application and so the risk for most organizations is quite low due to virus and firewall protections.

MS16-151 -- Important

MS16-151 addresses two privately reported, lower risk vulnerabilities in the Windows kernel mode drivers. This update will be included in the Windows security roll-up. In addition, this patch is linked to MS16-152, and will affect all currently supported Windows systems (both desktop and server platforms).

MS16-152 -- Important

MS16-152 resolves a single, privately reported vulnerability in the Windows kernel that only affects Windows 10 and Server 2016 systems. This is a difficult to exploit vulnerability and at worst it may lead to an information disclosure scenario. This update will be included in the Windows monthly roll-up.

MS16-153 -- Important

MS16-153 resolves a single, privately reported the driver sub-system for the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS) that could lead to an information disclosure scenario. This is another difficult to exploit vulnerability but it does affect all currently supported Windows systems.

MS16-155 -- Important

MS16-155 addresses a hard to exploit, lower risk vulnerability in the Microsoft .NET framework. This update has its own update package and is not included in the Windows quality and security roll-ups. Therefore, it can be tested and deployed separately if required.
Hyundai is getting into the business of producing exoskeletons, claiming that it can make Iron Man-like suits much less expensive than other exoskeleton brands priced between $80,000 and $40,000. The H-Mex model in particular is meant to give paraplegics a way to walk, so hopefully Hyundais exoskeletons will be downright cheap; then it might be able to accomplish the goal of helping people walk by being affordable for folks on very limited budgets who need it.

The crutches used along with the robot-legs have controls like a game controller. Engadget explained, One button would move the left leg forward, and the other would move the right. There are also buttons for sitting down, standing up and walking up and down stairs. It's like a game controller for getting around.

This makes me hopeful as I know many different people who need such a device, but it may be 2019  2020 before H-Mex is available for purchase.

Cant trust all health-related wearable devices

While the exoskeleton seems to be more robotic-focused than some other health-related wearable devices, not all wearable devices  such as watches, fitness bands, and so-called smart clothing should be trusted. In fact, researchers at the Center for Digital Democracy and American University warned (pdf) that although the ownership of health wearable devices has nearly doubled in the past year, many pose privacy risks. Big Data  data collection and marketing  is a big part of the problem with wearables.

The CDD wrote,

As their use becomes more widespread, and as their functionalities become even more sophisticated, the extent and nature of data collection will be unprecedented. Biosensors will routinely be able to capture not only an individuals heart rate, body temperature, and movement, but also brain activity, moods, and emotions. These data can, in turn, be combined with personal information from other sourcesincluding health-care providers and drug companiesraising such potential harms as discriminatory profiling, manipulative marketing, and security breaches.

Trust a sex robot?

If you cant trust your fitness band, should a person trust a sex robot? Yes, it sounds like we are moving closer to that actually becoming a thing. Even a keynote speaker at the Second International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots in London is concerned about personal data which will be collected  recorded and stored  and how that data will be used.

Dr. Kate Devlin, a senior lecturer in Computing at Goldsmiths, University of London, said, We tick the box of the terms and conditions without checking them. Although user feedback and aggregate anonymized data collected can be helpful to improve products, Devlin asked, Do we want people to know when we have sex and how we have sex?

Another speaker, Oliver Bendel of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts at Northwestern Switzerland, suggested that sex robots could over-exert their human lovers. Even if too much robot sex didnt kill a person, would anyone really want that data getting out there and shared, possibly used for targeted advertisements or other marketing purposes? Bendel also raised ethical questions such as if a sex robot should have moral skills or have the ability to entice human lovers?

As the Mirror pointed out, there are already companies that make internet-connected sex toys; We-Vibe, for example, has been accused of collecting very personal data without user consent. There needs to be a great deal of effort put into protecting sex robot consumers privacy, both in the robot itself and any companion app.

When you consider how hackable most IoT products are, how much security effort will go into sex robots? Surely people wouldnt want hackers getting hold of their intimate information from such a bot? Think about how damaging it was to some people to be exposed for having Ashley Madison accounts; the company recently agreed to pay a $1.6 million settlement related to the 2015 data breach.

If not enough thought goes into building in security from the start, could a sex robot become infected with malware and added to botnets such as Mirai? Could people really attached to their sex robot be persuaded to pay a ransomware demand to use it again?

For right now it all seems a bit too science fiction for me to take seriously, but the sex bots are going to become a thing. And even if that thing doesnt sex you to death, or turn you into a person who prefers bots-over-humans  hey it happened on HBOs fictional Westworld  will privacy or security be built into these bots from the ground up? Or only bolted on after some disastrous breach?
Education and democracy

Lera Shynkarova '20 (center) shared ideas with other youth representatives from around the world during a workshop at the World Forum for Democracy.

Lera Shynkarova 20 was one of just 75 youth representatives selected from around the world to attend the 2016 World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, France, in November.

Now, the first-year student from Belarus is applying the concepts and ideas from the forum to what she is learning in her Conn classroomsand eventually beyond.

The forum, founded in 2012 by the Council of Europe, brings politicians, education leaders and activists together to identify and analyze challenges to democracies worldwide. Each years forum focuses on a new theme. This year, the event addressed the relationship between education and democracy and served as a stage for the youth representatives to share their ideas.

I think it was important for the adult representatives to see how younger people react to and participate in different issues, Shynkarova said.

She hopes to change the way education works in her home country, she said, noting that the education format in Belarus has a hierarchical approach, where professors lecture, students take notes, and there are few opportunities for questions and classroom discussions.

Part of the reason Shynkarova came to Connecticut College was because of the personal attention each student receives, along with the focus on promoting individuality in each student and the close relationships between students and faculty.

She is applying what she learned at the forum, to what shes learning in the classroom and what matters to her personally. For example, when learning about economic and social structures in class, she tries to imagine how it may discourage or encourage democratic participation, citizenship and human rights.

She is also working with Community Partnerships on a new project that would increase outreach between College students and the New London communityan initiative that would be discouraged in her home country.

Attending the forum taught me how to process and implement information, she said, and reflect on [the ways education can enhance democracy].

- Ciara Healey '17

December 19, 2016
Almost six months on from the EU referendum, we present a mini-series on five people who helped to shape the result.



Writing and speaking are part of Daniel Hannans self-realisation, and he was disappointed to miss out on the TV EU referendum debates  as Tim Shipmans All Out War, the best guide to the campaign to date, makes clear.

But Im not at all sure that the Vote Leave maestros were wrong to select the spokespeople they did: Gisela Stuart, Boris Johnson, Andrea Leadsom. Our columnist is a bit marmite-flavoured, and TV is a bland medium.

Either way, Daniels work had largely been done by the time he took his eloquence and imagination to a hundred town halls (since the big debates werent open to him). Johnson and Michael Gove were bigger figures in the campaign; Iain Duncan Smith and John Redwood have contributed just as much over the years.

But I put Daniel ahead of all four because of his specific pressure for a referendum, for which he pressed relentlessly, in print and out. He did more than any other Conservative to make the weather that made it happen.

For this, he makes my top five. You can have your own say in our end of year survey, which is published this morning. Tomorrow, I will turn to someone from a different political party.
It is perhaps a sign of progress that the latest issue to imperil a devolved administration in Ulster is not a fresh outbreak of violence or inter-communal tension, but a public finances scandal rooted in a green energy scheme.

Arlene Foster, the First Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, faces a motion of no confidence today. In fact, there are two.

The first, tabled by the nationalist SDLP, is backed by a rainbow coalition of opposition parties including the Greens and People Before Profit on the left and the Ulster Unionists and Traditional Unionist Voice on the right.

More seriously, however, Sinn Fein announced yesterday that they will be bringing their own motion. The republicans are the DUPs only partners in the coalition running the Northern Ireland Executive.

Each demands that the First Minister step aside for the duration of an independent inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, a programme intended to create a financial incentive for businesses to use green energy.

Due to there being no limit on the amount claimed  as covered in last weeks Red, White, and Blue  some were able to turn huge profits by needlessly burning fuel, at a cost to taxpayers of more than 400 million. The whole thing has now been dubbed cash for ash.

Foster introduced the RHI scheme in 2012, but was really landed in hot water earlier this week when Jonathan Bell, a DUP MLA and former colleague, alleged that her special advisors had been trying to cleanse Stormont records of her culpability, and that she demanded he keep the scheme running despite the losses.

Since that interview Bell has been suspended by the DUP, threatened legal action against the First Minister, and had a top civil servant disprove at least one of his allegations.

It also now looks as if the lack of price capping was the result of a curiously specific failure to copy the relevant regulation over from mainland legislation. According to the News Letters Sam McBride, the section covering price caps is the one, very expensive gap in a law that is otherwise a copy and paste of its GB counterpart.

Northern Irelands institutions are built to try to withstand such instability, and the Belfast Telegraph reports that the DUP can use a special parliamentary procedure to prevent the motions passage even if Sinn Fein supports it.

The party seems minded to tough it out, at least for the moment, although more fresh evidence against Foster may have come to light this morning. Whether or not she could realistically continue when all the other parties have called on her to step aside remains to be seen.

If Foster were to stand aside, the consequences might not be confined to Northern Ireland: a new leader, even if temporary, may alter the new and increasingly friendly dynamic between the DUP and the Conservatives. Tory whips will be keeping a close eye on who ends up in command of the eight Democratic Unionist MPs.
The below is a response by Policy Exchanges Judicial Power Project to the Joint Committee on Human Rights concerns about the impact of leaving the EU on human rights in the UK.

What the JCHR Gets Wrong about Fundamental Rights

In its report on The Human Rights Implications of Brexit, the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) expresses great fear that the UKs withdrawal from the EU will do significant damage to the constitutional framework for protecting human rights. For reasons outlined in our submission to the JCHR, the reports fear is misplaced and betrays important misunderstandings about human rights and their foundations. Fundamental human rights are not created by treaties with foreign powers. They are moral truths that states should recognise and to which they should give effect. The UK has long had an enviable reputation for securing rights and for doing so by way of the ordinary processes of parliamentary democracy and common law adjudication.

Human Rights after Brexit

The obvious answer to the JCHRs anxiety about how rights will be protected after Brexit is that they will once again be secured by a sovereign Parliament, acting within a mature political tradition and answerable to the electorate, and by an executive that is accountable to Parliament and subject to the ordinary law of the land, including the rulings of independent courts.

The report is wrong to assert that membership of the EU has been pivotal to the UKs record of rights protection and that withdrawal puts the future of rights protection in doubt. Equally mistaken is the JCHRs unwarranted assumption that the UK would not have acted to secure certain rights but for EU involvement. On top of this, the JCHR wrongly assumes that rights are best protected by supranational rights adjudication. Rather than being viewed as a guardian of rights, the Luxembourg Court is best understood as a motor of integration which almost always resolves legal questions in a pro-Unioni.e. more rather than less integrationistfashion. Its expansive interpretations of the scope and content of EU fundamental rights should be seen above all as policies strengthening and expanding its own jurisdiction and its reach into the national laws of member states.

The basic point of Brexit is that UK institutions will now be responsible for how the UK is governed. It is striking that the JCHR shies away from this responsibility by lamenting the prospect that developments in EU law and the case law of the CJEU will no longer automatically take effect in the UK.

The Committees fear about the future of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights should be seen in this light. The Charters scope is uncertain and its content is vague. It is a vehicle for a great expansion of judicial power and it should have no place in UK parliamentary democracy. The Great Repeal Bill should bring to an end its continuing force in our law.

After Brexit, it will be for Parliament to decide whether to depart from the legal status quo. It is therefore absurd for the JCHR to demand that before triggering Article 50 the Government should itemise the rights that EU law protects and its intentions in relation to each of them. This would be a colossal waste of time and wholly premature. The Government cannot itself repeal laws it thinks undesirable  it will be for each successive Parliament to decide how or if to change the law.

The JCHR draws attention to the risk that Parliament may empower ministers to change the law by way of sweeping Henry VIII clauses. This is a real risk and warrants caution. However, the complexity of law reform after Brexit will require a combination of primary and secondary lawmaking and the trick will be to confine and focus the latter, not to eschew it altogether.

Residency Rights

The main substantive recommendation in the Committees report is that the Government unilaterally guarantee permanent residence to all those EU nationals legally resident in the UK. To do otherwise, the JCHR suggests, would be wrongly to treat fundamental human rights as bargaining chips.

However, there is clearly no fundamental human right on the part of all EU nationals resident in the UK at present to remain permanently in the UK. The rights of legal residence such nationals now enjoy are obviously rights that are contingent on the continuing force of the EU treaties. The JCHRs proposal is to confer a novel right on EU nationals. The right is not less novel simply because Article 8 of the ECHR is likely to be called in aid to challenge attempts to uphold clear migration law.

Notwithstanding the JCHRs muddled legal analysis, it would of course be very wrong to disrupt the lives of the many EU nationals who have settled here. And no one has proposed doing so. However, it may well be premature  or extravagant  to confer new rights of permanent residence on all EU nationals now lawfully resident in the UK unilaterally.

It would be premature without first considering reciprocity with the relevant member states, which may be necessary to discharge the responsibility of British authorities to secure the rights of UK citizens living abroad. It would be extravagant if it failed to distinguish EU nationals who are recently arrived from those who are long-settled and, especially, if it ignored the risk to others that some EU nationals may pose, risks that EU law has forbidden the UK from addressing.

The JCHR is quite right that settling residence rights is very important. But as the JCHR itself notes, the Government agrees and is already making this a priority. The Government might usefully assure EU nationals resident in the UK that it intends to define and establish the right of EU nationals to remain, but nothing in the JCHRs report provides any compelling reason for it to go further at this stage.

Conclusion

Overall, the JCHRs alarmism about human rights after Brexit is misplaced. Not only alarmist, the JCHRs report rests on one mistaken assumption after another. Above all, it assumes without evidence that the UK would not have sought to secure certain rights but for our membership of the EU, which in turn leads it to wrongly assume that there will be a net loss of rights protection following withdrawl from the EU. In this, the JCHR singularly fails to recognise the opportunity for withdrawal to improve the constitutional arrangements by which human rights are protected within the UK. No state has a perfect record, but the UKs record of protecting fundamental rights is the match of most countries in the EU and beyond. Following Brexit, the JCHR itself will have an important role to play in the architecture of rights protection in the UK. We hope that at that time the JCHR will be less dewy-eyed about the EU and exhibit a better grasp of the proven capacity of our parliamentary democracy to respect and enhance human rights protection and the rule of law.

Gunnar Beck, Barrister, 1 Essex Court, and Reader in EU Law, SOAS University of London

Richard Ekins, Associate Professor, University of Oxford, Head of the Judicial Power Project

John Finnis, Professor Emeritus in the University of Oxford, Biolchini Family Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame

Christopher Forsyth, Emeritus Sir David Williams Professor of Public Law, University of Cambridge

Graham Gee, Professor of Public Law, University of Sheffield

John Tasioulas, Yeoh Professor of Politics, Philosophy & Law, Kings College, London
CORNWALL, Ontario  Sydney Street has been reduced to one lane while City workers repair a broken water main.

The break occurred between the Eleventh and Thirteenth Street intersections of Sydney Street. Municipal Works was informed of the water main break over lunch hour on Monday, Dec. 19.

John St. Marseille, the Citys General Manager of Municipal Works and Infrastructure expects Sydney Street to be reduced to one-lane north of Eleventh Street through this evening and into tomorrow morning.

Marseille said that the cold weather would extend the time of repair of this break which he said was likely caused by the frost and cold breaking seals in the water pipes and making the pipes themselves brittle.

Seven homes in the area of the break have been affected and are without water.
BELFIELD  New North Dakota pipeline rules will give state regulators greater oversight of repairs to the Belle Fourche Pipeline that spilled more than 176,000 gallons of oil this month.

Regulations that take effect Jan. 1, 2017, require companies to notify the state Oil and Gas Division if they plan to repair or replace crude oil gathering pipelines, allowing state inspectors to observe the construction process.

The rules also enable state inspectors to witness tests performed on the pipeline to check the integrity of the line before its returned to service.

In addition, pipeline owners are now required to report to state officials the root cause of a pipeline spill, allowing regulators to look for trends and work to prevent future incidents.

We want to be able to collect the data on the true root cause of why these pipelines are failing and look to that in future rulemaking or future regulations, said Kevin Connors, pipelines program supervisor for the Oil and Gas Division.

A landowner discovered the leaking Belle Fourche Pipeline on Dec. 5 about 16 miles northwest of Belfield. The company estimates that 4,200 barrels, or 176,400 gallons, of oil spilled, contaminating a hillside and a little more than 5 miles of Ash Coulee Creek, a tributary of the Little Missouri River.

Belle Fourche, which is part of True Companies of Wyoming, is not likely to repair the pipeline before the stronger pipeline rules take effect next year.

The hillside where the pipeline break occurred is slumping and concerns about instability of the rugged Badlands terrain have prevented crews from accessing the area. Officials hope a geotechnical evaluation can be performed next week, said Bill Suess, spill investigation program manager for the North Dakota Department of Health.

True Companies is focused on cleaning up the environment and investigating the cause of the pipeline break, said spokeswoman Wendy Owen. There have been no discussions so far about putting the pipeline back into service, she said. The 6-inch oil pipeline dates back to the 1980s and Belle Fourche acquired it in the 1990s.

Until we have a good definitive answer as to why it occurred in the first place, the decision about when to put it back in service is far off, Owen said.

The Laborers District Council of Minnesota and North Dakota this month urged state regulators to have stronger oversight of True Companies, citing a history of spills, safety problems and flagrant violations of state and federal law. The company also owns Bridger Pipeline, which had the January 2015 oil spill of more than 30,000 gallons in the Yellowstone River that contaminated the water supply for Glendive, Mont.

The labor union also has criticized a contractor that True Companies works with, Loenbro of Great Falls, Mont., which is on scene of the Belle Fourche spill.

Among the concerns the union raises is a report of slipshod construction on an oil pipeline owned by True Companies that parallels a carbon dioxide pipeline owned by Dakota Gasification Co.

In 2011, Dakota Gasification contacted the Public Service Commission after a cave-in left the carbon dioxide pipeline exposed in Dunn County. Dakota Gasification concluded that poor construction methods on the True Companies pipeline caused the cave-in on their parallel pipeline, PSC documents show. Loenbro was the contractor for that segment of the True Companies pipeline, the union said, citing PSC records.

Weather conditions also were identified as contributing to the pipeline exposure, The Dickinson Press reported at the time. Dakota Gasification did not file a formal complaint to the PSC.

The new pipeline rules, which the labor union supported, will provide stronger oversight and prohibit substandard construction practices, said spokesman Kevin Pranis.

If youre going to have a contractor like Loenbro, working for an owner with a record like the True Companies, rebuilding an aging pipeline that has already failed once, and thats located in rough terrain, you want someone looking over their shoulder, Pranis said.

A representative for Loenbro did not return a call seeking comment.

Tad True, vice president of True Companies, told Forum Communications political commentator Rob Port the company had a compliance problem a decade ago but has improved since then.

The Oil and Gas Division has been on site of the Belle Fourche spill and will be monitoring work on the pipeline.

If we have any concerns with this pipeline and the repair of it, well certainly address those with the pipeline owner, Connors said.

Even though some of the new rules dont take effect until Jan. 1, 2017, the state already has six pipeline inspectors who have been working in the field to oversee new pipeline construction and repair work, he said.

Companies have really been working with us just to keep the inspectors in the know when theyre doing work on the pipelines, Connors said.

Finding out the cause of pipeline spills should lead to reducing the frequency and severity of spills, said Troy Coons, chairman of the Northwest Landowners Association, which pushed for the new regulations.

A lot of times things werent reported or werent reported accurately or conclusively, Coons said. Whatever we see as a trend in the cause of these spills, we can address that.

Companies are now required to tell state regulators the root cause of pipeline spills within 10 days after the cleanup is complete. However, major incidents can take months or years to clean up.

In addition to state regulators, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has jurisdiction over the Belle Fourche Pipeline, which the federal agency considers to be a transmission line under its definitions.

The agencys requirements vary depending on the circumstances of each incident, but generally the agency could require a test to determine the cause of the pipeline break as well as additional pressure tests or inspections before it can be put back in service.

The North Dakota Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency also are investigating and monitoring the cleanup.
Close

The number of homeless falling prey to a new kind of drug and developing synthetic marijuana addiction is rapidly growing. Many are seen wandering the streets like zombies, disoriented, and with violent tendencies that threaten public safety. About 300 people have become sick in St. Louis, Missouri alone, while other states have seen similar cases.

Investigators speaking to ABC News revealed that synthetic marijuana only costs $1 to $2, making it easily accessible to everyone. The problem has become so prevalent in Missouri that those providing services specifically to the homeless are urged not to give handouts as the money could be used to purchase the drug.

"You factor in some of the despair or difficult circumstances that these folks are going through, and they often fall prey to the suppliers offering an outlet to deal with their unfortunate situation," Austin police Lt. Kurt Thomas said.

Symptoms of synthetic marijuana addiction vary from person to person, and drug tests are often unable to detect this drug in a person's body. This man-made hallucinogen is even 100 times more potent than actual cannabis, according to Dr. Anthony Scalzo from the St. Louis University School of Medicine in a report on FOX News.

"It was common for us to see reactions where they were violent, incoherent, sometimes catatonic on the ground," Thomas added. "Users often experience rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, anxiety, and hallucinations."

In 2015, the New England Journal of Medicine conducted a study that revealed synthetic marijuana addiction caused 20 deaths from August 2011 to April 2015. Those who survived were likely to suffer kidney failure or brain damage.

While legislatures have put in the necessary laws to prohibit this drug. However, manufacturers constantly change the make-up and ingredients in order to avoid regulatory boards. Add in the lack of definite symptoms, and the government is facing a difficult uphill battle against synthetic marijuana addiction.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
The first pipeline protester trial scheduled to start Monday morning was postponed after the judge learned that not all 10 defendants had received all the evidence from the prosecutor.

Only one of the nine defense attorneys involved in the case had received about three hours of aerial video and 500-plus photos of the protest site from law enforcement, said Sandra Freeman, who was present during the closed proceeding. Freeman is the criminal case coordinator for the Water Protector Legal Collective, a group that assists Dakota Access Pipeline protesters with their cases.

South Central District Judge Cynthia Feland reset the trial for Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, according to the Morton County court clerk's office.

Freeman said she did not believe there was bad intent behind the prosecution's failure to turn over the evidence.

"The volume of what is happening here is quite large," she said. "It doesn't seem to anybody that he was trying to hide things."

Ladd Erickson, who is prosecuting the case for Morton County, said after court that part of the problem was that some of the defense attorneys had been appointed in the past week.

Some of the defendants met their attorneys for the first time in the courthouse hallway on Monday morning.

Joe Haythorn, of Oregon, one of the protesters charged in the case, said he was glad for the continuance.

"I learned of (the additional evidence) today," Haythorn said. "That was nice to hear about, the 500-plus photos and something like three hours cumulative video."

"I'm just happy that the judge saw through to the point of view that we agree with, which we obviously think is the just one," said Haythorn, who was accompanied by his father and sister at the courthouse.

Thirty-four jurors showed up at the Morton County Courthouse for potential service on Monday, but they were dismissed around 11 a.m., when the case was continued. A total of 65 people were called for jury duty, according to the clerk's office.

The case involves 10 people charged with disorderly conduct on Aug. 11, one of the first days of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. A police affidavit filed in the case accuses the defendants of pushing through law enforcement lines or police tape to access a work site on North Dakota Highway 1806 in Morton County.

In court documents filed Friday, Feland deferred ruling on Erickson's motion to exclude issues of tribal sovereignty, the concerns about the Dakota Access Pipeline and "any other social or political cause." She wrote in her order that the defendants did not have adequate time before trial to respond to the motion, which was filed Dec. 12. Erickson could raise objections if such issues arose at trial, she wrote.

The defendants are from nine states, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon and Hawaii. They range in age from 23 to 57 years old.

The defendants include Sara Jumping Eagle, a doctor and wife of former congressional candidate Chase Iron Eyes. Two of the 10 defendants have additional open cases relating to pipeline arrests.

There are two more pipeline protester trials scheduled for this week on Tuesday and Friday.

A total of 571 people have been arrested in connection with the pipeline protests, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Department.

Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and $1,500 in fines.
Members of North Dakotas congressional delegation see the Standing Rock Sioux tribal chairmans willingness to meet with them recently as a positive sign that state-tribal relations will be repaired after the Dakota Access Pipeline protests come to a conclusion.

Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II met separately Monday in Bismarck with Rep. Kevin Cramer and Sen. John Hoeven, both Republicans, to discuss the ongoing protests in southern Morton County.

Cramer called his 90 minutes with Archambault a productive encounter.

His mission was to educate  on how weve arrived at this point, Cramer said. Daves efforts to meet with officials is an important step.

Cramer said Archambault outlined the historical concerns of the tribe such as treaties and what they consider past violations. Cramer said despite the history, he doesnt see how changing a pipeline route would be the way to right historical wrongs.

He did say the effort by Archambault to thoroughly outline the historical perspective is a great tool when dealing with future projects and being proactive with developers.

Cramer characterized the unlawful actions of out-of-state groups and individuals during protest activities as unfortunate. He said the causes they promote, such as ending the use of fossil fuels, undermine the tribes original arguments: protecting Missouri River water and sacred artifacts.

The legitimate questions  have been greatly diluted, Cramer said.

A message left Monday with a Standing Rock spokesman for comment on the meetings wasnt immediately returned.

In a statement, Hoeven called on Archambault to join the delegation in requesting federal resources to respond to protests to ensure their lawfulness in the future.

If the tribe still opposes the project, their concerns should be addressed through the court system, rather than through protests that impede or interfere with the lawful construction of the project and the rights of people who live in the area to get to work or attend school, he said.

Hoeven said unlawful actions of some out-of-state protesters with agendas other than that of the tribe have put a strain on tribal-state relations in recent months.

Our nation must be able to build new energy infrastructure, or we will be forced to rely on existing infrastructure, which is wearing out, making it less safe and less environmentally sound, he said. We can work together to improve the permitting process going forward. As fellow North Dakotans both native and non-native  we need to work together to restore our long-standing good relationship.

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said in a statement that shell be meeting with Archambault on Thursday. She said the topics of discussion will include the safety of law enforcement, protesters and local residents.

If protesters want to stand with Standing Rock, they should listen to the chairmans calls to move off the corps land north of the Cannonball River and return home, Heitkamp said. "The safety of everyone involved should be the top priority and I hope the remaining protesters will act responsibly and move off that land, especially as the winter fully sets in."
Medicine has always been about the quick-fix solution. Feeling ill? It's clearly your bodily fluids acting up, so we'll remove some. Queasy? Here's some leeches, go nuts. Depressed? That's nothing a good tickle in the nether regions won't solve. Sick? Swallow these antibiotics and run along. Frankly, it's insulting that we got kicked out of medical school. This shit is easy.



"Take two of these and call me in the morning ... to tell me what they do. I have no idea."

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Except, not. It turns out that our excitement to treat every ache and ailment with antibiotics is coming back to bite us in the ass in the form of antibiotic-resistant superbugs -- which include tuberculosis, gonorrhea, shigella, and MRSA. Menaces we thought we had under control are coming back stronger than ever and all at the same time, like Spider-Man villains. Our collective pill habit has caused a public health crisis that kills approximately 700,000 people annually.

The question of how something we created for good could turn into our next apocalypse can be explained, well, the same way that most of our apocalypses come about: because we don't know what the hell we're doing. When antibiotics are prescribed, it's mostly because patients ask for them specifically in the belief that they're a cure-all wonder drug (they're not) or because it saves doctors from having to do the actual work of figuring out what's wrong. The point is that, in both cases, better and safer treatments are available, but we're not using them. And so we get rid of the easy-to-kill bacteria ... allowing the tough-as-shit strands to take over their turf.
North Dakotas three presidential electors cast their ballots for Republican Donald Trump on Monday inside the state Capitol in a short meeting surrounded by their families, media and party supporters.

Electors Beverly Clayburgh, of Grand Forks, Duane Mutch, of Larimore, and John Olson, of Bismarck, went through the process of casting their ballots and having them certified by the secretary of state in less than 20 minutes.

Democracy works when weve got engaged citizens, Gov. Doug Burgum said before the conclusion of the proceedings.

Burgum thanked the states voters who cast ballots for making their voices heard, regardless of which candidate they backed.

Trump earned 63 percent of the vote in North Dakota last month; the state has gone with the GOP candidate in every presidential election since 1964.

In November, Trump defeated former senator and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an upset victory with 306 electoral votes to Clintons 232.

Olson, an attorney and a former Republican state senator, called the opportunity to participate as an elector a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He called the electoral college an important part of the democratic process.

After casting his ballot, Olson said he had no qualms about his vote going for the candidate approved by a large majority of North Dakotans.

A last-ditch effort across the country recently was undertaken by those urging electors to vote their conscience on Monday.

I had thousands of emails sent to my email address, hundreds of letters, Olson said.

Outside of a small candlelight vigil on the state Capitol grounds that had been scheduled for Sunday urging electors to vote their conscience, there was little public opposition in the state to the elector vote.

Burgum called Mondays meeting a fun as well as historic moment to preside over in his first few days as governor.

Its very positive for North Dakota to have a Republican in the White House, said Burgum, adding that itll likely lead to more North Dakota-friendly policy in areas such as energy, agriculture and environmental regulations.
Applications & OS News

Arcadia Adds Streaming Analytics Capabilities To Its Big Data Platform

Rick Whiting

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Big data analytics company Arcadia Data is shipping a new release of its business intelligence platform that adds streaming data visualization and analysis capabilities, a move that will provide businesses with real-time insights for Internet of Things applications.

The new release, Arcadia Enterprise 3.3, also provides native connectivity to Amazon S3 to enable visualization of data in the Amazon cloud storage system, providing a way to conduct SQL analysis on S3-stored data.

"We've seen pent-up demand from people with data in S3 who want to do more with it," said Priyank Patel, Arcadia's co-founder and chief product officer, in an interview with CRN.

[Related: The 10 Coolest Big Data Startups Of 2016]

Arcadia, founded in 2012 and based in San Mateo, Calif., provides one of a new generation of business analytics tools designed to handle huge volumes of data, including data stored in Hadoop and in cloud-based systems.

The ability to apply visualization and analysis tools to streaming data is an increasingly important capability in the business intelligence arena and will become even more so as businesses deploy Internet of Things networks, sensors and devices and begin to collect and analyze IoT data.

Arcadia cites connected cars, manufacturing quality, cyber security and data center monitoring as some of the key IoT applications where streaming data analysis is in growing demand.

"Getting access to this data within seconds or minutes is critical to these use cases," Patel said.

Arcadia Enterprise can access streaming data in such systems as Apache HBase, Apache Kudu and, in the 3.3 release, Apache Solr, the open-source enterprise search platform. The new support for Amazon S3 comes in addition to existing support for Amazon Redshift, the AWS data warehouse service.

The enhancements in Arcadia Data 3.3 mean that the system can provide streaming data visualizations side by side with historical data reports within integrated data applications, according to the company, allowing users to switch back and forth between real-time and ad-hoc data discovery and reporting.

In the channel, Arcadia works with a number of global and boutique systems integrators that implement the company's analytical software. It also has a reseller relationship with Rackspace, the cloud service provider, which resells Arcadia Enterprise to provide the data visual analytics service to its subscribers.

"With the release of Arcadia Enterprise 3.3, we expect to be able to provide more real-time and advanced analytics features to our customers as part of our joint solution," said Chandra Salem, Rackspace chief technologist and senior big data architect, in a statement.

The 3.3 release also incorporates "Arcadia Smart Acceleration" technology that specifies what metrics and applications are most important for visualization and then accelerates them. Analytical views, including dashboards and visualizations, are stored in the Hadoop Distributed File System to improve performance, making it easier to share insights concurrently across hundreds and even thousands of users.

The new release also offers what the company calls "high cardinality segmentation analysis" capabilities that speed up segment and behavioral analysis tasks, especially in marketing analysis for understanding consumer behavior patterns and preferences.

Arcadia Enterprise 3.3 also has enhanced mapping capabilities using Google Maps and MapBox.


Channel programs News

Dell EMC Channel Chief Byrne Pushing Solution Providers To Sell More Product Lines

Matt Brown

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Dell EMC Global Channel Chief John Byrne says solution providers are selling far too few Dell EMC lines of business, and he plans to drive them to sell across the IT giant's complete product and services portfolio.

"When we look at the partner community today, they're selling less than 1.6 lines of (Dell EMC lines of) business [on average]," Byrne told CRN. "We want them to be selling more. That means they're not selling all of Dell's lines of businesses. We want them to."

The full portfolio sales push is aimed at capitalizing on the $70 billion IT behemoth's massive investment in R and D and its broad and deep product and services portfolio, said Byrne. "We are spending 2x on R and D than IBM, 2x on R &D HPE, we dominate Gartner's Magic Quadrant," he said. "No one else has the portfolio that we have. We want our partners to be selling the full portfolio of products."

Byrne's push comes as Dell EMC gets set to roll out the new terms of its unified channel program in January. Dell EMC announced today the company will "status match" partners into the new program, essentially moving top tier partners from either the Dell or EMC program into the top tier of the new program and so forth.

Under the new unified program, partners will have a couple of ways to advance through those tiers, including selling broad swathes of the Dell EMC portfolio or booking significant revenue from a more limited set of products, while attaching more services.

Byrne was careful to point out that he doesn't want Dell EMC's full portfolio channel efforts to seem "artificial," and he conceded that the company won't necessarily force solution providers out of their comfort zones. For example, he said, large enterprise partners that sell across server, storage and networking products won't be required to sell PCs.



Related: Dell EMC To Pay Rebate And MDF To Legacy EMC Partners For January 'Gap Month'

Michael Tanenhaus, CEO of Mavenspire, a Dell solution provider based in Maryland, said he is 100 percent behind the Dell EMC full portfolio offensive. "It's one portfolio," Tanenhaus aid. "They told people to study up on the other product lines they are not selling. I think it's reasonable. They don't want people telling only part of the story. They want you telling the whole story, and that was true in the Dell world, too."

"It's our end of year, and we're doing everything in our power to demonstrate that we can sell both sides of the portfolio," Tanenhaus said. "And our new year's resolution is to drive it even further by the end of the Dell fiscal year."

Sonia St. Charles, CEO of the Davenport Group, a Minnesota-based solution provider that works with Dell, said pushing partners to sell more product lines is both understandable, but challenging.

"It's a fine balance they walk," St. Charles said. "If a partner's expertise is in one or two product sets, I don't think you should punish partners for succeeding in what they do well."

Davenport's data center business stretches across all of Dell's server, storage and networking lines and the solution provider does work with Dell PCs at times. The challenge for partners, that like Davenport were all-in with Dell, is getting up to speed with the EMC portfolio, St. Charles said.

"I do understand Dell's perspective, but it's going to be years before we have the level of expertise on the EMC product line that we do on the (Dell) Compellent product line," St. Charles said. "It's hard to have the same expertise when you've been working with a product for 10 years or more and have experience with those customers."
Networking News

Aerohive Networks: Fat Chance We'll Get Acquired

Mark Haranas

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With networking pure-plays Aruba Networks, Ruckus Wireless and Meru Networks being swallowed up by larger companies like Hewlett Packard Enterprise, one of the last standalone vendors in the market, Aerohive Networks, is striving to remain independent.

"If you look at the way technology marketplaces evolve, there are some patterns around consolidation, but the innovation comes from the standalone guys -- it's not coming [from] the behemoths," said David Greene, chief marketing officer at Aerohive, in an interview with CRN. "We want to leverage our independent status as a platform to driving innovation and driving growth and helping to point out some of the ways the industry can evolve going forward."

As bandwidth needs increase at a blistering pace and the Internet of Things market begins to blossom, vendors have scooped up networking companies at a blistering pace.

[Related: Aerohive Attracting Brocade-Ruckus Channel Partners Amid Broadcom Uncertainty]

Within the past 20 months, HPE bought Aruba for $3 billion, Fortinet acquired Meru for $44 million and Brocade Communications nabbed Ruckus for $1.2 billion. Brocade itself is being acquired by an even larger company, Broadcom, for $5.9 billion. Broadcom plans to divest Brocade's networking business, leaving only a handful of recognizable players in the market.

Greene said that although there has been plenty of speculation this year about potential buyers for Milpitas, Calif.-based Aerohive, the company is looking to stay an independent innovator, providing differentiation for the channel.

"Our intent is to remain independent," said Greene. "We are the fastest growing Wi-Fi vendor this year. We were the fastest growing Wi-Fi vendor in our space."

"So we continue to see momentum towards us driven largely by our partners who say, 'Hey, there's something different here. There's a different way of thinking here, a different opportunity to engage with the vendor and there's a different way of thinking about the solution that I'm going to get [compared to] if I go buy a big Cisco or HP solution,'" said Greene. "We think that's a very nice premise for growth and our board of directors and investors view that as well."

One CEO from a solution provider that partners with Aerohive said he hopes the vendor will stay independent, but isn't optimistic that will be the case.

"It seems that everything is up for grabs at this point  anyone can be bought in today's market," said the CEO, who did not want to be identified. "I like Aerohive and want what [Greene] is saying to be true, but they're a small fish swimming among some real big fish out there."

The solution provider said his company's Aerohive sales increased 15 percent annually in 2016, mostly in the education and retail spaces.

"They have a niche. They have a few verticals they're known in. They have a good channel sales strategy  those are attributes that some companies might find interesting," he said.

For the first three quarters of its current fiscal year, Aerohive captured a combined $128 million in revenue, up from $105 million compared to the same three quarters in 2015. The company's market cap sits at $305 million.

Aerohive's specialty is in the education market, where it's seeking to win a chunk of the federal government's $6 billion E-Rate program in 2017, according to Greene. The $6 billion will be spent next year to update and enhance networking technology in underdeveloped schools across the country.

Greene said being an independent vendor allows Aerohive's channel partners to sell differentiated solutions in a consolidated market.

"The partner who just wants to sell a lot of generic stuff with no value-added, those arent the partners getting excited about Aerohive. The partners who are excited about Aerohive are the partners who see, 'I want an offering that has a different architecture that is forward looking -- things like SD-LAN that are helping me as a partner develop a services business as a complement to my resell business.'  Our technology foundation allows us both to go to a customer with a compelling value proposition."
Storage Startups: Many Roads, Many Destinations

The storage industry continues to be fertile ground for entrepreneurs, often serial entrepreneurs, who have a new way to better manage the growing amount of data that businesses collect. It's also a harsh industry, one that does not always forgive investors' mistakes. However, for every Nirvanix that goes out of business, or every Pure Storage that gets its IPO, or every Xangati or QLogic or SolidFire or even EMC that gets acquired, someone else with a new idea steps up to try to take its place.

Not all these startups will succeed. Some of them will draw enough attention to their innovations to get acquisition offers they can't refuse. Others may run out of money and take any offer they can get. Some may just disappear. And every once in a while, one might show the kind of innovation or marketing savvy to truly stand out with enough customer and channel partner interest to one day become a legacy vendor.

For a look at 10 independent storage developers that either came out of stealth or introduced their first solutions during 2016, turn the page.

(For more of our 2016 retrospective, check out 'CRN's 2016 Tech Year In Review.')
Harry Reid in his six years as Democratic majority leader has done more institutional damage to the Senate than any leader in history. Reid is retiring. This is good news for America. Whoever talks about Reid's service to the Senate and to American people, ha! Service indeed! The truth of the matter is that Reid has damaged America considerably. He elevated his own political preference above what he was elected to do.

Reid was the most effective politician to protect the president and advance his movement's goals. Reid has been willing to diminish the influence, power and effectiveness of his own institution, in order to thwart his opponents. He has a history to play dirty, and in order to satisfy his own need to feel powerful. He is one reason that has kept President Barack Obama's presidency on life support. He stripped the Senate of one of its debate amendment processes. He has been a malevolent force for years in American politics.

The Nevadan's contempt for his political foes didn't help. Reid pursued personal vendettas from the Senate floor and altered Senate rules to bar filibusters on most judicial nominations, allowing approval with only a simple majority. In his final days as the minority leader, Reid suggested that FBI Director James Comey potentially violated the Hatch Act, in a letter after praising his work on the Clinton email scandal earlier this year.

It's the latest in the long list of shameful actions taken by the Nevada Democrat. This is the greatest service he has done for the American people, to go away, and we hope he stays away for good.
The following is a guest post on GentleReformation.com by J.K. Wall who is a writer in Indianapolis. His modernized abridgment of William Symingtons work, Messiah the Prince Revisited, was published in 2014 by Crown & Covenant Publications.

I have been enjoying the new Netflix Original series The Crown, which vividly dramatizes the change experienced by Elizabeth II immediately after she became queen of England.

Before she received the news of her father the kings deathat a lodge in KenyaElizabeth was treated as a distinguished but otherwise normal guest. After hearing the news over the radio, all the hotel staff members and other guests knelt in her presence.

And yet, it would take another 16 months before Elizabeth was formally crowned. During those 16 months, Elizabeth took up the heavy work of queen and was referred to by everyone as The Queen. Not the queen-elect, or the queen-in-waiting, or the queen-to-be, or any such already-not yet title. She was, during that entire 16 months, as fully queen as she was after the formal coronation ceremony.

This is a helpful picture for how we should understand the kingship of Jesus Christ. Its important because our answer to the simple question, When did Christ become king? will transform our understanding of culture and how we as Christians relate to it.

When was Jesus crowned as our king? It was only after His Ascension, when He re-entered heaven and sat down on a throne, next to God the Father. (Mark 16:19; 1 Pet. 3:22)

But that isnt the time when Jesus actually became king. Even before He was crucified, Jesus told Pontius Pilate that He was already a king with a kingdom. (John 18:36-37)

So when did Jesus actually become king? A common answer is that Jesus became king when he was born. The kings from the Orient testified to the reality of his kingship early on, bowing to the boy Jesus and presenting him royal gifts. (Mt. 2:11)

The kingdom is not established before the King arrives, so that he can then enter it, Abraham Kuyper, reflecting this view, wrote in his book Pro Rege. He himself brings the kingdom in his own person. He establishes it. It is established only when he appears.1

But this is not quite correct. As the example of Queen Elizabeth shows, a monarch does not become monarch at the moment of birth, but when she (or he) has the royal power transferred to her from her father (or mother).

When Christ Became King

The Bible uses such words as give and set to show how God the Father transferred to Jesus authority to rule over the entire earth. Of course, as the Son of God, Jesus already had equal power with the Father over the whole world. But as William Symington makes clear in his book, Messiah the Prince, the Bible speaks repeatedly of the Father also giving Jesus worldwide authority to accomplish His work as redeemer.

In other words, Jesus the man was crowned king of the world so that He could direct all worldly events for one purpose: saving Gods people from their sins and gathering them together in the church to be, once again, with God. This is Jesus mediatorial kingship.

The Apostle Paul made this doctrine clear when he wrote, in Eph. 1:22, And he (God the Father) put all things under his (Christs) feet, and gave him (Christ) as head over all things to the church.

So the proper question is, when did this transfer of royal power occur? The simple answer is this: since eternity.2

This seems counterintuitive at first. Why was Jesus crowned as redeemer king even before the world was made, even before mankind sinned, even before there was anything to redeem?

We must remember, however, that the fall and redemption of mankind was not Gods Plan B. God is not the author of sinmankind, given great freedom, did that on its own. But God always knew that mankind would sin and would need a redeemer.

So God the Father appointed Christ as a redeeming, mediating kingeven before the world was made.

Paul confirmed that Christ has been the redeeming king from all eternity in Colossians 1. Speaking of Christ in His role as redeemer (in whom we have redemption), Paul wrote, For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col. 1:16-17)

Transforming Our Understanding of Culture

If Christ has been our redeeming king since before creation, and Christ is the one who created the world, then all of creation, including all of human culture, is used by Christ for the redeemed.

That truth upends several widespread notionsthat physical things are completely distinct from spiritual things, that the natural world is completely separate from the supernatural, that there is a common created realm that does not participate in the particular redemptive realm. All these sharp dichotomies are incorrect. Instead, we must believe that Christ is using all thingsALL THINGSto build His church.

This matters in two ways. First, it makes Christians cultural work outside of church more important and, frankly, more religious than most Christians acknowledge. Second, it makes our cultural standing as Christianswhether waxing or waning, in power or under persecutionalmost entirely unimportant.

On the first point, Christ is using all of creation and all of human culture to build His church. Therefore, no Christian should say that his or her 9-5 job is not governed by the reality that Christ is king and that Christs scriptures include principles that must be applied daily in the office. What we call secular is actually, in Christs hands, bringing about sacred things.

Heres a brief example: There would be no one to preach the gospel and no one to hear it, unless there were enough food to keep both preachers and hearers alive. So everyone who works in the food businessfarmers, truckers, grocers, cashiers, chefs, waitresses, bankers, credit card companies, food company executives and especially momsare laboring every day, under King Jesus direction, to keep the church going.

On the second point, Christs all-encompassing dominion frees Christians from worrying about gaining earthly power. We dont need it because Christ already has it. Therefore, no Christian should say, for example, that the U.S. presidential election is more important than even a single Sunday worship service.

Christ is using things we call secularlike electionsto build the church. His purpose for the church, however, is not to use it to win elections or to gain any other corner of earthly dominion.

There is only one KingJesusand He created the whole worldincluding all peoples, all institutions, all realmsfor one purpose. That purpose is to glorify God the Father by redeeming a people out of sin to dwell with God. This was true before creation. This was true when the Son of God became a man. This was true when Christ rose from the dead and had His coronation in heaven. And it has been true ever since.

So let us do as those at the Kenyan lodge did and kneel before our monarch. Let us commit ourselves to Christs work of building His church. Let us see with faith how Christ is already using both our worship and our work to accomplish the mission He was given before the foundation of the world.

1. Abraham Kuyper, Pro Rege: Living Under Christs Kingship, vol. 1. (Lexham Press: Bellingham, Wash., 2016), 346. It should be noted that, even though Kuyper is ambiguous on when Christ becomes king and even though his work on common grace draws (in my view) too sharp a distinction between the common and the particular, elsewhere in his writing Kuyper strongly affirms that Christs kingly dominion includes all things both spiritual and natural. See Pro Rege, pp. 361-69:  Christs kingly dominion is not restricted and limited to your spiritual life. It penetrates all orders and levels of creation.

2. We see Christ being declared King in eternity in Psalm 2, which was written before Christs incarnation. Psalm 2:6 quotes God as saying, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill. Then Psalm 2:7 quotes God again, this time speaking directly to this King: You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Later New Testament writers quote Psalm 2:7s use of the word begotten in two ways: 1) as a reference to his resurrection (Acts 13:33); and 2) as a reference to Christs eternal begottenness as the Son of God (Heb. 1:3-5; 5:5). Matthew Henry says the passage should be taken to have both meanings. And, indeed, the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 8, Section 1 affirms God the Father ordained Jesus as Mediator and King from all eternity.

This article originally apperaed on GentleReformation.com. Used with permission.

Image courtesy: Netflix.com

Publication date: December 19, 2016
T he Board of Directors of Venezia Terminal Passeggeri (VTP) has appointed Galliano Di Marco as the new director general for VTP, according to a prepared statement.

Di Marco will work with Sandro Trevisanato, who has been confirmed as president, to further strengthen VTPs positioning as a premiere homeport in Europe.

Di Marco was previously President of Ravenna Port Authority and President of T&C Traghetti e Crociere from 2012 to 2016 before joining VTP.
There is much uncertainty surrounding the security industry for 2017, and according to experts in the field, a lot of the trepidation is directly connected to what the nations next president will do.

Here's what security vendors and analysts are predicting for the year ahead.

John B Wood, CEO of Telos Corporation, cites a need for cooperation between the government and the private sector. President-elect Donald Trump took a break from his thank you tour to meet with tech executives to smooth over a contentious time between the two sides during his campaign.

President-elect Trump has been vocal about the need for a stronger and more aggressive cyber security posture, and Im confident that hell work with leading members of Congress. Many non-political cyber experts throughout the government, various agency CISOs and [Federal Chief Information Security Officer] General Touhill will also be great resources to further refine cyber security policies to protect U.S. interests in the face of constantly changing threats, Wood said.

[ MORE PREDICTIONS: Remain paranoid, err vigilant, with online security in 2017 | What the infosec job market looks like for next year ]

He also noted the renewed focus on U.S. Cyber Command. The President-elect has promised to eliminate the threat of defense sequestration and to spend more on the military. This needs to include working to roll back the budget caps for defense spending and providing additional resources for cyber security, including more money for U.S. Cyber Command, which I believe is grossly underfunded, Wood added.

Speaking of funding, Wood does not believe that a change of administration will automatically lead to a change in regulatory policy.

Although there will certainly be a big push by the Trump administration to roll back or modify overly burdensome regulations, I dont see this affecting cybersecurity regulations, like the NIST Cyber Security Framework that has been developed in consultation with the private sector, he commented.

Reuven Harrison, CTO and co-founder of Tufin, a provider of network security policy orchestration solutions for enterprise cybersecurity, said the thought of a Trump administration inevitably failing to uphold regulations will keep IT departments tossing and turning at night. If Trump implements his deregulation promises, and penalties for non-compliance with industry-wide security regulations are relaxed, security teams will need to be self-disciplined to maintain a high level of security by turning to outside resources for security best practices, he said.

Carson Sweet, co-founder and CTO at CloudPassage, said privacy will take center stage over security.

Trumps administration will create a fundamental shift in concerns as it pertains to security. Theres a new sheriff in town, and many posit that he has less regard for privacy concerns than the current administration. Case in point, Trump supported the FBI in its battle with Apple over iPhone privacy and security, Sweet stated. If this new administration demonstrates in their policies a value for law enforcement and intelligence access over citizens privacy, theyll double or triple down on the governments right to inspect data. The impact of such a reality would extend to the use of online services, cloud providers, even personal computing devices and IoT.

What that impact would be is very hard to know, but its safe to bet that it wont be positive, he said. The wars around PGP and personal encryption come to mind (anyone remember the Clipper chip?).

John Bambenek, threat systems manager at Fidelis Cybersecurity, said he never would have predicted last year that we would be talking about the DNC and hacking of elections.

Ransomware will be on the upswing and evolve in new unforeseen ways. It will be more targeted and focus on more valuable targets as we saw with healthcare. And it will continue to attack new, more damaging industries like we recently witnessed with San Francisco BART and Muni, he said.

While 2016 found the election under scrutiny because of alleged hacking by foreign powers, 2017 will continue the trend of identity theft and ransomware.

Forrester predicts that within the first 100 days, the new president will face a cybercrisis. The momentum of winning the election gives new presidents the public's support to follow through on key initiatives of their campaigns. However, the 45th president will lose that momentum coming into office by finding the administration facing a cybersecurity incident.

Forrester suggests that the administration prepare for nation-states and ideologies looking to disrupt and degrade. They believe the U.S. should be on the lookout for China, North Korea and Iran.

[ MORE PREDICTIONS: Data breaches through wearables put target squarely on IoT in 2017 ]

Political ideologies use electronic means to both recruit and spread information. DDoS attacks using IoT devices are becoming a common means of disrupting operations for companies or individuals that threat actors disagree with. A company can become a target not just because of its size or global presence but also because of its political donations or public statements. If youve never factored geopolitical concerns into your security risk analysis, you ignore them at your own firms peril.

Civilian casualties in the Cyber Cold War

Corey Nachreiner, CTO at WatchGuard Technologies, follows Forresters way of thinking. Whether you know it or not, the cyber cold war has started. Nation-states, including U.S., Russia, Israel, and China, have all started both offensive and defensive cyber security operations. Nation-states have allegedly launched malware that damaged nuclear centrifuges, stolen intellectual property from private companies, and even breached other governments' confidential systems. Countries are hacking for espionage, crime investigation, and even to spread propaganda and disinformation.

Trumps administration will create a fundamental shift in concerns as it pertains to security.

Carson Sweet, CTO, CloudPassage

He believes 2017 will be much of the same: Behind the scenes, nation-states have been leveraging undiscovered vulnerabilities in their attacks, suggesting that these countries have been finding, purchasing, and hording zero-day flaws in software to power their future cyber campaigns.

In other words, the nation-state cyber cold war is an arms race to discover and horde software vulnerabilities  often ones in the private software we all use every day, he said.
On Friday, The LA County Chief Executive Office issued a public notice that 756,000 Californians were going to be receiving breach notification letters, after a single Phishing email scammed more than one hundred county employees.

The notice also said a warrant has been issued for the Nigerian responsible for the Phishing attack.

Earlier this year, on May 13, 108 LA County employees received a Phishing email, which eventually led them to disclose usernames and passwords. The attack was discovered a day later.

LA County has a total population of more than 10 million people, with more than eighty incorporated cities, including Los Angeles, Inglewood, Long Beach, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, and Burbank.

The context of the Phishing email wasnt disclosed, so nature of the lure that prompted the employees to release their credentials is unknown. Salted Hash has reached out to LA County for additional information.

Investigators said the email was sent by Austin Kelvin Onaghinor of Nigeria, and an arrest warrant was issued by prosecutors. However, it isnt clear what information was discovered during the investigation that led law enforcement to Onaghinor.

While there isnt any evidence the information exposed by the Phishing attack has been released to the public by Onaghinor or anyone associated with him, county officials are still going to notify 756,000 people who had contact with the agencies that were compromised.

According to the statement, anyone who had contact with the LA County Assessors office, the Chief Executive Office, Probation, Public Social Services, Children and Family Services, Child Support Services, Health Services, Mental Health, Public Health, Human Resources, Internal Service, Public Library, or Public Works, is potentially impacted by the incident.

The information possibly exposed by the compromised employee credentials includes base PII (first and last names, date of birth, Social Security numbers, addresses, and phone numbers), as well as drivers license or state ID numbers, payment card and banking information, medical information (Medi-Cal or insurance carrier ID number), diagnosis, treatment history, and medical record numbers.

The county says that it will offer identity monitoring for everyone impacted by the incident. Speaking to the delay in notification, the LA County statement says that law enforcement requested notifications be withheld while the case was being investigated.

In response to the attack, the notice says LA County has initiated an administrative review and implemented additional controls to minimize the risk of future Phishing attacks against county email accounts, as well as enhanced specific employee training to identify and respond to Phishing attacks as part of the countys ongoing cyber-security awareness campaign.
Every dog owner knows that their pet can be taught to understand rudimentary English, like "sit," "fetch" or "stop." But despite being called man's best friend, it's not often humans try to meet their pups half-way when crossing the inter-species language barrier - after all, dogs have their own language too.

According to The Whole Dog Journal, Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas identified more than 30 body gestures that dogs use to communicate with each other. Learning just a few might help dog owners have a better relationship with their pet, as well as help them understand when to pull their dogs out of risky situations with other canines.
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It's no secret the region's food scene is something to behold. Over the past year it has exploded with new restaurants, breweries, and food trucks to satisfy southwest Connecticut's diverse tastes and interests.

When it comes to the minds behind some of our area's highly-rated establishments, one may assume these chefs operate with the same refined taste at home as they bring to their customers.

However, that's not always true.

We spoke with chefs from across the region to find out what their favorites dishes to make are, as well as some other food-related queries.

Check out the gallery above for a look at local favorites of some of the area's best culinary minds.

For some, the simplicity of certain foods holds a special place for them.

For Luke Venner, of Elm in New Canaan, that simplicity rings no truer than in his favorite food to eat.

"A classic American cheese burger with french fries dipped in mayonnaise," Venner said. "For some reason I always eat all of the fries before even taking a bite of the burger."

Probably not the answer one expects from a chef who works with a menu comprised of dishes like "mafaldini with broccoli leaf pesto" or "gnocchetti sardi with crab, tomato, sea urchin butter."

Despite the complexity of the menu, Venner said he loves creating simple dishes, though that doesn't mean they're always easy to make.

"The older I get, I seem to prefer very simple dishes such as pasta with fresh black truffles or a whole fish roasted in salt crust," Venner said. "Simple requires perfect executionif one of the ingredients or techniques is not right, the entire dish will be compromised."

Related: Top 100 Dining & Drinks in Fairfield County

Pasquale Pascarella, of Bar Sugo in Norwalk, said his favorite dish was closer to home.

"My favorite meal to eat is literally anything my mother makes. She is an outstanding cook and she does an incredible job recreating these old school Italian peasant dishes while using local ingredients," Pascarella said. "My mother has been the best cook I know and she never disappoints."

And like Venner, Pascarella said simplicity is no excuse for ease when cooking.

"I would say anything fish related," Pascarella said of his favorite dish to make. "To me, fish takes the most amount of finesse. You cant 'fake' fish. You really need to know what you're doing."

And just like that, we're rethinking how we've been making pasta and fish.
BRIDGEPORT  Charges were dismissed Monday against a former elementary school principal accused of gambling away her students activity funds.

Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin, noting that Marilyn Taylor had completed the conditions of her pretrial probation program and made restitution, granted the dismissal.

She has made full restitution and has turned her life around, said her lawyer, Edward Vioni.

Last December Taylor, who was the principal at Dunbar School during the 2012-2013 school year,

was granted accelerated rehabilitation following a hearing before Devlin.

Taylor, 46, worked at Target and Wal-Mart stores in her native Georgia, which enabled her to pay back the more than $10,000 she stole from the schools account, Vioni previously told the judge.

Taylor had been charged with first-degree larceny. Under accelerated rehabilitation, a pretrial program for nonviolent offenders, Taylor did not plead guilty to the charge but was placed by the judge on one year of probation.

Interim Superintendent of Schools Fran Rabinowitz did not oppose Taylors probation on the condition that she make full restitution.

City school officials were counting on Taylor to turn around Dunbar School, one of the lowest scoring in the state.

In October 2013, the Board Of Education gave Taylor permission to open an account on behalf of the Jumoke Academy at Dunbar School for school fundraising. But a month later, Assistant Principal Alyyshia Perrin became suspicious when she learned Taylor had been paying vendors in cash instead of check, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

An audit requested by the Board of Education found that between Nov. 4 and Nov. 29, 2013, Taylor made 24 cash withdrawals from the account at the Mohegan Sun Casino, totaling $10,021.40 and another $11.43 withdrawal for Johnny Rockets restaurant, the affidavit states.

The affidavit said the audit also found that Taylor had used money from the school account at a casino at Waveland, Miss., near her family home in Louisiana, as well as at supermarkets, Wal-Mart, Dunkin Donuts, Home Depot and a gas station near her Milford home. She overdrew the account on three occasions in December 2013, January 2014 and June 2014, the affidavit states.
Entrepreneurs and business leaders have turned to podcasts as a great source of inspiration and education. But with more business podcasts launching into the iTunes store to meet the growing demand, its getting harder and harder to find the best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Thats why Ive compiled a list of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs and executives. You might have heard of more publicized podcasts like The Tim Ferriss Show and Entrepreneur on Fire, but this list covers a wider range of podcasts and includes a lot of new and noteworthy examples, like Powderkeg: Igniting Startups and Breaking Into Startups, that you shouldnt ignore.

Here are the 24 best podcasts for entrepreneurs in 2017.

Starting Up Podcasts for Entrepreneurs

1. StartUp

StartUp is one of 10 shows produced by podcasting company Gimlet Media. Co-hosted by Gimlet CEO Alex Blumberg and former FiveThirtyEight editor Lisa Chow, it tells the story of how Blumberg founded Gimlet and everything he learned along the way. It tackles all the issues of starting a company, like naming it, valuing it and bringing on partners through a personal, narrative lens.

2. Mixergy: Startup Stories

What makes Mixergy unique is that host Andrew Warner arranges some of his interviews with world-renowned entrepreneurs into online business courses. The Starting a Business course presents six interviews in an order that works as a how-to guide for building a company, with each successive interview delving deeper into the topics of product development, customer acquisition and sales.

3. How to Start a Startup

Back in the fall of 2014, Y Combinator president Sam Altman gave a one-semester crash course at Stanford University on how to start a startup. Bringing in 29 other Y Combinator alumni as guest speakers, he put together 20 lectures on running a startup from inception to later-stage concerns. The lectures were recorded and have since been archived under the appropriate title, How to Start a Startup, and can be downloaded as video or audio files.

4. Entrepreneur On Fire

EOFire is an award-winning podcast where host John Lee Dumas interviews the most inspiring entrepreneurs seven days a week. Every single day, you can expect to hear incredible stories from highly successful entrepreneurs, actionable ideas that can transform your business, and be inspired to build the life of your dreams.

Related: How Tai Lopez Took Over Social Media

5. Powderkeg: Igniting Startups

A newcomer to the business podcast lineup, Powderkeg is already turning heads in the industry with a solid lineup of guests, in-depth interviews, and informative content. Focusing on the tech industry, this show reveals how entrepreneurs outside of Silicon Valley found traction and ultimately, success. Energetic host Matt Hunckler taps into the minds of top-tier entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators to provide insights that will help aspiring founders no matter where they're located.

Leadership and Productivity Podcasts for Entrepreneurs

6. Jocko Podcast

Jocko Willink is a retired Navy SEAL officer who doesn't beat around the bush and tells it like it is. You are sure to learn key lessons on leadership, work ethic, and discipline that will help you to become the best version of yourself. Apple recently named Jock Podcast one of the best podcasts of 2016 having this to say about it, "Leadership, fitness, military history -- retired Navy SEAL Jocko and his guests turn any topic into a riveting life lesson."

7. Self Made Man

In a nutshell, Self Made Man is a self-improvement podcast. Investor, entrepreneur and host Mike Dillard, along with each episodes guest host, offers advice on how to improve yourself so that you can improve the world and achieve true greatness. The show places a special emphasis on business and finance but also covers topics like health and relationships.

8. The Action Catalyst with Rory Vaden

The Action Catalyst podcast will inspire you to start taking action on what matters most in your life and how to take your productivity to the next level. Self-discipline strategist and New York Times bestselling Author Rory Vaden Co-Founded Southwestern Consulting, a multi-million dollar global consulting practice that helps clients in more than 14 countries get extraordinary results.

Related: 25 Best Habits to Have in Life

9. The Tim Ferriss Show

The Tim Ferriss Show is the first business/interview podcast to surpass 100,000,000 downloads and when you listen in, you will be able to see exactly why. Angel investor and #1 New York Times bestlling Author Tim Ferriss interviews world-class performers from all different industries on what helped catapult them to the top and provides actionable advice you can implement into your own routine. Former guests include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Foxx, Tony Robbins, Peter Thiel, and many more.

10. Youpreneur FM

Lots of modern entrepreneurs are successful because they create a personal brand. Chris Ducker is one such person, and his Youpreneur podcast is aimed at instructing its listeners in all things personal brand entrepreneurship. He and his guests, which include top online business minds, cover everything from building your brand to creating products and marketing yourself in order to teach you how to succeed as a solopreneur.

Innovation Podcasts for Entrepreneurs

11. This Week in Startups

This Week in Startups has a finger on the pulse of the tech industry. As the name implies, host Jason Calacanis brings on a guest entrepreneur each week and talks about whats happening right now in tech. The podcast is a combination of current events, company profiles and insider gossip, which means theres so much juicy information packed into each episode that you cant go wrong by tuning in.

12. The Twenty Minute VC

Have you ever wanted to get into the mind of a venture capitalist? (Heres a hint: you should.) The Twenty Minute VC does just that. Host Harry Stebbings interviews two prominent VC investors each week, delving into why they do what they do and what theyre looking for in a startup. The show is also notable for being brief and to the point, with most episodes clocking in at around 20-30 minutes.

Related: 4 Bad Money Habits That Have Left Millionaires Broke

13. The Full Ratchet

Angel investor Nick Moran came up with the idea for The Full Ratchet as a result of his own difficulties obtaining clear and actionable information on how to be a good investor. He decided to start recording his chats with industry veterans to help investors and entrepreneurs understand how the whole funding process works. Like The Twenty Minute VC, this podcast teaches you how investors think and what will persuade them to buy into your company.

14. a16z Podcast

According to Silicon Valley-based VC firm Andreessen Horowitz (or a16z), software is eating the world. Their podcast brings on tech experts and business leaders to talk about the current state of devourment, discussing tech news, industry trends and what the future holds. If you want to hear what industry behemoths have to say about their work and the world, then this is the show for you.

15. Breaking Into Startups

Breaking Into Startups has only aired a few episodes, but its off to a very promising start. Created by Artur Meyster, Timur Meyster and Ruben Harris, the program shares the stories of people who broke into the tech industry from nontraditional backgrounds. The goal is to encourage and inspire people who want to get into tech by teaching them how to leverage their unique experiences in other industries.

Sales and Marketing Podcasts for Entrepreneurs

16. Marketing School

Neil Patel and Eric Siu are experts in digital marketing, and they share a bit of their knowledge every day in Marketing School. Each episode provides you with a unique online marketing tip in fewer than 10 minutes. Its a great podcast for anyone looking to roll up their sleeves and get to work implementing actionable advice on a daily basis.

17. Social Pros

Jay Baer of Convince & Convert and Adam Brown of Salesforce co-host this podcast about how to market your business on social media. Each week, they interview a leading social media strategist from a prominent company (think Dell, IBM and ESPN) to pick their brain and discuss the latest trends in social media marketing.

Related: 9 Things Ultra Productive People Do Every Day

18. SaaStr Podcast

From software-as-a-service community SaaStr comes the SaaStr podcast, presented by venture capitalist Jason Lemkin and hosted by Harry Stebbings of The Twenty Minute VC. The show focuses on the world of SaaS, bringing on business owners as well as investors to explore what it takes for companies to succeed in their highly competitive market. SaaStrs trademark area of focus is on advising startups how to go from $0 to $100 million ARR faster.

19. The #AskGaryVee Show

CEO, entrepreneur, angel investor and internet personality Gary Vaynerchuk has built his personal brand with social media, and now hes helping others do the same with his show, #AskGaryVee (available in video and audio). The show follows a simple Q&A format, with Gary answering viewer-submitted questions about marketing, social media and entrepreneurship.

20. The Growth Show

If youre looking for advice on growing your business (and why shouldnt you be?), then The Growth Show is just the ticket. Its produced by HubSpot and features guests who have achieved remarkable growth with their businesses, delving into how they did it and what it was like to go through the transition. Its sure to give you plenty of ideas and strategies for taking your business to the next level.

Inspirational Podcasts for Entrepreneurs

21. The School of Greatness

The School of Greatnes which is hosted by successful entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author Lewis Howes will without a doubt inspire you to achieve your biggest goals and dreams. Lewis is a phenomenal interviewer who asks great questions. This is one of the most popular podcasts each and every year for a reason. It never disappoints.

Related: 12 Life-Altering Financial Secrets From Top Wealth Creators

22. Smart Passive Income Podcast

Pat Flynn is known in the blogging and podcasting spheres for building an online business almost entirely through passive income channels. On his Smart Passive Income podcast, he shares tons of passive income strategies that work as well as all the ones that dont. Building passive income streams is all about working hard now so you can sit back and watch the cash flow in later!

23. Eventual Millionaire Podcast

Jaime Masters thought at a young age that she would one day be a millionaire. She still believes this is true, but she hasnt gotten there yet! In her Eventual Millionaire blog and podcast, Masters interviews businesspeople who have reached that milestone to learn their tactics and advice for growing personal wealth.

24. Unemployable Podcast

If youve found yourself drawn to the entrepreneurial life, if might be because youre unemployable, like lawyer-turned-writer-turned-entrepreneur and founder of Copyblogger, Brian Clark. In his weekly podcast, Clark draws from his 18 years of experience to provide advice and encouragement for freelancers and entrepreneurs looking to develop their personal businesses.

Related:

The 24 Best Podcasts for Entrepreneurs In 2017

Social. FM: La extrana vida intima de las plataformas de medios sociales

7 Reasons to Add a Podcast to Your Content-Marketing Strategy



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
MERCER COUNTY  Old Man Winter has thrown everything it has at Mercer County  two blizzards with nearly 30 inches of snow and extremely frigid temperatures  before winter has even arrived.

The inhospitable conditions are causing problems for builders of the largest construction project in North Dakota, where a full workweek has already been lost to storm days at Basin Electric Power Cooperatives $500 million urea fertilizer plant. Additionally, the critical need for workers to wear bulky clothing and take time out in warming huts leads to a loss of efficiency, says project manager Jim Greer.

But when winter is boss, its all about keeping workers safe from frostbite or worse. Conditions demanded that the projects cold-weather plan be kicked into gear right after Thanksgiving, Greer said.

Weve set up a number of heated huts throughout the work area and allow a lot more frequent breaks. We can take snow, and we can take wind, and we can take cold; but the combination of all three is pretty tough," he said.

Besides the huts, another focus of the cold weather plan is ensuring safe access to the site and equipment, so constant snow removal is a high priority.

He said the storm days and efficiencies will either be made up with additional weekend hours as weather permits, or extended to the far end of the project schedule.

Well deal with it as it comes, he said.

There are 900 workers at the site -- a lot of bodies to keep track of in extreme conditions.

Crane operations are suspended in winds in excess of 20 mph, and thats reduced the number of days that sheets of siding can be swung into place on the urea process buildings. As a consequence, the buildings continue to be more exposed than originally planned.

Work is continuing, and Greer said the vertical support columns for the gigantic urea storage building will be set into place this week. This is the second time the 210- by 700-foot building is being erected; the original one was twisted and compromised beyond salvage during a severe summer storm.

Were also energizing our 69-kilovolt power system that will supply permanent power to the plant, so theres a lot going on, Greer said.

Despite the weather-related delays, the last major piece of equipment  a sprayer air fan for the urea granulation process  was received and installed this month.

Construction crews will be on holiday Dec. 23 through Jan. 2, while managers use the time to fine-tune the completion plan and discuss the dynamic testing that will be required to commission each equipment component.

The plant is expected to be completed by the end of June, and Basin is still discussing how to proceed with actual production, since the reconstructed storage building wont be done until early 2018.

Work on the urea project started in 2014.
NewsDayBY JAIROS SAUNYAMA December 17, 2016The use of anointing oil as a tool to heal those with afflictions has been associated with the fast-rising men of the cloth, who lead different Pentecostal denominations.Believers have embraced the use of oil, believed to possess the power to cure illnesses, boost businesses and stabilise struggling marriages, among other problems that affect human beings.Zimbabweans have become so obsessed with anointing oil such that prophets have been lining their pockets through selling bottles containing the holy liquid at exorbitant prices.Apostolic sects have generally been against the use of oil, accusing modern preachers of lying and duping their congregants by offering mere cooking oil.Interestingly, some of the white garment apostolic sects have used a number of tools equivalent to anointing oil to heal and deliver their members from ailments or demonic possession.These include holy water or river-bed pebbles, which they urge their members to take home at times.A young apostolic sect leader has defied the odds and is now using anointing oil, which he distributes to his followers, while posting other bottles overseas per request from those who need it.Isaiah Gynatsio, a prophet from Johanne Murenje Apostolic Church of All Nations, will on December 30 and on New Years Eve hold crusades in Chitungwiza, where he said he would preach, perform miracles and distribute holy anointing oil to the congregants.The 24-year-old Botswana-based prophet, who currently leads an estimated 5 000-member church, said people should know that within the apostolic sects, Jesus could perform miracles.I belong to the white garment churches and people need to know that vapostori also perform miracles. Jesus lives and He uses His chosen ones to heal the sick using any tool. A lot of miracles have been happening since I began Gods work and this is the reason why the sect is growing rapidly. The thing is, people should know that Gods power is also within the apostolic sects, he said.Asked to comment on the anointing oil, an issue that was being condemned by other sect members, Gynatsio responded by quoting a biblical verse.We are a church that uses the Bible and whatever we are doing, including using anointing oil, is within the Holy Book. James 5 vs 14 says, Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. We have been sending the anointing oil to those who need healing and deliverance even in the Diaspora and they have testified of its healing powers, he said.The two-day crusade in Chitungwiza will see us distributing anointing oil for the benefit of those with afflictions. Gods power will be demonstrated in other forms.Gynatsio wil arrive in the country on Monday ahead of the crusade, which will see other church leaders from Sweden and United Kingdom attending.The apostolic sect was formed in 2001 and boasts of a number of branches across the world.
Scientology, Baba Ramdev, Wat Phra Dhammakay, Unification Church, Brain biology, Religion Research, Thailand

"The second episode in Leah Remini's series about the cult of Scientology shows just how far the religion's leaders will go to destroy you."

Baba Ramdev promoted Patanjali Ayurveda's five production units will have to cough up a fine worth Rs 11 lakh for "misbranding and putting up misleading advertisements" of their products.

"If you get your family in, you'd better make sure you get them on board with getting out before it all hits the fan for you," Kahn says on the show. "If I could have a do-over, I would start communicating to my family well ahead of when it all came crashing down. Because once that happens ... you won't have a chance to get to them."

Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Klong Luang district, as previously suspected, had broken the law in building a number of public bridges to control access to the

"CHARISMATIC political, religious and cult leaders may owe their power and influence to brain biology, new research suggests.




The Salt Lake Tribune

December 17 2016Mormon WikiLeaks  Founder Ryan McKnight plans forum to feature purloined papers about the Utah-based faith.Ryan McKnight hopes to become a Mormon version of Julian Assange, the Australian whistleblowing hacker who has published tens of thousands of secret government documents.On Monday, McKnight, a former Latter-day Saint in Las Vegas, plans to launch Mormon WikiLeaks, an online website where anonymous tipsters  including those who work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  can post purloined papers by and about the Utah-based faith's programs, policies and policymakers.He and his former Mormon team  including a website designer, two cybersecurity experts and a social media developer  have not decided whether the debut will include any new finds."We received some documents and are still authenticating them and assessing their value," McKnight said in an interview Saturday. "If that gets done by Monday, we may release them on the site."The LDS Church declined to comment, but critics of the new enterprise cited concerns about legal issues  church employees sign nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements  the ethics of violating an employer's trust, and the one-sided view the leaks may provide.McKnight burst onto the scene in October, during the church's fall General Conference, when he facilitated the posting of 15 videos showing Mormon apostles privately discussing topics ranging from gay rights to politics to piracy to, as he said, simply offer "a peek behind the curtain" of the faith's burgeoning bureaucracy.The videos, whose veracity the church did not dispute, went national. McKnight said he was inundated with queries from insiders wanting to make private Mormon information public, but needing assurances of anonymity, given the potential to be fired from LDS Church employment.That's when McKnight, serving as a publisher, not the source of internal LDS documents, began to feel an urgency about providing a means whereby disgruntled or disillusioned members could post their work without fear of discovery.Of course, there's always the question of authenticity.If a document is unredacted  has all the names still listed  it's credibility is easier to determine, McKnight explained. If all the names are blocked out, there is little way to verify it.In an era awash in fake news, McKnight expects to receive invented documents. Defensive Mormons may go on the offensive and send false material in an attempt to discredit the site, he said, and anti-Mormon zealots may concoct false items to discredit the faith and dismay the faithful.But McKnight is determined to do all he can to weed out the good stuff from the bad. He has done it before.Last September, a previous leaker sought McKnight's help in bringing to light LDS information he promised would be even more explosive. After working with him for some months, McKnight said, he concluded that the man was exaggerating what he had."I have no reason to believe," said the Vegas man, who goes by Fearless Fixxer on the Reddit website, "that any more information will come from him."But McKnight is betting that solid, newsworthy leaks will emerge, and that Mormon WikiLeaks will be the repository of choice.Not that he expects to make any money from the undertaking. He has no plans to sell ads on the website. He also harbors no illusions that his labor will bring down the church nor  as anti-Mormon activist Fred Karger aims to do  cost the global denomination its tax-exempt status.McKnight just hopes it will give Mormons a more realistic view of their church  that it is a business, not a religion, and that the apostles and governing First Presidency don't "sit in a room all day talking to Jesus."Mormon writer and researcher Jana Riess is no fan of McKnight's approach."I am very concerned about privacy in our culture more generally," she said. "People in the workplace have the right to expect that intraoffice communication and their emails will stay private."The move to make such exchanges public in the country or in the church "is disturbing," Riess emphasized. "It is not good news for any of us."If there is a "silver lining" in Mormon WikiLeaks' efforts, said the Cincinnati-based columnist, "it could be a nudge for the church to be proactive in becoming more transparent."For example, she said, the LDS Church has not released its financial records in the United States since the 1940s. If those ledgers were published, she warned, they could be embarrassing to the church if they were presented without context.This could be a chance for Mormon leaders to look at what details might be helpful for members to know, Riess said, and publish them first.To Steve Evans, a Mormon blogger and Salt Lake City lawyer, Mormon WikiLeaks is "a rebranding exercise of McKnight's existing practice of posting various confidential items."The main difference this time, he said, is "an added layer of cybersecurity, which won't necessarily protect the leakers, depending on their methods of obtaining the various stolen documents, videos, etc."Evans, founder of the Mormon blog By Common Consent, defends his use of the word "stolen.""They are materials created for and by the church, and as such are the church's property," he said. "And the leakers are likely either church employees or consultants working for the church. In either of those situations, it's very likely that the leakers are violating their nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements with the church, which opens them up to personal liability. McKnight is now publicly encouraging people to violate these agreements."Even without such accords, Evans said, "someone who takes confidential information of their employer and leaks it publicly has broken a trust. This is the definition of being 'untrustworthy.' "The only possible good for the church, he added, may be that members, will "learn more of policies, procedures and the interminable meetings one finds in an institution the size of the church."Such disclosures might actually reaffirm Mormon faith, Evans said, seeing that "so much good can still come from a church with such a bureaucracy."A bureaucracy that generates tons of paperwork  paperwork that McKnight is eager to expose.pstack@sltrib.comTwitter: @religiongal
Imamoglu'na bir suikast ihbar daha: '8 kisilerdi, hepsi silahllard...'
Civil War Gala to be held Saturday in Somerset

The 14th annual Col. Robert Cummins Civil War Gala will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Somerset Church of the Brethren, 606 Berlin Plank Road in Somerset.
Now that conservative Christians are something of a favored group by the executive branch of the US government again after a two-term hiatus, its time for many to dust off those old memes regarding the theocratic tendencies of the Christian Right.

To wit, Julie Ingersoll throws some Reconstructionist shade at Betsy DeVos: Opposition to public education for the religious right is rooted in a worldview in which education is solely the responsibility of families (and explicitly not the civil government), and in which there are no religiously neutral spheres of influence. Theres a lot wrong with that sentence.

What is more interesting to me, though, is that Ingersoll goes on to invoke the figure of Abraham Kuyper, among others, as influential for DeVos, an influence that has been noticed elsewhere, too. Ingersoll grants that holding to views like those of Kuyper does not necessarily make one a Reconstructionist: These views were popularized in the work of Rushdoony and the Christian Reconstructionists and became dominant in the religious right, which is not to say that everyone who holds them is a Christian Reconstructionist.

But this shouldnt prevent one from being suspicious. Perhaps guilt by association is legitimate in this case after all. So if there is a distinction between Christian conservatism, Kuyperianism, and Reconstruction, we shouldnt be too careful in distinguishing them, because, after all, Its a mistake to think of these distinct movements with hard boundaries that prevent cross fertilization, particularly since Christian education as a replacement for public education is a place where this happens.



I dont know. Perhaps one way for the media, much less scholars, to get religion better might just be to attend more carefully to distinctions, differences, and even nuance. Fears about theocratic takeover of the American government by Christians often have less to do with principle than with fear-mongering. Or they have to do with thinking that any religious influence in public life is objectionable and is at root theocratic. Sometimes, however, its just that religion is a motivation for a political view or policy that conflicts with liberal or progressive agendas; when advocates of the social gospel today, for instance, invoke religion, concerns about theocracy tend to recede into the background.

Such conflation and inconsistency is perhaps the best way to understand the breathless linkage of the legacy of Abraham Kuyper with theocratic aims. Kuyper himself was vehemently against the public establishment of the church, even as he was vehemently for the influence of Christian religion on all areas of life, including education. These two things are not inconsistent, as should be a common place understanding for anyone who studies or thinks seriously about Christianity. This is not to deny that there are some Christian groups and traditions that do have more explicitly theocratic aims. But conflating Christians who explicitly define themselves against such views with those who espouse them is sloppy at best and malevolent at worst.

Again, Kuypers example is instructive in this regard. In a preface to McKendree Langleys study of Kuypers political spirituality, H. Evan Runner, a longtime professor of philosophy at Calvin College and himself a fierce defender of reformational philosophy, said this about Kuyper and pluralism:

Those who fear that theocratic repression must be the result of any Christian groups obtaining governmental powerand that is a widespread fear (in large part due to the medieval legacy)  will most certainly want to familiarize themselves with Kuypers views, and with what he persistently strove for and actually accomplished. Once again he appears as a monumental figure in the history of the Christian movement. For Kuyper fought to achieve tolerance and an acceptance of public pluralism in modern society. On this most critical point too Langleys book is instructive. Kuyper, he shows, was not interested in excluding liberals or socialists from the government, to the extent that they really represented a segment of the Dutch electorate (the principle of proportional representation, as opposed to the American practice of winner take all). As a matter of fact, Kuyper wished to secure and protect their legitimate rights, as opposed to the illegitimate monolithic hegemony the Liberals had long been enjoying. What he sought was equal acceptance for those citizens who wished to participate in government on the basis of their Christian convictions, something the Liberals inflexible intolerance had worked to prevent.

A Kuyperian political approach wants Christianity neither to be institutionally privileged nor to be constitutionally excluded from public life. For some, this will be too much. For others, it will be too little. Perhaps for the cause of American pluralism more broadly, however, it may be just right.
A young woman has written a confronting letter to the man who trapped her in a room, pinned her down and tried to rape her.

Sara Roebuck, from the UK, had just moved to France to take up an internship when she was brutally attacked inside a nightclub.

Almost a year on, Ms Roebuck wrote to the attacker as a way of easing the terrible emotional burden of her ordeal. She told Daily Mail it was a way to capture the emotions she had avoided for almost a year.

Terrifying: Sara Roebuck wrote a powerful open letter describing the night she was locked in a room and almost raped

Strong: It had taken a year before Ms Roebuck felt strong enough to put pen to paper

Ms Roebuck wrote the powerful open letter - first posted to Medium - as a way of helping others and herself cope with 'the poisonous and violent reality of rape'.

She described the torrent of emotions that overwhelmed her as she came face-to-face with her attacker inside a court room.

'Dear individual. I write to you on this cold December evening, almost one year after you tried to rape me, because it's the first time that I've felt strong enough to put pen to paper,' she began.

'I write to you because this afternoon we met again, only the surroundings were not quite the same.

'Your hands were cuffed behind your back, not sweatily gripped around my body.'

Horrible: 'I want men to read this and feel just as sick as the women who have lived through things like this do,' Ms Roebuck wrote

People should feel sick when they read her terrifying account of the experience, she said.

'You said that what you did lasted a few minutes, not that you locked me in a room for twenty minutes whilst you tried to take off my clothes, whilst you launched my body onto a sink, whilst you tried to rape me,' she continued.

'You said that you were on top of me on the floor because I dropped my drink and slipped.

Determined: Although it was extremely difficult, Ms Roebuck was determined to stand up in court and address her attacker

'Not because, after I managed to push you out from in between my legs, you twisted my body and pushed me onto the floor, pinning me and holding me down with the weight of yours.

'Because it was not you that decided to stop. It was me who fought back. Your eyes were black and you looked straight into my soul and told me you didn't give a f*** that I said no, that I had a tampon.

'Whilst I kicked and screamed and cried, you grabbed and constrained and yanked and hurt every part of me that in no given universe would I have consented you to touch.'

Powerful: Ms Roebuck said she was speaking out on behalf of every women who had ever experienced a similar ordeal

Ms Roebuck said she was determined to stand up and address her attacker in court, no matter how difficult.

'At that moment, I stood and spoke for every woman in the world who has suffered at the hands of men like you.

'I stood for every woman walks home with her keys clasped between her fingers.

'I stood for every woman who has switched train carriages because of that one man who isn't breaking eye contact.

'I stood for every woman who has been groped, harassed, attacked, raped, filmed, photographed, followed, touched against her consent, suffered verbal vulgarities, obscene regards, disgusting gestures, and worse of all, within a society that allows it.

'In some cases with other women who refuel the blame, and men around her who are supposed to be progressive and modern, but stay silent.'

Empowering: She hoped the letter would encourage others to speak up about their ordeals

Ms Roebuck told Daily Mail Australia she wrote the letter as a way to capture the whirlwind of emotions she had avoided for almost a year.

'After carrying the burden of the attack on my shoulders for almost a year, pushing it down, not thinking about it whatsoever and just getting on with my life, then I received the letter inviting me to attend the tribunal,' she said.

'From this point on, all of my emotions and thoughts and ideas started to swirl around my head, which was fuelled by an entire year of avoiding the subject.

'I thought that, if someone else reads this and feels just as empowered as I do right now, if it encourages someone to open up, to go through what's happened to them, then I have a responsibility to those people, and I must publish it.'
Apparently, we Brits are blessed with the most impressive breasts in Europe. The average size in the UK is between 36C and 34E, and it is increasing every year.

So, how best to look after these most prized of assets? Especially at this festive time of year, when we are busy showing off our curves in more revealing cocktail dresses.

Enter the Cellcosmet Swiss Bust Contour Defining Treatment, an apparently revolutionary beauty therapy that promises to bring out the best in your breasts without resorting to scalpels or needles.

The Cellcosmet Swiss Bust Contour Defining Treatment is an apparently revolutionary beauty therapy that promises to bring out the best in your breasts without resorting to scalpels or needles.

Anything with the word Swiss in it gives me faith. Theres something bracing and no-nonsense about it.

And they really do know their stuff when it comes to clocks, chocolate and anti-ageing  all those rich ladies flocking to spas on Lake Geneva could afford to go anywhere in the world in their bid to hold back time, but they opt to put their bodies and money in the hands of Swiss expertise.

So I arrive at the Aldo Coppola salon on Londons swanky Sloane Avenue  the only British clinic to offer the treatment  in an optimistic mood.

My therapist, a sensible-looking lady called Sharon, leads me downstairs to the treatment room where she instructs me to take off my shirt, bra and necklace, then gives me a towel to cover my breasts  which is sweet, if a bit unnecessary seeing as she was going to spend the next hour doing much more than just looking at them.

The treatment is designed to reshape and tone the bust.

It is essential, Sharon explains, to take good care of your breasts because there are no muscles there that do the job of maintaining them for you.

Your breasts are supported by a kind of natural bra of connective tissue that goes from underneath the chest to the neck, so its important to make sure this skin is in as good a shape as possible.

When you start to sag, it begins from the back of the neck, she says. So dont forget to bring your cream all the way back there when you apply it.

Your breasts are supported by a kind of natural bra of connective tissue that goes from underneath the chest to the neck, so its important to make sure this skin is in as good a shape as possible

The treatment starts with a gentle exfoliation, with Sharon applying a grainy scrub designed to take off dead skin and prepare the area for the treatment ahead.

I worried that this might be painful, but it isnt at all.

I regularly exfoliate my face, legs, arms and even my stomach, but it has never dawned on me that my embonpoint could benefit from a bit of exfoliation, too.

Then, Sharon removes the excess with a hot towel, but shes careful to leave some grains there for the massage process  the breast area is never exfoliated, so it needs to be done more than once. After the hot towel, Sharon sprays a toning spritz on my breasts, which certainly wakes me (and them) up. Massage oil is next, a mixture of rosehip, borage, evening primrose, carrot and geranium essential oil.

After the oil its time for the mask, which contains a marine algae complex to help slow down the loss of collagen and elastin (the two most important ingredients in keeping a cleavage pert), spirulina, amino acids, flavinoids and other nutrients that are good for cell regeneration and tissue repair, along with dry witch hazel extract and carrot essential oil, which will soften the skin.

9,652 women had a breast lift last year  12 per cent increase from 2014 Advertisement

Before it is applied, Sharon mixes a concentrate into it that includes kigeline extract, which has an anti-slackening, contour- ing effect while improving the skins elasticity, and lilac floral water, which has toning properties.

This is what you might call a smart mask. It was left on for half an hour or so and it dries into a greenish rubbery mass.

The treatment, which arrived in the UK relatively recently, has been a must-have in Switzerland for ladies of a certain age for around 30 years. Hormonal variations throughout the menopause can result in changes in the breasts, says Sharon. Alongside this, fluctuations in weight, an ill-fitting bra, not having the correct support during exercise and sun damage can cause a slackening of the breast, which the treatment can really help to improve.

After 45 minutes, Sharon peels off the mask in one go, rather like a sheet of thick greeny- grey blancmange.

Instantly, my skin looks glowing and hydrated, the fine lines in my cleavage are plumped out and the whole area feels extremely smooth.

I feel slightly guilty to have been neglecting it all these years, and it is glowing after its first ever 45 minutes of salon attention.

My skin looks clearer and is in much better condition than before. And my bust really does look firmer

Theres definitely a difference afterwards, especially on my decolletage; the skin texture is much better and it even seemed less sun-damaged than before. I tell Sharon how pleased I am with the result, but add that surely this effect wont last. She disagrees.

According to Sharon, the effects can last for two to three months  if you adopt their homecare routine, too. Im sceptical, but scoop up the revitalising cellular bust cream-gel all the same.

Its reminiscent of caramel sauce in colour and texture.

Two weeks later, Ive been using it religiously: you rub it around and on your breasts and up to the back of your neck on a daily basis  ideally twice daily.

The effect has been two-fold. My skin looks clearer and is in much better condition than before. And my bust really does look firmer.

It could just have perked up as a result of all the attention its been getting  dont we all  but whatever the reason, its working.
A mother-of-three has opened up about the things she wished she knew before having children.

Mel Watts, a blogger from the Central Coast, New South Wales, shared the candid post on Facebook on Sunday and began by addressing the ever-controversial breastfeeding debate.

'I wish I knew that fed is best. That you'll feel pressured into breast feeding but it's ok if you don't like it. You don't have too [sic] just yet. Some eventually do, others don't,' Ms Watts, who is currently pregnant, wrote.

Proud mum: Mel Watts, a blogger from the Central Coast, New South Wales, shared a candid post on Facebook about the things she wish she knew before having children

You don't have to: 'I wish I knew that fed is best. That you'll feel pressured into breast feeding but it's ok if you don't like it,' she said

'There's options. The kids don't ask other kids in the play ground how they were fed to see if they'll play with them.'

Ms Watts also said she wished she knew that she wouldn't be rocking her five-year-old to sleep forever and urged mothers to 'cuddle for long and soak in that baby life.'

'I wish I knew that they'll eventually sleep. They really will. Even sleep in! Especially on mornings you need to get up and out,' she added.

Doting mother: Ms Watts also said she wished she knew that she wouldn't be rocking her five-year-old to sleep forever and urged mothers to 'cuddle for long and soak in that baby life'

Take in every moment! Ms Watts then said she wished she knew that putting her kids in daycare wouldn't 'cause life long issues' and that she regretted wishing her kids were older

Ms Watts then said she wished she knew that putting her kids in daycare wouldn't 'cause life long issues' and that she regretted wishing her kids were older.

I wish I knew that the amount of times I yelled they'd still forgive me

'I wish I knew they'd survive off Mac and cheese. I mean the nappy wasn't always pleasant but they survived and were fed,' she continued.

'I wish I knew that the amount of times I yelled they'd still forgive me. Children need guidance and support. If you've got to scream and shout to get there, do it. Whatever works.'

Do whatever works: 'I wish I knew that the amount of times I yelled they'd still forgive me. Children need guidance and support,' Ms Watts explained

'Everyone needs a little help sometimes': Ms Watts concluded her post by saying she wished she knew that 'so many women felt the same way' that she did sometimes - 'alone'

Ms Watts concluded her post by saying she wished she knew that 'so many women felt the same way' that she did sometimes - 'alone.'

'Our lives are filled with poop, vomit, bandaids and mistakes. We watch other women and think how good they've got it when really we have no idea,' she wrote.

'Everyone needs a little help sometimes. It may be a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen or a play date at the park. Life's way too short to worry about how you feed your baby, how you birthed or if you rock them to sleep.

'Enjoy them, love them and be there for each other.'
Radio host Mel Greig has revealed her heartache about the embryos she created with her ex.

Ms Greig, 34, announced that she had split from husband Steve Pollock after just over a year of marriage in April.

While married, the couple had decided to undergo IVF as she suffered from fertility issues related to her endometriosis.

But now that the marriage has ended, the embryos they created remain frozen - and Ms Greig says although she doesn't intend to have them implanted, she also can't bring herself to destroy them.

Heartache: Mel Greig has opened up about the embryos she created with her ex

Long journey: 'I went through hell to create them', Ms Greig has said of the embryos she created and had frozen

'This is a battle that will haunt me for life,' the former 2DayFM host wrote in Mamamia.

'To me, they are my children even as embryos. I went through hell to create them.

'But the reality is, it is nearing more and more impossible for me to become a mother.'

She added: 'I cant bring myself to destroy them, that doesnt feel like the right thing to do, and I dont want to donate them and see a little Mel running around if I havent had my own children.

Ms Greig revealed that she is overcome with sadness whenever she reads about Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara and her legal battle with ex-fiance Nick Loeb.

Close to home: Ms Greig says reading about Sofia Vergara and Nick Loeb's embryo battle (pictured) makes her feel sad

Like her, they decided to undergo IVF to have children when they were together in 2013.

However, now that their relationship has ended, they are locked in a 'bitter feud' about the future of the embryos.

While businessman Mr Loeb is seeking custody of the embryos in order to be able to implant them via a surrogate, the Modern Family actress doesn't want them to be born and instead wants to keep them 'frozen indefinitely'.

'It is nearing more and more impossible for me to become a mother,' Ms Greig has spoken out about motherhood following her marriage split

Up to fate: Ms Greig has said that she will leave fate to decide whether she will ever be a mother

The actress has previously said that she believes that a 'child needs a mother and a loving relationship with parents that get along, that don't hate each other'.

'I wouldn't want to bring kids to the world where it is already set everything wrong for them,' she added. 'It would be so selfish,' she has said.

Ms Greig, who has been very open about her desire to have children of her own and the difficult IVF rounds she has been through, says that the story hits close to home for her.

'I dont want children with my soon to be ex-husband and I would be heartbroken if he won the right to use the embryos in a new relationship, to see my child raised without me in their life,' she said.
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His girlfriend Meghan Markle jetted back to Toronto yesterday after spending a romantic week in London, so it's no wonderPrince Harry looked a little glum this today as he arrived at a Christmas party for volunteers with William and Kate.

The Duchess, on the other hand, looked full of Christmas cheer as she sported a 720 Christmassy-red and green patterned dress by a new choice of label, Vanessa Seward.

The royal trio arrived in North Kensington for a Christmas Party hosed by youth support service The Mix, to celebrate the volunteers and counsellors who support people through tough times in their lives.

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Kate was in a 720 Christmassy-red and green patterned dress by a new choice of label, Vanessa Seward

A young woman from The Harrow Club curtsies as she presents The Duchess with a small bunch of flowers

The Duke and Duchess looked to be in good spirits as they made their way into the event, but Harry wasn't as cheerful as usual after his girlfriend jetted back to Canada

Meghan touched down in Toronto after spending a romantic week in London with boyfriend Harry

Missing Harry already? The prince's girlfriend was glued to her phone as she touched down in Toronto

Harry was no doubt feeling a little deflated after spending the last week in London with his girlfriend, American actress Meghan Markle.

She boarded a flight at Heathrow Airport yesterday back to Toronto, Canada, where she currently lives and works - although the loved-up pair are set to be reunited in the New Year.

Meghan, who appeared to be in good spirits, was accompanied by airline staff prior to boarding her flight, while the prince was flanked by five police protection officers.

She was personally dropped off at Heathrow airport by Harry before she boarded her flight.

The actress did her best to keep a low profile, dressing down in ripped jeans, white trainers and a casual grey jumper.

Last week the couple, who have been seeing each other for several months, were snapped while on a romantic date in London, where they saw critically-acclaimed play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Gielgud Theatre.

They were also spotted hand-in-hand buying a six foot Christmas tree together, however there was no question of them spending the festive season together.

Meghan Markle was spotted at Heathrow airport before boarding a flight back to Canada as she and Harry go their separate ways for Christmas

The Duchess hasn't been able to stop Prince George from tearing open the wrapping on his Christmas presents as the excited youngster can't wait for the big day

An animated Kate laughs as she gets into the swing of things at a charity Christmas party. The Duchess accessorised with striking gold earrings in the shape of a leaf (left)

The royals looked in good form while carrying out their last official duties before the Christmas break

Only close family and occasionally friends join the senior royals at Sandringham, and it's too soon in Harry's romance with the Suits actress for her to be invited by the Queen.

And today it was revealed that Prince George may not have many presents left to open under the tree, as the naughty toddler has already started opening them, Prince William revealed.

Chatting to KISS FM DJ AJ King, the royal revealed that his three-year-old son was too excited to wait for the big day and had been sneakily opening a few of the gifts under the tree at Anmer Hall, the family's Norfolk home.

The royal trio listen intently as they learn more about the work of the charity The Mix, which supports the under 25s through issues such as homelessness and addiction

Kate chats to volunteers as they get into the Christmas mood by icing gingerbread houses

A gift from Meghan? Harry appeared to be sporting a new beaded wristband after royal watchers spotted that he and his girlfriend had matching bracelets

AJ told Mail Online afterwards: ' I had a really nice chat with Prince William who told me that this was their last week at work, as it were, before Christmas.

'He said they were all really excited about it and that George is already opening his presents. He thought it a quite funny. That's kids for you, even the ones that are princes! '

The radio DJ said William had also been admiring his turntables and saying how much he wanted a set of decks.

Kate looked suitably festive in a red and green print dress which she cinched at the waist with a black and gold belt and teamed with black court shoes

The Duchess wore her hair in loose curls, no doubt after having one of her signature bouncy blow drys for the event

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry arrive for a visit to The Mix in London, where they will attend the youth charity's Christmas party

Apparently the prince asked to hear a song by electronic duo Groove Armada.

Asked whether they were still fashionable, AJ laughingly shrugged his shoulders and joked: 'If he says they are, then they are!

'He also chatted a lot a about boxing and rugby because he was at the Sports Personality of the Year awards last night. He has got a lot of admiration for Nicola Adams. She's a lovely lady and a beast in the ring!'

The DJ has been involved in several The Mix events and was recently made an ambassador for The Prince's Trust, the charity which helps young people into training and employment started by Prince Charles.

William chats to service users and volunteers as they get into the celebratory spirit by making Christmas decorations

After a sombre start, Harry looked much more like his animated self as he chatted with volunteers

Getting into the Christmas spirit! The mother-of-two was in very cheerful form as she laughed with guests at a Christmas party hosted by the charity The Mix

Missing Meghan Harry? The pair spent a romantic week together in London but will be spending the festive season separately when the Prince joins his grandmother at Sandringham

This morning, William, Kate and Harry joined a group 'breakout' session where counsellors and volunteers shared knowledge and get training on dealing with a range of issues.

Its focus was on supporting people who are suicidal and helping young people coping with homelessness.

Kate was also set to join a live online chat about counselling with volunteers and young people from around the UK.

The Duchess of Cambridge looked festive in a green and red patterned dress by Vanessa Seward as she arrived for a Christmas Party hosed by youth support service The Mix with William and Harry

All three royals then had the chance to speak to volunteers and service users from The Mix to hear about their personal experience of online and telephone counselling support.

Kate further got into the Christmas spirit by joining volunteers who were icing gingerbread houses, and Harry certainly became more jovial as the morning progressed.

Both he and his brother William were seen in animated conversation with volunteers as they learned more about the charity's work.

Kate, The Duchess of Cambridge, left, smiles and gestures as she talks to staff and young people, during a visit a visit to The Mix in London

The Mix gives young people aged 13 to 25 a helping hand to find their way through any challenge, from homelessness to finding a job, from money to mental health, from break-ups to drugs.

Later William, Kate and Harry will join a celebration Christmas Party reception where they will mingle and chat to a group of 'exceptional' volunteers who support people through tough times in their lives.

During the party, Kate and the two princes will kick off The Mix Annual Awards by presenting the Volunteer of the Year Award.

Cheerful Kate was all smiles as she arrived at the event, but Harry looked to be in more sombre form after saying goodbye to his Toronto-based girlfriend

Earlier his year the royal trio launched their Heads Together campaign, which has brought together a series of charity partners to tackle the taboo on talking about everyday mental health.

The campaign aims to break down the barriers surrounding the issues so that people feel they can access support without the fear of being judged.

CEO of The Mix, Chris Martin, said: 'Their Royal Highnesses have been absolutely fantastic for the profile of mental health of young people.

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, centre and Prince Harry stand ready to give an award to the volunteer of the year

'They are obviously very well known among the under 25s that we serve and their involvement in talking about mental health so openly and encouraging people to engage in services has given permission to a lot of young people who may have been nervous to come forward to do so for the first time.

'They've done a lot to raise the profile of the Mix. They are just very, very good with people. They are particularly interested in seeing how they can drive up engagement with people over the next year or so.

They want to see a rise in people being involved and people accessing support services if they need them. There's a strong belief that the first part of that journey is talking to somebody, engagement with other people.'

That's more like it! Harry looks more like his jovial self as he chats to a young woman from The Harrow Club

Volunteer George Yeorghaki, who was volunteer of the year at The Mix, spent some time with the royals. 'It was good to see them getting involved. We spoke about the stigma around mental health and volunteering and getting more people to volunteer. At The Mix young people can contact us and talk about any issue they want to talk about' he said.

'They have total understanding about the issues around mental health and the importance of trying to raise it in the public eye. They have huge passion and understanding of what we need to do to raise mental health up the agenda.'

The trio took part in making decorations, building gingerbread houses and met with those doing workshops and talks on homelessness and suicide and counselling.

Asked decorate a bauble with positive messages, William wrote 'give time to one another', while Kate left two supportive sentences: 'laugh out loud' and 'go for a long walk'.

Prince Harry chats to volunteers and service users during a visit to the charity The Mix, which supports young people

Jo Hardy, a parent services manager with mental health charity and Heads Together member Young Minds, said: 'William was saying the family is so important, it's really important to preserve these family values.'

The royals also chatted to Volunteer Louisa Futcher, 18, who is autistic and has used The Mix's services, and 'Because they are very important people, it's making this issue important. People are taking an interest. They are having an impact,' she said. 'I think people are taking notice.'

Prince Harry suggested young people needed to 'lift up their heads' from their phones and iPads to be able to improve their own, and others' mental health.

The Prince sat in on a talk about suicide led by Ged Flynn and Heather Dickinson, of the suicide prevention charity Papyrus, in which they discussed scenarios in which young people might open up about having suicidal thoughts.

Afterwards the Prince chatted to Mr Flynn, chief executive of the charity. Mr Flynn said: 'I sometimes use the phrase 'may your life be as happy as social media pretends it is', because there is a veneer, a pretend life going on for a lot of young people.

'The phrase he used was 'lift up your heads', because a lot of young people are spending their time looking down at apps and so on.

Getting crafty! Kate lends a helping hand as volunteers and serivce users make Christmas bunting

'He said that his father's generation used to go out and talk to each other, and now young people are not getting that face-to-face contact.'

Mr Flynn said that suicide is the leading cause of death among young people, with 1,600 under the age of 35 taking their own lives each year.

He said: 'What is killing young people more than anything else is themselves.

'If it was a disease that was causing all of these deaths there would be an outcry - if one person catches ebola it is all over the news - but suicide doesn't get mentioned very much.'

The royal trio will receive training on how to help young people facing crisis situations

Prince Harry joined The Mix volunteers making gingerbread houses for Christmas treats, and talked to them about how different Britain would be if mental health was better treated.

He said: 'People go to work feeling 65 per cent of their best, but imagine if that was 85 or 90 per cent because they felt better mentally - suddenly you have a completely different atmosphere.'

Claire McCann, who works as a counsellor in London schools for the charity Place2Be, said Prince Harry was 'so passionate' about improving the nation's mental health and breaking down the stigma that surrounds it.

She said: 'He was talking about America seems to have a better understanding of mental health because they have a higher level of funding.

The Suits star was personally dropped off at the airport by Harry who was flanked by five protection officers

'He feels there should be a collective of mental health charities, a less complicated system for people to access so that they don't get lost along the way.

'At the moment there are an awful lot of organisations that are not connected to each other.'

Chris Martin, chief executive of The Mix, said it was 'a huge deal' to have the young members of the Royal family visiting the charity.

He said: 'Their Royal Highnesses resonate so well with our age demographic. Young people are very aware of their reputation and it's helping people to realise that mental health is increasingly something they need to talk about.'

The casually dressed actress was accompanied by a member of airline staff as she made her way through Heathrow

DJ AJ King also said William made a surprising revelation about an old rugby injury he had sustained.

He said: 'He was showing me the scar he's got on his finger, which was caused by a rugby accident. He had to stop because of his rugby injury he's got a metal rod in his finger apparently.' '

William revealed that the accident, thought to be to his left hand, meant he would later have to give up the boxing lessons he had during his time in the Army.
A new 'beauty map' of Britain has revealed women's hero products in different cities around the country.

It shows the fabled north/south divide extends to women's make-up bags, with those in the north east and Scotland stocking up on fake tan, while their counterparts in London and Surrey spend more on skincare.

In Liverpool, long associated with bouncy blow dries and defined brows, women spend more on eyebrow pencils and hair-care products than anywhere else.

The beauty map of Britain reveals women in Liverpool spend the most on eyebrow grooming and hair care, while women in Newcastle buy the most fake tan

In Liverpool, long associated with a defined brow, women spend more on eyebrow grooming products than anywhere else

The beauty map was compiled by assessing online sales across a range of products over the past year.

Sales on online beauty store Escentual were broken down by post code to deduce which region was buying the most across big-selling beauty products like fake tan, lipstick, eyebrow grooming products, eye shadow, foundation, blusher, skincare, nails and hair.

The research revealed Newcastle's love affair with self-tan shows no signs of abating, with Emma Leslie, from Escentual, which compiled the map, saying it's 'getting stronger if anything'.

THE HOTTEST PRODUCTS IN YOUR HOMETOWN Newcastle: Fake tan Liverpool: Eyebrow grooming and hair-care London: Lipstick and skincare Yorkshire: Eyeshadow Edinburgh: Foundation and blusher Essex: Nail polish Advertisement

'We've had self-tanner products sell out on a Friday because there's been a massive set of orders for next day delivery for the north east, clearly in preparation for a big Saturday night out,' she said.

Liverpudlian women are still the biggest consumers of eyebrow grooming products - though women in Manchester are close to catching up.

In Essex, where the women are famously well-manicured, nail varnishes are the biggest sellers.

'Liverpool has been big for eyebrow products for some time and that has continued in the past 12 months, although Manchester is close to catching up,' Emma says.

'Yorkshire and Leeds have recently become top [for] sales in eye shadow, and Edinburgh [women] are phenomenally big spenders on foundations, BB creams and blushers,' she added.
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A couple have tied the knot in truly magical style with a Harry Potter themed wedding complete with costumes and wand duel.

Wizarding fans Emma Berry, 28, and Ben Shields, 30, of Staple Hill exchanged their vows dressed head to toe in Potter outfits.

Rings were presented inside a cutout copy of Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince, from chapter 15, and their spellbinding day was capped off with a wizarding duel.

Emma Berry, 28, and Ben Shields, 30, made their big day truly magical by hosting a Harry Potter themed wedding

The couple have been planning their magical day since they got engaged on Christmas Eve in 2014 after Ben got down on one knee while on a caravan holiday in Trecco Bay.

Emma had her hen do at Harry Potter world in London where she bought the Ron and Hermione wands used in the duel played out on their wedding day.

Each of the 60 guests attending the wedding and reception at the Wellington Barn near Calne, Wiltshire, on December 6 were instructed to only wear fancy dress.

The couple's dream of a Harry Potter wand-sparking duel was made a reality by photographer Kirsty Cropley, from Brunel Photography Bristol (pictured)

Emma went to the Harry Potter studios in London for her hen party where she bought Ron and Hermione's replica wands to use in their dual

The famous Hedwigs theme tune was playing in the background while guests arrived, and the top tier of the wedding cake had Bertie Botts every flavour beans inside.

Emma and her bridesmaids wore necklaces with the word 'always' etched on them in tribute to Professor Severus Snape and his undying affections for Harry's mum Lily.

Full-time mum Emma said: 'We wanted a movie theme throughout.

'We toyed with lots of ideas but we thought to ourselves we are only going to do this once so we are going to do it how we want to do it.

'I'm a massive Harry Potter fan, Ben likes it too, and he also loves Lord Of The Rings and Game of Thrones, so we had a bit of that too.

After the ceremony Emma slipped into her best Maleficent outfit and fishmonger Ben dressed up as the Gingerbread Man from Shrek

Guests at the wedding were required to wear full fancy dress throughout the day to go with the movie theme

Guests embraced the fancy dress theme and everyone from kids to grandparents got involved

'I saw some ideas from other weddings online, and we got the wands and the rings and it all came together.'

The bride then slipped into her best Maleficent outfit - the Sleeping Beauty baddie character from the dark Disney film starring Angelina Jolie for the wedding reception.

And fishmonger Ben dressed up as the Gingerbread Man from Shrek.

Guests embraced the fancy dress theme and everyone from kids to grandparents got involved.

The couple (pictured with their three children) wore magical costume for the ceremony and even took part in a wizard's dual which made for dramatic wedding photos

The top tier of the wedding cake had Bertie Botts every flavour beans inside and featured photographs of the couple on the exterior

'Everyone knows that we would do something like this, so they were expecting it,' added Emma.

'We told all our friends that it was fancy dress and if they didn't come in fancy dress, we had a dressing up booth with lots of costumes and funny glasses and wigs and they would be sent there as soon as they arrived.

'Everyone did turn up in fancy dress.'

'Our three young children were Elsa, The Hulk and Wonder Woman, and my dad came as Elvis.

'We also had Hulk Hogan, Batman, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell - you name it, it was great.'

Rings were presented inside a cutout copy of Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince, chapter fifteen

The couple's dream of a Harry Potter wand-sparking duel was made a reality by photographer Kirsty Cropley, from Brunel Photography Bristol.

She said: 'It was a really magical wedding - the venue added to it.

'It was in the middle of nowhere and on the day it was really misty, so it was like something from Harry Potter as soon as we arrived.
A new documentary has exposed the horrific way dogs are being treated at puppy farms to meet the rising demand for 'must have' breeds as pets.

Bitches are treated worse than battery-hens, and produce unhealthy puppies that are taken away from them at four-weeks-old, and often die within six months.

Often owners will have no idea of the appalling way in which their pet was brought into the world.

The rise in demand for certain 'designer' breeds including pugs, French bulldogs and dachshunds has been blamed on celebrities who own miniature dogs and flaunt them on their Instagram accounts.

Popular vloggers Alfie Deyes and Zoella own a pug, pictured, fuelling demand for the breed

Vlogger Grace Victory investigate the dark side of the puppy trade for BBC Three and was shocked to discover how badly the animals are treated when created and transported

But there is a price to pay according to one customs officer involved in clamping down on the trade. He said: 'Animals will be kept in a small room, she [bitches] will be impregnated and her puppies taken away at four weeks old.

'She might be given hormone injections to bring her into heat again to make more puppies.

'These animals will live three or four years and then have to be put down as they are exhausted. They aren't treated any better than battery hens, they have no idea what human beings are, this is no way to treat man's best friend.'

Speaking to Grace Victory for a BBC Three documentary, the customs officer said he was appalled by the terrible conditions in which he has found puppies bound for the UK: 'This is big business. There are farms in Ireland where there will be bitches who do nothing but produce puppies all day.

He added: 'If they were being treated like this for food, we would be all over this in Ireland. Because they are not for the food industry they are neglected, Ireland is the production factory and the UK is the shop.'

Some of the puppies produced this way will die on the journey to the UK because they haven't got strong enough immune systems and are weak and dehydrated.

According to the show, 70,000 puppies were imported into UK last year, with 40,000 of those from coming Ireland.

It is estimated that 70,000 puppies were imported into UK last year to be sold online via criminal gangs masquerading as reputable breeders

Popular vloggers Alfie Deyes and Zoella own a pug, as does actress Jessica Alba, while another famous vlogger, Tanya Burr, has a miniature dachshund and socialite Paris Hilton is famous for taking her tiny chihuahuas everywhere in her designer handbags.

But Grace found out that anyone seeking to emulate their favourite stars needs to think long and hard about where they get their pet from so they are not funding animal cruelty.

Chief inspector Ian Briggs from RSPCA's Special Operations Unit, told her they are always investigating 'millions of pounds worth of dogs are being trafficked into the UK constantly'.

Miniature dachshunds, pictured, are a popular breed but anyone looking to buy one for Christmas should investigate where they came from before handing over their money

He told the vlogger about a recent case in Manchester which led to the leaders of the gang being jailed.

He said: 'An estimated 1.2m worth of puppies were recovered - 95 in total - after a police raid of the home.

'We found puppies in buckets including a number of dead ones. It was a business based on the selling of sick dogs, it was cruelty on an industrial scale.

'They had thousands of dogs go through their house and many would get sick and die. They don't care, they are a commodity. They bring them in and sale them on as quickly as possible to make a profit.'

While these offenders have been jailed, Mr Briggs said the currently the law isn't tough enough on such criminals, as the maximum sentence they can get is six months behind bars.

'To them that is just a break,' he said. On release they could resume their old tricks as it is an easy way for them to way money.

Grace said dog owners need to take responsibility for where their pet had come from to avoid lining the pockets of smugglers who commit animal cruelty on an 'industrial scale'

Eighty-seven percent of calls the RSPCA receive about puppy farms are about a dog bought from an online advert, as Mr Briggs said many of them are so convincing, people have no idea they are dealing with criminal gangs.

After parting with their cash, they will often find they have bought a puppy beset with health problems due to being taken from its mother too young. The pups will often die young, or require costly vet treatment to survive.

According to The Kennel Club, 20 per cent of puppies bought online will die within six months.

Grace spoke to one such buyer - Hayley - who reveals on the documentary that she was one of the people duped when she bought a puggle after responding to an advert online. She was heartbroken when her puppy Marley died not long after she bought him.

Vlogger Tanya Burr owns a miniature dachshunds but fans wishing to copy her should be wary of where they buy a puppy to ensure they are not funding cruel puppy farms

She said: 'I looked on some selling sites and finally found her on Gumtree with the advert along the lines of "cute puggle 11 weeks old from a lovely family home".

'The people seemed so genuine, they made it their jobs to make us feel at ease. I think it was a showhouse, they put things around to look like they live there but use it as a base of selling puppies.

'We got her home and we was begin with but after two weeks she went downhill due to an auto-immune disease. She didn't have all of the goodness from her mum and threw up food constantly.'

How to avoid buying a puppy farmed dog Be wary of online adverts

Research the breeder to ensure they are legitmate

Always see the puppy with its mother

Never buy a puppy younger than eight weeks old

Never buy if you have doubts about the breeder or situation Advertisement

Hayley recalled through tears how not long after, her puppy died: 'She looked at me as if to say "help me", took a breath and stopped breathing, she died in my arms.

'It felt like my heard had been ripped out.'

Speaking to FEMAIL, Grace said she hopes Hayley's experiences and the other hard-hitting facts revealed on the documentary put others off buying a puppy from a disputable online source.

She said: 'Take responsibility to ensure you are not buying a puppy that has come from a puppy farm. Do your research to ensure the breeders are genuine, when you go to their home, ask to see the mother of the puppy and don't buy one that is younger than eight weeks.'

It is only after filming the documentary that Grace realised her family may have been fooled when they bought their Jack Russell.

They purchased him for 250 from a breeder they found online two years ago, and not long after he became ill.

She said: 'We never saw his mother and paid for him in cash after responding to an advert on Gumtree, the alarm bells should have gone off then.

'He was always scared of loud noises and then became sick. Thankfully he is better now after we took him to the vet but we would never buy a puppy this way again.

'If we got one again, I would go via the RSPCA or Dog's Trust.

A spokesman from GumTree told FEMAIL: 'We take the welfare of animals very seriously and work hard to ensure our site is a safe place to find pets in need of rehoming.

'This includes educating users on how to buy pets safely and responsibly. As well as the RSPCA and DEFRA, we work with Pets Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) and comply with all of their 18 standards. These industry-endorsed standards improve animal welfare in an ecommerce environment.

'While there are plenty of reputable breeders selling puppies on Gumtree, it's saddening to hear about Grace and her family's experience. We will delete any ads we believe are encouraging or indicate signs of animal cruelty. If users have any concerns about an ad on our site, you can use the "report an ad" button on our website and our dedicated safety team will then investigate it.

'A full summary of our rules around listing for pets can be found on our website.'
John Middleton has been the much-loved vicar in Emmerdale for 20 years, but he is the first to admit the fate of his character is sealed and he is now set to bid farewell.

The 63-year-old actor, from Bradford, who joined the ITV soap as Ashley Thomas in 1996, has had a rollercoaster journey on screen.

However it has been the distressing portrayal of his character's stroke-related early onset vascular dementia battle that has hit fans hard.

For the first time ever in the soap's history, Emmerdale will be airing an episode tomorrow night shot entirely from Ashley's point of view.

Although his onscreen wife Laurel, played by Charlotte Bellamy, has vowed to stand by his side and support Ashley, John told FEMAIL: 'This is a tragic love story because its only got one possible ending.'

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The special one-off episode of Emmerdale will tell the story solely from the point of view of Ashley Thomas, played by John Middleton, offering the audience an insight into the life of someone living with dementia

Ashley (middle) with his onscreen wife Laurel (left, played by Charlotte Bellamy) and Marlon Dingle (right, played by Mark Charnock) at the hospital

The confused vicar will be seen to leave a hospital on Tuesday evening and make his way out onto the streets alone as he tries to hunt down his old childhood home to find his dead mother.

The content of the episode itself is heavily under wraps, but John says what we can expect to see is Ashley wandering around in the cold in his pyjamas, but in his state he believes he is fully dressed.

John Middleton, 63, has starred in Emmerdale for 20 years

John said: 'I t is possibly life threatening what is happening to him and it is very cold, and he is behaving eccentrically in the middle of a town centre full of traffic and noises and its all very bewildering and frightening.'

Over recent months viewers have seen Ashley's condition steadily worsen. However his onscreen wife Laurel, has continued to support him and vowed to stand by him.

The interesting thing is the chapter or even book in their life together, they were separated for a while, a good while but I think we were responding to an audience desire that they got back together again.

'They know full well what they are going to be facing from the outset and Ashley says he doesnt think its possible and that it would be unfair to inflict this on her.

'She wants to face it with him in the first place, Ashley says no but then he begins to realise that he cant face it on his own.

Ashley is confused and ends up leaving the hospital wearing just his pyjamas, making his way out onto the streets alone in the cold

Laurel explains to Marlon the damage from the mini-stroke Ashley has just had might be permanent, he comforts Laurel but confused Ashley sees and angrily accuses them of having an affair

From his own perspective Ashley believes he is fully dressed but viewers will know he walked out of the hospital wearing nothing but his bed clothes

Ever since his diagnosis from stroke-related vascular dementia things have not gone well for the Thomas family

'And theres no better person to face it with than Laurel, because she is the great love of his life, he never stopped loving her.

'Theres a jeopardy right at the beginning of this new book in their relationship where they both know its going to end tragically but they're taking each day as it comes.'

Aside from one major difference to shooting this distinctively different episode was that John was in every scene, he says that it was particularly emotional because he regresses to a 19-year-old version of himself.

'In the episode Ashley is in hospital because he has just had a transient ischemic attack which is a mini stroke.

'The condition that Ashley has is stroke-related vascular dementia and your condition deteriorates quite rapidly and markedly after youve had a mini stroke. Hes just had a severe one and hes very confused and he doesnt really now what is going on properly.

'He eventually wanders out of the hospital, and its one of the things Ive noticed in my research that when people do wander off who have got dementia, they are not just wandering they are going with a purpose, a very definite purpose.

He has accidentally lashed out at his wife Laurel and forgot his daughter Dotty at her christening in just a few of his confused moments

Laurel has been left distraught and heartbroken but has vowed to stand by him and support him as his disease progresses

The two characters first got married in 2005 but then split before being reunited which actor John said was based upon fans' wishes

'All of a sudden he is a young man again with a purpose and that purpose is to go home to his mother, if we know the show and his background, his mother has been dead for years and years.

'He thinks she is still alive but what he is reliving is that she has a terminal illness and shes going to die and hes reliving that and the grief and the anxiety which was provoked at the time when he was about 19.'

John, who is married and has two children and lives in the same village as his longtime co-star Charlotte, spent many hours researching dementia and the affect it has on the 850,000 people living with the disease in the UK.

In a bid to make it feel as authentic as possible, the producers sought advice from Alzheimer's Society and received support from Methodist Care Homes, visiting and speaking with patients.

'In the first place I did a lot of research, the whole story line team the producer everyone did the research, Charlotte as well,' he explained.

Ashley's has been slowly declining in health over the past two years on screen, something which the actor has put a lot of research into

'The story was first pitched to me by Kate Oates [Emmerdale producer] and my first reaction was "what a great story".

'I wanted to throw myself into it wholeheartedly but obviously the next thing you think is I am going to be dealing with human extremes here, I best get this right.

WHAT IS DEMENTIA? Dementia describes different brain disorders that trigger a loss of brain function. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia, affecting 62 per cent of those diagnosed. The second is vascular dementia affecting 17 per cent of those diagnosed. Symptoms of dementia include memory loss, confusion and problems with speech and understanding. Dementia affects 850,000 people in the UK with numbers set to rise to over 1 million by 2025. There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease or any other type of dementia. Advertisement

As I started doing research I began to realise what a huge issue this is, the immense responsibility we were taking on because it is such a big issue and it affects so many people.

'If we didnt do this properly and accurately and give it the dignity and the integrity that it deserved then we would be doing an immense disservice to the people who have this condition and their carers.

' From then on we became dedicated in the team to getting it right.'

John added that Alzheimer's Society 'virtually had script approval' to make sure that what they were portraying was as realistic as possible.

'I have always thought, and I am not alone in this, that our stories come from real stories because real stories have the added advantage of being true.

'It is the truth of the issue that we wanted to get to, and you also get into the detail and the truth of those stories.

The Alzheimers Society are absolutely delighted that we are running this story, raising awareness of the issue like nothing else, they are very pleased about that.

'Another name I should mention is Methodist Homes who have been very helpful as well. Right at the beginning of my research into this I visited a home called Glenn Rosa which is in Ilkley.

John said that many of Ashley's storylines have been based on real stories from real people who have been suffering from the disease

'I met staff there and the people who lived there. It's a home which is for old people and it has a special dementia wing. They were incredibly helpful.'

The cast also met with young sufferers of dementia, around the same age as what Ashley is in the soap, and John adds: 'They were fascinating to talk to.

'We brought them into the studio and talked to the Emmerdale team and for hours we just listened to them telling their stories, some of which we were appalled by some of which we couldnt contain the laughter. From that we got a lot of detail.

It all adds to the way that we portray the condition and the way we express it.

Since his diagnosis the Thomas family have faced heartbreak - with the loving father lashing out at his wife Laurel, and forgetting his baby daughter Dotty at her christening in just a few of his confused moments.

In a Christmas Day episodethe former vicar goes to a carol service but appears to forget that it's Christmas in the village

In a Christmas Day episode of the soap Ashley goes to a carol service with his wife Laurel and daughter Gabby, on the day of her birthday but becomes confused and scared at a church carol service as his memory continues its decline.

His condition is gradually worsening and he appears to forget Christmas.

After it was announced John's soap contract would be coming to an end in 2016, and his last scenes aired in early 2017, he is prepared to be bidding a sad farewell.

Oh yes Ill be devastated,' John said of leaving behind his co-stars.

'Im sure that Im going to feel something akin to grief when I leave the show let alone leaving behind Charlotte and the close friends Ive made. But these are close friends Ive made that I will hopefully have for the rest of my life.'

However, John admits he's ready for a change: 'Id want to look for something completely different.

John Middleton and Charlotte Bellamy have become close friends on the soap and the star has said he will be devastated to leave them but will remain in touch

'The thing is that when you have been on a show that length of time like I have you would never get away from that, Ill always be Ashley from Emmerdale.

'But at the same time that might be interesting for writers, producers and directors because we can use that audience expectation of what Im going to be like and challenge it somewhat.

'Id love to play an outright villain from now on'.

The actor confessed he isn't ready to step behind the camera as he's having too much fun as on screens, and is hoping that there's more in store for the future.

'I hope I go straight into something.

'We shall have to see about that. Ive had one or two conversations with people that have been encouraging but theres nothing definite.'

Unfortunately the special episode isn't valid for entry in January's National Television Awards but John hopes that the work that has been put in will be recognised.

'It would be lovely because it would validate the work that we have been doing and with the whole team because of them being incredibly dedicated and writing it.

'I have to say that the writing for this story has been outstanding, the scripts have been an absolute joy to play and none more than the special episode.'
Prince Harry's actress girlfriend Meghan Markle has been spotted landing in Toronto after enjoying a romantic getaway in London with the young royal.

A fresh-faced Meghan appeared preoccupied with her phone as she exited the airport after her transatlantic flight.

The 35-year-old was well-protected from the cold, sporting the same navy coat and dark beanie she was wearing as she departed from Heathrow yesterday.

A fresh-faced looking Meghan looked well rested after her transatlantic flight

The actress, who has spent the past week in London with Prince Harry, appeared preoccupied with her phone as she exited the airport

The California-born actress left London yesterday after spending a romantic week with the prince, who personally dropped her off at Heathrow airport before she boarded her flight.

Meghan, who appeared to be in good spirits, was accompanied by airline staff prior to boarding her flight, while the prince was flanked by five police protection officers.

Maghan was well-protected from the cold, sporting the same navy coat and dark beanie she was wearing as she departed from Heathrow earlier today

The actress stepped into a waiting black car outside the airport in Toronto

Last week the couple, who have been seeing each other for several months, were snapped while on a romantic date in London, where they saw critically-acclaimed play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Gielgud Theatre.

From the images it seemed as though Harry was doing most of the talking as they strolled along Shaftesbury Avenue, with the Prince gesturing with his hands and looking animated.

Meghan, who appeared to be in good spirits, was accompanied by airline staff prior to boarding her flight from Heathrow

Prince Harry's American actress girlfriend Meghan Markle has been spotted leaving Britain after enjoying a getaway in London with the young royal

Glamorous Meghan, 35, was keeping her head down but appeared to be smiling as she enjoyed spending the evening with her man.

It is understood she will not be accompanying Harry to Sandringham to spend Christmas with the Queen.

Meghan is believed to have spent the week with Harry at his Kensington Palace cottage before flying home this weekend.

Meanwhile t he prince will join other senior royals for traditional celebrations at the Queen's country estate in Norfolk.

From the images it seemed as though Harry was doing most of the talking as they strolled along Shaftesbury Avenue

It is the first time the couple, pictured centre, have been caught on camera together in public

It would be unprecedented if Miss Markle attended as the invite is usually reserved for close family.

The couple kept a relatively low-profile since Miss Markle arrived in London last Monday, although they broke cover to pick out a Christmas tree together that night.

Their theatre date followed on Wednesday when the couple drew double takes from Christmas shoppers as they walked down some of London's busiest streets wearing matching beanie hats and winter coats.

It is understood they secured last-minute tickets for the 7.30pm performance of the Curious Incident, which is based on the best-selling novel by Mark Haddon.

It was initially thought the couple had watched comedy Peter Pan Goes Wrong but the team behind the Curious Incident confirmed Prince Harry was in the audience.

The official Twitter account for the Curious Incident posted: 'We were delighted to welcome HRH Prince Harry to last nights performance at The Gielgud Theatre in Londons West End.'

#californialove: Meghan Markle (right) was pictured in a festive scene with her friends Heather Dorak (centre right), and Benita (left) and Darren Litt (centre left) and their two children

Meanwhile staff at the theatre had no idea the couple were at the performance.

Both matinee and evening performance staff coming and going by the stage door between shows said they were unaware of the Royal guest.

One usher said: 'No one was aware of it. We were not told anything until we heard the news this morning. It was a bit of a surprise.

'There were a lot of people here last night, and nobody knew they were here.'

Another theatre worker said: 'It was news to me. But when the lights are down it's hard to see the audiences in much detail.

'Maybe they waited till then before taking their seats? It was all kept very hush hush.'

A member of staff at the Apollo Theatre next door added: 'No one knew they were around last night.

'I have had people calling me on my phone asking of I saw them, but I had no idea.'

The couple have previously seen the Lion King musical on the West End.

Miss Markle, 35, is currently enjoying a few months off from filming US legal drama Suits.

Prince Harry (left) and Markle (right) are now at least 2,000 miles away from each other

The official Twitter account for the Curious Incident for the Dog in the Night-time posted this message today, confirming Prince Harry attended a performance last night

After just a week apart from her boyfriend, the actress hopped on a plane to London for a week of festive activities.

They last saw each other in Toronto, where Miss Markle is based, after Prince Harry made a 1,700-mile detour on his way home from an official tour of the Caribbean.

But while there is every sign the relationship is serious, royal experts have said it is still unlikely that the couple will be spending Christmas Day together.

Kate Middleton only made her first appearance at Sandringham in 2011, the year she married Prince William.

Royal expert Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of the Queen's speech, said a Royal Christmas would be 'too stressful' for Miss Markle.

Ms Seward told MailOnline: 'At Sandringham it is only close family and occasionally very close friends.

The couple are understood to have secured last-minute tickets for the 7.30pm performance of the National Theatre production at the Gielgud Theatre, pictured in file image

The couple have kept a low-profile but were spotted picking out a Christmas tree together at Pines and Needles in Battersea Park, south London, pictured, on Monday

'It is not a moment to bring girlfriends. It would be too stressful. They all have their own in-jokes, their own little traditions.'

MEGHAN WHO? MARKLE TOPS 2016 GOOGLE SEARCH LIST Meghan Markle has topped the British list of the most Googled female celebrity in Britain in 2016. The American actress saw the number of Google searches rocket almost over night in October, when rumours of her relationship with Prince Harry first emerged. She beat out actress Stephanie Davis and X Factor contestant Honey G to claim the top spot. Carol Vorderman and Kesha also made the top five. The male celebrity most Googled by British web users was UFC fighter Conor McGregor Advertisement

She added California-native Miss Markle might also struggle with cultural differences.

'Americans are different. They have different ways of thinking and they are different.

'So for somebody from a flat in LA to be with [the Royal Family] it would be like being in outer space.'

However she said it would be possible for Kate and William to invite her to join them at Anmer Hall, their home on the Sandringham estate.

'Kate and William might invite her. It depends if they have got room. It is family first but there is no reason for them not to invite her.'

Ms Seward added it was likely the Queen would advise her grandson to 'take it gently' if asked about the romance.

'It cannot go wrong because it reflects so badly on the institution of the monarchy.

'Unfortunately, everything Harry does reflects on the monarchy. And that is just the way it is. Therefore everything Meghan does also slightly reflects on the monarchy.'
A drinker in Switzerland went home with a slightly foggy head and significantly lighter bank balance after ordering two cocktails priced at over 400 per glass.

Dirk Hany, the head bartender at the five-star Widder Hotel in Zurich, told FEMAIL that one of his customers ordered two of his pricier concoctions on Saturday night, spending over 800 on just two truffle-infused tipples.

After posting a photo of the receipt to Facebook, dozens of commenters asked what the customer got in return for the hefty price tag. 'Was the cocktail diamond encrusted?' one person jibed, while another quipped: 'Do you get to keep the glass?'

Dirk Hany, the head bartender at the five-star Widder Hotel in Zurich, told FEMAIL that one of his customers ordered two of his pricier concoctions at over 400 each. The bill was shared on Facebook and left many internet users shocked

One man highlighted that the bill cost almost the same as an ounce of gold, which is around 910.

Dirk said his client ordered the El Maximo cocktail, which is priced at 405 (520 CHF).

Explaining why the drink costs so much, the master mixologist explained: 'The cocktail consist of Havana Club Anejo Maximo, fresh lime juice, sugarcane and white truffle from Alba, Italy.

In action: Dirk (pictured above) said his client ordered the El Maximo cocktail, which is priced at 405 (520 CHF)

World's most expensive cocktail goes on sale for nearly 9,000 The world's most expensive cocktail went on sale in London in 2014 - costing the same as a new family car at almost 9K The world's most expensive cocktail went on sale in London in 2014 - costing the same as a new family car at almost 9,000. Called Gigi's (pronounced 'gee-gees') the cocktail was aimed at the loaded frequenters of Mayfair, where properties regularly fetch more than 40million. It was created especially for singer Grace Jones at the star-studded opening of Gigi's restaurant as the owners wanted to give her special thanks for attending. A flute was filled with a vintage Champagne and an ultra-rare Armagnac that pre-dates the Boer War with the result described as 'liquid gold'. The price was 8,888, which is equivalent to a brand new Mitsubishi Mirage, a Rolex Submariner, or renting a private jet to fly a family of five to the Mediterranean and back. A regular Champagne glass holds 150mls, so even if they fill it to the brim that's 60 per 1ml. Due to the fact it contained some of the most expensive Champagnes and cognacs on the open market, the drink 'must be paid for in advance' to prevent the 'rather embarrassing' situation where a patron's debit or credit card is declined. Makers claim the Gigi's drink tops the world's most expensive tipples - beating Melbourne's 8,167 Winston into second place. Restaurant manager Cesare Papagna said he wanted to give the iconic film star something 'truly special' to mark the occasion and used two of his most expensive drinks. The Gigi's had the appearance of a traditional Champagne cocktail which usually includes bubbly laced with cognac and bitters. But unlike them it was made with a bottle of 1990 vintage Cristal and a bottle of 1888 Samalens Vieille Relique Vintage Bas Armagnac. It also had 'lashings' of gold leaf to give it extra bling. Only the Angostura Bitters and sugar are bought 'off the shelf'. The cocktail's hefty price tag included the market value of each full bottle of alcohol, which will produce approximately 12 flute servings worth 708 per glass - or about 177 per glug based on four large mouthfuls. Advertisement

The Widder Hotel in Zurich attracts a roster of celebrity clients with its high attention to detail and historical

'The combination of citrus and truffle with the delicate flavors of a very old rum from Cuba makes this cocktail a treat.'

The drink is mixed in front of the client, and in a bid to keep their identity private, there are no photos of the tipple to show.

Dirk said his customer loved the drink so much that they ordered a second one.

Despite the high price tag, the El Maximo isn't the most expensive beverage on the Widder Bar menu.
Doctors said it was a miracle she wasn't paralysed and she is recovering

Laura Wellington was diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome - where the joints are more flexible than usual - as a teenager

A woman who broke her back in a horrific car accident claims her bendy spine saved her from being left paralysed.

Laura Wellington, 24, from Colchester, was diagnosed with joint hypermobility - a condition where the joints are more flexible than usual - as a teenager.

After being hit by a drunk and uninsured driver two years ago, doctors feared she would never be able to walk again.

But because her body was able to bend and not snap on impact, the outcome was much less severe, experts say.

Despite doctors being unsure if she would ever walk again, just 11 days after the accident she managed to take her first steps.

While she now does yoga to help strengthen her joints and is nearing the end of her recovery.

Miss Wellington said: 'After the crash the neurosurgeon told me it was a miracle that I wasn't paralysed as my back was in a complete mess.

'He told me that being hypermobile prevented me from paralysis, instead of my body snapping my joints and ligaments stretched instead.

'My future was still unsure but I was always determined to get back on my feet, and 11 days after the incident I took my first steps which felt amazing.

'I never thought being hyper mobile would save me from paralysis.'

Miss Wellington was hit by a drunk and uninsured driver two years ago and doctors feared she would never be able to walk again. But because her body was able to bend and not snap on impact, the outcome was much less severe (right, wearing a back brace)

Despite doctors being unsure if she would ever walk again, just 11 days after the accident she managed to take her first steps. She now does yoga to help strengthen her joints

Miss Wellington was diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome when she was a teenager after she noticed some pains in her knees.

In February 2015, Miss Wellington was crossing the road when she was hit by a drunk and uninsured driver.

WHAT IS HYPERMOBILITY? Joint hypermobility means some or all of a person's joints have an unusually large range of movement. People with hypermobility are particularly supple and able to move their limbs into positions others find impossible. Many people with hypermobile joints do not have any problems or need treatment. However, joint hypermobility can sometimes cause unpleasant symptoms, such as: joint pain

back pain

dislocated joints  when the joint comes out if its correct position

soft tissue injuries, such as tenosynovitis (inflammation of the protective sheath around a tendon) It can cause extreme tiredness and long-term pain. The condition is often hereditary, and is linked to changes in a protein called collagen. There are estimates that up to three in 10 people may be affected to some degree. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

She was rushed to hospital where doctors revealed she had broken her t-11 vertebra, fractured her skull and injured her shoulder.

She was forced to make a decision as to whether to have surgery or heal naturally with a brace.

For the first three days, Miss Wellington was unable to move. Doctors told her to stay completely still until they knew the extent of her damage.

Then, after nine days of lying on her back, she was put into a brace to help her take her first steps.

Her parents made her a temporary bedroom downstairs and she had access to a baby monitor in case she needed anything during the night.

She added: 'I could hardly leave the house and I didn't shower for three months, I tried to stay positive but I did have days where I broke down.

'But I knew how lucky I was to have survived.'

Miss Wellington has since been through intense physiotherapy and continues to do yoga and pilates to strengthen her joints.

After the accident she suffered from anxiety about going to back to London, where the crash happened.

But earlier this year, she managed to go back to the scene of her injuries and crossed the road in a bid to overcome her fears.

Miss Wellington said: 'After the crash the neurosurgeon told me it was a miracle that I wasn't paralysed as my back was in a complete mess'
 AFP, MSNBC Also Err on 'Palestinian Land' | Main | Reuters Captions: Israeli Troops Kill Palestinian During Clashes 

December 19, 2016

After Correction, ABC Repeats Error on Settlements

Dec. 20 UPDATE: For Second Time, ABC Corrects: US Does Not View Settlements as 'Illegal'

After correcting the very same error in an Associated Press story which appeared last month on its website, ABC News once again wrongly reports that "the United States considers Jewish settlements illegal" ("Donald Trump's Pick for US Ambassador to Israel Signals Changes in US Policy"). A screen shot of the Dec. 17 erroneous claim by ABC's Elizabeth McLaughlin follows:







The Associated Press correction which CAMERA prompted in November on the identical topic subsequently appeared in countless AP clients, ABC News among them.

The AP correction which appeared Nov. 21 on ABC's news site stated:

In a story Nov. 16 about Israel's settlement policy, The Associated Press reported erroneously that the United States considers Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank to be illegal. While the United States opposes settlement construction, it does not take a position on its legality. Instead, it says that settlements are "illegitimate," ''corrosive to the cause of peace" and "raise serious questions about Israel's ultimate commitment to a peaceful negotiated settlement with the Palestinians." Most of the international community views the settlements as illegal.







Since the Reagan administration, which explicitly said it did not believe the settlements were illegal, U.S. administrations have instead characterized the settlements as an obstacle to peace and illegitimate. The current U.S. government, and numerous preceding American administrations, have not characterized the settlements as "illegal."

CAMERA has contacted editors to request that ABC correct for the second time the incorrect claim the United States considers Israeli settlements illegal.

Posted by TS at December 19, 2016 02:37 AM

AP has been anti Israel for years.

Good articles about this. If AP reported on world history, the way they report on Israel, here's how it would look.

A Must Read.

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/how-would-ap-report-history-howapwouldreport/

--------------------------- Fares Akram an AP reporter in Israel put Yasir Arafat as his Facebook profile picture.

http://www.israellycool.com/2014/12/06/guest-post-richard-behar-the-ap-and-new-york-times-gaza-staff-swap/

---------------------------------



Posted by: Barry Meridian at December 22, 2016 04:04 AM

Guidelines for posting

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Post a comment
An article published in Katie Hopkins' column on 23 December 2015 ('Just because Britain's border security is a Mickey Mouse operation you can't blame America for not letting this lot travel to Disneyland  I wouldn't either') suggested that Mohammed Tariq Mahmood and his brother, Mohammed Zahid Mahmood, are extremists with links to Al Qaeda; that their purported reason for visiting the USA  namely to visit Disneyland  was a lie; and that US Homeland Security were right to prevent them from boarding their flight. We are happy to make clear that Tariq Mahmood and Zahid Mahmood are not extremists, nor do they have links to Al Qaeda. They were travelling to the USA with their families to see one of their brothers for a holiday in California and they had indeed planned to visit Disneyland as part of their trip.

In addition a further article in Katie's column on 29 December ('A brave Muslim tried to warn us their week about the extremists taking over his community. What a tragedy it is that our PC politicians would rather not know') suggested that Hamza Mahmood (Mohammed Tariq Mahmood's son) was responsible for a Facebook page which allegedly contained extremist material. Our article included a photo of the family home. Hamza Mahmood has pointed out that he is not responsible for the Facebook page, which was linked to him as a result of an error involving his email address. We are happy to make clear that there is no suggestion that either Hamza nor Taeeba or Hafsa Mahmood (Hamza's mother and sister) have any links to extremism.
The government's decision to appoint Lt General Bipin Rawat as the new Army chief has started a political slugfest

The government's decision to appoint Lt General Bipin Rawat as the new Army chief has started a political slugfest over the government's decision to ignore seniority norms and appoint a junior officer superseding two higher positions.

Congress and the Left questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked him to spell out the 'compelling reasons' for it even as BJP hit back saying they should not politicise an issue related to the defence forces.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari slammed the government for playing with institutions and doing politics in the army even as he wondered if it was whimsical cherry picking.

'Why the principle of seniority which has held the field for two decades now not respected by the government.

'Is it that these officers who were superseded unqualified in any manner? Or is it whimsical cherry picking which has been done by the BJP-led NDA government?' he asked.

'Why does the army have to go through unnecessary bloodletting at the top? If it has been done, then reasons need to be put out in the public domain,' he said.

Tewari said that Rawat may have the requisite credentials, but in a hierarchy conscious organisation, the principle of seniority is almost sacrosanct.

BJP condemned Congress for its attack on the government over the army chief's appointment, saying there should be no politics on defence forces and asserted that Lt Gen Rawat has been elevated keeping in mind the current security scenario (pictured Lt General Bipin Rawat)

Anil Kumar Dhasmana: Appointed the next chief of RAW, Dhasmana is known to be an expert in Pakistan-related affairs and specialises in Baloch activities

The political storm hit the government a day after the appointment of the Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, superseding his two senior officers - Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi and Southern Army Command chief Lt Gen P M Hariz.

CPI leader D Raja also questioned the government's move.

'Appointments in the army have become controversial, the appointments in the judiciary are already controversial, the appointments of CVC, CBI director and to Central Information Commission, all these top-level appointments are becoming very controversial.'

Commenting on the matter, JD(U) MP Pavan Varma said, 'Every question that is being raised is not about politicising an issue but about seeking a clarification for an answer.'

BJP condemned Congress for its attack on the government over the army chief's appointment, saying there should be no politics on defence forces and asserted that Lt Gen Rawat has been elevated keeping in mind the current security scenario.

BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma asserted that the new army chief was picked up from a pool of five senior-most officers, who were all competent, and that Lt Gen Rawat's appointment should not be seen as a negative against others.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari (left) slammed the government for playing with institutions and doing politics in the army even as he wondered if it was whimsical cherry picking

Air Marshal BS Dhanoa: The next IAF chief commanded his squadron in the Kargil war and flew many sorties against Pakistan army

'They are all competent officers but under the prevailing security scenario, the government found Lt Gen Rawat as the most suitable candidate.

We will urge to all political parties to not do politics over it,' Sharma said.

Lashing out at the opposition, Sharma said, 'Congress by politicising the appointment of the army chief was showing its frustration after it has been pushed to the margins of national politics following successive electoral defeats.'

Rajiv Jain: The new head of Intelligence Bureau handled the IB desk for the Valley and specializes in Kashmir operations
In the wake of heightened tension and violence, parts of Manipur capital Imphal have been placed under an indefinite curfew.

Mobile internet services were stopped at various places to prevent spread of rumours over an alleged attack on a church.

The curfew covers Porompat and Sawombung subdivisions of Imphal east district, said an order issued by the district magistrate.

In the wake of heightened tension and violence, parts of Manipur capital Imphal have been placed under an indefinite curfew. Mobile internet services were stopped to prevent the spread of rumours

Earlier in the day, the state cabinet decided to shut down mobile internet services in Imphal's west district with immediate effect, taking serious note on the prevailing situation here following three blasts on Friday.

Major areas of the state capital fall in the west district, where the three blasts had taken place in one hour on Friday evening.

The move was preceded by a 24-hour strike, called to protest hill-based militants' attacks on Manipur Police in the last few days in different parts of the state that left three policemen dead and 14 others injured.

The militants also snatched several weapons from the IRB personnel.

All measures were being taken to contain violence by deploying a large number of police personnel at sensitive areas of the state, a police officer said.

The capital on Sunday saw violence by protesters who were agitating against the ongoing economic blockade in the state and a series of terrorist attacks.

A number of vehicles were set on fire or vandalised. The landlocked state has been experiencing severe hardship in supply of essential items since November 1 after United Naga Council (UNC) imposed an indefinite economic blockade on the two national highways that serve as lifeline for the state.

The capital on Sunday saw violence by protesters who were agitating against the ongoing economic blockade in the state and a series of terrorist attacks

The blockade was imposed following the state government's announcement of formation of seven new districts, four of which have been formally inaugurated.

Tension in the state heightened after suspected militants continued their violent attacks on Manipur Police and other state forces in the last few days.

The attack was followed by triple bomb blasts at Nagaram area in Imphal West district allegedly by Manipur Naga People's Front on Friday.
The Narendra Modi government is all set to take its flagship 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' or 'Clean India Campaign' deeper into the villages of India.

Coming this March the ministry in-charge of the movement is readying to flag off 'Swachhata Rathas' a project that will roam across the length and breadth of the country.

According to top sources in the ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, the government has planned to launch 600 such 'Swachhata Rathas' or cleanliness vehicles to take the message of ridding the country of open defecation.

The Narendra Modi government is all set to take its flagship 'Clean India Campaign' further down the villages of India with 600 'Swachhata Rathas' carrying the message

The ministry believes that apart from constructing toilets in the country, the real importance of the campaign is to bring about awareness and education among masses regarding the ill-effects of open defecation and filth around habitations.

The idea is to bring about a 'behavioural change', said a top ministry official associated with the project.

On 2 October 2014, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission, which aims to eradicate open defecation by 2019.

From of 4,656 toilets built in the city, most have been constructed by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board

Ministry sources also told Mail Today that a few rathas had already been launched in some districts on a pilot basis.

Those villages, the ministry said, that fell at the bottom of backwardness would be given priority in states such as Bihar where the pace of closed defecation was slowest.

On the other hand, ministry claimed that it had already achieved over 42 per cent of its target of constructing toilets under the Swachha Bharat Mission-Gramin (rural).

'The rathas are an old way of disseminating ideas of social relevance in the country.

These Swachhata Rathas will be mobile exhibition vans that will tell people about the advantages of becoming open defecation free. It will carry literature regarding the campaign.

Under the campaign, the Capital will receive a total of Rs 360.01 crore over the course of the entire mission period (Oct 2014-19)

Moreover, we shall also be showcasing the ideals of the Swachh Bharat campaign through visual elements as these vans will also be equipped with projectors,' said a ministry source.

Another official told Mail Today that apart from these elements the ministry of Sanitation had also tied up with the ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The latter are providing these exhibitions with its song and dance troupes which will organize 'nukkad nataks' or roadside plays for the people.

'The Swachh Bharat anthem, the one made by Piyush Pandey of the 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara' and 'Ab Ki Baar Modi Sarkar' fame will be played all along the route,' the official said.

Meanwhile, in another major step, the sanitation ministry has decided to rope in an independent agency to verify the claims made by states and districts regarding open defecation.
Through tweets, statements and misstatements, the nature of the forthcoming Trump presidency is slowly revealing itself.

But perhaps the best way of assessing the next US administration as of now, is to look at the selections that Trump has made for the Cabinet and the White House.

Disruptors

So far he has appointed 22 people and it is no surprise that of 17 of them are white males, some of them older like himself; while the women in the team have relatively unimportant portfolios.

President-elect Donald Trump and Kanye West stand together in the lobby at Trump Tower

The other feature is that they are mainly rich executives and businessmen with little or no experience in the portfolios they will handle.

Among these are Rex Tillerson the former boss of Exxon Mobil, now Secretary of State designate, or Steven Mnuchin, the nominee for the Department of Treasury who is a former Goldman Sachs executive, Commerce Secretary nominee Wilbur Ross who is a billionaire investor or Dr Ben Carson, Secretary for Housing and Urban Development designate, who is a neurosurgeon.

Just what kind of a government Trump intends to run is evident from the fact that many of the appointees are known critics of the very departments they have now been chosen to head.

Of course, there is still the matter of Senate confirmations in the coming year.

The New York Times has categorised the cabinet as comprising of disruptors like Scott Prutt, Oklahoma state attorney and climate change denier who has been chosen to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

Through tweets, statements and misstatements, the nature of the forthcoming Trump presidency is slowly revealing itself

Or former Texas governor Rick Perry who once wanted to abolish the Department of Energy, the outfit he has been asked to head. In choosing them, Trump wants them to change things, not run them as they were.

In other words, disruption is expected from them, though just how much disruption the huge and complex bureaucracy can take is a matter of conjecture.

The next category are deal makers like Tillerson and Mnuchin, who have never worked with government before, but are leaders in their respective field and have proven executive ability and should, over a period of time, master their respective departments.

With business and finance backgrounds, they know how to cut a deal in a complex environment and understand the importance of gain and loss.

Variables

Whether this presages a period in which the US reaches out to potential opponents like Russia, China and Iran and works out ways of getting along with them, or not, is something that remains to be seen.

In foreign policy there is only so much that is under your control - some variables are under the control of your adversaries, existing and potential.

In any case given the present situation, deals will not be easy for everyone to stomach.

Western Europe will not be particularly happy with a deal that get Putin off their backs, in exchange for accepting that Ukraine, Belarus and Syria are part of his sphere of influence.

Then, there are loyalists like former Republican party head Reince Priebus and the incoming NSA, Lt General Michael Flynn who stuck with Trump through the thick and thin.

There is the category of establishment persons who are close to the right-wing of the Republicans and have ties with the US Congress.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a thank you rally in Ladd-Peebles Stadium

Among these are Nikki Haley, Michael Pompeo the incoming CIA chief and Elaine Chao, the wife of Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell.

Finally, there is the category of former military personnel who can prove to problematic - Flynn, defence secretary designate, Lt General James Mattis and Marine General John Kelly to head Homeland Security.

As it is, the generals who are well-known figures will tend to overshadow the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff who is the principal military adviser to the President.

Establishment

Presidents in the past often sought out technocrats or people with substantive experience in the field they were dealing with, but now we have retired generals, top executives and leaders in the world of finance.

Such people also have notoriously big egos and you can be sure that they will clash.

To some extent this is by design as it will enable Trump to control them.

Further, we need to pay attention as well to sub-cabinet appointees who will run the powerful divisions of the various departments.

Trump has put in transition or 'landing' teams into the departments which clearly indicate that his goal is to live up to his promise of providing an administration which in is opinion will not be influenced by the 'special interests' in Washington.

In other words, a combination of disruptors, deal-makers, loyalists and establishment personnel.
Thousands of households could see energy bills rocket by up to 40 per cent by the end of the year, according to new research.

Thirty-five fixed dual energy tariffs - including deals from Co-operative Energy, Npower, Scottish Power and Sainsburys Energy - are set to expire in January, according to price comparison website Go Compare.

After this point, customers will be automatically rolled onto standard variable rates (SVRs) which, in the majority of cases, are more expensive.

Thousands of households could see energy bills rocket by up to 40per cent by the end of the year, new research has revealed

It's estimated as a result, the average rise for affected households will be 250.92 over a year.

However, the worst-hit customers face up to a 41 per cent price hike, bringing bills to 331.59.

Customers are advised to shop around in a bid to find a better deal before their fixed price plans terminate.

Customers on the Extra Energy Fresh Fixed Price Dec 2016 v8 will see the biggest annual rise when they are rolled onto the suppliers Variable Price v1 tariff (its standard variable rate).

Based on dual fuel, payment by monthly direct debit, averaged across all UK regions and for households with an annual energy usage of 12,500kWh gas and 3,100kWh electricity

On average, households on the tariff can expect to see a staggering 331.59 annual price rise.

While the vast majority of new plans will be more costly, not all will bring higher bills.

In some cases, customers may see their tariffs stay the same or even fall slightly.

Commenting on the results of the investigation Ben Wilson, a spokesperson at Go Compare said: 'The Christmas period is an incredibly busy time of year so its understandable that the last thing on peoples minds is their energy bills.

'Unfortunately, winter is typically when we use the most energy so taking your eye off the ball for a few weeks can really put a serious dent in your finances.'

Mr Wilson advises energy customers to run price checks sooner rather than later if they want to keep costs low running into the New Year.

He concluded: 'Winter is also the time of the year when many of us spend the most money, with lots of us splashing out on food and presents  leaving many suffering from a financial hangover in January.

'Thats why its so important to ensure youre on the best possible energy deal this winter.'
A man awarded $1.2million for the decades he spent wrongfully imprisoned in Virginia is facing charges in Florida.

Michael Kenneth McAlister, 60, was arrested October 8 in Orlando on a felony charge of possession of cocaine and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and destruction of evidence, according to Richmond Times-Dispatch. Records show he pleaded not guilty and was released on bond.

If convicted in Florida, McAlister risks losing much of his wrongful-imprisonment award because Virginia law states that anyone convicted of a felony will not be eligible to receive unpaid due compensation.

Michael McAlister, who was freed in 2015 after serving 29 years for a rape he did not commit, could potentially have most of his compensation stripped from him

McAllister hugs a supporter in 2015 after his release from prison (left); right, he leaves with his mom, Rebecca McAlister, after holding a press conference

McAlister received an initial payment of $253,740, but the rest was due as annuities, reports the outlet.

McAlister served almost 30 years in prison after being convicted of the 1986 attempted rape of a woman in South Richmond who was attacked in her building's laundry room. He was pardoned in 2015 after the real assailant, serial rapist Norman Bruce Derr, confessed.

Michael McAllister, above, was pardoned on May 13, 2015 by Gov. Terry McAuliffe

Derr and McAlister closely resembled each other at the time of the attempted rape. Additionally, McAlister was already known to local authorities as someone who had had public indecency and drunken incidents. When the mug shot of the suspect was released, it looked remarkably like McAlister.

The 22-year-old victim had been able to see part of her attacker's face by pulling up a mask he was wearing. She later identified McAlister in a photo line-up that did not include Derr.

There was never any DNA linking McAlister to the case.

In 1993, both Richmond prosecuting attorney Joseph D. Morrissey and detective Charles M. Martin told the state parole board they believed in McAlister's innocence, yet he remained in prison.

The wrongfully convicted man left the Dillwyn Correctional Center the evening of May 13, 2015 and moved to Florida to be with family.

Convicted serial rapist Bruce Derr (left) looked remarkably like innocent man Michael McAlister (right) - and it was McAlister the victim picked out of a lineup

At the time, he said he was looking forward to a 'nice home cooked meal.'

McAlister got into trouble on October 8 when he was sitting in the passenger side of a vehicle in Orlando when a police officer approached, said the outlet.

'I asked McAlister if he had any type of identification and he replied, "No ... Im not driving because I am drunk",' Deputy Andrea Solorzano said in an arrest affidavit.

Solorazo wrote that when she asked McAlister to get out of the car, she noticed a 'nickle-sized piece of cocaine' on the seat and then McAlister resisted arrest.

McAlister had previously fractured his skull while drunk, he said.

In 2004, he was let out of prison on mandatory parole, but sent back after two years because of parole violations, reports the Richmond-Times Dispatch.

A psychologist said that McAlister was resistant to parole rules because he felt he should not have them as he did not commit the crime for which he was sentenced.

A forensic psychologist said that McAlister suffers emotional trauma from his decades in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

'To Mr. McAlister, being arrested and then being convicted for offenses that he felt absolutely certain he did not commit was a trauma, and sometimes he had nightmares about it,' he said, according to the outlet.

Karen Wolff, a social worker for the Innocence Project in New York, said that many exonerated people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and have poor coping skills thanks to the emotional trauma of being wrongly convicted.

She said this can cause substance abuse.

'[The wrongly convicted] have this additional burden of knowing that theyre in there for something that they didnt do. So you have that going around in your head - your entire life is being wasted, and your kids are growing up and theyre getting married, and your parents are dying and you cant go to their funerals, and you cant get a college education, and you cant get married and have a family. All that was not your fault, and so it really exacerbates the trauma,' she said. 'It really makes it hard to come out and be OK.'
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's foundation donated $10,000 to a Jewish settlement in the West Bank in 2003, it has been revealed.

According to a tax filing, the Donald J. Trump Foundation made the donation to a U.S. nonprofit group that raises funds for the Beit El settlement's seminary, a news organization affiliated with the settler movement and other activities in the settlement.

Trump's pick for ambassador to Israel, lawyer David Friedman, is the nonprofit's president.

President-elect Donald Trump donated $10,000 to institutions in one of Israels oldest and most steadfast West Bank settlements

The Israeli settlement of Beit El is near the West Bank city of Ramallah

Friedman, a New York lawyer, serves as president of the American Friends of Bet El Institutions.

Beit El was established in 1977 on a hill on the outskirts of the de facto Palestinian capital of Ramallah. Today, about 1,300 families live in the settlement.

Beit El founder Yaakov Katz revealed Trump's donation to Israeli settler radio Sunday.

Katz told the radio station that more than a decade ago, the settlement honored Friedman at a gala dinner in New York. It was then that Trump made his donation.

'If I would have known he would be elected president, I would have saved the check,' Katz said.

Trump made the donation in honor of his good friend and Jewish adviser David Friedman, left, now Trumps pick to be the next U.S. ambassador to Israel

Friedmans nomination as ambassador was warmly welcomed by many Israelis, especially those living in some 300 Jewish communities in the West Bank, pictured Beit El near Ramallah

The money was used for the settlement's yeshivas, or Jewish learning institutions.

Friedman's nomination as ambassador was warmly welcomed by many Israelis, especially those living in some 300 Jewish communities in the West Bank. Friedman is an outspoken supporter of the settlements.

The U.S. considers West Bank settlements obstacles to peace.

The Palestinians seek the territory, captured by Israel in 1967, for a state.

But an adviser to Trump has said Trump does not see settlements as an impediment to peace.
Families in New Zealand are still cut off from civilisation following last month's powerful earthquake, with mountainous roads blocked after massive landslides.

Nine families are being forced to drive 460km around the huge landslips to reach nearby towns after precarious boulders made roads too dangerous to use.

People living in rural households between coastal Marlborough and Molesworth Station would usually drive around 80km to reach Hanmer Springs, where they can pick up food and supplies.

But they now face a huge trek north before heading around a mountain range to reach the small town - a trip that takes more than six hours.

Families in New Zealand are still cut off from civilisation following last month's powerful earthquake, with mountainous roads blocked after massive landslides

The landslip has blocked the road and workers are having difficulty clearing the pathways

Nine families are being forced to drive 460km around the huge landslips to reach nearby towns after precarious boulders made roads too dangerous to use

Marlborough Civil Defence helicopters are being used to ferry in supplies for the nine trapped families.

The 7.8 magnitude Kaikoura earthquake not only blocked the road but also left huge rocks dangling high above the paths, making it risky for workers to access the site.

On Friday, a month and two days after the quake, they finally began excavating the path with a remote-controlled digger, TVNZ reported.

They managed to clear most of the boulders but had to pull back after loose rocks started falling from above.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake not only blocked the road but also left huge rocks dangling high above the paths, making it risky for workers to access the site

Marlborough Civil Defence helicopters are being used to ferry in supplies for the nine trapped families while the road remains blocked

On Friday, a month and two days after the quake, workers finally began excavating the path with a remote-controlled digger

Marlborough Civil Defence helicopters are being used to ferry in supplies for the nine trapped families

Until now, workers had been using dynamite and water poured down from helicopters to clear the road.

'We called in helicopters to sluice again, which uncovered four huge boulders that were in a very dangerous position,' Steve Murrin, from Marlborough Roads, told Stuff.

'We managed to dislodge two of these, but the other two are proving very difficult to move. They each weigh in excess of 15 tonnes.'

Engineers say it is not possible to put a timeframe on how long it will take to clear the path.
A US Marshal tired of waiting for his McDonald's order ended up threatening an employee with a gun, police said Sunday.

Deputy Marshal Charles Brown was arrested early Saturday morning accused of menacing a McDonald's worker at a location in Brooklyn on 86th Street.

Brown walked in around 1.20am and got into an argument with an employee about waiting too long in line, according to authorities.

He later produced a gun and threatened the McDonald's worker, police said. Brown was later arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and menacing.

Deputy Marshal Charles Brown was arrested early Saturday morning and is accused of menacing a McDonald's worker at a location in Brooklyn's Bay Ridge on 86th Street (pictured)

There were conflicting reports about how Brown allegedly pulled out the weapon.

A report by the New York Post states Brown is accused of yelling at a 41-year-old cashier named Joanna Diaz before whipping out a gun and pointing it at her.

According to that report, Brown allegedly waved the gun at other customers, some of which tried to defend Diaz.

Brown then placed his order, left without his food and was later found drunk not far from the fast food joint, police said according to the New York Post.

Another report by NBC New York, however, states that Brown is accused of getting into an argument with a 25-year-old male employee.

Brown then left and came back with a black gun, threatening the employee from outside, police said according to the network.

Officers later found Brown on 87 Street and Fourth Avenue and retrieved a loaded gun from his waistband, NBC New York reported.

Police didn't immediately respond to a call from the DailyMail.com.
 After Correction, ABC Repeats Error on Settlements | Main | Wheres the Coverage? UN Head Admits Anti-Israel Bias 

December 19, 2016

Reuters Captions: Israeli Troops Kill Palestinian During Clashes

Dec. 20 UPDATE: Reuters Amends Captions: Palestinian Killed During Violent Clashes

Reuters photo captions about Ahmed Al-Remawi omit the fact that the Palestinian was killed Sunday during violent clashes, limiting information about the circumstances surrounding his death to the fact that the "Palestinian Health Ministry said [he] was shot and killed by Israeli forces on Sunday."

Given the minimal information, uninformed readers could reasonably conclude that unprovoked Israeli forces shot Remawi Sunday as he did nothing more than sit and drink coffee. (Reports conflict about his age, said to be either 19 or 23.)

But both Israeli and Palestinian sources agree that a mob of Palestinians was violently clashing with Israeli troops, throwing stones, when Remawi was killed. Haaretz reported:

According to the IDF, some 50 Palestinians were involved in the clash, some of whom threw stones at Israeli security forces. A Border Police officer was wounded. The army said that the forces responded to the stone-throwing with riot control measures and with shooting in the air.

Examples of the incomplete Reuters captions follow:

Mourners carry the body of Palestinian Ahmed al-Remawi, who Palestinian Health Ministry said was shot and killed by Israeli forces on Sunday, during his funeral in the West Bank village of Beit Rima near Ramallah December 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

Relatives of Palestinian Ahmed al-Remawi, who Palestinian Health Ministry said was shot and killed by Israeli forces on Sunday, mourn during his funeral in the West Bank village of Beit Rima near Ramallah December 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

Relatives mourn as people carry the body of Palestinian Ahmed al-Remawi, who Palestinian Health Ministry said was shot and killed by Israeli forces on Sunday, during his funeral in the West Bank village of Beit Rima near Ramallah December 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

Unlike Reuters, other leading news agencies made clear in their captions that Remawi was killed during clashes with troops. See, for example, both AFP and AP below: Palestinian mourners carry the body of Ahmed Rimawi, who was shot and killed during clashes with Israeli forces the day before, during his funeral in the northern West Bank town of Beit Rima, near Ramallah, on December 18, 2016. Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian teenager early Sunday during a confrontation in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said. Security officials said that troops entered the village of Beit Rima, near Ramallah, after midnight and were confronted by stone-throwing youths. ABBAS MOMANI / AFP (Emphasis added.) Palestinian mourners carry the body of Ahmed Rimawi, 23, who was shot and killed during clashes with Israeli forces Saturday night, during his funeral in the village of Beit Reema near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016.(AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) CAMERA has contacted Reuters editors to request that they amend the captions about Remawi to make clear, as the other leading photo agencies did, that the teen was killed during violent clashes with troops. For more CAMERA reports about Reuters captions which downplayed Palestinian violence, please see here, here, and here.

Posted by TS at December 19, 2016 07:21 AM

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Crement de Loire NV, which Sainsburys says is flying off the shelves

It's seen its popularity soar as a cheaper, sweeter alternative to Champagne.

But is Proseccos bubble about to burst?

Experts say it is in danger of losing its crown to a bargain fizz from the country which started it all.

Sainsburys said a lightly bubbled French Cremant de Loire NV, which it started selling for 9 last month, is flying off the shelves.

The supermaket said it expected to sell nearly 40 per cent more Cremant than it initially forecast over Christmas and new year.

Technical manager and winemaker Richard Maltby described the fizz as in between a Prosecco and a Champagne to maximize its appeal to consumers.

He tipped it as this years Pignoletto  the Italian Prosecco alternative that chief executive Mike Coupe credited for boosting the retailers Christmas results last year.

The Majestic wine warehouse said the Loire Cremants it first sold last year had also proved incredibly popular.

But despite competition from France, and more recently even English sparkling wines, Prosecco is still a firm favourite with shoppers.

OR WHY NOT GIVE THESE SPARKLERS A TRY? Daily Mail wine expert Matthew Jukes picks five of the best French sparkling wines to match the Sainsburys cremant. NV Chateau de lAulee, Cremant de Loire, Cuvee Jeanne dArc, Loire, France (13, Oddbins): Made from chenin blanc, this is one of the finest value French sparklers of the year and if you were served it blind you would swear it was champagne. Effortlessly classy, bursting with fruit and finished with a long, dry, haunting aftertaste. NV LExtra par Langlois Brut, Cremant de Loire, France (12.99, reduced to 9.99 each in a mix six deal, until January 30, Majestic): Dry, classy, lean and packed with tension, this is a fabulous wine. The scent is citrusy and focused, the palate long and mouth-watering, making it the perfect bubbly to serve for foodie friends. Why splash out on champagne when this effortlessly chic beauty is only a tenner.

NV Prince Alexandre, Cremant de Loire Brut Loire, France (12.99, Waitrose and www.waitrosecellar.com): Made from chenin blanc, chardonnay and also cabernet franc, this is a firm, taut number, better suited to mixing for cocktails than drinking straight. Some may find the flavour rather raw, but because the acidity is so pronounced it provides a great backbone for cocktail making. 2014 Finest Blanquette de Limoux 1531, Languedoc, France (9, Tesco): Made by the Sieur dArques company and regularly featured in my column because it is such a star wine, this is a keen, racy sparkler which uses the local grape mauzac to great effect. Can be served straight or in cocktails. NV Prima Perla, Grande Reserve Brut Chardonnay, Jean-Claude Mas, Languedoc, France (12.99, reduced to 9.99 each in a mix six deal, until January 30, Majestic): Its hard to imagine a finer value blanc de blancs exists. Dry, long, complex and reeking of class, this is a bottle which holds its own against champagnes which sell for two or three times the price. Advertisement

Tesco sells 27 types of Italian sparkling wine by the case, compared to just two French ones, not including Champagne.

And Sainsburys said Prosecco remained the most widely searched for alcoholic item online, with shoppers spending 9 million on it in the week before Christmas last year, a third more than the previous year.

It said this Friday  which it is calling Fizz Friday (23)  was going to be the biggest day for sparkling wine sales.

The supermarket said it expected to sell around 500,000 bottles  around five times as many on a typical Friday.

It was in 2013 when Italian sparkling wines sales overtook Champagne for the first time as a cut-price alternative, with the average price of a bottle of Prosecco said to be 6.49 compared to the average price of a bottle of Champagne at 16.23.

Figures released earlier this year showed that Proseccos popularity has continued to soar, with sales at major supermarkets up 34 per cent to 356 million in the 12 months to February, according to analysis by IRI.

But critics have complained that high demand has affected quality and created shortages. It has also led retailers to push alternatives, such as Spanish Cava.

CHRISTMAS SNAPS Clementines are shrinking Clementines may be a traditional feature of the Christmas stocking  but Britons were warned yesterday that the juicy fruit is set to shrink in size. Growth of the popular festive treat has been hit by unfavourable weather which means they will not be as big and juicy as usual this festive season. Retail trade magazine The Grocer warned yesterday: The traditional clementine in our Christmas stocking is likely to be smaller than usual, after unfavourable weather stymied yields in Spain. Ex-burglars get festive warning A police force is writing to those with previous convictions for burglary to warn them they will spend Christmas behind bars if they return to crime. Recipients are told that because of their records, they have been identified as potential burglars. Northumbria Police said the letters are to offer support to help repeat offenders change their behaviour. It is the latest desperate effort by police to cut crime amid reduced budgets and officer numbers. Last month the Essex force told homeowners to grow spiky shrubs to deter burglars. Advertisement

In turn, sales of non-Prosecco sparkling wines including Cava also rose, up by 9.4 per cent, to 297 million, according to the figures. Champagne sales rose just one per cent, to 251 million.

A number of the big supermarkets also stock English sparkling wine, with of that up by around 300 per cent at Marks & Spencer and nearly 200 per cent at Waitrose in the last year.

Wine expert Jilly Goolden has said Prosecco has been king of fizzes for too long and there were lots of bubbly beverages queuing up to take its place.

It was never that fantastic in the first place; its not delicious, but a bit dull and frothy, like a childs fizzy sweet, she said this week.

There are two types of Prosecco: the more superior is made from grapes in a smaller central region and can boast a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita or DOCG status.

Lower quality Prosecco is produced using grapes from anywhere within the larger DOC region and is marked as such.

Prosecco has been produced in northern Italy, it is said, since the Roman times, with Pliny the Elder, the Roman writer, describing it as one of the great wines at the table of dignitaries.
Jeremy Corbyn attended a Christmas party where his jubilant supporters celebrated the 'seething tide' of strikes bringing misery to Britain.

Ahead of a week of Christmas discontent, left-wing activists toasted 'so many strikes coming up right now' while drinking from beer bottles decorated with Mr Corbyn's face.

A wave of strikes will be launched this week by thousands of workers hitting railways, the post and flights in the run-up to Christmas. Post Office workers will this morning begin walkouts that will leave some branches closed or under-staffed.

Jeremy Corbyn pictured with members of the band Bloody English at the Momentum Christmas Party

Railway staff, airline cabin crew and airport baggage handlers are also planning disruption for the coming days  wreaking havoc with people's festive travel plans.

At the event, an organiser for Mr Corbyn's campaign group Momentum, Hattie Craig, proclaimed the strikes affecting rail commuters, air passengers and those wanting to send Christmas parcels were part of a 'whole seething tide of working class power'.

She told the crowd at the Amersham Arms pub in New Cross, south east London: 'We've seen strikes that have been winning. Southern Rail is ongoing  so many strikes coming up right now. Strikes on the trains, strikes on British Airways, postal workers.

'There is like a whole seething tide of working class power out there and that's being fed in so many different ways and in so many different areas.'

It comes as:

It was revealed militant union leaders have privately boasted they are acting together in a bid to 'bring down this bloody working-class-hating Tory Government'.

Labour's Diane Abbott refused to condemn the strikes and a text message from shadow chancellor John McDonnell showed he pledged Mr Corbyn would stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with strikers.

But senior Labour MP Meg Hillier broke ranks with her own party leadership to warn union bosses they risk 'shooting themselves in the foot'.

Theresa May came under pressure from Tory figures who claimed Margaret Thatcher would have taken on the unions.

Mr Corbyn, pictured, spoke at the party

As Britons worried about Christmas plans, Mr Corbyn on Thursday evening spoke at the Momentum Christmas party, where supporters cheered the disruption.

The Labour leader, who has received more than 250,000 from the unions taking action, told Momentum members the Left needs to, 'stand together because unity is our strength and necessity'.

Invitations for the party, which were decorated with a stocking, baubles and a bell, said it was a chance to, 'Celebrate the end of 2016 with friends from Momentum'. They promised 'live bands, DJs and (very) special guests' .

Party-goers were served bottles of 'Corbyn's Courage India Pale Ale'.

Momentum founder Jon Lansman auctioned off a signed bottle of the beer for 80, while 'Have a very Corbyn Christmas' cards sold for up to 30. Performers included rapper Marcel Cartier and bands called Bloody English and Reptiles.

Momentum was formed after Mr Corbyn was first elected to the Labour leadership in 2015. The group describes itself as 'existing to build on the energy and enthusiasm from the Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Leader campaign'.

Miss Craig, 24, a former student union activist at Birmingham University, helped organise a four-day fringe festival held by Momentum alongside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool in September.

Guests drank from an Indian Pale Ale called Corbyn's Courage featuring the leader's face

Yesterday it emerged that leaders behind the railway and post office strikes in September attended a meeting where they plotted working together to cause maximum disruption.

Unions are coordinating to bring the government down? Shock horror. Guess what? We bloody are. Sean Holye, RMT president

At the meeting in Brighton, RMT president Sean Hoyle referred to a report that his and other hard-left unions were 'co-ordinating to bring the government down ... Shock horror. Guess what? We bloody are,' he said. And quoting late union leader Bob Crow, he said at a National Shop Stewards Network conference last month: 'If you spit on your own, they just wipe it away. But if we all spit together we can drown the bastards.'

Labour MP Meg Hillier, chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, yesterday said unions needed to think about the impact of the strikes.

If you spit on your own, they just wipe it away. But spit together we can drown the b******* Sean Hoyle, RMT president

She told Sky News: 'I think it's absolutely right people should have the right to strike, but I think it is a very unfortunate combination for people travelling, workers, at a particularly difficult time of year. And I think that if they are not careful they could be shooting themselves in the foot.'

But Miss Abbott, the party's shadow home secretary, refused to endorse the views of her colleague. She told Sky News: 'I agree with what she is saying that it's a really unfortunate situation, but I am not going to be second guessing the leadership of trade unions. And we need to remember that it takes two to cause a strike. It is not just the trade union, it is also the problems and the incompetence of some management, and Southern Rail is an example of that.

We've seen strikes that have been winning... There is like a whole seething tide of working class out there and that's being fed in so many different ways and in so many different areas. Hattie Craig, Momentum organiser

'Of course we think about the public we serve, and, of course, these strikes are going to be very disastrous, if they all go ahead, for the public over Christmas time, but people do have a legal right to strike,' Miss Abbott told Sky News.

I send solidarity greetings to all those workers engaged in struggle. From the rail workers, to the teaching assistants to the junior doctors. John McDonnell, Shadow Chancellor

Mr Corbyn has been bankrolled by unions organising the strikes during his two leadership campaigns and time as opposition leader. Since the last general election he has received 141,618 from Unite, which is behind the walkouts at airports, and 50,000 from the CWU representing post office workers. The RMT and Aslef, which have hit Southern Railway, have given him 50,000 and 20,000 respectively.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: 'There are plenty of people seething, but it is commuters who cannot get to work and are losing their jobs due to Mr Corbyn's sponsors and their politically-motivated strikes.'

Talks aimed at averting strikes over pay and conditions by Unite members among British Airways cabin crew over Christmas will be held at Acas today.

THE WRECKERS, CONTINUED... As misery looms for travellers and postal customers, we look at two union barons behind the chaos. DAVE WARD: General secretary of the CWU Dave Ward of the CWU has a previous conviction for kicking a police officer For someone with a conviction for kicking a police officer, it is no surprise that Mr Ward is known for his fighting talk. The architect of the mail strikes is part of the 'awkward squad' of union leaders trying to influence national politics. He was a key backer of Jeremy Corbyn, saying the socialist Labour leader was the antidote to a 'virus' in the party following Tony Blair's reign. The father of four, who became a post office messenger at 17, was paid 76,760 for seven months' work after taking over the union last year. The keen Chelsea fan and guitarist lives in a 520,000 house in south west London. SEAN HOYLE: RMT president Sean Hoyle took over the RMT this year As commuters suffered at the hands of striking Southern Rail staff this year, the union boss behind the walkouts was on holiday in the upmarket Turkish resort of Didim. He put an image online of him with second-in-command Steve Hedley holding an image of a crude gesture captioned: 'Taking the demo to Turkey.' He recently said unions were orchestrating strikes to cause maximum chaos. On the question of whether unions were 'co-ordinating to bring the Government down' the 52-year-old said: 'Shock horror. Guess what? We bloody are. Any trade unionist with any sense wants to bring down this bloody working class-hating Tory Government.' Mr Hoyle, 52, who took over this year, took 47,483 in allowances and expenses in 2015. After his appointment, he told members Labour's 'socialist Left' was 'alive and well'. Advertisement




Donald Trump is lashing out on Twitter in advance of the Electoral College vote.

The president-elect says: 'If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!'

The 538 members of the Electoral College are gathering Monday to formally elect Trump.

GOP electors have been inundated with emails, phone calls and letters urging them to vote against Trump. And protests are planned across the country in state capitals where electors will meet.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Saturday in Mobile, Ala.

Some members said they even received death threats.

'Somebody threatened to put a bullet in the back of my mouth,' Michael Banerian, a GOP elector attending Oakland University in Michigan, told the New York Post.

People on Twitter were quick to point out that Trump's supporters actually had threatened people.

'Your supporters yelled 'Hang the b**ch' about Hillary Clinton,' one pointed out.

'Like the ones that spray paint swastikas in the honor of your name?' asked another.

Others pointed out that Trump's own words admit that his supporters acted violently.

Trump took to his favorite platform, Twitter, on Sunday to express his displeasure with those who oppose his presidency

Gloria McVeigh, 65, holds a sign and cheers during a demonstration against US President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday

'You people were vicious, violent, screaming, "Where's the wall? We want the wall!" Screaming, "Prison! Prison! Lock her up!" I mean you are going crazy. I mean, you were nasty and mean and vicious and you wanted to win, right?' he asked an Orlando crowd on Friday as part of his 'Thank You' tour of select states.

On Saturday Night Live, Kate McKinnon reprised her role as Hillary Clinton, and spoofed the movie Love, Actually, by showing up at an elector's home with placards silently begging her to vote for 'literally anyone else.'

In some states, voting for the candidate not chosen as the victor in terms of state votes is illegal, reports ABC Action News.

Over a thousand demonstrators marched on International Migrants Day through downtown Los Angeles on Sunday

Clinton won the popular vote by about 3million, which would make Trump the least-popular victor since Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876.
A brawl involving up to 150 teenagers erupted outside a McDonald's outlet in western Melbourne, terrifying customers and staff.

At least four police cars with a helicopter rushed to the fast foot outlet in Tarneit at about 9.40pm on Sunday to break up the unruly gathering but no one was arrested.

It was just days after a group of at least 40 youths harassed staff and attacked customers last Thursday after damaging nearby cars.

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A brawl involving up to 150 teenagers erupted outside a McDonald's outlet in western Melbourne, terrifying customers and staff

This time there were no reports of injuries and only one broken window, but witnesses said food and broken glass was everywhere and the youths were shouting and threatening to fight each other.

Residents also spotted police helicopters circling the area well into the night and siad police used dogs to help them disperse the crowd.

Video posted on social media shows dozens of teenagers, who appeared to be of African descent, outside the McDonald's with some getting into physical confrontations.

Raised voices could be heard on another video, with one yelling at someone else to 'stop'.

At least four police cars rushed to the fast foot outlet in Tarneit at about 9.40pm on Sunday to break up the unruly gathering but no one was arrested

Leigh Meddings, whose 15-year-old son works at the McDonald's, said the scene was mayhem when she arrived to pick him up.

'It was just disgusting, food left everywhere, staff were cleaning up broken glass. It was very intimidating walking through this group of people to pick my son up,' she told 3AW radio.

Police said on Monday they believed they knew who broke the McDonald's window and anticipated making one arrest.

'We understand the community is concerned about large gatherings that can cause unrest but their safety is our number one priority,' Commander Russell Barrett said.

'We will work with community leaders to find alternative activities for young people.'

It was just days after a group of at least 40 youths harassed staff and attacked customers last Thursday after damaging nearby cars

This time there were no reports of injuries or damage but witnesses said food and broken glass was everywhere and the youths were shouting and threatening to fight each other

Residents posting on social media said youths of African appearance were terrorising the neighbourhood and made them feel unsafe in their own homes.

'And guess what? Yet again, no arrests made. No arrests made when they break in to peoples homes also, 8 people at a time, why? Too young they say,' one wrote on Monday.

Others said the youths sped around the suburb in unregistered cars and banged on doors before running off.

'Ive called the cops... but seriously, two of them in a van arent going to pull them over, theyre scared,' resident Ward Halket told the Herald Sun last week.

'Its frustrating because I dont feel safe walking 100m up the road whether its day or night when theyre around.'
Household energy bills could rise by 30 a year just to stop the lights going out in winter, a report warns today.

The influential British Infrastructure Group said the push towards green energy and chronic mismanagement of the system had left the energy sector in crisis.

The group, chaired by former Cabinet minister Grant Shapps, warned it was even possible that British industry could face a return to the three-day week because of a lack of electricity at peak times.

Grant Shapps, above, chairs the British Infrastructure Group which says the energy sector is in crisis

The study says the National Grids safety buffer  the amount of spare capacity it has in the system to cope with surges in demand  has shrunk to 0.1 per cent this winter. This is down from about 17 per cent in winter 2011-12.

The report warns there is a sustained danger of intermittent blackouts for the foreseeable future, thanks to dwindling base capacity and freak weather events. And it says that, by next winter, the lights could go out. The bill for keeping them on could be an extra 30 a year per family by 2020, in addition to current trends for price rises.

The report points much of the blame at green policies and carbon reduction targets which led to a focus on renewable energy and the closure of coal-fired power stations.

Mr Shapps said: It is clear that a perfect coincidence of numerous policies designed to reduce Britains carbon dioxide emissions has had the unintended effect of hollowing out the reliability of the electricity generating sector.

He added: Current projections place the cost of covering potential shortfalls at well over a billion pounds by 2020-21. With top officials suggesting candidly that some measure of energy austerity might be implemented to save costs, British energy policy will soon be, if it is not already, in crisis.

This winter, National Grid will pay around 122.4million for so-called emergency power  which is purchased from suppliers who do not trade in the normal energy market.

The report says this is 800 times the average wholesale price for 2015 and four times the cost of last years emergency reserves. The report goes on: While no precise projection can be made of costs in the future, if this trend were to continue year-on-year, by 2020-21 National Grid estimates that it could be spending nearly one and a half billion pounds procuring emergency power.

It warns: Currently, the British electricity network is going backwards. Capacity margins are so tight that National Grids emergency power deals have become the norm.

Daniel Mahoney, head of economic research, Centre for Policy Studies, said mismanagement left the UK with narrow capacity margins

Some households may even face the prospect of power being rationed and returning to a three-day week.

Some businesses already have. This is surely a failure of any nationally-directed power strategy.

Mr Shapps said: The only thing standing between our Christmas lights glowing and total blackout this year will be exorbitant emergency payments to keep the power on.

Its time to put a decade of dithering behind us and build the energy security Britain needs for her post-Brexit future. Hinckley is a good start, but we need to do more to get the shale revolution and renewables taking the strain.

Daniel Mahoney, head of economic research at the Centre for Policy Studies, said: Mismanagement of energy policy  both from the European Union and the UK Government  has left the UK with desperately narrow capacity margins.

A spokesman for the National Grid said the 0.1 per cent figure was taken from a report published in July. He added: Our Winter Outlook report in October put the surplus margin for this winter at 6.6 per cent.
Theresa May was under mounting pressure last night to take a stand against union barons who are planning a Christmas of discontent.

Senior Tory figures including party grandees and two Cabinet ministers said it was clear the unions were waging a politically motivated attack on the public and the Government.

One claimed Mrs May was infirm of purpose in the face of union provocation.

Theresa May was under mounting pressure last night to take a stand against union barons who are planning a Christmas of discontent

Amid continuing Southern Railway strikes which leave up to 300,000 passengers a day stranded, there were demands for emergency laws to enforce proportionate industrial action that does not bring key services to a standstill.

Even Labour figures began to break ranks to express concern over the damaging strikes. And calls for No 10 to step in grew louder after one rail militant was caught on tape boasting how the unions were co-ordinating action to bring down this bloody working-class-hating Tory government.

Sean Hoyle, president of the RMT, declared that Rule No 1 for his union was to strive to replace the capitalist system with a socialist order. He told a meeting of activists last month: If we all spit together we can drown the bastards.

David Gauke, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said his comments were more evidence that rail unions are motivated by political objectives, not passenger safety, while Tory chairman Patrick McCloughlin said: This dispute is a politically motivated row.

Ex-Tory minister David Mellor said: The description of Theresa May as the new Margaret Thatcher is as wide of the mark as it could possibly be.

Margaret Thatcher knew what she wanted do and did it. I dont think Theresa May knows what she wants to do  her advisers appear to be the ones that create the headlines. I think she is sitting there and she is infirm of purpose and needs to seize the initiative.

Amid continuing Southern Railway strikes which leave up to 300,000 passengers a day stranded, there were demands for emergency laws to enforce proportionate industrial action

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has hinted that he is willing to table new strike laws, saying nothing has been ruled out. Government insiders say he is spoiling for a fight.

However, Whitehall sources insist Downing Street is reluctant to start a battle which the Government would be highly likely to lose in the Lords.

Labour and Liberal Democrat peers have made it clear that any measures not included in the 2015 Tory General Election manifesto would be dead upon arrival in the Upper House.

But over the weekend a string of senior Tories urged Mrs May to take firm action anyway. Lord Heseltine said: In the end you either compromise, which means you lose, or you address the issue upfront.

You cannot have small groups of people holding society to ransom, regardless of personal inconvenience or cost. The law of the land must be supreme.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has hinted that he is willing to table new strike laws, saying nothing has been ruled out

Lord Tebbit, who was Lady Thatchers party chairman, said: You should take a hard but understanding line. It is no good just flailing around.

Tory MP Chris Philp, one of the leading voices calling for emergency laws, said unions should not be allowed to strike unless they can prove their action is reasonable and proportionate.

His colleague Huw Merriman wants a law banning strikes on safety grounds if an industry regulator has rejected the unions claims.

Yesterday, senior Labour MP Meg Hillier defied her own party leadership to warn union bosses they risk shooting themselves in the foot.

The chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee said they needed an urgent wake-up call about the harm they were inflicting on the public.

She told Sky News: I think its absolutely right people should have the right to strike  but I think it is a very unfortunate combination for people travelling, workers, at a particularly difficult time of year.

I think that all trade unions, even though they are fighting for their rights, need to really think about the impact on the people they are actually there to serve  their customers or their passengers.

And I think that there needs to be a bit of a wake-up call about the impact on hard-working people trying to get to work or go on holiday.
Rescue crews have responded to almost 200 calls for help after trees, powerlines and even roofs came crashing down during an intense storm which swept across Brisbane on Sunday, as residents are warned to brace for more rain.

The wild storm struck Brisbane and neighbouring Ipswich about 3pm, bringing 100 kilometre winds, large hail stones and more than 44,000 lightning strikes.

Scores of people  including Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles  have flooded social media with photos of fallen trees on top of cars, homes, and debris strewn in the street.

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A wild storm with gale force winds struck Brisbane on Sunday, bringing large trees and power lines crashing down on top of homes, cars and leaving debris strewn in the street (pictured)

The intense storm featured 100 kilometre winds, large hail stones and more than 44,000 lightning strikes

Scores of people  including Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles (pictured)  have flooded social media with images and videos of enormous hail stones and damage to their homes and cars

Mr Miles placed a photo of him home, which is covered in debris, on Twitter with the caption: 'Made it out, bit of a mess though. All safe.'

Large hail stones also damaged many cars, with insurance assessors moving in on Monday to determine the cost of the wild weather.

Energex said about 140 power lines were brought down during the storm, with around 15,000 homes losing power.

By Monday morning power at all but 50 homes in Brisbane and Ipswich had been restored.

A supermarket in Bellowrie was closed due to a partially collapsed roof while Wynnum Esplanade was also shut after a damaged shop front fell onto an unoccupied car.

No one has been reported injured but the ABC reported one family was rescued from their car after it was swept away during a flash flood.

The storm, described by authorities as very dangerous, twice forced play in the first Test between Australia and Pakistan at the Gabba to be stopped.

A tree has been uprooted in the western suburb of Karana Downs (pictured)

'A welcome home present,' one woman called a tree that had fallen into her yard

Residents of Brisbane and Ipswich have been told to prepare for more rain this week, with the possibility for more storms on Friday

Enormous hail stones lashed Brisbane during the 'very dangerous thunderstorm'

Some flights at Brisbane Airport were also delayed until the storm passed.

Energex recorded 3200 direct cloud to ground lightning strikes and the weather bureau says 55mm of rain fell in Ipswich within half an hour.

Brisbane residents have been told to brace for more rain, with a chance of showers every day this week with the highest chance for storms on Friday.

While not as destructive, Sydney should also expect showers all week with temperatures in the mid 20s.

Monday is expected to be cloudy with a maximum of 24 degrees, followed by a warmer 31 degrees on Tuesday and late showers.

Trees fell in the heavy thunderstorms in Queensland's south east on the weekend

Large hail fell across the city as thunderstorms rolled across south east Queensland

Hail lashed the suburb of Ipswich on Sunday as thunderstorms loomed

Social media was alight with pictures of the storms across Brisbane

The remainder of the working week is expected to hover over the mid-20s with possible showers, before the skies clear for a mostly sunny Saturday and a top of 27 degrees.

Melbourne on Monday will finally feel like summer with a top of 30 degrees and increasing cloud.

Tuesday in the Victorian capital is expected to be a top of 22 degrees with clearing showers.

Wednesday and Thursday will be mostly sunny in the early-20s, before temperatures rise to the late-20s over Friday and Saturday.

Adelaide will hit 33 degrees on Monday with a late shower predicted.

Dark gloomy skies hover above Brisbane on Sunday afternoon

Storms and heavy wind approaching Brisbane on Sunday afternoon

Hail in the backyard of a suburban home in Brisbane on Sunday

Skies will clear for the remainder of the week, sitting at 24 and 25 for Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Thursday will see a top of 28 degrees, followed by 32 on Friday and a hot 35 degrees on Saturday.

Following the Sunday storm in Brisbane, possible showers will mar the remainder of the week. Temperatures are expected to hit the high-20s and early-30s.

There is a gale warning for northern NSW at Byron Bay, and a strong wind warning for Coffs Harbour, Macquarie Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast for Sunday.

In the Northern Territory, the weather bureau was warning locals in the Tiwi district of severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding at Wurrumiyanga, Milikapiti and Pirlangimpi on Sunday.
Soldier A and Soldier C will be dragged to Belfast next year to face court charges for shooting Joe McCann (pictured) in 1972

The prosecution for murder of two elderly soldiers over the 1972 killing of a dangerous IRA terrorist is no surprise to some of us who follow events closely here in Northern Ireland.

Barely noticed in the rest of the UK, a major scandal has been brewing.

These latest criminal charges could well be followed by many more prosecutions of former soldiers and policemen for controversial killings during the Troubles.

For it has emerged that more than 300 killings by British troops are being re-examined, which means hundreds of servicemen in their 60s and 70s may be regarded as suspects in a legal inquiry costing taxpayers tens of millions of pounds.

Yet there is no sign of Republicans facing charges for the mountain of unsolved terrorist murders, some of them crimes against humanity such as the bombs in Birmingham, Harrods in London, Enniskillen and Belfast on 'Bloody Friday' in 1972, when the IRA killed nine, including two soldiers.

Indeed, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has hinted it is so overwhelmed chasing incidents involving police and soldiers, it has no resources left to pursue the paramilitaries who wreaked havoc on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Soldier A and Soldier C will be dragged to Belfast early next year to face court charges for shooting Joe McCann in April 1972.

McCann, a leader of the so-called Official IRA faction, is alleged to have killed various people, including Corporal Robert Bankier in Belfast in 1971.

Cpl Bob Bankier (pictured left with a pipe) was aged 25 when he was shot dead by the IRA. His alleged killer was McCann, a leader of the so-called Official IRA faction

Cpl Bankier is pictured left, after joining the army, and right, following his wedding day, in which he married Catherine

In early 1972 he is also believed to have shot John Taylor, an Ulster Unionist Party minister at Stormont. He was hit five times, but survived to become Lord Kilclooney, now a 78-year-old crossbencher in the Lords.

McCann was unarmed when he was shot dead, and now the Public Prosecution Service in Belfast says the decision to prosecute the two soldiers was reached 'following an objective and impartial application of the Test for Prosecution'.

And they are not the only former British servicemen who, in old age, have found themselves prosecuted over events at the height of the Troubles a lifetime ago.

Last week, the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions, Barra McGrory, who once worked as a lawyer for Martin McGuinness  now Northern Ireland's deputy first minister  and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, rejected criticism of a 2015 decision to prosecute former Corporal Major Dennis Hutchings, 75, for the 1974 killing of a civilian.

Sir Henry Bellingham, Conservative MP for North West Norfolk, had noted in Parliament there had been no new evidence since a 2011 investigation by a body called the Historical Enquiries Team had exonerated Dennis Hutchings' patrol for what happened on the ground in Northern Ireland.

McCann (pictured in 1971) was unarmed when he was shot dead, and now the Public Prosecution Service in Belfast said they will prosecute the two soldiers

Sir Henry said in Westminster: 'What has changed is that the DPP in Northern Ireland is now Barra McGrory QC, the same person who represented Martin McGuinness in the Saville Inquiry [into Bloody Sunday].'

But there is a much wider problem. The approach to 'legacy' cases from Northern Ireland's violent past has turned against the security forces in a grotesque way.

This is partly because many decent  but naive  decision-makers in the political, criminal justice and security worlds have facilitated investigations that work overwhelmingly to the advantage of Sinn Fein.

There were undeniable failures by the state. But disputed security force killings are being examined out of their chaotic context.

In the summer of 1972, just after the death of McCann, Northern Ireland was on the verge of civil war. It was only the heroism of the police and the British Army that prevented this. Britain knew not to kill terrorists and create martyrs, and tried over decades to wean more moderate IRA leaders off terrorism  with considerable success.

But that helped sanitise past terror groups, some of whose leading figures have become politicians.

Young people on both sides of the Irish border hear so much about security force blunders and so little about terrorist atrocities that they are concluding the British and the IRA were equally bad.

This is why Sinn Fein have placed so much store by securing UK taxpayers' money to fund probes into the past. And deeply troubling things are happening.

Last week, lawyers for relatives of a notorious IRA murder gang stopped by the SAS at Loughgall in 1987 launched a judicial review over the failure to hold an inquest into their deaths. After those eight terrorists were killed as they attacked a rural police station, Jeremy Corbyn stood in silence for their memory at an Irish meeting in London.

The Loughgall terrorists are among scores of victims of the state whose deaths are due to be examined by inquests Britain is obliged to hold under Article Two of the European Convention on Human Rights (which upholds the right to life).

But some of the probes could lead to more prosecutions of soldiers  while the IRA escapes scrutiny.

Unionists in Northern Ireland and governments at Westminster assumed that parallel investigations would lead to prosecutions for terrorism, too. But paramilitaries covered their tracks, while it is easy to uncover failures by state forces, who had records.

One of the most pernicious aspects of all is that Tony Blair's desperation to ensure Republicans did not return to violence led to a secret amnesty for IRA fugitives a decade ago. The On The Run scheme involved the issuing of 'comfort letters' that assured paramilitaries they were not being pursued.

In 2014, the trial of John Downey for killing soldiers in the 1982 IRA Hyde Park bomb collapsed at the Old Bailey when it emerged he had received a comfort letter.

Blair agreed to the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday in January 1972, when the Army shot dead 13 civilian protesters in Londonderry.

It was a shameful stain on the Army's overwhelmingly honourable record, but it happened at a time of mayhem  four soldiers and four policemen had been killed in the preceding four weeks.

The Saville Inquiry ran for 12 years and cost 200 million.

Now, a huge police team is examining Bloody Sunday. The prosecutors have yet to decide if charges will be brought against British soldiers involved that day.

Meanwhile, the PSNI has confirmed it has no officers working on heinous unsolved crimes such as the IRA attack on a Remembrance Sunday service in 1987 that left 11 Protestants dead.
A school is under fire after three children got 'plonked' after they opened bottles of wine which were meant to be prizes at a Christmas tombola.

The tipsy trio, aged just twelve, had been handed the bottles to take to school - but they decided it was too good a chance to miss.

They opened the bottles and started boozing on the way to St Osmund's Middle School in Dorchester, Dorset.

Three pupils, aged 12, drank from bottles of wine that were meant to be prizes at a Christmas tombola at St Osmund's Middle School (pictured) in Dorchester, Dorset

Now they've been suspended - but it's sparked a row about letting children take alcohol to school for Christmas fayres.

Many schools across Britain rely on parents and well-wishers donating bottles of wine, packs of beer and lager and other gifts as tombola and raffle prizes at fund-raising events.

But the mother of a 12-year-old child at St Osmund's - not one of the trio found to have been drinking - said 'It seems a bit irresponsible to invite pupils who are below the age for drinking to bring in alcohol for the school Christmas fayre.

'It puts temptation in their way - they wouldn't be allowed to buy wine or other alcohol in shops so why does the school think it's OK for them to be handed it for the school fayre?

'Surely it should have been made clear that the parents should bring in the alcohol, not expect their children to take it to school.

'For some children, being handed wine like that must have made them think all their Christmasses had come at once.'

The incident has sparked a row about whether children should be allowed to take alcohol to school for tombola and raffle prizes

It's not clear whether the tipsy trio were totally blotto when they reached school, whether they had drunk the bottles dry or only consumed small quantities.

St Osmund's said they were temporarily suspended after it was discovered they had been drinking on the way to school.

The middle school students had each been asked to bring in wine as raffle prizes for the end of term fayre, a source claimed.

It's led to questions about why the mixed-sex, Church of England-aided school, which has six hundred pupils aged nine to 13, asked under-age children to bring in wine in the first place.

St Osmund's headteacher Jim Williams said 'I can confirm that there was an incident that took place on Friday, December 2nd, the day of the Christmas Fayre, when pupils were asked to bring in donations for the tombola.

'In accordance with school policy, the school dealt with the matter immediately.'

Dorset County Council's education department declined to comment on the incident.

It's thought the council feels it is a matter for the school to sort out.

Sending children to school with wine as thank-you gifts or raffle prizes is a familiar occurrence this time of year.

But increasingly-alarming statistics for under-age drinking may cause parents, teachers and school governors to re-think whether it is a wise move...particularly in Dorset.

A government survey released last year revealed that 71 per cent of 15-year-olds in Dorset have had an alcoholic drink, significantly higher than the 62 per cent average for England as a whole.

Dorset also has a higher percentage of regular under-age drinkers with 16.6 per cent of 15-year-olds in the county having had a drink in the past four weeks compared to 14.6 per cent for England.

The data, funded by the Department of Health, and collected by the Health and Social Care Information Centre alongside Ipsos Mori and the National Children's Bureau asked thousands of youngsters a series of questions about their well-being.

The survey was conducted to provide local authorities with relevant information as part of a government pledge to improve the health of young people.

According to the NHS, beginning to drink before the age of 14 is associated with a number of increased health risks including increased injuries, violence and depression.
Sheep now outnumber people by three to one in Wales, according to latest figures from Welsh farmers.

The flocking surge has been caused by a rise of almost two million more sheep in the valleys and mountains of Wales over the last seven years.

The new figures revealed a count of 9,810,000 sheep compared to 3,026,000 people in the Land of My Fathers.

There are now three times as many sheep as people in Wales after a seven year surge of two million of the wooly animal

It shows the Welsh nation is confirming all of its bad stereotypes with a 3.2 per cent increase in flock sizes year-on-year.

The data from the annual census figures, based on the June 2016 Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture, show there are currently 9.81 million sheep and lambs in Wales.

But it is not as high as the 12million fleecy flock in the late 1990s in the green and pleasant land

But their numbers in Wales are yet to recover from their high point of around 12 million in the late 1990s.

Sheep numbers were in decline to a low of around eight million until 2009 when they began a steady increase.

John Richards, industry information executive for Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales), said the increase was an indication of confidence in the future of the industry.

'There are still challenges for the lamb industry in Wales,' said Mr Richards.

'Ensuring that everyone, including farmers and processors, get a good price for their product is vital, and means continuing to respond to changing customer demands.
Councillor Phil Jordan, attends the Isle of Wight Magistrates court

A top councillor who was responsible for road safety and alcohol abuse prevention has been banned from getting behind the wheel - after he was caught drink driving.

Shamed Cllr Philip Jordan, who has stepped down in disgrace from his role at Isle of Wight Council, admitted driving while over the legal alcohol limit at Isle of Wight Magistrates Court.

The embarrassed 67-year-old also apologised for his 'error of judgement' after he was caught driving his Land Rover while more than twice the legal limit - saying his actions in no way meant he 'supported driving and drinking'.

The independent councillor has quit his role as executive member for public protection, public health, and highways at the council.

He was pulled over by police who breathalysed him on Whippingham Road on October 11, when he was around ten miles from his home.

A roadside test revealed he had 168 milligrammes of alcohol per 100ml of blood - more than double the legal limit of 80.

Cllr Jordan, from Brading, Isle of Wight, said: 'I can, certainly, sincerely apologise to everyone affected by this.

'I made a mistake, a miscalculation and an error of judgement for which the Courts will decide my fate and penalty.

'I have stepped aside from all executive roles as a result of this. In no way do I support drinking and driving and I fully support the Courts in their dealing with these charges.'

Cllr Jordan was a member of the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership, whose priorities include 'reducing drug and alcohol related crime' and 'road safety'.

As executive member for Highways PFI, he was responsible ensuring the maintenance of roads and enforcement of safety cameras so the roads remain safe for users.

Cllr Jordan was today disqualified from driving for 20 months and ordered to pay a fine of 255, costs of 85, and a victim surcharge of 30.

Isle of Wight Magistrates Court: Philip Jordan was banned from driving after he was caught driving while twice the legal alcohol limit

The leader of Isle of Wight council, independent councillor Jonathan Bacon, has condemned his colleague's 'foolish behaviour' and said it had made his positions in relation to public protection, public health and liaison with the police 'untenable'.

Cllr Bacon said the council had not previously explained Cllr Jordan's decision to step aside 'in accordance with his wishes as it is fundamentally a personal matter'.

He added: 'It is of course the case that in my view it has made his position holding roles in relation to public protection, public health and liaison with the police untenable.

'Phil has been one of our hardest working Councillors, whose abilities have meant he was able to deal with some incredibly difficult and complex matters that I suspect few others could have coped with.

'His warmth, generosity and sensitivity have contributed to the Independent Group and those residents he has helped.
Kepenci suggested he killed Harvey because he gave him HIV

Harvey was found dead in his drug

A killer refusing to have HIV treatment is likely to die in prison before the end of his 15-year sentence for the brutal murder of his on-off lover in a Melbourne shop.

Simon Kepenci, 39, killed Gordon Harvey, 62, then set fire to the Fitzroy drug paraphernalia shop, 'Fetish', where the older man worked and lived in January 2016.

Kepenci has refused HIV treatment since at least 2014 and is likely to die within six to 12 months and, had he not been terminally ill, he would have received a longer sentence, Justice Paul Coghlan said.

Simon Kepenci, 39, told police he 'bloody enjoyed' murdering his lover Gordon Harvey at the 62-year-old's Melbourne store 'Fetish' (pictured) in January

Kepenci pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Harvey (pictured), who he had been having an on-and-off sexual relationship since mid-2015. He will likely die in prison

Kepenci told police he 'bloody enjoyed' murdering the Melbourne shop owner he was dating but can not explain why.

Although Kepenci suggested in an interview with police he had attacked Mr Harvey because he had given him HIV, prosecutors said that was impossible because Kepenci had been diagnosed in 2001  14 years before the couple met.

Crown prosecutor Kerri Judd QC told a pre-sentencing hearing in late August that Kepenci had gone to meet Mr Harvey at Fetish and that the two had been having an on-and-off sexual relationship since mid-2015.

During the next 48 hours Kepenci attacked Mr Harvey with a wooden hammer, causing 24 lacerations to his head and fatal blunt force trauma wounds.

Although Kepenci suggested in an interview with police that he had attacked Mr Harvey because he had given him HIV, prosecutors said that was impossible because Kepenci had been diagnosed in 2001

Following his arrest, Kepenci told police he didn't regret the attack

Mr Harvey's body was discovered after Kepenci returned to the store, which he had taken ownership of after retiring from a career in teaching, to remove a number of items and set it on fire.

Following his arrest, Kepenci told police he didn't regret the attack, Ms Judd said.

'I bloody enjoyed it,' Kepenci told police, Ms Judd said.

He said he 'just had to do it'.

Kepenci told police he did not blame Mr Harvey for contracting HIV, but he implied Mr Harvey had given it to him, the Crown said.

Kepenci told police: 'It was just him [Harvey] being careless and not saying anything.'

Defence barrister Rebekah Sleeth said Kepenci cannot provide a good reason as to why he killed Mr Harvey.

Defence barrister Rebekah Sleeth said Kepenci can't provide a good reason as to why he killed Mr Harvey

An ice user for five years, Kepenci's drug use had escalated in the lead-up to the crime, Ms Sleeth said

She detailed his struggles with his bisexuality and said he had not been supported by his Turkish family following his HIV diagnosis in 2001.

An ice user for five years, Kepenci's drug use had escalated in the lead-up to the crime, Ms Sleeth said.

'He had been on a drug binge. He had not slept in the lead-up. They were arguing.'

'He was in a hopeless and desperate and irrational state.'

Kepenci drove Mr Harvey's car from the crime scene, and the murdered man's wallet was found at his killer's house.

Mr Harvey's son Adam said in a victim impact statement it was a privilege to live with and learn from his father

Mr Harvey's son Adam said in a victim impact statement it was a privilege to live with and learn from his father.

It was Mr Harvey's forgiving nature and belief in human decency that led him to let Kepenci into his shop in the first place, Adam Harvey said.

'He was a good man and father,' he said.
A van with British number plates was found to contain 67 migrants, including children, when it was pulled over by police in Croatia.

The vehicle may have been heading for the UK. Some of the migrants were unconscious and others were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, officials said.

Milan Kujundzic, the countrys health minister, said the migrants were treated in local hospitals.

A van with British number plates was found to contain 67 migrants, including children, when it was pulled over by police in Croatia (file picture of migrants on the Croatian border)

He added that two children aged ten and 12 were among those found in the van. Some said they had not eaten for five days.

The white, long-wheelbase van was stopped on Saturday evening by the town of Novska near the border with Bosnia.

Two Bulgarian citizens are under criminal investigation for smuggling the migrants, a police statement said.
Armed police marshals could soon be deployed on British cross Channel ferries amid fears of a terrorist strike.

The plain-clothed officers would patrol dozens of boats carrying thousands of commuters, tourists and hauliers every day.

Government officials are working with their French counterparts to ensure the officers operate within the law on both sides of the Channel.

Armed police could soon be patrolling on cross channel ferries between England and France

Home Secretary Amber Rudd, pictured, has signed an agreement with France over the patrols

The proposal emerged in a letter from Home Secretary Amber Rudd announcing that an agreement has been signed for French-flagged vessels.

This gives French armed officers the authority to travel routinely into British territorial waters and ports.

'Going forward, we are working with the French to ensure reciprocal arrangements can be put in place if we were minded to follow suit,' Mrs Rudd wrote.

'We continue to keep security measures in the maritime sector under review and regularly assess all options to ensure we have measures in place which are proportionate to the threat.'

Ministers are concerned that passenger ferries may be a weak link in Britain's defence against terrorists inspired by Islamic State.

Security experts have warned that armed militants could attempt to hijack a ship mid-Channel with devastating effect.

They believe that terrorists may turn their attention elsewhere because of the substantial tightening of security at airports.

But allowing armed British police officers to operate outside their jurisdiction raises complex legal and procedural issues.

The same is true when foreign nations want to send armed officers here, for example during high profile State visits or events such as the Olympics.

In a dramatic display of the risk, the French airlifted a team of sea marshals onto a Brittany Ferries service from Portsmouth to Caen earlier this year.

Security experts fear ISIS could try and hijack a ferry midway across the Channel

Hundreds of passengers were warned to remain below deck during the security exercise before the armed guards left on foot at the French port.

Details of the new arrangements emerged in a letter to Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who is chairman of the home affairs committee.

In the letter Mrs Rudd said the French government has been deploying armed sea marshals on several French-flagged ferries since August.

But incredibly, the teams were only been able to operate outside British waters and were being airlifted on and off ferries.

'In order for the gendarmes to remain on board ferries for the whole journey and therefore operate in UK territory, including UK territorial waters, we need to provide them with the appropriate legal authority,' she wrote.

'My officials have agreed an arrangement with the French to ensure they have the legal authority to do so and to put in place other necessary safeguarding arrangements.

'These include measures to ensure that the French understand the relevant sections of the College of Policing's Authorised Professional Practice (Armed Policing) as well as clear agreement while the ferries are in UK ports.'

French sea marshals have been travelling on ferries since August and the move to extend their powers into British waters will expire at the end of March.

Armed 'air marshals' began travelling on transatlantic airliners after the September 11 attacks in response to the threat of hijackers.

Senior Whitehall sources said there has been no specific threat to ferries or ports but that the move is part of a 'constant review' of counter terrorist measures.

Vehicles and foot passengers are not routinely searched before going on ferries, although a huge intelligence operation takes place behind the scenes to spot suspicious travellers.
The remains of a missing Fort Bliss soldier, who disappeared seven months ago, have been found in a coal chute in Arizona.

Army private, Devon Lee Ward, was reported missing by his mother, Maureen Davis Ward on May 25, KTSM-TV reported.

His family said he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and had been suffering from depression prior to his disappearance.

The remains of missing Fort Bliss Army private, Devon Lee Ward (pictured), who disappeared seven months ago, have been found in a coal chute in Arizona

Ward, who was AWOL from Fort Bliss, a military base in Texas, signed out of the barracks and never returned, according to the station.

In June, workers at a coal plant near Cochise, Arizona, were fixing a malfunctioning rotary plow in a coal chute when they found bones and body parts, the station reported.

The California native's remains were identified by the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office, through a positive fingerprint match.

Authorities told the station that Ward's remains were in an advanced state of decomposition. The cause of death has not been released.

Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels said on Thursday that 'our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and many friends of this soldier'.

Dannels said Ward's body may have been in a coal train car prior to the coal being dumped into the coal chute at the power plant, Fox News reported.

It's unclear how long the body was in the coal chute.

Ward's family started a Finding Private Ward Facebook page after he disappeared.

Video courtesy of KVIA

Dannels said Ward's body may have been in a coal train car prior to the coal being dumped into the coal chute at the power plant. It's unclear how long the body was in the coal chute

On Wednesday, family member Stacey Peterson encouraged followers of the Facebook page to cherish their memories of Ward.

'Remember our Devon, for even now his candle is not extinguished, and can never be, as long as we all remember that smile, that laugh, the silly voices he made.

'Devon lives on in every life he touched and will continue to touch. His was a life lived bravely, and lovingly.

'The young man I knew would not want our tears, he would understand them, but he would not want them,' Peterson wrote.




Under David Cameron's leadership, the Tories' Black & White Party became a byword for vulgarity.

In an ostentatious show of wealth, hedge fund financiers, tax avoiders and porn barons rubbed shoulders with the Conservatives' great and good to raise millions for party funds.

Now, despite the new mood of sober industry in Downing Street, Theresa May has decided to press ahead with next year's ball at Battersea Evolution, an upmarket venue in Battersea Park.

Under David Cameron's leadership, the Tories' Black & White Party became a byword for vulgarity

Theresa May has decided to press ahead with next year's ball at Battersea Evolution, an upmarket venue in Battersea Park

Strict secrecy surrounds the event, but an invitation popped up in my mail revealing that the price for a premier table is 15,000, or 1,500 for each guest.

There is at least a nod to the Government's attempt to make the party less elitist: chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin, a former miner, has decreed there should be 100 much cheaper tickets for party activists.

For 75, they will be able to join the entire Cabinet, who are on a three-line whip to attend February's gathering.

However, while ministers are strategically placed with donors, according to their seniority and the value of the diners' tickets, the cheap seats will be a minister- free zone, on the edge of the dining room which holds 2,000 people.

'I suspect they might catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister, says my mole at Tory HQ. 'But they definitely won't get a chance to speak to her  unless they've got a megaphone.'

Sinn Fein supporters are furious that Jayne Fisher, an aide to Gerry Adams, their party president, has been recruited to work in Comrade Corbyn's private office. 'We're supposed to be a respectable party now.

It's damaging to be linked to a bunch of extremists,' said one Sinn Fein official.

Emily - Jezza's favorite alien

Jeremy Corbyn is said to address his shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, as 'E.T.'

There are chuckles all round when Comrade Corbyn affectionately addresses his shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry as 'E.T.'.

Presumably his staff know the difference between an other-wordly finger-wagger for whom patriotism is an alien concept  and an alien with a magic finger who just wants to get back to another world.

Quote of the week: Jeremy Vine, Radio 2's interrogator in chief, told the Institute of Economic Affairs: 'If you had listened to Radio 4, Brexit was a surprise. If you had listened to Radio 2, it was exactly what you would expect.'

David Davis is doing well with Conservative supporters and has moved into third place in the Tory approval ratings

Brexit Secretary David Davis has moved into third place in the Tory approval ratings on the ConservativeHome website, with 80 per cent.

Theresa May is well ahead on 88 per cent but sneaking into second is Scottish leader Ruth Davidson on 84 per cent, with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson fourth on 76 per cent. Is the Blond One losing his touch?

At Prime Ministers Questions the only Green MP, Caroline Lucas, blamed Southern Rail for the crippling strikes by Aslef and the RMT. Lucas, the MP for Brighton Pavilion, which is served by Southern, accepted a 7,000 donation from the RMT in January 2015. Shouldnt she have declared an interest?

The LibDem Voice weblog has Christmas present ideas for the sandal-wearers. My favourite? Zara have a Lib Dem gold leather skirt (although they call the colour mustard). Happily, at 19.99 it is at least 975 cheaper than the PMs leather trousers. Miaow.

Virginia's Healthy Bonanza

As well as council tax bills rising next year to meet the cost of caring for the elderly, Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, has suggested that ending pensioner perks such as free bus travel should contribute to the social care bill.

The meals on wheels service has been scaled back. So why is the NHS using upmarket head hunters to fill jobs? Only last week, it appointed Odgers Berndtson to find a marketing director on a salary of around 220,000, even though the post was heavily advertised in the trade and national Press.

The NHS is such a lucrative cash cow for Odgers it has a special section, NHS Interim Recruitment.
A woman wearing a hijab has allegedly been verbally abused, attacked with a beer bottle and had her headscarf stolen in an unprovoked attack outside a Perth shopping centre.

The victim was allegedly assaulted after an exchange of words with a man outside the Beeliar Village complex quickly escalated into a physical fight on Friday night.

According to reports, the woman was walking into a Coles store when a man called out 'Merry Christmas' to her.

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A Muslim woman has been hit with a beer bottle and had her headscarf ripped off during an unprovoked attack in Perth (file photo)

She responded by saying 'happy holidays', to which the man apparently said 'no, Merry Christmas'.

Then, he allegedly called her a 'f***ing Muslim c***' before smashing his beer bottle as she walked towards him, hitting her back and shoulders.

The woman's headscarf came off during a scuffle, before the man ran off with it and dumped it near the shopping complex.

Witnesses reportedly came to the woman's aid before police visited her home later that evening.

The woman was apparently attacked outside Coles at the Beeliar Village in Cockburn, Perth

The woman reported the incident to the Islamophobia Register Australia, and president Mariam Veiszadeh said she has spoken to the victim.

Western Australia Police said the assault took place at 8.45pm on Friday.

A spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the victim was not injured.

'The male is described as light skinned, 25-35 years old, 175-180cm tall and slim build. He has blonde short hair and wearing blue shorts and a white top.'

Police have urged any witnesses to contact authorities.




RMT president Sean Hoyle has laid bare the true motivation behind the coordinated wave of rail strikes

With one foul metaphor, militant rail union boss Sean Hoyle laid bare the true motivation behind the coordinated wave of strikes that will blight Christmas for many thousands of ordinary families.

In a speech dripping with class hatred, the RMT president told fellow hard-Left activists of the sinister National Shop Stewards Network the key aim was to overthrow capitalism and bring down the Tory government. 'If we all spit together,' he said, 'we can drown the bastards.'

So, gone is the pretence that the vicious campaign of action which has crippled Southern rail has anything to do with safety. All Mr Hoyle and his cronies are interested in is the sort of wrecking tactics that brought British industry to its knees in the 1970s and saw us branded the 'Sick Man of Europe'.

And the RMT chief is far from alone in his subversive mission. It's no coincidence that airport staff, cabin crew and postal workers are joining the rail unions in striking over the Christmas period.

This is a concerted plan to cause maximum disruption at the most inconvenient time to the largest number of people. The union dinosaurs may say they are fighting a war against the Tories but the first casualties  as ever  are the long-suffering public.

There was a time when Labour may have tried to curb their excesses. But not today. Jeremy Corbyn owes his position as party leader and most of his financial backing to the barons and the equally Left-wing Momentum group.

Even if he were opposed to these vindictive strikes, he'd hardly bite the hand that feeds him.

But of course he isn't. Mr Corbyn himself is an ideological relic of the 1970s and believes in Marxist solutions just as much as his comrades. Indeed, at the Momentum Christmas party, he listened approvingly as the strikes were saluted as 'a seething tide of working class power'.

Jeremy Corbyn is an ideological relic of the 1970s and believes in Marxist solutions just as much as his comrades

The only way to counter this upsurge of militancy is by Government intervention. To his shame, David Cameron ducked the issue but new laws must now be considered to outlaw strikes in key industries and hold unions financially accountable for losses incurred by companies as a result of their reckless actions.

With a lead of up to 17 points in the polls and Labour in hopeless disarray, Theresa May will never be in a better position to complete the reforms begun by Margaret Thatcher. And the beleaguered public  whose everyday lives are being made miserable by this cynical show of union muscle  would surely applaud her for it.

Ludicrous use of aid

As our elderly care system teeters on the brink of collapse through lack of funds, the foreign aid gravy train powers on.

Could there be a more ludicrous example of misplaced largesse than the 5.2million awarded to promote the careers of Ethiopia's version of the Spice Girls (and that's on top of the 4million we handed them three years ago)?

Supporters say the band's aim is to 'change how girls are valued and perceived in Ethiopian society'.

Could there be a more ludicrous example of misplaced largesse than the 5.2million awarded to promote the careers of Ethiopia's version of the Spice Girls (pictured)

Very worthy no doubt, but this is one of Africa's poorest countries, where average per capita income is around 35 per month and a third of the population live in extreme poverty. How can they possibly need 9.2million to spread their message?

The truth is that the Department for International Development's budget  12billion a year  is so vast that it can't find enough deserving projects to spend the cash on.

The sooner the arbitrary commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of our national income on overseas aid is scrapped the better.
The man who sexually assaulted then murdered Zoe Buttigieg, 11, has been sentenced to life in prison.

Bowe Evan Levi Maddigan, 31, was sentenced to at least 28 years behind bars by Victorian Supreme Court Justice Lex Lasry in Wangaratta on Monday.

Those assembled in the court burst into applause when Justice Lasry handed down the sentence.

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Bowe Maddigan killed Wangaratta schoolgirl Zoe Buttigieg, 11 (pictured), in her bedroom on October 25, 2015

An older image of Bowe Maddigan, 31, in police custody. He was sentenced to life in prison on Monday

Supporters of Zoe Louise Buttigieg leave the Wangaratta Magistrates Court after the sentencing of Bowe Maddigan on Monday

Maddigan was sentence to life in prison on the murder charge and four years in jail for a charge of committing an indecent act with a child under 16.

The two terms were to be served concurrently.

Zoe was killed on October 25, 2015 in her Wangaratta bedroom after Maddigan had been drinking and smoking cannabis with her mother.

Later that morning, about 6.30am, Police picked up Maddigan walking barefoot along the Hume Freeway, dazed and with self-inflected injuries about 10km from Zoe's home - hours before her mother found her lifeless body

In sentencing, Justice Lasry acknowledged Maddigan's childhood - of physical abuse, ill treatment by his mother and subsequently beginning to drink alcohol and smoke cannabis aged 11 - as reducing his moral culpability.

Zoe's killer, Bowe Maddigan, 31

He also noted Maddigan's guilty pleas had avoided what would have been a 'traumatic' trial for Zoe's family.

However, the circumstances of his offending and other concerns - such as his failure to offer an explanation to Zoe's family for his actions - resulted in the life sentence.

Justice Lasry said he was 'extremely guarded' about Maddigan's prospects of rehabilitation.

He was not confident Maddigan would change during incarceration.

The killing was violent and face-to-face, following a sexual assault and would not have happened quickly, Justice Lasry said.

'It is almost trite to say your offending was extremely serious.

'It might not have been a prolonged or frenzied attack ... But the fact you murdered her is gratuitous.'

Maddigan had gone to the house where Zoe lived with her mother, Janelle Saunders, after a day of drinking with friends.

A statement was read outside court on behalf of Zoe's mother, Janelle Saunders (right)

Maddigan refuses to say why he assaulted and strangled Zoe (pictured)

He and others spent the night smoking cannabis and continuing to drink.

Some time after 3.45am Maddigan woke and began to prowl around the house.

He entered Zoe's bedroom where she was in all likelihood asleep and coaxed her down from the top bunk.

He then assaulted and strangled her, but still refuses to say why.

Justice Lasry said the murder remains a 'tragic mystery'.

Maddigan was picked-up by police dazed and with self-inflicted wounds on a freeway.

Child exploitation material was found on his phone among other pornographic images and a blood test revealed he had opiates in his system.

Zoe's uncle read a statement on behalf of Ms Saunders outside court, saying not a day goes by when Zoe is not missed.

'Every day is filled with emptiness,' Ms Saunders's statement said.

'I love her so much, there are so many things my little girl will never get to do.

Matthew Carmody, uncle of Zoe Louise Buttigieg, talks outside the Wangaratta Magistrates Court after Maddigan's sentencing

Supporters of Zoe's leave court in Wangaratta on Monday
Live With Thomas Roberts was canceled by MSNBC on Friday.

The two-hour show, which has aired for less than two years, replaced Ronan Farrow Daily last year.

'Thomas was taken off of his [show] quietly,' a news insider told Page Six.

Roberts took to Facebook on Sunday to confirm that his last day was on Thursday.

'I wanted you to hear directly from meit is true I won't be keeping my current show weekdays on MSNBC,' he wrote.

Live With Thomas Roberts was canceled by MSNBC on Friday. The two-hour show, which has aired for less than two years, replaced Ronan Farrow Daily last year

Roberts (left on set and right in 2015) took to Facebook on Sunday to confirm that his last day was on Thursday. 'I wanted you to hear directly from meit is true I won't be keeping my current show weekdays on MSNBC,' he wrote

'My colleagues are incredible peopleand I am so proud of our team and our accomplishments.

'It is always a special blessing when co-workers become close friends and family.

'Also, a BIG thanks to the viewers who've been supporters of our coverage at MSNBC. Hearing from you (whether positive or negative) is always an important thing for me,' he added.

Roberts didn't say what his next endeavor will be, but he encouraged his fans to 'stay tuned'.

An insider close to Roberts told Page Six that he's in 'discussions to take on a new role with MSNBC in 2017'.

Roberts' time slot will now transition to a 'rotation of anchors' at the network.

The news comes just days after Ronan Farrow was spotted on live television sitting in a cubicle behind the anchor's desk after his own show was axed in February 2015

The news comes just days after Ronan Farrow was spotted on live television sitting in a cubicle behind the anchor's desk after his own show was axed in February 2015.

Farrow, who used to host the Ronan Farrow Daily show until it was canceled, now files stories for the Today Show and works as an investigative correspondent.

TV insiders have since ridiculed Farrow after they spotted him sitting behind the anchor's desk, Page Six reports.

But Farrow will be back in the anchor's seat over the holidays.

He announced that he'll temporarily fill in for Carson Daly on 'Today'.

'Ladies & gents, I'll be hosting @todayshow #orangeroom during the holiday,' Farrow shared on Instagram and Twitter.

The journalist, who is the son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, tweeted that he was excited about his new role before the announcement his show had been canceled.

Farrow, who used to host the Ronan Farrow Daily show until it was canceled, now files stories for the Today Show and works as an investigative correspondent

Farrow can also be seen while other shows are broadcast as well.

'He's behind them all day, typing,' a source told Page Six.

The source, who has been keeping track of Farrow's movements, said he can be regularly seen talking on the phone, heading out to lunch and 'getting up to go to the bathroom'.

His desk is based with the investigative team, which appears on camera behind the host's studio.
Should the honeyed walls of Cambridge University talk, how much they might reveal. It was here in the Thirties that Kim Philby, Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean were recruited to the Communist cause.

Much about the Cambridge spies is still hidden in the Kremlin's archives: how many there were and who recruited them.

We do know that these traitors betrayed Britain's top secrets. Hundreds of our agents suffered agonising deaths as a result. And now, treachery may be afoot again.

Veruscript, which is owned by Gleb Cheglakov, left, is sponsoring the weekly intelligence seminar held in Corpus Christi College in Cambridge which recently was regularly attended by the former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove, who has stopped going over the Russian threat

Corpus Christi college in Cambridge hosts the weekly intelligence seminar

The sensational allegation, reported first by the Financial Times, is that Britain's leading academic event for the study of intelligence may have been subject to Russian espionage.

The weekly Cambridge Intelligence Seminar is held in Corpus Christi College, an ancient establishment with its own mysteries, including a rumoured network of tunnels built for use in the event of a Nazi invasion. But for those who attend the Friday afternoon meetings in the oak-panelled New Combination Room, it is espionage that is up for discussion.

None of the information chewed over at the seminars is classified. The aim is to improve academic understanding of spycraft  its history, its interaction with the law and public policy, the effects upon it of technological change.

Recent seminar attendees include General Michael Flynn, former head of the U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency and now national security adviser to Donald Trump. Among leading Brits is Sir Simon Fraser, a recently retired Foreign Office luminary.

Donald Trump's proposed National Security Adviser General Michael Flynn recently attended a Cambridge intelligence seminar

A typical lecture this Michaelmas term was on 'The move towards attritional counter-insurgency against the IRA in 1971' by Huw Bennett, a professor from Cardiff. Another was titled 'Intelligence chiefs in long-term perspective: from Queen Elizabeth I to Putin, Obama and Theresa May'.

James Bond might find all this rather dry. Sherry, not Martini, is the favoured tipple. Corduroys rather than dinner jackets are the dress code. But it's a place where serving and retired spooks rub shoulders with experts, senior figures in private security and even the odd journalist. That makes them a target for hostile spies.

Such grey zones are where spotters  intelligence officers looking for recruits  can sense the weaknesses and interests of potential candidates. A taste for alcohol, professional frustration, money problems or ideology such as anti-Americanism: all can be exploited by a wily spymaster.

So the suggestion of Russian involvement in the seminar is in one sense no surprise.

Senior figures have left due to fears of Russian influence. Foremost among them is Sir Richard Dearlove, the former 'C' (chief) of MI6, until recently master of Pembroke College, just a few minutes' walk from Corpus Christi.

Kim Philby, left and Guy Burgess, right, were two members of the Cambridge spy ring

Another is Stefan Halper, a former senior White House adviser in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations. He told the FT he had stepped down because of 'unacceptable Russian influence on the group'.

Peter Martland, a leading historian of espionage, has quit the seminar, too. Conservative MP Dominic Grieve, the chair of the Intelligence and Security select committee, told the Telegraph he did not want to comment on the reasons for Sir Richard's departure, but added that Russian involvement was 'possible'.

Though no wrongdoing has been proved, the story revolves around a new sponsor: Veruscript, a publishing venture based in London, but with Russian connections.

The FT asserted that Sir Richard and his colleagues fear Veruscript may be a front for Moscow's intelligence services. They are said to be concerned that the Russians might use the seminars to influence the opinions of the military and intelligence communities.

Veruscript is owned by Gleb Cheglakov, a Russian nanotechnologist studying at Cambridge. He insists his company is simply trying a new approach to publishing.

Along with Donald Maclean, Philby and Burgess were recruited by the Soviets in the 1930s

Its start-up capital, he says, came from his wife, Nazik Ibraimova, a citizen of the former Soviet Kyrgyz Republic. She provided a series of 50,000 loans in six-monthly instalments. The most recent company records show losses of more than 400,000 in 2015.

The FT was unable to establish how Ms Ibraimova had come by the money she lent to the company. Mr Cheglakov did not respond to my request for comment yesterday.

But suspicions linger. Did Sir Richard receive from his old intelligence chums a tip-off about Veruscript or someone close to it? We may never know. Yet the row has shattered the consensus around Britain's long-established centre for the study of intelligence.

The doyen of that discipline, Christopher Andrew, a founder of the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar  who wrote the official history of MI5 and co-authored books with KGB defector Oleg Gordievsky  vehemently denies anything is amiss. He calls the FT story 'absurd' and says a detailed rebuttal will be forthcoming.

Neil Kent is a friend of Gleb Cheglakov and a lead convenor of the intelligence seminar as well as being responsible for developing links between it and Veruscript.

He told the FT: 'Cambridge is a wonderful place of conspiracy theories, but the idea that there is a Machiavellian plot here is ridiculous.

'The idea any of us would be involved in anything that smacks of Russian influence . . . it's real Reds under the bed stuff  the whole thing is ludicrous.'

However, he did admit he did not know where Veruscript's money came from.

Yet if spies did want to attend the seminar, there is little to stop them: Cambridge is awash with foreign students. And it is hard to see how Veruscript could influence seminar discussions  even assuming, which I doubt, that they would want to.

What is beyond doubt is that Russia's attempts to destabilise the West have dramatically stepped up.

Former Russian spy and defector Alexander Litvinenko, pictured left before his murder, and right, after he had been poisoned ,had been very critical of Russian leader Vladimir Putin

Having spent the Nineties in what are now Nato's frontline states  Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  I saw first-hand how Moscow used propaganda, spycraft, economic pressure and dirty tricks to intimidate its former colonies.

The same weapons have long been used against us, too. But we have been shamefully slow to realise it.

The murder of defector Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 by Russian agents was the tip of the iceberg. Russian intelligence operates on such a scale in the UK that our spy-catchers struggle to keep up. Money from Russian oligarchs has flooded into universities, think-tanks, media and politics.

Only since the brazen Russian intervention in the U.S. election this year  through hacking of Democratic Party emails  has the full scale of the threat become plain.

Russia's combination of hacking, leaking and propaganda strikes at the heart of Western politics.

German spy agencies are already warning that Russia will intervene in their election next year, aiming to topple Angela Merkel and install a pro-Kremlin leftist.

Our National Security Council is scrambling to counter the Kremlin's toxic cocktail of fake news, cyber-attacks and other mischief-making. An urgent meeting is expected in the New Year.

High-stakes geopolitics may seem a million miles from the decorous environs of a Cambridge college, but a former head of MI6 should not be taken lightly.

One explanation for the events may be rivalry. Sir Richard Dearlove and others who have quit the seminar run the Cambridge Security Initiative, which serves a similar function.

Quite what the fallout of this disagreement will be remains to be seen. But for now, the shadow of Moscow is once more seeping into Cambridge's ancient corridors.
Mining magnate Clive Palmer has urged Pauline Hanson to get out of politics and spend more time with her family.

The former federal MP took a sly swipe at Australian politics on Monday during a television interview saying there was more to life and nothing of 'significance' happens in the nation's capital.

But the 62-year-old saved his best advice for Ms Hanson who has faced a tough time of late in her political career.

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Gold Coast based mining magnate Clive Palmer (above) has urged Pauline Hanson to get out of politics and spend more time with her family during a television interview on Monday

WA Senator Rod Culleton quit her One Nation party on Monday blaming a lack of respect from party colleagues, and Ms Hanson with her 'public rants' and 'irrational dictates' as motivations for parting from the political party.

But Ms Hanson hit back at Culleton calling him a 'pain in the backside' and said that she was 'glad to see the back of him'.

'Don't be a politician. Give your wife a hug. Love your children. Enjoy life. There is more to it,' Palmer told Channel Seven's Sunrise.

'I realised I would not want to go work back to Canberra. It is not where power is. It's not where anything of significance happens.'

The former federal MP (above) took a swipe at Australian politics on Monday saying there was more to life and nothing of 'significance' happens in the nations capital

Ms Hanson (above) has faced a tough time of late after WA Senator Rod Culleton quit her One Nation party on Monday

The former Palmer United party leader also called the business that was conducted in parliament a 'mirage' saying that everyday people were not being shown the 'true situation'

The former Palmer United party leader also called the business that was conducted in parliament a 'mirage' saying that everyday people were not being shown the 'true situation'.

'This morning they are talking about a Triple-A credit rating and our budget. But they do not tell the people of Australia that our budget is not calculated the same way as the state budget. It is just a mirage.
for the case around 1pm on Monday in Brisbane

The jury has retired in the fraud trial of Billabong millionaire Matthew Perrin.

The former surfwear CEO is on trial in the Brisbane District Court for fraud and forgery after he allegedly faked his ex-wife and brother's signatures on bank documents in 2008.

Perrin, who is also a qualified solicitor, used the family house in Surfers Paradise as security for $13.5 million credit from the Commonwealth Bank.

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The Brisbane jury presiding over the fraud trial of former Billabong CEO Matthew Perrin (pictured holding hands with his now-partner Belinda Otton) retired for deliberations on Monday around 1pm

Perrin is on trial in the Brisbane District Court for fraud and forgery after he allegedly faked his ex-wife Nicole Bricknell (pictured) and brother's signatures on bank documents in 2008

Perrin insists his ex-wife Nicole Bricknell, who owned the $15 million property, knew exactly what he was doing and gave her permission for him to sign the documents on her behalf.

He also admits faking his brother Fraser Perrin's signature on the paperwork, but claims he thought the loan would still be valid.

Perrin made a total of around $57 million from his investment in Billabong before he resigned as CEO in 2003.

By 2009 he had lost it all through bad investments and was declared bankrupt, the court was told.

He denies nine charges of forgery and three of fraud. The jury retired to consider verdicts on Monday morning.

He used the family house in Surfers Paradise as security for $13.5 million credit from the Commonwealth Bank and claims his wife gave him permission to sign the documents on her behalf

Glenn Cash, the crown prosecutor in the case, arrives at the District Court on Monday

Ms Bricknell (pictured) told the court she 'never, ever' gave her former partner permission to sign on her behalf

Ms Bricknell told the court she 'never, ever' gave her former partner permission to sign on her behalf.

'This man has taken from me and my children without my permission and knowledge, that's worse than having an affair in my opinion,' Ms Bricknell told the Brisbane District Court on Wednesday.

'I always protected my children and I never, ever would have allowed him to sign my name on anything - that was not the right thing to do,' she said.

He is accused of using the $15million family home (pictured) in Surfers Paradise as security for $13.5 million credit from the Commonwealth Bank for his failing business investments.

Perrin told the court he often signed Ms Bricknell's name on documents throughout their marriage

The mother-of-three, who previously labelled Perrin's alleged actions as 'worse than having an affair', told the court she won't be able to find peace until he is in jail.

Perrin told the court he often signed Ms Bricknell's name on documents throughout their marriage.

'If Nicole was available and convenient she would sign them ... if she wasn't I would sign them for her,' he added.
Vandals have scratched the name of the notorious Apex gang into cars in Melbourne's east during an early morning rampage of destruction.

The criminal racket, comprised mainly of African youths, are continuing to menace the streets, with the windows of parked cars in Doncaster East the latest target.

Up to 16 cars may have been vandalised with cars smashed between Tunstall and Blackburn roads, radio station 3AW reports.

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Gangs have scratched the name of the notorious Apex gang into car bonnets in Melbourne's east during a morning rampage

'The neighbours had come out on my street and they were just gobsmacked,' a female caller said.

Cars were also vandalised at Turnstall Square Shopping Centre, with workers suffering property damage.

'It was mostly just windows that were broken and nothing taken  theres obviously been a few idiots around,' centre co-ordinator Irene Goonan told the Manningham Leader.

The windscreen of butchers delivery van had also been smashed.

Apex gangsters in Melbourne smashed car windows in Doncaster East, including of this Honda Accord Euro during an early morning rampage

A wheel bin was shoved through the rear window of this Honda Accord Euro, which had all of its windows smashed during the Apex gang rampage through suburban Doncaster East

The African Apex gang smashed this Toyota Echo during the morning crime spree

'Its their busiest time of year, this is the last thing they need. Whoevers done this certainly shouldnt be hanging up their Christmas stocking,' she said.

'Its very disappointing when everyones trying to celebrate and be peaceful and happy that people behave so idiotically.'

The latest rampage comes only two weeks after the Victorian government introduced new laws to crack down on African Apex gangs, which include Sudanese, Pacific Islander, Afghan, Asian and Caucasian members.

The new Fagin's Law could see adult criminals sentenced to 10 years in jail recruiting juveniles to gangs.

This Mitsubishi Challenger four-wheel drive was also destroyed in the rampage




A man who strangled his mother then shot and violently bludgeoned his father to death has been jailed for life.

Ian Thomas, 38, must serve at least 32 years before being eligible for parole for murdering his mother Pauline, 63, then laying in wait and attacking his father William Thomas, 65, at their Wangaratta property on April 21, 2013.

Victorian Supreme Court Justice Lex Lasry said these were two terrible murders, the latter committed so Thomas could escape blame for the former.

Ian Thomas arrives for sentencing at the Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Monday

In sentencing Justice Lasry said Thomas had claimed during trial his father had killed his mother and Thomas in turn killed his father in self defense.

The scheme was 'devious', Justice Lasry said.

He also referred to claims by Thomas of mistreatment as a child.

Justice Lasry said if Thomas did harbour resentment towards parents over his treatment 'that may be some explanation as to why you did what you did.

Thomas, 38, was sentenced to at least 32 years in prison for murdering his parents

'It may explain why you killed your mother over something... trivial.

'Apart from having shot him, it may also explain the post-mortem injuries you inflicted on your father.'

He said there was no indication he had planned his mother's murder, however, there was in the case of his father.

'Thus it was a calculated, planned and callous killing,' Justice Lasry said.

Justice Lasry said Thomas had shown no remorse by pleading not guilty during trial.

However, he was unlikely to pose a threat when released.

His parents had been married for 40 years.

Thomas at court earlier in 2016 when he was found guilty of murdering his parents
Employers are ordering their obese workers to lose weight or face being sacked because their bosses are worried their size makes them too dangerous to work.

Lawyers are seeing a rise in legal action by employees for workers' compensation, unfair dismissal or discrimination due to their weight, Herald Sun reported.

Nearly two out of three Australians are now overweight, with companies alleging obese employees are causing workplace injuries, illnesses and an increased risk to businesses.

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Employers are ordering their obese workers to lose weight or face being sacked because their bosses are worried their size makes them too dangerous to work (stock image)

Lawyer Andrew Douglas told Herald Sun his firm, Macpherson Kelley's Workplace Relations team, handle an average of one weight-related case a week.

Most of these cases are settled outside of court, including an overweight healthcare worker who was fired because they could not bend down to perform live-saving treatment on patients.

Another case involved an obese truck driver who suffered spontaneous soft tissue and bone injuries due to his weight of 190 kilograms, but refused to undertake a health plan organised by his employer and was sacked.

But a travelling salesman who had weight-related sleep apnoea and uncontrolled blood pressure was able to keep his job after losing weight and undergoing sleep therapy.

Lawyers are seeing a rise in legal action by employees for workers' compensation, unfair dismissal or discrimination due to their weight (stock image)

Gold Coast commentator Cath Webber said those who cannot physically perform their jobs should not be entitled to them

Seven News presenter Nick McCallum said if an overweight employee refuses help then the employer has the right to sack them

Gold Coast commentator Cath Webber told Channel Seven: 'If you physically cannot perform your job, why are you entitled to it?'

'One of these cases was about a healthcare worker who couldn't physically bend down to perform life saving duties and they had refused everything by the employer to actually get them back into shape.

'So unless someone or the employer has been force feeding you donuts, why should you be entitled to that job?

'If you're not going to take on the help that the employer offers you, and you can't perform your job physically, then you should be sacked,' she said.

Seven News presenter Nick McCallum said: 'I think it's a matter of common sense ... of course it's not just dangerous for you, it's dangerous for the people you're dealing with.'

'I think the employer has an obligation to work with that person and try and overcome the problem, but if that person is going to refuse that help, well of course he or she has to move on, there's just no point in continuing the job.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted WorkSafe Victoria for comment.
A Republican running unopposed for a seat in the Louisiana legislature is standing by a Facebook post he wrote last year that called for people to boycott businesses owned by followers of Islam.

Michael Duke Lowrie, who is the lone candidate running for the District 8 seat for the Louisiana legislature, wrote a Facebook status in November 2015 that responded to a 'kill' list of U.S. cities shared online by ISIS.

'Many of you may or may not know but Shreveport  Bossier was one of the cities on the Islamist kill lists,' Lowrie, who is a married father-of-three, wrote.

Michael Lowrie (above in front of Donald Trump's campaign plane), a Republican running unopposed for a seat in the Louisiana legislature, is standing by a Facebook post he wrote last year that called for people to boycott businesses owned by followers of Islam

Lowrie, who is the lone candidate running for the District 8 seat for the Louisiana legislature, wrote a Facebook status (above) in November 2015 that responded to a 'kill' list of U.S. cities shared online by ISIS

'Perhaps they despise our hospitality here or our over the top support for our military.

'Regardless the fact is the Islamist seek to kill us and make us submit to their false religion and god (sic).

'There are many who worship, if you call it that, Islam here among us.

'I do not believe they deserve the peace of our culture or the continued fruits of our society while following this religion.'

Lowrie, who works as a firefighter and paramedic, then called on others on the social media site to boycott 'any business that owned or ran by islamist (sic).'

Lowrie (above right with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio) said he still stands by what he wrote last year. He said: 'We are a Christian nation. The threat of Islamic terrorism is real'

'I will challenge every islamist (sic) I see to denounce their false god and religion,' Lowrie wrote.

The post ended with him telling anyone who may be offended to 'promptly unfriend me and seek the friendship of the islamist (sic).'

In a statement about the Facebook post to the Shreveport Times this week, Lowrie said he still stands by what he wrote last year.

'We are a Christian nation,' he said Friday. 'The threat of Islamic terrorism is real.

'Too many times, politicians are sometimes so afraid to speak the truth because of the PC culture in which we live.

'I'll call it how I see it. We must tackle Islamic extremism head on. I believe President Trump will do that.'

Lowrie, who is a married father-of-three (pictured above with his family, said: 'I'll call it how I see it. We must tackle Islamic extremism head on. I believe President Trump will do that'

Lowrie announced that he would be running for the open district seat on Thursday, as the election is scheduled to be held on March 25.

When he announced his campaign, Lowrie said if elected he planned to 'stand for the ideals we value in Bossier, even if that means I am standing alone.'

He listed his plans as to 'protect life at all costs' and 'stand up for our 2nd Amendment gun rights.'
Police have issued an urgent appeal to track down a dangerous criminal who rammed into a police officer - describing him as white, fluffy and having four legs.

The sheep, which is currently on the run from Waitemata Police in New Zealand, was caught on camera charging into and headbutting a police officer.

In hilarious footage released by the police on Monday, the feisty ram is seen attacking the cop from behind as he walked through a field.

The sheep, which is currently on the run from Waitemata Police in New Zealand, was caught on camera charging into and headbutting a police officer

The sheep lowers its head and plows into the officer, who was caught on guard and almost fell over.

The policeman falls backwards and grabs a hold of the farm animal before bursting out laughing, while a woman screams in hysterics.

Waitemata Police posted the video on their Facebook page as they released the tongue-in-cheek appeal for information.

The public appeal asks: 'HAVE YOU SEEN THIS SHEEP?'

In hilarious footage released by the police on Monday, the feisty ram is seen attacking the cop from behind as he walked through a field

It continues: 'Police would like to speak with him in relation to an assault on a police officer on the North Shore.

'He is described as being of medium build, with white hair that has been recently shorn.

'Please approach with caution and call us immediately if you know where he is.'

Police originally believed the 'most wanted' sheep was a ewe, but closer inspection by a member of the public revealed that it is a ram.
A former slave who spent her final days in Denver is being considered by the Catholic Church for canonization.

Julia Greeley's first official step towards canonization was opened Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver.

Greeley was born a slave but set free after the Civil War in 1863. She moved to Denver around 1880 and worked as a housekeeper for Colorados first territorial governor, William Gilpin, and his wife, Julia.

She died in 1918 at around 80 years old, but her exact birth date is unknown.

Former slave Julia Greeley, above, was known for offering help to anyone who needed it despite having very little herself. Above, in the only surviving or known picture of her, taken in 1916. She was especially known for her love of children and was always willing to babysit

She was blinded in her right eye while her mother was being whipped and the weapon caught the side of her face, reports KDVR.

Greeley was never bitter about her circumstances, said Mary Leisring, President of the Julia Greeley Guild. In fact, Greeley would drag a little red wagon around town, giving out food, medicine, coal, and anything she could find to help out those who were even less fortunate than herself.

She was especially known for her love of children, although she never had any of her own, and would babysit for anyone in the neighborhood.

Greeley earned about $10 a week sweeping out a church and doing odd jobs around town, but she gave most of it away.

A book about Greeley is available from Julia Greeley Guild or at Capuchins Online Store

She was also a private cook in various places for many years, once even in a Denver brothel.

Because she felt that some of the white people in town would feel strange having an African-American woman help them out, she would come at night under the cover the darkness, said the guild.

When she herself had nothing to give, she would go out and beg on behalf of others.

'She showed compassion, she showed love, she showed forgiveness,' said Leisring.

Greeley died in Denver in 1918 but since she was born into slavery it is unclear exactly how old she was, most reports say around 80

As a result of her inspirational character, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila hired a Roman postulator and petitioned the opening of cause for her canonization while at a service at Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

She is now considered a 'Servant of God', the first of four steps to sainthood.

The US bishops heard the case for her canonization in November at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops annual assembly, reported Catholic News Agency.

The bishops voted to open an investigation into her potential sainthood and the petition was officially open Sunday.

The road to sainthood is a long one, usually taking years. The Pope usually weighs in on candidates.

'Her cause is such that [the Pope] would've probably had a great interest in it. She's a very marginalized person who was very forgiving and merciful,' said Father Burkey.
Florida man, Joseph Castronova (pictured), 30, faces a manslaughter charge in the death of Sidney Reznik, 68, whom he choked until he was unconscious at a pool hall

A Florida man faces a manslaughter charge in the death of a victim he admitted choking until he was unconscious during an altercation at a pool hall more than five years ago.

Joseph Castronova, 30, was arrested on December 2 in the death of Sidney Reznik, 68, who died at his home on October 21, 2015, the Sun Sentinel reported.

Reznik survived four years after he was put in a choke hold by Castronova on July 3, 2011.

A medical examiner ruled Reznik's 2015 death a homicide caused by 'complication of remote blunt head trauma' that he suffered during the altercation at Hollywood Billiards pool hall.

Reznik, who was 64 at the time, was playing pool, an activity he did at least twice a week, according to his wife.

Reznik was 'discussing [Castronova] being a black belt' in karate, when Castronova 'claimed he was going to prove it,' according to a Hollywood police affidavit obtained by the Sentinel.

He then placed Reznik in a choke hold, police said.

Reznik passed out and fell, striking the back of his head on a metal pole, witness told authorities.

Joseph Castronova's father, Dino, told the Sentinel that his son doesn't have a black belt in karate.

Reznik was taken by Hollywood Fire Rescue to Memorial Regional Hospital and admitted for a 'brain bleed', the Sentinel reported.

His wife, Anne Reznik, told the newspaper that her husband was unsteady on his feet and complained of being dizzy two days after he was released from the hospital.

Fifteen days after he was injured, Reznik spoke to a detective, whom he told that he and Castronova had played pool about six times before the altercation and that there wasn't an 'ongoing feud' between them.

Reznik even told the detective that he didn't want Castronova prosecuted.

Gabriel Orozco, who witnessed the encounter, told detectives he heard the men talking and that Castronova seemed shocked about what had happened.

If convicted of manslaughter, he could face up to 15 years in prison. Castronova is being held in the Broward County jail without bond. The incident took place at Hollywood Billiards (pictured)

Castronova tried to help Reznik but was stopped by other people, according to court documents.

He pleaded guilty to felony battery in 2014 and was placed on five years' probation. Castronova also agreed to pay $51,931 in restitution to cover medical bills, with monthly payments of $800, the Sentinel reported.

He has paid about $10,000, Reznik said.

Reznik's widow, Anne, said she wants the 'young man to have a chance to be a better person'.

'Sending him to prison does no good for anybody. No matter what anybody does to him, nothing will bring my husband back,' she said.

She said for the three years her husband lived after the incident, 'it was just a nightmare'.

'He did not speak, did not recognize himself in the mirror. He was lying there for three years, dying slowly.'

Castonova's father said the incident has 'haunted' his son.

'I cannot tell you how many times I've heard him say, "Wow, that one decision."

'I am sure he's thought of it every single day.'

Anne told the Sentinel that Castronova has a 'long life ahead' of him, 'let him pay the restitution he owes'.

She did say that she would like an apology and for Castronova to 'go to the cemetery and ask my husband to forgive him'.

If convicted of manslaughter, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
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Brooklyn's Dyker Heights neighborhood has become famous for its extravagant display of Christmas decorations - but some residents aren't feeling the holiday spirit this year.

Joyce Arpino, 55, stopped decorating her home after visitors eager to catch sight of the blazing lights and over-the-top displays of giant toy soldiers, snowmen, angels and Santas knocked on her windows and parked their cars in her driveway.

Arpino complained about the influx of tourists and local New Yorkers alike, saying: 'I don't want to sound like a Scrooge, but it's horrible.'

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Brooklyn's Dyker Heights neighborhood has become famous for its extravagant display of Christmas decorations - but some residents aren't feeling the holiday spirit this year

Dyker Heights resident Lucy Spata acknowledged the inconveniences but said she still loves that people flock in droves to see the brilliant, over-the-top spectacle each holiday season

By most accounts, the light displays became a neighborhood activity in the 1980s, and buses began bringing in tourists from Manhattan about a decade ago

Linda Rebmann, 72, who has lived in Dyker Heights all her life, decided to put up just one cranberry wreath this year, said the decorations have gotten 'out of hand'

Dyker Heights, located in south Brooklyn, has drawn more than 100,000 visitors in past years, earning its reputation as the 'undisputed capital of Christmas pageantry'.

By most accounts, the light displays became a neighborhood activity in the 1980s, and buses began bringing in tourists from Manhattan about a decade ago.

But Arpino said it was difficult to even walk around in the neighborhood, likening it to the crowds in Manhattan about eight miles away.

Linda Rebmann, 72, who has lived in Dyker Heights all her life, decided to put up just one cranberry wreath this year.

'As pretty as it can be, it's difficult. It's a little out of hand. It's gotten to be a bit much,' she said.

While the displays are still a source of neighborhood pride, there's been extra grumbling this season, especially after some parking spots were blocked off for rows of tour buses.

Police put up notices instituting the month-long parking ban between 5pm to 11pm from Thursday to Sunday along 86th Street, sparking an outcry among residents.

Joyce Arpino, 55, stopped decorating her home after visitors knocked on her windows and parked their cars in her driveway Pictured, signs warning people to stay off private property

Police put up notices instituting the month-long parking ban between 5pm to 11pm from Thursday to Sunday along 86th Street, sparking an outcry among residents

Residents like 30-year-old Vinny Privitelli, however, spent thousands of dollars installing lights and decorations on his home, saying part of the fun was trying to outdo his neighbors

Privitelli said: 'It's nice to see [visitors] enjoying it, that's what we get out of it. Everything in the news is negative, so at least we get one positive thing'

Residents like 30-year-old Vinny Privitelli, however, spent thousands of dollars installing strings of red and white lights on his home. His lawn was also dripping with reindeer, a trio of dancing elves and a nativity scene.

Privitelli admits part of the fun is trying to outdo his neighbors, some of whom hire professionals to do their displays. And he has no problem with the throngs of visitors who come to check it out.

'It's nice to see them enjoying it, that's what we get out of it,' he says. 'Everything in the news is negative, so at least we get one positive thing.'

Around the corner, a crowd of 35 people stopped at another house, where every inch of the stoop and patio was packed with glowing nutcrackers, snowmen, reindeer and plastic angels.

On another lawn, a 13-foot-tall, animatronic Santa Claus sat between a pair of giant toy soldiers and two carousels ablaze with lights. It was all so bright that the selfie-snapping crowds didn't need to use a flash.

'Let's go folks. You can't hold up traffic,' an officer inside a police van shouted at drivers stopped in the street.

Pictured, Spata standing on her street with a police officer who helped her husband maneuver his car through crowds

Jeanne Andrews, 66, said the decorations surpassed the tree in Rockefeller Center because they had a personal touch. Pictured, Tanya, Adriana and Vasyl Palinchak taking a selfie

'I like it when they take pictures,' says Angela Peralta, whose display includes a candy cane arch over the driveway, a 'Merry Christmas' banner and a waving, inflatable snowman. 'People are very respectful. They say it's beautiful.'

Among the visitors this year was Jeanne Andrews, 66, who traveled from Vincennes, Indiana, to experience Christmas in the Big Apple. She went to see the tree in Rockefeller Center and the windows at Macy's, but this was different.

'I like this because it's so personal. Every family has something different,' she says. 'I love it. I just think it's spectacular.'

One house went heavy on the inflatable characters, which range from Mr. Potato Head to the Hulk
A retired school teacher from Canada was among 10 people who were killed when terrorists opened fire in what appeared to be targeted attacks against tourists and police in Karak, Jordan.

Canadian woman, Linda Vatcher, 62, died Sunday after dozens of people were attacked, according to Canada's global affairs spokesman, John Babcock.

Vatcher, who was a retired elementary school teacher, was visiting her son, Chris, who works in Jordan, at the time of the attack, according to her cousin Barb Rhymes.

Rhymes said Vatcher was a widow and mother of two adult sons from Burgeo, Newfoundland. Her son, Chris, was also injured in the attack.

'She was very friendly, outgoing. She was nice to everyone. A friend to all,' Rhymes said from Burgeo, a remote town of 1,400 people on Canada's East Coast.

'It's devastating. It has hit the town hard. My mind is not there right now. She was a beautiful person.'

Canadian woman, Linda Vatcher (pictured), 62, was among 10 people killed when terrorists opened fire in what appeared to be targeted attacks against tourists and police, according to Canada's global affairs spokesman, John Babcock

Shots rang out in different parts of Karak, before a group of gunmen fled to the city's medieval castle, where several tourists were held hostage inside. Seven police officers and two Jordanian civilians were also killed in the attack in Karak

Seven police officers and two Jordanian civilians were also killed in the attack in Karak, a tourist destination famous for its castle about 70 miles south of the capital of Amman, according to Jordan's general security department.

At least 34 people were wounded in the day's violence, which was one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory.

Security officials announced late Sunday, several hours after reports of the first shooting, that the operation had ended and that four gunmen were killed. They said troops continued to search the area.

The officials said large amounts of weapons had been seized. They made no reference to local media reports that at one point, the attackers had held hostages.

Jordanian security forces and their armoured vehicles stand guard in front of Karak Castle after gunmen assaulted Jordanian police in a series of attacks Sunday

Karak Castle where armed gunmen carried out an attack. At least 34 people were wounded in the day's violence

Jordanian policemen stand guard after ending the security operations in the vicinity of Karak Castle

Gunmen entered the castle, perched on top of a hill, and used one of the towers to fire at a nearby police station

A Canadian woman was killed in a shootout between police and armed men who holed themselves up in a medieval castle in southern Jordan

The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged this pro-Western kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

Shots broke out in different areas of Karak before the gunmen fled to the city's medieval castle, where several tourists inside were taken hostage.

Police surrounded the castle and stormed the fortress, rescuing hostages who were trapped inside.

Vatcher's (pictured) cousin said she was a retired elementary teacher and was visiting her son in Jordan where he works. Her son, Chris was also injured in attack

Vatcher's death could further hurt Jordan's embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighboring Syria and Iraq two years ago.

'Canadian officials in Amman are actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time,' Babcock said.

The Canadian Embassy in Amman issued an alert urging Canadians to avoid travel to Karak, a town in central Jordan about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital.

A witness said attackers immediately targeted tourists when they reached the castle.

'Four gunmen got out of their car' at the castle, said Wasfi al-Habashneh, a local resident. 'They opened fire at the Canadian tourists.

'The woman was killed, the other Canadian tourist escaped and hid behind a car and one of the children was injured.'

Al-Habashneh said the attackers also targeted other people. Security forces 'engaged with the gunmen and cornered the gunmen at the castle gate', he said.

Government minister and spokesman Mohammad al-Momani called it a 'cowardly terrorist attack' on state television, adding that Jordan is 'packed with terrorist organizations.'

A police patrol responded to reports of a house fire earlier on Sunday, only to be attacked by gunmen inside the home. Pictured, Jordanian police preparing to enter Karak Castle

Another security patrol was attacked. Shots were also fired at a police station in Karak Castle. Pictured, security forces outside the castle

Al-Momani also said a manhunt to 'eliminate' the gunmen had entered its final phase. He did not elaborate.

'The security forces and gendarme are in the final stage and we don't want to pre-empt news... we will be dealing with this group of terrorists and eliminate them,' he said.

The former deputy prime minister and current Senator Ayman al-Safadi told CNN there were unconfirmed reports that three of the five gunmen had been killed.

'There could be people still hiding in the building, probably not venturing out for fear of being shot,' he said, adding he did not know of any hostages at the scene.

The violence began earlier on Sunday when gunmen in different areas of the Karak governorate opened fire in short succession.

A police patrol responded to reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh, about 25 miles outside of the city of Karak, according to Jordan's Public Safety Directorate.

Gunmen posted inside the home ambushed the police and wounded two officers before fleeing by car, Al Jazeera reported.

Another security patrol was attacked, but no one was injured.

Shots were also fired at a police station in Karak Castle, wounding 'several policemen and passerby', according to Petra.

They entered the castle, perched on top of a hill, and used one of the towers to fire at a nearby police station.

Authorities then surrounded the castle and 'launched an operation to hunt down the gunmen,' according to a statement issued by the Public Security Directorate.

Gunmen then entered the castle perched on top of a hill and used one of the towers to fire at a nearby police station (pictured, residents outside the castle)

Tourists insid the castle were taken hostage and more than two dozen people were injured (pictured), it was reported

It remains unclear just how many people were involved in the shootings. Authorities said 'five or six gunmen' were involved, but Prime Minister Prime Minister Hani Mulki said there were 10 assailants inside the castle.

Mulki, who was addressing parliament at the time of the attacks, said 'a number of security personnel' had been killed.

Video footage on social media showed security forces taking groups of young Asian tourists up the castle's steep steps to its main entrance as gunshots were heard overhead.

It remains unclear where exactly each victim was killed.

The Canadian government confirmed one of its nationals died, while another was injured.

'Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of all the victims, including the Canadian killed and the Canadian who was injured in the heinous attack in Jordan,' Global Affairs spokesperson John Babcock said in an email to Global News.

The Canadian embassy in Jordan also issued a travel warning that read: 'Dear #Canadians, we advise against all travel to #Karak city until further notice due to security incident, be safe!'

The identity of the assailants was not immediately clear and no group has taken responsibility.

Jordanian police inspect the scene in Qatraneh where attackers first opened fire. The identity of the assailants remains unclear and no group has taken responsibility

Gunmen opened fire in different parts of the governorate of Karak. Officers were first targeted in Qatraneh, before shots rang out at a medieval castle in the city of Karak, about 70 miles south of the capital, Amman

Jordan is one of the few Arab states that have taken part in a U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State militants holding territory in Syria.

But many Jordanians oppose their country's involvement, saying it has led to the killing of fellow Muslims and raised security threats inside Jordan.

Officials worry about radical Islam's growing profile in Jordan and support in impoverished areas for militant groups.

Three American service members were killed as they approached the gate at the Prince Faisal airbase in Al Jafr in November,CNN reported.
The mother of a bride was killed on Saturday after a 100-foot tree fell on top of a wedding party in southern California, trapping guests and injuring five individuals.

A eucalyptus toppled around 4.30pm Saturday in Whittier's Penn Park, where the bridal party had gathered to take photos during the weekend nuptials.

Among the five people were injured was a four-year-old girl who remains in critical condition due to severe head trauma.

Footage from the incident taken by multiple bystanders and uploaded to social media shows rescuers giving CPR to the bride's mother, whose name has not yet been released by authorities.

She can be seen lying down on the ground in her dress for the event as three men try to revive her.

One of the eyewitnesses, who was in the park for a quinceanera, said she saw the bride screaming after the tree fell while standing over her unconscious mother.

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Rescuers used chainsaws to pull out wedding guests who became trapped under a fallen tree on Saturtday

Footage shows rescuers giving CPR to the mother of the bride after the accident, who was later declared dead (above)

Photographs of a bride, whose wedding party is believed to have been caught up in the tragedy, were posted on Instagram shortly before the tree fell

Guests can be seen in their wedding attired sitting down in the park after the tragedy, while rescuers worked to pull out guests from under the tall eucalyptus

A victim was taken away on a stretcher after the 100-foot tree toppled. Five people were injured in the tragedy

Rescuers (pictured) worked throughout the evening to pull victims from under the tree (pictured), cutting branches with chainsaws

Members of the rescue team took away the victim on a stretcher. They were seen working tirelessly at the scene trying to assist those injured in the tragedy

Rescuers transported a large chunk from the eucalyptus as they tried to help those trapped underneath the 100-foot-tree in Penn Park

One person has died and a four-year-old girl was left in critical condition with severe head trauma. Two members of the wedding party are pictured walking away from the scene

Wedding guests were seen showing their injuries to fire department personnel after the tall tree collapsed

People close to the wedding party were pictured embracing one another while firefighters worked at the scene on Saturday evening

Photographer Gilbert Duran posted a video on Facebook after the incident saying he had helped pulled a woman from under the tree. Duran said it was the mother of the bride, adding: 'I'm pretty sure she's dead.'

His video shows rescue workers on the scene as they loaded the bride's mother on to a stretcher after performing CPR.

Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri told the LA Times on Sunday: 'The mother lost her life. A 4-year-old is injured. How do you explain it? You cant.'

'The tragedy of the situation is on the hearts and minds of many people. We need to pray for the family because of the injuries and losing someone on a day thats supposed to be a great celebration.'

The tree fell around 4.30pm in Penn Park and rescue efforts continued throughout the evening. Rescuers used chainsaws to pull out people from under the branches.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the tree to fall. Officials speculated that the California drought could have weakened the eucalyptus which is believed to be around 50 years old.

'Weve seen this happen throughout Southern California with both the drought conditions trees are stressed  and we did have a large amount of rain,' Deputy Chief John Tripp of the Los Angeles County Fire Department told the LA Times.

Officials didn't immediately say what had caused the tree to fall. They speculated that the eucalyptus (pictured) could have been weakened by the California drought

The same Instagram user posted this photo of rescuers working at the scene, with a woman sitting on the floor while officials cordoned off a part of the park

A woman shared these two photos on Instagram, saying she had seen the wedding party as well as a quinceanera party in the park. She offered condolences and support to the victims

One of the witnesses said the tree split in two before it collapsed and landed on the wedding guests.

The Los Angeles County fire department responded to the scene after receiving a report about the incident around 4.45pm.

Some managed to get out from under the tree on their own, but six had to be freed by firefighters.

Witnesses posted photos of the park before the tragedy on Instagram. One of them said a quinceanera party was also there that afternoon.

All guests trapped under the tree were accounted for as of Saturday evening.

Authorities didn't confirm whether heavy rains the previous evening had played a part in the tree's fall.

They did say however that the eucalyptus could have been weakened by the California drought, ABC 7 reported.
Tall ended up becoming the smallest sized drink on the printed menu

arger sizes of 'venti' and 'trenta' sizes could be added

sizes, 'short' was taken off the menu board so the l

When it comes to Starbucks Coffee, it's never just a regular cup of Joe but a process that requires you to know the code names (or a bit of Italian) for the company's different sized coffee drinks.

Yet to even seasoned regulars, the mix of Italian and English words that appear across the company's menu seem to bear little resemblance to the actual sizes they represent.

At Starbucks around the world, the options are: short (8 ounces), tall (12 ounces), grande (16), venti (24), and trenta (31).

Originally, Starbucks offered only two sizes: short (8 ounces) and tall (12 ounces). When the company added grande, venti and trenta, they kept the old names for the original drinks

Starbucks currently offer short [8 fl. oz.] (not pictured), tall [12 fl. oz.], far left, grande [16 fl. oz.], far right, and venti hot [20 fl. oz.] center, (and trenta for cold drinks [31 fl. oz]

This designation by the coffee company is considered by many to be a classic instance of corporate language manipulation.

Tall sounds like small but means something close to the opposite - it being one of the smallest sized drinks that can be ordered.

Grande is Italian for 'large,' venti means 'twenty,' and trenta is 'thirty'.

The sizes originated when Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks, opened his first coffee shop in Seattle in 1986.

The shop, called Il Giornale, had just three sizes: short, tall, and grande. The much larger venti size was introduced at a later date.

As time went by, customers started asking for larger sizes. The 'tall' began to be too small, and the 'short' disappeared completely, except if you want an espresso to go

Starbucks founder, Howard Schultz, became captivated with Italian coffee bars and the romance of the coffee experience. He had a vision to bring the Italian coffeehouse tradition to America

According to Starbucks, Schultz 'became captivated with Italian coffee bars and the romance of the coffee experience. He had a vision to bring the Italian coffeehouse tradition to America,' and he wanted distinctive names for the cups that would reflect such a vision.

He used cups in a variety of sizes and gave them atypical names with a couple of words in Italian to make them more distinct.

In her blog, Starbucks Melody, Melody Overton explains how a 'tall' became a small.

The menu boards at Starbucks, for many, many years in the '90s, only had three sizes listed: short, tall, and grande, Overton noted. 'So a short was considered to be a small, tall was medium, and grande was large.'
Michael Sheen, above, was said to have quit acting so he could devote himself to activist causes, but he denies he ever said this

Michael Sheen has clarified that he's not leaving acting for politics, as one newspaper declared.

Sheen posted an irate message on Tumblr saying that his words had been twisted, and he has not quit acting, as The Times declared Saturday in the bold headline 'Michael Sheen quits acting for activism.'

The paper said the veteran stage and screen actor was 'abandoning his profession at the height of his career' to fight the far right.

Soon, similar headlines were seen all over the media.

'What I did not say' he titled his Tumblr page before going off on paper.

'I did one interview with The Times of London a few weeks ago, parts of which (including a headline that is not a quote) have been picked up by a lot of other outlets. I DID NOT declare that Im "quitting acting and leaving Hollywood" to go into politics,' he wrote.

The Welsh star also said that he was not equating Brexit or the rise of Donald Trump with fascism.

The Times certainly made it sound like Sheen had abruptly left the acting world, but he denies he did or plans to

Sheen stars in the new film, Passengers, alongside A-listers sci-fi Chris Pratt (right) and Jennifer Lawrence (pictured)

'In the same way as the Nazis had to be stopped in Germany in the Thirties, this thing that is on the rise has to be stopped,' The Times quotes him as saying.

But he clarified in his Tumblr post: 'I certainly did NOT equate people who voted for Brexit or Trump with a fascistic "hard right" that must be stopped.

'The majority of people in the UK, including my hometown of Port Talbot, voted for Brexit.

'That is the will of the people and is to be respected. That is democracy. Given the concerns around the economy in the area I come from and its industrial history I totally empathise with the dissatisfaction with the status quo that the vote was partially an expression of.'

Despite living in LA with girlfriend Sarah Silverman, Sheen says he might eventually move back home to concentrate on activism

As for leaving acting to become more involved in politics, the Passengers star said that's something he might consider for the future, but right now, he has no plans of doing that.

'I said I have become more involved with community issues back at home over the last few years and because of the political situation its something I would like to focus on more,' he wrote.

'The interviewer asked me what that meant for my career and I said it might mean I work less as an actor and maybe even stop for a while AT SOME POINT.'

Sheen played Tony Blair in The Queen, a film about the monarch's reaction to Princess Diana's death in 1997

In 2009 he played journalist David Frost who came up against president Richard Nixon

The actor currently lives in Los Angeles with girlfriend Sarah Silverman.

Sheen stars in new sci-fi film, Passengers, alongside A-listers Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence.

He has been praised for his portrayal of Arthur, an android bartender, who has to figure out the balance between being robotic and human.

Previous roles include playing Tony Blair in The Queen, David Frost in Frost/Nixon, and Brian Clough in The Damned United.
Seven West Media shares have taken an eight per cent dive after revelations of an affair between the CEO and his executive assistant came to light.

Amber Harrison, 37, said she and Tim Worner, 55, began flirting back and forth over email and text message after both being in the same meeting, before starting a 'consensual' relationship in December 2012, the Herald Sun reported.

On Monday, as the allegations came to light, company shares fell 6.5 cents, or 7.98 per cent, to 75 cents.

Seven West Media shares have plunged eight per cent after affair allegations

Amber Harrison (pictured) said she would meet Mr Worner at her home to have sex and attended a number of events as a couple, including the Australian Open

Earlier the personal assistant claimed she was paid $150,000 to keep quiet about a two-year affair she had with the married CEO of Seven West Media.

Ms Harrison said she would meet Mr Worner at her home to have sex and attended a number of events as a couple, including the Australian Open, according to the Herald Sun.

'I knew he was married. It was never about love. It was about sex and power,' Ms Harrison said.

'He likes having a bit on the side. I found our relationship, if youd call it that, thrilling to begin with.'

Amber Harrison, 37, said she and Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner (pictured with his wife Katrina) began flirting back and forth over email and explicit text messages before starting a relationship in December, 2012

On Sunday, Seven West Media confirmed Ms Harrison's claim of the inappropriate affair and said it was a private matter between Mr Worner and his family.

A Seven source said Mr Worner had apologised for the 'inappropriate relationship' in the past.

Ms Harrison said the affair ended in late 2014 after she became 'depressed' and started to suffer regular panic attacks.

She alleges Seven West then accused her of spending $262,000 on the company credit card and was sacked.

She said she was paid $100,000 in a settlement and claims the company agreed to pay her a further $350,000 after being made redundant, but never did.

Ms Harrison said the affair ended in late 2014 and claims Mr Worner, 55, began to ignore her in the office

Seven denied the investigation was a result of Ms Harrison's complaint to human resources, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Ms Harrison said she ended up informing human resources of the illicit relationship and alleged she was shifted to a new role in the company and paid almost $150,000.

She said she was asked to also sign paperwork to keep quiet about the relationship and was asked to delete the text message exchange between herself and Mr Worner.

But after two years of negotiations, she lodged a claim with the Australian Human Rights Commission in May of this year.

In March, he and his wife Katrina forked out $9.5 million on an oceanfront home on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The couple have four children.
Police are hunting for a 65-year-old man who has broken his parole and is on the run - while wearing a moon boot.

John Douglas Hartwick, who was released from jail on parole on November 1, had his parole cancelled on December 15 after not complying with the release conditions.

He has a history of violent offending with a prior conviction for murder, armed robbery, assault, firearms and drug offences.

Police are hunting for 65-year-old man John Douglas Hartwick (pictured) who has broken his parole and is on the run

Police went to his Norlane property on Thursday night and could not locate him.

A warrant has since been issued for his arrest.

He is described as 175cm tall with a thin build, grey hair and tattoos.

Hartwick also broke his right ankle on 28 November and is currently reliant on wearing a moon boot.

Hartwick was one of three people charged over the murder of Frankston man Steven Borg in his home in 2001.

Police have urged anyone who sees Hartwick not to approach him and to contact triple zero (000) immediately.

Anyone with any other information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Two fishermen ended up biting off more than they could chew after casting their line from a boat ramp in Darwin.

Brad Harvey and friend Jason Rogers were fishing close to Dinah Beach on Monday when they hooked something big in the murky waters.

While Mr Harvey initially thought it could be a red-tagged barramundi, which can fetch thousands of dollars for those who land them, he was stunned to discover it was in fact a huge crocodile.

Brad Harvey and friend Jason Rogers thought they had hooked a prize-winning barramundi when they snagged something heavy off a boa ramp in Darwin on Monday

Mr Harvey told 9 News: 'I didn't know what to think to tell you the truth.

'I felt the weight of it and did a bit of a run and then when it came up I thought, "yeah, this is different".'

Mr Harvey could only watch on as the three-metre long beast thrashed around on the end of his line for 15 minutes.

As might be expected, the crocodile eventually snapped the line and made off with Mr Harvey's lure.
After news broke of McKinnon's plans to sue he was

Paralysed rugby league player Alex McKinnon has been slammed by cruel trolls for his decision to launch a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the NRL and the player whose tackle left him in a wheelchair.

McKinnon, a former Newcastle Knights player, was paralysed during a 2014 clash against the Melbourne Storm after a fateful tackle from Jordan McLean.

And on Monday, almost three years on from the incident, it was revealed the 24-year-old plans to sue both the NRL and McLean for millions.

But despite him facing a lifetime of expensive care and treatment, McKinnon's decision has been met with backlash from rugby league fans who've labelled him everything from a 'grub' to 'money hungry'.

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Paralysed rugby league player Alex McKinnon has been slammed online by cruel trolls after he launched a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the NRL and Melbourne Storm player Jordan McLean who laid the sickening tackle

In the weeks after McKinnon suffered his injury the NRL community banded together to support both he and fiancee Teigan Powers (left) in the 'Rise for Alex Round'

'Have supported Alex McKinnon and what he has gone through but suing the NRL and McLean I can not support,' one Twitter user wrote.

'Alex McKinnon sue the NRL all you want, but don't be a w****r and target players,' another posted.

Others also labelled McKinnon a 'grub' and 'money hungry fraud'.

In the weeks after McKinnon suffered his injury the NRL community banded together to support both he and fiancee Teigan Powers in the 'Rise for Alex Round'.

But following teary on-field scenes in front of his Newcastle home crowd, McKinnon first faced backlash after a controversial 60 Minutes interview last year.

McKinnon was left him in a wheelchair for life by the incident (pictured) which occurred during a 2014 clash between his side the Newcastle Knights and the Melbourne Storm

Melbourne Storm young gun Jordan McLean (pictured) is also being sued by McKinnon

In it he hinted for the first time at the possibility of launching legal action and also hit out at Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith over his comments after the tackle.

'I just need to know how much it is going to cost me, how much money I have and where I was going to get that money from,' McKinnon said.

'The NRL has been unreal for me and that is one of the things we both, myself and the NRL, are in a very foreign ground really, I dont know how much it will cost and they dont know how much they can give me.'

McKinnon has financial support from the Newcastle Knights and the Rise for Alex foundation, while also being promised a job for life by the NRL.

The Daily Telegraph reports he met with NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg in November about the potential for commencing legal action.

During the meeting Greenberg reportedly told McKinnon to 'do what you've got to do'.
An Auckland teacher was censured and stripped of her registration after having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student.

Kiri Jasmine Kay began having sex with the teenager in late 2015, and pressured the student to maintain the relationship even after the girl tried to end it, according to a decision by the New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal.

Kay, who was a teacher at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate School in Otara, also invited the student to her home, where she had sex with her partner in front of the student.

The then-teacher also 'permitted her partner to have sex' with the student, according to the decision.

Auckland teacher Kiri Jasmine Kay lost her certification after it was discovered she had a sexual relationship with a female student. File photograph

Kay, who was a teacher at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate School in Otara (pictured), also invited the student to her home, where she had sex with her partner in front of the student

The student, who was in Year 12, 'made attempts to stop seeing the respondent, but the respondent would contact [the girl] by phone and cry,' the Tribunal wrote in its decision.

'As a result, [the student] felt bad and agreed to the sexual relationship continuing.'

The student confided in another teacher, who told the principal in March 2016. Kay was placed on leave and resigned later that month.

Kay was also scolded for allowing minors to drink alcohol on two separate occasions.

The former teacher allowed a group of 17-year-old students to drink alcohol during a school trip, and even had a drink with the teenagers, the Tribunal wrote.

During another trip, where an underage student was present, Kay allowed her niece, nephew and the student to consume alcohol.

Kay applied to have her name suppressed, saying it was in order to protect the identity of the 17-year-old female student, and also argued that the release of her identity could cause complications with her pregnancy.
Some Syrian government loyalists claimed she had been used for 'propaganda'

But now she and her family have been evacuated to the Syrian countryside

Her mother had claimed Syrian government forces were targeting them

A little girl from Aleppo who found fame tweeting about the civil war from her home before it was destroyed has finally been evacuated to safety.

Seven-year-old Bana Alabed had been posting messages with the help of her mother Fatemah, who claimed to be in the besieged eastern part of Aleppo.

One haunting image of the child's friend came along with the words: 'Oh dear world, I am crying tonight, this is my friend killed by a bomb tonight. I can't stop crying. - Bana.'

Fatemah had used the account to claim the pair were being targeted by the country's government forces because of the content of their messages.

But fears for their safety were eased today when a picture of a smiling Bana appeared on the Syrian American Medical Society's Twitter feed, saying she had arrived in the countryside along with many other children from the war-torn city.

Bana Alabed poses with Turkish aid worker Burak Karacaoglu in al-Rashideen, after being rescued from the perils of Aleppo

Bana Alabed (pictured, right, in the arms of a medical worker) is now believed to be safe

'We are still alive': The picture of Bana Alabed, said to be hiding from bomb blasts in her home city of Aleppo, was posted on Twitter earlier this month

Bana is understood to have been on one of the buses which brought around 4,500 civilians out of the city at the weekend.

But some Syrian government loyalists claimed she had been in Turkey and had been used for 'propaganda' by enemies of the Damascus regime.

Since join Twitter last September Bana has gained 322,000 followers and frequently posts videos and photos of her grim life in Aleppo which was in the middle of a brutal tussle between government forces and rebels.

Bana and her mother, Fatemah, are pictured at a camp in the Syrian countryside

Bana and her mother Fatemah (pictured) pleaded to be rescued by the First Lady, Michelle Obama, only a few days ago. It is not known if Mrs Obama had any involvement in the Syrian American Medical Society's evacuation operation

Russian planes repeatedly bombed the city in support of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his government.

Earlier this month a distressing video was posted on Bana's account of her hiding in the corner of a room while blasts can be heard going off outside.

She said: 'Someone save me now please.'

The official Syrian Arab News Agency issued this photograph of five government-owned buses which were set on fire by rebels. At least 4,500 people have left government-besieged areas in Aleppo in the last few days

The buses were reportedly set on fire by Fatah al-Sham Front, a rebel group with links to al-Qaida, during fighting with other rebel groups

The situation in Aleppo remains fraught with tension. A rebel group, the al-Qaida affiliated Fatah al-Sham Front, burned several buses which had been assigned to evacuate people from the rebel-besieged villages of Foua and Kfarya.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group fighting alongside Syria's government, says the buses were burned during fighting between Fatah al-Sham Front and a rebel group that supported the evacuations.

Earlier this year Bana received a number of Harry Potter novels directly from author J.K. Rowling after her mother made a request to the writer over Twitter.

The girl, who speaks basic English, tweeted a sweet thank you video for Rowling.

'Hello my friend, I started reading your books now, my heart is for you. Thank you,' she said.

Rowling replied back with a tweet saying: 'This made me so happy! Lots of love to you and your brothers!'

Cruel ending: The horrifying image of Bana Alabed's friend who died during a bomb raid in the city dubbed the most dangerous in the world

Innocence lost: Bana's haunting Twitter account showed the horror of the bombing raids on Aleppo through the eyes of a seven-year-old

Relentless: Bana, her mother and her brothers (pictured several years ago) are trying to survive the fiercest aerial onslaught since the Syrian civil war began

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Bana's mother Fatemah insisted the account was not 'propaganda' as she revealed details of the devastation around them: 'We live in hell. The sound of bombs wake us from our sleep. They have become our alarm clock.

'When the airstrikes come, my children cry and say the pilot wants to kill us.'

Other pictures on the account claim to show their next-door-neighbours' crumbling homes and smoke billowing from the latest explosion down the road.

'Four bombs hit us now just few steps away. Good afternoon from Aleppo,' read one of her latest posts.

'Last year my school was bombed my friends killed injured. I was lucky to survive. I'm afraid of the bombing,' the Twitter goes on from Bana's point of view.

Former law student Fatemah lives with Bana, her husband Ghassan, 34, a former lawyer, and their two sons Mohamad, five, and Noor, three.

She said they shared the flat with her sister and husband's family and could not flee the city because they fear being caught up in an airstrike or picked off by snipers.
A farmer has found premature conjoined twin calves who didn't survive birth on his property in Western Australia.

Malcolm Auld found the speckle park breed calves, who were up to nine weeks premature, on his property in Napier, about 30km north of Albany, in the state's Great Southern region.

Mr Auld said he had not seen conjoined calves in his 32 years of cattle farming, and described the incident as a 'freak of nature'.

A farmer has found premature conjoined twin calves who didn't survive birth on his property in Western Australia (pictured)

Conjoined twins occur when an embryo doesn't completely divide in half, and most do not survive as the animals' physiology usually fails shortly after birth.

Mr Auld named the twins Dr Speckle and Mr Pied, after what he considered the 'most famous split personality', Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Head of Murdoch University's farm animal veterinary services Michael Laurence said while conjoined twins were uncommon, he had seen many abnormalities with cattle.

'I've seen calves with extra legs, missing pieces, two heads, inside out calves,' Dr Laurence told AAP.

'Vets see it all.'

He said deformities were rare but not unsurprising, however he was surprised the cow birthed the twins naturally as they usually needed veterinary assistance.
A state of emergency has been declared and more deaths are expected

The dead include both men and women and they were all from the same area

A total of 41 Russians have died from poisoning after drinking a 'bath lotion' containing alcohol.

Another 16 are fighting for their lives in hospital, most in a 'grave' condition, in the Siberian city of Irkutsk.

'Almost all of them are in a serious condition and are in intensive care,' said a source from the Health Ministry.

Shocking: One of the patients in a hospital bed after drinking the 'bath lotion' in the Siberian city of Irkutsk

'We know of 57 people who consumed the poisonous liquid, and 41 of them have died,' said Stanislav Zubovsky, the prosecutor of Irkutsk' Leninsky district.

The toll is expected to rise further.

The dead include men and women, and they suffered 'rapid and agonising' deaths from methanol poisoning, said medical sources.

Methanol when drunk metabolises to formaldehyde then formic acid or formate salts.

These are poisonous to the human central nervous system leading blindness, coma, and death.

A chief doctor Yevgeny Vygovsky caring for the victims said: 'They have heavy chemical poisoning.

'All of those who were brought to us were unconscious.

'Their central nervous system, internal organs are struck and the toxic shock was developing rapidly.'

The victims were poisoned after consuming a bath lotion called Boyaryshnik - made from hawthorn - which contains alcohol.

Bath lotion containing methanol or methyl alcohol. It is unknown if the victims consumed the drink knowing it was a bath lotion

It was sold in street kiosks and other outlets in an Irkutsk suburb, say relatives of the victims.

The drink was manufactured at an illegal production facility at a dacha - country house - close to Irkutsk.

Other fakes vodkas were also made there.

Senior policeman German Bratchikov said: 'Not only Boyaryshnik liquid, but also Tsarskaya Okhota ('tsar's hunt') and Finlyandia Serebristaya ('silver Finland') vodkas, and a few other brands, were discovered there.'

The two owners of the premises have been detained.

Five more people 'related to retail sales of the liquid that caused poisoning' were also held.

A state of emergency was declared in the region over the deaths.

Andrey Kiselyov, a neighbour of Vladimir Fokeev, 53, who was killed by the poisonous alcohol, said: 'They sell it in every kiosk here for 70 roubles a small bottle .

'Of course, people drink it. Those who are stronger, drink it as it is, some mix it. It's not the first case.

'People drink it and go crazy.

'It's mainly older people drinking it, 40-45 and older.'

Fokeev's stepdaughter Ekaterina Dubrovskaya, said: 'He wasn't feeling well in the morning.

'I asked him what was happening. He said nothing.

'I left, went to the city centre with friends, returned home and he was already lying - all black. I called the ambulance.

'His daughter and I went to the hospital, they said he wasn't doing well.

'We got home and 40 minutes later received a phone call. They said he died.'

She told how 'he always bought this 'Boyaryshnik' in a shop nearby.

'We persuaded him to choose vodka, but he insisted that it is more tasty and no head ache in the morning.

The Siberian city of Irkutsk has a population of just under 600,000 and in the winter temperatures can drop to -21 degrees Celsius

'He said the shop was checked by the authorities.

'He always bought there.

'And this Saturday morning bought again, then on Sunday, and at 5 pm we called the ambulance.'

His widow Olga Dubrovskaya, 50, said: 'The used to sell this is transparent glass bottles, now it's purplish.'

'Investigators say all the victims were residents of one neighbourhood, Novo-Lenino,' reported The Siberian Times.

'A criminal case has been opened into the sale of goods failing to meet safety requirements.'

The bath lotion was strictly for external use.

It is not clear if the victims knowingly drank the product, or were fooled into thinking it was something else.

First reports of deaths came on Sunday, with more announced on Monday.

Poisonings caused by surrogate alcohol are common in Russia, but this case has been described as the deadliest for years.
Prince Harry's American actress girlfriend Meghan Markle has been spotted leaving Britain after enjoying a getaway in London with the young royal.

The California-born actress left London yesterday after spending a romantic week with the prince, who personally dropped her off at Heathrow airport before she boarded her flight.

Meghan, who appeared to be in good spirits, was accompanied by airline staff prior to boarding her flight, while the prince was flanked by five police protection officers.

Meghan, who appeared to be in good spirits, was accompanied by airline staff prior to boarding her flight, while the prince was flanked by five police protection officers

Prince Harry's American actress girlfriend Meghan Markle has been spotted leaving Britain after enjoying a getaway in London with the young royal

Last week the couple, who have been seeing each other for several months, were snapped while on a romantic date in London, where they saw critically-acclaimed play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Gielgud Theatre.

From the images it seemed as though Harry was doing most of the talking as they strolled along Shaftesbury Avenue, with the Prince gesturing with his hands and looking animated.

Glamorous Meghan, 35, was keeping her head down but appeared to be smiling as she enjoyed spending the evening with her man.

It is understood she will not be accompanying Harry to Sandringham to spend Christmas with the Queen.

It is the first time the couple, pictured centre, have been caught on camera together in public

Meghan is believed to have spent the week with Harry at his Kensington Palace cottage before flying home this weekend.

Meanwhile t he prince will join other senior royals for traditional celebrations at the Queen's country estate in Norfolk.

It would be unprecedented if Miss Markle attended as the invite is usually reserved for close family.

The couple kept a relatively low-profile since Miss Markle arrived in London last Monday, although they broke cover to pick out a Christmas tree together that night.

Their theatre date followed on Wednesday when the couple drew double takes from Christmas shoppers as they walked down some of London's busiest streets wearing matching beanie hats and winter coats.

It is understood they secured last-minute tickets for the 7.30pm performance of the Curious Incident, which is based on the best-selling novel by Mark Haddon.

It was initially thought the couple had watched comedy Peter Pan Goes Wrong but the team behind the Curious Incident confirmed Prince Harry was in the audience.

The official Twitter account for the Curious Incident posted: 'We were delighted to welcome HRH Prince Harry to last nights performance at The Gielgud Theatre in Londons West End.'

#californialove: Meghan Markle (right) was pictured in a festive scene with her friends Heather Dorak (centre right), and Benita (left) and Darren Litt (centre left) and their two children

Meanwhile staff at the theatre had no idea the couple were at the performance.

Both matinee and evening performance staff coming and going by the stage door between shows said they were unaware of the Royal guest.

One usher said: 'No one was aware of it. We were not told anything until we heard the news this morning. It was a bit of a surprise.

'There were a lot of people here last night, and nobody knew they were here.'

Another theatre worker said: 'It was news to me. But when the lights are down it's hard to see the audiences in much detail.

'Maybe they waited till then before taking their seats? It was all kept very hush hush.'

A member of staff at the Apollo Theatre next door added: 'No one knew they were around last night.

'I have had people calling me on my phone asking of I saw them, but I had no idea.'

The couple have previously seen the Lion King musical on the West End.

Miss Markle, 35, is currently enjoying a few months off from filming US legal drama Suits.

Prince Harry (left) and Markle (right) are now at least 2,000 miles away from each other

The official Twitter account for the Curious Incident for the Dog in the Night-time posted this message today, confirming Prince Harry attended a performance last night

After just a week apart from her boyfriend, the actress hopped on a plane to London for a week of festive activities.

They last saw each other in Toronto, where Miss Markle is based, after Prince Harry made a 1,700-mile detour on his way home from an official tour of the Caribbean.

But while there is every sign the relationship is serious, royal experts have said it is still unlikely that the couple will be spending Christmas Day together.

Kate Middleton only made her first appearance at Sandringham in 2011, the year she married Prince William.

Royal expert Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of the Queen's speech, said a Royal Christmas would be 'too stressful' for Miss Markle.

Ms Seward told MailOnline: 'At Sandringham it is only close family and occasionally very close friends.

The couple are understood to have secured last-minute tickets for the 7.30pm performance of the National Theatre production at the Gielgud Theatre, pictured in file image

Miss Markle was out with a friend in Toronto, Canada, on Sunday but later flew to London. She is believed to be staying with Prince Harry in his cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace

The couple have kept a low-profile but were spotted picking out a Christmas tree together at Pines and Needles in Battersea Park, south London, pictured, on Monday

'It is not a moment to bring girlfriends. It would be too stressful. They all have their own in-jokes, their own little traditions.'

MEGHAN WHO? MARKLE TOPS 2016 GOOGLE SEARCH LIST Meghan Markle has topped the British list of the most Googled female celebrity in Britain in 2016. The American actress saw the number of Google searches rocket almost over night in October, when rumours of her relationship with Prince Harry first emerged. She beat out actress Stephanie Davis and X Factor contestant Honey G to claim the top spot. Carol Vorderman and Kesha also made the top five. The male celebrity most Googled by British web users was UFC fighter Conor McGregor Advertisement

She added California-native Miss Markle might also struggle with cultural differences.

'Americans are different. They have different ways of thinking and they are different.

'So for somebody from a flat in LA to be with [the Royal Family] it would be like being in outer space.'

However she said it would be possible for Kate and William to invite her to join them at Anmer Hall, their home on the Sandringham estate.

'Kate and William might invite her. It depends if they have got room. It is family first but there is no reason for them not to invite her.'

Ms Seward added it was likely the Queen would advise her grandson to 'take it gently' if asked about the romance.

'It cannot go wrong because it reflects so badly on the institution of the monarchy.

'Unfortunately, everything Harry does reflects on the monarchy. And that is just the way it is. Therefore everything Meghan does also slightly reflects on the monarchy.'
man has been found in the woods outside Moscow

A British man has been found dead in village near Moscow, Russia after reportedly being drugged and robbed by strangers who gave him a lift during a night out.

Nicolas Lazareff, 22, disappeared in the early hours of Thursday morning and his body was discovered on Sunday after he died of hypothermia, his mother said.

Fiona Scott Lazareff told the Times that her son, a dual British and French national who graduated from the University of Manchester, his brother Alexis and a female friend called Tatyana were evicted from the car on the outskirts of the capital, Moscow.

Nicolas Lazareff was just 22-years-old when he froze to death in the woods outside Moscow after getting drugged

The brothers had been given beer which had been 'spiked' and after being kicked out of the car Mr Lazareff became was separated from the other two, who made it back to safety by flagging down a passing car.

Despite a long search by Russian authorities and appeals on social media by family his body was found in the woods on the outskirts of Moscow.

The family launched a desperate missing persons appeal on social media, aided by the French and UK embassies.

In a short post on Facebook, Mrs Scott Lazareff said: 'For anybody who has not received the tragic news. Our beloved Nicolas was found dead in the early hours of this morning in the suburbs of Moscow. He died of hypothermia.

'Thank you for everybody for your kind words and your support through this nightmare and those of you who helped with the search. A truly sad day.'

And she told the newspaper: 'It wasn't an official taxi. In Moscow people give each other lifts. They were offered a lift by some people who said they would take them to a party and on the way they were offered a beer which was spiked.

'Luckily the girl, Tatyana, didn't drink the beer as she fell asleep. She was the only one in a fit state to get my other son back.

Winter in Moscow. In December and January temperatures have been known to drop to -42 degrees Celsius with a daily mean of -9 degrees Celsius in the winter time

'For the last few days, his brother and friend had been trying to find him but had no idea where he'd been left.'

Mrs Scott Lazareff, who is an entrepreneur and chief executive, criticised the response from the Foreign Office and praised Russian police, whom she said had arrested the owner of the car and returned to the location of the robbery.

'The British ambassador and the Foreign Office were remarkable only for the complete absence of their help,' she told the Times

'I had a pathetic call from every now and then from the Foreign Office saying 'have you heard from your son?' when I thought they would be ringing me with information about him.

'After their latest phone call, asking if I'd heard anything, I found out that Nicolas's body had been found, through Russian media.'

'The Russian police have been marvelous. They used CCTV to find the number plate of the people who owned the car and arrested them and made them show the spot when they had robbed them.'
A child has been assaulted while sleeping in the annex of a caravan at a popular Queensland holiday park.

Police said the child was sleeping in the annex on Cotton Tree Parade in Maroochydore about 4am on Sunday morning, when they awoke to an unknown man assaulting them.

Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia they were unable to release anymore details about the child.

A child has been assaulted while sleeping in the annex of a caravan at a popular holiday park in Maroochydore, Queensland (stock image)

Police allege the man ran off when the child raised the alarm.

The child was not physically harmed, but police are appealing for information to help them find the man.

The man is described as Caucasian in appearance, aged in his 30s, about 175cm tall with dark brown hair, a slim build and a fair complexion.
The man who slammed a bride-to-be to the ground and broke her collarbone in a drunken brawl at a Sydney Hungry Jack's earlier this year has been found guilty.

John McFadyen received a seven-month suspended sentence, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Security footage of the attack, which was shown in court, shows McFadyen throwing the bride, Lauren Estabillo, to the ground at the fast food restaurant.

Scroll down for video

John McFadyen, pictured left, was sentenced to a seven-month suspended sentence for attacking Lauren Estabillo, right. The two are pictured outside court in Sydney on Monday

Estabillo, 30, who was wearing a white dress, appears to be seen throwing punches at McFadyen moments before she is thrown to the ground.

The video shows her lying on the floor, out cold, as McFadyen calmly walks away.

McFadyen, a 44-year-old mine worker, was found guilty on Monday in Downing Local Court of causing grievous bodily harm to Estabillo in the March 12 attack, the Daily Telegraph reported.

John McFadyen received a seven-month suspended sentence for slamming a woman to the ground in a Hungry Jack's

Security footage of the attack, which was shown in court, shows McFadyen throwing the bride, Lauren Estabillo, to the ground at the fast food restaurant

He argued that he acted in self-defense, an explanation which Magistrate Paul Hayes rejected.

A colleague of McFadyen's, Mark Ambrose Shepherd, who was also involved in a brawl at the hamburger restaurant, was convicted earlier this year of five counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.

Shepherd was given a two-year intensive correctional order, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Police in Cologne have been preparing empty cells ready for a possible new outbreak of migrant sex attacks during the upcoming New Year's celebrations.

Officers have revealed the inside of the sober looking cells which will be used to lock up any sex attackers or pick-pocketers trying to ruin this year's celebrations.

It comes in response to the shocking scenes at last year's celebration in the square in front of the Cathedral, which was the target of mass migrant sex attacks that shocked the world.

Police in Cologne have been preparing empty cells ready for a possible new outbreak of migrant sex attacks during the upcoming New Year's celebrations

Officers have revealed the inside of the sober looking cells which will be used to lock up any sex attackers or pick-pocketers trying to ruin this year's celebrations

Inside the police station, officers showed a desolate corridor leading to the cells, where anybody arrested will have to spend the night.

The cells contain tiled walls, a mattress and a urinal but there will be no blankets to keep suspects warm.

In total there will be 66 prison cells available and they will be able to accommodate up to 100 people at a time.

A police spokesman said: 'In addition to the five prisoner-transporter vehicles already in Cologne, more vehicles from other cities have been ordered for use on New Year's Eve.

The cells contain tiled walls, a mattress and a urinal but there will be no blankets to keep suspects warm

Each cell also has a sink and urinal as well as a mattress for any suspects who are arrested

It comes in response to the shocking scenes at last year's celebration in the square in front of the Cathedral, which was the target of mass migrant sex attacks that shocked the world

'They will be distributed at different locations in the city as required, and can bring up to seven people into police custody at the same time.'

Once at the prison complex, suspects are to be searched for dangerous objects, after which they will enter a reception area.

Here everyone is searched again with their hands on the wall, arms wide apart, fingers pointing outwards, legs slightly spread apart. After that, personal data are recorded.

If necessary, the police can give fresh clothes out of their wardrobe to prisoners, after which an official brings the prisoner into one of the 66 cells.

The scenes in the square in the centre of Cologne, where 1,200 complaints were made of sexual attacks

Police are also planning helicopter surveillance of revellers, limiting the number of people in certain areas and deploying police officers trained in investigating sexual assault

Police in Cologne have also revealed that 1,500 officers - ten times as many as last year - will be on duty this New Years Eve to avoid a repetition of last year's events. Pictured is Cologne on New Year's Eve last year

A judge, who will be waiting just a few yards away who, depending on the allegation, will decide who remains in custody and who is going to be sent directly to prison.

Police in Cologne have also revealed that 1,500 officers - ten times as many as last year - will be on duty this New Years Eve to avoid a repetition of last year's events.

They are also planning helicopter surveillance of revellers, limiting the number of people in certain areas and deploying police officers trained in investigating sexual assault.

In total, 1,222 criminal complaints were investigated by the authorities in Cologne in last year's New Year's Eve fiasco, of which 513 involved an accusation of sexual assault. These included sexual coercion, rape and sexually motivated insults.
In turns both comical and horrific, the image of a half-buried ISIS fighter on the streets of Mosul gives an insight into the desensitisation of a generation of Iraqi children.

In the photograph - which was taken yesterday - an Iraqi special forces soldier, holding a sub-machine gun, glares angrily at a group of children, one of whom seems to be giggling at the bizarre sight of the dead militant's legs sticking up in the air.

The grisly image was taken in al-Barid, a district of Mosul which has been reclaimed from ISIS in the last few days.

Iraqi children look at the body of a half-buried ISIS militant in the al-Barid district of Mosul

Special forces commander, Lieutenant General Abdul-Ghani al-Asadi said of the battle for al-Barid: 'This was a very difficult fight.'

As Iraqi troops have pushed into denser neighbourhoods, their advance has been slowed by heavy resistance.

Mosul is the third biggest city in Iraq and the Baghdad government, backed by Kurdish peshmerga fighters and other irregular militias, are attempting to wrestle back control of it from ISIS, who have held it since the summer of 2014.

An Iraqi special forces fighter shoots in the direction of a sniper in Mosul's al-Barid district

Iraqi forces have seized a quarter of the city since the operation began on October 17.

The shocking image's release comes as Human Rights Watch claimed an Iraqi government-backed militia had killed suspected ISIS fighters in cold blood after their capture.

Fighters from Hashed al-Jabour, a Sunni tribal militia, allegedly killed four men it had captured in a village north of Mosul last month, according to the New York-based group.

Witnesses said the men were shot while Iraqi security forces looked on.

Iraqi government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said the authorities were unaware of the incident but were committed to arresting and trying anyone suspected of human rights violations.

He said: 'Such acts are totally rejected by the Iraqi government and are fully investigated, and those behind it face trials.'

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said at the weekend he had not received any complaints about the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), of which Hashed al-Jabour are only one element.

People who fled ISIS-held districts of Mosul stand in line to receive food at a refugee camp outside the city yesterday (left)

He said the fight for Mosul was 'clean' and was moving forward at a 'good pace.'

The International Organization for Migration said yesterday 103,872 people have fled their homes since fight for Mosul began.

Mosul, which is home to more than a million people, is Iraq's third biggest metropolis, behind Baghdad and the southern port city of Basra.
In court: Detective Constable Anna Meakin (pictured), 36, who serves with Greater Manchester Police, was allegedly involved in a rush hour confrontation with Tarik Saleem

A female police officer accused of spitting at and scratching a driver in a road rage attack saw the case against her collapse because it was brought in the wrong court.

Detective Constable Anna Meakin, 36, who serves with Greater Manchester Police, was allegedly involved in a rush hour confrontation with Tarik Saleem.

The incident followed a verbal altercation and collision on March 17. It is understood both drivers drove off to Wilmslow police station where they reported each other.

Ms Meakin, of Macclesfield, was later charged with driving her Vauxhall Astra without due care and attention and assault by beating, which she denied.

But the case was thrown into chaos when a solicitor from the Crown Prosecution Service said Greater Manchester prosecutors should not prosecute a GMP officer.

They claimed it would cause 'professional embarrassment', and that the case should have remained in Cheshire, rather than move to a Greater Manchester court.

In the legal profession 'professional embarrassment' is a recognised term used by solicitors when they feel there is a conflict of interest which prevents them from continuing with a case.

Both Ms Meakin and Mr Saleem, who also faced identical charges in respect of driving his Audi A8 without due care and attention and an alleged assault on Ms Meakin, walked free from Stockport Magistrates' Court.

It is understood the incident started at 8.45am on the A538 in Wilmslow heading towards the A34 when the pair had a verbal altercation. The two cars met again later on the A34 at Alderley Edge when there was a collision.

It is understood there was a physical confrontation where Ms Meakin is alleged to have spat and scratched Mr Saleem. Both then drove to the police station where they reported each other.

Accused: Both Ms Meakin and Mr Saleem (pictured), who also faced identical charges in respect of driving his Audi A8 without due care and attention and an alleged assault on Ms Meakin, walked free from court

Ms Meakin appeared at Crewe Magistrates' Court on September 23 where she pleaded not guilty to both offences and a trial date was set.

But the case collapsed when magistrates rejected an application by the CPS to adjourn it and asked for a replacement prosecutor to attend. After an adjournment, the prosecutor said there would be no replacement and withdrew from the case.

Defence counsel for both Ms Meakin and Mr Saleem then successfully applied to magistrates to have the case dismissed and their costs paid by the CPS.

A CPS spokesman said: 'The matter was listed for trial at Stockport Magistrates Court. On reviewing the case in preparation for the trial the next day the prosecutor realised the case involved a serving police officer from the locality that she prosecutes in.

'Endeavouring to ensure that justice was seen to be delivered independently, she asked the court to adjourn the case so that the trial could be prosecuted by another prosecutor.

'However, the court did not allow the adjournment so the prosecutor withdrew from the case as it was not possible to identify another prosecutor who could deal with the matter.

'The court dismissed the case. We will now review the decision of the court.'

Ms Meakin has been on restricted duties since the incident.

Greater Manchester's Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: 'In fairness to both defendants there can't be any criticism of them as they are innocent until proven guilty and have left court without stains on their character.

'But big questions have to be answered, how this farce was allowed to take place between the Crown Prosecution Service and court.
Morgan wrote that Trump told him 'See you the

Piers Morgan tweeted this morning that this is his festive card for 2016 and wrote 'Merry Christmas'

Piers Morgan has revealed his Christmas card for this year which is a photograph of him sat next to president-elect Donald Trump above the caption 'Relax, everyone - I've got this'.

The 51-year-old won the celebrity version of The Apprentice in the US in 2008, which was hosted by Trump, and the pair have become friends and now know each other 'very well'.

Morgan was very vocal in the lead-up to the presidential election on November 8 and wrote that Trump told him 'See you at the White House' when they spoke early in 2016.

Trump, who famously beat Hillary Clinton after a gruelling campaign to be crowned the new president, told Morgan 'I'm going to win, and I'm to win big'.

Just days before the election result, Morgan wrote that 'nobody knows what's going to happen' but admitted that Clinton - whose husband Bill was president from 1993 to 2001 - was the favourite.

He wrote: 'I've known the man very well for nearly a decade since I competed in  and won  the first series of his Celebrity Apprentice USA show.

'To understand Trump the politician, it's necessary to understand that, at his heart, he's a shameless salesman, astute marketeer, self-publicist extraordinaire, and a big, bold, brash, ballsy, uncompromising braggart prepared to do whatever it takes to seal a deal.'

Morgan added that that Trump had 'proven almost everyone wrong throughout every stage of the election' and said it was 'truly extraordinary' he had got this far just days before the announcement.

And on Monday morning, Morgan tweeted a photograph of his new Christmas card to his 5million followers with the caption: 'Merry Christmas! My card this year... #PresidentialApprentice'.

Susanna Reid, who presents Good Morning Britain with Morgan, responded to the card by tweeting: 'A Christmas card from Piers Morgan is every bit as infuriating as you'd expect'.

Piers Morgan (left) went on to win the 2008 version of the celebrity Apprentice, which starred Donald (centre) and Ivanka Trump (right)

Her message was liked 1,200 times and followers responded by writing 'burn it' and 'Christmas is cancelled'.

After the election result was announced, Morgan wrote another piece which revealed what Trump told him following the news he was going to be the next president.

He wrote: '"Twitter helped win me the election", President-elect Donald Trump told me when we spoke two weeks ago.'
Development Secretary Priti Patel, pictured in Downing Street last week, is under pressure from MPs to guarantee value for money for the controversial spending

Billions of pounds of British aid money is being dumped into World Bank accounts to ensure minimum spending targets are hit, it was claimed today.

The Government is legally committed to spending around 12billion a year to meet international standards of 0.7 per cent of national income going on foreign aid.

But to hit the targets, billions have been ploughed into trust funds run by the World Bank - leaving the money unspent and subject to administrative fees.

The World Bank is a UN-linked financial institution set up to reduce poverty in developing nations.

About 9billion of UK aid has been sent over the past five years of which 4billion remains unspent, a Times analysis of World Bank account has suggested.

James Morton, a senior consultant who has carried out numerous evaluations for both the World Bank and Dfid, told the paper: 'Dfid dumps large sums into trust funds and accounts for it as spent against a given year's UK aid budget.

'Judging by the large balances the World Bank and the United Nations hold, some of the money then sits there for years.'

The World Bank's independent regulators warned in 2011 that while some of the trusts were effective, many 'lacked clear objectives' or were inefficient.

Britain has been charged at least 241million in administrative fees related to the trusts over the past five years.

Development Secretary Priti Patel is under pressure from MPs to guarantee value for money for the controversial spending.

She will face further questions today in evidence to the Commons international development committee.

The Government is legally committed to spending around 12billion a year to meet international standards of 0.7 per cent of national income going on foreign aid

The Mail on Sunday yesterday revealed how the chiefs of major charities funded by Britain are paid vast salaries.

Beneficiaries include former Labour Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who takes home 530,922 as president of the US-based International Rescue Committee, which has been given 3.6 million British aid.

He has been complaining that a shortage of cash hinders his group from helping people in need.

David Miliband takes home 530,922 as president of the US-based International Rescue Committee, which has been given 3.6 million British aid

Another charity  given 7.3 million from British taxpayers to 'expand economic opportunity' in Asia  shared 2.25 million last year among its ten most senior staff.

Ms Patel has paused spending to many aid partners amid a demand for greater transparency.

She has given contractors 30 days to reveal the precise proportion of revenue coming from British taxpayers and provide 'written evidence' of how they comply with security and conflict of interest rules.

Ms Patel has also warned of more intense scrutiny of finances and relationships with Whitehall staff.

She wants to challenge the biggest firms and bring in more competition from smaller rivals to deliver British aid, which is due to double over the course of this decade to an astonishing 16 billion a year.

A DfID spokesman said: 'The World Bank has the reach and expertise to reduce poverty around the world and boost developing economies; but it must work harder and smarter to help end aid dependency and achieve maximum impact for UK taxpayers.

'Britain is challenging the Bank to focus its support on those who need it most, ensuring the world's poorest are not blocked from the opportunities they need to stand on their own two feet.

'That is why we are using our position in the Bank to push for significant reforms that work for Britain and the world's poorest.'

A World Bank spokesman said that multi-year funding was 'crucial for effective development'.
Shoppers going about their business at the Dubai Mall were captured running for their lives after Jeremy Clarkson smashed through the building in a large military tank.

The stunt was part of the ex-Top Gear presenter's new TV series The Grand Tour with James May and Richard Hammond.

The trio were filming an episode in the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates last week and amateur footage shows the large tank crashing through the walls narrowly avoiding two unsuspecting shoppers.

Smash: The tank, driven by Jeremy Clarkson, crashed through the walls of the Dubai Mall

People can be seen fleeing the scene, and standing dangerously close, as the tank makes an entrance

Although a group of informed onlookers were standing with their camera phones waiting for the tank to crash through it seems some in the vicinity didn't realize that a potentially dangerous stunt was about to take place.

The footage shows the tank driving on Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard before smashing into the luxury mall.

Residents of the oil rich state were initially unaware that the stunt was part of a the Grand Tour series that is broadcast on Amazon Prime.

Run: These unsuspecting shoppers appeared to have no idea the stunt was taking place

The destrucitve scene is said to form part of the series finale of the show in which fans were given the chance to take part

Debris: Dust hangs in the air and parts of the wall are strewn across the floor as the tank slows

The Grand Tour is made by Clarkson and his former Top Gear colleagues Richard Hammond and James May.

The hosts were captured pitching a tent at the foot of the iconic Burj Khalifa tower when the show came to the UAE.

The show is set to be the conclusion to a journey around the world has taken in Johannesburg, California, Rotterdam, Stuttgart, Scotland and Nashville.
A gay Christmas decoration showing a nativity scene with two Josephs has been slammed by outraged Christians.

The colourful hanging tree ornaments  on sale for 13 - also have a lesbian version with two Virgin Marys sitting beside a baby Jesus Christ, who is lying in a manger.

Campaign group Christian Concern has branded the decorations created by a California-based designer a 'blasphemous attempt to rewrite the Christmas story'.

This gay Christmas decoration showing a nativity scene with two Josephs has been slammed

Chief executive Andrea Williams said: 'These decorations are a desperate and ridiculous attempt to pretend that homosexual relationships are pure and holy.

'They blasphemously portray the Lord Jesus being parented by a homosexual couple. What depths will the LGBT lobby stoop to in order to try and normalise their behaviour?'

Ms Williams added: 'God's design is for children to grow up with a male and a female parent. The Lord Jesus was parented in this way, and this is what is best for children.

'The LGBT lobby is not interested in the welfare of children but only in pursuing its own selfish agenda. Trying to rewrite the Christmas story is their latest self-deception.'

The images were created by Kittredge Cherry - and artist Mark Thaler, from California, designed the decorations for his company Pride and More. They are available to buy in the UK on Zazzle.co.uk.

There is a lesbian version available with two Virgin Marys sitting beside a baby Jesus Christ

Defending the gay and lesbian ornaments, Mr Thaler said: 'Not everyone's viewpoints are the same. People need to coexist and not judge one another.

'It's just an image. They need to focus on themselves and not worry about what everyone else is doing.'

Mr Thaler is now considering removing the decorations from sale 'out of respect for his fellow humans'.

LGBT charity Stonewall declined to comment. Zazzle.com has been contacted.

In 2012, gay couple Andres Vasquez and Felipe Cardenas came under fire after creating an all-male nativity scene in their home in Colombia.
But a bar-owner 80 miles south has since snapped up the expired trademark

the status in the 1960s and uses it as a tourist attraction

The center of North America appears to have moved after a cunning bar owner in North Dakota seized the title from a neighboring town and claimed it for his own community.

Rugby, a town of nearly 3,000, had held the title of being the government-approved 'Geographical Center' of the continent for 85 years.

But a row has broken out after the owner of a bar from the tiny community of Robinson, 80 miles south, laid claim to the same accolade.

The center of North America appears to have moved after a cunning bar owner in North Dakota seized the title from a neighboring town and claimed it for his own community. Hanson's Bar, at the center of the row, is pictured above

After questioning the validity of Rugby's claim, Bill Bender (pictured), Robinson's mayor and co-owner of Hanson's Bar, decided to reassign the continent's geographical center

A row has broken out after the owner of a bar from the tiny community of Robinson laid claim to being the geographical center of North America - a status held for decades by the town of Rugby, 80 miles to the North

Rugby trademarked the designation in the 1960s and has long attracted tourists because of its location - even building a monument to mark the spot, the Wall Street Journal reports.

But after questioning the validity of Rugby's claim, Bill Bender, Robinson's mayor and co-owner of Hanson's Bar, decided to reassign the continent's geographical center.

According to The Times, Bender and a group of friends used 'barstool science' one night to determine that global warming had melted the polar ice cap, shifting the land mass south - and repositioning the center to the bar they were drinking in.

He later looked into Rugby's trademark and realized it had lapsed in 2009, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Bender paid $375 to the US Patent and Trademark Office to snap it up and the one-room bar now has its own logo and t-shirts while it is also reportedly planning to stage a 'Center Fest' to honor its new status.

Rugby had held the title of Geographical Center' of North America for 85 years - even building a monument to mark the spot (pictured). But the rival town of Robinson has seized the accolade sparking a row between the two communities

Rugby (pictured) trademarked the designation in the 1960s and has long attracted tourists because of its location - even building a monument to mark the spot

After questioning the validity of Rugby's claim, Bill Bender, Robinson's mayor and co-owner of Hanson's Bar, decided to reassign the continent's geographical center - to his own establishment. Robinson is pictured above

According to the Wall Street Journal, 49-year-old Bender said he did not feel sorry for Rugby, adding: 'They dropped the ball. Snooze you lose, you know?'

However, Rugby is not gibing up lightly and a fresh trademark application is under review while a private attorney is trying to determine what kind of legal action can be taken against Bender and his bar.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the designation dates to 1931 when the US Geological Survey marked an estimated spot near Rugby.
Locals say the lion returned later that night to finishing eating the dead cow

Onlookers perched on balconies and walls over looking the street and the lion

The big cat fled after a truck pulled up behind and drove slowly to shoo her away

a village where she killed and devoured a cow in front of locals

Shocked residents of a village watched in disbelief as a lion stalked the narrow streets and killed a cow in broad daylight.

The lioness ventured into the Virpur-Gadhia village in the Amreli district in India leaving open mouthed locals terrified and hiding in doorways as she devoured her feast.

Onlookers can be heard screaming in footage caught by one scared local from a first floor window which has since gone viral online.

What is all the fuss about? The lion looks nonchalantly on with the legs of the dead cow visible in the background. Curious locals took cover on their roofs, balconies and walls

The video shows the huge mammal parading around the streets, with the bloodied corpse of the cow laying lifelessly at the side of the road.

The ferocious lion only stops eating when a truck tries to prompt her to move by driving slowly behind her.

Screams then intensify as onlookers worry about what the beast could do next as it reverses on itself and walks up the street which is aligned with people either on balconies or siting precariously on low walls.

But the lioness decides she has had enough drama for the day and walks off back into the forest.

Stalking: The hungry lioness parading the narrow village streets with a blood stained face

I'll save it for later. The beast takes a break from her lunch. Locals say she returned at night to finish the meal

But villagers have revealed that wasn't the end of the incident.

She returned later after night fell at around 7pm to finish off the leftovers from her meal.

The village of Virpur-Gadhia is located around 6 miles from the nearby Gir Wildlife Sanctuary where the lioness is believed to have come from.

They are often spotted in the outskirts in the forests, but they rarely make their way into populated areas.

A truck was used to shoo the lioness away from the scene although the she managed to squirm through the sides and walk back to the cow and scared locals

Villagers said they informed the forest department about the incident.
A Vietnamese girl who was born with a deadly tumour on her face is able to smile again thanks to a US grandmother who arranged for her to have surgery.

Five-year-old Nguyet Tran from Cam Ranh was born with a small haemangioma that grew to cover half of her face and obstruct her sight.

It even prevented the hair from growing on the left side of her scalp as well as the growth of some of her teeth.

Vietnamese five-year-old Nguyet Tran, who can now smile after surgery to remove a deadly tumour from her face. She is pictured with her mother Lam

And when Patti Maxey from Dadeville, Alabama saw a picture of the youngster, she felt compelled to help and contacted a plastic surgeon.

With the help of a children's charity, flights were booked for Nguyet and her mother Lam Thi to fly to the Spanish capital Madrid.

There they met with top plastic surgeon who agreed to operate on Nguyet for free.

And since then, Nguyet has two surgeries that have dramatically improved her appearance and quality of life.

However, the little girl was left with extensive scarring which the family is hoping to correct with additional surgery in August, before she starts school and they are currently raising funds for the Nguyet via GoFundMe.

With the help of American grandmother Patti Maxey, flights were booked for Nguyet and her mother Lam Thi to fly to the Spanish capital Madrid so she could have surgery

Before the surgery, the tumour covered most of the left side of Nguyet's face and obstructed her sight

Mrs Maxey, a retired flight attendant, said: 'I've never done anything like this before, but I saw this child and I knew she would lose her vision and she could even die. I knew I had to do something.

'Without plastic surgery she would be kept away from the public and suffer emotionally as well as physically.

'She's the bravest little girl and she wants to look normal.'

Nguyet was born with a infantile haemangioma the size of strawberry but by the time she was six-months-old, it covered the entire left side of her face.

Unable to afford surgery in Vietnam after trying six different doctors, her family had given up hope.

But thousands of miles away, grandmother-of-three Mrs Maxey saw the photo of the then one-year-old and called a medical friend.

After having the tumour removed, the little girl was left with extensive scarring which the family is hoping to correct with additional surgery in August

He referred her to charity, Mending Kids International, who covered the cost of flights for Nguyet and her mother to meet top plastic surgeon Dr Beatriz Berenguer.

Mrs Maxey said: "Her mother, Lam, had never travelled or flown and had never riding in a taxi. She was terrified of flying so I told her I would met her there.

'I flew to Spain by myself and met her when she came out of customs.

'She didn't have any luggage. There was a box and on front was my name and "please help".'

Nguyet, aged five, poses in her Disney princess dress after her second operation to remove the tumour

With neither parties able to speak the other's language, the two women communicated through an iPad app.

And the grandmother added: 'Nguyet's little face was covered in tumours.

'She had no hair on her left side, tumours on her nose and eyes, and disk-size tumour on her face.

'We were supposed to be there for 10 days, but we were there for almost six weeks."

The youngster was then prescribed two years' worth of medicine to shrink the tumour which Mrs Maxey paid for out of her own pocket.

She even flew to Vietnam solo to give the family the second years' worth of medicine when they ran out.

In May 2016, Nguyet was ready for surgery and loving Mrs Maxey raised $20,000 dollars to cover flights and trip expenses.

Six weeks later, Nguyet had a second surgery to put expanders under her scalp to help grew new skin.

Mrs Maxey explained: 'The surgeon did the work pro bono and was so generous - she even invited us for dinner at her home. The whole thing was one of the most incredible experience of my life.

'Before Nguyet only had hair on one side, but during the surgery they were able to move her hair.

Nguyet has two surgeries that have dramatically improved her appearance and quality of life

'When she came out and looked in the mirror, she flipped back her hair, just like a model. She was so pleased.

'It's an vast improvement, but she was left with so much scarring it looks like she's suffered burns.

'We want to finish removing the scars and put an eye lid on her eye.'

After spending two months together in Madrid, the two mothers are fast friends and FaceTime once a week from opposite ends of the world.

She added: 't's been a real love story. Nguyet is the toughest little girl I have ever seen. She never once complained or cried.

Nguyet and her mother, who have now become firm friends with Mrs Maxey and they FaceTime each other once a week

'We have spent so much time together now and developed a real relationship. And her mum Lam is so excited and happy for what we have done.

'Lam asked if she can call me mum and Nguyet calls me Mimi.'

Meanwhile plastic surgeon, Dr Beatriz Berenguer, said: 'I was first contacted by an American colleague, a good friend, who knew that I had specialised in Pediatric vascular tumors.

"I received three pictures, and immediately I felt I had to help this child.

"I have been fortunate to be born and raised in comfort and I was lucky to receive a very good education in paediatric plastic surgery. Now I have the opportunity to give something back, by helping afflicted children of less fortunate individuals.

"It has been a very special experience with Nguyet, because much more than the satisfaction of solving a very complex surgical challenge, it has been a wonderful lesson of courage and generosity by Patty and Lam to my team and my family.

"Nguyet has been operated twice, and she has had a tremendous improvement, but she will need further surgeries to improve the scars and her eyelids, that were destroyed by the tumour."
Khalil Wheeler-Weaver (above), 20, who pleaded not guilty to killing college student Sarah Butler, is also accused in the murder of Joanne Brown

Prosecutors in New Jersey say that a man who was charged with the murder of a college student earlier this month is also responsible for the killing of another local woman.

Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, 20, was booked earlier this month in the strangulation of Sarah Butler, a New Jersey City University student,NJ Advance Media reported.

Now the acting county prosecutor says that Wheeler-Weaver is also accused of killing Joanne Brown, a 33-year-old woman from Orange, New Jersey, whose body was found in a house.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said that Brown was last seen Oct. 22 in Orange.

A work crew found her body on December 5 at a vacant house in Orange.

Murray says she was strangled.

Wheeler-Weaver was charged with the murder of Brown on Friday and is being held in lieu of $5million bail, Murray said.

Wheeler-Weaver recently pleaded not guilty to murder in the strangulation death of Butler, 20, whose body was found December 1 in West Orange.

Butler (above), 20, who was attending college in Montclair, New Jersey, was home on Thanksgiving break when she was strangled to death, according to prosecutors

Murray told NJ Advance Media that the two slayings shared similarities in that both women were reported missing and later found strangled.

Brown's body was discovered in a vacant home in Orange.

Authorities believe that the murder took place at the home, though they have yet to establish the exact nature of the relationship between Wheeler-Weaver and Brown.

Butler was slain while on leave from college over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray (second from right) held a news conference in Newark earlier this month announcing charges against Wheeler-Weaver

Wheeler-Weaver (right) is seen above with his defense attorney, Diane Carl, during his court appearance in Essex County Court on December 13, 2016

Wheeler-Weaver (left) pleaded not guilty in Butler's slaying. Prosecutors said they had a 'slight acquaintanceship'

Her body was found on December 1 under a pile of leaves and debris at the Eagle Rock Reservation, a large forest reserve and recreational park that is stretched across sections of West Orange, Montclair, and Verona.

Butler was reported missing by family members in nearby Montclair, New Jersey, on November 23.

Prosecutors in New Jersey allege that Butler and Wheeler-Weaver were spotted at numerous locations in Orange the day before she was reported missing.

Family and friends of Butler listen during courtroom proceedings at Essex County Court in downtown Newark, New Jersey, on December 13, 2016

Members of the Premiere Dance Theatre, to which Butler belonged, perform during the funeral service this past Friday

The dancers battled through tears to perform in remembrance of their friend at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Montclair, New Jersey

Butler was remembered by her peers as a warm, giving person who was also a talented dancer

Pallbearers carry Butler's coffin following the funeral service in Montclair, New Jersey on Friday

The two were believed to have shared what prosecutors say was a 'slight acquaintanceship' though they do not think that the nature of the relationship was romantic.

Over 100 people who attended a memorial for Butler this past Friday in Montclair remembered a warm person who was kind to others and who had a talent for dancing.

Butler's classmates from the Premier Dance Theater performed in tribute, some openly sobbing, as their friend's coffin lay at the front of the room at St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
Hull prison is now 'on the brink of a riot' after inmates

Clip was shot at HMP Birmingham as 600 inmates ran riot for 12 hours on Friday

Inmates seen setting off fire extinguisher, hurling tables and stealing computers

New footage has emerged of rioting prisoners roaming free and smashing a safe

New footage has emerged of rioting prisoners roaming free, smashing a safe, setting off a fire extinguisher and hurling tables.

The clip, shot at HMP Birmingham, also shows inmates shouting greetings to each other and stealing computers as 600 of them took over the Winson Green prison for 12 hours on Friday.

The facility descended into chaos after an underworld gang allegedly tried to stab another prisoner in a row over stolen drugs.

Prison officers are now warning of 'simmering tensions' at Hull prison after 15 inmates were transferred there following the outbreak of violence.

Meanwhile, at HMP Cardiff four prisoners barricaded themselves into a cell in protest at being moved from Birmingham. However, the incident, which happened yesterday, was resolved after two hours and nobody was injured.

Taking control: New footage has emerged of rioting prisoners roaming free (pictured left), smashing a safe, setting off a fire extinguisher and throwing tables (right)

Prisoners wearing riot gear took a selfie inside HMP Birmingham after 600 inmates took over

Riot: The clip, shot at HMP Birmingham, also shows inmates throwing tables and stealing computers as 600 of them took over the Winson Green prison for 12 hours on Friday

The Ministry of Justice described it as a 'minor incident' that was 'quickly resolved'.

It was said to be 'on the brink of riot' last night as union officials revealed guards are worried about their safety after the latest arrivals already set fire to security cameras and assaulted a prison officer.

The jail, home to more than 1,000 prisoners, was put on lockdown following the violence.

The Ministry of Justice said: 'HMP Hull, like all prisons across the estate, is being closely monitored for signs of potential unrest.

'That includes managing the transfer of prisoners in the interests of maintaining safe, calm and normal regimes.

'We have specially trained prison staff available to respond to any disturbances.'

Rob Nicholson, chairman of the Hull branch of the Prison Officers Association, said the jail is like 'a powder keg waiting to go off'.

He told the Hull Daily Mail: 'They are trying to incite riots here and we've had a really bad couple of days here.

'I've spoken to very experienced prison officers this morning and they tell me they fear for their safety.'

Chaos: The violence flared after an underworld gang allegedly tried to stab another inmate

Hull Prison (pictured) is on the brink of a riot after 15 inmates involved in the infamous disturbance at HMP Birmingham were transferred to the jail

Riot police attended the prison in Birmingham on Friday night after the disturbance inside

Mr Nicholson added that the 15 inmates were put into one unit which 'beggars belief' and said it was a 'ludicrous decision' to keep them together.

He said: 'They set fire to the cameras just after they got here and a senior officer was assaulted by who we believe to be one of the main instigators of what happened in Birmingham.'

Hull East MP Karl Turner added: 'I have it on good authority that Hull Prison is on the brink of a riot.

'And clearly, this chaos has been caused by the Government, no-one else.

'Since 2010, they've slashed the numbers of prison officers by 7,000 and, clearly, the prison system cannot cope.'

On Friday, prisoners inside the 1,450-capacity prison in Birmingham, posted selfies of themselves wearing riot gear.

Officers lined the streets outside the prison after a riot took place inside the large jail

Some 240 prisoners were then moved out of the establishment - one of the country's biggest jails.

Hundreds of inmates were caught up in the disorder and four wings at the privately-run jail were damaged during the disturbances on Friday, which lasted for more than 12 hours.

Riot squads were deployed to the category B prison run by G4S after reports of prisoners setting fire to stairwells and destroying paper records.

Earlier today a Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: 'Two hundred and forty prisoners are being transferred out of HMP Birmingham following a serious disturbance.
Police are now investigating and the driver responsible could face 5 years in jail

another car motorist was killed in the horror crash in Singapore

This is the horrifying moment a car driving the wrong way along a motorway at 70mph crashed head-on into a motorcyclist and his passenger.

The female passenger riding pillion survived being catapulted into the air in the terrible accident but another motorist was tragically killed.

The silver Mercedes was travelling at around 70mph on the Ayer Rajah Expressway in Singapore this morning when it suddenly careered out of control as it drove towards the pair on the motorcycle.

The silver Mercedes was travelling at around 70mph on the Ayer Rajah Expressway in Singapore this morning when it suddenly careered out of control as it drove towards the pair on the motorcycle

It hits the motorbike head-on and the female passenger does a front somersault in the air before slamming her head into the ground

It hits the motorbike head-on and the passenger does a front somersault in the air before slamming her head into the ground.

Yet despite the impact, both the woman and the man riding the bike survived the horror crash.

Sadly, a motorist in another vehicle hit head-on by the speeding Mercedes died in the mangled wreckage of his car.

Taxi driver Lim Wee Teck, 51, who witnessed the smash, said there was 'a loud bang' as 'debris flew into the air'.

He added: 'The Mercedes driver was driving in the wrong direction I quickly swerved to the left and stopped, and told my passenger I was going to help. The engine of the Mercedes was on fire, and we were worried it might explode.'

Motorist Nural Zaidy said she had confronted the driver of the Mercedes after the accident, and his son, who was also in the car, had said his was father 'was depressed'.

Yet despite the impact, both the woman and the man riding the bike survived the horror crash

The motorcyclist limps towards the passenger who lies on the ground struggling to get up

The driver of the car filming approaches the injured pair and appears to phone for help

She added: 'The Mercedes was going against the traffic flow estimated at 120km. Luckily I saw him and kept to the 3rd lane... but the others not so lucky.'

The woman and the man on the motorbike were rushed to hospital where they are being treated for their injuries.

Another couple were also taken to hospital while a 37-year-old man who was trapped in the driver's seat of another car crashed into by the Mercedes was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another couple were also taken to hospital while a 37-year-old man who was trapped in the driver's seat of another car crashed into by the Mercedes was pronounced dead at the scene

The wreckage of the Mercedes proves how great the impact was of the horror crash

Police said that the 53-year-old driver of the Mercedes had been arrested on suspicion of 'causing death by rash act'.
Thomas McLaughlin called a police officer a 'black c***', a court heard

A Queen's Guardsman grabbed a police officer by the throat while another soldier shouted racial abuse at him after they were kicked out of a trendy London nightclub, a court heard today.

PC Owura Kodua said he was called a 'black c***' by Thomas McLaughlin while Oliver White put him in an agonising choke hold which left him unable to breathe.

McLaughlin and White, both 21, along with 19-year-old Paul Holland, were all based at Wellington Barracks when they were told to leave Zoo Bar in Leicester Square.

They were ejected for hurling abuse at a group of American tourists and insulting the US Army, prompting door staff to call the police on August 2.

When PC Andrew Fletcher tried to speak to the soldiers moments later, McLaughlin called him an 'American c***' and began squaring up to him while White tried to hold him back.

PC Fletcher said in a statement: 'He continued to call me a c*** and said he would take me down if I tried to do anything, he then said he would destroy me.

'He said that I was a skinny white c***, said he would "drop me" and spat at me.'

When his colleague tried to intervene, White got PC Owura Kodua in a choke hold, the court heard.

It took both officers to arrest White and restrain him while he kicked out and spat at them.

McLaughlin then called PC Kodua a 'black c***' while he was being handcuffed.

Paul Holland (left) was also serving for the elite regiment at Wellington Barracks when he was kicked out of Zoo Bar in Leicester Square. Oliver White (right) was also involved

When Holland was arrested he screamed 'All for one and one for all', Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.

All three soldiers were based at Wellington Barracks, just 300 yards from Buckingham Palace, but McLaughlin has since terminated his service.

Disgraced McLaughlin was spared jail in October for spending 4,500 binging on champagne and buying private dances at a strip club with another soldier's debit card.

PC Kodua said in a statement read to the court: 'I've been assaulted during my seven years as a police officer, but this incident was the worst and the most frightening.

'Being grabbed around the throat whilst I am trying to do my job is not something you should be subjected to.

'I couldn't breathe and had I not broken free it would have caused injury to my neck. I was then subject to racist abuse.'

PC Fletcher added: 'I have been a police officer for seven years, I've got a good working relationship with the community including the Wellington Barracks and I have never been subjected to such hateful abuse before.

'This is making me think extremely hard about patrolling Leicester Square - I've never been targeted with such conviction as Mr McLaughlin showed.

'No one should be subjected to this sort of behaviour regardless of their skin colour or nationality.'

Paul Holland (left, in uniform and right) admitted being drunk and disorderly and obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty

Holland admitted being drunk and disorderly and obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.

White admitted assaulting a constable in the execution of their duty.

McLaughlin admitted two counts of racially aggravated harassment.

John Greany, defending McLaughlin, said: 'He was with two young friends, out on the town, drinking too much away from his military barracks and it all gets out of hand.

'Mr McLaughlin himself was trying to calm others down, but obviously he disgraces himself thereafter.

'He is deeply ashamed of what he has done and he said as much in his interview.'

Mr Greany added that McLaughlin had since left the Army, was looking for work while living with his father in Jersey and now intends to reapply to serve in two years.

Amiz Ahmaz, representing both White and Holland, said: 'It is clear that, had it not been for the behaviour of Mr McLaughlin, Mr White and Mr Holland would not necessarily have been involved.

'Mr McLaughlin was the main player in the abuse. It is also clear Mr White was initially the peace maker. He tried to steer Mr McLaughlin from trouble.

'But Mr White does accept he put PC Kodua in a headlock. His understanding of what was going is that Mr McLaughlin was on the floor with his face in a puddle.

'Mr Holland accepts verbally abusing people and shouting expletives, but he was not really part of what was going on.

The three men had just been kicked out of Zoo Bar (pictured) in Leicester Square, central London

'He actually walks away, but comes back some 20 minutes later because he has friends who are still in the club. He is refused entry and it is at that point he is arrested.'

Mr Ahmaz said White had been a Guardsman for two years, while Holland had been one for just 13 months, a 'position he sought since childhood.'

Sentencing McLaughlin to an 18-month community order and 120 hours unpaid work, Magistrate Christina Townsend said: 'We are going to impose a blanket penalty which will include all three offences before us.

'If the offence before us had not been racially aggravated, then the number of hours would have been 100.

'You will also pay compensation to each of the officers to the value of 100.'

Sentencing White to an 18-month community order, Ms Townsend said: 'You assaulted a police officer in the execution of his duty, which is serious enough for a community order.'

Holland was given a 323 fine for obstructing a police officer, a 107 fine for being drunk and disorderly and order to pay 85 costs and a 32 victim surcharge.

White was also ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay 150 compensation to PC Kouda, as well as 85 court costs and a 115 victim surcharge.

When Holland was arrested he screamed 'All for one and one for all', Westminster Magistrates' Court heard (pictured)

McLaughlin must also attend a 15-day rehabilitation requirement activity and pay 100 compensation to the two police officers, 85 costs and a 115 victim surcharge.

He was handed a 12-month community order in October at the same court after he admitted theft.

McLaughlin and two other guardsmen had convinced Matthew Massey to lend them his bank card and reveal his PIN number so they could nip out of Wellington Barracks.

The trio then got a cab to Sophisticats and ran up a 4,656.10 bill as they spent hours boozing and admiring scantily-clad dancers at the gentleman's lap dancing club in Marylebone Lane.

McLaughlin told his sergeant major he could not remember what happened but later claimed to be 'disgusted' when he was shown CCTV footage from the night.

The court previously heard from the trio's commanding officer, who declined to provide his name during the brief hearing.
A letter sent by a BBC boss to an autistic schoolgirl who offered to make the 'bong' sound on the radio when Big Ben falls silent as it undergoes repairs has gone viral.

When eight-year-old Phoebe Hanson heard a presenter on Radio 4's six o'clock news discussing how the iconic clock will stop chiming for repairs in 2017, she panicked about how they would introduce the show.

Determined to take action, Phoebe, from Greenwich, London, pestered mum Karina Hanson, 47, and dad Jon Hanson, 48, daily for almost two weeks asking if she could write a letter to the BBC.

Phoebe Hanson, eight, from Greenwich, London, pestered mum Karina Hanson, 47, and dad Jon Hanson, 48, daily for almost two weeks asking if she could write a letter to the BBC

Her parents finally gave in and posted a letter from Phoebe - in which she offered to provide the 'bongs' played live before the evening news broadcast - to the corporation's bosses.

And father-of-two Mr Hanson said his daughter was amazed to receive a hilarious reply from BBC Radio 4 PM's editor Roger Sawyer - which the schoolgirl now plans to have framed.

Network manager Mr Hanson said: 'We always have Radio 4 on when we're driving so the kids don't have much choice but they seem to listen to it.

'A couple of weeks ago someone presenting was talking about Big Ben falling silent and Phoebe went 'Oh my God, they need to do something'.

Phoebe was delighted to receive this letter from BBC Radio 4 PM's editor Roger Sawyer

'She badgered us for about ten days saying she wanted to write a letter and eventually we gave in. She wrote the letter and we looked for the address and found the right floor and everything.

'My wife read Phoebe's letter before putting a cover letter on it. She said she was quite willing to go into the studio and do the bongs for them, or even take in a gong.

'She told them she would bring all the stuff she needed to do it like a microphone to bong through. We probably have one around the house.

'Phoebe is on the autistic spectrum so once she gets an idea, that's it, she will just go with it and run and run with it until sometimes she gets her own way.'

Big Ben is expected to stop chiming for the third time in 150 years in early 2017 due to repairs.

When her parents, who have been married for 21 years, posted Phoebe's letter they didn't expect to hear anything back - but on December 15 they received heart-warming reply.

Phoebe pictured with her parents and big brother Edward, who is 16-years-old

The note praises Phoebe for her 'imaginative' solution to a problem he said had the 'cleverest and most important people' at the BBC 'scratching their heads'.

In his letter, Mr Sawyer goes on to say he is so impressed with Phoebe's idea he has passed it on to 'those who make the decisions' - but points out that doing the 'bongs' would be very hard work for someone so young.

Mr Hanson posted the editor's funny and touching response on social media, where it quickly racked up more than 6,000 shares.

And the dad-of-two said schoolgirl Phoebe is far from dissuaded by the idea of hard work and would still love to appear on the show.

He said: 'When we sent the letter we thought that would be that but then we got this reply from the editor of the show.

Jon posted the editor's funny and touching response on social media, where it quickly racked up more than 6,000 shares

'It is such a funny response and so good that he took the time to write back to her. Phoebe doesn't mind the hard work, I think she would still love to go on the show.

'It's such an amazing thing, I had to share it but it was only meant to be for friends and family. Then a couple of people asked if I could lessen the privacy settings so they could show friends.

'After that it just went absolutely nuts. It's been really nice because there haven't been any negative responses or trolls, which is so rare nowadays.. It is really good to see.

'I think it is just so touching that people are just having a good laugh - and everyone's been making suggestions of getting different celebrities to do the 'bongs' each night.

Mr Hanson said Phoebe was so excited to get a letter back she took it into school to show her friends and teachers - and her parents now plan to get it framed so she can cherish it forever.

Mr Hanson said: 'Phoebe was so excited when she saw the letter she took it into school the next day to show it to her teachers and everyone.

'We are very proud of her. She is quite bright, high-flying in her class and confident. Sometimes I think she is eight going on 18.

'We're going to get the letter framed and we've got a recording of when they spoke about it on the radio so she can cherish them forever.'

Mr Sawyer added: 'What I say to people who ask what the job [of working on PM] entails is that it requires a lot of determination and tenacity, but also what is vital is imagination and free thinking.
NYPD say there's been a spike in hate crimes compared to same period last year

'He swung his bag at her and it hit her in the face,' Dunkin' Donuts employee

A homeless man has been charged after throwing hot coffee in a Muslim woman's face and branding her a 'terrorist' at a Dunkin' Donuts store.

Nathan Gray, 34, allegedly launched a hate crime attack on the 21-year-old victim on Sunday at a branch in Midtown Manhattan.

A Dunkin' Donuts worker told the New York Daily News: 'I gave him coffee and he said something to me about terrorists

'He walked away from me and sat next to a group of Muslim women. He started talking to them and I could hear him saying, "Terrorists!"'

The employee said he threw his hot coffee at the victim when she called him 'stupid'.

A homeless man allegedly threw hot coffee in a Muslim woman's face at this Dunkin' Donuts store on 155 West 35th Street in Manhattan (file photo)

'It was hot, hot coffee. She could have been burned! Then he swung his bag at her and it hit her in the face,' she added.

The woman reportedly tried to run away but Gray put her in a headlock, police said.

Gray was charged with assault as a hate crime.

The shocking report is just the latest in a string of alleged hate crimes in New York in recent months.

On December 5 New York City officials vowed to swiftly prosecute hate-crime suspects after a man threatened to kill an off-duty policewoman wearing a traditional Muslim head scarf.

'If anybody's thinking in New York City about engaging in this type of behavior, just rest assured that you will be identified, you will be arrested, you will be charged accordingly,' Police Commissioner James O'Neill told reporters.

Officer Aml Elsokary, a native New Yorker and Muslim, was walking with her teenage son in Brooklyn's Bay Ridge neighborhood, when a man lunged at the boy, accused the pair of being connected to ISIS and threatened to cut Elsokary's throat, police said.

Hate crime reports appear to be on the rise. But Yasmin Seweid, 18, was arrested for filing a false report after she claimed she was called a terrorist by Donald Trump supporters on a New York subway train

The suspect was heard yelling, 'Go back to your country,' before fleeing, police said.

Christopher Nelson was arraigned on a top count of felony menacing in the second degree as a hate crime, the Kings County District Attorney's office said.

However, another high-profile hate crime report, filed by Muslim teenager Yasmin Seweid turned out to be false.

Seweid is accused of lying to police about being racially abused by three drunk Trump supporters on a Manhattan train.

Last week she appeared in court with a shaved head - a punishment ordered by her Egyptian parents for bringing shame to their family.

Yasmin Seweid was arraigned at Manhattan's Criminal Court on Wednesday for falsely reporting an incident to police and obstructing governmental administration.

The 18-year-old claimed she was singled out by the hate-spewing Trump supporters on December 1 who branded her a 'terrorist' and tried to rip off her hijab when she boarded a subway on her way home from college.

But she apparently made up the elaborate story to cover up for the fact she had been out drinking late with friends.

Some activist groups have voiced alarm over a rise of attacks on minorities since Donald Trump's election as President last month.

New York police said crimes targeting Jews, Muslims, gays and other groups had jumped to 43 since the election compared to 20 during the same period last year. More than half the new attacks were anti-Semitic, police said.




The cost of sending Justin Ross Harris to prison for life after his son died in a hot car outside Atlanta will pass half a million dollars, documents have shown.

A judge this month sentenced the 36-year-old to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Jurors had convicted him of malice murder and other charges in the June 2014 death of his 22-month-old son, Cooper.

Now it is revealed that it cost Georgia taxpayers more than $550,000 for the whole legal ordeal, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Documents show that the cost of sentence Justin Ross Harris (pictured) to life in prison prison after his son died in a hot car outside Atlanta is estimated to top half a million dollars

Cooper (right) baked to death after Harris left his son in a hot car for seven hours while he worked at his Home Depot job in Marietta, Georgia

This doesn't even include salaries for prosecutors as well as court and sheriff's office personnel.

COST OF PROSECUTING JUSTIN ROSS HARRIS Defense cost: $275,000 Changing the trial location from Marietta to Brunswick: $149,000 Other prosecutions costs, such as lodging and expert witnesses: $127,000 Total: $551,000 (estimated) Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution Advertisement

Georgia taxpayers spent about $275,000 for the unsuccessful defense of Harris.

Changing the trial's location from Marietta to Brunswick  a move necessary to guarantee fairness in highly-publicized trials  cost another $149,000.

An additional $127,000 was spent on the prosecution, such as expenses for lodging and expert witnesses.

'The costs that resulted from this case flowed from two constitutional principles  the First Amendment's guarantee for the press to report about the facts of a case and the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of the right to a fair trial,' said Buddy Parker, a criminal defense attorney, to the Journal-Constitution.

'There really should not be a price tag placed on justice,' Parker said.

Harris moved from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to the Atlanta area for work in 2012.

He was sentenced to life in prison without parole on December 5.

An additional 32 years was added to the sentence by Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley Clark, following the prosecutors' recommendation. Harris, a 36-year-old former web designer, was given the maximum penalty allowed.

Harris was convicted on November 14 on eight counts of malice murder, felony murder, cruelty to children and several related 'sexual exploitation of minors' charges.

Cooper died after being left for seven hours in the back of Harris' SUV on June 18, 2014.

Taxpayers spent about $275,000 for the unsuccessful defense of Harris (center)

Changing the trial's location from Marietta to Brunswick  a move necessary to guarantee fairness in highly-publicized trials  cost another $149,000

Harris said he forgot to drop his son off at day care that morning and drove straight to his job as a web developer for Home Depot, not realizing Cooper was still in his car seat.

He told police he didn't notice Cooper until he left work for the day to go to a movie.

Soon afterward, investigators found evidence that Harris was having sexual relationships with numerous women, including a prostitute and a teenager.

Prosecutors said Harris intentionally killed his son in order to escape the responsibilities of family life.

They ultimately prevailed with their argument that Harris must have known Cooper was in the car.

An additional $127,000 was spent on the prosecution, such as expenses for lodging and expert witnesses This doesn't include salaries for prosecutors as well as court and sheriff's office personnel

Harris drove less than two minutes to work after strapping the child into his car seat when they finished breakfast at a Chick-fil-A restaurant just over a half-mile from Harris' office.

Parking lot surveillance video showed Harris also went to his car after lunch and tossed in some light bulbs he had purchased, though he never got inside.

Friends and family members testified that Harris was a devoted and loving father, and the jury watched video clips of Harris trying to teach Cooper to say 'banana' and letting the boy strum his guitar.

Five days earlier, Harris watched an online video in which a veterinarian sits inside a hot car to show it reaches 116 degrees in a half-hour.
President Obama has insinuated that Hillary Clinton lost the election because her team ignored rural America.

In an hour-long exit interview with NPR, the president said that this year's election proved that Democrats need to focus on hard-hit rural areas.

This flawed strategy, he said, led some voters who backed him in both elections, to vote for Donald Trump - turning traditionally blue states, like Wisconsin and Michigan, red thanks to the overwhelming support of voters outside of the major cities.

'We know that there are a substantial number of voters out there who not only voted for me twice but currently support me who also voted for Donald Trump,' the president said.

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President Obama gave his theory on why the Democrats lost the 2016 presidential election in an exit interview with NPR

He went on to say that he thinks the U.S. has a 'scrambled political landscape right now' that creates 'structural problems' for Democrats whose base of younger and minority voters traditionally reside in urban areas.

'Democratic voters, are clustered in urban areas...and on the coasts, and so as a consequence you've got a situation where there are not only entire states but also big chunks of states where, if we're not showing up, if we're not in there making an argument, then we're going to lose. And we can lose badly, and that's what happened in this election,' he said.

You've got a situation where there are not only entire states but also big chunks of states where, if we're not showing up, if we're not in there making an argument, then we're going to lose. President Obama

He added: 'There are clearly failures on our part to give people in rural areas or in exurban areas a sense day-to-day that we're fighting for them or connected to them. Part of the reason it's important to show up...is because it then builds trust and it gives you a better sense of how should you talk about issues in a way that feel salient and feel meaningful to people.'

President Obama campaigned hard for Hillary Clinton in the lead up to November's Election Day.

Officials said that his campaign stops in North Carolina, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania were dictated by Clinton's team and not the White House. The president reportedly pushed for making a stop in Iowa, where he won in 2012, but the idea was vetoed by the Clinton camp.

Mr Obama even blamed himself for not focusing on the future political importance of these areas during his early days in office.

'More work would have needed to be done to just build up that structure,' he said. 'One of the big suggestions that I have for Democrats as I leave, and something that I have some ideas about is, how do we do more of that ground-up building?'

But Obama said it wasn't just political miscalculation that caused Clinton to lose the election.

He also placed some blame on Russia for their strategic hacking of the Republican and Democratic parties that led to a never-ending stream of negative stories on Clinton that distracted from her merits.

'In that scrum, in that swirl, you know, Donald Trump and his celebrity and his ability to garner attention and obviously tap into a lot of the anxieties and fears that some voters have, I think, definitely made a difference,' he said.

Reflecting on the election, the president said, is essential for four years down the line, when the Democrats will fight to take back the White House.
Passers by ignored his cries for three days before his singing

A 12-year-old boy was miraculously rescued after spending three days trapped in a tiny gap between a house and a wall.

Aduragbemi Saka had been visiting a cafe alone when he started playing in 12-inches wide gap between the breeze block wall and a student house.

But he became stuck and with no relatives nearby he spent three days crying to himself - with passersby ignoring the sounds.

Smash: The boy's dusty body is revealed as a local breaks open the wall with a pickax

Nearly there. After three days of being trapped in the wall Saka is on the verge of freedom

Eventually neighbours heard the boy singing to himself and they looked inside the gap to see him curled up in a ball.

Police smashed through the wall and pulled him out covered in dust but still alive in the Oduduwa Area of Ondo state, Nigeria.

Resident Felicia Olaniyi said the boy had run away from his grandmother who had been looking after him at the time.

She said: ''I asked my neighbours if they were aware of the strange voice inside the wall and they were also confused about what was going on there.

''So we got a ladder to trace where the voice was coming from and found the young boy where he was stuck. A policeman had to break the wall to rescue him.''

Rinse: The boy is splashed with water to clean the dust of his body. He was later reunited with his grandmother

Another neighbour Charity Adebayo said: ''We heard a voice speaking that 'I am Judas Iscariot. The following day we asked for a ladder and found him. We discovered the poor boy.''
Rabbi Lionel Blue, the first openly gay British rabbi who shot to fame on BBC Radio 4's Thought For The Day, has died.

Rabbi Blue was a regular contributor to the programme and stunned listeners when he announced he was homosexual.

The 86-year-old, described as 'God's best PR man in Britain', had been unwell, according to Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain.

He said: 'For several decades Lionel Blue became the indispensable Monday-morning wake-up call for millions in Britain, mixing religious insights with honesty and humour.

Rabbi Lionel Blue, who shot to fame on BBC Radio 4's Thought For The Day, has died

'He never pretended that life was easy, or that religion solved everything; instead, he shared his own failings and foibles, and showed how to get through the rest of the day.

'Through the popularity of his broadcasts and book, he made rabbis more human, Judaism more understandable, and faith in general more user-friendly.

'It was a tribute to the way he bridged religious differences that it was often quipped that Rabbi Blue would have been a wonderful choice as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

'Without doubt, Lionel Blue was God's best PR man in Britain.'

Born in London's East End on 6 January 1930, he was the son of a tailor of Russian descent.

During the Second World War, he stayed in several places across the UK as part of the evacuation and would later go to a grammar school in North London.

The 86-year-old, described as 'God's best PR man in Britain', had been unwell, according to Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain

He struggled with his sexuality through his teens and suffered a nervous breakdown while at university, during which time he tried to take his own life.

He would soon achieve a degree in history from Balliol College in Oxford , and became interested in becoming an Anglican monk.

However he rediscovered his Jewish faith at a service in 1950 and became ordained in 1960.

After becoming a rabbi, his mother joked that she had spent her life trying to get him out of the ghetto only for him to jump back in.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: 'It's with great sadness that we hear of the passing of Rabbi Lionel Blue.

'He was not only a respected rabbi, teacher and mentor for the Jewish community, Rabbi Lionel Blue was also a wise and good-natured voice of reason for us all.

The popular rabbi Lionel Blue (left) is picured here laughing with the Rev Roger Royle (right)

'He always made us think and laugh on Thought For The Day.

'His legacy will be that his common sense and great humour will remain in our thoughts each and every day.'

Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, senior rabbi to Reform Judaism, said: 'Rabbi Lionel, as a teacher, writer and much-loved national broadcaster, transformed how Britain viewed Jews, Judaism and, most importantly, ourselves.

'May his memory be a blessing.'

Gwyneth Williams, controller of BBC Radio 4, said: 'We have lost the huge warmth and humanity of Lionel's instantly recognisable voice with its charm and irreverence.

'He seemed to understand and welcome all human foibles and during his 'Thoughts' he smiled on us, making the days that followed just a little easier, just a little richer.'

A post on the Facebook page of Beit Klal Yisrael, the Jewish community affiliated to Liberal Judaism, said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Rabbi Lionel Blue OBE, who died in the early hours of this morning.

Rabbi Lionel Blue, Lesley Joseph and Rabbi Julia Neuburger pictured in the television programme Ps and Qs

'Lionel was a wonderful and inspirational man, who spoke with such wisdom and humour and whose words reached out far beyond the Jewish Community.

'He was a friend and mentor to many and his courage in coming out as gay in the 1970s paved the way for many other Jews, including many rabbis.'

It added: 'We will not see his like again. May his memory be for a blessing.'

Simon Johnson, chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: 'We are saddened at the passing of Rabbi Lionel Blue.

'His humorous, personal and insightful broadcasts were hugely popular and did much to expose the UK to Jewish thought and values.

'His gentle and human style was widely appreciated and he will be sadly missed.'
Buddy went missing in May, and his owner believes he was sent to live in a new home

A Gold Coast woman says her dog was given to another family by an animal shelter after the pet went missing from her yard.

Sandra Pearce said she and her three children were shaken when their dog Buddy vanished in May - but they felt hopeful after Ms Pearce spotted her dog's image on the Facebook page Gold Coast Lost and Found Pets.

'As soon as I saw the photo I knew, 210 percent, that's my dog. I looked into his eyes and said "That's my boy,"' Ms Pearce told News 9.

But Ms Pearce, who lost her partner to a sudden heart failure only a month before losing Buddy, was disappointed after she went to the Coombabah Animal Welfare League shelter were her dog was said to be.

Sandra Pearce, pictured left with her missing dog Buddy, said she believes her pet has ended up with a new family. Buddy is pictured right with Ms Pearce's two sons

The employees at the shelter told her they were too busy to look through the records for her dog, Ms Pearce said, and she soon learned that Buddy had been given away to a new family.

The dog had tags but may have lost his collar before arriving at the shelter, Ms Pearce believed. He did not have a microchip.

At this point, Ms Pearce said, she is mostly concerned with the dog's well-being.

'Even if I can't have him come home I just need to see that he's physically ok. [I need to know] that his new owners are caring for him that way that we do,' she told News 9.
Authorities say a man who was sledding with his son when they were hit by a car in Maryland has died.

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Monday that 35-year-old Adam French of Baltimore died Sunday night.

Officials say French's 4-year-old son, who was critically injured, is no longer in critical condition and is expected to recover.

Adam French of Baltimore died on Sunday after he and his son were struck by a car while sledding in Carroll County, Maryland that morning. Above, Lineboro Road where the accident happened

The sheriff's office says French and his son were visiting friends at a home on Lineboro Road around 10:30am Sunday morning when the accident happened.

The two were sledding down a driveway when their sled entered the roadway and was struck by a Jeep Cherokee driven by 31-year-old Max Nickey.

Both French and his son were rushed to area hospitals. French was first taken to Carroll Hospital Center before being moved to the University of Maryland Trauma Center where he died at 8:52pm on Sunday. His son was taken to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore.
A multi-millionaire financier ordered to hand over half of his fortune to his ex-wife has claimed his special contribution to their fortune had not been recognised.

Randy Work claims he was not left with a fair cash share after a divorce battle with his unfaithful wife Mandy Gray, with whom he lived in West London.

A High Court judge has decided Mr Work's contributions to wealth creation were not wholly exceptional after considering if they possessed the quality of genius.

Divorce battle: Randy Work (left) claims he was not left with a fair cash share after a divorce battle with his unfaithful wife Mandy Gray (right; both file pictures)

Mr Justice Holman concluded, after a trial in the Family Division of the High Court, that Ms Gray should get half of a fortune totalling more than 140million.

But Mr Work - who married her in Los Angeles in 1995 - claims his share should be nearer two-thirds and is preparing to take his case to the Court of Appeal.

His lawyers say Mr Justice Holman had been wrong not to give credit for a special contribution, and appeal judges are expected to consider the case in February.

Nicholas Cusworth QC, representing Mr Work, had argued that the case should be heard in the Court of Appeal at a preliminary appeal hearing in early 2015.

He said appeal judges should analyse the issue because less-senior judges had differing views on what constituted a special contribution to marital wealth.

An appeal court judge decided Mr Work had a chance of overturning Mr Justice Holman's ruling and should get a chance to make his case at the Court of Appeal.

Mr Justice Holman had said in March 2015 he had to consider the specialness required before concluding that a contribution to marital wealth was special.

He said some judges had referred to a special contribution possessing the quality of genius in earlier rulings.

But he said genius tended to be an over-used word and should be properly reserved for the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci, Mozart and Einstein.

Mr Work and Ms Gray had been two strong and equal partners over 20 years. Mr Justice Holman said Ms Gray had been a good wife and home-maker.

He suggested that, without her contribution, Mr Work, who worked for Dallas-based private equity firm Lone Star, would not have been able to amass the wealth.

Mr Justice Holman heard that the couple, who are both in their 40s, split after Ms Gray had an affair with their personal physiotherapist.
The personal assistant who had an affair with the married CEO of Seven West Media claims he also had sex romps with four other female staff members, including two network stars.

Tim Worner, 55, confirmed on Monday he and Amber Harrison, 37, had an affair between 2012 and 2014, before she was paid $150,000 to keep the romance quiet.

In the wake of revelations about his affair with Ms Harrison, she claims the Sydney-based Mr Worner also slept with four other women at Seven West Media, and was just 'the tip of the iceberg,' the Herald Sun reported.

Ms Harrison reportedly complained to the Australian Human Rights Commission about her treatment at the hands of the father-of-four and in doing so named four other women she claims he had affairs with including a television presenter and a well-known actress.

Seven West Media has denied the allegations Mr Worner had affairs with any women other than Ms Harrison and say her claims 'contain wide-ranging inaccuracies'.

Amber Harrison, 37, claims she and Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner (pictured with his wife Katrina) began flirting back and forth over email and explicit text messages before starting a relationship in December, 2012

Ms Harrison (pictured) claims she would meet Mr Worner at her home to have sex and attended a number of events as a couple, including the Australian Open. She claims Mr Worner also had sexual relations with four other female employees of Seven West Media

Ms Harrison also alleged Mr Worner used cocaine to enhance his sexual experience and sent her lewd text messages glowing about his efforts after their encounters, Fairfax reported.

One text read: 'I think my performance was drug assisted. And if you can go dirtier I am slightly scared. But you are f (sic) hot so I will take the chance.'

Seven West Media refused to comment on Mr Worner's alleged drug use.

On Monday the company's share prices dropped $98 million in the wake of the saga.

Despite the falling stocks, Seven's board and boss Kerry Stokes said Mr Worner's job as chief executive was safe.

In a statement they also confirmed the company had paid Ms Harrison a settlement.

'The settlement deed was approved by the relevant board committee of Seven and continues to be binding,' the statement read.

'Seven agrees that the inappropriate consensual sexual relationship made public by Ms Harrison is deeply regrettable.

'The chairman has always made clear to Mr Worner that the alleged conduct, even though a personal matter, was completely unacceptable.'

In the same statement, the embattled Mr Worner apologised for his actions and said he was filled with 'the deepest regret and shame'

Ms Harrison claims that during their affair Mr Worner used cocaine to assist in his sexual adventures before texting her the following day to talk about his 'performance'

In the same statement, the embattled Mr Worner apologised for his actions and said he was filled with 'the deepest regret and shame'.

STATEMENT FROM SEVEN WEST MEDIA Seven agrees that the inappropriate consensual sexual relationship made public by Ms Harrison is deeply regrettable. The chairman has always made clear to Mr Worner that the alleged conduct, even though a personal matter, was completely unacceptable. Tim Worner apologised at the time, and now, for the inappropriate consensual relationship with Ms Harrison that commenced prior to his appointment as chief executive. Allegations made in her statement which name other employees are rejected totally, including any allegation that other current or former employees have been paid off. Advertisement

'This relationship finished some time ago and I apologised at the time, and am still trying to make amends,' he said.

'My focus is to continue to work through this in private and minimise the distress to my family.'

The Australian reports Ms Harrison was paid to keep the affair quiet and was told to destroy her mobile phone - which she did using a blowtorch.

They also have reportedly seen documents that state Ms Harrison was paid $350,000 by Seven, however the former PA says she never received this money.

Among the details Ms Harrison revealed about her affair, were claims the pair often had sex on company time.

She claimed Mr Worner used taxis to travel to her home for sex and paid for them on his company credit card - including when she was at home on sick leave because of anxiety she claims was caused by the affair.

The former executive assistant was also treated to a romantic weekend in Melbourne with Mr Worner during the 2014 Australian Open.

'I knew he was married. It was never about love. It was about sex and power,' Ms Harrison said.

'He likes having a bit on the side. I found our relationship, if you'd call it that, thrilling to begin with.'

Reportedly among the other women Ms Harrison claims Mr Worner had affairs with are two high-profile stars of the Seven network

Ms Harrison also claims that she became depressed because of the affair and took extended sick leave. Mr Worner would then use taxis to travel to her home for sex and paid for them with company credit cards

Ms Harrison said the affair made her 'depressed' and caused her to suffer regular panic attacks at work, which led to her taking extended sick leave.

During this time she claims Mr Worner would use taxis to travel to her home for sex and would pay for them with company credit cards.

The couple's relationship ended in mid-2014 not long after she found out about Mr Worner's numerous other affairs and sent him an abusive message.

'You are right. You are busy. F---ing everyones assistants as it turns out,' she wrote.

Ms Harrison alleges Seven West then accused her of spending $262,000 on the company credit card and was sacked.

She said she was paid $100,000 in a settlement and claims the company agreed to pay her a further $350,000 after being made redundant, but never did.

Seven West Media shares dropped $98 million on Monday. Mr Worner, a father-of-four, has apologised over the incident in a statement said he was still 'trying to make amends'

In March, Mr Worner and his wife Katrina forked out $9.5 million on an oceanfront home in Sydney's Northern Beaches (pictured)

Seven denied the investigation into her credit card use was a result of Ms Harrison's complaint to human resources, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Ms Harrison said she ended up informing human resources of the illicit relationship and alleged she was shifted to a new role in the company and paid almost $150,000.

After two years of negotiations, Ms Harrison lodged a claim with the Australian Human Rights Commission in May of this year.

In March, Mr Worner and his wife Katrina forked out $9.5 million on an oceanfront home on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The couple have four children.

He was appointed as the chief executive of Seven West Media in 2013, midway through the affair, on a $2.6 million salary.
Former President Bill Clinton, caught in his own wilderness of a small town New York bookstore, pointed a finger at FBI Director James Comey for his wife's election loss  while casting the winner, President-elect Donald Trump, as a know-nothing.

'James Comey cost her the election,' Clinton said, according to a column in The Record-Review, a weekly newspaper that covers the towns of Bedford and Pound Ridge, New York  communities close to the Clintons' Chappaqua.

A newspaper reporter had dipped into a local, independent bookstore for some holiday shopping with his wife and ran into a man with 'short, white hair and reading glasses propped on the bridge of his nose,' whose 'unmistakable voice from Hope, Arkansas, was the giveaway.'

It was ex-President Clinton and he was ready to take questions.

A gentleman at the bookstore asked the Democrat if he thought Trump was smart.

'He doesn't know much,' Clinton replied. 'One thing he does know is how to get angry, white men to vote for him.'

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Bill Clinton, seen watching his wife concede on Nov. 9, took questions about the election from patrons in a small town New York bookstore

Bill Clinton, photographed during his wife's concession speech, said Donald Trump called him that day and said, 'She was tougher than I thought she'd be'

'He doesn't know much,' Bill Clinton said of President-elect Donald Trump (left), while the 42nd president blamed FBI Director James Comey (right) for Hillary Clinton's loss

Politico uploaded photos of the newspaper's print edition, as the editorial wasn't published online.

With the Q&A session coming on the heels of U.S. intelligence officials saying Russia was deliberately trying to sway the election for Trump, Clinton was asked by another shopper if this revelation surprised him.

It didn't.

'You would need to have an single-digit IQ not to recognize what was going on,' Clinton replied.

Turning to Comey, and sounding like his wife and her campaign chairman John Podesta, both of whom have placed blame on the FBI head, Clinton explained that the letter he sent to Congress less than two weeks before the election did irreparable damage.

'We were up seven points,' Clinton noted.

The caveat that no further evidence of illegal activities had been found was also lost on the public, the former president pointed out.

After Hillary Clinton lost, Bill Clinton said he spoke with Trump on the phone, calling the conversation cordial, but hinting that it was a little weird as the president-elect acted 'like it was 15 years ago' and they were still friends.

'She was tougher than I thought she'd be,' Trump reportedly told the former president, meaning the comment as a compliment.

He also mocked Trump for calling his win a 'landslide.'

'Landslide?' Clinton mused. 'I got something like 370 electoral votes. That was a landslide.'

Clinton correctly cited the number that he won during the 1992 election against incumbent President George H.W. Bush. He performed even better in 1996 against Republican Sen. Bob Dole, receiving 379 electoral votes.

Electors from the Electoral College are voting today, but Trump should get 306 votes, though some 'Hamilton electors' may vote their conscious and not select the president-elect.

Hillary Clinton won 232 electoral votes, while 270 votes are needed to win.

As far as what's next for Hillary Clinton, her husband ruled out one high-profile government job.

One of the customers asked if President Barack Obama could use a recess appointment and put her on the Supreme Court.

After acknowledging that President Dwight D. Eisenhower did such a thing, Bill Clinton suggested it wasn't in the cards.
The husband of a mother-of-two killed in her own home by a schizophrenic Polish warehouse worker says he'll never forgive himself for not being there to protect her.

Daniel Cross, 39, was forced to listen helplessly on the phone as his 37-year-old wife Nicola was knifed to death while trying to stop a stranger kidnapping their children.

She had called the IT worker in a panic after Marcin Porczynski, 24, broke into the couple's home in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, on September 14 last year.

A court heard Porczynski had been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, hearing voices telling him to 'free' children who were being mistreated or risk harm to his own family. He stabbed Mrs Cross 10 times as she tried to shield her two children.

Her husband spoke of his heartache as Porczynski - a complete stranger to the family - was today ordered to be detained at a mental hospital indefinitely.

Nicola Cross (left) was knifed 10 times by Marcin Porczynski (right), a complete stranger, after the 24-year-old broke into her house in Hemel Hempstead on September 14 last year

Harrowing: During the attack Mrs Cross was on the phone to her IT worker husband Danny Cross, 39, (pictured together) who was in Hull at the time, the court heard

After Porczynski pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility on Friday, Mr Cross, who was away on business at the time of the attack, said in a statement the horrific phone call 'plays over and over in my head'.

He added: 'I will never forgive myself for not being there to protect her.'

Mrs Cross rang her husband Daniel in panic and he was forced to listen helplessly as she pleaded with the killer - before hearing her scream loudly and the line fall silent.

The Polish national, who had denied murder, was given an indefinite hospital order.

Porczynski was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court by Judge Andrew Bright QC, who said the 'horrific and senseless killing' represented 'the worst possible nightmare of every husband and parent'.

He said: 'Although Nicola Cross tried to reason with you and heroically did her best to protect herself and her two young children from you, she was completely defenceless against the vicious knife attack you then launched upon her.'

Ordering Porczynski to be detained at a mental hospital, the judge told him he would only be released when deemed no longer a danger.

Killer: Porczynski wept in the dock on Friday as he heard Mr Cross describe how he could see 'no future happiness, no end to this trauma until my life comes to an end'

He added: 'You have devastated the lives of the Cross family and left two young children to grow up without the wonderful mother who so loved and cared for them.

'Those responsible for deciding if and when you should ever be released back into the community will need to look long and hard at the full circumstances of the dreadful killing which your mental illness led you to commit.'

Porczynski wept in the dock on Friday as he heard Mr Cross describe how he could see 'no future happiness, no end to this trauma until my life comes to an end'.

The court heard that he had been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, hearing voices telling him to 'free' children who were being mistreated or risk harm to his own family.

Mrs Cross was fatally wounded as she tried to stop him from getting to her children as they slept.

Prosecutor Chris Donnellan told the court Porczynski had been seen roaming the neighbourhood in the Hertfordshire town in the hours before the attack, knocking on doors and asking if there were children there.

Mrs Cross called the police shortly before 11pm after Porczynski, who lived nearby, began peering through the windows of her house on Dunlin Road.

Officers who stopped him found he was a 'bit distant', and he was allowed to return to his home on nearby Claymore Avenue. But he returned to the area at around 11.30pm - this time armed with a small knife.

At first he broke into a neighbouring address by accident and, while police responded to the reports of a burglary, officers heard a smash and screams from next door.

'I WILL NEVER FORGIVE MYSELF FOR NOT BEING THERE' In his statement to the court, Daniel Cross said: 'I was on the phone before, during and after (the attack). That phone call plays over and over in my head, along with Nik's screams and her pleading for her life. 'I will never forgive myself for not being there to protect her. I am totally and utterly heartbroken. 'I am not sure I can ever get used to it. (During the attack) she said 'Let me help you'. 'I must say that phrase to the children a dozen times a day. The second I say it I am right back on the other end of that phone. 'I see no future happiness, I see no end to this trauma until my own life comes to an end. 'If there is such a thing as a soul mate she was it. She was the only person I ever confided in, the only person I ever trusted. 'The thing I miss the most is she would leave little notes for me to find. 'She left such a note in my wallet the night she was killed. I did not find it until two days later it said 'love you so much and had two kisses'. I look at that note every day. 'She had an inner glow which radiated through her. She was a creative, amazing person that everybody loved to be around. 'Everyone who knew her loved her. Nik loved to make people smile. 'She was gentle and caring. She was the nicest, kindest person I have ever known and am ever likely to know. She was defenceless in this attack. 'Our lives will never been the same, we can never return to the warm loving home which I miss a great deal.' Advertisement

Mrs Cross (pictured) rang her husband Daniel in panic and he was forced to listen helplessly as she pleaded with the killer - before hearing her scream loudly and the line fall silent

Danny Cross paid tribute to his wife (pictured together), who he spent 11 years with, and said they had an almost 'sickening perfect' life that was now destroyed

After breaking through the patio doors of Mrs Cross's home, Porczynski grabbed a larger knife from the kitchen and climbed the stairs.

Mr Donnellan said it appeared he initially used the smaller knife for the attack before discarding it in favour of the large one.

Porczynski then went up to a bedroom and laid down the bloody knife before trying to carry the children away, but he did not physically harm them, the court heard.

A neighbour heard one of the children telling the attacker: 'No, I don't want you here.'

Officers then stopped the killer before he left the property, reporting that he appeared 'vacant'. They found the children at the bottom of the stairs, where one told them: 'He has hurt my mummy badly.'

The youngsters, who were said to be in a state of shock, were then kept in a room upstairs as officers attended to Mrs Cross, who was declared dead at the scene.

The scene in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, where Nicola Cross was found stabbed

The court heard that the defendant had started behaving abnormally three weeks before he killed her, alarming a friend by frequently referring to fictitious events.

After his arrest Porczynski claimed he believed he had to save the children, who were being 'starved'. Traces of cocaine and cannabis were found in his blood but the prosecution said bore no bearing on the attack.

Four further charges of attempted kidnap, burglary and aggravated burglary were ordered to lie on file.

After the sentencing of Porczynski, Detective Chief Inspector Jerome Kent from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said: 'This was an incredibly tragic incident. It is highly unusual to be randomly attacked in your own home and is one of the saddest cases I have ever dealt with.
An off-duty Alabama police officer was shot multiple times during a surprise birthday party for his wife on Saturday.

The shooting happened at 11pm at the High Forest Apartments in Jasper, about 45 miles northwest of Birmingham.

Cordova Police Chief Nick Smith said that part-time officer Shelby Luttrell, 25, was shot in the arm and stomach.

Part-time officer and SWAT team member Shelby Luttrell, 25, was shot in the arm and stomach Saturday. The shooting occurred during his wife's (pictured together right) birthday party

Newlyweds: Luttrell, who only recently got married, is expected to make a full recovery

He was hospitalized at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where doctors performed emergency surgery on him. Luttrell is expected to make a full recovery, reported Al.com.

Cordova police spokesman T.J. Armstrong said the 25-year-old officer had celebrated his son's second birthday Saturday afternoon and then was hosting a party for his wife at their apartment that night when gunfire erupted.

The shooting was reportedly preceded by an argument and a physical altercation between an acquaintance of one of the guests and Luttrell, who was unarmed at the time.

After shooting Luttrell, the gunman fled and remained at large for about an hour, at which time he was apprehended without incident. Formal charges against the unnamed assailant are pending.

Family man: Luttrell, pictured with his wife and three children, had celebrated his son's second birthday Saturday afternoon and then was hosting a party for his wife when gunfire erupted

Man of duty: Luttrell is a part-time officer with the Cordova Police Department in Alabama. He is also a member of the city's SWAT team and a firearms instructor

Luttrell, is a newlywed with three young sons, had recently taken a job with Alabama Power, according to the station WIAT, but he remains a part-time officer with the Cordova Police Department.

He is also a member of the city's SWAT team and a firearms instructor.
Paedophile: Michael Salmon separated girls from their parents to conduct unnecessary intimate examinations and rub their breasts

An 81-year-old paedophile consultant who believed he was 'bomb proof' was today jailed for four and half years for sexually assaulting girls as young as eight.

Michael Salmon attacked the girls at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire - the same hospital where Jimmy Saville abused children.

Salmon separated girls from their parents to conduct unnecessary intimate examinations and rub their breasts.

The disgraced doctor was convicted of 14 cases of sexually assaulting girls after the victims came forward following his imprisonment for 18 years for similar offences in February 2015.

At Reading Crown Court, Judge Johanna Cutts QC - who sentenced him again - said his four-year term should be seen as an addition to last year's sentence.

This makes it a 22-year jail term for the crimes against all 16 girls who the doctor from Salisbury in Wiltshire assaulted and raped at the hospital from 1975 to 1989.

Salmon had denied one count of rape of a 14-year-old girl and 25 counts of indecent assault against young girls and one boy in the 1970s and 1980s.

Crime scene: Salmon attacked the girls at Stoke Mandeville Hospital (pictured) in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire - the same hospital where Jimmy Saville abused children

He was convicted of 14 counts of indecent assault and acquitted of one count of rape, one count of indecent assault and ten counts of indecent assault.

About a dozen of his victims sat in the court as the judge told of how the formerly respected doctor thought he was bomb proof as he abused his position of trust.

The court heard the victims in this year's trial were much younger than last year's.

The judge said: Last year following a trial at this court you were convicted of two offences of rape and eight offences of indecent assault of six girls aged between 12 and 18.

Disgraced DJ Jimmy Savile also abused children at Stoke Mandeville Hospital

As a result of the publicity which arose during and after that trial other women came forward to say they too were indecently assaulted by you during medical examinations be you when they were children.

The judge said parents and GPs would routinely send children to Dr Salmon at the hospital as by the late 1970s and the 1980s you had a distinguished career as a consultant paediatrician. It goes without saying that doctors must act ethically and appropriately at all times.

'It is clear now that the esteem in which you were held was utterly misplaced.

You were using the opportunities given to you as their doctor to sexually assault them. It seems to me that you considered yourself bomb-proof with conceited arrogance and complete disregard for your young female patients.

She described how the perverted doctor conducted vaginal examinations, penetrating them, telling others of how he enjoyed sex with his wife and asking them if they had sex with their boyfriends and offering them the pill without being asked.

The judge said he even showed his victims books about sex, and carried on: You felt free to do so in the knowledge that while children did not like intimate examinations they would not question them - you were their doctor.

All children referred to you were ill and manifestly vulnerable. You engineered circumstances to be alone in the consultant room with those you chose to abuse.

In one case you visited a girl who was sick in bed at home and persuaded her mother to let you see her along in her room.

Judge Cutts retold each of the ten victims' ordeals to the court and explained that Salmon would face life in jail for assault by penetration but had to be sentenced in accordance to before the laws over sex offending changed in the 1990.

The court heard his offending only stopped after it came to light when police were investigating Salmon over fraud allegations.

He admitted three counts of sex assaults, again over the same period, in 1989 and was suspended from his practice and sentenced in 1990.

Judge Cutts noted his offending stopped and said he no longer posed a risk to children, adding: All your offending - your three sets of offending to date - occurred in the same period.

You have never showed the slightest contrition or remorse for your actions. You are now 81 years of age and serving a lengthy sentence already.

Any sentence I pass today must take that into account. It is argued I should not impose any additional term. It is clear you no longer pose a risk to children.

I cannot ignore the impact of your behaviour on so many of your child patients. Your offending, albeit so many years ago, has affected them through the years.
Lord Mandelson, pictured, is returning to public life as a Brexit advisor to Labour's London Mayor Sadiq Khan

Arch-Remainer Lord Mandelson is returning to public life as a Brexit advisor to Labour's London Mayor Sadiq Khan, it was announced today.

The ex-EU trade Commissioner and Cabinet minister will advise Mr Khan on the 'risks, challenges and opportunities for London' following the vote to leave the EU'.

Known as the 'Prince of Darkness' from his time as a spin doctor for New Labour, Lord Mandelson will help the Mayor push for a 'proper, sensible solution to the complicated challenge of leaving the EU'.

The controversial move to give the deeply divisive figure an influential role in London's Brexit preparations has infuriated Leave voters, who view the appointment of the passionate arch-europhile as a further attempt by Labour to frustrate the Brexit process.

Tory MP Peter Bone told MailOnline: I couldnt have thought of anyone worse to advise the Mayor.

'Lord Mandelson and so many other people want to re-run the referendum campaign and despite what they say they dont want to come out of the EU, they want to delay and hope something will occur to stop Brexit happening.'

He added: The fact that the Mayor of London has appointed him tells who the Mayor of London is exactly the same  they just havent accepted the will of the British people, they think they know better than the British people.'

Lord Mandelson will be joined in Mr Khan's new panel of business advisors by Baroness Vadera, chair of Santander UK, Xavier Rolet, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange and Julia Onslow-Cole, head of global immigration at accountancy firm PwC.

The Mayor said: 'This expert group of advisors will allow me to tap into some of our top business minds as negotiations progress.'

Lord Mandelson will advise Labour's London Mayor Sadiq Khan, pictured, on the 'risks, challenges and opportunities for London' following the vote to leave the EU'

He added: 'I have promised to be most pro-business Mayor that London has ever had  and now I'm delivering on that promise. For the last six months, I have been speaking to businesses of all shapes and sizes about what they need from the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.

'We need to strike a deal that safeguards London's position as the best city in the world to do business and this expert group of advisors will allow me to tap into some of our top business minds as negotiations progress.

'Securing privileged access to the single market, maintaining a world-class financial sector and ensuring London can continue to attract global talent are all recurring themes from my conversations with business  and I look forward to working with this panel as we aim to strike a deal that works for the capital.'

The return of Lord Mandelson to influence the Brexit process comes a day after a secret Labour plot to block the referendum result was revealed.

The renewed efforts were orchestrated by Richard Corbett, Labour's deputy leader in Brussels, was found changing key lines in European Parliament documents.

The MEP tried to water down the significance of June's referendum result by seeking to amend a European Parliament motion.

Richard Corbett, pictured on the BBC today, Labour's deputy leader in Brussels, was found changing key lines in European Parliament documents

Mr Corbett deleted a line saying that the European Parliament 'stresses that this wish [to leave the EU] must be respected' to saying it 'notes' the referendum'.

Another line opened the way for Brexit to be reversed if there was any move to do so in Britain.

The proposed changes, revealed by the Sunday Telegraph, stated that the European Parliament must not 'stand in the way of any reconsideration by the UK of its intended departure'.

The amendments were put forward in October but rejected by the Brussels Constitutional Affairs Committee.

In a TV interview yesterday Mr Corbett distanced the Labour leadership from his decision to table the amendments, describing himself as a 'humble lame duck MEP' who does not speak for the Labour Party.

He told the BBC: 'All I'm doing is stating things that are commons sense - that if, as we move forward, this turns out to be a disaster then we need to look very carefully at where we're going.'

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, pictured, has now come under pressure reassert the party's position on Brexit

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has come under pressure reassert the party's position on Brexit.

He has repeatedly insisted Labour will not attempt to keep Britain in the EU but has been undermined by senior figures suggesting the party could frustrate the process by demanding certain conditions on Britain's exit.

Two dozen Labour MPs even voted against triggering Article 50, the formal process for leaving the EU, earlier this month as they joined Lib Dem and SNP MPs in trying to block Brexit going ahead.

Former Tory Cabinet minister and Brexit champion Iain Duncan Smith said the secret plot by Labour MEPs in Brussels to reverse the referendum result was further evidence of Labour 'ignoring' voters.
Just 34,000 migrants out of the 1.2million who have arrived in Germany in the past two years have managed to find a job, new figures have revealed.

The statistics from the German government's Institute for Labour Research (IAB) reveal how only three per cent of those who travelled to the country are now working.

And in addition out of those who are employed, nearly a quarter are just on temporary contracts, with the numbers applying to migrants mostly from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Eritrea.

Just 34,000 migrants out of the 1.2million who have arrived in Germany in the past two years have managed to find a job, new figures have revealed. Pictured are migrants arriving in Germany

Joachim Moller, director of the IAB, said: 'If we manage to get 50 percent of them into work which pays for their lives in five years, that'd certainly be a success.

'But it would be an illusion to believe that we will manage to find jobs for a decent proportion of refugees in well-paid industry jobs like car manufacturing.'

This means the bill of feeding, housing and caring for the migrants will continue to soar into the billions and fall upon the German taxpayer.

One bright side is that the crisis has created an estimated 60,000 jobs for Germans in social work, teaching and in security for the numerous asylum centres around the country.

And Mr Moller believes that the full impact of the refugee influx will only be properly gauged in five or six years time.

'It probably won't lead to us making money, but diversity can have positive effects,' he added.

The statistics from the German government's Institute for Labour Research (IAB) reveal how only three per cent of those who travelled to the country are now working. Pictured are migrants in Germany last year

On the flip side, the migrant crisis has created an estimated 60,000 jobs for Germans in social work, teaching and in security for the numerous asylum centres around the country (stock picture)

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy published last week, suggested that by the end of 2018, more refugees will be employed than out of work.

The figures come after it was revealed in August that some asylum seekers were said to be refusing work and instead insisting they are 'guests of Angela Merkel'.

They have declined voluntary jobs offered to them since arriving in the country and used the hospitality of the German Chancellor as an excuse, a town mayor said.

Bernd Pohlers said asylum seekers in the eastern town of Waldenburg, Saxony, were refusing to take on work as a way of counteracting their boredom.

Mayor Pohlers said: 'It was subsequently argued by these people that they are guests of Mrs Merkel and guests do not have to work.
'Your son has killed my daughter' - these are believed to be the words of a distraught mother after pulling up outside a house with her blooded toddler on the back seat.

Witnesses in Guildford, Sydney, said the woman appeared at 3.30pm on Monday with the unresponsive girl in her car before shouting at the occupants of a house.

Police were called and the two-year-old was taken to hospital in critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest and remains on life support.

Around an hour and a half later, police arrested a 22-year-old man in nearby Fairfield before taking him in for questioning.

He was charged with reckless assault causing grievous bodily harm and will front Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday.

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Police were called to an address in Guildford West at around 3.30pm where they found a two-year-old girl unresponsive in the back of a car

Officers believe the girl was 'viciously assaulted' at a nearby home before her mother drove her to this house, where she began shouting at the occupants

Police told The Telegraph that they believe the girl was 'viciously assaulted' at a second property, before her mother attempted to drive her to the safety.

Police were initially called to reports of an unresponsive girl in the back of a vehicle in McCredie Road at around 3.30pm on Monday.

Officers arrived and performed CPR on the girl, who was then taken to hospital in a critical condition by paramedics.

It is believed the girl suffered a cardiac arrest and has been placed on life support.

At around 5pm officers arrested a 22-year-old suspect in Fairfield before taking him for questioning.

Witnesses (pictured) said the woman arrived with her bloodied and bruised daughter before yelling: 'Your son hit me, your son killed my daughter'

The two-year-old was given CPR before being taken to hospital in critical condition where she is now being kept on life support

Police sources told the ABC the child was attacked by her mother's de facto partner, and the mother had driven her child away from the scene to a relative's house.

A police source alleged that the girl was beaten over a number of days.

Witnesses told 7 News that a woman was screaming 'you killed my baby' as officers arrived at the scene.

Police and paramedics have not confirmed how the girl was injured.
Buskers have been told to avoid playing loud music near families lining up to look at the Myer Christmas window displays.

The buskers have been warned by the City of Melbourne, who don't want them disturbing families enjoying the city at Christmas, reported the Herald Sun.

The council recently staged a three-month trial ban on amplified busking on Swanston Street between Flinders Lane and La Trobe Street from August 1 to October 31.

Buskers have been told to avoid playing loud music near families lining up to look at the Myer Christmas window displays (stock image)

The City of Melbourne doesn't want the buskers disturbing people enjoying Christmas in the city. Pictured is a Myer Christmas window

From 1 November 2016, amplified busking was reinstated in Swanston Street and under the Busking Policy, busking No-Go Zones remained unchanged.

Of the 123 feedback responses received by the City of Melbourne, only 35 supported a continuing ban on amplified busking.

Despite the council looking set to change their position on permanently banning amplified music in parts of the city centre, the relationship between buskers and the council has reportedly been tense since.

At the time of the ban Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said he'd received hundreds of complaints about excessive noise, and busking was ruining the amenity for city residents and workers.

One councillor, Robert Doyle, said it wasn't 'appropriate' to have loud buskers near the Myer Christmas windows when families were trying to enjoy them

But one councillor, Robert Doyle, has said the city needs to better monitor the compliance of buskers, rather than ban them outright.

'That goes for Bourke St Mall as well. Its not appropriate to have loud buskers near the Myer Christmas Windows when people are trying to enjoy the story there,' Cr Doyle said.

One busker told the Herald Sun Bourke Street Mall was one of the best busking venues in the southern hemisphere, and it was in the city's interest to protect it.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the City of Melbourne for a comment.

The council recently staged a three-month trial ban on amplified busking on Swanston Street between Flinders Lane and La Trobe Street from August 1 to October 31
A Muslim woman who was verbally abused and attacked with a beer bottle while out shopping says she is sick of being repeatedly discriminated against.

The mother-of-four was attacked outside a Coles store at a Perth shopping centre on Friday, after a man allegedly told his children to yell 'Merry Christmas' at her.

The 33-year-old victim - who is too scared to release her real name - was allegedly then called her a 'f***ing Muslim c***' and had a beer bottle thrown at her.

She said she's fed up with being abused because of her appearance or religion and is determined to stand for her 'Muslim sisters' in Australia and around the world.

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A Muslim woman (pictured) has been hit with a beer bottle during an unprovoked attack outside a shopping centre in Perth

'I'm just sick of the abuse and it's not the first time this has happened,' the woman told Seven News.

'This time it's a glass, but what's it going to be next? It's disgusting.'

The woman's headscarf came off during a scuffle, which occurred in front of the attacker's four daughters.

The Muslim woman said he ran off with it and dumped it near the shopping complex.

'I said "Shame on you doing this in front of your four daughters",' she told the West Australian.

'Is this the example you're setting  that you're beating up a woman like this?

'It's just a bunch of cowards, but I'm sick of it, so I'm standing up for my Muslim sisters around the world.'

Witnesses reportedly came to the woman's aid before police visited her home later that evening.

The mother-of-four stood up the alleged offender and was involved in a scuffle that saw her headscarf ripped from her head. She said she took a stand against the man for her 'Muslim sisters'

'It's just a bunch of cowards, but I'm sick of it, so I'm standing up for my Muslim sisters around the world,' the woman said in the wake of having the beer bottle (pictured) thrown at her

The woman reported the incident to the Islamophobia Register Australia and said she was proud of being dedicated to her religion.

'We're just normal people, we've got a religion to follow, we choose to wear the scarf and as a Muslim I'm proud of it - why the hell should I have to be ashamed of who I am?' she said.

Western Australia Police said the assault took place at 8.45pm on Friday and have urged any witnesses to contact authorities.

The male attacker is described as light skinned, 25-35 years old, 175-180cm tall and slim build. He has blonde short hair and wearing blue shorts and a white top.'

The woman was apparently attacked outside Coles at the Beeliar Village in Cockburn, Perth




Two Alameda County, California sheriff's deputies have been fired for beating a 30-year-old suspect, in a brutal attack that was caught on surveillance footage.

Paul Wieber and Luis Santamaria are no longer employees of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, officials confirmed on Friday.

The two are expected to face trial for the beating of 30-year-old Stanislav Petrov sometime next year. Both have pleaded not guilty. Additionally, Petrov has filed a civil lawsuit against the two men, demanding damages for the physical and emotional pain inflicted on him.

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Paul Wieber (left) and Luis Santamaria (right) have been fired from the Alameda County Sheriff's Departmnet more than a year after the two were caught on surveillance video ruthlessly beating up a suspect

Suspect Stanislav Petrov, 30 (pictured above in the hospital), suffered cuts to the head and broke bones in his hands and arms

Sheriff's officials did not give an official reason for the former deputies' termination, but Santamaria's lawyer confirmed that it was because of the beating incident.

Surveillance footage captured the two men striking Stanislav more than 40 times with steel batons, in an alley in San Francisco's Mission District on November 12, 2015. The attack left him with cuts to the head and broken bones in his hands and arms.

The incident began 38 minutes earlier in the parking lot of a San Leandro motel on the east side of San Francisco Bay, which is where deputies started chasing Petrov after spotting him in a stolen Mercedes Benz.

Deputies attempted to block Petrov's exit from the parking lot with their patrol cars, but the suspect rammed the vehicles and sped away. The Mercedes allegedly grazed a deputy standing next to his patrol car as it sped out of the parking lot.

Deputies chased the Mercedes across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, reaching speeds of 100mph, before Petrov allegedly abandoned the vehicle in the city's Mission District and tried to flee on foot.

The two deputies were captured on surveillance video beating up Petrov after a 38 minute car chase into San Francisco's Mission District

The chase started in Castro Valley, after the deputies spotted Petrov driving a stolen car

The video shows them beating up the helpless suspect with steel batons for a little less than a minute

The two men stopped beating Stanislav when other officers arrived on the scene

The deputies can be seen in two surveillance videos running down Petrov in a desolate alley and beating him for about 40 seconds.

Two residents' surveillance cameras captured the deputies continuing to beat the suspect with steel batons as he lay on the ground, crying out in pain. The two stopped beating Petrov after other officers arrived.

Santamaria and Wieber were each charged with assault with a deadly weapon, assault under color of authority and battery in May.

Petrov was never charged with a crime in connection with the case and his suit seeks unspecified damages.
A drug commonly used to bring down enormous animals such as elephants has been found inside Australia's borders.

Carfentanil, one of the world's deadliest drugs, is 10,000 times stronger than morphine and was seized for the first time by the Australian Border Force in a package at a Sydney mail centre, according to The Daily Telegrpah.

The drug is so powerful one microgram - a dose 100 times smaller than a grain of salt - would cause a reaction in humans and the drug has been linked to a spate of deaths across Canada and the U.S.

Carfentanil, one of the world's deadliest drugs, is 10,000 times stronger than morphine and was seized for the first time by the Australian Border Force in a package at a Sydney mail centre, according to The Daily Telegrpah (Stock Image)

Only 2mg of carfentanil is used to tranquilise a fully grown male elephant weighing up to 900kg (Stock Image)

While only a small amount of the drug was seized ABF NSW regional commander Tim Fitzgerald said the drug is fatal.

'This is the first known detection of this substance at the Australian border,' commander Fitzgerald told the publication.

'We are still investigating the seizure, including its origin and the destination.'

Earlier this year NSW Coroner Michael Barnes warned the public of the dangerous use of fentanyl - a synthetic opioids increasingly used as an alternative instead of heroin - was linked to the death of 13 people.

Only 2mg of carfentanil is used to tranquilise a fully grown male elephant weighing up to 900kg.

The danger of this rug has border forces on high alert.
Tristan Potts pleaded guilty to killing his sister Teresa Potts with their adopted father's gun in Jasper, Missouri, in October 2015

A 15-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to shooting dead his 12-year-old sister.

Tristan Potts was just 13 when he shot sister Teresa Potts with their adopted father's gun in Jasper, Missouri, in October 2015

A judge ruled that he should stand trial as an adult, and Potts pleaded guilty on Friday to second-degree murder, armed criminal action and attempted first-degree arson.

David Mouton, a judge at the Jasper county Circuit Court, ordered youth services to evaluate the teen to determine whether he should be placed in the state's dual jurisdiction program.

Under the program, the adult sentence is suspended while the inmate undergoes treatment and vocational training.

When he turns 21, the court determines whether he should remain in custody.

Tristan shot his sister after returning home on a school bus in 2015, and the 12-year-old girl was found with gunshot wounds to her temple and right shoulder, according to Detective Chris Carriger of the Jasper County Sheriff's Department.

Tristan Potts fled into the woods after the shooting and turned up later near a shop building behind the house, close to where investigators eventually recovered two handguns.

Carriger said the teen tested positive for gunshot residue on his hands.

Tristan shot his sister after returning home (pictured) on a school bus in 2015, and the 12-year-old girl was found with gunshot wounds to her temple and right shoulder, police said

Both Tristan and Teresa Potts had been adopted, and a psychologist who interviewed the boy after his sister's death said he was angry with his new family.

Carriger said Potts had been in contact with a female in Georgia, and may have had plans to set the family's home on fire before running away.

Lists of the supplies he would need and things to do were discovered in his bedroom and in his locker at school.
Donald Trump officially crossed the line to 270 electoral votes with electors in Texas casting a ballot for the Republican shortly before 5:30 p.m. EST.

Calls for Trump to be voted down by members of the Electoral College were roundly ignored on Monday  with only two 'faithless' Republican electors rejecting the president-elect and four deserting Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Several more electors tried to ditch the Democratic loser, in an effort to pressure Republicans into doing the same and selecting a more moderate GOP president.

Trump applauded his victory when that scheme didn't work and flaunted it in front of the media.

'Today marks a historic electoral landslide victory in our nation's democracy,' he said in a statement to reporters. 'I thank the American people for their overwhelming vote to elect me as their next President of the United States.'

'The official votes cast by the Electoral College exceeded the 270 required to secure the presidency by a very large margin, far greater than ever anticipated by the media,' he added.

He also took to Twitter to confirm his victory, writing: 'We did it! Thank you to all of my great supporters, we just officially won the election (despite all of the distorted and inaccurate media).'

Congress will certify the Electoral College vote on January 6 and Trump will be sworn in on January 20.

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Members of the Electoral College voted in statehouses around the country today, like this group in Atlanta, Georgia

Futile: Protesters demonstrated ahead of Pennsylvania's 58th Electoral College at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., in freezing temperatures - but electors ignored them and voted for Trump

Token vote: Bill Clinton voted for his wife in New York - but it will not change the result, with the Republican on course to take the Electoral College

Trump went on Twitter to celebrate his victory after the Electoral College vote was released

David Bright of Maine was supposed to back the Democratic loser but announced he would defy the wishes of the state's voters and back Bernie Sanders, her primary opponent.

He was later told he'd be replaced by another elector if he made that move, so decided to vote Clinton instead.

In Minnesota an elector who was supposed to choose Clinton refused to vote and got replaced.

Another 'faithless' elector, this time in Colorado, got replaced when he cast a vote for John Kasich instead of Hillary Clinton.

President-elect Donald Trump, spending the holidays at Mar-a-Lago, sent out a statement calling his win a 'historic electoral landslide'

The elector, Micheal Baca, was a prominent Democratic 'Hamilton elector,' who was encouraging his GOP peers to unbind themselves from their state's popular vote winner and choose a more conventional Republican than Trump.

Because Colorado makes its delegates pledge to support the state's popular vote winner  Clinton, in this case  Baca was forced out of the Electoral College and replaced by someone who cast one of the nine pro-Clinton votes for the state.

In Washington state, four electors broke away from Clinton, with some of the votes going to former Republican Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Washington was where other Democratic 'Hamilton electors' said they would vote across the aisle in hopes that Republicans would follow suit.

Another vote that was supposed to go to Clinton reportedly went to Faith Spotted Eagle, a Native American environmentalist protesting against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

In contrast, as the votes were cast in a series of states in the east, the mid-west and the south, just two Texas electors deserted Trump, with one voting for Kasich and another choosing former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian leader who ran for the White House twice.

His son, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, ran against Trump in 2016.

Ignored: North Carolina's antebellum Capitol building in Raleigh, drew protesters whose attempt to persuade electors to be faithless was fruitless

Even in Georgia, a more traditionally red state, protesters urged electors to go rogue and vote for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump

A protester was pulled by police out of the capitol building today in Madison, Wisconsin as electors in that state cast votes for Donald Trump

With so few electors rebelling, that left a Harvard professor's claims that as many as 20 Republican electors could go faithless look like nonsense  and put Trump in cruise control to the White House.

It also left protests by die-hard anti-Trump activists taking place outside some state houses and capitols looking futile.

By 1:10 p.m. EST Electors from Pennsylvania, North Carolina Ohio and Louisiana had given Republican Donald Trump 134 of the 270 electoral votes required to formally win the presidency.

Four hours later, Trump was at 268 electoral votes, while Clinton held 166.

By 5:30 p.m., Trump's journey to the White House was complete.

Democrat Bret Chiafalo, one of the 'Hamilton electors' from Washington state, said Monday that he planned to vote for John Kasich. Early reports out of Olympia suggest he may have chosen former Republican Secretary of State Colin Powell instead

Protesters in Georgia, including a woman with a 'Rapist Elect' sign, encouraged electors from their state to choose Hillary Clinton or a more moderate Republican for president

In New York, Clinton got 29 votes in a state that she formerly represented in the U.S. Senate.

One of them was cast by her husband.

Afterward a bleary-eyed ex-president told reporters: 'I never cast a vote I was prouder of.'

'You know, I watched her work for two years. I watched her battle through that bogus email deal,' he said.

'At the end we had the Russians and the FBI deal  she couldn't prevail against that,' Bill Clinton said.

She had won the national popular vote in the Nov. 8 election, and pro-Clinton protesters rallied at state capitols around the country against Trump's expected victory in the Electoral College Monday.

Trump was poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

With Hawaii, a blue state, still yet to vote, Trump had 304 and Clinton had 224.

Early on, Trump took all 16 presidential electors in Georgia and eight in Kentucky, as well as electors in South Carolina, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.

The only upset of the early part of the day was in Maine.

Bright said on his Facebook page that he cast his vote for Sanders, instead of Hillary Clinton because his vote would not have helped her win.

'I cast my Electoral College vote for Bernie Sanders today to let those new voters who were inspired by him know that some of us did hear them, did listen to them, do respect them and understand their disappointment,' he wrote.

Later the Boston Globe reported that Bright was forced to change his mind when his selection of Sanders was ruled improper.

Clinton picked up three of the four votes in Maine, and Trump one - it is one of only two states which does not adopt a winner takes all system for the electoral college vote.

Clinton also took Vermont's three electoral votes, while Trump on Monday won votes in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia.

In Tennessee 11 presidential electors have cast their ballots for Trump, in accordance with state law.

The vote Monday came with little fanfare. One audience member tried to read out some Scripture before the ballots were cast, but was told he could not speak.

Protesters held rallies at state Capitols around the country, including in Nashville.

The group called the December 19 Coalition said it wanted to try to persuade electors to change their minds given the CIA and FBI's conclusions that Russia interfered in the presidential election with the goal of supporting Trump.

Vermont's three members of the Electoral College were the first to report their vote for president.

All three chose Clinton, reflecting the state's vote in the Nov. 8 presidential election.

The Vermont electors are Gov. Peter Shumlin, state Rep. Tim Jerman and Martha Allen, president of the Vermont chapter of the National Education Association.

In Pennsylvania, the hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the steps of the Capitol building in Harrisburg were simply ignored in their attempt to persuade the electors not to vote for Trump.

The sign-waving protesters in 25-degree weather Monday were examples of demonstrations around the country against the Electoral College's selection of Trump as the nation's 45th president.

As Trump officially got to 270 electoral votes, the Republican National Committee's co-chair Sharon Day urged Democrats to stop fussing about the election results.

'For the good of the country, Democrats must stop their cynical attempts to undermine the legitimacy of this election, which Donald Trump won decisively in the Electoral College with more votes than any Republican since 1988,' Day wrote.

Democrat Bill Clinton won the White House in 1992 and 1996. In 2000 George W. Bush won the Electoral College, but not the popular vote over Al Gore.

In 2004, Bush won both, but had a narrower win than Trump, earning 286 electoral votes over now Secretary of State John Kerry.
He has been ridiculed for the way he eats a bacon sandwich.

He gave a speech in front of a 8ft 6in gravestone engraved with his policies.

Interviewer after interviewer called him by his brother David's name.

But now Ed Miliband may have suffered his ultimate humiliation - after US TV used a photograph of him blowing his nose to illustrate a feature about a flu epidemic.

The extraordinary slight came in a segment on the NBC news on Sunday night.

Ed Miliband may have suffered his ultimate humiliation - after US TV station NBC used a photograph of him blowing his nose to illustrate a feature about a flu epidemic

As the presenter warned that 'flu season has arrived' and pointed to an 'uptick' of the virus in schools, a picture of Mr Miliband wielding a white handkerchief went up on screen among other stock images.

The photo dates from 2011, when it was taken during a round of TV interviews at party conference.

It is just the latest embarrassing incident for the former Labour leader, who was brutally put to the sword by David Cameron in the general election last year.

While campaigning for local elections in May 2014, Ed Miliband stopped off at a cafe in South-West London and grabbed a bacon sandwich for breakfast.

The pictures that emerged, showing the Labour leader struggling to take mouthfuls without looking awkward, were so ungainly that they seem to have undermined his credibility in the eyes of some voters.

In addition, Jewish actress Maureen Lipman accused Mr Miliband of being a hypocrite for eating the non-kosher snack days after he had asked to attend a Sabbath dinner at her home.

Mr Miliband tried to capitalise on the furore, jokingly bringing up the incident in speeches as he attempted to present himself as a straightforward character in contrast to the slicker Conservatives.

But in private, he seems to have been rattled - five months after losing the General Election, he bumped into radio presener Cristo Foufas, whose father owns the cafe where the picture was taken.

While campaigning for local elections in May 2014, Ed Miliband stopped off at a cafe in South-West London and was photographed eating a bacon sandwich

Mr Miliband told him, 'Send your dad my best' - but when Mr Foufas asked, 'You don't mean that do you?', the ex-leader replied: 'Of course I don't.'

The bizarre decision to stage a photo opportunity with a 8ft 6in-high limestone monument was one of the most memorable moments of the election campaign.

It was engraved with six of Labour's election pledges, and was quickly christened the 'EdStone' for its resemblance to a grave.

The stunt has gone down as one of the most cringe-worthy gimmicks in election history and became a symbol of the former Labour leader's failure to connect with the public during his ill-fated attempt to win last year's General Election.

After Mr Miliband led Labour to its worse election defeat for more than three decades, a manhunt ensued in a race to find the doomed slab, dubbed the 'Ed Stone'.

After months of fruitless searching, two party officials finally revealed it was destroyed soon after the damning election result led to Mr Miliband's resignation.

The gimmick also helped land Labour with a record 20,000 fine for breaking election spending laws.

The election spending watchdog found the party failed to declare a staggering 123,748 in election payments - including two payments totalling 7,614 related to the EdStone.

Mr Miliband pulled off a shock in 2010 by defeating his brother for the Labour leadership.

But right the way through his time in charge of the party had had to endure interviews and public appearances where people inadvertently referred to him as 'David'.
Police in Los Angeles have apprehended a suspect in a quadruple stabbing involving two women and two young children after they say the man led them on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash, followed by an hours-long standoff on the roof of a building.

The knife attack took place at around 1pm Sunday in the 8800 block of Tobias Avenue in Panorama City.

The suspect, identified as 21-year-old George Gomez, went to the apartment of his on-again, off-again girlfriend and got into a dispute with her, which culminated with the man plunging a knife into the woman's back, according to the LAPD.

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Wild chase: This news chopper footage shows the moment the car of George Gomez, a suspect in a quadruple stabbing, overturned after a high-speed police chase

The 21-year-old, seen here fleeing on foot from police, is accused of stabbing his on-again, off-again girlfriend, her sister and two young children in Panorama City, California, Sunday

Gomez then allegedly stabbed the victims sister and also wounded two children who were at the apartment, a three-month-old girl and a three-year-old girl. Family members say Gomez was not the father of the two children.

The adult victims were rushed to a hospital in critical but stable condition, and one of them reportedly had to undergo an emergency surgery.

The injured infant sustained a laceration to her leg and was expected to recover, reported ABC7. There was no information immediately available on the condition of the wounded toddler.

Police say Gomez fled the crime scene in a silver car and led officers on a high-speed chase that ended 30 minutes later on Chevy Chase Drive in Glendale when he lost control of the vehicle and it overturned.

Last stand: Gomez, 21, climbed onto the roof of a Glendale mansion under construction and remained there for hours

Gomez was apprehended Sunday evening after a team of crisis negotiators and his relatives convinced him to surrender

Gomez was able to scramble out of the wrecked car resting on its roof and flee on foot.

Mother speaks: Mariana Gonzalez tearfully said in Spanish that her son was depressed after his first love broke up with him

The suspect then climbed onto the roof of a mansion under construction and remained there for several hours, until crisis negotiators and his relatives, who were summoned to the scene, were able to talk him into surrendering.

The suspect's mother, Mariana Gonzalez, tearfully explained in Spanish that her son, who had aspired to become a police officer, had been depressed and had not been eating following a breakup with his girlfriend, who was his first love.

Once he met her, his grades went down and school no longer interested him, Gonzalez told the station KCAL, with tears streaming down her face.

Police say a few weeks ago, Gomez had been arrested in connection to a domestic violence incident.

Gomez's brother-in-law Martin Valencia said the young called him earlier in the day saying he wanted to end his life.
Police are investigating and say the graffiti amounts to a hate crime

More swastikas were found in bathrooms at Nassau Community College

A red swastika and the slogan 'Make America White Again' have been spray painted on sidewalks in Long Island, sparking a police investigation.

Locals have reported seeing the racist graffiti since the beginning of December in several towns, the Nassau County Police Department said.

In Washington Avenue, Mineola, the graffiti was discovered sprawled outside someone's home on November 30.

A red swastika and the racist slogan 'make America white again' have been spray painted on sidewalks in what police say amounts to a hate crime

Nassau County Police Department Lieutenant Richard Lebrun told the Mineloa American that the message was a hate crime.

Police also wrote graffiti with 'other disparaging and derogatory remarks against African Americans and those of Middle Eastern decent,' Lebrun said.

More swastikas have also been found in bathrooms at Nassau Community College.

One student shared a photo of a black swastika with the caption 'NCC BATHROOM. Shame on you'.

The college quickly responded and asked for the location of the graffiti so it could be removed.

One student shared a photo of a black swastika inside a Nassau Community College bathroom with the caption 'Shame on you'

Democratic Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, who grew up on Long Island, said in a statement: 'To the person who spray-painted swastikas and "Make America White Again" on a sidewalk in Mineola: You are not clever, you are not tough.

You are a coward. If you have something you want to say, then come forward, turn yourself into the police, and show your family, your friends, and your neighbors who you are.

'I wont hold my breath waiting for President-Elect Trump to condemn people using his campaign slogan to intimidate people of color.

'Its up to every one of us to call out this kind of language and behavior wherever we encounter it, and its up to every one of us to show that we are grateful to live in such a diverse district, state and country.'




There were shocking scenes in Melbourne on Sunday as police cars and a helicopter rushing to break up a fight between 150 youths in a McDonald's car park.

But residents of Tarneit, a small town to the west of main city, say the violent scenes are nothing new to them.

In fact, they say gangs of youths have been drinking and fighting in the area for weeks - with windows smashed and a nearby park badly vandalised.

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Police were called to break up a mass brawl between up to 150 youths in Melbourne on Sunday night, but residents say the teens have been making their lives hell for weeks

One woman, who did not want to be named, told The Age: 'Life is disturbed; we cannot sleep all night. It's getting worse day by day.'

Another added: 'We keep to ourselves, close the shutters, turn the lights off.'

Residents posting on social media said youths of African appearance were terrorising the neighbourhood and made them feel unsafe in their own homes.

'And guess what? Yet again, no arrests made. No arrests made when they break in to peoples homes also, 8 people at a time, why? Too young they say,' one wrote on Monday.

Locals say the group have been meeting in the park, where a concrete amphitheater has been badly vandalised, for around a month.

That violence came to a head on Sunday night as 150 teenagers began brawling outside a McDonald's.

At least four police cars with a helicopter rushed to the fast foot outlet in Tarneit at about 9.40pm to break up the unruly gathering but no one was arrested.

It was just days after a group of at least 40 youths harassed staff and attacked customers last Thursday after damaging nearby cars.

Locals say the group have been gathering outside the restaurant and inside a local park to drink and cause trouble, with windows smashed and facilities vandalised

Days before the latest brawl, another group of at least 40 youths harassed staff and attacked customers after damaging nearby cars

This time there were no reports of injuries and only one broken window, but witnesses said food and broken glass was everywhere and the youths were shouting and threatening to fight each other.

Residents also spotted police helicopters circling the area well into the night and siad police used dogs to help them disperse the crowd.

Video posted on social media shows dozens of teenagers, who appeared to be of African descent, outside the McDonald's with some getting into physical confrontations.

Raised voices could be heard on another video, with one yelling at someone else to 'stop'.

Leigh Meddings, whose 15-year-old son works at the McDonald's, said the scene was mayhem when she arrived to pick him up.

'It was just disgusting, food left everywhere, staff were cleaning up broken glass. It was very intimidating walking through this group of people to pick my son up,' she told 3AW radio.

Four police cars and a helicopter was called at around 9.40pm on Sunday to break up the violence, though no arrests have been made

Video posted on social media shows dozens of teenagers, who appeared to be of African descent, outside the McDonald's with some getting into physical confrontations

Police said on Monday they believed they knew who broke the McDonald's window and anticipated making one arrest.

'We understand the community is concerned about large gatherings that can cause unrest but their safety is our number one priority,' Commander Russell Barrett said.

'We will work with community leaders to find alternative activities for young people.'

Some residents said the youths sped around the suburb in unregistered cars and banged on doors before running off.

'Ive called the cops... but seriously, two of them in a van arent going to pull them over, theyre scared,' resident Ward Halket told the Herald Sun last week.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are hoping to join an Orthodox synagogue in Washington DC whose rabbi once shouted down the President-elect, it has emerged.

The mother-of-three, 35, whose father, Donald, is Presbyterian, converted to Judaism in 2009 ahead of her marriage to Mr Kushner, whose family are Orthodox Jews.

A representative from the Kushner family is understood to have asked about membership at Washington DC's Ohev Sholom modern Orthodox synagogue - the oldest of its kind in the district.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner (pictured) are hoping to join an Orthodox temple in Washington DC whose rabbi once shouted down the President-elect, it has emerged

A representative from the Kushner family is understood to have asked about membership at Washington DC's Ohev Sholom modern Orthodox synagogue (pictured)

The rabbi, Shmuel Herzfeld (right), has strongly criticised Donald Trump (left) in the past

But the rabbi, Shmuel Herzfeld, has strongly criticised Donald Trump in the past.

Earlier this year he shouted the Republican down at a conference being held at the city's Verizon Center arena, telling the audience to 'not listen to this man' and that he 'inspires racists and bigots'.

According to the New York Post, Herzfeld has not confirmed the approach by the Kushner family.

But members of the congregation told the newspaper the pair would be welcome to worship with them at the 130-year-old synagogue, with one saying: 'We are open to everybody.'

Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism in 2009 ahead of her marriage to New York Observer owner Jared Kushner, whose family are Orthodox Jews. Trump and Kushner are pictured above

Last year, Ivanka Trump spoke for the first time about her conversion to Judaism.

In an interview with Vogue, she said: 'It's been such a great life decision for me. I am very modern, but I'm also a very traditional person, and I think that's an interesting juxtaposition in how I was raised as well.'

The former model-turned-businesswoman added: 'I really find that with Judaism, it creates an amazing blueprint for family connectivity.

'We observe the Sabbath. From Friday to Saturday we don't do anything but hang out with one another. We don't make phone calls.'
One of two teenage brothers who tortured two young boys until they nearly died says he is a 'completely different' person and wants to go to university under a new name seven years after the 'sadistic' attack.

The 18-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told judge Sir Geoffrey Vos he had become 'the opposite of that person who did the crimes' in Edlington, South Yorkshire, in April 2009.

He said he 'fully acknowledged' the 'extreme gravity of his offences' and Sir Geoffrey was told that the man's older brother, now 19, was 'equally committed to the path of rehabilitation'.

Detail of the brothers' hopes and ambitions were revealed today after Sir Geoffrey Vos made orders barring journalists from revealing the brothers' identities earlier this month at the High Court in London.

The pair (sketched in court in 2010)  now free  were aged just ten (right) and 11 (left) when they attacked a boy of nine and his 11-year-old friend on isolated wasteland in 2009. The ten-year-old, now 18, has told a judge he wants to go to university without fear of being named

Police at the scene where two young boys aged 9 and 11 were attacked and badly beaten until they almost died

He has now published a written ruling explaining his reasoning for making those orders on December.

ATTACKERS 'HAD NOWT ELSE TO DO' BUT ASSAULT BOYS The brothers attacked the boys because they were 'bored' and had 'nowt else to do'. And they only stopped battering their victims with an array of weapons because their arms were 'aching'. Both told police they would have carried on if they had not been tired. Asked later how close they had come to killing either boy on a scale of one to ten, the older brother said: 'Perhaps eight or nine.' The victims were throttled with cable, cut with barbed wire, battered with rocks and branches, covered in burning plastic sheeting, had a cigarette plunged into an open wound and were punched, kicked and jumped on. The brothers eventually walked off to meet their father, leaving the older victim lying motionless. When they had gone he told his nine-year-old friend: 'I can't see and I can't move my body. You go, and I'll just die here.' The younger victim, covered in blood, found help and when paramedics reached his friend the 11-year-old was said to have been minutes from death. The brothers admitted robbery, grievous bodily harm with intent, inciting sexual acts and assault. Advertisement

The pair  now free  were aged just ten and 11 when they attacked a boy of nine and his 11-year-old friend on isolated wasteland in 2009.

Despite battering, strangling and sexually abusing their victims in a 90-minute attack, they were granted anonymity until they both reached adulthood when they were jailed for a minimum of five years.

The brothers - who were nicknamed the 'Devil Boys', 'Hell Boys' and 'Torture Bruvs' - have got the same freedom from identification given to the two boys responsible for the 1993 killing of two-year-old James Bulger.

They used Article 3 of the Human Rights Act  which prohibits torture, inhuman or degrading treatment  to support their claim.

The father of their oldest victim said he was incredulous that the brothers were using this section of the act to support their legal bid.

'They didn't give a thought to avoiding torture, inhumane or degrading treatment when they did what they did so it's taking the p*** for them to go to court arguing on those lines,' he said.

The brothers, who were held in separate secure units at a cost to taxpayers of more than 420,000 a year, have been released after the Parole Board decided they were no longer a public threat.

They officially changed their names prior to their release, leaving neighbours and friends unaware of their vile past.

Their lawyers claimed the teenagers 'will be subjected to serious harassment and persecution' if they are identified.

The father of the older victim fears the pair will re-offend and told the Mail that the pair should be identified.

'It's inhuman, what they did,' he said. 'Nobody would do that to another person unless there was something seriously wrong with their heads. People want to know who is living next to them  if they have maniacs down the road.'

Despite battering, strangling and sexually abusing their victims in a 90-minute attack, the boys (sketched in court) were granted anonymity until they both reached adulthood when they were jailed

The 11-year-old boy was found with critical head injuries after the attack in Edlington (pictured), South Yorkshire, in April 2009

The grandfather of the young victim, now 16, said the boy was 'still trying to put it behind him'.

He added: 'I don't agree that [the attackers] should be given lifelong anonymity after what they did.'

The two friends were subjected to a savage torture and beating ordeal involving bricks, lit cigarettes and a noose that left one of the victims barely alive.

The 11-year-old boy was found with critical head injuries after the attack in Edlington, South Yorkshire, in April 2009. His nine-year-old friend was found wandering nearby with knife wounds.

The horrific assault was carried out while the culprits were supposedly under the care of scandal-hit Doncaster Social Services  and on the day that they should have been interviewed by police about an attack a week earlier.

Derek Wright, who helped the younger boy after finding him wandering the streets covered in blood and mud immediately after the attack, said the brothers should not receive anonymity.

Mr Wright said: 'I can still see his face when he was outside our house. Just his eyes and lips were visible, his face was covered in blood.

'They were animals and I've already told police I'm worried they'll do it again. Why should they have their identities protected?'

His wife Jean added: 'People should have a right to know who is living on their street. People ought to be aware so they can protect their kids.'

The stream in the Brick Ponds area of Edlington, South Yorkshire where one of the two young boys who was brutally attacked was found

Despite battering, strangling and sexually abusing their victims in a 90-minute attack, the brothers were granted anonymity

The brothers were locked up in separate units but were said to have been disruptive and had their privileges removed as punishment.

However, their lawyers now say that they have been rehabilitated and neither 'has displayed any aggression or violent behaviour in the community'.

They state that the older attacker, now aged 19, had 'some difficulties' in adjusting to normal life, but has built up a 'positive relationship' with his probation officer.

His brother, who turned 18 a fortnight ago, 'is beginning to build the skills necessary for independent living'.

Sir Geoffrey said he was satisfied that the anonymity order was in the public interest.
Members of the Electoral College, especially those GOP electors poised to cast a vote today for Donald Trump, are being pressured and threatened to pick someone else.

Robert Graham, the chairman of the Arizona state Republican Party and an elector, recounted being harassed on the highway because of his role.

In Pennsylvania today, each elector will be getting state trooper for protection, as protests have sprung up around the state capitol in Harrisburg.

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Robert Graham, chairman of Arizona's Republican Party and an elector, recounted being chased on the highway for his role in the Electoral College

On Fox & Friends this morning Robert Graham said the harassment of the Electoral College members was negatively affecting their health

Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, anti-Donald Trump protests have sprung up around the capitol building in Harrisburg

Protesters want Republican electors to choose another Republican, or Democrat Hillary Clinton, instead of choosing President-elect Donald Trump

Graham appeared on Fox & Friends this morning to tell his scary tale.

'The worst thing, probably the most uncomfortable thing is one day I had a couple emails from the same person that said they were going to follow me, and they were going to make us very uncomfortable because they knew where we lived and that I needed to cast a vote for Trump.'

Graham is on the record saying he will definitely support Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence in today's count, even though Arizona doesn't force its electors to vote for the popular vote winner.

'The next day on the freeway, I ... look to my right, I see people following me actually with their phone up against the window videoing,' he continued. 'They slow down behind, they got in front of my car, when I was at a traffic light they were taking pictures.'

Graham said a similar incident happened the next day too, calling the experience 'not normal.'

Since he's the head of the Arizona GOP, Graham said he was used to the limelight.

'But the other electors, this is a new experience for them all around,' he said.

Electors talking to various news outlets report receiving death threats, thousands of emails, individualized messages from a Hollywood actor and creepy Christmas cards.

'I never can imagine harassing people like this. It's just f***ed up,' Jim Rhoades, a Republican elector from Michigan told Politico. 'I've lost a bunch of business,' Rhoades, who owns a home inspection service, continued.

Electoral College voter Jim Skaggs is interviewed by The Associated Press. As the Electoral College prepares to choose Donald Trump, some Republican electors say they are defending rural and small-town America

Former Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, a GOP elector, said Democrats' strength on the coasts is enough to justify the Electoral College

One Texas Republican elector said he's been bombarded with more than 200,000 emails, Politico reported as well.

Carole Joyce of Arizona, a 72-year-old GOP state committee member, told the Washington Post she's received emails signed ' Benjamin Franklin' and 'John Jay,' names of the Founding Fathers.

She also received a Christmas card that read: 'Please, in the name of God, don't vote for Trump.'

The New York Post talked to 22-year-old college student Michael Banerian, a GOP elector attending Oakland University in Michigan.

'Somebody threatened to put a bullet in the back of my mouth,' Banerian told the newspaper.

On Fox & Friends, Graham mentioned one Arizona woman who received 100,000 emails in one day.

'Her phone locked up, her home computer, she had to bring in help to just clear it out, to actually function on a day to day basis,' he said.

Graham pointed a finger at Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and said they should call on people to act better.

'People are just standing back and letting this happen and it's a full on onslaught and for some of our electors, it's actually affecting their health,' Graham testified on Fox News.

'Think about the stress you have,' he explained.

'You have anywhere from 50 to 100 letters a day, now they're sending Christmas card type letters and then you have emails,' he added.

Saturday Night Live's version of Hillary Clinton, played by comedian Kate McKinnon, acted out a scene from Love Actually, asking a GOP elector not to vote for Donald Trump

Kate McKinnon's Hillary Clinton begged the elector to vote for anyone including John Kasich, Tom Hanks, Zendaya, The Rock and 'a rock'

In a much more lighthearted display, Saturday Night Live's Kate McKinnon, depicting Clinton acting out a scene from the 2003 Christmas hit Love Actually, asks a GOP elector to switch her vote.

'You don't even have to vote for me,' McKinnon-as-Clinton says, using handwritten cue cards. 'I'm coo,' the actress says, sticking out her tongue.

'Just vote for literally anyone else,' she continues. 'Like, John Kasich, Tom Hanks, Zendaya, The Rock, A Rock.'

And, as a last ditch effort, the Saturday Night Live version of Clinton tells the elector, played by Cecily Strong, to enjoy her holidays.

'But keep in mind. If Donald Trump becomes president. He will kill us all,' McKinnon says.

Actor Martin Sheen, who famously played President Josiah Bartlet on the television show The West Wing, filmed a video where he begged Republican electors not to vote for Trump.

Actor Martin Sheen, who played President Josiah Bartlet on the television show The West Wing, filmed a PSA asking electors to not vote for Donald Trump

He even recorded versions using individual electors' names.

The group, Unite for America, also recruited Richard Schiff, Debra Messing, James Cromwell, BD Wong, Moby and Bob Odenkirk to the effort.

Some GOP electors are defending their Trump votes by positing them as a broader shielding of rural and small-town America against big-state liberals and its support for the national popular vote leader, Clinton.

But the picture is more complicated.

'Our Founding Fathers established the Electoral College cause those larger states, those larger areas, don't necessarily need to be the ones that rule,' said Mary Sue McClurkin, a Republican elector from Alabama.

In Trump's hometown of New York City, which Clinton won easily, Democratic elector Stuart Appelbaum countered that 'we're electing the president of the entire country,' so 'the will of the entire country should be reflected in the results.'

It's an expected argument given the unusual circumstances of the 2016 election.

Clinton won some 2.6 million more votes than Trump in the nationwide tally.

But Trump is line to get 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

Trump won rural areas, small towns and many small cities, including in states Clinton carried.

Clinton won in the largest urban areas, including in Trump states.

Former Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, a GOP elector, said Democrats' strength on the coasts is enough to justify the Electoral College.

'A presidential election decided each time by either California or New York,' he said, would leave voters in Alaska and many other places 'with no voice' in presidential politics.

It's worth noting that Trump didn't just win small states and Clinton didn't just take large ones.

Trump and Clinton split the six most populous states, each winning three, but Trump won seven of the top 10.

Of the 10 smallest states plus the District of Columbia, Trump edged Clinton 6-5. Trump actually ran up his national advantage in midsize states.

But the dynamics highlight the delicate balance in a political structure that defines itself simultaneously as a democracy and a republic.

When the U.S. was founded, some wanted direct election of the president. Others wanted state legislatures or Congress to choose the executive.

Instead the country got a compromise.

The Electoral College was the end result: Each state got a slate of electors numbering the same as its delegation in Congress.

Electors vote, with rare exception, for whichever candidate won the most votes in their state  effectively meaning the presidential election is 51 separate popular votes.

'It's such an interesting compromise that gave us the Electoral College, unique to our American system,' said elections law expert Will Sellers from Alabama, who will serve as a Republican elector for the fourth time.

The system gives smaller states an advantage: The number of electors is based on each state's number of U.S. representatives plus two, for each member of the U.S. Senate  itself a compromise favoring small states.

So California's 55 electoral votes reflect 53 House members and two senators. For seven states, including Wyoming, Delaware and the Dakotas, those extra two electoral votes bring their total to the minimum of three.

Put another way, Alaska's three electors will cast 0.56 percent of the 538 electoral votes despite casting just 0.23 percent of the national popular vote.

But the advantage doesn't just favor Republicans.

Democratic Nevada makes up 1.12 percent of the Electoral College but cast less than 1 of a 100 national ballots.

The Electoral College-popular vote split, along with Trump's larger-than-life personality and lack of elective experience, has fueled a vocal, but almost certainly futile, movement to deny him the presidency by pressuring electors to vote against him when they convene Monday in the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

In its own investigation, the Associated Press tried to reach all 538 electors and was able to interview more than 330 of them.

Like other news reports, many reported getting tens of thousands of emails, calls and letters asking them to vote against Trump.

But the canvass found overwhelming support for the system, and the nominee, among Republican electors.

The AP found only one pledged to Trump who will refuse to vote for him.

That elector is likely Chris Suprun of Texas, who came out against Trump in a New York Times op-ed.

Suprun was the only Republican elector in a coalition of 10 asking for an intelligence briefing on the Russian hacking efforts before today's vote.

'I feel like the Electoral College gives a very fair perspective, so that those who are in the rural areas are able to have an equal voice with those who are in the urban areas,' said Oklahoma elector Lauree Elizabeth Marshall.

If anything, when Republican electors talk about large states, they actually mean New York and California.

Clinton's lead in California, the most populous state, is more than her national lead. She won New York by about 1.7 million votes.

McClurkin, the Alabama elector, says many of the letters and emails she's received have come from those two states. 'I've not gotten any from a Southern state,' she said.

But Democratic elector Eric Herde from Washington state argued that the country should scrap electoral votes in favor of the national ballot count.

All Electoral College defenses, whether citing population or the genius of the founders, amount to 'states mattering more than people,' Herde said.
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The dangerous, record-low temperatures that kept most of the Midwest inside over the weekend have not let up in Chicago, which is currently one of the coldest places on Earth - and beyond.

Temperatures in the Windy City fell to minus 6 degrees with a wind chill of minus 20 at 9am on Monday morning, besting Mars by 4 degrees.

Minus 13 degrees was recorded at Chicago O'Hare International Airport overnight, making the city even colder than the South Pole in Antarctica around 4am.

Record-low temperatures and strong winds transformed this lighthouse in St Joseph, Michigan into a stunning ice castle

Photographer Joshua Nowicki told Daily Mail Online that he donned a 6mm winter wetsuit, complete with booties, gloves and boots with spikes, when he went out to take pictures on Friday night and Saturday morning

Temperatures were in the teens and Nowicki said he didn't seen anyone else outside as he snapped his stunning photographs

Chicago was just 1 degree away from beating a record low temperature that was recorded in 1983, according to DNAinfo.

A wind chill advisory was in effect until 10am in the city, with temperatures expected to remain in the teens.

The weather is predicted to get progressively warmer throughout the week, peaking at 39 degrees on Christmas before dropping again.

Chicago wasn't the only city in the Midwest to get hit by the weekend's deep freeze.

Temperatures fell to the teens in St Joseph, Michigan, becoming so cold that an entire lighthouse on Lake Michigan froze over.

Photographer Joshua Nowicki told Daily Mail Online that he donned a 6mm winter wetsuit, complete with booties, gloves and boots with spikes, when he went out to take pictures on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Nowicki, who lives in St Joseph, has always loved taking photos in more severe weather and knew the lighthouse would be getting its first layer of ice this weekend.

The lighthouse looked especially stunning as the waves of Lake Michigan crashed against it

The images quickly went viral after Nowicki posted them on his professional Facebook over the weekend

A drone also captured stunning images of the lighthouse and showed that the pier was likewise covered in a sheet of ice

A person looks out from an ice covered pier as steam rises off Lake Michigan waters on Monday in St Joseph

A pedestrian walks along a partially frozen Chicago River in sub-zero temperatures on Monday morning

Commuters brave the cold and make their way to work across the Madison Street Bridge on Monday in Chicago

Chicagoans bundled themselves from head to toe as they braved weather that was colder than the planet Mars

Temperatures were in the teens and Nowicki said he didn't seen anyone else outside as he snapped his stunning photographs.

The images quickly went viral after Nowicki posted them on his Facebook, allowing everyone to see the stunning sight - without catching any frostbite.

But temperatures did put a damper on a number of holiday festivities in the Plains and Midwest over the weekend, before the cold front pushed into the Ohio Valley and the Eastern Seaboard on Sunday.

On Sunday, temperatures plunged to minus 20 degrees and lower across much of the northern Plains with a fresh surge of bitter arctic air reaching into the Midwest as wind chills dipped below zero across the country.

A church in Lincoln, Nebraska, canceled its living nativity scene. Patti Crittenden, Trinity United Methodist Church's director of youth ministries, told the Lincoln Journal Star: 'In my opinion, this is too cold for anyone to be standing outside - bundled up or not.'

Ice forms on Ohio Street Beach along Lake Michigan on an especially frigid Monday in downtown Chicago

It may have been freezing, but Chicagoans were no doubt glad to hear they slept through the minus 13 degree temperature recorded in the city around 4am, making it even colder than the South Pole in Antarctica

A bike commuter walks on the ice covered path along the shore of Lake Michigan on Monday in downtown Chicago

Chicago (pictured on Monday) was just 1 degree away from besting a record low temperature that was recorded in 1983

A wind chill advisory was in effect until 10am in Chicago, with temperatures expected to remain in the teens on Monday

In suburban Chicago, an arboretum canceled its holiday light show planned for Sunday night and a holiday gift market was canceled in the Chicago suburb of Naperville.

Travelers were stranded and delayed as a blizzard shut down Interstate 90 in parts of Montana on Sunday. Authorities urged people to stay home to avoid endangering themselves and possible rescuers.

Weather-related delays at Indianapolis International Airport caused about 100 passengers to spend the night in the terminal, but most travelers were on their way Sunday morning.

Chicago police said a commercial plane slid off a runway early Sunday at O'Hare International Airport. There were no injuries reported from the incident just after 1am.

Bismarck, North Dakota, posted a new record low for the date of December 17 with 31 degrees below zero on Saturday before midnight, according to the National Weather Service.

Linton, North Dakota, was even colder at minus 33 degrees early Sunday.

In South Dakota, the city of Huron set a new low for Sunday's date of minus 31 degrees. Another record fell in Marshall, Minnesota, where it was 31 below zero. Spencer, Iowa's negative 27 degrees was also a record-breaker.

Perhaps no state was more shocked by the weekend's chill than Texas.

A massive arctic cold front caused a 30-degree temperature drop in the Houston area and brought icy rain and strong winds with it, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Temperatures went from the high 70s to the low 40s around 11pm on Saturday night, causing a number of Texans to freak out on social media.

A worker blows snow and ice off a walkway in Buffalo, New York on Monday morning

New Yorkers kept themselves covered up as they walked through cold temperatures to get through Times Square on Monday

Temperatures were still subzero in the Big Apple, but were expected to rise higher and higher throughout the week

Texas was also hit by chilly weather, despite the fact that temperatures had been recorded at 75 degrees just the day before

Icicles could be seen dripping along these cherry bushes in Texas, which experienced a 30 degree temperature drop

One college student snapped this breathtaking aerial view of Minneapolis as she flew home for winter break on Monday

'Who needs to leave Texas when you get to experience all four seasons in one day?' wrote one Twitter user named Jonathan.

'Texas weather is like boys...always sending mixed signals,' joked Megan Wylie.

'Can someone go ahead and charge Houston Weather with attempted murder?' added Krystal Carter.

In Colorado residents were digging out after up to 16 inches of snow fell across the state on Saturday, stranding motorists and leaving some areas of the state with subzero temperatures on Sunday.

The National Weather Service said the thermometer dipped to 27 degrees below zero in Limon.

But the 16 inches of snow was welcome news in Breckenridge, giving skiers and snowboarders the heavy powder they have been hoping for all season.

Snow and freezing rain led to numerous highway accidents, some serious.

Perhaps the biggest accident was in Baltimore, when a tanker carrying gasoline skidded off a highway and exploded, killing two people and causing a nearly 70-vehicle pileup on Interstate 95, authorities said.

Hospital officials said nearly two dozen people were treated for injuries including broken bones and head trauma.

A total of seven remained hospitalized Sunday with two in critical condition, two in serious condition and three in fair condition.

Pedestrians walk along a snow-covered sidewalk in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday, where up to three inches of snow fell

A snowman stands in a park in Prospect Heights, Illinois. Temperatures in the Chicago area hovered around the single digits, with wind chills expected to drop as low as 25 degrees below zero

Serge Van der Voo (left) pulls a sled while his son Jens, 5, walks behind him in Ann Arbor, Michigan

In southwestern Michigan, icy conditions appear to have played a role in a crash that killed a 73-year-old motorist.

There were dozens of crashes in Indiana - two of them with fatalities - due to freezing rain and ice. The roads were so slick that authorities had to move motorists stranded on an overpass with a ladder.

In Ohio, a Columbus woman died Saturday when her car skidded off a slick road, authorities said. In Virginia, a Fairfax County firetruck slid off an icy road while responding to a crash, but no one was injured.

More than 100 crashes were reported in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina as the drizzle combined with temperatures below freezing to create dangerous icy patches.

A winter storm on Saturday left 2 to 4 inches of snow in Missouri and was followed by sub-zero temperatures early Sunday.

But a 'gentle warmup' is expected in the days leading up to Christmas, according to the National Weather Service.

The East Coast is feeling warmer after a strong cold front brought temperatures more than 10 degrees below normal in many areas for this time of year.

Sunny and partly cloudy skies will be back and temperatures will also moderate across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region after an especially chilly Monday.

A man rides his bicycle on the street in Des Planes, Illinois. The weather has wreaked havoc for travelers and pilots flying in and out of Chicago's airports

A hot pink Christmas tree is seen through a window as snow covers the yard of a in Omaha, Nebraska. Ice and snow caused dozens of car crashes in Iowa and Nebraska, at least one of which was fatal

After the chilly weekend, a 'gentle warmup' is expected in the days leading up to Christmas

The East Coast is feeling warmer after a strong cold front brought temperatures more than 10 degrees below normal in many areas for this time of year

Below average temperatures will hit the southern US, while some rain and mountain snow will help those hoping to ski and snowboard this week in the Pacific Northwest.

The Bay Area in Northern California got a rare taste of winter on Monday as temperatures fell to below freezing overnight, causing the National Weather Service to issue a freeze warning until 8am, on Monday morning.

A frost advisory was also issued for areas by the coast that were experiencing temperatures in the low 30s, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Morning temperatures were in the upper 20s in Gilroy and Pleasanton and rose about 10 degrees higher in Oakland and San Francisco.

The National Weather Service reported that the state would feel slightly warmer conditions on Monday but some areas would still be stuck in the upper 20s and lower 30s, according to San Jose Mercury News.

Temperatures will return to the mid-50s and low-60s for much of the northern part of the Golden State, promising a fairly warm Christmas for Californians.

The US Department of Interior tweeted this beautiful winter wonderland at the Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska

The Alaska National Park Service posted this picture perfect postcard on Twitter to celebrate the coming winter solstice
A Muslim girl refused to shake the hand of the German president despite him visiting her school to praise students for integrating migrants so well.

Footage has emerged of the visit of Joachim Gauck to the Theodor Heuss School in Offenbach at the end of last month.

It shows him arriving at the school in his official car with students waiting for him at the entrance and holding up welcome signs in a variety of languages including German and Arabic.

A Muslim girl refused to shake the hand of the German president despite him visiting her school to praise students for integrating migrants so well

He had chosen to visit the school after it was singled out as being an example of how they successfully help migrant children learn the German language and culture.

Mr Gauck was then introduced to a line up of students and as he went down the line, he proceeded to shake hands with every one of them.

But when the president, who largely has a ceremonial role in Germany, reached the girl in a hijab in the line-up she quickly moved her hand away.

She then placed it over her chest and bowed her head as Mr Gauck held out his hand for her.

But realising she was not going to greet him like the other students, the pair just exchanged smiles and he quickly moved on to the next student.

It is unclear why she moved away from the hand shake, however some Muslims refuse all physical contact with members of the opposite sex they are not married or related to.

However, it is not the first time Muslims have refused to shake hands with members of the opposite sex in Germany.

After refusing the president's hand, the pair just exchanged smiles and he quickly moved on to the next student

In July, a Muslim pupil refused to shake the hand of his female teacher on 'religious grounds.'

As the teacher at the Kurt-Tucholsky School in Hamburg went to shake the hand of the student he offered his wrist instead.

Apparently, seconds later, he told her; 'No offence, my religion won't let me do that. I do not mean to disrespect you.'

But fellow teachers were outraged and demanded he be sent home from the event, a move the headteacher refused.

Meanwhile in Switzerland, a 15-year-old Muslim schoolboy was forced to shake hands with his female teachers after he refused to do so.

Amer Salhani lost his appeal in September after his school rejected his argument that the Swiss tradition of handshake greetings went against Islam.
Dr Rose Polge struggled with crippling self-doubt and considered a change of career

The family of a junior doctor who drowned after walking into the sea today attacked the 'massive levels of anxiety' heaped on NHS staff.

Rose Polge, 25, struggled with crippling self-doubt and considered a change of career despite being described by colleagues at Torbay Hospital in Devon as one of the best.

But she had serious concerns about remaining in the profession in the hours before she killed herself at the height of the dispute between the Government and NHS workers, an inquest has heard.

Her long-term boyfriend, fellow doctor Alasdair Hawley, described how Dr Polge had spent the night before her death walking along the beach near their home in Torquay trying to decide what to do.

In a statement read during the inquest in Torquay, Dr Hawley said he left work early to talk with his girlfriend after becoming increasingly concerned about her mental state.

However, by the time he arrived home at around 4pm, she had vanished. The inquest heard she was last seen a short time later near Anstey's Cove, a shingle beach backed by hillside. Notes were found in her car and at the family home.

The search for 25-year-old Dr Polge, whose body was found in Portland Bay, Dorset, on April 1

Dr Hawley said: I know she was struggling at work with perceived self-doubts. But feedback was that she was progressing well and was actually very capable.

Describing the last time he saw Dr Polge alive, on the morning of her death, Dr Hawley said: She looked distressed. I remember her asking me if she left medicine would I still love her.

He described how Dr Polge had doubts about her ability against a backdrop of long hours, particularly during an 11-day stint on the wards.

Her body was found in Portland Bay, Dorset, on April 1.

Coroner Ian Arrow paid tribute to a very highly regarded doctor, and described her untimely death as a loss to the profession.

He recorded a conclusion of suicide, and said the cause of death was either from drowning or hypothermia.

Friends and family of Dr Polge embrace at Anstey's Cove during the search earlier this year

It emerged during the search for Dr Polge that she had left notes to loved ones before she disappeared.

It is understood that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was mentioned in passing in the note, which was addressed to her friends and family and was not political.

Little detail about the content of the notes was referred to in court - only that one of the notes read like a 'for and against' list, although its context was not explained.

The other note was described as being intended to be read after her death.

The inquest also heard an examination of Dr Polge's computer contained searches about suicide methods, as well as possible career options outside of medicine.

In a statement read in court, Dr Polge's tearful family called for action to tackle the 'crisis' in the health service.

It said: 'Many doctors work under terrific pressure and over incredibly long hours. They cope with fatigue and heavy workloads in extremely busy departments.

Police specialists search for Dr Polge, who was described as a very highly regarded doctor

'Doctors' awareness of patient safety issues, together with an emphasis on self-reflection and personal responsibility, can generate massive levels of anxiety.

'Doctors can feel a dreadful sense of personal failure and inadequacy if they struggle to keep working. Sometimes, the despair can be sudden and overwhelming.'

The family said a recent General Medical Council survey identified the problem with low morale and heavy workloads, particularly among junior doctors.

The statement added: 'Many trainers report that they do not have enough time to provide educational supervision and some consultants are saying that they no longer have sufficient time to support their junior staff in their day-to-day work.

'Our hope is that something will be done about this crisis in the health service.'

Dr Polge, who was originally from Cambridge and went to Southampton University, had been due to meet with her GP later that day having booked an appointment to discuss her mood after leaving work early - however, she did not attend.

The court heard dog walker Glen Warwick was likely to be the last person to see Dr Polge alive, at Anstey's Cove at around 3pm.

Concerns: Dr Polge had doubts about her ability against a backdrop of long hours, particularly during an 11-day stint on the wards

In a statement, he said he saw the young woman - who he estimated to be in her 20s - looking shabby with her clothes covered in mud.

He said she stopped to say hello and stroke the dogs but then continued on her way. Mr Warwick said he contacted the police after recognising the woman's face on the internet the following day.

The court heard Dr Polge's mobile phone ceased use at around 4.20pm, and that her clothes were subsequently found in a pile near the water, while her car was left unlocked near the beach with a note in the glove compartment.

The coroner, returning a verdict of suicide, said: I'm prepared to accept that (Dr Polge) has died as a result of immersion in water - either hypothermia or drowning.

It is clear that she was unhappy, it is clear she expressed (her) concerns with her boyfriend and her GP.

She has produced a 'for and against' list in her home and written a note at home which she left in her glove compartment.

It appears to me that at some stage she has walked down to the coast. I'm satisfied that Rose decided to enter the water to end her life.
Alex Glover, 25, posed as a 15-year-old to have cyber sex with children was caught after the FBI took control of his favourite abuse website on the dark web, a court heard

A paedophile who posed as a 15-year-old girl to have cyber sex with children was caught after the FBI took control of his favourite abuse website on the dark web, a court heard.

Recluse Alex Glover, 25, posed as 'Jess' to access an international online chatroom used by youngsters where he engaged in explicit sexual chats at least ten times.

He also downloaded sickening images and videos of children as young as two being abused, the Old Bailey heard.

But his interest in young children was only exposed when the FBI took control of the hidden website, which was used to distribute child pornography around the world.

Details of British users were passed on to Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) and officers tracked down the username 'Alex345' to Glover's Croydon home.

Following a raid on April 21 last year, Glover denied a sexual interest in children and claimed he had only accessed the dark web to watch banned Japanese cartoons.

But prosecutor Szilvia Booker said he later confessed to downloading child porn, adding: 'He then admitted creating a false persona on the web.

'He pretended to be a 15-year-old girl called "Jess" to access an international online chat forum, used predominantly by children, to talk to children.

'He admitted having cyber sex with children ten times.'

Glover, of no fixed address but from Croydon, south London, pleaded guilty to nine counts of making indecent photographs of children and attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

The images included the most extreme type, such as bestiality and incest, and Glover could face a lengthy prison term.

In court: Glover also downloaded sickening images and videos of children as young as two being abused, the Old Bailey (pictured) heard. He was told he faces a possible lengthy jail term

But Judge Paul Worsley QC adjourned sentence for an assessment of his suitability to attend a 'sex offender treatment programme'.

'As you must appreciate, the mischief of making indecent photographs is that some child somewhere is being prevailed upon to behave in an appalling fashion which may well colour the rest of their lives.'

The judge also highlighted how Glover preyed on youngsters online while posing as a 15-year-old.

'The obvious sentence is one of immediate imprisonment. I'm going to fall back from that today, but it may well be you go to prison for some time.' he told Glover before explaining how he will be assessed in January.

I make it absolutely clear you may well have to serve a term of imprisonment if that is the only way to protect youngsters from your activity Judge Paul Worsley QC

But he warned Glover, who suffers from ADHD, depression and Asperger syndrome, that if found unsuitable, he will go to jail.

'I make it absolutely clear you may well have to serve a term of imprisonment if that is the only way to protect youngsters from your activity,' he said.

The prosecutor explained how Glover was caught in a wider probe into the distribution of child sex abuse images on the dark web.

'The investigation into Mr Glover in fact arose unrelated to his activities. It was an ongoing NCA operation with the FBI into the distribution and posting of images of children on what the public still as the hidden web,' she explained.

'Using a programme that is used for the international distribution of images of children, abusive images, live streaming of abuse and child abuse forums.

'In February 2015, the FBI identified the physical location of servers hosting a programme.

'It obtained a search warrant, taking over and monitoring the programme between 20 February and 4 March.'
Two people have died after a Mercedes crashed into a school bus that was stopped at a red light.

The driver and his female passenger, both believed to be in their late 20s, were reportedly speeding along Roosevelt Boulevard in north-east Philadelphia in a silver 2000 Mercedes-Benz.

The car crashed into the back of the bus which had stopped at traffic lights just before 9pm last night, police said.

The driver and his female passenger, both believed to be in their late 20s, were reportedly speeding along Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia and crashed into a school bus that had stopped at a red light

Witnesses said the car went underneath the bus and then caught fire after the crash just before 9pm on Sunday. Both the driver and his passenger died from their injuries

Witnesses said the car went underneath the bus and then caught fire. Both the driver and his passenger died from their injuries.

Police added that the bus driver had dropped about 24 children off at a nighttime church service minutes before the crash. The bus driver was not injured.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told NBC: 'She just dropped them off at a nearby church. She said about three minutes prior to the accident. So we're really lucky in that respect.'

Police are investigating the cause of the crash but it is thought that speeding played a role.

Video courtesy of WFMZ
The owner of a medieval castle has triumphed in his court battle to block residential conversion of neighbouring historic barns.

Michael Lyndon-Stanford said the plans harmed the setting of Wingfield Castle and accused Mid Suffolk District Council of failing in its conservation duties.

Now one of the country's top judges has ruled that the local authority's decision was based on 'significantly misleading' reports from its heritage team.

Mr Lyndon-Stanford challenged the grant by the council of planning permission for redevelopment of the Castle Farm Barns, which are themselves Grade II listed.

Michael Lyndon-Stanford said the plans harmed the setting of Wingfield Castle (pictured) and accused Mid Suffolk District Council of failing in its conservation duties

Deputy judge John Howell QC said the moated castle dates back to around 1385, and was partially demolished after it was seized by Henry VIII in the 16th century.

One original wall still remains, and the castle in East Anglia was repaired and rebuilt in around 1544.

The judge added the barns were of 'special architectural and historic interest', and said that they have a 'close visual relationship' with the castle.

However, they were sold into separate ownership as part of a farm during the 20th century.

The 'misleading' reports referred to related to Mr Lyndon-Stanford's attempts to buy the crumbling barns, which he claims to still hope to buy and preserve.

He says that in 2006, he tried to buy the barns - which have their origins in Tudor times - in order to preserve them.

Deputy judge John Howell QC argued that the development will 'harm the setting' of his castle, which was first built in the late 14th century

But he added that the owners, Duncan and Peter West, withdrew from the negotiations.

Then, in 2009, the barns were placed on the 'buildings at risk' register due to their condition.

In 2015, the Wests and Warren Hill Farms made their application for planning permission and listed building consent to convert the barns into three homes.

Historic England and Mr Lyndon-Stratford objected to the plan but the council's development control committee over-rode their objections.

The proposals were then approved, granting listed building consent in March and planning permission in April.

In 2015, the Wests and Warren Hill Farms made their application for planning permission and listed building consent to convert the barns into three homes

Quashing the decision, the judge said the reports wrongly gave the impression that Mr Lyndon-Stratford had been offered multiple opportunities to buy the barns

Mr Lyndon-Stratford attacked the way the council's consideration of whether there was an alternative means of securing their future.

He argued that the development will 'harm the setting' of his castle, which was first built in 1384.

Quashing the decision, the judge said the reports wrongly gave the impression that Mr Lyndon-Stratford had been offered multiple opportunities to buy the barns.

The council, which will now have to reconsider the application, had argued that the decision would have been the same even if the correct information had been given.
A Wisconsin mother gave her 10-year-old adopted mother the best Christmas gift possible  a twin sister.

Jennifer Doering and her husband, Tom, of Wausau, Wisconsin, were thinking of the ideal present for Audrey, the Chinese girl they had adopted.

Like many Chinese orphans, Audrey was put up for adoption through a 'finding ad', an ad which is placed in Chinese newspapers whenever a baby is put in an orphanage.

Doering wanted to buy the ad as a gift for her daughter, only she was in for a shock.

Scroll down for video

Jennifer Doering (left) wanted to get a Christmas gift for her adopted 10-year-old daughter, Audrey (right)

After purchasing the original ad from a website which deals with adopted children, she saw that the original ad showing a photo of Audrey also had a picture of another baby who bore a striking resemblance.

The original photo shows a woman holding Audrey on one knee and the other girl on the other knee.

That was when Doering realized that Audrey had an identical twin sister.

The couple kept digging further and they found that Audrey's sister had a birthday that was estimated to be close her own.

Doering managed to track down the 'finding ad' (above), which is placed in Chinese newspaper whenever a girl is put up for adoption. She noticed Audrey and a girl who looked just like her in the picture

They also found that the other girl in the photo had a congenital heart condition, just like Audrey.

The Doerings would learn that the girl, Gracie, had also been adopted by a family in Washington State.

They then reached out to the adopting family, the Rainsberrys.

Doering investigated the matter further and discovered that Audrey's sister, Gracie (above in the green sweater) was adopted by the Rainsberry family of Tri-City, Washington

Gracie's (left) mother, Nicole (center), said that when she showed Gracie a video of Audrey, the two girls looked alike, sounded alike, and had the same mannerisms

'We showed her a video of Audrey on Jennifer's Facebook wall. And, I mean, it's crazy,' Nicole Rainsberry, Gracie Rainsberry's mom, told KNDO-TV.

'Because not just do they look alike, their voices are the same. Their mannerisms are the same.'

'I did not even know I had a sister at all,' said Audrey.

It turns out that the Rainsberrys also had the same finding ad for years, but they didn't notice that the other girl on the woman's lap was her twin sister.

Gracie (left) re-unites with Audrey (seen in the computer screen) through FaceTime

'I did not even know I had a sister at all,' said Audrey (seen here with Jennifer)

'I was very overwhelmed and I started to cry,' said Gracie (seen on the right with her family)

They were reunited on Friday for a chat on FaceTime.

'Essentially from, between Monday and Wednesday, we were able to locate the Rainsberrys,' said Jennifer Doering, Audrey's mom.

'And by Friday, everybody kind of knew.'

'I was very overwhelmed and I started to cry,' Gracie said.
Now Italians in Naples fear it means that 2017 will bring disaster and bad

It is a 600-year-old tradition that signifies whether there will be good fortune in the New Year.

But after a vial containing the blood of St Januarius failed to liquefy during a ceremony by the bishop of Naples at the weekend, Italians fear that 2017 could bring disaster.

Januarius, the bishop of Naples was martyred in the third century and remains popular among Catholics.

Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe holds a flask believed to contain drops of liquefied blood of St Januarius at the ceremony in September 2015

Thousands gather three times a year to see whether a vial of his coagulated blood will turn to liquid, which they believe to be a miracle bringing good fortune to the city.

But at the ceremony on Saturday, the blood contained in the vial refused to turn to liquid, despite the best efforts of the Bishop of Naples, Crescenzio Sepe.

And now Catholics in the city have been left fearing that the next few months could bring bad luck and disaster.

However, the Abbott of the chapel, Monsignor Vincenzo De Gregorio, tried to play down the significance of the blood not turning to liquid.

He told Italian newspaper La Stampa: 'We must not think about disasters and calamities. We are men of faith, and we must continue to pray.'

The tradition of liquefying the congealed blood of St Januarius dates back to the 1389 but sceptics say supposed miracle may be brought on my shaking or the heat from the hands holding the vial.

Thousands gather three times a year to see whether a vial of his coagulated blood will turn to liquid, which they believe to be a miracle bringing good fortune to the city. Pictured is one of the ceremonies in 2013

In the 1520s when Naples was struggling with plague, war and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, surviving citizens pledged to build a chapel for the saint in return for his protection.

The vow was put in writing by a lawyer, and the original 1527 document is on display at the exhibition entrance in the Fondazione Roma-Museo.

There have been several times in the past when the blood has also failed to liquefy and some Catholics point to the terrible things that have happened afterwards.

One of the last times the miracle failed to occur was in 1980, the year a powerful earthquake shook Irpinia in Italy, leaving almost 2,500 people dead.
Patriots Broncos Football

New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis runs against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

(Jack Dempsey)

There will be no postseason trip to Mile High Stadium for the New England Patriots, nor will there be a playoff visit to Arrowhead.

The race at the top of the AFC looks clear after Week 15. Only two teams -- the Patriots and the Raiders -- can win the No. 1 seed in the conference.

The Chiefs, who entered the weekend leading the ultra-competitive AFC West, have been eliminated from contention for the conference's top seed.

After a 19-17 loss to the Titans Sunday, the Chiefs dropped to 10-4, falling one game behind the Raiders (11-3) and two games behind the Patriots (12-2).

If the Chiefs win out and the Patriots lose in Weeks 16 and 17, both teams will finish 12-4, but the tiebreaker -- by virtue of record against common opponents -- will go to New England.

The teams have four common opponents: the Broncos, Jets, Steelers, and Texans. The Chiefs cannot finish any better than 3-2 against those teams. The Patriots cannot finish worse than 4-1.

So that leaves the Raiders as the only potential roadblock to an extended stay at Gillette for the Patriots.

The Pats hold a one-game edge on the Raiders entering Week 16. New England has a home game against the Jets (4-10) and a road game against the Dolphins (9-5) remaining. Oakland has a home game against the Colts (7-7) and a road game against the Broncos (8-6) left on the schedule.

There is still pressure on the Pats to win their next two games. If the two teams finish tied at 13-3, the Raiders will win the tiebreaker by virtue of common opponent (they will be 5-0 against the Ravens, Broncos, Texans, and Bills, while the Patriots will be 4-1).

The Patriots can clinch the No. 1 seed in Week 16 with a win and a Raiders loss.
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The Russian ambassador to Turkey was last night shot dead by an off-duty Turkish police officer at an art gallery in Ankara in 'revenge' for the conflict in Syria.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, was shot several times from behind by a gunman shouting: 'Allahu Akbar (God is Great). We die in Aleppo, you die here!' He also screamed: 'Only death will take me out of here.'

The shooter, who was wearing a suit and tie, has been identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22, a member of Ankara's police riot squad. He reportedly fired into the air before taking aim at the ambassador.

He then turned weapon on others in the gallery - injuring three - before he was shot dead in a 15-minute stand-off with police. There has been some suggestion that Altintas was linked to Turkey's failed coup in July.

Russian president Vladimir Putin condemned the attack, saying: 'The crime that was committed is without doubt a provocation aimed at disrupting the normalisation of Russian-Turkish relations and disrupting the peace process in Syria.' Russian embassies to be stepped up and as Putin vowed to find who had 'directed' the gunman's hand.

The killing comes after days of protests in Turkey over Russia's role in Syria.

Today the Russians are due to host Turkey and Iran's foreign ministers for talks on the evacuation of civilians from Aleppo. Both sides have indicated they will still go ahead.

Rant: Altintas shouts 'Allahu akbar [God is great]' as Andrei Karlov lies dying on the floor after the fatal gallery shooting

Poised to strike: As Andrei Karlov takes to the microphone, about to make a speech at an art exhibition, as gunman Mevlut Mert Altintas, left in the background, stands calmly behind him

Gunned down: The Russian ambassador is shot in the back and at least once at close range after collapsing to the ground. He dies of his injuries shortly afterwards

Challenge: The gunman turns his weapon on others in the gallery, injuring three people. He was later shot dead

Bloodied end: An image of the gunman, lying dead on the floor of the art gallery, was posted on Twitter after the stand-off

Terror: Spectators cowered in the corner of the gallery as Mr Karlov was shot at close range by the 22-year-old gunman

Escape: Guests were evacuated from the gallery after Mr Karlov was shot dead by the Turkish police officer

Lockdown: Dozens of Turkish police secured the area around the gallery following the fatal shooting of the diplomat last night

The ambassador was attending an art exhibition called 'Russia as seen by Turks' when Altintas entered the gallery  around 100 yards from the US embassy  by allegedly showing his police officer badge.

The gunman, who had been a policeman for two-and-a-half years, was seen standing calmly behind Mr Karlov before the attack. He fired nine shots and shouted 'Allahu akbar [God is great]' as Mr Karlov fell to the ground.

As Mr Karlov lay dying on the floor, Altintas shot him at least once more at close range.

The horrific scene was filmed by journalists covering the opening.

In Arabic, Altintas can be heard saying: 'We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad for jihad.'

According to local media, his words are similar to the unofficial anthem of Al Nusra, the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda.

In Turkish, Altintas adds: 'Don't forget about Aleppo. Don't forget about Syria. As long as our lands are not safe, you will not taste safety  Only death will take me out of here. Anyone who has a role in this oppression, they will all die one by one.'

Some reports claimed he said words to the effect of: 'We made an oath to die in martyrdom  it is revenge for Syria and Aleppo  until they are safe, you will not taste safety.'

Other reports suggested he said: 'Stand back! Stand back! Only death will take me out of here. Anyone who has a role in this oppression will die one by one.'

Brutal: As Mr Karlov lay dying on the floor, Altintas shot him at least once more at close range

Fatal shooting: Gunman Altintas, 22, an off-duty police officer, fired into the air before taking aim at Andrei Karlov

On the edge: Riot officer Altintas waved his arms in the air as he shouted at the terrified visitors inside the gallery

Chilling pledge: The gunman said he would not leave the scene alive as he screamed at terrified guests inside the gallery

Explosive: Altintas turned his gun on others, injuring three. He was heard shouting slogans in both Turkish and Arabic

Taking aim: It reportedly took about 15 minutes before the gunman was himself shot dead at the gallery

Unhinged: He continued to shout in Turkish and Arabic as the victim lay dead at his feet

Anger: A discarded pair of glasses are seen on the floor of the gallery alongside the ambassador's body

Target: Mr Karlov (pictured) was about to give a speech at an art exhibition when the gunman burst in and began firing at him

When the violence erupted in the exhibition, Altintas smashed several of the framed photos on the wall as others ran for cover.

Witness Hasim Kilic, a journalist for Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, told AFP: 'It happened during the opening of an exhibition. When the ambassador was delivering a speech, a tall man wearing a suit, fired into the air first and then took aim at the ambassador.

'GUESTS HID UNDER TABLES': ONE WITNESS DESCRIBES THE SCENE Photographer Burhan Ozbilic was covering the exhibition for the Associated Press. He recounts the chaos of the scene: 'The event was routine enough - the opening of an exhibit of photographs of Russia - and when a man on stage pulled out a gun I thought it was a theatrical flourish. 'It was anything but. Moments later the Russian ambassador was sprawled on the floor and the attacker was waving his gun at the rest of us, shouting slogans. 'He shot the ambassador at least once more at close range and smashed some of the framed photos on the wall. In all there were at least eight shots. 'Guests ran for cover, hiding behind columns and under tables. I composed myself enough to shoot pictures.' Advertisement

'He said something about Aleppo and 'revenge'. He ordered the civilians to leave the room. When people were fleeing, he fired again.

An unnamed witness added to news website Diken: 'There was a single attacker. He was wearing a suit. He said to the Russian ambassador: 'I'm not going to get out of here alive. And neither are you.'

'Then he took aim straight at him. We all ran out. The ambassador was motionless on the ground.'

Photographer Burhan Ozbilici, who was covering the exhibition, said: 'The Russian ambassador was sprawled on the floor and the attacker was waving his gun at the rest of us, shouting slogans.

'He shot the ambassador at least once more at close range and smashed some of the framed photos  In all there were at least eight shots. Guests ran for cover, hiding behind columns and under tables.'

According to local media, the gunman's words during the attack were similar to the unofficial anthem of the rebel group Al Nusra, a Syrian branch of Al Qaeda.

But Turkish security officials claimed there were 'very strong signs' Altintas was a follower of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed the failed coup on Mr Gulen, who is exiled in Pennsylvania in the US.

Ibrahim Melih Gokcek, mayor of Ankara, also claimed on Twitter that Altintas was a member of the Gulen movement.

A Turkish official, who declined to be named, said investigators were looking at Altintas's links to a network of Gulen followers, which the government calls the 'Gulenist Terrorist Organisation' (Feto).

But Mr Gulen's media representative Alp Aslandogan dismissed any link and said the cleric condemned the ambassador's murder as a 'heinous act'.

Shocking: When the violence erupted, Altintas smashed several of the framed photos on the wall as others ran for cover

Safety: Witnesses described how people ran away and hid, seen right, as the violence started in the gallery

Off duty: Details of Altintas were soon shared on social media, along with this picture showing him in his police uniform

VLADIMIR PUTIN BRANDS KILLING A 'PROVOCATION' Vladimir Putin tonight condemned the killing of the Russian ambassador as a 'provocation' aimed at sabotaging ties between Moscow and Ankara. The Russian president said the death of Andrei Karlov, 62, was designed to 'disrupt the peace process in Syria' as he vowed to 'step up the fight against terrorism'. He ordered security at Russian embassies around the world to be stepped up and said he wanted to know who had 'directed' the gunman's hand. Russian investigators will be sent to Ankara to investigate the killing, he said at the meeting tonight. Moscow has branded the killing as a 'terrorist act'. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, left, director of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin, right, and Alexander Bortnikov, second from right, director of the Federal Security Service, on Monday night Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, pictured, said both he and Putin had agreed they must work together in the fight against terrorism Meanwhile Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said both he and Putin had agreed they must work together in the fight against terrorism as he reiterated the ties between their two countries. Speaking at a special meeting at the Kremlin tonight, Putin said: 'The crime that was committed is without doubt a provocation aimed at disrupting the normalisation of Russian-Turkish relations and disrupting the peace process in Syria that is being actively advanced by Russia, Turkey and Iran. 'There can be only one answer to this - stepping up the fight against terrorism, and the bandits will feel this.' Putin, who said he personally knew Mr Karlov, said he had agreed in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart and agreed Russian investigators would soon fly to Ankara to help with the investigation. Putin added: 'We have to know who directed the hand of the killer. Putin called Mr Karlov a 'brilliant diplomat' and said he had known the ambassador personally. Pictured, the men together in October Advertisement

Russian and Turkish foreign and defence ministers had been due to meet in Moscow today to discuss Syria.

A Russian foreign ministry spokesman said: 'We qualify what happened as a terrorist act. The murderers will be punished  today this issue will be raised at the UN Security Council. Terrorism will not win out.'

At an emergency meeting last night, Putin said the killing was a 'provocation' aimed at sabotaging ties between Moscow and Ankara.

ASSASSINATION WAS ORGANISED BY 'NATO SECRET SERVICES' CLAIMS KREMLIN SENATOR The secret services of a NATO country is 'highly likely' to have been behind the assassination of ambassador Andrei Karlov, claimed a top ally of Vladimor Putin. Senior senator Frantz Klintsevich, deputy chairman of the Russian upper chamber's defence and security committee, said: 'It was a planned action. 'Everyone knew that he was going to attend this photo exhibition. 'It can be ISIS, or the Kurdish army which tries to hurt Erdogan. 'But may be - and it is highly likely - that representatives of foreign NATO secrets services are behind it. 'What has happened is a true provocation, a challenge. 'It is a challenge for Russia.' The senator is a member of the ruling council of United Russia party, Putin's vehicle of power. The Russian Foreign Ministry vowed that terrorism would not win after the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Turkey. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: 'We call this event an act of terror. 'Terrorism will not win. 'We will strongly fight it.' Advertisement

The Russian president said the killing was designed to 'disrupt the peace process in Syria' as he vowed to 'step up the fight against terrorism'.

In televised comments he said: 'There can be only one answer to this - stepping up the fight against terrorism, and the bandits will feel this.'

Putin, who personally knew Mr Karlov, said he had agreed in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that Russian investigators would soon fly to Ankara to help with the investigation.

Putin added: 'We have to know who directed the hand of the killer.'

Meanwhile Mr Erdogan said both he and Putin had agreed they must work together in the fight against terrorism as he reiterated the strength of the ties between the two countries.

Elena Panina, Russian MP on the international relations committee, said: 'I believe this is a provocation to disrupt improved dialogue between Russia and Turkey.'

Ibrahim Melih Gokcek, Ankara's mayor, described the attack as 'heinous'.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter: 'Shocked to hear of despicable murder of Russia's ambassador to Turkey. My thoughts are with his family. I condemn this cowardly attack.'

Defence Secretary Sir Michael told MPs it was 'a shocking act involving a diplomat who should otherwise, of course, enjoy proper protection', adding: 'His murder does not bring any conflict in the Middle East further to a resolution.'

Richard Moore, the UK's ambassador to Turkey, said on Twitter: 'Devastating news about Andrei Karlov. My wife & my thoughts with his wife Marina & family & to all colleagues at Russian Embassy.'

He described Mr Karlov as 'quietly spoken, hospitable (and) professional'.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned what he called a 'senseless act of terror', saying 'there can be no justification'. He offered 'deepest condolences to the Russian delegation'.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric reiterated the U.N.'s condemnation and said 'we very much hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice'.

He said Ban 'is following the unfolding situation closely and wishes the other people who were reportedly injured in the attack a speedy and full recovery'.

Last night Russian ultranationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky appeared to blame Britain, claiming the assassination was intended to stop an upcoming visit by Turkish president Erdogan to Moscow to seal closer ties with Putin. He said: 'The West is trying to embroil us. All conflicts were inspired by Britain.

High alert: Dozens of armed police gathered outside the art centre in Ankara after the fatal shooting of Mr Karlov

A police cordon was put in place after the assassination, near the Russian embassy in Ankara

Dozens of police officers arrived at the scene in the wake of the shooting on Monday night

Russia has condemned the assassination of Mr Karlov as a 'terror attack'. Pictured, the scene

Turkish police officers cordon off the area around the gallery where Mr Karlov was shot dead

The area around the gallery was closed off in the hours following the fatal shooting

Armoured police vehicles arrived at the scene where Mr Karlov was shot dead by police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas

Turkish police secure the area near an art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot today

Turkish police arrived at the scene of the shooting and are believed to have gunned down the ambassador's assassin

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER URGES NO 'CONCESSIONS TO TERRORISTS' AFTER ENVOY MURDER Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday there should be no 'concessions to terrorists' at talks with his Turkish counterpart on Syria, a day after Moscow's ambassador was murdered in Ankara. 'This tragedy forces all of us to fight more decisively against terrorism,' Lavrov told Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu as they sat down together in Moscow. 'For this reason, I very much hope that our talks and the upcoming three-way meeting with our Iranian colleague will allow us to reach agreements, which will through concrete actions advance the settlement in Syria,' Lavrov said, also insisting that they should not allow 'any concessions to terrorists'. Foreign and defence ministers from Russia, Turkey and Iran are holding talks on the conflict in Syria, which has entered a crucial stage with the government takeover of rebel-held eastern Aleppo. 'If the organisers of this terror attack were aiming to derail the fight against terrorists in general and today's meeting in particular, they have not succeeded and they won't succeed,' Lavrov said at the start of separate talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Lavrov said he hoped the countries would come up with 'the most effective and concrete steps' to normalise the situation in Syria and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to desperate civilians. The United States has been left out of the talks in a clear sign that Moscow is attempting to forge its own settlement for Syria after failing to make headway with Washington. The Moscow meetings come after Russian envoy Andrei Karlov was gunned down on Monday at an exhibition opening in Ankara by a Turkish policeman crying 'Allahu Akbar' (God is greatest) and 'Don't forget Aleppo', in what Moscow called a 'terrorist act'. Russia and Iran are on the opposite side of the Syrian conflict from Turkey, with Moscow and Tehran backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Ankara supporting those seeking to topple him. But Turkey and Russia have started working closely together to evacuate rebel fighters and civilians from war-battered Aleppo under a complex deal. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday warned that the killing of Karlov was a 'provocation' aimed at damaging ties with Turkey and undermining the latest efforts to reach a settlement on Syria. Advertisement

He alleged: 'This is done deliberately to frustrate Erdogan's visit. For sure, now, the visit will be postponed.' The assassination 'was done for purpose, because we are ready to sign important agreements', he added.

The attack took place a day after protests in Turkey over Russian support for Syrian president Bashar Al Assad.

Last week protests were held outside the Russian Embassy in Ankara and Russia's Consulate General in Istanbul over Russian involvement in the crisis.

Demonstrators chanted slogans against Russia, Iran and China for deliberately supporting the Assad regime.

They claimed that Russian forces cooperated with Assad to slaughter civilians in war-stricken Aleppo and using chemical weapons.

Security was stepped up outside the Turkish embassy in Moscow, Russia, following the assassination

Two women mourn the loss of Mr Karlov outside the Russian foreign ministry in Moscow, hours after the assassination

A woman pays her respects to Mr Karlov by leaving a bouquet of flowers outside the Russian Foreign Ministry, in Moscow

A photograph of Mr Karlov was left alongside bouquets of flowers outside the Russian foreign ministry in Moscow

The undercover cop assassin: The special forces officer, 22, who gunned down Russian ambassador

The family of the gunman were arrested just hours after the attack last night  as he was linked to Turkey's failed coup in July.

Mevlut Mert Altintas's father Esrafil, mother Hamidiye, and his sister, Seher Ozeroglu, who works in a clothes shop, were arrested in his home town of Soke in Aydin, a province on western Turkey's Aegean coast.

Police reportedly raided the family's house, where they are thought to have lived for only two months.

Police also detained Altntas's uncle, who had been working at a closed school allegedly linked to the Gulen movement in the Kusadas district, on Tuesday. He was reportedly previously detained as part of the investigation into the failed July 15 coup attempt.

The family of the gunman were arrested just hours after the attack last night. Pictured, Altintas brandishes the gun

Altintas's housemate, an unnamed fellow officer, was also arrested after police raided his home in Ankara.

According to local media, the gunman's words during the attack were similar to the unofficial anthem of the rebel group Al Nusra, a Syrian branch of Al Qaeda.

Another Turkish website claimed to show sections of Altintas's personnel file

But Turkish security officials claimed there were 'very strong signs' Altintas was a follower of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed the failed coup on Mr Gulen, who is exiled in Pennsylvania in the US.

Ibrahim Melih Gokcek, mayor of Ankara, also claimed on Twitter that Altintas was a member of the Gulen movement.

A Turkish official, who declined to be named, said investigators were looking at Altintas's links to a network of Gulen followers, which the government calls the 'Gulenist Terrorist Organisation' (Feto).

The official added: 'The people he lived with before school were detained over Feto. It was determined that the people with whom he graduated from school were from a Feto team  There are very strong signs that the person who carried out this attack was from Feto.'

Turkish media pointed out that Altintas took two days' holiday immediately after the coup.

But Mr Gulen's media representative Alp Aslandogan dismissed any link and said the cleric condemned the ambassador's murder as a 'heinous act'.

The government says Mr Gulen, who has been in self-imposed exile since 1999, created a 'parallel network' in the police, military, judiciary and civil service aimed at overthrowing the state. Mr Gulen denies this.
The Republicans' 2012 nominee Mitt Romney explained why he met with Donald Trump and considered becoming his political nemesis' secretary of state, after he had criticized the president-elect throughout the election cycle.

'I was more than a little surprised that the president-elect reached out to me to potentially serve as secretary of state of the United States,' Romney wrote in a short op-ed published this weekend by the Salt Lake City Tribune.

He said he mulled it, despite the barrage of negative names he had thrown at Trump, because 'if I could have helped shape foreign policy to protect the country I love, I would have been more than willing to do so.'

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Mitt Romney, seen at Trump Tower late last month, explained in a short op-ed published in the Salt Lake City Tribune why he mulled a position in the Trump administration

Mitt Romney said it was a 'welcome sign' that Donald Trump was willing to hire one of his former political rivals

Romney suggested that Trump's willingness to meet with a former rival spelled good news for the country.

'I see it as a welcome sign that he will be open to alternative views and even to critics,' Romney said.

Trump chose South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who endorsed Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz before giving in and backing Trump, to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations.

Romney, on the other hand, wasn't given a rose.

During the Republican primaries, Romney made the unprecedented move of making a major address and asking GOP voters not to support Trump.

The former Massachusetts governor labeled Trump both a 'phony' and a 'fraud.'

Trump also mocked Romney for losing to President Barack Obama in 2012.

Soon after Trump shocked the political world by besting Democrat Hillary Clinton, Romney was at his side at his Bedminster, New Jersey resort.

The first meeting led to a dinner in New York City, while some of Trump's closest aides  including campaign manager Kellyanne Conway  publicly said the president-elect shouldn't pick his party's former nominee, because of Romney's damaging statements during the GOP primary.

President-elect Donald Trump (left) invited Mitt Romney (right) to dine with him in New York City after their initial meet-and-greet at Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey golf club

And last week, CNN reported that team Trump had wanted an apology out of Romney, something the author of a book entitled 'No Apology' wouldn't give.

So instead of choosing Romney, a pick that would have made many establishment Republican happy, Trump expanded his political outsider brand by choosing ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be his nominee for secretary of state.

Romney called it an 'honor' to be considered.

'My political journey was surely not so bizarre as the 2016 campaign,' he remarked to the Salt Lake City Tribune, going on to explain how he went from political foe to something more like a friend.

'I was indeed very critical of Donald Trump during his campaign,' Romney remarked.

The veteran politician said now that he's only hoping for Trump's success.
James Whitlock has admitted escaping from Pentonville prison in a break-out compared to the film Escape From Alcatraz

A prisoner who sparked a manhunt after escaping from HMP Pentonville is facing years behind bars after admitting breaking out of the jail.

James Whitlock, 31, pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to escaping from the north London prison by removing the bars on the cell window.

He was found to be missing from the troubled institution shortly before midday on November 7.

He and another prisoner reportedly used diamond-tipped cutting equipment to break through cell bars before scaling a perimeter wall of the Victorian prison.

Their escape is said to have gone undetected for several hours because they stuffed their beds with pillows to make it look like they were asleep.

Whitlock, of no fixed address, is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Matthew Baker, 28, is yet to enter a plea to the same offence. He is due to next appear in court on January 5.

His sister Kelly Baker, 21, of Friars Close, Ilford, east London, admitted one count of assisting an offender by buying him hair dye.

The pleas came after rioting at Birmingham prison and increased tensions at other jails.

Whitlock and another man are said to have cut through the bars on their cell
A tourist who flew to New York to propose to his girlfriend survived a random stabbing that left a steak knife in the back of his head, police said.

Connor Rasmussen, 23, was walking with three friends in midtown Manhattan at 1.45am on Sunday when a suspect approached from behind and lodged a steak knife into the base of the skull, the New York Daily News reported.

Rasmussen removed the knife himself, handed it over to the police, and miraculously survived with just stitches over the 2-inch gash.

The 23-year-old skipped a job interview and flew to New York from his home in Washington state to propose to girlfriend Jordan Asher, 22, in Central Park just two days earlier.

Connor Rasmussen, 23, (left) flew to the city from his home in Washington to propose to Jordan Asher, 22, (right) in Central Park, only to be attacked on the street two days later

The 23-year-old flew in from Washington state to propose to his girlfriend Jordan Asher, 22, in Central Park just two days earlier

Rasmussen was walking near East 46th Street and Madison Avenue (pictured) that left a steak knife in the back of his head

Rasmussen was walking alongside a female friend near East 46th Street and Madison Avenue with two of their cohorts further ahead on the street as they looked for a pizzeria early Sunday morning.

He noticed the suspect behind him and tried to yell out to his friends before the assailant drove a steak knife into the base of his skull, according to the Daily News.

He pulled the knife out himself, and police are now checking it for fingerprints or DNA in addition to reviewing surveillance tapes in search of the attacker.

A CAT scan found the 23-year-old did not suffer any serious injuries, and he was released later on Sunday after receiving stitches.

Asher's grandmother Linda Colon told the Daily News: 'It was a 2-inch gash. If it could have been 2 inches or an inch on either side, from what the doctors said, it would have killed him.'

Asher's brother, who was with Rasmussen at the time, expressed his shock, but said the victim remained calm and did not seem to be in much pain.

The victim's female friend also suffered scratches to her face.

The 23-year-old victim removed the knife, gave it to the police, and went to Bellevue Hospital, where a CAT scan revealed he was not seriously injured. Pictured, Central Park where Rasmussen proposed

Rasmussen skipped a job interview and flew to New York with his girlfriend and her family members to pop the question during their holiday trip, friends and family said.

She accepted and a professional photographer was on hand to capture the emotional moment, but memories of their picture-perfect engagement may have been marred by the stabbing.

'He always loved New York and my daughter said now he hates New York,' Colon told the Daily News.

'They were having a wonderful experience and now, a horrible experience. They are all very traumatized,' she added.

Police on Monday told the Dailymail.com the attack was random and unrelated to another stabbing incident reported just half an hour later on 42nd Street.

Two 25-year-olds were also stabbed on West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenue around 2.15am on Sunday.

One man was stabbed in the chest, while the other suffered neck and shoulder wounds.

They were also taken to Bellevue Hospital and police are searching for a man in his 20s seen fleeing the area.
It was a meeting as unexpected as it was dramatic: Kanye West, the high-profile rapper turning up at Trump Tower and being embraced by the president-elect.

Now the people of Chicago want Kanye to deliver on his promise of 'change' after he said that the issues he talked with Donald Trump about included violence in the city.

The scale of gun violence in the city grew in recent days: on Saturday morning four more people died in a shooting at a house in the Fernwood area.

So many other people were shot and wounded throughout the city that the Chicago Tribune simply listed 'other shootings'.

Police believe the latest atrocity was apparently a robbery and removed what they believe were illegal drugs from the house where the four were murdered.

For those who have spent years in the shadow of the violence, the meeting between Kanye and Trump is the latest time that the problem has been on the national stage - with apparently little success before.

Summit: The meeting between Donald Trump and Kanye West was unexpected and the rapper later said it was to discuss 'multicultural issues' including violence in Chicago

Latest scene of devastation: Four people were murdered at this house in the Fernwood area of the city on Saturday. Another was critically injured. Police removed what they said appeared to be illegal narcotics from the home

Bereaved: Tom Bosley, whose son was killed as he walked out of church and into a gang shooting said any conversation which helped end the violence was to be welcomed

Victim: Terrell Bosley was hoping to be a professional musician; he was just 16 when a bullet intended for a gangster hit him. After his death his father had to defend his character

Tom Bosley has tears welling in his eyes as he remembers his son Terrell and the random bullet which took his life.

Bosley, 51, thought the teenager, who was part of a gospel choir in a tough neighborhood, would be safe in church.He was wrong.

It was ten years ago when died from a single stray .45 shot that was meant for a gangster killed his 18-year-old son.

Terrell was killed as he walked through a church parking lot with his guitar in his hands.

The killer has never been found and since then thousands of lives have been claimed in the areas of Chicago which one priest, whose own foster son was shot dead, described as 'a war zone'.

Bosley says his son's unsolved murder is a typically tragic tale of life and death among Chicago's rougher suburbs and the murder rate has gone - people caught up in the violence feel - largely ignored by the country's political administration.

Bosley, a former banker, who gave up his job to help other families who had suffered, has welcomed the intervention by Chicago rapper Kanye West and the President elect who discussed the dire situation in his home town.

'I welcome their conversation,' he said.

'It's good that people like them see what's going on here and want to do something. It has just gotten worse.

'I welcome any conversation that is going to lead to something to stem this gun violence.

'Those who haven't been affected by gun violence, have to take it as seriously as those who have been affected.'

Bosley's son's murder in April 2006 prompted him to become involved in trying to fix the problem.

Terrell was hit in the shoulder and spine by a stray bullet as he was leaving choir practice with his bass guitar. He has just spoken with his mother Pam, telling her he would be home soon to join his parents and two brothers for dinner. It was just 6pm.

'He was putting his instruments in a car when some guys drove,' his father said.

'They were shooting at someone and when they shot at that person, a bullet hit my son as he was coming out of church.

VICTIMS THIS MONTH - SO FAR... The oldest was 73, the youngest 16. These are 16 of the December victims of Chicago's gun violence epidemic - and the top if an iceberg in this year's death toll. Another shooting: A 21-year-old man was seriously wounded on Saturday in a shooting outside a funeral home on the West Side of Chicago; two people were arrested Victims: Corey Martin, 17, shot and killed at 8.41am; Lavaris Johnson, 30, shot to death hours after he was shot and wounded just a mile away; Joel Planas, 34, shot in the abdomen in a fight; Carl Jones, 19, killed on the block where he lived. Victims: Curtis Nowells, 33, killed from behind by a masked man; Elijah Jackson, 36, killed with his sister in a house where drugs had been dealt; Elijah Jones, 17, killed just after midday; Christopher Brandon-Lucket, 16, the youngest victim of the month. Victims: Shacora Jackson, 41, one of four shot in a drug-dealing house at the weekend; Nathaniel Lewis-Edwards, 31, shot dead while driving; Sylvester Rainge, 52, gunned down a block from home; Anthony Barr, 45, shot and killed sitting in an SUV Victims: Ed Brown, 25, a professional boxer shot while sitting in his car ; Antron Young, 23, shot inside a fast-food restaurant; Lawrence Matchem, 49, killed by multiple gunshots, including to the head; Ron Allen, 73, killed when a bullet struck him as he drove, the oldest victim of December 2016 Advertisement

'That devastated my wife, myself and my other two sons because one place we always thought our kids would be was at church.

'We had just talked to him a few minutes earlier and he was saying "we are wrapping up practice and I'll be home soon and see you guys".

'My wife got this call and the girl on the phone said Tyrell had got shot. My wife said "Tyrell is at churchhow can he get shot?" 'It happened in the church parking lot.'

FOUR MORE DEAD IN 'ROBBERY' The latest multiple murder in Chicago saw four people murdered in Fernwood on Saturday. It appears to be another drug-related crime. 'The investigation has revealed people in the home were selling potential narcotics out that home earlier in the day,' Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. 'And we believe individuals returned to rob occupants in that home.' Police and the Cook County medical examiner said the victims found Saturday included two women ages 19 and 41 and two men ages 36 and 45. An 18-year-old woman was hospitalized in critical condition and a 2-year-old child wasn't hurt, officials said. According to autopsies, three of the victims were shot in the head and the fourth suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Drugs were found in the home. Police have not released the names of the victims but WGN TV reported that two of the four were brother and sister Elijah and Shacora Jacskon. Advertisement

The couple got to the church as paramedics worked on their son and following them to the ER.

'At the hospital they put us in a room and it seemed like forever that the doctors were working on him and then they came out about an hour later and they were talking in the past tense,' he said.

'They were like "You know we did everything we could and we did this and that".

'Everybody who was waiting in that room just lost it and my other two younger sons who were in another room.

'I had to come out and tell them that their brother wasn't coming home. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.'

Almost inevitably, the murder raised questions over whether Tyrell was in a gang, but like many of Chicago's gin victims, he was an innocent caught in the crossfire.

'My son's character was being questioned and that upset me. This kid wasn't involved in any other activities apart from working part time, playing his music and going to school.'

Father-and-son had made a 'deal' that if Bosley paid for the bass guitars, Terrell would go to school and study hard in case his dream of being a professional musician could not be realized.

Instead, his father made a new 'deal' as he stood over his son's body in the morgue: 'I said I was going to do my best to help young men change their lives and not destroy other peoples' lives like ours and how his life was taken.'

Since his son's senseless murder, he had got used to weekly meetings with other grief-stricken parents coming to terms with the loss of a child through gun violence.

Political intervention: Tre Bosley went on a CNN summit on gun crime with the president and challenged him on the issue

No answer: 'The president told him to continue to stay on the on the path that he was on and to get good grades, but he couldn't address the shootings here in Chicago,' Bosley said of his son's meeting with the president

'Ten years ago I was unaffected. My son was still living and I was going about my business.

'Then it hit me and it has hit so many other families since. It has gotten worse. I have encountered so many families who have lost their kids through senseless gun violence.

'You hear about the mass shootings like Sandy Hook and other communities, but when it happens in an urban highly African American or Hispanic community, it is like it has been de-sensitized . It is like 'Ok, it happens there so that is their problem.'

He said stray bullets were as much a problem in the south side of Chicago as those fired by killers at their intended targets.

'We have come to find out in so many cases, innocent young ladies and guys getting caught in the cross fire'.

The long list of innocent victims includes school children and babies in prams who have been hit in the cross fire. One 11-year-old child was struck through a window and killed as she played at a friend's house in a slumber party.

'The people out here who are shooting don't care if they hit an innocent victim as long as they get the guy they are after. They don't care who is around' he said.

'But every time a kid gets shot, I flash back to the night of my son's murder.'

The parents now work with Father Michael Pfleger of Saint Sabina church on the South Side.

Victim too: Fr Michael Pfleger lost a young man he fostered to gun violence and is now outspoken on the issue

The Catholic priest's own foster son was also murdered in 1998. He and Fr Pflegr now mentor young men, mainly African American, against guns and violence in a program they call 'strong futures'.

Fifty men, many of who are gang affiliated, receive guidance and help in finding work and more than twenty are in employment, and another six in internships with local businesses.

'When I was having that conversation with Tyrell, I didn't know how it was going to happen or how I was going to help. But we are determined to help change the mindset of young men in Chicago.'

There is a political side to it too and Kanye's meeting with Trump is not the first time Bosley has seen interventions by national figures.

Terrell's youngest brother Tervon went to Fairfax, Virginia, to meet President Obama at a CNN 'summit' on gun violence, but no answers were forthcoming.

'His question to the President was "as a young person how do I navigate my life through Chicago to reach my destiny and become an engineer?".

'The president told him to continue to stay on the on the path that he was on and to get good grades, but he couldn't address the shootings here in Chicago.'

'He said "it is going to take the community, police, policy changes and a lot to change this problem".

'I grew up in a society where people were not getting shot like this. This is not normal it has become the norm but there are other parts of the country where it doesn't happen.'

For his part Fr Pfleger is less positive about the Trump-West intervention.

Fr Pfleger has become an outspoken critic of gun culture and has been given police protection from gangs as a result, said he was 'very unimpressed' by Kanye's meeting with Trump, but would have preferred if the rapper had stood at a microphone and talked about 'jobs, schools and economic development'.

He sees the problems of gun violence as having economic roots with Chicago's less affluent areas suffering double-digit unemployment and educational

Lost: Kelly Perez's husband Anthony Perez was shot and killed in the street in 2005, only four months after their wedding. The murder was never solved

Backing: Perez said: 'Donald Trump knows what is going on. He needs to speak to the community here and help them.'

He added: 'When is the last time Kanye or Donald Trump have been on the streets of Chicago? What do they really know about the violence? Who have they sat down with and understood and got a grasp of it?

'I don't need high profile people to address it in the abstract. I need high profile people to want to do something concretely about it to change it.

'Where was Kanye for the last year when our numbers were going through the roof? We have more murders than Los Angeles and New York combined.'

He added: 'Anybody can get a gun anywhere at any time and Chicago has the highest number of 18- to 26-year-old African Americans of any city in the country who are neither employed or in school.

'You put all these scenarios together and it is no surprise that we have this violence.'

His hostile reaction was not shared by Kelly Perez, whose husband Anthony Henson was murdered four months after their wedding.

She said the Kanye-Trump focus on homicides in Chicago was a positive development.

Perez, 33, said Kanye could provide leadership in helping young men in the city to learn that guns were not the way forward and that the rising murder rate had to be stemmed.

She added: 'Kanye is from Chicago and he should come to the city and maybe give some of his time and his money to help people who have lose their breadwinners.

'Here, grandmothers are bringing up babies because their mothers and fathers have been killed. Kanye could show some leadership and give some financial help to the families.

'There have been 730 homicides in Chicago this year and that means there are a lot of people suffering.'

Her husband was a 26-year-old African-American who was gunned down in the street in 2005 and the murder has never been solved.

Since then Perez, who was 21 at the time and has since re-married and had two children, has been working with people like her who have been left bereaved similarly.

She said President-elect Trump's intervention should lead to schemes to set up better educational and housing programs for those left behind after losing family members to violence.

'He needs to look at minimizing the easy access to guns around Chicago with new laws. The Chicago police do a good job but with 730 murders, it is difficult for them.
Carl Hirschmann, 36, allegedly threw his glass at Barnabas Wilhelm

A multi-millionaire playboy attacked a customer at his Mayfair club after he made a joke about his 'small d***', a court heard.

Financier Carl Hirschmann, 36, allegedly threw his glass at photographer Barnabas Wilhelm at celebrity haunt The Scotch of St James in Mayfair, London, on April 30.

The club, which opened in 1965, was once a favourite of stars including The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Paul McCartney and now counts supermodels Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne among its customers.

Hirschmann is accused of throwing the contents of his glass over Mr Wilhelm's friend Valentino Ritter before launching the thick-bottomed glass at Mr Wilhelm, leaving him requiring eight stitches.

Mr Wilhelm told the jury at Southwark Crown Court he had been at the club with his brother and his friend for less than an hour and were leaving when Hirschmann began swearing at them.

He said they were leaving around 3am, adding: 'After we said goodbye, we made our way out, past Mr Hirschmann - I didn't know him. As we walked past him, he started swearing at us, but I didn't know if he was directing it at me.

'I thought he was just a drunk guy in a foul mood. He was saying something along the lines of, 'you f***ing idiots, you f***ing d***s, you better leave'.

'Valentino replied, "you must have a small d***", because one hand was down his trousers.'

Mr Wilhelm told the court that he began shouting back before Hirshmann's alleged attack.

He continued: 'He threw the liquid into Valentino's face, and then threw a glass into my face.

The Scotch of St James in Mayfair boasts celebrity regulars including Rita Ora (left) and Kate Moss (right)

The Swiss financier has a stake in the club where the alleged attack took place, but has reportedly since been banned from the venue (pictured)

'I thought, 'this doesn't feel right', I put my hand on my face and noticed my hand was full of blood. I didn't know if the glass broke when it hit my face of whether it broke when it hit the floor.'

Hirschmann is worth an estimated 500 million thanks to his family fortune.

Prosecutor Edward Franklin told the jury that after the attack Hirshmann emailed Mr Wilhelm directly, begging for mercy.

Hirschmann (pictured outside court), denies unlawful and malicious wounding

The email read: 'I have just found out that you had to have eight stitches. This leaves me cold with regret and sorrow.

'You have my life in your hands and I beg you not to take it and destroy me. You cannot imagine how terribly sorry I am.

'Please, please, please. I am so very sorry about everything.'

Hirschmann has previously been romantically linked to socialite Paris Hilton, Marks and Spencer model Noemie Lenoir and a former Miss Switzerland.

He is the grandson of Swiss businessman Carl W. Hirschmann, who founded Jet Aviation which was sold to American arms and aviation giant General Dynamics for around $2.18bn in 2008.

He also opened the Saint Germain nightclub in Zurich in 2007, which made headlines as a celebrity hotspot, before he closed it in October 2011.

The Swiss financier has a stake in the club where the alleged attack took place, but has reportedly since been banned from the venue.

Hirschmann, of Westminster, central London, denies one count of unlawful and malicious wounding.

The trial continues.
Theresa May risked the wrath of Eurosceptics today by refusing to rule out paying into Brussels coffers after Brexit.

The Prime Minister kept the option open as she insisted the key issue was that the UK government had control over its contributions.

Mrs May also repeated her vow to begin the formal divorce proceedings by March - whatever the Supreme Court decides in the controversial Article 50 case.

The comments came as the premier updated MPs on last week's EU summit, which saw her increasingly isolated by fellow leaders.

Speaking in the Commons today, the Prime Minister refused to rule out paying into EU coffers after Brexit and said the key issue was the UK government having control over contributions

Mrs May was filmed looking uncomfortable with no-one to talk to as the gathering got under way.

The other 27 leaders are said to have listened in silence in the private session later as the PM urged an early deal on reciprocal rights for UK and EU citizens.

And Mrs May then awkwardly told them it was time for her to leave, as they were discussing Brexit over dinner.

Speaking in the Commons today, Mrs May insisted it was natural that the UK was not included in talks about how the 27 would approach Brexit.

Asked by Tory MP Philip Davies for a guarantee that she won't 'betray' voters by paying money into Brussels coffers, the PM replied: Obviously while we remain members of the EU we will continue to have obligations

'What is important is that when we leave the EU people want to ensure that it is the British government that decides how taxpayers' money is spent.'

Mrs May said the Government will 'respect' the verdict of the independent judiciary when the Supreme Court announce its decision on the Article 50 case next month.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on Mrs May to make sure her new year's resolution includes a 'commitment to build better relations' with the UK's European partners to ensure she can secure the best deal possible.

A panel of three High Court judges decided in November that the PM could not trigger the formal two-year process for EU withdrawal without gaining formal approval from parliament.

Mrs May also insisted it was natural that the UK was not included in talks about how the 27 would approach Brexit

But Mr Corbyn said Mrs May was becoming 'increasingly isolated' on the international stage

If the government loses it is likely to have to pass legislation through both Houses before beginning Brexit.

But Mrs May said: 'I'm clear the Government will respect the verdict of our independent judiciary.

'But I'm equally clear that whichever way the judgment goes we will meet the timetable I have set out.

'At the council I also reaffirmed my commitment to a smooth and orderly exit, and in this spirit I made it clear to the other EU leaders that it remains my objective to give reassurance early on in the negotiations to EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in EU countries that their right to stay where they have made their homes will be protected by our withdrawal.'

However, Mr Corbyn said Mrs May was becoming 'increasingly isolated' on the international stage.

He said: 'As we move swiftly towards the triggering of Article 50, I want to appeal to the Prime Minister to not only work hard to heal those divisions in Britain but also to make sure her new year's resolution includes a commitment to build better relations with our European partners, so we get the best deal for the people of this country - not just a Brexit which benefits business and bankers.

'At the moment it's clear on the international stage the Prime Minister and Britain are becoming increasingly isolated.'

The Opposition leader said his talks with European leaders have shown they are becoming 'increasingly frustrated' by Mrs May's 'shambolic Government and the contradictory approach' to Brexit negotiations.

Mrs May refused to give further details of her negotiating stance, saying the UK would not get the best possible deal if it showed its hand.

She also said: 'You talked about the question of EU funds and EU funds that are currently intended to continue beyond the date at which we would be leaving the European Union.

'The Chancellor of the Exchequer set out very clearly some weeks ago what the position on this was - those funds will continue to be met provided they give value for money and meet the UK Government's objectives.'

The Prime Minister was left awkwardly fidgeting with her cuffs at last week's EU summit as other leaders hugged and kissed around her

Mrs May said the Brexit process can take up to two years once triggered, with progress of the negotiations affecting the time needed.

The PM hailed the UK's economic record, telling MPs it has the 'fastest-growing' economy this year in the G7 before listing companies which have announced investment since June's referendum - including Nissan.

And she jibed at Mr Corbyn: 'You talk about confusion on the frontbench.

'Well, you've obviously been looking at your own frontbench when you consider this matter.

'Let's just take one very simple issue of immigration. The shadow home secretary (Diane Abbott) suggests freedom of movement should be maintained. The shadow chancellor (John McDonnell) said we should have a fair deal on freedom of movement. The shadow Brexit secretary (Sir Keir Starmer) said we should have immigration controls.

'They can't even agree on one aspect of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.
Ex-fighter arrested: Former UFC heavyweight fighter Cody East was arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for false imprisonment and aggravated battery

Former UFC heavyweight fighter Cody East, who has had trouble with the law in the past, has landed behind bars again.

Court records indicate the 28-year-old was arrested on Sunday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before 4am at a home in the South Valley on counts of false imprisonment and aggravated battery against a household member.

East also faces charges of aggravated assault against a household member, as the station KRQE first reported. Details of the incident that led to his arrest are unclear at this time.

East signed with the UFC in February despite being sentenced to three years in prison in 2008 after pleading no contest to three child abuse charges. He completed his probation last year.

Officials with the UFC told the site Bloody Elbow at the time they felt 'comfortable' signing East after conducting an independent investigation into his criminal history, which included arrests on domestic violence charges in 2006 and 2010, reported the site MMA Fighting.

East signed with the UFC in February despite being sentenced to three years in prison in a child abuse case. He was released in October after losing two fights

The charges in both cases were later dropped. East's rap sheet also includes sexual assault charges stemming from two separate incidents.

The 28-year-old fighter was released by UFC in October after losing two bouts in the Octagon.

East was ordered held on $30,000 cash surety bond Sunday morning.

Posts on his Facebook page suggest East has an 18-month-old daughter and a 4-year-old daughter.
A gunman stormed into a Muslim prayer hall in Switzerland last night and opened fire on worshippers.

Three men  aged 30, 35 and 56  were injured in the attack in Zurich, two of them seriously, according to police.

The suspect, who witnesses said was a man aged about 30 wearing dark clothes, fled in the direction of the citys central railway station nearby.

It was not immediately clear whether the centre, which is mostly used by Somalian immigrants, was the target of the attack or what the motive might have been.

Heavily-armed police arrived at the scene, pictured, and began searching for the gunman

An area surrounding the Islamic Centre was quickly sealed off after this evening's shooting

Zurich police have not yet released any motive for tonight's shooting in the city

Police recovered a body and a firearm, circled, near the scene of the shooting

Officers erected a tent to cover the body which was found near the Islamic Centre

A police statement said that the gunman had fired several shots at worshippers in the prayer hall at about 5.30pm local time.

It was reported that there were about a dozen people at prayer at the time, and the injured men were then found in the street.

The worshippers were mainly from Somalia and Eritrea, and elsewhere in northern Africa, the ATS news agency reported.

Police sealed off the area and late last night they were scouring the streets for the shooter, using sniffer dogs.

A body was found a few hundred yards from the scene  on then riverbank underneath a white sheet  but it was unclear whether it was related to the incident. The centre is registered as an association enabling Muslims to practise their religion, particularly through instruction on Islamic beliefs and teachings, as well as providing for the preservation of Islamic cultural values and scientific seminars, according to Swiss business website Moneyhouse.

Three men were seriously wounded in the attack inside the Islamic Centre in Zurich

Forensics officers shielded part of the crime scene from onlookers with a white sheet

Swiss police have so far refused to release any information about the victims or the condition

Two-thirds of Switzerlands 8.3 million residents identify as Christian but its Muslim population has risen to 5 per cent, particularly with the arrival of immigrants from the former Yugoslavia.

In 2009, a nationwide vote backed a constitutional ban on new minarets.

A number of mosques, including one near Zurich and the main mosque in Geneva, have in recent months been accused in media of allowing or encouraging the radicalisation of their worshippers, especially the younger members of their congregations.

Attacks by gunmen are rare in Switzerland but the country was shaken in 2013 by at least two multiple-fatality shootings.

It has a long-standing tradition for men to keep their rifles after completing compulsory military service  which partly explains a high rate of gun ownership in the country.
Labour today demanded Liz Truss accepts she faces a 'crisis' in Britain's prisons after a brutal riot in a Birmingham jail.

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon blamed budget cuts and privatisation for a collapse in safety and security at Britain's jails.

HMP Birmingham saw a violent revolt by 600 inmates last Friday, prompted by one prisoner seizing an officer keys.

Specialist 'Tornado' teams of prison officers spent hours battling to regain control of the prisons.

Justice Secretary Liz Truss, pictured in the Commons today, outlined to MPs what had happened and insisted Government reforms were being implemented

But Ms Truss faced demands to apologise for the Government's role in prisons, as Labour said cuts were to blame for provoking a crisis

It was the third major disturbance in less than two months following trouble at Bedford and Lewes prisons.

Justice Secretary Ms Truss insisted the Government's prisons reforms would turn turn jails into places of 'reform' but admitted it would take months.

But Mr Burgon told her: 'You have a crisis on your hands and it would be helpful if you finally admitted this to the House and the country.

'The riots in privately run Birmingham prison on Friday has been described as probably the most serious in a Category B prison since Strangeways in 1990.

'This riot isn't the crisis: It's a symptom of the crisis.'

Ms Truss outlined to MPs what happened in Birmingham on Friday, admitting the loss of four prison wings for several hours.

She said the hours taken to reinforce the number of officers on site was necessary to ensure the prison could be safely retaken.

The Justice Secretary said 380 prisons had been moved out of Birmingham since the riot.

Ms Truss admitted the problems gripping the prison estate would not be fixed in 'weeks or even months'

Outlining how the Government would now respond, she said: 'Levels of violence are too high in prisons. We also have very concerning levels of self harm and deaths in custody.

'That's why we are reforming our prisons to be safe and purposeful places, taking swift action to deal with drugs, drones and phones.

Prisoners seized officers' helmets during the riot in HMP Birmingham on Friday

'It's important to remember these problems have developed over a number of years and it will take time and it will take concerted effort to turn the situation around.'

Ms Truss admitted: 'These reforms are the right way to address our issues in prisons so they become purposeful places where offenders get off drugs and get the education and skills they need to find work and turn their backs on crime.

'The issues in prisons are long standing and they are not going to be completely solved in weeks or even months.'

Ahead Ms Truss's statement to MPs, John Thornhill, president of the National Council of Independent Monitoring Boards, said the disturbance at HMP Birmingham is 'yet more evidence' of concerns about rising levels of violence.

He said IMBs - which provide a monitoring presence in every prison in England and Wales - have regularly questioned staffing levels and regimes across many establishments in recent years.

'IMBs are perturbed that their dedication to the monitoring role on a weekly basis is frustrated by a failure to respond to the issues raised at a national level in their annual reports,' Mr Thornhill said.

Prison officers were seen carrying riot shields around the prison after hundreds of inmates revolted and took control of several wings

Specialist Tornado teams were drafted into to help the permanent staff regain control of the prison

He warned that low staffing levels mean prisoners are denied access to a range of facilities.

'They become frustrated, tension and violence increase and become more widespread,' Mr Thornhill said. 'The result, as we have seen in recent weeks, is an increase in riots that damage the system and individuals.

'The impact of this unrestrained violence is that a large number of prisoners have to be transferred to other prisons that are already stretched with their own problems and staffing issues.'

And there were also warnings that violence could spread to other facilities amid 'simmering tensions' after 240 offenders were transferred from Birmingham.

Hundreds of inmates were caught up in the disorder on Friday over four wings of the category B prison, which is run by private firm G4S.

It emerged at the weekend that an IMB report on Birmingham published earlier this year warned that staff feared violence at the prison because of the prevalence of drugs

Riot squads and specially-trained prison guards took back control after more than 12 hours of chaos in which stairwells were set on fire and paper records destroyed

Riot squads and specially-trained prison guards took back control after more than 12 hours of chaos in which stairwells were set on fire and paper records destroyed.

It emerged at the weekend that an IMB report on Birmingham published earlier this year warned that staff feared violence at the prison because of the prevalence of drugs.

Surging levels of assaults and self-harm behind bars have prompted fears of a safety crisis and last month thousands of officers walked out amid claims the system was 'in meltdown'.

Ms Truss has announced a string of measures aimed at tackling the issues including a recruitment drive to add 2,500 and mandatory drug testing across the estate.

Union bosses have highlighted falls in staffing levels seen in recent years, while the availability of drugs previously known as legal highs have been identified as a major problem.
From the president to the mainstream media, all of a sudden it seems state-sponsored hacking is a problem

Whether you believe Barack Obamas presidency was a failure or a success, there is no doubt on the subject of cybercrime, this administration not only failed to bring state-sponsored hackers to justice, they rewarded the people who directed them with hundreds of millions of dollars in cash.

The U.S. knew the Iranian government hacked American financial institutions as well as public infrastructure which could have killed Americans. As a result, Attorney General Loretta Lynch indicted seven Iranians for doing the hacking.

The U.S. then gave $1.7 billion dollars to the country. Yes, the argument can be made that the money was owed to Teheran. This doesnt mean the U.S. had to pay it.

If the U.S. wanted to send a message to global cyberhackers, all it had to do was to ask for the seven indicted hackers in exchange for the money.

This isnt such a difficult idea. If your country hacks the U.S. and you then fork over just under 2 billion dollars, you obviously couldnt care less about your nations cybersecurity.

This was mentioned by none other than me in August. Did anyone care about state-sponsored hacking at the time? Absolutely not.

Look at what I said:

Bottom line, its very difficult to identify foreign hackers. Let alone seven of them. The U.S. had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get these criminals and bring them to justice. Instead, we gave the country-of-hacker-origin almost two billions dollars! And we didnt get one hacker in exchange  not even one!

If the current administration really felt state-sponsored hacking was a priority, the time to address it has come and gone.
Johnny has been in a

A six-year-old Oregon boy has ended up in a coma after crashing head-on into a street pole while sledding last week.

Johnny Tatarinov, of Happy Valley, was playing in the snow with his sister Alyona on Thursday when the siblings decided to go downhill in their sled at Southeast 132nd Avenue.

Alyona Tatarinov said they could not see where they were going, and the next thing they know, their sled smashed into a pole.

Tragic: Johnny Tatarinov, 6, is pictured in the hospital in a medically induced coma after suffered a brain injury in a sledding accident in Happy Valley, Oregon

Alyona sustained a concussion in the crash, while her younger brother was rushed to an area hospital suffering from swelling on his brain. Johnny has been in a medically induced coma since the accident.

Tatarinov, pictured before the crash, was sledding with one of his 12 siblings when he slammed head-on into a street sign

'I'm not used to seeing him like that, he's always cheerful, laughing, talking,' Johnny's other sister Susanna Tatarinov told the station KATU.com.

The teen said that of their 12 siblings, her brother Johnny is the most helpful and caring, earning him the nickname 'Dr Johnny.'

The young boy could be in the hospital for weeks, if not months, according to his family.

Johnny's parents have been keeping vigil at their son's bedside since Thursday.

Meanwhile, the family's neighbors in Happy Valley have been bringing food for the other children and looking after them.
A Florida woman accused of threatening the parent of a boy killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting because she thought it was a hoax pleaded not guilty Monday.

Lucy Richards, 57, appeared in Fort Lauderdale federal court wearing furry slippers and using an aluminum walker as she entered her not guilty plea on Monday.

Richards was arrested December 7 in Tampa on four felony counts of transmitting threats to Lenny Pozner, father of 6-year-old Noah Pozner who died in the 2012 mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

The four threats were made in January and included messages that said, 'you gonna die, death is coming to you real soon,' and 'LOOK BEHIND YOU IT IS DEATH.'

Another threat said, 'there's nothing you can do about it,' according to court documents.

Lucy Richards, 57, appeared in Fort Lauderdale federal court wearing furry slippers and using an aluminum walker as she entered her not guilty plea on Monday. She is accused of threatening the parent of a boy killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut

Richards was arrested December 7 in Tampa on four felony counts of transmitting threats to Lenny Pozner (right), father of 6-year-old Noah Pozner (left) who died in the 2012 mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut

Richards lives in Brandon, near Tampa, but threats were received by Pozner in Palm Beach County, according to court records.

She told U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Seltzer she is on disability and has not worked in more than a decade when she was a waitress.

She spoke softly in answering the judge's questions, telling him she is not married and has no children, and that she had only been arrested once before for stealing two sandwiches from a grocery store.

Federal prosecutors successfully got Richards prohibited from visiting conspiracy theory websites because she told investigators after her arrest that she had been viewing one when she sent the messages to Pozner, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Gilbert.

Pozner has publicly sought to debunk conspiracy theories that claim Sandy Hookl, where Noah (pictured) died, and other mass slayings were staged by the government as part of an anti-gun agenda

'That's what she got angry over, which led to the conduct in this case,' Gilbert said. 'It's these specifically I'm looking to restrict. I'm not looking for general news websites.'

Seltzer also ordered Richards to have no contact with Pozner or anyone else connected to the Sandy Hook killings.

Pozner has publicly sought to debunk conspiracy theories that claim Sandy Hook and other mass slayings were staged by the government as part of an anti-gun agenda.

There has long been a fringe conspiracy theory that the massacre was staged in order to pass gun control legislation (file photos of distraught parents on the day of the massacre)

Pozner launched a website this year, www.honr.com, to expand his network of volunteers who report hoax-related harassment on social media and flag content that violates the terms of service for sites such as PayPal

In an interview last week with The Associated Press, Pozner said ignoring the deluge of hoaxes posted online about his son's death over the last four years is impossible and only emboldens people to threaten him.

'This is such an antiquated concept  'don't feed the trolls,'' Pozner said.

'All the people that have said that and ignored it all are responsible for this problem festering and becoming even worse.'

Pozner launched a website this year, www.honr.com, to expand his network of volunteers who report hoax-related harassment on social media and flag content that violates the terms of service for sites such as PayPal.

'All of these companies are not defending victims,' Pozner said. 'They need more accountability.'
Stunt firm boss Scott May is facing jail for his 'lackadaisical' approach to safety after a man died during a human cannonball act

A stunt firm boss is facing jail for his 'lackadaisical' approach to safety after a man died while performing a human cannonball act.

Scott May, who runs Stunts UK Ltd, admitted a health and safety breach on behalf of himself and his company following the death of 24-year-old Matthew Cranch.

Mr Cranch was fired from a cannon during Scott May's Daredevil Stunt Show but the safety net put in place to catch him collapsed on April 25 2011.

A court heard how the powerful recoil from the cannon had inadvertently triggered the quick-release mechanism at the Detling Showground near Maidstone, Kent.

Mr Cranch, from Newquay in Cornwall, struck the ground at speed and suffered catastrophic injuries. He died on his way to hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest.

He had only performed the daring act on about five or six previous occasions and his final moments were seen by thousands of spectators and captured on video.

Maidstone Crown Court in Kent heard today that May had a 'lackadaisical and unprofessional' approach to health and safety.

He had missed a number of 'warning signs,' including problems with the tension of the net which led to another flyer almost hitting the ground.

The court heard how the cannon was on a lorry and the safety net was attached to the the front, extending beyond and held in tension by supporting ropes.

The net was secured to the lorry by a quick release mechanism that was supposed to activate once the flyer had been caught and lowered to the ground.

Matthew Cranch was fired from a cannon during Scott May's Daredevil Stunt Show but the safety net put in place to catch him collapsed on April 25 2011

But the force of firing the cannon sent massive vibrations through the lorry, which activated the release before the flyer had even hit the net.

Mr Cranch was wearing a helmet and kidney strap but it was not enough to protect him from the impact, with flyers exposed to similar forces to what fighter pilots and astronauts experience.

And the court heard how the quick release mechanism that led to his death was not even necessary, as flyers could simply climb out of the nets after being fired.

Prosecutor Mark Watson said: 'It introduced a wholly unacceptable risk in relation to this stunt which was not necessary in practice.

'Potentially, every time the cannon was fired, if the trigger had not been set in a fully closed position, there was the potential risk for vibration during thr firing of the cannon to cause the release of this mechanism and the net to fail within a split second of the flyer being fired from the cannon.

A court heard how the powerful recoil from the cannon had inadvertently triggered the quick-release mechanism at the Detling Showground near Maidstone, Kent

'At all material times Scott May had hands-on control. He was the day-to-day director and he was in charge of all matters relating to safety...His approach to health and safety was lackadaisical and unprofessional.'

Mr Watson added that a 'notably telling' aspect of the case was the fact one of the few documents employees were required to sign was a health and safety disclaimer.

One later told the investigation: 'We were, in reality, putting our lives and trust in Scott May.'

Tanya Robinson, defending, disputed claims that May had either deliberately or flagrantly disregarded health and safety or 'self-evident' risks.

She added: 'He has always been very anxious to ensure that things done in his show are safe. This was not a lackadaisical, unprofessional approach.'
The FBI will be forced to reveal details on Tuesday about why it decided to suddenly reopen its investigation into Hillary Clintons emails during the final days of the election, a move that many Democrats have blamed for costing Clinton the election.

Judge P. Kevin Castel ordered a court to unseal the FBI search warrant for Clinton-related emails that were discovered on a laptop belonging to disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner in October.

The warrant, the FBIs application for the warrant, and an affidavit justifying the warrant will be released to the public on Tuesday.

The documents released this week could include details on why investigators believed Weiners laptop contained information relevant to the Clinton probe. The Clinton campaign has blamed her November loss on the unexpected reopening of the FBI investigation into her private email server.

Huma Abedin was Hillary Clinton's longest serving and most loyal aide and was drawn into the reopening of the Hillary email investigation by her estranged husband after the FBI launched an investigation into his sexting relationship with a 15-year-old girl

Authorities had obtained Weiners computer during a separate investigation into sexual messages he exchanged with a 15-year-old girl.

DailyMail.com broke the story last September: Weiner carried on a months-long online sexual relationship with the teen during which she claimed he asked her to dress up in 'school-girl' outfits for him on a video messaging application and pressed her to engage in 'rape fantasies'.

Following the report the FBI launched an investigation into the disgraced congressman.

Judge Castels order on Monday indicated that the criminal investigation into Weiner is ongoing. Weiner and Abedin are referred to as Subject 1 and Subject 2 in the documents, as the FBI have never publicly acknowledged their identities.

The judge granted the governments request to redact information regarding the criminal investigation.

Serial sexter Weiner tweeted this photos of himself wearing grey underpants showing obvious signs of sexual arousal

In the message to teen which were obtained by the Dailymail.com, Weiner repeatedly complimented the girl's body, told her that she made him 'hard'. He also sent the girl a selfie from a hot tub

The ruling also indicated that Weiners name and the name of his wife, Clinton aide Huma Abedin, would be redacted in the unsealed documents.

Because FBI director James Comey said publicly that the investigation into Clinton has been closed, the judge said there was little remaining privacy interest in the release of documents identifying [Clinton] as the subject of this investigation.

The request to unseal the documents was filed by E. Randol Schoenberg, a California-based attorney who recovers artwork stolen by the Nazis and helped inspire the film Woman in Gold.

He has said he was surprised by the FBIs sudden decision to reopen the investigation  and Comeys public announcement about it in a letter to congress a couple of weeks before the election  and wanted to find out more about the agencys reasoning.

Clinton and her aides have repeatedly blamed Comeys letter and the FBI for her loss to Trump in November.

Former President Bill Clinton has reportedly made similar claims, recently telling shoppers at his local bookstore that James Comey cost her the election.

Comey wrote an update letter to members of congress in late October telling them that the FBI had renewed its investigation into Clinton after it found potentially relevant emails on Weiners laptop.

He said the FBI had obtained a warrant but it was not clear at that time what the emails contained or whether any of the information in them was new.

Many of the emails reportedly belonged to Huma Abedin, who had also used an email account on the candidates private server while working at the State Department.

Days before the election, amid strong backlash from Democrats, Comey announced that investigators had not uncovered anything significant to the probe in the new messages and that it would be closed.

But Clinton and many of her supporters said the overwhelming political damage had already been done by that point, and she was not able to recover before Election Day.




A man accused of leaving the scene of a hit-and-run accident broke down in tears, the husband of the woman who died as a result of her injuries angrily confronted him by calling him a 'murderer', and the victim's daughter collapsed after an emotional arraignment in a Massachusetts court on Monday.

Ryan Brady, 34, pleaded not guilty and was held on $10,000 bail in a court hearing in Quincy, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston, WBZ-TV reported.

Brady allegedly left the scene after he ran over 62-year-old Irina Hyde while he was on his way to buy Chinese food in the suburb of Braintree.

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Ryan Brady (above), 34, breaks down in tears as prosecutors describe the events surrounding the December 15 hit-and-run which left Irina Hyde, 62, dead

Authorities say Brady hit Irina Hyde (pictured with her husband) with his Mazda at approximately 5pm on December 15, while her husband, Tony Hyde, was standing just a few yards away

Authorities say Brady hit Hyde with his Mazda at approximately 5pm on December 15, while her husband, Tony Hyde, was standing just a few yards away.

Brady told police that he never saw Hyde, and kept on driving after hearing a thud.

Hyde had just left work and was walking across a street on her way home.

Brady was linked to the scene by car debris.

Hyde was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead the next morning.

During the arraignment on Monday, Tony Hyde yelled out 'murderer' in the courtroom as Brady sat at his table.

Hyde's husband, Tony Hyde (center), had to be restrained in the courtroom after yelling 'murderer' toward Brady

Hyde's daughter (above) was so overcome with emotion that she collapsed. Paramedics placed her on a stretcher and rushed her to a nearby hospital

'You want to see the anguish, look at my family, my daughter-in-law,' Tony Hyde (above) told assembled media outside the courtroom. 'My family's suffering goes on and on'

At one point, Brady began sobbing as prosecutors recounted details of what had taken place that day.

Hyde had to be restrained by two family members as he directed his anger at the defendant.

His daughter was so overcome with emotion that she collapsed.

She was eventually wheeled out of the courtroom on a stretcher and taken to a hospital.

'You want to see the anguish, look at my family, my daughter-in-law,' he told WBZ.

'My family's suffering goes on and on.'
of taking part in the failed coup against President Erdogan in July

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A chilling new video shows the moment an off-duty police officer calmly patrols an art gallery floor before pulling his gun on Russia's ambassador to Turkey.

Standing tall in a smart black tie and suit, the 22-year-old gives no hint at the terror he is about to unleash in Ankara.

Mevlut Mert Altintas is filmed adjusting his jacket as the ambassador speaks to a distinguished crowd of journalists and art lovers.

He reaches inside to touch his holster once - but seems to change his mind and clasps his hands back together.

He sways from one foot to another, then slowly paces over to stand on the other side of the ambassador. The side from which he will kill.

Altintas calmly moves again, seemingly looking at the artwork before reaching into his pocket a second time, fiddling for a moment, then returning to his poised stance.

After touching his nose he reaches into his jacket one last time, grabbing his semi-automatic weapon and gunning down Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, from behind.

Shots are heard and the camera cuts out.

The assassin who gunned down Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov has been named as a Turkish police officer named Mevlut Mert Altintas, pictured, who was killed afterwards

Altintas, pictured left, stood behind Ambassador Karlov, centre, as he began his speech before shooting him dead

Russian media on Tuesday reacted with outrage to the killing.

'The murderer was afraid to look him in the eye,' ran the banner frontpage headline on pro-Kremlin paper Izvestiya above a dramatic picture of Karlov with his killer looming behind.

'They did not shoot at Karlov. They shot at Russia,' Senator Konstantin Kosachev said in comments published alongside.

Karlov was at the opening of a Russian photography exhibition in Ankara with his wife when Altintas crying 'Aleppo' and 'Allahu Akbar' (God is greatest) unleashed his attacker.

The killer had staked out the scene of the shooting exactly one week before, reports say.

Both Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the attack a 'provocation' aimed at sabotaging ties that have been patched up since a furious dispute over Ankara's downing of a Russian jet in Syria in November 2015.

Putin also said that the killing in Ankara was designed to undermine efforts to find a settlement on the conflict in Syria that are currently being spearheaded by Russia and Turkey.

The gunman claimed the assassination was because of Russia's actions in Aleppo. He reportedly shouted in Turkish: 'Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!'

Marina Karlov mourns her husband laying her head on top of his flag-wrapped coffin during a ceremony at Esenboga airport

Marina broke down at her husband's coffin. 'My husband did not do anything wrong, nobody even put any threats against him, I would have known,' she told the secret services after the shooting

The flag-wrapped coffin of late Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov is carried to a plane during a ceremony at Esenboga airport in Ankara on Tuesday

In an interview with Izvestiya, the head of Russia's parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, Leonid Slutsky, warned those who try to drive a wedge between Russia and Turkey would fail.

'The main thing is that there will not be a new round of tensions between Russia and Turkey, no matter how much our opponents want this,' he said.

'This was a terrible tragedy, but interstate relations overall will not suffer from this.'

Other outlets were, however, harsher toward Ankara - which state television had portrayed as Russia's top foe in the wake of the jet's downing - pointing out that Turkish authorities had been unable to protect the Russian envoy.

'Responsibility for the death of a foreign ambassador on its territory always lies with the host country,' Moskovsky Komsomolets tabloid wrote, adding that the murder was 'yet another powerful blow' to the reputation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Questions are being raised as to how Altintas, who comes from a secular family, came to shoot dead Karlov.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday blamed the group of exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen for the assassination.

In an interview with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Cavusoglu said 'Turkey and Russia know that behind the attack... there is FETO,' it said, referring to Turkey's acronym for Gulen's organisation.

Gulen - an exile accused of orchestrating an abortive coup in Turkey in July - had earlier condemned the assassination as a 'terrorist act' that left him 'shocked and deeply saddened.'

Turkey's authoritarian government has imposed a temporary blackout on media coverage of the Russian ambassador's shooting.

An online listing remains showing him as a serving policeman on an official database, yet pro-government media have claimed Altintas was reportedly one of some 8,000 fired from the police as a result of an investigation into the July 'coup' against President Erdogan.

The newspapers claim the killer was sacked from the riot police on a posting to Diyarbakir after his commander Kahraman Sezer fell under suspicion.

They also claimed that Altintas took two days' holiday immediately after the coup.

Six suspects including his father Israfil Altntas, mother Hamidiye, sister Seher Altntas, uncle and flatmate were today in custody undergoing questioning about his motives, and whether he was linked to an extremist group.

Photos have emerged of the gunman's sister who is believed to be in her late 20s.

Six people have been arrested over the shooting including Altntas sister (pictured), father, mother, uncle and flatmate

Late Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov's wife Marina a attends ceremony at Esenboga airport in Ankara on Tuesday

The flag-wrapped coffin of late Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov is carried to a plane during a ceremony at Esenboga airport in Ankara

Honour guards salute next to the flag-wrapped coffin of late Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov

ENVOY'S KILLING EXPOSES TURKISH TENSION WITH RUSSIA The assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey has exposed deep tensions between the two countries, despite a reconciliation deal in June. The Turkish government has been one of the main backers of the Syrian rebels since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in 2011. Russia, however, is a major Assad ally, helping the Syrian army make major gains on the ground after launching a bombing campaign last year. Turkey and Russia forged a deal in June to normalise relations, which were badly damaged in November last year over the downing of a Russian war jet by Turkish planes on the Syrian border. President Tayyip Erdogan has in the last months remained largely silent on Russian bombing in Syria. But with Assad and his supporters closing in on a major victory in Aleppo, there have been almost daily protests outside the Russian embassy and consulate in Ankara and Istanbul in the week before the assassination. Major anti-Russian demonstrations have also been taking place at the Syrian border, with crowds crying: 'Murderer Russia, get out of Syria!' Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday joined a meeting of his Russian and Iranian counterparts, agreeing that a truce in Aleppo should be widened. But a Turkish official denied any secret 'bargain' with Russia and said the two sides had 'agreed to disagree' on the key issue of the future of Russia's ally Assad. Experts have suggested that Erdogan's government is walking on a 'tightrope' in its effort to cooperate with Russia over the future of Syria. Advertisement

The assassin's father Esrafil reportedly told police during an interrogation: 'I cannot understand how he did something like that. I am so surprised.'

Police detained Altntas's uncle, who had been working at a closed school allegedly linked to the Gulen movement in the Kusadas district, on Tuesday. He was reportedly previously detained as part of the investigation into the failed July 15 coup attempt.

Gunman Altintas moved to Ankara one and a half months ago and was allegedly living with a supporter of the the Gulen movement, an Islamic transnational religious and social movement led by controversial Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen, based in the US.

The Turkish authorities have acted to crush what they call the Gulenist Terror Organisation FETO.

The government says Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, created a 'parallel network' in the police, military, judiciary and civil service aimed at overthrowing the state. Gulen denies this.

Today pro-government newspapers linked the assassination to the group. 'An attack on friendship by treacherous FETO,' said Sabah daily. 'A bullet from FETO,' added the Star daily.

But the Gulen movement has refuted any connection, media representative Alp Aslandogan said the exiled cleric condemned the murder as a 'heinous act'.

One theory is that the killer stayed at a hotel in recent days to plan the attack.

A computer and documents have been seized by Turkish police from the family home (pictured) in Soke, 35 miles south-west of the city of Aydin, near the Aegean coast

Altintas's family house is next to an office of the neighbourhood authorities (pictured)

Hours after the assassination, Turkish police arrested Altintas's mother at her home

Details of the killer were soon shared on social media showing him in his police uniform

'GUESTS HID UNDER TABLES': ONE WITNESS DESCRIBES THE SCENE Photographer Burhan Ozbilic was covering the exhibition for the Associated Press. He recounts the chaos of the scene: 'The event was routine enough - the opening of an exhibit of photographs of Russia - and when a man on stage pulled out a gun I thought it was a theatrical flourish. 'It was anything but. Moments later the Russian ambassador was sprawled on the floor and the attacker was waving his gun at the rest of us, shouting slogans. 'He shot the ambassador at least once more at close range and smashed some of the framed photos on the wall. In all there were at least eight shots. 'Guests ran for cover, hiding behind columns and under tables. I composed myself enough to shoot pictures.' Advertisement

Altintas set off the metal detector security check when he entered the exhibition in central Ankara as he was carrying a gun, said pro-government Sabah daily.

But after showing his police ID, he was waved through and allowed to proceed.

Hurriyet newspaper daily claimed he had put on a suit and tie and shaved at the hotel before heading to the exhibition centre.

Before he was shot dead himself by special forces, Altintas shouted in Turkish: 'Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!'

He then warned journalists filming the event: 'Stand back! Stand back! Only death will take me out of here. Anyone who has a role in this oppression will die one by one.'

Amid the chaotic scenes, eyewitnesses reported that Altintas shouted 'Allahu akbar', the Arabic phrase for 'God is great'.

Another theory is that he had been radicalised by a Jihadist group in Syria.

It is claimed he was active in his youth with President Erdogan's AKP party and may have been linked with the Al Nusra Front, a Syrian affiliate of Al Qaeda.

In Arabic, Altintas can reportedly be heard saying: 'We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad for jihad.'

According to local media, his words are similar to the unofficial anthem of Al Nusra.

Some reports claimed he said words to the effect of: 'We made an oath to die in martyrdom  it is revenge for Syria and Aleppo  until they are safe, you will not taste safety.'

Gunned down: The Russian ambassador is shot in the back and at least once at close range after collapsing to the ground. He dies of his injuries shortly afterwards

Taken out: Altintas was shot dead by Turkish security forces who responded to the assassination

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER URGES NO 'CONCESSIONS TO TERRORISTS' AFTER ENVOY MURDER Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday there should be no 'concessions to terrorists' at talks with his Turkish counterpart on Syria, a day after Moscow's ambassador was murdered in Ankara. 'This tragedy forces all of us to fight more decisively against terrorism,' Lavrov told Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu as they sat down together in Moscow. 'For this reason, I very much hope that our talks and the upcoming three-way meeting with our Iranian colleague will allow us to reach agreements, which will through concrete actions advance the settlement in Syria,' Lavrov said, also insisting that they should not allow 'any concessions to terrorists'. Foreign and defence ministers from Russia, Turkey and Iran are holding talks on the conflict in Syria, which has entered a crucial stage with the government takeover of rebel-held eastern Aleppo. 'If the organisers of this terror attack were aiming to derail the fight against terrorists in general and today's meeting in particular, they have not succeeded and they won't succeed,' Lavrov said at the start of separate talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Lavrov said he hoped the countries would come up with 'the most effective and concrete steps' to normalise the situation in Syria and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to desperate civilians. The United States has been left out of the talks in a clear sign that Moscow is attempting to forge its own settlement for Syria after failing to make headway with Washington. Advertisement

When the violence erupted in the exhibition, Altintas smashed several of the framed photos on the wall as others ran for cover.

Witness Hasim Kilic, a journalist for Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, told AFP: 'It happened during the opening of an exhibition. When the ambassador was delivering a speech, a tall man wearing a suit, fired into the air first and then took aim at the ambassador.

'He said something about Aleppo and 'revenge'. He ordered the civilians to leave the room. When people were fleeing, he fired again.

An unnamed witness added to news website Diken: 'There was a single attacker. He was wearing a suit. He said to the Russian ambassador: 'I'm not going to get out of here alive. And neither are you.'

'Then he took aim straight at him. We all ran out. The ambassador was motionless on the ground.'

A Turkish website claimed to show sections of Altintas's personnel police file

Photographer Burhan Ozbilici, who was covering the exhibition, said: 'The Russian ambassador was sprawled on the floor and the attacker was waving his gun at the rest of us, shouting slogans.

'He shot the ambassador at least once more at close range and smashed some of the framed photos  In all there were at least eight shots. Guests ran for cover, hiding behind columns and under tables.'

The assassin graduated from Izmir's police vocational school and served for at least two years in the riot police.

A computer and documents have been seized by Turkish police from the family home in Soke, 35 miles south-west of the city of Aydin, near the Aegean coast, where his father Esrafil, mother Hamidiye, and his sister, Seher Ozeroglu, who works in a clothes shop, live.

Meanwhile, Karlov's widow Marina was reported to have had a 'nervous breakdown' in the moments after he was killed.

As the shooting began she fell to the floor like others in the audience at the photographic exhibition.

She was rushed to hospital, and is being accompanied by the embassy doctor and psychologists when she flies with her husband's remains back to Moscow today.

In a statement to the Turkish secret services, she recounted the horrific moment her husband was killed.

'I was lying on the floor along with the others. There were many people at the exhibition. All of us were shocked with what had happened.

'I recovered only when we were already on the way to the hospital. I think my husband was already dead by then.

'He shot at him 11 times. We did not have any security guards at all. Only an interpreter accompanied us from time to time.

'When we came to the hospital, the mayor of Ankara came too, and people from Health Ministry. They talked together for a long time and later they said that my husband was dead. I was shocked. I immediately felt unwell.'

Ambassador Karlov was a key figure in seeking to forge contacts with opposition forces in Syria, Moscow claimed today.

'This is the man who was in touch with opposition forces, including the Syrian opposition,' said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

'He was initiating dialogue between them. It adds a new understanding to the tragedy.

'He was devoted to peace making, in true meaning of these words.

'He knew how terrorists are born, how they spread their ideas in this region, how hard it is to start a political process.'

The Russian Investigative Committee - equivalent of the FBI - announced they are treating the 'murder' of Karlov 'as an act of international terrorism'.

Today they sent a team of investigators to Ankara to probe the killing.

Vladimir Putin declared that 'we have to know who directed the hand of the killer' .

Putin called the killing of Russia's ambassador a 'provocation' aimed at sabotaging warming ties between Moscow and Ankara and efforts to resolve the conflict in Syria.

'There can be only one answer to this -- stepping up the fight against terrorism, and the bandits will feel this,' said the Kremlin leader.

On the edge: Riot officer Altintas waved his arms in the air as he shouted at the terrified visitors inside the gallery

Fatal shooting: Gunman Altintas, 22, an off-duty police officer, fired into the air before taking aim at Andrei Karlov

The body of slain Karlov will be airlifted to Moscow today, said embassy officials.

'Later today, a mourning ceremony with a limited number of participants will take place at the airport,' said spokeswoman Irina Kasimova.

'Turkish diplomats and high-ranking officials are expected to attend the ceremony.

'After that, the ambassador's body will be delivered to Russia.'

His family and the embassy's doctor will accompany the envoy's remains to Moscow.

Diplomats at the embassy are expected to nominate Karlov for a posthumous state award to be bestowed by Vladimir Putin.

Turkey and Russia are seeking to warm ties despite major disagreements on the Syria conflict.

Ankara has given its backing to rebels seeking to topple Moscow's ally President Bashar al-Assad.

The Russian foreign ministry today expressed thanks for international condemnation of Karlov's assassination.

'We express our appreciation to all our colleagues and partners for their words of support.

'We highly appreciate the solidarity shown to us,' the ministry said in a statement.

Moscow could seek to extradite associates of the slain killer to face justice in Russia, it is believed.

Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said a criminal investigation has been launched in Moscow.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: 'We are convinced that the main goal of those who planned this barbarian action was to ruin the process of normalisation of relations between Russia and Turkey and to block the effective fight with terrorists in Syria.'

The Russian foreign ministry stated: 'We expect the Turkish authorities to cooperate closely with the Russian investigation to thoroughly investigate all details of this barbaric crime, find and punish the culprits and to take the most effective measures to ensure security of Russian citizens, foreign mission and diplomatic staff.

'The Russian side is ready to do our part in cooperation with the Turkish law-enforcement authorities to bring those guilty to justice.

'The Foreign Ministry expresses the deepest condolences to the relatives and friends of Mr Karlov. The memory of this outstanding Russian diplomat will remain in the hearts of all who knew him forever.

UKRAINIAN MP CALLS ASSASSIN A 'HERO' Ukranian MP Volodymyr Parasiuk said on Facebook that the gunman was a 'hero' A Ukrainian MP today called the assassin of Russia's ambassador to Turkey a 'hero'. His sick comment - posted on Facebook - has caused shock in Moscow. Volodymyr Parasiuk, 29, is an independent MP who is believed to have been a volunteer fighter for Ukrainian forces against the Russians in the east of his country. 'When a man puts his life at stake and is ready to take radical measures for ideas, for truth, then you can definitely say - A HERO!' he wrote. His posting was beside a picture of the gun-toting murderer Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22, next to the body of Russian envoy Andrey Karlov. He posted the message in the Ukrainian language on his Facebook where he has more than 150,000 subscribers. The politician is from Lviv and he was a member of the 'Dnepr 1 fighter' volunteer regiment under the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. One Russian reader claimed his remarks were 'twisted and hateful'. Advertisement

Brutal: As Mr Karlov lay dying on the floor, Altintas shot him at least once more at close range

Chilling pledge: The gunman said he would not leave the scene alive as he screamed at terrified guests inside the gallery

Taking aim: It reportedly took about 15 minutes before the gunman was himself shot dead at the gallery

Unhinged: He continued to shout in Turkish and Arabic as the victim lay dead at his feet

Explosive: Altintas turned his gun on others, injuring three. He was heard shouting slogans in both Turkish and Arabic

Anger: A discarded pair of glasses are seen on the floor of the gallery alongside the ambassador's body

Target: Mr Karlov (pictured) was about to give a speech at an art exhibition when the gunman burst in and began firing at him

Fear: As Karlov lay on the floor, the assassin aimed his gun at the journalists and members of the public at the gallery opening

Destruction: The gunman smashed paintings at the gallery after shooting the ambassador

Escape: Guests were evacuated from the gallery after Mr Karlov was shot dead by the Turkish police officer

Shocking: When the violence erupted, Altintas smashed several of the framed photos on the wall as others ran for cover

Terror: Spectators cowered in the corner of the gallery as Mr Karlov was shot at close range by the 22-year-old gunman

ASSASSINATION WAS ORGANISED BY 'NATO SECRET SERVICES' CLAIMS KREMLIN SENATOR The secret services of a NATO country is 'highly likely' to have been behind the assassination of ambassador Andrei Karlov, claimed a top ally of Vladimor Putin. Senior senator Frantz Klintsevich, deputy chairman of the Russian upper chamber's defence and security committee, said: 'It was a planned action. 'Everyone knew that he was going to attend this photo exhibition. 'It can be ISIS, or the Kurdish army which tries to hurt Erdogan. 'But may be - and it is highly likely - that representatives of foreign NATO secrets services are behind it. 'What has happened is a true provocation, a challenge. 'It is a challenge for Russia.' The senator is a member of the ruling council of United Russia party, Putin's vehicle of power. The Russian Foreign Ministry vowed that terrorism would not win after the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Turkey. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: 'We call this event an act of terror. 'Terrorism will not win. 'We will strongly fight it.' Advertisement

'This tragedy obliges us to put even more effort in a fight against terrorism in all its forms.'

The Russian embassy in London issued a statement declaring: 'We are shocked by the repugnant murder of Russia's Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov, our very good friend and an outstanding diplomat.

'It was hard to imagine how such an outrage could happen.

'It is a reminder for all of us that no person or country is immune to terrorism.

'Ankara is not far from conflict areas and the diplomats working there have always been on the frontline.

'Mr Karlov's posting to Ankara was no random choice. A person with highest diplomatic qualities was needed there, as regards both professionalism and active civic stance.

'His experience at the MFA and in high positions abroad helped him to make a major contribution to stabilization of the Russia-Turkey relationship and its active development in today's challenging conditions.

'The terrorists' choice of target was not random either. In essence, they wanted to deal a blow to the recovering counter-terrorism cooperation between Moscow and Ankara.

'The assassination of Andrey Karlov is another testimony to the need for creation, in deeds, not words, of a united anti-terrorist front by the international community, i.e. what Russia called for on successive occasions.'

Andrey Baklanov, the deputy chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats, said the 'villainous murder' of Karlov was to seek to disrupt warming relations between Ankara and Moscow which would 'seriously damage the position of ISIS and other extremist organizations'.

He said: 'There is only one possible response to this violent act: to do what terrorists fear most to all, to fight for rapprochement of Russian and Turkish position, and also for rapprochement of all other countries regarding fight with terror.'

He called on the West to revert to the fight against Hitler in the Second World War when Britain and the US allied themselves with the USSR.

'Today we hear condolences from many capitals of this world, including Western countries,' he said.

High alert: Dozens of armed police gathered outside the art centre in Ankara after the fatal shooting of Mr Karlov

A police cordon was put in place after the assassination, near the Russian embassy in Ankara

Dozens of police officers arrived at the scene in the wake of the shooting on Monday night

A photograph of Mr Karlov was left alongside bouquets of flowers outside the Russian foreign ministry in Moscow

A woman pays her respects to Mr Karlov by leaving a bouquet of flowers outside the Russian Foreign Ministry, in Moscow

VLADIMIR PUTIN BRANDS KILLING A 'PROVOCATION' Vladimir Putin tonight condemned the killing of the Russian ambassador as a 'provocation' aimed at sabotaging ties between Moscow and Ankara. The Russian president said the death of Andrei Karlov, 62, was designed to 'disrupt the peace process in Syria' as he vowed to 'step up the fight against terrorism'. He ordered security at Russian embassies around the world to be stepped up and said he wanted to know who had 'directed' the gunman's hand. Russian investigators will be sent to Ankara to investigate the killing, he said at the meeting tonight. Moscow has branded the killing as a 'terrorist act'. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, left, director of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin, right, and Alexander Bortnikov, second from right, director of the Federal Security Service, on Monday night Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, pictured, said both he and Putin had agreed they must work together in the fight against terrorism Meanwhile Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said both he and Putin had agreed they must work together in the fight against terrorism as he reiterated the ties between their two countries. Speaking at a special meeting at the Kremlin tonight, Putin said: 'The crime that was committed is without doubt a provocation aimed at disrupting the normalisation of Russian-Turkish relations and disrupting the peace process in Syria that is being actively advanced by Russia, Turkey and Iran. 'There can be only one answer to this - stepping up the fight against terrorism, and the bandits will feel this.' Putin, who said he personally knew Mr Karlov, said he had agreed in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart and agreed Russian investigators would soon fly to Ankara to help with the investigation. Putin added: 'We have to know who directed the hand of the killer. Putin called Mr Karlov a 'brilliant diplomat' and said he had known the ambassador personally. Pictured, the men together in October Advertisement

'We are grateful for their kind feelings but we think that solidarity must be supported with certain actions.

'Unfortunately we don't see such actions yet.

'On the contrary, Western politicians do not withdraw their sanctions against Russia. Is this the right spirit for cooperation with your allies?

'During World War Two, Britain and the USA have revised their approaches to collaboration with the USSR and provided massive help as land-lease in an atmosphere of joint resistance to fascism.

'Today we need Western countries to demonstrate basic decency towards our country.

'And moreover the logic of preventing new acts of terror at the territory of those Western countries demands it too.'

There is now a 'moral duty is to conquer terrorism as we conquered fascism earlier'.

CHURCH BELLS TO RING IN GODLESS NORTH KOREA WHEN SLAIN AMBASSADOR KARLOV IS BURIED IN MOSCOW Bells will ring at the North Korean church that ambassador Andrey Karlov got married in when he is buried in Moscow. Extraordinary pictures emerged the diplomat getting married to wife Marina in the church he helped to build in the godless communist country. Karlov was formerly ambassador to the repressive state, and made sure an Orthodox place of worship was established for Russian expats. Alexander Matsegora, the current Russian ambassador to North Korea, paid an emotional tribute to his predecessor on Tuesday in a Facebook post from Pyongyang. He wrote: 'My friend Andrey Karlov has died. In a cowardly way, he was shot in the back. He was killed under the cameras and I saw his face distorted from pain at the moment of the shot. 'On TV we heard that he was injured and in hospital. Together with my wife Tanya, we sent a text message to his wife Marina who was also present at the opening of this damned exhibition. We told her to be strong. 'And she replied: 'Andrey was killed in front of my eyes, he was lying on the floor and this [gun]man did not allow us to come up to him.''' He added: 'Farewell, Andrey. I promise that on the day when you go into the ground, the bells of the Orthodox Trinity church in Pyongyang - that you built and where you married Marina - will speak. 'Farewell, my best friend, my brother, my dear comrade.' He last saw Karlov in Russia in the summer, when he spoke of his love of Turkey, the country where he was killed. He said: 'We drank tea, he spoke a lot about Turkey. He was already loving it. He invited us to come and see him, he promised to show us some great and beautiful places.' Advertisement




said: 'We have wrong man. Perpetrator is armed, at large and can cause further damage'

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ISIS tonight claimed responsibility for the Berlin Christmas market massacre as German police continued to hunt for the killer amid warnings a second terror attack in the city could be imminent.

The terror group hailed the lorry driver - who murdered 12 people and injured at least 48 others - a 'soldier' and praised him for 'targeting nationals of the coalition countries'.

Tonight German police faced difficult questions about their investigation after they released the only suspect they had in custody, saying there was not enough evidence to tie him to the rampage.

Naved B, a 23-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker, had been detained in the immediate aftermath of last night's carnage following a tip-off from witnesses. But Naved B, who had no blood on his clothes and no injuries, denied having anything to do with bloodbath. It means the killer lorry driver remains on the loose and armed with a gun.

Berlin prosecutor Holger Munch has warned of a 'serious threat' of another 'significant' terror attack and Berliners were urged to stay indoors.

Meanwhile Interior minister for a German state, Klaus Bouillon, said that Germany is 'in a state of war' after the massacre on Breitscheidplatz Square last night - the seventh in the country this year.

A security services source, a senior police officer, told die Welt newspaper: 'We have the wrong man. The true perpetrator is still armed, at large and can cause further damage.'

Will the lorry killer strike again? Police and the security services are hunting for the Christmas market killer and admit a second terror attack could be imminent

First picture: The masked 23-year-old named as Naved B, who entered the country under a false name on New Year's Eve 2015, is shown here being bundled into a police van after his arrest with his head covered. He has since been released

Terror attack chain of events: The polish lorry was hijacked when it arrived in Berlin and hours later was driven through Christmas market crowds. The main suspect was pursued on foot and arrested - but it appears he is the wrong man. Police also raided the hangar he lives in with other asylum seekers at the Tempelhof airport

Carnage: The lorry used to kill a dozen people in Berlin last night was towed away from the scene as a 23-year-old asylum seeker was being interrogated

Close up: The shattered glass on the windshield of a truck the morning after it ploughed through the Christmas market

Brutal: White powder used to soak up blood left by the dead - one witness described a 'rivers of blood' running through the market

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) lays white roses at the blood-stained scene in Berlin amid fears a gunman may still be on the loose

Solemn: Angela Merkel closed her eyes as she attended a service at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on Tuesday night

Grief: Two women view the carnage at the Christmas market scene and sob as police warn a new attack could be imminent

Vigil: A sea of candles and flowers cover the pavement close to where the terror attack took place 24 hours ago

United: The historic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is tonight illuminated in the colours of the German flag in tribute to the dead

Hunt for clues: With police admitting they are struggling to find the terror suspect behind the attacks, they have found the spot where they think the lorry was hijacked, believed to be next to a branch of the Thyssenkrupp company in Berlin - around two miles from the market

Horror 2016: These are all the terror attacks carried out on German soil in the past year, claiming the lives of 22 people

Tonight federal prosecutors said brave witnesses who had tried to follow the truck driver in the aftermath of the tragedy had lost track of the target. Naved B matched the witnesses' descriptions of the truck driver, but investigators have not been able to prove he was in the cab at the time of the attack, prosecutors said tonight.

Germany's top prosecutor Peter Frank also said earlier that they cannot rule out that more than one person may be on the run, adding Naved B 'may not have been the perpetrator or belong to the group of perpetrators'.

Tonight the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the fatal attack.

At 7pm last night a juggernaut laden with steel cargo turned off its lights and ripped through stalls and shoppers at 40mph on Breitscheidplatz Square, outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in the German capital's main shopping area.

Witnesses said victims including children were sent flying like bowling pins and sucked under the wheels leaving 'rivers of blood' as the killer driver steered at them before jumping out of the cab and racing from the scene.

Only six of the nine dead have been identified but Italian Fabrizia Lorenzo, 31, transport specialist worker is missing and her mobile phone and travel pass were found in the crash zone.

After another terror attack on German soil this year it was revealed:

12 people are dead and 48 are injured - 16 seriously - after a lorry is driven at 40mph through crowds at the famous Breitscheidplatz Square Christmas market at 7pm last night.

Hours earlier the lorry was hijacked from a Polish driver taking steel to Berlin from Italy. Lukasz Urban, a father of one, was found shot dead in its cab. It is not yet clear when he died.

Witnesses to the massacre saw a masked man flee the lorry. A member of the public chased the Pakistani suspect Naved B, who was arrested in the Tiergarten park. Police have since released the suspect, admitting they have insufficient evidence to tie him to the rampage. Berlin's police chief Klaus Kandt said the 'dangerous criminal' behind a deadly truck rampage may still be on the run while Interior minister for a German state, Klaus Bouillon, said that Germany is 'in a state of war' after the massacre on Breitscheidplatz Square last night - the seventh in the country this year.

Police commando squad raid a hangar at Berlin's Tempelhof airport, which was closed and used as a camp for refugees including Naved B, who is believed to have entered Germany a year ago under a false name. Four men are questioned and a laptop and mobile phone seized

Angela Merkel lays white roses at the scene of the massacre and says 'we have to assume we are dealing with a terrorist attack'. Amid fears an asylum seeker is the perpertrator she says: ' It would be particularly hard to bear for all of us if it was confirmed that a person committed this crime who asked for protection and asylum in Germany'

The White House says President Barack Obama has spoken by phone with Chancellor Merkel. Vladimir Putin has also offered his condolences

ISIS supporters used an encrypted messaging service to call for more attacks just half an hour after the Berlin Christmas market atrocity, it has emerged.

Remembrance: Lit by candlelight, Mrs Merkel signs a book of condolences at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church tonight

Emotional: The Mayor of Berlin, Michael Muller, centre, bows his head as he attends the service alongside German politicians

Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck led politicians at the service at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

German chancellor Angela Merkel, left and Berlin's mayor Michael Mueller, share a quiet word at the service in Berlin tonight

Residents gathered at the Brandenburg Gate tonight, which was lit in the colours of the German flag in tribute to the dead

A woman formed a cross with candles on the pavement near to where the lorry ploughed into the Christmas market, killing 12

The site of the terror attack in the centre of Berlin was tonight transformed into a shrine to those who lost their lives

Just 24 hours after the attack, Berliners remain defiant and enjoy the festivities at another Christmas market in the city

Candles are lit inside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, as the city comes to term with the loss of last night

Residents of Zurich, Switzerland, show their solidarity with the residents of Berlin by lighting candles at a Christmas market

EYEWITNESSES REVEAL THEIR TERROR FACING DEATH Narrow escape: Tourist John Thompson and his daughter Annabelle, 11, at the market on Monday night A British family caught up in the terror attack have told how they narrowly escaped being hit by the truck. John Thompson and his 11-year-old daughter had posed for a picture at the Christmas market just minutes before it was devastated by the hijacked lorry. Last night the 59-year-old businessman revealed how he, his wife Nicola, 48, and their daughter Annabelle were among scores of Britons who witnessed the mass murder  and had to run for their lives. The family, from Lepton in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, were on a three-day break in the German capital when they decided to visit the market. Mr Thompson said they survived only because they stopped for something to eat. We were very, very close, he said. We were contemplating having food elsewhere and were walking towards that end of the market when Nicola saw a BBQ stall  and we decided to stop for some food. All of a sudden there was this almighty commotion and this truck was hurtling towards us. I saw the front end of it. We didnt hang around and just ran for our lives. My daughter thought it was fireworks but everyone else was running away from the scene and we just followed them to the church steps at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church  Annabelle was the most shaken up by it. She thought it was fireworks. But today is another day and we have to carry on. His wife added: You never think something like this can happen to you, you cant believe it, but it did. I just said to John, lets stop and have some food  then there was this lorry rumbling through all the stalls. There was lots of shouting and people running. It was very frightening. Its terrible what has happened to those poor people. Another British tourist, Sara Dobler, recalled how she held a mans hand as he lay on the floor with severe head injuries. She described the scene as like something from a horror film. The 26-year-old, from South Wales, said she did not know what happened to the man, but said the experience had traumatised her. Traumatised: Sara Dobler and her partner Rhys Meredith said they were 'traumatised' by what they had witnessed at the market He was on the floor  he was lying there, he was trying to get up but his head injury was quite severe. So I just held his hand and told him everything was going to be OK, she told BBC Radio 5 Live. Obviously there were people lying on the floor. We werent sure if it was red wine or blood. Her boyfriend Rhys Meredith, 27, from Cardiff, had just bought food at the Breitscheidplatz market with her when the lorry smashed into the stalls, missing the couple by about 10ft. There was clearly no attempt to try and slow down  weve seen stalls obliterated into nothing, Mr Meredith said. He described the absolutely horrific scene as he tried to push stalls off people who were trapped underneath. Its just amazing how a peaceful, festive, happy atmosphere just changed instantly and youve just got this scene of utter devastation, he told BBC News. US student Luke Theis saw two rivers of blood following the attack. He and his girlfriend Lara Colombo, 22, were on their way to the market when they heard sirens and saw people running frantically away. Massacre: Australian tourist Trisha O'Neill, pictured, told of seeing 'blood and bodies everywhere' after he mounted a curb and deliberately drove into crowds of people It was carnage everywhere, he said. There was blood all over the floor  Nobody was really helping anybody. People were running. It was like every man for themselves. It was dusty and chaotic  two rivers of blood going down the floor. Mr Theis, from Washington, added: Its unsettling to think that you are so close to dying. One minute you are alive and enjoying the Christmas market and then you are dead and your family has to spend Christmas without you. Another witness, Jan Hollitzer, 36, said he heard screams as the truck crashed through, but that the market was silent in the aftermath. Mr Hollitzer, deputy editor of local news outlet Berliner Morgenpost, said: First, I heard a noise, then he destroyed the booths on the market and we heard some screams, and then the truck came out of the market on the left side. He said he saw destroyed stalls, broken glass and tables, and injured people lying on the ground, adding: There were some people under the truck and it was really scary, really terrifying. Australian student Trisha ONeill said she saw blood and bodies everywhere. All of a sudden there was a big boom and the people in front of me jumped on top of me, she told ABC. I just saw this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people and then all the lights went out and everything was destroyed. I could hear screaming and we all froze. Then suddenly people started to move and lift all the wreckage off people, trying to help whoever was there. Miss ONeill, who was celebrating her final classes in Germany before heading home, said she saw several people, from children to the elderly, lying on the floor motionless. Mike Fox, from Birmingham, and his partner were just a few metres from the lorry as it smashed its way through the market. My girlfriend saw a child under the truck, he said. I saw about 15 or 20 people injured, some were moving and some werent. Others had blood on them. I saw one guy being dragged away with blood on his face. Vivian Hilse, 15, a school pupil from Berlin, was at the market with her friend. She said: We tried to run away but my best friend fell over and broke his leg  I was really afraid. We got in the ambulance. It was only when we were in the hospital that we knew what had happened. It is awful, you dont feel safe in your own city. Lana Sefovac, a Bosnian who lives in Berlin, was at the entrance of the market at the time of the attack. Slaughter: American tourist Luke Theis, pictured with his girlfriend Lara Colombo, saw 'two rivers of blood going down the floor' after the attacker mounted a curb and deliberately drove into crowds of people She told N1 Television in Bosnia: 'We were at a stall because we wanted to buy some food. We were lucky we were hungry because if we had been on the promenade we would have been victims. 'I was standing in front of the stall, my father was in front of me, my mum was behind. I heard a very, very noisy sound and when I turned towards it, the first thing I saw was wood flying all around because he literally smashed the first wooden booth by driving very fast. 'He was driving directly toward us, directly into us, but then he made a turn because he did not want to drive into (our) booth but where people were. He wanted to run people over.' Belgian woman Carima Douch, who was working at the Zaventem airport in Brussels when the suicide bombings happened in March, told of yet another lucky escape. She told Dutch daily De Telegraaf daily after witnessing the Berlin attack: 'It's very difficult. You feel totally powerless. And I am speechless. Everything comes back again. It is unbelievable that it is happening all over again.' Her friend, Carima Akel-Freie, a personal assistant from Leuven, said: 'We thought it would be fun to go to the Christmas market. We were going to stay there, but a group wanted to leave to go and get a drink. 'I'm really happy that we decided to go with them. It probably saved our lives. Five minutes later the attack happened.' Dutch photographer Roos Koman was visiting the market with her boyfriend Stefan, having made the trip specially to Berlin to see it. Just half an hour before the truck hit, they were enjoying the Christmas market and had gone back to their hotel just 50 metres away. Another British tourist Emma Rushton remembered the lorry ploughing into a Christmas market in Berlin at '40mph'. Ms Rushton, from Rugby, Warwickshire, was out in the city for the first time when the vehicle sped through the crowd. The Scout Association worker saw the truck tearing through the market, bringing down lights and crashing into shoppers, before coming to a halt outside Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church. She told Sky News : 'We were about eight feet away from where it happened and we saw it all happen and I'm really thankful that we had not left the Christmas market two minutes earlier. 'I'm running on adrenaline at the moment so everything is coming out quite fast. The front of the lorry which crashed through the Berlin Christmas market on Monday night 'We arrived at the market around lunch time today. We had never been to Berlin before and it was our first holiday there. 'We decided to wander down to the Christmas market and partake in some of the mulled win that was being served as well as looking for some offers. 'We were sat and were drinking and luckily I broke my leg a few years ago, which means I have to sit down for a lot longer than most people would normally have to. 'When one of my friends said, 'let's go', I replied with 'give me two minutes' and that was when we heard a very loud bang and saw the Christmas lights to our left being pulled down.' Advertisement

A German-speaking fanatic reportedly urged members of the terror group to carry out a repeat of the mass killing using tactics 'the enemy can never stop'.

German newspaper Bild reported that an ISIS follower had used Telegram to tell fellow extremists: 'You need nothing more than a car... and then a proper intention and a Kuffar crowd.'

Police said a 'hero' witness in the Christmas market gave chase on foot while giving officers second-by-second updates on his phone, but now they believe Naved B is the wrong man.

The lorry's original Polish driver, Lukasz Urban, a father of one, was transporting steel beams into Germany, but was found shot in the cab after the crash. The gun has not been found.

The terror attack could be a political disaster for Angela Merkel, who will seek a historic fourth term as German Chancellor next year. The German leader, who left white roses as the scene this afternoon, has staked much of her political capital in opening up Germany's doors to refugees and in doing so divided a reunited land.

Overhead: This is a clear view of the path the lorry took through the now-destroyed Christmas market in central Berlin

Tragedy: Inside the cab was the Polish driver who the lorry was hijacked from - he may have been murdered before the crash

Horrific: The smashed front of the lorry used to kill people enjoying the run-up to Christmas. A wreath from one of the stalls was longed in its destroyed windscreen

Trail of destruction: This is the path taken by the killer truck driver - and shows how it mounted a narrow strip of pavement around 80metres in length with the aim of killing as many people as possible. The white powder is believed to show where the bodies fell

Victim: A body dragged under the lorry's wheels lies covered with a gold blanket this morning at the rear of the stolen lorry

Aftermath: New photographs have emerged from the scene showing how the road around the lorry was strewn with bodies, including a body by the cab

A suspect stares out as he is taken into custody by police close to the scene of the terror attack last night. It is not clear what he was arrested for

Grief: Hundreds of Berliners have visited the scene of the horror crash to leave tributes to those who lost their lives

Tributes: Flowers, candles and messages are being left at the scene of the atrocity today as German comes to terms with the terror attack

Prayers: A woman prays next to a cross of lit candles at the Christmas market in Berlin close to the message 'the light is stronger than the darkness'

The Pakistani asylum seeker arrested after the Berlin Christmas market massacre was allegedly held for a sex attack in July and was already on the Interpol crime database, it was revealed today.

ANGELA MERKEL 'SHOCKED, SHAKEN AND SADDENED' German chancellor Angela Merkel has said she was 'shocked and very saddened' by the Berlin Christmas market attack which left 12 dead and almost 50 injured, describing it as a 'terrible' deed. Speaking at a press conference Mrs Merkel said the government 'assumed' it had been a terror attack, adding that: 'We will find the strength to continue living life as we want to live it in Germany - in freedom, openness and together.' She said: 'It is a terrible deed which one cannot understand. It took their lives; many people are injured, are fighting for their lives and fighting for their health, and in these hours I first and foremost think of these people - the dead, the injured, their families, their friends, their relatives. 'I would like you to know that we - all of us, the whole of the country - are with you in deep sadness.' A man thought to be the driver of the lorry that smashed through the Christmas market has been arrested and security sources believe he is a 23-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker who arrived in Germany in February, German media reported. He is believed to have lived at a refugee accommodation centre in a hangar at Berlin's old Tempelhof airport, which special forces police stormed overnight. Mrs Merkel said: 'We don't have anything for certain, but we must assume it was a terrorist attack. 'It would be very difficult for us to learn that a human being committed this deed who came to Germany to ask for refuge and asylum. 'It would be terrible for all of the Germans who are very active day by day in helping asylum seekers and refugees. It would be repugnant for those that are helping people that have come to this country and are asking for our help.' She added: 'Millions of people, including myself, are asking ourselves, how can you live with the fact that, while celebrating the festive season where we want to celebrate life, somebody has come along and taken so many lives. I only know that we do not want to, and we cannot live with it. 'We do not want to allow ourselves to be paralysed by terror. It might be difficult in these hours, but we will find a strength to continue living life as we want to live it in Germany, in freedom and openness and together.' Advertisement

Arrested suspect Naved B, is believed to have entered the country under a false name on New Year's Eve 2015.

Earlier today Germany's Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere confirmed that Naved was the number one suspect but not on Germany's terror list but was on the Interpol list of criminals.

He was also allegedly arrested in Berlin for a sex attack in July and other petty crimes.

The minister also revealed that the suspect had failed to attend his first asylum hearing and then appeared at a second but claimed he spoke no German and required an interpreter so it was adjourned.

Sixteen of the most wounded victims are in intensive care at Berlin's Charite University Clinic - eight are in a critical condition.

German officials have said the Pakistani national entered Germany via the Balkans on December 31 and February he went to the authorities in Berlin to claim asylum.

He is living in a refugee camp at Berlin's Tempelhof airport, which was raided by an elite group of armed anti-terror police at 4am this morning. Four men were questioned but there were no arrests.

In a further hammer blow, security sources have suggested that police in Berlin were warned that an attack on a Christmas market could be imminent. ISIS has praised the Berlin attack and urged jihadis to carry out more in Europe.

Police said they believed that Naved B was only recently radicalised in Germany and may have been ordered by an Isis handler in the middle east to carry out the attack.

Returning Jihadist fighters to Germany have told intelligence operatives that Isis regards the country as a prime target for terror and has been striving all this year for a 'spectacular' outrage to match those carried out in France.

Officials currently classify around 500 Islamists in Germany as high risk and 250 of them are monitored around the clock. But lone wolves like Naved B are hard to spot and, when not part of an organised network leaving electronic footprints, almost impossible to apprehend before the event.

At 11am Chancellor Merkel spoke about the carnage, saying: 'An entire country is united with the victims and their survivors in deep mourning. We all hope and many of us pray for them. That they can find comfort and support. That they can survive after this terrible attack.

'I know that it is particularly hard to bear for all of us, that a person has committed this act who0 has asked for protection and asylum in Germany.

'Millions of people have been asking: How can we live with it that at a Christmas market - a place of joy  a killer brings death to so many people? I have no simple answer to this question.

'This Act will be punished as severely as our laws allow. We have to assume, according to the latest news, that this was a terrorist attack.'

She would later go to the scene of the massacre with other ministers to lay flowers and inspect the carnage.

Armed police in Britain have been patrolling markets in major cities and surrounding them with a ring of steel crash barriers to prevent a vehicle being used as a weapon. Scotland Yard has said it is reviewing security at public events after the attacks in Berlin and Ankara last night.

Police had thanked a member of the public for helping to capture Naved B, 23, thanks to an eagle-eyed witnesses who followed him.

'Perhaps he wanted to seek shelter in the dark', said police spokesman Winfrid Wenzel, adding that the police were kept informed of his movements by the man tailing him from a 'safe distance.'

During the pursuit he stayed on the line permanently to emergency services, updating them every few seconds where the killer was heading. He was captured near the Victory Column - close to the city's zoo - by officers in a passing patrol car.

Police spokesman Wenzel added: 'With the help of this witness it was possible to capture the suspect. 'This kind of civic courage gives us courage too .'

It appears, however, that the police were hasty and the citizen tracked the wrong man.

Lukasz Urban (pictured), a 37-year-old father-of-one, was killed in the carnage that saw a 25-tonne truck career through Berlin's Breitscheidplatz Square, which killed 12 and injured dozens more

The boss, Ariel Zielinski, who is also the driver's cousin, said they last spoke at midday but the man's wife had been unable to reach him at 4pm - hours before the incident. Mr Zielinski is pictured above with wife Judyta Zurawska

Fabrizia Lorenzo, pictured, 30, is a transport specialist working in Berlin but her cousin said they had not heard from her since last night

The Polish lorry driver whose truck was used in the Christmas market massacre was shot with a small-calibre pistol, according to the interior minister of the state of Brandenburg Karl-Heinz Schroter.

Heavily blood stained clothes found in the truck and the arrested suspect was in clean clothes, suggesting her may have got changed inside the lorry.

As German police, the White House and Germany's top security official indicated the incident was likely terror related, there was a chilling echo of the deadly terror attack in the French city of Nice in July. It also came just one hour after the Russian ambassador was shot dead in Ankara.

The harrowing incident also comes amid repeated warnings from various security agencies that ISIS planned to wreak havoc on European countries during the festive season, specifically threatening Christmas markets.

The usually merry streets became scenes of chaos, with people being pulled from under the flattened wooden stalls and others ferried off in ambulances, some tragically under white sheets.

The Die Welt newspaper said that German intelligence had been warning city authorities for the past week of a possible attack on a Christmas market.

Germany's justice minister says federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, had taken over the investigation.

Police used Twitter to urge locals to stay in their homes, to 'check suspicious objects' and encouraged people to use a Facebook safety check loved ones were safe.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she is 'mourning the dead', while The White House said: 'The United States condemns in the strongest terms what appears to have been a terrorist attack on a Christmas Market in Berlin, Germany, which has killed and wounded dozens.'

Teams were working on the lorry all morning before it was taken away to a secure unit to be combed over for clues

Murderous: The terror suspect is believed to have shot dead the Polish driver of the truck before using it as a weapon hours later

Distressing: The area around the lorry was strewn with wreaths, garlands and even baubles torn from market stalls

Investigation: The lorry was given a police escort today as it was taken away for forensic examination

Damage: The truck was followed by its container, which housed steel being taken into Germany by a Polish driver

Cold-blooded: The terror attack has shocked the world - and these photos show how the emergency services fought to save the injured

Horror: MailOnline has muzzed the body of one victim - the man was left lying under one of the wheels in the terror attack

Death toll: The 80metre stretch of Berlin pavement was stained with blood left when the lorry driver steered into the crowds

Evidence: The lorries tracker system says that it was started and stopped repeatedly after the hijacking, suggesting the driver was learning how to move it

Death toll: There are 12 dead - but 14 are critically or seriously injured in intensive care units across the country

The Polish owner of the lorry confirmed his driver was missing.

Speaking on Polish news channel TVN24, the owner of the haulage firm Ariel Zurawski said his relative would not have committed an act of terror: 'I can say hand on heart that the man who drove into those people in the centre of Berlin was not my driver.

'This is my cousin. I've known him since I was born. I can vouch for him.

'My scenario is that they did something to the driver  they hijacked this vehicle because it was practically in the centre of Berlin and they had a good vehicle with which they could do what they did'.

Alarm bells started ringing for the Polish haulage company when the lorry's GPS showed the vehicle was being driven like a 'beginner'.

The readings appear to suggest the lorry was hijacked between 3pm and 4pm, according to Luke Wasik, from the transport firm.

At 3.19pm and 3.44pm failed attempts to start the engine were recorded.

The lorry was then driven in short distances towards the Christmas market before 5pm and then again, just after 5.30pm.

During these short journeys the GPS showed that the engine appeared to be 'choking' - so the company tried to contact the driver to find out what was happening. However, no-one answered the calls.

Mr Wasik told Polish website WP Money: 'It looks as if someone was trying to learn how to drive this. He had problems with its operation.'

The lorry was driven towards the square at 7.34pm.The final GPS reading was at 8pm, when the vehicle turned off its headlights and ploughed through the market, forcefully.

Zurawski said Urban arrived with a delivery of steel at a branch of the Thyssenkrupp company in Berlin on Monday at 7 am. but was told to wait with his delivery until 8 am the following day.

BERLIN TERROR ATTACK: A 23-year-old asylum seeker from Pakistan who arrived in Germany months ago is in custody today after using a hijacked lorry to plough through this Berlin Christmas market killing 12 and injuring 48 others

The vehicle left a trail of devastation in its wake, in a chilling echo of the deadly terror attack in the French city of Nice in July - and comes just one hour after the Russian ambassador was shot dead in Ankara

The death toll, which has risen from nine, was confirmed by Berlin Police on Twitter. The force said 48 people who were injured - some of them seriously - have been taken to hospital

At least 12 people have been killed and around 48 injured after a lorry ploughed through a crowd of shoppers at a busy Christmas market in Berlin

There were harrowing scenes on Monday evening in Berlin, after several people lost their lives just days before Christmas

The vehicle mounted the pavement before tearing through stalls and shoppers in the market on Breitscheidplatz Square, outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in the German capital's main shopping area

A British man and his partner were 'just a few metres' from being hit by the lorry. He described the horrific scenes afterwards, in which the couple saw a child lying under the truck.

He told Ruptly TV: 'The truck just came in. It did not appear to be stopping. It just missed us by a few metres. I looked to Sam to see if she was okay and then almost immediately the truck had gone past us. We tried to see who was injured.

'There were two people who seemed to be okay - one was bleeding a little. I helped some people lift the side of one of the stalls so that somebody could be dragged from underneath and clear some of the wood out of the way.

'There were children in the market. I didn't see, but my girlfriend saw a child under the truck afterwards. I saw about 15 or 20 people injured - some were moving and some were not moving. Others had bad blood on them.'

British tourist Mike Fox, from Birmingham, said the large truck missed him by about three meters as it drove into the market, tearing through tables and wooden stands.

'It was definitely deliberate,' he said.

Mr Fox said he helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and said others were trapped under Christmas stands, adding: 'We were in the market, outside the cathedral and we had just had mulled wine then as we were leaving the large truck came through.

TOURISTS WARNED OF TERROR ATTACKS AT CHRISTMAS MARKETS Just weeks ago, US tourists were warned to be on high alert if visiting traditional markets in Europe due to a heightened terror threat. The US State Department issued the advice for citizens travelling to the continent during the holiday season. The warning came after it was revealed ISIS encouraged lone jihadis to use trucks as weapons to target large-scale events. Advertisement

'It went just past me, past my girlfriend. I think it missed me by three metres, missed her by five. It came in through the entrance, hit the sides of the barriers and then carried on past us.

'You do what you can to help who you can, really. It happened so fast that there was nothing we could do to stop it - if we'd tried to stop it we would have been crushed.'

Emma Rushton from Rugby in Warwickshire, saw the lorry rush past her at speed and said it could not have been an accident.

She told Sky News she only missed being caught in the chaos because she had climbed up some steps to take a seat, adding: 'The stall that we bought our mulled wine from was completely crushed. People were tearing off wooden panels to get out.

'It was not an accident. It was going 40mph, it was in the middle of the market. There was no way that it could have come off the road and it showed no signs of slowing down.'

'I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos...many injured people,' Jan Hollitzer, deputy editor in chief of Berliner Morgenpost, told CNN. 'It was really traumatic.'

Richard Clarkson, from Brighton, told the Irish Independent he was at the nearby Irish Bar with friends when the incident happened.

As news of the incident spread globally, White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said the United States condemned it as an apparent terror attack

Bystanders said the crash 'could not have been an accident' as the articulated lorry sped past them and into the crowd

Police detectives climbed over the debris to search the truck, as investigators worked through the night to establish what had happened

A number of British tourists were among those who witnessed the appalling crash - which happened despite authorities being warned of a possible attack

The Die Welt newspaper said that German intelligence had been warning city authorities for the past week of a possible attack on a Christmas market

Police in Berlin kept members of the public updated, tweeting the truck may have been stolen and was carrying steel beams - making it even more deadly as it careered through the crowd

World leaders have united in the aftermath of the tragedy, with Boris Johnson and Francois Hollande sending their condolences to

Brighton resident Mr Clarkson said: 'I just walked out and I saw the truck, the windscreen was broken, I didn't see any bodies they were very quick to cover them up I think.

MERKEL FACES BACKLASH OVER 'OPEN-DOORS' POLICY Angela Merkel has faced a furious backlash over her open-doors policy on immigration after a refugee launched a deadly lorry attack on a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin. The suspected radical Islamic attacker - a bogus asylum seeker who came to the country in February under a false name - murdered 12 and injured dozens gathered at the market last night. German chancellor Merkel has come under huge political pressure for allowing nearly a million people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa to arrive in the country this year and last. And last night she faced anger from the far-right anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party with prominent member Marcus Pretzell tweeting: 'When will the German state of law strike back? When will this cursed hypocrisy finally stop? These are Merkel's dead! (hash)Nice (hash)Berlin.' The record influx of migrants in the last 12 months has hit Merkel's popularity ratings and boosted support for the AfD with the 62-year-old having recently announced her intention to stand for re-election again next year. The German leader has staked much of her political capital in opening up Germany's doors to refugees and in doing so divided a reunited land. Last night Merkel reacted quickly to the atrocity, with spokesman Steffen Seibert tweeting: 'We mourn the dead and hope that the many people injured can be helped.' Advertisement

'The word terrorist is being thrown around a lot at the moment and people seem scared.'

Katarzyna Goebel - originally from Poland but who now lives in Berlin - was drinking wine at the market when the hijacked truck ploughed into the crowd.

She said: 'I was just a few metres away, drinking wine when I heard a noise and that's when I saw the truck driving into the market.

'Some people screamed but a lot of people were saying it was a coincidence and we should stay calm.

'I was at that exact stall just a few minutes before the truck appeared. It was the most terrifying moment of my life'.

One eye witness said the lorry had no lights on when it smashed into the market.

He said: 'He just drove onto the square from the Kant street. That had to have been intentional, because his lights were not switched on. And then I just heard this loud bang and hysterical screaming.'

Australian Trisha O'Neill told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation she was only metres from where the truck smashed into the crowded market.

'I just saw this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people and then all the lights went out and everything was destroyed.

'I could hear screaming and then we all froze. Then suddenly people started to move and lift all the wreckage off people, trying to help whoever was there.'

O'Neill said there was 'blood and bodies everywhere'.

In a statement released after the crash, President elect Donald Trump said: 'Our hearts and prayers are with the loved ones of the victims of the horrifying terror attack in Berlin.

'Innocent civilians were murdered in the streets as they prepared to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

'ISIS and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad.

'These terrorists and their regional and worldwide networks must be eradicated from the face of the earth, a mission we will carry out with all freedom-loving partners.

Sabrina Glinz, an American tourist, was locked in her hotel after a number of buildings in the area were placed on lockdown.

Watching the scene unfold from the 15th floor, she told Sky News: 'You just keep seeing people getting loaded into ambulances and it doesn't seem to end. Just the white sheets covering them.'

She added: 'The street that he has to have gone in you have do a u-turn on the street to turn around and instead of doing a u-turn he turned right directly into the market.

'There was absolutely no way he could have accidentally, he went straight into it then veered to the left and is now back onto the main street were the truck is resting.

'He went back to the beginning were it was busiest and then just careered through the buildings'.

An eyewitness said: 'I just saw this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people and then all the lights went out and everything was destroyed'

The 25-tonne vehicle left a path of devastation as it tore through the usually merry festive market

One eye witness said the lorry had no lights on when it smashed into the market, adding He said: 'He just drove onto the square. That had to have been intentional, because his lights were not switched on'

Carnage: There was absolute carnage in Berlin as the festive market turned into a harrowing and tragic scene

Federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, have taken over the investigation according to justice minister Heiko Maas, who said in a tweet 'we are mourning with the relatives' of the victims

The vehicle mounted the pavement before speeding through a crowd of shoppers, tearing through stalls as it travelled the length of the market

Aerial shots from the scene show the devastating aftermath at the crash scene and debris around the truck

Germany's justice minister says that federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, were taking over the investigation

German intelligence had apparently been warning city authorities for the past week of a possible attack on a Christmas market

There are dozens of ambulances and fire engines at the scene as they work to recover bodies and help those injured

The truck travelled for some 80 feet through the market - crashing through market stalls and innocent bystanders

Ambulances line the streets as rescue workers treat those at the scene and try to save those critically injured

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent condolences to Germany after a truck ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48, calling the attack 'shocking'.

'This crime against peaceful civilians is shocking in its savage cynicism,' Putin wrote to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck, according to a statement on the Kremlin's website.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted his condolences following the 'terrible tragedy', while the Foreign Office warned Britons travelling to Germany of a high risk from terrorism.

In advice updated after the crash, it said: 'There may be increased security in place over the Christmas and New Year period, including at Christmas markets and other major events that might attract large crowds.

'You should remain vigilant and follow the advice of local authorities.'

It is understood the market is a regular festive treat for shoppers and includes stands that offer seasonal foods such as bratwurst, sweet waffles, candied fruits as well as mulled wine and homemade eggnog.

Facebook has activated a safety check feature for travellers and locals on the social network.

A police cordon remained at the site on Tuesday morning, though parts of the Christmas market had been re-opened.

Commuters walked quietly past the wooden stalls and Christmas trees in the market, many of which were still lit up with white lights. White screens were erected around a large part of the area where the articulated lorry came to a stop.

As emergency services prepared to remove the lorry, tributes began to appear nearby. People laid red candles and flowers, while others wept as they passed the scene.

A glass jar with a white candle inside had a note pinned to it, which read: 'I am Berlin for more humanity and sympathy.'

Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said he was 'deeply stricken and pained' by what he reffered to as an attack in Berlin.

In a statement provided by Italy's foreign ministry, Alfano expressed closeness to Germans 'in this sad moment that instead should be of joy and peace in the approach to the Christmas holidays.'

Alfano said attacks 'won't change our determination to combat terrorism' alongside international partners and in particular Germany, saying the two countries are in strict coordination.

An injured man is pushed to an ambulance at the site of an accident as scores of others are treated at the scene

The vehicle sped through a crowd of shoppers at the Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz Square near the Kurfuerstendamm Avenue in west Berlin

Police subsequently said 12 people had been killed and one person has been detained over the incident - which comes less than a week before Christmas

Ambulances and police rushed to the area after the driver drove up the pavement of the market in a central square popular with tourists, in scenes reminiscent of the deadly truck attack in the French city of Nice in July

The heavy goods vehicle can be seen clearly damaged - and the driver was later apprehended at the city zoo

Police stand outside a tent near the Christmas market in Berlin as those injured in the devastating crash are treated

Armed police are standing guard at the entrance to the market and around Berlin as security is tightened

Several people have died while dozens have been injured as police investigate the alleged attack at a market outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Police, fire crews and paramedics raced to the scene of the incident in Berlin as a rescue effort got underway

The truck ran into the market outside the landmark Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church around 7pm on Monday evening

Police had said the first indications from the investigation suggested the truck crash was a terror attack

The horrific incident has taken place at a site popular among tourists - with many Brits at the scene

Germany has not in recent years suffered a large-scale attack from Islamist militants like those seen in neighbouring Belgium and France.

CHILLING ECHOES OF SLAUGHTER IN NICE The incident evoked memories of an attack in France in July when Tunisian-born Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, 31, drove a 19-tonne truck along the beach front, mowing down people who had gathered to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day, killing 86 people. The attack was claimed by Islamic State. Advertisement

But it was shaken by two smaller attacks in Bavaria over the summer, one on a train near Wuerzburg and another at a music festival in Ansbach that wounded 20 people.

Both were claimed by Islamic State.

And government officials have said the country, which accepted nearly 900,000 migrants last year, many from the war-torn Middle East, lies in the 'crosshairs of terrorism.'

In mid-October, police arrested a Syrian refugee suspected of planning a bomb attack on an airport in Berlin.

The 22-year-old man committed suicide in prison shortly after his arrest.

Only last week it was revealed that a 12-year-old boy tried to bomb the Christmas market in the town of Ludwigshafen with a nail bomb - twice.

The boy, of Iraqi-German parents, was radicalised only recently and is now in the care of the local youth authorities.

PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Polish lorry driver who fought for his life as fanatic shot him dead then hijacked truck in Berlin massacre was returning to his wife to prepare Christmas presents, his distraught family reveals

The Polish lorry driver whose truck was used in the Christmas market massacre was stabbed and shot dead, it was revealed today.

Lukasz Urban, a 37-year-old father-of-one, was killed in the carnage that saw a 25-tonne truck career through Berlin's Breitscheidplatz Square, which killed 12 and injured dozens more.

This afternoon it emerged that he was returning to his wife to prepare Christmas presents when the attack unfolded.

The owner of Polish haulage firm, Ariel Zurawski, said the driver - also his cousin - was hijacked and killed by the man suspected of carrying out the attack.

A picture shows married Mr Urban smiling in the cab of a lorry, in 2008, confirmed by his boss and cousin, while another image emerged, taken from CCTV, shortly before he was hijacked.

Alarm bells started ringing for the Polish haulage company when the lorry's GPS showed the vehicle was being driven like a 'beginner'.

Owner of Polish haulage firm, Ariel Zurawski (left), insisted the driver Lukasz Urban (right) - also his cousin - was hijacked

Lukasz Urban leaves behind a wife, Zuzanna and a 17-year-old son. The 37-year-old driver disappeared after parking his lorry at a depot in Friedrich-Krauze-Ufer and going for a kebab.

Mr Zurawski, said: 'When I spoke to him he was saying it was a strange area of Berlin because it was full of Muslims.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE LORRY WHICH KILLED 12 PEOPLE Lukasz Urban was driving a lorry, carrying steel from Italy to Berlin

He was due to drop off the load in the German capital, before returning to Poland

At 3pm he was contacted by his wife, who said she would call back at 4pm

GPS recordings show irregular activity, suggesting the engine was being choked at 3.44pm

It's believed this is when the lorry was hijacked but when Mr Urban was killed is not known. Due to marks on his body it's understood her put up a fight

Mr Urban's wife called him back but there was no answer

The lorry travelled short distances before arriving at the market at 7.34pm

At 8pm the lorry was driven forecfully and ploughed into a crowd of people, killing 12 and injuring 48

Mr Urban was found dead in the cabin found with stab and gunshot wounds Advertisement

'The only Germans he came into contact with were those at the depot.'

He added that Mr Urban's wife, Zuzanna, was now in Germany.

He said: 'Lukasz's wife did not want to identify the body, she is too upset. A family member identified Lukasz instead.

'She is very distressed, as is their son, and they have had no support from either Germany or Poland. No psychologists, specialists, she is on her own.

'Lukasz's plan was to be home by Thursday and prepare presents for Christmas.

'Police in Gryfinie showed me the terrible photo of Lukasz. His face was all bruised and had been cut with a knife. You could tell he put up a fight.

'But I do not believe that one man could have killed my cousin. He was a powerful six-foot-two and weighed 130kg. It had to do a group of people.'

For his horrified family, Mr Urban's death comes as a double tragedy after it was revealed that his brother Konrad had taken his own life just three years earlier.

Talking to MailOnline outside his house in the village of Sobiemysl near Gryfino in northwest Poland, Mr Zurawski said: 'This is a double tragedy for the family. Two years ago his brother killed himself.

'Now their father has been taken into hospital suffering from shock.

Mr Zurawski had earlier confirmed the drivers death saying: 'Unfortunately the driver is dead. His body was found in the cabin. His last contact was at 3pm when his wife called him.

'However, she couldn't talk because she was at work. She said she would call at 4pm but she was unable to contact him.

'I have not received official confirmation but I had to recognise him and I had to say that he was my driver.

'Stab wounds were clearly seen at the photo which depicted only my cousin's face. It was really clear that he was fighting for his life. His face was swollen and bloodied.

'Police informed me that he suffered a gunshot wound. Despite being stabbed he was shot dead.'

Interior minister Karl-Heinz Schroter confirmed the death as he prepared for a telephone call with the other interior ministers of the 16 states that make up the German republic.

The Scania-made lorry is owned by company Arial Zurawski, which is based in Gryfino in northwest Poland (pictured from the company website)

The lorry was travelling from Italy to Berlin to drop off its load, before returning to Poland.

It had reached the German capital when the hijacking took place.

He said that after reaching his destination in Friedrich-Krauze-Ufe, Mr Urban had parked and gone to get a kebab sandwich, planning to unload his cargo of 24 tonnes of steel parts the next morning.

Around noon, the two cousins spoke. Mr Urban said he was hungry and that there were few Germans in the neighbourhood where he parked, mostly Muslims.

The vehicle's GPS recording showed it did not travel far from when it was hijacked to the moment it crashed.

The readings appear to suggest the lorry was hijacked between 3pm and 4pm, according to Luke Wasik, from the transport firm.

At 3.19pm and 3.44pm failed attempts to start the engine were recorded.

The lorry was then driven in short distances towards the Christmas market before 5pm and then again, just after 5.30pm.

During these short journeys the GPS showed that the engine appeared to be 'choking' - so the company tried to contact the driver to find out what was happening. However, no-one answered the calls.

Mr Wasik told Polish website WP Money: 'It looks as if someone was trying to learn how to drive this. He had problems with its operation.'

The lorry was driven towards the square at 7.34pm. The final GPS reading was at 8pm, when the vehicle turned off its headlights and ploughed through the market, forcefully.

Mr Zurawski described the unusual movements on the truck's GPS that indicate Mr Urban was not in control.

He said: 'The car was started up, turned off, driven forward, then backward. As if somebody inside was learning how to drive.'

Poland's prime minister, Beata Szydlo, said that the Pole was 'the first victim of this heinous act of violence.'

When in control of the hijacker, the vehicle mounted the pavement before speeding through a crowd of shoppers on Breitscheidplatz Square, outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a busy shopping area in west Berlin.

The usually merry streets became scenes of chaos, with people being pulled form under the flattened wooden stalls and others ferried off in ambulances, some tragically under white sheets.

Italian woman is feared missing in Berlin Christmas market massacre after her phone and metro pass were found at scene where 12 were mowed down by 25-tonne lorry

An Italian woman is feared missing in the Berlin Christmas market attack after her mobile phone and travel pass were discovered in the aftermath of the atrocity that left 12 dead.

Fabrizia Lorenzo, 30, is a transport specialist working in Berlin but her cousin said they had not heard from her since last night and revealed her personal belongings had been found.

At least 12 were killed and another 48 injured when a 25-tonne hijacked truck ploughed through the busy festive market on Breitscheidplatz Square, a busy shopping area in west Berlin.

Six of the dead are believed to be German and three are Hungarian. An Israeli man in his sixties is being treated for his injuries in hospital and his wife is still missing.

Berlin police today admitted the Pakistani refugee they arrested in connection to the attack could be the wrong man and the real attacker may still be on the loose and armed.

Missing: Fabrizia Lorenzo, pictured, 30, is a transport specialist working in Berlin but her cousin said they had not heard from her since last night

Fear: In a heartbreaking plea for help, her cousin tweeted today: 'My cousin (Fabrizia Di Lorenzo) not replying to us since yesterday night'

Atrocity: At least 12 were killed and another 48 injured when a 25-tonne hijacked truck ploughed through the busy festive market on Breitscheidplatz Square

In a heartbreaking plea for help, her cousin tweeted today: 'My cousin (Fabrizia Di Lorenzo) not replying to us since yesterday night. Someone found her phone and metro pass on the site.'

The names of the victims have yet to be released but authorities have suggested Ms Lorenzo, who hails from the Italian town of Sulmona in Abruzzia, could be among them.

Police confirmed a mobile phone found at the crime scene was registered to her.

Meanwhile Italy's ambassador to Germany, Pietro Benassi, said: 'I can confirm we are searching for someone and we fear for her.'

The German foreign ministry is said to be in contact with her mother and brother who are already on their way to the country to submit DNA samples, Italian website Repubblica reported.

Her father, who works at a post office in Sulmona, is flying to Germany from Rome this evening.

Ms Lorenzo's last tweet came on December 5, when she shared a scene from award winning film, The Best Of Youth.

Mystery: Police confirmed a mobile phone found at the crime scene was registered to Ms Lorenzo, who graduated from the University of Bologna in 2012

Attack: The German foreign ministry is said to be in contact with Ms Lorenzo's mother and brother who are already on their way to the country to submit DNA sample, it has been reported. Pictured: Police and photographers surround the truck used in the attack in Berlin

Destruction: Ms Lorenzo's last tweet came on December 5, when she shared a scene from award winning film, The Best Of Youth. Pictured: The lorry used to mow down dozens of people at a Christmas market in Berlin

Her many social media posts suggest she was both liberal and pro-refugee in a country which has been divided over the migrant crisis and the more recent burqa ban.

In March she shared an interview with Polish sociologist Zygmunt Bauman who argued a spike in immigration is not related to an increase in terrorism.

Another piece shared with her 246 followers pointed to research suggested the majority of Muslims living in countries where

Ms Lorenzo graduated from thee the University of Bologna with a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy in 2012.

She began working in Germany in November 2013, according to her LinkedIn profile, as a customer services coach for electronics company Bosch.

Just over a year later she joined supply chain management company 4Flow, where she worked as a transport specialist.

Among the 48 injured is an elderly Israeli man whose wife has not been seen since the attack, the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said.

He was seriously wounded and had to undergo surgery but his life is not believed to be in danger, the Times of Israel reported.

Attack: German police have said the Pakistani refugee arrested and accused of being the driver may be the wrong man and the real killer could be armed and on the loose

A senior police officer said: 'We have the wrong man... The true perpetrator is still armed, at large and can cause further damage'

A senior police chief has confirmed the Berlin Christmas market killer may still be on the run, and ready to inflict 'further damage', 12 hours after Pakistani asylum seeker Naved B was arrested.

Detectives interrogating the 23-year-old suspect said there was no blood on his clothes, he suffered no injuries and denies hijacking the lorry which tore through a festive market at 40mph.

A senior police officer, told die Welt newspaper: 'We have the wrong man. So we have a new situation. The true perpetrator is still armed, at large and can cause further damage.'

Witnesses said victims including children were sent flying like bowling pins and sucked under the wheels leaving 'rivers of blood' as the killer driver steered at them before jumping out of the cab and racing from the scene.

TIMELINE OF TERROR: ATTACKS IN GERMANY IN 2016 FEBRUARY 27: Policeman stabbed - A 16-year-old German-Moroccan girl stabs a police officer in the neck with a kitchen knife, wounding him badly, an assault allegedly 'ordered' by the IS but which was not claimed by the group. The teenager attacks the policeman during a routine check at Hanover train station in northern Germany, before being overpowered by another officer. JULY 18: Train attack - A 17-year-old asylum seeker, wielding an axe and a knife, attacks passengers on a Bavarian train. The assailant, who is believed to be Afghan, injures five people, four of them tourists from Hong Kong. He is shot dead by police. The IS group releases a video purportedly featuring the attacker announcing he would carry out an 'operation' in Germany, and presenting himself as a 'soldier of the caliphate'. JULY 22: Mall shooting - David Ali Sonboly, 18, shoots dead nine people at a Munich shopping mall before turning the gun on himself, having spent a year planning the rampage. Police say the German-Iranian was 'obsessed' with mass murderers like Norwegian right-wing fanatic Anders Behring Breivik and had no links to the IS group. JULY 24: Suicide blast - A 27-year-old failed Syrian asylum seeker blows himself up near an open-air music festival in the southern city of Ansbach, wounding 15 others. The Bavarian interior minister says the man had 'pledged allegiance' to IS, while the jihadist-linked Amaq news agency says he is a 'soldier' of the group. The asylum seeker, who was due to be deported to Bulgaria, had received treatment at a psychiatric hospital and was reported to have suicidal tendencies. Advertisement
Bill Clinton welled up as he praised his wife's presidential campaign after casting his vote for Hillary.

'I never cast a vote I was prouder of,' said the former president, an elector for New York, after casting his ballot in the Senate chambers of the Capitol in Albany, New York.

Bill Clinton looked emotional as he described his wife's long fought campaign for the presidency.

Bill Clinton welled up as he praised his wife's presidential campaign after casting his vote for Hillary (pictured with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as he cast his ballot for Hillary Clinton in the Senate chambers of the Capitol in Albany)

'You know, I watched her work for two years,' he told reporters. 'I watched her battle through that bogus email deal. She fought through that. She fought through everything, and she prevailed against it all and then at the end ... the FBI deal  she couldn't prevail against that.'

Clinton has pointed a finger at FBI Director James Comey for his wife's election loss after

'James Comey cost her the election,' Clinton said, according to local paper The Record-Review.

He explained that Comey's letter to Congress less than two weeks before the election did irreparable damage.

Bill Clinton, photographed during his wife's concession speech, said Donald Trump called him that day and said, 'She was tougher than I thought she'd be'

'We were up seven points,' Clinton noted.

The caveat that no further evidence of illegal activities had been found was also lost on the public, the former president pointed out.

After Hillary Clinton lost, Bill Clinton said he spoke with Trump on the phone, calling the conversation cordial, but hinting that it was a little weird as the president-elect acted 'like it was 15 years ago' and they were still friends.

'She was tougher than I thought she'd be,' Trump reportedly told the former president, meaning the comment as a compliment.

He also mocked Trump for calling his win a 'landslide.'

'He doesn't know much,' Bill Clinton said of President-elect Donald Trump (left), while the 42nd president blamed FBI Director James Comey (right) for Hillary Clinton's loss

'Landslide?' Clinton mused. 'I got something like 370 electoral votes. That was a landslide.'

Clinton correctly cited the number that he won during the 1992 election against incumbent President George H.W. Bush. He performed even better in 1996 against Republican Sen. Bob Dole, receiving 379 electoral votes.

Electors from the Electoral College are voting today, but Trump should get 306 votes, though some 'Hamilton electors' may vote their conscious and not select the president-elect.

Hillary Clinton won 232 electoral votes, while 270 votes are needed to win.

As far as what's next for Hillary Clinton, her husband ruled out one high-profile government job.
disease has never threatened Australian prawn farms until now

Prawns could skyrocket to at $55 a kilogram in time for Christmas Day after suppliers were placed in lock-down over fears of spreading a potentially devastating disease.

The white spot disease was discovered earlier this month at an aquaculture farm south of the Logan River, in Queensland, and is the first time its been detected in Australia.

While it is not harmful to humans, some of the country's biggest seafood suppliers have warned it could push the price of some prawns above $55 per kilo, just in time for Christmas.

Clarence River Fishermens Co-Op in Yamba quoted the price, saying there had been a shortage in Queensland this year, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Prawns could skyrocket to at $55 a kilogram in time for Christmas Day

'I think therell be enough to go round', he told the publication.

The price of oysters is also set to skyrocket after Pacific oyster mortality syndrome crippled supplies from Tasmania.

Experts have warned a 20 per cent loss in stock across the country will cause the price to rise substantially.

Earlier, two rivers south of Brisbane were placed under lock down by biosecurity officials after test results confirmed white spot disease in wild prawns collected in the area.

Under the new ban imposed last Tuesday, fishers in Logan and Albert Rivers are prohibited from moving any potential carriers of the disease out of the area, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries wrote on its website. Disease carriers include prawns and crabs.

The ban expanded on other restrictions imposed in early December. The new biosecurity emergency order applies to the Logan River from Jabiru Weir and Luscombe Weir to the mouth of the river, as well as other infected properties in the area.

A prawn infected with white spot disease is seen here in a handout by Queensland officials. Until now, Australia was the only major prawn farming country that was spared by the disease

White Spot Disease causes infected prawns to develop small white spots, a loose shell and suffer from reduced feeding habits

WHAT IS WHITE SPOT DISEASE? White spot disease is a highly contagious viral infection that affects all crustaceans. Australia has previously been free of the virus. The disease is primarily spread through the movement of infected animals or contaminated water. Birds feeding on infected animals can contribute to the spread of the disease. The virus that causes white spot disease is found throughout East, South East and South Asia, and the Americas. A widespread outbreak of white spot disease would have a significant impact on the Australian aquaculture industry as well as adverse trade implications and environmental and social impacts. White Spot Disease causes infected prawns to develop small white spots, a loose shell and suffer from reduced feeding habits. Source: Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Advertisement

'Biosecurity Queensland recognises that this may impact on the plans of local fishers over the holiday period, but all steps to ensure that this virus does not go any further need to be taken,' DAF wrote on its website.

The ban is 'obviously going to have an effect on people's use of the river in that area,' said Jim Thompson, chief biosecurity officer at the DAF in Queensland.

'The movement control order is in place at this point for three months. We'll leave it there until we've actually got some idea of the extent of the infestation in the river,' Dr Thompson told reporters at a press conference on Friday.

'[The disease] can decimate the aquaculture business of prawn farming. That's what it's done throughout the world. So you have to work out a way to actually live with this.'

'Australia being free of it has been a great advantage to us,' Dr Thompson said.

In efforts to eradicate the disease, authorities are destroying the prawns and decontaminating ponds at the affected properties using chlorine.

Biosecurity authorities are also urging people to report any unusual prawns or crabs caught in the area.

The red markings on this map shows the rivers that have been placed under lock down by biosecurity officials after an unprecedented breakout of white spot disease

Authorities in Queensland, where the disease was detected, are urging people to report any unusual prawns or crabs caught in the area

Authorities said they are still in the dark as to how the potentially devastating disease entered Australia.

While the White Spot Disease has the potential to devastate Australia's prawn supply, consumers have been assured there will be no change to this year's Christmas supply.

Australian Prawn Farmers Association chief executive Helen Jenkins told ABC it was an 'isolated incident' and consumers need not worry.
A screening of La La Land at a Manhattan theater turned into chaos on Saturday after a man began to act bizarrely and frightened moviegoers who thought he had a gun.

About 200 people stampeded for the exits at Regal Cinemas in Union Square when the man, who was holding a cup and bag, walked to the center of the movie screen.

Witnesses said the man was mumbling to himself and turned around slowly to the front row audience, who suddenly began to scream.

About 200 people stampeded for the exits at Regal Cinemas in Union Square (pictured) when a man, who was holding a cup and bag, walked to the center of the movie screen

Purses and bags were left behind the mumbling man began to act bizarrely and panicked moviegoers who thought he had a gun

Their panic set off a chain reaction in the packed theater as some reached for their bags while others left everything behind to get out as fast as they could.

'Popcorn started flying, candy bars went flying through the air, people were jumping over their seats,' witness Ben Gilbert, who was sitting in the fourth row, told CBS New York.

Spencer Schwartz wrote on Twitter that the man was holding a glass above his head as he walked 'slowly, menacingly' to the front of the theater.

'He got in front of the screen and turned around...like Carrie,' Schwartz wrote, referencing the famous Stephen King film.

'It caused mass panic. People started rushing towards the exit, screaming and pushing.'

Chelsea Grogan, 24, was sitting in the balcony with her friend when she heard the man mumble 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry.'

'I was like, is he going to do something?', she told Gothamist.

Grogan thought she heard someone say 'He has a gun' as people ran for the exits.

'It was a massive stampede,' she said. 'I was running downstairs. I kind of fell. Both of my knees are bruised. One of my toes is purple. It was insane.'

Witness Ben Gilbert said popcorn and candy went flying as people left even their shoes behind as they ran for the exits to escape

One witness said the man walked 'slowly and menacingly' toward the front of the screen before he turned around and sent everyone into panic

Regal Cinema employees later told authorities that the man had purchased a ticket to a different film before entering the 9.20pm showing of La La Land.

They added that the man did not display or mention a weapon, and witnesses said he left with the rest of the moviegoers.

Many witnesses are now criticizing how Regal Cinemas handled the incident.

Schwartz wrote on Twitter that he had to tell staff to call 911 and have them ask witnesses talk to police.

He wrote that he was appalled when employees allowed people to go back into the theater to look for their things about 10 minutes after the stampede.

The chaos erupted 10 minutes before the end of La La Land (pictured), the new film starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling

'They didn't think of if he had left a bomb in there or something,' Schwartz wrote.

'This was on a Saturday night in Union Square, NYC. On opening weekend of Star Wars. In the aftermath of the Aurora shooting, the lack of security or even a plan for their staff is absolutely inexcusable.'

'And you think they could afford it, with us paying $17 a ticket.'

'If he had a gun, a sold out theater of people would be dead. Myself included.'
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Spanish researchers are developing cutting-edge technology which will allow cinema fans to engage in orgies with the on-screen stars using virtual reality.

Audience members will sit on specially designed vibrating seats and interact with the stars on screen using a tablet device.

Up to twelve people will be able to get involved in the sessions, which the inventors believe will be more addictive than traditional pornography.

Movie fans will be able to engage in interactive shows with robotic sex dolls while attending special cinemas according to experts attending a seminar in London earlier this month

New high-tech developments will allow patrons to feel the caresses of actors on screen

Christina Portales of the University of Valencia was updating experts at the Love and Sex with Robots conference in London earlier this month.

According to the Daily Star, she told delegates: 'Imagine a device where you could really kiss Leonardo DiCaprio. It could be as addictive as pornographic material.

'All senses have been integrated. People will see, people will smell, people will touch. They will feel the movement. It is not an individual activity. It is a group.'

The high-tech environment will encompass seats which vibrate in the most appropriate places along with surround sound and 3D glasses.

One future development could involve the deployment of 'sex robots' to make the shows fully interactive.

Patrons will be empowered to decide whether they receive the attentions of the actors on screen.
As the year draws to a close, people are cooking up a storm in preparation for family reunions and holiday potlucks.

Here's a look at the recipes that are more popular in each state than anywhere else, based on Google searches from December 9 to 15 compiled by Business Insider.

While seasonal treats like candy cane cookies, fruitcake and peppermint bark are to be expected at this time of the year, a number of surprises made it to the list.

Here's a look at the recipes that are more popular in each state than anywhere else, based on Google searches from December 9 to 15

RECIPE EACH STATE IS LOOKING UP MORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE Alabama - Meatballs Alaska - Snickerdoodle Arizona - Garlic mashed potatoes Arkansas - Graham cracker crust California - Brussels sprouts Colorado - Halibut Connecticut - Christmas cookies Delaware - Peach cobbler Florida - Lamb chop Georgia - Fruit salad Hawaii - Chocolate fudge cupcakes Idaho - Lemon Holiday cookies Illinois - Cauliflower rice Indiana - Potato soup Iowa - Coconut snowball cookies Kansas - Meatballs and cranberry sauce Kentucky - Beef carpaccio Louisiana - Sweet potatoes Maine - Martha Stewart Christmas punch Maryland - Pound cake Massachusetts - Potato souffle Michigan - Pumpkin pie Minnesota - Thin mint cookies Mississippi - Turkey Missouri - Holiday sangria Montana -Candy cane sugar cookies Nebraska - Thumbprint cookies Nevada - Honey baked ham New Hampshire - Sugar cookies New Jersey - Stuffed crab New Mexico - Christmas punch New York - Petit fours North Carolina - Beef tenderloin North Dakota - Peanut butter blossoms Ohio - Peppermint bark Oklahoma - Pineapple cheese balls Oregon - Peppermint brownies Pennsylvania - Turkey stuffing Rhode Island - Prime rib South Carolina - Candied pecans South Dakota - Chocolate peppermint cupcakes Tennessee - Reindeer chow Texas - Ravioli Utah - Dulce de leche Vermont - Beet kale salad Virginia - Gingerbread cookies Washington - Fudge West Virginia - Peanut butter chocolate chip gooey bars Wisconsin - Fruit cake Wyoming - Pomegranate champagne jelly Washington DC: Cornbread Advertisement

California is known for being a haven for clean eating enthusiasts, so it was no surprise that brussels sprouts were a hit there.

Residents in Florida, Nevada and North Carolina seemed to be making hearty meals this holiday season, with lamb chops, honey baked ham and beef tenderloin topping the list.

Meanwhile, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Louisiana seemed stuck on Thanksgiving with pumpkin pie, turkey stuffing, and sweet potatoes.

Maine, New Mexico, and Missouri were getting into the spirit with punch and sangria, while those in Wisconsin appeared to be whipping up fruit cakes.

Tennesseans were especially found of Reindeer Chow, a snack mix that contains pretzels, chocolate, and Chex cereal

Oddly enough, it seems quite a few people in Wyoming had a hankering for pomegranate champagne jelly.

Recipes for beef carpaccio were also searched more often in Kentucky than any other state, and stuffed crab was particularly popular in New Jersey.

Oklahomans were serving up pineapple cheese balls, a dish that consists of cream cheese and chopped celery, green bell peppers, pecans, and canned pineapples.

And Tennesseans were especially found of Reindeer Chow, a snack mix that contains pretzels, chocolate, and Chex cereal.
Former Wests Tigers NRL star Matthew Lodge will avoid jail in New York for his 'violent and horrific' attacks despite a last minute plea from his victims.

The brief hearing at the New York Criminal Court on Monday was not such good news for the Manhattan family terrorised in their home by Lodge.

Joseph Cartright, on behalf of his wife Ruth and nine-year-old son, made a last-ditched, emotional plea to Judge Kate Paek to punish Lodge for his 'violent and horrifying conduct' that inflicted physical and psychological pain to his family.

Former Wests Tigers NRL star Matthew Lodge will avoid jail for his 'violent and horrific' attacks despite a last minute plea from his New York victims (pictured leaving court)

CCTV footage of the moment Lodge attacked Joseph Cartright in the foyer of the apartment building

The judge declined.

'Our clients are obviously disappointed,' Renan Varghese, who is representing the family and another female victim in a $US1.2 million civil lawsuit filed against Lodge in New York, told AAP.

'They had thought in light of the complete lack of remorse he has showed for his conduct perhaps the court would have deviated from the plea agreement.'

Lodge, 21, was not required to be in court for the sentencing and remained in Australia.

Matthew Lodge pictured during a game for the Wests Tigers against the North Queensland Cowboys in May last year

Lodge faced 25 years' jail before the plea deal with prosecutors

The hulking 193cm tall, 110kg Lodge went on a rampage about 4am on October 16 last year while on a New York holiday.

The terror began when Lodge confronted two women as they stepped out of a cab, told them it was the 'night you will die' and then forced his way into their apartment building.

Mr Cartright, who had a unit in the building near the foyer, woke up and went to help the women. Lodge put him in a headlock and punched him in the face.

Lodge also went into Mr Cartright's apartment, locked the door, began breaking plates and furniture and then attempted to smash down a bathroom door Mr Cartright's wife and son were hiding behind.

Lodge was arrested at gunpoint by NYPD officers.

The family requires psychological treatment, with Mr Cartright telling the court his son has trouble sleeping and socialising.

With Lodge's US legal troubles now resolved, it sets up his potential return to the NRL

Lodge, who spent several days locked up at the infamous Rikers Island jail complex after his arrest, was originally charged with a felony burglary causing injury count which carried a minimum of five years' jail and a maximum of 25-years.

But in a plea deal signed a year ago with prosecutors, he entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor count of reckless assault.

The victims opposed the deal.

To avoid a one-year jail sentence Lodge was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service in Australia, receive alcohol abuse and anger treatment, abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs, submit to testing and avoid another arrest.

The Upper West Side apartment building (pictured) good Samaritan Joseph Cartright helped the women in

Judge Paek was told on Monday Lodge had adhered to the deal.

She sentenced Lodge to a conditional discharge.

'He has worked very hard to address the issues which led to his arrest in this case and he will continue to work on his issues even when the case is over,' Lodge's lawyer Thomas Rotko told AAP.
A shocking new video shows the moment a Florida high school burst into chaos when 10 girls allegedly attacked three of their female classmates.

Plantation High School student Tajzhana Hammond said she and her two cousins were targeted in the vicious brawl, which was filmed and posted on social media.

'I was jumped by 10 girls because they didn't like me and the school security camera never got this footage of the fight,' Hammond wrote on her Facebook.

A shocking new video shows the moment a Florida high school burst into chaos when 10 girls allegedly attacked three of their female classmates

Plantation High School student Tajzhana Hammond said she and her two cousins were targeted in the vicious brawl, which was filmed and posted on social media

'No security guards ever came to help me while these girls repeatedly hit me.'

Hammond said the fight came out of nowhere.

'Everybody started screaming,' she told 7News.

'Before I knew it, the girl on the other side actually went to go and hit my cousin in the face.'

Hammond called her mother, Helen George, after the fight and said that she passed out. She was later hospitalized and said she had been suffering headaches.

She later tweeted a video that she said the girls who attacked her made as they celebrated just moments after the fight.

Hammond (pictured) said no security guard came to help her and her three cousins during the attack, which she said came out of nowhere

Hammond (pictured) had only transferred to Plantation High a few months ago. Now she is planning on returning to her old school

The Broward County Public Schools district said 'some of the students involved' were being disciplined for the fight.

A schools resources officer also confirmed to the Plantation Police that criminal charges are pending.

But George said she wants more to be done.

'I want justice and for these girls to pay for what they've done to my child, and I want their moms to know what I'm going through,' she said.
Vladimir Putin today sent a team of investigators to Ankara to probe the killing of ambassador Andrey Karlov.

Putin declared that 'we have to know who directed the hand of the killer' .

He condemned the killing of the Russian ambassador to Turkey as a 'provocation' aimed at sabotaging ties between Moscow and Ankara.

The Russian president said the death of Andrei Karlov, 62, was designed to 'disrupt the peace process in Syria' as he vowed to 'step up the fight against terrorism'.

He ordered security at Russian embassies around the world to be stepped up. Moscow has branded the killing as a 'terrorist act'.

Response: Vladimir Putin, pictured at a meeting last night, condemned the killing of the Russian ambassador as a 'provocation' aimed at sabotaging ties between Moscow and Ankara

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, pictured last night, said both he and Putin had agreed they must work together in the fight against terrorism

The killer shouted: 'Allahu Akbar (God is Great). We die in Aleppo, you die here!'

The gunman (left, in the background) was seen standing behind Andrei Karlov, 62, centre, moments before he opened fire

The body of slain Karlov will today be airlifted to Moscow, said embassy officials.

'Later today, a mourning ceremony with a limited number of participants will take place at the airport,' said spokeswoman Irina Kasimova.

'Turkish diplomats and high-ranking officials are expected to attend the ceremony.

'After that, the ambassador's body will be delivered to Russia.'

His family and the embassy's doctor will accompany the envoy's remains to Moscow.

Diplomats at the embassy are expected to nominate Karlov for a posthumous state award to be bestowed by Vladimir Putin.

The Russian foreign ministry also today expressed thanks for international condemnation of Karlov's assassination.

'We express our appreciation to all our colleagues and partners for their words of support.

'We highly appreciate the solidarity shown to us,' the ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said both he and Putin had agreed they must work together in the fight against terrorism as he reiterated the ties between their two countries.

The fatal shooting took place a day after protests in Turkey over Russian support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The assassin who gunned down Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov has been named as a Turkish police officer named Mevlut Mert Altintas, pictured, who was killed afterwards

Today Moscow is due to host Turkey and Iran's foreign ministers for talks on the evacuation of civilians from Aleppo.

Speaking at a special meeting at the Kremlin last night, Putin said: 'The crime that was committed is without doubt a provocation aimed at disrupting the normalisation of Russian-Turkish relations and disrupting the peace process in Syria that is being actively advanced by Russia, Turkey and Iran.

'There can be only one answer to this - stepping up the fight against terrorism, and the bandits will feel this.'

Putin, who said he personally knew Mr Karlov, said he had agreed in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart and agreed Russian investigators would soon fly to Ankara to help with the investigation.

Putin added: 'We have to know who directed the hand of the killer.'

Dozens of Turkish police secured the area around the gallery following the fatal shooting of Russian ambassador Mr Karlov

The president was in a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Sergei Naryshkin, the head of his SVR foreign intelligence service, and Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the domestic FSB security service.

'I also ask you to implement the agreed proposals on strengthening security at Russian diplomatic facilities abroad,' Putin told the meeting.

In a video message broadcast on Turkish television, Erdogan said Turkey-Russia relations were vital for the region and those who aimed to harm ties were not going to achieve their goals.

The incident came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia's role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from the battered city of Aleppo.

Russian president Vladimir Putin, centre, at the special meeting in Moscow on Monday night

Security was stepped up last night outside the Turkish embassy in Moscow, Russia, last night

Two women mourn the loss of Mr Karlov outside the Russian foreign ministry in Moscow, hours after the assassination

The foreign and defence ministers from Russia, Turkey and Iran are set to meet Tuesday in Moscow for key talks on Syria.

The Interfax news agency cited Leonid Slutsky, a senior parliamentarian, as saying earlier on Monday that the talks would go ahead despite the murder.

Turkey and Russia saw relations plunge last year when a Turkish jet shot down a Russian war plane over Syria.

The two countries stand on opposite sides of the Syria conflict with Ankara backing rebels trying to topple Moscow ally President Bashar al-Assad.

But Putin and Erdogan have managed to mend ties since patching up their bitter seven-month dispute over the jet downing earlier this year.
A child killer who stomped on his girlfriend's toddler daughter after she urinated on his couch has been assaulted in custody.

Former Melbourne security guard Mussie Debresay's lawyer told a courtroom his client would therefore find jail more difficult.

A jury found the 38-year-old man guilty of manslaughter in September but they cleared him of the more serious charge of murder.

Mussie Debresay has been assaulted in custody and his lawyer has argued he would find jail difficult

Former security guard Mussie Debresay was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in September

He killed his new girlfriend Jennifer Louey's two-year-old daughter with blunt force trauma in May 2005 by compressing her abdomen with force so severe doctors said it couldn't have been accidental.

Defence barrister Dermot Dann, QC, told a Supreme Court plea hearing on Monday his client would find jail more difficult than other inmates, a month after he collapsed in the dock during a pre-sentence hearing.

The man from Footcray, in Melbourne's inner west, had been assaulted in custody for his crime, attempted suicide a number of times and had developed a major depressive disorder.

Mr Dann also argued an 11-year delay in the case should count in his client's favour.

Debresay had felt like he had been under investigation the whole time and at one stage had a murder charge hanging over his head, his lawyer said.

Prosecutor Sally Flynn told the court Debresay's assault on the vulnerable child was violent, brutal and deliberate.

Stomping on the child as she lay helpless on the floor was a particularly violent act, she said.

Child killer Mussie Debresay has attempted suicide in custody and developed a major depressive episode

Debresay was in a new relationship with Jennifer Louey (pictured) when he compressed the abdomen of her two-year-old daughter

The prosecution has described Mussie Debresay's assault on a vulnerable child as violent, brutal and deliberate

Debresay failed to seek immediate medical help, and then lied to treating doctors to try to protect himself, Ms Flynn said.

The victim's brother told police he saw Debresay stomping or standing on his sister because she'd been naughty and had urinated on the couch.

Justice Terry Forrest said the jury accepted the toddler's injury must have been inflicted with 'very significant force'.

Mr Dann said Debresay had prospects of rehabilitation, the support of his family and understood his sentence would be lengthy.

He will be sentenced on Wednesday.
The Polish lorry driver whose truck was used in the Christmas market massacre was on his way home to prepare Christmas presents with his wife when he was stabbed and shot dead, his family have revealed.

Lukasz Urban, a 37-year-old father-of-one, was killed in the carnage that saw a 25-tonne truck career through Berlin's Breitscheidplatz Square, which killed 12 and injured dozens more.

This afternoon it emerged that he was on his way back to wife Zuzanna and their 17-year-old son when he was attacked. She was too traumatised to identify her husband's body and is said to be devastated at the lack of support from Germany.

The owner of Polish haulage firm, Ariel Zurawski, said: 'She is very distressed, as is their son, and they have had no support from either Germany or Poland. No psychologists, specialists, she is on her own.

'Lukasz's plan was to be home by Thursday and prepare presents for Christmas.'

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Lukasz Urban (pictured), a 37-year-old father-of-one, was killed in the carnage that saw a 25-tonne truck career through Berlin's Breitscheidplatz Square, which killed 12 and injured dozens more

Owner of Polish haulage firm, Ariel Zurawski (left), insisted the driver Lukasz Urban (right) - also his cousin - was hijacked

The boss, Ariel Zurawski, who is also the driver's cousin, said they last spoke at midday but the man's wife had been unable to reach him at 4pm - hours before the incident. Mr Zurawski is pictured above with wife Judyta

Mr Zurawski said the driver - also his cousin - was hijacked and killed by the man suspected of carrying out the attack.

Alarm bells started ringing for the Polish haulage company when the lorry's GPS showed the vehicle was being driven like a 'beginner'.

The 37-year-old driver disappeared after parking his lorry at a depot in Friedrich-Krauze-Ufer and going for a kebab.

Mr Zurawski, said: 'When I spoke to him he was saying it was a strange area of Berlin because it was full of Muslims.

'The only Germans he came into contact with were those at the depot.'

He added that Mr Urban's wife, Zuzanna, was now in Germany.

He said: 'Lukasz's wife did not want to identify the body, she is too upset. A family member identified Lukasz instead.

'Police in Gryfinie showed me the terrible photo of Lukasz. His face was all bruised and had been cut with a knife. You could tell he put up a fight.

'But I do not believe that one man could have killed my cousin. He was a powerful six-foot-two and weighed 130kg. It had to do a group of people.'

For his horrified family, Mr Urban's death comes as a double tragedy after it was revealed that his brother Konrad had taken his own life just three years earlier.

Talking to MailOnline outside his house in the village of Sobiemysl near Gryfino in northwest Poland, Mr Zurawski said: 'This is a double tragedy for the family. Two years ago his brother killed himself.

'Now their father has been taken into hospital suffering from shock.'

A picture shows married Mr Urban smiling in the cab of a lorry, in 2008, confirmed by his boss and cousin, while another image emerged, taken from CCTV, shortly before he was hijacked.

Mr Zurawski had earlier confirmed the drivers death saying: 'Unfortunately the driver is dead. His body was found in the cabin. His last contact was at 3pm when his wife called him.

'However, she couldn't talk because she was at work. She said she would call at 4pm but she was unable to contact him.

'I have not received official confirmation but I had to recognise him and I had to say that he was my driver.

'Stab wounds were clearly seen at the photo which depicted only my cousin's face. It was really clear that he was fighting for his life. His face was swollen and bloodied.

'Police informed me that he suffered a gunshot wound. Despite being stabbed he was shot dead.'

Interior minister Karl-Heinz Schroter confirmed the death as he prepared for a telephone call with the other interior ministers of the 16 states that make up the German republic.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE LORRY WHICH KILLED 12 PEOPLE Lukasz Urban was driving a lorry, carrying steel from Italy to Berlin

He was due to drop off the load in the German capital, before returning to Poland

At 3pm he was contacted by his wife, who said she would call back at 4pm

GPS recordings show irregular activity, suggesting the engine was being choked at 3.44pm

It's believed this is when the lorry was hijacked but when Mr Urban was killed is not known. Due to marks on his body it's understood he put up a fight

Mr Urban's wife called him back but there was no answer

The lorry travelled short distances before arriving at the market at 7.34pm

At 8pm the lorry was driven forecfully and ploughed into a crowd of people, killing 12 and injuring 48

Mr Urban was found dead in the cabin found with stab and gunshot wounds Advertisement

The Scania-made lorry is owned by company Arial Zurawski, which is based in Gryfino in northwest Poland (pictured from the company website)

The truck that killed 12 people as it ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin must have been hijacked, according those who know the registered Polish driver

Nine were killed and 50 more injured when the truck careered through the busy square today in a massacre similar to the one in Nice that left 86 dead in July

The lorry was travelling from Italy to Berlin to drop off its load, before returning to Poland.

It had reached the German capital when the hijacking took place.

He said that after reaching his destination in Friedrich-Krauze-Ufe, Mr Urban had parked and gone to get a kebab sandwich, planning to unload his cargo of 24 tonnes of steel parts the next morning.

Around noon, the two cousins spoke. Mr Urban said he was hungry and that there were few Germans in the neighbourhood where he parked, mostly Muslims.

The vehicle's GPS recording showed it did not travel far from when it was hijacked to the moment it crashed.

The readings appear to suggest the lorry was hijacked between 3pm and 4pm, according to Luke Wasik, from the transport firm.

At 3.19pm and 3.44pm failed attempts to start the engine were recorded.

The lorry was then driven in short distances towards the Christmas market before 5pm and then again, just after 5.30pm.

During these short journeys the GPS showed that the engine appeared to be 'choking' - so the company tried to contact the driver to find out what was happening. However, no-one answered the calls.

Mr Wasik told Polish website WP Money: 'It looks as if someone was trying to learn how to drive this. He had problems with its operation.'

The lorry was driven towards the square at 7.34pm. The final GPS reading was at 8pm, when the vehicle turned off its headlights and ploughed through the market, forcefully.

Mr Zurawski described the unusual movements on the truck's GPS that indicate Mr Urban was not in control.

He said: 'The car was started up, turned off, driven forward, then backward. As if somebody inside was learning how to drive.'

Poland's prime minister, Beata Szydlo, said that the Pole was 'the first victim of this heinous act of violence.'

When in control of the hijacker, the vehicle mounted the pavement before speeding through a crowd of shoppers on Breitscheidplatz Square, outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a busy shopping area in west Berlin.

The usually merry streets became scenes of chaos, with people being pulled form under the flattened wooden stalls and others ferried off in ambulances, some tragically under white sheets.

The driver's cousin says he was only making a quick drop-off in Berlin and would never hurt anyone, denying the possibility he was motivated by terrorism in an interview on Polish radio

It came after repeated warnings from various security agencies that ISIS planned to wreak havoc on European countries during the festive season, specifically threatening Christmas markets.

The vehicle left a trail of devastation in its wake, in a chilling echo of the deadly terror attack in the French city of Nice in July - and comes just one hour after the Russian ambassador was shot dead in Ankara.

It's understood the attacker is still at large after security officials admitted they arrested the wrong man this morning.

The vehicle mounted the pavement before tearing through stalls and shoppers in the market on Breitscheidplatz Square, outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in the German capital's main shopping area

Police used Twitter to urge locals to stay in their homes and 'check suspicious objects' and encouraged people to use a Facebook safety check loved ones were safe.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she is 'mourning the dead', while The White House said: 'The United States condemns in the strongest terms what appears to have been a terrorist attack on a Christmas Market in Berlin, Germany, which has killed and wounded dozens.'

The attack is likely to fuel political tensions in Germany, where Merkel's open door policy to Syrian migrants has led to more than a million entering the country over the last 18 months.

The vehicle mounted the pavement before speeding through a crowd of shoppers on Breitscheidplatz Square, outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in west Berlin

It has sent her approval ratings plummeting, particularly after terror attacks in Germany earlier this year, which led several high-profile political allies to publicly turn against her.

Germany has not experienced any mass-casualty attacks by Islamic extremists, but has been increasingly wary since two attacks by asylum-seekers in the summer that were claimed by the Islamic State group.

Five people were wounded in an ax rampage on a train near Wuerzburg and 15 in a bombing outside a bar in Ansbach, both in the southern state of Bavaria. Both attackers were killed.

The vehicle left a trail of devastation in its wake, in a chilling echo of the deadly terror attack in the French city of Nice in July - and comes just one hour after the Russian ambassador was shot dead in Ankara

At least 12 people have been killed and around 48 injured after a lorry ploughed through a crowd of shoppers at a busy Christmas market in Berlin

Mike Fox, a tourist from Birmingham, said 'it was definitely deliberate' as he explained how the large truck missed him by about three meters as it drove into the market, tearing through tables and wooden stands.

Mr Fox said he helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and said others were trapped under Christmas stands.

British tourist Emma Rushton tweeted from the scene: 'Lorry just ploughed through Christmas market in #berlin.

'There is no road nearby. People crushed. I am safe. I am safe'.

She saw the lorry rush past her at speed and said it could not have been an accident.

She told Sky News she only missed being caught in the chaos because she had climbed up some steps to take a seat.

Ms Rushton said: 'The stall that we bought our mulled wine from was completely crushed. People were tearing off wooden panels to get out.'

Police are now guarding the scene but saying that the situation in Berline tonight is not dangerous, although some areas remain on lockdown

She added: 'It was not an accident. It was going 40mph, it was in the middle of the market. There was no way that it could have come off the road and it showed no signs of slowing down.'

'I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos...many injured people,' Jan Hollitzer, deputy editor in chief of Berliner Morgenpost, told CNN. 'It was really traumatic.'

Richard Clarkson, from Brighton, told the Irish Independent he was at a bar called Irish Bar with his friends on the street near were the incident happened.

One of his friends heard a bang. He said: 'I just walked out and I saw the truck, the windscreen was broken, I didn't see any bodies they were very quick to cover them up I think.'
Anjem Choudary has lived off the state for 20 years, claiming up to 500,000 in benefits

Britains most notorious hate preacher was given almost 100,000 in legal aid trying to avoid jail for inviting support for terrorism.

Anjem Choudary has lived off the state for 20 years, claiming up to 500,000 in benefits as he inspired fanatics to commit atrocities worldwide.

He has preached to supporters that the normal situation is for you to take money from the kuffar [non-Muslim].

Yesterday it emerged that taxpayers face the new bill for 98,000 to pay for a solicitor to beat the terror charge.

The true figure is likely to be far higher as the bill does not cover the cost of the QC and junior barrister who represented him at his month-long trial at the Old Bailey.

Choudary also went to the Court of Appeal and then the Supreme Court arguing that his right to free speech under the Human Rights Act was being denied.

A succession of judges rejected his claims and ordered the trial to go ahead. He was jailed for five-and-a half years in September.

The Mail can reveal it cost taxpayers 505 to give him legal advice at a police station after his arrest in 2014. Choudary had his entire legal bill picked up by taxpayers and he is unlikely to have to pay back a penny when he is released from prison in less than three years.

He is expected to argue that he has never had a paying job. Police are still investigating his wife Rubana Akhtar, 42, after she was caught on camera leading a secret group of British women supporting Islamic State.

The mother of his five children is considered the female leader of his banned group Al-Muhajiroun.

The Mail can reveal that detectives are liaising with Crown Prosecution Service lawyers who are providing investigative advice about bringing possible charges against her.

These relate to a speech to a series of women and children praising the birth of IS as a true Islamic caliphate and espousing abhorrent views about filthy Jews.

Yesterday Nick Lowles, chief executive of Hope not Hate, a campaign group which estimates Choudary has inspired 110 British terrorists, said: He should have been locked up a long time ago. But the authorities failed to act and now the public are paying the price  again.

Choudary also went to the Court of Appeal and then the Supreme Court arguing that his right to free speech under the Human Rights Act was being denied

Tory MP Philip Hollobone said: I share the sense of widespread outrage that this individual should have been in receipt of such a large amount of taxpayers money.

I would far rather this money is spent on compensation and rehabilitation for victims of terrorist crimes rather than those who seek to spread vile religious hatred.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: Anyone facing a crown court trial is eligible for legal aid, subject to a strict means test.
An Australian woman in Berlin said there was 'blood and bodies everywhere' when a truck ploughed through a Christmas crowd and killed at least nine people.

Trisha O'Neill was sitting just metres from the devastating scene and described the carnage at the Kurfurstendamm market.

'All of a sudden there was a big boom and the people in front me jumped on top of me,' Ms O'Neill told ABC.

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Trisha O'Neill was sitting just metres from the devastating scene in Berlin

The vehicle left a trail of devastation in its wake after ploughing through the Christmas markets

The truck ploughed through the entire length of the market - crashing through market stalls and innocent bystanders

'I just saw this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people and then all the lights went out and everything was destroyed.

'I could hear screaming and then we all froze. Then suddenly people started to move and lift all the wreckage off people, trying to help whoever was there.

'There was blood and bodies everywhere.'

She said people, including children and the elderly, appeared to not be moving - while others burst into tears.

The vehicle maneuvered from Budapester Strasse onto the area outside the Memorial Church before ploughing into the crowd

At least nine people have been killed and more than 50 injured after a lorry sped through a crowd of shoppers in Berlin

German police have urged civilians to remain at home

Ms O'Neill was at the Christmas markets to celebrate the last day of her German classes for the year. She eventually left the streets and went to a nearby apartment with friends, and phoned family.

She moved to Berlin in September on a one-year visa.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms O'Neill.

At least nine people have been killed and more than 50 injured after the lorry ploughed through at about 65 km/h.

As German police indicated the incident is likely to be terror related, ISIS moved quickly to claim responsibility for the fatal attack.

The vehicle mounted the pavement before speeding through a crowd of shoppers, tearing through stalls as it travelled the entire length of the market on Breitscheidplatz Square, outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in west Berlin.

At least 50 people have been injured and at least nine people are dead

'There was blood and bodies everywhere,' said Australian woman Trisha O'Neill, who was just metres away from the carnage

The driver of the truck was arrested nearby and is in police custody

The driver of the truck was arrested nearby and is in police custody, while a passenger in the vehicle died at the scene.

Germany's justice minister says that federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, are now taking over the investigation.

Polish media are now questioning if the truck was hijacked, after its owner lost contact with the driver.

The truck was from Gdansk in Poland - some 80 miles from Berlin.

Police in Berlin are now using Twitter to urge locals to stay in their homes as German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she is 'mourning the dead'.

The Die Welt newspaper said that German intelligence had been warning city authorities for the past week of a possible attack on a Christmas market.

Police stand outside a tent near the Christmas market in Berlin as those injured in the devastating crash are treated
This murderous attack on a senior diplomat came just one day before the Russians were due to host Turkey and Irans foreign ministers in Moscow.

They were expected to discuss the evacuation of civilians from the recently retaken areas of eastern Aleppo, which were held by Islamist Syrian rebels until just a few days ago.

It is that very unity of purpose between Russia and Turkey in particular that appears to have been behind this cowardly attack in an Ankara art gallery by a 22-year-old Turkish riot squad police officer.

This murderous attack on a senior diplomat came just one day before the Russians were due to host Turkey and Irans foreign ministers in Moscow. Pictured, Putin at a meeting tonight

The words of Mevlut Mert Altntas (left) after the fatal shooting of Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov (right) were: Allahu Akbar (God is great). We die in Aleppo, you die here!

Rant: Altintas shouts Allahu akbar [God is great] as Andrei Karlov lies dying on the floor after the fatal gallery shooting

The words of a man named locally as Mevlut Mert Altntas after the fatal shooting of Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov were: Allahu Akbar (God is great). We die in Aleppo, you die here! If that is indeed what he said, it seems reasonable to assume he is a supporter of those who have died at the hands of Bashar Assads forces, which now control the benighted Syrian city.

The Syrian dictators crucial victories on this and other battlefields are entirely due to Iranian-backed and directed militias, which have been operating under Russian air cover. But it is the role of Turkey alongside that trio of allied nations which is key to understanding the blood-soaked events in Ankara last night.

Earlier in the five-year Syrian civil war the autocratic president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sided with the rebel groups who were attempting to topple Assad. Though the two men had once holidayed together with their wives, Erdogan called on his younger protege to stand down.

Turkey  a Muslim nation  even hosted the political leaders of the rebels and allowed armed groups (including Islamic State) to move recruits and supplies over the border into Syria. Turkey also refused to allow Nato, of which it is a member, to use nearby Incirlik airfield as a base from which to bomb IS.

Russias entry into the Syrian civil war in support of its ally Assad complicated Turkeys position, because the two nations know each other of old. They have fought 12 wars, all of which the Turks lost. Erdogan is a strongman and was determined not to allow Vladimir Putin to ride roughshod over his corner of the Middle East.

Russian, Turkish and Iranian ministers were expected to discuss the evacuation of civilians from the recently retaken areas of eastern Aleppo, which were held by Islamist Syrian rebels until just a few days ago. Pictured, evacuated civilians arrive in a rebel-held town

For that reason, in November 2015 a Turkish fighter shot down a Russian Sukhoi 24 jet after it crossed into Turkish airspace for all of 17 seconds. One crew member was shot dead while descending by parachute. The second was captured by Ankaras Turkmen allies in Syria, though he subsequently escaped and was rescued.

In a vengeful mood, President Putin ordered economic sanctions on Turkey, which depends heavily on Russian natural gas supplies, and bombarded the Turkmen with missiles. Erdogan, he said, was a patron of terrorists.

Yet after several months in the deep freeze, Russo-Turkish relations have now recovered  which may well be one of the reasons behind last nights assassination.

Apart from nearly being overthrown by a coup last July, Erdogan faces a massive threat from the Kurds, which are the worlds largest ethnic group (35million people) without a state of their own. Their populations straddle Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey, where they number 14.5million. In northern Iraq, the Kurds have carved out an autonomous state  Kurdistan  which in almost every sense is independent of the Arab government in Baghdad, and their army, the Peshmerga have fought valiantly against IS.

There have been angry demonstrations outside Russian diplomatic missions in Turkey after the bloody denouement in Aleppo. Pictured, one such protest

Due to the civil war in Syria, the Kurdish minority there are in the process of forming a statelet running along Syrias northern border with Turkey. They call this Rojava, which means western Kurdistan. But Erdogan  constantly at war with the Kurdish separatists who have been repressed in Turkey for decades  will do almost anything to stop that happening. He does not want the Kurds in Turkey to coalesce with their kinsmen in Syria and Iraq. If that happens, a chunk of Turkey could disappear.

To thwart the Kurds, Erdogan has troops operating in northern Syria  and in order to guarantee them freedom to deploy as he wishes, he has had to strike a deal with Moscow. He promised Putin he would stop calling for Assad to step down, in exchange for Russia allowing Turkish troops to do largely as they wish. This deal has infuriated Turkish Islamists, who felt betrayed by it. If they are behind the murder of the Russian ambassador then they have chosen a soft target whose death they will regard as some small revenge for the many thousands who have been slaughtered in Aleppo and elsewhere by Assad and his allies.

There have been angry demonstrations outside Russian diplomatic missions in Turkey after the bloody denouement in Aleppo, so it is likely the Turkish killer felt angry about the Russian role in Aleppo, as well as a sense of betrayal by his own presidents friendly dealings with Putin.

The one reassuring element in all this is that the ambassadors death should not turn into a spark  like the killing of Archduke Ferdinand in 1914, which led to the First World War  that sets off a wider conflagration between East and West.

For now, Russia has predictably blamed unnamed Western intelligence agencies.

It is possible, of course, that Islamic State had a hand in the assassination, sensing that Russia and Iran were about to join the forces massing against them once Donald Trump, who has promised to crush IS, is in the White House.

Certainly, IS seems to be doing all it can to sow fear and discord across Europe. An hour after the ambassador was killed in Ankara, a lorry was driven into a crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin.
Police forces across Britain have stepped up security at Christmas markets this year in a bid to prevent ISIS-inspired terror attacks such as the one in Berlin.

The security services warned the UK was at risk of terror attacks on 'large crowds of soft target civilians' by the likes of ISIS and al-Qaeda during the festive season.

American State Department officials have told US travellers to be vigilant when travelling to Europe  and to be particularly careful when going to Christmas events.

Police at Birmingham Christmas market today where hundreds of shoppers are expected

Fears were raised early this year that terrorists could target festive events around Europe

Police forces around the country are on alert following the attack in Berlin yesterday

Eleven forces are sending out anti-terrorism police patrol squads to shopping centres, transport hubs and tourist hotspots in a bid to spot extremists carrying out 'hostile reconnaissance'.

Greater Manchester Police said they had strengthened their presence at the markets, which have almost 350 stalls spread across 10 sites in the city.

It emerged last week that 200 undercover SAS soldiers are to be deployed on Britain's streets to assist police forces in the event of an attack.

Concrete barriers have been erected in the centre of Birmingham to stop would-be terrorists from using car or truck bombs to attack the city's popular Christmas market.

Armed officers from Northumbria police have also been seen in Newcastle city centre, posing with children and families while carrying assault rifles.

The photos attracted criticism after residents complained of the effect of seeing armed police on youngsters.

Security sources said: 'Britain is very much in the sights of the jihadists but thankfully plots and plotters have been disrupted and stopped.

'Whilst UK agencies have been extremely good at preventative intelligence operations against jihadist groups, other European equivalents have been less successful, sadly.

Concrete barriers have been erected in the centre of Birmingham to stop would-be terrorists from using car or truck bombs to attack the city's popular Christmas market

Wrapped up against the cold, these Newcastle children were all smiles on a trip to the Christmas market, with the presence of two police officers armed with guns on either side

Keeping the public safe: Armed Police patrol Newcastle Christmas market

'This means the entire continent is vulnerable to attack, as we have seen in France, Germany and Belgium, but particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

'It is a Christian period of festivities, bringing together large crowds of soft target civilians, and will attract attention from those who wish to inflict harm.'

In July, 86 people were killed on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, Southern France, when a lorry, operated by a man who had pledged allegiance to IS, drove through the crowds celebrating Bastille Day.

The head of MI6, Alex Younger, warned earlier this month that IS cells are exploiting the chaos Russia has caused in Syria to plot deadly attacks against the UK.

He said the threat to Britain was unprecedented, with 12 major plots foiled in the past three years.

On Monday night there was a terror attack at the Christmas markets in Berlin, Germany, killing at least nine people

ISIS fanatics are now feared to be directing attacks in the UK in the way Al Qaeda did in the past.

They are also producing propaganda intended to inspire people in Britain to plot atrocities in the name of IS.

Mr Younger said: 'As I speak, the highly organised external attack planning structures within Daesh (IS), even as they face military threat, are plotting ways to project violence against the UK and our allies without ever having to leave Syria.'
We spend 12billion a year on international aid. Other Whitehall departments with that sort of money are subjected to sharp scrutiny by MPs. Not so international aid. It is untouchable.

The Commons select committee overseeing the aid department is a feeble body whose MPs are largely unsceptical. Most of them think aid a wonderful thing.

How can we spend it faster, please? Have you got enough civil servants to help you get through that mound of cash?

Aid minister Priti Patel, pictured entered the half-empty committee room yesterday at 1.30pm

Ms Patel announced she was going to review the funding to the Ethiopian Spice Girls

When aid minister Priti Patel walked into the committee at 1.30pm yesterday, almost half the MPs had not even bothered to turn up for the meeting.

Perhaps they had Christmas lunch engagements. Or perhaps they were unfazed by the latest headlines about the department dumping billions of pounds at the World Bank, plus a tale about how 5million of our aid money is being spent to promote an Ethiopian all-female pop group (Ethiopias Spice Girls).

For years I have supported the principle of international aid, believing it could be both Christian and shrewd.

Watching this committee meeting made me start to doubt my pro-aid instincts. The level of scrutiny was hopeless, matched only by the laughable inadequacy of the Sir Humphrey in charge of the department.

He, accompanying Miss Patel, was a grannyish-looking chap with quivery hands. His name was Lowcock; a little confusingly, he had a highish voice. Priti Patel is said to be a Right-winger. She has the reputation  possibly undeserved  for being a plain-talking Essex Woman. Six months at the international aid department may have cured her of any originality and radicalism. She seems to have been taken captive by the System.

Within minutes she was pushing out jargon about thematics and taking a holistic approach to resource allocation. The word holistic always sets klaxons honking in ones head. It is a word used by wafflers.

She said her department worked in the civil society space and was looking at new mechanisms for processing those billions at her command. She aspired to an outcome-focused model of funding, bringing fresh ideas to the table  we need new funding instruments. Lowcock nodded, a faint twitch at the side of his mouth. The committee blinked slowly.

Before signing off big cheques, said Miss Patel, her hotshots did analysis using sophisticated poverty reduction diagnostics. Ooh. Now theres a fancy word.

Our local garage claims to use diagnostics. It means a mechanic in a boiler suit who looks under the bonnet before telling you your car is knackered.

Nigel Evans questioned Ms Patel about the funds given to an Ethiopian girl band

Macro choices and thematic choices flowed from these diagnostics, disclosed Miss Patel, a smirk on her face. Though we only had six MPs present there were two committee clerks (select committees used to make do with one) and ten additional researchers/bods/operatives. Behind Miss Patel sat a further four aides, one with a hipster beard.

The only MP to show much curiosity was Nigel Evans (Con, Ribble Valley). Did Miss Patel boil with rage when she heard about that Ethiopian girl band?

There was a groin-shrivelling silence before Miss Patel produced a spongy answer about womens rights. Lowcocks hands assumed the praying position.

Mr Evans later had a go at Lowcock. He asked this senior civil servant if he would publish those poverty reduction diagnostics on which the department spent billions. Lowcock almost swallowed his own head. They need a bit of refinement, he squeaked, because of decisions that we took at the end of the bilateral development review and adjustments to resources allocation coming out of the Chancellors autumn statement.

At this point he rocked forward, as though suffering stomach cramps. But were working very hard  they always say this  and what we want to publish is something that represents the sort of refined view taking account of all the decisions made, and we will do that as soon as we can.

As he completed this incurable blether, Lowcock closed his eyes. I thought he was possibly going to be sick. Taxpayers may suffer the same sensation.
A Chinese pupil has been brutally beaten by around a dozen school bullies after he had reported them to his teachers.

The 12-year-old victim was kicked and hit by the bullies and was also forced to kneel down and slap himself in a school in Shenzhen on December 16, People's Daily reported.

Xie sustained injuries on his head, back and legs and had refused to go back to school in fear of further assaults.

A Chinese pupil has been brutally beaten by around a dozen school bullies in Shenzhen, China

According to reports, the victim had told the teachers that the attackers had been collecting money from their schoolmates by force.

This is thought to be a revenge attack.

The video showed the victim, surnamed Xie, being repeatedly kicked and punched by the attackers who were apparently his senior.

The beginning of the video shows him being kicked from the back by one of the attackers.

After he fell to the ground, several attackers trampled on him. They kept kicking and punching the boy who curled up on the floor.

A boy can be heard saying at the background: 'We didn't manage to film it just now. Keep hitting him!'

The boy begged the attackers to stop: 'I dare not do it again.'

Then the attackers forced Xie to kneel down and slap himself.

Xie repeatedly apologised: 'Brothers, I was wrong.'

However, the gang ignored his apologies and kept kicking his head.

The victim, surnamed Xie, was kicked, punched and forced to slap himself in front of the gang

A video shows the 12 year-old victim being beaten by the bullies in the revenge attack

Xie had reported to his school that the attackers had been collecting money by force

Xie studies at the Dalang Aiyi School in Shenzhen, according People's Daily Online

He found out his senior schoolmates had been collecting money from other pupils by force. The amount ranged from 50 yuan (5.8) to 100 yuan (11.6).

Xie reported their practise to the teachers.

Enraged by Xie's behaviour, the gang carried out a revenge attack on him and filmed the process before uploading it online.

The following day, Xie's father came across the video on the internet by accident. He could tell immediately that it was his son being bullied in the video.

The man told a reporter: 'There's an ache in my heart. My boy was being kicked as if he's a dog. No parent can tolerate that.'

The middle school pupil was forced to kneel down and slap himself for at least four times

Xie, with bruises on his head, back and legs, was taken to hospital for treatment.

After the attack, he refused to go to school in fear of further assaults.

The school said the group of bullies were between the ages of 13 to 15. The assault apparently also involved teenagers from another school.

The family have reported the case to police. Investigation is still ongoing.

Tens of thousands of online users have discussed about the shocking video on Miaopai, a video-sharing platform in China.

One user wrote: 'It's outrageous! The school should expel these bullies and demand for compensation.'

Another said: 'I cried watching the video. If that were my son I would surely retaliate.'
The President of Taiwan did not have the best day in office today.

Tsai Ing-wen was hit in the head by an advertisement board while delivering a speech in the city of Taoyuan, reported Huanqiu.com, an affiliation to People's Daily.

Ms Tsai gave an awkward smile as the incident happened and staff quickly went up to hold the large board.

An advertisement board was blown off by wind and hit the President of Taiwan today

Tsai Ing-wen was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of a social housing project

Ms Tsai was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of a social housing project in Taoyuan when the billboard fell, according to Huanqiu, which cited a report from Taiwan's Central News Agency.

During the speech, she stressed how important it was to have good building quality.

It is understood that the billboard was blown off by a gust of wind.

Footage of the incident, released by Taiwan's EBC, shows that four staff members quickly went up the stage and helped hold the loose board.

The EBC report said that it was likely the board had not been secured properly.

In response to the incident, Ms Tsai said referred to a performance carried out by children during the ceremony: 'The children got very excited, so the paperboard behind me also got excited too.'

In response to the incident, Ms Tsai joked that the board fell because it had got excited

Leading the Democratic Progressive Party, Tsai Ing-wen is the first female president of Taiwan. Above is a file photo of Ms Tsai taken on May 20, 2016

Tsai Ing-wen, 60, is the first female president of Taiwan.

Leading the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), she was elected as the president in January, 2016, in a landslide victory over the Kuomintang (KMT).

Last month, Ms Tsai's popularity hit a record low.

According to a poll released by TVBS on November 22, Ms Tsai's supporting rating had fallen to 26 per cent.

This has led Taiwanese media to prompt the island's Terry Gou, a billionaire tycoon who runs an Apple production factory, to attend the next presidential election.
If you're still stuck for what to buy for Christmas presents this year, experts have predicted what the biggest tech trends will be over the festive period.

Virtual assistant devices like Amazon's Alexa-powered Echo speaker are expected to be the biggest sellers, outdoing virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift in the Christmas shopping stakes.

Smartwatches like the Apple Watch will also be a hit but drones will continue to fly under the radar, according to new reports.

Scroll down for video

Virtual assistants are set to pummel virtual reality headsets in the fight for consumer cash this Christmas, according to new reports. The Amazon Echo and smaller Echo Dot speakers were finally launched in the UK in September in black and white

TOP TECH SELLERS THIS CHRISTMAS 1 - Virtual assistant devices - AI-powered products like Amazon's Echo speaker 129.99 ($179.99) and the Google Home ($129, US only) are expected to be the big sellers this Christmas. 2 - Smartwatches - wearable gadgets are expected to sell well, though the popularity of fitness trackers is diminishing. Smartwatches like the Apple Watch are on trend this year. 3 - Virtual reality headsets - Samsung's sub-100 ($100) Gear VR headset, which turns a phone into a virtual reality device, is expected to sell well, because it will be given away with phones. However, higher priced headsets like Facebook's 549 ($599) Oculus Rift, Sony's 349 ($399) PlayStation VR and HTC's 759 ($799) Vive won't be quite as popular 4 - Drones - These remote-controlled gadgets are expected to sell double the numbers that they did last Christmas, but they still remain a fairly niche product. Advertisement

Interviews with nearly two dozen analysts indicate high hopes for technology sales over Christmas, but estimates of what will sell well have changed.

After dubbing virtual reality as the 'next mega tech theme' in a May 2015 industry report, brokerage Piper Jaffray will cut its 2016 estimate for sales of VR headsets by 65 percent to 2.2 million units in an as yet unpublished report.

Sales of high-end VR headsets including Facebook's 549 ($599) Oculus Rift and Sony's 349 ($399) PlayStation VR headset altogether will be about 300,000, according to Paul Lee of Deloitte UK.

This is down to supply constraints at Sony and the fact that the Oculus headsets and HTC's Vive - which comes with a price tag of 759 ($799) - can only run on compatible computers.

Mr Lee suggests that there are only around 6 or 7 million such computers globally.

'With high-end VR for a family of four one might be looking at $10,000 (8,000),' said Mr Lee.

Samsung's sub-100 ($100) Gear VR headset, which turns a phone into a virtual reality device, is expected to sell more, because it will be given away with phones.

Two years after Amazon introduced the Echo, a 129.99 ($179.99) hands free speaker with AI-powered virtual assistant Alexa, virtual home assistants are set to outsell VR, according to the Consumer Technology Association.

Sales of high-end VR headsets including Facebook's 549 ($599) Oculus Rift (pictured) and Sony's 349 ($399) PlayStation VR headset altogether will be about 300,000, according to Paul Lee of Deloitte UK

Nearly 10 million to 12 million Amazon Echo and Google Home (pictured) virtual assistants could sell during over the Christmas shopping period, estimates Oppenheimer analyst Andrew Uerkwitz

Nearly 10 million to 12 million Amazon Echo and Google Home virtual assistants could sell during over the Christmas shopping period, estimates Oppenheimer analyst Andrew Uerkwitz.

'Personal assistants are going to blow VR out of the water,' he said.

Google launched its $129 Home assistant in the US last month, but the 49.99 ($39.99) price of the Echo Dot - a miniaturized version of the original - gives the Echo the edge this year, said Tractica analyst Mark Beccue.

'I saw one feature in a hackathon where you list items in the fridge then Alexa tells you here's what you can make for dinner tonight,' he said.

Wearable devices are also expected to sell well, with popular smartwatch maker Pebble recently folding and selling its designs to market leader Fitbit.

Samsung's sub-100 ($100) Gear VR headset (pictured), which turns a phone into a virtual reality device, is expected to sell more than its higher priced rivals, because it will be given away with phones

Still, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) forecasts 12.6 million wearables will be sold this holiday season, thanks largely to the Apple Watch, which the industry group expects to chalk up 5.5 million sales.

Fitness devices are losing ground, in market share terms, to multi-purpose smartwatches, said Forrester analyst Julie Ask.

Drones are also expected to popular again this Christmas, though the number sold will still be relatively low compared to other emerging areas of tech.

GoPro recalled its highly anticipated Karma Drone in November, and industry sales for the year are expected to be 1.2 million, according to the CTA.

Drones are also expected to popular again this Christmas, though the number sold will still be relatively low compared to other emerging areas of tech

That is more than double 2015, helped by a wide range of prices, but drones have not broken beyond being a niche product.

'There are plenty of drones that are $100 (80), $150 (120), that would be more in competition with virtual reality than anything else in terms of appeal for the same age groups,' said Atherton Research analyst Jean Baptiste Su.

Oppenheimer's Mr Uerkwitz put drones in the same basket as virtual reality, given price and limited use saying that they are 'probably going to underperform' the competition.
British police are turning to artificial intelligence to help them identify suspects in blurry or poor quality CCTV images.

The system can map more than a million distinguishable features on a person's face so it can learn to recognise them.

It is so powerful it can identify someone even only a tiny part of their face is visible, such as their forehead or an ear.

British police are turning to artificial intelligence to help them identify suspects in blurry or poor quality CCTV images. The system can map more than a million distinguishable features on a person's face so it can learn to recognise them

HOW DOES IT WORK? The system, known as HALO, combines a high resolution camera system, which takes detailed images of a person from multiple angles, with machine learning software. The cameras, developed by image analysis company Acume Forensic, are to be installed in one of Leicestershire Police's custody suites to take mugshots of people who have been arrested. These will then be fed to the algorithm, which uses an artificial neural network similar to those used in artificial intelligence research by firms like Google. The algorithm systematically learns the unique features about the person's face including their skin colour, the texture of their skin, the shape of their eyes, nose and mouth. It also looks at the variation in skin colour on the person's face, the physical dimensions of their features and statistical elements such as how much they vary from an average face. These are reduced to a series of numbers that describe the face rather than having to store lots of high quality images that other types of facial recognition systems use. Advertisement

'In CCTV images this is often all that is available as the suspect is not looking directly at the camera,' explained Professor Hassan Ugail, a visual computing researcher at Bradford University who has helped develop the system.

'Once our algorithm has learned a face, it can recognise them even from just their ear.'

The system, known as HALO, combines a high resolution camera system, which takes detailed images of a person from multiple angles, with machine learning software.

The cameras, developed by image analysis company Acume Forensic, are to be installed in one of Leicestershire Police's custody suites to take mugshots of people who have been arrested.

These will then be fed to the algorithm, which uses an artificial neural network similar to those used in artificial intelligence research by firms like Google.

The algorithm systematically learns the unique features about the person's face including their skin colour, the texture of their skin, the shape of their eyes, nose and mouth.

It also looks at the variation in skin colour on the person's face, the physical dimensions of their features and statistical elements such as how much they vary from an average face.

The system, known as HALO, combines a high resolution camera system, which takes detailed images of a person from multiple angles, with machine learning software

These are reduced to a series of numbers that describe the face rather than having to store lots of high quality images that other types of facial recognition systems use.

Professor Ugail told MailOnline: 'The recognition/identification process takes milliseconds, i.e. real time.

'The "learned" software can be deployed on low powered computing platforms in the form an app on a smart phone which can be used to recognise an individual in real time.'

The system can search for matching parameters in any new image it is given, such as from CCTV footage.

It displays the best match along with three other most matches.

The algorithm systematically learns the unique features about the person's face including their skin colour, the texture of their skin, the shape of their eyes, nose and mouth

Professor Ugail said part of the trial in Leicestershire would involve feeding the existing mugshots in the forces' database to the algorithm to help it learn.

The force also hopes the system will make it easier for police to identify suspects who are arrested but refuse to give their name.

Mike Dixon, from Acume Forensic, said: 'The facial biometric identification works a bit like a facial fingerprint, if someone is re-arrested the system will automatically identify them.'

The system could lead to new types of Minority Report-style technologies that will allow officers on the beat to identify people they speak to so they can check if they are wanted in connection with any crimes. Pictured is a still from Minority Report

It could also lead to new types of Minority Report-style technologies that will allow officers on the beat to identify people they speak to so they can check if they are wanted in connection with any crimes.

Professor Ugail said: 'Once you have trained the algorithm it doesn't need much computing power to do the matching, so you could install it on a mobile phone as an app.

'That is something the police are keen on doing as they can get people who they stop in the street but refuse to give any details about themselves. This way they could just look them up if they have been arrested before.

The system also looks at the variation in skin colour on the person's face, the physical dimensions of their features and statistical elements such as how much they vary from an average face

'The algorithm looks at a human face in a very different way from the way we do - it is able to pick up on details we would not spot.'

This sort application, however, is likely to alarm privacy campaigners who fear police forces could start to use such systems to identify and monitor who is walking through public areas from CCTV footage.

In New York, officials recently unveiled facial recognition technology that will be used to identify drivers as they cross bridges and tunnels in an attempt to spot terrorism suspects.

This sort application, however, is likely to alarm privacy campaigners who fear police forces could start to use such systems to identify and monitor who is walking through public areas from CCTV footage

While there is no suggestion that similar technology could be used in the same way here, Leicestershire police sparked controversy earlier this year after using facial recognition software at the Download music festival.

The force has been using another facial recognition system developed by technology firm NEC.

Leicestershire Police said it could not comment on the HALO trial at the moment.

The system can search for matching parameters in any new image it is given, such as from CCTV footage. It displays the best match along with three other most matches

Renate Samson, chief executive of Big Brother Watch, said: 'Leicestershire Police have a terrible track record of adopting and deploying the most intrusive forms of surveillance technology.

'Using a system such as Halo to capture the facial biometrics of people in custody goes far beyond a simple mugshot. Your facial biometric data is as sensitive as your fingerprint or DNA.'
With Christmas on the horizon, choosing what gifts to give can present a huge challenge.

In recent years, campaigners have called for an end to the needless gendering of toys, particularly those aimed at girls.

But are toys aimed specifically at boys or girls sexist?

Writing for The Conversation, Brenda Todd, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at City, University of London, explains how children reacted to gendered toys as part of a study.

She claims that children as young as 18 months - the age at which they are just learning to speak - prefer gender specific toys.

With Christmas on the horizon, choosing what gifts to give can present a huge challenge. In recent years, campaigners have called for an end to the needless gendering of toys, particularly those aimed at girls, with some labelling them as sexist (stock image)

In the run-up to Christmas, many of us, whether we are parents or not, will want to buy a toy as a present for a little boy or girl.

While older children are all too ready to say what they want, choosing for very young children can be tricky  should you stick with the traditional choices: a truck for a boy and a doll for a girl  or should you challenge the stereotypes?

Although toy manufacturers and advertisers tend to promote 'gender-specific' toys, questioning whether boys and girls really are attracted to different kinds of objects is important in furthering our understanding of how gender norms develop.

For example, do sex differences in toy preferences appear as soon as infants can demonstrate them?

Or do they develop with the acquisition of knowledge about their own sex and what adults and other children expect from boys and girls?

There is clear evidence that children over the age of two years typically prefer toys stereotyped to their own sex, but studies involving young babies have to rely on interpretation of their visual behaviour as they are shown toys, or pictures of toys, in a laboratory setting.

So in our research, conducted in collaboration with the University College London, we aimed to discover which 'gender-typed' toys very young girls and boys actually want to play with.

In a study, children were presented with a selection of toys to choose from including a digger, car and ball with the boys in mind, and a doll, cooking pot and pink teddy as the 'girl' toys (stock image)

We studied infants and children aged between nine months and 32 months.

We chose this range because from this age, children can move independently to demonstrate their interests and are going through developmental stages where they learn about what it means to be either a boy or a girl.

And with their parent's permission, we decided to study children in multicultural London nurseries rather than in their homes or our laboratory, where the presence of their parents might influence their behaviour.

Before choosing toys for our research, we carried out a survey among local adults, asking them 'which toy comes to mind when you are thinking of a young boy or a young girl?'

WHAT THE RESULTS SHOWED Results from the 47 girls and 54 boys who took part in our study showed an overwhelming and highly significant preference for toys typed to the child's gender. Among the very youngest infants  aged nine to 12 months  the researchers found that all of the boys spent some time playing with the ball. And that playing with the ball accounted for half of the total time boys played with the toys. In contrast, the youngest girls played with the cooking pot for a similar proportion of the time. There was little interest in the teddies from either boys or girls. Finding sex difference in the toy preferences of boys and girls aged less than 18 months old, suggests these differences and preferences are there before extensive socialisation. But such predispositions may be modified as children are able to label themselves as boys or girls and learn more about social norms. The research also found that while boys' preferences for male-typed toys increased across our chosen age groups, the pattern for girls was rather different. Although girls of all ages preferred 'female-typed' toys, the youngest group showed the strongest preference. And both boys and girls increasing preferred 'boy' toys as they approached their third birthday. Advertisement

Our final line-up included a digger, car and ball with the boys in mind, and a doll, cooking pot and pink teddy as the 'girl' toys.

And as previous research has shown that colour can also guide toy preferences, we added a blue teddy into the mix to see whether that would appeal more to the boys.

The toys were arranged in a semi-circle, one metre away from the child, so that they needed to move independently to make their selections.

We then recorded the times each child played with each toy.

Results from the 47 girls and 54 boys who took part in our study showed an overwhelming and highly significant preference for toys typed to the child's gender.

When we broke down the results into narrower age groups, chosen to reflect their stage of gender knowledge development, we found the same results.

Among the very youngest infants  aged nine to 12 months  we found that all of the boys spent some time playing with the ball.

And that playing with the ball accounted for half of the total time boys played with the toys.

In contrast, the youngest girls played with the cooking pot for a similar proportion of the time.

There was little interest in the teddies from either boys or girls.

Finding sex difference in the toy preferences of boys and girls aged less than 18 months old, suggests these differences and preferences are there before extensive socialisation.

But such predispositions may be modified as children are able to label themselves as boys or girls and learn more about social norms.

Our research also found that while boys' preferences for male-typed toys increased across our chosen age groups, the pattern for girls was rather different.

Although girls of all ages preferred 'female-typed' toys, the youngest group showed the strongest preference.

And both boys and girls increasing preferred 'boy' toys as they approached their third birthday.

Among the very youngest infants the researchers found that all of the boys spent some time playing with the ball and that this accounted for half of the total play time. In contrast, the youngest girls played with the cooking pot for a similar proportion of the time (stock image)

Which raises questions about gender assumptions of what a 'boy' toy or 'girl' toy actually is.

So as well as finding sex differences in toy preferences, we also found sex differences in the developmental pathways of boys and girls.

We can only speculate that, at least in the location of our study, stereotypes for boys are more rigid than those for girls.

As in modern society, girls' play with 'male-typed' toys is often encouraged more than boys' play with toys related to a care-giving role.
Four asteroids are set to make 'a close approach' to Earth this Wednesday.

The biggest of the four objects is 853 feet (260 metres) across - almost twice the height of the London Eye - and will fly at 8 miles (13km) per second.

The closest of the four asteroids, named 2006LH, will miss by a distance of around 1.5 million miles (2.4 million kilometres) from Earth.

'2006XD2 is quite large,' planetary scientist Dr Detlef Koschny told MailOnline. 'If it were to hit it would do quite some damage, but none of these objects have any chance to impact the Earth, so we are safe'

The closest object, 2006LH, is 148 feet (45 metres) across - around the size of a blue whale.

The other asteroids set for a close pass are named 2010XN, 2015YQ1, and the biggest of the group is 2006XD2.

'2006XD2 is quite large,' planetary scientist Dr Detlef Koschny, co-manager of the European Space Agency's Space Situational Awareness division and the University of Strathclyde, told MailOnline.

'If it were to hit it would do quite some damage.

'But none of these objects have any chance to impact the Earth, so we are safe.'

Every month, dozens of Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) come within monitoring range of 5.6 million miles (7.5 million kilometres) from Earth.

But it is uncommon for four of these NEAs occur on the same day.

'This is very rare,' Dr Koschny told MailOnline. 'I don't remember that this has ever happened before.'

THE ASTEROID SET TO MAKE A 'CLOSE' PASS ON EARTH ON WEDNESDAY Asteroid Name Miss distance (millions of miles) Miss Distance (millions of km) Estimated Diameter (feet) Estimated Diameter (m) Relative Brightness Relative veolcity (miles/s) Relative veolcity (km/s) 2006LH 1.5 2.4 148 45 20.1 5.8 9.4 2010XN 3.5 5.6 205 62 20.1 7.3 11.7 2006XD2 4.2 6.7 850 260 17 8.5 13.6 2015YQ1 4.5 7.2 36 11 21 7.5 12

Every month, dozens of Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA)s come within monitoring range of 5.6 million miles (7.5 million km) of Earth. But it is uncommon for four of these NEAs occur on the same day, The NeoShield team tweeted 3 asteroids, but a fourth one has also been detected

If the asteroids pass by outside of daylight hours, 2015YQ1 - the brightest of the asteroids - could be visible from Earth.

Near-Earth Asteroids are asteroids with sizes ranging from metres to tens of kilometres that orbit the sun with orbits that come close to that of Earth's.

Of the more than 600,000 known asteroids in our Solar System, almost 10,000 are NEOs.

'NEOs could potentially hit our planet and, depending on their size, produce considerable damage,' the European Space Agency says on its website.

'While the chance of a large object hitting the Earth is very small, it would produce a great deal of destruction; thus NEOs merit active detection and tracking efforts.'

ASTEROID REDIRECT MISSIONS In the past, comets have come very close to hitting Earth. In 1996, a comet narrowly missed our planet, instead flying into Jupiter, and again in 2014, a comet passed 'within cosmic spitting distance of Mars', according to Nasa scientist Dr Nuth. And comets are often only discovered when it's too late to launch a deflection mission. At an event last week, Dr Nuth said: 'If you look at the schedule for high-reliability spacecraft and launching them, it takes five years to launch a spacecraft. 'We had 22 months of total warning.' Dr Nuth advises that Nasa should build an interceptor rocket alongside an observer spacecraft, which he says could cut the five-year delay to launch in half. Advertisement

Experts track the size and trajectories of hundreds of asteroids all year round to assess their risk to Earth.

'We follow all objects which have a chance of larger than 0 to hit in the next 100 years,' he told MailOnline.

'There are about 580 objects we consider a "risk" at the moment.

'But right now none of them are of imminent concern.'

'As for size - the Chelyabinsk object in 2013 was about 20m, that's the size where the Earth would start getting damage.

'Anything larger than about 100 m we'd want to deflect with a deflection mission.'

Just last week, experts warned humans are not prepared for an asteroid impact and, should one head for Earth, there's not much we can do about it.

A Nasa scientist said our best hope is building an interceptor rocket to keep in storage that could be used in deflection missions.

Dr Joseph Nuth, a researcher at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland, was speaking at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union.

He said: 'The biggest problem, basically, is there's not a hell of a lot we can do about it at the moment.'

While dangerous asteroids and comets rarely hit Earth, Dr Nuth warned that the threat was always there.

Experts have warned humans are not prepared for an asteroid impact, and should one head for Earth there's not much we can do about it (stock image)

He said: 'They are the extinction-level events, things like dinosaur killers, they're 50 to 60 million years apart, essentially.

'You could say, of course, we're due, but it's a random course at that point.'

In the past, comets have come very close to hitting Earth.

In 1996, a comet narrowly missed our planet, instead flying into Jupiter, and again in 2014, a comet passed 'within cosmic spitting distance of Mars', according to Dr Nuth.

And comets are often only discovered when it's too late to launch a deflection mission.

Dr Nuth said: 'If you look at the schedule for high-reliability spacecraft and launching them, it takes five years to launch a spacecraft.

'We had 22 months of total warning.'

Dr Nuth advises Nasa should build an interceptor rocket alongside an observer spacecraft, which he says could cut the five-year delay to launch in half.

And if a rocket could be devised that could launch within a year, Dr Nuth says it 'could mitigate the possibility of a sneaky asteroid coming in from a place that's hard to observe, like from the sun.'
An explosion in North Korea thought to have been a nuclear test was in fact an earthquake, a new study has found.

Researchers monitoring seismic activity in the pariah state picked up tremors in 2010, and the explosion was widely believed to have been an underground nuclear test.

But now seismologists from Columbia University said the waves were much more like that of an earthquake than an explosion.

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An explosion in North Korea thought to have been a nuclear test was in fact an earthquake, a new study has found. Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, is pictured

NORTH KOREA'S 'HYDROGEN BOMB' Nuclear experts cast serious doubts on North Korea's claims that it had detonated a hydrogen bomb earlier this year, saying the resulting seismic activity suggested a far smaller device. The hermit nation crowed on state TV that it had carried out a 'perfect' H-bomb test in January, an explosion that triggered a 5.1-magnitude earthquake. But scientists and intelligence agencies were quick to dismiss the report, saying the size of the blast was too small to have come from such a weapon and was likely disguised to appear like one. As opposed to the atomic bomb, like the one dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, a hydrogen device can be up to 1,000 times more powerful. However, South Korea's spy agency said the blast from North Korea's device produced an explosive yield of just six kilotons, even smaller than Hiroshima's. Advertisement

Dr Paul Richards, who led the study, said the seismic signals picked up from North Korea on the May 12 event were three thousand times smaller than those coming from confirmed nuclear tests in North Korea conducted in 2013 and 2016.

Dr Richards said we can now monitor down to extraordinarily small sizes of seismic events with high confidence,' in the study, published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (BSSA).

'That wasn't the case 30 or even 10 years ago he added.

We'll never be able to do it perfectly, but we can do it down to such a low magnitude that for all practical purposes we can know whether a nuclear explosion has taken place in a nuclear weapon development program..

The first signs a nuclear device might have been detonated in North Korea in May 2010 came from stations located in South Korea, Japan and Russia that picked up traces of radioactive isotopes.

Researchers suggested the radioactive materials had been produced in a region of North Korea where earlier confirmed nuclear tests had taken place.

At first, scientists could find no signs of the sort of small seismic event that would indicate a low-yield nuclear explosion related to the radionuclide release.

In 2015, a team of Chinese seismologists identified a very small seismic event in the region that occurred 12 May 2010, and concluded that the event came from a nuclear explosion.

Over the past 10 years, North Korea has conducted four nuclear tests and launched six long-range missiles  all in violation of Security Council resolutions and Pyongyang's international obligations.

Nuclear experts cast serious doubts on North Korea's claims that it had detonated a hydrogen bomb earlier this year, saying the resulting seismic activity suggested a far smaller device. A resident watches a news report on DPRK's first hydrogen bomb test in Seoul, South Korea

Dr Richard said: The event they found was so small that we did not detect it during our original study, but it all seemed to fit together with the radionuclide data,' Richards said.

'But when compared to the signature patterns of confirmed nuclear tests, he said we realized that the problem event turns out to look more like an earthquake, Richards said.

'A way to confirm definitively whether a nuclear test has taken place would be an on-site inspection, but this is not possible as North Korea is not a signatory to the UNs Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

The most recent nuclear test carried out by North Korea was on January 6, 2016, and the country claimed it was a hydrogen bomb.

But experts cast serious doubts on North Korea's claims, saying the resulting seismic activity suggested a far smaller device.

The hermit nation crowed on state TV that it had carried out a 'perfect' H-bomb test in January, an explosion that triggered a 5.1-magnitude earthquake.

But scientists and intelligence agencies were quick to dismiss the report, saying the size of the blast was too small to have come from such a weapon and was likely disguised to appear like one.
Devices like the Fitbit, Samsung Gear, Microsoft Band and Jawbone are becoming increasingly popular among fitness fanatics.

The wearable technology can be used to monitor heart rates, sleep patterns, calories and even stress levels.

But a new report has warned companies could be feeding users' personal information to private healthcare and insurance companies, for purposes ranging from the benign to the malignant.

Identify theft, data leaks, discrimination from employers and increasing insurance costs are just some of the fallout predicted from the rise of wearable technology.

Devices like the Fitbit, Samsung Gear, Microsoft Band and Jawbone are becoming increasingly popular among fitness fanatics. But a new report has warned companies could be feeding users' personal information to private healthcare and insurance companies

WEARABLE TECH: THE STATS Wearable ownership almost doubled in the past year. Almost a quarter, 24 per cent, of new users of wearables are aged 15-24. Two out of five users described themselves as feeling naked if they didnt wear their device for a day. Advertisement

The new report was released by researchers at American University and the Center for Digital Democracy in Washington.

'Some of the very features that make mobile and wearable devices so promising also raise serious concerns,' report authors Kathryn Montgomery, Jeff Chester, and Katharina Kopp have said.

'Because of their capacity to collect and use large amounts of personal dataand, in particular, sensitive health datathis new generation of digital tools brings with it a host of privacy, security, and other risks.

'As the use of trackers, smart watches, Internet-connected clothing, and other wearables becomes more widespread, and as their functionalities become even more sophisticated, the extent and nature of data collection will be unprecedented.

'These data can, in turn, be combined with personal information from other sources including health-care providers and drug companiesraising such potential harms as discriminatory profiling, manipulative marketing, and data breaches.'

The report also warned of the danger of data falling into the hands of hackers and other unscrupulous individuals.

Identify theft, data leaks, discrimination from employers and increasing insurance costs are just some of the fallout predicted from the rise of wearable technology. A few different kinds of fitness tracker are shown

TOP CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR TECH LOVERS If you're still stuck for what to buy for Christmas presents this year, experts have predicted what the biggest tech trends will be over the festive period. 1 - Virtual assistant devices - AI-powered products like Amazon's Echo speaker 129.99 ($179.99) and the Google Home ($129, US only) are expected to be the big sellers this Christmas. 2 - Smartwatches - wearable gadgets are expected to sell well, though the popularity of fitness trackers is diminishing. Smartwatches like the Apple Watch are on trend this year. 3 - Virtual reality headsets - Samsung's sub-100 ($100) Gear VR headset, which turns a phone into a virtual reality device, is expected to sell well, because it will be given away with phones. However, higher priced headsets like Facebook's 549 ($599) Oculus Rift, Sony's 349 ($399) PlayStation VR and HTC's 759 ($799) Vive won't be quite as popular 4 - Drones - These remote-controlled gadgets are expected to sell double the numbers that they did last Christmas, but they still remain a fairly niche product. Advertisement

According to the Health and Human Services' Office of Civil Rights in Washington DC records that there were 253 health-care breaches across the United States in 2015 that affected 500 individuals or more, resulting in a combined loss of over 112 million records.

'The opportunities for data breaches will increase, with hackers accessing medical and health information at insurance companies, retail chains, and other businesses,' the report added.

'Even those institutions with the most benevolent of goalssuch as public-health departments, law enforcement, and research entitiescan misappropriate and misuse health data.

'The risks extend beyond threats to individual privacy. Algorithmic classification systems could enable profiling and discriminationbased on ethnicity, age, gender, medical condition, and other informationacross a spectrum of fields, such as employment, education, insurance, finance, criminal justice, and social services, affecting not only individuals but also groups and society at large.

'Many of the harms associated with the collection and processing of such data, moreover, are likely to affect disproportionately the most vulnerable people in our society, including the sickest, the poorest, and those with the least education.'

Companies specialising in wearables have been quick to reassure customers that their data is safe.

A Jawbone spokesperson said: 'At Jawbone, we fully respect the privacy of our users and Jawbone adheres to the best industry standards when it comes to protecting data and personal information. We only share user data if the user asks us to - for example to integrate with a 3rd party app.

'We are custodians of the user's data. We collect it, analyze it, and present it back to the user with meaning. The user may give us permission to share that data. They can download their data and take it somewhere else. And they can ask us to delete it (which we will do).
UPDATE

Since President-elect Donald Trump nominated Betsy DeVos to be his education secretary, theres been a lot of discussion about how a Trump administration could expand school choice. Could Trump and DeVos, for example, push to voucherize at least some federal education money? Trump has expressed support for the idea on the campaign trail through his $20 billion choice proposal , and DeVos has a long history of backing vouchers in Michigan and elsewhere.

But getting vouchers through Congress might be a very tough sell. Similar proposals, including the idea of making Title I money for disadvantaged kids portable at states discretion, have been tried before without success. And there are also big questions about a federal voucher programs reach and logistical challenges. So what other avenues are there for Trump, DeVos, and Congress to expand private school choice? Lets explore a few of them.

Tax-Credit Scholarships

Generally speaking, tax-credit scholarships allow individuals and corporations to claim a tax credit of some kind, in exchange for a donation to an organization that provides scholarships to children. So, unlike vouchers, they dont involve the government directly providing financial support to parents for school choice.

Right now, according to EdChoice (formerly the Friedman Foundation), 17 states provide some form of tax-credit scholarships for students . In 2015, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind., introduced the Educational Opportunities Act , which would grant a tax credit of up to $4,500 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations that provided donations to nonprofit scholarship-granting organizations that award needs-based scholarships to defray students cost of private school scholarships. The American Federation for Children, the school choice advocacy group chaired by DeVos until recently, applauded the legislation when Rubio and Rokita introduced it .

To pass it, lawmakers could use a process called budget reconciliation that would only need a majority of votes in the GOP-controlled Senate to get approval. That would mean such a program would be immune from a possible filibuster led by Democrats opposed to using the federal tax code to support school choice. By contrast, budget reconciliation could not be used to make federal Title I money portable to private schools.

It doesnt upset the apple cart of Title I or create a brand-new funding stream within the Department of Education that would annually need to be appropriated. It definitely has upside, said Andy Smarick, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who recently wrote about how the federal government should consider supporting private school choice .

(Congress could use reconciliation to pass a new, one-time $20 billion school choice program run by the Education Department. But its unclear whether that would get the required votes either, and the vote could hinge on the funding source.)

And heres another possible advantage of that approach for choice advocates: States without tax-credit scholarship programs could be motivated to start their own if they see other states with such programs on the books taking advantage of any new federal tax credit, said Adam Peshek, the director of education choice at the Foundation for Excellence in Education. And a federal, nationwide tax credit could also increase interstate support of such scholarship programs, he added.

Someone in the state of Wyoming, where this is no such [scholarship] granting organization, could donate to one in Georgia, Peshek said.



Major questions around any such legislation would include any required qualifications for scholarship-granting organizations, if there would be a cap on the total tax credit available, and whether it would means-test potential students for economic background (or other characteristics) or be universal.

So what are the potential downsides? Republicans who want the federal tax code simplified might not look too kindly on any such tax-credit scholarshp program, Smarick said: Although this would accomplish a policy goal, it would add complexity to the way we calculate taxes.

And other lawmakers might have concerns about the loss of federal revenue under such a program.

Although such scholarships may not have the profile (and attract the controversy) that vouchers do, Peshek noted, its unclear how those outside the school choice community would respond to such a proposal in Congress. So factors like eligibility and caps on the total tax credit could be key.

UPDATE: Christopher T. Cross, the chairman of the education consulting firm Cross and Joftus who has served in the U.S. Department of Education and as a congressional staffer, has written us to point that any tax bill creating such scholarships could shift the politics of the issue significantly.

It is important to remember that any tax bill, including tax credits for education, would be within the jurisdiction of the Ways & Means Committee in the House and the Finance Committee in the Senate. This would change the dynamics of education legislation as the regular education committees would not be the focus of action, Cross writes. The usual suspects in education debatesteachers unions, state chiefs, school boards, administrators and civil rights organizationsmay not be organized to lobby in this different environment.

2-for-1 Scenario

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts are IRS-authorized education savings accountscontributions to them arent tax deductible, but the money in them grows tax-free. They can be used for expenses at elementary and secondary schools, including private and religious ones. Eligible expenses include tuition, books, academic tutoring, and services related to students special needs. (They can also be used for higher education expenses.) The catch? Theres a maximum annual contribution limit of $2,000.

529 plans , also authorized by the IRS, are designed to help students save for higher education. There are two kinds: college savings plans and prepaid tuition plans. Theyre sponsored by states and educational institutions. The contribution limits for many college savings plans exceeds $200,000.

Heres Pesheks suggestion: Congress could find some way to essentially combine the two and create a new education savings account applicable to K-12 (the way Coverdell is now), but without Coverdell accounts $2,000 annual contributions cap. You could have some real money to play around with, Peshek said.

A Capital Idea

Although it wouldnt have the potential nationwide reach of other ideas, Peshek noted that expanding the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program is a straightforward way for Congress to expand choice in the nations capital.

There were 6,486 scholarships awarded under the Opportunity Scholarship program from the 2004-05 school year through the 2015-16 school year. For the 2016-17 school year, individual scholarship awards are up to $12,679 for high school and up to $8,452 for elementary and middle school.

President Barack Obama has been at odds with Republicans in Congress on this issue many GOP lawmakers have been big fans.

Lessons From Charters

Smarick believes any such effort should heed lessons from the federal Charter School Program. This program provides money to help new charter schools get off the ground. It began in 1994, and since 1995 has spent less (about $3 billion, including $333 billion in fiscal 2016) than Obama-era Race to the Top grants, according to Smarick.

Heres Smaricks idea: an annual $250 million federal grant program to promote private school choice, the Diversity and Choice Demonstration ProgramSmarick calls this appropriation modest. Of the total program, $240 million would be reserved for the actual grants, and $10 million would be for federal administrative expenses, with an average grant award of $24 million over three years.

Eligible grant proposals would include those from existing networks of private schools looking to expand, from nonprofits seeking to expand tutoring services eligible for use in education savings accounts, and from someone looking to train people to start new schools. Also receiving consideration would be nonprofits seeking to create measures of quality of private schools, and state education departments looking to develop an inspectorate approach to assessing school quality.

The thread connecting these (and other successful) proposals is the development of diverse, high-quality, highly accountable, choice-based programs, Smarick writes in his AEI paper.

Getting Online

Private online high schools arent a particularly large sector of online schools overall, let alone the broader K-12 sphere. A report examining online learning published last year by the Evergreen Education Group states, The usage of online learning in private schools is generally lower than in public schools, but the use of supplemental online courses is growing. In some states, private school students have access to publicly funded online options on a limited basis; these may be used by students separately from their private school.

Barriers to online education in private schools, according to the report, include:



Online education not necessarily providing the personal attention for students many private school parents expect;

Cultural or religious beliefs;

Teachers having greater control of their classrooms than in public schools, making school-level changes difficult.

The report did say that there is some activity among Catholic schools to increase online education, and cites the Virtual Catholic High School as one example. The report stated that as of 2015, 4.9 million students attended private schools, with 32 percent of those students attending nonsectarian or independent schools.

How else could Trump, DeVos and Congress look to expand private school choice other than vouchers? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Photo: President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with his pick for Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, during a rally in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Dec. 9. Paul Sancya/AP

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Gatebox is available for $2,520, but there is just 300 units to be purchased

Users and Aizuma converse using the accompanied app when they are apart

Amazon may be the voice of virtual assistants, but Japans new Gatebox is hoping to give them a face and body.

The firm has begun taking preorders for Aizuma Hikari, a tiny holographic anime girl that stands just a few inches tall inside of a cylindrical projector.

'She' uses microphones, cameras and sensors to detect temperature and motion - allowing her to interact with users 'on a more personal level', and the firm boasts the character will 'always try her best to server my husband.'

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Google and Amazon may be the voice of virtual assistance, but Japans Gatebox is the face. The firm has unveiled new technology that takes the form of a tiny holographic anime girl, which stands just a few inches tall inside of a cylindrical projector

AI GIRLFRIEND Vinclues Gatebox is a 20 inch tall transparent tub with a plastic base that houses 'Aizuma Hikari' - a holographic anime girl. The device is fitted with a stereo speaker, camera, microphone, tracking sensors, temperature and humidity seniors and light sensors. This allows Aizuma to recognize her owner's face and voice and control technology inside of the home. She acts like a pleasing girlfriend who sends text messages to wish you a pleasant day or will try to convince you to come home early from work. She also provides users with the same functions as Alexa and Google home. Advertisement

Tokyo-based Vinclues Gatebox announced the device for the first time back in January and is now taking pre-orders.

It is aimed at 'single men who live alone,' the firm says.

Aizuma Hikari is a young girl in a short white dress, with long legs and blue hair.

She lives inside of a 20 inch tall transparent tub that is activated with a simple press of a button.

The entire structure weighs 11 pounds and is equip with a stereo speaker, camera, microphone, tracking sensors, temperature and humidity seniors and light sensors.

Not only does she use the sensors to detect her owner, but Aizuma has the ability to control lighting and home appliances inside the house.

The assistant was designed by Taro Minoboshi and voiced by Yuka Hiyamizu  a Japanese actress.

It acts like a 'pleasing girlfriend who sends text messages to wish you a pleasant day' according to the firms.

Aizuma Hikari is a young girl in a short white dress, with long legs and blue hair. She lives inside of a 20 inch tall transparent tub that is activated with a simple press of a button

The virtual persona can also wakes you in the morning, tells you to pack an umbrella, turns the lights when she knows youre on your way home, and unwinds at the end of the evening by watching television with you.

HOW IT WORKS The system uses a rear projection system to provide the illusion of the anime character. A hidden screen is contained in the centre of the tube, and it can also be plugged into a TV. The entire structure weighs 11 pounds and is equip with a stereo speaker, camera, microphone, tracking sensors, temperature and humidity seniors and light sensors. Not only does she use the sensors to detect her owner, but Aizuma has the ability to control lighting and home appliances inside the house It has built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, and has an infrared system to control lights and home appliances. There's also a HDMI port to hook up to the big screen. Advertisement

The firm says Gatebox can perform the standard virtual assistant tasks, such as providing calendar reminders and weather reports - but it is also designed to be a companion to its owner.

Although it seems Aizuma is more skilled than Echo and Google Home, Vinclue has plans to release software updates in the future to add even more capabilities.

For now she uses cameras, microphones and sensors to track her owner and recognize their face and voice.

The app uses a bespoke chat function that lets users converse with Aizuma while they are away. The Gatebox can be purchased in Japan and the United States for 298,000 (US$2,520) in a limited sale of 300 units that are set to ship in January

The virtual persona also wakes you in the morning, tells you to pack an umbrella, turns the lights when she knows youre on your way home and unwinds at the end of the evening by watching television with you

And the accompanied app uses a bespoke chat function that lets users converse with Aizuma while they are away.
Kennewick Man will finally be laid to rest, it has been decided.

One of the oldest and most complete skeletons found in North America will be given back to American Indian tribes in Washington state for reburial.

President Barack Obama signed a bill Monday with a provision requiring the ancient bones known as Kennewick Man be returned to tribes within 90 days.

One of the oldest and most complete skeletons found in North America will be given back to American Indian tribes in Washington state for reburial.

Experts estimate the remains found in 1996 on federal land near the Columbia River are at least 8,400 years old.

The discovery triggered a lengthy legal fight between tribes and scientists over whether the bones should be buried immediately or studied.

In 2015, new genetic evidence determined the remains were related to modern Native Americans.

The bill transfers the skeleton, which the tribes call the Ancient One, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the state archaeology department, which will get it to the tribes.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT KENNEWICK MAN Kennewick Man was about 40 years old at the time of his death, the cause of which remains a mystery. He lived among big-game animals such as deer, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep but primarily consumed fish and marine mammals and relied on glacial meltwater in rivers. His wide-bodied frame helped him navigate the steppe-like habitat of his surroundings along the northwest coast of North America where he hunted and fished. His hand, arm and shoulder bones suggest that he was right handed and was adept at flint knapping and throwing spears. It has been 18 years since two men sneaking into the races in Washington stumbled on an ancient skeleton in the shallows of the Columbia River near the city of Kennewick in southern Washington. Kennewick Man survived two major injuries during his life, including six broken ribs from blunt-force trauma to the chest and an adversarial encounter with a spear. The skeleton is stored at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle. The researchers compared DNA extracted from a hand bone ofthe skeleton to that of modern Native American tribes and otherworld populations and concluded the Kennewick man was onlydistantly related to populations other than Native Americans,such as the Ainu of Japan or peoples from Polynesia, rejectingthe earlier hypothesis. Advertisement

'We will work closely with that state organization to transfer the remains in an expedited fashion,' said Amy J. Gaskill, chief of public affairs for the Army Corps in Portland, Oregon.

It was too soon to say exactly where the bones will go, as several Northwest Indian tribes have been involved in the fight.

'We don't know where the bones are going yet,' Gaskill said.

The Yakama Nation is among the tribes that have pushed to rebury the bones in the manner their people have followed 'since time immemorial,' the tribe has said.

JoDe Goudy, chairman of the Yakama Tribal Council, noted that it took 20 years for the tribes to successfully fight for return of the bones.

Another attempt to recreate the face of Kennewick man

'He will be returned so that he may finally rest,' Goudy said after the bill passed Congress on Dec. 10.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray first introduced the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, and she was joined by senators from Oregon and Idaho.
Airbnb is developing a flight-booking tool in a bid to compete with Priceline and Expedia.

The project, known as 'Flights', could involve building or acquiring an online travel agency, or licensing data from other providers, sources told Bloomberg.

The San Francisco firm aims to launch the service within the next 18 months, as it is believed they want to open bookings before pursuing its initial public offering.

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Airbnb is developing a flight-booking tool in a bid to compete with Priceline and Expedia. The project, known as 'Flights', may either involve building its own proprietary tool, acquiring online travel agencies or licensing data from other providers, sources told Bloomberg

HOUSING TO FLIGHTS People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that Airbnb is working on a flight-booking tool. The project, known as 'Flights', may either involve building its own proprietary tool, acquiring online travel agencies or licensing data from other providers. Its believed that consumers will be able to book flights via Airbnb in the next 18 months, as the firm wants to launch the service before its IPO Advertisement

Development of the flight-booking feature is early, and the company is considering various routes to break in to the business, people familiar with the plans told Olivia Zaleski and Gerrit De Vynck with Bloomberg.

Airbnb was conceived in 2008 when founders, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, couldnt afford their loft in San Francisco.

Instead of moving out, they turned their living room into a bed and breakfast.

Today, the firm has had more than 60 million guests book housing in over 34,00 cities across 191 plus countries  there are more than 2 million listings to choose from around the world.

And it may not be a surprise that this homestay network wants a bigger piece of the travel business.

Sources told Bloomberg that Airbnb could look to such providers as Amadeus IT Group or Sabre Corp. to license data - and the project is simply being called Flights'.

The firm has been introducing more services lately, with the hopes of beefing up its revenue stream.

Development of the flight-booking feature is early, and the company is considering various routes to break in to the business, people familiar with the plans told Bloomberg. The San Francisco firm aims to launch the service within the next 18 months

Just last month it opened up tour bookings, restaurant reservations and other services in its new Airbnb Trips, which lets the users tap into leisure travelers' desire for distinctive 'experiences' that make them feel more connected with the places they visit, travel industry analysts say.

Airbnb's new guided activities include things like surfing lessons or a cooking class led by a local chef, a pub crawl through a trendy nightclub district or even a truffle hunt in Tuscany.

The firm also partnered with online booking app Resy to let travelers make restaurant reservations through Airbnb  in competition with services like OpenTable and Yelp.

Now with flights on their long lists of services, Airbnb might stand a chance against leaders in the space such as Priceline and Expedia.

AIRBNB HITS BACK AFTER ITS 'VAGINA LOGO' GETS RIDICULED In 2014, Airbnb was forced to defend its controversial new logo, claiming it will become as recognisable as the Nike swoosh. However, many believed it looked more like a vagina. 'It's just like: Go ahead, laugh all you want, guys,' said Airbnb co-founder and CTO Nathan Blecharczyk at a dinner in San Francisco. 'We wouldn't want to design a logo that caters to the lowest common denominator.' The logo, created by UK design firm The Design Studio, drew comparisons to various body parts now only because it didn't have the Airbnb brand attached to it yet. Uber isn't the only one to have faced controversy over its new logo. In 2014, Airbnb was forced to defend its controversial new logo, claiming it will become as recognisable as the Nike swoosh. However, many believed it looked more like a vagina Airbnb's CEO Brian Chesky said the logo was inspired by famous logos from around the world, like the Olympic rings and Batman symbol. 'We've created a symbol for us as a community,' he said in a blog post announcing the change. 'It's an iconic mark for our windows, our doors, and our shared values. 'It's a symbol that, like us, can belong wherever it happens to be.' Twitter user shaunpendy designed an infographic providing one possible explanation for how the logo came to be. In addition to people, places, and love, he said the final component was 'truck nuts.' User mbraaten hypothesised what the meeting to decide on the symbol might've been like. In her scenario, one person says they're all out of ideas, and another person responds, 'Balls!' Advertisement

Altogether the firm has raised $3.9 billion from investors, according to CB Insights, which tracks venture funding, and is said to be 'the biggest IPO (initial public offering) of 2017'.

The company also recently faced criticism after researchers reported some hosts appeared to reject rental applications from travelers whose names or photos indicated they were African-American.

In response, Chesky has apologized and said the company would institute new policies, including sensitivity training and an anti-discrimination pledge for hosts, developed with input from advocacy groups and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Travelling can be stressful and a bad airport experience can make it downright hellish.

Some travellers have had such bad experiences that they turned to the internet to vent their fury.

Gatwick was described as 'the redhead stepchild' of London's airports, Miami as being 'hot as Hades' and another as being 'unsuitable for human happiness'. Here MailOnline Travel reveals some of the funniest, most acidic complaints on Yelp.

Laura N from Seattle said: 'Gatwick Airport [pictured] is like the redhead stepchild of London's airports'

One common complaint about airports was overcrowding.

Laura N from Seattle, Washington, said: 'Gatwick Airport is like the redhead stepchild of London's airports.

'The love, time and investment that go into darling Heathrow's massive and impressive improvements seem to have been lost on Gatwick.

'What's left is sad, decrepit technology, less than fabulous facilities, terminals that don't connect (seriously, there is a one-minute bus ride involved... on the motorway). In reality, it's more like a shabby Tube station than an airport.'

Others took to Yelp to comment about the lack of food and drink options at airports.

Elissa S said: 'Okay, at the risk of sounding like a lush, LaGuardia gets only one star for me because they don't have a bar inside the United terminal.

'The only bar is outside of security.'

JJ was not a fan of Dallas Fort Worth because they 'only sell Pepsi products'.

One Yelp user said that LAX reminded her of a 'bad relationship' - one that you knew you had to get out of, but couldn't find a way

Some Yelp reviewers were disturbed by extreme temperatures.

Farrah A, from Houston, Texas, commenting on Miami International Airport, said: 'My major complaint is the temp. It is HOT as Hades in there. No matter where you go, you can't escape it. And I live in Texas, so I know heat.'

Another Yelp reviewer called Nuri said: 'Dear JFK, why do you always smell like pee? Love, Nuri.'

Kali K did not hold back with criticism of San Francisco International Airport

Kali K said about San Francisco International Airport: 'This airport is unsuitable for human happiness. The only thing worse than this airport is this airport.

'Seriously. You have to traverse all the way through carpeted terrain and those awful moving walkways, just to get nowhere. The signage is poor. The bathrooms are dirty and outdated.'

Tamara M had a similar complaint about Newark.

She said: 'Newark International is the armpit of airports.

'You can find a cuppa and a magazine, sure, but in general the shopping and dining are pi**-poor. The aura is one of suffering despair.'

Some Yelp reviewers were frustrated by the lack of facilities at certain airports (stock photo)

Traffic was another common complaint on the site.

One Yelp user said about Los Angeles International Airport: 'Like to drive round and round in circles? Like to feel like you're going nowhere in life?

'Like to know where all of LA's worst drivers have disappeared to? Like to visit a land where the rules of driving have gone out the window?

'Ever feel like it's nice to just sit in a parking lot and move five inches within one hour, and actually exit the parking lot three hours later? Then roll out the 70's red shag carpet, cause LAX welcomes you.'

Lili X, meanwhile, said: 'LAX kind of reminds me of a bad relationship that you *know* you need to get out of, but just can't find the words, reason, or right time to break up.'

Another user had a very low opinion of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, partly because it kept changing a flight time.

Alexa S said: 'Should have listened to mother. This has got to be one of the crappiest airports in the world... what airport has the nerve to change the departure time three times within an hour?'

Others had a more realistic approach, that airports are always going to be functional to a large degree.

Thalie A, from London, said about London Stansted: 'Look, it's an airport - primarily for the domestic and low-cost airlines like the craptastic Ryanair.'
You'd be forgiven for thinking that airline routes between some of the major US or European cities would be the most congested in the world.

But think again - because the top 10 busiest routes are all in Asia, with a 282-mile trip between Seoul Gimpo International and Jeju International in South Korea the most crowded, with 11million trips in 2015, according to a new report.

With a flight time of just over an hour, Jeju is a popular and easily accessible vacation spot for city dwellers in Seoul.

Forget Paris to London, it's Jeju International to Seoul Gimpo International that is the world's busiest airline route

The International Transport Association (IATA), which compiled the report, found that the second busiest route was between the Japanese city hubs of Sapporo and Tokyo Haneda, with 7.8million trips, according to The Telegraph.

In terms of one-way capacity in 2016, data from air travel intelligence company OAG showed that there were enough flights between Jeju and Seoul to carry 6,561,314 passengers.

One way capacity for 2016 between Sapporo and Tokyo Haneda was 6,209,366, according to OAG.

With a flight time of just over an hour, Jeju is a popular and easily accessible vacation spot for city dwellers in Seoul

THE TOP 10 WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRLINE ROUTES ROUTE 1. Jeju International - Seoul Gimpo International 2. Sapporo New Chitose - Tokyo Haneda 3. Fukuoka - Tokyo Haneda 4. Melbourne - Sydney Kingsford Smith 5. Taipei Taiwan Taoyuan International - Hong Kong International 6. Delhi - Mumbai 7. Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi 8. Beijing Capital International - Shanghai Hongqiao International 9. Surabaya - Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta 10. Tokyo Haneda - Okinawa Naha ONE WAY CAPACITY IN 2016 6,561,314 6,209,366 5,961,277 5,067,167 4,146,547 4,143,639 4,141,322 3,962,081 3,849,866 3,784,546 Source: OAG Advertisement

Travel between Tokyo Haneda and coastal hotspot Fukuoka was the third busiest route, with one-way capacity from the beach to the capital at 5,961,277 in 2016.

Frequent travel between Australia's two business centres and popular tourist destinations of Melbourne and Sydney secured the route fourth place on the list.

Capacity from the Victoria capital to the New South Wales capital was 5,067,167 in 2016.

Taipei Taiwan Taoyuan International to Hong Kong International was ranked fifth on the list with a capacity of 4,146,547 one way.

Frequent travel between Australia's two business centres and popular tourist destinations of Melbourne and Sydney (pictured) secured the route fourth place on the list

Trips from Delhi to Mumbai in India had the sixth biggest number of flights, able to accommodate 4,143,639 passengers one way in 2016.

Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi was seventh with, in theory, 4,141,322 passengers able to hope from one city to the other.

Beijing Capital International to Shanghai Hongqiao International came eighth with one way capacity at 3,962,081.

Flights between Indonesian port Surabaya and the sprawling capital of Jakarta could carry 3,849,866 passengers one way in 2016.
Google has released details of the most-searched travel topics in the US over the course of 2016 and they shed light on how much attention Americans pay in geography lessons.

The fact that the 10th most-searched travel question was 'where is the Grand Canyon?' suggests that they don't pay very much attention at all.

The top search term for the past 12 months was the more exotic query 'where is Bali?' with 'what to do in Vegas?' coming a close second.

'Where is the Grand Canyon?' is the tenth most-asked travel question on Google in the US

Perhaps understandably given that only 36 per cent of Americans hold a valid passport, six out of the top ten searches, revealed Travel + Leisure, were about American holiday locations.

Among those were questions about what to do on a break in Las Vegas, Orlando, San Francisco, Miami and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

After Bali, the tiny Greek island of Corfu was the only other international location to make it into the top five at number four.

The number one travel question on Google in 2016 was 'where is Bali?'

The question 'where is Corfu?' was number four on the overall list.

The only other international mention was at number six, with people asking where the South Pacific island of Bora Bora is.

Completing the top ten was the annual favourite 'how many ounces can you take on the plane?'

The Grand Canyon, by the way, is in the US state of Arizona.
Anyone with aspirations to reach Everest Base Camp could soon find the task considerably easier.

There are plans afoot for a luxury hotel, tourist centre and helipad in Gangkar township near the northern slope of Mount Everest in the Tibet region.

The Chinese government is planning on spending 12million on the complex, which will also feature a mountaineering museum, climbing shops and a selection of restaurants.

There are plans for a hotel, tourist centre and helipad near the northern slope of Mount Everest in the Tibet region

Building work is expected to begin within a few months, with a completion date sometime in 2019.

It is hoped that the new businesses will bring a boost to the Tibetan economy and create new jobs in tourism for local people.

The new building will also house medical services and a base for a rescue team, providing much-needed support for adventurers who travel to the mountain range every year to tackle the peaks.

As well as catering for mountaineers, it is also expected to provide goods and services to skiers, paragliders and tour guides.

Some critics of the plan have suggested it would put added pressure on Mount Everest in terms of visitor numbers

Nyima Tsering, the bureau's deputy director, told the newspaper China Daily: 'The township is the best place to see the peaks of Qomolangma, Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, Lhotse and Makalu.

'There will also be a mountaineering museum, rental and repair centres for cars, motorbikes and bicycles; and restaurants and accommodation.'

While many have welcomed the new plans, the development has some critics who believe that the new infrastructure, especially the helipad, would attract an influx of rich tourists to Everest with little interest in mountaineering.
For most holidaymakers, losing their luggage is one of the biggest fears involved with flying, but throw in the stress of Christmas travel and flight cancellations and you have the stuff of nightmares.

This hellish scenario was a reality for passengers at Denver Airport on Saturday. They were confronted with a sea of suitcases in the luggage hall after severe snow storms caused hundreds of flights to be delayed and cancelled at the hub.

Shocking photos showing rows nine-deep of suitcases piled around the luggage carousels have been shared by passengers forced to wait up to 14 hours for flights at the airport.

Flyer Bolmji captioned this image: 'Had to go back to the airport to pick up my bag due to delayed flights on Friday. Looks like the situation here is still a mess'

Traveller Bella Vita shared this snap with the comment: 'Airport disaster in #Denver at #DIA... 2.5 hour wait to get luggage ... fights... people climbing in the carousel... holiday fun!! How is this acceptable?!'

Winter storm Decima brought snow, freezing rain and bone-chilling temperatures to the United States' mid-section and East coast on Saturday.

Winter weather advisories were posted from Denver to Bangor, Maine.

Hundreds of accidents were reported on icy roads and airports experienced hundreds of flight delays or cancellations.

Denver was hit with more than double the amount of snow forecast, according to the Denver Post, leaving airlines and airports unprepared to deal with the eight inches of snowfall.

Denver International Airport (DIA) spokesman Heath Montgomery told MailOnline Travel: 'Both the airport and the airlines were not expecting so much snow so it threw a curveball in operations.'

Flyer Jon Van shared a series of snaps with the caption: 'Four hours' sleep and back looking for our bags. Wish me luck!'

More than 300 flights of Denver airport's 1,500 a day were cancelled

A Frontier Airlines spokesperson admitted to Denver7 that 70 per cent of its US flights were delayed and around 275 cancelled due to stranded crews

Denver Airport issued a statement on its Facebook page, on Saturday, stating: 'It's snowing! Due to heavier than expected snow, please check your flight status as the airlines are resetting some schedules and catching up from the storm.'

More than 300 flights of the airport's 1,500 scheduled daily services were cancelled, according to the newspaper, leaving passengers stranded with nothing to do but to take to Twitter and Instagram to share their outrage and photos.

MTV The Challenge star Camila Nakawaga tweeted: 'Anyone else stuck in Denver airport? Come say hi B37 - 14hrs later & I'm losing my mind.'

Hinting at the chaos of passengers attempting to locate their bags in the hall, traveller Bella Vita shared a shocking snap on Instagram with the comment: 'Airport disaster in #Denver at #DIA... 2.5 hour wait to get luggage... fights... people climbing in the carousel... holiday fun!! How is this acceptable?!'

Paul Makarushka tweeted: 'Due to FlyFrontier delays&cancel[lations] I have seen so many of these ppl [people] for so long the last 2 days they are now family.'

A Frontier Airlines spokesperson admitted to Denver7 that 70 per cent of its US flights were delayed and around 275 cancelled due to stranded crews.

Paul Makarushka tweeted this image with the message: 'Due to FlyFrontier delays&cancel[lations] I have seen so many of these ppl [people] for so long the last 2 days they are now family'

Denver International Airport (pictured) spokesman Heath Montgomery told MailOnline Travel: 'Both the airport and the airlines were not expecting so much snow so it threw a curveball in operations'

Frontier Airlines issued this statement on its Facebook page: 'We are experiencing higher than normal wait times in our call center and you may be unable to reach a representative.

'If your flight has been cancelled due to Winter Storm Decima you may request a refund without speaking to an agent. Thank you for your patience.'

The Frontier Airlines spokesman told the TV station that the focus on Monday was reuniting passengers with their luggage and getting them moving.

Passenger Gavin Zickfoose tweeted his relief that he was finally going home after 16 hours stuck at the airport.

Mr Montgomery added: 'Frontier Airlines this weekend experienced operational challenges ranging from lengthy delays on the airfield to issues at the ticket counters and with baggage claim.

'While these operations are all functions of the airline, the airport is communicating with Frontier and offering assistance where possible.

'Frontier customers who are affected should contact the airline directly for assistance with flights, baggage, rebooking or refunds.'
Icy weather can't stop these two stars from getting a brisk workout in.

On Saturday, Claire Danes and husband Hugh Dancy braved the chilly New York weather as they were pictured going separate heart pumping outings.

The Homeland actress took her dog for a walk while The Path actor headed out for a run.

Keeping fit: On Saturday, Claire Danes, 37, and husband Hugh Dancy, 41, braved the chilly, New York weather during separate workouts

Claire, 37, displayed her ultra-fit figure in a set of coloured leggings.

The mum-of-one kept warm in a grey coat and ankle boots.

Husband Hugh, 41, layered up in a long-sleeve, green hoodie, paired with leggings under shorts.

Athletic-wear: Claire, 37, displayed her ultra-toned figure in a set of coloured leggings

Not pictured with the couple was their child, Cyrus Michael Christopher Dancy, four.

Claire gave birth their son, who will turn five on Monday, on December 17, 2012.

The duo had been married for a little over three years before the arrival of their little one, since 2009.

Essentials: The mum-of-one kept warm in a grey coat and ankle boots

On Friday, the trailer released for season six of Claire's show, Homeland.

In the preview clip, the star's character Carrie Mathison returns stateside to Brooklyn, New York, to help provide aide to Muslims, according to Deadline.

Additionally, the pretty blonde will appear in the comedy, Brigsby Bear, set for release in January.

Meanwhile, Hugh will return to his role as Cal Roberts in The Path. The actor will also appear in Fifty Shades Darker.
She admitted their nuptials were 'unexpected' after revealing her marriage to husband Nicholas Tsindos, earlier this year.

But Jodhi Meares, 45, says she couldn't be happier, describing her husband, who is 17 years her junior, as having 'so many wonderful qualities'.

Speaking to Kate Waterhouse, the brunette business woman gushed over her husband, but confessed she can 'drive him mad' when they work together.

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Insight: Jodhi Meares, 45, gushes over husband Nicholas Tsindos but confesses she can 'drive him mad' when the pair work together due to her passion for her brand The Upside

'He has got so many wonderful qualities, but he is incredibly kind and for me kindness is probably at the top of my list,' she said.

'We get along so well. We're really great mates, so it's really nice if you go home and talk to somebody credibly, because I really love my work.'

Jodhi admits that her passion for her business, The Upside, can drive her husband crazy sometimes - but doesn't stop them working together.

'I'm a chatterbox. It fully drives Nicholas mad sometimes, but it's really easy because he has got such a great eye. He is already so close to the creative ... so by the time we get to shoot he knows what we're trying to do.'

'It fully drives Nicholas mad sometimes': Jodhi admits that her passion for her business, The Upside, can drive her husband crazy sometimes - but doesn't stop them working together

Nicholas and Jodhi married in secret on the beautiful island of Hawaii in December last year.

The fashion designer opened up about her romance shortly after, telling Sunday Style in April, that she did not expect to find love at 45.

'It was the last thing either of us was expecting at that time, but it was just one of those very magical things, and now we're married,' she said.

'It was the last thing either of us was expecting': Jodhi didn't think she and Nicholas, who is 17 years her junior, would get married but his happy with their decision to do so

Declining to go into much further detail, she admitted that she became attracted to him because of his 'very creative and a very gentle soul.'

The couple first hinted that they had married at events were spotted calling each other 'husband' and 'wife' in snaps posted to social media.

Jodhi was previously married to billionaire James Packer with whom she remains close friends.
With President-elect Donald Trump promising big infrastructure spending during his administration, school facilities leaders are calling for some of that potential windfall to go toward upgrading the nations school buildings.

The National Council on School facilities, which estimates that the nations districts need to spend about $77 billion annually to modernize school buildings, approved a resolution this month asking that federal infrastructure spending in the new administration include schools and grounds.

On the campaign trail, Trump said he planned to spend about $1 trillion on infrastructure, including on roads and bridges. But its still unclear how Trumps infrastructure program would be paid for or whether there is enough support among Republicans and Democrats in Congress to make it a reality.

The councils resolution was approved recently at the annual meeting of the group, which is made up of state school facilities managers and officers from 25 states.

Spending on the nations schools and grounds falls short by about $46 billion annually, according to a report released earlier this year by the 21st Century School Fund, which conducts research for the National Council on School Facilities, and the Center for Green Schools.

The resolution was one of several the group approved at its annual convening. Other resolutions called for more up-to-date and accurate data on how monies are spent on public school facilities, efforts to improve facilities planning on the federal, state, and local levels, and additional actions to address deficiencies that were highlighted in the 21st Century School Fund report.

Infrastructure spending in the Trump administration would help districts bridge the gulf between what they currently spend on school buildings and what they need to spend to upgrade buildings and make them safer and more conducive to learning, the group said.

Any federal public infrastructure bill should help close this gap, the group said in a statement. Not only will doing so improve the health, safety and education of children in public schools, but it will support as many as 1.3 million good American jobs.

Despite expensive building projects in some districts in recent years, many American school buildings are aging.

Problems with lead-tainted drinking water likely linked to old plumbing systems in some school districts, including in Newark, N.J., brought more attention this year to the state of school infrastructure.

Image source: 2016 State of Our Schools: Americas K-12 Facilities

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K-12 Facilities Spending Falls Short of Need, Groups Say
She welcomed her daughter Elyssa Rose via surrogate earlier this month.

And Sally Obermeader is relishing in time with her newborn.

The TV presenter shared a heartwarming photo with her bundle of joy on Monday, both still in pyjamas after waking up to a chilling minus 18 degree U.S. winter day.

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Stuck Inside! Sally Obermeader was happily snowed in her hotel room in Milwaukee, US, on Sunday with her newborn daughter, Alyssa Rose

'All hail pyjama sunday' she wrote in the Instagram caption'

Sporting a low-cut white top and loose striped pyjama pants, the 43-year-old host of The Daily Edition is seen clutching newborn Elyssa Rose, who is wrapped tight in a soft, spotted blanket.

'it's minus 18 today so this bug and I are going NOWHERE' she continued.

Venturing out! The Daily Edition host revealed she ventured out in the freezing cold the night before to get pasta

It appears that Sally is really starting to feel the sting of the elements, as just the night before the brunette beauty posted a time-lapse video documenting the bucketing snow from outside her window.

'Only one place to be on this -10 degree night. Indoors.' she joked in the caption.

But then the personality flipped the script:

'So what am I doing getting an uber to take me 16 blocks to get hand made pasta.' Sally continued, revealing that she ventured out into the snow.

Sally and husband Marcus welcomed their glowing bub into the world last week.

Elyssa Rose was born via surrogate after Sally was told the risks of giving birth to a second daughter were too high due to her experiences with breast cancer.

After previously blasting Australian surrogacy laws in an interview with Sunrise, Sally had to flew to Milwaukee to await the arrival of her newborn.
She split with her boyfriend Mickey Gooch to concentrate on her skyrocketing Hollywood career.

But Woman's Day claim that Rebel Wilson may be back on with the comedian.

The magazine claims that the pair were seen on a date together at an LA restaurant last week, with Rebel beaming as she walked alongside her ex.

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Back together? Woman's Day claim that Rebel Wilson may be back on with comedian Mickey Gooch

The bubbly blonde Pitch Perfect star split with her former How To Be Single co-star over a year ago to concentrate on her career.

'I obviously chose career over relationships and I don't regret that decision one bit,' the 36-year-old told the Daily Telegraph.

'A lot of my friends who are married now wish they'd taken the same path  where you really went after your career and your dreams,' she added.

The fellow actors remained friends for a time after their split, and were seen hanging out in an Instagram shot posted by Mickey in November 2015.

But the actor seemed to have moved on, and last month, appeared to be dating brunette Brittney Weiskopf.

Career first: The bubbly blonde Pitch Perfect star split with her former How To Be Single co-star over a year ago to concentrate on her career

Still friends: The pair hung out after their split leading to rumours they could reunite

The comedian posted a photo of the bikini babe to Instagram, calling her his 'girl' and adding a love heat emoji.

But now it seems his old flame with the Aussie actress.

The Pitch Perfect actress was also recently spotted wearing a Mickey Mouse shirt, which New Idea claims to be her way of sending a message to Mickey.

Already over? Last month Mickey was said to be dating brunette babe Brittney Weiskopf

The couple split amicably, but had had experienced a lack of chemistry towards the end of their short relationship, which only lasted a few months.

'They got to the point where they both realised the attraction really wasn't there anymore and they would be better off as friends,' a source told ET last year.

At the time, Mickey was said to have taken the split badly. 'It's been hard for him,' a US Weekly source said. 'They're still friends, so you never know if they might get back together.'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Rebel Wilson for a comment on her relationship with Mickey Gooch.
Their relationship has been a rollercoaster ride straight from the get-go.

But it seems that even after a mutual break-up, Danielle Armstrong and James 'Lockie' Lock couldn't keep their friendship on track.

Heading to Liverpool to celebrate his 30th birthday, the two former love birds ended up embroiled in a bitter row after Danielle revealed she had started dating a new man.

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'Just try and treat her better': Danielle Armstrong and James Lock couldn't keep their friendship on track, as they ended up in a bitter war of words on Sunday's TOWIE Essexmas special

Arriving in the North with Lockie and his select friends, Danielle was terrified that she had to tell him that she was seeing another man following their split.

Confiding to her pals, Georgia Kousoulou and Chloe Sims that she thought it would be the end of her friendship with the chiseled Essex lad, she admitted:

'Once I tell James about it I think our friendship will be kind of over. He still thinks I'm his Danielle, I know what hes like.'

And as Georgia declared her heart had just broken at her friend's words it seemed that James' was about to receive yet more heartache as his special 30th present.

Birthday banter... Heading to Liverpool to celebrate his 30th birthday, the two exes ended up embroiled in a bitter row after Danielle revealed she had started dating a new man

True to form, Lockie and Danielle ended up in a bitter war of words as he accused his ex of being 'shady'.

As she spoke to James and tried to sum up the courage to break the news to him, the TOWIE stalwart teared up.

Dabbing at her eyes, she told her former boyfriend: 'I dont wanna hurt you. I know you're probably talking to girls or seeing someone... I just feel like, I feel sad.'

Adding: 'Obviously I feel happy, but I've had all this anxiety.'

'He still thinks I'm his Danielle': Arriving in the North with Lockie and his select friends, Danielle was terrified that she had to tell him that she was seeing another man following their split

As she told her ex that she'd started dating a new man, he appeared to take the news well, telling her:

'To be honest I'm happy you have that kind of respect for me, to come and tell me. Though I had heard it through the grapevine.'

But his kind words soon turned bitter as he told her: 'I dont want to have a row with you, but our pact was that we wouldnt get with people each other knows.

'Two years ago he [Danielle's new man] was texting you, and now youre dating him. I just feel its a bit disrespectful. Danielle. I just think it's shady on your part.'

Respect? As she told her ex that she'd started dating a new man, he appeared to take the news well, telling her: 'To be honest I'm happy you have that kind of respect for me'

Bitter? But his kind words soon turned bitter as he told her: 'I dont want to have a row with you, but our pact was that we wouldnt get with people each other knows

Hitting back: Danielle wasn't about to take his criticism lying down as she blasted: 'You know what? Just think about all of what youve done to me and try and treat this new girl better'

But Danielle wasn't about to take his criticism lying down as she blasted him for his hypocritical behaviour.

After admitting he'd started seeing someone that was his 'type', Lockie received a verbal barrage from Danielle as her parting gift on his birthday.

Standing in front of the clearly irritated Essex lad, she sniped: 'Coming from a boy who has cheated on my hundreds of time?! You know what? Just think about all of what youve done to me and try and treat this new girl better.'

And with that said she turned on her heel and headed down the stairs as an irate Lockie kicked his birthday present across the floor.

Another break-up? Meanwhile it seemed that another relationship was on the rocks, as Bobby Norris and Gemma Collins threw venomous jibes at each other at their Christmas meal

Emotional: Admitting that he felt he'd been 'out of order' with her daughter, Debbie did her best to console Bobby, but not before berating him and Gemma for being immature

'She knows how to press your button, you know how to press her's. You both just need to grow up': Debbie had some sage wisdom for both Bobby and her daughter

Meanwhile it seemed that another long-term relationship was on the rocks, as a Bobby Norris-Cole and Gemma Collins threw venomous jibes and looks at each other at their Christmas meal.

After telling Gemma that he didn't want her 'Jekyll eggs', Bobby was left in tears as he chatted to her mother Debbie about their fraught relationship.

Admitting that he felt he'd been 'out of order' with her daughter, Debbie did her best to console Bobby, but not before berating him and Gemma for being immature.

As a tearful Bobby wondered how to apologize to his BFF, the TOWIE mother hen stated the obvious, telling him:

'She knows how to press your button, you know how to press her's. You both just need to grow up.'

Regrets? And making up was certainly on the agenda for Dan Edgar, as he told his friends he'd had a revelation about his love life - he wanted Kate Wright back

And making up was certainly on the agenda for Dan Edgar, as he told his friends he'd had a revelation about his love life.

Talking to the (once-again) loved-up Megan McKenna and Pete Wicks, as well as Chloe Sims, the TOWIE rogue admitted he wanted to win back his ex, Kate Wright.

After being 'blocked' by his on/off girlfriend following their argument at the end of the last series, Dan said his time alone had helped him to realise he wanted to be with Kate.

'It sort of made me think that even though Ive been enjoying being single, I think she's really important,' he explained, before adding he hoped it wasn't too late.

As Chloe and Megan exchanged worried looks, Pete dutifully told him: 'F*** worrying about getting mugged off. If you love her get on with it!'

And in another plot twist Jon Clark's flirtations with Chloe Meadows seemed to have ended even before they'd kissed, as Chloe Lewis revealed he'd been texting her romantic overtures.
Nicole Kidman is on the cover of the new issue of Australian Vogue to promote the release of her latest film, Lion.

The 49-year-old stuns in the glamorous shoot for the fashion magazine, which was shot in her current home of Nashville.

Wearing a plunging lace dress teamed with a studded leather corset, the actress's look takes on somewhat of a Western-theme, no doubt an ode to her husband's country music roots.

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Glowing: Nicole Kidman stuns in the latest issue of Australian Vogue magazine

Glowing: Nicole Kidman stuns in the latest issue of Australian Vogue magazine

In the issue, Kidman opens up about how she and Keith are raising their two children, Faith Margaret and Sunday Rose, with 'elements' from both Australia and America.

'I feel very connected to the world,' explained the globetrotting A-lister.

'I mean, obviously my sense of humour and my essence is Australian and that will never go.'

She continued: 'And having lived in Nashville, I have a strong sense of the South in me actually.

'I mean, obviously my sense of humour and my essence is Australian and that will never go,' said the 49-year-old star

'And our children are being raised that way, where they have elements of American, and then they have elements of Australian... they're international.'

Nicole was photographed by celebrity photographer Will Davidson for the magazine.

Davidson's previously worked with a group of top Australian celebrities, including Rose Byrne, Naomi Watts, Cate Blanchett, Kylie Minogue, and Mia Wasikowska.

'Our children are being raised that way, where they have elements of American, and then they have elements of Australian... they're international,' revealed the actress

Nicole is currently promoting her critically-acclaimed new film, Lion.

The red-haired star opened up about the project to Vogue, saying: 'I suppose the thing that drew me to Lion was the strong maternal theme that runs through the whole movie.

'The way in which mothers can love, and the power of that, launches you off into the world.'
It was a particularly blustery Sunday afternoon in New York.

But the windy weather didn't seem to bother Karlie Kloss.

The supermodel smiled as her long, dark blonde hair whipped around her face.

Blustery Sunday: Karlie Kloss smiled as the wind whipped her blonde hair around her face as she made her way to a photographic studio in New York

The 24-year-old was reportedly on her way to a photoshoot.

Karlie went for casual chic in a blue and white striped T-shirt that she wore under a black leather jacket.

And the statuesque 6ft 2ins stunner showed off her long legs in blue Frame Denim skinny jeans and white sneakers.

Casual chic: The 24 year old, who wore a blue and white striped T-shirt under a black leather jacket, held her wild hair back as she walked

Even though it was nearly dark, Karlie wore a pair of shades from Sunday Somewhere as she made her way into a studio carrying a black leather tote bag.

The Victoria's Secret Angel was unable to walk for the lingerie brand's annual Fashion Show in November, which this year was held in Paris.

She took to Instagram last November to explain why she couldn't attend the big event.

She's a 6ft 2ins stunner: Her skinny jeans showed off Karlie's long, lean legs

'This year I have a work obligation that is keeping me from Paris,' she wrote. 'I'm sad to miss it but am wishing everyone all the best from afar!'

Meanwhile, Karlie is just back in New York after shooting an ad campaign in Sydney, Australia.

She was chosen as the face of retail giant David Jones's autumn/winter campaign.

Rainy day: She was spotted earlier in the day battling the elements
There is a week left until Christmas - but it seems Kourtney Kardashian has already got what she wants this year.

The reality star was pictured sneaking out of a fancy hotel with hunky young male model Younes Bendjima on Saturday night.

The mother-of-three, 37, had something of a glint in her eye as braved the cold to spend the evening with the handsome former boxer, 23.

PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Kourtney Kardashian sneaks out of hotel with model Younes Bendjima... as they are snapped together for the first time

Planning the next meet up? The mother-of-three, 37, had something of a glint in her eye as braved the cold to spend the evening with the handsome former boxer, 23

The pair walked side by side as they made a low key exit from the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.

It was Kourtney who handed over the valet ticket to reclaim her car.

Carrying her black handbag, she was dressed for what promised to be the coldest night of the year in a white shirt and pants, with a glamorous full-length coat thrown over the top.

Her companion kept his hands in his pockets as he walked beside her, towering over petite Kourtney.

The pair then lingered in the cold to chat, with Kourtney flirtily leaning in towards her man, smile on her face.

Taking a look: The former boxer glanced down at his phone

Famous guys: Since splitting from Disick, Kourtney has also been linked to Justin Bieber, 22

It was with Younes that KJourtney was said to be partying on the night her sister Kim was robbed in Paris back in October.

As news of the terrifying heist made headlines, intriguing reports emerged that Kim's bodyguard had been absent because he was watching over Kourtney as she partied with Younes, along with her sister Kendall.

Saturday marked the first time the pair were snapped together.

Ex-factor: Younes called it quits with Victoria's Secret model Jourdan Dunn, 26, in October

Not chilly? The winter cold didn't seem to bother the two

Looking good: Kardashian wore her jet black locks down in a sleek style

Cool customers: The two both strode ahead in jeans

And while the 14-year age gap is a large one, Kourtney has something of a reputation as a 'cougar'.

Her long-term former lover Scott Disck, with whom she broke up a year ago, is four years her junior.

But that pales when compared to the age gap between Kourtney and 22-year-old Justin Bieber, with whom she had a dalliance earlier thus year.

Family matters: The reality favourite has three children with her ex Scott Disick

Casual: Her companion kept his hands in his pockets as he walked beside her, towering over petite Kourtney

At 23 Younes is a year older than the Baby singer - and at 6ft2 the model is also a whole lot more hunky.

Pictures from his Instagram show the shirtless Younes reclining on a beach lounger,in an unmistakeably raunchy pose.

Whispers that he had become Kourtney's new lover first surfaced during Paris Fashion Week.

At the time, Younes was one week removed from a high-profile relationship with Victoria's Secret model Jourdan Dunn, 26 - who was said to be 'devastated' by the split.
She has stripped off before for the likes of Playboy magazine.

And Aussie bombshell Simone Holtznagel was at it again over the weekend.

The former Australia's Next Top Model runner-up went topless in a very racy Instagram post.

Racy: Simone Holtznagel went topless in a very racy Instagram post over the weekend

Lovely in leopard: Simone recently hid her curves in an over-sized leopard print jacket as she attended the Guess Christmas Party in Los Angeles

Covering her modesty with a strategically place hand, Simone just managed to adhere to Instagram's guidelines on nudity.

Shielding her face from the camera, the blonde bombshell was seen smoking an unhealthy cigarette.

She captioned the snap: 'Smoking darts 'n breaking hearts.'

While she often strips down, Simone recently covered up in a leopard print coat as she attended a Guess event in Los Angeles.

Teaming her look with thigh-high boots, the busty blonde cut a stylish figure.

Dong well: Simone hails from Wollongong on Sydney's outskirts and has made a name for herself in the industry

The former Australia's Next Top Model runner-up appeared to wear a slinky black dress underneath her coat and carried a small black bag over her shoulder.

She had her long locks out and neatly straightened and over one shoulder.

Simone wore natural looking makeup including light foundation, blush and a matte pink lip.

Rising to success: She has previously covered Playboy magazine and has appeared in adverts for Guess

'The College Issue': Her cover for Playboy is seen

Simone hails from Wollongong on Sydney's outskirts and has made a name for herself in the industry.

She has previously covered Playboy magazine and has appeared in adverts for Guess.

The personality appeared on Australia's Next Top Model in 2011.

Her start: The personality appeared on Australia's Next Top Model in 2011

The LA-based star recently details her average day to Popsugar Australia, saying she kicks off her day with a workout.

'I Wake up, then wash my face  I usually like to work out early in the morning so if I have time before work, I'll either go to the gym or go to Griffith Park,' Simone said.

'Then I'll have a good breakfast and head to work. If I'm not shooting I still work out in the morning and then get myself ready for whatever castings/meetings I have that day.'
They both have their connections to Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna.

But Kylie Jenner and Tyga seemingly wanted to keep a low profile after a night of drama from their fellow reality stars.

The 19-year-old make-up entrepreneur and 27-year-old rapper were spotted in black athleisure on a lunch trip in Encino, Calfornia on Sunday.

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Casual cool: Kylie Jenner and Tyga were spotted leaving lunch at Yamato in Encino on Sunday

Kylie covered up in one of her Kylie store hoodies as she hit the highly-popular Japanese restaurant Yamato with her man.

The piece of outerwear had her name emblazoned in red across it as she paired the top with leggings and and a pair of Rihanna's Fenty Puma slides.

She carried along a black bomber jacket and grey designer bag.

Low-profile: The 19-year-old make-up entrepreneur and 27-year-old rapper seemingly tried to go without being noticed after the drama involving their family the previos night

Relaxed: Kylie covered up in one of her Kylie store hoodies which had her name in big bold letters emblazoned across the chest

Her raven-coloured locks were worn down and tucked in her hoodie as she sported natural, complimentary make-up on her face.

Tyga rocked a black track jacket from Palace along with black Adidas track pants and trainers.

The outing came just a few hours after a very public break-up between Rob, 29, and 28-year-old Blac Chyna.

Chill: She paired the top with leggings and and a pair of Rihanna's Fenty Puma slides

In style: Tyga rocked a black track jacket from Palace along with black Adidas track pants and trainers

Rob is Kylie's half-brother and Chyna is Tyga's ex as well as mother to their four-year-old son King Cairo.

The Rob & Chyna stars went back-and-forth on social media on Saturday night after Chyna's Instagram had been hacked with personal information and conversations.

Rob also showed off an empty house on Snapchat as he claimed that Chyna had taken everything including the phone, shortly after that the ex of Tyga confirmed that the two had split.

Heartbroken: The previous night Rob Kardashian shared a Snapchat video after Blac Chyna left their home with their daughter Dream - revealing that she emptied the nursery as well as King Cairo's room

Better times: The twosome pictured back in May during happier times; seen at Chyna's birthday celebration

Meanwhile, Kylie was forced to clean up her bed on Sunday after her new husky pup with sister Kendall had peed on it.

'What did you do? What did you do?' the 21-year-old lightheartedly admonishes the dog.

Kylie recently decided to add to her growing menagerie, despite the fact her Italian greyhound had two new pups just a few weeks ago.

Housetraining required: The Jenner sisters were forced to clean up on Sunday after her new husky pup got a little over-excited

Still loves him: Kendall shared a Snapchat after catching the latest addition to her doggy family in the act
She's the former Bachelor star who's known for flaunting her figure endlessly on social media.

And Kiki Morris didn't let her fans down on Monday when she posted a snap of herself sporting a revealing one piece swimsuit.

The reality star looked every inch the glamour model as she sat by the pool during a recent visit to Bali.

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Kiki Morris posted a snap of herself sporting a revealing one piece swimsuit while taking a sip from a tropical drink during a recent holiday in Bali

The high-cut green number showed off her gym honed legs, while the plunging design showcased her cleavage.

Kiki wore her long locks down over her back and took a sip from a tropical drink as she struck a pose for the camera.

'Green juice and a real tan, that is what I'm talking about,' she captioned the photo, adding the hashtag 'Monday's be like.'

Flaunting it: Kiki is known for showcasing her model figure on her social media pages

During her recently holiday to the tropical Indonesian island, the brunette shared several swimwear snaps with her 79,000 Instagram fans.

In one, she sported a stunning white lace-up number as she kicked back on an inflatable unicorn, taking in the sun's rays poolside.

She captioned the post: 'The only thing better than tanning by the pool, is tanning on the pool on a unicorn!'

'Tanning on the pool on a unicorn!' During her recently trip, Kiki shared several swimwear snaps with her Instagram fans

Retro-style: In another holiday snap, she posed with one leg forward and covered her face with a wide-brimmed straw hat

In another, Kiki shared a 1950s-inspired photo of her in a bikini as she posed retro-style with one leg forward.

She covered her face from the harsh Balinese sun with a wide-brimmed straw hat.

Kiki was in Bali with her new boyfriend, Jeremy Banks. The pair went public with their relationship in late October.
Kandi Burruss accused Phaedra Parks of being unfaithful to her ex husband as their friendship imploded on Sunday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta.

The businesswomen was already incensed that Phaedra had 'thrown shade' at her husband Todd saying he was 'scrambling for change' over payment on a project.

She then grew even more mad as Phaedra took a jab at her mother.

Not friends: Kandi Burruss aired all of her complaints against Phaedra Parks as they met for an early dinner on Sunday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Atlaanta

Phaedra was annoyed after Kandi's mother had joked about a bomb scare she recently endured at her office.

'She's about to stand on her soap box and come for my momma, girl bye,' said Kandi incredulously.

'We aren't friends anymore, that's obvious,' added Kandi in annoyance in to Phaedra.

'You always have something more to say when I'm not around,' continued Kandi, who accused Phaedra of constantly 'making jabs' at her husband and the rest of her family.

Former friends: Phaedra set up the dinner with Kandi only to be accused by her of having an affair while still married to ex husband Apollo Nida

Not drinking: Kandi declined to order a drink as she met up with Phaedra

'I've never put down my laundry list on you,' added 40-year-old Kandi.

'You was already talking to other people before your husband even went to jail. When we would talk, youd be like you was already ready to marry somebody else by the new year. So it really was a stress off your back at the time. Thats the way you was puttin it to me,' Kandi said.

'I can't take what you say seriously,' added Kandi, who noted that Phaedra was dating a man she called Chocolate, while pretending to be heartbroken and single.

Pity party: The reality star said she was not buying into Phaedra's 'pity party'

'You had Chocolate melting in your mouth and not in your hands honey,' she huffed before storming out of the room.

The show opened with Porsha Williams who was babysitting Phaedra's kids.

'I'm going to use the night as a practice for me, because you know I want kids,' said Porsha, 35, who was considering having IVF from a sperm donor as a single mother.

All alone: Kandi left in a huff leaving Phaedra alone to finish her drink

Mommy practice: Porsha Williams opened the show by volunteering to babysite for Phaedra

Cute kids: Ayden and Dylan kept Porsha on her toes

'This is not as easy as I thought it would be,' she said as the children ran rings around her.

'I do realise that I may need a man to do this,' she told Phaedra, when the kids had finally gone to sleep.

Sheree Whitfield was with her 19-year-old son Kairo Whitfield, who was preparing for a photoshoot.

The momager: Sheree Whitfield was the self-described 'momager' of her model son Kairo

'I need you to get on this set and kill it,' she told the aspiring model.

Sheree's ex husband Bob appeared and pretended to be horrified.

'They start you with your shirt off, then you're doing them sex tapes,' he joked.

Good one: Bob Whitfield joked about Kairo being groomed for a sex tape

Shirt off: Kairo took his shirt off during a photoshoot

Self-proclaimed 'momager' Sheree then took Kairo to meet Cynthia Bailey, who used to be a model.

Cynthia examined Kairo's abs and look-book, she then balked at the idea that Kairo could soon be modelling during New York Fashion Week.

'Just be realistic,' she told them.

Abs inspection: The aspiring model lifted his shirt at the request of Cynthia Bailey

Former model: Cynthia was asked by Sheree for some help with Kairo's modelling career

Fashion week: Sheree was hoping that Kairo would model in New York Fashion Week

Cynthia was also celebrating buying a new lake house.

Phaedra met with Drama's mother Hester Marshall to reassure her after the bomb threat.

She was annoyed that Kandi's mother had 'made light' of the incident.

Good news: Cynthia celebrated with daughter Noelle after learning her bid was accepted for a new lake house

Bomb scare: Phaedra met with Drama's mother Hester Marshall after the bomb scare

Kandi said that Phaedra's tale kept on changing.

'Can we just have a consistent story please?' she huffed, noting that she would have her 'bulls*** detector on' next time she saw Phaedra.

Porsha then went to her mother's house with her boyfriend Todd Stewart.

Meet the family: Porsha took Todd to meet her family as they rekindled their romance

'Todd is very important to me,' she said.

Nervous Todd was monosyllabic.

'This is not the time to be shy baby,' she demanded.

Porsha's sister Lauren grilled him about his 'intentions' for a family.

Good question: Lauren asked Todd if he would want to start over with children with Porsha

'Would you want to start over, since you already have kids?' she asked him skeptically.

Adding: 'I don't go back to my exes, it never works'.

Todd then impressed the family by telling Porsha he loved her, and that his feelings were 'real'.

L word: Todd impressed the family by openly saying that he loved Porsha

Kenya Moore showed showed her father Ronald Grant the windows that her ex, Matt Jordan, had broken in rage.

'Right now Matt is on this path, and I can't fix it,' she fretted.

Her father decided that Matt needed 'help'.

Garage damage: Kenya showed her father Ronald Grant the garage that her estranged boyfriend Matt kicked in

Matt agreed to meet Ronald for a chat, but stood him up at the last minute.

'This is so disrespectful,' she scoffed as Matt demanded an apology.

'If Matt doesn't show up then he's telling me the relationship is over,' she decided.

Stood up: Kenya was being stood up by Matt who was supposed to meet with her and Ronald

Matt finally arrived and Ronald voiced his concerns about Matt's 'anger'.

Matt said he was being 'manipulated' to clean Kenya's house and fix things, while she claimed she only asked him to mend things he'd broken himself.

'What I care about is feeling safeuntil I see that, you don't get no respect,' she said before storming out.

The Real Housewives Of Atlanta continues next week on Bravo.

Late arrival: Matt finally made it to the meeting with Kenay and her father

Candid conversation: Ronald and Matt had a candid conversation about Kenya and their relationship


UPDATED--Authors Name

This post is by Michelle Sadrena Pledger, 9th grade Humanities teacher at High Tech High North County and a candidate in the UCSD/CSUSM Joint Doctoral Program for Educational Leadership.

I didnt know slavery was that bad.

I looked into the eyes of my white student, who could not possibly know how much this innocent confession filled me with a unique combination of pain and hope. Pain, because that simple statement indirectly dismissed over 200 years of brutality, family separation, dehumanization, and oppression. Hope, because I saw an opportunity to correct her miseducation. Thus, my disbelief quickly transitioned into indignant curiosity as I contemplated how an eleventh grade student had experienced several years of schooling, teachers, and books, yet never learned about the gravity of the American Slave Trade.

After informally surveying the class, it was evident that their knowledge did not move deeper than the superficial awareness that slavery happened, and an inaccurate assessment that it ended due to President Abraham Lincolns belief that Whites and Blacks should be treated equally, rather than his desire to preserve the Union.

Although I had planned to have students read The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass, Twelve Years a Slave, and excerpts from A Peoples History of the United States, I knew I wanted to find a way to engage students in a segment of history that often receives cursory coverage, if it is explored at all. I decided to invest a week of my summer at a professional development seminar in Maryland where I studied colonial slavery in the Chesapeake. Then I designed classroom experiences that invited my predominantly white, middle class students to examine the cruel brutality of this institution, as well as the brilliant resilience of African American survivors. I want to share a sampling of student experiences that led to a deeper understanding of the incomprehensible.

Slave Ships

To help students visualize the global scope of the slave trade, we used the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database to examine slave ship manifests. Students were able to see ship names, the geographic locations of embarkation and disembarkation, the duration of voyages, the number of passengers that began the voyage, as well as other ship and crew details. It was the number of passengers who died en route that shocked most students. There is something about seeing the actual ship manifests that conveys the meticulous manner under which the slave trade operated in a way that no textbook or lecture ever could.

Picking Cotton

I ordered raw cotton, and on a particularly warm day we went outside to collectively de-seed the cotton. I watched as students struggled to separate the stubborn brown cotton seed from the fluffy white cotton, and wondered if they too noticed the literary devices--irony, imagery, foreshadowing--that were at play in this one simple action. Needless to say, students began complaining after about five minutes. I gently reminded them that daily work for most field slaves lasted from sunrise to sunset, and consisted of picking approximately 200 pounds of cotton; they hadnt even picked two ounces.

Runaway Slave Ads

I incorporated primary source documents by having students read runaway slave advertisements, where slave owners described the physical appearance of slaves in dehumanized detail in an earnest attempt to retrieve their property. Students wrote and performed response pieces to these slave masters, in the same fashion as the YouTube comments section, where people safe and secure in anonymity can say whatever they want. These talk backs, as I call them, served as an emotional release for many students, allowing them to express themselves honestly, protected by the distance of time and space, as well as their sense of moral relativism. Hundreds of years in the future and further west, its easier for Californian students to profess they would have behaved differently if they had been born in that era.

Black Resilience

It was important for me to share with students the plethora of ways African Americans endured their undeserved plight. One day I taught them how to make hoe cakes, a simple snack of fried cornmeal and water. We washed it down with switchel, a unique mixture of apple-cider vinegar, molasses, and water, a version of Colonial Gatorade. These refreshments were a source of sustenance and energy, obvious necessities for arduous field work. We sang Negro spirituals and danced Makuta, a celebratory Afro-Cuban dance that originated in the Congo. After each experience, we reflected on how the food, drink, music, and dance contributed to physical, emotional, and spiritual survival.

I am well aware that these experiences could in no way replicate what actual slaves endured, and I made this clear to my students. Yet, I was hopeful that the time invested in an authentic analysis of slavery resulted in a meaningful learning experience. I still wonder if learning about past events translated to a personal experience? And, whether or not this experiential exploration would change their future attitudes and actions toward Black people? Did it even make a difference?

In my own education I do not recall ever learning about how my ancestors coped for hundreds of years under this intolerable, oppressive system. There were no lessons that celebrated the strength, bravery, and resilience of my people. It wasnt until I became a teacher that I began to learn more about the history, culture, and accomplishments of African Americans.

Whenever I try to share what transpired over those weeks, I am met with a wide range of responses. I often leave the conversation feeling judged. Positively or negatively. Perhaps I am deserving of censure. However, a dear friend reminded me that, Deeper learning has a role and responsibility in helping students explore issues of equity and systemic racism, recognize gaps in their understanding, and connect with a reality beyond their own. At its best, deeper learning builds empathy, corrects misconceptions and helps students emerge with the knowledge and motivation to work for social justice.

I wholeheartedly agreed with her and vowed to memorize her comment in case I needed to use it in the future.

September 24, 2016, marked the long-awaited opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Nearly 400 years after the first African slaves arrived to the American colonies, just over 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and over 50 years after the Civil Rights Movement, African American people living in the United States finally have a place where their history and culture is preserved and shared in an honorable way, and on a national scale.

How many more years will it take for American classrooms to do the same?
Real Housewives of Sydney viewers can expect the 'intense' show to deliver drama and 'fights' aplenty, according to the seven stars of the show.

Matty Samaei, Lisa Oldfield, Melissa Tkautz, Krissy Marsh, Victoria Rees, Nicole O'Neil and Athena Levendi will all appear on our screens in 2017 as Sydney follows in the footsteps of Melbourne's original Real Housewives.

And after filming wrapped up this week, the cast revealed to The Daily Telegraph on Monday that the public can expect fireworks from the debut series.

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New kids on the block: Real Housewives of Sydney viewers can expect the 'intense' show to deliver drama and 'fights' aplenty, according to the seven stars of the show

Nicole said: 'It has been very intense, it is very real, the friendships and the fights are all real. Within the first 15 minutes of filming there were fights. Ordinarily these seven women would never hang out.'

Set to air on Foxtel on 26 February, the network hope the show will enjoy similar success to that of its Melbourne counterpart.

Three series of The Real Housewives of Melbourne have already been broadcast but a fourth is yet to be confirmed.

(From L to R) Athena Levendi, Krissy Marsh, Lisa Oldfield, Matty Samaei, Melissa Tkautz, Nicole O'Neil and Victoria Rees will all appear on our screens in 2017 as Sydney follows in the footsteps of Melbourne's original Real Housewives

The originals: Three series of The Real Housewives of Melbourne have already been broadcast but a fourth is yet to be confirmed

While tantrums and cat fights are common place in the Melbourne version, Lisa believes Sydney's is likely to produce more drama - revealing that one of the other ladies is 'trying to sue me for something I said about the paternity of her children'.

She added: 'I don't like any of them, in all seriousness I would not be friends with any of these people in real life.'

According to the publication, the cast are under orders not to discuss a fight involving Victoria and one of the show's producers.

Meanwhile, Krissy said one particular skirmish in Singapore will leave viewers engrossed.

Drama queen: While tantrums and cat fights are common place in the Melbourne version, Lisa believes Sydney's is likely to produce more drama

She said: 'One of the fights in Singapore is like nothing I have ever experienced. I should have run out after a friend but I just sat their because I was so shocked (at what happened).'

The emergence of Sydney's own Real Housewives left a bad taste in the mouth of Melbourne original Gamble Breaux.

While admitting that the show is likely to be 'very entertaining', Gamble couldn't help but take a dig when spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald last week.

She said: 'From my experience with some of the women I have known from the eastern suburbs of Sydney, they are well-dressed  then again not that well dressed  but they are completely feral.'
The couple were a hit on Australian screens when they offered up their house for renovation earlier this year for House Rules.

And now their one-bedroom 'shoebox' has become a spacious three-bedroom haven, Hagan Rice and Claire Lintzeris are much more reluctant to leave.

They told New Idea while they usually spent Christmas out of the house, it might be time to change their plans.

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Staying put for Christmas: Hagan Rice and Claire Lintzeris of House Rules fame revealed they are hoping to change their Christmas plans in order to stay in their new house

'It's always dinner at Hagan's parents house,' Claire told the magazine.

'I think we might have to change that soon, because now we've got this beautiful new house!'

Claire, 28, and Hagan, 27, came second on the renovation show when the finale aired in July.

But while their new three-bedroom house fits the family of four well for now, Hagan believes a move for the family is imminent... especially as the family continues to expand.

Family fun! Hagan says his daughters are so thrilled with their new house, he doesn't think they even remember the old one

'Claire keeps bringing home all these animals, so we might have to get a bigger house,' he laughed.

A move would also give the plumber and hairdresser the opportunity to explore their new interest.

The parents-of-two enjoyed their experience on House Rules so much, they're now looking to do a whole house renovation in the future.

Back on the tools? The plumber said he and his fiancee Claire 'wouldn't mind getting [a bigger house] and doing a renovation of our own'

'We definitely wouldn't mind getting something a bit bigger and doing a renovation of our own,' Hagan said.

It's something their daughters, two-year-old Darcy and Matilda, five, wouldn't take long to adjust to.

The Mornington Peninsula man explained the younger members of the family were so thrilled with their new surroundings, he didn't think they even remembered their old home.
Bryan Tanaka agreed to jump out of a cake to celebrate Mariah Carey's birthday on Sunday's episode of her E! reality show.

The 33-year-old backup dancer was approached with the idea on Mariah's World as the tour crew brainstormed ideas for her upcoming 'anniversary' celebration.

Viewers learned the pop superstar preferred the term 'anniversary' over birthday.

Backup dancer: Bryan Tanaka agreed to jump out of Mariah Carey's birthday cake on Sunday's episode of Mariah's World

'I'm really hopping that anniversary night I have a chance for a conversation with MC and catch up,' Tanaka told the cameras.

'I might have to steal her for a second,' he added.

Tanaka was asked to jump out of the cake by Stella, who is the daughter of Mariah's manager Stella Bulochnikov.

He earlier was leading the charge to come up with ideas to make her anniversary special.

Pop superstar: Mariah Carey has been linked to Tanaka since her split with James Packer

'I love Mariah. She's been one of the most supportive people in my whole career. I'm looking forward to talking to her. We have a lot to catch up on,' Tanaka said.

The crew on Carey's European tour planned to celebrate her anniversary in Denmark.

A preview of the next episode showed Tanaka jumping out of a cake.

Coming up: Tanaka was shown in a preview clip popping out of Mimi's anniversary cake

Tanaka and 46-year-old Carey have been romantically linked in the wake of her split from Australian businessman James Packer.

Carey's creative director Anthony Burrell also was shown worrying in the preview about Tanaka's crush on her.

'This is dangerous ground. The woman is engaged and about to get married,' he said.

Creative director: Anthony Burrell was shown worrying about Tanaka's crush on Carey

Carey also was drawn into a feud between Bulochnikov and her old hairstylist Danielle Priano.

Priano did not join the tour as Bulochnikov revealed her agent wanted too much money.

Carey asked for Priano back and then brokered a meeting forcing her and Bulochnikov to get along.

Strong women: Carey brokered a meeting between hair stylist Danielle Priano and manager Stella Bulochnikov

Getting along: The pop superstar eventually got Priano and Bulochnikov to hug it out

Bulochnikov also dealt with former tour staffers who were let go and complained about her to the press.

She also coped with a show starting an hour late in Luxembourg due to a mistake over the time difference.

Mariah's World will return on January 1 with an episode titled Mimi's Anniversary.

Running late: A mistake over the time difference caused Carety to be late to her Luxembourg show
The Apprentice winner Alana Spencer has slammed her fellow female competitors for stripping off instead of focusing on business.

The 24-year-old, who scooped the 250,000 investment from Alan Sugar on Sunday night's finale, took aim at her co-stars Frances Bishop and Jessica Cunningham for posing for racy shoots in their lingerie.

After beating the beauties to the prize, she insisted looks shouldn't play a part in making a success of your brand.

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Battle of the bombshells: The Apprentice winner Alana Spencer has slammed her fellow female competitors for stripping off instead of focusing on business

On the topic of whether she would pose for racy snaps, she told The Sun: 'Oh God no, I wouldnt do what theyve done. I would absolutely not do that.

'The world is not ready to see me in a bikini if Im honest. All it should come down to is work ethic and business plans.

'If women want to look good and feel better by putting on a bit of make-up and wearing nice clothes, then all power to them. But I dont think looks should have any bearing.'

Her swipe comes after she became an unconventional winner of the BBC show.

From making cakes as teen after leaving school, she landed a 250,000 investment into her cake-making business, Narna's, which she has been running from her parents' kitchen until now.

Business before beauty? The 24-year-old, who scooped the 250,000 investment from Alan Sugar on Sunday night's finale, took aim at her co-stars Frances Bishop (above) for posing for racy shoots in their lingerie

Boardroom to bedroom: Alana insisted she would never show off her body, preferring to use her business acumen to get ahead

'It just hasn't sunk in': Welsh cake company owner Alana was crowned the winner of The Apprentice in Sunday's finale

Following her victory over novelty gift company owner Courtney Wood, Miss Spencer said it was 'incredible' and had 'not sunk in'.

She said: 'It's incredible. I don't think anyone thought at the beginning - including myself - that it would ever be me.

'I've massively learnt not to take things so seriously and not to take things to heart so much. I've won 250,000 and grown as a person as well. I had an email earlier saying that a few more legal things have to be done and then the money will transferred to my bank account.'

Clinkies! She was pictured wearing a gorgeous nude dress as she toasted her success with Sir Alan Sugar

And speaking about runner-up Courtney, she said: 'Courtney is an amazing guy. Very humble and he came straight over and congratulated me. We have a lot of respect for each other.'

However, it wasn't an easy ride for the blonde beauty as she was racing against the clock to come up with a television advert and packaging for her tasty treats.

As part of the final task, Alana enlisted the help of fired contestants Grainne McCoy, Frances Bishop, Rebecca Jeffery and Oliver Nohl-Oser to help put together her brand.

Rebecca, Frances and Grainne worked on the advert, which was shown during her pitch, while Oliver and Alana came up with the blue and brown packaging.

Tense: Courtney and Alana went head-to-head to win the finals

It's you! Alan Sugar's sweet tooth may have helped sway him towards choosing Alana

His right-hands: Karren Brady and Claude Littner are his trusted confidantes

Much like her new business partner, Lord Sugar, Miss Spencer's business nous started at a young age, when she sold home-made cards with her classmates at the age of just 14 - and once sacked a friend because she didn't make cards quickly enough.

She went on to sell home-made chocolates to corporate companies, through her uncle, and then moved into making cakes.

She set up Narna's aged 17 and left school a year later, when she received a grant to set up her own small kitchen, at her parents' house in Ceredigion, Wales.

Since then she has developed a range of six cakes, which she sells at food festivals and country shows, employing her boyfriend as a salesman.

Her run to the final of the BBC series was by no means easy, as she ended up in the boardroom facing being kicked off the show in the first two weeks and found herself unable to speak when asked to justify why she should stay.

Stand-off: The final came down to her cake versus his novelty gift company

Team work: The group worked together to win Alan around

Critical eye: Karren kept a watchful eye over the group

'Courtney is an amazing guy. Very humble and he came straight over and congratulated me.' Alana had nothing but praise for Courtney

'We have a lot of respect for each other', the duo ended the competition on good terms

And before the series had even begun she was forced to apologise for comments she made on social media in the past, including one outburst when she said: 'Control your children you fat pikey bi***h!'

She defended herself, saying: 'They were the words of a naive young girl from a number of years ago and I would never write such things now.'

During the show, viewers noticed a marked transformation in Miss Spencer's character from quiet and lacking in confidence to steely and determined.

Who can blame her? Following her victory over novelty gift company owner Courtney Wood, (left) Miss Spencer said it was 'incredible' and had 'not sunk in'

Cheers! She has now landed a 250,000 investment into her cake-making business, Narna's, which she has been running from her parents' kitchen until now

What a woman: She set up Narna's aged 17 and left school a year later, when she received a grant to set up her own small kitchen, at her parents' house in Ceredigion, Wales

It seems that her growing confidence as well as her business plan caught the eye of Lord Sugar, who has admitted to having a sweet tooth.

Asked why she thought she had won over Lord Sugar, she said: 'I think he admires people that go out and do it for themselves.

'Most of us had our own businesses but I think the fact I started so young was definitely a factor in it.

Doing her thing: Her run to the final of the BBC series was by no means easy, as she ended up in the boardroom facing being kicked off the show in the first two weeks and found herself unable to speak when asked to justify why she should stay

Head to head: During the show, viewers noticed a marked transformation in Miss Spencer's character from quiet and lacking in confidence to steely and determined

'It's mad. I started it when I was in school. It started as a chocolate company and then developed into cakes.'

She said that she will be setting up a factory in south Wales, and will employ ambassadors around the country who will sell the products at local festivals and in local delicatessens.

On the influence Lord Sugar will have on the business, she said: 'I don't think he will be getting in the kitchen any time soon', and added that he would offer the 'killer instinct'.
Danniella Westbrook has branded Katie Price a 'bit of s**t' after the former glamour model made a cross-dressing dig at her ex-husband Alex Reid.

The EastEnders star, 43, took the scathing swipe at Katie soon after Alex called her a 'spiteful bully' for discussing his alter-ego Roxanne on Loose Women last week.

Wading into their public row, she told The Sun: 'Listen his woman is classy and as for the ones before well you cover a s*** in diamonds but at the end of the day its still a bit of s***.'

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Tense: Danniella Westbrook has branded Katie Price a 'bit of s**' after the former glamour model made a cross-dressing dig at her ex-husband Alex Reid

Danniella - who was pictured tearfully wandering the streets with a suitcase last week - has aimed fire at Katie in the past.

In 2010, the mother-of-two said she would like Katie to leave the spotlight following her split from Peter Andre.

'I didn't like the way she spoke to Peter Andre on their show. In a marriage, you need respect for each other,' she told Star magazine at the time.

'Also, some things should be private but it seems every aspect of her life has been sold.'

Awkward: The EastEnders star took the scathing swipe at Katie, soon after Alex called her a 'spiteful bully' for discussing his alter-ego Roxanne on Loose Women last week

Distressed: Meanwhile, Danniella - who reportedly lost her house due to insufficient funds - was spotted walking around Liverpool with a suitcase full of possessions last week

It comes as Katie threw a dig at her Alex on on Friday as she revealed she partied with Eddie Redmayne, David Cameron and Boris Johnson.

The 38-year-old said she praised the Oscar-nominee when she met him for his role as a transgender artist in The Danish Girl, saying he 'reminded her of someone.'

She said: 'I was talking to him about a scene in the movie because he played it so well. He really reminded me of someone I know.'

Nadia Sawalha said to Katie: 'Do you mean you were talking about cross-dressing with Eddie Redmayne?'

Kaye Adams added: 'A certain cagefighter?' which Katie didn't deny.

After the mention, Alex took to Twitter to vent his frustration, calling his ex a 'spiteful bully'.

Public: It comes as Katie threw a dig at her Alex on on Friday as she revealed Eddie Redmayne's role as a transgender artist in The Danish Girl 'reminded her of someone'

Nadia Sawalha said to Katie: 'Do you mean you were talking about cross-dressing with Eddie Redmayne?' Kaye Adams added: 'A certain cagefighter?' (Alex pictured as alter-ego Roxanne)

Hitting out: After the mention, Alex took to Twitter to vent his frustration, calling his ex a 'spiteful bully'

He penned: '@MissKatiePrice would think in 6yrs you'd of got bored talking about me. There's a reason why you have no real friends Your a spiteful bully!'

The cage-fighter has talked openly about his alter-ego Roxanne in the past.

He previously said: 'If my body is alpha male, then I have a finger-sized kinkiness which is Roxanne.'

He and Katie were married for just two years from February 2, 2010 - March 20, 2012, but have traded barbed insults since they split, despite both moving on with other partners.

Meanwhile, Danniella - who reportedly lost her house due to insufficient funds - was spotted walking around Liverpool with a suitcase full of possessions last week.

The actress struggled to hold back her tears as she wandered the city streets with a bulging white suitcase full of her essential items.

The tearful EastEnders star was later seen perched atop the suitcase beside the river as she looked at her phone in despair, showing signs of stress and exhaustion after an incredibly troublesome week.

Talking point: The movie is a love story loosely inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener - it follows Lili's groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer

Danniella was reportedly left homeless on Friday after losing both her house and car due to insufficient funds.

The former EastEnders star is said to have failed to keep up payments on her assets and is now staying in an array of abodes.

Sources told Daily Star that the she has been viewing new homes yet is currently staying 'here, there and everywhere'.

An insider informed the paper: 'Shes been busy viewing but hasnt found her new home. Obviously timing isnt great with it being so close to Christmas but she isnt rushing into anything and is staying with friends and family over the festive period.

'Danniella now has a whole new team around her after spending a lot of 2016 surrounded by toxic people.'

Danniella has endured a fraught 2016, after being hit by rumours that she had suffered a relapse with her drug addiction - which famously caused her septum to fall out back in 2000.

Bad times: Danniella was reportedly left homeless on Friday after losing both her house and car due to insufficient funds

At the height of her use it was reported she had taken up to five grams of cocaine a day, blowing close to 250,000 on the drug.

However the star checked into rehab later that year and appeared to be back on track until this October - when trolls hacked her emails and social media and falsely released information claiming she had relapsed.

Making matters worse however was her love life - most notably her relationship and subsequent split from George Arnold, 24 earlier this year.

Appearing on This Morning last month, the star revealed that she was left feeling suicidal after the breakup and even attempted to take her own life several times through drug overdose.

She admitted on the show: 'I tried to overdose a lot when George walked out.'

Discussing the reason for the end of their relationship, she noted: 'I was so depressed with everything... George just got up one morning and left, and I realized I didnt know you at all then.

'He had his reasons but at the time I couldnt see it that way because I was so depressed.
Sharni Vinson's stunning bikini bod was on show as the former Home and Away star shared another snap from her overseas getaway.

The actress, who now resides in America, had been travelling around Sri Lanka before flying to the Maldives, where she has been uploading plenty of photos of herself on idyllic beaches.

And the 33-year-old took to Instagram on Monday to add another picture to her ever-growing collection as she hung from a tree in a bikini.

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Holidaying: Sharni Vinson's stunning bikini bod was on show as the former Home and Away star shared another snap from her overseas getaway

Wearing a black string bikini and colourful bottoms, the Sydney native showed her strength as she hung from a tree on Reethi Beach.

Sharni's toned torso was in full view as she completed her look with a purple cap and a pair of sunglasses.

She captioned the snap:'Just another day.'

Hanging around: Sharni took to Instagram on Monday to add another picture to her ever-growing collection as she hung from a tree in a bikini

The bronze beauty has been enjoying her time in the South Asian country, adding an idyllic snap as she swam in crystal clear waters last week.

Taking to Instagram, Sharni uploaded a picture of herself clad in a white bikini while floating face-up in a bright blue pool of water.

'Just casually floating in the middle of an overwater restaurant,' she wrote in the caption, tagging Reethi Beach Resort.

'Just casually floating in the middle of an overwater restaurant': The 33-year-old took to Instagram last week with a picture of herself clad in a white bikini while floating face-up in a bright blue pool during a trip to the Maldives

The bronzed thespian added the hash-tags: 'live bait', 'Maldives', 'mermaid', 'fishbowl', 'indian ocean', 'trench' and 'water baby'.

Sharni has been on location in the Maldives working on a screenplay with pal Dawn Sorenson.

On Tuesday, she gave fans a peek at her creative pursuits by sharing a picture of the pair working in their bikinis.

'Welcome to our office': Sharni shared a snap last week highlighting her slender figure in a skimpy bikini, while appearing to work on a screenplay during her vacation in the Maldives

The snap captioned 'welcome to our office', saw the blonde highlighting her slender figure in a skimpy bikini as she appeared to work on the screenplay.

'Welcome to our office! mermaids in the Maldives,' Sharni captioned the snap shared with her 21,600 Instagram followers.

She also added in the hash-tags: 'writers', 'screenplay', 'honeymoon', 'work', 'sangria' and 'making movies'.

Feeling cheeky: A previous snap shared to Instagram saw the Step Up star flaunting her derriere, toned legs and muscular arms in another skimpy bikini while on vacation in Sri Lanka

The image saw the petite personality revealing her lithe frame in a black triangle bikini and patterned high-cut briefs, as she perched on a sun chair in front of an idyllic backdrop, alongside friend and writer Dawn Sorenson.

While holding onto a glass of sangria and reading from a folder with highlighted notes, Sharni drew attention to her blonde tresses swept underneath a pink cap.

She has been keeping her social media followers up-to-date with her recent travels abroad.

'All we are is love': Another snap shared to Instagram saw the Sydney-born personality offering the camera a good look at her delicate decolletage, incredibly taut torso and lean legs in the same skimpy bikini

A previous image shared to Instagram saw the Step Up star flaunting her derriere, toned legs and defined arms in another skimpy bikini while on vacation in Sri Lanka.

Captioning the snap with the hashtags 'Beach Bum' and 'Sri Lanka', Sharni accessorised her look with a trendy black fedora and flashed the peace sign for the camera.

The ex-girlfriend of Twilight star Kellan Lutz, previously had to defend her weight after photos of her were criticised online.

She told Heat magazine: 'I've always been a very naturally slim girl. If I was the way I was perceived, I would not physically be able to do what I do.'
She's known for her barely-there displays.

Yet, Lady Victoria Hervey decided to change her style tact as she stepped out in Malibu sporting a skintight wetsuit as she went body boarding with her adorable canine companion, D'Artagnan.

The 40-year-old socialite slipped into the figure-hugging beach attire as she carried her sweet pet pooch and aqua coloured body board to the Californian shoreline on Sunday.

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Not pawful at all: Lady Victoria Hervey decided to change her style tact as she stepped out in Malibu sporting a skintight wetsuit as she went body boarding with her adorable canine companion

Opting to forgo her usual skimpy bikini displays, the fashionista covered her famous curves as she stepped out onto the luscious white sand.

The full sleeved and length piece simply teased at her ankles and wrists which was a far cry from her usual barely there ensembles.

Keeping her accessories to a minimum, the fashion darling simply placed a chunky silver ring on her hand as she made her way to the surf.

They've been hounded: The 40-year-old socialite slipped into the figure-hugging beach attire as she carried her sweet pet pooch and aqua coloured body board to the shoreline

Very fetching: Opting to forgo her usual skimpy bikini displays, the fashionista covered her famous curves as she stepped out onto the luscious white sand

Don't terrier yourself up: The full sleeved and length piece simply teased at her ankles and wrists which was a far cry from her usual barely there ensembles

The style maven swept her golden blonde locks of her face into a messy french twist as she managed to carry her nervous looking pooch towards the water's edge.

Accentuating her flawless complexion and golden glow, the beauty applied lashings of mascara to her peepers.

Despite wearing a skintight wetsuit, the stunner's adorable Norfolk Terrier captured attention as he worked a neon green life vest for his foray into the Pacific ocean.

Mutt you look good! Keeping her accessories to a minimum, the fashion darling simply placed a chunky silver ring on her hand as she made her way to the surf

Whatevfur: The style maven swept her golden blonde locks of her face into a messy french twist

Pardon the interrufftion: Accentuating her flawless complexion and golden glow, the beauty applied lashings of mascara to her peepers

Her adorable dog is no stranger to travel as he previously joined her when she appeared on Channel 4's The Jump in 2015.

The pampered pooch jetted from Los Angeles, where she lives, to Britain, Germany and Austria, covering 17,500 miles as she had just bought the puppy in October 2014 from a breeder in Stafford when she was approached for the series.

She was so anxious about leaving him that she asked for a special contract clause guaranteeing his air travel costs would be covered.

Is your pup your doggleganger? Despite wearing a skintight wetsuit, the stunner's adorable Norfolk Terrier captured attention as he worked a neon green life vest for his foray into the Pacific ocean

He woofs you: Despite wearing a skintight wetsuit, the stunner's adorable Norfolk Terrier captured attention as he worked a neon green life vest for his foray into the Pacific ocean

Flaunt it! The reality star displayed her enviable curves in her wetsuit

Cheeky: The blonde beauty left her pooch stay by the shoreline

Nice to sea you: She glided onto her aqua coloured body body and headed straight into a wave

Lady Victoria - who is the daughter of the late 6th Marquess of Bristol - 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.'

Give her a wave: The striking model calmly waited for a wave to ride on

Oh my cod! Victoria was launched straight into a ferocious wave

Seas the day: The fashion darling was left soaking following the breaking wave

Much needed vitamin C: Victoria eventually stepped out of the water following her rigorous exercise

Getting Pacific! Victoria made her way out of the ocean clutching her body board

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.

Victoria has also put her sensational looks to work on TV, firstly making a cameo in the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous in 2001.
Margot Robbie has married boyfriend Tom Ackerley at a secret location in Byron Bay, Australia.

The 26-year old actress arrived home in a suggestive Say 'I Do' Down Under T-shirt at Gold Coast airport, last week.

Toms brother James posted images to social media from inside the secret event, while photos of Margots brother Cameron also found their way online.

Wedding bells! Margot Robbie has reportedly married boyfriend Tom Ackerley at a secret location in Byron Bay, Australia

Hint? The 26-year old actress arrived home in a suggestive Say 'I Do' Down Under T-shirt at Gold Coast airport last week

According to a report from News.com.au, there were about 50 invited guests and the festivities kicked off at 4pm on Monday afternoon.

The couple exchanged their vows under a large white teepee-style tent at a luxurious property in Coorabell, in Byron Bay's hinterland.

Following the ceremony, guests danced into the night, with celebrations reportedly lasting until around 11pm.

Sweeping her off her feet! The couple, who have been together for over three years, are often pictured putting on public displays of affection

The wedding location was so top secret, with even guests kept in the dark about where the couple would wed.

The publication states those lucky enough to score an invite were asked to gather at different locations from Byron Bay to the Gold Coast, so that they could be collected by bus and taken to the under-wraps locale.

The idyllic spot is surrounded by lush mountains, making it the perfect hideaway.

Inside, the accommodation boasts wooden floorboards and walls and holds a rustic charm, while outside features acres of greenery and a picturesque pool.

A short drive west of Byron Bay town centre, the charming venue boasts stunning country charm as well as modern luxury.

Anything for his love: According to the magazine, Tom wished to get married in his native UK, but gave up his dream for his ladylove, who has always wanted to say 'I do' Down Under

It is thought that Margot's mother Sarie Kessler gave her daughter at the wedding.

The blonde beauty is estranged from her father Doug.

The actress's other siblings Lachlan and Anya were assumed to also be in attendance, with her sister was reportedly her maid of honour on the special day.

Cameron, who flew to Queensland on Saturday, was tagged in a photo at what is thought to be Margot and Tom's wedding party, along with four of her friends.

So in love: The couple attended the wedding of one of Tom's relatives, earlier this year

Wedding celebrations! Margot's brother Cameron, who flew back to Queensland on Saturday, was tagged in a photo at their wedding party with four of her friends

Smitten: Margot recently posted this loved-up snap of the pair on her Instagram account

Earlier in the day, Woman's Day claimed that while Margot was set to enjoy the festive season with her family, she would also be preparing for her nuptials.

The publication alleged that the pair would wed in a secret location on the Gold Coast, Queensland, where The Wolf Of Wall Street actress grew up.

According to the magazine, Tom wished to get married in his native UK, but gave up his dream for his ladylove, who has always wanted to say 'I do' Down Under.

Home: Margot touched down in Australia last week, sharing an Instagram photo of herself enjoying a cocktail on Queensland's Gold Coast, last Friday

'The Gold Coast was somewhere she always wanted to get married, given it's where she was raised as a kid on her grandparents' farm,' a 'friend' allegedly told the publication.

'They decided to get married around Christmas so they could spend time with both their families afterwards, which they've never done before,' an insider added.

The magazine claimed that the pair wrote their own vows for the ceremony, and that Margot would likely wear an Oscar de la Renta dress for the ceremony.

Details: It is claimed that the pair wrote their own vows for the ceremony, and that Margot would likely wear an Oscar de la Renta dress for the ceremony

Margot and Tom met in 2013 on set of World War II drama Suite Francaise in France.

The couple sparked rumours of a secret marriage after they were seen wearing matching gold bands while Margot filmed Suicide Squad in Toronto, last June.

Margot touched down in Australia last week, sharing an Instagram photo of herself enjoying a cocktail on Queensland's Gold Coast, last Friday.

She wore a wide-brimmed hat and reflective sunglasses, as enjoyed cocktails at Bam Bam Bakehouse at Mermaid Beach.

The trip Down Under is a well-earned break for the former Neighbours star, as her career goes from strength to strength.

She recently won Best Actress in an Action Movie for her role in Suicide Squad at the Critics' Choice Awards in LA.

She will also reprise her role as super villain Harley Quinn in spin-off Gotham City Sirens, it was recently announced.

Longtime lovers: Margot and Tom met in 2013 on set of World War II drama Suite Francaise in France




The Home and Away star is known for her naturally beautiful looks.

And Pia Miller simply stunned in her latest selfie posted to Instagram on Monday.

The 33-year-old is pictured with barely there makeup and just a hint of pink lip.

She's a natural beauty! Pia Miller simply stunned in her latest selfie posted to Instagram on Monday

Her flawless complexion is on full display as her warm brown eyes gaze into the camera.

She captioned the post: 'Shooting something special today' as she hashtagged the post #ghdhair_anz.

Many of her fans took to praise her beauty with some commenting 'stunning' to ' I looked up beautiful in the dictionary and it said see piamiller (sic).'

Beach babe! Pia Miller is making the most of her holidays, spending Saturday at Coogee Beach, Sydney before travelling to Melbourne with her 13-year-old son Isaiah

Meanwhile, the brunette beauty has been making the most of her summer break, flaunting her slim figure at Coogee Beach on Saturday before flying to Melbourne with her son.

The actress sizzled in a stylish black swimsuit while showing off her flawless complexion and messy hair.

Pia appeared to have taken a dip in the ocean as she appeared make-up free and perfectly windswept.

Holiday mode! Pia plays police officer Katarina 'Kat' Chapman on TV soap Home And Away, which finished filming for the year on Friday

Later that day, the mother-of-two travelled to Melbourne with her son Isaiah.

The Chilean-born beauty posed for an Instagram photo with the 13-year-old as they sat in a car together.

'Melbourne hangs with my little man,' she wrote in the caption, alongside the hash tag: 'Son love'.

Doting mother: Pia and her eldest son, 13-year-old Isaiah, shared an Instagram as they spent time together in Melbourne on Saturday

Son dates! It comes just days after she took her youngest son Lennox on a family 'date'

Pia kept up her summery look with a daisy print outfit and a light application of natural-look makeup.

It comes just days after she took her youngest son Lennox on a family 'date', and shared photos of the trip on Instagram.

Isaiah and Lennox have two different fathers, but share a close relationship with each other.
She has been in the British spotlight from the tender age of ten.

And Lauren Harries proved she is in no rush to remove herself from the public eye as she stripped down to just a tiny pair of red knickers during a trip to Gran Canaria last year - where she showed off the results of a boob job.

The 37-year-old has hit headlines in recent weeks after confirming she is set to return to the forthcoming Celebrity Big Brother All Stars series having come third in her 2013 stint on the show.

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Shock! Lauren Harries proved she is in no rush to remove herself from the public eye as she stripped down to just a tiny pair of red knickers during a trip to Gran Canaria last year - where she showed off the results of a boob job

Transgender Lauren was born James Harries, when she soared to fame as a purported child prodigy in the field of antiques - making various appearances on shows including Wogan.

After undergoing sex reassignment surgery in 2001, the veteran star has been happily living as a woman and has since undergone a boob job - which she proudly exhibited during her beach getaway.

Starting her beachside jaunt in a red floral bra with lacy boy shorts she later unhooked her bra and proudly showed off her surgically-enhanced assets.

She wore her blonde tresses in a neat chignon with large sunglasses covering her face before later allowing her hair to flow free and showing off her make-up free visage.

Flaunting what she's got: The 37-year-old has hit headlines in recent weeks after confirming she is set to return to the forthcoming Celebrity Big Brother All Stars series having come third in her 2013 stint on the show

Larking around: Starting her beachside jaunt in a red floral bra with lacy boy shorts she later unhooked her bra and proudly showed off her surgically-enhanced assets

Shortly before her unseen images surfaced, Lauren was the first contestant to confirm they're taking part in the upcoming series of Celebrity Big Brother.

She finished third when she took part in 2013, losing out to Abz from FIVE and Charlotte Crosby.

A representative for Lauren told MailOnline: 'All she can say is that she shall be meeting some interesting people at Elstree on the 2nd of January.'

Lauren recently hinted she'll be returning to the famous reality show by tweeting a picture of herself with Big Brother's Bit On The Side host Rylan Clark-Neal in his Elstree dressing room.

Way back when: Transgender Lauren was born James Harries, when she soared to fame as a purported child prodigy in the field of antiques - making various appearances on shows including Wogan

She's back! Shortly before her unseen images surfaced, Lauren was the first contestant to confirm they're taking part in the upcoming series of Celebrity Big Brother

Her rep said: 'Lauren tweeted the photo of her and Rylan without thinking.'

When contacted about the tweet, a representative for CBB told MailOnline: 'As always, we don't comment on rumoured housemates. We shall announce them on the evening.'

Cosying up to the presenter, Lauren could be seen sporting a brunette perm, a full face of makeup, a pearl necklace and pink blazer.

She captioned the photograph: 'Having a selfie with #Rylanclark at his dressing room at elstree its been to long Rylan we should have a good old natter after so long x'

Back again: When contacted about the tweet, a representative for CBB told MailOnline: 'As always, we don't comment on rumoured housemates. We shall announce them on the evening.'

Last year she continued to claim she enjoyed a six month fling with comedian Russell Brand in 2006 - and said he liked to watch himself on television while they made love.

She previously told MailOnline: 'He was very good in that department, but he liked to watch old footage of himself at the same time, when he was supposed to be looking at me.

'I was in love with him at the time, but I was young and naive - and the more I think about it, the more I think he was just after one thing. We would never go out anywhere.

Hot claims: Last year she continued to claim she enjoyed a six month fling with comedian Russell Brand in 2006 - and said he liked to watch himself on television while they made love

However, Russell categorically denied the claims, telling MailOnline in 2013: 'Lauren's claims are as fraudulent as her evaluation of Ming vases on Wogan. And before she starts, I also have not had sex with a Ming vase or Wogan.'

With the show set to return to screens on Channel 5 at 9pm on January 3, speculation is rife over who will be entering the house.

Former winner Katie Price and defending champion Stephen Bear are both in the frame to return, according to the Daily Mirror.

Bear's antagonistic antics drove his fellow housemates crazy over the course of the summer, and sparks will surely fly if he attempts to defend his crown.
(Dear reader: Your faithful correspondent is suffering from OATS , a newly diagnosed disorder, and is taking mental health leave until early January.)

At the circus theres a guy who follows the elephant with a shovel and a broom to clean up the poop so the smell wont detract from the pachyderms tricks. Welcome to teaching in the land of Donald Trump. Heres your shovel.

Lets start with the reality that teaching is hard work, that not everyone can do it well, and that those who can are in short supply. That was the reality even before the need for shovels.

Those who want to bring market logic to public education largely ignore the market for teachers. People take jobs where they feel honored and challenged and where they think that they have a chance of success. They take jobs that allow them to marry, buy a house, and raise a family.

The Teacher Shortage

Teaching hasnt been making the cut. Even before the Trump election, there was a looming teaching shortage. Enrollment in teacher education programs has declined by 75 percent. Now the shortage is plainly evident. A new Learning Policy Institute survey shows 83 percent of low-income districts in California are having difficulty recruiting teachers, and more than half of the wealthier districts are.

Charter schools are not immune. The Magnolia chain of charters in Los Angeles gained notoriety this year for recruiting teachers from Turkey . Green Dot, Aspire , and other charter chains are facing recruiting challenges, and some are offering cash bonuses and other incentives to sign on. Free agent teachers will likely turn out to be expensive . The thousands of Republican school board members from around the country wont be thanking Trump for upsetting traditional civil service employment.

The Trump Effect

Then, lets add the Trump effect on immigrants, legal or not. Extraordinary effort is being required of teachers to comfort and protect students. In Los Angeles, where 74% of the students are Latino/a, the district has set up counseling centers in each of its geographic district offices and in the offices of school board president Steve Zimmer. School Superintendent Michelle King sent a recorded call to parents telling them about the support centers and a new hotline [(866) 742-2273].

Los Angeles Times reporter Joy Resmovits quoted Van Nuys Middle School teacher Noemi Morales telling her students, Im not here to deport anyone. Im on your side. Im your advocate. Im fighting for you.

Hers is not an idle promise. The Los Angeles Unified School Districtalong with many other districts in the statehave declared themselves as sanctuaries. So, if youre a teacher or principal in L.A., its on you. Have a nice chat with federal agents with badges and guns when they show up at your school.

Confronting Hate Speech

The stories of teachers confronting fear, racism, and bullying compound daily. The Southern Poverty Law Center surveyed over 10,000 teachers after the election, and 80% of respondents described heightened anxiety on the part of their students. Verbal harassment increased: slurs, derogatory language, and a cascade of incidents.

The most dramatic reports are of hate speech directed toward Muslims, grabbing or groping girls, and taunting Hispanics, but demonstrations of intolerance are also visited on white students. Its hard to teach tolerance when the countrys leader is a bully.

While comforting students and combating hate, teachers are supposed to excite young minds with powerful lessons. As has been the case historically, U.S. students havent done well on international comparisons. The recent release of Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) results shows American students liking science but not improving in either reading or science since 2009 and declining in math. The Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS) provided similar results.

No Plan to Increase Achievement

Trump & Co. dont have a plan to fix this, and what they plan to do runs counter to the path taken by other countries which have been successful in large achievement gains. Privatization and unregulated charter schools have been the strategy of exactly zero of the countries that lead the PISA and TIMSS rankings, and of the countries that have made progress. These countries are distinguished by high standards, attention to results, and historic support for teachers.

Trump and his education secretary designee Betsy DeVos have vowed to kill the federal Common Core, but, of course, the Common Core isnt federal at all and the new federal Every Student Succeeds Law forbids the feds from telling states what standards to use. I suspect that Trump and DeVos already know this, despite their apparent confusion about what the Common Core is. I suspect that they really want to kill high standards that will allow comparisons of schools across districts and states.

Real News Bad Enough

As if the real news wasnt bad enougha president elect who lost the popular vote by nearly 3,000,000 votes while being supported by Russian espionageteachers are confronted by the need to help students distinguish between factual and fake news.

As Benjamin Herold reported , prior to the election more than 100 fake news sites were found, all supporting Trump, and in the weeks before the election hoax sites and hyperpartisan blogs generated more Facebook engagement than the 20 major news sites, such as the New York Times and NBC News.

Teachers report that their students are having difficulty sorting out real from fake. Watch for a layering on of media literacy as a curriculum requirement.

If theres a silver lining for teachers in Trumps minority presidency, its in the abundance of teachable moments and the protection that tenure gives teachers to grab onto them. If the past month is an indication, teachers will have almost daily chances to help students understand bigotry, stereotypes, economic privilege, populism, truth telling, and personal responsibility, which the president elect seems not to understand at all.

So, grab your shovels teachers; there are lessons in the poop.
He's the Bachelorette 'geek' who transformed into an unlikely ladies' man.

And Rhys Chilton has again taken to Instagram to showcase his more muscular defined rig on Monday with a shirtless snap with Star Wars props.

The former reality star, 30, suggestively held two lightsabers behind his head as he gave a brooding look to the camera.

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Bachelorettes Rhys Chilton plays with his lightsaber in steamy shirtless snap posted to Instagram on Monday... After revealing he wears a WEDDING RING to ward off female fans

The self-titled entrepreneur posed in only a pair of black underwear, as he showcased his toned abs, pecs and rippling biceps.

He captioned the cheeky snap, in part: 'Who's been playin with lightsabers? I've been geeking it up lately workin hard on my software project.'

Rhys was also selective in the 22 hashtags he used during the upload, including 'nerdlife', 'gymtime' and 'getyouamanwhocandoboth.'

Get a piece of Rhys! During The Bachelorette, Rhys had a reputation for being a 'geek' but has since reinvented himself into a sex symbol

However, while he knowingly posts provocative photos which have female fans ogling at his physique, he has suggested he's taken measures to ward of attention from women.

Rhys recently announced on Instagram stories that he now wears a WEDDING RING to ward off women who ask him on dates.

This comes after it emerged he was still legally married when he appeared on the Network Ten dating show.

'I'm wearing my ring from now on': On Saturday, The Bachelorettes Rhys Chilton revealed he is wearing a WEDDING RING to stop female fans from asking him out on dates

In his Instagram story on Saturday, a shirtless Rhys is pictured holding up his hand to reveal a wedding band.

In the caption, the model revealed he's gone to extreme lengths to stop female fans from trying to sleep with him.

'I'm wearing my ring from now on,' Rhys wrote.

'A symbol of my zero interest in dating': The 30-year-old model, from Brisbane, revealed he is wearing the ring to stop female fans from trying to sleep with him

'As a symbol of my zero interest in dating.'

The caption was followed with a laughing and crying emoji.

While the ladies' events professional appeared on The Bachelorette, it was revealed he was in fact legally married.

Rhys previously told Woman's Day he married a woman called Kelsi, but the marriage did not last.

'Kelsi and I met in Queensland almost three years ago,' he explained. 'We fell in love and after six months of dating decided to get married.

'We had an intimate wedding attended by close friends and family.

Taken? In September, it emerged Rhys was married, despite taking part in The Bachelorette

He continued: 'Unfortunately, shortly after our marriage we started to grow apart and ultimately decided to end our relationship.

'We have been separated for two years and are currently in the process of finalising our divorce.'

He was eliminated by journalist Georgia Love on The Bachelorette after it emerged he was just looking for publicity.
The plucky five-year-old is no stranger to being in the spotlight.

But Pixie Curtis has used her public image for a good cause, and posed on the beach to promote the Royal Life Saving Society.

Dressed in a baggy lifeguard jumper, the young girl was seen staring out to sea with her arm around her brother.

For a good cause: Pixie posted a heartwarming Instagram picture of herself and her brother sitting on the beach to raise awareness for the Royal Life Saving Society, who are urging parents to keep a better eye on their children in the water

Hunter was seen in a white T-shirt and running shoes as he leaned into his sister for the photograph.

Pixie took a moment away from her exciting life of carnivals and premieres to share an important message with parents going in to summer through the photograph's caption.

'Whilst Ive taken to swimming like a duck to water, not everyone has graduated from their water wings yet,' she wrote.

She's got her water wings! Pixie Curtis told her followers she had 'taken to swimming like a duck to water'

'Thats why my friends at @royallifesaving have teamed up with Matt Preston this summer for The Worlds Most Costly campaign as a reminder for parents and carers to #keepwatch no matter what.

'Pools are a lot of fun but they can also be dangerous for little ones when unsupervised - so keep your eyes open this summer!'

At the beginning of the year, Pixie proved herself to be a natural at the beach when she and her PR maven mother Roxy Jacenko shared a series of images of themselves posing at Bondi Beach.

Keeping his eyes open: In an Instagram post earlier this year, Pixie is seen heading into the water at Bondi Beach with a man who may have been her father, Oliver Curtis

The redhead was seen striking a pose in a purple swimsuit before wading into the water with a man who may have been her father Oliver Curtis.

In one snap, Pixie jumps into the air from the soft sand, her arms outstretched.

Wearing a bright purple bow from her own line to match her swimmers, she also wears a trendy pair of Ray ban sunglasses to shield her eyes from the glare of the sun.
He has just returned from the Australian jungle after a successful stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.

And Adam Thomas is still getting back into life at home as he enjoyed a glitzy Christmas party with his Emmerdale co-stars at Leeds' Atlas bar on Saturday.

The 28-year-old soap star led the stars at the bash, where he was joined by uber glamorous Amy Walsh, who flashed her legs in a tight mini dress, and Gaynor Faye, who dazzled in a gold dress.

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He's a celeb! Adam Thomas was getting back into life at home as he enjoyed a glitzy Christmas party with his Emmerdale co-stars at Leeds' Atlas bar on Saturday

Adam, who plays Adam Barton on the ITV soap, placed third on the hit jungle-based reality show when he lost to Scarlett Moffatt and Joel Dommett, who came in first and second place respectively.

Looking worlds away from his bedraggled jungle look, the handsome star rocked a super slick black shirt and tuxedo jacket paired with edgy ripped jeans.

The only giveaway of his stint in the jungle was his glowing complexion as he showed off a deep tan which only added to his handsome good looks.

He grabbed co-star Danny Miller, who plays Aaron Dingle in the soap, for a snap with the pair looking perfectly coordinated in head-to-toe black.

Glamourpusses: The 28-year-old soap star led the stars at the bash, where he was joined by uber glamorous Amy Walsh (left), who flashed her legs in a tight mini skirt, and Gaynor Faye (right), who dazzled in a gold dress

Pals: He grabbed co-star Danny Miller, who plays Aaron Dingle in the soap, for a snap with the pair looking perfectly coordinated in head-to-toe black

Leading the girly glamour was Amy, starring as Tracy Sharon Metcalfe nee Shankley in the show, as she flashed her endless legs in a tight black mini dress.

The dress helped make the most of her stunning figure as the high-rise hemline made the most of her legs and the cut-out at the neck added a saucier feel.

Ensuring she kept out the blistering December chill, the blonde beauty pulled on a tough leather jacket which contrasted with the girly dress.

Chic: Leading the girly glamour was Amy, starring as Tracy Sharon Metcalfe nee Shankley in the show, as she flashed her endless legs in a tight black mini dress

Getting along: The dress helped make the most of her stunning figure as the high-rise hemline made the most of her legs and the cut-out at the neck added a saucier feel (pictured with Mark Charnock, who has played Marlon Dingle for 20 years)

Stunner: ITV stalwart Gaynor, 45, has played Megan Macey for the past four years on the soap and made sure she wowed her co-stars at the bash - where she dazzled in festive gold

ITV stalwart Gaynor, 45, has played Megan Macey for the past four years on the soap and made sure she wowed her co-stars at the bash - where she dazzled in festive gold.

Her tight sequinned dress helped show off every inch of her ageless figure, with the sparkling details clinging to every inch of her incredible figure.

She wore her lustrous brunette tresses in bouncy waves falling from a sweeping side parting, while she added a vampish element through her slick of plum lipstick.

Leather lady: Isabel Hodgins, who stars as Victoria Sugden, went for a super racy ensemble with black leather shorts and a tough biker jacket and a leopard print shirt

Brunette beauty: The stunner toughened things up in her chic ensemble

Isabel Hodgins, who stars as Victoria Sugden, went for a super racy ensemble with black leather shorts and a tough biker jacket and a leopard print shirt.

One of the show's longest standing stars, Mark Charnock, who has played Marlon Dingle for 20 years, bundled up in a dark pea coat with a green beanie.

Laura Norton looked as though she missed the memo as she dressed down in a warm winter coat, trainers and black tights.

Not so glam: Laura Norton looked as though she missed the memo as she dressed down in a warm winter coat, trainers and black tights

Girls on the town: Gillian Kearney and Emma Atkins (left-right) were having a whale of a time
They might have millions of Instagram followers and a few hit records, but the stars of today have a long way to go before they rival Mariah Carey's fame.

And in true diva style she let them know it, handing out her verdicts on everyone from Demi Lovato to Lady Gaga as she appeared on Watch What Happens Live on Saturday night.

Of the stars of today only Britney Spears got an unreserved thumbs up from Mariah, who said she 'loves' her.

'I dont know her!' Mariah Carey is at her diva-best as she disses Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato (but says she 'loves' Britney Spears) on Watch What Happens Live on Sunday

But there was no love left for Ariana Grande or Demi Lovato, who were the victims of that uniquely Mariah put-down: 'I don't know her'.

Like J Lo before them, the pair were dismissed with the simple phrase.

When asked her thoughts on Ariana, who is said to have taken inspiration from Mariah, she responded: ' I dont know.

'Honestly, Im not familiar. I listen to hip-hop more than I listen to pop music.'

Not a fan: When asked her thoughts on Ariana, who is said to have taken inspiration from Mariah, she responded: ' I dont know'

Brutal: Getting even shorter shrift was Demi, who once picked a fight with Mariah by defending her pal Ariana on social media

She was pushed to say more by show host Andy Cohen, who told her: 'When I looked at her early in the career, I kinda thought, "Wow, this is an homage to Mariah a little bit."'

'Child, I dont know when early in the career was,' said a straight-faced Mariah.

Getting even shorter shrift was Demi, who once picked a fight with Mariah by defending her pal Ariana on social media.

The Mariah verdict: Less offensive, but equally boring it seemed, in Mariah's eyes were Lady Gaga, who she called 'sweet', and Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, who were 'nice girls'

'I dont know her either and so I wouldnt say anything to her,' Maria said.

'She should come up, introduce herself to me, say, "Heres my opinion, what do you think about it?" Thats how you handle s**t, OK?'

Less offensive, but equally boring it seemed, in Mariah's eyes at least, were Lady Gaga, who she called 'sweet', and Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, who were 'nice girls'.

Cheers! Mariah gifted hot coco and butterscotch Schnapps to her host

As for Miley Cyrus, she simply said she once met the former Disney star in a bathroom.

But for Britney, Mariah had nothing but praise.
They worked together on the 2014 film A Million Ways To Die In The West.

And the former co-stars Charlize Theron and Seth MacFarlane were spotted leaving a sushi restaurant in Los Angeles on Friday.

Over the past few years, Charlize and Seth have been seen out on several dinners that sparked dating rumors - which they have consistently denied.

The Oscar winner's last boyfriend was actor Sean Penn.

Having a great time together: Charlize Theron and Seth MacFarlane were spotted leaving a sushi restaurant in Los Angeles on Friday

Seth told People magazine in 2015 that while filming A Million Ways To Die In The West with Charlize, he felt like 'she was someone I'd been working with my entire life.'

Adding that: 'I really felt like I made a lifelong friend.'

For their most recent outing together, Charlize, 41, stepped out in light wash denim with a black blouse.

Grinning ear to ear: Over the past few years, Charlize and Seth have been seen out on several dates that sparked dating rumors - which they have consistently denied

The Academy Award winning actress finished off her ensemble with a black motorcycle jacket and a matching hued handbag.

Charlize pulled her short blonde locks back into a ponytail while sporting a makeup free face.

She was seen beaming besides Seth as they made their way out of the establishment.

A natural beauty: For their most recent outing together, Charlize stepped out in light wash denim with a black blouse

Seth, 43, wore a matching look, opting to wear jeans with a black button up and a matching blazer on top.

In 2014, while promoting A Million Ways To Die In The West, Charlize told People that she's a 'big fan' of his.

She explained that she will remember him forever: 'He's definitely the kind of person that from afar fascinates me. Then you have this opportunity to know someone, and when they don't let you down, that's such a gift.'

The last guy: Here the blonde is seen with Sean Penn in 2015

The blonde beauty continued: 'The thing you remember when you're 80 and lying on your deathbed is that. I'll remember the friendship and working with Seth on this movie.'

Charlize recently wrapped filming Tully, for which she had to gain 35 pounds for.

In the film, she plays a mother of three who is given the gift of a night nanny named Tully by her brother as she tries to regain control of her life.

The Golden Globe winner is mom to two children - son Jackson, four, who she adopted in March 2012 and daughter August, one, who she adopted last year.

In character: They worked together on the 2014 film A Million Ways To Die in the West
His ex-girlfriend Stephanie Davis is just weeks away from the birth of her first child.

But Sam Reece seemed to be entirely stress-free as he smouldered in a steamy shirtless snap for his official 2017 calendar.

The model and one-time First Dates star, 24, displayed his sculpted abs and heavily inked chest in the raunchy shot, while aiming an intense gaze at the camera.

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Looking good! Sam Reece, 24, displayed his sculpted abs and heavily inked chest in a steamy shirtless snap for his official 2017 calendar

The model also showed off a nipple piercing in the tantalizing shot, wearing tailored black trousers and slinging the matching blazer over his shoulder.

Layering multiple silver necklaces and rocking a matching silver ring, he seemed at ease in front of the camera as he posed shirtless.

Sam, who split from ex Stephanie after she struck up a relationship with Jeremy McConnell on CBB, seemed unruffled by the imminent arrival of the baby - who she claims is Jeremy's.

Baby mama: Sam, who split from ex Stephanie after she struck up a relationship with Jeremy McConnell on CBB, seemed unruffled by her imminent pregnancy

Happier times: Despite the actress being in a relationship with model Sam Reece, she enjoyed a flirtation with Jeremy, leading in their toxic romance on the outside world

Meanwhile Stephanie revealed she had been rushed to hospital last week over terrifying fears that her baby was not moving.

However she looked back to good health and happiness on Friday, as she took to Instagram to post a photo of herself building the baby's cot.

The 23-year-old looked almost ready to pop as she showcased her hugely blossoming belly in the snap - which saw her perusing the instructions of her flat pack project.

Having enjoyed a Christmas celebration with her family, the former Hollyoaks star took an evening to herself on Friday night to prepare for her baby's impending arrival.

Looking back: The 23-year-old star was in reflective mood on Wednesday, posting a throwback snap of her bump from earlier in her pregnancy

Getting excited: Stephanie Davis looked back to good health and happiness on Saturday, as she took to Instagram to post a photo of herself building the baby's cot

The post sees Stephanie back to her upbeat self - after revealing she was rushed to hospital last week over fears her baby wasn't moving, which she claims was a result of recent stress.

She explained in her blog for OK! magazine: 'I was particularly worried about his [the babys] movement last week as hes not been as active as usual.

'I thought he had just gone quiet because of everything we were going through but the doctor insisted it was better to be safe than sorry so we went to the hospital to get him checked out ...'

'Now Im getting to the end of my pregnancy Im experiencing all different types of pains and the stress definitely hasnt helped.'

Turbulent romance: Last week, the actress hinted she's received a number of nasty messages from her ex-boyfriend - and the father of her child - Jeremy McConnell. The pair are pictured in the CBB house in January

'Vile!' The former Hollyoaks star let rip on Twitter as she shockingly confessed to being trolled over voicemail

Fortunately, after being checked out, the 23-year-old star was 'relieved' to be given the all clear.

Meanwhile, Stephanie took to Twitter on Tuesday to hint that she's received a number of nasty voicemails from ex-boyfriend Jeremy.

'Catching up on some voicemails from last month. I really don't get some people. SORRY then VILE.. Baffling,' the former Hollyoaks star shockingly tweeted.

And while she didn't name any names, her followers were quick to suggest her estranged ex-beau was behind the missed calls.

One user stated: 'let me guess...a certain person jealous of how successful you are, don't let them get to you, there behind you for a reason'.

Health scare: Steph looked back to her best in the snap - having revealed she was rushed to hospital last week over fears her baby wasn't moving

Starting quite the support system for the stunning brunette, another replied: 'T hat Jeremy? Always thought he was a wrong en. Very manipulative from what I seen in articles . Poor Stephanie'.

Meanwhile, Stephanie has reportedly been approached by producers to return to CBB - yet this time she is said to be bringing her newborn.

Sources tell The Sun that she is in talks with Channel 5 to make the unprecedented move on the fly-on-the-wall show.

Stephanie entered the famed house in January among a bevy of stars including the Irish hunk, who had his first taste of TV fame on now-defunct MTV reality show Beauty School Cop Outs in 2013, with the pair immediately hitting it off.

Despite the actress being in a relationship with model Sam Reece, she enjoyed a flirtation with Jeremy, leading in their toxic romance on the outside world, which dissolved in May, after which she announced her pregnancy.

Stephanie, who has dismissed Jeremy's determined denials of the paternity of the child, is reportedly set to return to where it all began - this time with a tot in tow.
Her stunning figure has put her on the ranks as one of today's top supermodels.

And Karlie Kloss added extra attention to her flawless physique on Monday donning a bright red bomber jacket as she headed in New York City.

The 24-year-old blonde was heading to to Magnolia Bakery.

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Bright beauty! Karlie Kloss stepped out on Monday in New York City donning a bright red bomber jacket as she stopped by Magnolia Bakery

Cheery! The 24-year-old model - who appeared to be in high spirits - paired her jacket with a cropped blue sweater and high-waisted denim jeans

The Chicago-born model paired her jacket with a cropped blue sweater underneath and high-waisted denim jeans that highlighted her toned legs.

To accessorize, Karlie strutted in ankle-length leather booties, held a matching purse in her hands and opted for minimal jewelry.

She pinned her blonde locks up in a messy bun, allowing for some loose strands to fall on her face, as she applied only a light amount of make-up to create a natural look.

As you do: Karlie hopped onboard a helicopter during the shoot

Only the best: The model appeared to be having fun on her action packed day of work

Look! Karlie turned sight see-er as she spotted things in the water

While it is not clear what the shoot was for, it was taken place in front of The Magnolia Bakery, a spot that Karlie has modeled frequently for Kate Spade.

The former Victoria's Secret model landed a campaign ad for the fashion brand in fall 2015 that took place at the famous bakery.

There was a large camera on her and her friend, but it was not clear what they were shooting.

Meanwhile, Karlie has been keeping busy as a jet-setter.

New York story: The star shared some BTS pics from her helicopter ride on Instagram stories

Effortless: The Chicago-born beauty threw her blonde locks back in a bun and opted for a light and natural make-up look

The bombshell was in Australia last week shooting photos for retail giant David Jones' autumn/winter 2017 campaign.

The runway model posted adventurous snaps to her Instagram as she visited Bondi Beach, paddle boarded on Rose Bay, and took in some rays at Tamarama Beach.

Karlie also squeezed in a quick trip to Hawaii on her six-hour layover from Australia to NYC

Secret shoot? While it was unclear what Karlie was filming, it did take place in front of The Magnolia Bakery, a spot she has modeled quite often for Kate Spade

Finally made it down under  thanks for bringing me @davidjonesstore A photo posted by Karlie Kloss (@karliekloss) on Dec 10, 2016 at 7:31pm PST

Thumbs up! The supermodel took a selfie alongside her helicopter pilot during the shoot

View from above: The model showed off the incredible view from her New York helicopter ride
Trailing behind his wife with a downcast look upon his face, Kanye West looks far from happy.

The music icon joined Kim Kardashian for dinner on Sunday night, marking the first time the couple have been seen together since he was hospitalised last month.

The evening was a quiet one - with reality star Kim was also looking a little out of sorts, as she brushed past photographers without a smile.

Getting back to normality: Kim Kardashian goes for dinner in Santa Monica on Sunday night

Downcast: Kanye West trailed behind Kim as the pair were seen together for the first time since his breakdown

Indeed the pair only finally relaxed and shared a brief laugh once they were safely ensconced in the back of their vehicle.

A witness told DailyMail.com: 'Once they got in the car they were smiling, completely at ease and just enjoying each other.'

The couple had spent just an hour at dinner, having visiting the restaurant at 6.50pm for an early meal.

The outing comes amid claims that hospital staff were 'hunting' for Kanye's medical information at UCLA Medical Center where he stayed during his 'breakdown'

According to TMZ, they were 'curious' when the 39-year-old rapper was admitted and tried to gain access to the computer system - reportedly leading to 'several dozen' staff members being fired.

Not in high spirits: Their lack of enthusiasm is understandable - by anyone's standards, they've had a terrible year

Toned down: For her outing to Rihanna's favourite restaurant Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica she dressed up in a typically plunging white top, worn beneath a black fur coat

Sources have alleged that the hospital has launched an investigation, while others claim 'several dozen people' have been or will be fired.

The publication claimed: 'Kanye West's stay at UCLA Med Center had some staffers hunting for medical info, according to multiple people at the facility.

'A slew of people couldn't resist attempting to look at his info in the computer'.

MailOnline has contacted UCLA Medical Center for comment.

Their lack of enthusiasm is understandable - by anyone's standards, they've had a terrible year.

Kim's world was torn apart when she was the victim of a terrifying $8.5million heist back in October.

She's got his back: The 36-year-old television personality is reportedly 'very focused' on supporting Kanye after he was hospitalised last month with exhaustion

Frank words from a friend: Friend of Kanye's John Legend had some ideas the rap star's recent meeting with Donald Trump

She barely left the house for weeks afterwards - with last night marking one of the first times she has been seen out on the town, and the first time Kanye has joined her.

Then the couple's world was rocked further when Kanye was rushed to hospital late last month. He was released from UCLA Medical Center November 30.

Following his release, the star's stability is still being questioned by friends and fans.

After the rapper met with President-elect Donald Trump last week, he was criticized by friend John Legend who said the star was just looking for publicity.

The All Of Me singer later walked back his statement, saying 'it was fine' for Kanye to meet with the new politician.

A smile: The pair only finally relaxed and shared a brief laugh once they were safely ensconced in the back of their vehicle

Climbing in: Kanye made his way to a back passenger seat

Glad that's over! It was clear Kanye was happy to be heading home

He is now back at home, but still recovering from the experience, which was said to have been triggered by stress.

Add to this the constant split rumours, Kim and Kanye could be forgiven for wishing 2016 were already over.

Still, Mrs. West is obviously determined to get life back to normal.

For Sunday night's outing to Rihanna's favourite restaurant Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica she dressed up in a typically plunging white top, worn beneath a long fur coat.

Always conscious of her appearance, Kim never does anything by accident. True to form, her make-up was carefully toned down to give a more natural look, to match her lack of any adornment.

Not at his best: Kanye has had a 'stressful few months'

Keeping warm: The reality star kept warm with her long black fur coat

Her only jewelry was a simple gold wedding band and a series of small necklaces, after her upgraded $4.5million engagement ring was snatched in Paris, along with a case of other jewels.

But despite the trauma of the incident, the 36-year-old television personality is said to be 'very focused' on supporting Kanye after he was hospitalised last month.

A source told People magazine: 'Kanye and Kim had a stressful few months. Its been a tense time. But Kim is happy hes getting help. She's very focused on being supportive and managing the crisis that is going on.'
Scarlett Johansson thinks her daughter will 'freak out' when she watches her performance in Sing.

The 32-year-old actress stars as a 'punk rock' porcupine named Ash in the upcoming animated musical comedy, and expects two-year-old Rose - whom she has with journalist husband Romain Dauriac - would be 'overwhelmed' by the tale.

But the siren added it really is the only movie her little one could see as her other offerings (Lucy, Captain American) are too violent.

For her daughter! Scarlett Johansson, seen with husband Romain Dauriac, wants her child Rose, aged two to see her film Sing

Her character: The beauty plays Ash, the punk rock porcupine

Speaking to E! News, Scarlett said: 'I'm sure she (Rose) would probably freak out. It would blow her mind.

'I'm not sure, she's pretty young so I imagine everything in her mind is a little bit sort of trippy to begin with. So I think just seeing my voice coming out of a porcupine like that, especially a punk rock porcupine, it might be a little overwhelming for her.

'This may be the only movie I've ever made that she can see though.'

Too much? 'I think just seeing my voice coming out of a porcupine like that, especially a punk rock porcupine, it might be a little overwhelming for her,' said ScarJo

The news comes after the Lucy actress recently admitted she shares the same 'dream' as her daughter, as the pair would both love to be Disney princesses.

She said: 'My daughter is still young. Right now I think we both share the dream that I will someday be a Disney princess, but it's probably not going to happen.

'I've been asking for that job for the past 20 years, and nobody has booked me.'

The cast: (Lto R) Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Johansson, Seth MacFarlane, Nick Kroll, Tori Kelly, and Taron Egerton in Sing

Meanwhile, the Hollywood star might not have any films she can show to her young daughter, as she likes to star in films that offer her a 'risk.'

She said: 'I look for projects with filmmakers who want to make things that give the audience a fresh experience.

'I've always been very competitive, and a part of that is pushing your boundaries - taking a risk, and being able to live with the loss that comes with taking a risk.'

The blonde was last seen on Friday evening as she attended the Yummy Pop Grand Opening Party at Theatre du Gymnase in Paris.

Mmmm... yum! The classic blonde beauty was accompanied by her husband Romain Dauriac - both of whom came up with the idea for the gourmet popcorn store

The classic blonde beauty was accompanied by her husband Romain Dauriac - both of whom came up with the idea for the gourmet popcorn store, working together to see it come to fruition.

The couple - who were married in a private ceremony at a ranch in Montana on October 1, 2014 - enjoyed a grown-ups only night out in the city of lights, away from daughter Rose.

Their store is situated in the heart of the historic Parisian district of the Marais and Scarlett has explained that she has always dreamed of owning a shop dedicated to fancy popcorn.

'It has been a dream of mine and my family for several years to bring our favourite American snack to our favourite European City!' Scarlett said in a statement when the idea was first announced.

She can dance too! Ash with Buster Moon in the animated film

'I am so excited to introduce Yummy Pop, a labour of love and Epicurean enthusiasm. My hope is for Yummy Pop to become a Parisian snacking staple and a symbol of friendship between my two most beloved cities, Paris and New York.'

Although the store had its soft opening in October, Friday was the grand opening in which the actress served punters herself.

The attractive couple looked suitably chic at the event as Scarlett stunned in a crisp white sleeveless silk blouse, tied loosely at the front in a semi-knot.
Iconic fashion model China Machado passed away on Sunday at the age of 87.

According to Women's Wear Daily, Machado died at Stony Brook University Hospital in New York after suffering from cardiac arrest Thursday night at her home in Connecticut.

Machado - who would have celebrated her 88th birthday on Christmas Day - was the first non-white model to appear on the front cover of Harper's Bazaar magazine in 1959.

Sad: Iconic fashion model China Machado passed away on Sunday after suffering from cardiac arrest Thursday night; she was 87 years old. Here she is seen in 2012

She had the world on a string: The beauty was known for her exotic good looks

The model was born as Noel De Souza Machado in Shanghai China and made her mark in the industry as famed photographer Richard Avedon's muse.

Her work with him led her to front-cover issues, eventually landing her the title of senior fashion editor and fashion director for Harper's Bazaar.

Telling New York Magazine of her risky cover in an October 2016 interview, she said: 'I knew I was considered kind of "exotic," if you want to use that word, in Europe, but it wasnt any kind of a slur. So when I came here I didnt know that.'

Trailblazer: She was the first non-white model to appear on the front cover of Harper's Bazaar magazine in 1959

Breaking barriers: Machado was the first non-white model to appear on the cover of Harper's Bazaar in 1959; photographed here in January for 2012 Sundance Film Festival

'When I went back to Paris, it was then that Dick said that he would not sign his contract for another seven years unless those pictures were published. And he never told that to me until 20 years later,' Machado added.

Shortly up until her death, the IMG model was modeling and designing clothes, including starring in Cole Haan's Born in 1928 campaign in 2013.

Machado was also featured in an exhibition in October titled A Muse Among Friends put together by National Arts Club in New York.

Out on the town: The stunner leaving a dinner party in NYC in 1975

Muse: The Asian model was born as Noel De Souza Machado in Shanghai China and made her mark in the industry as famed photographer Richard Avedon's muse; posing here in March at Barneys New York

The exhibit included photographs and paintings of her by fashion leaders such as Avedon, Bruce Weber, Andy Warhol and Geoffrey Holder.

'I didnt expect to become a commercial model at the age of 80!' Machado exclaimed.

'But Ivan Bart [IMGs president] is kind of a humanitarian. He always goes after something different. So he wanted to conquer the age thing and show that women over a certain age could still model,' she added.
At a news conference at a Tacoma high school last week, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced $4 billion in proposed new taxes. Most of the money raised would be used to pay teachers and for additional school spending, according to the Seattle Times.

Today we are revealing a budget that will realize both our opportunity and our obligation to make sure every child, every child, has what they deserve, which is a great education and a chance to realize their dreams, Inslee said.

Much of the funds would come from new taxes on carbon emissions and on capital gains from the sale of property or investments, with the exception of homes and retirement accounts, reports the Seattle Times. The carbon tax would charge emitters $25 per metric ton, beginning in 2018, and raise $2 billion. The 7.9 percent capital gains tax would raise $821 million in 2019, and affect only the wealthiest Washington residents, fewer than 1 percent, according to Inslee.

The governors plan also includes a $250 million a year property tax cut that would benefit more than 100 school districts. Whats more, a starting teachers salary would increase from $35,700 to $54,587 by the plans second year.

Republicans, many of whom fought and won against similar tax proposals by Inslee in 2015, are not happy with the governors proposal. Republican Sen. Ann Rivers, a member of the states Education Funding Task Force, dismissed it outright. The governors plan looks more like another attempt to impose a new carbon tax and a new tax on income and less like a way to thoughtfully address the K-12 funding question, she said in a statement. She went on to argue that the tax hikes go beyond what is needed to fund education.

The governors tax proposal comes on the heels of the 2012 McCleary decision , which landed the state in contempt of court over failure to adequately fund public education. (Heres some background on school finance suits.) In response to the decision, lawmakers added funding for all-day kindergarten, school supplies and for reducing kindergarten through third grade class sizes to 17 students.

But the state has yet to address a key part of the decision: how to pay teachers and other school staff. The local school district uses property taxes to pay salaries, creating a disparity between rich and poor districts. The court, however, has declared the state responsible for paying teachers.

Its time to end the 30 years of underfunding education, said Inslee at the news conference announcing his plan. Its time to get this job done. And Im committed to doing that in 2017.

Inslee has thrown his plan into the ring. The states house Democrats and senate Republicans will submit their plans next, and theyll all battle it out in the legislative session beginning in January. The state supreme court, which issued the McCleary decision, has ordered that the state fix the funding problem by the start of the 2018-2019 school year.
Zsa Zsa Gabor died on Sunday following a heart attack.

The actress, who married nine times throughout her lifetime, was thought to be 99 years old at the time of her death, with her year of birth listed as 1917.

But the Hungarian star fueled the decades-long mystery surrounding her exact birth year, with dates ranging from 1917 all the way up to 1930, reports Slate.com via the New York Times.

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Legendary: Zsa Zsa Gabor died on Sunday following a heart attack; snapped in the mid-1950s

According to Slate.com, Zsa Zsa told columnist Hedda Hopper in 1952 that she was 29 years old.

That would make her year of birth as 1923.

In 1982, the starlet sent a letter to the press about the mystery surrounding her age, along with her birth registration.

Zsa Zsa, who was born in Budapest, Hungary, wrote in the note: 'All the lies about my age have been driving me crazy.'

What a beauty: The actress was thought to be 99 years old at the time of her death, with her year of birth most likely being 1917, reports Slate.com via the New York Times

The screen siren continued: 'Every time I read about myself I see I am a different age, usually older than I really am.'

Adding: 'God knows I am old enough as it is, darling, without adding any years.'

The Moulin Rouge actress' birth certificate she included in the note to the media had Feb. 6, 1928 as her date of birth.

Classic: According to Slate.com, Zsa Zsa told columnist Hedda Hopper in 1952 that she was 29 years old; pictured in 1955

So glamorous: Zsa Zsa pictured in 1957 with her hotel heir Conrad 'Nicky' Hilton and actress Natalie Wood at Mike Romanoff's Restaurant

However, that birth year is highly unlikely because if it was true, it would mean she married her first husband - Burhan Belge - at the age of nine; the former flames wed in 1937 before divorcing in 1941.

If 1928 was her year of birth was true, it would also mean that she was only eight years old when she was named Miss Hungary 1936.

Slate also reported that in 1986, Zsa Zsa claimed she was born in 1930.
They relocated to LA for his hit Late Late Show.

But James Corden and Julia Carey enjoyed a date night back in Mayfair, London on Monday.

The 38-year-old TV presenter, who rocked a bee-embroidered bomber, and his wife looked loved-up as ever, gazing adoringly at each other.

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Couple's time! James Corden and his Julia Carey enjoyed a date night out back in Mayfair, London on Monday

Wearing a black Snoopy T-shirt and his navy bomber over the top, James laughed happily as he shared a joke with Julia.

Julia beamed as they sat in the car together, keeping her make-up to a minimal lipgloss.

Wearing her blonde hair loose, she rocked a leather jacket and a burgundy manicure.

The duo looked in good spirits as they headed out together for some quality time.

Going strong: The 38-year-old TV presenter, who rocked a bee-embroidered bomber, and his wife looked loved-up as ever, gazing adoringly at each other

James married his long term love Julia in 2012, and are parents to Max, 5, and Carey, two.

A far cry from his humble former life in the UK, James has found huge success and worldwide fame since he replaced Craig Ferguson on the Late Late Show as host in 2014.

The series was an immediate success, and the show has since gone on to win an Emmy this year.

Perhaps most famous and popular of all is his iconic Carpool Karaoke segment - which sees James take celebrities out for a spin and sing-a-long in his car.

Stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Michelle Obama and Stevie Wonder have all taken part in the skit - as well as Lady Gaga most recently, with James copying her infamous meat dress to give the lift.

Talking on ITV's Lorraine earlier this year, James said he owes his success all to wife Julia - who agreed to make the move stateside at a chaotic time.

He said: 'All credit to my wife, who agreed to move when our daughter [Carey] was five weeks old and our son [Max] was three.

'It was a massive undertaking. I work so hard in the week and then at the weekend, you click your fingers and it's like you are in the South Of France.

He then added in his usual witty style: 'Luckily it's our life for the foreseeable future or until I get sacked.'
Joel McHale is set to host The 2017 People's Choice Awards.

CBS announced Monday the 45-year-old actor and comedian will emcee the live broadcast event from The Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on January 18.

'The people have spoken, and they want Jimmy Kimmel to host the 2017 Oscars!' The Great Indoors actor said in a press release. 'And the people have also spoken, and said that it would be okay if I hosted the 2017 People's Choice Awards. Well, one person said that. Luckily, that person was Les Moonves, so no one questioned it.'

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Just announced! Joel McHale will host the 2017 People's Choice Awards on January 18 on CBS, it was announced on Monday

Mark Burnett, executive producer of the show that honors fan favorites in movies, music, TV and digital, spoke out about The Community actor.

'Joel is a brilliant comedic talent, and the perfect host for this show,' he stated. 'He is a triple threat. An actor, a writer and a performer, and we look forward to him bringing all those amazing talents to the 2017 Peoples Choice Awards.'

Joel has lent his comedic voice to a number of shows and events including E!'s The Soup, which ran from 2004 to 2015.

The actor also hosted the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in D.C. in 2014 as well as the 2015 ESPY Awards.

Excitement: The 45-year-old actor and comedian took to Twitter on Monday to announce the happy news

Not a newbie: The Community actor has hosted for a number of events including the White House Correspondents' Association dinner; pictured in May 2014

Comedic voice: He's also hosted the 2015 ESPY Awards; pictured in July of last year

Nominations for the awards ceremony were announced November 15 with Captain America: Civil War being the most nominated movie and Grey's Anatomy scoring five nomination for favorite television series.

While voting has closed for most categories, it will remain open until show night for Favorite TV Comedy and Favorite New TV Drama categories.

Joel's freshman series, CBS' The Great Indoors, which recently renewed a full season order from the network, received its first nomination in the New TV Comedy slot.

Congratulations! Joel's freshman series on CBS received its first nomination for the PCAs for the New TV Comedy category

Meanwhile The Spy Kids actor is in production with two films and a television series for 2017.

He is slated to appear in the comedy film, Stuck, with Felicia Day as well as A Futile And Stupid Gesture alongside Emmy Rossum and Natasha Lyonne.

He will also appear in television show, Dimension 404, created by Will Campos, alongside Constance Wu.
There's a lot of pressure on the cast and crew of BBC's Top Gear following the negative reviews the rebooted series received this spring.

And things didn't look particularly jovial on the set of the motoring show on Mammoth Mountain, California where the crew were filming.

Among the huddle of people was returning presenter Matt Le Blanc who is continuing the role of show host, but without his former co-star Chris Evans who quit the series as soon as the final episode had aired earlier in the year.

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Not in Top Gear? Matt Le Blanc looks glum as he shoots scenes in the California rain for the next season of the BBC motoring show... following last series' ratings flop

Having rebooted the show following the departure of long-standing hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, the 2016 series did not go down well with viewers, who slammed Evans as the new face of the show.

Former star of American sitcom Friends, Le Blanc, was spared the vicious critique Evans received, and has consequently been asked back for the next series.

But he didn't look particularly happy as he shot the new scenes in California, as he huddled under the open boot of a vehicle sheltering from the miserable weather.

Despite shooting in The Sunshine State, things looked drab as Le Blanc wrapped up in a yellow bomber jacket and a beanie hat, with a thick fleece underneath his coat.

The TV star, 49, stared up at the rain as it dripped from the sky, clearly irritated that it had delayed filming.

He passed the time chatting to other trussed up members of the crew, also unable to do anything but wait for the shower to run its course.

At a standstill: Things didn't look particularly jovial on the set of the motoring show on Mammoth Mountain, California where the crew were filming.

Coming to a halt: Among the huddle of people was returning presenter Matt Le Blanc who is continuing the role of show host, but without his former co-star Chris Evans who quit the series as soon as the final episode had aired earlier in the year

There was an array of flashy cars parked along the side of the road on the location shoot, presumably for Le Blanc to do a scene with.

Several of them were covered in snow - another reason for the filming hold up.

Little has been released about Top Gear's next series - which will be it's 24th - but the BBC revealed in September that Le Blanc has agreed a two series deal with the channel.

Also returning are Chris Harris and Rory Reid, with regular appearances from Eddie Jordan, Sabine Schmitz and The Stig.

Meanwhile, the original Top Gear trio of Hammond, Clarkson and May have since premiered their Amazon series The Grand Tour - to much fanfare.

With its astonishing 160 million budget, it's among the most expensive series of all time and has now become the most illegally downloaded show in history.

Gridlock: There was an array of flashy cars parked along the side of the road on the location shoot, presumably for Le Blanc to do a scene with. Several of them were covered in snow - another reason for the filming hold up

Official figures for the series have not been revealed by maker Amazon, but since its launch on November 18, the first episode had been illegally downloaded 7.9 million times; episode two has been ripped off 6.4 million times; and the figure for the third episode is 4.6 million.

Viewers in Britain are the worst culprits, making up 13.7 per cent of the total.

Online pirates log on to websites that have stolen the Grand Tour  for which Clarkson is paid 10 million a year to make  instead of subscribing to Amazon.
They usually share loved-up snaps of one another on social media.

But it seems there may be trouble in paradise for genetically blessed couple, Lisa Hyde and Tyson Mayr.

The pair, who are regularly jet setting around the world, have failed to post happy snaps of one another since early October.

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Trouble in paradise? Reality TV couple Lisa Hyde and Tyson Mayr spark rumours they've split after failing to be seen together since early October

Tyson has also been spotted travelling Canada and South Africa without the brunette beauty while she remains grounded in Australia.

And while they have kept their distance from each other on social media, the reality TV stars have both been posting endless bikini-clad and shirtless snaps.

Over the last two weeks, Lisa has been flaunting her slender tanned figure on her Instagram account.

Out on his own: Tyson has also been spotted travelling Canada and South Africa without the brunette beauty

Staying home: While the hunk continues to travel the world, Lisa has remained in Australia

Showing them what they're missing? While they have kept their distance on social media, the reality TV stars have both been posting endless bikini-clad and shirtless snaps

While she shows off her killer frame, Tyson has followed in her footsteps posting numerous shirtless pictures, showcasing his rock hard six-pack.

Fans have also questioned their relationship with many asking Lisa, 'Are you still with Tyson?' but the beauty has failed to respond.

The Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lisa and Tyson for comment.

In September, the couple put on a loving display as they attended a close friend's wedding in Italy, weeks after visiting the Mediterranean.

Loving display: In September, the couple put on a loving display as they attended a close friend's wedding in Italy

Travel partners: Weeks earlier, the pair travelled around the Mediterranean

Tyson and Lisa have travelled to various corners of the globe since going public with their relationship in 2015.

At the time of making their romance official, Tyson headed to the South African jungle for a stint on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

Before meeting the hunk, Lisa Hyde tried to find love with Blake Garvey on The Bachelor Australia in 2014.
Reese Witherpsoon has had three children and made over a two dozen movies, but she sure doesn't let the bar drop.

On Sunday the 40-year-old actress posted a photo to Instagram where she was showing off her stunning curves which she keeps in check with daily jogs around her Brentwood, California neighborhood.

The Oscar winner made a red dress look red-hot while at a Christmas party with her best friend Shannon Rotenberg.

Hot to trot: Reese Witherspoon looked like a tall drink of water in this red dress while at a holiday party. The image was shared to Instagram on Sunday

The setting: The 40-year-old star was clinking glasses with best friend Shannon Rotenberg

'Getting in the Christmas spirit,' the caption read.

The Wild star added the hashtags #TwoTurtleDoves #Mistletoe #Cheers.

The dress came in at the waist and had a flirty ruffle finish below her knee. There were short sleeves and a rounded neck, making it one of her more conservative choices in recent months.

More seasons greetings: Reese certainly is in the Christmas spirit as she also shared a photo of herself writing Christmas cards. The ex of Ryan Phillippe joked it took her a long time to write a card to pals

Black heels and long dangling earrings looked elegant.

The Legally Blonde standout help up a glass of champagne that she clinked with her pal Rotenberg, who went with a mini dress that revealed toned legs.

They were under the mistletoe in a private home.

Cute: Witherspoon also shared a post about her letter to Santa where she asked to visit him in the North Pole. 'Letters to Santa complete,' the blonde joked

Reese certainly is in the Christmas spirit as she also shared a photo of herself writing Christmas cards.

The ex of Ryan Phillippe joked it took her a long time to write a card to pals.

And while she was posed in the pretty shot, she was also modeling an outfit from her Draper James line.

A new pal: And in yet another post, the bubbly actress posed with a man who she thought had the cutest Christmas sweater

'When every holiday card takes 2+ hours to write  #SouthernProblems #OhMyStars  @draperjames,' she wrote in the caption.

Witherspoon also shared a post about her letter to Santa where she asked to visit him in the North Pole.

'Letters to Santa complete,' the blonde joked.

She loves to dress for the holidays: The Mud actress at the Tiny Prints Presents The Baby2Baby Snow Day at The Grove on December 12

And in yet another post, the bubbly actress posed with a man who she thought had the cutest Christmas sweater.

'Winner of the 2016 cutest Christmas sweater is this guy!! #NationalUglySweaterDay Not ugly ... it's pug-ly!  #BahHumPug,' she commented.

Reese has been working on her new series Big Little Lies. She has also filmed Home Again with Lake Bell and Candice Bergen. Her next film to hit theaters is Sing.

Plugging her new film: The beauty backstage at Fallon to talk Sing
She is best known as a party girl.

But it seems Lindsay Lohan is attempting to refashion herself in the mould of actress turned aid worker Angelina Jolie.

And the former child star has revealed that she plans to return to Turkey, where earlier this year she volunteered with refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria.

The 30-year-old actress told Page Six: 'I am deciding now if I will head back to do more work in refugee camps in Turkey and Antep during or after the New Year.'

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UDoing an Angelina: The actress intends to return to Turkey to help Syrian refugees; pictured here in Gaziantemp, Turkey in October

The original: Angelina Jolie at a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan in September

Lindsay continued: 'The dates are not set yet. It depends on how Turkey feels after the recent terrorist attack in Istanbul. Not that any attack has or will ever stop me from helping those suffering, those who need our help the most.'

The Mean Girls star has sought to use her fame to aid child refugees who have escaped from war-torn Syria to Turkey.

During a visit in October she assisted hospital doctors giving medical check-ups to the children.

Professional: Lindsay changed into doctor's robes and tied her hair back as she helped conduct medical checks on the children who have fled war-torn Syria

'I miss my family a lot,' Lindsay told Page Six. 'But they are very supportive and understanding of the fact that my main focus is business, writing and soon to start another film. More so, my work with refugees.'

Adding: 'I always love giving gifts. So yes, for family and friends, most definitely I will be sending gifts. For me, I know it sounds silly, but, I am okay. I like to live by the act of giving. In all honesty, I am good with no materialistic gifts.'

When asked about her New Year's Eve plans, the Parent Trap actress did reveal she will be hosting a party at Zero Gravity in Dubai which she is 'very excited about.'

Growing popularity: Page Six also noted the growing popularity Lindsay has received during her recent trips to the country, including the Turkish President

Meanwhile, the actress has partnered with blue caffeine lemonade, Mintanine, an energy drink that she supplied to the refugees during her visits.

Lindsay is also selling the German energy drink at her recently-launched nightclub in Greece called, Lohan.

As promised, all profits from her share will go towards helping the refugees.
Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley have tied the knot in a top secret wedding ceremony on Monday afternoon.

And photos have now emerged of the picturesque country manor that hosted the nuptials of the high-profile couple.

Daily Mail Australia takes a look inside the private property in Coorabell, in the Byron Bay Hinterland, where the lovebirds wed.

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Wedding bells! Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley wed in a top secret ceremony in Byron Bay over the weekend

A short drive west of Byron Bay town centre, the venue boasts stunning country charm.

The idyllic spot is surrounded by lush mountains, making it the perfect hideaway for A-list couples.

The interior boasts mahogany wooden floorboards and holds a rustic charm, while the exterior features acres of greenery and a stunning rectangular pool.

Fairytale: A private property in Coorabell, in the Byron Bay Hinterland, is the perfect spot for a private wedding

Idyllic: The spot is surrounded by lush mountains, making it the ideal hideaway for an A-list couple

Bedrooms in the luxurious abode feature antique charm, with wood panelling and draping of fabric from the curtains to the bedhead.

Ornate furniture and intricate detailing in the overall aesthetic gives an old-worldly charm.

Decadent rugs feature in the spacious hallways of the abode, adding an element of warmth to the otherwise cool space.

Ensuring there's a style to meet all, other rooms in the manor hold a cleaner and more simplistic design.

White wooden walls take centre stage, while touches of old world charm are still featured in the form of antique leather chairs and gilded mirrors.

Old-worldly charm: Bedrooms in the luxurious abode feature antique charm, with wood panelling and draping of fabric from the curtains to the bedhead

Touch of luxury: Decadent rugs feature in the spacious hallways of the abode, adding an element of warmth to the otherwise cool space

Versatile: Another room in the luxury abode features clean white wooden walls, and touches of old luxury

Taking a step outside the luxurious abode, a sprawling lawn is complete with a rectangular pool.

A paved pathway leads to a set of ornate gates, with picturesque views of the hinterland.

Several sun chairs line the pool, while a teepee features at the back.

Haven: Taking a step outside the luxurious abode, a sprawling lawn is complete with a rectangular pool

Peaceful: The quaint space makes it ideal for A-list couples wanting to the tie the knot in secret

Picture-perfect: The outdoor space is perfect for guests to socialise by the pool

A venue previously thought to host the A-list nuptials was Harvest Newrybar, also a short distance from the Byron Bay town centre.

Harvest delivers the best of both worlds, with lush farmlands as well as Byron Bay's picturesque beaches a short distance away.

The farm house's ethos is based on fresh organic produce, with all of its culinary creations crafted using locally-grown and sourced goods.

While other guests have kept a low profile on social media, it is thought a friend of Margot's posted a secretive snap of an intimate beachside location set up for a wedding.

Alternate venue? Another location previously speculated to be where Margot said 'I do' was Harvest Newrybar, also a short distance from Byron Bay town centre

Organic: The farm house also boasts country charm, with fresh organic produce the focus of their menu

Wedding celebrations! Margot's brother Cameron, who flew back to Queensland on Saturday, was tagged in a photo at their wedding party with four of her friends

Intimate: A friend of Margot's reportedly posted a secretive snap of an intimate beachside location, reportedly set up for the couple's wedding

So in love: The couple attended the wedding of one of Tom's relatives, earlier this year

The actress's siblings Cameron, Lachlan and Anya were assumed to also be in attendance, with her sister reportedly her maid of honour on the special day.

Cameron, who flew to Queensland on Saturday, was tagged in a photo at what was thought to be Margot and Tom's wedding party, along with four of her friends.

It is thought that Margot's mother Sarie Kessler gave her away at the wedding, as the blonde beauty is estranged from her father Doug.

Margot and Tom have been dating for three years after meeting on the set of the World War II drama Suite Francaise in France.

The notoriously-private couple had been living in London with flatmates up until recently.
Madonna was told she would receive no special treatment in her legal battle over her $7.3million New York City apartment in court on Monday.

Madonna has been suing her building after they changed the terms of her lease, introducing a strict rule which prevents her children or staff being in residence at her property unless she is present.

The Like A Virgin star has argued that she can't be expected to be full-time resident at the Upper West apartment, although it's her primary residence, as she travels for work and it would affect her 20-year-old daughter Lourdes.

Not impressed: A judge in Manhattan on Monday compared Madonna to a door-to-door-salesperson or jailed criminal, reports PageSix

But no-nonsense Judge Gerald Lebovits asked Madonna's lawyer why she should get an exemption from the rule.

'Lets say your client were a traveling salesperson or away in college or serving a brief period in jail, wouldnt your client be as protected then as she is now going on tour and spending an inordinate amount of time in hotels?' he said in court on Monday to her legal team, as originally reported by PageSix.

And he added: 'Its the same principle.'

Legal battle: Madonna has been suing her building after they changed the terms of her lease, introducing a strict rule which prevents her children or staff being present at her property unless she is present

'Theres a landlord-tenant relationship between your client and the cooperative corporation and they could bring a Housing Court action to evict,' he warned.

Her attorney, Stuart Shaw argued that his international pop star client 'should not have to wait to defend an eviction proceeding.'

The buildings attorney, Patrick J. Sweeney, said the suit should be cast aside because Madonna waited too long to file it.

In court papers he also argued that Madonna cannot 'credibly claim she was treated any differently from every other shareholder,' reports PageSix.

The judge concluded that hed issue a written decision to determine in the coming weeks.

Unfair change? The Like A Virgin star has argued that she can't be expected to be full-time resident at the Upper West apartment, although it's her primary residence, as she travels for work and it would affect her 20-year-old daughter Lourdes (pictured together in May)

T he music star claims the board created the new rule in 2014, meaning her children and domestic help cannot live in the $7.3 million pad unless she is also in residence.

As well as adult daughter Lourdes, Madonna has three minor children Rocco Ritchie, 16, David Banda Ritchie, 11, and Mercy James, 10.

The co-op has also made it a rule that anyone under 16 cannot live in the home without a person over 21 being present, so Lourdes also cannot look after her younger siblings either.

While the changes applies to all in the building, the singing sensation claims when she purchased the property and signed her co-op agreement years prior, the rule was that the apartment could be used by herself and her spouse as well as any other family members, her children, and her domestic employees.

'Certainly such a requirement is ridiculous and impossible for almost any family to comply with, and certainly not someone with plaintiffs itinerant schedule,' Madonnas April lawsuit said.

They couldn't be there: As well as adult daughter Lourdes, Madonna has three other younger children Rocco Ritchie, 16, David Banda Ritchie, 11, and Mercy James, 10

Her attorney, Stuart Shaw, told the judge then that he submitted a sworn statement from his client that explains her lifestyle.

'She has homes all around the world, she travels extensively, she has a house in California, she has a house in Europe. She goes on tours, she spends an inordinate amount of time in hotels, yet the places she calls home is 64th Street,' Shaw said.

The material girl first purchased a co-operative apartment at 41 Central Park West, known as Harperley Hall, back when she was married to actor Sean Penn.
Geoffrey Edelsten's ex-girlfriend was rushed to hospital following an accident at her home in Los Angeles last week.

Ashley Kirk, a 32-year-old former Playboy model, confirmed she was staying at Cedars-Senai Emergency Department on Friday after falling over in the shower.

She posted an Instagram photo from her bedside and revealed she had been treated for a head injury.

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Hospital rush: Geoffrey Edelsten's ex-girlfriend Ashley Kirk (pictured) was rushed to Cedars-Senai Emergency Department following an accident at her home in Los Angeles on Friday

The image showed Ashley wearing a hospital robe and lying on bloodstained bed sheets.

'Wouldn't be an end to 2016 without going out in a bang at cedars!! 7 staples in my head later I'm still here somehow,' she wrote in the caption.

She explained of the injury: 'I was taking a shower at 8am my stupid shower door got stuck I guess I slipped fell and cracked my head open.

'I slipped and cracked my head open': Ashley confirmed she was hospitalised on Instagram, telling her fans she only remembered 'seeing pools of blood' and falling unconscious

'I don't remember anything but seeing pools of blood then went unconscious,' she concluded.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Ashley's representatives for comment.

Ashley made headlines in October over her relationship with 73-year-old Melbourne businessman Geoffrey.

Unlikely romance! Ashley made headlines in October over her relationship with 73-year-old Melbourne businessman Geoffrey Edelsten (pictured)

Busted! Ashley's agent denied the reports, but leaked text messages later published by Daily Mail Australia proved they were dating

Her agent denied the reports, but leaked text messages later published by Daily Mail Australia proved they were dating.

It is unclear when the romance ended, but Geoffrey claimed last week he was in a relationship with The Block's Suzi Taylor.

Suzi, 44, also denied the reports and claimed she was 'very much single'.
7 Gifts That May Be Illegal to Give

The holidays are a wonderful time of year, filled with plenty of cheer. Gift givers and receivers delight in the surprises that those brightly wrapped and decorated boxes contain. However, there are some gifts that you might want to be extra careful about giving.

Below you'll find a list of 7 types of gifts that might have some unexpected legal consequences.

1. Weapons

Giving the gift of guns, knives, and bb guns, may seem like a great idea if you're shopping for a hunter or weapons enthusiast, but you may want to think twice and research the law in your state. There are strict rules about gun ownership in many states, and there are strict regulations about taking weapons across state lines (if you are travelling for the holidays). Many gun laws are felonies, which could mean serious prison time. There are similar laws that pertain to certain types or lengths of knives, such as switchblades or butterfly knives.

And for those wanting to give a kid their first bb gun, while you should definitely talk to the parents first, most states prohibit minors from buying or having them and some places like New York City require a license for a bb gun.

2. Drugs and Alcohol

While marijuana has been legalized for recreational adult use in a handful of states, in most of the country, it is still illegal. In states where it is illegal, gifting marijuana, like any other illegal drug (and sometimes just drug paraphernalia), can get you arrested. So, unless you are in a legal marijuana state, gifting someone a tray of pot brownies or large gift wrapped package of marijuana could actually get you in legal trouble.

Also, while the ban on absinthe may no longer be in effect, there are still certain spirits that are illegal in some states. For example, Maryland bans the sale of grain alcohol (190 proof or above spirits). Also, don't ship your alcohol via the USPS, because that is illegal and they'll confiscate it.

3. Bootlegs

While it may be enticing to buy a stack of bootlegged recordings, whether they are DVDs, CDs, or even just a thumb drive, these are illegal and you can be arrested for buying them. So avoid the table on the sidewalk with the $1 DVDs, CDs, and video games.

Another word of warning, sometimes bootlegged media sellers will just be selling blank CDs.

4. Illegal Imports, Counterfeit or Stolen Merchandise

Anything that was illegally smuggled into the country, counterfeited, or stolen, should be avoided when making gift buying decisions. This is especially true for counterfeit toys.

When it comes to illegal imports and stolen merchandise, if discovered, these items can be taken into custody by law enforcement, and land your gift recipient in legal trouble as well.

5. Exotic Animals

Exotic animals are extraordinarily precious. Some are extraordinarily rare. So much so that most of them are illegal to own, buy, sell, or gift.

6. Gifts to Officers, Teachers, Public Employees

Giving gifts to public employees, especially those in service industries can actually be illegal. A large problem with giving gifts to government employees is the crime of bribery. While a gift giver's intent may not be to secure favorable treatment, it is difficult to avoid that appearance. While you may not be arrested for over-tipping your mailman, if your gift is viewed as a bribe, you could be arrested and prosecuted.

If you're planning to give a holiday gift to your child's teacher, note that there are likely state or local laws limiting what can be given. Such as in Massachusetts, where a teacher may have to disclose a gift in a letter of recommendation.

7. Really Expensive Gifts - Tax Considerations

Generally, giving large cash gifts or very expensive gifts create tax liabilities for both giver and recipient. The IRS has an annual limit that is currently $14k, which is actually an aggregate limit for the gifts you give to everyone (up until $14k, gifts are tax free). However, getting arrested, audited, or penalized is easily avoidable by not evading your tax obligations.

Related Resources:
Zsa Zsa, first US star famous for being famous, dead at 99

Zsa Zsa Gabor, the Hungarian-born Hollywood siren perhaps better known for her prodigious love life than her movie credits, died Sunday after suffering a heart attack, her husband said. She was 99.

An emotional Frederic von Anhalt told AFP that Gabor had passed away at home surrounded by friends and family.

"Everybody was there. She didn't die alone," he told AFP by telephone, choking back sobs.

Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor poses on May 12, 1958, in front of her Mercedes car

The pair married in 1986, making it her longest marriage.

Gabor, who in her heyday embodied the film industry's platinum blonde ideal, was a voluptuous former beauty queen with a penchant for lame gowns that accentuated her hourglass curves.

Her resume includes a long list of film roles in such hit movies as "Moulin Rouge," "Lili" and "Arrivederci Baby!"

But the actress was at least as famous for her conquests between the sheets as her triumphs on the silver screen.

Like her famous great-granddaughter by marriage Paris Hilton, Gabor was among the first celebrities to be famous for her celebrity.

Her thick Hungarian accent was much parodied -- especially her penchant for calling everyone she met "darling" -- or "dahlink" as she pronounced it.

It became her unique signature.

"I call everyone 'dahlink' because I can't remember their names," the socialite once said.

- Nine marriages -

Born in Hungary on February 6, 1917, as Sari Gabor, Zsa Zsa was one of a trio of ravishing sisters known for their shapely curves and passion for well-heeled men.

Her sisters were Magda, and Hollywood star Eva Gabor, who achieved greater acting success in the United States than her sister for her role in the 1960s hit television series "Green Acres."

Zsa Zsa also came to be known for her love of diamonds and frequently was photographed dripping in the sparkling gems.

During nine marriages and a prodigious number of affairs that made her a fixture in America's gossip magazines, she had just one child -- a daughter Francesca, fathered by hotel magnate Conrad Hilton.

She wrote in her 1993 autobiography "One Lifetime is Not Enough" that she lost her virginity at the age of 15 to Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.

"For the rest of my life, I would search for another god to eclipse him," Gabor wrote.

Her romantic scorecard was a "Who's Who" of Hollywood heartthrobs of her day, and her kiss-and-tell book detailed romances with screen legends Sean Connery and Frank Sinatra.

Gabor was known to be picky, however, spurning the advances of John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, John Huston and Henry Fonda, she wrote in her autobiography.

Her romantic dalliances even included a flirtation with screen legend Greta Garbo.

"She kissed me straight on the mouth. And I couldn't help kissing her back because she was so overwhelmingly strong and so beautiful," Gabor wrote.

In June 1989, Gabor made headlines when she slapped the face of a Beverly Hills police officer for giving her a traffic ticket. She was sentenced to three days in jail and ordered to pay $13,000 in court costs.

Gabor was briefly married to British-born actor George Sanders, who later wooed and briefly wed her sister Magda.

- Love, sex, romance, divorce -

The loquacious actress was known for an endless stream of bon mots, mostly uttered on the talkshow circuit, about her favorite topics: love, sex, romance and divorce.

They included:

- A man in love is incomplete until he has married. Then he's finished.

- Getting divorced just because you don't love a man is almost as silly as getting married just because you do.

- Husbands are like fires -- they go out when unattended.

- I never hated a man enough to give him diamonds back.

- I'm a great housekeeper. I get divorced. I keep the house.

- You never really know a man until you have divorced him.

Gabor, who had been in and out of hospital since a hip replacement in 2010, had several close brushes with death in recent years.

A 2002 car accident left the actress partially paralyzed and wheelchair-bound. She also had a stroke in 2005. One of her legs was partially amputated.

In 2011, von Anhalt said he had kept the extent of Gabor's medical problems from her, so that she could enjoy the festivities in typical style.

"We had some champagne and caviar .. we really celebrated good," he told AFP at the time. "I knew she had to go to the hospital, but I didn't want to tell her anything."

Us actress Zsa Zsa Gabor smiles in a car during her travel in Paris, on April 10, 1954
Cuba cracks down on dissidents after Castro death

Authorities across Cuba have cracked down on dissidents, arresting dozens, keeping others from marching in Havana, and detaining an American human rights lawyer, activists said Sunday.

In the first such anti-dissident operation since Fidel Castro's death last month, President Raul Castro seemed to indicate the Americas' only one-party communist state was in no mood for dissent.

A roundup in the country's east snared dozens and derailed street protests planned to demand that political prisoners be freed.

Despite advances in relations between the US and Cuba, Washington has not lifted the full economic embargo imposed on Cuba since 1962 YAMIL LAGE (AFP/File)

"There was a joint operation at 6:00 am in Santiago and Palma Soriano. They searched four homes, and so far we have 42 reported arrests -- 20 in Santiago, 12 in Palma and 10 in Havana," Jose Daniel Ferrer told AFP by phone.

The 46-year-old, who heads the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu), had called the demonstrations to demand that political prisoners be set free. Castro insists there are no political prisoners, just lawbreakers.

Ferrer said he was detained in Santiago, Cuba's second biggest city, at a police unit known as Micro 9.

"They threatened me, and said by calling the demonstration I was facilitating public disorder.... disobedience and espionage," Ferrer said.

Most arrests of dissidents in roundups are brief. Sometimes, the authorities prevent them from leaving their homes to attend a protest or march.

- Ladies in White, shut in -

In Havana, the award-winning Ladies in White group, which presses for the release of jailed dissidents who are their relatives, said that at least 20 of its activists were "under siege," kept from attending their weekly march.

"At least 20 homes were blocking the residents to keep us from marching today," said group leader Berta Soler.

It was a step backward for the Ladies in White. They long have been considered the only dissidents the Cuban government allowed to march regularly; they hold one weekly protest outside a church in Havana.

But not this Sunday, Soler said.

- US rights lawyer held, freed -

Kimberley Motley, an American human rights lawyer, was briefly detained on Friday along with Cuban activists Gorki Avila and Luis Alberto Marino when they planned to visit graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado, known as "El Sexto," in jail.

Maldonado was also arrested on November 26, a day after the death of Cuban revolutionary icon Fidel Castro, after painting on a wall in Havana the phrase "He's gone," her relatives say.

According to online newspaper 14 y medio, Motley left Cuba at the request of the government.

She tweeted "Thanks for all the love and support safely back home in the U.S. Will not stop fighting to free @dmmelsexto."

Cuban authorities have not confirmed the arrests.

The United States and Cuba re-established ties in July 2015 after breaking them off for more than half a century.

Despite advances in relations between the former Cold War rivals -- which include a slew of bilateral agreements and more than 208,000 US citizens visiting Cuba this year -- Washington has not lifted the full economic embargo imposed on Cuba since 1962.
Australia and France to seal next generation sub deal

France and Australia will sign a multi-billion dollar deal -- which Paris has billed as the "contract of the century" -- for 12 state-of-the-art submarines, their defence ministers said on Monday.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and France's Minister of Defence, Jean-Yves Le Drian, will ink the inter-governmental accord in Adelaide with the French shipbuilder DCNS designing and building the Shortfin Barracudas.

Defence Minister Marise Payne said in Sydney the fleet of subs was the "largest defence procurement programme in Australia's history".

France's Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian (centre L) and his Australian counterpart Marise Payne (centre R) are lowered onto the hangar deck of the HMAS Adelaide in Sydney on December 19, 2016 William WEST (AFP)

The overall cost of the submarine fleet, which includes separate agreements with US and Australian contractors, totals Aus$50 billion (US$37 billion).

The new contract, which will be signed Tuesday, will lay out the "legal framework under which Australia and France will partner on the future submarine programme over the coming decades".

She added that it was "a critical milestone in delivering the regionally superior fleet of submarines".

Australia awarded DCNS the main contract in April to design and build its next generation of submarines, beating off competition from Germany and Japan.

The vessels will be a scaled-down, conventionally powered version of France's 4,700-tonne nuclear-fuelled Barracuda but boast the same stealth capabilities.

Design and mobilisation work has already been launched with Australian experts working in Cherbourg while DCNS will open new offices in Adelaide on Tuesday employing up to 300 engineers.

With Canberra insisting all the subs be built domestically, Payne said 2,800 jobs would be linked to the overall Shortfin Barracuda programme in Australia, with the first vessel expected to be ready by around 2030.

French officials expect 3,000 to 4,000 direct and indirect French jobs to come from Canberra's agreement with DCNS, which suffered a major leak of secret data on Scorpene subs designed for the Indian navy last August.

Australia has rebuffed any security concerns and Le Drian said that a judicial investigation into the leaks was underway in France.

"Security priorities are embedded," in the sub programme, Payne said.

The leak was "intended to harm France", Le Drian added, noting the two countries had signed an agreement on handling classified information in Paris on December 8.

The Barracudas are to replace Australia's ageing diesel and electric-powered Collins submarines.

But Payne would not detail the speed and range of the new vessels, saying only that they would be "regionally superior" and better than the Collins class subs they replace.

US defence contractor Lockheed Martin was named in September to fit the combat systems for the Barracudas.
Afghan 'bacha bazi' kidnappings: search for the victims

A glassy-eyed Afghan teenager sits mutely beside his father, hunched over a tray of tea and candy, unable to tell the painful story of how he was kidnapped by a policeman to be used as his sex slave.

After weeks of searching, AFP met the boy in a remote, undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan where he lives in virtual hiding two years after his ordeal.

He is among 13 families traced by our reporters who have suffered from "bacha bazi" - the institutionalised sexual enslavement of children by Western-backed Afghan forces.

An Afghan boy, who was held as a child sex slave, sitting at a restaurant in a unidentified location in Afghanistan Aref Karimi (AFP)

But let's back up a bit to explain how we got there.

When AFP's exclusive report in June revealed how the Taliban are using child sex slaves as Trojan Horses to kill their abusers in Afghan police ranks, it triggered a flurry of reaction.

It prompted President Ashraf Ghani to launch a "thorough investigation", stressing that bacha bazi in security ranks is a crime.

It sparked reinvigorated calls from US lawmakers to end child abuse by Afghan allies.

It also, not unexpectedly, prompted angry Afghan officials to privately accuse AFP reporters of "trying to bring Afghanistan a bad name". But that is another story.

Spectacularly absent in the conversations was the plight of the enslaved children, their families, and the official efforts - or the lack thereof - to rescue them from their abusers.

Thus began the months-long hunt for testimonies from various provinces, many of them disturbingly similar and revealing a hidden epidemic of child abuse.

Significantly, they shed light on where these child sex slaves come from. A common theory has been that poor families sell them to powerful commanders or that some willingly choose a life of servitude, lured by the prospect of gifts or easy cash.

But all 13 testimonies highlighted cases of abduction, sometimes with the help of pimps.

They offered a searing portrayal of a practice campaigners say is nothing short of culturally-sanctioned rape.

They spotlighted the helplessness among families, who are unable to rescue children in a system with no specific law against bacha bazi, no mechanism for redress and apparently no official will to act against abusive policemen who are seen as the lesser of two evils in the fight against the Taliban.

In the fog of the conflict, sexual violence against children has become a new normal.

- 'Living dead' -

But tracing these families and interviewing them was fraught with challenges as a culture of shame and silence shrouds the practice.

With the help of activists, tribal elders and community leaders, AFP managed to find multiple families of victims. Some families led to other families.

But a few in far flung volatile districts were unreachable because of security constraints or poor mobile communication.

Some others refused to talk, fearing reprisals.

"Your report won't bring my son back; it won't change anything," one father in Uruzgan told AFP, his voice laden with grief.

Some activists initially offered to help but later declined to part with their contacts, fearing they might rankle authorities.

The testimonies gathered in the end are perhaps therefore only a small illustration of a deeply pervasive problem.

This search for victims eventually brought an AFP team to the same room as the boy who would not speak about his ordeal.

His story was different - he is one of the fortunate few who managed to escape his abuser.

AFP interviewed various members of his family in Helmand and the powerful official who helped rescue him. He advised the family to flee the province over fears that the boy could be retaken.

But the boy, still struggling to overcome his psychological injuries, was unable to talk.

"Those scars will take a long time to heal," his father said. "He is like the living dead."

Afghanistan "bacha bazi" kidnappings AFP (AFP)

The families' testimonies shine a rare spotlight on the anguished, solitary struggles to free sons, nephews and cousins from a tradition of culturally-sanctioned enslavement and rape AREF KARIMI (AFP)
Thousands leave Aleppo as UN plans new peace talks

Thousands of traumatised Syrians left the rebel enclave of Aleppo Monday as the UN voted to deploy observers there and said it planned new peace talks in Geneva in February.

"It is the intention of the United Nations to convene those negotiations in Geneva on 8 February 2017," UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said after the Security Council unanimously adopted a French-drafted resolution to monitor evacuations from Aleppo, with Russia's backing.

But in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin said after Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead by a policeman in Ankara that the killing could "disrupt" the peace process in Syria and harm Turkish-Russian ties.

Evacuated Syrians arrive in Jibrin on the eastern outskirts of Aleppo on December 19, 2016 George OURFALIAN (AFP)

Damascus denounced the "despicable" murder of Karlov, who a witness said was shot dead by a gunman who shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge".

James Nixey, head of the Russia and Eurasia programme at think tank Chatham House, said the diplomat's murder could affect Aleppo evacuations.

Families in Aleppo had spent hours waiting in below-freezing temperatures, sheltering from the rain in bombed-out apartment blocks and waiting desperately for news of a new wave of departures.

After an agonising delay, the operation resumed under a complex agreement that will see regime forces exert full control over Syria's second city.

- 'Huge crowd' -

Buses transported more than 7,000 people out of the city, said Ingy Sedky, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

She said the evacuations were expected to continue overnight.

"There are still thousands -- it's a huge crowd, women, children," she said.

The evacuees included seven-year-old Bana al-Abed, whose Twitter account had offered a tragic account of Syria's nearly six-year war, as well as 47 children who had been trapped in an orphanage.

Ahmad al-Dbis, who heads a team of doctors and volunteers coordinating evacuations, saw dozens of buses and ambulances arrive at the staging ground west of Aleppo.

He said the evacuees were in "a very bad state after waiting for more than 16 hours" at a regime checkpoint without being allowed off the vehicles.

The government had suspended evacuations on Friday, insisting that people also be allowed to leave two northwestern villages under rebel siege.

The ICRC and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said around 500 people left in a dawn convoy out of Fuaa and Kafraya.

The Britain-based Observatory said at least 14,000 people, including 4,000 rebels, have left the opposition sector since the evacuations began on Thursday while at least 7,000 remain.

- Sub-zero temperatures -

A rebel representative said hundreds of people would also be evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya, two army-besieged rebel towns near the border with Lebanon, as part of the deal.

Dbis said the Aleppo evacuees' departure was delayed for hours in sub-zero temperatures, compounding their plight from months of siege and army bombardment.

"They hadn't eaten, they had nothing to drink, the children had caught colds, they were not even able to go to the toilet," he said.

He described families wrapped in several layers of coats getting off the buses, which then headed back to Aleppo to bring out more.

The UN's children agency UNICEF said some of the children rescued from the orphanage were in critical condition because of injuries and dehydration.

"Many vulnerable children -- including other orphans and children separated from their families -- still remain in east Aleppo and need immediate protection," it said.

The Humanitarian Relief Foundation, a Turkish NGO working in Syria, said young blogger Bana had arrived at a camp for displaced persons in the northwest province of Idlib.

The Turkish news agency Anadolu posted a short interview with the girl, dressed in a warm coat and hat against the winter chill.

"In Aleppo the shelling was all over the place. We got out from the ruins because our house was bombed," she said shyly in Arabic.

- Blistering assault -

Residents of east Aleppo -- a rebel bastion since 2012 -- had already lived under four months of suffocating siege when Syria's army began its blistering assault in mid-November to retake the whole city.

"The people we are welcoming have been through hell -- the level of trauma they have experienced is impossible to describe or comprehend," said Casey Harrity of the international NGO Mercy Corps.

In an 11th-hour deal, regime ally Moscow and rebel supporter Ankara agreed on the evacuation of thousands of civilians and fighters from the last remaining opposition-held pocket in Aleppo.

Moscow, which has carried out an air war in support of the Syrian regime since September 2015, had threatened to veto the Security Council draft resolution calling for monitors to oversee the protection of civilians.

But on Monday, the council unanimously adopted the French-drafted text in the first show of unity in months among world powers grappling with the crisis.

The measure tasks the UN with carrying out "adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations from eastern Aleppo and other districts of the city".

Arab foreign ministers welcomed the resolution, the 22-member Arab League said in a statement following an emergency meeting in Cairo over Aleppo late Monday.

The foreign and defence ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran are set to meet in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss Syria.

Evacuations in the Aleppo region Simon MALFATTO, Sophie RAMIS (AFP)

Syrians evacuated from Aleppo arrive in opposition-controlled Khan al-Assal on December 19, 2016 Baraa Al-Halabi (AFP)

Civilians from the remaining rebel-held pockets of eastern Aleppo are evacuated by bus on December 19, 2016 George OURFALIAN (AFP)

Syrian children evacuated from Aleppo arrive in opposition-controlled Khan al-Assal on December 19, 2016 Omar haj kadour (AFP)
Linde, Praxair set to reveal $65 bn merger: report

German industrial gases maker Linde and US competitor Praxair are set to announce a $65-billion merger to create a global leader in the sector in the coming days, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

Linde and Praxair's previous attempt at a tie-up failed in September, but they are now expected to reveal preliminary merger terms "as early as Wednesday," people familiar with the talks told the FT.

The German firm said just two weeks ago that it was back at the table with Praxair.

German industrial gases maker Linde and US competitor Praxair are set to announce a $65-billion merger Nicolas Armer (dpa/AFP/File)

A Linde spokesman refused to comment on "speculation" when contacted by AFP.

Combined, the two groups would overtake Linde's historic French rival, Air Liquide, as the global number one industrial gas supplier, with combined annual revenues of more than $30 billion (29 billion euros).

Praxair chief executive Steve Angel will be CEO of the combined firm, while Linde chairman Wolfgang Reitzle will retain that role, the sources told the FT.

The new company will be based in Connecticut but have its tax domicile in Europe.

Executive personnel and the site of the merged group's headquarters were vexed questions that helped scupper the deal the first time around, a source familiar with the discussions told AFP at the time.

Linde will also likely agree for its engineering unit -- which builds industrial plants for other firms -- to be spun off as part of the deal, the sources said.

Listing the engineering unit separately could calm fears of job losses among German worker representatives at Linde.
Iraqis create market in mud of displaced camp

Mobile phones, cartons of cigarettes and fresh mutton are all on sale inside a camp for Iraqi civilians displaced in the battle to recapture Mosul -- if they have the money.

In the Khazir camp, buyers trudge in the mud, skidding around in flimsy shoes and examining improvised market stalls on the ground between tents that shelter thousands of people.

Behind his makeshift display of mobile phones and USB cables, 28-year-old Waad Khalaf grins. Buyers are permanently flocking to his stall, he says.

A displaced Iraqi man pictured at the Khazir camp, located between Arbil and Mosul, on December 1, 2016 THOMAS COEX (AFP/File)

Under the Islamic State jihadist group, "having a mobile meant prison so now everybody needs to buy one," he says, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his fake leather jacket to warm them.

The former labourer escaped his home town of Gogjali on the outskirts of Mosul in northern Iraq in November as fighting raged there between Iraqi forces and IS fighters.

Selling phones for up to around 130,000 Iraqi dinars ($100) each allows him to buy warm winter clothes and shoes for his daughter and son, says the father-of-two.

Khalaf and his wife can then also afford to buy medicine from Arbil in Iraqi Kurdistan several dozen kilometres to the east, he says.

Not far away in the improvised market, Khalaf's clients can charge their new phone by plugging it in to a multi-socket extension cord linked to a generator.

In a camp with just four hours of electricity a day, savvy young entrepreneurs are asking for the equivalent of around 40 US cents for an hour of power from the roaring machine.

Khalaf has only been selling his phones for three days but Farhan Yassin says he was one of the first salesmen at the improvised market.

It happened "just like that", he says. "We never spoke to each other but somehow we all ended up here."

- Snipping skills -

For 12 days, Yassin has been selling cigarettes as a way of returning to normality after living under the jihadists.

He lost his shop in Mosul after IS closed it down and made him pay the equivalent of around $1,300 for selling cigarettes, he says, which were just as sinful as mobile phones under their ultra-conservative rule.

He now sells each packet of cigarettes for around 500 dinars (around 40 US cents) after buying them in bulk in Arbil.

Ammar, a barber, also left Mosul last month when anti-IS forces arrived at the gates of Iraq's jihadist-held second city.

He was only able to smuggle a pair of scissors into his bag as he fled and had to buy all the rest of his equipment in Arbil.

Seating his clients in front of a mirror, he uses his new gear to trim their beards or snip away at their hair.

His customers "pay what they want as nobody has work", he says, plastic comb in hand, bags of vegetables left behind on his small table as payment.

The 26-year-old history graduate was unable to work as a teacher under IS as the group set up its own schools, says the young man, whose head is wrapped tightly in a scarf under a hood to keep out the bitter cold.

When he could not find work at a camp school either, he again resorted to his snipping skills to support his young daughter "who needs diapers and powder milk".

Not far from where he cuts hair, powder milk is on sale next to sanitary pads, underwear, metal cutlery and fizzy drinks for those with money.

Cash is in rare supply among the roughly three million people displaced by fighting in Iraq.

But one couple has found a solution. They slip bags of rice and lentils they have received as aid through the fence surrounding the camp to people on the other side who buy them for a few precious bank notes.
Iran's Rouhani unveils landmark bill of rights

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani unveiled a landmark bill of rights on Monday, guaranteeing freedom of speech, protest, fair trials and privacy, saying the achievement was "one of my oldest dreams".

Although many of the rights are already enshrined in Iran's constitution written after the 1979 Islamic revolution, Rouhani said it offered the first clear list of principles that could be used to check the performance of state institutions.

"I'm very pleased that today one of my most important promises is being delivered and I am achieving one of my oldest dreams," Rouhani told officials in a televised ceremony.

Hassan Rouhani signs documents as part of the landmark bill of rights in Tehran on December 19, 2016

However, many institutions, including the judiciary and the powerful Revolutionary Guards, are firmly in the grip of hardliners who do not answer to the president and say the priority is to protect the revolution against dissenters and outside interference.

Rouhani said the authorities should respect limits on their powers.

"No one is allowed to enter another person's house, shop or private workplace without the permission of the owner... in the name of discovering whether crimes or sins have been committed," he said, quoting the founder of the Islamic revolution, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Having promised a bill of rights for citizens during his 2013 election campaign, Rouhani's announcement may mark a belated effort to rally reformist supporters ahead of a re-election bid in May.

Rouhani said the bill was not yet a formal law, but "must be implemented by everyone".

A new "special deputy for citizenship rights" will work with government departments to draw up reform plans and check their progress with annual reports.

"One of the major demands of Iranian people is citizenship rights," said Rouhani.

"This bill is a call by the Iranian nation against some arrogant Western countries who think they are ahead of Third World countries in human rights."

Western rights groups and governments accuse Iran of wholesale violations, including arbitrary detention without trial, violent suppression of dissent, and restrictions on the press and free speech.

Yousef Molayi, a Tehran lawyer, told AFP the bill was "a step forward in guaranteeing parts of the rights and freedoms that people should enjoy".

"The president is highlighting the importance of citizens' rights and the need to observe existing laws which may not be implemented thoroughly now," he said.

"For example, in some trials the court decides that the lawyer should not be present, and this bill clarifies that this is not a correct interpretation."

Conservatives were quick to criticise the charter, saying it was the work of a reformist minority rather than the wider Iranian public.

"These days as people wait impatiently for the delivery of economic openings (linked to) the nuclear deal ... the government in its last months has remembered the rights of people. It's a joke," said Osulgara News, a popular conservative social media channel.

Hassan Rouhani says a bill of rights is one of his oldest dreams
North Korean defector vows to expose 'gruesome' reality: report

Top-ranking North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-Ho, whose recent defection gifted a major propaganda coup to the South, vowed Monday to devote himself to exposing the cruelties of the Pyongyang regime and encouraging others to escape.

South Korean lawmakers who met with Thae in Seoul told the Yonhap news agency that he had fleshed out his reasons for defecting and testified to the precarious lives of senior officials in the North and the "capitalist" survival techniques of ordinary North Koreans.

Thae was living in London as the deputy ambassador to Britain when he escaped to the South with his wife and two sons in August -- becoming one of the highest-ranking diplomats ever to defect.

A woman walks past a television screen showing file footage of Thae Yong-Ho in Seoul on August 18, 2016 JUNG YEON-JE (AFP/File)

The North's state media denounced him as "human scum", and accused him of embezzling state funds, raping a minor and spying for South Korea in exchange for money.

According to lawmaker Lee Cheol-Woo, Thae said he had become increasingly aware of the "gruesome realities" of North Korea under leader Kim Jong-Un and decided defection was the only option.

Thae promised to devote his life to "freeing the North Korean people from repression and persecution," Lee told Yonhap.

"I will engage in public activities even if it threatens my own safety," he quoted Thae as saying.

Intelligence agents who had been debriefing Thae since his arrival in Seoul told the lawmakers that he would be released from protective custody on Friday.

For all North Korean defectors, life in the South begins with intensive interrogation by the National Intelligence Service that can last for months and is aimed at weeding out possible spies.

Most are then sent to a resettlement centre for three months' training, after which they are free to start new lives in South Korean society.

- Bugged homes -

Thae said life for high-level officials in North Korea could be extremely insecure, and it was perfectly normal for their homes to be bugged and monitored for any hint of disloyalty.

Lee told Yonhap that Thae had confirmed the execution of North Korea's then-defence minister, Hyon Yong-Chol, in 2015.

"The reason Hyon Yong-Chol was executed was because he said the wrong things at home," Thae was quoted as saying.

The NIS had previously suggested Hyon was purged and executed for dozing off during events presided over by Kim Jong-Un.

Thae also described how many ordinary North Koreans had taken to small-sized market enterprise to help feed themselves given the failures of the state food distribution system.

"Although North Korea is under a socialist system, it is basically running in a capitalist form," Thae was quoted as saying.

"Now, rather than relying on the party, people have learned many ways for survival on their own," he added.

Thae said more senior officials would defect from the North if they were less concerned about making a new life in the South, and urged Seoul to offer jobs and opportunities to encourage more to escape.

Following Thae's arrival and several other high-profile defection cases, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye told her government in October to prepare for a large-scale influx of North Koreans.
Apple appeals landmark EU tax ruling

Apple on Monday launched a legal challenge against a landmark EU decision that the tech giant pay billions in back-taxes to Ireland, claiming the EU has ignored the law.

The European Commission, the EU executive arm, in August ordered iPhone maker Apple to reimburse a record 13 billion euros ($14 billion) in unpaid taxes in Ireland.

The EU, led by its competition chief Margrethe Vestager, accused Ireland of giving Apple a secret tax deal that allowed the iPhone maker to enjoy near zero tax on its huge sales worldwide for more than a decade.

Apple says the EU ignored the law when it ordered the company to pay back-taxes to Ireland Gabrielle Lurie (AFP/File)

The deal was in breach of the EU's state aid rules, argued Vestager, a former Danish finance minister who has made clamping down on tax deals a priority.

"It's been clear since the start of this case there was a pre-determined outcome," a spokeswoman for Apple told AFP, confirming the appeal.

"The Commission took unilateral action and retroactively changed the rules, disregarding decades of Irish tax law, US tax law, as well as global consensus on tax policy, that everyone has relied on," she added.

The appeal, lodged at an EU court in Luxembourg, came after the bloc's anti-trust teams released their full 130-page argumentation in the case.

"The Commission will defend its decision in court," the Commission said in a short statement, describing a court process that could take years.

With the release, the Irish government also laid out its arguments against the EU case, accusing Brussels of a major breach of national sovereignty.

"The Commission has exceeded its powers and interfered with national tax sovereignty," Ireland's finance department said in a three-page outline of its main arguments.

"The Commission has no competence, under state aid rules, unilaterally to substitute its own view of the geographic scope and extent of the member state's tax jurisdiction for those of the member state itself," the ministry added.

- Pro-business reputation -

In August, the EU verdict shocked the business world and infuriated Apple, with CEO Tim Cook calling it "political crap".

It also raised tensions with Washington, which accused Brussels of "disproportionately" focusing on US corporations. Google, Starbucks and Amazon are also in the EU's crosshairs.

"We continue to believe the Commission is retroactively applying a sweeping new state aid theory that is contrary to well-established legal principles," the US treasury said in a statement.

By the Commission's calculations, Dublin allowed Apple to pay a tax rate of 1 percent of its European profits in 2003 which then dropped to 0.005 percent by 2014.

Ireland formally lodged its appeal in November after winning the backing of the Irish parliament, with MPs willing to forgo the decision's potential windfall in order to preserve Dublin's pro-business reputation.

Once a corporate backwater, Ireland found economic success by building a low tax entryway to Europe for multinationals seeking access to the EU, the world biggest market. Dublin's official corporate tax rate is 12 percent, one of the world's lowest.

Dublin also claimed procedural errors in the Commission's investigation, which was launched in 2014, arguing Ireland was not contacted to comment on findings contained in the ruling.

"The Commission breached the duty of good administration by failing to act impartially and in accordance with its duty of care," said the submission.

Apple -- with 6,000 staff in its Cork city campus -- is a valued employer in Ireland where it has had operations since 1980.
How to Prepare for Divorce While You Wait out the Holidays

The impermanence of seasons can often remind us of the impermanence of relationships. Whether it's the heightened stress of the holidays straining a marriage or the optimism of a new year that shows unhappy spouses a way out, online searches for divorce attorneys and in-court filings of divorce papers spike following the holiday season.

Divorce is not something to take lightly, however, and even if you've already decided to get a divorce, there may be good reasons to delay that decision and better ways to prepare for a divorce once it comes time to file.

Divorce Season's Greetings

Researchers recently found two seasonal spikes in divorce rates: spring and summer. Peaking divorce filings in the spring can indicate that many people made the decision right before or during the holidays, then took some time to get their ducks in a row before the divorce.

"People tend to face the holidays with rising expectations, despite what disappointments they might have had in years past," claimed associate sociology professor Julie Brines. "They represent periods in the year when there's the anticipation or the opportunity for a new beginning, a new start, something different, a transition into a new period of life. It's like an optimism cycle, in a sense." Even if the decision to divorce may seem impulsive, it could be the result of shifting perspectives around the holiday season.

The Waiting Game

While some relationships, especially those involving domestic violence, need to end immediately, with others there may be good reasons to delay a divorce until after the holidays. Beyond the social pressure of not creating extra drama around family events, you might have some financial reasons -- from holiday or year-end bonuses to tax implications -- to hold off on filing for divorce.

"People don't want to upset the apple cart over the holidays," Alton Abramowitz, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, told Reuters. "And then, because they don't want to spend another damned year with that spouse of theirs, as soon as the holidays are over they pull the plug and file."

Getting Your Divorce Ducks in a Row

If you've already decided to get a divorce, and also decided to hold off until after the holidays, there are still things you can do to prepare for the impending split. Taking care of your kids, your business, and your taxes are just a few -- make sure you take care of yourself as well.

And the best way to get ready for a divorce? Get an experienced divorce attorney.

Related Resources:
Middle Eastern Christians facing 'tragedy': church

A leading church figure in the Middle East said Monday Christians across the region were facing a "tragedy," and accused the international community of failing to act.

"The situation of Christians, especially in Syria and Iraq, is a tragedy," said Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in a press conference ahead of the Christmas holidays.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem heads the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Land.

Christians in the Middle East face a "tragedy" says Pierbattista Pizzaballa Ahmad Gharabli (AFP)

He said up to two-thirds of Christians have left in those two countries, citing in particular Aleppo -- the previously mixed city in northern Syria which has been devastated by more than five years of civil war.

"In Aleppo, before the war there were 300,000 (Christians)," he said.

"Now it is about 50,000 maximum."

He accused world governments of failing to act to help stabilise the region, instead resorting to "slogans."

"The international community now limit themselves to slogans and some economical support. Nothing more than that -- it is very weak."

While he said attacks on Christians killed specifically due to their religion were relatively rare, there have been examples of persecution by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Earlier this month 23 people were killed in a bombing at a Coptic Christian church in Egypt, while in September a prominent Christian writer was shot dead in Jordan.

As a region, the Middle East has the highest levels of religious hostilities in the world, according to research this year by the Pew Research Center.

Christians were harassed in 16 out of 20 countries in the region, Pew found.

In Israel, Pizzaballa said he was opposed to a government-backed plan to force mosques to quieten their calls to prayer which is currently going through the Israeli parliament.

"I think it is a dangerous precedent," he said. "I wish this bill won't proceed. There are other ways to solve the problem of acoustic pollution," he said.
Troops deploy in tense DR Congo as leader's mandate expires

People stayed home across Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, leaving troops to patrol ghost cities as tension peaked hours before President Joseph Kabila's mandate ends, but with no election in sight.

Kabila's second term officially expires at midday on December 20, but he has shown no sign of stepping down and talks on a peaceful transition are in limbo, sparking fears of fresh violence in the unstable mineral-rich nation.

The normally teeming capital Kinshasa, a megacity of 10 million people, was a shadow of itself with barely any traffic on the main roads, public transport at a minimum, and soldiers and police outnumbering passers-by.

Normally teeming Kinshasa is a shadow of itself, with barely any traffic on the main roads Eduardo Soteras (AFP)

Shops were shuttered in the main square and there were tense scenes at Kinshasa University, where dozens of police and troops held back hundreds of angry students, AFP journalists said.

The UN rights office in Congo said 28 people were arrested in Kinshasa on Monday and 46 in the eastern cities of Goma and Bukavu.

"This silence is hiding our anger but that means tomorrow will be bad," said a 20-year-old in Kinshasa who gave his name only as Moise.

"Kabila will be over at midnight. Tomorrow I'll be partying because it'll be over."

- Killings in volatile East -

In the volatile east, nine rebels, a South African peacekeeper, a Congolese soldier, a police officer and a civilian were killed when militia fighters attacked several buildings in Butembo, including the prison.

A supplier of minerals crucial for everyday items ranging from smartphones to lightbulbs -- tantalum, tungsten, tin and coltan -- the mineral trade in the east of the country has long been linked to armed groups and conflict.

Kabila, who has been in power for 15 years, is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term but under a recent constitutional court order, he may stay on until a successor is chosen.

The ruling party and some opposition leaders have agreed to schedule an election in April 2018, leaving Kabila in office until the vote. But the main opposition bloc rejects this plan.

In Kinshasa, security forces cordoned off the university but students reached by telephone said they had been planning "to march peacefully" to parliament to demand Kabila step down.

An AFP video journalist and a fixer -- both Congolese -- were arrested at the university and detained for 10 hours before being released late on Monday.

They were questioned by officials from several services and they went through the contents of the video reporter's phone.

Franck Diongo, the leader of a minor opposition party, was arrested and accused of detaining three Republican Guards, Kabila's diplomatic advisor Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi said.

Security was also tight in the second city, Lubumbashi, in the southeast, with most shops closed and very little traffic on the roads.

Social networks have been cut or filtered since midnight Sunday on government orders and police at the weekend banned gatherings of more than 10 people.

- Talks to resume Wednesday -

In a last-ditch bid to achieve a peaceful transfer of power, the ruling party and fringe opposition groups held talks last week with the mainstream opposition led by 84-year-old Etienne Tshisekedi.

But after a week of mediation, the two sides broke up Saturday with no progress.

Negotiations are to resume on Wednesday when Catholic bishops acting as mediators return from a long-planned trip to Rome -- a day after 45-year-old Kabila's term ends.

A democratic handover would break ground for Congo's 70 million people who since independence from Belgium in 1960 have never witnessed a democratic transfer of power following polls.

The president has been in office since his father Laurent Kabila was assassinated in 2001. He was elected in 2006, and again in 2011, in a poll the opposition decried as rigged.

Tshisekedi's opposition grouping has threatened to bring people onto the streets from Monday if the talks failed.

"I don't see (Kabila) caving in to pressure," his diplomatic advisor Bin Karubi said Monday.

Some two decades ago, Congo sunk into the deadliest conflict in modern African history, its two wars in the late 1990s and early 2000s dragging in at least six African armies and leaving more than three million dead.

Kinshasa's Mombele neighbourhood on December 19, 2016, as tensions rise as Joseph Kabila mandate nears its end Eduardo Soteras (AFP/File)

A blockade on the street leading to the home of veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi in Kinshasa on December 19, 2016 Eduardo Soteras (AFP)

Chronology of political events in DR Congo since January 2015 Sabrina Blanchard, Aude Genet (AFP)
US seeks UN Security Council vote on South Sudan arms embargo

The United States on Monday stepped up its drive to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan, pushing ahead with plans for a vote at the Security Council on the proposed ban.

US Ambassador Samantha Power made the case for cutting off the weapons flow to the war-torn country during a council meeting, arguing that all sides were mobilizing for more fighting and that action was needed to prevent mass atrocities.

"The situation is not getting better, but worse, and we are sitting on our hands," Power told the council. "Large-scale attacks could start at any moment."

Peacekeeper troops from Ethiopia patrol at night in Abyei town, South Sudan Albert Gonzalez Farran (AFP)

The United States last month presented a draft resolution on imposing an arms embargo following UN warnings that the war-torn country could descend into genocide.

An annex to the proposed resolution would also put South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar, army chief Paul Malong and Information Minister Michael Makuei on a sanctions blacklist.

The United States will request a vote on the arms embargo before the end of the year, Power said.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon backed the US call to ban arms deals with South Sudan, saying an embargo would reduce the capacity of all sides to wage war.

"If we fail to act, South Sudan will be on a trajectory towards mass atrocities," said Ban.

- Russia sees no risk of genocide -

France and Britain support an arms embargo, which could come up for a vote as early as Thursday, according to diplomats.

But veto powers Russia and China have voiced opposition, while non-permanent council member Japan, which has sent peacekeepers to South Sudan, is also balking at the proposal.

Japan has argued that imposing an arms embargo would antagonize President Salva Kiir's government and put peacekeepers' lives at risk in a conflict already marked by horrific levels of brutality.

Russian Deputy Ambassador Petr Iliichev cast doubt over UN warnings of a risk of genocide, arguing that criminal groups and "undisciplined" troops were responsible for mass violence, and not the government's policy.

"We would refrain from concluding that there is any form of targeted systemic policy," he told the council.

UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien said the humanitarian crisis had "deteriorated dramatically" as South Sudan entered its fourth year of war.

More than 6 million people -- half of South Sudan's population -- are in need of urgent aid and humanitarian organisations expect this number to rise by 20 to 30 percent next year, O'Brien told the council.

Some 1.3 million South Sudanese have fled across borders as refugees, including 383,000 who have fled to Uganda since July, according to UN figures.

The world's youngest nation, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and more than 3.1 million people displaced.
UN appeals for $547 million in aid for Palestinians

The United Nations launched an appeal Monday for $547 million (524 million euros) to help 1.6 million people in the Palestinian territories in 2017.

The response covers 1.1 million residents of the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli blockade for the past decade, and half a million people in the occupied West Bank.

The most recent conflict between Israel and Gaza ended in August 2014 but Israel has maintained tight restrictions on the enclave, while Egypt has also closed its border.

An elderly Palestinian woman sits in front of her house in Gaza City MOHAMMED ABED (AFP/File)

The United Nations has warned that tiny but densely populated coastal enclave could become uninhabitable by 2020 if current trends continue.

"Needs in Gaza remain particularly acute and humanitarian services provided by the international community remain a lifeline," said Robert Piper, UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, in a letter accompanying the launch.

The appeal was down from $571 million the year before, of which about 47 percent, or $267 million, was met.

Politically there has been few positive trends in 2016, with plans for a unity government stumbling amid deepening divisions between rival Palestinian factions.

Attempts to encourage new peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian leadership, stalled since 2014, have also failed.

Piper said in a separate statement that without political reform and a meaningful peace process, international aid was "just trying to buy time".
Mali denies agreement on failed EU asylum seekers

Mali's foreign minister on Monday denied an agreement had been reached with the European Union to take back migrants failing to get asylum.

The Dutch foreign ministry signed a joint declaration on the EU's behalf on December 11 which it said would tackle "the root causes of illegal migration" and "enable the return from Europe of Malian migrants".

But Abdoulaye Diop told a press conference: "At no point was there any question of signing an agreement that would allow the expulsion of countrymen (living) in Europe illegally."

Malian Foreign Affairs Minister Abdoulaye Diop said the visit of his Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders to Bamako had never been intended as the moment to make a deal TOBIAS SCHWARZ (AFP/File)

Mali "does not intend to put a price on its dignity even if the EU is a development partner."

Expressing "astonishment" at learning via the media he had signed such a document, Diop said the visit of his Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders to Bamako had never been intended as the moment to make a deal.
UN member-states reject African bid to block UN LGBT expert

The UN General Assembly on Monday rejected a bid by African countries to block the appointment of the first-ever UN expert tasked with investigating violence and discrimination against LGBT minorities.

It was the second time that the African group had tried to push through a measure demanding talks on the mandate of the expert who will report on abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people worldwide.

The measure was defeated by a vote of 84 against to 77 in favor, with 16 abstentions.

The UN Human Rights Council in September appointed international law professor Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand to investigate cases of discrimination and violence against LGBT people worldwide FABRICE COFFRINI (AFP/File)

European countries and the United States had lobbied energetically in the 193-nation assembly to defeat the African push to suspend the appointment of the expert.

The UN Human Rights Council in September appointed international law professor Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand to investigate cases of discrimination and violence against LGBT people worldwide.

Burkina Faso argued on behalf of the African countries that there was no legal basis for the mandate and no international recognition of sexual orientation and gender identity as human rights.

US Ambassador Samantha Power accused African countries and their supporters of latching on to a procedural argument to cover up their anti-gay bias.

"This is not an issue of the North trying to impose its values on the South. It is an issue of respecting the dignity and human rights of all people everywhere," Power told the General Assembly.

Dutch Ambassador Karen van Osteroom, whose country has adopted progressive policies on LGBT rights, said the United Nations must shine a light on anti-gay violence.

"People around the world are being bullied, are being jailed, are being beaten, are being killed, for no other reason than for which gender they identify with most, or for whom they happen to love," he said.

"And that is what the mandate on the independent expert is all about," he said.

African countries failed last month to push for a similar measure during a vote in the assembly's human rights committee.

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.

Muntarbhorn, who began work as the UN expert last month, has been appointed for three years.
Saudi coalition says UK-made cluster bombs used in Yemen

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen on Monday said it had made "limited use" of British-made cluster bombs, a type of weapon which 100 countries have pledged not to use.

In its 21-month campaign against Shiite rebels who have seized much of Yemen, the Saudi-led alliance has faced repeated allegations of killing civilians.

It said it used the BL-755 cluster bombs "against legitimate military targets to defend Saudi towns and villages against continuous attacks" by the Huthi rebels.

Smoke billows following an air-strike by the Saudi-led coalition targeting an arms depot in Sanaa in 2015 MOHAMMED HUWAIS (AFP/File)

The insurgents have killed more than 100 civilians and soldiers on the Saudi side of the border.

The coalition deployed the weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law, and not in civilian areas, it said, adding that Saudi Arabia no longer uses the BL-755.

London-based rights group Amnesty International in June alleged that "at least 16 civilians -- including nine children -- have been killed or injured by cluster submunitions between July 2015" and May of this year.

Amnesty said its findings came from the rebel stronghold of Saada as well as the Hajja area. Both are near the border with Saudi Arabia.

One hundred nations are party to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions which bans their use.

Britain is a party to the convention but Saudi Arabia, its coalition partners, and the United States are not.

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told parliament on Monday he welcomed the Saudi decision that it will not use further BL-755 cluster munitions.

"We will continue to keep current sales of military equipment to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies under review," he said.

In January, the coalition spokesman said alliance forces had used CBU-105 cluster bombs against rebel vehicles.

President Barack Obama's administration moved in May to block sales of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia as concerns over civilian casualties in Yemen mounted, the journal Foreign Policy reported.

Cluster bombs contain multiple submunitions, which sometimes do not explode and become de facto landmines that can kill or maim long after being dropped.

Human Rights Watch, a New York-based watchdog, on Monday said the British-made cluster munitions had been transferred years ago and are no longer sold to Saudi Arabia.

But Britain continues to sell other weapons to the kingdom "despite the clear risk" of their use in future coalition attacks, the watchdog said, calling for a suspension of British arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

Last week, the United States blocked the transfer of precision-guided bomb kits to Saudi Arabia out of concern over "flaws" in coalition targeting, a senior US administration official said.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Sunday dismissed such reports as "media propaganda".

Since fighting escalated last year, more than 7,000 people have been killed in Yemen, about half of them civilians.
Syrians tell of fearful journey from Aleppo into exile

As the bus approached the Syrian army checkpoint Monday, the dozens of evacuees from Aleppo fell silent, seized by fear on the first leg of their terrifying journey into exile.

AFP correspondents and other residents of the city described a tense 12-kilometre (7-mile) trip from Aleppo's battered east into government-held neighbourhoods, and back into rebel-held territory in Rashidin, west of the city.

After years of fighting and five months of siege, their final ordeal involved crossing three checkpoints, each more dangerous than the last.

Syrian Civil Defence members hand aid to people who were evacuated from the last rebel-held pockets of Syria's northen city of Aleppo on December 19, 2016 Omar haj kadour (AFP)

The first was held by Syrian army soldiers, followed by a crossing manned by Russian officers and a third by Iranian and Iraqi fighters.

"Out of all of them, the Iranian and Iraqi checkpoint is the most dangerous," said one middle-aged passenger, who had been on a convoy that was turned back several days ago at the final crossing.

"God protect us from the Iraqis so they don't pull us off the bus and beat us like they did last time," he told fellow evacuees.

Thousands of people -- mostly women and children -- squeezed onto buses with whatever belongings they could carry, many in tears and others shivering in the cold.

Their gaunt faces and tattered clothes were covered in soot, after many spent the night huddled around bonfires to keep warm as they waited for the buses.

The evacuees pressed their cheeks against the cold windows to look at neighbourhoods they had not laid eyes on since 2012, when Aleppo was divided between government control in the west and rebels in the east.

- 'I'll come back' -

"God willing, I'll come back to Aleppo," one elderly man cried as he crossed through destroyed neighbourhoods.

Others took pictures with their cellphones, murmuring "We may never see our city again in our lifetime."

When they pulled up to the first checkpoint manned by a pair of Syrian army soldiers, the hum of chatter on the buses suddenly stopped, an AFP correspondent said.

Terrified evacuees tried to look at the fighters out of the corner of their eyes, and let out sighs of incredulous relief as they were waved through.

Next came a checkpoint with a group of blond soldiers from regime ally Russia, in flak jackets and holding bomb detectors.

They stopped the bus for a nerve-wracking 30 minutes, pulling out suitcases and duffel bags to search them thoroughly.

"Does anyone want to get off and go to Hamdaniyah?" their translator called out in Arabic to the passengers, offering passage to regime-controlled areas in Aleppo province.

No one volunteered, and the bus lurched onwards to the dreaded last checkpoint of Iranian and Iraqi fighters.

Passengers waited with bated breath, peering out of the vehicle's windows at militiamen wearing patches from Harakat al-Nujaba, an Iraqi Shiite movement.

The fighters pulled out their phones and photographed the bus, laughing, before waving it through.

- Sleepless night -

Several thousand other evacuees, including Ahmad Raslan, were not so fortunate.

"We left on the buses at around 3 pm on Sunday and we were stuck until noon today. We were treated terribly -- they didn't even give us a cup of water," he told AFP.

Dozens of buses including his were detained for approximately 20 hours at the third checkpoint, and they were barred from getting off even to go to the toilet.

"The children were vomiting and the smell of the bus was disgusting," 23-year-old Raslan said.

AFP correspondents in the same convoy described passengers using plastic bags to relieve themselves and throwing them out of the windows.

Passengers stayed awake throughout the night, as the militiamen had ordered bus drivers to keep the overhead lights on inside.

Women read the Koran in an attempt to find solace, while men tried to keep children calm with a competition of who could stay quiet the longest.

On Monday morning, exhausted and traumatised, the evacuees were finally allowed through to rebel-controlled territory west of Aleppo.

When they reached the first opposition-held checkpoint, passengers hugged each other and burst into tears of relief.

Young men traded jokes while biting into bananas and sipping from bottles of water distributed by aid workers.

Others were more cautious, looking nervously at nearby rebels as if still in denial that they had finally crossed out of territory held by Syrian government soldiers.
Murder of Tunisian engineer planned abroad: minister

Tunisian Interior Minister Hedi Majdoub said on Monday the murder of a Tunisian engineer shot dead last week in his car had been planned abroad by foreigners.

"It is possible that a foreign service is implicated but... we do not yet have any tangible proof," Majdoub told a news conference after attending a security meeting with the prime minister.

But he said that the December 15 murder of Mohamed Zaouari had been planned as far back as June in the Austrian capital Vienna and in the Hungarian capital Budapest.

Tunisian Interior Minister Hedi Majdoub speaks during a press conference on December 19, 2016 in Tunis following the assassination of Mohamed Zouari FETHI BELAID (AFP)

"At least two foreigners" were involved, he said, adding however that authorities have yet to identify who was behind the shooting.

Zaouari, 49, was murdered at the wheel of his car outside his house in Tunisia's second city Sfax on Thursday. He was hit by 20 bullets.

Al-Qassam Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of Hamas that controls the Gaza Strip, told AFP on Saturday that Zaouari was a drone expert and was killed by "Zionist treachery", referring to Israel.

It said Zaouari had worked for the "resistance" for 10 years.

Israel has made no comment about the Hamas accusation.

On Sunday, the Tunisian government said a probe into the shooting indicated that "foreign elements" were involved, without giving further details.

The prosecution has said that 10 suspects, all Tunisians, have been detained for questioning, including a female journalist, and that authorities have seized four vehicles and two weapons.

Parliament is to meet to discuss the murder of Zaouari, after the government said it was determined to "pursue those guilty of carrying out assassinations inside and outside" the country.
Pentagon confirms death of two Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan

A US strike against a senior Al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan in October also killed two other senior operatives, the Pentagon said Monday.

The Defense Department had already announced the death of Farouq al-Qahtani, Al-Qaeda's emir for northeastern Afghanistan, who was killed in the October 23 drone strike in Kunar province.

On Monday, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook confirmed the strike also killed Bilal al-Utabi, Qahtani's deputy, as well as Abd al-Wahid al-Junabi, described as "a senior Al-Qaeda explosives expert."

Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook confirms the strike also killed Bilal al-Utabi, Qahtani's deputy, as well as Abd al-Wahid al-Junabi, described as "a senior Al-Qaeda explosives expert" Noorullah Shirzada (AFP/File)

"All three were actively involved in carrying out and plotting terror attacks inside and outside Afghanistan," Cook said.

Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security had already confirmed Utabi's death.

The Pentagon had been actively hunting Qahtani for four years.

He had longstanding ties with Osama bin Laden before his death in a 2011 US raid on his Pakistan compound.

In October 2001, in response to the 9/11 attacks, the US launched military operations to dislodge the Taliban from Afghanistan and capture or kill Al-Qaeda militants they were harboring.
This blog is looking for wisdom, to have and to share. It is also looking for other rare character traits like good humor, courage, and honor. It is not an easy road, because all of us fall short. But God is love, forgiveness and grace. Those who believe in Him and repent of their sins have the promise of His Holy Spirit to guide us and show us the Way.
US condemns apparent 'terrorist attack' in Berlin

The United States labeled as an apparent "terrorist attack" a driver's move to plow his truck into a busy Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, killing at least nine people and hurting 50 more.

"Germany is one of our closest partners and strongest allies, and we stand together with Berlin in the fight against all those who target our way of life and threaten our societies," White House National Security spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

"We have been in touch with German officials, and we stand ready to provide assistance as they recover from and investigate this horrific incident."

Fireworkers pass by the truck that crashed into a christmas market in Berlin, on December 19, 2016 killing at least one person and injuring at least 50 people Odd Andersen (AFP)

In Berlin, ambulances and heavily armed officers rushed to the area after the driver mounted the pavement of the market in a square popular with tourists, in scenes reminiscent of July's deadly truck attack in the French city of Nice.

"The United States condemns in the strongest terms what appears to have been a terrorist attack on a Christmas Market in Berlin, Germany, which has killed and wounded dozens," Price said.

"We send our thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of those killed, just as we wish a speedy recovery to all of those wounded. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Germany."

German police also described the incident as a possible terror attack, cautioning it was unclear who was behind the assault at this time.

Police added they had no indications as yet to the nationality or age of the arrested man.

Traditional Christmas markets are popular in cities and towns throughout Germany and have frequently been mentioned by security services as vulnerable to attacks.

Europe has been on high alert for most of 2016, with terror attacks striking Nice and Brussels, while Germany has been hit by several assaults claimed by the Islamic State group and carried out by asylum-seekers.
Indonesia police arrest hundreds at West Papua protests

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  Indonesian police detained several hundred people Monday at protests around the country demanding independence for remote West Papua.

Arrests were made in cities in Sulawesi, Java and Papua but demonstrations went ahead in at least 15 places, said Veronica Koman, a lawyer for independence activist Filep Karma.

Police in the capital Jakarta had warned organizers against protesting but relented and allowed a group of about 50 people to march down a main thoroughfare.

Police officers escort Papuan protesters during a rally marking the 55th anniversary of the official declaration of an Indonesian military campaign to take control of West Papua from the Dutch, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. Indonesian police detained several hundred people Monday at protests in cities in Sulawesi, Java and Papua demanding independence for remote West Papua. Police in the capital Jakarta had warned organizers against protesting but relented and allowed the group of about 50 people to march down a main thoroughfare. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Monday was the 55th anniversary of the official declaration of an Indonesian military campaign to take control of West Papua from the Dutch. The Dutch colonizers of the Indonesian archipelago held onto West Papua when Indonesia became independent after World War II. It became part of Indonesia following a U.N.-supervised referendum in 1969 criticized as a sham for involving only a tiny proportion of the population and Indonesia's use of strong-arm tactics.

Supporters of West Papuan independence want a second and unfettered referendum. The Indonesian government is determined to hold onto the mineral-rich region and also fears any concessions would energize other separatist movements.

"Melanesian people are our brothers and sisters, not you, you are Asians," said Anthony Gobai, one of the protesters who addressed the Jakarta rally as dozens of police watched.

Indonesians who joined the protest knelt on their knees and apologized to West Papuans for their government's rule of a region that is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia.

Indonesia maintains a tight grip on West Papua and restricts journalists from reporting there. However the independence movement appears to be increasingly well organized, with different groups now united under an umbrella organization that is seeking membership of an association of Melanesian island states.

More than 5,000 people have been arrested in pro-independence protests since April.

Koman said several people were arrested last week when they applied for demonstration permits.
Rights group counts 100s of deaths in Indian police custody

NEW DELHI (AP)  Nearly 600 people died in Indian police custody from 2009-2015, many of them after being tortured, a human rights group said Monday, urging India to enforce often-ignored regulations and prosecute officers who mistreat prisoners.

Human Rights Watch said police regularly disregard arrest procedures and torture detained people to death. The police often blame such deaths on suicide or illness.

While torture is illegal in the country, many Indian police are open about extracting confessions or details about crimes by applying the "third degree"  a euphemism that can encompass anything from a couple of slaps to a savage beating.

"Until you use third degree against them, they will not speak," said Jairaj Sharma, a retired police officer in India's Uttar Pradesh state.

Citing government data, the report said 97 people died in police custody in 2015. In 67 of those cases, the suspects died within 24 hours of being arrested or authorities failed to take the suspects before a magistrate within 24 hours of arrest, as required by law.

India's Home Ministry did not reply to a request for comment on the report on Monday.

Human Rights Watch said strict enforcement was needed of existing arrest guidelines, such as informing the families of those arrested, providing medical examinations and quickly producing suspects before magistrates.

The New York-based group demanded that police officers who engage in torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners be disciplined and prosecuted.

Police officers will only learn that beating suspects is unacceptable when some are prosecuted, said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director of Human Rights Watch. "Our research shows that too often, the police officers investigating deaths in custody are more concerned about shielding their colleagues than bringing those responsible to justice," she said in an interview.

Vikram Singh, a top retired Indian police officer, acknowledged the country's criminal justice system is riddled with problems, from desperately overcrowded jails to suspects sometimes held for years as cases are investigated. He said police officers have little concern about being punished if they beat a suspect.

"My feeling is that not many cases (against police) have been registered, not many police officers suspended, and certainly no one has been dismissed in recent years for being brutal on accused and wanted criminals," Singh said.

Human Rights Watch focused on 17 of the reported deaths, conducting more than 70 interviews with witnesses, victims' families, justice experts, and police officials.

"In each of the 17 cases, the police did not follow proper arrest procedures, making the suspect more vulnerable to abuse," said Jayshree Bajoria, the author of the report.

In one such case, 37-year-old Shyamu Singh died after being arrested in April 2012 in Uttar Pradesh when police couldn't tell him apart from his older brother Ramu, who was suspected of involvement in a string of extortion and theft cases. When neither brother would give his identity, a group of policemen forced Ramu to the floor.

"Four people held me down and one man poured water in my nose continuously. I couldn't breathe," the report quoted Ramu as saying. "Once they stopped on me, they started on Shyamu."

When Shyamu fell unconscious "they started worrying and talking among themselves that he is going to die. One of the men got a little packet and put the contents in Shyamu's mouth," Ramu said.

Police told their family that Shyamu Singh had killed himself by taking poison.

An initial inquiry by the State Investigation Department concluded in 2014 that seven police officers had tortured Singh and poisoned him to death. But a final inquiry report submitted a year later cleared all seven, according to the report.

___
Hard times for Puerto Rico family of child with Zika defect

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  Michelle Flandez had just given birth to her first son, but doctors in this U.S. territory whisked him away before she could see him.

Perplexed, she demanded him back and then slowly unwrapped the blanket that covered him.

"My husband and I looked at each other," she recalled. "No one had warned us. No one had given us the opportunity to decide what to do."

In this Dec. 16, 2016 photo, Puerto Rico resident Michelle Flandez holds her two-month-old son Inti Perez, diagnosed with microcephaly linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The island has more than 35,000 Zika cases, with nearly 3,000 representing pregnant women. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

It was mid-October, and in her arms lay what health officials announced as the first known baby born in Puerto Rico with a rare birth defect that has been linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Those with microcephaly have abnormally small heads and often suffer impeded brain growth and other problems.

The island, already struggling with a shortage of doctors and funds amid a worsening economic crisis, has more than 35,700 Zika cases, including nearly 3,000 involving pregnant women. Some 300 people overall have been hospitalized and five have died, including at least two who developed complications from a paralysis condition linked to Zika known as Guillain-Barre.

Since the birth of Flandez's son, named Inti after an Inca sun god, four other babies have been born in Puerto Rico with birth defects linked to Zika, including microcephaly. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has projected a surge in cases next year. A study by the CDC estimates that up to 10,300 pregnant women in Puerto Rico could be infected with Zika and that between 100 and 270 babies could be born with microcephaly. The U.S. mainland, meanwhile, has reported more than 30 cases of birth defects linked to Zika.

While Flandez had symptoms of Zika early in her pregnancy, she said she was told that tests showed a false positive. Sonograms in August and September showed no problems.

Flandez ran a finger through the silky dark hair on Inti's tiny head on Friday as she described the challenges of raising her 3-month-old son on an island in economic crisis. She called several pediatric neurologists after he was born and found just one who accepted Medicaid. The earliest appointment she could get was in October 2017.

Discouraged, she turned to relatives, one of whom detailed the family's plight on Facebook: "The family has remained quiet for too long. If this message reaches a pediatric neurologist who can help Inti, we will be more than grateful."

The post was shared 11,000 times, and shortly afterward, an official at Puerto Rico's largest public hospital called and arranged an appointment for Inti. Since then, he has received therapy and now has several appointments scheduled through February with other doctors.

But hardships persist. Flandez does not have a car, and she sometimes has to walk an hour with Inti to reach the closest bus stop when neighbors or friends cannot drive her to the doctor. Money also is tight for Flandez and her husband, who live in a two-bedroom apartment with no couch.

"I have to pay rent, I have to eat ... I have to pay for transportation," she said as she cradled a sleepy Inti after breastfeeding him.

Experts fear babies like Inti could develop other disabilities as they grow, burdening a health care system already breaking under an exodus of doctors fleeing for the U.S. mainland. The cost of treating a baby with Zika is estimated at $3.8 million, said Dr. Cynthia Moore, director of the CDC's division of congenital and developmental disorders. She said a Zika infection can bring many consequences, including poor eyesight or motor skills.

"The more we learn about it, the more we find new problems," she said. "It's rapidly evolving."

In Puerto Rico, health officials are pushing to secure more federal funds to fight the Zika epidemic, even as the number of weekly new cases has been dropping. Some of that money might be used as a special bonus for doctors who normally don't accept Medicaid patients, said Dr. Miguel Valencia Prado, director of the Health Department's Division of Children with Special Medical Needs.

In addition, Valencia said he has established videoconferencing with at least two specialists in the U.S. who serve as consultants, and he is considering requesting that doctors based in the U.S. temporarily work in Puerto Rico on a rotational basis.

Meanwhile, Flandez said she is taking it day-by-day with Inti, whom his older sister has nicknamed "Starman" because, as she explained to her mother, he is different from the rest and thus comes from the stars.

Inti likes to have his feet tickled by the family's cat  "She's our emergency therapist," the mother says  and he seems to be soothed by the music of Iron Maiden songs when he cries, Flandez said with a laugh.

"He's a normal child. I don't see him as someone for whom you should have pity," she said. "You never know how long he's going to live or how long I'm going to live. The most important thing is to do what's best right now."

In this Dec. 16, 2016 photo, Puerto Rico resident Michelle Flandez covers with a blanket her two-month-old son Inti Perez, diagnosed with microcephaly linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Experts estimate it can cost several million dollars to care for a baby with Zika-related birth defects, and one of the biggest concerns is babies like Inti could develop other disabilities as they grow, burdening Puerto Rico's already strained health system breaking under an exodus of doctors fleeing for the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

In this Dec. 16, 2016 photo, Puerto Rico resident Michelle Flandez holds her two-month-old son Inti Perez, diagnosed with microcephaly linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Experts estimate it can cost several million dollars to care for a baby with Zika-related birth defects, and one of the biggest concerns is babies like Inti could develop other disabilities as they grow, burdening Puerto Rico's already strained health system breaking under an exodus of doctors fleeing for the U.S. mainland. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

In this Dec. 16, 2016 photo, two-month-old Inti Perez, diagnosed with microcephaly linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus, is cradled by his mother, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has projected a surge of cases next year. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

In this Dec. 16, 2016 photo, Puerto Rico resident Michelle Flandez stands at her home holding her two-month-old son Inti Perez, diagnosed with microcephaly linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Health officials are pushing to secure more federal funds to fight the Zika epidemic. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Military deploys across Congo's capital as Kabila stays on

KINSHASA, Congo (AP)  Military and police deployed across Congo's capital on Monday amid fears of unrest on the last official day of President Joseph Kabila's mandate. He intends to stay on after the midnight deadline, said a presidential adviser, who also advised there is "no possibility" of elections in 2017.

At least 41 opposition members and activists were arrested in the eastern city of Goma on Monday, according to Human Rights Watch and local residents.

Anger has been growing since it became clear that the vote once set for November would not take place on time. Political talks between the ruling party and the opposition, mediated by the Catholic church, stalled over the weekend and are set to resume Wednesday.

People walk past a police truck in Kinshasa, Congo, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. Military and police units are deployed across the capital of Congo amid fears of unrest on the last official day of President Joseph Kabila's mandate. Kabila intends to stay on after the midnight deadline, as a court has ruled he can stay in power until new elections are held.  (AP Photo/John Bompengo)

Congolese officials have said more time is needed to update voter rolls and make other preparations.

"There is no possibility, given the immense logistical and financial challenges we face today that the elections will happen for at very least a year," Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi, the president's diplomatic adviser, said Monday.

Karubi said it was unconstitutional to demand that President Kabila leave office at midnight.

"The constitution clearly states that the president remains in his position until his successor is elected by the people of the Congo, not by a loud and insistent mob," he said.

A court has ruled that Kabila can remain in power until new elections.

The ruling party has suggested holding the vote in April 2018. Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi has said new elections must be held in 2017.

The opposition has not officially called for demonstrations, though many observers expect people to take to the streets as they did in September, when the electoral commission failed to schedule the election. Human rights groups say more than 50 people died.

"We can't demonstrate because of the police. They are patrolling and searching people," Jean Eva, an unemployed young man, said Monday. "Tonight it's the end of Kabila's mandate. At midnight, we are going to whistle to mark the end of the match. We'll whistle from our homes, in front of our doors. Lots of people got whistles."

At the University of Kinshasa, the military was deployed around an exit leading to the town center, but crowds still gathered.

In Goma, activists tried to build barricades but were quickly dispersed by police.

"We'll keep trying to protest with the means we have, but the military deployment is truly imposing," said Luc Nkulula, an activist with pro-democracy group Lucha.

Police spokesman and North Kivu deputy commissioner Col. Van Kasongo confirmed the arrests, saying the protesters "were disturbing public order and had thrown stones at police vehicles."

Separately, more than a dozen opposition members have been arrested in the last few days in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, according to Human Rights Watch. Two activists went missing Friday, the organization said.

This sprawling central African nation, which has suffered decades of dictatorship and back-to-back civil wars, has never had a peaceful transfer of power. Kabila came to power in 2001 after the assassination of his father.

Monday marks the end of Kabila's second elected five-year term. Though he is barred by the constitution from running for a third term, the constitutional court in May said the president should remain in office until a new leader is elected.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said Saturday that concerns about unrest are high, especially since "no one to date has been held accountable" for the protesters' deaths in September.

Also Monday, at least seven people including attackers, a peacekeeper and a policeman were killed after an armed group raided Butembo's central prison in North Kivu to free prisoners, according to police spokesman Kasongo.

Mineral-rich eastern Congo has seen a surge in activities by armed groups in recent months.

Protests were also seen in Cape Town, South Africa, where police used stun grenades to disperse about 200 people who were protesting against Kabila, some draped in Congolese flags, local media reported.

___

Associated Press writer Saleh Mwanamilongo contributed to this report.
A level playing field: Lab adapts toys for disabled children

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)  Because of her cerebral palsy, 4-year-old Scarlett Wilgis has trouble opening her hands and can't get around without help. Her parents have scoured store shelves and websites for toys for her but have mostly been disappointed.

"Finding the toys at Walmart or Target, they're pretty much non-existent," said mom Dezaraye Wilgis, sitting with Scarlett in front of their twinkling Christmas tree in St. Augustine. "Or if you get them through a medical supplier they're extremely expensive."

While major toy-makers have changed with the times and sell dolls with wheelchairs and crutches, those designed to be used by children with severe disabilities are still difficult, if not impossible, to find. Because the toys have to be customized for each child, the cost can skyrocket.

In this Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, photo, University of North Florida students, Garrett Baumann, right, Chris Martin, center, and Jason Pavichall, work to customize a toy car so that it can be used by a girl with cerebral palsy at the university in Jacksonville, Fla. At the university, engineering and physical therapy students are converting drivable toy cars from store shelves into custom-made fun for disabled children. The Adaptive Toy program is now in its third year, has received a 5-year grant from the National Institutes of Health and is helping families with disabled children while giving the students a dose of community service that will stick with them long after graduation. (AP Photo/Jason Dearen)

This conundrum gave two University of North Florida professors an idea: mix engineering and physical therapy students in a lab with the goal of converting toys from store shelves into custom-made fun for disabled children. The Adaptive Toy Project is now in its third year and has drawn a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health. It is helping families such as Scarlett's while giving the students a dose of community service and real-world experience that will stick with them long after graduation.

Dr. Alison Cernich, a neuropsychologist and director at the NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, said the agency funded the program because it forces students from different fields to collaborate and solve a problem in the community.

"This program is getting students in the early phases of their training thinking about ordinary objects, toys, and how to adapt those toys so that children with limitations can use and play with them like children without limitations," she said.

On a recent day, the school's small lab buzzed with the sound of tools and chatter as students customized cars for their new owners.

Chris Martin, an electrical engineering student, had removed the hood of Scarlett's car, exposing its wires.

A large push button replaced the steering, and light sensors mounted underneath the car will allow it to follow a line of tape along the floor whenever Scarlett hits the button. Now, Scarlett's parents can design routes for the car with tape or use a remote-control mode for family walks.

When Martin first met Scarlett's mother, "she actually cried, and it just made me want to work harder," Martin said. "I just want to make it as perfect as possible for her."

The cars retail between $250 and $500; the customization makes them worth well over $1,000. The families, about 18 so far, get the cars free.

Mary Lundy, a UNF professor of physical therapy who started the Adaptive Toy Project with an engineering colleague, said the students meet with families, and go to therapy appointments and schools.

"Engineering students teach the physical therapy students how to modify basic electronics ... and in the process engineers learn how to do people-centered designs, and how to look at their clients differently," Lundy said.

For the kids, it's also a way to continue important therapies through play.

Dr. Peter Rosenbaum, a professor of pediatrics at McMaster University in Canada, said his field is increasingly focusing on "augmented mobility," to give kids a way to move around so they can be more independent.

"We can't fix them," Rosenbaum said. "What we can do instead is say, 'What would a child at this age and stage of development be doing if they didn't have their impairment? How can we give them those experiences?' This changes the perspectives of everyone around her, and her perspective of herself."

UNF's program is one of 60 related toy car programs for disabled children internationally that are part of the Go Baby Go network, but is the only one that has enlisted students to customize the vehicles for free.

After weeks of work, Scarlett finally tested the car Martin and his colleagues built. They strapped her in and showed her how to hit the push button in the toy she would hopefully use for at least three years. The car drove forward, and Scarlett rocked back and forth. Her mother fought back tears, and her father walked alongside her.

"For her, she's going to be able to get out more and not be trapped by a wheelchair ... and for us it'll be nice to see her interact with other children. It's amazing," Dezaraye said.

___

Follow Jason Dearen on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JHDearen
IS suicide bomber kills 8 Libyan troops near Benghazi

BENGHAZI, Libya (AP)  A suicide bomber has killed eight Libyan army troops near the eastern city of Benghazi, an attack that showed the Islamic State group is still able to strike out in the North African country despite recent battlefield losses, Libyan security and health officials said Monday.

The Sunday bombing in the besieged Ganfouda area was a counterattack on the advancing troops that also wounded another eight soldiers, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

IS claimed responsibility for the bombing in a statement circulated online, releasing images of an explosion hitting parked vehicles and buildings it said was taken from a drone.

"The fighting in Ganfouda is in its last stage, and terrorist group leaders are besieged inside," army spokesman Ahmed al-Mosmari said. Ganfouda is one of the last two extremist-held areas in Libya's east, besieged by Libyan army troops that answer to Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter.

Earlier this month, the Islamic State group lost control the city of Sirte, the militants' main stronghold in Libya, essentially ending any near-term ambitions to expand their self-styled caliphate.

But that victory has opened the door for multiple armed factions to potentially turn on each other in a scramble for control of Libya's vast oil wealth, the country's only source of real revenue.

A U.N.-brokered peace deal was reached a year ago, trying to establish a unity government to end the chaos that has plagued Libya since the ouster and death of longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi in a 2011 civil war. Instead, Libya remains divided between east and west, with no effective government and rival factions and militias  each side with backing from different foreign countries.

This month an escalation of violence between armed groups in the capital, Tripoli, prompted the U.N. Security Council to urge the parties to cease fighting, as fears grow that fresh conflict could erupt around the oil fields.
Kenya: 2 Iranian men in Israeli embassy case are deported

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Two Iranian men who were found with video footage of the Israeli embassy in Kenya have been deported after a deal was reached to drop charges against them, Kenyan officials said Monday.

The two men had faced charges of collecting information to facilitate a terrorist attack.

They were deported Saturday after a court order, the head of Kenya's anti-terrorism unit, Munga Nyale, said. Their lawyer, Ahmednasir Abdulahi, said they were deported because there was no evidence in the charges they faced.

The prosecution has said an agreement to deport them was reached after a meeting between the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Iranian embassy.

Sayed Nasrollah Ebrahim and Abdolhosein Gholi Safaee were riding in an Iranian embassy vehicle when they were arrested outside the Israeli embassy late last month.

Iran has said they are lawyers who were in Kenya representing two Iranians jailed for 15 years for terrorism. Those men, Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammad and Sayed Mansour Mousavi, led officials to a 15-kilogram (33-pound) stash of the explosive RDX.
Polish president: media restrictions in parliament dropped

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland's president says he has received a pledge from leaders of the populist ruling party that they won't introduce restrictions on media access in parliament, a plan that had sparked days of bitter protests.

It appeared to be a victory for the political opposition and the civic activists who have staged protests since Friday. It is the second time that the ruling populist Law and Justice party has stepped back from disputed measures due to street protests in its nearly 14 months of rule. In October, the party also withdrew a plan for a total abortion ban after huge numbers of women dressed in black protested across the country.

President Andrzej Duda spoke in an interview on state television Monday evening after holding crisis talks with key ruling party figures, including the powerful chairman, Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, second left, chairman of the ruling Law and Justice party, gets into his car after a meeting at the Polish presidential palace with President Andrzej Duda and the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Marek Kuchcinski, in Warsaw, Poland, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Duda, who hails from the populist ruling party and remains aligned with it, said the party had "good intentions" when it announced last week that it planned to include various restrictions that would have limited the access journalists. It would have marked a change from the situation of the past quarter century of democracy, with reporters able to mingle in the halls of parliament with lawmakers and film the sessions. He said the plan was only intended to help journalists organize their work better.

But he acknowledged it was too divisive and said the matter was no longer on the table.

"We must ensure citizens' access to information about the work in parliament," Duda said.

Poland has been in a state of political crisis for more than a year over sweeping changes introduced by the populist Law and Justice party under Kaczynski. Many of the changes have been denounced by the European Union and liberal Poles as violations of the rule of law, particularly steps that have paralyzed the Constitutional Tribunal, weakening the system of checks and balances.

Still, Law and Justice enjoys fairly stable support, with an approval rating of 36 percent in a recent poll. Its most popular policy involves monthly cash bonuses for children. It has also voted to lower the retirement age from 67 to 60 for women and 65 for men  a bill that Duda signed into law earlier Monday.

The crisis deepened Friday when opposition lawmakers occupied the area around the speaker's podium in parliament, blocking work on legislation. Ruling party lawmakers then moved to another room in the parliament building and voted on the budget.

Without a record that there was a quorum, there are questions about the vote's legality and the opposition is demanding a new vote.

Earlier in the day Poland's foreign minister says anti-government protests that flared for days were the work of frustrated opposition politicians who cannot accept their loss of power and the government's popularity.

Witold Waszczykowski said he believed the protests were merely "a pretext, an excuse to start protests on a massive scale against the situation in Poland."

He charged that the opposition won't accept that it lost the parliament and presidential elections last year.

"And it can't accept the fact that after 14 months of exercising power and undertaking difficult reforms, public opinion polls show a huge advantage of the ruling party," he said.

Radek Sikorski of Civic Platform, a former foreign minister and former parliament speaker, said the only real goal of the opposition is to ensure that the government respects the constitutional order.

"The actual attitude (of the protesters) is that Law and Justice is perfectly entitled to rule the country, but that they are not entitled to change the constitution, the rules of the game, for which they have no mandate and no majority," he told The Associated Press.

Supporters of the ruling Law and Justice party shout slogans as they attend a pro-government rally in front of the presidential palace, in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. Political tension is rising between Poland's conservative government and the pro-EU opposition.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, center, chairman of the ruling Law and Justice party, gets into his car after a meeting at the Polish presidential palace with President Andrzej Duda and the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Marek Kuchcinski, in Warsaw, Poland, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Supporters of the ruling Law and Justice party with a portrait of the leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski as they attend a pro-government rally in front of the presidential palace, in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. Political tension is rising between Poland's conservative government and the pro-EU opposition.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Seven spelunkers who became trapped by high waters while exploring a southern Indiana cave were rescued after 39 hours underground, officials said Monday.

The last of the cavers were brought above ground about 3am Monday after entering Binkley's Cave near Corydon about noon Saturday, Indiana Conservation Officer Jim Hash said.

'It was the absolute best update we could've hoped for,' Indiana Conservation officer Joe Haywood told WTHR.

'Everybody's there, everybody's OK. They'll be cold, they'll be wet, they'll be tired. But everybody should get out of the cave OK.'

The last of the cavers (pictured) were brought above ground about 3am Monday after entering Binkley's Cave near Corydon about noon Saturday

Emergency workers were called when the cavers didn't emerge at 3am Sunday as planned, he said.

First responders had to wait about eight hours for the high waters inside the cave to subside at a rate of three inches an hour so they could reach the group, Hash said.

The water temperature was 40 degrees or colder and rescuers had to brave water chest or neck-deep.

The group was several hours from the cave entrance.

As many as 50 emergency workers and local cave experts responded to the scene, Hash said, including the Red Cross.

Another benefit was that some of the cavers had as much as 20 to 40 years of experience.

'This group was very well prepared,' Hash said. 'They had plenty of food, plenty of water.'

First responders had to wait about eight hours for the high waters inside the cave to subside at a rate of 3 inches an hour so they could reach the group. This file photo shows how high water can get inside Brinkley's Cave

The water temperature was 40 degrees or colder and rescuers had to brave water chest or neck-deep (not pictured)

Hash described the group as hobbyists doing a survey of the cave, which is part of a miles-long cave system.

Officials say the spelunkers  or people who explore caves as a hobby  were treated for mild hypothermia and exposure.
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Indonesia police: Edict against Christmas attire isn't law

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  Indonesian police said Monday that they will take action against groups that use violence to enforce an edict from the country's leading Islamic body forbidding Muslims from wearing Christmas attire.

National police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said the edict is not a law in Indonesia and that he has reprimanded police who circulated leaflets based on the edict from the Indonesian Ulema Council.

Karnavian's remarks came after reports that members of the Islamic Defenders Front, a vigilante group, went to shopping malls in Surabaya, East Java province's capital, to remind businesses not to require Muslim employees to wear Christmas attire such as Santa hats. They were accompanied by about 200 police officers.

Surabaya police chief Col. Muhammad Iqbal said they escorted the group in order to prevent any violence.

"Although it is a peaceful action, we keep guard to anticipate undesired things," Iqbal said Sunday. "They are not allowed to go inside because the malls are public areas."

The Ulema Council issued an edict on Wednesday forbidding the use of non-Muslim attire such as Santa hats and called on companies to guarantee the rights of Muslims to practice their religion in accordance with their beliefs.

Muslim-majority Indonesia recognizes six religions and has a large Christian minority. Christmas decorations are commonplace in shopping malls and offices during the festive season.

Karnavian said Islamic groups can use social media to promote understanding of the edict.
Survey: Israelis increasingly losing faith in government

JERUSALEM (AP)  A leading Israeli think tank on Monday said it has found that Israelis are increasingly losing faith in their government and most Israeli public institutions  findings that mirror the global trend of dissatisfaction and cynicism that helped propel Britain's exit from the European Union and the victory of President-elect Donald Trump.

The Israel Democracy Institute also found a continuing nationalistic streak among the country's Jewish majority, with more than half of respondents in a nationwide survey opposed to allowing Arab political parties into the governing coalition.

Tamar Hermann, an Israeli professor who led the research, said the study found a "value shift" away from Israel's traditional liberal democratic roots that should concern its leadership.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. (Amir Cohen, pool via AP)

"Israelis are shifting away from the cosmopolitan point of view to a more communitarian, nationalistic, ethnic, religious point of view, much like is happening in other countries," said Hermann, academic director of the Guttman Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research, which compiles the annual Israeli Democracy Index.

The study found a "significant drop" in the public's trust in Israeli political institutions.

Trust in the Knesset, or parliament, fell to 26.5 percent from 35 percent last year. Similarly, trust in the government fell to 27 percent from 36 percent, and three quarters of respondents now feel their politicians are detached.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said the findings were troubling and required national soul searching, adding that "at this moment of trial for democracies, we have to make an effort so that our democracy will be vital, strong and committed to all it citizens."

The only institution that maintained its strong standing was the Israeli military, which is trusted by 90 percent of the Jewish public and 82 percent when the Arab minority is factored in.

While Hermann cited "global trends" for the sentiments in the poll, Israel has been undergoing its own process of rising nationalism in recent years, driven by failed peace efforts with the Palestinians, a yearlong wave of violence in Israel and the West Bank, three wars against Hamas militants in Gaza and the growing political power of religiously motivated West Bank settlers in the government.

The survey, for example, found that 71 percent of Jewish respondents believe that human rights groups, which have been harshly criticized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, cause damage to the state. That was up from 56 percent a year earlier.

Likewise, it found that 59 percent of Jews oppose having Arab parties as part of governing coalitions, and 52.5 percent of Jews believe that those who refuse to accept Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people should be stripped of their right to vote.

Hermann said that Netanyahu should be "very worried" about the shrinking level of public trust in the government, but that overall he might be pleased by the growing nationalist tide in the country. "He's not going to cry over the result," she said.

The Guttman Center is a division of the Israel Democracy Institute, an independent nonpartisan think tank. The survey interviewed 1,531 adults, broken down between Jewish and Arab respondents, last May and had a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points for the Jewish sample, and 6.6 points for its smaller Arab sample.

The survey included some bright spots, including a widespread consensus that Israeli democracy must be maintained and high support for freedom of speech.

The survey also included comparisons with other countries, finding it average or above average in many key areas, such as freedom of the press and civil liberties. Israel ranked very high in political participation, and near the bottom in a measure of political stability and absence of violence.

Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, urged the country's leaders to learn from the data.
Diplomats: UN has warned Iran about enrichment cap

VIENNA (AP)  The head of the U.N. nuclear agency said Monday that Iran is complying with obligations limiting uranium enrichment, but two diplomats say the agency has warned Tehran that unless it slows the process it could soon bust through its cap on material that could be used to make a bomb.

A nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers stipulates that Iran can possess only low-enriched uranium  which is not suitable for weapons  and no more than 300 kilograms (660 pounds) at any time. That's far less than would be needed to make a nuclear weapon, even if it were further enriched to weapons-grade levels.

But even a slight violation of Iran's enrichment commitments would be politically volatile at a time when the deal is on shaky ground. The incoming U.S. administration wants the agreement renegotiated, and many American lawmakers oppose it. Iran says it won't renegotiate the deal, and accuses the United States of reneging on commitments to lift sanctions.

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Yukiya Amano from Japan speaks to the media after returning from Iran at the Vienna International Airport, Austria, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. Amano was visiting Iran for the second time since a landmark nuclear agreement with world powers went into effect at the start of this year. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

The two senior diplomats, whose main focus is Iran's nuclear program, spoke only on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss confidential messages between the U.N's International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran.

Iran insists it is not interested in nuclear arms. Its president, Hassan Rouhani, said after weekend talks with IAEA chief Yukiya Amano that his country would abide by the deal if other nations do as well.

An IAEA statement said Amano "stressed the vital importance of full implementation by Iran of its nuclear-related commitments." Asked whether he had concerns about Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, he told reporters that Tehran is within the limits  "for now."

While Iran has generally kept its obligations since the deal was implemented in January, it has twice exceeded the limit on stockpiles of heavy water, which cools reactors that produce large amounts of plutonium.

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1 South African killed in rebel attack on UN force in Congo

JOHANNESBURG (AP)  The South African military says rebels in eastern Congo have attacked a South African unit that is part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission, killing one soldier and injuring two others.

The military says four rebels were killed and two were captured in the fighting Monday morning near Butembu in Congo's Beni region.

South Africa's statement says its soldiers repelled the rebel attack.
Georgia deputy wounded in hospital shootout with gunman

DUBLIN, Ga. (AP)  Police in central Georgia say a deputy has been wounded during a shootout with a man at a hospital.

Authorities said the deputy's injuries are not life-threatening.

Dublin Police Chief Tim Chatman tells The Telegraph of Macon that officers were called to Fairview Park Hospital on Sunday night and encountered a gunman, who opened fire.

Authorities say officers returned fire and the Laurens County deputy was wounded in the lower leg. Police said the suspect initially got away, but was later apprehended. No other injuries were reported.

Chatman tells WMAZ-TV that the suspect had been treated overnight in the hospital Thursday, but many details about him or why the shooting occurred weren't immediately known.
President vetoes divisive conflict of interest amendment

PRAGUE (AP)  Czech President Milos Zeman has vetoed legislation that limits the business activities of future government ministers.

It would ban ministers from owning media, and bar companies in which ministers have more than a 25 percent stake from receiving state subsidies and participating in public tenders.

Zeman's office said Monday the amendment is not in line with the constitution. Parliament can override his veto by a simple majority in the lower house. If so, Zeman said he would challenge the amendment at the Constitutional Court.

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2016 file photo Czech Republic's President Milos Zeman holds a statement at the Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic. Zeman has vetoed legislation that limits the business activities of future government ministers. Zemans office said Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 the amendment is not in line with the constitution. Parliament can override his veto by a simple majority in the lower house. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, file)

Finance Minister Andrej Babis, who owns two major newspapers and Agrofert conglomerate which receives state subsidies, opposed the bill but didn't plan to withdraw from the government.

Babis' ANO movement is a favorite to win parliamentary elections in 2017.
Brazil's Silva to stand yet another corruption trial

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is now facing a fifth trial on corruption allegations.

The once wildly popular ex-president and eight other people will stand trial for alleged corruption and money laundering in a case involving his relationship with mega-construction company Odebrecht.

Federal judge Sergio Moro says prosecutors have produced enough evidence to justify a trial over allegations that bribes paid by Odebrecht were used in the purchase of two estates linked to the former president.

Silva has denied that he or his institute owns either of the two properties involved in the case.

The former president's wife, Marisa Leticia, and former Finance Minister Antonio Palocci are also charged under Monday's ruling.
8 injured in shooting at popular restaurant in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  Eight people have been injured in a shooting at a popular outdoor restaurant in Puerto Rico's capital.

Police say two of the victims are in serious condition.

The shooting occurred early Monday at El Rex in the Santurce neighborhood of San Juan. The restaurant and bar is a popular hangout that gets especially crowded on Wednesday and Sunday nights. Business owners in the area were hosting a street festival to celebrate the holidays when the shooting occurred.

The majority of those shot are in their 20s. Police say they believe one of the victims was targeted because he was recently arrested on federal drug charges and released on bond.
Betsy DeVos is the self-described neo-Calvinist and wife of the heir to the Amway fortune who's devoted her life to fighting against public education through a system of vouchers that allow for public funding of religious schools; in accord with the trumpian maxim of "a fox for every henhouse," she has been selected to serve as Trump's Education Secretary.



In 2006, All Children Matter, DeVos's anti-education PAC asked the Ohio Elections Commission whether it could transfer unlimited funds to its Ohio subsidiary, and were firmly told that the most they could transfer was $10,000  a ruling DeVos ignored, transfering $870,000 to the Ohio affiliate. This resulted in the bipartisan commission fining DeVos $5.2m, a ruling upheld by an Ohio court.





DeVos ducked out of the fines by shutting down the Ohio subsidiary and claiming that neither she nor her PAC were liable for its debts, including the whopping $5.2M fine.





Now, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) have published an open letter to DeVos, demanding that she settle her fines before taking office.



"The blatant disregard for the law that your PAC demonstrated is deeply troubling," the senators write. "However, when the organization's violations of law were punished by the Ohio Elections Commission, the PAC's refusal to take responsibility and pay the fines is unconscionable. If confirmed as Secretary of Education, you would be responsible for administering our nation's student loan programs and ensuring that borrowers repay their loans in a timely manner. However, the PAC that you chaired failed to pay fines that were imposed on it over eight years ago. This demonstrates a serious lack of judgment by the PAC's board and a willingness to avoid paying legally obligated public debts." The senators observe in a press statement that "DeVos' leadership role in the All Children Matter PAC is one of her many activities as a longtime billionaire mega-donor for conservative causes, with DeVos stating her own goal to be 'buying influence.'" "We expect a return on our investment," she wrote in a 1997 op-ed in Roll Call.

Letter to Betsy DeVos [Sanders, Udall et al/US Senate]





Sanders and Dems Demand Betsy DeVos Pay $5.3 Million Fine for Campaign Finance Violations

[Nika Knight/Common Dreams]



(via Naked Capitalism)
Brazil challenges Canada for Bombardier state funding

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazil says it will challenge Canada at the World Trade Organization for allegedly channeling unfair state subsidies to the aerospace and transportation company Bombardier.

Brazil's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday saying the Canadian government's support to Bombardier is incompatible with WTO rules and affects its Brazilian competitor Embraer.

The South American country complains about a $2.5 billion investment made in 2016 by the province of Quebec to help the Montreal-based company.

Brazil also says Canada's federal government plans another investment in Bombardier to artificially reduce prices of its new C-Series airplanes.
4 Kuwaitis detained in Iran released, to return home soon

KUWAIT CITY (AP)  Authorities in Kuwait say four Kuwaitis detained in Iran were released to the emirate's embassy in Tehran and soon will be returning home.

The state-run Kuwait News Agency on Monday quoted Khaled al-Jarallah, the oil-rich country's deputy minister of foreign affairs, as saying Iranian authorities were "positively cooperative." Officials say they'll return to Kuwait on Tuesday.

Kuwaiti newspaper Alrai reported the four were on a fishing trip when they strayed into Iranian waters and were detained Friday.

Iranian media quoted Kuwaiti reports about the release, without elaborating.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  A Turkish policeman fatally shot Russia's ambassador to Turkey on Monday in front of a shocked gathering at a photo exhibit and then, pacing near the body of his victim, appeared to condemn Russia's military role in Syria, shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!"

The leaders of Turkey and Russia said the attack in Ankara, the Turkish capital, was an attempt to disrupt efforts to repair ties between their countries, which have backed opposing sides in the Syrian civil war.

An Associated Press photographer and others at the art gallery watched in horror as the gunman, who was wearing a dark suit and tie, fired at least eight shots, at one point walking around Ambassador Andrei Karlov as he lay motionless and shooting him again at close range.

An unnamed gunman shouts after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. A Russian official says that the country's ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot by a gunman in Ankara. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

The assailant, who was identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old member of Ankara's riot police squad, was later killed in a shootout with police. Three other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said.

The assassination came after days of protests by Turks angry over Russia's support for President Bashar Assad in the Syrian conflict and Russia's role in the bombardment and destruction of Aleppo, Syria's largest city.

The gunman shouted about Aleppo in Turkish, and also yelled "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great," continuing in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad."

The attack, condemned by the White House and the United Nations, was another sign of how Turkey, a NATO member and a partner in the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State group, is struggling to contain multiple security threats. The war in Syria has been a major problem for years, sending several million refugees into Turkey and, more recently, drawing in Turkish troops.

Turkey has become accustomed to deadly attacks  Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for Dec. 10 bombings in Istanbul that killed 44 people, many of them police.

The spectacle of 62-year-old Karlov's assassination by a member of the Turkish security forces at a photography exhibit meant to highlight Russian culture reinforced the sense of unease over the region's conflict and complex web of alliances and relationships.

It came a day before a key meeting about Syria to be held in Moscow. Those attending include the foreign and defense ministers from Turkey, an opponent of Assad, and Russia and Iran, backers of the Syrian regime.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the killing of Karlov as an attempt to damage Russia-Turkey ties "and to thwart a peace process in Syria which Russia, Turkey and Iran have been actively trying to promote."

Putin said he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed in a phone call that Russian investigators would fly to Ankara to conduct a joint probe with their Turkish counterparts.

"We must know who was directing the killer," Putin said in televised remarks. He ordered top officials to strengthen protection of the Turkish Embassy in Moscow and asked Turkey to increase security at the Russian mission in Ankara.

In a video message shown on several Turkish TV channels, Erdogan said: "This is a provocation to damage the normalization process of Turkish-Russian relations. But both the Russian and Turkish administrations have the determination not to fall for this provocation."

Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when he was gunned down.

Altintas, the gunman, also fired shots in the air, sending panicked audience members running for cover, and smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition. The floor was splattered with blood, and the ambassador's eye glasses lay a few feet from his body.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman got into a 15-minute shootout with police before he was killed, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The shooter's family home in the western province of Aydin was later searched and his mother, father and sister were detained, the news agency said, without citing sources. The man's house in Ankara was raided and his roommate, also a police officer, was also taken into custody, it said.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Altintas, who was born in 1994, had been an officer with Ankara's riot police squad for more than two years. He did not give a motive for the attack.

"It's a tragic day in the history of our country and Russian diplomacy," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations," she said. "He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. It's a terrible loss for us and also the world."

Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang from 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department. He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

The White House condemned the assassination, saying "this heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable," President Barack Obama was briefed by his national security team while on vacation in Hawaii

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned what he called a "senseless act of terror," for which "there can be no justification."

Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplane at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkey's apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift. Putin and Erdogan have held several meetings in recent months and spoken frequently over the phone.

Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and also discussed the prospect of organizing a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.

Security threats to Turkey include the Islamic State group, and which has been blamed for attacks in Turkey. Additionally, Turkish security forces and courts remain preoccupied with purging state institutions of the supporters of an exiled Islamist cleric whom the government accuses of staging a failed coup attempt in July.

___

Associated Press writers Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Zeynep Bilginsoy in Istanbul contributed to this report.

An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. A Russian official says that the country's ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot by a gunman in Ankara. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. A gunman opened fire on Russia's ambassador to Turkey at a photo exhibition on Monday. The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said he was hospitalized with a gunshot wound. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said he was hospitalized with a gunshot wound. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, speaks at a photo exhibition in Ankara on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, moments before a gunman opened fire on him. Karlov was rushed to a hospital after the attack and later died from his gunshot wounds. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

People crouch in a corner after Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, was shot at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at an embassy-sponsored photo exhibition when a man fired a gun at him. Karlov was rushed to a hospital after the attack and later died from his gunshot wounds. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, on the ground after being shot at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. A gunman in a suit and tie shouted slogans about Syria's civil war after he killed Russia's ambassador to Turkey in front of stunned onlookers at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital on Monday, according to an Associated Press photographer who witnessed the shooting. Police later killed the assailant, Turkish station NTV reported. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Spectators are evacuated after a gunman shot the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. A gunman in a suit and tie shouted slogans about Syria's civil war after he killed Russia's ambassador to Turkey in front of stunned onlookers at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital on Monday, according to an Associated Press photographer who witnessed the shooting. Police later killed the assailant, Turkish station NTV reported. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkish police officers cordon off the area close to a photo gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot and killed by a gunman in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo)
Cities, counties plan immigrant legal aid after Trump's win

CHICAGO (AP)  Major U.S. cities and counties are beefing up legal services for immigrants to help them fight deportation and avoid fraudulent lawyers in the wake of Donald Trump's election and his hard-line immigration enforcement promises.

Tapping local government funds to represent immigrants in federal proceedings provides an early example of the type of pushback the Republican incoming president will receive in Democratic strongholds. Advocates call it a matter of justice and smart economics, but some question whether it's a fair use of taxpayer money.

Chicago has approved a $1.3 million legal fund. Los Angeles elected officials said Monday they are working with private foundations to set up a $10 million fund, while some California state lawmakers have proposed spending tens of millions of dollars to provide lawyers to immigrants facing deportation. New York is mulling a public-private legal fund, building on New York City's public defender program that's considered a national model.

In this Dec. 16, 2016 photo, Esperanza Villalobos, a "community navigator," works at her office at The Resurrection Project in Chicago. Villalobos helps immigrants who might need legal services to avoid deportation or learn about their legal rights. The organization she works for plans to hire more individuals like her after the city approved $1.3 million for a legal services fund for immigrants. Chicago is among several entities nationwide working to beef up legal services for immigrants. (AP Photo by Sophia Tareen)

"We need to be able to stand by people who are fearful," Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a former White House chief of staff, said after the measure passed the City Council last week.

Trump's pledges to build a border wall and deport the estimated 11 million people living in the country without legal permission have triggered uncertainty in immigrant circles. He has since scaled back the deportee number, but not detailed his platform.

Since his win, a lack of legal representation for immigrants has become a growing concern. It was the top issue raised by a Chicago task force of leaders, including Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, convened after the election. Los Angeles County supervisor Hilda Solis said she's especially worried about the fate of unaccompanied minors and young immigrants who filed personal information with the federal government to obtain work permits under the Obama administration.

In Los Angeles, officials want the fund set up before Trump becomes president in January. About half the money will come from the city and county and half from private donations.

"We don't know how far the new administration will go when it comes to our nation's immigration policy, but we've all heard the rhetoric, the dangerous rhetoric of the election," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "And we are ready to support people who can't afford or who don't realize they might need a lawyer."

Immigrants aren't guaranteed a lawyer in immigration court and only about 37 percent of those in deportation proceedings have legal representation, according to a September American Immigration Council report.

Democratic state lawmakers in California have proposed legislation that could cost up to $80 million for immigration attorneys and other legal training. Santa Clara County is looking into the idea and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee added $1.5 million to a fund for immigrant legal services.

In Chicago  where an estimated 150,000 people do not have permanent legal status  the money will be divided among two nonprofits. One will focus on poor immigrants facing deportation. The other will employ 200 "community navigators" who will network through churches, schools and community events to find immigrants who are in the country illegally and help them figure out if they have avenues to stay.

"People are nervous," said Esperanza Villalobos, who already does the job in Mexican-heavy Chicago neighborhoods. She reports a surge in immigrants seeking her out since the election.

In Chicago, which has some of the most immigrant-friendly laws in the nation, the debate over the fund had tense moments, highlighting how contentious the issue is outside Democratic strongholds. Chicago set aside money only for one year and is banking on private donations to keep it going.

Three aldermen representing neighborhoods with strong Trump support voted against it, including Nicholas Sposato. He dismissed it as "the legal defense fund for the illegals" and said Chicago should consider the money for other issues. The cash-strapped city diverted the funds from a little-used homeowner rebate program.

"I'm not a hater," Sposato said during the vote at full the council meeting. "Any given day, 1,000 homeless veterans out there. What are we doing for them?"

Another reason cited by local governments for creating the funds is the economy, because immigrants, regardless of legal status, work and pay taxes. In addition, children of immigrants who are deported may end up needing publicly-funded services such as foster care and health care, said Avideh Moussavian, a policy attorney with the National Immigration Law Center in Washington.

"There's the due process issue, but there's actually quantifiable economic impact," she said.

In 2013, New York City tested a program to infuse public defender offices with money for attorneys dedicated to representing detained immigrants. The program has grown from $500,000 in its initial year to roughly $6 million. Attorneys have represented more than 1,500 immigrants from 2013 through late last year, the most recent statistics available. About 70 percent of attorneys won their cases, according to the nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice.

In Chicago, another goal is to help immigrants avoid fraudulent services, something 24-year-old Jose Lopez knows firsthand.

The college student, brought to the country illegally as a child, qualified for a work permit under the Obama administration. Twice he sought out attorneys who advertised on Spanish-language radio stations.

However, the paperwork they filed was unnecessary, his case stalled and he lost nearly $2,000. He's since obtained the permit and has a graphic design job, but hopes others can avoid his mistakes.

"I had to stall a career. I had to stall school," he said. "I had to stall life."

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Taxin reported from Santa Ana, California. Associated Press writer Christopher Weber contributed to this report from Los Angeles.

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Kosovo police detains 59 officers in bribery probe

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  Kosovo police say they have detained 59 officers following a four-month investigation of suspected bribery.

The focus of Monday's arrests was in Mitrovica, where most of the ethnic Serb minority lives. In total they detained 35 Albanian policemen, 23 Serb officers and one Bosnian suspected of accepting or soliciting bribes. They also were suspended from duty.

Police officials said at a news conference that charges also would be lodged against 30 citizens who have allegedly offered bribes.

The government hailed the crackdown as showing the "uncompromised commitment of the Kosovo institutions in the fight against organized crime and corruption."
1 Dakota Access pipeline suit on hold during related dispute

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  A lawsuit from two Sioux tribes seeking to stop the Dakota Access oil pipeline was put on hold while a separate but related court battle over the project plays out.

Dallas-based pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners is asking U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C., to rule that the company received proper permission from the Army in July to lay pipe under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota  the last remaining chunk of construction for the $3.8 billion project. The Army earlier this month said more study was needed in light of concerns from the Standing Rock Sioux that the pipeline could threaten cultural sites and drinking water.

Energy Transfer Partners disputes the tribe's claims and says the pipeline is safe. The pipeline would carry North Dakota oil 1,200 miles through the Dakotas and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois.

The Standing Rock Sioux and the Cheyenne River Sioux are challenging federal pipeline permits at numerous water crossings. The tribes earlier this month said they were willing to put their claims on hold until the fight between ETP and the Army is resolved, and Boasberg in a ruling dated Friday agreed to do so.

One reason for delaying the tribal challenge is to enable the court to focus on the Missouri River crossing dispute, which has stalled the project that was supposed to be done by the end of this year.

"Holding the tribes' claims in abeyance will serve the interests of judicial economy by enabling Standing Rock, Cheyenne River, and the Corps and the court to focus on resolving the (river crossing matter) on an expedited basis," said the joint proposal from the tribes and the Army Corps of Engineers that Boasberg approved.

Boasberg earlier this month gave the government until Jan. 6 to file its opposition to ETP's request. Oral arguments won't be held until at least February.

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Mayor: New Orleans settles police shooting suits for $13.3M

NEW ORLEANS (AP)  The mayor of New Orleans announced Monday that the city has reached settlements totaling $13.3 million in lawsuits over deadly police shootings after Hurricane Katrina and a fatal beating just before the 2005 storm, and he apologized to the victims' families on behalf of the city.

"I am hoping that in some sense the strength of these families will help the city find peace in our future," Mayor Mitch Landrieu said at an afternoon news conference after a private prayer service attended by some relatives of the victims.

Landrieu said the settlements with 17 plaintiffs end all civil litigation involving those cases. It took more than 11 years because criminal cases had to be dealt with first, he said.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, center right, hugs Jackie Madison Brown, whose brother Ronald Madison was killed by New Orleans Police on the Danziger Bridge after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, after the mayor held a press conference to announce settlements in the civil rights cases, in New Orleans, La. Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. The city said it will pay out $13.3 million to 17 plaintiffs. Landrieu announced the city has reached settlements totaling $13.3 million in lawsuits over the deadly police shootings after Hurricane Katrina and a fatal beating just before the 2005 storm, and he apologized to the victims' families on behalf of the city. (Matthew Hinton/The Advocate via AP)

Sherrel Johnson, the mother of 17-year-old James Brissette, who died in the Sept. 4, 2005, shootings on the Danziger Bridge, was among the victims' relatives on hand for Landrieu's announcement. She said she "wholeheartedly" accepts his apology.

"Since that time, it has been an awful long and rough road. But me and my family got through it," she said. Later, she added, "Now this is closure for me, and I can go forward ... because I know the old New Orleans does not exist anymore."

A total of 20 current or former New Orleans police officers were charged in a series of Justice Department civil rights investigations following the August 2005 storm. All but one of the cases centered on alleged police misconduct during the chaos that gripped the flooded city.

Eleven officers pleaded guilty to charges related to deadly shootings on a bridge less than a week after Katrina's landfall. Officers shot and killed two unarmed people and wounded four others on the Danziger Bridge before engaging in a cover-up that included a planted gun, fabricated witnesses and falsified reports.

Brissette and 40-year-old Ronald Madison, a mentally disabled man, died in the Sept. 4, 2005, bridge shootings. Lance Madison, Ronald's brother, was on the bridge that day and was initially arrested after being falsely accused of shooting at officers.

Another brother, Dr. Ronell Madison, thanked the mayor and police chief for reforms since the storm.

A federal judge who presided over a trial for five of the officers charged in the bridge shooting threw out their convictions in 2013. U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt said at least three government attorneys posted anonymous comments on a New Orleans newspaper's website, creating a "carnival atmosphere" that "distorted and perverted" justice in the case.

Engelhardt ordered a new trial for the five officers, who ultimately pleaded guilty in April. Lawsuits over the bridge shootings had been placed on hold while the criminal cases were pending.

Five other officers were tried on charges related to the death of 31-year-old Henry Glover, who was fatally shot outside a strip mall before his body was burned.

Former officer Gregory McRae, who burned Glover's body in a car, is the only officer whose conviction in the case still stands. McRae is serving a prison sentence of more than 11 years.

The officer who fatally shot Glover was convicted of manslaughter but was later acquitted by another jury after an appeals court awarded him a new trial.

Two former New Orleans police officers were convicted of charges stemming from the fatal beating of Raymond Robair, a 48-year-old handyman who died less than a month before Katrina struck.

Former training officer Melvin Williams was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison for kicking Robair, beating him with a baton, and telling doctors he was suffering from a drug overdose. Matthew Dean Moore, the recruit Williams was training at the time of the beating, was sentenced to more than five years in prison for submitting a false report and lying to the FBI about the encounter.

Robair's relatives sued the city and former police superintendent Eddie Compass.

LaShonda Enclade, Robair's daughter, attended the news conference. She said she forgives the city, but forgiving the officers involved is more difficult.

"The word forgive is a very, very, hard word. ... I'm not going to say I can ever forgive them. It's something to be worked on," she said.

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Kunzelman reported from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Latest: Los Angeles plans $10M for immigrant legal aid

CHICAGO (AP)  The Latest on local government legal services funds for immigrants facing deportation (all times local):

12:15 a.m.

Los Angeles elected officials and community leaders say they are setting up a $10 million fund to provide legal services to immigrants facing deportation in the wake of Donald Trump's election.

In this Dec. 16, 2016 photo, Esperanza Villalobos, a "community navigator," works at her office at The Resurrection Project in Chicago. Villalobos helps immigrants who might need legal services to avoid deportation or learn about their legal rights. The organization she works for plans to hire more individuals like her after the city approved $1.3 million for a legal services fund for immigrants. Chicago is among several entities nationwide working to beef up legal services for immigrants. (AP Photo by Sophia Tareen)

Mayor Eric Garcetti's office said Monday about half the money will come from public funds and about half from private foundations.

It was not immediately clear how the funds will be allocated.

The move comes as major cities and counties in Democratic strongholds across the country are beefing up legal services for immigrants to combat Trump's promises to boost deportations.

Los Angeles county supervisors are expected to consider on Tuesday a proposal to set aside $3 million to provide lawyers for immigrants.

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11:50 a.m.

Major U.S. cities and counties are beefing up legal services for immigrants to help them fight deportation and avoid fraudulent lawyers in the wake of Donald Trump's election and his hard-line immigration enforcement promises.

Tapping local government funds to represent immigrants in federal proceedings provides an early example of the type of pushback the Republican incoming president will receive in Democratic strongholds. Advocates call it a matter of justice and smart economics, but some question whether it's a fair use of taxpayer money.

Chicago has approved a $1.3 million legal fund. Los Angeles city and county officials and private organizations are working on a $10 million plan, according to a mayor's spokeswoman, while some California state lawmakers have proposed spending tens of millions of dollars to provide lawyers to immigrants facing deportation. New York is mulling a public-private legal fund, building on New York City's public defender program that's considered a national model.

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Taxin reported from Santa Ana, California.

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The Latest: 3 Hawaii electors for Clinton, 1 for Sanders

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Latest on the Electoral College meeting Monday to formally elect Donald Trump the nation's 45th president (all times EST):

8 p.m.

Hawaii's Democratic electors have cast their votes as part of the Electoral College.

Lizette Delgado-Polanco, right, a presidential elector, stands with others of New Jersey's Electoral College delegation as they are sworn in before they formally selected Democrat Hillary Clinton for president at the Statehouse, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, in Trenton, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Three of the four electors cast votes for Hillary Clinton, and one voted for Bernie Sanders for president.

They cast their votes at the Hawaii state Capitol Monday.

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7 p.m.

Donald Trump is celebrating his Electoral College victory on Twitter  and taking a shot at the media in the process.

Trump has tweeted, "We did it!"

He is thanking his supporters while noting he "just officially won the election (despite all of the distorted and inaccurate media)."

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6:10 p.m.

California's 55 Electoral College members have cast their votes in favor of Democrat Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Tim Kaine, in a largely ceremonial proceeding marking the end of the presidential election season.

The electors, all selected by California Democratic officeholders or Democratic candidates for office, met at the state Capitol in Sacramento. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Capitol, holding signs saying "Not My President," ''Dump Trump" and "Electoral College: Save U.S."

Clinton won about 62 percent of California's popular vote in November.

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5:28 p.m.

Donald Trump has cruised to victory in the Electoral College despite thousands of anti-Trump protesters who converged on state capitols across the country.

Monday's vote ensures that the billionaire will become America's 45th president.

Texas put the Republican president-elect over the 270-vote threshold. Electors had been deluged with emails, phone calls and letters urging them not to support Trump. Two Texas electors cast protest votes against Trump, but in the end he had more than he needed.

The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

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4:58 p.m.

Iowa's six Electoral College voters have cast their ballots for Republican Donald Trump, bringing him within a breath of the 270 votes required to formally win the presidency.

That brings his Electoral College total to 268, while Hillary Clinton's stands at 166.

She won the popular vote and protests simmered around the country, urging members of the Electoral College to rebel and vote for someone other than Trump.

Trump remains poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

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4:51 p.m.

Three Montana members of the Electoral College have voted for Republican Donald Trump.

That brings his elector total to 262  just short of the 270 required to formally win the presidency.

Hillary Clinton's total is 166. She won the popular vote and protests bubbled around the country as pressure mounted for members of the Electoral College to rebel and vote for someone other than Trump.

That didn't look likely to happen.

But Trump remains poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

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4:44 p.m.

New Jersey's 14 electors formally selected Democrat Hillary Clinton for president on Monday, bringing her total to 166  still behind Donald Trump and the number required to become president.

Trump's Electoral College total stands at 259, just shy of the 270 he needs to formally win the White House.

Solidly Democratic New Jersey awarded all of the state's Electoral College votes to the former senator and secretary of state.

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4:18 p.m.

The eleven members of the Electoral College from Massachusetts have chosen Hillary Clinton for president and brought her total to 139.

She won the popular vote in the Nov. 8 election, but Republican Donald Trump is poised to win the formal electoral vote to certify the nation's 45th president. Trump has 256 of the 270 votes required to win the White House.

A few hundred protesters opposed to Trump's election rallied outside the statehouse earlier in the day, with some calling for a change in the Electoral College that would guarantee the national popular vote winner becomes president.

Similar protests were held in state capitals around the U.S. on Monday.

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3:58 p.m.

Four members of the Electoral College in Washington state cast their votes for a candidate other than statewide popular vote winner Hillary Clinton.

It's the first time in four decades the state's electors have broken from the popular vote for president. Washington's 12 electors met Monday afternoon in the state Capitol to complete the constitutional formality. Clinton got eight votes while other candidates got the remaining four.

Republican Donald Trump won 306 electoral votes to Clinton's 232 in the Nov. 8 election.

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3:21 p.m.

Donald Trump is closing in on the 270 votes he needs to formally win the presidency.

Arizona and Missouri electors pushed him to 245 votes Monday, while Democrats Hillary Clinton had 120.

She won the national popular vote, and protests continued around the country in state capitols where electors were meeting Monday.

But Trump remains poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

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3:01 p.m.

Electors in Wyoming and one in Maine have pushed Republican Donald Trump closer to formally winning the presidency.

The votes bring Trump's total to 219 electors. Oregon, New Mexico and Colorado  plus three in Maine  bring Democrat Hillary Clinton's total to 120.

Two hundred-seventy votes are required to win the White House. Trump is expected to reach that threshold.

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2:48 p.m.

A Texas elections official says as many as four of the state's presidential electors may be replaced before Republicans begin casting ballots in the Electoral College, though Donald Trump isn't expected to lose any of those votes.

Texas Secretary of State spokeswoman Alicia Pierce says up to three electors may be disqualified for having jobs with the federal government. Another elector previously resigned after expressing concern about Trump's presidential qualifications.

Because Republicans will pick the replacements, Trump isn't expected to lose those electors.

Texas has 38 presidential electors.

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2:30 p.m.

Electors in Michigan and Florida have cast their combined 35 votes for Donald Trump, making his Electoral College total jump closer to the amount required to formally win the presidency.

The states, with 16 and 19 votes respectively, bring Trump's total to 215 electors. Two hundred-seventy votes are required to win the White House.

Democrat Hillary Clinton has 96 votes. She won the national popular vote, and protests continued around the country in state capitols where electors were meeting Monday.

But Trump remains poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

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2:14 p.m.

North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah have pushed Republican Donald Trump closer to the 270 votes required to win the presidency.

The states' electors gave Trump 166 electoral votes to Democrat Hillary Clinton's 96 as protests simmered around the country.

Trump is poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

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2:02 p.m.

A second elector  this one in Minnesota  has refused to cast a vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton in Monday's Electoral College tally.

It wasn't immediately clear why Muhammad Abdurrahman didn't vote for Clinton, but he was a delegate for Bernie Sanders at the Democratic National Convention.

The electors are pledged to cast Minnesota's 10 electoral votes for Clinton since she won the state.

Abdurrahman was immediately replaced by an alternate who later voted for Clinton.

Earlier in the day, a so-called "faithless elector" in Maine cast his vote for Sanders, who lost the Democratic presidential nomination to Clinton. David Bright said on his Facebook page that he cast his vote for Sanders because voting for Clinton would not have helped her win.

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1:44 p.m.

The latest votes give 10 electors each to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in Monday's Electoral College vote for president. Trump remains far ahead in the formal vote and is expected to win the 270 votes required to win the White House.

Wisconsin's 10 electors have chosen statewide winner Trump, bringing his total to 144 electoral votes. Maryland's 10 electors have chosen Clinton, bringing her total to 59.

The former secretary of state won the national popular vote in the Nov. 8 election. Protesters rallied at state capitols around the country to persuade electors to choose someone other than Trump in the Electoral College vote on Monday.

Trump is poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

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1:10 p.m.

Electors from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio and Louisiana have given Republican Donald Trump 134 of the 270 electoral votes required to formally win the presidency.

The new total includes 20 votes from Pennsylvania, 18 from Ohio, 15 from North Carolina and eight from Louisiana.

Democrat Hillary Clinton has 43 electoral votes, including 29 from her home state of New York.

She won the national popular vote in the Nov. 8 election, and protesters rallied at state capitols around the country against Trump's expected victory in the Electoral College Monday.

Trump is poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789. That's far more than the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency.

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12:45 p.m.

Donald Trump has won 68 electoral votes in Monday's tally of the Electoral College.

The new total includes all 16 presidential electors in Georgia and eight in Kentucky, as well as electors in South Carolina, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.

Hillary Clinton has 10 electoral votes and as well as the Nov. 8 popular vote. Protesters rallied at state capitols around the country against Trump's expected victory in the Electoral College Monday.

Trump is poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789. That's far more than the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency.

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11:59 a.m.

Democrat Hillary Clinton has won Delaware's three electoral votes  giving her a total of 10  but she's still far behind Republican Donald Trump's total of 44 in Monday's formal tally.

Clinton won Delaware in the Nov. 8 presidential election as well as the national popular vote. Protesters rallied at state capitols around the country against Trump's expected victory in the Electoral College Monday.

Trump is poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789. That's far more than the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency.

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11:36 a.m.

With a win in South Carolina, Donald Trump now has won 44 electoral votes of the 270 he needs to formally win the presidency.

Democrat Hillary Clinton has won Vermont's three electoral votes.

Trump on Monday also has won votes in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Clinton won the popular vote in the Nov. 8 election. But Trump is poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

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11:31 p.m.

One faithless elector has cast a vote in Maine  for Sen. Bernie Sanders.

David Bright said on his Facebook page that he cast his vote for Sanders, instead of Hillary Clinton because his vote would not have helped her win.

"I cast my Electoral College vote for Bernie Sanders today to let those new voters who were inspired by him know that some of us did hear them, did listen to them, do respect them and understand their disappointment," he wrote.

Clinton won the popular vote in the Nov. 8 election. But Trump is poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

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11:30 a.m.

With wins in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia, Donald Trump now has won 35 electoral votes of the 270 he needs to formally win the presidency.

Democrat Hillary Clinton has won Vermont's three electoral votes.

Clinton won the popular vote in the Nov. 8 election. But Trump is poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

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10:29 a.m.

Tennessee's 11 presidential electors have cast their ballots for Republican Donald Trump.

They were required by state law to vote for Donald Trump, who overwhelmingly carried Tennessee in November.

The vote Monday came with little fanfare. One audience member tried to read out some Scripture before the ballots were cast, but was told he could not speak.

Protesters held rallies at state Capitols around the country, including in Nashville. The group called the December 19 Coalition said it wanted to try to persuade electors to change their minds given the CIA and FBI's conclusions that Russia interfered in the presidential election with the goal of supporting Trump.

A protester holds up a sign as a group demonstrates in freezing temperatures at the Statehouse, ahead of New Jersey's Electoral College, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, in Trenton, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Protesters demonstrate ahead of Pennsylvania's 58th Electoral College at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. The demonstrators were waving signs and chanting in freezing temperatures Monday morning as delegates began arriving at the state Capitol to cast the state's electoral votes for president. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People gather outside North Carolina's antebellum Capitol building Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, in Raleigh, N.C., in hopes that enough members of the Electoral College can be swayed to deny President-elect Donald Trump the presidency. Protesters listened to speakers in a cold rain before the 15 people picked by the Republican Party cast ballots as designated by North Carolina's popular vote last month. (AP Photo/Emery Dalesio)
Johann Georg Pinsel is a mystery. Nobody knows where he was born, where he studied or even if Pinsel is his real name. The only thing that is certain is that he could make wood shed blood and tears. Last summer I found myself in the small town of Buchach where Pinsel worked and died. In just ten years, between 1750 and 1760, he created a series of sculptures and carvings of extraordinary drama and complexity. Pinsels angels flutter, his saints grieve, his Christ extends his hand to you in mercy.

From 28 October 2016 to 12 February 2017, the Belvedere in Vienna will honor this Baroque master, giving viewers a rare chance to see his work up close. He was active in the western Ukrainian region of Lviv (Lemberg during his lifetime) and decorated many churches in the region with his wood and stone sculptures.

Many art historians compare the power of his work to that of Michelangelo, and the only reason you havent heard of Pinsel is because his work came to light fairly recently. Like much of Ukraine, Pinsels masterpieces were affected by the terrible events of the 20th century. Just to give you an example: Lviv changed hands no fewer than eight times between 1914 and 1945. Then the Soviets destroyed the churches where Pinsels sculptures were housed. Its a miracle that any of his works have survived.

Wood is a delicate material. It burns. It crumbles. It decays. But looking at Pinsels figures, I cant help feeling that theyre alive and not mere wood. If you have a chance to visit Vienna over the holidays, please dont miss the exhibit. Perhaps you will fall under the same spell that this mysterious artist cast over me.

The Belvedere Winterpalais

Heavenly! The Baroque Sculptor Johann Georg Pinsel

28 October 2016 to 12 February 2017

For more exhibit information, please see the Belvedere website.

More details via the Belvedere: This exhibition, which will showcase some thirty exhibits by Pinsels hand, is the first to present this important sculptor in Austria. Juxtaposed with works from the Belvederes holdings by such Austrian painters of the Late Baroque as Franz Anton Maulbertsch, Paul Troger, and Johann Lucas Kracker, they will unfold a Baroque spectacle of expressive painting and carving in the rooms of the Winterpalais.

Image via belvedere.at. They have many other striking examples of Pinsels work on their website, such as this one.
President Barack Obama has pardoned 78 people and shortened the sentence of 153 others convicted of federal crimes, the greatest number of individual clemencies in a single day by any president, the White House said Monday.

Obama has been granting commutations at rapid-fire pace in his final months in office, but he has focused primarily on shortening sentences of those convicted of drug offenses rather than pardons.

Pardons amount to forgiveness of a crime that removes restrictions on the right to vote, hold state or local office, or sit on a jury. The pardon also lessens the stigma arising from the conviction.

Record clemency: The number of people given pardons or commutations is the greatest ever in a day

Neil Eggleston, Obama's White House counsel, said Obama has now pardoned a total of 148 people during his presidency and has shortened the sentences of 1,176 people, including 395 serving life sentences.

Eggleston said each clemency recipient's story is unique, but a common thread of rehabilitation underlies all of them.

Pardon recipients have shown they have led a productive and law-abiding post-conviction life, including by contributing to the community in a meaningful way, he said.

Commutation recipients have made the most of his or her time in prison by participating in educational courses, vocational training, and drug treatment, he said.

On vacation: The presidential motorcade was seen on Sunday as the Obamas went to a botanical garden in Kaneohe, Hawaii

'These are the stories that demonstrate the successes that can be achieved  by both individuals and society  in a nation of second chances,' Eggleston said.
The event seemed routine, the opening of an exhibit of photographs of Russia. So when a man in a dark suit and tie pulled out a gun, I was stunned and thought it was a theatrical flourish.

Instead, it was a coolly calculated assassination, unfolding in front of me and others who scrambled, terrified, for cover as the trim man with short hair gunned down the Russian ambassador.

The gunshots, at least eight of them, were loud in the pristine art gallery. Pandemonium erupted.

People screamed, hid behind columns and under tables and lay on the floor. I was afraid and confused, but found partial cover behind a wall and did my job: taking photographs.

A man identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas holds up a gun after shooting Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey on Monday

Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, pauses during a speech at a photo exhibition moments before a gunman (who can be seen standing behind him to the left) opened fire on him

The exhibition, titled 'From Kaliningrad to Kamchatka, from the eyes of travelers' featured photos from Russia's westernmost Baltic region to the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the east. I decided to attend simply because it was on my way home from the Ankara office.

When I arrived, the speeches had already begun. After Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov began to make his address, I moved closer to photograph him, thinking the pictures would come in useful for stories on Turkish-Russian relations.

He was speaking softly and - from what I could tell - lovingly about his homeland, stopping occasionally to allow the translator to relay his words in Turkish. I remember thinking how calm and humble he seemed.

The gunman, identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, stands near the body of Andrei Karlov, shouting 'Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!'

Then came the gunshots in quick succession, and panic in the audience. The ambassador's body lay on the floor, just meters [yards] away from me. I couldn't see any blood around him; I think he may have been shot in the back.

It took me a few seconds to realize what had happened: A man had died in front of me; a life had disappeared before my eyes.

I moved back and to the left, while the gunman - later identified as police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas - gestured with his gun at people cowering on the right side of the room.

At first, I couldn't figure out what had motivated the shooter. I thought he might be a Chechen militant. But people later said he was shouting about the Syrian city of Aleppo.

People crouch in a corner after Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, was shot at a photo gallery in Ankara

Happened to be there: Burhan Ozbilici was at the 'right' moment for a historic but tragic photo

So he was probably angry about Russian bombardments of Aleppo that were aimed at driving out anti-government rebels. Many civilians have been killed in the fighting.

He also shouted 'Allahu akbar,' but I couldn't understand the rest of what he said in Arabic.

The gunman was agitated. He walked around the ambassador's body, smashing some of the photos hanging on the wall.

I was, of course, fearful and knew of the danger if the gunman turned toward me. But I advanced a little and photographed the man as he hectored his desperate, captive audience.

This is what I was thinking: 'I'm here. Even if I get hit and injured, or killed, I'm a journalist. I have to do my work. I could run away without making any photos. ... But I wouldn't have a proper answer if people later ask me: 'Why didn't you take pictures?''

I even thought about friends and colleagues who have died while taking photographs in conflict zones over the years.

A child is held after Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, was shot at a photo gallery in Ankara

As my mind raced, I saw that the man was agitated - and yet, he was, strangely, in control of himself. He shouted at everyone to stand back. Security guards ordered us to vacate the hall and we left.

Ambulances and armored vehicles soon arrived and the police operation was launched. The gunman was later killed in a shootout.
Man sentenced in attacks in Alaska's Iditarod race

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP)  A 27-year-old man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to charges connected with a snowmobile attack on two mushers competing in Alaska's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in March.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (http://bit.ly/2i88rGT) reports Arnold Demoski of Nulato was sentenced Monday to six months, most of which has already been served.

The sentencing comes after Demoski pleaded guilty to felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor charges of assault, reckless endangerment and driving under the influence.

Demoski had been accused of driving a snowmobile at four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King, as well as Aliy Zirkle, on March 12 near Nulato.

One of King's dogs, Nash, was killed, and other dogs were injured.

Zirkle finished the nearly 1,000-mile race across Alaska in third place and King in ninth place.

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Judge who gave Brock Turner 6 months cleared of misconduct

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A California judge was cleared of misconduct Monday for sentencing a former Stanford University swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on campus, a punishment decried as too lenient by critics across the country.

There was no evidence that Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky displayed bias in his treatment of Brock Turner, according to the California Commission on Judicial Performance, which investigates complaints of judicial misconduct and disciplines judges.

The panel said it received thousands of complaints demanding Persky be punished over Turner's sentence, which required the now-21-year-old to register as a sex offender for life.

FILE - This June 27, 2011 file photo shows Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, who drew criticism for sentencing former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to only six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. A California agency that oversees judicial discipline in the state ruled Monday, Dec. 19, that Persky committed no misconduct when he sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting a young woman on campus. (Jason Doiy/The Recorder via AP, File)

Turner's case exploded on social media and ignited a debate about campus rape and the criminal justice system after a powerful statement the victim read during the June 2 sentencing was published online.

Some critics accused the judge of coddling Turner because they were both Stanford athletes or showing gender bias by failing to take campus sexual assault seriously enough. Others say the case underscored inequities in the criminal justice system because Turner could afford a private attorney rather than a public defender.

Those urging discipline for Persky argued that a "less-privileged defendant would have received a harsher sentence," the 11-member panel said.

However, "the commission has concluded that there is not clear and convincing evidence of bias, abuse of authority, or other basis to conclude that Judge Persky engaged in judicial misconduct warranting discipline," according to its unsigned decision.

Persky said he was following a recommendation from the local probation department and cited Turner's clean criminal record and the effect the conviction would have on Turner's life in departing from the minimum sentence of two years in prison. Prosecutors had argued for six years.

The judge didn't respond to email and phone inquiries Monday. Ethical guidelines bar Persky from publicly discussing the case, said his attorney, Kathleen Ewins.

"The difficulties for judges who become the subject of heated public criticism, but are ethically prohibited from responding, cannot be overstated," Ewins said.

She said the commission "recognized he made a reasoned, but unpopular, decision."

Persky now handles civil matters after he asked to be removed from criminal cases in August. He has faced physical threats, his attorney said.

The judge also remains the target of a recall campaign, led by Stanford law professor Michele Dauber.

"We strongly disagree with the commission's conclusion on judicial bias and we believe that Judge Persky has in fact demonstrated a clear pattern of bias in cases of sex crimes and violence against women," Dauber said.

The campaign has hired a professional signature-gathering company to help get Persky's recall question before voters in November, Dauber said. It has to obtain about 80,000 signatures from registered Santa Clara County voters.

Meanwhile, Turner was released from jail in September after serving three months and returned to his native Ohio, where he remains on probation for three years and is a registered sex offender for life.

A jury had found him guilty of three counts of felony sexual assault for attacking a young woman passed out from too much alcohol outside a fraternity party in 2015.

Turner was on top of her behind a trash bin when two graduate students passing by on bicycles confronted him. When Turner tried to flee, they tackled and held him on the ground until police arrived.
IMF board: Lagarde will remain as chief despite conviction

WASHINGTON (AP)  Christine Lagarde will remain head of the International Monetary Fund despite her conviction Monday of negligence in a case dating to her tenure as France's finance minister.

The IMF's executive board quickly met after the court's decision and expressed "full confidence" in Lagarde's ability to carry out her duties at the head of the Washington-based international lending agency. In a statement, the board cited her "outstanding leadership" and the respect and trust she has worldwide.

After a weeklong trial, France's Court of Justice of the Republic found Lagarde guilty of one count of negligence but spared her jail time and a criminal record.

FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 12, 2016 file picture, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, right, arrives at the special Paris court, France. French court finds IMF chief Christine Lagarde guilty in arbitration case, but she escapes punishment. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

The 60-year-old IMF leader had potentially faced a year of imprisonment and a fine for not seeking to block a fraudulent 2008 arbitration award to a politically connected tycoon when she was finance minister.

Lagarde thanked the board for the vote of confidence "in my ability to do my job." She said she would not appeal the French court's decision.

"I am not satisfied with it, but there's a point in time when one must stop, turn the page and move on," she said.

Lagarde, a lawyer, became France's first female finance minister in 2007, overseeing the country's response to the financial crisis that rocked the global economy from 2008. She is also the first woman to head the IMF.

The troubling verdict comes as the IMF is weighing its role in multiple global crises, including a bailout for Greece.

"She is a strong leader," U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement after the board's decision. "And we have every confidence in her ability to guide the fund at a critical time for the global economy."

The Court of Justice of the Republic is a special tribunal to hear cases of alleged criminality by ministers in office and is made up of three judges and 12 parliamentarians. It ruled that Lagarde's negligence in her management of a long-running arbitration case involving tycoon Bernard Tapie helped open the door for the fraudulent misappropriation of public funds. Lagarde herself was not accused of fraud.

The case revolves around a 403 million-euro ($425 million) arbitration award given to Tapie in 2008 over the botched sale of sportswear giant Adidas in the 1990s. Civil courts have since quashed the unusually generous award, declared the arbitration process and deal fraudulent and ordered Tapie to refund the money.

The special court's presiding judge, in reading the verdict, said Lagarde should have asked her aides and others for more information about the "shocking arbitration award," which included a tax-free payment of 45 million euros in damages to Tapie, which the court described as fraudulent.

Had Lagarde contested the award, an appeal against it might have succeeded and would have strengthened the negotiating position of those who were fighting Tapie's demands for compensation over the sale of his majority stake in Adidas, the court ruled.

In deciding not to sentence Lagarde, the court noted that the award to Tapie has since been annulled, sparing damage to the public purse. It also noted that Lagarde was busy at the time with the global economic crisis.

Lagarde's "personality and national and international reputation" also counted in her favor in the decision not to punish her, the court ruled.

Lagarde, who was not present for the verdict, maintained her innocence through the trial. The prosecutor had asked for an acquittal in the case, which began in 2011.

The special court acquitted Lagarde of negligence in her original decision to put the Tapie case to arbitration. But it found her guilty in a subsequent decision not to contest the amount of the arbitration award.

The legal battle between Tapie and Credit Lyonnais over the public bank's sale of his Adidas stake was still unresolved when Lagarde took over at the Finance Ministry in 2007.

Lagarde ordered that the dispute be settled through a private arbitration panel, instead of regular courts  against the advice of her own services. The massive award raised questions about whether Tapie benefited from his political connections, including with then-President Nicolas Sarkozy, Lagarde's boss when she was his finance minister.

Soon after the award, investigators suspected the whole process was rigged in favor of the magnate.

In 2013, Tapie, his lawyer, one of the arbitrators and Lagarde's chief of staff at the ministry, Stephane Richard, now the CEO of the telecom company Orange, were charged with gang-related fraud. Lagarde's Paris home was searched by police. However, that case is separate from Lagarde's legal woes.

Tapie was handed another charge of misappropriation of funds. But in 2015, a court quashed the arbitration deal and ordered Tapie to repay the money. Last June, the top French court ruled that the arbitration was fraudulent.

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Associated Press writer Paul Wiseman reported this story in Washington and AP writer John Leicester reported from Paris. AP writers Elaine Ganley in Paris and Marcy Gordon in Washington contributed to this report.

FILE - In this Monday, Dec.12, 2016 file picture, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde smiles as she arrives at the special Paris court, France. French court finds IMF chief Christine Lagarde guilty in arbitration case, but she escapes punishment. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde's lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, addresses media outside a special Paris court, France, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. French court finds IMF chief Christine Lagarde guilty in arbitration case, but she escapes punishment. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Donald Trumps top aides have said the US president-elect is not ready to accept the finding by intelligence officials that Moscow hacked Democratic emails in a bid to elevate the billionaire property mogul.

And they stressed that even if it were true, Republican Mr Trump still won the White House fair and square.

Meanwhile, members of the Electoral College will formally cast votes for Mr Trump as the nations 45th president on Monday.

While Democrats are probably powerless to stop it, they suggested Mr Trumps victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton would forever be tainted by Russian meddling.

Republican electors have been inundated by Trump opponents urging them to defy the results in their states and vote against him.

This whole thing is a spin job, said Mr Trumps incoming chief of staff Reince Priebus. And I think what the Democrats ought to do is look in the mirror and face the reality that they lost the election.

Trump himself weighed in Sunday evening.

The partisan swipes mostly ignored warnings by foreign policy experts that part of Russias calculation also was probably payback for years of US criticism of its own elections and a desire to portray America as a flawed champion of democracy - potentially weakening US power on the world stage.

Russia has vehemently denied the accusation.

Many politicians, including some leading Republicans, say voters may not have been swayed by the release of tens of thousands of private emails. But the fact that a foreign power tried to intervene in US democracy and exploit divisions in American politics is cause for alarm, they say.

Supporters of Donald Trump attended a rally by the president-elect in Mobile, Alabama on Saturday

Still, Mr Trumps transition team and loyalists on Capitol Hill were not buying it, at least not on the eve of the Electoral College vote.

Wheres the evidence? said Kellyanne Conway, another close Trump adviser.

Asked about President Barack Obamas vow to retaliate against the Russians, she said: It seems like the president is under pressure from Team Hillary, who cant accept the election results.

Kellyanne Conway

Democrats say it is unlikely the public will ever hear detailed evidence because doing so would disclose classified sources and methods. But with last weeks declaration by CIA director John Brennan that there was strong consensus that Russia hacked Democrats to try to sway the election, politicians are stepping up demands for closed-door briefings and a separate congressional investigation.
Thousands of young people at risk of homelessness this Christmas face dangerous choices in a bid to find somewhere safe to sleep, a charity has warned.

Desperate measures include staying with a stranger and committing crimes, Centrepoint said, as it declared society is facing a crisis in youth homelessness, possibly numbering 25,000 people this festive season.

This Christmas, thousands of homeless young people will make horrific choices to find a safe place to sleep: https://t.co/6MuLu1uBjv pic.twitter.com/vjUy8cwVPC  Centrepoint (@centrepointuk) December 9, 2016

More than a quarter of young homeless people surveyed by the charity earlier this year admitted to having stayed with someone they did not know, while 12% said they had done something illegal in order to be taken into custody.

These are some of the desperate measures young people are taking to avoid a night on the streets: https://t.co/6MuLu1uBjv pic.twitter.com/ZweXhz9QX4  Centrepoint (@centrepointuk) December 18, 2016

Young people helped by Centrepoint after spending time on the streets have advised others in a similar situation to seek help, rather than turning to crime or putting themselves in dangerous situations.

Twenty-one-year-old Jordan from Bradford, who did not wish to give his surname, said he had sold drugs and broken into caravans for a nights sleep after problems at home.

He heard about Centrepoint through a friend, having slept rough for around four months, and is now living in rented accommodation and has just completed training to work in the security industry.

A homeless man in Victoria, London

He said: I was definitely at rock bottom, if not lower than rock bottom. It was through Centrepoint that I got into the security industry

It is thanks to Centrepoint that Ive got the job that Ive got. I would advise people to seek help. I am in a brilliant place now compared to where I was five years ago.

I'm @centrepointuk with @JohnHealey_MP and fantastic volunteers who are doing wonderful work this Christmas helping homeless young people pic.twitter.com/pNRvr89jaj  Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) December 15, 2016

Centrepoint aims to give vulnerable young people a safe place to stay, help them find a job and also work with them on physical and mental health problems.

Paul Noblet, head of public affairs for Centrepoint, said: Were facing a crisis when it comes to youth homelessness - as many as 25,000 young people could be at risk of homelessness this Christmas alone.

Behind that appalling statistic is a human being not much older than many of our children and grandchildren, who is alone, frightened and confronted with impossible choices.

Centrepoint surveyed 430 homeless young people in July as part of their Desperate Measures campaign.

Text STOCKING to 70111 to donate 3 to Centrepoint. For more information visit www.centrepoint.org.uk
The UN Security Council has approved the deployment of UN monitors to Aleppo as the evacuation of fighters and civilians from the last remaining opposition stronghold in the northern city resumed after days of delays.

France said the monitors were needed to prevent mass atrocities from being committed by Syrian government forces, especially militias.

Remember Bana, the 7-year-old girl tweeting from Aleppo? She and her mom have been safely evacuated. #WhereIsBana pic.twitter.com/sXltFvjSXh  AJ+ (@ajplus) December 19, 2016

However, thousands of people have already been evacuated and the operation will likely be over before the observers arrive.

Another evacuation is under way in two rebel-besieged Shia villages, where the sick and wounded were being allowed out until gunmen torched several buses being used for the operation on Sunday. That evacuation has since resumed.

Syrian refugees arrive at a camp after leaving Aleppo

The resolution also adopted calls for the United Nations and other institutions to monitor evacuations from eastern Aleppo and demands that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should urgently consult Syria and other parties on security and arrangements for the immediate deployment of the monitors.

France and Russia, who submitted rival draft resolutions, announced the agreement on a text after more than three hours of closed-door consultations on Sunday.

Aleppo update: find out more about the Security Council resolution adopted this morning here: https://t.co/QPphjC3asc https://t.co/VKAExwli7v  United Nations (@UN) December 19, 2016

The resolution also demands that all parties allow unconditional and immediate access for the UN and its partners to deliver humanitarian aid and medical care, and respect and protect all civilians across Aleppo and throughout Syria.

The evacuation of Aleppo began last week after Turkey and Russia brokered a ceasefire as government forces were closing in on the rebels last redoubt in the countrys largest city, but has been repeatedly delayed.

The evacuation of more than 2,000 sick and wounded from the besieged Shia villages of Foua and Kfarya was tacked onto the deal at the last minute.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV said 10 buses left with civilians on Monday.

(AP/PA)

There are also plans to evacuate hundreds of people from two Madaya and Zabadani, two besieged, rebel-held villages near the Lebanese border. The Observatory and Mayadeen said 15 buses had entered the two villages on Monday.
A man has been dubbed "Britains most generous colleague" because he buys Christmas gifts for all 1,000 people in his office.

Steve Newman, 57, from Wirral, Merseyside, started the gift-giving more than seven years ago.

Back then, he worked in a much smaller office with just 12 people - spending around a 1 on each of them.

Mr Christmas, Steve Newman, with some of the gifts he and his family have wrapped (Collect/PA Real Life)

He explained: "I came across a website that was closing down, and they sold novelty inflatable hats.

"I thought I would buy a few of those along with some other daft presents for the people I worked with."

When he presented his colleagues with the little treats, they were so thankful that he decided to make it an annual tradition.

He continued: "They were so happy and I thought I would like to do that again. The looks on their faces was just priceless.

"It reminded me of that feeling of queuing up for a Santas grotto.

"I think everybody went back to their childhoods when they were giving out their presents so for the next few years, I decided to keep trying to find daft and unusual presents."

Follow this account to stay up to date with the latest ONR news straight to your feed and you can read more here: https://t.co/1DV34gO6XY  Office for Nuclear Regulation (@The_ONR) November 25, 2016

Over the next few years, Steve bought more and more presents.

When he became a para-technical officer, which means he assesses emergency plans, with the Office of Nuclear Regulation, Bootle, in 2011, he even set up a makeshift grotto in one of meeting as he gave more than 50 presents to people in his team.

Last year, he expanded it to the whole of the Office of Nuclear Regulation - more than 500 people  and this year, he gave festive treats to almost 1000 people across the whole building.

Steve's daughter Amy and granddaughter Aleesa helping wrap gifts for his colleagues (Collect/PA Real Life)

He said: "Gradually its got bigger and bigger and when I moved to the Office of Nuclear Regulation, I expanded it and I had to be more ingenious about finding enough presents for everyone without spending lots of money.

"I suppose I did get a bit carried away but I managed to get lots of really inexpensive things.

"My reasons for doing it are entirely selfish.

Adrienne Kelbie highlights the importance of our international work #onr2016 pic.twitter.com/ZmWKBFk1AG  Office for Nuclear Regulation (@The_ONR) November 1, 2016

He continued: "I get to see everybody being happy. It started on a small scale but it has worked its way into something much bigger."

Steve took a day off work and helped as his colleagues lined up outside a conference room filled with his goodies.

"It has gone down incredibly well," he said.

Steve giving out presents (Collect/PA Real Life)

"In our organisation, people really look forward to it. I get people stopping me in the corridors asking me when its going to be on.

"We had hundreds and hundreds of people, but I even have a few presents left over so I can use them next year."

With almost 1000 gifts to buy, Steve starts his Christmas shopping early.

Steve with his wife Gina, granddaughter Aleesa and daughter Amy (Collect/PA Real Life)

Although he made sure everyone had a little something, his bargain hunting skills meant he estimates he spent just 200 to 300.

He explained: "Whenever I find some kind of sale or reduction, I am thinking ahead. For example when they are selling off packets of Christmas cards for 10p, I will buy a stack of those. Ive also bought chocolate in bulk to keep the price down.

"Overall, I think I spent between 200 and 300, but it was spread right through the year so it doesnt really feel like much.

Steve's granddaughter Aleesa helping him wrap presents (Collect/PA Real Life)

"Its a serious job working in the nuclear industry, but to give everybody a chance at thinking back to their childhood and having that feeling of going to the grotto just brings a smile to everyones face."

Steve has even had to turn the basement of his house into a Christmas room to store all the treats throughout the year.

Without an army of elves on hand, he gets help from his family including wife Gina, 57, daughter Amy, 28, and granddaughter Aleesa, eight.

Steve's wife Gina, his granddaughter Aleesa and daughter Amy in full swing wrapping presents (Collect/PA Real Life)

Together, they individually hand-wrap each gift.

"We all sit around the table and hand wrapped each of these things. Its something for us all to look forward to and it fills us with Christmas spirit," he said.

"Some of my friends and family are a bit confused and say, Why are you doing this!? but they do think its lovely. I dont get any negative reactions  people are just a bit perplexed but I love it."

Dave Caton, Director of Human Resources at the Office for Nuclear Regulation said: Nuclear regulation is rightly a serious business, but we are all human beings and it is heart-warming that Steve takes the time out to say thank you to his colleagues in this special way.
England conceded their highest-ever Test score to any opposition as triple-centurion Karun Nair piled on the agony for Alastair Cooks tourists in Indias own national-record 759 for seven declared.

Nair (303 not out) became only the third batsman ever to turn a maiden Test century into a triple, following the great Garfield Sobers and Bobby Simpson, as Englands previous-worst 751 for five  inflicted by West Indies in Antigua in 2004  was consigned to history.

A triple hundred for @karun126 followed by the declaration from #TeamIndia skipper. India 759/7d, lead #ENG(477) by 282 runs pic.twitter.com/q18MnGeo59  BCCI (@BCCI) December 19, 2016

Nair, in only his third Test after previous scores of four and 13, shared a sixth-wicket stand of 181 with Ravi Ashwin (67) on day four of this fifth and final match of the series to rack up a mammoth lead of 282 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Virat Kohli declared immediately after Nair cut Adil Rashid for his 32nd four, to add to four sixes, and reach his triple-hundred from 381 balls in almost nine and a half hours.

India declare on 759-7 with a lead of 282. There are 5 overs to be bowled tonight #INDvENG  England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 19, 2016

That put the onus on Englands batsmen to summon a resilience often previously lacking on this tough tour if they are to avoid going home 4-0 losers, by closing out a stalemate on the final day.

759 - India's 759/7d is their highest score in Test match cricket & the highest ever Test innings score recorded against England. Enormous.  OptaJim (@OptaJim) December 19, 2016

In five overs of batting on the penultimate evening of what has been an especially taxing trip, Cook and Keaton Jennings at least avoided mishap on the way to 12 without loss.

Nair had earlier increased his countrys top individual score against England for the second time in successive weeks, after Kohli hit 235 in the series-sealing win in Mumbai, and went on to become only his countrys second triple-centurion after Virender Sehwag - who achieved the feat twice.

Nair put on 161 with his lifelong friend and team-mate KL Rahul here on Sunday, before the latter fell agonisingly one run short of his 200.

A proud moment for @karun126's parents as they laud his performance in Chennai #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Fxeed6A5gR  BCCI (@BCCI) December 19, 2016

He had a little fortune, dropped at slip on 34 by Cook on the third afternoon and then surviving again on 154 when he got an edge on a reverse-sweep at Rashid but was given not out caught behind and benefited from Englands lack of remaining reviews.

England had little obvious motivation to accelerate proceedings in the morning session after India resumed on 391 for four, so a first hour containing just 12 overs and 34 runs was an acceptable overture.

Murali Vijay, right, congratulates Karun Nair on his first century

They would have had a wicket too, if only Stuart Broad had a review left at his disposal when Murali Vijay was given not out caught behind on 21 as, according to technology, he had made contact with a thin edge.

Instead it was to be Liam Dawson who struck with his maiden Test wicket, Murali trapped lbw on the back foot when he failed to spot the arm ball.

Liam Dawson, centre, is mobbed after dismissing Murali Vijay with his maiden test wicket (Tsering Topgyal/AP)

The fifth-wicket stand was broken at 63, and England reined the innings run-rate temporarily below 3.5.

Ashwin appeared in no hurry in front of his home-town crowd. He had only nine from 36 balls at lunch but helped to up the tempo on the way to his 50 from another 80 deliveries.

Ravi Ashwin was slow to start, but went on to reach his 10th Test half century (Tsering Topgyal/AP) Tsering Topgyal)

England took the third new ball at 600 for five - cue for India to become even more expansive, only for Ashwin to fall at last to Jos Buttlers outstanding one-handed catch diving to his left at gully off Broad.

It was already just the second time in Englands history they had conceded 600 in consecutive Tests, and there was another let-off in the offing for Nair too - dropped on 217 at slip by Joe Root, diving to his right off Jake Ball.

Jonny Bairstows missed stumping off Moeen Ali merely added insult to injury as Nair escaped again on 246, and the resulting byes brought up the 200 lead in yet another three-figure stand - with Ravindra Jadeja (51), who joined in with a near run-a-ball half-century.
Looking at the world through the eyes of the Web
The Duke of Cambridge has revealed Prince George is so caught up with the Christmas spirit he has been unwrapping presents before the big day.

William joked about his three-year-old sons involvement with the festive fun when he joined wife Kate and brother Prince Harry at a Christmas party for Heads Together, their mental health umbrella charity organisation.

The event was the royal trios last official engagement of the year and came after Harry had reportedly said goodbye to girlfriend Meghan Markle on Sunday after they had spent a romantic week together.

William, Kate, who wore a Vanessa Seward outfit, and Harry founded Heads Together to try to combat the stigma around mental health issues and met volunteers, counsellors and supporters of its member charities at a youth club in north Kensington, London.

The Mix, a Heads Together member and national organisation which provides confidential support to the under-25s, hosted the event and also held its end-of-year prize-giving ceremony.

Providing the musical entertainment was Princes Trust Ambassador, presenter and Kiss FM DJ AJ King, who chatted to William.

The Duchess of Cambridge

The Duke is a big fan of dance tunes but the pair talked about the young Prince, the broadcaster said.

King said: He just said George definitely knows its Christmas this year because the presents are about and hes more into opening them than anything else.

I said Christmas would be a bit different for his children this year and he said they would be having a family Christmas together.

(Yui Mok/PA)

Conversation turned to the love of rugby the two men share and King added: He was showing me the scar hes got on his finger, which was caused by a rugby accident.

He had to stop because of his rugby injury  hes got a metal rod in his finger apparently.

William revealed that the accident, believed to be to his left hand, meant he would later also have to give up the boxing lessons he had during his time in the Army.

(Yui Mok/PA)

He said he would have carried on with the boxing but that injury took him out. He did boxing in the Army, as did his brother, the DJ added.

William, Kate and Harry joined in the Christmas celebrations by helping Heads Together members make festive decorations.

The royal trio took it in turn to sit at tables and decorate baubles or make paper chains decorated with positive messages.

(Yui Mok/PA)

William wrote give time to one another while Kate left two supportive sentences, laugh out loud and go for a long walk, an activity the Cambridges are known to enjoy.

The Duke got into a passionate discussion with some charity workers when he sat down to make his paper chain.

Jo Hardy, a parent services manager with mental health charity and Heads Together member Young Minds, said: He was saying the family is so important, its really important to preserve these family values.

She added that, when it came to talking about himself, William confessed he was a bit shy.
A prisoner who sparked a manhunt after escaping from HMP Pentonville is facing years behind bars after admitting breaking out of the jail.

James Anthony Whitlock, 31, pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to escaping from the prison in north London by removing the bars on the cell window. He was found to be missing from the troubled institution shortly before midday on November 7.

He and another prisoner reportedly used diamond-tipped cutting equipment to break through cell bars before scaling a perimeter wall of the Victorian prison.

James Anthony Whitlock

Their escape is said to have gone undetected for several hours because they stuffed their beds with pillows to make it look like they were asleep.

Whitlock, of no fixed address, is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Matthew Baker, 28, is yet to enter a plea to the same offence.

James Anthony Whitlock, 31, pleads guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to

escaping from HMP Pentonville on November 7.  Rebecca Williams (@BexWills) December 19, 2016

His sister Kelly Baker, 21, of Friars Close, Ilford, east London, admitted one count of assisting an offender by buying him hair dye.
The problems gripping the countrys prisons could last for months, the Justice Secretary has warned.

Liz Truss addressed MPs on last weeks riot at HMP Birmingham, which saw hundreds of inmates wreak havoc in the jail over more than 12 hours of chaos.

She revealed that 380 inmates have been moved out of the jail, while damage on the wings is being assessed.

HMP Birmingham

Daily meetings are being held with senior officials to monitor prisons for risk factors that might indicate potential violence and unrest.

Ms Truss said levels of violence in prisons are too high, but insisted ministers are taking swift action to deal with drugs, drones and phones.

The issues in our prisons are long-standing and they are not going to be completely solved in weeks or even months, Ms Truss warned.

We are working to ensure our prisons are stable while we deliver our reforms. The next few months will be difficult but I am confident we can turn this situation around.

A full investigation has been ordered into the incident at Birmingham, a Category B facility run by private firm G4S.

Setting out the current understanding of the disturbance, the Justice Secretary said six prisoners in the jails N-wing climbed onto netting at 9.15 on Friday morning.

When staff intervened, one of them had their key snatched, she said. At that point staff withdrew for their own safety. Prisoners then gained control of P wing.

Specialist teams were dispatched to the jail while inmates gained access to two more wings at 1.30pm, sparking a call for further reinforcements.

At 8.35pm, ten Tornado teams of highly trained officers swept through the jail and shortly after 10pm, they had secured all four wings.

The Birmingham episode was the third major disturbance in less than two months following trouble at Bedford and Lewes prisons.

As well as tensions reported at HMP Hull, it emerged that four inmates barricaded themselves in a cell at HMP Cardiff on Sunday.

The incident was resolved quickly when the prisoners surrendered to staff. No one was injured and the jail is running a normal regime.

Surging levels of assaults and self-harm behind bars have prompted fears of a safety crisis and last month thousands of officers walked out amid claims the system was in meltdown.
UK-supplied cluster bombs have been used by Saudi Arabian-led forces in the war in Yemen, the Defence Secretary has said.

Sir Michael Fallon told MPs a limited number of BL-755 cluster munitions exported from the UK in the 1980s were dropped by the Arab coalition in January.

But he said the coalition claimed the bombs were used against a legitimate military target meaning international humanitarian law had not been breached.

Sir Michael Fallon addresses the House of Commons on cluster bombs (PA Wire)

Sir Michael welcomed Saudi Arabias confirmation that it will not use further BL-755s.

The UK Government has requested the Saudis destroy the remaining stock of cluster bombs although Sir Michael was unable to tell MPs how many had been exported to Saudi Arabia.

Britains sales of military equipment to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies will be kept under review, Sir Michael said.

Labour described the cluster bomb revelations as as deeply worrying.

(PA Wire)

Making a statement in the Commons, Sir Michael told MPs: One specific allegation  that UK-supplied cluster munitions were used in January this year  was raised in this House on May 24.

The United Kingdom signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2008 and has not supplied any such weapons to Saudi Arabia since 1989  over a quarter of a century ago.

Our initial view, set out by the then minister of state for defence procurement and based on information we held at the time, was that a UK weapon had not been used but we committed to analyse the allegation and to seek a full investigation by the coalition.
Yahoo security problems a story of too little, too late

By Joseph Menn, Jim Finkle and Dustin Volz

SAN FRANCISCO/BOSTON/WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - In the summer of 2013, Yahoo Inc launched a project to better secure the passwords of its customers, abandoning the use of a discredited technology for encrypting data known as MD5.

It was too late. In August of that year, hackers got hold of more than a billion Yahoo accounts, stealing the poorly encrypted passwords and other information in the biggest data breach on record. Yahoo only recently uncovered the hack and disclosed it last week.

The timing of the attack might seem like bad luck, but the weakness of MD5 had been known by hackers and security experts for more than a decade. MD5 can be cracked more easily than other so-called "hashing" algorithms, which are mathematical functions that convert data into seemingly random character strings.

In 2008, five years before Yahoo took action, Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute issued a public warning to security professionals through a U.S. government-funded vulnerability alert system: MD5 "should be considered cryptographically broken and unsuitable for further use."

Yahoo's failure to move away from MD5 in a timely fashion was an example of problems in Yahoo's security operations as it grappled with business challenges, according to five former employees and some outside security experts. Stronger hashing technology would have made it more difficult for the hackers to get into customer accounts after breaching Yahoo's network, making the attack far less damaging, they said.

"MD5 was considered dead long before 2013," said David Kennedy, chief executive of cyber firm TrustedSec LLC. "Most companies were using more secure hashing algorithms by then." He did not name specific firms.

Yahoo, which has confirmed it was still using MD5 at the time of the attack, disputed the notion that the company had skimped on security.

"Over the course of our more than 20-year history, Yahoo has focused on and invested in security programs and talent to protect our users," Yahoo said in a statement to Reuters. "We have invested more than $250 million in security initiatives across the company since 2012."

COMPETING PRIORITIES

The former Yahoo security staffers, however, told Reuters the security team was at times turned down when it requested new tools and features such as strengthened cryptography protections, on the grounds that the requests would cost too much money, were too complicated, or were simply too low a priority.

Partly, that reflected the internet pioneer's long-running financial struggles: Yahoo's revenues and profits have fallen steadily since their 2008 peak while Alphabet Inc's Google , Facebook Inc and others have come to dominate the consumer internet business.

"When business is good, it's easy to do things like security," said Jeremiah Grossman, who worked on Yahoo's security team from 1999 to 2001. "When business is bad, you expect to see security get cut."

To be sure, no system is completely hack-proof. Hackers have managed to break into passwords that were encrypted using more advanced technologies than MD5. Other Internet companies, such as LinkedIn and AOL, have also suffered security breaches, though none nearly as large as Yahoo's.

"This could happen to any large corporation," said Tom Kellermann, a former World Bank security manager and security industry executive.

Kellermann, now CEO of investment firm Strategic Cyber Ventures, said he was not surprised that it had taken Yahoo several years to identify the massive attacks. "Hackers often have a capacity to burrow deeper than we thought into a system and remain for years," he said.

Reuters could not determine how many companies besides Yahoo were using MD5 in 2013. Google, Facebook and Microsoft Corp did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

According to another former security veteran at Yahoo, even when the company was growing quickly, security sometimes took a back seat as the company focused on system performance to keep up with the growth.

Then, when growth stalled, senior security staff left for other companies and the chances of getting approval for expensive upgrades dropped further, the person said.

"Any changes to the user database took forever because they were understaffed, and it's an ultra-critical system - everything depends on it," said the former Yahoo employee.

Yahoo declined to comment on details of its security practices, but said it routinely conducted drills to test and improve its cyber defenses and highlighted campaigns such as a "bug bounty" program in which it pays hackers to find security flaws and report them to the company.

TWO BIGGEST BREACHES

Last September, Yahoo disclosed a 2014 cyber attack that affected at least 500 million customer accounts, the biggest known data breach at the time.

Following last week's news of the even bigger 2013 breach, U.S. federal investigators and lawmakers said they are scrutinizing Yahoo's security practices, and Verizon Communications Inc is seeking to renegotiate a July deal to buy Yahoo's internet business for $4.8 billion.

The former Yahoo employees said the company's security problems began before the arrival of Chief Executive Marissa Mayer in 2012 and continued under her tenure. Yahoo had suffered attacks by Russian hackers for years, two of the former staffers said.

In 2014, Yahoo hired a new security chief, Alex Stamos, and one of the security crews he led - known internally as 'The Paranoids' - thought they were making headway against the hackers, former employees said. In 2015, when the security crew discovered a hidden program attached to Yahoo's email servers that was monitoring all incoming messages, their first thought was that the Russian hackers had come back.

It turned out that the program had been installed by Yahoo's email engineers to comply with a secret surveillance order requested by a U.S. intelligence agency, as Reuters previously reported. Stamos and some of his staff left Yahoo soon after that, creating further disruptions to security operations.

This week, in addition to disclosing the 2013 hack, Yahoo said someone had accessed its proprietary computer code to learn how to forge "cookies," which would allow hackers to access an account without passwords. Yahoo said it connected some cookie-forging activity to the same state-sponsored actor it believed was responsible for the 2014 data theft.

"They burrowed in and got access to everything," said Dan Guido, chief executive of cyber security firm Trail of Bits.

On Thursday, Germany's cyber security authority criticized Yahoo for failing to adopt adequate encryption techniques and advised German consumers to switch to other email providers.

Yahoo told Reuters it was committed to keeping users secure by staying ahead of new threats. "Today's security landscape is complex and ever-evolving, but, at Yahoo, we have a deep understanding of the threats facing our users and continuously strive to stay ahead of these threats to keep our users and our platforms secure."
Scientists discover 163 new species in Greater Mekong region: WWF

BANGKOK, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A rainbow-headed snake and a dragon-like lizard are among 163 new species that scientists recently discovered in the Greater Mekong region, conservation group WWF said on Monday, adding rapid development in the area, from dams to mines, was threatening wildlife survival.

The discoveries, published in a report on Monday, include a gecko in Laos with pale blue skin and a rare banana species discovered in northern Thailand that is critically endangered because of increasing deforestation.

The Greater Mekong is home to some of the world's most endangered species. Rare or endangered animal parts, including tiger bones and rhino horns, are seen as collector's items by some and are often used in traditional medicine.

In June, Thai wildlife authorities raided the Tiger Temple west of Bangkok, a popular tourist attraction. There they discovered scores of dead tiger cubs, frozen tiger carcasses, skins and dead cubs in jars, as well as other protected species.

It remains unclear why the Tiger Temple was storing dead tiger cubs and parts, although officials have said they might have been used for traditional Chinese medicine.

Jimmy Borah, Wildlife Programme Manager for WWF-Greater Mekong, said the new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region were a reminder that there is hope at a time when extinction rates are increasing at an alarming rate.

"The Greater Mekong region keeps reminding us that there are many incredible, unexplored areas, leading to new discoveries happening every year and it is crucial that we protect them before they are lost," Borah told Reuters.

A 2016 report by WWF found that by 2020 global populations of fish, birds, amphibians, mammals and reptiles could have declined by two-thirds in just 50 years.

The Greater Mekong is a global hub for illegal wildlife trade.

"Many collectors are willing to pay thousands of dollars or more for the rarest, most unique and most endangered species, often buying them at the region's illegal wildlife markets," said Borah.

"To save them, it's crucial that we improve enforcement against poaching and close illegal wildlife markets."
Taiwan stocks weaker ahead of orders data, cenbank rate meet

TAIPEI, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Taiwan stocks fell on Monday with market participants staying cautious ahead of export orders data due Tuesday and the quarterly rate-setting meeting by the island's central bank later this week. As of 0215 GMT, the main TAIEX index was down 0.6 percent at 9,270.48, after settling 0.4 percent lower on Friday. The index is likely to trade between 9,200 and 9,450 in the near term, traders said. The electronics subindex dropped 0.7 percent, while the financials subindex lost 0.7 percent. Taiwan is due to issue its November export orders on Tuesday, an indicator of actual exports 2-3 months ahead. A Reuters poll forecast orders last month to have grown for the fourth month in a row, data that should bolster expectations for the central bank to stand pat on domestic benchmark rates when it meets for its final quarterly meeting of 2016 on Thursday. The Taiwan dollar firmed T$0.024 to T$31.943 per U.S. dollar. (Reporting by J.R. Wu; Editing by Vyas Mohan)
Beijing sees U.S. drone as part of South China Sea spying efforts

By Ben Blanchard

BEIJING, Dec 19 (Reuters) - An underwater drone taken by a Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea last week is part of U.S. surveillance efforts in the disputed waterway, but Beijing won't likely make a big fuss about its handover, Chinese state media and experts said.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to take a more aggressive approach in dealing with China over its economic and military policies, jumped on the unusual drone seizure with a pair of provocative tweets, accusing Beijing of stealing the equipment.

The drone, known as an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), was taken on Thursday, the first seizure of its kind in recent memory.

The Pentagon went public with its complaint about the incident and said on Saturday it had secured a deal to get the drone back. China says its looking for an appropriate way to return the vehicle, but accused Washington of hyping up the issue.

China is deeply suspicious of any U.S. military activities in the resource-rich South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirely.

The overseas edition of the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily said in a commentary on Monday the USNS Bowditch, which was operating the drone, was a "serial offender" when it came to spying operations against China. The

"The downplaying of the actions of the drone cannot cover up the real intentions in the background," it said. "This drone which floated to the surface in the South China Sea is the tip of the iceberg of U.S. military strategy, including towards China."

The drone, which the Pentagon said was operating lawfully was collecting data about the salinity, temperature and clarity of the water about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay, off the Philippines.

The USNS Bowditch is an "infamous" military reconnaissance ship that has been surveying China's coastal waters since 2002, said Ma Gang, a professor at the People's Liberation Army National Defence University, told the official China Daily.

"Oceanic data is crucial for ship formations, submarine routes and battle planning," Ma said. "Therefore, it is normal for the Chinese Navy to be suspicious of Bowditch's activities given past experience."

According to Chinese state media, the same ship was involved in incidents in 2001 and 2002 when it was shadowed by Chinese navy ships while operating in the Yellow Sea. Chinese media say it has also operated in the sensitive Taiwan Straits.

Zhang Huang, director of the security studies centre of the National University of Defence Technology, told the main edition of the People's Daily the United States had been using civilian excuses to collect information that could have military implications.

"As soon as an underwater drone enters our waters for close in surveillance, it may be used to collect all sorts of information about submarine routes for our navy, seriously threatening our naval security," Zhang said.

Ni Lexiong, a naval expert, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, told Reuters he believed the Chinese navy probably had orders to take the drone.

But Ni said this is a very different incident from the 2001 intercept of a U.S. spy plane by a Chinese fighter jet that resulted in a collision that killed the Chinese pilot and forced the American plane to make an emergency landing at a base on Hainan.

"This is a much smaller incident, it won't affect the overall picture of China-U.S. relations," he said, adding that he did not expect China to seek an apology from the U.S.
Friend of South Korea's Park denies charges as trial begins

By Jack Kim

SEOUL, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the centre of a corruption scandal that led to Park's impeachment in parliament denied charges of fraud and abuse of power on Monday on the first day of her trial.

The friend, Choi Soon-sil, 60, who had not appeared in public since arriving at a prosecutors' office on Oct. 31, was led into court by two correctional officers, her head down, wearing a bulky grey prison suit with a number on her chest.

She is charged with pressuring big businesses to pay money to foundations that backed Park's policy initiatives.

Prosecutors have named Park as an accomplice, although she has immunity from prosecution while in office.

Park's powers have been suspended since the Dec. 9 vote by parliament to impeach her, giving the Constitutional Court up to 180 days to uphold or overturn the decision.

In a brief hearing, Choi denied all charges brought against her by prosecutors. Her lawyer argued that Choi did not collude with Park or other defendants in the case, and also denied the fraud charge.

"I need to clarify the facts now," Choi was quoted as telling the court by Yonhap News Agency.

Choi spoke so softly and she was barely audible in her brief comments.

South Koreans have been keen to get a glimpse of the woman at the centre of the political storm and members of the public were allocated seats in the court's gallery by lottery.

"I hope this becomes a turning point for change for the better for our society," said Lim Soon-ja, 68, one of those who attended.

Two former presidential aides who have been indicted along with Choi did not attend the hearing, but their lawyers told the court that they had been following Park's orders.

Choi also said she did not want a jury trial. South Korean courts normally hold criminal trials presided over by a panel of judges, who deliver a verdict and sentence, while defendants in select cases are given the choice of a jury trial.

Her lead lawyer, Lee Kyung-jae, rejected the charge that Choi colluded with Park and one of the former aides to the president, An Chong-bum, to exert pressure on various "chaebol" conglomerates.

"We stressed that there was no collusion between Choi and An Chong-bum and the president, and we look forward to having an intense examination over this point," Lee told reporters after the hearing.

The next hearing is set for Dec. 29.

MASTERMIND?

Earlier, a long queue of people who had won places in the gallery waited for nearly an hour to be allowed into the court.

Afterwards, an arguement broke out on the pavement outside between a Park supporter and opponent about whether there was sufficient evidence to implicate the president.

Park, 64, whose father, Park Chung-hee, ruled the country for 18 years after seizing power in a 1961 coup, has described Choi as a friend she had turned to at difficult times and apologised for carelessness in her ties with her.

Park has denied any legal wrongdoing.

Park's lawyers arguing against the impeachment vote in an opinion filed at the Constitutional Court have said the case had no legal basis and was also procedurally flawed, and that the impeachment was based largely on unproven suspicion and charges that were now under investigation and trial.

"This goes against the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence," the lawyers said in the opinion seen by Reuters.

Prosecutors have portrayed Choi as the mastermind in several schemes to gain financial benefit from companies she controlled.

Choi's friendship with Park dates to the time when Park served as acting first lady after her mother was killed in 1974 by an assassin who had intended to kill her father. Her father was shot dead five years later by his disgruntled spy chief.

Choi is the daughter of a religious figure named Choi Tae-min, who was referred to in a U.S. diplomatic cable as the "Korean Rasputin" for his perceived influence over Park.

The intensely private Park was long criticised for relying on a group of advisers who closely guarded access to her.

Choi Soon-sil has been portrayed in media as having inherited her father's influence over Park, who has never married and is estranged from her siblings.
Romania - Factors to watch on Dec. 19

Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Romanian financial markets on Monday.

ELECTION

The Romanian Social Democrats' leader Liviu Dragnea said late on Sunday that he will announce his party's prime minister nomination on Wednesday. President Klaus Iohannis has said the new legislative will be sworn in on Tuesday, and negotiations with parties over the prime minister will take place over Wednesday and Thursday.

DEBT TENDER

Romanian debt managers tender 800 million lei ($185.37 million) worth of five-month treasury bills.

TAXES

Romania's president on Friday sent new legislation scrapping 102 small taxes - including radio and television license fees - back to parliament for reconsideration after its top court threw out his claim that the measure was unconstitutional.

ASSETS

The cost of insuring Romania's debt against default has risen to 4-1/2-month highs after President Klaus Iohannis suggested he would not accept Liviu Dragnea, whose Social Democrat Party (PSD) won a weekend election, as prime minister.

CEE MARKETS

Central European government bonds firmed and Hungarian stocks set a new record high on Friday as global markets calmed down after jitters caused by Wednesday's hawkish Federal Reserve comments.

For the long-term Romanian diary, click on

For emerging markets economic events, click on

For an index of all diaries, click on
Malaysia calls for ASEAN to coordinate aid for Myanmar's Rohingya

By Simon Lewis

YANGON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Malaysia said on Monday the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar was a regional concern and called for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to coordinate humanitarian aid and investigate alleged atrocities committed against them.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman was speaking at a meeting of the 10-nation bloc in Yangon called by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi after weeks of reports that the army has killed, raped and arbitrarily arrested Rohingya civilians.

Myanmar has denied the accusations, saying many of the reports are fabricated and it insists the strife in Rakhine State, where many Rohingya live, is an internal matter.

In addition to fending off diplomatic pressure over the crisis, the Myanmar government has also invited a handpicked media delegation to visit the affected region this week.

Anifah said events in Rakhine State were a matter of regional security and stability, noting that about 56,000 Rohingya now live in Muslim-majority Malaysia having fled previous unrest in Myanmar.

"We believe that the situation is now of a regional concern and should be resolved together," Anifah told the meeting, according to a transcript of his speech provided by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Progress in improving the human rights of the Rohingya had been "rather slow", he said, noting the stream of reports about abuses being committed in Rakhine State.

"A CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE"

Anifah also warned that Islamic State militants "could be taking advantage of this situation".

The government of predominantly Buddhist Myanmar has said that militants with links to Islamists overseas were behind attacks on security posts near Myanmar's border with Bangladesh, in the north of Rakhine State, on Oct. 9.

Myanmar troops have poured into the Muslim-majority area since the attacks that killed nine police officers.

At least 86 people have died and an estimated 27,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since Oct. 9.

Refugees, residents and human rights groups say Myanmar soldiers have committed summary executions, raped Rohingya women and burned homes.

The majority of the population in northern Rakhine State are Rohingya Muslims who are denied citizenship in Myanmar, where they are considered illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh.

Independent media and observers have been denied access to northern Rakhine State. Some Rohingya communities have also been off-limits to aid agencies on security grounds for more than two months, raising fears about the welfare of a population that was already experiencing high rates of malnutrition.

A group of journalists chosen by the Ministry of Information to represent domestic and international media was set to visit Maungdaw, the main site of the conflict, on Monday.

Officials did not invite most media organisations that have reported on the alleged abuses, including Reuters.

Efforts to rebut accusations of army abuses were undermined by the release of a lengthy report from Amnesty International on Monday, accusing Myanmar of "a campaign of violence against Rohingya people that may amount to crimes against humanity".

The rights group cited satellite images and testimony from Rohingya in Rakhine State and Bangladesh. Among myriad abuses, it alleged large-scale "enforced disappearances" of village elders and religious leaders in Maungdaw.
Poland - Factors to Watch Dec. 19

Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Monday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour):

POLITICAL CRISIS

Street protests and a sit-in by opposition lawmakers against Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party over its proposals to curb media access to parliament extended to a third day on Sunday as leading politicians scrambled to defuse the row.

On Saturday, police forcefully broke up an hours-long blockade of exits from the Polish parliament by protesters who said ruling party lawmakers violated the constitution.

PRESIDENT TO TALK WITH KACZYNSKI

President Andrzej Duda is due to hold a meeting at 1200 GMT with leader of the ruling party Jaroslaw Kaczynski and speaker of parliament Marek Kuchcinski to talk about the political crisis that erupted on Friday.

MEETING ON MEDIA

Senate speaker Stanislaw Karczewski is expected to meet representatives of the media on Monday after a previous meeting late on Sunday failed to produce a defuse a crisis sparked by plans to curb access of the media to parliament.

FLEXIBLE CREDIT LINE

Poland has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to cut the Flexible Credit Line for the country to $9 billion from the current $17.9 billion to reduce the cost of this mechanism, Puls Biznesu daily reported quoting unnamed sources.

ELECTRICITY BILLS

Households will pay from 1.5 to 4 percent more for electricity starting from next year, Gazeta Wyborcza daily reported.

GAS PRICES

Poland's biggest gas firm PGNiG will increase the price of high-methane gas it sells by 12.2 percent and the price of nitrogen-rich gas by 13.4 percent from the start of next year, the company said on Friday.

STATE-RUN FIRMS ON WARSAW BOURSE

The share of state-run firms in the large-capitalisation WIG20 index of the Warsaw bourse will increase to about 75 percent from 63 percent previously following the transaction involving Bank Pekao, Rzeczpospolita daily reported.

****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****
PRESS DIGEST - Bulgaria - Dec 19

SOFIA, Dec 19 (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.

-- The biggest parliamentary party GERB indicated it would back a government led by the small right-wing Reformist Bloc after GERB-led government resigned last month, sources familiar with the talks said. Prime Minister Boiko Borisov, who is also GERB's leader, said he would not be a prime minister in the new government (24 Chasa, Duma, Monitor, Sega, Trud, Standart)

CAPITAL DAILY - French aviation system manufacturer Latecoere is considering to open a production plant in Bulgaria's city of Plovdiv.
Evacuation buses from Syrian villages arrive in Alepo - Syria state TV

BEIRUT, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A convoy of 10 buses carrying evacuees from the Shi'ite Muslim villages of al-Foua and Kefraya that have been besieged for years by rebels arrived in government-held Aleppo early on Monday, Syrian state television reported.
Malaysia calls for ASEAN to coordinate aid for Myanmar's Rohingya

By Simon Lewis

YANGON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Malaysia said on Monday the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar was a regional concern and called for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to coordinate humanitarian aid and investigate alleged atrocities committed against them.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman was speaking at a meeting of the 10-nation bloc in Yangon called by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi after weeks of reports that the army has killed, raped and arbitrarily arrested Rohingya civilians.

Myanmar has denied the accusations, saying many of the reports are fabricated and it insists the strife in Rakhine State, where many Rohingya live, is an internal matter.

In addition to fending off diplomatic pressure over the crisis, the Myanmar government has also invited a handpicked media delegation to visit the affected region this week.

Anifah said events in Rakhine State were a matter of regional security and stability, noting that about 56,000 Rohingya now live in Muslim-majority Malaysia having fled previous unrest in Myanmar.

"We believe that the situation is now of a regional concern and should be resolved together," Anifah told the meeting, according to a transcript of his speech provided by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Progress in improving the human rights of the Rohingya had been "rather slow", he said, noting the stream of reports about abuses being committed in Rakhine State.

Anifah, who appeared to leave the meeting early, also warned that Islamic State militants "could be taking advantage of this situation".

Malaysia's intervention in the Rakhine crisis marks a break with ASEAN members' tradition of non-intervention in each other's internal affairs.

The bloc is also strained by its relations with China, with which several members are locked in maritime territorial disputes in the South China Sea. ASEAN faces an uncertain geopolitical outlook as Donald Trump prepares to become president of the United States in January.

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said "everybody was happy" with Monday's meeting, which he described as primarily a briefing by Myanmar on the situation in Rakhine State.

Retno Marsudi, foreign minister of Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, said Myanmar had agreed to provide regular updates to ASEAN members and had pledged that access for humanitarian assistance "will be open".

"CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE"

The government of predominantly Buddhist Myanmar has said that militants with links to Islamists overseas were behind attacks on security posts near Myanmar's border with Bangladesh, in the north of Rakhine State, on Oct. 9.

Myanmar troops have poured into the Muslim-majority area since the attacks that killed nine police officers.

At least 86 people have died and an estimated 27,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since Oct. 9.

Refugees, residents and human rights groups say Myanmar soldiers have committed summary executions, raped Rohingya women and burned homes.

The majority of the population in northern Rakhine State are Rohingya Muslims who are denied citizenship in Myanmar, where they are considered illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh.

Independent media and observers have been denied access to northern Rakhine State. Some Rohingya communities have also been off-limits to aid agencies on security grounds for more than two months, raising fears about the welfare of a population that was already experiencing high rates of malnutrition.

A group of journalists chosen by the Ministry of Information to represent domestic and international media was set to visit Maungdaw, the main site of the conflict, on Monday.

Officials did not invite most media organisations that have reported on the alleged abuses, including Reuters.

Efforts to rebut accusations of army abuses were undermined by the release of a lengthy report from Amnesty International on Monday, accusing Myanmar of "a campaign of violence against Rohingya people that may amount to crimes against humanity".

The rights group cited satellite images and testimony from Rohingya in Rakhine State and Bangladesh. Among myriad abuses, it alleged large-scale "enforced disappearances" of village elders and religious leaders in Maungdaw.
Norway, China normalise ties after Nobel Peace Prize row

OSLO/BEIJING, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Norway and China on Monday normalised diplomatic and political ties, frozen since 2010 when Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende said the two countries would immediately resume negotiations on a free-trade deal.

"Through meticulous and numerous conversations, the two sides have over the last years reached a level of trust that allows for resumption of a normal relationship," they said in a joint statement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a separate statement after meeting Brende in Beijing that in recent years relations had taken a serious step backwards.

"Norway deeply reflected upon the reasons why bilateral mutual trust was harmed, and had conscientious, solemn consultations with China about how to improve bilateral relations," Wang said.

Both sides reached an important consensus on the lessons learned and restoring mutual trust, which accords with the interests of Norway and its people and the correct direction of relations, he added, without mentioning Liu.

"Norway has made its stance clear on key and significant issues regarding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement posted later on the ministry website.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in his meeting with Brende, said China was willing to start free trade talks, China's Foreign Ministry said, also without mentioning the Nobel laureate.

Liu, 59, a dissident involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests crushed by the Chinese army, was jailed for 11 years in 2009 on subversion charges for organising a petition urging an end to one-party rule. He remains in prison.

The peace prize is chosen by a committee in Oslo, while other categories of the annual awards are decided in Stockholm.
Malaysia calls for ASEAN to coordinate aid for Myanmar's Rohingya

By Simon Lewis

YANGON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Malaysia said on Monday the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar was a regional concern and called for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to coordinate humanitarian aid and investigate alleged atrocities committed against them.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman was speaking at a meeting of the 10-nation bloc in Yangon called by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi after weeks of reports that the army has killed, raped and arbitrarily arrested Rohingya civilians.

Myanmar has denied the accusations, saying many of the reports are fabricated, and it insists the strife in Rakhine State, where many Rohingya live, is an internal matter.

In addition to fending off diplomatic pressure over the crisis, the Myanmar government has also invited a handpicked media delegation to visit the affected region this week.

Anifah said events in Rakhine State were a matter of regional security and stability, noting that about 56,000 Rohingya now live in Muslim-majority Malaysia having fled previous unrest in Myanmar.

"We believe that the situation is now of a regional concern and should be resolved together," Anifah told the meeting, according to a transcript of his speech provided by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Progress in improving the human rights of the Rohingya had been "rather slow", he said, noting the stream of reports about abuses being committed in Rakhine State.

Anifah, who appeared to leave the meeting early, also warned that Islamic State militants "could be taking advantage of this situation".

Malaysia's intervention in the Rakhine crisis marks a break with ASEAN members' tradition of non-intervention in each other's internal affairs.

The bloc is also strained by its relations with China, with which several members are locked in maritime territorial disputes in the South China Sea. ASEAN faces an uncertain geopolitical outlook as Donald Trump prepares to become president of the United States in January.

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said "everybody was happy" with Monday's meeting, which he described as primarily a briefing by Myanmar on the situation in Rakhine State.

Retno Marsudi, foreign minister of Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, said Myanmar had agreed to provide regular updates to ASEAN members and had pledged that access for humanitarian assistance "will be open".

Suu Kyi "reiterated the government's serious commitment to the resolution of the complex issue and the need for time and space for the government's efforts to bear fruit," according to a statement from Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE"

The government of predominantly Buddhist Myanmar has said that militants with links to Islamists overseas were behind attacks on security posts near Myanmar's border with Bangladesh, in the north of Rakhine State, on Oct. 9.

Myanmar troops have poured into the Muslim-majority area since the attacks that killed nine police officers.

At least 86 people have died and an estimated 27,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since Oct. 9.

Refugees, residents and human rights groups say Myanmar soldiers have committed summary executions, raped Rohingya women and burned homes.

The majority of the population in northern Rakhine State are Rohingya Muslims who are denied citizenship in Myanmar, where they are considered illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh.

Independent media and observers have been denied access to northern Rakhine State. Some Rohingya communities have also been off-limits to aid agencies on security grounds for more than two months, raising fears about the welfare of a population that was already experiencing high rates of malnutrition.

A group of journalists chosen by the Ministry of Information to represent domestic and international media was set to visit Maungdaw, the main site of the conflict, on Monday.

Officials did not invite most media organisations that have reported on the alleged abuses, including Reuters.

Efforts to rebut accusations of army abuses were undermined by the release of a lengthy report from Amnesty International on Monday, accusing Myanmar of "a campaign of violence against Rohingya people that may amount to crimes against humanity".

The rights group cited satellite images and testimony from Rohingya in Rakhine State and Bangladesh. Among myriad abuses, it alleged large-scale "enforced disappearances" of village elders and religious leaders in Maungdaw.
Germany's skyscraping Santa, monsters top unusual Christmas celebrations

BERLIN, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Santa Claus climbing down a skyscraper in Berlin. A parade of terrifying monsters in Bavaria.

The run-up to Christmas in Germany this year has included the usual displays of dazzling lights and festive markets, but also some unusual celebrations.

In Berlin on Sunday, a Santa Claus shunned the traditional chimney and used a rope ladder to climb 100 metres (328 feet) down the side of the famous Kollhoff Tower to deliver presents to surprised children inside a 24th-floor cafe.

The children watched in awe as Santa greeted them through the windows before making his way inside to distribute presents.

"He climbed through here, then he was at the door, he opened it and came in," said Konstantin, a young boy who received a beach ball, ninja toy and cuddly reindeer.

In the Bavarian town of Kirchseeon, residents dressed as hairy, masked monsters marched through the streets in a traditional "Perchten" parade on Sunday.

The processions are usually held over the shortest and darkest days of the year when "Perchten" monsters sing and dance to ward off the darkness and call nature back to life.

"The 12 nights after Christmas are the struggle of light against dark. The light will win with the help of the Perchten, and nature will wake up again," parade leader Wolfgang Uebelacker told Reuters. "People used to say that the corn next year will grow as high as the Perchten jump."
Polish opposition say they are defending democracy as standoff continues

By Marcin Goclowski and Justyna Pawlak

WARSAW, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Polish opposition lawmakers occupied parliament's debating chamber for a fourth day on Monday in protest at plans by the nationalist-minded, eurosceptic PiS government to restrict media access to the Sejm.

The plans are among a raft of measures designed to increase government control over the media and the judiciary that have brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets of Polish cities over the past year, and worried Poland's partners.

"Something has gone wrong with Polish democracy," Grzegorz Schetyna, leader of the biggest opposition party, Civic Platform (PO), told the private radio station RMF FM.

Other PO officials demanded the resignation of parliamentary speaker Marek Kuchcinski and said they had asked prosecutors to investigate Friday's vote to pass the 2017 budget, which was moved to a side room with no media access to avoid the protests.

But Interior Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, of the Law and Justice (PiS) party, said the protests were intended "to block the state budget, to create a political crisis", the state-run PAP news agency reported.

President Andrzej Duda, who is backed by the PiS, met opposition leaders on Sunday, and on Monday held talks with Kuchcinski and with PiS chief Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who wields enormous influence on policy.

A temporary ban on all media entering parliament, imposed last week after the protests began in the chamber and were picked up by demonstrators outside, remained in place despite talks between media and the PiS.

WELFARE AND VALUES

The PiS came to power in October 2015 promising higher welfare, more Roman Catholic values in public life, and a tougher stance towards Brussels and Russia.

While it retains its largely rural voter base, it has alienated much of the more liberal urban population, and critics at home and abroad accuse it of undermining democracy with its programme.

Changes to the Constitutional Tribunal led the European Commission to open an investigation into the rule of law in Poland, previously seen as a model for the transition from communist totalitarianism to democratic rule and market economy.

The government has also moved to exert more control over state prosecutors and approved legislation that human rights groups say will curtail freedom of assembly.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker put the question of Poland's media restrictions on the agenda of Wednesday's Commission meeting, a spokeswoman said in Brussels.

The PiS's proposals would reserve all direct recording of parliamentary sessions for five selected television stations, while the number of journalists allowed in parliament would be limited to two per media outlet.

The government has already tightened control over public news media and critics see the curbs as an extension of that.

A poll for the daily Rzeczpospolita on Monday found that 68 percent of Poles think curbing media access would limit their ability to know what parliament is doing.

PO officials said lawmakers who spent the night in parliament had been made to endure cold and darkness as the hearing and lighting were turned off.

Street demonstrations continued at a lower level on Monday.

"Free media are the basis of democracy," said 38-year-old IT manager Bartlomiej, one of those protesting outside the Sejm.

"I can see radicalisation on both sides. This is dangerous because it will make more difficult to come to terms later."
Russia, Iran and Turkey to hold Syria talks in Moscow on Tuesday

ANKARA/MOSCOW, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The foreign and defence ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey will discuss the future of Syria and the city of Aleppo at talks in Moscow on Tuesday, Turkish and Russian officials said.

"(The meeting) will be to understand the views of all three sides, laying out where we all stand and discuss where we go from here," an official from Turkey's foreign ministry told international media in Istanbul on Monday.

"It is not a miracle meeting, but will give all sides a chance to listen to each other," the official said.

All three countries have emerged as important players in Syria, with Iran and Russia strongly backing President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey, a NATO member, would like to see him step down.

Turkey's main priority however, is to ensure that Kurdish militias are unable to gain further territory in Syria along its borders.

The Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement Tuesday's meeting would focus on how the multi-year conflict in Syria could be resolved and on fulfilling U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The RIA news agency cited Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as telling reporters:
Killings in Indian police custody go unpunished, says rights group

By Anuradha Nagaraj

CHENNAI, India, Dec 19 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - S enthil Kumar's mother saw him being dragged off by policemen on charges of extortion. Standing outside the Vadamadurai police station in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, she heard him scream for mercy. The next day she was told her son was dead.

"He didn't die, he was killed," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, recalling the events of April 2010.

"And I know the name of every policeman who did it."

Kumar is one of the 591 people who have died in police custody in India since 2010, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday, calling for the strict implementation of existing laws on arrest and detention.

Citing government data, the report said 97 people died in police custody in 2015 alone, and there was not a single known case in the past five years in which a police official had been convicted for a custodial death.

"In almost all cases, the police passes off these deaths as suicide or a heart attack," said Jayshree Bajoria, author of HRW's report.

"And the brotherhood kicks in to shield the guilty, who are their own colleagues. The entire system collaborates to protect the guilty policemen instead of taking action against them."

K S Dhatwalia, spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, the government department responsible for police, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Monday the ministry would "look into the report and take necessary action".

The report examines investigations into 17 deaths in custody between 2009 and 2015. In each case, the police did not follow proper arrest procedures, making the suspect more vulnerable to abuse, Bajoria said.

Leonard Valdaris trusted the policemen who wanted to talk to his son about a theft in the neighbourhood in April 2014.

But when he walked into the Wadala railway police station in Mumbai the next day, the report said, his son was "crying bitterly" and told him the police had beaten him all night and would kill him.

Three days later, Agnelo Valdaris, 25, died, HRW said.

"When I saw my son in the hospital, there everything changed," Valdaris was quoted as saying in the report. "There I saw the reality. He had been beaten black and blue with a belt."

Forms of torture recorded in the report include severe beatings with boots and belts and sometimes suspending people from their wrists. Autopsy reports examined by HRW show injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.

India has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and signed the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

According to the Indian Code of Criminal Procedure policemen are expected to prepare a memo of arrest with the date and time of arrest, ensure a medical examination is carried out on the accused, inform the family of the arrest and present the suspect before a magistrate within 24 hours.

According to government records, in 67 of the 97 deaths in custody in 2015, police failed to present the suspect before a magistrate or the suspect died within 24 hours of arrest.

"If police follow the rules designed to deter torture and mistreatment, deaths in custody could be prevented," said Meenakshi Ganguly of Human Rights Watch.
EU approves Drax's coal power plant switch to biomass

By Julia Fioretti and Karolin Schaps

BRUSSELS/LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Britain's largest coal power producer Drax on Monday gained European Commission approval to convert a third power plant unit to biomass from coal, sending shares in the London-listed company to a five-month high.

The Commission opened an investigation into government support for the project in January and concluded that it was in line with the European Union's environmental and energy targets.

Drax is in the process of converting its coal-fired power generating plant in Yorkshire to biomass. The company announced a shift away from coal earlier this month with the acquisition of business energy supplier Opus Energy and four gas stations. The deal had been contingent on the Commission's state aid approval.

The British government has guaranteed a minimum electricity price for Drax's biomass project of 100 pounds per magwatt-hour (MWh) until 2027, which Drax said had not changed following the Commission's approval.

"With the right conditions, we can do even more, converting further units at Drax to use sustainable biomass in place of coal," Drax Chief Executive Dorothy Thompson said in a statement.

The company said it could convert its remaining three coal-burning units to biomass in the next two to three years if the government sets the right conditions.

Drax said the unit would be able to run 100 percent on biomass instead of co-firing coal in the coming days.

Britain wants to close all of its coal-fired power plants by 2025.

Shares in Drax rose to 358.9 pence a share -- their highest since July 22 -- following the announcement.

Analysts at Jefferies estimated the new contract would give Drax an earnings boost of around 50 million pounds ($62.08 million) a year but that financial forecasts would not be affected because the approval had been largely expected.
Jordanian gunmen planned wider attacks - minister

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Four gunmen who shot dead nine people in Jordan on Sunday had stored suicide vests and other weapons that indicated they planned wider attacks across the country, Interior Minister Salamah Hamad said.

Jordanian security forces said they had killed four "terrorist outlaws" after flushing them out of a Crusader castle in the southern city of Karak. They had holed up there after killing a Canadian woman, three other civilians and five police officers.

"This was a big terrorist operation but we are still in the stage of follow-up of information that relates to it," Hamad told a news conference on Monday. Authorities have yet to say if the attack, unusual for Jordan, was driven by Islamist militancy, tribal grievances or some other cause.

Jordan is an ally of Washington and one of the few Arab states that have taken part in a U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State in Syria. But many Jordanians oppose their country's involvement, and officials worry about the potential for radicalisation, especially in poor urban centres and deprived outlying rural and desert areas.

Hamad said at least five suicide belts were found, together with an ammunition store, automatic guns and explosives in a hideout in a house in the desert town of Qatranah, 30 km (20 miles) northeast of Karak. Many tribal residents in the region are heavily armed and have long resisted state authority.

The gunmen had fled to Karak after an exchange of fire with the police, Hamad said. Based on the quantities of explosives and weapons, "I don't think the target was just Karak castle, it's more," he added.

He gave no details on the identity or nationality of the attackers, saying investigations were continuing and disclosing details at this stage could hamper national security.

The security forces were able to release around 10 tourists. At least 30 people were taken to hospital.

Jordan has been relatively unscathed by the uprisings, civil wars and Islamist militancy that have swept the Middle East since 2011, but maintains a high level of vigilance.
47 children leave Aleppo orphanage, some in critical shape - UN

GENEVA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Nearly 50 children who were trapped in an orphanage in the rebel-held Syrian enclave of east Aleppo were evacuated on Monday, some critically injured or dehydrated, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) evacuated the orphans from eastern Aleppo, along with facility staff who have been caring for them, ICRC spokeswoman Krista Armstrong said.

"They were given priority and were the first to be evacuated by bus when the operation resumed," Armstrong said, adding that she could not provide an exact figure yet.

Earlier, Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF regional director, said in a statement that all 47 children trapped in the orphanage were evacuated to safety, "with some in critical condition from injuries and dehydration".
Mexico fugitive ex-governor left the country-paper

MEXICO CITY, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A former governor of a Mexican state whose whereabouts have been unknown since he stepped down two months ago over corruption charges had left the country by early November, local media said on Monday.

Javier Duarte, former governor of Veracruz, left the county to "attend to various issues," according to a statement by his lawyer in a court document dated Nov. 4, Mexican daily Reforma said. The newspaper did not say what country he had gone to.

In a case that has embarrassed the country's ruling party, Duarte resigned in mid-October, denying any wrongdoing, in order to face charges of embezzlement, money laundering and organized crime.

Two weeks before that, Duarte was kicked out of President Enrique Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). There are several state governors facing corruption charges and Pena Nieto's wife and his finance minister were tarred by a pay-to-play scandal.
Gulf airline giants face job cuts as growth slows

By Alexander Cornwell

DUBAI, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Emirates, the world's biggest long-haul airline, and Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways are reviewing their workforce as overcapacity and a stronger dollar put pressure on earnings.

The cutbacks show how the Gulf airlines' rapid expansion of the past few years is slowing down against a more challenging economic backdrop.

Dubai-based Emirates has offered redundancies to staff working in accounting, finance, IT and other departments in its head-office, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The airline did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Etihad said on Sunday it was cutting jobs, mostly through "natural attrition." It did not say how many jobs would be affected.

Emirates and Etihad employ over 103,000 and 26,000 staff, respectively, according to their websites.

While lower oil prices have cut operating costs for the carriers, demand for high-margin premium cabins has softened as Middle East travel budgets tightened.

East to West traffic, an important route for Gulf carriers, has also diminished after a wave of militant attacks in Europe and Turkey over the past year.

"We may see a slowdown in the pace of growth by Gulf carriers or rational capacity or route reductions as indicated already by Emirates," John Strickland, aviation expert and director of London-based JLS Consulting, said.

Emirates, which reported a 75 per cent decline in half-year profit on Nov. 9, suspended flights to Nigeria's Abuja on Oct. 30 and has signalled that more flights to Africa could be dropped.

"Trading conditions across the planet are very difficult," Emirates President Tim Clark told journalists in Berlin last month.

Etihad has stopped flying to Larnaca in Cyprus and will suspend flights to Sao Paulo in Brazil in March 2017.

"Threats are emerging to the success story of the Gulf carriers," said the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents some 265 airlines, on Dec. 8.

IATA estimated Middle East carriers will make $300 million in profit in 2017 compared to the $900 million forecast for 2016.

The slowdown may come as a welcome reprieve for European and U.S. carriers which have accused Gulf carriers of receiving unfair state subsidies that have allowed them to boost capacity on key routes. The Gulf airlines have rejected these allegations.

Lufthansa, which has been a fierce critic of the Gulf carriers, last week signed a code share deal with Etihad and said it would look at ways to deepen the fledgling partnership.

Etihad's seating capacity will contract in the first half of 2017 by 5 percent compared with Emirates' growth of 7.6 per cent and Qatar Airways' of 10.2 per cent, according to airline industry research specialist the CAPA Centre for Aviation.

"It would be natural [for Etihad] to defer or cancel aircraft due in the next few years while the market is soft," Will Horton, senior analyst at CAPA - Centre for Aviation said.

An Etihad spokesman said the restructuring would have "no impact on our fleet."
Russian ambassador shot dead in Ankara gallery

By Umit Bektas, Orhan Coskun and Tuvan Gumrukcu

ANKARA, Dec 20 (Reuters) - The Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot in the back and killed as he gave a speech at an Ankara art gallery on Monday by an off-duty police officer who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo" and "Allahu Akbar" as he opened fire.

President Tayyip Erdogan, in a video message to the nation, cast the attack as an attempt to undermine NATO-member Turkey's relations with Russia - ties long tested by the war in Syria. He said he had agreed in a telephone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin to step up cooperation in fighting terrorism.

At a special meeting at the Kremlin, President Putin ordered increased security at all Russian missions and said "the bandits" who committed the act would feel retribution.

"We must know who directed the killer's hand."

The assassination of an ambassador, not least of a major power such as Russia, marks a dangerous escalation of tension in the region and beyond. Security sources said he was off duty and some witnesses said there was no security scanning machine at the entrance.

The attacker was smartly dressed in black suit and tie and stood, alone, behind the ambassador as he began his speech at the art exhibition, a person at the scene told Reuters.

"He took out his gun and shot the ambassador from behind. We saw him lying on the floor and then we ran out," said the witness, who asked not to be identified. People took refuge in adjoining rooms as the shooting continued.

A video showed the attacker shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" and "Allahu Akbar" ("God is Greatest") as screams rang out. He paced about and shouted as he held the gun in one hand and waved the other in the air.

Russia is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes helped Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo. Turkey, which seeks Assad's ouster, has been repairing ties with Moscow after shooting down a Russian warplane over Syria last year.

The gunman was killed by special forces. Three other people were injured.

"We regard this as a terrorist act," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. "Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively."

GULEN

Erdogan, who has faced a string of attacks by Islamist and Kurdish militants as well as an attempted coup in July, identified the attacker as 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, who had worked for Ankara riot police for two and a half years. CNN Turk TV said police had detained his sister and mother.

A senior security official said there were "very strong signs" the gunman belonged to the network of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says orchestrated the failed coup in July. Erdogan has denounced Gulen as a terrorist, but the cleric, a former ally, denies the accusation.

Gulen described the killing as a "heinous act of terror" that pointed to a deterioration of security in Turkey resulting from Erdogan's wideranging purge of police as well as the army, judiciary and media following the coup bid.

The government says Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, created a "parallel network" in the police, military, judiciary and civil service aimed at overthrowing the state.

Suspicion could also fall on a group such as Islamic State, which has carried out a string of bomb attacks in Turkey in the last year as Ankara has pressed a military campaign against the militants in Syria. The group has urged "lone" attacks in the West.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to meet his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Russia on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Syria. Officials said the meeting would still go on, despite the attack.

"The attack comes at a bad time: Moscow and Ankara have only recently restored diplomatic ties after Turkey downed a Russian aircraft in November 2015," the Stratfor think-tank said.

"Though the attack will strain relations between the two countries, it is not likely to rupture them altogether."

However, both Russia and Turkey indicated that they were looking to work together to find the combat militant attacks.

The U.S. State Department, involved in diplomatic contacts with Russia in an attempt to resolve a refugee crisis unfolding around the city of Aleppo, condemned the attack, as did the United Nations Security Council.
Koch wants to pull out of oil sands project in Canada -regulator

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec 19 (Reuters) - U.S.-based Koch Industries Inc's oil sands subsidiary in Canada wants to pull out of a project in the Muskwa region in the province of Alberta, citing economic and regulatory uncertainties, the local energy regulator said on Monday.
Red Cross says employee kidnapped in northern Afghanistan

By Sardar Razmal

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Dec 19 (Reuters) - An employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross is missing after being pulled from a vehicle in northern Afghanistan on Monday, the aid organisation said.

The man was among several ICRC staff members travelling between Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz when gunmen stopped the vehicles. The other staff were released, the ICRC said.

Sayed Mahmoud Danish, a spokesman for the Kunduz governor, said the group included two Afghan staff, one foreigner, and a driver, but the ICRC did not give any details about the kidnapped employee.

"We're extremely concerned for the safety of our colleague," the ICRC's head of delegation in Afghanistan, Monica Zanarelli, said in a statement.

"We're doing our best to discover what precisely happened, and to secure his safe and unconditional release as quickly as possible."

The aid organization said it was in contact with "various authorities" and had informed the man's family.

The Afghan government is investigating and working to find and free the man, Danish told Reuters.

International aid organisations have faced a spate of kidnappings this year, including several foreigners snatched from downtown Kabul.
N.Y. Klansman gets 30 years in prison for plot vs Muslims, Obama

NEW YORK, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A self-proclaimed white supremacist convicted on charges he planned to use a "death ray" to kill Muslims and President Barack Obama was sentenced on Monday to 30 years in prison, federal prosecutors in New York said.

Glendon Scott Crawford, 52, a Navy veteran and a member of the Ku Klux Klan, was found guilty in August 2015 of conspiring with another man to build a radiation dispersal device, dubbed a "death ray" by tabloids.

Crawford is the first person to be convicted under a law barring attempts to acquire or use a radiological dispersal device, which combines conventional explosives, such as dynamite, with radioactive material. Congress passed the statute in 2004 to punish individuals who try to set off a so-called "dirty bomb."

U.S. District Judge Gary Sharpe imposed the sentence at a hearing in Albany, prosecutors said in a statement. He was convicted on three counts, including conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Crawford from upstate New York plans to appeal the conviction as well as his sentence, his attorney Danielle Neroni said in a statement. His lawyers argued unsuccessfully at trial that he was entrapped by the government.

Crawford's co-conspirator, Eric Feight, pleaded guilty in connection with the case and was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison.

U.S. prosecutors had sought life in prison for Crawford. He faced a mandatory minimum of 25 years. After his release, he will be supervised for life.

"His plot to murder people he did not know was designed to, in his oft-repeated words, 'take his country back' from government leaders by forcing them to change government conduct he perceived as favoring Muslims," prosecutors wrote in a pre-sentencing court filing.

Authorities said Crawford, who worked at General Electric Co , carried out extensive research on radiation dispersal devices, learning what level of emission was required to kill humans and conducting reconnaissance on potential targets, including a local mosque.

In conversations recorded without his knowledge by a confidential law enforcement source, Crawford spoke often of his hatred of Muslims and said he would go after Obama in the White House with the device.

Defense lawyers wrote in court papers that the device in question was constructed by federal agents and that Crawford never actually intended to use it.
Earthquake along Ecuador's coast kills 2, halts refinery

QUITO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook Ecuador's Pacific coast early on Monday, killing at least two people, injuring 15 others and halting production at the Esmeraldas oil refinery, officials said.

The country's geological institute recorded the quake off the coast of Atacames in Esmeraldas province, northwest of Quito, the capital. The quake was followed by 15 lesser-magnitude aftershocks.

President Rafael Correa was meeting with local officials in the area, which earlier this year was devastated by a 7.8-magnitude quake that killed about 670 people, displaced thousands and caused millions of dollars in damage.

"We regret that a 75-year-old woman suffered a heart attack because of the quake," National Risk Management Secretary Susana Duenas told local radio. There were no immediate details on the second person killed.

The Esmeraldas refinery, which has a 110,000-barrel-per-day capacity, was halted as a precaution, Pedro Merizalde, head of state oil company Petroecuador, told Reuters.

Merizalde said refinery infrastructure would be checked over and that the stoppage would last about two days.
Three foreigners, who attempted to smuggle foreign currency worth Rs. 11.6 million to Qatar, have been arrested by the customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport last night.

A Palestinian, a Lebanon and an Egyptian were arrested with 76,782 US dollars, 200 Euros and 110 British pounds hidden in their cloths and bags.

The arrested were later released and the foreign currencies were confiscated.(T.K.G. Kapila)
The Avant-Garde vessel left for India on Saturday (17), after the Galle Chief Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura ordered its release to the Sri Lanka Shipping Company on a bond of Rs. 35 million last month.

The ship, which is to be sold for scrap metal, sailed under a new captain as its captain is still in remand custody. The Shipping Company is required to present a report on the process to the Galle Magistrate within a week.

The ship was taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Navy in October last year and anchored in the Galle port on charges of transporting illegal weapons and ammunition. (D.G. Sugathapala)
China will return an underwater U.S. drone seized by a naval vessel this week in the South China Sea, both countries said on Saturday, but Beijing complained that Washington had been hyping up the incident.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to take an aggressive approach in dealing with China over its economic and military policies, jumped on the unusual drone seizure with a pair of provocative tweets, accusing Beijing of stealing the equipment.

The drone, which the Pentagon said was operating lawfully was collecting data about the salinity, temperature and clarity of the water about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay, off the Philippines.

It was seized just as the USNS Bowditch was about to retrieve it, U.S. officials said.

Through direct engagement with Chinese authorities, we have secured an understanding that the Chinese would return the UUV to the United States, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement.

-REUTERS
AFP - Cash-strapped Cuba has offered to pay its old debt to the Czech Republic with goods it can spare, including its coveted rum, the Czech finance ministry said Friday.

The Cuban party as a possible solution presented a list of commodities... (including) several brands of rum, the ministry said in a statement sent to AFP.

Czech media put the Cuban debt at about seven billion koruna (260 million euros, US$270 million), but the ministry said it had yet to tally the total sum as talks on the repayment had only started late last year.

The debt is largely the legacy of business ties between Cuba and Czechoslovakia, which split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, four years after shedding four decades of totalitarian Communist rule.

The largest Czech broadsheet daily Dnes quoted deputy finance minister Lenka Dupakova as saying debt repayment in Cuban rum was an interesting option.

These are relatively unknown brands which might be good, but we would have to advertise them and generally launch them into the market, she added.

The daily said the Czech Republic -- a country with the highest per capita beer consumption in the world -- had imported 892 tonnes of Cuban rum worth 53 million koruna (two million euros, dollars) in 2015.

If the entire debt were repaid in rum, the Czechs would have enough rum for 130 years at this pace.

But the ministry is against such a solution.

The Czech side believes that at least part of the debt should be dealt in cash,

it said.
Labour migration and related remittances play an important role in the Sri Lankan economy. Until recently, labour migration from Sri Lanka was dominated by females departing as housemaids. Subsequent to many concerted policy efforts, such as the Family Background Report (FBR) requirement, pre-departure training and upgrading the existing skill training to internationally recognized levels, this female and low-skilled-oriented migrant worker flow is now transformed into a more skilled and male-centric flow.



As a result, in 2015, the sphere of labour migration experienced many changes. In 2015, the total departures declined to 263,307 from 300,703 in 2014, the share of females among migrant worker departures further declined in 2015 to 34 percent from 37 percent in 2014 and the share of housemaids also continued to shrink to reach 28 percent in 2015 from 30 percent in 2014.



In fact, 2015 marked the first year since 1994, where the share of housemaids dipped below that of skilled workers (31 percent). The other skills groups, such as professionals and semi-skilled groups also experienced growth to reach shares of 2.4 percent and 2 percent, respectively.



This gender reversal and upskilling of migrant workers, coincided with the first-ever decline in inward remittances in 14 years. In 2015, the inward remittances to Sri Lanka declined to US $ 6,980 million from US $ 7,018 million received in 2014. Does this 0.54 percent decline in remittances mark the beginning of the downward trend in remittances to Sri Lanka? Lets hopes not!



Nonetheless, since such wishful thinking alone will not guarantee a steady flow of remittances, it is only prudent for Sri Lanka to proactively understand the possible underlying mechanisms that may contribute to positive and negative changes in remittances and introduce measures to maximize remittances. To that effect, the remainder of this article identifies five mechanisms that affect remittances and makes related policy recommendations to ensure a continued steady flow of inward remittances to Sri Lanka.



Mechanism 1: Shrinking share of reliable remitters

Literature identifies that compared to males, females are more reliable remitters. This reliability stems from the greater involvement of females with the operation of the left behind household and their tendency to sacrifice more than males for family back at home. Additionally, females also tend to remit more as a self-insurance mechanism against possible negative shocks at destination. The recent policy efforts to discourage the departure of female workers have inadvertently also contributed to reduce the number of reliable remitters to Sri Lanka.



Mechanism 2: Growing share of high-waged remitters

Despite being less reliable, when they do remit, males are noted to remit more. The reason behind such higher remittances from males is due to their capacity to earn higher wages than women in similar jobs. This has the potential to offset the less reliability of male remittances with larger amount of remittances when they do remit.

Similarly, the progressive upskilling of migrant worker from Sri Lanka also contributes towards a rising share of higher wage earners among all migrant worker departures and their corresponding higher remittances.



Mechanism 3: Increasing departure of tied migrants

There is evidence that migration of skilled workers is often associated with tied migration  where the spouse accompanies the migrant workers. In a patriarchal society like Sri Lanka, when the male migrant worker shares are rising, there is a higher tendency for tied migration of wives to take place. Similarly, regardless of gender, better skilled migrants also tend to induce tied migration from Sri Lanka. Extending this tied migration beyond spouses, better skilled migrants from Sri Lanka are also enticed to take their children especially to enjoy higher education options overseas. All this amounts to the absence of immediate family members to receive regular remittances.



Mechanism 4: Shrinking importance of circular migration

Another aspect of skilled migration is that the better skilled migrant workers often have opportunities to pursue other destinations to migrate subsequently. This may alter the circular nature of labour migration from Sri Lanka towards a pattern of step migration where migrants leave the first destination not to return to Sri Lanka but to head to a second destination. The decline of circular migration and rise in step migration would also lead to weaker links with the home country and a corresponding decrease

in remittances.



Mechanism 5: Growing possibilities for long-term migration

Despite being recognized as temporary migrants, high-skilled migrants tend to continue foreign employment for multiple contract periods. Such residence and employment in destination for extended periods resemble more permanent characteristics of migration. As a result, such extended stays also lead to weaker links with the home country and a corresponding decrease in remittances.

How to maximize remittances?

In the context of gender reversal and upskilling of labour migrants, as summarized in Figure 3, the receipt of higher remittances are challenged by two sets of competing forces.

On the one hand, the rising share of males among migrant workers would lead to greater remittances to Sri Lanka only if the monetary value of their remittances can offset their less reliability in remitting. Similarly, in the case of the rising share of better skilled workers among migrant workers, greater remittances would only occur if higher wages and related remittances can offset their weaker links with Sri Lanka.

In order to make these competing forces work towards maintaining a high inflow of remittances, some policy approaches are a dire need. Aptly the National Labour Migration Policy of 2008 identifies that the diversity of Sri Lankan transnational communities requires differentiated approaches between skilled and professional workers and low-skilled workers and ethnic communities, permanent and long-term migrants and temporary migrant worker. The same policy identifies action plans for:

n Reviewing the existing incentives for migrant savings and investments and access to credit,

nDeveloping and implementing a framework to provide incentives for skilled and professionals to contribute to home country development from abroad through; investment opportunities, tax benefits, etc., and schemes for giving back to the countrys development.

With the experience of a decline in inward remittances to Sri Lanka in 2015, now is the ideal time to transform the above policy plans into actions. Additionally, Sri Lanka should also deploy differentiated approaches between male and female segments of Sri Lankan transnational communities and highlight the importance of regular and reliable remittances from male migrant workers.

If such appropriate interventions take place in a timely manner, Sri Lanka would be able to revert to its growing trend and relegate the decline in remittances in 2015 to a mere glitch.

(Dr. Bilesha Weeraratne is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS). To view the article online and comment, visit the IPS blog Talking Economics  www.ips.lk/talkingeconomics)
Social movements have shaped and are shaping modern societies around the globe.

From the American civil rights movement to the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, social movements have benefited and transformed the economic, political and social conditions of many people.



But this is not always the case.This article will discuss in brief the political and historical background of social movements and the factors leading to civil unrest using data collected by the Interntional Labour Organisation (ILO) to further explore this issue.



The risk of civilian unrest is on the rise in many parts of the world. According to polling data collected by ILOs World of Work Report, it is estimated that the risk of unrest has risen the most in advanced economies over the past five years, followed by the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

The people on the streets in protest from Washington to Seoul demonstrate the reality of ILOs research findings on advanced economies.



The ability to express our discontent towards government policy is a fundamental attribute of a democracy. However, it is clear that protests and strikes that continue for a long period will obstruct the efficiency of government mechanisms and subsequently affect the economy negatively.



Prior to moving to the issues closer to home, one may first recognizethe factors that contribute to an increasing risk of civil unrest. The ILO puts forwardthe following six factors:



The first, income inequality and perception of injustice: perception of economic and social disparities, and increasing social exclusionis said to have a negative impact on social cohesion and tends to lead to social unrest (Easterly and Levine, 1997). In early 2016, junior doctors in the United Kingdom staged a series of strikes to renegotiate their contracts. Unsatisfied with the outcome, they took to the streets once more in October resulting in the cancellation of 100,000 operations and over 1 million appointments. On the 2nd of December 2016, many private bus unions in Sri Lanka resorted to conduct a strike opposing the recent budget proposal to increase the traffic fines leading to a major inconvenience in public transport island wide.



The second, Fiscal consolidation and budget cuts: Austerity measures have led to politically-motivated protests and social instability. This has been the case in Europe for many years, from the end of the Weimar Republic in the 1930s to todays anti-government demonstrations in Greece (Ponticelli and Voth, 2011).



However, this has also been a feature in developing countries. In September 2016, tens of millions of public sector workers have gone on a day-long strike across India, protesting against Prime Minister Narendra Modis economic policies, particularly his plans to push for greater privatisation. This led to the temporary closing of thousands of state-run banks, government offices, factories and greatly disrupted public transport.



The third factor, Higher food prices: In addition to collective frustrations regarding the democratic process, rising food prices were also central to the developments associated with the Arab Spring (Bellemare, 2011). More than 5,000 people staged protests across Jordan in a day of rage to protest against escalating food prices and unemployment.



Fourth the Heavy-handedness of the State: In countries where the State has resorted to excessive use of force (police and military) to tackle social upheavals instead of focusing on the actual causes of unrest, such actions have often exacerbated the situation (Justino, 2007).In February 2016, government crackdown on illegal street food vendors turned violent in Hong Kong, as riot police clashed with protesters in the shopping district of MongKok following government officials attempt to evict street vendors selling from unlicensed stalls.



The Fifth factor is the Presence of educated but dissatisfied populace: Countries with large populations of young, educated people with limited employment prospects tend to experience unrest in the form protests (Jenkins, 1983; Jenkins and Wallace, 1996). This has been the case recently in many parts of the world, from southern European countries, such Greece and Spain to South Asian countries. For instance, in late August 2016 the Inter University Students Federation in Sri Lanka staged a large scale protest march against a private medical university. Their attempt to enter a high security zone was halted by police intervention.



Finally, Prevalence of mass media: Past studies have highlighted the impact of radio on the organization of demonstrations, and clearly the use of the Internet (e.g. through the use of Facebook and Twitter) have played a role in recent incidents of unrest. In September 2011, 3,000 people assembled at Battery Park with the intention of occupying Wall Street to protest greed and corruption in the government and financial system. They didnt succeed geographically, but with the use of social media the movement was able to gain momentum and spread to cities across the US and around the world.



The right to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest are crucial in a functioning democracy. The proliferation of information and ideas help inform political debate and are essential to public accountability and transparency in government. It is important to note that there are cases where public demonstrations are clearly justified.



However, the efficient functioning of government institutions and mechanisms is paramount. Strikes, protest and other public demonstrations should be the last option for citizens to express their discontent. It is imperative to establish forums for discussion and dialogue for citizens to voice their concerns and for elected representatives to consult the public.



We can reflect on the words of the late US President Theodore Roosevelt, Free speech, exercised both individually and through a free press, is a necessity in any country where people are themselves free.



(The writer is a Research Assistant (intern) at the Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka (INSSSL) and anInternational Relations undergraduate from the University of London International Programme, Sri Lanka. This article does not reflect the stance of the INSSSL or the Government of Sri Lanka)
The European Union (EU) has pledged to extend its assistance to promote investment in Sri Lanka under the current governments set economic development programme. The EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka Tung-Lai Margue met with Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake recently to discuss investment and trade.
A leading politician who has won 28 court cases these days is throwing grand parties one after another at his posh residence to entertain his special friends, they say.



Leading lights from the community assisting the blindfolded lady to hold the scales even account for the majority of guests at these parties where they are generously wined and dined. A party was also thrown soon after the politician was acquitted in a case due to a technical flaw, they say.
The award was accepted by Nirosh Perera AGM Network Management and the Process Improvement & Change Management Team of HNB

Hatton National Bank (HNB) once again won recognition at the National Productivity Awards 2015 winning third place in the Service Sector  Large category for the second consecutive year. 1st and 2nd place were not awarded.

The gala event took place in the presence of a distinguished gathering of industry leaders and public servants, with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena serving as chief guest.

Organized by the National Productivity Secretariat (NPS) of the Ministry of Public Administration and Management under the direction of the Ministry of Public Administration, Local government and Democratic Governance, the National Productivity Awards 2015 is the only national awards programme aimed at facilitating improvements to Sri Lankas productive work culture in addition to encouraging innovation and creativity.

HNBs Chief Operating Officer, Dilshan Rodrigo had this to say about the award. We are honoured to be recognized for our efforts to set exemplary benchmarks in efficiency, environmental consciousness and enhancing customer engagement. All of this is only possible due to the efforts of our highly committed and engaged staff who have demonstrated receptiveness to change in our journey of

continuous improvement.

Winners were selected according to a stringent set of evaluation criteria on par with evaluation standards followed in Japan, China, South Korea and other member states of the Asian Productivity Organization. HNB has made tremendous strides towards improving productivity and driving operational excellence, both through the refinement of existing processes and the implementation of fresh initiatives all aimed at inculcating a productivity focused work-culture across every level of the organizational hierarchy.

During the year, HNB achieved significant improvements to its productivity levels through the adoption of a new automated work flow system designed to completely streamline processes like credit appraisal for personal financial services by facilitating the electronic transfer of customer loan application documents to the central credit operations from the branch network. Such measures enabled HNB to achieve an unprecedented level of autonomy to the banks branch network by freeing branch staff to focus more on customer engagement and relationship management.

Improving the ability of the HNBs sales teams to communicate and forge relationships with potential customers from all walks of life, via training & development was also recognized as another factor contributing to the overall productivity of the bank.

Other significant initiatives undertaken towards productivity enhancement by HNB were the implementation of paperless office with automated workflow systems, implementation of 1.3MW solar Photo Voltaic system bringing down the dependency on the national grid by 13 percent thus reducing the carbon footprint, plus a fully-fledged on-line learning management system.
Bowalley Road Rules



The blogosphere tends to be a very noisy, and all-too-often a very abusive, place. I intend Bowalley Road to be a much quieter, and certainly a more respectful, place.

So, if you wish your comments to survive the moderation process, you will have to follow the Bowalley Road Rules.

These are based on two very simple principles:

Courtesy and Respect.

Comments which are defamatory, vituperative, snide or hurtful will be removed, and the commentators responsible permanently banned.

Anonymous comments will not be published. Real names are preferred. If this is not possible, however, commentators are asked to use a consistent pseudonym.

Comments which are thoughtful, witty, creative and stimulating will be most welcome, becoming a permanent part of the Bowalley Road discourse.

However, I do add this warning. If the blog seems in danger of being over-run by the usual far-Right suspects, I reserve the right to simply disable the Comments function, and will keep it that way until the perpetrators find somewhere more appropriate to vent their collective spleen.


Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, was found guilty on Monday of criminal charges linked to the misuse of public funds during her time as Frances finance minister, a verdict that could force her out of her post.

Ms. Lagarde, who began her second five-year term at the I.M.F. in February, will not face any jail time, the judge said. The scandal has overshadowed her work at the fund, to which she was appointed in 2011, after Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned as managing director when he was accused of having sexually assaulted a maid in a New York City hotel.

The move is likely to destabilize the I.M.F. as it faces a host of thorny issues, including questions over its participation in a multibillion-dollar bailout for Greece and uncertainty about the United States role in the organization once Donald J. Trump becomes president in January.

The verdict was a surprise, after the prosecutor in the trial said last week that the case against her was very weak and did not appear to be enough to win a conviction. It is a theme prosecutors have previously repeated.

The trial revived concerns in France about high-level corruption, shining a spotlight on intimate ties between politicians and businesspeople, and on the large sums that are sometimes used to grease the countrys political wheels.

The case against Ms. Lagarde centered on Bernard Tapie, a former entertainer and owner of Adidas who had previously been jailed on corruption charges. Mr. Tapie accused the lender Credit Lyonnais, in which the French state had a stake at the time, of cheating him when it oversaw the sale of his share in the sportswear empire in 1993. Years of costly legal battles ensued.

In 2007, Ms. Lagarde sent the dispute to a three-person private arbitration authority that awarded Mr. Tapie more than 400 million euros, or $420 million at current exchange rates, in damages and interest, to be paid by the state.

Her critics said that decision was politically tainted, and she was charged with negligence for allowing the arbitration and for then declining to appeal the panels verdict.

The trial against Ms. Lagarde was just one facet of the scandal  many people associated with it are under investigation, for accusations as varied as embezzlement and organized fraud.

Legal proceedings are expected to begin next year against Stephane Richard, the chief executive of the French telecommunications giant Orange and the former chief of staff to Ms. Lagarde, who said that she had relied on his judgment to send Mr. Tapies case to arbitration.

Mr. Tapie, who has been ordered by a French court in 2015 to repay the full amount with interest after a judge invalidated it, is expected to be called to a separate trial. He is under bankruptcy protection and has not repaid the sum.

Separately, a judge on the arbitration panel that heard Mr. Tapies case is accused of fraud and is expected to be tried, as is Mr. Tapies lawyer.

Witnesses at Ms. Lagardes trial described a system in which influential, wealthy members of the French elite, like Mr. Tapie, had easy access to government officials and parlayed those relationships to the advantage of both parties, sometimes at the expense of taxpayers.

Bruno Bezard, a former director of the French Treasury, described curious relationships at the Finance Ministry when he worked there with Ms. Lagarde, saying that Mr. Tapie was often seen walking around the hallways, presumably to visit officials  which was rather unexpected.

Mr. Bezard, who led a government body overseeing state holdings, including a bank set up to take over Credit Lyonnais bad assets, said Ms. Lagarde had ignored repeated warnings from members of his staff not to proceed with arbitration.

It was the worst of solutions, he said. But we quickly learned that a political decision had been made, despite the colossal risks that the state would have to pay for any damages and interest awarded to Mr. Tapie.

Mr. Bezard suggested that Ms. Lagarde had further erred by not challenging the amount of the payout.

I was more shocked by the speed with which we gave up on contesting it than by the speed of the arbitration decision, he said. Given that the amount was so scandalous, even if we had one chance in 1,000 to win, it should have been done.

Ms. Lagarde testified that she had declined to do so because it could have resulted in a slew of new lawsuits from Mr. Tapie and additional costs to the state.

Mr. Tapie, a former Socialist who served in the administration of President Francois Mitterrand in the 1990s, switched political allegiances and in 2007 backed the presidential campaign of Nicolas Sarkozy  the president at the time of the arbitration hearing.

Mr. Tapie visited the Elysee Palace, the seat of the French presidency, at least 20 times during Mr. Sarkozys first two years in office, the French news media reported. The businessman is said to have met with Mr. Sarkozy and Francois Fillon, the prime minister at the time and the front-runner in next years presidential election.

In July 2007, Mr. Tapie met with Mr. Richard, Ms. Lagardes chief of staff, and Claude Gueant, an aide to Mr. Sarkozy.

Mr. Richard, also a longtime friend of Mr. Sarkozys, later said that he had paved the way to move the case to arbitration because he left the meeting with the strong impression that it is what Mr. Gueant favored.

Mr. Richard refused to testify at Ms. Lagardes trial, citing a parallel criminal inquiry into his role in the events. Mr. Gueant was questioned in 2014 as part of a separate investigation into the matter. Both men have denied any wrongdoing. (nytimes)
REUTERS, 18th DECEMBER, 2016- The Indian government has appointed new heads of its army and air force among a series of senior military and intelligence appointments, officials said,

two weeks before its two most senior defence force chiefs are due to retire.

Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat was named as the new chief of the army to succeed General Dalbir Singh Suhaag.

Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, a fighter pilot, was chosen as the new chief of Indias air force to replace Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. The appointments were announced on Twitter by a defence ministry spokesman late on Saturday.

The appointment of Rawat, a counter insurgency specialist, raised eyebrows among opposition parties because he was given the job ahead of two more senior candidates.

Why has seniority not been respected in appointment of Army Chief, Manish Tewari, a former government minister and leader of the opposition Congress party, said on Twitter.

The appointment was also questioned by Communist Party of India leader D. Raja, but a spokesman for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it was not a matter for political debate.
The Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF 2017), the largest Consumer Exhibition and Trade Fair in the fast-growing northern region of Sri Lanka, will be held from January 27 to 29, 2017 for the 8th consecutive year, with all arrangements in place to make it a great success for private and public sector companies, suppliers, buyers/procurers, academics, students and the general public.

The event aptly named as Gateway to the North will be held at Jaffna Municipal Council Grounds.

The exhibition is widely accepted as a must-attend in the event- calendar of all stakeholders in the supply chain and in the procurement process. The Exhibition comprises both local and international stalls catering to a diverse variety of needs and services. In 2016 the event attracted an audience of over 60,000 visitors. It is considered the single most focal point for a wide spectrum of investors and citizens.

CoFounder Chairman of JITF and Past President, Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Yarlpanam, K. Pooranachandran says that this major event would be a great opportunity for business personnel to get involved in Jaffna development activities because there are major infrastructure development opportunities coming up in the Jaffna region shortly.

According to JITF Project Manager Imalka Mullegama, more than 300 booth-holders will exhibit more than 1000 products to meet the demands of over 60,000 visitors from across the country.

A special 75-member delegation from India will be visiting the event to explore the trade and investment opportunities. This delegation is sponsored and hosted by ASSOCHAM of India (The Associated Chamber of Commerce in India).

JITF 2017 will organized by Lanka Exhibition & Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd (LECS) in association with the Chamber of Commerce & Industries of Yarlpanam (CCIY) with the support of Jaffna Municipal Council, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and International Business Council. The event is endorsed by the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Consulate General of India in Jaffna and National Chamber of Exporters.
Laugfs Holdings, one of the largest diversified business conglomerates and a trusted name in Sri Lanka, yet again clinched an award for its pioneering GnTracker device at the prestigious Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2016 held recently in Taipei.

This latest recognition comes following the accolades received at this years National Best Quality ICT Awards (NBQSA) for this innovative product developed by the Group IT team of Laugfs, who also clinched the Chairmans Appreciation Award.

Held in Taipei, Taiwan, APICTA Awards 2016 saw over 1,000 participants from 19 countries, competing in 17 application categories. The awards ceremony, which has been likened by many to the Oscars within the ICT Arena, promotes and recognizes excellence in information communication technology (ICT) innovations and encourages the development of indigenous ICT solutions for the global market.

Our success at APICTA Awards 2016 is the result of the intrapreneurial culture that has proven to encourage innovation and creativity within Laugfs. The GnTracker is a concept that stemmed during a meeting with our chairman, which our teams have been able to effectively develop into a scalable product, remarked Laugfs Holdings Chief Information Officer Indika Gunawardena.

As a leader and pioneer in our industries, our teams work with a strong and continued focus on research and development (R&D), innovation and technology. Being a company that takes pride in our Sri Lankan roots, we are honoured to receive such world-class recognition. Our aim is to take these locally developed innovations to a global platform so that our Sri Lankan products can compete effectively in international markets, he further stated.

The award was received in the Industrial Applications category, which recognizes ICT innovations for delivering improved outcomes in industrial processes or activities. Applications are adjudged based on uniqueness, market potential, functionality/features, quality/application of technology and presentation, by a prominent panel of judges consisting of renowned academics and industry experts.

The GnTracker device was in-house developed as a remote tracking solution to better enhance the service delivery of Laugfs International, the authorized agent for Yamaha and Airman generators. The service calls for generators are usually triggered by the customer, after which the maintenance team at Laugfs International respond with the necessary services, as is the practice with most after-sales service providers in Sri Lanka. The pioneering GnTracker device now allows the maintenance teams to remotely monitor and track generator performance and proactively trigger service calls, transforming the customer experience.

As an effective and scalable solution, the GNTracker is the first of its kind to be developed in Sri Lanka and is faceted with features that make it an ideal solution, not just for Laugfs International, but for other organisations and industries. The GnTracker unit can be attached not only to Generators, but to any equipment, which requires triggered alerts and other important information related to the devices operation. As a result, this new product solution can be applied in many different industries, irrespective of the product or brand, making it a highly scalable product.

Laugfs is one of the largest diversified business conglomerates and a trusted name in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1995, Laugfs today has expanded across 20 industries in Sri Lanka and overseas, establishing a strong presence as a leader and pioneer in the power and energy, retail, industrial, services, leisure, logistics, international trading and real estate sectors. With over 4,000 employees and an annual turnover exceeding Rs.28 billion, Laugfs continues to expand and empower millions as a trusted Sri Lankan brand.
(Left to Right) :Leo Burnett, Sri Lanka Team receiving the award - Ranil De Silva  Managing Director, Leo Burnett Solutions Inc., Arosha Perera  Chief Operating Officer, Leo Burnett Solutions Inc., Wasim Akram  Engagement Planning Manager, Arc Worldwide Sri Lanka, Mehnaz Ilhamdeen  Head of Operations, Leo Burnett Solutions Inc

Leo Burnett Sri Lanka, the local office of the global advertising network Leo Burnett Worldwide, repeated its success at Campaign Asias Agency of the Year (AOY) awards by securing the Gold for Agency of the Year for the Rest of South Asia. Ranil de Silva, Managing Director of Leo Burnett Sri Lanka, together with members from the team attended this celebration of marketing communications in South Asia held in Mumbai, India.

Campaign Asia is the most respected industry publication which is published across 5 continents by Haymarket. Their annual AOY awards haverapidly grown to become the most coveted award in the marketing communications industry as these awards recognize advertising agencies beyond its creative product. Several agencies in the region from India and the rest of the region which includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan compete for thesecoveted awards. Leo Burnett Sri Lanka outperformed several contenders from Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries to once again win the Gold award this year. Leo Burnett Sri Lanka continued its success from previous years to win the title of Agency of the Year for the Rest of South Asia 2016.

Commenting on Leo Burnetts success at the AOY Awards in 2016, Ranil de Silva  Managing Director, Leo Burnett Sri Lankastated: This accolade is very special as it recognizes several aspects of our performance as it not only recognizes the creative successes we have achieved in 2016. This award rewards business growth, financial performance, CSR, professional development activity, leadership and contribution to the industry. In other words, it is the best all-rounder in the business.

(Left to Right) :Leo Burnett, Sri Lanka Team with the award -Caryll Van Dort  Director, MSLGROUP Sri Lanka, Arosha Perera - Chief Operating Officer, Leo Burnett Solutions Inc., Wasim Akram  Engagement Planning Manager, Arc Worldwide Sri Lanka, Ranil De Silva - Managing Director, Leo Burnett Solutions Inc.,Nitish MukherjeeDirector , Leo Burnett Sri Lanka, Mehnaz Ilhamdeen  Head of Operations, Leo Burnett Solutions Inc.

The collective efforts of the team enabled us to shine throughout the year and we were able to secure outstanding results both as a business and for our people. Our commitment, passion and dedication translated into a strong performance at the worlds leading festivals as well as at the most recognized festivals in the Asia and Pacific region. The Campaign Asia Gold award for Agency of the Year in the Rest of South Asia is a tribute to the team for everything they did to fulfil client expectations and to make difference. This accolade is a very fitting finale to what has been an eventful and very rewarding year. It is definitely a wonderful way to celebrate the year, a year that was studded with many achievements, glories, laughter, successes and milestones. I believe we are well poised to make 2017 a truly inspiring and an exceptionally rewarding year for our clients, the team, the industry and for Sri Lanka.

For more than 20 years, Campaign Asias Agency of the Year Awards have celebrated the chievements of the regions advertising industry, recognizing strong leadership, creativity, innovation, stellar new business performances, the development of talent in the region and ontributions to the industry at large.The aim of this awards programme is to reward the industrys top performers in South Asia, the Asia-Pacific, Greater China, Japan and Korea, whilst giving them the chance to shine within their local markets, their agency networks and respective regions.

This year Leo Burnett Sri Lanka celebrates its 17th anniversary. Over the years, the agency has built many powerful brands and developed many meaningful partnerships with its clients, whilst delivering gratifying results and gaining industry recognition in Sri Lanka, the region and globally. The agencys client roster includes a diverse portfolio of brands in a variety of sectors. Leo Burnett Worldwide is one of the worlds largest agency networks and is a member of the Publicis Groupe, the worlds fourth largest marketing communications company.
SRINAGAR REUTERS Dec 17 - Militants attacked an Indian army convoy in Kashmir on Saturday, killing three soldiers, a defence spokesman said, in the latest in an uptick of violence in the disputed region at the heart of tensions with rival Pakistan.

The men were ambushed on the outskirts of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state where Indian forces have been battling an armed revolt since 1989.

This year, after years of decline, militant violence has increased in Kashmir, deepening a chill in ties with Pakistan whom India blames for stoking and keeping the revolt alive by sending fighters and material across the de factor border.

A bad year in terms of security force casualties just got worse, Omar Abdullah, the leader of the main opposition group in Jammu and Kashmir, said in a Twitter post following the latest attack.
President Maithripala Sirisena was felicitated today over his contributions towards the prevention of Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKDu) by the International Society of Nephrologists (ISN), at the inauguration of the ISN-Gardiner CKDu fund at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. Here the president of the ISN, Prof. Adeera Levin presents the award to President Sirisena. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja
DPA, 18th DECEMBER, 2016- Romes beleaguered mayor, Virginia Raggi, should keep her job, but at the price of dismissing some of her more controversial aides, her anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) decided overnight following a string of scandals.

Over the past week, Raggis garbage commissioner Paola Muraro resigned after being placed under investigation for breaking waste management rules, and her right-hand man Raffaele Marra, head of personnel at city hall, was arrested for corruption. Mistakes were made which Virginia has recognized: She trusted the most unsuitable people in the world. We are changing gear from today, comedian and M5S leader Beppe Grillo wrote on his blog late on Saturday.

In another statement on the blog, Raggi said deputy mayor Daniele Frongia would step down but keep her post as commissioner for sport and youth, while the head of her secretariat, Salvatore Romeo, would quit. Both officials were seen as allies of Marra. The announcement came after 48 hours of crisis talks in Rome between Grillo and local and national M5S representatives, in which the option of kicking out or suspending Raggi from the party was discussed.
The Sri Lankan fishing industry incurred a loss of Rs. 9,000 million each year due to illegal fishing by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters, the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry recently said.

Issuing a statement, subject Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said Indian fishermen illegally snared close to 6,000 tons of fish in Sri Lankan waters each week.

At least three Indian fishing boats enter Sri Lankan waters every week, which is nearly 5,000 fishing boats entering our waters illegally each year. This is a huge threat to the Sri Lankan fishing industry, the minister said in the statement.

However, he also said the number of Indian fishing boats entering Sri Lanka illegally had decreased by 50 percent, when compared to previous years, due to the high level of security provided by the Sri Lankan Navy and the Sri Lankan Coast Guard.
Sri Lanka could look forward to up to US$ 4 billion in Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) next year, despite a disappointing FDI performance in recent times, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said at a media briefing recently.

(Were expecting) US$ 3-4 billion. They will be in petroleum refineries, power generation, dairy industry and fisheries, Karunanayake said.

China is expected to infuse over US$ 1 billion in the purchase of 80 percent of the shares in the Hambantota Port from the Sri Lankan government, while the budget has also outlined the inflow of US$ 1 billion through the listing and the sale of shares of non-strategic government institutions.

Karunanayakes comments come at a time when Sri Lankas FDIs for the first 8 months of this yearincluding loans to Board of Investment (BOI) companieshas been just US$ 335.9 million, a 37.1 percent drop compared to US$ 533.8 million year-on-year (YoY).

In contrast, the BOI had signed investment deals for future investments valued at over US$ 1.5 billion last year. Sri Lankas FDIs, including loans to BOI companies, had been US$ 969.7 billion in 2015, below the governments target of over US$ 1 billion, while the highest number of US$ 1.53 billion was recorded in 2014, when the former regime signed an agreement with a Chinese state-owned company to start the first phase of the Colombo Port City. According to analysts the political uncertainty had hampered FDI inflows in 2015, while policy uncertainty had continued the dampened performance in 2016.

Criticising past action, Karunanayake had reportedly said that the current regime would separate BOI loans from true FDIs, though the practice has now continued for over one year and eight months since the government Karunanayake represents took over.

Further, Karunanayake recently denied that government was not in talks with China to provide 15,000 acres in Hambantota for an industrial park, which China had linked to over US$ 5 billion in FDIs.

Both the sale of the shares in the Hambantota Port, and the possible allocation of 15,000 acres of land to China had resulted in heavy protests in the said region.
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The last two weeks of October 2016 saw many pronouncements about the future of Sri Lanka. These two weeks started with the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA), which highlighted where we are, where we would be if we dont heed their very well meant advice and move away from the debt trap we are in. Then the Prime Minister came out with his 1500-day programme, read out in parliament to ensure that Sri Lanka becomes a very prosperous nation as a result of its implementation.



Then there was the pronouncement by a few responsible persons about the Chinese agreeing for a swap of writing off the debt-for-equity of some holdings at the Hambantota port, which got an excited governor of the Central Bank requesting the money to be received from the Chinese to settle some debts.



Then there was the Commonwealth Secretariat publishing its recommendations on enhancing our export revenue by US $ 2 billion by bringing in some 60 additions like laces, etc., into our export basket. Finally, the last Friday of the month saw some leading businessmen listening to the well-known futurist Dr. Patrick Dixon on The Future of (almost) Everything.



Here I have not touched upon of course, the most disturbing link between the past  only of a two-year span  and the future associated with it as unfurled within the chamber of parliament and I do not intend to write about it as there would be too many more qualified people to do so. Here, I will write only about the things I have really studied and studied enough to share with others, out of all these things.



SLEA pronouncements

Here, President Prof. A.D.V. de S. Indraratna in his address stressed the need to reduce the budget deficit by increasing the current revenue and reducing current expenditure and enhancing foreign direct investment (FDIs) by improving good governance. The need to address the public debt was also emphasized and the need to improve quality of our manufacturing processes as well. His expectations for the five-year plan to be spelt out later in the week by the Prime Minister to be a home grown one was also expressed.



Then keynote speaker, W.A. Wijewardena added the need to provide funds for growth-related sectors, reforms needed in state-owned enterprises and addressing current fiscal crisis to the above-mentioned concerns. He also emphasized the need to have all Sri Lankas debt captured properly in the government debt records.



This disparity in our debt records was addressed by me in reasonable detail when I wrote about our public debt to Daily FT on 22-04-2016. In that article, I gave details about the specific tables in our Central Bank annual report where you see discrepancies and also the names of relevant countries. This discrepancy had been there in this report for a very long time. I always tried to match these figures in those few tables and checked them for accuracy and they never matched.



This is why I strongly suggest that just as much as we debate the budget on several days in great detail in parliament, we also need to debate and discuss this annual report of the Central Bank which, at least to me, is the statement of how we, as a country, have performed economically.



This will also pave the way for better financial reporting and will help capture anomalies. I am waiting to see how our public debt figures will be altered in the Central Banks annual report for the year 2016 due to the equity-debt swap we are going to execute with the Peoples Republic of China or would it happen after 31-12-2016.



PMs five-year plan

Then came the five-year plan presented in parliament by the prime minister. I do not know whether it is a home-grown plan or not and I am not so concerned about that. As long as the plan delivers goods, that is what the country needs.



Prime Ministers five-year plan is a very comprehensive plan; it has captured all the relevant components I would expect in such a plan excepting one. Although intermingled with many expressions of what the prime minister had attempted to implement in the past and overall comments, it has the material to be used in developing our economy aggressively. I also want to demonstrate why I say so.



I would like to present it as indicated below. This model was derived based on a model used by Kao Organisation as given in Innovation Explosion- probably the best management book read by me, in 1998, by Dr. James Brian Quinn, Dr. Jordan D. Baruch and Karen Anne Zien. Dr. Quinn had won the McKinsey Award for the Best Harvard Business Review article thrice and Dr. Baruch was a former Assistant Secretary of Commerce in Carter Administration, while Zien is an Innovation Systems Anthropologist.



The objectives of this presentation is to depict how comprehensive the prime ministers plan is and to indicate how this presentation would help to (i) identify the strategies that need to be adopted, (ii) establish the objectives and (iii) set up targets to be achieved. It is my very strong belief that this representation would facilitate its smooth, timely implementation on time with significant benefits to all Sri Lankans.



It is heartening to see that we have accepted the fact that we cant be expecting FDIs from all over the world with or without good governance. As we have quoted in an earlier article, International Monetary Fund (IMF) MD Christine Laggarde mentioned at a Maryland Alumni Meeting that we live in an age where FDIs are not readily available. So the willingness of China, Japan and Korea to invest in Sri Lanka is welcome news. Then with China, India, Singapore willing to become partners with us through trade agreements, we have a reasonable framework within which to move forward. We have also plans to tap the ever growing Indian Ocean Rim market.



When it comes to the target markets, I believe we have missed out on Africa. Since of late, Africa has been left out from major trade deals and it is my opinion that this is deliberately done to retain it for exploitation by the US and European Union (EU) and also to direct Chinese interests away from Africa. But with the possibility of Africa greatly interested in expediting its own development and our closeness to it we believe that it would be a good market to tap.



The other key thing that is missing in this arrangement is an indication about the products we intend to supply to the target markets. We need to accept the fact that products in demand  both in respect of physical products and services  do change very fast. The prime minister mentioned in his statement the limitations of our export product basket and this implies that he plans to bring in more innovative products into the basket.



It may be that the three key partners who are expected to invest in Sri Lanka  China, Japan and Korea  are expected to bring in new futuristic products into Sri Lanka, especially so as they would be occupying very large spaces for their manufacturing outfits in Sri Lanka. Of course one thing we need to remember is that due to its very central geographic location, just as much as we tend to make Sri Lanka the hub of everything from knowledge, energy to supply chain, Sri Lanka cannot afford to be generating too much of greenhouse gases due to the very poor (numbers available) longitudinal circulation and very high, cyclic latitudinal circulation of its atmosphere. Such an excessive emission trail will definitely be disastrous. At Maryland, Laggarde also stressed about this aspect in respect of planning of Megapolis Development.



As such, I wish the Prime Minister to listen to the extremely logical advice given by Prof. Joseph Stiglitz. Prof. Stiglitz, after his stay in Sri Lanka, suggested that we need to look at renewable energy  solar and wind  and that we need to go in for a green economy. I have been always suggesting that we go into establish a green economy in Sri Lanka and in fact, in my article in Daily FT on 14-08-2014 on Positive balance of trade  Dream to reality I went to the extent of suggesting that we create an incubator for green industries in Hambantota like Silicon Valley for IT industries. I also worked out the potential revenue from a few such industries and came out with a figure of US $ 11 billion only from four or five possible sectors.



I strongly hope that this plan would see the light of day within the specified five-year period.



Future of (almost) everything

Then came the most interesting presentation on future by the well-known futurist Dr. Patrick Dixon. He touched upon some interesting things from import of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates by US from Asian countries to the aspect of solar energy been mobilized all over the world.



He used a cube with six faces to depict that the future he wants to talk about consists of a future which is fast, urban, tribal, universal, radical and ethical. For sure, he had enough things to demonstrate the relevance of each of these to the future we talk about. After all, he has written a 320-page book Future of (almost) Everything on the subject explaining why he considers these components to depict the future we all talk about.



He, according to this book, has even given a trends lecture to 500 senior military leaders at the Pentagon in the USA. I, obviously have nothing to say about almost everything in the book excepting two topics I intend to deal with here. I should also say that I have studied these in adequate detail to present my thoughts here.



(To be continued)

(K.C. Somaratna is Managing Director of Somaratna Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd)
REUTERS, 18th DECEMBER, 2016-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro suspended on Saturday the elimination of the countrys largest denomination bill, which had sparked cash shortages and nationwide unrest, saying the measure would be postponed until early January.

The surprise pulling of the 100 bolivar note from circulation this week - before new larger bills were available - led to vast lines at banks, looting at scores of shops, anti-government protests and at least one death.

Maduro, speaking from the presidential palace, blamed a sabotage campaign by enemies abroad for the delayed arrival of three planes carrying the new 500, 2,000 and 20,000 bolivar notes.

One plane, contracted and paid for by Venezuela, was told in flight to change direction and go to another country, he said, without specifying who had given the orders. Theres another which was not given flyover permission.
First the BJP government in Centre sparked off protests in Assam when it introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The bill seeks to make Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan eligible for Indian citizenship.

Groups opposing the bill argue it contradicts the terms of the Assam Accord of 1985, which says that illegal migrants from Bangladesh who have entered the state after March 25, 1971, would be deported.

Now, Assam cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has added a new twist to the controversy. On Friday (December 16), he said all those who entered the state between 1951 and 1971 "must not enjoy the privileges and status granted by Clause VI of the Assam Accord". For the uninitiated, Clause VI lays down constitutional safeguards for the "Assamese" people.

Sarma has been maintaining that on humanitarian grounds, the Assam Accord could not be a reason for refusing to accept Hindu migrants in Assam. (PTI photo)

"Assam had to take the burden of all those who illegally entered the state between 1951 and 1971 by accepting them as citizens according to the Accord. Since Clause VI was incorporated in the Accord to provide constitutional safeguards to Assamese people, those who entered the state between 1951 and 1971 should be excluded from the ambit of the clause," Sarma was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

Sarmas statement again seems confusing as he has been continuously saying that the BJP has a reason to grant citizenship to Hindus who have migrated from Bangladesh because of religious persecution there. The BJP, during Assam elections, made the granting of citizenship to Hindu immigrants and deportation of illegals (read only Muslim Bangladeshi illegal immigrants) a key poll promise.

Sarma has been maintaining that on humanitarian grounds, the Assam Accord could not be a reason for refusing to accept Hindu migrants in the state. He, however, also says the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, doesnt mention anywhere that Assam alone would have to take the burden.

Those protesting the citizenship bill, meanwhile, are finding it difficult to make any sense of Sarmas confusing statements.

He and his party say Hindu immigrants will be granted citizenship. This means all Hindu Bangladeshi immigrants living in Assam will be eligible. Now, he is saying those who entered the state between 1951 and 1971 must not enjoy the privileges granted by Clause VI of the Assam Accord. What is it that the BJP is trying to force upon the people of Assam?

Many believe the latest stunt is simply an attempt to appease those who are against the Centre's move to grant citizenship to Hindu migrants from Bangladesh. Even Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), a coalition partner of the BJP-led government in Assam, is opposed to the proposed citizenship legislation. The AGP has demanded that all illegal migrants be detected and deported from the state (according to the Assam Accord) irrespective of their religion.

Whatever be the case, Sarma has to make clear where his loyalties lie. Its either the Assamese or the Hindu cause.
With the Assembly elections approaching, Manipur may once again be heading towards another cycle of violence, the with law and order situation rapidly deteriorating in the state.

The latest flashpoint is the creation of seven new districts in the state by chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, announced on December 8.

Manipur has been simmering for months over a tussle between the Naga-dominated hill districts and the Imphal valley, mostly comprising Meiteis - the two distinct geographical and ethnic divisions in the state.

Till now, Manipur has had four valley and five hill districts. While the Naga tribals dominated the hill districts comprising a major portion of Manipuri territory, it is the valley dominated by the Meitei community with more than half the state's population that has enjoyed more representation in the Assembly.

No wonder it is the Meiteis who have historically enjoyed power in Manipur politics ever since it merged with independent India in 1949.

Naga dissent in hills

The Naga tribals have been opposed to a series of decisions by the Ibobi Singh-led Congress government in the state, terming them anti-tribal and politically motivated.

They have accused the state government of covertly adding portions of tribal land traditionally held by the Nagas to carve out the new districts. They also oppose three Bills passed by the state government in Manipur Assembly last year - the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015; Manipur Shops and Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill and the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill.

Observers believe that all three bills passed by the Congress are aimed at retaining its hold on the majority Meitei votebank in the Imphal valley.

The tribal areas in Manipur are protected under Article 371C of the Constitution. It means non-tribals are barred from purchasing land in tribal reserves. However, there is no bar on tribals buying land anywhere else in the state. For long, this has been a sticky issue in Meitei-dominated Manipur politics.

The Ibobi Singh-led Congress government in the state is already facing anti-incumbency. (Photo: India Today)

With the elections approaching, land reforms being pushed by Ibobi Singhs government means that non-tribals (Meiteis) too would now be able to buy tribal land in the hill districts.

The Naga tribals have erupted in protest terming the move as a covert attempt by the Meitei-majority state government to grab tribal land. The residences of several MPs and MLAs were torched by protesters in violent agitations that have been continuing since August last year.

The state government crackdown killing nine protesters in police firing in the hill district of Churachandrapur only worsened the situation, with the Naga tribals now seek total separation from Manipur.

Meitei backlash in valley

The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Nagas residing in Manipur which has been leading the tribal protests in the state, has enforced a painful economic blockade on the Imphal valley.

Highways leading to Imphal have been blocked since November creating shortage of essential commodities and fuel. Coupled with the Centres demonetisation announcement, patience finally gave way to desperation as residents in Imphal erupted in counter protests this week.

Protesters have attacked several vehicles coming from the Naga-dominated hill districts towards Imphal and set them on fire. Following that, fresh curfew has been imposed and Imphal West district administration has shut down internet services to curb further spread of violence through rumour-mongering.

Naga accord and rise of BJP

Observers say that it is the rise of the BJP as a strong alternative to the 14-year Ibobi Singh-led Congress rule in the state that has led to the three time CM announcing new decisions to woo the Hindu-dominated Meitei votebank, thereby antagonising the Naga tribals.

That the BJP is making rapid inroads in the state was evident when the party bagged 10 seats against the Congress's tally of 12 in the Imphal municipal corporation polls held in June this year.

However, the saffron party is playing a balancing act in the state by tying up with the Naga Peoples Front (NPF), active in the tribal hill districts. Whether the BJP is able to dethrone Ibobi Singh, who is facing stiff anti-incumbency, will depend on how fine a balancing act the party is able to pull off.
China regards itself as heir to the United States status as the worlds leading superpower. Last week it flexed its maritime muscles, capturing an American sea drone in international waters of the South China Sea.

Washington, busy with the Obama-Trump transition, has taken its eye off the ball. President Barack Obama, who hands over office to president-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, is busy accusing Russia of interfering with last months US presidential election.

With a mildly anti-China government now, Taiwan presents India an interesting opportunity. Credit: AP

The White House issued a brief statement on the underwater drone, saying Beijing had agreed to return it. China said it would do so after deleting the intelligence the drones software had collected.

Obama has weightier concerns. His own eight-year legacy is under serious threat. Obamacare, which has given 20 million uninsured poor (mainly black and Hispanic) Americans access to medical insurance, is likely to be repealed or at least drastically modified under a Trump administration.

Obamas Middle East policy, meanwhile, lies in tatters. The Syrian government has recaptured most of Aleppo which was under the control of US-supported rebels opposed to president Bashar al-Assad since 2012. The siege of Mosul in Iraq and the retaking of the Islamic States de facto capital Raqqa are progressing more slowly than anticipated despite US air power.

But Obamas biggest failure is not fixing Americas complex geopolitical relationship with China. Beijing has snubbed Washington across a range of issues. It has imposed its sovereignty in the South China Sea and challenged US sea power in an arc from the Indian Ocean to the East China Sea near Japan.

It is Taiwan, however, which could be the litmus test in 2017 of the edgy Washington-Beijing relationship. Trumps controversial 10-minute conversation with Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen was part of a choreographed strategy. Trump knows that the two issues China is most sensitive to are Tibet and Taiwan, the breakaway island-nation Beijing regards as sovereign Chinese territory.

The US embraced the one-China policy in 1979. Since then the Taiwan issue has lain dormant. Taiwanese leaders over the past 37 years tactically accepted the one-China policy. Since 1979 no US president or president-elect has spoken to a Taiwanese president  until Trump this month.

Tsai Ing-wen won the 2016 presidential election to become Taiwans first woman president. She has since diluted Taiwans commitment to a one-China policy, refusing to accept it on principle after she formally took office on 20 May 2016.

Trump has long indentified Chinas hegemonistic ambitions as a threat to world peace. He recognises that military or economic confrontation with China is impractical. Hence, the Taiwan card.

After winning the US presidential election, among the world leaders Trump spoke to was Tsai. The conversation had been carefully planned. The Trump campaign team asked the Taiwanese leader to make the call. The message was directed at China: Taiwan was no longer taboo for the US.

This reverses decades of US foreign policy which recognises the one-China framework. Washington broke diplomatic relations with Taiwan under president Jimmy Carter in 1979. Tsai, however, has been careful not to antagonise Beijing beyond a point. After her call to Trump, Tsai has maintained a diplomatic silence.

Not Trump though. I dont know why we have to be bound by a one-China policy, he grumbled, unless we make a deal with China over other things like trade. It was typical transactional Trumpspeak.

Playing Hardball

Trumps hardball tactics with China are of course neither new nor unexpected. He has called Beijing a currency manipulator and threatened to impose penal duties on Chinese imports unless Beijing gives equal tariff treatment to US exports to China.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely watching the Taiwan issue closely. With a mildly anti-China government now in power after decades of pro-Beijing Taiwanese governments, Taiwan presents India an interesting opportunity.

Since India and the US have established a close strategic partnership, there are several options India can now pursue on Taiwan. Establishing closer economic and trade ties is one. Remember: Taiwan makes 80 per cent of the worlds computer networks. It is an emerging technology powerhouse.

While diplomatic relations may not be feasible, Taiwan is also emerging as an attractive destination for tourists. A recent advertisement for Taiwans increasingly active tourism bureau in New Delhi targeting Indians said breathlessly: No trip to Taiwan is complete without its hot springs experience. Ranked among the worlds top 15 hot spring destinations, Taiwan has a great variety of natural springs, including hot springs, cold springs, mud springs and seabed hot springs. Interestingly, a number of resorts offer you the experience in your room itself with hot spring water flowing straight into your bathtub!

All of this irritates Beijing which barely tolerates the international attention Taiwan has been receiving since the feisty Tsai, a former university professor, took office seven months ago.

The Modi government has very few sharp weapons to combat Chinas aggressive position on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, Indias membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and illegal Chinese-built infrastructure on Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Taiwan is Chinas soft underbelly. With Trump likely to ratchet up economic and diplomatic pressure on Beijing, this is the right time for Modi too to play the Taiwan card.

China has shown no remorse in abetting Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. By blocking the United Nations declaration of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, Beijing has displayed mala fide intent.

China has consistently ignored New Delhis warnings on violating Indian sovereignty in PoK. There is no reason India should hesitate to build closer economic and cultural ties with Taiwan.

Meanwhile, those who believe Russias recent closeness to Pakistan, including its interest in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), presages an inimical Russia-China-Pakistan axis are mistaken. Given Western sanctions following its annexation of Crimea, Russia may be dependent on China buying its oil and gas. However, a Putin-friendly Trump presidency will repair US ties with the Kremlin to keep it out of Chinas bear hug.

If Modi recalibrates his China diplomacy, using Taiwan judiciously, Beijing will be forced to rethink its cavalier disregard for Indias national interests in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Lifestyle / Travel and Tourism

by Oscar Nkala

Hunters who engage in unethical and illegal practices are largely to blame for the decline in the 'overall acceptance' of trophy hunting by the general public and influential institutions across the globe says Namibian Professional Hunting Association (NAMPHA) immediate-past president Kai-Uwe Denker.Addressing delegates at the association Annual General Meeting (AGM)in Windhoek in early December, Denker said the global hunting industry has been under siege from a coordinated, international anti-hunting movement since the 1970s.He said of late, the image of the trophy hunting business had been battered by numerous revelations of unethical conduct by some hunters who are motivated by greed."Typical of human nature and for many reasons including greed, many hunting operators have thrown into the wind, not only the generally accepted standards of ethical hunting, but also the very important ecological and nature conservation linkage it has to the principle of sustainable use (of wildlife resources)," Denker said.Further, he said because financial motives tended to over-ride any moral considerations within the hunting industry, the little public support for trophy hunting had been lost to mounting reports of illegal and unethical hunting.Such reports exposed the 'well-founded and well-meant' principle of sustainable use of natural resources to rhetorical questions such as whether it was now about the abuse of natural resources.Denker said the Namibian trophy hunting industry could survive, but only if its members restored the conduct of ethical and morally acceptable hunting. Such conduct would include the wider observation and adherence to a strict animal welfare code in order to convince the skeptical public that the only acceptable justification for trophy hunting is that it is an 'indispensable' tool for practical nature conservation."It is no longer acceptable to try and justify unacceptable hunting practices by claiming that ethics and morals are matters of personal opinion. The worldwide community has clearly told us that with this, you have crossed the line. It is no longer good enough for aprofessional hunter to just drive a Landcruiser off the road and shoot a big boar with a rifle," Denker said.The strategy to win back public support for trophy hunting would also involve education and awareness campaigns to teach the hunters about the basics of conservation and sustainable use of wildlife resources.The out-going association president called for the introduction of anew professional hunter training curriculum that would prioritise conservation, with emphasis on aspects like functioning ecosystems, habitat aspects and populations dynamics.The current Namibian professional hunter training curriculum is an oral and practical course that was tailored-made to suit candidates who cannot read or write.Denker said the reputation of the hunting industry would remain on 'accelerated decline' as long as sectoral audits continued to reveal evidence of its manipulation of rules to facilitate the illegal exploitation of wildlife resources.Should the sector fail to restore mechanisms to monitor adherence to hunting rules and moral ethics, professional hunters might as well abandon the business and hang up their rifles, Denker warned.Addressing the same meeting, Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism Tommy Nambahu said throughout 2016, the Namibian hunting industry struggled against severe challenges which threatened it's sustainability as a lead contributor to wildlife and nature conservation.These included the four-year-old regional drought that has dried up water resources, killing thousands of wild animals and livestock across the semi-desert country.The ripple effects of global events such as the attack on, and advocacy against all forms of trophy hunting following the shooting of Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe in mid-2015, have negatively affected the Namibian trophy hunting industry.The iconic Zimbabwean male lion, which was a collared subject of a continuing lion research project run by Oxford University, was lured out of Hwange in July 2015 and killed by US doctor Walter Palmer with the help of professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst.The US doctor initially shot and badly injured the lion with a bow and arrow. However the bow-hunt, which is illegal in Zimbabwe, did not kill the lion and he had to finish it of with a rifle, hours after the first attack.The public outcry generated by the criminal and unethical nature of the hunt galvanised the global anti-hunting lobby with some conservationists calling for a total ban of trophy hunting of lions and other endangered wildlife species.Nambahu said trophy hunting in Namibia had declined in the aftermath of the illegal and unethical Cecil hunt because it generated global calls for a ban on trophy hunting and forced several airlines to boycott the transportation of trophies hunted in Africa."It is important for us as regulators, hunters, hunting out-fitters and stakeholder communities to remain ethical in our dealings to avoid some of the unbecoming criticisms that may tarnish and further diminish our reputation," the deputy minister said.Internally, NAMPHA is struggling to get rid of the perception that it is a white-dominated industry amid reports that only the country has managed to train only 350 black professional hunters since the government drive for racial inclusion in the industry began in 2001.Denker said in the past 20 years when efforts to promote inclusion largely failed, white members of the hunters association occasionally felt unwelcome although they were citizens who loved the country like any other.Apart from the black professional hunter training project, another initiative that sought to promote black participation in the hunting business was the provision, in 2013, of courses to help communal conservancy operators become independent hunting operators.
News / Local

by Staff Reporter

A man who is prominent for repairing cellphones at Bahudur Center in Gweru is on the run after he allegedly duped two Police officers and a nurse of a total of $17 000.Mbonisi Sibanda of Kopje Suburb in Gweru is facing four counts of theft in which he conned three women.The accused was issued with a warrant of arrest by Magistrate Phathekile Msipa after he skipped court on the day he was supposed to get judgment. He had all along attended the three different court cases which ran concurrently.It is the State's case that Sibanda conned Christine Matare and Perpetual Shumba both stationed at Gweru Traffic and Shylet Chinyakuze, a nurse at Shurugwi Hospital.On count one in August last year, Matare who resides at Mtapa Camp approached Sibanda and asked him to purchase a Honda Fit on her behalf using his account from Japan.The complainant gave the accused $900 but then faced some financial problems and could not finish paying for the car.The court also heard that in March the same year, Matare topped up with $985 which was now for a Mark II before she gave Sibanda a further $1 900 for duty. Matare was allegedly prejudiced $3 785 by the accused who did not purchase the vehicle. In count two Sibanda approached Chinyakuze and told her that he can purchase a Toyota Corolla on her behalf so she gave him $1 511 as deposit through the accused's bank account.The court heard that in count three Shumba approached Sibanda and gave him $9 000 for the purchase of a Toyota Hiace from Japan.In count four Matare later approached Sibanda with the intention of purchasing a Toyota Hiace from Japan and gave him a total of $2 800, in total the complainant gave the accused $6 585 and nothing was recovered. Sibanda started giving excuses to all the three complainants saying that there had been a problem with the paperwork and gave them false promises when the six months waiting period he had promised elapsed.The accused had been attending all the trial sections only until last week when he decided to run away.
News / Local

by Staff Reporter

Local cloth designing companies in Gweru have said that they lost business worth $200 000 when the Midlands State University (MSU) contracted outside players to make graduation gowns and caps for students who graduated last month.The University had 4 700 students capped by President Mugabe and these bought gowns and caps at an average price of $45 from three companies, all said to be based outside Gweru.The University however, said material supplied by local companies was so poor that last year it affected the graduation of some foreign students. The local suppliers were also failing to meet demand, said the University.Some clothes designers who popped in at The Mirror offices insisted that the University must strive to promote local industry by preferring local business people.The University allowed its students to procure garments from just three companies; Mutare Garments, Budget investments and a third one whose name The Mirror could not establish. No student was allowed at the graduation ceremony without producing a receipt that showed that they had bought their gowns from any of the three companies."We are not happy, we think it's not fair for companies out of Gweru to come here and take over some of the businesses we should be given as local companies," said one of the designers.MSU Public Relations Officer Mavis Mawere however, confirmed the issue and said that the institution had become increasingly worried by the quality of some of the gowns that students brought to the graduation."Yes we allowed students to buy from three clothing companies; Mutare Garments, Budget investments and the third one which I can't remember."On the last graduation, we allowed students to buy gowns from anyway and it was a big disaster because some of the quality that we saw was far below our standards," said Mawere.MSU Registrar Erasmus Mupfiga who also spoke to The Mirror said it is MSU policy to work with local companies but the reason why they stopped that this year was because of the substandard material supplied."It's our policy that charity begins at home. Our first preferences is always the local company but this time we decided to take from outside because they fall short on standards.For years we have been hiring local companies but for instance last year some of our foreign student nearly failed to graduate because the supplier failed to meet the demand and the students ended up graduating in poor quality gowns so this year we decided to put pressure on these local suppliers and this was the only way to do it," said Mupfiga.He also encouraged all the local clothing companies who want to supply gowns to MSU to present themselves to the University so that they can be considered.
Opinion / Columnist

Zimbabwe Election Commission (Zec)

State Companies Should Be Privatized

Anti Corruption Commission (Acc)

Judiciary Service Commission Versus Chief Justice Saga



Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes in his personal opinion as the Director of Mentorship Institute of National Development and Sustainability. MINDS is a civic society organization responsible for policy research, gender and development studies, public finance, sustainable development through Agriculture and rural development. He is also a consultant in Development and Capacity Development and Institutional Building. He can be contacted at greatorminds@gmail.com

There have been so much outcry over many establishments in each and every institution but the truth of the matter is it's not about the one who governs, ministers, MP, local government or anyone else but the system itself. In every democratic society people should not be rulers but leading from the front. People are crying for change, but the truth of the matter is if we bring in someone new with the current system in place we are likely to face a worse situation. The problem is not people in charge but the system itself. People need to work on the system so that Zimbabwe is given its democratic space. We have a big problem because in every corner the system is intact, you go to the economy it's the same, you go to state institutions it's the same, you go to state companies, parastatals and all other government related matters it's the same thing. The system needs an overhaul.This is an institution that is supposed to be impartial and it's supposed to be independent. Zimbabwe has dealt itself a big blow on the international arena by conducting elections which bring disputable results. Since 1999 ZEC has not done a good job in fact the whole system needs to be disbanded before 2018 elections. Rita Makarau and the whole ZEC team must be allowed into retirement. Claims by Makarau that they are people who have contracts with ZEC is not an issue. You cannot give an excuse by providing fake election results by claiming that those people have contracts with ZEC. Zimbabweans demands free and fair elections and that's all. This is a condition ZEC must be disbanded with immediate effect citing irregularities in previous elections. We cannot have the same people who ran disputable polls in the previous years to preside over an important institution like ZEC. Government is not owned by Zanu Pf but by the people of Zimbabwe, therefore in the interest of the nation it's wise for Makarau and team to resign with immediate effect and pave way for a new system which should be interviewed in public.We have several state companies which need to be privatized since they are making loses regularly. The state is funding these state companies without any profit or benefit to the economy. Most of these state companies have collapsed due to political interference. We heard several companies which used to provide good service to the nation but because of political pressures we are this situation. For example we have National Railways of Zimbabwe has literally collapsed. State institutions are occupied by party cadres and girlfriends and this has a negative impact on our economy. We have GMB saga which the late Kangai was involved up to now it has never recovered. We have POTRAZ Supa Mandiwanzira is busy staffing it with his friends and close associates and this will result in these institutions providing shallow services and poor results. Most of these managers have never been to school yet we have good and young vibrant people in the market who can deliver good and excellent results for the nation.According to the new charter that was signed by Mugabe in 2013 it clearly states that there must be commissions in place which monitor and provides regular services to the nation such as ZAAC, ZEC, MEDIA COMMISSION, JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION, but honestly because of political interference it has been very difficult for these commissions to carry out their mandate. The anti-corruption commission has never carried out its duty independently, not even a single day because of political interference. Most of these commissioners who sit in this body they have criminal records and we wonder what our opposition was doing during the setting up of these commissions. When Jonathan Moyo's saga took a new twist its them the commissioners who were facing arrests. We need an independent commission which must deliver the best results for Zimbabweans. This body is funded by tax payer's money and citizenry have a right to question the legitimacy of the commission and it's our obligation to hold them accountable. This commission must be disbanded and parliament must play an over sight role by setting up a new commission.Proposed amendments by Emmerson Mnangagwa on the issue of the chief justice's role is a threat to our democratic freedom which Zimbabweans are enjoying. The constitution is very clear it will be amended either by a referendum or after 15 years, as it they is no need for amendments. If Mnangagwa has a candidate of his own choice he is backing he must seek the mandate from the people. Such clauses should be amended through a referendum, its quiet clear in the new charter that the very clause cannot be amended by parliament but rather by a referendum. Treasury has to mobilize resources for a referendum and people have a say on that one. One individual cannot just wake up and say the constitution needs to be amended it has to be done through a referendum. These interviews should be done in public without any political interference. In fact the issue of the chief justice is quiet a toxic issue because it evolves politics given the context in the post Mugabe era, the chief justice plays a big role supposedly the issues spills in courts, the chief justice plays a big role to shield someone of his own choice.
General Mills, Inc. manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates in five segments: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; Asia & Latin America; and Pet. It offers ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream, nutrition bars, wellness beverages, and savory and grain snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. It also supplies branded and unbranded food products to the North American foodservice and commercial baking industries; and manufactures and markets pet food products, including dog and cat food. The company markets its products under the Annie's, Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Blue Buffalo, Blue Basics, Blue Freedom, Bugles, Cascadian Farm, Cheerios, Chex, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Cookie Crisp, EPIC, Fiber One, Food Should Taste Good, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, Gardetto's, Go-Gurt, Gold Medal, Golden Grahams, Haagen-Dazs, Helpers, Jus-Rol, Kitano, Kix, Larabar, Latina, Liberte, Lucky Charms, Muir Glen, Nature Valley, Oatmeal Crisp, Old El Paso, Oui, Pillsbury, Progresso, Raisin Nut Bran, Total, Totino's, Trix, Wanchai Ferry, Wheaties, Wilderness, Yoki, and Yoplait trademarks. It sells its products directly, as well as through broker and distribution arrangements to grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, e-commerce retailers, commercial and noncommercial foodservice distributors and operators, restaurants, convenience stores, and pet specialty stores, as well as drug, dollar, and discount chains. The company operates 466 leased and 392 franchise ice cream parlors. General Mills, Inc. was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work.

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..Pressure Points..18 December '16..President-Elect Trumps choice of David M. Friedman as his ambassador to Israel has occasioned both appropriate news coverage, and a barrage of nasty, ignorant, politically biased comments.Most of those comments (including the poison-pen editorial in) have informed readers that Mr. Friedman is unfit for this post because he is a bankruptcy lawyer lacking diplomatic experience. I was previously unaware that being a bankruptcy lawyer was equivalent to a crime of moral turpitude, but that is in any event an odd description of Mr. Friedman. In fact he is one of the top lawyers in that field in the United States, year after year being so listed in articles about the very best American lawyers. The New York Times tells us that he has since 1994 been a partner at a firm called Kasowitz, Benson, Torres, & Friedman, but does not bother to tell readers that he is in fact the Friedman of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres, & Friedmana firm whose name was changed when he joined it, and which he has helped build to about 350 lawyers in seven cities. He is also a self-made man, the son of an Orthodox rabbi who came to the practice of law without the benefit of wealth or fancy connections.To theall that is irrelevant; presumably they would prefer a fellow at a white-shoe Wall Street firm whose father or grandfather had been a diplomat, who belonged to the right clubs, and who rather than soil himself with the actual practice of law opens doors and makes connections. But I doubt most Americans take that view, and Mr. Trump did not. Ive met Mr. Friedman once; we connected because I have a son who works in the Kasowitz firm. What do you learn from one meeting? Only that youre dealing with one smart cookie, and that his involvement with Israeli affairs for decades has given him a far better insight than the average diplomat.Of course that Mr. Friedman is a bankruptcy lawyer is not his only, nor his primary, disqualification in the eyes of the Left. You may be sure that if he were a lawyer handling traffic violations but belonged to J Street, they would all be applauding. Their real problem is that Mr. Friedmans views are anathema to them. He thinks J Street is actually an anti-Israel rather than a pro-peace organization, that settlements are not an obstacle to peace, and other terrible things. He even thinks the U.S. embassy should be moved to Jerusalem. That these views are apparently shared by the President-Elect and will be American policy is of course what really troubles theand others, and they label all these extremist views and call Mr. Friedman dangerous.It is also objected that Mr. Friedmans views are not those of all Israelis, because he is a man of the Right. Of course, theand the Left never object when the United States sends an envoy who is on the Left; thats considered being a good diplomat. In the George W. Bush years, Prime Minister Sharon complained repeatedly about the leftist leanings of the American envoy, and in other decades it was pretty obvious that Washington and the U.S. ambassador favored the Labor Party and were even working to drive out a Likud prime minister. I cannot recall complaints inI do not share all of Mr. Friedmans views, but I am delighted that the United States will soon have an envoy who can do what the Israeli ambassador in Washington can do: call home and speak to the top guy. Im very pleased that well have an ambassador who has known the country to which he is accredited for decades and wont need briefing books to learn its geography. I think its great that well have someone deeply committed to Israels security (consider this story , told by a friend of his: he decided to buy a home in Jerusalem on the day in 2002 that a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at Cafe Moment, a popular bar in the city, killing 11 Israelis.) and to its well-being (he organized a fund that built a village in the Negev for disabled Jewish and Bedouin kids).Traditional diplomat? Not at all. On the right? For sure. And, brilliant lawyer and deeply committed Zionist. He will have to forge new relationships with Israeli Arabs and Israeli leftists, figure out how to interact with the State Department and other parts of the United States Government, and learn more about Israels relations with Russia, and with Egypt and Jordan. So would any new envoy. But they would not come to the position with the knowledge and commitment or the sheer intellectual power that Friedman brings, nor would they have the total confidence of the President of the United States. The coming years could bring more tumult in Arab lands, attacks on Israel by ISIS or Hezbollah, a succession crisis in Ramallah, or even a new Israeli prime minister. Israel and the United States are very much better off when the American ambassador can do far more than deliver messages from Washington, and can instead bring to the U.S. Government and right to the Oval Office his considered analyses of the worst problems and the best solutions.
Teradyne, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and supports automatic test equipment worldwide. The company operates through Semiconductor Test, System Test, Industrial Automation, and Wireless Test segments. The Semiconductor Test segment offers products and services for wafer level and device package testing in automotive, industrial, communications, consumer, smartphones, cloud computer and electronic game, and other applications. This segment also provides FLEX test platform systems; J750 test system to address the volume semiconductor devices; Magnum platform that tests memory devices, such as flash memory and DRAM; and ETS platform for semiconductor manufacturers, and assembly and test subcontractors in the analog/mixed signal markets. It serves integrated device manufacturers that integrate the fabrication of silicon wafers into their business; fabless companies that outsource the manufacturing of silicon wafers; foundries; and semiconductor assembly and test providers. The System Test segment offers defense/aerospace test instrumentation and systems; storage test systems; and circuit-board test and inspection systems. The Industrial Automation segment provides collaborative robotic arms, autonomous mobile robots, and advanced robotic control software for manufacturing, logistics, and light industrial customers. The Wireless Test segment provides test solutions for use in the development and manufacture of wireless devices and modules, smartphones, tablets, notebooks, laptops, peripherals, and Internet-of-Things devices under the LitePoint brand name. This segment also offers IQxel products for Wi-Fi and other standards; IQxstream solution for testing GSM, EDGE, CDMA2000, TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, HSPA+, LTE, and 5G technologies; IQcell, a multi-device cellular signaling test solution; IQgig test solution; and turnkey test software for wireless chipsets. Teradyne, Inc. was incorporated in 1960 and is headquartered in North Reading, Massachusetts.
United Parcel Service, Inc. provides letter and package delivery, transportation, logistics, and related services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. The International Package segment provides guaranteed day and time-definite international shipping services in Europe, the Asia Pacific, Canada and Latin America, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, and Africa. This segment offers guaranteed time-definite express options. The company also provides international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, distribution and post-sales, and mail and consulting services in approximately 200 countries and territories. In addition, it offers truckload brokerage services; supply chain solutions to the healthcare and life sciences industry; shipping, visibility, and billing technologies; and financial and insurance services. The company operates a fleet of approximately 121,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; and owns 59,000 containers that are used to transport cargo in its aircraft. United Parcel Service, Inc. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
The following companies are subsidiares of Lloyds Banking Group: A G Finance Ltd, A.C.L. Ltd, ACL Autolease Holdings Ltd, ADF No.1 Pty Ltd, Addison Social Housing Holdings Ltd, Alex Lawrie Factors Ltd, Alex. Lawrie Receivables Financing Ltd, Amberdate Ltd, Anglo Scottish Utilities Partnership 1, Aquilus Ltd, Automobile Association Personal Finance Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services 2 Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 2) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 3) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland)) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 1 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 2 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 3 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 4 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 5 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 6 plc, BOS (USA) Fund Investments Inc., BOS (USA) Inc., BOS Edinburgh No 1 Ltd, BOS Mistral Ltd, BOS Personal Lending Ltd, BOSSAF Rail Ltd, Bank of Scotland (B G S) Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland (Stanlife) London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Branch Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Central Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Equipment Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Foundation, Bank of Scotland LNG Leasing (No 1) Ltd, Bank of Scotland London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Nominees (Unit Trusts) Ltd, Bank of Scotland P.E.P. Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Structured Asset Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Transport Finance 1 Ltd, Bank of Scotland plc, Bank of Wales Ltd, Barents Leasing Ltd, Barnwood Mortgages Ltd, Birchcrown Finance Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Financial Services Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Land Development Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Mortgage Services Ltd, Black Horse (TRF) Ltd, Black Horse Executive Mortgages Ltd, Black Horse Finance Holdings Ltd, Black Horse Finance Management Ltd, Black Horse Group Ltd, Black Horse Ltd, Black Horse Offshore Ltd, Black Horse Property Services Ltd, Boltro Nominees Ltd, British Linen Leasing (London) Ltd, British Linen Leasing Ltd, British Linen Shipping Ltd, C.T.S.B. Leasing Ltd, CBRail S.A.R.L., CF Asset Finance Ltd, CF1 Ltd, CM Venture Investments Ltd, Cancara Asset Securitisation Ltd, Capital 1945 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 12 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 3 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 5 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 9 Ltd, Capital Bank Property Investments (3) Ltd, Capital Personal Finance Ltd, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2018-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2019-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Cardnet Merchant Services Ltd, Cashfriday Ltd, Cashpoint Ltd, Caveminster Ltd, Cedar Holdings Ltd, Celsius European Lux 2 S.A.R.L., Central Mortgage Finance Ltd, Chariot Finance Ltd, Cheltenham & Gloucester plc, Cheltenham II Securities 2020 DAC, Cheltenham Securities 2017 Ltd, Chepstow Blue Holdings Ltd, Chepstow Blue plc, Chester Asset Options No.2 Ltd, Chester Asset Options No.3 Ltd, Chester Asset Receivables Dealings Issuer Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings No.2 Ltd, Chiswell Stockbrokers Ltd, Clerical Medical Finance plc, Clerical Medical Financial Services Ltd, Clerical Medical International Holdings B.V., Clerical Medical Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Clerical Medical Managed Funds Ltd, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Spanish Prop Co SL, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Prop Co SA, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Property Company S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Funding S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Investments S.A.R.L., Conquest Securities Ltd, Corbiere Asset Investments Ltd, Create Services Ltd, Credit Card Securitisation Europe Ltd, Dalkeith Corporation, Deva Financing Holdings Ltd, Deva Financing plc, Deva One Ltd, Deva Three Ltd, Deva Two Ltd, Dunstan Investments (UK) Ltd, Edgbaston RMBS 2010-1 plc, Edgbaston RMBS Holdings Ltd, Elland RMBS 2018 plc, Elland RMBS Holdings Ltd, Eurolead Services Holdings Ltd, First Retail Finance (Chester) Ltd, Fontwell Securities 2016 Ltd, Forthright Finance Ltd, France Industrial Premises Holding Company, General Leasing (No. 12) Ltd, General Reversionary and Investment Company, Gresham Nominee 1 Ltd, Gresham Nominee 2 Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 1) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 10) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 11) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 12) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 13) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 14) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 15) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 16) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 19) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 20) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 21) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 22) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 23) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 24) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 25) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 26) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 27) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 28) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 29) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 3) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 30) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 31) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 32) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 33) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 34) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 35) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 36) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 37) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 38) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 39) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 40) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 41) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 44) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 45) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 46) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 47) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 48) UK Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No 3) Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No.11) UK Ltd, HBOS Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS Final Salary Trust Ltd, HBOS Financial Services Ltd, HBOS Insurance & Investment Group Ltd, HBOS International Financial Services Holdings Ltd, HBOS Investment Fund Managers Ltd, HBOS Social Housing Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS UK Ltd, HBOS plc, HSDL Nominees Ltd, HVF Ltd, Halifax Credit Card Ltd, Halifax Financial Brokers Ltd, Halifax Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Halifax Financial Services Ltd, Halifax General Insurance Services Ltd, Halifax Group Ltd, Halifax Investment Services Ltd, Halifax Leasing (June) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (March No.2) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (September) Ltd, Halifax Life Ltd, Halifax Loans Ltd, Halifax Ltd, Halifax Mortgage Services Ltd, Halifax Nominees Ltd, Halifax Pension Nominees Ltd, Halifax Premises Ltd, Halifax Share Dealing Ltd, Halifax Vehicle Leasing (1998) Ltd, Heidi Finance Holdings (UK) Ltd, Hill Samuel Bank Ltd, Hill Samuel Finance Ltd, Hill Samuel Leasing Co. Ltd, Home Shopping Personal Finance Ltd, Horizon Capital 2000 Ltd, Housing Association Risk Transfer 2019 DAC, Housing Growth Partnership GP LLP, Housing Growth Partnership LP, Housing Growth Partnership Ltd, Housing Growth Partnership Manager Ltd, Hyundai Car Finance Ltd, IBOS Finance Ltd, ICC Enterprise Partners Ltd, ICC Equity Partners Ltd, ICC Holdings Unlimited Company, Inchcape Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Software Ltd, International Motors Finance Ltd, Kanaalstraat Funding C.V., Katrine Leasing Ltd, LB Healthcare Trustee Ltd, LB Motorent Ltd, LB Quest Ltd, LB Share Schemes Trustees Ltd, LBCF Ltd, LBG Brasil Administracao LTDA, LBG Capital Holdings Ltd, LBG Equity Investments Ltd, LBI Leasing Ltd, LDC (General Partner) Ltd, LDC (Managers) Ltd, LDC (Nominees) Ltd, LDC GP LLP, LDC I LP, LDC II LP, LDC III LP, LDC IV LP, LDC Parallel (Nominees) Ltd, LDC V LP, LDC VI LP, LDC VII LP, LDC VIII LP, LTGP Limited Partnership Incorporated, Legacy Renewal Company Ltd, Leicester Securities 2014 Ltd, Lex Autolease (CH) Ltd, Lex Autolease (VC) Ltd, Lex Autolease Carselect Ltd, Lex Autolease Ltd, Lex Vehicle Finance 2 Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing (Holdings) Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing Ltd, Lime Street (Funding) Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I Holdings Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I plc, Lloyds (Gresham) Ltd, Lloyds (Gresham) No. 1 Ltd, Lloyds (Nimrod) Specialist Finance Ltd, Lloyds America Securities Corporation1, Lloyds Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Branches) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Colonial & Foreign) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (I.D.) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (International Services) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Stock Exchange Branch) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Asset Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Scotland Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (HP) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.4) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (LM) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds LLP, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 7) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 9) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Holdings Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 11) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 20) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 5) Ltd, Lloyds Bank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Hill Samuel Holding Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank Insurance Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank International Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 6) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 8) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank MTCH Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 10) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 13) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No.16) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Offshore Pension Trust Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 1) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 2) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pensions Property (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Properties Ltd, Lloyds Bank Property Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank S.F. Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Subsidiaries Ltd, Lloyds Bank Trustee Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank plc, Lloyds Banking Group Pensions Trustees Ltd, Lloyds Capital GP Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Properties Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Property Investments Ltd, Lloyds Corporate Services (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Development Capital (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Engine Capital (No.1) U.S LLC, Lloyds Far East S.A.R.L., Lloyds General Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Group Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Hypotheken B.V., Lloyds Industrial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds International Pty Ltd, Lloyds Investment Bonds Ltd, Lloyds Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Lloyds Investment Securities No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Leasing (North Sea Transport) Ltd1, Lloyds Leasing Developments Ltd, Lloyds Nominees (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Offshore Global Services Private Ltd, Lloyds Plant Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Portfolio Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Premises Investments Ltd, Lloyds Project Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 3 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 4 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Secretaries Ltd, Lloyds Securities Inc., Lloyds TSB Pacific Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Rentals Ltd, Lloyds UDT Hiring Ltd, Lloyds UDT Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Ltd, Lloyds Your Tomorrow Trustee Ltd, Loans.co.uk Ltd, London Taxi Finance Ltd, London Uberior (L.A.S. Group) Nominees Ltd, Lotus Finance Ltd, MBNA, MBNA Direct Ltd, MBNA Europe Finance Ltd, MBNA Europe Holdings Ltd, MBNA General Foundation, MBNA Global Services Ltd, MBNA Indian Services Private Ltd, MBNA Ltd, MBNA R & L S.A.R.L., MBNA Receivables Ltd, Mainsearch Company Ltd, Maritime Leasing (No. 19) Ltd, Membership Services Finance Ltd, Mitre Street Funding S.A.R.L., Molineux RMBS 2016-1 plc, Molineux RMBS Holdings Ltd, Moor Lane Holdings Ltd, NFU Mutual Finance Ltd, NWS Trust Ltd, Nominees (Jersey) Ltd, Nordic Leasing Ltd, Ocean Leasing (July) Ltd, Oystercatcher Nominees Ltd, Oystercatcher Residential Ltd, PIPS Asset Investments Ltd, Pacific Leasing Ltd, Penarth Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Penarth Funding 1 Ltd, Penarth Funding 2 Ltd, Penarth Master Issuer plc, Penarth Receivables Trustee Ltd, Pensions Management (S.W.F.) Ltd, Peony Eastern Leasing Ltd, Peony Leasing Ltd, Peony Western Leasing Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 1) Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 2) Ltd, Permanent Holdings Ltd, Permanent Master Issuer plc, Permanent Mortgages Trustee Ltd, Permanent PECOH Holdings Ltd, Permanent PECOH Ltd, Perry Nominees Ltd, Prestonfield Investments Ltd, Proton Finance Ltd, R.F. Spencer And Company Ltd, Ranelagh Nominees Ltd, Retail Revival (Burgess Hill) Investments Ltd, SARL Coliseum, SARL Hiram, SAS Compagnie Fonciere De France, SCI Astoria Invest, SCI De LHorloge, SCI Equinoxe, SCI Rambuteau CFF, SW Funding plc, SW No.1 Ltd, SWAMF (GP) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (1) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (2) Ltd, Saint Michel Holding Company No1, Saint Michel Investment Property, Saint Witz 2 Holding Company No1, Saint Witz 2 Investment Property, Salisbury II Securities 2016 Ltd, Salisbury II-A Securities 2017 Ltd, Salisbury III Securities 2019 DAC, Salisbury Securities 2015 Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 Holdings Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 plc, Sandown Gold 2012-1 Holdings Ltd, Sandown Gold 2012-1 plc, Savban Leasing Ltd, Scotland International Finance B.V., Scottish Widows Administration Services (Nominees) Ltd, Scottish Widows Administration Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Annuities Ltd, Scottish Widows Auto Enrolment Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Europe, Scottish Widows Financial Services Holdings, Scottish Widows Group Ltd, Scottish Widows Industrial Properties Europe B.V., Scottish Widows Ltd, Scottish Widows Pension Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Property Management Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth (ACD) Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Wealth Holdings Ltd, Scottish Widows Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Funds Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Trust Managers Ltd, Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance Society, Seabreeze Leasing Ltd, Seaspirit Leasing Ltd, Share Dealing Nominees Ltd, Shogun Finance Ltd, Silentdale Ltd, St Andrews Group Ltd, St Andrews Insurance plc, St Andrews Life Assurance plc, St. Marys Court Investments, Standard Property Investment (1987) Ltd, Standard Property Investment Ltd, Sussex County Homes Ltd, Suzuki Financial Services Ltd, Swan Funding 2 Ltd, Syon Securities 2019 DAC, The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Plc, The British Linen Company Ltd, The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Mortgage Business plc, Thistle Financing Holdings Ltd, Thistle Investments (AMC) Ltd, Thistle Investments (ERM) Ltd, Thistle Leasing, Three Copthall Avenue Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (10) Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (7) Ltd, Tranquility Leasing Ltd, Trinity Financing plc, UDT Budget Leasing Ltd, UDT Sales Finance Ltd, Uberior (Moorfield) Ltd, Uberior Co-Investments Ltd, Uberior ENA Ltd, Uberior Equity Ltd, Uberior Europe Ltd, Uberior Fund Investments Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments (No.2) Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments Ltd, Uberior Investments Ltd, Uberior Nominees Ltd, Uberior Trading Ltd, Uberior Trustees Ltd, Uberior Ventures Australia Pty Ltd, Uberior Ventures Ltd, United Dominions Leasing Ltd, United Dominions Trust Ltd, Universe The CMI Global Network Fund, Upsaala Ltd, Vine Street IX LP, WCS Ltd, Ward Nominees (Abingdon) Ltd, Ward Nominees (Birmingham) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees (Bristol) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees Ltd 1, Waverley  Fund II Investor LLC, Waverley  Fund III Investor LLC, Waymark Asset Investments Ltd, West Craigs Ltd, Wetherby II Securities 2018 DAC, Wetherby III Securities 2019 DAC, Wetherby Securities 2017 Ltd, Wood Street Leasing Ltd, and Zurich Insurance Group - UK Workplace Pensions and Savings Business.

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The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. operates as a diversified financial services company in the United States. The company's Retail Banking segment offers checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, auto loans, credit cards, education loans, and personal and small business loans and lines of credit; and brokerage, insurance, and investment and cash management services. This segment serves consumer and small business customers through a network of branches, ATMs, call centers, and online and mobile banking channels. Its Corporate & Institutional Banking segment provides secured and unsecured loans, letters of credit, and equipment leases; cash and investment management services, receivables and disbursement management services, funds transfer services, international payment services, and access to online/mobile information management and reporting; foreign exchange, derivatives, fixed income, securities underwriting, loan syndications, and mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets advisory related services; and commercial loan servicing and technology solutions. It serves mid-sized and large corporations, and government and not-for-profit entities. The company's Asset Management Group segment offers investment and retirement planning, customized investment management, credit and cash management solutions, and trust management and administration services for high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals, and their families; and multi-generational family planning services for ultra high net worth individuals and their families. It also provides outsourced chief investment officer, custody, private real estate, cash and fixed income client solutions, and fiduciary retirement advisory services for institutional clients. The company has 2,591 branches and 9,502 ATMs. The company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Bancolombia S.A. provides banking products and services in Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. The company operates through nine segments: Banking Colombia, Banking Panama, Banking El Salvador, Banking Guatemala, Trust, Investment Banking, Brokerage, International Banking, and All Other. It offers checking and savings accounts, fixed term deposits, and investment products; trade financing, loans funded by domestic development banks, working capital loans, credit cards, personal and vehicle loans, payroll loans, and overdrafts; financial support to real estate developers and mortgages for individuals and companies; factoring; and financial and operating leasing services. The company also provides hedging instruments, including futures, forwards, options, and swaps; and brokerage, investment advisory, and private banking services, including selling and distributing equities, futures, foreign currencies, fixed income securities, mutual funds, and structured products. In addition, it offers cash management services; foreign currency transaction services; life, auto, commercial, and homeowner's insurance products; and online and computer banking services. Further, the company provides project and acquisition finance, debt and equity capital markets, principal investments, M&A, hedging strategies, restructurings, and structured financing; money market accounts, mutual and pension funds, private equity funds, payment and corporate trust, and custody; internet-based trading platform; inter-bank lending and repurchase agreements; managing escrow accounts, and investment and real estate funds; and transportation, securities brokerage, maintenance and remodeling, and outsourcing services. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 1,015 branches; 28,676 banking correspondents; 529 PAMs; 210 kiosks in El Salvador and 187 in Colombia; and 6,094 ATMs. Bancolombia S.A. was incorporated in 1945 and is headquartered in Medellin, Colombia.
The following companies are subsidiares of Archer-Daniels-Midland: 3 Grain Elevators, ACT Exportacao Ltda., ADGENE LABORATOIRE, ADM (Dalian) Animal Health & Nutrition Co. Ltd., ADM (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., ADM (Thailand) Ltd., ADM AGRO S.R.L., ADM Ag Holding Limited, ADM Agri Services Greece MEPE, ADM Agri-Industries Company, ADM Agricultural Commodities Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., ADM Agriculture Limited, ADM Agro Iberica S.L.U., ADM Agro Industries India Private Limited, ADM Agro Industries Kota & Akola Private Limited, ADM Agro Industries Latur & Vizag Private Limited, ADM Agroinvestimentos Ltda., ADM Alliance Nutrition of Puerto Rico LLC, ADM Americas S. de R.L., ADM Andina Peru S.R.L., ADM Animal Health & Nutrition (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Cambodia) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Xiangtan) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Zhangzhou) Co. Ltd., ADM Antwerp NV, ADM Arkady Ireland Limited, ADM Armazens Gerais Ltda., ADM Asia-Pacific Trading Pte. Ltd., ADM Australia Holdings I PTY Limited, ADM Australia Pty. Limited, ADM Bazancourt SASU, ADM Besin ve Tarim Anonim Sirketi, ADM Bio-Productos S.A. de C.V., ADM Bio-Science & Technology (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., ADM Bulgaria Trading EOOD, ADM CARIBBEAN INC., ADM Chile Comercial Limitada, ADM Clinton BioProcessing Inc., ADM Czernin S.A., ADM DO BRASIL LTDA., ADM Direct Polska Sp. z o.o., ADM Dominican Holdings Inc., ADM Dominicana S.A., ADM EMEA Corporate Services GmbH, ADM Edible Bean Specialties Inc., ADM Egypt LLC, ADM El Salvador Ltda. de C.V., ADM Europe Holdco S.L., ADM European Management Holding B.V. & Co. KG, ADM Expatriate Services Inc., ADM Export Co., ADM Food Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ADM Food Technology (Pinghu) Co. Ltd., ADM France, ADM Fuels Company, ADM German Holdings B.V., ADM Germany GmbH, ADM Grain Costa Rica S.R.L., ADM Grain River System Inc., ADM Grain de Venezuela C.A., ADM Guatemala Limitada, ADM Hamburg Aktiengesellschaft, ADM Holding (Thailand) Ltd., ADM Holdings LLC, ADM Honduras S.de R.L., ADM INGREDIENTS S.R.L., ADM Inca S.A.C., ADM Industries Centers Ltd, ADM International Holdings Inc., ADM International Sarl, ADM Investments Limited, ADM Investor Services Inc., ADM Investor Services International Limited, ADM Ireland Receivables Company Limited, ADM Israel, ADM Italia S.r.l., ADM Japan Ltd., ADM Latin America Inc., ADM Logistics Inc., ADM MANAGEMENT LTD., ADM MOROCCO S.A., ADM Mainz GMBH, ADM Malbork S.A., ADM Medsofts Sarl, ADM Mexico Inc., ADM Mexico S.A. de C.V., ADM Milling Co., ADM Milling Limited, ADM Myanmar Company Limited, ADM New Zealand Limited, ADM Nicaragua SA, ADM Nutrition Holding d.o.o. Beograd, ADM Olomouc S.R.O., ADM PORTUGAL SA, ADM Panama S. De R.L., ADM Paraguay S.R.L., ADM Participacoes Ltda., ADM Poland Sp. z o.o., ADM Protexin Inc., ADM Protexin Limited, ADM Pura Limited, ADM Razgrad EAD, ADM Receivables LLC, ADM Rice Inc., ADM Ringaskiddy Unlimited Company, ADM SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., ADM STF DMCC, ADM STF Pte. Ltd., ADM STF Switzerland Sarl, ADM Services B.V., ADM Slovakia s.r.o., ADM Specialty Ingredients (Europe) B.V., ADM Spyck GMBH, ADM Sweden AB, ADM Szamotuly Sp. z o.o., ADM Trading (UK) Limited, ADM Trading Australia Pty. Ltd., ADM Trading Company, ADM Trading Cote D'Ivoire, ADM Transportation Company, ADM Trucking Inc., ADM Unterstutzungskasse GmbH, ADM Uruguay SCA, ADM Ventures Investment Corp., ADM WILD Europe GmbH & Co. KG, ADM WILD Nauen GmbH, ADM WILD Netherlands B.V., ADM WILD SEE Kft, ADM WILD Valencia SAU, ADM Wild Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, ADM Wild UK Limited, ADM Worldwide Holdings L.P., ADMEcuador CIA. Ltda., ADMIS Holding Company Inc., ADMIS Hong Kong Limited, ADMIS SINGAPORE PTE. LIMITED, AGRANIX, AIC Seguros SRL, AMT West LLC, AOR, AT Holdings II Company, Agri Port Services Brasil Ltda., Agri Port Services Investments Ltd., Agri Port Services LLC, Agricolas Madagascar SARLU, Agrinational Insurance Company, Agriserve, Agrograin Ltd., Agrograin Ltd. Sucursal Uruguay, Alfrebro LLC, Alfred C. Toepfer International Exportacao e Importacao Ltda., Alfred C. Toepfer International Netherlands B.V., Alimenta USA, Alimentos Texo SA de CV, American River Transportation Co. LLC, Ameriseed, Anco Animal Nutrition Competence GmbH, Archer Daniels Midland (UK) Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Asia-Pacific Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Erith Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Europe B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Europoort B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Korea LLC, Archer Daniels Midland Nederland B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Singapore Pte. Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Vietnam Company Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Wild Nigeria Ltd., Archer Financial Services Inc., Archer-Daniels-Midland Philippines Inc., Arinos Unlimited, Aston Foods & Food Ingredients, BIOPOLIS S.L., BQ Railroad Company, BTECH Tecnologias Agropecuarias e Comercio Ltda., Balanceados Nova S.A. Balnova, Balto Holdco LLC, Barbados Mills Limited, Bela Vista Bio Etanol Participacoes Ltda., Belize Mills Limited, Belwood Company S.A., Benson-Quinn Commodities Inc., Bern Aqua, Bifodan Inc., Biopolis, CONTROLADORA ADM S.A. 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Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE), an S&P 500<sup></sup> urban office real estate investment trust ("REIT"), is the first, longest-tenured, and pioneering owner, operator, and developer uniquely focused on collaborative life science, technology, and agtech campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, with a total market capitalization of $31.9 billion as of December 31, 2020, and an asset base in North America of 49.7 million square feet ("SF"). The asset base in North America includes 31.9 million RSF of operating properties and 3.3 million RSF of Class A properties undergoing construction, 7.1 million RSF of near-term and intermediate-term development and redevelopment projects, and 7.4 million SF of future development projects. Founded in 1994, Alexandria pioneered this niche and has since established a significant market presence in key locations, including Greater Boston, San Francisco, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle. Alexandria has a longstanding and proven track record of developing Class A properties clustered in urban life science, technology, and agtech campuses that provide our innovative tenants with highly dynamic and collaborative environments that enhance their ability to successfully recruit and retain world-class talent and inspire productivity, efficiency, creativity, and success. Alexandria also provides strategic capital to transformative life science, technology, and agtech companies through our venture capital platform. We believe our unique business model and diligent underwriting ensure a high-quality and diverse tenant base that results in higher occupancy levels, longer lease terms, higher rental income, higher returns, and greater long-term asset value.
On Monday, the U.S. Electoral College will official pick Republican President-elect Donald Trump as the next U.S. president in their official vote that normally is very routine but will take place amidst the Russian hacking allegations that say the Russia influenced the popular vote.

It is expected that that at meetings in each state on Monday as well as in the District of Columbia, the 538 electors in the institution will cast their official ballots for the next president and vice president.

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The opinion is it would be highly unlikely voters would change the November 8 election outcome which gave the presidency to Trump following his winning the majority of votes in the Electoral College. The overall popular vote was won by Hillary Clinton.

However, the conclusion by intelligence agencies in the U.S. that Russia had hacked emails of the Democratic National Committee attempting to sway the November election in favor of Trump had prompted most Democrats to plead with electors not to cast their vote as directed by the popular ballot of their state.

The emails that were leaked disclosed details of paid speeches by Clinton to members of Wall Street, infighting within the party and criticism over the use by Clinton of a private email server she used during her time as the secretary of state under President Obama.

Those disclosures led to media coverage that was embarrassing and prompted some officials in the party to step down.

Trump along with his team dismissed the claims by intelligence of interference by Russia, accusing the Democrats and supporters of attempting to undermine the legitimacy of his victory in November.

Officials in Russia denied they interfered with the presidential election.

John Podesta the campaign chairman for Clinton said on Sunday that the question remained open whether the campaign of Trump colluded with the Russians about those emails, an allegation that the incoming Trump chief of staff at the White House Reince Priebus has vehemently denied.

A group of bipartisan U.S. senators has called for there to be assembled a special committee that would probe the possible cyber attacks of Russia as well as other nations.

The number of electors of the Electoral College is equal to the number of senators and representative each state has in Congress with each state receiving a proportional share depending upon its population.
A pit bull whose scheduled execution led to protests over the weekend has been temporarily spared by a judges order.

The attorney for Audrey Wells and Toni Stacy, the owners of Niko, said a judge has stalled the planned execution of the 5-year-old Staffordshire pit bull terrier until at least Jan. 18, pending the filing of an appeal in his case.

For two years, Niko has been in the care of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA after he was declared vicious in Albemarle County General District Court, a determination that was upheld at the circuit court level. He was taken into custody after an Albemarle woman, then a neighbor of Wells and Stacy, claimed that Niko had gotten loose in her yard and killed her cat.

While Wells and Stacy, who now live in Greene County, assert there were no eyewitnesses to the cats death, Stacy was found guilty in July 2015 in Albemarle Circuit Court of being in control of a dangerous or vicious dog. The judge ordered her to pay $4,100 in restitution and for Niko to be euthanized.

On Dec. 8, the execution was scheduled for this past Sunday, prompting Stacy and Wells to file a last-minute motion to delay the euthanasia procedure. On Sunday, protesters stood on the sidewalk outside of the SPCA entrance, holding signs of support for Niko.

Wells, Stacy and animal rights activists have taken their cause to the internet. A Facebook page titled Prayers for Niko/Niko Strong has amassed more than 4,000 followers, and an animal rescue group in Buffalo, New York, has offered to take Niko into its care.

The SPCA said in a statement two days earlier that while it has provided proper care for Niko during his stay, it had no say in his adjudication and must follow through on court orders.

While the motion of Nikos owners was denied, a county judge did postpone the execution until at least Jan. 18, by which time Wells and Stacy would have to appeal the denial if they want to keep Nikos case in court.
A senior living community coming to the Charlottesville area in 2018 will provide independent and assisted living options for its residents  and scores of jobs for local workers.

The Blake at Charlottesville is set to start construction early next year, which will be done by Quality Senior Living and Blake Management Group, according to a news release.

The facility also will offer programs and specialized care for those with Alzheimers disease or dementia.

Blake Management Group has several facilities in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. The local facility will be off West Rio Road in Albemarle County.

Glen Barclay, chief operating officer of Blake Management Group, said the facility will be able to accommodate 110 to 115 residents.

Barclay said they decided to come to Charlottesville for a number of reasons, including the cultural and learning opportunities the area has, being close to a university, as well as other activities their residents can enjoy.

The destination was right, the market was right and we thought that the older population in Charlottesville deserved the product that were going to bring, he said.

Barclay said this area is one of the top destinations in the nation for retirees to live. In 2015, livability.com named Charlottesville one of the top places in the United States to retire.

One of the things that we say often is that we take care of the details so that our residents can enjoy the things that they love to do, he said.

Barclay said the intention of The Blake at Charlottesville is to provide a space for seniors who are fully independent but do want an easier lifestyle. He said it will have all the services in place and available that any of its residents  those who are independent and those who need help throughout the day  would need.

So its not just for older adults who need services, but its for older adults that may want some help with their housekeeping, they dont want to deal with the maintenance and the yard work anymore, they like the experience or the lifestyle of having full-time activities available to them and transportation, he said.

The Blake at Charlottesville will feature one- and two-bedroom apartments with a range of amenities. Such features include dining options, concierge service, 24-hour nurse staffing and an active social program, according to the release.

The starting rate for The Blake at Charlottesville is advertised at $2,900 per month, with the median monthly rate coming out to around $3,800, Barclay said.

There are a lot of options for our prospects and our residents to choose from, so they can choose the best option as far as affordability, he said.

Marta Keane, chief executive officer of the Jefferson Area Board for Aging, said the prices seem comparable to other such facilities in the area, adding that costs will always differ based on amenities and services.

Keane said that given the large and growing population of older residents in Albemarle County, theres certainly an increased need to focus on senior housing of all types.

According to the most recent U.S. Census data, residents ages 65 and older make up 17 percent of the countys population, and Keane said its 20 percent when the ranges starting age is lowered to 60.

With a growing and aging population, we must provide more housing opportunities, particularly in the urban ring where people are closer to services and programs, Peter Thompson, executive director of the local Senior Center, said in the release.

In addition to adding to the stock of senior living options in the area, The Blake at Charlottesville will provide employment opportunities, as well. According to the release, 70 full-time and part-time jobs will be created, and Barclay said all of those positions will be filled locally.

Well be hiring from Charlottesville and the local towns around  thats 100 percent local, he said.
LOVINGSTON  Christmas cheer was in the air Sunday as Nelson County residents celebrated the coming holiday during the inaugural Yuletide Traditions event.

Santa was on hand for Christmas wishes and seasonal snapshots, and vendors selling wreaths, ornaments and other holiday memorabilia packed The Shops at Front & Main in Lovingston. Free cookies, cider and barbecue from the Pok-e-Joes food truck were available for those with an appetite.

Were trying to promote Lovingston and the community, said organizer John Bradshaw Jr.

Children mingled with Santa, sang along to live music and played with a newborn lamb during the gathering.

The reindeer are busy this time of year, Bradshaw said.

The four-hour afternoon event attracted an estimated 200 to 300 people, according to organizers.

I was amazed at how many people from the community were here without kids; they were just trying to show support, Bradshaw said. We had a steady stream [of people] until about [4 p.m.]

The Shops at Front & Main currently are undergoing renovations. Luke Ramsey, who is working for Bradshaw to fix up the buildings, said it was time to show the Lovingston community the upgrades by offering the space as a spot to celebrate Christmas.

Yuletide Traditions also offers Lovingston residents a way to celebrate Christmas together, something organizers say the community is longing for after the Nelson County Christmas Parade moved to Oak Ridge in Arrington, where it has now been held for the last two years.

We wanted to be able to share our work with the community and bring some new energy to the town, Ramsey said. We wanted to bring that Christmas theme back to the town.

Santa was cozy in a cabin built by Ramsey from salvaged parts, and parents popped in to plop down their children on his lap for a photo and a few Christmas requests.

Elijah Ramsey, 6, said his favorite part of Christmas is getting presents and that he had asked Santa for a big, giant Teddy bear and an explorers kit.

Currently, the only tenant in The Shops at Front & Main is Faith Reformed Baptist Church.

Pastor Larry White said the church had finished its Sunday morning services early in order to take part in the Yuletide Traditions celebration and serve cookies and cider to passers-by.

Like the organizers, White said he hopes the event helps to revitalize the Lovingston community and spread the Christmas spirit. He referred to it as a seedling effort, which he hopes to see grow.

The Shops at Front & Main are part of the Lovingston Historic District, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2005. The buildings under renovation date back to the 1800s.
BEIJING - China - The Chinese military have blatantly stolen designs and plans from American weapons research facilities as well as DARPA.

A recent video published by the Chinese military shows almost identical military robots that DARPA/Boston Dynamics have been developing for years.

This display by the Chinese, reveals that espionage operatives have infiltrated the U.S. defence departments who are developing these military robots.

Below is the video of Spotmini by Boston Dynamics who are contracted by DARPA.

And here is the Chinese stolen copy of the American robot.

This is obviously blatant thievery by the un-innovative Chinese, who have massively infiltrated DARPA and Boston Dynamics to steal their robotic concepts and designs.

One would have thought the Americans would be more careful with instances of espionage on these sensitive military robots, but maybe there is an open door policy where all secrets are freely given away to the Chinese to copy.

With the recent confiscation of an American underwater drone in the South China sea, this thievery by China as well as hacking must be addressed by the upcoming U.S. administration under Trump.
Cambridge university, a staunch leftist breeding area, has factions that collaborate with Russia.

Half of London is now Slavic speaking, and many Russians living in Britain today are actively working with Russian intelligence agencies to gather data.

So, how can anyone trust the pro-Russian Labour party led by the greying old dog Marxist Jeremy Corbyn?

Well, if we were in a time of war, most of the Labour party and shadow government would be arrested or kept under a very short leash, they just cannot be trusted. The LibDems are most certainly Russian collaborators. This also applies to the SNP who are very pro-Russian and are inherently communists when it comes to their political views, someone said just after leaving an establishment near Vauxhall bridge.

Our national security depends on some kind of assurance that these matters are being dealt with, that these moles are dug up from our intelligence agencies, from our institutions. The Russian influence even extends to the Evening Standard and Independent newspapers, owned by Evgeny Lebedev and his father, Alexander Lebedev who was the First Chief Directorate of the KGB with a very dodgy dossier if one were to look at it. How could this turn of affairs have been allowed to materialise in the first place?

Never underestimate the Russian threat to Britain, it is all pervasive and it seems the infiltration is bone deep. We must especially be careful with an upcoming general election in 2020, when it could be Jeremy Corbyn in Number 10. Our national security would be put at severe risk, and our defences depleted under the dangerous irresponsible deluded aspirations of the Marxist Labour party and its demented leader who condones fully the Russian atrocities committed in Aleppo, Syria.
ANKARA - Turkey - As far as art gallery exhibitions go, this one went off with a bang or five, unfortunately resulting in the demise of the Russian ambassador to Turkey.

It is very hard to know what is going on in the ground in Syria, and which factions are with which. For example, the Turks are said to be helping the Russians in cleaning up ISIS, however there are rumours that Russia is humiliating the Turks by siding with the Kurds, the YPG and PKK, and they cut off a supply route to rebels backed by Turkey in Aleppo. The official story is that Turkey is working with Russia on the ground in Syria, but there is no way to know this for sure as all news that comes from the region is contradictory.

The Western media is no help, as they have little or no information about what is going on, although the intelligence agencies obviously know a lot more than the mere layman or press.

To see how this assassination of the Russian ambassador plays out is a complete toss of the dice, either Russia can go ballistic or they can show some restraint and find the culprits.

It is interesting however that the current news releases state that the gunman held a police ID badge and was admitted to the gallery without a blink of an eye.

Could this be the next step in World War III?

Our analysis sees an escalation in proceedings, whether in Syria or Turkey. We could see more Russian troops deployed in the region, but if the paranoia increases there could be recriminations towards the Turks from Russia, although this depends wholly on the results gleaned from Russian intelligence operatives who will be investigating this incident. When they do come out with a conclusion, should they be believed any way?
RBi has asked banks to ensure that more than Rs 5,000 demonetised currency is deposited only in KYC compliant accounts.

New Delhi: In a sudden change of rules, the government on Monday said that people can now deposit more than Rs 5,000 demonetised currency only once in their bank accounts till December 30.

This is a sharp contrast to earlier statements from top Central ministers and government officials which in initial days of demonetisation was asking people not to queue up before banks as they have time until December 30 to deposit their old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency.

Moreover, a person who now wishes to deposit over `5,000 demonetised notes in his or her bank account will be grilled by bank officials, as per new direction by RBI.

The credit in such cases shall be afforded only after questioning tenderer, on record, in the presence of at least two officials of the bank, as to why this could not be deposited earlier and receiving a satisfactory explanation. The explanation should be kept on record to facilitate an audit trail at a later stage, said RBI.

It said that an appropriate flag also should be raised in central banking a system to that effect so that no more deposit are allowed. Demonetised currency less than Rs 5000 will be allowed to be credited to bank accounts in the normal course until December 30, 2016.

However, when cumulative these small deposit breach Rs 5,000 caps, then the further deposit will too be scrutinised by bank officials and no more deposits will be accepted.

Even when tenders smaller than Rs 5000 are made in an account and such tenders took together on cumulative basis exceed Rs 5000 they may be subject to the procedure to be followed in case of tenders above Rs 5000, with no more tenders being allowed thereafter until December 30, 2016, said RBI. However, such restrictions will not apply to old notes deposited under the Taxation and Investment Regime for the PMGKY, 2016.
ATMs across the country dispensed Rs 1,130 crore in 59.57 lakh transactions between November eight and December 16.

Chennai: Public sector Indian Bank has met the payment needs of customers in 2.11 crore transactions with total amount of Rs 10,986 crore till December 16 post-demonetisation, the bank said today.

Chennai-headquartered bank recorded 1.17 crore of transactions across its branches depositing Rs 29,116 crore during the period, Indian Bank Managing Director and CEO M K Jain said in a statement.

"Since the date of demonetisation was announced (November 8) till December 16, Indian Bank met the payment needs of customers in 2.11 crore transactions with total amount of Rs 10,986 crore," he said.

Through the banking correspondents, Jain said 22.69 lakh transactions were carried out in non-banking areas. On disbursal of cash through ATM networks, he said ATMs across the country dispensed Rs 1,130 crore in 59.57 lakh transactions between November eight and December 16.

Besides providing normal banking service, Jain said special counters were set up and 4,973 special camps were conducted to meet banking needs of customers including senior citizens and women.

"About 13 lakh non-customers (of the bank) exchanged Specified Bank Notes valued at Rs 456 crore," he said. On cash crunch faced by the bank, he said it is being met with as supply of cash was fast improving.
The joint project will involve Ola and NSDC identifying people from various sections of the society and skilling them to become driver entrepreneurs

New Delhi: Transportation aggregator Ola said it will invest Rs 100 crore for addition and skilling of one lakh drivers to its platform over the next three years.

Ola has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for training, skill development and empowerment of these driver partners.

The joint project will involve Ola and NSDC identifying people from various sections of the society and skilling them to become driver entrepreneurs, Ola said in a statement.

"Ola aims at investing Rs 100 crore in adding 1,00,000 drivers to its platform," it added. The MoU was signed by Ola co-founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal and Manish Kumar, MD and CEO of NSDC, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, among others in Kanpur.

"The mobility sector in the country is witnessing phenomenal growth and has the potential to empower aspiring individuals from all walks of life to become entrepreneurs.

We are extremely excited to partner with NSDC to invest in the training and skilling of drivers as this would help us in realising our objective of nurturing micro-entrepreneurship," Aggarwal said. Ola currently has over 5.5 lakh driver partners on its platform.
Trai has suggested that the cost of implementation of the scheme may be met from USOF.

New Delhi: Telecom regulator Trai on Monday suggested that a reasonable amount of free data access should be provided to rural subscribers on monthly basis.

Trai recommended that the money for the scheme could be provided from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

In order to bridge the affordability gap for the persons residing in rural areas and to support government's efforts towards cashless economy by incentivising digital means, the authority recommends that a scheme under which a reasonable amount of data say 100 MB per month may be made available to rural subscribers for free, Trai said. Trai has suggested that the cost of implementation of the scheme may be met from USOF.

Trai felt that since the objective of this proposal is primarily to bring new users within the fold of internet services, it is a fair estimation that a monthly data pack of about 100 MB per user would be reasonable to address the basic digital needs of those users, including carrying out of digital financial transactions.

After the expiry of 100 MB of data in a month on a mobile connection, the free data services will be suspended till the beginning of the following month," said Trai. It said that scheme will cost of Rs 10 per subscriber per month for 100 MB free data.
The Bank has also filed additional STRs with FIU proactively, it said.

New Delhi: Axis Bank on Monday said that it has taken unprecedented step of temporarily suspending some of the suspicious accounts and has a rigorous compliance procedure.

The bank has been hit by some of the employees involved in money laundering after demonetisation and some of its branches has been raided by income tax officials.

Axis Bank said that it has already filed Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) about the potentially suspect accounts which were later probed by investigative agencies.

We understand that the visit by the investigative agencies to our branches has been pursuant to the cash transaction report (CTRs) and STRs filed by the bank under the extant KYC & AML norms as applicable to the bank, Axis Bank said.

The bank has also filed additional STRs with FIU proactively, it said.

It also said it has rigorous compliance procedures and has also gone ahead and applied all our analytic capability to identify accounts that might have exhibited suspicious activity since demonetisation.

The bank has also taken the unprecedented step of temporarily suspending some of these accounts. We would like to assure you that Axis Bank stays committed to the success of the governments initiative of demonetisation and facilitating transition towards digitalised economy, it said.
Stils from the two films.

Mumbai: Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif's 'Jagga Jasoos' might finally be on its way to the fans, after a delay of nearly two years.

The makers released the first look of the ex lovers' film, helmed by Anurag Basu.

Ranbir's now trademark goofy look is flanked by an adorable hair puff, a la Elvis Presley.

Also intriguing are the ostriches accompanying Ranbir and Kat.

However, the film seems to be holding an uncanny resemblance to Jim Carrey's 'Ace Ventura,' a hilarious comedy about a private detective who looks for lost pets.

With both the protagonists playing detectives and their generically light tone(Jagga Jasoos is perceived to be a light-hearted mystery), the prominence given to birds in the first poster only strengthens this notion.

To add to that, Carrey himself had sported a more exaggerated version of Ranbir's hairdo in the 1994 film.

'Ace Ventura' holds a cult status, owing to Carrey's inimitable histrionics and slapstick humour.

However, only post the trailer release can one pass an accurate judgment.

Ranbir and Katrina have been extremely professional on the sets, not letting their personal altercations hamper the release of the terribly delayed Pritam musical.

Anurag, whose last release was 2012's cult 'Barfi,' has co-produced the film with Ranbir.

'Jagga Jasoos,' also starring Govinda, is scheduled for an April 07, 2017 release.
Mumbai: Actor Aamir Khan said that he would love to play the role of Hindu God Krishna. If a film is being made on the epic Mahabharata, I would like to play the role of Krishna, Aamir said amid rumours of Baahubali director S S Rajamouli planning to make a film on Mahabharata.

Aamir, 51, who is selective about his work and usually dedicates a considerable amount of time for a particular role, said that his next film will release within eight months.

"They say that your film comes after two years or three years. I thought I must address that complaint. So, within eight months, you will see my next film," he said.

Aamir, meanwhile, is gearing up for the release of Dangal, which is scheduled to release on December 23. He plays Haryanvi wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat in the Nitesh Tiwari-directed film.

Dangal has been declared tax-free in Uttar Pradesh while Aamir said that the distribution team of Disney has applied for tax exemption in all the states so that people can watch the film.

Furthermore, Aamir Khan also said that he would like to work with south Indian stars, including Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan, as he added that he was open to do a south Indian film, if the right script came his way.
Forewarned is forearmed seems to be the apt adage in Divina Thakurs case. The lissome actress who is making her foray into Mollywood through Veeram has an interesting tale to narrate about her role and how she landed here. It had nothing to do with a Malayalam film and everything to do with a Bollywood one, she explains. I had read this book Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi. It so happened that I came by information that a prominent director in Bollywood had bought the rights of the book for a film. There is a character called Sati who does a lot of kalari and swordfights in the book and I have been dreaming of playing her. I wanted to have an advantage if the book was made into a film and so, I started learning Kalaripayattu four years back. It was an immense fore-thinking on my part. Well, future had something else in store for Divina.

She bagged the role of Kuttimani in the tri-lingual Veeram after director Jayaraj saw her commercials as a model and called her for a meeting. She continues, We talked about world cinema and both of us are great admirers of Akira Kurosawa and that broke the ice. It also helped that I already knew kalari. Talking about her kalari sequences, Divina says, It was not a cakewalk but neither was it a hardship because I already knew kalari and the body postures are very important while doing kalari. For Kuttimani, she put on weight. Divina animatedly says, I play this voluptuous beauty who knows her power. I put on 8-10 kilos after hogging lots of appams and idlis. My character has a lot many shades like love, ambition, greed, lust for power and betrayal. Speaking Malayalam, especially Malabari Malayalam, was difficult for her, so she used to write her lines in Hindi and English, take the help of her friends in Mumbai and then mug it up.

The film was shot in 45 days in three languages which was quite a task. Though Divina is settled in Mumbai, she is not new to Kerala as she had done a lot of commercials and has acted alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan. She reveals, I have been to the Alappey beach and Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. I love the food, especially the appam, peas curry and the steamed bananas as well as the people of Kerala. Asked if she watches Malayalam films, she says, I am not an avid watcher of Malayalam films but I like Mohanlal, Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj and Jayaraj sirs films. But Mohanlal sir is my favourite. Divina will soon be seen in a web series in Hindi.
If you though classical music was fading away with the emergence of new genres and popular artist, youve got it all wrong as latest report seem to suggest that starts like Beyonce, Drake and Adele in the west have been overshadowed by an unexpected comeback by an artist, who managed to outsell them all.

Austrian musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the one who has managed to leave all popular artists behind this year and that too without any video, world tour or iTunes release. According to Billboard, an edition released to mark the legends 225th birth anniversary in October 2016, has sold a total of 1.25 million CDs.

Meanwhile as Mozart topped in terms of CD sales, Drakes One Dance was the best selling album in the iTunes universe and he was named the top musician by Spotify.

The Mozart 225 compilation includes 200 CDs and is sold at $500 on websites, as Universal Music Group calls it a product of years of planning and curation. The development comes as another in the series of surprise 2016 had in store for us.
London: Men who face bullying at the workplace are twice more likely to leave their jobs for a period of time, a new study has found. On the other hand, bullying in women doubles sickness absence, leads to an increased use of antidepressants and affects women's health negatively and for a long time.

Researchers from Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark showed that men are just as exposed to work or personal-related bullying as women, but are actually slightly more exposed to physical intimidation than women. In the study, seven per cent of the respondents reported that they are being subjected to bullying.

Of these, 43 per cent are men. A total of 3182 people in both public and private organisations have participated. "The million-dollar question is why men primarily react by leaving the workplace, while women react to bullying by taking prolonged sick leaves. If anything, this illustrates that men and women handle bullying differently," said Tine Mundbjerg Eriksen, an assistant professor at the Aarhus University.

It was a surprise to learn that bullying does not seem to increase men's sickness absence, according to Eriksen. "In fact, it seems that men who are bullied are more likely than women to go to work even though they're actually sick," she said. "At the same time, it appears that bullying affects men's salary level negatively, which indicates that the bullying hampers their opportunities for pay increases and promotions," Eriksen said.

"One way of bullying is that your colleagues or your boss impede your ability to do your job properly, make changes to your work or hand the fun and important tasks to others," she added. Previous studies have shown that bullying causes the same symptoms as post-traumatic stress disorder and more long-term

sickness than violence, threats and sexual harassment. The study was published in the journal of Labour Economics.
Everyone has melanin in the iris of their eye, and the amount that they have determines their eye colour. (Photo: Pixabay)

Houston: Everyone has brown eyes and there are no blue or green colour eyes in real sense, an optometrist has said. There is only one pigment for eye colour, brown. Eye colours like blue, green, hazel, etc are what people might call an optical illusion. Pigments in our body are determined by something call melanin.

"Everyone has melanin in the iris of their eye, and the amount that they have determines their eye colour," said Dr. Gary Heiting, a licensed optometrist and senior editor of the eye care website All About Vision. "There's really only (this) one type of pigment." Pigments in our body are determined by something call melanin. Irises are made up of a miniature version of melanin called melanocytes, which only come in one colour, brown, CNN reported.

Even though all eyes are technically brown, the amount of melanocytes varies from person to person. There's really only one "shade" of melanin - and it's brown!, Mr Heiting said. However, people with lighter eyes have less melanocytes allowing light to be more easily absorbed and reflected, making their eyes appear lighter in colour.

Brown-eyed people have more melanin, less light. The opposite is true for people with "blue" eyes. Those with less melanocytes can't absorb as much light, so more light is reflected back out of the eye, Mr Heiting was quoted as saying by the report.

This is called scattering - and when light is scattered, it reflects back at shorter wavelengths. On the colour spectrum, shorter light wavelengths correspond with the colour blue.
Huge crowds of people come to this Marine Drives to walk along the beautiful footpath and to view the dazzling scene of the setting sun at dusk. (Photo: AFP)

There are 16M Instagram users in India. Only 26% are female an over 90% of all Instagramers in India are younger than 35 years. Monthly active users of Instagram in India more than doubled in a year, as of September 2015. Instagram, the mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service of Facebook Inc, continues to build momentum and has grown to more than 400 million users globally from last year.

The 18-24 age group is the most active on Instagram. Interestingly, Indian Instagrammers are avid travellers; 50% of whom have taken four vacations in the past year. Bollywood actors such as Deepika Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor have the maximum following.

The Marine Drive in Mumbai has bagged the top position of most-Instagrammed locations in India in 2016, according to a Facebook's annual Year In Review report for 2016. Marine Drive is where the great Arabian sea touches the land of Mumbai. It is also known as Queens Necklace and stretches north along the coastline, forming a natural inlet. Huge crowds of people come to this place to walk along the beautiful footpath and to view the dazzling scene of the setting sun at dusk. In the northern end of Marine Drive, there lies one of the oldest seafronts which is known as 'Chowpatty Beach', it is famous for its bazaars and meals.

The next position after Marine Drives is one of the wonders of the world-Taj Mahal. This is because the structure itself is entirely approachable and one will be able to up close and personal most of the time. For many people, a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra, is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and that means lots of photos and media platforms like Instagram are used to express these photos. The best fact about Taj Mahal is that the mausoleum is a glorious structure, built of white marble, and symbolizes purity, love and pain, like no other architecture does.

Indian users not only share pictures but also follow brands on Instagram. Over 50% of Indian Instagrammers have frequently purchased products and services from the brands they follow. Other interests that the Indian users have include music, travel, food, photography, technology, fashion and sports.

Other than Marine Drive and Taj Mahal the list included landmarks like Hauz Khas Village and India Gate in New Delhi and Juhu Beach in Mu
The farmer died after consuming poison at Sadhpur village in the district after he was unable to withdraw cash from the bank. (Photo: Representational Image)

Muzaffarnagar: A 48-year-old farmer committed suicide by consuming poison at Sadhpur village in the district after he was unable to withdraw cash from the bank for his son's wedding.

Satish Kumar was rushed to hospital on Sunday in a serious condition where he was declared dead.

His family said he had been worried about not being able to get cash for the wedding despite standing in long queues.

Meanwhile, the cash crunch triggered by demonetisation has prompted a man in Miranpur town in the district to drastically downsize his daughter's wedding ceremony.

There were only four 'baraatis', besides the groom at the wedding. The guests also had to make do with a simple meal after the 'nikaah'.

Maqbool Ahmed was advised by his relatives to postpone the wedding, but went ahead with a humble ceremony.
Eighteen people had died and 130 were injured in twin blasts in February 2013 at a packed shopping area in Dilsukhnagar. (Photo: PTI)

Hyderabad: Five key operatives of Indian Mujahideen, including the banned terror outfit's co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and a Pakistani national, were today awarded death penalty by a Special NIA Court here in the February 2013 Hyderabad bomb blasts which claimed 18 lives.

Pronouncing the sentence, Judge T Srinivasa Rao described the case as the "rarest of the rare".

This is the first case where operatives of the home-grown group have been convicted in a terror case.

NIA Special Public Prosecutor K Surender said the court, after going through their evidence, found that the case is based on facts. "As per investigation...evidence that is placed on record clearly reflects that the five IM members planned and executed the bomb blasts. We sought capital punishment (for the convicts) and accordingly the court gave death penalty to them," he said.

The prosecutor described the verdict as a "victory" for NIA's investigation and the witnesses.

The court, after hearing the arguments of prosecution and defence counsels on sentencing, awarded death penalty to the convicts and also varying jail terms on different counts including, waging war against the Government of India and commission of terrorist act.

On December 13, the court had convicted the five operatives -- IM co-founder Mohd Ahmed Sidibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal, Pakistani national Zia-ur-Rahman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahaseen Akhtar alias Monu and Ajaz Shaikh -- who are at present in judicial custody and lodged in the Cherlapally Central Prison here.

The IM convicts said they will go for an appeal, according to the NIA counsel.

All relevant records will be submitted in the high court for confirmation of the death sentence, Surender said.

Eighteen people were killed and 131 injured in two deadly explosions in Dilsukhnagar, a crowded shopping area in the city, on February 21, 2013.

On November 7, the final arguments had concluded in the case before the special court.

Since IM founder Riyaz Bhatkal, the prime accused in the case, is absconding, the trial was split up against him. The court convicted Yasin Bhatkal and others under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

According to NIA, 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 (illegal channels) and other money transfer modes, Asadullah Akhtar and Waqas reached Hyderabad and joined Tahseen Akhtar, who was already hiding there, NIA had said.

Together they prepared two IEDs after procuring the other required material as well as two cycles for mounting the home-made bombs from Hyderabad, the anti-terror agency had said.

After preparation of the IEDs on February 21, 2013, the accused mounted two bombs on the bicycles. They had planted them at separate places in Dilsukhnagar which resulted in powerful explosions, it had said.

In its charge sheet, the NIA had claimed that Indian Mujahideen had hatched a conspiracy to wage a war against India and decided to carry out bomb blasts in Hyderabad to create terror in the mind of people and further the activities of the outfit.

The main feature of the conspiracy was that the accused were communicating through the Internet, chatting with each other throughout the planning, finding suitable hideouts, purchasing material for the bombs, until the final escape, it said.

They were also found to have used proxy servers to hide their identity, it said.

The role of Yasin Bhatkal in the planning, procurement of explosives and harbouring of Asadullah Akhthar after the incident, was also unearthed by the NIA, the agency said.

During investigation, a total of 440 witnesses were examined and 251 documents and 300 material objects seized. Extensive cyber forensic evidence was gathered and placed on record, according to the agency.
Golaghat: Krishak Mukti SangramSamiti leader Akhil Gogoi on Monday alleged the Centre's move to grant citizenship to Bangladeshi Hindu immigrants was a "big conspiracy" and vowed to thwart it.

"I urge all the workers, farmers and common people of Assam from today itself to protect the identity of the state. You will see that in the next three months, we will thwart any attempt to grant citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis," Gogoi told reporters just after coming out of Golaghat jail in Assam.

Assam is in a "crisis" and there is a "big conspiracy" behind granting citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshi immigrants, the RTI activist and KMSS president alleged.

"The BJP government is trying to amend the Assam Accord by amending the Citizenship Act. KMSS will raise a united fight against this move," Gogoi said.

He also declared a fight against "privatisation" of oil fields in Assam through auctions and vowed bring about a logical conclusion to the ongoing investigation on the corruption in Assam Public Service Commission.

The Gauhati High Court had granted Gogoi bail on December 16, paving the way for his immediate release.

On October 2, he was arrested from the middle of a press conference for allegedly instigating people during eviction near Kaziranga National Park, leading to death of two protesters.

Gogoi was first lodged in Nagaon jail for the case, but subsequently he was arrested in connection with various old cases, some as many as 10 years old, registered across the state.

He charged Assam Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of "hatching the conspiracy" of putting him behind bars, mainly to keep him away from the by-polls in Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat and Baithalangso Assembly constituency, besides the recently held Autonomous Council polls.

"I also urge Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to not bow in front of Delhi and Nagpur. He should be the real 'state leader' and work for the people of Assam," Gogoi said.

Talking about the demonetisation measure by the Centre, the peasant leader said it has affected the farmers severely and they are in "deep crisis".
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment observed that during 2013-15, only 43.3 per cent of the total cases registered (13,8077) were disposed of by courts. (Photo: Representational Image/PTI)

New Delhi: BJP-ruled Rajasthan has reported the highest number of cases of atrocities against SCs and STs during 2013-15, followed by poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, a new government report said, even as the Centre on Monday flagged the issue of poor conviction rates in such cases.

Rajasthan has registered 23,861 cases under the amended Prevention of Atrocities (PoA) Act, while UP and Bihar registered 23,556 and 21,061 cases respectively, according to the agenda papers for a meeting of a committee to review the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 held in New Delhi on Monday.

Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil and Gujarat reported 14,016, 9,054, 8,084, 7,565, 6,546, 5,131 and 3,969 such crimes respectively during the years.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment observed that during 2013-15, only 43.3 per cent of the total cases registered (13,8077) were disposed of by courts and 25.7 per cent of total cases disposed of by courts (59,779), ended in conviction.

"In certain states, i.e. Andhra Pradesh (6.3 per cent), Gujarat (3.1 per cent), Karnataka (3.5 per cent), Maharashtra (7.6 per cent), Odisha (4.3 per cent), Tamil Nadu (7.5 per cent), Telangana (7.5 per cent) and West Bengal (3 per cent), the conviction rate was in single digit," the agenda note read.

The committee headed by Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot sought action taken report from state governments to improve the disposal and conviction rates in such cases.

During the meeting, Gehlot pointed out that only 14 states have set up exclusive special courts for speedy trial of cases registered under the PoA Act.

However, he rued there was no information about formation of such courts by 22 states and Union Territories including Delhi, Punjab, Jharkhand, Haryana, Goa, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam etc and urged them to do the needful.

Section 14 of the amended PoA Act provides for establishing of exclusive special courts for one or more districts and where number of cases under this Act is less, specification of Court of Session as a Special Court, with powers to take direct cognisance of the offences under the PoA Act.

The Committee also wanted to know if the relief amount, that has been raised and made between Rs 85,000 to Rs 8,25,000 depending upon the nature of offence, is being given within seven days to the concerned persons as specified in the PoA Rules amended on April 14, 2016.
Kanpur: Scaling up his attack on Opposition over demonetisation issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today alleged Parliament was not allowed to function as opposition parties were trying to defend the dishonest and were running away from a debate on the issue of corruption and black money.

Addressing BJP's 'parivartan rally' here, he also said some politicians tried to "provoke" people standing in ATM queues, but their designs were not allowed to succeed as the common man was patient and understood that larger interest of the country was at stake.

Modi said at an all-party meeting convened before the Winter session of Parliament, he had suggested a debate on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies and donations to political parties.

But Parliament was not allowed to function for a month as the opposition parties were not interested in a discussion on the two issue, the Prime Minister said.

He said earlier, the opposition used to disrupt Parliament as they wanted to expose the corrupt, bring out scams. But this time, Parliament was disrupted as opposition wanted to defend the dishonest and hence were running away from debate, he alleged.

"Our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money. But their agenda is to close (disrupt) Parliament...I am puzzled," Modi said.

Singling out Congress, he said its leaders have often claimed that lat Rajiv Gandhi brought computer and mobile phone to the common man in India. "But now when I say mobile phone can be used as a bank, they say the poor do not have cell phone...they said people do not have bank accounts. Now they claim poor went to the bank, but there was no money...they are spreading lies."

Modi said Congress has always shied away from being accountable to the people and recalled a saying about then AICC Treasurer Sitaram Kesri to drive home the point. "Na khata, na bahi, jo Kesri kahe wahi sahi", he said implying that Congress never believed in accounts and ledgers when it came to its funding.

The Prime Minister told the gathering that the decision to demonetise Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes has shown that there are two sides in the country -- one consisting of a "handful" of people who have been defending those who exploit the middle class and snatch the right of the poor and the other comprising of those who are fighting corruption and the scourge of black money.

He also hailed the efforts of the Election Commission to get rid of black money from electoral system and said the BJP welcomes it.

Attacking the Akhilesh Yadav Government in Uttar Pradesh, Modi alleged that goons are troubling the people openly as they have the blessings of those in power in the state. He hoped that people of the sate will "vote for change" in the assembly polls due early next year.

The PM asked people to spread the word that government is beginning a lucky draw scheme for people using cards and e-wallets for purchases and merchants accepting digital payments.

He said only those who buy anything between Rs 50 and Rs 3000 will be eligible for the draw as it is meant to encourage the common man and not the rich.
some people in Mumbai complained that the note ban has increased their difficulties. (Photo: Representational Image)

Mumbai: Cash crunch continued to hit the people in Mumbai over 40 days after the demonetisation move, even as the queues for depositing the old scrapped notes at the banks eased.

However, the people are irked as ATMs at many places continue to run out of cash.

"There is a short queue for withdrawal and almost no queue for the deposits. You can see it here," said a senior executive of a leading private bank in Fort area.

A senior officer at Department of Post, Maharashtra and Goa Circle, said, "The numbers of depositors as well the amount of deposits across the five regions in the circle have reduced by over 80 to 85 per cent and so is the case with opening new accounts."

However, some people in the city complained that the note ban has increased their difficulties.

Sheetala Prasad, a grocery owner from suburban Kandivili, said, "These days have been the worst days for my business. We are facing a lot of problems for want of cash."

He expressed unhappiness over the Rs 50,000 withdrawal limits for current account and Rs 24,000 for savings account. Expressing his anguish over the ATMs running out of cash, Ramesh Tripathi, a trainer at a gym in South Mumbai, said, "The ATMs have virtually become defunct. The 'ATM Closed' boards are now a permanent feature."

"But, we are able to withdraw money from banks. I got Rs 10,000 from a bank in Worli today in less than 5 minutes," he added.

A real state broker from suburban Mulund, on condition of anonymity, said, "The deals in real estate sector have dropped drastically. Even the deals which were made before the demonetisation move, have got cancelled now."

He also said that the note ban is expected to cause a dip in real estate prices in the coming months.
New Delhi: Seeking to check the use of blackmoney and money laundering in politics, the Election Commission has recommended that the government amend laws to allow exemption from tax only to parties that win seats in elections and ban anonymous contributions of Rs 2,000 and above to parties.

Section 13A of the Income-Tax Act, 1961 confers tax exemption to political parties for income from house property, income by way of voluntary contributions, income from capital gains and income from other sources.

Only income under the head salaries and income from business or profession are chargeable to tax in the hands of political parties. The EC has now proposed that exemption of income tax should only be extended to parties that contest polls and win seats in Lok Sabha or Assembly polls.

It said, There could be cases where political parties could be formed merely for availing of provisions of income tax exemption if the facility, that are at the expense of the public exchequer, is provided to all parties.

Maintain donors list: EC to parties

There is also no constitutional or statutory prohibition on receipt of anonymous donations by political parties. But there is an indirect partial ban on anonymous donations through the requirement of declaration of donations under section 29C of The Representation of the People Act, 1951. But, such declarations are mandated only for contributions above Rs 20,000.

As per the proposed amendment, sent by the Commission to the government, anonymous contributions above or equal to the amount of Rs 2,000 should be prohibited.

The EC has asked the law ministry to ensure that political parties are made to register details of donors for coupons of all amounts on the basis of a SC order of 1996. Coupons are one of the ways devised by the political parties for collecting donations.
Once at Rajpath, the 'black cats' will reflect a dashing sheen to the parade as they will be dressed in their trademark black coloured overalls, balaclava headgear and special assault rifles MP-5 along with the iconic commando dagger. (Photo: Representational Image)

New Delhi: For the first time in the history of Republic Day celebrations, the 'black cat' commandos of the elite counter-terror force NSG may march down Rajpath in full armed gear on January 26 next.

Officials said a decision in this regard has been taken after a meeting between the Union Home and Defence Ministries following which the National Security Guard (NSG) headquarters in New Delhi has begun preparations to choose a contingent of about 60 commandos to showcase its prowess and commando-style fast march past.

"This would be the first time when the federal contingency force would participate in the Republic Day events by marching down Rajpath. The first clearances have been issued and hopefully the NSG contingent will march," they said.

Once at Rajpath, the 'black cats' will reflect a dashing sheen to the parade as they will be dressed in their trademark black coloured overalls, balaclava headgear and special assault rifles MP-5 along with the iconic commando dagger.

Till now, the troops of Army's Special Forces were the only commando force to take part in the Rajpath during January 26 celebrations.

The NSG contingent is expected to include commandos from both the army and paramilitary-based units of the force, stationed at their garrison in Manesar near New Delhi.

However, it is expected that like last year, some regular paramilitary contingents may not be included this time too.

While the iconic Border Security Force camel and band contingent has been given a go ahead for inclusion in the parade that straddles down from the citadel of power at

Raisina hills to the 17th century-built monument Red Fort, the contingent of border guarding Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) may miss the show.

"While the CRPF's special anti-riot unit RAF and Central Industrial Security Force contingents have been included, the inclusion of Indo-Tibetan Border Polices' squad is still uncertain and SSB may be a no show.

"Last time, the Central Armed Police Forces squad at Rajpath did not have ITBP, CISF and SSB contingents," they said.

Senior commanders of the SSB and ITBP, they said, have already made official requests to the Home Ministry to take up the matter of the inclusion of their contingents with the Defence Ministry, the nodal authority for conduct of January 26 celebrations at Rajpath.

The NSG, raised in 1984, is the federal force to undertake counter-terror and counter-hijack operations across the country and till now it was associated with the Republic

Day celebrations by way of providing its crack teams for special combat deployment around the parade route and sanitising it by deployment of snipers.
Mumbai: Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, on Monday broke down outside the court here after learning about her father Upendra Kumar Boras death on December 15.

Indrani, her husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna were produced in the court on Monday for arguments on framing of charges. After the special prosecutors Bharat Badami and Kavita Patil finished the arguments, CBIs investigating officer informed Indrani about her fathers demise in Assam.

Indrani, through her lawyer, told the special judge H S Mahajan that CBI had been insensitive. She was informed only on Monday when her father had died on Thursday, she told the court. "It's very insensitive," her lawyer said, adding that neither the CBI nor the jail officials informed her, and action should be taken against them for this lapse.

The judge said he would warn the CBI officer at the hearing on Tuesday. While coming out of the court, Indrani broke down. She was heard saying to the investigating officer, "You didnt do the right thing. You should have told me earlier.

You hadn't told me about my mothers death too (back in October 2015)." Indrani, her driver Shyam Rai (who has now turned approver in the case) and Khanna are accused of killing her daughter Sheena inside a car here in April 2012. Peter Mukerjea is accused of being a party to the conspiracy.
The operation by BSF was carried out to locate and secure cross-border tunnels used by terrorists to enter the Indian territory and defuse improvised explosive devices. (Photo: Representational Image)

Samba: A Night Vision Device reportedly used by terrorists who were killed by security forces last month along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir has been recovered by BSF during a combing operation.

The operation by BSF was carried out to locate and secure cross-border tunnels used by terrorists to enter the Indian territory and defuse improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Three terrorists had infiltrated into India via a tunnel along the IB in Chamliyal of Ramgarh sector on November 29, but were killed by Border Security Forces in an encounter.

"The area along IB where the militants had entered and encounter took place was ploughed to find any tunnel or IED or grenades in Chamliyal area," a senior BSF officer said.

The step was taken to dismantle tunnels, and defuse IEDs and grenades the militants might have left out. A Nigh Vision Device was found from site of the encounter during digging, he said.

The device reportedly belonged to the terrorists and was used by them to locate their way and the movement of security forces.

BSF had last month decided to scan the areas after they found that the terrorists had infiltrated via a 70-feet tunnel along IB in Samba district before being gunned down.

"We will scan the borderline to find if any more such tunnels are in the area," the officer said.

Inspector General of BSF, Jammu Frontier, D K Upadhayaya had confirmed on December 1 that the militants "had come out to this side via a tunnel on the intervening night of November 28 and 29 in Chamliyal area."
Namakkal/Chennai: DMK chief Karunanidhi, who is undergoing treatment in Chennai for breathing difficulty caused by throat and lung infection, is doing well, party treasurer and the nonagenarian leader's son M K Stalin said on Sunday.

"Doctors treating Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) told me that the party chief is all right and asked me not to worry," he said while addressing a function organised by the party at Namakkal for students.

Stalin said doctors told him he could leave for Namakkal to attend the function as the "DMK chief is all right and doing well."

Karunanidhi was admitted to Kauvery Hospital in Chennai on the night of December 15 due to breathing difficulty caused by lung and throat infection. He later underwent a tracheotomy which helped him breathe freely.

Meanwhile, a host of leaders including Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and Tamil Maanila Congress chief G K Vasan visited the hospital and enquired about the 92-year-old leader's health.

Actors Naser and Vishal and A M Vikramaraja of the traders federation were among others who visited the hospital.
Thrissur: Five of the seven students accused in the ragging case in government polytechnic, in which a first year student suffered kidney damage, have surrendered before police, police said on Monday.

The five senior students surrendered before the Deputy Superintendent of Police at Changanassery near here last night.

According to police, there are a total of seven accused in the case and two are still absconding.

On December 2 night, eight first-year students of the polytechnic at Nattakom in Thrissur were allegedly subjected to brutal ragging by a gang of senior students at the men's hostel of the college.

Two students--one hailing from Irinjalakkuda in Thrissur district, and another from Cheranallur in Ernakulam district-- were seriously injured in the incident. They have been admitted to hospitals in Thrissur and Ernakulam respectively.

The student from Irinjalakkuda has been hospitalised with kidney damage, police said.

He was put on dialysis fter doctors diagnosed him with kidney damage. The victim underwent dialysis three times after his admission in the hospital 11 days ago.

The accused allegedly forced the victim to consume liquor mixed with some harmful powder following six hours of brutal ragging which included hard physical exercises like push-ups.

The accused were absconding after police booked them for allegedly ragging their juniors in the hostel.

They have also been suspended from the institution.

Two cases have been registered against the accused based on two separate complaints by the two students, police said.

Meanwhile, the state human rights commission has sought a report from the education department on the alleged ragging incident.
Chennai: DMK President M Karunanidhi, who underwent tracheostomy procedure on Friday after he complained of breathing difficulty, is recovering well and is likely to be discharged from Kauvery Hospital on Wednesday.

Mr Karunanidhi, 92, was rushed to the hospital on Thursday night for optimisation of breathing due to throat and lung infection and underwent tracheostomy procedure on Friday. After the procedure, his condition has been improving, doctors at the Kauvery Hospital said.

The doctors said the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister watched news on television on Sunday evening and was following developments in the country. On Friday, he had watched Rajinikanth-starrer Baatsha movie on a laptop.

His condition is improving and he is likely to be discharged by Wednesday. All his vital parameters are fine, a doctor said.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar had visited the hospital to inquire about Karunanidhis health on Saturday.
Ahmedabad: Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the demonetisation move, Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Monday said Narendra Modi appears to be having the illusion that within a short span of time he could become as popular as some of his predecessors.

"I feel that the present Prime Minister in two-and-a- half-year of his rule wants to be like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lalbahadur Shastri, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Rajiv Gandhi, which is not possible," Patel, Political Secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, told reporters in Ahmedabad.

"To become (popular) like them many things have to be done, many sacrifices need to be made. You cannot just become like them," Patel said.

"When the decision of note bandi (demonetisation) was announced we had supported it, but we are against the way it was implemented as this government had announced the decision without any preparation. Not just that, I would say that the decision was taken without proper thinking," Patel alleged.

"This led to unprecedented trouble for our people especially, to the women," Patel said.

"The way the old money has come into banks, one has an impression that there was no black money in the system," he said.

He said the government had expected that big amount of black money will be unearthed by demonetisation, after which they would be able to give largesse to people in the next budget but now they cannot do that.

In reply to a question on promotion of cashless system, Patel said, "That is not practical in the country, where many people do not have bank accounts and mobile phones. The US also is not a completely cashless economy. To go cashless requires much preparation and they (BJP government) is doing this without any preparations".

Patel is here to oversee preparations ahead of the visit of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.
However, the Ministry also announced that there is no limit on quantity or value of specified bank notes tendered for payment and deposit under PMKGY. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday imposed stiff restrictions on depositing more than Rs 5,000 in the scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, mandating that it can be deposited only once per account till December 30, that too after explaining to bank officials the reasons for not having done that so far.

Stipulating that restrictive conditions will also apply on the cumulative deposit of such notes in a single account when it exceeds Rs 5,000, RBI said that defunct currency up to any amount can be deposited under the new black money amnesty PMGKY scheme.

"It has been decided to place certain restrictions on deposits of SBNs into bank accounts while encouraging the deposits of the same under the Taxation and Investment Regime for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2016," RBI said in a notification.

Under the PMGKY scheme, black money holders can deposit unaccounted cash in account which will be subject to 50 per cent tax and 4-year interest free lock-in for the remaining 25 per cent of the amount.

RBI said old notes in excess of Rs 5,000 into a bank account will be received for credit only once during the remaining period till December 30, 2016.

"The credit in such cases shall be afforded only after questioning tenderer, on record, in the presence of at least two officials of the bank, as to why this could not be deposited earlier and receiving a satisfactory explanation," it said.

The explanation, RBI added, should be kept on record to facilitate an audit trail at a later stage. An appropriate flag also should be raised in CBS (Core Banking Solution) to that effect so that no more tenders are allowed.

However, old notes up to Rs 5,000 received across the counter will allowed to be credited to bank accounts in the normal course until December 30, 2016.

"Even when tenders smaller than Rs 5,000 are made in an account and such tenders taken together on cumulative basis exceed Rs 5,000 they may be subject to the procedure to be followed in case of tenders above Rs 5,000, with no more tenders being allowed thereafter until December 30, 2016," RBI said.

RBI said that equivalent value of specified bank notes tendered may be credited to an account maintained by the tenderer at any bank in accordance with standard banking procedure and on production of valid proof of identity.

"The equivalent value of specified bank notes tendered may be credited to a third party account, provided specific authorisation therefor accorded by the third party is presented to the bank, following standard banking procedure and on production of valid proof of identity of the person actually tendering," RBI said.

Following the demonetisation of Rs 500/1000 notes on November 8, government had allowed people to use such notes for certain public utility bill payment as well as for payment to government hospitals and asked them to deposit the amount in bank accounts.

The central bank said that now-defunct notes in excess of Rs 5,000 shall be credited only to KYC compliant accounts and if the accounts are not KYC compliant credits may be restricted up to Rs 50,000 subject to the conditions governing the conduct of such accounts.

The equivalent value of specified bank notes tendered may be credited to an account maintained by the tenderer at any bank in accordance with standard banking procedure and on production of valid proof of Identity, RBI said.

"The equivalent value of specified bank notes tendered may be credited to a third party account, provided specific authorisation therefore accorded by the third party is presented to the bank, following standard banking procedure and on production of valid proof of identity of the person actually tendering," it added.

The above restrictions shall not apply to tenders of SBNs for the purpose of deposits under the Taxation and Investment Regime for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2016.

Meanwhile, in a notification Finance Ministry said: "There shall not be any limit on the quantity or value of the specified bank notes that are tendered for payment and deposit made under the Taxation and Investment Regime for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2016".

It further said that deposit of such notes collected between November 10-14, by the District Co-operative Central Bank shall be subject to RBI instructions.

Also such notes deposited by individual customers or by the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies complete audit check of the veracity of the Know Your Customer documents of the said individual or the members of the said Primary Agricultural Credit Societies shall be conducted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

"The linked currency chest to District Co-operative Central Banks shall give the exchange value for verified specified bank notes only and subject to usual checks relating to identification of fake Indian currency notes," the notification said.
New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to hand over a letter that would request the government to bestow the Bharat Ratna on former chief minister J Jayalalithaa and to install a bronze statue in the Parliament complex.

Panneerselvam arrived in New Delhi on Monday morning and will shortly meet the Prime Minister.

The Tamil Nadu Cabinet had on December 10 decided to recommend Jayalalithaa's name for India's highest civilian honour.

In its first meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam after Jayalalithaa's demise, the Cabinet also decided to recommend to the Centre installation of her life-size bronze statue in the Parliament complex.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will also relay the details of the damages caused by the Cyclone Vardah in the state.

Cyclone Vardah hit several parts of Tamil Nadu earlier on December 12.

The storm uprooted trees, overturned cars and did extensive damage to buildings as it tore across Chennai.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at least 10 people have died.

Prior to the storm's landing, Chennai already was pounded with heavy rain and winds.
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a charge sheet in the terror attack case against four accused persons, namely Maulana Masood Azhar of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Shahid Latif, and Kashif Jan, the main handler of the Pathankot attackers. All four are residents of Pakistan.

The four have been charged for commission of offences under sections 120B, 121, 121A, 302, 307, 364, 365, 367, 368, 397 of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, section 25, 27 of the Arms Act, the Explosive Substances Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, in the chargesheet.

The chargesheet states that the offences as noted above were also established against one Nasir Hussain, Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum (who was the main attacker).

Prosecution against these attackers was recommended to be abated since they are dead. A Red Corner Notice (RCN) has been issued by the Interpol for the arrest of Azhar, Asghar and Latif.

It was established during investigation that the terrorists entered into a criminal conspiracy to infiltrate into the territory of India and to commit terrorist attack and wage war against the Government of India, said a press release.

In pursuance of the conspiracy, the accused persons, their leaders, handlers and co-conspirators including Maulana Masood Azhar, Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif, set up training camps in Pakistan and the PoK area, for recruitment and training of terrorists, in order to carry out terror attacks on the Indian soil.

During the training, these terrorists were made to undergo extensive motivational, physical, military and tactical training regimen, to radicalise them and to prepare them for jihad.

JeM sent four terrorists, now all deceased, from across Pakistan on December 30, 2015. They illegally crossed the Indo-Pak international border through the forest area near the Simbal Border Outpost. Empty food packets manufactured in Pakistan and other food articles from Pakistan were recovered from the forest area near the Simbal Border Outpost, during investigation.

During investigation, NIA investigators collected evidence in terms of statements of the witnesses to establish that the terrorists had been trained, motivated and radicalised by Maulana Masood Azhar and Mufti Abdul Rauf. The NIA also has legal intercepts and statements of witnesses, which show that Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif had guided, equipped and launched the four terrorists, who carried out the terrorist attack at the Air Force Station.

The charge sheet also hinted of lax security at the strategic IAF base in Pathankot and said that the four terrorists -- Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom-- who were Pakistani nationals belonging to Jaish, had entered the premises at 0840 hours of January one and entrenched themselves in a drain and adjacent shed belonging to Military Engineering Services.

The terrorists were engaged in a gunfight only at 0320 hours of January two, 19 hours after they had entered the IAF base.

The charge sheet is likely to be used by India in advocating its case for imposing sanctions against Azhar, released in 1999 in exchange of IC-814 hijacked Indian Airlines Plane, under the United Nations anti-terror law, officials said.

The terror case saw an unusual move from India and Pakistan as Islamabad had sent its probe team to Pathankot.

They were handed over all the documents and allowed to question everyone except security personnel involved in foiling the attempts of the terrorists.

However, the Pakistani team, upon their return, claimed that India neither shared much of evidence nor allowed it to interrogate the security personnel involved in dealing with the attack.

7 people were martyred and 37 injured during the resulting operation against the terrorists.
Hyderabad: An advocate has filed a complaint against Tollywood star and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan. The lawyer, S. Rajender Goud, alleged that through his comments about the Supreme Court's decision to play the National Anthem in movie theatres, the actor had disrespected the nation and the SC.

The Jana Sena chief, who had announced that he will be sharing his stand on different issues through Twitter, tweeted on Saturday: An evening to spend time with family and friends to watch a movie has been made into a testing ground to prove ones patriotism.

In a series of tweets under the title patriotism, the actor-turned- politician added: Why cant political parties start their meetings with the National Anthem, why only cinemas? Why not the highest officer in the country? Those who preach and enforce laws... why dont they lead by example? So they are SIGNPOSTS??'

Mr Goud, in his complaint, said that the actor had insulted the Supreme Courts ruling on the matter.
New Delhi: After denying reports that it had shown any interest in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Russia has not only fully backed the project, but also plans to link it with its own Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) project.

According to a report, the U-turn made by Russia has alarmed Indian policymakers, who have sought to isolate Pakistan on the issue of terrorism.

CPEC, which will link Gwadar in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province to Xinjiang in China, remains a major problem for Indian foreign policy as it passes through the Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Beijing on the other hand has shown scant regard for India's concerns despite PM Narendra Modi himself having taken up the issue with Xi Jinping.

Moscow last month emphatically denied Pakistan media reports that it was looking to involve itself in CPEC, said the report. But Russia's ambassador to Pakistan has now said that Russia and Pakistan have held discussions to merge the Eurasian Economic Union project with the CPEC.

Alexey Dedov said Russia strongly supported the CPEC, as it was important for Pakistan's economy and also regional connectivity.

Strategic affairs experts say that Moscow may no longer see India as a reliable friend and partner, and is challenging Indias core interests by making common cause with its enemies in the north.

India continues to officially maintain that it doesn't see any "downward trend" in relations with Russia, said the report. But Delhi and Moscow are not seeing eye to eye on Afghanistan. While Russia wants to use the Taliban to defeat Islamic State (ISIS) in the region, India wants any engagement with Taliban to respect the internationally recognized red lines, including giving up violence and severing ties with al-Qaeda.

Earlier this year, India was disturbed by Russia's decision to hold its first ever joint military exercise with Pakistan days after Uri terror strike which left 19 Indian soldiers dead.

Then at the Brics Goa summit in October, Russia chose not to help India publicly name Pakistan-based terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in the official declaration, given Chinese resistance.

Russia continues to insist that its ties with Pakistan will not come at India's cost. However, it contends that since India moved closer to the United States over the last few years, it should not complain about Russian cooperation with Pakistan.
Thanjavur: The Thamizh Desiya Periyakkam (TDP) has appealed to people in Tamil Nadu to celebrate Kaalai Thiruvizha (bull festival) during Pongal festival in 2017, instead of Jallikattu (as it has been banned by Supreme Court) keeping with the tradition of Tamil people. A resolution to this effect was adopted at the executive committee meeting of the Periyakkam here on Sunday.

Briefing presspersons about the resolutions adopted at the meeting, P.Maniarasan, president of the Periyakkam said that Kaalai Thiruvizha is a traditional festival (way of worship) of Tamils from ancient days.Based on this tradition and following their ancestors, people can celebrate Kaalai Thiruvizha in the state.

The Periyakkam members will join with people in celebrating Kaalai Thiruvizha in Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Theni, Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts, Maniarasan said. He also said that Central government should declare Tamil Nadu as drought hit and provide relief to the state.

Tamil Nadu has not received adequate rain during Northeast monsoon. The entire state is in the grip of severe drought, he said.

The Periyakkam has demanded payment of relief of Rs 25,000 per acre for paddy, Rs 50,000 per acre for sugarcane and Rs 15,000 per acre for lands left barren this year for want of water. Each family of agriculture labourers should be paid Rs 25,000 as relief. Moreover, steps should be taken on a war footing to provide drinking water to people as well as to cattle and wild animals.
Indian army soldiers take position during a search operation after terrorists ambushed an army convoy in Pampore. (Photo: AP)

Pampore (J&K): Intelligence agencies had sent warnings of a possible terror attack on Indian security forces 24 hours before a convoy of Rashtriya Rifles was ambushed near the Kadlibal area in Pampore town on Saturday afternoon.

According to a report in DNA, the intelligence input before the Pampore attack which killed 3 soldiers, had stated that banned outfits were planning a major stand-off with the Indian armed forces on the national highway. It even had specifics that there was a strong possibility that convoys would be targeted using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

At 12.30 pm on Friday, a message based on human intelligence was dispatched, warning security forces of an impending attack.

"Credible input suggests that militants have planned IED blasts followed by firing on NHW or a major town today (Friday). Take all necessary precautions," read a part of the warning.

Read: Militants open fire on Army convoy in J&K's Pampore, 3 soldiers killed

The report adds that senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir police said that all precautions were being taken following the warning, but the terrorists ambushed at 2 pm on Saturday before the area could be secured.

The elaborate ambush plans, starting from planting IEDs, surprise attacks on convoys and a well thought-out escape route have now got security agencies thinking, said the report.

Areas in city outskirts like Pampore in south Kashmir is considered more vulnerable to such attacks, said the report. Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI), which is located in the area, had also come under attack earlier.

The area is strategic for militant activities as it is located between areas like Kakapora, Ratnipora and Khrew. Open vast fields on the other side of the river provide good escape routes.

"The presence of militants in Pulwama and in areas close to the banks of Jhelum river is the reason that the highway has witnessed so many attacks," a senior police official was quoted as saying.

This year alone, seven major attacks have occurred on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, mainly in south Kashmir.

Meanwhile, in the wake of terror attack, security of the forces during their movement on Srinagar-Jammu national highway was on Sunday reviewed at a high level meeting chaired by state police chief K Rajendra Kumar who pressed for devising foolproof mechanism.

The Director General of Police later held a meeting with Srinagar-based Corps Commander Lt Gen J S Sandhu and discussed implementation of different decisions with regard to strengthening and augmentation of security setup across Kashmir Valley.

At the meeting with officials of police, army and paramilitary forces, Kumar emphasised the need for greater coordination and cooperation among the various forces and agencies.

The meeting was held at District Police office in Awantipora in south Kashmir, some kilometres away from Pampore where terrorists struck at an army convoy yesterday, killing three soldiers.

Addressing the meeting, the Director General of Police asked the officers to devise a foolproof plan for the national highway for safe and secure movement of the people and the security forces, a police spokesman said.

Kumar asked the army to strengthen the corridor protection and asked the CRPF to finetune the Road Opening Parties (RoPs) along the highway.

While highlighting the need of tackling the militancy effectively, the DGP said surgical operations with minimum collateral damages should be conducted.

In their respective briefs, the officers gave details of the security arrangements made by their organisations for the highway, the spokesman said.

Earlier, Kashmir Zone Inspector General of Police S J M Gillani briefed the meeting about the security situation of south Kashmir and also highlighted recent operations conducted against the militants, he said.

South Kashmir has recently witnessed a number of terror attacks, including two bank robberies.

The DGP told the meeting about the measures taken by the police to investigate and solve the bank robberies.
New Delhi: National Investigation Agency (NIA) inspector general Alok Mittal on Monday asserted that the chargesheet filed against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and other JeM commanders in the Pathankot attack probe are on the basis of irrefutable, digital, technical, oral and documentary evidences that has been collected through detail scientific investigation.

"After a very detail through scientific investigation, today we have filed a charge-sheet against Jaish chief Masood Azhar name, his brother and two handlers Latif and Kashif Jan are there in the special NIA court Mohali. Chargesheet filed based on irrefutable, digital, technical, oral and documentary evidences collected," Mittal.

Adding that the accused in the charge-sheet are all Pakistani nationals, the IG further said that a letter has been written in this regard to Pakistan officials along with a supplementary copy, but there has been no response so far.

The NIA on Monday filed a chargesheet in the NIA special court against senior commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed including its Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, for their involvement in the terrorist attack at Pathankot Airbase on 2nd January, 2016.

Sanction for prosecution has been obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs, under the Section 45(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, as amended.

The chargesheet states that the offences as noted above were also established against the attackers of JeM, namely Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum, who executed the terror attack at Pathankot Airbase on January 2nd, 2016.

Prosecution against these attackers was recommended to be abated since they are dead.

A Red Corner Notice (RCN) has been issued by the Interpol for the arrest of the three accused.

It was established during investigation that the terrorists entered into a criminal conspiracy to infiltrate into the territory of India and to commit terrorist attack and wage war against the Government of India.

In pursuance of the said criminal conspiracy, the accused persons, their leaders, handlers and co-conspirators including but not limited to Maulana Masood Azhar, Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif, set up training camps in Pakistan and the PoK area, for recruitment and training of terrorists, in order to carry out terror attacks on the Indian soil.

During investigation, NIA investigators collected sufficient evidence in terms of statements of the witnesses to establish that the terrorists had been trained, motivated and radicalised by Maulana Masood Azhar and Mufti Abdul Rauf.

It has also been established through legal intercepts and statements of witnesses, that Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif had guided, equipped and launched the four terrorists, who carried out the terrorist attack at the Air Force Station, Pathankot, killing and injuring innocent persons and destroying public property.

The recoveries from the scene of crime, material and documentary evidence, forensic reports and extensive call data analysis, conclusively establish the complicity of the terrorists of JeM, in the attack at the Pathankot Airbase.
New Delhi: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Baijayant Jay Panda has said he will be returning part of his salary and daily allowance proportional to the time lost in the Lok Sabha due to disruptions as he had done in the past few years.

"I have been doing this for several years now, I think about four or five years. At the end of every session, I have been returning (part of) my salary and daily allowance in the same proportion as the time that has been lost in the Lok Sabha due to disruptions," he said, adding that it was his symbolic gesture.

He admitted that this is nothing compared to the huge amount of money that has been wasted.

"The country is losing lots of money because of the disruptions in Parliament. So, this is my symbolic gesture.

Because conscience bothers me that we are all taking all these benefits and not doing the job which we are supposed to do," he said.

Panda asserted that he never disrupted Parliament.

"I haven't disrupted Parliament even once in my last 16 years. It is a matter of my personal conscience," he said.
Lahore: Cinemas in Pakistan on Monday began screening Indian movies, over two months after film exhibitors and theatre owners suspended it amidst Indo-Pak tensions following the Uri terror attack and cross-border firing incidents.

Freaky Ali, a romantic comedy of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Arbaaz Khan and Amy Jackson, which was released in September, is the first film being screened in the Pakistani cinemas after the film exhibitors and cinema owners lifted the self-imposed suspension on Indian movies screening.

Theatre owners are currently screening those Indian movies which are already released and the decision regarding new films will be taken on Wednesday as a lot of people are involved in the process of importing a film, Centaurus marketing and call centre supervisor Anil Altaf said.

The Pakistan Film Exhibitors and Distributors Association, which includes most owners of cineplexes, multiplexes and single screen cinemas in the country, had announced to temporarily stop screening Indian films soon after tensions escalated following the Uri terror attack and cross border firing incidents in late September.

The exhibitors and cinema owners had taken the decision voluntarily after the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) announced a ban on Pakistani artistes and technicians working in India.

Film Exhibitors Association Chairman Zoraiz Lashari said the association decided to lift suspension with the consent of other exhibitors and film stakeholders.

A couple of months ago we had stopped screening of Indian movies in reaction to a ban on Pakistani artistes in India. We showed our reaction to India. Now it is time to see other ground realities as well, Lashari said.

Cinema owners across Pakistan have suffered about Rs 150 million loss and some 100 employees lost their jobs since the non-screening of Indian movies, he said.

Pakistani Film Producer Sohail Khan said allowing the Indian movies to be screened in Pakistani cinemas should not be seen in the context of patriotism.

You know business is business and a cup of tea is a cup of tea. We cannot ignore the reality which is that our movies are not doing fine and cinemas are empty, he said.
Bengaluru: Former BJP MLA of Mudigere constituency, M.P. Kumaraswamy, has been accused of assaulting his wife after she questioned him about his alleged illicit affairs. Following the incident, his wife sat on a dharna in front of his house in HSR Layout on Sunday night.

Savita, an engineer with the Irrigation Department, has alleged that that her husband assaulted her on Sunday night when she questioned him about his illicit affairs. In June this year, the couple had fought over the same issue at the Legislators House near Vidhana Soudha.

Savita alleged that she was fed up with extra-marital affairs of her husband and she questioned him about it on Sunday evening. He said it was his weakness and I have to live with it without questioning. When I again asked him about it, he assaulted me and threw me out of the house. He has locked the house and gone out.

Mr Kumaraswamy alleged that Savita is harassing him and blackmailing him over a property issue. She wants me to give her a 30-acre coffee estate. She is pestering me for this, and that is the reason she is tarnishing my image and making false allegations.

Following the incident, BJP state president and former chief minister B. S. Yeddyurappa reportedly contacted Mr Kumaraswamy and advised him to no involve in such incidents as it would dent the image of the party. However, no case was registered in connection with the Sundays incident.
Hyderabad: The special National Investigation Agency court on Monday awarded death penalty to five members of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) for their roles in planning and executing the Dilsukhnagar blasts in 2013 which killed 18 people and injured 131 others.

The court observed that this was the rarest of the rare cases and in order to ensure justice to the victims, the five terrorists should be hanged to death.

This is the first case against the IM in which a court has given the death penalty.

The court observed that the case fell in the rare category because of the way it was planned and executed, causing the death of innocent people and injuring 131 people, many of whom are still struggling to lead a normal life, said special public prosecutor K. Surender.

Yasin Bhatkal alias Mohammed Ahmed Siddibappa from Karnataka, Asadullah Akthar from Uttar Pradesh, Zia-ur-Rahman alias Waqas from Pakistan, Tahseen Akhthar from Bihar and Aizaz Shaik from Maharashtra were found guilty and convicted on December 13 by the same court. The key conspirator in the case, Riyaz Bhatkal, is still at large and is believed to be living in Pakistan.

The public prosecutor said that the NIA had produced evidence that the conspiracy was hatched in Mangalore. It also produced explosives which were seized from a house in Mangalore and the evidence of the purchase of pressure cookers and bicycles in Hyderabad that were used to set off the blast. There was also an evidence of a test run they had conducted at a hillock near Abdullapurmet.

All charges found true: Judge

The special National Investigation Agency court on Monday awarded the death penalty to five members of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) for their role in the Dilsukhnagar blasts in 2013 which killed 18 people and injured more than 100.

In his final argument before the sentence was passed, the public prosecutor pleaded that the court consider the heinous nature of the crime and granted the death punishment.

He argued that the Indian Constitution has given right to life to civilians of this country but the five convicts murdered 18 innocent people. Citing the judgment of different higher courts in previous major terror cases, the prosecutor argued that terrorists should be given the death sentence.

The judge found that all the charges slapped by the NIA against the five terrorists under the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Preve-ntion) Act (UAPA) for murder, and the charges of waging war against the country, conspiracy, attempt to murder and other criminal charges were true.
Hyderabad: NIA special public prosecutor, K. Surender explained on Monday that four of the provisions under which the five men were convicted in the Dilsukhnagar blast case has the death penalty as punishment.

Murder, Explosive Substances Act, waging war against the country and sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act attract the death penalty. Under other provisions, such as attempt to murder and destruction of public property, the five received varying sentences.

Explaining why the court called it the rarest of rare cases, Mr Surender said: The court has found that the accused planned, implemented and executed, going from one place to another, resorting to bombing in a cruel manner. The court also took into account that the accused had no remorse nor did they show any signs of repentance. It is pre-planned murder of people. The sentence is a kind of assurance to society by the judiciary."

In the opinion of senior advocate V Surender Rao: The rarest of rare cases are decided by judicial conscience. The public conscience may also be considered. Usually, when murders take place with a motive of revenge or a dispute, it may be regarded as a normal case. But here, they have killed innocent people and they waged war against the nation."

Infographic

The evidence

Circumstantial evidence came in the form of statements by those who sold bicycles and the pressure cookers in Hyderabad to the five convicted men, and witnesses. However, it was the evidence of an eye-witness who saw the accused Tahseen Akthar parking the bicycle with a box concealing the bomb that was the most telling.

The witness, who was picking up his wife from a bus-stop, saw Akthar parking his bicycle with a box on it at Dilsukhnagar. The witness thought Akhtar was an idli seller. As soon as he had picked up his wife and turned into a bylane, the bomb went off. He bravely returned to the spot and gave an interview to a TV channel and testified to the same in court.

The investigators

The team was made of: Chief Investigating Officer Sunil Immanuel who is now the Meerut DIG; Investigating officer Md Thajuddin Ahmed who is now the Falaknuma ACP; DSP Venkatadri supervised by IG Ravi Shankar Ayyannar, who is now head of AP Drug Control Administration.

A senior official said: The success of the case depended on connecting the accused to the crime scene. The remnants from the blast collected from the scene of the offence led to those who sold pressure cookers and bicycles. Even the remnants collected from the Abdullahpurmet test blast area led to key witnesses.

The stitch

The peculiarity of a stich in one of the tyres of the bicycle used to transport the bomb led us to the seller of the cycle who identified the suspects and testified. The witnesses may lie but the circumstances, articles sold and purchased will not lie, the official said.
Hyderabad: As the judge pronounced the death sentence on the five men convicted in the Dilsukhnagar bomb blast case on Monday, the convicts showed no emotion. They showed no remorse or shock even after the entire procedure was over. They only asked for a copy of the judgement, said one of the public prosecutors, Md Ismail.

No one from the families of the five was present in the special NIA court; jail sources said some of them had visited the jail two-and-a-half months ago. Curiously, their lawyers were not present either. Two of the men had lawyers paid for by the state while three others were represented by one lawyer.

On Monday morning, a team of security personnel escorted the five IM operatives to the specially set up courtroom, where the final arguments took place before the NIA judge.

As per the courts procedure, the prosecution presented their arguments and they sought capital punishment. The final arguments went on for a few hours. All this while, five of them sat there without expressing anger, fear or any other feelings, said an eyewitness.

But the court had given them a chance to speak before reading out the judgment. They said a few words as if they were ready to accept whatever pronouncement the judge would make, said Mr Ismail.

After the judge pronounced the sentence, the five men requested for a copy of the judgement since their lawyer was not there to do it for them. It seems they had already made plans to go to the High Court with an appeal. They had asked their lawyer to file a petition in the higher court, said another source.

Defence to appeal in HC

All the accused in the blasts case, including Yasin Bhatkal, submitted letters to court alleging bias, unfairness and injustice by the National Investigation Agency. They pleaded with the court to consider evidence and counter arguments filed by their defence counsel.

On Monday, the defenCe counsel said that they would be approaching the High Court against the verdict. Defence lawyer Mahadevan said he had received instructions to go in for an appeal. He said they would be filing an appeal against the NIA courts verdict in the High Court to get the judgement nullified.

In their letter, they alleged bias, unfairness and injustice by the NIA. They also said that the NIA had not followed rule of law while probing the case. Its not a surprise the verdict is the worst, said Mr Mahadevan.

During the argument, citing previous verdicts by higher courts, the defence counsel said the twin bomb blasts cases was not the rarest of the rare cases to give a death penalty. The arguments by the defence ran into 172 pages and relied on 128 Supreme court judgements. In their letter to the court, the IM operatives claimed they were confined to a small cell without proper food or fresh air.
Hyderabad: The state government has been unable to spend even half of the total Rs 1.29 lakh-crore earmarked in Budget 2016-17, though just three months are left for current financial year to end. The TS government informed the Legislative Assembly on Monday that it could spend only Rs 51,615 crore till September-end. Despite this, finance minister Etela Rajender expressed confidence that budgetary targets would be met by expediting spending in the last quarter.

Though the spending data for October and November is yet to be assessed, there are estimates that it could be around Rs 10,000 crore since the revenues have dipped since November due to demonetisation. The government had earmarked Rs 72,195 crore under Plan and Rs 61,622 crore under Non-Plan expenditure. However, only Rs 22,756 crore in Plan and Rs 28,858 crore Non-Plan expenditure was recorded. Mr Rajender said the states revenue collection has increased by 13 per cent over last year. The sales tax collection has increased by 22 per cent, transport tax by 33 per cent and stamps & registrations revenue by 45 per cent, resulting in overall increase of 13 per cent, he said.

The total receipts of the government till September-end including Central grants, loans, market borrowings and tax devolution were Rs 47,027 crore. Mr Rajender said that impact of demonetisation and GST was yet to be assessed. He added that the GST impact can be assessed only after revenue neutral rate is finalised but hoped that the Telangana would not suffer any losses as it is a consuming state unlike a few other states which are manufacturing states, which would attract huge taxes in GST regime.

However, Opposition Congress and MIM MLAs staged a walkout from the House to protest the failure of the government in releasing funds for welfare schemes despite allocation in the Budget. MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi said, The funds for fee reimbursement, scholarships for students, Kalyan Lakshmi, Shadi Mubarak schemes have been stopped. No financial assistance is provided to the unemployed under subsidy loan schemes. Students have been waiting for fee reimbursement arrears for the last two years. This year, not a single rupee has been released so far. Poor students are facing severe hardships in pursuing studies, Mr Owaisi said.
Lucknow/Kanpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the Opposition did not allow Parliament to function in its effort to defend the dishonest and run away from a debate on corruption.

Addressing a BJP rally in poll-bound UPs Kanpur, the PM also hailed and welcomed the Election Commissions efforts to rid the electoral system of black money. I also urge the Election Commission to take up the idea of having simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas, and talk to other political parties because too many elections stall the process of development and cause financial a burden, he said.

He said that some politicians had tried to provoke people standing in ATM queues, but their designs did not succeed as the common man was patient and understood that larger interest of the country was at stake.

Our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money. But their agenda is to disrupt Parliament...I am puzzled, Mr Modi said, days after the winter session ended in a washout due to the standoff over demonetisation.

Thanking people for supporting his demonetisation drive, he said most wanted honesty in the system and his government was working towards it.

Infographics

It is only a few who thrive in corrupt practices and they are the ones who criticise us. After November 8, the strength of Rs 100 has increased while that of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 has been finished, he said.

He said he had given a suggestion at an all-party meeting convened before the winter session that a debate should be held on simultaneous elections and political funding.

But Parliament was not allowed to function for a month as the Opposition parties were not interested in a discussion on the two issue, the PM said.

Congress leaders often claimed that late Rajiv Gandhi brought computers and mobile phones to the common man. But now when I say mobile phones can be used for banking, they say the poor do not have cell phones...

They first said people do not have bank accounts. Now they claim poor went to the bank, but there was no money...They are spreading lies, Modi said.
Hyderabad: CID has arrested 49 persons and seized Rs 2.87 crore till date in the scam related to EAMCET (medical) 2016 question paper-leak. Deputy Chief Minister, Kadiam Srihari told Legislative Council here on Monday that police has also identified some brokers and sub brokers in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bihar, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

However, dissatisfied with the Deputy CMs reply, Congress MLAs led by Leader of Opposition, Mohd Ali Shabbir staged a walk out amidst uproar over tardy investigation. Besides Shabbir Ali, the question was raised by M Ranga Reddy, P Sudhakar Reddy, and Mrs Akula Lalitha. Replying to a notice given by Mohd Ali Shabbir and others on the subject, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the CID has arrested 49 accused and seized Rs 2,87,60, 210 so far.

Besides, police also seized a flat worth Rs 34 lakh, a Safari SUV, one HP Intel Core Laptop and 58 mobiles. He indicated more arrests are in the offing and the case will be taken to its logical close. Investigation conducted so far established a prima facie case of leakage of TS EAMCET II 2016, Medical question paper before conduct of the examination. The matter is under investigation by CID, Telangana. The investigation is still on and we will not spare any culprit, he said.

Earlier, Mohd Ali Shabbir alleged that the investigation was mere eye wash and government was not sincere in taking action against the real culprits who put the lives of students at stake. Those arrested are small fry while the big fish is still absconding. Why is government not arresting the main culprits? Let the government hand over the case to CBI, he demanded.

Refuting the Congress leaders allegation, Kadiam Srihari said that government ordered probe immediately after reports of leak appeared in a section of media and has taken stringent action. Taking the gravity of the case into consideration, we ordered a CID probe. So far 49 accused have been arrested and the probe is on. There will be more arrests soon. EAMCET leaks also took place in 2010 and 2012. Some of the culprits involved in this scam are also involved now, he revealed.
Hyderabad: Telangana State does not have a single gallows in its prisons and thats probably because there have been no death sentences carried out here since 1978. Central prisons, in every state, have gallows.

In AP, Rajahmundry prison has a gallow. TS prisons chief V.K Singh said officials had submitted a proposal to set up gallows at the Warangal and Chanchalguda prisons but thats waiting for an approval.

We had submitted a proposal to move Warangal and Chanchalguda prisons to different buildings from the current sites. We had also requested to set up gallows. But the proposal has not been approved yet. If the jails are moved, there will be gallows in the premises, Mr Singh said.

According to officials, every other state has gallows in their central prisons. But TS is a strange case. Its not a rule but there is a norm which requires gallows in each state. Perhaps, its because the last death sentence carried out here was before 1978, a senior official said.

It may be also be because it is a new state and authorities concerned may have not paid attention to facilities until they were required to do so, the official added.

Sources said the decision to add or remove gallows rests with the states home ministry. After the formation of Telangana, its Home Ministry had never looked into such a problem until the proposal was sent by the prisons department.

If all higher courts uphold Monday's Dilsukhnagar verdict, and of the President of India approves it, it is very likely that the five terrorists will be hanged in Telangana state, officials said.
The deceased were identified as Samir Mohan Patil (25) Aksahy Sawant (25) and Suraj Patil (26), police said. (Photo: Representational Image)

Thane: Three persons were killed on Monday and three others injured, all of them seriously, when a car in which they were travelling met with an accident on the Mumbai Nashik highway in Thane in Vashind police station limits.

The mishap took place under Sahapur division in the wee hours when the victims, all hailing from Wada taluka, were on their way to attend a Kunbi Sameelan at Asangaon, PI Anil Pawar of Vashind police station told PTI.

When their car neared Khativali it rammed into a speeding truck from the rear resulting in the accident.

The deceased were identified as Samir Mohan Patil (25) Aksahy Sawant (25) and Suraj Patil (26), police said.

The injured were admitted to Sahapur Rural Hospital and later shifted to a hospital in Thane in a critical condition.
Chennai: In a suspected case of a fatal accident caused due to drunken driving by the owner of a luxury sedan, a 55-year-old cook was killed in Vadapalani on Saturday night. Police identified the deceased as Baskaran, who was sleeping on the side of Amman Koil street.

Baskaran, a resident of Parameswari colony, used to sleep on the platform due to a domestic issue. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son who is working in Australia, police said. T Nagar traffic police team had rushed to the scene and shifted the body to the Royapettah GH for post mortem. The victim was run over by the car while reversing, police said.

The driver of the car, which a high end Hyundai model, reportedly abandoned the car after the accident at around 11.45 pm on Saturday and escaped from the scene. Police tracked the registered owner of the Hyundai Sonata using the vehicle registration number (TN07AL9697) but found that the owner had sold it somebody else recently.

We have identified the driver cum new owner of the car. His address has been traced. But he has not come to his house since last night. It is not yet clear if he was under the influence of alcohol when the accident happened, police said.

Police also noted that the driver, by absconding for more than 24 hours, had managed to dodge the mandatory alcohol test. We will not be able to ascertain if he was drunk or not when the accident happened, police added. Police are confident of nabbing him by Monday.

In another accident involving a luxury sedan, a college student and his four friends suffered injuries when the car jumped over footpath before ramming a tree on the East Coast Road in Injambakkam on Saturday night.

The engine of the vehicle caught fire and a hut near the accident spot was also gutted in fire. The inmates of the car were later admitted to a private hospital, police said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh being presented a memento from DG SSB, Archana Ramasundram during the 53rd Anniversary Parade of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that the government will provide enhanced infrastructure and logistical facilities at border posts where women personnel have been deployed, under the command of various frontier guarding forces.

Singh, after taking salute at the 53rd Raising Day event of paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at its camp here, said it was essential to have "gender-friendly" facilities at these far flung areas for women as the present support system is deficient.

"There should be gender-friendly infrastructure at border posts where women are deployed....I believe there is a deficiency in this regard. This needs to be improved. I believe those border posts where women personnel are deployed, more facilities should be provided there," he said.

Apart from SSB, Border Security Force (deployed along Pakistan and Bangladesh borders) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (along Sino-India frontier) has deployed its women personnel as part of their border guarding charter.

While the forces have upgraded or created new infrastructure facilities at the border posts after women combatants were posted at these locations for the first time few years back, reports from the field units of these forces have desired that much more needs to be done in this regard.

Singh said that his ministry will give a serious thought to a pending proposal of SSB to have its own dedicated intelligence wing to aid its ground troops mandated to secure Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan.

"Despite not having a dedicated intelligence wing, you have been quite successful in your operations along the two borders you guard," Singh said.

He said it was surely "not an easy" task to secure the two borders as they are not fenced and are fully open which leads to heavy movement across the frontiers.

The Home Minister lauded the force for detecting and apprehending narcotics, arms, ammunition and other banned substances estimated at Rs 274 crore when they were being illegally transacted across the two borders this year.

Calling SSB a "multi-dimensional" force, Singh welcomed the forces' proposal to get erected at least ten FM radio towers in the border areas along Nepal.

During the event, SSB Director General Archana Ramasundaram said the force was facing vacancies in the officer cadres and has taken some of them on deputation from other sister forces.

The force, raised in 1963, has 67 operational battalions (about 67,000 personnel) at present and secures the 1,751-km Indo-Nepal border and the 699-km long Indo-Bhutan border apart from being deployed to render a variety of internal security duties in the hinterland.
The body of Nayeem found at the site of the encounter with the police. Nayeem fired several shots at the police using his gun. (Photo: DC)

Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Monday rejected demand of Opposition parties for a CBI probe into the criminal activities of slain gangster Nayeem, saying, state police can conduct effective investigation into the matter.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao informed the Assembly that an "impartial and thorough inquiry" will be conducted by police as it is an efficient force. "Telangana Police came in for praise even from top functionaries of the Union Government," he said.

Rao was speaking during a discussion on measures taken by the government against the criminal activities of Nayeem and his associates and to maintain law and order in the state.

According to a statement by Rao on the matter, Nayeem gang has committed crimes in Telangana for past two-and-half decades. "The activities of the gang which started from Bhongir (near Nalgonda) gradually spread to the entire state," said the statement.

"Several innocent people became victims of the atrocities committed by this gang. Public were forced to live in fear. During the reign of the previous governments Nayeem continued his criminal activities without any hindrance," the statement said.

After several victims approached the government, it decided to check the criminal activities of the gang with an "iron hand", the statement said.

Nayeem was killed in an exchange of fire with police on August 8. "Police recovered one AK-47 rifle, one 9 mm pistol and ammunition from the crime spot," it said.

The government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the crimes committed by the gangster, it said. "On the complaints of victims, 174 cases were registered. Police examined 741 witnesses and arrested 124 suspects owing allegiance to the gang," it said.

"During the raids conducted across the State on the hideouts of Nayeem's gang, police seized 21 firearms, 21 cars, 26 motor-cycles and cash worth over Rs 2.95 crore," the statement said.

Police also seized documents of properties registered in the names of family and friends of Nayeem -- land to the extent of 1,015 acres, house sites to the extent of 1,67,000 sq yards, and 27 residential houses, it said.

The registered value of the properties seized is estimated to be Rs 143.94 crore. So far, the involvement of Nayeem's gang is established in 27 murder cases and their involvement is suspected in another 25 murder cases, the statement said.

"Chargesheets have been filed in 2 cases and another 15 chargesheets are ready to be filed in the competent Courts. As the extent of the criminal activities of the gang is spread all over the state, the investigation is still in progress," it said.

Speaking during the debate, Congress? T Jeevan Reddy and TDPs S Venkata Veeraiah sought a CBI probe into the matter.

During the debate, the treasury benches and the Opposition members were also engaged in an exchange of words.
Chennai: Madras High Court on Monday said that religious places and places of worships were meant only for religious purposes and ordered the government to ensure that judicial forum does not exist in such locations and file a status report in four weeks.

The order was issued by the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar on a PIL by Abdul Rahman, an NRI from UK, stating that a large number of innocent Muslims were silently suffering because of the functioning of 'Makka Masjid Shariat Council' and similar forums across the state and some of them were functioning like judicial forums.

Rahman also sought a direction to stop the functioning of Makka Masjid Shariat Council of Chennai.

He submitted that he too had become a victim once as he had approached the council to reunite with his wife. But he was forced him to sign a letter of Talaq and the divorce was pronounced.

He submitted he had approached the family court now for an appropriate remedy.

Though the Supreme Court has declared such entities as illegal, the number of disputes entertained by the Shariat council had exceeded a few hundred every year, the PIL said.

He contended that such "kangaroo courts" deceptively dissolves marriages of many persons and even deals with property disputes and creates a sense of religious fear in the mind of Muslims for any disobedience.

The counsel for Rahman said the PIL had been filed to safeguard the interests of a large number of innocent Muslims who were silently suffering because of the functioning of Makka Masjid Shariat Council and similar forum across the state.

The court observed since places of worship, whether it be temple, mosque or church is used for purposes other than prayers and more specifically to create extra judicial forums, certainly the authorities are duty bound to take action against such forums.

The court directed police to take necessary action to stop these activities and file an affidavit before the court and posted the matter for further hearing to January 19, next year.
Kochi: At a time when online taxis are increasingly eating into potential revenue share, traditional autorickshaw drivers are gearing up to launch an app-based service in a bid to cope with the changing trend. The Vytilla Taxi Drivers Welfare Society, which operates the CPM-backed Kerala Taxi (online app-based taxi hiring service), has taken the lead to help traditional autorickshaw drivers take advantage of technology. We are creating an online app to hire autorickshaws. Only traditional auto drivers will be included in the group which will also have the backing of the CPM. We aim to launch app-based auto services by mid-January and it will be operated as a separate entity like Kerala Taxi. Unlike our earlier initiative, the new venture will be restricted to Kochi city, said D Manikuttan, Secretary, Vytilla Car Drivers Welfare Society.

Manikuttan pointed out that the online taxi service started by them was a success despite the fact that the charges were higher than Uber or Ola. We are charging Rs 10 from the start. Technology-based services are much more in demand now, he said. However, experts called for the intervention of the state government on the issue. Its a question of livelihood for hundreds of autorickshaw drivers post the entry of MNCs with online taxi services. Its high time the state government intervened by coming out with a policy on matters like restricting free rides or offering prices far less than the standard hiring charge, Dijo Kappan, Managing Trustee, Centre for Consumer Education, said.

The trade unions, though, said the immediate solution was a mutual understanding between the traditional auto-taxi drivers and online cabs. Were not opposed to Uber or Ola. What we want is that they should not pick up commuters from prepaid auto-taxi stands operated by the police like the one in North railway station, said Sojan Antony, vice-president of the Ernakulam District Autorickshaw Drivers Association, affiliated to the CITU. He pointed out that there were nearly 10,000 auto drivers in Kochi city alone and each one would need to make around Rs 600 to cover daily expenses.

Autos go on flash strike against cop action

The ongoing tiff between autorickshaws and online taxi operators intensified on Monday when the former went on a flashstrike after being booked by the police for intercepting online cabs at Ernakulam South and Town railway stations. The autorickshaw drivers opposed online taxis taking commuters from stations and intercepted at least three Uber taxi cabs before threatening and abusing the drivers. The cops acted swiftly and nabbed 31 autorickshaw drivers.

While 30 were held from South station, one was taken into custody from North. They were charged under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly in prosecution of common object), 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 294 (b) (use of obscene words) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, police said. Autorickshaw drivers at both stations went on a flash strike inconveniencing commuters. They also took out a protest march and stopped other autorickshaws from plying. Later representatives of various autorickshaw drivers unions held talks with senior police officials following which the arrested drivers were released on bail. The autorickshaw strike too was called off around noon.

Meanwhile, online cab operator Uber claimed that it was holding talks with railway authorities to have a specific pickup space within the station premises. Top railway officials were very supportive and stressed the need to ensure passengers right to choose their transportation mode, a senior company official said. However, autorickshaw drivers unions opposed it. Were trying to meet the district collector shortly to resolve the problem. The Kanayanoor Tahisildar will also meet soon with concerned parties, said V.V. Praveen, State committee member of CITU-affiliated Auto Taxi Federation.

Corporation fails to streamline autos

The City Corporation which attempted to streamline the autorickshaw service and stands in the city has failed to implement the proposals. Though several suggestions like limiting the number of city permits/ auto stands were discussed with the RTO authorities, nothing materialised. In Kochi, auto city permits have not been renewed in the last 21 years. But the number of autos illegally operating in the city has been increasing. There are widespread complaints on these illegal vehicle drivers causing difficulties to commuters and even creating law and order problems, said an official with the Regional Transport Office.

Even the police admit that some of the drivers of unauthorised autos are members of criminal quotation gangs or are even drug peddlers. Transport authorities had issued only 4,000 city permits till 2004 in the city. But the number of vehicles currently operating within the city limits are nearly 15,000. The lawlessness of auto drivers and parking of vehicles in unauthorised stands along narrow roads are major problems faced by city residents. Though it is the civic body which permits auto stands within the city, it is a fact that there are several illegal stands in many parts. We usually check only when a complaint is received, said Shainy Mathew, town planning committee chairperson.

Earlier, during the term of Tony Chammany, the Corporation council had requested the RTA to issue more city permits - that is 7,000 and to streamline the three-wheelers operating within the city limits. Earlier, the Transport Department mooted a separate colour for permitted autos, that proposal also remains on paper. Meanwhile, auto drivers in the city have been demanding strict action against vehicles from outside areas operating in city areas.

Eves bat for online taxis which make life simple

A majority of women in Kochi support online taxis especially Uber and said it should stay to make life simple. Ms Diya Venugopal, a resident of Edappally, said life had become much smoother since the arrival of Uber services. The drivers are polished unlike auto drivers. There are several offers which make the journeys equivalent or less than auto fares. I take an Uber even to go to the nearby Lulu Mall whereas auto drivers refuse to wait for the return trip when I go to the mall. To go to the gym at seaport-airport road everyday, I take an Uber. It is cool and comfortable and even when taking the children I prefer that. And, so far I have not had any negative experience, she said.

Radhika P R, a senior project engineer at Infopark, Kakkanad, said that online taxis were extremely useful at a time when we are fighting with auto drivers. Uber taxis come at the right time and for long trips it is more economical than taxis especially when we are late from the office. For short distances, with offers from them, the ride becomes so economical, Radhika said. However, one of the users from Thoppumpady to Kaloor, Ms Nayana V said that recently, Uber services had become costlier even without surge pricing.

I have been a strong supporter of Uber and I used to come to the office from my home for `170 but last week I was charged `290 and `366 for two trips. When I asked Uber, they said that these were elevated prices, said Ms Nayana. However, the Uber App did not explicitly show that there was surge pricing, she pointed out. An Uber official said that it being festival season, there were fewer vehicles and drivers in comparison to the high demand and hence prices had gone up, she said.
Kozhikode: The crisis in the public distribution system has affected over 1,200 charitable institutions in the state. Over 50,000 children are housed in these institutions registered in different districts, which employ nearly 8,000 staff. Though some of the institutions are financially sound, the majority depend on the public distribution system, says Mr T.K. Pareekkutty Haji, general secretary, Association of Orphanages and Charitable institutions.

Some of the institutions will be forced to reduce the quantity of food being served as they do not get liberal financial support. Many of them are banking on the public distribution system and ration shops have no rice and wheat to give them. Many complaints to the civil supplies department have not yielded any result, said Mr Pareekkutty who was former chairman of the Orphanage Control Board. The Kerala State Retail Ration Dealers Association also confirmed that the crisis had hit the orphanages.

State working president Kadampuzha Moosa said that many of the shops were not receiving wheat and there was a scarcity of wheat flour. The supply from different FCIs was also delayed, he added. Last week, one of the orphanages in Kozhikode had approached the Kerala State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights when it was denied its share of ration for not getting registered under the Orphanage Control Board. After the commission intervened, the food and civil supplies department had directed to issue ration to all the institutions that are in the process of registration.

Govt moots wage hike to end crisis

The LDF government has decided to end the stalemate in ration distribution by giving Atti coolie (labour charge towards stocking the rice sacks in the lorry) too along with the routine labour charge. This was decided at a meeting held by food and civil supplies minister P. Thilothaman with various trade unions here on Monday. The trade unions had demanded Rs 1200 as Atti coolie. Labour minister T. P. Ramakrishnan and the food minister will present the issue before Wednesday's cabinet meeting.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will approve the trade unions demand as the ration distribution has been badly hit since October, said Mr Babychan Mukkadan, All-India Ration Dealers Association general secretary. The labourers under the Food Corporation of India have been claiming Rs 1600 as Atti coolie for a load of ration rice and wheat from wholesale dealers. But ever since the National Food Security Act was implemented the civil supplies was directly acquiring the rice quota from FCI.

The labourers maintained that they will not take load without getting the Atti coolie which led to the stalemate in distributing the ration quota since October. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala has sent a letter to Governor P. Sathasivam seeking his intervention to end the stalemate in ration rice distribution.
Hyderabad: Tragedy struck the family of a TSGenco engineer, T. Kranti Kumar, 32, who drowned in the backwaters of river Krishna with his wife after she slipped while taking a selfie.

The couple had gone to Krishna river backwaters on a picnic on Sunday. The engineers wife Samyuktha was taking a selfie on the rocks when she skid and fell into deep waters. To save her, the engineer too jumped. Both of them drowned as they did not know how to swim.

Prior to joining service this year at TSGenco, Kranti Kumar worked as an assistant engineer in Ivral Limited from 2008 to 2010. Later on, he worked at Vishwa Bharati College of Engineering from 2012 to 2014 as an assistant professor.

They both were staying in Eegalapenta, Mahbubnagar as he was posted there, while his family still resides in Serilingampally, Miyapur, Vishnu Murthy said. Their bodies were found on Monday morning, said Mr Md Jahangir, Sub-Inspector of Amarabad.
Vijayawada: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan is frustrated with the Prime Ministers Office for not considering his request for appointment with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He is cut up as the BJP had used him to lure the public during elections.Mr Modi, who earlier said Pawan Kalyan was his younger brother, is now not considering his request. This has brought resentment in Pawan Kalyan.

Pawan Kalyan revealed at the Anantapur meeting held on November 10 that he sought the appointment with the Prime Minister to bring to his notice the injustice done to AP by going back on Special Category Status. However, the Prime Minister hasnt responded positively so far.

With this Pawan Kalyan has reportedly decided to challenge Mr Modi and BJP.

His plan is to work on movies till 2018 and then enter politics before the elections. Till then he had wanted to work as per public issues reported, but the denial of Special Category Status by the Union government and its aftermath changed things.

Hearing Pawan Kalyan makes me very happy. Here is a bright youngster who embodies the Telugu spirit and is committed to serving people, Mr Modi had tweeted after their first meeting in Ahmedabad.

Pawan Kalyan even attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister as a NDA ally. Following the SCS twist, he later spoke out against the NDA in his Tirupati, Kakinada and Anantapur public meetings.

The BJP is also reacting in the same way on Pawan Kalyan which is clearly seen in the war of words between Union minister Venkaiah Naidu and Pawan Kalyan.

As an extension to this even the BJP AP State in-charge Siddharth Nath Singh when asked about the relations with Jana Sena, said, When was Jana Sena in NDA? He only supported for the elections and did not join NDA after that. This showed the distance between Jana Sena and BJP.

On the other hand, Pawan Kalyan is attracted by the policies of the Left wing parties; he is said to be much inspired by Che Guevara. Jana Sena vice-president Mahinder Reddy said, Pawan Kalyan and Jana Sena work for the people and not for political benefits. The journey with the BJP is just for the good cause to support AP, and when this is not happening there is no necessity to go along with any party.

Reacting to this BJP State president Haribabu said, We dont know the reasons which bought differences in Pawan Kalyan on BJP policies and changed his opinions. BJP is the same with no changes in its policies.

Special is only special in special package: Pawan Kalyan

There is nothing special in Andhra Pradesh special package except for the word special, tweeted Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan. They (people of AP) were driven out without a capital after 10 long years of insults, he exploded.

Some 400 Andhras were shot dead in Jai Andhra movement. Besides doing nothing for them, there has been this harping on special package. Bharatiya Janata Party, which promised special status to AP in its manifesto is now backing out in the name of special package, he said.

Jana Sena president, Pawan Kalyan made no exception in attacking the BJP for treating Andhras as spineless and people of no self-respect. He accused the national party of going back on its promise of special category status to Andhra Pradesh in the election manifesto.

In a series of tweets for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday, Pawan Kalyan launched a broadside against the BJP government and pointed out that after a decade of humiliation and insult Andhras were thrown out, without a capital and with a huge revenue deficit. The actor pointed out that the promised special category status became special package which is nothing but an eye wash.

The actor-turned-politician said that the BJPs special package for Andhra Pradesh has nothing special about it apart from the word special. He warned that Andhras will never forget the loss of 400 plus-young lives lost in Jai Andhra Agitation. We swear on the lives of 400 students who were shot dead in Jai Andhra movement. But we are not going to let BJP go unanswered for going back on what was promised, he warned.
No one will hold Narendra Modi or Rajnath Singh directly responsible for a 24-year-old dalit youth, Mahesh Parmar, who gave his moustache a swashbuckling twirl, being thrashed in a Gujarat village, together with his brother and 72-year-old grandmother. Prime Ministers and home ministers are not even expected to be aware of such trivialities in remote areas. In fact, the Madras high court once ruled in the face of evidence to the contrary that the landlords accused of setting fire to a Harijan (as dalits were then called) village and burning to death over 40 men, women and children had to be innocent as people of their stature could not possibly commit such a heinous crime. They would engage others to do their dirty work for them. But example can be as compelling as instructions. Britains Brexit vote, for instance, was followed by what Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Londons Metropolitan Police commissioner, calls a horrible spike in hate crimes, including the murder of a Polish man. The attacks seemed to target East Europeans.

Similarly, the United States suffered increasing incidents of racist or anti-Semitic vandalism and violence after Donald Trumps election, many drawing directly on his rhetoric. The white supremacists out there are celebrating his victory and many are feeling their oats, Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Centre. Tracey Henley, a parish administrator, was quoted in Time magazine as saying people now feel free to say racist things that they wouldnt have said before because a racist bigot had been elected President. When Britains first Race Relations Act was passed in 1965, I asked an English community worker if the courts would be able (and willing) to handle a slew of prosecutions. Since the law outlawed discrimination on grounds of colour, race, or ethnic or national origin, any landlady who turned away an Irish tenant, any business that wouldnt hire an Indian, or any restaurant that refused to serve a Jamaican became vulnerable to prosecution.

My friend answered that by and large, the British were a law-abiding nation and respected the authority of the state. If the state forbade discrimination, people would obey irrespective of their private feelings. The surge in race crimes since Brexit confirms that assessment. The violence Londons police chief mentions reminds us that ordinary folk follow the leader. In the popular perception, the political leadership is taking Britain out of the European Union because it doesnt want to be overrun by EU citizens. No one contradicted the boast by Nigel Farage of the far-right United Kingdom Independence Party that anti-European immigration feeling triggered the vote. In consequence, the British feel that attacks on Poles, Estonians, Croatians and other EU citizens will be condoned. Its pointed out that unlike in previous race friction, no one has attacked Asian, African or Caribbean immigrants this time.

Similar factors may be at work in India too. Of course, Mr Modi or Rajnath Singh do not explicitly encourage the victimisation of dalits. But a clear message went out on December 15 when the Union home ministry reportedly blocked the Navsarjan Trusts entitlement to receive donations from abroad for its social welfare activities under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. Founded in 1989, Navsarjan is Gujarats oldest and most effective dalit rights organisation. Its right legally to receive and utilise foreign funds was renewed as recently as August 3. The home ministry now says this sanction was inadvertently granted and that Navsarjans licence is being revoked in the public interest because of its involvement in undesirable activities aimed to affect prejudicially harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic, regional groups, castes or communities.

An explanation for this action may be found in the protests that Navsarjan spearheaded in July this year when four dalit tanners were reportedly stripped naked, beaten with iron pipes and rods, tied to an SUV and paraded in the marketplace. Their crime was to skin the carcass of a dead cow in a village near Una town, also in Gujarat. Their attackers were believed to be Gau Raksha Samiti activists, members of a self-styled cow vigilante group, according to Amarinder Singh, the former Punjab chief minister. Mr Singh took Mr Modi sharply to task for his silence on the outrage. There appears to be a dangerous pattern behind the incidents of verbal and physical abuse and violence on dalits everywhere which are either ignored or encouraged at the peril of sparking off a caste war, he alleged. Given the BJPs cultural orientation, organisations like the Gau Raksha Samiti feel entitled to bask in official favour. There are also suspicions that cancelling foreign funding is a weapon of demonstrating official disapproval.

In June the government put curbs on the right of Teesta Setalvads Sabrang Trust, which has been litigating on behalf of victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots, to receive money from foreign well-wishers. Then the axe fell on Lawyers Collective, whose founder Indira Jaising represented Ms Setalvad in the case against Sabrang. Now, it is Navsarjan which has been campaigning against untouchability in Gujarat, demanding minimum wages for all agricultural labourers irrespective of caste, and celebrating Bhimrao Ambedkars work with plans for a massive statue. The reprisal because Mahesh Parmar dared to twirl his moustache in the presence of his caste superiors is a straw in the wind of a bleak and intolerant future. But Mr Modi can still redeem himself. Media reports indicate that Navsarjan has not yet received the order banning foreign funding. Mr Rajnath Singh can cancel or revoke it. That would offer some hope of reprieve for a country that seems to regress into the dark ages while state power backs social and cultural bigotry.
Much of the best journalism is unauthorised. The most valuable sources any reporter has are not supposed to speak. The best understanding of how a society works often comes from people who should really keep quiet, but dont. That, at least, is how I feel as a former editor and as a citizen. I would not expect governments to agree. Those in power  when they are not leaking themselves  like to control information and disapprove of other people who leak. They will frequently go to great lengths to try to discover the source of information. If an editor has any kind of sacred duty it is to protect his or her sources from discovery. One of my own first stand-offs with authority as an editor came in 2002 when a brewing company tried to discover who had sent documents about a potential takeover bid to the Guardian along with four other national news operations. If an editor has any kind of sacred duty it is to protect his or her sources from discovery.

Five editors unanimously decided we would not hand over any information that could identify the source. We knew if we betrayed this source, then future whistleblowers would believe they could not trust a newspaper when the going got tough. The free flow of information would dry up. The case turned nasty for the Guardian when the company, Interbrew, tried to seize its assets in order to force our hand. That particular battle lasted eight years and went all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, where we won. A very famous English judge, Lord Denning, put the case for protection well when he ruled in 1981: If [newspapers] were compelled to disclose their sources, they would soon be bereft of information which they ought to have. Their sources would dry up. Wrongdoing would not be disclosed. Charlatans could not be exposed. Unfairness would go unremedied. Misdeeds in the corridors of power, in companies or in government departments would never be known.

In national security cases, there will never be an agreement between editors and governments over how to define the public interest  or who gets to define what the public interest is. Politicians usually dont trust editors to make decisions about the public interest. But there are great dangers in allowing the government of the day to be the arbiter. Watergate is probably the best example of this. The Nixon administration did not consider it in the national interest that the Washington Post should so doggedly pursue its story about corruption at the highest levels of government. For 30 years, no one knew who Deep Throat was: it was eventually revealed to be former FBI associate director Mark Felt. Most people today would regard him as a patriot.

They would think the same about Daniel Ellsberg, now 85, who was charged under the Espionage Act for releasing the Pentagon Papers, which revealed that the public narrative about decision-making in the Vietnam War was not the whole truth. National security adviser Al Haig said it was a devastating... security breach of the greatest magnitude of anything Ive ever seen. The Nixon administration accused the New York Times of treason, damaging national security and violating the Espionage Act. The case went to the Supreme Court, where the state argued that the paper had imperilled national security by revealing signal intelligence, the significance of which could not be understood except by intelligence experts. But the NYT won. Two judges considered the First Amendment to be an absolute affirmation of free speech. Another considered that the state could only intervene in circumstances of direct, immediate, and irreparable damage to our nation or its people.

That judgement was crucial when, in 2013, the Guardian led the reporting of the documents leaked by Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor. We knew we could publish safely in America because of the protection the courts would give us. The source of the material in that case was, of course, known. But even so, I well remember debating the issue with a former NSA general counsel, Stewart Baker. He distinguished between what Snowden did (of which he obviously disapproved) with what journalists do. He unequivocally said that, once information was in the hands of journalists, it was protected material. To repeat: editors have a solemn duty not to do anything that could reveal the confidential source of material they publish. And editors who defy the attempts of states to force them to betray their sources should be applauded and defended.

By arrangement with Dawn
The Centre has decided to set up a single, permanent tribunal to adjudicate all inter-state river water disputes. The tribunals on Narmada, Cauvery, Ravi, Beas, Godavari, Krishna, Mahadayi and Vansadhara waters will be disbanded once the single tribunal is created after Parliament enacts a law in the next session. While it may appear this would speed up resolving states grievances, a single tribunal could also lead to enormous delays in resolving disputes even if it is supported by individual benches on different disputes. The Supreme Court has anyway made it clear it will assert its right to hear cases of differences between states over tribunal orders. It did so last week while hearing appeals in the three-decade-old Cauvery dispute among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.

The timeframe fixed for dispute resolution is said to be three years, that is extremely optimistic given how long states, whether upper or lower riparian, have trudged to the tribunals and the Supreme Court for a just share of the river waters. The problem is essentially political as we have come to know from several disputes that have played out over the years. In times of normal monsoons, when the rivers swell with water, there is never a problem of sharing, but the moment the flows come down, the states go up in arms. The legal and judicial processes are so convoluted that states simply go by interim awards given by the courts to put off having to pass final orders. For instance, Tamil Nadu nurses the grievance that the Cauvery Management Board is not being set up despite an order having been passed by the Supreme Court.

It is questionable if the inclusion of all existing disputes in the new scheme of a single authority is fair in law. This is a point that could form the basis of a dispute straightaway. The three-year timeframe may become meaningless if cases are heard from scratch. There may be much to commend an idea under which water and agriculture experts, water management engineers and technocrats, operating under a single retired Supreme Court judge, will decide how river waters are to be shared. Such an idea could ideally be used to arbitrate any fresh disputes arising out of sharing waters rather than drag cases out of eight rivers that have already caused heartaches in several states over the years. If the solution lies in accepting a technical award of experts by all states, dispute resolution should be simple enough. However, water is a sensitive subject that has been surrounded by fierce emotions and the politics of it ensures there is no silver bullet solution. The only certainty is that the water wars will rage on.
When a push becomes a lucky charm

Never before has a push (dhakka) been so much in demand as it is now in the Samajwadi Party. Suddenly, all party workers, aspiring for either a ticket or a ministerial position, want to be pushed around by their leaders in full public view and the reason is evident. SP leader Javed Abdi, known to be an Akhilesh acolyte, was pushed off the stage at a party function by state SP chief Shivpal Yadav in November when he took the mike and started singing paeans to the Chief Minister. Abdi was rewarded with the position of an adviser in the state irrigation department and blessed with ministerial perks by the chief minister.

Earlier, mafia don Ateeq Ahmad was given a shove by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav at a party meeting in Kaushambhi when he tried to get close to the CM. Ateeq Ahmad has now been rewarded with a Assembly ticket form Kanpur Cantt.  a constituency he has no connection with. After these two leaders benefited from a dhakka, SP leaders are eager to get pushed by either Shivpal Yadav or Akhilesh Yadav. This is one dhakka which brings benefits instead of ignominy, so wouldnt one want a dhakka in such a situation? asked a senior leader and he is apparently right this time.

Snubbed to slumber

Controversy, it seems, is the middlename of Chhattisgarh panchayat raj minister Ajey Chandrakar. Mr Chandrakar, who appears to have a penchant for being in news for the wrong reasons, had attracted negative publicity in media for acting smart apparently to draw BJP national president Amit Shahs attention at a recent party event at Raipur in Chhattisgarh. The minister who has been dragged to court by a former woman officer of the state government for misbehaving with some lady probationers of the panchayati raj department, was snubbed in a subtle way by Mr Shah when he suggested him to face press cameras with the partys mouthpiece Deep Kamal in his hand, on the occasion of inauguration of the library in the newly-built state BJP headquarters at Raipur on December 12. Mr minister, do not get overexcited. I have got many pictures clicked, Mr Shah retorted, leaving Mr Chandrakar red-faced.

More awkward moments for Mr Chandrakar were in store as Mr Shahs programmes in Raipur had progressed. He again received a mild snub from Mr Shah when he apparently tried to come into the frame of the picture being taken when the party chief was garlanding BJP ideologue Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjees statue. A seemingly annoyed Mr Shah was seen gesturing Mr Chandrakar to move away. The minister, who had earlier been accused of touching a woman inappropriately at a public function in Chhattisgarh by the Opposition Congress, was later caught taking a good nap while Mr Shah was addressing partymen later in the day. All attempts by state higher education minister Prem Prakash Pandey and state BJP general secretary Shivratan Sharma to wake him up by spraying water on his face had turned futile. By the time he came out of his slumber, the meeting was almost over. A good sleep buries all sinking feelings, someone has rightly said.

Mamata's RBI surprise

Mamata Banerjee certainly sprang a surprise by agreeing to meet RBI governor Urjit Patel on December 15. She even described her hour-long meeting with him as positive. For the past one month, West Bengals Chief Minister has been targeting the RBI and Mr Patel with the same vehemence with which she has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for scrapping high denomination currency notes. Only a week after the announcement of demonetisation, she had sat on a dharna at the RBI office in Delhi. Later, she had also marched to the RBI building at BBD Bagh in the city to register her strong protest over the Hitler-like decision which has caused enormous hardship to the common people. Her party intensified its agitation against demonetisation in general and RBI in particular the day Mr Patel arrived in the city to attend the board meeting of the apex bank.

In fact, only two hours before she met Mr Patel at the state secretariat, her heavyweight Cabinet colleagues and many TMC legislators staged a noisy protest outside the RBI office when its governor was attending the important meeting. Mr Patel should consider himself lucky that despite her strong displeasure at the RBIs role in demonetisation, she agreed to meet him at Nabanna for one hour, a Trinamul Congress MP said. Mr Patels predecessor Raghuram Rajan was not so lucky. In fact, his request for a customary meeting was turned down by the Chief Minister, not once but for three consecutive years  2013, 2014 and 2015. The last RBI governor who had managed to meet Ms Banerjee was D. Subbarao way back in December 2012. Incidentally, she had cancelled a scheduled meeting with him a day earlier. The million-dollar question is: Why did the Chief Minister agree to meet Mr Patel?

Questioning the wisdom behind calls for non-stop shutdown

It turned out to be Kakun Haputh, the bear in Kashmirs folklore they wanted to get rid of but it would refuse to leave them. A new issue-based alliance of Kashmirs separatists called joint resistance leadership, formed earlier this year, voluntarily took the command of the turbulence triggered by the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 to seize it to the benefit of the azadi cause. For weeks, its shutdown and protest calls were unfailingly obeyed by vast majority of the Valley. The killing and maiming on daily basis of protesters and even many of those who were not actively involved in any such activity by the security forces in their tough campaign to contain the unrest only helped it in dragging it out from days to weeks to months.

However, soon voices were raised, including through social media, to question the wisdom behind calls for non-stop shutdown and some people openly termed this as self destructive. Others, mainly those living on a hand to mouth arrangement, started returning to work in defiance of the alliances diktat. The leadership virtually lost grip on reality. But after the Valleys over six million population suffered the most from the long period of shutdown, it seems the leadership has realised things got a little out of hand. It has now announced a five-day working week for the Valley.
The dwarf planet Ceres, an enigmatic rocky body inhabiting the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is rich with ice just beneath its dark surface, scientists said on Thursday in research that may shed light on the early history of the solar system.

The discovery, reported in a pair of studies published in the journals Science and Nature Astronomy, could bolster fledgling commercial endeavours to mine asteroids for water and other resources for robotic and eventual human expeditions beyond the moon.

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has been orbiting Ceres, the largest of thousands of rocky bodies located in the main asteroid belt, since March 2015 following 14-month study of Vesta, the second-largest object in the asteroid belt.

The studies show that Ceres is about 10 per cent water, now frozen into ice, according to physicist Thomas Prettyman of the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, one of the researchers.

Examining the makeup of solar system objects like Ceres provides insight into how the solar system formed. Compared to dry Vesta, Ceres is more like Enceladus and Europa, icy moons of the giant gas planets Saturn and Jupiter respectively, than Earth and the other terrestrial planets Mercury, Venus and Mars, Prettyman added.

Scientists are debating if Ceres hides a briny liquid ocean, a prospect that may put the dwarf planet on the growing list of worlds beyond the solar system that may be suitable for life, said Dawn deputy lead scientist Carol Raymond of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

"By finding bodies that were water-rich in the distant past, we can discover clues as to where life may have existed in the early solar system," Raymond said in a statement.

The finding strengthens the case for the presence of near-surface water ice on other bodies in the main asteroid belt, Prettyman said.

Information collected by Dawn showed that Ceres, unlike Vesta, has been using water to create minerals. Scientists combine mineralogical data with computer models to learn about its interior.

"Liquid water had to be in the interior of Ceres in order for us to see what's on the surface," Prettyman told a news conference at the American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco.

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German government officials have expressed concern that fake news could influence the parliamentary election expected in September, in which Merkel will run for a fourth term.

German judges and state prosecutors need to crack down straight away on fake news disseminated through social media platforms such as Facebook, Germany's Justice Minister Heiko Maas said in an interview published on Sunday.

Maas, a Social Democrat in conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition, has repeatedly warned the US technology company to respect laws against defamation in Germany that are more rigid than in the United States. He told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper the principle of free speech did not protect against slander.

"Defamation and malicious gossip are not covered under freedom of speech," Maas said, just days after other top government officials called for legislation to tackle "hate speech" and fake news on Facebook and other social media platforms.

"Justice authorities must prosecute that, even on the internet," he said, noting that offenders could face up to five years in jail. "Anyone who tries to manipulate the political discussion with lies needs to be aware (of the consequences)."

The issue of fake news has taken on new urgency after warnings by German and US intelligence agencies that Russia has sought to influence elections and sway public opinion.

German government officials have expressed concern that fake news could influence the parliamentary election expected in September, in which Merkel will run for a fourth term.

Germany's strict libel and slander laws are meant to protect citizens by making it a crime to defame others. More than 218,000 cases involving insults were filed with prosecutors in 2015. But few internet cases were prosecuted.

Maas said he wants to change that: "We need to fully utilize all the legal authority at our disposal," he said.

Fears of fake news ahead of the election have increased after the head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency, Hans-Georg Maassen, reported a rise in Russian propaganda and disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing German society.

"Facebook is earning an awful lot of money with fake news," Maas told Bild am Sonntag. "A company that earns billions from the internet also has a social responsibility. Prosecutable defamation must be deleted immediately, once reported. It needs to be made easier for users to report fake news."

On Friday, the parliamentary floor leader for Merkel's conservatives, Volker Kauder, said the government wanted to introduce a law in early 2017 that would require social media firms to set up local offices to respond faster to complaints.

Facebook Inc FB.O said on Thursday it would take measures to prevent fake news spreading.

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BlackBerry and the university's research teams got the green light to test Ford Motor Co Lincoln vehicles with autonomous features on Ontario's public roads late last month.

Canada's BlackBerry Ltd will open an autonomous driving research center on Monday, as it tries to make itself an indispensable under-the-hood piece of the automotive industry's weaponry in the self-driving vehicle arms race.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend the launch by the Waterloo, Ontario-based smartphone pioneer, the prime minister's office said on Sunday. A Blackberry spokeswoman deferred any comment on the project until Monday.

Blackberry, once known for its phones but now betting its future on the more profitable business of making software and managing mobile devices after largely ceding the smartphone market to the likes of Apple and Samsung, is expanding subsidiary QNX's Ottawa facility to focus on developing advanced driver assistance and autonomous vehicle technology.

After a detour where QNX's industrial-focused software was used to reinvent the now-discarded BlackBerry phone operating system, BlackBerry is focused on how its embedded software interacts with the explosion of sensors, cameras and other components required for a car to drive itself.

But while deep-pocketed Silicon Valley has invested heavily in the artificial intelligence and machine learning required for autonomy, more financially-constrained BlackBerry has not, eyeing instead a niche role as a trusty sidekick.

"What QNX is doing is providing the infrastructure that allows you to build higher-level algorithms and to also acquire data from the sensors in a reliable manner," said Sebastian Fischmeister, a University of Waterloo associate professor who has worked with QNX since 2009.

"Our play in this is that we provide the software foundation for these high-performance compute platforms," QNX head John Wall said in an interview on Friday

BlackBerry and the university's research teams got the green light to test Ford Motor Co Lincoln vehicles with autonomous features on Ontario's public roads late last month. The company has also inked a deal to work directly with the Detroit-based carmaker as it works to get fleets of robot ride-sharing vehicles to market by 2021.

Wall said the company is in advanced discussions with "more than one or two" other major global automakers about similar partnerships, but also cautioned that the hype of robot cars would take a long time to be fully realized.

QNX already powers infotainment and telematics systems in millions of cars, giving an option to automakers watching the speed at which firms such as Tesla Motors Inc, ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc, and Alphabet Inc's Google have advanced their self-driving projects.

"If they can prove that they have the whole package and the security, they could absolutely dominate the market" for autonomous vehicle operating systems, said Sam Fiorani, an analyst at Auto Forecast Solutions.

Risks remain, including the challenge from chipmakers such as Intel Corp who, eyeing demand for their processors in future robot cars, could discount or give away their own security and safety software in order to sell more hardware.

"Some of these companies can afford to lose a lot of money in their pursuit of adoption and market share," said Chris Rommel, who leads embedded technology research at VDC Research.

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The Pentagon said the Chinese navy seized the unmanned underwater drone while it was being recovered by a US Navy oceanographic survey ship.

The US unmanned underwater drone seized by the Chinese navy is similar to commercial units that have been deployed by oil companies for underwater exploration and by emergency services for search and rescue, reports say. The US Navy had used a Bluefin-21 to search for wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, descending to 5,000 feet to scour the Indian Ocean floor.

The underwater drone is commercially available and they retail for about USD 150,000, NBC News reported. These types of gliders are generally used for environmental collections to help the Navy better understand the oceans and how sonar works. They are also used to help the Navy better conduct anti-submarine warfare, it said. The seized glider belongs to the US Military Sealift Command and was not conducting surveillance, the report said. The Pentagon has said that USNS Bowditch and the UUV -- an unclassified "ocean glider" system used around the world to gather military oceanographic data such as salinity, water temperature, and sound speed - were conducting "routine operations" in the South China Sea on December 15 when the Chinese navy seized the drone.

The Pentagon said the Chinese navy seized the unmanned underwater drone while it was being recovered by a US Navy oceanographic survey ship. The ship and the drone were conducting routine operations in accordance with international law when a Chinese Navy PRC DALANG III-Class ship launched a small boat and retrieved the UUV, it said. The Chinese Defence Ministry has said it had taken the drone for verification and accused the US of "making a fuss" over the incident after US President-elect Donald Trump accused China of "stealing" the US Navy research drone. Defence Ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Yang Yujun dismissed the US allegations, insisting China had been "professional and responsible" to take the drone.

"We had to examine and verify the device in a bid to avoid any harm it might cause to the safety of navigation and personnel," he said in a statement.

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Trump won a clear majority of those electors -- 306, with 270 needed for election -- despite dramatically losing the popular vote to his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. (Photo: AFP)

Washington: Donald Trump's fiercest critics may be dreaming of a last-minute revolt, but the Electoral College, a peculiarly American institution, appears near-certain on Monday to select the 70-year-old real estate mogul as the 45th US president.

Its detractors -- and they are many -- have denounced an electoral system that flies in the face of the venerated "one man, one vote" principle, and which perversely encourages presidential candidates to campaign in only a few key states while ignoring whole swaths of the country.

But despite the torrent of criticism this method has faced for decades, no reform attempt has ever succeeded.

When American voters cast their ballots on November 8, they did not in fact directly elect the next occupant of the White House. Instead, they picked 538 "electors" charged with translating their wishes into reality.

Trump won a clear majority of those electors -- 306, with 270 needed for election -- despite dramatically losing the popular vote to his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

A similar scenario took place in 2000, when George W. Bush became president even though Democrat Al Gore won more popular votes.

However, the gap is far more dramatic in 2016, with Clinton scoring nearly three million extra votes over Trump.

This Monday, electors will convene in each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, to officially designate the next president and vice president.

Following an extraordinarily vitriolic campaign, this step in the electoral process -- normally little more than a formality -- has been thrust into the spotlight.

'Faithless electors'

Historically, electors only rarely defy the expressed wishes of the majority of voters in their district. And never have the votes of these "faithless electors" changed the outcome of a presidential election.

Still, some Democrats -- who see a Trump presidency as presenting an existential danger to American democracy -- are clinging to the slender hope that a few dozen Republican electors might decide not to vote for their party's populist leader.

Yet, should that happen, it would be up to the House of Representatives to designate the successor to Barack Obama. And Republicans hold a strong majority there.

An online petition calling on electors to reject Trump, has collected some five million supporters. Hollywood stars including Martin Sheen ("President Bartlet" on the popular television series "West Wing") recently released a video to goad electors to take that step.

"You have the position, the authority and the opportunity to go down in the books as an American hero who changed the course of history," the celebrities say, addressing electors who have been thrust overnight from the shadows into the spotlight.

But these efforts appear to have almost no chance of succeeding: There is no evidence that the requisite 37 Republican electors will decide to abandon Trump. To date, only one of them, Christopher Suprum of Texas, has publicly announced his intention to stage such a revolt.

The future White House chief of staff, Reince Preibus, told Fox News Sunday that the pressure on the electoral college not to elect Trump is "about Democrats that can't accept the outcome of the election. It's about delegitimizing the american system."

He added: "We're very confident that everything is going to be very smooth tomorrow."

The final result may not be known on Monday, as states are given several days to report their numbers. The Congress will, in any case, announce the name of the official winner on January 6, two weeks before the next president is to be inaugurated in a solemn and pomp-filled ceremony outside the Capitol.

A 'disaster' or bit of 'genius'?

Asked about it at his final news conference of the year before leaving for a Hawaiian vacation, Barack Obama acknowledged that the system was "a vestige, it's a carry-over from an earlier vision of how our federal government was going to work," and that it could disadvantage Democrats.

Still, the outgoing president urged his camp to draw needed lessons from their electoral failure and develop a strategy for the future rather than bemoaning the 2016 loss or trying to overturn it.

"The truth of the matter is that if we have a strong message, if we're speaking to what the American people care about, typically, the popular vote and the Electoral College vote will align," he said in a clear allusion to his own presidential victories in 2008 and 2012.

David Pozen, a professor at Columbia Law School, sees at least one silver lining to the intense focus on the Electoral College: it will draw attention to the urgent need for change.

"Either way, the renewed public interest in the Electoral College underscores the need to do away with this antiquated and fundamentally undemocratic institution," he said in an op-ed article in the New York Times.

In November 2000, Hillary Clinton, then the newly elected Democratic senator from New York, issued a clear call for an electoral reform that would result in direct, universal suffrage.

Trump, for his part, has radically changed his stance on the matter in just four years.

"The Electoral College is a disaster for a democracy," he tweeted in November 2012.

Last month, just days after a victory that seemed to stun even him, he sounded a rather different note: "The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different!"
Washington: Three leading professors of psychiatry from America's prestigious universities have written to President Barack Obama, expressing their "grave concern" over his successor Donald Trump's mental stability.

In the letter addressed to the US President, the doctors - one from the Harvard Medical School and two others who have been associated with top US varsities over the years  have urged him to order a "full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation" before the President-elect takes office on January 20.

"We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the mental stability of our President-elect," the letter published by the The Huffington Post read.

The letter assumes significance as it is written by three distinguished professors of psychiatry - Judith Herman, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Nanette Gartrell, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry , University of California, San Francisco (1988-2011,) and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (1983-87); and Dee Mosbacher, PhD Assistant Clinical Professor Department of Community Health Systems University of California, San Francisco (2005-2013).

"Professional standards do not permit us to venture a diagnosis for a public figure whom we have not evaluated personally. Nevertheless, his widely reported symptoms of mental instability - including grandiosity, impulsivity, hypersensitivity to slights or criticism, and an apparent inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality  lead us to question his fitness for the immense responsibilities of the office," the letter said.

"We strongly recommend that, in preparation for assuming these responsibilities, he receive a full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation by an impartial team of investigators," it said.

In August, President Obama had questioned the 70-year-old business tycoon's judgement and temperament and called him "unfit to serve as president".

This is not the first time mental health professionals have weighed in on Trump's suitability for office.

In June, The Atlantic published a psychologist's findings that Trump suffered from "narcissism, disagreeableness, grandiosity".

In August, an Oxford study claimed that Trump has more psychopathic traits than Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

Psychologist Kevin Dutton from Oxford University ranked the psychopathic traits of the US presidential hopefuls and historical figures using a standard psychometric tool - the Psychopathic Personality Inventory - Revised (PPI-R).

Trump outstripped Hitler on factors including social influence and fearlessness, while the Nazi dictator scored higher on cold-heartedness and Machiavellian egocentricity - which describes a lack of empathy and sense of detachment from others for the sake of achieving one's own goals.
A Syrian man pulls their belongings after he was evacuated with his family from Aleppo, near Idlib, Syria. (Photo: AP)

United Nations: Russia on Sunday warned it would use its veto to block a French-drafted resolution on sending UN observers to Aleppo, setting up yet another showdown with the West over the fate of the besieged Syrian city.

Moscow presented a rival draft resolution during a closed-door meeting of the Security Council that requests that the United Nations make arrangements to monitor the situation, according to the text seen by AFP.

But the Russian proposal makes no specific mention of sending observers to Aleppo, where the evacuation of civilians from the last rebel-held part of the city was set to resume on Sunday.

We believe quite simply that what they are proposing is unworkable and dangerous, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters about the French proposal.

We cannot allow it to pass because this is a disaster, said Churkin ahead of the meeting.

Russia, Syrias main ally in the nearly six-year war, has vetoed six resolutions on Syria since the conflict began in March 2011.

France circulated a draft text late Friday stating that the council is alarmed by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Aleppo and by the fact that tens of thousands of besieged Aleppo inhabitants are in need of aid and evacuation.

The measure would task UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with deploying UN staff to Aleppo to monitor evacuations and report on the protection of civilians who remain in the city.

Syrian forces this week moved to assert full control over the east of the city, which had been held by opposition fighters since 2012.

Evacuations that were halted on Friday were expected to resume Sunday under a new deal that would allow civilians and fighters in four other besieged towns to leave.

Hundreds of civilians, including scores of children, have died in east Aleppo during the latest round of fighting. Nationwide, more than 310,000 people have been killed since the Syrian conflict began.

Preventing a new Srebrenica

French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the international presence would prevent Aleppo from turning into another Srebrenica, where thousands of Bosnian men and boys were massacred in 1995 when the town fell to Bosnian Serb forces.

Our goal through this resolution is to avoid another Srebrenica in this phase immediately following the military operations, Delattre said, warning that mass atrocities were possible.

The French envoy, who met with Churkin on Saturday, said he was not ready to compromise on his proposal, suggesting that the Russian draft resolution would be blocked by the Western powers.

Churkin said it would be reckless for Ban to send observers to east Aleppo under the French proposal because their safety could not be ensured.

He cannot tell his people just to march into a ruined city -- and do what? he said.

There are various groups who are fighting there, maybe there are some terrorists still lurking in the ruins of eastern Aleppo, he added.

Both the French and Russian draft resolutions demand immediate access for deliveries of humanitarian aid to Aleppo, which has been under siege since July.

France and the United States have said they would be ready to call for an emergency special session of the General Assembly if Russia again blocks UN action on Syria.

Such a session, a rare occurence at the United Nations, would be aimed at declaring global condemnation of Russias actions in Syria, although resolutions adopted by the General Assembly are non-binding.
Manila: Philippine Catholic leaders and rights groups on Monday condemned as "barbaric" President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to restore the death penalty and execute "five or six" criminals daily.

Duterte, 71, has made reviving the death penalty in the mainly Catholic nation his top legislative priority as part of a brutal war on crime that has killed 5,300 people.

"There was death penalty before but nothing happened. Return that to me and I would do it every day: five or six (criminals). That's for real," Duterte said Saturday.

An official at the influential Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said the Church "totally opposed" Duterte's plan.

"The Philippines will be viewed as very barbaric," Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary at its public affairs office, said.

"It's going to make the Philippines the capital of death penalty in the world."

The Philippines abolished the death penalty in 2006 following fierce opposition to the penalty from the Catholic Church, the religion of 80% of Filipinos.

Before assuming office in June, Duterte vowed to introduce executions by hanging, saying he did not want to waste bullets and believed snapping the spinal cord was more humane than a firing squad.

Duterte has said he viewed the death penalty not as a means to deter crime but for retribution.

Duterte's allies in the House of Representatives quickly pushed for the bill and said they would vote on it by January.

The United Nations' Human Rights Chief, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said in a letter to the Philippine congress in December that reviving the death penalty would violate the country's international obligations.

But on Saturday Duterte insisted executions were necessary to fight the drug scourge which he said was "destroying" the nation.

While his aides dismiss his incendiary statements as hyperbole, rights advocates said Duterte's remarks were alarming.

"Setting a quota for executions is just too much. One death is too much because we are talking about lives," Amnesty International Philippines Vice-Chairman Romeo Cabarde said.

Catholic leaders and rights defenders have instead urged the government to reform a slow and corrupt justice system which they said was likely to send innocent people to death row.

Secillano said bishops planned to dissuade lawmakers from voting for the death penalty and would attend congressional debates in January.

"The death penalty is a shortcut. The government doesn't want to go through any process to fix the penal system," he said.
Rakhine, located in Myanmar's west, has long been home to simmering tensions between the Rohingya and the country's Buddhist majority population. (Photo: AP)

Bangkok: The actions of Myanmar's military may constitute crimes against humanity, human rights group Amnesty International has warned, based on accounts of violence against the country's Muslim Rohingya minority.

Myanmar has come under heavy criticism for its army's forceful treatment of the Rohingya, and international human rights groups such as Amnesty have accused the military of mass murder, looting and rape.

"The Myanmar military has targeted Rohingya civilians in a callous and systematic campaign of violence," said Rafendi Djamin, Southeast Asia director for Amnesty International. "The deplorable actions of the military could be part of a widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population and may amount to crimes against humanity."

Amnesty released a report on Monday outlining its accusations. The report comes as Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is set to meet fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asians Nations at a Monday meeting in Yangon.

The military sweeps were sparked by an October 9 attack on police outposts in Rakhine state that killed nine officers.

Rakhine, located in Myanmar's west, has long been home to simmering tensions between the Rohingya and the country's Buddhist majority population. The last major outbreak of violence in 2012 left hundreds dead and drove 140,000 people into internal displacement camps.

Amnesty cautioned that the scale and extent of the violence is unclear, as the military has closed Rakhine to outside observers, including aid workers. But eyewitness accounts detail specific cases of murder, looting and rape.

In one incident on November 12, following an alleged skirmish between the army and villagers armed mostly with swords and other simple weapons, helicopter gunships descended on a village and sprayed bullets indiscriminately, killing civilians fleeing in a panic, Amnesty said. This was corroborated to an extent by Myanmar army officials, who said helicopters opening fire that day and killed six people, who officials said were insurgents.

Refugees told Amnesty that the military is torching villages. Satellite images Amnesty obtained show 1,200 burned structures, which they say is in line with images released by Human Rights Watch in November that showed 1,500 burned homes.

Amnesty's report follows concerns voiced in an International Crisis Group report released last week that repressive government policies are radicalizing the Rohingya, and sharp criticism from the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein.

"Myanmar's handling of northern Rakhine is a lesson in how to make a bad situation worse," al-Hussein said in Geneva on Friday. "The results have been catastrophic, with mass displacement, the nurturing of violent extremism, and everybody ultimately losing."

The border attacks were coordinated by a new insurgent group calling itself Harakah al-Yaqin, or the Faith Movement, according to the Belgium-based International Crisis Group. Organized by a network of Rohingya in Saudi Arabia and bankrolled by wealthy donors, the militant group is being called a "game changer" for drawing Muslims disillusioned and desperate from years of disenfranchisement by the Myanmar government.

Amnesty is urging the government to immediately cease hostilities, open Rakhine for humanitarian aid groups, and allow independent investigations.
Malaysia called for an independent ASEAN-led investigation into the allegations and for complete humanitarian access to the locked-down area, where more than 130,000 people have been without aid for two months. (Photo: AP)

Yangon: Myanmar faced growing pressure from its neighbours on Monday over claims its army has carried out a bloody campaign of abuse against its Rohingya minority as ministers held emergency talks on the crisis.

More than 27,000 from the Muslim ethnic group have fled northwestern Myanmar for Bangladesh since the start of November to escape a heavy-handed military counterinsurgency campaign.

The army says it is hunting militants behind deadly raids on police posts in October.

But Rohingya survivors have described rape, murder and arson at the hands of security forces accounts that have raised global alarm and galvanised protests in capitals around Southeast Asia.

The exodus has caused an unusual open spat within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the regional 10-member bloc that usually prides itself on consensus diplomacy and non-interference.

On Monday foreign ministers met in Yangon for emergency talks on the crisis.

Malaysia called for an independent ASEAN-led investigation into the allegations and for complete humanitarian access to the locked-down area, where more than 130,000 people have been without aid for two months.

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman warned the crackdown could trigger a repeat of last year's boat crisis, when thousands of starving Rohingya were abandoned at sea.

"We believe that the situation is now of a regional concern and should be resolved together," he told the meeting according to a statement released by Kuala Lumpur.

"Myanmar must do more in trying to address the root causes of this problem," he added.

Almost all of Myanmar's Rohingya are denied citizenship and have lived for years under movement restrictions that many have likened to apartheid.

Thousands have fled over the years on rickety boats, seeking sanctuary in Muslim majority countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

New wave of anger

The latest crackdown in Rakhine state has generated a fresh wave of public anger, particularly in Malaysia, where tens of thousands of Rohingya eke out tough lives as undocumented workers.

This month Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak accused Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi of allowing "genocide" on her watch, an unusually strong rebuke by one ASEAN state of another.

Myanmar, which has vehemently denied the allegations of abuse, responded by angrily summoning Malaysia's ambassador and banning its workers from going to the country.

Suu Kyi also held talks with the foreign minister of Indonesia this month after cancelling a visit following protests and an attempted attack on the Myanmar embassy.

Ong Keng Yong, a former secretary-general of ASEAN, said neighbouring nations feared the Rohingya crisis could spiral.

"This kind of issue, if it's not well managed, will impact on the general picture of our peace and security in ASEAN," he told AFP.

Myanmar has also seen a cascade of criticism from outside the region over its handling of the Rohingya crisis, including from the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.

Last week UN rights commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein criticised the government's "callous" handling of the crisis, describing it as "a lesson in how to make a bad situation worse".

In a new report released Monday, Amnesty International said the army's "widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population" may amount to crimes against humanity.

The plight of the Rohingya, who rights groups say are among the world's most persecuted, has long been a flashpoint within Southeast Asia.

In 2015 thousands of the stateless group were stranded at sea after authorities closed off a well-worn trafficking route through Thailand.

The overcrowded boats were ping-ponged between countries reluctant to accept them until global pressure eventually spurred Indonesia and Malaysia to let them land.
Beijing: After President-elect Donald Trump slammed China for seizing the US underwater drone from international waters, Chinese media criticised him as senseless and someone 'not behaving as a president who will become master of the White House in a month'.

After the incident, Trump had tweeted, "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters - rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act," which China's Global Times said "added the most fuel to the fire."

Later, when China agreed to return the US drone, Trump again took to Twitter saying, "We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back - let them keep it!".

An editorial in the Global Times said, "Trump is not behaving as a president who will become master of the White House in a month. He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower. Even the US military did not use the term "steal" to describe the move by the Chinese navy. Trump's second tweet makes people worry that he will treat China-US relations as child's play.

The article added, "Now people don't know if Trump is engaged in a psychological war with China or he is just unprofessional, even though he will be sworn in soon."

It also said that regarding the Sino-US relationship, Trump challenged the One-China policy and despised the principles which both countries have adopted to manage crises.

It said that China did not take a stern attitude towards the President-elect's remarks as he has not yet taken office and that he cannot reshape China-US relations and the way the two major powers interact. Since China has kept a calm attitude toward his provocative remarks and warned that Beijing will not exercise restraint, if this behaviour continues.

It is possible that Trump is worried about his upcoming post and is eager to make waves against China so as to gain some leverage from China once he is sworn in. The Chinese government should be fully prepared for a hard-line Trump, said the article.

We should show Trump what the one-China policy is and what bottom lines in Sino-US ties he should not touch, it added.
Kabul: The Taliban militants publicly executed a woman in northwestern Badghis province of Afghanistan after forcing her to divorce her husband.

A local official said the incident took place in Ab Kamari district late on Sunday night after the Taliban militants stormed into her fathers house in Maida Qul village, reports the Khaama Press.

The official said that the woman was forced to shift to her fathers house after Taliban militants forced her to divorce her husband whom she had married after divorcing her first husband.

The Taliban militants punished the woman after her first husband returned from Iran and lodged a complaint with them.

The militant group has not commented regarding the report so far.

This comes as numerous incidents of public execution by the Taliban have been reported during the recent months across the country.

Earlier in December, the Taliban militants hanged a Kabul Polytechnic University engineering student accusing him of spying for the government.
Last on Tuesday an MV-22 Osprey made what Marines called a controlled landing just off the Okinawan coast during a night training flight that left the aircraft in pieces. (Photo: AFP)

Tokyo: The US Marines on Monday resumed flights of their controversial Osprey aircraft in Japan, less than a week after a crash off the southern island of Okinawa sparked local protests.

Last on Tuesday an MV-22 Osprey made what Marines called a "controlled landing" just off the Okinawan coast during a night training flight that left the aircraft in pieces.

No one was killed but the accident sparked anger on the island, a strategic outpost of US military power. In response, the Marines suspended flights of the tiltrotor aircraft in Japan pending an investigation.

The MV-22 Osprey can carry 24 troops and is half helicopter half turboprop, boasting the manoeuvrability of a chopper and the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft.

But a series of deadly accidents, mostly in the United States, has prompted frequent protests in Okinawa against the deployment of the aircraft.

The latest crash happened after the aircraft damaged one of its propellers during an aerial refuelling drill with another plane, according to the Marines.

US Forces Japan commander Lieutenant General Jerry Martinez said "a thorough, careful and exhaustive review" was conducted and explanation given to the Japanese government.

"While the investigation is ongoing, we are highly confident in our assessment that the cause of the mishap was due solely to the aircraft's rotor blades coming into contact with the refuelling line," he said in a statement.

Japanese television footage showed an Osprey taking off at the US Futenma airbase on Okinawa while the Marines confirmed flight operations had resumed.

Okinawa governor Takeshi Onaga, an outspoken critic of the US military presence, called the flight resumption "outrageous", though the central government expressed understanding.

"The US briefing (to the Japanese side) is reasonable... It is understandable that flights resume except for mid-air refuelling" which caused the accident, top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

More than half the approximately 47,000 US troops in Japan under a decades-long security alliance are stationed on Okinawa, the site of a major World War II battle that was followed by a 27-year US occupation of the island.

A series of crimes including rapes, assaults and hit-and-run accidents by US military personnel, their dependants and civilians have long sparked protests by Okinawa residents.
Many journalists have fled countries that became too dangerous, especially Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and Burundi. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Paris: At least 57 journalists have been killed around the world in 2016 while doing their job, Reporters Without Borders said on Monday.

The press freedom group said 19 were killed in Syria alone, followed by 10 in Afghanistan, nine in Mexico and five in Iraq. Almost all of those killed were locally-based journalists.

Although it was fewer than the 67 killed in 2015, the group put the decrease down to "the fact that many journalists have fled countries that became too dangerous, especially Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and Burundi".

It said the withdrawal of reporters from these conflict-ridden countries had created "news and information black holes where impunity reigns".

Nine bloggers and eight media workers have also been killed this year.

Reporters Without Borders said the fall in deaths was also the result of the "terror" imposed by what it called "press freedom predators" who close media outlets arbitrarily and gag journalists.

In countries such as Mexico, this led to journalists self-censoring to avoid being murdered, the group said in its annual report.

In Afghanistan, all of the 10 journalists killed were deliberately targeted because of their profession.

Seven, including three women, were killed in a suicide attack in January on a minibus used by privately-owned Tolo TV. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

Yemen, where more than 7,000 people have been killed since 2015 in a war pitting Saudi-backed regime forces against Huthi rebels, was another a black spot for journalists with five killed.

"The violence against journalists is more and more deliberate," RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said.

"They are clearly being targeted and murdered because they are journalists.

"This alarming situation reflects the glaring failure of the international initiatives aimed at protecting them, and is a death warrant for independent reporting in those areas where all possible means are used to impose censorship and propaganda, especially by fundamentalist groups in the Middle East."

The group called for incoming UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special representative for the protection of journalists.
London: Indian-origin metal tycoon Sanjeev Gupta on Monday said he will invest a whopping 120 million pounds in Britain's last aluminium smelter as part of a deal to rescue the site and safeguard hundreds of jobs.

Gupta's Liberty House and his father's related business, Simec, will pay around 330 million pounds to acquire the plant at Lochaber, in the western Scottish Highlands, and two hydro-electric plants that power it.

The group has committed to invest a further 120 million pounds, creating up to 600 jobs in coming years, Gupta said.

"Today is the start of an exciting new chapter in Scotland's manufacturing story and the Scottish government and its agencies will keep working with Sanjeev Gupta and the GFG Alliance to help them realise their enterprising vision for Lochaber," said Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Strugeon, during a site visit.

Gupta, in his 40s, is Executive Chairman of Liberty House Group and of the wider family concern GFG Alliance strategic board.

He said: "We hope this day will come to be recognised as the start of a bright new future for Highland industry. It puts Lochaber right at the heart of our vision for sustainable and integrated local production that can revitalise British manufacturing."

Monday's announcement follows a deal unveiled in November involving Liberty House and Simec to take over the site formerly owned by Rio Tinto in Scotland.

Gupta's plans include creating an aluminium wheel manufacturing facility with 300 jobs directly and another 300 in the supply chain.

Liberty has also said that it aims to protect the existing 170 jobs at Lochaber and expand metal manufacturing and downstream engineering in the region.
London: ISIS has offered a $1 million reward for the killing of a Kurdish-Danish woman who dropped out of university in 2014 to fight the terror group in Syria and Iraq.

Joanna Palani, 23, is currently behind bars and facing trial in Copenhagen for leaving the country after a 12-month travel ban imposed in June 2015, The Independent reported.

Her trial begins on Tuesday and if found guilty she faces up to 2 years in prison under the new laws designed to stem the flow of ISIS militants from Denmark to the Middle East.

Palani is often the subject of vicious threats both on and offline following her return to Denmark.

The latest offerings of financial reward for her death were made by ISIS social media channels in several different languages over the weekend, the paper said, citing Arab media.

"How can I pose a threat to Denmark and other countries by being a soldier in an official army that Denmark trains and supports directly in the fight against [ISIS]?" she posted on Facebook shortly after her passport was confiscated by cops in 2015.

Palani, whose family originate from Iranian Kurdistan, was born in a refugee camp in Ramadi in Iraq during the first Gulf War. Her family won asylum in Denmark when she was a child.

She quit a politics degree to join the Kurdish revolution against ISIS after the extremists rose to prominence in 2014, fighting with both the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in Northern Syria and Peshmerga forces in Iraq, it said.

In a Facebook post, Palani said she was inspired "to fight for womens rights, for democracy - for the European values I learned as a Danish girl."
Bana Alabed, 7, lives in with her mother, Fatemah, and her brothers. (Photo: Twitter)

Turkey: Seven-year-old Bana al-Abed, whose Twitter account has offered a tragic account of the war in Syria, was evacuated from the divided Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, a Turkish NGO announced on social media.

"This morning @AlabedBana was also rescued from #Aleppo with her family. We warmly welcomed them," the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) wrote on its Twitter account, sharing an IHH aid worker's selfie picture with the girl.

For her tens of thousands of followers, Bana is a symbol of the tragedy unfolding in Syria, although Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime has slammed her and her mother's nearly daily tweets as propaganda.

Bana's account has posted pictures of the destruction in Aleppo including her rubble-littered street, while people have tweeted messages of support and concern, notably fearing for her life when tweets became less frequent.

At least 15,000 children are among the more than 300,000 people who have been killed in Syria's five-year war.

Tarakji Ahmad, president of Syrian American Medical Society, also posted a picture of Bana, with an aid worker.

"@AlabedBana and many children arrived to #Aleppo countryside. @sams_usa@UOSSM and partners arr coordinating the response plan there," he tweeted, also announcing the evacuation.

Bana's last tweet with her mother Fatemah before the evacuation made an appeal to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu for putting a fragile ceasefire back on track after frequent delays.

"Dear @MevlutCavusoglu & @RT_Erdogan please please please make this ceasefire work & get us out now. We are so tired. - Fatemah #Aleppo."

Responding in a tweet Monday, Cavusoglu wrote: "Difficulties on the ground won't deter us sister. Rest assured that we are doing all to get you and thousands of others to safety."

An IHH spokesman confirmed to AFP that the young girl was among the first batch of evacuees Friday morning, and was at Rashidin region at the moment.

"She is likely to be transferred to the camps in Idlib province," he said.

The Islamic charity IHH is playing a large role in the transport of aid for Aleppo as well as the transfer of evacuated Syrians into camps in the Idlib province near the Turkish border.

Evacuation from the rebel-held areas of Aleppo has restarted after further delays, which put on hold the ceasefire agreement brokered by Turkey and Russia.

Over 3,000 people -- in two convoys of around 20 vehicles -- left eastern sections of Aleppo on Monday, after around 350 people got out during the night, marking the first departures since Friday.
Jordanian security forces stand next to their armored vehicle at the scene next to Karak Castle, during an ongoing attack, in the central town of Karak, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital Amman in Jordan. (Photo: AP)

Amman: Jordanian security forces said they killed four "terrorist outlaws" after flushing them out of a castle in the southern city of Karak where they had holed up after a shoot-out that killed nine people.

An official statement said the four assailants, who shot at police targets in the town before heading to the Crusader-era castle, carried automatic weapons. Large quantities of explosives, weapons and suicide belts were seized in a hideout, the statement said.

It made no mention of their identity or whether they belonged to any militant group, raising speculation they could have been tribal outlaws with a vengeance against the state rather than Islamic State fighters, who control parts of neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

A Canadian woman, three other civilians and five police officers were among the nine killed during the exchange of gunfire between the assailants and security forces.

At least 29 people were hospitalised, some with serious injuries.

Earlier, government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said a manhunt to "eliminate" the gunmen had entered its final phase.

Jordan's position made it vulnerable to spillover of violence, Momani said.

"When we are in a region engulfed with fire from every side you expect that such events happen," the official said.

Witnesses said exchanges of fire continued for several hours between the gunmen and security forces. Police said earlier they had rescued 10 tourists and trapped inside the historic site when the gunmen went into the castle.

A former government minister from Karak city, Sameeh Maaytah, said there were signs Islamist militants may have been behind the attack.

"This was a group that was plotting certain operations inside Jordan," Maaytah told pan-Arab news channel al-Hadath.

Video footage on social media showed security forces taking groups of young Asian tourists up the castle's steep steps to its main entrance as gunshots were heard overhead.

The castle is one of Jordan's most popular tourist attractions.

Prime Minister Hani al Mulki told parliament "a number of security personnel" had been killed and that security forces were laying siege to the castle. The Canadian government confirmed one of its nationals had been killed.

Police and witnesses said gunmen had earlier gone on a shooting spree aimed at officers patrolling the town before entering the castle, perched on top of a hill. They used one of the castle's towers to fire at a nearby police station.

Police said the gunmen had arrived from the desert town of Qatraneh nearly 30 km northeast of Karak city, a desert outpost known for smuggling, where many tribal residents are heavily armed and have long resisted state authority.

They had fled to Karak after an exchange of fire with the police at a residential building, security forces said.

Jordan is one of the few Arab states that have taken part in a U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State in Syria.

But many Jordanians oppose their country's involvement, saying it has led to the killing of fellow Muslims and raised security threats inside Jordan.

Several incidents over the past year have jolted the Arab kingdom, which has been relatively unscathed by the uprisings, civil wars and Islamist militancy that have swept the Middle East since 2011.

Last November three U.S. military trainers were shot dead when their car failed to stop at the gate of a military base and was fired on by a Jordanian army member in an incident which Washington did not rule out political motives.
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, smoke rises in green government buses, in Idlib province, Syria. (Photo: AP)

Beirut: Armed men burned five buses that were supposed to be used for an evacuation near Idlib in Syria on Sunday, holding up a deal to allow thousands to depart the last rebel pocket in Aleppo, where evacuees crammed into buses for hours, waiting to move.

In return for the evacuation of fighters, their families and other civilians from Aleppo, mostly Sunni insurgents have agreed that people in the villages of al-Foua and Kefraya, Shi'ite villages they have besieged near Idlib, should also be allowed to leave.

Videos posted on social media showed bearded men with guns cheering and shouting "God is great" after torching the green buses before they were able to reach the villages and pick up the evacuees.

State media said "armed terrorists", a term it uses for all groups fighting against President Bashar al-Assad, carried out the attack. Pro-Damascus Mayadeen television blamed the rebel group formerly known as the Nusra Front.

Rebel officials said an angry crowd of people, possibly alongside pro-government "operatives", was responsible.

Hours after the incident, as the Aleppo evacuees waited on their buses, it was still unclear what impact the bus burning near Idlib would have on the wider agreement.

The commander of forces allied to Assad said on Sunday there was still a chance for states with influence over rebel groups to find a solution to evacuate civilians safely.

In a statement carried by a military news outlet run by Damascus's ally, the Lebanese group Hezbollah, the allied forces leadership said responsibility for the delay in the evacuation falls with "terrorists and their state sponsors".

Some 40 km (26 miles) to the northeast, hundreds of fighters and their families in Aleppo sat or stood in buses after a deal on Sunday to resume evacuations after a three-day hiatus.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there was no sign the buses had left Aleppo or the villages, and a passenger on one told Reuters he had been on the bus for four hours and was still in the city's rebel enclave.

Syrian state television, citing its correspondent in the city, said buses had started to leave east Aleppo where over 15,000 people had gathered in a square to wait. Many had spent the night sleeping in the streets in freezing temperatures.

Some buses and Red Crescent vehicles arrived at the entrance to al-Foua and Kefraya shortly after the deal was announced, according to al-Manar television, a broadcaster affiliated with Hezbollah.

Soon afterwards, reports that some of them had been burned began to circulate.

Aleppo had been divided between government and rebel areas in the nearly six-year-long war, but a lightning advance by the Syrian army and its allies began in mid-November following months of intense air strikes, forcing the insurgents out of most of the rebel-held territory within a matter of weeks.

Everyone is waiting

According to Syria's al-Ikhbariya TV news, about 1,200 civilians would initially be evacuated from east Aleppo and a similar number from the two villages.

A document cited by al-Manar television and passed to Reuters by rebels and activists said the entire deal would see 2,500 citizens leave al-Foua and Kefraya in two batches, in exchange for the evacuation of people from east Aleppo in two corresponding batches.

Following this, another 1,500 would leave al-Foua and Kefraya in exchange for the evacuation of 1,500 from the towns of Madaya and Zabadani near Lebanon, which are besieged by pro-government forces.

Once evacuees from the villages have safely arrived in government areas, Aleppo fighters and more of their family members will be allowed to leave, in return for subsequent batches of people departing al-Foua and Kefraya, al-Ikhbariya TV reported.

In the square in Aleppo's Sukari district, organizers gave every family a number to allow them on buses.

"Everyone is waiting until they are evacuated. They just want to escape," said Salah al Attar, a former teacher with his five children, wife and mother.

Thousands of people were evacuated on Thursday, the first to leave under a ceasefire deal that would end years of fighting for the city and mark a major victory for Assad.

They were taken to rebel-held districts of the countryside west of Aleppo. Turkey has said Aleppo evacuees could also be housed in a camp to be constructed near the Turkish border to the north.

United Nations vote

The chaos surrounding the evacuation reflects the complexity of Syria's civil war, with an array of groups and foreign interests involved on all sides.

The United Nations Security Council is due to vote Sunday on a French-drafted resolution aimed at ensuring that U.N. officials can monitor the evacuations from Aleppo and the protection of civilians who remain.

The draft U.N. text, seen by Reuters on Saturday, also "emphasizes that the evacuations of civilians must be voluntary and to final destinations of their choice, and protection must be provided to all civilians who choose or who have been forced to be evacuated and those who opt to remain in their homes."

However, Russia said it would veto the draft resolution.

"We cannot support it, we cannot allow it to pass because this is a disaster. But there could be another thing which could be adopted today by the Security Council which would accomplish the same goals," Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters.

He circulated a rival Russian text to council members during a closed-door meeting on Sunday ahead of a planned vote on the French draft.

Russia, which has provided military backing to Assad's troops, has vetoed six Security Council resolutions on Syria since the conflict started in 2011. China joined Moscow in vetoing five resolutions.

A crackdown by Assad on pro-democracy protesters in 2011 led to civil war, and Islamic State militants have used the chaos to seize territory in Syria and Iraq. Half of Syria's 22 million people have been uprooted and more than 400,000 killed.
Islamabad: The year 2016 could go down as one of the worst for Indo-Pak ties as terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups stalled the peace process and India's surgical strikes inside PoK followed by trading of heavy fire at the border raised fears of a large-scale conflict.

The year began on a sordid note when on January 2, Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad militants stormed the Pathankot airbase in Punjab and killed seven security personnel before they were eliminated.

India demanded answers from Pakistan while linking the peace process to action against terrorism emanating from its soil.

The Pathankot attack was devastating for bilateral ties as it followed a brief but important visit to Lahore by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the birthday of his counterpart Nawaz Sharif on December 25 last year.

That trip had come on the heels of a high-level visit by an Indian delegation led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad in early December to attend the Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan.

On the sidelines, she had fruitful talks with Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and the two countries agreed to revive the stalled peace process.

The Indian Foreign Secretary was scheduled to visit Pakistan in mid-January but the Pathankot incident effectively scuttled the momentary thaw in ties.

The relations had not fully recovered from the blow when Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with Indian security forces in Kashmir in July, setting in motion a chain of events which drove Pakistan and India in opposite directions.

In September, matters again came to a head between the two sides when JeM militants assaulted an army camp in Uri and killed 19 soldiers. The Indian government again demanded action from Pakistan.

Just days after the assault, the two sides clashed at the UN General Assembly's annual session, blaming each other for militancy and violation of human rights.

Raking up Kashmir at the UN, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif glorified Wani as a "young leader". Sharif devoted much of his 20-minute speech at the UN General

Assembly session to Kashmir and the situation in the Valley and said Pakistan "fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination".

Swaraj delivered a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir, saying those accusing others of rights violations must introspect. India also censured

Pakistan for the first time at the UNGA for perpetrating the "worst form of state oppression" in Balochistan.

India's response to the Uri attack, came in the form of "surgical strikes" which Pakistan denied. India carried out "surgical strikes" on seven terror launch pads across the LoC with the Army inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from PoK.

However, the move created a war-like situation on the Line of Control.

Dozens of soldiers and civilians were killed and injured in intermittent clashes at the border which went on for weeks. The two sides blamed each other for "unprovoked firing" and took reciprocal diplomatic action by summoning each other's envoy many a times.

A major diplomatic row erupted between the two countries at the end of October when India declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer as persona non-grata for espionage activities after he was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents including deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border.

In swift tit-for-tat action, Pakistan also declared an Indian High Commission official as persona non-grata and asked him to leave the country within 48 hours.

In a further blow to Indo-Pak ties, Pakistan pulled out six officials at its High Commission in November.

The six Pakistani officials, including four senior diplomats, named for spying by a High Commission staffer, who was arrested and expelled for espionage, left India for home as bilateral ties continued to slide.

Pakistan then claimed that the Indian High Commission officials were involved in "espionage, subversion and supporting terrorist activities in Balochistan and Sindh, especially Karachi, sabotaging China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and fuelling instability in the two provinces." Those Indian officials named by Pakistan also returned to India subsequently.

In late November, another terror attack took place at an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Nagrota in which seven soldiers were killed, leading to further strain in ties. The animosity between the two countries also shifted to the waters with the Indus Waters Treaty soon coming into focus.

India took strong exception to the World Bank's decision to set up a Court of Arbitration and appoint a Neutral Expert to go into Pakistan's complaint against it over Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, in December, the World Bank paused the separate processes initiated by India and Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements.

Pakistan was also caught on the wrong foot when Aziz admitted that the government was presented with only "insufficient evidence" on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav who is under detention.

Addressing a full Senate chamber, Aziz said the dossier on Jadhav contained mere statements.

December again proved to be an important month for improving the situation.

This year, Amritsar was venue for the Heart of Asia conference and Pakistan decided to send Aziz for the meeting amid the strain in ties. But no bilateral meetings with the

Indian side could take place and he only exchanged pleasantries with the top Indian leadership.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also saw a change of military command that could positively reflect on the Indo-Pak frontier. General Qamar Javed Bajwa, an expert in PoK affairs, took over as Pakistan's new army chief succeeding Gen Raheel Sharif and promised to improve the tense situation at the Line of Control soon.

In another important development, Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, an intelligence veteran, was appointed chief of Pakistan's powerful spy agency ISI with new army chief Gen Bajwa effecting the first big reshuffle to tighten his hold on the military that plays a key role in the country's affairs.

As part of a major shake-up of the military top brass, Bajwa abruptly removed Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar and named Mukhtar in his place while also ringing in several other changes.

Another significant development was Pakistan's burgeoning ties with Russia. In December, Pakistan held its first-ever consultations with Russia over important global and regional issues amid warming ties between the former Cold War rivals.

In September, Russia held its first-ever military exercises with Pakistan and has also started selling weapons to Islamabad.

The closeness in Pakistan-Russia ties came amid growing Indo-US relations. Significantly, the US continued to nudge Pakistan to crackdown on terror safe havens.

The US Congress, earlier this month, said that USD 400 million in aid to Pakistan cannot be released unless the defence secretary certifies that Islamabad is taking "demonstrable steps" against the Haqqani network, which is accused of targeting American interests.

Passed by the Senate, the 2017 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) in fact imposes four conditions on Pakistan to be eligible for USD 400 million of the USD 900 million of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF).

It would be naive to think of any drastic improvements in Indo-Pak ties in the coming months after serious tension, allegations and clashes in 2016.

The New Year may start at a sour note due to the first anniversary of the Pathankot attack and possible demands by India for action against the alleged perpetrators.

Asked if 2017 will be better for bilateral ties, the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman last week said it depends on the "Indian attitude, Indian intransigence and Indian behaviour to improve the security situation in the region".

"India should show that it is ready for talks. It should show seriousness to resolve Kashmir," Zakaria said.
In the fog of the conflict, sexual violence against children has become a new normal. (Representational Image)

Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan: Quivering with quiet rage, Shirin holds a photo of his teenage brother-in-law, who now lives as the plaything of policemen, just one victim of a hidden epidemic of kidnappings of young boys for institutionalised sexual slavery in Afghanistan.

Shirin is among 13 families AFP traced and interviewed across three Afghan provinces who said their children were taken for the pervasive practice of "bacha bazi", or paedophilic exploitation, in Western-backed security forces.

Their testimonies shine a rare spotlight on the anguished, solitary struggles to free sons, nephews and cousins from a tradition of culturally-sanctioned enslavement and rape.

Shirin recalled how his 13-year-old brother-in-law screamed and writhed as he was taken from his home earlier this year by a police commander in southern Helmand.

"When I begged for his release, his men pointed their guns and said: 'Do you want your family to die? Forget your boy'," Shirin told AFP in Lashkar Gah.

"Our boys are openly abducted for bacha bazi. Where should we go for help? The Taliban?"

The heart-wrenching stories, mostly from Helmand but also from neighbouring Uruzgan and northern Baghlan, were revealed after AFP reported in June how the Taliban are exploiting bacha bazi in police ranks to mount deadly insider attacks.

The report, denied by the insurgents, prompted an Afghan government investigation.

AFP is withholding the names of the victims and the accused police commanders as many of the boys are still being held captive.

'Crazed with grief'

A common theme in the testimonies collected from stricken families was that of helplessness. Their boys were mostly abducted in broad daylight; from their homes, opium farms and playgrounds.

Once taken captive, they can be shuffled among police checkpoints, complicating efforts to trace them.

Sometimes they emerge into the open as policemen flaunt their spoils.

For fathers like Sardarwali, the crushed hope of such an encounter is almost too much to bear.

After months of fruitless searching, he caught a glimpse of his kidnapped son in a crowded marketplace in Helmand's Gereshk district.

The child -- a slight boy who loved nothing better than playing with his siblings -- was dressed in a fine embroidered tunic and wore a bejewelled skull cap.

Sardarwali was desperate to reach out to his son, to hold him -- but did not dare approach the bevy of policemen that surrounded him.

"I watched him disappear into the distance," Sardarwali said.

"His mother is crazed with grief. She cannot stop crying: 'We have lost our son forever.'"

Parents' agony of losing a child to sexual slavery is compounded by concerns that in captivity their boys will become addicted to the opiates some are given to make them submissive.

Worse still, many fear they could be taken to reinforce frontlines, where police are suffering record casualties in their fight against the Taliban.

Or -- as one Helmand family shockingly discovered -- get killed in the crossfire as insurgents over-run the checkpoints where they are held.

Still, some families take grim solace in the knowledge they are not alone. Their villages are full of bacha bazi victims, many discarded when their beards begin to show.

'Unconscionable'

Bacha bazi has seen a chilling resurgence in post-Taliban Afghanistan, where it is not widely perceived as homosexual or un-Islamic behaviour.

Young boys dressed effeminately have an ornamental value in a society where the genders are tightly corralled. Their possession is a mark of social status, power and masculinity.

The practice has spurred a violent culture of one-upmanship within police ranks, as officers jealously compete to snatch the most beautiful boys, said a former top Helmand security official.

"Often the only escape for enslaved bachas is to make a deal with the Taliban: 'Liberate me and I will help you get my abuser's head and weapons'," the official said, referring to insider attacks.

The Afghan government has said it has zero tolerance for child abusers in security ranks.

But Uruzgan government spokesman Dost Mohammad Nayab acknowledged nearly every provincial checkpoint had a bacha. He fears any move to extricate them could see angry policemen abandoning their posts, paving the way for the Taliban.

"It is difficult to separate policemen from their bachas in this security situation," Nayab said, explaining that police serve as a pivotal first line of defence against insurgents.

But for campaigners like Charu Lata Hogg, a London-based fellow at the Chatham House think-tank, citing security as an excuse for inaction is unconscionable.

"The UN and Afghanistan signed an action plan in 2011 that explicitly calls for rehabilitation of sexually abused children," she said. "So why has no tangible action been taken?"

Culture of silence

Helmand activist Sardar Hamdard said the practice has undercut public support for Afghan forces, enabling the Taliban to exploit it as a recruitment tool.

"Rampant bacha bazi is ruining our society," said Hamdard. "Our children grow up believing that raping boys is normal."

With little legal recourse and a culture of silence and impunity, many families have abandoned hope.

The lucky ones may know someone in authority, whose ad hoc intervention can force an abuser to relinquish their child.

Two weeks after Haji Mohammad's 11-year-old son was snatched by a commander in Helmand's Babaji area, he turned to a known intelligence official for help.

I want the boy back within three days or there will be consequences," the mosque imam recalls the official telling the commander by telephone.

The boy was released after 18 days, limping back to his father, terrified and scarred.

Mohammad's family, traced by AFP to a location outside Helmand, bemoaned a lack of psychosocial support for the boy, still visibly traumatised two years after he was taken.

"The family wanted justice but my advice was, 'Flee Helmand or they will come back for your boy'," the intelligence official said. "Bacha bazi is not a crime that attracts punishment."
Kathmandu: A delegation from China's ruling Communist party has called on Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari and discussed the bilateral relations in Kathmandu, days after Beijing provided Rs 15.80 billion to the Himalayan nation for post-quake reconstruction activities.

The meeting between the President and Communist Party of China (CPC) delegation led by their Chief of Publicity Department Liu Qibao took place at the presidential residence Sheetal Niwas in Kathmandu on Sunday.

The team discussed the current bilateral relations.

The leaders also discussed about taking the bilateral relations to a more harmonious and stronger level, according to a press statement issued by the President's office.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong was also present. China has provided Rs 15.80 billion to Nepal for post-quake reconstruction activities after a Cabinet meeting on December 11 decided to accept the grants worth Nepalese Rupees 15.80 billion provided by China.

China on December 9 launched a new cargo service linking Tibet and Nepal as dozens of trucks carrying goods worth $2.8 million left the Tibetan border port of Gyirong en route to Kathmandu.

The new rail and road cargo service linking Guangdong, Tibet and Nepal aims to boost trade with the South Asian neighbour as China pushes forward its Belt and Road (Silk Road) initiative.

It was the first such consignment being sent to Nepal after the new Prachanda government took over from his pro-China predecessor KP Sharma Oli, who had signed the transit trade deal with Beijing in March, 2016, in a bid to reduce Nepal's dependence on India despite it being expensive due to the mountainous terrain.
Beijing: Chinese state media said Monday US President-elect Donald Trump's diplomatic inexperience could spark a confrontation between the two nations, while one newspaper termed him unfit to lead a superpower.

They were commenting on Trump's response to Beijing's seizure of a US maritime probe in international waters, a move which raised already heightened tensions between the world's two largest military powers.

A Chinese naval vessel "unlawfully" grabbed the unmanned underwater vehicle in the South China Sea around 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines, the Pentagon said Friday.

China said the drone had been snatched since it might pose a safety hazard to other vessels.

It also said it "strongly opposed" US reconnaissance activities and had asked Washington to stop them.

The US said the device was collecting information on water temperatures, salinity and sea clarity.

On Sunday, after Beijing and Washington announced the drone would be returned, Trump tweeted: "We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back. - let them keep it!"

In a previous tweet, he had called China's move an "unpresidented (sic) act", with the misspelled word going viral -- to much ridicule -- before he corrected it.

"What is truly amazing about this tweet, was the soon-to-be US president completely misrepresented what had actually happened -- that is more dangerous than funny," an editorial in the state-owned China Daily newspaper said.

Trump's behaviour "could easily drive China-US relations into what Obama portrays as 'full-conflict mode'," it added, next to a cartoon that depicted Trump riding a bull into a china shop while US businessmen looked on aghast.

A separate article quoted experts as calling Trump's behaviour "diplomatically inept".

Trump has already infuriated Beijing by questioning longstanding US policy on Taiwan, calling Beijing a currency manipulator and threatening punitive tariffs on Chinese imports.

China's ministry of defence on Saturday had slammed alleged American "hyping" of China's capture of the drone as "inappropriate and unhelpful".

"Trump is not behaving as a president who will become master of the White House in a month. He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower," the often nationalistic Global Times, which has close ties to the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial.

There are broader tensions in the South China Sea, where China has moved to fortify its claims to the region by expanding tiny reefs and islets into artificial islands hosting military facilities.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan have competing claims in the waterway.

While the US takes no position on sovereignty claims in the area, it has repeatedly stressed freedom of navigation.

Its military has conducted several operations in which ships and planes have passed close to the sites Beijing claims.

"No matter how powerful the US Navy is, it cannot act on the bottom line of China's security," said a second editorial about the probe seizure in the Global Times Monday.

"If we see sonar and underwater gliders deployed by foreign ships in the South China Sea in the future, we would rather mistakenly capture a thousand than miss a single one."
The iPhone of Rajesh Verma, which was snatched by the terrorists, was recovered from the 'nallah' near the perimeter wall inside the IAF station where the terrorists had hidden before carrying out the attack.



Investigation showed that after abandoning the Mahindra XUV vehicle, the terrorists moved to the western side of the IAF station on foot and forced their entry after cutting the wire fencing over the western side of the perimeter wall before getting inside the airbase in the wee hours of January one.



As per the forensic analysis report, the marks of the cutting tool recovered from the terrorists, matched with the marks on the cut portion of the fencing wire. Also the climbing rope used by them and recovered from the perimeter wall matched with the rope recovered from the Mahindra XUV vehicle.



A glove and a woollen cap, similar to those recovered from the terrorists, were recovered entangled with the wire fencing over the perimeter wall. Further there were marks of climbing over the eucalyptus tree, just outside the perimeter wall panel and also on the other side of the perimeter wall.



After getting inside the IAF Station, the terrorists hid themselves inside the 'nallah' and the dilapidated MES Store sheds till the time they launched the assault.



As per the forensic report, the shoe imprints lifted from the 'nallah' matched with the shoes of a terrorist.



One of the four terrorists identified as Nasir made attempts to call a Pakistan telephone number 923466746667, belonging to one Khayam Bhatti who runs a merchandise shop in Sailkot, using the snatched Indian mobile number but could not converse.



He again made a call to a different Pakistani number 923000957212 and during this conversation, he disclosed the names of his other three associates as Major, Abu Bakar and Umar.



During the day, as they were hiding, he again called and expressed his desire to the person on the other side to talk to a woman whom he addressed as his mother and the call lasted for 18 minutes.



Nasir told the woman that they had infiltrated into the Indian territory at 'do baje (0200 hours)' on Wednesday (which was December 30) and also told her that he had killed two persons referring to Ikagar Singh and the injured victim Rajesh Verma, whose throat was slit by the terrorist but he happened to survive.



He also spoke to his brother and cousin, who is referred to by the name Babar, and to another person whom he called Munna.



While speaking to the woman addressed as his mother, Nasir asked her to record his conversation on the mobile set. During his conversation with her, Nasir mentioned about one "Ustad" who was supposed to come to her with his "Wasihat" (will) after his death.



He also disclosed that they were hiding inside the IAF station (referred to as Camp in conversation) and waiting to carry out the terror attack.



The terrorists launched the attack early in the morning on January 2 and the gunfight between the Garud commandos and the terrorists started in the MES yard at about 0320 hrs.



The terrorists fired and lobbed grenades indiscriminately towards the Garud Commandos, while moving out of the yard, the NIA said, adding during the gunfight one Garud Commando was killed and two others were injured.



The terrorists also specifically targeted fuel tanks of the vehicles parked in the section setting them on fire, causing severe damage to the vehicles and the buildings, so as to cause panic.



The four terrorists then moved southwards firing indiscriminately and lobbing grenades in which an IAF personnel lost his life.



Thereafter they crossed the billets near the Peer Baba Mazar and kept on firing indiscriminately injuring one personnel, on the first floor verandah of the billet.



They then entered the mess area where they killed Hon Capt Fateh Singh and later two more IAF personnel, the NIA said, adding one of the terrorists was killed in the retaliatory fire by then.



The remaining terrorists hid in the thick dry vegetation near the DSC lawns and the NSG and Army units then cordoned off this area and, subsequently, neutralized these three terrorists on January two.



During the operation, seven persons were martyred and 37 persons were injured inside the IAF Station.



NIA investigators collected sufficient evidence in terms of statements of the witnesses to establish that the terrorists had been trained, motivated and radicalised by Maulana Masood Azhar and Mufti Abdul Rauf.



It has also been established through legal intercepts and statements of witnesses, that Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif had guided, equipped and launched the four terrorists, who carried out the terrorist attack at the IAF Station.



The recoveries from the scene of crime, material and documentary evidence, forensic reports and extensive call data analysis, conclusively establish the complicity of the terrorists of JeM, in the attack at the Airbase, the agency said.



Wrapping up investigations in the Pathankot airbase attack case, NIA today filed a charge sheet against Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother and two others for hatching the conspiracy of the January two audacious terror strike that left seven personnel dead and 37 others injured.The charge sheet was filed in the NIA court at Panchkula in which all the four have been slapped with charges under Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.Besides Azhar, his brother Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar and two handlers -- Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan -- have been named in the exhaustive charge sheet. While Interpol Red Corner Notice against three has been issued, the same was pending against Jan, the NIA said.The charge sheet will also put to rest speculation about the number of terrorists involved in the attack as the agency gave details of only four militants. There was confusion about the number of terrorists as Defence Minister Manohar Parikar and Home Minister Rajnath Singh had informed that the number was six.The charge sheet also hinted of lax security at the strategic IAF base in Pathankot and said that the four terrorists -- Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom-- who were Pakistani nationals belonging to Jaish, had entered the premises at 0840 hours of January one and entrenched themselves in a drain and adjacent shed belonging to Military Engineering Services.The terrorists were engaged in a gunfight only at 0320 hours of January two, 19 hours after they had entered the IAF base.The charge sheet is likely to be used by India in advocating its case for imposing sanctions against Azhar, released in 1999 in exchange of IC-814 hijacked Indian Airlines Plane, under the United Nations anti-terror law, officials said.The terror case saw an unusual move from India and Pakistan as Islamabad had sent its probe team to Pathankot. They were handed over all the documents and allowed to question everyone except security personnel involved in foiling the attempts of the terrorists.However, the Pakistani team, upon their return, claimed that India neither shared much of evidence nor allowed it to interrogate the security personnel involved in dealing with the attack.Giving details about the infiltration and activities of the four terrorists, the NIA said in its charge sheet that all the four terrorists underwent extensive motivational, physical, military and tactical training and were radicalized to carry out terror strikes in India.The four terrorists armed with ammunition and other logistical items illegally crossed the Indo-Pak international border through the forest area near the Simbal Border Outpost on December 30.Empty food packets manufactured in Pakistan and other food articles from the neighbouring country were recovered from the forest area near the Simbal Border Outpost, during investigation.After infiltrating into the Indian side, these terrorists reached the road from Bhagwal village to Janial.On December 31, at around 2130 hours, they hijacked a taxi bearing registration number PB06-G-0061, along with the driver, Ikagar Singh, who was going from village Bhagwal to Janial.The terrorists snatched the mobile phone of Ikagar Singh and used the same to communicate with their handler, Kashif Jan and senior leaders and operatives of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pakistan, on three Pakistan mobile numbers 923453030479, 923213132786 and 923017775253.Their vehicle met with an accident at the Dhusi turn near the Ravi River Bridge after which the terrorists brutally killed Ikagar Singh and dumped his dead body in the nearby bushes.Thereafter, the terrorists drove the damaged vehicle and abandoned it at a service station at Kolian Morh in Pathankot.During investigation, the DNA profiles recovered from the dagger, seized from the possession of one of the dead terrorists (Nisar), matched with that of Ikagar Singh, thereby conclusively establishing that he had killed Ikagar Singh.Similarly, DNA profile of two terrorists was found on an energy drink can, recovered from the vehicle of Ikagar Singh.After abandoning the damaged vehicle of Ikagar Singh at Kolian Morh, the terrorists hid in the nearby sugarcane fields and waited for a vehicle to come.They hijacked a Mahindra XUV bearing registration number PB02-BW-0313 of Salvinder Singh, Superintendent of Punjab Police, and moved towards the Air Force Station, Pathankot after taking control of the vehicle.They snatched the mobile phones of the victims and used them to communicate with their handler, Kashif Jan and senior leaders and operatives of the JeM in Pakistan on the four Pakistan numbers -- 923453030479, 923466746667, 923000957212 and 923024880619.After some time, the terrorists tied, blindfolded and dumped Salvinder Singh and his cook Madan Gopal at an abandoned place in a forest area near village Gulpur Simli on way to the Air Force Station, Pathankot.However, they took the third occupant, Rajesh Verma, a jeweller, along with them.Singh and his cook managed to untie themselves and rushed to the nearby Gulpur Simli village on foot for help, the charge sheet said, adding the terrorists, on learning later from Verma that Singh was a police officer, informed their handler who directed them to go back and look for him.Since the duo had already left the spot, the terrorists resumed their journey to the Air Force Station.At around 0400 hrs on January one, the terrorists reached village Akalgarh near the Air Force Station in Pathankot and tied Rajesh Verma.They slit his throat with an intention to kill him and abandoned him and the vehicle in the sugarcane fields at around 0400 hrs. Thereafter, they moved towards the IAF Station on foot.Meanwhile, Rajesh Verma managed to untie himself and rushed to the Akalgarh village for help, the NIA said, adding as per the forensic report collected during investigation, the DNA profile of the genetic material lifted from the energy drink can, recovered from the Mahindra XUV vehicle, matched with that of a deceased terrorist.The DNA profile of the genetic material lifted from the dagger recovered from the possession of another terrorist matched with that of the victims Verma and Ikagar Singh.Similarly, the profile of the trace DNA lifted from the handle of the dagger, matched with that of another terrorist. The seat belt of the Mahindra XUV was cut and used to tie one of the victims.As per the forensic report, the seat belt pieces recovered from the forest area, where the terrorists had dumped Singh and his cook, matched with the remaining seat belt pieces of the Mahindra XUV vehicle.One walkie-talkie set belonging to the terrorists and one slip written in English were recovered from the Mahindra vehicle. The terrorists had left the slip in which it was written, "Jaish E Muhamad Zindabad Tanghdar se le kar Samba Kathua Rajbagh Aur Delhi tak Afzal Guru Shadeed Kay Jan nisar Tum ko meltay rahege. Insha Allah.
Scaling up his attack on Opposition over demonetisation issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today alleged Parliament was not allowed to function as opposition parties were trying to defend the dishonest and were running away from a debate on the issue of corruption and black money.

Addressing BJP's 'parivartan rally' here, he also said some politicians tried to "provoke" people standing in ATM queues, but their designs were not allowed to succeed as the common man was patient and understood that larger interest of the country was at stake.

Modi said at an all-party meeting convened before the Winter session of Parliament, he had suggested a debate on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies and donations to political parties.

But Parliament was not allowed to function for a month as the opposition parties were not interested in a discussion on the two issue, the Prime Minister said.

He said earlier, the opposition used to disrupt Parliament as they wanted to expose the corrupt, bring out scams. But this time, Parliament was disrupted as opposition wanted to defend the dishonest and hence were running away from debate, he alleged.

"Our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money. But their agenda is to close (disrupt) Parliament...I am puzzled," Modi said.

Singling out Congress, he said its leaders have often claimed that lat Rajiv Gandhi brought computer and mobile phone to the common man in India.

Modi said Congress has always shied away from being accountable to the people and recalled a saying about then AICC Treasurer Sitaram Kesri to drive home the point.





"Na khata, na bahi, jo Kesri kahe wahi sahi", he said implying that Congress never believed in accounts and ledgers when it came to its funding.





The Prime Minister told the gathering that the decision to demonetise Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes has shown that there are two sides in the country -- one consisting of a "handful" of people who have been defending those who exploit the middle class and snatch the right of the poor and the other comprising of those who are fighting corruption and the scourge of black money.





He also hailed the efforts of the Election Commission to get rid of black money from electoral system and said the BJP welcomes it.





Attacking the Akhilesh Yadav Government in Uttar Pradesh, Modi alleged that goons are troubling the people openly as they have the blessings of those in power in the state. He hoped that people of the sate will "vote for change" in the assembly polls due early next year.





The PM asked people to spread the word that government is beginning a lucky draw scheme for people using cards and e wallets for purchases and merchants accepting digital payments.





He said only those who buy anything between Rs 50 and Rs 3000 will be eligible for the draw as it is meant to encourage the common man and not the rich.

"But now when I say mobile phone can be used as a bank, they say the poor do not have cell phone...they said people do not have bank accounts. Now they claim poor went to the bank, but there was no money...they are spreading lies."
Former Army chief Gen (Retd) Shankar Roychowdhury today described the political slugfest over the new Army chief's appointment as "detestable", saying it was the prerogative of the government to select the chief of army staff.





"It is detestable. You can't stop politicians from commenting because it is a democracy. Their comments are ill-advised and ill-informed. It is futile to tell politicians not to drag the Army into this", he told PTI when asked about the controversy over the appointment of Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the new Army chief.



"It is the prerogative of the government to select the chief of Army staff. All the three names which cropped up in the media - Eastern Army Commander, Southern Army Commander and the vice-chief Lt Gen Bipin Rawat - are the best of the best. They are extremely experienced with total integrity," he said.



Asked whether the morale of the Army gets affected by such political controversies, he replied in the negative.



"The morale doesn't get affected. The Army will continue to do its duty but they take note of what has been said. The feeling is always there in their mind. But they know that politicians will always say something to suit their own interests," Gen Roychowdhury said.



A highly decorated war hero, Gen Roychowdhury fought the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war.



A political slugfest broke out over the new Army chief's appointment by superseding two officers with Congress asking the Prime Minister to spell out the "compelling reasons" for it and the Left questioning the move even as BJP hit back, saying they should not politicise an issue related to the defence forces.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that the government will provide enhanced infrastructure and logistical facilities at border posts where women personnel have been deployed, under the command of various frontier guarding forces.





Singh, after taking salute at the 53rd Raising Day event of paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at its camp here, said it was essential to have "gender-friendly" facilities at these far flung areas for women as the present support system is deficient.



"There should be gender-friendly infrastructure at border posts where women are deployed....I believe there is a deficiency in this regard. This needs to be improved. I believe those border posts where women personnel are deployed, more facilities should be provided there," he said.



Apart from SSB, Border Security Force (deployed along Pakistan and Bangladesh borders) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (along Sino-India frontier) has deployed its women personnel as part of their border guarding charter.



While the forces have upgraded or created new infrastructure facilities at the border posts after women combatants were posted at these locations for the first time few years back, reports from the field units of these forces have desired that much more needs to be done in this regard.



Singh said that his ministry will give a serious thought to a pending proposal of SSB to have its own dedictated intelligence wing to aid its ground troops mandated to secure Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan.



"Despite not having a dedicated intelligence wing, you have been quite successful in your operations along the two borders you guard," Singh said.



He said it was surely "not an easy" task to secure the two borders as they are not fenced and are fully open which leads to heavy movement across the frontiers.



The Home Minister lauded the force for detecting and apprehending narcotics, arms, ammunition and other banned susbtances estimated at Rs 274 crore when they were being illegally transacted across the two borders this year.



Calling SSB a "multi-dimensional" force, Singh welcomed the forces' proposal to get erected at least ten FM radio towers in the border areas along Nepal.



During the event, SSB Director General Archana Ramasundaram said the force was facing vacancies in the officer cadres and has taken some of them on deputation from other sister forces.



The force, raised in 1963, has 67 operational battalions (about 67,000 personnel) at present and secures the 1,751-km Indo-Nepal border and the 699-km long Indo-Bhutan border apart from being deployed to render a variety of internal security duties in the hinterland.
The leak of documents relating to India's Scorpene submarines was aimed at harming France, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said today ahead of the signing of a deal for 12 sophisticated submarines that French defence major DCNS is building for Australia.





The French Defence Minister renewed suggestions that revelations of the major data breach in its submarine programme were the work of malicious foreign or commercial rivals, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.



During his visit to Sydney, Le Drian said the leak was clearly aimed at damaging the reputation of his country's submarine programme.



"There's obviously an intent to actually harm France," Le Drian said during a joint press conference with Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne.



The remarks come on the back of previous comments by the French firm DCNS that the leak was an act of "economic warfare", though company CEO Herve Guillou declined to repeat those accusations at a recent press conference in France, the report said.



Defence Minister Payne said security of information on new submarines is top priority for both Australia and France following the leak of data from DCNS. She said it was a first order issue for both countries.



Le Drian, who will sign the inter-governmental agreement on the project with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull tomorrow in Adelaide with the French shipbuilder DCNS designing and building the Shortfin Barracudas, said France was implementing highly sophisticated data and physical security measures.



DCNS has been chosen to help with Australia's 50 billion dollars future submarine programme.



The new contract between Australia and France will lay out the "legal framework under which Australia and France will partner on the future submarine programme over the coming decades".



Payne said it was "a critical milestone in delivering the regionally superior fleet of submarines".



"Security priorities are embedded," in the sub programme, Payne said.



Over 22,000 pages of secret data on the capabilities of six highly-advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with French defence company DCNS were leaked earlier this year.



The circumstances of the leak are now the subject of a French investigation, with which Payne said "Australia is co-operating".



Le Drian said the leak did not include the most highly classified material on the Indian submarine but "nevertheless we look at this with all of the seriousness that it requires".
A 23-year-old engineering student at Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College was today found dead in his hostel room here.





Rabi Gupta, a fourth year student of computer science department, had finished his examination on December 17 and was not seen outside his room even at 11 am. Other students thought he was still asleep and tried to wake him up by banging the door, college professor Sopayan Mitra said.



Failing to get any response the students broke open the door and found Rabi lying still on his bed, he said.



Gupta, hailing from Raghunathpur area in Purulia district, was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, the professor said.



Police was informed about the incident following which they visited Gupta's room. An investigation in this connection is underway, a police official said.



The student had dinner last night and went to his room, from where his body was found today, Mitra said.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the demonetisation move, Congress leader Ahmed Patel today said Narendra Modi appears to be having the illusion that within a short span of time he could become as popular as some of his predecessors.



"I feel that the present Prime Minister in two-and-a- half-year of his rule wants to be like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lalbahadur Shastri, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Rajiv Gandhi, which is not possible," Patel, Political Secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, told reporters here.



"To become (popular) like them many things have to be done, many sacrifices need to be made. You cannot just become like them," Patel said.



"When the decision of notebandi (demonetisation) was announced we had supported it, but we are against the way it was implemented as this government had announced the decision without any preparation. Not just that, I would say that the decision was taken without proper thinking," Patel alleged.



"This led to unprecedented trouble for our people especially, to the women," Patel said.

"The way the old money has come into banks, one has an impression that there was no black money in the system," he said.



He said the government had expected that big amount of black money will be unearthed by demonetisation, after which they would be able to give largesse to people in the next budget but now they cannot do that.



In reply to a question on promotion of cashless system, Patel said, "That is not practical in the country, where many people do not have bank accounts and mobile phones. The US also is not a completely cashless economy. To go cashless requires much preparation and they (BJP government) is doing this without any preparations".



Patel is here to oversee preparations ahead of the visit of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.
China is viewed as most influential country in Asia and has more say in Pakistan than the US while Beijing has negative ratings in Japan, Vietnam and South Korea, results of global online survey carried by Chinese media said.



More than 70 per cent of those who responded to an online inquiry on China's international image and influence in 2016 believe China has accomplished "the economic capability as a great power" and more than 44 per cent think China would become the most influential country in Asia, surpassing the US, the results of state-run Global Times-affiliated huaqiu.com survey said.



Among those who have a favourable opinion of China, Pakistanis landed first, the report carried by the Global Times web edition said today.



However 56.7 per cent of the Japanese and 52.2 per cent from Vietnam said they don't like China. 35.8 per cent from South Korea expressed their dislike for China, a sharp increase from 25.5 per cent in 2015.



To the question, "In your opinion, which area has China achieved the status as a great power?" 70.3 per cent of the respondents chose "economic capability," more than 32 per cent for "military capability," 32.6 per cent for "political and diplomatic influence" and 21.7 per cent for "cultural influence."



31.8 per cent of the overseas respondents have a favourable opinion of China, a drop of 5.5 percentage points from 2015, while 19.5 per cent hold negative feelings toward China, an increase of 4.1 percentage points from 2015.



More than 56.6 per cent of respondents ranked the US as the most influential country, followed by China (22. 7 per cent) and Russia (10.1 per cent).



However, 44.6 per cent believe China will become the most influential country in dealing with affairs in Asia within 10 years, further surpassing the US.



Results of the survey called "A global inquiry on China's international image and influence in 2016," received 16,712 responses from respondents above 18-year-old in 16 countries, including Russia, the US, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Brazil, Germany Kenya and Australia.



The survey has no mention about India.
Seriously? one of the participants in a training session exclaimed. You mean to say the site inspection report was prepared after an aerial visit, and there was no on ground verification? All I did was a combination of a half nod, half smile. I have told this story several times before and each time the recipient of the news gives me a variant of the same reaction. It is a combination of disbelief, anguish and a knowing smirk in reaction to an officially documented fact. The approval for diverting forest land for one of Indias largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was actually done without a field level assessment. A large steel plant and a captive port of the same project proponent were granted permission by the government despite this and several other lacunae.



For the people of the area, their agricultural fields, fishing areas in the coastal habitat of sand dunes and estuaries, this was not just a mere procedural lacunae. It was an official acknowledgement that the place they called home, the land they grew food on and the space that was in the realm of commons could just be picked up and handed over to a South Korean company POSCO. Worse, it was not even considered necessary to verify what constitutes life at the site of investment. As a result, a good 10 years have been lost for many. For those who did not resist, it was a long wait in transit camps and for those who resisted, a decade long struggle against the most violent odds. This real story of east coast of India, comes alive in many shapes and sizes across the country. The actors change and so does the location. What remains constant are impacts. When a mine, dam, port, industry or road is constructed, it is not without consequences.



Where the loss is forever

Some of these narratives seem to conclude, for some others even a decade is not enough. Not too far away from the place above, lives a hill tribe, whose name gives away their association with forests. Some of their kins have left home in place of work, others have stayed back to remain horticulturists and forest food gatherers. In their case years of campaign, political intervention and a court ruling meant not just that a bauxite mine will not erode what the tribe considers sacred; but also that village assemblies of those potentially impacted will have veto powers.



Once they vetoed against the mine, the story should have been over. The highest court of the country had upheld this constitutional mandate and a company had to let go of their mining dream despite having erroneously set up a refinery anticipating that the ore would eventually be theirs to mine. But the state government has far from let go of this area. They have sought the apex courts intervention to say that the refusal of the gram sabhas (village assemblies) to disallow bauxite to be

extracted should not be in perpetuity. Till there is ore underneath Niyamgiri in Odisha, the eyes of the extractors will be on it. Never mind if the forests, its elephants and origins of rivers are shaved off for this table top mine.



There are places where the impact has occurred. People have left memories to forcibly accept shanties at the project rehabilitation sites. In Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, these took the shape of two room blocks. There were two kinds of people I met. First, those who had seen displacement three times over and second, others who had just moved into their new cement matchboxes through a process of relocation. Both groups had their vivid stories to tell, only the former spoke and the latter gazed in silence. First they said the reservoir dam will submerge our agricultural fields and adjoining forests because in the 1960s a nation needed to be built. We readily agreed. Then came a mine and we had to move again. But our parents might not have agreed to the second site, if we knew that the railway line would come just behind where we live. This is the story of three generations of a family growing up in a place where mining and power generation is its identification marker. The old ones recall their days in the forest, with tigers looming around and the young assert before a project authority who once promised families jobs. The little piece of resettlement house, in which an ever growing family lives is not for them to even sell and move on. These small quarters were never meant to be owned but were given to those displaced as compensation to what was acquired to build a public purpose project.



Growing investment networks

For a while in India, we talk about investment in large categories. Rivers have to be interlinked criss-crossing wild and cultivated habitats; an infrastructure corridor between Delhi and Mumbai is a web of high speed roads and smart cities; the garland of the sea (Sagarmala) is investment in new ports connecting the west and the east coast of India. Coal fields in central India already have close to 10 coal reserves identified on next to each other and river valleys in the Himalayas earmarked for a cascade of hydro power projects.



All of the earlier scenarios are already visible in one or the other of these investment networks. Impact assessments and forest diversion inspections are full of identified holes, some of them being fought on the streets, in the courts or both. What is being questioned is why the information about endangered species like the Black Necked Crane have been hidden from appraisal committees. Why are rivers being interlinked on an experimental basis to understand whether the damages will outweigh the gains or not. While we await the results, a part of a core zone of a tiger reserve might get fragmented.



We did a site inspection, the official said, and all we found was grass. Even though this case is currently being fought in court, the airport in Pune might get built because a grassland habitat is good enough to given as compared to a productive piece of agricultural land. It is this distance that many stories of the earth also chronicle. One that pits the ecological and social fabric of an area with the decision makers assessment whether something is important enough to protect.


The recent death of thousands of snow geese on a toxic artificial lake high in the Rocky Mountains once again underscored the devastating environmental legacy of more than a centurys worth of copper mining. In the middle of the migratory season, some 3,000 to 4,000 of the large white geese unwarily spread their black-tipped wings and settled down into the acidic wastewater that fills the lake, a 700-acre former open pit mine. It is not known yet exactly what killed the enormous flock. But the last time large numbers of birds died in Butte, Montana  342 in a 1995 incident  it was because they drank the toxic reddish-brown water and it damaged their brains and other organs.



In a natural spectacle, huge flocks of snow geese have been migrating south from Canada to the southwestern United States, passing through Montana by the tens of thousands. The skies are so crowded in some places that people complain the collective din of flapping wings and honking keep them awake at night. We usually see 3,000 to 5,000 in one year, said Mark Thompson, manager of environmental affairs for the mining company Montana Resources. The company tries to thwart all kinds of birds from alighting atop the toxic lake. In this case there were tens of thousands in one night, Mark said. In the morning, the entire 700 acres of the lake was white with geese.



Mine employees desperately tried to shoo the birds away before they could ingest too much poisonous water. They used wailers, which produce loud noises; set off fireworks and cracker shells; and fired rifles their way. Nothing worked. The company then deployed the Goosinator, a large orange remote-controlled boat with a fearsome-looking face that scares birds. But its batteries quickly wore out in the

extremely cold weather. The vast majority of the birds probably were too exhausted from their migratory travels to leave the lake, said Stella Capoccia, an assistant

professor in the biology department at Montana Tech in Butte. They land at night and need to rest for several days. A small number of birds did escape, but were found struggling in parking lots and other places around the region. Residents tried to take care of them, and were upset by the deaths. People feel for the birds, Stella said. It cant be a comfortable death.



While thousands of geese left the pit, some might not have made it very far. One goose found in Dillon, Montana, appears to have survived the pit and is thriving, giving hope that other geese will be all right.



Climate change also figures into the equation. Because of unusually warm weather, the birds departed from their northern wintering grounds weeks later than usual. By the time they reached Montana, a cold snap had frozen their usual stopping places. The water in the pit, on the other hand, rarely freezes, and the birds saw it as a place to rest on their wearying journey.



Agricultural expansion on the Great Plains has sharply increased the numbers of snow geese, at a rate of about five percent annually, to todays population of about 13 million in North America. Now, because they are destroying too much vegetation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has extended hunting seasons to reduce their numbers. But thousands of birds are still migrating, putting some at risk of landing in the pit. Montana Resources is installing lasers, like those used at rock concerts, in hopes that birds will not try to penetrate a gridlike covering of laser beams over the pit.



The lake next to downtown Butte is likely to stay forever. As the lake continues to rise, though, it is scheduled to reach the level of Buttes groundwater by 2023. To prevent that, sometime in the coming years, BP, which shares responsibility with Montana Resources, will begin pumping and treating seven million gallons of toxic water a day. The die-off in 1995 should have been a wake-up call, said Matt

Vincent, chief executive of the unified Butte-Silver Bow County government, who wants the mining companies to solve the problem. Instead, we hit the snooze

button.


Neo-literates, including elderly women, spoke on Monday of how their lives had been transformed by the neo-literacy groups and literacy movement.



The programme was organised by the Jana Shikshana Trust, Grama Vikasa Kendra, Apnadesh, Selco Foundation, Sugrama Sangha, Panchayat Raj institutions to mark the district-level Aksharotsava and inauguration of solar resource centre at Navachethana Jeevana Shikshana Kendra at Mudipu on the outskirts of Mangaluru.



The literacy movement, which Yashoda from Laila in Belthangady taluk had joined, helped her to rid her husband of his alcohol addiction. She said when she joined the neo-literacy movement in 1990, she was not educated. But now I have learned, and I stand on my own feet, she said and added that she has served as motivator at the Continual Education Centre. She had helped at least 162 persons get rid of their alcohol addiction by enrolling them to de-addiction centres.



Pathunhi from Moodushedde said, being a Muslim woman, she had studied only up to fourth standard and was living within the four walls of her house. However, the literacy movement in the district transformed her. I have started self help groups and helped women become empowered by giving them training in self-employment.



Sumathi of Ilanthila has contributed to the empowerment of women. The process of learning through literacy movement exposed her to the outside world. She has been creating awareness on solar energy and has been motivating her neighbours to go for solar energy in their houses.



At the district-level Aksharotsava, representatives of 10 gram panchayats in DK  Meramajalu, Talapady, Moodushedde, Nellikaru, Manjanady, Belandooru, Arala, Naravi, Balepuni and Laila, who were also part of Sugrama, an association of elected women representatives  resolved to make their gram panchayats free of plastic menace by creating awareness among the villagers in the next one year.



The NSS students of University College, Mangaluru, said that they will free their college campus from plastic menace in the next three months.



Jana Shikshana Trust director Sheena Shetty said that there is a need to implement the state governments guidelines of a ban on plastic effectively. In spite of the ban, the use of plastic carry bags, buntings has not been stopped so far. There is a need to maintain cleanliness in our surroundings.



Prema of Alankar gave an account of how she created awareness among the members in her neighbourhood on the ill-effects of plastics.



Bantwal Taluk Panchayat president Chadrahas Karkera, Guruprakash of Selco, ZP member Mamatha Gatti, tribal leader Kamala, Mangaluru Press Club president Ronald Anil Fernandes and Udupi information officer Rohini were present.




The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday named Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and three others in a charge sheet in the Pathankot terror attack case for hatching the conspiracy.



The charge sheet filed in the NIA court at Panchkula also puts to rest the confusion over the number of terrorists who attacked the airbase on January 2, by naming four terrorists who carried out the strike and not six as claimed by the National Security Guard.



Besides Azhar, his brother Abdul Rauf Asghar and two handlers  Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan  were named in the document, in which all the four have been slapped with charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act.



UN sanctions



The naming of Azhar and the others in the chargesheet will be used by India to corner Pakistan in the international arena as well as to push its case to impose UN sanctions on the JeM chief, against whom Interpol red corner notices are pending.



At the same time, the charge sheet indicated that the four terrorists Pakistani nationals Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom, had managed to remain undetected for around 24 hours inside the installation before launching the attack.



The terrorists had entered the airbase at 8.40 am on January 1 and hid themselves in a drain and an adjacent shed belonging to the Military Engineering Services till they began the strike at 3.20 am.



Sufficient evidence



According to the charge sheet, the NIA has collected sufficient evidence to establish that the terrorists had been trained, motivated and radicalised by Azhar and Asghar.



It has also been established that Jan and Latif had guided, equipped and launched the four terrorists who carried out the strike.



The terrorists had entered India through the forest area near the Simbal Border Outpost on December 30, and empty food packets manufactured in Pakistan and other food articles were recovered from the vicinity.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to urge the Centre to posthumously confer Bharat Ratna on former chief minister Jayalalithaa.



During the meeting, he also asked the Centre to put up her life-size bronze statue in the Parliament complex. Panneerselvam told Modi that the first state Cabinet meeting under his leadership, held on December 10, had adopted a resolution on conferring Bharat Ratna on Jayalalithaa. The late chief minister was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1984-89.



Amma has served the country for 32 years and awarding Bharat Ratna is the most befitting way to recognise her exemplary public service. The Tamil Nadu Cabinet has recommended to the Centre that the highest civilian honour be conferred on her, he said.



In his first official visit since the demise of Jayalalithaa on December 5, Panneerselvam also gave a memorandum with various demands, including Rs 22,500-crore financial aid to the state to carry out relief and rehabilitation in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts ravaged by Cyclone Vardah. He urged the PM to release Rs 1,000 crore as an interim relief.



Panneerselvam did not respond to questions regarding Jayalalithaas closest associate Sasikala who is being urged by AIADMK leaders to become the party general secretary, and chief minister.
The common mans Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, and his Cabinet colleagues spent a staggering Rs 1.20 crore on serving tea and snacks to visitors at their offices since assuming office in February 2015, shows an RTI query.



The spendings on tea and snacks between February 2015 and August 2016 were the highest at Kejriwal's offices  one each at the Delhi Secretariat and his Flagstaff Road residence in north Delhi  and added up to Rs 55.85 lakh, according to the General Administration Department data.



At the Delhi Secretariat office, Kejriwal visitors' sipped tea, with snacks, worth Rs 27.25 lakh and at his Camp office he spent Rs 28.60 lakh from the day he became chief minister till August this year, the RTI query revealed.



The chief minister, who takes pride in saving exchequer's money by cutting cost in construction of flyovers and curbing corruption in other welfare projects, also ran

up the second highest electricity bill.



An amount of Rs 2.23 lakh has been incurred by the department on electricity bill from March 19, 2015 to September 4, 2016 in the official bungalow of Chief Minister, Delhi, said the GAD department in its reply.



Ignoring all slogans for saving electricity, it was Power Minister Satyendar Jain who consumed the maximum electricity  worth Rs 3.95 lakh - from March 2015 till date, said an RTI reply given by Deputy Secretary (GAD) Amitabh Kundoo on the application of RTI activist Vivek Garg.



When it came to consuming water at official expense, Kejriwal fared better than Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia  the minister with the fattest water bill.



The chief minister consumed water worth Rs 13,920 from March 18, 2015 to October 31, 2016, said Kundoo.



Sisodias water charges from March 2015 till date are Rs 1.63 lakh, said the GAD reply, adding that Jain spent Rs 6,172 on water charges during the same period.



The chief minister spent Rs 5.08 lakh on petrol/oil/lubricants and maintenance of pilot vehicle provided to him during February 2015 to October 2016.



The RTI revealed that Sisodia spent Rs 8.6 lakh and Rs 6.5 lakh on tea and snack expenses at his office in the Secretariat and Camp office.


The NIA charge sheet in the Pathankot case exposed the chinks in the security ring inside the airbase.





The four terrorists who entered the airbase managed to remain undetected for 24 hours before the strike and even make phone calls to Pakistan.



It also hints at the failures of the police as the attackers managed to hoodwink them despite killing a driver and brutally injuring another, besides abducting a senior police officer who was later let off.



DNA samples



The charge sheet also mentions the evidence it collected through DNA samples, mobile phone call records and articles used by the terrorists to build a fool-proof case against the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists as well as their leaders, including outfit chief Masood Azhar.



After infiltrating into India on December 30, they reached the airbase on foot. They forced their entry into the airbase by cutting the wire fencing over the western side of the perimeter wall. Investigators also recovered a climbing rope, a glove and a woollen cap entangled in the fencing. Marks made while climbing over an eucalyptus tree near the wall were also spotted.



After getting to the airbase, the terrorists hid themselves inside a drainage and later at the dilapidated MES store sheds till the time they launched the assault.



Pakistani number



While inside, one of the terrorists, Nasir, tried calling a Pakistani number 923466746667 at 8.40 pm on January 1. The phone belonged to a shopkeeper in Sialkot.



Forty minutes later, he called on 923000957212 and gave out the names of the terrorists.

He once again called on this number, during which he spoke to a woman whom he identified as mother.


Karnataka, which was the first state in the country to establish cyber crime police station, will add another feather to its cap. The state government is gearing up to create cyber crime squad to avert cyber crimes.





To check cyber crimes across the state, the squad would have branches in all the district headquarters, Home Minister G Parameshwara announced during the inaugural ceremony of the 60th All India Police Duty Meet that began at the Karnataka Police Academy here on Monday.



Parameshwara said detection of cyber crimes is a challenge before the police as the culprits operate from different parts of the world.



Despite the United States being a technological power, the US presidential elections were hacked by criminals. This has made the Karnataka police to think twice on such crimes. Though 60% of the software in the country is developed in Karnataka, the state is not secure in terms of cyber crimes. With the advent of internet, the world has become very small and one can get any kind of information within a minute. At the same time, internet has created many disadvantages. Internet is a double-edged sword, he said.



The minister said the 21st century has posed many challenges before the police, such as securing the state, protecting the nation, protecting women and children.

The participants of the meet would be introduced to handling cyber crimes, dog squads for investigation, intelligence gathering and other procedures. After cyber crime, protection of children and women is a major challenges before the security forces, he added.



The dog squad should be upgraded with latest technologies. The meet provides a wider exposure to the participants and, let them understand where they stand in terms of technology and investigation, he said.



Governor Vajubhai Vala, Director General and Inspector General of Police Om Prakash, DGP (CID) H C Kishore Chandra, DGP (Training) Prem Shankar Meena, Additional Director General of Police (Crime and Technical Services) Bhaskar Rao and Mysuru Police Commissioner Dr A Subrahmanyeswara Rao were present.


Squarely blaming the Opposition for the washout of Parliaments Winter Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday likened the behaviour of the rival members in the House to those in municipalities.



He also said the Opposition was running away from a discussion on corruption.



Hamara agenda hai bhrashtachar, kala dhan band ho. Unka agenda hai sansad band ho, (Our agenda is to hit hard at corruption and black money, whereas the Oppositions agenda is to disrupt Parliament), Modi said, addressing a public meeting at Kanpur, about 90 km from here.



They (Opposition) did not allow Parliament to function despite the Presidents appeal. Paper missiles were thrown at the Speaker. Even the members of municipalities think many times before doing so, the prime minister said.



Modi said that it was a very serious matter and the people of the country needed to understand it. Earlier also Parliament has been disrupted, but then it was against corruption. For the first time slogans were raised in support of the corrupt, he added.


The state government has no adequate funds to purchase areca nut from the growers under the market intervention scheme (MIS) announced by the Centre, said Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra.





Addressing journalists in Bengaluru on Monday, Jayachandra said the state government needs Rs 1,688 crore to purchase areca nut from farmers through MIS. The government has only Rs 130 crore under the scheme. The Centre has not clarified whether it will extend any financial assistance. The state government, however, will soon devise a method to purchase areca nut from farmers, he added.



The Centre has fixed Rs 25,100 per quintal for white (chali) variety and Rs 27,000 per quintal for the red variety. The MIS will be in force between December 7 and 31, 2016.

Jayachandra said the government has purchased 7.37 lakh quintals of onion from 11,452 farmers under the MIS in the last 37 days, spending Rs 57.49 crore. The government could earn only Rs eight crore by selling the onions it had purchased. This had resulted in an additional financial burden of Rs 48.96 crore on the government, which is yet to dispose 1.20 lakh quintals of onion.



The minister accused the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) of not purchasing copra from farmers at the rate fixed by the Centre. The NAFED officials are hand in glove with middlemen, he charged.




The National Investigation Agency Special Court here on Monday sentenced five operatives of Indian Mujahideen to death in the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case.



Asadullah Akthar alias Haddi (31), Zia Ur Rahman alias Waqas (28), Mohammed Tahseen Akthar alias Hassan (28), Ahmed Siddibappa Zarrar alias Yasin Bhatkal (34) and Ajaz Shaikh (29) were held guilty for the February 21, 2013, blasts which killed 18 people and injured 138.



The first accused, Mohammed Riyaz alias Riyaz Bhatkal, is at large. All the five who were convicted under different Sections of the IPC by the court operating from Cherlapally Jail last Tuesday were sentenced to death by the judge today. They were given a chance to explain their point of view but they refused to add anything to what they have already given in writing.



They have shown no reaction or remorse while the judge pronounced the death sentence, NIA prosecutor Surender told reporters outside the jail. The judge also directed the state government to compensate the shop owners who lost their goods in the blasts, which were carried out minutes apart in two crowded areas of Dilsukhnagar.



In its charge sheet, the NIA said Indian Mujahideen (IM) had hatched a conspiracy to wage a war against India and decided to carry out bomb blasts in Hyderabad to create terror in the minds of people and further the activities of the outfit. The prosecution has enlisted 524 and recorded 157 witnesses and presented 200 evidences to seek conviction for the accused.



Celebrating the courts verdict, shop owners and the general public in Dilsukhnagar shared sweets and chanted slogans. We are happy that the perpetrators were sentenced to death, but we are worried that they might appeal in the higher courts for clemency. They should be shown no mercy, said the mother of young Swapna Reddy who lost her life near Konark theatres, where she had gone to get some photocopies.



Fearing retaliatory attacks, armed policemen were stationed in all the major centres of the city including Dilsukhnagar. A large number of security personnel were also deployed in the vicinity of Cherlapally jail where the convicted IM activists are incarcerated. The defence lawyer and members of the convicts family were conspicuous by their absence near the jail.



Yasins mother Rehana told reporters at Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district on Monday, We had hoped Yasin would be acquitted of all charges. But now, we are shocked by the judgement. We will appeal against it in the high court and the Supreme Court.


A slugfest has broken out between the Congress and its ally JD(S) over bypassing the BBMP council and its standing committees in carrying out civil works under the Nagarothana scheme.





JD(S) corporators have warned to step down from various standing committees if the government does not dissolve the high-power committee formed to approve Nagarothana works.



At a joint press conference on Monday, JD(S) MLC T A Saravana and JD(S) leader in the BBMP Council R Ramila Umashankar said the Palike would not be able to utilise its revenue if the project cost was above Rs 10 crore. Such projects should be approved by the high-power committee in which Bengaluru Development Minister K J George and BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad have a bigger say than other members. Umashankar said the Palike council had opposed the formation of the high-power committee but the Congress overlooked it.



Reacting to the accusation, George said the purpose behind forming the high-power committee was to speed up Nagarothana works. Maintaining that the committee was formed as per rules. The government would not interfere in the works carried out using BBMPs own resources. The committees brief is restricted to works under Nagarothana scheme, he told journalists at Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle where the construction of a flyover is under way. The BBMP plans to open the flyover by January end. The flyover is part of a signal-free corridor from Nayandahalli to Bannerghatta Road and Silk Board junction. The total project is to cost Rs 153 crore.



The minister also inspected a railway overbridge on MES Road, Jalahalli, which will be opened in 10 days. He visited Okalipuram where work on the eight-lane corridor project is in progress. He asked BBMP officials to co-ordinate with the railways and complete the work before August 2017.


Farmers in Karnataka have taken to trading via the Unified Market Platform (UMP) of Rashtriya e-Market Services (ReMS) easily even as demonetisation has hit business across the country.



ReMS managing director and CEO Manoj Rajan said there was initial scepticism among farmers. The pre-demonetisation period had a predominantly cash-based payment system to farmers whereas post-demonetisation, new methods have been adopted.



The payments now are by cheques and RTGS facility. In some instances payments are deferred. Payments are by cash in a few cases. There is also part payment in cash and part in financial instruments, Rajan said.



Karnataka has 158 APMC (agricultural produce market committee) yards and 153 of them transact online through UMP provided by ReMS, a joint venture between the Department of Agricultural Marketing and NCDEX e Markets Limited.



Diversified uses



Unified Market Platform enables automated price discovery mechanisms and post-auction process (weighing, invoicing, market fee collection, accounting, payment of proceeds directly to farmers and e-permit generation) in agriculture markets.



UMP has clearing and settlement module, which enables direct payment from the accounts of traders to those of farmers. Traders purchasing multiple lots have to transfer to one single clearing and settlement account of APMC. UMP automatically trifurcates the whole amount into three components and transfers to the accounts of the farmer concerned, commission agent and market committee. We have piloted online payments in three markets. Gadag was the first market where we started online payments in May 2015, followed by Tiptur in June and Hubballi in July, Rajan said.



Transactions done



Within two-and-a-half years of its inception, ReMS has done transactions worth Rs 34,000 crore. We have had commodities valued at Rs 2,300 crore transacted last month in our markets. The agri-market ecosystem of Karnataka has a base of 33,000 buyers and 17,000 commission agents. Traders from seven states have taken trader licences from the department of agricultural marketing and more than 100 institutional and bulk buyers use our markets, he said.



The Karnataka model of agriculture reforms brings in transparency in market operations. Simplified licensing conditions enables buyers anywhere in the state (or country) to participate in the market. The wide reach of the electronic platform leads to price quotes that factor in broader demand-supply information, he said.



When demonetisation was announced, farmers, doubting sales and payments, hesitated to bring their produce to the markets, while traders and commission agents did not fully participate in the markets. Trade picked up subsequently. The last week of November has seen an increase of 13% growth over the first week of November. The trade in the current month is around Rs 2,300 crore, he said.


A gold bar worth Rs 30 lakh and two expensive wrist watches costing Rs 2.5 lakh have gone missing from the locker of a HDFC banks branch at BEML Layout in Whitefield.



Shantharam, who has availed of a locker facility at the bank in his name, lodged a complaint with the police on Monday. He stated in the complaint that there were watches and a gold bar in the locker in May 2015. When he went to the bank recently and opened the locker, he was shocked to see the valuables missing.



I immediately informed the manager but he did not take any action, Shantharam said. We went to the bank and checked the locker. There is no damage to it. Some insiders may be involved in the incident. We will question the bank staff, said the jurisdictional police inspector. The police have constituted a team to trace the suspects.



Youth ends life



A 23-year-old delivery boy with a courier agency committed suicide by hanging himself at his house at Vayunandan Nagar in Amruthalli on Sunday night. Srinivas, 23, a native of Tamil Nadu was staying with his elder brother and mother at the rented house, said the police.



The victims mother had gone to Tamil Nadu and his brother was away from the house when Srinivas committed suicide. Srinivas brother returned home late in the night and knocked on the door. When there was no response, he broke open the door and found his brothers body hanging from the ceiling fan. There was no death note and, reason for Srinivas suicide is yet to be ascertained, said the police.




The marital discord between M P Kumaraswamy, former BJP MLA from Mudigere constituency, and his wife Savitha, once again became public on Monday with the former MLA throwing Savitha out of his HSR Layout house.





My wife Savitha is levelling baseless charges against me. She is threatening to lodge a complaint against me with the police. Savitha is doing all this for my property. I have decided to divorce her, he told reporters. Savitha said her husband kept all her belongings outside the house and went away. He has told security guards that he will never meet me, she added.



The couple were in Mysuru at the house of Kumaraswamys relative on Sunday. They had a fight over an issue. He left for Bengaluru early on Monday without informing her. She came to the city around noon and went to the house, but it was locked.
Aryavardhan, the self-styled numerologist, was on Monday remanded in police custody till December 23.





The Byatarayanapura police had arrested him on Sunday after a woman lodged a complaint accusing him of cheating her of Rs 1.5 lakh.



A woman from Andhra Pradesh had recently lodged a complaint against him with the Rajarajeshwarinagar police for outraging her modesty and cheating her of about Rs 1.75 lakh. The Rajarajeshwarinagar police arrested him on Saturday. However, he had obtained interim bail in the case.



Meanwhile, another woman approached the Byatarayanapura police and claimed that Aryavardhan collected money from her to conduct a session in numerology, but the session did not take off. The Byatarayanapura police arrested him based on the complaint on Sunday evening.



The police produced him before the ACMM Court-I on Monday and the magistrate remanded him in police custody. Aryavardhan, a resident of Rajarajeshwarinagar, has his numerology office in KG Nagar.


Aix-en-Provence, France, December 19, 2016 - Inside Secure (Euronext: INSD), at the heart of security solutions for mobile and connected devices, today announced that Catherine Blanchet has been appointed to its Supervisory Board, following the recommendation of its governance committee. This appointment will be submitted to shareholders for ratification at the next annual general meeting of Inside Secure. Ms. Blanchet, 46, brings extensive leadership experience in international finance, investor relations and corporate communications to the board.

Ms. Blanchet succeeds Bpifrance Participations, represented by Thierry Sommelet, which has resigned from its mandate.

Inside Secures Supervisory Board is now comprised of five members including four independent directors, with women representation at forty-percent. This is in line with the companys proactive governance policy and in accordance with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF governance code, as well as best market practices.

President and CEO of Inside Secure, Amedeo DAngelo commented, Catherine brings impressive experience and recognized skills in areas that represent high stakes for our company. In addition to finance and audit, she has extensive experience in strategic investor relations and in accelerating value in growing companies. I am extremely pleased to welcome her as part of our Supervisory Board.

Mr. DAngelo continued, On behalf of myself and the entire Supervisory Board, I sincerely thank Thierry Sommelet for his active participation in the Supervisory Board since 2010, and his strong support in the companys transformation which is now completed.

Catherine Blanchet began her career in 1994 with Credit Lyonnais in New York, before joining the banks international audit department. From 1998 to 2008 she worked with Completel, a B2B telecom operator, notably as Deputy Chief Financial Officer in charge of strategic planning, financing and investor relations. From 2009 to 2015, Catherine Blanchet worked with Ingenico (Euronext: ING), as Investor Relations Director and then as Vice-President Investor Relations and External Communications. Ms. Blanchet is a member of the board and chairman of the audit committee of Coheris (Euronext: COS), a CRM and analytics solutions provider. Ms. Blanchet holds a Master's Degree in Management and is a graduate of Telecom Management, specializing in telecom finance for the Institut Mines-Telecom Bretagne (France).

About Inside Secure

Inside Secure (Euronext Paris - INSD) is at the heart of security solutions for mobile and connected devices, providing software, silicon IP, tools and know-how needed to protect customers transactions, content, applications, and communications. With its deep security expertise and experience, the company delivers products having advanced and differentiated technical capabilities that span the entire range of security requirement levels to serve the demanding markets of network security, IoT security, content & application protection, mobile payment & banking. Inside Secures technology protects solutions for a broad range of customers including service providers, content distributors, security system integrators, device vendors and semiconductor manufacturers. For more information, visit http://www.insidesecure.com






Pitt Will Only Be Allowed To Spend Four Hours With His Kids On Christmas
A schoolgirls heartfelt letter inspired Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to make a decision to change lives by increasing access to diabetes technology.

Chelsey Millars (pictured, centre) compassionate words led to the politician last week announcing a 10m pledge to widen access to insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitor (CGM) equipment as part of plans to improve type 1 diabetes care.

The Scottish government funding will increase the availability of CGMs for priority groups, including children, over the next five years.

The move was announced by the First Minister at an event staged in Edinburgh last week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of JDRF in the UK, where Chelsey met Scotlands political leader.

Chelsey, now aged 11, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four. She penned the letter upon hearing about CGMs and the prospect of pricking her finger less.

In the letter to Ms Sturgeo, Chelsey, from Dunfermline, said she had done blood glucose tests at least 12,260 times since she was diagnosed.

I am writing to tell you about something that can be done in Scotland to help people with diabetes, Chelsey wrote. I live with diabetes and have done since the age of four. I would like to give people in Scotland the chance to have something that other countries in the world have.

Last year when I was on holiday in Norfolk I read about continuous glucose monitoring sensors. I thought this would be a great thing for children in Scotland as it would mean less finger pricks, which is a big thing to me and I am sure other children.

Carol (pictured, left), Chelseys mum, told the Daily Record: Im extremely proud of her. Chelsey is only 11 and its as if she has an adult head on her. She is very passionate about diabetes and has even made PowerPoint presentations to give me information.

It was amazing news to hear about the funding. Chelsey does a lot of finger prick tests a day, and you get to the stage when she doesnt want to do them anymore, which is natural, but its not an option not to do them. As Chelsey said to the First Minister, [the funding] will change lives.

Picture: Daily Record
An MP wants to introduce a new law to ensure people with diabetes are properly monitored while in hospital.

More than one fifth of people with diabetes have a hypoglycemic episode during a hospital stay and almost 40 per cent experience medication errors, according to the National Diabetes Inpatient Audit (NaDIA).

Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, the chair of the All-Parliamentary Party Group for Diabetes, which commissioned the report, is now campaigning for legal care requirements for specialist diabetes care in hospitals.

The MP for Leicester East presented the Diabetes Inpatient Care Bill 2016-17 last week in the House of Commons as a Private Members Bill.

It states: Bill to require the Secretary of State to ensure that all diabetic patients are identified on admittance to hospital and have their diabetes condition monitored while in hospital by a specialist diabetes team; and for connected purposes.

The first reading took place on Thursday 15 December 15 and is due to be discussed in February.

Private Members Bills are presented to parliaments by individual politicians as opposed to a government and must successfully go through several phases before becoming law. While most are unsuccessful they do help to raise awareness of particular problems or challenges.

Audit lead clinician Dr Gerry Rayman said: Since 2010, the NaDIA has been an excellent tool for highlighting specific issues in patient care and driving forward changes that can save lives, improve inpatient experiences and save money for hospital trusts.

Despite significant results in some areas, others remain static and will continue to do so until the existing overstretched specialist teams, who do an amazing job, are better supported and trusts who have no inpatient diabetes service are commissioned to provide this.
A woman who raised almost a million pounds for a diabetes charity has been recognised by the Prime Minister Theresa May.

Jubie Wiga, from the Cotswolds, received the Point of Light award which honours people who go above and beyond for helping and inspiring others in their local community.

Jubies fundraising efforts started when her daughter Aliena was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of two.

She set up a website called Sugarplum Children which supports children and families affected by the condition, with money raised going to the JDRF. The website holds the largest online directory of food information to support parents of type 1 diabetic children.

In a personal letter written to Jubie, Ms May, who has type 1 diabetes, said: Your determination and drive to support your daughter Aliena and others with type 1 diabetes is allowing children and their families to manage the condition so they can get on and enjoy life.

I have seen first-hand the phenomenal effort you put into raising a staggering amount for JDRF and the important work Sugarplum Children is doing to help families have the information they need.

Jubie is the 626th winner of the award, which is presented by the Prime Ministers office. She said: I am so honoured to have been chosen as the recipient of this prestigious award.

To have the work I do with Sugarplum Children recognised at this level gives me the drive and energy I need to take my fundraising to the next level, helping to make the daily ordeal of life with type 1 for all those brave little stars a thing of the past.
Young adults who suffer from severe mental health problems are at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, research suggests.

Scientists from Kings College London analysed whether the association of severe mental illness with type 2 diabetes varies by ethnicity and age.

A team led by Dr Jayati Das-Munshi examined more than 588,000 people from GP practices in London.

Type 2 diabetes was found in 7.6 per cent of people without severe mental illness, while that jumped to 16 per cent in people who had severe mental illness. Age, sex and socioeconomic backgrounds were among the variables considered.

The prevelance of type 2 diabetes was 3.3 per cent in people with severe mental illness aged between 18-34 years; 14.3 per cent in those aged 35-54; and 27.5 per cent in those older than 55 years.

However, compared to people without severe mental illness, the risk of type 2 diabetes was nine per cent in people aged from 18-34 years and just one per cent in both the 35-54 and 55+ age categories.

There was a greater likelihood of major mental health problems among people from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan who had type 2 diabetes.

The researchers concluded: The relative risk of type 2 diabetes is elevated in younger populations. Most associations persisted despite adjustment for anti-psychotic prescriptions. Ethnic minority groups had a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the presence of severe mental illness.

Future research and policy, particularly with respect to screening and clinical care for type 2 diabetes in populations with severe mental illness, should take these findings into account.

The research could have implications for type 2 diabetes screening programmes, with the authors suggesting: These findings potentially inform current discussions on screening for diabetes mellitus in severe mental illness, particularly in younger populations and in areas which are ethnically diverse.

The study was published in the online journal Diabetic Medicine.
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BlackBerry's deal doesn't apply in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia

BlackBerry is moving another step closer to its transition becoming a security software and services company. The company has signed a long-term licensing deal with Chinese manufacturer TCL allowing latter to build BlackBerry-branded smartphones. Back in September, BlackBerry had announced that it will stop making its own phones in order to concentrate on services and software business.

This shouldn't come as a surprise considering the fact that BlackBerry's latest smartphones DTEK50 and DTEK60 were rebranded TCL-made devices. According to the agreement, TCL will 'design, manufacture, sell and provide customer support for BlackBerry-branded mobile devices' while BlackBerry will provide security software and service suite. The deal, though global, doesn't apply in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

According to Bloomberg, BlackBerry is working on a similar deal with an Indian company to reintroduce BlackBerry-branded smartphones. The company also plans to outsource its brand license to multiple smartphone makers around the globe thus helping it pop out more BlackBerry smartphones globally.

"This agreement with TCL Communication represents a key step in our strategy to focus on putting the 'smart in the phone' by providing state-of-the-art security and device software on a platform that mobile users prefer and are comfortable with," said Ralph Pini, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Mobility Solutions at BlackBerry.

"At TCL Communication, we are committed to creating the best portfolio solutions, while ensuring the quality support to consumers and enterprise users who trust the integrity of the BlackBerry device and the brand's security leadership, coupled with the Android platform," said Nicolas Zibell, CEO of TCL Communication.

BlackBerry may have lost out on marketshare but the brand continues to endure a liking and the company is probably trying to keep itself afloat with this deal. In our review of BlackBerry DTEK60, we noted that the smartphone is good but that additional security software doesn't really cut the deal.

BlackBerry has lost the market dominance it once commanded in the premium smartphone segment and its latest effort to introduce Android-based smartphones haven't really been useful either. Long story short is that BlackBerry is out of the smartphone business but it will hopefully stay afloat with this licensing deal.
Nokia is already expected to launch a budget device called the D1C next year

Nokia is expected to make a return next year, and new leaks suggest that the company might unveil a flagship device. Chinese website, MyDrivers, has posted an image of a smartphone bearing the Nokia logo. As per the report, the phone is called the Nokia P and is a flagship device with Snapdragon 835 SoC with 6GB of RAM. The phone is also expected to come with a 23MP primary camera with a Zeiss lens.

Nokia-branded phones re already tipped to enter the market next year, starting with the D1C. The device is expected to be a budget smartphone that is priced at around the Rs. 10,000 mark. Rumored specifications of the Nokia D1C hint towards a 5.5-inch FHD display and a Snapdragon 430 SoC with 3GB of RAM. It is also expected to sport 13MP and 8MP cameras, and offer 32GB of expandable storage. It is also expected to come with Nokias Z-Launcher, which will be based on Android Nougat v7.0. HMD has already launched a Nokia-branded feature phone called the Nokia 150 and 150 Dual SIM.
Lenovo VP has also confirmed that Real Pen will work with Chrome OS

Lenovo is planning to introduce Yoga Book with Chrome OS next year. Lenovo Yoga Book is one of the fascinating product launches this year with its convertible design and Halo keyboard. Lenovo has already offers Yoga Book with Android or Windows and addition of Chrome OS just expands the option.

According to Laptop Mag, Lenovo plans to launch Chrome OS version of Yoga Book in 2017. Lenovo VP Jeff Meredith has confirmed company's plan to offer a third variant of the device running Google's desktop operating system. Lenovo says Chrome OS-powered Yoga Book is an "interesting idea for education, especially with the form factor."

Lenovo VP has also confirmed that Real Pen will work with Chrome OS. It basically means that Yoga Book powered by Chrome OS will offer options to take notes or sketch on a real paper pad attached to the device or write directly on the Wacom digitizer based Create Pad. Lenovo Yoga Book with Chrome OS will make more sense especially considering Google's extended support for Android apps on Chromebooks.

Google is already making inroads with its Chrome OS and it shouldn't come as a surprise that the OS is being considered for Lenovo Yoga Book. Lenovo has not shared exact timing of the product but it is likely to be available sooner than later.
The agreement will also allow Singapore-listed Noble -- one of the world's largest commodity traders -- to acquire up to a 12.5% interest in AIM-quoted Mkango via the exercise of warrants.



Mkango would, subject to regulatory approval, issue 12m common share purchase warrants to Noble, aligning Noble's interests with those of Mkango's shareholders.

Each whole warrant would entitle Noble to acquire one common share of Mkango at a price of 6.6p each for a period of two years following the date of the agreement.



"This is a company-transforming transaction and we are delighted to be working with Noble, the largest commodity trader in Asia, seeing this as a key stepping stone to moving the Project through the development phase," said chief executive Will Dawes.

"Mkango is focused on one of the few advanced-stage, rare-earths projects outside China, and through Noble's network and relationships in Asia and elsewhere, its marketing expertise, logistics platform and off-take capabilities, we are very well positioned to advance the project against the backdrop of a recovering rare earths sector," he said.

"We are also very pleased to welcome two specialist institutional funds, the Rare Earth Elements Fund and Metals Exploration Fund, as major new investors in the Company, in addition to continued support from existing shareholders."

At about 13:59 GMT, shares in Mkango were up 3.85% to 3.38p.
A customs union deal is an option for Britain after Brexit, but the country would have to abide by the rules of Europe, the former head of the UK's trade department said on Monday.

Sir Andrew Cahn, the former chief executive of UK Trade and Investment, told the BBC, that membership of the customs union means abiding by all the rules and regulation of Brussels as Turkey does.

Cahn said Turkeys deal with the trading bloc meant it accepted the industrial standards that Brussels set now and in the future with no say in them and abided the the rulings of the European Court of Justice on these standards.

However he said that he could not see why the EU would allow Britain to cherry pick for specific sectors in a potential customs union deal.

Cahn, who also a former adviser to European commissioner Lord Cockfield who helped create the single market, said: What I think is more difficult to contemplate is the idea that you have cars inside but some sort of widgets outside. The idea is that cars, which we care about, aerospace, which we care about, financial services, which we care about, wouldnt it be great if they were in the customs union?

Would that be legal under the WTO [World Trade Organisation]? I doubt, even if we got away with it I dont think the EU side would be prepared to do it, why would they allow us to cherry pick?

International trade secretary Liam Fox told the BBC on Sunday that Britain could remain a partial member of the EU customs union, which means specific goods would be able to cross borders without customs checks, saving time and money.

We want to look at all the different things, it's not binary. I hear people talking about hard Brexit and soft Brexit as though it's a boiled egg we are talking about, it's a little more complex. So, Turkey, for example, is in part of the customs union, but not other parts.
US tech giant Apple has joined together with the Irish government in a formal appeal against a European Commission ruling that ordered the company to repay the state $13bn in back taxes.

Earlier this year the executive branch of the European Union, led by competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager, ruled that Apple to pay the sum into the Irish national coffers due to the low level of corporate tax it had paid in the country.

Ireland's corporate tax rate of 12.5% has allowed it to attract investment from various tech companies for their European bases. However, commissioner Margrethe Vestager found that between 2003 and 2014, Apple paid between 1% and 0.005%.

Tim Cook in August called the EU's decision "political crap" and vowed to appeal.

As the EU releases its full report on the ruling on Monday, a statement released by Ireland's finance department has accused the bloc of misinterpreting the country's tax rules.

"The purpose of the state aid rules is to tackle state interventions which confer a selective advantage. The state aid rules by their nature cannot remedy mismatches between tax systems on a global level," the briefing said.

Opposition lawmakers in Ireland have widely criticised the government's decision, pointing to the idea that such a significant amount of money could be used to fund vital public services.

Apple's chief financial officer Luca Maestri defended the company's tax dealings in Ireland, saying that the value created by its business there is in line with various other companies' operations.

"The way companies get taxed around the world is in line with the value that they create from the economic activity that they perform in certain countries," Maestri said."We do not design or develop products in Ireland . . . The engineering organisation is right here and thats what creates our intellectual property."

On Monday Vestager suggested that Apple could face a reduced bill from the case if some of its funds were redirected from Irish subsidiaries towards its US company.

"The amount to be paid back to Ireland would also be reduced if the two companies were required to pay larger amounts of money to their US parent company to fund the research and development efforts, in addition to the annual payments they have made," she said.
State-owned airline Iran Air has said it no longer plans to place an order for a number of Airbus A380s, a week after the company signed a deal with Boeing for 80 planes.

Iranian news agency IRNA reported the news on Sunday, in which a deal agreed between the two parties will be significantly cut from $25bn to $10bn.

Orders have dried up for the jumbo jet since its introduction in 2007, after initially receiving a high level of interest for the aircraft.

"The initial value of the deal with Airbus was $25 billion for 118 planes, and now that the A380 has been canceled the value of the deal will not go beyond $10 billion," Iran Air CEO Farhad Parvaresh said on Sunday.

The luxurious plane's first-class cabins had private showers with in flight bartenders preparing fresh cocktails, as well as a staircase between two levels.

Earlier this year Airbus recognised difficulties in maintaining the viability of the plane, but stressed that they are continuing to invest in and innovate their product.

"The A380 is here to stay," sales boss John Leahy said. "We are maintaining, innovating, and investing in it."

It has been difficult to sell aircraft with four engines, as evidenced in 2011 by the scrapping of the Airbus A340, and the movement towards smaller planes which consume less fuel, including the Airbus A330 and the Boeing 777.

Iran Air had initially agreed to buy 12 A380s after sanctions against the country were lifted in January as a result of its acceptance of terms regarding its nuclear programme.

A deal with Boeing this month completed the transaction of 80 airplanes from the US manufacturer to Iran, as the company seeks to modernise its fleet.
Samsung Electronics has held talks with LG Chem about becoming a battery supplier for its smartphones, according to reports from South Korean media on Monday.

The world's biggest smartphone maker suffered a torrid time attempting to resolve a problem with batteries in its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device. After an initial global recall which saw millions of phones being replaced at Samsung's expense, it was announced in October that production of the Note 7 would be permanently halted.

A deal with LG Chem, Korea's largest chemicals company, would be an attempt to diversify its battery suppliers, with current contracts being operated by Samsung SDI and Amperex Technology in China.

A report in South Korea's Chosun Ilbo referred to a source from the tech industry which suggested that there was a 90% chance that a deal will be completed over the coming days.

Samsung has said little about its batteries since the announcement of the end of the Note 7, as the company attempts to win back trust from consumers.

LG's battery manufacturing division already supply batteries for a number of smartphone and tablet manufacturers, including LG's own devices and Apple for the iPhone and iPad products.

If a deal were to be signed soon, Samsung phones could carry LG batteries as soon as the second half of next year. Neither Samsung or LG have yet made an official comment on the deal.
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde was on Monday found guilty of negligence in approving a pay out of taxpayers' cash to disgraced businessman Bernard Tapie, but avoided a jail term.

Lagarde faced a possible 15,000 euro fine and up to one year in prison.

Lagarde approved a massive state payout to businessman Tapie, who has previously been jailed on corruption charges. In 2007 Lagarde sent a dispute between Adidas owner Tapie and lender Credit Lyonnais to a three-person private arbitration authority, which ruled that the businessman was owed more than 400m euros from the state.

Tapie was ordered to repay the money the last year after almost a decade of legal wrangling resulting from the deal.

The court's decision came as somewhat of a surprise, despite a judge referring to public prosecution evidence last week as "weak". Judge Jean-Claude Marin said the IMF boss's actions were more politically wrong than criminally wrong.

Lagarde was not present at the court hearing on Monday, but has professed her innocence from the beginning of the proceedings. Although she escaped criminal punishment, her second term in charge of the international organsiation may well be under threat following the verdict.

She replaced Dominique Strauss-Kahn as head of the IMF in 2011, after his resignation due to sexual assault allegations after an incident in New York, which were later dropped.
The defence sector was given a boost on Monday as the United States Navy backed president-elect Donald Trump 's campaign assertions that the country needs over 350 new warships.

A new report released by the US Navy, entitled the "Force Structure Assessment", will recommend increasing the current goal of 308 to 355, echoing what Trump espoused during his successful campaign for the White House.

Several private contractors could be set for increased sales, including General Dynamics Corp and Huntington Ingalls Industries, which are the biggest manufacturers of warships in the US.

Also likely to applaud the news is Lockheed Martin Corp, one of the largest defence contractors in the country, who make the Aegis combat system.

"While continuing the counter-terrorism fight and appropriately competing with a growing China and resurgent Russia, our Navy must continue to grow," said Navy chief Ray Mabus said in a statement.

Trump won an unexpected victory against Democrat Hillary Clinton in November having taken a hard line against groups such as Islamic State. In a key foreign policy and national security speech in September he said that there would need to be at least 350 combat vesssels in order for the US to remain competitive.

The report concluded that 355 ships is "the level that balanced an acceptable level of war-fighting risk to our equipment and personnel against available resources and achieves a force size that can reasonably achieve success."
Nicolas Maduro , the president of Venezuela, has defended the decision to withdraw the country's most used bank note, which has led to mass protests in the region.

Maduro made the decision to withdraw the 100-bolivar note last week on the basis that it would help to stymie Bolivia's rapidly increasing black market. Although the note will only cease to be legal tender in 2017, a high percentage of businesses are not accepting the note.

Food and medicine are in short supply in many areas of Venzuela, particularly in rural areas. Maduro has closed the country's borders with Colombia and Brazil and this will remain the case until the note is withdrawn on 2 January.

"If I had done nothing, this week they (Colombian gangs) would have achieved a major victory against peace and tranquility in the country," Maduro said of the decision.

"We have defeated a monetary, political, social and economic attack, by having contained it. We have to contain it, neutralise it and start to get back to what is a defeat for them, and a victory for this country."

United States president Barack Obama was not spared from Maduro's televised speech, and was accused of planning to engineer a coup against the country's left-wing government.

Over 300 protesters have been arrested in recent days owing to violence caused by the bank note withdrawal, but Maduro rebuffed opposition parties' claims that they were being treated unfairly.

"Don't come and tell me they are political prisoners," he said.
Stocks in London were little changed by midday, paring earlier small losses in quiet trade, with volumes starting to ebb away as we head into the Christmas break.

The FTSE 100 was down 0.1% to 7,018.24, with volumes on the index 33% below the 20-day average. Meanwhile, oil prices edged higher, with West Texas Intermediate up 0.4% at $52.13 a barrel and Brent crude up 0.6% to $55.54.

IGs Joshua Mahony said: The week has started in somewhat uninspired fashion, with European indices trading largely sideways as we await the next big move. The festive season typically brings with it diminished volumes and the expectation of higher volatility. However, with markets holding up remarkably well despite arguably the worst market outcomes from the Brexit, Italian referendum, US election and Fed meeting, there is reason to believe we could simply see Santa deliver his rally in peace.

In corporate news, BP edged higher after signing an agreement to take a 10% stake in Abu Dhabi's ADCO onshore oil concession for an undisclosed sum. BP also said on Monday that it will invest nearly $1bn in a natural gas field off the coast of West Africa as it struck a deal with Kosmos Energy.

Drax powered ahead after the European Commission approved Britains plans to support the conversion of a unit of the companys power plant to biomass from coal.

Electra Private Equity was in the black as it said it will receive roughly 405m proceeds from the 1.35bn sale of Parkdean Resorts to Canadian investors Onex Corporation.

Investment manager Brewin Dolphin nudged up after announcing that it will buy Duncan Lawrie Asset Management for 25.5m along with a payment of 2.5m, to reflect the value of net assets in the business.

Outsourcer Capita was a high riser after the BBC extended its existing TV licence collections partnership with the company for a further two years until June 2022.

On the downside, FTSE 250 intellectual property-based business developer IP Group retreated as it announced the creation of Microbiotica, which it described as a newly formed spin-out company from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute established to commercialise the institute's research into the role of the human microbiome in disease.

Carnival shares slumped as Berenberg downgraded its stance on the stock to hold from buy and cut the price target to 4,000p from 4,200p.

More broadly, investors were digesting news that China was in talks with the US about returning an underwater drone that was seized by a Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea last Thursday.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,018.24 0.09%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 17,778.66 -0.03%

techMARK (TASX) 3,340.53 0.01%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,839.00p 2.62%

BT Group (BT.A) 374.25p 1.98%

Capita (CPI) 498.30p 1.67%

Merlin Entertainments (MERL) 445.50p 1.62%

Unilever (ULVR) 3,196.50p 1.41%

Mediclinic International (MDC) 735.00p 1.38%

Compass Group (CPG) 1,434.00p 1.34%

Relx plc (REL) 1,409.00p 1.29%

National Grid (NG.) 942.90p 1.28%

Imperial Brands (IMB) 3,534.50p 1.28%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,568.00p -2.67%

Carnival (CCL) 4,002.00p -1.62%

Barclays (BARC) 224.60p -1.56%

Standard Chartered (STAN) 674.90p -1.47%

AstraZeneca (AZN) 4,336.50p -1.47%

Convatec Group (CTEC) 230.60p -1.45%

Micro Focus International (MCRO) 2,128.00p -1.34%

Antofagasta (ANTO) 661.00p -1.34%

HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 658.40p -1.27%

BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,289.00p -1.23%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Drax Group (DRX) 348.80p 7.65%

NMC Health (NMC) 1,518.00p 4.76%

Centamin (DI) (CEY) 119.60p 2.75%

TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 169.50p 2.73%

Berendsen (BRSN) 836.50p 2.64%

Caledonia Investments (CLDN) 2,560.00p 2.40%

Zoopla Property Group (ZPLA) 323.20p 2.25%

Polypipe Group (PLP) 315.30p 2.24%

Paysafe Group (PAYS) 335.80p 2.19%

Brewin Dolphin Holdings (BRW) 296.50p 2.17%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Evraz (EVR) 232.00p -11.82%

Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 359.10p -2.81%

PayPoint (PAY) 921.50p -2.49%

Metro Bank (MTRO) 3,171.00p -2.40%

Ferrexpo (FXPO) 135.60p -2.27%

Brown (N.) Group (BWNG) 215.40p -2.14%

Hochschild Mining (HOC) 199.40p -2.06%

JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 313.60p -2.03%

esure Group (ESUR) 193.00p -1.83%

Allied Minds (ALM) 422.30p -1.79%
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How J.T. Tuimoloau became Ohio State's next dominant defensive end

A multifaceted skill set shaped by playing multiple sports and training with family set J.T. Tuimoloau to become Ohio State's next star defensive end.
Proactively From the Sea; an agent of change leveraging the littoral best practices for a paradigm breaking six-sigma best business case to synergize a consistent design in the global commons, rightsizing the core values supporting our mission statement via the 5-vector model through cultural diversity.
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The site of a 17-story hotel previously planned for Second and Virginia has sold for $18 million, according to King County records. The sellers were three LLCs associated with Columbia West Properties. That Bellevue company assembled five different parcels from the Diamond, Weisfield and Alhadeff families in 1999 and 2007, creating new ownership LLCs.

The property includes the landmarked Terminal Sales Annex Building, completed in 1916, plus two smaller buildings and parking lots. The combined site is north of the 25-story Viktoria apartments and south, across Virginia, from the 34-story Tower 12 apartments now under construction.





. . .
Prem Watsa's Fairfax Financial to buy Swiss insurer Allied World Assurance for $4.9 bn

Canada's Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd, a property and casualty insurer run by billionaire Prem Watsa, yesterday struck a deal to buy Swiss insurer Allied World Assurance Company Holdings AG for $4.9 billion in cash and stock.

Fairfax, based in Ontario, is offering to pay $10.00 in cash and $44.00 in Fairfax shares, an 18 per cent premium to Allied World's Friday closing price of $45.77.

The transaction, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017, is subject to Fairfax receiving a sufficient number of Allied World Shares, approval by Allied World shareholders and, to approvals from regulators.

Post closing, Allied World will hold around 27-per cent stake in the combined company -- or about 10 per cent if Fairfax exercises the option to use more cash instead of stock.

The combined firm will oversee an asset portfolio of $39 billion.

Baar, Switzerland-based Allied World was formed in 2001 after the 11 September terror attacks through the merger of AIG and Chubb Corp.

The company's insurance products include general property / casualty coverage as well as specialty products such as environmental, health care, and professional liability coverage targeted to small and mid-market clients.

Its Bermuda-based international insurance operations serve larger companies based in North America, while its European and Asian offices serve non-US based companies.

Its Allied World Reinsurance business provides a mix of reinsurance coverage to US insurance companies.

Allied World's international reach is highly complementary to Fairfax's existing worldwide operations and the acquisition will further diversify Fairfax's group risk portfolio.

In addition, Allied World will be able to leverage Fairfax's expertise in Canada, the US and international insurance and reinsurance markets.

"We are excited to have Allied World join the Fairfax group," said Prem Watsa, chairman and CEO of Fairfax. "Allied World is a high-quality company with an excellent long-term track record and an outstanding management team led by Scott Carmilani. Allied World will operate within the Fairfax group on a decentralized basis after closing."

"This is a tremendous opportunity for Allied World," said Scott Carmilani, president, CEO and chairman of Allied World. "Fairfax provides a great home for Allied World to continue to build a strong business for our customers, business partners and employees."

Fairfax is a financial services holding company with interests in property and casualty insurance and investment management, and employs over 8,200 globally.

It operates through 12 subsidiaries or joint ventures in Canada, the US, Singapore, Hong Kong and India.

Fairfax is led by Hyderabad-born Prem Watsa, who earned a chemical engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 1971-1972.

He later changed his field entirely after moving to Canada in late 1972 and got a masters degree in business administration from the University of Western Ontario.

Watsa, who controls nearly half of Fairfax, has often been called the Warren Buffet of Canada for his skill in value-oriented investing strategies.

Fairfax set up Fairfax India in late 2014 to boost the firm's investment in India and raised more than $1 billion via its initial public offering in January 2015.
A collection of short stories by a Gaoth Dobhair writer and poet has been tipped by The Irish Times as one of the top Irish-language books of the year.

Go mBeinnse Choiche Saor (Eabhloid, 10) by Maire Dinny Wren, was selected by Cathal Poirteir for his Irish Times review, The pick of 2016's Irish-language books.

Its nice to get the recognition, especially in the same year that the book was published, Maire said. Im honoured to be in such highly regarded company of writers.

Im also very pleased for Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhride of Eabhloid, the publishers, who are based here in Gaoth Dobhair, Maire said. She said Eoghan was also her editor and she worked closely with him on the stories.

In his review, Cathal wrote, Maire Dinny Wren is from Gaoth Dobhair, in the County Donegal Gaeltacht, and that rugged area provides the setting for many of her stories of women attempting to survive domestic violence, love gone wrong or the difficulties of old age.

Calling the collection, refreshing, Cathal said Go mBeinnse Choiche Saor was beautifully written and sometimes poetic, with a variety of credible and sympathetic characters struggling with life around the stormy Donegal coast.

Maire said she was also grateful to all those who had sent her messages of support in the months since the book was published earlier in the year, and to her readers and those who wrote reviews.

I understand that there are further reviews of the book to be published in the next edition of iris Comhar and of iris IMRAM, she said. Maire has also learned that stories from her collection are on a course at NUI Galway, Scribhneoireacht na gConallach, with lecturer Dr Lillis O Laoire, which was also very good news, she said.

It gives me the courage to carry on, Maire said.

Born in Gaoth Dobhair, Maire lived in London for 21 years, where she was a member of the Green Ink Writers Group, before returning to Ireland in 1999.

Her short story Ag Tearnamh chun Baile was awarded Duais Fhoras na Gaeilge at Listowel Writers week in 2010, and her poem Lub ar Lar took first prize at Comortas Ui Neill in 2011.

A radio adaption of her short story, Thar an Tairseach, was broadcast by RTE Radio on the programme Drama on One, and was shortlisted for Prix Europa 2013.

Maires poems and short stories have been broadcast on Raidio na Gaeltachta and Raidio Failte, and her work has also been published in such publications as Comhar, an tUltach, Irish Pages, An Gael, North West Words Arts Magazine and Winners Anthology 2010  Writers Week Listowel.

Maires first collection of poetry, O Bhile go Bile, was published by Coisceim in 2011 and four of her stories were published in 2012 by Eabhloid in the collection, go dti an la ban.

Go mbeinnse choiche saor, Maires first collection of short stories, was published in 2016 by Eabhloid.

Maire said it took her a few years to get this new collection of short stories together for publication.

It was hard work, but it was worth it, she said. Even when you meet someone who says they really enjoyed reading the stories, it gives you a big boost.

Thats the biggest compliment you can get, Maire said.

She said it was more difficult to sell books as Gaeilge than books published in English, but that doesnt put you off.

Maire was also pleased to see the publisher Eabhloid included in the Irish Times list.

Its great that a publisher based here on the fringes of the north-west Atlantic can reach national and international audiences with their publications, she said.

Theres more on Eabhloid at their website, www.eabhloid.com.
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In this complex and fast-moving environment, a core challenge for business owners and managers is to attract and retain skilled talent.

The current workforce available for hire is incredibly rich and diverse. From the tech-savvy iGen looking for their first role, to the not-yet retired Traditionalists looking to keep busy, there are currently five generations of Australians working or looking for work.

Its imperative that you first have an idea of who you might want to hire, the likely demographic they belong to, understand them and then tailor your advertising accordingly. While not all people within a generation are exactly the same, there are key factors that can help you get your head around how best to reach out to them.

You will need to tailor what you say and where you say it. Understanding how the various generations are interacting with specific media, is critical. Knowing how best to get their attention on their media of choice is the key to success.

Lets say for example that youre looking to recruit for a graduate program, you can be confident that putting in your efforts into a social media campaign is highly likely to reach the right demographic.

With multiple channels from social media to outdoor to digital competing for attention, identifying, targeting, and communicating with candidates is no longer as simple as putting up an advert on a job board and waiting for the right person to come calling.

As with all marketing campaigns, your talent attraction strategy needs to start with a clear view on who your target market is, then tailor an approach that reaches and resonates with those people.

iGen, aka Generation Z (born 1996 and after)

As research firm Universum confirms, this generation is 100% digitally native, having never experienced the pre-internet world. They are also the first truly global generation. Highly entrepreneurial, they are keen to start their own business, to be their own boss and have an impact. Research shows their top career goals are work-life balance and to be secure in their jobs.

The report also found that this generation was open to be contacted proactively by companies for opportunities. Focussed on finding their dream jobs, they fear being trapped in a position with no growth opportunities, where they wont be able to achieve their career goals.

This gives hiring managers some clear guidelines on how to target this particular generation: using digital content and social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube to target them, being proactive in contacting them, and putting an emphasis on messages around career growth potential within their business.

Millennials, aka Generation Y (born 1980 to 1995)

Often recognised as the first generation with different workforce behaviour to previous generations, Gen Ys are shaking things up. According to a Payscale and Millennial Branding research piece, they dont think workers should be expected to stay more than one year with their current employer.

Theyre fast learners who bring expertise in emerging skills to the workforce, including mastery of new business-relevant technology. They are ambitious and eager for their career to take off, but may not be great team players.

Businesses looking to hire millennials should consider social media as a platform to target workers of this generation, as well as digital platforms and outdoor. Highlight any professional development benefits within job ads. Dont be surprised by your candidates previous job hopping. Its in their DNA!

Generation X (born 1965 to 1979)

A study by Ernst & Young found Gen X are good team players and make better managers than Baby Boomers or Gen Y. They generate revenue, and are adaptable, problem-solving, and collaborative.

Although career-oriented, they place strong emphasis on family and are looking for workplace flexibility as the most important perk. They are most likely to walk away from a job if flexibility isnt available.

Attracting Gen X-ers, hiring managers should consider both traditional job boards, social media and networking. A multi-pronged approach will be the best way to get through to this generation of workers. Your job ads should include benefits like flexibility, and career development opportunities. Its also worth considering an always on employer branding strategy, because skilled and experienced Gen Xers are in big demand in many industries. They often are not on the job market for long and positioning your company as a preferred first port of call can pay dividends.

Baby Boomers (born 1946 to 1964)

According to Forbes, Baby Boomers are not a passive generation; they have a purpose, high expectations and push hard to reach their goals. They have strong work ethics and are committed. They will often work longer hours and are less likely to switch employers often throughout their career. Their experience and knowledge will be a huge asset to your business.

Whether youre looking for a full timer, part time or consulting role, youll be likely to find candidates from that generation by using traditional avenues such as job boards, networking and head hunters. However, dont think that this generation isnt connected. Theyre frequent users of social media, search engines and smartphones. Their presence on Facebook is overwhelming, something not to miss when looking to attract them.

Traditionalists (born 1945 and before)

Traditionalists still in the workplace or looking to stay active with part time work or consulting, generally bring support and mentorship, their long years of experience is invaluable.

They can be characterised as hard-working, loyal, respectful of authority, but are often less technologically-adept than other generations. However, they are more likely to have great interpersonal skills, having been more accustomed to dealing with people eye-to-eye.

In order to reach this generation, your mediums will include community papers and noticeboards, radio and possibly job boards. Thinking well outside the box, you could also build a campaign that targets their children and grandchildren on Facebook. This is a particularly interesting strategy for agricultural, trade or manufacturing roles, where theres skills and experience to be tapped but the candidate may not be actively looking for a job.

With such differences in the market, taking a one size fits all approach to your recruitment isnt going to deliver you the best candidate. You can appreciate there will be some substantial differences in tone, content and placement necessary to appeal to each generation.

Understanding more about the people who have the skills you need is, therefore, crucial. While its their capabilities that spark the search, its knowledge of their demographics, habits and where they spend time that will help bring them on board.

About the author
Illinois' Electors Don't Like The Electoral College Either

By Stephen Gossett in News on Dec 19, 2016 6:39PM



Getty Images; Photo: Mark Wilson

As expected, Illinois 20 electors gathered in Springfield on Monday morning and cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton, one of the few Midwestern states that was won handily by the Democratic presidential nominee. While hopes on the left of a faithless elector revolt havent materialized as of this writing, the point was largely moot in Illinois, since any such movement would hinge on GOP electors switching from Trump.

But while the state electors played their part in the process, only a minority among them thinks the method should remain in place as is.

The Associated Press reports that among the 13 out of 20 Illinois electors contacted, only four replied that the Electoral College should remain in place. Six advocated repeal, and three were undecided or said it should at least be reviewed.

William Marovitz, 71, a former state senator, is one of the electors whos fine with the Electoral College status quo."I'm not totally convinced that we should change the system because then a lot of the states would be ignored," he said. (Although one could argue that a popular-vote system doesnt ignore smaller states so much as it doesnt absurdly overvalue them. To wit: Wyoming.) He did note, however, that electors should be allowed to change their votes if, say, by chance a foreign power interfered with the democratic process to help a particular candidate win.

Elector Mark Guethle, 58, a Kane County Democratic chairman, was more full-throated. "I think popular vote means something. Last time I checked, Clinton was up," he said, quoted by the AP.

Higher-profile electors, such as Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County Commissioner Jesus Chuy Garcia, have not specified their position.

Illinois is one of 11 states that has signed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which if enough other states signed on, would mandate signatory states to cast electors' ballots for the popular-vote winner.
 

 

Offers support and expertise to countrys largest lender

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD is strongly supportive of the decision of the Ukrainian government to nationalise PrivatBank and to protect the banks depositors, both individuals and businesses.

EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti said: The long-term stability of PrivatBank, the largest bank in Ukraine, is crucial to the countrys economic health. We believe the decision to nationalise it is the right one and have offered our expertise to the authorities whenever it is needed.

We strongly support the National Banks continuing efforts to reform the banking system in Ukraine and ensure good governance across the industry.

The EBRD is strongly supportive of the decision of the Ukrainian government to nationalise PrivatBank and to protect the banks depositors, both individuals and businesses. More videos

The nationalisation which took place with the cooperation of existing shareholders will be combined with adequate recapitalisation and liquidity back-up provided by the authorities to ensure the banks stable financial position and operation.

Francis Malige, EBRD Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, said: A systemic bank of this magnitude could not be allowed to fail. Nationalisation of systemic banks allowed many developed countries protect their economies during the global financial crisis and it is the right way forward for Ukraine now.

The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in Ukraine and has provided debt and capital financing for several Ukrainian banks during the crisis to support stability of the banking system. The EBRD has also advised the government and the National Bank of Ukraine on a number of policy and regulation issues relating to banking system reform, including legislation on related party lending.

In the case of Privatbank, a respected Western firm that is well known to the EBRD will be advising the Ukrainian authorities in the banks management and transformation.
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'Massacre' In Fernwood Likely The Result Of Home Invasion

By Stephen Gossett in News on Dec 19, 2016 4:52PM

The fatal shooting of four people on Saturday in Fernwood happened during a home invasion or robbery, according to police.

Two women, ages 19 and 41, and two men, ages 36 and 45, were shot and killed in the 100 block of West 105th Street at around 12:40 p.m. on Saturday, according to a Chicago police spokesperson. Another woman, 18, was critically injured in the shooting. A 2-year-old found at the home was not injured, according to reports.

Police initially thought the shooting was domestic-related, but CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said on Sunday that it was likely a drug-related home invasion. A group who had bought narcotics returned to rob occupants, Guglielmi said.

According to autopsies conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiners Office, three of the victims killed were shot in the head. The fourth victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

As of Monday morning, police had not released the names of those killed. (Why would) somebody do something like this? Just another senseless act of violence," said Melvin Jackson, a possible cousin to the deceased, quoted in the Tribune. "This is a massacre, man. Who would do something like this?"

More than 700 people have been fatally shot this year in Chicago.
By Samantha Williams

Now that Ohios Senate and House have sent an ideologically-driven bill, HB 554, to Gov. John Kasichs desk that would further delay implementation of the states popular clean energy standards (and weaken them, too), the governor has until Dec. 28 to do the smart thing for his states economy and the wellbeing of Ohioans: Veto it.

Thats what Ohio citizens (including conservatives) and the businesses that employ them overwhelmingly want, including national players like Nestle, Campbells Soup, the Gap and the worlds largest manufacturer of energy efficient appliances, Whirlpool.

There are many good reasons why businesses are weighing in. The clean energy standardswhich were frozen two years ago in another ill-advised legislative attempt to delay progress, and will resume on Jan. 1 if Gov. Kasich vetoes this billmean more good jobs for residents. They also represent a draw for the growing number of employers who want to locate their companies in states where they can readily achieve their own corporate sustainability goals.

The standards have also succeeded (and will continue if theyre allowed to reinstate) in lowering energy bills for residents and businesses, factories, and farms. They ensure Ohios kids cleaner air to breathe. They improve public health. And, of course, theyre a vital hedge against dangerous climate change.

Over the last year, Gov. Kasich has promised, admirably, Ill veto the bill, calling any further delays in implementing the clean energy standard unacceptable. Now, he has the opportunity to show Ohioansand Americans as a wholejust what leadership looks like, demonstrating not just backbone but a smart head on his shoulders. After all, hell signal to the growing number of businesses that want clean energy that they can find it in Ohio, not just in Michigan and Illinois, two neighboring states led by Republican governors that have recently upped the ante on their own clean energy standards.

To help you understand just how successful the clean energy standards have been in Ohio, and the potential if the freeze is thawed, lets run the numbers:

100,000 clean energy jobs: Thats how many Ohio has now. Buckeyes, for instance, already lead the nation in wind power component manufacturing, with more than 60 factories across the state. But since the standards were put on hold two years ago, theyve sold far fewer products within Ohio. The freeze (and other wind-power restrictions the legislature imposed) have put an end to most Ohio-based projects. Then theres First Solar, which employs 1,200 in the Toledo area. The company told legislators in testimony last month that if HB 554 becomes law, it would take a hard look at staying in Ohio. Should Gov. Kasich veto HB 554, and the standard becomes reinstated, the opposite is possible. Not only might First Solar stay put, but the state will have the opportunity to retain, and even grow, the clean energy jobs that already exist in fields as wide-ranging as insulation manufacturing, solar component parts development, and light bulb design.

112 businesses: Businesses want certainty, so they know how to plan for their future. HB 554, which will delay the standard for two more years and then open it up again for reinstatement, offers the opposite. Take it from Worthingtons Republican Representative Mike Duffy in his comments during debate on the bill. More uncertainty. More legislation. Not a lot to like, hes said.

Not only that: In 2016, 17 U.S. companies with combined revenues of more than $826 billion, including Apple, General Motors, and Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble, pledged to get all of their electricity from renewable sources. More are lining up to join them, and they want to site their facilities near clean energy projects. They want the energy-bill savings that wind, solar power and energy efficiency provide, and the future hedge against the volatility of natural gas prices. Thats why 112 Ohio businesses opposed the bill and support the veto, dozens of which came out to testify in legislative committees urging a thaw to the clean energy freeze.

14 Republican lawmakers: A growing contingent of Republicans, both inside and outside of the legislature, support clean energy for Ohio.

In total, 14 GOP legislators opposed the billnine in the House of Representatives (Arndt, Boose, Burkley, Dean, Duffey, Grossman, Hall, Reineke, Thompson) and five in the Senate (Hite, Gardner, Beagle, Manning, and LaRose.) Senator Hite even went so far as to call wind turbines beautiful. Many of these legislators have clean energy projects and employers in their districts. And, together, theyre enough to stop a veto override.

140 premature deaths: The public health benefits of the clean energy standards are enormous. In 2017 alone, the standards can prevent 140 premature deaths, 230 heart attacks, 2,230 asthma attacks and 16,900 lost days of work and school. By 2029, if Gov. Kasich vetoes HB 554, the clean energy standards stand to prevent 2,820 premature deaths among neighbors, families and friends in Ohio.

So we call on the governor to be, literally, a lifesaver, a job creator, an energy-bill-savings-promoter and a greenhouse gas pollution fighter.

As is especially important now, with President-elect Trump and his appointees promising to gut the countrys clean energy policies and programs, Gov. Kasich can be a smart and important leader when we need one most.

Veto the bill, governor!
A female mountain lion with three kittens was struck and killed by a car while crossing the six-lane 118 Freeway near Chatsworth, California on Dec. 3. Her three kittens are not expected to survive, the National Park Service announced Thursday.

The remains of the mountain lion, known as P-39, have not been found, but her radio collar was located in the center divider of the freeway. It likely came off as a result of the impact with the vehicle. Her kittens havent been located yet.

P-39 is the thirteenth mountain lion killed since 2002 on Los Angeles county roads.

About 15 of the big cats are known to inhabit the Santa Monica Mountains, which are crisscrossed by freeways and other roads in the highly populated area. The mountain range extends east-west from the Pacific Ocean to the Hollywood Hills in the heart of Los Angeles.

P-39s death is a jolting call to action for local and state officials to urgently build the corridors necessary to ensure the safe passage that these majestic cats are entitled to, said Jean Su of the Center for Biological Diversity.

People forget that the Santa Monica Mountains are native mountain lion territory, Su added. Its our houses and freeways that have directly infringed upon their homes and natural corridors.

Prompted by the repeated deaths of these animals while crossing busy roads, wildlife advocates have suggested bridges and tunnels that could act as passageways.The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has proposed building a 200-foot long wildlife overpass above the 110 freeway in Agoura Hills.

Separately, the Los Angeles City Council is looking at enacting a wildlife corridor that would require new development to provide access for animals to transit the area. They say it will help to reduce human conflicts.

https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/648170439739576321 expand=1]

The recent headlines featuring mountain lions of the Greater Los Angeles area, such as the death of P-39 on the 118 freeway, highlights the tremendous pressure facing these big cats due to lack of connectivity, urbanization and habitat fragmentation, said documentarian Tony Lee. He is the producer and director of The Cat That Changed America, which tells the captivating story of P-22, perhaps the most famous mountain lion of all time.

[facebook https://www.facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/1391154537564146/

P-22, who lives in the shadow of the Hollywood sign, wasnt born there. In search of that territory, which he could call his own, the big, tawny-brown cat had to cross two major freeways and walk through dense urban areas.

However, P-39 wasnt so lucky. The five-year old had given birth to her second litter earlier this year and had mostly stayed in an undeveloped area north of the 118 freeway. Just days before she was killed, she crossed the freeway for the first time.

Today, there are some 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions roaming California. They inhabit high mountain forests, coastal chaparral and scrubland. They prefer to avoid humans, but conflicts can occur. There have been 15 verified attacks on people since 1986 in the state, resulting in three fatalities.

Source: Mountain Lion Foundation.

Mountain lions are far more likely to be the victims of human actions. At one time, there was a bounty on mountain lions in California. From 1907 to 1963, 12,462 were killed and turned in for the bounty.

But the killing hasnt stopped. Since 1991, 2,542 cougars have been killed under depredation permits and 947 from other causes including vehicle collisions.

One that just barely escaped a death sentence this year was P-45, suspected of killing 10 alpacas on a ranch north of Malibu. The ranch owner was granted a permit to kill the predator, but has since agreed to work with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service to either relocate or place the mountain lion in captivity.

Rat poison, which gets into the food chain when homeowners, exterminators and farmers use powerful rodenticides, also threatens the states mountain lions. More than three-quarters of the cats in California carry the poison in their systems.

In September 2015, a hiker found P-34 dead in a state park in Southern California. P-34, a female cougar, was the third case of mortality directly from rodenticide poisoning, according to the National Park Service.

But increasingly, people are having to get along with wild animals in urban areas, including mountain lions. And in California, attitudes toward the big cats are changing, thanks in part to P-22.

A healthy-looking P-22 in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. National Park Service

The cats home, since at least 2012, has been Griffith Park, an urban park that sees 10 million visitors a year. However, few have ever seen the elusive cougar other than in photos.

Griffith Park encompasses just eight square miles. A male mountain needs as much as a 200-square-mile territory.

Inbreeding among cougars inhabiting the Santa Monica Mountains is threatening their long-term survival. A study released in August gave the big cats a near-zero chance of surviving the next 50 years unless more lions become part of the gene pool.

P22 lives inside Griffith Park, but he is isolated by freeways on every side and has little chance of ever finding a mate. His plight is changing the way Americans think about wildlife management, said Lee. We cannot have mountain lions dying on our freeways when we have the technology and capability to prevent future mortalities. Mountain lions are territorial animals and need large home ranges and open spaces to survive.
In September 2013, a Tesoro Corp. pipeline ruptured in a wheat field near Tioga, North Dakota, spewing 840,000 gallons of fracked oil from the Bakken Shale, causing one of the biggest onshore oil spills in recent U.S. history. More than three years later, only a third of the spill has been recovered. To make matters worse, as the Associated Press reported, Tesoro has not even set a date for clean-up completion despite round-the-clock work to fix the break.

Cleaning up the spill will set Tesoro back an estimated $60 million. Crews have had to dig 50 feet underground to remove hundreds of thousands of tons of oil-tainted soil, North Dakota Health Department environmental scientist Bill Suess told the AP, adding that he worries that much of the oil may never be completely removed.

Critics of oil pipelines argue that spills are not just a question of if but when. Spills are a common occurrence across the country. In fact, there have been more than 3,000 significant incidents since 2006, at a cost of $4.7 billion.

The fact that crews are still trying to clean up Tesoros spill from over three years ago shows just how unsafe these pipelines are, Greenpeace spokesperson Perry Wheeler told EcoWatch.

There have been well over 200 significant spills across the country in 2016 alone, yet we continue to see fossil fuel companies downplay their impacts and rush them through approval processes, Wheeler added.

There have already been 220 'significant' pipeline spills already this year. https://t.co/8f5iciNgkc via @EcoWatch  NRDC  (@NRDC) November 12, 2016

On Dec. 5, a pipeline operated by the Belle Fourche Pipeline Company leaked more than 170,000 gallons of crude oil into a tributary of the Little Missouri River and into a hillside. The spill is significant because it occurred just 200 miles away from the Water Protectors stand against the heavily contested Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).

What happened to us happened and we cant go back, Patty Jensen, who first discovered the Tesoro spill in 2013 on her farm, told the AP. But I get really upset when I hear of a new one and I wonder what is being done to prevent these spills.

The oil industry also seems to think that pipeline spills are inevitable. Following the Tesoro break, North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness commented to KQCD, You know, this is an industrial business and sometimes things happen and the companies are certainly responsible to take care of these things when they happen.

Energy Transfer Partners, the company building the DAPL, insists that their pipeline is safe. Compared to the Tesoro and Belfield pipelines made of 6-inch steel, the DAPL is made of 30-inch steel.

Energy Transfer Partners CEO Kelcy Warren said in an interview, Our pipeline is very, very safe and has vowed to move the pipelines construction forward despite the Army Corps of Engineers officially denying the easement earlier this month, which is needed to complete the project.

The Army Corps decision was a major victory for the Standing Rock Sioux and for the Keep It in the Ground movement that urges a transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy.

The resistance we have seen at Standing Rock must be replicated across the country, Wheeler concluded. Theres no such thing as a safe pipeline. They will always jeopardize someones land and water supply. We must keep the worlds remaining fossil fuels in the ground and move quickly to clean energy.

The momentum towards sustainable energy will need as much support as it can get once President-elect Donald Trump is in office. Trumps pick to head the Department of Energy, former Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry, is on the board of Energy Transfer Partners.

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Senate Democrats on Friday called for a federal investigation into the Trump transition teams questionnaire sent to the Department of Energy.

https://twitter.com/RobertKennedyJr/statuses/809069641796567040 expand=1]

In a letter to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, nine senators expressed concerns that the questionnaire violated regulations protecting civil employees from partisan coercion and asked that the Special Counsel take a close look at the motives behind the questions targeting climate science.

The scientific community has continued to speak out, with Michael Mann writing in a Washington Post op-ed on Friday that scientists fear an era of McCarthyist attacks on our work and our integrity.

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Letter: Washington Post, The Hill, E&E

Scientists: NPR Weekend Edition, Time, Mashable

Commentary: Washington Post, Michael Mann op-ed

For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News.
A rainbow-headed snake resembling David Bowies Ziggy Stardust character, a dragon-like lizard and a newt that looks like a Klingon from the movie Star Trek are three of the 163 new species discovered recently in the Greater Mekong region, according to a report released today by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The report, Species Oddity, documents the work of hundreds of scientists who discovered nine amphibians, 11 fish, 14 reptiles, 126 plants and three mammals in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

The discoveries also include a rare banana species from Thailand, a tiny frog from Cambodia and a gecko with pale blue spotted skin and piercing dark eyes that was found hiding among the remote mountains of Laos. This brings the total new species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians discovered in the region to 2,409 since WWF began compiling new species reports in 1997.

The Greater Mekong region is a magnet for the worlds conservation scientists because of the incredible diversity of species that continue to be discovered here, said Jimmy Borah, Wildlife Programme manager for WWF-Greater Mekong. These scientists, the unsung heroes of conservation, know they are racing against time to ensure that these newly discovered species are protected.

Heres are six of the 163 new species:

1. Orange-Eyed Litter Frog, Leptolalax isos, Cambodia & Vietnam

 Jodi Rowley / Australian Museum

A new species of frog which is less than 3 cm long, lives in forest from ~6501100 m elevation and breeds in small rocky streams of northeastern Cambodia and adjacent Vietnam. Its distinctive markings, toe webbing and call set this frog apart from the thousands of species that call Southeast Asia home.

2. Ziggy Stardust Snake, Parafimbrios lao, Laos

 Alexandre Teynie

Rainbow-headed snake native to Laos that some at WWF have likened to David Bowies Ziggy Stardust character. The 111th snake species recorded in the country. Distinct from close relatives because of the unique coloration pattern and different number of scale rows and upper teeth.

3. Wooly-Headed Bat, Murina kontumensis, Vietnam

 Nguyen Truong Son

Medium-sized bat found in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Vietnam is home to some of the worlds highest species diversity within this family of bats, which are known for the thick and woolly fur on their heads and forearms.

4. Klingon Newt, Tylototriton anguliceps, Thailand

 Nguyen Quang Truong

A newt between 6 and 7 cm long, distinguished by a dorsal ridge and unique red markings. Only the fourth newt species found to exist in Thailand.

5. Phuket Horned Tree Agamid, Acanthosaura phuketensis, Thailand

 Montri Sumontha

Lowland forest dwelling lizard species native to Phuket Island and the Phuket mountain range in Southwest Thailand. This medium-sized species is distinct from its mainland relatives based on unique coloration, placement and size of its many threatening-looking horns on its head and down its spine.

6. Gekko Bonkowskii, Laos

 Thomas Calame

With its pale blue spotted skin and piercing dark eyes, this species was found hiding among the remote karst massifs of Laos. Because of the incredibly high diversity of the Gekko family, it took sophisticated DNA analysis to differentiate this individual as a new species.

The Greater Mekong region is under intense development pressure from mines to roads to dams, threatening the survival of the natural landscapes that make it so unique. Poaching for bushmeat or the multi-billion dollar illegal wildlife trade puts additional pressure on the regions wildlife, meaning many species could be lost before they are even discovered.

Many collectors are willing to pay thousands of dollars or more for the rarest, most unique and most endangered species, often buying them at the regions illegal wildlife markets, especially in the Golden Triangle region where China, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar meet, Borah said. To save them, its crucial that we improve enforcement against poaching and close illegal wildlife markets as well as the tiger and bear farms that openly flaunt wildlife laws.

WWF recently launched an ambitious project to disrupt the trade by closing down the biggest markets in the Greater Mekong region. Working with partners and across borders, WWF will attempt to significantly reduce illegal trade in key threatened species such as elephants, tigers and rhinos by promoting species protection legislation, supporting effective transboundary cooperation and improving law enforcement effectiveness at key border crossings.
(Photo: L'Osservatore Romano.)Pope Francis meets with Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan at the Vatican Aug. 29, 2016.

Pope Francis has turned 80 and the world's news media carried the news of his birthday as if he was a celebrity, which he is.

He had hinted after his inauguration that he would retire from his duties if he could no longer fulfil them, but there are no indications from the world at large that he should retire from his duties as must members of the electoral college of cardinals who elect.

Birthday greetings poured in from the mighty and the less mighty and Francis responded by saying: "I thank you all for your kindness. Please do not forget to pray for me."

The greetings arrived from everywhere via new and old communications' means including tweets with the hashtag #Pontifex80, The Associated Press reported.

The Pope shared his birthday breakfast with eight homeless people before celebrating Mass with some cardinals.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Francis "has inspired people around the world with his message of compassion, hope and peace."

Italian President Sergio Mattarella recalled that the Pope has called on Europeans to show solidarity with the less fortunate, in particular "migrants and all those who live at society's margins."

PRISONERS SENT POPE BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

The Vatican reported that Pope Francis received some very special birthday wishes from prisoners detained at the Due Palazzi prison in Padua, Italy.

The prison chaplain, Don Mario Pozza, arranged a skype call with the Pope involving some 60 prisoners, several guards, the prison warden and volunteers, at about 5 p.m. Rome Time on the afternoon of the pontiff's birthday.

One prisoner identified as Marzio read a letter to Francis in which he promised prayers for the Pope, and said, "Thanks from the bottom of our heart for your daily witness, which nourishes our hopes and our dreams, and gives us continuous glimmers of light."

Welcoming the greetings, Pope Francis said, "I thank you all so much for your tenderness, your closeness  and I ask the Lord to bless you  may the Lord bless every one of you: your families, your parents, your brothers and sisters, your children."

Nigerian Bishop, Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo of Oyo Diocese and president of the social communications committee at SECAM, a grouping of African bishops, was one the many well wishers for Francis on his Dec.17 birthday.

"The African church deeply appreciates the Holy Father's apostolate on marriage and love in the family and pledges to stand firm for the integrity of Christian marriage and the family at all times," said the bishops.

Columnist Paul Vallely wrote a tribute to in a Guardian newspaper opinion piece titled, "For God's sake Pope Francis, don't retire. The world needs you."

"Pope Francis is 80 on Saturday  the age at which cardinals must retire from the electoral college, which will choose the next leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics," wrote Vallely.

"Will Francis also go at 80? In the past, popes ignored the watershed. They went on until they died. But Benedict XVI changed things when he became the first leader of the Catholic Church to resign in more than 500 years. Francis has indicated that he might retire too. It is vital, not just for the church but the world, that he does not."

He said the two popes before Francis were conservatives and John Paul II and his successor, Benedict, "set the public tone of Catholicism for more than three decades".

"In just three years, Francis has gone some way to hauling the church back towards the center. But the ideological right is increasingly fighting back.

"Their private criticism of the first pope from the global south is turning to public dissent. Now is not the time for Francis to have innovative thoughts about institutionalising papal retirement by stepping down," asserted Vallely.

As Pope Francis celebrated his 80th birthday, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit sent a greeting expressing gratitude for the steps the Pope has taken to foster the search for the visible unity of the church.

"I remember with joy your recent visit to Lund and the celebration of the journey from conflict to communion of the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation in which we could participate," said Tveit in a greeting.

"You are speaking frequently from the unity on the way that grows when and where we pursue our journey as disciples of Christ together."
According to this new information the Russians have known about alien civilizations for several decades, to many this comes as no surprise,...
Schools in high-poverty communities are more likely to serve families that have experienced trauma. Whether families deal with homelessness, lack of access to such basic resources as food and health care, or unsafe neighborhoods with high crime rates, these adverse experiences trigger toxic stresswhich has an impact on a childs developing brain. If children do not receive support to deal with this stress, they are more likely to experience long-term academic and social-development delays.

Students from low-income backgrounds have represented the majority population of public schools (51 percent) since 2013, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. School leaders must equip themselves with the skills to lead schools where many children have experienced trauma and be prepared to develop solutions.

When I began serving as the superintendent in Jennings, Mo., in 2012, the districtone of the lowest-performing in the statewas at risk for losing its provisional accreditation. We served more than 2,500 students who qualified for free lunch, and whose situations had an impact on their attendance and behavior. During my tenure, Jennings became nationally recognized for its work to serve students in poverty as the first trauma-informed school district in the county of St. Louis. Educators in our schools focused on services to reduce instability in students lives, and the district redirected funds in order to support these resources. By the time I left in 2016, the district had reached full accreditation status with a 95.4 percent four-year graduation rate and a 100 percent college- and career-placement rate.

Now, as the first African-American female superintendent to serve the Topeka, Kan., public schools and a 23-year educator who has spent a majority of that time as a school leader, I have learned that its possible to replicate effective systems of trauma support from one school district to another. There are several steps leaders should take to successfully build trauma-informed schools in their districts, including:

 Get to know the community and schools you serve.

Before setting a clear vision for working with trauma, leaders must understand the needs and feelings of the community. As a new superintendent, its important to understand what systems are already in place and build on existing work before identifying gaps that call for new initiatives. When I arrived in Topeka, the districts principals and I held community meetings and made home visits, including one to the local shelter, to gain an understanding of our schools homeless families. I also held discussions with teachers to learn more about issues they faced in the classroom through an informal Breakfast at Tiffanys hour. New leaders must be accessible to staff and students to foster relationships that serve as an important support system.

 Build teacher and parent capacity for understanding the effects of trauma.

Understanding the stories of trauma behind student behavior empowers educators and school leaders to brainstorm solutions. One step is to ensure teachers and leaders make positive parent contact. For example, teachers in Topeka deliver difficult-to-access school resources to students homes, and staff members make home visits for lengthy student absences. Educators across the district, including me, are in a yearlong mental-health training for the neurosequential model in education, or NME. This helps educators apply knowledge of brain development, trauma, and student behavior to the teaching process, and also supports the well-being of staff members. I also meet with principals and community agencies to examine best on-the-ground practices for dealing with trauma and learn ways to build resiliency in schools.

 Use data to drive interventions.

As schools in Topeka began to use data dashboards to look at student trends in academic performance, behavior, and absences, I set the tone that this utilization is for information and transformation, not judgment and evaluation. Schools should review students academic history and develop intervention plans that treat trauma and academic health in the most effective manner. Once a month, members of the central office meet with each principal to review adverse childhood experience, or ACE, indicatorssuch as poor attendance, discipline, and academicsfor students who may be experiencing trauma.

Leader to Learn From In 2015, Tiffany Anderson, then the superintendent of Jennings, Mo., was named one of Education Weeks Leaders to Learn From. Read more about her work to transform Jennings into the first trauma-informed school district in St. Louis.

 Engage community partnerships.

In Jennings, the district partnered with the local community to offer support services. Business leaders mentored individual students yearlong; mental-health agencies had offices in our schools; and local universities helped implement pediatric services in schools. To provide full-time support, the district also converted several buildings into a food pantry and homeless shelter for youths and opened schools on Saturdays or during the winter when services were normally closed.

 Make space and time for well-being.

While schools often feel they dont have time for extra responsibilities that trauma-informed settings require, leaders can set goals and expectations for their schools. Educators play a critical role in helping children cope with adverse experiences. Staff members, including the principal, serve as support in separate well-being rooms, and peace corners designated in the classroom enable teachers to help children de-escalate their behavior. Some schools in the district, such as French Middle School, also utilize therapy animals with students and circle gatherings for educators. I serve as a support in classrooms and the lunchroom for ongoing opportunities to interact with students. Leaders must have high visibility in schools to identify ways they themselves can provide direct support.

School leaders must become trauma-informed leaders who can address the complex needs of young people entering schools. Through a systematic approach, which integrates trauma-informed practices within existing structures, school leaders can provide unique support to students and familiesan approach that makes all the difference.
10 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week



Image via River Roast's event page.

There are plenty of ways to beat the cold this week, from experiential dinners to one epic holiday rock band.



MONDAY DECEMBER 19

NEIGHBORHOOD CHEF DINNER: River Roast Chef John Hogan teams up with Spiaggias Tony Mantuano for Mondays edition of the Neighborhood Chef Series from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Theyll cook up a five-course menu with wine pairings starring gnocchi and white truffles. Tickets are $125.

CHRISTMAS VACATION LIVE READING: Witness a dramatic live reading of the classic holiday film Christmas Vacation at Uptown Underground at 8 p.m. Theres no doubt the audience already has most of the lines memorized, so reminisce as actors live read the script in old Hollywood on the Moonlight Mainstage. Tickets are $15 and include a drink ticket.



Image courtesy of Mercadito.

EXPERIENTIAL DINNER: Indulge in a Holiday Party Experiential Dinner with Mercadito and Casamigos Tequila from 6 to 9 p.m. Executive Chef Patricio Sandoval of Mercadito has curated a delicious five-course meal of Tortitas de Bacalo, Chamorro de Cerdo, BuAuelos and more. Each course will be paired with a different Casamigos cocktail. Tickets are $75. To reserve a spot, call 312-329-9555.

CIDER CLASS: The Northmans cider class series continues with a tour of English cider country. Youll be guided through tastings from Somerset, Herefordshire and Devon with background and stories or the rural English beverage. Tickets are $30.



TUESDAY DECEMBER 20



Image via the Hideout's Facebook page.

HIDEOUT HOLIDAY SALE: Youve turned last-minute shopping into an art form. Let the Hideout help you out with their Last Chance Holiday Sale from 6 to 9 p.m. Its the 18th annual sale for the beloved small venue, featuring goods from local hand-makers, many of whom who have worked at the Hideout. Celestial Kitchens, Puffs of Doom and Metropolis Coffee will also be on hand with holiday treats. Free.

TOYS + TAPS FOR TOTS: Fountainhead invites you to donate a toy, and have some beer as they team up with Deschutes Brewing for a Toys & Taps for Tots event from 6 to 8 p.m. The Deschutes Elf will be spreading holiday cheer as bartenders serve up Jubelale English Strong Ale and Sage Fight Double IPA w/ botanical sage & juniper berries. Free.



WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21



Image courtesy of The Whistler.

SINATRA CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA: Cocktail bar The Whistler hosts Anthony Bruno and His Christmas Spectacular at 9:30 p.m. Bruno will sing re-invented classic Frank Sinatra tunes with his band like White Christmas, Jingle Bells and Winter Wonderland. The bar team will shake and stir up classic cocktails from the 40s, 50s and 60s in honor of the event. Free.



THURSDAY DECEMBER 22



Image courtesy of J. Parker.

PAPPY VAN WINKLE DINNER: Attention whiskey lovers. J. Parker is hosting an exclusive whiskey class and dinner with Buffalo Trace that will feature pours from their renowned Pappy Van Winkle line. Were talking rare pours of the 10-, 12-, 15-, 20- and 23-year editions. The evenings five-course menu has been perfectly paired to go with the flavors and aromas of each bourbon. Tickets are $225. UPDATE: Organizers have postponed this event.



FRIDAY DECEMBER 23

TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA: If you missed last weeks high-drama Christmas concert from Mannheim Steamroller, youre in luck. The other epically intense holiday band, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, comes through town this Friday for a show at Allstate Arena. Progressive metal, laser lights, this show is like Christmas on steroids. Two shows at 3:30 and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $46.50.

SIMMER BROWN COMEDY: Celebrate the birth of a Savior with the Simmer Brown Comedy Collective this Friday at 8 p.m. Sam Norton (FOX's Laughs) and Sherman Edwards (FOXs Empire) join founding producer, Prateek Srivastava for an evening of diverse laughs at the Bughouse Theater. Tickets are $10 in advance ($15 door).


New Products Date: 19/12/2016 13.5mm x 13.5mm sensor board has multiple sensors and a microcontroller STMicroelectronics has announced the 13.5mm x 13.5mm sensor board named SensorTile, a very small turnkey sensor board containing a MEMS accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, pressure sensor, MEMS microphone and the on-board low-power STM32L4 microcontroller. The board can be used for developing products such as wearables, gaming accessories, and smart-home or Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices.



SensorTile uses Bluetooth LE transceiver including a miniature single-chip balun on-board. SensorTile can be simply plugged to a host board, and when powered it immediately starts streaming inertial, audio, and environmental data to STs BlueMS smartphone app that can be downloaded free of charge from popular app stores.



To ensure easier development of software STMicroelectronics is offering Application Program Interface (API) based on the STM32Cube Hardware Abstraction Layer and middleware components, including the STM32 Open Development Environment. The system is fully compatible with the Open Software eXpansion Libraries (Open.MEMS, Open.RF, and Open.AUDIO), and other such third-party embedded sensing and voice-processing projects. Many example programs available in source code offer a starting point for evaluation and customization, including software for position sensing, activity recognition, and low-power voice communication.



The full kit/pack includes a cradle board, which carries the 13.5mm x 13.5mm SensorTile core system in standalone or hub mode containing a humidity and temperature sensor, a micro-SD card socket, and lithium-polymer battery (LiPo) charger, LiPo rechargeable battery and a plastic case that provides a convenient housing for the cradle, SensorTile, and battery combination.



Also part of the SensorTile kit is a cradle/expansion board with an analog audio output, a micro-USB connector, and an Arduino-like interface that can be plugged into any STM32 Nucleo board to expand developers options for system and software development. A programming cable is also included.



The SensorTile kit (STEVAL-STLKT01V1) is available now from distributors or can be purchased directly from st.com, priced at $89.00.



Main features of SensorTile core system:



 LSM6DSM 3D accelerometer + 3D gyroscope



 LSM303AGR 3D Magnetometer + 3D accelerometer



 LPS22HB pressure sensor/barometer



 MP34DT04 digital MEMS microphone



 STM32L476 microcontroller



 BlueNRG-MS network processor with integrated 2.4GHz radio

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To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020.
Today in Brussels, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission announced the latest set of loans, totalling approximately EUR 600 million, as part of the European Union's commitment to Ukraine made in March 2014.

At a dedicated signing ceremony at the headquarters of the European Commission, the EIB honoured its commitment for the period 2014  2016 to provide a EUR 3 billion financial assistance programme to support Ukraine and strengthen its competitiveness, resilience, energy security and improve the quality of life for Ukrainian citizens. This programme forms part of the EUR 11 billion EU support package announced by the EU in March 2014.

This latest set of EIB loans complements a range of other investments provided by the EIB since March 2014 to help Ukraine stabilise its economic and financial situation, to increase resilience, and to support a prosperous future for the country.

The loans, which are partly underpinned by EU grants, will provide funding for energy efficiency, higher education, sustainable transport, private sector and business support and were signed by the Vice-President of the EIB Vazil Hudak in the presence of the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Energy Union, Maros Sefcovic and the Director-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission, Christian Danielsson.

In addition, Ukraine and the European Investment Bank also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to underline the importance of future support beyond 2016 and to set out areas for possible future cooperation between Ukraine and the Bank.

The package of loans announced today cover:

support for Ukraines higher education and energy efficiency - EUR 120m

modernisation of the countrys railways  EUR 150m

upgrade of infrastructure of agriculture company Nibulon  EUR 71m

support for Ukraines small and medium sized companies and MidCaps  EUR 260m

EIB Vice-President Vazil Hudak commented: Our commitment to support Ukraine is cast iron and enduring. In 2014 the EU committed to an ambitious financing programme to support Ukraine at a time of crisis and daunting challenges to the country. The EIB Group committed to providing 3 of those 11 billion euro. Today we have met that target.

He added, The projects we have signed today address the demands of Ukraine to modernize its economy, notably infrastructure in the areas of education and transport as well as energy efficiency. Furthermore, we are increasing our support for the development of the private sector, including SMEs and MidCap companies, to make them more competitive and take advantage of increasing opportunities for closer exchanges with the rest of Europe. Our investments are fully in line with EU priorities for Ukraine under the DCFTA and the Eastern Partnership and we value our cooperation with the European Commission and the External Action Service in providing such joined up support.

Prime Minister of Ukraine, Volodymyr Groysman said: After several painful years of recession, Ukraines economy is finally growing again. This is the moment when support and investments from the EU and European business will give us the long awaited impetus. Ukraines progress is possible, in particular, because of significant support from the EU, which comes in the form of financial support and technical assistance. In this respect our agreements with the European Investment Bank, aimed at supporting reforms in the spheres of education, energy efficiency and railways are of great importance to us. We hope, that the positive efforts of the Ukrainian government and positive changes in our state will be taken into consideration by the EU according to the principle more for more which will result in the continuation of the EUs broad support for Ukraine.

In the realm of Energy Union, Ukraine is a key partner for the EU. We work together on security of supply, energy efficiency and other important areas, said European Commission Vice-President for the Energy Union Maros Sefcovic who was also at the signing event in Brussels.

Commissioner Johannes Hahn, in charge of EU Neighbourhood Policy, said: Europe is demonstrating today that it keeps its promises to Ukraine. We are well on the way now to ratifying the Association Agreement, to delivering visa liberalisation, and we keep our promises too on financial assistance, in which the EIB plays an important role.

More information on todays signatures between EIB and Ukraine:

The EIB is supporting the improvement of infrastructure and energy efficiency in Ukraine with two loans which will both benefit from technical assistance funded by the EUs Neighbourhood Investment Facility and the Eastern Partnership Technical Assistance Trust Fund, in project preparation.

EIB funds will finance the refurbishment of teaching, research and supporting facilities of universities in Ukraine with a particular focus on energy efficiency. This project will help these universities to achieve the highest educational and research standards by improving their facilities. It will also reduce energy consumption significantly with an important and positive environmental impact.

EIB will also help upgrade Ukraines railway infrastructure through the electrification and modernization of some 253 km of railway lines in the Southern region of Ukraine (from Dolynska to Mykolaiv and from Mykolaiv to Kolosivka). This will help eliminate existing bottlenecks and improve connections towards the Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea.

Supporting the development of the private sector is a key objective of the EU bank in its actions in Ukraine. The support to private companies of all sizes is aimed at creating jobs and improving standard of living of Ukrainian households. In this context, the EU bank is providing financing to foster a multi-scheme investment at Nibulon, one of the countrys largest privately owned grain producers and trading company. Investments will be focused on creating a more sustainable, modern and expanded system for grain storage and transportation. The investments will have a positive impact on the environment by substituting road transportation with river transportation through a countrywide network of river terminals and river transportation equipment.

EIB is continuing its support for trade transactions as well as investment projects by SMEs and Mid-Cap companies in Ukraine, through Ukreximbank, a well-established EIB partner. The EIB loan will improve access for these companies to substantial funding and create new opportunities for Ukraine to better benefit from the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) Agreement.

For broadcasters: video of today's signatures and statements  EBS: http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/focus/index.cfm?sitelang=en&focusid=2020
Protests Erupt As Wisconsin, Michigan Electors Vote Trump

By Stephen Gossett in News on Dec 19, 2016 7:55PM

Any chance of a long-shot Hamilton elector rebellion toward a more moderate GOP presidential option likely would require electors from nearby states Wisconsin and Michigan to join in and disavow Trump. That wasnt the case on Monday afternoon, as electors in both states unanimously stuck to the scriptalthough they had to do it in the face of stern and vocal protest.

In Wisconsin, a demonstrator was heard chanting,. No Putin. No Putin. No Putin. No Putin president, during the live proceedings at the State Capitol, before appearing to be escorted by authorities.

"You just sold out of this world. Were all going to go to war and die because of you people," another demonstrator cried. "You have no right! No right!"

When the panel announced all 10 electoral votes for Donald J. Trump, several protesters chanted shame. Every one of you, youre pathetic! shouted one person.

Protesters interrupt the proceedings of Wisconsin's Electoral College vote https://t.co/GQ8JfCbzSL pic.twitter.com/ULfZmQbnII  POLITICO (@politico) December 19, 2016

10 Wisconsin electoral votes announced for @realDonaldTrump, immediate protest from some in room ensues. @CBS58 pic.twitter.com/G1G53HGrcI  David Ade (@DavidAdeCBS58) December 19, 2016

Protesters had gathered outside the state capitol in Madison early on Wednesday morning despite subzero temperatures.

Protestors outside Wisconsin capitol head of today's Electoral college vote. @fox6now pic.twitter.com/GbBLVwzmr4  Julie Collins (@Julie_Collins6) December 19, 2016

In Lansing, Michigan, dozens of protesters crowded the capitol rotunda ahead of the 2 p.m. Eastern Time ballot cast. "Racist, sexist, anti-gay, Donald Trump, no way! they shouted. Another clip shows a large crowd, gathered just outside of the proceedings, chanting, "Let us in!"

Protesters inside the Capitol now to protest against the Michigan electoral votes possibly going to Trump @LSJNews pic.twitter.com/0ajcwkZjix  Julia Nagy (@nagyjulia727) December 19, 2016

Meanwhile outside the electoral college in Michigan pic.twitter.com/WaSw5BKu9v  Lori Wortz (@LoriWortz) December 19, 2016

The Wisconsin GOP said in a statement that "we were proud to honor the voices of 1.4 million Wisconsin voters who spoke loud and clear on Dec. 8."
Dutch Social housing foundation Sint Trudo and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have today signed a financing agreement of EUR 150 million. The facility made available by the EIB will be used for new, largely energy neutral, housing as well as making existing social housing more sustainable.

With her investment programme for the years 2016-2020 social housing association Sint Trudo answers to the lack of affordable social housing in de Eindhoven region, where population is still on the rise. The programme will create around 1.800 new, largely energy neutral, housing units. Also, existing rental housing with a relatively low energy label will be made more sustainable, up to an average level B Dutch energy label. The construction of new housing will take place on various locations in the region around the city of Eindhoven.

Vice-President Pim van Ballekom of the EIB said: This operation with Sint Trudo is a good example of the EIBs commitment for social housing in the Netherlands. Especially now, affordable housing is very important, but the facilities do have to meet certain criteria when it comes to environmental and sustainability concerns. We are glad to support Trudo in filling a gap in the housing market and happy to do so in the most energy efficient way possible.

Sint Trudos CEO, Thom Aussems, added: With this loan Sint Trudo finances a substantial part of her investment programme, with an emphasis on the construction of new, affordable, energy neutral rental housing, so-called Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs), as well as on making existing housing more energy efficient. This fits very well with European objectives for urban renewal and sustainable communities and thus was a very good fit for EIB financing.
Two of Hollywood's hottest stars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt came to Beijing to promote their new film "Passengers" on Saturday and shared their "love story" in space.

Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt appear on stage at the press conference in Beijing to promote their new film "Passengers" in Beijing, Dec. 17, 2016. [Photo / China.org.cn]

"I always like the genre of science fiction, but this is not what I loved so much about the movie when I read the script," the "Hunger Game" actress said at a Beijing press conference, "What I loved is about these two people in a doomed but beautiful love story." She added she also loved the exciting action scenes of the movie.

The movie tells a story of the Starship Avalon, on its 120-year voyage to a distant colony-planet known as "Homestead II" and is transporting 5,259 people. Two people, journalist Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence) and mechanical engineer Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) wake up 90 years early from arrival at their destination and soon discover that they fall in love but will have to undertake a mission to save the whole spaceship.

Pratt, the "Guardians of the Galaxy" star, said he was attracted to the project due to "how original the story was and how daring and provocative the ideas were for the science fiction genre. I love the challenges it poses for all audience that watch it, to question themselves and how they would react in the situation. "

The film is produced by Sony/Columbia Pictures with Chinese giant Wanda Pictures also involved. The film is directed by Morten Tyldum who was nominated for best director for "The Imitation Game."

Lawrence and Pratt were presented gifts at Beijing's promotional event, including "dragon" and "phoenix" silk night robes and a four-piece bedding set as well as a space panda, which led them to hilariously say "we are married in Beijing," before they yelled the Chinese phrase "gong xi fa cai" (Wish you make good fortune) to greet the Chinese people.

"Passengers" will be released in North America and other markets starting from Dec. 21. The Chinese release date has yet to be decided but will likely be early next year.
Migrants seeking asylum in the United States have dominated news stories in recent months, but Mexico too is a popular destination and the numbers - which have soared - prove it.

Asylum requests from citizens of Central American nations have been increasing by an estimated 9% per month since 2015, said the director of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comar).

Last year, the agency, which operates under the Interior Secretariat, received 3,424 asylum applications. Cinthia Perez predicted that 2016 will close with around 8,000.

And the figure could well rise to 22,500 by the end of 2017 if the trend continues.

"Everything seems to indicate that the number of applicants will keep rising," Perez told Fox News in an interview.

She added that conditions in Central America - gang warfare and violence, poverty and a widespread regional drought - have forced the rural poor into the cities. Those are the three main reasons for the asylum applications.

The approval of applications has also increased. While in 2013 only 40% were accepted, this year it's over 70%.
The former Mexico forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco declared a hunger strike on Saturday, to protest an impeachment process that seeks to remove him as mayor of the city of Cuernavaca, a state capital near Mexico City.

The proposal to unseat Blanco, who became mayor of Cuernavaca in December, was approved on Thursday by the Morelos state legislature and was sent to state supreme court judges who are expected to issue a ruling in early January.

Since the 43-year-old took over the colonial city of 350,000, opponents have questioned his attendance record at city hall meetings and his political experience, saying advisers make decisions on his behalf.

"He might be a good man but he is not qualified to rule," said constitutional lawyer Raul Carranca, who filed the impeachment petition before the state's legislature.

Blanco, who played for Club America and the Chicago Fire and had a spell with Real Valladolid in Europe, played at three World Cups and is Mexico's second leading scorer of all time, with 38 goals.

Off the field, he made headlines for his hot temper, including a 2007 incident in which he was filmed hitting a Mexican sports journalist.

Carranca has also alleged that Blanco cannot adequately prove his residency in Cuernavaca.
You are here: Home

China's economy underwent a tough year in 2016 and showed the world its resilience despite headwinds at home and abroad.

With the year coming to an end, let us take a look at the top 10 key words that tell the stories that made headlines in the world and China.

President Xi Jinping addresses the media on Sept 5 after the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Feng Yongbin / China Daily]

G20

Under the theme of "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy," this year's G20 Summit was held on Sept 4-5 in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

China has demonstrated unswerving commitment to globalization, more specifically to defending free trade and cross-border investment and business cooperation during the summit.
Government offers revalidation help to nurses and midwives

Registered nurses and midwives who aren't currently working on the Island are being offered help by the Manx Government to complete their revalidation.

The Department of Health and Social Care wants to help those not practising to keep their skills up to date.

A number of workers in the healthcare profession are required to undergo revalidation every three years to maintain their registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Part of revalidation includes completing a minimum number of hours worked over a three year period and 35 hours of professional development.

The DHSC is inviting those needing more hours to maintain their registration to join its nursing and midwifery bank, while also offering to fund the development.

Details on joining the bank can be found on the Government's website.
Public Health issues Norovirus reminder

The Manx public is being urged to practice good hygiene in a bid to limit the spread of Norovirus.

The illness, also know as the winter vomiting bug, is a common virus at this time of year, resulting in diarrhoea and vomiting.

Public Health says good hygiene and hand washing helps stop the bug being passed on, particularly before preparing food.

The authority is also advising the public not to rely on alcohol gels to keep their hands clean, as these don't kill the virus.

Anyone suffering from the symptoms of Norovirus is urged not to go to hospital or their GP, but to ring their doctor for advice if necessary and wait 48 hours after the symptoms disappear before returning to work or school.
Chief Minister to speak at Brexit committee



Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK

The Chief Minister will give evidence to a UK Government committee looking into the affects of Britain's exit from the European Union.

Howard Quayle will speak at the House of Lords EU Select Committee at Westminster, which is investigating how the British Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories will be affected by the UK leaving the EU.

The Manx Government has already submitted written evidence to a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, while a Justice Committee looking into the implications of Brexit will visit the Island next year.

Representatives from Jersey and Guernsey will also giving evidence at the hearing.
Coddling millennial snowflakes, Part Two: Social emotional learning in public education By Debra Rae

At its convention in Washington, D.C. (2016), Americas largest, richest, brass-knuckled labor union, the National Education Association, recently passed two new mental health-related resolutions. While addressing mental health in public education isnt new, the burgeoning field of mental health in schools is. In general, mental health researchers name five key competencies. While allegedly fostering them, safer schools aggressively nurture a culture of shame. For example, to atone for human violence toward the planet, well children are shamed into Earth servitude. Kids whose families enjoy affluence, while less fortunate counterparts merely scrape by, are made to feel discomfited. Should a shy girl decline to share a school restroom or shower with an anatomic boy identifying as female, its the girl whos labeled at risk for demonstrating intolerance. Given the unexpected outcome of our 2016 Presidential election, edu-clinicians at all levels pulled out all stops by extending recess periods, offering yoga, meditation, and mindfulness work (K-8). Up to and including college level, schools staged cry-ins, group screams, and walk outs. Some provided nap- and crying- rooms equipped with therapy dogs, coloring books, Play-Doh, and healthy snacks. Disappointment, students learn, is to be coddled and/or acted out in civil disobedience. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Through school-linked services (i.e., afterschool programs; wellness, health, and family resource centers), school-community coalitions advocate for social-emotional learning in classroom settings. SEL teaches skills for setting personal goals aimed at working well with others, feeling sympathy/empathy, identifying problems and, while making ethical choices, initiating help-seeking and help-giving behaviors. Schools are not in the mental health business, yet they are deemed essential partners in the two-fold mission (1) to promote mental health of youngsters and (2) to reshape thinking about mental health. Promote Mental Health With upsurge of SEL, one might reasonably expect augmented resilience. To the contrary, well over half of students in urban schools suffer learning, behavior, and emotional problems. In reality, personal pathology is rare. Notwithstanding, at great expense, onsite mental health clinics continue to pop up; and the vast majority of American schools extend access to mental health services beyond special education to all students. Because the same entities purporting to promote mental health also normalize categories that traditionally qualified as disordersi.e., homosexuality and bi-, pan-, trans- gender identification/ fluidityits no wonder nearly three-quarters of schools studied reported social, interpersonal, or family problems as most frequent for boys and girls alike. Reshaping Attitudes Toward Mental Health With appearance of suicide education in the 1980s, mental health services have continued to multiply. The expressed intent is school-community intervention to (1) nurture overall child development and (2) curtail obstacles to learning. To reshape feelings at the national level, health professionals promote urgent, large-scale, systemic reform initiatives. In 2002, President George W. Bush created the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Congress appropriated funds for early mental health screening but, truth be told, personal pathology is by no means the primary obstacle to learning. Low-bar standards, trumping academics with unmanageably exhaustive behavioral objectives, permissive policies, experimentation with flavor-of-the-month strategies, politically correct nepotism, and countless unnamed variables no doubt fuel the problem. Mental Health Screening DSM-1V criteria for mental illness lack clear, empirical support data, and dubious diagnostics force answers likely to yield false positives. Under auspices of gun violence, President Obama quietly unleashed a cache of federal dollars toward ordering mental health testing for youngsters. With no evidence supporting reduced suicide attempts or mortality as a result of its extended use, the Columbia University-based program called TeenScreen was used to detect depression in students at risk of suicide, anxiety disorders, and drug/alcohol abuse. Last month it was announced, The National Center will be winding down its program at the end of this year. All too often, voluntary, informed, and written parental permission for administering mental health screening is bypassed. Even for religious reasons, parents in Nebraska and West Virginia are denied the right to refuse screening. Flexibility as to who administers and scores tests should raise further concern. There are reported instances of underhanded methods used to coax kids into voluntary participation. An inadequately trained administrator is tempted to view common emotional and behavior problems as symptoms to be designated as disorders. Comprehensive search for some hidden anomaly suggests need for mental illness to be ferreted out and captured like a rabid animal. Once caught, the culprit is tagged, but applying labels from the constantly expanding list (i.e., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant and/or adjustment disorders, learning disabilities, and depression) tends to skew public policy. Case in point: Since 1995, the number of children diagnosed as bipolar has increased by forty percent. Predictably, there are increasingly more referrals than can be served. Diagnosis and Remediation Assessments invite misdiagnoses coupled with expensive, sometimes unwarranted interventions. In actuality, connecting kids with treatment is code for prescribing psychotropic drugs, resulting in dangerous, off-label, prescriptions (not intended for pediatric use), over- and/or mis-medication. Remarkably, in 2012, multiple prescriptions for children exceeded spending on antibiotics or asthma medications. Most pscho-active medicine is no more effective than placebos yet, when used by minors, antidepressants pose calculable risk. Disturbingly, the Bush commission linked mental health examinations with state-of-the-art treatments using specific medications (e.g., antidepressant and anti-psychotic drugs) for specific conditions. As drug coercion becomes a condition for public school attendance, noncompliant parents fear they will face charges and/or unwelcomed intervention of Child Protective Services. Despite protest, the NEA continues to urge affiliates to support legislation at all levels (community, state, and national). Follow the Money Theres good reason why schools typically dont assign high priority to mental health services. Simply put, school-financed student support services do not reflect the schools essential mission. Nevertheless, the Federal Department of Education and Centers for Disease Control persistently advocate for federal initiatives that advance full-service schools. Among the top five funding sources is Medicaid. Wraparound mental health services effectively rob from Peter to pay Paul. Given the political-pharmaceutical alliance that operates for monetary gain, conflict of interest is to be expected. By way of example, TeenScreen advisory board members served in leadership positions for at least two entities heavily funded by drug-company educational grants. Cradle-to-Grave Monitoring and Intervention Results of routine, comprehensive mental health screening for every child, preschoolers included, are integrated with electronic health records. Longitudinal national electronic databases, including treatments and personal family information, can be accessed by insurance companies, federal and state agencies, special interest groups, and eventual employers. Even fictional mental disorders follow a child for life. Without parental consent, DNA data collected on newborns through KIDSNET in Rhode Island are linked to educational databases. In conclusion, the late President Ronald Reagan got it right: The most terrifying words in the English language are I'm from the government, and I'm here to help. Debra Rae is a regular contributor to The Intellectual Conservative and this publication.  2016 Home
Watch out, everything is racist now By Rachel Alexander

Although racism has been gradually decreasing in the U.S., the left is attempting to portray it as rapidly expanding in order to keep minorities voting for Democrats. Its Barack Obamas legacy. But its looking sillier and sillier, and the American electorate saw through it and elected Donald Trump as president. Unfortunately, the radicals have had some incremental success; luring young people to join Black Lives Matter, incorporating propaganda into our educational system, and destroying the lives of anyone caught in their crosshairs. The left is now labeling an alarming number of things related to blacks and other minorities racist, casting a wide net in a gotcha tactic in order to take down conservatives. Criticize a black person for a reason unrelated to race? Racist. Say anything negative about Obama? Racist. Criticize the lefts interpretation and mandate of diversity? Racist. Shoot a black suspect for a reason unrelated to race? Racist  even if the cop himself was black. It is becoming the norm to be called a racist any time a conservative tweets something remotely related to minorities, especially blacks. Google any prominent conservatives name along with the word racist and there is probably some smear story about them. I cant count how many times Ive been called racist by the left in recent years because Im a conservative columnist. In contrast, growing up I was never called a racist. Funny coincidence how I only became a racist when the left started falsely labeling conservatives as racist. What is even more disturbing is the left is going beyond distorting events  making up incidents of racism from scratch as Ive covered previously. The surge of fake news is part of that. It is easy to forge a racist email or tweet and pretend it came from some conservative politico. With the rise of social media and expansion of news on the internet, lies can be quickly spread. A study just came out which found that half the population remembers events that never happened. Remember Sarah Palin saying she could see Russia from her home in Alaska? She never said that, but because Tina Fey said it impersonating her on SNL in a clip that went viral, people remember it better than what Palin actually said. In actuality, Palin responded with a true fact to a question in 2008 from ABC News Charles Gibson about the closeness of Russia and Alaska, "They're our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska." The influx of refugees from the Middle East has expanded opportunities for the left to make up fake racism. They can start blasting away anytime at mere objections to the refugees settling here. Its a two for one against the right, since the the left can also attack Christians for religious bigotry against Muslims. For that reason, Obama and the left are deliberately bringing in thousands of refugees, and the accompanying violence and ISIS infiltration are ignored, even though that is the real basis for objecting. This con has made it extremely difficult for conservatives to criticize blacks on the left, shut down race-baiting indoctrination in education, and for cops merely to do their jobs. The left follows the classic tactics of Saul Alinsky; lie, distort, hype up and agitate. It is hate speech, dishonest, and arguably racist, because its almost always directed at a white person. Its also a variation of fake news. Its overdue for conservatives to start rallying around those falsely accused and defend them; these schemes are increasing in number and growing in size, fake troll social media accounts and fake news being the latest schemes. Everyone is terrified of being labeled a racist themselves if they dare to defend one of the targets, which is why this method of attack is so effective. Conservatives must develop a backbone because this is just going to get worse otherwise. But en masse, it is much more difficult to single someone out and take them down. Victims need to fight back with libel lawsuits. It would be great if a legal defense group was formed to assist with these lawsuits, a fake news legal fund. Research the false accusers and expose them  people this dishonest usually have unscrupulous backgrounds. As the old saying goes, people who live in glass houses shouldnt throw stones. Conservatives tend to be more ethical than progressives, so would never create a rulebook like Alinskys that calls for lying and other outrageous tactics, but there are perfectly legitimate ways to fight back. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, and other publications. Home
Trumps foreign policy reset By Dr. Peter Morici

Donald Trumps recent actions, such as his conversation with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and statements about Chinas currency, may disturb foreign policy experts, but those mark a long overdue reset in U.S. international policy. Since the end of World War II, the United States has promoted the freer movement of goods, capital and people  for example, through NAFTA, integrating China into the World Trade Organization and broadening the European Union  and democracy as the surest path to peace, prosperity and security. In considerable measure those approaches worked. Wartime allies and adversaries from Poland to Japan are now bound together in a durable Western community of interests, and resorting to military confrontation to settle differences is simply unthinkable. However, Brexit, the failure of the recent Italian government and election of Mr. Trump illustrate many voters have grown weary of globalizations failed promises and oppressive burdens. Since the introduction of the euro, southern European nations have seen unemployment  especially youth unemployment  soar to chronically unacceptable levels. In the United States, liberalized trade with China has slashed economic growth, left Rust Belt communities devastated by factory closures and helped create an army of indolent men  7 million between 25 and 54 who show no interest in gainful employment. On both continents, poorly controlled immigration and terrorism have fed off each other, and many voters have concluded what elites simply wont admit. The West cant spread free markets and democratic values everywhere, and the failure to recognize the limits of this policy have devastating consequences. In the Middle East, religious radicalism makes western blind tolerance of alien cultures downright threatening to the safety of ordinary citizens walking the streets or attending public events from Brussels to San Bernardino. It threatens to dilute national cultures and makes social cohesion so necessary for tolerant civic interactions much less possible. In China, a juggernaut has emerged that simply has no intention of conforming to the free-market norms of the global trading system or western democracy. It rigs its currency, subsidizes exports and compels foreign investors to give away their technology. As importantly, it is perfecting new means to monitor and control its citizens behavior. It uses its newfound wealth to remilitarize the Pacific and threatens its neighbors and, as importantly, it offers its model of autocratic state-directed capitalism as an alternative to what it sees as Americas decadent democratic economic and social order. President Obamas idealistic policies have enabled Chinas more aggressive actions. For example, his failure to adequately counter its mercantilist trade and investment policies, his passive posture as Beijing imposed economic pressure on Taiwan for electing a government committed to continued democracy and built military installations in the South China Sea, and his scolding of Philippines leaders on vexing internal security challenges as they and leaders of Malaysia pivoted toward Beijing. Seen in this context, Donald Trumps continued insistence on the primacy of enforcing our borders and aggressively screening those who settle in America, renegotiating trade agreements to ensure they benefit the American economy and not some ethereal notion of global communalism, and his recent conversations with Taiwans President Tsai and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte are not the compulsive machinations of a man without a governing ideology. Rather, those are merely a practical recognition that the principles undergirding American foreign policy in recent decades no longer serve us well. America cant simply persuade China to be democratic or respect western norms in international commerce. The best course for U.S. policy is to take strong assertive steps against actions that adversely affect American economic and security interests and those of its allies. America cant compel Middle Eastern societies to be more tolerant of the West or effectively coax Mexico to clean up the corruption that drives so many of its citizens to migrate north illegally. However, Washington can screen aggressively who is allowed to enter America from places hostile to our values and better enforce our southern border. The foreign policy establishments of the Democratic and Republican parties Mr. Trump defeated in the primaries and general election may be aghast at his attitude and actions. His governing doctrine is not that of a great thinker but profoundly similar to other great men in our history. America has to deal with the world as it finds it, not as philosophers think it should be. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. Home
Time for a complete halt on all immigration By Selwyn Duke

Immigration today, immigration tomorrow, immigration forever? In recent times there has been much controversy over President-elect Donald Trumps campaign-trail suggestion that we temporarily halt immigration from Muslim nations (which has been modified). The Left claims such a notion is discriminatory, un-American and even, most ridiculously, unconstitutional. Yet theres a simple way to avoid this debate altogether: Institute a moratorium on all immigration. This is a serious proposal  and a necessary one. Consider: with the U.S. having a replacement-level fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman, immigration is the only reason our population is increasing. As to this, our numbers have swelled from 100 million people in 1915 to 200 million in 1968 to 320 million today. And its projected they will reach approximately 400 million just after 2050. Obviously, such growth involves strain on natural resources, social services and infrastructure. Yet while the Left purports to care about the environment, it also pursues open-border policies with jihadist-like zeal. But when will enough population be enough? When it stands at 450 million? A half billion? A billion? The Left likes to push family planning. But what about national-family planning? In addition, more than 94 million Americans are not in the labor force, and the real unemployment rate is far higher than the governments fraudulent figure of approximately five percent. Moreover, recent years have seen companies replacing American high-tech workers with foreigners (often forcing our countrymen to train their replacements, as salt in the wound). What rational case can be made that the U.S. needs more people? Actually, there is one rational, if nefarious, case: the desire for political power. Since the institution of the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1965, 85 percent of our legal immigrants have come from the Third World. Upon being naturalized, 70 to 90 percent of them vote Democrat. In contrast, the Republicans derive approximately 90 percent of their votes from European-descent Americans. Do you see the rational case, or at least the rationale, now? This post-1965 immigration model, along with oft-offered-amnesty to illegal migrants, has ushered in great demographic upheaval. Where our country was almost 90 percent non-Hispanic white in 1965, its now just 61.9 percent so. This is precisely what is being spoken of, by the way, when you hear the media and politicians talking about the demographic changes that are pulling the nation left. Dont be fooled by Donald Trumps Nov. 8 victory, either. The President-elect campaigned as a nationalistic populist, not a conservative, and for a variety of reasons he possessed great cross-over appeal; in addition, Hillary Clinton was a horrible candidate. There is a reason California, where Ronald Reagan once reigned supreme, could not be won by him today. Theres a reason Virginia and North Carolina (of all places) are swing states; and why Illinois, which went GOP six elections in a row 1968 through 1988, is now a presidential-election Democrat bastion. And a big part of it is spelled i-m-m-i-g-r-a-t-i-o-n. Power-mad, anti-Western politicians are well aware of this, mind you. Barack Obama said last year that immigration was making America "more and more of a hodgepodge of folks" and that he was "hopeful" this would drown out conservatism. Andrew Neather, ex-adviser to former British prime minister Tony Blair, was even more blunt in 2009 when he admitted that the massive Third World immigration into the U.K. was designed "to rub the Right's nose in diversity and render their arguments out of date." And Swedish multiculturalist and social engineer Mona Sahlin, commenting on the planned Islamization of her land, said in 2001, "[T]he Swedes must be integrated into the new Sweden; the old Sweden is never coming back." This is also why Obama has intensified the demographic warfare via illegal migration, most notably with an alleged amnesty plan that would legalize foreigners, take over the host (us) and push citizens into the shadows. Part of this scheme appears to involve seeding red states with Muslim migrants and other foreigners, who then will break the ice and create communities that will attract even more newcomers from their nations. Goodbye, Main Street, U.S.A.  hello, Hodgepodgeville. By the way, what do you call people who, lusting after power, invite foreigners into their own lands to overwhelm their countrymen? Any thoughts? Note that the 1965 immigration act wasnt billed as a culture-ender and nation-render. In fact, writes the Center for Immigration Studies: Senate immigration subcommittee chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA.) reassured his colleagues and the nation with the following [when pushing the 65 legislation]: "First, our cities will not be flooded with a million immigrants annually. Under the proposed bill, the present level of immigration remains substantially the same ... Secondly, the ethnic mix of this country will not be upset ... Contrary to the charges in some quarters, [the bill] will not inundate America with immigrants from any one country or area, or the most populated and deprived nations of Africa and Asia ... In the final analysis, the ethnic pattern of immigration under the proposed measure is not expected to change as sharply as the critics seem to think." Every claim above is the precise opposite of what came to pass. Our immigration did increase from a historical norm of approximately 250,000 a year to 1,000,000, we have been inundated with immigrants from one country and area (Mexico and Latin America) and from the most populated and deprived nations, and our ethnic (and racial) mix has changed radically. Note, too, that in delivering his apologia, Ol Teddy tacitly admitted the above would be negative developments  he didnt just dismiss such concerns as racist. In fact, those concerns stemmed from a widely recognized truth: a nation demographically unstable is an unstable nation. For if such changes lead to balkanization, it will not long be a nation, properly defined as an extension of the tribe, which itself is an extension of the family. (The Sioux Nation was not a country, per se; it was thus named because all members were Sioux.) E pluribus hodgepodge is not a recipe for national success. Of course, our immigration policy was once quite different. Not only were far fewer immigrants admitted, but for many decades prior to 65, policies ensured that the U.S.s demographic balance would be maintained. Such a model is now called discriminatory.But consider: with millions of ethnic Chinese flooding into Tibet, overwhelming the natives, anthropologists may scream, This is cultural and demographic genocide! When the same thing happens to Western nations? Then its called diversity. Thats not the only hypocrisy here. While reporting last year on white techie types displacing Hispanics in San Franciscos Mission District, fake-news paper The New York Times disparagingly termed the phenomenon bleaching out the Latino culture. Yet fake-news station MSNBC has talked about the browning of America  favorably. Apparently, some demographic changes are more equal than others. Of course, suspending legal immigration is currently still a minority view, in the grip as we are of immigrationism, the belief that immigration is always good, always necessary and must be the one constant in an ever-changing universe of policy. But with the Trump phenomenon having moved the dial on whats politically possible and palatable, its time to start talking about it  and moving that dial a bit more. Talk-show host Mark Levin has rhetorically asked, Is the purpose of immigration law to change the demographics of the nation? Today, in America, it is. But with patriotic movements already having struck a blow against the Establishment  in Europe with Brexit and in the U.S. with Trump  its time to do the same with immigration. Establishment immigration policy must go. Contact Selwyn Duke, follow him on Twitter or log on to SelwynDuke.com. Home
The New World Orders diabolical pilgrimage: Part One By Michael Moriarty

I began this series of articles on the diabolical pilgrimage of The New World Order much earlier this year. None, so far, have been published. I am so convinced of the unrelenting savagery of this Diabolical Pilgrimage, this American Third Reich to destroy individual freedom, that its campaign to transform America into a small and profoundly humiliated corner of a criminally New World Order is not, by any stretch of the imagination, over. This Part One of the series starts at the beginning of this year, 2016. The actually treasonous campaign for The New World Order, however, began over 20 years ago with this breathtakingly shameless speech by President George H. W. Bush. This Part One of my series was written in the Spring of this year. In this context, please begin to read what will undoubtedly prove to be the most important set of essays in my entire writing career. At this present stage, the Spring of 2016, in what I define as The New World Orders Diabolical Pilgrimage, the recent racial violence between the police and blacks is a major part of Barack Hussein Obamas incendiary Presidency of the United States. My thoughts about this nightmare center around President Barack Obama and the major hand he has had in creating, with his unending praise for Black Lives Matter and his repeated criticism of the American police. What has provoked this entire long series of interrelated editorials has been a most disturbing article by the New York Times David Samuels about the relationship between President Barack Hussein Obama and his Deputy National Security Adviser For Strategic Communications, Ben Rhodes, came to my initially bewildered and eventually very infuriated attention. The implications of David Samuels narrative about his meetings with Ben Rhodes rang painfully loud bells of memory. I could only think of my experiences during the filming of the television mini-series Holocaust and my role as Hitlers New World Order Idealist How the history-changing idealism of Ben Rhodes reminded me of the very role I had performed in Holocaust, Colonel Eric Dorf of Adolf Hitlers Schutzstaffel or Algemeine SS. Obamas Eric Dorf? Ben Rhodes is no longer just Ben Rhodes. He is Barack Hussein Obamas Ben Rhodes. There have been a number of New World Order Campaigns in the history of the world and its human race. All of them have never reached their ultimate goal of ruling the entire world. Now the United Nations wants to try a hand at building a Third Millennium World Empire. One of the United Nations major point men in its campaign to rule the world is President Barack Hussein Obama of the United States. This President has made it repeatedly clear that he really has never had any love for the United States. Both Obamas Islamic and Marxist loyalties make it impossible for predominantly Judeo-Christian America to have ever been a source for any of the Presidents pride, joy or admiration. President Obamas ultimate goal is to fundamentally transform the United States into a docile and submissive corner of a disturbingly increasing Marxist/Islamic United Nations. My first and quite angrily bewildered question is, What is a Jewish-Christian Ben Rhodes doing playing doppelganger to a Red Islamic, Communist-sympathizing, quasi Muslim-American conspirator for the United Nations and its New World Order?! Then again, what was a nice Catholic boy like Eric Dorf doing as an increasingly rabid anti-Semitic enforcer of racial policies in Nazi Germany? Then further again, how could the anti-Zionism of Communism have a creator, Karl Marx, who is Jewish?! My answer? The Devils distinctive addiction to treason and any other form of betrayal and self-loathing. The New World Order is, in my hardly humble opinion, Lucifers greatest temptation to both a by-now, profoundly benighted American leadership and a torturously slow, waking up of America. Why the greatest temptation? The Devil, Lucifer has never  even after including the villains of World War II, even after considering Hitler, Stalin and Imperial Japan  Mephistopheles has never put himself into greater seats of power than both, and simultaneously, the Presidency of the United States and the Catholic Papacy! Which, of course, reminds me of Holocaust Part One,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLsAPs8SOJA

The Gathering Darkness. In it, there is more than a hint of what? Even unto the halls of the Catholic Church?! Oh, well that was the past, wasnt it?! Yet now there is ISIS! Or should it be, as President Obama insists, ISIL? In the American Thinker,

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/12/why_does_obama_call_isis_isil.html

Amil Imani writes: Many who closely follow the dueling Islamic terror narratives emanating from the White House are mystified by Mr. Obama's inability (or deliberate unwillingness) to utter the phrase "Islamic terrorists." Many are curious, too, about why he refuses to call ISIS "ISIS," steadfastly insisting instead that everybody in his administration call the terror group "ISIL." What's the difference, and why is it important? The agendas behind each diverge widely. In fact, the variance between the two is elephantine in scale. Hmmm no, it cant be elephantine! Thats big, right? After all, hes the President of the United States! America wouldnt let a possible anti-Semite into the White House, would she? Ive kept the Latin sense of the feminine, the a ending to America and well theres very much something of the well-intended, possibly naive wife in America. Does America really know what some of her men are really up to? Mr. Omani continues: ISIS stands for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, a terror group controlling a large swath of both Iraq and Syria in which the terrorists claim to have established a caliphate, a state in which Islamic sharia law is imposed upon all living in the area, anyone who fails to adhere to strict Muslim guidelines has his head removed. Obama's contrary assertions aside, ISIS is by no means contained. In fact, the savage group (which prefers to be called the Islamic State or IS) has metastasized on maps like immense pools of blood covering the ancient borders that once divided parts of Syria and Iraq. These seemingly small distinctions, since this investigation of mine, The New World Orders Diabolical Pilgrimage, attempts to find out just how diabolical and profoundly dangerous this pilgrimage of The New World Order is these details might be important. Mightnt they? ISIL, Obama's preference, stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. And what could the Levant be? It is certainly President Obamas preference. ISIS only refers to The Islamic State In Iraq and Syria. The Islamic State in the Levant?! The Levant encompasses, as Mr. Omani describes it, The west part of Syria, Lebanon, west part of Jordan, Palestine (West Bank and Gaza Strip), Israel and Sinai (Egypt)." Other sources claim that it also encompasses parts of Turkey. All of these states embrace Islam, with one very notable exception: Israel, our only blood brother ally in the region that all Islamic terrorists want gone, violently and forever. Wow! Thats a most impressive mountain of real estate! Yet, Obama dismisses ISIL, after repeatedly surrendering a huge corner of the Middle East to it, render ISIL harmless by calling it the JV team. Could President Obama be talking to two entirely different audiences at the same time, and, as another voice of the Obama Nation, Jonathan Gruber, would say it, Without stupid America even knowing it! President Obama acknowledging and perhaps even adopting for himself the ISIL nightmares total self-image which says basically: We,

ISIL,

are the Middle East! And many of us are beginning to suspect that ISIL is now the White House itself.



Oh, the American air power and Russians particularly are killing hundreds of ISIS/ISIL fighters. Islamic fanatics are more than willing to die. ISIS/ISIL considers it an honor to throw their lives away on what is perhaps the third and hopefully last effort by RADICAL ISLAM to rule the entire world. President Obama simply called this mounting violence The Arab Spring. However, and here is where, as they say, the airplane tire meets the runway. In short? The Progressive New World Order Comparing the The New World Order to Adolf Hitlers Third Reich?!?! Isnt the final objective of both Adolph Hitler and The New World Order the same?! Arent The New World Order operations rife with rumors of Depopulation?! Isnt the NWO assaulted by provocative videos? Lorelei

In

1930s Germany? Forbidden!! Here is a detailed description of how and why Lorelei was banned. Its original author, Heinrich Heine, was Jewish. Throughout the world, we are seeing spots of total surrender to Islamic cultural demands. Here the Obama Administration plays a major part in such capitulations to even Radical Islamic demands like those of al Qaeda. When an increasingly Islamic President of the United States tries pushing the blood-thirsty standards of al Qaeda and insists upon supporting the ISIL claims to a governing role throughout The Levant?! Yet, one of the leading voices within the Obama Nation is a Jewish/Christian novelist named Ben Rhodes. And certainly Ben Rhodes, of all eloquent and intelligent people, couldnt possibly be a stooge for what the anti-Obama mouthpieces like Glenn Beck are beginning to call Americas First Dictator. Or could he? Eric Dorf, indeed all of 1930s most intelligent citizens? They fell in behind Hitler with Ben Rhodes-like certainty! The New World Orders Diabolical Pilgrimage continues, next month, with Part Two. Michael Moriarty is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor who starred in the landmark television series Law and Order from 1990 to 1994. His recent film and TV credits include The Yellow Wallpaper, 12 Hours to Live, Santa Baby and Deadly Skies. Contact Michael at rainbowfamily2008@yahoo.com. He can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/@MGMoriarty. Home
The Trump administration  A Reagan revival!

By Mark Alexander



There have been two amazing political surprises since Tuesday, November 8th.

The first, of course, was that Donald Trump defeated Barack Obama's error apparent, Hillary Clinton. Despite how the mainstream media frames that victory, it was not Trump who carried down-ballot candidates but grassroots Americans who handed an up-ballot victory to Trump. The MSM are still trying to figure out who those elusive "grassroots" voters are and from what planet they came.

Nobody was more surprised by the Trump victory than Donald Trump himself, except for Clinton and her legions of lamenting leftist lemmings, who went scurrying for their cupcake safe spaces. One only hopes that they all stay put with their Play-Doh, coloring books and hot cocoa for years to come!

When I endorsed Donald Trump for president on October 26, I wrote to my conservative colleagues, particularly Christians struggling with Trump's considerable moral indiscretions, "Those who choose to sit this election out or 'choose neither' are making a choice  to undermine the best prospect to advance Liberty. ... If you're reluctant to vote for Trump, at least cast your vote for the Supreme Court."

Fortunately, by a popular state-by-state margin sufficient to provide Trump a substantial Electoral College victory, our Constitution has been rescued from the incessant Obama assault of the last eight years  an assault that would most assuredly have continued for at least the next four years had Clinton been victorious.

However, given the popular vote totals, my more liberal (and therefore more "enlightened") colleagues continually ask me, with predictably arrogant and disapproving airs, "Well, who won the popular vote?" My standard reply leaves them looking like a deer in the headlights: "The Supreme Court and our Rule of Law won!"

Indeed, this promises to be a new dawn for Liberty.

But the second post-election surprise has been almost as astounding as the first.

Since his stunning victory, Trump has NOT forgotten who brung him to the dance  those working class grassroots conservatives across the nation. Having named one of the nation's most steadfast and articulate conservatives, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, to head his transition team, the nominees who've come out of Trump Tower rival the conservative pedigrees of those chosen by Ronald Reagan some 35 years ago.

Trump signaled his intention to break the conventional swamp mold with his initial appointments of Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus as his chief of staff and media executive Steve Bannon as chief strategist. Bannon is the quintessential outsider, and he'll be charged with holding Trump's populist coalition together. Conversely, Priebus is the quintessential insider, and he'll team with Pence, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to steward Trump's legislative agenda through Congress.

And the lineup thus far of those who'll help Trump launch his First 100 Days agenda is impressive. Combined with the enormous House Republican majority and a workable Senate Republican majority, the prospects for the success of Trump's agenda are indeed promising.

Clearly, Trump is, as his first order of business, going to begin the long process of restoring our nation's security after eight years of, at best, neglect.

To do that, he selected an outstanding team, including Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (USA, Ret.) as his national security advisor, Gen. James Mattis (USMC, Ret.) as secretary of defense, Gen. John Kelly (USMC, Ret.) to head Homeland Security and restore border security, and Rep. Mike Pompeo to head the Central Intelligence Agency.

And the lineup of Trump's domestic leadership is equally impressive.

First up would be his nominee for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, a committed Rule of Law AG.

Second would be those who will begin to undo the plethora of Obama-era regulations that have been choking the American economy.

Trump nominated Rep. Tom Price (who also happens to be an orthopedic surgeon) for Health and Human Services, a role in which he'll dismantle Obama's signature piece of legislation, the so-called "Affordable Care Act."

Reining in the EPA's immense regulatory bypass of Congress will be Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, with an assist from Interior Secretary nominee Rep. Ryan Zinke (himself a former Navy SEAL), and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry at the Department of Energy.

Trump's promise to make America competitive again is reflected in his choice of Steven Mnuchin at Treasury, business turnaround expert Wilbur Ross at Commerce and Andrew Puzder to head the Department of Labor. They will have assists from Elaine L. Chao, wife of Mitch McConnell, at Transportation, reformer Betsy DeVos at Education and Ben Carson at Housing and Urban Development.

Yet another indication of the caliber of people moving into the Trump administration would be the caliber of people moving out of the Heritage Foundation. Making this mass exodus are many of the most conservative policy experts in the nation as reflected in Heritage's "Mandate for Leadership." In fact, I've heard that as many as 40% of Heritage's staff are being absorbed by the Trump administration.

While a well-placed friend of mine, Heritage President Jim DeMint, wasn't prepared to confirm that figure, his VP, Wesley Denton, told us, "As Morton Blackwell has often pointed out, personnel is policy, and Heritage scholars and specialized staff often move on to play critical roles on Capitol Hill and throughout the policy world. With a new administration that has been recruiting conservative staff, it wouldn't be surprising to see an increase in turnover at Heritage and other conservative offices."

Of course, the most anticipated of Trump's nominations is his pick for secretary of state, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, who we predict will pick up the nickname T-Rex before his tenure is up.

But the Tillerson nomination is also the most troubling of the lot because, like Donald Trump himself, there is little Tillerson will do that doesn't get tagged as having something to do with his worldwide business interests  or, as the MSM will phrase it, "his business cronies." For the record, I have NO concern about the relationship between Tillerson and Putin  to the contrary, I think that prior professional relationship will prove an asset to our national security and that of our NATO allies.

And on the subject of MSM "business cronies," there are two factors that I predict will plague Donald Trump in the coming years  the first is, ironically, his business success.

His vast business interests will be the source of incessant accusations from Democrats and their Leftmedia projectors that he's using the White House for personal enrichment. Yes, Trump has announced that he'll turn over control of his business interests to his sons, but that won't create enough distance for Democrats and their MSM "public relations" outlets, and most of the public won't be able to distinguish fake media from fact.

Those charges of self-enrichment will handicap Trump, no matter how unfounded.

The second factor is one that has long plagued Trump and is perhaps the most troubling  his inability to convey a sense of public humility.

In John Marshall's official eulogy of George Washington, he wrote, "[F]irst in the hearts of his countrymen, [Washington] was second to none in humble and enduring scenes of private life. Pious, just humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform, dignified, and commanding; his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting..."

Trump should aspire to those character traits, starting with humility.

He is an interesting case study. On a personal level, those we know who are closest to Trump say that he is very personable and fair, that he demonstrates integrity and humility, and that he treats people with dignity and respect.

But his public persona often times is quite the opposite.

Of course, Trump is, by trade, a self-promoter who claims a third of his fortune is in his name alone. Indeed, Trump has amassed his fortune as a promoter, and he has the potential to channel all that promotional expertise into doing as he promised  making America great again.

But he will undermine his objective if he fails to adopt a modicum of public humility.

Trump could start by letting someone with more temperamental control vet what he taps into his Twitter account. As I wrote last August about his tendency to derail his momentum with trivial tweets, "For 10 years prior to his candidacy, Trump hosted his successful reality show 'The Apprentice.' For all those years, he strictly controlled the script  what did and did not make it to air. It seems that he has yet to figure out that he has NO control over the script of his 'Make America Great Again' reality show."

As Salena Zito wrote in the September issue of The Atlantic, "The press takes him literally, but not seriously; his supporters take him seriously, but not literally."

But the press has the loudest platform.

Now that Donald Trump has amassed an extraordinary lineup of conservatives, has laid out the most straightforward conservative agenda since Ronald Reagan, and has the muscle in Congress to move it forward, it's time to stay on message like never before.

Oh, and circling back to the promise that put Trump over the top on November 8th, his first order of business should be to announce the Supreme Court nominee who'll replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. In fact, selecting Scalia's replacement is rightly considered by many to be the most important decision Trump will make in his first hundred days.

Some Democrats have promised to filibuster his SCOTUS nominees, and if Trump needs eight Democrat votes to shut that threat down, he may not fulfill his promise of seating a jurist of Scalia's conservative caliber.

May I suggest that if Trump's SCOTUS nominees meet with obstruction, Republicans should "go nuclear" and end the filibuster option for SCOTUS nominees, just as Democrats did 96 times for their lower court judicial nominees during the tenure of Dirty Harry Reid (D-NV) as Senate majority leader.

Bottom line, once again: This has the makings of a new dawn for Liberty.

Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post.
Outraged vets: VA hospital death touted as proof of Obama and Democrats indifference By Jim Kouri

While the claims that President Barack Obama and certain Democrat politicians have a deep-seeded hatred for the U.S. military may be hyperbolic, events that continue to occur at Veterans Administration medical centers show a certain amount of indifference on their part, according to a former U.S. Marine and retired New York police detective Sidney Franes. The military and police decorated Franes points to the latest example of death and corruption within the VA hospital system as evidence of President Obama's indifference to the suffering of thousands of military veterans who rely on the VA for their healthcare. An Inspector General's investigative report claims that medical staff members at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Florida allowed the body of a deceased veteran to begin its decomposition process for almost 10-hours and when they discovered the severity of the situation they attempted to to cover it up. The report's 24-pages alleges that the VA hospice staffers at the Bay Pines VA hospital failed to provide appropriate post-mortem care to the veterans body. According to the American Medical Association, hospice care facilities usually provide: Basic medical care with a focus on pain and symptom control.

Access to a member of your hospice team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Medical supplies and equipment as needed.

Counseling and social support to help you and your family with psychological, emotional, and spiritual issues.

Guidance with the difficult, but normal, issues of life completion and closure.

A break (respite care) for caregivers, family, and others who regularly care for you.

Volunteer support, such as preparing meals and running errands.

Counseling and support for your loved ones after you die. The IG report reveals that hospice staff put the military veterans lifeless body in a hallway and left it there for an unspecified time. Staff then put the veterans body in the shower room and did not check on the status dead vet for close to 10-hours. That's when the cover up began: an unidentified staff member then falsified the description of the incident in the patient's medical records and other hospital documents. The investigative report stated that leaving the dead body hidden and unattended for such a long period of time increased the likelihood the deceased began to decompose. "The report details a total failure on the part of the Department of Veterans Affairs and an urgent need for greater accountability," Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., said. "Unsurprisingly, not a single VA employee has been fired following this incident, despite a clear lack of concern and respect for the veteran. The men and women who sacrificed on behalf of our nation deserve better." President Obama during his so-called "goodbye tour" of the nation, claimed on his watch the VA was successful in correcting many of the problems that allegedly led to deaths and ineffective treatment. The unnamed veteran died in February after spending time in hospice care. The hospital's administration ordered retraining for staff. "How do you train people to do the right thing. They knew what protocols to follow, but decided to look for shortcuts and covering up," said Manual Marquez, a former criminal investigator who specialized in malpractice cases that involved medical fraud and corruption. "This case also proves the dangers associated with government providing medical services and healthcare," he added. Conservative Base's editor, Jim Kouri, CPP, is founder and CEO of Kouri Associates, a homeland security, public safety and political consulting firm. He's formerly Fifth Vice-President, now a Board Member of the National Association of Chiefs of Police, a columnist, and a contributor to the nationally syndicated talk-radio program, the Chuck Wilder Show. He's the author of two books: "Crime Talk: Conversations with America's Top Law Enforcement Officers" and "Assume the Position: Police Science for Journalists and Screenwriters." He's former chief of police at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at St. Peter's University and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri appears regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc. He also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty (Law & Order). He holds a bachelor of science in Criminal Justice from Southwest University and SCI Technical School in New York City and completed training at the NYC Police Academy, FBI Continuing Education Program, and the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) of the American Society for Industrial Security. To subscribe to Kouri's newsletter write to COPmagazine@aol.com and write "Subscription" on the subject line. Home
Seventy-seven years since its outbreak, World War II continues to shape the world By Mark Wegierski

World War II and one of its main ideological results  the general discrediting of Western traditionalism -- continue to shape events in the world today. Among the long-term effects of the war, there is the ongoing erosion of meaningful historical memory in most Western societies, and the delegitimizing of the possibilities of a democratic Right -- or of a social conservatism of the Left -- that is to say, various possible symbioses of traditionalism and liberal democracy. Indeed, a country such as Canada today can be seen to be on the cutting edge of late modernity. It has perhaps not yet felt its full impact and practical consequences. Nevertheless, it can be seen that Canada is increasingly becoming a nation without history, or historical memory. Lacking a context or mooring in a richly textured sense of history, most persons in Canada today are cast adrift on an ever-thinning, improvisational present moment, driven by consumerism, pop-culture, and a few politically correct cliches about the past. Although it may seem quite remote from many persons (especially young people) today, we are in fact living in the shadow of what have become the anti-traditionalist consequences of the Second World War. In our recoiling from the horrors of Nazism, an evil ideology that was clearly buried in the rubble of Berlin, Western countries such as Canada have increasingly plunged themselves into new kinds of nightmares. Most Western societies have reacted viscerally against anything smacking of right-wing or traditional notions, often conceived as grotesque caricatures, with the result that an almost continual, uninterrupted, unremitting left-liberal surge has overtaken those societies. As a person of Polish descent and having studied history extensively, it may be hoped that one has a certain insight into totalitarianism  whether of the Nazi, Soviet, or politically-correct left-liberal varieties. Although the latter is ostensibly non-violent  not producing mounds of corpses  it can nevertheless be seen as extremely thoroughgoing in the upholding and imposition of its ideas, as well as being what its critics would call soul-killing. And some would indeed criticize the vast number of abortions in current-day Western societies as suggestive of actual mass-killing. As J.R.R. Tolkien has acutely observed -- evil always takes on another shape and grows again. The new evil was not only the manifest cruelty of the Soviet empire, to which East-Central Europe had been notoriously betrayed, but also a rising miasma of trends and tendencies which would eventually drive most Western countries into a socially disintegrative mode. Three major prophets of this new mode were Dr. Kinsey (who -- according to critics like Judith Reisman -- manifestly misrepresented the reality of sexual behavior in an attempt to create the very tendencies he purported to describe); Dr. Spock (who introduced highly distempering errors into the understanding of how to raise children); and Timothy Leary (the Sixties' guru and "youth drug culture" advocate). As of 1945, the entire "right-wing option" stood as discredited in the eyes of the broad masses of most Western countries, although very many European patriots, conservatives, and traditionalists had fiercely opposed Nazi Germany. In todays world, those who continue to hold the ideals of such World War II heroes as Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, or Wladyslaw Sikorski (the preeminent leader of the Polish Government-in-Exile and Commander-in-Chief of the Polish armed forces in the West) are often seen as retrograde reactionaries. Therefore, it is possible to see the respective histories of a country like Poland since September 1939 (the beginning of an ongoing calamity for that nation whose consequences continue even to this day) and Canada since the 1960s as being tragic in the case of Poland and tinged with tragedy in the case of Canada -- owing in both cases to forces, which although apparently dissimilar, often end up being quite alike in their disdain for living, breathing, actual societies and peoples. Many Western countries such as Canada  under the direction of their politically-correct elites (or pseudo-elites) -- appear to have lost their confidence and belief in themselves. They have been brought to embrace low birthrates, and high immigration policies, which, when coupled with the refusal to exert meaningful assimilatory pressures on the new immigrants, may indeed render their long term future as increasingly problematic. What may be particularly troubling is the unidirectional nature of developments such as social liberalism, multiculturalism, and high immigration, all of which tend in one direction seemingly, i.e., towards the ever-increasing subversion of traditional society. Indeed, it did not take too long for the Left's "long march through the institutions" to get underway. During one year at the alleged height of "McCarthyism" in the United States, a young William F. Buckley, Jr. went around talking to thousands of professors in the social sciences and humanities at prestigious U.S. universities. Only about two or three actually admitted being "conservative" to him. And that was at the height of the "reactionary Fifties"! What may be concluded from this is that, in almost every sector of society one can think of, left-liberalism has been winning one spectacular victory after another, rapidly pushing further and further into all areas of social terrain. Authentic traditionalist conservatism in the U.S., but especially so in Canada, has, despite some apparent electoral successes, been running ragged for at least the last quarter century. As to the outlook for some parts of Western Europe, it is quite dystopic indeed. The only exception to this appears to be the economic sector. However, it should be understood that, with their manifest social prevalence in educational, academic, media, cultural, judicial, and administrative sectors, especially in Canada, left-liberals can well allow the existence of a large, dynamic private sector that functions to efficiently produce the economic goods that they want to give to themselves and to their client-groups. There is also a major difference between social conservatism (emphasizing family, nation, local communities, and traditional religion), and fiscal/economic conservatism. If one looks closely enough, one can see that fiscal/economic conservatism alone can, in fact, coexist with a fair number of varieties of left-liberalism (as typified by the many technocrats in the Canadian Liberal Party today). And, while the Canadian Liberal Party held the federal government for many decades of the Twentieth Century, it embraced, for most of that time, what could be called a traditionalist-centrist consensus. So-called right-wing Liberals (such as John Turner, who invoked residues of a more substantive Canadian patriotism in his resistance to the Canada  U.S. Free Trade deal), as well as social conservative Liberals, had fragmentarily persisted into the later decades of the Twentieth Century. However, by today, it is manifestly clear that such residual tendencies in the Canadian Liberal Party are being driven out, especially social conservatism. It may also be noted that such parties as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (the predecessor to todays ultra-politically-correct New Democratic Party in Canada) were social democratic in economics, but mostly socially conservative on issues of family, nation, and religion. Some of these residues may be considered to have persisted in the NDPs criticisms of globalization, and their stated concern for average, ordinary Canadians. As for todays Conservative Party, it in fact appears to have embraced fiscal/economic conservatism as virtually the sole permissible manifestation of conservatism. The leadership of the party has been running away from any overt manifestations of social conservatism. There is also today the somewhat unfortunate situation that sees social conservatism defined almost solely by the two highly-charged, flashpoint issues of opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage  issues which (especially in Canada now) seem to be entirely resolved in public debate. What gets lost in that definition of social conservatism is any notion of a more robust patriotism, a concept that has almost no register on the political scene in Canada today, but might putatively have a more widespread, non-denominational appeal. We have come to a social environment in Canada today where any more substantive notions of traditionalism and conservatism, have been purged with particular thoroughness from the academic world  as well as from the primary and secondary education system, of course, from most of the news media, and from the (so-called) high- and pop-culture. And, for a number of decades now, it could be perceived that the Canadian administrative and juridical structures have been deployed mostly on behalf of left-liberalism. The result of this is that conservative and traditionalist ideas, especially those embracing a more substantive patriotism, are usually only inchoately expressed, in an untutored fashion, by some of the general populace, and so can be easily subjected to pejorative scorn and discredited.



The question that now faces Canada is sharp. Is it going to be "politics-as-usual", a continuing slide in the direction the country has been going for at least the last thirty years, or will there be a belated attempt to generate some real countervailing tendencies  such as an attempt to tame the excesses of multiculturalism and of social and cultural anomie? It is possible that an uninterrupted continuation of the slide will result, in the next twenty to forty years (a mere sliver of time in terms of world-history), in the almost-inevitable social and cultural dissolution of Canada. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
Last week the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa adopted a 37 million package to increase the protection of migrants and boost effective migration management in North Africa. The package specifically targets Libya, Tunisia and Morocco. In Libya, this new EU funding will help protect and assist the most vulnerable migrants, such as the persons rescued at sea and disembarked in Libya, which will also include help for their host communities. In Tunisia, the program will address the root causes of migration by strengthening the creation of economic opportunities and, in Morocco, the program will support the fight against racism and xenophobia against migrants by strengthening their legal protection.

Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations commented that the new EU assistance package meets both, the very concrete needs of migrants on the ground, and those of our partner countries. Migrants stranded in Libya will receive assistance and protection, including support to return decently to their home country if they wish to do so. Mr. Hahn also stressed that by supporting our partner countries in developing their capacities, the EU will also contribute to a safer, more orderly and efficient management of migration flows in our Neighborhood, which is very much in our interest.

The new funding brings the EU support to North Africa via the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa to a total of 64.5 million in 2016 following 27.5 million that have already been adopted in June 2016. The North of Africa Window of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa covers the following five countries: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. The underlying objective of the program is to strengthen stabilization in the region and areas particularly affected by migration and forced displacement flows.
Sebastian Dullien (European Council on Foreign Relations)

European trade policy is currently undergoing a crisis. There is only a small chance of saving both the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) being negotiated with the United States and the final ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada is still uncertain as well. Although the powers of the European Commission (EC) in the context of the negotiation of international trade agreements have been broadened after the Lisbon Treaty, the Commissions efforts at their enforcement appear to be rather weak.

Had the Commission engaged civil society in the individual Member States in the negotiations and had it recognized the legitimate concerns of some of its elements, the EU would not have to face such failures. For example, the criticism regarding the provisions of investor protection in CETA was justified, but the Commission said that this was not the case and that the current text of the agreement was completely satisfactory. The Commission found it no longer important to question the issues of investor protection.

So, how to solve the problematic question of European trade policy? When we consider its current worrying state, there are several steps that the EU can take. First, the Commission and the European Council should quit all TTIP negotiations, which can no longer be saved. Second, CETA should be ratified because otherwise the EU would have great difficulties in negotiating future trade agreements with other countries. Third, the Commission needs to be more restrained and more forthcoming towards its critics during the negotiations of trade agreements with third parties. At the same time, it should also rethink its strategy of signing bilateral agreements and try to carry through more multilateral negotiations.

The fourth recommendation is the inclusion of other stakeholders, such as various non-governmental organizations and representatives of civil society, in drafting positions in trade negotiations. The Commission should also focus on improving the social conditions in the Member States and especially on reducing unemployment. When this objective is achieved, and by that the confidence in the EU institutions boosted, the Commission may again set out to propose ambitious trade agreements.

The way the conflict over TTIP has escalated put trade policy in the limelight. However, it is very unlikely that important trade agreements will be negotiated in the near future without a thorough analysis and effective criticism. Now, its time to duly reconsider the whole situation regarding the problems associated with the negotiations of such trade agreements.

(The study can be downloaded here)


Finance minister Henrique Meirelles begins micro reforms to kick start growth

The Brazilian government and central bank is examining changes to financial services regulation in an attempt to boost consumption and help to pull the country out of a seemingly endless recession.

Predictions that the Brazilian economy would come out of recession by posting positive growth in the last quarters of 2016 have been dashed and economists have recently been paring their growth forecasts for 2017  the central banks survey of economists now expects less than 1% growth next year and predicts this years slump will come in around -3.5%.

Facing persistent weakness, the government has decided to introduce micro-reforms to boost credit. These reforms will be mostly negative for the banks and will be particularly negative for payment companies such as Cielo.

In mid-December, finance minister Henrique Meirelles announced the three-pronged micro-stimulus package to reform merchant payment companies.

The three main possibilities comprise: the centralization of credit-card receivables onto a single platform; the ability for merchants to apply surcharges and therefore charge different amounts depending on the payment system being used; and the reduction of the settlement period to two days for the current 30-day settlement period.

The big question mark, in our view, is whether and to what extent acquirers will be able to pass-through the higher interchange fees to merchants - Credit Suisse

According to banking analysts, these changes will negatively impact banks credit-card operations  particularly if merchants can reflect the increased costs they face from credit-card payments by offering discounts to consumers using cash or debit cards. Banks will clearly offset some of these declines through increasing debit-card transactions.

In a client report, Credit Suisse says the size of the impact on fees to banks is uncertain and points out that many retailers already unofficially offer discounts for using cash and debit cards.

On a very preliminary basis, we believe that a 3.6% hit on credit-card volumes might be a good ballpark figure, it states. In addition, we assume that half of credit-card volumes will be replaced by debit-card volumes, resulting in a 3.0% increase in volumes and partially offsetting the negative impact of this regulatory change.

Harder hit

However, while the banks will be able to offset the impact of regulatory change, the payment companies such as Cielo are likely to be harder hit.

Credit Suisse estimates that the reforms could jeopardize 20%-25% of pre-payment revenue (4.0%-5.0% of net profit) and might increase pressure to increase MDRs [merchant discount rates]. The big question mark, in our view, is whether and to what extent acquirers will be able to pass-through the higher interchange fees to merchants, in view of the increasing importance of interchange fees in gross MDRs.

Cielos share price fell by nearly 10% in the two trading sessions since the announcement. Investors believe the reduction in the settlement period is the most likely reform to be adopted given that the central bank has expressed support for this  to bring Brazil more into line with international standards.

The centralization of receivables would also hit Cielo hardest, depending on the nature of the platform. However, whatever the final structure it would likely lead to increased competition for Cielo and impair its volumes as it would remove barriers for other financial and payment institutions to anticipate merchants receivables.

Meanwhile, in a more positive move for the banking industry, the government is also proposing to allow workers to withdraw up to R$1000 from their state severance pay fund (FGTS) to repay debts.

The move  reported first by local newspaper Valor Economico  hints at the growing realisation that any economic recovery in 2017 is likely to be shallow given the high level of consumer indebtedness, as well as still-growing unemployment.

Consumer debt

The level of consumer debt continues to be problematic: despite NPLs over 90 days (the main delinquency ratio), stress is showing at short levels and 58.5 million individuals were incorporated into November 2016s results by SPC Brasil, a local credit bureau.

Roughly 50% of consumer debt (number of debts, not volumes) consists of bank debt, and the government believes that allowing consumers to use these FGTS could release R$30 billion to repay bank debt  equivalent to 16% of 15-day unmarked consumer loans.

Marcelo Telles, bank analyst for Credit Suisse in New York, says the ballpark impact of this measure would be equal to between 1.0% and 2.0% of the market capitalization of Brazilian banks.

This measure would likely improve the short-to-medium retail asset quality indicators and cost of risk of Brazilian banks, says Telles. By distributing the R$15 billion FGTS benefit [50% of the R$30 billion target] according to the 15-day NPM of the banks under our coverage, we believe it could lower 2017 cost of risk by 4.0% to 12.0%, with the contribution amounting to 1.0% to 2.0% of banks market cap.

His bank-specific forecasts are for 1.9% for Bradesco, 1.7% for Banco do Brasil and 1.2% for Itau.


The morning began with bagels, coffee and activities  stand up if you've volunteered, that sort of thing. Then speaker Kelley Szany, director of education at the Illinois Holocaust Museum, drew the attention of 113 Chicago Police Department recruits to a large pad of paper at each table and asked them to draw a line down the middle and make a chart.

"Left side, how you see yourselves as officers," she said. "Right side, how you think others see you."

That took five minutes. Then she went around the room, asking one recruit from each table to stand and read what they had written.

Cops see themselves as professional, fair, heroes, leaders, brave, respectful, loyal, sharp-looking, dedicated, motivated, honorable, helpful, caring, comical, authoritative, among other qualities.

The public, however, sees them as aggressive, unfair, rude, selfish, power-hungry, robotic, corrupt, biased, lazy, bullies, violent, drunks, racist, killers, overweight . . . plus a few positive qualities, like courageous and trustworthy.

It seemed an odd exercise, here at the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, a summer camp icebreaker, particularly when they were urged to "please use your police voices." Something soon forgotten in the grim journey the officers-to-be, all in their 20s and 30s, were about to take.

But we would circle back to it during the "Law Enforcement & Democracy Initiative," a unique day of ethics training given to CPD recruits.

Szany walked them through the role the police played in the German Republic becoming the Nazi Third Reich. She passed around photos of street scenes, of officers with dogs, of police publicly humiliating mixed-religion couples.

"What sort of police functions do you see happening in these photographs?" she asked, explaining the process of eroding civil rights.

"When we look at the Holocaust, when we look at genocide as a whole. . . . What we know is that genocide does not happen in a vacuum," Szany said. "Genocide always unfolds in almost an evolution, and in stages, and at every point in these stages . . . we as citizens can choose how we are going to respond. Individuals, organizations and governments can choose how they want to respond. . . . We are going to learn, even if you do not think it is possible to say 'No, I will not participate' it is possible."

They toured the museum, opened in 2009, following a path that moved Europe's Jews from warm scenes of family life to being an ostracized, ghettoized, terrorized, then murdered minority.

The recruits listened carefully and were obviously affected. At least one couldn't eat her box lunch.

"They get why they're here," said a 28-year-old recruit. "The parallels are frightening."

She was one of several Polish immigrant recruits. (The police department asked me not to use their names because they haven't been vetted as department spokespeople.)

"I'm from Lublin," she said. "I would pass the Majdanek concentration camp every day on my way to school. [When the program began] I was thinking, 'What does this have to do with my police work?'"

Then she made the connection.

"It might happen, even here."

In the afternoon, they heard a terrifying account from a Polish survivor, Aaron Elster, who lived for two years, hidden in a windowless tin attic. Perhaps the most unsettling moment was a 2009 "60 Minutes" report, "The Bad Samaritan," about David Cash, a college student who looked the other way while his best friend raped and murdered a 7-year-old in the restroom of a Las Vegas casino.

Retired police Sgt. Diane Shaw connected the dots: the way the German police went along with inflicting horror and how police today go along with wrongs around them, making Chicago what one expert called "the capital of the Code of Silence."

"How willing are we to lie for somebody, to protect them?" Shaw asked. "Or rationalize things to ourselves. [David Cash] had a code of silence. Do you think there were people who remained silent during the Holocaust? They didn't speak out, for any reason."

"That was a huge surprise," said one recruit, a 38-year-old former bricklayer. "Now I see how they are tying it all in. It fits like a glove."

To watch the 113 recruitsmilitary disciplined, polite, attentive, smart, sincere, well-intentionedinspires some hope for the future of our troubled department. But only some. They have another training ahead of them, the training of the street, even longer, more intensive, and you have to wonder if their day in Skokie will stay with them. The organizers pressed the cadets to retain that positive self-image, to always be the officer they saw when they looked at themselves that morning.

"How you see yourselves, you were right on target," said Shaw, displaying a few charts. "You are proud. You should be. Honest and courageous. These are things you should continue to strive to be. Sometimes this gets tough. . . . You are the authority figure. [Hitler] used the uniform for the worst possible way. If he can use the uniform to the worst, how can you use your uniform for the best? The challenge is, what can you do to change your world? You're going to go to a district, to a watch, to a beat. When you get to those places, how are you going to change that part of the world for the better? How are you going to use your police uniform and your police powers for the better?"
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of biochemist Michael Behes pathbreaking book Darwins Black Box and the release of the new documentary Revolutionary: Michael Behe and the Mystery of Molecular Machines, we have highlighted some of Dr. Behes greatest hits. The following is a talk delivered at the American Museum of Natural History on April 23, 2002. Behe spoke as a participant on a panel including ID proponent William A. Dembski and evolutionists Kenneth R. Miller and Robert T. Pennock. Eugenie C. Scott of the National Center for Science Education moderated. An introduction was given by Richard Milner, editor of Natural History. Get your copy of Revolutionary now! See the trailer here.

Thanks very much, Dr. Scott! Its great to be back in New York City. I taught at Queens College and City University for three years in the early nineteen-eighties; my wife grew up on Cambreleng Avenue near 187th Street in the Bronx and our first child was born here, so New York holds many happy memories for our family.

My talk will be divided into four parts: first, a sketch of the argument for design; second, common misconceptions about the mode of design; third, misconceptions about biochemical design; and finally, discussion of the future prospects of design. Before I begin, however, Id like to emphasize that the focus of my argument will not be descent with modification, with which I agree. Rather, the focus will be the mechanism of evolution  how did all this happen, by natural selection or intelligent design? My conclusion will not be that natural selection doesnt explain anything; Rather, the conclusion will be that natural selection doesnt explain everything.

So, lets begin with a sketch of the design argument. In the Origin of Species, Darwin emphasized that his was a very gradual theory; natural selection had to work by numerous, successive, slight modifications to pre-existing structures. However, irreducibly complex systems seem quite difficult to explain in gradual terms. What is irreducible complexity? Ive defined the term in various places, but its easier to illustrate what I mean with the following example: the common mousetrap. A common mechanical mousetrap has a number of interacting parts that all contribute to its function, and if any parts are taken away, the mousetrap doesnt work half as well as it used to, or a quarter as well  the mousetrap is broken. Thus it is irreducibly complex.

Suppose we wanted to evolve a mousetrap by something like a Darwinian process. What would we start with? Would we start with a wooden platform and hope to catch mice inefficiently? Perhaps tripping them? And then add, say, the holding bar, hoping to improve efficiency? No, of course not, because irreducibly complex systems only acquire their function when the system is essentially completed. Thus irreducibly complex systems are real headaches for natural selection because it is very difficult to envision how they could be put together  that is, without the help of a directing intelligence  by the numerous, successive, slight modifications that Darwin insisted upon. Irreducibly complex biological systems would thus be real challenges to Darwinian evolution.

Yet modern science has discovered irreducibly complex systems in the cell. An excellent example is the bacterial flagellum which is literally an outboard motor that bacteria use to swim. The flagellum has a large number of parts that are necessary for its function  a propeller, hook, drive shaft, and more. Thorough studies shows it requires 30-40 protein parts. And in the absence of virtually any of those parts, the flagellum doesnt work, or doesnt even get built in the cell. Its gradual evolution by unguided natural selection therefore is a real headache for Darwinian theory. I like to show audiences this picture of the flagellum from a biochemistry textbook because, when they see it, they quickly grasp that this is a machine. It is not like a machine, it is a real molecular machine. Perhaps that will help us think about its origin.

I have written that not only is the flagellum a problem for Darwinism, but that it is better explained as the result of design  deliberate design by an intelligent agent. Some of my critics have said that design is a religious conclusion, but I disagree. I think it is wholly empirical, that is, the conclusion of design is based on the physical evidence along with an appreciation for how we come to a conclusion of design. To illustrate how we come to a conclusion of design, lets look at the following. This is a Far Side cartoon by Gary Larson showing a troop of jungle explorers, and the lead explorer has been strung up and skewered. Now, everyone in this room looks at this cartoon and you immediately realize that the trap was designed. But how do you know that? How do you know the trap was designed? Is it a religious conclusion? Probably not. You know its designed because you see a number of very specific parts acting together to perform a function; you see something like irreducible complexity or specified complexity.

Now I will address common misconceptions about the mode of design, that is, how design may have happened.

My book Darwins Black Box, in which I flesh out the design argument, has been widely discussed in many publications. What have other scientists said about it? Well, theyve said many things  not all flattering  but the general reaction is well summarized in a recent book The Way of the Cell, published last year by Oxford University Press, and authored by Colorado State University biochemist Franklin Harold, who writes, We should reject, as a matter of principle, the substitution of intelligent design for the dialogue of chance and necessity (Behe 1996); but we must concede that there are presently no detailed Darwinian accounts of the evolution of any biochemical system, only a variety of wishful speculations. Let me take a moment to emphasize Harolds two points. First, he acknowledges that Darwinists have no real explanations for the enormous complexity of the cell, only hand-waving speculations, more colloquially known as Just-So stories  how the rhinoceros got its horn; how the bacterium got its flagellum. I find this an astonishing admission for a theory that has dominated biology for so long. Second, apparently he thinks that there is some principle that forbids us from investigating the idea of intelligent design, even though design is an obvious idea that quickly pops into your mind when you see a drawing of the flagellum or other complex biochemical systems. But what principle is that?

I think the principle boils down to this: Design appears to point strongly beyond nature. It has philosophical and theological implications, and that makes many people uncomfortable. But any theory that purports to explain how life occurred will have philosophical and theological implications. For example, the Oxford biologist Richard Dawkins has famously said that Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually-fulfilled atheist. Ken Miller has written that [God] used evolution as the tool to set us free. Stuart Kauffman, a leading complexity theorist, thinks Darwinism cannot explain all of biology, and thinks that his theory will somehow show that we are at home in the universe. So all theories of origins carry philosophical and theological implications.

But how could biochemical systems have been designed? Did they have to be created from scratch in a puff of smoke? No. The design process may have been much more subtle. It may have involved no contravening of natural laws. Lets consider just one possibility. Suppose the designer is God, as most people would suspect. Well, then, as Ken Miller points out in his book, Finding Darwins God, a subtle God could cause mutations by influencing quantum events such as radioactive decay, something that I would call guided evolution. That seems perfectly possible to me. I would only add, however, that that process would amount to intelligent design, not Darwinian evolution.

Now lets look at common misconceptions about biochemical design.

Some Darwinists have proposed that a way around the problem of irreducible complexity could be found if the individual components of a system first had other functions in the cell. For example, consider a hypothetical example such as pictured here, where all of the parts are supposed to be necessary for the function of the system. Might the system have been put together from individual components that originally worked on their own? Unfortunately this picture greatly oversimplifies the difficulty, as I discussed in Darwins Black Box. Here analogies to mousetraps break down somewhat, because the parts of the system have to automatically find each other in the cell. They cant be arranged by an intelligent agent, as a mousetrap is. To find each other in the cell, interacting parts have to have their surfaces shaped so that they are very closely matched to each other. Originally, however, the individually acting components would not have had complementary surfaces. So all of the interacting surfaces of all of the components would first have to be adjusted before they could function together. And only then would the new function of the composite system appear. Thus the problem of irreducibility remains, even if individual components separately have their own functions.

Another area where one has to be careful is in noticing that some systems with extra or redundant components may have an irreducibly complex core. For example, a car with four spark plugs might get by with three or two, but it certainly cant get by with none. Rat traps often have two springs, to give them extra strength. They can still work if one spring is removed, but they cant work if both springs are removed. Thus in trying to imagine the origin of a rat trap by Darwinian means, we still have all the problems we had with a mousetrap. A cellular example of redundancy is the hugely complex eukaryotic cilium, shown here in cross-section, which has multiple copies of a number of components, yet needs at least one copy of each to work, as I pictured in my book.

Many other criticisms have been made against intelligent design. I have responded to a number of them at the following locations.

I will now discuss how I view the future prospects of a theory of intelligent design. I see them as very bright indeed. Why? Because the idea of intelligent design has advanced, not primarily because of anything I or any individual has done. Rather, its been the very progress of science itself that has made intelligent design plausible. Fifty years ago much less was known about the cell, and it was much easier then to think that Darwinian evolution was true. But with the discovery of more and more complexity at the foundation of life, the idea of intelligent design has gained strength. That trend is continuing. As science pushes on, the complexity of the cell is not getting any less; on the contrary, it is getting much greater. For example, a recent issue of the journal Nature carried the most detailed analysis yet of the total protein complement of yeast  the so-called yeast proteome. The authors point out that most proteins they investigated in the cell function as multiprotein complexes  not as solitary proteins as scientists had long thought. In fact they showed that almost 50 percent of the proteins in the cell function as complexes of a half dozen or more, such as the polyadenylation machinery shown in this figure from the paper. To me, this implies that irreducible molecular machinery is very likely going to be the rule in the cell, not the exception. We will probably not have to wait too long to see.

Another example comes from a paper published in the Journal of Molecular Biology two years ago, which showed that some enzymes have only a limited ability to undergo multiple changes in their amino acid sequence, even when the enzymes function alone, as single proteins, and even when the changes are very conservative ones. This led the author to caution that homologues sharing less than about two-thirds sequence identity should probably be viewed as distinctive designs with their own optimizing features. The author pictured such proteins as near-islands of function, virtually isolated from neighboring protein sequences. This may mean that even individual proteins from separate species that are similar but not identical in their amino acid sequence might not have been produced by a Darwinian processes, as most scientists thought, and as even I was willing to concede. Perhaps even I give too much unearned credit to Darwinian theory.

Finally, to show what research questions might be asked by a theory of intelligent design, Id like to briefly describe some of my own recent work. This is the title slide of a seminar I gave six weeks ago to the biotechnology group at Sandia National Laboratory. The title, Modeling the evolution of protein binding sites: probing the dividing line between natural selection and intelligent design, points to a question Im very interested in exploring. If you are someone like myself who thinks that some things in biology are indeed purposely designed, but that not all things are designed, then a question that quickly arises is, where is the broad dividing line between design and unintelligent processes? I think that question has to be answered at the molecular level, particularly in terms of protein structure.

Drawings of the bacterial flagellum picture proteins as bland spheres or ovals, but each protein in the cell is actually very complex. This ribbon drawing of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor gives a little taste of that complexity. Now, proteins are polymers of amino acid residues, and some structural features of proteins require the participation of multiple residues. For example, this yellow link is called a disulfide bond. A disulfide bond requires two cysteine residues  just one cysteine residue cant form such a bond. Thus, in order for a protein that did not have a disulfide bond to evolve one, several changes in the same gene first have to occur. Thus in a real sense the disulfide bond is irreducibly complex, although not nearly to the same degree of complexity as systems made of multiple proteins.

The problem of irreducibility in protein features is a general one. Whenever a protein interacts with another molecule, as all proteins do, it does so through a binding site, whose shape and chemical properties closely match the other molecule. Binding sites, however, are composed of perhaps a dozen amino acid residues, and binding is generally lost if any of the positions are changed. One can then ask the question, how long would it take for two proteins, that originally did not interact, to evolve the ability to bind each other by random mutation and natural selection, if binding only occurs when all positions have the correct residue in place?

Although it would be difficult to experimentally investigate this question, the process can be simulated on a computer. Here is a sample of the data I have generated over the past year or so. The filled circles are data points from a number of simulations which were all fit by the following equation, the details of which I will not bother you with here. These results were presented at the meeting of the Protein Society last summer in Philadelphia.

In the next slide the log of the expected time to generate what I call irreducibly complex protein features is shown as a function of the log of the population size and the log of the probability of the feature. The yellow dot is the time expected to generate a new disulfide bond in a protein that did not have one if the population size is a hundred million organisms. The expected time is roughly a million generations. The red dot shows that the expected time needed to generate a new protein-binding site would be a hundred million generations. Using data from these simulations as well as Bill Dembskis concept of probabilistic resources, we can come to several broad, tentative conclusions: 1) that undirected irreducibly complex mutations cannot have been regularly involved in the evolution of large animals  the time frame would be too long; and 2) that undirected IC systems of the complexity of two or more protein binding sites cannot have been regularly involved in the evolution of vertebrates. This work assumed that all mutations were neutral. Future work could investigate such questions as, what if intermediate mutations are selected against? And what happens if there is competition between IC mutations and single-site mutations?

The broad motivation behind this work is to start getting some good numbers to plug into Bill Dembskis explanatory filter, to try to come to a reasoned conclusion about where in nature design leaves off.

In summary, I want to leave you with four take-home points: 1) that the question is open: no other scientific theory has yet explained the data; 2) that intelligent design is an empirical hypothesis that flows easily from the data, as you can tell by looking at a drawing of the flagellum; 3) that there is no principle that forbids our considering design; and best of all, 4) that there are exciting research questions that can be asked within a design framework.

Photo: American Museum of Natural History, by J.M. Luijt (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.5 nl], via Wikimedia Commons.
Facebook promises to keep an eye out for fake news. What would they make of this, do you think?

According to Jerry Coyne at Why Evolution Is True, lots of biologists and scientists were sent this link by a creationist. The link points to a petition at the website iPetitions.com titled, A nationwide moratorium on the teaching of evolution in school. Its directed to Mike Pence, Vice-President of the United States of America, and asserts, It is obvious to us that Evolutionism-Darwinism is an anti-Christian atheistic dogma masquerading as science.

The petition observes, Evolutionists, indeed, themselves speak about their theory with an unmistakably religious fervour. It goes on to cite the demise of the genetic blueprint, the demise of cumulative selectionism, and the demise of the LUCA [Last Universal Common Ancestor], before concluding with the demand that, We therefore urge you to persuade President Trump to issue an executive order imposing a nationwide indefinite moratorium on the teaching of evolution in public schools.

Coyne, who titles his post ominously, And so it begins: a petition to Mike Pence to ban the teaching of evolution, worries:

Well, the petition isnt going to go anywhere, or so I hope, but when Trump appoints another conservative justice to the Supreme Court, that will make a 5-4 majority, one that could overturn the existing federal ruling banning the teaching of creationism and its subspecies in public schools as a violation of the First Amendment.

Another atheist biologist and blogger, P.Z. Myers, informs his readers, I got email from a creationist today, and he names the individual supposedly behind the petition, Joe Hannon. According to Dr. Myers, Mike Pence will eat it up, and so for the public benefit he enters into an argument with Hannons points, pronouncing them standard creationist crap.

Another atheist blogger, Dan Arel at Patheos, echoes Coyne, Well, here we go. A petition has been started to urge minority-vice-president-elect Mike Pence to enforce a nationwide moratorium on the teaching of evolution,' adding, This is the kind of activism we can expect for the next four years from the Christian Right.

Oh really? Taking this at face value for a moment, let me state what should be the obvious, namely that seeking a moratorium on teaching evolution would be wrong and foolish. (Its the exact opposite of what Discovery Institute and the intelligent-design movement advocate, which is teaching more about evolution, informing students of the strengths and weaknesses of Darwinian theory as articulated by mainstream scientific sources.)

But there seems every reason to doubt that Joe Hannon is a real person or that this petition is meant in earnest. In other words, these atheist evangelists appear to have have fallen for some pretty transparent fake news.

According to Myers, the email to him accompanying the link to the petition begins:

Howdie. I thought you might be interested to read a fresh online petition which is directed at VP-elect Mike Pence calling on the incoming Trump Adminstration to impose an immediate,unconditional and indefinite nationwide moratorium on the teaching of evolution in public schools, including the threat of crippling financial sanctions on those schools that do not fully comply with this proposed executive action.

Now that, like much of the petition itself, reads like a parody to me. So does the conclusion:

Merry Christmas to yall, Joe Hannon

Republicans Abroad (Make America Great Again)

The first signer of the petition is indeed a Joseph Hannon in the United Kingdom. Several points, though, would demand, at the very least, a big dose of skepticism  of which our atheist bloggers show not one bit. For one thing, a brief Google search for Joe or Joseph Hannon and evolution or Trump turns up nothing relevant to substantiate that this individual actually exists.

The organization Republicans Abroad was dissolved in 2013, according to Wikipedia, although individual chapters remain as independently operated organizations. A search for Republicans Abroad in the UK leads to a dead web address, but a group with a different name, Republicans Overseas UK, is active.

Hannon or whoever writes under his name might well be a resident of the UK or Canada, however, since he spells fervor the British way, fervour. Yet that doesnt quite fit with the phony/folksy Americanisms, Howdie, Merry Christmas to yall. Denyse OLeary at Uncommon Descent suggests that the writer may be trolling a prolific American anti-Trump activist living in Canada, Joseph Huff-Hannon. Who knows?

But why would a fire-breathing creationist in search of signatures direct his anti-evolution petition to evolutionist P.Z. Myers and the presumably like-minded lots of biologists and scientists known to Jerry Coyne? Did Hannon send his petition to any evolution skeptics? A quick, admittedly unscientific survey of my email contacts in that category produces zero positive responses. It makes no sense, unless the writer was more interested in generating blog posts like those supplied by the credulous Coyne, Myers, and Arel.

What about the notion that the petition, real or fake, represents a taste of things to come  the kind of activism we can expect for the next four years from Trump and Pence? That is hard to square with the fact that the document has only 247 signatures, of which almost all are obvious joke names (Adolf Hitler, Homer Simpson, Igno Ramus, Ima Doofus, Ima B. Stupid, etc.), many incorporating obscenities.

Everything about this would have set off alarm bells for me. It would take a reader with a tin ear for authenticity, or with an axe to grind, to fail to be immediately dubious. Coyne, Myers, and Arel arent stupid, but it does look like they eagerly embraced a whopper.

Photo: Mike Pence, by Gage Skidmore [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

Im on Twitter. Follow me @d_klinghoffer.
European Union expats in the UK and British people living in other EU countries are deeply anxious about their future, according to a new report.Since the referendum result in June some have been subjected to verbal abuse but all are very concerned about what will happen to their rights to live and work, with many having done so in their current homes for several years.  The report from EU Justices Sub-Committee in the House of Lords says that the UK Government should give a unilateral guarantee now that it will safeguard the EU citizenship rights of EU nationals in the UK when the UK withdraws.Failing this, it says that there is a strong case for agreeing EU citizenship rights as a preliminary and separate element of the negotiations as soon as Article 50 is triggered which the British Prime Minister Theresa May has said will happen by the end of March 2017.French expats living in the UK are among those who are very concerned. France's ambassador to Britain Sylvie Bermann told the sub-committee that French expats have lots of questions about the consequences of the vote to leave the EU.Expats say they have invested a lot in the UK in on a personal and a professional level and Bermann revealed that in the immediate aftermath of the vote in June some French nationals were subjected to negative or aggressive language and she and her colleagues had received testimonies of such abuse.Bermann said that this had been sad as Britain has been regarded as a dynamic country with respect for others but now some of the 300,000 French expats are considering whether they should stay in the country.Some of them told me that before 23 June they felt like Londoners and now they feel like foreigners, which is different. Many express a sense of sadness and are waiting for answers, she said.Ambassadors from Poland and Romania also told the committee that their citizens are anxious. There are around 984,000 Poles in the UK, by far the largest group of EU citizens and newspapers have reported verbally abusive attacks in the aftermath of the referendum.The committee acknowledged that it is an anxious time for EU expats in the UK and in its report says that the British Government had a moral duty to provide clarity to EU citizens living and working in the country.The Government is under a moral obligation to provide certainty and legal clarity to all EU nationals working, living and studying in the UK, who contribute so significantly to the economic and cultural life of the UK. It should do so urgently, the report says.The report calls for more to be done to combat xenophobia and explains that the UK workplace relies on non-British workers for many jobs that cannot be filled. The longer their future is uncertain, the less attractive a place to live and work the UK will be, and the greater labour market gaps will be, the committee report added.
 Flash

Once Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fully captured Aleppo, Turkey and Russia will try to seek a political solution to the war in Syria, local experts say.

Turkey is urging for a broader ceasefire between the government and rebel groups, and for a resumption of negotiations to reach a political agreement in Syria, local Hurriyet Daily News columnist Serkan Demirtas said, adding that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu recently said a ceasefire in Aleppo should be extended to the entire country.

According to Demirtas, Assad's control over Aleppo would change both the political and military balances in Syria to the advantage of the Damascus-Moscow-Tehran trio.

"It is rational for Turkey to press on these actors for a general cease-fire across the entire country so that political talks can take place, aiming to end years of unrest in its southern neighbor," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed to arrange a meeting between the Syrian opposition and the government at Kazakhstan's Astana rather than Geneva, in what Demirtas described as a new attempt by Moscow to exclude major Western powers from the Syria peace talks.

After the cooperation between Turkey and Russia on the evacuation of Aleppo, Bora Bayraktar, an international relations academic from Kultur University, said that the two countries will now focus on a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

As a prominent actor in Syrian civil war, Ankara has leverage over Syrian rebels because of its geographic proximity and the three million refugees it has hosted, he said.

Moscow has paved the way for the Turkish army to launch airstrikes on northern Syria as part of the "Operation Euphrates Shield", where Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters target the Islamic State (IS) and Syrian Kurdish militants, to return Ankara's favor of reining in the rebels, according to Bayraktar.

Turkey has used its influence on the Syrian rebels to broker their withdrawal from Aleppo, the expert explained.

A similar deal is likely to emerge for Idilib, where Syrian rebels concentrate after the Aleppo evacuation, he said.

Bayraktar does not believe that the jihadist-held Idlib, a city to the west of Aleppo and only 30 kilometers from the Turkish border, will be the next target of the Syrian government, as security in Aleppo would be at risk if the government and its supporters shift military resources to the province.

"Russia would prefer to solve the Idlib issue at the negotiation table, because it has already gained very important achievements. Therefore Moscow would not risk losing them, and also would not want to lose Turkey either," he added.

As a direct link to the Turkish border, Idlib has become a key gateway to the Syrian rebels' survival in the long run.
From: American Evaluation Association (AEA) For Immediate Release: Dateline: Washington , DC Monday, December 19, 2016



This year, we had an opportunity to conduct a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) project with a Healthy Transitions Young Adult Leadership Council for the purposes of generating information to inform the services offered to Y/YA in Chattanooga, TN. We were able to engage Y/YA, train them in research methods, and collaboratively develop and implement a research project. Members of our YPAR team presented at Evaluation 2016 and shared how their findings will impact the design of the Tennessee Healthy Transitions Initiative.

Moving forward, this YPAR team will be meeting with Healthy Transitions leaders at the local and state levels to share their findings and collaboratively develop program solutions based on the data. Their findings will also influence the Leadership Councils actions in the future; they are discussing social media campaigns focusing on issues they identified and other data-informed projects.

Lessons Learned:

Stakeholder buy-in is crucial. If you think you might not have this buy-in, you should start by having discussions that try to address this.

Y/YA need adequate support and training to be able to effectively engage. Share the expectations you have for your research team early (e.g., commitment, deliverables, etc.), and provide a solid foundation of the basic tenets of research in your first trainings. Use every interaction with your team as an opportunity to teach them about good research design and processes. Hot Tips:

Free food is one of the best recruitment and retention tools you have at your disposal. We fed our team at every meeting, and we offered food for our data collection event.

Utilize social media and technology! I am located about 150 miles away from our research team, so we had to find creative ways to stay in contact. We used Facebook Messenger to stay connected between meetings, Evernote to keep track of meeting notes and action items, and Google Hangouts to meet remotely when we couldnt meet in person. Rad Resources:

The University of California, Berkeleys

The American Evaluation Association is celebrating Youth Focused Evaluation TIG Week with our colleagues in the YFE AEA Topical Interest Group. The contributions all this week to aea365 come from our YFE TIG members. Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the

Im Amy Campbell, an evaluator at Centerstone Research Institute in Nashville, TN. While I work on several evaluation projects, one of the most rewarding is the Tennessee Healthy Transitions Initiative, where Im able to work closely with youth and young adults (Y/YA) who have or are at risk of developing mental health or co-occurring disorders.This year, we had an opportunity to conduct a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) project with a Healthy Transitions Young Adult Leadership Council for the purposes of generating information to inform the services offered to Y/YA in Chattanooga, TN. We were able to engage Y/YA, train them in research methods, and collaboratively develop and implement a research project. Members of our YPAR team presented at Evaluation 2016 and shared how their findings will impact the design of the Tennessee Healthy Transitions Initiative.Moving forward, this YPAR team will be meeting with Healthy Transitions leaders at the local and state levels to share their findings and collaboratively develop program solutions based on the data. Their findings will also influence the Leadership Councils actions in the future; they are discussing social media campaigns focusing on issues they identified and other data-informed projects.The University of California, Berkeleys YPAR Hub is a great resource for training and preparation exercises for your YPAR teams.The American Evaluation Association is celebrating Youth Focused Evaluation TIG Week with our colleagues in the YFE AEA Topical Interest Group. The contributions all this week to aea365 come from our YFE TIG members. Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the aea365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to submit an aea365 Tip? Please send a note of interest to aea365@eval.org . aea365 is sponsored by the American Evaluation Association and provides a Tip-a-Day by and for evaluators.


Big banks are fighting tens of billions of dollars of potential legal costs linked to at least a dozen pending lawsuits arising from the financial crisis. Now they want the Supreme Court to weigh in, arguing that regulators took too long to file their claims.

A handful of banks, including Wells Fargo, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank, have asked the Supreme Court to review a lower court decision that said the regulators filed their claims on time despite a Depression-era securities law that gave them only a three-year window.

The Justice Department is pushing back. In a brief submitted this month, it says the banks argument lacks merit. It also asked the court not to take up the case.

Damages related to some $37.5 billion in securities are at stake in the pending lawsuits, the banks say, in addition to billions of dollars in disputed prejudgment interest. That sum includes nearly $32 billion for cases in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which most commonly decides securities cases. The banks say these lawsuits should have been barred under the strict three-year window and that extensions should not have been allowed. The 2nd Circuit voted 2-1 against the banks in May.

In terms of financial crisis litigation, the stakes are enormous, said Robert Giuffra, a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell and lead attorney for the banks. If theres a future downturn and the federal banking agencies want to start bringing lawsuits, they would get the benefit of this favorable decision.

The case involves the August 2009 failure of the Colonial Bank of Montgomery, Alabama. The bank had $25 billion in assets, and its collapse was among the largest in U.S. history. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. later sued the institutions that issued or underwrote the roughly $300 million in mortgage-backed securities purchased by Colonial that led to its ruin, arguing that the disclosures on those securities contained false information or misrepresentations about the health of the underlying mortgages.

The government argues that the lawsuits were timely under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act, a 1980s law coming out of the savings and loan crisis that provides the FDIC, when acting as a receiver, additional time to bring claims to court by overriding other statutes of limitations. Nearly identical provisions exist for regulators overseeing credit unions and mortgages.

More broadly, the FIRREA has proved to be a key tool for the government after the mortgage meltdown. Other provisions of the law were used to help secure billion-dollar settlements from JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and others.

The banks say the FDIC, along with the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the National Credit Union Administration, has incorrectly relied on so-called extender provisions to bring cases to court years after certain troubled securities were sold.

They point to the Securities Act of 1933, which imposes the stricter three-year deadline, called a statute of repose. They argue that the extender provision does not explicitly override such statutes. The intent of the deadline is to provide greater certainty to financial institutions about when they are exposed to costly litigation.

Regulators filed their lawsuit over Colonial in August 2012, which the banks contend was about five years after Colonial purchased the securities.

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A lower federal court judge sided with the industry in 2014 before the 2nd Circuit panel split in favor of the government. The appeals court found that FIRREA does supersede all applicable time limits, including statutes of repose.

The appellate court correctly held that the FIRREA extender provision establishes the sole time limit applicable to suits brought by the FDIC as receiver, the governments brief filed this month says. That holding does not conflict with any decision of this court or of another court of appeals.

To the contrary, the brief adds, it is consistent with the unanimous view of all of the other appellate courts, including the 5th, 9th and 10th Circuits, that have considered the issue under the extender provision or under virtually identical provisions governing suits by other federal entities.

A FDIC spokesman, David Barr, declined to comment on the case.

The financial industry has previously petitioned the Supreme Court twice to hear related cases and has been denied both times. The court receives thousands of petitions every year, and the odds of being granted a hearing are generally very low.
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SAN FRANCISCO  Mike Zimmerman likes to shock his guests by using a hammer to drive a nail through a solid polymer lithium metal battery.

Nothing happens  and thats a good thing.

Zimmermans battery is a new spin on lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in products from smartphones to cars. Todays lithium-ion batteries, as anyone who has followed Samsungs recent problems with flammable smartphones may know, can be ticking time bombs. The liquids in them can burst into flames if there is a short circuit of some sort. And driving a nail into one of them is definitely not recommended.

With that in mind, Zimmermans demonstration commands attention.

His Woburn, Massachusetts, startup, Ionic Materials, is at the cutting edge of an effort to design safer batteries. The company is working on solid lithium polymer batteries that greatly reduce their combustible nature.

A solid lithium polymer metal battery  when it arrives commercially  also will allow electronics designers to be more creative, because they will be able to use a plasticlike material (the polymer) that allows smaller and more flexible packaging and requires fewer complex safety mechanisms.

My dream is to create the holy grail of solid batteries, Zimmerman said.

After four years of development, he believes he is nearly there and hopes to begin manufacturing within the next two years. Ionic Materials is one of a new wave of academic and commercial research efforts in the U.S., Europe and Asia to find safer battery technologies as consumers demand more performance from phones and cars.

In the past year, Seeo and Sakti, rival U.S. solid polymer battery makers, have been acquired by German industrial firm Bosch and British vacuum maker Dyson.

The interest in solid batteries was highlighted in September when the U.S. Energy Departments agency for supporting research in next-generation energy technology announced 16 awards aimed at accelerating development of solid battery technologies, including a

$3 million contract to Ionic Materials.

There is growing evidence that after decades of excruciatingly slow development, batteries are on the verge of yielding to a new generation of material science.

Historically, batteries have been a glaring exception to the exponential progress of made-by-computer processing and storage. In the past 150 years, in fact, only a handful of rechargeable battery chemistries have reached mass adoption.

Its a huge challenge, said Ilan Gur, director of Cyclotron Road, a project for funding energy-related startups at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California. The improvements in batteries happen very slowly, and the improvement of battery chemistry is very hard.

He points to disappointments with batteries going back more than a century.

Thomas Edison voiced his frustration at the technology in an interview in 1883: The storage battery is one of those peculiar things which appeal to the imagination, and no more perfect thing could be desired by stock swindlers than that very selfsame thing.

Modern consumer electronics designers are not a great deal more optimistic.

The only real breakthrough battery technology Ive seen during my career was lithium-ion batteries, 18-plus years ago, said Tony Fadell, an electrical engineer who led the design of the iPod and original iPhone at Apple before founding Nest, the maker of home thermostats. Sometimes it feels like a Captain Ahab-like quest.

Lithium-ion batteries, introduced commercially in 1991 by Sony, offered a significant advantage over existing nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries in terms of compactness and rechargability.

But they also have the potential for failures that on two occasions have forced the consumer electronics industry into broad recalls. Sony had a series of problems with battery fires beginning in 2000, culminating in the recall of 4.2 million laptop batteries in 2006  at the time the largest consumer electronics recall.

This fall, the recall of Samsungs Galaxy Note 7, a high-end smartphone, brought flammable batteries back into the news. Customers around the world reported that the phones were catching fire. Why it was happening still is unclear.

A Samsung spokeswoman said the company hadnt completed its evaluation of what led to the battery failures.

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Many battery specialists say they believe that the failure lies in the South Korean electronics companies desire to create a thinner battery package, leading to the design of an ultrathin separator, a safety feature intended to prevent battery electrodes from contacting each other directly. That could create a short circuit, leading to fire or explosion.

The use of liquid electrolytes is an inherent, potential flaw in lithium-ion batteries. Theyre based on liquid electrolytes, a material used to ensure the movement of ions, or charged particles, between the electrodes as the batteries are charged and discharged.

For more than a decade, a hunt has been underway for an alternative solid material that would be less volatile. There has been optimism about new solid polymers that might replace liquid electrolytes, but they havent moved to commercialization  with the exception of a lithium polymer battery being used by Bollore, the French electric carmaker.

But that technology is aimed at electric car batteries, and it doesnt operate at room temperature  it requires preheating to roughly 192 degrees  something that has been true for virtually all of the lithium polymer metal batteries to date.

Room temperature operation is just one of the potential advantages claimed by Ionic Materials. Its new polymer also has the ability to shuttle ions between a battery cathode and electrode as efficiently as is currently achieved by liquid electrolytes, or even more efficiently.

Zimmermans background is in the world of semiconductors; he worked at Bell Labs and then a company called Quantum Leap Packaging. Several university researchers whove worked with the company believe that has lead him to a technology that will be more manufacturable than competing polymer and ceramic battery technologies being explored.

What is so intriguing about Mike and his folks is they are using known production techniques borrowed from the semiconductor packaging industry, said Jay Whitacre, a Carnegie Mellon University physicist who was involved with Ionic Materials when it first started and who now is chief scientist at Aquion Energy, a maker of home storage and industrial batteries based in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania.

The new progress has led a number of technologists in the field to believe that batteries finally may be getting out of their rut.

Were in a golden age of new chemistry development which probably hasnt been seen in 30 or 40 years, since the last energy crisis, said Paul Albertus, a program manager at the Energy Departments Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy. Its a pretty exciting time to be developing energy storage technology.
MINEOLA, N.Y.  Katrina Williams wanted a safer alternative to smoking, and e-cigarettes seemed to be the answer until the day one exploded in her pocket as she drove home from a beauty salon.

It was like a firecracker as it seared third-degree burns in her leg, blasted through her charred pants and stuck in the dashboard, she said. That was in April. Williams, a freight manager, said she still hasnt returned to work. It was very disturbing.

Similar painful accidents have been recorded with increasing frequency over the past year as use of e-cigarettes has climbed, with faulty batteries seen as the suspected culprit. The industry maintains that e-cigarettes are safe when used properly.

The Food and Drug Administration, which started regulating e-cigarettes in May, identified about 66 explosions in 2015 and early 2016, after recording 92 explosions from 2009 to September 2015.

In late November, a clerk at a liquor store in New Yorks Grand Central Station was casually leaning against a counter when the e-cigarette in his pocket erupted. A security camera captured him frantically trying to snuff out a fountain of white-hot sparks.

Surveillance video also captured an e-cigarette explosion in September at a New Jersey mall that left a womans Louis Vuitton bag smoking as she stood at a checkout counter.

Police say a teenage girl on a train at the Universal Orlando amusement park suffered burns in October when an electronic cigarette belonging to another visitor exploded and shot a fireball at her.

The numbers kept by the FDA may be an undercount. One hospital, the UW Medicine Regional Burn Center at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, says it has seen about 23 patients with e-cigarette burns since it started tracking them informally in October 2015.

They are extremely dangerous and need to be revamped or revised, said Marc Freund, a New York attorney who represents Williams and a 14-year-old boy who was partially blinded when an e-cigarette device exploded at a kiosk selling e-cigarettes at a Brooklyn mall.

The problems with the devices are linked to their lithium-ion batteries, which help vaporize liquid nicotine into a mist that distributors and some health experts say is far less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

The same types of batteries are used safely in many consumer electronics, but theyve also been behind fires in hover boards and smartphones. Last year, the Transportation Department issued a rule prohibiting passengers from packing e-cigarettes in checked luggage to protect against in-flight fires.

On Thursday, an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Indianapolis had to make an emergency landing in Arkansas after a passengers electronic cigarette malfunctioned and started a small fire, airline officials said.

Airline spokesman Ross Feinstein said none of the 137 passengers or five crew members was injured, adding that crew members quickly extinguished the fire.

Under Federal Aviation Administration rules, e-cigarettes are allowed in carry-on bags. They may not be used on board the plane. Feinstein said all details about how the e-cigarette caught fire  including where it was being stored  will be investigated by the FAA.

Thomas Kiklas, co-founder of the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, argues that the devices are safe when used properly. He said the TVECA encourages proper recharging of the batteries as a way to prevent possible injuries.

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Euromonitor International, a market research company, noted that there were 10.8 million regular e-cigarette users in the U.S. in 2015, generating $3.5 billion in sales.

Gregory Bentley, an attorney in Irvine, California, won a nearly $2 million judgment in a product liability lawsuit for a woman burned by an e-cigarette last year. He said he has a growing list of similar cases, most of which involve batteries and other components manufactured in China that have been subject to little safety oversight.

The problem is defectively manufactured batteries, he said. Consumers need to know its next to impossible to sue a Chinese company. If people want to seek compensation, they have to target distributors, wholesalers and retailers.

This month, the surgeon general called e-cigarettes an emerging public health threat to the nations youths, although he highlighted the risk of nicotine addiction, not explosions.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.,said the FDA should consider a recall.

Its bad enough that e-cigarettes cause nicotine addiction and may be dangerous to a persons health, but now it seems theyre doubling as a ticking time bomb, he said.

FDA spokesman Michael Felberbaum said the agency is reviewing the health effects of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. He said the review will include an evaluation of the use of e-cigarette batteries, including amperage, voltage, wattage, battery type and other issues.
ATLANTA  As members of the Electoral College gather today to choose Donald Trump as the 45th president, some Republican electors say they are defending rural and small-town America against big-state liberalism and its support for national popular vote leader Hillary Clinton.

But the picture is more complicated.

Our Founding Fathers established the Electoral College because those larger states, those larger areas, dont necessarily need to be the ones that rule, said Mary Sue McClurkin, a Republican elector from Alabama.

In Trumps hometown of New York City, which Clinton won easily, Democratic elector Stuart Appelbaum countered that were electing the president of the entire country, so the will of the entire country should be reflected in the results.

Its an expected argument, given the unusual circumstances of the Nov. 8 election. Clinton won some 2.6 million more votes than Trump in the nationwide tally. But Trump is line to get 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors.

Trump won rural areas, small towns and many small cities, including in states Clinton carried. Clinton won in the largest urban areas, including in Trump states.

Former Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, a GOP elector, said Democrats strength on the coasts is enough to justify the Electoral College. A presidential election decided each time by either California or New York, he said, would leave voters in Alaska and many other places with no voice in presidential politics.

Its worth noting that Trump didnt just win small states and Clinton didnt just take large ones.

Trump and Clinton split the six most populous states, each winning three, but Trump won seven of the top 10. Of the 10 smallest states plus the District of Columbia, Trump edged Clinton 6-5. Trump actually ran up his national advantage in midsize states.

But the dynamics highlight the delicate balance in a political structure that defines itself simultaneously as a democracy and a republic.

When the Constitution was written, some signers wanted direct election of the president. Others wanted state legislatures or Congress to choose the executive. The Electoral College was the end result: Each state got a slate of electors numbering the same as its delegation in Congress. Electors vote, with rare exception, for whichever candidate won the most votes in their state.

Its such an interesting compromise that gave us the Electoral College, unique to our American system, said elections law expert Will Sellers of Alabama, who will serve as a Republican elector for the fourth time.

The system gives smaller states an advantage: The number of electors is based on each states number of U.S. representatives plus two, for each member of the U.S. Senate  itself a compromise favoring small states.

So Californias 55 electoral votes reflect 53 House members and two senators. For seven states, including Wyoming, Delaware and the Dakotas, those extra two electoral votes bring their total to the minimum of three.

Put another way, Alaskas three electors will cast 0.56 percent of the 538 electoral votes despite casting just 0.23 percent of the national popular vote. But the advantage doesnt just favor Republicans. Democratic Nevada makes up 1.12 percent of the Electoral College but cast less than 1 of 100 national ballots.

The Electoral College-popular vote split, along with Trumps larger-than-life personality and lack of elective experience, has fueled a vocal, but almost certainly futile, movement to deny him the presidency by pressuring electors to vote against him when they convene today in the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

The Associated Press tried to reach all 538 electors and was able to interview more than 330 of them. Many reported getting tens of thousands of emails, calls and letters asking them to vote against Trump.

But the canvass found overwhelming support for the system, and the nominee, among Republican electors. The AP found only one pledged to Trump who will refuse to vote for him.

I feel like the Electoral College gives a very fair perspective, so that those who are in the rural areas are able to have an equal voice with those who are in the urban areas, Oklahoma elector Lauree Elizabeth Marshall said.

If anything, when Republican electors talk about large states, they actually mean New York and California. Clintons lead in California, the most populous state, is more than her national lead. She won New York by about 1.7 million votes.

McClurkin, the Alabama elector, says many of the letters and emails shes received have come from those two states. Ive not gotten any from a Southern state, she said.

But Democratic elector Eric Herde from Washington state argued that the U.S. should scrap electoral votes in favor of the national ballot count. All Electoral College defenses, whether citing population or the genius of the founders, amount to states mattering more than people, he said. The argument that the person who got the most votes should win is still the better argument.
It all started when Mark Phillips wanted to be able to raise a glass during a hike, a day on the water or a camping trip.

But water wasnt going to cut it for Phillips, who also found it cumbersome to pack beer, wine or hard alcohol and try to carry it when traversing the countryside.

So he spent a year coming up with a recipe to make powdered alcohol that he could mix with water wherever his travels took him. He called it Palcohol.

Today, 34 states have banned the substance out of fear that underage drinkers could get hold of the powder or that drinkers could smuggle it into events, sprinkle it on others drinks or snort it.

Lawmakers are ignorant about the positive uses of Palcohol, and theyre caught up in the hysteria about the imagined and unfounded misuse of powdered alcohol, Phillips said in a YouTube video defending his product.

Texas lawmakers will decide next year whether to join those states in banning the substance, as Phillips and at least one more producer of powdered alcohol prepare for a spring 2017 release.

Powdered alcohol WILL come to Texas, whether its legal or brought in illegally, Lynne Barbour, spokesman for Palcohol producer Lipsmark LLC, wrote in an email. By legalizing it, Texas can control the distribution to keep it out of the hands of underage drinkers as well as receive significant tax revenue. Banning it will make it easier for kids to get it and will cost your state millions.

The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved Palcohol in March 2015 as state legislatures were scrambling to ban the sale of the powder before it could hit store shelves.

Lawmakers here have begun filing bills to require powdered alcohol be regulated like other forms of alcohol, restricting sales to liquor stores.

One such bill comes from state Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, who said her goal is to keep the powder off-limits for kids. She said, though, that shes not opposed to adults concocting drinks with powder flavored to create cocktails like margaritas and mojitos.

It would be very easy for kids to carry this pack of Palcohol in their pocket, in their backpack, in their wallet, in their purse, said Alvarado. Its very easy to conceal.

Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, proposed banning the substance in 2015 but later met with Ralph McMorris, owner of Galveston-based Lt. Blender, which sells bagged cocktail mixes. McMorris persuaded him to yank the bill for the time being.

So far, everybodys created this myth about the product and really its much safer than typical alcohol products, said McMorris, a war veteran who earned the nickname Lt. Blender because he was the only one in his unit who had the appliance while stationed in Vietnam.

McMorris turned his name into a business, selling pouches of mixers that could be mixed with booze and frozen for later use.

He has since developed his own powdered-alcohol recipes, made of maltodextrin derived from a tapioca plant.

His plan is awaiting federal approval for the powder, which would be sold in a four-serving bag for around $15, before he can sell it in liquor stores as soon as next year. The alcohol content is around 10 percent by volume, he said, less than most wines.

Nothing in state law bans the sale of powdered alcohol here, but the state has yet to receive a request to put it on the market, according to Chris Porter, a spokesman from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which oversees the alcohol industry and reviews labels before products can sit on store shelves.

Groups that work to prevent youth access to alcohol are worried that the powder will be too easy for young people to conceal and abuse because of its novelty.

Now you have a product where young persons get a hold of it and adults dont even know what it is. How do you explain the dangers of the use of something that doesnt even look like alcohol, said Nicole Holt, chief executive officer of Texans Standing Tall, a group that wants to make access to alcohol, tobacco and drugs irrelevant to youths and teens.

The group had the same challenge educating young people and adults about the dangers of alcoholic energy drinks and e-cigarettes, she said. More than one in five Texans in grades 7 to 12 say they have used alcohol in the past month, according to the most recent Texas School Survey from 2014.

More than half of youths in that age group said they have used alcohol at some point, and nearly 14 percent said they have engaged in binge drinking, defined as consuming five or more drinks in one sitting for boys and four or more drinks for girls.

McMorris said he plans to lobby lawmakers next year to make sure they understand how Palcohol works.

I want go up there, McMorris said. I want to show it to them. I want to let them taste it, and let them kick it and let them do what they want to with it.

andrea.zelinski@chron.com

twitter/andreazelinski
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The debate over a Texas transgender bathroom bill has sparked a lot of talk about its economic impact and fantasies of sexual predators descending on little girls  so much that its easy to overlook the human-scale dramas and absurd dilemmas that such a law would create.

This week, two visitors to the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board offered a glimpse of just that.

Meet Ashley Smith and Ginger Main Chun.

Smith is a local architect. Shes also a transgender woman.

I knew when I was very young that I was female, she said. I was depressed and unhappy for many, many years, well into adulthood. When I finally did transition, it was really just to save my life.

Although she is now a female, Smith is listed on her birth certificate as a male.

You can get your birth certificate updated depending on which state you were born in, she said. I happened to be born in a Deep Southern state, and changing my gender on my birth certificate is very difficult.

In North Carolina, people now are required to use restrooms in public buildings that correspond with the gender listed on their birth certificate. Should the Texas Legislature pass a similar law, it would profoundly impact Smiths daily life.

All of her clients, she said, are Texas universities.

So I am worried on many levels about this legislation, Smith said. One is that every time I go to a meeting with a client, and Im not out to my client  maybe some of them know, some of them dont, I dont know  I need to go take a bathroom break during a meeting with a bunch of mechanical and electrical engineers or staff people at a university, what could happen?

It could negatively affect my company, my career, she continued. It could cause a ruckus. I would really just like to avoid that.

Advocates of a Texas bathroom bill are courting this confusion: in effect, requiring a woman to use the mens restroom and, by the same measure, forcing a man to use the womens restroom  the same situations they say they want to outlaw.

Chun is the mother of a transgender teen. Her 16-year-old daughter transitioned this year.

My child was depressed and my child was having issues until we were able to make this transition, Chun said. And it is a 100 percent turnaround in her happiness and well-being and ability to function.

Her daughter is a high-school junior in the North East Independent School District: a musician, at the top of her class and involved in University Interscholastic League Academics.

When she returned to school this year as a female, she encountered virtually no conflict.

It was already a nonissue with most of the kids at the school, Chun said. The school was very supportive. I had heard some rumors that the principal would not be supportive, but we basically avoided the principal.  Everybody else  the teachers, the counselors  everybody else has been 100 percent supportive.

Everybody, that is, except for those advocating for the bathroom bill, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, and state Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, who would reopen Chuns daughters old wounds.

My child walking into a mens room at her high school would be an issue because she does not look like a boy, Chun said.

Chuns daughter has had her birth certificate changed to reflect her female gender, an outcome of what Chuck Smith, CEO of Equality Texas, called an underground railroad of attorneys who help people do this.

In Texas, most of these changes occur in Bexar County because you have judges here that will grant them, he added. There are not judges in Houston that will do this.

Considering the difficulty and expense of this process, a bathroom bill that relies on birth certificates would produce two classes of transgender citizens  and create even more inequality.

I asked Ashley Smith how she would deal with this.

I really dont know, she said. Maybe in some cases I would be able to sneak by. Maybe I would feel like it creates so much awareness in people like me that I would feel sort of paranoid, and I would eventually want to move away.

And that, it seems, is the actual wish of the bills proponents.

bchasnoff@express-news.net
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San Antonians who set out on pilgrimages to sacred sites around the world this year have trouble articulating exactly what they experienced. They use words such as emotional, beautiful, life-changing.

For as much as they planned their visits and studied the terrain before them, they found that little prepared them for what they encountered. While these three pilgrims have much in common, their journeys were personal and singular, even when surrounded by others.

They set off for reasons as diverse as their faiths, drawn to sites theyd read about in sacred texts and history books. While there, some marked milestones in their lives. Some renewed commitments to their faith and to others. Some fulfilled promises made long ago. If they agree on anything, these three area pilgrims called the experience profound.

Where Jesus lived

Two people influenced Anna Rodriguezs trip to the Holy Land: her late grandson, Dante, a powerful witness for Christ, and Shireen Awwad, a young college student from Bethlehem when they first met, now dean of student affairs at Bethlehem Bible College.

Awwad made Rodriguez promise to visit the Holy Land someday. In Gods time, Rodriguez told her.

It took 17 years.

At Easter, the 64-year-old library assistant at Palo Alto College and her husband Roman were among dozens who traveled through the Holy Land for 2 weeks with the evangelization group Pilgrim Center of Hope.

The trip ended up serving many purposes. It helped the Rodriguezes achieve a sense of peace about the loss six years ago of their beloved grandson, a young evangelist who she said really taught us about Christ.

When the couple married 45 years ago, neither had a relationship with Christ. During the trip, they renewed their vows in an emotional ceremony with several other couples.

Jesus himself was at our wedding, Rodriguez said. Most of us were crying afterward. You felt the spirit.

But the moment shes still trying to understand was in Nazareth at a site believed to be where Jesus lived as a boy.

Something happens when youre there, Rodriguez said, recalling that she was so moved spiritually that her body just slowly began to give way. She awoke to people praying over her and had no idea that she had fainted and fallen.

A reserved woman, Rodriguez has been challenged to talk about her pilgrimage and has begun to do that. Mostly, she said, shes still pinching myself about walking where Jesus walked.

Bring it home

Theres good reason Jerusalems Western Wall is also called the Wailing Wall, said San Antonio social worker Barb Bikoff, who with 17 other Jewish mothers from San Antonio visited Israel this summer as part of the Washington, D.C.-based Jewish Women Renaissance Project.

Altogether, 200 women from the U.S. and Canada were part of the pilgrimage. For Bikoff, standing before the ancient limestone opened emotional floodgates that the native New Yorker didnt expect.

Though not particularly religious, she said, I felt a spiritual connection, and I was overcome with emotion.

Bikoff joined millions of others who have wept at the sacred site.

The San Antonio pilgrims, who now meet reg- ularly and refer to themselves as the sistas, adopted a theme song on their pilgrimage. Salaam or Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu means Peace Will Come upon Us Yet in Hebrew.

A survivor of Hodgkins disease who turned 50 this year, Bikoff said the life-affirming trip was packed with wide-ranging experiences that began at sunrise and went deep into the night.

They met Israeli soldiers, visited a hospital and broke bread with Israeli women, Arab and Jewish. They heard from an Ethiopian woman who made part of her journey to Israel on foot.

They talked of mitzvoth, good deeds, and tikkun olam, repairing the world.

They rode camels, visited ancient synagogues and were haunted by a Holocaust memorial. They danced to Israeli music and made pita bread.

The highs and lows of the trip bonded them. It not only connected Bikoff to Israel but strengthened her commitment to her Jewish identity, culture and faith, she said.

It was more than I ever hoped for, she said.

What stays with Bikoff now is the Jewish Women Renaissance Projects mission: to bring it home.

We have a responsibility as Jewish people to do good work and help repair the world, she said.

Walk the Missions

Jose Julian Matos-Auffant, a Marianist brother at St. Marys University who serves as minister of spiritual development and Hispanic ministry there, is always looking for ways for students to connect to each other and to their spirituality.

St. Marys promotes family and spirituality, and we walk together as a family in faith and heritage, he said.

So when a colleague mentioned a memento from Spains Camino de Santiago, Matos-Auffant was struck by an idea. Students need not go as far as Europe to experience a pilgrimage.

With that, Walk the Missions  a two-year project of a peer ministry program  began to take students to San Antonios Spanish colonial missions to experience the World Heritage Site, as do pilgrims from all over the world.

The Saturday afternoon excursions by car and on foot have taken about 40 students to Mission San Jose, Mission Concepcion and from there on foot to San Fernando Cathedral for its Vigil Mass. They finish with fellowship and dinner.

The short pilgrimages have amounted to religious, cultural, social and wellness experiences. And students have responded.

They have been awed that the missions are both historical but still functioning parishes, Matos-Auffant said.

The project has attracted non-Hispanic students, too, whove appreciated exploring the citys cultural richness, he said, adding, While theyre here, we tell them to adopt the image of the pilgrim and have un bien camino, like they say in Santiago.

Walk the Missions will continue next year with Saturday pilgrimages from March 4 to April 8, and someday Matos-Affant hopes to lead students from the southernmost Mission Espada all the way downtown.
The Electoral College as an anachronism predates its role in denying the presidency to Al Gore in 2000, though he won the popular vote by a half-million. Hillary Clintons win of the popular vote this year by nearly 3 million simply validates the proposition that this peculiar institution belongs atop the junk heap of history. But not just because it squelches the popular will.

Its unlikely that enough faithless electors will reject Donald Trump when they meet in their states Monday. If those votes tally predictably, this will demonstrate that the electors arent even remotely close to doing their jobs. And this is additional cause to ponder why the Electoral College exists.

Its one thing to have an Electoral College that trumps the popular vote; its another to have one that runs on partisan autopilot, no independent examination of the predetermined winning candidate involved. This cant be what the Founding Fathers had in mind.

Lets review. The Electoral College was created in part as an unfair clout-skewing sop to smaller states and slave states, but was also envisioned as a way to save American voters from themselves. How the system was devised and how it evolved speaks to a distrust of Americans when they act collectively as voters.

Led by Alexander Hamilton, they feared our willingness to be swayed by demagogues and foreign intrigues, a real concern in this post-truth, Russian-meddling, non-newspaper-reading era of fake news, social-media saturation and ardor for celebrity. Yes, they feared that 18th-century Americans in 13 states were unconnected from one another in real ways; travel was difficult and sharing information inefficient. But they also feared that the mob would elect the unqualified, the charlatan or the authoritarian.

All these fears converge for a shell-shocked public in the person of Trump. He can grow into the office? Hmm. Was the Electoral College founded to throw those particular dice?

The irony is that this partisan autopilot is entrenched in a system the Founding Fathers devised in part because they distrusted political parties.

Chosen by their parties, these electors  Texas 38 included  will have pledged to vote their partys nominee into office. And they will vote, with the exception of at least one dissident Texas elector, in winner-take-all fashion. In most states, there will be no apportioning according to the states popular vote. For instance, Clinton won 43.24 percent of the Texas vote, giving Trump only a 9 percent margin of victory. But Trump will still likely get all but one of the states 38 votes.

Distilled: The electors are party hacks doing their jobs as their parties intend, not as originally intended. So what would doing their jobs look like?

If their consciences tell them Trump is the best candidate, they would vote for him. But the founders clearly didnt intend for the mountains of evidence on his fitness for office to be rendered irrelevant in the decision.

If their consciences tell them that the national popular vote should have meaning, theyd all vote for Clinton, not any of the boatload of GOP also-rans and not Bernie Sanders. None but Clinton won the national popular vote.

If the electors pledges to political parties are weighing heavily on their minds, the Constitution can be their salve. It allows them to vote as they believe. Putting country before state party should rule in any case.

And if the electoral votes are cast in such a way that the decision is thrown to the House of Representatives  the gerrymandered peoples house  the majority will of the people would still ideally prevail.

In voting at odds with the national popular vote, the Electoral College will vividly demonstrate why it is outdated. We are no longer in need of electoral overlords, if indeed we ever were.

But the electors will also likely be voting without regard for Trumps qualifications, competency and the divisiveness he spawned. In this, they will be acting as functionaries on partisan autopilot.

Boy, oh, boy, Id sure like to be surprised following Mondays vote. If I am, the Electoral College, in its ability to thwart the popular vote, will still be an anachronism in need of scrapping. But at least it will have done the job as intended.

o.ricardo.pimentel@express-news.net

Twitter: @oricardopimente
COLLINS, Ohio  The Western Reserve FFA chapter is calling its benefit dinner for student Austin Yaworsky a success.

The benefit was held Dec. 10, at Western Reserve High School. Micayla Finchum, chapter president, said the chapter served around 400 people and raised around $7,500 for Austin to put toward an Action Trackchair to help him get around the family farm better. Adviser Mark Starkey said an additional $371 was received in donations from those who could not attend the benefit.

Austin was born with cerebral palsy, which has put some physical limitations on what he can do, but has not stopped him from pursuing his dream of farming.

See Austins story here: Teen overcomes disability to continue farming

Just in time for Christmas

Angie Yaworsky, Austins mother, was happy to report the family was able to order the track chair following the benefit. We got the chair ordered and it should be here this week, just in time for Christmas, she said.

Austin is really excited. He keeps asking, When is that chair coming?, said Yaworsky.

According to his mother, Austin plans to make his first trip out to the woods, an area on the farm he has not been able to visit for a while.

Austin kept saying he was never going to get the chair, said Finchum. So when they found they had met their goal, the family was pretty excited, she added.

A special note

Yaworsky said the family has been overwhelmed with mail from those who read Austins story in Farm and Dairy, and was especially touched by a note they received from a 12-year-old boy.

The boy sent Austin a card with a picture of himself on his own farm and told Austin about his family farm. There needs to be more people who want to farm and provide food, the boy wrote.

Yaworsky said they have also since had Ohio AgrAbility out to do an assessment on the farm and see what other things can be done to help make farming more accessible for Austin. We want to get some doors widened and we are looking into getting him a lift, said Yaworsky.

Donations

They (the Yaworskys) were elated and sincerely thankful to all who either donated or helped put this (benefit) together, said Starkey. Starkey said the chapter will continue to accept donations through December.

If they send a check, I am still going to make sure the family gets the donation, he said.

Checks can be mailed to: Western Reserve FFA Alumni, Attn: Mark Starkey, 3841 U.S. Route 20 E., Collins, OH 44826.
Ag chemical dealer meetings to provide timely updates

Prepare for the 2023 growing season by attending one of the two Ag Chemical Dealer Update meetings presented by ISU.
Many hill farmers, who face a bleak winter after still not receiving subsidy payments for last year, are having to rely on food banks, it has been revealed.

The National Farmers' Union have said some of the most vulnerable farm businesses are being put at risk due to the failure of the Rural Payments Agency.

The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is the biggest of the European Unions rural grants and payments to help the farming industry.

A farming family told the BBC they have been unable to pay their rent on their 200 acres in North Yorkshire: "In June we had to sell 40 ewes with lambs and this autumn we've sold more female lambs to pay the animals feed bills after our credit ran out.

"We are now are using a credit card to buy food."

Considerable strain

The charity Farming Community Network said it was issuing food bank vouchers to those with serious cash flow problems.

In a poll undertaken by commons farmers at a meeting in the North East recently 90% said they were still awaiting on last years payments.

Richard Findlay, a hill farmer in North Yorkshire, said that the delay is 'putting considerable strain' on farmers finances. He went on to air his frustration that there doesnt seem to be any mechanism in place to find out what is holding up last years payments.

Mr Findlay spoke to FarmingUK at his farm in North Yorkshire, he said: "Most hill farmers would like to know what is happening, we are still owed a considerable payment from last year. What is holding up last year's payments? In the North Yorkshire moors, 90% of commoners are still waiting for a balance of last year's payment."

Despite the criticism the RPA has been facing, chief executive of the agency Mark Grimshaw has insisted he is 'the right man for the job' to deliver an improved support payments service for farmers.

Simply unacceptable

Phil Stocker, National Sheep Association (NSA) Chief Executive, said the types of farms affected by later payments are those often living 'hand to mouth', with struggles 'enough already' without the issue of settlement payments still not being made.

He said: This is creating real hardship amongst farming families, some of whom we have heard are turning to charities to put food on the table.

To make matters worse we are hearing of cases where statements have not been received indicating the monies due, which means getting support from banks or credit from suppliers is difficult. As the year end approaches, so too does the time of year many businesses will be looking at end of year accounts and budgeting.

"It is simply unacceptable for the government to expect them to be able to do this without the financial information provided by the statements."
A report instructed by the Welsh Government has recommended that CCTV should not be mandatory in slaughterhouses in Wales.

The Safeguarding Animal Welfare at Slaughter Task and Finish Groups report, which outlines the findings of the Groups investigation into the welfare of animals in slaughterhouses and the potential role of CCTV, concluded that there was not a sufficient basis for making CCTV in Welsh abattoirs mandatory.

However, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) - who oversee animal welfare in slaughterhouses  believe mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses and vets unrestricted access to CCTV footage are vital in order to safeguard animal welfare, assist with enforcement and instil customer confidence.

'An important tool'

Dr Neil Paton, BVA Welsh Branch President, said: We are disappointed that the Task and Finish Group has not taken on board the concerns of vets working in slaughterhouses and not followed the logic of their own arguments about the benefits of CCTV highlighted in the report.

While we know that CCTV is not the answer to all welfare concerns, it is recognised as an important tool by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee and encourages the highest standards of animal welfare and good stockmanship. We also need to ensure that where CCTV is installed, vets can have access to the footage. If there isnt CCTV footage, or vets cannot access the footage, how can the number of reported incidents in abattoirs be verified?

The report, titled "The Need for and Possible Implementation of a Workable System of CCTV in All Slaughterhouses in Wales", details that only eight large abattoirs of the total 26 abattoirs in Wales have CCTV. Although the bulk of animals in Wales are slaughtered in these eight abattoirs, lack of CCTV in other abattoirs means 3.4% of poultry are slaughtered without CCTV safeguards, accounting for over 2 million birds, and 10.5% of sheep, pigs and cattle are slaughtered in abattoirs without CCTV  nearly 385,000 animals.

The potential risk of welfare harm to these animals is 'increased by this lack of CCTV', the BVA said in a statement.

'Culture of compassion'

Gudrun Ravetz, President of the British Veterinary Association said vets are striving for a 'culture of compassion' in abattoirs.

She said: CCTV is an important tool in encouraging and implementing such a culture. The reports recommendations encourage abattoirs to install and use CCTV effectively for training purposes, but, together with the VPHA, we would like to re-emphasise our calls for CCTV to be mandatory in all slaughterhouses in the UK and for legislation to ensure that footage is readily available to vets.

We recognise that the cost of installing CCTV may be a burden for some very small abattoirs, but it is important that the animals we farm for food have both a good life and a humane death and CCTV has a key role to play in ensuring these requirements are met.

The report also outlined a number of other recommendations, including the request for grants to be made available to assist small sites invest in the equipment and an additional focus on the improvement of welfare of animals during transport to slaughter.
A Dorset farmer has been fined 400 after assaulting an Environment Agency officer during a farm visit near Poole.

David House struck the officer as he tried to take photos of the site  an act of aggression that cost him more than 400 when he appeared before Bournemouth magistrates.

The court heard how officers visited Frenchs Farm, Watery Lane, Upton on 17 August 2015 to check whether the defendant had complied with a formal notice to remove illegal waste from the site. Checks by the Environment Agency had earlier revealed the farm was being used for the illegal storage and disposal of domestic and commercial waste.

During the visit, House obstructed all 3 officers before trying to knock a camera out the hand of an officer as he tried to take photos of the waste.

He was later charged with offences under the Environment Act 1995 (Section 110) and the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Section 39) including obstruction and assault by beating. The case was taken by the Crown Prosecution Service. House was arrested after he failed to attend a court hearing in March 2016.

Initially he denied the 2 offences, but changed his plea to guilty after seeking legal advice. The tenant farmers solicitor said his client accepted the Environment Agency officers had a right to be on his site and were exercising a lawful power of entry.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "We will not tolerate the use of violence against our officers while they are carrying out their lawful duties. House was fined 100 for each offence plus 165 costs and ordered to pay 50 compensation."

The case was heard by Bournemouth magistrates on 8 December 2016.
The potential damage to the Irish agriculture sector in the event of a 'hard Brexit' is too serious to ignore, according to Irish Farmers' Association president Joe Healy.

Addressing the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Mr Healy said he would prefer the UK remain a member of the Single Market.

"Our first position is that the UK would remain a full member of the EUs Single Market, including free trade on agricultural products. This is also the position represented by our farming colleagues in the NFU in the UK, with whom we remain in regular contact since the vote and work closely with in Brussels through COPA," he said.

He said if this proves unworkable, a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between the EU and the UK, with favourable access for agricultural products and mutual recognition of standards must be a priority at EU level.

"We believe that the EU Commission must look seriously at providing exceptional support for sectors for whom an external political event has had an immediate and negative economic impact. We are again calling on the Government to pursue this at EU level. We are also asking for the support of this Committee on these issues."

'Imbalance of power'

For the Irish beef sector, over 50% of exports go to the UK market, and so the weakness of sterling does provide a major challenge.

But exchange rate volatility is not the only determinant of price returns.

Mr Healy said demand for beef in the UK remains very strong.

"We are in the high demand Christmas procurement period for the last month or more, trade and market returns have picked up and cattle prices should have risen a lot more. It is clear the lack of competition in the beef sector is a major factor," the union said.

"IFA has also made it clear that factories must demand higher prices from their British retailer customers to reflect the devaluation and pass these increases directly back to farmers.

"This is what should happen in a normal functioning market. But as producers, we well know the imbalance of power in the farmer, processor, retail relationship in the food chain and the need for regulation in this area."

Mr Healy said the strength of the relationship between Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK must be leveraged to minimise economic and social disruption in the short term and achieve the most positive and sustainable outcome for the future.
Agricultural research institutions in Northern Ireland are to benefit from 1.7 million new funding awarded through a research fund, agriculture minister Michelle McIlveen announced.

The NI agriculture department has been working in partnership with the Republic of Ireland and the United States to identify opportunities to co-fund research in areas of shared priority.

The Agri Food Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Queens University Belfast (QUB) and the Ulster University will receive approximately 1.7million to complete six projects.

Announcing the funding, Michelle McIlveen said: "Science has a vital role in providing our farmers and agri-food industry with a competitive edge in demanding markets. I am therefore pleased to see AFBI, Queens and Ulster University, achieving funding awards totalling 1.7million through the Collaborative Research Fund.

"Local scientists, technologists and advisers play an essential part in assisting NI farmers who face the challenges of increasingly competitive agri-food and forestry sectors. Sharing both knowledge and resources through transnational collaboration enhances both the quality of research, and the value derived from DAERA funding."
The Scottish public will be able to have more say on the shape and future of ownership, management and use of land in Scotland.

Last week, the Scottish Government opened a consultation on the Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement, which will underpin a range of Scottish Government strategies related to land rights and responsibilities.

It will support a commitment to build a fairer society in Scotland and promote environmental sustainability, economic prosperity and social justice.

The statement is also likely to have a significant impact on the work of the new Scottish Land Commission which becomes operational in April.

Cabinet Secretary for Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham said: The Land and Rights and Responsibilities Statement is a world-leading undertaking, which will be central to the Governments commitment to long-term land reform.

Land reform is concerned with both urban and rural communities and impacts on every single person in Scotland. This consultation will give everyone the opportunity to shape the future of our land to create a fairer and more prosperous nation.

Our vision is that the ownership, management and use of land in Scotland should contribute to the collective benefit of the people of Scotland. A fair, inclusive and productive system of land rights and responsibilities should deliver greater public benefits and promote economic, social and cultural rights.

Moreover, the Statement will be the basis for a strong and consistent vision running through Government policy and the work of the new Scottish Land Commission.
"While we've been exploring the options of how to run the grasses we've worked out how to be strategic with paddock grazing, what kind of animals we need to be sourcing and how best to utilise supplementary feeding that isn't grain based," Mr Lester said.
If a line of Merino wethers are just off a killable weight - which may only mean a difference of 4-5kg live weight - there is a $20-$25 price difference and Mr Cant is happy to snap them up because it takes next to no time on solid paddock feed to bring them up to scratch.
"Over there the farms are small and right next to each other - a bit like houses in the suburbs here - so an outbreak has the potential to spread from farm to farm and be difficult to contain," he said.
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Where to eat and drink in the Fayetteville area this weekend
Authorities in Israel detained billionaire Beny Steinmetz for questioning about money laundering in connection with bribes allegedly paid to officials in Guinea for mining rights.

A spokesperson for Steinmetzs company, BSG Resources, reportedly confirmed Monday that Steinmetz had been detained for questioning, Reuters said.

In the United States last week, the DOJ charged Guineas former mining minister with laundering $8.5 million in bribes he allegedly took from a Chinese conglomerate in exchange for mining rights.

The DOJ didnt identify the Chinese company.

Mahmoud Thiam, 50, a U.S. citizen living in New York City, was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of money laundering.

Thiam was Guineas minister of mines from early 2009 until late 2010.

In 2014, a French citizen who used to work for BSGR, was sentenced to two years in prison for obstructing a U.S. investigation into bribery allegations involving Simandou, the biggest undeveloped iron ore project in the world.

Frederic Cilins pleaded guilty in federal court in New York.

He tried to obstruct an ongoing grand jury investigation into potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money laundering laws.

Cilins was heard in recorded phone calls and meetings agreeing to bribe Mamadie Toure, a widow of former Guinea President Lansana Conte, so she would give him documents to be destroyed.

BSGR has always denied any wrongdoing.

Steinmetz has traded allegations of bribery with London-based global mining giant Rio Tinto. Both sides have alleged the other resorted to bribery to win rights to Simandou.

Rio Tinto said in a U.S. securities filing last month that it suspended the chief executive of its energy and minerals division while it investigates more than $10.5 million paid to a consultant for the Simandou project.

Last week BSG Resources sent a letter to Rio Tinto demanding damages for causing BSGR to lose the Simandou mining rights.

Thiam, the former Guinea mining minister, told Bloomberg in a phone interview last month that Rio Tinto had offered him a bribe.

Thiam said Steven Din, formerly head of Rio Tintos Guinea operation, offered the bribe in early 2010 to win back control of half of the Simandou project.

Rio Tinto and Din denied the allegations.

In a statement Monday, BSGR said: It is BSGRs strong belief that these allegations of bribery by the Government of Guinea are not only baseless, but are a systematic attempt by the Government of Guinea to cover up the endemic corruption which has blighted this country for a number of years.

_____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
Sir Elton John has praised Prince Harry for continuing his late mother's charity work.

Sir Elton John

Elton was a friend of Princess Diana - who passed away in a car crash in 1997 - and he insisted the royal would be very proud of her son for setting up the Sentebale charity in Africa 10 years ago.

Speaking in the new ITV documentary 'Prince Harry In Africa', Elton said: "If his mother was alive, she'd still be doing the work she set out to be doing, and he's carrying it on in the best possible way."

Chris Martin and Joss Stone also praised the royal for his charity work.

Speaking in the documentary, Harry urged everyone to help others in any way they can.

He said: "If you're me, if you're your Average Joe, if whoever you are, if you can't affect politics and change the big things in the world then just do whatever you can do, whether it's in your local community, your village, your local church, walking down the street, opening a door for an old lady, helping them cross the road.

"Whatever if it is, just do good. Why wouldn't you?"

Harry co-founded the Sentebale charity with Prince Seeiso, the brother of the King of Lesotho over a decade ago and revealed losing their mothers had helped them to bond.

He said: "There's obviously a connection of some sort. The fact that we have both lost our mothers, at different ages and in very different circumstances. But, his mother stood for something and my mother stood for something as well. To a certain extent, there is a lot of unfinished business, a lot of unfinished work that my mother never completed."
Hollywood star Brad Pitt will only be allowed a four-hour long visit to his children on the Christmas Day. His estranged wife Angelina Jolie has agreed he can deliver gifts in the morning and early afternoon.





"She doesn't have the heart to refuse to let him see the children over the holidays and they would probably never forgive her if she did. But Brad is going to have to use every ounce of his acting skill when he arrives with their presents and put on a brave face to mask the torment he's going through over spending so little time with them." said a source close to the warring pair.



Jolie, 41, is living in a rented beachfront mansion in Malibu with Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. She is locked in a legal tussle over the custody of their children with Pitt, 52. Jolie had filed for divorce on the grounds of "irreconcilable differences" and is demanding sole physical custody of the kids with visitation rights only for Pitt, whose lawyers have filed a counter-claim.



As part of the Family Services probe, he was ordered to undergo anger management counselling and submit to random drug tests prior to agreed visits with the children. The source told, "He bit his tongue and suffered through all of that in the hope Angelina would allow him more time with their kids. But he was really choked when he didn't get to spend a single moment with them at Thanksgiving last month."



"And although he can't wait to see them at Christmas, he's dreading how hard it will be for him to leave them again after four hours." Last year, the family had spent Christmas Day together in a 10-bedroom rented villa in Phuket, Thailand.





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Next Story : Not Your Average Gift: Our Handpicked Thoughtful Diwali Gifts
Welcome to our second Winter Walk article.

Our first walk took in the first section of the Lycian Way from Oludeniz to Faralya so this time we thought a more sedate stroll was the order of the day.

With this in mind we set off to walk from the Fethiye town square, Beskaza along the kordon to Akarca (by the lighthouse).

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning, perfect weather for walking although there was a nip in the air due to the snow on the mountainsafter all, it is December.

The path

Its level going all the way so ideal for those who dont want too energetic a walk.

The scenery

As always, the scenery is stunning.

Stopping for breaks

There are plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can stop for a break. Sunday is the only day off for Turkish people and families come out to enjoy breakfast in the winter sunshine.

What else is there to see?

There is always plenty to see when you walk this route.

The familiar sight of fisherman waiting patiently for a catch.

Some people just like to sit and ponder.

Others go about their daily business.

Ooops!

This branch decorated with gourds just sits at the edge of the water.

Its winter and the seagulls flock back to the harbour in search of food.

Cormorants too.

Even the ducks were out for a walk.

The fish bait shops are now situated by the lighthouse in Akarca and are open for business all year.

This brought us to end of our walk all that was left to do was turn round an go back the way we came.

8km round trip and 4 hours walking.a great way to spend a Sunday morning!
PHOENIX  In two separate announcements, Carvana today announced that it has partnered with Associated Credit Union and LGE Community Credit Union to offer their members access to certified and competitively priced vehicles through an entirely online car-buying experience.

Carvana touts itself as the nations leading online vehicle retailer. Through these partnerships, members originating from both credit unions will be able to browse through its inventory and purchase a vehicle in as little as 20 minutes without stepping foot inside a dealership, the company stated.

Were excited to offer Associated Credit Union members a shopping experience where they can be in the drivers seat and find the best vehicle for their needs. Our model is very similar to credit unions, as we are both dedicated to offering a transparent experience and providing the best service to our customers, said Ernie Garcia, CEO and cofounder of Carvana.

According to online retailer, the more-than 160,000 Associated Credit Union members will be able to visit any of the credit unions 27 locations in the Metro Atlanta and Augusta area to receive pre-approval for a Carvana vehicle. Once they receive approval, theyll then be able to browse Carvanas inventory of more than 7,000 vehicles, complete the purchase online, and have their car delivered as soon as the next day.

"We are excited to team up with LGE and offer its members the opportunity to either shop for a new vehicle or trade in their current one, without the hassle of leaving their home," Garcia said. "Credit unions have been incredible partners of ours as they share our customer-first mentality and are receptive to innovation.

LGE Community Credit Union member will be able to visit one of the nine full-service locations that the credit union has in Georgia. Credit union members will have the choice of speaking to a loan officer at one of the nine physical locations, speaking to a loan officer on the phone, through email or to use an online application. Following their approval, LGE Community Credit Union members will also be able to browse Carvana's inventory and purchase a vehicle entirely online by using Carvana.

Carvana currently works with a total of 13 credit unions across the country. All Carvana vehicles undergo a 150-point inspection and come with a 100-day or 4,189-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and are backed by a seven-day return policy.
Global marketer of several apparel and lifestyle brands Cherokee Global Brands has inked new licensing agreements for its Hi-Tec and Magnum brands with Carolina Footwear and the Batra Group. While Caroline Footwear will distribute both the brands in the US and Canada; Batra Group will market and distribute in several countries of the European region.The agreement with Carolina Footwear grants the rights to manufacture and sell Hi-Tec and Magnum-branded footwear for men, women and kids, along with additional products in the adult outdoor and active footwear categories.

Global marketer of several apparel and lifestyle brands Cherokee Global Brands has inked new licensing agreements for its Hi-Tec and Magnum brands with Carolina Footwear and the Batra Group. While Caroline Footwear will distribute both the brands in the US and Canada; Batra Group will market and distribute in several countries of the European region.#

Carolina Footwear will distribute these products in better specialty, sporting goods, department stores, and mid-tier and general merchandise retailers across the US and Canada.The Batra Group got the rights to manufacture and sell a wide assortment of branded footwear in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and Scandinavia.Batra will also manufacture and sell apparel and accessories throughout select regions of Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East and the United Kingdom. (AR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged prime minister Narendra Modi to declare 2017 as Less Cash Year in the country. The appeal aims to motivate traders to adopt digital payment system at both the levels, i.e. B2C and B2B. Since 2015, CAIT has been strongly advocating the need for adoption of electronic payment in the trading community.

In a bid to promote the digital payments among the traders, CAIT has planned a national campaign in the country, informed CAIT president BC Bhartia. The 60-day campaign will be launched from January 1, 2017. During the campaign, CAIT will hold conferences on digital payment in various states which will be attended by leaders of trade associations from various states. Camps will also be organised in markets across the country for acceptance of digital payments.

In association with local trade associations, CAIT will also conduct outdoor publicity campaign to promote digital payments. Traders will be made aware of the benefits of digital payment through short videos and whatsapp clippings. Less Cash march, street plays, seminars, workshops and training camps will also be held in markets across India as part of the awareness programme.

In the wake of GST taxation system, every trader needs to adopt digital payments. Under GST, the tax payment is proposed to be made only through credit card or debit card, NIFT or RTGS. Cash or cheque is not allowed for tax payments. On the other hand, various state governments are contemplating to receive government revenue only through digital payments. Therefore, it will be advantageous for the traders to adopt digital payments at this point of time to enable them to comply with the provisions of GST and that of several other revenues which needs to be deposited with the government, said Bhartia. (RR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), now likely in second half of next year, will create a level playing field by removing the disparity of excise duty between cotton and man-made fibre (MMF) sectors, according to an expert. This will spur growth in the countrys textile sector, which contributed nearly 15 per cent to exports in 2015-16.

It (GST) will remove the current disparity of excise duty between cotton and man-made fibre. This will also spur growth and the country is expected to again surpass Bangladesh and Vietnam in garment exports in the next three years, said S Kannan, CFO, Brands and Retail, Arvind Lifestyle Brands. He was addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) annual CFO Conclave on the topic India Competitiveness: Growth Opportunities and Challenges in Bengaluru.

He said chief finance officers (CFO) must prepare their organisations for regulatory changes that would come in with the implementation of the GST. According to him, GST, though a huge opportunity for companies, can be a minefield as well if an organisation is not equipped to implement it.

The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), now likely in second half of next year, will create a level playing field by removing the disparity of excise duty between cotton and man-made fibre (MMF) sectors, according to an expert. This will spur growth in the country's textile sector, which contributed nearly 15 per cent to exports in 2015-16.#

Murali Ganesh, CFO, ITC Foods, said the GST will lead to a paperless taxation process that will reduce errors and bring in transparency, widening the scope of the tax base.

Last fiscal, Indias textile and apparel exports touched $40 billion and the industry is aiming to reach $223 billion in export value by 2021. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
More than 10.147 million bales of cotton have arrived in 2016-17 season at various ginneries in Pakistan, as on December 15, 2016, showing an increase of 12.33 per cent over arrival of 9.034 million bales during the corresponding period of last season. This seasons arrival so far has already crossed previous seasons total arrival of 9.768 million bales.

In the major cotton producing province of Punjab, total cotton arrivals increased by 19.38 per cent year-on-year to 6.444 million bales, according to the fortnightly report on cotton arrivals, prepared by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), in joint cooperation with All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and the Karachi Cotton Association (KCA). While in Sindh province, cotton arrivals increased 1.86 per cent to 3.703 million bales as on December 15 during the ongoing cotton season 2016-17.

Of the total arrival of 10.147 million bales at various ginneries in Pakistan, 9.678 million bales were pressed by ginners, of which 8.646 million bales were sold, leaving an unsold stock of 1.032 million bales with the ginners, as on December 15, according to the data.

More than 10.147 million bales of cotton have arrived in 2016-17 season at various ginneries in Pakistan, as on December 15, 2016, showing an increase of 12.33 per cent over arrival of 9.034 million bales during the corresponding period of last season. This season's arrival so far has already crossed previous season's total arrival of 9.768 million bales.#

The textile mills in Pakistan consumed 8.451 million bales, while another 198,844 bales of cotton were sold to exporters, according to the data. The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has not procured any bale of cotton so far this season.

As of December 15, a total of 359 ginning factories were operational in Punjab compared to 406 ginneries that were operational during the same time last season. Similarly, 161 ginning units were operational in the Sindh region, compared to 174 operating units during the corresponding period last year.

In 2015-16 cotton season, Pakistans cotton output decreased by 34.28 per cent to 9.768 million bales, compared to the previous seasons production of 14.871 million bales. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Yarn, Fabric & Accessories (YFA) trade show 2016 that was recently held in Delhi was attended by over 8,598 buyers, recording a 15 per cent rise as compared to its 2015 edition. Close to 148 exhibitors participated in the show as against 100 last year. The highlights of the exhibition were fashion shows held on all four days of the trade event.

Some participating companies also launched their innovative and latest developments in value-added textile products like speciality fibres, multifunctional yarns, melange yarns, spandex yarn, embroidery yarn, bamboo fabrics, modal fabrics and several unique garment accessories.

Buyers came from various textile and apparel hubs like Delhi & NCR, Ludhiana, Panipat, Bhilwara, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, Kanpur, Meerut, Banaras, Surat, Tirupur and Northern India, which includes Punjab and Haryana. There were also foreign buyers from Syria, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Brazil, Dubai, Argentina, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Korea and Iran.

Yarn, Fabric & Accessories (YFA) trade show 2016 that was recently held in Delhi was attended by over 8,598 buyers, recording a 15 per cent rise as compared to its 2015 edition. Close to 148 exhibitors participated in the show as against 100 last year. The highlights of the exhibition were fashion shows held on all four days of the trade event.#

A Chinese pavilion was also set up for 36 Chinese exhibitors, who showcased innovative yarns, fabrics and garment accessories.

A textile conference in association with TIT-Bhiwani and the Textile Association of India (TAI) Delhi was also arranged on the sidelines of day-1 of the show. Titoba, an alumnus meet, with a gathering of more than 400 top industry professionals, in association with TIT Bhiwani and TAI was also organised.

The exhibitor list included the whos who of the Indian and global textile industry from the textile value-chain beginning from fibres till garment accessories. Visitors of YFA 2016 included decision makers of renowned buying houses and export houses in addition to visitors from composite mills, spinning mills, knitters, weavers, yarn agents, trading houses, designers and retail chains.

We are happy and satisfied with our participation at the YFA 2016 show. We have seen a steady stream of buyers visiting our stall, not just from Delhi or North India, but also other parts of India, which includes, buying houses, exporters, domestic brands etc., said Pinkesh Jain, CMD of Everflow Petrofils.

Overall, we are satisfied and happy with our presence at the YFA show as we have had a good number of buyers visiting our stall. Our fibre products have been well received by buyers and most of those who visited our stall, were genuine and technically knowledgeable visitors, said Takeshi Iitaka, Manager (Cupro Sales) at Asahi Kasei Corporation, Japan.

We thank all the participating exhibitors as well as those who visited the show for making this second edition of YFA extremely successful. The 2016 edition saw participation of 148 exhibitors as against 100 in 2015. The show was visited by 8,598 buyers, up by 15 per cent compared to those came in 2015, which is a considerable high number at a time, when there is a currency crunch, said organisers Abhishek Sharma and Ankur Goel from Vision Communications. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The first look of Akshay Kumar and superstar Rajinikanth starrer Robo 2.0 has taken every one by storm and fans across the country are excited to know more and more about the film. Sadly, director Shankar has kept mum regarding the plot and storyline and this has only heightened the curiosity among the people. It is now reported that Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson might head off to Lucknow to shoot a special song for Robo 2.0.

Shahrukh Khan Is A Coward & Beggar! Says Canadian Ex Minister Ujjal Dosanjh For Meeting Raj Thackery

Confirming the news that the song will be shot in Lucknow, Vice President of Uttar Pradesh Film Development Council, Gaurav Dwivedi said, "We are delighted that legendary superstar Rajinikanth's film will be shot in Lucknow. We will extend full support and provide all necessary logistics to his team. We take pride in the fact that the visionary film policy of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has attracted even South Indian filmmakers."



It is reported that the song will be shot at the Gomti Riverfront and Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow. Most part of the film's shoot took place in Chennai and we wonder why the film-makers have chosen Lucknow out of the block. Maybe there is some nice twist to the movie there.

Aryan Khan & Sara Ali Khan To Debut In Karan Johar's Venture?

Also, many films including Ayushmann Khurrana's Bareilly Ki Barfi and Shruti Haasan's Behen Hogi Teri were shot in Lucknow. A few other film-makers are also exploring the opportunity to shoot their movie in the city.

Kangana Ranaut: I Want To Have Babies!
We had recently reported that Swaragini will be replaced by a new show Ek Shringaar - Swabhimaan. The new show is all set to be aired from today (December 19). The show has an interesting star cast - Prachi Shah, who was seen in popular shows like Kundali and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, to name a few, will be playing the role of the mother of two girls.

The show has two beautiful actresses playing the lead roles, Ankita Sharma (Naina) and Sangeeta Chauhan (Meghna). Samridh Bawa and Sahil Uppal are paired opposite Ankita and Sangeeta. Shweta Mahadik, Vinay Jain, Paintal and Suchitra Pillai will also be seen on the show. Check out 5 reasons why you should watch Ek Shringaar - Swabhimaan...

Story Of Two Sisters Like Swaragini, Swabhimaan is also the story of two sisters (Naina and Meghna) and both are well educated and have different characters. One of the sisters is soft natured, while the other is bold and rude. Story Of Single Mother & Two Daughters The story revolves around a single mother Sharda's effort to tutor her daughters to be self-reliant. Like Swaragini, the show also deals with the struggle of mother and daughters. Rajshri Productions It is from Rajshri productions that has given a few best shows like Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki, Yahaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli and others. Different Concept It has a different concept - how the educated girls are looking out to get into families, who will allow them to work after marriage. Show's Background The show is set against the vibrant and traditional backdrop of Bundi and Jaipur in Rajasthan. It is filmed extensively in the region to maintain authenticity. Swabhimaan Well, the cast, set, and the concept of the show look interesting. We just hope the show doesn't end up like other saas bahu dramas! Stay locked to the latest updates of the show...

Ankita Sharma had made her debut in Lajwanti. She was last seen on Zee TV's Yeh Vadaa Raha. Sangeeta Chauhan, who has done a few South Indian films (Luv U Alia), will be making her debut with this show.

About the show, Prachi was quoted by a leading daily as saying, "It's difficult to be a parent in today's day and age. And if you are a single mother, the challenges are amplified further. The show is about a mother's decision to make her daughters independent, rather than letting them live as per society's approval."

She added, "Even though Sharda has a traditional approach, her powerful and inspiring personality makes her one of the most endearing characters on television I have seen in a long time."

Producer Sooraj Barjatya was quoted by the leading daily as saying, "To some extent, women continue to believe that a happy family is a manifestation of their sacrifices. But marriage is a beautiful institution and shouldn't be considered a hindrance in a woman's future prospects."

He added, "The show salutes all mothers for going beyond conventions and empowering their daughters to adopt the lives that they deserve, even after marriage."
Helly Shah

Sharing a picture, Helly Shah wrote, "The Reunion'  Thank u Shalu dii for such a warm get together  Had a great time  Love u all  P.S - U were looking sooo sooo cute in those two braids and kaushuji in the spex  Muaaaaaaaahhhh ."

Tarun Singh

Sharing a picture, Tarun Singh wrote, "And we meet again. @shalinikapoorsagar plays the perfect host, we sing and laugh and drink and eat, and everything else a #happyfamily does :)."

Sonica

Sonica also shared a few pictures from the reunion party. Previously, Sonica had thanked her fans for the love. She wrote, "Swaragini serial will always be close to my heart..thanks friends n fans for showering love n appreciation to us."

Sonica With Her Co-Actors

Sonica and other co-actors shared a strong bond. Almost all the actors were active on social media and they kept their audiences updated with the pictures or video clippings.

Amar Sharma

Amar Sharma, who played the role of Ram (Sanskar's father) on the show, also shared a few reunion party pictures. Amar shared a picture snapped with Helly, and others and wrote, "."

Namish Was Not Seen At The Reunion

Namish, who was not present in the reunion party, had said that he is not upset with the show going off air. He was quoted as saying, "I am really not upset because I was not there in the show for two to three months and my entry was not according to the plan. I am not upset."

Namish Had Said...

He further added, "I have a feeling as you sow, so you reap.' My point is, the story line was deteriorated. They too took some wrong decisions and hence the result is before you. Let's hope this does not get repeated."

Varun Was Not Present At The Reunion Party!

On the other hand, Varun Kapoor, who played the role of Sanskar, was happy, content and satisfied being part of Swaragini.

Varun Said...

He further added, "However, we never thought that the show will go off air so soon. I am happy, content and satisfied. Pulling the show off air is not my decision and is not in my hands. The decision has been taken by the people sitting above us, but I have no complaints when it comes to the show or my character."
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Monday. The U.S. dollar fell to 4-day lows of 117.41 against the yen and 1.3317 against the Canadian dollar, from Friday's closing quotes of 117.90 and 1.3334, respectively. Against the euro, the pound and the Swiss franc, the greenback dropped to 1.0469, 1.2502 and 1.0247 from last week's closing quotes of 1.0451, 1.2482 and 1.0264, respectively. Against the Australian and the New Zealand dollars, the greenback slipped to 0.7313 and 0.6989 from Friday's closing quotes of 0.7299 and 0.6957, respectively. If the greenback extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 112.00 against the yen, 1.30 against the loonie, 1.08 against the euro, 1.36 against the pound, 0.99 against the franc, 0.74 against the aussie and 0.72 against the kiwi. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/19/16 -- ITSPmagazine (https://www.ITSPmagazine.com), the cybersecurity industry's boutique information security magazine focused on the intersection of IT security and society, announced their agreement with the RSA Conference (RSAC) team to be an official media sponsor of the RSA Conference in San Francisco in February 2017. Having launched the magazine during the 2016 conference, the team is thrilled to celebrate the magazine's first birthday as an official media sponsor this year.

"I cannot believe that ITSPmagazine is almost one year old," says Marco Ciappelli, ITSPmagazine's co-founder and creative director. "Even though the idea had been lurking in the depths of our souls for some time, it was at RSAC 2016 that ITSPmagazine was officially born. Returning to RSAC 2017 as an official media sponsor with an audience that pretty much doubles in size each month seems almost surreal. We're very excited!"

A Focus on Society

Leaving the gadgets and bits-and-bytes aspects of infosec to other industry publications, ITSPmagazine is passionate about covering the impact that IT security has on society -- and vice versa. At RSAC 2017, our team of journalists will explore this complex intersection via as many conference interviews, conversations, presentations and vendor pitches as humanly possible. You'll find us attending sessions, conversing in the expo halls, taking notes at RSAC Innovation Sandbox, and engaging with our fellow cybersecurity peers at some of the parties. You might even find us mingling at an Oasis. One thing is for certain, though: wherever we end up, we'll be on the lookout for the next big human-focused story.

"It's critical we all play our part in promoting awareness, continued education, and an equal respect in all we do in this industry," says Michelle Adams-Dixon, Director, RSA Conference Global Marketing. "It's refreshing to see ITSPmagazine focusing on these core attributes as they tell the infosec stories that have an impact on our society. We are thrilled to have them as an official media sponsor for the conference as they strive to share the stories our experts bring to the stage and expo halls."

Here's a sampling of some of the topics we intend to cover:

Social engineering and the human element of cybersecurity

Internet of Things / Internet of Everything / smart buildings / smart cities

Infosec career planning, professional development, training, and certifications

And, of course, diversity, equality, and humanity across all of the above

All ITSPmagazine's conference coverage will be captured on the RSA Conference 2017 coverage page here:

https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-2017

"We're looking forward to bringing our largest team of journalists ever to the Conference this year," says Sean Martin, CISSP, co-founder, and editor-in-chief at ITSPmagazine. "To celebrate our first birthday, we also have a few more things up our sleeves: a new column, some super-secret guest journalists, exciting partnerships that will make our Conference experience even more engaging, and a special business announcement -- all of which take us deeper into the intersection of IT security and society. Stay tuned!"

Building on Prior Column Successes

ITSPmagazine's success continues on the heels of two recent column launches: Equal Respect (https://itspmagazine.com/equal-respect) and The Academy (https://itspmagazine.com/the-academy). Since its official launch, ITSPmagazine has published nearly 200 articles and chronicles from more than 80 contributors. Both of these recent columns promote bringing a more diverse range of people into the field of cybersecurity in order to fill the industry's cavernous job gap with much-needed talent.

"We're very proud to be focusing on the human aspect of information security while taking a stand for diversity, equality and education... and we're lucky to have many great professionals and companies in the infosec community that have joined forces, believe in us, and continue to support what we were doing," says Martin. "We do what we do for our readers and we couldn't do it without the support of our cyber friends."

"As Robert Frost beautifully said, when we started this adventure we took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference," adds Ciappelli. "Our journey has taken us to the intersection of IT security and society, and we wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Staying Connected

Those interested in keeping abreast of what's happening at the intersection of ITSPmagazine and the RSA Conference can visit the RSA Conference coverage page at https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsac-2017. We are also taking interview requests via this page. Tap on the Request an Interview with Us button to submit your request.

If you have a story to share with ITSPmagazine that can be connected to the conference, feel free to send it our way using this form: https://itspmagazine.com/submit-a-story/

Vendors interested in sponsoring ITSPmagazine's coverage of the event can find sponsorship opportunities here: https://itspmagazine.com/sponsorships/event-coverage-sponsorship

We'll be keeping the page up-to-date with the latest plans for interviews and article topics. We'll also be capturing the latest articles from our journalists as they're published.

Be sure to register for the conference. Registration details can be found here: http://itspm.ag/rsa17rprel

We hope to see you at the Conference!

About ITSPmagazine (https://www.ITSPmagazine.com)

Founded in 2015 by Sean Martin, CISSP, and Marco Ciappelli, ITSPmagazine is the cybersecurity industry's boutique InfoSec magazine and the go-to source for informative, educational, and unfiltered content. Our select team of editors, journalists and industry professionals focus not just on technology and cybersecurity, but on the impact they have on life, humanity and society. @ITSPmagazine, an imsmartin publication, brings the human element to the latest in information security news because, after all, that's who's using it. We're right there at the intersection of IT security and society along with you.

CONTACT:

Sean Martin, CISSP

Editor-in-Chief

ITSPmagazine

sean@itsecurityplanet.com




VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - U.K. shares fell from a seven-week high hit in the previous session, as weaker metal prices dragged down miners and financials also succumbed to selling pressure after recent sharp gains due to rising bond yields. The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 9 points or 0.12 percent at 7,002 in late opening deals after gaining 0.2 percent on Friday. Antofagasta shares dropped 1.5 percent. The company said it would take legal action to overturn a decision by U.S. authorities not to renew mineral leases in Minnesota. Rival Anglo American fell over 1 percent, BHP Billiton shed half a percent and Rio Tinto lost 1.5 percent. Barclays slid 2 percent on a Bloomberg report that it is severing ties with up to 7,000 clients to boost returns. Energy major Royal Dutch Shell rose half a percent after signing an agreement to sell its Australian aviation business to Viva Energy for around $250 million. BP Plc shares advanced 0.7 percent after the company was awarded a 10 percent interest in Abu Dhabi's ADCO onshore oil concession, which has a life of 40 years. Vodafone rose more than 1 percent on a report that it is eying role in traffic control for drones in Europe. On a day light day on the economic front, U.K. businesses intend to add more jobs next year despite uncertainty about the future relationship with the EU after the Brexit decision, the latest CBI/Pertemps Network Group Employment Trends Survey from the Confederation of British Industry revealed. 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.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 12/19/16 -- Asian Mineral Resources Limited ("AMR" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: ASN) advises shareholders with regards to the proposed acquisition of Kasbah Resources Limited ("Kasbah") (ASX: KAS) (the "Scheme") that the Company and Kasbah have mutually agreed to terminate the Scheme Implementation Agreement entered into in relation to the Scheme.

The Company continues its exploration activities in the highly-prolific Song Da rift zone in Vietnam, where AMR has a world class exploration tenement package with a number of advanced-stage nickel exploration targets.

ABOUT AMR

AMR owns and operates one of the world's few sources of nickel sulphide ore, and is exploring for additional high-grade nickel assets in Vietnam. AMR commenced commercial production from its 90%- owned Ban Phuc Nickel Mine in Vietnam in mid-2013. As of 30 June 2016, the Ban Phuc Nickel Mine has produced a total of c. 20,000 tonnes of nickel and c. 10,000 tonnes of copper contained in concentrate, plus a cobalt by-product since the beginning of its mine life. As disclosed on 30 May 2016, the Ban Phuc mine has recently been placed under care and maintenance. In addition to in and near-mine expansion projects, Ban Phuc provides a platform from which AMR can continue to focus on developing a new nickel camp within its 150km2 of concessions located throughout the highly-prolific Song Da rift zone, where AMR has a number of advanced-stage nickel exploration targets.

For further details on AMR, please refer to the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report - Ban Phuc Nickel Project" dated February 15, 2013 available on SEDAR or the AMR website www.asianmineralres.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding the completion of the project, the commencement of production and the achievement of expected benefits, potential mineralization and reserve and resource estimates, exploration results and future plans and objectives of AMR are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of AMR to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from AMR's expectations are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in AMR's Annual Information Form, and elsewhere in AMR's documents filed from time-to-time with the TSX Venture Exchange and other regulatory authorities. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including: that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on the agreed timeframes; that on-going contractual negotiations will be successful and progress and/or be completed in a timely manner; that application for permits and licences will be granted/obtained in a timely manner; that no unusual geological or technical problems occur; that plant and equipment work as anticipated and that there is no material adverse change in the price of nickel. Although AMR has 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 to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release. AMR disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 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 due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Paula Kember

Corporate Secretary

+1 (416) 360-3412




CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/19/16 -- GrowMax Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE: GRO) ("GrowMax" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the following management appointments to its senior executive team:

Mr. Stephen Keith is appointed President of the Company effective January 9, 2017. Mr. Keith is a registered professional engineer and an accomplished senior executive with 20 years in the natural resources sector, with a specific focus on mining and finance. Mr. Keith has worked as a geological engineer, an investment banker and an executive for several public and private companies. Most recently, he held the position of Managing Director of Fertoz Ltd., a company focused on organic phosphate production in Canada and fertilizer distribution in Australia. Prior thereto, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Rio Verde Minerals, a company focused on developing a fertilizer company with potash and phosphate assets in Brazil. Mr. Keith also previously served as Vice President Investment Banking at Thomas Weisel Partners, working on natural resources transactions in the mining and energy sectors. He has a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science with a major in Geological Engineering from Queens University in Canada, and a Master of Business Administration in International Business, with Latin America focus, from Schulich School of Business at York University in Canada. Mr. Keith is fluent in Spanish.

Mr. Keith will be working closely with the Executive Chairman and board of directors to implement the overall company strategy and achieve its performance targets. He will be responsible for all the Company's operations at Bayovar in Peru, progressing the phosphate, brine and fertilizers projects and advancing the various studies and plans for these projects.

Mr. Jamie Somerville, who has been providing consulting services to the Company since January 2016, was recently appointed Executive Vice President in October 2016. Mr. Somerville is a former financial analyst with over 15 years of experience. He spent several years working as an institutional equities analyst covering mainly Canadian-listed oil and gas companies with international operations. For a majority of that time, Mr. Somerville was Vice President and Director at TD Securities, prior to which he worked at Genuity Capital Markets (now CanaccordGenuity) and MGI Securities. Mr. Somerville spent over 5 years working for Wood Mackenzie, a firm of global energy consultants, based in the UK. Mr. Somerville is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow with a Master of Engineering (distinction) in Mechanical Engineering with Financial Management.

Mr. Somerville will be the lead for the Company's brine project, fertilizer market studies, economic analysis and other business development activities, including investor relations.

Abby Badwi, Executive Chairman of GrowMax, commented, "The board of directors and I would like to welcome both Stephen and Jamie to GrowMax. These appointments will solidify the Company's executive team, bringing strong leadership with the necessary technical and business skills to position GrowMax for continued sustainable growth through the development of its mining assets and fertilizer business initiatives. With Stephen Keith's experience in the phosphate and potash business and his track record in financing activities for many mining projects, 2017 should yield some positive results for the Company and its shareholders as we move towards several project development and potential cash flow opportunities at Bayovar in Peru."

New Website

The Company's redesigned and enhanced website will be available today at www.growmaxcorp.com.

About GrowMax Resources Corp.

GrowMax Resources Corp. is a publicly listed Canadian company (Ticker GRO on TSX-V) focused on exploration and development of phosphate and potassium-rich brine resources on its Bayovar Property, which is located in the Sechura Desert in northwestern Peru. The Company's vision is to become a leading producer of phosphate and potash fertilizer products in Peru.

GrowMax owns approximately 92% of GrowMax Agri Corp., a private company that owns 100% of the Bayovar Property, which currently covers approximately 227,000 gross acres. The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative Limited (IFFCO) and its affiliates own approximately 8% of GrowMax Agri Corp.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable Canadian and US securities laws. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances change, except as required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

GrowMax Resources Corp.

Abby Badwi, P. Geo.

Executive Chairman

+1 587 390 7015

inquiries@growmaxcorp.com

www.growmaxcorp.com




OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 12/19/16 -- Canada is taking action to protect marine biodiversity, ecosystem function and special natural features by proposing St. Anns Bank in Nova Scotia as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) under Canada's Oceans Act.

Located east of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, St. Anns Bank has many ecologically significant features, including unique habitats and areas of high biodiversity and biological productivity. It is home to a number of at-risk species such as the Atlantic wolffish and is a summer foraging area for the endangered leatherback turtle.

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced today the launch of a 45-day public consultation period that ends January 31, 2017, as part of the pre-publication of the proposed regulations in Canada Gazette Part I. The Government of Canada will consider comments provided by the public during the consultation period to formulate the final regulations that will establish and govern the new MPA.

Quick Facts

-- The work supporting the proposed MPA has been a collaboration with the St. Anns Bank Stakeholder Advisory Committee, composed of representatives from industry, academia, environmental non-government organizations, provincial and federal government regulators, First Nations and Indigenous organizations. The Advisory Committee participated in the development of the conservation objectives and the delineation of the MPA boundary and zones. -- The proposed Regulations would establish four management zones, where current low-impact activities would be permitted. Together these zones would balance the conservation and protection of biological diversity, habitat and biological productivity of the St. Anns Bank area while ensuring the continued access of existing local fisheries. -- Budget 2016 included $123.7 million over five years to support marine conservation activities. This includes the designation of new MPAs under the Oceans Act and developing new national parks and National Marine Conservation Areas. -- The new proposed areas will support the Government of Canada's efforts to increase the amount of Canada's marine and coastal areas that are protected to 5% by 2017 and 10% by 2020, which is roughly equivalent to the size of the Atlantic Provinces.

Quote

"The Government of Canada is proud to propose St. Anns Bank as Canada's next Marine Protected Area. I am looking forward to continuing this important work with local government and stakeholders to see increased marine protection in this exceptional ocean area."

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Related Product

Proposal to Designate St. Anns Bank as a Marine Protected Area

Associated Link

St. Anns Bank AOI

Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Follow us on Twitter! www.Twitter.com/DFO_MPO

Contacts:

Media Relations

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

613-990-7537

Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca



Laura Gareau

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

613-992-3474

Laura.Gareau@dfo-mpo.gc.ca






WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - As Electoral College members gather to cast their votes in their recent presidential election, the results of a new Morning Consult/Politico survey found that a plurality of American voters believes the race for the White House should be decided by the popular vote.



Forty-five percent of registered voters said the Constitution should be amended to replace the Electoral College with the popular vote, while 40 percent said the current system should remain in place.



Voters were slightly more likely to back changing the current system if they were not told it would require a constitutional amendment.



The poll found significant partisan division on the issue, as a vast majority of Democrats back a change to the popular vote but most Republicans favor the Electoral College.



Forty-seven percent of independent voters supported replacing the Electoral College with the popular vote compared with 32 percent who disagreed.



The partisan split comes as President-elect Donald Trump won the Electoral College by 306 to 232 even though Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by over 2.5 million votes.



The results also showed divisions based on where respondents live, with voters in urban areas and the Northeast and West more likely to back using the popular vote than voters in rural areas and the South and Midwest.



Nonetheless, the poll found that a plurality of voters agrees that the 538 electors who participate in the process should be bound to vote for the candidate that won their state.



The Morning Consult/Politico survey of 2,000 registered voters was conducted December 15th through 17th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/19/16 -- Simavita Limited (ASX: SVA) ("Simavita" or the "Company") is pleased to confirm the receipt of $1,659,600 under the Australian Government's Research and Development Tax Incentive Scheme. The claim covers the year ended 30 June 2016.

The R&D Tax Incentive is an Australian Government program developed to assist businesses recover some of the costs of undertaking research and development. Under this program companies receive cash refunds for 45% of eligible expenditure on research and development.

The receipt of these funds confirms Simavita's significant and ongoing commitment to research and development in the production of smart, wearable and disposable sensors for the health care industry. These products are sold to national and international markets.

About Simavita

Simavita is focused upon the rapid delivery of smart, wearable and disposable sensors for the health care industry.

With the support of our shareholders, customers and employees, Simavita is focused upon the business at hand; creating a commercially successful and growing corporation.

To date we have developed and are actively selling automated sensors and systems for the assessment and management of incontinence. Incontinence and the management of incontinence is a major and rapidly growing challenge. The annual cost to the global economy is in the billions of dollars and rising. It is an enormous cost that includes both incontinence materials as well as the significant time spent by carers in helping people suffering from incontinence. Most significantly, it impacts a growing community of seniors as well as people of any age who may be affected by disability and illness.

Simavita operates directly in Australia, Europe and North America where we see significant and growing demand for product that delivers real cost benefit to the health care industry and particularly for people in need.

Contacts:

Simavita Limited

Peta Jurd

Chief Commercial Officer

+61 2 8405 6361

www.simavita.com




Regulatory News:

Vivendi (Paris:VIV) announced on April 8, 2016 that it had concluded a strategic and industrial partnership with Mediaset. As a first step, Vivendi was to acquire 3.5% of Mediaset's share capital and 100% of the share capital of the Mediaset Premium pay-television company, in exchange for 3.5% of Vivendi's share capital. The envisaged Mediaset Premium acquisition unfortunately led to a lawsuit and Vivendi's proposals aimed at finding an amicable solution to the dispute were not agreed by Mediaset and its shareholder Fininvest.

As Vivendi believes that the strategic interest of the industrial partnership announced on April 8, 2016 supersedes the stakes of the lawsuit, Vivendi decided to become Mediaset's second largest industrial shareholder by acquiring, to begin with, 20% of the Mediaset share capital.

Following a meeting between Arnaud de Puyfontaine, Chairman of the Management Board, and Pier Silvio Berlusconi, Chief Executive Officer of Mediaset, on December 16, 2016, and the press release issued by Mediaset on December 17, 2016, and considering Fininvest's recent positions, Vivendi's Management Board met today and decided, with the Supervisory Board's authorization, to increase its investment in Mediaset by acquiring additional shares depending on market conditions within the limits of 30% of the share capital and voting rights.

Vivendi reminds that its presence in the Mediaset equity is in line with the Group's intention to develop its activities in Southern Europe and its strategic ambitions as a major international, European-based, media and content group.

Important Disclaimers

This press release contains information that may have characterized, before becoming public, inside information as defined by Article 7, par. 1, of the European Regulation 596/2014 regarding Vivendi's acquisition of a participation in the capital of Mediaset. It also contains forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, business, strategy, plans and outlook of Vivendi. Although Vivendi believes that such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including but not limited to the risks related to antitrust and other regulatory approvals as well as any other approvals which may be required in connection with certain transactions and the risks described in the documents Vivendi filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (French securities regulator), which are also available in English on Vivendi's website (www.vivendi.com). Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by Vivendi with the Autorite des Marches Financiers at www.amf-france.org, or directly from Vivendi. Accordingly, we caution readers against relying on such forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and Vivendi disclaims any intention or obligation to provide, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Unsponsored ADRs. Vivendi does not sponsor an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) facility in respect of its shares. Any ADR facility currently in existence is "unsponsored" and has no ties whatsoever to Vivendi. Vivendi disclaims any liability in respect of any such facility.

About Vivendi

Vivendi is an integrated media and content group. The company operates businesses throughout the media value chain, from talent discovery to the creation, production and distribution of content. The main subsidiaries of Vivendi comprise Canal+ Group and Universal Music Group. Canal+ Group is the leading pay-TV operator in France, and also serves markets in Africa, Poland and Vietnam. Canal+ Group operations also include Studiocanal, a leading European player in production, sales and distribution of film and TV series. Universal Music Group is the world leader in recorded music, music publishing and merchandising, with more than 50 labels covering all genres. A separate division, Vivendi Village, brings together Vivendi Ticketing (ticketing in the UK, the U.S. and France), MyBestPro (experts counseling), Watchever (subscription video-on-demand), Radionomy (digital radio), Olympia Production, the L'Olympia and the Theatre de L'Oeuvre venues in Paris and the CanalOlympia venues in Africa. With 3.5 billion videos viewed each month, Dailymotion is one of the biggest video content aggregation and distribution platforms in the world. Gameloft is a worldwide leading video games on mobile, with 2 million games downloaded per day.

www.vivendi.comwww.cultureswithvivendi.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161219006038/en/

Contacts:

Vivendi
MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - Russia's ambassador to Turkey was shot and killed at an art exhibition in Ankara on Monday, a spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry said. Andrey Karlov, who has served as the Russian Ambassador to Turkey since 2013, was shot by an attacker while delivering a speech at the opening of a photo exhibit. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the shooting is being considered as a terrorist attack. 'We are currently in contact with Turkish authorities who are assuring us that a thorough, comprehensive investigation will be conducted,' Zakharova said, according to CNN. 'Murderers will be punished. Terrorism won't sustain. We'll fight it,' she added. 'A memory about this outstanding diplomat will always remain in our hearts. He's a diplomat who's contributed a lot in fighting terrorism during his career.' Citing video circulating on social media, CNN said the gunman can be heard shouting about the civil war ravaged Syrian city of Aleppo. Russia is a close ally of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey is a staunch opponent of the Syrian leader. In a post to Twitter, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power condemned the attack on Karlov and several other people. 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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 19, 2016) - AXMIN Inc. (TSXV: AXM) ("AXMIN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Government has granted AXMIN, as of November 28, 2016, an extension for the period of one year for the Bambari 1 and 2 Exploration Licenses (the "Licenses"); and an extension for the period of one year to begin the development and pre-production work at the Passendro Gold Project.

On November 28, 2016, the Minister of Mines, Energy and Hydraulics of the CAR issued Ministerial Order No 245/16/MMEH/DIRCAB/DGMD, giving an Exemption Certificate of one (1) year to start the development and pre-production work at the Passendro Gold Project to SOMIO Toungou SA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The period of the Exemption is valid within a duration of one (1) year starting from November 28, 2016.

Also on November 28, 2016, the Minister of Mines, Energy and Hydraulics of the CAR issued the Ministerial Order No 246/16/MMEH/DIRCAB/DGMD, giving an Exemption Certificate of one (1) year for exploration and research of the primary layer of gold and others related to substances of Licenses of BAMBARI 1 and 2 to Aurafrique SARL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The period of the Exemption is valid within a duration of one year from November 28, 2016 to November 27, 2017.

Under these two exemption certificates, the Company is bound to resume the development work and setting production of the gold mine within a reasonable delay. The Company is also bound to provide technical, material and financial support to the Department in charge of Mines if the need arises.

President and CEO of AXMIN, Ms. Lucy Yan, comments, "These Exemption Certificates represent a positive step forward and we are very appreciative of the Government's support to AXMIN. With the support of local Government, the Company is fully committed to the development of the Passendro Gold Project and it is our hope that it will contribute greatly to the local economy."

About AXMIN

AXMIN is a Canadian exploration and development company with a strong focus on central and West Africa. AXMIN intends to build on its projects in Senegal, as it continues to monitor the political situation at its Feasibility Stage Passendro Gold Project in the Central African Republic. For more information regarding AXMIN visit our website at www.axmininc.com.

For additional information, please contact AXMIN Inc.:

Lucy Yan

General Enquiries

Investor Relations Chairman and CEO Jin Kuang ir@axmininc.com ceo@axmininc.com Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary www.axmininc.com AXMIN Inc. j.kuang@axmininc.com 604-339-7688

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All information, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, information regarding future plans and objectives of AXMIN, information regarding AXMIN's pursuit of and ability to obtain alternative sources of financing on terms favourable to AXMIN (if at all), information regarding AXMIN's financial condition and information regarding the results of negotiations with CAR government representatives and the ability of AXMIN to regain access to and resume operations at the Passendro Gold Project, are forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from AXMIN's expectations have been disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in AXMIN's documents filed from time-to-time with the TSX Venture Exchange and other regulatory authorities. AXMIN disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether resulting from new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

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.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 12/19/16 -- Dividend Select 15 Corp. (The "Company") declares its monthly distribution of $0.07142 per Equity share. The distribution is payable January 10, 2017 to shareholders on record as of December 30, 2016.

Under the distribution policy announced in September 2014, the monthly dividend payable on the Equity shares is determined by applying a 10.00% annualized rate on the volume weighted average market price (VWAP) of the Equity shares over the last 3 trading days of the preceding month. As a result, Equity shareholders of record on December 30, 2016 will receive a dividend of $0.07142 per share based on the VWAP of $8.57 payable on January 10, 2017. The yield will remain stable at 10.00% (based on the VWAP) under this distribution policy.

Since inception, Equity shareholders have received a total of $4.73 per share inclusive of this distribution.

The Company invests in a portfolio of 15 Canadian companies selected from the following 20 company universe which are among the highest Canadian dividend yielding stocks.

Bank of Montreal Great West Lifeco inc. TELUS Corporation BCE Inc. Husky Energy Inc. The Bank of Nova Scotia CIBC National Bank of Canada The Toronto-Dominion Bank Power Corporation of Thomson Reuters CI Financial Corp. Canada Corporation Enbridge Inc. Royal Bank of Canada TMX Group Inc. EnCana Coproration Loblaw Companies Limited TransAlta Corporation Sun Life Financial Inc. TransCanada Corporation Distribution Details Equity Share (DS) $0.07142 Ex-Dividend Date: December 28, 2016 Record Date: December 30, 2016 Payable Date: January 10, 2017

Contacts:

Investor Relations:

1-877-478-2372

Local: 416-304-4443

dividendselect15.com

info@quadravest.com




BRIDGEWATER, NOVA SCOTIA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/19/16 -- Silver Spruce Resources Inc. ("Silver Spruce" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: SSE)(FRANKFURT: S6Q) is pleased to provide the latest results from its ongoing reconnaissance and sampling program at its recently acquired Encino De Oro project near Chinipas, Chihuahua, in Mexico. The field crew was led by Leonard J. Karr, CPG, and a third party Qualified Person for Silver Spruce.

To date, a total of 42 chip channel and grab samples have been taken from outcrop, subcrop and float over an area of 3 square kilometres at the Encino De Oro project. Assays of these samples range from a less than detectable to as much as 8 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold (Au), and 77 g/t silver (Ag), with anomalous values of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb).

Encino De Oro Property Description

The Encino De Oro project contains vein, stockwork and disseminated hosted epithermal gold-silver targets within the upper and lower volcanic sequences.

An initial property examination in October 2016 confirmed that an outcrop of strongly silicified rhyolite tuff contains gold grades of 8 g/t and greater than 5 g/t in two samples covering over 3 m in width. The Company's field reconnaissance team led by Leonard Karr examined this outcrop in November 2016.

This reconnaissance showed mineralization and argillic alteration to be widespread, covering about 3 km2, and being open on all sides. About 90% of the exposed section consists of rhyolitic tuffs that are weakly to moderately argilllized and locally contain quartz stockwork. Rarely weakly to moderately silicified zones were encountered.

Additionally, local anomalies in Ag, As, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Sb, together are suggestive of a large system that warrants additional work.

Qualified Person

Mr. Leonard J. Karr, professional geologist and a Qualified Person, under TSX guidelines, is the author of the Company's NI 43-101 report on the Pino de Plata project, dated 7 July 2015, and is responsible for the technical content of this press release.

About Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a well-positioned Canadian junior exploration company pursuing development of the Pino De Plata and the Encino De Oro epithermal silver/ base metal/ gold projects located in the prolific Sierra Madre Occidental region of western Chihuahua State in Mexico. Silver Spruce also retains a portfolio of uranium and rare earth element properties in Labrador.

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. The company seeks Safe Harbour.

Contacts:

Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Gordon Barnhill

CFO/Director

902-527-5700 / 902-527 5711

gbarnhill@silverspruceresources.com

www.silverspruceresources.com




VAL D'OR, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 12/19/16 -- Cartier Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: ECR) ("Cartier") is pleased to announce that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited ("Agnico") has agreed to acquire (the "Transaction") by way of private placement 22,500,000 common shares ("Common Shares") of Cartier at a price of $0.20 per Common Share for proceeds of $4,500,000. On closing of the Transaction, Agnico will own approximately 19.97% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis (after giving effect to the Transaction, but otherwise assuming that the number of issued and outstanding Common Shares as at the date hereof remains unchanged).

The proceeds from the Offering shall be primarily used for exploration at the Cartier's five main projects located in Quebec: Chimo, Benoist, Wilson, Fenton and Cadillac Extension, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Cartier's CEO, Philippe Cloutier has commented on the Transaction with Agnico stating, "we are very proud to initiate this business relationship with Agnico. We will continue to add value to our projects in the diligent and thoughtful manner we have done to date, but also seek to grow our resource potential by way of an aggressive 40,000 meter - drill campaign in 2017 and into 2018. This strategic investment by Agnico will allow the Company to pursue its goals of outlining an economic gold deposit close to infrastructure in the most expedient manner possible."

On closing of the Transaction, Agnico and Cartier will enter into an investor rights agreement (the "Investor Rights Agreement") pursuant to which Agnico will: (i) have the right to participate in certain equity financings by Cartier in order to maintain its interest of up to 19.97% in Cartier; and (ii) have the right to nominate one person to the board of directors of Cartier (which it has no intention to exercise at this time), or to nominate two persons, if the number of directors reaches 10 or more. As well, under the Investor Rights Agreement, Agnico will be subject to a two-year standstill which will prohibit Agnico from taking certain actions, including acquiring more than 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, subject to certain exceptions.

All of the securities issued under this Transaction will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the closing date of the offering in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about December 22, 2016, and is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and certain other conditions.

This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulatory services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Contacts:

Philippe Cloutier, P.Geo.

President and CEO

819 856-0512

philippe.cloutier@ressourcescartier.com

www.ressourcescartier.com




Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 19, 2016) - Gunpowder Capital Corp., (CSE: GPC) (CSE: GPC.PR.A) (FSE: YS6N), ("Gunpowder" of the "Corporation") announced today that it has closed the second tranche of its previously announced (Nov 16th, 2016) non-brokered private placement raise. In total, One Hundred and Forty Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ("$140,500.00") CDN was raised via the sale of Fourteen Thousand and Fifty ("14,050") a "Class - A" Preferred Shares. No commission or finder's fee is payable with respect to the closing of this tranche of the placement.

In total, combined with the closing of both the first and second tranches of this offering, the Corporation has now raised Two Hundred and One Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ("$201,500.00") CDN via the issuance of Twenty Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty ("20,150") "Class - A" Preferred Shares.

The "Class - A" preferred shares will pay up to an 8% annual dividend to the holders of the preferred shares. Furthermore, holders of the Preferred Shares will also see a 25% of after tax realized gains on any capital dispositions. No special voting rights will be granted to the holders of the Preferred Shares. In connection with the preferred share offering, a finder's fee may be paid consisting of a cash commission equal up to 8% of the gross proceeds raised under the offering. The placement is expected to close on, or before, February 16th, 2017.

For further information please contact:

Mr. Frank Kordy

Interim CEO & Director

Gunpowder Capital Corp.

T: (647) 466-4037

E: frank.kordy@gunpowdercapitalcorp.com Mr. Paul Haber

CFO

Gunpowder Capital Corp.

T: (416) 363-3833

E: paul.haber@gunpowdercapitalcorp.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although Management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 12/19/16 -- Cartier Iron Corporation (CSE: CFE) ("Cartier Iron"), is pleased to announce that it is proceeding with a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of 1,728,571 common shares ("Shares") of Cartier Iron at a price of $0.07 per Share for gross proceeds of $121,000.

The net proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to finance ongoing exploration at Cartier Iron's optioned Gagnon Holdings and for general working capital purposes. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to the applicable statutory four month hold period

About Cartier Iron Corporation

Cartier Iron is an exploration and development Company focused on discovering and developing significant iron ore resources in north-eastern Quebec. The Company's focus is on its Gagnon Holdings in the southern Labrador Trough region, which hosts its flagship Lac Penguin Project.

For additional information on Cartier Iron, please visit our website at www.cartieriron.com.

The CSE has not reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" and readers are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual developments or results, may vary materially from those in these "forward-looking statements".

Contacts:

Cartier Iron Corporation

Thomas G. Larsen

Chief Executive Officer

(416) 360-8006



Cartier Iron Corporation

Jorge Estepa

Vice-President

(416) 360-8006




CercaOfficina.it, a Milan, Italy-based platform that allows users to receive estimate of costs from geo-located mechanics, raised 1m in funding.

Backers included seven unnamed investors.

The company, which has raised 1.5m in total funding to date, intends to use the capital to consolidate its market position domestically.

Co-founded by Marco Brusamolino, Luca Maccarini and Romano Perticone, CercaOfficina.it enables car owners to ask cost estimates for services from mechanics including inspection, car body reparation, tire substitution, and methane system installation services.

Every estimate request is verified and and sent to vetted mechanics in any given area indicated by the user himself/herself. The mechanics, then, will provide clients details on services and costs.

Following this, the user can compare the the quotes, accept a given proposal and book the service.

To date, the company has delivered 15k quotes and generated over 600k for mechanics. It currently has a team of 20 in its sales, customer care, development and marketing teams.

FinSMEs

19/12/2016
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on Monday announced that he will release his own app later this month on the occasion of his 51st birthday, on 27 December 2016.

Salman tweeted the news and shared an image in which he has revealed his plans for the app.

"On December 27, it is my app's birthday. Only for you," he captioned the image.

While Salman didn't share more information regarding the app, it is sure to be a birthday treat for his fans.

On the film front, the Dabangg star will next be seen in Kabir Khan's Tubelight.

The Times of India reported that through this app, the actor will be interacting with his fans and sharing details about his films. The report further stated that the actor's 51st birthday will be celebrated with a huge bash, which Shah Rukh Khan is also expected to attend.

 With IANS inputs
NEW DELHI India is likely to produce surplus sugar in 2017/18 as farmers have increased cane-growing area, a leading industry body said on Monday.The world's biggest consumer of sugar is unlikely to import the sweetener in the 2016/17 marketing year that started on Oct. 1, as the country have ample carry forward stocks from the last year, Abinash Verma, director general of the Indian Sugar Mills Association told reporters on the sidelines of a conference.

The country is likely to produce 23.4 million tonnes of sugar in 2016/17, down around 7 percent from a year ago as back-to-back droughts ravaged the crop in top-producing western state of Maharashtra.

(Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Malini Menon)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Nate Raymond and Lawrence Delevingne

| NEW YORK

NEW YORK Top executives of New York-based hedge fund manager Platinum Partners were arrested on Monday and charged with running an approximately $1 billion fraud that federal prosecutors said became "like a Ponzi scheme" as its largest investments lost much of their value.Platinum, led by Mark Nordlicht, for years was known for producing exceptionally high and consistent returns by taking an usually aggressive approach to investing and fund management, as outlined by a Reuters Special Report in April."As alleged, Nordlicht and his cohorts engaged in one of the largest and most brazen investment frauds perpetrated on the investing public," Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney Robert Capers said in a statement. The charges detailed schemes that included exaggerating the value of their investments, paying some clients ahead of others and rigging a bond vote in their favor.Nordlicht, Platinum's 48-year-old founding partner and chief investment officer, was arrested at his New Rochelle, New York, home on charges listed in an indictment filed in federal court in Brooklyn.Others arrested included David Levy, 31, Platinum's co-chief investment officer, and Uri Landesman, 55, the former president of the firm's signature fund, said Federal Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Adrienne Senatore. Platinum is already liquidating its hedge funds, two of which have received bankruptcy protection. The firm and some of its executives also face lawsuits accusing them of stealing money or intellectual property from companies they invested in.The nearly 50-page indictment on Monday said that since 2012, Nordlicht, Levy and Landesman schemed to defraud investors by overvaluing illiquid assets held by its flagship Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage Fund LP, mostly energy-related investments hit by the dramatic decline in oil prices.

This caused a "severe liquidity crisis" that Platinum at first tried to remedy through high-interest loans between its funds before selectively paying some investors ahead of others, the indictment said.Nordlicht, Levy and Jeffrey Shulse, former chief executive officer of Platinum's majority-owned Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC, also defrauded the Texas energy company's bondholders, the indictment said. Black Elk is now defunct. A remaining litigation trust is attempting to claw back money from Platinum and its executives over a scheme, described in the U.S. Department of Justice charges on Monday and by Reuters in April, that used the Beechwood group of reinsurance companies to rig a bond vote and pay the hedge fund manager ahead of creditors.A Platinum spokesman declined to comment. Nordlicht's lawyer and a Beechwood spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Michael Sommer, Levy's lawyer, said he looked forward to clearing his client's "good name."Lawyers for Shulse and the other defendants could not be immediately identified. Founded in 2003, Platinum until this year had more than $1.7 billion under management, the indictment said. The Value Arbitrage fund reported average returns of more than 17 percent from its inception, according to prosecutors.But this year, a series of investigations tied to Platinum came to a head. This led the firm to hire an independent monitor in July to unwind its funds, and a Cayman Islands court in August placed its main offshore funds into liquidation.

Those moves came after the June arrest of Murray Huberfeld, a Platinum associate who prosecutors say was a founder, on charges in Manhattan federal court that he orchestrated a bribe to the head of the New York City prison guards' union, Norman Seabrook, to secure a $20 million investment with the firm. Both have pleaded not guilty.Two weeks later, the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service raided Platinum's Manhattan offices in a separate fraud investigation that culminated in Monday's indictment.Others indicted on Monday include Joseph Sanfilippo, Value Arbitrage's former chief financial officer; Joseph Mann, a former Platinum marketing employee; and Daniel Small, a Platinum managing director.The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Monday that it was seeking a court-appointed receiver for funds managed by Platinum Credit Management, the firm's second-largest vehicle after Value Arbitrage.The case is U.S. v. Nordlicht et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 16-cr-640. (Reporting by Nate Raymond and Lawrence Delevingne in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
New Delhi: The final arguments in a coal scam case against former coal secretary HC Gupta and five others, relating to alleged irregularities in allocation of a coal block in Madhya Pradesh to an accused firm, was concluded on Monday before a special court.

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar concluded hearing the arguments in a case filed against Gupta, two senior government officials, KS Kropha and KC Samria, firm Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL), its managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia and chartered accountant Amit Goyal.

The court has now put up the matter for further hearing on 22 December in the case.

Kropha was the then Joint Secretary in Ministry of Coal, while Samria was the then Director (Coal Allocation-I) section in ministry. This is first coal scam case involving any public servant in which the final arguments have been completed.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to KSSPL.

During the hearing, the CBI alleged that the application filed by KSSPL for the coal block was incomplete and was supposed to be rejected by the Ministry of Coal as it was not in accordance with the guidelines issued.

CBI charged that the firm had misrepresented about its net worth and existing capacity, adding that the state government had also not recommended the firm for the allocation of any coal block.

The accused, however, denied the allegations during the arguments.

The court had in October last year framed charges against the accused observing that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was kept in the "dark" by Gupta, who had prima facie violated the law and the trust imposed on him on the issue of coal block allocation.

The court on October 13, 2014, had summoned them as accused after refusing to accept CBI's closure report. The accused were earlier granted bail by the court.

CBI had lodged an FIR against KSSPL, its officials and other unknown persons for alleged misrepresentation of facts, including inflated net worth, to acquire the coal block.

The former coal secretary had on 16 August told the court that he intended to "face trial from inside the jail" and withdraw his personal bond to secure bail due to financial difficulties. However, he later withdrew his plea.

Over seven charge sheets have already been filed against Gupta in separate coal cases and proceedings are going on individually. The Supreme Court had recently dismissed his plea seeking joint trial in all these cases.

Besides KSSPL, some other cases in which Gupta was summoned as accused by the court include those relating to alleged irregularities in allocation of Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in West Bengal's Raniganj area to Vikash Metal and Power Ltd.

He is also accused in a case of alleged irregularities in the allotment of the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to two companies of Jindal Group and allocation of Brahmapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to Pushp Steels and Mining Pvt Ltd.
New Delhi: Police on Monday reached the sprawling Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in search of a student who went missing over two months ago.

Crime Branch personnel searched different parts of the campus with sniffer dogs in a desperate bid to find out what happened to Najeeb, whose disappearance had led to unending protests in the university.

A police officer said Najeeb's hostel, classrooms, rooftops and other deserted places were scanned.

"A search operation is on in various parts of the JNU campus to get clues which can help police locate Najeeb," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav said.

The search began as police have been unable to get any trace of the missing Najeeb, who went missing on 15 October following a scuffle the previous night with members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad (ABVP). The ABVP has denied any involvement in Najeeb's disappearance.

Police have raised the reward amount for providing information that could help locate Najeeb from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

The Delhi High Court has directed the police to scan the entire JNU campus.

The court said the police were also free to search Jamia Millia Islamia where Najeeb was reportedly dropped by an auto-rickshaw driver after he left from JNU campus.
Justice JS Khehar is set be the next Chief Justice of India after President Pranab Mukherjee formally gave his nod to his appointment. He will succeed CJI TS Thakur as the 44th Chief Justice of India after the latter demits office on 3 January.

The Chief Justice of India, the highest authority in the judiciary, is traditionally appointed on seniority basis, on the recommendation of the incumbent Chief Justice. As Justice Khehar was the senior-most judge after the Chief Justice TS Thakur, his name was recommended to the government on the principle of seniority. As Chief Justice, Khehar will have a tenure of over seven months as he would be retiring on 28 August, 2017.

Justice Khehar will be the first Sikh to occupy the highest office. However, as a report in Live Mint states, his appointment assumes importance as doubts were raised that Justice Khehar might be superseded by the government. A group of prominent lawyers had, earlier this month, urged the government to overlook Justice Khehar's seniority, citing his verdict on the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) case.

Justice JS Khehar was heading the five-judge constitution bench that junked the National Judicial Appointments Commission for the appointment of judges as unconstitutional holding that it intruded upon the independence of judiciary.

Incidentally, Justice Khehar also presided over the five judges' constitution bench that had quashed the then Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa's decision to advance the assembly session from January 2016 to December 2015, as it directed restoration of ousted Chief Minister Nabam Tuki's government. But subsequent political developments in Arunachal Pradesh took a different course.

Having done LLB and LLM from Punjab University, Chandigarh, Justice Khehar was awarded gold medal for securing first position in the university LLM examination.

Before being elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh on February 8, 1999, Justice Khehgar had practised before it as well as the Himachal Pradesh High Court and the Supreme Court. He was twice appointed as the acting Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court from 2 August, 2008, and again from 17 November, 2009.

He was elevated as Chief Justice of Uttrakhand High Court on 29 November, 2009. Later, he was transferred as Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court.

Justice Khehar was elevated as judge of the Supreme Court on 13 September, 2011.
Kamal C Chavara, a writer and theatre activist from Kerala, has been charged with sedition under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code and was arrested by the Kerala police on Sunday for allegedly insulting the National Anthem in his Facebook post, reported The Indian Express.

The report added that a member of the BJP's Yuva Morcha had filed the police complaint.

The Indian Express report stated that the writer had posted an except from his recent Malayalam novel where he described a situation where school students sing the National Anthem to go to the washroom.

Sateesh Bino, district police chief of Kollam, told NDTV that the writer has been under scanner in the past as well. "But, for now he is being questioned for his controversial post on the national anthem on Facebook," he said.

Chavara's arrest elicited widespread outrage on social media.

Earlier, six people, including a woman, were taken into custody by police on Monday for not standing up when the National Anthem was played ahead of the screening of a film at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram.

At the Nishagandhi Auditorium, the group of six had refused to stand up, despite being told a few times by a policeman and the organisers, and were taken into custody.

The action came hours after activists of the BJP's youth wing complained to state police chief Loknath Behra pointing out that some people at the screenings were not standing up when the National Anthem was being played.

The Supreme Court recently had directed cinema halls to play the National Anthem before the start of movies, saying it will instil "constitutional patriotism as well as committed patriotism and nationalism".

The playing of the anthem will be accompanied by an image of the National Flag on the screen, the court said while barring its commercial exploitation, dramatisation or playing of an abridged version.

With inputs from IANS
The government on Saturday chose Lt General Bipin Rawat as the next Chief of Army Staff (COAS). He will succeed General Dalbir Singh Suhag, who retires on 31 December. However, controversy broke out immediately as Rawat was not the senior-most officer in the Indian Army. Traditionally, the rule in the security forces is to nominate the senior-most officer as the new head. According to the established tradition, Eastern Command chief Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi was all set to be the next chief, on account of his seniority.

This is the second instance in Indian Army's history that this principle of seniority has been overlooked. In 1983, the then senior-most officer Lt Gen SK Sinha was superseded by Arun Shridhar Vaidya, who was the army chief when Operation Bluestar was launched.

Here is all you need to know about the process of selecting a new army chief.

Who has the power to appoint the new army chief?

The government of India has the power to choose the army chief. The government chooses a successor based on the security situation as well as the requirements that arise from time to time, noted The Times of India. It is worth noting that seniority has generally been the guiding principle while choosing the head of the third-largest army in the world.

Who exactly is responsible in the government for appointing the army chief?

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) is responsible for taking the final decision on the appointment. The ACC comprises of the prime minister, minister of home affairs and the concerned ministry, in this case the defence ministry.

How does the selection process go about?

The process of selection commences four-to-five months in advance, with the ministry of defence seeking personal data and professional profile of all eligible lieutenant generals from among the vice chief of army ataff and general officers commanding in chief of the various Commands, the IANS reported.

The service headquarter, then forwards data of the eligible candidates, including their professional exposure, achievements and operational experience. These are processed by the ministry and forwarded through the defence minister for consideration and selection to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, the IANS quoted an unnamed defence ministry source as saying.

Generally, the government appoints the prospective COAS as the vice chief of staff to familiarise him with the working at the South Block, the report added.

When is the announcement generally made?

The announcement of the next army chief is made two or three months in advance.

What is the tenure of the army chief?

The chief of army staff has a three-year term. Alternatively, the chief of army staff is in office till he is 62, whichever is applicable at the earliest.

Why has the move to appoint Rawat been criticised?

In an article in The Citizen, ex-army officer Lt General Vijay Oberoi said that such a move may play a negative role in the long run. "Chances of selection based on political, sycophantic and non-professional reasons may become predominant in due course, with professional and character qualities being sacrificed on account of extraneous issues."

What about Lt General Praveen Bakshi now?

Media reports suggest that the current Eastern Command chief might be the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), a position first mooted after the Kargil War. The CDS will be the single point of contact for the defence minister as well as the prime minister.

With inputs from agencies
It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first public rally after the conclusion of a washed out Winter Session of Parliament. The setting in Kanpur was perfect: A huge responsive crowd waiting to hear Modi after he had inaugurated a few projects of public interest.

Modi took the stage with the intention of starting a new public discourse on India after demonetisation - a new kind of society of us versus them and a country divided between the Opposition and the citizens who have patiently faced hardships for a better future.

He didn't lose a minute in declaring that in the last few days, wherever he went in Uttar Pradesh, he didn't see a wave of change, but witnessed the onset of "parivartan ki andhi" (a storm of change). According to him, every citizen in Uttar Pradesh, where polling dates are likely to be announced in a week's time, was yearning for a change from the Samajwadi Party-led goondaraj.

Modi found this public rally to be an appropriate occasion to speak his mind on demonetisation, take on his rivals, particularly the Congress. He raised points, which he ideally should have raised in Parliament, but could not as the Winter Session was a complete washout. "Mai hairan hun ek taraf hum corruption free karne ke liye ladai lad raha hain, hamara agenda bhrastachar aur kala dhan bandh karne ka hai, unka (Opposition) agenda hai sansad band ho (I'm upset that on one side, we are trying to stop corruption and black money, but the Opposition only wants to stop Parliament."

He further said that the whole month was wasted in Parliament. They did not even listen to President Pranab Mukherjee's pleas. Hitting out at Congress, he said those who ruled the country so far were scared that people will seek account of their deeds while they were in government. He hinted at the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, though did not make any direct reference.

Based on diary notes, maintained by principal middleman for the VVIP chopper deal Christian Michel, India Today had revealed that "the family wanted their agreement honoured" and at another place said the "family" was to be paid 28 million Euros.

Modi said post demonetisation, "the country has got divided into two parts  a handful of political leaders who wants to protect corruption and black money and the people of the country who have patiently faced hardships to eradicate corruption and black money."

The prime minister is aware that if he has to fight and win this war, he has to keep public opinion on his side, particularly that of the urban middle class and rural poor, which form his core constituency. He reiterated that problems of the poor and middle class wouldn't end until corruption and black money was rooted out. He even thanked everyone for bearing the current hardship.

Aware of the growing public opinion against funding of political parties, Modi welcomed the Election Commission's latest move to urge the government and political parties to not accept cash, unaccounted public donations beyond Rs 2,000, a drastic cut from the earlier provision of Rs 20,000 from individual donors. He said that he has talked about it in all party meetings and wanted Parliament to discuss it.

Taking a dig at Congress' erstwhile treasurer (later president) Sitaram Kesri, Modi said, "Congress party had made a law on exemptions on political party funding, but yesterday I saw Congress leaders jumping to defame us on the issue. When Sitaram Kesri was the treasurer of Congress, it used to be said na khata na bahi, jo Kesri kahe woh hi sahi. No accountability, that's their style of book keeping."

Lashing out at Rahul Gandhi's claim that Rajiv Gandhi had empowered people with computer and mobile phones, he said, "Now, they claim that the poor don't have mobile phones. Itna jhut bolte ho..aap inko pahchano ye log kaise jhut bolte hain. Kaise gumrah karte hain. (You should identify how they lie and deceive people)."

Modi also had to explain how some people managed to get hoards of new currency notes, while ordinary people stood at ATMs for hours for a meagre Rs 2,000. "With the use of technology, we have caught people with new notes. Have you ever seen anything like this in the past. Those who can buy bank officers can do anything...this is a fight for the honest and poor of the country," he said.

About an hour later, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi landed in Jaunpur to address a public rally. He didn't talk about his potential to shake the earth by his speech and having proof of Modi's "personal corruption", instead he alleged that Modi made the demonetisation move for the benefit of 50 rich friends (bussissmen and industrialists) and that was his singular motive to put 99 percent of 125 crore Indians on path of suffering and hardships.

He said that demonetisation was a diversionary tactic as people were asking questions to Modi about black money.

The Gandhi-Nehru family scion also said that the corrupt does not spend money, but invests in bullion and real estate so that it would multiply. Though he did not speak about the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, he gave the impression that he has set the agenda to emerge as Modi's challenger in 2019.
Comparing the decision to demonetise high-denomination notes to bombings conducted by the allied troops against Germany and Japan during the Second World War, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called the demonetisation drive, a sham.

The Congress vice-president was in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur to address a rally. Coming down hard on the Narendra Modi government, Rahul resorted to the usual rhetoric and attacked the BJP for sucking the blood of 99 percent of the population. "Narendra Modi ne 99 percent gareeb imaandar logon se bina pooche unka khoon nikal diya (Narendra Modi sucked the blood out of 99 percent poor people and he did not even ask them)," Rahul told the gathering.

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Rahul compared the 8 November decision to scrap Rs 500 and 1,000 notes to the firebombing conducted by allied troops against Germany and Japan, and alleged that the prime minister had "firebombed" the lives of the common man.

The Amethi MP said that the government has ignored the three main concerns of the poor: bijli ka bill maaf, anaaj ke liye daam aur kisan loan maaf (waiving off electricity bill, good price for the harvest and waiving off farmer loans). He criticised the prime minister for not listening to the plight of the farmers distressed by demonetisation, " I told him that he should waive off the loans of poor farmers but did not get any answer," referring to his recent meeting with Modi.

Modi ji Hindustan ke pradhanmantri hain, unke saath rajnetik ladai hai, lekin murdabad bolna Cong party ka kaam nahin hai: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/FrAraoKyFP  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2016

'Murdabad'kattarpanthi bolte hain, RSS ke log bolte hain: Congress VP Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/nvdx1z4D6N  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2016

The decision made on Nov 8 was not against black money or corruption, but against farmers, the poor: Rahul Gandhi in Jaunpur pic.twitter.com/eswCNkrA0c  ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2016

Ameer logon ka karza maaf karte ho, aap Hindustan ke kisaan ka karza maaf karo: Rahul Gandhi in Jaunpur (Uttar Pradesh) pic.twitter.com/ei09rMqnm6  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2016

Ameer logon ka karza maaf karte ho, aap Hindustan ke kisaan ka karza maaf karo: Rahul Gandhi in Jaunpur (Uttar Pradesh) pic.twitter.com/ei09rMqnm6  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2016

Maine Modi ji ko kaha kisaan ka karza maaf karo, unhone sawaal ka jawaab nahin diya, ek shabd nahi kaha: Rahul Gandhi in Jaunpur  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2016

50 parivaaron ke paas Hindustan ke dhan ka sabse bada bhaag hai, ye Narendra Modi ji ke den hai: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/xfyvmxYlkT  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2016

In parivaaron ke log Narendra Modi ji ke saath America, China jaate hain, unke jahaaaz mein baithte hain: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/XdnLxdda9i  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2016

8 November ke baad Rs 1200 crore ki toffee Modi ji ne Mallya ko di: Rahul Gandhi in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh pic.twitter.com/bXjdj1o911  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2016

#WATCH Modi Murdabad slogans should not be used in Congress meetings, as Modi is the PM.We will defeat him politically: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/0KSL2HrNAI  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 19, 2016

Rahul added that the top 50 families of India travels with the prime minister on his foreign tours, while, he mocks the downtrodden and the working class sections of the society. Suggesting that not all black money is in cash, and not all cash is not black money, he called the rich thieves, and said they were smart enough to invest their money in real estate, land, gold and foreign accounts. Rahul questioned the prime minister for targeting only six percent of the total black money which is in the form of cash, while the rest of it is locked in gold, real estate and foreign bank accounts. He alleged that the government took the decision for the benefit of the "50 families", who have taken loans worth Rs 1 lakh crore rupees from Public Sector Banks.

Rahul criticised the Modi government for changing its goal regarding demonetisation, from fighting corruption to cashless economy. However, the Congress vice-president did add that the Congress is not against a cash less economy and would support any initiative against corruption that would be taken by the Modi government.

At the rally in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi stopped people from hurling invective against Modi, saying he is the Prime Minister and "we must not say 'murdabad' (Down with) for anyone". As Rahul began his speech at the public rally, some people from among the crowd shouted slogans against Modi.

Rahul asked them not to do that. "We have differences of opinion with Modi and the BJP. Do not use the word 'murdabad'... Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister. Political fight is there. "That is for the RSS people to say, not for us."

With inputs from agencies
VIENNA Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) offered on Monday to act as a go-between for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin after signing a cooperation agreement with Putin's party.Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache and the FPO's recently defeated presidential candidate Norbert Hofer attended the signing ceremony in Moscow, as did officials of Putin's United Russia party including Pyotr Tolstoy, a deputy chairman of the lower house of parliament. The FPO has long taken a pro-Russia stance, calling for an end to European Union sanctions against Moscow imposed over the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. It has also denied allegations that it receives funding from Moscow.On a recent visit to the United States, FPO officials met people close to President-elect Donald Trump, including his pick for national security adviser Michael Flynn, the FPO said in a statement announcing the Russian deal.

"The FPO is further gaining influence internationally," its statement said, without specifying the agreement's content. A spokesman for the FPO - which this year achieved a record election score but failed to secure the Austrian presidency - said he did not know the deal's details.

"It is particularly important to Strache that the U.S. and Russia stand shoulder to shoulder," the statement added, saying that could improve the situations in Syria and Crimea and lead to a lifting of sanctions on Russia. "The FPO acts as a neutral and reliable intermediary and partner in promoting peace!" it said.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Additional reporting in Moscow by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Tom Heneghan)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Beijing: China on Monday rejected president-elect Donald Trump's charge that it "stole" an American drone, saying the device was picked up to prevent "harm" to freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea, from where Beijing claims the US is spying on Chinese coast.

"First of all we did not like the word stealing. This is also not accurate," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a media briefing, hitting back at Trump's charge.

"China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters -- rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act," Trump tweeted. His claim had come hours after the Chinese government had said it had been in touch with the US military about the incident. Hua said both militaries are handling the issue "smoothly".

She also denied US allegations that the Chinese naval ship picked it up and took it away despite messages from the US survey ship USNS Bowditch which controlled the drone.

"As to what really happened, you can see from defence ministry statement that the Chinese navy found this unidentified device and examined in a professional manner to verify it," Hua said.

"No matter how they see this unidentified device, most important thing is that Chinese navy took a professional and responsible decision to do this in order to prevent from causing harm to freedom of navigation," she said.

"I think this is easy to understand. Just imagine that you found something on the street and you to first check and verify it before handing it back to someone else. So I believe it is something easy to understand," Hua said.

Asked whether China did not know that it belonged to the US, she shot back saying, "What is your point, do you think this fell from the pocket of US?" However, she said the militaries of both US and Beijing are in close touch to handle this issue smoothly.

"All I can tell you is that the two sides are handling this issue properly through smooth military channels," Hua said, adding that she has nothing to offer on specifics like when the drone would be handed over to the US.

Hua said only the defence ministry will clarify that from where the drone was picked by the Chinese naval ship. The US military had said it was taken away from outside the nine dash line of the South China Sea.

The line in the Chinese maps indicates China's claims over the area, which is disputed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan. Also, Hua declined to comment on Trump's tweets on China, including the second one on the drone in which he said, "We should tell China that we don't want back the drone they stole  let them keep it!"

"Regarding president-elect tweets, I noticed there are lot of comments in the world. We will not make any extra comment on that," Hua said.

On the details of the glider, "If you read through the defence ministry statement, you can find the answers," she said. The Chinese navy found this device in the South China Sea, Hua said.

"In order to prevent it from causing harm to the freedom of navigation and safety of passing vessels, the Chinese navy verified and examined the device and found that it belonged to US and we have decided to hand it over through appropriate means. The two sides are in communication through military channels and we believe this will be properly handled," she said.

But at the same, Hua accused the US of indulging in close surveillance of the Chinese coast.

While the drone incident is being properly handled, "I want to emphasise that for long time US has been deploying vessels to conduct close reconnaissance and surveys in China's coastal waters. China urges US to stop such activities. We will continue to be vigilant against such activities," she said.

Hua, however, declined to specify whether the drone was conducting espionage as alleged by the state-run Chinese official media.

"We are opposed to US deploying vessels and aircraft to conduct surveillance and survey in China's coastal waters," she said, without elaborating.

Meanwhile, Chinese state-media attacked Trump for his tweets targeting China, saying that he lacked diplomatic experience and was unfit to lead a superpower.

"What is truly amazing about this (Trump) tweet, was the soon-to-be US president completely misrepresented what had actually happened -- that is more dangerous than funny," an editorial in the state-owned China Daily newspaper said.

Trump's behaviour "could easily drive China-US relations into what Obama portrays as 'full-conflict mode'," said the editorial which was published alongside a cartoon showing Trump riding a bull into a China shop much to the shock of US businessmen.

"Trump is not behaving as a president who will become master of the White House in a month. He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower," said another official daily Global Times, which is known for its nationalistic approach.

"He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower. Even the US military did not use the term 'steal' to describe the move by the Chinese navy. Trump's second tweet makes people worry that he will treat China-US relations as child's play," it said.

"Now people don't know if Trump is engaged in a psychological war with China or he is just unprofessional, even though he will be sworn in soon. Regarding the Sino-US relationship, he challenged the one-China policy and despised the principles which both countries have adopted to manage crises," the daily said.

"Since he has not taken office, China has kept a calm attitude toward his provocative remarks. But if he treats China after assuming office in the same way as in his tweets, China will not exercise restraint," it said.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

| GAZA

GAZA Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has tightened his grip on power by stripping the parliamentary immunity of five lawmakers seen as opposing him, weeks after being reappointed chairman of the main political party.The move follows a decision by a Palestinian court last week to sentence Mohammed Dahlan, a former Fatah party member and vocal Abbas critic, to three years in prison over the disappearance of $16 million when he was in office several years ago.While Abbas has no immediate challengers, he appears to be at pains to shore up his authority amid criticism over his rule from neighbouring Arab states, from the Hamas Islamist movement and from Israel.Some Palestinians say Abbas has achieved little during his 11-year presidency, with no progress on peace with the Israelis. While Palestine has earned representation at the United Nations, efforts to stall Israel's settlement building on occupied land have failed, and the economy struggles.Dahlan, who frequently assails Abbas's leadership from his self-imposed exile in Abu Dhabi, was tried, convicted and sentenced in absentia. He has dismissed the sentence as politically motivated and "ordered by Abbas".All five of those who had their immunity from prosecution revoked are regarded as allies or associates of Dahlan.Hassan Al-Awri, Abbas's legal adviser, said the attorney general had asked Abbas to strip them of their immunity so they could be "investigated over a number of issues".

He did not provide details, but Palestinian media cited a number of broadbrush accusations.Three of the five sought refuge in the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ramallah on Sunday, before police escorted them out of the building. They were not detained since they are not wanted for anything, a spokesman for the Palestinian security services said.Shami Al-Shami, one of the five, said the removal of his immunity was an infringement of his rights. His association with Dahlan, he said, was not a crime. "(This) was an absolute violation of Palestinian law and the constitution," he told Reuters by phone. "If I have a personal relationship with Dahlan, this is none of anyone's business. I should only be judged by the law."

RARE MEETING

Dahlan, a former Fatah security chief, was removed from the party's central committee at a party congress this month, the first Fatah gathering in seven years - a reflection of the difficulty of convening delegates from around the world and the lack of issues to discuss. The four-day meeting reaffirmed Abbas, 81, as party chairman. In the run-up to the congress, Dahlan spoke critically of Abbas's leadership and urged his supporters to oppose him. It was seen as an attempt to undermine Abbas's rule rather than unseat him, and position Dahlan or his allies to take over if Abbas dies or loses when the next elections are held.

But Abbas restricted the number of delegates invited to the gathering, making it harder for Dahlan loyalists to mount a challenge. The newly elected, 21-member Fatah central committee is largely made up of Abbas supporters.Abbas's increasingly strict rule -- he has removed several opponents from their posts, issued decrees and rarely speaks to the media -- has drawn criticism from within his party and from members of parliament. The latter has not met since Fatah and Hamas fought a brief civil war in Gaza in 2007, which led to Hamas seizing full control of the territory.Several Fatah legislators issued a joint statement late on Sunday demanding the decision to strip parliamentary immunity be reversed, arguing there was no clause in the Palestinian basic law giving Abbas the right to revoke it."Removing immunity is conditional on the agreement of two-thirds of parliament members," they said.Abbas was elected president of the Palestinan Authority for a four-year term in 2005. Elections in 2009 were cancelled and there is no indication of whether or when new presidential and parliamentary polls will be held. (Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta; Writing by Nidal Almughrabi; Editing by Luke Baker and Mark Trevelyan)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By John Chalmers

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's office, responding to a Reuters report, came to China's defence on Monday, saying it was unfair to hold Beijing responsible for the drug problem in the Philippines."Many of those running the drug trade are Chinese triads, which are criminal syndicates. These are not government officials," the statement said, in response to a Reuters article published on Dec. 16 that focused on China's role as the main source of the drug methamphetamine and the precursor chemicals used to produce "meth" that are smuggled into the Philippines."China has strict anti-drug laws, which carries even the penalty of execution when caught," the statement from the Presidential Communications Office said.Even as he wages a brutal drug crackdown at home, Duterte is warming to China, the main source of the methamphetamine consumed in his country. At the same time, he is distancing himself from the United States, the main source of foreign aid to the Philippines in fighting drugs.In October, during a trip to Beijing, Duterte announced his "separation" from the United States and his country's realignment with China.Philippine drug control officials say that Chinese nationals play a pivotal role in the drug trade in their country.

According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, almost two-thirds of the 77 foreign nationals arrested for meth-related drug offences between January 2015 and mid-August 2016 were Chinese. And almost all the clandestine meth laboratories uncovered by police in the Philippines over the past 20 years have been run by, or at least involved, Chinese nationals, drug enforcement officials and prosecutors say.But the Duterte administration deflected blame from China, saying in the statement that it was a mistake to connect the drug traffickers with "their countries of origin"."It is not fair to blame all of China and her people for the drug problem perpetuated by some of its nationals," the statement said. "Not all Chinese are related to drugs."

Philippine drug enforcement officials say that China has done little over the years to staunch the flow of meth and its precursors. In the Dec. 16 report, the national police spokesman told Reuters he was not aware of "any high-profile drug cooperation between China and the Philippines" since the visit by Duterte to Beijing in October.The statement from the communications office noted that an agreement to collaborate on drug control was signed by Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October and some 50 Philippine police officers had attended a drug control and law enforcement training programme in Yunnan province in October.More than 2,000 people have been killed in police raids since Duterte took office on June 30, and a further 3,000 deaths are currently under investigation by the police.

The killings have drawn international criticism, with some countries, including the United States, expressing concern about reports of extrajudicial executions. The United States recently acted on those concerns, saying it was shifting $5 million in funding for Philippines law enforcement away from police drug-control programmes.Duterte seems unperturbed. "Efforts to eliminate drugs in the country will not stop even if the United States shifts its funding," the statement said. "Several countries have backed the President's war on drugs. These include China, Japan and Indonesia. They have offered us assistance, support and cooperation without any political strings attached."The statement also rejected criticism of Duterte's crackdown for focusing almost exclusively on drug users and small-time pushers, rather than the drug barons who supply them. It said that dozens of government officials linked to the drug trade had been arrested, and that local politicians and drug lords had surrendered to the authorities.The president, it said, "has a list of drug personalities with narcopoliticians and Chinese businessmen, and the authorities are doing their best to investigate and validate this list to catch the big fish." (Editing by Peter Hirschberg and Alex Richardson)

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By Tim Hepher

| PARIS

PARIS Iran expects to get its first new jet within weeks under a multi-billion-dollar deal with Airbus for 100 planes, a senior official said on Monday, as Tehran and Western firms race to reopen trade almost a year after sanctions were lifted.The first of the Airbus jets should be delivered in mid-January, part of plans to buy or lease 200 planes to renew IranAir's decaying fleet, against a backdrop of conservative criticism in Washington and Tehran of last year's international deal to allow such business after decades of sanctions.Sanctions were lifted in January but were followed by months of regulatory delays, and Iran has only just finalised a deal to buy 80 jets from Airbus' U.S. rival Boeing. "We have finalised negotiations with Airbus and any day we will be able to sign the deal in Tehran," Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan told Reuters in a telephone interview. "We are expecting some final clearances and expect to sign today or tomorrow." The timetable suggests the first Airbus A321 could arrive before the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has opposed the deal to lift most sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities, and well ahead of Iranian presidential elections in May next year.That could provide a boost to the government of President Hassan Rouhani and allow Airbus to find a home for some jets abandoned or deferred by other customers due to economic problems in South America and elsewhere, analysts say.Airbus, which has revised up its forecasts for Iranian domestic demand, said it was still negotiating the IranAir deal.However, a Reuters photographer spotted the first jet painted in IranAir colours at a plant in Germany, underscoring Airbus' commitment to start deliveries to IranAir, which sees itself as a potential rival to Gulf-based super-carriers.Initial plans to buy a dozen A380 superjumbos were dropped after criticism from Iranian hardliners opposed to the emphasis on long trips rather than domestic use. Kashan said the Airbus deal will be roughly split between narrow-body jets including the A320 and A321 and wide-bodies including the A330 and A350.

PACT 'VIOLATION' WARNING

Such deals are also under fire from U.S. Republicans.President Barack Obama's outgoing administration has granted licences to allow the sales, a step required by both Airbus and Boeing due to the use of U.S. parts, but analysts say completing them depends in part on Washington's new political climate. Asked whether either deal could be derailed if Trump imposes new restrictions on trade with Iran, Kashan said: "We are not concerned, although we should not ignore such a possibility.

"The fact is that Mr Trump may impose certain new sanctions, but we would consider that to be a violation of the JCPOA (nuclear accord), which explicitly provides for the possibility for the purchase of aircraft and their sale by manufacturers."Kashan also dismissed suggestions by some Republicans that Iran could misuse civil jetliners for military purposes such as ferrying arms and fighters to Syria or elsewhere."This has not been the case and will not be the case. These accusations are not based on reality and are propaganda against the Iranian society and people," he said.Still, doubts remain over financing due to uncertainty over Trump's policy towards Iran and the reluctance by either Western or Iranian governments to provide financial guarantees.Most Western commercial banks remain unwilling to get involved, fearing fines or commercial problems in the United States if relations between Washington and Tehran deteriorate.

Iran has reached agreements with at least two foreign leasing firms to finance a total of 77 jets, including 42 from Airbus and 35 from Boeing, Kashan said.Those companies will arrange 'finance leases', a form of funding which is closer to a purchase than a standard rental.Western export credit agencies will not be involved in either the Airbus or Boeing deal, Kashan added.Also complicating implementation are core U.S. sanctions preventing Iran's use of the U.S. financial system.Aircraft are usually paid for in dollars but France-based Airbus will receive euros.Kashan said all the transactions would use foreign currencies initially, but that Boeing would ultimately receive its income in U.S. dollars.People familiar with the deal say Boeing has U.S. approval allowing it to go ahead on this basis for 15 777-300ERs but that it will need renewed approvals for the remaining 65 aircraft. (Additional reporting by Fabian Bimmer; Editing by Alexander Smith and Adrian Croft)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
A French court on Monday found IMF head Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence over a massive state payout to a tycoon when she was French finance minister but spared her a fine or prison sentence.

The ruling was a rare setback in Lagarde's glittering career but it was not clear how it would affect her position at the International Monetary Fund, whose board was to meet in Washington to discuss the court's decision.

A special court in Paris found against Lagarde over her handling of a dispute between the state and flamboyant businessman Bernard Tapie, which ended in a 404-million-euro ($422 million) award for Tapie.

The court rapped Lagarde for failing to contest the massive payment, which was linked to Tapie's sale of the Adidas sportswear brand to Credit Lyonnaise bank.

Crucially, however, the Paris court exempted her from any penalty, citing her "international reputation" and the fact that at the time of the events in 2008 she had been busy fighting a global financial inferno.

The high-flying 60-year-old former corporate lawyer became the first female IMF chief in 2011, succeeding her disgraced compatriot Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

She was not in the Paris court for the ruling. Her lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve told reporters she was in Washington for "professional reasons".

He welcomed the absence of a sentence but said he "would have preferred that she be cleared outright".

The French government expressed continued support for Lagarde, saying it "retained its utmost confidence in her capacity to carry out her responsibilities".

Fraudulent payment

Lagarde was tried over her decision to allow the long-running dispute over Tapie's sale of Adidas to be resolved by a private arbitration panel instead of by the courts.

The court cleared her of negligence over that decision but upheld the charge over her failure to contest the staggering amount of the resulting award.

An investigation later showed the arbitration to be fraudulent.

Tapie, who was later ordered to pay back the money, is among six people charged with fraud in a separate criminal case, along with the boss of Orange telecoms company, Stephane Richard, a former aide to Lagarde.

Lagarde's case was heard by the Court of Justice of the Republic -- a tribunal of judges and members of parliament that hears cases against ministers accused of wrongdoing in office.

The punishment for negligence theoretically carried a one-year prison sentence and a 15,000-euro ($15,676) fine.

Lagarde told the court during her five-day trial last week she had acted in good faith.

"My sole aim was to defend the general interest," she said.

The court noted however that her inaction allowed Tapie and his wife to pocket 45 million euros in "moral damages" for alleged emotional harm -- a sum included in the arbitration award.

'Testing' times

Lagarde's voice cracked with emotion as she said on Friday that the case had put her family  she is the mother of two sons  through a "testing" time.

Prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin had described the evidence as "very weak" and said he was opposed to a guilty finding.

Coming in the middle of the global financial crisis, the payout to Tapie, a supporter of Lagarde's then boss, ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, caused shock in France.

Tapie had sold Adidas to Credit Lyonnais for the equivalent of 315.5 million euros in 1993. The bank sold it on the following year for 701 million euros, prompting claims from Tapie that he had been cheated.

Lagarde, who was a relative newcomer to government at the time, told the court she had been busy with the financial crisis and that the arbitration process was "not a priority" at the time.

"The risk of fraud completely escaped me," she said.

Lagarde has won plaudits for her performance as IMF managing director and has been a key player in bailout negotiations for Greece.

She has also worked to reform the US- and Europe-dominated institution to reflect China's growing global leverage.

Her trial landed the IMF back in the headlines for alleged wrongdoing by its bosses, five years after Lagarde was chosen to succeed Strauss-Kahn when he resigned to fight sexual assault charges.

His case was later dropped and a civil case was settled out of court.

Another former IMF head, Rodrigo Rato of Spain, is currently standing trial on charges of misusing funds when he was head of Spanish lender Bankia.

Lagarde began her second term at the IMF in July.
Islamabad: The year 2016 could go down as one of the worst for Indo-Pak ties as terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups stalled the peace process and India's surgical strikes inside PoK followed by trading of heavy fire at the border raised fears of a large-scale conflict.

The year began on a sordid note when on 2 January, Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad militants stormed the Pathankot airbase in Punjab and killed seven security personnel before they were eliminated.

India demanded answers from Pakistan while linking the peace process to action against terrorism emanating from its soil.

The Pathankot attack was devastating for bilateral ties as it followed a brief but important visit to Lahore by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the birthday of his counterpart Nawaz Sharif on 25 December last year.

That trip had come on the heels of a high-level visit by an Indian delegation led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad in early December to attend the Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan.

On the sidelines, she had fruitful talks with Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and the two countries agreed to revive the stalled peace process.

The Indian Foreign Secretary was scheduled to visit Pakistan in mid-January but the Pathankot incident effectively scuttled the momentary thaw in ties.

The relations had not fully recovered from the blow when Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with Indian security forces in Kashmir in July, setting in motion a chain of events which drove Pakistan and India in opposite directions.

In September, matters again came to a head between the two sides when JeM militants assaulted an army camp in Uri and killed 19 soldiers. The Indian government again demanded action from Pakistan.

Just days after the assault, the two sides clashed at the UN General Assembly's annual session, blaming each other for militancy and violation of human rights.

Raking up Kashmir at the UN, Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif glorified Wani as a "young leader". Sharif devoted much of his 20-minute speech at the UN General Assembly session to Kashmir and the situation in the Valley and said Pakistan "fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination".

Swaraj delivered a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir, saying those accusing others of rights violations must introspect. India also censured Pakistan for the first time at the UNGA for perpetrating the "worst form of state oppression" in Balochistan.

India's response to the Uri attack, came in the form of "surgical strikes" which Pakistan denied. India carried out "surgical strikes" on seven terror launch pads across the LoC with the Army inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from PoK.

However, the move created a war-like situation on the Line of Control. Dozens of soldiers and civilians were killed and injured in intermittent clashes at the border which went on for weeks.

The two sides blamed each other for "unprovoked firing" and took reciprocal diplomatic action by summoning each other's envoy many a times.

A major diplomatic row erupted between the two countries at the end of October when India declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer as persona non-grata for espionage activities after he was caught by Delhi Police with sensitive defence documents including deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border.

In swift tit-for-tat action, Pakistan also declared an Indian High Commission official as persona non-grata and asked him to leave the country within 48 hours.

In a further blow to Indo-Pak ties, Pakistan pulled out six officials at its High Commission in November.

The six Pakistani officials, including four senior diplomats, named for spying by a High Commission staffer, who was arrested and expelled for espionage, left India for home as bilateral ties continued to slide.

Pakistan then claimed that the Indian High Commission officials were involved in "espionage, subversion and supporting terrorist activities in Balochistan and Sindh, especially Karachi, sabotaging China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and fuelling instability in the two provinces."

Those Indian officials named by Pakistan also returned to India subsequently.

In late November, another terror attack took place at an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Nagrota in which seven soldiers were killed, leading to further strain in ties.

The animosity between the two countries also shifted to the waters with the Indus Waters Treaty soon coming into focus.

India took strong exception to the World Bank's decision to set up a Court of Arbitration and appoint a Neutral Expert to go into Pakistan's complaint against it over Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, in December, the World Bank paused the separate processes initiated by India and Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements.

Pakistan was also caught on the wrong foot when Aziz admitted that the government was presented with only "insufficient evidence" on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav who is under detention.

Addressing a full Senate chamber, Aziz said the dossier on Jadhav contained mere statements.

December again proved to be an important month for improving the situation.

This year, Amritsar was venue for the Heart of Asia conference and Pakistan decided to send Aziz for the meeting amid the strain in ties. But no bilateral meetings with the Indian side could take place and he only exchanged pleasantries with the top Indian leadership.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also saw a change of military command that could positively reflect on the Indo-Pak frontier.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa, an expert in PoK affairs, took over as Pakistan's new army chief succeeding General Raheel Sharif and promised to improve the tense situation at the Line of Control soon.

In another important development, Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, an intelligence veteran, was appointed chief of Pakistan's powerful spy agency ISI with new army chief Gen Bajwa effecting the first big reshuffle to tighten his hold on the military that plays a key role in the country's affairs.

As part of a major shake-up of the military top brass, Bajwa abruptly removed Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar and named Mukhtar in his place while also ringing in several other changes.

Another significant development was Pakistan's burgeoning ties with Russia. In December, Pakistan held its first-ever consultations with Russia over important global and regional issues amid warming ties between the former Cold War rivals.

In September, Russia held its first-ever military exercises with Pakistan and has also started selling weapons to Islamabad.

The closeness in Pakistan-Russia ties came amid growing Indo-US relations. Significantly, the US continued to nudge Pakistan to crackdown on terror safe havens.

The US Congress, earlier this month, said that $ 400 million in aid to Pakistan cannot be released unless the defence secretary certifies that Islamabad is taking "demonstrable steps" against the Haqqani network, which is accused of targeting American interests.

Passed by the Senate, the 2017 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) in fact imposes four conditions on Pakistan to be eligible for $ 400 million of the USD 900 million of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF).

It would be naive to think of any drastic improvements in Indo-Pak ties in the coming months after serious tension, allegations and clashes in 2016.

The new year may start at a sour note due to the first anniversary of the Pathankot attack and possible demands by India for action against the alleged perpetrators.

Asked if 2017 will be better for bilateral ties, the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman last week said it depends on the "Indian attitude, Indian intransigence and Indian behaviour to improve the security situation in the region".

"India should show that it is ready for talks. It should show seriousness to resolve Kashmir," Zakaria said.
DOHA A Saudi-led Arab coalition will halt its use of British-made cluster munitions in Yemen, the Saudi government said on Monday, after 20 months of war in which thousands of civilians have been killed and injured in airstrikes.In London, British defence minister Michael Fallon confirmed in parliament that the coalition had dropped "a limited number" of UK-supplied cluster munitions in Yemen.Britain, a signatory to the international convention which prohibits use of the munitions, has been investigating whether the coalition dropped the BL 755 munitions in Yemen following an Amnesty International report in May."The government of Saudi Arabia confirms that it has decided to stop the use of cluster munitions of the type BL-755 and informed the United Kingdom government of that," said the Saudi statement, carried by state news agency SPA.It was the first Saudi confirmation of the coalition's use of the cluster munitions.Saudi Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri told Arabiya TV: "BL 755 bombs are used in a limited way and not in residential areas. We do not use the bombs in areas populated by civilians." "This munition was used against legitimate military targets to defend Saudi towns and villages against continuous attacks by Houthi militia, which resulted in Saudi civilian casualties."Assiri said the coalition, which is battling Iran-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen, had not violated international law because it had not signed the cluster munitions convention.

Fallon stressed that Britain had sold the munitions to Riyadh in the 1980s, long before the 2008 convention."However, Saudi Arabia has now confirmed it will not further use BL-755 cluster munitions and I welcome that," he said.

DEFENCE COOPERATION

The Saudi move came shortly after British Prime Minister Theresa May visited the Gulf and said she would deepen defence cooperation with the region in its pushback against what she called "Iran's aggressive regional actions".Cluster bombs, dropped by air or fired by artillery, scatter hundreds of bomblets across a wide area which sometimes fail to explode and are difficult to locate and remove, killing and maiming civilians long after conflicts end.They pose a particular risk to children who can be attracted by their toy-like appearance and bright colours.

Rights group Amnesty International said in May that civilians returning home in northern Yemen risked injury and death from "minefields" of deadly cluster bombs.The BL-755 bomb, manufactured in Britain in the 1970s, is known to be in the stockpiles of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Amnesty said. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies began their military campaign in Yemen in March last year with the aim of preventing the Houthi rebels and forces loyal to Yemen's ex-president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, taking control of the country.The war has killed more than 10,000 people and triggered humanitarian crises, including chronic food shortages, in the poorest country in the Arabian peninsula. Millions more have been displaced. (Reporting by Ali Abdelatti; Writing by Tom Finn; Editing by Gareth Jones)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Angus McDowall and Ellen Francis

| BEIRUT

BEIRUT Thousands were evacuated from the last rebel-held enclave of the Aleppo on Monday after a deal was reached to allow people to leave two besieged pro-government villages in nearby Idlib province.In bitter winter weather, convoys of buses from eastern Aleppo reached rebel-held areas to the west of the city, and more buses left the Shi'ite Muslim villages of al-Foua and Kefraya for government lines, according to a U.N. official and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group.The United Nations Security Council agreed a resolution calling for U.N. officials and others to be allowed to monitor evacuations from east Aleppo and the safety of civilians still there.The Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Ja'afari, denounced the resolution as propaganda, saying the last of the rebels were leaving and Aleppo would be "clean" by Monday evening. The recapture of Aleppo is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's biggest victory so far in the nearly six-year-old war, but the fighting is not over with large parts of the country still controlled by insurgent and Islamist groups.Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said 20,000 civilians had been evacuated from Aleppo so far.Nearly 50 children, some critically injured, were rescued from eastern Aleppo, where they had been trapped in an orphanage, the United Nations said. The evacuation of civilians from the two villages had been demanded by the Syrian army and its allies before they would allow fighters and civilians trapped in Aleppo to depart. The stand-off halted the Aleppo evacuation over the weekend."Complex evacuations from East Aleppo and Foua & Kefraya now in full swing. More than 900 buses needed to evacuate all. We must not fail," Jan Egeland, who chairs the United Nations aid task force in Syria, tweeted. INTENSE COLD, LONG WAIT

Ahmad al-Dbis, a medical aid worker heading a team evacuating patients from Aleppo, said 89 buses had left the city. "Some evacuees told us that a few children died from the long wait and the intense cold while they were waiting to evacuate," he told Reuters. For those still in rebel-held Aleppo, conditions were grim, according to Aref al-Aref, a nurse and photographer there.

"I'm still in Aleppo. I'm waiting for them to evacuate the children and women first. It's very cold and there's hunger. It's a long wait," he told Reuters. "People are burning wood and clothes to keep warm in the streets."Photographs of people evacuated from Aleppo showed large groups of people standing or crouching with their belongings or loading sacks onto trucks. Children in winter clothes carried small backpacks or played with kittens. One older man, in traditional Arab robes and headdress, sat holding a stick. BUSES BURNED

On Sunday, some of the buses sent to al-Foua and Kefraya to carry evacuees out were attacked and torched by armed men.

That incident threatened to derail the evacuations, the result of intense negotiations between Russia - Assad's main supporter - and Turkey, which backs some large rebel groups. The foreign and defence ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey will hold talks in Moscow on Tuesday aimed at giving fresh impetus for a solution in Aleppo.At stake is the fate of thousands of people still stuck in the last rebel bastion in Aleppo after a series of sudden advances by the Syrian army and allied Shi'ite militias under an intense bombardment that pulverised large sections of the city. They have been waiting for the chance to leave Aleppo since the ceasefire and evacuation deal was agreed late last Tuesday, but have been prevented from doing so during days of hold-ups. In the square in Aleppo's Sukari district, organisers gave every family a number to allow them access to buses."Everyone is waiting until they are evacuated. They just want to escape," said Salah al Attar, a former teacher with his five children, wife and mother.

CAMP IN TURKEY

Thousands of people were evacuated on Thursday, the first to leave under the ceasefire deal that ends fighting in the city where violence erupted in 2012, a year after the start of conflict in other parts of Syria.They were taken to rebel-held districts of the countryside west of Aleppo. Turkey has said Aleppo evacuees could also be housed in a camp to be constructed in Syria near the Turkish border to the north. For four years the city was split between a rebel-held eastern sector and the government-held western districts. During the summer, the army and its allies besieged the rebel sector before using intense bombardment and ground assaults to retake it in recent months. A Reuters reporter who visited recaptured districts of Aleppo in recent days saw large swathes reduced to ruins, with rubble everywhere and sections of the famous Old City all but destroyed.Traders began to return to their stores in the Old City to see if they could be fixed up.One merchant, Jamal Deeb, said: "We are all here to see what the situation is like, and to consider reconstructing the stores. We do not want to leave things as they are, hand in hand we want to rebuild everything once again."Assad is backed in the war by Russian air power and Shi'ite militias including Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Iraq's Harakat al-Nujaba. The mostly Sunni rebels include groups supported by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies.East of Aleppo, several villages held by Islamic State have been captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of militias backed by the United States that includes a strong Kurdish contingent, the Observatory said.The advance is part of a campaign backed by an international coalition to drive Islamic State from its Syrian capital of Raqqa. (Reporting by Angus McDowall, Humeyra Pamuk, Stephanie Nebehay, writing by Giles Elgood, editing by Peter Millership)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate Virtu Financial founder Vincent Viola as secretary of the Army, the Trump transition team said on Monday.Viola is a West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran who has founded companies, including the high-frequency trading firm Virtu Financial. He is a former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange, where he began his financial services career, and is a leader in electronic trading, according to his company biography."Whether it is his distinguished military service or highly impressive track record in the world of business, Vinnie has proved throughout his life that he knows how to be a leader and deliver major results in the face of any challenge," Trump was quoted as saying in a statement from his transition team.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington, Viola helped found the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.Born to Italian immigrant parents in Brooklyn, Viola was the first in his family to attend college. He trained as an Airborne Ranger infantry officer and served in the 101st Airborne Division, the transition team statement said.

"If confirmed, I will work tirelessly to provide our president with the land force he will need to accomplish any mission in support of his National Defense Strategy," Viola said in the statement. "A primary focus of my leadership will be ensuring that Americas soldiers have the ways and means to fight and win across the full spectrum of conflict."

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by W Simon and Bill Trott)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Ankara: Russia's ambassador to Ankara Andrey Karlov was on Monday badly wounded in a gun attack while visiting an art exhibition opening in the Turkish capital, television reports said.

Karlov was hospitalised and several other people were wounded in the attack by an unknown gunman, NTV and CNN-Turk televisions said.

The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said he was hospitalized with a gunshot wound.

But Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova didn't give Ambassador Andrei Karlov's condition. Zakharova was speaking in a statement carried by Russian news agencies.

The ambassador, Andrei Karlov, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in the capital, Ankara, when a man wearing a suit and tie shouted "Allahu Akbar" and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience. The attacker also said some words in Russian and smashed several of the photos hung for the exhibition.

Pictures published by the Hurriyet daily showed at least two men in suits lying flat on the ground as another man brandished a gun.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a televised statement that the ministry would soon comment on "the attack on the Russian ambassador in Turkey"

The attack came after days of protests in Turkey over Russia's role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from Aleppo.

The attack happened at the Cagdas Sanatlar Merkezi, a major art exhibition hall in the Cankaya district of Ankara where most foreign embassies are located including Russia's mission.

CNN-Turk said the ambassador was in a serious condition.

Protesters in Turkey have held Moscow responsible for human rights violations in Aleppo.

With inputs from agencies
By Michelle Nichols

| UNITED NATIONS

UNITED NATIONS The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously called for U.N. officials and others to observe the evacuation of people from the last rebel-held enclave in Aleppo and monitor the safety of civilians who remain in the Syrian city. The 15-member council overcame long-held divisions - that have pitted Syrian ally Russia and China against western powers over the Syrian conflict - to adopt a French-drafted resolution calling for U.N. officials and others "to carry out adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations."The recapture of Aleppo - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's biggest victory in the nearly six-year-old war - has left thousands of people stuck in the last rebel bastion in the city's east amid accusations by the United Nations and western powers of atrocities against civilians by pro-government forces. Thousands of people were evacuated from eastern Aleppo on Monday. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said it was hoped the presence of monitors would deter crimes against civilians as they leave Aleppo or against those who choose to stay in the city. "Of course the Syrian government doesn't want more monitors," Power said. "If you're doing bad things you don't want monitors around to watch you doing them."

The United Nations had 113 people ready to monitor, alongside officials from the International Committee for the Red Cross, Power said. She said of the U.N. resolution: "Until it's implemented, it's just a piece of paper." The Security Council reached consensus on a text Sunday after several hours of negotiations. Russia had planned to veto the original French draft over concerns about sending U.N. monitors unprepared into "the ruins of eastern Aleppo," U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said.Russia wanted U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to arrange security for U.N. monitors to enter eastern Aleppo "in coordination" with interested parties, meaning the Syrian government. The council agreed that such arrangements would be made "in consultation" with interested parties."We keep contact with out Syrian colleagues here all the time ... they did not raise any serious objections to what we delivered," Churkin told reporters ahead of the vote.

Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari said the adopted resolution was already "part of our continued daily efforts," but he also described it as "just another part of the continued propaganda against Syria and its fight against terrorists" - a term it uses for all groups fighting Assad. "The last terrorists in some districts of the eastern part of Aleppo are evacuating their strongholds and Aleppo this evening will be clean," he told reporters. Russia, which has provided military backing to Assad's troops, has vetoed six Security Council resolutions on Syria since the conflict started in 2011. China joined Moscow in vetoing five resolutions.

Monday's resolution "demands all parties to provide these monitors with safe, immediate and unimpeded access." Unlike previous heated Security Council meetings on Syria, no members spoke in the council chamber after the vote.Despite the government's recapture of Aleppo, the fighting in Syria is by no means over, with large tracts of the country still under the control of insurgent and Islamist groups.A crackdown by Assad on pro-democracy protesters in 2011 led to civil war and Islamic State militants have used the chaos to seize territory in Syria and Iraq. Half of Syria's 22 million people have been uprooted and more than 400,000 killed. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Frances Kerry)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By David Morgan

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON The U.S. Electoral College meets on Monday to officially confirm Republican Donald Trump as the next president, a vote that is usually a formality but that has taken on extra prominence after an unusual and particularly acrimonious election campaign.At meetings scheduled in every state capitol and the District of Columbia, the institution's 538 electors, chosen by state parties, will cast official ballots for president and vice president.The votes will be counted during a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6. It is highly unlikely the vote will change the outcome of the Nov. 8 election, which gave the White House to Trump after he won a majority of Electoral College votes.The electors are expected to vote as directed by their state's popular ballot, and 24 states have laws requiring them to do so. But occasionally, "faithless electors" will ignore their pledge and change their vote.

Democrat Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by a margin of nearly 2.9 million ballots at the last tally, according to the Cook Political Report. That outcome, combined with revelations by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia hacked into Democratic party emails to try to sway the election for Trump, has prompted some Democrats to urge electors to change their vote.At least one elector - Christopher Suprun, a Republican elector in Texas - has said he won't vote for Trump. In an op-ed in the New York Times, Suprun said he had concerns about Trump's foreign policy experience and business conflicts.

Another group of bipartisan electors formally requested an intelligence briefing on Russian interference in the election, but were denied.The Electoral College was established in 1787 and is part of the U.S. Constitution. It assigns each state electors equal to its number of representatives and senators in Congress.

When voters go to the polls to cast a ballot for president, they are actually choosing a presidential candidate's preferred slate of electors for their state.A candidate must secure 270 votes to win. Trump won 306 electors from 30 states. (Additional reporting by Julia Harte in Washington; Editing by Peter Cooney and James Dalgleish)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Ben Blanchard

| WASHINGTON/BEIJING

WASHINGTON/BEIJING The United States expects China to return soon an underwater U.S. drone seized by a Chinese naval vessel last week, with one U.S. official telling Reuters the exchange could happen as early as Tuesday at an agreed location in the South China Sea.China's seizure of the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) triggered a diplomatic protest and speculation about whether it will strengthen U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's hand as he seeks a tougher line with Beijing.A Chinese warship took the drone, which the Pentagon says uses unclassified, commercially available technology to collect oceanographic data, on Thursday about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines.The U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said talks with Beijing on the timing of the exchange were advancing, with two saying they expected the incident to be satisfactorily resolved "relatively soon."One of the officials added the exchange could take place in the vicinity of the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea as early as Tuesday, local time, putting the handover potentially just hours away.A U.S. destroyer would likely receive the drone, although the mechanics of the exchange were unclear.Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook refused to offer any details at a news briefing, saying only that "conversations are ongoing ... We're working out the logistical details with Chinese officials".In Beijing, China's foreign ministry said the Chinese and U.S. militaries were having "unimpeded" talks about the drone's return.The seizure has added to U.S. concerns about China's growing military presence and aggressive posture in the disputed South China Sea, including its militarization of maritime outposts.

KEEP THE DRONE!

Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, waded into the dispute on Twitter over the weekend, saying in a Tweet: "We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back - let them keep it!"Trump has previously threatened to declare China a currency manipulator and force changes in U.S.-Chinese trade policy, which he says has led to the greatest theft of American jobs in history.Trump has also raised questions about the most sensitive part of the U.S.-China relationship: whether Washington would stick to its nearly four-decades-old policy of recognising that Taiwan is part of "one China."Asked about Trump's comments, Hua said describing the drone as stolen was "completely incorrect".

"The key is that China's navy had a responsible and professional attitude to identify and ascertain this object," she said. "If you discover or pick something up from the street you have to examine it and if somebody asks you for it you have to work out if it's theirs before you can give it back."Cook called the seizure illegal and said Washington was using both military and diplomatic channels to secure the drone's return. Pentagon officials have sought to be firm without escalating the incident.Another senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the somewhat muted U.S. response to the seizure, coupled with Trump's abandonment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's erratic policies and Malaysia's corruption scandal, has caused some U.S. allies to worry increasingly about the possibility of a declining American commitment to the region. The Philippines said it was troubling that the incident took place inside its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), saying it increased the likelihood of "miscalculations that could lead to open confrontation" very near the Philippine mainland.

DEEP SUSPICIONS

China is deeply suspicious of any U.S. military activities in the resource-rich South China Sea, with state media and experts saying the use of the drone was likely part of U.S. surveillance efforts in the disputed waterway.The overseas edition of the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily said in a commentary on Monday the USNS Bowditch, which was fielding the drone and was set to pick it up, was a "serial offender" when it came to spying operations against China.Ni Lexiong, a naval expert, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, told Reuters he believed the Chinese navy probably had orders to take the drone.But Ni said this is a very different incident from the 2001 intercept of a U.S. spy plane by a Chinese fighter jet that resulted in a collision that killed the Chinese pilot and forced the American plane to make an emergency landing at a base on Hainan."This is a much smaller incident, it won't affect the overall picture of China-U.S. relations," he said, adding that he did not expect China to seek an apology from the United States.The 24 U.S. air crew members were held for 11 days before being released, souring U.S.-Chinese relations in the early days of President George W. Bush's first administration. (Additional reporting by Manuel Mogato in Manila and John Walcott in Washington; Editing by Lincoln Feast and James Dalgleish)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
LG Display is said to be developing out-fold OLED panels that will go into mass production in 2018, according to a latest report from ET News. The company will partner with Apple, Google and Microsoft to develop these out-fold OLED displays.

The report says that LG Display has already developed a prototype of out-foldable panel and the technical level of this prototype is said to be high. Even though the company has partnered with other companies, it has reportedly developed major parts of this prototype. Last year, LG was said to be investing $803 million for OLED panels in smartphones and wearables. The company showed off flexible, rollable and paper-thin OLED displays at the CES this year in January.

We have read several reports about next years iPhone sporting a curved OLED display. Samsung is also said to be working on two different types of foldable smartphones. It looks like year 2017 and onwards smartphones will go beyond traditional flat screen displays and adorn curved, flexible displays. Details about the out-fold OLED display are scarce at the moment.

Source
As China opens its markets to foreign investors, many are questioning the case for investing in its markets. From the difficult-to-measure risks of nationalization to the observable risks such as weak protections for intellectual property, investors worry that the downside outweighs the upside.

In this clip from Industry Focus: Financials, The Motley Fool's Gaby Lapera and Jordan Wathen discuss the puts and takes of investing in China, and why a fake Goldman Sachs (GS -0.11%) exemplifies the risk of investing in foreign markets.

A full transcript follows the video.

This podcast was recorded on Dec. 12, 2016.

Gaby Lapera: I think there's also this fear, which I think you have in most developing markets, which is that China could just up and decide to nationalize whatever it is that you own. It is a communist government in name. So that's always a possibility. It has happened to investors before. It's happened in Mexico, it's happened in Venezuela, to name two just right off the top of my head. So it's not an unreasonable fear to have about China. Additionally, something that's interesting about China is that the culture is obviously very different. It can be hard to parse through the regulations and figure out which ones they're actually enforcing, which ones they care about. We were talking earlier about loans, and figuring out which ones the government would definitely pay and which ones the government wouldn't pay. It's something that's really hard to know unless you're in China, or, potentially, from China, and you understand all of this and you have connections back home to talk to about this. It's definitely a little bit of a minefield for the foreign investor who doesn't have a lot of experience and has no way of knowing exactly what's going on internally.

Jordan Wathen: Right. To take a step back, the kind of people that China wants to invest, they don't want small-time mom-and-pop Americans to open a $50,000 brokerage account and buy stocks. They want real, tangible, lots of money. And an institutional investor, if you have, say, you have the London exchanges, you have the Canadian exchanges, you have the American exchanges. What's the real reason you would go to China in light of all these matters? There are plenty of global markets where trading is more free and the rules are more well established and people take them very seriously. So there's kind of a high bar to be willing to go to China.

Lapera: Absolutely. And then, on top of that, you have the fact that it's both strictly regulated and not all at the same time. The example that comes to mind for me is that in Shenzhen, which is a city that is situated right on the border with Hong Kong. Some people opened up the Goldman Sachs Shenzhen real estate something or other -- I'm not 100% sure what the whole name was. They even spelled their name in Chinese. They spelled like Goldman Sachs spells their name. So you have this company that could be mistaken for Goldman Sachs. Even in the same year, some guy opened up his own bank called The China Construction Bank, and there was already a China Construction Bank, and he just pretended to be part of the same bank, and he totally wasn't. He opened up a whole fake branch of a bank. And that's just something that you don't see happening in other countries.

Wathen: Right. That's an interesting risk, too, because that extends beyond even the financial area. I actually looked at this, the Goldman Sachs fake in China. It actually had a website that looked just like Goldman Sachs. They used a similar font and everything, to basically knock off the brand name. That extends even to apparel. A Nike sweatshirt could easily be, they could throw a swoosh on a sweatshirt and basically steal that IP, too. So that's something that, as investors, you have to worry about, because a lot of companies, not just financial companies, but a lot of companies survive on their brand name. If that can be easily lifted and used by someone else. There's not much value to it.

Lapera: Right. This story came out in August of 2015, and Goldman Sachs said they were looking into it, but I haven't heard anything on the news since then. If you happen to work for Goldman Sachs, and you know what ended up happening to Goldman Sachs Shenzhen, please let me know.
MADISONNew Census Bureau figures just released for 2014 show Wisconsins state-local tax burden declining from 15th highest among the states in 2013 to 16th in 2014. Taxes here fell from 10.9 percent of personal income in 2013 to 10.8 percent in 2014. Nationally, taxes relative to income rose from 10.4 percent from in 2013 to 10.6 percent in 2014.

Census figures always lag two years. WISTAX is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to public policy research and citizen education.

After reaching 11.8 percent of income in 2011, Wisconsins state-local tax burden declined for three consecutive years, due largely to a drop in local taxes as a share of personal income. During 2011-14, Wisconsins local tax burden fell from 4.8 percent to 4.1 percent of income. By comparison, state taxes as a share of personal income dropped less  0.3 percentage points, from 7.0 percent to 6.7 percent. A tightening of property tax limits imposed by the state on local governments explain the drop in local tax burden.

The newly-released Census figures also show that, among Wisconsins major taxes:

 Property taxes claimed 3.9 percent of income, 11th highest among the states

 Individual income taxes claimed 2.8 percent of income, 12th highest nationally

 Sales taxes took 2.0 percent of income, 34th highest

 Corporate income taxes claimed 0.4 percent of income, 15th highest.

A broader measure of state-local revenue adds to taxes fees charged by state or local governments.

Combined, taxes and fees in Wisconsin claimed 13.8 percent of income in 2014, down from 14.0 percent in 2013. The states rank on this tax-and-fee measure declined from 18th to 22nd.
Delta Air Lines (DAL 0.12%) and Alaska Air (ALK 0.55%) have been "frenemies" for the past few years. While the two carriers have a codeshare and frequent flier partnership, they have aggressively entered each other's markets and tried to steal customers from one another.

This week, Delta and Alaska Air abandoned the pretense of being partners. As of May 1, the two carriers will terminate their codeshare and frequent flier agreements, becoming pure competitors.

Growing apart

Four years ago, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Air had a very close partnership. At that time, Delta had just started building up Seattle as a key gateway for international flights, particularly to Asia. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines operated a sizable domestic-oriented hub in Seattle. By working together, Alaska was able to deliver lots of connecting traffic to Delta's long-haul flights.

For example, in late 2012, Delta announced an expansion of its international flights in Seattle, with new service to Shanghai and Tokyo's Haneda Airport, as well as upgraded aircraft on other routes. Delta's then-CEO, Richard Anderson, stated, "This kind of international growth is possible only because of our partnership with Alaska, and customers of both our airlines will benefit from this newly strengthened relationship."

However, Delta quickly soured on this partnership. Its reliance on Alaska to provide connecting traffic meant that Alaska Air had enough leverage to capture a sizable proportion of the profit from the relationship.

As a result, in 2013, Delta Air Lines began adding flights in Seattle at a rapid pace. Since 2013, it has more than tripled its presence in Seattle, growing from as few as 40 daily departures to 150 peak-day departures. This has enabled Delta to offer numerous connecting opportunities within the U.S. and Canada using its own planes.

Delta and Alaska Air wind down their relationship

Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines have been steadily unwinding their partnership over the past few years. In 2013, Alaska received $235 million of revenue from Delta codeshare and interline tickets. Today, it only gets $65 million of annual revenue from those relationships. (In fact, $50 million of that total comes from an interline agreement that will remain intact.)

Now, they are making their breakup official. According to the press releases published by Delta and Alaska, customers will no longer be able to book codeshare tickets for flights taking off on May 1 or later. Additionally, beginning on May 1, Delta frequent fliers won't be able to earn miles for Alaska Airlines flights; the same applies to Alaska frequent fliers on Delta flights.

Award redemptions will last a little longer. Alaska frequent fliers will be able to book award flights on Delta (and Delta frequent fliers will be able book award flights on Alaska) anytime up until April 30, even for flights later in 2017 or in early 2018.

However, as noted earlier, Delta and Alaska will keep their interline agreement in place. This allows travel agencies to create itineraries combining flights on both airlines, with the airlines taking responsibility for transferring checked bags to one another.

They don't need each other

Alaska Air's recently finalized merger with Virgin America appears to have been the final straw that broke the Alaska-Delta partnership.

Virgin America's solid presence in Los Angeles (a hub market for Delta) means that the two companies are now competing on even more routes. Furthermore, Alaska Air's increased scale means it has less need for codeshare partners.

Indeed, Alaska Air now promotes itself as the largest airline on the West Coast, with more than 1,200 daily flights to and from the West Coast. It plans to use its enlarged footprint to gain more market share at the expense of its larger rivals. For example, in conjunction with announcing the end of its partnership with Delta, Alaska revealed several frequent flier program enhancements. Most notably, some award tickets will now be available for as little as 5,000 miles one-way.

As for Delta, its growth in Seattle has ended its need for a local partner to offer connections there. It already flies nonstop from Seattle to most of the key markets in the western U.S., and it is likely to continue gradually adding flights there in the coming years.

Due to both carriers' efforts to become more self-reliant in the past few years (especially in Seattle), neither carrier should be hurt much by the termination of their codeshare and frequent flier partnership. Meanwhile, travelers should benefit from stepped-up competition between Alaska (including Virgin America) and Delta in Seattle, Los Angeles, and beyond.
What happened

Kosmos Energy's (KOS 1.00%) stock surged on Monday, rising more than 11% by 3:00 p.m. EST after the company announced a partnership with BP (BP 1.04%).

So what

Kosmos Energy will combine its exploration expertise in Mauritania and Senegal with BP's deepwater development and LNG production and marketing experience to turn recent basin-opening discoveries into future developments. Under the terms of the deal, Kosmos Energy will receive $162 million in up-front cash as well as a $221 million carry to pay a portion of the future exploration and appraisal drilling relating to the Tortue gas project. Furthermore, BP will pay a maximum of $533 million toward the front-end engineering and design (FEED) study needed on the Tortue project, which could lead to a final investment decision on the project by 2018. In exchange, BP will acquire operatorship and a 62% working interest in several offshore exploration blocks in Mauritania as well as a 32.49% working interest in two offshore licenses in Senegal.

This transaction is a potential win-win for both companies. Kosmos Energy gets a deep-pocketed supermajor partner to help it develop a potential large-scale LNG project as well as future projects in the region. Meanwhile, BP gains access to what appears to be a world-class resource basin.

Now what

Kosmos Energy accomplished several goals with this deal. It was able to secure an immediate cash infusion to bolster its balance sheet and reduce future capex costs via the carry agreements and the transfer of an ownership interest (as well as a percentage of future development costs) to BP. It also secured a long-term partner, which should help Kosmos develop these assets more efficiently than it could have done on its own. That said, these developments will require quite a bit more time and a lot more money before Kosmos and BP will see a tangible return from today's transaction.
In 2016, the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare," had several major changes take effect. The penalties for not maintaining health coverage got much more severe, more employers were required to cover their full-time employees, and premiums increased for many Americans. Here are the details on what happened to Obamacare in 2016 -- and why the biggest change could be right around the corner.

Stiff penalties for non-compliance

One of the biggest changes to Obamacare in 2016 was an increase in the penalty for going without health coverage. Formally known as the Individual Shared Responsibility fee, this is enforced on taxpayers who can afford insurance but choose not to buy it.

The penalty for not having adequate health coverage in 2015 (unless the household qualified for an exemption) was the greater of 2% of household income or $325 per adult and $162.50 per child (up to a maximum of $975 per family).

For 2016 and 2017, the penalty is the greater of the following:

2.5% of your household income, capped at the national average premium for a "Bronze" health plan sold through the marketplace. This percentage is based on the portion of your household income that's above the tax filing threshold ($10,350 and $20,700 for singles and married couples, respectively, for the 2016 tax year).

$695 per adult and $347.50 per child under 18, up to a maximum of $2,085.

If you had health coverage for part of the year, then you'll be fined 1/12 of the annual penalty for each month you didn't have coverage. There is a list of exemptions to the penalty, but if you don't qualify for any, then the cost of going without health insurance just got more expensive.

More employers must provide coverage

A big part of the Affordable Care Act is the requirement of employers of certain sizes to provide coverage for their workers. This employer mandate expanded in 2016.

In 2015, companies with 100 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees needed to insure at least 70% of their full-time workers. For 2016, this percentage increased to 95% -- or virtually all their full-time employees.

Midsize businesses with 50 to 99 full-time equivalent employees were not required to insure their workers at all in 2015, but as of 2016 they are required to insure at least 95% of their employees, just like larger employers.

Under the employer mandate, the following conditions apply, just to name a few:

Coverage must be offered to dependents up to age 26 (but not to spouses).

Employees who work at least 30 hours per week are considered full-time for healthcare purposes.

Coverage offered to employees must be "affordable" -- no more than 9.56% of employee household income -- and must cover at least 60% of allowed costs.

Employers can be fined for not providing coverage, up to $2,000 per full-time employee.

Higher premiums for some

As my colleague Dan Caplinger wrote in late 2015, several insurers reported financial difficulties associated with participation in Obamacare. Some chose to withdraw, while others requested premium increases.

Overall, the average premium increase for the second-cheapest silver-tiered plan rose more than 10% in 2016. However, most people who receive subsidies for their coverage didn't see any increases at all. Only in five states (Arizona, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Tennessee) did premiums rise after taking tax credits into account.

Effectively, premiums rose in 2016, but the government ended up footing the bill for much of the increase. Premiums are expected to increase further in 2017 -- by a much higher 25% average in the 39 states covered by the Healthcare.gov exchanges.

The biggest change could happen in 2017

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and all of the penalties and taxes that come with it, and to replace it with a much "better" piece of legislation. It's unclear whether Trump will be able to do this as quickly as he promised, or whether any changes will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2017. However, with a Republican president and a Republican congress, there's a high chance that Obamacare's days are numbered. In other words, the changes discussed here might be small potatoes compared to what's coming just around the corner.
Lulete Mola currently holds a Ron McKinley Philanthropy Fellowship, a three year program created to infuse new ideas into philanthropy. Born in Ethiopia, raised in Minnesota, Lulete is committed to social change that is intersectional, inclusive, complex, and just. This commitment directly contributes to her ongoing devotion to community organizing, most recently with VoteRunLead. Lulete is the Founder of SHE, a young womens leadership program for Minnesota girls in select high schools. Lulete also leads social engagement and professional development initiatives in Minnesotas East African community and is active in the movement for Black lives. Lulete sits on the University of Minnesota National Diversity Board, on the Women's Foundation of Minnesota girlsBEST committee, and on the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Equity Advisory Committee. Lulete is the recipient of the Humanity in Action Fellowship, Ibrahim Leadership and Dialogue Project Fellowship, and the Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity Award. Lulete graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota in 2014 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Family Violence Prevention.

Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason. This is how the beloved song Wavin Flag by KNaan begins. This song was also the song of the night at a celebratory party for Ilhan Omar, my friend and the nations first Somali-American woman to be elected to state office. I cannot get the words freedom, fire, and reason out of my head and heart. These words are captured inside of me along with the images of people rejoicing on that night. Like the image of Ilhans supportive husband Ahmed and their son Adnan in tears, yes, African men standing beside their African wife and mother as she prepares to lead. Or the image of Ilhans two daughters, along with other young girls, many in hijabs, standing as fierce as their mothers knowing that this day would come. Or the image of our Black American sisters crying with us as they understood this win was a win for all Black women across the Diaspora. Freedom. Fire. Reason. My sister Ilhan Omar, a Black, Muslim, East African immigrant, and intersectional feminist woman will become a lawmaker in the United States of America. What a moment for all of us. All of us like Ilhan.. When I first heard Ilhan had made history by unseating a 44-year incumbent, one of the nations longest serving legislators, in a hot, packed, room, I felt tears coming down my face. Tears that have been buried deep inside of me. Some of these tears coming down werent just mine, no, they belonged to others. They were tears of my family, my people, and our journey. I cried because like Ilhan, my family and I traveled from the horn of Africa into the unknown, hoping for a better life. I cried because like Ilhan, I was also a refugee in Kenya. She fled a civil war in Somalia; I fled domestic violence and economic hopelessness. Like Ilhan, many hoped that young girls like us would thrive in America. Like Ilhan, once we arrived, we understood that thriving was next to impossible with the layers of structural and systematic oppressions, that were specific to Black women and girls, waiting for us. And I am not alone; there are many of us like Ilhan. Many of us who have come to this great nation for freedom who are still searching for it.. Throughout this campaign, as part of Ilhans campaign team and as a resident in her district, I have intimately seen how systems of white supremacy and patriarchy have tried to work together to keep Ilhan and her community of supporters down. First, when Ilhan decided to run, she was told she couldnt do it. Some said she would not raise enough money. Others told her to wait until the current 22-term Representative decided to retire. Some in her own community said that she shouldnt run because one of her opponents, a Somali man, deserved this seat more than she did. These systems are strong. They are structural and showed up during the campaign both in theory and practice. But we were resilient.. How can they do this? We would wonder, if they believed in the ideas of equity, representation, and voice, couldnt they understand that it was time for Ilhan to lead? The answer is no. Systems such as these were built to keep women like Ilhan from leading. Systems like these know that if more people like Ilhan became legislators, structurally racist and sexist policies would not have the same violent power they currently do. Systems like these dont work if Ilhan does.In response to the negativity, Ilhan became our reason. She was the reason we kept fighting, she was the reason we kept believing. Ilhan became a reason for generations of immigrants, long-time residents, and students of the district to organize, donate, and volunteer. Ilhan became a reason for us to continue hoping, even in the midst of senseless shootings of Black women, men, and trans people at the hands of police. We kept going because we had reason to continue to seek freedom.. We ready, we coming! If fire represents strength, passion, determination, and will to fight for justice, than fire is inside of Ilhan and all of us like Ilhan. When Ilhan enters the Minnesota House of Representatives, she will be the first Muslim woman and the the second Black woman. Im not saying that Ilhan will not have a hard time participating in and creating change at the Capitol. In fact, the same structures and systems that tried to prevent her from getting there will be waiting for her and will try to keep her silent. What I am saying is, after enduring and surviving everything women like Ilhan endure, backing down now is not an option. Many of us will be with Ilhan as she sits through long hearings,and tough legislative sessions. We will be there in spirit for Ilhans journey is our journey. Ilhan, we believed that you would win and you did. And now, we believe that we will win. And we will. Go get em, sis. We have your back.
Iran has finalised an agreement with Airbus to acquire 100 jetliners, the first of which is tentatively expected to be delivered in mid-January, a senior official said on Monday.

The deal, split roughly equally between narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, will be signed in coming days, possibly as early as Monday or Tuesday, Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan told Reuters.

Under the agreement, Airbus will supply four types of aircraft: its medium-haul A320 and A321 aircraft and the long-haul A330 and A350, he said, in remarks confirming Iran's decision to drop the A380 from a draft deal signed in January.

Iran, which last week finalised a deal with Boeing for 80 jets, has so far reached agreements with foreign leasing firms to finance a total of 77 aircraft, including 42 from Airbus and 35 from Boeing, Kashan said in a telephone interview.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Michael Perry)
Almost two weeks into the school year, Melissa Corrigan got an email from the principal and superintendent of her daughters elementary school.

Water from four West Middleton Elementary School faucets taken Sept. 1, the first day of school, had tested high for levels of lead or copper. As a safety precaution, the school would provide bottled water to students until the issue was resolved.

Corrigan  whose daughters Brooklyn and Carly are in first and fourth grades  thought little of the news, partly because the email told parents of the school west of Madison that it was highly unlikely that the water was unsafe to drink.

But West Middletons results were high  one faucet had more than six times the federal action level of 15 parts per billion of lead and nearly 19 times the federal action level of 1,300 ppb of copper. Samples from nine of the 10 faucets showed a presence of lead.

Fresh evidence of the risk of lead poisoning at school surfaced Friday when Milwaukee Public Schools revealed that testing found dangerous levels of lead in 183 drinking water fountains, including at locations hosting early childhood programs. The months-long testing program involved 3,000 water fountains at 191 school district buildings. The district said it had shut down and plans to replace the fountains that tested at or above the federal action level of 15 ppb, even though federal and state regulations do not require schools to test drinking water.

The district failed to respond to repeated questions since mid-November from the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism about whether water at the schools was being tested for lead, and calls and an email to district spokespeople Friday were not immediately returned. The testing began in June.

Efforts to protect Wisconsin children in schools and day care centers from lead in their water have fallen short on several fronts, the Center has found. Among the problems uncovered by the Center in documents and interviews:

 There is a lack of testing for lead in drinking water consumed by children while away from home. Federal regulations enforced by the state of Wisconsin do not require most schools or day care centers to test at all. A 2016 USA Today investigation found that an estimated 90 percent of schools nationally are not required to test their water.

 There has been confusion over proper lead testing procedures at some schools, day care centers and public water systems in Wisconsin, as the Center has reported. This year, the state Department of Natural Resources waited nine months to send an official notice to public water system operators that the EPA had updated its testing recommendations in response to flaws uncovered by Flint, Michigans lead-in-water crisis.

 Lead service lines, a significant source of lead in drinking water, continue to provide water to hundreds of schools and day care centers around Wisconsin. In other communities, officials are not sure how many schools and day cares have lead pipes.

Because of West Middletons rural Dane County location, the school has its own well and is among the minority of schools that must comply with some of the same testing requirements as municipal water systems. Lead generally makes its way into water not at the water plant but as it travels through service lines and indoor plumbing, all of which could contain lead.

Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Superintendent George Mavroulis said after learning of the testing results, the school immediately shut off drinking water and consulted with a private testing company and a liaison from the DNR.

Two weeks after the initial test, the K-4 school with 400 students had the same faucets  and three water fountains  tested again. The levels of lead and copper returned to below the action level, and students and staff were again allowed to use the water.

We tried to do everything in our power to make sure everyone was safe, Mavroulis said.

The school has since replaced two faucets and plans to replace two more over winter break, he said. Perry Hibner, the districts spokesman, believed two human errors caused the schools initial water samples to be high in lead and copper: not flushing the system beforehand, as the DNR suggests after long periods of non-use like summer break, and removing the aerators from the faucets, which allowed a higher than normal water flow.

Subsequent samples were taken after one hour of flushing and six hours of non-use.

The EPA issued new nationwide guidance in February clarifying that public water systems should not remove aerators or flush systems before sampling to avoid masking the level of lead in the water. DNR spokesman Jim Dick said West Middleton was in a unique situation because of its failure to previously flush the schools system after the water had been stagnant for an extended period of time.

Going forward, however, the district will need to conduct two rounds of testing in the next year to assure the water is safe  and follow all of the appropriate sampling methods, he said.

After reviewing West Middletons test results, Yanna Lambrinidou, a Virginia Tech University researcher who helped train Flint researchers, said telling parents a health risk was highly unlikely was a stunningly irresponsible statement, especially after Flint.

Said Lambrinidou: There is no safe level of lead in drinking water.

All licensed day care centers in Wisconsin are required to identify and mitigate dangers from lead paint, but only centers that use private wells are required to eliminate lead hazards in drinking water, according to Joe Scialfa, spokesman for the state Department of Children and Families.

The USA Today investigation found that among schools and day care centers that are required to test, Wisconsin recorded the fourth-highest number of lead exceedances, with 24 between 2012 and 2015.

Lead in small doses dangerous

Exposure to even small amounts of lead can cause permanent damage. A 2012 study of nearly 4,000 fourth-graders in Milwaukee showed that those with elevated levels of lead  even below what is considered dangerous  scored significantly lower on reading and math tests than those without elevated blood-lead levels.

The Center reported in February that at least 176,000 homes and businesses in Wisconsin receive water from lead service lines, which can account for 50 to 75 percent of lead contamination in tap water.

Milwaukee says it has removed lead service lines leading to all of its public school buildings. Madison is thought to be the first city in the nation to remove all lead service lines from its water utility service area.

Milwaukee plans to focus $2.6 million from a new $14.5 million DNR program to begin replacing lead service lines leading to 384 licensed day care centers and 12 private schools in the city. In the meantime, the Milwaukee Health Department has advised those centers to reduce lead exposure by flushing water before using it and consider using only filtered or bottled water for preparing formula.

An additional 17 Wisconsin communities ranging from Antigo to Waterloo plan to use money from the program to replace lead service lines leading to their schools and day care centers.

School officials in Detroit, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Massachusetts also have found high lead levels in the drinking water at hundreds of schools.

And day care centers  where infants could be fed baby formula made with tap water or toddlers could eat food cooked in lead-laden water  are of particular concern.

Rep. LaTonya Johnson, a Democrat from Milwaukee, operated a day care business out of her 90-year-old home for several years before running for public office. She recently spent $10,000 to replace corroded pipes throughout her northwest side house, which is served by lead service lines.

Johnson said she used a cooler to provide water to children in her care, but not every day care provider does.

Im sure people use sink water, she said. Its right there.

A regulatory vacuum

In the Lead Contamination Control Act, the EPA recommends that schools test water at each cold water tap  although no frequency is mentioned  share abnormal results with the public and take action to remediate any problems. But these are not requirements.

News investigations have shown that administrators in Newark, New Jersey, Portland, Oregon and Ithaca, New York knew about lead in water at schools for several months or years before the findings became public. Lambrinidou, the Virginia Tech researcher, and others decried the regulatory vacuum surrounding water testing in schools in a 2010 paper titled Failing Our Children.

If youre a parent  its better to know that theyre not doing much than to have false comfort that the schools are taking care of them, Lambrinidou said.

School leaders mixed on lead mandate

A Center survey of all 424 Wisconsin school district superintendents revealed a mixture of attitudes toward identifying and mitigating lead hazards. Most chose not to complete the survey at all.

The 47 respondents were split on whether there should be a statewide requirement that all public schools test their water for lead. While some do test  either voluntarily or because they have private wells  others said paying for testing is simply not an option.

A Fox 6 News investigation in May surveyed the 10 largest school districts in southeastern Wisconsin, asking if they had tested their schools for lead. Six answered; all said No.

Jon Bales, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators, said most of his members support water testing. But if it identifies lead hazards that require costly remediation, he said, We feel like there ought to be some federal support and state support to do that.

When officials at Riverside Elementary School east of Wausau discovered that lead from pipes in its foundation was leaching into the water, they opted to remove the schools drinking fountains entirely. Assistant Superintendent Jack Stoskopf said the school relies on a filtration system for tap water and has spent about $1,000 a month over the past 10 years on bottled drinking water.

Thats far less expensive than tearing up the foundation of the school and tearing up the pipes, he said.

Crystal Wozniak, who lives in Green Bay with her 4-year-old son Casheous, said she tried to avoid lead in drinking water when deciding where he would attend preschool. Casheous was lead poisoned when he was 9 months old, possibly from paint.

The water at a school may be more harmful because theyre ingesting the water, and the food there is made with the water, she said. All the kids arent necessarily going around licking the walls, but theyre drinking the water.
General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) recently gave its 2017 annual outlook and reaffirmed it's on track to hit $2 in EPS by 2020. That's all well and good, but investors are always looking for upside potential from management's guidance. Well, the good news is there's plenty of it at General Electric, so let's look at five ways the company could exceed its earnings targets.

AN IMPROVEMENT IN OIL AND GAS CAPITAL SPENDNG WOULD HELP GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES.

General Electric Company's 2020 outlook

Starting with the plan, CEO Jeff Immelt reaffirmed guidance for EPS of $1.48 to $1.52 in 2016 and detailed how the bridge to $2 in 2020 would be made. Since the company has around $9 billion in average diluted shares outstanding at present, I've calculated the impact to net income in the bullet points:

Share buybacks will contribute $0.16 in EPS, or $1.44 billion.

Capital allocation -- primarily through mergers and acquisitions activity, including the Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI) merger and Alstom energy assets acquisition -- will contribute $0.15, or $1.35 billion

(NYSE: BHI) merger and energy assets acquisition -- will contribute $0.15, or $1.35 billion Operations will contribute $0.18, or $1.62 billion.

Of course, these assumptions are already baked into guidance, and the market will have factored them into its valuation of the stock, but what about potential upside?

Baker Hughes' cost synergies

At the time of the initial announcement of the Alstom deal in 2014, management expected $1.2 billion in cost synergies by 2020, but after a process of working on the integration, management upgraded this forecast to $3 billion in May 2015. It's entirely possible that expectations might also be upgraded for Baker Hughes.

Oil and gas capital spending

Weakness in oil and gas capital spending was the primary reason for the cut in the company's full-year 2016 organic revenue growth guidance from 2%-4% to 0%-2%. Therefore, it's fair to say that energy spending will play a key role in the company's growth prospects in future years.

Furthermore, the Baker Hughes deal is likely to increase the company's exposure to oil prices. Any sustained recovery in oil prices is likely to help General Electric Company.

The digital economy and additives

Immelt expects 3% to 5% overall organic revenue growth in and it's hard to see what specific product or service can move the needle much with a company generating $124 billion in revenue. That said, if there is anything that will do it, it'll be the company's digital solutions.

Immelt expects $8 billion in digital orders with Predix-powered (a cloud-based platform-as-a-service solution) and software orders contributing $5 billion and growing at a 20% to 30% rate. Given that accelerating Predix adoption is a key focus for the company, it's possible that the company might surpass its target of $15 billion in revenue from the industrial internet by 2020.

Similarly, Immelt is busy investing in additive manufacturing (3D printing) solutions and is on record as believing the company could reach $1 billion in additive manufacturing revenue by 2020. However, with more acquisitions and faster global adoption of 3D printing, this forecast could be increased.

Services

The coming year looks set to be a better one for services growth. Following annualized growth of 5% between 2011 and 2015, General Electric Company is on track to only generate 3% services revenue growth in 2016. The reason?

It's a familiar story of weak oil and gas spending. In fact, excluding oil and gas, services revenue will rise 6% to 7% in 2016. As for 2017, Immelt predicts 7% services revenue growth. This is important, because services revenue tends to be higher-margin for the company, and it's a key part of the company's transformation.

In addition, its industrial internet solutions provide a value-add to General Electric's equipment and are likely to spur services revenue. For example, sensors on a gas turbine can alert a user to when to get the turbine serviced, to optimize performance.

GENERAL ELECTRIC'S HEAVY DUTY H-TURBINE IS A LEADER I ITS CLASS. IMAGE SOURCE: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY WEBSITE

Looking ahead

All told, putting aside its existing outlook, the company has potential to surprise on the upside. A company like General Electric is never going to be a high-growth flier, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have high-growth products and services -- think digital solutions and additive manufacturing. Moreover, simple execution with its mergers and acquisitions could lead to increased profitability.

However, the most obvious near-term catalyst would come from finding more cost synergies with Baker Hughes and/or a general upturn in oil and gas capital spending.In short, don't write of the upside potential at the company, because there may yet be upside to the $2-by-2020 target.

10 stocks we like better than General Electric When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

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Image source: Apache Corporation.

Apache's (NYSE: APA) North American onshore segment is a crucial part of its future, thanks to the company's prime position in several promising shale plays. However, that segment had a bit of a down year in 2016 due to weaker oil prices. Meanwhile, the company's international and offshore segment delivered steady results thanks to its stable production profile and higher margins, which was just what the company needed. While those factors meant that the international and onshore segment was Apache's best performer in 2016, North American onshore could wrestle that title away as early as next year.

Stability amid the storm

As the following slide shows, Apache entered 2016 expecting a down year from its North American segment along with a rather flat year from the international and offshore business:

Image source: Apache Corporation investor presentation.

On a positive note, Apache has largely outperformed those expectations through the third quarter. Production at its North American segment has come in higher than anticipated thanks to robust well results and capital efficiency gains. That said, the company only expects production to come in at the high end of its production guidance range, which still implies a double-digit decline.

Meanwhile, production in its international and offshore segment has come in about as expected, with the company on pace to hit the midpoint of its guidance, implying roughly flat production year over year. While that result might not be anything to get excited about, what is enticing is the segment's lucrative cash margins:

Image source: Apache Corporation investor presentation.

As that slide shows, the segment's margins are almost $10 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) more than the company earns in the Permian Basin, and almost triple the margins of the company's other assets in North America. Those higher margins provided Apache with much-needed cash flow in 2016.

Can it maintain this momentum?

While the solid performance of Apache's international and offshore assets stood out in 2016, stable performance is about all the company can expect from the segment going forward. While the company can grow production from these assets through step-out exploration and development, that growth will not move the needle for Apache.

North American onshore, on the other hand, has remarkable growth potential, driven by the recent Aline High discovery. The company is in the process of ramping up its activity levels in that play, which should return the North American segment to a growth trajectory by the second half of next year. While Apache has not put out an estimated production growth rate, it has an enormous inventory of future drilling locations. In fact, Alpine High could have more than 3,000 future drilling locations while the company could have an even larger inventory throughout the rest of its Permian Basin acreage. On top that, the company has a large acreage position in the SCOOP/STACK plays of Oklahoma as well as an extensive position in Canada's Duvernay and Montney shale plays.

Image source: Apache Corporation.

While those plays do not get as much press as the Permian, they could be significant growth drivers for Apache in the future. For example, production from Devon Energy's (NYSE: DVN) STACK asset is up 38% over the past year, while higher-margin oil output from the play is up 184%. Devon Energy sees that growth continuing due to play's world-class resource potential. In fact, the STACK and the Permian Basin are the two plays Devon intends to use to return the company to growth mode in 2017. While Apache only has 50,000 net acres in the core of the STACK compared to Devon's more than 400,000 net acres, this play could still be a major driver for the company.

Meanwhile, the shale plays of Western Canada also have tremendous upside potential.ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), for example, currently estimates that it controls 1 billion BOE of resources in the region that it can economically produce as long as oil is around $50 per barrel. Furthermore, ConocoPhillips believes it could double this resource potential in the future through ongoing appraisal efforts. That bodes well for Apache because, like ConocoPhillips, it has a more than 3 million acre legacy position in Canada, which suggests it could likewise have enormous resource potential in the country.

Investor takeaway

The stable production and free cash flow from Apache's international and offshore segment were just what the company needed this year to help it manage through lower oil prices. Those factors clearly made that segment the company's best performer this year after North American onshore suffered from lower margins and production declines. That said, just because North American onshore had a down year, does not mean it has a dim future. Quite the contrary; that segment has the potential to drive the company's results for years to come due to its enormous untapped resource base.

10 stocks we like better than Apache When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

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French judges on Monday found IMF chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence for failing to challenge a 400 million euro ($417 million) state arbitration payout to a business tycoon in 2008 when she was French finance minister.

Despite the ruling the judges did not hand down any sentence in the case on her decision to allow the rare out-of-court arbitration payment. She has denied the negligence charges.

Her lawyer said immediately after the ruling that his team would look into appealing the decision.

The ruling risks triggering a new leadership crisis at the International Monetary Fund after Lagarde's predecessor Dominique Strauss Khan resigned in 2011 over a sex assault scandal.

(Reporting by Chine Labbe; writing by Leigh Thomas; editing by Andrew Callus)
A contract negotiated with the region's largest transit union will save the cash-strapped Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority more than $80 million over the next four years, officials said Monday.

Under the deal, the 4,100-member Boston Carmen's Union Local 589 will forgo a 2.5 percent pay raise that was scheduled for June. But in exchange, most union members including bus and subway drivers and bus maintenance workers would be protected from having their jobs outsourced over the next four years.

The contract was approved by the fiscal control board that oversees the MBTA after being ratified over the weekend by union members.

The agency's acting general manager, Brian Shortsleeve, said the agreement marked a change in what has been an often combative relationship between the T and the union.

"We are pleased that the MBTA and Local 589 were able to find common ground on a game plan that will improve the MBTA's cost structure by altering the status quo in a way that will improve service for riders, fiscal accountability for taxpayers, and provide stability to our employees," Shortsleeve said in a statement.

After forgoing the previously negotiated pay raise next year, union members will receive pay hikes of 1.5 percent in 2018 and 2019 and 2.5 percent in 2020. Wages for newly hired bus and rail operators would be lowered.

The union's president, James O'Brien, said the deal was about job security and limits on privatization.

The agreement changes work rules to prohibit employees from collecting overtime unless they've already worked at least 40 hours in a week. It also creates a pilot program that would offer an option of a four-day, 10-hour-per-day work week for bus and rail operators.

The changes could save $750 million over the next 25 years, MBTA officials said.
Hundreds of state employees caught in an unemployment compensation program funding dispute between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's administration and Senate Republicans spent their last day on the job Monday before they qualify for jobless benefits themselves.

Officials said there were no signs of a last-minute reprieve that could help about 520 people avoid being laid off less than a week before Christmas from the state Department of Labor and Industry's unemployment compensation call centers.

Wolf's administration is cutting jobs and closing unemployment compensation call centers in Allentown, Altoona and Lancaster without the $58 million from unemployment compensation tax revenue it said is necessary to maintain the centers at current staff levels.

Senate Republicans wrapped up the chamber's legislative business without voting on the funding bill sought by Wolf, saying they were unsatisfied with Wolf's answers on how the money would be used. Senate Republicans have not committed to approving funding when they return to the Capitol next month.

Diane Bowman, of the Service Employees International Union Local No. 668, which represents more than 300 of the affected workers, said, "I would hope that would be the case, but I don't have any reason to believe it's going to happen magically."

The final count of layoffs was still being settled Monday, as small numbers of workers were simply retiring or finding other positions.

One of the laid-off workers, Penny Erney, a claims examiner in Harrisburg, said she has no job prospects but hopes the state may call her back. She said the office held a goodbye luncheon on Friday for her and others facing layoffs but something was lacking.

"I mean, everything was there  the food was there, it was delicious," Erney said. "It's just, a celebrative mood wasn't."

Many of the workers have filed appeals to the State Civil Service Commission, saying they should not be laid off when funds are available and there is work that needs to be done. Commission spokesman Jack McGettigan said five more appeals were received Monday. He said the appeals will be presented to the commission at its January meeting.

Wolf has blamed the Senate GOP for the layoffs, saying he has given it information about the Service Improvement and Infrastructure Fund.

The General Assembly approved a four-year funding bill in 2013 in response to the federal government's accusation the state wasn't paying first-time jobless benefits quickly enough. A fifth year of funding passed the state House overwhelmingly in October.

But Senate Republicans balked, saying they wanted more details about how the money would be spent. Sen. Scott Wagner, R-York, said he wants more accountability from the administration.

"You ask one question, you get an answer," said Wagner, who met with affected employees at the unemployment call center in Altoona last week. "And that answer prompts another question. It's like the gift that keeps on giving."

After the layoffs, the state will still have call centers in Duquesne, Indiana, Erie and Scranton and as part of its operations in Harrisburg.
The founder of New York-based hedge fund Platinum Partners was arrested on Monday as prosecutors unveiled an indictment charging him and six others with participating in an approximately $1 billion fraud.

Mark Nordlicht, Platinum's founding partner and chief investment officer, was taken into custody at his New Rochelle, New York, home in connection with charges contained in an indictment filed in federal court in Brooklyn.

Others arrested included David Levy, Platinum's co-chief investment officer, and Uri Landesman, the former president of the firm's signature fund, said Federal Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Adrienne Senatore.

Platinum is liquidating its hedge funds, two of which have received bankruptcy protection.

The indictment said that since 2012, Nordlicht, Levy and Landesman schemed to defraud Platinum investors by overvaluing illiquid assets held by its flagship fund.

This caused a "severe liquidity crisis" that Platinum at first tried to remedy through high-interest loans between its funds before selectively paying some investors ahead of others, the indictment said.

Nordlicht, Levy and Jeffrey Shulse, former chief executive officer of Platinum's majority-owned Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC [BLCELB.UL], also defrauded the Texas energy company's bondholders, the indictment said.

A Platinum spokesman declined to comment. Nordlicht's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Michael Sommer, Levy's lawyer, said he looked forward to clearing his client's "good name."

Lawyers for Shulse and the other defendants could not be immediately identified.

Founded in 2003, Platinum Partners until this year had more than $1.7 billion under management, the indictment said. The flagship fund reported returning profits of more than 8 percent in 2015 and 7 percent from January to April 2016, it said.

But this year, a series of investigations tied to Platinum came to a head, leading to a Cayman Islands court placing its two main funds into liquidation in August.

In June, Murray Huberfeld, a Platinum associate who prosecutors say was a founder, was charged in Manhattan federal court with orchestrating a bribe to the head of the New York City prison guards' union, Norman Seabrook, to secure a $20 million investment. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Two weeks later, the FBI raided Platinum's Manhattan offices in a separate fraud investigation that culminated in Monday's indictment.

Others indicted include Joseph Sanfilippo, the former chief financial officer of flagship fund Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage Fund LP; Joseph Mann, a former Platinum marketing employee; and Daniel Small, a Platinum managing director.

The case is U.S. v. Nordlicht et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 16-cr-640.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Additional reporting by Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Lisa Von Ahn)
Image source: Getty Images.

What happened

Shares ofAllied World Assurance Co. Holdings, AG. (NYSE: AWH) were up by about 12% as of 12:00 p.m. EST after the company announced that it would merge withFairfax Financial Holdings (TSX: FFH)in a mostly stock deal.

So what

The terms of the deal call for Allied World shareholders to receive total consideration of $54.00 per Allied World share, with $10.00 paid in cash and $44.00 in Fairfax Financial stock, subject to some conditions. Half of the cash consideration ($5.00) will be paid in the form of a special dividend from Allied World prior to closing.

Fairfax retains the option to increase the amount of cash in the transaction to up to $40 per share, which it may prefer if Fairfax shares rise in value before the deal closes. Given that this is a cross-border transaction (Fairfax is listed in Toronto), currency fluctuations also play a role in the final price tag.

Now what

The market is pricing Allied World Assurance shares as if the deal will go through without a hiccup. Shares of the insurer are trading at a single-digit discount to their implied value if the transaction were closed today, suggesting that investors see little risk that it won't go through and minimal odds that another insurer will make a higher bid for the company.

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President-elect Donald Trump is the first of his kind; a businessman with no political experience, elected as a complete outsider. As such, the political establishment is having a difficult time adjusting to his situation, for which there is no established precedent.

Trumps credibility and electability stemmed in large part from his expansive business empire; he is reported as holding an executive position at more than 500 companies, and his assets are valued at $3.7 billion, according to Forbes. The President-elects real estate, management and branding empire has a claimed interest in at least 18 countries and territories, including China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Israel.

Theres no one who has gone from business to politics directly, whos a man of great wealth and great interrelated businesses, like Donald Trump. Its unprecedented. And so all of a sudden, the question becomes, well how do we know if he is working in the best interest of the country? Richard Roth, founding partner at The Roth Law Firm, told FOXBusiness.com.

Critics who perceive Trumps brand as a potential distraction from his mandate to put America first are asking the same question.

Though not required under the Constitution, but established as precedent by presidents before him, there have been calls for the President-elect to divest himself from his business empire and to liquidate his assets. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) have even gone so far as to effort a piece of legislation that would require Trump to divest, or face impeachment.

However, in Trumps case, dumping assets may be easier said than done. It would be nearly impossible for Trump to divest himself from his brand, Howard Schweitzer, former senior vice president, general counsel, and chief ethics officer at the Export-Import Bank of the United States, told FOXBusiness.com.

Its more about appearances than it is about legality. And I think when you strip everything away, his name  youre talking about somebody whose name is on buildings. And theres nothing that can be done from a structural point of view like youd have with a more typical ethics scenario in government you cant make him blind to his assets. Its not possible.

Roth agrees this is a game of appearances, and Trump must take careful steps to try to separate himself from his companies.

He cant sell his assets; you cant just sell your assets overnight. You cant just sell your real estate holdings overnight. Not to mention God knows what kind of taxes youre going to have to pay.

The Democrats proposed bill would require Trump to unload his assets into a blind trust, meaning he would give up control and would be unaware of how the assets were being managed. In Trumps case, his children would be running his businesses; a scenario which Roth believes is Trumps best bet.

Every decision he makes is going to be questioned whether he [divests his assets into a blind trust] or not. But after he does it he can just say I dont know what else I can do. I have no control, I dont know whats going on in underlying managementIve as best as possibleremoved myself so it doesnt affect my decision making.

Trump himself appears to be having a difficult time figuring out how to detach himself from his vast business empire. He was supposed to reveal the plans for his businesses by mid-December, but the announcement has been postponed until an unspecified date in January.

I think theyre struggling with what the best way is to set all this upI dont see it as a red flag, Schweitzer, who was also the COO of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), said.

Those plans, however, could provide critics with the ammunition they are searching for. Trumps children have played a pivotal role in helping the businessman preside over his vast holdings, and Trump has recently said sons Donald Jr. and Eric will succeed him in leading his namesake companies. Yet, they have also been tapped to aid his transition team, and many are concerned familial involvement could emerge as another source of potential conflict for the incoming administration.

Even though I am not mandated by law to do so, I will be leaving my busineses before January 20th so that I can focus full time on the......  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2016

Presidency. Two of my children, Don and Eric, plus executives, will manage them. No new deals will be done during my term(s) in office.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2016

Trump is reportedly looking to exploit an exception in the federal anti-nepotism law in order to find roles for his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner on his staff, according to Kellyanne Conway, his top political advisor.

While it is evident Trump trusts his familys advice above all else, perhaps this is one area he might consider compromising to quell the appearance of conflicts-of-interest, Schweitzer said.

Everybody in government has people outside of government that they call, that they bounce things off of, and its pretty clear [Trumps] family is front and center in terms of bouncing ideas off them and involvement in his professional life, he said. I think part of addressing the conflict issue is going to be not involving his kids in the business of government.

Roth on the other hand said as long as Trump is making decisions based on what is best for the country, and not toward nepotistic ends, there is no issue with Kushner or Ivanka aiding the incoming President.

Trumps transition period is an easy time for critics to find fresh angles from which to dissect his every move, but once he steps into office, Schweitzer believes people will turn their attention to what really matters: the issues.

Once he has the reins of power and the decisions that he makes are monumental presidential decisions, I just think those things are going to fade away and people are going to focus on the real issues, and hes going to focus on the real issues.
Donald Trump. Saying it out loud could practically get you lynched in Silicon Valley. Still. Never mind that he won the election. Especially now that he won the election. Only one other name even comes close to drawing that kind of ire from the left-leaning Bay Area crowd: Peter Thiel.

For the better part of 2016, the eccentric venture capitalist slash entrepreneur has been persona non grata in the Valley. Thiels first sin was bankrolling Hulk Hogans invasion of privacy suit that bankrupted Gawker Media and founder Nick Denton. Then he backed Trump for President. Everyone pretty much forgot all about Gawker after that.

Even though practically everyone whos anyone in the tech industry  including most of the CEOs, entrepreneurs and investors Thiel worked with  supported Hillary Clinton, he wasnt the least bit shy about backing her opponent. He went all in as a California delegate for Trump, a donor and a speaker at the RNC.

The Valley elite had a cow. They called for Facebook to drop Thiel from its board and lobbied Y Combinator to cut ties with him, to no avail. The insider-turned-outcast never flinched. And one week before the election, he walked into the lions den  the National Press Club in D.C.  and gave an impassioned speech on why he was behind Trump.

Talk about doubling down. Most in his position would shun the limelight. Avoid the controversy. Lay low and play it safe. Not Thiel. And, as the contrarian billionaire has done so many times before, he called it right. Now he serves as the Valleys gatekeeper to the next U.S. President, an outcome I doubt even he could have foreseen.

Until his book Zero to One hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list two years ago, few outside the Valley had ever heard of Thiel. But, practically everyone has heard of PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL), which he co-founded, not to mention Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), LinkedIn (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Yelp (NASDAQ:YELP), where he was an early investor.

As if thats not enough evidence of the mans uncanny ability to pick winners, Thiels venture arm, Founders Fund, has backed Airbnb, Lyft, Spotify and SpaceX. When cancer drug maker Stemcentrx is acquired by AbbVie, his VC firm stands to net more than $1 billion. And Palantir, which he cofounded, is now valued at $20 billion.

Peter Thiel is an entrepreneurs entrepreneur. Hes a risk takers risk taker. But he doesnt make high-risk bets and back unpopular causes for the reasons you might think. Hes not a contrarian for the sake of being one. Hes certainly not a thrill-seeker. He bets on a longshot when believes in the cause and he believes itll pay off. Thats his formula.

Thiel understands that there is no wisdom in crowds and nobody wins big by doing what everyone else is doing. Thinking about how disturbingly herdlike people become in so many different contexts, he once said, As an investor-entrepreneur, Ive always tried to be contrarian, to go against the crowd, to identify opportunities in places where people are not looking.

Now a trusted advisor to the President-elect, the German born prodigy who immigrated to America with his parents as a young boy sat just to the left of Trump at a summit between his incoming administration and a dozen or so of techs most powerful executives, an event that Thiel played a key role in orchestrating.

Trump began the meeting by thanking his Silicon Valley surrogate  not just for putting so much on the line on behalf of the campaign, but for his extraordinary ability to see what others cant.

I want to start by thanking Peter because he saw something very early, maybe before we saw it and of course hes known for that in a different way, but hes been so terrific and so outstanding, Trump said. Hes ahead of the curve, and I want to thank you, man. Youre a very special guy.

Indeed, he is.
"Suicide Squad" star Margot Robbie has married British director Tom Ackerley surrounded by her family and friends.

The actress, 26, tied the knot with her filmmaker partner of three years at a secret location on the Gold Coast, near the town of Dalby, Australia, where she grew up.

The couple are believed to have gotten engaged over the summer. She returned home from London for the nuptials.

Estranged from her dad Doug, she is believed to have been given away by her mother Sarie along with her brothers Lachlan and Cameron, while her sister Anya was her maid of honor.

Cameron was tagged in a photo at their wedding party last night with four of her friends.

He flew back to Queensland from New South Wales on Saturday when he shared a photo on Instagram, writing: The joys holiday travels; loving families being reunited, gift giving, great food and then

The Sun contacted representatives for Margot for comment.

Margot and Tom met in 2013 while working together on the WWII film "Suite Francaise" in Belgium and France.

She originally found fame as Donna Freedman in the Australian soap opera, "Neighbours" which she starred in for almost three years, before heading to Hollywood, and starring in the film "The Wolf of Wall Street" with Leonardo DiCaprio, 42.

This article originally appeared in The Sun.
JANESVILLE (AP)  Christmas trees vendors in Wisconsin said returning customers have helped keep their businesses running as usual while the number of trees sold nationally declines.

The states sales have been normal, although in recent years theyve have fluctuated, Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association executive secretary Cheryl Nicholson said.

Vern Nauman, a volunteer at Toeele-in-Nursery in Janesville, said family-owned lots often see the same families year after year.

The fun part is out there selling to the public and seeing their happiness when they come out and get a tree and their excitement, Nicholson said.

She noted Wisconsin and the rest of the U.S. sold more trees in the early 2000s. Wisconsin also had nearly 33,500 acres of Christmas trees in 2007 compared to the more than 23,600 acres this year.

Nicholson attributed the decline to the 2008 financial crisis and housing crash because families were cutting costs.

The economy plays a big part in tree sales because if people dont have jobs or theyre not making as much money, the Christmas tree may not be the thing they need to have, she said.
International action star Donnie Yen almost missed his chance to make history when he nearly refused the role of Chirrut Imwe in the newest Star Wars franchise movie, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Yen, 53, told the Los Angeles Times he was flattered by the offer, but he didnt want to be away from his family for months to film in London.

Yen, who was once called the strongest in the universe for his bigger than life ego, according to the South China Morning Post, wasnt completely sure about turning down the role, so he asked those closest to him.

I turned to my children and I said, 'Do you like babas "Ip Man" series?'  because Im known to Western audiences for Ip Man. 'Or do you want baba to be in "Star Wars?"' They went, Star Wars, of course!

I said, Wait a minute  theres something special there. Then my friends and family and fanboys, everybody was so excited and I realized, this is not just making a movie. Youre making history here. So thats how I got involved, and Im so glad I did.

Yens character Chirrut Imwe, a Jedi Master, plays a key role in helping the Rebels. Although blind, Imwe is strong with the Force and swift enough with a wooden staff to destroy Stormtroppers.

Review: 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' is a superb action film

Rogue One stars Felicity Jones, Forest Whitaker, Diego Luna, Mads Mikkelsen and Riz Ahmed. The films storyline takes place between the prequel and original trilogies, and portrays Jyn Ersos efforts to steal the plans for the Death Star, the ultimate weapon of the Galactic Empire, which has terrorized the galaxy far, far away since the first Star Wars in 1977.

About the role that appears to be the breakout character in the new film, Yen told the South China Morning Post, Of course Im feeling a sense of achievement, he said. For a Hong Kong actor, and a Chinese actor, to be able to play such a significant role that is consistent with the spirit of the series  with the Force  its a very precious opportunity.

So far, the film has earned $155 million domestically its opening weekend and grossed $290.5 million globally.
In an interview with Larry King, Leah Remini said Tom Cruise thinks she's Lucifer.

Remini grew up as a Scientologist but decided to leave the Church in 2013 and is currently promoting her A&E docuseries, Scientology and The Aftermath.

He wouldnt say anything to me, because he thinks Im the devil, she said when asked what Cruise would say to her these days. He honestly believes  Tom and most Scientologists, all Scientologists, are taught to believe that people like me are literally the devil, that we mean them harm.

In the series, the actress interviews former Scientologists. The former King of Queens star called Cruise a true believer.

Tom is very well aware of what is Scientology, truthfully, she said. He is very aware that its an organization that is defrauding people out of their lives. But in his heart, I believe he believes it.

She called the actor a a loyal Scientologist" and said at one point she felt the same way.

Last month Remini discussed Cruise in her Reddit AMA.

She stated the church sees Cruise as a Messiah.

Parishioners believe that he is singlehandedly changing the planet because that is what the 'church' is telling them.

The Church of Scientology issued a statement to US Weekly regarding the actresses allegations.

"Leah Remini is doing this show for the money, just as she profited from her book. In addition, she attempted to extort the Church by first demanding $500,000, followed by an additional $1 million, because the Church invoked its First Amendment right to respond to her false claims with the truth. This shows the extent Leah Remini is willing to go to in order to distort the truth about Scientology."

The church has launched a website to slam the actress' claims.
A group of Hollywood actor-vists are leading the effort to convince electors not to vote for President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, a hastily-arranged last-ditch bid that has led to at least one embarrassing mistake.

Martin Sheen, who played fictitious President Josiah Barlett on The West Wing, is featured in a personalized video designed to sway a Kansas elector, Politico reported. The piece is titled Mr. Ashley McMillan and Sheen implores Mr. McMillan to follow the example of Americas Founding Fathers. Hes hopeful that McMillan will switch his vote and become one of the 37 Republican electors required to possibly deny Trump the presidency.

Just one problem with Sheens pitch: Ashley McMillan is not a man.

Its my job to represent the people of Kansas on Monday. It was Martin Sheens job to get my name right. He failed. I wont, McMillan, who plans to vote for Trump, told The Daily Caller.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE PREPARES TO MEET UNDER OLD RULES, NEW CONTROVERSY

Sheen is joined in the main, non-personalized Unite for America video by the likes of Will & Grace actress Debra Messing, Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk and musician Moby.

Im not asking you to vote for Hillary Clinton, Moby says during the ad, as soft piano music plays beneath his voice.

What is evident is that Donald Trump lacks more than the qualifications to be president, M.A.S.H. actor Mike Farrell says, with Messing delivering the blow: He lacks the necessary stability.

Sheen says the electors have the opportunity to go down in the books as an American hero if they dont vote for Trump.

Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway on Sunday dismissed the effort as out of work actors and actresses embarrassing themselves.

One guy played the president on the show The West Wing. Hes not the president going to the West Wing. Thats Donald Trump, Conway told Fox News Howard Kurtz on Media Buzz.

Trump is in line to get 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

The Associated Press tried to reach all 538 electors and was able to interview more than 330 of them. Many reported getting tens of thousands of emails, calls and letters asking them to vote against Trump.

But the canvass found overwhelming support for the system, and the nominee, among Republican electors. The AP found only one pledged to Trump who will refuse to vote for him.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sylvester Stallone just knocked out the rumors that he may be joining Donald Trump in Washington.

Stallone said he was "flattered" President-elect Donald Trump might be considering him for an administration post, but believes he would be better suited to work for veterans.

"I am incredibly flattered to have been suggested to be involved with the National Endowment of the Arts," Stallone told FOX411 in a statement. "However I believe I could be more effective by bringing national attention to returning military personnel in an effort to find gainful employment, suitable housing and financial assistance these heroes respectfully deserve."

It was reported Friday that Trump was considering Stallone to chair the NEA.

A Trump rep told us on Friday, "No decision has been made here yet." An RNC rep added, "They are old friends and the President-elect thinks very highly of him, but no decisions have been made regarding this position."

Stallone and the President-elect have a history. Trump's campaign launched a web ad that featured a speech from Stallone's 2006 "Rocky Balboa."

The actor told Variety in January "I love Donald Trump."

Big names from several industries have been lining up at the Trump Tower in New York city to talk about possible posts in the new administration.

Artist Jane Chu currently chairs the NEA, which has an annual budget of $150 million. Which is about what a big-budget Stallone-type action thriller is going for these days.
Absolut vodka is known for its advertisements that feature everyt things in the shape of its bottles but a new South Korean ad has irked political protesters and has some calling for a brand boycott.

Political unrest has been prevalent throughout the country since South Korean president Park Gyen-hye was impeached earlier this month. Massive street protests followed the impeachment, with more than a million people flooding the streets of Seoul in an attempt to convince the government to officiall end Gyen-hye's term in office.

THE WORLD'S BEST FLAVORED VODKAS

Absolut, a Swedish brand now owned by French liquor magnate Pernod Ricard, decided to get involved in the controversy and turned one of the protest's most iconic images into a vodka ad.

Utilizing a time-lapse image featuring hundreds of thousands of candle-carrying protesters, the company molded the crowd into its famous bottle shape.

ABSOLUT KOREA: The Future is Yours to Create, the ad read.

Absolut Vodka uses S. Korea president impeachment protests for ad https://t.co/ET5dh2HrzD pic.twitter.com/PYTFGgEJaM  RT (@RT_com) December 13, 2016

As soon as the ad started appearing online last week, many spoke out against Absolut utilizing the country's pollitical unrest for financial gain.

Wait... the #absolutkorea ad is an official Absolut vodka ad? I'd argue political turmoil is best left out of your branding @absolutvodka  Hello Switty (@HelloSwitty) December 10, 2016

Some celebrated the brand's creativitiy, even in a time of political crisis.

But this isnt the first time Absolut has courted controversy for one of its politically charged ads.

In 2008, the vodka producer issud an apology after releasing an advertisement showing California, Texas and additional southwestern states as part of Mexico as part of its In an Absolut World marketing run. That campaign was supposed idealize political and historical events in a new context.

HOW LONG DOES LIQUOR REALLY LAST AFTER IT'S BEEN OPENED?

Absolut issued a statement in which they denied having an agenda of anti-American sentiment.

As for the current controversy over the South Korean bottle, the company has yet to speak out. According to Munchies, Absolut has changed the settings on its Facebook post so that others cant embed the image.

UPDATE: Paula Eriksson, vice president of corporate communitions for The Absolut Company send FoxNews.com the following statement via email:

"The post made on the brands local fb-page addresses something, which is currently high on many Koreans mind, including many of those who follow Absolut Vodka on fb.

Social media generate engagement, whether positive, negative or neutral. However, as far as this post is concerned, we respect that a large majority of consumers have reacted positively.

We are of course sorry that some consumers have felt upset about the post, and well take learnings from that going forward.

However, to get proportions right, out of around 8.000 total engagements, 1.000 have been negative. The fb-post has not been published elsewhere."
The dream of future generations being freed from HIV and AIDS is at a crossroads.

The decade-old law that transformed the battle against the epidemic in developing countries is running up against an era of economic recovery and harsh budget cuts.

Grown out of an unlikely partnership between President George W. Bush and lawmakers led by the Congressional Black Caucus, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has come to represent what Washington can do when it puts politics aside  and what America can do to make the world a better place.

President Barack Obama, speaking at the recent dedication of Bush's presidential library, praised the compassion Bush showed in "helping to save millions of lives and reminding people in some of the poorest corners of the globe that America cares."

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said of Bush in a statement that "while many events may distinguish his presidency, his devotion to combatting the scourge of HIV/AIDS will certainly define his legacy."

The AIDS program's future, however, is uncertain. Obama has upped the stakes, speaking in his State of the Union address this year of "realizing the promise of an AIDS-free generation." But funding for the relief plan's bilateral efforts has dipped in recent years and it's doubtful that Congress, in its current budget-cutting mood, will reverse that trend when the current five-year program expires later this year.

The AIDS program is also trying to find a balance between its goals of reaching more people with its prevention and treatment programs and turning over more responsibility to the host nations where it operates.

"This has been an incredible achievement," said Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., a senior Congressional Black Caucus member who played major roles both in passing the original 2003 act and its 2008 renewal that significantly increased funding for AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis treatment in Africa and other areas of the developing world. She spoke of the more than 5 million people now receiving life-saving antiretroviral treatment and 11 million pregnant women who received HIV testing and counseling last year. "But I'm worried that with any type of level-funding or cuts we'll go backward," she said.

The 2008 act more than tripled funding from the 2003 measure, approving $48 billion over five years for bilateral and global AIDS programs, malaria and tuberculosis. It also ended U.S. policy making it almost impossible for HIV-positive people to get visas to enter the country.

The AIDS program was the largest commitment ever by a nation to combat a single disease internationally. According to the U.N.'s UNAIDS and the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2011 the United States provided nearly 60 percent of all international AIDS assistance.

A decade ago, almost no one in sub-Saharan Africa was receiving antiretroviral treatment. By 2008, the AIDSprogram had boosted that number to 1.7 million. As of last year it was 5.1 million.

The State Department says the program last year also helped provide treatment to some 750,000 HIV-positive pregnant women, allowing about 230,000 infants to be born HIV-free, supported 2 million male circumcisions and directly supported HIV testing and counseling for 46.5 million.

"This is a remarkable story that the American people should know about," Kimberly Scott of the Institute of Medicine, which recently completed an evaluation of the AIDS program, said at a forum sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the CSIS Global Health Policy Center.

According to UNAIDS, the number of people living with HIV has leveled off, standing at about 34 million at the end of 2011. New infections that year reached 2.5 million, down 20 percent from 2001. AIDS-related deaths were 1.7 million, down from 2.3 million in 2005.

Jennifer Kates, director of global health and HIV policy at Kaiser, said most countries where the program operates have yet to reach the "tipping point," where new infections occurring in a year are less than the increase in people receiving treatment. Among the success stories were Ethiopia, where the 40,000 going on treatment in 2011 was almost four times the new infections. Still with a long way to go was Nigeria, which that year had 270,000 new HIV infections and a 57,000 increase in those getting treatment.

Chris Collins, director of public policy at amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, also warned of potential repercussions as the AIDS program shifts from being an emergency response to the AIDS epidemic to a more supportive role for country-based health programs.

"The countries themselves largely are avoiding the important role that key populations play in epidemics," he said, referring to gay men, those injecting drugs and sex workers. These groups face discrimination and criminal charges in many cases, and 90 percent of the money to help them now comes from external sources.

Collins also spoke of the "huge mismatch" between the positive science and rhetoric on fighting AIDS and the money available. Since 2009 the funding for bilateral and global HIV and AIDS programs has largely stalled.

Kaiser's Kates said that while there's still bipartisan support for the AIDS program in Congress, "the big question is will the financing be there to reach the goals" of treating more people and advancing toward that AIDS-free generation. "The challenge right now is that the global economic climate is different, the U.S. climate is different, but the need is still great."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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London-based pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline signed a $200 million agreement with the United States government to produce new antibiotics.

These new antibiotics are expected to overcome resistance and fight diseases associated with bioterrorism.

According to Reuters, this agreement is the first of its kind between Washington and a drug company and will allow funding to move around GSK's antibiotics portfolio rather than focusing on a single drug candidate.

A release by the company noted that under the terms of the agreement, Health and Human Services will provide $40 million for the initial 18-month agreement and up to a total of $200 million if the agreement is renewed over five years.

The statement also noted that drug resistant bacterial infections are expected to become a global crisis.

"There is an urgent need to address antibiotic resistance and new models are needed to deal with this challenging area of drug development," said David Payne, head of GSK's Antibacterial Discovery Performance Unit in the press release.

According to the press release, many companies have in recent years withdrawn from antibacterial R&D due to the scientific challenges and a lower return on investment, affecting the ability to treat bacterial infections and compromising our preparedness to tackle biothreat pathogens.

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.

Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of Health and Human Services, and GlaxoSmithKline will have a joint oversight committee that will monitor progress, make decisions on the allocation of funds and decide on the addition or removal of drug candidates from the portfolio.

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Medical marijuana items include yummy-looking gummy candies, cookies and other treats that may lead to young children getting sick from accidentally eating the drug, a Colorado study suggests.

Fourteen children were treated at Colorado Children's Hospital in the two years after a 2009 federal policy change led to a surge in medical marijuana use, the study found. That's when federal authorities said they would not prosecute legal users.

Study cases were mostly mild, but parents should know about potential risks and keep the products out of reach, said lead author Dr. George Sam Wang, an emergency room physician at the hospital.

Unusual drowsiness and unsteady walking were among the symptoms. One child, a 5-year-old boy, had trouble breathing. Eight children were hospitalized, two in the intensive care unit, though all recovered within a few days, Wang said. By contrast, in four years preceding the policy change, the Denver-area hospital had no such cases.

Some children came in laughing, glassy-eyed or "acting a little goofy and 'off,'" Wang said. Many had eaten medical marijuana food items, although nonmedical marijuana was involved in at least three cases. The children were younger than 12 and included an 8-month-old boy.

The study was released Monday in JAMA Pediatrics.

Eighteen states and Washington, D.C., allow medical marijuana, though it remains illegal under federal law. Colorado's law dates to 2000 but the study notes that use there soared after the 2009 policy change on prosecution. Last year, Colorado and Washington state legalized adult possession of small amounts of nonmedical marijuana.

Some states, including Colorado, allow medical marijuana use by sick kids, with parents' supervision.

In a journal editorial, two Seattle poisoning specialists say that at least seven more states are considering legalizing medical marijuana and that laws that expand marijuana use likely will lead to more children sickened.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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A new deadly respiratory virus related to SARS has killed half the people known to be infected and is a "threat to the entire world," according to the United Nations' World Health Organization.

The worldwide death toll has hit 23 out of 44 people known to have been infected with the new virus. The 23rd victim was a French patient who died Tuesday of the disease.

The novel coronavirus is related to SARS, which killed some 800 people in a global epidemic in 2003. Dr. Margaret Chan, head of the World Health Organization, singled out the illness in a speech on Monday in Geneva.

"We understand too little about this virus when viewed against the magnitude of its potential threat," Chan said at the annual WHO meeting. "We do not know where the virus hides in nature. We do not know how people are getting infected. Until we answer these questions, we are empty-handed when it comes to prevention. These are alarm bells. And we must respond."

Most of those infected since the virus was identified last year had traveled to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Pakistan. There also have been cases in Britain and Germany.

The ministry said the Frenchman, whose illness was identified May 8, had recently returned from a visit to the United Arab Emirates. His hospital roommate also tested positive for the illness.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Health Ministry reported five new cases of the virus. All the patients were in their 70s or older.

Symptoms of the new virus resemble those of a common cold and include fever, cough, which can then lead to pneumonia and kidney failure. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea have also been reported, according to the WHO.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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A pregnant 22-year-old in El Salvador whose case has put an international spot on the country's strict anti-abortion laws will not be allowed to terminate her pregnancy.

El Salvador's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday against allowing the woman suffering from kidney failure and lupus to have an abortion. Doctors say fetus has no chance of survival and her own life is at risk if she carries to full term.

The young mother of one, who goes by the name Beatriz to protect her identity, is carrying an anencephalic fetus, which means it has no brain and is only expected to survive a few hours after birth.

She is currently 26 weeks pregnant.

The Central American country's laws prohibit all abortions, even when a woman's health is at risk. At present, the woman and any doctor who terminated her pregnancy would face arrest and criminal charges.

The judges voted 4-to-1 to reject the appeal by the woman's lawyers, who argued that continuing with the pregnancy puts her life at risk.

The court said physical and psychological exams done on the woman by the government-run Institute of Legal Medicine found that her diseases are under control and she can continue the pregnancy.

The woman is described as in fragile health. Medical experts have said the pregnancy is a threat to her health.

Ultrasound images, meanwhile, indicated the fetus is developing with only a brain stem, a condition known as anencephaly. Most babies born with anencephaly live only a few days.

There was no immediate reaction to the ruling, which was announced late in the day. Lawyers for the woman did not return calls.

Before the court heard arguments in the case two weeks ago, the government's Health Ministry said it supported the woman's request for an abortion on health grounds. But the government's Legal Medicine Institute argued the pregnancy should be allowed to continue.

A medical committee at the maternity hospital where the woman has been treated said the baby wouldn't survive and recommended terminating the pregnancy, saying the woman's health "will certainly get worse as the pregnancy advances."

El Salvador's attorney general for human rights, Oscar Luna, said earlier that "in reality, what should prevail above all are human rights  in this case, the right to life."

The Yes to Life Foundation, a Salvadoran group that opposes abortion, said the woman should wait to see if there were any medical procedures available to induce an early delivery. Regina de Cardenal, the head of the group, said the case was being used to press for legalized abortion in El Salvador.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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In a case that drew international and placed a spotlight on El Salvadors stringent abortion laws, a seriously ill Salvadoran woman received permission on Thursday to end the troubled pregnancy with a cesarean section.

El Salvador's Health Minister on Thursday approved the C-section for the 22-year-old woman suffering from kidney failure and lupus, a day after the Supreme Court ruled that she could not have an abortion despite her lawyers' appeal that the pregnancy was life-threatening.

Ultrasound images indicate that her fetus is developing with only a brain stem and is given no chance of surviving.

The case of the mother known only as Beatriz drew widespread attention and criticism as she sought to end the pregnancy in a country with some of the strictest abortion laws in Latin America. Salvadoran laws prohibit all abortions, even when a woman's health is at risk, and the woman and any doctor who terminated her pregnancy would face arrest and criminal charges.

"She is in the hands of top-notch doctors," Health Minister Maria Isabel Rodriguez said Thursday. "The medical team at the Maternity Hospital is ready to act immediately at the slightest sign of danger."

"For me what matters is to protect Beatriz's life," she added.

Because the pregnancy is 26 weeks along, abortion laws are no longer at play, according to women's groups who have supported her petition. Rather, the health ministry can determine what's most medically sound for the mother versus the unborn baby.

Just as the government was resolving the case, the Inter-American Court on Humans Rights ruled that El Salvador needs to protect Beatriz's life and integrity and help her end her pregnancy. The ruling does not impact the resolution of the case because the Salvadoran government had already decided to safeguard her life.

The Health Department hasn't given a day or time for when Beatriz will deliver the baby by cesarean section, said Morena Herrera, a member of the Feminist Collective for Local Development, an organization that has been supporting Beatriz.

"She is going through all the medical exams to be ready for surgery," Herrera said.

The Supreme Court said physical and psychological exams done on the woman by the government-run Institute of Legal Medicine found that her diseases are under control and she could continue the pregnancy. The judges voted 4-to-1 to reject the appeal by the woman's lawyers, who argued that continuing with the pregnancy put her life at risk.

Amnesty International called the court decision "cruel and callous" and "a potential death sentence for Beatriz."

Abortion opponents said the case was being used to press for legalized abortion in El Salvador, which has some of the toughest abortion laws in Latin America, along with Chile, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Suriname.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Venezuelan Maria Eugenia Maurys elegant apartment, almost 1,000 feet above the bustling East Side of Manhattan, has become a philanthropic hosting spot.

She and her husband, former Harvard professor William Haseltine, share a love of science, the arts and music, serving on the boards of many New York organizations  the Metropolitan Opera, the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and El Museo del Barrio, among others.

Their biggest event is their annual winter ball, known as My Hero Gala. It honors some of the years best advocates and attracts famous celebrities, like fashion designers Carolina Herrera and Marc Jacobs and well-known actors like Eva Mendez and Gael Garcia Bernal.

And the powerful couple shares a passion to give back. Dr. Haseltine, a scientist who has done pioneering work on cancer and AIDS, created a foundation called Access Health International.

There is nothing more rewarding than saving lives and empowering people, nothing more wonderful than making this a healthier, better world for everyone to enjoy, Maury says.

Maury has been the president of the board of AID for AIDS International since 2001. This non-profit organization is trying to improve the quality of life for individuals across the developing world dealing with HIV/AIDS, focusing on those living in Latin America and the Caribbean.

AID for AIDS has sent nearly $90 million worth of medicine to beneficiaries in over 37 countries worldwide.

Maury said she became involved after hearing heart-wrenching stories about young people infected with AIDS.

The whole family has been great supporters of the cause. Her daughters Karina, Manuela and Camila walk with her in the annual Aids Walk of New York since they were young.

Maurys mission is to continue fighting against the stigma and discrimination toward people living with HIV/AIDS. And to continue granting health access to Latino communities, and saving lives, one by one.

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A seriously ill Salvadoran woman who was denied a medical abortion had a successful cesarean section to deliver a baby that doctors had given little chance of surviving.

The 22-year-old woman, known only as Beatriz for privacy reasons, underwent the operation Monday afternoon, after 27 weeks of pregnancy, El Salvador's Health Ministry announced.

The baby girl was born without a brain and died after five hours.

"It was painful to see the little creature. That's what the grandmother told us, and the doctors confirmed it," Morena Herrera of the Feminist Collective for Local Development, told The Associated Press.

The country's Supreme Court last week prohibited an abortion for Beatriz, who suffers from lupus and kidney failure and whose lawyers said the pregnancy was threatening her life. Her plight drew international attention and a ruling from the Inter-American Court on Human Rights that El Salvador should protect her life and help her end the pregnancy.

The Health Ministry stepped in late last week after the ruling and said it would allow the C-section because the pregnancy was already at 26 weeks and the country's strict abortion laws were no longer at play. Ultrasound images had indicated her fetus was developing with only a brain stem.

The Health Ministry can determine what is most medically sound for a mother versus the unborn baby and was lauded internationally for working to save the woman's life.

El Salvador's laws prohibit all abortions, even when a woman's health is at risk. Beatriz and any doctor who terminated her pregnancy would have faced arrest and criminal charges.

A majority of judges on the high court rejected the appeal by Beatriz's lawyers, saying physical and psychological exams by the government-run Institute of Legal Medicine found that her diseases were under control and that she could continue the pregnancy.

Just as the Health Ministry was resolving the case, the Inter-American Court issued its ruling, but it no longer applied in the case.

Abortion opponents said the case was being used to press for legalized abortion in El Salvador, which has some of the toughest abortion laws in Latin America, along with Chile, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Suriname.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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The latest ruling in a series of complex back-and-forth decisions regarding giving young girls access to the morning after pill has been met with both praise and concern.

On Wednesday a federal appeals court decided to permit girls of any age to buy generic versions of emergency contraception without prescriptions.

However the federal government is still appealing a judge's ruling allowing the sales.

While advocates for girls' and women's rights embraced the ruling, there was also scorn from social conservatives and other opponents who argue the drug's availability takes away the rights of parents of girls who could get it without their permission.

The brief order issued by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan permitted two-pill versions of emergency contraception to immediately be sold without restrictions, but the court refused to allow unrestricted sales of the Plan B One-Step contraceptive until it decides the merits of the government's appeal. It did not specify why the two-pill versions were being allowed now, though it said the government failed to meet the requirements necessary to block the lower-court decision.

Department of Justice spokeswoman Allison Price said the government was reviewing the court's order.

Anna Higgins, director of the Family Research Council's Center for Human Dignity, where she focuses on issues including conception and end-of-life care, said the ease of access to the drug was a problem. She described the court's order Wednesday as "confounding."

"Our reaction in general is a concern for the safety of young girls and the rights of parents," she said.

Center for Reproductive Rights President Nancy Northup called the day of the court's order a "historic day for women's health."

"Finally, after more than a decade of politically motivated delays, women will no longer have to endure intrusive, onerous and medically unnecessary restrictions to get emergency contraception," she said in a statement.

The center's litigation director, Julie Rickelman, said the government has two weeks to decide whether to appeal the 2nd Circuit's decision on the stay to the full appeals court or the Supreme Court. Even if there is no appeal of the stay ruling, it was unclear how soon drugstores would move the two-pill emergency contraception from behind the counter. She said she hoped the pills would be available without restriction within a month.

"What it does mean is that generic two-pill products are going to be readily available to women without age restrictions, on any drugstore shelf," Rickelman said. "It'll be like buying Tylenol. You'll be able to go get it off the drugstore shelf, no ID, at the regular counter."

Dr. Georges Benjamin, of the American Public Health Association, said the court was right to allow women of child-bearing age to have access to emergency contraception, saying he was "hopeful that the full appeals court, when it finally decides, will have the same view."

The government has appealed U.S. District Judge Edward Korman's underlying April 5 ruling, which ordered emergency contraceptives based on the hormone levonorgestrel be made available without a prescription, over the counter and without point-of-sale or age restrictions.

The government asked the judge to suspend the effect of that ruling until the appeals court could decide the case, but the judge declined, saying the government's decision to restrict sales was "politically motivated, scientifically unjustified and contrary to agency precedent." He also said there was no basis to deny the request to make the drugs widely available.

The government had argued that "substantial market confusion" could result if the judge's ruling were enforced while appeals were pending, only to be later overturned.

The morning-after pill contains a higher dose of the female progestin hormone than is in regular birth control pills. Taking it within 72 hours of rape, condom failure or just forgetting regular contraception can cut the chances of pregnancy by up to 89 percent. But it works best within the first 24 hours. If a girl or woman already is pregnant, the pill has no effect. It prevents ovulation or fertilization of an egg.

The Food and Drug Administration was preparing in 2011 to allow over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill with no limits when Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled her own scientists in an unprecedented move.

The FDA announced in early May that Plan B One-Step could be sold without a prescription to those 15 and older. Its maker, Teva Women's Health, plans to begin those sales soon. Sales had previously been limited to those who were at least 17.

Korman, the judge, later ridiculed the FDA changes, saying they established "nonsensical rules" that favored sales of the Plan B One-Step morning-after pill and were made "to sugarcoat" the government's appeal.

He also said they place a disproportionate burden on blacks and the poor by requiring a prescription for less expensive generic versions of the drug bought by those under age 17 and by requiring those over age 17 to show proof-of-age identification at a pharmacy.

Plan B One-Step is the newer version of emergency contraception  the same drug but combined into one pill instead of two.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Following the much publicized case of an ill Salvadoran woman who was denied an abortion, the United Nations has called on the Central American nation to reconsider its abortion laws.

The 22-year old woman, who suffers from lupus and kidney failure and whose lawyers said the pregnancy was threatening her life, was eventually allowed to undergo a cesarean section when she was about 26 weeks pregnant. The baby, who was born without a brain, survived for five hours before passing away.

The countrys Supreme Court initially prohibited Beatrizs abortion. Her plight drew international attention and a ruling from the Inter-American Court on Human Rights that El Salvador should protect her life and help her end the pregnancy.

It is high time to reconsider the serious consequences on womens rights of the abortion legislation and practice in El Salvador, and to afford the legal protection that all women in the country deserve, a United Nations press released stated.

The United Nations recommendation comes from independent experts working with the international organization and who strongly condemned the ruling of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of El Salvador rejecting the woman request to terminate the life-threatening pregnancy.

This Court ruling exposed the physical and mental health of Beatriz to serious risk, which could eventually threaten her life, said the UN experts on right to health, torture, and discrimination and violence against women, Anand Grover, Juan E. Mendez, Kamala Chandrakirana and Rashida Manjoo in their statement.

They said the Supreme Courts initial decision to deny the abortion could have had serious consequences.

The courts decision is in clear contravention of El Salvadors human rights obligations, including article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which recognizes the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, they warned, and article 12 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against women to which El Salvador is party.

The Health Ministry stepped in late last week after the ruling and said it would allow the C-section because the pregnancy was already at 26 weeks and the country's strict abortion laws were no longer at play. Ultrasound images had indicated her fetus was developing with only one brain stem.

The Health Ministry can determine what is most medically sound for a mother vs. the unborn baby and was lauded internationally for working to save the woman's life.

El Salvador's laws  like many throughout Latin America - prohibit all abortions, even when a woman's health is at risk. Beatriz and any doctor who terminated her pregnancy would have faced arrest and criminal charges.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Latinos in California will top President Barack Obama's agenda Friday afternoon on a visit San Jose highlighting how the state is implementing the Affordable Care Act.

Making a personal plea to Californians to sign up for coverage under the new health care law, Obama will discuss the state's collaboration with non-government groups to promote, primarily to Hispanics, the health care exchanges that are being created to help millions of now-uninsured consumers afford coverage, White House officials said.

Among the private entities working with the state of California to promote enrollment are the Spanish-language TV networks Telemundo and Univision. The White House said the law will give more than 10 million uninsured Latinos across the country the opportunity to afford health insurance coverage.

California has the country's largest insurance market and, with six million uninsured residents, it is a crucial part of the effort to get consumers to sign up for coverage, officials said.

Thirteen insurance companies will be offering multiple health plans that vary in coverage and price through California's exchange, even in some of the most rural regions of the state.

Getting young people to enroll through the exchanges also is critical; they cost insurers less money because they tend to have the best health and don't require a lot of costly medical care.

The Obama administration is looking for about seven million people to enroll through the exchanges, and 2.6 million of them need to be younger in order to keep costs down for the overall pool of enrollees, officials said.

Nearly one-third of these young people live in three states: California, Texas and Florida.

Not all states are pushing the law. In many states, Republican governments are opposing the law's implementation and are leaving oversight of the exchanges to the federal government.

Obama arrived in California on Thursday evening to attend fundraisers in Palo Alto and Portola Valley to help Senate Democratic candidates.

He headlined a Democratic National Committee fundraiser Friday in Santa Monica before traveling to the sprawling Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage for two days of private talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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A 10-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis who has been fighting to expand her options for lifesaving surgery has finally received new lungs.

Sarah Murnaghan underwent a six-hour transplant surgery Wednesday to receive a set of adult lungs at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Her aunt said the procedure was a result the larger list of available organs made possible through the judges decision.

"It was a direct result of the ruling that allowed her to be put on the adult list," Sharon Ruddock said after her niece's surgery was completed successfully. "It was not pediatric lungs. She would have never gotten these lungs otherwise."

She said the donor lungs came through "normal channels" and not through the public appeals the family made in its bid to find a compatible donor. No other details about the donor lungs are known.

The Murnaghan family's quest to qualify their daughter for an organ transplant spurred public debate over how donor organs are allocated.

Her family and the family of another cystic fibrosis patient at the same hospital challenged existing transplant policy that made children under 12 wait for pediatric lungs to become available, or be offered lungs donated by adults only after adolescents and adults on the waiting list had been considered. They said pediatric lungs are rarely donated.

Sarah's health was fading when U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson in Philadelphia ruled June 5 that Sarah and 11-year-old Javier Acosta of New York City should be eligible for adult lungs.

Critics warned there could be a downside to having judges intervene in the organ transplant system's allocation policy. Lung transplants are difficult procedures and some say child patients tend to have more trouble with them than adults.

During double lung transplants, surgeons must open up the patient's chest. Complications can include rejection of the new lung and infection.

"Her doctors are very pleased with both her progress during the procedure and her prognosis for recovery," the family said in a statement. "The surgeons had no challenges resizing and transplanting the donor lungs  the surgery went smoothly, and Sarah did extremely well. She is in the process of getting settled in the ICU and now her recovery begins. We expect it will be a long road, but we're not going for easy, we're going for possible."

Ruddock said the family was optimistic about Sarah's recovery.

"If everything goes perfectly, she could be out in a couple of weeks, running down the hall," Ruddock said. "It could take a couple of months, it could take three weeks."

The Murnaghan family noted that Sarah's successful surgery was the result of another family's loss:

"We are elated this day has come, but we also know our good news is another family's tragedy. That family made the decision to give Sarah the gift of life  and they are the true heroes today."

On Wednesday, in a posting on her Facebook page, Janet Murnaghan said she and the family were "overwhelmed with emotions" and thanked all her supporters. She said the donor's family "has experienced a tremendous loss, may God grant them a peace that surpasses understanding."

Ruddock said Sarah doesn't yet know the full extent of the impact her case has had.

"She really wanted to Google herself the other day and we were like, no."

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network  the national organization that manages organ transplants  added Sarah to the adult waiting list after Baylson's ruling. Her transplant came just two days before a hearing was scheduled on the family's request for a broader injunction.

The network has said 31 children under age 11 are on the waiting list for a lung transplant. Its executive committee held an emergency meeting this week but resisted making emergency rule changes for children under 12 who are waiting for lungs, instead creating a special appeal and review system to hear such cases.

Murnaghan's family "did have a legitimate complaint" about the rule that limited her access to adult lungs, said medical ethicist Arthur Caplan of the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York.

"When the transplant community met, they didn't want to change that rule without really thinking carefully about it," he said. The appeals process that was established this week was "built on evidence, not on influence."

He added: "In general, the road to a transplant is still to let the system decide who will do best with scarce, lifesaving organs. And it's important that people understand that money, visibility, being photogenic ... are factors that have to be kept to a minimum if we're going to get the best use out of the scarce supply of donated cadaver organs."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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After accidentally impaling himself with an industrial power tool, a Brazilian farmer had to travel 30 miles with the machine wedged in his stomach so he could undergo surgery to remove it.

Gregorio Steinmedc, 56, was cutting firewood at his home in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil when an angle grinder he was using slipped and dug itself 4 inches into his abdomen.

The farmer immediately searched for his wife, and Frida Maria Steinmedc used her first aid knowledge to staunch the bleeding.

He wanted to take it out and I said no, we couldnt take it out, we had to go to the hospital, she told Globo, a Brazilian newspaper.

The couple first went to a local doctor in their town of Campina das Missoes where they were told to go to the nearest hospital, which was 30 miles away. Gregorio Steinmedc said he had the tool, which is used to grind wood or metal, jammed in his stomach for at least two hours.

The Brazilian farmer was in surgery for another two and a half hours as doctors removed the angle grinder from his abdomen. The lead surgeon, Mauricio Romano, said the tool did not puncture any of Steinmedcs vital organs, and his wife as well as the nurses in his hometown most likely saved his life.

If they had removed the saw, Romano told Globo, [He] could have had a hemorrhage in the abdominal wall and died.

According to the Life and Health Hospital in Santa Rosa, where Steinmedc was treated, he is healing well after his surgery. He has since vowed to stay away from chainsaws and similar tools because he has realized their potential danger.

I had faith, Steinmedc said, according to Globo. Im strong. I wasnt scared to die.

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Loyola University Chicago's medical school is accepting applications from immigrants living in the country illegally and is now openly recruiting.

The Loyola's Stritch School of Medicine said it made the decision in part because it wants to foster diversity in the U.S. medical workforce. The school also said such applicants "are often bicultural, bilingual, and possess insight into the immigrant experience."

According to a statement posted on the school's website, the decision was made by Dean Linda Brubaker and Mark Kuczewski, director of the school's Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics, in response to President Barack Obama's announcement last year of the Deferred Action program, which puts off deportation for many immigrants brought here as children but who lack legal residency status.

We didn't feel it was right to turn away these young people anymore, Dr. Brubaker said.

Loyola's decision is huge, said Tanya Cabrera, chairwoman of the Illinois Dream Fund, a privately funded state program that provides scholarships to undocumented students, whose comment was featured in the statement.

The school, which is pursuing financial aid options for undocumented applicants, called on other centers of medical education to do the same.

Undocumented enrollment in universities is not uncommon though. The Knowledge Is Power Program, KIPP, lists over 33 schools who have historically awarded scholarships & financial aid to students without a Social Security Number, including many Ivy League schools.

The Loyola statement noted that school officials believe no other medical school in the nation offers a similar program.

The program may be the first to openly recruit the undocumented.

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In a surprising move, the Mexican-style fast food chain Chipotle became the first United States restaurant to explicitly label foods containing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) on its menu.

The controversial technology, which modifies crops DNA, increases the quantity and availability of food to the worlds population  yet some say its impact on human health remains to be seen. Although they have not been on the market long enough to effectively study long-term effects, there has been research that points to possible side effects such as allergies, mental disorders and cancer.

With its Food With Integrity slogan, Chipotle Mexican Grill has always touted its food options as healthier than that of other fast food restaurants such as McDonalds and Burger King.

At Chipotle, our vision of Food With Integrity is about serving our customers the best tasting and most healthful ingredients possible, sourced from farmers and ranchers whose practices show respect for animals and the environment, reads the Ingredients Statement posted on its website.

However, Chipotle is now acknowledging the presence of GMOs in half of the restaurants ingredients, labeling them as such on the websites menu.

If a Chipotle ingredient contains GMOs, a pink square with a G is placed at its left on the Ingredients Statement webpage. Other non-organic labels include a gray H for hydrogenated oils and a blue P for preservatives. On its website, the company explains that there are some unavoidable genetically modified ingredients, but they are working hard to eventually eliminate the G, H and P labels from the menu.

All of the tortillas, rice and meat options contain GMOs except for the pork carnitas. The only other ingredients without the pink G label are the bean, cheese, guacamole, lettuce, salsa and sour cream options.

We want our customers to know exactly what they are eating, Chipotle says on its website, expressing its support for Californias Prop 37 proposing labeling GMOs in all food. For us, this is real transparency  because knowing more about where our food comes from is always better than knowing less.

According to Businessweek, Chipotles spokesperson Chris Arnold said that the company does not plan to include the labels on the physical menus in stores, and that the disclosure of GMO information has not made a difference in sales.

Though the decision was the first of its kind in the country's restaurant world, Ben & Jerrys and Whole Foods Market made similar announcements earlier this year, with the latter planning to label GMOs in its products by 2018.

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Talk about taking the "fun" out of fungus.

A federal judge on Monday ordered the state to move several thousand inmates out of two California prisons because they are at a high risk of contracting a potentially deadly airborne fungus.

U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson instructed corrections officials to transfer most black, Filipino and medically at-risk inmates because they are more vulnerable to health problems from valley fever. The fungal infection originates in the soil of the San Joaquin Valley, where Avenal and Pleasant Valley state prisons are located.

He gave the state 90 days to fully comply.

About 3,250 of the two prisons' 8,100 inmates fall into the categories covered by the judge's ruling. But Henderson said inmates among those groups who already have had the disease do not have to be moved.

He also altered the recommendation from the court-appointed official who oversees prison medical care to exclude inmates over age 55, although that category of inmates could be included at a later date.

It is not immediately clear how many of the inmates will actually have to be transferred based on the judge's revised criteria, said Joyce Hayhoe, a spokeswoman for federal receiver J. Clark Kelso, who made the recommendations to Henderson.

Hayhoe said it makes sense for the judge to exclude inmates who previously contracted the infection because they can't get the illness twice.

Henderson criticized Gov. Jerry Brown's administration for delaying significant response to the problem for years and for its recent proposal to delay action for several months until the U.S. Centers for Disease Control can complete health studies at the prisons.

Prison officials are moving about 600 vulnerable inmates by August, but "are unwilling to exclude other inmates whom they know are at an increased risk of severe disease, which may lead to death," the judge wrote. "Defendants have therefore clearly demonstrated their unwillingness to respond adequately to the health care needs of California's inmate population."

Henderson gave the state seven days to begin moving the inmates from the two prisons located about 10 miles apart and 175 miles southeast of San Francisco.

Deborah Hoffman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said the state is reviewing Henderson's order.

The ruling is the latest legal setback for the Democratic governor, who is trying to persuade federal judges that the state has improved prison medical and mental health care enough to meet constitutional standards. A three-judge panel that includes Henderson last week gave the state until year's end to reduce the prison population by nearly 10,000 inmates as the best way to improve conditions.

Brown filed a one-paragraph notice on Monday that the state will appeal the order to reduce prison populations to the U.S. Supreme Court, as it previously announced.

Henderson's valley fever order came a week after a hearing in his San Francisco courtroom in which attorneys representing inmates said 18 prisoners died in 2012 and January 2013 from complications relating to the fungus.

"The order is absolutely necessary to preserve people's lives and health because state officials have been simply unwilling to take appropriate action when there's a clear and imminent danger to prisoners' lives. It's the most recent example of the state's inability to protect the health of prisoners," said Don Specter, director of the nonprofit Prison Law Office that successfully sought both the valley fever and prison crowding orders.

Brown's administration has said it would have difficulty moving so many inmates while the state also tries to reduce prison crowding statewide.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Hundreds of jeering protestors packed the Texas statehouse and helped quash Texas lawmakers from passing one of the toughest abortion measures in the country.

As the protesters raised the noise to deafening levels in the Texas Senate chamber late Tuesday, Republicans scrambled to gather their colleagues at the podium for a stroke-of-midnight vote.

"Get them out!" Sen. Donna Campbell shouted to a security guard, pointing to the thundering crowd in the gallery overhead that had already been screaming for more than 10 minutes.

"Time is running out," Campbell pleaded. "I want them out of here!"

It didn't work. The noise never stopped and despite barely beating the midnight end-of-session deadline with a vote to pass the bill, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said the chaos in the chamber prevented him from formally signing it before the deadline passed, effectively killing it.

Dewhurst denounced the protesters as an "unruly mob." Democrats who urged them on called the outburst democracy in action.

In either point of view, a raucous crowd of chanting, singing, shouting demonstrators effectively took over the Texas Capitol and blocked a bill that abortion rights groups warned would close most abortion clinics in the state.

"They were asking for their voices to be heard," said Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth, who spent nearly 11 hours trying to filibuster the bill before the outburst. "The results speak for themselves."

The final outcome took several hours to sort out.

Initially, Republicans insisted the vote started before the midnight deadline and passed the bill that Democrats spent the day trying to kill. But after official computer records and printouts of the voting record showed the vote took place Wednesday, and then were changed to read Tuesday, senators retreated into a private meeting to reach a conclusion.

At 3 a.m., Dewhurst emerged from the meeting still insisting the 19-10 vote was in time, but said, "with all the ruckus and noise going on, I couldn't sign the bill" and declared it dead.

He denounced the more than 400 protesters who staged what they called "a people's filibuster" from 11:45 p.m. to well past midnight. He denied mishandling the debate.

"I didn't lose control (of the chamber). We had an unruly mob," Dewhurst said. He even hinted that Gov. Rick Perry may immediately call another 30-day special session, adding: "It's over. It's been fun. But see you soon."

Many of the protesters had flocked to the normally quiet Capitol to support Davis, who gained national attention and a mention from President Barack Obama's campaign Twitter account. Her Twitter following went from 1,200 in the morning to more than 20,000 by Tuesday night.

"My back hurts. I don't have a lot of words left," Davis said when it was over and she was showered with cheers by activists who stayed at the Capitol to see her. "It shows the determination and spirit of Texas women."

Davis' mission was cut short but her effort ultimately helped Democrats earn a rare victory in a Legislature dominated by Republicans for more than a decade.

"It's a bad bill," said Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin, leader of the Senate Democrats.

The bill would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and force many clinics that perform the procedure to upgrade their facilities and be classified as ambulatory surgical centers. Also, doctors would be required to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles  a tall order in rural communities.

If signed into law, the measures would have closed almost every abortion clinic in Texas, a state 773 miles wide and 790 miles long with 26 million people. A woman living along the Mexico border or in West Texas would have to drive hundreds of miles to obtain an abortion if the law passed. The law's provision that abortions be performed at surgical centers means only five of Texas' 42 abortion clinics are currently designated to remain in operation.

Republicans and anti-abortion groups insisted their goal was to improve women's health care, but also acknowledged wanting clinics to close.

"If this passes, abortion would be virtually banned in the state of Texas, and many women could be forced to resort to dangerous and unsafe measures," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and daughter of the late former Texas governor Ann Richards.

The showdown came after Davis had slogged her way through about 11 hours of speaking while Senate Republicans  and several House members  watched and listened for any slipup that would allow them to end the filibuster and call a vote.

Democrats chose Davis, of Fort Worth, to lead the effort because of her background; she had her first child as a teenager and went on to graduate from Harvard Law School.

Rules stipulated she remain standing, not lean on her desk or take any breaks  even for meals or to use the bathroom. But she also was required to stay on topic, and Republicans pointed out a mistake and later protested again when another lawmaker helped her with a back brace.

Lawmakers can vote to end a filibuster after three sustained points of order. As tension mounted over Davis' speech and the dwindling clock, Campbell, a first-term lawmaker from New Braunfels, made the call on the third violation, sparking nearly two hours of debate on how to handle it.

After much back and forth and senators shouting over each other, the Republican majority forced a vote to end the filibuster minutes before midnight, sparking the raucous response from protesters.

Senate security and several Department of Public Safety state troopers tried to quiet the crowd but were simply outnumbered and had no hope of stopping the outburst.

Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, blamed the confusion surrounding the final vote on the demonstrators and Democratic senators who urged them on.

"Had that not happened, everyone would have known," what was happening, Patrick said.

Standing next to him was Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, a Democrat.

"This is democracy," Hinojosa said. "They have a right to speak."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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This is no laughing matter  Foot Orgasm Syndrome is an actual disorder. And for one 55-year-old woman in the Netherlands, the condition brought her no pleasure.

The woman, known as Mrs. A, awoke from a coma and began to feel a tingling sensation in her foot.

More than anything, the foot orgasms, which occurred up to six times a day, made the patient feel extremely embarrassed.

As Dr. Marcel D. Waldinger, a neuropsychiatric from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and one of the study authors, told LiveScience: She felt terrible about it.

Waldinger and his fellow researchers explained that since the nerves of the foot and the vagina enter the spinal cord at almost the same level, the brain must have started treating sensations from the foot as arousal signals.

Despite being an extremely rare condition with no known treatment, luckily for Mrs. A the footgasms were tamed thanks to anesthesia injections.

By injecting the anesthesia specifically into the nerve that receives sensory information from the foot, doctors were able to cure the patient of her embarrassing problem.

For eight months now, according to The Guardian, the woman has been 'footgasm' free.

While so far she is the only known person to suffer from foot orgasm syndrome, researchers believe others may be suffering from the spasms as well but are too embarrassed to talk about it.

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In just a few years, public opinion in America has moved so dramatically toward general acceptance that even those who champion legalization are surprised at how quickly attitudes are changing and states are moving to approve the drug  for medical use and just for fun.

It took 50 years for American attitudes about marijuana to zigzag from the paranoia of "Reefer Madness" to the excesses of Woodstock back to the hard line of "Just Say No."

Today, people in America are looking more kindly on marijuana even as science reveals more about the drug's potential dangers, particularly for young people. States are giving the green light to the drug, albeit in direct defiance of a federal prohibition on its use, and exploration of its potential medical benefits is ongoing, even when limited by high federal hurdles.

Richard Bonnie, a University of Virginia law professor who worked for a national commission that recommended decriminalizing marijuana in 1972, sees the public taking a big leap from prohibition to a more laissez-faire approach without full deliberation.

"It's a remarkable story historically," he says. "But as a matter of public policy, it's a little worrisome."

More than a little worrisome to those in the anti-drug movement.

"We're on this hundred-mile-an-hour freight train to legalizing a third addictive substance," says Kevin Sabet, a former drug policy adviser in the Obama administration, lumping marijuana with tobacco and alcohol.

Legalization strategist Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, likes the direction the marijuana smoke is wafting. But knows his side has considerable work yet to do.

"I'm constantly reminding my allies that marijuana is not going to legalize itself," he says.

___

By the numbers:

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes since California voters made the first move in 1996. Voters in Colorado and Washington state took the next step last year and approved pot for recreational use. Alaska is likely to vote on the same question in 2014, and a few other states are expected to put recreational use on the ballot in 2016.

Nearly half of adults have tried marijuana, 12 percent of them in the past year, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center.

Fifty-two percent of adults favor legalizing marijuana, up 11 percentage points just since 2010, according to Pew.

Sixty percent think Washington shouldn't enforce federal laws against marijuana in states that have approved its use.

___

Where California led the charge on medical marijuana, the next chapter in this story is being written in Colorado and Washington state.

Policymakers there are grappling with all sorts of sticky issues revolving around one central question: How do you legally regulate the production, distribution, sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes when federal law bans all of the above?

The Justice Department began reviewing the matter after last November's election. But seven months later, states still are on their own.

Both sides in the debate paid close attention when Obama said in December that "it does not make sense, from a prioritization point of view, for us to focus on recreational drug users in a state that has already said that under state law that's legal."

Rep. Jared Polis, a Colorado Democrat who favors legalization, predicts Washington will take a hands-off approach, based on Obama's comments. But he's quick to add: "We would like to see that in writing."

The federal government already has taken a similar approach toward users in states that have approved marijuana for medical use.

It doesn't go after pot-smoking cancer patients or grandmas with glaucoma. But it also has made clear that people who are in the business of growing, selling and distributing marijuana on a large scale are subject to potential prosecution for violations of the Controlled Substances Act  even in states that have legalized medical use.

___

There's a political calculus for the president, or any other politician, in all of this.

Younger people, who tend to vote more Democratic, are more supportive of legalizing marijuana, as are people in the West, where the libertarian streak runs strong.

Despite increasing public acceptance of marijuana overall, politicians know there are complications that could come with commercializing an addictive substance. Opponents of pot are particularly worried that legalization will result in increased use by young people.

Sabet frames the conundrum for Obama: "Do you want to be the president that stops a popular cause, especially a cause that's popular within your own party? Or do you want to be the president that enables youth drug use that will have ramifications down the road?"

Marijuana legalization advocates offer politicians a rosier scenario, in which legitimate pot businesses eager to keep their operating licenses make sure not to sell to minors.

"Having a regulated system is the only way to ensure that we're not ceding control of this popular substance to the criminal market and to black marketeers," says Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, a trade group for legal pot businesses in the U.S.

___

While the federal government hunkers down, Colorado and Washington state are moving forward on their own with regulations covering everything from how plants will be grown to how many stores will be allowed.

Tim Lynch, director of the libertarian Cato Institute's Project on Criminal Justice, predicts "the next few years are going to be messy" as states work to bring a black-market industry into the sunshine.

California's experience with medical marijuana offers a window into potential pitfalls that can come with wider availability of pot.

Dispensaries for medical marijuana have proliferated in the state, and regulation has been lax, prompting a number of cities around the state to ban dispensaries.

In May, the California Supreme Court ruled that cities and counties can ban medical marijuana dispensaries. A few weeks later, Los Angeles voters approved a ballot measure that limits the number of pot shops in the city to 135, down from an estimated high of about 1,000.

This isn't full-scale buyer's remorse, but more a course correction before the inevitable next push for full-on legalization in the state.

___

Growing support for legalization doesn't mean everybody wants to light up: Barely one in 10 Americans used pot in the past year.

Those who do want to see marijuana legalized range from libertarians who oppose much government intervention to people who want to see an activist government aggressively regulate marijuana production and sales.

For some, money talks: Why let drug cartels rake in untaxed profits when a cut could go into government coffers?

There are other threads in the growing acceptance of pot.

People think it's not as dangerous as once believed. They worry about high school kids getting an arrest record. They see racial inequity in the way marijuana laws are enforced. They're weary of the "war on drugs."

Opponents counter with a 2012 study finding that regular use of marijuana during teen years can lead to a long-term drop in IQ, and another study indicating marijuana use can induce and exacerbate psychotic illness in susceptible people. They question the notion that regulating pot will bring in big money, saying revenue estimates are grossly exaggerated.

They reject the claim that prisons are bulging with people convicted of simple possession by citing federal statistics showing only a small percentage of federal and state inmates are behind bars for that alone.

They warn that baby boomers who draw on their own innocuous experiences with pot are overlooking the much higher potency of today's marijuana.

In 2009, concentrations of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in pot, averaged close to 10 percent in marijuana, compared with about 4 percent in the 1980s, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

"If marijuana legalization was about my old buddies at Berkeley smoking in People's Park once a week I don't think many of us would care that much," says Sabet, who helped to found Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a group that opposes legalization. "It's really about creating a new industry that's going to target kids and target minorities and our vulnerable populations just like our legal industries do today."

___

So how bad, or good, is pot?

J. Michael Bostwick, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic, set out to sort through more than 100 sometimes conflicting studies after his teenage son became addicted to pot, and turned his findings into a 22-page article for Mayo Clinic Proceedings in 2012.

For all of the talk that smoking pot is no big deal, Bostwick says he determined that "it was a very big deal. There were addiction issues. There were psychosis issues.

But there was also this very large body of literature suggesting that it could potentially have very valuable pharmaceutical applications but the research was stymied" by federal barriers.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says research is ongoing.

Dr. Nora Volkow, the institute's director, worries that legalizing pot will result in increased use of marijuana by young people, and impair their brain development.

"Think about it: Do you want a nation where your young people are stoned?" she asks.

Partisans on both sides think people in other states will keep a close eye on Colorado and Washington as they decide what happens next.

But past predictions on pot have been wildly off-base.

"Reefer Madness," the 1936 propaganda movie that pot fans turned into a cult classic in the 1970s, spins a tale of dire consequences "ending often in incurable insanity."

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As rapper Nelly once said, "it's getting hot in here."

A blazing heat wave expected to send the mercury soaring to nearly 120 degrees in Phoenix and Las Vegas over the weekend settled across the West on Friday, threatening to ground airliners and raising fears that pets will get burned on the scalding pavement.

The heat was so punishing that rangers took up positions at trailheads at Lake Mead in Nevada to persuade people not to hike. Zookeepers in Phoenix hosed down the elephants and fed tigers frozen fish snacks. And tourists at California's Death Valley took photos of the harsh landscape and a thermometer that read 121.

The mercury there was expected to reach nearly 130 through the weekend  just short of the 134-degree reading from a century ago that stands as the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth.

"You have to take a picture of something like this. Otherwise no one will believe you," said Laura McAlpine, visiting Death Valley from Scotland on Friday.

The heat is not expected to break until Monday or Tuesday.

The scorching weather presented problems for airlines because high temperatures can make it more difficult for planes to take off. Hot air reduces lift and also can diminish engine performance. Planes taking off in the heat may need longer runways or may have to shed weight by carrying less fuel or cargo.

Smaller jets and propeller planes are more likely to be affected than bigger airliners that are better equipped for extreme temperatures.

However, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport officials reported no such heat-related problems with any flights by Friday evening.

The National Weather Service said Phoenix reached 116 on Friday, two degrees short of the expected high, in part because of a light layer of smoke from wildfires in neighboring New Mexico that shielded the blazing sun. Las Vegas still was expecting near record highs over the weekend approaching 116 degrees while Phoenix was forecast to hit nearly 120. The record in Phoenix is 122.

June was the state of Nevada's hottest month ever.

Temperatures are also expected to soar across Utah and into Wyoming and Idaho, with triple-digit heat forecast for the Boise area. Cities in Washington state that are better known for cool, rainy weather should break the 90s next week.

"This is the hottest time of the year, but the temperatures that we'll be looking at for Friday through Sunday, they'll be toward the top," said National Weather Service meteorologist Mark O'Malley. "It's going to be baking hot across much of the entire West."

The heat is the result of a high-pressure system brought on by a shift in the jet stream, the high-altitude air current that dictates weather patterns. The jet stream has been more erratic in the past few years.

Health officials warned people to be extremely careful when venturing outdoors. The risks include not only dehydration and heat stroke but burns from the concrete and asphalt. Dogs can suffer burns and blisters on their paws by walking on scorching pavement.

"You will see people who go out walking with their dog at noon or in the middle of the day and don't bring enough water and it gets tragic pretty quickly," said Bretta Nelson, spokeswoman for the Arizona Humane Society. "You just don't want to find out the hard way."

Cooling stations were set up to shelter the homeless as well as elderly people who can't afford to run their air conditioners. In Phoenix, Joe Arpaio, the famously hard-nosed sheriff who runs a tent jail, planned to distribute ice cream and cold towels to inmates this weekend.

Officials said personnel were added to the Border Patrol search-and-rescue unit because of the danger to people trying to slip across the Mexican border. At least seven people have been found dead in the last week in Arizona after falling victim to the brutal desert heat.

In June 1990, when Phoenix hit 122 degrees, airlines were forced to cease flights for several hours because of a lack of data from the manufacturers on how the aircraft would operate in such extreme heat.

US Airways spokesman Todd Lehmacher said the airline now knows that its Boeings can fly at up to 126 degrees, and its Airbus fleet can operate at up to 127.

While the heat in Las Vegas is expected to peak on Sunday, it's unlikely to sideline the first round of the four-week Bikini Invitational tournament.

"I feel sorry for those poor girls having to strut themselves in 115 degrees, but there's $100,000 up for grabs," said Hard Rock casino spokeswoman Abigail Miller. "I think the girls are willing to make the sacrifice."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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In one of the most socially-conservative countries in Latin America, the case of a pregnant 11-year old girl who was raped in Chile by her mother's partner has set off a national debate about abortion.

Chileans were outraged on Friday after state TV reported that the girl is 14 weeks pregnant and was raped repeatedly over two years. Police in the remote southern city of Puerto Montt arrested her mother's partner, who confessed to abusing the fifth grader. The case was brought to their attention by the pregnant child's maternal grandmother.

Doctors say the girl's life and that of the fetus are at high risk. But in Chile, ending the pregnancy is not an option.

Chile allowed abortions for medical reasons until they were outlawed in 1973 by Gen. Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship. The current government of conservative President Sebastian Pinera has opposed any loosening of the prohibition.

Many Chileans were venting outrage on social media Friday. Some started an online campaign to demand legalization of abortion in cases of rape or health risks for the mother.

"When I heard about this little girl my first reaction was to support abortion because I think it's the best option in this case," said Eduardo Hernandez, a 30-year-old web designer.

"It's the first online petition I've signed in my life, but I think this case really deserves it," Hernandez said. "We should have a law. I hope this case serves as precedent to have a serious discussion about abortion."

"We're faced with an 11-year-old girl whose childhood has been damaged and she's pregnant," Nicole Salvatierra, a 26-year-old-journalist, told The Associated Press in an email exchange after earlier speaking out about the case on Twitter. "The state is blocking a way to revert this situation. It's twice as bad for her. That's what's criminal, not interrupting the pregnancy in the context that justifies it."

But more conservative members of Chilean society oppose all abortions and the nation's Senate last year rejected three bills last year that would have eased the absolute ban.

"The Senate has voted in favor of life, of the unborn child, a policy the government has defended," Cristian Larroulet, a top presidential aide, said after one of the votes.

One of the bills would have permitted abortion if two doctors said it was needed because of risks to a mother's life or other medical reasons, such as a fetus with low chances of survival. Another one of the measures that was rejected would have allowed abortion in the event of rape.

Forty years after a brutal dictatorship, Chile remains firmly conservative in social matters. It legalized divorce in 2004, becoming one of the last nations in the world to grant married couples that right.

"Chile is a country that has modernized when it comes to its economy, but when it comes to its social and political culture, it has become stagnant and this is seen with the abortion issue," said Marta Lagos, head of the Santiago-based pollster Mori.

"It's a country that is adverse to change, that panics with any change, which is seen as a threat," Lagos said. "The weight of Catholicism is still a major issue and we also have a millenary indigenous culture that always lived alienated from the rest of world. We're part of that millenary culture of isolation."

The Roman Catholic Church retains a strong influence over society, although it has lost credibility since 2010, when four men alleged that they were abused by one of Chile's most revered priests when they were between 14 and 17 years old.

Pinera announced measures last year to combat child abuse, responding to a popular outcry over a spike in reports of these crimes. He toughened penalties on convicted pedophiles, increased the forensic institute's budget and created a children's ombudsman to protect their rights.

His center-right government also banned convicted pedophiles from working near children under a law that also requires those convicted of sexually abusing minors to be registered in a database. Reports of sexual abuse of children under the age of 14 rose by 22 percent in the first half of 2012.

But change comes slowly in Chile. An anti-discrimination law was stuck in Congress for seven years and only passed in 2012 after the killing of a gay man who was beaten by attackers who carved swastikas into his body.

"The Chilean elite is very conservative and this has had an influence in Congress," said Patricio Navia, a Chilean political scientist who teaches at New York University. "Laws, therefore, change at a much slower pace than the rest of Chilean society. Because society is much less conservative than it was 15 or 20 years ago."

Former president Michelle Bachelet, the frontrunner in the Nov. 17 presidential elections, favors legalizing abortion in cases of rape or risks to the health of the mother or the child. She spent the past several years heading the U.N. agency for women.

Her opponent, former Economy Minister Pablo Longueira, was close to Pinochet. He opposes abortion and the so-called day-after pill.

Daniel Alvarado, a prosecutor for the public ministry, told state TV that the case of the pregnant 11-year-old would be treated as a rape in any circumstance because at that age a person "doesn't have maturity to consent to a sexual relationship within law."

"It's not possible for any person at that age to have the capacity to understand the consequences on an act of that nature," Alvarado added.

In Latin America, only Cuba, Uruguay and some local governments make early abortions accessible to all women.

Uruguay recently passed a law authorizing elective abortions in the first three months of pregnancy in the most liberal law of its kind in Latin America. Passage of the law was widely seen as a landmark for a region in which many countries outlaw abortion in all circumstances.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Two years ago, Carmen Bones, 39, moved with her two sons to an apartment provided at an affordable rate by Boston non-profit, Brookview House. Like many of the female residentsall of whom had previously been homeless or at risk of homelessness Bones had been subject to domestic, verbal and financial abuse by her husband. Now, she takes regular yoga classes that Brookview provides free for residents.

Yoga is awesome and helps us a lot, Bones told FoxNews.com. Im so glad the [teachers] come here with us and that Brookview provides the kind of programs for us to keep busy.

Since 1990, Brookview House, in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, has provided mothers and their children a safe place to live, as well as opportunities to learn new skills and build self-esteem. The 30 families live in one of two residential buildings or in apartments throughout the community. Next year, the organization hopes to open a third residence home with 12 more apartments.

Our purpose is to break the cycle of homelessness, so we know that, unless we address all of their needs their social-emotional needs, educational training needs, partnering needs, mental health and physical health needs youre just putting folks out into the world without skills to break the cycle, Hughes said, adding that they were one of the first programs to work in this model, which has become increasingly popular.

After graduating from Brookview, 92 percent of moms maintain permanent housing and 88 percent of kids graduate high school the national graduation rate for homeless students is 25 percent, Hughes noted.

Brookviews programs include help with resume building, mock interviews for job training, and parenting classes, but the yoga classes, created in partnership with Boston-based Hands to Heart Center, are focused on helping the womens mental, emotional and physical health.

Yoga helps them become calm and centered and gives them the ability to focus on their goal, Deborah Hughes, president and CEO, told FoxNews.com. I think it has a calming influence on the community.

Volunteer instructors from Hands to Heart Center, a non-profit that brings yoga to those affected by poverty and trauma, teach the adults hour-long classes once a week. After watching their moms in class, the kids wanted to learn and now have their own separate classes. The program started a year ago, with a six-week session, but residents asked for more and the program has run on a regular basis ever since. Classes are held in the facilitys youth room, which has calming colors and dimmable lights.

Domestic violence is part of the prior history of the majority of women who come through the program and addressing that trauma and long-term lack of attention to that type of trauma is important so they can move forward, Hughes said. Brookview found that most of the homeless families are homeless for long periods of time, which also leaves the women without a sense of ownership over their own bodies and lives.

For individuals who have been abused or traumatized, they likely want to disconnect from their bodies, and yoga can teach them to reintegrate and using the physical poses is part of that, said Dr. Maryanne Klatt, an associated clinical professor in family medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

One of the benefits is being able to trust your bodily reaction to things your breathing rate increases when youre anxious and is shallower. Unless you see the body-mind connection, you may not get that thats an indicator, Klatt, who is also a yoga instructor, told FoxNews.com, adding that yoga can teach the importance of being able to relax and being able to call upon that physiological response.

In addition to the physical movement, another method to enable this change is through diaphragmatic breathing, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows the heart rate. In her classes, Hands to Heart yoga instructor Anne DeSimone teaches simple breath work to the residents to allow them to observe whats going on in their bodies.

This is a class tailored toward women in that particular housing situation. The yoga class at its core is fundamentally like any other yoga class and the women really are fundamentally much like all other yoga students, DeSimone told FoxNews.com. There is a universality to yoga practice that I love, because you really can do it anywhere.

While there can be a language barrier for those who dont speak English as their primary language, DeSimone said shes made connections with her Brookview students. Bones is grateful to the instructors who share their time and knowledge to the class.

When we take yoga class, we feel calm, relaxed, and I enjoy it because [the instructor] gives the time to be her with us, Bones said. Its so appreciated.

At first, the instructor taught the students about meditation with music, Bones recalled. After a couple weeks, she felt a difference in her body and said it may have even helped her lose weight. Now, Bones likes to meditate at home before she attends class with her housemates and then practices yoga with her boys, who are 3 and 12 years old.

Brookview House has clinical psychologists on staff, as well as graduate clinicians who serve a one-year practicum, which Klein noted was a strong example of truly integrative medicine.

Its both Eastern medicine and yoga, the non-traditional medicine, Hughes said. We combine the two in order to help the women increase their self-esteem. It also adds to their emotional and mental health needs.

For Klatt, who is not affiliated with Brookview House, the program is a wonderful way to help women.

One of the big benefits of yoga is understanding yourself and people dont really talk about that. Its taking away the veils of all those other things, like, Im a homeless woman thats not all you are, Klatt said. Yoga at its core is supposed to help people see that theyre much more than their circumstances, their race, their economic status, their current situation.
A new Illinois law going into effect at the new year is taking an innovative approach to combating domestic violence: It requires state beauty professionals to learn how to recognize signs of domestic abuse and sexual assault in their clientsand how to handle conversations about them.

Signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner, the training will be delivered to barbers, cosmetologists, aestheticians, hair braiders, and nail techs via an hour-long courseultimately creating a force of 88,000 salon workers who are equipped to potentially help save clients' lives. The training will be grandfathered in: It will be a part of license regulations for new pros, and those already in the industry will have the hour added to their 14-hour course that's required biannually to re-certify their licenses.

Americans agreed at the beginning of 2016 that combating domestic violence was a national priority, and the beauty industry is an ingenious place to target it. Clients and salon workers often have close relationships: after all, how many of us have spilled our latest fight with our S.O. to stylists we see every eight weeks? Or told a nail tech about a squabble with our boyfriend that we didn't even mention to our friends?

"There's an openness, a freeness, a relationship that last years or decades between the client and the cosmetologist," Fran Hurley, the Illinois state representative who sponsored the bill, said. "They're in a position to see something that may or may not be right."

But the law is careful not to exploit any relationships: It doesn't require stylists to report incidents to authorities. However, advocates are hopeful that it will give those who have experienced sexual assault and domestic violence a place to turnafter all, many don't report incidents to the police.

The idea came to Hurley and State Senator Bill Cunningham from Chicago Says No More, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about domestic violence. The organization is also thinking about ways to get members of other service sectors, like bartenders, involved with the training in the future.
Though the ancient Hindu practice has been banned since 2005, a 15-year-old girl in Nepal was banished to a shed while she was menstruating. On Monday, police confirmed that she died.

We are investigating the case. We suspect that she died of suffocation from the smoke of a fire she lit to keep herself warm, local district inspector Badri Prasad Dhakal told AFP.

The practice, known as chhaupadi, bans women from involvement in normal activities during menstruating and after childbirth and from interacting with men of the household, AFP reported. Though chhaupadi was banned, local leaders are lax about implementing the rule, AFP reported.

In a similar case in November, a 26-year-old woman in western Nepal died in a menstrual hut, which led the countrys prime minister to call her district to find out what happened, NPR reported. Local police suggested the woman, Dambara Upadhyay, may have died of a heart attack, but the initial report could not determine her cause of death.

The name of the teen was not released.

It is crucial for us to work to change the attitudes of the people and raise awareness against this practice, Mohna Ansari of Nepals National Human Rights Commission, told AFP.
This undated photo provided by the University of Utah Hospital shows the feet of one of the quintuplets born over Memorial Day weekend to Salt Lake City couple Guillermina and Fernando Garcia at University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City. Garcia's five babies three girls and two boys weigh between 2 to 3 pounds each and are expected to have to stay at the hospital for another six weeks. Doctors predict they will grow up completely healthy. (AP Photo/University of Utah Hospital)
In this May 319, 2013 photo, a female patient at the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital wears a blanket in the courtyard before breakfast in Asuncion, Paraguay. Despite the center's questionable conditions, for many patients it remains the only option. Doctors say 75 percent of the hospital's patients have been abandoned by their families. Many feel lucky to receive any kind of medical treatment, even if the system is broken. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)
I like leaks. Yes, that's right. I like Congressional leaks, I like State Department leaks and I especially like White House leaks.

Im not talking about "trial balloons," political spin or fake stories made to look like leaks. Im talking about real leaks  the kind that reveal what they dont want us to know.

And while I readily admit that leaks can sometimes be dangerous if they deal with issues of national security, I would argue that the vast majority of leaks help keep us informed and prevent abuses by our government.

What source would ever share any information if he felt that the government had the right to look at the reporters notes, read his emails or spy on him?  Rick Sanchez

Leaks are an important part of our system of checks and balances. They keep politicians honest. More information and transparency can never be bad.

Real leaks are usually the outcome of dogged determination and skilled reporting. And I believe that members of the media who report leaks are deserving of our praise, thanks and protection.

As a Latino immigrant now living in America, Im proud to call a country home where the media remains courageous enough to poke holes around the pillars of power.

That's why what has happened to my colleague James Rosen is so offensive to me.

Rosen has aggressively reported on the inner sanctum of diplomacy: the State Department. Yet he is now suspected of being a criminal, a co-conspirator, in a plan to disclose sensitive United States internal documents and intelligence information.

It is an accusation wrought with the chill of all that is wrong with the kind of totalitarian government that my family escaped  except its happening here, in the U.S., in our democracy.

In 2009, Rosen was working a source named Stephen Jin-Woo Kim, a former State Department arms expert. The two were exchanging emails, they were talking, they were planning meetings. Its what working journalists and their sources are supposed to do.

When the Justice Department suspected that Kim was passing details to Rosen from a classified report on U.S.-North Korea relations, it pounced.

However, to get to Kim (who may or may not be guilty), DOJ officials chose to target Rosen  who was only guilty of doing his job.

Investigators sought a search warrant for Rosens personal emails.

Rosen was being treated as though he had broken the law. He did not. What he did was attempt to gather information from a reliable source, a practice defended constitutionally as a matter of course by our first amendment.

What source would ever share any information if he felt that the government had the right to look at the reporters notes, read his emails or spy on him, as the DOJ did with Rosen by tracking his security badge clearance?

After being asked why it targeted Rosen even going so far as to call him a co-conspirator the Justice Department backtracked, claiming that they never had any intention of charging him with a crime.

"Saying that there is probable cause to believe that someone has committed a crime and charging the person with that crime are two different things, reads the DOJ statement. And it added: at this time we do not anticipate bringing additional charges against anyone.

The statement hardly lessons the impact of what is clearly another black eye for the Obama administration and another threat to our freedoms.

In the course of just two weeks, we have seen three frightening examples of our government targeting individuals for political reasons: the IRS going after conservative groups, the DOJ going after Associated Press reporters and now going after Rosen.

We should all be alarmed by this. We should all hold our government accountable for this, and we should all rally around James Rosen for doing the important work that keeps our democracy strong.
Ive just returned from a one week study trip to Israel to learn more about how our Middle East ally approaches border security in that country. In the company of 15 sheriffs who serve along the U.S.-Mexico and Canadian border, the trip was an eye opener for all of us.

I dont want to draw too direct a connection between the Israel border and the U.S. southern border. Weve got a nearly 2,000-mile border with Mexico, while Israel has to manage 450 miles divided into seven districts and many more bodies per square mile. And while we certainly need to be concerned about terrorist threats, we dont have the near constant threat of rocket attacks from our neighbor. But despite the obvious differences, there still clear lessons we can draw from Israels experience.

If Congress is going to demand a 90 percent border control effectiveness rate before any of undocumented immigrant can pursue some sort of legal status, then we need better data.  Nelson Balido

Israel has taken border security to a more sophisticated level by increasing the use of surveillance technologies on the ground and in the skies, while at the same time implementing inter-operable communications to increase situational awareness and coordinated response between police and military forces. The contrast with the U.S-Mexico border is stark.

For many locations along our own borders, our local, state, and federal enforcement agencies do not have the ability to talk with one another over radio channels when in the field. If we want to achieve better results, then our Border Patrol and law enforcement need better tools. There is no good reason why a county sheriffs deputy shouldnt be able to be in direct communication with a Border Patrol agent via their radios when theyre on the trail of smuggler. Unfortunately in many locations, spotty cell phone service is the only way they can communicate.

As the debate over the bipartisan Gang of Eights immigration reform package was getting ramped up in the Senate Judiciary Committee back in Washington, we got a real look at what operational control of the border really looks like. Israels border enforcement can tell you the exact number of incursions theyve had at any given time. Since upgrading their fencing, communications, and technologies, incursions are in the single digits per week. In the U.S., our Department of Homeland Security has a tough time putting a number on how many illegal crossings it failed to thwart and what enforcement strategies would work best.

If Congress is going to demand a 90 percent border control effectiveness rate before any of undocumented immigrant can pursue some sort of legal status, then we need better data. Without it, 90 percent isnt a goal, its a wish.
Hispanics groups have said President Barack Obama privately promised them at least two of his cabinet nominees would be Latino.

But so far, one person, Labor Secretary nominee Thomas Perez, has been nominated. Republicans said they are disappointed with the selection of Perez and have held up the process  leaving his future uncertain.

Juan Williams explains to Fox News Latino why the GOP has reservations about Perez, what his nomination means for President Obama and whether or not he'll actually be named Secretary of Labor.

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The recent revelation that the IRS targeted conservative groups has raised questions about the timing and extent of the Presidents knowledge of the scandal. While the President is ultimately responsible for the actions of his Administration, no person has the capacity or time to direct all of the decisions that occur daily within the Executive Branch. Consequently, one of the primary responsibilities of the Presidents Chief of Staff and the Counsel to the President is to determine what information should be provided to the President. This is a job that requires judgment and discretion; it is a determination based partly upon White House precedent, and partly on an informal understanding made in advance about such matters between the President, the Chief of Staff and the White House Counsel.

As a matter of prudence and political self-preservation, the Chief of Staff and the Counsel should be concerned about the information provided directly to the President - particularly information about ongoing investigations. Once a President has actual knowledge of an investigation, it is harder for White House staff to distance the President from a related scandal, and it becomes easier for critics to suggest that the political machinery at the White House is secretly directing the investigation in order to minimize the scandal. Even worse, with such knowledge comes the temptation to actually steer an investigation in a direction politically beneficial to the President. Furthermore, every time facts relating to an ongoing investigation are shared beyond the investigating team, it increases the risk that a leak will occur, and that the investigation will be compromised. For these reasons, details about investigations are rarely, if ever, shared with the President.

However, based on my experience, it is wrong to suggest that the President should never be told of the existence of a pending investigation. As a matter of good governance and common sense, such a claim is in reality nothing more than an excuse to avoid accountability. For example, suppose the Attorney General were to inform the White House Counsel that the Presidents National Security Advisor was suspected of leaking classified information. Suppose further that the Justice Department did not want the National Security Advisor to know about the investigation. As a former Counsel, under these circumstances I cannot imagine not informing the President of the pending investigation so that steps can be taken to protect against additional leaks of classified information, while still protecting the integrity of the investigation.

Under existing protocols the Counsel is often informed of investigations affecting Executive Branch personnel. There would be no justification for the protocols if in the appropriate case the Counsel does not inform the Chief of Staff or the President of possible Executive Branch wrongdoing. After all, it is not wrong for the President to know about a problem in his Administration. Many Americans would argue that as head of the Executive Branch it is the Presidents job to be accountable for what his subordinates are doing and to stop any known wrongdoing, provided it does not disrupt or interfere in any way the course of an investigation.

Reportedly, in this case the Treasury Department informed the Counsel of an ongoing Treasury Inspector General investigation into IRS activities. The Counsel, not surprisingly, informed the Chief of Staff. The White House currently insists the President was not told of the investigation in advance of media reports. Whether this is true, and whether this White House made the correct calculation as to the Presidents need to know, will depend on facts yet unknown.
I like Ann Coulter. Yes, you read that right. I like Ann. She's smart, funny, well-spoken, engaging, entertaining, bombastic, sometimes maddening and usually controversial. And Ann likes to say things that elicit a reaction.

When someone says something controversial, we as a society usually have one of two extreme reactions: we tend to shy away and take offense or we become judgmental and make the person out to be a pariah.

If Rand Paul, a Tea Party Republican, can agree with senators on both sides of the aisle in supporting immigration reform, then it shows that we as a country are coming to a consensus on the need for reform and the way to get there.  Rick Sanchez

But what we should be doing is using that controversy as the launching pad for a conversation  even if it's an uncomfortable one.

Ann likes being controversial. Even if you disagree with her, which I do on many issues, she is thought-provoking. And I would rather debate her ideas instead of merely condemning them or her.

Last week, Ann wrote a piece for WND.com titled, When did we vote to become Mexico? From the title, you can already see where this is going. In it, she says that we just have too many Latinos. Sounding more like an elderly grandfather talking wistfully about "the good ole days," Ann wonders why we can't have more white Europeans come here to balance things out. Why cant the country be more or less the ethnic composition it always was? she asks.

She charges Senators Rubio, McCain, McConnell and Graham with working feverishly to turn the country into Mexico and is against amnesty for the nations undocumented workers.



Ann goes on to state that [i]nnumerable studies have shown that Mexican first-generation immigrants work like maniacs  and then the second, third and fourth generations plunge headlong into the underclass.



Thats where I have to disagree with her. Ann doesnt cite these innumerable studies. She doesnt even cite one of them.



So let me cite some instead to respectfully counter her argument beginning with the fallacious argument that lazy second, third and fourth generation Latinos fail to assimilate and learn English as well or as fast as European immigrants did.



According to the the study conducted by Douglass Massey at Princeton University, Latinos in America are assimilating at a rate equal to or above that of past immigrants. And their zeal to embrace the English language is equally impressive.



Regarding assimilation, Massey found that second generation Hispanics begin to lose their ability to speak Spanish. Only 17 percent of third generation Hispanics can speak Spanish and by the fourth generation, only five percent speak any Spanish at all.

Regarding education, there are new and very impressive trends regarding young Hispanics released by Pew Research which show they are actually surpassing white non-Hispanics.



According to Pew, a record seven-in-ten (69 percent) Hispanic high school graduates in the class of 2012 enrolled in college, two percentage points higher than the rate (67 percent) among their white counterparts.

The positive trends in Hispanic educational indicators also extend to high school where the most recent available data show that in 2011 only 14 percent of Hispanic 16 to 24-year-olds were high school dropouts, half the level of 2000 (28 percent).

Hence, Latino youth is doing better than the group they preceded, which further contradicts Ann's assertion.

For these reasons, immigration reform not only makes sense but is a political and economic necessity. The gang of eight immigration bill is an important first step in fixing what is clearly a broken system.

Im not the only one who disagrees with Ann and thinks we need immigration reform. On Sunday, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul came out and said that he could get behind the gang of eight bill. On ABCs "This Week," Paul said, I do want to support a bill. I talked to the authors of it. If theyll work with me on the amendment, theres a very good chance that I could vote for it.

Pauls amendment would be that rather than a new pathway to citizenship, undocumented workers would get in the same line as everyone else. Paul stated, As long as somebody who has a work visa is treated the same as a new person in Mexico City who wants to get in line tomorrow, I don't have a problem getting in the normal line. I just don't want to create a new line or give a new preference to people who are here undocumented. But I'm all in favor of allowing undocumented workers becoming documented workers.

If Rand Paul, a Tea Party Republican, can agree with senators on both sides of the aisle in supporting immigration reform, then it shows that we as a country are coming to a consensus on the need for reform and the way to get there. And thats a good thing.

Now, if only I could get Ann to see the light.
When in 2010 Tea Party favorite Scott Brown (R) beat Martha Coakley (D) in a special Massachusetts election to take Senator Ted Kennedys seat, Republicans were given a boost of confidence.

Fast-forward three years and a Massachusetts senate seat is up again  this time its John Kerry's, who is now Secretary of State.

Democrats have put forth longtime Congressman Ed Markey for the spot, while on the Republican side a new face has emerged, moderate in the vein of Brown but not quite supported by the establishment as his predecessor.

Gabriel Gomez is currently trailing in most local polls but stands within distance of upsetting Markey.

Fox News Latino analyst Juan Williams takes a look at Gomez and whether or not he really could pull a Scott Brown-like upset.

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Senator Ted Cruz of Texas is a Latino Republican and one of the freshest, most engaging voices in American public life. I spent some time with the new senator Wednesday at New Yorks elegant Plaza Hotel where he spoke powerfully to a room filled with well-heeled GOP contributors. It was a private, off-the-record event, one of several stops he made over the last two days; this one smaller and more intimate than the big public speech he gave later that evening at the nearby Hilton Hotel, to about 500 of the wealthy faithful.

Senator Cruz made clear ... death in the House is exactly what he wants for the bill, fearing it is too big, too generous to the undocumented and disproportionately beneficial to the neediest immigrants.  Geraldo Rivera

Fearless and enormously self-confident, the 42-year-old son of a Cuban immigrant has already ruffled feathers in a body that prides itself on decorum and the sanctity of seniority. Both Democrat Dianne Feinstein and Republican John McCain have been cut by the prodigys biting wit honed on the Princeton University debate team and in the moot courts of Harvard Law.

But for all the buzz surrounding his rapid ascension as one of the senates bright stars, he is also a hard right social conservative whose Latinismo hasnt stopped him from taking positions that are antithetical to many Latinos.

Tough and clear as he is on education and jobs, the bitter irony is that Senator Ted Cruz might be the single biggest obstacle to the passage of comprehensive immigration reform. Like many Cuban-Americans, particularly the older generation, Senator Cruz reflects the favored-nations status that refugees and descendants of Cuba Pearl of the Antilles often feel toward other Latin American migrants expelled from their homelands by poverty rather than politics.

In this regard, this born-in-Canada, son of a Cuban-born dad and an Irish-Italian descendant American mom raised in Texas and the Ivy League lacks the sensitivity of Senator Marco Rubio, the Florida Republican who is the prime architect of the comprehensive immigration reform bill drafted by the gang of eight. The pair, Cruz and Rubio, another Cuban-American, along with Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky, round out the Four Horseman of Libertarianism. Having trampled gun control, except for Rubio, they have turned their scary attention to immigration reform.

Our meeting Wednesday was cordial. Since the session was off the record, I met Senator Cruz in the hallway outside the conference room suite. He is very engaging in a Gov. Rick Perry, shy, strong cowboy way. After the usual greetings, I asked about the Latino vote in Texas and the U.S. in the last election and specifically the Republican Partys shrinking share of that key demographic.

You got about 35 percent of the Latino vote in Texas, running well ahead of Mitt Romney. Do you think the GOP has given up, surrendered this important voting bloc?

First of all, I got over 40 percent of the Latino vote according to our polling (whoa), and there is no doubt that the tone of the Romney candidacy was almost designed to drive Latinos away. The senator then went on to describe how Governor Romneys harsh rhetoric about creating conditions so dreadful for undocumented immigrants that they would go home voluntarily, self-deport, turned off Latino voters. The senator added that the pity was that Latinos are socially conservative, faith and family-based folks who would naturally gravitate toward the GOP if the party was more welcoming.

But what about immigration reform, and the bill proposed by the Senates gang of eight; are you optimistic or pessimistic?

Im both, the senator from Texas answered. He is optimistic that there is some common ground in the immigration debate, having emphasized the need to increase the number of high-end visas for the highly educated who come here to study and then are forced to leave when their student visas expire. The senator also relentlessly stresses the need for strengthened border security, saying that any reform is meaningless unless the flow of the undocumented across the border can be stopped.

But what about the gang of eights immigration reform bill?

The senator in his New York speeches and from his comments in Washington seems almost scornful of the carefully crafted omnibus bipartisan legislation that provides for enhanced border security, but also provides a rough, navigable path to legitimacy and even ultimate citizenship for the millions living here in the shadows.

Calling the bills security provisions laughably inadequate and pledging to do his best to derail the legislation, Senator Cruz has spoken darkly about its likely trajectory, conceding that Leader Reid can probably force that bill through the Senate, but that it will die in the House.

Senator Cruz made clear during his serial speeches Wednesday that this ignominious fate, death in the House, is exactly what he wants for the bill, fearing it is too big, too generous to the undocumented and disproportionately beneficial to the neediest immigrants among us.

The bottom line is that this new star in the American Latino firmament appears to have closer affinity with Tea Party conservatives than with the Mexican and other Central and South American immigrants who are in the process of making Texas a majority Latino state by the turn of the next decade.
Make no mistake: Theres a before and after Sheryl Sandbergs book, "Lean In." Before, female politicians like Christine Quinn, Speaker of the New York City Council and mayoral candidate, would be criticized for losing her temper or being bossy. After, the media does a story about its own coverage of Christine Quinn and ponders its own fairness when covering men and women politicians. Is she being called bossy because shes a woman? Would we have asked the same questions of a man?

Before, it was OK to take a perfectly objective article and insert a comment about a womans shoes, make up, hair, etc. After, it is an unacceptable way to put women down and to underhandedly plant a seed of doubt about their abilities and leadership skills.

So no, its not OK for The Washington Post to slip in a comment about White House counsel Kathy Ruemmlers Manolo Blahniks or Christian Louboutins toward the end of an article about her being one of only a few women in President Obamas inner circle. How would readers react if, in the middle of a piece about Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, they were to learn that he wears Prada shoes or Yves Saint Laurent aftershave? Wouldnt the professionalism of the journalist be put into question?

This kind of irrelevant information, which we keep on hearing about women in the middle of discussions of their careers, has the effect of undermining them in our eyes. This perception that the designer a woman favors defines who she is as a person and as a professional is preposterous. We know all about Michelle Obamas taste for J.Crew, Narciso Rodriguez and Isabel Toledo. Now I ask you, when was the last time you heard who cuts Mr. Obamas suits?

Unfortunately, every time irrelevant fashion details are mixed with career commentary, they are closely followed by actions that are detrimental to women and society in general. If you perceive that women are more concerned with their clothes and accessories than with the bottom line of a company you will probably think they lack the skills needed to lead an organization. Consequently, you would probably not choose a woman when your executive recruitment firm offers you a diverse slate of candidates for a top position. She lacks executive presence, will likely be your reason for turning her down.

As the saying in Spanish goes, we are erasing with our elbow what we write with our hand (Borras con el codo lo que escribes con la mano). At a historical juncture when more and more energy, money and effort are being dedicated to opening up opportunities for women at the highest levels of organizations, allowing these kinds of inane details to be presented every time a powerful woman is in the news works against our common goals. It keeps an undercurrent of incompetence alive right under the surface. We cant really see it, but its still there. And its very, very real for most women.

So lets not stand quietly in the face of these small acts that collectively undercut 50 percent of our population. Lets bring them out and see them for what they are. Lets challenge journalists to reconsider their words and characterizations of women every time they fall short. If we do this consistently and often, hopefully women will soon be able to wear whatever shoes they want as they walk confidently to the C-suite.
I have been trying to understand the reluctance and outright refusal of Senate GOP members to discuss the nomination of Thomas E. Perez as President Obamas nominee for U. S. Labor Secretary.

It is a happy coincidence that Republicans, by and large, have shown an increasingly welcoming attitude toward Latinos. More Latinos are represented in both parties and more Hispanic leaders are helping to make their voices heard, at the state and national level. Yet, we find ourselves at another crossroads and roadblock.

How exactly is this part of the Republican strategy to win over Latino votes?  Jose Calderon

Republican leaders in the Senate are currently engaged in a concerted effort to squash the nomination of an imminently qualified Latino leader who clearly embodies the up-by-your-boot-straps story we embrace across America. If confirmed, Mr. Perez would be the first (and so far only) Hispanic member of Mr. Obamas second-term cabinet. So, whats the problem with Mr. Perez?

Let's look at the facts. A first generation immigrant who gained scholarships and worked multiple jobs to put himself through college, Tom Perez received his Bachelor of Arts in international relations and political science from Brown University in 1983. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor cum laude from Harvard Law School and a Master of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1987. Upon graduation, he began a spectacular career in public service that has spanned more than twenty-five years. He has served our nation as a law clerk, prosecutor, professor, elected official, civil rights lawyer and Secretary for Maryland's Department of Labor. In every position, Mr. Perez has been lauded as an enormously talented and dedicated public servant.

In recognition of his impressive professional achievements, President Obama nominated Mr. Perez as Assistant Attorney General for our nation's Civil Rights Division, and he was confirmed by the full U.S. Senate in a bipartisan vote of 72-22. Under his leadership, the Civil Rights Division has been reinvigorated and spearheaded landmark efforts to address hate crimes, serve Americans with disabilities, tackle employment discrimination, and protect the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans.

Amazing personal story. Excellent resume. So, then, que pasa con Tom Perez? The unfortunate truth is that partisan politics are at the heart of why some are trying to denigrate Mr. Perez's record and deny him the basic consideration of a vote on his merits.

It begs another question: how exactly is this part of the Republican strategy to win over Latino votes?

As the saying goes, it takes two to tango but it's a real problem when you won't even consider inviting us to the dance. As a community we take great pride in the prospect of Thomas Perez history-making confirmation to a Cabinet-level post. But we are even more proud to support an exceptionally qualified individual who has served our nation with great distinction.

It's time for Republicans to stop playing politics with Tom Perez's nomination as Secretary of Labor and heed the Latino community's call for an up and down vote in the Senate.
Olivia Hammar, mother of U.S. Marine Jon Hammar, who was held in a Mexican jail for four months, has words of courage for Armando Torres' mom.

The whereabouts of Torres, who is 25, are still unknown. He crossed the border to Mexico on May 14 to visit his father and has not been seen ever since.

This is personal for me. I can actually say that I empathize with Armando's mother, as opposed to just sympathizing with her. I get what she must be feeling and it absolutely breaks my heart. I would not wish that kind of fear on anyone.

First and foremost, I will be on my knees everyday, praying without ceasing. And if I had the chance to speak to her, I would tell her: cry out to God. He is the only one who can meet her where she is and comfort her as no one else can.

They may not be active duty, but they are still Marines. These guys are almost clan-like. They do not call themselves a band of brothers for nothing.  Olivia Hammar, Mother of Jon Hammar

But again, I am with her in thought and prayer and I will not stop until Armando is home.

My hope is that when the cartel realizes that they have a U.S. Marine they will release him and provide an escort to the border. The leadership of these cartels is composed of strategic guys and my hope is that they will realize that "once a Marine, always a Marine."

Several articles have referred to Armando as an "ex-Marine" and any Marine will tell you that is a non-existent term. They may not be active duty, but they are still Marines. These guys are almost clan-like. They do not call themselves a band of brothers for nothing. I honestly believe that if Jonny had not been released when he was, there would have been an international incident.

We were flooded with correspondence from all over the country from Marines who were completely distraught about Jonny's situation. And these were the guys that did not know him personally. Any one of them would have risked his life to have saved him without a second thought. It is simply what they do for each other.

I cannot imagine that these cartels, whose sole purpose in life is protecting their drug routes, would want the ire of the U.S. Marine Corp. The Marine Corp. maintains about 200,000 active duty service men and around 40,000 reservists. I believe Armando served in both capacities. And then you factor in the hundreds of thousands of inactive Marines and it is a formidable group.

These guys view each other as family. To this day, Jonny and the Marines he served with care for each other and, they will tell you, they never leave a brother behind. So until Armando is found and released, they will not forget him.

Journalism is Mexico is under constant attack, particularly in the northern border states. And in Tamaulipas it is a virtual media black out. And President Enrique Pena Nieto has become complicit in creating this environment by not protecting Mexican journalists. So it is going to be up to the American and international press to cover this story.
Attorney General Eric Holders off-the-record invitation to discuss guidelines for handling investigations of leaks involving journalists caused a divide between news media.

Many like Jim Asher, McClatchy's Washington bureau chief, declined, stating, It seems to be something of a PR campaign to make nice with the press.

Journalists cannot just wag their index finger from a safe distance and not be willing to then sit and speak to the person (or agency it is criticizing).  Hugo Balta

Others like USA TODAYs editor in chief, David Callaway, agreed to the meeting saying, "We think it is important to hear what they have to say on an issue that is so vital for the freedom of the press."

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), swimming against the tide, was the only independent minority journalism organization to accept Mondays meeting. With all due respect to the reputable news outlets opposed, as defenders of a free press we cannot simply sit outside in protest. Journalists must engage in any conversation that affects them and their work. We cannot help shape policy if we are not at the table.

Although originally billed as off the record, Mr. Holder understood and agreed to have the meeting on the record. Mr. Holder said that it was the Department of Justice intention to host an off-the-record meeting in order to have a free flowing exchange of ideas and not as a tool to suppress information.

It is this lack of understanding of how journalists work by the Attorney General and his office that has created an environment of suspicion and contempt.

It was productive to hear Mr. Holder and his team talk about being more inclusive with media organizations moving forward, but they shouldnt get a free pass. The fact remains that unprecedented measures were used in seizing Associated Press phone records and in a separate case, Fox News reporter James Rosen was described as a potential co-conspirator.

Journalists should not be labeled as criminals for doing their constitutionally-protected service to the community. The trust between a reporter and an anonymous source who fears reprisals should not be broken by the questionable seizure of private records.

Holder assured us that his team explored all means available in gathering information for its investigation before taking the extreme action of obtaining a subpoena. He lamented the outcome and promised to seek changes that would include improving the notice time given to media during such probes.

Mr. Holder was surprisingly candid and regretted some of the actions his department made in pursuing leakers. He admitted that outdated policies must change in order to not give any impression that journalists are the targets of investigations.

However well-intended, the DOJs attempt to protect national security trampled over freedom of the press.

While the hour-long meeting did not produce a meaningful list of concrete changes that will secure the rights of journalists, it is a first step in the right direction.

I'm not blind to the perception (and perhaps reality) that the meetings with the Attorney General are just a dog and pony show, a PR stunt to wipe egg off the face of DOJs poor handling of investigating leakers. Still, as NAHJ president, that fact that doesnt acquit me of my responsibility to provide an important and diverse voice on this issue. Journalists cannot just wag their index finger from a safe distance and not be willing to then sit and speak to the person (or agency) they're criticizing.

Pointing fingers is easy. Finding solutions is hard. Media outlets must always be willing to meet face to face with others and discuss ideas that may result in positive change for journalists and journalism.
The legislative battle over comprehensive immigration reform is in full swing, with full Senate debate on proposed legislation set to begin next week. But one issue is getting too little attention in this debate: the need for counsel for thousands of immigrants facing deportation every day.

The proposed immigration overhaul would bring a long-overdue path to citizenship to 11 million undocumented immigrants. But it also promises to further ramp up immigration enforcement, meaning that many immigrants would still have to contend with possible deportation.

Most detainees are non-criminals who were caught by a system that has failed to pursue high-risk offenders and instead has zeroed in on your neighbors next door, who pose no security risk and face non-criminal charges.  Lorelei Salas and Patrick Young

In a nation that prides itself on equal access to justice, this raises the question: who is advocating for immigrants in their interactions with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement? In too many cases, the answer is: no one.

The last decade has brought our countrys largest ever immigration enforcement build-up, resulting in annual enforcement expenditures exceeding spending on federal criminal law enforcement and over one million deportations during President Obamas tenure.

Today, thousands of immigrants, both undocumented and those with permanent legal status, and even some citizens, languish in detention centers without any hope for adequate legal representation. They are mothers, sons, grandparents, and mentally disabled individuals.

Most detainees are non-criminals who were caught by a system that has failed to pursue high-risk offenders and instead has zeroed in on your neighbors next door, who pose no security risk and face non-criminal charges.

Take the case of Emilio (a pseudonym to respect confidentiality), a Honduran immigrant who arrived here at age 18, met his wife, and, raised three US-citizen children. Emilio supported his family, paid his taxes, and never committed any crimes. Yet, in 2009, immigration officials arrested Emilio on a train in upstate New York. He later found himself ordered deported when he was not in court.

In early 2012, ICE agents raided Emilios Brooklyn home and arrested him, transporting him to detention in New Jersey, where he faced harrowing conditions. To make matters worse, Emilios youngest daughter needed surgery, and Emilio could not be with her.

Emilios wife sought help from one of our organizations, Make the Road New York, and, with legal intervention, Emilio was eventually released from detention. His case was reopened to allow him to pursue a green card based on his marriage. Emilio managed to get support, but most immigrants in Emilios position never find this kind of critical help.

Our American criminal justice system prides itself in ensuring the presumption of innocence, but thousands of indigent individuals are nevertheless incarcerated in jails far from their loved ones, waiting endlessly to be tried in immigration courts and eventually deported, even though they have had no access to legal counsel. Often, those incarcerated waive their rights and choose voluntary self-deportation rather than continue to waste away in jail.

Like Emilio, many immigrants ensnared in our detention system actually have some form of eligibility for relief from deportation. But, without an attorney who can navigate the complicated web of immigration laws, they will be uprooted from their homes and sent back to countries where they have no ties.

The relatively small number of non-profit legal services organizations that provide representation in deportation and removal proceedings cannot meet the demand for services and face tremendous obstacles accessing their clients with the limited detention center schedules for visitation. These organizations have limited funding streams that are vulnerable to private funders goodwill, and few have the capacity to have staff travel to distant detention centers.

As negotiations for comprehensive immigration reform go forward, we have an opportunity to correct the deficiencies that plague our immigration enforcement machinery. The proposed bill in the Senate takes a step forward by requiring free counsel for unaccompanied minors, the mentally ill, and other vulnerable people.

But it should go further. A humane immigration bill must ensure free legal representation for all indigent individuals facing deportation proceedings. Non-citizens already have a right to counsel in criminal proceedings, even when it means that they would only be subject to a couple of days in prison. In contrast, we deprive the same non-citizens of their liberty for months on end because of our broken immigration laws.

Public interest lawyers and academics have for several years pondered solutions to increasing incarceration rates, and at least one New York Federal Judge is putting forward a proposal for networks of immigration legal services providers who can represent detainees at no cost.

But our federal government still has an obligation to provide a free lawyer to those incarcerated under its watch who cannot pay for legal representation. That is the least we can do in a country built by immigrants and committed to justice for all.
I was born in Texas, grew up along the U.S.-Mexico border and have lived and worked in both countries. Along the way, Ive learned a lot about the importance of securing our border while allowing free trade, and the importance of living within your means. These are things our government has struggled to do for a decade.

With momentum building to advance comprehensive immigration reform, it appears that Congress is moving in the right direction, but we must also look to address the concerns expressed about border security.

Residents of border states like New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and California need to know not only that the economy is on the right track, but also that the agencies tasked with protecting our borders are protected from short-term political whim.  Antonio Garza

The reality is that border security, immigration and our countrys budget problems are inextricably linked. If we hope to enact successful immigration reform, we must make sure that our country is on firm enough fiscal ground to properly enforce new policies.

Our ability to control our borders is even now being threatened by sequestration, or the drastic across-the-board spending cuts required when Congress failed to reach a compromise on reducing the deficit earlier this year. Sequestration now threatens not only border security but also the international trade that is so vital to our economies.

As the full impact of sequestration sets in, we are seeing more and more agencies request individual exemptions and look for other ways to work within their budgets and around the sequester to avoid harmful furloughs and program cuts.

Customs and Border Protection recently asked Congress for permission to transfer money within its budget in order to avoid furloughing border agents due to the required sequestration cuts. Congress now has 30 days to approve the proposed measure from Customs and Border Protection. This is good news for Americas border states that depend on the agency for their safety and well-being and for facilitating the free flow of trade, but bad news for our long-term budget outlook. Though I believe the sequester is bad policy, we should replace it with smart savings in other areas rather than simply repeal it. We cannot address our debt problems if we enact budgetary savings only to repeal them months later.

Congress inability to deal with our debt is what got us in this sequestration trouble in the first place. The lack of respect for deadlines in solving our debt problems goes back to 2011 when Congress and the White House couldnt reach an agreement on the debt ceiling, and the sequester idea was born. Politicians put the sequester in place to hold themselves hostage to the Fiscal Cliff deadline on New Years Eve, but missed the deadline and delayed the sequester. Congress later failure to avoid sequestration in March added fiscal insult to injury.

In order to ensure that our borders are secure and our immigration policy works, we need to give the agencies tasked with those duties the stable political environment and resources required to do the job. We need a comprehensive fiscal plan that stabilizes our economy for the foreseeable future, and we need to replace the sequester cuts with smart deficit reduction from all sides of the ledger. We cannot continue to let half-baked policy ideas aimed at avoiding continually renewing deadlines get in the way of smart policy that secures our future.

Thats why Ive been a vocal advocate of the nonpartisan Campaign to Fix the Debt. America cannot continue to operate on a week-to-week schedule as Congress continuously creates artificial crises and then fails to respond to them.

Residents of border states like New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and California need to know not only that the economy is on the right track, but also that the agencies tasked with protecting our borders are protected from short-term political whim.

My hope is that we see Congress and the White House come to their senses and enact a workable compromise plan to address the deficit so that we can ensure a secure border and robust trade, address immigration concerns, and put our nation back on track with a plan that ensures we live within our means.
As the 2016 presidential field begins to take shape, Latinos should keep their eye on Kentucky senator, and presumptive presidential hopeful, Rand Paul.

Through his first two and a half years in the Senate, Senator Paul has been championing policies that directly benefit the Latino community. While the rest of the Republican Party continues to mull over their November loss and unsuccessful attempt at Hispanic outreach, Senator Paul has taken principled stands on issues such as immigration and primary education.

He is doing what so many other Republicans should be doing  advocating policies that will create more opportunities for the Latino community and ultimately benefit our nation.  Michelle Fields

Unlike many of his Republican colleagues, Paul supports reform that allows undocumented immigrants to come out from the shadows and become taxpaying members of society. His immigration plan primarily involves securing the border coupled with an immediate expansion of the work visa program. The plan would cover two million undocumented immigrants per year, starting with the Dream Act Kids. Affected immigrants would receive temporary visas, but would still have to wait in line just like everyone else for permanent citizenship.

Unlike the Gang of Eights plan, Pauls plan does not force undocumented immigrants to pay unreasonably harsh penalties in order to get probationary legal status. Most undocumented immigrants work low-wage jobs in America and cannot afford to pay back years of taxes. Such a harsh penalty would just convince undocumented immigrants to remain illegal, which would undermine the entire point of immigration reform.

Paul also supports legislation that will repeal mandatory minimum sentencing for federal drug offenses. The law, as it currently exists, disproportionately affects the Latino community and too often leads to prison sentences that are unfit for the offender. According to the United States Sentencing Commission, Hispanics account for 44 percent of drug offenders who get a mandatory minimum penalty. The policy has sent countless Latinos into our bloated prison system for nonviolent offenses, yet has done little to reduce crime in our country.

Mandatory minimum sentencing not only hurts the Latino community, but also affects every American taxpayer because they are the ones who have to pick up the tab for outrageously lengthy minimum sentences.

Paul has teamed up with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and introduced the Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013. The plan dismantles the one-size-fits-all approach to drug offenders and offers judges some leeway to give out sentences below the minimum. Further, it helps alleviate our dangerously overcrowded prison system.

School choice is another area where Pauls advocacy should find a sounding board among the Hispanic community. Latinos currently make up the largest minority group in Americas schools. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, one in four public elementary school students are Latino. Unfortunately, they are also more likely to attend our countrys worst performing schools and drop out.

Right now, Latinos who live in neighborhoods without good public schools have difficulty accessing quality education. Part of our countrys economic health must rely on the success of our nations fastest growing minority group.

Paul has been a vocal advocate for school choice, calling it the civil rights issue of our day. School choice would give parents and children the power to choose their education based on their needs and interests, not their home address. For these reasons, Paul introduced legislation in the Senate that would allow $14 billion to go to low-income students. The students could use the funds as either a scholarship or voucher as well as give them school choice.

As the battle for 2016 begins, Latinos have many reasons to stand with Rand. He is doing what so many other Republicans should be doing  advocating policies that will create more opportunities for the Latino community and ultimately benefit our nation.
Do you think Tiffany & Co, BMW, Ralph Lauren, Private Banking, AMEX Platinum or The Ritz when you think of Latinos? If not, you may be allowing stereotypes to limit your ability to tap into a segment growing faster than any other within the luxury and upscale categories.

While previous research has already revealed a vibrant luxury market with Hispanics earning $110,000+ (which is growing 8 percent faster than the rest, reporting 221 percent growth in the last decade), the sweet spot has now been revealed by a new study challenging conventional thinking: "Americas New Upscale Segment: Latinos!"

The study by AHAA: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing, in partnership with Nielsen and Santiago Solutions, is placing the spotlight on the brown elephant in the room represented by Latinos.

"[Hispanics] already represent an important part of our consumer base and with their growing buying power and influence in the U.S. we think it is important to have a more intimate dialogue with this group.  Andre Branch, VP of marketing at Ralph Lauren Fragrances

However, this time around the ignored elephant becomes even more daunting when zooming into the upscale segment. In fact, one in three U.S. Latinos are upscale Latinos with incomes in the range of $50,000-$100,000 per year, representing 37 percent of the Hispanic spending power in 2013, $500 million out of $1.3 trillion.

As 2014 business planning season heats up for many corporations, this data could be what many needed to turn the corner and invest in Americas fastest growing population segment. Here are five key reasons why you cannot afford to ignore this emerging market:

1. Doubling in size: Dare to find another upscale segment that is paced to double in size by the year 2050, reaching 35 million households.

2. Young and Vibrant: As boomers age, upscale Latinos are younger and living in growing households. They are 33 years old compared to 39 years old, therefore living active lifestyles, often with young families  in fact, 85 percent of upscale Hispanics have a household size of three or more, compared to 65 percent of upscale non-Hispanics. This means, opportunities to earn and maintain loyalty longer, opportunities to offer a wider range of service and products and a trendsetting/contemporary mind-set.

3. Highly Localized: If you are quite not ready for a national plan, anyone doing business in the southwest and Pacific region of the U.S. must make this a priority as 60 percent of all U.S. upscale Latinos are in that region.

4. Purchasing More: Upscale Hispanics not only spend more per trip, but also shop more frequently for health and beauty items than both Hispanics and upscale whites. Preliminary reports find that upscale Hispanics over-index other Hispanics in Investments and Personal Care categories

5. Entrepreneurial & Educated: College enrollment among Hispanics has seen dramatic growth of 15 percent from 2010 to 2011. A half-million upscale Hispanic homes have a member in their household that own their own business. In fact, Hispanics who owned business at large are growing 41.8 percent in the next six years to 4.3 million, which is nearly twice the rate of the national average with annual revenues at $350B.

While this may be a new revelation for some, others have already tapped into this segment and are getting ahead of the competition. BMW for example has partnered with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), while Visa Inc. has also launched a Small Business Alliance to help strengthen and grow the three million Hispanic-owned businesses that USHCC advocates.

Gucci Timepieces & Jewelry has also demonstrated its commitment as an official partner of The Latin Recording Academy. The partnership began last year with the launch of a special-edition collection of timepieces and jewelry inspired by the eclectic world of Latin music. Gucci Timepieces & Jewelry has recognized the nominees in the Best New Artist category with a special-edition I-Gucci Latin GRAMMY watch and presented the 2012 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, Brazil's Caetano Veloso, with a custom I-Gucci Latin GRAMMY watch set with 42 diamonds.

Most recently, luxury brand Ralph Lauren, which already features a Latino as their worldwide ambassador  Nacho Figueras  has launched a targeted effort elevating the awareness and equity of Ralph Lauren Fragrances amongst Latinos.

With national Spanish television advertising, print advertising on magazines such as Vanidades, People en Espanol and Latina, partnerships with retailers like Macys, Hispanic celebrity gifting and participation in exclusive premium Hispanic events, Ralph Lauren Fragrances is demonstrating its commitment through an integrated approach.

Hispanics are an important consumer for the Ralph Lauren brand. They already represent an important part of our consumer base and with their growing buying power and influence in the U.S. we think it is important to have a more intimate dialogue with this group, says Andre Branch, VP of marketing at Ralph Lauren Fragrances, L'Oreal Luxe Division. The brands upcoming launch of Polo Red featuring Nacho Figueras will also include an integrated plan to reach Latinos.

Hopefully the numbers and brand examples serve as an inspiration for many more who are waiting on the sidelines or still clouded by stereotypes about this market. Certainly AHAA is giving more than one marketer an aha! moment with all this new data. Muchas gracias!
One of the painful lessons of the 9/11 attacks was the realization that our government was not only unable to connect the dots of information that might have allowed it to prevent the attacks  we were unable to collect the dots. The collection of intelligence information thus became a priority, and the Bush Administration took measures to protect America against extraordinary and evolving threats.

As has been widely reported, former presidential candidate Obama and then-Senator Biden were critical of the terrorism policies of the Bush Administration. However, the Obama Administration has continued to use many of the same extraordinary measures to detect and prevent further attacks. The recent revelation that the government obtained customer telephone records from Verizon, and collected certain email communications has raised concerns our government has gone too far in the name of security.

The serious threats against our country justify extraordinary collection efforts. However, those efforts must be constrained by the checks and balances necessary to safeguard our constitutional liberties.  Alberto Gonzales

At the outset, it is important to remember that the public still does not know, and may never know, all the details of the governments classified activities. So it is difficult to assess fully its legality and effectiveness. We do know that telephone records were obtained under the constraints of a court order from a federal judge on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Court; select members of Congress had either been previously briefed or were given an opportunity to be briefed on the governments actions; and these activities were done pursuant to authority granted by Congress.

Civil libertarians assert that our constitutional rights have been violated. However, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that the acquisition of personal information like telephone numbers already in the possession of third parties like Verizon, does not implicate the Fourth Amendment because there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in such information under our Constitution.

Nor, as some have suggested, is a warrantless search necessarily illegal. The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. In the criminal context, the Fourth Amendment reasonableness requirement usually requires a showing of probable cause and a warrant. However, the Supreme Court repeatedly has held that in situations involving special needs that go beyond a routine interest in law enforcement, the warrant requirement is inapplicable. Foreign intelligence collection, especially in the midst of a conflict in which the enemy has already attacked the United States, fits within the area of special needs where the Fourth Amendments touchstone of reasonableness can be satisfied without resort to a warrant.

Nevertheless, the government is exercising extraordinary power here; and in the hands of the wrong person or persons, the misuse and abuse of such power is a threat to our liberty. Our government should continue to utilize the latest and most advanced technology, as well as other available tools, to obtain information about our enemies, provided there are sufficient checks and balances against potential abuses. Congress must be vigorous in its oversight, a responsibility that is impossible, however, without accurate and complete information about our intelligence efforts. The Executive Branch should provide to Congress a clear accounting of how these authorities are used, as well as continue to implement effective minimization procedures to guard against the inadvertent collection of information of innocent Americans. Finally, the NSA General Counsel and Inspector General should continue to be especially sensitive to the potential for abuse, and provide heightened guidance and scrutiny to protect against mistakes and misuses.

The serious threats against our country justify extraordinary collection efforts. However, those efforts must be constrained by the checks and balances necessary to safeguard our constitutional liberties.
Last week senators announced an agreement that would double the number of boots on the ground, greatly expand drone surveillance and build hundreds more miles of border fences, barriers and walls in an effort to generate consensus on immigration reform. This is precisely the wrong approach. I suppose this shouldnt be too much of a surprise given that Congress, with their focus on security and refusal to work collaboratively with Mexico, got us into this mess in the first place.

Congress has a distressingly long history at failing at immigration policy reform. In the 1960s and 70s, Congress passed policies like the Hart-Cellar Immigration Reform Act and cancelled practical programs like the Bracero guest worker program. Instead of seeking out partnership, policy makers looked to construct barricades, as options for legal immigration, like guest work visas, decreased. Congress also increased surveillance at the border. The result? Fewer and fewer of the thousands of Mexicans who applied for temporary status were accepted and the increased scrutiny along the border meant that seasonal workers were actually incentivized to stay in the United States without documents year-round.

If we think fences can prevent people from seeking a better life for their families, we are fools who deeply underestimate the human conditions that drive immigration.  Alfredo Gutierrez

Farm workers who once followed the migrant stream, picking lettuce, broccoli and carrots and then heading north to pick cherries, apples and peaches and then back across to Texas and the South to pick cotton on their way back to Mexico, now no longer crossed the border back to their families. Congress, quite simply, created crisis.

Watching the recent news about immigration reform, I feel like Im stuck in a time warp. Unfortunately, while the Senate is making important progress, it seems almost certain that it intends to leave many of the underlying factors that created the immigration crisis unaddressed. Congress continues to treat Mexico like a distant neighbor, imposing unrealistic quotas and ignoring the realities of life along the border.

The last time that Washington dealt seriously with immigration was in 2001. At that time, George W. Bush, the last president to seriously attempt to reverse the blunders that created the immigration crisis, was recently elected. He moved quickly to deal with the issue of immigration. In a refreshing twist, his approach was to work collaboratively with Mexicos President, Vicente Fox. The two former governors shared a ranching background, an affinity for Stetson hats and cowboy boots and understanding that, without real reform, the immigration situation would only worsen. The two worked secretly with a group of lawyers, diplomats and academics to create a plan that began with a path to green cards, would remove Mexico and Canada from the global quota system and revive a guest worker program that would have allowed as many as 300,000 Mexicans to work in the United States and then return home.

Unfortunately, the plan dissolved following the Sept. 11 attacks, and our policy makers havent gotten close to workable reform since. Congress has ignored this approach, dubbed the whole enchilada, in favor of a robust macho policy of boots, fences and dogs on the border. The Obama administration has vigorously followed this approach, spending more than 18 billion dollars on immigration enforcement in 2012  an amount that far exceeds whats spent by all other major federal law enforcement agencies combined.

And now, the Senate has doubled down on this misguided path. As a longtime Senator and commentator for a daily Spanish-language talk show in Arizona, I saw a steady stream of crossers that were migrating between Mexico and the United States. They brought in found IDs or wallets with family photos in the hopes of connecting searching families with a small bit of information about a lost loved one or begged me to announce the last known location of their sons or daughters so that listeners with information could call. My experience with those distraught family members reinforces an undeniable truth: The current focus on border security defies common sense. If we think fences can prevent people from seeking a better life for their families, we are fools who deeply underestimate the human conditions that drive immigration. Quotas didnt work 40 years ago, and they wont work now. Fences werent a solution 20 years ago, and they arent one now.

Disappointingly, the current Congress seems content to continue to engage in mindless repetition of the mistakes of the past. The sooner we stop talking about building fences in front of immigrants  and start talking about building bridges among nations  the sooner we can achieve true immigration reform. Sadly, Congress history doesnt breed much hope.
If they still object to the Border Security set up with this amendment, their rationale for opposing immigration reform is for some other reason, says Senator John McCain.

This after two Republican Senators from Tennessee and North Dakota offered a huge amendment to the immigration reform bill costing billions of dollars. For what? To man the border with 20,000 more Border Patrol agents and billions more in technical support and toys.

The entire political future of the United States and our two party system is on [John Boehner's] shoulders. Will he step up and save the two party system and the Republican Party?  Raoul Lowery Contreras

Realistically, this surge might not even be necessary when the bills massive guest worker permit is implemented in agriculture and other basic industries like hospitality and construction. Ditto E-Verify.

It is no surprise to this writer that the Senate voted 67 to 27 to proceed to a final vote without filibuster of the 1200 page immigration reform bill, SB 744. The surprise is that it took adding $30 billion in spending to attract a solid block of Republican votes. So said former Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs on Meet the Press.

Now, even as various House of Representative committees are working up individual bills on segments of immigration reform, there are dire political warnings that if an immigration reform bill doesnt make it to the Presidents desk for signature with a heavy Republican stamp of approval on it, the Republican Party will never win another national election.

An interesting view of what faces Republicans is a comment made by veteran GOP presidential campaign guru, Mike Murphy, that he was a fanatic on the issue of immigration reform with a Republican brand on it because, he said, he is tired of watching Democratic Presidential inaugurations.

The small loud cabal of Senate Republicans that bad-mouthed the entire reform effort did not sway the Senate but the question is, how many in the House have they swayed.

Of 435 members 218 House votes are necessary to pass any bill. Thus, numerically there are three ways a House vote can go on immigration:

1. John Boehner and his leadership must convince, force or deal with 110 or more GOP members to vote for it thus living up to the Hastert Rule of not bringing a bill to a vote unless a majority of GOP House members are in support.

2. Boehner can count on a Democratic bloc of 190 to support reform and turn the House loose to vote conscience which would then produce a minimum of 29 Republican votes (probably close to a hundred creating a solid bi-partisan yes vote) to join the Democratic bloc in passing reform.

3. Assuming the bill then passes, Boehner and Nancy Pelosi would choose a Conference Committee to meet with a Senate Conference Committee to structure an acceptable compromise. That compromise would then go back to both houses for approval or defeat.

It is at this stage that Boehner could invoke the Hastert Rule without, I think, much of a problem. The result would be presented to the president for his signature.

How to get there is the problem, much of which seems to have been overcome by Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and John Hoeven (R-ND) when they came up with the Border Surge as it has been labeled.

Senator McCain is right, with these added resources of billions for Border Security, how can anyone be opposed to immigration reform?

The complaints will now be that the government will not enforce the new law as it has not enforced existing laws. That, of course, is not true. Has the government intercepted hundreds of thousands of illegal border crossers and sent them back? Yes, it has. Has the government arrested and deported hundreds of thousands of criminals and others under President Obama? Yes. Thus, that argument is speculative and also specious, based on five years of heavy enforcement experience.

In these precincts, the Border Surge must be strengthened with a competent E-Verify system that all workers will have to pass and adequate agriculture work permits and permits for hospitality and construction industries.

The Congressional Budget Offices generally positive report on the Senate bill suggests some problems in unemployment and static wages for todays underclass of school drop-out workers, but that is why we have a minimum wage. States can and do raise minimums. As for unemployment, immigrants have little to do with that, as studies have shown.

Balancing out these negatives are economic growth, mushrooming productivity and a growing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that will create more jobs, more prosperity and more tax revenue which in turn will cut projected deficits by almost a trillion dollars in two decades.

One man is the key to this happening.

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH), number two in presidential succession, is that man. The entire political future of the United States and our two party system is on his shoulders. Will he step up and save the two party system and the Republican Party?

I think he will.
In their personal and professional lives, great leaders demonstrate integrity at all times. When I was a college student at the U.S. Air Force Academy, we vowed to live by an honor code which states, We will not lie, cheat, or steal nor tolerate among us anyone who does.

As Chairman of the Cadet Wing Honor Committee my senior year, I was responsible for teaching ethics, instilling a sense of honor among the cadets, and enforcing our honor code. During my year as Honor Committee Chairman, I conducted over 250 investigations and convened 108 Honor Boards. I personally served as Chairman which is like being an administrative judge on 72 of those Honor Boards. Eight cadets were chosen at random to serve on juries that studied evidence and heard witness testimony in each case.

It is impossible to lead if you have no credibility with the people in your organization, and in too many organizations, integrity is just a catch-phrase.  Charles Garcia

In this quasi-judicial role, I participated in the questioning of witnesses and sat in on the deliberations to ensure that the cadet jurors remained focused on the case at hand. Sixty of the 72 boards over which I presided culminated in the dismissal from the Academy of the cadets found guilty of violating the honor code.

One senior cadet who was a friend of mine had completed all his academic classes and was awaiting graduation when some friends from high school decided to visit him. As his parents drove across the country from Maine for the ceremonies, my friend partied with his buddies late into the night before deciding to take them on a midnight tour of the dorms.

The problem was, however, that civilians were not allowed in the cadet dormitories. When the rowdy bunch entered the dormitory, they were stopped by an underclassman in charge of dormitory security who challenged their right to enter. The graduating cadet pulled out his identification card and lied, saying the visitors were also cadets. With the graduating cadets assurance that they were all authorized visitors, the underclassman allowed them access but decided to report the incident after the long hair of the civilian visitors attracted his attention.

The graduating cadet had committed an Honor Code violation by lying to the underclassman. An Honor Board was convened and my friend was kicked out, and not allowed to become an officer in our nations armed forces. He earned his academic degree, but never fulfilled his dream of becoming a combat Air Force fighter pilot.

An example of the difficult struggle to maintain integrity in the face of overwhelming pressure is that of retired Admiral Charles Chuck Larson, a former Eagle Scout and U.S. Naval Academy graduate.

One of his first challenges came early in his Navy career after Larson was assigned as training officer. His squad was preparing for a major inspection, and a superior officer discovered that the squad had not completed some of the required training.

He called me in and asked me to fake the training records and make it look like wed had all these lectures. I refused to do it, Larson said. I told him that I would put a good training program together and I would guarantee we would execute it, but I wasnt going to fake stuff we didnt do. I told him that if he wanted someone to do that then hed better assign someone else as training officer. He backed down. Yes, we took hits on the inspection, but then we put in a good training program. I learned that if you compromise on the little things when youre a junior, its murder to stand up for the big things when youre a senior.

It wasnt long after the training incident that Larson was selected to be a military assistant to President Nixon. Again, his honesty was tested when a two-star admiral asked him to poke around the White House for certain information.

He said there were some things they needed to know. He wanted me to snoop around in the in-baskets and find some stuff  to be their spy and bring information back to them, said Larson. I told him Id always be loyal to the Navy and Id always represent the Navy well, but I support the Commander in Chief and my loyalty is there, and if he wanted that sort of person in this position then hed better tell the White House they selected the wrong guy and send me back to sea. He backed down and I was never asked to do anything like that again.

His integrity intact, Larson went on to have a stellar career. He served twice as U.S. Naval Academy superintendent and also served as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, the highest ranking officer in charge of all American forces in the Asia-Pacific zone.

These two very different stories Larson, who managed to remain true to his own sense of right and wrong, and my senior cadet colleague, who was more easily swayed to forgo his principles exemplify the harsh truth that we all will be called upon to uphold our own code of honor.

It is impossible to lead if you have no credibility with the people in your organization, and in too many organizations, integrity is just a catch-phrase. Leaders must reinforce the companys ethical standards, and its not enough to just put them in an employee handbook.

The penalties for violating the rules must be enforced and punishment must be more than a verbal slap on the wrist. A true leader finds a way to exemplify the principles of honesty at all times and gets others to follow these same tenets, regardless of the consequences.
Aaron Hernandez was charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday.

The former Patriots tight end  New England released the fourth-year player soon after his arrest, even before his arraignment  was denied bail.

The development marked another disappointing turn in an investigation that appeared to get worse for Hernandez at every turn. As the events unfolded, Hernandez went from portrayed as uncooperative to allegedly destroying possible evidence to murder suspect. There was also another  unrelated  civil suit filed against Hernandez last week in which he is accused of shooting a man in the face. It was a dramatic and depressing fall for a player who had risen to become one of the most high-profile Latinos in the NFL.

Only a month ago, he received Pop Warners Inspiration to Youth Award. Now, he sits in jail awaiting the next steps in his case.  Maria Burns Ortiz

The reality is one man is dead, which alone is an indescribable tragedy.

The promising career of a Pro Bowl player is in shambles, which pales in comparison to the reality that hes staring down the possibility of a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Those two points  in that order  are the gravest travesties in this case.

However, Hernandezs dramatic descent from Super Bowl player to suspect is felt beyond his upscale neighborhood of North Attleboro, Mass., beyond greater Boston, beyond the New England Patriots fan base.

Hernandez  who is of Puerto Rican descent  was also one of the few Latinos players in the NFL, where less than 1 percent of players are Hispanic.

Moreover, Hernandez wasnt just a Latino player (of which the league boasted just 13 in 2012). He was a recognizable player on one of the best teams in the league. He had the ability to identify with the leagues Hispanic market in a way few players do, to connect on a shared cultural level.

Though it seems almost unbelievable given the events of the last two weeks  and the discussion now dating back to possible draft day concerns about Hernandezs character  the tight end served as a role model. Only a month ago, he received Pop Warners Inspiration to Youth Award. Now, he sits in jail awaiting the next steps in his case.

This story marks the undoing of one of the NFLs few Hispanic role models. Hernandez has gone from inspiration to cautionary tale.

Its a sad chapter in what had been an often-uplifting story. Hernandez overcame the unexpected death of his father. He became a key player on the Patriots. He signed a lucrative contract with New England and had multiple endorsements. While its important to recognize that Hernandez has not been convicted of anything yet, the course of his life and career have been forever altered.

Often in sports, so much focus is on winning. There are no winners here.
The United States Senate is on the verge of making history.

Bipartisan passage of commonsense immigration reform. Just 12 months ago, all of us would have thought it out of the question.

But two dramatic changes have taken place  changes that have created unparalleled bipartisan momentum for a new immigration process that honors our nations values and includes a clear roadmap to citizenship for aspiring Americans.

In essence, the Senate has voted to spend tens of billions of dollars on securing borders that already are as secure as they have ever been.  Ali Noorani

One, Latinos came out to vote in record numbers in 2012. Candidate Mitt Romneys idea that undocumented immigrants should and would self-deport if we made life miserable enough for them failed  miserably.

Self-deportation clearly is not an American value. The votes tell the story.

A record 11.2 million Latinos voted in the presidential election, 15 percent more than in 2008  and they voted for President Obama, the candidate who spoke about reform rather than self-deportation, 71 percent to 27 percent.

The gap was even wider among Asian American voters: 77 percent to 21 percent, according to exit polls.

Something else happened that is in many ways more important: A strong conservative vision for immigration reform emerged.

In the past two years, an alliance of conservative faith, law enforcement and business leadership has come together to forge a new consensus on immigrants and America. These relationships formed because these leaders believe in immigration reform that respects human dignity, improves community safety and celebrates rather than limits American possibility.



Just two weeks ago, leaders from around the country in the Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform network held a Policy Breakfast and Advocacy Day in Washington. They organized 83 meetings with congressional offices (including 55 with Republicans). This same network has held more than 40 events around the country in support of immigration reform.

All of this has created not only political space for Republicans and Democrats to work together, but also a political imperative for compromise on commonsense policies.

And yet, as with all compromises, this one is not perfect. In fact, we have all experienced a bit of political whiplash in the past couple of weeks.

On June 18, the Congressional Budget Office report reported that the Senate bill  as negotiated by the Senate Judiciary Committee  would lead to $897 billion in savings over the next 20 years. Senators decided that meant they have money to spend, and they voted Wednesday morning to spend an additional $38 billion on border security.

That puts the bills total security price tag at a whopping $46 billion and change. In essence, the Senate has voted to spend tens of billions of dollars on securing borders that already are as secure as they have ever been.

Despite these problems, the Senate bill preserves the essential road to citizenship for aspiring Americans. It would be tough, but fair. The bill also would establish the functioning legal immigration process we so desperately need, one that meets the needs of our economy, workforce and families.

All in all, Senate bill 744 is a tremendous step forward and one that would protect millions upon millions of people, ending fear of deportation, uniting families and allowing all of us to contribute fully to our country. This is a great thing.

Of course, the Senate is only half the battle. The House of Representatives must follow suit with broad, bipartisan reform. The piece-by-piece approach the House has adopted so far doesnt solve problems; it only creates them.

People who hold a Bible, wear a badge or own a business are ready to bring their conservative vision for broad, bipartisan immigration reform to Speaker John Boehner, his leadership team and rank and file Republicans.

Their message is clear: We need immigration reform that celebrates freedom and hard work  and that honors our history as both a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.
Just reading the headlines makes me wonder where the economic recovery is. Roughly three-quarters of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, with little to no emergency savings, according to a survey released by Bankrate.com on Monday.

In addition, according to a TransUnion report the auto-loan delinquency rates inched up in the first quarter, due largely to an increase in subprime loan balances.

When our American children cannot visit the White House due to the sequester reductions, how can the White House explain the expensive vacations the first family feels entitled to?  Rosario Marin, Former U.S. Treasurer

The picture is not rosy when, according to the Federal Reserve Bank report of last year, the average U.S. family's wealth plunged 40 percent in the recession. Worse yet, the report showed that the biggest reduction in net worth, in percentage terms, affected young middle-age families, those headed by 35- to 44-year-olds. Their median net worth  total assets minus debts  dropped 54 percent to $42,100 over the period.

If we add the expected increases in healthcare costs we can safely say that the hard working taxpayers and their families will have to work harder and longer just to make ends meet. That is if they can find a job, keep it, and/or add more hours.

In the meantime the president and the first family are on their way to Africa on a taxpayer-funded trip with an astronomical cost of $100 million. It almost appears like this White House is either tone-deaf to the plight of hardworking taxpayers or worse yet, it just doesnt care.

When our American children cannot visit the White House due to the sequester reductions, how can the White House explain the expensive vacations the first family feels entitled to? Why didnt the sequester cuts trigger a reduction in executive travel?

I am all for the president doing his job, although many would say that he is performing ever so poorly. His approval ratings are at an astonishingly low 44 percent, hardly enough to make a case for a vacation, much less such an expensive one. Clearly, Africa is an important continent, but really, when so many Americans are nixing their vacations, cutting their vacation days or simply just enjoying their stay-cations; would it be too much to ask the White House to be more sensitive, to not flaunt their ostentatious ways? There is a saying in Mexico: No cuentes el dinero enfrente de los pobres, which translates to: Do not count your money in front of the poor.

I know times have been tough for most Americans: many are still without a job. Some just simply stopped looking for one. Regrettably too many (47 million) are still dependent on the largesse and generosity of the small and getting smaller group of taxpayers for some financial assistance. Yet Americans are resilient. We meet challenges head on, not because the government helps us, but more often than not, in spite of the governments intervention.

All this bad news coming out of Washington one day will subside. I just hope it doesnt take three years; wait, maybe the President can stay in Africa all that time on a permanent vacation. Now that would be some good news.
As we wait to hear Ecuadors decision on whether to grant asylum to Edward Snowden, the 29-year-old contractor who leaked the details of the U.S. National Security Agency surveillance program, two questions loom large: Why would Ecuador do it? And will it?

First the why. Snowdens request was based on Ecuadors offering of asylum to the founder and director of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, who had been accused of rape in Sweden and is now holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London. Leaving aside the question of why Ecuador would offer asylum to an accused rapist just because he had posted secret U.S. documents and cables leaked to the web based NGO dedicated to transparency, the thinking among the Snowden supporters was that Ecuador loved to stick it the United States, and would welcome the opportunity to do it again for Snowden.

Whatever you may think about the right of U.S. citizens and the world to know about the N.S.A. program, clearly Ecuador isnt the logical, legitimate champion of freedom of expression globally.  Christopher Sabatini

Clearly, Ecuadors voluble, erratic, populist president, Rafael Correa, delights in standing up to the 'gringos.' Shortly after he was elected in 2006, he terminated a U.S. airbase in Ecuador that monitored and interdicted drug traffickers, kicked out the then-U.S. ambassador for information revealed in the Wikileaks, and claimed that the U.S.s development program is seeking to undermine him politically.

In reality theres little domestic political benefit to these anti-U.S. actions. According to public opinion surveys, close to 80 percent of Ecuadoreans have positive views of the United States. Where it does play well is internationally. Like his now-deceased mentor, former President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez, President Correa has ambitions that extend far beyond his countrys borders to become a world leader of the progressive, anti-imperialist left. When it offered Assange asylum, Correa presented the offer as motivated by his defense of freedom of expression.

The irony couldnt be richer. In Ecuador, Assange and Snowden would have been quickly arrested and packed off to jail for their activities. Just two weeks before Snowden asked for asylum the Ecuadoran National Assembly approved a lawproposed by the presidentthat will chill freedom of expression and limit what journalists can say and write. According to Correa, the law will guarantee for the people that information which is published by the media is true.

What is truth, though, is left up to the state. The law grants Correas government the power to punish journalists for media lynching public officials and the authority to levy heavy fines for anyone who releases or publishes protected information.

International rights and freedom of expression groups like Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists have regularly cited concerns about freedom of expression in Ecuador and denounced the new law. Whatever you may think about the right of U.S. citizens and the world to know about the N.S.A. program, clearly Ecuador isnt the logical, legitimate champion of freedom of expression globally.

There also very little practical reason for the Ecuadoran government to grant asylum to the man the U.S. wants to charge with espionage and theft of government records. The U.S. is one of the main export markets for Ecuador, buying up 45 percent of the countrys exports. Whats more, under an arrangement with the United States, in shorthand called ATPDEA, 23 percent of those goods enter tariff free. That agreement comes up to the U.S. Congress for renewal at the end of July. This week, several congressmen said that they would refuse to renew it if Ecuador welcomes Snowden, to which the Ecuadoran government shot back that it didnt want ATPDEA anyway. But an estimated 300,000 jobs inside Ecuador depend on the arrangement in sectors ranging from cut flowers to tuna. Businessmen and workers alike would feel the pinch for ideological and symbolic decision.

There would also likely be diplomatic repercussions. The U.S. recently reinstated its ambassador (after the whole Wikileaks kerfluffle), and Ecuador has a very capable ambassador in Washington, Natalie Cely. Those relations would quickly be cut by the Obama administration.

So if there are no practical, economic or political reasons for granting Snowden refuge, will President Correa do it? Much will depend on his personal mood, which as any Ecuador watcher will tell you can swing wildly.

There are, though, a number of factors that weigh against Correas deciding against giving Snowden free passage to Ecuador. The first is Ecuadors allies. Cuba is engaged in its own process of quiet, narrow negotiation with the U.S. over direct mail service and migration, and would likely not want to rock the boat by being seen as endorsing or assisting Ecuadors decision. The same is true for Venezuela whose foreign minister Elias Jaua, recently met with Secretary of State John Kerry in a sign of a tentative effort to improve relations with the hegemon to the northdespite the persistent drumbeat of belligerent rhetoric against the United States by the new president, Nicolas Maduro.

There is also the fact that in contrast to President Correas volatile personality and crude populism, there are a number of serious, qualified technocrats in his cabinet. This week they have likely been counseling him to seek a more pragmatic course on this matter. That may have been what was behind Ecuadoran Foreign Ministers Ricardo Patinos statement this week that Ecuadors decision may take up to several months.

For Edward Snowdens sake, I hope the Russian transit lounge has good, nutritious vending machines.
It is the biggest decision to come out of the Supreme Court in decades. On June 26, in a 5-4 decision, married same-sex couples became entitled to federal benefits through the elimination of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

It will completely shift how Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people are viewed and accepted in this country forever. Despite this monumental victory, 37 states still need to be brought up to speed. We are not all equal until every state gives LGBT people the right to be married. As long as those states don't allow gay marriage, its impact still blunted.

Real progress starts with changing people's perceptions of what defines love and the personal courtesy to honor whom I choose to be under the law.  Carlos Anaya

President Obama responded quick to the DOMA decision, saying, The laws of our land are catching up to the fundamental truth that millions of Americans hold in our hearts: when all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.

I would not be surprised to see states that have marriage equality help residents from other states that dont.

I also would not be surprised about the technicality of benefits will require hours of legal studies and adjustments to each state.

More On This... Supreme Court Grants Two Historic Rulings In Favor Of Gay Marriage

Without a doubt, the sense of pride and what defines a non-traditional family is the new American reality. My moms dream to see me officially married to my future husband will come sooner than she thinks.

Forget about the issue of being gay. That is old news! I grew up embracing my gayness and it was an attribute rather than a defect of character. My parents knew how to raise a gay son con Orgullo Latino.

My parents reflect how our Latino culture has taken gigantic steps when it comes to tolerance and acceptance. Countries like Argentina, Brazil, Spain and parts of Mexico allow same-sex couples to marry. Uruguay has implemented laws to legalize same-sex marriage that will come into force in August of this year.

Each and every country or state that follows is a win of equality. Real progress starts with changing people's perceptions of what defines love and the personal courtesy to honor whom I choose to be under the law.

How does the LGBT community benefit with the elimination of DOMA when it comes to immigration issues?

If you want to marry someone from another country, and youre a U.S. citizen, your spouse could now also gain citizenship through marriage. This path is available to LGBT couples because of the federal DOMA has been removed.

And let's not forget an estimated 36,000 couples who according to Immigration Equality are raising more than 25,000 children within the United States, and countless others already living abroad, who were impacted by the inability to sponsor their spouse or partner for residency under the law.

Within the U.S., it is undetermined how legally married couples will be handled in those states where same-sex marriage is constitutionally banned. For instance for a couple that marries in New York and then moves to Florida are they still considered legally married in Florida?

In light of this historic change, all married couples need to meet with an attorney and financial advisor who specializes in same-sex planning to make sure they have their finances and legal documents in order.

Doing away with DOMA raises technical issues beyond love or gender equality, and the remarkable decision is just the beginning of a long process concerning immigration on the state and federal levels.
New York City just became the largest city in America to pass mandatory paid sick leave for employees. That means that every employer in the City has to compensate their employees when theyre home sick  whether they can afford to or not.

It sounds like a nice idea. Its not. And as states and municipalities around the country consider similar legislation, its worth taking a critical look at the policy.

With Obamacares health insurance mandate looming like the Sword of Damocles over businesses, and amidst the worst economic recovery on record, imposing even more regulations on our nations employers will only serve to increase the cost of creating jobs.  David Laska

The issue here, to use Bill Clintons famous words from last years campaign, is that A word: arithmetic. Mandatory paid sick leave forces business owners who can't afford paid leave benefits to provide them.

That means employers will have to pay twice as much for the same service: they've got to pay for the sick person, and they've got to pay for the person covering for the sick person.

The Partnership for New York City concluded that it would increase citywide private payroll costs by almost $800 million a year.

Well, employers are going to make up that cost somewhere. And itll be by raising prices, cutting benefits or worse: curbing hiring or implementing layoffs.

Its Economics 101: when the cost of labor increases, companies hire fewer workers. And a business struggling to survive in our weak economy is obligated to maximize efficiency.

Recent history serves as a cautionary tale. When mandatory paid sick leave was implemented in San Francisco, 30 percent of the citys lowest-wage employees reported layoffs or reduced hours as a result.

When the State of Florida was mulling a similar policy, one independent study revealed that 40 percent of affected employees would see their compensation reduced in some way.

Here in New York City, almost 90 percent of private sector employees already have access to paid sick leave, and most others can use paid vacation days or personal days if theyre ill. Even the ones that dont can call their boss and come to an agreement; or make agreements to switch shifts with a co-worker.

Mandatory paid sick leave requirements extend benefits to far too few workers at the expense of actual jobs for far too many others.

Perhaps the most damning aspect of this policy is that it hurts small businesses and start-ups the most, as those types of businesses rely heavily on just a few people, and often operate on razor-thin profit margins, or even at a loss.

And in a sluggish recovery, small businesses and start-ups and the types of businesses that we can least afford to punish.

The notion that government can assist employees at the expense of their employers may be attractive to some, but its a fiction nonetheless.

And with Obamacares health insurance mandate looming like the Sword of Damocles over businesses, and amidst the worst economic recovery on record, imposing even more regulations on our nations employers will only serve to increase the cost of creating jobs.

Its worth noting that Connecticut and Washington DC, which are the only two areas with statewide paid sick leave, rank 37th and 44th respectively in terms of statewide unemployment, well above the national average.

Mandatory paid sick leave hurts businesses, consumers, and the very workers it seeks to protect by raising prices, lowering employment and weighing down an already weak economy.
The sudden decline in health of former South African president and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela has prompted many around the world to reminisce on his legacy and the historical significance of his movement. While serving harsh prison sentences, often in solitary confinement, Mandela took part in hunger strikes and used every opportunity to draw global attention and solidarity for the anti-apartheid cause.

While speaking to a crowd of South African University students last week, President Barack Obama also recalled Mandelas struggle and his personal frustration with how little the United States was doing to help those freedom fighters an ocean away.

[Cubans] continue seeking the help of those who once helped South Africa to rid itself of its own heavy chains, but these countries continue to turn a deaf ear.  Rudy Mayor

Against all odds, Mandelas efforts worked. The international community imposed sweeping economic sanctions on South Africa, isolating the country and making it increasingly difficult for the government to fund its oppressive tactics. The United Nations condemned the governments policies and urged member states to sever all political and economic ties to the country. The Catholic Church voiced strong opposition to apartheid, culminating in an impassioned speech at the International Court of Justice and a symbolic pilgrimage to bordering African states by Pope John Paul II.

Mandelas efforts to build international solidarity against his oppressors have been emulated by others similarly oppressed. In our own hemisphere, Cuban political prisoners engage in hunger strikes, take beatings, and struggle to survive in the countrys dilapidated prisons. Yet, many of the same countries that once took a stand against Mandelas oppressors are unwilling to take a similar stand against Castro.

Cubas oppressors, they think, ought to be confronted by cutting deals with their state-run agencies to build new tourist destinations and allowing more of their citizens to visit the island. Meanwhile, Cuban prisoners who look up to Mandela rot in prisons as the international community does more to fund their governments repression rather than bankrupt it.

Even some interest groups in the U.S. have made strong but unsuccessful efforts to unilaterally lift sanctions and thus pretend like there is nothing wrong in Cuba. They claim sanctions hurt Cubans more than help them.

But this is not true. Economic sanctions wont hurt Cubans more than unceasing communist repression will, just like sanctions did not hurt blacks more than apartheid did. Unfortunately, Cuba has always had its sympathizers and subsidizers. To countries that have always had normal relations with Cuba, an unprovoked change of course might seem too sudden or too abrupt of a change in policy.

However unlikely it is that these countries will impose sanctions on Cuba overnight, the U.S. must be open to the idea of pushing internationally backed sanctions when the time is right. In todays world, timing is everything. This is especially so because the national, and even international, conversation is driven by impulsive social media.

International support for the Cuban people will have to come at some point and the most effective day will probably be when it appears that Cuba has reached an important fork in the road between new freedom or more of the same repression.

Until then, we must live with the fact that Cubans continue to look up to Mandela and continue to sacrifice everything with little international support. They continue seeking the help of those who once helped South Africa to rid itself of its own heavy chains, but these countries continue to turn a deaf ear.

No one will know exactly why the world was able to unite behind Mandela but continued to do so little for dissident leaders like Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet or Berta Soler. However, the U.S. should not let the fact that few countries have stood resiliently against Castro persuade them to change course now.

Just as we look back and reminisce at the strength of Mandela and the support we gave his movement, the U.S. will be able to look back at how they always supported the Cuban people over its oppressors  and that too is worth reminiscing about.
A patchwork of Iranian-led militias fighting for Syrian president Bashar al Assad is completing its brutal conquest of northerly Aleppo City, near the Turkish border. American policymakers have now begun to speculate hope is more accurate-that perhaps the Syrian civil war is effectively over, except for the ugly mopping up. They are wrong.

Aleppo is a turning point in the war, but it does not decrease the necessity, long avoided by the Obama administration, for the U.S. to act.

Surviving anti-Assad forces in Syria will not surrender simply because Aleppo has fallen. Some fighters will abandon the battlefield; many will be killed or disappear into Assads prisons. But most surviving anti-Assad combatants will continue to fight-- as ISISs recapture of Palmyra further to the east, demonstrates.

The more realistic analysis of the rapid fall of Aleppo in the past few weeks is that rather than fight a losing battle in the city, many groups have decided to preserve their resources for what comes next.

In southern Syria, anti-Assad opposition remains strong and committed to fighting him despite the relative quiet of that battlefront in recent months. And in northern Syria, surviving anti-Assad fighters still have two options.

First, they can join a relatively new coalition on the battlefield organized by neighboring Turkey. Turkey is giving priority to fighting Kurdish forces, including some backed by the United States, as well as fighting ISIS. Many of Aleppos rebels will be willing to accept these short-term delays in their war against Assad in return for Turkish backing that will allow them to survive and fight Assad another day.

Second, the opposition can join with al Qaeda and its Syrian jihadist ally, Ahrar al Sham. These extremist groups are consolidating and preparing to supplant the original goals of the Syrian rebellion  a negotiated settlement of the war, a release of political prisoners, and the departure of Assad  with a global jihad.

The size of the combined jihadist force is at least 20,000 fighters, greater than the most recent estimates of ISISs numbers across both Syria and Iraq. They will hold a defensive line for now, but will launch an offensive of their own once they have collected enough strength.

The jihadist groups next target will most likely be Hama City, about 75 miles south of Aleppo. Hama has symbolic value as the site of a historic massacre of Muslim Brotherhood members and civilians by Bashar al Assads father, Hafez, in 1982.

Meantime, Al Qaeda will continue its efforts to execute attacks abroad, likely with increasing support from Syrians.

Pro-Assad forces cannot eliminate either al Qaeda or ISIS, even after their success in Aleppo. The main reason is that Assads only truly effective fighting forces are not his own but those his external backers, Iran and Russia, have provided or supported.

Even then, Assad barely succeeded in Aleppo. Irans militia forces took thousands of casualties. They only won because of the unique military pressure they could bring, through aerial attacks and artillery fire, on the civilian population inside already-destroyed urban terrain, and because anti-Assad fighters chose not to fight for each city block.

The pro-Assad alliance cannot replicate these conditions in the Syrian countryside. Iran and Russia may continue to reinforce Assad with ground forces in the near term, but they cannot provide enough troops to reconquer western Syria.

Early reports indicate that Russia is now deploying loyal elite Chechen fighters, likely to attack the northwestern town of Jisr Shughour, a jihadist stronghold that threatens core pro-Assad territory along the Syrian coast.

They may succeed, although jihadists will fight hard to prevent the advance. Assad likely will also finish consolidating his grip on the Syrian capital of Damascus, whose countryside has been an opposition stronghold.

Neither the Chechen nor Iranian reinforcements are suitable long term holding forces, however. The pro-Assad alliance will continue to grandstand internationally to create the appearance of an end to the war but anti-Assad groups will persist and regenerate.

As the conflict continues to drag on past his inauguration day, then-President Trump must avoid the temptation to stay away entirely from Syria. He must also avoid the trap of reaching automatically for new partners without considering who can actually help us pursue our interests.

These interests are going to include defending ourselves against jihadist attacks, but also preventing further expansion of an Iranian- and Russian backed sphere of influence that threatens world order.

Any U.S. policy in Syria must weigh all of these considerations and recognize that America is the only country that can pursue American interests. There is no easy out, as our passive policymakers may now be dreaming.

It would be a moral, strategic, and logical failure of epic proportions to place our bets on Assads house of cards simply because we are too afraid to develop a strategy of our own.
The War on Christmas rages across the fruited plain as godless Grinches try to take Christ out of Christmas.

The latest battleground -- a fifth grade performance of the Charles Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol."

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The 40 year tradition at Centerville elementary School in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is no more. Parents say someone complained about the words uttered by Tiny Tim, God bless is, everyone.

The principal declined to confirm or deny that allegation -- but he did say the school wants to be respectful to other cultural and religious backgrounds.

In other words, Tiny Tim's goose got cooked by the Ghost of Christmas Intolerance.

In Killeen, Texas, a school worker was ordered to take down a Charlie Brown Christmas themed decorations

In Wake County, North Carolina, children were banned from singing at a Nativity celebration. The list of Yuletide transgressions goes on and on and on.

So what are we going to do about this mess? Well, for starters you can contact me on my website ToddStarnes.com. You should also contact groups like First Liberty Institute and the Alliance Defending Freedom.

Secular humanists are waging a cultural jihad on the Baby Jesus - and it's important to expose these people for who they are -- a bunch of bullies who target small towns and communities.
President Obama has been punished for his dithering. If indeed Russia was behind the many unsavory revelations about Hillary Clintons campaign, and if indeed Obama facilitated that effort by failing to push back against the hacking of the DNC and John Podestas emails, it is an ironic capstone to eight years of leading from behind.

As a consequence of failed U.S. leadership it falls short of the murder of 400,000 Syrians or the ongoing slaughter in Iraq, but it is perhaps to Mr. Obama and his Democratic colleagues the worst of possible consequences.

The liberal establishment is under attack by President-elect Trump, and Mr. Obama is at least in part responsible.

The president claims to have found out about the DNC email hack only this past summer; the intrusion was discovered, as the New York Times has revealed, more than a year ago.

It seems unlikely that the president would not have been told about the event; disclosures from the DNC could and indeed did prove damaging to the credibility of Mr. Obama and his party.

It also seemed unlikely when Obama told the country he was not aware that Hillary Clinton had used a private email server  that he found out the same time everybody else learned it through news reports.

We now know, thanks to Russian hacking perhaps, that in fact the president communicated with his Secretary of State on her Clintonemail.com unauthorized email address, and that her aides panicked when he made the claim, knowing it was untrue. More irony.

There have been numerous other instances when Mr. Obama seems to have been out of the loop. He didnt know that patients at the VA were being denied care, he didnt know about the NSA spying on foreign leaders, he didnt know about Fast & Furious, or the IRS targeting of right-wing groups, or the Justice Department wiretapping of AP reporters and James Rosen. Either the Obama White House has the worst internal communications imaginable, or the president has frequently used the nobody told me defense to shift responsibility elsewhere.

In the current occasion, Mr. Obama is intent on blaming the Russians for the election of Donald Trump, but shoulders no responsibility for not having prevented Vladimir Putins alleged interference. Who is shocked? Mr. Obama has time and again stepped back from confronting our adversaries, leading even Hillary Clinton to argue in 2014 that "Great nations need organizing principles, and 'Don't do stupid stuff' is not an organizing principle." Mrs. Clinton was critical of her boss for failing to take a more aggressive role in building resistance to the Assad government, saying the failure to do that left a big vacuum, which the jihadists have now filled. That was when Obamas approval ratings were sliding and Hillary had not yet decided to run on his coattails. It was an accurate assessment.

Obama has pressed for an investigation into accusations that Russia was behind the leaked emails from the DNC and Hillarys campaign chair. Several senators have taken up to call for a special bipartisan panel to investigate the charges that Russia was behind the hacks in an effort to sway our election. That seems reasonable, and we support finding out the truth of the matter, but Democrats should note that the findings will quite possibly highlight the White Houses negligence.

One of the groups that have pointed the finger at Russia is CrowdStrike, a tech company called in to assess the hit to the DNC. That group identified two sophisticated Russian-based organizations, Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear, active in the DNC network. In 2015, says CrowdStrike, Cozy Bear infiltrated the unclassified networks of the White House, State Department, and US Joint Chiefs of Staff. In addition to the US government, they have targeted organizations across the Defense, Energy, Extractive, Financial, Insurance, Legal, Manufacturing Media, Think Tanks, Pharmaceutical, Research and Technology industries, along with Universities.

CrowdStrike notes that the malicious attacks carried out by Fancy Bear reflect Putins strategic interests but suggests uncertainty about the ties of these groups to the government by saying may indicate affiliation with (Main Intelligence Department) or GRU, Russias premier military intelligence service. (Italics added.)

One might ask: what did the Obama administration do about these penetrations? The answer, as far as we know and based on what weve heard from the White House  nothing.

Now that he and his party have been humiliated, and that his legacy is in jeopardy, Obama wants a full accounting, and vows retaliation. The ever-compliant New York Times pitches the president as wary, and as confronting a bewildering range of possible responses. In taking on the Russian bears, they suggest, he is searching for the Goldilocks solution  not too damaging, but damaging enough.

President Obama has spent eight years being wary -- reluctant to challenge our adversaries, or to respond to their transgressions. China has promised not to militarize islands in the South China Sea, but photos show they have installed missiles on those disputed outposts. Russia has promised to join the fight against ISIS but instead bombed U.S. allies in Syria. Putin illegally seized the Crimea and we watched it happen.

Both countries have engineered provocations against our planes and ships  the most recent Chinas theft of an underwater drone. Obama chose to look the other way so as not to endanger his toothless climate accord with China or the realization of the Iran nuclear deal.

The Obama administration has reportedly spent billions of dollars acquiring the worlds most effective cyber-capability. Our arsenal, we are told, is second to none. And it should be. But, just as a great army can be rendered useless by an inept general, those cyber weapons are worthless if directed by a dithering president. In his last 32 days in office, it is hard to imagine that Obama can overturn eight years of leading from behind.
While rescue teams tried to save survivors immediately after last month's devastating earthquake in Haiti, the U.S. law enforcement community there faced its own daunting tasks: preventing desperate Haitians from overrunning the U.S. embassy, keeping America's secrets secure inside the embassy, and keeping the environment safe enough for embassy staff and relief workers to do their jobs.

But at that time the entire U.S. law enforcement community in Haiti -- a country of nine million -- consisted of eight people, one of them a Drug Enforcement Administration agent unable to pitch in because her house had collapsed on her.

"It's been one of the most challenging periods of my life," Darrel Paskett, head of the DEA's office in Haiti, told Fox News. "Everybody here is kind of tired to the bone, but we're hanging in there so far. ... This is just too big of a problem to walk away from right now."

When the earthquake struck at 4:53 p.m. local time, Paskett and his wife were heading home from their offices in the Haitian capital of Port au Prince.

"I left a little bit early for me, honestly," Paskett confessed.

He and his wife were looking forward to a "big event" at the U.S. ambassador's house that evening, and they wanted some extra time to get ready.

"Fortunately, I didn't get out quite as early as I had hoped, and that very probably saved our lives," Paskett said.

Two of his agents had been heading to a beach in northern Haiti, hoping to disrupt a cocaine "off-load," but they immediately "turned around," according to Paskett.

As "thousands of pedestrians were rushing in every direction," the radio provided by the embassy for emergencies "was coming alive" with reports of devastation, Paskett said.

The State Department official in charge of security for the U.S. embassy, Steve Lesniak, had also left the office for the day, but he quickly returned to the embassy - and wouldn't leave it for another 24 hours.

"My immediate concern was [the prospect] of numbers of persons rushing the embassy for shelter and aid," Lesniak said in an e-mail to Fox News. "Perimeter security and internal defense became the number one priorities."

Not only was the safety of Americans at stake, but classified information was being stored inside the embassy compound.

Protecting classified information is a "significant concern" that "often goes hand in hand with protecting the people who work in the embassy," a spokeswoman for the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security said via e-mail.

But Lesniak was short-staffed. One of his two agents was providing first aid to critically injured embassy personnel, while the other was on a motorcycle, looking for staffers who had yet to check in by radio.

So Lesniak drafted the two DEA agents who had been chasing suspected drug-traffickers just hours before.

"That very first night he came to them and said, 'We are now three American law enforcement people who are the sole protection for the outer perimeter of the embassy compound,'" according to Paskett, adding that his agents were "well armed" and wearing bullet proof vests as they stood at "strategic locations."

Inside the embassy, military guards kept watch over the classified information, according to Paskett.

But the huge crowds feared that night never materialized.

"I think what saved [Lesniak] from that first night was that so many Haitians were simply running around town without telephone connections trying to find out the status of their families," Paskett said.

It took almost seven hours for authorities to determine which of the more than 120 Americans working at the embassy were alive, injured or missing.

The DEA agent whose house had collapsed on her had been found alive.

The next day, Diplomatic Security officers secured a landing zone near the embassy for U.S. military and Coast Guard helicopters to begin medical evacuations, according to Lesniak.

Meanwhile, the DEA was fast becoming more "Disaster Emergency Assistance" than Drug Enforcement Administration, "repeatedly" responding to what Paskett called a "smorgasbord" of security needs.

In particular, many of the 45,000 U.S. citizens in Haiti were descending on the U.S. consulate, hoping to be approved for evacuation. Non-Americans followed suit.

"What had been a line of people trying to be processed and evaluated for evacuation had turned into a blob, just a mob of people competing to see who could get through that door next," Paskett said.

It was "chaos" and inching toward "a riot situation," he said.

DEA agents, many of them in Haiti for years, offered more than just manpower.

"They speak Creole," Paskett said. "They can talk to people in the line and explain to them what we need, and keep it much more calm and orderly than some of the ... out-of-towners."

In the first few days, the U.S. consulate approved nearly 5,000 people for evacuation, which Paskett called a "tremendous" statistic.

The DEA - with its armed agents and armored vehicles - was also providing a secure way of getting around Haiti, at one point escorting the comptroller of a major relief agency.

The comptroller needed to securely move hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from a bank, which had opened for the single transaction, to the embassy for "emergency cash disbursements."

In addition, Paskett and his agents escorted embassy staffers to their homes, so they could retrieve a change of clothes or personal items.

"In many cases they did not know if they had a home to go back to," Paskett said. "Unfortunately, I've had to put an arm around a shoulder on more than one occasion as people realized that their home's gone, that they lost their possessions."

DEA and Diplomatic Security officials also felt an obligation to assist their Haitian counterparts, so they helped the Haitian police form a response plan, which included ensuring food for themselves.

"They were facing a crisis that would test a well-developed law enforcement institution," Paskett said, noting that nearly half of Haiti's 49 narcotics officers are currently homeless.

Two days after the earthquake, the eight U.S. law enforcement officials - including a U.S. Coast Guard liaison officer - were finally joined by other U.S. law enforcement officials.

A Diplomatic Security team of 20 had driven from the Dominican Republic.

Paskett said much of what he and his agents have been doing is "not our normal mission."

"In time we're going to have to look at how we transition back," he said. "But for the time being, we're just looking to do whatever we can do to lend our expertise and our unique skill set to facilitate what everybody else is trying to do."
The Connecticut Senate gave the green light Wednesday to drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants.

The bill, which last week received House of Representatives approval, is headed to Gov. Dannel P. Malloys desk for his signature.

The Senate approved the measure by a 19-16 vote.

Immigrants would be able to obtain driver's licenses beginning January 2015. Applicants would still need documentation proving their identity and showing they have lived in the state for at least 90 days. They must also pass a driving test and a background check verifying they have no felony convictions in the state.

The licenses would be marked "for driving purposes only" and would need to be renewed every three years, rather than the standard six years.

Connecticut has an estimated 120,000 undocumented immigrants, of those some 54,000 could be eligible for a driver's license under the measure, according to the Hartford Courant.

The push in Connecticut comes as several other states such as Maryland, Illinois and Oregon adopted similar measures this year. New Mexico, Washington and Utah already allow illegal immigrants to drive.

And more than a dozen state legislatures have introduced similar measures this year alone. Among them are Nevada, Colorado, Vermont and California.

New York State Sen. Adriano Espaillat lauded Connecticut for passing the measure.

This is another terrific step forward for the immigrant community, but another sign that New York State has fallen behind as a leader in progressive reform," Espaillat said in a statement. "New York City remains the gateway for immigrants from around the world seeking to support their families and build a better life. But without a drivers license, they are pushed to the margins and left vulnerable to exploitation by unethical employers."

In Connecticut, several Republicans voiced opposition, saying residents who are in the country illegally should not get a legal document. Democrats who support the measure say it would improve highway safety.

This is unfolding while California lawmakers also consider giving driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

A measure from Democratic Assemblyman Luis Alejo would allow people without a Social Security number to apply for a license. They must show several alternative forms of identification, including a birth certificate and proof of residency.

Unauthorized immigrants seeking a license also must pass a driving test like other applicants.

The California legislation, which passed the state Assembly on Wednesday, follows a law approved last year that allowed driver's licenses to be issued to unauthorized immigrants who are eligible for work permits under a revised federal policy.

Alejo said his bill, AB60, would increase safety on California roads. A recent study by the state Department of Motor Vehicles showed that unlicensed drivers are nearly three times as likely to cause a crash, he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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She denounced the Communist regime of her homeland, she called Raul Castro's new relaxed travel rules a sham, and described the oppression that plagues her island.

Now, after speaking her mind for months around the world, Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez was heading home Thursday, completing a tour that has turned her into the most internationally recognizable face in the island's small dissident community.

Sanchez tweeted a photo of herself at the airport in Madrid, lugging a small blue suitcase emblazoned with the logo of her Generation Y blog. Her husband said she was booked on a Havana-bound plane scheduled to arrive in the evening.

"Ready to leave for Cuba," she tweeted, accompanied by a smiley-face emoticon matching her own expression in the picture.

Sanchez has been away since Feb. 17, when she took advantage of a new travel reform law ending a longtime requirement that all Cubans obtain official permission to travel abroad. Under the old rules, government critics who are officially branded as traitorous "counterrevolutionaries" were routinely denied such exit visas.

In the last three months Sanchez has traveled to more than a dozen countries in Europe and the Americas and given speeches criticizing President Raul Castro's Communist-led government. She has met with human rights activists and foreign lawmakers and cultivated relationships with journalists at leading Western newspapers.

In the process she picked up more than 100,000 Twitter followers to top the half-million mark.

A number of other dissidents have also tested authorities' patience by traveling abroad and bashing their government in public forums, and some have reported various levels of harassment upon their return.

Eliecer Avila said he was taken aside at the airport and subjected to an exhaustive search in which agents scrutinized every last item in his luggage and confiscated 26 books.

"They pulled me out of the line and had me in there for four hours and 15 minutes," Avila said. "They took pictures of everything."

Analysts have said Sanchez's rising international fame likely insulates her physically from arrest and some forms of harassment. Sanchez has told people close to her she expects to be the target of more propaganda attacks by the government and its allies, but less detention.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Immigrants help keep Medicare afloat, pouring far more into the system than they get in return, according to a new study.

These immigrants, who include those here illegally as well as legally, contribute roughly $14 billion more each year to Medicare  the federal health care program for the elderly  than they avail themselves of, said authors of the report, which was published Wednesday in the journal Health Affairs and whose lead author is Dr. Leah Zallman, an internist and Harvard Medical School instructor.

Hispanics have a median age of 27, far younger than the median of 42 for non-Latino whites.

Our study should raise skepticism about the widespread assumption that immigrants drain public health care resources, said Zallman, in a story published in the Los Angeles Times.

The study was released as Congress is looking at whether, and how, immigrants should be handled in efforts to reform the immigration system.

The study said that immigrants generated surpluses totaling $115 billion from 2002 to 2009. U.S.-born population contributions, by contrast, saw a deficit of $28 billion over the same period.

The report gave a boost to arguments by immigration advocates that maintain that as the U.S. population ages, young, working-age immigrants are filling crucial voids in the labor market and in programs such as Medicare and Social Security.

But, as The New York Times notes, it is not clear "how much of the surplus is made up of earnings by immigrants in the country illegally, who are ineligible for most government programs."

Critics of plans to legalize undocumented immigrants say they drain services and do not contribute. They also warn that if Congress passes a reform plan that would offer the undocumented legal status, that may bring a whole new layer of expenses to health care and other costs.

Theres this strong belief that immigrants are takers, said Leighton Ku, the director of the Center for Health Policy Research at George Washington University, to The New York Times. This shows they are contributing hugely. Without immigrants, the Medicare trust fund would be in trouble sooner.

The Times said that the study did not look at the use of health care programs by immigrants over time.

Its just a snapshot of a point in time, said Paul Van de Water, a visiting fellow at the liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, according to the paper.

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Venezuelan official voiced their anger Wednesday amid news that the Colombia's president met with Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles, warning that it could severely damage relations between the neighboring countries.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos received Capriles, who is trying to build international support for his efforts to overturn an April 14 presidential election he claims was fraudulent. Capriles narrowly lost to governing party candidate Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua told state TV that the meeting "will bring a derailment of the good relations that we have." Parliament Speaker Diosdado Cabello compared the meeting to "placing a bomb on the train."

Jaua says Venezuela will re-evaluate its role as an observer at the peace talks in Cuba between Santos' government and Colombia's biggest rebel group. He said Maduro had recalled Venezuela's envoy to the talks for consultations.

"Without a doubt today's situation obliges us to study Venezuela's participation as a facilitator in the peace accord," Jaua said.

Venezuelan officials played an important role in bringing the talks about, and Venezuela has long been a haven for leaders of the rebel group in the negotiations, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

The Havana talks recessed Sunday after both sides said they had reached agreement on agrarian reform. They are to resume negotiations June 11.

Santos has recognized Maduro's election victory and attended his inauguration last month. Colombian officials had no immediate comment on Venezuela's objections to his meeting with Capriles.

During a visit to Colombia's parliament, Capriles said he didn't care "what this illegitimate government says," calling its criticism "mosquito bites."

Capriles claims Maduro, the anointed successor of the late President Hugo Chavez, stole the election through fraud, voter intimidation and abuse of government resources.

The opposition leader described as a "farce" an audit that will review only the results from electronic voting machines. Capriles also wanted an examination of voter registries and fingerprints to find out if all the votes cast were legitimate.

"In Venezuela, in my beloved homeland, on April 14 they stole the election, they stole them not through an automated system, they stole it like you steal elections when you put in more votes than the people want," Capriles said.

He has asked the Supreme Court to annul the election result, which is considered highly unlikely because the panel is dominated by pro-government justices.

The government says Capriles is to blame for the deaths of 11 government supporters in post-election violence. He rejects the allegations.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez's former campaign manager was indicted Thursday on federal charges of hacking the campaign's email system and obtaining correspondence by the governor, her staff and supporters.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Gonzales announced the indictments in Albuquerque against Jamie Estrada of Los Lunas, who briefly served as campaign manager in 2009 but was fired by Martinez as she was starting her bid for governor.

Estrada said in a statement that he broke no laws and disputed Martinez's assertions that he was fired.

"Individuals in whom the public has placed its trust have come after me in an attempt to divert attention from their own improper actions," Estrada said, pointing to allegations by the governor's critics of possible influence peddling in a state decision on a lease for a horse racing track and casino in Albuquerque.

Jay McCleskey, the governor's political adviser, said Estrada was fired "for numerous reasons, including improperly accessing Susana Martinez's personal emails in 2009."

The governor's office had asked last year for a federal investigation of possible hacking after a union-funded political action committee released several emails that showed the governor and top aides used private email addresses to discuss government business.

The disclosures led the GOP governor, who had touted her commitment to government transparency, to order state workers to end the practice of using nongovernment email accounts.

Martinez said in a statement that the indictment "vindicates what I have been saying for almost a full year  that the personal and political emails of dozens of people, including my own, were hijacked, stolen, and never received by the intended recipients."

Prosecutors alleged that Estrada used password and username information to change the computer account for the governor's 2010 campaign organization after Martinez took office as governor in 2011.

As a result, when Martinez and her aides sent electronic messages through the campaign email system, the emails were directed to a computer account controlled by Estrada, according to the indictment.

Email was leaked to Martinez critics such as the union-funded group, Independent Source PAC, which publicly released some of the correspondence and called for authorities to investigate the Martinez administration's handling of the racetrack lease deal in 2011.

The administration maintains there was no preferential treatment in awarding a 25-year lease that allows a horse racing track to build a larger casino at the state fairgrounds in Albuquerque.

"Even in the world of politics, issues should be the subject of tough and vigorous debates but there are clear lines that should not be crossed and committing federal felony crimes to invade the personal privacy of political opponents is one of them," Martinez said.

Estrada was indicted on a dozen counts of illegally intercepting electronic communication and two counts of making false statements to authorities during their investigation. Each charge is a felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Estrada, in the statement issued through attorney Zachary Ives, said, "I have every faith that not only will I be found innocent, but also that this attack on me will result in exposure of the true wrongdoers, once and for all."

Estrada was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2012, and ran unsuccessfully in 2010 for the GOP nomination for a state utility regulatory agency. He worked in the U.S. Commerce Department from 2005 to 2009 during former President George W. Bush's administration.

In a statement announcing the indictment, Gonzales said that "it is of paramount importance that we protect electronic information from being diverted, stolen or otherwise misappropriated" when so much personal and professional information is sent through email.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Estrada's arraignment has not been scheduled yet.

Independent Source PAC's executive director, Michael Corwin, has maintained the group received the emails from a source who assured him the messages were obtained legally.

Corwin later gave the emails to Democratic Attorney General Gary King, who released them to the news media in response to public records requests. Some of the emails showed music purchases by the governor and bank records of a Martinez staffer.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent letters to MillerCoors and the Puerto Rican Day Parade leadership demanding to know the financial relationship between the beer giant and the parade.

The state attorney general's office is getting involved in the recent flap over a logo of the Puerto Rican flag on Coors Light beer cans commemorating the Puerto Rican Day Parade

Schneidermans staff sent a letter both to officers of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade and MillerCoors, which is a sponsor of the annual event, which this year is set for June 9.

This year's theme is "Celebrating Your Health." Members of the community group, Boricuas for a Positive Image, criticized the logo as an "insult" to all Puerto Ricans. Coors agreed to pull the product and apologized after the outcry.

The decision came before Boricuas for a Positive Image, who started a campaign against the beer giant, was set to begin protesting outside one of the distributor headquarters in New York City. Vincent Torres, a community organizer for the group, said they were planning daily protests until the company met their demands.

In a statement released to the media, MillerCoors said: "Coors Light has supported the National Puerto Rican Day Parade for the last seven years in celebration and honor of Puerto Rican heritage....As part of our partnership over the years we've contributed to the Parade's Diversity Scholarship Fund which has helped dozens of students manage the financial burdens of attaining a higher education."

In a letter to Tom Long, chief executive officer of MillerCoors, the attorney generals office noted that the nature and extent of the broader financial relationship between MillerCoors and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade remains unclear.

The state attorney generals office asked for clarification of several things, among them  the terms of MillerCoors arrangement with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, how the parades name has been used in the marketing of MillerCoors marketing, and the nature of all contributions that MillerCoors has made to, or on behalf of, the parade.

The attorney generals office set a deadline of June 3rd for parade officials to respond, and June 4th for MillerCoors.

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Republicans could appeal to a broader electorate in blue states like California by connecting with voters who have shunned the party in the past and by being big enough to agree to disagree on some issues, said Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul on Friday.

Paul, who is considering a presidential campaign in 2016, said the path to victory needs both principle and pragmatism, noting that the GOP is consistently losing campaigns on the West Coast, in New England and in Midwest states like Illinois. Invoking President Ronald Reagan during his speech, Paul said Republicans need to become a "bigger, more inclusive party" to restore their fortunes.

"I think the party can be big enough to allow people who don't all agree on every issue. It's not going to change who I am or what I talk about but I think we can be a big enough party to include people," Paul said at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. "It's like when you talk to your family  do you agree on every issue?"

Paul, the son of former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, said the party should not "dilute" its message of limiting government's reach and curtailing spending but said it needs to put together a broader coalition that includes Hispanic and black voters. He urged Republicans to appeal to voters on issues like the environment and education that have been more associated with Democrats.

"If we want to win in bluish-getting-bluer states like California, we have to change the current perceptions of who we are," he said.

The libertarian senator has challenged Republicans to confront the results of the 2012 election, saying it requires outreach to new voters and a willingness to reform government. He won applause at the California speech when he pointed to a bill he has introduced that would require the Senate to hold off voting on a measure for one day for every 20 pages of legislation it considers. He quipped that President Barack Obama's health care reform law would have required a long wait.

The speech honoring Reagan, who remains revered within the party, capped a month that took Paul to the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. He held fundraisers in Silicon Valley earlier in the week and met with executives and employees representing technology companies such as Google, Facebook and eBay.

In June, Paul is scheduled to headline fundraisers in South Carolina and make another trip to Iowa, giving him more visibility among Republicans searching for someone to help it rebound from two terms under Obama.

"When the Republican Party looks like the rest of America, we'll win again," Paul said.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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One member of the Gang of Eight is predicting comprehensive immigration reform will overwhelmingly pass the Senate by July 4 while House Republicans cautioned that they would write their own version, one piece at a time.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday he anticipates as many as 70 of the 100 senators will vote for the measure heading to the full Senate on June 10. Even if it passes there, the proposal faces tough prospects in the Republican-led House, where lawmakers are at work on their own piecemeal approach that could stall a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants living in this country illegally.

"We are moving forward because we believe in a bipartisan way this is so vital for America, and we'll have a good bill," Schumer said, pledging to allow colleagues to amend the legislation.

Not so fast, House lawmakers cautioned.

"That Senate bill is not going to move in the House," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla.

For months, four Democratic senators met with four Republican colleagues behind closed doors and developed a proposal that would enact new border controls and enforcement mechanisms in the workplace, allow tens of thousands of workers into the country legally for high- and low-skilled jobs and create a 13-year path to citizenship for those already living here illegally. It passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee last month by a vote of 13 to 5; three Republicans joined the Democratic majority.

House lawmakers, though, have pledged to put together their own measure  likely taking components of the comprehensive Senate plan one at a time and adding their own priorities.

"We think it's better to do it with a step-by-step approach," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.

"We'll continue down that path, but the final outcome in terms of the form of the legislation is not yet known," he added.

Democrats and Republicans alike recognized the political potency of the issue. The Senate, led by Democrats, is putting added pressure on the House, led by Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

"Congressman Boehner is in a box. There are about 60 or 70 of his people who are against any immigration reform. But at the same time, he knows that the Republican Party will be consigned to a minority party for a generation if they're anti-immigration," Schumer said.

In 2012, President Barack Obama won re-election with 71 percent of Hispanic voters and 73 percent of Asian voters backing him. A thwarted immigration overhaul could send those voting blocs more solidly to Democrats' side.

"We are hard at work on this problem. We have a broken immigration system in the country, it needs to be fixed, our legal immigration, our enforcement and figuring out the appropriate legal status for people who are not lawfully present in the United States all need to be addressed," Goodlatte said.

But it is unlikely to be a sweeping answer in the House, lawmakers said.

"I don't know if we'll have comprehensive reform or we will have it piece-by-piece. But that Senate bill may not even pass the Senate itself," Ros-Lehtinen said.

Schumer spoke to NBC's "Meet the Press." Ros-Lehtinen was interviewed on CNN's "State of the Union." Goodlatte was on "Fox News Sunday."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who grew up poor and became a multimillionaire New Jersey businessman and the Senates oldest member, died Monday at age 89.

He died due to complications from viral pneumonia at 4:02 a.m. at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell.

His New Jersey colleague, Sen. Robert Menendez, also a Democrat, praised Lautenberg for his rise from a poor home to affluence and success in business. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, recalled how Lautenberg had been generous with advice and support when he was new in Washington D.C.

Lautenberg had health problems in recent years. A bout with the flu caused him to miss the Senate's Jan. 1, 2013 vote to avoid the fiscal cliff of rising taxes and falling government spending.

He was a champion for working class citizens, especially on issues important to the African American and Latino communities.  Cid Wilson, New Jersey businessman and civil rights activist

Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force, was a liberal who was called out of retirement for a second tour of duty in Congress. Lautenberg was a long-time leader on environmental protection, transportation and protecting public health.

In a state with one of the largest Latino populations in the nation, Lautenberg was a strong supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, as well as stand-alone measures expanding guest worker programs and allowing undocumented immigrants to participate in the Social Security program. He voted against bills making English the official language of government business and prohibiting documents from being in foreign languages.

Lautenberg often spoke of his affinity with immigrants, noting that he was the son of Polish and Russian nationals, and that he grew up in Paterson, a long-time gateway in northern New Jersey for newcomers from different corners of the world.

Menendez hailed Lautenbergs personal achievements in a statement.

His story was an American story. He was a man who joined two of his boyhood friends to found a successful business. He did well, and gave something back and New Jersey loved and admired him for what he did for this nation, what he did to help them build a better life for themselves and their families.

Rubio recalled how Lautenberg had been a source of comfort when he started in the Senate.

"My wife Jeanette and I will always remember Frank for his kindness and generosity," Rubio said in a statement. "As we settled into life in the Senate, Frank and his wife Bonnie were always incredibly supportive and helpful with their advice and guidance. They helped make our transition easier, and we will always be grateful to them."

Last fall, Lautenberg co-sponsored a resolution with Menendez in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Lautenberg issued a statement marking the month that said: Across every profession and in every corner of our nation, Hispanic Americans play an integral role in American life. Latino entrepreneurs and educators, entertainers and public servants, scientists and service membersto name just a fewhave a positive impact in New Jersey and our country.

I stand united with the Latino community, and remain committed to making sure their voices are heard on Capitol Hill.

Lautenberg was diagnosed in 2010 with lymphoma of the stomach and underwent chemotherapy for the next few months.

He was principal sponsor of a law banning smoking on domestic airline flights.

In February, Lautenberg said he would not seek a sixth term. He was up for re-election in 2014.

Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, now must appoint a replacement for Lautenberg.

Even before the senator made known his intention not to run again, several people, including Newark Mayor Corey Booker, a Democrat, and Republicans such as state Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick of Westfield, state Sen. Joe Kyrillos of Monmouth County and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno had said they were considering running for the seat.

Geraldo Rivera, the host of a Fox News show and Fox News Latino contributor, said earlier this year that he was "seriously contemplating running" for the U.S. Senate in his home state of New Jersey.

He said that he would run as a Republican.

Lautenberg was the last remaining World War II veteran serving in the Senate.

Cid Wilson, a Dominican-American who serves on the boards of several of the nation's leading Latino and African-American civil rights organizations, said: "He was my U.S. Senator since I was a young child. He was a champion for working class citizens, especially on issues important to the African American and Latino communities."

"I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Senator Lautenberg in my local, state, and national capacities over many years and will cherish the times I spent with Senator Lautenberg," Wilson said. "When we needed a champion in the U.S. Senate for civil rights, immigrant rights, education rights, and voting rights, there was no greater friend to the community than Senator Frank Lautenberg."

Lautenberg is survived by his wife, Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg; six children and their spouses, Ellen Lautenberg and Doug Hendel, Nan and Joe Morgart, Josh and Christina Lautenberg, Lisa and Doug Birer, Danielle Englebardt and Stuart Katzoff, Lara Englebardt Metz and Corey Metz; and 13 grandchildren.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


Geraldo Rivera, the host of a Fox News show, said on Monday that in the unlikely event that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called him about representing the state in the U.S. Senate, he would definitely take the call.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg died Monday due to complications from viral pneumonia at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell. He was 89 years old.

Lautenberg, a Democrat, said in February that he would not seek a sixth term. He was up for re-election in 2014.

Christie, a Republican, now must appoint a replacement for Lautenberg.

Earlier this year, Rivera said that was "seriously contemplating running" for the U.S. Senate in his home state of New Jersey. At the time, Lautenberg had not yet announced plans to retire from the Senate.

Rivera, who made his comments on the Geraldo Rivera Radio Show, said he would run as a Republican.

Im the last person I believe Gov. Christie will consider right now, Rivera said.

Though it noted it was not something hes obsessing over.

I think its a very, very long shot that Gov. Christie would even think of me, appointing me, he said. I havent been vetted. Ive only kind of toyed with the idea of running.

He said it effectively ends speculation that he would run for Senate.

I cant imagine he will pick me, he said. Hell pick somebody important.

Even before the senator made known his intention not to run again, several people, including Newark Mayor Corey Booker, a Democrat, and Republicans such as state Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick of Westfield, state Sen. Joe Kyrillos of Monmouth County and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno had said they were considering running for the seat.

There will be Republicans and Democrats like planes waiting to land at LaGuardia looking to Gov. Chris Christie for the appointment, Rivera noted.

The radio show host did add that if he were to run, he would do so as a moderate Republican.

I think listeners of this program are becoming aware of the fact that you can be Republican and not be a tea party conservative, he said. You know the fact that Republicans have to moderate, and have to modify their stances on a lot of issues, like immigration, like gay marriage, like the right to choose.

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U.S. Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez had a message Monday for Massachusetts voters  hes not your grandmothers Republican.

The businessman and former Navy SEAL, who is challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey in the June 25 special election to fill the seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry, had pointed criticism of his own party.

At a campaign stop in Quincy, Gomez said that the GOP has failed to deliver the change it promised and "is sometimes stuck in the past."

He also drew distinctions between his views on certain major issues and those of many in the Republican Party. He supports same-sex marriage, expanded background checks for gun ownership, comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants. He opposes repealing Roe vs. Wade.

The Markey campaign has been trying to draw links between Gomez and conservative Republicans. State Democratic Party chairman John Walsh said that Gomez would be a mouthpiece for the national GOP.

This morning, Gabriel Gomez wants Massachusetts voters to believe hes not a Republican or maybe hes a new kind of Republican or a different kind of Republican or whatever, said Walsh, according to published reports on Monday. But what voters in Massachusetts understand is Gabriel Gomez is a Republican and he will go to Washington to obstruct the presidents agenda as complete as any Republican thats down there.

Markey and Gomez are preparing for their first head-to-head debate of the increasingly contentious campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Markey and Gomez will square off Wednesday in the one-hour debate at the WBZ-TV studios, sponsored by the station and The Boston Globe.

The candidates spent weeks wrangling over the number of and timing of debates. They have also agreed to debate on June 11 in western Massachusetts and on June 18 in Boston.

The race has taken on an increasingly personal tone in recent weeks, with Gomez accusing Markey  a 36-year veteran of the U.S. House  of running "dirty" campaign ads.

The Democrat's campaign suggests that Gomez is hiding information by refusing to release the names of clients he served in private business.

Meanwhile, both candidates are hoping Latinos will play a part in helping them attain a victory.

The Boston Globe noted that Markey and his supporters have pushed the message that the Democratic Partys positions are more beneficial to Latinos than those of the Republican Party.

They have an agenda that very much is focused upon economic opportunity, upon investment in health care, investment in education, investment in an agenda that is looking forward to a century in which the Latino community is going to play a very large economic role, Markey said, according to the Globe. I think there are big differences between the perspective which I bring and the Republican Party has as their agenda.

For his part, Gomez said that he has more of a direct personal link to Latino voters than his opponent.

The fact is, were actually going into a lot of these communities where Republicans have not historically gone into and been able to communicate and connect with those communities, Gomez said, according to The Globe. While they may be suspicious of the Republican Party in the past, they know Im a new kind of Republican and they know this election is about the future, not the past.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte is backing the proposed bipartisan immigration overhaul saying our current system is unworthy of a great nation."

On Sunday the New Hampshire senator said she would support the bill in a television interview and in a longer statement on her website.

With the announcement, Ayotte has became one of the first Republicans who didn't write the bill to line up behind the proposal that would offer a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally. Ayotte's support helps the bill's advocates move closer to the 60 votes needed under Senate rules to avoid a filibuster.

"The status quo isn't working. It's de facto amnesty. We need immigration reform that serves the best interests of our country," Ayotte wrote on her website.

A bipartisan group of eight senators - four Republicans and four Democrats - drafted the bill and then guided it to approval in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Sen. Orrin Hatch joined the two Republican authors in supporting the bill. However, Hatch says he will vote for the measure again only with changes.

Separately, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said he will vote for the bill he helped write only with changes.

As drafted, the legislation also creates a low-skilled guest-worker program, expands the number of visas available for high-tech workers and de-emphasizes family ties in the system for legal immigration that has been in place for decades.

The legislation creates a 13-year route to citizenship for an estimated 11 million immigrants currently living in the United States illegally.

The bill is a "tough but fair way" for the estimated 11 million to come "out of the shadows" and "earn citizenship - go to the back of the line, pay taxes, pass a criminal background check, learn English," Ayotte told CBS' "Face the Nation."

It also sets border security goals that the government must meet before immigrants living in the U.S. illegally are granted any change in legal status.

"As a nation of immigrants, we must remember that we're all descended from people who came here from somewhere else in search of a better life," she said.

"But the broken immigration system we have now is unworthy of a great nation," she added. "It's time for Washington to tackle this problem head on."

Despite support from the White House, the AFL-CIO labor unions and the pro-business Chamber of Commerce, the bill's passage is by no means assured. Sixty votes are usually required to end Senate debate and consider adoption. There are currently 54 senators, including two independents, in the Democratic caucus, and 45 Republicans.

Leaders in the Democratic-led Senate want a final vote on the legislation by July 4.

The Republican-led House, meanwhile, is taking a smaller, piecemeal approach to the issue.

Immigration also has deep political implications.

In 2012, President Barack Obama won re-election with the backing of 71 percent of Hispanic voters and 73 percent of Asian voters. A thwarted immigration overhaul could send those voting blocs more solidly to Democrats' side in future elections. That has led some Republican lawmakers to support immigration reform, but the party's conservative base still opposes any legislation that would create a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living here illegally.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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House Speaker John Boehner is aiming to have various chamber committees finish work on immigration legislation by the Fourth of July, and would like a House vote by August, reported Politico.com.

The speaker wants to see movement on either several small immigration bills or a more comprehensive one before the Senate votes on its measure, Politico reported. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, scheduled a cloture vote on the immigration bill for Tuesday.

The Senate is expected to vote on the full bill, called the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, by July 4.

A bipartisan group in the House has been working on a bill, but has encountered stumbling blocks on achieving a consensus on parts of the measure, leading one of its members Rep. Raul Labrador, a Republican from Idaho to drop out. Labrador said he left the so-called Group of Eight over the issue of access to health care programs for undocumented immigrants who pursue a legal status under a reformed system.

The [GOP] leaderships plan is to allow the bipartisan group to release its legislation and closely monitor how it is received by House Republicans, the site reported.

Boehner, from Ohio, will be watching to see if House Republicans  the GOP has a majority in the chamber  who include a conservative group, complain that the bipartisan groups plan goes too easy on undocumented immigrants.

The Senate bill tightens border security and provides a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants who meet a strict set of criteria. It also expands guest worker visas and makes E-Verify a federal program to ensure that prospective hires are eligible to work in the United States mandatory for employers.

Some Republicans in the House, as well as some in the Senate, such as Ted Cruz, have said they will not agree to the provision regarding a pathway to legal status, calling it amnesty. But defenders of the provision say it is not amnesty because it does not simply forgive wrongdoing  it requires that those who came or stayed here illegally pay fines and wait more than a decade to get permanent legal status.

Also, over the weekend New Hampshire Republican Kelly Ayotte said on Face the Nation, a CBS show, that she is supporting the Senates bipartisan bill.

Ayotte drew particular attention to the controversial pathway to legal status and said it is tough but fair.

Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker Wednesday at a forum on immigration hosted by Latino center-right organizations that have expressed support for comprehensive reform.

But some of the most vociferous critics of reform proposals are not backing down.

In an ABC News interview, Ted Cruz said President Barack Obama is the main obstacle to immigration reform.

"A path to citizenship is the most divisive aspect of this bill and the White House is insisting on it, he said, adding that the measure is designed for it to sail through the Senate and then crash in the House to let the president go and campaign in 2014 on this issue.

The Heritage Foundations political arm, Heritage Action, is pushing for a rejection of the Senate measure.

On the other end, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said Monday that the Senate should work through differences to reach a consensus on reform.

The legislation before us is the result of a bipartisan group of Senators who came together and made an agreement, Leahy said of the Senate bill. If Senators who have come together to help develop this bill keep their commitments, I have no doubt that we will be able to end this filibuster and pass this fair but tough legislation on comprehensive immigration reform.

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The push for a comprehensive reform of the immigration system enters its most crucial phase this week in the Senate.

It may sound simple, given that a bipartisan group of eight senators drafted the bill and then shepherded it through the Senate Judiciary Committee; that the White House, organized labor and the Chamber of Commerce all support the measure; and that many Republican political strategists want the GOP to show a more welcoming face to Hispanic voters.

It won't be.

Presidential ambitions alone will see to that, as Sen. Marco Rubio, for one, attempts a political straddle while other potential GOP presidential candidates firmly oppose the measure.

The Florida Republican helped negotiate the bipartisan bill now headed to the full Senate and recently has called for changes as he tries to keep faith with tea party supporters and other conservatives who will vote in the 2016 primaries and caucuses.

Internal divisions in the Republican party, deeply held differences over policy, concerns over costs and more add to the complexity of legislation that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said must come to a final vote by July 4.

"In truth, the bill is amnesty first and a promise of enforcement later," Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said Friday, previewing points he and other conservative opponents intend to make over the next three weeks.

The bill's requirement for payment of back taxes "is toothless," the promised steps to secure the border "will not work" and millions of immigrants currently in the country illegally would qualify for welfare in five years, Sessions said. The measure "actually weakens current law in quite a number of significant areas" when it comes to immigration cases tried in the courts, he added.

Sessions derided the bipartisan coalition behind the measure as a collection of outside groups that do not represent the national interest.

In a reflection of the GOP divide, he took issue with Karl Rove, the former top strategist for President George W. Bush, whose own attempt at immigration overhaul flamed out in 2007.

Writing recently in The Wall Street Journal, Rove warned Republicans to be mindful of solid public support both for secure borders and for a path to citizenship for those in the country illegally.

He urged GOP lawmakers to avoid use of the term "amnesty," which he said is "forgiveness of wrongdoing without penalty."

The legislation imposes financial costs on immigrants now in the country illegally who seek citizenship.

At its controversial core, the legislation creates a 13-year route to citizenship for an estimated 11.5 million immigrants currently in the United States illegally. It also sets border security goals that the government must meet before any change in legal status is granted to immigrants.

As drafted, the legislation also creates a low-skilled guest-worker program, expands the number of visas available for high-tech workers and de-emphasizes family ties in the system for legal immigration that has been in place for decades.

In the background are questions about the economic impact of the legislation at a time federal deficits are high and the economy is mounting a slow recovery from recession.

The Congressional Budget Office has yet to estimate the legislation's impact on the deficit, although supporters acknowledge that changes will be necessary if the agency ultimately predicts the measure would result in additional red ink.

Sessions and others say it will.

"Since an overwhelming number of the workers here today are lower-skilled that are illegal ... you can expect their incomes to be low, they'll qualify for the earned income tax credit, for Medicaid, and program after program, food stamps and others," Sessions said Friday.

He cited a study by the conservative Heritage Foundation estimating that government costs for individuals whose residency status will be made legal will add $6.3 trillion to the deficit over 50 years.

Sessions didn't say so, but the study has been widely criticized from the left and right. It was partially authored by an economist whose 2009 dissertation claimed immigrants have lower IQs than the "white native population" in the United States.

Also looming as the debate moves onto a more national stage are scarcely submerged racial tensions.

Both Sessions and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, referred to them Friday. Some on the other side of the issue touched on race when the Republican-controlled House voted Thursday to resume deportation of immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children, many of them from Mexico or other Central or South American countries.

Supporters of the legislation sometimes claim that its opponents are "somehow anti-immigrant, or you're an uncompassionate person, that your heart is made of stone, that your ribs are made of concrete and that you have no heart," said Lee. He called such comments "beneath the dignity" of the Senate.

Said Sessions: "There's a lot of power behind this legislation. I can feel it. When I raise questions, push-back comes. 'You're unkind. You don't like immigrants,'" he said, paraphrasing the criticism.

"That's offensive to me."

Supporters of the general approach taken by the legislation make it clear the criticism isn't going to stop.

"House GOP gives the proverbial middle finger to the Latino community with vote" to deport younger immigrants, former Obama aide David Plouffe tweeted shortly after the House acted.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Gov. Susana Martinez has chimed in on the Whole Foods controversy that erupted in her home state of New Mexico last week.

The organic grocery chain came under fire after two Albuquerque workers said they were suspended after complaining about the companys language policy, which prohibits employees from speaking in Spanish to each other during work hours.

After the company said it was reviewing its current language, Martinez said she was happy it decided to do so. She said the company should respect New Mexicos history with Spanish and American Indian languages.

"I'm glad they are willing to re-evaluate that policy because I think every state is different."  New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez

"I'm glad they are willing to re-evaluate that policy because I think every state is different," Martinez, a Republican and the nation's only Latina governor, said Friday after speaking to a constituent in Spanish.

The Spanish language "is part of the fabric of what makes New Mexico great," she said.

The Austin, Texas-based chain store said the embattled policy "will be the topic of ongoing conversations at an all-leadership conference next week," spokeswoman Libba Letton said in a statement Friday.

The move by Whole Foods Market Inc. comes after the employees said they were suspended for a day after they complained about not being able to speak Spanish on the job. Whole Foods officials say the two were suspended for "rude" behavior.

Ben Friedland, the company's Rocky Mountain region executive marketing coordinator, said the policy states that all English-speaking workers must speak English to customers and other employees while on the clock, unless the customer speaks another language.

"Team members are free to speak any language they would like during their breaks, meal periods and before and after work," Friedland said.

He said the policy doesn't prevent employees from speaking Spanish if all "parties present agree that a different language is their preferred form of communication."

News of the suspensions and the language policy sparked outraged on social media and among advocates who started online petitions and called for the company to change the rule.

At a news conference outside the Albuquerque store where the employees were suspended, Ralph Arellanes, state director of the New Mexico League of United Latin American Citizens, said the company has a week to change the policy before advocates launch a nationwide boycott of Whole Foods.

"I will give them a period of seven days to implement a new policy, which includes (dropping) this policy, or we will hold them accountable," Arellanes said Thursday.

Letton said Whole Foods will speak with various civil rights groups during the review of the policy.

"We are also in the process of reaching out to groups like LULAC to discuss the issue and hear their perspective," she said.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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President Barack Obama gave Congress a pep talk of sorts on immigration reform Tuesday, just as the Senate prepared to cast its first floor vote on a landmark bill that, among other measures, could open a door to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants.

"Congress needs to act, and that moment is now," Obama said, surrounded by immigration advocates, business and religious leaders, law enforcement officials and others in the East Room of the White House.

Carlos Gutierrez, former commerce secretary under President George W. Bush, as well as current San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, were among Obamas guests flanking him as he spoke.

"There's no reason Congress can't get this done by the end of the summer," the president said. "There's no good reason to play procedural games or engage in obstruction just to block the best chance we've had in years to address this problem in a way that's fair to middle class families, business owners and legal immigrants."

Opponents of the part of the measure that would allow certain undocumented immigrant to obtain legal status have said it amounts to amnesty, to rewarding lawbreakers.

But echoing the rebuttal of those  among them Republican congressional leaders -- who support a pathway to legalization, Obama said it would not be a cakewalk.

That pathway is arduous, he said. He noted that it would involve background checks, learning English, paying taxes and a penalty, and then applicants would have to go to the back of the line behind others trying to come in legally.

This is no cakewalk, but its the only way we can make sure that everybody who is here is playing by the same rules, he said.

For immigration reform to work, it must be clear from the outset that there is a pathway to citizenship, Obama said, otherwise the undocumented will have no incentive to come forward.

The Senate was set to vote Tuesday afternoon on a pair of procedural measures to officially allow debate to move forward on the far-reaching legislation. The measure would boost border security and workplace enforcement, allow tens of thousands new high- and low-skilled workers into the country, and create a 13-year path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants in the country illegally.

Both votes were expected to succeed by comfortable margins, because even some senators with deep misgivings about the immigration bill said the issue deserved a Senate debate.

Though seemingly an innocuous, simple step, in 2007 senators did not allow that years immigration reform bill to move forward to a full vote, thus essentially killing it.

Ahead of the Tuesdays votes, senators were readying amendments on contentious issues including border security, back taxes and health care coverage. Some Republicans said they were seeking to strengthen enforcement provisions so that they could be comfortable voting for the bill. Other GOP measures were already being dismissed by Democrats as attempts to kill the bill by striking at the fragile compromises at its core.

Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, made his most positive comments to date on the issue, saying Tuesday he thinks there's a good chance that legislation can be signed into law "by the end of the year."

The way forward in the House remains unclear, because the chamber is dominated by conservatives many of whom view a path to citizenship as amnesty. But Boehner said he hopes for committee action by the end of June.

"I believe that it's important for the House to work its will on this issue," Boehner said on ABC's "Good Morning America." ''And I would expect that a House bill will be to the right of where the Senate is."

"I think, no question, by the end of the year we could have a bill. No question," the speaker said.

As debate opened Tuesday in the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the bill written by a so-called Gang of Eight  four Republicans and four Democrats  would need stronger provisions on border security and other issues to earn his support.

"The Gang of Eight has done its work. Now it's time for the Gang of 100 to do its work  for the entire Senate to have its say on this issue, and see if we can do something to improve the status quo," McConnell said. "At the risk of stating the obvious, this bill has serious flaws."

Nonetheless, McConnell said he intended to vote to allow the debate to go forward. The real fights will come in the days and weeks ahead as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., aims to push the bill to final Senate passage before July 4.

The bill's Senate supporters were working to determine which amendments they could accept to lock down more "yes" votes from the GOP side without losing Democratic backing. They are aiming for a resounding show of support from the Democratic-led Senate that could pressure the House to act.

Heated debate is anticipated on the border security elements of the bill. The bill sets up a system wherein immigrants may only begin taking steps toward citizenship once certain border security requirements are met. But opponents say those "triggers" aren't strong enough.

An amendment announced by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas., would require 100 percent monitoring of the entire U.S.-Mexico border and 90 percent of would-be crossers to be stopped or turned back before anyone can get a permanent resident green card. The Senate bill, authored by a bipartisan group of eight senators, also sets those figures as goals, but doesn't make the path to citizenship directly contingent on them.

"It's time for us to adopt real triggers," Cornyn said Monday. He said his measure was "essential to accomplishing the goal of bipartisan immigration reform."

But in an interview over the weekend with Univision, Reid dismissed Cornyn's amendment as a "poison pill."

"If people have suggestions like they did in the Judiciary Committee to change the bill a little bit, I'll be happy to take a look at that," Reid said. "But we're not going to have big changes in this legislation."

It's not likely to be Cornyn's, but supporters of the bill were looking for a border security measure they could support. It could be an amendment pushed by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., an author of the bill who's talked about giving Congress a more direct role in developing a border security plan that the bill now leaves to the Homeland Security Department.

Other disputes will surround amendments being pushed by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, to strengthen requirements for payment of back taxes in the bill and require previously illegal immigrants who get green cards under the bill to wait five years before beginning to access benefits under the nation's new health care law.

Some groups sought to seize on the momentum of the Senate action on the bill this week.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) on Tuesday launched an ambitious national advertising campaign that will run five different commercials in rotation on national cable networks.

The SEIU statement about the campaign noted that it will run "through the end of June, a key time in the Senate debate on the bipartisan immigration bill."

"The five different television ads feature law enforcement officials, small business owners, veterans, DREAMers, and Republicans voters who explain why they support commonsense immigration reform and call on the Senate to act."

Some groups took issue with Obama's contention in his news conference that enforcement efforts are now focused on criminals, instead of others who do not pose a threat to public safety. Immigration advocacy groups have long criticized the president for the record number of deportations that have occurred under his administration. Many of those who have been deported, they say, are not criminals, but people with immigration violations, which are civil.

"Actions speak louder than words, and there are several steps the President can take today to advance reform," said Pablo Alvarado, executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, in a statement. "There continues to be a wide distance between the President's rhetoric and his record. To close that gap, the President must cease the 1,100 daily deportations he currently oversees."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Senators are readying amendments on contentious points including border security, back taxes and health care coverage, ahead of the first Senate vote on a landmark immigration bill to be introduced Tuesday.

Procedural votes will officially jump-start the debate on the Senate floor. Some Republicans said they were seeking to strengthen enforcement provisions so that they could be comfortable voting for the bill.

Other GOP measures were already being dismissed by Democrats as attempts to kill the bill by striking at the fragile compromises at its core.

The bill's supporters were working to determine which measures they could accept to lock down more "yes" votes from the GOP side without losing Democratic backing. They are aiming for a resounding show of support from the Democratic-led Senate that could pressure the Republican-led House to act.

President Barack Obama, who's made overhauling immigration laws a top second-term priority, was to speak at a midmorning event with advocates at the White House to praise the Senate's efforts and renew his calls for reform.

Obama is inviting law enforcement, labor and business leaders to the White House Tuesday and will speak about the economic and national security benefits of a bipartisan bill. The first votes in the full Senate are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Tom Donahue will join Obama, as will AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. Democratic Mayor Julian Castro of San Antonio and Bush-era Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez also will be on hand. Faith leaders will be represented as well.

The two votes scheduled for Tuesday afternoon were on procedural measures to officially allow debate to move forward on the far-reaching bill. Both votes were expected to succeed by comfortable margins, because even some senators with deep misgivings about the immigration bill said the issue deserved a Senate debate.

The real fights will come in the following days and weeks as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., aims to push the bill to final Senate passage before July 4.

Even if that happens, the outlook in the House remains unsettled, but Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has indicated he'd like to see a bill through his chamber before August.

The Senate bill would stiffen border security and require all employers to check their workers' legal status, as well as initiate new or expanded visa programs for high-skilled and lower-skilled workers and the agriculture sector. At its core is its most contentious element, a 13-year path to citizenship for some 11 million immigrants now here illegally.

"Given the impact the broken system has on our economy and our families, we cannot afford delay," Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said Monday on the Senate floor. "This is a measure the Senate should come together to consider and pass."

"Unfortunately the bill before us repeats our past mistakes," said the Judiciary Committee's top Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa. "Nobody disputes this is a bill that legalizes first and enforces later."

Heated debate is anticipated on the border security elements of the bill. The bill sets up a system wherein immigrants may only begin taking steps toward citizenship once certain border security requirements are met. But opponents say those "triggers" aren't strong enough, and one of the bill's authors, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has argued that the border security elements of the bill must be strengthened if it's to make it through Congress.

An amendment announced by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, would require 100 percent monitoring of the entire U.S.-Mexico border and 90 percent of would-be crossers to be stopped or turned back before anyone can get a permanent resident green card.

The Senate bill, authored by a bipartisan group of eight senators, also sets those figures as goals, but doesn't make the path to citizenship directly contingent on them.

"It's time for us to adopt real triggers," Cornyn said Monday. He said his measure was "essential to accomplishing the goal of bipartisan immigration reform."

But in an interview over the weekend with Univision, Reid dismissed Cornyn's amendment as a "poison pill."

One he won't be too eager to take up.

"If people have suggestions like they did in the Judiciary Committee to change the bill a little bit, I'll be happy to take a look at that," Reid said. "But we're not going to have big changes in this legislation."

Other disputes will surround amendments being pushed by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, to strengthen requirements for payment of back taxes in the bill and require previously illegal immigrants who get green cards under the bill to wait five years before beginning to access benefits under the nation's new health care law.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Sen. Tim Kaine decided to do something different on the Senate floor Tuesday to encourage his colleagues to support an immigration reform bill.

The Virginia Democrat decided to deliver his 14-minute speech on the need for passage of the bill in Spanish.

The Senate voted to advance the landmark immigration bill, clearing away the first procedural hurdle in front of legislation opening the door to citizenship for millions.

The 82-15 vote was the first cast by the full Senate on the far-reaching bill that's a top priority for President Barack Obama. A second procedural vote set for later Tuesday would officially open debate on the measure.

Hours earlier, Obama appeared at the White House to prod Congress to send him a bill by fall.

Kaine, a former governor of Virginia, is fluent in Spanish, and often talks about his Catholic missionary service in Honduras. While campaigning for the Senate, Kaine released television ads in which he addressed voters in Spanish.

Lets show this country and the world that this is not a Republican bill and it is not a Democratic bill but it is a strong bipartisan bill. It is time that we pass comprehensive immigration reform, said Kaine, according to a translation of the speech on his website.

While not perfect, I can confidently stand here today and say this bill will do more for border security, more to improve our current backlog," Kaine said, "more to strengthen our employment verification system, and more to put measures in place to deal with the future flow of immigrants, compared to any other immigration bill in history.

Kaine stressed the importance of discussing the measure in Spanish as well as in English.

I think it is appropriate that I spend a few minutes explaining the bill in Spanish, a language that has been spoken in this country since Spanish missionaries founded St. Augustine, Florida in 1565, said Kaine.

Spanish is also spoken by almost 40 million Americans who have a lot at stake in the outcome of this debate.

His comments were translated into English for entry in the Congressional Record.

Kaine is not the first one to use Spanish to address Congressional members.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Shes only posted one tweet, and a rather mundane one at that.

But the debut this week of Hillary Clinton on Twitter is causing a stir among those dabbling in 2016 presidential election speculation.

The questions abound on social media. Is she on Twitter because shes laying the groundwork for a run for the presidency? What did she mean by ending her mini-bio with TBD, a reference to "to be determined"  a little wink and a nod about her 2016 plans? And why did her list of self-modifiers begin with wife?

By Wednesday afternoon, she had racked up just over 438,000 followers.

Her debut won praise from supporters as well as some critics for its humor.

She described herself with a dash of humor as a "pantsuit aficionado" and a "hair icon." For her profile picture she posted the now famous image of herself wearing shades and seemingly absorbed in something she was reading or watching on her cell phone.

Clinton's biography also proudly describes her as a "mom, lawyer, women & kids advocate, FLOAR, FLOTUS, US Senator, SecState, author, dog owner" and "glass ceiling cracker."

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd noted: Now Hillarys looking cool on Twitter, in her shades, with her first tweet heard round the world garnering 366,000 followers in 24 hours, a faster start than her husband and Pope Francis.

The candidate-in-waitings debut even disarmed conservative blogger Erick Erickson, who tweeted: I have to commend @HillaryClinton for her very awesome Twitter bio. Welcome to Twitter.

Clinton did well with Latino voters in the 2008 Democratic primary. Hispanics voted for Clinton over then-Sen. Barack Obama by a margin of nearly two-to-one, according to a Pew Hispanic Center analysis of exit polls.

The popularity among Latino voters is especially significant given the role the group played in the 2012 elections, when they were 10 percent of the people who turned out at the polls. Some 71 percent of Latinos voted for Obama, compared with 27 percent who supported the GOP challenger, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

An NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Telemundo poll earlier this year showed that Clinton was the favorite candidate among Hispanics for the presidential election in 2016. Clinton was viewed positively by 65 percent of Hispanics; just 13 percent gave her a negative rating. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican considered a contender for 2016, was viewed positively by 23 percent, and negatively by 12 percent.

The former New York senator and first lady sent out her first tweet under the handle (at)HillaryClinton, thanking the creators of the popular online parodies called "Texts from Hillary." Clinton's initial tweet thanked Adam Smith and Stacy Lambe for their inspiration and said, "I'll take it from here," concluding with a hashtag (hash)tweetsfromhillary.

Twitter quickly opened up the cyber welcome mat for Clinton. Former President Bill Clinton, who joined Twitter in April after some nudging from comedian Stephen Colbert, welcomed his wife, asking, "Does (at)Twitter have a family share plan?" Daughter Chelsea Clinton retweeted her mother's first tweet and added, "Welcome Mom!"

Supporters and opponents alike tweeted out messages to her handle, with some encouraging her to run for president. Well-wishers included several politicians, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, country music star Chely Wright and actor Ben Affleck. Rocker Tommy Lee tweeted, "Welcome to Tweeeeeeeeter Hillary!"

Obama's Twitter account said the president was "happy" to welcome Clinton to Twitter. "Stay tuned for the real hashtag (hash)TweetsFromHillary," the president told his 32 million followers.

Twitter could become an effective medium for Clinton, who has kept a relatively low profile since departing the State Department earlier this year. Obama used Twitter throughout his re-election campaign to connect with his millions of followers and urge them to support his campaign.

Teddy Goff, a Democratic strategist who served as the Obama re-election campaign's digital director, said Clinton's first tweet and Twitter bio "suggested someone who's more interested in building genuine relationships with her fans than in being blandly 'on message' in the traditional, political sense of the term."

"That sort of relationship is what fuels social media, and the politicians who use it well are those who understand that, as she appears to," Goff said in an e-mail.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
With one significant victory behind them, proponents of the landmark immigration reform bill have no time to bask in their Tuesday success.

Now that the Senate pushed the contentious bill over early procedural hurdles, the measure's proponents are jumping right into courting their colleagues to make sure they can get enough votes for its passage.

Two votes to place the bill formally before the Senate and open for amendments each drew more than 80 votes Tuesday, reflecting a bipartisan desire to debate the legislation to remake the nation's immigration laws and open the door to citizenship to millions.

Despite the lopsided votes, Republicans served notice they will seek to toughen the bill's border security provisions and impose tougher terms on those seeking to gain legal status. "This bill has serious flaws," said their party leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

At the White House, President Barack Obama insisted the "moment is now" to give the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally a chance at citizenship and prodded Congress to send him a bill by fall.

At its core, the bill sets out a 13-year journey to citizenship for the millions of immigrants who arrived in the country illegally through the end of 2011 or who overstayed their visas. The bill also requires a tighter border to prevent future illegal immigration.

Other key provisions would create a new program for low-skilled workers to enter the country and expand the number of visas for high-skilled workers who are particularly in demand in technology firms.

Supporters expressed confidence they could muster the 60 votes needed for the bill to pass the Senate by July Fourth. Democrats control 54 Senate votes, and Republicans 46. But a number of opponents said success was far from assured. And supporters are hoping for closer to 70 votes on final passage to show resounding momentum for the bill and pressure the Republican-led House to act. The safe margin is considered to be 60 votes because that is the number required to fend off a filibuster.

To that end, the bill's four Democratic and four Republican authors were looking for ways to accept Republican amendments on border security and other issues that could win over additional supporters  without making the path to citizenship so onerous that Democratic support is threatened.

"Just because the process has been to date so encouraging does not mean we can take anything for granted. So we welcome constructive input from our colleagues, we want to work with them," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., one of the authors. "But the one thing none of us will do is condition the path to citizenship on factors that may not ever happen in order to appear tough."

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a potential 2016 Republican presidential contender and the author of the bill with the strongest ties to conservatives, said that about half the Senate's Republicans might be prepared to back the measure  but only with stronger border provisions.

An early skirmish took shape over a proposal by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. It would permit the legalization process to begin but require several changes before anyone currently in the country illegally could receive a green card that confers permanent legal residence.

Those changes include apprehension of at least 90 percent of those seeking to cross into the United States at every segment of the southern border, implementation of a biometric exit system at all airports and seaports of entry and a nationwide E-Verify system to check the legal status of prospective employees.

Democratic supporters of the legislation have deemed Cornyn's plan a "poison pill," designed to wreck the bill's chances for passage instead of enhance them. But the Texan told reporters he had some leverage to force changes, if nothing else.

"I think if they had 60 votes to pass a bill out of the Senate, they probably wouldn't be talking to me. And they are," Cornyn said of majority Democrats.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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President Barack Obama urged Massachusetts voters to cast their ballots for U.S. Senate hopeful Edward Markey.

Obama aimed to give Markey an edge over Republican Gabriel Gomez in the state's special election to replace John Kerry, who left the senate this year to become secretary of state.

At a rally in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, Obama said "nobody is better suited to carry on" the legacy of senators from Massachusetts than Markey, a member of the U.S. House since 1976.

Obama told the thousands attending the rally that he needs Markey in the Senate to fight on issues like gun safety. Repeating a message that Vice President Joseph Biden delivered Tuesday in a fundraiser in Washington for Markey, Obama said the congressman's election to the Senate was crucial to counter Republicans who putting roadblocks to certain legislative bills.

The fact of the matter is that a whole bunch of Republicans out there are not interested in getting things done. They think compromise is a dirty word, Obama said, according to published reports. Weve got to have some Democrats, like Ed Markey, who will stand up and do the right thing. Thats what we need.

The president said Markey would continue the tradition of Democratic senators from Massachusetts like Ted Kennedy and Kerry, among others.

The history of senators from Massachusetts is they fight for people," Obama said. "They fight for working people. They fight for working families. They fight for future generations. Theyre not scared of the special interests."

The President arrived late Wednesday morning at Logan International Airport, where he was greeted by Markey, Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. They later met with patrons and workers at a sandwich shop in the city's South End.

Gomez was also campaigning Wednesday at a technology round-table in Waltham and veterans event in Chelsea.

The President is the latest and biggest weapon the Democrats are dispatching in a lineup of political heavyweights to Massachusetts, backed by a river of outside money, to head off the possibility of an upset by Gomez, who had a strong showing in early polling.

National Republican groups have been reluctant to devote resources to a race that many Washington-based strategists have thought unwinnable for the GOP.

Few GOP stars or organizations have been willing to help Gomez, who acknowledged having donated to Obama during the 2008 election cycle.

Yet both parties know special elections draw far fewer voters  and they remember the special election in 2010 that ended with a Republican winning the Senate seat long-held by Ted Kennedy.

Meanwhile, Gomez has launched a "Latinos for Gomez" coalition which he said is supporting his proposals to provide better jobs for the Latino community and support an overhaul of the nation's immigration policies.

Gomez, the son of Colombian immigrants, has celebrated his heritage. He often speaks briefly in Spanish in his ads and on the campaign trail and is quick to point out that he learned Spanish before English at home.

The press release announcing the coalition was written in both Spanish and English.

It's unclear, however, whether Gomez' background is helping him win over Hispanic voters in Massachusetts, who are largely Democrats.

Markey has argued that he's worked on issues important to Hispanic voters during his more than three decades in Congress.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Massachusetts Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Gabriel Gomez donated to President Barack Obama's campaign during the 2008 election cycle. But Obama is not thanking him for the cash.

Instead, on Wednesday Obama is scheduled to visit Boston to attend a rally for Gomezs Democrat challenger, Edward Markey, in the city's Roxbury neighborhood. The President is the latest and biggest weapon the Democrats are dispatching in a lineup of political heavyweights to Massachusetts, backed by a river of outside money, to head off the possibility of an upset by Gomez.

National Republican groups have been reluctant to devote resources to a race that many Washington-based strategists have thought unwinnable for the GOP.

Few GOP stars or organizations have been willing to help Gomez, who acknowledged having donated to Obama during the 2008 election cycle.

Yet both parties know special elections draw far fewer voters  and they remember the special election in 2010 that ended with a Republican winning the Senate seat long-held by the late Edward M. Kennedy.

"Is Snowden a hero or a traitor? I think it's going to be determined after we find out more facts. But if his information ... puts anybody at risk, he's by far not a hero. He is a traitor."  Gabriel Gomez, Republican U.S. Senate Candidate

And Democrats, already down one Senate seat with the death this week of Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, don't want to appear complacent even as polls suggest a likely victory when voters cast ballots in two weeks.

Second Debate

Despite the more muted tone on Tuesday, the two still clashed on everything from tax policy to the National Security Agency's collection of billions of Americans' phone and Internet records.

Gomez said Edward Snowden, the former intelligence contractor who claimed responsibility for revealing the surveillance programs, should be held accountable.

"Is Snowden a hero or a traitor? I think it's going to be determined after we find out more facts," Gomez said. "But if his information ... puts anybody at risk, he's by far not a hero. He is a traitor."

Markey said Snowden should accept responsibility, but added that Americans shouldn't have to choose between security and privacy.

"We have to make sure that we have in place the privacy protections so that as law enforcement officials are looking for the guilty needle that there is not a compromise of the innocent haystack of e-mails and phone calls that all Americans are making," Markey said.

Markey also seized on Gomez's apparent willingness to leave open the possibility of eliminating the federal home mortgage deduction to help close the deficit.

Gomez said while he hoped the deduction would stay, "going into anything with preconditions almost guarantees failure."

"I do have a precondition," Markey responded. "And it is that home mortgage deduction should not be on the table. People should be able to afford the home of their dreams."

Both candidates said they support a $10 federal minimum wage, but Gomez said the larger goal should be to help Americans aim even higher.

"People don't want to earn just $10 an hour," the former Navy SEAL said. "They want a chance at the American Dream."

Markey said that for many Americans, winning a $10 an hour minimum wage is a first step toward that dream. He also said the nation should end tax breaks for oil companies and other corporations.

"Subsidizing the oil industry is like subsidizing a fish to swim and a bird to fly," Markey said. "You simply don't have to do it."

Gomez said he supports closing corporate and personal tax loopholes, and backs lowering the federal corporate tax rate to encourage companies to bring more of their money into the country to be taxed.

Gomez also said taxpayers "should also be able to do our own taxes in a simple, efficient way."

The two again sparred on gun control.

Gomez said "a lot of people in my party are wrong on gun control," and that he was "ashamed" only four Republicans voted for a Senate bill that called for wider gun background checks. Markey said the background checks were only a start. He criticized Gomez for not supporting a federal assault weapons ban.

In one of the evening's sharper exchanges Gomez said it was "beyond disgusting" that Markey raised the Newtown, Conn., school shooting in a television ad that faulted Gomez for not supporting a ban on high capacity magazine clips.

"To think that you are the only political candidate to actually invoke the Newtown massacre for political gain is beyond disgusting," Gomez said.

Markey responded by saying, "Mr. Gomez thinks that when we talk about the differences between the two of us on very important issues, that somehow or other we are engaging in negative politics. We are not."

Markey and Gomez also split on the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline, which would bring oil from western Canada to Texas.

Gomez said the project would create jobs, while Markey said the United States would end up bearing all the environmental risk while the oil itself is dumped onto the international market.

The two were also asked what they could do to help improve the economy in western Massachusetts. The unemployment rate in Springfield tops 10 percent, much higher than the state as a whole.

Gomez said one way to protect local jobs is to repeal the medical device tax included in President Barack Obama's 2010 federal health care law.

Markey said he supported job-creating projects in western Massachusetts including the Union Station regional transportation project in Springfield.

Both Markey and Gomez said they would support changes in Senate rules that allow even a single lawmaker to block legislation.

"We need to make sure these big issues get the debate they deserve," said Markey.

Gomez said the filibuster can be an effective tool if used properly. Referring to a recent 12-hour filibuster, Gomez added: "I could go a lot longer than that without having to go to the bathroom," citing his Navy SEAL experience.

Asked if they would support changes to federal marijuana laws, Markey said he supported the ballot question in Massachusetts allowing the medicinal use of marijuana.

Gomez said the question should be left to states instead of the federal government, but he would personally not support anything beyond the medicinal use of marijuana.

Tuesday's debate was sponsored by a consortium of Springfield media outlets and took place in the studios of WGBY-TV. It took place a day after a Suffolk University poll showed Markey has the backing of 48 percent of voters compared with 41 percent for Gomez.

Unfazed By Big Spending

Republicans believe there's an outside chance that they can again eke out a victory over a Democrat in the liberal-leaning state.

Both sides expect a flood of new advertising in the coming days. So far, Democrats have outspent Republicans roughly $2 million to $1.5 million, according to officials who track political advertising. The Senate Democrats' campaign arm has reserved another $750,000 for statewide television ads to help Markey, while the Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC planned to invest another $700,000 in the final weeks. The League of Conservation Voters also has pledged to spend $400,000 on mailings to benefit the Democratic nominee.

Gomez said Friday he's unfazed by the spending.

The decisions "to flood Massachusetts with more dirty, negative attacks prove that national Democrats are now in a full-fledged panic," he said.

Gomez has relied on the Massachusetts Republican Party to help pay for his television ads.

The spending disparity aside, the uncertainty of off-year special elections and the lessons of Brown's 2010 victory loom large for Republicans and Democrats alike.

"Democrats are confident, but we're taking nothing for granted," said Matt Canter, the deputy executive director of Senate Democrats' national campaign arm.

More than Democratic pride is at stake. Democrats narrowly control the Senate, and party officials acknowledge that Obama can't afford to lose another reliably liberal vote when he has big-ticket legislative priorities on his plate. Upcoming votes on immigration and the budget could come down to just a few votes.

After Lautenberg's death, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie tapped a fellow Republican to fill the seat until a special election in October.

A final debate is scheduled for June 18.

The election is June 25.

Based on reporting by the Associated Press.

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Vice President Joseph R. Biden is not mincing words about his views of Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.

Cruz and Paul, the vice president said, are largely responsible for the huge gap in Congress between Democrats and Republicans, and the impasse on many key issues.

At a fundraiser Tuesday night for Rep. Edward Markey a Democrat who is running in Massachusetts for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by John Kerry after he became Secretary of State Biden said conservatives like Cruz and Paul are making more moderate Republicans afraid to side with Democrats on many issues. Cruz is from Texas and Paul is from Kentucky.

Im not talking about the character or even the quality of the minds of the people Im going to mention, said Biden, according to published reports. But the last thing in the world we need now is someone who will go down to the United States Senate and support Ted Cruz, support the new senator from Kentucky  or the old senator from Kentucky.

Have you ever seen a time when two freshman senators are able to cower the bulk of the Republican Party in the Senate? That is not hyperbole.  Vice President Joe Biden, speaking about GOP Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul

Biden brought up background checks for gun purchases as an example.

Have you ever seen a time when two freshman senators are able to cower the bulk of the Republican Party in the Senate? That is not hyperbole, Biden said. On the gun issue, I dont care what your position is  I called 17 senators out, nine of whom were Republicans. Not one of (them) offered an explanation on the merits of why they couldnt vote for the background check. But almost to a person, they said, I dont want to take on Ted Cruz. I dont want to take on Rand Paul. Theyll be in my district.

Biden said the reaction took him aback.

I actually said, Are you kidding? These are two freshman, Biden said. This is a different party, folks. Theyre not bad guys, and theyre both very bright guys. And Im not questioning their motive.

Roll Call, a political publication, said that Cruzs office sent a written statement calling Biden out of touch.

Vice President Biden is a good man but hes out of touch on the economy, the Constitution, and the size and scope of government, the statement said. Democrats are clearly concerned by Republicans who are waking up and starting to fight, and making an impact. Senator Cruz will keep fighting and doing what he promised Texans. Hes proud to play a role getting the country back to the principles that have made it the wonder of the world.

Markey is running against Republican candidate Gabriel Gomez, a businessman and former Navy SEAL, in a special election on June 25.

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Demands for tougher border security measures are causing a deep divide between Republicans and supporters of the immigration legislation that would give millions of people living without documentation in the U.S. the first steps toward citizenship.

On the first full day of debate on Wednesday, even modest changes were snared in the political crossfire as the two sides failed to agree on terms for voting on seemingly non-controversial proposals such as granting tribal officials a place on a Border Oversight Task Force.

Public polling shows general support both for tougher border security and for allowing those living in the United States to gain citizenship after meeting certain legal, financial and other conditions. On an issue as contentious as immigration, that made the intersection of the two a fertile ground for dispute.

As drafted, the legislation "authorizes a permanent legalization program for illegal immigrants regardless of whether the Mexican border is ever secured," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. The Senate's second-ranking leader also wants other measures implemented, including a biometric system to check everyone departing the country at a sea or airport, that Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said could take a quarter-century to take effect fully.

"We cannot, should not and will not tell those who have waited in the shadows for so long that they should wait for 25 years," said Schumer, who was part of a bipartisan "Gang of Eight" group of senators who negotiated the bill's basic provisions and then protected it from major changes in the Judiciary Committee last month.

In addition to taking steps to secure the border and begin a legalization process for millions, the White House-backed legislation would increase the number of visas for highly skilled workers, create a new program for the lesser-skilled to work in the United States and overturn a family-based system for legal immigration that has been in place for decades.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said he wants a final vote on the measure before July 4.

Across the Capitol, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, says he hopes immigration legislation can move through committee by then, and be on the floor sometime in July.

While the obstacles to a final agreement are daunting, the Senate bill has support from both business and organized labor, two groups that are usually on opposite sides of most issues.

Additionally, senior Republicans have made it clear they envision the legislation as a way for the party to show a friendlier face to Hispanic voters, who overwhelmingly supported President Barack Obama last fall.

Even some GOP lawmakers who seem unlikely to vote for the Senate bill are recalibrating their rhetoric.

One, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, told a Hispanic audience during the day that conservatives could accept a pathway to citizenship as long as the border security measures are tough enough.

"The first part of my plan  border security  must be certified by Border Patrol and an Investigator General and then voted on by Congress to ensure it has been accomplished," he said. "With this in place, I believe conservatives will accept what needs to come next, an issue that must be addressed: What becomes of the 12 million undocumented workers in the United States?"

While Paul spoke to an immigration forum held by the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, Cornyn was making his case for changes to the bill from his desk on the Senate floor.

"My amendment has real border security triggers in place, while the Gang of Eight bill" lacks them, he said. He added that under the bill as drafted, there was no way to tell whether the goals for border security would ever be met.

A second amendment, offered by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, would prohibit anyone from taking the first steps toward citizenship until the secretary of homeland security has certified to Congress that the U.S.-Mexico border has been under control for six months.

"Unfortunately, too many people have been led to believe that this bill will force the secretary of homeland security to secure the border. In fact, it does not guarantee that before legalization," said Grassley, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee.

Grassley's proposal was among those caught up in the bickering.

When Reid sought agreement to vote on it and others, with 60 votes required for passage, the Iowan objected and called instead for majority rule. "Who's obstructing now?" he said to Reid, who frequently accuses GOP lawmakers of blocking action.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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The Senate voted down a Republican-led push to require the U.S.-Mexico border to be under control for six months before immigrants in the U.S. illegally could take the first steps toward citizenship.

The vote is a major blow to Republicans who viewed the strict border security amendment as a necessary cornerstone of the comprehensive immigration bill now being debated in the Senate.

"My amendment ensures the border is secured before one person gets legal status. It's a common sense approach. Border security first, like promised, legalize next."  Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa

Supporters of the bill said the GOP amendment would have delayed for years the path to citizenship at the center of the legislation.The amendment's author, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said it was needed to ensure the bill made good on its promises of ushering true border security.

The measure failed 57 to 43, suggesting that bill supporters have work to do to lock down the 60 votes that will likely be needed to overcome GOP stalling tactics and secure final passage of the bill several weeks from now.

Grassley's was the first amendment voted on regarding the White House-backed legislation to remake U.S. immigration system, boost border security and workplace enforcement, and create a path to citizenship for some 11 million people now here illegally.

The bill allows people illegally in the United States to obtain a new "registered provisional immigrant" status six months after enactment, as long as they meet certain criteria and the secretary of Homeland Security has developed plans to secure the border and erect new border fencing where needed.

Critics say that developing a plan does not actually strengthen border security, and Grassley said his amendment was designed to address that flaw.

His amendment said that no one could obtain registered provisional immigrant status until the Homeland Security secretary has certified to Congress that the border has been under "effective control" for six months. Effective control is defined as surveillance of the entire border and catching or turning back 90 percent of people attempting to cross the border.

"My amendment ensures the border is secured before one person gets legal status," said Grassley. "It's a common sense approach. Border security first, like promised, legalize next."

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., one of the bill's authors, said that achieving border control could take years, during which time more immigrants would cross into the U.S. illegally and there would be no solution for the millions already here.

"This clearly would undo the entire theme and structure of the immigration bill that has such bipartisan support," Schumer said. "And we may never get to real immigration reform that is needed, so desperately needed by the country."

Despite the failure of Grassley's amendment, the bill's supporters are looking for some border security measures they can accept. Given GOP suspicion of the border security provisions in the bill, some changes will be needed to ensure the bill has the support necessary to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate and ultimately the GOP-controlled House.

But Schumer and others insist that they won't agree to changes that fundamentally alter the carefully crafted compromises at the center of the bill or delay the path to citizenship, already designed to take at least 13 years, for those who attempt it.

Public polling shows general support both for tougher border security and for allowing those living in the United States to gain citizenship after meeting certain legal, financial and other conditions. On an issue as contentious as immigration, that made the intersection of the two a fertile ground for dispute.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said he wants a final vote on the measure before July 4.

Across the Capitol, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he hopes immigration legislation can move through committee by then, and be on the floor sometime in July.

While the obstacles to a final agreement are daunting, the Senate bill has support from both business and organized labor, two groups that are usually on opposite sides of most issues.

Additionally, senior Republicans have made it clear they envision the legislation as a way for the party to show a friendlier face to Hispanic voters, who overwhelmingly supported President Barack Obama last fall.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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As they go into the homestretch of Massachusetts special U.S. Senate election on June 25, Republican Gabriel Gomez and Democrat Edward Markey are fighting it out in Espanol.

Gomez, a private equity investor whose parents are Colombian immigrants, released a new radio ad in Spanish Tuesday on Spanish-language radio stations across the state. The campaign will follow that with Spanish-language print ads and campaign stops in Latino neighborhoods.

Markey, who serves in the House or Representatives, also will be running Spanish-language ads on TV and radio this week, according to his campaign.

It is the first time both candidates are appealing to Latinos through Spanish-language media, their campaigns said. Latino voters, who number some 300,000 in the state, could play a significant role if turnout is low, political observers say. Both are vying to fill the seat left vacant by Democrat John Kerry, who became U.S. Secretary of State earlier this year.

Campaign officials for Markey and Gomez say they have been paying attention to Latino voters since before this week.

In the final week of this election, Gabriel Gomez is committed to reaching out to every Latino voter he can because  for the first time ever  Latinos have a real choice in this election, said Leonardo Alcivar, a spokesman for the Gomez campaign.

Alcivar pointed to the Latinos For Gomez coalition of the campaign, his pledge to push for more jobs, comprehensive reform and improvements in public education.

His new ad, called Oportunidades, notes that he is the son of immigrants, and promises to fight for others to have a chance to attain the American Dream.

We believe that Latinos in Massachusetts will stand with Gabriel Gomez because they know one thing  Washington politicians aren't standing up for them, Alcivar said.

The battle for Latinos comes as both candidates were preparing for their third and final debate Tuesday night.

Gomez is struggling to close a gap with Markey, who now has double-digit lead.

Gomez has portrayed Markey as an entrenched Washington insider while Markey has cast Gomez as beholden to the national Republican agenda.

Last week, Markey scored an important victory  he won the endorsement of El Planeta, the states largest Spanish-language newspaper. It was the first time the newspaper, founded in 2004, had endorsed anyone.

You would expect that for a Spanish-language media outlet, during an electoral campaign with a Latino U.S. Senate candidate, the decision to support him would be easy, the editorial said about the newspapers endorsement. On the matters that most affect the Latino community in Massachusetts, we think that Edward Markey has demonstrated a greater commitment to the defense of those issues than the Republican candidate, Gabriel Gomez.

Several published reports noted that the endorsement came after Markey met with the editorial board to discuss his positions, and Gomez did not.

Markeys campaign boasts that its Latino-targeted campaign, Unidos Con Markey, is among the most ambitious engagement programs in the state political history.

Markey and his campaign representatives have held roundtables with Latino community leaders and elected officials around the state since the early days of the race.

Markeys campaign held a Latino Summit in early June that included San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, among others.

Gomez has campaigned in many of the state's Latino enclaves, and given speeches in fluent Spanish. He also had done several interviews in Spanish.

Gomezs radio ad speaks about his background in the military as a pilot, and as a Navy SEAL.

Im going to Washington to fight for policies that create more job, he said in the ad, and for a solution to our immigration system that will welcome others like us who want to achieve the American Dream.

Markey heads into the final stretch with more than a two-to-one fundraising advantage over Gomez. Markey's latest campaign finance report shows as of June 5, he had nearly $2.3 million to spend compared to just under $1 million for Gomez.
A Texas man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly threatened to kidnap, murder and burn U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and his father if they did not cough up $3 million.

Nick Gates, who faces charges for making terrorist threats, told the senators office he would blow up the sun if he wasnt paid the money.

"Ted has a choice, give me $3 million or lose the sun."  Nick Gates allegedly said in a voicemail left at Cruz's office

Investigators allege threatening phone calls made June 5 to Cruz's offices in Austin and San Antonio were traced back to Gates.

Court documents show the 37-year-old admitted to FBI agents he made the calls and that Cruz was told he had a choice: give Gates the money or "lose the sun."

The person said "due to government misconduct the sun would blow up and said he might be able to prevent the sun from blowing up if he receives three million dollars," according to the arrest warrant, The Houston Chronicle said.

Gates, who made the calls from his home phone and later admitted he made them, told agents he had previously been hospitalized at the Harris County Mental Health Center. He was being held at the Harris County jail on $10,000 bond.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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The "Gang of Eight" immigration bill now being debated in the U.S. Senate would decrease the federal deficit by $197 billion over a decade and $700 billion in the following 10 years, according to a new analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.

Supporters of the far-reaching Senate bill hope the report will provide fresh momentum. The bill would cut the deficit by billions as increased taxes paid to the government offset the cost of benefits for newly legal residents, the report said.

The White House jumped on the news right away, saying the report was "more proof that bipartisan commonsense immigration reform will be good for economic growth and deficit reduction."

Several members of the "Gang of Eight" senators who drafted the legislation also welcomed the news, including Florida Republican Marco Rubio, who has been trying to play middleman between hawkish members of his party and the Democrats.

The CBO assessment came as the pace of activity increased at both ends of the Capitol on an issue that President Barack Obama has placed at the top of his domestic agenda.

Challenged by protesters chanting, "Shame, shame," House Republicans advanced legislation to crack down on immigrants living illegally in the United States, while the Senate lurched ahead on a dramatically different approach offering the hope of citizenship to the same 11 million people.

The bill approved late Tuesday by the House Judiciary Committee on a 20-15 party-line vote would make being in the U.S. illegally a federal crime punishable by prison time, instead of a civil offense as it is now. It also would empower state and local law enforcement officials to enforce federal immigration laws.

Republicans said the bill was needed to ensure enforcement of the law and said the legislation was a first step in an incremental approach toward solving the immigration issue, in contrast to the comprehensive approach being taken by the Democratic-led Senate.

Many in the Republican-controlled House oppose tackling the immigration issue with a single, big bill. On Wednesday, the committee was to take up a bill creating a temporary agriculture worker program.

"There has to be a first step, Mr. Chairman, and enforcing the law seems to me a reasonable place to begin," said Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, who wrote the bill approved Tuesday.

Democrats called the bill a dangerous retread of a similarly tough enforcement measure that sparked mass protests around the country in 2006.

Reading the bill, "you would think there are 11 million criminals in the United States," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill.

In the Senate, a bipartisan bill that Obama supports appeared on track for a final vote as early as July 4.

The CBO said in its report and accompanying economic analysis that the Senate legislation would raise economic activity in each of the next two decades, in part because of the legal immigration fostered by the measure and also because millions of workers currently in the country illegally would join the legal workforce and pay taxes.

The CBO said the bill would increase gross domestic product by 3.3 percent over the next 10 years compared with current law and by 5.4 percent over the following decade.

The agency forecast that 8 million people now here illegally would gain legal status under the bill.

The CBO also said that average wages would decline through 2025 as a result of the bill and that unemployment would go up slightly.

One critic quickly seized on the impact on salaries, saying they'll go down.

"It's going to raise unemployment and push down wages," said Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee.

Supporters of the bill saw it differently.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat and a member of the Gang of Eight, said the CBO report "debunks the idea that immigration reform is anything other than a boon to our economy and robs the bill's opponents of one of their last remaining arguments."

Rubio echoed the same sentiments. "The CBO has further confirmed what most conservative economists have found: reforming our immigration system is a net benefit for our economy, American workers and taxpayers," he said in a statement Tuesday.

The report was issued near the end of a day of skirmishing on the Senate bill, during which senators rejected two amendments delaying legalization until certain security provisions were in place. One would have required additional fencing and the other a new biometric system to track entries into the country and exits.

Those proposals were overshadowed by a larger debate over the legislation's border security requirements, which Republicans generally want to toughen.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., is working on an amendment requiring the government to demonstrate an ability to apprehend 90 percent of those attempting to enter the country illegally before anyone already present can get a permanent resident green card.

Democrats have been skeptical of proposals along those lines, arguing that they could postpone legalization for years. But after intense discussions on the Senate floor, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and others said they were hopeful of progress.

CBO released its findings on the same day that Republicans decided to take up a partisan, enforcement-only bill in the House Judiciary Committee that undermines progress toward a bipartisan agreement," Rep. Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader said.

In addition to border security and a path to citizenship, the bill includes an expanded number of visas for highly skilled workers prized by the technology industry and a new program for low-skilled workers.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Wikileaks emails reveal Saudi and US government funding the creation of ISIL

There are some new WikiLeaks emails revealing that Mujahideen fighters helped develop ISIS with funding from Saudi Arabia and the United States. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says that definitive proof exists that the United States CIA is essentially responsible for creating ISIS. Assange pinpoints year 1979, where a series of events began that are ultimately responsible for the evolution of the terrorist organization.

The CIA and Saudi Arabian government funneled billions of dollars into creating the Mujahideen militant group, which went on to fight against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. It was a continuation of the constant proxy wars of the US and Soviet Union. The Mujahideen militant group later became known as ISIS.

In the Middle East, the Iranian revolution, the Saudi Islamic uprising and the Egypt-Israel Camp David Accords led not only to the present regional power dynamic, but decisively changed the relationship between oil, militant Islam, and the world. The uprising at Mecca permanently shifted Saudi Arabia towards Wahhabism, leading to the transnational spread of Islamic fundamentalism and the US-Saudi destabilization of Afghanistan, said Assange.

Saudi Arabia and the CIA funneled billions of dollars to the organization for the USSRs invasion of Afghanistan. The funding was part of Operation Cyclone, which fomented the rise of Al-Qaeda and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Islamification spread to Pakistan as a result of the 1979 events. This led to the US Embassy located in Pakistan being burnt to the ground, and the execution of Pakistans Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The Iranian hostage crisis ended up fatally undermining the presidency of Jimmy Carter  which lead to Ronald Reagans election.

The rise of Al-Qaeda eventually bore the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, enabling the US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and over a decade of war, leaving, at its end, the ideological, financial and geographic basis for ISIS, said Assange.

Did Saudi Arabia help fund Hillary Clintons campaign?

Assange has mentioned Hillarys involvement during interviews with Dartmouth Films and RT. It has been noted that Saudi Arabian and Qatari funds are coming from everywhere. This includes media institutions and even the US government has mentioned or agreed with that some Saudi figures have been supporting ISIS said Assange. He believes that the WikiLeaks show the same governments that funded Hillary Clintons campaign are simultaneously propping up radical groups in the area  including ISIS.

Leaked emails between Clinton and her campaign manager John Podesta show that Clintons military strategy to defeat ISIS was to utilize local allies. Podesta confirmed that Saudi Arabia and Qatar provide clandestine financial and logistic support to ISIL according to the email.

Sources:

TrueActivist.com

AnonHq.com
The race for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts dipped to the nastiness its been known for in the third and final debate on Tuesday night.

Republican Gabriel Gomez portrayed his Democratic opponent, Rep. Edward Markey, as Old Guard and argued that its time for a new face with new ideas.

Markey countered by saying that Gomez would be a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, and that Massachusetts would not be getting someone with new ideas.

You wish that you were running against Mitch McConnell or Newt Gingrich or even Gerald Ford, who was President when you first got down there [to Washington D.C.], Gomez said to Markey.

But the reality is, youre running against me, a first-generation American, one who is not afraid to tell his party when theyre wrong. Theyre wrong on immigration right now. Theyre wrong on gay marriage, wrong on expanded background checks.

But temperatures really soared when the question of term limits arose.

Gomez supports a two-term limit for Senate members.

Gomez, who often utters 37 years in Washington when referring to Markeys tenure in Congress, said he told veteran Republican Sen. John McCain, who campaigned for Gomez last month, that he should leave the Senate at the end of his term.

Mr. Gomez did not tell John McCain, This should be your last term. You should be leaving right now, Markey said. That conversation did not happen.

Gomez said that conversation "absolutely did happen."

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers told reporters on Wednesday that Gomez and the senator, who was elected to the Senate in 1987, had discussed term limits.

Sen. McCain did discuss the issue of term limits with Gabriel Gomez when they campaigned together last month, Rogers said. They disagree on this particular issue, but agree on many others."

Markey and Gomez also sparred on gun control, taxes and Markey's record in Congress and Gomez's background in business.

Gomez, the son of Colombian immigrants, is a businessman and a former Navy SEAL.

Recent polls have showed Markey with a lead over Gomez. Some polls have showed Markey with a narrow lead, of less than five points, while other have showed a double-digit edge.

The special election is scheduled for June 25.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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One of the Senates most vocal opponents of granting undocumented immigrants a path to legal status has filed an amendment that would elevate being in the United States illegally from a civil violation to a federal crime.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, a Republican from Alabama, filed the amendment to a sweeping bipartisan immigration reform bill that is under debate on the Senate floor.

It is based on a measure that a House committee passed on Tuesday. That bill is the Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement (SAFE) Act, which gives state and local police the power to act as quasi-immigration agents and arrest immigrants who are in the country illegally. It also allows states to enact their own immigration laws, such as Arizona, for instance, did a few years ago.

The Senate bill, drafted by the so-called Gang of Eight, four Democrats and four Republicans, at its core tightens border security, expands guest worker visas and provides a pathway to legal status to many of the nations 11 million undocumented immigrants.

The Gang of Eight plan not only would effectively create an immediate amnesty for those here illegally today but a permanent de facto amnesty for future illegal aliens who arrive tomorrow, Sessions said.

The SAFE Act moves in the opposite direction, Sessions said in a statement. It empowers our immigration officers with the tools and resources they need to ensure future lawfulness in our immigration system. The House Judiciary Committee worked with the law enforcement community to produce this legislationthe Gang of Eight worked with the special interests to craft provisions to further handcuff law enforcement from doing their jobs.

Opponents of the SAFE Act say it is wrong to treat undocumented immigrants as criminals, and that many come to flee poverty or civil strife at home, and to contribute to the United States. They say that making police quasi-immigration agents will make communities less safe by dissuading immigrants from contacting law enforcement agencies when they are victims of, or witnesses to, a crime.

The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Trey Gowdy, a Republican from South Carolina, late Tuesday night on a party-line vote of 20 to 15.

Unlike the Senate, the House is approaching immigration reform in a piecemeal way, with separate bills that address various aspects of the issue.

Democrats called the bill a dangerous retread of a similarly tough enforcement measure that sparked mass protests around the country in 2006. Reading the SAFE Act bill, "you would think there are 11 million criminals in the United States," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill, one of Congresss most vocal proponents for a measure that would provide a pathway to legalization for undocumented immigrants.

Among other amendments introduced in the Senate on immigration were several by Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, that would bolster border security, increase high-skilled temporary worker visas five-fold, streamline the legal immigration process, and deny welfare and citizenship to undocumented immigrants who obtain a provisional legal status under the current Senate immigration reform bill.
Antonio Villaraigosa is leaving his mayoral post, but that wont be the last chapter of his political career if he has anything to say about it.

Villaraigosa, 60, said in no uncertain terms that he plans to run for governor of California someday.

You mentioned governor. Look, I believe in public service. I want to run for governor. In fact, I fully expect that I will," said Villaraigosa in an interview this week with KPCC, the National Public Radio (NPR) station in Los Angeles. "Im going to tell you something. I will never have a job like this. This city has given me more than I could have ever hoped for."

But he wouldnt run for governor any time soon, he said, at least not while fellow Democrat Jerry Brown is holding that office. Brown is up for re-election next year.

Brown enjoys high approval ratings, and is known as a strong fundraiser. This is Browns second round as governor  he held the job from 1975 to 1983.

KPCC noted that even with Brown out of the picture, Los Angeles first Mexican-American official in more than a century would face a tough race within his own party for governor. Some Democrats whose names have been floated as candidates are State Attorney General Kamala Harris, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Controller John Chiang.

"He's not going to run against Jerry Brown," said political consultant Mike Shimpock, whose firm has worked for Villaraigosa, according to KPCC. "I don't think Brown is beatable."

If he were elected governor someday, Villaraigosa would not be the first Latino to hold that position in California. Romualdo Pacheco, who was lieutenant governor in the 1800's, became governor in 1875 when Gov. Newton Booth resigned. Pacheco served for 10 months, according to the National Governors Association. Pacheco later served in Congress.

Its not the first time Villaraigosa has spun visions of being a gubernatorial candidate.

In March he told reporters: "One day I'd like to run for governor, but there's not a vacancy last time I looked."

Villaraigosa served as mayor for eight years, and will leave office on June 30.

Among the highlights of his tenure are bolstering the Los Angeles Police Department to 10,000 officers, though he also laid off a substantial portion of the city workforce because of tax shortfalls during the nation's Great Recession, noted the Los Angeles Times.

His pre-mayoral political career included being on the California State Assembly, the Democratic leader of the Assembly, the Speaker of the California State Assembly and a member of the L.A. City Council.

"The people of this town gave me a shot when a lot of folks thought it was an impossible dream," he said in the radio interview. "I have no regrets. ... There's a bit of sadness on some levels, I guess, and nostalgia, but it's about the people."

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He burst onto the national stage as the Tea Party Darling du jour.

It was nothing short of a stellar national entrance for Marco Rubio, the Republican senator from Florida.

But now, Tea Party members are among the Florida lawmakers most passionate, most resentful critics. Many have completely turned on Rubio, feeling betrayed by his push for immigration reform.

At a protest in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, conservatives at the rally booed when the junior Senators name was mentioned.

Many conservatives are angry at Rubio because of his central role in an immigration reform measure that would provide a pathway to legal status for many of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.

The measure addresses many other aspects of immigration, but it is that part of the bill that has made Rubio a turncoat in the eyes of many conservatives and Tea Party members.

Others, including some more moderate Republican leaders, see Rubio  seen as a possible presidential candidate in 2016 -- as their hope for improving relations with Latino voters, who last year voted overwhelmingly for President Barack Obama, shunning GOP candidate Mitt Romney.

One reason, many experts said and polls corroborated, was the hard line that Romney, and other Republicans who ran in the primary, took regarding immigration.

"He has gotten used by the establishment Republicans because he is Hispanic to go out and do their dirty work, and I likely cannot support him if he ran for president now," said Ronald King, a 44-year-old North Carolina voter, according to an article in newsweekly magazine, U.S. News & World Report.

Protesters advanced on a news conference held by Republicans to discuss immigration reform, and poked signs that read "Do Not Reward Criminals" and "No Amnesty!" over the heads of Republicans who had just finished speaking about finding a civilized tone in the year's most difficult debate.

U.S. News & World Report quoted another protester, Edward Wisniewski, as saying: "You don't try to deal with Chuck Schumer. Rubio's been caving and it is because he has been dealing with slewfoots like Schumer. He's hurting his reputation.

Also on Wednesday, the anti-Rubio comments continued at a six-hour news conference that Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, an immigration hard-liner, held outside the Capitol to highlight opposition to the Senate bill.

People in the crowd held signs opposing "illegal aliens" and Rubio as "Obama's Idiot."

At the earlier conference by Republicans speaking in favor of the bill, Becky Keenan, a Hispanic pastor who had appeared with the GOP lawmakers, turned toward the anti-immigration-reform protesters and took a photo.

They began to yell at her. Keenan ignored them, quietly explaining why House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican who also drew bitter criticism from the protesters, is bothering to pursue agreement on the perennial headache that is immigration reform.

Along with Rubio, Boehner is helping lead the GOP effort to bite into the base of Hispanic support of Democrats  or at least stop alienating a demographic that accounts for 17 percent of the nation. That means getting a new policy on immigration, perhaps the most delicate political dance of Boehner's career.

Immigration separates Republicans from one another as much if not more than it separates them from Democrats. They don't trust Boehner to hew to the so-called "Hastert Rule," named after former GOP Speaker Dennis Hastert, though it was more a goal than a set rule. During the eight years he ran the House, he had a policy of allowing votes only on those bills that were supported by a majority of Republican members.

"If the Republican Party wants to regain the Hispanic vote, which they so miserably lost in the last election, they're going to have to let Latinos know they are wanted," Keenan, pastor of Gulf Meadows Church in Houston, said after the hubbub Wednesday had subsided. "They are going to have to deal with immigration reform."

Keenan, who had attended the Republican news conference just across a driveway from the King event, shook her head at the protesters but didn't engage them.

"A lot if it is fear-based," she said.

Rubio has stood firm in the storm of criticism, appearing almost daily on television and sending out a barrage of daily news releases to defend comprehensive immigration reform.

The measure, drafted by a bipartisan group that includes Rubio, three other Republicans and four Democrats, at its core tightens border security, offers legal status to certain undocumented immigrants, expands the guest worker visa program and seeks improvements to the legal immigration process.

Some people, Rubio has said, will not support immigration reform regardless of the details. At the same time, he has made a point of insisting on tough border security measures  an important factor for Republicans who oppose a pathway to legal status without stepping up enforcement  before agreeing to other aspects of the sweeping measure.

On Wednesday, lawmakers seemed to have reached the first major compromise on the Senate immigration bill currently being debated.

The tentative agreement would stiffen the bill's border security requirements without delaying legalization for millions living in the country unlawfully.

"This is a key moment in the effort to pass this bill. This is sort of the defining 24 to 36 hours," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Wednesday night after a day of private talks.

Under the emerging compromise, the government would grant legal status to immigrants living in the United States unlawfully at the same time the additional security was being put into place. Green cards, which signify permanent residency status, would be withheld until the security steps were complete.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, in an interview on Washington, D.C.s WMAL 105.9 FM Mornings on the Mall radio show, former Florida Republican Rep. Allen West said he was considering challenging Rubio in a 2016 GOP Senate primary.

Do we need to do something about immigration? Absolutely, West added, according to published reports. This whole comprehensive thing  I think the bill now is up to 1,075 pages. Once again, the American people dont trust that.

Thats a pretty heavy lift, because youre talking about running against a sitting senator, and then, of course, that creates that schism that the other side would love to see happen, West, who has ruled out a 2014 run, told host Larry OConnor.

West said he is disappointed in Rubio because of his support for the immigration reform bill.

A Quinnipiac University poll this week showed that Florida voters give Rubio negative marks for his handling of immigration and gun issues in Washington but still hold favorable views of the rising Republican star.

The poll found that 41 percent disapprove of Rubio's handling of the immigration overhaul in the Senate that would give an estimated 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally a path to citizenship. The random telephone survey of 1,176 registered voters taken June 11-16 shows 33 percent approve.

The poll found that 58 percent of Florida voters back a path to citizenship for those here illegally.

"As perhaps the best-known Hispanic-American in national politics, Sen. Marco Rubio has a tightrope to walk between keeping the folks back home happy and serving as a high-profile symbol for the GOP nationally," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, according to the Miami Herald. Overall, a slim majority of Florida voters -- 51 percent -- approve of the job Rubio is doing as the state's junior senator.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A gang is terrorizing immigrants in Stamford, Conn., police say, assaulting and robbing them and making the community fearful of being outside.

Four immigrant assaults over the past month, including one that led to the arrest this week of a 12-year-old boy, are believed to have been carried out by the same loosely knit gang that is "terrorizing" Hispanics, Stamford Police Lt. Diedrich Hohn said.

The assailants view the immigrants as vulnerable  unlikely to turn to police when they have been victimized, police said.

"Unfortunately these are easy targets," Hohn said. "They work late. They're coming home by themselves. They have cash on them. A lot of these guys don't report it."

It is the kind of crime many police departments in areas around the country have had to grapple with as immigrant populations grow and become targets for criminals.

Unfortunately these are easy targets. They work late. They're coming home by themselves. They have cash on them. A lot of these guys don't report it.  Stamford Police Lt. Diedrich Hohn

Restaurant managers on Stamfords west side say some of their foreign-born customers are scared to go out at night, and employees have started leaving in groups at the end of their shifts for safety.

Stamford, a city of 125,000 people, has a fast-growing Hispanic community that represents about 24 percent of the population, up from 16 percent a decade ago.

Armando Valle, who manages The Maya restaurant on the west side where the assaults have occurred, said one of his workers was held up at knifepoint a month ago. He said the neighborhood has always been tough but his workers have started walking in groups for safety.

"Now everybody is leaving together," said Valle, who caters to a largely Guatemalan clientele.

Jessie Leon, manager of the Reyes Bar and Restaurant, said many of her customers are going home earlier since robberies have become more frequent.

"Sometimes they get scared," she said. "They're immigrants. They think if they fight back, the police are going to take the immigrants, and not the young kids."

In a New Jersey town several years ago, teenagers were traveling there from New York to prey upon immigrants, beating them up and mugging them on a regular basis. Some police officers filed complaints on behalf of the immigrants when the victims expressed a reluctance to do it themselves because of fear of deportation.

In the case of the boy who was arrested, Hohn said he and four other young assaults beat the immigrant on June 1, leaving him with severe facial injuries and broken ribs. The middle-school student, whose name was not released, was charged with second-degree robbery and second-degree assault. Hohn said the boy's mother would not allow police to speak with him.

The arrest was first reported by The Advocate of Stamford.

Other robberies of immigrants may not have been reported because the victims fear they will be deported because of their residency status. Hohn said police learned of one recent on an immigrant only because they found the victim's wallet.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Two sweeping policy changes that could transform how people live in the United States have been championed by President Barack Obama: Affordable health care for all and a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants illegally in the country.

But many immigrants will have to wait more than a decade to qualify for health care benefits under the proposed immigration overhaul being debated by Congress, ensuring a huge swath of people will remain uninsured as the centerpiece of Obama's health care law launches next year.

Lawmakers pushing the immigration bill said adding more recipients to an already costly benefit would make it unaffordable.

Health care analysts and immigration proponents argue that denying coverage will saddle local governments with the burden of uninsured immigrants. They also fear a crisis down the road as immigrants become eligible for coverage, but are older, sicker and require more expensive care.

Those placed on provisional status would become the nation's second-largest population of uninsured, or about 25 percent, according to a 2012 study by the Urban Institute.

"All health research shows that the older you get, the sicker you become, so these people will be sicker and will be more expensive on the system," said Matthew O'Brien, who runs a health clinic for immigrants in Philadelphia and researches health trends at Temple University.

The Affordable Care Act will make health insurance accessible for millions of uninsured people starting in January through taxpayer-subsidized private policies for middle-class families and expanded access to Medicaid, the program for low-income people funded by federal and state dollars.

The proposed immigration overhaul explicitly states immigrants cannot receive Medicaid or buy coverage in new health care exchanges for more than a decade after they qualify for legal status, and only after certain financial and security requirements have been met.

Immigrants with provisional status may obtain insurance through employers once they have legal status to work, but many are unskilled and undereducated, and tend to work low-wage jobs at small businesses that don't have to provide the benefit under the health care law.

Immigrants illegally in the country also can access community health centers, but the officials who run those clinics said they are overwhelmed by the demand.

"We can't help everybody," said Bethy Mathis, executive director of Wesley Community Center in Phoenix. The clinic serves 7,000 patients a year who seek everything from vaccinations and relief from minor medical problems to care for long-term health conditions such as diabetes.

Debate over whether immigrants illegally in the country should be eligible for federal benefits nearly sank Obama's health care reform before it was passed by Congress in 2010. For lawmakers pushing immigration reform, there was no question that immigrants would continue to be excluded.

"That's one of the privileges of citizenship," said Republican Sen. John McCain, one of the so-called Gang of Eight pushing the immigration bill, during a conference call with reporters. "That's just what it is. I don't know why we would want to provide Obamacare to someone who is not a citizen of this country."

The issue has received more attention in recent weeks. Some House Republicans have threatened to kill the immigration bill unless immigrants are required to pay for all their health care costs even after they receive green cards or become citizens. Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, meanwhile, said she wants the government to distribute at least $250 million to state and local governments because they are the ones who will feel the financial pain of immigrants being left out of the health care law.

Pregnant women, children, seniors and the disabled are eligible for emergency Medicaid services regardless of their immigration status.

The politics behind the bill offer little solace to immigrant families struggling with growing medical bills.

Isabel Castillo came to the U.S. illegally with her parents when she was a child. She's now 28 and has not gone for an annual physical exam since 2007. Every pain triggers debate over whether it's worth a medical visit or not.

"You are like, 'God, should I go, should I wait? The bill is going to be so high,'" Castillo said. "You just wait until you can't tolerate the pain anymore and then you go to the emergency room."

Immigrants who are U.S. citizens are also affected by the limits on health care access if they provide for family members here illegally.

High school student Jacqueline Garcia of Phoenix works two jobs to support her 13-year-old brother and 52-year-old grandmother, who has severe diabetes. The woman's mobility is limited, her vision and memory are fading and she sometimes suffers from seizures. The children were born in the United States and are being raised by the grandmother, who does not have lawful status and as a result does not qualify for Medicaid.

"Every time she gets sick, I have to take her to the doctor. It's really expensive," Garcia said. "What if my grandmother doesn't make it for the 10 years? I mean, I am always going to be struggling. That's too long."

Opponents said they understand the concerns of immigrants not getting health care, but it becomes an issue of the added expense.

"We aren't saying people shouldn't get health care. The question is who is going to pay for it?" said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a national group that opposes the immigration overhaul. "They would all be on Medicaid or heavily subsidized in some other way."

Critics of the decision said immigrants are eager to pay for affordable health care insurance and already support federal benefits by paying sales and income taxes. They note that adults unable to overcome health emergencies are less likely to contribute to the workforce and society.

"The risk of them being uninsured if they are in the country illegally is the same risk of anyone else in the country not being insured," said Stephen Zuckerman, a health economist for the Urban Institute. "It's always more expensive to treat people at a more advanced stage of disease."

In North Carolina, Jessica Sanchez-Rodriguez said she has undergone a series of surgeries and medicines to treat her spina bifida, a developmental congenital disorder, and an ailment that leads to brain swelling. Her parents brought her illegally from Mexico when she was 11 months old. As a minor, she received subsidized medical care, but she was cut off when she turned 18 in February.

Her family is trying to raise money for a $55,000 surgery to connect a catheter to her bladder.

"It's terrible," Sanchez-Rodriguez said. "I have to go to school with these pains."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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An agreement to vastly increase fencing, patrols and high-tech monitoring along the U.S.-Mexico border has been formally unveiled in the Senate.

The measure backed by Democrats and Republicans is an amendment to a sweeping immigration bill that, with its inclusion, now looks headed for passage next week with substantial bipartisan support.

The amendment would double Border Patrol agents, add hundreds of miles of fencing, and spend billions on everything from helicopters to drones to watchtowers.

The amendment is sponsored by Republican Sens. John Hoeven of North Dakota and Bob Corker of Tennessee.

Senators working on the deal sought to add dramatic security improvements to the U.S.-Mexico border and smooth the way for bipartisan Senate passage of far-reaching immigration legislation backed by President Barack Obama.

The deal doubling Border Patrol agents and adding hundreds of miles of fencing along the Southwest border won support from four undecided Republican senators who are now likely to back the immigration bill when it comes to a final vote. On Friday, senators were in final negotiations on other elements of the deal, including provisions on Social Security and other benefits, that could bring still more GOP support on board.

The legislation opening the door to citizenship for millions appeared within reach of securing the broad bipartisan majority that its authors say is needed to ensure serious consideration by the GOP-controlled House.

However, the outcome there remains far from certain because many conservatives are opposed to offering citizenship to people who came to this country illegally.

"We really have tried to secure the border in a way that we hope can get bipartisan support and that Americans want," said Hoeven to The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday. "We're hopeful to have a good bipartisan majority."

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said on Fox News Channel Friday that "if there's anyone who still will argue that the border is not secure after this, then border security is not their reason for opposing a path to citizenship for the people who are in this country illegally."

"Is it more than I would have recommended? Honestly, yes," McCain said. "But we've got to give people confidence."

Hoeven developed the amendment along with Corker, in consultation with McCain, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and other members of the so-called Gang of Eight senators who wrote the immigration bill. It prevents immigrants now here illegally from attaining permanent resident status until a series of steps have been taken to secure the border.

These include doubling the Border Patrol with 20,000 new agents, 18 new unmanned surveillance drones, 350 miles of new pedestrian fencing to add to 350 miles already in place and an array of fixed and mobile devices to maintain vigilance, including high-tech tools such as infrared ground sensors and airborne radar.

The new provisions would be put in place over a decade, in line with the 10-year path to a permanent resident green card that the bill sets out for immigrants here illegally. During that time, the immigrants could live and work legally in a provisional status.

Hoeven said the 10-year cost of the border security amendment included $25 billion for the additional Border Patrol agents, $3 billion for fencing and $3.2 billion for other measures.

It's "border security on steroids," said Corker, who along with Hoeven had been uncommitted on the immigration bill. Both are now prepared to support it, assuming their amendment is adopted. Sens. Dean Heller, R-Nev., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., also announced their support for the deal Thursday.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said the border deal "would constitute a breakthrough" on immigration. "We're pleased that Republicans and Democrats continue to work together toward comprehensive immigration reform," he said.

The legislation had been expected to be formally unveiled in the Senate late Thursday, but that was delayed as senators and aides negotiated an array of issues, some that will be included in the amendment and some not, as they sought to iron out final obstacles to passage of the overall bill.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who's pursued amendments related to Social Security, welfare, health care and taxes, was expected to see some of his concerns answered with provisions blocking immigrants from claiming credit for Social Security taxes they paid while working without lawful status, ensuring immigrants can't get welfare until after holding permanent resident status for five years and barring health care tax credits from going to people here on student or tourist visas.

Hoeven said Friday that Republicans have encountered opposition from Democrats and the White House to getting Hatch's provisions in the bill and were still working on that. He said they also were pursuing language on steps sought by Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, to strengthen a system called E-Verify that employers use to check their workers' legal status, which will become mandatory under the bill. Changes to a new agriculture worker program in the bill, sought by Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., among others, were not expected to make it into the amendment, Hoeven said.

The deal on border security came together quickly over the past several days after talks had bogged down over Republicans' insistence that green cards be made conditional on catching or turning back 90 percent of would-be border crossers. Schumer, other Democrats and Obama himself rejected this trigger, which they feared could delay the path to citizenship for years. Obama made his objections known in a phone call to Schumer from Air Force One during his trip to Europe for the Group of Eight summit earlier in the week, according to a Senate aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

The breakthrough came when the Congressional Budget Office released a report Tuesday finding that the bill would cut billions of dollars from the deficit. Schumer's top immigration aide, Leon Fresco, had the idea of devoting some of those billions to a dramatic border build-up.

Graham, who helped run interference between Corker and Hoeven and Democrats in the group, said that with the budget office finding in hand, he sat down with Schumer and Corker and said, "OK, let's go big."

The idea immediately appealed to the left and the right.

For Republicans, it provided concrete assurances that the bill would aim to achieve a secure border. For Democrats, it offered goals that, if dramatic, were achievable and measurable.

Still, not everyone was won over.

Shortly before Corker and Hoeven went to the Senate floor to announce their agreement Thursday afternoon, five leading Republican opponents of the bill held a news conference to denounce the deal as little more than an empty promise.

"In short, I think this amendment is designed to pass the bill but not to fix the bill," Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said.

About 10 Republicans indicated they would vote for the bill, far more than enough to ensure it will have the 60 votes required to overcome any attempted filibuster by last-ditch opponents. Democrats control 54 seats, and party aides have said they do not expect any defections.

In addition to the border security components and eventual citizenship for the estimated 11 million people living here illegally, the immigration bill would create new work visa programs and expand existing ones to allow tens of thousands of workers into the country to work in high- and low-skilled jobs.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has become a poster boy for politicians willing to set aside party politics to get issues resolved with the opposing party.

When Republican governors in November gathered in Las Vegas to discuss how to recover from their party's latest electoral drubbing, the popular GOP governor of Nevada wasn't there.

Instead, Sandoval was in Washington, D.C., meeting with Obama administration officials to seal the deal that made him the first Republican governor to expand Medicaid as part of the president's health care initiative.

It was part of the pragmatic, centrist, low-key approach that has kept Sandoval popular in a Democratic-trending state and makes him the heavy favorite in his re-election bid next year.

With all the hand-wringing about the future of the GOP, the party has an often-overlooked strength: Popular governors like Sandoval who run most of the states in the nation, testing new policies, winning credit for the economic recovery and building records and expertise for possible runs at national office.

Partly due to the party's dominance in the 2010 election, Republicans hold 30 of the nation's 50 governorships.

"The larger the electoral arena, the worse the Republicans seem to do," said Eric Herzik, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, noting the GOP has lost the popular vote in five of the last six presidential elections and blown a number of high-profile senate races.

"The one electoral arena that the Republicans have done fairly well in are the governorships," he said.

The 2010 wave ushered in a number of envelope-pushing conservatives. Some, like Florida's Rick Scott and Pennsylvania's Tom Corbett, are long-shots for re-election while others like Wisconsin's Scott Walker or Ohio's John Kasich have weathered early rough patches and are now doing well in the polls.

Sandoval offers a contrasting approach.

"He doesn't get boxed in or pinned down by labels. He's someone who's willing to set aside traditional boundaries if it's going to solve problems," said Greg Ferraro, a longtime Sandoval friend and adviser. "To me, he's the kind of Republican that's going to rebuild the party."

Growing numbers of migrants from the coasts and an expanding immigrant population have steadily pushed Nevada into the Democrats' column in presidential elections. But Sandoval has helped act as a GOP bulwark at the state level. He vetoed a bill to expand background checks for gun purchases, another to expand the period for voter registration and nixed a law to place calorie counts on chain restaurant menus.

He is so popular that Democrats have yet to field a challenger, and most analysts predict he will be handily re-elected.

But many of the things that have endeared Sandoval to Nevada voters would make him radioactive among the activists and interest groups who dominate national Republican politics. He supports abortion rights. Although he has refused to approve new taxes, he has twice extended what were supposed to be temporary taxes totaling more than $620 million.

This month, Sandoval signed a bill granting cards that permit driving to people in the country illegally.

"He's got a nice smile, a sunny disposition," said Chuck Muth, president of the Nevada conservative group Citizen Outreach and one of Sandoval's critics from the right. "But that's not something that's going to carry him very far if he ever gets into a competitive primary."

Sandoval had previously served as a state legislator and Nevada's attorney general and had a comfortable position as a federal judge when he agreed to run for governor in 2010. The incumbent, Republican Jim Gibbons, was badly tarred by a painfully public divorce case that included allegations of infidelity. Sandoval ousted him in the Republican primary and easily beat Rory Reid, son of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in the general election.

He is one of two Hispanic GOP governors elected that year, and he co-chairs a task force with his New Mexico counterpart, Susana Martinez, to recruit more Hispanic Republican candidates. But Sandoval only won 33 percent of the Hispanic vote, just three percentage points higher than Sharron Angle, the Republican challenger to Senator Reid who campaigned on her stance against illegal immigration.

Sandoval is a halting public speaker and cautious politician. He frustrated many Nevada Republicans by only giving lukewarm support to his party's nominee, Mitt Romney, in the 2012 presidential elections.

In many states, the governor has unrivalled power and ability to set the agenda. That's certainly true in Nevada, where the legislature meets for 120 days every two years. In the 2013 regular session, Sandoval came out on top, his $6.6 billion general fund budget proposal left mostly intact thanks to a GOP minority in both chambers that kept Democrats from a two-thirds vote margin needed to raises taxes.

But Sandoval came under criticism from both the right and left when just hours after the June 3 midnight deadline, he called lawmakers back into special session to act on five measures that died in the final hectic minutes  including a Clark County sales tax increase to fund more police officers.

The Nevada Policy Research Institute, a conservative think tank, chided him for pushing the sales tax bill while abandoning education reforms that were rejected by Democrats.

Liberals also derided him for the special session, saying he should have pursued more tax hikes.

Sandoval also took heat earlier this year after a mentally ill man hospitalized at a Las Vegas psychiatric hospital was given a one-way bus ticket to Sacramento, Calif., where he knew no one. It prompted a weekslong investigation by The Sacramento Bee about "patient dumping." Sandoval eventually fired two staffers and ordered an independent review of practices at the hospital.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal civil rights suit this week on behalf of one patient and city attorneys in two California cities have criminal investigations under way.

There is already speculation in Nevada that Sandoval, if re-elected, could challenge Reid in 2016, setting up a clash of the state's political titans. Reid and his hard-edged operatives have been relatively polite in discussing the governor, and some Democrats clearly respect Sandoval.

Billy Vassiliadis, a veteran Democratic operative, said the governor's low-key, bipartisan demeanor is a clear asset, but it remains to be seen whether that approach would resonate with the more GOP's aggressive, national approach.

"There's an evolution happening in the Republican Party that will largely determine whether a more moderate Republican like Brian Sandoval could stand on a national stage," he said.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Is immigration reform legislation on the home stretch in the Senate?

The Senate is on the verge of approving historic immigration legislation by a clear majority, sending the bill to the House for a bill that would offer citizenship to millions in the U.S. illegally and spending billions of dollars to secure the border.

The vote on final passage of the White House-backed bill was expected as early as Thursday, after a series of test votes so far this week demonstrated supporters command a bipartisan majority well over the 60 votes needed to secure passage.

First must come two more procedural tests set for Thursday.

"We're on the edge of passing one of the most significant pieces of legislation that this body has passed in a very long time," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor Wednesday. "The vast majority of members in this body realize that the immigration system is broken and needs fixing."

Supporters posted 67 votes or more on each of three procedural tests Wednesday. More than a dozen Republicans sided with Democrats on each, ensuring bipartisan support that the bill's backers hope will change minds in the House.

The outlook there is uncertain. Many in the GOP-controlled House oppose the pathway to citizenship at the center of the Senate bill. And many prefer a piecemeal approach rather than a sweeping bill like the one the Senate is producing.

The House Judiciary Committee is in the midst of a piece-by-piece effort, signing off Wednesday on legislation to establish a system requiring all employers within two years to check their workers' legal status.

The Judiciary Committee was turning its attention Thursday to a bill on high-skilled workers. Last week it approved two more measures, one on agriculture workers and a second to make illegal presence in the country a federal crime, instead of a civil offense as it is now.

At its core, the legislation in the Senate includes numerous steps to prevent future illegal immigration, while at the same time it offers a chance at citizenship to the 11 million immigrants now living in the country unlawfully.

It provides for 20,000 new Border Patrol agents, requires the completion of 700 miles of fencing and requires an array of high-tech devices to be deployed to secure the border with Mexico.

Businesses would be required to check on the legal status of prospective employees. Other provisions would expand the number of visas for highly skilled workers relied upon by the technology industry. A separate program would be established for lower-skilled workers, and farm workers would be admitted under a temporary program.

The basic legislation was drafted by four Democrats and four Republicans who met privately for months to produce a rare bipartisan compromise in a polarized Senate. They fended off unwanted changes in the Senate Judiciary Committee and then were involved in negotiations with Republican Sens. John Hoeven of North Dakota and Bob Corker of Tennessee on a package of tougher border security provisions that swelled support among Republicans.

Outnumbered critics insist the bill falls short of the promises made for it.

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., called it "the mother of all amnesties."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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The Senate passed a landmark immigration reform bill Thursday, offering the priceless hope of citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in America's shadows, while also promising a military-style effort to secure the porous border with Mexico.

The measure passed 68-32, with all Democrats voting for it, as well as 14 Republicans. All the no votes were cast by Republicans.

Supporters of the bill quickly hailed the passage. But they expressed concern about its fate in the House, where conservative Republicans who hold the levers of power are firmly opposed to citizenship for the undocumented.

"The United States Senate today moved our country a big step closer to building a common sense immigration system that will allow millions of aspiring Americans to become citizens," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. "Now it is up to the House of Representatives to follow the Senates lead by allowing a majority of House members to vote on a bill with a path to citizenship."

"Speaker John Boehner and his leadership team, said Trumka, face a decision that will have ramifications for a generation: Block a roadmap to citizenship vote, obstruct the will of overwhelming majorities of working people and face a generation of electoral declineor support citizenship and embrace Americas diverse future."

U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Republican from Florida, said he would try to get the House to agree on a reform bill.

I am encouraged by the Senates actions on immigration reform," said Diaz-Balart."We need to find a real, permanent solution to our broken immigration system. That solution needs to secure the border, strengthen our economy, respect the rule of law, modernize our visa system, and address the issue of the millions of undocumented immigrants living in the shadows."

I will continue working with my House colleagues as we seek a good faith, bipartisan approach in the House, he added.

Opponents of the bill denounced the vote, saying it undermines the rule of law.

"This amnesty-first bill is a surrender to lawlessness," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, a Republican from Alabama. "It will decimate immigration enforcement and erode the constitutional rule of law upon which our national greatness depends. The Senates loyalty must be to the American people immigrant and native-born alike who work hard, pay their taxes, fight our wars, and obey our laws."

"Twenty one million Americans cannot find full-time work," Sessions said. "[The bills] huge increase in the legal immigration flow will reduce wages and raise unemployment, and displace those who have suffered the most economically.

Democrats generally support granting a path to citizenship.

After three weeks of debate, there was no doubt about the outcome in the Senate, where supporters posted 68 votes on the last of a series of procedural tests. That was eight more than needed, with 14 Republicans joining all 52 Democrats and two independents to advance a measure that is at the top of President Barack Obama's second-term list of priorities.

In the final hours of debate, members of the so-called Gang of 8, the group that drafted the measure, frequently spoke in personal terms while extolling the bill's virtues, rebutting its critics  and appealing to the House members who turn comes next.

"Do the right thing for America and for your party," said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who said his mother emigrated to the United States from Cuba. "Find common ground. Lean away from the extremes. Opt for reason and govern with us."

Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said those seeking legal status after living in the United States illegally must "pass a background check, make good on any tax liability and pay a fee and a fine." There are other requirements before citizenship can be obtained, he noted.

He, too, spoke from personal experience, recalling time he spent as a youth working alongside family members and "undocumented migrant labor, largely from Mexico, who worked harder than we did under conditions much more difficult than we endured."

Since then, he said, "I have harbored a feeling of admiration and respect for those who have come to risk life and limb and sacrifice so much to provide a better life for themselves and their families."

With a weeklong July 4 congressional vacation looming, the bill's foes agreed to permit the final vote one day before Senate rules mandated it.

In the Senate, at least, the developments marked an end to years of gridlock on immigration. The shift began taking shape quickly after the 2012 presidential election, when numerous Republican leaders concluded the party must show a more welcoming face to Hispanic voters who had given Obama more than 70 percent of their support.

Even so, division among Republicans was evident as potential 2016 presidential contenders split. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida was one of the Gang of 8, while Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas were opposed to the bill.

The legislation's chief provisions includes numerous steps to prevent future illegal immigration  some added in a late compromise that swelled Republican support for the bill  and to check on the legal status of job applicants already living in the United States. At the same time, it offers a 13-year path to citizenship to as many as 11 million immigrants now living in the country unlawfully.

Under the deal brokered last week by Republican Sens. John Hoeven of North Dakota and Bob Corker of Tennessee and the Gang of 8, the measure requires 20,000 new Border Patrol agents, the completion of 700 miles of fencing and deployment of an array of high-tech devices along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Those living in the country illegally could gain legal status while the border security plan was being implemented, but would not be granted permanent resident green cards or citizenship.

A plan requiring businesses to check on the legal status of prospective employees would be phased in over four years.

Other provisions would expand the number of visas available for highly skilled workers relied upon by the technology industry. A separate program would be established for lower-skilled workers, and farm workers would be admitted under a temporary program.

Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft, praised the passage of the bill.

Today, the Senate took a significant step toward reforming our nations outdated immigration policies," Ballmer said in a statement. "If enacted, these changes will strengthen our economic security, foster innovation and enable continued job growth in the U.S. Equally important, the legislation makes critical investments in our workforce by strengthening STEM education in the United States, including instruction focused on computer science."

"In addition, the system of legal immigration that has been in effect for decades would be changed, making family ties less of a factor and elevating the importance of education, job skills and relative youth."

With the details of the Senate bill well-known, House Speaker John Boehner said at a news conference the separate legislation the House is considering will have majority support among Republicans. He also said he hopes the bill will be bipartisan, and he encouraged a group of four Democrats and three Republicans to forge a compromise to continue their efforts.

He offered no details on how a House bill could be both bipartisan and supported by more than half of his own rank and file, given that most of the bills that have moved through the House Judiciary Committee recently did so on party line votes over the protests of Democrats. None envisions legal status for immigrants now in the country illegally.

Boehner declined to say if there were circumstances under which he could support a pathway to citizenship, but he made clear that securing the border was a priority.

"People have to have confidence that the border is secure before anything else is really going to work. Otherwise, we repeat the mistakes of 1986," he said, referring to the last time Congress overhauled the immigration system.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the House Democratic leader, also said he favors a bipartisan approach. At the same time, she noted that Democratic principles for immigration include "secure our borders, protect our workers, unite families, a path to legalization and now citizenship for those" without legal status.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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One step down, one to go.

But that's one huge step remaining.

After the Senate passed a landmark immigration bill Thursday, opening the doors to U.S. citizenship to millions while pouring billions of dollars into securing the border with Mexico, the bill heads to an uncertain future for a vote in the Republican-led House.

IMMIGRATION BILL

BORDER SECURITY

The bill sets out a series of requirements that must be achieved over 10 years before anyone here illegally can obtain a permanent resident green card. These include:

(1) Roughly doubling the number of Border Patrol agents stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border, to at least 38,405.

(2) Completing 700 miles of pedestrian fencing along the border, which would require approximately 350 new miles of fencing.

(3) Installing a host of new security measures and technologies in specified locations along the border, including specific numbers of surveillance towers, camera systems, ground sensors, radiation detectors, mobile surveillance systems, drones, helicopters, airborne radar systems, planes and ships.

(4) Implementing a system for all employers to verify electronically their workers' legal status.

(5) Setting up a new electronic system to track people leaving the nation's airports and seaports.

The border security improvements are designed to achieve 100 percent surveillance of the border with Mexico and ensure that 90 percent of would-be crossers are caught or turned back.

If the goals of a 90 percent effectiveness rate and continuous surveillance on the border are not met within five years, a Southern Border Security Commission made up of border-state governors and others would determine how to achieve them.

Border security spending in the bill totals around $46 billion.

PATH TO CITIZENSHIP

The estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally could obtain "registered provisional immigrant status" six months after enactment of the bill as long as:

(1) The Homeland Security Department has developed border security and fencing plans, per the specifications set out in the bill.

(2) They arrived in the U.S. prior to Dec. 31, 2011, and maintained continuous physical presence since then.

(3) They do not have a felony conviction or three or more misdemeanors.

(4) They pay a $500 fine.

People in provisional legal status could work and travel in the U.S. but would not be eligible for most federal benefits, including health care and welfare.

The provisional legal status lasts six years and is renewable for another six years for $500.

People deported for noncriminal reasons can apply to re-enter in provisional status if they have a spouse or child who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or if they had been brought to the U.S. as a child.

After 10 years in provisional status, immigrants can seek a green card and lawful permanent resident status if they are current on their taxes and pay a $1,000 fine, have maintained continuous physical presence in the U.S., meet work requirements and learn English. Also the border triggers must have been met, and all people waiting to immigrate through the legal system as of the date of enactment of the legislation must have been dealt with.

People brought to the country as youths would be able to get green cards in five years, and citizenship immediately thereafter.

HIGH-SKILLED WORKERS

The cap on the H-1B visa program for high-skilled workers would be immediately raised from 65,000 a year to 110,000 a year, with 25,000 more set aside for people with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering or math from a U.S. school. The cap could go as high as 180,000 a year depending on demand.

New protections would crack down on companies that use H-1B visas to train workers in the U.S. only to ship them back overseas.

Immigrants with certain extraordinary abilities, such as professors, researchers, multinational executives and athletes, would be exempted from existing green-card limits. So would graduates of U.S. universities with job offers and degrees in science, technology, engineering or math.

A startup visa would be made available to foreign entrepreneurs seeking to come to the U.S. to start a company.

A new merit visa, for a maximum of 250,000 people a year, would award points to prospective immigrants based on their education, employment, length of residence in the U.S. and other considerations. Those with the most points would earn the visas.

The bill would eliminate the government's Diversity Visa Lottery Program, which randomly awards 55,000 visas to immigrants from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States, so that more visas can be awarded for employment and merit ties.

LOW-SKILLED WORKERS

A new W visa would allow up to 200,000 low-skilled workers a year into the country for jobs in construction, long-term care, hospitality and other industries.

A new agriculture worker visa program would be established to replace the existing program. Agriculture workers already here illegally, who've worked in the industry at least two years, could qualify in another five years for green cards if they stay in the industry.

FAMILY IMMIGRATION

Under current law, U.S. citizens can sponsor spouses, children and siblings to come to the U.S., with limits on some categories. The bill would bar citizens from sponsoring their siblings and would allow them to sponsor married sons and daughters only if those children are under age 31.

Legal permanent residents can currently sponsor spouses and children, but the numbers are limited. The bill eliminates that limit.

EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION

Within four years, all employers must implement E-Verify, a program to verify electronically their workers' legal status. As part of that, noncitizens would be required to show photo ID that must match with a photo in the E-Verify system.

House conservatives generally oppose citizenship for immigrants living in the country unlawfully. Many also prefer a step-by-step approach rather than a comprehensive bill like the legislation the Senate passed Thursday on a bipartisan vote of 68-32.

Following the Senate vote, President Barack Obama, who's made an immigration overhaul a top second-term priority, called on the House to act.

"Today, the Senate did its job. It's now up to the House to do the same," Obama said in a statement issued as he traveled in Africa. "As this process moves forward, I urge everyone who cares about this issue to keep a watchful eye. Now is the time when opponents will try their hardest to pull this bipartisan effort apart so they can stop common-sense reform from becoming a reality. We cannot let that happen."

Members of the Senate's so-called Gang of Eight, the senators who drafted the bill and hoped a resounding vote total would pressure the House, echoed the plea.

"To our friends in the House, we ask for your consideration and we stand ready to sit down and negotiate with you," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said. "You may have different views on different aspects of this issue, but all of us share the same goal, and that is to take 11 million people out of the shadows, secure our borders and make sure that this is the nation of opportunity and freedom."

Meanwhile, Mexico welcomed the passage by the U.S. Senate of an immigration bill. But it also expressed concern that some of the security measures that form part of the reform could affect the relationship between the two countries.

The Foreign Relations Department said in a statement Thursday that approval of the bill could offer a chance for millions of Mexicans living in the United State to improve their lives.

At a news conference, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, made clear the House would not simply take up the Senate bill as some Democrats and outside advocates are calling for, but would chart its own legislation with a focus on border security. How exactly Boehner will proceed remained unclear, but the speaker has called a special meeting of his majority Republicans for July 10 to go over options.

"The House is not going to take up and vote on whatever the Senate passes. We're going to do our own bill," Boehner said. "It'll be legislation that reflects the will of our majority and the will of the American people."

The bill passed by the Senate devotes $46 billion to border security improvements, including calling for a doubling of the border patrol stationed on the U.S.-Mexico border and the completion of 700 miles of fencing  changes added at the last minute to attract Republican support. No one would be able to get a permanent resident green card until those border enhancements and others were in place.

The bill also makes it mandatory for employers to check their workers' legal status, sets up new visa programs to allow workers into the country and establishes new tracking systems at seaports and airports to keep better tabs on people entering and leaving the country.

At its contentious core, though, is a 13-year path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living in this country illegally.

Without such a provision, senators say the legislation could not pass the Senate. With it, its prospects are difficult in the House.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., predicted that the House might end up having to pass the Senate bill after failing to find any other avenue forward and feeling pressure from the public to act.

But that approach is strongly opposed by many conservatives. Boehner also dismissed the idea of relying on Democratic votes instead of a majority of his Republicans to pass an immigration bill.

At the same time Boehner said he hopes the bill will be bipartisan, and he encouraged a House group of four Democrats and three Republicans trying to forge a compromise to continue their efforts.

He offered no details on how a House bill could be both bipartisan and supported by more than half of his own rank and file, given that most of the single-issue immigration bills that have moved through the House Judiciary Committee recently did so on party-line votes over the protests of Democrats. None envisions legal status for immigrants now here illegally.

Boehner declined to say whether there were circumstances under which he could support a pathway to citizenship, but he made clear that securing the border was a priority.

"People have to have confidence that the border is secure before anything else is really going to work. Otherwise, we repeat the mistakes of 1986," he said, referring to the last time Congress overhauled the immigration system.

One option could be to bring up one or more of four narrowly focused immigration bills approved by the Judiciary Committee this week and last, hoping to pass it and use it as a vehicle for House members to enter into negotiations with senators on a merged bill in the fall or winter.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Opening the door for the town of Fremont to begin enforcing its law and offering implications for other cities with similar ordinances, a federal appeals panel on Friday upheld an eastern Nebraska city's ban on renting to people who aren't in the U.S. legally.

Fremont voters handily approved a measure in 2010 that bans hiring or renting to people who can't prove they are in the country legally.

Last year, U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp ruled that parts of the ordinance denying housing permits to those not in the country legally were discriminatory and interfere with federal law. But the city has been enforcing its requirement that businesses use federal E-verify software to check on potential employees.

On Friday, two judges of a three-member panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that reasoning, leading the majority to reverse the ruling and vacate the lower court's injunction against that part of the ordinance.

Judge James Loken wrote that the plaintiffs failed to show the law was intended to discriminate against Latinos or that it intrudes on federal law.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs said they will confer with their clients before determining whether to ask the full 8th Circuit to review to the case.

The ruling appears counter to decisions in other courts on similar local laws, said Aaron Siebert-Llera, an attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund who represented several U.S.-born Latino home renters and a Fremont landlord who challenged the ordinance.

Siebert-Llera noted that two other federal appeals courts ruled against the communities of Farmers Branch, Texas and Hazelton, Pa., which have similar laws targeting landlords and employers to dissuade them from renting to or hiring people in the country illegally. Both cities have appeals pending before the full federal circuit courts.

"You've got the U.S. Senate passing sweeping immigration reform. You've got this huge, nationwide change going on," he said. "Then you have a decision like this coming out."

The American Civil Liberties Union, which also sued over Fremont's ordinance, bashed the 8th Circuit opinion.

"The court majority failed to recognize that Fremont's attempt to exclude undocumented immigrants from the city's borders is not only un-American, it's unconstitutional," said Jennifer Chang Newell, an attorney for the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project.

Eighth Circuit Judge Steven Colloton agreed with the reversal and vacating of the injunction, but said the plaintiffs lacked standing in the case, meaning they did not show how they had been or could be harmed by Fremont's law.

Siebert-Llera took issue with that opinion, noting that one of the plaintiffs showed she was forced to buy a mobile home, because she could not find anyone who would rent to in Fremont.

In a dissent, Judge Myron Bright agreed with the lower court that parts of the ordinance interfere with federal law.

"The ordinance will impose a distinct burden on undocumented persons by preventing them from renting housing in Fremont," Bright wrote. "This denial of rental housing is paramount to removal from the city. And, as the Supreme Court has made clear, removal is entrusted exclusively to the federal government."

Kris Kobach, a Kansas attorney who represented Fremont and helped draft its ordinance and others around the country, lauded Friday's opinion and said it will have implications for both Farmers Branch and Hazelton as appeals courts look at their ordinances.

"And I think it has indirect implications for cities all across the country, and certainly cities in Nebraska, that may wish to take similar steps to stop the negative effects of illegal immigration," Kobach said.

Kobach said as soon as next week, the city will begin enforcing the part that requires all renters in the city to apply for an occupancy permit and denies those permits to people not legally in the country.

The ordinance stirred a whirlwind of controversy in June 2010, when roughly 57 percent of Fremont voters who turned up at the polls supported it. The measure catapulted the city into the national spotlight and spurred comparisons with Arizona and other cities embroiled in the debate over immigration regulations.

Fremont, about 35 miles northwest of Omaha, has seen its Hispanic population surge in the past two decades, largely due to the jobs available at two meatpacking plants just outside the city. Census data show the number of Hispanics soared from 165 in 1990 to 3,149 in 2010.

It's unknown how many immigrants not legally in the country may live in Fremont. According to census figures, 1,259 noncitizens live there, but that figure includes people living in the U.S. legally.

Fremont city officials declined to comment Friday, saying they wanted time to review the ruling.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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In light of the New York Federal Reserve president warning that Puerto Rico's economy has not tanked just yet, the island's legislators on Friday rushed to try to approve a budget.

The proposed $9.8 billion operating budget proposes a flurry of new taxes while seeking to boost the island's education system and rescue a crumbling public pension system. The local House of Representatives recently approved the budget, but is meeting again to evaluate several amendments that the Senate sought to add.

"We are facing a gradual fiscal deterioration that is affecting the capacity to generate needed revenue," reads a measure that legislators are reviewing. "The magnitude of the reality we're facing cannot be avoided."

Puerto Rico is struggling to emerge from a seven-year recession while trying to reduce a $1.2 billion deficit and $69 billion in public debt. The island of 3.7 million people also has a nearly 14 percent unemployment rate, higher than any U.S. state.

William Dudley, New York Federal Reserve president, said Thursday that the island's job situation has weakened.

"Puerto Rico's economy is not faring well at all," he said.

A further threat to the island's economy are thousands of government workers angered over the public pension reform who have said they plan to retire before it's approved. They recently filed a lawsuit claiming the reform was unconstitutional, but Puerto Rico's Supreme Court dismissed the case on Wednesday. Moody's ratings agency praised the ruling, which workers said they would challenge.

On Friday, the president of the Police Union claimed that hundreds of officers already have quit and that more will follow.

"This country will face a deep social crisis," Jose Marin said.

Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla has said there's an urgent need for the reform, which calls for increased employee contributions, a higher retirement age and reduced benefits and monthly pensions for certain workers.

Garcia has said he will seek upgrades from Moody's and other ratings agencies after the budget is approved. That could lower borrowing costs. The U.S. territory's general obligation bond debt is currently hovering above junk status.

Legislators say the proposed new taxes would generate nearly $1.4 billion in revenue. One tax alone is forecast to bring in $439 million as it targets companies making more than $1 million in sales.

Lawmakers also plan to increase corporate tax rates to 39 percent to help generate some $270 million.

But Sen. Tomas Rivera Schatz of the opposition New Progressive Party told reporters Friday that legislators from the governor's Popular Democratic Party "have not yet been able to match up the numbers properly."

"They are overestimating the amount of money they can generate," he said.

Puerto Rico resident commissioner Pedro Pierluisi also has warned that some of the new taxes will lead to higher-priced goods and dampen a push to create new jobs.

The proposed budget has to be approved before July 1 and is $65 million smaller than the one proposed by the governor. Anibal Jose Torres, spokesman of the governor's party, said he expects several measures that are still being debated to be approved by Sunday.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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The nomination of James Wally Brewster to become U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic was widely touted because he is openly gay.

He would become the seventh U.S. ambassador in history to be openly gay.

But religious groups in the conservative Caribbean country say they are outraged by Brewsters nomination  and they are asking the administration of Dominican President Danilo Medina to outright reject him.

Rev. Cristobal Cardozo, leader of the Dominican Evangelical Fraternity, said he worried about the message that Brewster's presence might send.

"It's an insult to good Dominican customs," he said.

Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez, president of the Conference of the Dominican Episcopate, echoed similar sentiments.

"You can expect anything from the U.S.," said Lopez, who is also the archbishop of Santo Domingo.

Meanwhile, Vicar Pablo Cedano criticized the nomination as "a lack of respect, of consideration, that they send us that kind of person as ambassador."

"If he arrives, he'll suffer and will be forced to leave," Cedano warned, without elaborating.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Daniel Foote said in a brief statement to reporters that Brewster was nominated because of his skills as an international businessman and his ideas on democracy and human rights.

"Brewster arrives as an ambassador, he's not coming here as an activist for the gay community," Foote said.

Local gay and lesbian activists condemned the outrage, saying the words of religious officials were filled with hate.

Nominating a gay man as ambassador should be viewed as normal, according to a statement by the umbrella nonprofit LGBT Collective.

The groups' stance "contrasts with the silence maintained by prelates and pastors when it comes to sexual assaults on children," said Leonardo Sanchez, of the nonprofit gay group Friends, Always Friends.

Officials with Medina's administration have declined to comment on the issue.

"It would be in bad taste for the state to comment on this nomination," said Cesar Pina, a judicial consultant to the presidency.

The debate comes as activists prepare for an annual gay pride parade scheduled for Sunday in the capital of Santo Domingo, which has hosted the parade for about a decade.

Brewster is currently a senior managing partner for the Chicago consulting firm SB&K Global. He also was a fundraiser for Obama and an inaugural committee contributor.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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If the immigration bill stands a chance of passing the House of Representatives, it cannot offer a pathway to citizenship, the House Judiciary chair said Sunday.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the Virginia Republican who leads the Judiciary Committee, said any comprehensive immigration reform approved by the House would not offer a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi said if Republicans let the bill die without passage it would doom the GOPs chances of ever winning the White House.

With last week's Senate passage of a comprehensive immigration bill, the emotionally heated and politically perilous debate is now heading toward the Republican-led U.S. House, where conservative incumbents could face primary challenges if they appear too lenient on the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.

Goodlatte said he does not foresee a proposal that could provide a simple mechanism for immigrants here illegally to earn full standing as U.S. citizens, as many Democrats have demanded. Goodlatte's committee has been working on bills that address individual concerns but has not written a comprehensive proposal to match the Senate's effort.

The House answer would not be "a special pathway to citizenship where people who are here unlawfully get something that people who have worked for decades to immigrate lawfully do not have," he said.

A pathway to legal standing, similar to immigrants who have green cards, could be an option, he added.

That approach, Pelosi said, would bring electoral doom for Republicans looking to take back the White House after the 2016 elections. Republicans, she advised, should follow the Senate lead "if they ever want to win a presidential race."

In 2012, Obama won re-election with the backing of 71 percent of Hispanic voters and 73 percent of Asian voters. A thwarted immigration overhaul could again send those voting blocs to Democrats' side.

"We wouldn't even be where we are right now had it not been that 70 percent of Hispanics voted for President Obama, voted Democratic in the last election," Pelosi said. "That caused an epiphany in the Senate, that's for sure. So, all of a sudden now, we have already passed comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate. That's a big victory."

The Senate bill would provide a long and difficult pathway to citizenship for those living in the country illegally, as well as tough measures to secure the border. Conservatives have stood opposed to any pathway to full citizenship for those workers, and House lawmakers have urged a piecemeal approach to the thorny issue instead of the Senate's sweeping effort.

Illustrating the strong opposition among conservative lawmakers in the House, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., said flatly: "The Senate bill is not going to pass."

Bowing to those pressures, House Republicans have said they would consider each piece of immigration separately as they tried to navigate the politically dicey subject that could complicate not only their efforts to reclaim the White House but also thwart incumbent GOP lawmakers' attempt to win re-election.

House Speaker John Boehner has ruled out taking up the Senate bill and said the Republican-controlled chamber would chart its own version of the legislation with a focus on border security.

In the Democratic-controlled Senate, 14 Republicans joined all Democratic senators and independents in the 68-32 vote.

Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee and an author of the current Senate immigration bill, nodded to the politics.

"Republicans realize the implications of the future of the Republican Party in America if we don't get this issue behind us," he said.

That now falls to Boehner's chamber, where conservatives in his party have complicated his agenda on other subjects  few with such long-term implications as immigration.

Republicans and Democrats alike were watching Boehner's next move.

"I'm hopeful that we can convince our House colleagues," McCain said. "I believe that Speaker Boehner has a tough job ahead. I admire his leadership. But we've got a lot of work to do."

If it fails, Democrats stood eager to blame Boehner and his party for a generation.

"Will he allow a small group, maybe even a majority of his caucus, to control the debate and the future on this issue?" asked Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. "If he decides to do that, we will then end in a stalemate and an impasse once again."

But an immigration bill could be trouble for Boehner's rank-and-file members.

"They fear Republican primaries from the right if they vote yes," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

But Democrats were unlikely to help them find a compromise, added Schumer, who helped write the Senate bill.

"No Democrat will vote for any bill without a path to citizenship," Schumer said.

"So within several months, Speaker Boehner will find two choices: no bill or let a bill pass with the majority of Democratic votes and some Chamber of Commerce-type of Republicans," he added.

Goodlatte and Gutierrez spoke to CNN's "State of the Union." Pelosi was interviewed on NBC's "Meet the Press." Gowdy, McCain and Schumer were on "Fox News Sunday."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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At a time when thousands of Hondurans end up detained by U.S. border agents after crossing the Rio Grande, the country is joining McAllens Embassy Row when it opens a new diplomatic outpost in the border city, according to The Brownsville Herald.

The newspaper said that since Oct. 1, Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley Sector arrested roughly 20,000 Honduras who entered the United States illegally.

The Guatemalan government also has a consulate in McAllen, the largest city in the Valley, a 120-mile-wide region that is the deepest portion of southern Texas along the Mexico border.

According to the Herald, the reason Honduras felt compelled to open a new consulate in the region is due to the significant uptick in arrests and deportations of Hondurans.

Unlike Mexicans, other nationals don't have the option to sign "voluntary departure" forms and be swiftly deposited back on the Mexican side of the border. Non-Mexicans have to be formally processed for deportation, a process involving the diplomatic intervention of their home governments, who have to officially accept deportees from the U.S.

Besides McAllen, Honduras also is opening another diplomatic outpost in Dallas, the newspaper quoted Karol Escalante, an official at the Honduran Embassy in Washington, as saying.

Diplomats from Honduras, Guatemala and Honduras assigned to the region certainly have their hands full. Deportation requires that countries of origin provide identification and travel documents.

The newspaper noted that in the last fiscal year, the Rio Grande Valley Sector had nearly 100,000 arrests, 50 percent of which involved nationals from countries other than Mexico, or "OTMs," primarily from Central American countries.

Central Americans have always represented the largest population group of OTMs other than 2006, when we had an influx of Brazilian nationals here, said Rosendo Hinojosa, chief of the Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley sector.

Weve already apprehended more OTMs this year than we did the entire year last year, Hinojosa said.

Guatemala opened a consulate in the area in 2011.

A lot of people from Guatemala use this border to cross and enter the United States, said Alba Caceres, the Guatemalan consul in McAllen.

The newspaper said that in the last calendar year, the Guatemalan consulate processed almost 11,000 travel documents for deportations and made arrangements for the remains of 29 dead migrants to return home.

With about 10,500 travel document requests and 22 deaths during the past six months, both numbers could double, if the pace does not slow, the newspaper said.

McAllen Mayor Jim Darling said that local consulates can help the city build ties with Central America.

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Eric Garcetti celebrated the start of his first term as mayor of the second largest city in the U.S.

At 42 years old, Garcetti is now the youngest mayor in the history of the city of Los Angeles in over a century.

An Ivy Leaguer, veteran city councilman and son of a former prosecutor, Garcetti took a ceremonial oath of office on the City Hall steps Sunday as part of inaugural festivities featuring Jimmy Kimmel and the musician Moby.

Officially, he takes over the job leading a sprawling city of nearly 4 million people on Monday.

"These times demand a back-to-basics mayor focused above all else on our economy and jobs," Garcetti said in a speech punctuated by optimism and recognition of a tough job ahead.

"We have to accept that the days of seemingly spontaneous growth in huge mega-industries are gone, maybe for good," he said.

He replaces fellow Latino and Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa, 60, who exits after two uneven terms during which he expanded rail lines in a city notoriously choked by cars and pushed to improve a school district over which the mayor has no direct control.

Garcetti sketched an agenda that included cultivating ideas with business executives and universities, stopping the flight of Hollywood productions and reducing red tape and business taxes long seen as discouraging job growth.

"You'll have a local government that's off your back and on your side," he promised.

The new mayor takes charge of a city with problems all too familiar: knotted freeways, an unemployment rate hovering around double digits, many struggling schools, battered roadways.

The lingering homeless problem was on display just steps from the podium, where park benches were occupied by sleeping bodies.

Garcetti has long said he will focus on the economy "like a laser beam" and try to recover jobs lost in the recession. His goals range from getting all city workers to contribute to costly health care to dealing with long-standing gripes about potholes and cracked sidewalks.

In a historical footnote, Garcetti becomes the city's first elected Jewish mayor. His background reflects the city's diversity: he often refers to his Italian and Mexican roots, and talked in the speech about family members fleeing persecution in Poland and Russia to come to the U.S.

Garcetti has a temperate, wonky style  he was a Rhodes Scholar, after attending Columbia University  that will be a change from Villaraigosa, who was known for his outsized personality and ability to make headlines about his nightlife and dating.

It was Kimmel who brought the laughs, at one point blaming Villaraigosa's administration for the unusually hot weather.

It also will be a generational change. Garcetti is just a few years older than Villaraigosa's eldest daughter.

Garcetti was elected with a yawn from most residents  not even one in four voters cast a ballot in his May runoff against Controller Wendy Greuel. Los Angeles is known for mostly ignoring the scrum of local politics.

That means he takes office with many residents having no idea who he is.

Garcetti was able to defeat Greuel, a fellow Democrat, by depicting her as a pawn of utility union bosses in a city long friendly to labor, an outcome expected to echo beyond California as unions nationwide face threats to their clout.

The budget remains a central issue, though he didn't address it directly. He promised to make government "leaner and more efficient," including using more technology.

Bankrupt Stockton and other California cities are in worse shape, but spending in Los Angeles is projected to outpace revenue for years and rising pension and retiree health care bills threaten money that could otherwise go to libraries, tree-trimming and street repairs.

He's also facing a new round of labor contract talks.

"I will make my share of mistakes in this job," he said at one point.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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The majority in the House Democratic caucus have publicly expressed their displeasure in the Republican piecemeal approach to immigration and their pointed omission of any legalization path for the 11 million immigrants living here unlawfully.

Privately and pragmatically, Democrats recognize that the GOP's strategy may be their only route available to a historic policy change.

"House Democrats want to get this done," said Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, a second-generation Mexican-American. "We want to get immigration reform done in 2013 and it's on Republicans now who run the show in the House of Representatives to figure out how to work with us to get this done."

Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who controls the agenda in the Republican-led House, has said flatly that lawmakers will not consider the bipartisan, Senate-passed bill with the promise of U.S. citizenship for millions and billions of dollars in new spending for more border security. That leaves Democrats with few options in their quest for the most sweeping immigration changes in a generation and a chance to deliver on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

The question of process and strategy is nettlesome for Democrats, but the single-issue bills pushed by Republicans represent the most expedient path to negotiations with the Democratic-controlled Senate and a chance for final, comprehensive legislation.

Publicly, Democrats are adamant.

"Piecemeal is no deal. Piecemeal is a deal-breaker," said Rep. Al Green, D-Texas.

But Democrats left the Capitol for their July 4th recess this week determined to rally support for immigration legislation and willing to support the single-issue bills as long as it gets them to talks with the Senate. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who spoke privately with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi last Friday made clear they wouldn't back the stand-alone GOP bills if Republicans expected the Senate to act on each one individually, a surefire path to legislative oblivion.

Rewriting the nation's immigration rules is far more than an abstract policy debate for many House Democrats who are first- and second-generation Americans. The issue is a chance to pay tribute to grandparents and parents who sought and found opportunity in the United States.

These minorities add up to a majority in the Democratic caucus to pressure party leaders. Their presence also creates a pronounced racial and political divide in the House, where the large Republican caucus is overwhelmingly white and male, and underscores the difficulties for immigration legislation.

Of the 201 Democrats, less than half are white men while 41 are blacks, 25 are Hispanic and nine are Asian. There are 60 Democratic women. Of the 234 Republicans, 207 are white men, eight are Hispanic, two are native Americans and 19 are women. There are no black House Republicans.

After last year's elections, Pelosi boasted about the numbers, saying it "reflects the great diversity and strength of our nation." Within the caucus she leads, the numbers add up to a force that can't be ignored.

"We have leverage," said Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., a member of the Asian Pacific American Caucus and the grandson of Japanese immigrants who spent the first few years of his life at a Japanese-American internment camp in Colorado during World War II.

The Democrats have tried unsuccessfully to change or scuttle the individual bills from the House Judiciary Committee, none including a path to citizenship and several they've described as mean-spirited.

One provides for a crackdown on immigrants living in the United States illegally. Another sets up a temporary program for farm workers to come to the United States, but without the opportunity for citizenship that the Senate-passed measure includes.

A third, which drew several Democratic votes, requires establishing a mandatory program within two years for companies to verify the legal status of their workers. The Senate bill sets a four-year phase-in, although supporters of the legislation have also signaled they are agreeable to tighter requirements. A fourth House bill increases the number of visas for highly-skilled workers, also a feature of the Senate bill.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, rejected a "special pathway to citizenship" to immigrants living in the country illegally, but indicated that he would be receptive to a path to legalization.

Outside groups recognize the political headwinds and are simply pressing for a vote.

"There's a lot of different ways they can get to an outcome on immigration reform and the fact is we can't pretend to be able to control the process. But what we can say is that we want a vote. Just vote on something," said Janet Murguia, president of National Council of La Raza.

"We know that if there is a bill that is voted on in the House of Representatives it will be conferenced with the Senate bill, so just vote on something and let the conference be the place where we can negotiate the differences. ...But for us, give us a vote. We deserve a vote."

Democrats cast the issue as a moment in history for Boehner, with nothing less than the future of the Republican Party at stake in national elections. The Hispanic population in the United States is up 65 percent since 2000, with millions of new voters who delivered a shellacking to the GOP in last year's presidential election.

GOP Nominee Mitt Romney's defeat was blamed in part on his 27 percent of the Hispanic vote.

"It's an existential dilemma for the Republicans," said Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. "The folks in gerrymandered (House) districts can just say no, but if they want to have any national future, the adults in the room have to say yes."

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., motions toward the portraits of past speakers lining the hallway outside the House chamber and asks, "What's the point of having the job and the title if you're not going to do something with it?"

"Immigration reform is one of the top three or four issues in the country and will affect the next generation of Americans and it can't continue to be ignored," he said.

If Congress is unable to produce immigration legislation, Democrats are certain to blame the GOP and look to capitalize politically, not only with Hispanics but independent voters frustrated with the gridlock.

Asked if failure was a winner for Democrats, Connolly said, "We all presume so. In the short run that's less clear than in the long run."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Relatively few immigrants have availed themselves of in-state tuition measures that have passed in their state, Politico is reporting.

At the University of Connecticut, which has about 18,000 students, for example, slightly more than 30 undocumented students have enrolled, the website said.

Some states report that only a few dozen students have enrolled in public colleges since they passed the law  which allows undocumented immigrants to attend at rates charged to other residents  and others report about 200, Politico said.

One of the key reasons for the underwhelming response to the change in laws is that while they reduce the tuition for undocumented immigrants from out-of-state to in-state rates  in most cases slashing the fees in half  the students remain ineligible for government-subsidized financial aid, experts said.

Some states wonder whether there will be an effect on other students, Tanya Broder, an attorney with the National Immigration Law Center, was quoted as saying by Politico. And the state isnt really cheated out of revenue because the number of students affected is small. In each state, its just a few dozen or few hundred undocumented immigrant students.

Proponents of in-state tuition laws argue that young undocumented immigrants who were brought as minors should not be penalized for the decisions of their parents to live illegally in the United States.

Several bills in Congress have sought to give these immigrants a path to legalization on that principle, but have failed.

Were already investing in these children, and if we drop them out of the system, thats a lost investment on our part, said California state Sen. Ricardo Lara, according to Politico. Because guess what? Theyre not going back to a country that they dont know.

President Barack Obama last year issued an order giving the immigrants deferred action, which protects them from deportation for two years  or until 2014  and allows them to obtain work permits and Social Security numbers.

Opponents of in-state tuition laws have argued that they give people here illegally a privilege denied to people who are here legally but who live in other states. They say it is wrong to expect a legal resident to pay twice the cost of someone who lives in the state, while allowing people who are here illegally to pay the lower rate.

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Rick Perry, Texas' longest-sitting governor and former presidential candidate, said Monday that he would not seek re-election.

But Perry did not rule out running for president again in 2016, keeping speculation about that alive for now.

Perry was a champion of fiercely conservative social activism long before the tea party was born. He oversaw the "Texas Miracle" job-creation boom and became the most powerful Texas governor since Reconstruction.

But nationally, Perry is better known for his 'oops' presidential debate brain freeze or for not opposing forcefully enough the notion that Texas could secede from the union. For many outside the Lone Star State, he's a political punch line on par with Dan Quayle  if he's known at all.

"The time has come to pass on the mantle of leadership. Today I'm announcing I will not seek re-election as governor of Texas," Perry said Monday. "I will spend the next 18 months working to create more jobs, opportunity and innovation. I will actively lead this great state. And I'll also pray and reflect and work to determine my own future."

But with another presidential run being speculated, Perry may first need to concentrate on rebuilding his tattered image with non-Texans.

"He's starting behind the eight ball," said South Carolina-based Republican operative Hogan Gidley, an adviser to former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee  both unsuccessful presidential hopefuls who have remained national conservative forces.

Perry never lost an election during his 27-year political career and became a near-instant front-runner when he strapped on his signature cowboy boots and strode into the race for the GOP presidential nomination in August 2011.

But his White House run flamed out spectacularly, culminating in a debate in Michigan where Perry remembered that he'd pledged to shutter the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Education but forgot the third one, the Department of Energy. Quipped late-night comedian Jimmy Fallon: "It turns out George Bush was actually the smart Texas governor."

It wasn't the first time Perry's mouth had gotten him into trouble. Ending a television interview in 2005, Perry smirked at the camera and signed off: "Adios, mofo."

Asked about secession after a tea party rally in April 2009, Perry quipped: "If Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what may come out of that?"

Those incidents, however, did little to lessen Perry's influence in Texas, where he is considered the most powerful governor since the Civil War.

Perry, who took office when then-Gov. George W. Bush left for the White House in December 2000, set the tone for his tenure the following June  vetoing more than 80 bills in what became known in Austin as the "Father's Day Massacre." Since then, he vetoed scores of other would-be laws, including a $35 billion public education budget and a ban on executing mentally disabled inmates.

But most of Perry's power has come from his sheer longevity. He remained in office long enough to tap loyalists  and sometimes even his top donors  to every major appointed post statewide.

"He's made the state into his personal fiefdom," said Matt Glazer, a Democratic consultant and head of the liberal advocacy group Progress Texas. "Nationally, that evaporates and you have voters who are more sophisticated."

Still, Gidley and others note that Perry has been successful at appearing regularly on national television  even attracting a great deal of media attention in his recent job-poaching tours of California, Illinois and New York as he tried to convince firms to relocate to Texas.

Perry also still has his TV anchorman good looks  he's often dubbed "Governor Good Hair." He has been a ferocious fundraiser buoyed by both grassroots activists and mainstream Republicans while presiding over a flourishing Texas economy.

"So many people are supporters and are going to stay supporters," said Roy Bailey, a Dallas businessman who has been a top Perry fundraiser.

Perry has been a leading voice on many social issues conservatives hold dear, including states' rights, relaxed environmental regulations, strict abortion limits and opposition to gay marriage.

An Eagle Scout, Perry urged the Boy Scouts not to accept openly gay youngsters. The governor, an avid defender of gun rights, once produced a laser-sighted pistol from his running shorts and shot a coyote while jogging in rural Austin.

Under him over the past decade, Texas has created a third of the net new jobs nationwide, and Perry credits the state's relaxed regulatory climate and limits on civil lawsuits. But critics point out consequences of little oversight, such as the lightly-regulated fertilizer plant that exploded in April in the town of West, killing 15 people.

Perry detractors also note that the governor opposes expanding Medicaid coverage in Texas  a centerpiece of the White House's health care reform law  even though his state has the highest rate of people without medical insurance in the country.

As an example of just how powerful Perry has become in his home state, Glazer noted his veto last month of funding for Texas' ethics-enforcement unit, which investigates wrongdoing by public officials. The governor said he was doing so because the district attorney in charge, Rosemary Lehmberg, had refused to resign following her conviction for drunk driving.

Glazer pointed out that the unit was investigating the embattled Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, an agency which has faced a criminal investigation into an $11 million grant that was given to a private company without the proper review process  and amid questions about whether Perry donors were involved.

Perry first won a seat in the Texas Legislature as a Democrat in 1984, when Texas was still reliably blue. As the state turned deeply red, Perry shifted too. Democrats have not captured a statewide office in nearly 20 years.

The opposition party insists, though, that a booming Hispanic population means it's only a matter of time before Texas switches back  a notion Perry has dismissed as a "pipe dream."

It didn't look so far-fetched last week, however, when Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis was on her feet for 12-plus hours as Democrats used the filibuster to help block sweeping new restrictions on abortion in Texas. The filibuster made Davis a national political sensation, prompting many supporters to urge her to run for governor next year.

Perry's response was swift. He not only immediately called lawmakers back to work for an extra special session to approve the law, he also suggested Davis should have understood the value of each human life because of her history as a former teenage mother who went on to graduate from Harvard Law School.

"What if her mom had said, "I just can't do this. I don't want to do this?," Perry asked. "At that particular point in time I think it becomes very personal."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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COLUMBUS  Yara Ramos Hernandez describes herself as adventurous.

She often strapped on a backpack to go traveling with friends in her native Cuba, where the group would raft or take part in other outdoor activities. She also packed up and moved from her home country to the Dominican Republic for 10 years.

When she came to America almost four years ago, Ramos Hernandez kept that daring spirit and had a goal of using her years of experience as a multidisciplinary designer to start her own business.

Fear did creep in, though. There was so much to learn.

I think every designer dreams of having their own business," Ramos Hernandez said. "All my life I was working as a freelance. I was too afraid when I arrived here to the country to start a new business because of the laws. Everything is different and in a different language.

She knew enough English to hold conversations but wanted to improve her language skills, so she reached out to the Platte Valley Literacy Association. She also received help through the Columbus Area Business Incubator Center, which provides assistance for startup businesses.

While she was getting her bearings and learning more about the culture and what she needed to open her own business, Ramos Hernandez worked various jobs at the local Cargill plant and The Columbus Telegram. She currently works as an industrial graphic and web designer at MasterCare Patient Equipment.

About two years ago she got her own business, Havana Stone, off the ground.

Named after Ramos Hernandez's hometown, Havana Stone offers graphic and web design, industrial design and 3-D modeling services.

Ramos Hernandez, who has a degree in graphic and industrial design from Cuba, has done work for a variety of clients, including Minute Smiles, PVLA, Paradise Dance Club and Wakefield Filtration. Examples of her work hang on the walls at the Havana Stone office in the Business Incubator Center at 1415 17th St. They're also on her website, havanastone.com. There are computer-generated images of architectural projects, promotional brochures, posters and website designs.

She hopes to branch out more in the community and state to help businesses with brand identity and marketing.

Operating her own business is an opportunity she said wouldnt have happened if she hadnt come to America. She chose to come to Columbus with her daughter and mother because her brother was already living here.

Ramos Hernandez is working toward becoming a United States citizen and is currently a permanent resident of the country.

She enjoys being a graphic designer because every project is an adventure and something new.

When you are a designer, you learn a lot about everything," she said. "Every project is an opportunity to learn new things. If you make a project about a hospital, you learn about medicine. If you make a project for a locomotive industry, you learn about that. At the same time, being creative is a way of expression, too. I can express myself through my work and fulfill a clients needs."
A House Homeland Security Committee hearing scheduled for Tuesday afternoon is proceeding without one of the most crucial people  Argentinas government prosecutor  who had been invited to testify.

The committee asked the prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, to testify about the role of Iran in a 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires. Committee members said that Nismans investigation of the attack had uncovered a 2007 plot by Iran to blow up John F. Kennedy airport.

But Nisman informed the committee, which is holding the hearing to look at Irans influence in South America, that Argentinas attorney general had denied him permission to attend, seeing no real purpose to his traveling to the United States to testify.

Nisman, however, added that investigations of the 1994 bombing conducted by his staff had pointed to involvement by the Iranian government.

The thorough investigationallowed me to establish the responsibility of the highest authorities of the Republic Islamic of Iran at the time of the AMIA bombing, for having ordered and planned the terrorist attack that killed 85 people and injured more than 200, which was executed by the terrorist organization Hezbollah, and hence formally indict them for this heinous crime.

Nismans absence at the hearing prompted the committee chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican, and Rep. Jeff Duncan, South Carolina Republican, to issue a press release expressing exasperation.

The release included excerpts from a letter that McCaul and Duncan sent to Argentina President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner assailing the decision to keep Nisman from testifying at the hearing.

Concern about Irans presence in Latin America goes back several years.

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican, has raised concern about the growing relationship.

Over the last few years Tehran has increased its subversive actions and diplomatic and economic relations with radical regimes in Latin America, she wrote in an editorial for Fox News Latino in January. Last year, [Iran President] Ahmadinejad made two visits to the region in an attempt to gain support from like-minded tyrants, such as the Castros in Cuba, Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, Correa in Ecuador, Chavez in Venezuela, and Evo Morales in Bolivia."

President Barack Obama signed the "Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act" into law last year in an effort to assess Iranian-related threats in Central and South America. Concern over Iran in South America hit a threshold in October 2011, when the Justice Department filed charges that revealed a failed plot by Iranian officials to use a Mexican drug cartel to assassinate a Saudi diplomat in Washington.

Iran has established six embassies in Latin America since 2005, bringing the total to 11, and has built 17 cultural centers in the Western Hemisphere.

Some analysts, like Larry Birns, director of The Council on Hemispheric Affairs, are skeptical about claims of Iranian terror infiltration in South America because of a lack of evidence.

According to Birns, the 1994 attacks in Argentina are the "closest we've come" to hard evidence of Iranian meddling. Still, he said, there are real reasons for Iran to be interested in South America.

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The grounding of Bolivian President Evo Morales plane last week in Vienna continues to cause an uproar throughout the international community and has created a backlash over allegations that the United States ordered the move amid suspicions that National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden was on board.

The Organization of American States adopted a resolution Tuesday that condemned the incident and declared solidarity with Morales, who blamed Washington for pressuring European countries to refuse to allow his plane to fly through their airspace. Bolivia asked the OAS for the measure along with both Venezuela and Nicaragua, two nations that have offered Snowden asylum.

"It is very clear that this is an event that goes beyond the explanations that have been given here," said OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza in a press release. "With all due respect to my European Observer friends, with all the affection that we have for them, there is a serious matter here that has not been clarified."

Spain, France, Portugal and Italy all closed their airspace to Morales plane, which was on its way back from Moscow where the Bolivian leader was meeting with Russian officials.

While Spain said it gave Morales plane the go-ahead to fly over the Iberian peninsula after receiving assurance that the NSA leaker was not on board, the European nations foreign minister did admit that a U.S. request had led it to delay approving the over flight. Spain also issued a curt apology to Bolivia for the international gaff.

If any misunderstanding has taken place, I don't have any objection to saying sorry to President Morales," said Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, according to Al Jazeera.

The OAS resolution came on the same day that the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke out against the incident, saying it was important to prevent them in the future and that a head of state should enjoy immunity and inviolability in such instances.

The UN and OAS statements are only the latest in a series of angry comments against the rerouting of the flight, which has soured relations between the United States and many Latin American nations. Along with the UN and OAS declarations, leaders from Ecuador, Uruguay, Bolivia, Venezuela and Suriname held a special meeting of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) last week in Cochabamba, Bolivia to discuss the situation.

The international community is justifiably outraged, said Eric Hershberg, the director of Latin American studies at American University. Time and time again the United States has bullied the region with the attitude that its my way or the highway.

Some experts, however, argue that Latin Americas irritation over the grounding is absurd, given that Morales openly stated while in Russia that he would grant asylum to the NSA whistle-blower.

Morales told Russian television last week that Bolivia is ready to give political asylum to the people who expose spying activities and was willing to enter into discussions with Snowden.

Its unfortunate what happened to Morales, but he very flippantly said he would give Snowden asylum, said Chris Sabatini, the senior policy director at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. A more polished leader or delegation wouldnt do something like that.

Sabatini called the whole incident a huge waste of time as there are a number of other issues more important to Latin American nations, such as the peace negotiations in Colombia and the NSA spying scandal that erupted over the weekend in Brazil.

Brazilian newspaper O Globo reported that information released by Snowden showed Brazil and Colombia are top targets in Latin America for the NSA's massive intelligence-gathering effort aimed at monitoring communications around the world.

Brazil and Colombia are responding to this situation in a much better way than other countries by approaching a much more serious problem, Sabatini added.

Both Morales grounding and the NSA spying revelations have worsened relations between the U.S. and Latin America, which despite promises of improvement under the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has remained stagnant.

While the protests against the grounding are largely for domestic opinion, there will be no long term problems between these countries and the U.S. over the issue, Hershberg said. The big question is, Does the region see the U.S. as a partner who wants to work with Latin America on equal terms? From what is going on now, the evidence seems to indicate otherwise.
House Republicans will be dealing with immigration reform Wednesday, weeks after the Senate passed a measure that some conservative members have vowed not to rubber-stamp.

As the House GOP prepares to meet Wednesday to debate the way forward on immigration, many lawmakers seem to be gravitating toward offering legal status of some kind for millions here illegally. But exactly what and how are far from clear.

For some, a guest worker status would be as far as it goes, while others are leaving open the possibility that once they're in the country legally, immigrants eventually could attain citizenship through existing channels of family or employer sponsorship. Still others are focused on citizenship for people brought to the country as youths, military veterans and perhaps others who've lived in the country for years and proven their contributions to society.

But with Democrats demanding nothing less than a straightforward if lengthy path to citizenship, like the provision in the Senate-passed immigration bill, it's questionable whether a compromise could get to President Barack Obama's desk.

"I do think there's a will to act. But the margin isn't huge in the House on the GOP side," said Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who chairs the House Judiciary immigration subcommittee. Without Democratic support, "it's a very small number you can lose."

Republicans control 234 House seats and Democrats 201. Passing legislation requires a majority vote of 218 if all members are voting.

The immigration bill passed last month by the Democratic-controlled Senate, with the backing of the White House, would spend $46 billion on border security, create new legal avenues for workers to come to the country, require employers to verify their workers' legal status and offer eventual citizenship for those here illegally.

After months of delicate closed-door negotiations, the legislation passed on a bipartisan 68-32 vote. The calculus in the Republican-controlled House is more complex and daunting.

Many of the conservatives who wield power in the House are in districts with few Hispanic voters and are thus insulated from much of the pressure to act on immigration. Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, already has rejected the idea of bringing the Senate bill to the House floor. He has pledged that no legislation will move without the support of a majority of his Republicans.

Like many in his conference, Boehner has said border security must come first. And many Republicans prefer a piecemeal, step-by-step approach, rather than a single big bill like the one the Senate passed.

But for many, the most vexing issue is what to do about those who are already in the U.S. illegally.

The Senate bill offers a 13-year path for most, contingent on paying fines, learning English and meeting other qualifications. People brought to the United States as youths and agriculture workers would have a faster route.

House Democrats met Tuesday with the Senate Democratic authors of the bill and emerged to declare that nothing short of that would suffice.

"America has stood for citizenship," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. "We have a Statue of Liberty here. It never has said you come here and you'll be second class. We will not stand for it. It will not happen."

Obama also has said he would not sign a bill without a path to citizenship.

Several House Republicans said Tuesday that such demands may mean Democrats end up with no bill at all.

"That means that Schumer does not want immigration reform," said Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho. "If it's full path to citizenship or nothing else, it means that he's not willing to work with Republicans who are willing to do something a little bit less than that, that actually gets us to having an immigration reform bill, and I think that's unfortunate."

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney fared abysmally with Hispanic and Asian voters last year after suggesting that people in the country illegally could "self-deport." Such suggestions have been heard rarely among Republicans since Romney's loss. But there is a hardcore group in the House that opposes any legal status for people here illegally.

"I'm not going to support any kind of legalization because legalization is amnesty, is eventual citizenship if not instantaneous citizenship, and if we do that we get more law breakers," Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, said.

More commonly, House Republicans voice support for some kind of earned legal status for people here illegally and, from there, perhaps the eventual possibility of citizenship. Many would start with allowing people to work here legally after paying fines and back taxes and meeting certain qualifications.

"I wouldn't prohibit forever" people from getting citizenship, said Rep. James Lankford, R-Okla. "I'm a Christian, and restitution and reconciliation's a big deal. If you do something illegal or inappropriate you should be able to resolve that, face the penalty, clear it and be forgiven."

Some House Republicans say that not all of those here illegally who are offered citizenship will act on it. A Pew Hispanic Center study in February said that of 5.4 million immigrants from Mexico who are eligible to become U.S. citizens, only 36 percent had taken the step. Across all immigrant groups, 61 percent of those eligible have achieved citizenship.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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She was co-chair of President Obamas re-election campaign and his inauguration this past January.

Shes on a presidential commission that is pushing for the establishment of a museum dedicated to Latinos in U.S. history.

She has charities dedicated to improving life for disabled children, education for Latinos, and business opportunities for Latinas.

And she is one of the most high-profile non-politician advocates for immigration reform.

All this while being a successful actress and executive producer.

Eva Longoria is, indeed, one of a rare breed that has become nearly as much of a force in politics and social issues as in Tinseltown.

Show your connection to us. You were raised in an environment similar to many Latinos. Talk to us like you're talking to family.  Eva Longoria, speaking to President Obama

A telling moment of her clout in the White House, for instance, arose last year, when in a private meeting with Obama and some Latino leaders, she pushed for a program to help keep deportation at bay for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States by their parents.

When Obama cited Congress as the reason the DREAM Act, a measure to give such immigrants a path to legal status, was not moving forward, Longoria stopped him in his tracks, according to an account in The Wall Street Journal.

To the surprise of several people present, Ms. Longoria persisted, the Journal story said.

Longoria told the president that he had to take a step, even without Congress, to help such immigrants.

"Show your connection to us," Longoria said, according the newspaper. "You were raised in an environment similar to many Latinos. Talk to us like you're talking to family."

Those who were present described the exchange as nothing less than breathtaking.

"It was a powerful moment, San Antonio businessman Henry Munoz was quoted in the newspaper as saying. Eva is disarming because she's petite and beautiful, but the president respected her forceful advice."

Not long after the meeting, Obama announced a plan to offer undocumented immigrants brought as minors a two-year reprieve from deportation. The so-called deferred action program also allowed those who qualified the chance to get work permits.

Her ascent in both Hollywood and Washington D.C. is remarkable; her beginnings were humble.

Longoria, the daughter of Mexican-American parents  a teacher and an Army engineer  grew up in Corpus Christi, Tex.

I took out loans to pay for school, she proudly recalled during her speech at the Democratic National Convention last year. Then I changed oil in a mechanic shop, flipped burgers at Wendys, taught aerobics and worked on campus to pay them back.

Longoria graduated in May with a Master's degree in Chicano Studies that she had been pursuing over the past three years at California State University.

For her diploma, she wrote a thesis entitled "Success STEMS From Diversity: The Value of Latinas in STEM Careers." STEM is the acronym for science, technology, engineering and math.

Those who have had a ringside seat to her rise still marvel over it.

Im a little in awe in terms of how shes transformed herself, said Marc Cherry, a Hollywood producer, to The New York Times.

She was just an actress that had done a couple of prime-time shows and had done some daytime, said Cherry, who chose Longoria about a decade ago for the television hit Desperate Housewives.

At some point she blossomed into this spokeswoman for the Latin community, as someone who was involved in political issues, meeting the president, going to the White House, Cherry said. I became super impressed with her decision to lead a more meaningful life than your typical Hollywood actress.

Like most people who rise high, and stick their necks out, Longoria has attracted controversy.

Her new television series, Devious Maids, of which she is executive producer and which features scheming Hispanic housekeepers, has drawn criticism from some Latinos who say it exacerbates stereotypes.

Longoria has balked at the criticism, saying that being a housekeeper is a reality for many Latinas.

Even though this show may not be your experience, she told The New York Times, it is a lot of peoples experience. [Latinos are] over-index in domestic workers: that is a fact, thats not an opinion.

Last year, it was a tweet about GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney that got her in trouble with his supporters, including fellow entertainer comedian Paul Rodriguez.

The actress retweeted a tweet that read: "I have no idea why any woman/minority can vote for Romney. You have to be stupid to vote for such a racist/misogynistic tw*t."

She later deleted the retweet and apologized.

In an interview with Fox News Latino, Rodriguez, who was featured by the Romney campaign in an ad, said about the tweet: "When it gets personal. . . it goes below the belt.

Some Latino leaders would like to see Longoria throw her hat into the political ring someday.

But she has said she is not interested.

I dont need to be appointed or elected, she said. You think Hollywood is nasty? Try D.C.

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The future of immigration reform remains unknown, but from the first signs of life of debate on the issue in the GOP-led U.S. House of Representatives, people better think twice if they thought it would get solved relatively quickly.

In fact, some speculate the matter could linger for months.

House Republicans streamed out of a two-hour meeting on Wednesday embracing a step-by-step approach on immigration and offering no mention of possible citizenship for an estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country unlawfully.

GOP lawmakers are also offering neither specifics nor a timetable as to win their bill will be unveiled though Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he wants the House to pass legislation on the subject before lawmakers go home for a four-week break over August, beginning with a measure to toughen border security.

He has also said he won't put any bill on the House floor that doesn't have the support of at least half of the GOP rank and file, a pledge that only increases the challenge for Democrats and others who want to give a chance at citizenship to millions now in the country illegally.

Boehner and other Republican leaders said in a statement the administration "cannot be trusted to deliver on its promises to secure the border and enforce laws as part of a single, massive bill like the one passed by the Senate."

GOP lawmakers shrugged off a long-distance nudge from former President George W. Bush, who called on Congress to reach a "positive resolution" on the issue.

"America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time," Bush said at a naturalization ceremony at his presidential library in Dallas.

"We care what people back home say, not what some former president says," declared Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan.

President Barack Obama is to meet Thursday with two authors of the Senate measure, John McCain, R-Ariz., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in the Oval Office.

The Republican meeting in the Capitol was arranged as a listening session for the House GOP, their first such session since the Senate approved far-reaching legislation last month on a bipartisan vote of 68-32.

Lawmakers said afterward there was support for a bill to create a path to citizenship for immigrants who were brought to the country as children illegally by family members, an idea advanced by Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia.

Several members of the rank and file said Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., had made a particularly strong appeal for a comprehensive approach, which includes possible citizenship for the 11 million.

But others emphasized there was virtually no support for the Senate's approach of one sweeping measure that dealt with immigration in all its forms.

And there is no clear timetable.

"I don't sense any urgency," said Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana. Rep. Peter King of New York said that if any legislation came to the floor for a vote this month, it would deal only with border security.

Other lawmakers said even that approach raised concerns. Dealing with border security, they said, could lead to negotiations with the Senate that could morph into a compromise granting citizenship for some of the immigrants in the country illegally. They sought and received assurances from Boehner that he wouldn't let that happen, according to Rep. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota.

Boehner had said he wants the House to pass legislation on the subject before lawmakers go home for a four-week break over August, beginning with a measure to toughen border security.

He has also said he won't put any bill on the House floor that doesn't have the support of at least half of the GOP rank and file, a pledge that only increases the challenge for Democrats and others who want to give a chance at citizenship to millions now in the country illegally.

In explaining their piecemeal approach, Boehner and fellow GOP leaders said the administration's recent decision to postpone a key element of the health care law shows it can't be trusted to carry through on commitments, such as the one in the Senate immigration bill requiring the borders to be secured before a path to citizenship is opened.

Unlike the comprehensive, bipartisan bill that cleared the Senate last month, the House Judiciary Committee has cleared four smaller measures in recent weeks, none of which would include the possibility of citizenship.

One would toughen enforcement of immigration laws and includes a provision that would permit local police officers to enforce such laws as part of an attempt to raise the number of deportations.

Other measures would create a new mandatory system for employees to verify the legal status of their workers, create a new temporary program for farm workers and expand the number of visas for employees in technology industries.

By contrast, the Senate bill would increase border security, provide a pathway to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million immigrants illegally in the country, expand the highly skilled worker program and set up new guest worker arrangements for lower-skilled workers and farm laborers.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Despite his lyrics, Jay-Z wont be smoking Cubanos with Castro in cabanas anytime soon if the House of Representatives has any say in it.

In the wake of Jay-Z and Beyonces trip to Cuba earlier this year, Republicans in the House Appropriations Committee helped pass earlier this week a spending bill with a provision that seeks to further tighten travel restrictions to the communist island.

This is the Jay-Z, Beyonce Bill, Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.), a member of the committee who opposes the provision, told POLITICO. Absolutely [its a response to the trip], and its playing to the audience in Miami.

Republicans have the majority of support among the conservative Cuban population in southern Florida, which is a powerful voting bloc in the perennial swing state of Florida.

The so-called Jay-Z, Beyonce provision is part of a larger $17 billion financial services spending bill for funding in a number of agencies such as the Treasury Department, which approved the celebrity couple's trip to the island. GOP lawmakers, however, argued that the Cuba travel policy is too broad and should be limited to educational trips related to academic learning for a degree-earning program.

I think that if were going to say that we have this policy in place that relates to travel in Cuba that it ought to be enforced and that becomes a gray area where theyre probably not really following the guidelines, Subcommittee Chairman Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) told POLITICO.

The celebrity couple's trip, which was for the pairs five-year wedding anniversary, set off a heated debate in the spring about travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens, with everyone from President Barack Obama to Cuban rappers weighing in on the issue.

U.S. citizens are not allowed to travel to Cuba for mere tourism, though they can obtain licenses for academic, religious, journalistic or cultural exchange trips. The so-called people-to-people licenses were reinstated under the Obama administration and are designed to help promote civil society and independence from Cuban authorities.

But the U.S. government tightened requirements to obtain the licenses last year after Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, criticized the programs as cover-ups for tourism. Rubio derided groups that were granted licenses for activities such as salsa dancing and a trip to the Cuban Ministry of Culture.

The U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued new rules last May that required travel operators to provide detailed information on every aspect of their trip.

Many Americans have tried to get around the regulations, traveling to Cuba via other countries, such as Mexico and Canada. Often, Cuban immigration officials at airports do not stamp Americans passports to help them avoid problems once they return to the United States.

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After four years in office, President Barack Obama has failed to reach a deal on immigration  and that has left the president looking for a big summertime achievement.

Obama is still in search of a marquee legislative accomplishment to mark his second four years. And now that there is growing uncertainly over a sweeping immigration overhaul measure, he seems to be reaching for another legislative breakthrough.

His advisers now concede that their best shot at changing the immigration system might come in the fall, after lawmakers return from their August recess. But that could be a long shot during a period already crowded with other issues.

During the autumn months, Obama's administration will be dealing with one of the most challenging aspects of the historic health care overhaul  signing up millions of Americans for insurance coverage. And if that's not enough, Obama also will be locked in an unexpected battle over domestic food aid  while working through budget disputes with Congress as the new fiscal year looms in October and the government approaches its borrowing limit. Then there's overseas turmoil in Egypt and Syria.

"He has a Herculean task ahead of him," Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, the past chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said hours after he and other black lawmakers met with the president this week. "I am convinced he is fully aware of the difficulties in his path, difficulties that could reduce his legacy."

Before his re-election, Obama liked to tell supporters that a second term would "break the fever" with Republicans, arguing that they no longer would need to routinely block his agenda because he wouldn't be seeking election again. By last month, that optimism was gone.

"When it comes to doing the things that need to get done, we're just not getting a lot of cooperation from the other side," he grumbled to donors at a June fundraiser in Palo Alto, Calif.

Republicans maintain that Obama's initiatives simply go further than they are willing to go. On immigration, many oppose a path to citizenship for immigrants illegally in the United States  a key provision in the overhaul Obama seeks.

"No one expected that postelection everything would be easy, that all the historic, huge differences between the parties on the big issues would all go away," said senior Obama adviser Dan Pfeiffer.

On immigration, he says that "there are some serious challenges in the way, but six months in and having a bill through the Senate with a bipartisan majority is historically rapid progress."

Still, White House aides had argued that a solid bipartisan vote on immigration in the Senate would give the legislation momentum through the House. Two weeks ago, at a news conference in South Africa, Obama called on the House to act before the August recess. "Now is the time," he declared.

House Republicans ignored him, saying they would not take up the Senate bill and would instead tackle immigration in a piecemeal way. "I'm much more concerned about doing it right than I am in meeting some deadline," House Speaker John Boehner said.

That decision put a sizable question mark over one of Obama's biggest second-term priorities.

"This is going to be a tougher fight than people had anticipated," said Simon Rosenberg, president of NDN, a Democratic-leaning Washington think tank and a longtime advocate of overhauling immigration laws. "It could go on for six months; it could go on for the next couple of years."

Some Obama allies fear that failure to win on immigration  an issue many believed was ripe for change after last year's elections  will simply embolden his opponents. Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat, said it "could conceivably wound the president in a way that would make the next three years move very, very slowly and painfully."

Others are still upbeat.

"It's an important moment that could help him if something gets done, if not in his timeline, in the near future," said Patrick Griffin, who handled legislative relations for former President Bill Clinton.

As significant as the immigration legislation may be, Obama is treading carefully, wary of alienating Republicans. He has faced some pressure to speak out more forcefully and to use the power of his office to give immigration the visibility he has given to past clashes with Congress over taxes and student loans.

"Every situation is different," David Plouffe, Obama's former top political adviser, said after visiting the White House this week. "Some have called for more of an approach that is geared to the outside. I think you have to wait and see how this develops."

While White House aides and advisers believe Republicans will inflict long-lasting political damage on their own party if they continue to block a comprehensive immigration bill, those advisers say Obama is not ready to hit the road and wage a full-throated partisan fight.

"We're doing meetings, we're talking to folks, we're behind the scenes at every step," Pfeiffer said. Asked when the pressure might mount, he said: "There might be a moment where the hammer comes out. But we're not there yet."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Tom Perezs political future has been in limbo for months.

Though none other than the leader of the free world wants him on his team, the former high-ranking Justice Department administrator still has no idea if hell become the next Labor Department secretary.

President Obama went before the nation, staring into cameras to explain why the former director of the civil rights department at the Justice Department is qualified for and deserves to be part of his second-term cabinet.

Yet the potential appointment has remained just that  a potential appointment. But after not hearing a peep since his Senate confirmation hearing in April, Perez is expected to get an answer next week.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, is expected to call for a cloture vote for Tuesday. Assuming that goes through, a final vote on the Perez nomination would likely come on Thursday.

The issue is a sensitive one for the nations top Latino community leaders, who have publicly  albeit diplomatically  criticized the president for the lack of diversity in his second-term cabinet, particularly with Hispanic appointments.

In his first term, Obama had two Latino cabinet members  Hilda Solis as Labor Secretary and Ken Salazar in charge of the Interior Department. National Latino leaders had expected Obama to keep at least two for his second term, but so far there have been none.

Perez  assuming hes actually confirmed, no guarantee  would become the sole Hispanic cabinet member.

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, an umbrella group incorporating the nations largest Latino rights group, has led the effort for Perezs appointment. With the confirmation hearing scheduled for next week, NHLA is making a final push.

Tom Perez is on the verge of making history as the first Dominican American Cabinet-level appointee in the nation, the organization told supporters in an email sent on Thursday.

Hector Sanchez, executive director of NHLA, in an interview with Fox News Latino in May, when the group last met with President Obama to discuss various key issues including cabinet appointments, said that he was skeptical of the president's commitment.

He said he expressed to the president his disappointment with the dearth of Latinos in the cabinet.

I put it on the table, diplomatically, Sanchez said in May, about asking Obama about Latino appointments. There was no response.

It seemed like deja vu for another leading Latino group after a meeting with the president.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus huddled with President Obama on Wednesday to discuss immigration reform and other key topics.

Kristian Ramos, a spokesman for the group made up of several Hispanic members of Congress, all Democrats  declined an interview about the meeting, and in particular whether the issue of Latino cabinet appointments was discussed.

Ramos sent out a statement, detailing various topics taken up, from immigration to Obamacare to the Supreme Court decision impacting voting rights.

There is no daylight between the CHC and the Administration on this issue, according to the statement, referring to immigration reform and in particular support for maintaining a path to legalization for the nations estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants.

Ramos said the CHC would not comment on anonymous comments allegedly made by a Caucus member regarding the issue of Latino cabinet appointments.

According to The Hill, a newspaper for political junkies in Washington, Caucus members actually criticized the president for not having more Latinos in top posts.

Obama told the lawmakers during Wednesdays meeting that he heard they had taken one of his staffers to task on the issue, according to the report in The Hill. But the president didnt provide much reassurance about appointing more Hispanics to his administration, one attendee said.

Almost as if echoing Hector Sanchezs words after his own meeting with the president, one CHC member said the president was not very responsive when the cabinet appointment issue was raised.

He stepped around it, an unidentified CHC member told the publication.

Melody Gonzalez, whose task at NHLA is tracking Latinos nominated for federal posts and advocating for them, said there's still a chance President Obama could appoint more Latinos to remaining cabinet posts. The group has said Latinos would deserve to get three appointments, though such a scenario is highly unlikely.

They will also get behind non-cabinet high-profile nominations, such as Katherine Archuleta for director of the Office of Personnel Management, as well as Alejandro Mayorkas for deputy secretary at the Department of Homeland Security.

But for now, she said, the focus is on putting all effort into backing Perez for Labor secretary.

"We're hearing some Senators want to filibuster the appointment," said Gonzalez. "We want them to know we're watching closely and will not tolerate any attacks against (Perez)."

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Highly sensitive U.S. military equipment stored in Libya was stolen over the summer by groups likely aligned and working with terrorist organizations, State Department sources told Fox News -- in raids that contributed to the decision to pull Special Forces personnel from the country.

The stolen equipment had been used by U.S. Special Forces stationed in the country. Lost in the raids in late July and early August were dozens of M4 rifles, night-vision technology and lasers used as aiming devices that are mounted on guns and can only be seen with night-vision equipment.

"This stuff is how we win wars. The enemy doesn't have that," one source said.

The overnight raids happened at a military training camp run by American Special Forces on the outskirts of Tripoli, in the weeks before the team was pulled from the country in August.

That U.S. team was funded by the Department of Defense Section 1208, which provides support to assist and stand up foreign counterterrorism forces in other countries. And in the case of Libya, the trainers were also tasked with hunting down the Benghazi attack suspects that killed four Americans one year ago. As Fox News previously reported, members of that team are leaving Libya.

"The loss of this military equipment is what pulled the plug on the U.S. operation," one source with direct knowledge of the events told Fox News. "No one at the State Department wanted to deal with the situation if any more went wrong, so State pulled its support for the training program and then began to try and get the team moved out of the country."

The 12-member American team was not at the training camp when either raid occurred, as they regularly stayed at a nearby villa that served as a safehouse at night.

Located just outside of Tripoli, the camp was supposed to be secured each night by Libyan forces. But on two occasions, the camp was attacked and raided by either militia members or groups affiliated with terrorist organizations.

The training and the stolen equipment was provided by American forces and thus paid for by U.S. taxpayer dollars.

The raids and stolen equipment quickly caused a rift among U.S. Special Forces, Libyan military leaders and ultimately the U.S. State Department.

"They didn't want anything to go wrong and they didn't want to take the blame. Sensitive items were taken," one source said. "Bad guys can now shoot people at night with no signature."

Meanwhile, in response to an exclusive Fox News report last month about the trainers being pulled from Libya, multiple Pentagon officials claim that the 1208 trainers whose camp was raided were not there to track the Benghazi suspects.

That wasn't their mission, according to these officials. However, special operators in the region and State Department sources insist that the Pentagon is playing with words -- and while the Libya training mission was important, it was partly a cover for U.S. operations in Libya to hunt down those responsible for killing Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others.

Fox News reported earlier this year that U.S. forces had identified suspects by the end of November 2012, and reported on their whereabouts to the U.S. Libya Chief of Mission at the time William Roebuck last January -- and that same information was passed along to military leaders, yet no action was taken.

Operators in the region sat in de facto standby for months, despite eventual charges filed by the Justice Department.
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The Environmental Protection Agency issued major new regulations for the mining industry on Friday, sparking the ire of Republican congressional leaders.

The agency issued the rules under a court settlement with environmental groups, which Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, called "more of the same special interest handouts from this administration."

The proposed regulations would force owners of hardrock mines to demonstrate their ability to pay for the cleanup of toxic substances that result from metal and mineral mining under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. Mining companies would not be permitted to abandon their facilities and leave the cost of cleaning up the mines to taxpayers, the EPA said.

"Far too often the American people bear the costs of expensive environmental cleanups stemming from hardrock mining and mineral processing," said Mathy Stanislaus, the head of EPA's land management office. "This proposed rule, once finalized, would move the financial burden from taxpayers, and ensure that industry assumes responsibility for these cleanups. The proposed rule would also give companies an economic incentive to use environmentally protective practices that can help prevent future releases."

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Former President Bill Clinton mocked President-elect Donald Trumps intelligence, said angry, white men helped secure his victory and blamed FBI Director James Comey for Hillary Clintons November defeat during a spontaneous Q-and-A at a New York bookstore earlier this month.

An unidentified editor at the Bedford-Pound Ridge Record Review happened to be present at the impromptu session and revealed the details in an editorial in the papers print edition. The editorial did not appear online but the contents were reported by Politico.

He doesnt know much, Clinton said when asked if Trump was smart. One thing he does know is how to get angry, white men to vote for him.

CLINTON ADVISERS POINT FINGER AT HUMA, INNER CIRCLE

Clinton placed the blame for his wifes defeat squarely at the feet of Comey, who announced 11 days before the election that the FBI was reviewing newly discovered emails for any ties to the investigation of Hillary Clintons secret server. Comey told Congress two days before the election the FBI didnt find any new evidence.

James Comey cost her the election, Clinton said during the lengthy discussion.

Clinton also said he believed the allegations that Russia was responsible for a series of pre-election hacks that revealed embarrassing  and politically damaging  acts by some prominent Democrats associated with Hillary Clintons campaign.

You would need to have a single-digit IQ not to recognize what was going on, Clinton said.

He also disputed that Trump won in a landslide, with a likely 306 electoral vote tally.

Landslide? Clinton asked. I got something like 370 electoral votes. That was a landslide. (Clinton earned exactly 370 electoral votes during his 1992 presidential election win).

Clinton said Trump called him the day after the election and, the Record Review editor wrote, Clinton appeared incredulous about Trump's cordial tone so soon after the contentious 2016 campaign.

Like it was 15 years ago, Clinton said.

Trump reportedly told Clinton his wife was tougher than I thought shed be.

Asked if President Obama should make a recess appointment of Hillary Clinton to the Supreme Court, Clinton said he didnt think the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee would want the gig.

The Man from Hope apparently offered little optimism, telling the crowd they were living in a post-truth era where facts dont matter.

One woman reportedly told Clinton her 6-year-old child has asked to go to sleep for four years when he found out Trump won.

No, we cant go to sleep, Clinton said. We need to stay active.
China is expected to return a U.S. Navy drone it seized in international waters by Tuesday, two U.S. defense officials told Fox News  a transfer that could help smooth over a significant dispute between the two militaries.

The transfer will take place in the "vicinity" of Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, the body of water where the drone originally was taken.

A U.S. Navy warship, likely a guided-missile destroyer, will be present to accept the underwater drone. The Pentagon calls the machine an "ocean glider," an unclassified system used to map the sea floor and collect ocean data.

Officials said the same Chinese ship that stole the drone, Dalang III, will return it to the U.S. government. There is no immediate indication the American underwater research drone ever left the Chinese ship.

Chinas seizure of the drone prompted a formal objection from the U.S. government last week, which led to discussions about the return of the drone.

Amid those conversations, President-elect Donald Trump also weighed in, first blasting China on Twitter for stealing the drone and ripping it out of the water  and later saying: We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it!

The Chinese defense ministry said over the weekend it took the drone to ensure safe navigation of passing ships.
While many of Hillary Clintons top advisers have focused their post-presidential election fury on blaming alleged Russian interference and FBI Director James Comey for Clintons loss, some in the so-called Hillaryland orbit are looking inward, including pointing fingers at Clintons most-trusted aide: Huma Abedin.

The real anger is toward Hillarys inner circle, a Clinton insider told Vanity Fair for a Wednesday feature on Abedin. They reinforced all the bad habits.

One of the most important people in that inner circle was Abedin, 40, who has been by Clintons side since she was a White House intern during President Bill Clintons tenure. The email trove hacked from Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta and posted on WikiLeaks shows Abedin, the estranged wife of disgraced ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner, as an important resource for the campaign. The vice chair of the Clinton campaign, Abedin offered guidance on Clintons probable thoughts regarding upcoming events, meetings and calls before the requests ever made it to the Democratic presidential candidate. While her fingerprints dont often appear on policy issues, she weighed in with authority on most other matters.

ABEDIN CLAIMS SHE NEVER RECEIVED FBI WARRANT

Clinton was known to keep an extremely small and tight-knit group around her, and, indeed, during the 2016 primary and presidential campaign, the core group  including Campaign Manager Robbie Mook, Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri, adviser Cheryl Mills, Podesta and Abedin  never changed.

One Clinton insider, however, said the closeness of that group also created problems, prompting dismissive answers when new ideas that originated outside the circle were suggested, Vanity Fair reported.

Where in most presidential campaigns the circle grows broader and broader, hers grew smaller and smaller, a source told Vanity Fair.

A spokesperson for the Clinton campaign disputed that notion to Vanity Fair and said the campaigns plane seated up to three times as many people during the run-up to the November vote. Abedin declined to be interviewed for the feature.

Abedins proximity to Clinton  and in turn the limelight  also created another issue, according to some observers.

She was enjoying the red carpet and enjoying the photo spreads much too much in my opinion, one Clinton insider told Vanity Fair. She enjoyed being a celebrity too much.

Though Abedins next move seems to be in limbo now that Clintons political career appears to be over, she was recently spotted at Clintons Thank You holiday party for top-tier donors on Thursday and then at an after party with fellow attendees Mick Jagger and Reese Witherspoon, The New York Post reported.

Maybe Im just p----- off, but I really dont give a s--- about what happens to Huma to be honest with you, one close adviser to Clinton told Vanity Fair.
Donald Trump won the Electoral College vote on Monday and secured his election as the 45th president of the United States, as the latest  and perhaps last  stop-Trump movement failed to gain traction in state capitals.

A fervent push by anti-Trump forces to persuade electors to defect had turned the normally mundane civic procedure into high drama.

But Trump easily surpassed the 270 electoral votes needed to win, as representatives tabbed to cast ballots in accordance with their states Nov. 8 decision mostly adhered to the election results. After all the states had voted, Trump finished with 304 votes and Clinton had 227.

Texas put Trump over the top, despite two Republican electors casting protest votes.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence afterward tweeted "congratulations" to his running mate while saying he was "honored & humbled" to be officially elected the next vice president.

Republican National Committee Co-Chair Sharon Day urged Trumps detractors to stop fighting his election, now that his victory is affirmed.

This historic election is now officially over and I look forward to President-elect Trump taking the oath of office in January, she said in a statement. For the good of the country, Democrats must stop their cynical attempts to undermine the legitimacy of this election, which Donald Trump won decisively in the Electoral College with more votes than any Republican since 1988.

Elector antics were few and far between throughout the day, with most the disruptions occurring on the Democratic side. A Democratic elector in Maine tried to vote for Sen. Bernie Sanders, but switched to Clinton after it was ruled improper. Another who tried to vote for Sanders in Minnesota was replaced; a Colorado elector who tried to back Ohio Gov. John Kasich likewise was replaced. One of the biggest deviations was in Washington state, where three electors voted for Colin Powell and one voted for Faith Spotted Eagle; the remaining eight went to Clinton, the states winner.

It marked the first time in four decades the state's electors broke from the popular vote. Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman vowed to work with the state attorney general and charge the four unfaithful electors with a violation of Washington state civil law. Such violations carry a fine up to $1,000.

With Trumps win now secured, a joint session of Congress is scheduled for Jan. 6 to certify the results.

Trumps clear Electoral College victory could serve to deter any further last-ditch efforts to effectively nullify his November win and prevent his inauguration, though the battle may shift next to his Cabinet picks.

Few expected the faithless elector push to imperil Trumps victory on Monday.

Only one Republican elector  Texas Chris Suprun  publicly stated he would vote for an alternative candidate. (He backed Kasich, while another Texas elector used his ballot to vote for former congressman Ron Paul.) More than three dozen Republicans would have had to abandon Trump to complicate his path to the presidency.

But GOP electors still faced immense pressure -- with some even receiving threats -- from Trump foes in the run-up to Mondays Electoral College vote. Those urging disorder in state capitals often cited Clintons popular-vote win, by roughly 2.6 million votes, over Trump in November.

Celebrities made public appeals to electors to use the arcane process to upend Trumps victory, as some Democratic electors tried to persuade their Republican counterparts to defect. Reports that U.S. intelligence officials determined Russia interfered in the election to boost Trump  findings disputed by Trump himself  only fueled efforts to wield the Electoral College vote as a political circuit-breaker.

As electors met, thousands of protesters descended on state capitals Monday in one last push to convince Trump voters to change their minds.

In Arizona, dozens of protesters gathered outside the meeting site, marching around the Capitol mall and carrying signs that said, "Stop Trump." More than 200 demonstrators gathered at Pennsylvania's Capitol, chanting, "No treason, no Trump!"

Both states, and dozens of others, cast their electoral votes for Trump anyway.

In Mississippi, Gov. Phil Bryant dismissed attempts to sway Republican electors.

"This idea  that we want to change the electors minds who have been dedicated to Donald Trump very early in the process I think is just misguided, he said.

If nothing else, the furor over Mondays proceedings has served to re-acquaint Americans with a process that few pay attention to every four years.

The Electoral College was devised at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It was a compromise between those who wanted popular elections for president and those who wanted no public input.

The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

To be elected president, the winner must get at least half plus one -- or 270 electoral votes. Most states give all their electoral votes to whichever candidate wins that state's popular vote. Maine and Nebraska award them by congressional district.

After a joint session of Congress certifies the results on Jan. 6, the next president will be sworn in on Jan. 20.

Trump already is nearly done naming his Cabinet appointees, as he prepares for confirmation hearings and the inauguration ceremonies, in addition to his first 100 days agenda.

Despite the transition process being well underway, Republican electors said they were deluged with emails, phone calls and letters urging them not to support the billionaire businessman in the days and weeks leading up to Mondays proceedings. Many of the emails were part of coordinated campaigns.

"The letters are actually quite sad," said Lee Green, a Republican elector from North Carolina. "They honestly believe the propaganda. They believe our nation is being taken over by a dark and malevolent force."

Wirt A. Yerger Jr., a Republican elector in Mississippi, said, "I have gotten several thousand emails asking me not to vote for Trump. I threw them all away."

Arizona elector Robert Graham told Fox News on Saturday that the states 11 electors received hundreds of thousands of emails telling them not to vote for Trump and that hes received information that some of the other 10 have been followed or have received a death threat.

Its out of hand when you have such  a small group of people that is pushing so hard against millions if not hundreds of millions of people who still appreciate this whole system, said Graham, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party. The Electoral College is part of the Constitution.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A federal judge on Monday ordered the release of the search warrant the FBI used to reopen their probe into Hillary Clintons private email server days before the November election.

U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel ruled Monday morning that the public had a right to see the warrant, which he said was secretly filed with the court on Oct. 30.

The search warrant, the application for the search warrant, the affidavit in support of the application for the search warrant, and the search warrant return will be unsealed and posted on the Court's electronic case filing system subject to redactions, Castel said in his order.

The Justice Department may seek to block the release before a federal appeals court.

The court dispute concerns the warrant agents used to get access to emails stored on a computer belonging to Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of top Clinton aide Huma Abedin.

FBI Director James Comey jolted the presidential race on Oct. 28 when he informed Congress that agents would be digging through the cache of emails between Abedin and Clinton for any new evidence related to Clinton's handling of sensitive State Department information.

Two days before the Nov. 8 election, Comey announced the inquiry had uncovered no new evidence of wrongdoing. Some in Clintons inner circle have blamed Comey for her loss, while President-elect Donald Trumps advisers charge theyre making excuses.

The court documents are now set to be unsealed at noon Tuesday, with portions blacked out to conceal the names of the agents. The judge also ordered the redaction of any information about an open investigation of Weiner's online correspondence with a teenage girl.

Agents initially seized the computer in connection with that investigation.

Weiner, a Democrat, resigned his seat in Congress after sexually explicit texts and social media posts to various women. He tried for a political comeback two years later by running for mayor of New York, but his campaign was undone when evidence emerged that he hadn't given up his sexting habit.

Federal authorities began investigating him in late September after an online news outlet, the Daily Mail, published an interview with a North Carolina girl who said she had exchanged sexually explicit messages with him over several months.

Randol Schoenberg, a Los Angeles lawyer who specializes in recovering works of art stolen by the Nazis, petitioned the court to make the search warrant and supporting documents public.

In his order, Castel said public interest in the case overrode any privacy considerations.

"Ordinarily, a person whose conduct is the subject of a criminal investigation but is not charged with a crime should not have his or her reputation sullied by the mere circumstance of an investigation," he wrote. But in this instance, he said, the fact that the FBI investigated Clinton is hardly secret. "She has little remaining privacy interest in the release of the documents identifying her as the subject of this investigation."

Fox News Bill Mears and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Sunday said she regretted her controversial tarmac meeting with former President Bill Clinton this summer while the FBI was still investigating Hillary Clintons use of a secret server for her emails during her tenure as secretary of state.

While Lynch has never portrayed the June 27 Phoenix meeting as anything other than a cordial encounter, the lengthy tete-a-tete onboard Lynchs plane immediately raised questions about whether she  or the Justice Department  could be impartial in the Hillary Clinton investigation. Just days later, FBI Director James Comey called Hillary Clintons actions extremely careless but declined to recommend charges.

I wish I had seen around that corner and not had that discussion with the former president, as innocuous as it was, because it did give people concern, Lynch said on State of the Union. It did make people wonder, Is it going to affect the investigation thats going on? and thats not something that was an unreasonable question for anyone to ask.

TRUMP: LYNCH-CLINTON MEETING 'OPENED UP A PANDORA'S BOX'

Asked why Clinton sought out the meeting with Lynch, the outgoing attorney general declined to speculate.

Well, I cant say what President Clinton saw or thought because I wasnt in communication with him before that, Lynch said. I dont know what was in his mind.

Lynch played off the length of the conversation  reported to be around 45 minutes  as being a by-product of Clintons loquaciousness. She joked with host Jake Tapper that Clinton is a talker.

And our conversation went on a lot longer certainly than I had anticipated, because it was just going to be Hello, how are you? and everyone was just going to go on about their evening, Lynch said.

But Lynch acknowledged the perception created by the private summit was a problem. Republicans frequently brought up the meeting and President-elect Donald Trump made it a staple of his stump speech as the November presidential election approached.

I do regret sitting down and having a conversation with him because it did give people concern, Lynch said. And as I said, my greatest concern has always been making sure people understand the Department of Justice works in a way thats independent and looks at everybody equally. And when you do something that gives people a reason to think differently, thats a problem. Its a problem for me. It was painful for me.

Three days after the meetings, amid mounting questions, Lynch tried to take herself out of the equation, saying on July 1 that she would accept whatever recommendation career prosecutors and Comey made regarding bringing charges.
President Obama on Monday pardoned 78 people and granted another 153 commutations, amounting to the most acts of clemency granted by a U.S. president ever in a single day.

White House Counsel Neil Eggleston announced the decisions in an official blog post. He described all the individuals being pardoned or seeing their sentences shortened as deserving.

The 231 individuals granted clemency today have all demonstrated that they are ready to make use  or have already made use  of a second chance, he wrote.

He also previewed additional clemency decisions in the weeks ahead, saying: I expect that the President will issue more grants of both commutations and pardons before he leaves office.

The decisions could fuel criticism from the right, following a presidential campaign in which winner Donald Trump hammered a law-and-order message and suggested authorities were too soft on crime.

But Obama has been granting commutations at rapid-fire pace in his final months in office, focusing primarily on shortening sentences of those convicted of drug offenses rather than pardons.

Pardons amount to forgiveness of a crime that removes restrictions on the right to vote, hold state or local office, or sit on a jury. The pardon also lessens the stigma arising from the conviction.

Eggleston said Obama has now pardoned a total of 148 people during his presidency and has shortened the sentences of 1,176 people, including 395 serving life sentences.

Eggleston said each clemency recipient's story is unique, but a common thread of rehabilitation underlies all of them. Pardon recipients have shown they have led a productive and law-abiding post-conviction life, including by contributing to the community in a meaningful way, he said.

The commutations were announced as Obama vacations in Hawaii during the holidays.

Many of those on Obamas list Monday had been sentenced on drug-related convictions. Groups that have urged the president to use his clemency powers cheered the decision, urging him to go further in the waning days of his administration.

As the clock counts down on the Obama administration, the need for commutations of these non-violent drug offenders -- and many more like them -- is more important than ever, Jessica Jackson Sloan, national director of #cut50, said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
In this photo made Wednesday, June 26, 2013 in Dorset , Minn., Jeannette Dudley, co-owner of Dorset House Family Restaurant, poses by the ballot box at the window of her restaurant in the Dorset mayor race. Bobby Tufts, the 4-year-old mayor, is running for re-election. Bobby was only 3 when he won election last year as mayor of Dorset (population 22 to 28, depending on whether the minister and his family are in town). Dorset, which bills itself as the Restaurant Capital of the World, has no formal city government. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen)
The video of what is believed to be the first sighting of the rare ghost shark went viral Sunday after scientists discovered the creature swimming in the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii in 2009.

It took researchers seven years to come to the conclusion that what was captured on film was in fact a pointy-nosed blue blue ratish Hydrolagus trolli otherwise known as a ghost shark.

WILDLIFE OFFICIALS: VIDEO CAPTURES POSSIBLE 2ND JAGUAR IN US

Scientists won't be able to positively confirm what species the shark is without bringing one to surface.

The footage was released by the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in late October.

Scientists noted that the shark is native to the Southern Hemisphere, notably Australia, New Zealand, Africa and South America.

'MYTHICAL' SEA BLOB FINALLY SPOTTED A CENTURY AFTER ITS DISCOVERY



Similar looking, but as yet unidentified, ghost sharks have also been seen off the coasts of South America and southern Africa, as well as in the Indian Ocean, Monterrey Bay Aquarium Research Institute spokeswoman Kim Fulton-Bennett said in a statement.

Researchers discovered the creature by mistake. Dave Ebert, the program director of Pacific Shark Research Center at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories told National Geographic on Sunday that geologists were actually doing the research.

Normally, people probably wouldnt have been looking around in this area, so its a little bit of dumb luck, he said.

The group sent an underwater remote vehicle 6,700 feet down into the Pacific Ocean and accidentally bumped into what is believed to be a ghost shark.

The ghost shark, also known as a chimaera, has dead eyes, winged-fins and a retractable sex organ located on its head.

Click for more from National Geographic.
Giant fossilized teeth from extinct megalodon sharks may have inspired portrayals of a primordial sea monster in Mesoamerican creation myths, according to a new study of the concepts of sharks in ancient Mayan society.

The study looked at how the Maya combined a practical, prescientific knowledge of sharks with their traditional understanding of the world around them as the creation of gods and monsters.

In the research paper, titled "Sharks in the Jungle: real and imagined sea monsters of the Maya," published online Nov. 21 in the journal Antiquity, Sarah Newman, an archaeologist at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, wrote that fossilized teeth from the extinct shark species Carcharodon megalodon were used in sacred offerings at several ancient Mayan sites, such as Palenque in southern Mexico, where archaeologists have found 13 megalodon teeth. [See Photos of Megalodon Sharks and How They Inspired Mayan Myths]

Giant megalodon sharks were apex predators of the world's oceans from around 23 million years ago until 2.6 million years ago. Their teeth, jaws and vertebrae have been found at many sites in Central America.

Newman said ancient Mayan depictions of a sea monster named "Sipak"  also known as Cipactli (which translates to "Spiny One") to the Aztecs of central Mexico  have a single giant tooth that bears a strong resemblance to the fossilized megalodon teeth from sacred offerings found at Mayan sites.

"Mayan iconography is notoriously difficult to piece out, but you can see [the monster] is a fairly realistic representation of a shark with a bifurcated tail, and it has jagged jaws  but it does have that one central tooth," Newman told Live Science. "And the tooth has the same mark on it that the Maya used to indicate materials like jade  so it's telling you that it's hard and shiny, the way that a fossil would be also."

Sea monster myths

In some Mayan creation myths, the shark-like sea monster Sipak is killed by a god or mythical hero who forms the land from its carcass, Newman said. The motif of a single giant tooth also appears in portrayals of other Mayan gods , including a depiction of the sun god at El Zotz, in the Mayan heartlands of the Peten Basin, now in northern Guatemala.

The Mayan word for sharks and other fearsome sea monsters, "xook," was also adopted by several Mayan kings and queens  for example, Yax Ehb Xook ("First Step Shark"), the first-century founder of the city of Tikal in Peten, and Ix K'abal Xook ("Lady Shark Fin"), an eighth-century queen of Yaxchilan, now in Mexico's Chiapas state, Newman said.

Newman started her study of the Mayan concepts of sharks after analyzing a cache of sacred objects, including 47 teeth from a requiem shark (a family that includes spinner and blacktip sharks) that were buried inside two "lip-to-lip" ceramic bowls used as an offering at a Mayan pyramid at El Zotz between A.D. 725 and 800.

Marine items such as shark teeth, seashells, stingray spines and coral were often used to represent the oceans of the world in a ceremonial model of the Mayan cosmos within the offering bowls, Newman said.

"There's an understanding that a kind of microcosm is recreated in those enclosed spaces, so they're often put in along the center lines of temples and houses, to imbue those spaces with vitality," she said.

After noticing that the cache contained only the serrated upper teeth of what was probably a single requiem shark, Newman started to wonder how and why the shark remains had been transported or traded from the coast into inland Mayan cities such as El Zotz. "And then I started thinking about how those people in the interior would have made sense of these things that are coming in from the coast, which they might not have seen themselves," she said. [Image Gallery: Ancient Monsters of the Sea]

Ancient shark science

For the ancient Maya of the Yucatan Peninsula, with oceans on three sides, "the sea marked the limits of the land in all directions, a fabled home to supernatural deities and energies," Newman wrote in the study. "Sharks were associated with blood, pain and danger worthy of consideration and depiction, but from a safe distance."

The Mayan concept of the "xook" sea monster was the result of prescientific efforts to explain their practical knowledge about sharks in terms of their established cultural understandings of the world around them, Newman said.

"The argument in the paper is that the Maya are doing a version of our own ideas about natural history, where they are combining physical evidence that they find with myths that they also [regard as] true, and making sense of the world that way," she said.

Newman's research also examines the extent to which shark remains and cultural concepts about sharks were shared over a large area of ancient Mesoamerica for many centuries.

"One of the things that this study and other recent studies show is that they're trading things back and forth, and that there's a lot of interaction going on across long distances," she said. "So now we're getting a really good picture of just how connected people were  much more mobile and connected than I think we tend to assume."

Original article on Live Science .
It has been an extraordinary journey across time, and even an ocean, for one weary renaissance horse and rider. And for lovers of Leonardo da Vinci, their journey also now continues. There is another masterpiece to seek out and behold. But catch it if you can! Because it won't sit still.

The artist from the town of Vinci, Italy, known most famously, for his paintings, The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, produced so much more.

"Before Leonardo was an artist, he was a sculptor, and that's where he actually got his training, as a sculptor," said Rod Maly, a Las Vegas-based art dealer who owns a rare statue that ultimately derives from the hands of Leonardo. And it's a remarkable story about how we have it," he added.

The small bronze of a horse and rider is now making its way around the world. It was cast from a beeswax model attributed to Leonardo, created in the early 1500's, but that, as far as experts know, was never made into a statue. The rider was thought to be the French governor of Milan at that time, Charles d'Amboise.

Leonardo was cast out from his native Tuscany, one common legend goes, because he was homosexual, which was illegal in those days. He presented himself as a jack-of-all-trades to the Duke of the rival region of Milan. His resume listed in great detail his skills as an arms designer. Only at the very end of his resume, did he mention that in times of peace, he could also paint and decorate. And there was so much more.

DA VINCI DISCOVERY: RARE DRAWING, VALUED AT $16 MILLION, FOUND

Maly told Fox News, "He was so far ahead of his time. He was the inventor of the diving suit, the helicopter (at least the original prototype), the machine gun. Much of his time was spent as an inventor, a medical man."

Leonardo's crowning achievement in Milan turned out, in fact, to be a painting, the skill he flogged least. The Last Supper, a fresco the Duke commissioned him to paint in the refectory of a monastery in what is now central Milan, draws enormous crowds, day after day. Shortly after he completed The Last Supper, toward the end of the 1400's, the French invaded, and Leonardo fled. But he eventually returned to Milan, this time at the invitation of the French.

After his death, his belongings were left to his assistant and companion, Francesco Melzi. Among the works bequeathed, that beeswax model for what is believed was meant to be a monument to Charles D'Amboise.

Deteriorating over time, it passed from relatives of its inheritor, to descendants, and went from one private collection to another, to Switzerland for safekeeping during World War II. In 1985, a British arts and antiques dealer bought it from the Swiss man whose family had acquired it from the Melzi collection. It was Leonardo scholar Carlo Pedretti, who led the drive to identify the wax work as a true Leonardo, who ultimately convinced the British dealer to buy it. This was after Pedretti got photos of it published in a book of Leonardo sketches owned by Queen Elizabeth, upping the profile of the fast-deteriorating work of art.

DA VINCI DISCOVERED: ART SLEUTHING REVEALS LEONARDO ENGRAVING

In 1985, a mold of the compromised beeswax model was made, in order to preserve some legacy. By now, the haggard horse was missing a leg, and the rider-his hands and feet. In the late 80's an Indiana businessman bought the beeswax model and the latex mold. Some 25 years later, the bronze was cast, in Burbank, California. Maly and his business partner Jim Petty bought the mold and bronze for an undisclosed sum.

Maly said, "This is remarkable, because we have been able to take a piece of history and preserve it. Nothing like that has ever been done before. This was a piece of beeswax in 1985, and there was a mold of latex made to preserve it for eternity, and we have the original from that latex mold."

Its new home is a vault in Las Vegas. But The Horse and Rider have been let loose for a world tour. Maly is thrilled to show off this relatively unknown connection to the great genius, whose gifts he describes with great emotion.

"Why is the Mona Lisa the most revered artwork in the world? Why is the portrait of a relatively normal renaissance woman the most revered artwork in the world? It's magic," he said. "It's because there are things within our psyche, within the universe, that we don't understand, and Leonardo tapped into that, in all his artworks, and that is why he is a great artist."

And The Horse and Rider are now charging around to spread the message that Leonardo was also an important sculptor.

The statue is at the Institut Francais in Milan until Dec. 23rd.
Iraq's multinational peacekeeping force scrambled to regroup Monday after Spain's (search) announcement that it would pull out its 1,300 troops, with Albania (search) pledging more soldiers but U.S. officials bracing for further withdrawals.

Honduras (search) followed suit late Monday night with President Ricardo Maduro (search) announcing the pullout of his troops "in the shortest time possible," confirming U.S. fears.

Spanish troops will leave Iraq in less than six weeks, Defense Minister Jose Bono said Monday in Madrid, but it remains unclear who will take their place. The 9,500 peacekeepers under Polish command are charged with the south-central sector, where followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are waging a bloody rebellion.

Polish officials said they thought greater United Nations involvement might help wavering countries make new troop commitments or at least follow through with what they have already promised.

"A U.N. resolution would be a great help," Polish Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski told Poland's TVN24.

Szmajdzinski said Spain's decision caught him by surprise. "We are all working intensively on several variants on how to make up for the leaving troops," he told the Rzeczpospolita daily. "Perhaps we will have to reorganize the division."

Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, sought to allay fears about the implications of the Spanish pullout, saying there would be no "security vacuum in that area at any time."

"Numerically those are numbers (the Spanish contingent) that should be able to be replaced in fairly short order," Kimmitt said.

President Bush scolded Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for the abrupt withdrawal, telling him in a telephone conversation Monday to avoid actions that give "false comfort to terrorists or enemies of freedom in Iraq."

"The president urged that the Spanish withdrawal take place in a coordinated manner that does not put at risk other coalition forces in Iraq," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

Poland has the most troops, 2,400, in the 23-nation force, and Szmajdzinski said it could not send any more.

But Albania immediately said it was ready to increase its presence. At the moment Albania's commitment is mostly symbolic, consisting of 71 non-combat troops patrolling the city of Mosul under U.S. command.

Ukraine, Australia, Portugal, Slovakia, San Salvador and the Dominican Republic said their commitments to the force would not waver.

Honduras' 370 troops have been serving in Najaf under Spanish command, a situation that was thrown into doubt when Spain announced its pullout plan.

The Honduran president's withdrawal announcement came hours after military spokesman, Col. Rafael Moreno said that his country's forces would remain in Iraq under Polish command.

But Maduro said in a national television address that "I have told the coalition countries that the troops are going to return from Iraq."

The president said the soldiers would return home "in the shortest possible time and under safe conditions for our troops."

Honduras had planned to withdraw its contingent in July as scheduled, but State Department spokesman Richard Boucher suggested it might pull out earlier.

Dagoberto Rodriguez, a Maduro spokesman, said later that "the troops will leave Iraq before July," but he didn't give a date.

San Salvador's 380 troops in Iraq will remain, and serve under Polish command, the Salvadoran military said Monday.

Zapatero announced the pullout just hours after his Socialist government was sworn in, fulfilling a campaign promise. Spain is the third-largest contributor of troops to the multinational force and the sixth-largest overall in Iraq.

Zapatero had initially pledged to remove the troops if the United Nations did not take political and military control of the situation in Iraq by June 30. In making his announcement to remove them as soon as possible, Zapatero said there were no signs the situation would have changed enough to satisfy Spain by that deadline.

His decision was a setback for the Bush administration, which has been eager to portray the effort in Iraq as an international cause even though it is dominated by 130,000 American troops.

Aside from the U.S. and multinational forces, some 12,000 British troops and 2,700 Italians operate in the far south.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said that with Spain's withdrawal "we can take advantage of the fact that we are now considered the closest ally in continental Europe to the United States, which is the only world superpower," the ANSA news agency reported.

However, European Commission president Romano Prodi, Berlusconi's predecessor as Italy's leader, praised Spain's decision, saying the move could help mend the rift in Europe over the war as well as increase pressure to resolve the Iraqi crisis.

"Spain with this decision has come back to our line," said Prodi.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he spoke with Spain's ambassador to express his disappointment and worried that if other countries followed Madrid's example, "then Iraq would be left without security and Iraq would become a haven for terrorists."

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Durao Barroso, whose country has 128 police officers in Nasiriyah, said his government's position "won't change ... despite any difficulties which may arise," said

Ukraine, the second-largest contributor of troops to the international sector with 1,650, also said its plans were not affected.

Slovakia's president-to-be Ivan Gasparovic, who once opposed deployment of his country's soldiers to Iraq, told The Associated Press the threat of worldwide terrorism now justified their presence. Slovakia has 105 soldiers in Iraq, most of them working in de-mining, and has said it remains committed to staying in Iraq.

"Would it be better to withdraw from Iraq and leave free hands to terrorism and leave defeated or prevail and do everything possible to stop terrorism from spreading?" Gasparovic asked.

In Tokyo, meanwhile, top Japanese military officials said Monday that greater U.N. involvement would make it easier for Japanese troops to carry out their humanitarian mission.
Hundreds of young men decked with tinsel wander outside Senegal's mosques, hawking plastic Christmas trees. Women pray to Allah on a sidewalk where an inflatable Santa Claus happens to be hanging.

Senegal may be 95 percent Muslim, but it certainly knows it's Christmas. In fact, for this nation of 12 million it's a national holiday.

Blame it on globalization, which has turned the West's yuletide icons into a worldwide commodity. Or the Internet, or Hollywood, or the availability of travel that allows new generations of Senegalese to sample Christmas at close quarters. But mainly, Senegalese revel in the trappings of Christmas because they can and want to.

Muslims recognize Jesus Christ as a prophet, but don't generally celebrate the date of his birth. Many Muslim societies discourage Christmas hoopla. But Senegalese say they have a long history of tolerance and coexistence with Christians, so why not share Christmas?

"Officially, we Muslims don't celebrate Christmas. But the Catholics are our neighbors. So, we all celebrate all the religious holidays," said El Hadj Diop, 60, sitting in front of his African antique store.

"We share the same houses, even graveyards," Diop said. "It has been the same for years."

Islam arrived at this western tip of Africa hundreds of years ago, borne across the Sahara by slave and spice traders from the north. French colonialists with Bibles came afterward. Now, many practitioners of both faiths have adapted their religions to local mores.

Few Muslim women in Senegal wear head scarves or cover up in robes. Nightclubs party until dawn, although the drink of choice is more likely juice than booze. Christians and Muslims alike wear "gris-gris," magic charms meant to ward off bad luck.

Unlike in countries such as Saudi Arabia, where images of humans are taboo, Senegalese Muslims paint pictures of their spiritual leaders on the sides of buses.

Most of Senegal's Christians live in the south, far from Dakar, and the capital has only a few churches and nothing resembling a nativity display.

But the government has strung lights across thoroughfares, including one that passes the city's main mosque.

Here "Jingle Bells" lilts from radios as the call to prayer booms from minarets.

Hawkers hang long strands of tinsel over their ears as they wander the streets looking for buyers. Others carry gaudy blowup Santas. An African Santa in a fuzzy white beard sits at a supermarket as tourists snap his picture.

Christians say they welcome the solidarity and repay it by partaking in Islamic holidays.

"People here believe in God; it's what nourishes us and binds us," said Eric Midahuen, a Christian who works in a spectacles store next door to Diop's antiques shop.

"It's our tradition, this cohabitation. When we're born and baptized our Muslim neighbors are there. They help us all the way, even into the grave," said the 40-year-old father of two. "We're all the same before God, who allows us to recognize him in all others."

Diop echoes many of his countrymen in saying Muslim extremists elsewhere are falsely interpreting the Muslim holy book, the Quran, and sullying Islam's reputation.

"The Quran says Muslims mustn't force their religion on others. Aggression has no place in Islam," he says.

Indeed, Senegal is a peaceful oasis among some strife-torn neighbors.

It's a budding democracy under the motto "one people, one goal, one faith," but doesn't decree which faith that should be.

Secularism elsewhere may mean the freedom not to celebrate a religious holiday. In Senegal many interpret it to mean they should celebrate all of them.

"Here in Senegal, it's a secular country. Everyone wants to buy cakes and gifts. We respect Christians and they respect us," says Fatou Mata, 40, a mother of two.

And she faces the yuletide pressures familiar to parents everywhere: "If my kids don't have a present on Christmas, they'll cry."
A Belgian prosecutor on Tuesday recommended that the U.S.-based Church of Scientology stand trial for fraud and extortion, following a 10-year investigation that concluded the group should be labeled a criminal organization.

Scientology said it would fight the criminal charges recommended by investigating prosecutor Jean-Claude Van Espen, who said that up to 12 unidentified people should face charges.

Van Espen's probe also concluded that Scientology's Brussels-based Europe office and its Belgian missions conducted unlawful practices in medicine, violated privacy laws and used illegal business contracts, said Lieve Pellens, a spokeswoman at the Federal Prosecutors Office.

"They also face charges of being ... a criminal organization," Pellens said in a telephone interview.

An administrative court will decide whether to press charges against the Scientologists.

In a statement, Scientology's Europe office accused the prosecutor of hounding the organization and said it would contest the charges.

"For the last 10 years, the prosecutor has been using the media, trying to damage the reputation of the Church of Scientology and not being able to put a case in court," Scientology said. "As a consequence, this created a climate of intolerance and discrimination" in Belgium.

It added that the prosecutor's recommendations suggested Scientology was guilty even before a court could hear the charges, making it "difficult for the Church of Scientology to recover and properly defend (itself) before the court."

Scientology has been active in Belgium for nearly three decades. In 2003, it opened an international office near the headquarters of the European Union to lobby for its right to be recognized as an official religious group, a status it does not enjoy in Belgium.

A Belgian parliamentary committee report in 1997 labeled Scientology a sect and investigations were launched into the group's finances and practices, such as the personality tests conducted on new members.

Investigators have spent the past decade trying to determine how far Scientology went in recruiting converts after numerous complaints were filed with police by ex-members alleging they'd been the victims of intimidation and extortion.

Justice officials seized financial records, correspondence, bank statements and other papers in their decade-long probe to track the flow of money to Scientology. Police also raided the offices of several consultancy firms linked to the Church of Scientology.

Pellens said that prosecutors expect Scientology to mount a strong legal challenge to the charges at a court hearing, which could come in the next two to three months. She acknowledged that could delay the case for years.

Belgium, Germany and other European countries have been criticized by the State Department for labeling Scientology as a cult or sect and enacting laws to restrict its operations.

The German government considers Scientology a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people.

The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology, which is seeking to expand in Europe and be recognized as a legitimate religion, teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems. The church, founded in 1954, counts actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its 10 million members.
Sixty-eight villagers in northern Namibia were hospitalized last week after eating a dog that had been killed by disease, the local daily The Namibian reported Wednesday.

The paper said the dog's owner had killed it after it contracted an unknown skin disease and ordered it to be burned. Instead, the inhabitants of Oikokola village insisted on eating the meat, which was also shared with people from the nearby Onepandaulo village.

Naftali Hamata, the director of health for northern Namibia, said the villagers were treated at two of the area's major hospitals and that most had recovered. He warned against eating dog meat or the carcass of any sick animal.

Dog meat is considered a delicacy among tribes in northern Namibia, and calls by animal rights organizations to end the practice are ignored.
An Italian archaeologist claimed Friday to have discovered Cyprus' oldest religious site, which she said echoes descriptions in the Bible of temples in ancient Palestine.

Maria Rosaria Belgiorno said the 4,000-year-old triangular temple predates any other found on the east Mediterranean island by a millennium.

"For sure it's the most ancient religious site on the island," she told The Associated Press from her home in Rome. "This confirms that religious worship in Cyprus began much earlier than previously believed."

But authorities on the island say they cannot confirm her claim before further study.

"That the site is dated to around 2,000 B.C. is certain, but the interpretation that it's a temple or a sacred site has yet to be confirmed," Cyprus Antiquities Department official Maria Hadjicosti told state radio.

The 200-sq.-meter (2,150-sq.-foot) building was discovered last year outside Pyrgos, a village near the south coast, where previous digs unearthed a settlement dating to 2,000 B.C. that included a perfumery, winery and a metal workshop.

Belgiorno, who heads an Italian archaeological mission in Cyprus, initially disclosed the find to English-language The Cyprus Weekly.

She said evidence points to a monotheistic temple with a sacrificial altar that resembles Canaanite places of worship described in the Bible.

"The temple has a very peculiar shape for a building, which is very rare."

Belgiorno said a key piece of evidence linking the site to Biblical accounts of temples in ancient Palestine is a pair of 6-meter (20-foot) stone "channels" extending from either side of the altar that allowed sacrificial animals' blood to flow out of the structure.

Other evidence includes a stone water basin, which she said might have been used in the ritual cleansing of the channels.

Belgiorno said the temple was situated across from the industrial area in the heart of the settlement, which she estimates covered 35 hectares (86 acres). Most of the settlement now lies under village homes and holiday villas.

The industrial area was built around a large mill producing olive oil that was used as fuel to fire up the metal workshop and as a perfume base.

Although it is difficult to say with certainty, she said the settlement was home to around 500 people. Their origins are unclear, but they had trade links with ancient Egypt and Palestine, she said.

A major earthquake destroyed the settlement in 1,850 B.C.

The earliest settlements excavated so far on the island date back to around 9000 B.C. Cyprus then saw successive waves of colonization, including Phoenicians, Mycenaean Greeks, Romans and  in the Middle Ages  Franks and Venetians. It was conquered by Ottoman Turks in 1571, and became part of the British Empire in 1878 before winning independence in 1960.

Violence between Cyprus' majority Greek community and the Turkish community broke out shortly after, and the island has been divided along ethnic lines since a Turkish invasion in 1974  prompted by a failed coup aimed at union with Greece.
Facebook has already announced its plan to combat fake news, but apparently, that's not enough for Germany. In an interview published Sunday morning, Germany's Justice Minister Heiko Maas insisted that his country's judges and state prosecutors ought to lay down the law on fake news spread via social media networks (like Facebook), and that it needed to happen immediately.

Maas has long pointed out that anti-defamation laws in Germany are more strict than those in the U.S., and as such, American tech companies must respect the laws of the land when operating in the European country. In an interview with the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Maas noted that free speech does not justify slander.

"Defamation and malicious gossip are not covered under freedom of speech," Maas said, echoing calls from some of his German colleagues to tamp down on "hate speech" circulating throughout Facebook, Twitter, and other such platforms. This was just days after other top government officials called for legislation to tackle hate speech and fake news on social media platforms.

"Justice authorities must prosecute that, even on the internet," Maas added, "Anyone who tries to manipulate the political discussion with lies needs to be aware (of the consequences)." In Germany, those consequences could include up to five years in jail.

While Germany's libel and slander laws are indeed far-reaching, few of the 218,000 cases filed in 2015 dealt with internet instances. But Maas says that ought to change. "We need to fully utilize all the legal authority at our disposal," he said.

"Facebook is earning an awful lot of money with fake news," Maas concluded. "A company that earns billions from the internet also has a social responsibility. Prosecutable defamation must be deleted immediately, once reported. It needs to be made easier for users to report fake news."
The "happiest place on Earth" is about to get even better for the 21 and over crowd who enjoy happy hours.

Four restaurants at Disney Worlds Magical Kingdom in Orlando will begin serving wine and beer on Dec. 23, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

The eateries adding alcoholic libations include Tonys Town Square Restaurant, the Liberty Tree Tavern, Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen and Cinderellas Royal Table.

6 FREE THINGS TO DO AT DISNEY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Wine and beer will be available at all four establishments during both lunch and dinner. Theyll be the first restaurants to serve booze at Disney's biggest theme park since the "Beauty and the Beast" themed-eatery Be Our Guest restaurant opened in 2012, and has been the only place at the park where adults could buy alcohol, until now.

Alcohol will only be sold within the actual restaurants, the Sentinel reported, noting that there wont be any to-go options or a standalone bar.

Brian Koziol, the master sommelier and development director for Disney Parks Food & Beverage, has created some unique food and drink pairings for each eatery.

The Italian-themed Tonys Town Square, for example, recommends pairing a Chianti Superiore with the grilled pork chop and mushroom-bean pancetta ragu. At Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen in Adventureland, however, which serves bold, pan-Asian and pan-African dishes, a riesling is suggested to pail well with Trader Sams head-on shrimp.

DISNEY PREPARES TO ADD DONALD TRUMP TO CLASSIC 'HALL OF PRESIDENTS' EXHIBIT

Cinderellas Royal Table will serve champagne and sparkling wine, befitting of a festive royal celebration.

Founder Walt Disney was allegedly strongly opposed to selling alcoholic beverages in the park but that opposition has waned in recent years as more theme parks have tried different tactics to attract more mature guests.

Disney's Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot at Disney World already sell alcohol at various restaurants throughout the parks.

Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando sell alcohol, too.
A fire tore through a Kentucky horse training center early Sunday morning, killing 23 horses, the facility's owner told local media.

Eric Reed, owner of the Mercury Equine Center in Lexington, said that 36 horses were inside the barn when the fire broke out at around 1:15 a.m. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that Reed and six other employees rushed into the wooden barn as the fire raged.

"They were heroes, the people who work for me," Reed told the paper. They went above and beyond what I could even imagine anybody trying to do. We ran into the barn, the smoke was so black we couldnt even see. The only thing you could see was the flames."

The paper reported that 13 horses managed to escape the blaze. However, Reed estimated that around $2 million was lost in the fire, between the deaths of the horses and the destruction of the barn.

Reed said most of the horses that died were yearlings and some were racehorses. He told the Herald-Leader that one of the horses killed in the fire was a 3-year-old filly who recently won $100,000 in a stakes race. Another horse was scheduled to race Monday in Ohio.

"Ill never get this nightmare out of my mind," Reed told the Herald-Leader.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Severe thunderstorms moved through the area Saturday night, and Reed speculated that the barn may have been struck by lightning.

About 50 horses in other barns at the facility were unharmed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from the Lexington Herald-Leader.
A Southern California park has closed indefinitely after an 80-foot eucalyptus tree fell on a wedding party taking photographs, killing one and injuring seven others Saturday.

The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that Whittiers Penn Park will be closed for an indefinite amount of time until an arborist can explain why the tree fell. Mayor Joe Vinatieri said the tree was at least 50 years old.

City Manager Jeff Collier said investigators will also inspect other trees to make sure none are at risk of falling.

The paper reported that fire officials believe recent rainfall combined with Californias drought may have been a factor in the tree toppling over.

Weve seen this happen throughout Southern California with both the drought conditions  trees are stressed  and we did have a large amount of rain, Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp said.

Up to 20 people were trapped under the tree after it fell at around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, fire officials told KTTV. Video from the scene showed fire crews using chain saws to cut through the downed branches. Witnesses described hearing a loud crack, and seeing people run from the area.

One of the victims was a 4-year-old girl. She remains in critical condition due to head trauma. Vinatieri said the girls mother was the lone death so far. The mother wasnt identified.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from the Los Angeles Times.
A former UFC fighter who has had trouble with the law has been arrested again.

Court records show Cody East was arrested Sunday in Albuquerque before 4 a.m. on counts of false imprisonment and aggravated battery against a household member. He also faces charges of aggravated assault against a household member.

Details of the arrest are unclear. A spokesman for the Bernalillo Country's Sheriff's office did not immediately respond to an email.

East signed with the UFC earlier this year despite being sentenced to three years in prison in 2008 after pleading no contest to three child abuse charges.

He was released by UFC in October after losing two fights.

The 28-year-old was ordered held on a $30,000 cash surety bond. It was not known if East had an attorney.
Fire officials in Massachusetts said an underground fire caused multiple manhole covers to explode Sunday night, while multiple homes and businesses were left in the dark.

According to the Boston Globe, Malden Fire Department assistant chief Bill Sullivan said an underground electrical fire sent four manhole covers flying in the air between noon and 3 p.m. Smoke and flames poured out of the manholes and some of the flames topped 10 feet high.

National Grid spent the entire day working to repair the damage caused by the fire and tried to restore power to the homes and businesses that surround the area. Officials believe the fire was caused by a faulty underground cable, Fox 25 Boston reported.

No injuries were reported.

Mary-Leah Assad, the utilitys spokeswoman, told the Globe, that about 88 customers were initially without power and that by 7 p.m. the number trickled down to 70.

Workers told the station that they had hoped for power to return around 8 p.m., but it may not return until early Monday morning.

Click for more from the Boston Globe.
A Georgia police sergeant who was fired for flying the Confederate flag at her home filed a lawsuit claiming her right to freedom of speech was violated.

Roswell police officer Silvia Cotriss was a 20-year veteran of the force before she was fired in July. Cotriss said at the time that she had no idea that some of her Woodstock neighbors found the flag offensive and during an appeal of her termination said that she was celebrating her Southern heritage and part of history involving the civil war.

FLASHBACK: POLICE SERGEANT FIRED FOR FLYING CONFEDERATE FLAG SAID SHE NEVER HEARD COMPLAINTS

If I knew it offended someone, my friends, my family, I wouldnt do it, she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

WSB-TV reported that the lawsuit says the flag was a way to honor her Southern heritage and her late husband.

A Confederate flag can communicate an array of messages, among them various political and historic points of view, the lawsuit states.

According to the station, Cotriss is being defended by attorney David Ates and the Southern Legal Resource Center. The Southern Poverty Law Center claims that the founder of the Southern Legal Resource Center, Kirk Lyons, is a white supremacist.

Cotriss and Ates have both denied they were aware of Lyons alleged ties.

Click for more from WSB-TV.
A Massachusetts man wept as he was being arraigned in connection with a deadly hit-and-run, while his alleged victim's husband shouted "murderer" and had to be restrained.

In happened Monday in a Quincy courtroom. Ryan Brady is being held on $10,000 bail after pleading not guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

Prosecutors say the 34-year-old struck 62-year-old Irina Hyde in Braintree on Thursday. Hyde had just left work and was walking across a street on her way home.

Brady was linked to the scene by car debris.

Hyde's husband, Tony, shouted "murderer" in court and later said he did not find the suspect's tears sincere.

Brady's lawyer says his client initially stopped after hearing a knocking sound, but drove away because he didn't know he hit anyone.
A 23-year-old tourist who had just surprised his girlfriend by proposing to her in Central Park was stabbed in the back of the head by a lunatic in Midtown  but he and his bride-to-be told The Post that they still love New York.

Were just so thankful hes alive, said Jordan Asher on Monday, as her fiance, Connor Rasmussen, recovered from a gash to the head that required eight stitches. I believe this is an absolute miracle.

Rasmussen, who lives with Asher in Washington state, recalled having to pull the knife out of his head himself.

But I feel lucky. We both cant even believe this happened to us, he said.

Rasmussen had surprised Asher by proposing to her in Central Park in front of a large group of their friends and family Fridayafternoon. But by early Sunday, the groups celebratory weekend had been wrecked by the madmans random attack.

The tourist was jumped as he was walking down East 46th Street near Madison Avenue with some friends around 1:45 a.m.Sunday.

The victim told cops he noticed the attacker walking several yards behind him and his group as they were looking for someplace to eat pizza.

Rasmussen said he heard the assailant shout something before he ran up and plunged the knife into the base of his skull.

It was a blindside thing to the back of my head, Rasmussen recalled. I turned and looked at the guy. I think he was kind of shocked that I didnt go down, and he took off.

Click for more from The New York Post.
A 27-year-old man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to charges connected with a snowmobile attack on two mushers competing in Alaska's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in March.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (http://bit.ly/2i88rGT) reports Arnold Demoski of Nulato was sentenced Monday to six months, most of which has already been served.

The sentencing comes after Demoski pleaded guilty to felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor charges of assault, reckless endangerment and driving under the influence.

Demoski had been accused of driving a snowmobile at four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King, as well as Aliy Zirkle, on March 12 near Nulato.

One of King's dogs, Nash, was killed, and other dogs were injured.

Zirkle finished the nearly 1,000-mile race across Alaska in third place and King in ninth place.

___

Information from: Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner, http://www.newsminer.com
Mining companies are fired up about a proposed federal rule change that would jack up the purse companies must have access to in order to cover any environmental damage their work might cause.

The proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) changes shift the burden of financing Superfund cleanups -- which are also known as National Priority List, or NPL, sites -- away from the federal government to the mining facilities, a move that would cost the industry $171 million a year and save the EPA $527 million over 34 years, according to the agencys Regulatory Impact Analysis.

Companies see an added burden as much as 20 times higher from the insurance and bonds they would be required to get, and believe the change will have a devastating impact on the economy of states like Nevada, which leads the U.S. in gold production, and other metal-mining states, most of them in the western half of the country.

The change to Section 108(b) of the EPAs Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) is meant to increase the likelihood that those owners and operators will have funds necessary to address the CERCLA liabilities at their facilities, thus preventing the burden of cleanup from falling to other parties, including the American taxpayer.

But at what cost?

One Nevada gold mining company reports that its bonding requirement could skyrocket from $20.4 million to $495.8 million. And an Arizona copper mine will be on the hook for an extra $715 million, despite getting some relief the new rule allows for safe mining practices.

Hardrock mining executives told FoxNews.com they are fearful that companies will end up with excessive debt that could slow growth, chill investment in the industry and increase U.S. reliance on foreign mineral sources, said Debra Struhsacker, an environmental compliance and government affairs consultant.

Theres a question about motivation for surety companies and banks to issue [financial instruments] to support the increased capacity, Laura Skaer, executive director of the American Exploration and Mining Association (AEMA), told FoxNews.com.

CERCLA was put on the books in the 1980s as a statute that would identify industry sectors that posed the highest risk to public health and the environment, according to Tawny Bridgeford, the deputy general counsel at the National Mining Association (NMA).

The statute went 30 years without rules on the books. During that time, mining regulatory programs established written financial assurance responsibility rules through state agencies, as well as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

Those agencies provide almost $2.66 billion of financial assurance for hardrock mines in Nevada, Struhsacker said. Another $3.2 billion comes from BLM for mines on federal public lands in the western U.S.

Understandably, there are concerns that a number of sites will end up being doubly bonded.

Whats more, critics charge the EPA formula is based on several mining sites that made the national priority list (NPL) and conducted business prior to the passage of current mining laws, and before technological improvements in the industry were introduced.

The states have approved more than 3,300 mining plans since 1990, and zero [of them] caused a Superfund problem nor were identified as a CERCLA NPL site, said Skaer.

According to the EPA, the rule change represents the agencys fulfillment of a January 2016 court order and a congressional directive that emerged from a 2014 lawsuit initiated by environmental NGOs.

But the timing of its implementation is questionable in two ways.

Mining companies are unhappy about the short timeframe between January 2016, when the D.C. District Court issued its order, and Dec. 1 -- when the EPA published the proposed rule.

Ive seen bills a fraction of this size and a whole lot less complicated be subjected to a 100-day review period or longer, the NMAs Bridgeford said.

Also, the change comes during Barack Obamas time as a lame-duck president. The culture of the EPA will presumably shift dramatically if Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, known as an opponent of excessive environmental regulation, replaces McCarthy.

Bridgeford also pointed out to FoxNews.com that Western governors were outraged by the lack of consultation with [mining] states. This week, the Western Governors Association issued a statement demanding the EPA consult with them and state regulators regarding the new requirements.

According to Elizabeth Horowitz, a spokeswoman for the Small Business Administration, the EPA failed to provide key data during the process.

Bridgeford said the EPA refused NMAs request to perform an analysis of existing programs and also denied the associations request to perform site-specific evaluations  which people in the mining industry believe are crucial to determining realistic financial requirements.

Theres hope that under the new administration, the EPA will take a fresh look at this rule, Bridgeford said.
The building of the largest Roman Catholic church in the Gulf was supposed to be a chance for the tiny island kingdom of Bahrain to showcase its traditions of religious tolerance in a conservative Muslim region where churches largely operate under heavy limitations.

Instead, the planned church  intended to be the main center for Catholics in the region  has turned into another point of tension in a country already being pulled apart by sectarian battles between its Sunni and Shiite Muslim communities.

Hardline Sunni clerics have strongly opposed the construction of the church complex, in a rare open challenge of the country's Sunni king. More than 70 clerics signed a petition last week saying it was forbidden to build churches in the Arabian Peninsula, the birthplace of Islam.

One prominent cleric, Sheik Adel Hassan al-Hamad, proclaimed in a sermon during Friday prayers last month, that there was no justification for building further churches in Bahrain, adding, "anyone who believes that a church is a true place of worship is someone who has broken in their faith in God."

In response, the government ordered him transferred out of his mosque, located in the elite district of Riffa, where many members of the royal family live and the king has several palaces. But the transfer order touched off a wave of protests by the cleric's supporters on social media sites and by Sunni-led political blocs. Finally, the government was forced last week to cancel the order.

The uproar reflects the widening influence and confidence of hardline Sunni groups, who have been a key support for the monarchy as it faces a wave of protests led by Shiites demanding greater political rights. Shiites account for about 70 percent of Bahrain's population of just over half a million people, but claim they face widespread discrimination and lack opportunities granted to the Sunni minority. The monarchy has also has relied heavily on help from ultraconservative Saudi Arabia, which last year sent troops to help crush protests.

More than 50 people have been killed and hundreds detained in nearly 19 months of unrest in the strategic island kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. Bahrain's rulers have promised some reforms and urged dialogue to ease the crisis.

Instead, positions on all sides have hardened.

Many among the majority Shiites claim the Sunni monarchy is not interested in reforms that would weaken its near monopoly on power. Bahrain's most senior Shiite cleric, Sheik Isa Qassim, has actively opposed the church plans, questioning why the government should donate land for a Christian site when Shiite mosques have been destroyed as part of the crackdowns.

A Bahrain-based political analyst, Ali Fakhro, questioned the timing of the church project at a time when the nation is still locked in its own upheavals.

"What Bahrain needs is to solve it is own internal issues rather than adding more new things that could be the source of troubles," he said. "The plate is already full."

So far the outcry has brought no change in plans to build the church complex, which has been backed by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's monarchy. The complex will be the size of a large shopping center  about 9,000 square meters (97,000 square foot)  in Awali, an area near Riffa, south of the capital, Manama. It is to be a base for the Vatican to the small Catholic communities in the northern Gulf, as well as a spiritual center for other Christian denominations.

Work on the compound is still in its preliminary stages and no firm date has been given for its completion, leaving open the possibility of more complaints in the coming months.

The church project is part of last year's change by the Vatican to carve out a new apostolic district covering Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The administrative headquarters are expected to shift from Kuwait to Bahrain.

There are believed to be several million Christians in the overwhelmingly Muslim Gulf region, the vast majority of them expatriate workers who largely come from East and South Asia. Throughout the Gulf states, non-Muslim places of worship must work discreetly and cannot actively reach out for converts. In Saudi Arabia, churches are banned completely and any overt wearing of non-Muslim religious symbols is banned.

But Bahrain has a multi-religious tradition  and tolerance  that is unique in Gulf. The island nation has several Christian extended families which originally immigrated from Iraq, Iran or elsewhere in the early 20th Century and gained citizenship when Bahrain gained independence. Similarly, it has native Jewish and Hindu communities. The first Roman Catholic church in the Gulf was built in 1939 on land donated by Bahrain's emir.

The building of the church complex "is a sign of openness, important for Bahrain, and I hope it will serve as a model for other countries, too," the region's bishop, the Rev. Camillo Ballin, said in a statement.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, issues over Christian churches have flared in the past year.

In Kuwait, Islamist lawmakers have proposed bans on further construction of churches. Saudi Arabia's grand mufti, Abdel Aziz Al Sheik, reportedly urged for the destruction of all Christian churches on the Arabian peninsula, but it was quickly dismissed by nearly all Islamic leaders in the region.

"Bahrain is a country of tolerance among all religions, sects and races. This is well known about Bahrain's history," said the Rev. Hani Aziz of Bahrain's National Evangelical Church, who was among 19 non-Catholic Christian leaders who also met with Bahrain's king over the project. "The construction of a church falls in line with this image."
When Tadiwos Belete moved to Ethiopia from the United States a decade ago to open a luxury spa, his relatives thought he was crazy.

He built an office block on a crumbling congested thoroughfare in the centre of Addis Ababa, where there were few other businesses and seemingly few opportunities for a successful entrepreneur.

Now from his fourth floor office overlooking the newly-refurbished, six-lane Bole Road, today crammed with cafes, hotels and shopping centres -- a sign of Ethiopia's thriving economy -- Tadiwos recalls almost despairing of finding other businesses to rent space in his office block.

"I remember, we were almost praying whether we could get someone to rent this building," Tadiwos said.

"It's amazing, I never believed it would grow this much, but it's happened," he added, looking down at the busy street below.

Tadiwos is part of a burgeoning diaspora community returning to Ethiopia to invest in its booming economy.

Tadiwos' business has blossomed, along with his Boston Day Spa, he has opened a restaurant and a wine bar in Addis Ababa, along with two luxury resorts outside the capital.

He employs 1,500 people, and goes out of his way to use Ethiopian materials and products throughout his business empire.

For him, Ethiopia offered opportunities that did not exist in Boston, where he already owned a successful spa business.

He said he was drawn back not only because he thought he could make a living here, but also because he wanted to take part in Ethiopia's development.

"The profitability is here, you can see it, you can feel it, you can touch it. But as well ... as a human being you can make a difference here," he said.

With an estimated four million diaspora living overseas, almost one in every 20 Ethiopians either lives outside the country or has returned home recently.

Most of them fled Ethiopia's military regime in the 1970s to settle in the United States. Today, many are leaving flailing economies in the West to take advantage of Ethiopia's rapid growth.

The economy here is growing at an annual rate of 8.5 percent, and was ranked the twelfth fastest growing economy in the world in 2012 by the World Bank.

Like Tadiwos, most returnees are involved in the service sector, though investments in agriculture and real estate are also growing fast.

Returning diaspora offer hard cash investments, but also invaluable skills, education and experience acquired in the West.

But their influence is not only economic, according to Shanta Devarajan, head of the Africa region at the World Bank.

"The diaspora might bring strengthened governance to African societies. These are people who have been outside the system and are able to observe it from afar, and that might actually strengthen government that we need so badly," he said.

Ethiopia's main pull seems to be the drying up economic possibilities in recession-hit Western countries.

-- Skills learnt abroad applied back home --

"It's the opportunities here, in many respects it's beyond low hanging fruit, it's so obvious," said Zemedeneh Negatu, a managing partner at Ernst and Young.

Zemedeneh, who returned to Ethiopia after 14 years abroad, said the payback is enormous.

"It's a combination of the financial reward, but also these touchy-feely, fuzzy kind of things. You can quantify the contribution you make here, definitely it's measurable," he said.

Though statistics are not available, Zemedeneh said the number of successful businesses established by returnees has grown in recent years, which builds confidence among other diaspora Ethiopians contemplating a move back.

But although returning Ethiopians have an advantage over foreign investors -- such as the Indian or Chinese who have limited local knowledge and language skills -- the transition after years away is not always easy.

Unreliable telecommunications, underdeveloped infrastructure and crippling bureaucracy are major challenges. Access to finance and foreign currency remains limited.

Ethiopia ranks 127 out of 185 countries in World Bank's Doing Business report, an index on the ease of conducting business.

"Ethiopia's business environment, especially in the area of trade logistics, is deteriorating compared to other countries," said Lars Moller, lead economist at the World Bank in Ethiopia.

"If policymakers could focus on removing the red tape of doing business that would be important to make sure that they reap the full benefits of returning diaspora," Moller added.

For Addis Alemeyahou, returning diaspora like him have help replace reliance on foreign aid, a key pillar in Ethiopia's national economic plan.

"Real sustainable development, the essence of it is basically private sector development, it's investment," he said, sitting in an upmarket cupcake shop, a popular hangout among returnees located in a fast developing neighbourhood in Addis Ababa.

He said the vast majority of diaspora who have come back are starting businesses and creating jobs.

"They're creating industries that are growing, and I think that's fuelling everything else," he said.

Addis returned to his mother country after 12 years in North America to start his own consulting firm. He said when he left Washington DC, people were wary about his move, but now the majority of Ethiopians he knew there have moved back home.

Many, Zemedeneh among them, see the trend continuing.

"I am very positive that the diaspora will be a very significant player in the Ethiopian economy, I don't think there's any question about it," Zemedeneh said.
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This small, scenic patch of land where the frontiers of Syria, Lebanon and Israel converge has long been a flashpoint, with Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops positioned face to face in close quarters across undefined and disputed borders.

The Syrian civil war has made the region known as Chebaa Farms even more dangerous.

Rival sides in Syria's conflict crisscross it smuggling weapons and fighters, and sectarian tensions are rising as Chebaa's mainly Sunni residents, joined by thousands of Sunni Syrian refugees, turn against Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah group because of its support for Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Even in a country with as many potential triggers for violence as Lebanon, Chebaa's unique geographic location brings together a collection of particularly bitter enemies. And with tempers fraying on all sides as Syria's war drags on, there are concerns that a misstep by just one of the players in this idyllic landscape of green, rocky hills could drag everyone into a wider, even nastier conflict.

For the Lebanese military, which officially controls its side of the disputed frontier, the main concern appears to be the influx of Syrian refugees.

At an army checkpoint in the foothills of Mount Hermon, just outside Chebaa, Lebanese troops search and question Syrians as they arrive in Lebanon after an hours-long trek across the rugged mountain frontier. Soldiers say worry that rebels fighting Assad's forces could try to sneak into the village with their weapons and stir up trouble between Sunnis and Shiites  or across the frontier with Israel.

The troops also check Lebanese vehicles carrying humanitarian aid across the border to Syrian villages that have been under siege by Assad's forces for months. The soldiers frequently confiscate food and medicine  desperately needed items in the blockaded communities  and only allow vehicles carrying bags of flour to pass.

The army has not said why it seizes those materials. But the practice has fueled local resentment against the army, leading some Sunni residents to accuse Lebanese soldiers of acting at the behest of Hezbollah.

"No food is allowed to pass for desperate people, while Hezbollah is whisked through with weapons with no questions asked. What are we to think?" said Mohammed Jarrar, the director of the town's Sunni Islamic Center.

Lebanon, a nation of 4.5 million people, is struggling to cope with more than a million Syrian refugees. One way to stem the tide is to feed people inside Syria.

But if humanitarian aid is prevented from reaching them in Syria, Jarrar said, more refugees will stream across the border into Lebanon, putting further strain on resources and sectarian relations here.

Already, Chebaa, which local officials say has a population of some 4,000 people, offers few job opportunities. It has no hospital and no government institutions to speak of apart from a police station. Like elsewhere in Lebanon, the influx of Syrian refugees has doubled the number of inhabitants in Chebaa and overwhelmed the community.

For residents, the main fear is that battle-hardened Shiite militants fighting Sunni rebels in Syria will turn on Sunnis in Lebanon. So far, Jarrar said there have been few armed incidents despite tensions.

"Nobody wants the situation to get out of hand," he said. Sunnis who once supported Hezbollah, he said, have grown deeply suspicious if not outright hostile to the group.

"When it comes to resistance to Israeli occupation, we are on the same boat with Hezbollah," Jarrar said. "In Syria, we are against Hezbollah. We support the revolution against a regime that is unjust and that Hezbollah supports."

The dispute with Israel is over the larger, 65-square-kilometer (25-square-mile) region known as Chebaa Farms. It has been a source of friction for decades, complicated by ownership disputes and an unmarked border between Lebanon and Syria.

Beirut and Damascus say Chebaa Farms belong to Lebanon. Israel says the enclave is part of the Golan Heights its forces captured from Syria in 1967. The United Nations says the area is part of Syria and that Damascus and Israel should negotiate its fate.

While relations have been hostile between Syria and Israel since the Israelis captured part of the Golan Heights, Damascus has kept the border area with Israel quiet for most of the past 40 years. Most of the violent breaches have occurred on the frontier between Israel and Lebanon, including Israel's invasions of Lebanon, and Hezbollah's abductions of Israeli soldiers.

After Israel withdrew from south Lebanon in May of 2000, it retained a small part of the disputed Chebaa Farms territory to which the Lebanese government has claimed ownership. Hezbollah has used Israel's continued occupation of this strip of land to justify its need to retain its arsenal and keep up attacks on Israel.

In October 2000, Hezbollah guerrillas disguised as U.N. peacekeepers managed to kidnap three Israeli soldiers on the border near Chebaa Farms.

Today, Chebaa's landscape is marred by rows of barbed wire and metal fences that separate Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied part. Israeli army towers and Lebanese military outposts on top of surrounding hills face one another as United Nations peacekeepers patrol the roads below. Israeli military aircraft hover in the skies overhead almost daily, and Israeli soldiers regularly detain Lebanese shepherds in the area for questioning.

Lebanon's army is officially in charge of security on the Lebanese side of the border, and no Hezbollah militants can be seen moving around. Still, it's impossible to ignore the group's presence in the area.

Planted a few hundred meters (yards) from a gate in the metal fence separating the Israeli army in Chebaa from Lebanese territory is a giant Hezbollah poster with a picture of Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque with the words "We are coming" written on it in Arabic and Hebrew.

Hezbollah's armed intervention in Syria has led some to question whether the group, which has lost hundreds of fighters, has been weakened from that conflict to the point that it won't be able to fight Israel.

In what appeared to be  among other things  an attempt to put such doubts to rest, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah earlier this month claimed responsibility for a roadside bomb that went off near an Israeli military patrol along the frontier in the Chebaa area, causing no injuries.

Nasrallah said the March 14 bombing was in response to an Israeli airstrike in February on a Hezbollah base in southern Lebanon.

____

Follow Barbara Surk on Twitter at www.twitter.com/barbarasurkAP
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Heads of state and foreign dignitaries, including German President Joachim Gauck and his French counterpart Francois Hollande, are gathering at an Allied memorial to commemorate the start of World War I.

In a spirit of reconciliation among former enemies, Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde welcomed Gauck under cloudy skies for the late-morning ceremony amid pomp and military honor.

Germany invaded neutral Belgium on Aug. 4, 1914 as part of a planned attack on France. By nightfall, Britain had joined the war.

The war was not expected to last long. Instead, over four years, the continent was plunged into unknown hardship and misery.

Further remembrance events are planned in Belgium and Britain throughout the day.
The southern edge of South America seems an unlikely home for six men who have spent more than a decade locked up without charge at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The prisoners, who are likely to be released soon, have been offered a refuge in Uruguay, where President Jose Mujica agreed as a humanitarian gesture to accept men that the U.S. has decided do not pose a threat but cannot return to their homelands. Here, they will find few fellow Muslims and a country divided over their pending arrival.

U.S. officials, who in the past have avoided disclosing the release of prisoners in advance, have not said when the men may arrive, nor even publicly confirmed that they are coming. In July, the Pentagon gave Congress a legally required notice of at least 30 days that it intended to send the men to Uruguay, suggesting the transfer may be imminent.

Mujica is a former leftist guerrilla who was jailed before and during a dictatorship that ruled the country in 1973-85. He told The Associated Press in May that the six men from Guantanamo will be free to move about once they make it to Uruguay, and he repeated his welcome in recent remarks.

"With the exception of the dictatorship, Uruguay has been a country of refuge and for us it's a matter of principle," the president said on his weekly radio show.

He has said Uruguayan businesses have already offered to find work for the men.

Others in the country of 3.2 million people may not share the president's enthusiasm for the new arrivals. The weekly magazine Busqueda reported the results of a July survey that said half the country opposed offering asylum to the men, while 30 percent supported it and 20 percent had no opinion.

"Uruguay is an open country, made up of easygoing people who accept all cultures. But for a significant number, Islam has a bad image," said Jaled Elqut, who came to Uruguay two years ago from Egypt and now leads prayer services at an Islamic cultural center in Montevideo, the capital.

The six prisoners  four Syrians, one Palestinian and one Tunisian  have been held at Guantanamo since 2002, when the U.S. government began using the base to detain men suspected of terrorism or links to al-Qaida and the Taliban. President Barack Obama came into office pledging to close the detention center, but the U.S. Congress barred the transfer of any prisoners to U.S. soil and added new legal requirements before they could be sent abroad.

About 600 prisoners have been released under both Obama and his predecessor, George W. Bush, most of them sent to their home countries. But dozens of the 149 who remain cannot be sent back because they are likely to face harm or persecution at home or because the U.S. does not consider the security situation stable enough.

Finding countries to accept men from Guantanamo has been a struggle. The U.S. has scattered a group of ethnic Uighur prisoners from western China around the globe, to places that include El Salvador, Albania, Bermuda and the Pacific island of Palau. Some have since moved on as they seek to rebuild their lives.

The neighboring countries of Brazil and Argentina have substantial Muslim populations. But there are only about 300 Muslims in Uruguay, said Susana Mangana, a professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at Universidad Catolica. The capital doesn't even have a full mosque, only the cultural center.

Most Uruguayan Muslims can be found on the border with Brazil, with only a relative handful in the capital, where most Arabs are Christian.

"They are quiet, generally trying to stay out of politics," Mangana said of Uruguay's Muslims. "I imagine there won't even be a committee to receive the prisoners from Guantanamo."
The Chilean Supreme Court said Tuesday that it will ask the United States to extradite three former secret police agents accused of the 1976 kidnapping, torture and murder of a U.N. official in Chile.

The top court said U.S. citizen Michael Townley, Armando Fernandez Larios of Chile and Cuban Virgilio Paz were co-authors of the killing of Carmelo Soria. The court said all three men are now living in the United States.

Soria, a 54-year-old Spanish diplomat, was working for the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America. He had advised President Salvador Allende, Chile's Marxist leader who killed himself rather than surrender during a 1973 coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet.

The accused worked for Chile's feared DINA secret police under Pinochet's 1973-1990 dictatorship. Prosecutors say they apparently targeted Soria because they were convinced he was helping Communists in Chile.

The investigation says Soria was captured by DINA agents in the streets of Santiago and died after being tortured. His killers later tried to make it appear he had been killed while driving drunk, prosecutors say.

Townley served a five-year sentence in a U.S. prison for the 1976 assassination in Washington of former Chilean Ambassador Orlando Letelier and his American assistant, Ronni Moffitt.

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The killing of three foreigners the past two weeks in Medellin is causing alarm in Colombia's second-largest city as it struggles to leave behind its reputation as the one-time murder capital of the world.

Danish tourist Tomas Willemoes was shot and killed last week at close range by an unknown assailant in a popular plaza in the city's most upscale neighborhood. His murder came just days after an Israeli and Mexican, both of whom apparently were living in Medellin, were also killed.

Authorities are at a loss to explain the three killings, which came as the city was showcasing security gains to hundreds of business executives attending the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Latin America. But at least one victim, the Israeli, appears to have been connected to a criminal ring that promoted sex tourism with prostitutes, prompting an energetic defense from the city's new mayor.

"Any homicide is regretful, regardless of the reasons," Mayor Federico Gutierrez told journalists on Monday. "But it's very important to say that Medellin can't be a place for sex or drug tourism."

Medellin's murder rate has fallen sharply since the 1980s, when the city was under siege by Pablo Escobar's army of killers. But it's ticking up again this year and authorities worry that it could spoil a nascent tourism boom.

So far this year there have been more than 225 murders, an increase of around 10 percent from 2015, according to Security Secretary Gustavo Villegas. In May alone homicides spiked 80 percent.

Andres Munera, an independent travel guide in Medellin, shares the mayor's outrage and says he's had to turn away foreign customers who came to the city looking for drugs and prostitution. He says the demand for such activities is strong and undercuts the efforts of residents who've worked hard to clean up their city's image as a haven for criminality. Rare among many travel guides in Medellin, his company, Land Venture Travel, doesn't offer tours of the haunts made famous by Escobar's Medellin cartel before the fugitive capo's death at the hands of the police in 1993.

More than 210,000 foreigners visited Medellin last year, a 34 percent jump over 2014, according to the city's tourism board. Key attractions include the giant bronze statues by famous son Fernando Botero, nearby farms and a thriving cultural scene. The area where Willemoes was shot last Thursday night, Parque Lleras, is home to the city's fanciest restaurants and bars.

"I'm sure this will have an impact," said Munera, referring to the murders. "The multiplier effect of bad press is always much higher than someone who tells their friends 'ah, what a great time I had in Medellin.'"

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Joshua Holt, the young Utah man jailed in Venezuela since June 30, remains relatively strong, according to a former political prisoner who was released last week.

Hes strong, I cannot say he was down, hes been through difficult times and his conditions are not the best, but he seems to be strong, said Francisco Marquez, a dual U.S. citizen who is back in San Diego with his family.

I managed to talk to him briefly. He was happy to talk to somebody who speaks his language, Marquez, 27, told Fox News Latino. Marquez said he spoke with Holt on Oct. 14.

Marquez is one of dozens of opposition activists, former governors and lawmakers who have languished in Venezuelan jails  and one of the lucky few to be released.

A former mayoral official director in El Hatillo, Marquez described the Helicoide facility where he was held along with Holt as the Venezuelan Guantanamo.

He said the hardest thing for him was the torture he had to witness. The screams and the sound of the beatings, the broken ribs, he said. He also alluded to the kind of mistreatment Holts lawyer denounced just a few days ago, saying he was forced to take off his clothes off and do squats in a hallway.

Some prisoners were forced to jog naked in an unbearable heat without food and water, Marquez told FNL.

Holt, 24, and his Venezuelan wife were arrested on weapons charges after authorities during a raid allegedly found a small arsenal they say was intended to assist the U.S.s efforts to undermine Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros socialist rule.

Holt and his wife say the weapons were planted.

Marquez said that during his incarceration he was appalled not only by the fact that inmates dont get a chance of a fair trial, but the absolute power the intelligence agency known as Sebin holds in deciding who stays and who goes.

There are inmates, like Holt, without fair trials. But thats not all, he said. Sebin ignores the release orders, inmates spend months in there even after a release order has been granted.

Marquez, who was arrested just a couple of weeks before Holt and his wife, spent a total of 121 days in four different prisons across the country.

He was arrested in June while taking part in a nationwide recall campaign against Maduro and accused of trying to foment violence. He says a judge dismissed his charges in late July, leaving the socialist government with no justification to hold him.

Meanwhile, Holt has had two hearing dates suspended and has been granted a third one on Nov. 8.

If the hearing does take place that day, a judge will rule whether the charges can be fully dropped or if the case merits to a trial. He could also be allowed to be released pending trial. If the judge fails to show up yet again, he could languish in prison indefinitely.

Marquez said the government uses prison sentences as a means to send a message: if you want to be with the opposition, you can get into serious trouble.

That's what happened to me. I shouldnt have spent four months in jail, he said. But when they realized that I was part of an operative team of the Mesa de la Unidad Democratica [the opposition coalition], their attitude changed. They want everybody to be afraid.

Marquezs release has been attributed to negotiations with Spains former President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who is trying to mediate in the Venezuelan crisis. But people familiar with the situation say several diplomatic efforts were actually involved.

There were multiple diplomatic maneuvers, said Marquezs former boss, El Hatillo mayor David Smolansky. As for the dialogue [with Rodriguez Zapatero], I think is very difficult to say because on the same day Marquez was released, the government detained another Voluntad Popular activist, Jose Vicente Garcia, he said.

It's the cruel and evil system that we have.
President Daniel Ortega won re-election to a third consecutive term as Nicaragua's leader, electoral officials said late Sunday as they released early results from an election that the opposition called a farce.

With about a fifth of ballots counted in the six-candidate presidential race, Ortega had more than 71 percent of the votes, the president of the Supreme Electoral Council, Roberto Rivas, said.

Ortega ran with his wife, Rosario Murillo, as his vice presidential candidate in a race that pitted him against five lesser-known candidates after court rulings weakened the opposition.

Critics of the government said the election was unfairly tilted against the opposition, but Murillo praised the process. Emerging with her husband after casting their ballots shortly before the polls closed, she called the vote "an exemplary, historic election."

There were no vote counts yet for 92 congressional seats that were also contested Sunday.

Rivas also said 65 percent of Nicaragua's 3.8 million registered voters participated in the election. The opposition, which had urged people to boycott the vote, disputed that, contending turnout was low. The main opposition movement, the Broad Front for Democracy, estimated "more than 70 percent" of voters did not cast ballots.

Ortega and his leftist Sandinista National Liberation Front have benefited from the Central American country's steady economic growth and low levels of violence compared to neighboring Honduras and El Salvador. Many Nicaraguans also cite the first lady's social programs as a major reason for the governing party's popularity.

But critics accused Ortega and his allies of manipulating the political system to guarantee he stayed in power for a new five-year term by dominating all branches of government, allowing indefinite presidential re-election and delegitimizing the only opposition force seen as capable of challenging him. They said he wants to form a political dynasty together with his wife.

"I don't think it's worth voting and wasting time, because it's already fixed," Glenda Bendana, an appliance sales executive in a Managua shopping mall, said. "Here they have taken away not our right to vote, but to choose. Ortega wants to die in power and leave his wife to take his place."

Eva Duarte Castillo, with a degree in marketing, was among those who went to the polls, though she didn't say how she voted. "I came to vote because it is not only my right as a citizen, it is also my duty. It is a responsibility and I exercised it. I'm happy," she said at a polling station in the capital's Altamira Managua neighborhood.

In July, Nicaragua's Supreme Electoral Council effectively decimated the opposition by ousting almost all its members from congress  28 active and alternate legislators from the Liberal Independent Party and the allied Sandinista Renovation Movement  for refusing to recognize Pedro Reyes as their leader. Reyes was named head of the opposition by the Supreme Court but is seen by many as a tool of Ortega.

Many Nicaraguans viewed Ortega's five challengers as weak opponents who were put on the ballot to make it seem the president had legitimate competition.

After helping topple the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza as a Sandinista guerrilla leader, Ortega ruled Nicaragua in 1979-1990, then lost power in an unexpected electoral defeat. He returned to the presidency through the ballot box in 2007.

Ortega will be facing an increasingly difficult regional landscape in his new term. Leftist ally Venezuela is overwhelmed by an economic crisis and Cuba is normalizing relations with the U.S. The U.S. Congress is working on legislation to require the U.S. government to oppose loans to Nicaragua from international lending institutions.

"The lack of Venezuelan support, the international price of oil, the price of our exports and the possibility that (U.S. legislation passes) makes it a more complicated outlook for the Ortega in the next term," said Oscar Rene Vargas, a sociologist and economist at Central American University.

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Amnesty International has warned Myanmar that the actions of its military may constitute crimes against humanity, based on accounts of violence against the country's Muslim Rohingya minority.

Myanmar has come under heavy criticism for its army's forceful treatment of the Rohingya. International human rights groups accuse the military of mass murder, looting and rape.

The military sweeps were sparked by an Oct. 9 attack on police outposts in Rakhine state that killed nine officers.

Though Amnesty says the scope of violence is unclear, they are voicing concern over the indiscriminate targeting of Rohingya civilians. Amnesty's report follows increasing concerns that state repression is radicalizing the Rohingya.

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi will brief fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asians Nations at a Monday meeting in Yangon.
At two large photo exhibitions recently held here, Russians were shown the bomb-scarred Syrian cities of Aleppo and Palmyra as the West rarely sees them.

Instead of images of destruction and starvation, the state-sponsored exhibits showed laughing, healthy children and Russian armored personnel carriers speeding unhindered through desert landscapes.

The disconnect with the carnage in Aleppo, where thousands of civilians are still waiting to be evacuated after a Moscow-backed offensive pushed out almost all rebels, reflects the Kremlins spin on the war for its domestic audience: Only Russia can resolve the nearly six-year Syrian conflict.

The Russian government and state media describe the situation in Aleppo as liberation, and Russian state TV last week interviewed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who praised Moscow for its support.

President Vladimir Putins year-old intervention has expanded Moscows political presence and military prowess in the global arena, inspiring songs, videogames and even the penning of letters by schoolchildren for troops stationed there.

Click for more from the Wall Street Journal.
Authorities in Kuwait say four Kuwaitis detained in Iran were released to the emirate's embassy in Tehran and soon will be returning home.

The state-run Kuwait News Agency on Monday quoted Khaled al-Jarallah, the oil-rich country's deputy minister of foreign affairs, as saying Iranian authorities were "positively cooperative." Officials say they'll return to Kuwait on Tuesday.

Kuwaiti newspaper Alrai reported the four were on a fishing trip when they strayed into Iranian waters and were detained Friday.

Iranian media quoted Kuwaiti reports about the release, without elaborating.

Kuwait recalled its ambassador to Iran in January following attacks by protesters on two Saudi diplomatic posts in the Islamic Republic, though its embassy continues to operate. Those attacks came after Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite cleric.
A truck rammed into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin Monday night, killing at least 12 people and injured 48 others in what witnesses described as a deliberate attack.



German authorities said they are still investigating whether the crash was an accident, but a statement from the White House National Security Council (NSC) said the incident "appears to have been a terrorist attack."

The large Scania truck with a Polish license plate crashed into the market outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The truck came to a halt on a sidewalk on one side of the market, shortly after ramming a large stand called "Fascination Christmas," ripping off one side and knocking down a large Christmas tree. The three-meter tree lay in the street, red and gold ornamental balls still attached to its limbs and a golden star at the top.



Police said a suspect believed to be the driver was arrested about 1 1/2 miles away, near Berlin's Victory Column monument. A passenger in the truck died at the scene as paramedics were attending to him.

Authorities initially estimated that 50 people were injured. Police later revised the total to 48, while Berlin's fire brigade said others were "more mentally injured."

The Polish owner of the truck said he feared the vehicle, driven by his cousin, may have been hijacked. Ariel Zurawski said he last spoke with the driver around noon, and the driver told him he was in Berlin and scheduled to unload Tuesday morning.



"They must have done something to my driver," he told TVN24. Zurawski added that the truck had been loaded with steel structures weighing 25 tons.

Die Welt newspaper reported that the arrested suspect is a Pakistani known to police for minor criminal offenses, but not terrorism. The newspaper also reported that the dead passenger was a Polish national.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the incident had a chilling echo of the July 14 truck attack in Nice, France that killed 86 people.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the Nice attack, which was carried out by a Tunisian living in France. ISIS and Al Qaeda have both called on followers to use trucks in particular to attack public places.

Mike Fox, a tourist from Birmingham, England, told The Associated Press at the scene in Berlin that the large truck missed him by about three yards as it drove into the market, tearing through tables and wooden stands.

"It was definitely deliberate," Fox said. Fox said he helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands.



Dozens of ambulances lined the streets waiting to evacuate people, and heavily armed police patrolled the area. Police on Twitter urged people to stay away from the area, saying they needed to keep the streets clear for the rescue vehicles.

Federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, took over the investigation, according to German Justice Minister Heiko Maas. But Berlin's top security official, state interior minister Andreas Geisel, told RBB television that it was too early to say whether it was an attack, and called reports that the truck may have been hijacked "pure speculation."

Even so, some politicians were pointing fingers. Marcus Pretzell, a prominent member of the anti-migration Alternative for Germany party, lashed out at the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying on Twitter: "When will the German state of law strike back? When will this cursed hypocrisy finally stop? These are Merkel's dead! (hash)Nice (hash)Berlin."

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement calling the attack "horrifying."

"Innocent civilians were murdered in the streets as they prepared to celebrate the Christmas holiday," Trump said. "ISIS and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad. These terrorists and their regional and worldwide networks must be eradicated from the face of the earth, a mission we will carry out with all freedom-loving partners."

Germany has not experienced any mass-casualty attacks by Islamic extremists, but has been increasingly wary since two attacks by asylum-seekers in the summer that were claimed by ISIS group. Five people were wounded in an ax rampage on a train near Wuerzburg and 15 in a bombing outside a bar in Ansbach. Both attackers were killed.

Those attacks, and two others unrelated to Islamic extremism in the same weeklong period, helped stoke tensions in Germany over the arrival last year of 890,000 migrants.

Monday's incident comes less than a month after the State Department warned U.S. citizens to be cautious in markets and other public places, saying extremist groups were focusing "on the upcoming holiday season and associated events."

In a statement, State Department spokesman John Kirby condemned the "horrendous events" at the Christmas market.

NSC spokesman Ned Price said the United States has already been in contact with German officials and stands ready to assist in the investigation and response.

Law enforcement sources tell Fox News that the FBI's Legal Attache (LEGAT) office in Berlin had been in touch with German officials to offer intelligence support to investigators. The sources said late Monday that no Americans had been identified among the victims.

Zurich police search for gunman after shooting at mosque; at least 3 injured

Last week, German prosecutors said a 12-year-old boy attempted to set off a nail bomb at a Christmas market in the southern city of Ludwigshafen.

The German-born son of Iraqi parents is alleged to have tried to set off the device at the Christmas market on Nov. 26, and again outside city hall on Dec. 5, Focus magazine reported, citing security sources.

In the second failed attempt, a passer-by spotted the backpack containing the device and reported it to authorities. Inside they found a glass jar packed with firecrackers with nails taped to it, Focus reported.

Police said it would have burned but would not have exploded.

Fox News' Matt Dean and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A schoolgirl's offer to replace Big Ben's familiar chimes when the London landmark is silenced for repairs has received a gentle rebuff from the BBC.

BBC editor Roger Sawyer told eight-year-old Phoebe Hanson it would probably be too much work for such a young girl.

Hanson had written a letter offering to replace the clock tower's bells when they are silenced next year for a planned three-year renovation project.

The BBC said Monday that Hanson had written to the Radio 4 PM program after hearing the chimes used to mark the time on BBC broadcasts would fall silent.

Sawyer said in his letter that it would be "quite a task for you" to handle the BBC bongs: "You'd have to rush in after school each day," he said.
A federal judge in Brazil on Monday accepted new corruption charges against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who had already been indicted in four other graft cases.

In the latest case, prosecutors accused Lula of receiving bribes in exchange for helping Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht secure contracts with state oil company Petrobras.

Some of the alleged bribes were used to acquire land for the headquarters of the former head of state's institute and an apartment near his private residence in the city of Sao Bernardo do Campo.

Lula already had been indicted in four other corruption cases, with a judge in Brasilia on Friday accepting charges that he took bribes from Saab in exchange for using his influence to help the Swedish aerospace giant secure a government contract for fighter jets.

In the latest case accepted by federal Judge Sergio Moro, Lula's wife, Marisa Leticia Lula da Silva; former Finance Minister Antonio Palocci; and Robert Teixeira, one of Lula's defense attorneys; are co-defendants.

Prosecutors allege that the real estate was acquired by third parties using bribe money that Odebrecht paid Lula in exchange for his intervention to help the company secure lucrative contracts with Petrobras.

Moro also accepted charges against Marcelo Odebrecht, the now-imprisoned former CEO of that major construction company who, along with nearly 80 former directors and staff at the firm, has reached a plea deal with investigators.

Marcelo Odebrecht was sentenced in March to 19 years in prison after being convicted of corruption in a massive bribes-for-inflated contracts scheme centered on Petrobras.

Investigators say his company and other major Brazilian construction groups formed a cartel to overcharge the oil giant, splitting the extra money with corrupt Petrobras officials while setting aside some of the loot to pay off politicians who provided cover for the graft.

Lula, a towering figure in Brazilian politics, has been accused of being the lead orchestrator of the sprawling Petrobras corruption scheme, which is estimated to have cost the company as much as $2 billion.
It was Christmas Eve last year when Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi extended his support to the Coptic Christian community, attending Mass at St. Marks Orthodox Coptic Churcha symbolic act that showed the former Army generals resolve to bring together the nations 10 million Christians and the Muslim majority of 70 million.

But in the year since that olive branch was offered, extremists on the fringe of the Muslim majority have carried out a number of attacks on the Coptic community, including Sundays bombing of St. Marks  the largest such attack since the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood president that el-Sisi ousted on July 3, 2013.

That coup was supported by the Coptic pope, Tawadros II, and now, Christian advocates tell FoxNews.com, it appears that members of the Brotherhood and other Muslim extremists are targeting Copts during the Christmas season, when they attend church in larger numbers and are more vulnerable.

Copts make up about 9 percent of Egypt's population, and the Morsi regime caused a rift in state unity based on worship that brought with it a rise in sectarian violence against Copts.

According to a recent report from the Vatican agency, Aid to the Church in Need, while the situation for Copts has improved somewhat under el-Sisi, they have faced many incidents of discrimination and persecution.

"A few years ago there was a massive attack that destroyed hundreds of Coptic churches and homes. But the attack this past weekend has been one of the more deadly attacks in recent times," David Curry, executive director of Open Doors USA, a California-based non-profit that helps persecuted Christians around the world, told FoxNews.com. "It's difficult to know the motivation of the attackers, but we often see an increase in attacks in this region around the Christmas season. It is when Christians are most vulnerable. The number of Christians visiting churches spikes as they flock to honor this holy day."

When asked if it's possible that the attackers chose St. Mark's because of el-Sisi's visit last year, Curry said it was very possible.

"It is a well-known church, and, for extremists trying to draw attention and fear, it is a prime spot," he said.

In a statement circulated online on Tuesday, The Islamic State [ISIS] claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that killed 25 people. They also alleged that the bomber had actually killed and injured 80 people, while vowing "to continue war against apostates."

Funerals for the victims of the attack were held on Monday in Cairo, at which Pope Tawadros II said the bombing is not a tragedy for the church alone but for everyone, for Egypt.

El-Sisi also attended, and he was quoted by local media condemning the Muslim Brotherhood for attempting to destroy the country and divide its people. Its consistent with the presidents efforts to reach out to the Coptic community, including the repeal this past September of an Ottoman-era law that banned the construction of new Christian churches.

Even so, extremists have lashed out at Copts repeatedly.

In May, a church in Minya, some 170 miles south of Cairo, was burned to ground after an attack by what local clergy describes as extremists. Local media reported that the cause of the fire was a short circuit in the churchs wiring, which was a deliberate falsehood, church officials say.

In the southern part of the country, there are frequent attempts to extort money from Copts by Muslim clans, people in the community report, with more than 20 known cases that were reported to police and in which nothing was ever done to rectify the matter.

We often see an increase in attacks in this region around the Christmas season. It is when Christians are most vulnerable. The number of Christians visiting churches spikes as they flock to honor this holy day.  David Curry, executive director of Open Doors USA

In one incident in al-Qusiya, a village about 50 miles south of Minya, members of various Coptic families were forced to barricade themselves in one house when extortionists from a local Muslim clan attacked them for not paying taxes.

Its a symptom of an underlying problem in Egypt, Edward Clancy, director of outreach for Aid to the Church in Need, told FoxNews.com. The Muslim Brotherhood hijacked the constitution when they were in power to now, where we have President el-Sisi moving towards including the Coptic community. Is the government making strides, or is it just window-dressing?

What it comes down to, Clancy said, is, Will the Christian community be able to worship openly?
A court has convicted in absentia an Italian woman and her Albanian husband on terrorism charges for traveling to Syria to join the Islamic State group.

In the first case in Italy involving foreign fighters operating inside the war zone, the court on Monday sentenced Maria Giulia Sergio to nine years in prison and her husband, Aldo Kobuzi, to 10 years. They are believed to be in Syria.

Members of Sergio's family, who also were planning to join her in Syria, also were convicted. They included her father, who was convicted of a lesser charge of organizing the journey of jihadists and sentenced to four years in jail. He was arrested in mid-2015, six months after his daughter and son-in-law had departed for Syria.
French media group Vivendi says it is acquiring up to 30 percent of Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset empire in what the Italian company fears is aa hostile takeover attempt.

Vivendi, whose holdings include Universal Music and Canal+ pay-TV operator, said its board agreed Monday to boost its share of the Mediaset television and publishing empire through share purchases.

Tensions have mounted and trading has been volatile in Mediaset since Vivendi boosted its holdings to 20 percent last week.

Italy's government has warned Vivendi to obey the rules of the market.

Mediaset took Vivendi to court to try to recover losses after Vivendi pulled out of a bid for Mediaset's Premium unit.
Germany's highest court has rejected a string of complaints against a decision by the country's parliament to label the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago as genocide.

The Federal Constitutional Court threw out eight complaints against the resolution approved by lawmakers in June.

It published one of the decisions Monday, in which judges said the plaintiff had failed to provide sufficient evidence that his fundamental rights had been violated and that no such violation was obvious.

The parliamentary vote infuriated the Turkish government and prompted it to withdraw its ambassador from Berlin for a few months.

Ankara also refused to let German lawmakers visit German military personnel stationed at Turkey's Incirlik air base, but relented after the German government stressed the resolution isn't legally binding.
German authorities have arrested a 31-year-old Turkish citizen suspected of spying on Kurds in Germany.

Federal prosecutors say the man  identified only as M.S.  was arrested Thursday in Hamburg and his premises were searched.

In a statement Friday, prosecutors said the man is suspected of providing Turkey's intelligence agency with locations, contacts and political activities of Kurds and Kurdish establishments in Germany.
In his first pre-Christmas address, the new top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land has decried the destruction in Syria and Iraq.

Rev. Pierbattista Pizzaballa said on Monday that "Syria and Iraq are destroyed" and the plight of the region's Christians is tragic. He bemoaned how "wars and the way of force have not been able to bring peace and justice, it only brought more violence, death and destruction."

Pizzaballa took office earlier this year as the apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, the temporary chief clergyman to the local Catholic population. As caretaker of Jerusalem's Latin Patriarchate, he has made his main task promoting dialogue among Christians in the Holy Land  and between Christians and others.

The Italian-born Pizzaballa, a Franciscan priest, replaced longtime patriarch Fouad Twal.
Israel's attorney general has ordered the investigation of an Arab lawmaker on suspicion of smuggling mobile phones to Palestinian prisoners.

Police said on Monday they will soon summon the lawmaker, Basel Ghattas, for questioning.

Israel's prison services said they received a tip that Ghattas would smuggle the phones on Sunday to Palestinian prisoners convicted of killing Israelis. Following the visit, prison officials recovered 12 mobile phones from the prisoners.

Israel's internal security minister, Gilad Erdan, says if suspicions prove true, Ghattas belongs in jail.

Ghattas is a member of the Balad faction, a Palestinian nationalist party that frequently clashes with the Israeli government. In 2007, Balad lawmaker Azmi Bishara fled Israel while facing charges of espionage for the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah group.

Arabs make up one fifth of Israel's population.
Israeli police have arrested billionaire businessman Beny Steinmetz on suspicion of bribing officials in the west African country of Guinea.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says Steinmetz was detained Monday and placed under house arrest for two weeks. Rosenfeld said the prominent businessman is suspected of money laundering and bribing public officials in Guinea to promote his business interests there. The arrest was a result of a joint investigation with agencies in the United States, Switzerland and Guinea.

The Israeli-born Steinmetz resides in Geneva and is a global player in the diamond-mining industry.

A mineral-rich but deeply impoverished country, Guinea has long endured corruption while trying to exploit its natural resources. Steinmetz's BSG Resources previously had its mining license revoked in Guinea because of corruption charges.
A prosecutor in Florence has asked for conviction and a life sentence for a Senegalese man accused of murdering an American woman in her apartment.

Ashley Olsen, 35, was found dead in her flat in January 2016. An autopsy found that she had been strangled and suffered skull fractures.

The Italian news agency said Prosecutor Giovanni Solinas on Monday asked the court to convict and impose Italy's harshest criminal punishment for defendant Cheik Tidiane Diaw.

A verdict could come on Thursday.

Prosecutors said surveillance video along the route showed Diaw and Olsen, a native of Summer Haven, Florida, walking together toward her apartment.

Police arrested Diaw after finding traces of his DNA on a condom and cigarette butt in the apartment. He denied strangling Olsen.
The main Kremlin party has signed a cooperation agreement with Austria's right-wing populist Freedom Party.

Sergei Zheleznyak, the deputy head of the United Russia party that has 343 seats in the 450-seat lower house of the Russian parliament, said Monday before signing the deal that a closer dialogue could help find solutions to problems such as security challenges and the migration crisis.

Zheleznyak noted a high level of support for the Freedom Party's Norbert Hofer in Austria's presidential election, who was defeated by left-leaning Alexander Van der Bellen in a presidential vote earlier this month.

Another leading United Russia member, deputy parliamentary speaker Pyotr Tolstoy, said a "sincere dialogue is important ... in today's world of political correctness where everyone is concealing true thoughts and feelings."
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Military and police units are deployed across the capital of Congo amid fears of unrest on the last official day of President Joseph Kabila's mandate.

Kabila intends to stay on after the midnight deadline, as a court has ruled he can stay in power until new elections are held. The vote once due to be held in November has been postponed indefinitely.

The Catholic church has been mediating talks between Kabila's party and opposition parties, though those discussions are now on hold until Wednesday.

The opposition has not called for demonstrations, though many observers expect Kabila's opponents to take to the streets as they did earlier this year when the electoral commission failed to call the election. Human rights groups say more than 50 people died in that unrest.
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Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has met with regional foreign ministers to tackle growing international criticism of her army's forceful treatment of the country's Muslim Rohingya minority, which some critics say constitutes crimes against humanity.

Human rights groups have accused the military of perpetrating mass murder, looting and rape against the Rohingya in the western state of Rakhine, where the army went on a counterinsurgency offensive after an October attack there on police outposts that killed nine officers.

The roughly 1 million Rohingya in overwhelmingly Buddhist Myanmar face severe social and official discrimination.

Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, along with Bangladesh, have long coped with Rohingya refugees.

Suu Kyi met with ASEAN foreign ministers Monday in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.
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A Zurich police official says a gunman has injured several people in Switzerland's largest city.

The official said police were swarming to the scene in pursuit of the gunman who remains at large.

The official spoke by phone Monday on condition of anonymity, saying he was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Attacks by armed gunmen are rare in Switzerland.
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Czech President Milos Zeman has vetoed legislation that limits the business activities of future government ministers.

It would ban ministers from owning media, and bar companies in which ministers have more than a 25 percent stake from receiving state subsidies and participating in public tenders.

Zeman's office said Monday the amendment is not in line with the constitution. Parliament can override his veto by a simple majority in the lower house. If so, Zeman said he would challenge the amendment at the Constitutional Court.

Finance Minister Andrej Babis, who owns two major newspapers and Agrofert conglomerate which receives state subsidies, opposed the bill but didn't plan to withdraw from the government.

Babis' ANO movement is a favorite to win parliamentary elections in 2017.
Swiss police official says investigators have suspended a hunt for the suspected gunman behind an attack on a mosque frequented by Somali migrants after the discovery of a body in the vicinity.

Zurich cantonal (state) police said Tuesday on Twitter that "we are working on the assumption that the dead person who was found is the culprit in the shooting at the Islamic Center in Zurich."

Three people were injured in the shooting Monday.

Police were expected to hold a news conference later Tuesday.


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A gunman opened fire on Russia's ambassador to Turkey at a photo exhibition on Monday. The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said he was hospitalized with a gunshot wound.

The ambassador, Andrei Karlov, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in the capital, Ankara, when a man wearing a suit and tie shouted "Allahu Akbar" and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience. The attacker also said some words in Russian and smashed several of the photos hung for the exhibition.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a televised statement that the ministry would soon comment on "the attack on the Russian ambassador in Turkey"
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed revenge on Monday for the assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey, who was shot in the back by a renegade Turkish special forces police officer during an apparent Islamic terror attack.

Putin spoke with other members of his cabinet in a brief meeting that was broadcast and translated on RT and came mere hours after Ambassador Andrei Karlov was brazenly gunned down.

We have to know who organized the killing, who gave orders to the assassin," said Putin, who also pledged to punish those responsible.

"The fight against terrorism will only be stepped up," he said.

Putin called Karlov an "outstanding diplomat" and said he knew him personally. He called for a memorial to be erected in his honor.

Putin said an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

Photographers captured the chilling moment 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas opened fire inside an Ankara art exhibit Monday, killing Karlov and wounding at least three others as Altintas shouted jihadi propaganda before being killed.

Still and video cameras were trained on Karlov, who was giving a speech at the Ankara Center for Contemporary Art when a man wearing a dark suit suddenly shot Karlov in the back. Video captured the incident and shows Karlov grimacing and falling to the ground as the gunman, later identified as Altintas, moves toward his body.



Click to see pictures of the attack taken from inside the hall

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Altintas had been working for the riot police squad in Ankara for the past 2 1/2 years. Witnesses said he entered the building with a police ID.

Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek told AFP the attack was aimed at ruining relations between Turkey and Russia. The two countries had begun normalizing ties in June 2016. That followed a strained period caused when a Turkish combat aircraft shot down a Russian military jet in November 2015.

Click here to see graphic video of the attack in Ankara

Altintas could be heard yelling "Allahu akbar" and shouting Arabic verses popular with Jihadis, according to a FoxNews.com translation of video of the attack.

"Do not forget Aleppo, do not forget Syria...we die there every day...We are not safe here in the streets when they are dying over there," he said.

"Youll never be safe as long as other mothers are unsafe...Keep filming me, only my dead corpse will leave this building."

Altintas then turned back to the Syria conflict: "Whoever is responsible for this [tyranny] is going to pay."

Shortly after the attack ended, the U.S. State Department tweeted about a reported shooting in the area of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara and warned U.S. citizens to stay away. The State Department later clarified that it was referring to Karlov's shooting and not a new incident.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the assassination a "despicable attack." Kerry said the killing was "an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world."

Kerry said the U.S. was ready to offer help to Russia and Turkey in the investigation of the attack.

Karlov, 62, had been Russia's ambassador to Turkey since July 2013. He was Russia's ambassador to North Korea from 2001-2006.

Karlov is survived by a wife and a son.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A court in northern Vietnam sentenced two activists to more than 10 years in prison each for attempted subversion.

Tran Anh Kim and Le Thanh Tung were convicted of attempting to overthrow the communist government by setting up "reactionary group in the name of national force for democracy" and were sentenced respectively to 13 years and 12 years at the one-day trial in Thai Binh province Friday.

State-run online newspaper Vietnamnet reported they also must serve 4 years of house arrest after their prison terms end.

Kim, 67, is a former army officer who had been sentenced previously for violating national security law.

U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius in a statement Monday called for their release.
Fidel Castro: Africa has lost a friend

Fidel Castro will go down in history as a revolutionary leader who strongly supported the liberation struggle in Africa. The courage with which he withstood and confronted years of intimidation and threats from the gatekeepers of the "might is right" ideology, and on his own terms, inspired and will inspire the alternative world of genuine hope and freedom.

http://sfbayview.com/2016/11/fidel-castro-africa-has-lost-a-friend/
Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies Expands China Presence with Opening of Four Schools

Leading Early Education Provider Opens Additional Locations in Nanjing, Beijing, Dalian and Tianjin -

December 19, 2016 // Franchising.com // DULUTH, Ga. - Kids 'R' Kids International, Inc., an international early childhood education franchisor with more than three decades of experience, announced the opening of four international academies in China. The new schools are now serving hundreds of children in Nanjing, Beijing, Dalian and Tianjin. Last year, the Duluth, Georgia-based company opened its first international school in Beijing, followed by a second opening in Shanghai last summer. Kids 'R' Kids International, Inc. will open an additional six locations across China in 2017.

"We are thrilled to continue our international expansion in China," said David Vinson, president and chief executive officer of Kids 'R' Kids International, Inc. "Since opening our first school in Beijing, our concept has been well received. These new openings are a testament to our long-standing principle of "Hug First, Then Teach," which has not only stood the test of time but also has demonstrated the ability to transcend cultures in the classroom."

All Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies in China utilize the brand's standard curriculum, including a supplemental Mandarin program that supports the concept's longstanding philosophies while meeting the requirements of the Chinese education system. Approximately half of the curriculum is taught in English and the other half in Mandarin. The school's staff members include both Chinese and foreign instructors from the U.S. and across the globe.

As part of its long-term growth strategy for international development, Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies is looking to expand in cities across South America, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Colombia, and India. Domestically, the brand is seeking qualified franchisees to expand its presence in existing markets while delving into new areas across the country.

For more than 30 years, Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies has upheld its long-standing principle of strengthening and encouraging childhood development on an emotional, intellectual, social and physical level through a unique partnership between its child care providers and parents.

The company offers a variety of curriculum programs designed for infants through prekindergarten. Its proprietary First Class Curriculum is designed specifically for every developmental stage of education with theme-based units, specific learning activities and teacher-friendly lesson plans. This year, Kids 'R' Kids launched a revolutionary music curriculum called ColorSoundation, which was developed by noted Los Angeles-based musician and teacher Shiho Yamamoto, to teach very young children the fundamentals of music through the integration and interplay of colors with sounds. Last year, Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies unveiled its new STEAM AHEAD curriculum, an integrated project-based curriculum for preschool students, ages three to five, which incorporates more science, technology, engineering, art, and math into everyday learning through play.

With a nationally awarded curriculum, Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies provides early education and care for children from six weeks through 12 years of age at its nearly 160 schools located in 16 states across the country. Programs offered to children include infant care, toddler and preschooler care, private pre-K and kindergarten, before-and-after school care and summer camp. In order to provide even more convenience for families with busy schedules, Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies remain open during all major school breaks and holidays nationwide, all year round.

Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies has been accredited by AdvancED in America for more than six years, the world's largest education community. This accreditation ensures its schools are meeting and exceeding the highest accreditation standards and providing excellence in education beyond most daycare and childcare providers.

To learn more about ownership opportunities with Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies, contact Rashid Khan at (844) KRK-FRAN (844-575-3726) or rashid@kidsrkids.com or visit kidsrkidsfranchise.com.

About Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies

Headquartered in the North Atlanta suburb of Duluth, Ga., Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies provide a secure, nurturing, and educational environment for children (ages six weeks - 12 years) to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. With nearly 160 learning academies in 16 states, Kids 'R' Kids International is a family-owned and operated organization that ranks in the top 10 nationwide for franchised early childhood education centers (www.kidsrkids.com).

SOURCE Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies

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Alexya Williams

Social Media Coordinator

Fish Consulting, LLC

O:(954) 893-9150

C: (575) 202-7367

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Fredericksburgs co-working space has a new owner and is being renovated to provide more services to its members.

Reclaim Hosting, a Fredericksburg-based company founded in 2013 that provides educators and companies with web domains and web hosting, has taken over the lease of The Foundry at 2324 Plank Road in the Gateway Village Shopping Center.

Co-owner Tim Owens, who has been working out of his home, said he was looking for an office location for Reclaim Hosting that was more than an office. Owens was also looking for a living room that people could come and visit and approached The Foundrys landlord to see if he had locations that were similar to the co-working space.

Owens found out that community nonprofit FredXchange found the space too taxing on its mission and finances, and was looking for a new operator to take over the Foundry.

The 3,400-square-foot Foundry allows entrepreneurs, startups and small companies to work collaboratively, and opened in 2015. It was also a place for FredXchange to host its programs.

Owned by Owens and Jim Groom, Reclaim Hosting comes from a similar collaborative background.

Groom formerly directed the Division of Teaching and Learning Technologies at the University of Mary Washington, and started the schools Domain of Ones Own program. He also espoused digital identity and ownership to students in a digital storytelling course called ds106 which started at UMW and later opened to anyone online, creating a community around those ideas.

Owens also worked at UMW as a part of DTLT, helping build the Domain of Ones Own project that provides domains and hosting to UMW students, faculty and staff.

They want to bring that spirit to the co-working space and are completely overhauling the office.

They are adding a glass-enclosed conference room, laptop bar, collaborative table, private desks and booths. They are also adding a recording studio, green screen, and 3D printing.

Its an office with utility ... it will have a coffee-shop vibe with more ability to get work done, Owens said.

Crews began work this week at the new space, which will be open by March and ready to take new memberships.

FredXchange board member Andrew Curtis said the group is retooling to focus on its core offerings: Open Coffee and FredDev. Open Coffee, its weekly networking meeting for entrepreneurs, is temporarily being held on Fridays at Catalyst Media at 3451 Jefferson Davis Hwy.

FredDev, a programming-focused meet-up, has a temporary home at Germanna Community College.

He said after the renovation is finished, programs will move back to The Foundry.
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (R) 3 STARS

COLLATERAL BEAUTY (PG-13) 2 STARS

Two movies that deal with death are out this holiday season, one that succeeds in a unique way and one that only connects in its last 10 minutes.

Manchester by the Sea is by far the more powerful of the two films, its basic premise that some tragedies are so devastating that theres little chance of getting back to normal.

Surprisingly, the film doesnt play out like your typical melodrama, as we join the main character, Lee (Casey Affleck) long after the night that changed his life.

Its another loss hes dealing with this time, the death of his brother (Kyle Chandler), to whom he was very close.

Though hes visibly upset by the loss, its clear that Lee isnt a guy who wears his emotions on his sleeve, instead greeting every horrible part of this latest loss with a flat, seemingly unfeeling demeanor.

The brothers death means that Lee will need to leave his dull existence in Boston as an apartment handyman to return to Manchester and care for his nephew.

Lees journey to see just how much he has left for that nephew is the heart of the film. Its not full of melodrama, the way youd expect for films with this much loss.

Instead, we follow Lee back into memories of the horror he faced, and eventually learn that his approach to coping is to shut himself down and avoid feelings whenever possible.

Despite that approach, the film builds emotionally as we see what the former father and husband has had to cope with.

Affleck handles the role in a unique way, only occasionally giving signs of the horrible pain he lives with every day.

There are a host of other great performances in the film, which shows that in real life, life isnt always happily ever after.

Collateral Beauty takes another stab at how people deal with death, as its main character (Will Smith as Howard) simply stops interacting with the world and anyone in it after he loses his young daughter to cancer.

In order to reach him, friends in the firm hes created hire three actors to play Death, Love and Time, three abstracts that Howard has written letters to.

It all plays out too strangely, especially when the film tries to toss in a few surprises at the end.

Smiths character is just too mute and shut down for much of the films start, and then the story feels forced to reach an emotional conclusion.

Along the way, however, Helen Mirren and Michael Pena make real impressions as the actress who portrays Death, and one of Howards co-workers.

Manchester is rated R for language throughout and some sexual content, and is playing locally at Paragon Village 12. Collateral is rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language, and is playing locally at Paragon Village 12 and Marque Southpoint 9.
A Culpeper County woman is accused of taking target practice under unsafe conditions.

Gabrielle Rhodes, 26, was arrested Saturday and charged with the reckless discharge of a firearm, according to Culpeper Sheriffs Capt. Bryant Arrington.

The incident began with a call from a neighbor complaining about shooting noise. Using the states noise ordinance as a guide, deputies checked the Kirtley TrailManor Drive area, but heard no shooting.

Then, after another complaint was reported about 4 p.m., deputies determined that the shots were coming from a residence on Kirtley Trail. When no one answered the door, the deputies obtained a search warrant, which was executed shortly before 10 p.m. that night.

According to Arrington, they found a Glock .40-caliber handgun and a 22-round magazine under a bed. Items with bullet holes were also located, he said.

Empty casings were also found in the home and bullets were dug from a tree stump in the backyard, Arrington said.

Rhodes was charged after she claimed ownership of the gun, he said. She was released on $3,000 bond.

While target practice is not illegal, Arrington said that there was no safe backstop in the yard and that there were several houses close by.

The Sheriffs Office is also investigating a an incident where a stray bullet went through the back glass of a van on Manor Drive several months ago, Arrington said.
When Humna Sharif takes the stage to give the undergraduate commencement address at Germanna Community Colleges fall graduation tonight, she plans to tell her classmates about growing up in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.

The nearly 700 students who will be honored at the 7 p.m. ceremony come from all backgrounds and walks of life. Many have overcome challenges and made sacrifices to continue their education.

Just three years after leaving behind a comfortable life in Pakistan, the 21-year-old Sharifs drive and determination have helped her earn a 4.0 GPA and admittance to the University of Virginia, where she will study environmental science and economics.

But like many of the classmates she will speak to, her story isnt hers alone.

It belongs just as much to her family: her three sisters and her parents, Tariq and Naila Sharif, who just three years ago gave up status and luxury back home to give their daughters the best opportunities they could.

When Sharif went to school each day as a young girl, she said, she saw children on the street who couldnt afford to attend.

There are government schools in Pakistan that are open to anyone, unlike the expensive private schools, she said. But even the government schools charge fees. And some families might be able to pay them, but they need their children to work, or they couldnt afford the clothing, food and other costs if their children went to school.

We are a developing nation. Theres no shame in admitting that, Sharif said. I see there are a lot of discrepancies in the way people in the cities live and the way rural life is still, but theres a lot of focus on education there.  Its growing very rapidly.

Though officially education is compulsory in Pakistan, in practice, it has the second-largest population of children out of school in the world5.1 millionafter Nigeria, according to the 2014 Education for All Global Monitoring Report.

I have seen, just in my lifetime, the 18 years that I spent there, [Islamabad]  has grown so fast, and Ive seen all these universities crop up and all these schools getting better and the education getting better, and theyve focused a lot on introducing us to different worldviews, Sharif said. It is still a third-world country, that is how were classified. But I think it will change soon. Its moving toward that direction.

LEARnING HUMANITY

Friends here are often surprised that she doesnt have an accent, she said, adding that many people dont realize that although Urdu is Pakistans national language, English is the language used for official business, due to its history as a British possession. So most Pakistani people learn English, especially in the Sharif girls generation.

Things were a little different for her mother, who left school at 15. Naila Sharif has always wanted to study more, and hopes she might have the chance to attend Germanna herself, she said.

I spent a very good life in my country, with my husband. Hes a very good man. But sometimes I miss those things, Naila Sharif said of her desire to learn. And all these things, I transfer into [my daughters]. In my thinking, this is a very big thing for a human being, to be educated.

Tariq Sharif, a longtime member of the civil serviceeventually a federal joint secretary just a step away from a cabinet-level positioncould afford to send his children to private school. But he and his wife chose to keep them in the public schoolsgovernment schoolsinstead, they said.

You learn humanity, and you learn how to do without money, which is very important for humans. At this [young] age, they learn these things. This is very good, Naila Sharif said.

Getting the green card

The family felt the girls were receiving an excellent education at their government schools. While there were issues of safety, they never went out alone, and a car and driver sat ready for running errands. At times, there were bodyguards.

Even when going out was safe, the culture was fairly restrictive of womens freedom, they said. And the family had questions about where the girls would go to college, since competition is fierce for university spots. But it was a comfortable life, and the family was happy in Islamabad.

Then came the call that changed everything.

Sixteen years ago, Naila Sharifs parents, who had emigrated to the United States several years before, applied for a green card for their daughter.

But its a long process, and there was no guarantee it would ever be approved. In the meantime, Tariq Sharif continued to rise up the ranks of the civil service.

Hell never forget the day he heard that his wife and daughters had been given green cards, he said.

To stay or to go? It was one of the most difficult decisions hed ever had to make. But when he thought of the freedom, safety and opportunities his girls would have, his mind was made up.

His family went ahead, but his own green card took another year. Once in the U.S., he applied for government positions like those in which he had been so successful back home. But they required citizenship, which he wont be eligible for until he has spent five years in the country.

So this career civil servant instead has operated a gas station and sold cars. His wifeonce like a queen of their home, he saidspends long hours on her feet at Subway, and his daughters have worked everywhere from Macys to Dunkin Donuts.

But theyre not complaining. Though Humna Sharif feels she was sometimes cynical in her early teenage years, the more she had the chance to learn, the more she saw the world open itself up to her.

Thats the message she wants to share with her classmates in her speech, she said.

I do think that sometimes some things are taken for granted. I dont mind if I have to work late nights, if I lose a job or I have to look for another one, Humna Sharif said. Here, you have the world wide open in front of you.
DEAR SANTA,

Its me again with my 51st annual letter, a little older, no more wiser and still looking for that go-cart that never made it under the tree.

I hope this correspondence finds you well.

As I have previously explained, my first few letters in the mid- to late 1960s were more or less press releases from my family because I had not yet developed the skills to express myself in writing, aside from scrawling my dog good on a hallway wall in purple crayon.

That resulted in punishment and a realization that words are powerful, which in turn led to a life in journalism and continued punishment in the form of low wages, job instability and public disdain.

But enough about me; lets talk about you as you prepare to travel around the globe, breaking into peoples houses, devouring their cookies and hopefully leaving a little swag behind.

Heres some advice: You may want to review Floridas stand-your-ground law before visiting homes in the Sunshine State.

It was a tough year, as most are, but you made it through once again. The toys, long ago outsourced to China, are packaged and ready for the good little girls and boys, and the sleigh, recalled this summer due to the reindeer emissions scandal, is back and packed and ready to go.

You survived yet another hard-fought election for Worlds Most Popular Mythical Being, with the Easter Bunny and his supporters running a particularly brutal campaign, especially on social media.

There were the tweets:

Crooked Claus! Little Mary asked for a dolly last year and got a teddy bear. Crooked Claus is no good. #bunny #makethe northpolegreatagain.

Saw Crooked Claus on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer last night. Unwatchable. I think his beard is fake. Mrs. Claus may be his real beard. #colored eggs #yellowsnow.

Why is Crooked Claus getting emails on his private server instead of his .xmas account? Something is fishy and its not a penguins breath. #greatbunny #FrostyendorsedME.

There were fake news stories shared millions of times on Facebook:

You wont BELIEVE what Santa does down the chimney 

Mrs. Claus to Santa: Get out, you cheating bozo!

Blitzen spills the beans on Santas eggnog problem!

None of it true, but nowadays people believe what they want to be believe and the facts be damned, even when the fake posts are debunked by the South Poles fact-checking website, Snowpes.

Luckily, though, when the votes were counted, you were elected to yet another term as Worlds Most Popular Mythical Being. The Easter Bunny did well in the North Poles frost belt thanks to his populist message and in the South Pole, you both managed to hold off third-party candidate Bigfoot and his running mate Lizard Man.

In the end, with the help of the Elftoral College and a Russian hacker named Triglav, you were triumphant. Well done, sir.

So enough about you; lets get back to me. After 52 years of booties, crayons, Gnip Gnop, an Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle or two and later a lot of well just get him some beer cause we know he likes that, I cant think of anything material I need. The truck runs. The house only leaks when it rains. Theres soup in the cabinet. The old dog is a little whiter around the snout but shes still here.

I might ask that people be a little nicer to each other, lighten up on the name-calling and realize, most times, we have more common than we let on.

Oh, yeah, and I still want that go-cart.

Love,

Scott.

Scott Hollifield is editor/general manager of The McDowell News in Marion, N.C. Email him at rhollifiel@mcdowellnews.com.
TODAY, some people youve never heard of will meet to elect the next president of the United States, something you thought you did last month. In theory, they could elect Hillary Clinton or Mitt Romney or John Kasich or whoever.

They wont, of course. Members of the Electoral College are all party regulars, and they will cast their votes for their partys nominee, with maybe just a few more exceptions than usual. Those defectors will get plenty of attention, but they wont make a difference. The Electoral College will formally elect Donald Trump as the next presidenteven though more people actually voted for Clinton.

Today, lets look at this 18th-century contraption. As you may remember from school, the Constitutional Convention was riven by the split between large states and small states. A famous compromise led to a bicameral legislaturewith the House based on population and the Senate based on states. The same sort of compromise led to the Electoral College.

The Virginia Plan originally pushed by James Madison called for the president to be elected by Congress, but others wanted a more independent chief executive. (Wed like to think history validates that view.) Madison then argued for the president to be chosen by popular vote, but small states worried that theyd get outvoted. The South wasnt very keen on a popular vote, either. Northern states tended to be more generous in granting the franchise; Southern states more restrictive.

The compromise was to create a special panel to elect the presidentone that replicated the same mix of population-based and state-based representation. Alexander Hamilton extolled this system in the Federalist Papers by pointing out that the electors would be elected directly by the people for just a single purposeto choose a president.

Hamilton thought the Electoral Collegea phrase that never appears in the Constitutionwould weed out unsuitable contenders: 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. ...

You can decide for yourself how well thats worked out.

However, electors quickly became party-pledged partisans. After a few fits and starts, the Electoral College became a constitutional formality.

The problems with the Electoral College are obvious. The candidate with the most number of votes doesnt automatically win, which seems to go against our basic understanding of democracy. Thats happened five times out of 49in 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000 and 2016. That amounts to a 10 percent error rate.

Two of those 19th-century exceptions have major asterisks hanging over them. In 1824, six states didnt have elections at all. Those statessome on each sidetried to game the system in favor of a particular candidate by having their state legislature pick the electors. So we really dont know who would have won a true national election. The results in 1876 were complicated by Reconstruction, and the lack of a popular vote in Colorado, which had just joined the Union.

The popular vote/electoral vote splits in 2000 and 2016 are easier to explain: Both elections were close, and because of the way its put together, the Electoral College has an inherent skew toward small, rural states, which currently benefits Republicans.

Democrats arent helped by how their vote is so concentrated in urban areas on the coasts. Democrats need to persuade a lot of their supporters to move out of California and take up residence in, say, Texas.

The Electoral College does have one happy benefit: It confines any irregularities to a single state. Withoutit, that infamous 2000 Florida recount would have been nationwide.

More importantly, it also forces some degree of moderation on both sides. Without the Electoral College, Democrats need only focus on running up the score in California instead of trying to win Michigan. Republicans would focus on maximizing their vote out of Alabama instead of trying to soften their approach enough to win Virginia. Without the Electoral College, the dynamics of our presidential campaigns would be even more polarized than they are now.

Theres never been a serious effort to do away with the Electoral College and simply abide by the popular vote. However, there have been efforts to have states award their electoral votes based on congressional districts rather than winner-take-all. This has mostly been a Republican ploy to pry some electoral votes out of states that generally go Democratic.

Theres a more nonpartisan reason, though, to think this is a bad idea. States, at least, have permanent borders; this is after all, the United States of America. But congressional districts are the results of gerrymanderingon both sides.

Its bad enough that Congress and state legislatures are skewed by gerrymandering; lets not add the presidency to the list.

adapted from The Roanoke Times
Firearms study threatens citizens rights

State Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, has proposed a study of the cost and feasibility of a firearms registry in Virginia. Her proposal should be recognized for what it is, and steadfastly opposed.

In addition to being unlawful under federal law, such a firearms registry would not address the issue she uses to justify its existence.

A firearms registry is the first step in restricting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. Any restriction compromises our liberty and safety as individual citizens, and compromises our collective security.

Our Founding Fathers, understanding the wisdom and necessity of our right to bear arms, enshrined that right in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That right is also protected by the Constitution of Virginia.

The senators attempt to commit taxpayer dollars to the study is disturbing. Her baseless supposition that a registry could help the state identify where and why gun violence is prevalent and potentially whether there should be more restrictions in areas of heavy crime is even more troubling. If gun violence is her concern, she would do well to tailor her legislative agenda to the criminals committing gun crimes, rather than seeking to curtail the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

This proposal is merely a smoke screen for a transparent attempt to restrict Second Amendment rights.

As a citizen, I will strongly resist any attempt to limit my Second Amendment rights.

As sheriff, I will always do everything within my official power and discretion to see that our constitutional rights, including those rights under the Second Amendment, are protected.

Law-abiding citizens should declare their opposition to any attempt to limit their freedoms. If not, our safety and security will be compromised.

Scott H. Jenkins Culpeper

The writer is the sheriff of Culpeper County.
Denver Auto Repair Shop: Motorized Solutions Launches Complete Winter Service

Motorized Solutions in Denver, CO, announced the availability of their new Winter Tune-up and Maintenance service beginning this winter and going to end of February. More information can be found at http://www.motorizedautosolutions.com/.

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Customers looking for the latest Winter Tune-up and Maintenance service will soon be able to take advantage of this from Motorized Solutions, ahead of the snowy season this winter. Today Tyree Dolif, Master Technician at Motorized Solutions auto repair shop in Denver releases details of the new complete Winter Tune-up and Maintenance service special.

http://www.motorizedautosolutions.com/

The complete Winter Tune-up and Maintenance service is designed to appeal specifically to drivers that want to be safe when embarking on the winter roads this season and includes:

Synthetic Blend Oil Change - This service was included because it is recommended to switch to thinner oil when the temperature drops below freezing. This is great news for the motorist as it will allow the vehicle to run smoothly through those cold winter days.

Multi-point Vehicle Inspection and Tire Rotation - This was made part of the service, because it will ensure that the vehicle is in tip-top shape and ready to take on the snow. Customers who invest in the service should benefit from this feature because it will identify if there are any issues before it's too late, and make sure the tires are ready for snow.

Coolant flush - Motorized Solutions made sure to make this part of the Winter Tune-up and Maintenance service's package as it is important to make sure the vehicle has the correct blend of antifreeze and water. Customers of the Winter Tune-up and Maintenance Service will see benefit in this because it will ensure that the fluids do not freeze in the radiator, can be a high likelihood in cold temperatures.

Tyree Dolif, when asked about the Winter Tune-up and Maintenance service said:

"We like to offer this service at a for our customers every winter because it is important for our customers to feel comfortable and safe knowing their vehicle will not have problems in the cold of winter."

This is the latest offering from Motorized Solutions and Tyree is particularly excited about this launch because it is important to ensure vehicles are prepared for the cold winter. Unprepared vehicles can have issues, which can lead to the motorist being stranded. This is easily avoidable by ensuring that proper care is taken prior to the cold winter season. Motorist will find comfort in knowing that there is nothing to worry about when it is cold and snowy outside.

Those interested in learning more about Motorized Solutions and their Winter Tune-up and Maintenance service can do so on the website at http://www.motorizedautosolutions.com/

For more information, please visit http://www.motorizedautosolutions.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Tyree Dolif

Email: motorizedautosolutions@gmail.com

Organization: Motorized Solution

Address: 6695 W 38th Ave, Wheat Ridge, 80033 United States

Phone: +13039093641

Release ID: 155400

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Milan Rome Luxury Holidays Travel Advisor Booking Expert Services Launched

Luxo Italia, an Italian luxury holiday agency, launched a wide range of luxury travel advising services. The company provides fully personalized luxury holiday plans to popular destinations such as Rome and Milan, as well as 24/7 personal assistance and exclusive benefits.

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Luxo Italia, a group of luxury travel advisors specializing in Italian luxury holidays, launched a complete range of luxury travel services for a variety of tourist resort throughout Italy, including Milan, Rome, and the famous seaside resorts along the Mediterranean.

More information is available at http://luxoitalia.com.

Italy has always been one of the worldwide favorite luxury travel destination. Its rich history, culture and beautiful natural scenery make it a top holiday destination for tourists throughout the world.

Luxo Italia launched complete luxury holidays services for clients looking to visit Italy, with fully customized itinerary planning, as well as booking and transport services. The luxury holiday agency offers personalized assistance from pre-booking through to the trip back home, in an effort to provide competitive luxury holiday services in Italy.

The heart of the Roman Empire, Italy is rich in architectural and urban centers showcasing some of Europe's most renowned historical attractions. Famous cities such as Rome, Milan and Bologna are famous for their unique architecture and historical monuments, such as the famous Coliseum, the University of Bologna, the world's oldest university, or the Tower of Pisa. Luxo Italia offers tailor-suited luxury holiday plans for all these historical centers.

The most popular time to visit Italy is spring and summer, as the mild Mediterranean weather provides an oasis of comfort. Seaside resorts offer impressive views of exotic mountains merging with the pristine blue sea, and the lush islands of Sicily and Sardinia have something for everyone, from hiking enthusiasts to history fans. The luxury travel advisors at Luxo Italia can secure holiday deals for both spring and summer holidays in many Italian destinations such as Milan and Rome.

The Italian culture is famous for its cuisine and exquisite wines. However, most of the best places are relatively unknown to tourists, being inaccessible without inside guidance. Luxo Italia provides complete 24/7 personal assistance, meet and greet services on the day of arrival, access to exclusive places and activities otherwise unavailable and more additional benefits.

What makes Luxo Italia really special is the personal touch. Paul and Andrea, the two young entrepreneurs who founded it are always in touch with the clients. They not only offer their full knowledge and connections to create life time experiences visiting the truly authentic side of Italy but they go the extra mile; they personally welcome the guests to Italy offering a level of assistance nobody on the market is able to offer.

With Luxo Italia travelers come to Italy as a guest but leave as a friends.

Interested parties can find more information by visiting the above-mentioned link.

For more information, please visit http://www.luxoitalia.com

Contact Info:

Name: Andrea Degasperi

Email: info@luxoitalia.com

Organization: Luxo Italia

Address: Via Torino 2, milan Italy

Phone: +39 392 521 7739

Release ID: 155209

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Paediatric Vaccine Market to Grow at a CAGR of 14.4% through 2026

The global paediatric vaccine market is expected to reach US$ 27.97 Bn in 2016.

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According to a new report published by Future Market Insights titled "Paediatric Vaccine Market: Global Industry Analysis & Opportunity Assessment, 2016 - 2026", in terms of revenue, the global paediatric vaccine market is expected to increase at 14.4% CAGR during the forecast period 2016-2026. The global paediatric vaccine market is expected to reach US$ 27.97 Bn in 2016.

Paediatric vaccine market is a billion dollar market accounting for a substantial proportion of healthcare expenditure in the recent times. The paediatric vaccine market is segmented according to indication, technology and vaccine type. According to the indication, the paediatric vaccine market is sub segmented into pneumococcal, DTP, rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal, hepatitis B, Hib, MMR and polio. According to technology the market is further segmented into live or attenuated, inactivated or killed, toxoid, conjugate, subunit and recombinant vaccines. By vaccine type, the global paediatric vaccine market is segmented into monovalent and multivalent vaccines.

A slew of routine immunisation initiatives rolled out by the government and private agencies has broadened the market for the paediatric vaccines. A new wave of funds pumped into the market by different government and private players to cork the rise of the child deaths across the globe has also opened a new window of opportunity for the paediatric vaccine market. As per the report of WHO (World Health Organization), the global spending on immunisation soared from US$21.4 to US$26.9 per infant in 2014. The massive economic boom in some regions of the world is expediting the growth of the paediatric vaccine market.

Request For Sample Report: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1317

Segmentation analysis

By indication, pneumococcal segment accounted for higher revenue share in global paediatric vaccines as compared to other product segments. The pneumococcal segment is expected to reach a value of US$ 31.58 Bn by 2026, reflecting a CAGR of 14.4% over the forecast period. The growth of pneumococcal segment is attributed to the increasing incidence of infectious diseases.

In terms of revenue, Hib vaccine segment is the second most growing segment and is expected to reach a value of US$ 13.49 Bn by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 13.4%. Hepatitis B and meningococcal segment are expected to show double-digit CAGR growth in the forecast period contributing to the growth of global paediatric vaccine market.

By technology, conjugate segment accounted for highest revenue share in global paediatric vaccine market as compared to live or attenuated segment. The conjugate segment is expected to reach a value of US$ 32.09 Bn by 2026, reflecting a CAGR of 14.8% over the forecast period. This is expected to be closely followed by the growth of pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines in this segment

Preview Paediatric Vaccine Market Segmentation By Technology - Live Or Attenuated Vaccine, Inactivated Or Killed Vaccine, Toxoid Vaccine, Conjugate Vaccine and Subunit Vaccine; By Indication - Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, DTP Vaccine, Influenza, Meningococcal Vaccine, Polio Vaccine, Rotavirus Vaccine, MMR Vaccine and Varicella Virus Vaccine; By End User - Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies and Institutional Health Centres; By Vaccine Type - Monovalent Vaccines and Multivalent Vaccines on : http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/pediatric-vaccines-market

By end user, institutional health centres account for higher demand for paediatric vaccine as compared to other end user segments such as hospital pharmacies and retail pharmacies. The strong growth in institutional health centres can be attributed to increasing government interventions in immunisation programs in order to improve vaccine coverage. Institutional health centres are expected to register highest CAGR of 13.8% over the forecast period.

Regional analysis

By region, North America is dominating the global paediatric vaccine market due to improved healthcare infrastructure in this region. The North America paediatric vaccine market is expected to be valued at US$ 20.15 Bn by 2026 growing at a CAGR for 11.0%. In addition to North America, demand for paediatric vaccines has been significantly growing in Western Europe and APEJ. APEJ is expected to grow at a CAGR for 14.9% over the forecast period and is expected to dominate the market by 2026 by generating revenue of US$ 22.69 Bn and revenues in Western Europe are anticipated to grow by 11.2%. Middle East and Africa is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.6% and this growth is anticipated by growth government intervention for immunisation by carrying out national level immunisation campaigns and also disease specific immunisation campaigns.

Send An Enquiry: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1317

Vendor insights

Key players in the global paediatric vaccine market include Indian Immunologicals, GlaaxoSmithKline Plc., Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Merck & Co. Inc., Panacea Biotec, Zydus Cadila, Emergent BioSolutions Inc., Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., and Bharat Biotech. The growth of paediatric vaccine market is attributed to the development in the research by key players in the field, for instance, in February 2016, GSK submitted US regulatory submission for expanding the indication of FLuLaval Quadrivalent, influenza vaccine, for infants more than 6 months. These developments will boost the growth of the global paediatric vaccine market.

For more information, please visit http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/pediatric-vaccines-market

Contact Info:

Name: Abhishek Budholiya

Organization: Future Market Insights

Address: 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,, Valley Cottage, NY 10989,, United States

Phone: +13479183531

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/paediatric-vaccine-market-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-14-4-through-2026/155645

Release ID: 155645

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Cloud deal tracker research report provides detailed information on the major factors influencing the growth of the cloud services and analyses the cloud market structure by identifying various sub-segments of the market.

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The report "Cloud Deal Tracker 2014 - 2015", The key vendors include IBM, Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, and Amazon Web Service.

Browse 45 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Cloud Deal Tracker 2014 - 2015"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cloud-deal-tracker-76694205.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

MarketsandMarkets cloud deal tracker tracks around 147 deals, with various industries and technologies, with which we track the behavior of market by identifying the type of significant deals signed in 2014 and 2015.

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Deals done by cloud services vendors are analyzed by industry, region, service models, deployment modes, and vendors. The deals are tracked by the deal tracker for various industries in technological markets globally. Hence, the deal tracker provides an updated view on deals to its clients to make smart business decisions.

Cloud deal tracker covers the major and important deals signed for two years, 2014 and 2015 and tracks the global cloud services market. The deal tracker helps clients understand emerging trends in the cloud market and identify underlying opportunities.

The major cost associated with using traditional IT infrastructure is the cost of maintenance, which is being overcome by use of cloud environment. Cloud computing is more efficient than a typical client-server model as it provides scalable and flexible computing. Cloud computing is based on the concept of virtualization. Cloud computing is on-demand network access of shared computing resources. Changing business landscape and evolving technology gave rise to cloud adoption.

The main characteristics of cloud computing is the provision of computing capabilities without any human interaction with a service provider. The cloud computing technology is maturing to the point of becoming a prime source of technology for all industries. Most of the large as well as small companies have adopted cloud computing or are in the process of adopting it, for at least some of its applications or processes to leverage its benefits.

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About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is the world's No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors.

M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.

We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.

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Contact Info:

Name: Mr.Rohan

Organization: MarketsandMarkets



Source: http://marketersmedia.com/mnms-new-release-on-cloud-deal-tracker-covering-the-important-deals-signed-in-2014-2015/155612

Release ID: 155612

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Story Highlights Slim majority of Japanese think the U.S. would defend them

Less than half of Taiwanese believe this

Residents of Australia, the Philippines, South Korea, New Zealand most confident

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Months before Donald Trump's election and the potential shake-up in U.S. policy toward Asia that's currently in the headlines, residents across Asia had mixed views about whether the U.S. would defend them if they were involved in a military conflict. Solid majorities in longtime allies Australia, the Philippines, South Korea and New Zealand believed the U.S. would defend them, while sizable numbers in other allies such as Japan and Thailand were far less sure.

Percentage of Country's Population Who Thinks U.S. Military Would Defend Them Defend Not defend Depends Don't know % % % % Australia 79 11 5 5 Philippines 78 14 4 5 South Korea 70 18 5 6 New Zealand 69 17 5 9 Singapore 57 7 16 20 Japan 53 33 3 11 Taiwan 44 35 6 15 Indonesia 42 35 2 21 India 37 33 9 20 Myanmar 35 27 14 24 Mongolia 30 37 4 29 Thailand 27 28 3 40 Vietnam 22 11 22 44 Hong Kong 13 83 2 3 China 13 51 7 30 Pakistan 6 82 3 9 If [country] was in a military conflict with another country, do you think the U.S. military would defend or not defend [country]? Gallup World Poll, 2016

Residents in most countries and territories that do not have a defense agreement or some type of understanding with the U.S. are not confident that the U.S. would come to their aid. This includes majorities in Hong Kong, China and Pakistan who believe the U.S. would not defend them.

Modest Numbers in Japan and Taiwan

The U.S.-Japan Security Alliance states that the U.S. will have military bases in Japan in exchange for U.S. defense of Japan if it were attacked. Despite that agreement, slightly more than half of Japanese (53%) say the U.S. would defend them if Japan became engaged in a military conflict. Recent Japanese military developments could be influencing the country's views. A condition for post-World War II Japan was that it could not use its military outside its own country, but in 2015, that changed when Japan amended its constitution to allow it to use its armed forces outside its border for the first time in 70 years. Fewer than four in 10 Japanese (39%) say it is good that Japan can use its military to help defend another country. Japanese neighbors aren't supportive of Japan's new military authority, as 13% of Chinese and 17% of South Koreans say it's a good idea.

Forty-four percent of Taiwanese say the U.S. would provide military assistance if needed. While the U.S. does not officially recognize Taiwan, Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, which states the U.S. can defend Taiwan. This geopolitical relationship was highlighted recently when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump accepted a phone call from Taiwan's president -- something no U.S. president or president-elect has done since the U.S. established relations with China in 1979. Forty-eight percent of the Taiwanese approve of U.S. leadership, while 36% approve of Chinese leadership.

Filipinos' Positive View of U.S. Differs From Their President's

The Philippines' new leader, President Rodrigo Duterte, departed significantly from the rest of his country's opinion when he publicly denounced the leadership of the U.S. and signaled his alignment with China. The majority of Filipinos approve of U.S. leadership (71%), while 20% approve of China's leadership.

More than three in four Filipinos (78%) believe the U.S. would defend them in a military conflict, on par with views in Australia (79%). However, since this survey was conducted, Duterte has stated that he wants U.S. troops out of the country in two years.

Pakistan and Hong Kong Not Confident in U.S. Military Assistance

Despite a large amount of U.S. aid and a long-standing strategic relationship, 6% of Pakistanis think the U.S. would defend them. This likely reflects the frequent U.S. incursions into Pakistani territory while pursuing the Taliban and terrorists, as well as the U.S.'s warm relationship with India.

Hong Kong residents are as likely as Pakistanis to believe the U.S. will not defend them (83%). As part of the "one country, two systems" agreement, Hong Kong has been part of China since 1997. In recent years, Hong Kong's relationship with Beijing has been somewhat tenuous, as some residents have demanded free elections. Despite sharing English as a language and respecting democracy, Hong Kong does not see the U.S. as a reliable ally in its struggle for increased autonomy.

Implications

Trump's demonstrated willingness to break from traditional diplomatic norms will inevitably alter Asian countries' perspectives on the credibility of the United States' threat of force -- though it is currently unclear how. Changes in U.S. administrations can significantly alter global views of the U.S. After Barack Obama was elected in 2008, worldwide approval of U.S. leadership jumped to 49%, up from 34% under George W. Bush. It remains to be seen how Trump's victory will affect the U.S. image and geopolitical decision-making, but it could introduce a large degree of uncertainty into the United States' willingness to send troops or other military assistance abroad.

The data in this article are available in Gallup Analytics.

Survey Methods

Results are based on interviews conducted from March 2016 to July 2016 across Asia with nationally representative samples of 1,000 to 4,373 adults, aged 15 and older. For results based on these national samples of adults, the margin of sampling errors are 4.5 percentage points or less, at the 95% confidence level.

For more complete methodology and specific survey dates, please review Gallup's Country Data Set details.

Learn more about how the Gallup World Poll works.
Story Highlights Nurses rated highest among professions for 15 th straight year

straight year College teachers' ratings dropped

41% say journalists' standards are "low" or "very low"

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Most Americans trust their healthcare providers to be honest and ethical, but few other professions fare so well in Gallup's annual look at honesty and ethical standards among various fields. Nurses top the list with 84% of the public rating their standards as "high" or "very high," while members of Congress fall to the bottom -- the only profession for which a majority of Americans (59%) rate honesty and ethical standards as "low" or "very low."

Americans' Ratings of Honesty and Ethical Standards in Professions Please tell me how you would rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in these different fields -- very high, high, average, low or very low? Very high/High Very low/Low Average % % % Nurses 84 3 13 Pharmacists 67 8 26 Medical doctors 65 7 29 Engineers 65 5 29 Dentists 59 7 34 Police officers 58 13 29 College teachers 47 18 32 Clergy 44 13 39 Chiropractors 38 13 45 Psychiatrists 38 12 45 Bankers 24 30 46 Journalists 23 41 34 Lawyers 18 37 45 State governors 18 35 45 Business executives 17 32 50 HMO managers 12 31 48 Senators 12 50 37 Stockbrokers 12 39 46 Advertising practitioners 11 40 46 Insurance salespeople 11 38 51 Car salespeople 9 46 45 Members of Congress 8 59 31 Gallup, Dec 7-11, 2016

Nurses have topped the list every year but one since Gallup first asked about them in 1999. In 2001, Gallup included firefighters in the list based on their heroic efforts in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and 90% of the public rated their honesty and ethical standards as "high" or "very high."

A majority of Americans viewed only six of the 22 professions Gallup measured in its Dec. 7-11 poll as having "high" or "very high" ethical standards. For 10 of those professions, fewer than one in five Americans rated the standards as "high" or "very high" -- including key aspects of American society such as lawyers, lawmakers and business executives.

College Teachers' Rating Falls Below 50%

College teachers' honesty and ethical standards rating dropped to 47% this year from 53% in 2012. The first four ratings for college teachers, conducted between 1976 and 1983, were below 50%, bottoming out at 42% in 1977. The rating rose to 53% in 1985 and stayed above 50% in all but one of the next 18 polls through 2012.

The percentage of Americans saying college teachers' standards were either "low" or "very low" reached a new high of 18%, surpassing the 11% recorded in 2009.

Ratings of college teachers showed strong partisan differences, with 33% of Republicans giving them a "high" or "very high" rating, compared with 63% of Democrats.

More Americans Rate Journalists' Standards as "Low" or "Very Low"

The 23% who rated journalists' honesty and ethical standards as "high" or "very high" this month is within a few points of the 20% who rated it "high" or "very high" in 1994. The percentage saying their honesty and ethical standards were "low" or "very low" climbed to 41%, 10 percentage points above the previous high of 31% measured in 2008 and 2009. In previous polls, more Americans rated journalists' standards as "average."

Twenty-one percent of Democrats rated journalists' honesty and ethical standards as "low" or "very low," compared with 63% of Republicans.

Ratings of Clergy's Honesty and Ethical Standards Continue Slow Descent

Americans' "high" or "very high" ratings of the clergy slipped to 44%, its lowest point since Gallup first asked the question in 1977. The clergy rating first dropped below 50% in 2013 to 47% and slipped one point to a new low in each of the past three years.

Clergy ranked at the top of the list in 1977 with a 61% rating when Gallup first included the profession in the list. In 2001, almost two-thirds of Americans rated the honesty and ethical standards of the clergy as "high" or "very high." But the sexual abuse scandal that engulfed the Roman Catholic Church in 2002 brought the rating down to 52% that year. By 2013, after a series of further revelations of abuse, less than half of the public gave the clergy a "high" or "very high" rating.

Among those most likely to give the clergy a "high" or "very high" rating this month were Protestants (59%), those aged 65 and older (58%), those who attend religious services at least weekly (57%), and Republicans (56%).

The groups least likely to rate the clergy's standards as "high" or "very high" were the nonreligious (22%), 18- to 29-year-olds (30%), those with annual household incomes under $30,000 (31%), those with a high school education or less (37%), and liberals (37%).

Bottom Line

Healthy majorities of the American public continue to show a willingness to trust the honesty and ethical standards of healthcare providers -- nurses, doctors, pharmacists and dentists. However, Americans do not, by and large, rate the honesty and ethical standards of American professions highly.

Further, for the fourth year in a row -- in a nation where religion is an important part of life for three-fourths of the population -- less than half of Americans think religious leaders have high ethical standards. Meanwhile, two groups of professionals linked to the bitter political battles of 2016 -- college teachers and journalists -- are at or near their all-time lows, with views split along partisan lines.

As Americans consider how much to trust the honesty and ethical standards of many of the country's major professions in the next few years, politics may be a major factor. With the public expecting President-elect Donald Trump to make major changes to the federal government, the fierce political battles to come could produce a litany of charges of dishonesty and corruption. Trump is already embroiled in controversy concerning what should happen to his business holdings, and that may turn out to be a precursor to the ethics charges and countercharges that lie ahead.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Dec. 7-11, 2016, with a random sample of 1,028 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.
Story Highlights Economy averaged 16% mentions in 2016, lowest since 2007

Unemployment, government dissatisfaction also prominent

Record-high 8% said race relations is most important problem

PRINCETON, N.J. -- No single problem dominated Gallup's list of the most important problems facing the U.S. in 2016, but, at 16%, the economy averaged the most mentions. Dissatisfaction with the government followed closely at 13%. Unemployment or jobs has ranked in the top four every year since 2009, and ranked third this year with 9%. Race relations ranked fourth with 8%, the highest annual average for this issue in recent years.

Top Four Issues Americans Named as Most Important Problem Facing the U.S. Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 3 (tie)/4 2016 Economy, 16% Gov't, 13% Jobs, 9% Race relations, 8% 2015 Gov't, 16% Economy, 13% Jobs, 8% Immigration, 8% 2014 Gov't, 18% Economy, 17% Jobs, 15% Healthcare, 10% 2013 Economy, 22% Gov't, 20% Jobs, 16% Healthcare, 10% 2012 Economy, 31% Jobs, 25% Gov't, 13% Fed. deficit, 10% 2011 Economy, 30% Jobs, 29% Gov't, 12% Fed. deficit, 12% 2010 Economy, 29% Jobs, 27% Healthcare, 13% Gov't, 12% 2009 Economy, 40% Jobs, 16% Healthcare, 15% Gov't, 7% 2008 Economy, 39% Iraq, 18% Gas prices, 10% Healthcare, 8% 2007 Iraq, 33% Healthcare, 10% Immigration, 9% Gov't, 8% 2006 Iraq, 26% Immigration, 10% Gov't, 9% Economy, 9% 2005 Iraq, 22% Economy, 11% Gov't, 8% Terrorism, 8% 2004 Iraq, 22% Economy, 19% Jobs, 14% Terrorism, 14% 2003 Economy, 27% Iraq, 17% Jobs, 12% Terrorism, 10% 2002 Terrorism, 24% Economy, 22% Iraq, 9% Jobs, 7% 2001 Economy, 14% Terrorism, 10% Ethics/Morals, 9% Education, 9% Annual averages of monthly results Gallup

Each month, Gallup asks Americans to name, in their own words, the most important problem facing the U.S. The 2016 results are based on the average responses for each issue across the 12 national surveys.

At 7%, immigration was the fifth-most-important issue in 2016, just below the 8% recorded in 2015, when it tied for the third-highest-mentioned issue.

Economy Still Concerning, but Less So Than in Recent Years

The economy has historically been among the top few issues Americans identify as the nation's most important problem. However, reflecting the better economic conditions of recent years, the percentage naming it has dwindled from 40% in 2009 to less than 20% in each of the past three years. The average 16% naming the economy in 2016 is the second-lowest since the financial crisis hit in 2008, after last year's 13%. The relatively low mentions of the economy as the top problem coincide with a rise in overall economic confidence to nine-year highs.

Signaling that Americans' concerns are more spread out than in years past, 2016 was the second straight year that only two issues averaged double-digit mentions as the nation's top problem, after seven years when three or more issues routinely averaged at least 10%.

The 13% mentioning government encompasses a variety of complaints about the leadership of the federal government, including the Republican-controlled Congress and President Barack Obama. The government first appeared among the top four problems in 2005 and has remained there every year except 2008, when gas prices zoomed up in public concern.

Race Relations and Elections Surge

The 8% of Americans naming race relations over the course of 2016 is up from 5% last year and 3% in 2014, and it is the highest in Gallup polling since 1970. The 2016 average included a spike to 18% in July after well-publicized incidents involving police officers killing black men, as well as fatal shootings by black men of police officers in Dallas and Louisiana. From 2001 through 2015, only 1% of Americans, on average, thought race relations was the most important U.S. problem.

Elections or the need for election reform also garnered unusually high public concern in 2016. The 6% naming it the nation's most important problem was by far the highest for this category in Gallup polling history. Mentions were generally higher in the second half of the year -- after the presidential nominees were selected -- than in the first half, peaking at 11% in November. By contrast, before this year's highly contentious presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the percentage citing the election process as the top problem averaged less than 1%. Even in the past presidential election years of 2008 and 2004, just 1% named the election or the need for election reform, and in 2012 the category didn't register a single percent.

Most Important Problems Facing the U.S. in 2016 2016 yearly total^ Highest monthly result Lowest monthly result % % % Economy 16 18 12 Government 13 16 8 Unemployment/Jobs 9 11 5 Race relations 8 18 5 Immigration 7 12 5 Terrorism 6 9 2 Elections/Election reform 6 11 2 National security 5 7 3 Fed. deficit/debt 5 6 3 Healthcare 5 10 3 Ethics/Morals 4 6 1 No opinion 4 7 2 Other noneconomic 3 4 2 Unifying the country 3 6 1 Lack of respect for each other 3 6 1 Crime/Violence 3 4 1 Poverty/Homelessness 3 4 1 Education 3 5 1 Environment/Pollution 2 3 1 Judicial system 2 3 1 Lack of money 2 3 1 Gap between rich and poor 2 4 1 Foreign aid 2 3 1 Situation in Iraq 2 3 1 Guns 2 7 1 Issues averaging 2% or higher; ^Based on average of 12 monthly surveys Gallup

Bottom Line

With unemployment much lower today than at its peak in 2009 and with economic confidence at new nine-year highs, far fewer Americans in 2016 than in recent years named the economy as the nation's top problem. Yet, at 16%, it still averaged more mentions in 2016 than any other issue, perhaps reflecting the presidential campaign's economic themes. The government remains the object of many Americans' ire (13%). But each of the other top 10 issues -- including unemployment/jobs, race relations, immigration, terrorism, election reform, national security, the federal deficit and healthcare -- garnered less than 10%.

As a result, Trump will assume the presidency at a time when a variety of serious issues are important to small segments of people. That is different from the situation Obama faced when he was first elected in 2008, when Americans largely agreed that the economy was the foremost problem. In that year, an average 39% of Americans said the economy was the nation's most important problem, and it remained No. 1 as Obama was sworn in for his second term in 2013.

The current issue landscape is more reminiscent of 2000, when George W. Bush was first elected, but only in the sense that Americans' concern was highly dispersed across multiple issues. However, at that time the economy ranked sixth, mentioned by 7%, and terrorism had not yet emerged as a serious national security concern. The leading issues were more standard domestic fare such as education, ethical/moral decline, crime and healthcare. Of course, any intention Bush may have had to focus his administration on those items was upended by the 9/11 terrorist attacks in his first year, completely resetting the national agenda.

Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics.

Survey Methods

Results for the monthly Gallup Poll Social Series surveys included in this analysis are based on telephone interviews conducted with a random sample of approximately 1,000 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The yearly averages from the combined results are based on the total sample of approximately 12,000 national adults, with a margin of sampling error of 1 percentage point at the 95% confidence level.

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.
Though I was largely disappointed with Watch Dogs, the thing I like to salvage and look back on fondly is the multiplayer, an interesting interpretation of Dark Souls invasion system, focusing more on deceiving the player youre invading than slaying them. In particular, I enjoyed the tailing assignments the most, tasking you with blending into the background of their game, becoming just another face in the crowd. If you did it right, they never even knew you were there.

The thrill was partly voyeuristic, of seeing someone else go about what was ostensibly a single-player experience, something that you rarely get to bear witness to unless through streaming, but even there its a communal thing, airs affected and commentary provided. Instead here youre just watching what someone does when theyre there for no one but themselves. It was fascinating.

But most of that thrill came from the actual skill of it, obeying traffic laws and wandering down the pavement at walking pace, trying not to move too erratically or act too much like a player would. It was acting, deceiving someone who didnt know they were being deceived.

What made it so enjoyable was how refreshing it was. Here I was, interacting with another player, and neither of us were eager to pull out our weapons and introduce one another through the medium of lead. Its so rare in games like this that player interaction is anything other than violent, that when it isnt something as banal as driving down the street while tailing someone going about their business becomes engrossing.

Its kind of like crash landing on a Polynesian island and you realize that theres edible fruit hanging from every tree. Chris Hecker has been experimenting with these ordinary interactions for years during the development of his game SpyParty, which pits one player as a spy at an NPC-attended cocktail party, planting bugs and retrieving microfilms, while another plays as a sniper with a single bullet, watching the party from afar and trying to figure out which guest isnt just there for the martinis.

Its kind of amazing to me because my experience with designing SpyParty is that theres just game design lying all over the place. When you just put normal people in a normal room things just lend themselves to mechanics. Even putting drinks in peoples hands is a mechanic. Its the idea that if youre designing for normal human to human interaction the design risks are much lower. Deception is one of those mechanics. Its just so unexplored when it comes to making game design. Making a game is hard no matter what, but that said, for the most part theres a very fertile field. As long as you have a discerning sense of whats working and whats not, theres a lot of new and original things you can do.

Talking to Hecker, it quickly becomes apparent that my simple enjoyment of actively deceiving another player isnt nearly as simple when it comes from a design standpoint. Its also something hes having to break down and understand on a computational level as he attempts to create a singleplayer component for SpyParty.

To earn the word deception its almost as if your opponent has to have a formulated plan, which is just so rarely true when dealing with a computer. Its like if you bluffed in poker and everyone always folded. Thats whats happening when you deal with a computer most of the time, you know whats going to happen.

Theres a level of cognition, or at least perceived cognition, for deception to take place. Its the idea of winning even though youre losing, and thats a pretty magical thing. Its not the same as coming from behind; its winning when you have no right to. All these kinds of things require someone at the other end who can appreciate that they were deceived.

Which is a roundabout way of explaining why deception isnt a more explored avenue of development. Its not so much that it isnt interesting, or worthy, but more that it all but necessitates a multiplayer game.

There really arent that many games designed specifically for multiplayer, and thats why you dont see it. Its just starting to happen now that the internet is an integral part of games. Its only in the last decade that weve been able to assume that people can play over the internet.

Deception as a game mechanic isnt really that unexplored, though, so long as you dont limit yourself to video games (though let's make sure to give a nod to the Spy class in Team Fortress 2). Tricking other players and making them believe something that isnt true is an integral part of a huge swathe of board games, as well as a natural tactic in anything live action. Games like Werewolf, Resistance, & Mafia are predicated on the idea that some players will out-and-out lie to one another about who they are and what their intentions might be. The premise of Werewolf, where a few players out of the group are murderous and are slowly picking off the innocents, has even been rendered in the popular Garrys Mod, Trouble In Terrorist Town.

When you play a board game with your friends, you know theyre going to follow the rules. Alex Austin makes Sub Rosa as Cryptic Sea, a game about shady dealing and betrayal, where players are just as likely to pay you as pull out an AK-47 and gun you down. Players form teams (companies) and try to increase the value of their company through successfully doing deals with others. That said, unsuccessfully doing deals isn't always bad, so long as you get what you came for. Dirty deals, backstabbing and deception are all major parts. You could easily cheat in Werewolf, but you know theyre not going to do that. But with an online game any sort of exploit people are going to use. That makes it much more difficult to establish a style of play.

It basically means that you have to limit a players options for interaction. In SpyParty this isnt so difficult; theres no way for the spy to interact with the sniper directly at all, let alone attack them. But with Sub Rosa its a first person game with plenty of automatic weaponry. It wouldnt be that hard to imagine it devolving into gun fight after gun fight. Austin has achieved this firstly through having a relatively small player base for the moment, but also incentivizing "good" play; being trigger happy will cost you progress, whereas doing a good deal will advance you significantly. So the question then becomes how to weave deception into the mix.

I think the tricky thing is the balance between allowing deception but not making it so easy that people always do it, and not so hard that people never do it. How do you make it so that theres balance, so you try to deceive someone and theres a reward, but its a risk?

Which brings us back to poker, and Heckers obsession with it from a game design perspective. Pokeris an immensely skill-based game, but its based on probabilities and projected value, and knowing when to push and when to be conservative. He explains. Any rookie can beat a pro for one hand, but over the course of a full game the pro is always going to win. Its incredibly important in poker that you never have to reveal your hand after you win; the question always has to be there of whether you were bluffing or not.

What poker, SpyParty and Sub Rosa all have in common is that while deception is a big part of their game design, it isnt all thats there. It doesnt work unless its optional, otherwise theres never a question of whether youre being deceived or not. Instead you ask yourself the question, and how strongly you are confident in the answer dictates your behavior: Is this person lying to me? If they are, what can I do about it? Before long youre second- and triple-guessing, and the truth, when it comes to light, comes as a satisfying slap across the face. Of course! How could you be so blind?

From a design perspective deception is incredibly interesting, Hecker says, but its also incredibly niche, so you dont want to base your entire game around it. Only a certain subset of people are even interested in deception as a mechanic, so only recently has the audience become large enough to support a game about deception. SpyParty is a weird game, and the idea of SpyParty 10 years ago just wouldnt work.
Huawei Mate 9 Pro Latest News And Update:Is Best To Buy Over iPhone 8? Here Are The 3 Reasons Why

The Huawei mate 9 is the new phablet from the Chinese brand. The producer has incredible dreams and goals for this telephone, going so far as to state it's rival with both the S7 edge and the iPhone 7 Plus. Huawei moreover would love to attract clients Samsung lost with the Galaxy 7 disasters. Providing at a somewhat focused fee for its specialized details (699 euros), the Huawei Mate 9 is one of this present season's best smartphones. Here are three reasons why you ought to consider getting it over iPhone 8 one year from now.

Its ancestor had an awesome reputation for its equipment, and happily, the Mate 9 is no special case. The latest Huawei child has a 4000 mAh battery. which is equipped for supporting an entire day of concentrated use. In the event that you are a more mellow client, it's conceivable to get no less than a few battery life out of the gadget.

Inside the Huawei Mate 9, you'll locate the most recent HiSilicon processor, from Huawei's subordinate, particularly the Kirin 960 with 6GB of RAM. This SoC has a standard octa-center Cortex-A53 which functions admirably at a most extreme frequency of 1.8 GHz and all the more basically, the new ARM octa-center Cortex-A73 that keeps running at the greatest frequency of 2.4 GHz.

Huawei Mate 9, MediaPad M3, & Huawei Fit Watch to Launch in Japan on December 16th

Read More: https://t.co/6Bs3JhDF65 pic.twitter.com/8SiK3b1sRU  Phone Radar (@phoneradarblog) December 13, 2016

With the P9, Huawei presented its company with Leica, the famous camera producer. Huawei also is delighted in the advantages its new double sensor system. In addition, The Mate 9 is an open door for Huawei to assist the progress in its execution. You'll have the capacity to discover an 8-megapixel shading sensor. Donning a 20-megapixel monochrome sensor. The outcome is truly remarkable.

Everybody wants to travel! Grab your #HuaweiMate9, take a break from work & get going! #aStepAhead pic.twitter.com/AWEHEeuDFd  Huawei Arabia (@HuaweiArabia) December 12, 2016

As indicated by the company, this processor gives a programmed learning calculation, which guarantees a quick and flawless experience even following year and a half of nonstop use. Concerning representation, you'll never again be deserted with the Vulkan perfect Mali G71 MP8 chip.
Surface Pro 5 Release Date, News & Updates: Microsoft To Ditch Away Kaby Lake In Favor Of Snapdragon Processor

Recent developments on the highly anticipated Surface Pro 5 showcase some interesting features that further propel the excitement of the tech market to the debut of the next flagship device of Microsoft. While earlier reports orchestrate toward a Surface Pro 5 smartphone powered by the upcoming Kaby Lake processor, the current partnership forged by the Redmond tech giant pointed otherwise.

The next generation Intel processor, armed with 16GB of RAM and 512GB massive storage space, offers promising features to Surface Pro 5. But the recently announced Microsoft and Qualcomm partnership provide a hint that Surface Pro 5 would ditch away from the Kaby Lake processor. On the crossroad between Intel and Qualcomm processors, Microsoft would likely favor the later after it showcased a Windows 10 running fully on an ARM 64-bit processor.

Qualcomm Snapdragon processor offers two important features that would give an edge to Surface Pro 5 against its closest rival iPad Pro 2 -- battery life and wireless connectivity. The iPad Pro 2 is having problems with its internet connectivity on top of the mounting complaints against its poor battery capabilities. Microsoft may have explored options to prevent the glitch from its upcoming devices as this will definitely give Apple a hell of a headache. This further hinted that Microsoft will finally go for a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

Microsoft currently claims of having success on its anti-Apple campaign, and launching a device with better battery life amid superb features and design is another milestone. A hybrid device designed to become a full-fledged desktop replacement, Surface Pro 5 easily outclass iPad Pro 2 while offering a good alternative to MacBook Pro.

While Microsoft has kept the release of information regarding Surface Pro 5 on the minimum, the Redmond giant may likely give a preview of the device during the MWC 2017 event in Barcelona this February although the device may not be ready for the market until Spring 2017.
Nokia Android Phones 2017 Release Date, Specs, Price, Latest News & Update: Waterproof Units Equipped With Go-Pro-Like Cameras?

The smartphone industry is highly anticipating the release of Nokia Android phones 2017. Nokia has been an underdog lately, succumbing to Apple and Samsung's success. However, Nokia Android phones 2017 are believed to vindicate the Finnish smartphone brand and reclaim its popularity among consumers.

Nokia Android Phones 2017 Specs

Nokia has yet to give a blow by blow detail of the upcoming Nokia Android phones 2017. Initial leaked reports reveal that Nokia Android phones 2017 will have two primary units. One will be a mid-range smartphone while the other will have more impressive specs which will be considered as the flagship Nokia Android phone 2017.

Although there are two possible Nokia Android phones 2017 units to be released, recent surveys on searches reveal that consumers are more interested in the Nokia flagship phone. This is mainly because the Nokia Android phone 2017 flagship unit is reportedly created to compete with Apple and Samsung smartphones.

Nokia Android Phones 2017 News

Nokia Android phones 2017 will be created with HMD. According to reports, HMD's CEO, Arto Nummela has proudly revealed that the upcoming Nokia Android phones 2017 will stay true to Nokia's known pedigree - tough, functional and relevant.

Admittedly, Nokia may have made some murky choices in previous years which has caused profit loss and popularity demotion to the Finnish company. However, tech experts believe that Nokia Android phones 2017 will be Nokia's answer to the underlying bullying it has experienced through the years.

Nokia Android Phones 2017 Price

Nokia Android phones 2017 price remains to be announced as the units are reportedly still in the prototype stage. However, tech experts believe that Nokia Android phones might fall in the same price range with Samsung and Apple flagship phones.

Nokia Android Phones 2017 Release Date

As of writing, Nokia Android phones release date remains to be announced. However, reports reveal that Nokia Android phones might be unveiled during the Mobile World Congress in February 2017. Stay tuned to GamenGuide for more Nokia Android phones 2017 news and updates!
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) Specs, Features, News & Update: Imminent Smartphone Launches This December, Gets Curved Screen?

Samsung's mid-range phone, the Samsung Galaxy A5, is set to return very soon with a better design and improved features. Recent rumors suggest that the device will be coming with a 5.2-inch curved screen, much like displays of the South Korean tech giant's top-tier Samsung Galaxy Edge phones.

Currently, Samsung is the only brand that gives customers wrap-around, curved devices. The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is expected to come with a 1080p, full-HD screen with Gorilla Glass 4. The tip reportedly comes from an Arab source. It is strongly believed that the display will make use of Samsung's AMOLED technology.

Aside from this, among its rumored features are 16-megapixel front and rear cameras, 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM. It will be powered by a 3,000-mAh battery and it will have a fingerprint scanner and USB Type-C port. Furthermore, it will most likely be waterproof. The dual sim-capable Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) will be encased by an aluminum frame and will have a glass back cover.

As for the software, there is no news about it right now. However, GSM Arena reported that the Samsung Galaxy A5 might use the Exynos 7870. There is also a high chance that the chip will be updated. Should this be the case, the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) might utilize the Exynos 7880.

Since the most recent Samsung Galaxy A5 was released in December last year, rumors are rife that the new model will also come out in December this year. The phone has already passed certifications for the FCCB so it probably won't be long before it makes its way to the market. Stay tuned for more updates on the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017).
Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date, News & Updates; Bluetooth 5.0, Iris Scanner, Galaxy Note 7 Y-OCTA Display Technology Onboard? More Features Revealed!

Samsung is doubling its efforts to offset losses after the explosive episodes of Samsung Note 7. And it seems like the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 will lead the tech giant's recovery.

Samsung's Vice President for communications, Lee Jae-yong admits that the company is putting extra efforts to recover from the blunder of the Note 7. The tech giant has high hopes for the upcoming release of its latest flagship unit, the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to be the first handset that will make use of the latest Bluetooth iteration, the Bluetooth 5.0. The technology's strength include greater bandwidth, wider range and increased speed, which will make it suitable for managing smart homes and smart cities. Bluetooth 5.0 can accelerate speed up to 2Mbps and its reach would allow navigating Bluetooth devices farther without interruptions, Trusted Reviews reported.

Earlier speculations suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will come with an optical fingerprint sensor in the rear. However, recent sources claim that the flagship model will feature an Iris scanner instead. Either way, this will be the first time that Samsung will deviate from the usual home screen-fitted hand phone fingerprint sensor.

Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to feature Y-OCTA display technology, which was initially used in Note 7. This Samsung-owned technology embeds touch sensors within screen panels thAT results in a thinner display. Samsung's recent acquisition of Harman International also suggests the fitting of Harman Stereo Speakers in the anticipated unit.

Sources suggest that the focusing mechanism of Samsung Galaxy S8 front cameras are encoder driven. The focusing actuator will be situated at the side of the lens to enable recognition of people at various camera angles and distances at the same time. This will optimize the unit for group shots.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to feature Exynos 8895 chipset alongside ARM's Mali-G71 graphics chip. Reports also suggest that the recent model will not feature Samsung's regular flat-paneled model. The latest flagship model is expected to be unveiled during next year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
Nokia Smartphone News & Update: Nokia D1C Android Price, Specs, Features; A New Powerful Nokia Smartphone

Nokia's comeback to smartphone segment was confirmed with "HMD Global" licensing the Nokia brand for mobile devices. The Finnish company also confirmed that the first "Nokia-branded Android" smartphone will make its way in the first half of 2017 and the launch will be happen this coming MWC 2017.

Samsung and Apple may seem to be the most common competitors worth noting in the smartphone competition. Nokia Smartphone, the "Nokia D1C" has been the one that has gained most interest and has been part of several leaks. The Nokia Smartphone will launch in two variants and will be priced at $150 for the 2GB of RAM model and at $200 for the 3GB of RAM model.

As one of the first quality mobile phone brands, Nokia has made a name for itself in this particular market. Nokia phones are known for their before the birth of smartphones; Nokia phones were basic, sturdy, and made to provide an avenue of communication wherever the user may be.

The "Nokia D1C" is claimed to be powered by "Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor clocked" at 1.4GHz paired with Adreno 505 GPU, and would come in 2GB and 3GB RAM variants. It is also announced to run on Android 7.0 Nougat and come in 5-inch and 5.5-inch full-HD display options. Both the variants are likely to come with 16GB inbuilt storage. The Nokia D1C variants are said to be available in 13-megapixel and 16-megapixel rear camera modules.

"Nokia D1C and Pixel," both Finland-based company is also expected to showcase a high-end Android smartphone at the MWC 2017. The smartphone will feature a 5.2-inch or 5.5-inch screen size and sport 2K (QHD) display. It is expected to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC. One of the highlight features of the upcoming high-end "Nokia Android phone" is said to be the Zeiss lens when it comes in camera lens.

The Nokia Android phone was made with waterproof capability alongside sporting a metal design.
Google Latest News & Update: Switch Tool Has Never Been Easier Than This; Full Steps Here

Google Switch Tool is slated to make the process easier for iOS users who opt to switch to Android. It should be noted that the company only requires a Gmail account and Google Drive to backup files from an iPhone and transfer to the Android phones. In addition, the company also rolled out with its self-driving cars.

Apparently, Apple has made the process of moving from Android to iOS easy as the company already added an App detailing the whole process on the Play Store. On the other hand, Google has also made the switch easy for iOS users using the Google Switch Tool. It has been noted that Google Drive may now be used to sync contacts and calendars as well as photos from an iPhone.

Google reportedly simplified the Google Switch tool for iOS defectors to make the switch without forfeiting their important data. Previously, the iOS device reportedly needs to be physically connected to a PC. Moreover, several steps have also been noted in the past.

Currently, the Google Switch Tool narrows down the process to 8 steps. First off, the updated Google Drive must be installed on the iPhone from the App Store. After launching Google Drive, head off to Menu>Settings>Backup. Then each backup category may be disabled, then tap on Start Backup, according to report.

In other Google-related news, aside from the Google Switch tool, Google also reportedly brought out its self-driving cars. In such division, the company reportedly dedicates more on delivery drones and internet-slinging balloons. Furthermore, the drive for autonomy is reportedly called Waymo, Wired reported.

Google Switch Tool is reportedly available already. While the Waymo CEO John Krafcik also noted that the self-driving car company aims to make safe and easy vehicles. Google is expected to push Waymo into the real world. Previously, Uber, Baid, Ford, Tesla and General Motors also announced plans on developing fully self-driving cars into the market. Watch iOS to Android here:
'Bloodborne' Cheats, Tips & Tricks: How To Finally Beat Logarius

One boss remains a hindrance for many "Bloodborne" players. Though an optional boss to defeat, Martyr Logarius poses a challenge for those visiting Castle Cainhurst. Fortunately, there is an effective way to defeat the character without much of a problem.

It is recommended that "Bloodborne" players should at least reach level 75 to be successful in taking down Logarius. Reports indicated that the character will be found by heading to Castle Cainhurst. Player can go through the roof and find a ladder in order to access a secret room in the castle. From there, Logarius will appear, waiting to battle players.

Logarius is a large boss, reaching up to three times the size of the player. However, he can be defeated on "Bloodborne" with the use of melee attacks. It was reported that Ppayers can also utilize a visceral attack to inflict damage on Logarius from afar. The "Bloodborne" boss is known for his ranged attacks. Fortunately, players can use the spires of the rooftop to heal while fighting Logarius. In addition, this is also effective for blocking the ranged attacks of Logarius.

However, while battling Logarius in "Bloodborne," players should be mindful of their stamina level, as taking down the boss requires a lot of action. This is because a player's melee attacks have the ability to interrupt Logarius' blade assaults. With that, the energy provided should be strategically thought of.

It is recommended that the first part of the battle should focus on using the visceral attack. Meanwhile, the second half should make use of strategically placing melee attacks on the "Bloodborne" boss.

Aside from the aforementioned strategy, bringing Quicksilver Bullets is also another way of beating Logarius in "Bloodborne." Players can also roll from Logarius' skull explosions. Meanwhile, heavy weapons are not advisable for defeating Logarius. Instead, using Ludwig's Holy Blade will be more effective than using large weapons.
Apple AirPods Release Date, News & Updates: Wireless Bluetooth Earphones Now Shipping Out; Available In Australia & New Zealand

The Apple AirPods are current shipping out to all customers who pre-ordered earlier in December 2016. Although the Apple AirPods' launch was delayed by about two months, the wireless headphones are now ready for excited users.

Apple AirPods Coming to Those Who Pre-Ordered

Phone Arena stated that the Apple AirPods supposed October 2016 launch date was moved after the wireless Bluetooth earphones reportedly had issues in its sound and functions. The individual ear pieces were said to have problems capturing sound independently without the wire that connected two in-ear pieces in traditional models.

Early testers also reported that there was background noise that compromised the sound quality of the Apple AirPods. Now, those who pre-ordered the Apple AirPods at $159 will be notified as soon as their product arrives. Apple promised that they will deliver to those who pre-ordered beginning December 21.

Other users can still order on the Apple website now, although it will take another six weeks before their device ships out. Aside from pre-order shipments, the Apple AirPods will also be available in Apple retail stores, authorized Apple resellers and mobile carrier outlets before Christmas Day.

What the Apple AirPods Can Do

SlashGear wrote that the Apple AirPods already arrived in Australia and New Zealand to introduce the company's vision for a "truly wireless future." The Apple AirPods are supposed to be paired with the iPhone 7, which launched without a 3.5mm jack.

The Apple AirPods can sense when worn or not, and will automatically turn on and off depending on use. These can run up to five hours on a single charge, with an extra 24 hours of playtime via the mobile charging case.

Also, charging the Apple AirPods for only 15 minutes will provide an extra three hours of listening time. The product also showcases the W1 chip that manages its battery and ensures great quality sound.

The Apple AirPods can easily link to various devices, including non-iOS devices. However, the process will be more streamlined when the Apple AirPods are linked to Apple products like the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. More updates and details are expected soon.
Official Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Investigation Results Sent To Authorities, While Carriers Agree To Disable The Smartphone

Samsung has reportedly concluded their official investigation regarding the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. The company has submitted the findings to the appropriate authorities for further validation. Even though they have issued a recall of their flagship handset, there are still some users holding on to their units.

Samsung has expressed their plan to roll-out a software update, which will disable the existing Samsung Galaxy Note 7's to stop charging and reject carrier signals. Consumers who are still using the device have until the first week of January (depending on the carrier), before the software update bricks their phone, according to Popular Science. Users will also allegedly have a hard time travelling since the FAA has banned the smartphones from all flights.

The official investigation results for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 are eventually going to be released to the public. However, some speculations have already dismissed the battery as the culprit. A recent article from Gamenguide states, that an engineering company performed their own investigation and came up with a possible reason for the explosions.

They were able to confirm that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 enclosure lacks ample space for battery. Battery engineers agree that since rechargeable lithium-ion batteries will eventually swell up, designers should leave a certain amount of space to allow the battery to expand, which is roughly estimated to be a 10% allowance. The phone was reportedly designed to be slimmer than its predecessor, but still offer a better battery performance. Samsung took a risk with its internal design and have paid dearly for it.

Some consumers have shifted over to other brands ever since the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 recall. It appears Samsung really needs impress people with its next flagship smartphone next year. If the rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S8 are true, then it could possibly help the Korean electronics giant to bounce back from its losses.
Dec. 9, 1946  Dec. 14, 2016

Paul Richard Davis, a longtime resident of Corvallis, passed away on Dec. 14, 2016, at Stanford University Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He heroically and courageously fought a nine-year battle with cancer. Throughout the long struggle, Paul continued to live every day to the fullest.

He was born Dec. 9, 1946, in Artesia, California, to parents Paul Davis Sr. and Irene Davis. Paul attended Cupertino High School in Sunnyvale, California, and graduated in 1965. After high school, Paul enlisted in the Air Force in 1966. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University in 1975. Paul continued his career at Stanford National Laboratory Accelerator, Applied Theory and Hewlett Packard before starting his own business.

In 1979, Paul launched his new business creating a video card enhancement solution for Apple Computers and, in doing so, became the founder and chief engineer of Videx Inc. In 1985, Paul launched a new product line, portable data collectors. Paul was proud that one of his data collection products, the TimeWand II, boarded the Mir Space Station in 1991 and was used by the crew to track inventory of materials. In 2000, Paul introduced a third product line, electronic locks and smart keys. Today, Videx and CyberLock are recognized as leaders in the security industry.

Those who worked with Paul remember him as a visionary, an incredible entrepreneur, and a creative innovator. Those who knew Paul express enormous respect for his kindness, intelligence and compassion to help others. He loved technology and flying helicopters. He was also a passionate supporter of the Stanford Asian Liver Foundation, and was proud to help make a difference in many lives around the world. Paul was a devoted husband and loving father. He was fiercely loyal to his family, friends and Videx-CyberLock family. Paul enjoyed spending time pioneering and designing new technology solutions, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 28 years, Tammy Davis, and the two children they raised together, daughter Brittany Davis of Palo Alto, California, and son Chad Davis of Corvallis. He is also survived by his mother, Irene Davis of Mission Viejo, California; three sisters, Cheryl Ford, Jan Gagne and Susan Launier; in-laws, aunts and uncles, cousins and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Davis Sr.

A Viewing will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Callaghan Mortuary, 3833 East Ave., Livermore, California. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, at St. Michaels Catholic Parish, 458 Maple St., Livermore, California. Burial will follow the Mass at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 26320 Mission Blvd., Hayward, California.

A local celebration of life will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at CH2M HILL Alumni Center, 204 CH2M HILL Alumni Center, Corvallis.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, 780 Welch Road, CJ130, Palo Alto, CA 94304. The website is: https://makeagift.stanford.edu/get/page/makeagift?noLoopSecure=y&mop=CC&gfty=G&pgnTPC=399&stp=111&gdso=5&tgso=6&cturl=close&olc=11844&refid=F40D8BFD42BD02D8DCB4A8A035D9FCA903C19427963F0078BADD79C938D570EE7399C6814A502C06B5F4E5C4D75DADEC

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Stanford University Hospital nurses and staff for their kind compassion and gracious services.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Man killed in Bonn : Judge orders arrest warrant for wife

Bonn A conflict on Sunday evening escalated and led to the death of a 49-year-old man. His 60-year-old wife is believed to have stabbed him with a knife during an argument.

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Authorities say they received an emergency call from the 60-year-old woman at 10:15 pm on Sunday night. When medics arrived, they treated the seriously injured man and rushed him to the hospital in an ambulance. According to police reports, he had been stabbed in the chest and he died of his wounds sometime after arriving in the hospital.

The 60-year-old wife was arrested and brought before Bonn District Court on Monday afternoon. The judge issued an arrest for manslaughter in the afternoon. A homicide unit is investigating the death, working closely with city prosecution. GA has information that the cause of the deadly drama was jealousy.

Neighbors of the couple who lived in the quiet residential street in Kudinghoven were apparently oblivious to what had happened. The house where the couple had lived alone since their two children moved out was reachable only through a small private street.

One neighbor said, They are actually really nice people. Especially both of their kids were always very nice.
Bonn Bonn police suspect that two youths, ages 15 and 17 are responsible for a break-in at a Christmas Market stand overnight from Saturday to Sunday. They are investigating possible connections to other break-ins.

At around 1 am on early Sunday morning, police detained two youths in Bonn city center. A security service had noticed them hanging out with other young people at a Christmas stand which had been broken open. When the suspects noticed the security, they fled, throwing stolen objects at the witnesses. Police officers were notified and they were able to apprehend two suspects in the vicinity of the crime scene.
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.
Eric: Welcome to the GeriPal podcast. This is Eric Widera.

Alex: This is Alex Smith.

Ken: This is Ken Covinsky.

Eric: Alex, we have another guest with us today.

Alex: We have a guest on the line all the way from New Haven, Connecticut. We have Andrew Cohen, who is a physician-researcher in the section of Geriatrics at Yale School of Medicine. Andrew, welcome to the GeriPal podcast.

Andrew: Great to be here.

Eric: We start off with all these podcasts by the guest requesting a song from Alex.

Alex: Yes, so, weve heard that you like the Simon & Garfunkel. Is that right, Andrew?

Andrew: I do. Im a big fan.

Alex: We have a classic here, The Boxer.

Alex sings The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel.

Alex: Ken, how do we transition from The Boxer to the topic of today?

Ken: You know, The Boxers a classic song about a journey and a lot of times the journey of life does end in the nursing home.

Alex: Oh, very good. Andrew, do you want to tell us a little bit about  what, you know, this is a study and well have a link to it below, that you published in the journal, JAMA Internal Medicine, about avoiding hospitalizations for nursing homes for potentially burdensome care. Results of a qualitative study. Id like you to say a little bit about why you were interested in doing this. What on earth possessed you to be interested about hospitalizations for nursing homes residents? Theres not a problem there, is there?

Laughter

Andrew: Not at all, maybe about, you know, almost a million times a year, I think. I got interested in this when I was a clinical fellow a couple of years ago. Here we take call on weeknights and for weekends and its pretty busy. We cover eight or nine facilities and we get, sometimes, 20 are 30 calls a day.

What became clear pretty early on was that staff at different nursing homes were acting very differently. Some nursing homes were calling very regularly to advocate for hospitalizing patients and others were almost never calling.

I got interested in the differences in behavior between different facilities and wanted to know more about how staff behaved and approached the difficult decisions about hospitalizing a frail older patients.

Eric: For this study, it looks like you went to eight different nursing homes? Four of those were those that had less hospitalizations and four were those who had high use of hospitalizations for their residents. Is that right?

Andrew: Yeah. Yes, so this is a strategy thats been used by a bunch of different investigators. We were actually directly inspired by one of Joe Ouslanders papers looking at potentially avoidable hospitalizations from nursing homes in which he looked at high and low hospitalizing facilities in Georgia.

We did the same in Connecticut. We were, specifically, interested in a particular type of hospitalization from the nursing home. One that we call a potentially burdensome hospitalization in which the benefits of hospitalization are likely to be very low. Theres a small chance of prolonging life or improving quality of life, but the hospitalization, itself, risks very significant burdens to the patient.

We looked at high and low hospitalizing facilities and wanted to know about  wanted to whether there were differences in how staff approached this type of hospitalization.

Ken: If Im a family member, one thing that might confuse people is my loved one is in a nursing home and theyre sick. Dont I want them in the hospital? Isnt the hospital the place where sick people go and where they can get better care? Why would I want my loved one not to go to the hospital? Lets assume that I, actually, do want them to live for a while. Theyre not like a hospice end-of-life patient.

Andrew: Yeah, thats a good question and I think its one that I think, families often perceive the hospital as being a safer place then the nursing home. Then some ways, I think, dont necessarily perceive the nursing home as a place that can even provide sophisticated medical care. They think of it as a place the person lives and not where they would get treated if they were sick.

On the other hand, we know from a very robust body of literature about how dangerous a place the hospital can be for an older person. Those risks start seeming less and less desirable when the hospitalization itself, has very little chance of making the person live longer or feel better.

Ken: Interesting, so youre saying that families may misperceive the chance that a hospitals actually going to make their loved one better. They might think theyre going to get better in the hospital when they wont and they might not understand how much worse they could get in the hospital.

Andrew: Yeah, I think, thats a very hard thing for families to rack their minds around.

Alex: It sounds like you were also suggesting from your research, or your research suggested, part of the reason that you did this study, that its not just the families that are coming up with these ideas. That there could be something structural about the nursing home facility or about the way that hospitalization is presented to these families.

Andrew: Yeah, I think, we think a lot about how tough it is for families to make the decision not to hospitalize a loved one. I think its also very challenging for providers in nursing homes to make that decision. Especially if the discussion is happening by phone or on the weekend.

One of the providers that we talked to in our study, talked about how difficult it was to be isolated from other providers and specialists and the resources that the hospital had to offer. Then told us that often times the easier and safer thing just to hospitalize the patient.

We did find that there were different approaches despite these barriers in nursing facilities that had lower hospitalization rates. Broadly speaking that staff and facilities that were low hospitalizing were more willing to really engage in case by case decision making with patients -really elicit their goals and priorities and really engage with them to try to figure out if hospitalization was really in accordance with those goals.

Eric: I know you had limited space in your research letter to describe the robust rich qualitative findings that Im sure you had. Did liability come up? I worried about being sued or nursing home worried about being sued.

Andrew: Yes, it came up in many of the interviews and its certainly been mentioned in previous work on this subject. It didnt come up in a consistent way even at the same facility, so there were people that told us that hospitalizations would occur out of fear of lawsuits, which is perhaps what you might expect. There were other people who told us that they had a fatalistic approach towards being sued. They thought that nursing homes had a target painted on their back as it was and that there was nothing they could do to prevent being sued, so it didnt really affect their decisions.

Eric: Thats interesting.

Ken: So Andrew, one of the things  You have something intriguing in the article that challenges some notions we were taught about patient-centered decision making. Which is, a classic model is you ask a family member what they want. Here you present a model where the nursing homes that have low hospitalizations have a model of redirecting, where the family members say what they want and if the nursing home doesnt think thats in the patients best interest  Yeah, I think, you even used the word talked them out of it or maybe the staff used the word talked them out of it. Its not a classic word in shared decision making.

Andrew: I think, its important to say that pretty much to the person, the people we interviewed said that decisions about hospitalization were ultimately the responsibility of patients, or in most cases, their surrogate decision makers.

What participants at the lower hospitalizing facilities had told us is that they started conversations by really eliciting patients goals and told us that this was really difficult to do -that it took a lot of time and a lot of work.

That sometimes led them when they saw family members making decisions about hospitalization that didnt seem to be in accordance with those goals, to speak up and to say that they disagreed with those decisions.

Ken: So, you can argue with actually even a deeper level of shared decision making where you actually dont just take whats said literally, but you actually try to go into deeper meaning where you recognize that whats said literally doesnt actually represent their values. It represents a lack of information and you actually try to make sure theyre fully informed about their decisions.

Andrew: Yeah, thats right. One of the things that we heard from participants in this study is something that certainly rings true for me in my clinical experiences. We often see patients needing to be hospitalized a bunch of times before families are able to see that theres not improvement and to see the risks outweighing the benefits. I think, what staff members are sometimes doing is using their own experience having seen this, just to explain to families who may not understand the risks and benefits of hospitalization. What those really are and to engage in a deeper level, as you say, of shared decision making, so that the choice thats most in accordance with a patients goals can be honored.

Eric: Facilities that were the low hospitalizing facilities used more case by case decision making versus default pathways. They tried to change family members mind versus deferring to their decisions. Like you said, that takes a lot of time.

Im just thinking when Im on-call in the nursing home. Its the middle of the night. I have no idea who most of these individuals are. Am I going to take the amount of time which  for good goals of care discussion would take at least half an hour, if not an hour in a patient, I know nothing about? How do these facilities do that? How do they handle nights and weekends?

Andrew: I think, that most facilities have trouble with this. In our study, even the more successful facilities raised that as an issue. I think that its likely to be true that some of this hard work is being done before an acute event arises. You know, that patients who are at risk of having an acute event of the kind where you might think of sending them to the hospital, that providers are talking to them when the sun is up.

I think, the nighttime and weekend problem is a real one and hard to imagine a fix for it without some fundamental structural changes in how nursing homes are staffed.

Eric: I noticed that you did not just interview physicians. You interviewed nurses, facility administrators, social workers, advanced practice clinicians, other individuals. Are there differences between the high utilizers and the low utilizers, as far as, who is helping families make these decisions? Like, the nurse is playing a more active role in helping family members make decisions in the traditional hierarchy where its the physician or the advanced practice clinician?

Andrew: We saw some differences that, at least in this small study, werent consistent enough across facilities to really rise above the level of anecdote. We did, for example, see in several of the lower hospitalizing facilities that the social worker had a much more active role and was involved, not just with financial aspects of the patients stay or completing paperwork, or things like that, but was really involved with goals of care discussions and with talking to families.

We saw, for example, that administrators in some of the lower hospitalizing facilities took a more active role. It would be interesting if we had a larger sample to see whether any consistent pattern emerged.

Alex: Whats next for this line of research?

Andrew: Were still thinking about that. There was a, Im sure you all know, very interesting paper by Laura Hansen a couple of weeks ago in JAMA Internal Medicine that was very thought provoking. I think, that whats interesting about her study is that she used a video decision aid to build on top of existing practices, essentially, in nursing homes.

I think, the next step for us will be to learn some more about whether there are ways to change that behavior, perhaps by communication interventions or other means.

Ken: Do you think theres any role for public health interventions? You know, if your loved ones in a nursing home, think twice before you hospitalize them.

Andrew: Thats a great question. What do you think? Id have to think about that.

Ken: Yeah, I think, one of the things youre getting at here is, I think, I dont know if the public really understands the limits of care. That theres  the focus on not hospitalizing is actually not a decision often to limit care thats helpful. Its a decision to basically recognize that theres simply limits of what the hospital can do. Is that theres nothing that will be done in the hospital that cant be done in a nursing home. That everything that happens in a hospital beyond that actually can make things worse. I dont know if thats generally understood by families.

Eric: Well, there are a lot of things that can be done in the hospital that cant be done in the nursing home.

Ken: Yeah, I think, youre right, Eric. Its not a one size fits all. You certainly wouldnt say never [hospitalize anybody]. Theres certainly cases where somebody in the nursing home should be in the hospital and no benefit. If you have a pneumonia and theres usually, almost nothing that can be done in the hospital that cant be done in a nursing home, so theres a lot of conditions where the hospital probably doesnt help a lot.

Andrew: Yeah, I know that theres been interest in other areas on the nursing home side in educating patients about, in a more positive way, all the things the nursing home really can do. I think, patients still have a really hard time wrapping their minds around that.

The nursing home is a funny place in that it has increasing numbers of patients there for short stays, but a population of long stay residents. Its medical capabilities have become more and more sophisticated, so perhaps making it less about the hospital not being able to do anything and more about all the high-quality care that can be provided in the nursing home.

Eric: If theres one advice for people working in nursing homes that you learned from this study, what would that be?

Andrew: Its that these decisions are really, really hard. Theres no way around that. That providers at all levels need to spend a lot of time in a back and forth discussion with patients and their families about these extremely difficult decisions.

Ken: Yeah, well, thank you for pushing this forward. I mean, this is a really important question.

Alex: This is really interesting work. I like this approach. It reminds me of some work that Liz Dang has done looking at differences in hospital cultures. As well as, some work that Daniel Sulmasy has done, as far as, promoting best interest standard for patients thats grounded in an in-depth deep understanding of their interest and not on a superficial level approach to letting them choose among options.

Andrew: I think, is this what he calls substituted interest?

Alex: Yes, exactly. Exactly.

Andrew: Yeah.

Eric: Well put up a link to Dan Sulmasys substitute interest article on GeriPal. I heard a little strum of a guitar just a second ago, Alex. You want to end us with a little bit more?

Alex plays The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel.

Transcript was edited by Sean Lang-Brown
WhatsApp Group Administrators Not Liable for Content Posted by Other Members, Says Delhi Court News oi -Samden Sherpa The Delhi High Court has given a breather for all WhatsApp group administrators.

While there have been many incidents of WhatsApp group admins being arrested and charged with various allegations, as of now the group administrators of the popular messaging platform can relax a bit.

As reported by Legally India, in a recent ruling, the Delhi High Court has recognized the problem of placing the burden on administrators. As such, the Court has given a verdict stating that group admins of online social media groups will not be held liable for content posted by other members on their groups.

Imported Telecom Gears Will Go Through Screening Process From 2017 In India

As per the reports, the matter was actually related to cases where admins of two groups on Telegram and Google Groups were sued for defamation. However, as the case progressed, the Court took into account the fact that messages posted in WhatsApp groups did not require the administrator's prior approval.

Hence, the court made it clear that making an administrator of an online platform liable for defamation would be akin to making the manufacturer of newsprint on which defamatory statements are published liable for defamation.

Nonetheless, getting back to the real problem, this is not the only incident concerning WhatsApp group admins. Earlier, multiple people have been arrested across India for online speech, and for content distributed on WhatsApp.

In fact, in April 2016, two separate state governments in India had issued directives making social media group administrators liable for content disseminated by other members of the group.

SBI, BSNL Launch State Bank MobiCash Wallet For Mobile Phones: Get to Know How it Works

From what it looks like, following the two directives issued in April, the Delhi High Court has now ruled out any such possibility. Significantly, this is indeed a welcome move in an increasingly sensitive cyberspace in India, where the state authorities and civil society are engaged in a debate on internet censorship.

More importantly, the Delhi HC has shed some clarity on the complex question regarding WhatsApp group admins with this ruling.

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What is IFTTT

Pronounced as gift without the g,' IFTTT stands for If This, Then That. It is an ingeniously simple concept that connects multiple Internet-dependent services (and devices) via two elements  a Trigger (If This) and an Action (Then That).

To put it in other words, IFTTT is all about the cause-and-effect relationship. Whenever something happens to one service, a Trigger is generated, and an Action takes place on the other service automatically. For instance, you have created a new contact on your iPhone (a Trigger), the contact it will be automatically added to Google spreadsheet (an Action) for easy searching and sorting in the future.

This is just one example; there are numerous other things you can do to automate almost all of your internet activity with the trigger and action combinations.

What are Applets

Speaking of trigger-and-action combinations, IFTTT terms this merger as Applets. Previously, Applets were referred as Recipes. As far as how things work, nothing much has changed, but now the former can trigger multiple actions as opposed to only a single action which was possible on the latter.

There are a slew of Applets already available; you can choose any of them as you need. Also, a user can use any number of Applets. There are no limits.

Getting started with IFTTT

IFTTT can be used via the website or the mobile app. To start using it, sign up with your Google account (or any other account) and set up Services (previously known as Channels). Speaking of Services, these are the basic building blocks of IFTTT, you can choose any service as you want. Check them out here.

Once you select your Service, youll be able to see a good number of Applets (Triggers + Actions) that have been already created by users or service providers and product makers. If you come across on any Services you like, click on them and Turn On the Services. Every Applet requires permission to different services, and youll be requested for the same. Once you authorize the Service, and thats it, youre have activated an IFTTT Service successfully. Repeat the same steps as mentioned above to set up actions for particular triggers.

Conclusion

Now that you have a fair idea of what IFTTT is capable of, start exploring it. Like mentioned earlier, if you are among one of those people who spend a lot of time on the internet doing recurring tasks on a regular basis, IFTTT will be very useful.

In case you face any problems while setting it up or if you have any doubts, feel free to ask them through the comments section below.

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Apple iPhone 8 to Feature Samsungs Curved Plastic OLED Display News oi -Prajith The Apple iPhone 8 may not be made of glass entirely.

Despite the fact that theres still a long way to go for Apple to officially announce its next iPhone, there have been overwhelming amounts of rumors already. While different reports pointed at various possibilities, the curved OLED display along with a glass design were among the most consistent rumors.

But, according to the latest report by the Korea Herald, the chances are that the iPhone 8 may not feature an all-glass design. Instead, it will ship with a plastic OLED display produced by Samsung that curves 'all over.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mi Max, Mi Note, Mi 4c, and Mi 4s Confirmed to Receive Android 7.0 Nougat Update

People familiar with the matter told Korea Herald that The OLED version of the new iPhone will be curved as Apple ordered all plastic OLED  not glass  from Samsung Display. Samsung is capable of supplying a little less than 100 million units of curved OLED displays to Apple.

The report also suggests that the upcoming Apple iPhone 8 may not be foldable, but the Cupertino-based tech giant may use new sensing technologies (on the curved OLED display) to set it apart from its counterparts (especially the Samsung Galaxy S8).

Also Read: IFTTT Explained For The Laymen

The upcoming iPhone may use new sensing technology, which enables the phone to respond when users' touch on any side of the device. But, Apple may not adopt this technology, the report cited.

Just a couple of days ago, a report surfaced online indicating that LG (Apples long time LCD screen supplier) is currently working on a foldable display which will be used in the smartphones scheduled to launch in 2018.

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China Decides to Return US Underwater Drone Captured in South China Sea

Sputnik News

21:31 17.12.2016(updated 22:06 17.12.2016)

China decided to return a US underwater drone it captured in the South China Sea to the United States, the Chinese Defense Ministry said Saturday.

BEIJING (Sputnik)  On Friday, reports emerged of a Chinese warship seizing a US underwater drone in the international waters of the disputed South China Sea region.

On Thursday, USNS Bowditch, a US oceanographic vessel, stopped some 100 miles off the port at Subic Bay in the Philippines to pick up two drones when a Chinese vessel captured one of them, according to US defense officials. The US Department of Defense demanded the return of the drone.

"The Chinese side has made a decision to transfer it [to the US side] in a due manner," spokesman Yang Yujun was quoted as saying by the ministry.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook confirmed the information, saying that the US side had "secured an understanding" that Beijing would return the drone to the United States.

On Thursday, USNS Bowditch, a US oceanographic vessel, stopped some 100 miles off the port at Subic Bay in the Philippines to pick up two drones when a Chinese vessel captured one of them, according to US defense officials. The US Department of Defense demanded the return of the drone.

Earlier in the day, US President-elect Donald Trump said that China "stole" the drone in what he described as an "unprecedented act."

The interests of China and the United States clash in the South China Sea region, with China and the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam putting forth competing territorial claims. The US Navy continues patrols in the area despite Chinese protests.

 Sputnik

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Chinese Defense Ministry Slams 'Fuss' Over Seizure of US Underwater Drone

Sputnik News

18:53 17.12.2016(updated 20:37 17.12.2016)

The "fuss" made by the United States over an earlier seizure of an unmanned US oceanographic vessel in the South China Sea by the Chinese warship is unacceptable and does not contribute to the solution of the problem, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement Saturday.

BEIJING (Sputnik)  On Friday, reports emerged of a Chinese warship seizing a US underwater drone in the international waters of the disputed South China Sea region.

On Thursday, USNS Bowditch, a US oceanographic vessel, stopped some 100 miles off the port at Subic Bay in the Philippines to pick up two drones when a Chinese vessel captured one of them, according to US defense officials. The US Department of Defense urged to immediately return the drone, calling the capture illegal.

"China maintains direct contact on the issue with the United States. The fuss that was made unilaterally by the US side is unacceptable, does not contribute to a favorable solution to the problem. We express regret over this matter," the statement read.

It added that the Chinese warship located unknown equipment in the international waters of the South China Sea and, in order to avoid endangering the passing ships and their crews, the Chinese side used friend-or-foe identification, which showed that it was a US underwater drone.

Meanwhile, the United States alleged that China ignored requests for the drone to be returned.

The drone is not a classified piece of equipment and is used to gather data on water temperature, salinity and the speed of sound, according Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook.

Washington and Beijing interests clash in the South China Sea, with China and US allies, including the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam, having competing territorial claims. The US Navy continues patrols in the area despite Chinese protests.

 Sputnik

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Azerbaijan to Purchase Israeli Iron Dome Air Defense System

Sputnik News

14:11 17.12.2016

Baku and Tel Aviv had signed an agreement on procurement of the Israeli Iron Dome air defense system, Azerbaijani Defense Industry Minister Yavar Jamalov said on Saturday.

BAKU (Sputnik)  The Iron Dome, developed by the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems LTD, is an air defense system made to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances up to 70 km (43 miles).

The system in use since 2011 to protect Israel from outside attacks, and was used in the summer 2014 50-day military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

"The Azerbaijani Defense Industry Ministry and the relevant Israeli body have reached the agreement on procurement of the Israeli Iron Dome air defense system," Jamalov said as quoted by the APA news agency.

Earlier in December, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that Baku and Tel Aviv had signed contracts worth $5 billion over the years of defense cooperation.

 Sputnik

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Azerbaijan May Launch Electromagnetic Pulse Weapons Production

Sputnik News

12:56 17.12.2016(updated 12:57 17.12.2016)

Azerbaijan is planning to launch a production of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons for radio-electronic warfare, Azerbaijani Defense Industry Minister Yavar Jamalov said Saturday.

BAKU (Sputnik)  Jamalov stressed, however, that the production of intercontinental ballistic missile remains a priority for the country. Currently Azerbaijan is holding talks on the issue with several major world military companies

"The talks on EMP weapons production have started. We are planning to launch the production in the coming years. This weapon will be able to destroy radioelectronics of the enemy within a radius of two kilometers [1.2 miles]," Jamalov said, as quoted by APA agency.

Azerbaijan is selling arms to South Korea, the United States and some African countries. According to the minister, some 1,160 types of products for military purposes are being produced at the Azerbaijani factories as for now.

 Sputnik

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Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 18, 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 and fighter aircraft conducted three strikes in Syria:

-- Near Ayn Isa, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an anti-air artillery system, an ammunition storage facility and two buildings.

-- Near Dawr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed two oil wellheads.

Strikes in Iraq

Attack, bomber and fighter aircraft conducted seven strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government:

-- Near Huwayjah, a strike destroyed a vehicle-borne bomb facility.

-- Near Beiji, a strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL-held building and an ISIL supply boat.

-- Near Mosul, four strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit; destroyed three tactical vehicles, a supply cache, two front-end loaders, a vehicle-borne bomb, five fighting positions, three ISIL-held buildings, a communications tower and an anti-air artillery system; damaged five ISIL supply routes; and suppressed three mortar teams, a bunker and an ISIL tactical unit.

-- Near Rawah, a strike destroyed an ISIL bunker.

Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat it poses to Iraq, Syria, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of targets in Syria and Iraq further limits ISIL's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

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Yemen struggling with wheat imports difficulties: UN

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 5:17PM

Yemen is struggling with the issue of wheat imports amid Saudi Arabia's ongoing campaign against the impoverished country, the UN says.

Jamie McGoldrick, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said on Sunday that the imports of basic goods had become an issue since the Central Bank of Yemen was moved from the capital, Sana'a, to the southern city of Aden.

"Four major importers of wheat into this country have informed the authorities (in Sana'a) that as of January they will no longer be able to fulfill their obligations," the UN official said, adding, "We know it is very difficult for these importers to get lines of credit on the open market."

"Because the central bank is no longer here in Sana'a," McGoldrick said.

The UN official also stated that the imports of goods and medicine had been hampered by slow offloading due to the damage in the port of Hudaydah.

In October, the UN aid chief, Stephen O'Brien, said "smashed cranes" at the port were hindering the entry of aid supplies to ease the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has been engaged in a deadly campaign against Yemen since March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall the former Yemeni government and to undermine Houthi Ansarullah movement.

Saudi airstrikes have taken a heavy toll on the impoverished country's facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.

The Saudi campaign has claimed the lives of more than 11,400 people, according to figures compiled by the Yemeni non-governmental monitoring group Legal Center for Rights and Development.

Yemen is also grappling with the scarcity of food supplies and an outbreak of diseases amid the Saudi war.

The UN children's fund, UNICEF, says 7.4 million Yemeni children are in dire need of medical help, and 370,000 run the risk of being hit by acute malnutrition.

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US Navy grounds all F/A-18, E/A-18 fighter jets

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 5:11PM

The US Navy has grounded all of its F/A-18 Super Hornet and E/A-18 Growler fighter jets after an incident that injured two over the weekend.

The temporary order was issued on Friday, when a Navy Growler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 132 sustained heavy damages and injured both of its aircrew during what officials called an "on-deck emergency," according to Navy spokeswoman Commander Jeanette D. Groeneveld.

The mishap took place before an 11 am takeoff at the Whidbey Island air station on Puget Sound, Washington. The Navy refused to disclose the extent of the injuries the airmen had suffered.

The Navy had to ground all Super Hornets and Growlers because they rely on the same avionics, Vice Admiral Mike Shoemaker, commander of Naval Air Forces on North Island, said.

The Growler is basically a Super Hornet with electronic warfare systems on-board. The Navy started to use the aircraft as a replacement for Northrop Grumman's EA-6B Prowlers in 2009.

Some exception maybe made on a "case-by-case basis dependent upon operational requirements," the force said in a statement.

Boeing, the aircraft's manufacturer, was probing the cause of the incident in cooperation with Naval Air Systems Command.

North Island officials said they were expecting to have some clues by Monday.

Friday's incident occurred just days after a US Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft crashed off the coast of southern Japan, further baffling American military officials who have yet to offer an explanation for the aircraft's high crash rate.

This was the 10th crash involving F/A-18 variants over the past six months (including a Canadian CF-18 lost in late November.

Alarmed by the high number of crashes between June and October, the US Marine Corps temporarily grounded all of its non-deployed Hornets. Two more jets crashed few days after the ban was lifted.

According to the US Naval Institute (USNI), the crashes last year slashed the number of available Hornet aircraft for training purposes to 85, far fewer than the 171 required.

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Militant attack kills 10, injures 27 in central Jordan

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 4:34PM

At least ten people, including a Canadian woman, have lost their lives when unidentified armed men attacked a police station and patrols in Jordan's central province of Karak, and opened fire.

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the assault took place in the mountainous city of Karak, situated 140 kilometers south of the capital Amman, when unknown gunmen fired at security personnel in a shooting spree.

The assailants later holed themselves up inside a Crusader-era castle perched on top of a hill, and started firing at police forces. The identities of the assailants were not immediately clear.

Police have managed to free 10 people, including foreign tourists, but some are still being held in the castle.

The General Security Directorate said in a statement that seven of the deceased were policemen, two were Jordanian civilians and one was a Canadian tourist. Some 27 people, including policemen, also sustained injuries in the act of violence.

Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki told the parliament that "a number of security personnel" had been killed and that security forces were laying siege to the castle.

The Canadian government later confirmed that one of its nationals had been killed as a result of the violence.

On November 7, three US soldiers were killed when unknown gunmen fired shots at a car carrying the Americans at the entrance to al-Jafr military base near the southern Jordanian town of Mann. A Jordanian officer was also wounded.

The slain American service members were reportedly in Jordan on a training mission.

Jordan is a major US ally in the Middle East region, and a member of the so-called US-led military coalition against Daesh terrorist group.

This while many Jordanians oppose their country's involvement in the US-led airstrikes against purported Daesh positions in neighboring Iraq and Syria, arguing they have targeted civilians and raised security threats inside Jordan.

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China to return US drone: Pentagon

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 3:27PM

China has agreed to return a US underwater drone it seized in the South China Sea on Friday, the US Defense Department says.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said Saturday that Beijing and Washington had reached an "understanding" through appropriate channels to return the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV).

A Chinese warship seized the surveillance device 92 km (57 miles) north-west of a US military base in Subic Bay near the Philippines in the South China Sea.

"Through direct engagement with Chinese authorities, we have secured an understanding that the Chinese will return the UUV to the United States," Cook said.

Beijing said earlier that it would hand over the drone in an "appropriate manner," after carrying out special examinations on it "to prevent the device from causing harm to the safety of navigation and personnel of passing vessels"

China also blasted the US for choosing to "dramatize" the issue, calling it an "inappropriate and unhelpful" move.

Upon the drone's seizure by Chinese servicemen, USNS Bowditch, an oceanographic research ship, tried to retrieve it to no avail.

The US made a formal diplomatic complaint to China over the incident, accusing Beijing of breaching international laws.

"The UUV is a sovereign immune vessel of the United States. We call upon China to return our UUV immediately and to comply with all of its obligations under international law," Cook said.

"The USNS Bowditch and the UUV -- an unclassified 'ocean glider' system used around the world to gather military oceanographic data such as salinity, water temperature, and sound speed -- were conducting routine operations in accordance with international law," the Pentagon spokesman added.

Pentagon press operations director Navy Captain Jeff Davis told reporters that China had to return the drone and reassure Washington that such incidents would "never happen again."

Meanwhile, US President-elect Donald Trump, who would replace President Barack Obama on January 20, said that China should keep the drone.

"We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back - let them keep it!" Trump tweeted.

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Army soldiers, allies kill six Saudi mercenaries in southern Yemen

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 2:40PM

Yemeni army forces, supported by allied fighters from Popular Committees, have launched an operation against militiamen loyal to the resigned and Saudi-backed president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in the country's southwestern province of Ta'izz, killing a number of them.

The media bureau of the operations command in Yemen announced on Sunday that six Saudi mercenaries were killed and two others sustained injuries when Yemeni troopers engaged in clashes with them in the Pasha Bear district of the province, situated 346 kilometers (214 miles) south of the capital Sana'a, the Arabic-language al-Masirah television network reported.

Separately, Yemeni soldiers and Popular Committees fighters fired a locally-manufactured Zelzal-2 (Earthquake-2) missile at a gathering of Saudi mercenaries in the Mefraq area of the country's northern province of al-Jawf, leaving scores of pro-Saudi gunmen dead and injured.

The developments came on the same day that pro-Hadi media outlets alleged that Saudi-backed militants had intercepted a ballistic missile and destroyed it in the west-central Ma'rib Province.

Yemeni soldiers and allied fighters also clashed with Saudi-backed militiamen in Asifrah neighborhood of Ta'izz, killing one of them.

An unnamed Yemeni military source said several pro-Saudi gunmen were killed when fighters from the Houthi Ansarullah movement thwarted their offensive against Boqe'e crossing in Najran, located 844 kilometers (524 miles) south of the Saudi capital Riyadh.

Moreover, a number of Saudi soldiers and their mercenaries lost their lives and sustained injuries when Yemeni forces repelled their assault against the Alab border crossing in Saudi Arabia's southwestern and border region of Asir.

Saudi fighter jets also carried a string of airstrikes against residential neighborhoods across Yemen, leaving several people killed and injured.

A civilian lost his life when Saudi warplanes bombarded the Razih district in Yemen's mountainous northwestern province of Sa'ada.

Saudi aircraft also launched more than a dozen aerial attacks against Monabbih, Kahlan and As Safra districts in the same Yemeni province.

Saudi Arabia has been engaged in a deadly campaign against Yemen since March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall the former Yemeni government.

The airstrikes have taken a heavy toll on the impoverished country's facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.

The Saudi aerial bombardment campaign has claimed 11,403 lives and left 19,343 others wounded, according to figures compiled by the Yemeni non-governmental monitoring group Legal Center for Rights and Development.

Yemen is also grappling with the scarcity of food supplies and an outbreak of diseases amid the Saudi war.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) says 7.4 million Yemeni children are in dire need of medical help, and 370,000 run the risk of acute malnutrition.

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Up to 52 Hadi loyalists killed as bomb attack hits Yemen's Aden

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 6:35AM

At least 52 forces loyal to Yemen's ex-president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, have been killed in a bomb attack in the country's southern port city of Aden.

Many others were also injured in the incident that took place at a base in the al-Arish district of northeastern Aden, on Sunday.

The casualties came after a bomber set off his explosives, targeting a crowd of pro-Hadi militants who had gathered to collect their salaries, officials and medics said.

The Takfiri terror group Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attack.

On December 10, a similar bombing struck a military camp in Aden, leaving 48 pro-Hadi forces dead and 29 more wounded. It was claimed by Daesh.

For more than a year, Aden, Yemen's second largest city, has been controlled by loyalists to the former administration of Hadi, a close Saudi ally.

However, the pro-Hadi forces have so far failed to restore order to the city, which has witnessed a surge in terror activities by al-Qaeda and Daesh-linked elements over the past months.

The Takfiri terrorists have taken advantage of the chaos and security breakdown, fueled by a deadly Saudi war on Yemen, to tighten their grip on the southern parts of the Arab country.

Saudi Arabia has been incessantly pounding Yemen since March 2015 with the purpose of reinstalling the Hadi government and crushing the Houthi Ansarullah movement.

More than 11,400 Yemenis, including women and children, have been killed in the Saudi military aggression, according to a latest tally by a Yemeni monitoring group.

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China Agrees To Return U.S. Naval Drone, Trump Says Beijing Can Keep It

RFE/RL December 18, 2016

The Pentagon says it has "secured an understanding" with Beijing that it will return a U.S. Navy underwater drone seized in the South China Sea.

The seizure of the submersible on December 16 sparked a row between Washington and Beijing that drew in U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who said China stole the craft and can keep it.

The United States said the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) was being used to carry out scientific research in international waters near the Philippines when it was seized.

Washington said it issued a formal diplomatic complaint, demanded its immediate return, and warned China not to repeat such a move in the future.

But Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said later on December 17 that China agreed to return the drone.

"Through direct engagement with Chinese authorities, we have secured an understanding that the Chinese will return the UUV to the United States," Cook said.

The Chinese Defense Ministry said the craft, which it said was retrieved and examined to maintain the safety of passing vessels, would be returned in an "appropriate manner," without saying when this might happen.

The ministry also accused the United States of "hyping up" the incident, calling its response "inappropriate and unhelpful."

The United States has "frequently" sent its vessels and aircrafts into the region, it added, urging such activities to stop.

Meanwhile, Trump slammed the Chinese Navy's capture of the drone.

"China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters -- rips it out of water and takes it to China in [unprecedented] act," Trump said in a message on Twitter on December 17.

"We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back -- let them keep it!" the president-elect said in a follow-up message.

Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the seizure "a remarkably brazen violation of international law."

Senior Republican Senator John McCain said the United States should not tolerate "such outrageous conduct," which he said will "continue until it is met with a strong and determined U.S. response."

The dispute has frayed already tense relations between Washington and Beijing at a time when China has been building up its military maritime outposts in the South China Sea.

China claims that most of the South China Sea is its own territorial waters -- a position that has led to maritime territorial disputes with Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Indonesia.

Trump had already angered China by speaking on the phone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on December 2, breaking a long-standing U.S. practice on the China-Taiwan dispute.

Trump also has said he does not feel "bound by a one-China policy" regarding the status of Taiwan, unless the United States gains trade or other benefits from Beijing.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, Bloomberg and the BBC

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/china- says-pentagon-hyping-seizure-of- naval-probe/28182091.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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Venezuela Delays 100-Bolivar Note Withdrawal Amid Reported Currency Sabotage

Sputnik News

08:52 18.12.2016

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced a delay in the withdrawal of 100-bolivar currency notes from circulation.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier in December, Maduro ordered the government to withdraw the highest-denomination banknote, worth 100 bolivars, from circulation within 72 hours as a measure against Venezuela's currency smuggling. The president said criminals were hoarding the banknotes in neighboring Colombia and the move was designed to prevent the notes from being taken back into Venezuela.

The ban, which caused Venezuelans to rush to exchange the notes and led to several disturbances and rioting, has now been postponed by Maduro until January 2, the BBC reported on Sunday.

The president reportedly said that new 500-bolivar notes, set to replace the 100-bolivar bill as the new highest-denomination note, failed to arrive on time as a result of sabotage.

Maduro declared an economic emergency in Venezuela in January. The country's opposition has blamed the president for the economic crisis in the country, which has seen multiple mass protests amid shortages of food, goods and services.

 Sputnik

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After Historic Peace Deal, FARC Takes First Step Toward Becoming Political Party

Sputnik News

01:23 18.12.2016(updated 08:28 18.12.2016)

Less than a month after a historic peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) ended more than 50 years of conflict, the FARC has taken a crucial first step toward official political recognition.

This week, six non-combatant members of the FARC officially inscribed Voices of Peace and Reconciliation as a political movement at Colombia's National Electoral Council. Beginning next week and until 2018, the members of Voices of Peace and Reconciliation will have seats in Colombia's Congress. They will not be able to vote, but they will be able to represent the FARC as the peace agreement is implemented, TeleSur reports.

"Our voices will be the voices of the peace accord," economist Imelda Daza said at a press conference, AFP reports. "We are here to ensure that the FARC enjoys the necessary prerequisites to become a party in Congress."

Daza, student leader Jairo Rivera and activist Francisco Jose Tolosa will represent Voices of Peace and Reconciliation in the lower house of Congress; constitutional lawyer Pablo Cruz, economist Jairo Estrada and human rights activist Judith Maldonado will speak for the group in the Senate. While they will speak for the FARC, the six are not active members of the guerrilla group, the group stressed in a statement on its website.

"These spokespersons are representatives of the citizenship in order to guarantee and participate in all legislative matters regarding the upcoming laws that need to be passed; among others, the amnesty law, the special jurisdiction for peace, security guarantees for political opposition and the statute of opposition," the December 15 statement read.

As the peace process is implemented and the FARC is dissolved, the group will have the option of becoming a political party and will be given 10 seats in Colombia's Congress, TeleSur reports. The FARC is then expected to run in Colombia's 2018 general elections.

The FARC is about to begin de-arming under a UN-monitored demobilization process. The process is to be complete by April.

 Sputnik

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China Says It Will Return US Underwater Drone, Even as Trump Says 'Keep It'

By Ken Bredemeier December 18, 2016

China says it will hand over an underwater U.S. drone it seized in the international waters of the South China Sea, prompting President-elect Donald Trump to say the United States should tell China to keep the device.

Trump does not assume power for another month, but weighed in on the maritime incident in which Chinese naval forces seized the unmanned submersible while it was collecting unclassified scientific data on Thursday. U.S. authorities protested that the seizure was unlawful and demanded the drone's immediate return, which Chinese authorities agreed to do.

Trump, in a Twitter comment on the initial seizure, declared, "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters  rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented act," later correcting the remark to call it "unprecedented." After China promised to return the vehicle, he tweeted that the United States "should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back.  let them keep it!"

Arizona Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told CNN on Sunday that the seizure of the drone was a "gross violation of international law."

Taiwan call

Trump earlier this month angered Beijing by accepting a call from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen congratulating him on his election, the first time a U.S. president or president-elect had spoken to a Taiwanese leader since 1979. The practice is in keeping with a "one-China" policy in which the United States recognizes Beijing as the only government of China.

Notwithstanding Trump's comments about the drone, China maintained it was blameless and accused Washington of "hyping" the seizure in an "inappropriate and unhelpful" manner.

China's Defense Ministry said a Chinese naval vessel sighted a piece of "unidentified equipment" in the water and retrieved it for the sake of "navigational safety." Only later, the ministry said, was the object discovered to be a U.S. drone.

Chinese defense officials said Saturday the U.S. equipment will be returned "in an appropriate manner," but gave no details. The Pentagon confirmed there was "an understanding" with the Chinese.

South China Sea

The drone incident has raised new concerns in Washington and among Asian allies about China's stepped-up military presence in the South China Sea, and what critics call Beijing's aggressive responses to competing maritime claims in the region.

Brunei, the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia all claim mineral and fishing rights in the region, and many of those claims overlap. China seized the device in waters 90 kilometers northwest of the Philippines' Subic Bay.

Protecting shipping lanes

While Washington has taken no official stance on the rival sovereignty claims, the U.S. Navy has sought to protect the region's busy international shipping lanes. The administration of President Barack Obama has also challenged China's efforts to boost its maritime presence with military hardware deployed in areas claimed by other regional governments.

New satellite imagery released by the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies shows China has installed weaponry, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on seven artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea during the past several years.

During his campaign for the presidency, Trump threatened to force dramatic changes in U.S.-China trade policy, which he blamed for large numbers of American job losses.

After his call to Taiwan's leader, Trump said he would consider linking his continued support for the "one-China" policy to improved cooperation from Beijing on trade and other issues.

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Indonesian Military Plane Crashes, Killing All 13 Aboard

By VOA News December 18, 2016

An Indonesian military plane crashed into a mountain near Wamena, Papua, Sunday, killing all 13 people on board.

The statement from the Indonesian Air Force sent to VOA said that the Hercules C-130 plane was carrying 12 tons of food supplies from Timika to Wamena, a distance of about 200 kilometers (125 miles), and some other areas (Jayapura, Merauke, Biak) when it crashed.

The plane left Timika around 5:45 a.m. local time and was to arrive in Wamena around 6:15 a.m. local time. Just before it landed, the control tower lost contact with the plane. The plane was carrying three pilots and 10 other personnel.

The crash site on Lisuwa Mountain had been found and the bodies of the victims were being brought back to Wamena, said Ivan Ahmad Riski Titus, operational director of Indonesia's Search and Rescue Agency.

Bad weather and low clouds in Wamena, the capital of the mountainous district of Jayawijaya, were believed to be factors in the crash, deputy air force chief of staff Hadiyan Sumintaatmadja told a news conference.

An investigation was underway. Sumintaatmadja said the aircraft, purchased from Australia, where it was first used in the 1980s, had more than 60 hours left until its next routine maintenance.

It was the third serious air accident in Indonesia in less than a month.

On Nov. 24, a Bell 412 EP helicopter from the Indonesian army crashed in the Indonesian part of Borneo island, killing three. A week later, a police plane with 13 people aboard crashed into the sea on the way to the island of Batam, near Singapore.

Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago of more than 250 million people, has been plagued by transportation accidents in recent years, from plane and train crashes to ferry sinkings.

The military, which suffers from low funding, has also regularly suffered airplane and helicopter crashes.

In July last year, an air force Hercules crashed into a neighborhood of Medan, Indonesia's third largest city, killing more than 140 people including military personnel, family members traveling with them and people on the ground.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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48 Yemeni Soldiers Killed in Suicide Bombing

By VOA News December 18, 2016

A suicide bomber killed at least 48 Yemeni soldiers Sunday in the southern port city of Aden, as top Arab and Western diplomats met in neighboring Saudi Arabia to discuss the conflict in Yemen.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes amid the turmoil of a civil conflict that has turned into an air campaign led by Riyadh. The extremist group had earlier said it carried out a similar explosion in Aden a week ago that killed at least 45 soldiers and wounded dozens more.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Saudi Arabia meeting King Salman as well as with foreign ministers gathered to discuss the war in Yemen with U.N. Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.

Repeated international attempts to mediate a peace agreement between Houthi rebels, who overran the Yemen capital in late 2014 and pushed the country's president into exile in Riyadh, and pro-government forces, have failed.

Saudi Arabia heads a coalition that is fighting against the Houthis, primarily through an air campaign and naval blockade.

Kerry's visit to the Gulf comes at a strained time for the relationship between Riyadh and Washington.

The White House said last week it would block the sale of some military equipment to Saudi Arabia.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said last Tuesday the Obama administration has "long expressed some pretty significant concerns about the high rate of civilian casualties in Yemen," adding that "many of those casualties have been as a result of operations carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in the region."

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Sunday denied reports about the U.S. limiting military support over Yemen.

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14 Dead in Jordan Shooting Attacks

By VOA News December 18, 2016

Authorities in Jordan say security forces have freed foreign tourists trapped inside a medieval castle in the central city of Karak, following attacks Sunday by gunmen that left at least 14 people dead. At least 22 others, including civilians and police, were reported wounded.

The Jordan Times newspaper said a Canadian woman and at least five police were among the dead, along with four people later identified by security sources as terrorists.

The report said most of the casualties were inflicted elsewhere in the mountainous city of 70,000 residents, before the gunmen stormed the 12th century castle, apparently seeking refuge in one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.

The newspaper quoted a public security spokesman as saying civilians trapped in the castle were freed after a five-hour security operation, and they said nearby civilians also were evacuated as all main entry points to the city were shut down.

Police said the gunmen had entered Karak from Qatraneh, a fortress town 30 kilometers northeast of the city.

There were no claims of responsibility by late Sunday, and authorities had not revealed details of any links between the gunmen and extremist groups in neighboring Syria.

Jordan, widely seen as an oasis of stability in the volatile Middle East, is participating in the U.S.-led air war against Islamic State extremists in Syria and Iraq. That participation comes despite measurable Jordanian civilian opposition to the air campaign.

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Ivory Coast - Politics

A winner-takes-all political culture that emerged since around 1990 was driven by the reality that the economic pie was shrinking and that the only way to promise jobs to ones base was to gut the civil service and the military upon taking power, and to fill those positions not with those who were best qualified, but with those who were perceived to be most loyal. This led to the perception that ones neighbors gain is ones own loss.

Cote dIvoires social, class, and political fissures have longstanding roots, dating to the years when the country was considered an African success case and an economic miracle. Fissures deepened over time through years of economic decline, malgovernance, cynical manipulation of social divisions by political elites, and ultimately civil war. The standoff and post-election violence have served to deepen animosity, fear, and uncertainty in a society already deeply polarized and will make resolution of these issues all the more fraught and complex.

The most pressing issue for true reunification of the North of Cote d'Ivoire with the South was elections in which the population feels it has been fairly represented. Fair representation in turn depended upon an electoral list that incorporates Northern populations that consider themselves Ivorian.

A 2002 coup attempt against President Gbagbo sparked civil unrest, splitting the country between the Muslim-majority north held by the 'New Forces' rebels and government-controlled south. The unrest came to an end in March 2007 with a United Nations-brokered peace agreement, based on which a new voters' roll was drawn up. New Forces leader Guillaume Soro was named as prime minister. Both parliamentary and presidential elections were constitutionally due in 2005 but were successively postponed for various reasons, including the delay in finalizing the voters' roll. The parliamentary term was successively extended by presidential decrees.

In October 2010, the delayed presidential elections finally took place but no candidate won the required majority of votes in the first round. Run-off elections were held between incumbent President Gbagbo of the FPI and former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara of the Rally of Republicans (RDR). On 2 December, the Election Commission declared Mr. Ouattara the winner. However, the Constitutional Court - reportedly headed by an ally of the President - invalidated the results for much of the northern part of the country, declaring victory for President Gbagbo. Both candidates thus claimed victory. On 4 December, President Gbagbo took the oath for a new term. A few hours later, Mr. Ouattara swore himself in as President. Both "Presidents" subsequently formed their own government.

Street protests between the supporters of both camps turned violent. The fighting resulted in over 3,000 deaths and over one million displaced persons. Parliamentary elections, which were due to be held within 50 days of the run-off presidential elections (by 17 January 2011), were postponed due to the violence.

In 2011, Cote d'Ivoire - or Ivory Coast as it is known in the English-speaking world - was torn apart by inter-community violence that broke out between supporters of newly elected President Alassane Ouattara and his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo. Gbagbo refused to accept defeat to his former prime minister, Ouattara. By March 2011, pro-Ouattara forces controlled much of the country and subsequently surrounded Mr. Gbagbo and his supporters in the presidential compound in Abidjan. Following air strikes by UN forces in April, Mr. Gbagbo surrendered to pro-Ouattara forces. On 6 May, Mr. Ouattara was officially sworn in as President. The post-election crisis severely affected the country's economy, which shrunk by 5.8 per cent in 2011. However, 8.5 per cent growth was expected for 2012.

Cote dIvoire emerged from a severe political military crisis that followed historic elections held on November 28, 2010. These were, in many ways, the first truly national elections in Cote dIvoires history, with candidates representing every region in the country. And while President Ouattaras victory was certified by the Ivoirian Independent Electoral Commission and the United Nations, Gbagbo, the "former" President, refused to recognize these results.

It was the latest round in a bitter ethnic struggle that had wrought havoc in this former French colony for a decade. Three thousand people were killed; more than a million, from both sides, were displaced. The fighting was only brought to an end with the help of French and UN troops who intervened on Ouattara's side. Gbagbo was arrested by his successor's supporters and was extradited to the International Criminal Court in the Hague to face charges surrounding the post-election violence.

The violence and conflict that emerged resulted in the tragic death of nearly 1,000 Ivoirians and the displacement of up to a million people. Fortunately, the armed conflict largely ended, days after Gbagbos arrest on April 11, and President Ouattara was sworn in, less than a month later. President Ouattara has pledged to make national reconciliation a primary focus of his Presidency. He created a Dialogue, Truth, and Reconciliation Commission (DTRC), and named former Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny as chairman.

Looking toward the country's future, the fundamental issue was whether its political system following the upheavals of recent years will provide for enduring stability, which is critical for investor confidence and further economic development. As is generally true in the region, the business environment is one in which personal contact and connections remain important, where rule of law does not prevail with assurance, and where the legislative and judicial branches of the government remain weak. Cote d'Ivoire has a high population growth rate, a high crime rate (particularly in Abidjan), a high incidence of AIDS, a multiplicity of tribes, sporadic student unrest, a differential rate of in-country development according to region, and a dichotomy of religion associated with region and ethnic group.

While civil authorities have a fairly strong tradition of competence in Cote dIvoire, at least by West African standards (and despite enduring problems with corruption), Ivoirian society is highly hierarchical and many residents feel distant from local government. The hierarchy of traditional authority consisted of three levels: the royal chieftaincy, headed by a king; the regional chieftaincy (which consisted of many villages), headed by a regional chief; and the village chieftaincy, led by a village chief. All three chiefs were, in the exercise of their authority, surrounded by headmen who acted as their advisers. Today, traditional chiefs have less authority: they are now appointed by the administrative authorities, and the state has imposed a highly disciplined regime on them that includes the possibility of dismissal. The duties of these traditional chiefs basically consist in relaying information between the modern administration and the rural population.

The country has more than 60 ethnic groups, and ethnic discrimination was a problem. Authorities considered approximately 25 percent of the population foreign, although many within this category were second- or third-generation residents. Disputes among ethnic groups, often related to land, resulted in sporadic violence, particularly in the western part of the country. Despite a 2013 procedural update that allows putative owners of land 10 additional years to establish title, land ownership laws remained unclear and unimplemented and reportedly resulted in conflicts with ethnic and xenophobic overtones, often between the native populations and other groups.

The Agni in Cote d'Ivoire, who make up 4.5 percent of the country's population, are subdivided into several groups according to the Agni dialect they speak: Sanwi dialect (Sanvi), Indenie, Bini, Bona, Moronou, Djuablin, Ano, Abe, Barabo, Asrin, and so on. Speakers of each dialect have their own county town and king-the county town being the largest village in the perimeter in which the dialect is spoken and where the king lives. Amon N'douffou V became king of the Sanwi kingdom after an enthronement ceremony was held in the village of Krindjabo, which belongs to the Sanwi Agni people in August 2005. At that time, Boa Kouassi III was king of the Indenie kingdom; and His Majesty Nanan Agni Bile II was king of the Djuablin Agni.

Disgruntled soldiers demanding the payment of bonuses and wage increases began a mutiny on 06 January 2017, seizing control of Bouake, the second largest city, before troops in military camps in cities and towns across the country joined the uprising. President Alassane Ouattara dismissed the heads of the army, police and gendarmes on 09 January 2017 after the two-day army mutiny that spread unrest across the West African nation, according to a statement from the presidency. Army chief General Soumaila Bakayoko, Gervais Kouakou Kouassi, the superior commander of the National Gendarmerie and Director General of the National Police Bredou MBia were relieved of command with immediate effect. A new crisis was only just avoided after the government agreed to meet the mutineers' requests, but the episode was troubling because for the first time the discontent included people who were among Ouattara's own supporters.







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Key U.S. Senator Calls For Single Committee To Probe Russian Hacking

RFE/RL December 18, 2016

An influential Republican senator has called for a single, unified committee to investigate the depth of possible Russian hacking during the U.S. election campaign.

Senator John McCain (Republican-Arizona) told CNN on December 18 that having multiple inquiries probing the alleged hacking would be inefficient. He called for a single, select committee comprised of both House and Senate members.

"This is serious business," he said.

McCain is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is set to begin investigating the extent of Russian hacking in January. Also taking up the probe will be the Senate's Intelligence and the Foreign Relations committees.

The Senate's leader, Mitch McConnell (Republican-Kentucky), has dismissed calls for a select committee, which would underscore the seriousness of the allegations.

McCain's call was echoed by the top Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer (Democrat-New York), who said on December 18 that he, and two other members of the Senate Armed Services Committee -- Jack Reed (Democrat-Rhode Island) and Lindsey Graham (Republican-South Carolina) -- also supported the effort.

The U.S. intelligence community has concluded that Russian government-backed hackers intruded into Democratic Party servers and e-mail accounts.

Later news reports said Republican servers had also been breached.

And last week, The Washington Post reported the FBI shared the CIA's conclusions that Russian hackers intervened to help Republican Donald Trump win the presidential election.

President Barack Obama has defended his administration's response to the alleged Russian hacking, including his refusal to ascribe motive to the meddling.

Obama told reporters on December 16 that he confronted Putin at a summit in China in September, telling the former KGB chief to "cut it out." Intelligence agencies then detected a halt in intrusions.

The Kremlin has dismissed the allegations.

Meanwhile, Trump's incoming chief of staff, Reince Pribus, pushed back on the growing consensus on Russian hacking. He said Democrats were using the allegations as a "spin job" to distract from the election outcome.

"I think what the Democrats ought to do is look in the mirror and face the reality that they lost the election," he told Fox News Sunday.

With reporting by CNN, Fox, and The Washington Post

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/us-mccain -russian-hacking-select- committee/28183193.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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Washington Lacks Consensus on Russian Hacking

By Michael Bowman December 18, 2016

Washington continues to speak with a cacophony of voices on Russian meddling in last month's U.S. presidential election, displaying a lack of consensus during the ongoing presidential transition period that could impact how America ultimately responds to the cyberattacks.

Reaction continued one week after President-elect Donald Trump publicly disputed U.S. intelligence assessments of Russia's cyber activities, something the current White House occupant indicated he finds perplexing.

"Unless the American people genuinely think that the professionals in the CIA, the FBI, our entire intelligence infrastructure, many of whom by the way served in previous administrations and who are Republicans, are less trustworthy than the Russians, then people should pay attention to what our intelligence agencies have to say," President Barack Obama said at a news conference Friday.

Some advising Trump said the case against Russia is not cut-and-dry.

"The Chinese are good. And one of the things you do in cyber is try to look like somebody else," said former CIA director James Woolsey on ABC's This Week program. "To have your hacking look like somebody else's hacking."

Plausible doubts or cover for Moscow?

But what the Trump camp sees as plausible doubts about the hacking attacks strikes others as providing cover for Moscow.

"For the president-elect to continue to give the Russians deniability is deeply damaging to the country," said Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff of California, also on This Week.

Democrats note that Trump will have to rely on intelligence agencies when he becomes commander-in-chief.

"He is doing damage to himself and to his ability to lead the country when he becomes president. We are going to have a national security crisis at some point," Schiff said.

But some Republican lawmakers complain the Obama administration has pointed the finger at Russia while providing no proof.

"I think Putin is evil, I think the Russians are guilty of incredibly evil hacking around the world," Republican Congressman Peter King of New York said on This Week. "If they have evidence, show it. They have not shown it yet."

"We will provide evidence that we can safely provide that does not compromise sources and methods," Obama said Friday. "But I will be honest with you, when you are talking about cyber security, a lot of it is classified."

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Iran's Plan for Nuclear Powered Navy is Response to 'US Violating the Deal'

Sputnik News

12:56 17.12.2016(updated 12:57 17.12.2016)

In mid-December, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ordered the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) to start developing nuclear power units for ships, in response to a possible violation by the United States of the Iran nuclear deal.

According to IRNA news agency, Rouhani ordered Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the AEOI, to work out a plan on developing nuclear power units in three months.

Earlier, Rouhani threatened Washington with retaliation if President Barack Obama signed the law on the extension of sanctions against Tehran. In November, US House of Representatives passed a bill to extend anti-Iranian sanctions for 10 years. On December 1, the bill was approved by Senate.

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif threatened the suspension of the nuclear deal.

Iran and the six international mediators reached on July 14, 2015 a historic agreement on the settlement of the long-term Iranian nuclear problem. A Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was adopted, the implementation of which removes the previously imposed economic and financial sanctions by the UN Security Council, the US and the European Union from Iran. The plan came into effect on January 16.

The deal does not ban Iran from developing nuclear-powered marine propulsion units, according to Emad Abshenass, an Iranian political analyst and editor-in-chief of Iran Press newspaper.

"There is the Iran nuclear agreement itself. And there is also a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action which was signed later. Moreover, there is, as the Americans call it, a gentleman's agreement or unspoken agreement on certain measures labeled as the 'spirit' of the JCPOA," Abshenass told Sputnik Persian.

He argued that according to the initial deal, Iran is not banned from developing nuclear propulsion units for ships and submarines.

"But, in accordance with the gentleman's agreement, Tehran promised not to do that," he pointed out.

Abshenass underscored that at the same time the US violated the gentleman's agreement, particularly in relation to the removal of sanctions.

"Washington openly violated these agreements, including as for the s-called D'Amato bill [a 1996 act on sanctions against Iran]. Moreover, they have decided to extend the sanctions. The White House said that the extension of sanctions was not related to the JCPOA. They were right, but the gentleman's agreement presumed that the US would lift those restrictions," he explained.

As a result, Tehran has decided to act only in accordance with the JCPOA.

"But the spirit of the JCPOA, the gentleman's agreement, will be suspended by Iran," Abshenass added.

He stressed that Iran is not withdrawing from the deal on its nuclear program.

"Iran observes the provisions of the deal and will continue to do that. When Washington begins to observe the gentleman's agreement Tehran will reconsider its stance [in relation to developing nuclear propulsion units]," the expert said.

According to Abshenass, over the past year and a half, Iran has fulfilled all its obligations under the nuclear deal.

"But the US has not fulfilled their obligations. Washington continues to block the return of Iranian assets frozen in international banks. In fact, we're witnessing a violation of the deal by the US," he concluded.

 Sputnik

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Iran Claims US Violated Nuclear Deal, Requests Review

By VOA News December 17, 2016

Iran has asked for an emergency meeting with the six-nation commission that agreed in 2015 to end crippling economic sanctions against Tehran so that it can hear complaints about the extension of some U.S. penalties despite the accord.

The official Iranian news agency said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sent a request for the meeting of the so-called P5+1 nations through the European Union. There was no immediate EU comment Saturday.

The request followed a White House statement Thursday that legislation allowing for the extension of some sanctions against Iran for 10 more years would become law without President Barack Obama's signature.

The 2015 nuclear deal, negotiated with Iran by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany, eased wide-ranging economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear program.

Obama suspended those sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program as part of the 2015 nuclear deal, but keeping them on the books would allow an incoming president to use the sanctions if seen fit.

Tehran said the U.S. sanctions renewal violated the 2015 accord, and this week it ordered its scientists to begin developing systems for nuclear powered ships.

For their part, leading U.S. lawmakers of both parties appeared unconcerned earlier this month about Iran's displeasure with the sanctions renewal authorization, while discounting threats from Iran's President Hassan Rouhani to retaliate.

South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsay Graham called Iran's reaction "bluster" and warned that more sanctions could be levied in 2017.

Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio, describing Iran as "the world's leading sponsor of terrorism," told VOA he did not care about Tehran's threats.

Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland said U.S. citizens, both civilian and military, had been "victims" of Iranian-sponsored terrorism. He and others cited Iran-backed militia fighting alongside Syrian forces loyal to the Damascus government, and Tehran-backed Houthi rebels battling to oust the internationally recognized government in Yemen.

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Amano confirms Iran commitment to nuclear deal

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sun / 18 December 2016 / 12:44

TEHRAN (ISNA) - Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano met with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani upon his arrival in Tehran.

He arrived in Tehran to meet with high-ranking Iranian officials and is due to hold discussion with Iranian top officials over the country's implementation of its nuclear agreement with major powers.

Amano also met with the head of atomic energy organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi, where both sides discussed the situation after the election of Donald Trump as the U.S. President.

Expressing satisfaction about his meeting with Salehi, Amano stated that Iran has been committed to its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

End Item

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IAEA satisfied by Iran commitment to nuclear deal: Amano

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 10:31AM

During a visit to Tehran, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has expressed satisfaction with Iran's commitment to its obligations under the 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.

"Iran has been committed to its obligations and this is an important matter," the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Director General Yukiya Amano said on Sunday at a joint press conference with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

The nuclear accord, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries -- the US, Britain, Russia, France and China plus Germany -- last year in Vienna.

The IAEA is tasked with monitoring the technical implementation of the nuclear deal.

Since January, when the JCPOA took effect, the agency has confirmed Iran's compliance in several reports.

"We are satisfied with the trend of the JCPOA's implementation, and hope for this trend to continue," added Amano, who is in Tehran on a one-day visit at the invitation of Salehi.

Concerning his meeting with Salehi, he said the two had discussed a range of issues, including heavywater, enriched uranium, Iran's uranium stockpiles as well as research and development in the field of nuclear energy.

Among other topics in the talks was a recent order by President Hassan Rouhani to the AEOI to plan work on nuclear propulsion devices to be used in sea transport, Amano added.

The Iranian chief executive issued the decree in response to the recent violation of the multilateral nuclear deal by the United States. The US Congress recently voted to extend Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), Washington's sanctions law against Iran, for another 10 years. This is while Iran had all its nuclear-related sanctions removed on the back of the JCPOA.

Salehi, in turn, said he had addressed cooperation with the IAEA on the JCPOA's implementation.

He urged the IAEA to "act as an impartial international authority, whose reports do not reflect leverage or influence peddling by any party," the Iranian official asserted, thanking the agency for "acting in such a manner so far" in its reports on the JCPOA's implementation.

He said the two had addressed the presidential decree and how to implement it as well as Tehran's obligations under the IAEA's Nuclear Safeguards Agreement during the JCPOA's implementation process.

Salehi also touched on Washington's extension of the Iran Sanctions Act, saying Tehran "is ready to take whatever proportionate measure upon the decision of the Iranian establishment's authorities."

Later in the day, Amano sat down for talks with the Iranian president, who likewise called on the agency to produce impartial and technical reports on Iran.

"We expect that this international institution perform its responsibility in the area of technical cooperation, the transfer of peaceful nuclear technology, and nuclear trade, too," President Rouhani said.

He said the JCPOA's sustainability hinged on compliance by all parties, and added, "The Islamic Republic will honor its commitments as long as other parties honor theirs."

Rouhani said some recent measures by the US, including the extension of the ISA, contravened the nuclear agreement. "The course the United States has taken vis-a-vis Iran will lead to the reduction of international confidence in the US government," he said.

Amano, for his part, reiterated that Iran had lived up to its contractual obligations since the accord's implementation. "The JCPOA was a big achievement, whose implementation the IAEA will support with all its might."

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Rouhani: Extension of US Sanctions Against Iran Violates Nuclear Deal

Sputnik News

17:11 18.12.2016

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani stated that the path that the US has taken in regard to Iran will lead to a considerable drop in international trust in the American government.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The US decision to extend 1979 sanctions against Iran for another 10 years violates the nuclear deal struck by Iran with international powers, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday.

"The path that the US has taken in regard to Iran will lead to a considerable drop in international trust in the American government," Rouhani was quoted as saying at a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano by Mehr news agency.

He stressed that it was highly significant for all parties to the deal to comply with their commitments, arguing that the US recent decision to prolong Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) for another 10 years clearly violated the Iran nuclear deal.

On July 14, 2015, Iran and the P5+1 group of countries  the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany  signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), ensuring the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear program in return for the gradual sanctions relief. The US sanctions introduced against Tehran in 1979, however, were not mentioned in the document.

 Sputnik

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Iran Says It Wants UN Help to Build Nuclear-powered Vessels

By VOA News December 18, 2016

Iran is asking the International Atomic Energy Agency for advice and assistance in developing a fleet of nuclear-powered ships, according to reports Sunday on Iranian government websites.

The websites say the request was made during a visit to Tehran by IAEA Director General Yukiyo Amano to monitor Iran's compliance with a landmark agreement curtailing its nuclear weapons in exchange for easing international sanctions.

The websites said President Hassan Rouhani told Amano he hoped Iran and the IAEA "can have good technical cooperation on the production of nuclear propellants for maritime transport," AFP reported.

Iran last week announced plans to develop a nuclear propulsion system for ships in apparent retaliation for U.S. Congressional action to authorize the renewal of Iran sanctions if Iran breaks the nuclear agreement.

Each side insists its actions do not violate the agreement. But the nuclear propulsion system proposed by Iran could require the enrichment of uranium beyond the limits permitted under the agreement.

In public remarks Sunday, Amano stressed the importance of full compliance with the terms of the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA.

"Full implementation by Iran on this commitment is very important for the future of the JCPOA. The IAEA agrees that JCPOA is a net gain from the verification point of view."

Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's atomic energy organization, maintained at the same news conference the U.N. nuclear agency must not allow itself to be swayed by any parties.

"We have always insisted that the IAEA must act as a neutral authority and not allow the influence of others to be reflected in its reports."

The Iranian news agency IRNA quoted Amano as saying Iran has fulfilled its commitments under the JCPOA.

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IAEA Chief Says Iran Remains Committed to Nuclear Deal

Sputnik News

01:01 19.12.2016(updated 02:26 19.12.2016)

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran has shown commitment to its end of the nuclear deal struck last year while visiting Tehran December 18.

Iran has complained about the US extending a sanctions package for another decade. The US says these sanctions are unrelated to the deal; Iran disagrees.

"We are satisfied with the implementation of the [nuclear agreement] and hope that this process will continue," IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano told the press in the Iranian capital, Reuters reports, citing the IRNA news agency.

"Iran has been committed to its engagement so far and this is important," he said.

Amano was in Tehran to meet head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi.

After the White House said earlier this week that the sanctions bill would become law even without President Barack Obama's signature, Iran requested a meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commission to discuss the situation and ordered its scientists to start developing nuclear systems to power ships.

Salehi presented the maritime nuclear propulsion project to Amano and said the country would provide more details on it in three months, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). The initial outline did include what is so far the most controversial issue of the project: the level of uranium-enrichment powering the ships will require.

"Normally, the enrichment for such engines is between 5% and 90%. It depends on the type of engine and the time and goal we want to reach," Salehi said, AFP reported.

Under the terms of the current deal, for the next 15 years, Iran is only to enrich uranium to 3.67 percent. According to local media, Salehi assured Amano that the country would adhere to the enrichment terms of the agreement. Amano has not commented specifically on the project.

Amano also met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who said America's actions would erode trust in the word of the US government around the world. US President-elect Donald Trump's threats to tear up the deal are not helping matters.

Rouhani told Amano he hoped Iran and the IAEA would "be able to have good technical cooperation on nuclear propulsion for transport," Reuters reported, citing local media.

He also reiterated after the meeting that his country would "adhere to our commitments and we will not trigger the violation of commitments," according to AFP.

"As long as the other sides remain committed to their commitments in the [nuclear deal], the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to act on its commitments."

 Sputnik

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Two York County residents were indicted earlier this month by a federal grand jury for transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure police officers and officials, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The office Monday announced the Dec. 7 indictment against Chad Stoner, 28, and Emily Winand, 27, both of Conewago Township. In addition to transmitting a threat, Stoner was also charged with felon in possession of a firearm.

The indictment was unsealed Friday following Winands initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Schwab in Harrisburg on Dec. 9. Stoner is currently in York County Prison on state charges.

According to U.S. Attorney Bruce Brandler, the indictment alleges that on or about Aug. 10, Stoner and Winand agreed that Winand would use her YouTube account to post a video of Stoner communicating a threat to injure police officers.

The indictment also alleges that on July 8, Stoner possessed three firearms. Stoner had been convicted of an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and therefore was not allowed to possess firearms.

The investigation was conducted by the Harrisburg office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Northern York County Regional Police Department and the West York Borough Police Department.
Over 100k Iraqis displaced since Mosul operation began: IOM

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 7:0PM

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says over 100,000 people have been displaced amid an operation by Iraq's military and volunteer fighters to drive the Daesh Takfiri terrorists out of Mosul.

The IOM said on its displacement tracking webpage on Sunday that since October 17, 103,872 people had been displaced, mainly from Nineveh province, whose capital is Mosul.

Jassem Mohammed al-Jaff, the Iraqi minister for displacement and migration, earlier said 118,000 people had been displaced since the operation started in mid-October.

Aid organizations had already warned that one million or more people could be displaced by the operation to retake Mosul.

On October 17, Iraqi army soldiers, supported by fighters from Hashd al-Sha'abi or the Popular Mobilization Units, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, launched a joint operation to retake Mosul from Daesh.

Forces from Iraq's elite Counter-Terrorism Service have advanced deep into eastern Mosul over the past few weeks.

The advance of Iraqi forces has, however, been slowed down due to the presence of hundreds of thousands of civilians, many of whom are prevented from leaving Mosul by Daesh.

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Oxfam Fears Over a Million Civilians Still in Firing Line in Exodus From Mosul

Sputnik News

16:59 18.12.2016(updated 17:09 18.12.2016)

The US-led coalition in Iraq needs to do more to establish safe routes out of Mosul for more than a million civilians still trapped there and stop shelling residential areas with heavy weapons, Kai Tabacek, Oxfam's digital press officer who works for the humanitarian organization in Mosul, told Sputnik on Sunday.

EDINBURGH (Sputnik)  Last Wednesday, the US military confirmed it had deliberately targeted the building which was allegedly being used by the Daesh to direct fire against coalition forces.

"We are concerned about any reports of civilians being killed or harmed in this conflict. We believe genuinely safe routes must be provided so that civilians who want to can escape the fighting and get to the shelter and help they need. All sides in the conflict should avoid the use of heavy weapons in built-up and populated areas and this includes artillery barrages," Tabacek said.

Tabecek, who has recently returned from work in Mosul, added that the humanitarian relief organization is calling on the US-led coalition to stop using artillery in civilian areas of the besieged city.

"We are still very concerned for more than a million people still living in Mosul and it's vital that all military forces continue to provide genuinely safe escape routes for civilians," Tabecek stressed.

The humanitarian worker noted that tens of thousands of people have already left the city to avoid the conflict, with many living in sub-standard shelters.

The assault on Mosul is expected to take several months to complete and is aimed at ending Daesh control.

Mosul has been occupied by the Daesh, which is a terror group outlawed in Russia and many other countries, in June 2014. The US-supported Iraqi assault on the city has been ongoing since October 17. The Iraqi army and anti-terrorist units are storming Mosul from the northern and eastern flank, while the federal police are approaching the city from the east.

A number of international organizations have voiced concerns over the fate of the civilians either displaced or trapped by the offensive.

A number of reports of airstrikes and shelling resulting in civilian casualties emerged throughout the two-month battle for Mosul. In November, Human Rights Watch said an airstrike by the US-led coalition had destroyed half of a clinic in south Mosul the month before, killing eight civilians along with three Daesh fighters.

 Sputnik

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Iraqi Shia Militiamen Win Trust in Some Sunni Villages, Face Tougher Tests Ahead

By Heather Murdock December 18, 2016

"When Iraqi forces closed in, IS (Islamic State) militants told us Shia soldiers would murder us and rape our women," said Fatehi Mohammad, a 64-year-old farmer in a remote desert village in Iraq's northwestern Nineveh province.

Before IS took over his village of Bashmana, there were neither military forces nor minority citizens of any kind in the tiny Sunni enclave, so the villagers had no reason to doubt the IS warnings. "But we told them, we would stay in our home or die," Mohammad said.

Some families retreated with the militants, but most remained as IS fled to another, more militarized village, he added.

"The first day we were liberated, the Iraqi Army brought biscuits and water to the children," Mohammad continued, describing the re-capture of his village by Iraqi forces nearly two months ago. "The next day the Hashd Shaabi came in with food and cooking oil."

Hashd Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Units, is the local term for Iraq's Shia militias, a label soldiers often resent, saying they are neither informal militias nor solely Shia. The units were established as an official government entity last month and have Sunnis, Christians and other minorities making up more than 30 percent of their ranks, according to Ammar Almusawee, a Hashd Shaabi spokesperson.

'Stay in your homes'

Hashd Shaabi officials also insist they are firmly allied with the Iraqi Army, Kurdish peshmerga forces and the international coalition against IS militants. In the past two months, Hashd Shaabi forces have recaptured more than 80 villages and cut IS' main supply and escape routes, according to commanders.

"We believe in what we are doing," added Almusawee, who said IS "wants us to go back to sectarian violence."

Despite their initial defiance, Mohammad said, the IS warnings preyed on the minds of some of the villagers, who told the Hashd Shaabi militiamen they wanted to leave the village.

"Hashd Shaabi soldiers told us, 'It's okay, stay in your homes' and then provided us with food and medicine," he said.

Nearly two months later, Hashd Shaabi flags flutter at the entrance to Bashmana while, on the main road nearby, small groups of children wave and flash victory signs at passing Hashd Shaabi vehicles.

Task ahead

Winning over villagers' hearts, however, is a small task compared to the next challenge for the Hashd Shaabi forces. They have been tasked to lead the charge toward Tal Afar, a northwestern city strategically located between Mosul and the Syrian border, where IS is expected to put up fierce resistance.

The Tal Afar airport is already held by Hashd Shaabi, and fighters have gradually closed in on the city since the operation to re-take Mosul began in mid-October.

"Tal Afar is between Mosul and Syria," said Sheikh Kareem al-Kharkani, a Hashd Shaabi brigade commander. "The liberation of Tal Afar will mean Islamic State in Mosul is finished."

But the battle for Tal Afar may be long and arduous as local families and civilians forced to retreat with the militants are expected to be used as human shields, says al-Kharkani.

"We, as Iraq forces, use airplanes and mortars," explains al-Kharkani. "Because IS in Tal Afar uses civilians as shields we can't use our heavy weapons. We are asking civilians to flee the city any way they can."

Winter delays

In recent days, some operations on the Western front have halted as forces contend with winter in the desert, where the dusty terrain has turned into vast fields of cold mud.

However the weather has not deterred the extremists from attacking their lines with munitions-laden cars. Several soldiers were wounded in the past week in attacks involving at least eight car bombs.

"We fought with them and the militants ran away," said 25-year-old Mohaned, a Hashd Shaabi soldier stationed on top of an earthen berm that extends out of eyesight.

Witnesses say the battle lasted for hours, with heavy fire coming from both sides. But this fight, soldiers say, was small compared to the battles behind and in front of them.

"I'm willing to sacrifice anything," said Morthana, another soldier outside a Hashd Shaabi base. "Not just for Shia, but for everyone."

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Liberation of Tripoli Major Goal of Libyan National Army

Sputnik News

12:08 17.12.2016(updated 12:37 17.12.2016)

The Libyan National Army (LNA) has prepared to launch an offensive against Tripoli where the main forces of Islamic extremists are currently concentrated, LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari told Sputnik. The LNA spokesman underscored that only Libyans themselves can bring an end to the ongoing crisis.

The liberation of Tripoli is the major goal of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Ahmed al-Mismari, a spokesman for LNA told Sputnik.

"Tripoli is [the LNA'] strategic objective in its operation to combat terrorism," al-Mismari underscored, "the main forces of [Islamist] militants are concentrated in the city, hidden under other names."

"We held a press conference [Thursday], marked the areas with the highest concentration of terrorists, gathered all affordable information about them and worked out the plan of our future operation," he said.

Last Friday protests broke out in Tripoli after a woman was gang-raped by Islamist militants, London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported Monday.

Commenting on the issue al-Mismari stressed that it is not the first time when Libyan women have fallen victim to armed extremists in Tripoli.

"Every self-respecting Libyan and Arab is obliged to respond [to this brutality]. [Libyan National Army] General Khalifa Haftar cannot allow such things to happen in Libya, therefore he ordered the army units located near Tripoli to prepare for an offensive," the LNA spokesperson underscored.

Some observers speculate that the LNA's decision to liberate Tripoli could be somehow connected with Haftar's November visit to Russia.

Haftar and Aguila Saleh, the speaker of the country's internationally recognized parliament in Tobruk, visited Russia in late November.

In the course of his visit Haftar gave an interview to Sputnik.

The General pointed out that the Libyan army will require Russia's assistance once a UN arms embargo on Libya is lifted. In 2011 the UN Security Council imposed sanctions against Libya including the embargo on an arms trade with the country.

"Many of our military experts studied in Russia. But in the future, when the embargo is lifted and the deliveries of advanced weapons begin, we will need Russian weapons experts for military training," Haftar said, adding that Russia is currently adhering to the arms embargo.

On November 29 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a meeting with Haftar on the military-political situation in Libya. Following the meeting the Russian Foreign Ministry signaled that Moscow is ready to contribute to the promotion of the political process to settle the Libyan crisis.

Speaking to Sputnik the LNA spokesman highlighted the importance of the Russo-Libyan collaboration.

"Our two countries have long maintained close relations. Recently, we have begun restoring and bolstering ties between our countries," al-Mismari emphasized.

He called attention to the fact that Russia is well-informed about the situation on the ground in Libya.

"We answered all the questions asked by Russian generals about the situation in Libya, so that now they are well aware of the real situation on the ground," he stressed, adding that the LNA's fight against terrorism is an urgent necessity.

"What we need the most is the UN to lift the ban on arms supplies to Libya," al-Mismari highlighted.

He stressed that only Libyans can bring an end to the conflict simmering in the country.

For his part, Aguila Saleh reiterated in his Friday interview with Sputnik that Libya strongly opposes the deployment of foreign troops in Libya.

"We will not allow any foreign troops [to be deployed] on our territory. This is unacceptable," Saleh said, stressing that the country had "a strong army ready to fight, if they are provided with arms."

Commenting on the upcoming military operation against Islamists in Tripoli al-Mismari stressed that the rights of ordinary civilians in the region will be fully respected.

"I want to assure the residents of the eastern part of Libya [the Tripoli region] that the military operation will take place precisely in Tripoli where Islamist extremists are concentrated. These people are dangerous for the country," the LNA spokesperson said, stressing that the rights and interests of civilians will be respected.

Al-Mismari explained that the LNA is now facing fierce resistance not only from Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) but also from al-Qaeda. He cited one of the militants captured during the LNA military operation.

"He told us the following: 'We pin our great hopes on sleeping cells in Benghazi which will launch their offensive from the desert, they will be unstoppable'," the LNA spokesman said.

Still, the Libyan Army is ready to fight.

"The operation plan has been developed, the logistics support has been organized, our personnel are ready We have deployed our Air Force close to Tripoli. The fight will be fast," he said.

 Sputnik

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UN urges national reconciliation in Libya

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 3:58PM

The United Nations has urged the people of Libya to work for "national reconciliation" in the wake of an end to operations for the liberation of Sirte from the Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

Martin Kobler, the UN secretary general's special representative and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said on Sunday that Libyans should "seize this opportunity to promote national reconciliation."

Speaking at a news conference in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, the UN officials called for "the integration and rehabilitation of fighters" and the collection of arms "to give way to a professional security apparatus with a unified command."

On Saturday, Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) officially announced the end of military operations in the city of Sirte.

The UN envoy hailed the seizure of Sirte as "a major step forward in liberating Libya from terrorism." He, however, warned that "Libyans should remain vigilant."

Kobler also underlined the need for demining Sirte to ensure the safe return of the displaced.

The UN-backed government in Libya started the large-scale military operations in May.

Daesh, which had captured Sirte more than a year ago, had taken advantage of a chaos gripping Libya since 2011, when a NATO military intervention followed the 2011 uprising that led to the toppling and killing of dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Forces loyal to the GNA launched the final offensive to retake Sirte from Daesh on December 5. The city, located on the Mediterranean coast, was the main urban center that Daesh managed to seize outside Iraq and Syria.

The GNA has yet to fully establish its authority across Libya.

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Libya officially declares liberation of Sirte from Daesh

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 8:24AM

Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) has officially announced the end of military operations in the city of Sirte following the recent liberation of the coastal city from the grips of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.

Fayez al-Sarraj, the GNA's leader, made the announcement in a televised speech on Saturday, two weeks after a large-scale assault on the terrorist group brought the city, located 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of the capital, Tripoli, under full control of forces loyal to the internationally-recognized government.

"The battle for Sirte is over but the war against terrorism in Libya is not finished," Sarraj noted.

He called on all factions and military forces to unite under "one single army," inviting different political parties in the North African country to work together to resolve the issues facing Libya.

The UN-backed government in Libya started a large-scale military operation in May to purge Daesh militants from Sirte, which is the hometown of former slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Daesh, which had captured Sirte more than a year ago, had taken advantage of a chaos gripping Libya since 2011, when a NATO military intervention followed the 2011 uprising that led to the toppling and killing of Gaddafi.

Forces loyal to the GNA launched the final offensive to retake Sirte from Daesh terrorists on December 5. The city, located on the Mediterranean coast, was the main urban center that Daesh managed to seize outside Iraq and Syria.

The GNA, endorsed by the United Nations and several Western governments, has yet to fully establish its authority across Libya.

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Rights group wants ASEAN countries to act on Rohingya plight

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 8:54AM

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged countries from the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) to make strong efforts at an emergency meeting of the group to resolve the ongoing Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.

ASEAN's upcoming meeting is scheduled for Monday in Myanmar's Yangon.

Phil Robertson, the deputy director of the Asia Division at the HRW, said the international rights group as wells as other members of the global community is "hoping that this will be the beginning of an ongoing campaign by some of the ASEAN states to demand answers from Burma (Myanmar), and to expect better treatment of the Rohingya."

Robertson emphasized that ASEAN nations have the necessary power to exert influence on Myanmar's government in regard to the Rohingya crisis.

"ASEAN does have efficacy to be able to force Myanmar to answer questions," he said.

Robertson said the solution to the crisis is to integrate the Muslims, who having been living in Myanmar for generations.

"Ultimately, these governments need to press Burma to allow the Rohingya to stay and to have citizenship and be accepted as full participants in the Burmese state. Otherwise, we're going to continue to have these occasional pogroms against the Rohingyas," he said, referring to the instances of murder against the ethnic Muslims in Myanmar's northwestern Rakhine State.

International pressure has been mounting on the government of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, over a military crackdown against the Rohingyas in Rakhine, where the Muslims are concentrated and have been besieged by army forces.

World bodies, including the United Nations (UN), have called on Suu Kyi to fulfill her responsibility in the crisis, visit the state, and take measures to protect the Rohingya Muslim minority there against ongoing atrocities at the hands of the military.

Suu Kyi has done little to address the issue. A task force that she ordered to investigate the situation in Rakhine came out saying that military soldiers there were acting according to law.

The ASEAN meeting

Myanmar called for the emergency meeting of ASEAN nations shortly after the UN said it was receiving daily reports of rapes and killings of members of the Rohingya community in the country.

The UN statement, which was released on Friday, criticized Suu Kyi for her "short-sighted, counterproductive, even callous" approach to the humanitarian crisis involving the Rohingya.

The UN has estimated that 27,000 members of the Rohingya community have been forced to flee the terror waged on them in the region by the military and extremist Buddhists and seek asylum in neighboring countries such as Bangladesh.

A much larger number of Rohingya "boat people" have attempted to flee to other neighboring countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, which are all members of ASEAN.

People in both Malaysia and Indonesia have been protesting against the persecution of the Rohingya Muslims by the military in the Buddhist-dominant country.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak called for international intervention to resolve the crisis and put an end to the "genocide" of the Rohingyas in Myanmar.

The Monday ASEAN meeting will be held behind closed doors. It will be attended by the foreign ministers of ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar itself.

Ongoing atrocities

Rakhine State has been under military siege since October, when unidentified elements launched a deadly raid on a police post. The Myanmarese government blamed the attack on militants whom it said were linked to the Rohingya.

There have been numerous reports of rape, murder, and arson against the Muslim population in the state. But violence against the Rohingya precedes the current military siege.

Rakhine has been the scene of communal violence at the hands of Buddhist extremists since 2012. Hundreds of the Muslims have been killed in the violence. Myanmar's population is mostly comprised of Buddhists.

The government denies full citizenship to the members of the Rohingya community in Myanmar despite their long-time presence in Rakhine.

The UN says the Rohingyas are one of the most persecuted communities in the world.

"We cannot travel to anywhere; there's no education or healthcare, no jobs here. We are living here like prisoners. So, I have no more words to express our lives. We need as much help as possible," said Maung Hla, a Muslim Rohingya who lives in apartheid-like conditions at a camp for internally displaced persons in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State.

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Confidante of S Korean president awaiting trial over graft charges

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 8:23AM

The trial into the case of a confidante of South Korean President Park Geun-hye will open over a corruption scandal that has rocked the government.

The hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, which is planned to be held on Monday, will review charges against Choi Soon-sil, who is alleged to have peddled influence over Park.

Court spokesman Shin Jae-hwan said Choi could receive up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges of extortion, abuse of power and attempted fraud.

Choi, a friend of Park for about 40 years, manipulated state affairs and extorted businesses, according to prosecutors.

She is currently in custody and is not required to attend Monday's session.

Although it is not clear how long the trial will last, South Korean courts usually issue a verdict within six months of indictment.

Choi last appeared in public on October 31 and told reporters at the Seoul prosecutors' office that she had "committed a sin that deserves death."

South Korea has witnessed a wave of protests since October, when the president was implicated in a corruption scandal.

Park was impeached and had her presidential powers suspended. Now the court will rule whether she should permanently step down or be reinstated.

Park's impeachment focused on charges that she had colluded with Choi pressuring big businesses to donate tens of millions of dollars to two dubious non-profit foundations backing presidential initiatives.

She has denied any wrongdoing, but made an apology for carelessness in her ties with her long-time friend.

The South Korean leader has indicated that she would not step down, but if she quits or her impeachment is upheld, a presidential election has to be held in the Southeast Asian state in 60 days.

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South Korea Leader's Supporters, Opponents Clash in Seoul Rallies

By VOA News December 18, 2016

Tensions were high as supporters of impeached South Korean President Park Geun-hye and opponents of Park, who had gathered in much larger numbers, rallied in Seoul on Saturday.

Supporters of Park, who was impeached December 9, rallied for her reinstatement, while opponents gathered for an eighth week to repeat their demands that the leader impeached over a corruption scandal step down immediately.

Despite a heavy police presence separating the two groups, there were reports of some yelling and shoving among the protesters. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Park's supporters last held a major rally in mid-November. Organizers estimated more than 300,000 anti-Park protesters were at the rally.

Park, 64, is accused of colluding with her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil to force Korean conglomerates to donate nearly $65 million to two dubious foundations. Choi is also being investigated for funneling foundation funds and lucrative side contracts to herself and her friends.

Park's lawyers argued Friday the impeachment had no legal basis, which motivated some protesters Saturday.

"I can't stand Park for even another day. Nobody wants her, but she's stubbornly sticking around, using taxpayer money like it's her money," Kim Eun-young, who participated in her third weekend protest, told the Associated Press on Saturday.

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn assumed the role as government caretaker after Park was impeached.

The Constitutional Court is reviewing the impeachment motion, a process that can take up to six months. If the court affirms, a new presidential election will be scheduled within two months of the ruling.

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11 gunmen killed in clashes with police in Russia's Chechnya

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 6:30PM

Security forces in the Russian region of Chechnya have clashed with suspected militants, killing at least 11 gunmen.

Regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov said Sunday that police killed four gunmen and captured two others after a group of gunmen attempted to target police forces in the provincial capital, Grozny.

"The gunmen were neutralized with retaliation fire. Two of them were taken to hospital and four were killed. An investigation group is working on the scene trying to identify the gunmen," he said.

Kadyrov said seven other militants were also killed after police forces hunted them down in an operation on the outskirts of Grozny. He added a total of six militants were wounded in clashes while a traffic police officer was also injured.

He said most of the clashes took place outside Grozny, denying speculations that there were more clashes and an explosion in Grozny's central districts on Sunday.

"The situation in the city is quiet. Road traffic is functioning as usual," Kadyrov said, adding, "None of these devils will get out alive if they enter Grozny with weapons."

The regional leader also posted a video online showing police forces chasing militants. Bodies of those killed were shown in the video lying in the snow following the clash.

Chechnya has seen two separatist wars with Russia over the past decades. The region is currently stable but Moscow fears that the return of thousands of nationals who have left Chechnya for Iraq and Syria to join terror groups could pose serious security threats to the country.

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HARRISBURG  More than 200 demonstrators are on the steps of Pennsylvania's Capitol to greet members of the state's 58th Electoral College, with the faint hope that they'll persuade them not to vote for Republican President-elect Donald Trump.

The demonstrators were waving signs and chanting in 25-degree weather Monday morning as delegates began arriving at the state Capitol to cast the state's electoral votes for president. Monday's ceremony starts at noon in the state House of Representatives' chamber.

Demonstrators chanted "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA" and "no treason, no Trump."

Trump won Pennsylvania's popular vote, which means he got to pick the people who will cast Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes. That's fifth-most in the nation.

Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton by less than 1 percent in Pennsylvania.
Chechen Leader: 11 Militants Killed In Clashes Near Grozny

RFE/RL December 18, 2016

The leader of Russia's troubled Chechnya region says security forces have killed 11 suspected militants in two clashes near the capital, Grozny.

Gunbattles, like the ones announced by Ramzan Kadyrov, used to be commonplace in the war-ravaged Russian region, but have become rare under Kadyrov's rule.

Kadyrov said in a post on the social-media network Instagram on December 18 that during the overnight clash, gunmen fired at police who tried to stop their vehicle. Police killed four gunmen and captured two others, who were hospitalized.

Later on December 18, he said, security forces tracked down other gunmen on the outskirts of Grozny and killed seven of them. Another four suspected militants have been captured, three of whom have been hospitalized, Kadyrov said.

A police officer was also wounded in the clash.

Kadyrov denied media reports claiming that there were more clashes and an explosion in Grozny itself, saying that security forces only engaged the militants only outside the city. He posted a video showing his troops firing their weapons and bodies of the militants lying in snowy fields and wooded areas following the clash.

"None of these devils will get out alive if they enter Grozny with weapons," Kadyrov wrote.

But video footage purportedly of the shoot-out was posted late on December 17 on YouTube, showing police firing automatic weapons on a blockaded thoroughfare in Grozny. That appeared to refute Kadyrov's assertion that the clashes only took place outside the city.

Backed by generous financial support from the Kremlin and security forces known for rampant rights abuses, Kadyrov has largely succeeded in stabilizing Chechnya after two separatist wars fought in the 1990s and early 2000s.

He has also overseen a glamorous rebuilding of Grozny, a city of around 270,000 people, with high-rise skyscrapers now dotting the skyline, along with neatly manicured boulevards, and one of Europe's largest mosques.

Any attack by militants that succeeded in penetrating the city's security would be an embarrassment to Kadyrov.

While rampant violence and outright warfare has all but disappeared from Chechnya in recent years, other nearby North Caucasus regions continue to suffer from militant threats and terrorism.

And Chechen fighters are among the largest, and most potent, militant group fighting alongside Islamic State (IS) fighters in Syria and Iraq.

Many analysts fear that as IS loses its clout, battle-hardened, Russian-speaking fighters could return to the North Caucasus and stoke new conflict.

With reporting by Ekho Mosvky and TASS

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/kadyrov- criminals-killed-grozny-shootout- chechnya/28182541.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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Russia says will not back French-proposed resolution on Aleppo

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 5:28PM

Russia says it does not support a UN Security Council resolution drafted by France that calls for the deployment of international observers to Syria's Aleppo to monitor the evacuation of civilians and protect those who remain.

"We cannot support it, we cannot allow it to pass because this is a disaster," Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin told reporters on Sunday.

He said Moscow would submit its own proposal for the monitoring process, though he did not elaborate.

"But there could be another thing which could be adopted today by the Security Council which would accomplish the same goals," Churkin added.

Diplomats said Russia had circulated a draft resolution to address the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo during a closed-door meeting on Sunday ahead of a planned vote on the French-proposed draft.

The Russian proposal reportedly urges the UN to make "arrangements" to "monitor the condition of civilians remaining in Aleppo." The deployment of observers to Aleppo was not mentioned in the draft resolution.

The UN Security Council is set to vote on the resolutions later on Sunday.

Earlier, buses entered the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo to resume the evacuation of civilians and armed men from the areas that had been under the control of militants. The evacuation process was halted due to the militants' violation of a ceasefire deal.

The Syrian government managed to liberate the city recently after weeks of advances and blistering attacks against foreign-backed militants, who had been holding the eastern part of Aleppo since 2012.

On Friday, Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Ja'afari slammed the West's recent initiatives at the United Nations over the situation in Syria as the "saddest images of diplomatic and political hypocrisy."

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Buses arrive in eastern Aleppo to resume evacuations: Syrian media

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 6:20AM

Buses are entering the eastern neighborhoods in the northwestern Syrian city of Aleppo to resume the evacuation of civilians and armed men from the formerly militant-held areas.

On Sunday, the buses started entering several eastern neighborhoods under the supervision of the Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross to take out the remaining militants and civilians, Syria's official SANA news agency reported.

Recently, Russia and Turkey, which supports anti-Syria militants, reached a deal enabling the evacuation of civilians and militants from Aleppo. The agreement ushered in thousands of evacuations.

The process was however halted after militants violated the ceasefire deal and blocked the transfer of civilians from the villages of Kefrya and Foua in Idlib Province.

On Saturday, it was reported that the government and militants were working on a new deal to resume the evacuations from the villages as well as two towns near the Lebanese border.

Evacuation buses reach Foua and Kefraya

Lebanon's al-Manar television said later on Sunday that buses and Red Crescent vehicles had reached the entrance to the besieged Syrian villages of Foua and Kefraya, which are besieged by foreign-backed militants.

A Syrian government official, who was part of the evacuations negotiating team, said, "It was agreed to resume evacuations from east Aleppo in parallel with the evacuation of (medical) cases from Foua and Kefraya and some cases from Zabadani and Madaya."

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was working with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to try to start a new round of Syrian peace talks aimed at securing a nationwide ceasefire.

Buses attacked, burned en route to Foua and Kefraya

According to a report by Syrian TV on Sunday, several buses, which were supposed to evacuate ill and injured people from the besieged towns of Foua and Kefraya were attacked and some of them burned, Reuters reported.

However, other buses and Red Crescent vehicles reached the entrance to the villages

UN to vote on French Aleppo proposal

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council (UNSC) is set to vote on a French-drafted proposal allegedly aimed at facilitating evacuations from Aleppo and aid transfer to the northwestern Syrian city.

The session, scheduled to be held at 11:00 New York time (1600 GMT), is set to vote on the draft resolution to reintroduce a UN regime of monitoring the developments in Aleppo.

According to reports, the document expresses "alarm" at the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo, adding that "tens of thousands of besieged inhabitants" there require aid and evacuation.

The Syrian government managed to recapture the city recently after weeks of lightning advances and blistering attacks against foreign-backed militants, who had been holding its eastern side since 2012.

In a Friday interview with Press TV, Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Ja'afari slammed the West's recent initiatives at the United Nations over the situation in Syria as the "saddest images of diplomatic and political hypocrisy."

He made the comments a few hours after reports emerged that France was drafting a UNSC resolution on Aleppo.

In late November, when the Syrian government was making great strides against the militants in Aleppo, France, which is a staunch supporter of Takfiri militants in Syria, called for a UNSC meeting to discuss mandating a "ceasefire" in Aleppo.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said at the time, "More than ever before, we need to urgently put in place means to end the hostilities and to allow humanitarian aid to get through unhindered."

However, Russia, which has been supporting Damascus against the militants with airstrikes since last September, says countries opposing Assad are using the issues of truce and aid delivery to advance their own political agendas.

On November 30, after the French call for a meeting on Syria, Russia's Foreign Ministry said the Aleppo issue was becoming highly politicized as most UN humanitarian aid was going to areas occupied by foreign-backed militants.

Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said only one percent of the UN aid supplies was being directed to the western city of Dayr al-Zawr, where at least 200,000 people, trapped by the Daesh Takfiri terror group, remain in desperate need of help.

She added that most UN aid was being sent to militant-held areas, including areas controlled by the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham terror group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.

Syria gives OPCW proof of militant gas attack

In another development, Russia Today reported that the Syrian government has submitted documents to the UN chemical weapons watchdog, bearing evidence of a militant mustard gas attack against civilians near the country's northwestern city of Aleppo.

The documents were sent to a mission with the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Damascus, RT reported on Sunday.

An unexploded shell recovered by Russian sappers, which serves to substantiate the contents of the documents, is to be flown to the OPCW headquarters in The Hague next month, according to the report.

"The samples will be stored in Syria until all financial difficulties linked to their transportation to Europe will be solved," it added.

The projectile, described as a homemade 240-mm round, was found by the Russian military's chemical warfare defense unit near the village of Maarat Umm Hawsh in Aleppo Province on November 16.

"The shell is believed to have been used in a September 16 attack on the village, in which over 40 civilians were injured, and later treated in the Yusuf al-Azma military hospital in the Syrian capital Damascus for symptoms of mustard gas poisoning," RT said.

Samer Abbas, spokesman for the Syrian National Authority monitoring the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, said, "We have provided all the documents to the mission, they were vetted and accepted. The mission will come to Syria one more time to collect samples, which will be subsequently analyzed."

On November 11, the Russian unit, which goes by the official name of Russian Troops of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense, was quoted as saying that it had found similar unexploded projectiles containing "chlorine and white phosphorus" in the 1070 district of Aleppo's capital.

In September, the Russian military had warned that terror groups might start deploying chemical agents against the city's government-controlled areas. Later that month, at least eight people suffered breathing difficulties after Daesh terrorists fired mortar shells containing toxic gases in the towns of Harbal and Um Hosh, north of Aleppo.

Foreign supporters of the militants operating against the Syrian government have repeatedly accused Damascus of resorting to chemical weapons in Aleppo, an allegation strongly denied by Syria and Russia.

The Syrian government turned over its entire chemical stockpile under a deal negotiated by Russia and the United States back in 2013.

The OPCW has overseen operations to remove the government chemical arsenal from Syria under a deal, which came after hundreds of people were killed in an August 2013 chemical attack in the Ghouta suburb of Damascus.

The Damascus government agreed to turn over its arsenal of chemicals despite denying any role in the Ghouta attack.

Syria repels militant attack in Homs

Amid its ongoing struggle against Takfiri terrorists elsewhere in Syria, government foiled on Saturday a Daesh attack against an airport in the countryside of the western city of Homs.

The official Syrian Arab News Agency said the army had also targeted the group's gatherings and transportation routes around the city, killing 30 of the terrorists and injuring dozens of others.

It added that the forces had also slain seven al-Nusra terrorists and wounded some others in the suburbs of Homs.

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Syria Evacuation Buses Burnt As UN Security Council Set To Meet

RFE/RL December 18, 2016

Syrian activists say at least five buses assigned to evacuate wounded and sick people in two northern villages have been burnt, threatening a wider deal to ship out thousands of civilians and rebel fighters still trapped in east Aleppo.

The UN Security Council, meanwhile, was set to vote on a French-drafted proposal to send monitors to Aleppo to observe evacuations from besieged areas.

Disagreements over the evacuation of thousands of civilians and the remaining rebels in eastern Aleppo had caused delays.

But Syrian state media said on December 18 that buses entered eastern Aleppo under the supervision of the International Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to begin the evacuations.

Some 1,200 people were to be taken out of the rebel enclave in return for a similar number taken out of Foah and Kefraya -- two villages in Idlib Province that have been besieged by the armed opposition.

However, several buses en route to evacuate ill and injured people from the two villages were attacked and burned, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian state media later reported.

The group blamed Al-Qaeda-affiliated miliants.

The Security Council was set to convene early on December 18 to decide on the draft proposal despite resistance from Russia, which holds veto power and is backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the war.

The text of the draft resolution asks UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to "redeploy the United Nations humanitarian staff already on the ground to carry out adequate, neutral monitoring, direct observation, and to report on evacuations from besieged parts of Aleppo and protection of civilians inside Aleppo."

The proposal would also seek to ensure the "voluntary, safe, and dignified passage of all civilians" from Aleppo and other areas subject to UN monitoring, with the wounded and most vulnerable given priority.

It also asks Ban to report back to the council on the resolution's implementation within five days after it is adopted.

Thousands of civilians and the remaining rebels in Aleppo were waiting for evacuations to resume on December 17, a day after the Syrian government suspended an evacuation operation brokered by Russia and Turkey amid conflicting allegations of cease-fire violations.

Earlier on December 17, Syria's state television said that the evacuation was still suspended until rebels allowed residents of two besieged Shi'ite villages -- Fua and Kfarya -- to leave to government-controlled areas.

Assad's forces made a push this week to establish full control over the eastern part of Aleppo, which the opposition had held since 2012, with an offensive that has been harshly criticized by the UN and Western governments.

Late on December 16, France circulated a draft text of its proposed resolution stating that the Security Council was "alarmed" by the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo and due to the fact that "tens of thousands of besieged Aleppo inhabitants" require aid and evacuation.

It was not immediately clear whether Russia, Assad's key supporter in the war, would back the proposal.

Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the UN, said that some aspects of the French proposal were "questionable," including the prospect of quickly redeploying the monitors.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/un-security -council-vote-aleppo-monitors-evacuation -deal/28182524.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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UN Official Lambasts Jihadists for Imperiling Aleppo Evacuation

By Jamie Dettmer December 18, 2016

The United Nations humanitarian adviser for Syria, Jan Egeland, lashed out Sunday at al-Qaida-aligned rebel fighters for upending a fragile evacuation deal for civilians in Aleppo, labeling the jihadists as "reckless."

Egeland warned their burning earlier in the day of buses that were meant to evacuate Shi'ites from two small towns neighboring Aleppo risked imperiling all relief efforts.

"Reckless armed men burning buses for Foua and Kefraya undermine evacuation and relief for all civilians in besieged areas in Syria," he complained in a Twitter post.

Buses headed to evacuate Foua and Kefraya, two Shi'ite towns that have been besieged for months by rebel fighters, were attacked and burned Sunday, Syrian state media and an independent monitoring group reported.

The vehicles were en route to transport more than 2,000 sick and injured people from the towns in northwest Idlib province, as part of a deal to resume the evacuation of eastern Aleppo, where an estimated 40,000 civilians and rebel fighters have remain trapped in a small enclave since Friday.

Forces fighting for the government of President Bashar al-Assad are demanding that people be allowed to leave Foua and Kefraya in exchange for allowing rebels and civilians to leave eastern Aleppo. The London-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Sunday that the rebel group Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly known as the Nusra Front, was behind the bus burnings.

Reuters news agency reported that other buses and Syrian Red Crescent vehicles reached the entrance to the towns as hope mounted that the people-swap plan would be resumed. But by early evening there had been no resumption of evacuations, condemning those trapped in eastern Aleppo to yet another night of sub-freezing temperatures.

In the last remaining hospital in the enclave, doctors struggled Sunday to save the life of a pregnant mother and her baby by performing a cesarian section. "We tried to evacuate her but we couldn't," said a medic. "We were able to get the baby out but both are dead," he added.

Security Council

The U.N. Security Council was expected to vote Sunday on whether to send observers to the war-ravaged Syrian city to oversee evacuations and to help provide protection for the civilians who remain. But that vote was postponed until Monday.

The Security Council will consider a French proposal that expresses alarm at the worsening humanitarian crisis, and for the "tens of thousands of besieged Aleppo inhabitants" in need of evacuation. But Western diplomats told VOA they hold out little hope that the proposal will be approved by Russia, an ally of Syria's president and a veto wielding member of the council. Moscow has vetoed six resolutions on Syria since the conflict began in 2011.

Evacuations were suspend from eastern Aleppo Friday by the government in Damascus as rebel groups, international organizations and the Assad regime traded accusations about who was to blame.

Russia said the operation to evacuate civilians and insurgents from eastern Aleppo was complete, but opposition leaders said thousands still want to flee and accused Iranian militias and Hezbollah of executing several men in the last convoy to leave the city.

According to Syrian opposition leaders, the convoy carrying 800 people, including rebel fighters, was stopped by Iranian commanded militiamen in the Jisr al-Haj district. They forcibly disarmed the insurgents in breach of an agreement and seized a team of civil defense workers overseeing the convoy evacuation, killing three of them.

"Militias forced everyone to get off the buses, confiscated all individual weapons, forced men to get undressed to their underwear, killed three men and wounded seven others, then forced the convoy to go back to the besieged area of Aleppo city, and some buses are still missing," said a witness, Ahmad Abo Al-Nour.

On Saturday, civilians and rebel fighters waiting for buses to evacuate them were shot at by Iranian-led militias loyal to Assad, according to activists.

An agreement struck Saturday was to give safe passage to those loyal to Assad's regime, including Iranian militia groups, from areas held or besieged by rebels, the Aleppo Media Center activist group said.

It was a new demand in exchange for the evacuation of civilians, rebels and others loyal to the opposition from eastern Aleppo, now almost entirely in government control.

Abdulkafi al-Hamdo, a teacher trapped in eastern Aleppo said he has no choice but to try to leave with a young daughter. "The weather is so cold," he said. "The children are hungry they are crying. They are freezing." He said people are afraid they will not be able to get out."

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Chinese aircraft avoided Taiwan's air defense zone: MND

ROC Central News Agency

2016/12/18 17:51:00

Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) Chinese military aircraft have circled Taiwan twice in the past four weeks but did not enter the country's air air defense identification zone (ADIZ), a defense ministry spokesman said after the People's Liberation Army posted a photo of the aircraft.

Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesman Major General Chen Chung-chi () confirmed the Chinese flights on Sunday but said Taiwan's military was able to stay on top of the situation and respond if necessary.

Chinese aircraft have twice circled Taiwan, on Nov. 25 and Dec. 10, by flying around southern Taiwan over the Bashi Channel before joining other planes over Japan's Miyako Channel before returning to China.

He was responding to a photo posted by the PLA's Air Force of a Chinese Xian H-6 bomber flying around Taiwan's periphery with two peaks visible in the background, sparking worries about Chinese encroachment of Taiwan's air space.

Chinese media said the peaks appeared to be Yushan or North Dawu Mountain, but Chen said that was merely speculation.

The reports also cited a Chinese netizen as saying that the two outcrops visible in the bottom right corner of the photo were Orchid Island () (or Lanya) and Little Lanyu () off Taitung County in eastern Taiwan.

A former military pilot was quoted as saying that the Xian H-6 bomber, capable of carrying air-launched cruise missiles, may have been flying north at an altitude of 20,000 feet and was close to Taiwan's ADIZ outside Orchid Island.

(By Claudia Liu and Evelyn Kao)

Enditem/ls

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UK extends training for Ukrainian troops to counter 'belligerent Russia'

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 18, 2016 4:57AM

The British government has announced that it is extending the ongoing training program for Ukrainian troops in the face of a "more belligerent Russia."

The training would continue for at least another year as the conflict in eastern Ukraine is likely to drag on, Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said on Saturday.

"Britain is stepping up in Europe and around the world," Fallon said.

"Extending British training of Ukrainian Armed Forces sends a clear message that we support Ukraine and remain firmly committed to its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in the face of a more belligerent Russia."

He said thousands of service personnel would be trained by British troops, who have been deployed to about 14 sites across Ukraine since 2015.

More than 5,000 Ukrainian troops have already been trained by British forces, who will remain until early 2018 at least, according to the Ministry of Defense.

The UK has around 100 active training team members in Ukraine running 30 courses for infantry, medical and logistics corps, as well as on IED clearance at any one time.

Fallon previously said that the UK would deploy hundreds of troops to the Baltic region in Europe to support its NATO allies against Russia.

In July, NATO announced it would deploy, on a rotational basis, four multinational battalions to Poland and the Baltic statesEstonia, Latvia and Lithuaniato deter what it referred to as "any Russian incursion."

The US-led military alliance severed its ties with Moscow in 2014 and has been reinforcing its presence near Russia's borders ever since.

The UK and Russia have strong disagreements over a number of issues, mainly the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine.

MI5 chief Andrew Parker has previously said that Russia has been threatening the UK covertly for decades and that it presently has more methods available.

Moscow, however, strongly rejected such claims, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that Russia sought to "promote and defend its interests abroad" but in line with international laws and based on "good and mutually beneficial relations with all partners."

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Ukraine: Five Troops Killed In Clashes With Separatists

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service December 18, 2016

Ukraine says five of its troops have been killed in clashes with pro-Russian separatists, in some of the worst fighting to hit the eastern Donbas region in months.

The headquarters for the country's Anti-Terrorism Operations said six soldiers were wounded in the battle near Svitlodarsk, which appeared to be aimed at controlling the strategic town of Debaltseve.

In a post to its Facebook page, the agency's press center said around 20 insurgent fighters had been killed in the clashes, which erupted before dawn on December 18 and lasted around two hours.

Fighting included heavy artillery and large-caliber weaponry.

It said fighting was reported near the village of Kalynivka, closer to Debaltseve, and shelling also took place near Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov coast.

Russian and local news agencies affiliated with the separatist government known as the "Luhansk People's Republic" reported similarly heavy fighting, but said losses among Ukrainian government troops were much higher.

Home to a strategic railway junction, Debaltseve was the scene of major fighting in early 2015, ending in February when thousands of Ukrainian troops withdrew.

The battle gave way to cease-fire accords signed in February 2015, known as the Minsk accords.

Signed by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, they were meant to end one of Europe's bloodiest conflict in decades.

But the cease-fire has been repeatedly broken by both sides and low-level fighting has pushed the death toll to nearly 10,000, according to United Nations figures.

With reporting by Interfax and TASS

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-heavy-fighting- svitlodarsk-debaltseve/28183269.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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UK to Keep Providing Military Training for Ukrainian Army Until 2018

Sputnik News

03:37 18.12.2016

The United Kingdom will continue to provide training for the Ukrainian military until early 2018, according to UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The United Kingdom will continue to provide training for the Ukrainian military until early 2018, UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said.

"Extending British training of Ukrainian Armed Forces sends a clear message that we support Ukraine and remain firmly committed to its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in the face of a more belligerent Russia," Fallon said as quoted by ITV broadcaster.

More than 5,000 Ukrainian personnel will have been trained by the UK advisers by Match 2017. London also gifted Kiev 1 million pound ($1.25 million) worth of non-lethal military equipment.

The United Kingdom is not the only country to provide assistance for the Ukrainian army. The United States will advise on training up to four battalions in Ukraine throughout 2017. Since 2014, Washington has provided Kiev with $600 million in military assistance, including training, equipment and reform advisory effort, according to the US Department of Defense.

Canada began training members of Ukraine's military in summer 2015. Within the framework of its training mission, Operation UNIFIER, Canada has 200 military personnel in Ukraine until March 31, 2017.

In April 2014, Ukrainian authorities launched a military operation against pro-independence militias in the Donbas. In February 2015, the sides reached a ceasefire deal after talks brokered by the leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.

 Sputnik

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Alan Burkitt-Gray speaks to Don MacNeil, chief operating officer of GTT, about its company restructuring after coming out of Chapter 11 and its strategic roadmap for the next 12 months.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. You might remember that slogan from decades ago.

Well, the intellectual and creative gifts of many in America are being squandered, especially those of immigrants. A new report shows that, increasingly, new arrivals to our country are more and more educated  college educated  but are not employed in jobs that use their full potential.

Nearly half, 48 percent of the adult foreigners who resettled in the U.S. between 2011 and 2015 had earned at least a bachelors degree and many have advanced degrees. This steady influx of brain power is a shift that has been occurring largely unnoticed for decades. Before 1990, only 27 percent of adult immigrants came with a college education. That rose to about 33 percent before the 2008 recession hit, and it has continued to rise.

Yet a study coordinated by the Migration Policy Institute found that one in four one college-educated immigrants are either performing low-skilled jobs or are unemployed. And its costing the nation. Every year, the government loses $10.2 billion in tax revenue due to the underutilization, according to the findings.

In addition, these migrant families lose out on nearly $40 billion in annual earnings. When you consider how those unseen wages could have been fed back into the economy, it cant be disregarded as chump change. And thats considered a conservative estimate.

It does no good for anyone to have a foreign-trained engineer shoveling french fries, pushing a mop or clipping hedges.

The top reason why they arent fully utilizing their talents is the most obvious one: a lack of fluency in English language. Many can function well enough at lower service economy jobs, but they often lack the verbal capacity to work in the business or professional fields they trained for.

Sometimes theyre held back because their licensing isnt applicable in the U.S. This explains the foreign-trained medical doctor who drives a taxi.

Fixes might include better bridge programs between foreign and U.S.-based licensing, helping with business or medical language fluency and reworking how we structure visas so that these workers fill gaps in the labor force without displacing the U.S.-born. And cultural differences that act as barriers could be addressed, such as by telling a foreign-trained engineer that, in America, personal bragging on a resume is expected.

But not all of the problems are this straightforward. Mindsets need to shift, too. Immigrants also face racial and ethnic bias, including notions of what kind of immigrant is deserving.

Researchers found that, overall, college-educated Hispanic immigrants suffered a great deal of what we might call brain waste  work beneath their educational attainment. South Asian and East Asian immigrants fared better. Some of that might be attributable to the widespread perception that the latter are model minorities.

When the researchers controlled for legal immigration status, language fluency and other factors, black immigrants still fared poorest. That says everything about the rest of us, not them.

A little perspective: The foreign-born are 7.6 million of the 45.6 million college graduates in the labor force.

You might wonder why we should concern ourselves with immigrants when there are so many college-educated U.S.-born citizens who cant get a job in their field. The study looked at their struggles as well. They number nearly 7 million. And the authors argued that helping both groups is called for, as about the same proportions of each (22 percent and 24 percent) are out of work and not even looking for a job.

While low-skilled, undocumented immigrants are the targets of a lot of the abuse generated in our increasingly nativist political climate, educated immigrants who are legally present catch a lot of flak, too. Many Americans cant or wont make the distinction.

The vast majority of college-educated immigrants, 57 percent, are U.S. citizens. Only about 11 percent (840,000) are undocumented and the rest are either legal permanent residents or hold at least a temporary visa.

Their prosperity and our nations prosperity are linked. Thats why we need to reset the national mentality regarding immigration. Its why Silicon Valley executives and employees have been so offended by the anti-immigrant emotions drawn out during the presidential election. They know the value of skilled foreign workers  their value to business enterprises and the nations economy.

Its a sad indication of the wrong direction this country has taken that the New York Times has started a column called This Week in Hate to catalogue incidents that offend the values we Americans claim to hold dear.

Hate divides us and weakens our democracy. It also costs us, and that  if nothing else  ought to bring us to our senses.

Mary Sanchez is an opinion-page columnist for The Kansas City Star. Email at msanchez@kcstar.com.
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 19, 2016) -

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Era Resources Inc. ("Era" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:ERX) is pleased to announce an expanded and updated resource estimate for its Yandera Project, located in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. This new resource estimate is the culmination of Era's 2016 strategy for Yandera-to demonstrate significant further resource growth that would underpin a feasibility study, improve understanding of the mineral potential at and along strike from the resource and to maximize project value through rigorous evaluation of development options.

The 2016 resource estimate is made pursuant to the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM").

Highlights of the new Yandera Resource Estimate

Measured and Indicated Resources total 728 million tonnes grading 0.33% copper, 0.01% molybdenum and 0.10 ppm gold; or 0.39% copper equivalent (full breakdown by category is shown below);

Inferred Resources total 230 million tonnes grading 0.29% copper, 0.00% molybdenum and 0.04 ppm gold; or 0.32% copper equivalent

In addition to the significant increase in Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources, Pieter Britz, Era Resources President and CEO, added that, "the 2016 drill campaign was a remarkable success, achieving in all respects our overall targets of understanding the areas between the 2015 pit shells, and then stepping out beyond the 2015 perimeters of pits to expand the footprint of the resource. The 2016 resource estimate now provides a strong platform for a pre-feasibility study, which is scheduled to commence early in 2017."

Positive results from the 43-diamond-drill-hole campaign significantly strengthened the resource with a substantial increase in size, expansion of the 2015 footprint, linkages between previously separate pits and potential to further optimize pit design and reduce stripping ratios. (See Figure 1.)

The expansion of the Measured and Indicated resource in the 2016 estimate (see Table 1) is an important improvement over the 2015 resource estimate. Enhancements include:

Delineation of mineralization between Gremi and Omora, Gremi and Imbruminda, and Dimbi and Gamagu, which increases resource size and reduces expected stripping ratios; Extension of mineralization in the South Dimbi, East Gremi, Omora and Benbenubu areas; Meaningful refinement of the constraining geologic framework, including detailed models of specific mineralization-related units and later units that cut mineralization; Refinement of grade shells to match geology and identified trends in the mineralization.

Table 1. Mineral Resource Statement at $US3.35/lb Cu, $US10.00/lb Mo and $US1,400.00/oz Au with 0.15% CuEq % cutoff. Assumptions noted below*.

Zone Classification Mass Metal Grades Contained Metal (kt) CuEq (%) Cu (%) Mo (%) Au (ppm) CuEq (kt) Cu (kt) Mo (kt) Au (kg) Au (koz) Total Resource Measured 196,496 0.46 0.38 0.01 0.10 895 742 26 18,883 607 Indicated 532,147 0.36 0.31 0.01 0.06 1,915 1,655 46 30,652 985 Measured & Indicated 728,643 0.39 0.33 0.01 0.10 2,809 2,397 72 49,535 1,593 Inferred 230,643 0.32 0.29 0.00 0.04 738 671 11 8,211 264 Oxide Resource Measured 19,530 0.42 0.37 0.01 0.12 82 72 1 2,320 75 Indicated 44,216 0.36 0.33 0.01 0.07 159 146 2 2,901 93 Measured & Indicated 63,746 0.38 0.34 0.01 0.12 242 219 4 5,221 168 Inferred 18,597 0.27 0.26 0.00 0.03 51 48 1 601 19 Non Oxide Resource Measured 176,967 0.46 0.38 0.01 0.09 812 669 25 16,564 533 Indicated 487,931 0.36 0.31 0.01 0.06 1,756 1,509 44 27,714 891 Measured & Indicated 664,898 0.39 0.33 0.01 0.10 2,568 2,178 69 44,279 1,424 Inferred 212,045 0.32 0.29 0.01 0.04 687 623 11 7,591 244

*Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that any part of the Mineral Resources estimated will be converted into a Mineral Reserves estimate;

*Resources stated as contained within a potentially economically minable open pit; pit optimization was based on assumed copper, molybdenum, and gold prices of US$3.35/lb, US$10.00/lb, and US$1,400.00/oz, respectively; hypogene and transition recoveries of 90% for Cu, 85% for Mo, 65% for Au; oxide recoveries of 60% for Cu, 0% for Mo, 43.3% for Au; a mining cost of US$2.50/t, an ore processing and G&A cost of US$7.50/t, and a pit slope of 45 degrees;

*Resources are reported using a 0.15 % CoG on an Equivalent Copper value that included process recoveries for metal;

*The CuEq was calculated using the formula CuEq = Cu% + (Mo% * 2.82) + (Au ppm * 0.44); and,

* Numbers in the table have been rounded to reflect the accuracy of the estimate and may not sum due to rounding.

Yandera is an igneous-hosted, structurally controlled Cu-Mo-Au porphyry system comprised of a number of adjacent deposits along recognized structural trends. Mineralization is related to multiple pulses of intrusive bodies and hydrothermal alteration. Grade has spatial correlation with later porphyritic dacite intrusions and polymictic breccias with overprinting phyllic alteration. Broad tabular zones of mineralization extend from surface to depths of over 500 metres and have been drill defined to a strike length of over 5 kilometres. Very late sub-vertical northeasterly striking dikes of leucocratic quartz diorite cut zones of mineralization.

The resource block model was informed by 58,214 samples from 568 drill holes at an average hole spacing of less than 30 metres in the principle resource areas (Gremi, Imbruminda and Omora) and less than 100 metres in the other deposits within the model space.

To view Figure 1 : http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/EraFigure1.pdf

Mineral resources were estimated by Ordinary Kriging using MineSight software in 25 by 25 by 10 metre blocks (XYZ), constrained by a copper grade shell based on a 0.15% Cu cutoff. Grade estimates within the grade shells were based on capped, five-metre composited assay data. Capping was conducted prior to compositing. The resource model was validated by visual inspection, statistical comparison to source data and swath plots. Resources were classified into Measured, Indicated and Inferred categories based on CIM definition standards sufficient for NI 43-101. A minimum of three drill holes were required for the assignment of Measured Mineral Resources within a search radius of 50 metres. Indicated Resources were classified with a minimum of two drill holes within a radius of 100 metres. The statistical classification scheme was rationalized to reflect geologic continuity.

The exploration work completed since the resource update in 2015, including surface mapping, sampling and drilling, expanded the resource significantly to the southeast in both the South Dimbi and Omora areas, both of which remain open further to the southeast. This exploration work also connected mineralization between the Gremi and Omora, Imbruminda and Gremi, and South Dimbi, Dimbi and Gamagu areas. The global average grade of the resource is remarkably similar to the 2015 resource estimate.

In order to establish a reasonable prospect of eventual economic extraction, the mineral resources presented above are reported within a potentially mineable pit configuration using the following economic inputs: a copper price of US$3.35/lb Cu, a molybdenum price of US$10/lb Mo, and a gold price of US$1400/oz Au; sulfide metallurgical recoveries of 90% Cu, 85% for Mo and 65% for Au; oxide metallurgical recovery of 60% for Cu, 0% for Mo, 43.3% for Au; mining cost of US$2.50/tonne of material mined; and process and G&A costs of US$7.50/tonne of material processed. Additional factors include a 2% royalty to the PNG government and a pit slope of 45 degrees.

The resources were reported within the pit configuration above a grade of 0.15% CuEq. The metal prices, recoveries and costs listed above were used to define copper equivalent-metal grades and quantities.

The metal ratios used for reporting copper equivalent are: CuEq = Cu% + (Mo% * 2.82) + (Au ppm * 0.44)

These metal ratios were developed using the metal prices and recovery assumptions listed above. Recoveries are based on metallurgical work carried out by the Company in 2011 and 2012.

The Mineral Resource Statement, with an effective date of December 15, 2016, is presented in Table 1. The resource has been reported as a total. Oxide and non-oxide material types will have different metallurgy and will have different recovery characteristics and costs.

Qualified Person and Technical Information

The mineral resources were estimated using current CIM standards, definitions and guidelines and applying NI 43-101. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred resources as Indicated or Measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured mineral resource category. The Company is arranging for the preparation of an independent technical report in respect of the resource estimate discussed in this new release and plans to file the technical report on SEDAR within 45 days of the date of this news release in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101.

The Yandera Mineral Resource Statement was prepared by J.B. Pennington, MSc., C.P.G., and Justin Smith, BSc., P.E., SME-RM, both of SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc., Reno, Nevada, and provides a classification of resources in accordance with CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves: Definitions and Guidelines, November 27, 2010. Mr. Pennington and Mr. Smith are Qualified Persons, and are independent of the Company for purposes of NI 43-101 and have approved the contents of this news release.

For further information on the Yandera Project, please refer to the technical report titled 'Updated Resource Estimate, Yandera Copper Project, Papua New Guinea', dated June 2015, available on the Company's website and on SEDAR. The Company is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant risks other than those identified in the filed report and the most recent annual information form and management discussion and analysis of the Company filed on SEDAR.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward looking information, including but not limited to statements with respect to ongoing exploration at Yandera and Pomiea. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could", or "might" occur or to be achieved and any other similar expressions.

In providing the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions regarding: (i) the accuracy of exploration results received to date; (ii) anticipated costs and expenses; (iii) the accuracy of the Company's mineral resource estimate; (iv) the future price of copper and molybdenum; and (v) that the supply and demand for copper, molybdenum, and other metals develop as expected. Although management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, including actual results of exploration activities, changes in market conditions, risks relating to international operations, fluctuating metal prices and currency exchange rates, and other risks of the mining industry. Some of these risks, uncertainties and other factors are described under the heading "Risks Factors" in the Company's annual information form available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, Era does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information even if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

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.
THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec 19, 2016) - Alset Energy Corp. (TSX VENTURE:ION) ("Alset" or "the Company") is pleased to announce an option agreement has been completed with Ardiden Ltd. ("Ardiden") for the Wisa Lake Lithium project. The property is located 80km east of Fort Frances, Ontario and accessed by an all-weather road that connects to Hwy 11 (Trans Canada) to the north. Historical work on the project delineated a good starting deposit with room for expansion and promising lithium grade (see Alset PR May 30, 2016).

In addition, Alset is pleased to announce the appointment of Albert Wu as the Company's new CFO, replacing Evan Asselstine. With Alset's President and CEO, and legal counsel currently housed in the Vancouver area, it seemed like a logical time to move our banking and accounting system out to Vancouver. Mr. Asselstine has been instrumental in the Company's affairs for several years and we wish him well in all his future endeavours.

Allan Barry Laboucan, President and CEO of Alset Energy said: "With our focus on our Mexican salars, our board felt it would be better to option out the Wisa Lake Lithium project to get shareholder value. We are delighted that Ardiden sees the same potential on the project as we do. In addition to a historical resource that has never been cut off, the project also has a promising grade and excellent access infrastructure. As well there are untested geochemical anomalies near geological structures that are wide open for exploration. We look forward to Ardiden's efforts to advance the Wisa Lake Lithium project."

Terms of the Option Agreement

Ardiden Ltd. has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Wisa Lake Lithium project by:

a) paying Alset a non-refundable deposit of C$30,000 within five days of signing which initiates a due diligence period ending June 30, 2017

And if Ardiden agrees to exercise the option:

b) pay Alset C$50,000 on the due diligence completion date c) issue C$220,000 of ordinary shares of Ardiden to Alset, with Ardiden having the right to pay C$220,000 in a combination of cash and shares at their discretion d) Alset will retain a 2% Net Smelter Royalty ("NSR") and Ardiden will have the right to purchase or buy back 1% of the NSR for C$500,000.

About Alset Energy (ION.V)

Alset Energy is a TSX-V listed junior exploration company focused on exploring and acquiring mineral properties containing the metals needed by today's high-tech industries. The Company is actively exploring in Mexico and Canada.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Alset Energy Corp.,

Allan Barry Laboucan, President and CEO

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Dec 19, 2016) - Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:PEX) ("Pacific Ridge" or the "Company") reports that due to severe winter weather conditions, it has suspended drilling at its TL Zinc Project. Prior to suspension, it completed two holes for a total of 611 m at the eastern end of the main HELITEM electromagnetic conductor. Both holes intersected several zones of graphitic schist with disseminated sulphide mineralization that appear to be the cause of the electromagnetic anomaly. A one milligal gravity anomaly at the first hole drilled was not explained by anything seen in the drill hole. Multi-element analyses for both holes are pending.

Gerry Carlson, President of Pacific Ridge stated: "We are encouraged that these intersections suggest we are exploring within a restricted basin that would be favourable for the accumulation of sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) type mineralization. We will utilize the multi-element data to assist us in vectoring towards more base metal enriched portions of the basin. We plan to return in the spring to continue the drill program in the western portion of the property testing targets where gravity and EM anomalies are in closer proximity to known zinc mineralization."

About the TL Property

TL is a 6,420 hectare zinc-lead-silver project located in south central British Columbia. An airborne magnetic-electromagnetic HELITEM survey defined a strong conductive layer, 4 km in length and approximately 100 to over 200 m wide that appears to be conformable within the flat-lying stratigraphy. Mineralized float and outcrop samples consisting of massive to semi-massive sulphide containing sphalerite, pyrite and pyrrhotite have been located to the west of the current drill program, where the conductor projects to surface. Of 56 grab samples collected, 40 assayed +1% Zn with a range of 1.08% to 18.87% and an average of 4.96% Zn. A small amount of trenching and drilling was completed in this area in 2012. Trenching encountered a zone of 7.16% Zn over 4 m. Drilling below the trenches (6 shallow holes, 490 m total) encountered a 10 to 13 m thick sulphide mineralized zone with zinc values ranging from less than 1% to 5%. Mineralization in trenches and drilling is believed to be a peripheral mineralized horizon stratigraphically above or distal to the main exploration target. The property is ideally situated with nearby highways, electrical power grid and rail.

About Pacific Ridge

Pacific Ridge is a mineral exploration company with a successful history of over 30 years.

The Company's TL Zinc project is a 6,420 hectare, road accessible zinc-lead-silver property located 80 km northeast of Vernon, British Columbia, ideally situated with nearby highways, electrical power grid and rail. The target at TL is a large Broken Hill type or SEDEX (Sedimentary Exhalative) Zn-Pb-Ag massive sulfide deposit.

The Company's Poker Brown gold-silver project is located 190 km from Reno, Nevada. The target is a large, bulk tonnage, heap leachable gold deposit. Numerous gold mines and advanced projects are located within an 80 km radius of the property. Drill testing of Poker Brown is planned for early spring 2017.

The Company holds a well-located project portfolio in Yukon's White Gold District, including Mariposa, Eureka Dome and Gold Cap, in the same geological environment as Goldcorp's Coffee Gold Project (acquired from Kaminak Gold earlier in 2016) and Kinross Gold's White Gold deposit.

The Company's 100 percent owned Fyre Lake copper-gold-cobalt massive sulphide project in the Yukon's Finlayson Lake District has been defined by 115 holes totaling over 23,200 metres of diamond drilling. The Company is considering its options for further development of the Fyre Lake project.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Gerald G. Carlson, President & CEO

Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.

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.

The technical information contained within this News Release has been reviewed and approved by Gerald G. Carlson, Ph.D., P.Eng., President and CEO of Pacific Ridge and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 policy.

Forward-Looking Information: This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling and other activities and events or developments that Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. ("Pacific Ridge") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the placements and future exploration plans and expenditures. Although Pacific Ridge believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. These statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions, the timing and receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals for the transactions described herein, the ability of Pacific Ridge and other parties to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner, the availability of financing for Pacific Ridge's proposed transactions and programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of third party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Pacific Ridge does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - December 19, 2016) -

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Dolly Varden Silver Corp. (TSX VENTURE: DV)(OTC PINK: DOLLF) (the "Company" or "Dolly Varden") is pleased to announce that it has completed a private placement financing (the "Offering") to raise gross proceeds of approximately $3.0 million from the sale of : (a) 781,250 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of $0.64 per Common Share; and (b) 3,472,222 Common Shares that qualify as "flow-through shares" as defined in Canada's Income Tax Act ("Flow-Through Shares"), at a price of $0.72 per Flow-Through Share.

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for further exploration and mineral resource expansion of the Dolly Varden silver property in northwestern BC and other corporate purposes. The work preparing for the 2017 program has already commenced and will continue for the next 120 days. Our planning will be focused on defining drill targets to efficiently expand the current NI 43-101 high-grade silver mineral resource estimate and to further de-risk any high potential exploration targets.

In connection with the Offering, the Company has agreed to pay a finders' fee in respect of those purchasers introduced to the Company by Eventus Capital Corp.; Leede Jones Gable Inc.; and Haywood Securities Inc. (the "Finders"). The Finders will receive: (a) cash with a value equal to 6% of the gross proceeds received from purchasers under the Offering who were introduced by the Finders; and (b) Common Share purchase warrants ("Finders' Warrants") equal to 6% of number of Common Shares and Flow-Through Shares sold to purchasers under the Offering who were introduced by the Finders. Each Finders' Warrant will entitle the Finders to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.72 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of the closing of the Offering.

The issuance of the Common Shares, Flow-Through Shares, payment of the Finders' fee and issuance of the Finders' Warrants are subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), receipt of any other required regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. The Common Shares and Flow-Through Shares sold in the placement and Finder's Warrants and any shares issued upon the exercise of the warrants are subject to a hold period which expires on April 20, 2017. A total of 33,841,650 common shares of the Company are outstanding following the closing of this private placement.

About Dolly Varden - Dolly Varden Silver Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration of the Dolly Varden silver property located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. The entire Dolly Varden property is considered to be highly prospective for hosting high-grade precious metal deposits, since it comprises the same structural and stratigraphic setting that host numerous other, on-trend, high-grade deposits (Eskay Creek, Brucejack). The Company's Common Shares are listed and traded on the TSXV under the symbol DV and on the OTCBB system under the symbol DOLLF. The Dolly Varden deposit contains an estimated 3.1 million tonnes of Indicated Mineral Resources at an average grade of 321.6 grams of silver per tonne and 0.9 million tonnes of Inferred Mineral Resources at an average grade of 373.3 grams of silver per tonne.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Dolly Varden to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements or information relates to, among other things, the completion of the Offering, the size of the Offering and the Company's receipt of proceeds of the Offering, the Finder's fee and payment thereof, the receipt of regulatory approvals, the use of the proceeds of the Offering, results of previous field work and programs and the continued operations of the 2017 program, belief in the nature of the mineralization at the project, belief that the mineralization on the project is similar to Eskay and Brucejack, results of mineral resource estimate on the project, the potential to grow the project, the potential to expand the mineralization, the planning for further exploration work, the ability to de-risk the potential exploration targets, and our belief about the unexplored portion of the property. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or information. The Company disclaims any obligation to update, or to publicly announce, any such statements, events or developments except as required by law.

For additional information on risks and uncertainties, see the Company's most recently filed annual management discussion & analysis ("MD&A"), which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.dollyvardensilver.com. The risk factors identified in the MD&A are not intended to represent a complete list of factors that could affect the Company.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy of any securities in the United States. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to available exemptions therefrom.
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A federal appeals court on Friday refused to stay a judge's order that requires Michigan to make regular deliveries of bottled water to Flint households that don't have a working water filter on their kitchen taps.Friday's 2-1 ruling by the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals marks the third time a federal court has told the state to begin the water deliveries, which the state argues is unnecessary and too costly.U.S. District Judge David Lawson has twice ordered the state to start the bottled water deliveries to all households that the state can't demonstrate has a properly installed and maintained water filter to remove lead contamination.The state continues to fight Lawson's order and filed a new motion this week saying the water deliveries aren't needed because the unfiltered tap water in Flint now meets federal standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Flint says in court filings it supports the state's request to stay Lawson's order.The majority on the 6th Circuit said the state's "disingenuous claim that the daily delivery of bottled water would be at an expense of $10.5 million a month, is not supported by the record.""Flint residents continue to suffer irreparable harm from the lack of reliable access to safe drinking water," said Senior Judge Damon Keith and Judge Bernice Donald."Many residents who rely on filters that are improperly installed continue to be at risk of exposure to lead. Compliance with the order only requires that the state defendants deliver bottled water to homes until they ensure that a home has a properly installed and maintained water filter, or if the residents opt out of the delivery service."The order arose from a lawsuit brought by Concerned Pastors for Flint, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the ACLU, and Flint resident and activist Melissa Mays."The courts have spoken and the State of Michigan's foot-dragging must end now," said Dimple Chaudhary, senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council.Defendants in the case are Michigan Treasurer Nick Khouri and members of the state-appointed Flint Receivership Transition Advisory Board, which is overseeing Flint's return from state-ordered receivership to self-government.Anna Heaton, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Snyder, said the state has been delivering bottled water to Flint residents who call 2-1-1 to request it, and will continue to do so."The state and city are in agreement that bottled water deliveries to residents who do not require them will reduce the progress made in the city's recovery," Heaton said in an e-mail."The dispute in this matter is over science, not over providing resources to residents of Flint," she said. "This is a complex issue where the data is monitored closely and updated frequently and the court did not address more recent testing showing Flint's lead levels under the federal action level."Mays said in a news release issued by the NRDC that "today's decision is much-needed good news for the people of Flint," adding "I'm especially pleased the court rejected the State's complaints about the 'burden' of delivering safe drinking water to Flint."In a dissent, Judge Jeffrey Sutton said it's not clear that the Flint drinking water is still in violation of federal law and ordering the water delivery could "do more harm than good."Sutton said the state defendants should focus on "measuring current water quality and ensuring that each filter works," but "that most assuredly will not happen in the face of this order."Flint was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager when the drinking water became contaminated in April 2014, due to improper treatment of Flint River water after the city stopped getting its drinking water from Detroit.
A federal judge has delayed Texas' fetal remains burial rule until Jan. 6.Judge Sam Sparks ruled Thursday afternoon that the Texas Department of State Health Services would have to push back its start date for requiring health providers to bury or cremate aborted fetuses. The agency had originally slated the rule to go into effect Dec. 19.Under the rule, Texas health providers are forbidden from disposing of fetal remains in sanitary landfills, regardless of gestation period.Sparks said each side would get about five hours for a hearing on Jan. 3-4 to make their cases. He said there would likely be a decision on Jan. 6.About 34 people crammed into the seats of the federal court in Austin to watch as state lawyers and the Center for Reproductive Rights made arguments about whether the rule should go into effect on Dec. 19.Texas Assistant Attorney General John Langley said during the hearing that the rule was about treating fetal remains with dignity and that incinerating them and putting them in landfills "is disrespectful and where garbage and medical waste go." He said there was no increase in costs to health care providers and patients."The issue here today is whether or not the plaintiffs can show immediate threat of irreparable harm, and they cannot," Langley said. "These regulations in no way, in any way, shape or form, regulate women. They only regulate health care facilities."Langley said the state could not just simply agree to suspend the rule on its own, but Sparks then made his decision to postpone its effective date.Sparks said he's looking for both sides to put "their best feet forward" when they come back in January."This is the first time, though, the state of Texas has ever said, 'We're going to go ahead' when there's a lawsuit of substance before the United States District Court," Sparks said. "I'm old. I won't remember as long, but I'll remember."The court's decision, a victory for the Center for Reproductive Rights, came just three days after the organization sued the state over the fetal remains burial rule.David Brown, senior attorney for the organization, said after the hearing that the state fumbled in its response over the public health benefits of the rule because there wasn't one. He pointed to Sparks observation that the rule was proposed just days after the U.S. Supreme Court tossed out another Texas law that forced abortion providers to comply with hospital standards like minimum sizes for rooms and doorways and pipelines for anesthesia."I think the rule is intended to send a message to the Supreme Court that Texas is going to defy them, and it's to send a message to women that the state's ideology is more important than women's liberty," Brown said.The Texas health department heard fierce outcries of support and dismay throughout the summer and fall about its proposal to disallow health providers from trashing fetal remains in sanitary landfills. Testimony at public hearings ranged from sadness to anger as reproductive rights, medical and funeral advocacy groups argued the rule would be a financial and emotional burden for families. Witnesses also were unconvinced the patients wouldn't pick up the tab to cover provider costs for cremations and burials.But anti-abortion groups said incinerating unborn fetuses was cruel and the new rule would give more dignity and respect to them. While DSHS decided on Dec. 9 to proceed with the rules, there is an exception for women who miscarry or have abortions at home.Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder and CEO for Whole Womans Health, the main plaintiff in the case, said in a news release that the courts decision reaffirms what the organization has always said: women deserve better.Were confident that our recent victory at the Supreme Court in Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt gives us strong ground to stand as we continue to fight these coerced mandates from overzealous politicians that strip personal decisions away from women and families, Miller said.Earlier this week, Marc Rylander, a spokesman for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, said the rules "simply provide for the humane disposal of fetal tissue instead of sending it to landfills like unwanted trash, as is the abortion industrys current practice.
A congressional committee investigating the Flint water crisis today issued letters finding repeated failures in which state environmental officials "remained indifferent" about the danger of lead levels in the city's water and federal regulators "ignored multiple demands" to intervene.Nearly a year after President Barack Obama issued an emergency declaration over potentially dangerous high lead levels in Flint's water, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee sent letters reporting their findings to other congressional committees, recommending updates to federal rules and lead monitoring, as well as calling for a close look at how environmental regulators set priorities and spend money."The committee found significant problems at Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality and unacceptable delays in the Environmental Protection Agency's response to the crisis. The committee also found that the federal regulatory framework is so outdated that it sets up states to fail," wrote Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah.The letters -- which appeared to conclude the committee's investigation -- came as Obama signed into law a sweeping water infrastructure act that includes no less than $120 million for Flint, which is expected to use much of that money to tear up and replace lead water pipes and fixtures. Millions more will go to lead poisoning registries and efforts to track and improve the health of those impacted.Chaffetz's committee held a series of hearings into the long-developing crisis, which saw lead levels skyrocket after Flint -- under the control of an emergency financial manager appointed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder -- changed water supplies to the Flint River in 2014. Snyder testified before the committee earlier this year as did EPA chief Gina McCarthy, who laid blame for the crisis solely on the state.State regulators failed to order the required corrosion controls, which allowed lead to leach from miles of old water pipes into residents' taps, resulting in reports showing children in Flint with elevated blood lead levels. But the EPA took months to require the state to do corrosion control and acknowledged that its rules were confusing. Early this year, EPA effectively took over the response in Flint.The agency did not comment on the committee's findings despite a request from the Free Press.While Democrats concentrated much of their blame on Snyder -- wanting to know why the state didn't act more quickly and precisely when he was informed about the problems in Flint -- -- the committee's letters to chairmen of the House Appropriations and House Energy and Commerce committees did not single him out for blame. Chaffetz wrote that it was "administrative mismanagement" in the struggling city that "forced (the state) to intervene in the city's affairs in an effort to save it.""Governor Snyder appreciates the committee's work and for referring recommendations for policy changes to the appropriate committees," a spokeswoman, Anna Heaton, told the Free Press. "He is a strong proponent of revising the federal Lead and Copper Rule and has been working with Marc Edwards of Virginia Tech (a water quality expert who warned of the problems in Flint) to see those reforms through the legislative process."In another correspondence today, the Oversight Committee's top-ranking Democrat, U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., urged Chaffetz to issue a subpoena to compel Snyder to produce documents related to the crisis that he says have been withheld throughout the investigation.Snyder, Cummings wrote, "has refused to provide -- or even search for -- key documents. As a result, the committee is still unable to answer critical questions about what the governor knew about the crisis as it unfolded, why he did not act on concerns about water quality, even while his inner circle sounded repeated alarms, and why families in Flint continue to subsist on bottled water almost a year after he declared an emergency."Chaffetz's office didn't immediately respond. Heaton said the governor "has provided the committee with hundreds of thousands of pages of documents at its request" and that its understanding is that the committee's investigation is now closed, though that wasn't immediately confirmed. It also wasn't clear whether the committee intends to issue a formal report.The committee did call for action, however. In a letter to House Appropriation Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., Chaffetz argued that appropriators should take into consideration long overdue changes to the federal Lead and Copper Rule and EPA's own $384-billion estimate of needed water infrastructure demands across the U.S. before signing off on requests involving climate change concerns.In a letter to House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph -- who will step down as committee chair in a few weeks -- Chaffetz said an inspector general should be asked to look into why the Lead and Copper Rule hasn't been updated "to prevent other Flints from happening" and whether ambiguities in the Safe Drinking Water Act need to be addressed.Even though an EPA manager in Chicago, Miguel Del Toral, figured out early that Flint might not using be corrosion controls, MDEQ officials dismissed him as a rogue employee, with a spokesman for the state agency saying as late as mid-2015 that "anyone who is concerned about lead in the drinking water in Flint can relax."EPA officials other than Del Toral were also roundly criticized, however, with Chaffetz saying they were expected to serve as a federal "backstop" in case states didn't do their job. He said it was "nine months after Del Toral requested EPA intervene ... and at least four months after Administrator McCarthy became involved" before the EPA finally issued an emergency order regarding Flint.Chaffetz said the Flint crisis should be a warning call to the dangers that may be lurking all over the country that must be addressed.While lead levels in Flint have dropped since the height of the crisis, public health officials are still urging people to drink filtered or bottled water to ward against potential spikes in the lead levels. Meanwhile, the state is fighting a court order to continue delivering bottled water to the city, saying it's unnecessary and too expensive, and legal investigations into how the crisis developed remain ongoing, having resulted in at least 35 charges against nine people and two companies.
North Carolina legislators wrapped up their work Friday on a pair of proposals that would deprive the incoming governor of a substantial part of his authority to make appointments and reduce Democrats' power over election regulation. Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law the bill dealing with elections a short time later.The special session came to a close two days after the Republican-controlled Legislature ended a special session convened to deal with disaster relief and called itself into the new one over the objections of Democrats.At least 39 protesters were arrested Friday at the Legislative Building as a group of hundreds chanted slogans blasting a "power grab" by Republican lawmakers. The arrests came in addition to about 17 arrests Thursday, according to General Assembly Police Chief Martin Brock. Those arrested, who accuse the GOP majority of using Hurricane Matthew victims as pawns in a ploy to seize power from Democratic Gov.-elect Roy Cooper, included civic leaders, university staff and faculty, and clergy.The House approved the elections proposal on a vote of 67-23 on Friday before final approval by the Senate and governor. Senate Bill 4 also provides for political party affiliation to be listed on ballots next to the names of candidates for the state Supreme Court, and gives the majority-Republican state Court of Appeals a role in constitutional challenges to laws.McCrory, a Republican, has not said whether he will sign another controversial bill, House Bill 17, which would make Cooper's appointment of Cabinet officials subject to approval by the state Senate and reduce the number of appointees who serve at the pleasure of the governor.The same measure would move some authority from the State Board of Education to the Republican just elected as state schools superintendent, Mark Johnson. And it would prevent the governor from appointing members of the boards of trustees for University of North Carolina system schools.Steve Leonard, a UNC-Chapel Hill professor of political science and former chairman of the UNC system Faculty Assembly, wrote to McCrory, warning that the bill could result in "severe sanctions" by the university's accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. He said that's because the Legislature has "clear and direct intent to insert 'undue political influence'" in the selection of campus board of trustee members.Republicans said they were merely reverting appointment of trustees to what is described in the state constitution, which says the General Assembly "shall provide for the selection of trustees."Democrats disputed Republican claims that SB 4 would create a bipartisan commission merging the current State Board of Elections, State Ethics Commission and the lobbying-regulation functions of the Secretary of State's office.Democrats said it couldn't be called bipartisan because they weren't involved in creating the proposal. Republicans call it bipartisan because it would create a state board and county elections boards comprised of members equally split between the parties. It would also deprive the incoming Democratic administration of control of those boards; currently, the administration can appoint three of the five state members and two of the three members on each county board.Democrats argued the bill is far-reaching and should be discussed in more detail in the long session that starts next month. Republican sponsors said ideas in the bill have been discussed in the Legislature for years, and that this is a good time to make the changes because there is no impending election.The bill would also give McCrory the authority to make a one-time appointment to fill a vacancy on the state Industrial Commission for a six-year term plus the unexpired portion of the commissioner's term. Normally, a vacancy replacement only fills out the remainder of a term.On Friday, Rep. Graig Meyer, a Democrat, called the bill "a blatant political move by a party that must be afraid of voters so they hang on to what power they have."Protesters disrupted a House debate about the changes to election law, chanting and prompting House Speaker Tim Moore to order police to clear the public gallery. The gallery remained closed to the public Friday afternoon, meaning those in the general public who wanted to watch the House proceedings could not do so, although the session could be heard on the Legislature's audio feed. Protesters later entered the Senate gallery, which was closed after disruptions there.North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes sent out a statement Friday saying he supported the right to free speech but condemned the protesters' actions, calling them a "small mob." He called on Cooper to denounce their actions."However, when a few hundred people decide to shut down the work of the General Assembly simply because they are against the outcome, we have gone from free speech to mob rule," Hayes said.As the day wore on, several House Republicans lashed out at the protesters, while Democrats defended them.Tensions from the acrimonious debates of the week and the protest disruptions seeped onto the House floor throughout the day. Rep. Nelson Dollar, a Republican, disputed the portrayal by opponents and liberal commentators of GOP strategy to reduce the governor's authority as a "coup." He repeated the oft-heard response from Republicans that Democrats used every maneuver they could to keep the minority party under their thumb for decades."This isn't mob rule," Dollar said. "It's majority rule. ... This is no coup. Every member was elected in a constitutional way."Rep. Robert Reives, a Democrat, said he was tired of hearing that Republicans were just doing what Democrats did."I do not give a rat's rear what somebody did 20 years ago that called themselves a Democrat," Reives said. "Nobody tell me it's OK for me to do that because some guy 20 years ago did that. ... Parties change, people change."Several Republicans criticized the protesters for preventing school classes on field trips and the general public from watching the proceedings."This whole day is a day that will be burned in my memory," said Rep. Michael Speciale, a Republican. "What happened up there this morning was unacceptable. That their views are the only views in North Carolina that we should represent."Those arrested Thursday were charged with second degree trespassing and violating legislative building rules, both misdemeanors. One of them, Leslie Coburn, 66, was also charged with misdemeanor resisting a public officer.After the ejections from the House gallery, chants and songs continued outside the chamber. Brock told the group that anyone who led a chant would be arrested, and officers began arresting people who did.
Description

GIS - 19 December, 2016: Government has given its approval to the introduction of The Constitution (Amendment No. 3) Bill and the Prosecution Commission Bill in the National Assembly. The object of the C onstitution (Amendment No. 3) Bill is to amend the Constitution to make provision for a Prosecution Commission.

The Prosecution Commission shall determine whether the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions to institute or not to institute criminal proceedings against a person is irrational, perverse, against public interest or otherwise erroneous in law or on facts. It shall also determine whether the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions to discontinue criminal proceedings against a person is irrational, perverse, against public interest or otherwise erroneous in law or on facts.

The Commission shall make recommendations to the Director of Public Prosecutions for the expeditious disposal of criminal proceedings and for the reduction of systemic delays and may require the Director of Public Prosecutions to furnish a report concerning the discharge of his functions under section 72 at such times and in such manner as it may determine.

The Prosecution Commission Bill makes provision for the accountability of the Director of Public Prosecutions through -

 the Prosecution Commission ;

 the issue of directions by the Prosecution Commission to the Director of Public Prosecutions;

  the furnishing of information by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Prosecution Commission,

and for such supplementary or ancillary matters as may appear necessary or expedient.
(TNS) -- HAINES CITY, Fla. - Perhaps the Russians have an interest in who becomes the next city manager in Haines City.That was what one city commission quipped when the City Commission cut short its interviews of five candidates for the job Monday because of technical problems with the connections on Skype, a telephone-video internet service."Maybe the Russians are involved in this," said Commissioner Roy Tyler, drawing the biggest laugh of the night from city officials frustrated with the technical problems.Tyler referred to media stories concerning allegations the Russian government used computer hackers to interfere in this year's presidential election.The commission went through the first four interviews despite the uneven quality of the Skype connection. The big problem was interruptions in the audio stream, resulting in words, phrases and even sentences in the candidates' answers becoming inaudible.By the time commissioners got to the fifth interview - with Robert Francis Jr., who was speaking from his hotel room while on vacation in the Mexican resort town of Puerto Vallarta, the video image froze while the audio dropped.Several attempts to re-establish the link and turn to a voice-only connection failed.The commission agreed to set up a phone interview with Francis at 5:30 p.m. today before its regular 7 p.m. meeting.But Francis told Haines City officials on Tuesday he remained concerned about the quality of the connection from Mexico and asked to delay the interview until he returns to Oregon next week, said David Johnson, assistant to the city manager.The city's information technology staff had tested the Skype connection Friday, when it showed no problems, Johnson said.The commission will go ahead with its 5:30 p.m. meeting to discuss whether to reschedule Francis' interview or go in another direction, Johnson said.Before beginning Monday, Mayor Horace West had suggested each commissioner list the top two candidates from the Skype interviews for a second round of in-person interviews. If there was a consensus, the commission would go forward with two or possibly three in-person interviews, he said.West and Vice Mayor Don Mason declined to comment on whether they would choose or eliminate any candidate based on the Skye interviews.The candidates interviewed, in order of appearance, were:- Sarah Hannah-Spurlock, former assistant city manager of the City of Key West from 2014 to July.- Deric Feacher, former Winter Haven city manager who was fired in September on a controversial 3-2 vote after three years on the job.- Ted Lakey, county administrator in Jackson County from 2003 to 2015.- John Shepherd, manager of North Huntingdon Township, Pa., since 1998 except for a two-year interval beginning 1998.- Francis, who is executive director of the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments in Dalles, Ore.To insure consistency and fairness, the commission conducted all interviews by Skype, even local candidate Feacher, whose connection worked the best.The five semi-finalists were chosen from a list of eight candidates recommended last month by a screening committee of retired city and county managers. Two candidates were eliminated after failing to provide additional information requested and a third took another job since his application.West said the commission would keep the option of rejecting all five candidates and offering the job to Acting City Manager Rick Sloan.Sloan has served in the job since Aug. 15 following former City Manager Jonathan Evans' resignation to become assistant county administrator in Sarasota County. Sloan joined the city in November 2009 as police chief and later became public safety director in 2014, overseeing both the Police and Fire departments. He has expressed an interest in the city manager job but did not submit an application.
The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) will migrate licensing, permitting and evidence-cataloging processes fully online, an agency official said, following a new audit suggesting that a paper-based culture and computer software issues are behind two series of irregularities, one dating to 2007.The audit by the State of Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury was released in November and scrutinized programs and activities from July 1, 2011, to March 31, 2016.It identified longstanding problems at TABC in maintaining internal control of seized evidence, including cash, which increased the risk of evidence misappropriation or misuse. These had been previously identified in a 2007 financial and compliance audit.The review also uncovered difficulties in the agency's paper-driven process of issuing permits to manufacture, distribute, sell or serve alcoholic beverages. These, it said, increased the risk that ineligible applicants would be permitted.TABC maintained nearly 2,700 pieces of evidence at nine separate locations as of April 2014, according to an audit listing of confiscated evidence.But auditors discovered that the commission's evidence custodians at the agency's central office in Nashville, a district office in Chattanooga and a subsidiary post in Winchester did not record all evidence using online Evidence Management System (EMS) software purchased in 2012, and instead kept separate paper listings."Because custodians maintained their own records and no master listing existed, the commission had no independent record of what confiscated inventory should be on hand," auditors wrote.John Dunn, public information officer for the Tennessee comptroller, noted that the issue of independent records was limited to just three offices. "The use of the EMS was not mandatory at the time of the audit," he noted.In a random sampling of confiscated evidence in Nashville, Memphis and Winchester, auditors found one item at each location that was not listed. Auditors also found $1,200 cash had been held in evidence in Winchester without prior authorization from the chief law enforcement officer, and had remained there for 109 days after being checked in.Auditors recommended transferring all cash evidence to the central office; using EMS to fully document, control and maintain oversight of confiscated evidence; and using employees independent of TABC to conduct periodic inventories.TABC Assistant Director Zack Blair said the agency agreed with the recommendations and has revised its policies to include mandatory use of EMS and transfer of cash evidence to Nashville within five days. But he was unable to explain why some agency offices had not used the software system."I would characterize that we are way behind when it comes to technology. Were excited about getting into the 21st century very soon," Blair said, pointing out he was only appointed in July. This was just one month after the appointment of new Executive Director Clayton Byrd, who replaced former Executive Director Keith Bell. Bell resigned in March.The audit also found that the total number of permits issued for the manufacture, distribution, sale or serving of alcoholic beverages during the period examined could not be verified, due to lack of TABC control.Auditors found 11,200 permit numbers that could not be accounted for due to gaps in sequence; 260 distiller's representative permits issued to the public that were not properly logged; 15 permit numbers assigned to multiple applicants; and 10 permit numbers that were issued to more than one applicant.Additionally, 138 permit holders were assigned multiple permit numbers in the commission's server permit software; and 22 permit numbers were incorrectly recorded.However, it remains unclear whether permit holders actually paid for or received multiple permits."Were not sure if it was the software or the staff, or maybe it was a clerical error," Dunn said.Divon Crutchfield, who worked on the audit, said auditors didnt see any fraudulent activity with the system."We do get the sense that theyre aware of these issues and their importance, aware of a lot of the risks in these areas," he said. "I think that is really going to result in a lot of changes there."Blair said permitting and licensing issues should end by mid-2017 with the online migration and automation of the permitting and licensing of alcoholic beverage manufacture, distribution, sale and service.TABC hired Accela in May 2015 at a cost of nearly $3.4 million to provide an online Regulatory and Licensing Permitting System (RLPS) software system.Migrating to RLPS will allow applicants to upload supporting documentation, and, following staff review and payment, to print their own licenses and permits. It will also generate regulatory, though not criminal, citations.The system will only allow a permit to be issued after an application is fully vetted and approved by staff.When completely automated, the online migration should eliminate roughly 127,000 pieces of paper in the permitting process of alcohol servers alone, Blair said, and reduce wait time for applicants. It will also free up employee hours, allowing staffers to be cross-trained and equalize workloads.The migration will also make data analytics increasingly possible."The great thing about this system is a robust reporting function. We will have access, specifically for management, to dashboards with data points," Blair said. "Things that we cannot get access to right now, so thats exciting."
(TNS)--The National Association of Secretaries of State wants federal officials to help resolve concerns that a Department of Homeland Security computer made questionable visits to a number of state computers in recent months.The organization, based in Washington, "wants to make sure that we help the states in question get a quick resolution of this matter from the Department of Homeland Security and that there is a way to resolve it to everyone's satisfaction," Kay Stimson, spokeswoman for the association, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday.The organization surveyed its members after Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp's staff traced what it considered a cyber threat against its network to a DHS-owned computer. The agency has denied any attempt to penetrate Georgia's protected systems.Two states -- Kentucky and West Virginia -- discovered visits to their systems by the same computer involved in the Georgia incidents. Both of those states, however, said the visits did not appear to be malicious.Kentucky and West Virginia were among the 48 states that agreed to allow DHS to perform security checks of their election systems in August. Georgia, at Kemp's direction, was one of two that refused. The DHS computer involved in the current dust up was not part of the agency's scans of state systemsKemp said his office's outside cybersecurity vendor alerted him that the computer in question tried unsuccessfully on Nov. 15 to defeat the office's protective firewalls.Bradford Queen, spokesman for Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Grimes, said the National Association of Secretaries of State, at Kemp's request, asked if other states had experienced similar attempts to access their systems."Our office investigated and found that in a handful of instances an IP address allegedly sourced to the Department of Homeland Security had accessed our public voter information and online voter registration websites," Queen said.But, they found no "attempt to scan, attack, or infiltrate our system and that the visits appeared to be regular web traffic."The responses from Kentucky and West Virginia would seem to bolster Homeland Security's claim that a federal contractor based in Georgia used the computer in question to perform routine background checks of job applicants. The contractor contacted the secretary of state's website to check professional licensing databases housed there, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a letter to Kemp earlier this week."We have been in touch with both states and this appears to be normal web traffic," a DHS official told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday. The official was not authorized to speak on the record.But that does not explain why the contractor was on Kentucky's elections website at all. Kentucky's secretary of state does not process professional licenses and it seems unlikely the contractor would need to access election results.Morgan Wright, senior fellow at the Center for Digital Government and owner of a Virginia-based cyber strategy firm, said DHS's explanations do not hold up."How does a laptop, a standard laptop, get configured like this but no others?" Wright said. "It appears to be this one magic computer that makes it appear like a (malicious) scan."Either DHS isn't being completely honest or it has competency issues, Wright said."How does a computer get configured to do those things and not be detected?" he said. "What does that tell you about DHS' ability to defend itself from attacks?"A spokeswoman for West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant said the computer in question appeared to visit the state's election results Nov. 7 and and on Oct. 29, 2016 an invalid website address was used to try to reach its voter registration system. "This activity was recorded by our office firewall. We have no indication at this time that the attempt was malicious."Kemp on Wednesday said he was not satisfied with the response thus far from the Department of Homeland Security and asked President-elect Donald Trump to order a full investigation once he is inaugurated in January. Efforts to reach Trump's communications staff were unsuccessful Thursday.On Thursday, Kemp said the results of the survey of other states shows the situation "just continues to produce more questions than answers."Stimson, the spokeswoman for the national organization, agreed.The Department of Homeland Security has said they're investigating, she said, but "we don't have a full accounting at this point of what was behind this situation."
(TNS) -- Secretary of State Natalie Tennant and Secretary of State-Elect Mac Warner are sparring over claims that the Department of Homeland Security attempted to hack into West Virginia election records.Warner encouraged President-elect Donald Trump to pursue an immediate investigation into recorded hacking attempts of voter files in West Virginia, according to a statement released early Sunday morning. Warner said the attempts were recorded by firewall protection software Nov. 7 and Oct. 29.Upon taking office, this issue will be at the top of our list to investigate and respond appropriately, Warner wrote . DHS holds a responsibility to be transparent with the hacking details, objective and intent of action with the information.Tennant said Warners statements were false in a statement Sunday afternoon. On Oct. 29 an invalid website address was used in an attempt to reach West Virginias Statewide Voter Registration System. She said the DHS IP address Warner is questioning viewed public election night results on Nov. 7.The IP address did not access anything of concern and after discussions with DHS about our specific traffic here in West Virginia, we have no indication at this time that the visits were malicious, Tennant said in a press release.The Secretary of States office staff has been in close contact with the federal DHS, the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the West Virginia National Guard throughout and prior to the election cycle. Tennant said West Virginia did grant DHS permission to do a cyber-hygiene scan prior to the election.This comes after the Georgia Secretary of States office announced an attempt to break through their firewall came from an IP address associated with the DHS. Georgia and DHS officials have been investigating the incident.Unlike West Virginia, Georgia did not have an agreement with the DHS to conduct cyber-hygiene scans.We can only speak about the DHS IP address visits here in West Virginia, but, again, those have been investigated and were not malicious. Any reports to the contrary are simply unfounded and false, Tennant said.
(TNS) -- AUGUSTA, Maine  Someone created a phony Facebook page for the Augusta Police Department that looks like the original and is posting some disturbing fake news, according to Deputy Chief Jared Mills.The same fake news story is popping up on spoofed, or copied, Facebook pages of other police departments from Maine to California, including in Skowhegan earlier this month and in Moreno Valley, California , earlier this week. Some experts think the culprits may be phishing to get personal information from the curious clicking on the sites.This person(s) has posted several false stories to include three children being killed by their mother along with a family of 5 killed in a car accident from Augusta, Mills said in a Thursday morning email. These stories [are] FALSE and Detective [Chris] Blodgett is investigating this situation.Mills warned readers not to open the stories posted on the fake Facebook pages, which might expose their personal information to phishing scammers.That is one of our concerns in regards to this, the deputy chief said. That [is] part of our investigation.Police departments and people can become victims of phony pages because its easy to create a Facebook Page and put up whatever you want, Sgt. Kyle Willette of the Maine State Police computer crime unit said Thursday, mentioning that creating such a page is against Facebook policy.The sensational story about the mother killing her children may be an example of a devious form of clickbait, the sergeant said.It may be a way to install malware software that can damage or disable computer systems, Willette said. Be wary, be vigilant. If there is news that is very unbelievable, and the regular media are not reporting it, its probably not true. There are a lot of stories that go out on Facebook that are not true.The first post on the fake Augusta Facebook page was made on Dec. 10. The bogus page has many of the same images, but is listed as a community page and only has 101 likes, as of Thursday morning, compared to the legitimate page, which is listed as a government page and has 11,147 followers.We asked that our media partners help us spread the word that our Facebook page has been spoofed and the result is false information being disseminated to the public, Mills said. The spoofed page looks almost identical to our legitimate page but has several less postings, likes, and activity.A similar incident occurred earlier this month with the Skowhegan Police Department when the same mother-kills-children story was posted on a spoofed department Facebook page, but that fake story listed a Skowhegan address, Mills said.The same story is posted on the fake California police department Facebook page, and was discovered on Sunday, Dec. 11, according to the Press Enterprise.Until we can have the page removed, we are hoping that by communicating this information to the public [we] will help reduce the amount of false information being disseminated, the Augusta deputy chief said Thursday.Bangor Police Department officials decided to have Facebook verify their site, adding another level of security for readers. That verification of the sites authenticity is marked by a checkmark next to the name of the department.Our page has the blue checkmark, indicating that Facebook has verified our pages authenticity, Sgt. Tim Cotton said in a Thursday email. There is a process to make this happen and that would need to be discussed with Facebook security.The real Augusta and Skowhegan police department sites have not been verified by Facebook.The verification process does not prevent spoofing, Cotton said.That does not make it impossible to create a page that looks like ours [but] It would not be a verified page, Cotton said.
Stoffel Vandoorne has admitted he is unlikely to be in a position to win races straight away in formula one.

Although several years older than Max Verstappen, Belgian Vandoorne is already being compared with the young Dutchman as he prepares to make his full F1 debut for McLaren-Honda in 2017.

"That's normal, although we are very different," Vandoorne, 24, told Belgium's Sporza news agency.

"We have different characters. Many enthusiasts are looking forward to a fight between us, and hopefully it will be for victories."

When asked if that wheel-to-wheel for victory might happen as soon as 2017, Vandoorne answered: "Why not, but it will depend on the car.

"It probably will not be enough, but we will take big steps forwards.

"Technically, the team has some difficult seasons behind it, but next year looks positive even if it remains difficult to predict.

"Probably we will take a big step forward, which is also what we need. But if we will be able to fight for victory, I cannot say yet," he added.

Meanwhile, Vandoorne ruled out any suggestion that he might be an outside contender to replace the newly-retired Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, after Toto Wolff made flattering remarks about him recently.

"I have a contract with McLaren-Honda and I'm super happy about it," he said. "I am focusing now on next season and not thinking about the other teams."

(GMM)
Toshiba Corporation will support a two-year study of power management to be done by Tohoku Electric Power Co., through its H2One, hydrogen based autonomous energy supply system.

Bringing renewable power sources into the electricity grid is accompanied by concerns for the quality and variability of the supply; renewables are subject to fluctuations in output. Various solutions are being investigated, and Tohoku Electric decided to use Toshibas H2One starting March 2017.

The H2One system uses renewable energy to produce hydrogen via electrolysis, as well as for charging a battery-based energy storage system. Hydrogen is stored in a tank, then fed to a fuel cell unit to produce electricity (and hot water) when required.

Toshibas advanced EMS provides the data on the renewable energy supply-and-demand balance which can be used to stabilize electricity output. Over the two years of the project, Tohoku Electric will monitor the viability of the hydrogen power storage system as a solution for offsetting power output fluctuations caused by an expansion of renewables.

Toshiba is committed to advancing progress toward a low-carbon hydrogen economy to extend use of hydrogen into various areas.
WASHINGTON  The worlds top semiconductor makers have announced in recent months long-term U.S. investments that could rise to more than $400 billion, citing support from a new federal aid program for which the rules have yet to be written.
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Updated at 6 p.m.

WASHINGTON  There were many protesters but few faithless electors as Donald Trump won the Electoral College vote Monday  ensuring he will become America's 45th president.

An effort by anti-Trump forces to persuade Republican electors to abandon the president-elect came to practically nothing and the process unfolded largely according to its traditions. Trump's polarizing victory Nov. 8 and the fact Democrat Hillary Clinton had won the national popular vote had stirred an intense lobbying effort, but to no avail.

Even one of Trump's fiercest Republican rivals, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, said it was time to get behind the president-elect.

"We want unity, we want love," Kasich said as Ohio's electors voted to back Trump at a statehouse ceremony. Kasich refused to endorse or even vote for Trump in the election.

With several states still voting, Trump had 304 votes and Clinton had 169. It takes 270 Electoral College votes to win the presidency. Texas put Trump over the top, despite two Republican electors casting protest votes.

Befitting an election filled with acrimony, thousands of protesters converged on state capitols across the country Monday, urging Republican electors to abandon their party's winning candidate.

More than 200 demonstrators braved freezing temperatures at Pennsylvania's capitol, chanting, "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!" and "No treason, no Trump!"

In Madison, Wisconsin, protesters shouted, cried and sang "Silent Night." In Augusta, Maine, they banged on drums and held signs that said, "Don't let Putin Pick Our President," referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Despite the noise outside state Capitols, inside, the voting went pretty much as planned.

In Nashville, Tennessee, one audience member tried to read out some Scripture before the ballots were cast, but was told he could not speak.

"We certainly appreciate the Scripture," State Election Coordinator Mark Goins said from the podium. "The answer is no."

With all Republican states reporting, Trump lost only the two electors in Texas. One voted for Kasich, the Ohio governor; the other voted for former Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

Clinton lost four electors in Washington state  three voted for former Secretary of State Colin Powell and one voted for Native American tribal leader Faith Spotted Eagle.

Several Democratic electors in other states tried to vote for protest candidates but they either changed their votes to Clinton or were replaced.

The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

Republican electors were deluged with emails, phone calls and letters urging them not to support Trump. Many of the emails are part of coordinated campaigns.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, elector Charlie Buckels reached out to Trump's opponents after the New York businessman got all of the state's eight votes.

"For those of you who wished it had gone another way, I thank you for being here," said Buckels, the state GOP finance chairman. "I thank you for your passion for our country."

There is no constitutional provision or federal law that requires electors to vote for the candidate who won their state  though some states require their electors to vote for the winning candidate.

Those laws, however, are rarely tested. More than 99 percent of electors through U.S. history have voted for the candidate who won their state. Of those who refused, none has ever been prosecuted, according to the National Archives.

Some Democrats have argued that the Electoral College is undemocratic because it gives more weight to less populated states. That is how Clinton, who got more than 2.8 million more votes nationwide, lost the election to Trump.

Some have also tried to dissuade Trump voters by arguing that he is unsuited to the job. Others cite the CIA's assessment that Russia engaged in computer hacking to sway the election in favor of the Republican.

"When the founders of our country created (the Electoral College) 200-plus years ago, they didn't have confidence in the average white man who had property, because that's who got to vote," said Shawn Terris, a Democratic elector from Ventura, California. "It just seems so undemocratic to me that people other than the voters get to choose who leads the country."

A joint session of Congress is scheduled for Jan. 6 to certify the results of the Electoral College vote, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding as president of the Senate. Once the result is certified, the winner  almost certainly Trump  will be sworn in on Jan. 20.

Updated at 3:47 p.m.

OLYMPIA, Wash.  Four members of the Electoral College in Washington state cast their votes for a candidate other than Democrat Hillary Clinton, who won the state's popular vote.

It's the first time in four decades the state's electors have broken from the popular vote for president. Washington's 12 electors met Monday afternoon in the state Capitol to complete the constitutional formality. Clinton got eight votes while other candidates got the remaining four.

Elector Bret Chiafalo, who earlier in the day said he planned to vote for Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, said that he ultimately changed his vote to former Secretary of State Colin Powell after conversations with other Washington electors. The exact breakdown of the other four votes wasn't immediately known, although at least one vote was cast for "Faith Spotted Eagle."

In last month's election, Republican Donald Trump won 306 electoral votes to Clinton's 232, though Clinton's tally will now be lower.

A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win.

The last time an elector broke from the popular vote in Washington was in 1976, when Mike Padden, who is currently a Republican state senator, voted for Ronald Reagan instead of Gerald Ford, who had won the state.

Updated at 3 p.m.

WASHINGTON  Electors in Michigan and Florida have cast their combined 45 votes for Donald Trump, making his Electoral College total jump closer to the amount required to formally win the presidency.

The states, with 16 and 19 votes respectively, bring Trump's total to 215 electors. Two hundred-seventy votes are required to win the White House.

Democrat Hillary Clinton has 96 votes. She won the national popular vote, and protests continued around the country in state capitols where electors were meeting Monday.

But Trump remains poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

Updated at 2:19 p.m.

WASHINGTON  Donald Trump started racking up electoral votes Monday even as anti-Trump protesters across the country tried to persuade the Electoral College to prevent him from winning the White House.

With about half the states reporting, neither Trump nor Democrat Hillary Clinton had lost any electors.

Trump had 154 votes and Clinton had 86. It takes 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the presidency. Electors were voting throughout the day and there was scant evidence many GOP electors would peel away from their Election Day winner. More than three dozen would have to abandon him to complicate his path to the presidency.

More than 200 demonstrators braved freezing temperatures at Pennsylvania's capitol, chanting, "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!" and "No treason, no Trump!"

Protesters also gathered in Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Nebraska and other states.

The protesters, however, were unlikely to persuade the Electoral College to dump Trump. An Associated Press survey of electors found very little appetite to vote for alternative candidates. Only one Republican said he would vote for someone else.

Republican electors have been deluged with emails, phone calls and letters urging them not to support Trump. Many of the emails are part of coordinated campaigns.

"The letters are actually quite sad," said Lee Green, a Republican elector from North Carolina. "They are generally freaked out. They honestly believe the propaganda. They believe our nation is being taken over by a dark and malevolent force."

Wirt A. Yerger Jr., a Republican elector in Mississippi, said, "I have gotten several thousand emails asking me not to vote for Trump. I threw them all away."

A joint session of Congress is scheduled for Jan. 6 to certify the results of the Electoral College vote, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding as president of the Senate. Once the result is certified, the winner  almost certainly Trump  will be sworn in on Jan. 20.

The Electoral College was devised at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It was a compromise between those who wanted popular elections for president and those who wanted no public input.

The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

The AP tried to reach all of the electors and interviewed more than 330 of them, finding widespread aggravation among Democrats with the electoral process, but little expectation Trump would be derailed.

Some Democrats have argued that the Electoral College is undemocratic because it gives more weight to less populated states. That is how Clinton, who got more than 2.6 million more votes nationwide, lost the election to Trump. Some have also tried to dissuade Trump voters by arguing that he is unsuited to the job. Others cite the CIA's assessment that Russia engaged in computer hacking to sway the election in favor of the Republican.

"When the founders of our country created (the Electoral College) 200-plus years ago, they didn't have confidence in the average white man who had property, because that's who got to vote," said Shawn Terris, a Democratic elector from Ventura, California. "It just seems so undemocratic to me that people other than the voters get to choose who leads the country."

There is no constitutional provision or federal law that requires electors to vote for the candidate who won their state. Some states require their electors to vote for the winning candidate, either by law or through signed pledges. But no elector has ever been prosecuted for failing to vote as pledged, according to the National Archives.

Those laws are rarely tested. More than 99 percent of electors through U.S. history have voted for the candidate who won their state.

Electors are selected by state parties, and so are often insiders who can be trusted to vote for the party's candidate. Many Republican electors said they feel duty-bound to honor their pledge to vote for the candidate who won their state, regardless of how they feel about Trump.

Still, some anti-Trump activists have been getting creative in trying to persuade electors to dump Trump.

In addition to thousands of emails, Republican elector Charlie Buckels of Louisiana said he received a FedEx package with a 50-page document that the sender said "had absolute proof that the Russians hacked the elections."

"From the tenor of these emails, you would think these people are curled up in a corner in a fetal position with a thumb in their mouth," Buckels said.

___

Associated Press writers Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, Hope Yen in Washington, Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi, Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Juliet A. Williams in Sacramento, California contributed to this report.

Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephenatap

WASHINGTON  Donald Trump started racking up electoral votes Monday even as anti-Trump protesters across the country tried to persuade the Electoral College to prevent him from winning the White House.

Trump didn't lose any electors with votes counted in 10 states that he won Nov. 8: Georgia, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

Early results gave Trump 88 votes and Democrat Hillary Clinton, 43. It takes 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the presidency. Electors were voting throughout the day and there was scant evidence many GOP electors would peel away from their Election Day winner. More than three dozen would have to abandon him to complicate his path to the presidency.

More than 200 demonstrators braved freezing temperatures at Pennsylvania's capitol, chanting, "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!" and "No treason, no Trump!"

Polls show split in public opinion on Electoral College A McClatchy-Marist Poll found that more than half of registered voters  52 percent  say the winner of the popular vote for president should determine the winner; 45 percent say the Electoral College has worked out just fine.

Protesters also gathered in Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Nebraska and other states.

The protesters, however, were unlikely to persuade the Electoral College to dump Trump. An Associated Press survey of electors found very little appetite to vote for alternative candidates. Only one Republican said he would vote for someone else.

Republican electors have been deluged with emails, phone calls and letters urging them not to support Trump. Many of the emails are part of coordinated campaigns.

"The letters are actually quite sad," said Lee Green, a Republican elector from North Carolina. "They are generally freaked out. They honestly believe the propaganda. They believe our nation is being taken over by a dark and malevolent force."

Wirt A. Yerger Jr., a Republican elector in Mississippi, said, "I have gotten several thousand emails asking me not to vote for Trump. I threw them all away."

A joint session of Congress is scheduled for Jan. 6 to certify the results of the Electoral College vote, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding as president of the Senate. Once the result is certified, the winner  almost certainly Trump  will be sworn in on Jan. 20.

The Electoral College was devised at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It was a compromise between those who wanted popular elections for president and those who wanted no public input.

The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

The AP tried to reach all of the electors and interviewed more than 330 of them, finding widespread aggravation among Democrats with the electoral process, but little expectation Trump would be derailed.

Some Democrats have argued that the Electoral College is undemocratic because it gives more weight to less populated states. That is how Clinton, who got more than 2.6 million more votes nationwide, lost the election to Trump. Some have also tried to dissuade Trump voters by arguing that he is unsuited to the job. Others cite the CIA's assessment that Russia engaged in computer hacking to sway the election in favor of the Republican.

"When the founders of our country created (the Electoral College) 200-plus years ago, they didn't have confidence in the average white man who had property, because that's who got to vote," said Shawn Terris, a Democratic elector from Ventura, California. "It just seems so undemocratic to me that people other than the voters get to choose who leads the country."

There is no constitutional provision or federal law that requires electors to vote for the candidate who won their state. Some states require their electors to vote for the winning candidate, either by law or through signed pledges. But no elector has ever been prosecuted for failing to vote as pledged, according to the National Archives.

Those laws are rarely tested. More than 99 percent of electors through U.S. history have voted for the candidate who won their state.

Electors are selected by state parties, and so are often insiders who can be trusted to vote for the party's candidate. Many Republican electors said they feel duty-bound to honor their pledge to vote for the candidate who won their state, regardless of how they feel about Trump.

Still, some anti-Trump activists have been getting creative in trying to persuade electors to dump Trump.

In addition to thousands of emails, Republican elector Charlie Buckels of Louisiana said he received a FedEx package with a 50-page document that the sender said "had absolute proof that the Russians hacked the elections."

"From the tenor of these emails, you would think these people are curled up in a corner in a fetal position with a thumb in their mouth," Buckels said.

___

Associated Press writers Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, Hope Yen in Washington, Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi, Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Juliet A. Williams in Sacramento, California contributed to this report.

Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephenatap
As each graduate of the McDonalds English Under the Arches program stepped to the front of the room to make a short speech, a common theme quickly arose  extreme gratitude.

Tears were plentiful, with several of the graduates unable to finish their speeches. Tissues were passed around the room. Co-workers sat ready with their cell phones, congratulatory balloons and cards in hand, proudly ready to take photos of their friends. Each of the 13 graduates expressed heartfelt thanks to their instructor, managers and co-workers for the opportunity to spend eight weeks in the English as a Second Language class designed to help them communicate more effectively.

Thank you, thank you for opening doors for Hispanic people, said Araceli Avila, 41, who works as a shift manager at the McDonalds on Gate City Boulevard in Greensboro. I wanted to be able to understand more English and be able to communicate better with my co-workers.

Though the 13 graduates, one man and 12 women, in the class were of Hispanic origin, regional human resource manager Keira Rozier stressed that the program is open to any McDonalds employee interested in learning to speak better English.

Avila hopes to next apply for the restaurant chains career online high school program and receive her high school diploma.

I would love to be able to advance more with McDonalds, she said.

English Under the Arches is part of McDonalds Archways to Opportunity Program, which also offers the Career Online High School for employees seeking to earn their high school diploma, as well as tuition assistance, college connection program and education advising.

McDonalds covers tuition costs for the English Under the Arches program and allows employees to learn English during paid work hours. To date, almost 4,000 have completed the program, which offers four curricula or phases. The most recent graduating class for the Triad area completed the first phase, which focuses on listening and speaking skills. Classes are taught by a certified English as a Second Language instructor.

There are 91 McDonalds stores in the Triad, and the operators of each store have the opportunity to recommend employees for the program.

Courtney Barnhill, owner/operator of 11 stores in the Triad, did not make it more than a few minutes at the graduation before she had to grab a tissue.

Its important for me to be here because it makes them feel important and special, she said.

Barnhill has had other employees go through the program who have advanced to management roles within the company.

I have a group waiting to come into the next class, she said as she explained that the local McDonalds stores have a large population of workers that speak other languages that could benefit from English Under the Arches. It also helps me retain people, and they do a better job.

Arlene Clark snapped photos of her friend and co-worker Norma Aguilar during the ceremony.

Shes my crew member, and I had to support her, Clark said. Before (Aguilar completed the program) I had to often get others to translate for me when I wanted to talk to her, so Im looking forward to being able to communicate directly with her.

Kristin Carden came to support Avila, her co-worker from the Gate City Boulevard McDonalds.

I wanted to encourage her and tell her what a good job shes doing, Carden said. I have loved seeing her excitement for this program and her wanting to take her education further.

Alcedis Gracia, the lone male graduate, tearfully recalled working for another company for nine years and continuously struggling with communicating.

I have only been with McDonalds a year, and I was offered this wonderful opportunity, he said.

Rozier said she would love to see the number of participants in the English Under the Arches program double or triple.

Its about more than serving customers but showing we care about the people who work for the brand, she said. We are about being Americas first job, and its about giving people opportunities.

For Barnhill, English Under the Arches is about bringing people together and building relationships.

Its about helping our people gain skills to move forward, whether they stay with us or not, though it does feel good when they stay, she said with a laugh.

Of the eight employees from her stores who graduated from the previous Triad class two years ago, Barnhill said seven have remained with McDonalds.

I love seeing their pride and emotion when they graduate, she said.

When Monica Martinez, a graduate from the McDonalds at Cone Boulevard, walked to the front of the class to receive her certificate, she tearfully tried to sum up what many of the other graduates seemed to have a hard time expressing.

The English Under the Arches program, it opened my world, she said.

Everyone in the class loudly cheered and clapped.

Thats what its all about, Barnhill said. Thats what its all about.
Pressure on members of the electoral college to select someone other than Donald Trump has grown dramatically - and noisily - in recent weeks, causing some to waver but yielding little evidence that Trump will fall short when electors convene in most state capitals Monday to cast their votes.

Carole Joyce of Arizona expected her role as a GOP elector to be pretty simple: She would meet the others in Phoenix and carry out a vote for Trump, who won the most votes in her state and whom she personally supported.

But then came the mail and the emails and the phone calls - first hundreds, then thousands of voters worrying that Trump's impulsive nature would lead the country into another war.

"Honestly, it had an impact," said Joyce, a 72-year-old Republican state committee member. "I've seen enough funerals. I'm tired of hearing bagpipes. . . . But I signed a loyalty pledge. And that matters."

Such is the life these days for many of the 538 men and women who are scheduled to meet Monday across the country to carry out what has traditionally been a perfunctory vote after most every presidential election.

The role of elector has intensified this year, in the wake of a bitter election in which Trump lost the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton by a margin of nearly 3 million votes and the revelation of a secret CIA assessment that Russia interfered to help Trump get elected.

Amid the uncertainty caused by Russian influence, 10 electors - nine Democrats and one Republican - asked for an intelligence briefing to get more information about Moscow's role. Their request was endorsed by John Podesta, Clinton's campaign manager.

"The administration should brief members of the electoral college on the extent and manner of Russia's interference in our election before they vote on Dec. 19," Podesta wrote Thursday in a Washington Post op-ed.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said Friday evening that it would not brief the electors, because it is engaged in a presidentially ordered review of the Russian interference. "Once the review is complete in the coming weeks, the intelligence community stands ready to brief Congress" and may release findings, the ODNI said in a statement posted to its website.

Meanwhile, Joyce and the other 305 Republican electors who are supposed to cast their votes for Trump have been subject to intense campaigns orchestrated by anti-Trump forces to convince them that they alone can block the reality-television star from the White House.

Others have targeted Democratic electors, who are supposed to cast votes for Clinton, to persuade them to switch to a more conventional Republican who could also draw enough support from GOP electors to swoop into office.

While there is little sign the efforts will prove successful, the push has unleashed intense pressure on individual electors, who have now been thrust into a sometimes uncomfortable spotlight.

Joyce has received emails from "Benjamin Franklin" and "John Jay" - and a Christmas card that read: "Please, in the name of God, don't vote for Trump."

The rancor about the role of electors started early in the campaign. In August, Baoky Vu, a GOP activist in Atlanta, said he planned to resign from the job because he was so morally opposed to Trump. He planned to defer his voting responsibility to someone more willing - an alternate who would be put in place Monday.

After the election, Vu started getting phone calls and emails asking him not to resign. He was asked instead to consider joining a coalition of electors hoping to vote against Trump. He declined.

"I don't think we should drag this election out any longer," Vu said. "And can you imagine if the electors overturned the results? If we attempt to change them in any way, you've got these far-right elements that are just going to go haywire."

Mark Hersch, a 60-year-old Chicago-based marketing strategist, joined a group known as the Hamilton Electors, who have been organizing efforts to contact electors and change their minds. Before the election, Hersch said, the most political activism he had ever undertaken was planting a yard sign.

He said he believes the goal to deny Trump seems reachable if not probable. Rather than persuade an entire country, he and his allies must find 37 Republicans willing to vote for someone else, a tipping point at which the responsibility of picking the president would shift to the U.S. House of Representatives. No one knows for sure how many are considering alternate votes; estimates vary from one to 25.

The GOP-controlled House could vote for Trump anyway, but those trying to flip voters say there is still value in taking a stand. Hersch said he was inspired to continue to flip electors by the movie "300," which depicts an ancient Spartan army's stand against a Persian force that outnumbered it 1,000 to 1.

"I would like to think we would be successful, but if not, we need to do all we could to prevent this man from being president," he said. Then he modified a line from the movie: "Prepare your breakfast, and eat hearty, for tonight, we will go to battle. This isn't 300, but 538."

That "battle" has intensified as electors draw closer to their convening Monday. Joyce was getting 15 letters a day and 300 emails in the days after Nov. 8, but those numbers quickly increased to 50 and 3,000. Some of them have been form letters, others handwritten.

The letters came from Washington state and from China, stuffed with copies of the U.S. Constitution or Alexander Hamilton's writing in Federalist Paper No. 68, which states that the meeting of the electoral college "affords a moral certainty, 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."

On Thursday, Joyce received so many letters that the letter carrier just gave her a U.S. Postal Service bucket filled to the brim.

"I'm sorry this is happening to you," Joyce recalled the letter carrier saying. While some electors have complained of harassment, Joyce shrugged off the mail and placed it all on a sofa decorated with American flag pillows.

"This is America," she said in a phone interview. "People have a right to say what they want." She said most of the messages were thoughtful.

On Friday, she said, her emails became more positive. The messages were from Republicans, thanking her for taking Trump to the finish line of an arduous process.

"How refreshing!" she said.

Although some Democrats (who have in the past five presidential elections lost two in which they won the popular vote) and even Trump himself have questioned the necessity of the electoral college, many opposing Trump have said this election proves just how important it is.

Norman Eisen, a former ambassador to the Czech Republic who served as legal counsel to both the Bush and Obama administrations, began calling electors to explain that their job is not necessarily to certify the results but to have a reasonable discussion over whether the public made the right decision.

For instance, Eisen, who focused on government ethics in Obama's White House, noted that Trump could be violating a clause in the Constitution that prevents presidents from receiving gifts and funds from foreign governments; it is unclear whether his businesses do because he has not publicly disclosed his tax returns.

In Massachusetts, Republican operative and attorney R.J. Lyman said he didn't want to harass anyone, so he used his connections to find electors who were willing to chat about the lessons he learned in American history class and at the dinner table. He became one of the few people in the country more willing to talk about Hamilton the man than about "Hamilton: An American Musical."

The electoral college, he said he tells them, was "not intended to be a rubber stamp." Otherwise, he said, the Founding Fathers would have tasked the responsibility to a clerk or simply used the popular vote as a way of choosing a president.

"I'm reminding them of their duty to think about their choice in a way that's consistent with their conscience and the Constitution," Lyman said.

So far, Lyman said, he has identified 20 electors who might be willing to vote "other than their party pledge." He couldn't name more than one publicly but insisted that more were out there.

Earlier this month, Chris Suprun of Texas became the first Republican elector in a red state that voted for Trump to declare, in a Dec. 5 New York Times column, that he would not cast his electoral vote for Trump. Suprun voted for Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in the primary and said he left behind his wallet on Election Day and thus did not vote in the general.

Nonetheless, Suprun said, he was willing to vote for Trump in the electoral college until the candidate claimed with no evidence that millions of Clinton supporters voted illegally.

Suprun's public stance has elicited death threats and hate mail, he said.

"As of yesterday, people are calling to say, 'Get your ass together, or we're coming for you,' " said Suprun, who was the sole Republican elector to ask for an intelligence briefing on Russia. "They are doing it with their own phone number, not even blocking the number. That's not been surprising - look at what Trump says himself."

Vinz Koller, a Democratic elector from Monterey County, California, said he read Suprun's column and started thinking about his own role in the college. It inspired him to support a new theory: If he could persuade other Democrats to abandon their Clinton votes, perhaps he and Republicans could agree on a more conventional choice - a la Ohio governor and failed GOP candidate John Kasich - to vote for instead of Trump.

The plan seemed unlikely, he said, but Trump's candidacy unsettled him so much that he felt he needed to try anything. California is one of 29 states that mandate electors vote for the candidate who won the state, so Koller sued to continue his plan.

"Frankly, this is hard and not something I do lightly," he said. "I've been working in partisan politics a long time, and I don't like voting against my candidate, but I never thought that the country might be unstable until now."

On Thursday evening, he found himself in the Library of Congress. Strolling through its stacks, Koller sought a librarian with one request: Can I see the original Federalist Papers?

He looked to see Federalist No. 68, written by Hamilton to describe the need for the electoral college.

"We have been getting a civic lesson we weren't prepared to get," Koller said. "They gave us the fail-safe emergency brake, in case the people got it wrong. And here we are, 200 years later. It's the last shot we have."

- - -

The Washington Post's Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report.

Author Information:

Robert Samuels is a national political reporter who focuses on the intersection of politics, policy and people. He previously covered social issues in the District of Columbia.




Political prisoner, activist, journalist, hymn-writer, emerging think tanker, aspiring novelist, "tribal elder", parliamentary candidate for North West Durham, Shadow Leader of the Opposition, Speedboat, proudly banned from Twitter so officially more dangerous than the Taliban, eagerly awaiting the second (or possibly third) attempt to murder me.
Laetitia Rouabah, taking a rare break at Benoit. Photo: Melissa Hom

Laetitia Rouabah doesnt see the sun anymore. When Rouabah got to New York, in September, she could still glimpse it in the mornings, but its almost winter now, so it is still dark  or as dark as Long Island City gets  when she wakes up. Its the dead of night by the time she gets back home. The long hours are the result of her new job: This past Friday, Rouabah assumed her duties as the executive chef at Benoit, Alain Ducasses flagship bistro, so the sun will have to wait.

The 33-year-old Rouabah is the rare unknown quantity in New York, a city where chefs tend to arrive with a cannonball mentality: the bigger the splash the better. Rouabah, however, has slipped into town almost entirely unnoticed, and is now charged with running the best bistro in Manhattan  an island with no shortage of red banquettes, country baguettes, and blanquette de veau. English still being relatively new for the chef, she speaks in French to describe her new task. Mr. Ducasse tells us to always push toward excellence. That is what I must do now.

The argument could be made, understandably but perhaps incorrectly, that New Yorkers appreciate real bistros. It is a trend that seems to be perpetually cresting. But the newest wave of exciting French cooking  the food you see at Le Coucou, Mimi, and Le Coq Rico  is not at bistros, though they have been called such. Furthermore, many of the citys most famous bistros are simulacra bistros, fun but fictive. (Its not surprising that the main progenitor of these picturesque bistros is Keith McNally, who began his career in theater.) Meanwhile, Benoit, which occupies the space once home to La Cote Basque, has always been a little bit too real to be real.

It was designed to fit the French idea of a bistro, which differs from the New York idea of a bistro. Here we mistake tradition for comfort, which means a lot of roast chickens and crispy frites. But true bistros can also be ambitious. As Rouabah explains, A bistro serves cuisine with a base in tradition, born of patience but served with efficacy, and above all made with the best ingredients one can find.

Mr. Ducasse tells us to always push toward excellence. That is what I must do now.  Letitia Rouabah

Benoit had, as even Ducasse admits, a rough go of it early on. Two years in, Ducasse capitulated somewhat to the critical pans and replaced the original chef, Sebastien Rondier, with Philippe Bertineau, formerly of Payard and briefly of McNallys Balthazar, who is a hardworking man with sunken eyes, a bad back, and a masterful touch. With Bertineau at the helm, its been seven years of steady gains. The slow righting of the ship culminated earlier this year, when we named it the best bistro in New York, and the restaurant received a triumphant two-star ode from the New York Times. He is the restaurants third chef, wrote Times critic Pete Wells of Bertineau. With any luck, Mr. Ducasse wont need a fourth for a long time. Soon after, Ducasse took it upon himself to tear the place up and start over again.

He ripped out the dining room, replaced the famous blue sky trompe loeil mural with flat white, and turned the dark-stained walls white, too. The fussy lights are gone. Ducasses plate man, responsible for all the service ware at the chefs restaurants, replaced the sturdy Gallic ones with terra cotta in muted colors, the kind of plates one might expect to find in Bushwick and Greenpoint. It was, in Ducasses words, Benoit 2.0.

It wasnt clear at the time, but this lightening would also extend to the kitchen. And so it was, during lunch service a few days before Rouabah formally assumed control, she stood at the pass, looking gravely at a plate of beef bourguignon with a thick shimmering layer of sauce covering the meat. Geoffrey, she said, red wine becomes a little bitter when its reduced. Next time, add a splash of port to sweeten it. Manuel, this onion isnt halved. These need to be uniform.

For the last 13 years, which constitutes the entirety of her career, Rouabah has moved through the ranks of the Alain Ducasse empire, so vast that it comprises 26 restaurants in seven countries. Rouabahs last job before this one was running the kitchen at the 80-year-old Allard, which, though bought by Ducasse in 2013, remains a woman-run restaurant and one of Pariss most important bistros. (Ducasse also owns the original Benoit in Paris.) Rouabah has often been called his protegee, for she, like him, is militantly precise with her execution, runs a kitchen with calm but absolute control, and has a deep and vast knowledge of French technique. He didnt even have to ask me to come here, she says. He knew I would say yes.

At Benoit, she moves about the kitchen quietly, offering gentle but firm corrections. She wears no jewelry but a small Hand of Fatima her mother gave her, and a thin bracelet, a gift from the staff at Allard. (They also pried from an oven an old Allard sign, which she now keeps in her office.) The rims of plates must be cleaned up to one knuckle, she tells the garde manger, showing how to do it. Sauces, many dispensed from squeeze bottles, must be applied in uniform patterns. Less Pollock, more Lewitt. Excess moisture from the cod must be allowed to drain before it is plated, lest it messes with the intricate lines of the sauce rougaille. Change will come slowly, she admits. Well be easing into it. This is my first draft.

Though her remit is to reinvent the menu, Rouabah does plan to keep a few classics, especially during lunch. But even that has been gut-renovated. When she first arrived in the kitchen in September, Rouabah called the restaurants suppliers for a new-sheriff-in-town moment. I explained to them Ducasses vision for naturality, she says. She ended up replacing many of the products and producers, but Rouabah admits shes also trying to learn as much as she can about her new home. On days when she doesnt have English lessons, she visits the Greenmarket. She wants to know more about the farms, and about Americans tastes. Though she does not yet have a community of chef or civilian friends  I dont really have time to make friends, she says. There is too much work to do  she has been going to restaurants like Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Atrium, and Porter House every week to see what people like.

During a busy lunch service last week, it was difficult to know if Rouabahs changes had registered with the crowd. But it is clear that whoever is doing the cooking is already up to something sly, slightly subversive, and ambitious. Sea bass is ringed with orange-peel-studded seaweed, a side of torrefied spelt topped with milk-and-garlic foam. The menu lists hazelnut, foie gras, and mushrooms cromesquis, small, obscure fritters that arrive in an intricately folded napkin and are meant to be dipped in chestnut veloute. These are a far cry from so-called New York bistro dishes, cheeseburgers and macaroni au gratin.

There are a thousand reasons the latest Benoit might fail. It could be the long shadow of Essex House. Perhaps Ducasses vision is too far out for Americans to savvy. Perhaps it will be because we prefer our bistros to extend no further than what we already imagine them to be. But theres one person who hopes she can change our minds, and shes put everything on the line to do it.
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Nokia phones are about to start connecting people once again and understandably rumors about those are causing plenty of excitement.

Update: Turns out the photos in the article are actually of a killed featurephone prototype and a fan concept. So we guess it's too early to tell you anything about the design and you can safely ignore those.

FIH, a Foxconn-subsidiary, has acquired all pre-existing Nokia factories and is making feature-phones in those. In fact Nokia 150 and 150 Dual SIM have already debuted. Then there is HMD - officially making Nokia-branded smartphones for the next 10 years and the first of these will pop up next year.

We've seen quite a few different leaks for HMD-made Nokia smartphones, but we have some more for you.

The first one is a the expected upcoming flagship that should see the light of day at the MWC next year. The phone pictured below will be powered by the latest Snapdragon 835 chipset with 6GB of RAM and may use a big 23MP sensor with ZEISS lens at the back.

This powerhouse should run on the latest available Android OS. In fact, recently we heard Google might be closely involved with these phones.

Nokia C1 should be debuting at the MWC, too. The C1 is also running on Snapdragon 835, but there are "just" 4 gigs of RAM. The most interesting piece of hardware is on the back - a dual 16MP/12MP camera setup with triple-LED flash, a red laser to assist the autofocus, and a xenon flash. Sounds like a dream came true for a Nokia fan, isn't it?

The C1 is rumored to pack a 3,210 mAh battery and come in 32, 64, and 128GB options. Naturally, it should be running on the latest available Android OS as well.

If the rumors are true, we'll be seeing those two fellas storming the stage at the MWC in late February. But until that happens we'd advise against getting your hopes too high.

Source 1  Source 2  Via
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Haiti - FLASH : Official, the CEP rejects the requests of recusal of all the complainants





Saturday morning, the CEP met in private session to the premises of the Stephen Archer Street, behing closed door and separately, the lawyers of the protestors : "Famni Lavalas", "Piti dessalin", LAPEH and those of the PHTK, in order to explain them why the modification of the Office of National Electoral Litigation (BCEN) did not fall within the attributions of CEP, given that the BCEN is composed of 3 independent entities (CEP, the justice and the corporation of the lawyers). On Saturday the CEP in its official decision, rejected all requests for recusal https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19527-haiti-flash-publication-of-final-results-possible-delay.html and referred the three complaining parties to the Electoral Court on Monday, 19 December, to plead their case. Subsequently, the CEP issued its formal decision which we invite you to share :



Text of the decision of the CEP :



In the year two thousand sixteen and on Saturday seventeen (17) December at 2:30 the members of the Provisional Electoral Council, meeting in extraordinary session, at the head office of the CEP located in No 72 Rue Stephen Archer, Petion ville.



Having regard to the amended Constitution of the Republic of Haiti;

Having regard to the electoral decree of 2 March 2015;

Having regard to the decree of 18 January 2008 revising the General Regulations of the Provisional Electoral Council;

Having regard to the political agreement of 5 February 2016 for institutional continuity;

Having regard to the Order of 29 March 2016 appointing the members of the Provisional Electoral Council;

Having regard to the publication of the Code of Ethics and the Rules of Electoral Disputes of Thursday, May 5, 2016;

Having regard to the Order of 27 May 2016 extending the mandate of the Provisional Electoral Council;

Having regard to the publication of the Rules of Electoral Litigation as amended in the Official Gazette Le Moniteur of Thursday 24 November 2016;

Considering the request of the candidate for the Presidency Jovenel MOISE dated 14 December 2016;

Considering the request of Candidate for the Presidency Jude CELESTIN dated December 14, 2016;

Considering the request of the Candidate for the Presidency Jean Charles MOISE dated December 14, 2016;

Considering the request of Maryse NARCISSE, presidential candidate, dated December 14, 2016

Considering the three (3) expeditions of decisions rendered by the Office of National Electoral Disputes (BCEN) dated 14 December 2016;



Considering that, on December 13, 2016, the Candidate for the Presidency Jovenel Moise demanded, by request addressed to the President and Members of the CEP, the disqualification of recusation of Advisers Kenson POLYNICE, Jean Simon SAINT HUBERT and Josette DORCELY on the grounds that they had not initialed the results published by the Council on 8 November 2016.



Considering that on 14 December 2016 the candidates for the Presidency Jude CELESTIN, Jean Charles MOISE and Maryse NARCISE, protesting parties before the BCEN, in turn solicited the recusal of the advisers who signed the preliminary results of the presidential election on 20 November due to conflicts of interest,. They also demanded the rigorous application of section 18 of the electoral decree stating that the BCEN is composed of three (3) sections.



Considering that, being invited to read their appeal to the BCEN by the President of the Tribunal, the lawyers of the protesting parties preferred to refer to their request for recusal for reasons of conflict of interest.



Considering that the National Electoral Litigation Office, by preliminary ruling, transferred the requests for recusal of the protesting parties to the Provisional Electoral Council.



Considering that they were called upon to make an oral statement of their request to the sesion of Saturday 17 December of the Provisional Electoral Council, the applicants in recusation confine themselves to their initial claims after general considerations on the challenge pending before the BCEN.



Considering that the exclusion of members of the Office of Electoral Disputes found in situations of conflict of interest is provided for in Article 18.2 of the Electoral Decree and Article 6 of the amended Electoral Dispute Resolution Rules.



Considering that the term "Recusation" used by the parties is comparable to that of "Mise a l'ecart", employed both in the decree of March 2, 2015 and in the Rules of the electoral dispute amended3



Considering that the decisions of the Provisional Electoral Council are taken by the electoral advisers according to the majority prescribed by the decree of 2 March 2016. Thus, the signing of the preliminary results of the first round of the ballot on 28 November 2016 by advisers and the non-signature of this document by others are part of the deliberation procedure of the Council and should not be considered as situations of conflict of interest.



Considering that the Electoral Litigation Office is composed of three independent institutions, in particular the CEP, the Justice and the lawyer corporation, it is not in the Provisional Electoral Council's powers to know the constitution of the BCEN.



Considering that it is necessary for the Provisional Electoral Council to pronounce, by a single decision, on the applications filed first by the candidate for the Presidency Jovenel MOISE and then by the candidates for the Presidency Jude CELESTIN, Jean Charles MOISE and Maryse NARCISSE, parties protesters before the BCEN, because having the same purpose and the same finalitie.



The Provisional Electoral Council, after deliberation, took the following decision :



1. In form, Welcomes the challenges of the candidates for the Presidency Jovenel MOISE, Jude CELESTIN, Jean Charles MOISE and Maryse NARCISSE.



2. In substance, Rejects these claims because unfounded.



3. Declares that the Council is not competent to rule on the constitution of BCEN



4. Orders the communication of this decision to the parties requesters.



5. Says that this decision will be transferred to the Office of National Electoral Litigation (BCEN) for appropriate action at the diligence of the Executive Director."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politics : France can do better dixit Jean-Marc Ayrault





Sunday, Jean-Marc Ayrault, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, on a visit to Haiti, reiterated France's support, while acknowledging that his country could do better to help Haiti two months after the passage of devastating Hurricane Matthew...



During his visit to Jeremie, one of the cities hard hit by Matthew, Jean-Marc Ayrault declared "When we see situations like that of Haiti [...] I think France must be aware that it can do better [...] I would not say more, but better. That is to say that aid is effective, that means going through local actors, NGOs and ensuring that aid is implemented on the basis of the real needs." In the department of Grand'Anse, more than 453,000 people still need help, with priority to access to drinking water and food. In Jeremie, Minister Ayrault was able to see the rehabilitation of the Saint-Antoine hospital, thanks to the funding of one million euros from the French Development Agency.



Let's recall that following the hurricane's passage on Haiti, the United Nations had launched, in coordination with the Government of Haiti and other partners, a flash appeal of $119.8 million to be able to help 750,000 Haitians affected by Hurricane Matthew for the next three months https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18897-haiti-flash-un-launches-a-$120m-flash-appeal-for-haiti.html . To date, only $ 64 million has been received. It should be noted that France, which devotes only 0.4% of its gross national income to development aid, does not respect the commitment made in Doha (2008), like the majority of G20 countries, to devote 0.7 % of their income to the aid to developing countries.



Before leaving Haiti, Minister Ayrault at a press conference at the diplomatic lounge at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, abstained unsurprisingly, commenting the results of Haitian election. However, given the daily demonstrations since the publication of these results, he recalled the importance of political stability in the economic recovery of Haiti "In a democracy, no challenge can and must be made by violence. The successful holding of these elections is an important step in the history of Haiti. The commitment to political stability is fundamental to this economic recovery [...] I encourage the future president and the government that will be appointed to continue in this direction and that it knows and that the Haitian people know, that France will be at their side."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18997-haiti-politic-call-for-emergency-funds-the-international-community-timid.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18897-haiti-flash-un-launches-a-$120m-flash-appeal-for-haiti.html



TB/ SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Economy : Winners of the Contest Digicel Entrepreneur of the Year 2016





At the ceremony of the grand finale of the 7th edition of Digicel Entrepreneur of the Year 2016, attended by 600 guests from government, NGOs and the business sector, the jury among the 10 finalists, designated the winner of Digicel Award winners in the five usual categories: agriculture and environment, construction, industry, services and emerging plus a special award this year for an innovation with a social impact.



The Jury designated a woman who saw a business opportunity by turning toilet paper, an imported and expensive luxury product, into a locally made product accessible, Digicel Entrepreneur of the Year for 2016. Myrtha Vilbon, owner of the company "Glory Industries" pecializing in the manufacture of toilet paper in Port-au-Prince, she is also the national winner in the category "Emerging".



According to the classic model of imported product substitution, Myrtha raised $ 2.4 million to finance "Glory Industries", the first Haitian manufacturer of toilet paper and napkins made locally, employing more than 80 people, 70 per cent of them women.



Denis O'Brien, founder of Digicel and the President of the Jury, speaking to the great laureate declared "When I see what you have achieved, starting with an excellent idea then planning its execution and achieving it I am very proud and honored that Digicel is promoting the entrepreneurial sector which creates sustainable jobs and bring economic stability. Your mission is invaluable."



"Myrtha Vilbon corresponds exactly to the type of entrepreneur we thought of, with this preponderant mix of strategic thinking and breakthrough innovation, when we chose the theme of this year's competition: Be Able To Grow," said Maarten Boute President Digicel Haiti.



List of other Laureates :



Category Agriculture & Environment :

The Prize was awarded to Sharline Dubuisson of Ferme Soleil, bwhose innovative approach to obtaining financial support for agricultural projects has enabled the creation of 445 full-time jobs and part-time and paved the route of the emancipation of women in agriculture.



Category construction :

The prize was awarded to Blondo Odivin of VAKO Construction, known by his friends long before his entry into the business world, as "engineer", thanks to his love for DIY. It now has 150 employees and a successful company involved in many major construction projects in Haiti.



Industry Category :

The award was presented to Jocelyn Noel, whose "Province Food Group" produces cassava for export to the United States, according to strict international standards in accordance with a license from the US Department of Agriculture and the FDA.



Service categorys :

The Prize was awarded to Max Henry Larson of Transversal, which provides high-end IT services for business customers, training and certification in rural communities in the center, west, north and south-east of Haiti with the aim of transforming the local economy. It is currently developing mobile applications for countries as far away as Nigeria, Nepal and Timor.



Special prize :

The special social prize was awarded to Chavannes Jean-Baptiste of the "Mouvman Peyizan Papay (MPP), an agronomist who, in a life devoted to the development of agriculture in Haiti, mobilized more than 4,500 groups of farmers and allowed the training of 500,000 people who are now working in this sector.



See also:

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-19510-icihaiti-flash-myrtha-vilbon-designated-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2016.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19085-haiti-digicel-contest-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2016-regional-results-west.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17652-haiti-economy-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2016-registration-open.html



HL/ S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Security : Religious and civil society institutions extremely concerned





In a joint statement, religious institutions, civil society organizations and a number of personalities expressed serious concern about the climate of violence and intimidation that began to develop in the country immediately after polling day of 20 November.



"The religious institutions, civil society organizations and individuals signatory of the present Declaration, are extremely concerned about the climate of violence and intimidation that began to develop in the country immediately after the polling day of 20 November, which had been conducted in a calm and organizationally satisfactory manner for the most part and acceptable to others. They note with amazement that actors and political parties, organizing almost daily demonstrations that are often accompanied by violence, threaten journalists, peaceful citizens and try to intimidate the electoral advisers and judges. Radio programs broadcast incendiary remarks and call for social hatred, violent political upheaval, instead of peacefully waiting for the verdict of the ballot boxes and of electoral tribunals. In so doing, these political actors are in breach of Articles 123 and 124 of the Election Decree, which prohibit any proclamation of results and any public demonstration of a partisan nature from election day until the official announcement of the results.



Such behavior is reprehensible and prejudicial to the building of the democratic Rule of Law that the Haitian people are trying to build. While it is true that the Haitian Constitution guarantees the right to protest and freedom of expression, however, the law lays down the conditions and limits in which these rights may be exercised. No citizen, no political formation is above the law. Therefore, the signatories of this declaration invite the Executive Power to assume its responsibilities, to enforce the laws of the country, to keep until the end of the electoral process, that neutrality and vigilance that had presided over the vote of 20 November .



The religious institutions, civil society organizations and persons signing this declaration have so far welcomed a credible and acceptable electoral process carried out by the CEP and urge all members of the electoral institution and the electoral tribunals to complete their work in a transparent manner the said process, according to the indications of the electoral calendar and the prescriptions of the legislation on the matter.



At the end of the year, as Christmas approaches, especially after the terrible trauma caused by recent natural disasters, the Haitian people aspire to peace and look forward to the new year bringing new prospects for renewal on the political, economic and social plan."



Declaration signed by : Mgr Poulard Guire, Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince ; Rev. Exantus Sylvain, President of the Protestant Federation of Haiti ; Mgr Duracin Zachee, Bishop of the Episcopal Church ; Pasteur Antoine Jn Rigaud, Treasurer of the Protestant Federation of Haiti ; Desroches Rosny, Civil Society Initiative ; Dorvil Nahomme, Civil Society Initiative ; Paultre Edouard, CONHANE ; Apaid Andre M, New Haiti Foundation ; Romain Charles, Rector of University ; Antonin Arnold, Filmmaker ; Jean Baptiste Pauris, Protestant Sector



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2016/12/18 | Source

Actress Han Hyo-joo looks innocent and cute.

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She attended a brand event at a Lotte Department store in Seoul on the 15th.

She showed up wearing a white knitted off-shoulder one-piece dress, starry earrings and matching necklace.

She charmed everyone with her finger 'hearts' and Vs.

Meanwhile, Han Hyo-joo was chosen as model for 'F' brand which was founded in 1970 and has over 980 stores in England, Spain, Japan and China.
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.

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(Chicago Tribune) McCormick, president of Bridgewater Associates Inc.,was eyed earlier as a possible Treasury secretary, a post that ultimately went to former hedge fund investor Steve Mnuchin. If confirmed by the Senate, McCormick will help Trumps Pentagon nominee, retired general James Mattis, with day-to-day management of a bureaucracy with about two million active-duty and civilian employees and a budget of more than $600 billion a year.

To read this article:
(HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled cease-and-desist proceedings against the CEO of a Utah-based broker-dealer and two registered persons associated with the firm for causing the firms violations of SEC market structure rules, and contested administrative and cease-and-desist proceeding against the firm for the alleged violations.

The proceedings involve a former proprietary trader at Wilson-Davis & Co., a Utah-based broker-dealer, the firms vice president/head trader, and the firms CEO and chairman. Regulation SHO requires that, before a broker-dealer effects a short sale, the broker-dealer must locate a source of borrowable securities that can be delivered on the date that delivery is due. The rule includes a limited exception for short sales executed in connection with bona fide market making. From at least November 2011 to May 2013, Wilson-Davis relied on the bona-fide market making exception for all short sales by its proprietary trading group. This reliance was improper for certain Wilson-Davis trades because much of Wilson-Daviss proprietary trading activity was not, in fact, bona-fide market making. While improperly availing itself of the exception, Wilson-Davis engaged in numerous short sales in over-the counter equity securities, which violated Rule 203(b)(1) of Regulation SHO and resulted in improper trading profits.

In addition, for its proprietary trading group, Wilson-Davis failed to: have controls and supervisory procedures as required by the Market Access Rule (Exchange Act Rule 15c3-5), which requires controls and supervisory procedures reasonably designed to manage the risks of having market access; or establish, document and maintain a system for regularly reviewing the effectiveness of the risk management controls and supervisory procedures as required by Exchange Act Rule 15c3-5(e). Wilson-Daviss CEO violated the certification requirement of the Market Access Rule because the certification was inadequate and he signed without being familiar with the rule, not knowing who at the firm was responsible for compliance with it nor making reasonable inquiries about the firms annual review and the results of any such review.

This is the first time that the SEC has charged the CEO of a broker-dealer with violating the CEO certification requirement of the Market Access Rule.

We allege that Wilson-Davis violated SEC rules that help ensure fair markets, including the rules for short sales and for market access, said Andrew J. Ceresney, Director of the SECs Enforcement Division. Public confidence in our markets depends on careful compliance with these market structure rules.

The SECs order instituting a settled cease-and-desist proceeding against Anthony Kerrigone, the former proprietary trader at Wilson-Davis, finds that Kerrigone caused Wilson-Daviss violations of Rule 203(b)(1) of Regulation SHO. Kerrigone consented to the order without admitting or denying the findings and agreed to cease and desist from such violations and to pay disgorgement of $486,840, prejudgment interest of $63,160.50, and a penalty of $50,000.

The SECs order instituting a settled administrative proceeding against Byron Barkley, the head trader, and Paul Davis, the CEO, finds that Barkley caused Wilson-Daviss violations of Rule 203(b)(1) of Regulation SHO, Section 15(c) of the Exchange Act and Rule 15c3-5(b), (c) and (e) of the Market Access Rule, and Davis violated Exchange Act Rule 15c3-5(e)(2). Barkley consented to the order without admitting or denying the findings and agreed to cease and desist from such violations and pay disgorgement of $67,710.20, prejudgment interest of $8,977.83, and a penalty of $50,000. Davis consented to the order without admitting or denying the findings and agreed to cease and desist from such violations and to pay a penalty of $25,000.

In the contested administrative and cease-and-desist proceeding against Wilson-Davis, the SEC Enforcement Division alleges that the firm willfully violated Rule 203(b)(1) of Regulation SHO, Section 15(c)(3) of the Exchange Act, and Rule 15c3-5(b), (c) and (e).
Jonkka voiced his concerns about the quality of lawmaking in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat on Saturday , revealing that in some cases his recommendations for addressing the problems have been outright ignored.

Jaakko Jonkka, the Chancellor of Justice, has stirred up public debate by estimating that an unusually high number of legislative proposals with constitutional problems have been presented to the Parliament by the Government of Prime Minister Juha Sipila (Centre).

The Office of the Chancellor of Justice is responsible for supervising the lawfulness of the official acts of the Government. It does not, however, have the legal right to prevent a draft bill from being submitted to the Parliament. We can only offer our thoughts on how a particular proposal should be revised or rectified, explained Jonkka.

Sipila admitted that the identified shortcomings in lawmaking are serious but assured that they have been recognised by the Government.

The Government's premise for lawmaking is naturally constitutional compliance. It is justifiable to present a proposal to the Constitutional Law Committee in circumstances that are subject to various interpretations or where there is no established legal interpretation, he wrote in his personal blog on Sunday. The lawmaking-related problems are long-standing. They have been recognised. The Government has addressed and reacted to them.

Sipila also drew attention to the time constraints faced by lawmakers.

The government programme is ambitious. For too long have reforms been left undone in Finland. The Government is trying to catch up with the reform debt as much as possible in the current electoral term, he stated.

The current electoral term, he added, has also revealed that the resources available for preparatory legislative work are scarce in several ministries.

Jonkka acknowledged that the resources of ministries are scarce following cuts in their appropriations but argued that it is absolutely unsustainable to cite time constraints and political pressure as justification for scrapping the principles of good lawmaking.

Major legislative projects are currently under preparation, and it'd really be worthwhile to make sure they aren't ruined by rushing the preparatory work, he said to Helsingin Sanomat.

Jonkka's statements prompted a number of concerned comments from legal experts on Sunday.

I never thought I'd be saying this, but the preservation of the constitutional state requires that the Government steps down, said Goran Djupsund, a professor of political science at Abo Akademi University.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Kimmo Mantyla  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
Local man sent to prison on manslaughter charge

A Hendersonville man was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter, District Attorney Greg Newman announced.

Related Stories

Joey Butler, of 110 Oakwood Road, Hendersonville, received the sentence in a term of Superior Court Dec. 12-13.

In other cases:

Quinn Hensley, of 13 Old Zirconia Road, Zirconia, pleaded guilty to Possession of Firearm by Felon and was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Logan Lafontaine, of 440 Harris Street, Hendersonville, pleaded guilty to Possession of Stolen Goods and was sentenced to 160 days confinement.

Toby Pries, of 405 Jackson Loop Road, Hendersonville, pleaded guilty to Simple Assault and Obstruction of Justice. Pries was sentenced to 50 day confinement.

In a Superior Court term in Transylvania County Dec. 5-9, Michael Joseph King, of 80 Quiet Haven Lane, Horse Shoe, pleaded guilty to two counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child. King received two concurrent sentences of 16 months in prison.

The Honorable Judge Mark E. Powell presided for both counties.
He has always been an angel, the boy's father said

The father of an Irish boy, who was killed in London in an apparent act of murder-suicide by his mother, has spoken about his son was his "best buddy".

Sinead Higgins (37) and her son Oisin (7) were found dead at their home in Ruislip, west London, on Wednesday morning.

Police in England have said they are satisfied that the deaths were "consistent" with murder-suicide.

Oisin's father Shane O'Driscoll, who was separated from Ms Higgins, took to social media to express his devastation at the loss.

Buddy

"Thank you for all your support and messages. Words cannot express how we are feeling," Mr O'Driscoll, who is from Bray, Co Wicklow, said in a Facebook post on Friday.

"Today it became real when I had the first opportunity to hold Oisin (inset) and see his little face.

"My best buddy has been taken from this world and taken from all his little friends.

"He has always been an angel," he said.

The page was flooded with condolences of friends and family expressing their support.

It is understood that Mr O'Driscoll is also living in London.

Ms Higgins was a fully qualified nurse, and had recently retrained as a lawyer.

She was working for a medical negligence company as a legal adviser.

She had moved from her home in Westport, Co Mayo, to pursue a successful career in London more than a decade ago.

Her family in Mayo has suffered much in recent years.

One of 10 children, Ms Higgins lost her father Thomas Higgins (68) to cancer in August 2014, while her brother Cathal (19) was killed in a motorcycle crash in May, 2004.

Cathal died just months after he was the pallbearer at the funeral of local girl Aisling McGing (18), who was his date at his debs ball.

Ms Higgins was said to be depressed in the time leading up to her death.

Depressed

Barbara Lonnan, a neighbour in Ruislip, said when she first arrived in the neighbourhood two years ago she was "really bubbly" but gradually she got more and more depressed.

"It was so sad to see. I told her there are people who can get you help but I don't think she ever went."

Police in London have confirmed a post-mortem examination was carried out at Uxbridge Mortuary last Friday evening.

However, the exact cause of the deaths remained inconclusive.

Further toxicology reports are expected in the hope they may indicate exactly what happened to the pair.

However, detectives also said they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident and that it was consistent with murder suicide.

The Samaritans can be contacted on 116123.
Dublin retailers and businesses are hoping for a bumper week with Christmas shoppers over the coming days.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce last night said retailers are "cautiously optimistic" of a potential influx of last-minute shoppers in the final week before Christmas.

"The sense amongst retailers is that a lot of spending decisions have been delayed until the final week," said Mary Rose Burke, CEO of Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

"This is mainly due to Christmas Day falling on a Sunday, which means people feel they have an extra weekend to shop," she added.

Louis Copeland of Louis Copeland & Sons said that, although trade so far has been at a similar level to previous years, they are expecting a major week ahead.

"From today on, it'll all open up. With Christmas being on a Sunday, we're expecting some week ahead of us," he told the Herald. "Today people will realise that it's less than a week until Christmas, and they need to go to town."

Bumper

Joe Plunkett of Tower Records agreed, saying that they were expecting a "bumper" week ahead.

"The last Saturday before Christmas and December 23 are generally our busiest days," he said. "We're selling a good bit on the website but store footfall is the most important to us."

Shoppers on Grafton Street yesterday noted that the sales starting before Christmas has had a positive impact on their wallets.

"There are sales on everywhere and the atmosphere is very good," says Moira Goslin, from Swords, who was shopping with her daughter, Sandra Hyde. "You may as well be in New York. There's no need to go anywhere else for shopping, only here."

Meanwhile Frank Thornton from Galway, who was visiting his son and daughter-in-law in Terenure, said the weather was making a difference to their shopping.

"We're doing bits and pieces while we're here and going to do a bit more tomorrow.

"We've done very well on the shoe shopping with the sales on. It's great with such beautiful weather," he said.

However, Gordon MacKenzie and Karen Welsh from Fife, Scotland, said Dublin was much more expensive for shopping than back home.

"We're doing some shopping, but it's very expensive for us here," Gordon said.

Lisa Gabriel from Blanchardstown said the prolonged Christmas period was making a difference to getting around the city.

Value

"We're doing some of our shopping today, and we've found some good value.

"It's that bit quieter today with Christmas being next Sunday, I think if we had come in yesterday it would have been too busy," she said.

Some retailers are noticing an improvement in spending this year. Paul Sheeran of Paul Sheeran Jewellers, off Grafton Street, said that people have seemed more willing to spend money so far this Christmas, compared to previous years.

"There's certainly a much nicer feeling around this year. People are getting back into enjoying and treating themselves," he said.

"Jewellery hasn't been top of the Christmas shopping list recently but now people are easing into spending more on themselves," he said.
Candidates with no legislative history not uncommon

Maryland's candidates for governor do not have long legislative records. Wes Moore has none at all. Analysis shows that is not uncommon.
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From dance to street plays and bike rallies, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers are going all out to gather support of youngsters for a parivartan rally to be addressed by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in Bhopal on December 20.

This will be Kejriwals maiden visit to Madhya Pradesh as the chief minister of Delhi. The AAPs state unit is organising a series of events to attract people, especially youngsters, for the rally to be held at Dussehra Maidan, Chhola Mandir.

We are making people aware of Kejriwals rally by organising events such as dance for democracy, street plays and bike rallies in different part of the state, said Akshya Hunka, general secretary of AAP.

We are getting good support of youngsters and we are expecting participation of about 50,000 people in the rally, he said.

He said AAP leaders were also coordinating with the administration and the police to ensure security for Kejriwal, especially after Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayans unpleasant experience during his recent visit to Bhopal. Pinarayi was not allowed to attend a programme due to security reasons.

We dont want any repetition of unfortunate incident that happened with the Kerala CM. So, we have requested the administration to provide foolproof security to Kejriwal, said AAPs state convenor Alok Agrawal.

He said the rally would expose the truth of the BJP-led state government so they can do anything to stop it.

The rally will focus on demonetisation and 2018 state assembly election.

Demonetisation is the biggest scam of India. The AAP will reveal the truth. Besides inconvenience to common people, there are other factors that will go against the development of our country due to demonetisation, said Agrawal.

He said the Congress had lost its sheen as an opposition party in Madhya Pradesh.

Common people are facing inconveniences due to the BJP-led state governments decision and autocratic behaviour of the chief minister. The change is must in MP, said Agrawal.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is recording statements of wives of Balaghat and Baihar policemen, who had been booked on charge of attempting to kill a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak in the district on September 25.

The RSS pracharak, Suresh Yadav, was allegedly beaten up in custody by seven policemen and two home guards over posting of an objectionable WhatsApp post.

On Thursday, the SIT team in Jabalpur recorded the statements of Zeba, the wife of Baihar police station in-charge Ziya-ul-Haq. Ziya is one of the seven policemen and two home guards who were suspended by the state government following protests by the ruling BJPs ideological mentor RSS.

According to SIT sources, Zebas statements were recorded following her application to states director general of police Rishi Shukla on October 5 seeking justice for her husband in the matter.

SIT sources said Zebas detailed statements about the series of incidents in Baihar town on September 25 evening were recorded for an hour. Zeba told the SIT that her husband and other cops were falsely implicated in the case.

She also told the investigators that around 50 from a large mob that had encircled the Baihar police station that night had entered the adjoining police colony and approached towards their house in search of her and two little daughters. Fearing for life, she along with two daughters left Baihar for safer destination the next morning.

The SIT is probing all the four cases lodged at the Baihar police station on September 25-26, including the two cases registered against the cops-home guards and two lodged against unidentified protestors for attacking on duty cops and their vehicles.

Similarly, statements of Rekha, the wife of another accused and suspended cop, assistant sub inspector Suresh Vijaywar, have been recorded by the SIT members at a guest house in Balaghat a few days back.

None of the suspended cops or sacked home guards, however, has been arrested. Some of them, including additional superintendent of police Rajesh Sharma, have sought anticipatory bail from the Madhya Pradesh high court.

Importantly, four ruling BJP MLAs led by Waraseoni (Balaghat) legislator Yogendra Nirmal had sought a call attention motion in the state assemblys winter session over the delay in arrest of the accused policemen. But, the call attention motion didnt happen.
A charitable trust in Betul came forward to help a man from Morad village who carried his 12-year-old son on his shoulder for more than 6km to reach a hospital after every 3-4 days as he had no money to arrange for a vehicle.

Hindustan Times reported the plight of the man, Deviram Pandram, on Saturday.

After spending 1 lakh on his sons treatment, Pandram had no money to hire even an auto. His son Neelesh fractured his leg six months ago after falling from a tree.

We read Hindustan Times report and came to know that this was happening in our district; we decided to provide all help for Neeleshs treatment, said Yogi Khandelwal, a member of GD Khandelwal charitable trust.

Pandram initially took his son to the government hospital in Athner tehsil for a few weeks; Neelesh was then referred to the district hospital in Betul.

After treating Neelesh for about three-four months, the district hospital said his leg needs treatment at a private hospital.

When HT contacted district hospital civil surgeon Dr Ashok Bairanga, he said, The kind of care needed in such cases cannot be provided in the district hospital. He will have to go to a private hospital.

Bairanga said the district hospital was trying to get aid for Pandram from the chief ministers relief fund, which would have taken time.

Khandelwal said the private hospital where they have admitted Neelesh has given an estimate of 60,000 for his operation.

The trust was formed about 20 years ago by the family of BJP leader GD Khandelwal in his memory.

(with inputs from Rajesh Bhatia)
A 45-year-old man claiming to be a peon at Trinamool Congress (TMC) office in Kolkata allegedly duped policemen from Madhya Pradeshs Harda district in the name of helping them crack a kidnapping case and bust fake Indian currency racket.

Masood Hussain, a resident of Kolkatas Eqbalpur locality, was arrested by the Harda police from the West Bengal capital recently. He is now lodged at the Harda jail after five days of questioning by police.

Harda superintendent of police Aditya Pratap Singh said a girl was allegedly kidnapped from Harda a few months back.

In October, a senior police official at the state police headquarters in Bhopal got a phone call from Kolkata claiming he had a tip-off about the kidnappers who were eyeing 5 lakh ransom for the girls release, said Singh.

A Harda police team left for Kolkata and met Hussain, who assured them of helping crack the case in return for 50,000 as reward. He also told the team about a fake Indian currency racket in Harda.

Falling in Hussains trap, the Harda police helped him buy a new Andriod cellphone worth 8,000 and paid him some cash.

Hussain was paid 20,000 in cash and kind. He promised to help us nab the kidnappers the next day by enticing them to Howrah railway station, said Singh.

The police team reached the Howrah station the next day but Hussain was nowhere to be traced. His phone was sounding switched off.

After returning empty-handed, the Harda police booked Hussain for kidnapping thinking that he was part of the alleged kidnappers.

We gathered details of the phone numbers from which he had made calls to us. A CDR analysis revealed that the caller had used six cell phones to call from eight different phone numbers. Maximum calls were made to senior police officers spanning from ranks of IG to ADG and DG in different states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Punjab, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, said Singh.

After analysing Hussains call details, another Harda police team was sent to Kolkata in December. Along with local police, the MP cops started working in the case.

Our men came to know from Kolkata police that Punjab and Mumbai counterparts too had been in Kolkata recently in search of the same man in similar types of matters, the SP Harda said.

Hussain was arrested on the charge of fraud with the Kolkata polices help, and was brought to Harda on five days remand.

During questioning, Hussain told the police he worked as a peon at a TMC office in Kolkata and used the clout of that place to call senior police officials across the country in the name of helping them crack blind cases, said Singh.

We have informed cops in different state police whose senior officials were rung by Hussain while posing as a trusted informer. He has also worked on similar modus operanding with cops in Bhopal and Khandwa districts in the past, the Harda SP said.

Both Harda and Kolkata cops are also searching a key aide of the arrested man, whose nabbing would help them know further about their fraudulent operations.
Actors often get typecast due to their on-screen characters. While some are only offered comedy films, others are stuck with the chocolate boy or girl-next-door roles. Irrfan Khan (left) has portrayed serious characters in most of his films, but a source reveals that the actor will be seen playing romantic roles in his next three movies.

This year, Irrfan played serious roles in Madaari and in the Hollywood film Inferno. In his next three movies, his characters will lean towards romance. He has signed a project with Abhinay Deo, and though the movie is a dark comedy, Irrfans role will be somewhat romantic. In another movie, which is being directed by Tanuja Chandra and stars Richa Chadha, he will play a romantic role again, as the film is a romantic comedy. That project will be followed by Hindi Medium, which also belongs to a similar genre and features Pakistani actor Saba Qamar, says the source.

Watch: A scene from Piku featuring Irrfan Khan and Deepika Padukone

The source says that it was the actors role in Piku (2015) that opened a lot of avenues to the actor. Irrfans character in Piku presented him in a different light altogether. Directors have since been looking at him differently, and are offering him such roles, says the source.

Best eidi from the best co star  A photo posted by Saba Qamar (@sabaqamarzaman) on Sep 13, 2016 at 8:33am PDT

Irrfan will begin shooting for Tanujas film by late January and will work on Abhinays film from March. The actor was not available for a comment.
Actor Sonam Kapoor talked about being molested as a 13-year-old while at the movies with her friends. She was speaking at film critic Rajeev Masands The Actresses Roundtable, where she was joined by Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt, Vidya Balan and Radhika Apte.

A lot of issues were addressed during the conversation, but perhaps the biggest takeaway was how strongly each of them felt about sexual harassment.

While talking about the kind of molestation women have to face everyday, Sonam talked about being groped by a man as a child. Everybody goes through some sort of sexual abuse in their childhood. I know I have been molested when I was younger and it was traumatising. I didnt speak about it for two years or three years. I remember the incident so clearly, she said.

The incident took place at Mumbais Gaiety Galaxy Theatre when the gang stepped out to get some snacks. There was a man who came from behind and just held my breasts like that. And obviously, I didnt have breasts at that time. I started shaking and shivering and I didnt know what was going on and I started crying right there. I didnt speak about it. I just sat there and I finished watching the film because I felt that Id done something wrong for the longest time, she said.

The other actors were shocked by her story and agreed that such incidents were common. Anushka recounted a similar incident from her childhood when her friend was molested. At that time, Anushkas mother asked her if she had ever been touched inappropriately. Anushka said at that age, she was confused as to why her mother was asking her such questions.

The actors agreed that women need to speak about harassment more often.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Actors often have to push the envelope to meet the requirements of their on-screen characters. Kunal Kapoor did just that for his role in Veeram. Besides gaining about 12kg, the actor had to train in martial arts as well. But a source reveals that after completing the films shooting, the actor continued to train in martial arts such as Kalaripayattu and mixed martial arts, and even visited Japan to grow his skills. Kunal has always been fascinated by these art forms. He continued to train even after the shoot had been wrapped up. He came across an article about a family of ninja warriors in Japan that have a 400-year history, and visited Tokyo (Japan) and trained with the family when he found the time, says the source.

Watch: Teaser trailer of Veeram

Kunal confirmed the news, and said, I have always been a huge fan of Japanese culture, having grown up on Manga comics, their movies and food. Ive wanted to go there for a long time. When I found out about this family, I absolutely had to go there, and the moment I got a break from my schedule, I enrolled myself in the programme. While I was there, we worked on movement, weapons training and a meditative technique known as Ku.

#walkingpastcoolthings #japan A photo posted by Kunal Kapoor (@kunalkkapoor) on Dec 15, 2016 at 6:23am PST

Picture perfect #japan A photo posted by Kunal Kapoor (@kunalkkapoor) on Dec 14, 2016 at 8:53am PST

The actor also visited popular monuments and restaurants while in Tokyo. The Japanese are lovely people. So humble and disciplined. I am totally enamoured by their culture and would love to go back and train again, he says.
Hes a risk-taker, dedicated to his craft and quite insensitive to critics and juries. Versatile actor Manoj Bajpayee says, Im not that hopeful about getting honoured in this industry because we have too many dos and donts.

Every set of jury comes with their own agendas. So, you cant expect any award.

In November, Bajpayee won the Best Actor Award at the 10th Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane, Australia, for his performance in filmmaker Hansal Mehtas Aligarh (2015).

On not getting some of the major awards in India, he says, Im the first Indian to get this international award. Every set of jury comes with their own agendas in this industry. So, you cant expect any award. When the jurys agenda is purely to give away the award on the basis of excellence then Ill start expecting. But here, each and every set of juries favour one policy one year and another the next year. You can just keep doing your work.

He adds that the subject of Aligarh excited him, right from the word go. Aligarh is a special film, not only because its considered a classic but given the fact that in a country where homosexuality is illegal and criminal, a film like it created so much debate, he explains.

Im just too much of a rebel. At times it scares me but thats in my DNA.

Some believe he took a risk by taking up the role of a homosexual university professor but the actor doesnt think so. Im just too much of a rebel. At times it scares me but thats in my DNA. I keep challenging myself and raising the bar for my own self. It gives me a high to put myself in a risky situation. But when I come out as a winner, it gives me a lot of satisfaction.

Actor Manoj Bajpayee in a scene from the movie, Aligarh.

About the critics who more often than not down play his performances, Bajpayee says, I dont believe in critics. I have respect for them and the job they do, but I dont read them because Im the worst critic of myself. Nobody knows my craft better than me.

Also, commentators sit in an AC room and the players take the heat of getting out on ducks or making triple centuries. So why to think about commentators who are having a glass of wine and commenting about each and every ball, he adds with a laugh.

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Ousted Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry stepped down from the boards of all its listed companies on Monday, but signalled that he would take the leadership dispute over the $103-billion salt-to-software conglomerate to the courts.

Insisting that he was opting out of the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) route to prevent further damage to the brand, Mistry said he would explore legal options to protect minority stakeholders and achieve increased awareness of corporate governance at the group. The 48-year-old Irish businessman of Indian origin also indicated that he would push for regulatory focus on issues raised so far.

Mistry was removed as the chairman of Tata Sons on October 24, after which Ratan Tata returned as its interim chairman. He will occupy the position until a selection committee identifies a permanent replacement.

Mistry told HT that he was stepping down from Tata Group boards to protect the interests of stakeholders. I took the decision after it was concluded that going ahead with EGMs would be more destructive, he said.

Read | Mistrys resignation from boards deliberate strategy, says Tata Sons

This development would result in the cancellation of the EGM for the Indian Hotels Co, which was slated to take place on December 20. However, meetings being held to vote out independent director Nusli Wadia (such as that for Tata Steel and Tata Motors) will continue on schedule.

Mistry claimed the act of sidestepping the EGM route goes to show that his was not a fight for a position, but one intended to keep Tata Group on a sustainable path by securing long-term reforms.

The platform has to change to the legal side from here, he said, without elaborating on his future strategies. Having deeply reflected on where we are in this movement for cleaning up governance and regaining lost ethical ground, I think it is time to shift gears, up the momentum, and be more incisive in securing the best interests of the Tata Group I have decided to shift this campaign to a larger platform, where the rule of law and equity is upheld.

Read | Cyrus Mistry lost boards confidence, allegations malicious: Tata Sons

Mistry said he has provided details of the governance breakdown at Tata Sons, allegedly caused by the actions of Tata Trusts trustees, in his representation to shareholders.

However, a press statement from Tata Sons dubbed Mistrys resignation as a deliberate strategy carried out in the knowledge that an overwhelming majority of the shareholders were not in support of his actions. Unfortunately, Mr Mistry continues to make baseless, unsubstantiated and malicious allegations using selective disclosures of information against the very institution he claims to have the highest regard for. Tata Sons will respond adequately to any allegations made by him, the statement added.

Capital markets regulator Sebi has indicated that it was monitoring the impact of charges and counter-charges made by both sides to check if any norms on corporate governance have been breached.

Tatas vs Mistry: Full coverage

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At a time when the government is looking to push digital payments, the production of mobile phones in India is down by at least 40%.

The ban on circulation of banknotes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 has hit the industry hard, with handset manufacturers, including Foxconn, Flextronics and GDN-Wistron, may have been looking to cut jobs or sending employees on leave.

Contract manufacturers are seeing a 40% slump in production, with consumers putting off purchases, which is killing demand, an industry executive told HT on the condition of anonymity. The situation is so bad that they might have to take tougher decisions regarding employees, he added.

Foxconn, which makes iPhones for Apple, has asked 1,700 employees out of its 8,000-strong workforce in the country to go on paid leave. The company accounts for nearly 50% of all smartphones assembled in India, and makes devices for companies such as Nokia, Xiaomi, Oppo and Gionee, among others.

Flextronics manufactures phones for Lenovo, Motorola, Huawei and Honor, while GDN-Wistron produces handsets for LG, HTC, Oppo and Zen Mobiles.

Both Flextronics and GDN-Wistron did not respond to HTs requests for comments on the layoffs.

The situation is set to become worse, especially for companies that manufacture feature phones, budget and mid-segment smartphones, said the executive quoted above. Local players, including Intex, Lava and Karbonn, who have their own assembly plants, are also planning to either cut or put on bench (an industry jargon for not been allotted any project or real work) 10% to 40% of their staff.

Due to the impact of demonetisation, we have halted the production of cellphones for the next 10 days. The staff, at the manufacturing units, has been sent on leave for this period, a Lava spokesperson said. We are monitoring the situation closely and hoping that it will improve - which is primarily dependent on the governments strategic plan to infuse sufficient cash in the system or make the country digitally enabled. We will plan our next course of action based on how the situation improves or deteriorates.

Both Intex and Karbonn declined to comment on the issue. However, according to reports, a senior executive from Intex said last week that December was bad for the company. The first week of December has been really bad and now were thinking of cutting production and deferring imports of semi-knocked down kits, reports quoted Unnikrishnan M Thazhath, product head at Intex Technologies, as saying.

A senior executive from Gionee also said that the companys premium segment has not been hit but their budget and medium segment might have taken a hit.

The Rs 1,30,000-crore cellphone manufacturing industry primarily depends on cash, and the governments move to ban old notes is a double-edged sword for the industry.

According to Pankaj Mahindroo, president, Indian Cellular Association, handset sales have fallen 50% since November 8, when the government announced its demonetization drive. Retailers do not have the money to pay distributors, which has ultimately hit the cash flow of manufacturers.

Orders for imports are placed at least two to three months in advance and payment terms are normally through letters of credit (LCs). The LCs term may be 45-120 days. Cash generated from current sales helps in opening new LCs for placed/committed orders as well as payment of LCs that are due. Demonetisation has currently left companies cash-strapped, and they are unable to make payments for the LCs that are currently due, he added.

We have sent our recommendations to the government, asking them to exchange LCs with cash credit limits at banks. Tools, such as a bearer demand draft in standard denominations of R5,000, R10,000 and R50,000, could be be issued by banks with a 90-day validity.

To boost the adoption of cashless transactions across the country, the government has announced a slew of measures as well as cash rewards to incentivise digital payments. On December 8, finance minister Arun Jaitley announced incentives, ranging from discounts on fuel and railway tickets to free insurance cover for those using digital payment modes.

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Deposits of above Rs 5,000 in banned banknotes can be made only once till December 30, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Monday, the latest in a series of banking restrictions after the government recalled high-value bills.

Such deposits will be accepted only after two bank officials satisfy themselves on why the deposits were not made earlier. The accounts must also be compliant with customer information details, called KYC, otherwise deposits can be restricted to Rs 50,000, the RBI said.

The (depositors) explanation should be kept on record to facilitate an audit trail at a later stage, the central bank said in a notification.

The government pulled out 500-and 1,000-rupee bills on November 8, in an effort to fight a parallel black economy, and has since announced near-daily changes to banking rules to manage the transition. The banned notes can be deposited in banks till December 30 and thereafter at select RBI counters till March 31.

But the shock move has led to a severe cash crunch. Cash withdrawals from banks have been restricted to Rs 24,000 per account per week, although most banks are unable to provide even that. The government has said it will replenish most of the withdrawn cash  about 86% of the money in circulation -- with new 2000-and 500-rupee notes.

Read: Demonetisations ever-changing rules: a complete history

Withdrawal of Legal Tender Character of existing  500/- and  1000/- Bank Notes (Specified Bank Notes) - Deposit...https://t.co/eTDuFizbP6  ReserveBankOfIndia (@RBI) December 19, 2016

Late in the evening, finance minister Arun Jaitley said no questions would be asked junked currency was deposited in one go but repeat deposits might raise queries. If they are going to go everyday and deposit some currency, same person, that gives rise to suspicion. In that event, a person may have something to worry about. Therefore everyone is advised whatever old currency you have, please go and deposit it now.

Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government would come up with a structured response on the new norms. They have issued something, the government will come with structured response on that, he said after meeting with heads of banks.

Mondays changes also stipulated that even for deposits below Rs 5000, made in one go or cumulatively till December 30, customers could be questioned should the banks feel the need.

Read | D for Demonetisation. W for Why?

At the time of demonetising the high-value bills, the government had said people should not panic and crowd banks, and that they had enough time to deposit or exchange their money.

Many people could not deposit money as they were waiting for the queues to end. This shows the ill-intent and mismanagement of the Modi government, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

The decision is seen aimed at discouraging a late surge in deposits of unaccounted-for money in regular bank accounts. The government has said it had come across instances of the corrupt using bank accounts of the poor to make deposits of banned notes.

The RBIs November 11 press release that asked people to exchange notes at their convenience.

Read | Demonetisation woes: HTs photo of old man crying in a bank touches a raw nerve

The RBI notification said the banking new restrictions were placed to encourage people to make deposits under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 2016, a new window to declare unaccounted for wealth.

But the principle opposition party wasnt convinced and questioned the decision to depute bank officials to quiz people. Banks are meant to serve people. Dont turn them into police stations. This actually exhibits a criminal mind, Surjewala said.

Read | India after demonetisation: Full coverage

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The Reserve Bank of India said on Monday it is issuing a new batch of Rs 500 notes in Mahatma Gandhi (New) series with the inset letter R in both the number panels.

In continuation of issuing of Rs 500 denomination banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi (new) series which are currently legal tender, a new batch of banknotes with inset letter R in both the number panels, bearing the signature of Dr Urjit R Patel Governor, Reserve Bank of India, with the year of printing 2016 are being issued, RBI said in a notification.

The central bank in two separate notifications further said it will shortly issue Rs 50 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005, with inset letter R and L in both the number panels.

The new notes will bear the signature of Urjit R Patel, the incumbent RBI Governor, and the year of printing 2016 printed on the reverse of the banknote.

These banknotes (Rs 50 notes with insert letter L and R) have the ascending size of numerals in the number panels; the banknotes are similar to the banknotes of Rs 50 issued earlier in Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005, RBI said.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank imposed stiff restrictions on depositing more than Rs 5,000 in the scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, mandating that it can be deposited only once per account till December 30, that too after explaining to bank officials the reasons for not having done that so far.
Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday said the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiaya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) government in Punjab would make all efforts to ensure free pilgrimage for Sikh devotees to Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib in Pakistan if voted back to power.

Addressing a gathering at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi after a multimedia programme on the life of Guru Gobind Singh in commemoration of his 350th Parkash Utsav, Badal said the state government wanted people of all faiths from the state to have an opportunity to pay obeisance at Nanded Sahib, Varanasi, Mata Vaishno Devi, Ajmer Sharif, Salasar under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme.

He said under this scheme, the state government was organising free trains and bus service besides other facilities for pilgrims. Badal asked the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to run special buses from Delhi to Amritsar to help devotees visit the Golden Temple and the world-class heritage street there.

He also urged the DSGMC to ensure smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage for the devotees to pay obeisance at the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh at Patna Sahib on the historic occasion in the first week of January. Badal said such initiatives were possible only if the pro-panthic and pro-people government like SAD-BJP alliance was in power in the state.

He said the Sikh community in Punjab, other parts of the country and abroad had made remarkable progress in every sphere of life.
It is four years since a 23-year-old physiotherapy student was fatally gang-raped with the most unthinkable brutality on a moving bus in Delhi. The country had erupted in anger and the Union government was forced to announce legal reforms: stricter penalties (even death in most brutal cases), better-defined laws on sexual assaults, and trial in fast-court cases for all rape cases.

But are women any safer today? For fear of punishment to work as a deterrent, the system needs to assert that one is unlikely to get away with rape and sexual assaults. Bringing criminals to book involves a three-stage process. One cannot be prosecuted without proper investigation, which is possible only when a crime is reported.

Read: Nothing, not even metro, can fill in for an efficient bus system

Historically a grossly under-recorded crime, rape, is certainly being reported more often in Delhi where the number of FIRs increased from 706 in 2012 to 2,199 in 2015. Till November 30 this year, already 1,981 cases of rape have been recorded. Cops attribute the rising numbers to less burking  suppression or cover-up in police parlance  and better reporting of crimes against women.

This is a welcome trend. But instead of helping create an atmosphere that allows every voiceless victim of rape to speak up, many of us tend to interpret these figures as signs of a rape epidemic or, worse still, comparative safety of our women. Even women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi, for example, tried to play down the problem last month, arguing that India ranked lowest among the four countries in the world in terms of rape cases and Sweden was at the top.

The Swedish police do record an extraordinarily high number of rape cases simply because reforms in the sex crime legislation in 2005 widely expanded the legal definition of rape. Also, every case of sexual violence is recorded separately in Sweden.

When a woman comes to the police and she says my husband or my fiance rped me almost every day during the last year, the police have to record each of these events, which might be more than 300 events. In many other countries it would just be one record, one victim, one type of crime, Klara Selin, a Stockholm-based sociologist, explained to the BBC in 2012. In India, marital rape is not even a crime.

In the past, victim-blaming was often the primary police response to complaints of sexual crime. Cops also fought over jurisdiction, pushing the case to next district or thana, to keep their own records clean. Thanks to sensitisation and legal reforms  refusal to lodge a case can now invite a jail term of up to two years for a cop  today there is lesser chance of a victim being turned away.

But higher reporting of rape alone cannot secure justice. In Delhi, as the number of FIRs piled up, conviction rates in rape cases fell from 49% in 2012 to 35% in 2013 and then to 29% in 2015. It is highly unlikely that the number of false cases has gone up drastically since 2012. Evidently, the investigation and prosecution are struggling to keep pace.

Until August this year, there were 2,007 rape cases pending before Delhis nine fast-track courts. Out of these, 1,670 had been pending for up to three years. Worse, rape cases are usually weakened much before they reach the prosecution stage.

Read: Wanted: Political will to pay price for clean air

It turns out that the 1:200 cop-citizen ratio in Delhi  the best in India  is not good enough anymore. A single cop has to handle as many as 18-20 cases at a time. Getting women investigators for rape and molestation cases, as mandated by the new law, remains the biggest problem. There are at least 10,000 forensic samples from crime scenes that need to be tested to proceed with investigations. The police have just one forensic lab in Delhi and badly need at least four such facilities.

Of the three-leg process of justice, wider reporting of sexual crime has been made possible by Delhi Police. To ensure proper investigation and prosecution, now we need a better cop-citizen ratio, better-trained investigators, more prosecutors and judges for fast-tracking trials. Four years after December 2012, the last thing we can afford is to flaunt fewer rapes and feign safety.

shivani.singh@hindustantimes.com

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The Harish Rawat-led state governments decision to grant special 90-minute break to government employees from the Muslim community for Friday prayers snowballed into a major controversy on Monday forcing the government to go on the back foot.

Targeted from all quarters for playing divisive politics, the chief minister chief ministers media advisor Surendra Kumar on Monday afternoon issued a clarification saying the similar special breaks would be available to employees of all religions and class on special request.

It has been decided by the state government that employees of all religions, castes and classes will be granted special temporary leaves on their request during festivals, pujas (veneration) and other special religious occasions, if they demand for the same, said Kumar.

Earlier the chief minister had rebuffed the opposition for targeting his government and said the Congress was committed to the welfare of the minority community.

Congress governments have the culture of honouring all religionsWelfare of minorities is also the responsibilities of respective governments and Congress will work hundred per cent for their welfare and not for appeasement, as is being stated by the opposition. (The) BJP must also take a peep into one of its chief ministers similar decision in the past, he had said on Monday morning, while refusing to roll back the decision.

Meanwhile, the BJP targeted the state government and called its decision strange and unprecedented. They claimed the new method of minority appeasement would take the state towards divisive politics.

The Harish Rawat government has started a dangerous game of politics that will usher in an era of divisive politics in Uttarakhand. It will tear the peace and tranquility of Devbhumi Uttarakhand. What wrong have the Hindus done that they were kept away from the decision in the first place, said senior BJP leader and partys national executive member Satpal Maharaj.

BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma also told reporters in Delhi that the Congress has a history of dividing people on communal lines in its greed for power. What it has done in Uttarakhand is an attempt to hide the Harish Rawat governments failures, he said.

There is no issue with people of different faiths offering prayers of their choice. But this decision will set a wrong precedent on the matter of principle. From Monday to Saturday, faithfuls in our culture worship different Gods and offer prayers. If everybody is to be given a favour like this, then who will work in government offices?

The Shiv Sena have also criticized the Rawat governments move and said that they would oppose this in parliament.

This is an absolutely wrong move. Today one state is coming with such a thing, tomorrow other states will follow and this is a complete appeasement policy towards Muslim which the Congress has been doing from the last sixty years, said Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande.

Earlier, state Congress president Kishore Upadhyaya said those opposing and calling it an election stunt should introspect first. (With agency inputs)
From an American Diplomat to investment bankers, college students and young entrepreneurs; 24 cyclists will pedal more than 250 kms every day through five states to create awareness about human trafficking and child labour.

With over 1.35 lakh children gone missing in 2015, this group will travel between India Gate and Gateway of India and visit houses on the way to tell people about the menace of child labour.

India has the highest number of slaves in the world. It has been ranked number four among 167 countries where modern slavery is prevalent, revealed the Global Slavery Index released by the Walk Free foundation, a global human rights organisation. It says trafficking for bonded labour, domestic service, forced begging and commercial sex exploitation is widely prevalent in India. The Global Slavery Index is an annual ranking for slavery conditions worldwide.

Read More: Slaves of Gulf: Women lured with high-paying job offers, trapped by traffickers

The cyclists will travel 1,500 kilometres over five nights and six days. From cold desert to undulating rocky mountains and unending highways, the group will also go door-to-door in the villages falling on way for the cause. The cycle expedition for the cause of spreading awareness will be interspersed with pit stops at Jaipur, Bhilwara, Kherwara, Vadodara and Telasari, said Rishikant of Shakti Vahini, an NGO working for child rights.

The riders will be accompanied by volunteers from Shakti Vahini and volunteers will conduct mass awareness programmes, street plays and skits for generating awareness on ways to combat human trafficking.

India is a source, transit and destination point, and an estimated 1.4% of the population is living in modern slavery. Women and children, being inherently vulnerable due to their physical, mental and social status fall prey to traffickers who either lure them by deception, coercion, fraud, kidnapping, abduction or by abuse of power or authority. In 2013, section 370 and 370A introduced the offence of trafficking and its punishment in the Indian Penal Code. It adopted the definition of the Palermo Protocol of the UN, which prevents trafficking in persons. Despite the intricate, overarching provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition) Act, 1986, India is home to millions of child labourers employed in hazardous and non-hazardous occupations, a majority of whom are victims of trafficking, he added.

Read More: 15-year-old girl sold twice in two months, rescued in Delhi

Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh are worst hit as supplier states. Tribal belts in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam and West Bengal have experienced meteoric rise in illegal employment of young children, mostly girls as domestic helps in metropolitan cities of Delhi (NCR), Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune through spurious placement agencies.

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Around 35,000 students in Delhi government schools will be tested for learning disabilities and provided with special learning support as these students can only identify alphabets despite having cleared Class 5.

The government recently launched a special campaign to improve reading levels among students in Classes 6, 7 and 8. Officials said their month-long Every Child Can Read campaign, which concluded on November 14, found that over a lakh students progressed and were able to read their textbooks.

In an assessment done in July the government found that there are about 6.2 lakh students in these classes, out of which around 3.5 lakh could not read their own textbooks.

Read More: Faced resistance from my own department over Chunauti scheme: Sisodia

After our campaign one lakh students from the 3.5 lakh could read. But we also found that around 35,000 students did not show any progress. Maybe there is some learning disability among these students and the government wants to provide special assistance to them, said an official.

A government statement issued on Sunday said that under the new project, these children will be tested for learning disabilities and thereafter, would be provided appropriate learning support. The project is aimed at preventing the possibility of neglect of such children in government schools.

The students will be administered screening tests by special education teachers and counsellors to identify their disabilities. Special education teachers and counsellors will be allotted groups of children for specialised support, based on the specific learning disability of the students, officials said.

Read More: Half of Class 6 students in Delhis govt schools cannot even read

The statement also said that a control unit would be set up in the directorate of education to monitor the ongoing implementation of the project.

When we launched the campaign, the government was serious about reaching out to every child in our schools. Project Smile will ensure that no child will be left behind as a result of their learning disability, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said in the release.
A 50-year-old man succumbed to a bullet injury that he allegedly received in celebratory firing during a wedding function in west Delhis Nangloi area, police said on Monday.

Mohammad Yusuf, who was working as a waiter at the venue, was hit in the neck when the accused, identified as Dharmender, fired from his illegal pistol, eyewitnesses told police.

Police said the incident took place at around 11.30pm on December 7 during the ring ceremony celebrations at a community centre in Nangloi.

A police team rushed to the spot after guests called the control room after the firing. The team took Yusuf to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Yusuf, a resident of Budaun district in Uttar Pradesh, remained critical at the hospital and stopped responding to treatment. He died on December 15.

Dharmender, who fled the spot after the firing, was arrested on December 8 from Najafgarh. Police recovered the pistol that he used to fire the shots and three cartridges from his possession.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Dharmender intentionally fired at Yusuf after he had a scuffle with him over some service issue. However, the matter for the time being after the intervention of guests at the venue.

Police said that the 32-year-old is a repeat offender and was arrested earlier in 2009 in an attempt to murder case during a similar celebratory firing. They said Dharmender deals in property in the area and doesnt have any stable business.

A case of murder and illegal arms act has been registered against Dharmender at Nangloi police station, police said.

Earlier this month, a 25-year-old pregnant dancer was shot dead by a drunk guest while performing at a wedding function in Punjabs Bathinda. She had allegedly refused to dance with the man.

A 10-year-old boy was also allegedly killed in celebratory firing during a wedding function in Gorakhpur.

In another incident last month, a woman was killed and three others seriously injured when a self-styled god woman Sadhvi Deva Thakur and her private security guards went on a celebratory shooting spree at a wedding in Haryanas Karnal.
Almost a month later, Veena Rani is still trying to come to terms with her husbands death while standing in a bank queue, trying to deposit his life savings of Rs 48,000 in old notes. Ab toh bank ke line main lagne se dar lagta hai (I am now scared of standing in a bank queue), Veena, 48, whose husband, Satish, fainted and died while waiting outside a bank for more than six hours on November 21.

A 49-year-old vegetable dealer and resident of south-west Delhis Uttam Nagar, Veena had gone to Oriental Bank of Commerce at 8 a.m. to deposit the money. He fainted around 2 pm and was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The cause of death was heart failure, neighbours said. Veena hasnt even collected the postmortem report yet. For several days after Satishs sudden death, Veena was left not knowing what to do with the cash, which was in old notes of Rs 500.

Read More : Old Delhi man who lost his father in bank queue goes from MS Excel training to pamphlet designing

The November 8 decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes illegal tender, and replace them with new Rs 2000 and Rs 500 notes, has led to more than 40 days of sustained cash chaos in India. On several occasions, it has even taken a tragic turn, like in Satishs case. An estimated 100 people across India are said to have died as a direct result of the demonetization drive aimed at curbing black money. This has prompted critics to allege that the scheme has ended up burdening the poor while making little impact on its primary targets.

My life fell apart after Satish died, said Veena. Suddenly, I am all alone. I dont have children and my parents died before my marriage. I have a mother-in-law. But she is very old and lives in Haryana.

She could think of nobody who could stand in a queue on her behalf to deposit her husbands savings. She cannot stand for long hours as she suffers from joint pains..

Read More: Retired SBI cashier kills himself, suicide note blames demonetisation

The couple moved from Haryana 13 years ago and lived in a one-room rented flat. November 21 was the first time her husband had gone to stand in a bank queue, Veena said.

He knew there would be a large crowd at the bank. He took a days leave from work and went early morning. Everything seemed fine. He drank tea and had a light breakfast before starting from home at 7.45am. A few hours later, a police official informed me that my husband was dead, she recalled.

After Kumars death, Veena went to stay with her mother-in-law. For over 20 days, she carried Rs 48,000 cash with her, a bitter reminder of how her husband had died.

Finally, her estranged elder brother, Chander Bhan (54), offered to help her. She had got back in touch with him only after her husbands death.

Bhan, a resident of central Delhis Paharganj, went to Haryana to meet Veena. He offered to deposit the cash in his account in Delhi. Veena is my younger sister. I didnt want her to go and stand in a bank queue. But something needed to be done about the money, since that was all Veena is left with now. So I took the cash and deposited it in my account. When Veena returns, Ill give it to her, said Bhan, who works in Sadar Bazar.

Veena feels that her husband would be alive if not for demonetisation. She returned from Haryana to stay with her brother. After his death, I have no choice but to work. I do not want to be a burden on anyone, said Veena.

Read More: A retired armyman in tears: Face of Indias cash crunch woes talks of heartbreak

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Throwing garbage in the open will attract a fine R10,000, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) announced on Monday.

The tribunal said municipal solid waste is one of the most serious pollutants in the country, especially in Delhi.

According to the NGT, all authorities are under statutory obligation to ensure that waste is collected, transported and disposed of in accordance with Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 so that it does not cause public health hazards.

All major sources of municipal solid waste generation - hotels, restaurants, slaughter houses, vegetable markets etc, should be directed to provide segregated waste and handover the same to the corporation in accordance with rules.

Read More: East Delhi civic body proposes charge for clearing garbage

Any such body, person, hotels, residents, slaughter houses, vegetable markets which does not comply with the directions or throw their waste in any drain or at any public place shall be liable to pay environmental compensation at the rate of R10,000 per default, a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

The archaic and futile anti-littering law of 2009 had a provision of fine of R50 to R500. In June, the state government asked the municipal corporations to change the bylaws, so that they are in accordance with the Union governments Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The fresh provisions recommended fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 for throwing garbage and littering in public space.

The tribunal noted that the national capital generates 9,600 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste per day and there is no clear map ready with the municipal bodies to deal with this huge quantity of waste.

It also directed commissioners of the three civic bodies to submit a scheme within a month before the tribunal for providing incentive to the people who give segregated waste at source, by way of rebate in property tax and on other hand to impose penalties on residents, societies, RWAs who do not provide segregated waste.

It should be kept in mind that as per polluter pays principle, each person would be liable to pay for causing pollution, if the waste is generated. It is the duty of a citizen to ensure that said waste is handled properly and not to cause any pollution or cause inconvenience to other persons. The entire burden cannot be shifted on the state and authorities, the bench said.



Read More: Delhis second waste to energy plant to start at Ghazipur this month

The directions came during a hearing on a petition relating to mismanagement of municipal solid waste in Delhi and the terrible conditions that are prevailing near landfill sites.

The corporations, on their part, are getting ready to implement the order.

A senior official from South Corporation said, The courts direction came on December 2 and we are preparing an action plan for implementing the decision intensively. It includes full-functioning of three solid waste management sites in Okhla, Ghazipur and Najafgarh. If they dont fulfil their duties, then the concessionaires would be penalised R5 lakh each, according to the courts direction.
A poisonous viper was rescued from a park at a residential colony in Rohini by an NGO on Saturday.

The rare snake was first spotted by some children playing in the neighbourhood park, after which a resident immediately called Wildlife SOS for help.

A rapid response team, comprising two trained snake rescuers, arrived at the location and identified the snake as a Russells viper (Daboia russelii), one of the big four venomous snakes to be found in the Indian subcontinent. They are protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, a Wildlife SOS official said.

Geeta Seshamani, co-founder of Wildlife SOS, told that the exquisite viper is not commonly found in the Delhi-NCR region. It was a dangerous operation as the Russells viper is highly venomous.

The team had to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of bystanders as well as of the snake. Though slow moving, they are capable of fast strikes when provoked and will give out a warning hiss before striking, Seshamani said.

The NGO has kept the snake under observation. It will be released later in the wild.

Chief wildlife warden of Delhi AK Shukla, said, In sensitive rescue operations such as this, public safety as well as the safety of the animal is of utmost concern and we are happy to see that the viper was safely rescued.

The Russells viper is shy and elusive by nature, and hence rarely sighted. Found in open grassy areas, scrub jungles and rocky hillocks, they feed mainly on rodents and small mammals, lizards, birds and frogs.

They are a nocturnal species preferring to hunt at night but during winters they tend to be more active during the day. It is possible that increased urbanisation has left these reclusive reptiles with little space to hide which resulted in their being found in human settlements.
The National Green Tribunal has questioned six states around Delhi on why they should not be instructed to completely stop diesel buses from coming to the capital.

Noting that air quality was poor during winters, a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana to take a clear decision on switching to CNG vehicles and buy buses with additional fuel cylinders to resolve the issue of providing sufficient fuel in these buses.

It is contended before us that ambient air quality is much poorer compared to the prescribed standards and there are serious environmental and public health issues arising from the pollution. It is so more particularly in the areas of Anand Vihar, Patparganj and Sahibabad, the bench said.

The counsel appearing for the state of Uttarakhand, UP, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to take clear instructions from their governments as to why they should not be directed to stop operating diesel buses destined to Delhi or passing via Delhi and instead operate CNG buses..., the bench added.

Read: Car buyback policy in works, govt looks to put onus on automakers to recycle

The NGT also directed Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Uttar Pradesh pollution control board to submit complete details on the air pollution resulting from the industries in Patparganj, Sahibabad and Anand Vihar within a week.

It asked them to find out what pollutants are discharged by industrial units in these areas and steps that are required to be taken by them. The matter has been listed for next hearing on December 23.

In October, the green panel had rapped the states for not being clear on their policy for CNG vehicles and warned of halting state transport if they did not introduce CNG, saying most particulate matters in the air inhaled by people in Delhi emanated from there.

The bench was hearing a plea filed by Kaushambi Apartments Residents Welfare Association (KARWA). In its petition, KARWA had highlighted how the presence of two bus terminuses within 200 metre of each other in Kaushambi has exacerbated air pollution in the area and sought to relocate the Kaushambi bus stand.
Five alleged members of the Kaushal gang were arrested on Sunday morning at a police checkpoint at Sikanderpur road. According to the police, the men fired gunshots at the police while attempting to flee, but were apprehended following retaliatory gunfire by the police personnel present.

One of those arrested, Manish, is Kaushals brother. Police had announced a reward of Rs24,000 for any information leading to his arrest.

Kaushal and his gang are suspected of involvement in the recent killing of gangster Mahesh Attack and of jailed gangster Binder Gujjars brother, Manish Gujjar.

Apart from Manish, a resident of Naharpur village, those arrested include Vikas, a resident of Rajendra Park, Sajjan, a resident of Jhajjar, Anil, a resident of Dwarka in New Delhi and Aashu, a resident of Pataudi.

Read more: Fear of gangsters, even those behind bars, returns to unsettle Gurgaon

According to the police, they discovered during questioning that the accused had over nine cases of murder, attempt to murder, arms act, theft, robbery, and kidnapping registered against them at police stations in Gurgaon, Kaithal and Rewari.

According to the police, the five men were heading towards Sikandepur in a stolen Honda Amaze car with the intention of murdering a businessman in the area. Police said they had installed check points at various intersections Based on a tip-off and intercepted the five at Hayatpur intersection.

The accused then fired gunshots while attempting to flee the spot but were apprehended by the police after being cornered following retaliatory gunfire.

Three country-made pistols, four live cartridges, two empty cartridges and the stolen car were recovered from them on the spot.

The accused were presented before a local court and have been sent to three day police remand. Further questioning is in progress, said DCP (crime) Sumit Kuhar.

Read more: Residents live in fear as Gurgaon gangs battle for supremacy

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The district administration has promised to extend monetary help for treatment of Shahnara Khatun, 23, who was injured after being hit by a bus of a private educational institute on December 8.

A number of residents got together on social media and contributed money for her treatment, but the funds are insufficient as she requires plastic surgery and skin grafting on her left leg.

Khatun, of West Bengal, was allegedly hit by a bus of KR Manglam University when the driver was exiting a fuel station on the Sector 53/56 road.

More than 1 lakh has been collected, but we require more than 2 lakh for her treatment. We requested the deputy commissioner TL Satyaprakash and he has agreed to provide monetary help for her treatment, said Sanjeev Kumar, a road safety activist.

Satyaprakash said, The administration will help her in the best possible way.

Following the accident, good Samaritans had rushed Khatun to a nearby private hospital, from where she was referred to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi. She was transferred to Civil Hospital on December 12 and then shifted to a private hospital in the city.

She needs plastic surgery and skin grafting as flesh from her left leg got peeled in the accident. These facilities are not available at Civil Hospital as such, which is why we admitted her to a private hospital, Hemant Kapani, co-founding patron of road safety organisation, which is coordinating medical treatment, said.

The police arrested bus driver Ravi Tyagi on December 12 and served a notice to the educational institute for hiring a driver without a valid licence. Officials of KR Mangalam University had earlier said that the driver was provided by an agency and they will hold a meeting with the agency in this regard.

A mother of three, Khatun relocated to Gurgaon along with her husband, Amjad, and two sons in November looking for a better livelihood. The family lives in Sector 53.

She needs AB+ blood for her first surgery, Souniya Khurana, 27, who helped Shahnara with first-aid and garnered support for her through a post on Facebook, said.

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The NCR Planning Board (NCRPB) will hold a meeting on Tuesday to decide on the definition of forests and Aravallis. In October, it had decided to expand the area falling under the Aravalli notification, 1992, from Gurgaon to the entire national capital region (NCR). However, there has been no development since then.

According to Rajesh Kaushik, district town planner of Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda), the meeting on December 20 will discuss interstate road connectivity and the definition of forest and Aravallis. It will be held under the chairmanship of Rajiv Gauba, secretary, Union Ministry of Urban Development.

The NCRPB had also directed in October that gair mumkin pahad (uncultivable hill), rocky and sandy land (bhood), rundh (enclosed piece of land between hills or grassland), rada (rocky land beyond the foothills), behed (ravines) and beed (jungle, not recorded as forest in government records) will be considered as part of the Aravallis.

If the meeting decides on a clear definition of what constitutes forests, there will be further clarity regarding the status of gair mumkin pahad, bhood etc. In addition, more areas in Gurgaon, Mewat, Faridabad, Rewari, Mahendragarh and Bhiwani districts of Haryana will be identified as falling under Aravallis in NCR.

Many of these areas were left out of the definition of NCZ (natural conservation zone) in March as the Haryana government had stated in a report that it is conducting a survey on the basis of revenue records to decide which areas fall under NCZs

In areas defined as NCZ, construction is not permitted beyond a limit of 0.5%, according to the National Capital Regional Plan 2021 (RP-21).

An NCRPB official said that Tuesdays meeting and discussions are taking place with a view to protect the Aravallis. We are aware that at present 62,000 hectares in Haryana have been identified as NCZ, while another 12,800 hectares have been put under the yet to be decided as NCZ category.

In the October meeting, the NCRPB had said that the Aravalli areas are clearly specified in the Aravalli Notification of May 7, 2002, and added that these specified areas are to be included while identifying/delineating Aravallis in the entire NCR.

Environmentalists are of opinion that a decision widening the definition of forests will change the face of the region. At present, most of the land under the yet to be decided as NCZ category will come under confirmed NCZ, which will protect the area from being encroached upon, said Vivek Kamboj, an environmental activist.

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The quality of air in Gurgaon slipped from the moderate level on Saturday to very poor on Sunday. Experts said that a dip in temperature caused a sudden rise of pollutants, which made the air thicker and caused discomfort in breathing.

The minimum temperature on Sunday was 7.2 degrees Celsius, a dip of almost three degrees Celsius from Saturday, and the maximum temperature was 22 degrees Celsius.

According to the data from Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), the pollution level has remained above permissible limits since Diwali. However, the PM 2.5 level, despite being above the permissible limit, was lower in the last week.

Bhupender Singh, regional officer, HSPCB said, At present, the air quality of the city is marked as very poor as the PM 2.5 level is at 370 micrograms per cubic metre (g/m3), which was 161g/m3 on Saturday. The pollutants consist of suspended particulate matter, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen compounds.

Singh said that the deterioration of air quality can be attributed primarily to the temperature dip on Sunday. Due to a lower temperature, pollutants in the air are trapped, resulting in higher pollution level, he said.

Meanwhile, doctors advised residents to avoid stepping out in the dust and smoke. They said that the high pollution level can cause skin and lung disorders. Oxides of nitrogen in the air cause an increase in ozone level, which is harmful, doctors said.

Dr Sanjeev Chaudhary, director of cardiology at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, said, Certain activities more commonly performed during cold weather might also contribute to the risk of breathing problems. This is not only attributed to physical exertion but also due to dip in temperature. We tell our patients, especially those who are older, to protect themselves from the changing temperature.

He also advised residents to go for walks in the warm sun and avoid the early morning cold.

Doctors also suggested precautions such as avoiding exposure to cold, wearing warm clothes, avoiding dust and consuming fluids to help protect from respiratory problems.

Despite temperature dip in the last few days, we are already receiving more patients, around 40-50 a day, who complain of respiratory issues and eye infections. The common cold and viral fever are common this season, Dr Rajesh Kumar, consultant, internal medicine, Paras Hospital, Gurgaon, said.

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A 27-year-old man died on Sunday night after he fell from the third-floor terrace of his house in Nathupur village of DLF Phase-3 as he tried to ward of a group of monkeys that were approaching him.

Rajesh Mandal went to the terrace at 5.30 pm to dry clothes, when the simians attacked him, police said. Mandal was a labourer from West Bengal and had rented a room in the building.

When he found 10-12 monkeys approaching towards him, he tried to scare them away with a stick. As he walked backwards, he slipped and fell on the roof of the adjoining temple, neighbours said.

He was rushed to the Neelkanth Hospital in DLF Phase 3, from where he was referred to AIIMS, Delhi, police said.

He died during treatment at AIIMS at 9.30 pm on Sunday, said assistant sub inspector of police, Rishi Pal, the investigating officer.

An entry has been made at the DLF Phase-3 police outpost.

Gurgaon residents frequently face trouble from monkeys. Their growing numbers is a constant worry for both civic and wildlife officials.

Wildlife department officials say over 20,000 monkeys roam around freely.

We have lived in constant fear of monkeys for the past few years. Last week, too, a group of moneys destroyed a water pipe line. The area suffered from a water crisis, said Deepak Lohiya, a resident of Nathupur village.

Residents claimed to have complained many times to the Municipal Corporation of Gurgoan (MCG) but in vain.

MCG officials never visit this part of the city. Our complaints are never heard by any government officials, said resident Hemraj Kataria.

Of the 7,372 rabies cases reported in the citys civil hospital in 2015, 387 were of monkey bites. The hospital receives 32-35 cases of monkey bites a month, which is an incident a day.

Corporation officials claim that staff shortage hinders their monkey-catching efforts. We do not have any place to keep all these animals... We will launch a campaign to drive away monkeys from urban areas, said MCG spokesperson SS Rohila.
A local court on Monday sentenced 11 RSS activists to double life imprisonment for murdering a CPI(M) worker here in 2008.

Additional sessions court judge T K Unnimol said the sentences will run concurrently. The judge also awarded life imprisonment to another accused and three years to another person.

The court found all the 13 accused guilty of murdering CPI(M) worker Vishnu at Kaithamukku in the city on April 1, 2008.

According to the prosecution, the accused had attacked Vishnu with swords, iron rods and other weapons over political rivalry.

There were 16 accused in the case, of which one was acquitted, one died and another is absconding.

The prosecution examined 77 witnesses, produced 162 exhibits and 65 material objects during the trial.
An NIA court sentenced to death banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen founder Yasin Bhatkal and four others on Monday for orchestrating twin blasts in Hyderabad three years ago that killed 19 people and injured 130.

The five operatives -- Yasin Bhatkal alias Mohammad Ahmed Siddibappa, Asadullah Akthar alias Haddi, Pakistani national Zia Ur Rehman, Mohammad Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu and Ajaz Shaikh  were held guilty by a special National Investigation Agency court on December 13.

But the prime accused in the case  Yasins brother Riyaz Bhatkal alias Shah Riyaz Ahmad Mohammed Ismail Shahbandari  is on the run and is said to be in Pakistan.

Highlights A court sentenced to death IM founder Yasin Bhatkal and four others for orchestrating twin blasts in Hyderabad three years ago. The explosions killed 19 people and injured 130. The prime accused in the case  Yasins brother Riyaz Bhatkal  is on the run and is said to be in Pakistan. This is the first conviction of any operative belonging to the home-grown terror outfit that is accused in a string of blasts.

The NIA court felt that the twin blasts case falls in the category of rarest of rarest crimes and hence, all the five accused are liable for death sentence, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) advocate told reporters.

This is the first conviction of any operative belonging to the home-grown terror outfit that is accused in a string of explosions, including the 2008 Delhi bombings, the 2010 Varanasi blasts and the 2010 Pune bombings.

A copy of the judgment will be sent to the Hyderabad high court to confirm the sentence. The convicted will be given an opportunity to appeal in the Supreme Court, the NIA advocate added.

Mondays sentencing brought to an end a year-long trial in which the NIA produced 158 witnesses, 201 pieces of material evidence and furnished over 500 documents.

Besides the death sentence, the NIA court also imposed penalties ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 on each of the five convicts for the blasts that rocked Dilsukhnagar, one of Hyderabads busiest commercial districts, on February 21, 2013.

It also asked the government to provide adequate compensation to the families of the blast victims, the advocate said.

The NIA told the court Riyaz arranged for explosive substances and directed Asadullah Akhtar and Zia-ur-Rahman at Mangalore to receive the same and paid them through hawala channels.

Asadullah Akhtar, Waqas and Tahseen Akhtar prepared two improvised explosive devices as well as two cycles for mounting the IEDs, the agency had said. After making the IEDs on February 21, 2013, the accused mounted two bombs on two bicycles.

Before the sentence was pronounced, the defence defence lawyers submitted two letters to the court seeking for fresh trial as they were not convinced with the way the investigation was done. The judge, however, did not take these letters into cognizance, the advocate said.

Six months after the blasts, Yasin and Asadullah were arrested from an area in Bihar close to the Nepal border. Three other suspects were arrested subsequently and the NIA filed two chargesheets against the five accused.

(with agency inputs)

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Railways decided on Monday to cancel 54 trains till January 15, anticipating fog in many parts of North India.

The frequency of 22 other trains has been reduced by a day, keeping in mind the safety of rail passengers.

The cancelled trains include Sealdha Express, North East Express, Begumpura Express, Lucknow Double-Decker Express, Chandigarh-Amritsar Express, Rohtak Intercity, Jaipur-Chandigarh Express, Haridwar - Amritsar Jan Shatabdi Express and Mau Express.

The services of Padmavat Express from Old Delhi to Pratapgarh Junction in Uttar Pradesh and the Patna Rajdhani  which were earlier cancelled  have been restored.

Since the visibility has been reduced due to dense fog situation, we have taken precautionary measures by announcing cancellation of these trains in advance, said Neeraj Sharma, chief public relation officers of northern railways.

Trains whose frequency has been reduced include Sampuran Karanti Express, Chitrakoot Express, Shaktinagar - Varanasi Link Intercity Express and Jan Nayak Express among others.

We can run only a limited number of trains on a particular section. To ensure safety and punctuality in dense fog, the railways decided to reduce the frequency of some trains, Sharma added.

Regular announcements are being made to inform passengers about the train positions. Help desks have also been set up at various stations to guide people to avail train service for their destinations.

Loco drivers have been given strict instructions to drive slowly during the foggy weather.

About 34 Delhi-bound trains were running late by several hours on Monday due to bad weather.

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Malayalam writer and theatre activist Kamal C Chavara, who was arrested for allegedly insulting the national anthem, began a hunger strike on Monday in protest against what he said were false charges being foisted on him and his friends.

The writer was arrested and charged with sedition on Sunday for an alleged insult to the national anthem on social media. He was kept in a police lock-up for several hours until bail was granted.

Chavara got admitted to Kozhikode medical college and hospital after his release from police custody, complaining of nausea and breathlessness.

He alleged that friend C Nadir, who took him hospital, was arrested on an old case. I will observe a fast unto death till these cases are withdrawn, the writer said.

Police defended the action, saying a case was pending against Nadir for supporting Maoist rebels.

Human rights campaigners and social activists criticised the arrests, alleging that there is growing intolerance against people who raised questions and sought to view things rationally.

Such actions will strengthen peoples belief that the state is moving to fascism, veteran Marxist and former chief minister VS Achuthanandan said.

Dalits, artists, writers, adivasis and marginalised people have been living fearlessly in Kerala and its the polices duty to prevent them from meeting the fate of rationalists MM Kalburgi of Karnataka and Govind Pansare of Maharashtra, who were murdered for their views, he said.

Chavaras friends said his Facebook post was excerpts from his latest novel Smashanangalude Notupustakam, or A Book on Graveyards, which is not banned.

It is sad that Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is getting into the mould of Prime Minister Modi. Dissension is not a crime it makes our democracy more vibrant, said a friend.

Chavara was planning to move the court for anticipatory bail before his arrest.

In a school in Kerala there were 44 students, named after the states 44 rivers that had dried up. The teacher never bothered to heed requests of students, including their wish to go to the washroom. At 4pm every day they had to stand up for the national anthem. Since urinating was more important to me than Jana Gana Mana, I was the most indisciplined student, he wrote in his post.

The Bharatiya Yuva Morcha, the BJPs youth wing, charged him with insulting the anthem and filed a police complaint.

The latest incident follows the arrest of six people for not standing up when the anthem was played before the screening of a movie at the International Film Festival of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram last week.
Government is planning to start soon a toll free number 1955 for taking feedback of telecom subscribers on call drops.

Short code 1955 has been allotted for IVRS system on call drop, an official source said.

Provisioning of this number will be mandatory for telecom operators and should be accessible for local and STD calling.

As per a letter by the department of telecom to operators in last week of November the 1955 number is for the outbound calls to the subscribers, the IVRS system will have to present a pre-defined CLI (caller line identification) to the subscribers, through short code 1955.

State-run telecom firm MTNL has been directed to configure this short code. Telecom operators have been directed not to charge any integration, maintenance, operational fee from MTNL.

Official sources said that telecom minister Manoj Sinha will launch the service but did not disclose any further details.

When contacted industry body, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said that the industry has sought further technical clarifications from DoT on routing, charges etc for the implementation of the short code 1955 for IVRS system.

The response is awaited. The industry remains committed towards addressing the issue of call drops and is continuously working shoulder to shoulder with the government, enhancing both investment and infrastructure, COAI director general Rajan S Mathews said.
Calling the Narendra Modi government deaf and dumb, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday targeted the Prime Minister, saying the one-time chai-wala has now become a Paytm-wala.

The Prime Minister used to call himself a chai-wala (tea seller) before. Now he has become a millionaire Paytm-wala (one who endorses e-wallets like Paytm), Banerjee said addressing a public meeting in West Bengals Bankura district.

It is not for him to dictate where the common people would keep their hard-earned money, Banerjee said attacking Modi and the central government over demonetisation, which has plunged the nation into a big crisis.

Our nation is now governed by a deaf and dumb government that does not empathise with the common peoples sufferings. They are pushing the entire nation towards a crisis through their forced governance, she said.

The Trinamool supremo also accused the Prime Minister of not understanding the real situation in the country and for blatantly promoting some private companies.

The entire nation is troubled since the decision was made, but the Prime Minister is not able to comprehend the real situation.

If demonetisation is beneficial for the common man, then why are the shopkeepers, farmers and labourers suffering so much, Banerjee asked the crowd present at the meeting.

The government wont be allowed to suck the poors blood and take commission from the corporates  she added.

Banerjee has been in the forefront of protests against the Narendra Modi government over the demonetisation issue.

She has already toured states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, besides the national capital Delhi, in her efforts to rally support of all opposition parties.
As many as 26 Pakistani nationals from five boats were detained by the Indian Coast Guard off Jhakhau coast in Kutch district on Monday.

While preliminary reports suggest they are fishermen, they are being sailed to Jhakhau for joint interrogation by various agencies including police and intelligence bureau as well as fisheries department.

According to sources, the coast guard apprehended the boats when they were over 10 nautical miles away from Indian shore.

Post surgical strike by India across the border in response to the terror attacks, this is one of the largest group of Pakistani nationals detained in recent times from Arabian Sea by any Indian security agency.

The Coast Guard team along with the detainees are expected to arrive Jhakhau on Tuesday morning.
Curfew continued in Manipurs violence-hit Imphal East district, where protesters opposed to the blockade imposed by United Naga Council (UNC) burnt over 20 vehicles on Sunday, but the situation was under control, sources said on Monday.

There has been no report of any casualty and people stranded after the violence have also been evacuated to safer places, they added.

So far there is no report any unwanted incident in this locality, a policeman on duty at Lamlong Bazar in Imphal East district said.

An indefinite curfew was imposed in the district on Sunday evening after protesters opposed to the UNCs indefinite economic blockade on the two national highways, which serve as the lifeline for the state, targeted vehicles on the way to Ukhrul at Khurai and set over 20 buses and SUVs on fire.

Sundays violence broke out as a state police team was escorting a convoy of private vehicles, including buses, as a large number of people were blocking the Imphal-Ukhrul road as part of a counter blockade.

The UNC, which claims to be a common platform for Nagas in Manipur, imposed a blockade of Imphal-Dimapur (NH2) and Imphal-Jiribam (NH37) from November 1 to protest the state governments proposed move to create two new districts  Jiribam and Sadar Hills. The council feels the move by the government will hurt their interests.

Manipur has been witnessing counter blockade at various places since the last few days against the UNCs indefinite blockade. The blockade has restricted entry of trucks carrying essential supplies to the state and scarcity of goods has led prices to escalate. The cost of petroleum products has almost doubled.

Demonetisation of old currency notes, which came into effect a week after the blockade, has further worsened the situation.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh appealed people to remain calm and maintain age-old communal harmony in a televised address on Sunday night. The government is making all out efforts to ensure that no such unfortunate incident happen again, Ibobi said while cautioning anti-social elements.

The state authorities also blocked mobile internet service in most parts of the state to prevent rumour mongering through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and SMS services.

Last week, there were several attacks on security personnel at various locations in which three security personnel were killed and nearly a dozen injured. Three blasts, by known miscreants, rocked Imphal on Friday. There were no injuries.

Even as the curfew was enforced in Imphal East district, normal life was reported in almost all other district headquarters including the states capital.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday reiterated his view that the central governments demonetisation initiative was not akin to conducting surgical strikes on black money hoarders, but firebombing the countrys poor.

Addressing a janakrosh rally at the BRP inter-college ground in Jaunpur, Gandhis first in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh since the washed out winter session of Parliament, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had drawn blood from the veins of 99% Indians through demonetisation. The November 8 decision was not against black money or corruption, but against farmers and the poor, the Congress leader claimed.

Gandhi had made a similar comparison during a rally at Margao, Goa, on Friday. Yeh surgical strike nahi thi, yeh Hindustan ke imaandar logon pe firebombing thi (This was not a surgical strike, it was firebombing the honest people in India), he said back then.

During his Jaunpur rally, the Congress leader alleged that demonetisation was a strategy employed by Modi to use the hard-earned money of the poor to help out 50 corporate friends who visit China, USA and Japan with him.

The Prime Minister has given 60% of Indias wealth to 1% of its population, he said. Demonetisation is only making honest taxpayers suffer. When I asked him to waive farmer loans, he did not answer my question.

Gandhi questioned Modis claim that demonetisation was a secret plan, and nobody was aware of it.

Seeking answers from the Prime Minister on four counts, he said: One, if nobody was aware of the demonetisation move, how did the Bihar BJP purchase land a few days before it was announced? Two, why did the Bengal BJP deposit all its funds in banks three hours before demonetisation? Three, the PM should explain how former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy managed to arrange `500 crore for his daughters marriage. Four, how was `6 lakh crore deposited in banks in September if the move was kept under wraps?

Gandhi said the initiative was a failure as only 6% black money existed in the form of currency, and the rest was parked in real estate and gold.

The Congress vice-president also claimed that Switzerland had provided a list of Swiss bank account holders to the Centre. We want the names to be made public, but PM Modi is not doing so, he said, adding that the party would give cent per cent support to any genuine law brought about to eliminate corruption.

Gandhi, however, said Modi murdabad slogans were not to be raised at Congress meetings because it amounted to insulting the countrys premier.
After tightening rules for depositing old 500 and 1000 rupee notes, finance minister Arun Jaitley on Monday night said no questions will be asked if any amount of junked currency is deposited in one go but repeated deposits may raise queries.

With nearly Rs 13 lakh crore out of the Rs 15.4 lakh crore worth of 500 and 1000 rupee junked already deposited in banks, the government has changed rules to mandate that individuals can deposit over Rs 5,000 in old currency bills only once until December 30 and that too after explaining why it had not been done so far.

Explaining the rationale behind the move, Jaitley said all exemptions to certain sectors and utilities, which had been allowed to accept the banned currency post demonetisation, ended last week and all those in possession of the old notes are supposed to deposit them with banks.

Anyone who has old currency notes is not allowed to trade in them. He can only go and deposit them with banks, he said.

With a view to curtail queues at banks, holders are encouraged to deposit the entire holding in one go, rather than going repeatedly.

If they go and deposit with bank any amount of currency no questions are going to be asked to them and therefore the 5,000 rupee limit does not apply to them if they go and deposit it once.

But if they are going to go everyday and deposit some currency, same person, that gives rise to suspicion that where is he acquiring this currency from. In that event a person may have something to worry about. Therefore everyone is advised whatever old currency you have please go and deposit it now, he said.

And since there is no scope now for earning any old currency because all exemptions have been waived, it makes sense to go deposit all the holding in one go, Jaitley said. This is the objective of the order passed today.

After banning old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes on November 8, the government had allowed all of the cash holdings with any person to be deposited in bank accounts till December 30. There was no limit on the quantity or value of the junked notes that could be deposited.

However, the government on December 17 issued a gazette notification putting restrictions on deposits henceforth.

The deposits of old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations have been reviewed by the government from time to time. Already more than five weeks have elapsed since the time of the announcement of the cancellation of the legal tender character of these notes. It is expected that, by now, most of the people would have deposited such old notes in their possession, an official statement said.

With a view to reduce the queues in the banks, the government said it has now been decided that amounts exceeding Rs 5,000 in old notes can be deposited only once between now and December 30, 2016.

The banks have been advised to conduct due diligence regarding the reasons for not depositing these notes earlier, the statement said.

Amounts of Rs 5,000 or less may continue to be deposited with banks in the customers account, as at present.

However, cumulative deposits exceeding Rs 5,000 between December 19 and December 30, 2016 will be as per the procedures advised by the RBI in respect of deposits exceeding Rs 5,000, it said.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) too came out with deposit guideline stipulating that restrictive conditions will also apply on the cumulative deposit of such notes in a single account when it exceeds Rs 5,000.

However, the defunct currency up to any amount can be deposited under the new black money amnesty scheme, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.
Tension gripped Bhilwara city for several hours on Sunday as two groups from different communities pelted stones and set vehicles on fire during a religious procession. Five people were injured in the clashes.

Police have registered four cases in connection with the incident and arrested 22 for disturbing peace in the area on Sunday.

It was the second time in the last six days that tension escalated between two communities in the district, forcing the administration to impose prohibitory orders.

The situation, however, now is under control following several rounds of talks with the people of different communities.

Following tussle between two major groups, we have arrested 22 persons for disturbing peace in the area.Four cases have been registered after the incident. Situation is now under control, SHO Pratapnagar, Navneet Vyas said.

There was some tussle between two groups and few mischievous elements set vehicles on fire and vandalised vehicles, police officials said.

Stone pelting continued for nearly an hour in Gayatri Nagar and Sanjay Colony.
The Goa Congress challenged chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Monday to order an inquiry against former PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar who has been accused of being involved in corruption.

Parsekar said that Sudin Dhavalikar was involved in corruption through his PWD department. We dare Parsekar to initiate an action against Dhavalikar and imprison him, All India Congress Committee secretary Girish Chodankar said on Monday.

The CM had sacked two MGP legislators -- Sudin Dhavalikar and Dipak Dhavalikar -- from his cabinet after they went public against the state government.

Parsekars statement has broken all records. Parsekar is accusing MGP ministers of being involved in corruption. It is Parsekar who owns the responsibility of corruption. CM cant run away by making just a statement, Chodankar said.

Mr Parsekar, you should know that you are the CM and not the Opposition leader. What you say matters a lot, but people of Goa heard nothing after your statement. People have voted you to power because you had promised zero tolerance to corruption, dont fool the people of Goa again and again, he said.

The Congress leader said that people want to know to the extent and volume of corruption in PWD and transport department, and are waiting to hear from the CM.

People are confused with your statement and also wonder if it is a blackmail technique to force an alliance with BJP. If you are not clear about your statement, it means you are incapable or are misusing your position, Chodankar alleged.
Screenshot from "Return to Paradise" by Joseph Ruben, 1998

Death by firing squad, hanging or lethal injection are the possible fates of an expanding number of Australians who could face execution for drug smuggling in Asian countries.



Last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said that the number of Australians on death row around the world was 17, with more than half detained in China and the others in countries including Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore.



On Wednesday, DFAT refused to reveal just how many Australians are on death row in several Asian countries.



However, last year's total of 17 is believed to have grown, following the arrest of 2 women in Vietnam allegedly with large amounts of heroin.



DFAT did reveal 36 of the 40 Australians in custody in Vietnam were on drug charges, but would only say "a number of these face the death penalty".



Vietnam applies the death penalty is cases of trafficking of 100 grams of heroin or more, replacing firing squads with lethal injection 3 years ago.



Australian Nguyen Thi Huong who was sentenced to execution has had her death penalty commuted to life, which means the 73-year-old will die in a Ho Chi Min prison.



Peter Gardner was arrested with Sydney woman, Kalynda Davis who was later released by Chinese prison authorities without charge.



But a second Australian woman aged 37, who was arrested in Vietnam in June this year, has yet to be publicly named but will face death by lethal injection if convicted.



DFAT media would only say that 77 Australians are under arrest, detention or in prison in China, and 17 of those are on drug charges.



Under China's drug laws, anyone convicted of possessing more than 50g of heroin or methamphetamines can be sentenced to death. The Chinese government uses lethal injection and the firing squad, with the latter more common for drug crimes.



Australian/New Zealand dual national Peter Gardner is expected to learn his fate in late January when a Guangzhou Court may deliver its verdict on his case.



Gardner, 27, was arrested at Guangzhou airport in November 2014 with Australian woman Kalynda Davis.



Davis was later freed without charge, but Gardner was indicted for allegedly attempting to smuggle a massive 30kg of methamphetamine from China to Australia.



Australian grandmother Nguyen Thi Huong had 2.8kg of heroin in soap bars.



At least 4 other Australians are believed to have received death sentences, or suspended death sentences in China, which may be commuted to life imprisonment.



The conditions in Chinese prisons are harsh, with 15 prisoners sharing a 6m x 3m cell, taking turns on a sleeping platform and sharing a single open toilet.



Australian woman Maria Exposto faced charges in court last month in Malaysia, which strictly imposes mandatory death by hanging for those possessing 15g of heroin or 40g of cocaine.



Malaysia has hanged three Australians for drug trafficking, Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers in 1986 and Michael McAuliffe in 1993.



Australian man Van Tuong Nguyen hanged in Singapore in 2005. Indonesia executed Bali 9 ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.



China has also cracked down on people carrying drugs to be sold for profit rather than for personal use.





PETER GARDNER, 27

PHAM TRUNG DUNG, 37

MARIA ELVIRA PINTO EXPOSTO, 52

NGUYEN THI HUONG, 73

UNNAMED AUSTRALIAN WOMAN, 37

BENGALI SHERRIF AND IBRAHIM JALLOH

HENRY CHHIN

ANTHONY BANNISTER, 43

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Charge: Attempt to smuggle 30kg methamphetamine in suitcases on Sydney flight at Guangzhou airport in November 2014Death penalty: China/ Firing squadDual Australian and New Zealand citizen, Peter Gardner was arrested with his then girlfriend, Sydney promotions representative Kalynda Davis, at Guangzhou Airport in November 2014.Gardner allegedly tried to board a Sydney flight with Davis and two suitcases full of 3kg of ice worth $20 million in bags.Guangzhou authorities say the suitcases, which were superglued, contained the biggest haul of methamphetamine recorded at the airport.Davis' policeman father made a mercy dash to China and his daughter was released without charge and sent home in December.But Gardner has been languishing in a Guangzhou prison since.Gardner told a Guangzhou court earlier this year that he thought the suitcases contained the performance enhancing sport drugs, peptides, and that this was "the biggest mistake of my life".He reportedly faces another hearing in January 2017, at which he may learn whether he will be convicted and sentenced to death.Charge: Smuggling 4kg heroin in suitcases onto a Sydney-bound flightDeath penalty: Vietnam/ Lethal injectionDung was discovered with more than 4kg of heroin in 2 suitcases as he boarded a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Australia in May 2013.Dung told a Ho Chi Minh City court that he had been living in Australia with his partner and 2 sons and was made an offer he couldn't refuse.An unidentified man paid him $40,000 to transport the drugs back to Australia and deliver them to an acquaintance.Sentenced to death in June 2014, Dung may appeal but faces lethal injection.Death by hanging could be the fate of Maria Exposto for trafficking 1.1kg of ice if a Malaysian court convicts the Melbourne woman.Charge: 1.1kg methamphetamine in 2014Death penalty: Malaysia/ HangingSydney grandmother Maria Exposto was stopped at the Kuala Lumpur airport customs desk on December 7, 2014.Exposto was in transit from Shanghai and about to catch a Malaysian Airlines flight to Melbourne.Customs officer Mohd Noor Nashariq scanned her bag and allegedly found 1.1kg of methamphetamine secreted in a hand stitched compartment.In Malaysia, death by hanging is mandatory for anyone convicted of carrying more than 50g of drugs.Exposto has maintained her innocence since her arrest, claiming she travelled to Shanghai for romance with a man claiming to be a US serviceman, but who turned out to be a scammer.She says a stranger duped her into carrying a backpack, which she believed was full of clothes, not drugs, to Melbourne.Customs officers found the ice stitched into the pack.Exposto faced hearings at the Shah Alam High Court last month but no decision has been made as to her verdict or fate.Charge: Boarding a December 2014 flight for Sydney with 2.8kg of heroin hidden in 36 bars of soapDeath penalty: Vietnam/ Lethal injectionSentenced to death by lethal injection in June this year after the Ho Chi Minh City People???s Court found her guilty of attempting to smuggle 2.8kg of heroin in bars of soap 2 years ago.Huong said a woman gave her the soap and she planned to take them back to Australia as gifts for family.She said she did not know it contained heroin, but the Ho Chi Minh City court rejected her defence in a half day trial.Late last month, the People's High Court reduced the great grandmother???s death sentence to life in prison, which means she will die in Chi Hoa prison, which is infamous for its harsh and squalid conditions.Charge: Trafficking 4.8kg of heroin in her luggage.Death penalty: Vietnam/Lethal injectionArrested in June this year, the 37-year-old Australian of Vietnamese origin was detained at Tan Son Nhut Airport in the southern hub of Ho Chi Minh City.Officials claim they found nearly 5kg of heroin hidden in picture frames in her luggage.The woman allegedly told officers she was paid $33,500 to transport the heroin to Australia.She has yet to face trial, but Vietnam has some of the world's toughest drug laws and trafficking even small amounts of heroin is punishable by death.Queensland man Ibrahim Jalloh is reportedly awaiting trial in China on drug charges.Charge: in June 2014Death penalty: China/ Firing squadChinese officials arrested the 2 young men from Queensland at Guangzhou airport in June 2014 in possession of methamphetamine.Sherrif has received a "suspended" death sentence, but the outcome is uncertain.Jalloh, who has an intellectual disability, has received a suspended death sentence, which may be commuted to life in prison.Charge: concealing 270g of methamphetamine in computer equipment in May 2004/ 700g of meth in furniture in 2014Death penalty: China/ Firing squadShanghai police intercepted 270g of ice concealed in computer equipment which they alleged Chhin tried to send from China to Australia in 2005.Chhin was sentenced to death and his sentence was suspended for 2 years.But Shenzen police uncovered a further 700g of meth in cabinets at Chhin's residence, and his fate is currently unclear.Charge: Attempt to smuggle 3kg of methamphetamine to AustraliaDeath penalty: China/ Firing squadFormer Adelaide jockey Bannister was arrested at Guangzhou International Airport in March 2014.Customs officers claim they found 3kg of methamphetamine in envelopes inside 8 handbags in his luggage.Bannister claims he was set up by online conmen who convinced him he could obtain a lucrative divorce settlement from his former wife.Bannister's lawyer told a court that he was given a suitcase containing women's handbags to take back to Australia as a favour.Given a suspended death sentence, he may end up with life in a Chinese prison, but is appealing his conviction.Source: abs.com.au , December 16, 2016
One of the Pathankot attackers spoke to his mother in Pakistan over a cell phone to express his last wish and called for a feast for his friends after his death, according to intercepts by the NIA.

Nasir Hussain of Vehari in Pakistan made multiple calls to his handlers and relatives from the two cell phones he and other terrorists snatched from two locals while the group made its way to attack the Indian Air Force base on January 2, according to an NIA chargesheet filed on Monday.

The chargesheet alleged that Hussain during his 18-minute conversation with a woman, whom he addressed as his mother, asked her to record his conversation on her mobile set.

He asked the woman to host a daawat (feast) for my derawala friends after my death, the anti-terror probe agency said, citing intercepts.

Hussain also took the names of some of his family members and relatives -- Mudassir, Mariyam and Altamash.

He told his mother that the group infiltrated into the Indian territory at 2 am on December 30, 2015 -- three days before they stormed into the military base and killed seven soldiers in a fierce gunfight.

He also spoke to his brother or cousin who was referred to by the name Babar, and to another person name(d) Munna, the chargesheet read.

During the conversation with his mother, Hussain mentioned about one ustad (teacher) who was supposed to come to her with his wasihat (last wish) after his death, said the chargesheet that named Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others as the masterminds of the terror attack.

The telephone call was made while the terrorists were hiding inside the air base as he told his mother that they were about to attack the camp.

The calls were made about 9.20am on January 1, 2016, to a Pakistan telephone number, which, the NIA said, belonged to Khayam Bhatti also known as Babar Bhatti, a local shopkeeper in Sialkot of Pakistan.

Hussain also disclosed the names of his other three associates as Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom, the NIA said. It said that Hussain tried to call on the same number around 8.40am in the morning but the call was not responded to.
AAP leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will launch his partys campaign to liberate Goa from bad governments on Monday evening with his second public meeting in the state in seven months, sources have said.

The Aam Aadmi Party has promised to rid Goa of what it says are corrupt political regimes of the past, led either by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party or the Congress. The elections are likely to be held in February.

Kejriwal held his last public meeting in Goa in May.

The AAP chiefs visit to Goa and a public meeting in South Goas Cuncolim is loaded with the political symbolism because December 19 is also observed as Goa Liberation Day  when the state was liberated by the Indian armed forces from its colonial rulers, the Portuguese, 55 years ago.

Cuncolim is also AAP state convenor Elvis Gomes constituency. A career bureaucrat, Gomes recently resigned, alleging victimisation by the BJP government.

He will also spell out the AAPs roadmap for the state, party leader Ashish Talwar, who has been camping there, said.

The Goa election  which is nationally viewed as a low-key affair  is suddenly beginning to get interesting this time with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi having visited the state in the run-up to the election.

For both the Congress and the BJP, it has become a high-stakes fight.

The AAP is not only hoping to open its electoral tally in the state but considers itself a serious contender for forming the government there.

While the party has already declared 32 of the 40 candidates there, its volunteers and workers began moving from door to door to canvass for their party as early as September.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing a Parivartan Rally in Kanpur in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh on Monday. This is the sixth such rally to be addressed by Modi in the state.

He also lay the foundation stone of the countrys first ever Indian Institute of Skills in Kanpur, the idea of which was conceptualised by him during his visit to Singapores Institute of Technical Education.

Here are highlights from Modis address:

 History will not record who was the PM who brought about this revolutionary change (of demonetisation) in eradicating corruption, but will praise the people.

 In our fight against corruption, we have been blessed by the poor.

 Those using debit and credit cards for payments will receive awards in a lucky draw.

 I am aware of their strength, when they can bribe bank officials, they can do anything but we have to fight this

 Now we are using technology to track those who have stashed black money; we are vigilant and raids are being conducted countrywide

 Now your mobile phones can become your banks and wallets.

 Not being accountable, corruption and doing as they please -- these have been the ways in which the Congress has been functioning.

 When Rs 1000 notes were in circulation , no one asked about those with Rs 100 notes. Now is the time for people with Rs 100 notes.

 I requested at the all-party meet that a discussion on how political parties get funds should take place in Parliament.

 It is the responsibility of political parties to set an example on non-corrupt practices. Especially about donations to political parties.

 An atmosphere should be created to have national and state elections together.

 I respect the Election Commissions appeal to political parties to act against black money.

 Till the time the people dont change the government in Uttar Pradesh, gundagardi cant be stopped.

 The Opposition did not allow Parliament to function as they were trying to protect the dishonest.

 Our agenda is to stop corruption, their (Oppositions) agenda is to stop Parliament.

 Youth, if given the right kind of exposure and facilities, can contribute a lot in the growth of the nation.

 Many initiatives have been taken by the government to empower the youth, especially in Uttar Pradesh.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said on Monday that governments demonetisation decision was not against corruption or black money but against the poor of the country.

Addressing a rally in Uttar Pradeshs Jaunpur, Gandhi said the Prime Minister firebombed the poor with note ban.

Below are the highlights of his speech:

Congress party wants to wipe off corruption from India

If NDA government passes any decision to root out corruption, we will support them but demonetisation decision was not against black money or corruption, it was against the poor people of the country

Farmers asked 3 things from Modi - forgive debt, electricity bill and fix right prices for vegetables. He didnt utter a word

Modi insulted MNREGA. I want to tell him, Indias farmers dont dig pits, they build the nation. You have insulted our farmers: Rahul in UP

Today 60% of Indias wealth is with the richest 1% people of the country

If you want to fight against black money, you must need to find out what it is

All cash is not black money and all black money is not cash

Majority of black money is stashed in foreign back accounts, real estate, gold

PM Modi knows majority of the black money is with 1% people of this country and not the remaining 99%

Govt of Switzerland has given the list of Swiss bank account holders to PM Modi; we asked the PM to name those account holders in Parliament. Its been two and a half years but he hasnt disclosed the names.

PM Modi gave Rs 1,200 crore toffee to Vijay Mallya

 PM Modi is fooling the people of this country

Modi had done fire bombing on poor people of the country with note ban

Farmers dont buy seeds through cheques and credit cards, they buy it using cash. PM Modi destroyed the lives of the farmers

Prime Minister has hurt the poor and youth of this country; he has snatched employment from millions of youth

Poor are begging after note ban

Only 0.2% of total currency is counterfeit

Every worker in the Congress party needs to tell the truth about demonetisation
The Madras high court on Monday banned all unauthorised Sharia courts in mosques across Tamil Nadu, saying centres of worship were only to be used for religious purposes.

The first bench of the court, comprising chief justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and justice M Sundar, directed the state government to ensure that unofficial courts were banned. It was asked to file a report in this regard within four weeks.

Read | Triple talaq row: Theres scope for reconciliation between Islam, modernity

The courts direction came in response to a PIL filed by a non-resident Indian, Abdul Rahman, who alleged that the Makka Masjid Shariat Council was operating as a court of law from a mosque on Chennais Anna Salai. He said the council dealt largely with matrimonial disputes, even going to the extent of passing divorce orders.

Highlights A PIL filed alleged that the Makka Masjid Shariat Council was operating as a court of law from a mosque in Anna Salai. The Supreme Court had refused to ban Sharia courts in 2014, saying the interpretations made by Islamic judges were not legally binding. On October 7, the Centre had opposed the practice of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims in the Supreme Court.

The court order comes in the wake of a raging debate over the controversial practice of triple talaq, where Muslim women are divorced simply by pronouncing the word talaq thrice.

Rahmans counsel, A Sirajudeen, told the court that the PIL had been filed to safeguard the interests of a large number of innocent Muslims who were adversely affected by decisions made by Sharia courts and councils across Tamil Nadu. He also said the council had created an impression among Muslims that it was functioning as per Sharia law, and all its orders and judgments were therefore binding on the community.

The Supreme Court had refused to ban Sharia courts in 2014, saying the interpretations made by Islamic judges were not legally binding and they could pass verdicts only when individuals submit to them voluntarily.

On October 7, the Centre had opposed the practice of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims in the Supreme Court, and sought a relook on grounds like gender equality and secularism. However, it was oppposed by several Muslim organisations, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which stressed that Sharia law cannot be changed.

Read | Muslim womens group demands complete ban on Sharia courts

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged the election commission to pressure political parties to create transparency over the donations they get.

Addressing a rally here, Modi said he had told opposition members ahead of the Parliament session to debate on the issue of donations and of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

I urged all leaders that the country expects honesty. There is mistrust against political parties. So it is our responsibility to make people believe in our honesty, Modi said. I said discuss how political parties should get donation.

But they did not let the Parliament function because they did not want to debate the issue. I urge the election commission to take it forward, create pressure on parties... Our government will implement whatever decision is in favour of the nation, Modi said.

The Prime Minister insisted that his government had made no changes in laws related to donations to political parties.
Army chief-designate Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat has reached out to the two generals superseded by the government to elevate him to the top position, amid the ongoing political quarrel over the seniority principle being set aside.

Sources in Kolkata-based Eastern Command and Pune-based Southern Command confirmed to HT that Rawat spoke on the phone with Lieutenant Generals Praveen Bakshi and PM Hariz seeking their involvement in planning the future of the force.

The conversations took place on Sunday, a day after Rawat was designated as the next army chief. The exact details of the conversations are not known, but the sources said Rawat sought the support of the two generals ahead of slipping into the new role.

Read | How Lt Gen Rawat changed the face of UN peacekeeping in conflict-hit Congo

Whether Rawats gesture will work or not is anybodys guess.

In promoting Rawat, the claims of Bakshi and Hariz to the top job were ignored. South Block sources said the generals were equally competent but Rawats experience in Kashmir and the Northeast tipped the scales in his favour.

The superseded generals could choose to serve, or resign or move court. In most cases of supersession, officers have chosen to resign rather than serve under a junior.

But the suspense surrounding the governments plan to create the post of chief of defence staff or permanent chairman of the chiefs of staff committee could influence the decisions of Bakshi and Hariz, who were commissioned in December 1977 and June 1978 respectively. Rawat was commissioned into 5/11 Gorkha Rifles in December 1978.

Read | New top guns: A look at the next army, air force and spy chiefs

Rawat was first thrust into the spotlight in 2008 when the Indian brigade led by him saved a key Congolese province from being overrun by rebels.

Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye, then the Force Commander of the UN mission in the Congo, wrote in the commendation awarded to Rawat that it was due to his leadership, courage and experience that North Kivus capital Goma never fell, the countrys eastern region was stabilised and the main rebel group had to come to the negotiating table.

India is among the few countries where the appointment of military chiefs was seniority based till now. Military leaders are deep-selected for promotion to top jobs in most countries, including the US, with merit being the deciding factor.

Read | Suspense builds over chief of defence staff post after Bipin Rawats elevation
The Narendra Modi government named Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat as Indias next army chief on Saturday sparking a controversy as it abandoned a three-decades-old tradition of elevating senior-most officers as military chiefs.

The choice of Rawat was immediately criticised by the Congress party.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, some bureaucrats, both serving and retired, however, pointed out that while supersession in civilian wings of the government is quite common, overlooking seniority in top-level appointments in the armed forces is extremely rare and against the convention.

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had smoothly managed the military front but landed in a storm over civilian appointments.

As a controversy erupted over Rawats appointment, heres a look at how key appointments led to controversies during the UPA tenure.

1. Shiv Shankar Menon, the blue-eyed diplomat of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, then foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee and many others in the UPA, superseded over 12 seniors for the post of the foreign secretary in 2006.

While the government stuck to its decision, there was a major resentment in the foreign establishment and two Indian ambassadors (in France and Dhaka) resigned for being overlooked for the top job. A secretary in the foreign office also quit.

2. Kiran Bedi, the feisty police officer, was all set to become Delhi Police commissioner after KK Paul but the UPA government decided the other way. Bedi, Indias first woman Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, was sent as chief of the bureau of police research and development organisation.

YS Dadwal, two batches junior to Bedi in service, was handpicked by the Centre to head the national capitals police force in July 2007. Bedi, a 1972 batch IPS officer, eventually joined the BJP and is currently the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

3. In 2013, the UPA government appointed Syed Asif Ibrahim, a 1977 batch IPS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, as the director of the Intelligence Bureau. The government overlooked the claims of Yashovardhan Azad, senior by a batch to Ibrahim, for the post.

Read| Eight things you need to know about new army chief Bipin Rawat
People disposing of garbage in the open will have to pay a fine of `10,000, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) announced on Monday.

Terming solid waste as a major pollutant affecting the city, the tribunal said civic authorities were under a statutory obligation to ensure that waste was collected, transported and disposed of in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016. All major sources of municipal solid waste generation  including hotels, restaurants, slaughterhouses and vegetable markets  should be directed to segregate their waste before handing it over to the corporation, the bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar added.

Any such body, person, hotel, resident, slaughterhouse or vegetable market that does not comply with the directions, or throws their waste in drains or public places, shall be liable to pay environmental compensation at the rate of `10,000 per default, the tribunal said.

The erstwhile anti-littering law of 2009 provided for a paltry penalty ranging from `50 to `500.

In June, the state government asked municipal corporations to change the bylaws in tandem with the Union governments Solid Waste Management Rules-2016. Following this, fresh provisions for imposing fines ranging from `500 to `5,000 for dumping garbage and littering in public spaces were introduced.

The tribunal noted that the national capital generates 9,600 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste every day, and no municipal body has prepared a clear map to deal with such huge quantities of garbage.

It then set a one-month deadline for the citys three civic bodies to present schemes aimed at incentivising people who provide segregated waste at the source. This can be done by way of rebates in property tax. On the other hand, those who do not provide segregated waste can be penalised, it said.

The NGT said it was the duty of every citizen to ensure that waste was handled in a manner that prevents pollution and inconvenience to others. The entire burden cannot be shifted onto the state and civic authorities, it added.

The tribunal was hearing a petition relating to mismanagement of municipal solid waste in Delhi, and the terrible conditions at landfill sites nearby.

The civic bodies, for their part, are gearing up to implement the order. The courts direction came on December 2, and we are preparing an action plan for implementing the decision. This includes ensuring the seamless functioning of three solid waste management sites at Okhla, Ghazipur and Najafgarh. If they dont fulfill their duties, the concessionaires will be penalised `5 lakh each in accordance with the courts direction, a senior official of the South Corporation said.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA)on Monday formally charged Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of the Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), his brother Mufti Rauf Asghar and two key lieutenants  Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif for planning and sending four attackers to target the Pathankot airbase in January this year.

The federal anti-terror probe agency also named four dead attackers  Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum  as accused, and said they were trained in Jaish camps in Pakistan.

The charge sheet was filed in a special NIA court in Mohali following a year-long probe, in which the agency received help from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for getting details of the Facebook profile of Kashif Jan, who was in touch with the attackers.

The NIA named FBI special agent Kiev Vu Lefevre and department of justices trial attorney Mark Tellitocci as a witness. The two officials formally handed over the details of Kashif Jans Facebook chats.

During its probe, the NIA found that Kashif Jan was using IMO, a web-based chat and video messaging service.

The agency managed to procure IMO contact list of Kashif Jan and second handler Shahid Latif through legal assistance.

Read | Host daawat for my friends: Pathankot attacker told mother before dying

The charge sheet says there are 45 common numbers in the contact lists of Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif, establishing their links.

Latif was once arrested in India in 1993 in Jammu and Kashmir but deported to Pakistan in 2010 after completion of his sentence here.

The NIA also submitted details of calls made by the attackers from India to Pakistani phone numbers of their family members and handlers like Kashif Jan.

Following the attack, an audio clip was uploaded on a website, in which Rauf Asghar claimed responsibility of the attack.

Read | Pathankot attack: Ex-SP Salwinder Singhs name not among accused
Former leader of the Aum Shinrikyo cult Shoko Asahara

TOKYO  A former senior member of the Aum Shinrikyo cult who is on death row has described the founder and guru he once revered, Shoko Asahara, as a criminal in a recently published memoir.





Tomomasa Nakagawa, convicted for his role in producing sarin used in the deadly nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system on March 20, 1995, said in the six-page article in the November edition of Japanese magazine Chemistry Today that Asahara transformed what was otherwise a religious group into one that produced chemical weapons and perpetrated murder.





The terror attack on the subway system killed 13 and left more than 6,000 people injured.





In the memoir, Nakagawa, 54, referred to the founder as Mr Asahara and said he chose those who deeply trusted him and ordered them to take actions such as committing murder and manufacturing chemical weapons.





He said Asaharas ability to lead yoga and meditation was extremely high and that none of the cult members, including himself, imagined they would become involved in such actions as killing when they joined the group.





Nakagawas death sentence was finalized in 2011. The 61-year-old Asahara, whose real name is Chizuo Matsumoto, is also still on death row.





His memoir also carried a personal apology to victims of the attack, as well as details of sarin production.





Nakagawa decided to write the article after being encouraged by Anthony Tu, a Colorado State University emeritus professor and toxicologist researching a string of incidents involving the cult. Tu, 86, has been visiting Nakagawa while in prison since 2011.





The sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system on March 20, 1995

killed 13 and left more than 6,000 people injured. Nakagawa recounted that after succeeding in manufacturing about 30 kilograms of sarin compound in February 1994, they spread about 12 liters of it in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture in June that year. This eventually resulted in a major incident, he said. Nakagawa recounted that after succeeding in manufacturing about 30 kilograms of sarin compound in February 1994, they spread about 12 liters of it in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture in June that year. This eventually resulted in a major incident, he said.





Aum Shinrikyo is also known for having staged a sarin gas attack in a residential area of Matsumoto in central Japan on June 27, 1994, which killed eight people.





In producing sarin, one needs to have graduate school-level knowledge and experience in chemistry, and special equipment and systems must be in place to treat those who may have been poisoned by sarin, Nakagawa said.





He added, however, that it is hard now to obtain raw materials for sarin production and ruled out the possibility of another terror attack with sarin in Japan.





If the investigative authorities pay close attention, it would be nearly impossible for such an act to be carried out, Nakagawa said.





Death sentences have been finalized for 10 members of the cult in connection with the attack and other crimes, while sentences of life in prison have been finalized for four others.





In 2000, Aum Shinrikyo was renamed Aleph. In 2007, senior Alegh member Fumihiro Joyu left the group to establish a separate groupHikarinowa, or the Circle of Rainbow.

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Source: Japan Today, December 18, 2016
There wont be any cake or gifts for Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on her 61st birthday. Even the usual pomp and show will be missing on January 15 next year just before the crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The BSP is known to celebrate Mayawatis birthday in a grand way with cakes weighing as much as her age and huge garlands. Before her birthday, party workers launch a massive fundraising campaign across the state. Each MP and MLA are given a target to collect a certain amount of money.

After the month-long campaign, party leaders hand her a money bag with crores of rupees as a gift on her birthday. The money is used for the partys election campaign. After cutting the cake, Mayawati addresses party leaders and workers.

However, the birthday celebrations will not be the same this year.

Chances are strong that the Election Commission (EC) will announce the schedule of the assembly election by the year end. The model code of conduct will come into force immediately. The party cannot celebrate the birthday of behenji with the usual gaiety. We have decided to celebrate her birthday in a simple manner in each district, BSP state unit president, Ramachal Rajbhar, told Hindustan Times.

A BSP leader, who did not wish to be named, said demonetisation has also played a spoilsport.

There is cash crunch post-demonetisation and people with large cash have come on the radar of the Income Tax, Enforcement Directorate and other agencies. The donation campaign has been shelved. If a leader wishes to give fund, he can deposit it in the party coffer, a zonal coordinator said on basis of anonymity.

As the celebrations will be a low-key affair, the party might direct workers to take a pledge to ensure BSPs victory in the assembly elections to keep them in an upbeat mood, an office bearer said.

Before her 60th birthday this year, Mayawati asked party workers to keep the event simple and connect with the common people in a meeting with senior party leaders, zonal and divisional coordinators. She also asked party office bearers to ensure that there was nothing loud.

The BSP has been celebrating the day as Jankalyankari Diwas or Public Welfare Day and party leaders are asked to connect with the needy and the poor. They also visit Dalit villages and hospitals and distribute fruits and blankets among the poor.

We will not visit hamlets or hospitals to distribute sweets and fruits, a senior leader said.

Mayawatis birthday celebrations in the past have been extravagant often courting controversy over the expenses incurred.

In 2010 when Mayawati was the chief minister, opposition parties attacked her over the gift of a cash garland worth Rs 25 crore given by party leaders on her birthday.
National Conference working president Omar Abdullah on Sunday hit out at PDP-led coalition government saying its weak legal defence of Jammu and Kashmirs special status was alarming as it was allowing step-by-step erosion of Article 370.

Omar was reacting after the Supreme Court on Friday held that the provisions of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002, are within the legislative competence of Parliament and can be enforced in Jammu and Kashmir.

The former chief minister also asked the PDP-BJP coalition government to come clean on its stand on this vital issue that could have far reaching implications for the state.

In a statement, Omar said that the deliberate callousness shown by the State Government indicated the tacit connivance of PDP in allowing the step-by-step erosion of Article 370 through a series of politically patronized cases and litigation.

The Supreme Courts ruling on Friday came while deciding a legal question on whether the SARFAESI Act would be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir or was it outside the legislative competence of Parliament since its provisions would collide with Section 140 of the Transfer of Property Act of J&K.

Read | J-K residents first and foremost citizens of India, says Supreme Court

The SARFAESI Act entitles banks to enforce their security interest outside the courts process by moving a tribunal to take possession of secured assets of the borrower and sell them outside the court process.

The Jammu and Kashmir high court had said that the state has absolute sovereign power to legislate in respect of laws touching the rights of its permanent residents regarding their immovable properties.

The State Bank of India had appealed against the HC verdict.

The SC had also said J-K has no vestige of sovereignty outside the Constitution of India.

The State Governments counsel in the Supreme Court has made it evident that the State Government prima facie doesnt oppose the application of the SARFAESI Act in Jammu and Kashmir. This has far reaching implications as the application of the SARFAESI Act to J&K was debatable in the context of Article 370 of the Constitution of India as also the provisions of the J&K Transfer of Property Act. Instead of highlighting these arguments and points of view, the State Governments counsel virtually conceded before the honourable Supreme Court that Parliament was competent to extend SARFESI Act to J&K. This implicates the State Government in a visible pattern of such incidents that are aimed at undermining the States Constitution and Article 370 of the Constitution of India, Omar said in his statement.

Unfortunately, Omar said, the PDP-BJP government it seems has absolved itself of this duty in what could be an understanding it has with the central government in this context.

Omar wasnt the only one to voice his concern over the Supreme Court ruling.

Controversial independent legislator Engineer Rashid said that the apex courts ruling was like a slap for those advocating for restoration of autonomy.

Addressing a gathering in Pattan on Sunday, Rashid said, Whatsoever Supreme Court has said is nothing new but continuity of the process to proceed for the completer merger of J-K into Indian state.

However New Delhi needs to understand that such steps can neither break the will of Kashmiris nor can they be presented as an argument before world community to stop Kashmiris from seeking right to self determination, he said.

Expectedly, Kashmirs separatists leadership also rejected the Supreme Court ruling, saying that Jammu and Kashmir is a separate, independent and sovereign entity.

Dozens of UN resolutions stand testimony to the fact that Kashmir is a disputed territory, the final dispensation of which is still pending. Indias top leaders themselves knocked the doors of international forums claiming the disputed nature of Kashmir and this can never be faded or denied by the legal proclamations, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik said in a joint statement.

The J&K high court bar association also expressed its serious concern over the SC judgment.

The very application of the SARFAESI Act to the State of J&K was debatable in the context of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, read with other provisions of J&K Transfer of Property Act, etc, the association said in a statement.

The government defended itself with law minister Abdul Haq Khan describing the Supreme Court ruling as an achievement for the State.

I have gone through the judgment and read it thoroughly. We have achieved two things in this judgment. First Supreme Court said that Article 370 is a permanent provision of Indian Constitution. And second, Supreme Court has upheld our State subject laws and reiterated that outsiders cant purchase a movable property in Jammu and Kashmir, he said in a statement to local news agency KNS.

He also said that while Jammu and Kashmir has a special status in Union of India, it is not a sovereign state in itself.
Delhi police teams on Monday scanned the JNU campus with sniffer dogs to search for clues that could help them trace student Najeeb Ahmed, who has been missing for over two months now.

The crime branch team which is probing the case after it was transferred to them reached the campus in the morning and the search is currently underway, the police said.

Concerned over disappearance of the JNU student, the Delhi High Court last week directed the police to scan the entire campus, including hostels, classrooms and rooftops, by using sniffer dogs.

The directions had come on a Habeas Corpus plea by Najeebs mother, Fatima Nafees, who has moved the court to trace her son.

Najeeb went missing on October 15 following an on-campus scuffle, allegedly with ABVP members, the night before. The case was transferred from the south district police to the crime branch last month.
President Pranab Mukherjee cleared on Monday the file for the appointment of justice JS Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India.

Justice Khehar, the countrys first CJI from the Sikh community, will take over on January 4, a day after incumbent CJI TS Thakur retires.

The process for his appointment was set into motion when justice Thakur wrote to the Union government on December 6, recommending him as the next chief justice.

This appointment follows the tradition of the CJI being succeeded by the senior-most judge in the Supreme Court. Justice Khehar will have a short tenure of a little over seven months  from January 4 till August 28.

Read | Gold medallist from PU in Chandigarh, CJI-designate Khehar remembered as serious student

The five-judge bench headed by him shot down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), a body set up through a constitutional amendment unanimously passed by Parliament, to select judges for the SC and HCs.

He authored the lead judgement in the case, terming the NJAC  of which the law minister was part of the committee to select judges - a threat to the independence of the judiciary.

The bench including justice Khehar did not hesitate in criticising the opaque collegium procedure followed to appoint judges. It had directed the government to redraft the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for judges appointment and make it more transparent.

As the CJI, justice Khehar will have a mammoth task to finalise the MoP  a bone of contention between the government and judiciary. He also faces a daunting job of filling over 400 vacancies in various high courts.

Read | War of words between CJI and govt over court vacancies, governance

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Private engineering colleges could face tax investigation for accepting advance fee in demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, and derecognition if found guilty.

The governments crackdown follows information from intelligence agencies that several institutes were taking scrapped notes for student fee in advance, triggering suspicion that many people are taking this route to legalise their unaccounted-for cash, a source said.

The human resource development (HRD) ministry has asked the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the regulator that grants approvals to engineering institutes, to investigate.

The income tax department will be alerted too.

The AICTE rules dont allow institutes to collect advance fee.

The regulator decided at a meeting recently that action would be taken against any institute, including penal action such as derecognition, if found guilty.

There are close to 3,000 private engineering institutes in the country offering diploma, BTech, MTech and allied courses. Fee in such colleges ranges between Rs 1 and Rs 2 lakh a year.

A source said income tax authorities will step in to initiate action against violators.

It is a clear case of collusion between the person offering to give advance fee and the institute accepting the money. Income tax officials will check their accounts.

The regulator is planning to open a complaint cell page on its website for people to report such cases.

The Narendra Modi governments shock decision in November to recall the two high-value notes has prompted tax dodgers to look for channels in which the old bills could be given legal validity. Tax sleuths and law-enforcement agencies were conducting regular checks to prevent such activities.

The HRD ministry is promoting cashless transactions in all institutes, including IITs and NITs, in line with the governments demonetisation move.

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The process of extradition of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother and two others will begin soon with the filing of a charge sheet by the NIA in connection with terror attack at Pathankot airbase, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Monday.

A total of eight people were involved in the terror attack at Pathankot. Four are dead and four are alive and living in Pakistan. Since the charge sheet has been filed, the process of extraditing them from Pakistan will begin with the issuance of Interpol Red Corner Notice, he told reporters.

Rijiju termed the filing of the charge sheet at the NIA court at Panchkula as a huge break through.

The minister of state for home said since Pakistan is incorrigible, India has to put pressure on the neighbouring country to extradite the four persons living in Pakistan on the basis of the evidence gathered by the NIA.

Pakistan is already under pressure. The world knows that these two brothers are living in Pakistan and doing all kinds of terror acts, he said.

NIA on Monday filed a charge sheet against Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother and two others for hatching the conspiracy of the January two audacious terror strike that left seven personnel dead and 37 others injured.

The charge sheet was filed in the NIA court at Panchkula in which all the four have been slapped with charges under Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Besides Azhar, his brother Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar and two handlers -- Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan -- have been named in the exhaustive charge sheet. While Interpol Red Corner Notice against three has been issued, the same was pending against Jan, the NIA said.
Big cats cannot be killed or declared man-eaters, the Uttarakhand high court said on Monday, in a landmark decision for a region that has seen a spate of man-animal conflicts recently.

Hearing a public interest litigation, a two-judge HC bench said tigers, leopards and panthers posing a threat to human life should be captured alive with tranquilizer guns in the presence of veterinarians and released in a forest later.

Senior justice Rajeev Sharma and justice Alok Singh also barred any display of wild animals carcass in print or electronic media and announced a raft of measures to curb mounting poaching and accidental deaths.

The decision comes on the back of several cases of culling of man-eaters by wildlife and government officials, who often coordinate efforts that comprise hundreds of men and cost lakhs.

The states highest wildlife official designates an animal as a man-eater after it attacks a human or enters human settlements, but there is no designated process for the naming. Experts warn that eliminating man-eaters is unlikely to solve the states bigger problem.

Increasing encroachment of wildlife habitats is leading to a severe lack of space and prey base for the big cats, experts say, forcing them to kill humans to survive. More than 100 leopards are officially classified as man-eaters.

The court asked the government to set up a high-level committee comprising the principal secretary, forest and principal chief conservator of forest to ascertain whether a particular animal posed a threat.

No engagement of private hunters will be allowed by the state government and any encroachers on forest land will have to be evicted in a year. It further directed the Centre to formulate a national forest policy for better forest management. It also ordered a 10km eco-sensitive zone around the Corbett Tiger Reserve and other protected areas in Uttarakhand.

The court directed the Railways to dig trenches near tracks and insulate electric poles with fences to avoid electrocution of animals.

It called for exemplary punishment, including life imprisonment, for poachers, and asked the administration to appoint at least 10,000 fire watchers to detect and contain forest fires.
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who underwent a kidney transplant on December 10, was discharged from AIIMS, New Delhi, on Monday evening.

In a statement, the hospitals communication department said, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, MEA, who underwent kidney transplant operation on December 10, 2016, has shown steady recovery and was discharged from hospital today.

Her post-operative recovery was closely monitored by a team of transplant surgeons, physicians (nephrologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, pulmonologist) and anesthetist and critical care expert, physiotherapist, resident doctors and specialised transplant nurses, the statement added.

According to the doctors, Swarajs surgery was uneventful. She was moved out of the intensive care unit (ICU) three days after the surgery on December 13.

The minister will be on regular follow-ups, and is expected to visit the hospital for a check-up a week later.

She is stable and her transplanted kidney is also working fine. She can now lead a normal life, said a senior doctor, requesting anonymity.

Swaraj underwent the kidney transplant from an unrelated donor on December 10 at AIIMS that was supervised by a dedicated team of 50 medical staff, including several senior doctors such as M Minz, VK Bansal and Preet Mohinder Singh. Dr MC Misra, AIIMS director, who is also a senior surgeon, was a part of the surgical team.

The three-hour surgery was performed at the Cardio Thoracic and Neuro Sciences Centre at the hospital.

In a series of tweets on Monday, Swaraj made her discharge from the AIIMS public, thanking the hospital staff and her supporters for prayers and good wishes

I am back from AIIMS after the surgery. I am seeing the necessary official papers. However, I am not allowed to receive visitors. I am grateful to the dedicated team of Doctors, SRs, Sisters, technicians and staff of AIIMS. They have lived up to the reputation of AIIMS

Dr. Mukut Minz - Thank you very much for my surgery Dr. Minz. I am proud India has a Surgeon of your eminence in kidney transplant surgery, she tweeted.

Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes.  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 19, 2016

Lord Krishna's blessings made this possible.  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 19, 2016

The 64-year-old minister, who is a known diabetic, has been in and out of the hospital for the past few months. She was admitted to AIIMS on November 7 due to chronic kidney disease, about which she herself had announced on Twitter.

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The scale of the ongoing violence and the economic blockade in Manipur went up further on Sunday with protesters  those opposed to the blockade imposed by United Naga Council (UNC)  burning over 20 vehicles in Imphal East district and forcing curfew in the area.

Read | Tension grips Manipur: Mobile internet services shut, few areas under curfew

Heres a look at the issue that has been festering for over one and half months.

 The United Naga Council (UNC), which claims to be a common platform for Nagas in Manipur, imposed a blockade of two key highways  Imphal-Dimapur (NH2) and Imphal-Jiribam (NH37)  from November 1 in protest against the state governments proposed move to create two new districts  Jiribam and Sadar Hills. UNC feels the move by the majority Meiteis will hurt their interests.

 The blockade restricted entry of trucks carrying essential supplies to the state. Scarcity of goods has led prices to escalate. Cost of petroleum products have almost tripled. Though some trucks have been reaching the state under heavy security, scarcity of essentials continue.

Read | Blockades in Manipur a gross violation of law: MHA warns

 Demonetisation of old currency notes, which came into effect a week after the blockade, further worsened the situation. Banks have not been able to cater to the demand for new notes and the blockade has affected supply of currency to all parts of the state.

 Despite opposition by UNC, the Congress government of Okram Ibobi Singh issued a gazette notification on December 9 announcing creation of seven new districts  Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Kakching, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Pherzawl and Noney  by carving Imphal East, Churachandpur, Senapati, Thoubal, Chandel, Ukhrul and Tamenglong districts. With the move, which the government claim is for administrative convenience, the number of districts in Manipur increased to 16 from the existing nine.

 While the creation of new districts was welcomed by Meiteis and Kukis, the Nagas intensified protests. Last week there were several attacks on security personnel at various locations, killing three security personnel and injuring nearly a dozen. The attacks are believed to be the handiwork of National Socialist Council of Nagaland-(NSCN-IM).

Read | Manipur: 22 vehicles torched near Imphal, violence spreads, curfew imposed

 Three blasts, allegedly carried out by UNC cadres, rocked Impahl on Friday. There were no injuries. But the situation forced the administration to shut down internet services in most districts indefinitely. On Sunday, protesters in Imphal East district opposed to the UNC blockade targeted vehicles on the way to Ukhrul at Khurai and torched over 20 buses and SUVs.

 Manipur goes to polls early next year. Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who has held on the post since 2002, hopes to retain it again and the move to create new districts is bound to be an important election issue.

Also read | Manipur blockade: The Congress and BJP must stop shadow boxing

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked on Monday the legacy of the late Rajiv Gandhi, his predecessor from the 1980s, to counter the Congresss criticism of his demonetisation drive for a cashless economy.

The reference to the Congress leader follows his comments three days ago that his mother, the late Indira Gandhi, refused to scrap high-value banknotes for fear of losing elections when she was in power in the 1970s.

These people (Congress) credit Rajiv Gandhi for ushering computerisation and mobile revolution in the country. Now, when I talk about mobile wallets, they say poor people dont have mobile phones. Which statement is correct? Modi asked at a BJP rally in Kanpur for next years Uttar Pradesh polls.

This was his first public address after protests against the demonetisation drive washed out the month-long winter session in Parliament.

To help the corrupt, Parliament was not allowed to function . A handful of people are trying to save the corrupt, while on the other side the entire country is ready to tread the path of honesty, Modi said.

The remarks were viewed as a riposte to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis charge of personal corruption against the Prime Minister, who rode to power two years ago vowing to stamp out corruption.

When Sitaram Kesri was Congress party treasurer, their own leaders used to say na khata na bahi, jo Kesri kahe wahi sahi. Unaccountability, corruption and doing whatever they want have been the style of Congress, Modi said.

He supported the Election Commissions proposal to curb anonymous donations to political parties, which dont have to reveal the source if the contribution is Rs 20,000 or less. The poll panel sought to fix the amount at Rs 2,000.

Read: Highlights of Modis speech in Kanpur

Modi said he had proposed a debate in Parliament over the nature of political funding, but the Opposition didnt want it.

He also backed a proposal to hold parliamentary and assembly elections concurrently to stop unnecessary expenditure. Separate polls create space for black money to make way into the system.

The governments surprise move to recall Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to weed out black money and corruption triggered a cash crunch, forcing millions of people to queue at banks and ATM kiosks for more than a month.

Modi said he was aware of the hardships people were facing because of the cash crunch and reaffirmed his pledge that the problems would begin to ease out after 50 days of the note ban.

You have suffered for the country, you will not be disappointed, he said. I am settling accounts with those who have exploited the middle class and the poor; it is their fight I am waging.
Public execution in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has executed at least 153 people this year, nearing last year's record high of 158, according to figures collated by human rights organization Reprieve.





Among those executed this year were at least 4 juveniles who were killed as part of a mass execution of 47 people in January this year. One of them, Ali al-Ribh, was arrested in school, tortured into a false confession to protest-related charges, and executed.





The high number of executions raises fresh concerns for the fate of three other juveniles who have been sentenced to death  Ali al-Nimr, Dawood al-Marhoon and Abdullah al Zaher. The trio were arrested as children in the wake of protests, and tortured into confessions. They could be executed at any time, without notification to their families.





It has also emerged the juveniles continue to be mistreated on death row. According to reports, prison guards recently beat Dawood and threatened him with solitary confinement after he submitted a complaint about a previous instance of abuse. The health of the three juveniles is said to be suffering amid poor prison conditions.





Some 47 of those who were executed this year were tried in the countrys secretive Specialized Criminal Court. Reprieve has raised concerns that the court is routinely used to try people who were arrested in relation to political protests, including the three juveniles, and a disabled young man named Munir Adam. Hearings often take place without a lawyer, and forced confessions extracted under torture are frequently admitted as evidence.





According to the figures, 23 of those executed this year were arrested for drug offences  of these, 14 were foreign nationals. Previous research by Reprieve has found that many of those held on Saudi Arabias death row for drug-related offences are trafficking victims, who were forced to carry drugs into the Gulf from overseas.





The figures are released as Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood meets with King Salman in Riyadh. Reprieve has written to Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, asking them to seek a commutation of the death sentences handed to juveniles and political protestors.





Mrs May said in a speech to the Gulf Cooperation Council earlier this month that the UK would help Gulf countries to reform and to embed international norms. However, she reportedly failed to raise individual cases during a meeting with Saudi Arabias King Salman.





Commenting, Maya Foa, a director at Reprieve, said: Saudi Arabias 2016 execution toll is fast approaching last years shocking high, with some 153 prisoners killed. Among those executed were political protestors, people arrested for alleged drug offences, prisoners who were tortured into confessions, and juveniles. Meanwhile, Dawood al-Marhoon, who was arrested as a child and who languishes on death row, is being subjected to threats and beatings. These appalling abuses give the lie to the Prime Ministers claim that the UKs engagement with Saudi Arabia promotes reform. The Government must urgently use its ever-closer relationship with Saudi Arabia to secure genuine change  this includes the release of juveniles facing the death penalty, like Dawood.





The total number of executions in 2016 so far is estimated at 153. In 2015, the figure was 158; while in 2014 the total number of executions was estimated at 87. A breakdown of Reprieve's figures is available on request.

 | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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Source: Reprieve, December 19, 2016. Reprieve is an international human rights organization.
After the Central governments move to demonetise higher denomination currencies and promote cashless economy invited scathing attack from Opposition parties, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now taking steps to assess peoples response.

The party leadership has asked the local leaders to inform how people have responded to the governments decisions and its seizure of unaccounted money through raids.

The local leaders in Indore were also asked whether they have opted for cashless transactions and the difficulties they were facing while doing so. In addition, the state BJP business and commerce cell has been asked to gather information on how traders, small and middle-rung businessmen have responded to Centres initiatives.

Reports are being sent to Bhopal and New Delhi formally and informally. There are verbal communications as well. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is also gathering information on its own. People are in wait-and-watch mood as they try to go cashless. But the picture will be clear only by February 2017, a BJP leader said requesting anonymity.

A week ago, the city BJP unit had organised a training workshop, in which powerpoint presentation was made on going cashless. About 25 local leaders and workers who attended it raised practical queries as many of them could not download apps or had problems with further procedures.

Acting on directives of Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who is also the member of parliament from Indore, certain non-governmental organisations organised workshops on cashless transactions to train public on using apps to transfer money. However, the powerpoint presentations made in different localities received lukewarm response.

Indore City Congress steps up agitation against demonetisation

Meanwhile, Indore City Congress Committee has stepped up agitation against demonetisation during last two weeks. Two days after Congress member of legislative assembly Jitu Patwari was arrested for staging a vehement protest against demonetisation, Congress leader Devendra Singh Yadav on Sunday said more protests are on the anvil. Our fight against this will continue till the Centre addresses concerns of people who are unable to withdraw their own money, he told mediapersons.
Condition of Radheshyam Prajapathi, a farmer who consumed pesticide in MP while standing in queue at a bank, is stable and he is reported to be out of danger.

Prajapati, aged 40, hailing from Narayangarh in Mandsaur took the extreme step after failing to encash his cheque at the Central Bank of Indias city branch. He was admitted in district hospital following it.

Narayangarh police station in-charge Darshana Mujalde said that police is investigating the matter.

On Monday, we would record statement of bank employees and others who witnessed the incident. If the any bank employee is found guilty in the matter, we will register a case under relevant sections and take necessary action against him, Mujalde said.

Bank manager Sunil Dohare maintained that he was ready to make the payment, and is clueless why the farmer attempted to end his life.

However, those who were well-acquainted with Prajapati said that he had deposited on November 24 a cheque of Rs 25,141, which he received from Sadhana Trading Company at Pipliya mandi in Mandsaur, for trading his soyabean crop. Since then, the farmer had been visiting the bank to withdraw money, but to no avail.

A few sources from the bank said that Prajapati, who had a bank account with Central Bank of India in Narayangarh, got the cheque of State Bank of India (SBI), Pipliya mandi branch. While the bank has to send this cheque to SBI Pipliya mandi branch for clearance, they had sent it to SBI Mandsaur branch on November 24. Subsequently, Mandsaur branch reverted his cheque to Narayangarh bank. After this, bank employees at Narayangarh bank had sent this cheque to SBI Pipliya mandi branch on December 8 for clearance and this could be one reason behind delay, they said.
Pakistan-born Canadian writer and commentator Tarek Fatah on Saturday said shariat, which is made by men, should be rejected as a source of public laws.

If you accept it as a public law, youre finished, Fatah said at an interactive session on the second day of the Indore Literature Festival.

He was commenting on a query on the raging debate in India on triple-Talaq, which allows a Muslim man to divorce his wife by pronouncing the Arabic word for divorce thrice.

The Supreme Court is hearing three petitions against the triple talaq as many Muslim women in recent years have approached the judiciary against the practice. The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre said it is steadfast on its stand that triple talaqmust go.

But many influential Muslim organisations, including The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) accused the government of creating an internal war by trying to review the communitys personal laws on divorce and polygamy.

People who want Islamic laws can go to Syria, Somalia and Nigeria, he said, adding in a fight between Allahs Islam and Mullahs (fundamentalists) Islam, the former will win.

In his address, Fatah said it is imperative for India to identify who its civilisational enemies are without which it cannot face hostile neighbours.

Pakistan is not a state. Difference between India and Pakistan is that latter worships army and death while India worships money. You (Indians) dont know about your country, your heroes like king Dahir (last Hindu ruler of Sindh) who protected Prophet Muhammads family and resisted Arab invasion to India, Fatah said.

You couldnt even build a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Delhi who resisted Muslim attack, he remarked and questioned that how many affluent people in India send their sons to defence forces. You will not find any of their sons in the frontlines at a battle field, he said.

Responding to another query, he said 95% of Muslims of Deoband, Bareli,Patna, Bombay, Madras voted for Muslim League leader Mohammad Ali Jinnah for creation of Pakistan. They butchered this country (India) and stayed back to get Haj subsidy, he added.

Adding that India is in a state of war with Pakistan since 1947, Fatah said India should scrap Indus Water Treaty and lend recognition to Balochistans freedom struggle to hit back at Pakistan.

Asked to comment on some Indian writers decision to return awards protesting growing intolerance in the country, he said the Indian mindset that those leaders who speak good English, Urdu can only be good rulers must be defeated.

He claimed that the countrys so-called elite are unable to accept that a tea-seller assumed the position of Indias Prime Minister.

On demonetisation, he said it was unpardonable that some bank managers are involved in swindling of new currency notes.

The Canadian writer further blamed Indian bureaucracy for creating hurdles in project implementation.
A female cub born a week ago to Asiatic lioness Mehek in Sajjangarh Biological Park in Udaipur is being artificially fed after being abandoned by its mother, forest officials said on Monday.

Fearing that the cub would suffer from dehydration in absence of mothers milk, it is being artificially fed US-made milk that was brought from Jodhpur, T Mohan Raj, Udaipurs deputy conservator of forests (wildlife), told HT.

The cub was spotted by the forest department on December 13 and taken into care of veterinary experts after observing that its mother did not feed it for the first 24 hours after birth.

He said a veterinary doctor from Jodhpurs Machiya Safari Park was attending the cub. Notably, another Asiatic lioness had given birth to three cubs on October 22 in Machiya Safari Park and abandoned them, which led to the death of two.

The doctor had attended the surviving cub in Machiya Safari Park and we invited him here because of his expertise in taking care of lion cubs, said Raj.

Raj said lions generally give birth to 2-3 cubs in a single litter and the number may go up to 6. This time, however, the lioness gave birth to only one cub.

The birth of a lion cub is the first in Sajjangarh Park since its establishment one and a half years ago. It is also the first litter of lioness Mehek. The park has two Asiatic lions  one male and one female  and two hybrid lions, both of which are males.

Sajjangarh Park, inaugurated in April 2015 by then union environment and forest minister Prakash Javdekar, has lions, tigers, panthers, slot, Himalayan bears, blackbucks, wolves, foxes, crocodiles, emu etc. Of the two tigers in the park, one is a white tiger which was brought from Chennai in September.

Since its inauguration, the park saw 2.83 lakh visitors and generated a revenue of Rs.85 lakh.

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The ambitious Rs12,000-crore coastal road project is all set to get a new consultant for general administration work, which is usually the responsibility of the civic body.

This will take the total number of consultants for the project to five.

The new consultant, who will be appointed for Rs34 lakh, will work as a coordinator and will mostly do the managerial work and coordination for Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). It will also look into the work of three contractors who will construct the south phase of the project from Princess Street to Bandra.

Compared to the major infrastructure work that BMC undertakes, the coastal road has the highest number of consultants. Around Rs600 crore will be spent on consultants itself. One was appointed to prepare the document and another one to review it. Two consultants were appointed to carry out geo-technical survey and tidal pattern study for the south phase and they would be paid Rs10 crore each .

The civic body had appointed a consultant to study the wave patterns and the impact of the coastal road project on marine lines and another to study the detail project report.

The coastal project will be constructed in two phases -- the south phase is between Princess Street flyover near Marine Lines and Carter Road in Bandra and the north phase is from Bandra to Kandivli.

The civic body said that the foundation stone for the first phase will be laid by next monsoon after completion of the tender process by March next year.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray inspected the site with municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta in November.

The civic body plans to construct a 29.2-km coastal road from Princess Street flyover in Marine Lines to Kandivli. It have eight lanes with two dedicated bus lanes for Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).

The coastal road will connect the western suburbs along the coast with undersea tunnels, roads on reclaimed land and elevated road. The project will reclaim around 186 hectares of land, out of which, 91 hectares will be developed as green space.

The BMC has already received eight no-objection certificates from various agencies and its departments.

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Coastal road will be extended to Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway: Uddhav

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While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the first two phases of polls to municipal councils governing small cities across Maharashtra, the third phase was not as much of a cakewalk for the saffron party with the Congress and BJP ending up neck-to-neck in the battle.

Nineteen municipal councils and two nagar panchayats went to polls with a total of 409 seats across four districts of Aurangabad, Nanded, Bhandara and Gadchiroli in the third phase of the four-phase polls to 212 local bodies across Maharashtra.

The BJP expanded its presence to end up with 116 seats of the 409 seats, up from the 25 of the 381 member seats that went to polls in 2011, as per data from the State Election Commission (SEC).

While the Congress actual number of seats dipped, it raced ahead of the BJP with a tally of 122 seats out of the total 409, as against 140 of the existing 381 that went to polls in 2011.

The Congress and BJP each got eight council presidents elected. The Congress was successful in propping up its candidates to the council presidents posts in Kannad and Khultabad in the Aurangabad district, and Biloli, Deglur, Dharmabad, Hadgaon, Kandhar and Mukhed in the Nanded district.

Meanwhile, the BJP got its presidents elected to the councils of Paithan and Gangapur in the Aurangabad, Bhandara, Sakoli and Tumsar in the Bhandara district, Desaiganj and Gadchiroli in the Gadchiroli district, and Kundalwadi in Nanded.

Aurangabad and Nanded districts have been strongholds of the Congress with the party currently holding 35 of the 74 existing seats in the councils that went to polls in the Aurangabad district, and 88 of the 195 in the Nanded district.

For Congress, the victory is being seen as a face-saver with the Nanded district being the home turf of former chief minister and state Congress Chief Ashok Chavan, and with the party having already conceded a significant space to the BJP elsewhere until now, especially in the second phase.

Chavan said, The BJP resorted to ample misuse of the government machinery and money during elections. In this particular phase, in the Nanded district the chief minister addressed five public gatherings in a single day, resorting to large-scale campaigning, but the Congress workers worked hard on the ground and emerged successful.

He added, Congress sweeping success in the Marathwada region is significant of how the upcoming elections to Zilla Parishads and municipal corporations across the state might turn out to be like.

Besides the BJPs rising influence, the growing presence of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in the Marathwada region was being seen as another reason that could have made it difficult for the Congress to guard its bastions. The AIMIM was responsible for shaving off the Congress numbers to a certain extent in the first two phases of the four-phase election.

The Hyderabad-based partys impact was, however, limited in the third phase as it managed to clinch just five member seats, two in the Kannad municipal council in Aurangabad, two in the Ardhapur nagar panchayat in the Nanded district, and one seat the Mahur nagar panchayat, also in Nanded.

Having emerged with a majority in council member seats and council presidents in the first phase, and made deep inroads into Congress and NCP strongholds in the second round, the BJP patted itself on its back after the third phase too. BJP leaders attributed the partys success to a thumps up to the prime ministers decision to demonetize in the governments war on black money, and active work by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

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Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over demonetisation, corruption and violence at the border, the Shiv Sena on Monday said its ally should keep its supposed vision for development to itself and the Maharashtra of Chhatrapati Shivaji and the Shiv Sena chief doesnt need any of it.

In an editorial in the partys mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena said the BJPs tactic at the Centre and the state is all about creating a vision, despite whatever may happen on the ground.

Directly lashing out at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the party said, Apparently in an unofficial chat in Nagpur, the chief minister said the alliance (with Shiv Sena) will only happen if the party accepts BJPs vision for development. If the conversation was unofficial how did it get widely published? The Sena, however, added that it doesnt need to seek any clarification on it, knowing that the BJPs way of doing things in the country as well as other states is by stating grand visions.

Just when the chief minister was talking about crimes being on the decline, in Nagpur itself there were four murders in just 20 hours. But since theres a vision about good law and order, journalists should now start writing that these werent murders and people just decided to peacefully rest. This is how the BJPs vision is like, the Sena said in the Saamana editorial.

The party also took a jibe at the CMs pet Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway project, saying that the BJP has shown a vision that it will bring prosperity to districts along the alignment and increase land prices along the way. But the vision that has surfaced, of officials close to the ruling party buying land along the proposed route at cheap rates, is shocking. But instead of seeing this as a multi-acre land scam, we should all look at it as just a vision, the Sena said.

Over the last few weeks, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and the chief minister projected an image that relations between them were warm and cordial while sharing stage several times and praising each others work.

The Sena, however, continued to lash out against the BJP over the implementation of demonetisation, whereby the government suddenly decommissioned old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, massively inconveniencing people.

The Shiv Senas latest barbs come at a time when the Mumbai civic polls are less than two months away, and there is still a cloud of uncertainty over a Sena-BJP alliance for the polls.

Read

There is corruption in BMC: Maharashtra CM jibe at ally Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena , BJP clash over tree hacking for Mumbais Metro III project

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Amidst slogans such as Saurabh Farate amar rahe, large number of people from Phursungi and surrounding villages in Pune district on Monday bid tearful adieu to this gunner, who along with two soldiers, was killed by terrorists in Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir. Politicians including BJP MP Anil Shirole, Minister for State Vijay Shivtare and mayor Prashant Jagtap were present for Saurabhs cremation which was carried out in full military honours.

Survived by wife, twin daughters and parents, Saurabh had joined Indian Army in 2004 and was posted in Jammu and Kashmir. His younger brother Rohit also works with Indian Army and is serving in the valley.

Saurabh, 33, Shashikant Pandey (24) and Ratheesh C (28) attained martyrdom when their convoy was attacked by terrorists on Saturday. Pained by the loss of his son, gunners father Nandkumar Farate urged government to end the ongoing tension at the border, which has killed more than 60 Indian soldiers in 2016. I lost my sontomorrow someone else may lose their son. The government should ensure that precious lives are saved, he said.

Earlier mortal remains of the martyred soldier were brought to Lohegaon airport from where they were taken to the gunners native village. Also, NCP chief Sharad Pawar visited the family and consoled them.

A pall of gloom descended on Fursungi when the news of Saurabhs death had reached the village. Neighbours and Saurabhs friends visited the martyrs residence and consoled his family members. According to his father, Saurabh had recently returned to duty after spending two months at his native place when he was on leave. He had also celebrated his twin daughters first birthday on October 24.

He said before leaving for duty on Saturday morning, Saurabh had spoken on telephone with the family. On Saturday, I received a call from his unit. However, the person on the other side gave incomplete information and only informed us that Saurabh was shot, said the bereaved father.

Later, Nandkumar called up his younger son who gave complete information to the family about Saurabhs killing.

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Pall of gloom descends on Pune village, home of Pampore attack soldier Farate

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With an aim to woo voters from the backward classes in the city for the 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections, Union minister for Development of North Eastern Region General (retd) VK Singh lashed out at the Samajwadi Party (SP) for dividing the society on the basis of religion and ignoring the backward classes.

At a conference on Other Backward Classes (OBCs) organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at ITS College in Mohan Nagar on Sunday, Singh said that it is only the BJP which focuses on Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas (development of all, with all).

In 2001, when Rajnath Singh was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, BJP had created Samajik Nyay Samiti in the state which aimed at uplifting of the backward sections of the society. However, it was shunned when the SP came to power which started giving incentives to people on the basis of religion, said Singh.

Singh addressed a gathering of over 500 people at the conference which started at 11 am. Other BJP members at the conference included city mayor Ashu Verma and BJP Ghaziabad city president Ajay Sharma.

Singh took a shot at the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as well.

While BSP is drowning, the SP is involved in its own fights, he added.

Other leaders also targeted the BSP by saying that they have limited the vision of leader Kanshi Ram to just one person.

The BSP has destroyed the backward classes by enticing them against other castes and parties rather than working for their development. They have limited the vision of Kanshi Ram to just one person, said Ashok Kataria, BJP state general secretary, Uttar Pradesh.

Leaders said that the BJP is the only party which has respected people from all castes by giving them opportunities at important positions.

The BJP does not create any divide among the society and we believe in development for all. In our party, people from even the backward classes are holding important positions. The perfect examples are Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, cabinet minister Uma Bharti and governor of Rajasthan Kalyan Singh, said Singh.

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The Ghaziabad police on Monday received 17 new police control room (PCR) vehicles, under the state governments Dial100 police emergency response system project.

Although the official launch of the project in Ghaziabad is on January 7, the vehicles were flagged off on Monday, ahead of the expected announcement of the model code of conduct for assembly polls.

Under the Dial100 project, all emergency calls will be routed to the centre in Lucknow, from where they will be diverted to the respective PCR vans in 75 districts with the help of mobile data terminals, wireless sets and other communication equipment.

Ghaziabad is set to get a total of 64 PCR vans under the project, which comprises Bolero and Innova vehicles, by January 7. Of these 64 vehicles, 17 were flagged off on Monday by a member of legislative council (MLC) Rakesh Yadav.

The centralised control room in Lucknow will maintain the standards, supervise networks and do work economically. Dial100 is under the direct control of the Uttar Pradesh director general of police. The centre is maintained by an agency that is independent of the police, Anil Agrawal, additional director general (traffic), UP, said.

The basic purpose is to have a centralised monitoring system and supervise calls, irrespective of the district level interference. The calls will be recorded and information made available under RTI. The vehicles under the project are provisioned to run 150km per day and such provision cannot be made available with district level funds. The government has allocated a separate budget for the project, Agarwal said.

At present, Ghaziabad district has 71 four-wheelers and 75 two-wheelers for patrol. These vehicles will also continue to be operated, along with the 64 new vehicles under the Dial100 project. The new vehicles are air conditioned and equipped with anti-riot gear, life-saving equipment and equipment to secure a crime scene, among others.

Officials said that they are expecting a maximum of 15-minute response time in city areas and a maximum of 20 minutes for rural areas under the Dial100 project. The project is estimated to cost 2,325 crore and has been approved by the state government.

Officials said that they will prepare route charts and assign personnel tasks once they receive all the vehicles. Vehicles under the Dial100 project will not be sanctioned according to police station jurisdiction area, officials said.

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Blog Hinangai

While there is much discussion in Guam about the economic benefits of increasing the islands military presence, the damages/dangers that they represent are rarely mentioned. This blog, a supplement to the Peace and Justice for Guam Petition, is meant to counter that by providing information about the US military in Guam, with the hopes of steering policy away from a dangerous unilateralist course to more sustainable notions of regional development and a strengthening international solidarity.
A man died after being hit by a speeding car at Yamuna Expressway on Sunday morning near Gautam Budh Nagar University, the police said.

According to the police, the victim, Pappu Jatav, 35, was crossing the expressway when a speeding Maruti Swift Dzire hit him from behind and fled from the spot leaving him in the middle of the road. The deceased was a resident of Gharbara village and worked as a contractual construction worker.

Locals staged a protest with the body of the victim and blocked the expressway for over one hour. Police teams and senior officials rushed to the spot to pacify the protesters. The incident triggered a long traffic jam at Yamuna Expressway. The family of the deceased demanded compensation and arrest of the driver of the car.

The police team pacified the protesters. We have secured the footage of CCTV cameras installed at the expressway. We will examine the footage to get a clue about the car that was involved in the accident, said Ram Bhawan Singh, in charge, Ecotech 1 police station.

Police said the body of the deceased was sent for an autopsy, reports of which are still awaited.

This was the 14th death in an accident on Yamuna Expressway in the last two months.

The police said crossing the expressway is too dangerous. People should not cross expressway as vehicles move here continuously at high speed. Such accidents occur when people misjudge the speed of the vehicles and try to cross the expressway. It is advised that pedestrians should take the service lane to cross it, said Singh.

A case of rash and negligent driving and causing death due to negligence was registered against unidentified persons at the Ecotech 1 police station, police said.

E-way Negligence

December 12: Four occupants of a Maruti Alto car died when it rammed into a stationary truck at Yamuna Expressway. Three of the deceased were from the same family.

December 4: One person died while three others were injured when a speeding car collided with a tractor-trolley that was loaded with wheat sacks. In another accident, a man was burnt to death when his car caught fire after collision with a bus.

December 1: Three persons died while seven others were injured in a pileup of six vehicles at Yamuna Expressway. Police said the incident had occurred due decreased visibility caused by dense fog.

November 13: Four persons from two different families died when a speeding Mahindra XUV lost balance and jumped the divider and collided with a Ford Figo. Three occupants of the XUV and one occupant of the Figo died on the spot.

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Two days after its launch, the director general of police, Javeed Ahmed, came for a surprise check of Dial 100 project. Last Thursday, 36 new PCR vans were inducted in the city polices fleet and a substation for attending to PCR calls was also set up for better functioning of emergency response system. This was a part of Dial 100 project launched earlier this year in Lucknow.

He came here to inspect Dial 100 vehicles. The DGP interacted with the cops to know about their experiences and difficulties in the system. He was satisfied with the feedback, said Prabal Pratap Singh, superintendent of police (traffic), Gautam Budh Nagar, who is the nodal officer for the project in the district.

Ahmed also roamed around the city in a PCR van of Sector 39 police station to check the efficiency of the new vehicle and the communication systems. IG Meerut zone Ajay Anand, SSP Gautam Budh Nagar Dharmendra Singh, SP traffic Prabal Pratap Singh and all senior officers attended the meeting at Noida polices control room in Sector 14 A.

The substation for PCR calls is under process. It will share the load of the unified emergency response system and calls on number 100 from Ghaziabad, Hapur and other nearby districts can be handled from Noida, said the spokesperson.

In the Dial 100 project, the police have unified the emergency response system and enhanced the number of call attendants and PCR vans in various parts of the state. The emergency number will be connected to a unified call center in Lucknow and from there it will be transferred to the police station concerned.

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Selecting an Indian Army chief is the prerogative of the government. As a practice, five to six names are put up to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and it is left to the panel to decide on who on that list is most suitable for the post.

All the commanders considered for this post are competent and meet the parameters needed to hold the coveted post. So, the government needs to have some very compelling reasons to bypass seniority.

There have been just two cases in the past when seniority was overlooked. Once, it was done in the case of Lt-Gen SK Sinha and the second for Lt-Gen Prem Bhagat, VC (Victoria Cross). In both these cases, the officers overlooked were competent officers but were perceived as forthright personalities. Perhaps the then government did not feel comfortable dealing with them.

Read | New army chief: When UPA govt didnt follow seniority in appointment

For Lt-Gen Bipin Rawats elevation the justification offered by the ministry of defence is his experience in counter-insurgency operations and his long tenure along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Many defence experts too are giving the same argument as the ministry: That terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and counter-insurgency or what is also known as asymmetrical war is of greater relevance to the country than a full-scale conflict with an adversary.

We seem to forget that the main task for the Indian Army, with its large troops and the essential arsenal, is to secure the countrys borders and fight a full blooded war against an enemy, when pushed into such a situation. Counter insurgency in the Northeast and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, at the scale faced by the country should be handled by state and central police forces. Unfortunately, as of now, these do not measure up to the task, both in training and junior leadership. Therefore, the army has to chip in.

Going by precedence, it can be recalled that on Gen Bipin Joshis sudden demise while in office, the one promoted to the post of army chief was then the senior-most, although he had not been general officer commanding-in-chief (GoC-in-C) and was merely looking after training aspects. The next in the line had distinguished himself in the 1962 and 1965 wars. However seniority prevailed.

Read | Lt Gen Bipin Rawat appointed army chief, Air Marshal BS Dhanoa is new air force chief

So the argument that the one now promoted has more experience in an area, which decidedly is of relatively less importance, compared to the larger tasks set out for the Indian Army, cuts little ice. It is the overall national security scene, the deteriorating relations with Pakistan, its close links with China and more recently Russia, which should beep on the Indian security radar. The geostrategic scenario, the ever-tightening string of pearls around countrys neck, should be an area of greater concern than insurgency. Only the short-sighted can fail to see the emerging threats to national security at the strategic level.

In a possible future scenario, India should prepare to face a two-front conflict. The threat from the use of tactical nuclear weapons is another area demanding very careful responses, where experience in fighting terrorists and low-level counter-insurgency operations have no relevance. In any case these operations and on the LoC have little connect at the level of an Indian army chief and are effectively handled at much lower levels.

An army chief who cannot render firm advice to the political leadership in operational matters, is likely to bring about a national disaster. Had General Pran Nath Thapar firmly advised the government against the forward policy and offensive action at Thagla Ridge, when the Indian Army was in no state to go to war with China, the ignominy of 1962 could have been prevented.

Read | Oppn questions Bipin Rawats appointment as army chief, BJP hit back

Had Gen Sam Manekshaw not firmly held his own against the political leaderships demand to commence an early war against East Pakistan, India would have suffered a defeat as severe as the one we received against China. General Manekshaw was willing to resign than go against his own professional assessment of the situation. It was the political leadership, which eventually profited from the generals decision.

Since all those considered for elevation to the post of army chief are equally competent, the political leadership, if it wants to bypass seniority, must take into reckoning the quality of forthrightness. The one selected should have the gumption to tell the government not what it wants to hear but what it must hear. Such military commanders act in national interest and in the long run, the interest of the political leadership.

Read | Eight things you need to know about new army chief Bipin Rawat

In the present case, the government has simply failed to come up with any compelling reasons to break the chain of seniority and has in fact, politicised the appointment of the army chief.

Lt-Gen Harwant Singh is retired deputy chief of army staff and commanded a corps in Jammu and Kashmir

The views expressed are personal
As the city municipal corporation went to the polls on Sunday, colony dwellers once again lived up to their reputation and came out in large numbers to elect their respective candidates.

At Dadumajra, Maloya, Ram Darbar and Sector 52, queues came up at as early as 8am and the rush remained till the afternoon. After a break for just an hour, the long queues could again be seen as the end of polling approached at 5pm. In Maloya, the polling continued till as late as 8pm. The polling staff said whosoever was able to get in the queue by 5pm was allowed to cast the vote. In other colonies, voting went on till around 7.30pm.

In ward 6, which comprises Dadumajra, the voter turnout was 66%, while in ward 23 (Ram Darbar) -- which has the maximum number of voters at 33,113 -- the polling went as high as 72%.

Even as Chandigarh records high literacy rate, the overall voting percentage, remains low. In the first MC polls held in 1996, the voter turnout was recorded at 45.7%. It went down to 31.8% in 2001 before rising up to 45.2% in 2006. In the last elections held in 2011, the turnout was 59%.

The major blame for this lies on affluent sectors. Ward 1, which comprises Sectors 1 to 11, recorded only 49% polling this election. In 2006 and 2011, it was 34% and 52% respectively. At 42%, the lowest polling on Sunday was seen at ward 17 (Sectors 18,19 and 21). In ward 15 (Sectors 34, 35 and 44), it remained just 43%.

Colony dwellers and resident of southern sectors, meanwhile, have always been coming out to vote enthusiastically. Ward 6 that comprises Dadumajra saw the highest turnout of 75% in both the previous elections in 2006 and 2011. Ward 11 (Maloya) and ward 26 (Manimajra) recorded 71% polling in 2011.

Dalit Chetna Manch president Narendra Chaudhary said: Colony dwellers take elections seriously and always come forward to participate in large numbers. Other city residents should also not shy away from exercising their franchise.

Maya Rani, a Dadumajra resident, said: It is a norm in my family that all members above 18 have to vote. By voting, we feel that we are a part of the democratic process.

To encourage voters, the UT administration had come up with jingles and advertisements. Even political parties put in efforts to ensure high turnout.

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With Congress candidate from the Bathinda (urban) assembly segment, Manpreet Singh Badal, gradually stepping up his campaign, supporters of former MLA Harminder Singh Jassi, who was also a ticket claimant, are in a fix.

After the formal announcement of Manpreet Badals name as candidate on Thursday, a meeting of Jassis supporters was held at house of city unit president Mohan Lal Jhumba, who too is among Jassis supporters, in Lal Singh Basti on Friday late evening to chalk out the next course of action.

A meeting of Jassis supporters was also reportedly scheduled for Saturday morning at his house but couldn't take place. Some workers, while going back, said that they were not conveyed about the change in programme.

The Friday night meeting was attended by some Bathinda municipal corporation councillors and some who had lost the urban body poll.

Jhumba, however, said that meeting was not a formal one and people had gathered just to express their feelings. Jassi remained incommunicado despite repeated attempts.

Jassi, who remained the Bathinda (urban) MLA from 2007-2012, was a ticker seeker here. Last month, Jassi, in a show of strength had held a meeting of his supporters in which Jhumba and five out of nine party councillors in Bathinda municipal corporation were present. Jassi had blamed Manpreet for behaving like owner of Bathinda urban assembly constituency.

Meanwhile, Manpreet, who is yet to start his formal campaign, has stepped up activity across the city. He met party workers and some MC councillors on Saturday. On Friday, he, along with father Gurdas Singh Badal, had also met Congress leader Chiranji Lal Garg.

A meeting of Congress workers is scheduled for Sunday and Manpreet is expected to start campaign from Monday by holding a road show in the city.

Strap: Jassis supporters held a meeting led by city Congress unit president Mohan Lal Jhumba Friday evening

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Chief minister Raghubar Das asked peoples representatives to play an active role in the implementation of government programmes, instead of leaving the job only to officials.

Das told officials to reply to queries made by peoples representatives. Please dont confuse people, answer their representatives satisfactorily, he said on Monday while presiding over the first state-level 20-point programme implementation committee (20-PPIC) meeting here.

Be active and connect to the people, the chief minister told officials. Its a competitive world, he said, calling upon the participants to remain prepared to meet the challenges. You people have definite roles to play.

Suggestions made on issues at the meeting varied from rice procurement, disbursement of students scholarships, night patrolling, MNREGA payments to self-attestations.

MPs and MLAs, besides the appointed members, were invited to the meeting. The JMM and the Congress, the main opposition parties, did not attend.

The government is looking into minimum wages, Das said, urging the banks to open accounts for all so that payments could be credited into them.

He wanted operationalisation of e-banking in 15 days, and directed officials to suspend district labour commissioners if e-payment does not start within the period.

On peoples security, he welcomed the suggestion on surprise checks of night patrolling parties and PCR vans. Night patrolling was started to instill confidence and provide security cover to the people, not to harass them or collude with offenders and criminals.

On power front, Das reiterated his governments commitment to providing electricity to all villages by March 2017 and to all houses by December 2018. About 30 lakh families out of 68 lakh in Jharkhand are yet come under rural electrification.

Das said his government was simplifying laws and would not backtrack on the decisions already taken.

State 20-PPIC vice president Rakesh Prasad, and planning and finance secretary Amit Khare said the meeting was successful. They told reporters that a website of the state 20-PPIC would be launched to make it accessible and transparent.

Prasad said suggestion on placing advertisements regarding around 400 rice procurement centres and minimum support price of 1,600 per quintal was welcomed.

Khare said 48.9% of the budgetary allocations for the current fiscal has been spent till December 17, and employment generation registered a growth in the state.

The next meeting will be held after six months.

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Latin America is set to be a key travel trend for 2017. With Colombia and Costa Rica also on the rise, the Central American country of Belize, nestled between Mexico and Guatemala, has plenty to offer travellers looking for a walk on the wild side.

Cultural highlight

> The archaeological site of Xunantunich

Visitors can head off in search of Belizes ancient history at the Xunantunich ancient Maya archeological site on the Guatemala border. Culture vultures who arent put off by the lack of infrastructure for tourism in the country  which covers a total area of around 23,000 square km (or 8,900 square miles)  can visit these Mayan ruins to capture emblematic photos of Belize. Plus, the archeological site is on the top of a hill, offering breathtaking views.

Enjoy the wildlife

> Belize Zoo

Home to species native to this small Central American country, Belize Zoo is a must-visit for animal lovers. The zoo keeps animals that were orphaned, rescued, born at the zoo, rehabilitated or donated, and houses them in conditions as close as possible to their natural habitats in the wild.

The zoo is a great place to take a closer look at jaguars, pumas and margays, and features an installation allowing visitors to get up close to jaguars in total safety. The zoo even holds night-time visits for observing the behavior of wild animals after dark.

Essential excursion

> Diving the Great Blue Hole

Home to the second largest coral reef system in the world, stretching over 130km (81 miles), Belize is a prime destination for divers and snorkelers. There are plenty of places to go, but the most famous diving hotspot is the Great Blue Hole, a submarine sinkhole made famous when French naval officer and explorer, Jacques Cousteau, named it one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world.

A trip to the site requires a little forward planning, since the Hole, which is more than 300 meters in diameter (984 feet), is situated 80km (50 miles) off the coast and is nestled among the Belize Cayes, a series of coral cayes in the Caribbean Sea. The trip also requires a certain budget.

Adventurous activity

> Explore the ancient Maya civilization in underground caves

Belize has many underground caves, used by the Maya civilization to honor the gods. Today, tours are organized for adventurous visitors keen to discover this heritage in an action-packed excursion. Tours involve river trekking, canyoning and jungle hiking, for example. The Actun Tunichil Muknal is the most famous cave to visit.

Upcoming hotspot

> Corozal and the Caribbean coast

Previously known as British Honduras, this former British colony is the only English-speaking country in Central America. The official language is English, but Belizes proximity with Spanish-speaking countries ensures the language plays an important role in day-to-day life, alongside Creole, Garifuna and more. In fact, Belize is a melting pot of cultures and languages.

The Caribbean coast is a great place to soak up this cultural diversity. Head to Corozal Town to check out the Spanish colonial influence and tuck into delicious seafood and shellfish. Further south, the resort town of Placencia is popular with tourists.

Authentic market

> Visit the capital, Belmopan, and its municipal market

Fans of local markets can head to Belmopan, the countrys very small capital city. Built after the previous capital, Belize City, was largely destroyed by Hurricane Hattie in 1961, visitors can get an authentic taste of Belmopan and its 15,000 residents with a stroll around its municipal market, where people from all walks of life rub shoulders.

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At least 33 residents of the Siberian city of Irkutsk have died after drinking bath oil, hoping it would give them the same sensation as alcohol, Russian investigators said on Monday.

Use of counterfeit or surrogate alcohol is rife in Russias regions, where two years of economic pain have pushed more people below the poverty line, though the death toll from this latest incident is unusually high.

It is a terrible tragedy, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

This type of problem is well known and the president has been informed. It undoubtedly demands our undivided attention and measures must be taken.

Investigators in Irkutsk, a city around 4,200km east of Moscow, said they had detained two people suspected of distributing the bath oil. A local police official told Russian agencies five other arrests had also been made.

The product had a warning on its label saying it should not be swallowed, but investigators said people had ignored that and consumed it as if it was alcohol. The bath oil contained methylated spirit, they said.

A local official told news agency TASS that the liquid came in bottles whose labels said the content was 93% spirit. Police said they had found the workshop where the bath oil, called Hawthorn, was being produced alongside bootleg vodka.

It was unclear whether those selling the product were marketing it as a cheaper substitute for alcoholic drinks such as vodka.

Forty two people have been admitted to medical institutions of whom 25 have died, investigators said in an initial statement.

Investigators and the police are conducting searches at markets where the liquid was first obtained. More than 100 points of sale have been identified.

Investigators later told the Interfax news agency that the death toll had been revised up to 33.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in a government meeting he wanted to look at banning products that could cause so many deaths and that the countrys criminal code was being amended to toughen the punishment for people caught selling them.

In the meantime, Irkutsk mayor Dmitry Berdnikov announced a state of emergency in the city and temporarily banned the sale of all liquids containing spirits not meant for human consumption, according to agencies.

Alcohol market expert Vadim Drobiz says up to 12 million Russians drink cheap surrogate alcohol.

Russias Investigative Committee in a statement said 42 people had sought medical attention over the weekend after having drunk the liquid labelled as hawthorn-scented bath essence, 25 of whom died.

Authorities said the product bore a label warning it is unsuitable for consumption, but the lotion was nonetheless consumed like alcohol.

The product contained methanol, a toxic substance used in antifreeze, investigators said.

Cheap perfumes and facial toners containing alcohol are sold without the trading restrictions on alcoholic drinks, while those who buy them to drink are the most socially disadvantaged.

Two people have been detained over the deaths, investigators said, and searches are being conducted at the markets where the deadly product was being sold.

Homemade spirits and household products containing alcohol are popular throughout the former Soviet Union as a cheap alternative to the standard brands but are also blamed for a large number of alcohol-related deaths.
Five members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group were killed in the premature explosion of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in eastern Afghanistan on Monday.

The incident occurred in Asmar district of Kunar province when a group of 10 LeT fighters were planting roadside bombs to target convoys of security forces, the Afghan defence ministry said in a statement.

Two LeT fighters were also injured, the defence ministry said without giving more details.

The LeT, which has been banned by Pakistan and India, is active in several South Asian countries, including Afghanistan. It was founded by Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, who now heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawah.

After the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the JuD was declared a front for the LeT by the UN Security Council.

Though the LeT has not been heavily involved in the Taliban-led campaign against Western troops in Afghanistan, it is believed to operate in Kunar and Nuristan provinces, Khaama Press news agency reported.

The LeT also has close links with militants based in Pakistans tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

Militant groups in Afghanistan have often used IEDs to target security forces and Afghan officials. Many civilians have also been killed or injured in these attacks.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in October that it had documented 8,397 conflict-related civilian casualties (2,562 deaths and 5,835 injured) between January and September this year.

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At least 57 journalists have been killed around the world in 2016 while doing their job, Reporters Without Borders said on Monday.

The press freedom group said 19 were killed in Syria alone, followed by 10 in Afghanistan, nine in Mexico and five in Iraq.

Almost all of those killed were locally-based journalists.

Although it was fewer than the 67 killed in 2015, the group put the decrease down to the fact that many journalists have fled countries that became too dangerous, especially Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and Burundi.

It said the withdrawal of reporters from these conflict- ridden countries had created news and information black holes where impunity reigns.

Nine bloggers and eight media workers have also been killed this year.

Reporters Without Borders said the fall in deaths was also the result of the terror imposed by what it called press freedom predators who close media outlets arbitrarily and gag journalists.

In countries such as Mexico, this led to journalists self- censoring to avoid being murdered, the group said in its annual report.

In Afghanistan, all of the 10 journalists killed were deliberately targeted because of their profession.

Seven, including three women, were killed in a suicide attack in January on a minibus used by privately-owned Tolo TV. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

Yemen, where more than 7,000 people have been killed since 2015 in a war pitting Saudi-backed regime forces against Huthi rebels, was another a black spot for journalists with five killed.

The violence against journalists is more and more deliberate, RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said.

They are clearly being targeted and murdered because they are journalists. This alarming situation reflects the glaring failure of the international initiatives aimed at protecting them, and is a death warrant for independent reporting in those areas where all possible means are used to impose censorship and propaganda, especially by fundamentalist groups in the Middle East.

The group called for incoming UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special representative for the protection of journalists.
More than 1,000 people were evacuated from the last rebel-held pocket of Syrias Aleppo early on Monday after hours of delay, a medical official said.

About 20 buses carrying people from Aleppo have arrived at the staging ground west of the city, said Dr Ahmad Dbis, who heads a team of doctors and volunteers coordinating evacuations.

There are about 1,200 to 1,300 people here, he added.

More than 30 buses packed with people had waited overnight in freezing temperatures to leave Aleppo under a complex evacuation deal.

Militants burned at least five buses assigned to evacuate wounded and sick people from two villages in northern Syria on Sunday. (AP photo)

Just 350 people were able to leave after Russia and Turkey urged the Syrian regime to allow five buses to pass its final control point, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Read: This is a disaster: Aleppo evacuations suspended again after deadly attack

The departure of the remaining buses had reportedly been delayed until hundreds of people could be evacuated from two villages in northwestern Syria under siege by the rebels.

The Britain-based observatory said an estimated 500 people were bussed out of Fuaa and Kafraya early on Monday.

Ten buses carrying about 500 people have left Fuaa and Kafraya and are on their way to government-controlled territory in Aleppo, said observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

The evacuation deal for Aleppo was brokered by regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey, and has been overseen by the International Committee for the Red Cross.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura estimated that as of Thursday, around 40,000 civilians and perhaps as many as 5,000 opposition fighters remained in Aleppos rebel enclave.
Russias ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, killed on Monday in a gun attack, was a veteran career diplomat who helped weather rocky ties between Moscow and Ankara.

Karlov, 62, was appointed Russias envoy in the Turkish capital in 2013 at a time when Moscow and Ankara were pushing to boost trade ties despite deep differences over the conflict in Syria.

The two sides fell out dramatically in November 2015 when a Turkish fighter jet shot down a Russian warplane along the Syrian border in an attack Moscow described as a stab in the back.

But after some seven months leaders Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan began mending their differences and recently pushed negotiations over the fighting in Syrias Aleppo.

Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described Karlovs killing as a tragic day in the history of our country and our diplomatic service.

He did everything to help overcome the crisis in Russian-Turkish relations which was sparked a year ago by those tragic events, Zakharova said.

She added that Karlov had in recent years focused a huge amount of his efforts on contributing to finding a resolution in Syria and stability in the region.

Karlovs killer -- identified as a Turkish policeman -- was filmed crying out Aleppo and Allahu Akbar after gunning down the ambassador at the opening of an art gallery in Ankara, in what Moscow termed a terrorist act.

Russia is currently flying a bombing campaign in support of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey has supported those trying to topple him.

The foreign and defence ministers from Russia, Turkey and Iran are set to hold talks on Syria on Tuesday in Moscow.

Prior to serving in Ankara, the bespectacled Karlov spent a large chunk of his career -- which stretched back to the Soviet period -- working on the volatile Korean Peninsula.

The married father-of-one -- who spoke Korean and English -- served in the Russian embassies in both North and South Korea, before later returning to Pyongyang as Moscows ambassador to the isolated Stalinist state from 2001-2006.

Russia is one of the few countries to have relatively warm relations with North Korea.
It may be trying to disguise itself as tinsel, but look more closely and this is a deadly tiger snake which climbed up a Christmas tree in Australia.

A woman called Cheryl noticed the uninvited and highly venomous guest in her Melbourne home on Sunday but kept her cool -- making a cup of tea while she waited for a professional snake-catcher to arrive.

It was a tiger snake. They are very deadly but only if you hurt them, snake-catcher Barry Goldsmith, who removed the reptile, told AFP Monday.

It probably came in through an open door, but Cheryl was very sensible about it.

She didnt panic, she just took a photo and sent it to the snake-catcher, me, and 20 minutes later I had the little bugger in a bag.

Australia is home to 20 of the worlds 25 most venomous snakes, including the tiger snake which can grow up to 2.9 metres (10 feet) and is usually found in coastal areas.
AFP gathered testimonies from multiple Afghan families whose children were abducted for the practice of bacha bazi -- sexual exploitation of boys.

The stories come after an AFP report in June found the Taliban are exploiting the centuries-old practice, one of the most egregious violations of human rights in the country, to mount deadly insider attacks in the volatile south.

Here are some key answers about bacha bazi.

What is it?

Powerful warlords, commanders, politicians and other members of the elite often keep bachas (boys) as a symbol of authority and affluence.

Bachas, sometimes dressed as women, are often sexually exploited. They can also be used as dancers at private parties.

Bacha bazi is not widely seen as homosexual behaviour -- popularly demonised as a deviant sexual act, prohibited in Islam -- and is largely accepted as a cultural practice.

How common is it?

Women are for child-rearing, boys are for pleasure is a common saying across many parts of Afghanistan.

The ancient custom, banned under the Talibans 1996-2001 rule, has seen a resurgence in recent years. It is said to be widespread across southern and eastern Afghanistans rural Pashtun heartland, and with ethnic Tajiks across the northern countryside.

Graphic locating documented cases of sexual slavery kidnappings in Afghanistan. (AFP)

How has it been allowed to flourish?

Tight gender segregation in Afghan society and lack of contact with women have contributed to the spread of bacha bazi, rights groups say.

Several other factors such as an absence of the rule of law, corruption, limited access to justice, illiteracy, poverty, insecurity and the existence of armed groups have also resulted in the spread of the practice, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) said in a report in 2014.

AIHRC points out that Afghanistans criminal law prohibits rape and pederasty, but there are no clear provisions on bacha bazi.

There is a gap and ambiguity in the laws of Afghanistan regarding bacha bazi and the existing laws do not address the problem sufficiently, the report said.

Many of the perpetrators have connections with the security organs and by using power and giving bribes they get exempted from punishment.

Where do the boys come from?

Bachas are typically aged between 10 and 18. Many of them are kidnapped and sometimes desperate poverty drives their families to sell them to abusers.

The victims suffer from serious psychological trauma as they often get raped, AIHRCs report said. Such victims suffer from stress and a sort of distrust, hopelessness and pessimistic feeling. Bacha bazi results in fear among the children and a feeling of revenge and hostility develops in their mind.

In turn, many adolescent victims are said to grow up to have boy lovers of their own, repeating the cycle of abuse.

In the absence of any services to recover or rehabilitate boys who are caught in this horrendous abuse, it is hard to know what happens to these children, said Charu Lata Hogg, a London-based fellow at Chatham House, a think-tank.

We have heard anecdotal reports that many grow up to keep their own bachas, perpetuating the revolving door of abuse.

How is it impacting Afghanistans security situation?

Bacha bazi is having a detrimental bearing on the perpetual state of conflict in Afghanistan, helping the Taliban to infiltrate security ranks in provinces such as Uruzgan, officials say.

The abusive practice in security ranks also undermines support for NATO-trained Afghan forces.

To date, the US has provided over $60 billion in assistance to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), including nearly $500 million to the Afghan Local Police, the US Congress said last year. Predatory sexual behaviour by Afghan soldiers and police could undermine US and Afghan public support for the ANDSF, and put our enormous investment at risk.

The practice also continues to embolden the Talibans desire to reassert sharia law in Afghanistan and is fuelling their insurgency.

Such wild abuses of the predatory mujahideen forces in the early 1990s drove the popularity of the austere Taliban, helping them sweep to power across most of the country. Similar behaviour of the government forces after 2001 is also helping inspire the insurgency, a Western official in Kabul said.
An underwater drone taken by a Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea last week is part of US surveillance efforts in the disputed waterway, but Beijing wont likely make a big fuss about its handover, Chinese state media and experts said.

US President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to take a more aggressive approach in dealing with China over its economic and military policies, jumped on the unusual drone seizure with a pair of provocative tweets, accusing Beijing of stealing the equipment.

We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2016

The drone, known as an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), was taken on Thursday, the first seizure of its kind in recent memory.

The Pentagon went public with its complaint about the incident and said on Saturday it had secured a deal to get the drone back. China says its looking for an appropriate way to return the vehicle, but accused Washington of hyping up the issue.

China is deeply suspicious of any US military activities in the resource-rich South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirely.

The overseas edition of the ruling Communist Partys Peoples Daily said in a commentary on Monday the USNS Bowditch, which was operating the drone, was a serial offender when it came to spying operations against China.

The downplaying of the actions of the drone cannot cover up the real intentions in the background, it said. This drone which floated to the surface in the South China Sea is the tip of the iceberg of U.S. military strategy, including towards China.

The drone, which the Pentagon said was operating lawfully was collecting data about the salinity, temperature and clarity of the water about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay, off the Philippines.

The USNS Bowditch is an infamous military reconnaissance ship that has been surveying Chinas coastal waters since 2002, said Ma Gang, a professor at the Peoples Liberation Army National Defence University, told the official China Daily.

Oceanic data is crucial for ship formations, submarine routes and battle planning, Ma said. Therefore, it is normal for the Chinese Navy to be suspicious of Bowditchs activities given past experience.

According to Chinese state media, the same ship was involved in incidents in 2001 and 2002 when it was shadowed by Chinese navy ships while operating in the Yellow Sea. Chinese media say it has also operated in the sensitive Taiwan Straits.

Highlights The drone was taken on Thursday, the first seizure of its kind in recent memory. The Pentagon said it had secured a deal to get the drone back. China is deeply suspicious of any US military activities in the resource-rich South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirely.

Zhang Huang, director of the security studies centre of the National University of Defence Technology, told the main edition of the Peoples Daily the United States had been using civilian excuses to collect information that could have military implications.

As soon as an underwater drone enters our waters for close in surveillance, it may be used to collect all sorts of information about submarine routes for our navy, seriously threatening our naval security, Zhang said.

Ni Lexiong, a naval expert, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, told Reuters he believed the Chinese navy probably had orders to take the drone.

But Ni said this is a very different incident from the 2001 intercept of a US spy plane by a Chinese fighter jet that resulted in a collision that killed the Chinese pilot and forced the American plane to make an emergency landing at a base on Hainan.

This is a much smaller incident, it wont affect the overall picture of China-US relations, he said, adding that he did not expect China to seek an apology from the US.

The 24 US air crew members were held for 11 days until Washington apologised for the incident. That encounter soured US-Chinese relations in the early days of President George W Bushs first administration.
Britain is winding down for the Christmas and holiday season, but a wave of strikes in several sectors is winding up many as the Theresa May government comes under pressure to avert travel and trade chaos from this week.

From baggage handlers at airports to flight crews and railway workers to post office employees  all have announced strikes for higher pay and other grievances, raising tempers and temperatures at airports, railway stations and elsewhere.

Many of the grievances are old, but have been raised now since they are assured media coverage in the run-up to Christmas. The strikes provide another face of the festive spirit reflected in the attractive lighting of Oxford Street and Regent Street in London and elsewhere.

Strikes are due to hit the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, as well as Southern Rail, which caters to a large number of commuters. Christmas cards and gifts sent through the post office face considerable delay.

MPs of the ruling Conservative Party criticised the strikes by Labour-controlled unions as politically motivated, and called for tougher laws to make it harder for staff to take action. They included transport secretary Chris Grayling, but 10, Downing Street distanced itself from his views.

Frances OGrady, general secretary of the Trade Union Congress, dismissed the suggestion, saying Britain already had some of the most draconian anti-union laws in the western world.

Senior Labour leader Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, defended union leaders: Of course these strikes are going to be very disastrous if they all go ahead for the public over Christmas, but people do have a legal right to strike.

But Labour MP Meg Hillier told Sky that unions could be shooting themselves in the foot by opting for industrial action during the festive season. There needs to be a wake-up call about the impact on hard-working people trying to get to work or go on holiday, she said.

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A photo published by Chinese military showing its strategic bomber reportedly flying over Taiwan, days after Beijings spat with US President-elect Donald Trump over his questioning of One China policy, has sparked concerns in the island, official media in Beijing reported.

The photo published by the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) showing a long-range strategic bomber flying within visible range of Yushan, Taiwans highest mountain, has caused great concern in Taiwan amid debate about whether the mainland will reunify the island by force, state-run Global Times reported.

It said the PLA Air Force published the photo on its Sina Weibo account, showing an Xian H-6K bomber flying above the clouds with two mountain peaks rising in the distance.

Military commentators on the mainland believe the peaks are of a mountain in Taiwan, which has made many netizens marvel at the PLAs military capability, the report said.

However, the spokesman of Taiwans Defence Ministry, Chen Zhongji, told the Central News Agency that military aircraft from the mainland could only fly outside the air defence identification zone of Taiwan and the ministry could monitor their movements, saying the guesses were groundless.

The daily quoted a Military expert Chen Weihao as telling Taiwan-based satellite television channel and cable TV network TVBS that it was the first time that mainland aircraft had been photographed with Taiwan landscapes, which has a psychological impact on the island.

Discussions about the possibility of the mainland reunifying Taiwan by force continues to gain momentum as pro- independence Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen keeps whipping up anti-mainland sentiment, it said.

The report in the official media here followed war of words between China and Trump after he spoke to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen which is unprecedented as US follows One China Policy under which China claims the breakaway province of Taiwan as part of its mainland.

Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the US doesnt tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I dont think so!, angry Trump said after China lodged protests over his talks with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Later Trump said in an interview that I dont want China dictating to me. I dont know why we have to be bound by a one -China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade.

This prompted China to react saying that One China policy formed the bed rock of its foreign policy and US-China ties will be out of question if Trump compromised with One China policy.

Since then, Chinese military analysts have been saying that any plans by Trump to alter One China policy may heighten tensions in Taiwan Straits.
The large number of Goans with Portuguese passports and other EU nationals in Britain should not be used by the Theresa May government as a bargaining chip in Brexit negotiations, an influential parliamentary committee on human rights warned on Monday.

Tens of thousands of Goans have moved to Britain in recent years after acquiring Portuguese passports they are entitled to as citizens and descendants of the former Portuguese colony that was liberated in 1961. As Portuguese citizens, they are part of the 2.9 million EU citizens resident in Britain.

Their future in a post-Brexit Britain is tied to that of the large number of British citizens residing in EU countries. So far, the May government has not given any guarantees on their continued stay in Britain after Brexit.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights said deporting the EU citizens after Brexit was impractical, and warned the May government not to use them as a bargaining chip with Brussels due to begin after Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to exit the EU is invoked in March.

Calling on the government to give an undertaking to protect the residency rights of EU citizens already in Britain, the committee said the actual position of the individuals was underpinned by the Human Rights Act.

Committee chair Harriet Harman said: "The government must not use human rights as a bargaining chip. Moreover, the government will continue to have obligations under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as we set out in our Report.

The UK government could not deport the large numbers of EU nationals currently in the UK. In the unlikely and unwelcome event that the government sought to deport EU nationals, there could be the potential for significant, expensive and lengthy litigation leading to considerable legal uncertainty for a prolonged period of time. These cases would have the potential to clog up and overwhelm the court system, she added.

The committee recommended that the government addresses the issue of residence rights urgently, by providing an undertaking to the effect that all of those legally resident at a reasonable cut-off date would be guaranteed permanent residence rights.

The government should also seek to safeguard the residence rights of UK nationals residing in other EU member states at the outset of its Article 50 negotiations by way of a separate preliminary agreement, its report added.

This ought to be done as soon as possible: if such action is not taken, individuals will be subject to continuing and distressing insecurity during two years of potentially protracted negotiations.

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Chinas seizure of an American underwater drone is the latest sign that the Pacific Oceans dominant power and its rising Asian challenger are headed for more confrontation once US President-elect Donald Trump takes office, analysts said on Monday.

Chinese political experts said China seized the glider in the South China Sea last week to send a strong warning to Trump not to test Beijings resolve over the sensitive issue of Taiwan, the self-ruled island Beijing considers part of its territory. Meanwhile, smaller countries in Southeast Asia are watching the back-and-forth closely for signs that US naval dominance might be diminishing, others said.

Trumps December 2 phone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen was the first time an American president or president-elect has publicly spoken to Taiwans leader since Washington broke off its formal diplomatic relationship in 1979 at Chinas behest. Trump later said he did not feel bound by a one-China policy unless the US could gain trade or other benefits from China. Beijing regards any acknowledgement that Taiwan has its own head of state as a grave insult.

The drone seizure is a kind of response from China to Trumps recent provocations on the issue, said Ni Lexiong, a military expert at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law. It can be regarded as a warning to countries such as the US and Japan on their attempts to challenge Chinas core interests.

The Pentagon said a Chinese ship seized the US drone on Thursday in an area about 92 kilometers northwest of Subic Bay near the Philippines. Several US analysts say the seizure occurred inside the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, which would appear to violate international law.

Read: Underwater drone: China, US discuss its return

Chinas defense ministry said its navy seized the underwater glider to ensure the safety of passing ships and that it would turn over the device using unspecified appropriate means. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Monday reiterated the defense ministrys objections to what she called US reconnaissance and surveys in Chinese waters.

State media have continued to pointedly attack Trump, with the Communist Party-controlled Global Times publishing an editorial Monday headlined, Unpresidented Trump adds fuel to fire.

He seemed emotionally upset, but no one knows what he wanted to say, the editorial said. Trump is not behaving as a president who will become master of the White House in a month. He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower.

Trump had tweeted on Saturday that despite Chinas assurances that it would return the drone, the US should let them keep it! Earlier in the day, he misspelled unprecedented, saying: China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters  rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented act. He later sent a corrected tweet.

Editorials and tweets aside, Trump will confront as president an increasingly assertive China that wants to extend its reach in the South China Sea, a strategically vital area through which about $5 trillion in global trade passes each year. Several of Chinas smaller neighbors have protested Chinas territorial claims there and are closely watching Trumps handling of the disputed sea.

These are small countries that realize that the best way to survive and prosper is not to side with any of the great powers, said Richard Heydarian, an analyst and consultant in the Philippines.

They are all bracing not only for unpredictability, but also for stormy waters involving US and China primarily, he said.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own with a roughly drawn border known as the nine-dash line running along western Philippine islands. Even as an international tribunal in June largely rejected Chinas expansive claims, the Chinese military continues to run naval patrols and training flights over disputed islands in the area as well as the adjoining East China Sea.

Philippine defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday that the drone incident, which happened near his countrys territorial waters and within its internationally recognised Exclusive Economic Zone, is very troubling.

I believe that the United States and China can reach an amicable resolution to prevent any further incidents from taking place, Lorenzana said in a statement.

Collin Koh, a research fellow on naval affairs at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said the drone incident was not something that will be taken lightly by the international community. Americas naval dominance was slowly being undermined by China, Koh said, citing the growth in Chinas naval technology and its moves in disputed waters.

This is a symptom of a great power rivalry, he said.
Electors are set to gather in every state on Monday to formally elect Donald Trump president even as anti-Trump forces try one last time to deny him the White House.

Protests are planned for state capitals, but they are unlikely to persuade the Electoral College to dump Trump. An Associated Press survey of electors found very little appetite to vote for alternative candidates.

Republican electors say they have been deluged with emails, phone calls and letters urging them not to support Trump. Many of the emails are part of coordinated campaigns.

The letters are actually quite sad, said Lee Green, a Republican elector from North Carolina. They are generally freaked out. They honestly believe the propaganda. They believe our nation is being taken over by a dark and malevolent force.

A protestor holds a sign during a demonstration against US President-elect Donald Trump outside the Colorado Capitol building. (AFP photo)

Wirt A Yerger Jr, a Republican elector in Mississippi, said, I have gotten several thousand emails asking me not to vote for Trump. I threw them all away.

A joint session of Congress is scheduled for Jan. 6 to certify the results of the Electoral College vote, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding as president of the Senate. Once the result is certified, the winner  likely Trump  will be sworn in on January 20.

The Electoral College was devised at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It was a compromise between those who wanted popular elections for president and those who wanted no public input.

The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

To be elected president, the winner must get at least half plus one  or 270 electoral votes. Most states give all their electoral votes to whichever candidate wins that states popular vote. Maine and Nebraska award them by congressional district.

The AP tried to reach all of the electors and interviewed more than 330 of them, finding widespread aggravation among Democrats with the electoral process, but little expectation Trump would be derailed.

Some Democrats have argued that the Electoral College is undemocratic because it gives more weight to less populated states. That is how Hillary Clinton, who got more than 2.6 million more votes nationwide, lost the election to Trump. Some have also tried to dissuade Trump voters by arguing that he is unsuited to the job. Others cite the CIAs assessment that Russia engaged in computer hacking to sway the election in favor of the Republican.

But despite the national group therapy session being conducted by some Democrats, only one Republican elector told the AP that he will not vote for Trump.

There is no constitutional provision or federal law that requires electors to vote for the candidate who won their state. Some states require their electors to vote for the winning candidate, either by law or through signed pledges. But no elector has ever been prosecuted for failing to vote as pledged, according to the National Archives.

Those laws are rarely tested. More than 99 percent of electors through U.S. history have voted for the candidate who won their state.

Electors are selected by state parties, and so are often insiders who can be trusted to vote for the partys candidate. Many Republican electors said they feel duty-bound to honor their pledge to vote for the candidate who won their state, regardless of how they feel about Trump.

Still, some anti-Trump activists have been getting creative in trying to persuade electors to dump Trump.

In addition to thousands of emails, Republican elector Charlie Buckels of Louisiana said he received a FedEx package with a 50-page document that the sender said had absolute proof that the Russians hacked the elections.

From the tenor of these emails, you would think these people are curled up in a corner in a fetal position with a thumb in their mouth, Buckels said.

___

Associated Press writers Hope Yen in Washington, Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi, and Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.

___

Online:

AP interactive on election results: http://interactives.ap.org/2016/road-to-270/

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Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephenatap
In the past week, Italy received several brand new aircraft that will take its air force to new heights. On December 12, the 13 Gruppo (Squadron) of the 32 Stormo (Wing) of the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force, ItAF) received its first two F-35A Lightning II at Amendola airbase, in southeastern Italy.

The first two aircraft F-35 Italians have landed at the 32  Stormo of Amendola (FG), an air wing recently reconstituted to accommodate the Joint Strike Fighter. The wing is also responsible for the operation of Italys Predator remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) operated by the 28 Gruppo.

Since this event happened few hours before two F-35I were delivered to Israel, the Italians were the very first service to take delivery of the 5th generation stealth jet outside of the U.S.

Unlike the Dutch, Brits and Israelis that made the arrival of the F-35 in their country a major media event, the Italian Air Force has kept a low profile about its achievements with the F-35 so far.

According to David Cenciotti, editor of the Aviationist, Italy has done some significant work on the Lightning II: on Dec. 3, 2015, the ItAF welcomed the first F-35 at the Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility at Cameri, in northwestern Italy. That aircraft was also the first assembled and delivered outside the U.S. On Feb. 5, 2016, the first Italian Air Force F-35, successfully completed the types very first transatlantic crossing landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. To prepare for the 7-hour transoceanic flight the Italian Air Force conducted tanker trials in the U.S. (in July 2015) with its KC-767A, that became the first tanker not operated by the U.S. Air Force to undergo refueling certification trials with an F-35 (photo below). Three Italian F-35s are currently deployed at Lukes multinational F-35 pilot training center.

The F-35 program presents a multi-billion dollar opportunity for Italy. Over 100 Italian industries have secured $826 million in F-35 production contracts and are expected to exceed $9.9 billion over the life of the program. Besides, Engine manufacturing has resulted in $24 million dollars in contracts to Italian companies, with a total program value expected to exceed $4 billion.

One of the most important facilities is the Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) center at Cameri  one of three such assembly plants producing the F-35. The main site is in Fort Worth Texas and the other, for Japan is in Nagota, Japan.

Marking another milestone for Italy and Israel, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) today delivered the first of two modified G-550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) aircraft to Italy. The CAEW is an early warning and air control system developed by ELTA systems, an IAI subsidiary. The second aircraft included in the agreement is expected to be delivered to the Italian Air Force during 2017. The aircraft are equipped with advanced mission systems including radar, electronic intelligence, self-defense and advanced communications systems to NATO standards.

The Singapore Air Force operates four such aircraft and the Israel Air Force currently operates three more. The US Navy has also selected this platform for range control missions.

Italy has also ordered an OPSAT 3000 reconnaissance satellite from IAI, the satellite is scheduled for launch on an Arian Vega launcher next year.
The administrators of a prestigious Istanbul high school have warned teachers over Christian and Christmas-related content in German language classes, the school said on Monday, setting the stage for another diplomatic row between Ankara and Berlin.

Relations between Germany and Turkey, a candidate to join the European Union, have been strained following a failed coup in July as Turkish authorities have detained, suspended or arrested more than 100,000 people, leading to widespread concern in Europe about the rule of law in Turkey.

The Istanbul Lisesi, a state-run high school that offers a curriculum in German and Turkish, said in a statement that administrators had met the head of the German department over concerns that teachers were devoting too much time teaching about Christmas and Christianity.

When we received information that German teachers were teaching increasingly more texts on Christmas and Christianity in a manner that is outside the curriculum...our administration arranged a meeting with the German department and requested information, the school said.

It is out of the question to have any approach inside of the school that limits the most natural right of freedom of belief of German and Turkish teachers, students and personnel.

A largely Muslim country, Turkey is constitutionally secular, though President Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling AK Party he founded have their roots in political Islam and have tried to restore the role of religion in public life.

German media had widely reported that the school had banned its annual Christmas concert and some German politicians urged the government to summon the Turkish ambassador to complain.

However, a spokesman for the German foreign ministry said Berlin was hopeful the issue would be resolved after talks between German and Turkish staff at the school. He said the school had never imposed a ban on celebrating Christmas.

The school said in its statement that the concert had been cancelled by the German teachers themselves for unknown reasons. However, one senior AKP lawmaker equated the teachers with missionaries and said Germany was attempting to subject Turkish children to propaganda.

Being a missionary is not allowed in public school, Mustafa Sentop said on Twitter. The religious/political propaganda of the German state to this nations children is not allowed in public schools, he said.
A Turkish policeman crying Aleppo and revenge shot dead Russias ambassador to Turkey at an art exhibition in Ankara on Monday, in what Moscow said was a terrorist act.

Andrei Karlov died of his wounds after the shooting, which occurred on the eve of a key meeting between the Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers on the Syria conflict.

Dramatic television footage showed a man in a dark suit and tie waving a gun and gesturing in the air at the Ankara exhibition hall. The state-run Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been neutralised in a police operation, without giving further details.

Soon after the attack, graphic photos and videos started doing the rounds on Twitter that captured the moment the envoy was attacked.

#Turkey: Video footage of the moments of the assassination attempt on the Russian ambassador in #Ankara. pic.twitter.com/hy4rUvONfB  Mikhail D. (@Eire_QC) December 19, 2016

The attacker calmly stood behind the envoy, who was speaking at the exhibition.

The moment before: The Russian Ambassador to Turkey looks at a painting at a gallery in Ankara earlier today. Behind him, his assassin... pic.twitter.com/sZyJsTnAYo  Tunku Varadarajan (@tunkuv) December 19, 2016

Man who shot Russian ambassador in Ankara Turkey shouted "Allah Akbar"

But remember, folks, Islam is the religion of peace!#Turkey pic.twitter.com/ot66lLoX9G  Tennessee GOP (@TEN_GOP) December 19, 2016
French judges on Monday found IMF chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence for failing to challenge a 400 million euro ($417 million) state arbitration payout to a business tycoon in 2008 when she was French finance minister.

Despite the ruling the judges did not hand down any sentence in the case on her decision to allow the rare out-of-court arbitration payment. She has denied the negligence charges.

Her lawyer said immediately after the ruling that his team would look into appealing the decision.

The ruling risks triggering a new leadership crisis at the International Monetary Fund after Lagardes predecessor Dominique Strauss Khan resigned in 2011 over a sex assault scandal.

The IMFs executive board is expected to meet shortly to consider the negligence verdict issued against Lagarde, spokesperson Gerry Rice said.

The Executive Board has met on previous occasions to consider developments related to the legal proceedings in France, Rice said in a brief statement. It is expected that the Board will meet again shortly to consider the most recent developments.
Malaysia on Monday said the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar was a regional concern and called for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to coordinate humanitarian aid and investigate alleged atrocities committed against them.

Malaysian foreign minister Anifah Aman said progress in improving the human rights of the Rohingya people in Rakhine state had been rather slow and reports of arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings and rape by soldiers were continuing.

We believe that the situation is now of a regional concern and should be resolved together, Anifah told a meeting with his ASEAN counterparts in Yangon, according to a transcript of his speech provided by the Malaysian ministry of foreign affairs.
The man who shot dead the Russian ambassador to Ankara on Monday has been identified as a Turkish policeman, the citys mayor said.

The attacker is a policeman, Melih Gokcek said on his official Twitter account, after numerous reports on social media identifying the gunman, who was smartly dressed in a suit and tie.

The Yeni Safak daily said on its website that the attacker -- named MMA -- worked with anti-riot police in Ankara.

The gunman shouted out Aleppo and revenge as he fired, an eyewitness said.

When the ambassador was delivering a speech, a tall man wearing a suit fired into the air first and then took aim at the ambassador, Hasim Kilic, a correspondent for the daily Hurriyet, told AFP. He said something about Aleppo and revenge.

The attack came after days of protests in Turkey over Russias role in Syria.
Cinemas in Pakistan began showing Indian movies on Monday, over two months after film exhibitors and theatre owners suspended the screenings amid Indo-Pak tensions following the Uri terror attack and cross-border firing incidents.

Freaky Ali, a romantic comedy starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Arbaaz Khan and Amy Jackson, which was released in September in India, is the first film being screened since the lifting of the self-imposed suspension.

Theatre owners are currently screening those movies that have already been released in India and the decision on new films will be taken on Wednesday as a lot of people are involved in the process of importing a film, Centaurus Marketing and Call Centre Supervisor Anil Altaf said.

The Pakistan Film Exhibitors and Distributors Association, which includes most owners of cineplexes, multiplexes and single screen cinemas in the country, had announced the temporary suspension of screenings after the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) announced a ban on Pakistani artistes and technicians working in India.

Film Exhibitors Association Chairman Zoraiz Lashari said the association decided to lift the suspension with the consent of other exhibitors and film stakeholders.

We showed our reaction to India. Now it is time to see other ground realities as well, Lashari said.
President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that the killing of Russias ambassador to Turkey was a provocation to try to spoil Russia-Turkey ties and derail Moscows attempts to find, with Iran and Turkey, a solution for the Syria crisis.

In televised comments, Putin, speaking at a special meeting in the Kremlin, ordered security at Russian embassies around the world to be stepped up and said he wanted to know who had directed the gunmans hand.

For his part, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he had agreed in a telephone call with Putin that their cooperation and solidarity in fighting terrorism should be even stronger after the killing of Andrei Karlov.

Erdogan too called the killing a clear provocation aimed at damaging relations between Turkey and Russia at a time of normalisation.

Turkeys foreign minister said common sense was prevailing in both Russia and Turkey, and the two countries would work together to investigate.

Mevlut Cavusgolu was speaking in Moscow, where he was due to meet his Russian and Iranian counterparts to discuss the situation in Syria.

In comments carried live on Turkish television, he praised the Russian ambassador as a great man and a great diplomat.
A gunman in a suit and tie shouted slogans about Syrias civil war after he killed Russias ambassador to Turkey in front of stunned onlookers at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital on Monday, according to an Associated Press photographer who witnessed the shooting. Police later killed the assailant, Turkish station NTV reported.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when a man fired at least eight shots. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to share information about the shooting.

Heres what the stakeholders in the Syria war said:

Russia

Today in Ankara as a result of an attack, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, Andrei Gennadyevich Karlov, received a wound from which he died, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters.

We regard this as a terrorist act.

Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively, said Zakharova, adding the Russian foreign ministry would be issuing a further statement later in the day.

The memory of an outstanding Russian diplomat, Andrei Gennadyevich Karlov, a person who did a great deal to fight terrorism in his diplomatic post, will always be in our hearts.

Turkey

Turkey will not allow Mondays shooting to cast a shadow over Turkish-Russian friendship, the Turkeys foreign ministry said, expressing deep sadness and condemning the lowly terrorist attack.

The statement, paying tribute to the ambassador as being a well respected diplomat, said the attacker had been neutralised and that those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice.

The US

The United States moved quickly to condemn the gun attack in Ankara. We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, state department spokesperson John Kirby said.

The US official did not suggest who might have been behind the attack, which witnesses said was carried out by a gunman demanding revenge for Aleppo.

Russia is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes were instrumental in helping Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo. President Tayyip Erdogan, however, has been a vociferous opponent of Assad.

Syria

Syria condemned the murder in neighbouring Turkey of the ambassador of its key ally Russia as a despicable crime, state news agency SANA said, quoting the foreign ministry.

The Syrian republic condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly terrorist attack that led to the death of the Russian ambassador in Turkey, Andrei Karlov, a ministry statement said.

This despicable crime confirms once again the urgent need to expand all efforts and means to fight and eliminate terrorism, it added.

Russia is Syrias main ally in the nearly six-year war, and has helped President Bashar al-Assads forces to retake the battleground northern city of Aleppo from rebels. On September 30, 2015, Russia began a campaign of air strikes in Syria to help government forces.

The UN

The United Nations too condemned the attack. There can be no justification for an attack on a diplomat or an ambassador, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. We hope that the perpetrator will be brought to justice.
A gunman in a suit and tie shouted slogans about Syrias civil war after he killed Russias ambassador to Turkey in front of stunned onlookers at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital on Monday, according to an Associated Press photographer who witnessed the shooting. Police later killed the assailant.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when a man fired at least eight shots, according to the AP photographer in the audience.

Dont forget Aleppo, dont forget Syria! the gunman --- identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas --- shouted in Turkish, referring to the Syrian city where Russian bombardments have helped drive rebels from areas they had occupied for years during the war.

Altintas, a 22-year-old off-duty policeman, also shouted Allahu akbar, the Arabic phrase for God is great and continued in Arabic: We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad.

Read: Putin says ambassadors murder in Turkey ploy to wreck Syria peace process

The assailant approached Karlov as he lay on the ground and shot him at least one more time at close range, according to the AP photographer. He also smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition. There was panic as people ran for cover. Three other people were wounded in the attack, Turkeys NTV television said.

After shooting the ambassador, Altintas climbed to the second floor of the same building and a 15-minute shootout with police ensued before he was killed, Turkeys Anadolu news agency reported.

Read: Man who killed Russian envoy identified as Turkish cop, he screamed about revenge

Turkish police secure the area near an art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey was fatally shot. (REUTERS)

The attack comes a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defence ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria. Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nearly six-year conflict, while Turkey has supported Assads foes.

Its a tragic day in the history of our country and Russian diplomacy, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in televised comments.

Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations, she said. He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. Its a terrible loss for us and also the world.

Read: Strong signs gunman who killed Russian envoy linked to US-based cleric: Official

Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russias ambassador to Pyongyang in 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministrys consular department. He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said US officials were aware of reports about the shooting.

We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source, Kirby said.

The United Nations also condemned the attack.

There can be no justification for an attack on an ambassador ... and we very much hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

Melih Gokcek, the mayor for Ankara, told reporters outside the exhibition centre that the heinous attack aimed to disrupt newly-re-established relations between Turkey and Russia.

Graphic content: The moment Russian envoy to Turkey was shot

This picture taken shows Andrey Karlov (2ndR), the Russian ambassador to Ankara, lying on the floor after being shot. (AFP)

Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplane at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkeys apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift. The leaders of the two countries, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have held several meetings in recent months and spoken frequently over the phone.

Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and also discussed the prospect of organising a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstans capital, Astana.

Turkey has struggled with multiple security threats in recent years, including Kurdish militants who claimed responsibility for a December 10 bombing in Istanbul that killed 44 people, many of them police. The Islamic State group fighting in Syria and Iraq has also been blamed for attacks in Turkey, a NATO member and a partner in the US-led campaign against the group.

Additionally, Turkish security forces and courts remain preoccupied with purging state institutions of the supporters of an exiled Islamist cleric whom the government accuses of staging a failed coup attempt in July.

Read: Reactions to Ankara attack: Russia says terrorist act, UN hopes for justice

The Russian Ambassador to Turkey speaks at the gallery moments before the attack. (AP)
Andrei Karlov stumbled as the bullets hit him in the back, then came crashing to the ground.

The press had come to cover the opening of a show at an Ankara exhibition hall Monday, but their cameras ended up capturing the chilling scene of the Russian envoys murder at the hands of a Turkish policeman.

The Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot dead in a brazen attack by a Turkish policeman in a cultural centre on Monday in what both sides branded an act of terror. The assassination, by a sharp-suited gunman shouting Dont forget Aleppo, came after days of protests in Turkey over Russias role in Syria and on the eve of a unprecedented meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran on the conflict.

(GRAPHIC CONTENT. READER DISCRETION ADVISED)

Images from shortly before the shooting showed a clean-shaven officer standing discreetly behind Karlov in a white shirt, dark suit and tie -- apparently a bodyguard for the ambassador as he gave a speech at the exhibition

The Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, speaks at an art gallery in Ankara. The assailant is seen standing behind the ambassador as he is speaking and then swaggering around the exhibition waving his gun and pointing aggressively into the air. (AP)

The man shouts Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) and then talks in Arabic about pledging allegiance to jihad in Arabic, the footage shows. He then switches to Turkish, shouting: Dont forget about Syria, dont forget about Aleppo. All those who participate in this tyranny will be held accountable. (AP)

The state-run Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been neutralised in a police operation inside the hall after 15 minutes of clashes when he refused to surrender

The state-run Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been neutralised in a police operation inside the centre after a 15 minute shootout. (AP)

Photos showed the ambassador lying on the ground, riddled with bullet wounds, quickly began to circulate on social media.

The gunman was identified by the Turkish interior minister as 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, who had worked in the Ankara anti-riot police for the last two-and-a-half years. It was not known if he was on duty in the exhibition hall at the time and if not, how he managed to gain access carrying a weapon. (AP)

Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek speculated on his official Twitter account that the policeman may be linked to the group of exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed for the July coup aimed at toppling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (AP)

The Russian ambassador was taken to Ankara Hospital where he was pronounced dead despite efforts to revive him.

The gunman shouted after shooting the Russian ambassador to Turkey. It is not yet clear whether the assassin was acting alone and no group has claimed responsibility. (AP)

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov lies on the ground after he was shot. The slain ambassador, Andrei Karlov, was a veteran career diplomat who helped weather rocky ties between Moscow and Ankara. (REUTERS)

The attacker was identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22, who had worked in the Ankara anti-riot police for the last two-and-a-half years.

Reports said that his mother, father and sister were immediately detained for questioning in their home in western Turkey

Karlov, 62, was appointed to Ankara in 2013 at a time when the two countries were pushing to boost trade ties despite deep differences over the conflict in Syria. Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described his killing as a tragic day in the history of our country and our diplomatic service. (AFP)

Before serving in Ankara, the bespectacled Karlov spent a large chunk of his career -- which stretched back to the Soviet period -- working on the volatile Korean peninsula. (REUTERS)

The married father-of-one -- who spoke Korean and English -- served in the Russian embassies in both North and South Korea, before later returning to Pyongyang as Moscows ambassador to the isolated Stalinist state from 2001-2006. (REUTERS)

Spectators are evacuated after the attack, which came on the eve of a crucial meeting between the Turkish, Russian and Iranian foreign ministers on the Syrian conflict. Moscow and Ankara remain on opposite sides of the conflict -- with Ankara backing rebels trying to topple Moscows ally President Bashar al-Assad. (AP)

People react after the ambassador was shot. (AP)

Turkish police swung into action. (Reuters)

Turkish police officers cordoned off the area soon after the attack. (AP)

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (2nd L), Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L), Director of Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov (2nd R), and Director of Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin attend a meeting dedicated to the murder of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia December 19, 2016. (REUTERS)
The Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday that one of its planes had crashed in northeast Siberia with 39 people on board as it tried to make an emergency landing near a Soviet-era military base.

Russian news agencies reported that nobody had been killed in the incident, but said 32 people had been airlifted to hospital, 16 of whom were in serious condition.

The Il-18 aircraft came down around 30 kilometres (18.64 miles) from an airfield near the town of Tiksi in the Sakha Republic at 4:45 a.m. local time, the TASS news agency reported.

High winds may have forced the plane to make an emergency landing, Alexei Kolodeznikov, the deputy head of the regional government, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

The Defence Ministry said a team of military investigators had been flown to the crash site.

The Il-18, a Soviet-era propeller plane whose design dates from the 1950s, had taken off from an air base in Kansk in western Siberia with 39 people on board, including seven crew.

Tiksi, a coastal town of around 5,000 people inside the Arctic circle, hosts a Soviet-era military air base that has been renovated in recent years as part of President Vladimir Putins drive to remilitarize the Arctic.
Libyan security and health officials said a suicide bomber has killed eight army troops near the eastern city of Benghazi.

The officials said Sunday nights counterattack in the besieged Ganfouda area also wounded another eight soldiers. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the bombing in a statement circulated online.

Army spokesman Ahmed al-Mosmari said a push to retake the district is in its last stage, and terrorist group leaders are besieged inside.

Ganfouda is one of the last two extremist-held areas in the east besieged by Libyan army troops that answer to Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter, who backs Libyas last elected parliament against rival militias loyal to the UN-backed government based in Tripoli.
The assassin of the Russian ambassador to Ankara was a 22-year-old from a quiet region in the west of Turkey who had served with the anti-riot police for less than three years.

The man identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas shouted Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) and Dont forget Aleppo as he waved his gun around at a cultural centre in the Turkish capital.

But there has yet to be any indication Altintas, who was later neutralised by police, was attracted to religious extremism or had any history of activism.

Images showed the clean-shaven man smartly dressed in a suit, tie and white shirt pull out a gun and fire at ambassador Andrei Karlov from behind as the envoy opened a Russian photography exhibition in Ankara.

He then threatened terrified spectators, yelling Allahu Akbar and saying that the murder was vengeance for Russias actions in the war-battered Syrian city of Aleppo.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Altintas was born in the town of Soke in Aydin province in western Turkey and attended a special school for training future policemen.

Altintas then joined the Ankara anti-riot police -- the Cevik Kuvvet in Turkish -- and had worked there for the last two-and-a-half-years.

The region of Aydin on the Aegean coast is one of Turkeys most peaceful regions well away from trouble-spots and the countrys most religiously conservative areas.

Family questioned

After the attack on Karlov, Altintas refused to surrender and remained inside the exhibition centre as clashes took place with police for 15 minutes.

But he was then killed by police in an operation, authorities said.

Reports said that his mother, father and sister were immediately detained for questioning in their homes in western Turkey.

The mayor of Ankara, Melih Gokcek, known for his outspoken comments, speculated on his official Twitter account that the attacker may be linked to the group of Fethullah Gulen blamed for the July 15 coup aimed at toppling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

His suggestion has yet to be echoed by other officials.

In footage from the scene, Altintas talks about pledging allegiance to jihad in Arabic.

Switching to Turkish, he then says: Dont forget about Syria, dont forget about Aleppo. All those who participate in this tyranny will be held accountable.

The attack came after days of angry protests in Turkey over Russias actions in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

But Erdogan has spearheaded a rapprochement with Russia in recent months and the two countries had been working closely to remove civilians from war-torn Aleppo.
At least 57 journalists have been killed around the world in 2016 while doing their job, Reporters Without Borders said on Monday.

The press freedom group said 19 were killed in Syria alone, followed by 10 in Afghanistan, nine in Mexico and five in Iraq. Almost all of those killed were locally-based journalists.

Although it was fewer than the 67 killed in 2015, the group put the decrease down to the fact that many journalists have fled countries that became too dangerous, especially Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and Burundi.

It said the withdrawal of reporters from these conflict- ridden countries had created news and information black holes where impunity reigns.

Nine bloggers and eight media workers have also been killed this year.

Reporters Without Borders said the fall in deaths was also the result of the terror imposed by what it called press freedom predators who close media outlets arbitrarily and gag journalists.

Graphic showing the number of journalists killed in 2016. (AFP)

In countries such as Mexico, this led to journalists self- censoring to avoid being murdered, the group said in its annual report.

In Afghanistan, all of the 10 journalists killed were deliberately targeted because of their profession.

Seven, including three women, were killed in a suicide attack in January on a minibus used by privately-owned Tolo TV. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

Yemen, where more than 7,000 people have been killed since 2015 in a war pitting Saudi-backed regime forces against Huthi rebels, was another black spot for journalists with five killed.

The violence against journalists is more and more deliberate, RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said.

They are clearly being targeted and murdered because they are journalists. This alarming situation reflects the glaring failure of the international initiatives aimed at protecting them, and is a death warrant for independent reporting in those areas where all possible means are used to impose censorship and propaganda, especially by fundamentalist groups in the Middle East.

The group called for incoming UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres to appoint a special representative for the protection of journalists.
Thousands of traumatised Syrians left the rebel enclave of Aleppo on Monday as the UN Security Council voted to deploy observers to the battered city to monitor the evacuations.

Families had spent hours waiting in below-freezing temperatures, sheltering from the rain in bombed-out apartment blocks and waiting desperately for news on a new wave of departures.

After an agonising delay, the operation resumed on Monday under a complex agreement that will see regime forces exert full control over Syrias second city.

Around 5,000 people travelled in 75 buses out of Aleppo on Monday, said Ingy Sedky, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

2. So far, 75 buses have transported around 5,000 people from Eastern #Aleppo, while 500 people from Foua and Kefraya have been evacuated.  ICRC Syria (@ICRC_sy) December 19, 2016

They crossed the front line headed for rebel-held territory elsewhere in northern Syria, after around 350 other people got out during the night.

We will continue throughout the day -- and however long it takes -- to evacuate the thousands more who are still waiting, Sedky told AFP.

Ahmad al-Dbis, who heads a team of doctors and volunteers coordinating evacuations, saw dozens of buses and ambulances arrive at the staging ground west of Aleppo.

Civilians from the remaining rebel-held pockets of eastern Aleppo are evacuated from the embattled city by bus on December 19, 2016. (AFP Photo)

He said they were in a very bad state after waiting for more than 16 hours at a regime checkpoint without being allowed off the buses.

The government had suspended evacuations on Friday, insisting that people also be allowed to leave two northwestern villages under rebel siege.

According to the ICRC and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, around 500 people left in a dawn convoy out of Fuaa and Kafraya.

Aleppo tweeter safe

The Observatory said at least 14,000 people, including 4,000 rebels, have left the opposition sector since the evacuations began on Thursday.

At least 7,000 remain, according to the Britain-based monitor.

A rebel representative said that hundreds of people would also be evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya, two army-besieged rebel towns near the border with Lebanon, as part of the deal.

Dbis said the latest evacuees from Aleppo were in a terrible state after their departure was delayed for hours in temperatures well below freezing, compounding their plight from months of siege and bombardment by the army.

They hadnt eaten, they had nothing to drink, the children had caught colds, they were not even able to go to the toilet, he told AFP.

He described families wrapped in several layers of coats getting off the buses, which then headed back to Aleppo to bring out more.

A young boy bit into an apple as aid workers distributed bottled water to his family.

Among the evacuees was seven-year-old Bana al-Abed, whose Twitter account had offered a tragic account of Syrias nearly six-year war.

@AlabedBana and her mother make an somber, urgent plea to Michelle Obama @FLOTUS to help them make it safely out of east #Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/GlTd7O4ONQ  Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) December 16, 2016

The Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), a Turkish NGO working in Syria, said Bana was likely to be transferred to a displacement camp in the northwest province of Idlib.

Through hell

The people we are welcoming have been through hell -- the level of trauma they have experienced is impossible to describe or comprehend, said Casey Harrity of the international NGO Mercy Corps.

Residents of east Aleppo -- a rebel bastion since 2012 -- had lived under four months of suffocating siege when Syrias army began its blistering assault in mid-November to retake the whole city.

In an 11th-hour deal, regime ally Moscow and rebel supporter Ankara agreed on the evacuation of thousands of civilians and fighters from the last remaining opposition-held pocket in Aleppo.

Moscow, which has carried out an air war in support of the Damascus regime since September last year, had threatened to veto a UN Security Council draft resolution calling for monitors to oversee the protection of civilians.

But on Monday, the council unanimously adopted the French-drafted resolution in the first show of unity in months among world powers grappling with the crisis in Syria.

Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar al-Jaafari speaks with Russia's Ambassador Vitaly Churkin ahead of a United Nations Security Council vote, aimed at ensuring that UN officials can monitor evacuations from besieged parts of the Syrian city of Aleppo. (REUTERS)

The measure tasks the United Nations with carrying out adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations from eastern Aleppo and other districts of the city.

It remained uncertain, however, whether the Syrian government would give the observers access to the city and allow operations there to come under international scrutiny.

Irans official news agency IRNA said the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran would meet in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Russia said on Monday that the defence ministers from the three countries would also meet in Moscow on Tuesday.
In 2013, Donald Trump appeared poised to conquer a new frontier: Russia.

His Miss Universe beauty contest was taking place in Russias capital and he thought it would seal a connection with its president, Vladimir Putin.

Do you think Putin will be going to The Miss Universe Pageant in November in Moscow -- if so, will he become my new best friend? the now US-president elect tweeted.

The meeting never took place, though Putin sent a close aide with a gift for the American.

It was just another false start in three decades of efforts by Trump to crystallize ties with a country that has long captivated him -- for its real estate development potential, but also for its steely, no-nonsense leaders.

Trump wrote in his book The Art of the Deal that his attraction to the then-Soviet Union began in 1986, when a lunch with Soviet ambassador Yuri Dubinin turned into an investment opportunity.

Dubinins daughter, it turned out, had read about Trump Tower and knew all about it, Trump recalled.

One thing led to another and now Im talking about building a large luxury hotel, across the street from the Kremlin.

He travelled with his then-wife Ivana to view potential sites in Moscow the following year.

It was an extraordinary experience, he wrote. I was impressed with the ambition of the Soviet officials to make a deal.

Tough and cold

Nothing came of it, and over the next decade Trump was bogged down in the bankruptcies of his Atlantic City casinos. But by 1997, he was back on the Russia file, bonding with rising political star General Alexander Lebed.

The two met at Trump Tower, where, according to a New Yorker article, Lebed lauded Trumps Moscow hotel plans as a litmus testing paper for American capital flowing to Russia.

Basking in the praise, Trump gave Lebed, a former boxer, a copy of his book. After the meeting, the New York tycoon said what he really liked about the Russian.

Does he look as tough and cold as youve ever seen? This is not like your average real estate guy whos rough and mean, Trump said. This guys beyond that. You see it in the eyes.

Trumps trip to Moscow that year again came up dry, but he was smitten with the country and its hard-nosed leaders more than ever. Entertaining his first White House run in 2000, he wrote in a new book of his fascination with Russian power.

Read | Consensus among FBI, CIA that Russian hacks aimed to boost Trump: Report

What I dont understand is why American policymakers are always so timid in dealing with Russia on issues that directly involve our own survival, he said, pointing to his experience of Lebed, a really tough guy who he predicted would one day lead Russia.

Trump backed out of the 2000 race, and Lebed died in 2002 in a helicopter crash. By then, ex-KGB officer Putin was the countrys president, and Trumps eyes turned to the vast sums of money newly rich Russians were moving out of the country.

Look at Putin

In 2005, he went into business with New York developer Bayrock Group, led by two immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

They signed a deal to develop a Trump Tower in the Russian capital that went nowhere. Meanwhile, they built the 46-floor Trump Soho luxury apartment tower in New York City, and other Trump-brand developments in Florida.

The primary financing source and the marketing target, were both Russian money, including an Iceland-registered investment firm identified in later lawsuits as in favour with Putin.

Trump was not implicated in the lawsuits, but in a deposition he bared his view of the situation.

Russia is one of the hottest places in the world for investment. We will be in Moscow at some point, he said.

A couple kisses in front of graffiti depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, on the walls of a bar in the old town in Vilnius, Lithuania. (AP Photo)

Again eyeing the White House in 2007, Trump began singing Putins praises.

Look at Putin -- what hes doing with Russia, he told CNN.

Whether you like him or dont like him -- hes doing a great job in rebuilding the image of Russia and also rebuilding Russia, period. Forget about image.

After Trump sold the Palm Beach, Florida estate Maison de LAmitie to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev for a record $95 million in 2008, his name became bigger inside Russia, and he entertained journalists from Moscow.

I really like Vladimir Putin. I respect him. He does his work well. Much better than our Bush, Trump told them.

By 2011, Trump began planning a serious White House challenge. For him, comparing President Barack Obama to Putin was a way of standing out.

So weak

In his new political tract, Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again, he praised Putin for his intelligence and no-nonsense way.

I respect Putin and the Russians, but cannot believe our leader allows them to get away with so much, he wrote. Hats off to the Russians.

By 2013, the year of the Miss Universe contest in Moscow, Trump had another deal to build a Trump Tower by the Kremlin.

It didnt happen, but his praise of Putin stepped up. He lauded Putins op-ed in The New York Times, telling Washington how to make peace in Syria.

Read | Obama says he told Putin to cut it out or face consequences on hackings

He is lecturing to our President. Never has our Country looked so weak, Trump tweeted.

His pro-Russia views under increasing scrutiny in 2015 as he opened his campaign, Trump made waves for casually dismissing longstanding suspicions that Putins regime condoned the murder of critical journalists.

Its never been proven that hes killed anybody, Trump told ABC.

Having conquered the White House in a victory loudly cheered in Moscow, he continues to brush off reports of brutality and repression by Putins Kremlin.
Disputes may be unavoidable in Sino-US relations but the administration of president-elect Donald Trump has to realise that Chinas sovereignty in the context of Taiwan and the South China Sea is non-negotiable, the state media said on Monday.

China seems to be mostly holding its fire in the ongoing spat with the US but an official commentary made it clear that  despite Trumps unprecedented comments and conversations  Beijing will not budge from claiming Taiwan and most of the South China Sea as its territory.

Beijing has informed every US administration of its red line - non-negotiable as always - the integrity of its sovereignty, whether in the case of Taiwan or of its South China Sea islands, the commentary piece by official Xinhua news agency said.

Trump has questioned the need for the One-China policy, talked on the phone with Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen and accused China of stealing the underwater drone the Peoples Liberation Army Navy captured last week in the South China Sea.

The commentary indicated that Trumps actions appeared to be aimed at rattling China. It said China understands Trumps mentality of trying to make deals but even such measures will have to have a bottom line.

If taking literally Trump's statements on his Twitter account, it seems that the billionaire is ready to deal the bilateral relations with mere mercantile mindset. He has not shied away disclosing attempts to take the one-China policy as a bargain chip, blame the renminbi (RMB) for the US mounting deficit, and accuse China of stealing a US unmanned underwater glider that served as part of the country's perennial close-up surveillance of China in South China Sea, it said.

But even deals require both sides to exert enough respect for each other's bottom line and prudence to not tread on it, it added.

The commentary said: Not to mention that diplomacy, much more weighty and complicated than doing businesses, deserves more discretion and calculation. After all, what Trump administration is going to deal with is the world's second largest economy as well as its largest trading partner.

The article forecast that Trump will fall in place sooner or later, realising the significance of the ties.

Sooner or later, the former real estate mogul will, as his predecessors have done, be aware of the strategic significance of an amicable, or at least constructive, China policy, and turn to engage with Beijing in pragmatic cooperation instead of unwanted provocation, although disputes are barely ineluctable for any economies with such highly intertwined interests, it said.

The commentary reminded Trump of his promise to President Xi Jinping to enhance cooperation.

It depends on Trump to make his China policy an asset rather than liability for his administration. But first, he is expected to abide by his promise to strengthen US-China cooperation for win-win results when receiving the congratulatory call from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chinese state media on Monday said US President-elect Donald Trumps diplomatic inexperience could spark a confrontation between the two nations, while one newspaper termed him unfit to lead a superpower.

They were commenting on Trumps response to Beijings seizure of a US maritime probe in international waters, a move which raised already heightened tensions between the worlds two largest military powers.

A Chinese naval vessel unlawfully grabbed the unmanned underwater vehicle in the South China Sea around 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines, the Pentagon said Friday.

China said the drone had been snatched since it might pose a safety hazard to other vessels.

It also said it strongly opposed US reconnaissance activities and had asked Washington to stop them.

The US said the device was collecting information on water temperatures, salinity and sea clarity.

On Sunday, after Beijing and Washington announced the drone would be returned, Trump tweeted: We should tell China that we dont want the drone they stole back. - let them keep it!

In a previous tweet, he had called Chinas move an unpresidented (sic) act, with the misspelled word going viral -- to much ridicule -- before he corrected it.

An advertisement in a magazine (top right) features US President-elect Donald Trump on the cover at a news stand in Shanghai, China. (AFP file photo)

What is truly amazing about this tweet, was the soon-to-be US president completely misrepresented what had actually happened -- that is more dangerous than funny, an editorial in the state-owned China Daily newspaper said.

Trumps behaviour could easily drive China-US relations into what Obama portrays as full-conflict mode, it added, next to a cartoon that depicted Trump riding a bull into a China shop while US businessmen looked on aghast.

A separate article quoted experts as calling Trumps behaviour diplomatically inept.

Trump has already infuriated Beijing by questioning longstanding US policy on Taiwan, calling Beijing a currency manipulator and threatening punitive tariffs on Chinese imports.

Chinas ministry of defence on Saturday had slammed alleged American hyping of Chinas capture of the drone as inappropriate and unhelpful.

Trump is not behaving as a president who will become master of the White House in a month. He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower, the often nationalistic Global Times, which has close ties to the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial.

There are broader tensions in the South China Sea, where China has moved to fortify its claims to the region by expanding tiny reefs and islets into artificial islands hosting military facilities.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan have competing claims in the waterway.

While the US takes no position on sovereignty claims in the area, it has repeatedly stressed freedom of navigation.

Its military has conducted several operations in which ships and planes have passed close to the sites Beijing claims.

No matter how powerful the US Navy is, it cannot act on the bottom line of Chinas security, said a second editorial about the probe seizure in the Global Times Monday.

If we see sonar and underwater gliders deployed by foreign ships in the South China Sea in the future, we would rather mistakenly capture a thousand than miss a single one.
Two soldiers were killed on Sunday in an attack by guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN), according to the Colombian army.

The soldiers, who were on a motorcycle patrol in Arauca, in eastern Colombia on the border of Venezuela, were gunned down by terrorists of the ELN travelling in a vehicle, the army said in a statement.

Reinforcements were rushed to the area to search for the culprits, the statement added.

The ELN is Colombias second-largest rebel group after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

President Juan Manuel Santos and the FARC signed a peace accord on November 24 to end five decades of warfare, after the first agreement was unexpectedly rejected by Colombians in an October 2 referendum.

The ELN and the government began secret talks in January, 2014 to pave the way for official peace talks, but the process has stumbled over the issue of hostages and prisoners.

The Colombian government has suspended the preparatory talks until January 10, insisting that the ELN first release hostage ex-congressman Odin Sanchez.

The ELN in turn called for the simultaneous release of two imprisoned rebels.

More than 260,000 people have died in Colombias decades-long conflict, which drew in other guerrilla forces, right-wing paramilitary groups, drug traffickers and government troops.
The Chinese and US militaries are having unimpeded talks about the return of US underwater drone taken by a Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea last week, Chinas foreign ministry said on Monday.

The drone, known as an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), was taken on Thursday in waters off the coast of the Philippines, the first seizure of its kind in recent memory.

The Pentagon went public with its complaint about the incident and said on Saturday it had secured a deal to get the drone back. Chinas defence ministry had earlier accused Washington of hyping up the issue.

What I can tell you is that at present, China and the United States are using unimpeded military channels to appropriately handle this issue, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing.

US President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to take a more aggressive approach in dealing with China over its economic and military policies, jumped on the unusual seizure with a pair of provocative tweets over the weekend, accusing Beijing of stealing the equipment.

Read: Beijing sees underwater US drone it seized as part of South China Sea spying efforts

Asked about Trumps comments, Hua said describing the drone as stolen was completely incorrect.

The key is that Chinas navy had a responsible and professional attitude to identify and ascertain this object, she said. If you discover or pick something up from the street, you have to examine it and if somebody asks you for it you have to work out if its theirs before you can give it back.

The drone, which the Pentagon said was operating lawfully was collecting data about the salinity, temperature and clarity of the water about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay, off the Philippines.

The Philippines said the occurrence of the incident inside its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was very troubling.

Not only does it increase the likelihood of miscalculations that could lead to open confrontation very near the Philippine mainland but the commission of activities other than innocent passage which impinge upon the right of the Philippines over the resources in its EEZ are violations of the Philippines rights over its EEZ, defence minister Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement.

DEEP SUSPICIONS

China is deeply suspicious of any US military activities in the resource-rich South China Sea, with state media and experts saying the use of the drone was likely part of U.S. surveillance efforts in the disputed waterway.

The overseas edition of the ruling Communist Partys Peoples Daily said in a commentary on Monday the USNS Bowditch, which was operating the drone, was a serial offender when it came to spying operations against China.

The downplaying of the actions of the drone cannot cover up the real intentions in the background, it said. This drone which floated to the surface in the South China Sea is the tip of the iceberg of US military strategy, including towards China.

The USNS Bowditch is an infamous military reconnaissance ship that has been surveying Chinas coastal waters since 2002, said Ma Gang, a professor at the Peoples Liberation Army National Defence University, told the official China Daily.

Read: Trumps inexperience could spark confrontation: Chinese media

Oceanic data is crucial for ship formations, submarine routes and battle planning, Ma said. Therefore, it is normal for the Chinese Navy to be suspicious of Bowditchs activities given past experience.

According to Chinese state media, the same ship was involved in incidents in 2001 and 2002 when it was shadowed by Chinese navy ships while operating in the Yellow Sea. Chinese media say it has also operated in the sensitive Taiwan Straits.

Ni Lexiong, a naval expert, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, told Reuters he believed the Chinese navy probably had orders to take the drone.

But Ni said this is a very different incident from the 2001 intercept of a US spy plane by a Chinese fighter jet that resulted in a collision that killed the Chinese pilot and forced the American plane to make an emergency landing at a base on Hainan.

This is a much smaller incident, it wont affect the overall picture of China-US relations, he said, adding that he did not expect China to seek an apology from the US.

The 24 US air crew members were held for 11 days before being released, souring US-Chinese relations in the early days of President George W Bushs first administration.
NEW YORK, CITY  When Kate Miles was just 5 years old, her parents took her to New York City.

A dozen years later, the teenage fashion designer from Scio remembers sitting on her fathers shoulders while he and her mother stood at the top of the Empire State Building.

We looked down on the mass of glittering lights of New York City for the first time, Kate said. I had cropped bangs and a pink dress that had been purchased to replace my lost suitcase that was full of hand-me-down clothing from my older brothers.

Now 17 years old, Kate and her mother, Rebecca, are spending a lot more time in the Big Apple. The Scio High School student, who graduated a year early, and her mother are living there while Kate attends Nyack Christian College and is taking fashion illustration classes at Mood Fabrics in the citys Garment District.

Kate and her brothers grew up on a southeast Oregon farm and the trip to the big city reminded me of the Oregon High Desert stars, but I was drawn to them in a different way.

Kate said she was captivated by their energy and curious about who they belong to. They were closer to me than my Oregon stars, but at the same time, they seemed farther away than anything I could ever understand or come close to.

With guidance by her grandmother, Kate started sewing at the age of 4 and was designing and sell doll clothes by age 6. She sold her first wedding gown at 12 and debuted in her first fashion show at 14.

She has earned numerous honors, including being named as an emerging designer at the 2014 Portland Fashion Week.

Kate and her mothers adventure began last summer, after her brothers wedding.

We threw a few briefcases and my collection of vintage hats in the back of our Jeep and headed off for a 10-day road trip to New York City, Kate said.

The two had completed a house exchange through www.sabbaticalhomes.com, and will spend a year in a 400-square-foot 11th floor studio apartment in the Financial District.

I worked hard in high school to graduate early and be able to take this year, my would-be senior year, to get acclimated to New York and complete some internships before entering fashion school, Kate said.

She began classes at Nyack Christian College  which has about 3,300 students  and in January, she will begin an internship with Nicole Miller.

I hope to start classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology in the Fall, Kate said.

Life in the big city has been eye opening to say the least, she said, but it has also dispelled many misconceptions that rural people may have about city folks.

So far, each day has presented something new, Kate said.

One of her first experiences was being on staff at New York Fashion Week.

From the stiletto-wearing women I met to the fast-paced creative environment, that week gave me a good taste of what the New York fashion industry looks like and strengthened my excitement to be here, Kate said.

Kate said that although she misses her family, friends and her clothing studio at her home in Oregon, she and her mother have been blessed with visits by many locals and even had a beautician from Ecuador she met at Fashion Week staying with them for a while.

Despite her busy schedule, Kate finds time to babysit and uses the proceeds to fuel time spent in the Garment District, where I enjoy people watching and digging through fabric stores like a kid in a candy shop.

She and her mother have also found time to explore the city of eight million residents.

We wander about the diverse streets, venture into antique book shops and splash in the waves at Coney Island, Kate said.

Kate said that looking back on her first trip to New York City, she never dreamed she would one day live there.

I never had a use for the pink dress when I returned home, Kate said. I spent a lot of time looking over my shoulder to see if the person I projected to be was right.

Now, she is living in a world where those cropped bangs and curious mind and a head full of dreams are not just accepted, but celebrated.

Kate said she appreciates the support of her Oregon family and friends.

I wouldnt have the courage to chase after dreams without the encouragement of my mother  did I mention she actually drove in New York City for me?  and I wouldnt even have those dreams without the tender hand of Christ doing my dreaming for me.

Kates mother, Rebecca, has made many adjustments to help her daughter realize her dream.

I never imagined or even dreamed about living in a city before, Rebecca said. I am a small town girl at heart and never had any desire to live in the bright lights, but when this opportunity opened up for us, I decided to give it a try and we have had so much fun.

Rebecca added, The craziest things happen to us here, like getting randomly interviewed for a Dutch newspaper at election time or seeing a woman on a subway who showed Katherine a photo she took while passing a photo shoot weeks before and how the skirt looked like the one Katherine was wearing. It was in fact the same skirt that Katherine had made and had done a shoot of when we first arrived.

Rebecca said she had preconceived notions about what city like was like before moving, but many have been proven wrong.

I believed the city was dirty and noisy, that New Yorkers are rude and that we would probably get mugged, she said.

But she has been surprised to learn how clean the city actually is and how safe she and Kate feel.

We have been here three months and have yet to have anyone be anything but nice to us, she said. Strangers stop on the street to ask if they can help us find someplace when we look lost. Tattooed and pierced young men give up their seats on the subway for pregnant women and old people. A fabric store owner threw in an extra yard of silk for free because we found it so beautiful.

She admits one notion remained unchanged  it is noisy compared to the familys former school house turned home near Scio.

I am so glad that I came along on this adventure because I feel much more confident leaving Katherine in this crazy, noisy place having witnessed first hand how wrong my perceptions were and having had the chance to see what New York is really like, she said.

To learn more about Kates experiences in the big city and her line of fashions that feature repurposed materials, visit https://katescouture.squarespace.com/.
As US president-elect Donald Tump holidays with his family in Florida, he will be keeping an eye on the Electoral College vote taking place on Monday to formalise his election or  as his diehard detractors are trying to do but with no real chance of success  to stop him.

Considered a formality, this electoral process has been thrust into the limelight this election because of the continued opposition to Trump, mostly from Democrats but also some Republicans, with plenty of drama thrown in, including death threats to electors.

Ash Khare, an Indian-American Republican elector from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has become something of a media celebrity, going public with the flood of letters he has been getting from around the country to vote against Trump.

Hollywood, which is largely Democratic, has also jumped in with leading stars such as Martin Sheen urging Republican electors in a video released last week to break away from the party and vote against Trump. Anyone but Trump, they are saying.

Trump picked up 307 electoral college votes winning the November 8 election with the rest 231  from the total of 538  going to his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. That gives him the presidency surely, but not formally.

The 538 electors will meet in state capitals and Washington on Monday to cast two votes each to elect a president and a vice-president. At the end of the day, the states will tally the votes and send their respective totals to the National Archives.

They will be counted state-wise on January 6, during a joint session of Congress chaired by the Senate president, Vice-President Joe Biden. If the result is around the same as now, the real estate tycoon will formally become the 45th president-elect.

Trump needs half of 538 votes plus one, 270, to get there. He has 307, but some of the electors have the option to not vote for him. While most states tie their electors to the nominee who won those states, others allow theirs to vote for anyone.

The president-elects opponents need to flip 37 of his electors to stop him short of the 270 threshold, but only one of them has so far said he will be voting against the president-elect. The rest are staying with him, according to multiple news reports.

After interviewing 330 of them across the country, the Associated Press concluded that while Democrats remained greatly agitated about Trump and will try their best, they didnt have the numbers to overturn his election.

Indian-born Khare told an ABC news affiliate, I am for Mr. Trump. I am for his agenda. I am totally excited. The way he is picking his cabinet, the way he is doing his thing. I believe the greatest days of this country are yet to come.

Khare, an engineer and a long-time Republican, has said he estimates receiving 3,000 to 5,000 emails, letters, and phone calls a day from as far away as France, Germany, and Australia, and has difficulty tracking his bills among them.

Khare is staying with Trump and perhaps most others like him. And the Trump camp senses victory already. Spokesman Jason Miller was tweeting and retweeting links ahead of the voting about the impending victory, captioning them Big league.
The US Electoral College is expected on Monday to officially select Republican Donald Trump as the next president in a vote that is usually routine but takes place this year amid allegations of Russian hacking to try to influence the election.

At meetings scheduled in every state and the District of Columbia, the institutions 538 electors, generally chosen by state parties, will cast official ballots for president and vice-president.

It is highly unlikely the vote will change the outcome of the November 8 election, which gave the White House to Trump after he won a majority of Electoral College votes. The popular vote went to Democrat Hillary Clinton.

But the conclusion by US intelligence agencies that Russia hacked into the emails of the Democratic National Committee in an attempt to sway the election for Trump has prompted Democrats to urge some electors not to vote as directed by their states popular ballot.

Protesters demonstrate against US president-elect Donald Trump outside the Colorado Capitol building on the eve of the Electoral College vote, in Denver, Colorado. (AFP Photo)

The leaked emails disclosed details of Clintons paid speeches to Wall Street, party infighting and inside criticism about Clintons use of a private server to send emails while US secretary of state. The disclosures led to embarrassing media coverage and prompted some party officials to resign.

Trump and his team dismiss intelligence claims of Russian interference, accusing Democrats and their allies of trying to undermine the legitimacy of his election victory.

Russian officials have denied accusations of interfering in the election.

On Sunday, Clintons campaign chairman, John Podesta, said it was an open question whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia about the emails, an allegation that Trumps incoming White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, denied. A bipartisan group of US senators called for a special committee probe of cyber attacks by Russia and other countries.

The number of Electoral College electors equals the number of representatives and senators in Congress, with each state receiving a share roughly proportional to its population size.

When voters go to the polls to cast a ballot for president, they are actually choosing a presidential candidates preferred slate for their state.

Activists demonstrate against US president-elect Donald Trump outside the Texas State Capitol in Austin. (Reuters Photo)

A candidate must secure 270 votes to win. Trump won 306 electors from 30 states.

The electors convene meetings in each state to cast ballots about six weeks after each presidential election.

If no candidate reaches 270 in the Electoral College, the president is chosen by the US House of Representatives - currently controlled by Republicans.
Military History Editor Stephen Harding, author of Dawn of Infamy: A Sunken Ship, a Vanished Crew, and the Final Mystery of Pearl Harbor, discusses his new book with Military Times Executive Editor Tony Lombardo.
It was during a Polish trip, when Max Spiers from Canterbury was believed to be ready to expose a "major UFO cover-up" that he died.

That happened due to "natural causes" said Polish authorities. However, the mystery behind the "perfectly healthy 39-year-old" dying is a mystery that no one has been able to unravel. His family is sure that the reason was a "satanic cult."

The update on his death is that he "threw up two litres of black fluid" just before he died. Last Monday, during an inquest at Canterbury Coroner's Court, after his body had got repatriated, some new revelations indicated mysterious circumstances.

Just before he died, he had texted his mother. He told her to be sure to probe into the matter in case anything happened to him.

Coroner's investigations officer Caroline O'Donnell said: "When they returned, Mr Spiers became ill with a high temperature and was weak. The following day, Mr Spiers vomited two litres of black fluid. The friend called a doctor who attempted resuscitation before pronouncing him dead."

He was murdered, said his mother, Vanessa Bates. She said: "He was making a name for himself in the world of conspiracy theorists and had been invited to speak at a conference in Poland in July. He was staying with a woman who he had not known for long and she told me how she found him dead on the sofa. But I think Max had been digging in some dark places and I fear that somebody wanted him dead.

"Max was a very fit man who was in good health and yet he apparently just died suddenly on a sofa. All I have is a death certificate from the Polish authorities that it was from natural causes, but no post-mortem was done, so how can they tell that? They are also refusing to release any paperwork about it to me because, absurdly, I don't have his written permission."

Spiers' girlfriend, Sarah Adams, 31, revealed that he had become frightened of a Polish sect that he was linked to. He was convinced that they were posing a death threat to him.

She said: "We were used to getting death threats or stuff like that from people, but I think this time it seemed rather real. He'd been sent threats saying that him and me were going to die. He was going to expose black magic. He was going to expose some of the stuff he was working on involving political leaders and celebrities."

"He seemed anxious when we last spoke. He was terrified, he wanted to leave."

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
T he fairytale dream of owning a private island with spectacular coastal views could be a reality for a buyer willing to take on a serious New Year renovation project.

A converted Napoleonic fort on Thorne Island, near Angle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, was listed for sale with an asking price of 550,000 in November this year - and has become one of the most viewed properties on Rightmove this year. The 2.5-acre island is completely private and only accessible by boat from the mainland.

Formerly a hotel, the Grade II-listed property has not been lived in for more than a decade and some interiors are in dire need of modernising.

The living space is arranged primarily on ground level around a large, imposing courtyard. There are also 10 bedrooms, three bathrooms, three reception rooms, a kitchen, two bars - and perhaps the biggest draw - magnificent views of the Welsh coast.

Anthony Clay, partner at Knight Frank, says: "Thorne Island has received a huge amount of interest since we launched it to the market. The idea of owning an island and fortress has brought out the Enid Blyton in us all I think  its a magical place and, being less than half a mile off the coast, is not too inaccessible.

"The fortress needs a fair bit of investment and this isnt the sort of property you would buy on a whim, but it is perfect for someone who is passionate about bringing it back to life."

The sandy beach of West Angle Bay is about a quarter of a mile away, with the village offering local amenities, a shop, two pubs and a primary school. For a wider range of shops, the historic town of Pembroke is nine miles away.

Seclusion is to be expected, but communications are rapidly improving, with fast access to Carmathen and the M4. The fort has private water, drainage and electricity supplies, as well as a telephone.

Thorne Island will appeal to outdoors types, with popular local activities including swimming, sailing, fishing and lobstering. The surrounding area is one of Britain's most breathtaking national parks, packed full of scenic countryside and beautiful beaches.

The fort was built on the rocky outcrop in 1854 to defend the nearby Milford Haven naval base from the French. It was the scene of the famous Loch Shiel shipwreck in the late 19th century before being sold by the state in 1932.

Several owners, including the collapsed von Essen hotel chain, have taken on Thorne Island with the aim of converting it into a luxury hotel, but its potential is yet to be fulfilled.

Thorne Island was the most viewed unusual property on Rightmove last month, and estate agent Knight Frank says it has attracted a lot of interest since going on sale in late November, mainly from buyers interested in the commercial possibilities it offers.

Thorne Island is for sale through Knight Frank
The number of properties converting to soft brands such as Marriott Autograph, Hilton Curio, BW Premier, Loews' OE and the like demonstrate a significant upswing in traction for this hybrid hotel category. Seemingly, a fine balance between the hotel having its own unique identity and gaining in operational expertise, loyalty programs and web booking advantages have wide appeal with both owners and the larger financial community that provides the necessary capital.

In Philadelphia, with a new Four Seasons Hotel in the making, the brand's venerable Logan Square property represented an ideal opportunity for a newly independent hotel to make its mark on the City of Brotherly Love. The resultant property makeover, managed by Sage Hospitality, is now part of the Hilton Curio group. The senior team saw this rebranding as a chance to develop a truly independent, destination property that builds upon James Logan's historical significance to the city as well as to the nation. As well, these sought to make the hotel more accessible to locals, as highlighted by an engagement program called 'Living The Logan' where monthly events feature resident art exhibits from nearby university students.

All told, this rebrand is a daunting task that took six months to complete from mid-June to December 2015. While visiting recently, I met with Sandy Heydt, Director of Sales & Marketing to discuss this transition and the strategy for the hotel moving forward.

Why was Hilton Curio chosen as a soft brand?

By its definition, the Curio brand is a collection of unique hotels, each with its own history and character in cities across the globe. We embody exactly that  our property has a wealth of history in the city, and our design has countless historical elements worthy of exploration. Our namesake, James Logan's character and lifestyle, can be found around every corner, with nods to Philadelphia's history in manufacturing, fashion and textiles. Our curated local art collection is quickly become a destination in its own right, leaving guests captivated by the impressive works created especially for our property and wholly inspired by Philadelphia.

What was the total CAPEX investment in the refurbishment of the property?

While we can't disclose the exact amount, it was significant to say the least. All public space was taken down to frame, guest rooms were updated, corridors renovated, spa and fitness center tripled in size, lower level renovation, outdoor spaces enhanced, and the library and rooftop lounge were added.

What do you see as the advantages of having a Curio brand vs a stand-alone independent?

We have the benefits of being soft branded which allows us to remain independent while still offering benefits to travelers in the Hilton network who would like to use their points for a more unique experience. We have access to the vast Hilton distribution system and marketing programs and can opt in at our own discretion.

What unique positioning elements are part of the property that you see as differentiators?

There are many unique position elements and selling points that are part of The Logan that we see as key differentiating factors from our competition.

1. Connection and easy access to an events venue/conference center. The Logan is located at the foot of Philadelphia's mecca of museums, art and historical landmarks. From The Logan, visitors have easy access to major highways, and are walking distance to Center City shopping and the restaurant district.

2. Rooftop bar/lounge. The Logan's Assembly Rooftop Bar & Lounge is a major signature item for us as no other hotel in Philadelphia has a rooftop bar with such views. Assembly is located nine floors above the city and is a chic ultra-modern space with its unhindered panoramic view of Logan Square to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway all the way to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

3. In-house art program. The Logan has collaborated with a bevy of Philadelphia based artists, who collectively work together (as well as artists who work independently) to promote and support the local art community. There are over 1,800 pieces of art in The Logan collection displayed throughout the hotel. Most notably, the Philadelphia Elite Silhouette chandelier created by over 300 images celebrating famous Philadelphians across history, the Crew statue honoring Boathouse Row and Philadelphia's Crew history, and Hombre De Hierro or 'The Logan Man' which honors the men and women who shaped Philadelphia's industrial history through innovation and craftsmanship.

4. Unique design. The concept for the brand of the hotel is driven by the idea that the hotel embodies the independent character of Philadelphia, blending classic and historic elements with modern influences, as sophisticated and stylish as Philadelphia itself.

5. Outdoor spaces. The Logan has lush outdoor living spaces with multiple exits from the hotel. Expansive terraces have comfortable furnishings that encourage you to step outside and get a different perspective on the city.

If an owner was planning to launch a property, does a soft brand make sense, and why?

Absolutely. The soft brand gives you access to millions of potential loyal brand customers while allowing the property to maintain its independence. It is the best of both worlds. An owner can literally save dollars in marketing and sales costs making the decision to partner with a soft brand. I have worked in both scenarios. It is very expensive to launch a new hotel with a new name and new brand, as a total independent. Such an endeavor also takes much longer as well.

Anything else that you might add?

As the former Four Seasons Hotel, we knew we were renovating and reopening an iconic property that locals and out-of-towners alike already had much affection for. The reviews from our customers and locals have been overwhelmingly positive. I believe it is because we tell the story of Philadelphia around every corner and we have created a very unique contemporary hotel with an energized vibe that is warmly inclusive to all. We have been rewarded by gaining the reputation as being one of Philadelphia's social hubs.

Larry Mogelonsky

Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited

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The Best Rapper Alive crown has been hotly contested since the dawn of hip hop. For a stretch of time following the release of Tha Carter III, the consensus Best Rapper Alive was Lil Wayne. Many have challenged Waynes dominance since. The latest to do it is Kodak Black.

Lil Wayne aint the best fucking rapper alive, Kodak tweeted Sunday night. I AM. He punctuated the proclamation with a smiley face and a Haitian flag emoji.

Its a bold claim from Kodak. The Broward County rapper has been working with Metro Boomin and DJ Khaled since he was released from jail on $100,000 bond at the beginning of December. In October, Lil Wayne said that he had never heard of Lil Uzi Vert.

Kodak Black
The rock 'n' roll gang talk turkey in our bumper 2017 Annual!

Roisin O, Aine Cahill, Andy from Keywest, Vinny from Overhead, The Albatross, Mal from the Riptide Movement and Steven and Kevin Fangclub; that was the star-studded line-up for the Hot Press Xmas Summit, which makes its festive presence known in our bumper 2017 Annual.

Steven Spielberg was in front of us with his phone recording the gig, Roisin says when asked about her favourite performance of the year. JJ Abrams was next to him with all the Star Trek lads.

The day after you had kids in school shouting at their Mexican classmates, Youve got to leave, build the wall it was disgusting, Aine fumed none too quietly when talk turned to Trump.

Ive a radio alarm and when it goes off in the morning, its normally an Irish act being played, Andy said when the thorny issue of radio airplay came up.

Lana Del Rey, Radiohead tickets, Repeal The 8th, legalised marijuana, TXFM, Spotify, foreign adventures, GAA, wanton acts of fandom and, natch, David Bowie were some of the other topics discussed in our clinical dissection of the Rock N Roll Year that was 2016!
A record number of Local Enterprise Office-supported craft and design companies are set to take part in Showcase 2017. The Local Enterprise Showcase Awards  which is run by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and open to their local craft and design businesses taking part in Showcase, Irelands International Creative Expo  will be held in the RDS, Dublin from 22-25 January 2017, it was confirmed yesterday.

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Welsh movie star Michael Sheen has denied that hes planning to give up his glittering Hollywood career to focus on political activism.

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Normally Peter Hook gets a 12 out of 10 for chirpiness, but today theres a Peanuts-style black cloud over the legendary Mancunian bass-slingers head as he paces around backstage at the Chester Literary Festival.

Its sad, really, the well-preserved 60-year-old reflects. You write a 752-page book detailing 40-years of your life, and all people want to talk about is this one chapter thats a tiny part of the overall story. To be honest, the controversy and having to constantly defend myself, has sucked the joy out of it.

The book in question is Hookys Substance: Inside New Order, and the chapter the one in which he accuses the deceased Caroline Aherne of being physically abusive during their three-year marriage.
There were 13,208 helpline contacts made to the Rape Crisis Network Ireland in 2015, according to the latest figures revealed in their Rape Crisis Statistics and Annual Report which is being launched today.

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I was under the impression that we all agreed that government officials should do everything to eliminate both the reality and the appearance of acting for financial gain before, during and after holding public office.

Apparently, that was naive of me. President-elect Donald Trump delayed his press conference last week about how he will separate himself from his business, although he has signaled an intention to turn his business over to his children in January.

Wall Street Journal columnist Holman Jenkins wrote recently that any president is "always conflicted," and therefore maybe we should cut Trump some slack with respect to his and his family's business interests.

As Trump declines to fully separate himself from the family business, "Why not widen our tolerance a bit?" asks Jenkins. "Why not allow that Americans have the right to pick a business owner as president? Let's see how their choice plays out."

No, let's not.

People who make public policy should not have a private financial stake in the outcome, or even the appearance of a stake in the outcome of their decisions. Shifting the Trump businesses to his children does not solve this problem. Even if the Trump family members aren't seeking to profit from government ties, both critics and favor-seekers will assume that's the case. That assumption itself undermines basic good government.

I understand Trump supporters view his business success as a kind of protection against financial corruption. After all, he and his children don't need the money. Personally, I like the idea of a wealthy executive in office who therefore should be "immune" to financial temptation.

But that's not even the point.

People will still assume that policy isn't made with the public's interest foremost in mind. His critics will assume everyone's on the take. Allies and favor-seekers will attempt to gain an advantage however they can.

Revisiting Dodd-Frank banking regulation soon? I'm happy to review those financing terms for you, Mr. Trump Jr.

The widespread idea that people get rich off of public service is an insidious termite nest, eating at and hollowing out the foundations of a republic. Successful generals in the late Roman republic generated extraordinary, corrupting wealth through their public offices.

Latin American governments and Vladimir Putin's Russia offer past and current examples of the corrupt practices and cynicism it engenders about government. This is not a "Let's see how their choice plays out" situation. We already know how it plays out.

Jane Jacobs in "Systems of Survival: A Dialogue on the Moral Foundations of Commerce and Politics" argued that a completely different set of moral codes defines how people in government should act versus how people in private enterprise should act.

The two moral codes are each valid, and each work independently and properly in parallel, when contained within their own system. The blending of the two moral systems, however, leads to criminal outcomes and a breakdown of societal trust.

I read this about 20 years ago and haven't seen a better explanation since.

Government workers - including the police and military, political candidates, elected officials and government employees - are expected to not seek profits, to be obedient and disciplined, adhere to tradition, respect hierarchy, be loyal, take vengeance, dispense largess, show fortitude and treasure honor, among other things.

Those moral codes make me picture an impressive old county courthouse, commanding a bit of awe. In a government and public service context, these moral precepts work best.

People in business - like executives at a trading firm, technology startup or even a barista at a busy coffee shop - are expected to not use physical force, to collaborate easily with strangers, be competitive, use initiative and enterprise, be open to inventiveness and novelty, be efficient and thrifty, seek profits and to encourage workers to challenge superiors if something is wrong.

The point is not which code of conduct is morally superior, but rather that each code is consistent and appropriate for the job at hand.

The problem, Jacobs explained, is when you mix the two moral codes. The mixing leads to monstrosities. The Mafia, for example, is a for-profit business enterprise that employs moral codes from the government side, like loyalty, largesse, honor, and vengeance.

Government office holders, on the other side, slip into corruption when they adopt for-profit values like seeking profit, encouraging inventiveness and enterprise.

Private armies and mercenaries for hire are a special kind of mixed moral-code monstrosity, as is anytime we see politicians engaging in clear pay-to-play practices. What is moral and good in one context is not moral and good in the other.

By no means does one party have a cleaner history than the other on this. According to biographer Robert Caro, Lyndon Johnson built an ill-gotten fortune through pressuring businesses in Texas to advertise with radio stations nominally "owned" by Lady Bird Johnson, while Johnson served in Congress and the Senate.

Al Gore reportedly left the vice presidency in 2000 with a $1.7 million net worth, which then grew to an estimated $200 million net worth by 2012 through media, technology, and solar investments.

I have a hard time believing his business partners solely valued him for his business acumen, rather than his government experience. The $240 million in income reportedly earned by the Clintons in their post-White House careers also disgusts me.

They mixed the separate moral codes of business and government in a monstrous way, and they unfortunately set the stage for Trump to blow off calls to fully separate himself from his family's businesses.

The point should not be "forget it, because both sides do this." The point is, we should not be OK with the mixing of profit and public service, nor even the appearance of it. People will assume it's happening with Trump's family. We can't do what Jenkins suggests, and normalize it, accept it, and "see how their choice plays out."

Accepting this kind of moral monstrosity moves the republic much close to the Russian and Latin American model, and that's not a good thing.
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FREER  When oil prices soared and times were good in this small town somewhere in the vastness between Mexico and the Gulf, Sheila Kuenstler could feel it in the walls of her little craft and flower shop along U.S. 59, the windows shaking each time an 18-wheeler roared by.

But on a recent Monday afternoon, sitting at a large desk cluttered with invoices and ribbon, all was quiet. When someone knocked on the door looking for a job, Kuenstler turned the person away - she's barely hanging on herself.

"You hear people say all the time, 'Gas prices are low,' " Kuenstler said. "Well, when gas prices are low, people don't have a job."

The fracking revolution flushed millions of dollars through this cluster of 2,700 people near the Eagle Ford Shale. The bust hit almost as quickly, crippling the economies of Freer and other rural communities and leaving them few ways to revive. Unlike cities such as Houston, these outposts can't simply lean on other industries, recruit other businesses, and find other jobs for people thrown out of work.

Reading the headlines, it's easy to think Texas' oil industry is headed for a recovery. Prices are back above $50 a barrel, and drillers are flocking to the rich Permian Basin in West Texas, where geology makes extraction easier. But that doesn't do much good for Freer and its neighbors. Oil fields in the Eagle Ford remain largely fallow because they're still too expensive to drill at current prices.

Now, a year and a half after the shale play went south, Eagle Ford towns are in danger of sharing the fates that befell scores of ghost towns across Texas' scrubby expanse.

For a few months out of the year, Freer has open season to buoy its spirits, with trophy hunters streaming through gas stations and eateries. The rest of the time, it languishes in a county with one of the highest unemployment rates in the state and little hope on the horizon.

Little hope, that is, but for Mexico's rumbling appetite for oil  and the new refineries that will be needed to satisfy it.

An ephemeral reprieve

Freer's mayor, Arnold Cantu, remembers the town back in the 1960s and '70s, when he was a cop: Two stoplights, businesses lining Main Street, frequent parties and festivals.

"All this used to be full at one time. Thriving," Cantu says, driving past vacant and faded storefronts. "Saturday mornings, the town was full. We had like five grocery stores, and there was enough business for everybody."

The area had conventional oil reserves as well as a significant amount of uranium. But over time, the local wells tapped out, and low prices made uranium mining impracticable. By the early 2000s, major oil companies had mostly shut down operations, and Freer scraped by on jobs provided by the school district and local construction companies.

As drilling in the Eagle Ford ramped up in 2010 and 2011, better days returned here. Workers moved in so their kids could go to school while they commuted some 45 minutes to the heart of the shale play. Many longtime residents had jobs in town serving meals and making beds for the fracking crews.

The impact was visible everywhere. Cantu, who has a number of business enterprises in town, made a nice profit selling land for a new hotel, since the other inns were booked solid. His car wash was always busy. His apartments and storage units had waiting lists, and his Chevy dealership was selling 60 cars and trucks a month.

"The money was all over Freer. They made it, and they blew it," says Geri van Pelt, who owns a boutique in town. "These guys were coming back and buying duallies, big old pickup trucks with big old tires, because 'Ohh, I work in the oilfield and I'm making all this money.'"

Then, in late 2014, oil prices crashed. The rig count plunged from more than 260 to fewer than 50 by early 2016. The unemployment rate jumped from 4.8 percent to 12.1 percent this past August, the highest in the Gulf Coast region.

Falling revenues, rising needs

"For Rent" signs went up on trailers and ramshackle houses. Idled drilling equipment littered yards on the outskirts of town. Hotels emptied out, and Brush Country Bank's parking lot filled up with repossessed cars.

The local pawn shop was so busy it had to send excess inventory to the Rio Grande Valley.

Those who could leave, left; the population is down more than 15 percent since 2000. Others tried to hang on as unemployment benefits dwindled.

"I don't think people thought that the oil would hit this quick," says Kuenstler of the flower shop. "When you get a $5,000 check every month for years, and it goes down to $700, that's a big change."

The bust took a toll on the city's finances. Sales tax revenues were cut in half. So was the staff at City Hall, which fell from 28 to 15. Along with slower services, the town's residents noticed the little things, like not being able to afford the fireworks display on the Fourth of July.

County government was in trouble, too - both property valuations and tax collections declined, since residents couldn't pay their bills. Duval County cut its $17 million budget by about 10 percent, releasing defendants from jail early, delaying road maintenance and idling squad cars to save on fuel.

As revenues fell, needs for services rose. The county and local churches restarted a food bank that a year and a half earlier hadn't been needed. Today, it serves 200 people.

The community also experienced a rise in petty crimes, which Ana Garcia, Freer's city manager, speculated was caused by hard times after the bust.

"The oilfield trickles down," she said. "People are hungry and hurting. I know the amount of security systems that have been sold are on the rise."

Trying to diversify

A few cities in rural South Texas have tried to diversify their economies, soften the blow of energy cycles.

Gonzales, for example, has made over its historic downtown on the banks of the Guadalupe River to build its tourism industry. Cotulla is applying to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to create a free trade zone, which could attract importers and manufacturers by deferring tariffs.

Freer is trying to branch out, too, catering to deer hunters who come in the fall to stay at surrounding ranches charging thousands of dollars to kill a mature whitetail. Shane Smith, whose family has run a hunting supply store for 24 years, said the city could play that up  by posting big "Welcome, Hunters!" signs at the gateways to town, for example. Still, he admits, outdoor recreation won't be enough.

"We all know that, in our town, the biggest economy is the oilfield," he said.

But a related industry might provide an answer. Last month, Houston-based Raven Petroleum purchased 800 acres along a rail line roughly 50 miles southeast of Freer and said it would build a $500 million refinery to export gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas to Mexico. The project would create 1,500 jobs during construction, scheduled to start in 2017, as well as about 400 well-paid permanent jobs.

For the last year and a half, Ricardo Carrillo, a soft-spoken county judge, has sought such an opportunity for Duval County by promoting access to the Kansas City Southern rail system, which extends from the Midwest, through the county and down to southern Mexico.

Mexico, in recent years, has opened its energy markets to both production by foreign oil companies and imports of foreign fuels. A spokeswoman for Kansas City Southern says the railroad has seen increased traffic of refined fuels to Mexico, which could ramp up further as facilities are built south of the border to handle more railcars.

"The one thing I kept telling my office was, the biggest asset we have is the railway," said Carrillo, sitting in his office in San Diego, the county seat, where the courthouse's window frames are chipping and the light at the main entrance is secured with duct tape.

Looking for a selling point

The new refinery would double the county's property tax base, and drive down taxes for everybody else by 40 percent because of the state-mandated revenue cap, according to Carrillo.

And Carrillo doesn't think Raven will be the last business coming to the county. Another company, T&R Terminals, has announced plans for a facility on the rail line to load fuels from trucks onto railcars.

The energy trade with Mexico could be a lifeline for Freer, which is strategizing ways to attract people who might come to work for the Raven refinery, which would be built about a half-hour away.

Freer's selling point: a strong public school system. Over the last few years, Freer Independent School District has built an accelerated college program, which allows teenagers to earn credits at a community college in Laredo. It used to be that kids could get jobs in the oilfield right out of high school  but no longer.

"That's a tough argument to fight," says the district superintendent, Steve VanMatre. "And we're not having to fight that as much as we have in the past."

Last year, 100 percent of the graduating class went to college or joined the military  an impressive achievement for a rural community. In combination with a fresh source of jobs, Garcia, the city manager, hopes the schools will help Freer reverse its long-term decline.

"My dream is that people will start noticing that and move here," she says. "And if they move here, the houses for rent will no longer be for rent."
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Anya Lowe Chang's destination wedding bucked tradition from the get-go.

Ernest Chang  a real estate agent and former CBS Radio morning-show producer better known to Hot 95.7 listeners as DJ Wu Chang  proposed at the busy Starbucks across from the Galleria. He asked a barista to write "Will you marry me?" on Anya's paper coffee cup while they were celebrating her newly obtained real estate license; both now work for RE/MAX.

Houston was never really an option for the easygoing couple's "I dos," though. They originally wanted to wed on Turks and Caicos, but the Caribbean island was too expensive for all of their 50 guests to make the trek. Some of Anya's family live in St. Lucia and others in Italy. Of her three brothers, the two eldest each have multiple children. Ernest, 37, has two children from a previous relationship, too. Finding an exotic yet affordable venue became her top priority.

She stumbled across Velas Vallarta, an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, while scrolling through Instagram posts from people who had gotten married there.

"The most important part (of the search) was reading all of the negative reviews, so I found the place with the best negative reviews," said Anya, who is 35.

Their wedding weekend would be her first trip to the Mexican beach town, but she already knew a traditional gown wouldn't suit the setting.

"I'm not the person to have a big frou-frou wedding dress," she said. "That's just not me."

Her fiance inadvertently led his bride to the dress of her dreams. Over lunch with friends, including local designer Becky Hollands, he suggested that she create a custom look for Anya.

The aspiring couturier initially declined the offer. Her experience had been designing one-of-a-kind frocks for high-profile clients such as Rice University's Y. Ping Sun and philanthropy grand dame Joanne King Herring  who are both sample size.

Anya is 5 foot 11 and curvaceous, with more inches of a Barbie-shaped silhouette. Eventually, the challenge won Hollands over.

"Everything that my mom and I saw in stores was really plain, overdramatic or something you'd seen a million times," Anya said. "I was looking for something flowy on bottom and form-fitting on top that fell under the style of a formal dress, not so much a wedding dress."

She found promising inspiration on Pinterest, which she showed Hollands, who brought in ideas of her own. They settled on an intricate white bodice with a champagne skirt and met for fittings over three months to discuss cut, fabric and flourishes. Anya had envisioned a gold beaded belt, though Hollands ultimately convinced her that rose gold made more of a statement.

"I feel like we created my own version of the dress," Anya said. "It was Anya's dress, rather than one from a store."

Once their creation was almost complete, bride and designer hosted an unveiling party at Anya's mother home. It was a hit, Anya said.

Her FunJet Vacations wedding coordinator, Katie Brierton, made sure the July wedding weekend went off without a hitch. Brierton worked with Velas Vallarta's onsite contact to execute Anya's vision.

"I wanted simple but tropical. Definitely not a beach wedding," Anya said. "We were originally going to do our wedding at the hotel where we were staying, but the resort had a couple of other locations, including a private beach club next door."

That's where the Changs tied the knot, surrounded by Mexican tile, wrought iron and breathtaking views of the ocean. The groom's daughter carried Anya's bouquet; his son was the ringbearer.

Their seated Caribbean-style reception dinner  seafood and paella  was attended by Hollands, photographer Marco Torres and Ernest's friend DJ Choppy, all of whom the couple flew out for the occasion. Motown and Top 40 hits topped their playlist.

Watching her father groove to Cherub's "Doses and Mimosas" surrounded by their family and friends is one of Anya's favorite memories of the night. That and her custom wedding gown, of course.

"It's a process," she said. "But no one else is going to have a dress like yours. All of the things I love are in it, and there's nothing generic about it."

The same could be said of her happily ever after.
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When the H Town Restaurant Group, headed by award-winning chef Hugo Ortega and restaurateur Tracy Vaught, announced in July that it would open a restaurant in downtown's Marriott Marquis Houston, nothing was known about the theme of the venture occupying a marquee spot at the mega-hotel.

And throughout its construction, the principals have remained mum about the project called Xochi. Until now.

Ortega and Vaught told the Chronicle on Thursday that Xochi, set to open in January, will celebrate the food and drink of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Whereas the original Hugo's was inspired by authentic regional Mexican cuisine and the heralded Caracol was conceived as a coastal Mexican restaurant, Xochi taps the indigenous flavors of the state that Ortega suggests is Mexico's culinary glory.

"Oaxaca is timeless. The bounty of native ingredients is almost overwhelming," Mexico City-born Ortega said. "There are 15 to 18 dialects spoken through Oaxaca. In some villages, Spanish is not the first language. That lets you know how remote these areas are."

Those remote pockets, coupled with the state's varied, rugged terrain, fascinate chef Ortega, who has been nominated five times for the James Beard Award as Best Chef Southwest. Those qualities also inspired him to choose Oaxaca as the inspiration for Xochi - from Xochitl, the Aztec-Nahuatl word for flower.

"Oaxaca is so rich with culinary diversity and traditions and is a place I never tire of visiting," he said.

Oaxaca is the region most often associated with mole, the paste made from dried chile, nuts, seeds and spices used to create glorious sauces that vary wildly throughout Mexico. And yes, Xochi will offer mole dishes. And much more.

Though the completed menu remains under wraps, Ortega said the kitchen will endeavor to make almost everything from scratch: tortillas from freshly ground corn; cheeses, including queso fresco; a daily variety of moles (the menu will offer a mole sampler in addition to mole dishes); and house-roasted and -ground cacao beans for Mexican chocolate. He plans to import special herbs and flowers to be used in his dishes.

The Xochi menu also will include meat and seafood dishes prepared in a wood-fired oven, such as tlayudas, Oaxacan street snacks built on large corn tortillas that resemble pizzas or flatbreads.

There will be barbacoa, grilled ribeye with black bean tamale and mole, slow-cooked suckling pig and a traditional fish-and-shrimp soup heated with hot river rocks baked in the horno (wood-fired oven).

Ortega said foods such as tacos, tamales, memelas (toasted masa pancakes with roasted pork), tetelas (masa triangles filled with cheese) and other classic street foods will transport diners to promenades of Oaxaca. He even promises that edible insects (ants, grasshoppers) and worms will be on the menu.

It's not just Ortega who has found inspiration in Oaxaca. The culinary team, which includes his brother, pastry chef Ruben Ortega, and beverage director Sean Beck have been hard at work creating their own Oaxacanization of the Xochi menu.

Ruben Ortega is set to wow diners with house-made chocolate creations (there will be a special part of the dessert menu dedicated to Mexican chocolate). He plans to employ Oaxacan fruit, nuts and herbs in his meal finales. Beck, meanwhile, has been busy creating a mezcal program and a cocktail menu. He also plans to bring local emerging spirits to the bar as well as craft beers produced in Oaxaca.

"For Xochi, the team is spreading its wings and letting their amazing creativity guide the food and drink," Vaught said. "In Mexico, the phrase they use is, 'by author,' and we are excited for our team to create this new concept and new chapter for our restaurant family."

Xochi's opening expands H Town Restaurant Group, which includes Hugo's, Backstreet Cafe, Caracol, Origen (a restaurant the group co-owns in Mexico), and sister restaurants Prego and Third Coast. Xochi will occupy prime real estate in the Marriott Marquis, 1777 Walker; the hotel is set to open at the end of December, and the restaurant will follow in January.
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A man shot to death inside a bar early Monday in south Houston was identified as a special-education teaching assistant at a Houston ISD high school.

The shooting happened about 1:30 a.m. at the D Bar at 4409 Dowling near Wheeler, according to the Houston Police Department.

Officers were sent to the scene after shots were reported at the club, police said. When they arrived they found the victim inside the bar. He had been shot more than once. No other injuries were reported.

Family members and friends have identified the victim as Untorio Jones, 39. Jones is listed as a special-education teaching assistant at Wisdom High School, the Houston ISD school known as Lee High School until this year.

A special-education coworker remembered Jones as a dedicated educator with a "heart of gold."

"He was a mentor and a role model, and loved by everyone he met," said Bridgette Alford, who first met Jones around 2007 when they worked together at Westbury High School.

Jones worked with students with autism at Westbury before teaching life skills and employment readiness at Jones High School, she said.

The slain educator was a role model for young men, Alford said. He would walk and talk with students who had breakdowns. He preached to students that their circumstances would not dictate their futures.

He was a giver and a helper, she added, calling on Houstonians to follow his lead and do good deeds for others on Fridays -- a tradition he called #GiveBackFriday.

"He gave his time, he gave with his love, he gave financially," she said. "Let's just give back in his honor."

The shooting followed some sort of altercation, police said Monday morning.

"It just got heated and somebody pulled out a gun," HPD homicide investigator Shawn Overstreet said.

There were as many as 100 people in the club at the time and the club has surveillance cameras, the detective said, but the shooting may have happened out of the cameras' view.

Overstreet said Monday morning that police were not yet close to an arrest.

The victim's mother, Sandra Holbert, said Jones' children were grieving the loss of their father. She said his teenaged daughter was holding on to a text message he sent Sunday saying how much he loved her.

Photos of Jones' bloodied body were posted to social media after the shooting. Holbert and the victim's brother, Keith Hamilton, asked that they be taken down. "We don't want his kids to see that," Holbert said. "They're already devastated."

Relatives and friends huddled together through the night outside the bar, waiting for details as the temperature hovered around freezing.

Investigators so far have no suspect in the case. No description of the shooter was available.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro returns to San Antonio next month out of government for the first time in more than seven years, leaving behind an agency whose missions could be threatened by Congress and the new administration.

President-elect Donald Trump's campaign vow to make "inner cities" a beneficiary of $1 trillion in infrastructure over a decade brings a measure of hope to advocates of affordable housing.

But Trump's selection of Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon and a Republican primary campaign foe, as the new HUD secretary poses one of the mysteries in the series of new Cabinet appointees who have expressed doubts about their agencies' missions.

Last week, the House Freedom Caucus, an alliance of several dozen of the most conservative U.S. House Republicans, recommended killing HUD's new anti-smoking rule for public housing, along with more than 200 other Obama administration regulations and directives.

Castro said the new administration ought to leave the smoke-free regulation alone. The rule, finished just two weeks ago, bans cigarettes, cigars and even hookahs in and around units and offices of more than 3,100 public housing authorities.

"It's a no-brainer," Castro said in an interview. "I have heard over and over from public housing authorities how popular their smoke-free policies have been, and that even smokers recognize the value."

In just over a month, Castro will return to San Antonio off the public payroll for the first time since 2009, the year he won election to the first of his two terms as mayor.

At 42, Castro, among those vetted as Hillary Clinton's potential running mate, is viewed as having a promising political future. Allies have said a run for the White House in 2020 is a possiblility. Castro has taken pains to say nothing about his future after having endured a round of bad publicity at an inopportune time, days before Clinton picked a vice-presidential candidate, for answering political questions in an interview.

By most accounts, Castro has enjoyed successes at HUD while dealing with constrained spending and a shortage of willing partners on Capitol Hill.

"I think he's done well, despite all the obstacles," said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a nonprofit born four decades ago after Richard Nixon's moratorium on federal housing.
Block grants

Regarding "Abbott lays out 2017 wish list" (Page A5, Wednesday), I was deeply concerned to read about Gov. Abbott's enthusiasm for Medicaid block grants.

Block grants equal cuts. If Congress turns Medicaid into a block grant, the fiscal implications for Texas could be disastrous. Federal funding for critical life-saving care and therapies would be slashed, and those costs shifted to local taxpayers without needed federal support. Georgia Rep. Tom Price, who has been tapped to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new administration, has proposed block-granting Medicaid, which would cut vital federal funding to Texas by one-third over the next ten years.

Also, 96 percent of Texans on Medicaid are poor and sick children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. So, which of these Texans do our members of Congress and our governor want to cut off from service?

The state just recently implemented massively unpopular cuts for Medicaid therapies that would have helped children with developmental delays and disabilities, including autism, speech delays, and Down syndrome. You can expect more painful cuts like these if Congress and Texas leaders continue to push Medicaid block grants forward.

Patrick Bresette,executive director,Children's DefenseFund-Texas, Bellaire

Menninger

Regarding "Family looks for answers after son's suicide" (Page A1, Dec. 4), many thousands of people have been helped by the incredibly dedicated and compassionate professionals at The Menninger Clinic, a place that saved my life and has in turn enabled me to help others. I now work as a peer-facilitator in an acute psychiatric treatment center in my community.

Keeping a suicidal patient safe is not easy. Speaking from personal experience and from the experiences of others I have worked with over the past four years, some people are so determined to die that they will go to remarkable lengths to do so, regardless of how "safe" the environment.

The media should be working to dispel the stigma of mental illness and encourage people to seek help when they are suffering.

Debi Strong, Bigfork, Montana

Common sense

Regarding "Destruction of cemetery leaves families hurt, angry" (Page A3, Friday), if I were a worker using heavy machinery and told to tear up a cemetery, my first reaction would be "you have GOT to be kidding me!"

Doesn't common sense come into play here, or have we really bred common sense out of the human race?

Lillian Shaver, Sugar Land

Helping kids

Regarding "Distraught parents plead for kids' special ed" (Page A1, Wednesday), I seem to remember Jesus saying that a person's morality can be judged by the way he or she treats "the least of these." Could there be a better example of "least" than a disabled or dyslexic four-year-old?

Texas officials who brag about their Christian standards, then deny these children the special education they need, should have a look at what Jesus had to say about hypocrites.

Stella Fitzgibbons, The Woodlands
ILANA PANICH-LINSMAN/STR

While Texas women are gathering candles for the Menorah, hanging ornaments on the Christmas tree, or preparing for the Prophet's birthday, they are also girding themselves for battle after the presumptive shots fired across the bow by Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Once again these ideologues are presuming they know what is best for Texas women despite adamant protests from women to the contrary. So instead of time spent celebrating the holidays, battle-scarred Texas women are gearing up to fight once again.

Apparently at Abbott's behest, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission created new rules, which had been set to go into effect today, that direct health care providers to cremate or bury the remains of aborted or miscarried fetuses. The Supreme Court's decision this year declared that states should make no laws or regulations that cannot be justified due to health or safety concerns and which place an undue burden on women seeking abortion. These new regulations do not meet that standard, and will most likely subject Texas to another costly lawsuit. Indeed, last week, the Center for Reproductive Rights, on behalf of several abortion providers, sued the state, arguing that the new rule is unconstitutional as it defies the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling against Texas in June. A federal judge on Thursday temporarily suspended the rules.
Donald Daniel Killion, 85, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, in Houston.

He was born Sept. 21, 1931, in Texas County, son of Thomas Daniel and Viona Elliott Killion.

After graduating in 1949 from Houston High School, he continued his education at the University of Missouri. He earned bachelors and masters degrees from MU and later a PhD in plant physiology at the University of Arkansas.

He taught high school in Waynesville and Savannah before his career took him into research at Oak Ridge, Tenn., and a position as an instructor at the University of Tennessee. He traveled to South America, Costa Rica and Brazil for seminars.

He returned to Texas County upon his retirement and lived on the Killion family farm on Hog Creek south of Houston. He was the fourth generation Killion to live on the Missouri Century Farm first homesteaded by Daniel Killion, his great-grandfather, in 1840. He remained on the farm until his failing health lead him to move to Houston House.

He enjoyed discussing science, politics and religion with friends at Forbes Pharmacy and the Eagles Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Hazel Marie Bardwell.

Survivors include a sister, June Fangmann of St. Louis and numerous relatives and friends.

No services are planned. Cremation was under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
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Tags : advice investment fiduciary

On April 6, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule addressing conflicts of interest in retirement advice. The new rule requires those who provide retirement investment advice to abide by a fiduciary standard and put their clients best interest before their own profits. The rule also prohibits fiduciaries to plans, plan participants, and individual retirement account (IRA) owners from receiving payments creating conflicts of interest unless they comply with conditions designed to minimize the potential effects of a conflict. According to a White House press release, the rule defines fiduciary investment advice, while the accompanying exemptions allow advisers and their firms to continue to receive common forms of compensation if they put their clients best interest first. The rulemaking package also includes a regulatory impact analysis outlining the monetary harm caused to retirement investors from conflicted advice and the expected economic impacts of the rule. Who is a Fiduciary? Under the rule, a person is a fiduciary if he or she receives compensation for providing advice with the understanding it is based on the particular needs of the person being advised or that it is directed to a specific plan sponsor, plan participant, or IRA owner. Such decisions can include what assets to purchase or sell and whether to rollover from an employment-based plan to an IRA. The fiduciary can be a broker, registered investment advi...
Whether you like it or not, the human resources department finds itself right smack in the middle of one of the more difficult business issues of our time: Privacy. Of course, every department that handles data  sales, marketing, research, business development, and, of course IT  is grappling with how best to handle personal information, but HR gets it from multiple directions. Not only are you charged with recruiting great candidates in a competitive time while abiding laws around background checks and social media. Not only must you protect and retain employee information appropriately while being asked to launch wellness programs and bring-your-own-device polices. Oh, no, now youve also got to head up the effort to recruit professionals who actually understand privacy policy while instituting a training program to make sure the entire employee base understands the risk that handling personal information poses to the enterprise. I feel your pain. Like so many people I talk to lately, youre probably being asked to find someone with three to five years in privacy to augment a privacy department that didnt even exist 10 years ago. Or five years ago. Let me assure you: These people essentially are not available. As the head of the worlds largest privacy organization, Ive seen our ranks grow from 10,000 just three years ago to 25,000 today. New people are flooding to our organization, but they cant ...
With 2.2 percent of payroll expenses coming from "buddy punching" or employees being clocked in by a co-worker to avoid an absence or late arrival, businesses are recognizing the need for more stringent employee authentication methods. Biometric verification is a growing sector of workforce management solutions and one you should consider to reduce payroll fraud. These four biometric authentication methods are being implemented nationwide and can help your business grow. Fingerprint Systems Fingerprint systems are the mostly wide used of all the biometric authentication methods, mainly because the technology is accurate and relatively low cost compared to other methods. A fingerprint system is a two-step system. Employees are entered into the system by taking a preliminary scan of one or more fingerprints. This data is entered into a biometric verification software to reduce the entirety of the fingerprint into a set of unique data points. When the employee "clocks in" to work, they place their finger onto a reader and the software can recognize the code. Since this system is well developed, there's less error than other systems for misidentification or non-identification. Fingerprint systems provide the best value, require the least space for readings, and are the most useable methodology for a wide range of businesses. Hand Geometry Systems Following closely behind fingerprint systems, hand geometry systems are one of th...
In the ever-evolving business landscape, flexible scheduling has become a hot topic. The reason is simple: when workers have more control of their schedules, they have better work-life balance and thus more satisfaction on the job itself. In its 2015 Workplace Flexibility Study, WorkplaceTrends.com found that flex programs improved employee satisfaction by 87%, boosted productivity by 71%, and helped retain employees at 65% higher rates. Promising, right? On the other hand, some flex scheduling practices have come under fire for disempowering workers. Theres flex timeand then theres underemployment. While retail, dining, and leisure businesses rely on hourly workers who cant wait tables or greet customers remotely, there can still be benefits for offering split shifts and flex time to the employees you manage. Lets figure out if flex time is right for you, and if so, the best practices to take your idea into reality. Flexible Hours can Boost Employee Engagement Many employees feel stretched on a daily basis between meeting the demands of their jobs and meeting the demands of their lives. Whether its a dentists appointment or a school pick-up, there are plenty of life events that simply must happen during business hours. Similarly, hourly workers in restaurants and shops often work outside of a traditional 9-5. They may need childcare for some hours in the evening or cant manage all their err...
Theres a new way to work and Im not talking about your commute to the office. Actually, when you look at work trends closely, there are several new ways to work. The movements Im talking about include:  Working from home (telecommuting) instead of at the office  Video conferencing instead of traveling to meet in person, and  The ever-evolving Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) movement, which replaces traditional work computers and mobile phones assigned to each employee. Obviously, these three ways for employees to work in todays work environment are dependent on many factors. Does your organization allow for a flexible work environment in order to keep its best employees? If you have clients across the United States or in other parts of the world, can you meet their needs via video conferencing instead of in-person meetings? Does your IT leader accept the new principles of allowing employees to use their own devices for work purposes? Lets examine each new way to work a bit more closely. Teleworking/Telecommuting Growth rates of telecommuting in the United States have leveled off since 2005. According to Global Workplace Analytics' most recent study, about 3.3 million workers telecommute at least half of their time and nearly 25 million people say they work one or more days per week from home. (This figure doesnt include the more additional 10 million independent contractors who sa...
Payroll best practices are about reducing administrative burden, while at the same time increasing accuracy and compliance. Since there are such wide variances in vacation practices, its worth trying to shed some light on how these practices may be improved. Many employers provide vacation pay each period, on that periods vacationable earnings. By contrast, other employers accrue vacation time and/or pay. There are also wide differences in how employees take annual vacations. Where employers accrue vacation pay, this is sometimes paid out as a lump-sum once a year or cashed-out, without taking time, particularly on termination. Other employees reduce vacation pay accruals, using current hourly rates for the time taken. Given these differences in how vacations are treated, what are the best practices employers should strive for in order to simplify processing and ensure compliance? The first point to make is that for employers of any size, vacation best practices require employee and manager self-service, supported by workflows that integrate with any scheduling, time and attendance, HR or payroll systems concerned. In this regard, the best practice is a single, web-based self-service window through which employees can initiate vacation-related requests and managers can approve them. Workflows should route approved requests for vacation time to the applicable scheduling or time and attendance system. By contrast approved requests to ...
According to the latest research conducted by expatriate management firm ECA International, Singapore moved two spots up in its Cost of Living survey, making it the 16th most expensive country in the world for expatriates.



The Singapore dollar has appreciated against most major currencies in the months leading up to our survey, said Lee Quane, regional director  Asia at ECA International.



Despite low price rises, the impact of the stronger currency means that where companies provide cost of living allowances to their international executives assigned to Singapore, these will likely need to be raised to ensure that employee purchasing power is maintained.



When asked about the impact this will have on the country as a host country and on its reputation as a global business hub, Quane told HRD that staff on an international assignment in Singapore make up a relatively small portion of a companys workforce.



Therefore, while Singapores rise in our rankings means that, other things being equal, a beneficiary of a cost of living allowance will receive a higher allowance, and therefore a higher salary, the fact that this affects a relatively small portion of the workforce in Singapore is unlikely to impact its viability as a host country, he said.



He added that other locations (such as Hong Kong and Shanghai) that the country compares itself to as a global business hub have a higher cost of living, so it still remains relatively favorably placed in terms of its cost of living relative to similar locations.



In terms of whether or not organisations should retool their global mobility programmes given this study, he said that a cost of living allowance makes up only a small element of an international assignees salary package.



A rise in the cost of living allowance may be offset by changes elsewhere in an assignees salary package, he said.



For example, separate research that we recently undertook shows that housing, whose costs for an assignee are typically compensated for separately in an assignees salary package, have fallen in Singapore in the past 12 months.



Therefore, if an employer is diligent and reviews the rental allowances provided to assignees regularly, the overall impact of having to pay relatively higher cost of living allowances to staff should be offset by being able to reduce costs associated with the provision of housing.


ording to research conducted by the University of Georgia, workers hired through job-referral networks such as friends or social acquaintances can perpetuate a culture of inequality within the workplace.



Employees hired through these networks tend to keep their jobs longer, said lead researcher Ian Schmutte, assistant professor of economics at the University of Georgia (Atlanta), suggesting that this is one way to improve matches between firms and jobseekers.



Referrals lead to better jobs, where both sides are happier and the jobs last longer. For firms, it's more profitable because they don't incur the cost of turnover. For employees, there is some evidence those hired through referrals earn higher wages."



However, if recruiters use this network too often, diversity in the workplace may suffer as they tend to hire people who look and act like current employees.



He said that while networks exist to address problems in the labour market and addresses intangible issues about the referrals work ethics, this also means that recruiters are relying on social networks, which tend to be constructed on the basis of social and economic hierarchies that can be based on historic patterns of racial or class stratification.



As a result, they can perpetuate inequality or have an 'old boys club' character to them. So referral networks can be both efficiency enhancing and also lead to particular types of inequalities, he said.



In his study, How do social networks affect labour markets?, Schmutte found that organisations are increasingly relying on job-referral networks despite the availability of other forms of recruitment.



In spite of the fact that there are lots of other ways to get information about people, firms are increasingly utilising job-referral networks, he said.



That means they're important. But it's hard to quantify how much they're enhancing efficiency versus how much they're increasing inequality."



He added that the research is still in its early phase and would need further studying in order to fully understand the consequences of firms encouraging or limiting the use of social networks to recruit new hires, reported Science Daily.



How do social networks affect labour markets? was published in the latest edition of IZA World of Labor.


A Syrian girl who gained international attention for her tweets from East Aleppo appears to have been rescued.

Bana Alabed and her mother Fatemah have been safely evacuated from the war-torn city, according to the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation.

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The group reported that the two made it out of East Aleppo on Monday, along with 1,500 other people.

This morning @AlabedBana was also rescued from #Aleppo with her family. We warmly welcomed them. pic.twitter.com/TJMMZCC4TE  Humanitarian Relief (@IHHen) December 19, 2016

Alabed also took pictures with a Syrian journalist and another aid worker.

7-year-old Bana Alabed @AlabedBana, forced to leave her home after telling world of Aleppo's suffering, has finally arrived to safety. pic.twitter.com/Ag6LzE9rgr    Hadi (@HadiAlabdallah) December 19, 2016

She told the journalist about seeing "bombing everywhere" and "fighter jets in the sky."

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Bana's mother, who helps the seven-year-old run her Twitter account, spoke to journalists about human suffering in Aleppo.

"Me and Bana want to tell all the world how much kids and all people in East Aleppo, how much they are suffering from bombs in East Aleppo," she said.

Syrian pro-government forces moved into East Aleppo last month in an effort to take control of rebel-held areas of the city.

Earlier this month, Alabed's Twitter account eerily went dark, vanishing from the site for about a day.

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On Friday, Alabed and her mother had issued a video plea for U.S. first lady Michelle Obama to rescue them from the conflict.

@AlabedBana and her mother make an somber, urgent plea to Michelle Obama @FLOTUS to help them make it safely out of east #Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/GlTd7O4ONQ  Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) December 16, 2016

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted Monday that 20,000 people have been evacuated from East Aleppo so far.
Nestle Waters Canada should sell the well it bought in southern Ontario this summer to the town that wanted it, say two-thirds of Ontarians in a new poll.

The poll, carried out for the activist group The Council of Canadians, found 68 per cent of Ontarians want Nestle to sell the Middlebrook well near, Elora, Ont., which the township of Centre Wellington wanted to buy for its own needs.

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The news sparked fears, founded or otherwise, that Canadians could see their indigenous water supply drained by multinational bottling companies.

The poll also found that 65 per cent of Ontarians want an end to all water-taking activities by all bottling companies.

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People across Ontario are calling for a permanent phase-out of all bottled water takings. People do not want companies like Nestle to profit from water, Council of Canadians chair Maude Barlow said in a statement.

Nestle Waters Canadas purchase of the Middlebrook well became a controversy this summer when it emerged Centre Wellington had also placed a bid for the well, and lost. The township says it is growing rapidly and needs new sources of water.

The provincial government of Kathleen Wynne responded by imposing a moratorium on water-taking that would mean Nestle couldnt touch the water, even for testing purposes, until 2019.

Nestle last week made a move of its own, suggesting the town and the company should become partners and use the well jointly.

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The poll was carried out by Oraclepoll Research and involved phone interviews with 1,200 residents of Ontario between Dec. 3 and Dec. 8 of this year. The poll has a margin of error of +/-2.8 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

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Who knew that crowd control and anti-terrorism measures could be a marketing opportunity for a luxury lifestyle brand?

The New York Police Department and Tiffany & Co., thats who.

In what amounts to just the latest sign that the U.S. has finally managed to outdo or at least match the dystopian predictions made about it, the NYPD has agreed to the retailer's plan to set up barricades at its location next to Manhattan's Trump Tower that are to be branded with the Tiffanys logo and light-blue motif.

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The NYPD Barricades Outside Tiffany & Co. Are Now Tiffany Blue https://t.co/0csMZWUebmpic.twitter.com/eav82KaLJD  TOWN&COUNTRY (@TandCmag) December 18, 2016

According to fashion news site WWD, Tiffanys and other retailers in the area  including Gucci, Armani and Ralph Lauren  have reported a steep drop in foot traffic since Donald Trump was elected and security was ramped up in the area.

Tiffany's barricade runs from 57th Street around the corner to Fifth Avenue, where waiting customers are ushered past the stores window display.

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Tiffanys has a lot at stake: The Fifth Avenue flagship store accounts for some 10 per cent of the brands sales, and the area is reportedly the priciest place in the world to pay retail rent.

Tiffanys earlier cancelled its annual Holiday Window Spectacular because of all the security around the Trump Tower.

The company warned in its latest earnings report that it cannot provide any assurance that sales at its flagship store wont decline, or stay down, as a result of high security around the Trump Tower, WWD reported.

Trump reportedly wants to continue living in the Trump Tower while president, returning from Washington to Manhattan on weekends. The Secret Service apparently considers this to be a "security nightmare."

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there's been lotsa "peak 2016" talk but the NYPD partnering with Tiffany & Co. for branded barricades takes me cakes pic.twitter.com/MOC6wlBtUR  Janie (@janie) December 18, 2016

Maybe the NYPD just wants to make sure the city's wealthy can be caught in crowd-control measures in comfort.

One has to wonder whats next. Will we see the Secret Service wearing Gucci earbuds? Or get a traffic ticket from a KFC highway patrol officer?
IDP camp near Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq, December 2016

On the 10th of December 2015, also known as International Human Rights Day, newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from the Liberal party was seen on national and international television stations welcoming a group of Syrian refugees to Canada, the land where human rights are of importance, and non-discrimination and freedom are elements valued and respected by all.

The government further promised to take in additional refugees throughout the year. In fact, in 2016, more than 36,300 Syrian refugees have arrived in Canada. The world applauded the new government and citizens worldwide pushed their governments to follow in Canada's footsteps. However, the heroic story ended with the Syrian refugees as Canada has not extended its helping hand to other nationalities in the same way.

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IDP camp near Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq, December 2016

It is important to note the process these applicants face from the beginning. In order to seek asylum, the UNHCR must first accept and grant applicants a refugee status. Once in the system, the UNHCR must refer their cases to countries with active resettlement programs.

In Canada, there are three ways that refugees are resettled in Canada; Government-Assisted Refugees (GARS), Privately sponsored refugees (PSs) and Blended Visa Office-Referred refugees (BVORs). Also present is the Urgent protection program (UPP) for emergency cases. GARs, as mentioned above, are referred to Canada by a referral organization like the UNHCR. As long as the referred applicants meet the eligibility requirements, the Canadian government has pledged to provide fair and equal assistance to the refugees.

"Three hundred and sixty-five days later and despite what is portrayed in the media, not a single non-Syrian refugee application referred by the UNHCR in Turkey has been successfully processed in 2016 by Canada," a senior UNHCR official in Ankara said in a meeting with ICHR. Also in meetings with non-Syrian refugees, I heard complains that they were repeatedly told that Canada is not accepting new refugees and they have to either go to U.S. or stay in Turkey.

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Ironically, the ministry of citizen immigration Canada has altered its name to immigration refugee citizenship Canada, signalling an idea that the new liberal government of Canada has consistently welcomed refugees from war torn areas in the Middle East.

On my recent trip to Turkey, and Iraq, on behalf of the ICHR (International Center for Human Rights in Canada) I had the opportunity to meet hundreds of refugees and displaced as well as UN and government officials. It was evident that the rumors buzzing through the hallways of local NGOs in Canada, were nothing short of the truth. Sources among refugees and officials confirmed the hard truth that the newly elected Liberal government of Canada has halted accepting and processing non-Syrian refugee applications in Turkey, where the most important UN Refugee Office is located.

In a meeting with Senior officials in the UNCHR office in Ankara, I discovered important statistics that highlighted the current issue. The resettlement targets for the UNHCR office in Turkey for 2016 were 17,000 Syrians, and 10,000 non-Syrians. Of the 26,000 cases which were submitted to resettlement countries for consideration, 5,000 was sent to Canada, of which only 2,000 departed. However, the officials confirmed that Canada had refused to process non-Syrian applications.

At the moment, there are approximately 285,000 non-Syrians registered with UNHCR in Turkey, of which 10 per cent are Iranians, 42 per cent are Afghans and 44 per cent are Iraqis (according to statistic provided to me by a senior UNHCR official in Ankara). Unlike those residing in government refugee camps, none of the mentioned are receiving any form of financial aid or assistance from government organizations. Taking into consideration the harsh winter approaching, it is vital to take immediate measures. While we are not expecting the Canadian government to provide aid to all those registered, we would appreciate it if they chose a non-discriminatory process when choosing the refugee applications that meet all their standards and requirements.

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Furthermore, on the trip, we came across a number of Iranian refugees whose applications were referred by the UNCHR to Canada in 2015 and 2014. Fortunately, after complying with all the required eligibility requirements, their cases were accepted by the Canadian government, and they had successfully completed the medical component of their assessment. Suddenly the hopeful tone of their voices changed as they informed us that all their cases were suddenly placed on hold.

Based on statistics, the average processing time for the resettlement program is five month for government assisted refugees and eight months for privately sponsored refugees, however these refugees we met in Turkey complain that their applications were still in the processing phase after one to two years of waiting.

While delays may be common, the worrying factor is the fact that the Immigration department at the Canadian embassy has not provided them with information pertaining to the status of their cases. Their worried sentiments stemmed from the fact that there have been instances where the department has completely cancelled and returned the applications, even after successfully completing the medical part of the assessment. There are also other non-Syrian refugees in Turkey with similar stories.

Upon hearing about this, I set up a meeting with a Canadian immigration officer in the Canadian Embassy in Ankara, to forward their concerns. The official response I received stated that these delays were a result of additional security measures. However, for example, how can an Iranian transsexual woman, whom I had just met in Ankara with no prior criminal record be subjected to security measures. She had informed me that in order to meet ends meet, bearing in mind the lack of laws against the discrimination of Turkey's LGBT community, she had to resort to prostitution.

There were other groups of refugees that complaining the changes to G5 sponsorship program in which refugees are required to provide a positive refugee status document from UNHCR. For a refugee in Turkey or Malaysia It approximately take between three to four years to get this document. Previously, the only required document by Canadian Immigration for G5 sponsorship was a registration paper in UNHCR as refugee.

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In a meeting with Kurdistan Regional Government foreign affairs minister, Mr. Fallah Mostafa, I learned that the government is willing to provide more support to displaced people in Iraq who are living in camps, however they need further financial support by the international community. I met many Iraqi displaced kids and women who were repeatedly complaining the cold whether and rain as they are residing in the camps along with nearly other 1.9 million internally displaced persons (IDP) in Iraq's Kurdistan region.

"[W]e want to go back to our cities and want you to help us to rebuild our homes," a group of displaced kids from Mosul residing in a camp near Erbil said to me when I asked what is their important need beyond the cold whether.

To summarize the dilemma, the Canadian government has chosen to stop processing non-Syrian refugee applications in 2016, and those applications that were successfully processed prior to 2016 have been facing lengthy unprecedented delays.

Sitting on my table at the office, are at least 35 cases of vulnerable non-Syrian refugee applicants, some of which fall under the Urgent Protection Program, seeking help from the Canadian government. After witnessing the dire situation in which the refugees resided in, I would like to urge the Honourable members of Parliament and government to take immediate and necessary measures to help rectify the dilemma. Time is of the essence and it is our duty as citizens of this great nation to help those in need, and provide equal opportunities to all refugees, regardless of their nationalities.

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Canada's involvement in the humanitarian sphere, has always served as a role model for other nations, and this is the perfect opportunity to remind the world, why Canada is one of the greatest countries in the world.

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Fears that the divisive politics which characterized Brexit and the U.S. presidential election will undermine liberal democracies across the globe, and put the world's most vulnerable people in harm's way, have never been greater.

They are not misplaced -- right now real lives and a meaningful Canadian identity are at stake.

In the face of protectionism, racism, Islamophobia, homophobia and sexism, Canada must take the lead by reasserting a global vision that reinforces the fundamental principles of human rights -- the equal value of every human life and the right to equal protection against all forms of discrimination.

Right now real lives and a meaningful Canadian identity are at stake.

This stance, brought to life by intentional work towards achieving gender equality, is critically important to ensuring the world's most vulnerable are not left behind.

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Canada is uniquely positioned to stand up for human rights and the world's most vulnerable by taking the lead on gender equality. It has spent six decades earning a reputation as builder of peace and progress, was the principal founder of the United Nations, and one of its own penned the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

And with a feminist at Canada's helm -- as well as significant efforts to deliver an international assistance policy focused on the poorest and most vulnerable, especially women and girls, and people living in fragile states -- the country is poised to be the example and raise the bar.

A young girl from Kenya carries a bundle of firewood for sale. Many girls in Kenya are forced to drop out of school and devote their time to household chores, or work to survive. (Photo credit: Plan International)

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The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations in 2015 sets the international stage for Canada to take a lead role advocating for the world's most vulnerable via gender equality.

The SDGs are the framework for Canada to be successful in this role because they aim to not only end poverty and protect the planet, but also to ensure prosperity for all nations and peoples, starting with reaching the most vulnerable first.

Every extra year a girl stays in school, her income increases 10 to 20 per cent [and] women invest 90 per cent of their income into their families, whereas men invest 35 per cent.

To be successful, they prioritize achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.

Reaching the most vulnerable through gender equality is not make believe. Evidence shows that it is not only realistic, but is replicable and sustainable. Take for instance the girls and women who represent 70 per cent of the world's poor: the Center for Global Development reports that every extra year a girl stays in school, her income increases 10 to 20 per cent.

This new income is crucial: as the Nike Foundation finds, girls and women invest 90 per cent of it into their families, whereas men invest 35 per cent.

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While women and girls, especially adolescent girls, are among the most vulnerable populations in the world, they are also inherently powerful.

What the numbers show, and what Plan International Canada sees every day, on the ground through our international development work across the globe, is that when women and girls are educated, healthy, protected and empowered, they pull themselves, their children, their communities, and even their nations, out of poverty.

Two girls from Ecuador - Plan International aims to promote the rights of adolescent girls, unleashing their power and potential. (Photo credit: Plan International)

The phobias and isms that flow through our television screens, social media feeds and newspapers cannot be polluting fumes that makes us choke, debilitating us through fear of the other. Rather, the current political theatre calls on Canada to be loud and clear about who it is and what role it will play: Canada is not a nation built on defining itself against others.

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The current political theatre calls on Canada to be loud and clear about who it is and what role it will play: Canada is not a nation built on defining itself against others.

Canada is a nation defined by its inclusion of others. And upholding this distinguishing characteristic is Canada's respect of the equal value of all people and the right to be free from discrimination, regardless of whether they live within or beyond the nation's border.

Canada must be the actor on the world's stage who defines itself in these ways through deliberate action -- not just for all Canadians, but for everyone who cannot be left behind. A critical step in this regard is heading an feminist initiative to reach the most excluded adolescent girls and women.

The curtain is up and the most vulnerable need Canada to play its part as the lead. This pivotal role demands Canada give an epic performance that everyone can applaud.

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Heath Korvola via Getty Images The small business proceedings of a local marijuana dispensary in Portland, Oregon.

Since the Task Force announced their recommendations for the legalization and regulation of cannabis in Canada last week, the focus has predominantly been on age restrictions, suggested in the report at 18 years old with provincial autonomy to mirror drinking ages.

While the media frames this as "Trudeau OK with Canadians as young as 18 accessing cannabis", I find myself questioning why we continue to speak about young adults who are 18 and 19 as if they are children.

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Young adults in Canada who are 18 and 19 make many choices around their health, well-being, and lives, and 18 has been the age when we typically expect young people to engage in these choices: they can vote, join the armed forces, purchase alcohol and tobacco, purchase firearms, get married, have children, and so much more. In fact, in Ontario, age 16 is when youth can legally decide to live alone without a legal guardian, which also deserves a place in this conversation.

But decisions around cannabis use are where we draw the line?

While I don't typically like to use comparisons to alcohol and tobacco, they do provide a framework for assessment that most Canadians understand. In its most basic form, available scientific evidence shows alcohol and tobacco are much worse for one's health and has far worse societal ills, including the massive burden on our health-care system. This research also indicates that we have over estimated the harms of cannabis in the past, and underestimated the harms of substances such as alcohol.

We also need to be more critical of the research that links cannabis use and brain development, in addition to other cognitive impairments. This work has never established that cannabis was the cause of these outcomes, or if it's a part of a variety of vulnerability factors. Most of this work using language strategically, stating that cannabis was "linked to" or that it "may have" led to various outcomes. One study correctly explains, "it remains unclear whether such disadvantages reflect pre-existing differences that lead to increased substances use and further changes in brain architecture and behavioural outcomes."

Where PSAs and abstinence-only education has been shown to be relatively ineffective, a new approach is clearly needed and should start now.

I should also note that much of this research is done with populations of heavy, long-term cannabis users, which isn't a reflection of the typical, occasional cannabis user. While there is also concern about short-term impacts such as short-term memory impairment, there is also available evidence that shows these outcomes are reversed after a period of abstinence. We should hold organizations accountable to make these distinctions clearly to the public, without discounting the importance of this developing research.

More significantly, age restrictions do not reflect when it's safe to initiate use. Advocates of a higher age restriction on cannabis certainly would not also try to convince Canadians that 18 or 19 is a "safe" age to start smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. What age restrictions do represent is when young people are considered adults who can engage in rational decision-making and are responsible for their own well-being.

With all this focus on age restrictions, what's been notably absent from the conversation is discussions around the creation and implementation of realistic, fact-based drug education that gives people the evidence they need to make informed choices around consumption, without stigmatizing the use of cannabis itself. Where PSAs and abstinence-only education has been shown to be relatively ineffective, a new approach is clearly needed and should start now.

Further, we need to remember that high age limits in and of themselves do not deter young people and adults from using cannabis. High age limits would do nothing more than criminalize more Canadians, particularly when considering ages 18-29 is the highest cannabis using population in our country and they simultaneously hold the highest rates of cannabis related charges (with a majority for possession alone). In order to truly protect our young people, we should look to a model that tries to move as much illicit sales away from the black market and doesn't look to criminalize our young adults. If adults do want to use cannabis, it should come from a regulated, legal and transparent supply.

Make no mistake, 18 and 19-year-olds are adults by every measure in Canadian society. Setting this as the age limit for cannabis access is a common sense approach to the legalization of cannabis, because it truly serves to minimize harms and protect young people. We need to start thinking of "potential harms" with a wider lens, and prioritize the fact that the criminalization of Canadians for cannabis has shown to be far worse than use itself.

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For Christmas, all Ontario doctors asked for was a brief respite from the toxic relationship between them and the Ontario Government of Premier Kathleen Wynne. They realized it would be too much to ask for an acceptable Physician Services Agreement (PSA) -- aka a contract -- after three years without one, but a couple of weeks without internecine politicking would have been welcome this holiday season.

Unfortunately, that was to be denied to them by Health Minister Eric Hoskins. In an unprecedented move, the health minister delivered a proposal for a PSA to the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) Board on Wednesday December 14 at 8:00 a.m., and then held a press conference at 9:00 a.m. in which he publicly announced his magnanimous proposal, promising good times, better health care, happy doctors and a chicken in every pot.

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Clearly, it was an attempt to subvert due process. The normal procedure is to present the offer a contract to whatever bargaining agent you are dealing with, and let them review and study it. The fact he chose to simply go directly to the public was viewed as a slap in the face to most physicians, and viewed as a sign of ongoing disrespect by the OMA.

Key to understanding why Hoskins did this however, is to know what had happened in the preceding weeks. Hoskins rammed through the Legislature something called the "Patients First Act." Supposedly meant to decrease bureaucracy, the Act in fact creates 78 new Bureaucratic agencies (known as sub-LHINs), and numerous physicians expressed their concern in presentations to the Legislature.

Yet, despite these warnings, he forged ahead in a desperate attempt to leave some sort of legacy for his term as health minister. Right now, the only thing he's accomplished of note after three years on the job is lowered parking rates at hospitals.

Of course, he had to deal with one problem. Those pesky physicians had already started job actions in protest of "Patients First." The Section of Family and General Practice at the OMA had endorsed a position of "disengagement" from all committees designed to implement any part of the "Patients First" agenda. The OMA quickly followed suit and recommended all physicians across the province disengage from committee work around "Patients First" as well.

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Unfortunately for Hoskins, this meant that the job actions would bring focus to how deeply flawed his legacy agenda was. Most people will trust their doctors, not politicians. So, he had a problem, and needed a way to change the discussion in the media.

Employing the same political instincts he used when he back-stabbed Sandra Pupatello in the 2013 Liberal Leadership convention, he opted to come out with this publicity stunt instead. Then, he followed it up with an op-ed in the Toronto Star where he urged physicians not to take job action that affects patient care over the lack of a contract.

Realizing that many news media would blindly follow his statements, he chose to attack physicians' incomes (again) as a way of deflecting from the fact that "Patients First" is doomed to failure. The plan is to get people talking about greedy doctors again, and ignore all the ongoing, systemic, persistent disasters in Ontario Health Care.

Indeed, a quick glance at most major news reports of his conference, showed NONE of them mentioned that job action by physicians had already started, and was directed solely at the "Patients First" Act, not this supposed contract offer.

Clever (at least politically) that Hoskins fellow.

How will this all play out? Well, a lot of it will depend on the response from Physicians groups. The Concerned Ontario Doctors group has already pointed out to the media that it's "Patients First" that is the target. So has the Coalition of Ontario Doctors. Hopefully the OMA will follow suit.

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Sure, it's easy for him to say that these are just individual voices, but the number of physician voices keeps rising, and they all seem to be focused on problems with the health care system, not on contracts.

Knowing that physicians will continue to fight the abysmal "Patients First Act" and expose flaws in the health care system, he cowardly suggested that "job action" would affect patient care. He specifically asked that patients be "kept out of this."

In fact, Hoskins knows very well that OMA president Virgina Walley clearly stated that the job action would NOT affect direct patient care. The job action would only be targeted towards stonewalling implementation of the flawed legislation. Heck he's an OMA member himself (no really) and gets all the OMA memos about this. He also knows as a physician that job action affecting patient care would be contrary to the College of Physicians and Surgeons rules, and would be cause for discipline.

Nevertheless, Hoskins needs a diversion from stories of service cuts, or children going without food for two days due to cancelled surgery, and people sleeping on Emergency Room floors. He can't refute those stories, so he will scare the public by insinuating that direct patient care will be affected by physicians as part of a pivot away from his multiple failures as a health minister.

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Somewhat naively, I had hoped that with the passing of the annus horribilus of 2016, we would see the end of the trench war between physicians and the Ontario Government. But alas, 2017 is shaping up to be more of the same.

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Your parents might have taught you not to curse, but did the lesson really stick? New research seems to suggest that it hasn't: two-thirds of all millennial employees swear at work, while 58 per cent of Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are said to swear while on the clock.

Which begs the question, is swearing at work really that bad? An argument can be made that it's actually a good thing.

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Here are five reasons why you should swear at work.

To relieve tension

You're swamped, deadlines are looming, meetings are veering off track, and for some reason, everything your closest co-worker does is annoying you.

On days like this, you need an outlet, and what's better, letting a round of expletives loose or doing something you'll really regret (like getting into a fight)? A well-timed swear word every now and then can help to manage frustration and ease tensions in tough situations.

Cursing activates a "fight or flight" response, which leads to a surge of adrenaline and endorphins. This response relieves pain, which is why we tend to curse when we burn ourselves or drop something on our foot. The response also makes us feel ready to fight back -- so instead of just letting a bad situation at work continue, let the F-bombs fly, and you'll feel more confident and ready to tackle the issue head on.

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To make you a more relatable leader

When U.S. President Barack Obama told reporters he was trying to figure out "whose ass to kick" after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, commentators praised him. By loosening things up a bit, and swearing, it showed a more human, relatable side. It showed that he cared.

Similarly, people in leadership roles who curse can be more likely to connect with their employees on an emotional level. That's not to say that they should walk around the office like a drunken sailor played by Joe Pesci. But by occasionally using "taboo" language, particularly when it's warranted, bosses can knock down barriers, letting staff see that behind the lofty job title, they're not all that different.

Cursing can make light of a situation and make it more humorous.

To be part of the boys' club

A study from East Anglia University in the UK found that women swear more around men as a way to assert themselves in male-dominated conversations. Throughout history, the theory goes, "blue" language was reserved for men in power, so when women use bad words in the workplace, they tap into this historical precedent, appearing more powerful.

But before you start peppering your vocabulary with four-letter words, keep in mind that this can severely backfire. Research from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand has found that potty-mouthed women were judged to be "lower class."

To build a more tight-knit team

Cursing can make light of a situation and make it more humorous. You probably curse around your friends, right? Swearing can signal that we are open, honest, easygoing, and fun -- and it encourages others to mirror your behavior and attitude.

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By cursing around your co-workers, you can establish a friendlier atmosphere, and develop a deeper bond with them. Letting loose every now and then lets them know you feel comfortable enough around them to do so, and invites them to do the same. Remember, though, that everyone reacts differently to this. If you're around people of the executive team, for example, or a more conservative co-worker, you might want to limit your use of four-letter words, unless of course they drop an F-bomb first.

To speak more powerfully

Words may be just that, but they do matter. The more taboo a word is; the more impact it can have. And sometimes, you need to make an impact.

Swearing can show that we really mean what we are saying, and can emphasize the emotions we are feeling. Sometimes, when you're in the middle of a bad day, and you've had enough, you need to get the point across. Think of swear words like particularly sharp tools in your communication toolkit. Use them when needed, but be very careful not to get cut.

See also:

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Zsa Zsa Gabor has died aged 99, it has been announced.

The actress and socialite died of a heart attack, according to TMZ.

With her sparkling jewels, red carpet-ready gowns and unmistakable accent, Zsa Zsa was one of Hollywoods vintage stars, but her health had deteriorated in recent years, following a car crash in 2002 that left her partially paralysed, and strokes in 2005 and 2007. Recent health scares had included the loss of her right leg in 2011.

A former beauty queen who was crowned Miss Hungary in 1936, Zsa Zsa Gabor moved to the United States in 1941. She made her name as an actress and socialite in Hollywood, as much for her singular style and dizzying romantic history as for her relatively short-lived screen career.

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The one and only Zsa Zsa Gabor

She was a distinctive presence in films including Lovely to Look At, Were Not Married! and the original Moulin Rouge. Later TV appearances included The Love Boat and Hart to Hart, but she became such a distinctive personality that often a cameo role was enough for her on screen.

Off screen, it was Zsa Zsas dramatic personal life that really caught the headlines. First, she burst onto the Hollywood social scene with her glamorous sister Eva in tow, and then she was married an optimistic nine times, her various husbands including hotelier Conrad Hilton and actor George Sanders. She famously explained I never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back.

Zsa Zsa Gabor Quotes See gallery

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Her final husband was Frederic Prince von Anhalt, who was at her side for the last 30 years of her life - through some legal difficulties, including the notorious incident when she was accused of slapping the face of a Beverly Hills police officer whod stopped her for a traffic violation, and her long running feud with German actress Elke Sommer.

She will be remembered as a woman who out-grew her screen career but remained larger than life, often poking fun at her own romantic chaos in the process. Writer Gerold Frank, who helped Zsa Zsa pen her memoir, once mused, "She's a woman from the court of Louis XV who has somehow managed to live in the 20th century."
The five things you need to know on Monday, December 19

1) THREE STRIKES AND THEYRE OUT?

Thousands of workers in postal, rail and airline services are due to take official as well as wildcat strike action this week. Some of the employers are playing it down, stressing that final posting dates for Christmas remain unchanged. And as the FTs Jim Pickard points out, days lost to strike action in 2016 are a tiny fraction of those lost in 1979.

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But the political fallout is not straightforward. Southern Trains commuters at Victoria on Friday staged a demo at which they targeted their ire at Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, as much as the unions. No wonder Grayling is said to be pushing hard in Whitehall for tougher strike laws - and No.10 is not killing the idea (while not endorsing it either).

Still, Labour MPs are worried. Public Accounts Committee chair Meg Hillier told SkyNews: I think that there needs to be a bit of a wake-up call about the impact on hard-working people who are trying to get to work or go on holiday. She added that if trade unions were not careful they could be shooting themselves in the foot.

The Daily Mail publishes a text from John McDonnell sent in September during the early days of the Southern rail dispute: 'Whether it is in Parliament or on the picket line, Jeremy Corbyn and I will be there with you. SolidarityI send solidarity greetings to all those workers engaged in struggle. From the rail workers, to the teaching assistants to the junior doctors.

Speaking of McDonnell, he was asked by the Eastern Daily Press about Clive Lewiss leadership prospects and gave this intriguing answer: You take Clive Lewis, along with Richard Burgon, Becky [Rebecca] Long Bailey, Angela Rayner  that whole team now of that new generation have been brought forward by us for the future. Maybe their responses to the strike action will the ones most closely noticed by Labours Corbyn-supporting membership?

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Tory MP Chris Philp (tipped for a ministerial job in the next reshuffle) is leading calls for tighter strike laws. But after pressure from TUC gen sec Frances OGrady he admitted on Today that Southern should lose the franchise.

2) CUSTOMS AND PRACTICE

There are just two days left for the Commons before Christmas recess (the Lords gets an extra days detention and rises on Wednesday) and Theresa May will guarantee a good turnout with her statement on the EU summit.

Will Jeremy Corbyn resist a dig at the infamous clip of the PM looking like Theresa no-Maytes, or would that invite the inevitable riposte that he has few mates of his own within the PLP? The Labour leader could quote George Osborne from Marr yesterday when he said including students in the net migration target was a mistake - though that could also open a whole can of worms on Labours hazy stance on freedom of movement.

Yet it was Liam Fox who was the more interesting guest on Marr, not least as he cannily kept lots of options open on Brexit. He floated the idea of the UK staying in the EU customs union with a Turkish-style membership. But when asked directly if he favoured staying in, he said only Ill argue my case inside Cabinet. Anyone who knows him knows hes not wedded to the customs union, so you could read his answer either way. The International Trade Secretary also dissed Farage's claims that Cabinet ministers had been banned from talking to him (Ive not had any such instruction).

Fox and David Davis are cautious on transitional deals too. And it looks like Brussels is going to use the Brexit uncertainty against us. Todays FT reports that Michel Barnier wants the 50bn divorce settlement sorted before any talks about transitions. Senior EU diplomats believe delaying agreement on things like passporting would spur London-based banks to move some of their business to the EU to cope with the danger of a hard exit.

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Sir Nicholas Soames last night on Radio 4s Westminster Hour became the first to cough about Mays secret meeting last week with Tory Soft Brexiteers. There was a good exchange of views, he said. Another key Remainer makes her debut today. In a general debate on Brexits impact on science and research we should get the maiden speech from Sarah Olney, the Lib Dem who ousted Zac Goldsmith in the Richmond Park by-election.

I note that in the Observer/Opinion poll yesterday, the Conservatives command double-digit leads on immigration and the EU and Brexit (by 19 points). On the economy, the Tories have a huge 26 point lead, with 42% to Labours 16%. But the biggest Tory lead over Corbyn's Labour is on terrorism with a whopping 37 point gap. Both the Tories and UKIP are already working hard on posters and leaflets on Corbyn and McDonnell's links to the IRA. To paraphrase Gerry Adams, that issue hasn't gone away you know.

3) PREYING IN AID

Priti Patel and DfID permanent secretary Mark Lowcock are up before the Commons International Development Select Committee at 1.30pm and their appearance couldnt be more topical. Several MPs have been muttering that the number one issue for some of their constituents in recent months is not the NHS or Brexit itself, but rather UK spending on overseas aid.

Philip Davies raised this in PMQs last week, suggesting billions spent on meeting the target of 0.7% of GDP should instead be used to fund social care costs for the elderly. Surely charity begins at home? he asked. Theresa Mays answer was pretty firm in response, saying we should all be proud of the overseas aid pledge.

The problem with targets of all kinds are that they can skew outcomes. Patel is sure to be asked about the Times splash story that the UK is dumping billions into obscure World Bank trust funds in an attempt to meet the target. Therell be questions too about the Daily Mail splash: Britain Gives 5m To African Girl Band.

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I wonder if Patel will be asked about Philip Hammonds remarks to the Treasury Select. Asked about the 0.7% target, he rather too breezily said all ringfences would be assessed in his next spending review. A quick clarification was made to say he was talking broadly. Patel, for whom the remarks came as a surprise, may have her own line.

BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR

Watch John Whittingdale channel his inner Meatloaf.

4) SWEAR BOX

Sajid Javid certainly sparked a debate by backing the idea that public officer holders should swear a new oath to British values. Some welcomed it as a sensible move, others denounced it as distinctly un-British gimmick. Paul Goodman from ConHome wrote yesterday on some of the problems, not least the content of the oath, to whom it would be sworn and whether there would be any punishments for breaking it (or, dare I say, for refusing to read it out).

Labour MP and Vote Leave campaigner Gisela Stuart told Radio 4s Westminster Hour last night she had sworn three such oaths: on becoming a British citizen, an MP, and a Privy Counsellor  but didnt think they had changed her behaviour: I think there is a problem out there but I dont think an oath of allegiance is an answer to it.

The Cabinet Office is expect to confirm today that Diane Abbott and Emily Thornberry will join the Privy Council in the New Year. Abbott refused to take the bait on Murnaghan yesterday when asked if shed pledge her allegiance to the Queen in the ceremony with her fingers crossed. Abbott said the Javid oath wont make a difference to radicalisation or integration. Javids Shadow minister Teresa Pearce was more scathing, calling it a gimmickysuperficial and cack-handed response to deep-rooted problems.

5) CLUSTER MUCK

The Speaker granted an Urgent Question about Yemen last week so he may be reluctant to grant another one so soon afterwards, but the Guardian story on cluster munitions may change that. The paper reports that Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has seen government analysis indicating that UK-made bombs were used by the Saudi-led coalition in the current conflict in Yemen.

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It says the governments own investigations back up media reports that clusters have been deployed in the war, in which Britain is helping to train Saudi forces. A source told the Guardian that Fallon is among the ministers to have known about the analysis for about a month.

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Michaela Rehle / Reuters

As the ashen remains of Aleppo are evacuated and the refugee crisis continues to spiral out of control, over 21 million people have become refugees, half of which are children. These children have lost everything and witnessed atrocities that most couldn't bare. Their homes, their families and the lives they once knew are gone. In the last year videos of silent bloodied children being dragged from rubble have gone viral with the same message repeated: the children of Aleppo have stopped crying. These children have lost everything, and that now includes their education.

For those who survive and make it to their next birthday, they do so with their opportunities for a better future slashed. As they are strategically moved like pawns on a chess board, in game played by the leaders they will never meet, their chance to go out into the world of higher education crumbles.

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That's why now more than ever, universities need to wake up, stop ignoring their moral imperative and act.

An education is not a piece of paper that you get as you Instagram a photo of yourself in a cap and gown. Education is a doorway to a better future. It can help you find the voice to fight, open the the eyes of those who have never seen beyond their front door and break the cycle of poverty. Education is knowledge and that can change everything.

While we and they may have forgotten this, universities are education providers before they are anything else. Or at least they should be. They should feel their moral imperative to teach, to expand the minds of the next generation, helping to fight for a brighter tomorrow, where educated decisions lead to better governments and the Trumps of the world are laughed out of power.

Although many universities state that they provide refugee scholarships, digging a little deeper exposes that they are nothing more than a show, a few hundred pounds, a token of goodwill that won't even pay a months rent.

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However this is not to say they are all a facade. Goldsmiths, University of Sheffield, Manchester Metropolitan, Kings College London and Exeter University all have worthwhile schemes, but five universities among the 150+ higher education providers in the UK? This is not acceptable.

Earlier this year, angered by her university's lack of support for refugees Thais Roque, an Oxford University scholarship student, took it upon herself to crowd-fund for students displaced by war or persecution. She raised over 240,000 through 1 a month pledges. But as students like Thais step forward and make change happen, where are their universities?

Last week Brunel University London joined the ranks, as they announced one of the largest refugee scholarship schemes in the UK. Starting in January 2017, they will provide tuition fee waivers and accommodation support to six successful candidates. They have also pledged to give free english language courses to any refugees in the local community, as a way of breaking down the barriers and helping those who have lost everything start again.

President of the Union of Brunel Students Ali Milani, who fought for the programme, called the scheme a "small step towards action being taken" at a time when the situation in Aleppo has reached "breaking point".

He believes that as "universities and the student movement have always been at the forefront of fighting for a better world" they should and must "act now more than ever."

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So as students let us say: now is the time to push your university in the right direction. Stand up and shout, demand that they stop ignoring the world around them and do what they know is right.

And to vice chancellors and academics: the 11million children need you to step forward and fight for change.

A scholarship to study may not seem earth shattering, but it transforms the world of that one student. Every small act is a sign of solidarity, the chance to break from the label of 'refugee' and a push towards a world that we don't have to be ashamed of.
I am a mother of a 3 going on 13 daughter, wife to a British husband, daughter to Chinese parents and hopefully increasingly an innovator. I run the confectionary division at DPS Designs. I'm also a co-founder of Picnic for Peace, an initiative to promote tolerance and multiculturalism.

Despite it being renowned for innovation for centuries, growing up in central China in the grey days of the 1980s/90s before China found its feet again, innovation and creativity were not concepts that we were that familiar with. Globalisation hadn't really happened to us and winters were marked by eating very large amounts of carrots and cabbage! I was inspired early on by art, and in China that meant Chinese fine art, which I studied for 12 years outside school time. This taught me a huge amount about patience and attention to detail. My dad has always been creative and despite being a maths professor, has always been writing poetry and calligraphy. He taught me that good things always come from not giving up, and they tend to happen just before you do!

Now I call the UK my home; living half between the Welsh countryside and London, and developing a new moulding technique in the chocolate industry; probably the first innovation of its kind for 100 years. But, as you can imagine, it took a while to get here from China. It started with taking the difficult decision to move to the UK on my own aged 16 where I graduated from the business school in Nottingham University before following this with a masters in marketing. Then, I fell into the confectionary industry as a technologist for the toys that are sold with chocolates, designing out hazards to make them safe. This gave me a brilliant grounding in how to balance form, function and - crucially - cost.

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From there I moved into the fashion retail world. At Arcadia Group, I worked on a range of business areas and projects from technical to logistics management and was a business lead on a multi-million pound supply chain transformation project. This gave me a taste of creative fashion design, large business and multiple stakeholder management. It taught me that it's not enough to have a good idea and that many (many) different factors need to come together to bring an idea to life. It also gave me my passion for process innovation which I feel is generally considered to be less exciting than making shiny new things but can often make a massive difference to a business.

After eight years, I had an opportunity to join my father in law at DPS Designs, where I found myself being able to bring my technical, creative, marketing, stakeholder and customer management skills all together, working with some amazing businesses such as M&S, Hotel Chocolat, Artisan du Chocolat and Thornton's.

DPS designs chocolates, manufactures chocolate moulds, and makes aerospace tooling (strangely they are quite similar!). It is a small but amazing and inspiring company and we are constantly looking to innovate - and this time - create a step-change in the world of chocolate moulding. Generally speaking, only two basic techniques have been used in chocolate moulding for over 100 years - one which makes shapes like chocolate bars, and one which makes shapes like Easter eggs. We've come up with a third way to make much more intricate products. It's already been trialled with M&S at a very labour-intensive level and it's shown to be successful. With the help of the funding, we plan to develop the technology further and commercialise it.

One of the way we'll do this is through additional funding secured through my recent involvement with Innovate UK's Women in Innovation awards. It has been a hugely positive process; giving me the confidence and then the capital and support to press forward with bringing this innovation to market. There is so much to learn, but we are learning fast and we have many more ideas in the pipeline if I can make this one work. People glibly say "the UK doesn't make anything anymore". We know that's not true and in our perhaps small way we want to fly the flag for British manufacturing and personally I want to help to inspire other women, and ethnic minorities in the industry to be innovators too.

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For other women, innovators, entrepreneurs looking to progress their ideas, I've got three tips to share:

Remember that you can be an innovator without being an "inventor". Innovation is not all Dragons Den and being the next James Dyson. Innovation can come in so many different forms.

You need to be resilient. There is no substitute for hard work. Be strong and don't be afraid of different voices.

You need to take people with you. Innovation on its own often can't happen without a large number of people bought in, and a large support network.

Fanzi & Innovate UK:

Fanzi has just been honoured as one of the 15 winners of Innovate UK's 2016 Women in Innovation awards, a series of awards dedicated to addressing the disproportionately low numbers of women entrepreneurs in the UK. Here, over a series of 15 posts we'll meet the inspiring innovators and entrepreneurs that Innovate UK is celebrating, each of whom will receive a tailored business support package, expert business mentor and 50,000 to help them reach their full potential.

Dr. Ruth McKernan CBE and Chief Executive of Innovate UK says: 'From fully autonomous drone software to affordable solar power technology and even a digital education portal which engages school children with the molecular world, the calibre of ideas is an eye-opening view into the talent and vision of the UK's female entrepreneurs. It is very clear that harnessing the talent of women entrepreneurs could significantly enhance UK economic growth. I am delighted that we are taking action; supporting and funding female entrepreneurs to help them succeed and inspire other women to come forward, apply for funding and turn their ideas into successful business.'

If you have an innovation or business idea and are looking for support then visit www.innovateuk.gov.uk for further information - go for it!

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Over the course of the presidential election many non-Wisconsinites got to know conservative Milwaukee talk show host, Charlie Sykes because of all the national media attention he got for his powerful analysis of the Trump phenomenon from the right. His radio broadcasts opposing Trump are widely credited with Trump's notable primary loss in Wisconsin. Trump only won 6 of the state's 42 delegates, all the rest going to Sykes' favorite candidate, Ted Cruz, who beat Trump 531,129 (48.2%) to 386,370 (35.1%) with 155,200 votes (14.1%) going to Kasich. In fact, Trump did even worse in the half dozen counties where Sykes' radio show is most listened to:

In an OpEd in the NY Times a few days ago, he wrote that "In April, after Mr. Trump decisively lost the Wisconsin Republican primary, I had hoped that we here in the Midwest would turn out to be a firewall of rationality. Our political culture was distinctly inhospitable to Mr. Trumps divisive, pugilistic style; the conservatives who had been successful here had tended to be serious, reform-oriented and able to express their ideas in more than 140 characters. But in November, Wisconsin lined up with the rest of the Rust Belt to give the presidency to Mr. Trump. How on earth did that happen?" In fact, many Americans are still incredulous that Trump won Wisconsin. Did Putin steal it for him? Was Clinton really the worst candidate to ever come down the pike?

The general election was incredibly close in Wisconsin. Clinton was sure she had it in the bag and was virtually ignoring the state-- as dictated by Ada and disputed by Bill Clinton. Trump took 1,405,284 votes (47.2%) to Clinton's 1,382,536 (46.5%)-- a 22,748 vote difference (in a state where 188,330 people voted for third party candidates). Clinton managed to alienate enough of Obama's 2012 Wisconsin 1,613,950 vote majority to give Trump his narrow margin of victory. What happened to those 231,414 Obama voters who opted to not cast their ballots for Clinton last month? Or maybe Putin and Comey did it.

Sykes, an anti-union/pro-charter school nut, has aggressively backed some of the worst walking garbage piles in American politics-- Paul Ryan, Scott Walker, Ron Johnson-- but he just doesn't see Trump as a conservative. "I was under the impression that conservatives actually believed things about free trade, balanced budgets, character and respect for constitutional rights. Then along came this campaign." Yes, along came a psychotic narcissist embraced by nearly every conservative in the country.

On the surface, the explanations for Mr. Trumps improbable win in Wisconsin are simple enough: He won big margins in rural, blue-collar counties and won the pivotal Green Bay area by double digits. But he underperformed Mitt Romney in the vote-rich Milwaukee suburbs and ended up getting fewer votes in victory than Mr. Romney received in his 2012 defeat. Hillary Clinton, however, got about 39,000 fewer votes in heavily Democratic Milwaukee County than President Obama did four years earlier. Democrats simply stayed home, though that is obviously not the whole story.





That is what I saw, and this is what it might mean for the future of conservatism. When I wrote in August 2015 that Mr. Trump was a cartoon version of every left-wing media stereotype of the reactionary, nativist, misogynist right, I thought that I was well within the mainstream of conservative thought-- only to find conservative Trump critics denounced for apostasy by a right that decided that it was comfortable with embracing Trumpism. But in Wisconsin, conservative voters seemed to reject what Mr. Trump was selling, at least until after the convention.





To be sure, some of my callers embraced Mr. Trumps suggestion for a ban on Muslims entering the country and voiced support for a proposal to deport all Muslims-- even citizens. One caller compared American Muslims to rabid dogs. But right to the end, relatively few of my listeners bought into the crude nativism Mr. Trump was selling at his rallies.





What they did buy into was the argument that this was a binary choice. No matter how bad Mr. Trump was, my listeners argued, he could not possibly be as bad as Mrs. Clinton. You simply cannot overstate this as a factor in the final outcome. As our politics have become more polarized, the essential loyalties shift from ideas, to parties, to tribes, to individuals. Nothing else ultimately matters.





In this binary tribal world, where everything is at stake, everything is in play, there is no room for quibbles about character, or truth, or principles. If everything-- the Supreme Court, the fate of Western civilization, the survival of the planet-- depends on tribal victory, then neither individuals nor ideas can be determinative. I watched this play out in real time, as conservatives who fully understood the threat that Mr. Trump posed succumbed to the argument about the Supreme Court. As even Mr. Ryan discovered, neutrality was not acceptable; if you were not for Mr. Trump, then you were for Mrs. Clinton.





The state of our politics also explains why none of the revelations, outrages or gaffes seemed to dent Mr. Trumps popularity.





In this political universe, voters accept that they must tolerate bizarre behavior, dishonesty, crudity and cruelty, because the other side is always worse; the stakes are such that no qualms can get in the way of the greater cause.





For many listeners, nothing was worse than Hillary Clinton. Two decades of vilification had taken their toll: Listeners whom I knew to be decent, thoughtful individuals began forwarding stories with conspiracy theories about President Obama and Mrs. Clinton-- that he was a secret Muslim, that she ran a child sex ring out of a pizza parlor. When I tried to point out that such stories were demonstrably false, they generally refused to accept evidence that came from outside their bubble. The echo chamber had morphed into a full-blown alternate reality silo of conspiracy theories, fake news and propaganda.





And this is where it became painful. Even among Republicans who had no illusions about Mr. Trumps character or judgment, the demands of that tribal loyalty took precedence. To resist was an act of betrayal.





When it became clear that I was going to remain #NeverTrump, conservatives I had known and worked with for more than two decades organized boycotts of my show. One prominent G.O.P. activist sent out an email blast calling me a Judas goat, and calling for postelection retribution. As the summer turned to fall, I knew that I was losing listeners and said so publicly.





And then, there was social media. Unless you have experienced it, its difficult to describe the virulence of the Twitter storms that were unleashed on Trump skeptics. In my timelines, I found myself called a cuckservative, a favorite gibe of white nationalists; and someone Photoshopped my face into a gas chamber. Under the withering fire of the trolls, one conservative commentator and Republican political leader after another fell in line.





How had we gotten here?





One staple of every radio talk show was, of course, the bias of the mainstream media. This was, indeed, a target-rich environment. But as we learned this year, we had succeeded in persuading our audiences to ignore and discount any information from the mainstream media. Over time, wed succeeded in delegitimizing the media altogether-- all the normal guideposts were down, the referees discredited.





That left a void that we conservatives failed to fill. For years, we ignored the birthers, the racists, the truthers and other conspiracy theorists who indulged fantasies of Mr. Obamas secret Muslim plot to subvert Christendom, or who peddled baseless tales of Mrs. Clintons murder victims. Rather than confront the purveyors of such disinformation, we changed the channel because, after all, they were our allies, whose quirks could be allowed or at least ignored.





We destroyed our own immunity to fake news, while empowering the worst and most reckless voices on the right.





This was not mere naivete. It was also a moral failure, one that now lies at the heart of the conservative movement even in its moment of apparent electoral triumph. Now that the election is over, dont expect any profiles in courage from the Republican Party pushing back against those trends; the gravitational pull of our binary politics is too strong.





Im only glad Im not going to be a part of it anymore.
Anthony Nolan is a charity that matches people with blood cancer and blood disorders with remarkable strangers willing to donate their stem cells. Often, a stem cell transplant is a patient's only chance of a cure.

Although Anthony Nolan supports patients in the UK, donors can come from anywhere in the world. Because stem cells cannot survive outside the body for longer than 72 hours, we rely on volunteer couriers to make sure these precious cells are delivered to the patient as quickly and safely as possible.

One such volunteer courier is Bob Janes, 54, from Greenwich in London. Bob started volunteering for Anthony Nolan in 2014 and since then he has completed 89 trips - some between different cities in the UK, but others involving travel to Australia, Sweden and the United States.

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Bob collects stem cells from the clinic where the donor is and transports them in a specially designed cool bag to keep the cells cold. Because stem cells are so delicate, the bag can't go through airport security X-ray machines and must be taken on planes as hand luggage. Getting the cells to their destination on time and as safely as possible is of the utmost importance.

A former civil servant in the Department for Education, Bob's voluntary work means spending long days travelling - but the rewards are completely worth it.

Bob told me, 'The best unexpected treats are when someone stops you and tells you that they had a transplant some while ago. A gentleman at Newark and a woman checking-in to a hotel in Manchester were the icing on the cake, coming at the ends of long tiring days; especially seeing how well they looked post-treatment.

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'I also met a donor at a clinic in Cologne one afternoon. She was very pleased to be giving some stem cells, but they had problems getting the needles into her arms (she had lots of blue sticking-plasters on) so I got the impression she was very glad to hear someone say how valuable her donation was. It was very good to be able to stress how special a gift she had given.'

Despite the vital role he plays in the transplant journey, Bob is modest about his efforts.

'In truth the magic of the process is that someone gets a second chance through the mundane actions of a whole chain of people of which we are just one small link; an example of how the little actions, easily given, of many people can have a profound effect on a small group in dire need. As couriers we are really just delivery men and women, sort of like special delivery posties - although I guess if you consider the anticipation felt for the stuff we bring, you might just be able to compare us to Santa's elves!'
After travelling through the North African nation of Morocco for more than a month, it became very evident to me, that like in much of the rest of the world, Morocco has a problem with discrimination against women. It was evident in the way that men leered at women on the street. In the way that men casually laughed at complaints of sexual harassment. In the way women told me that they didn't want to walk on the street because it was just too uncomfortable. By the time that I arrived in Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, there was no doubt in my mind that discrimination was a problem for women throughout Morocco. Though the question remains is why? Why throughout the world are women subject to such blatant discrimination from men?

Well I had the tremendous pleasure of meeting Amal Ben Hadda, a Moroccan engineer who was able to shed some light on why women face discrimination in Morocco. In her apartment in the centre of Casablanca we met to discuss women and the role Islam in perpetuating discriminatory beliefs against women in Morocco. The following is an exert from what Amal had to say,

One of my favorite things to do is to read. A while ago I began to read a number of different books that discussed the various interpretations of Islam. The more that I read, the more I began to realize a number of things.

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I realized for example that people just read the Quran without trying to understand what has been said. After reading the "Shajarah code decoded," by Imad Hassan, I felt more convinced that many of our religious beliefs are just traditions that are in fact far away from Gods original message.

As a result there have been many misconceptions in Islam about women.

It's commonly believed within the Muslim world for example, that women were created from Adam's rib. They believe that, "if you try to straighten the rib, you will break it, and if you leave it, it will remain crooked." This belief is used by some to stigmatize and condemn women, to suggest women are bent in nature.

I used to believe in this as well . . . even though it sounds unbelievable.

Traditional religious scholars use the hadiths, texts created by men two centuries after the death of the prophet, to criticize women. For example, they say that women are ungrateful to their husbands and because of this, there are more women in hell than men.

I think that such beliefs are demeaning towards women and are completely against the Quran's original message.

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The author Imad Hassan released wrote the book entitled "My mother isn't deficient in mind and religion," in which the author defends Muslim womens rights. He explains how the Quran has just been interpreted to suit men's interests. The Quran in fact allows women many rights but they have largely been denied due to discrimination from men. Nowhere in the Quran can you find a statement that says women should not have rights.

In the Quran it actually says that there is no difference between men and women.

Women have just been brainwashed to believe that they are inferior to men. They have been taught to believe that they are emotional and less rational.

We need to review everything that has been written by men throughout history and ensure that it is in compliance with the Quran before deciding its reliable.

This includes reviewing the parts of the Quran that give women rights.

In Morocco a lot of progress has been made for women's rights and it continues to be an ongoing priority for the Moroccan king. However, women need to continue to question what has been told to them about their role as women. They need to stop thinking that they are not as superior as men.

There is nothing in Quran that says women are inferior to men.
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Back in September of 1993, after working on the very successful Clinton-Gore Campaign in New York City, I moved to Washington to take a position at the Democratic National Committee (the "DNC").

My role was to head up a DNC sponsored surrogate speakers program in support of Bill & Hillary Clinton's "Healthcare That's Always There" initiative...a somewhat successful precursor of today's "Obama Care."

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After taking my seat at my desk in a large room with several others who were also working on this project, I noticed an olive drab Steel Master filing cabinet close by with a note posted on one of its pull-out drawers. It read "NIXON WAS HERE."

This filing cabinet was saved as a reminder of one of the darkest events in U.S. political history - the Watergate Break-In and the subsequent cover up by the campaign to re-elect President Nixon, Nixon's closest advisors and the actual involvement of President Nixon himself in this affair - which led to his resignation on August 8,1974.

So, image my surprise to see my friendly old filing cabinet's picture on the front page of the New York Times accompanying a major investigative piece on the Russian hacking of the 2016 Presidential Election...and the DNC.

The Watergate Break-In and it's cover up was a bold old school attempt to influence the 1972 Presidential Election.

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What looked like a routine burglary was just the tip of an iceberg-seized scheme to influence the outcome of a presidential election that Nixon would have likely won without any of this skulduggery. Consequently, these "dirty tricks" landed many of Nixon's closest aides including his Attorney General in prison for using the tools of government to obstruct an investigation.

For those who may be to young to remember, "Watergate" is the reason that Congress passed laws in an attempt to reform the political process and restore faith in elected officials.

Among those laws were the 1974 Campaign Finance Law, the 1974 amendment to the Federal Election Act which established the Federal Election Commission and the 1978 Ethics in Government Law.

At the heart of these laws were limitations on the amount of money individuals could give to a candidate, disclosure requirements and other attempts to curb potential corruption of public officials aimed at preventing them from profiting from their government service.

The most prominent provision of the Ethics in Government Act was the Independent Counsel Act, which created the special prosecutor position that could be used by Congress or the Attorney General to investigate wrongdoing by some 50 senior members of the executive branch.

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Many years later, after the Supreme Court decision in the Citizen's United case in 2010, which many argue completely eliminated many of these protections and relaxed these limitations for corporations, labor unions etc., the Supreme Court in 2012 refused to extend the reasoning of Citizen's United to foreign nationals. Other than those who are lawful permanent residents - foreign nationals are completely banned from donating to candidates in federal, state or local elections.

So, here we are 44 years after Watergate where questions are being raised about another election and whether "high tech dirty tricks" were used by a foreign power in an effort to influence the outcome of this 2016 Presidential Election.

Unfortunately, both the lack of sophistication of our present voting system and our ability to protect it might just be too antiquated to be effective against some bad Kremlin actors with high tech dirty tricks up their sleeves or if you prefer "pelisse."

In a nation as closely divided as ours where more and more of our elections seem to be decided on razor thin margins, it may be long past the time to reconsider: how we run our campaigns, how we protect our political process, and what steps we need to take to preserve the integrity of our voting process.

This "democratic experiment" designed by our Founding Fathers, although inspired and inspiring, was not without flaws. It was clearly pretty darn good since it has withstood the test of time with only 27 amendments to its Constitution.

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However, it may no longer be reasonable to depend on the resources and the officials in 50 individual states to figure out the best way to protect and preserve the ability of its citizens to vote for the leader of their country in this present day world of sophisticated of cyber crime.

The vulnerabilities of our voting system which were previously exposed in the battle over the 2000 Presidential Election outcome should have been the warning that it was time then for real reform...This was not the case, and now we are suffering the consequences.

Irrespective of who has won the 2016 Presidential Election, all Americans should care about the integrity of our political process and the guaranteed, protected and secure way we all must cast our votes for the candidates we have selected.

At the moment this should not be about Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump but about understanding what has happened. Not only how these alleged crimes have occurred but why they occurred, who committed them and what were their motives?

In America we tolerate quite a lot of nasty campaign rhetoric in the name of "free speech" but we should not tolerate foreign interference or criminal activity in our political process.

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So, based on what information has been revealed, at this point it seems likely that the highest levels of the Russian Government may have been involved in electronically "breaking into the cyber filing cabinet of the DNC" and then releasing this stolen information in a manner timed to damage the Clinton Campaign and aid the Trump Campaign at a critical juncture when there was little or no time to recover.

What also seems clear is that the Obama Administration along with the Leaders in Congress knew about this some time ago and chose, for a variety of reasons, not to bring it to the attention of the America people before they cast their vote. These "powers that be" chose not to go public with an investigation which could have produced results before Election Day on November 8.

At a minimum it seems the American people were left out of this equation and should have been told at that time. They clearly deserved to know then and must demand to know now!

There are many obvious ways that Russia might want to influence current U.S. policy and by having a Putin-friendly President Trump these former Soviets hardliners may think they have found their guy.

Equally concerning is the disputed fact that these same criminal hackers may have hacked into the RNC and obtained damaging information on the Trump Campaign or Trump personally that they have yet to release. This information could be released later or threatened to be released later to damage, embarrass or influence the decisions of President Trump. This Russian term of art is called "Kompromat."

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So it seems now that on or before Inauguration Day, January 20 the Obama Administration expects to have the results of its own investigation on the "Russian hacking".

Will this be the parting gift our present POTUS Obama leaves on the Oval Office Desk for incoming POTUS Donald Trump?

And what will the Trump Administration do with this "gift"? Will they follow up on the results of this investigation or simply hope it all goes away?

We can only imagine what "Rootin Tootin Putin" hopes for as he sits back in his Kremlin Palace armchair...taking in all the Inaugural festivities on RT, just hoping he has installed another one of his "Putintates."

As Americans we all want to have faith in our democratic system of government and its free and fair election process.

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And there are many who believe that once behind that Oval Office Desk our next president will rise to accept, along with the awesome power of the Presidency, its awesome responsibilities as well.
"All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players" . Show opening September 2016 and running until July 2017, titled "Erasmus", starring me. A performance hyped up years in advance, but bereft of dress rehearsals or a script, playing both the director and the leading role.

"And one man in his time plays many parts"

Disguised as German under the anonymity of silence, I revel in my success at fooling the masses. It's only when I (attempt to) speak German fluidly that my identity is revealed; my "sues" Irish accent betraying me, an imposter inhabiting their world.

Breaking character is an unfortunate side effect of not being native. An English German legal dictionary, a telling but necessary prop to my stage membership.

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Fellow cast mates strut around the stage, some friends, some foes, some passively aggressive roommates, everyone with background stories I am ignorant of, a world away from my childhood home. Friends are initially made on the commonness of our outlier experience on the stage. We aim for walking reflections, characters that look and sound like us, to feel at home a thousand miles away. After finding a certain cast, we expand our network to other internationals with tales of eternal summers in Australia or the festival of the dead in Mexico.

My main stage is located in the idyllic, Disney-esque town of Tubingen in the province of Baden- Wurttemberg, south of Germany. Scenes of typical tourist events add interest and an inclusivity to the performance, Oktoberfest and Christmas markets are accessible to all, and allow me to embody the "typisch" character I have chosen to play for the next 10 months. The backdrop changes frequently and sometimes abruptly as we are mere bus rides from new lands. Last minute trips to play a minor role on someone else's stage occur more often than my bank account would like, allowing me to explore the sets of Poland, France, Munich and Frankfurt respectively.

The dialogue on stage varies from the frequent panicked improvisations to the automatic answers, prompted by predictable questions. Improv skills are challenged when you have to think on your feet; oblivious German students inquiring about lectures or when strangers ask for directions, assuming you're a local. Whereas the prompt replies to "Would you like a receipt?" "Are you ready to order?" and the off by heart prose of your introduction (name, age, area of study, home country, how long have you been in Germany, do you like it, planning to do any travelling?), are second nature after numerous incidents of them being asked. Both constantly challenging the quality of your disguise on this international stage, demanding authenticity in a response that must be understood, timely and appropriate. Pauses are loud, and telling. Body language can't bely the dialogue. Facial expressions should be reined in so the audience is not witness to the wave of feelings that engulf the actor; panic, confusion and then, relief.

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Behind the scenes divulges the secrets we don't want shared. Things are not as happy as they seem. This new life spent on stage hinders friendships and relationships. Too much time spent performing. Time and distance can prove to be too much but whether you like it or not, the show must go on...

The audience is full; College lecturers waiting expectantly, for your demise.

Close friends who have access to not only the performance but also the behind the scenes information. The fake friends are privy to the glitz and glam but not the sacrifice or struggle. The spotlight glares brightly in your face; as if it's a reminder that this year counts for your degree, forbidding you to forget that this is a test, not just for fun.

With many shows under the same title across the world, each is inherently unique. No matter how prepared you (think you) are, or how many people you talk to who have been on the same stage, you will still be surprised. Live shows have a way of encapsulating fear and excitement simultaneously, making magic out of the mundane and evoking both laughter and tears. They demand your full attention, participation, blood, sweat and tears for them to function, and then thrive.

In the runup to the interval that is Christmas, I am looking forward to seeing what the new year brings on the stage, that has become a home away from home while hoping to expand my experience and wander into unknown lands to continue living life as an Irish abroad. The intercession allowing for home cooked meals, Christmas lights wishing you a "Nollaig Shona", and of course, family and friends.

When the curtain falls on my performing year, I hope to be able to look back, and not regret the chances I had or the time spent away from home. The final curtain call won't be seen on a public stage, but in the privacy of academic results from the year spent performing. But until then, I'll just continue to enjoy myself much, and endeavour to actually spend some time in the library. Hm. I guess things don't change that much from being at home...

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The traditional English caffs have been in decline due to the always rising rent prices, ever growing gentrification and just someone always trying to get into your place. Many remain, but one in particular is no more.

Today's Cafe Fleur stands on St Ann's Hill, in Wandsworth, a short ride from Clapham Junction, and you can find it as you get off at the Wandsworth City Hall bus stop and walk up a bit. You would open the nicely painted doors, sit down, and you would order from a menu that is full of organic everything, homemade breads, free range eggs, kale, craft beer, fairtrade coffee.

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However, not many people know that the original Cafe Fleur used to be what the English speakers call a "greasy spoon", that cheap, good ol' place, where you come for food, but oftentimes find yourself at home, even though the tables are sticky. Many people are still on the lookout for the one and only, the mothership of all public establishments.

During my English cafe exploration days, I visited that dodgy end of Wandsworth and discovered this SW18 caff.

I squint my eyes as the wind hits my eyes, as I walk up St Ann's Hill, and open the heavy door with the window that's been steamed up. I come in and see seven or eight people at the bleak yellow tables. For a second the atmosphere feels like I may not belong here, everyone seems to be local, but I overcome my fear and quickly move to the counter.

The big sturdy lady greets me briefly, and I suddenly see this alpha woman in front of me. It feels like she could be a matron at some boarding school that I never went to, but is too kind for that kind of job. She asks me what I want, smiling. I become braver, as I look at the menu board above her head.

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- Full English, please. - I smile brightly.

- One Full Monty, - she yells at someone in the kitchen. - Tea, coffee?

- Tea, please.

- Toasted bread or plain?

- Toasted, please.

- That's 4.95, love.

I pay for my breakfast even though it's 4 in the afternoon. The sturdy lady gives me a mug with tea, two teabags in it, already with milk, that's the proper "builder's tea" minus two spoons of sugar. I add them myself at the free table where I sit down. I am right across the entrance door, and I sit so that I face everyone at once. That's the beauty of proper English caffs - you don't get much choice, it's either breakfast or lunch, toast or no toast, coffee or tea, you get milk without even asking for it. I mean...why would I not want milk in my tea? I smile as I look at that proper colour tea goodness in my hands. The right colour of this drink can be achieved by years of mixing dairy with PG Tips (or Yorkshire Tea). Tetley?

The sturdy woman is called Sue, born in 1961, she's from Ireland, her relatives have Scots and Jews among them. I know that she has grandchildren and that the birthdate of at least one of them is tattooed on her arm. On her back, there's another tattoo, and on her upper chest there's one more. I find out all of that from herself, as she loudly tells that to one of the spoon's customers, in a lively conversation. The man doesn't seem to be a regular at Cafe Fleur, because it appears that the everyone else here, except me, knows everything about her.

The clientele is a real motley crew. At one table, we've got real builders in bright yellow vests, then there's intellectuals in jumpers a la Mark Darcy come New Year's Day, without the reindeer, reading intellectual books (the thick kind), then we have respectable gentlemen flipping through The Sun, was it? Then by the window we have actual musicians that come from Sweden, but were born in Jamaica. And apparently a homeless man, who seems to have forgotten his sleeping bag on one of the chairs. Sue takes the sleeping bag out to the nearest rubbish bin and lays outside. I manage to witness all that in the five minutes that it takes her to bring me the food as I get overwhelmed by the insider information.

- Here you go, love.

- Thanks so much - I say as I fish out my little point-and-shoot camera. I take a few photos of the English breakfast and start eating. While Sue waltzes around the tables, picking up plates, she sings along to the radio inside the kitchen. She's got a very good voice.

I cut into my toast and fried tomatoes, load some sausage onto my fork and look out the window. It has cleared up a bit. I feel the November wind coming in through the little crack in the door. I drink my tea and see the construction site with waste, where those guys in yellow vests went just now. There's a construction crane and a few municipal buildings of Wandsworth council.

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I've had better breakfasts, must admit, though I loved the tea. I enjoyed the place's custom atmosphere and its atmospheric customers.

There is a life that goes by at these slightly sticky, but friendly tables. There was a slice of life inside the steamed-up windows. You think about it as you chew on a bacon rasher and drink that lovely cuppa.

This is another, no avocado on toast, London.

Olya Gerasimova is an instagramer, travel blogger and likes to write about London and the UK in general.

Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
Michaela Rehle / Reuters

"While there is general agreement that the current system of health and care is unsustainable, there is still debate as to how the system might be improved".

This warning neatly summarises the current situation faced by care and health. Yet these words are taken from an introduction to a report published by the Local Government Association a year ago, and the fact they are still accurate reflects the stalemate that social care finds itself in today, at least in terms of funding.

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Although the government has acknowledged the crisis by announcing an increase in the social care precept (the amount of council tax that funds social care), this response is a short-term drop in the ocean as leaders in the sector have warned.

Looking back at 2016 it is easy for the enormous financial strain that the social care sector has experienced to overshadow our positive progress. As the year ends, a review of the key issues - and our responses to them at VODG (Voluntary Organisations Disability Group) - offers a glimpse of where the sector's focus must be in 2017.

Funding

Although in 2016 social care loudly and collectively banged the drum for a decent funding settlement, our unified voices went unheard. We had, for example, built on our earlier, unprecedented, moves joining forces between providers, commissioners, and the NHS for a sustainable solution. And 2016 also saw Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England making a strong case for extra funding for social care.

But the care crisis was ignored in the country's fiscal strategy. First, in the March budget, and then in the Autumn Statement, there was no acknowledgement of the pressures being faced.

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As Ray James, former president of the ADASS (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services), asked "How can an Autumn Statement in the midst of an unprecedented financial crisis in social care ignore every respected voice across the sector"? Even the regulator CQC, which continued to shine a light on quality in 2016, issued the bravest message in its lifetime focusing on the sustainability of the sector and warning of the impending "tipping point" in adult social care.

More evidence of our sector's financial dire straits came in the 2016 budget survey of directors of adult social care, which reported 941m being taken out of services during 2016/17. One finding was that over 90% of directors of adult social services reported assistive technology being a key means of overcoming the challenging financial environment. The subject related to a VODG report published not long after the ADASS survey. The publication, Technology is changing the way we live, found providers willing to invest in technology to generate long term savings if commissioners focused on outcomes rather than fixed hourly rates. But, as 2017 nears, it is clear our sector has yet to shift towards outcome-based approaches at any significant scale or pace.

Commissioning, collaboration and social value

As for progress on stronger commissioning, this year voluntary sector organisations continued to convince commissioners to maximise investment from public spend through the Public Services (Social Value) Act (legislation that places a duty on prioritising social value over simple efficiency or lowest price). This is a key area for VODG, which in 2016 published a practical resource to support the delivery of social value in commissioning, arguing for commissioning driven by outcomes for people.

Social care providers also welcomed the recognition for greater alignment between statutory agencies and the voluntary sector, reinforced with the publication of the VCSE (voluntary, community and social enterprise sector) review (the largest ever review of the voluntary sector's involvement in statutory health and social care). With the ongoing challenge for voluntary organisations to land social value squarely within the social care 'market', in 2016 VODG brought leaders together to investigate opportunities for partnership between health services and voluntary organisations.

Volunteer management

Anticipating an increasingly competitive "market" for social care provision, the opportunity is for all organisations, however large or small, to be more clear about how surplus from trading activities delivers wider social good. One way, as outlined in a volunteer management toolkit produced with colleagues at the National Care Forum, is by raising the status of volunteers to help build community capacity.

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Workforce

Volunteers are vital but, as our members told VODG this year, our sector also needs to transform itself into a career of choice and secure the supply of an affordable workforce. VODG work in 2016 included a summit on workforce challenges. The event and related report, How do disability organisations recruit, retain and develop the right workforce, reflected a strong commitment to partnerships. There is clearly an appetite amongst organisations to actively collaborate to share workforce intelligence and ways of sharing costs, such as through improved procurement and combined back office functions.

Disability and employment

The launch of the government's green paper on work, health and disability towards the end of the year acknowledges the need for social care services to increase the numbers of disabled people working within our sector. We need more providers, employers and policy makers to grasp and roll out innovative ways to support disabled people into work, as underlined in VODG's report in response to the green paper, Closing the disability and employment gap.

National Transforming Care policy

And 2016 marked four years since the abuse at Winterbourne View assessment and treatment unit (ATU), the scandal that sparked a renewed effort to move people from such institutions and back into communities. However, commissioners are still using such units, despite policy to the contrary set out in the national Transforming Care plan from NHS England and partners. Ongoing use of ATUs continues to compromise the lives of thousands of people with complex needs each year, despite calls for changes to commissioning practice. The 2016 VODG report, Together we can, called greater system leadership to address this - but progress has been exceptionally poor.

Brexit

Much of the year was dominated by the fallout of the decision to leave the EU. VODG's subsequent analysis of the impact of this on social care, identified concerns amongst voluntary organisations about rising inequalities. VODG documented the impact on providers of the vote to leave the EU in the report, Post-Brexit: what next for voluntary sector disability organisations? Subsequently, specific concerns include the rising tide of hate crime. The continuing unease led to a further exploration of social care priorities after Brexit, in our report, Post-Brexit: the impact for social care provider organisations. It is clear that in 2017, it will be increasingly important to monitor and respond to the known - as well unknown - emerging issues following the referendum.

Yet despite the uncertainties that permeate the sector, the late Harold Bodmer used his inaugural address as ADASS president to call on the sector to come together. He said: "We need a social movement about social care - a campaign that starts now and reaches out over the next few years." And this is a fitting way to approach the next year too. Throughout 2016 there have been separate pockets of discussions. Like the #EveryBritCounts event which sought to take forward the learning from Australia which is achieving a new settlement for disabled people via a citizen led social movement.

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The words 'never again' have lost all meaning. The holocaust survivor, author, political activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Eliezer Weisel, was referred to as a "messenger to mankind". In his words:

"Never again becomes more than a slogan: It's a prayer, a promise, a vow. There will never again be hatred, people say. Never again jail and torture. Never again the suffering of innocent people, or the shooting of starving, frightened, terrified children. And never again the glorification of base, ugly, dark violence. It's a prayer."

The conflict in Syria has raged on for more than 5 years and half a million Syrians have died, many more millions have been forcibly displaced, tens if not hundreds of thousands have disappeared or arbitrarily detained and tortured in the Syrian Regimes numerous detention facilities. The battleground has become a proxy war with States supporting different sides to the ongoing conflict. Whether one supports the moderate opposition fighting desperately for the very ideals we take for granted that started as a peaceful revolt or whether one supports the position advocated by the axis of Syria-Russia-Iran as 'combatting 'terrorism' one cannot deny the level of human suffering that should never again be tolerated. The entirety of the international community is at fault for inaction. The United Nations has failed the Syrian people and it has been exposed for its impotence and the UN Security Council has been shown to be a political machine that is hampered by the veto power of its permanent members. In much the same way as the world recognised the need for such a body to replace the 'ineffective' League of Nations in 1945 for its failures and to prevent further conflict on the scale of World War II, we must now recognise the need to reform the UN and give meaning to the 'never again' vow.

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Is Aleppo the new Guernica? Is the fall of Aleppo the 'Srebrenica' moment in world history that will bring a brutal and entirely foreseeable conflict to an end?

On 26 April 1937 the aerial bombardment of Guernica, by German and Italian airplanes under Franco's command, took the lives of hundreds of citizens. It is estimated that 31 tons of bombs fell on the city in just three hours. The use of incendiary bombs created a fire that lasted until the following day and destroyed the whole city. The event, immortalized in Picasso's most famous painting, is considered the first example of total war. Sadly, the crimes committed by Franco's troops during the Spanish civil war, and the 40-year long dictatorship that followed his victory, remain unpunished.

Shocked by the destruction of the city, numerous journalists reported about the bombardment of Guernica and the international community said "Never Again". Against the background of destruction created during the Second World War, one decade after the bombardment of Guernica, the United Nations approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and started establishing mechanisms to protect civilians during conflict.

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Nevertheless, in 1995 history repeated itself. The fall of Srebrenica was defined by the then UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan, as the worst massacre on European soil since the Second World War. More than 8,000 boys and men were summarily executed in July 1995, while all women were forcibly displaced. Civilians were targeted and executed while attempting to flee the area.

The United Nations peacekeeping troops failed to protect the civilians they were legally obliged to defend according to UN Security Council Resolution 819, which already in 1993 declared Srebrenica a "safe area" and condemned the "deliberate actions of the Bosnian Serb party to force the evacuation of the civilian population from Srebrenica and its surrounding areas as well as from other parts of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of its overall abhorrent campaign of 'ethnic cleansing'".

The Srebrenica Genocide was an event that marked a milestone in the Bosnian armed conflict and the international community said, once again, "Never Again". The siege of Sarajevo, the capital, was the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare, lasting 1,425 days and during the 4-year conflict more than a quarter of a million died. Srebrenica is July 1995 was the turning point.

The United Nations established an ad hoc tribunal, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), to investigate and prosecute those responsible for international crimes committed during the conflicts. In Krstic, the ICTY found that the events in Srebrenica amounted to genocide as the intention behind the acts was to destroy the group; and in March 2016 Radovan Karadzic was convicted for Genocide. However, the women of Srebrenica continue suffering the consequences of the disappearance of their loved ones.

Twenty-one years after the end of the conflict another event has been characterized as "a complete meltdown of humanity" by the United Nations: the last days of the battle for Aleppo. Pro Al-Assad forces have surrounded the last rebel-held area of this ancient city, and after five years of war and weeks of heavy fighting, the fall of Aleppo is imminent.

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Activists and civilians are posting heart-breaking farewell messages on social media facing the impossibility of safely escaping from the area. Like in Guernica, the population of Aleppo is being subjected to "extremely heavy bombardment and shelling", and similarly to what happened in Srebrenica, there are credible reports of massacres, extrajudicial executions, detentions and enforced disappearances of civilians trying to flee the area. The slaughter is being transmitted globally in real time, faced by international passivity.

Guernica, Srebrenica, Aleppo. Three cities that became a symbol of resistance, inhumanity and destruction. They represent human suffering and the empty hopes for the international community to prevent mass killings. It matters not that commentators argue over whether these acts constitute Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity or War Crimes - this should not be an intellectual debate on a sliding scale of gravity. These are crimes. The victims demand and should expect accountability. History shows that we have once again failed them. We failed all of them. We let the regime draw Aleppo with the same black and white colours of Picasso's painting. As George Osborne declared in the emergency debate in the House of Commons, we all share responsibility: "we are deceiving ourselves in this Parliament if we believe that we have no responsibility for what has happened in Syria [...] There were multiple opportunities to intervene".

In this context it is necessary to separate political and legal opinions. We must recall that there is a difference between the concepts of jus ad bellum, which regulates the "right to war" or the degree of justice of an act of aggression, and ius in bello, which regulates warfare. There are differing opinions about the political responsibility for the fall of Aleppo and the victory of Assad forces; however, regardless of the political implications of the events, the legal responsibility and requirements are clear. International Criminal Law and International Humanitarian Law set a minimum corpus of rules that cannot be breached under any circumstances and whose violation entails international criminal responsibility and triggers universal jurisdiction: war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

In the last few days, civilians in Aleppo are witnessing and suffering the worst acts of human cruelty, and the deal enabling the evacuation of thousands of civilians from the area was broke yesterday after few hours. In this vein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein has declared that "the resumption of extremely heavy bombardment by the Syrian Government forces and their allies on an area packed with civilians is almost certainly a violation of international law and most likely constitutes war crimes" and noted how the Government of Syria, which is responsible for ensuring the safety of its people and now has "effective control" over the area, failed to comply with the terms of the agreement.

Despite the existence of tools and legal mechanisms to oppose the barbarity experienced by the Syrian population, the Syrian dreams of liberty ended with the inaction of the international community. Independent reports have provided reliable evidence demonstrating that during the last five years the Syrian regime have breached all the red lines marked by International Law.

In March 2011, we witnessed the first protests in Dara'a, where thousands of demonstrators asked for freedom, democracy and the end of the 40-year-long military rule of the Assad dynasty. We saw soldiers fire indiscriminately against peaceful demonstrators, leading to massacres. More than 55,000 photographs of victims of the regime's detention centres were smuggled out of Syria. 55,000 photographs of tortured and emaciated bodies that confirm the album of planned terror of Assad's system of intelligence. Video footage demonstrates how civilians and civil infrastructure--particularly hospitals--have been systematically targeted by regime's forces, which have also used barrel bombs and chemical weapons against its own people. We have seen how the regime has played with ethnic and religious narratives to paralyze international action and manipulate international opinion.

It is time to bring the Syrian regime to justice. We have heard countless testimonies of victims and survivors and listened to their common cry: safety and accountability. We can and we should provide both if the decades-long international system of protection of civilians and regulation of warfare is to have any meaning. It is urgent to ensure the safe passage of civilians in Eastern Aleppo according to International Law; and it is imperative to investigate the responsibility for the crimes that have already been committed.

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Billionaire real estate developer Donald J. Trump, center, his daughter Ivanka Trump, right, and attorney David Friedman exit U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Camden, New Jersey, U.S., on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010. Trump said he switched sides in the court battle over three bankrupt Atlantic City casinos that bear his name because he concluded he was losing to noteholders led by Avenue Capital Group's Marc Lasry. A judge will determine whether rival billionaire Carl Icahn or the noteholders and Trump will control the casinos. Photographer: Bradley C. Bower/Bloomberg via Getty Images

I write as an American Jew who opposes Donald Trump's nomination of David Friedman as Ambassador to Israel and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem -- and I am not a "Kapo."

Friedman, co-chair of Trump's Israel advisory committee, a supporter of Israel's far-right political fringe and the illegal occupation and annexation of Palestinian lands, brands Jews who support a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a two-state solution as "worse than Kapos." Charging someone with being a "Kapo" is one of the deepest insults one Jew can use to target another.

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Kapos were prisoners, sometimes Jews, who aided Nazi guards in policing World War II concentration camps and tried to save their own lives at the expense of other helpless people. After World War II, the State of Israel passed an Israeli Nazi and Nazi Collaborators (Punishment) Law. Under this law, trials were held between 1951 and 1964 for people accused of being prison camp Kapos.

Freidman was a strong Trump supporter in the presidential campaign. At a pro-Trump rally in Jerusalem, Friedman suggested, without any evidence, that Hillary Clinton's aide Huma Abedin had ties to Islamic fundamentalists because she is a Muslim.

According to a report in the New York Times, Friedman rejects the formation of an independent Palestinian state, believes it would be legal for Israel to annex the occupied West Bank seized in 1967, supports building new Israeli settlements there and wants to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The U.S. and much of the world currently condemn these actions as illegitimate and an obstacle to long-term peace in the Middle East.

J Street, a progressive Jewish group that supports a two-state solution for the Israelis and the Palestinians, announced it is "vehemently opposed to the nomination." According to a release, "As someone who has been a leading American friend of the settlement movement, who lacks any diplomatic or policy credentials, Friedman should be beyond the pale."

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The United Nations General Assembly and Security Council have repeatedly condemned Israeli actions against Palestine as having "no legal validity" and for constituting a "serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East." The U.S., which at least under President Obama opposes new Israeli settlements on the West Bank, has still vetoed U.N. resolutions condemning Israeli expansion on Palestinian lands.

Amnesty International charges Israel with a series of human rights abuses in conjunction with the occupation. These include killing of Palestinian civilians, detaining thousands of Palestinians who oppose the occupation, holding hundreds of people in administrative detention, the torture and ill-treatment of prisoners, tolerating illegal settlements in the West Bank and severely restricting Palestinian freedom of movement. According to an Amnesty International report, "Israeli settlers in the West Bank attacked Palestinians and their property with virtual impunity. The Gaza Strip remained under an Israeli military blockade that imposed collective punishment on its inhabitants. The authorities continued to demolish Palestinian homes in the West Bank and inside Israel, particularly in Bedouin villages in the Negev/Naqab region, forcibly evicting their residents."

My father, who died two years ago at the age of 94, was a strong supporter of Israel and visited a number of times. He was very disturbed when we discussed the occupation because he believed "Jews would not do these things." When I confronted him with reports about the occupation, his response was: "Those people cannot be Jews."

Mr. Friedman, I am a Jew who believes in human rights and opposes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. I am not a Kapo.

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[The G.B Road is the biggest red light district in Delhi housing nearly 3,500 female sex workers./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo]

By Jeong In-seo, New Delhi correspondent, AsiaToday -The G.B Road (full name Garstin Bastion Road) is the biggest red light district in Delhi housing more than 3,500 women in prostitution.

I met an auto rickshaw wallah, driver of an auto rickshaw, at the New Delhi train station. When I asked him to take a ride to G.B Road, he refused saying, "It's not a place for foreigners." After several refusals, I decided to take a walk to the place. Whenever I asked passengers for directions, they looked at me oddly as if thinking, 'Why on earth are you going there?'

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I was able to see a road sign 10 minutes after I started walking from the New Delhi train station. It was G.B Road, the biggest red light district in New Delhi.

Located in the center of New Delhi, the G.B Road is a long road connecting New Delhi and Old Delhi railway stations. It is lined with four or five-story buildings that are about to collapse. Between the second and third floors, there were women looking out the windows with iron bars. A girl who looked less than 20 years old and an old woman who looked over 70 were looking at people passing by.

[Men are watching the stairs. If you go up the stairs, you are able to meet women./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo]

Some men who were passing through stores stopped walking to watch something at the stairs. After watching for a while, they resumed their walk. What caught their eyes were a number of women in the stairs. An elderly woman in heavy makeup was calling people passing. And a young girl was next to the old woman as well. To ask cooperation for news coverage, I headed to a nearby police station. Bhopal Singh, 52, is a police officer who was dispatched to G.B. Road Police Station six months ago. He said, "This is probably the most dangerous area in Delhi. Perhaps more dangerous than the border. There are dozens of assaults a day. Most of victims are women. There are several number of assaults against foreigners." He recommended me to accompany other police officers.

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With the help of the police, I went to brothels no. 55 and 65, which are known to house many Nepalese girls. The police officer gave me his mobile number in case for emergency and told me he would wait outside.

As I climbed narrow stairs, I smelled a mixture of moldy odor and makeup smell. When the dark stairs was over, I was able to see women dressed in sari and men haggling over the price. I saw more women as I walked in.

[Female sex workers looking out the window of a brothel at G.B Road./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo]

Kalyani, 45, has been living here for 30 years. She decided to leave Nepal after hearing that she could make a lot of money in India. She said, "I came here when I was 15. Every day is like hell." She continued, "I could leave right away as long as I want to. But there is nothing I can do if I go back to my hometown."

Shuni, 18, said she came here after being sold by her father. She said, "My father sold me to a broker when I was 2. I hate my father." She revealed that she gets 5 to 15 customers a day. She said, "I want to go back to Nepal, but I will be hit to death if I get caught. There are many people I know who became disabled after being assaulted."

Darsha, 28, revealed that she came here after being sold by her father. She said, "I don't remember because I came here when I was very young. I still don't understand why my father sold me." She said most of the women in the brother came from Nepal. Most of them were either sold by their family or deceived by brokers. She said, "There is no hope here. Those who live here have given up everything."

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[A large number of women and men gather for prostitution at GB Road./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo]

I tried to interview those who came here. Shyam Mohan, a 28-year-old man who lives in Madhya Pradesh, said he made a visit with his friends. He said, "There is no men in India who doesn't know about this place. I came here with my friends." He added, "It's a place I will never come alone. I won't come again in the future."

During the interview, another man came to me. He said that there are more young girls and that I should go with him. I followed the man to the third floor. There were girls that looked like preteens. When I tried to interview them, the man asked for money. He threatened me, saying, "If you want to interview them, you have to give me money. You won't leave her until you give money." Fortunately, I was able to escape safely after calling the police. But the little girls did not come out.

[The brothels at G.B Road. Nearly 3,500 women work in these old buildings that are about to collapse./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo]

According to a 2015 survey by Indian ministry of health and welfare, there are nearly 3,500 female sex workers living in G.B Road and about 80% of them are presumed to be infected with HIV.

In 2015, there were around 2.1 million people living with HIV in India. In the same year, nearly 196,000 people were newly infected with HIV and 130,000 people died from AIDS-related illness.

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Although it can be hard to decide where to find the most outrageous political news as this autumn of awfulness turns to an even worse winter, North Carolina seems to be a front-runner. The state's GOP-controlled legislature, working with lame duck Republican Governor Pat McCrory, has passed a bill directly limiting the powers of McCrory's successor, Democrat Roy Cooper (among many other partisan and anti-democratic efforts undertaken by the state GOP).

These extreme political actions have been described as nothing short of a coup, a term usually associated with banana republics, military juntas, and other political systems we'd like to see as anathema to our own democratic process and practices. Yet the fact is that North Carolina has already been the site of a coup d'etat, a long-forgotten late 19th century event that has a great deal to tell us about white supremacy, voter suppression, fake news, racial violence, and what our 21st century might hold if we don't resist and defeat these forces.

White supremacist politics were the direct cause of the Wilmington coup and massacre of 1898 (subject of a new documentary film, Wilmington on Fire, which might help push this crucial event into our collective memories). While much of the region had been returned to white supremacist rule by the 1890s, North Carolina had held out, thanks to the Fusion Party, an allegiance of Northern reformers, African American leaders, and progressive white Southerners. In Wilmington specifically, Fusion candidates had won most of the city's offices in the 1894 and 1896 elections. The city's and state's Democratic Party, Ku Klux Klan, and other white supremacists made Wilmington a focal point of their campaign to unseat these democratically elected officials.

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Although the white supremacists linked that campaign to the 1898 elections, they did so in the most undemocratic way possible: an organized effort to thoroughly suppress the African American vote, not simply through Jim Crow restrictions but also and especially through armed voter intimidation at the ballot box. Indeed, the white supremacists simply used the illusion of a democratic election to give cover to their plan to engineer a very specific political outcome, one in which every Fusion Party officeholder in Wilmington was replaced by a Democratic figure of the white supremacists' choosing--the very definition of a coup d'etat.

The white supremacists supported this political coup with a barrage of media propaganda and fake news, on two fronts. Throughout the campaign, the leaders used friendly newspapers across the state to spread stories of African American crime and threats, including very specific targeting of Alexander Manly, the African American editor of The Wilmington Record, who had dared to challenge the period's false narratives of lynching. Manly received numerous death threats before the election, and after the coup was ordered to leave the city within 24 hours or suffer a lynching, one singular example of the effects of this white supremacist propaganda and politics.

After the coup, the white supremacists took their propaganda and fake news efforts national. On November 26th, just two weeks after the coup (a shockingly rapid turnaround for the 1890s), Collier's Weekly, one of the nation's most widely read periodicals, published "The Story of the Wilmington, North Carolina, Race Riots," by Col. Alfred M. Waddell. Waddell, a former Confederate officer and lifelong white supremacist, was none other than one of the coup's organizers and leaders, and his version of events--coupled with a discriminatory cover illustration--painted the city's African Americans as the source of election-related violence and chaos which local and state militias had reluctantly but necessarily put down. The phrase "race riot" stuck, so much so that even a 1990s body investigating the events was called "The Wilmington Race Riot Commission."

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It wasn't a "race riot," though--not unless we want to use that term as it's almost never been applied, to mean white rioters attacking non-whites. Because alongside the political coup, white supremacists and their heavily armed allies staged a multi-day massacre of Wilmington's African American community, an orgy of racial violence and destruction that left that community in tatters for decades to come. I can't capture that horrific period any better than did the anonymous African American woman who wrote desperately, amidst the unfolding massacre, to President McKinley for aid--a plea that fell on deaf ears, then and in many ways since.

In The Marrow of Tradition (1901), his profoundly powerful historical novel of the coup and massacre, North Carolina writer Charles Chesnutt describes the massacre's culminating events as "a melancholy witness to the fact that our boasted civilization is but a thin veneer, which cracks and scales off at the first impact of primal passions." The primal passions that took over in 1898 Wilmington weren't just those of hate crimes and violence--they were of a white supremacist political coup, of undemocratic voter suppression, and of media propaganda.
Throughout this holiday season, the United States government is profiling the cases of prisoners unjustly held around the world and the families they leave behind. The stories of these individuals, said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, "highlight the broader struggle faced by so many families of political prisoners, who have to commemorate countless family occasions with loved ones behind bars."

One of those unjustly imprisoned is Ilham Tohti, a member of the Muslim Uighur ethnic group in China.

Before his arrest, Ilham Tohti was a distinguished professor of economics at Beijing's Minzu University. Tohti was also a voice of reason on Uighur issues, encouraging both the Chinese government and the Uighur community to constructively engage in order to improve relations. Beginning in 2006, Tohti ran a website to foster discussion about the economic, social, and developmental issues Uighurs face. His site also improved cross-cultural understanding between ethnic groups by translating Chinese-language news into Uighur.

In January 2014, Tohti was arrested with seven of his students and accused by Chinese authorities of forming a criminal gang that sought to split Xinjiang from China. In September 2014, after a two-day trial, Tohti was given a life sentence on charges of separatism. Tohti's sentence is one of the harshest handed down to a rights activist in recent years and comes amid a sweeping crackdown on dissent under Chinese President Xi Jinping. Several of the students arrested with Tohti were given lesser sentences after their televised public confessions.

Tohti was tried and imprisoned in Xinjiang, more than 2,000 kilometers from Beijing where his family still lives, making it difficult and expensive for them to see him in brief bi-monthly visits. Mr. Tohti and his family represent thousands of other prisoners unjustly detained around the world and their family members who also suffer as a result. The United States, said Ambassador Power, "call[s] on all governments to release them. Political prisoners should be free to believe. They should be free to be loved. They should be free to be home."
First, as mentioned, a lot of the pet furniture whether in store or online marketed as "modern" are merely traditional items using that word as a marketing ploy. Ultra Modern Pet is the only pet retailer which can say that not just 50% or 70%, but 100% of its products are truly of either modern or contemporary design.

Second, being a strong animal advocate, I wanted to accomplish more with my business than just generate profit. Therefore, a large percentage the of profits made off every item sold goes to animal charity. The primary charity Ultra Modern Pet supports is Farm Sanctuary because fighting factory farming through awareness, legislation and animal rescue is a very important cause to me as the thought of millions of farm animals spending their whole lives, from birth until death, suffering, is horrifying. And I think it's important to our customers, knowing that part of their purchase is being used to help animals in need.

Third, what gives Ultra Modern Pet the biggest edge is uniqueness. When I started this business I wanted to offer people a large selection of products which were extremely creative in design and truly unique from anything else out there. For example, we now have the largest online selection of custom luxury dog houses, which come in both indoor and outdoor models and a variety of either contemporary or mid-century modern designs. From the fashion-forward Stiletto cat tree to the tribal Zulu Hut cat bed, from the Asian-inspired Seoul dog house to the mesmerizing jellyfish and seahorse aquariums, few words can better describe our products than unique.
The new year is almost here and with it, a chance to have the best of your career. Whether you're self-employed or work for a small or large company, that will mean building and strengthening your professional brand.

10 Professional/Personal Branding Must-Do's:

1. Realizing branding does apply to you.

If you're a c-level executive, a college-student, entrepreneur, SMB owner or somewhere in between branding can take your career to the next level.

Your brand reflects your reputation -- what you're known for (or would like to be known for). No matter what level you are in your career you want to be known for something. As a student and near graduation, your value online is key to your upcoming professional opportunities. As a c-level executive looking to increase company product/services sales think how the company has already helped so many others. What are the measurable results that prospectives need to know?

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2. State who and what you are (not what you're not).

Recall when you first dated someone new? We all show our best side and step-up ourselves in many ways. Perhaps, we gained the attention but over time we fall back to who we 'really are.'

Our branding should be consistent from beginning to the end. We don't want to overstate just to arrive at an interview or meet with a prospective client and then not be able to deliver the BOOM.

Showcase your accomplishments & expertise online but don't overinflate to the point that execution is not possible.

Authenticity is key.

3. Prepare now and reap the benefits when needed.

Preventative is better than cleaning up our online brand after it's too late. We all know preventive healthcare catches the small health issue before the small becomes a big, right? Taking care of your 'digital self' before you are forced to is less costly and intrusive.

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Scenario: You've been happily with the same company for 10 years. You learn on a Monday that come the following Monday a major downsizing will be happening. You panic in disbelief that many of your responsibilities will be laterally distributed amongst 5 of your colleagues. You know your position is in jeopardy and you only have 1 week to scramble to find a new one [or at least begin the process of getting noticed]. In a hurried-rush you look at your resume and say to yourself "this hasn't been updated in 10 years."

Many only realize how important their professional branding is once they have a career crisis and need to find a new position, stat. It's ok - we all do it. Preparing before-hand makes things a lot easier.

4. Honestly, ask yourself what is your value proposition.?.

Almost in the same way you would prepare for a job interview, it's important to write down your core strengths. Prepare a list. Ask yourself what has been my top 5 accomplishments in the past 5, 10, 15 years. You have many, of course, but which ones stand out the most that provided value to the company?

Yes, this requires a lot of time (refer to #3 again). Determine now before it's too late. I've found it's best to do this while you're within the brick & mortar of the company you're currently with. When you're sitting at your desk with familiar surroundings and your professional world is in front of - the memory is more easily triggered as to how you've benefited the company.

TIP: Place a notepad in the desk drawer. Pull it out every time you recall or complete a huge project. Write the project name down and a few words of how it benefited the company [great talking points for a job interview too], by the way.

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5. Recruit the viewpoint of others during your branding process.

We create our brand to impress others not ourselves, right? Well, sure we want to impress ourselves too but we also want the promotion, the new position etc. So, impressing others may hold more weight.

Consult with others about what they see as your most positive attributes (family, friends, colleagues, a branding firm or content writer). You might be surprised that the perspective of your value may actually be understated. Taking your brand to an 'outsider' may actually bring to the forefront areas of expertise and accomplishments you may not have known about (hence, can't see the forest for the trees analogy).

The jury is NOT still out-- LinkedIn is the bottom-line impact for your professional

brand

6. Understanding that developing a brand takes time.

Oh boy, this is a big one [again!]. Time to do it all. Well, one thing is for sure LinkedIn can work for you 27/4 as can a website. But, a brand is more that your LinkedIn profile and your website. A brand is adding value wherever possible.

What does this mean? Making yourself known daily or every couple days. For example, once you've branded your LinkedIn profile and it's ready to be viewed (without a doubt that it looks good and conveys well) - then it's time to add the value.

How? This happens over time! Developing your brand is adding value that results in you being seen and heard. It's about distinguishing you from your competitors.

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It's no doubt not easy.

Simple suggestions:

1) Comment on industry posts on LinkedIn that are relative to your expertise. People ask questions - answer them.

2) Share leading industry articles that you relate to. Moreso, share articles from the exact companies you may be vying to work for. This will help too: [CHECKLIST] 5 Best Practices to Get Started on LinkedIn And Staying Connected - Don't worry, it's free & no email required!

8. Write your worth. Write what you know.

Choosing a hot topic in your industry shouldn't be too hard. Choose one and start writing.

Are you in sales? Getting started can be much easier if you envision a question that a client or prospective might ask about your product or service. Pose the question and answer it in an article. Boom! You've just proven you know what you're talking about.

Are you job searching? Write about organizational change, IT infrastructure, the product development process or how you streamlined a process from 20 steps to 10 in less than six months. Add the methodologies behind it and provide how you were a part of making it happen.

It's ok to share others content too. Definitely! But, you want to share original content that comes from you and your knowledge. Of course, share and refer to other industry experts with links and quotes. You've just proven that you did your homework.

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9. Interact more than less.

You don't want to be spammy. But, you also don't want to interact online only 1 time a month either. Remember, you're looking to gain attention to yourself, your company, your product/service, your potential new boss.

If you post or reply to a comment to an article once a week you're going to get a lot more attention than if you only do this once a month. Decide what meets your schedule and time ability.

Again, refer to the LinkedIn CHECKLIST mentioned above and place a day on each section. Column 1: Monday Column 2: Wednesday Column 3: Friday and so on. Do what works best for you.

10. Be Ready. Be Prepared.

I've saved this for last but not because it's the least important. As a matter a fact - it's the most important. Get your digital self-ready for the New Year! Your online identity is a given priority in today's busy digital world. I like to refer to your online branding as a #digitaltattoo. Once it's out there - it stays out there. Have your professional branding ready to go and you'll be in a much better position when current clients, perspectives' or recruiters come looking for you. They will Google you, your brand, your product/service. Give them your best foot forward now and WOW them before they've even picked up the phone to contact you.

You'll be glad you did!

Maybe you would be interested in another of my latest articles:

Does your LinkedIn profile need some holiday TLC?

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A version of this article originally appeared on Forbes. Sign up for my newsletter to get my articles straight to your inbox.

First, have a definite, clear, practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends: wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end. -- Aristotle

A career vision is a clear mental image of who you want to be and what you want to do in the future. "Your vision is a 'picture' of what you aspire to - and what inspires you - in your work life," the University of Berkeley explains. Stemming from our fundamental values and interests, these long-term professional dreams "shape our actions" and "invest our work with meaning," as one Vanderbilt study put it.

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Career visions keep us engaged at work. One study found that women who persisted in STEM fields had "a personal vision that included their profession, and that this personal vision enabled them to overcome the bias, barriers and discrimination in the engineering workplace." Women and many others who can articulate a vision are "more likely to be engaged in their work and committed to the profession."

Career visions motivate us, serving as "catalyst[s] to action. Research shows that people perceive easy-to-visualize goals to be more attainable than more difficult-to-visualize goals, which in turn boosts effort and commitment. Without a defined vision, we still pursue various outcomes -- but often unconsciously. Because we're not explicitly aware of a goal, our actions may be ineffective or misdirected. In short, career visions make our goals conscious, coherent and enduring.

And, finally, they enhance our physical and psychological wellbeing. One well-cited study found that writing about your best possible future self was associated with a substantial increase in reported wellbeing. Five months later, simply completing this exercise was correlated with fewer instances of physical illness compared to controls.

Successful career visions have three essential components:

1) A defined ideal self

My high school English teacher told me, "You're a writer. Don't forget it." I've since ordered my life from this core sense of identity. Our ideal selves aren't always so cut and dry, but the better we define ourselves professionally, the clearer our vision and our subsequent path become.

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Who do you want to be? Answering this question doesn't require naval gazing. In Batman Begins, Batman's childhood friend tells him, "It's not who you are underneath but what you do that defines you." We can construct a successful vision by determining not who we are deep down but, rather, who we want to be and what we want to do.

In a series of studies (PDF) that began following elementary school children 50 years ago and is still studying them, falling in love with a future image of oneself was a better predictor of creative achievement in adulthood than scholastic promise, educational achievements or past performance. Success has "an imagination component," said University of Pennsylvania psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman.

2) A clear real self



But a successful career vision doesn't mean daydreaming.

Some research suggests that fantasizing may sabotage long-term wellbeing and goal attainment. In an episode of the NPR podcast Hidden Brain, psychologist Gabriele Oettingen explains that those with the strongest fantasies -- finding true love, becoming famous, getting fit, etc. -- tend to be the least likely to actually achieve their goals.

Why? Fantasizing convinces our brains that the ideal outcome has already happened, therefore demotivating us to actually accomplish our goals.

The way to craft a career vision without becoming complacent is to see the discrepancy between your real self and your ideal self. Oettingen calls a variation of this strategy "mental contrasting," which means supplementing a vision with potential obstacles and the specific actions you'll need to move forward for a more complete, realistic picture.

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Research suggests that change happens when we recognize the gap between our real self and our ideal self. Thus a career vision requires not just a detailed picture of where we want to be but also a detailed picture of where we are. With a plan for how to diminish the difference, we can progress our professional dreams.

3) Practice

When Michael Phelps was eight years old, he wrote, "I would like to make the Olympics." But his vision didn't stop there. 23 Olympic medals later, Phelps visualizes the perfect race every night before he goes to sleep -- including the tiny details like water dripping from his face -- and wakes up to written-down ideal race times. In other words, Phelps doesn't just have a vision for his ideal career. He has a vision for every aspect composing it: each race, each day.

Among athletes, regular visualization improves performance, motivation, coordination, concentration and relaxation. "Visualization helps the athlete just do it and do it with confidence, poise, and perfection," said one researcher.

Consistent visualization keeps working professionals on track. "Constantly reinforcing the image of you in your career vision will help you both consciously and subconsciously develop goals and action steps that will lead you to success," Berkeley explains.

Of course, like many things in life, visions sometimes change. One study emphasizes that visions "aren't set in stone." Part of practicing a vision is checking in on whether it needs modification or revisions.

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Given an unpredictable job market, rapidly-changing business models and emerging fields, enjoying our career journey is essential. But being present isn't enough. A long-term vision will impart us with the resolve, the endurance and the inspiration to go somewhere worthwhile.
A version of this article originally appeared on Forbes. Sign up for my newsletter to get my articles straight to your inbox.



Most research on age discrimination covers bias against older people in the workforce.

But if the media's anti-millennial messages are any indication of what's going on at work, younger employees may face discrimination, too. One survey found that employers are reluctant to hire people under 30 because they're "unpredictable and 'they don't know how to work.'" Another study published in the Human Resource Management Journal found that discrimination for being "too young" is at least as common as discrimination for being "too old."

Age discrimination at any age reduces our wellbeing and commitment to our work.

Unfortunately, unlike our older colleagues who can sue for it, millennials aren't protect by law. Discriminating against current or prospective employees on the basis of age isn't illegal if they're under 40.

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Granted, laws protecting young workers would be hard to enforce. The existing laws apply if the discrimination isn't plausibly based on any other factor but age. For millennials, inexperience--a valid, legal reason to fire or not hire--and youth are practically synonymous.

So overcoming age discrimination is up to us. I asked three young entrepreneurs how they overcame the setbacks of their age. Zach Obront, 26, is Tucker Max's cofounder of Book in a Box. Mattan Griffel, 28, founded the coding education platform One Month. And Sol Orwell, 32, is a veteran entrepreneur and the founder of Examine.com.

Here are my five takeaways:

1. Create your opportunity.

Obront thinks people are bad at evaluating risk. "There are a lot of things you're unlikely to succeed in, but there's no downside in trying." But because they're a long-shot and getting rejected could hurt, "people avoid opportunities."

Obront did the opposite. Once a month in college, he took a day to try a bunch of things that would probably fail. One of those undertakings was emailing I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell's Tucker Max, who had recently blogged on a topic Obront was covering in an essay. Obront asked for advice and where to turn for more information. Max replied. For the next two years,Obront emailed Max every few months. By the time Obront saw Max ask for help on some work, he felt comfortable sending an email saying, "Hey, I think I would be a good fit -- do you want to chat about it?"

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Obront helped Max with writing and managing a website. Their casual working relationship eventually lead to their decision to be cofounders.

Orwell echoes Obront's lesson. In Sol's early days as an entrepreneur, "I learned how to be a sales person, selling what you have to offer." Even if all you have to offer is an email, or some side hustle skills, that's sometimes enough to get the ball rolling on a larger opportunity.

2. Find complements.

Obront, Orwell and Griffel all have cofounders who are significantly older or younger than they are. All recommend it. Obront explains, "A lot of people would benefit from cofounders with not just different experience but who are also in different stages of life."

When Book in a Box's team grew last year, Obront said it boosted his credibility to have 41-year-old Max alongside him in meetings with a bunch of new employees.

Even if you're not an entrepreneur, cultivate complementary relationships with older people. Obront says he enjoys managing people fresh out of college who remind him of himself. Many older managers feel the same: they want to help young hustlers succeed. Seek out these kinds of partners, bosses and mentors.

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3. Get good.

One reason age discrimination can be so murky for millennials is entry-level job traits are often vague and ill-defined--requiring, for example, soft skills like "communication" or "leadership." It's harder to discriminate against someone who blatantly has the defined, technical skills you need.

Obront suggests developing "an objective expertise in specific areas that are relevant." For example, Obront may not know how to manage people, but he knows the ins and outs of book publishing and marketing. "If I'm talking to an entrepreneur about how to use a book to support their business, I could be 14 years old, but what we're talking about gives me authority immediately because I know my stuff."

When you have a foundation of expertise, you're more "palatable," said Obront. "A lot of millennials are thinking, 'how do I become a thought leader?' Well, you need the more micro skills first in order to earn [older people's] attention."

Orwell agrees: "Experience is underrated." We celebrate the Zuckerbergs of the world, "but they're the exception ... Experience is more of a positive than people imagine."

4. Work where age doesn't matter.

There are good and bad environments for young leaders.

At corporate conferences, Obront feels an attitude among 50-plus year olds: They think, "'I put in so much time. These kids can't be worthy of this.' There's a little bit of disdain or negativity." In consequence, Obront and Max typically send their older CEO with a corporate background to these conferences instead. "They see him more as a peer." By contrast,Obront feels right at home at entrepreneurship conferences.

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In the late '90s when Orwell was a teenage entrepreneur, online was the perfect place for him. "The anonymity of the Internet was a great way of hiding the fact that I was still relatively young at the time." People on Reddit and other forums don't care how old you are, Orwell explained. "As long as you seem to be a competent human being, they'll teach you something."

The Internet was and is a great place for young people to start a business. Orwell was so young he couldn't register his own business, domain name or bank account without his parents signing off. But his argument as an entrepreneur was, "I'm a kid and I know technology better than you do ... I was able to harness my age and make it useful." Griffel sums, "There are some topics where youth can be an advantage. Technology is one area where older generations defer to our expertise."

Freelancing, entrepreneurship and remote working opportunities are all ways to avoid age discrimination. At Orwell's company, a fully remote operation, "All we care about is the quality of work you produce."

5. Practice humility.

In an age where the title "expert" reigns, it's tempting to pretend we know more stuff than we do. We're just trying to keep up with everyone else.

But one trend I've noticed among dozens of successful millennials is they know their one or two things and leave the rest to other people. When I asked Orwell how I could apply his startup experience to corporate environments, he responded, "I know what's not in my wheelhouse, and that's not in my wheelhouse." It's brave to admit you don't know something, but it will earn you respect long-term.

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On teaching a beginner coding class at Columbia Business School, Griffel explained that he deliberately doesn't act like an authority. "I try to never put myself above other people," he said. This attitude helps students open up and makes Griffel the BFG of beginner coding.
We finally have confirmation that civilians, including children, are being given safe passage to evacuate what remains of east Aleppo. Over the past week, we have listened to increasingly desperate cries from people who have already endured unimaginable violence, hunger and fear. It is a story that has been unfolding for so many years, but the nightmare continues. Although my heart is breaking as a mother, as President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, I must stand for hope. Now, more than ever, we have to help the people, and especially the children, of Aleppo, and other besieged areas of Syria. The conflict in Syria has raged for nearly six years, leaving 13.5 million people in need of urgent life-saving assistance, including 6 million children. UNICEF has been on the ground in Syria throughout the conflict, providing children with access to clean water and sanitation, medical supplies, health, nutrition and education, among other things. No matter how desperate the situation, we remain undeterred in our mission to put children first. It is a difficult number to fathom -- still 500,000 children living in besieged areas -- the number has doubled in less than one year. Living in terror among air strikes and barrel bombs, growing up to the sounds of soldiers and warring factions on their streets, they have seen their houses, schools and playgrounds destroyed, and, unfortunately, many of them have lost family and friends. As these children sit in dark basements, reading and writing by candlelight, they might still believe in a world that cares enough to stop their suffering. We need to ensure that these children stay alive, but equally important, we need to protect that flicker of hope. Hiba Al Nabolsi is one of those children. She knows war and terror too well. She was only 5 when the flashpoint of the Syrian civil war began in her home city of Deraa. "They were dying around us, asking for help," Hiba says reflecting back to when she felt surrounded by death and destruction. "The one I love the most is my brother who died. I don't like to see bad things," she continues. "I like to see good things." Now 10 years old, she describes with disquieting detail her journey in 2014 with her mother, father and brothers from Syria to Turkey, before being smuggled to Greece and then to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, where she lives today. "From Turkey we took a boat. The engine stopped working. It wasn't very firm - it deflated. We spent two hours at sea. Only a few were not afraid. I was not afraid. As long as you know how to swim, and I knew how to swim, I was not afraid. As soon as we reached the regional waters, a plane saw us, and help followed soon after. My mum fell in the valley and fractured her leg. Our clothes were wet, we were shivering from the cold." Determined and resilient, Hiba saw death along the journey. Living in a UNICEF-supported refugee and migrant center now, learning English, German and Macedonian, Hiba speaks with clarity and optimism about her new life and her future.
By Thomas Kennedy

This Christmas season, I'll be spending my time away from work relaxing and celebrating the holidays with my parents. But for undocumented immigrants across this country, this precious holiday season will be filled with fear and anxiety fueled by the incoming Trump administration.

Trump made immigration a centerpiece of his campaign, promising to deport the 11 million undocumented immigrants that currently reside in the United States, to repeal DACA, and to build a wall across the southern border. As the date of his inauguration looms closer, immigrant families feel uncertain as to what the future will hold for them.

That's why this year, more than ever, our communities are coming together to call for the respect of human dignity, families, and children. We Belong Together, an organization seeking to mobilize women in support of common sense immigration policies that will keep families together, has launched Wish for the Holidays, a campaign for immigration policies that are fair for women and families.

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Hundreds of organizations, activists, and families across the country are joining this campaign because they know that immigrants perform essential jobs that contribute to the well-being and prosperity of our communities. Breaking up hard-working immigrant families will do nothing for this country except bring shame for picking on our most vulnerable for cheap political gain.

The Wish for the Holidays campaign is collecting letters from children who want to express their wishes that families be allowed to love each other in peace. They are writing to their mayors and governors urging them to protect immigrant communities and uphold their human rights.

Kids like eight-year-old Bryan from Homestead, Florida are scared of what can happen to their families. "I really love my mom and I don't want her to be taken away from me," he writes.

In Houston, nine-year-old Ximena worries about the future. "Don't separate families because kids will be sad," she says in her letter.

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Donald Trump needs to know that his hateful rhetoric has consequences, and its often children and families who suffer the most. Children should be playing with their friends and going to school; not feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Here in south Florida, the Wish for the Holidays campaign is calling on Mayor Carlos Gimenez and the commissioners of Miami-Dade County to step up and take the necessary steps to protect the immigrant communities they represent. One of the organizers of this campaign, Lis-Marie Gueguense, hopes that these elected officials stand by these children.

"The children have heard what Trump said during the elections and are terrified," Gueguense said. "We are counting on Mayor Gimenez and commissioners to do everything in their power to protect immigrant families and all of our community from being separated for no other reason than being undocumented."

This holiday season, as we spend time with our loved ones, let's remember those who will be most vulnerable come January 20th. Let's commit to doing everything possible so that all families can live peacefully and without fear.

Visit webelongtogether.org/wish to learn more about how you can get involved in the Wish for the Holidays campaign.

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Cross-legged he sat on a mound of moss beside the ravine when a glinting bottle bobbed along. A bottle he recognized as the finest of local whiskeys. A favorite, and he hooked it with his walking stick.

Turned out within it, downed galleon, was a letter, protected from the water with a cork from County Cork, no less. The best.

The note, penned in ox-blood ink from a quill of gold flecks, spoke words to crack a man's heart. Told the tale of a chance long past. When he last saw or felt his own youth. When he had it all, his strength his looks his energy. At least he could never lose his charm.

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All these treats, which he mistook for traits, they would disappear. Atrophying imperceptibly, until, almost overnight, they were gone.

He knew for sure it was all over when one day he caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror and thought he was being robbed. He did not recognize himself.

If he were to be honest his confidence took its first big hit when the proposal went unanswered.

He had asked for her hand in marriage, told her to meet him at the docks if her answer was yes. But she never showed. And then he lost her. His reaction was he retreated to his dismantled life of a person who sleeps but never dreams despite his favorite whiskey for a soporific.

On clement days he visited this riverbank, to keep a semblance of routine in his near astral existence, inebriated at most times.

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Agriculture

...Farmers have discovered that drones are very useful for monitoring the health of their fields. "It would cost me a couple hundred dollars an hour for a plane or helicopter," says fourth-generation grain and apple farmer Jeff VanderWerff. "With my [DJI] Phantom 3 drone, a device I paid $1,200 for, I can fly it every day."

...Aerial imagery from a drone equipped with an NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) camera could help him accurately estimate the yield of a crop in July, rather than waiting until harvest in October. With special software he could analyze that imagery, spotting crops beset by diseases, weeds, and flooding while there's still time to save them. And he could then use the drone to efficiently apply fertilizers and pesticides...

Humanitarian Aid

Some 1.3 billion to 2.1 billion people on the planet don't have access to essential medicines, the World Health Organization says, often because they live in hard-to-reach places. To address that concern, California drone maker Zipline signed a deal with the government of Rwanda last February to shuttle supplies to remote areas on demand...

"We are already delivering more than 40 percent of the transfusions for the entire country," says Zipline founder Keller Rinaudo. "These are cases where, if bad roads or lack of supply prevents deliveries, people die."...

First Responders

In February 2015, the Michigan State Police received FAA approval to fly a SkyRanger quadcopter made by Canada's Aeryon Labs for public safety efforts. A week later, troopers used it to investigate a suspicious fire in Jenison. According to Aeryon CEO David Kroetsch, the craft can also be used to conduct search-and-rescue operations, gather aerial intelligence for SWAT teams, and even map accident scenes. That last task usually involves an officer on foot measuring the crash site and sketching the details on graph paper--a system ripe for inaccuracy, given the time constraints. With a drone and a laptop, he can instead stitch together a series of geotagged photos and even film fly-throughs to determine what drivers might have seen in the moments before impact. "That's evidence-grade data," Kroetsch says, "and it can be done in 15 minutes." By completing the mapping quickly, officers can reduce the length of lane closures on busy highways, potentially sparing hundreds of thousands of dollars in tolls for a state, he says.

Better yet, aerial footage provided by drones keeps early responders out of harm's way. In a SWAT scenario, for example, a camera-equipped craft with a powerful 30x zoom lens can give officers a close-up look at a compound where hostages are being held--while they remain 1,000 feet away. And, likewise, a fireman can fly a drone with thermal-imaging and video-streaming capability over a four-alarm blaze and determine, in real time, where to direct his colleagues and where to help them avoid trouble...

Safety Inspections

Drones are exceedingly effective at finding structural flaws, not only because they can quickly and efficiently take high-resolution images and laser scans but also because they can get up close in treacherous spaces, such as the underside of an offshore drilling rig or the top of a cell tower.

Boeing's drone-making subsidiary Insitu is working with BNSF Railway to test rail-inspection possibilities in New Mexico. "If there was a lot of rain overnight," says Jon Damush, the company's vice president and general manager, "we could send an unmanned sentry out before the first train of the day and see if there was a washout."

Insurance:

"Let's say a hailstorm rolls through Texas and damages 2,000 roofs in its wake," says Dan Burton, founder of DroneBase, an Uber-like service that connects businesses with independent drone pilots. "We could go take some pictures and then say, 'Based on the damage to this roof, there's a 98 percent chance you will pay a claim. On this other one, it's 80 percent.'"

With that in mind, most of the major insurance companies are now experimenting with drones, some by hiring outside contractors, others by sending out aircraft of their own. If you're a claims adjuster, it saves you time and money, and reduces the risks of climbing ladders and walking on damaged roofs. But if you're the customer, that might not translate to lower insurance premiums...

Internet Access

Well over half the planet's population--some 4 billion people--currently has no internet access. A full 1.6 billion live in areas too remote for mobile broadband. That means no Facebook, of course, but also no email, no world news, no information and instruction from YouTube, and no access to online commerce. And without a huge investment in satellites and cell towers, that's mighty difficult to change.

Google has floated a plan to fix the problem by relaying internet signals via a network of giant, high-altitude balloons, but the company is also reportedly looking into drones as a solution. Facebook is headed that way, too.

In the latter company's vision, a series of lightweight drones with the wingspan of a Boeing 737 will cruise high above normal airspace delivering connectivity to people within a 60-mile radius. Powered by batteries and solar energy, they will remain aloft for three months at a time. The company can't say when the project will be operational--"significant advancements in science and technology will be needed," a spokesperson says--but last June a full-scale prototype (shown at the top of this article) made a successful test flight of more than 90 minutes over southern Arizona...

Hurricane and Tornado Forecasting

In the future, when a severe tropical storm approaches Florida, as Hurricane Matthew did last October, autonomous aircraft developed by defense contractor Raytheon Missile Systems could fly right up to the maelstrom to take measurements for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Originally created for anti-submarine warfare, the small, fixed-wing crafts known as Coyotes launch from the bottom of hurricane hunter planes, which often fly in the upper reaches of a storm, often more than 10,000 feet in the air. The Coyotes can, by contrast, maneuver around at 500 feet--right at the dangerous boundaries of the storm, where the most dramatic atmospheric changes occur...

Wildlife Conservation

In recent years, scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts have used drones to monitor the health of humpback whales off the coast of Cape Cod, even capturing from their blowholes breath samples flush with DNA that can be analyzed for wildlife studies. The U.S. Geological Survey has also dispatched them to observe sandhill cranes in Colorado. But to date, the tech's most profound contribution to wildlife protection might be unfolding in Africa, where drones are policing vast tracts of land to catch poachers hunting rhinos and elephants. The horns and tusks of those animals can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars from Asian crime syndicates...


It almost makes no sense that a woman could pray with great certainty in such desperate times. Hers is a past-tense prayer. She doesn't pray like a someone who hopes things will happen. As far as she is concerned, they have already happened. She prays with confidence to the God who declares, the God who makes known the end from the beginning.

Mary faced the threat of being stoned for being pregnant before marriage. In more ways than one, she was in an impossible situation. Mary was in trouble, but her nation was also in trouble, so she did not limit the scope of her prayer to her personal condition. She prayed a nation-sized prayer. There have been others since Mary, who have prayed beyond their own problem.

You might as well include Mary when discussing heroes who faced overpowering opposition. I could reference Mahatma Ghandi, Elie Weisel, or Martin Luther King, Jr., or Cesar Chavez, Poland's Lech Walesa, or Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi.But they are not my focus right today.

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Think of how hard has been for Standing Rock Water Protectors.

The elders at Standing Rock have managed to create an atmosphere of sacred resolve. It's not perfect. Rocks are thrown and insults are exchanged across the front lines, and sometimes people show up looking for a fight, not a ceremony, but those are exceptions and outbursts, not the rule. It is not a camp of spiritually perfect people - but it is a camp of spiritually committed people.

This spiritual resolve is what I don't think the Morton County Sheriff, or the people at Energy Transfer Partners, or the Army Corps of Engineers, I don't think they really get it. It doesn't seem as if they have opened their eyes to the depth of spirit that is motivating and uniting the water protectors and their allies.



All that the officers have been given is their riot gear. Instead of spiritual armor, they rely on Kevlar and bulletproof plastics. It is an uncomfortable job they have been asked to do, and I have great compassion for the position in which they have found themselves. At one point, the Sheriff's department asked for donations to help support the morale of the officers over the winter, and get this, a delegation from the Indigenous Youth Council at the Oceti camp brought them boxes of snacks in response.

The people of Standing Rock are sending us all an important message. A message to take a stand and refuse to continue down the path that we have been on for generations. Because that path, it is clear, leads nowhere good. It is a path constructed on the basis of profits over people, with a foundation of white Christian supremacy that has made native lives seem expendable.

The people at Standing Rock are refusing to walk that way. We have the choice - we can ignore them, and turn a blind eye to the capital interests and the fossil fuel hegemony. We can roll over and act like it's all a waste of time.



Or we can see this as a wakeup call.

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Because unless we change our ways, it will get worse. We CAN support them, pray with them, learn to walk with them, and perhaps find our path into a future together, in a restored relationship with the earth. Standing Rock is teaching us about solidarity. Thousands of visitors who went there to join them feel a bond. And we see another kind of solidarity: There's a fire burning in the camp that never goes out. It's a place where people gather, and someone is there leading prayer from daybreak till dark. Standing Rock is teaching us about spiritual community. Just when America was thinking we don't need to practice faith anymore, Native Americans are showing us that we need each other. Churches, synagogues, mosques, and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings? We need them more than ever. Like Mary and Elizabeth needed each other, so do we.

Standing Rock is today's Mary. As are Syrian refugees, being slaughtered by their government. As are the families of 43 Mexican students who were disappeared by their government. As are the families of 25 Coptic Christians killed and many more injured in last week's Cairo bombing. As are Filipinos being executed by their government. As are Crimeans, systematically persecuted by the Russian government. As are Fijian prisoners, tortured by police, corrections and military officers. As are migrant workers all over the world.

So it's time to pray bold prayers... time for prayers that will help them, and will help us all. This is our moment. After hundreds of years of mistreating indigenous peoples, we can come together as a country and find redemption. This is a time for justice. This is a time for forgiveness.
"I can't believe that there is anything closer to looking into the eyes of Jesus than looking into the eyes of one of these babies"- Patti Sue Arnold

Life is full of coincidences.

Or perhaps it is all pre-ordained, destined to happen.

Let the reader decide.

As a young child in the late 1940s, I spent some of the most idyllic and memorable times of my life in a little town called Shell Mera -- today called Shell -- at the edge of the Amazon rain forest basin in Ecuador and on the banks of the Pastaza, part of the Amazon headwaters at the beginning of that river's majestic four-thousand-mile journey to the Atlantic Ocean.





Author's parents by air strip in Shell Mera, circa 1948 (Author's family photo)

The town was established by and named after the Royal Dutch Shell company that was exploring for "black gold" in Ecuador's El Oriente, a company for which our father worked.

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Not far away lived several indigenous tribes, some friendly, some not so.

Some had only recently come into contact with the "civilized world." Deeper still, hiding in the dense jungle, there were tribes so isolated, so "unreachable," that they came to be known as"los no contactados", "the uncontacted."

Our father would show us photographs of his and his colleagues' encounters with members of one of the more friendly tribes (below), or tell us how one of the company's planes had flown low over the huts of some less friendly indigenous tribe, visible through openings in the emerald canopy, and dropped beads and small mirrors trying to establish contact with the natives, only to see them raise their bows and arrows or point their spears and blowpipes at the aircraft.



Photo by the author's late Father, Leonardus Kortekaas, who wrote on the back of the photograph: "Chief Taisha, of the Jivaro tribe, and his son, Segundo, with their 16-foot blowpipes, September 1948."

Unknown to me at the time, but according to some reports, "On a few occasions the Indians attacked Shell, resulting in the deaths of several employees."

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A few years later, in January 1956, after we -- and Shell -- had left Ecuador's Oriente, five U.S. Evangelical Christian missionaries who had been trying to bring Christianity to one of these uncontacted tribes -- the Huaorani, also known as "Aucas" -- were killed by Huaorani warriors.

Before the tragedy, the missionaries had been, taking off from the airstrip at Shell, flying periodically over the Huaorani settlement, dropping gifts. On what was to be their last flight, they landed near the Huaorani village and set up a temporary camp, named "Palm Beach," on a sandbar along the Curaray River. "Palm Beach" was a mere 60 miles from Shell -- as their piper cup flew. After some initial contacts, including gift exchanges with the Huaorani, tragedy struck five days later.





Aerial view of Shell, Ecuador. The runway from which the missionaries took off in January 1956 is clearly visible. Casa de Fe is just off the right margin of the photo.

Many articles and several books have since been written and screen depictions made about the tragedy that came to be known as "Operation Auca," including the 2004 documentary "Beyond the Gates of Splendor" and the 2006 movie "End of the Spear."

As a native of Ecuador who lived so close to "Palm Beach," I was affected by that horrific event. It became the subject of my very first and very nervous formal speech at the U.S. Air Force's Officer Candidate School a few years later.

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But, except for some writings on the threats posed by re-emerging oil exploration and exploitation in and of Ecuador's pristine and ecologically vulnerable rain forests (including the Yasuni National Park, a region so precious and so unique, that in 1989 it was designated a UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere Reserve" ), I had not given the events of 60 years ago at "Palm Beach" much additional thought.

That is until about a month ago. At the funeral services for my good friend, World War II veteran John Tschirhart, I finally met face-to-face with Darla Rae, the Denver film producer who is working very hard to immortalize Tschirhart's love-and-war story in a movie, "The French American."

When Rae learned that I was from Ecuador, she told me about a documentary she recently produced in, of all places, Shell, Ecuador.

The main character in the documentary, "Casa de Fe" (House of Faith), is an amazing woman: Patti Sue Arnold, a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer with three combat campaigns and mother of three sons. In 2003, Arnold came to do God's work in a place called Shell -- God's work that has seen a resurgence in places such as Ecuador's Oriente since the five missionaries lost their lives 60 years ago.

Casa de Fe founder, Patti Sue Arnold, with adopted son John Paul

After her arrival in Ecuador, Arnold first spent two years in the capital city, Quito, working for a ministry fixing and fitting wheelchairs and, in her spare time, taking in two foster children.

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Once in Shell, Arnold continued to take in abandoned and special needs children until one day she had 10 children and realized -- just as Hope House founder Rose McGarrigle one day also did -- that there just was no more room in her small house.

After years of hard work by volunteers, of getting financial support and -- as Arnold puts it -- of lots of "prayerful manner," Casa de Fe was born, ready to continue to take care of even more children, many with mental and physical disabilities or with special medical, emotional and spiritual needs. Many children come from distant Amazonian jungle villages with no other available medial or social support, often making Casa de Fe their only and last hope.

Casa de Fe in Shell, Ecuador



The "population" of Casa de Fe has fluctuated over the years with as many as 80 children being cared for at times and with more than 400 children having been taken care of since its founding.

Presently, Casa de Fe has a population of 57 children, suffering from many different medical conditions, including Down Syndrome, malnutrition, even cancer and cerebral palsy and other congenital anomalies.





A missionary with one of Casa de Fe's "special children"

Please watch Darla Rae's documentary below, an incredible testament to what one amazing woman, full of faith, goodwill and compassion has accomplished in a place called Shell.

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While the circumstances and events that led me to the story of Casa de Fe in the rainforest of Ecuador may be a coincidence, there are no coincidences when it comes to helping the most vulnerable among us -- the children. That has become the life mission -- the destiny -- of one extraordinary American woman.

However, Patti Sue Arnold, wondrous as she may be, cannot do it alone.

To see how you can help Patti Sue with her extraordinary work for God's children, please visit lacasedefe.org and open up your hearts this joyous season.

Lead photo: Patti Sue Arnold with adopted son John Paul and daughter Rosa by a local waterfall in Shell, Ecuador
On December 18 we celebrate International Migrants Day, an occasion when we reflect upon the many ways that migrants enrich our cultures, economies, and societies, while also calling for greater respect for the human rights of all migrants.

Perhaps like no other time in modern history  the world is on the move - with over 232 million migrants crossing national borders in 2015 to seek jobs, join families, study, invest, and contribute cutting edge research. Migrants come from and travel to all corners of the globe and migration represents an inexorable process that began long before current borders were drawn and will continue far into the future.

Most migration is routine, and includes temporary workers, international students, and expatriate residents. Migrants make important contributions both to their countries of destination, where they fill critical labor shortages, and countries of origin, where their remittances fuel economic growth.

Migrants contributions in the United States are striking. More than 40 percent of our high-tech companies have been founded by immigrants or their children. The list includes Google, eBay, and Intel. First and second generation immigrants have won 65 percent of U.S. Nobel Prizes, and account for one-third of our physicists, engineers, and doctors, 60 percent of our construction workers, and the majority of agricultural workers. Migrants to the United States take risks, work hard, invest and innovate.

Unfortunately, heated political rhetoric has all too often obscured the benefits and exaggerated the risks of migration. All countries should work to dispel unfounded fears and counter xenophobia. Regardless of their legal status or nationality, migrants should be treated humanely.

Our own nation is built upon migrants dreams. Their daring, their striving, and their freedom to imagine a better future, has fueled our own prosperity and become an indispensable part of our heritage and national character, said Secretary of State John Kerry.

The United States is a nation that has offered freedom and opportunity to migrants from around the world. And we hope the international community will work to make migration safer, more orderly, and more lawful, for the benefit of all. All countries should seek to share the American migration experience, which has shown that our nation, economy, and society is stronger due to our ability to welcome all forms of migrants to our shores. At the same time, the United States reaffirms its commitment to assisting the worlds vulnerable migrants and to working toward safe, orderly, and regular migration policies for the benefit of all.
Predicting the course of the coming Trump presidency could be an Olympic sport. The president-elect evidences strong opinions but little knowledge of many issues. Moreover, he usually was short on specifics: for instance, what would it mean to "bomb the shit" out of ISIS?

Thus, personnel are likely to be policy in many cases. While candidate Donald Trump hasn't said much about what he thinks of Turkey--other than generally backing foreign strongmen and dismissing human rights concerns--his designated National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, has. And what the latter opined is not good, at least for approaching a nominal ally which is steadily moving toward authoritarianism and actively impeding U.S. policy in Iraq and Syria.

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Flynn, a retired general who headed the Defense Intelligence Agency, appears to share the military's traditional institutional deference toward Ankara. Turkey's critics long pointed to the army's outsize, undemocratic role; government's routine violations of human rights; military's invasion and continued occupation of a large portion of the Republic of Cyprus; and regime's brutal campaign against Kurdish separatists. However, the Pentagon always came to Ankara's defense: the country, with its military bases, was seen as a bulwark against Soviet expansion and model of moderate Islamic democracy.

But the end of the Cold War eliminated Ankara's claim to anchor Europe's security. In fact, Turkey has become a liability for NATO. Last fall President Recep Tayyip Erdogan risked dragging the entire continent into a full-scale war by shooting down a Russian aircraft for a 17-second violation of Turkish airspace.

Then Erdogan made a dramatic volte face, staging a rapprochement with Moscow. Turkey's evident dissatisfaction with U.S. and European criticism raised questions whether his government could be trusted in a confrontation between NATO and Russia.

Moreover, Turkey lost its democratic status when Erdogan dropped his liberal feint which had won support from secular Turks and foreign observers alike. His government arrested critics, tried opponents in bizarre conspiracy trials, jailed scores of journalists, seized private media enterprises, threatened business critics, and advanced Islamist values. The country became a scary place even before the failed July coup.

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Since then the regime has used the attempted putsch as an excuse to arrest opposition legislators and punish any and all opponents, including those who had opposed the military plot. More than 100,000 people have been imprisoned, lost their jobs, or been otherwise penalized. Erdogan now is planning to revive his stalled push for an authoritarian, Putin-like presidency.

So much for the traditional arguments for embracing Ankara. The rise of the Islamic State offers new reasons to doubt the bilateral relationship.

Turkey increasingly thwarts U.S. policy in the Middle East. Ankara rejected an American request to launch a second front from the north against Iraq in 2003. Only after extended negotiations did Turkey agree to American use of Incirlik air base against the Islamic State. Once an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, President Erdogan flipped to seek the former's ouster; unwilling to commit Turkish troops and wealth, he insisted that Washington pursue his objective, in which the U.S. had no compelling interest. At the same time, the Erdogan government accommodated the Islamic State, allowing passage of men and materiel into Syria and facilitating the sale of oil seized by the violent jihadists. Indeed, Erdogan's son may have profited from the illicit trade.

The Erdogan government abandoned the much-praised ceasefire with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, to raise domestic political tensions and regain the Islamic party's parliamentary majority. Now Ankara is more active attacking Kurdish insurgents--the Kurdish Democratic Union Party/People's Protection Units (PYD/YPG)--in Syria who have been America's strongest ally against the Islamic State.

In fact, the U.S. was forced to halt its support for Turkish operations since Ankara refused to coordinate its operations with U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. Moreover, Erdogan has insisted on his nation's participation in operations inside Iraq, including against ISIS-held Mosul against the wishes of the Iraqi government, which fears he plans to annex long-claimed territory. Erdogan explained: "We did not voluntarily accept the borders of our country."

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Of course, Washington would gain nothing by treating Turkey as an enemy. But the U.S. should stop treating Ankara as an ally. American officials should have no illusions about what to expect when dealing with Turkey.

Yet Flynn apparently would base U.S. policy upon the mirage of a friendly Turkey. For instance, only four months ago Flynn backed the coup against Erdogan, who has been increasingly criticized by conservative friends of Turkey for his Islamist leanings and taming of the military, once entrusted with enforcing the Turkish secular state. Flynn had earlier blamed Ankara for not halting the movement of foreign fighters and materiel into Syria.

However, since last month, at least, Flynn has unflinchingly embraced the Erdogan government. On Election Day The Hill published his article entitled "Our Ally Turkey is in Crisis and Needs Our Support." Argued Flynn: "Turkey is vital to U.S. interests. Turkey is really our strongest ally against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), as well as a source of stability in the region. It provides badly needed cooperation with U.S. military operations." He complained that "the Obama administration is keeping Erdogan's government at arm's length--an unwise policy that threatens our long-standing alliance."

Alas, argued Michael Rubin of American Enterprise Institute: "Flynn gets Erdogan wrong, whitewashes recent Turkish behavior, fails the logic test, and proposes a policy prescription that would make matters worse." To start, Flynn offers a misleading description of the current administration's policy. Although post-coup Washington indicated concern with the massive purge of Erdogan's opponents, Vice President Joe Biden staged a make-up visit, during which Erdogan humiliated both Biden and America. Despite Ankara's extensive misbehavior, the administration has done little in response.

Of equal concern is Flynn's position on the extradition of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Once an ally of Erdogan, Gulen turned on his patron three years ago. The former retaliated with a full-scale state assault on Gulen-affiliated schools and people, which accelerated after the failed coup. Erdogan blamed Gulen for the putsch even before it had been suppressed, and demanded the cleric's extradition from America without offering evidence of his involvement. While Gulen's participation is plausible, the movement's influence in the military always was small and many of the apparent plotters had no connection to Gulen. In fact, Erdogan treated the attempted coup like Hitler responded to the Reichstag Fire: an excuse to purge any opponent, even with no connection to the incident.

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Yet Flynn appeared to ignore the requirements of U.S. law in demanding Gulen's extradition, which requires a legal showing of culpability. Flynn argued: "Gulen portrays himself as a moderate, but he is in fact a radical Islamist. He has publicly boasted about his 'soldiers' waiting for his orders to do whatever he directs them to do. If he were in reality a moderate, he would not be in exile, nor would he excite the animus of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government." Indeed, argued Flynn, "Gulen's vast global network has all the right markings to fit the description of a dangerous sleeper terror network."

Observers offer conflicting assessments of Gulen, but whatever his exact theological views, there's a major difference between being a "radical Islamist" in the abstract and threatening others in practice. So far there is no evidence that Gulen fits the latter. He arrived in the U.S. in 1999, well before Erdogan took power and the U.S. was drawn into the war on terror. His exile began under the repressive secular nationalist regime which Erdogan later dismantled--with Gulen's assistance. And most any critic seems to "excite the animus of Recep Tayyip Erdogan," religious or secular, peaceful or not.

As for connections with radical Islam, Erdogan has worked with Islamist and aggressive regimes, such as Sudan and Iran. His Justice and Development Party (AKP) has roots similar to those attacked by Flynn; Erdogan's government has supported the Muslim Brotherhood, which Flynn criticized and claimed to be the "tradition" of Gulen's teaching. Finally, as noted earlier, Erdogan initially aided the Islamic State's rise in Syria.

Although Turks have reason to be concerned by Donald Trump's opposition to Muslim immigration, the Erdogan government appears ready to embrace the new administration. If Flynn's views prevail, on most issues America will be doing Ankara's bidding.

Why did Flynn become a Turcophile? Some have argued that it arises from his lobbying activities, something denied by the client involved. Bloomberg's Eli Lake raised the possibility that Flynn believes that he is offering a "diplomatic overture" or "reset" in relations which "could entice Erdogan to give more troops, allow more coalition flights and provide more aid to Syrian rebels." This would provide the Trump administration an option to not work with Syria and Russia against ISIS.

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There is logic to the latter argument though, if true, is badly misguided. Flynn would have the U.S. pay a high price in a dubious attempt to gain inconstant support from a government no longer aligned with America's interests. Washington would abandon its best regional allies, the Kurds, and make Ankara's problems in Syria America's own. Moreover, the U.S. would sacrifice its legal and moral principles to accept unproven allegations from an increasingly authoritarian regime as a basis for handing over a political opponent of an aspiring dictator who had sought sanctuary in America. The victim would be sent to a government which has dismantled the remnants of the rule of law and used torture against many of those arrested.

"We need to see the world from Turkey's perspective," argued Flynn, and "recognize Turkey as a priority." But Erdogan's perspective does not well represent the Turkish people. Making that country a priority does not mean subjugating America's interests to those of the Erdogan regime.

Others surrounding Trump appear to share Flynn's bias in favor of the dictator-wannabe. For instance, Vice President-elect Mike Pence long was a strong supporter of Turkey, only criticizing it a few years ago for breaking relations with Israel and moving toward Iran. Policy adviser Walid Phares, working at Bahcesehir University's Washington campus, suggested that the incoming administration would review both the Gulen case and U.S. cooperation with the YPG. Another Trump adviser, former CIA director Jim Woolsey, said after the coup: "we have real reason to want things to go well for the Turks" since "We need them in that part of the world." He argued they were helpful in Iraq and Syria: "We need the stability they can bring," despite the growing repression.
Donald Trump's unorthodox selection of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson for secretary of state touched off a flurry of stories about how an engineer from humble beginnings rose through company ranks to become one of the world's most powerful corporate titans, negotiating with potentates and presidents in dozens of countries spanning the globe.

Much of the coverage has focused on Tillerson's chummy relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has raised eyebrows among Democrats and Republicans alike, including Sens. Lindsey Graham, John McCain and Marco Rubio. Tillerson's bromance with the Russian strongman, however, has largely overshadowed another major area of concern: ExxonMobil's leading role in promoting climate science denial and blocking government efforts to address global warming.

Instead of exploring those issues, many news organizations have accepted at face value statements Tillerson and his lieutenants have made about company climate policy. A closer look, however, shows that while Tillerson may talk the talk, when it comes to walking, he's heading in the wrong direction.

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Climate Change Risks May Be Serious, But....

As a number of reporters have noted, Tillerson -- unlike his crusty predecessor Lee Raymond -- acknowledges that climate change is a problem. "At ExxonMobil," Tillerson said in May at a conference in Washington, D.C., "we share the view that the risks of climate change are serious and warrant thoughtful action."

That sounds promising, right? But Tillerson followed that statement by noting that more than a billion people around the world lack access to electricity, living in what he called a state of "energy poverty." Cutting back on fossil fuels, Tillerson said, would condemn them to a life of deprivation. His solution: more fossil fuels, especially natural gas. As he has said on other occasions when addressing the same topic: "What good is it to save the planet if humanity suffers?"

Tillerson also routinely disparages well-established climate models, insisting they are inaccurate, and recommends societies learn how to adapt to sea level rise and other consequences of global warming instead of trying to reduce carbon emissions.

"Changes to weather patterns that move crop production areas around -- we'll adapt to that," he said during a talk at the Council of Foreign Relations in June 2012. "It's an engineering problem and it has engineering solutions. ...The fear factor that people want to throw out there to say we just have to stop this [carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels], I do not accept."

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Tillerson reiterated his disdain for climate science before a much larger audience the following March. During an hour-long interview on PBS' Charlie Rose, he emphasized uncertainty -- exactly what ExxonMobil did after its own scientists warned upper management in the late 1970s about the potential for climate catastrophe. "We have continued to study this issue for decades," he told Rose. "... With all of that [new data, better models, and more competent analysis], though, the facts remain there are uncertainties around the climate, climate change, why it's changing, what the principal drivers of climate change are."

Social scientists call that "manufacturing doubt." That's just what the tobacco industry did to stave off tighter government controls on its product despite the fact the science linking smoking to cancer and other diseases was conclusive -- just as climate science is today.

Does ExxonMobil Really Support a Carbon Tax?

Stories about Tillerson's nomination in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and other publications have uncritically repeated ExxonMobil's hollow assertion that it endorses a carbon tax. As I have previously pointed out, Tillerson first claimed to back a revenue-neutral carbon tax in 2009 in a cynical attempt to derail congressional approval of a rival approach -- a market-based, cap-and-trade system -- that was gaining ground at the time. In fact, a cap-and-trade bill did pass narrowly in the House, only to die later in the Senate.

Not only was Tillerson undoubtedly aware back then that a carbon tax had virtually no political support, since 2009 ExxonMobil's friends on Capitol Hill have made sure that no carbon tax bill will ever see the light of day. There have been a handful of nonbinding carbon tax resolutions in recent years, however, and the overwhelming majority of ExxonMobil-funded senators and representatives consistently vote against it. Meanwhile, the company has ignored members of Congress who have actually sponsored carbon tax legislation. Earlier this year, for instance, Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Brian Schatz -- who get no financial support from ExxonMobil -- introduced a revenue-neutral carbon tax bill. Did they hear from the company? No.

"Regarding ExxonMobil's alleged seven years of support for a carbon fee, we've seen no meaningful evidence of that," the senators said in a letter they sent to the company in August. "None of the top executives that make up ExxonMobil's management team has expressed interest in meeting with any of us to discuss the Whitehouse-Schatz proposal or any carbon fee legislation."

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Still Spreading Lies About Climate Science

In an otherwise critical editorial on Trump's pick for secretary of state, The New York Times applauded Tillerson for pulling the plug on climate science denier groups. "On a positive note," the paper of record opined, "Mr. Tillerson has reversed Exxon Mobil's long history of funding right-wing groups that denied the threat of global warming, and he could perhaps persuade Mr. Trump not to pull out of the landmark Paris agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

In fact, Tillerson did not completely pull that plug. Despite company denials, ExxonMobil has continued to spend millions of dollars on denier groups since Tillerson took over the tiller in 2006. Outed by a 2007 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, the company spent more than $18.6 million from 1998 -- a year before it merged with Mobil -- through 2005 on more than 40 think tanks and advocacy organizations. The company did drop some deniers from its roster in response to negative publicity, but from 2006 through 2015, it spent another $14.3 million on its climate disinformation network. Sixteen groups received ExxonMobil funding last year, and 10 of them -- including the American Enterprise Institute, American Legislative Exchange Council, Federalist Society and Hoover Institution -- were listed in the 2007 UCS report.

As for the Times' hope that Tillerson, as secretary of state, could persuade Trump to uphold the Paris climate accord, it's not clear he would try. After all, his company stands to profit handsomely if it fails.

It is true that ExxonMobil endorsed the agreement, at least on paper. A close reading of the company's statement of support, however, suggests that it hinges on whether its own agenda is satisfied.

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After calling the accord "an important step forward by world governments" and insisting that ExxonMobil "has a constructive role to play in developing solutions," the statement urges policymakers to reduce carbon emissions "at the lowest cost to society, keeping in mind that access to affordable and reliable energy is critical to economic growth and improved standards of living worldwide."

Ensuring worldwide access to energy is a not-so-veiled reference to Tillerson's pet energy poverty argument, and as we know, his solution for the developing world is to buy more of what his company sells.

The statement's conclusion, meanwhile, is especially ironic. It declares the best policy option to meet the challenges of curbing carbon and providing energy to all is -- you guessed it -- a carbon tax, which the company has been working overtime to make sure never happens.

Let Tillerson Retire


"Donald Trump Faces Obstacles to Resuming Waterboarding" (NYT, 11/28/16) ran The Times headline. But at least there's a plan. While Obamacare is being dismantled, new tortures will rise like the Phoenix from its ashes. Imagine a federally funded MD/Phd program where medical students can intern at secret CIA sites. Imagine the seesaws in playgrounds becoming the sites of interrogations. All you need is a bucket. And what about that torture that was popular in Tunisia, where they truss the subject up on a spit. All those dollars wasted on health insurance will be freed up for future torture institutes where graduate students can bone up on techniques that have been used from medieval times to the present. Testicle crushers, iron maidens, guillotines, racks, even crucifixion may find its place in the hunt for terrorist subjects. In a CNN piece, "Donald Trump Defends Torture: 'Nothing should be taken off the table," (CNN, 2/16/16), an op-ed piece that Trump wrote for USA Today was quoted thusly:
President-elect Trump only won the Electoral College vote with Russia's help. He won't admit it, of course, which is why he denies the evidence piling up of Russia's hacking into both DNC and RNC files, as well as Hillary Clinton's emails.

His real worry is what the Russians may have learned from the RNC hacks more than what they did to Hillary and the DNC, since they will be able to use that knowledge to influence Republican policies during the next 4 years. There's little evidence that Donald Trump can be blackmailed directly, since so much of his life is public knowledge.

Although, what if Putin now has the Donald's tax returns? It would destroy the fabrications that have built his image of success if revealed. Is he really a billionaire, and how much has he had to depend heavily on Russian Oligarchs to fund his real estate projects, which is money stolen from Russians and is therefore being laundered by Trump Enterprises? American banks had stopped lending because of his many defaults and bankruptcies.

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Donald Trump has to be denying reality for good reason, in other words. It's on a whole new scale when he appoints lobbyists such Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, his national security advisor, who has been paid to support Putin's policies to attack western democracies, while Putin's own net worth is conjectured to be somewhere in the $200 billion range.

And he has just refused to disclose his plan to fix the many conflicts of interest until after he becomes President in January. So could it be that Russia has hacked his own records, including his tax returns? The recently disclosed hacking of IRS tax records has been attributed to both Russian and Chinese hackers.

It's the second time it happened in 2 years. Their purpose was to refile those returns to show a loss in order to obtain fraudulent refunds. As Fortune Magazine reported, "This year's attack follows a massive data breach at the IRS in 2015, when hackers stole information from 330,000 taxpayers to successfully file bogus tax refunds and obtain $50 million in federal funds."

If so, the Donald's tax returns could be so incriminating that the Russians can bend him even further their way with the threat to disclose his business links. The Daily Beast has catalogued the potential for various blackmails, should his and other Republican business links in all their gory detail be revealed.

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"Former and current U.S. national security officials and experts say that if it is true that the Russian government possesses documents belonging to the Republican National Committee, Donald Trump's incoming administration may be the most compromised in U.S. history," said the Daily Beast.

"A senior U.S. administration official confirmed to The Daily Beast that the CIA believes the Russians hacked the RNC. He spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly."

And our most major U.S. security agencies--the CIA, FBI, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper agree that Vladimir Putin himself directed the attacks, according to NBC News. U.S. intelligence officials now believe with "a high level of confidence" that Russian President Vladimir Putin became personally involved in the covert Russian campaign to interfere in the U.S. presidential election, senior U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News.

"Two senior officials with direct access to the information say new intelligence shows that Putin personally directed how hacked material from Democrats was leaked and otherwise used. The intelligence came from diplomatic sources and spies working for U.S. allies, the officials said."

Why would the Russians hold back the RNC material, if not to blackmail the Trump administration? It could be used to coerce any number of RNC and Republican officials that might have incriminating evidence stored in those files. Either way, we have to assume that the Russians now have a strangle-hold on U.S. foreign policy. Not a pretty picture, unless we take action to counter it.

Harlan Green  2016
CITY HALL, NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES - 2016/01/12: Brooklyn D.A. Ken Thompson speaks at the City Hall press conference. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio accompanied by NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton and Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks announced the implementation of 'Project Fast Track:' a judicial reform process whereby persons charged with gun possession or use, regardless of the borough in which they are arrested, will be assigned to a appear before a single, expeditious court entity to be located in Brooklyn. (Photo by Albin Lohr-Jones/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

By Hertencia Peterson (aunt of Akai Gurley) and Nicholas Heyward Sr. (father of Nicholas Heyward Jr.)

We know there is nothing worse than losing a loved one. Thus, we can empathize with the family of Ken Thompson, who passed away last month, days after stepping down from the office of Brooklyn District Attorney. However, justice, from our vantage point, was denied to our families through the actions and inactions of Mr. Thompson. This past weekend marked two years since the police killing of Akai Gurley, a case where Mr. Thompson brought Akai's family tremendous pain. The posthumous recasting of Thompson as a "civil rights leader" and "reformer" perpetuate a false legacy that erases the pain of several families.

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Akai Gurley and Nicholas Heyward Jr. were two innocent lives stolen from us by New York city police officers. Their deaths are forever linked together as our families have marched side by side demanding that black lives matter. Little Nicholas, only 13 years old at the time, was shot to death in the staircases of Brooklyn's Gowanus Houses by a housing cop, Brian George, in 1994. In a horrific and avoidable echo of his death, Akai was similarly killed by a rookie officer, Peter Liang, patrolling the Pink Houses stairs in 2014 -- almost exactly 20 years later.

Liang, like George, is free today. Mr. Thompson's recommendation that Liang, unlike others convicted of manslaughter, not be sentenced to any jail time was not only a betrayal of Akai's family, it was a slap in the face to communities of color who live at risk of being killed by police -- and who want real accountability. Mr. Thompson caved in to the police after a jury - surprisingly, statistically - convicted Liang.

With Nicholas Jr.'s case, Mr. Thompson's politicking was no less painful. In 2013, while campaigning to become Brooklyn DA, then-candidate Mr. Thompson stopped by the annual Nicholas Heyward Jr. Day of Remembrance in the Gowanus Houses to promise Nicholas' family that he'd re-open the case once elected. For over a year, we heard nothing. Instead we had to rally and demand Mr. Thompson fulfill his promise. We heard whispers that Thompson never fully intended to seriously investigate what happened or actually charge George with Nicholas Jr.'s' murder. Earlier this month, new acting DA Eric Gonzalez, who took over after Thompson, told Nicholas' family that the re-investigation was to be closed.

Thompson's office came to the same conclusion with that of the prior administration: little Nicholas' death was justified.

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The cruel irony of Mr. Thompson's legacy is that the Brooklyn DA's Office, under his watch, regularly sought more jail time for low-level, nonviolent offenders than it did of a cop who killed an unarmed black man. Under Thompson, the Brooklyn DA's office continued to implement Bloomberg-era Operation Spotlight, a policy reminiscent of three-strikes rules, by regularly demanding maximum jail time for "persistent" misdemeanants convicted of nonviolent offenses like shoplifting, traffic violations, and jumping subway turnstiles. It was not uncommon for Mr. Thompson's office to seek one year imprisonment for fare-beating, an offense overwhelmingly enforced in communities of color.

Thompson the reformer? Among Mr. Thompson's "reforms" was the highly touted announcement that his office would no longer prosecute possession of small amounts of marijuana. In the fine print, however, the DA abstained only from charging individuals without criminal records. In an overly criminalized city, this loophole meant than in Brooklyn, like other boroughs, prosecutors still aggressively pursued charges and sentences against people of color for minor offenses like marijuana possession. His warrant cleansing program, Begin Again, was nearly identical to Safe Surrender, a similar program begun under his corrupt predecessor, Charles Hynes.

There were examples of Mr. Thompson's unbalanced prosecutorial style: seeking (and receiving) a max sentence for Marcell Dockery, only 16 years old at the time, who was charged with murder for allegedly lighting a mattress on fire; declining to prosecute Will Groomes, a retired corrections officer who shot and killed an unarmed man in a busy Brooklyn subway station.
Marketers are working hard to convince you to buy their products in the home stretch of this Holiday shopping season. While working hard is important, working smart is more effective. To work smart, marketers need to better understand how to create more effective marketing content. Those that dive more deeply into what creates better content discover that they have been operating under some serious misconceptions.

Short sells better than long = a misconception

One of the most common misconceptions is that people will not pay attention to ads or communications that have more than a minimal amount of ad copy. When asked, marketers (and the buying public) overwhelmingly believe that short copy sells better than long. Measured results tell a different story.

Why so many believe short copy sells better

The reasons most commonly given to support the notion that short copy sells better include people...

Do not like to read. Have short attention spans. Are in the habit of reading short messages in texts. Are too distracted with multiple media channels. Have their noses buried in mobile devices.

While these reasons are often true, the conclusion that short copy sells better is not.

Everything is relative

Good marketers know that only members of the target audience can decide what is "too long" and what is "too short." When I saw the movie Titanic, it was over 3 hours long. I thought it was too long. Teenage girls thought it was too short and watched the movie over and over again. Leonardo DiCaprio was not on the screen enough for them.

If people are really interested in something, they want more. If they are not interested, they want less. You cannot have too much of a good thing, but any amount of a bad thing is too much.

One of my favorite T-shirt's of all time has a picture of Albert Einstein on it with a headline that reads, "Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. Sit on a hot stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. That's relativity."

Less can be more since we are busy or lazy

Of course, if the content creator can get the essential information into the consumer's head with less copy, that is usually a good thing because it saves the consumer's time - a clear benefit since most of us are either busy or lazy.

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However, it is nearly impossible to pick out who in the target audience wants more and who wants less. What is a good marketer to do? The answer is format the information into "bite-sized" pieces using sub-headlines and graphic elements.

For those who want less, they can read the headline, look at the photo, perhaps read the subheads and then skip to where they can buy it. For those who want more, the longer body text can provide that too.

Yes, less can be more, but the way marketers should look at this is well-written long copy is usually a far more concise version of text that would otherwise be a lot longer.

Most importantly, good marketers format it in a way to allow "busy or lazy" consumers to pick out the main benefits without reading, viewing, or listening to the entire content.

What marketing legends say

In his book Ogilvy on Advertising, David Ogilvy says...

"All my experience says that for a great many products, long copy sells more than short ... advertisements with long copy convey the impression that you have something important to say, whether people read the copy or not."

Dr. Charles Edwards, former dean of the Graduate School of Retailing at New York University is quoted as saying...

"The more facts you tell, the more you sell. An advertisement's chance for success invariably increases as the number of pertinent merchandise facts included in the advertisement increases."

In his book, "Tested Advertising Methods," John Caples says...

"Advertisers who can trace the direct sales results from their ads use long copy because it pulls better than short copy... Brief, reminder-style copy consisting of a few words or a slogan does not pull inquiries as well as long copy packed with facts and reader benefits about your product or service."

There are many more quotes from many more experts, but in deference to my previous post on the power of three, I will stop here.

More recent proof from the fast-paced online world

I know what some of you are thinking. The people I quoted above are "old guys" who are long gone. What they said is no longer relevant in our fast-paced, distracted, short-attention-span world.

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While those "in the know" understand that the wisdom of these "old guys" is more powerful today than ever, I need to address this objection head on. The fact is that data shows that long copy typically sells better than short copy online too. Marketing Experiments did a series of tests for clients to show the effect of copy length on Website conversion rates. In their tests, the long copy outperformed the short copy by wide margins.

Need more proof? On the Conversion Rate Experts Web site, they share how they were able to boost Crazy Egg's conversion rate by 363%. Can you guess how they did it? They made the home page 20 times longer!

Why longer copy typically outsells shorter copy

Even though it is counter-intuitive, why does longer copy typically outsell shorter copy? While the list of reasons could be very long, I will limit them to

. Longer copy enables the advertiser to...Provide more benefits, which in turn, shows more people how the product or company can help them.

Show the product or company is more important since it has more capabilities. Answer more questions and generate more sales since selling involves answering objections. Target the customer better so those who respond are more likely to buy. Give those who want more information the information they need so they will be more comfortable buying your product or doing business with your company. Give those who are "busy or lazy" and don't want to read a lot the ability to skim the important points without requiring them to read, listen to, or watch it all. This requires good formatting. Provide more keyword-rich copy to boost organic search engine results.
The lack of an aggressive U.S. response to China's stealing of an American underwater drone has caused hand-wringing among the many U.S. allies in East Asia. The drone was swiped from right under the nose of an unarmed U.S. Navy research vessel that was gathering underwater information which would be useful in monitoring Chinese submarines. That research vessel was not only in international waters but even outside the nine-dashed line--the ridiculously expansive area claimed by China in the South China Sea. China came up with the cockamamie story that it snatched the drone to ensure marine safety, but many analysts think it may have done so to protest the actions of President-elect Donald Trump--his questioning of the well-established "one-China" policy and his fielding of a call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, which also seemed to undermine that policy. After China's seeming protest, it has agreed to give back the drone. Despite this being a minor incident, American allies in the East Asian region are questioning "U.S. resolve," because the United States did not display its dominant fleet to do retaliatory muscle-flexing in the area.

Yet the United States should not rise to the bait. Such taunts of U.S. weakness by American allies around the world frequently have been used to get the United States to spend more effort and resources on the defense of what are now very rich nations. U.S. alliances around the world are outdated vestiges of the Cold War, merely impeding U.S. flexibility and continuing the potential to drag the nation into a needless war with nuclear-armed powers, such as Russia or China. Thus, although Donald Trump, during his campaign, horrified the U.S. foreign policy establishment, he was quite right to question such obsolete obligations for the United States to provide the expensive first line of defense for countries that should be banding together to do so against these great powers. Instead, the United States should follow the very successful model it used in World War II: America formed ad hoc alliances to intervene as a "balancer-of-last resort" only when the balance of power in Europe or East Asia got out of whack.

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In the seas near China, the United States has stated that it is neutral in the territorial disputes between China and other nations; in reality, it sides with allies such as Japan and the Philippines. Under the guise of "ensuring international navigation," it sends its Navy to police waters in which it has no vital interest. If China, or any other nation, starts illegally interdicting U.S. commerce through those waters, only then should the U.S. Navy escort such vessels. However, because international trade is very important to the Chines economy, China would probably have no incentive to mess with U.S. commerce in the area.
The election of Donald Trump has revealed more about the United States than most would care to admit.

Sure, there's the obvious. It demonstrated the prevalence and acceptance of racism, misogyny, ableism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and bullying from sea to shining sea. But slightly less obvious, it exposed how comfortable White Liberals have been with various oppressive state mechanisms and apparatuses, so long as each remained unstated, masked by the right type of rhetoric, or carried out by the right politicians.

It's clear that a lot of white liberals think the policies of the coming Trump Regime denote a radical departure from the past. An entirely new and abhorrent brand of politics and governance. There's some truth to that. But really, and perhaps inadvertently given his brash and tactless nature, Trump has brought some of the darker aspects of U.S. policy and culture into the open more so than introduced any of them.

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His most offensive policy proposals -- the wall, banning Muslims from entering the country, a Muslim registry and additional surveillance on mosques -- weren't only some of his most popular, they all already exist to some degree. And many were crafted or nurtured under the watchful eye of Democrats, the preferred political party of White Liberals.

Go to the U.S./Mexico border and tell me if you don't find a wall, or a security fence, or men with guns, or a desert badland so vast that attempting to cross it would mean risking your life. Have a look at the history of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Google "NSEERS," or check out The Intercept's extensive reporting on various terrorist watchlists and tell me Trump's ban on Muslims entering the country or his Muslim registry are disconnected from policies past. Look to New York City's history of surveillance on mosques and "anywhere that Muslims congregated" and then tell me how Trump's plan to surveil certain mosques is new.

The story is the same for a lot of his various nominations and appointments. The interests of Big Oil have long been a principal driver of U.S. foreign policy, Trump nominating the CEO of ExxonMobil for Secretary of State simply makes it plain. Nominating Jeff Sessions for Attorney General -- a post that would put a man previously denied a federal judgeship for his racist behavior in charge of enforcing federal civil rights laws -- isn't a new assault on civil rights, it's the culmination of decades of efforts by the Right. And Trump's appointment of David Friedman as the U.S. ambassador to Israel doesn't denote a shift in U.S. support for Israeli settlements or de facto apartheid, it merely signifies an official seal of approval.

Things that were once covert haven't changed so much with Trump as they've dropped the "c".

Now, none of this is to say that the coming Trump Regime isn't dangerous, because it certainly is. It's also not to say that Trump's mixture of populist, demagogic, and authoritarian politics aren't distinct and worthy of alarm. It is to say that the alarm bells have been ringing for a while now, that his rise is the logical consequence of a course set long ago, one that's been met with little serious dissent. The sudden widespread panic of white liberals -- as though Trump appeared in a vacuum -- exposes just how accepting and ignorant they've been of certain levels of oppression, suffering, and violence carried out/supported/ignored by the State, so long as each remained implicit or were done under the watch of a particular political party.

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Trump's brash and tactless style puts the brutishness of the state on display for exactly what it is. So my call to white Liberals is this. See Donald Trump as he exists in historic context. Not as the cause of the atrocious policies, cultural tendencies, fear mongering, and oppression he's made so apparent; but as the outcome of an uninterrupted chain of atrocious policies, cultural tendencies, fear mongering, and oppression -- often couched in euphemisms and technical/legal jargon--that went relatively unnoticed by White Liberals. So yes, scream now. Step out of your comfort zone to learn the true meaning of solidarity and fight like hell. But don't lose sight of the broader history at play. The lesson White Liberals should take from Trump's win isn't that he needs to be defeated, that goes without saying, it's that the fight doesn't start or stop with him. It's that the usual means of liberal political engagement haven't been effective. The lesson is that it's time to look Left to develop a serious analysis and critique of the various systems of oppression at play regardless of which ruling class political party is in power--as it's here they'll find the soiled roots that sprouted Trump and the best tactics to cull their growth. The lesson is that this an inter-generational struggle, one that needs to take place outside the realm of two party electoral politics. Pick a side, and ready the troops.
Since same-sex marriage was legalized in the U.S. in June 2015 by The Supreme Court of the United States, investment firms, banks and the media have done a disservice to the queer community. It's hard to find resources that talk about the financial nuances of the queer community and the importance of a financially strong queer community.

Understanding Queer Money

Many of us are experiencing new rights and privileges and we don't fully understand them and their affects on us. What are the consequences of getting married to someone with debt? How does getting married affect estate planning? How does Social Security affect the surviving partner of a same-sex marriage?

The answers to such questions are hard to find unless we pay fees, often exorbitant, to financial advisors, planners or attorneys, many of whom don't understand same-sex relationships.

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This is a problem for queer individuals, queer couples and the queer community. After same-sex marriage became legal across the U.S., the fight for queer equality has migrated to the state level and many discriminatory rules, regulations and precedence have yet to be updated.

Because the queer community has not yet achieved full equal rights and because laws for same-sex couples and parents from state to state are so disparate, we in the queer community must get our money in order. We must become financially strong individuals and couples so that we can be a financially strong community and continue our fight for equality that has not yet been won.

Queer Money Meets Elizabeth Schwartz

We're fighting the financial charge and one woman is fighting the legal charge. On this Queer Money, we talk with attorney Elizabeth Schwartz. Liz shares important information about how the queer community can button up our parental rights and protections, wills, estates and trusts, living wills and more.

Liz says, it's the responsibility of those of us who are privileged and live in parts of the country that have employment protections for queer equality and where we can hold our same-sex partner's hand to fight for those in the parts of the country where it's harder to be queer.

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Jesus was born into a police state not unlike the growing menace of the American police state.

But what if Jesus, the revered preacher, teacher, radical and prophet, had been born and raised 2,000 years later in the American police state?

Consider the following if you will.

The Christmas narrative of a baby born in a manger is a familiar one.

The Roman Empire had ordered that a census be conducted. Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary traveled to the little town of Bethlehem so that they could be counted. There being no room for the couple at any of the inns, they stayed in a stable, where Mary gave birth to a baby boy. That boy, Jesus, would grow up to undermine the political and religious establishment of his day and was eventually crucified as a warning to others not to challenge the powers-that-be.

However, had Jesus been born in the year 2016...

Rather than traveling to Bethlehem for a census, Jesus' parents would have been mailed a 28-page American Community Survey, a mandatory government questionnaire documenting their habits, household inhabitants, work schedule, etc.

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Instead of being born in a manger, Jesus might have been born at home. Rather than wise men and shepherds bringing gifts, however, the baby's parents might have been forced to ward off visits from state social workers intent on prosecuting them for the home birth. One couple in Washington had all three of their children removed after social services objected to the two youngest being birthed in an unassisted home delivery.

Had Jesus' parents been undocumented immigrants, they and the newborn baby might have been shuffled to a profit-driven, private prison for illegals where they would have been turned into cheap, forced laborers for corporations such as Starbucks, Microsoft, Walmart, and Victoria's Secret.

From the time he was old enough to attend school, Jesus would have been drilled in lessons of compliance and obedience to government authorities, while learning little about his own rights. Had he been daring enough to speak out against injustice while still in school, he might have found himself tasered or beaten by a school resource officer, or at the very least suspended under a school zero tolerance policy that punishes minor infractions as harshly as more serious offenses.

Had Jesus disappeared for a few hours let alone days as a 12-year-old, his parents would have been handcuffed, arrested and jailed for parental negligence. Parents across the country have been arrested for far less "offenses" such as allowing their children to walk to the park unaccompanied and play in their front yard alone.

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Rather than disappearing from the history books from his early teenaged years to adulthood, Jesus' movements and personal data--including his biometrics--would have been documented, tracked, monitored and filed by governmental agencies and corporations.

From the moment Jesus made contact with an "extremist" such as John the Baptist, he would have been flagged for surveillance because of his association with a prominent activist, peaceful or otherwise. Since 9/11, the FBI has actively carried out surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations on a broad range of activist groups.

Jesus' anti-government views would certainly have resulted in him being labeled a domestic extremist. Law enforcement agencies are being trained to recognize signs of anti-government extremism during interactions with potential extremists who share a "belief in the approaching collapse of government and the economy."

While traveling from community to community, Jesus might have been reported to government officials as "suspicious" under the Department of Homeland Security's "See Something, Say Something" programs. Many states, including New York, are providing individuals with phone apps that allow them to take photos of suspicious activity and report them to their state Intelligence Center, where they are reviewed and forwarded to law-enforcement agencies.

Rather than being permitted to live as an itinerant preacher, Jesus might have found himself threatened with arrest for daring to live off the grid or sleeping outside. In fact, the number of cities that have resorted to criminalizing homelessness by enacting bans on camping, sleeping in vehicles, loitering and begging in public has doubled.

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Viewed by the government as a dissident and potential threat to its power, Jesus might have had government spies planted among his followers to monitor his activities, report on his movements, and entrap him into breaking the law. Such Judases today--called informants--often receive hefty paychecks from the government for their treachery.

Had Jesus used the internet to spread his radical message of peace and love, he might have found his blog posts infiltrated by government spies attempting to undermine his integrity, discredit him or plant incriminating information online about him. At the very least, he would have had his website hacked and his email monitored.

Had Jesus attempted to feed large crowds of people, he would have been threatened with arrest for violating various ordinances prohibiting the distribution of food without a permit. Florida officials arrested a 90-year-old man for feeding the homeless on a public beach.

Had Jesus spoken publicly about his 40 days in the desert and his conversations with the devil, he might have been labeled mentally ill and detained in a psych ward with no access to family or friends.

Without a doubt, had Jesus attempted to overturn tables in a Jewish temple and rage against the materialism of religious institutions, he would have been charged with a hate crime. Currently, 45 states and the federal government have hate crime laws on the books.

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Rather than having armed guards capture Jesus in a public place, government officials would have ordered that a SWAT team carry out a raid on Jesus and his followers, complete with flash-bang grenades and military equipment. There are upwards of 80,000 such SWAT team raids carried out every year.

Charged with treason and labeled a domestic terrorist, Jesus might have been sentenced to a life-term in a private prison where he would have been forced to provide slave labor for corporations or put to death by way of the electric chair or a lethal mixture of drugs.
The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent terrorist attack on Christian worshippers which took place in St. Peter and St. Pauls Church, adjacent to St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, killing at least 25 people, mostly women and children, and injuring dozens more.

Three men and a woman have been arrested in connection with the attack at the chapel adjacent to Cairos St Marks Cathedral, the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility.

In a statement, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said that the terrorism facing Egypt targets the whole nation  Muslims and Christians  and that Egypt will not be shaken by it.

The Grand Mufti, the highest official of religious law in Egypt, condemned the "deplorable terrorist attack" on the cathedral. "Attacking churches whether by demolition, bombing, killing those inside, or terrifying... people are prohibited in Islamic Sharia," said Sheikh Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam. He called for unity against "black terrorism that tries to instigate sectarianism and sedition among the two wings of Egypt - Muslims and Christians - in a bid to weaken the nation."

The bombing of St. Mark's is one of the deadliest carried out against the Egyptian Christians in recent memory, who account for about 10 per cent of Egypt's 92 million people. Islamic militants have targeted Christians in the past, including a New Years Day bombing at a church in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria in 2011 that killed at least 21 people.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made clear, in a phone call to Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, the United States will continue to stand with the people of Egypt as they face threats from terrorist organizations and work to achieve a stable, secure, and prosperous future.
At the launch of MAPLE earlier this week - the Massachusetts Personalized Learning Edtech Consortium - a public/private partnership between the LearnLaunch Institute and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to accelerate the adoption of personalized learning - noted Education guru Michael Horn said something I found revolutionary. Horn said that our industry treats "personalized learning" as a noun, and that - in reality - it should be seen as a verb.

Brilliant.

A noun is complete, static, a box to be checked. A verb is active, responsive, a dynamic effort that evolves over time.

I've written before that kids don't learn in a quarter - something that sets up a conflict between data-driven investors and entrepreneurs, and the market they serve. How can you prove the efficacy (and the ROI investors need) of a product, when its users don't order, buy, use, or benefit from it in a predictable way? MAPLE is an effort to get past inherent friction, and help Massachusetts school districts learn from one another - with the ultimate goal of personalizing the learning for students across the Commonwealth.

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This week's launch, held at Natick High School (itself a model of innovation and reinvention), brought together schools and decision makers from suburban and urban districts. The interest and excitement was palpable; you could almost feel change on the horizon.

Eileen Rudden, Chair of the LearnLaunch Institute, explained in a press release what makes LearnLaunch the ideal partner to ensure this initiative's success: "MAPLE will enable districts to learn from each other, as well as from our strong community of education researchers and education entrepreneurs, providing resources that strengthen local models, and supporting the broader adoption of promising innovations in teaching and learning." That's LearnLaunch's bread and butter, stock-in-trade.

And that's where Michael Horn's observation strikes home. When educators view personalized learning as a noun - a box to be checked when conditions are met - the goal has been achieved. But, when seen as verb, that goal to personalize learning is as dynamic as education itself, and as unique as the student population being served.

Massachusetts may lead the nation in education outcomes today, but you don't stay in the lead by standing still. MAPLE is one of the state's initiatives to ensure that it remains at the country's forefront when it comes to education innovation.

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Neighboring states will ride these coattails - I saw a few nametags from Rhode Island, for example.

As educators and administrators in Massachusetts learn from each other - as district leaders like Natick strengthen district learners like Somerville (to pick the districts highlighted in the press release) - students across the Bay State are the ones that will benefit. As innovations in learning and teaching reach a broader market of schools and students from all demographics and incomes, the entrepreneurs that create them and the investors that fund them will also benefit.

Too often those of us in EdTech latch onto a phrase or acronym that appears ceaselessly in our presentations and writing: MOOCs, ESSA, No Child Left Behind, etc. Change in education requires a shift in thinking and approach, not a buzzword or turn of phrase. What Michael Horn taught us - and what MAPLE brings to life - is that the answers could be right in front of us, but they're just mis-defined.

As a noun, personalized learning may not be the "holy grail" of education, after all.

Josef Blumenfeld is the founder of EdTech180, a PR and communications consultancy with expertise in serving the EdTech industry. EdTech180 has a global client mix, currently representing EdTech companies in the U.S., Ireland, Jordan, and Israel. For more information, please see www.EdTech180.com or follow @EdTech180 on Twitter.
Philippine President Duterte with Chinese President Xi, Great Hall of the People, Beijing China October 20, 2016On December 17, 20016 Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte threatened to unilaterally abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the United States and the Philippines; announcing that the US should "Prepare to leave the Philippines. Prepare for the eventual repeal or abrogation of the VFA." Signed in 1998, the VFA accorded legal status to thousands of U.S. troops who are rotated into the country for military exercises and humanitarian assistance operations.

In a later speech that day, Duterte also announced that he was reviewing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the US and the Philippines and that he would make a decision shortly on whether he would also abrogate that treatment; adding "Start packing your things and get out of my country," "You want to come back here? You pay us. You want bases here? Pay us." The EDCA covers five military bases which the US currently has in the Philippines.

Since becoming president in June 2016, Duterte has quickly gained a reputation for flamboyant and controversial policies as well as an acerbic and militant style. His militant, anti-American stance, however, is hardly a surprise. Duterte grew up a strident leftwing activist and Philippine nationalist. He has long-standing ties to the Philippine Communist Party and was involved with a variety of groups that agitated for the closure of the Subic and Clark bases in the early 1990s. Duterte's reflexive anti-Americanism brought him to the attention of U.S. consular officials in 2002 and led him to be placed on a list of Philippine citizens ineligible for U.S. visas.

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Duterte had announced, upon being elected, that he intended to pursue an "independent foreign policy". On September 12, he declared he was "not a fan of the Americans" and that he wanted to "reorient" foreign policy with the U.S. On September 27, he added that he wanted to pursue "new alliances with Russia and China."

Since, October, however, in response to Obama administration criticisms of the extrajudicial killings of approximately 1,500 suspected drug dealers, Duterte has gone out of his way to distance himself from the United States. He has been sharply critical of the Obama administration. His torrents of expletive laden criticisms of the American president prompting the White House to abruptly cancel a planned meeting between Obama and Duterte during the Hangzhou G20 conference in September. The two men later met informally.

Addressing a group of 200 Philippine and Chinese businessmen at the Great Hall of the People, on October 20, he dramatically announced that, "America had lost" and that "China had won" and the "separation" of the Philippines from the United States.

At the meeting, which was also attended by Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, Duterte announced that he had "realigned myself in your ideological flow," and threatened to seek closer ties with Russia and, "tell him [Vladimir Putin] that there are three of us against the world." He also announced that the two countries would engage in bilateral negotiations in their dispute over ownership of the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

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The announcement highlighted a dramatic trip by Duterte to China, during which Beijing pulled out all the stops to welcome the Philippine president with the sort of pomp and ceremony typically reserved for a major power. Per Ramon Lopez, the Philippines's Trade Secretary, some $15 billion, later raised to $24 billion, in trade and investment deals were signed as a result of the visit.

The announcement marked the beginning of a dramatic and public reversal in Manila's historic foreign policy alignment and represented a stunning setback in Washington's efforts to build a regional coalition backstopped by American military power to contain Chinese expansionism in the South and East China Seas.

The next day, Trade Minister Ramon Lopez tried to walk back some of Duterte's comments, emphasizing that the Philippines would maintain their trade and economic ties with the United States and the West.

On October 26, Duterte, while on a trip to Japan, announced that he wanted all U.S. troops out of the Philippines within two years and that he was prepared to "revise or abrogate agreements" to do so.

Once again, a Philippine government official, this time Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, was quick to walk back Duterte's incendiary comments, stating that Duterte did not mean to imply that U.S. troops would be expelled and that American and Philippine "national interests still continue to converge."

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Duterte later pushed back his deadline for a U.S. military withdrawal to 2022, and announced that joint American-Philippine military exercises would end after 2017. He also announced an end to joint naval patrols in the South China Sea. Significantly, however, Duterte has made no mention of ending the 65-year-long mutual defense treaty with the U.S.

Demonstrators at the Philippine Consulate in New York City protest against the extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers in the Philippines. October 11, 2016

Both China and the U.S. are key trade partners for the Philippines. China was the Philippines' second largest trading partner in 2015, with bilateral trade worth $17.7 billion. The total value of U.S. trade with the Philippines was around $16.5 billion, placing it behind both China and Japan; the latter was the Philippine's largest trade partner with bilateral trade worth $18.7 billion. The U.S. is, however, the Philippines' largest foreign investor.

It's unclear at this point whether Duterte's new political realignment with China represents a bargaining stance with the U.S. or the beginning of a new, tectonic realignment in the international relations of Southeast Asia. What is clear, however, is that, so far, his new policies are deeply unpopular among the Philippine political and economic elite, although his personal popularity remains high.

Beijing has made political and military control of the South and East China Seas a key goal of its regional foreign policy. Chinese militarization of the islands it has been building and expanding in the region has raised alarms among its neighbors, causing historic enemies like Vietnam and the United States and Japan and the Philippines to forge closer military ties and expand military cooperation. In June, the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China's seizure of the Philippines' Scarborough Shoal had violated Manila's sovereignty.

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Duterte's pivot to China may be an attempt to mitigate the consequences of that ruling, one that Beijing found deeply embarrassing and that it has declared it will ignore, on the Philippines' China trade. Following Duterte's visit, Beijing announced that Philippine fisherman could return to the Scarborough Shoals and that the Philippine Coast Guard would resume patrols there. The agreement, described as an "oral understanding," left untouched the more contentious issue of sovereignty.

Beijing's strategy also underscores the effectiveness of China's hard and soft diplomacy, the willingness to act unilaterally in seizing and fortifying disputed islands and shoals in the region, and using its growing military strength to intimidate its neighbors, while at the same time also proffering its soft diplomacy of investment and access to China's huge internal markets.

Duterte's visit to China was quickly followed by a similar visit by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. On November 1, Razak announced that the two countries had signed bilateral trade and investment deals worth $34.25 billion dollars. Malaysia also agreed to buy four littoral mission ships from the Chinese. Significantly, Razak also announced that Malaysia would engage in bilateral negotiations with China over disputed areas of the South China Sea.

Razak's relations with the Obama administration have been strained ever since the U.S. Justice Department opened an investigation into the use of American banks to launder as much as a billion dollars that, Washington believes, was looted from a Malaysian State Development fund by his associates and family members.

While the Obama Administration's criticisms of Duterte and Razak are partially responsible for their apparent overtures to China, it also underlines the relative failure of the Obama administration's much vaunted "pivot" to Asia. Although there has been an expansion in bilateral military cooperation with several countries in the region, the centerpiece of that policy, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the proposed free trade area in the Asia-Pacific region, appears to be stillborn given President-elect Donald Trump's opposition to it.

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China's interest in the South China Sea has been driven by a fundamental and far-reaching change in China's economy. Historically, China has been largely self-sufficient. When direct European trade with China began in earnest in the 16th century, European merchants found there was little that they could interest the Chinese in buying. Furs were a highly profitable commodity, but the trade in furs was relatively miniscule when compared with the boatloads of tea, silk and porcelain that China dispatched to Europe.

Phillipine President Duterte with Russian President Putin, APEC Summit, Lima Peru, November 19, 2016

For much of the 16th through the early 19th centuries, a river of silver flowed from Europe and the Americas to China where it was exchanged for Chinese goods. It wasn't until British merchants in India discovered that opium produced in the Indian highlands could be very profitably sold in vast quantities in China that the lopsided balance of trade with China began to reverse. In the process, they created the first international drug cartel; one that also benefitted by being defended by the Royal Navy, then the world's most powerful.

Today, however, the Chinese economy is heavily dependent on its external trade, both for markets for its manufactured goods and for essential raw materials. Far from being self-sufficient, Chinese industry today imports vast quantities of raw materials and foodstuffs. It is the world's largest user of such critical materials, among others, as iron, copper, lead and zinc.

The vast majority of China's commodity imports travel by sea, as do virtually all its exports. Sea power, which historically has not figured prominently in Chinese history, is thus assuming a far more significant role in China's strategic thinking.

As China's economy has grown and has, in turn, become ever more dependent on the export of its production and the import of the critical raw materials and foodstuffs needed to run it, China's perceived need to secure and control its maritime approaches has become stronger.

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Currently China's defensive doctrine identifies two key geostrategic boundaries: the "first-island-chain" and the "second-island-chain." The first-island-chain encompasses a vast area centered around the South and East China Sea. It begins off the coast of Indochina, curves around Borneo and the western coast of the Philippines, and extends north along the eastern coast of Taiwan, all the way to the southern coast of Japan.

From a naval standpoint, Chinese strategists see this region as "China's backyard." Moreover, it is characterized by a series of "choke points" where hostile naval forces could interdict or blockade Chinese shipping and cripple China's economy. Some $6.5 trillion in goods pass though this region yearly.

Beijing claims that its assertion of a strategic interest in the geographic zone comprised of the "first-island-chain" is no different than America's declaration of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823. Regardless of the rationale, China's aims, to be successful, would require every one of its neighbors along the South and East China Seas to significantly compromise their claims in the region. It would also force a de facto withdrawal by the U.S. Navy from the East Asian littoral. It's unlikely that the U.S.'s bilateral defense treaties with those countries would survive such a pullback.

Even more problematic is Beijing's delineation of the "second-island-chain." This zone encompasses the Philippines and Japan and extends eastward to Palau, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Significantly in 2015, the PLA Air Force began flights by Chinese H-6K long-range bombers over the Western Pacific, extending to a point about 600 miles west of Guam.

Competing territorial claims in the South China Sea

China's ambitions to dominate the sea-air space as far as the "second-island-chain" may be either wishful thinking or little more than posturing. On the other hand, China's ambitious naval construction program suggests that the strategy is more than empty rhetoric. For the U.S. to be effectively excluded from this second zone would represent a collapse of American naval power in the Western Pacific not seen since the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

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Chinese strategists have also, of late, been raising the prospect of a "third-island chain"-one that extends as far west as the Hawaiian Islands, and would include the Aleutians as well as Micronesia, and extend all the way to New Zealand.

Ironically, the strategic origin of the "island-chain" concept was American. In 1951, John Foster Dulles suggested the construction of three successive island chains as a containment strategy to surround the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China. Washington never adopted the strategy, but Beijing has incorporated it into its own strategic thinking, both as a critical element of China's own defense and as a strategy for containing American naval power in the Pacific.

This is not an outcome that Washington will accept. Even the "first-island-chain" would represent nothing less than a complete reorientation of the strategic balance of power is East Asia. What is clear is that the tension in the South China Sea is unlikely to dissipate any time soon and that the consequences of China's ambition's in the area will reverberate politically, economically and diplomatically, well into the future.

Duterte's dramatic announcement may be nothing more than empty rhetoric on the part of a controversial and flamboyant Philippine leader. Likewise, Razak's coziness with Beijing is more likely to be a tactical ploy than a strategic realignment. Claims that the "dominoes" in Southeast Asia have started to fall into China's lap are premature and not yet supported by the facts. Then again, with the benefit of hindsight, these developments could turn out to be the first steps in Beijing's ambition to restore China's historic hegemonic role in Southeast Asia.
In the wake of the news that fake news might have played a role in swinging the presidential election, an interesting study about media literacy emerged in Silicon Valley. Surveying close to 8,000 students--from middle school age through college--a team of researchers at Stanford University concluded that most young people (82% of the sample) can't tell the difference between real news and fake.

The story was striking in several ways. First, it was interesting that it came out of Stanford, the intellectual hothouse for the Valley, which is home to Google, Facebook, and other tech companies which ultimately accepted responsibility for the distribution of fake news. Second, we shouldn't be surprised if we soon see a study on media literacy among older adults with similarly alarming results. After all, fake news sites collectively outperformed 19 mainstream news sites--including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and, yes, this publication,The Huffington Post--in the final weeks of the election cycle. Not all readers of fake news are kids.

All this is interesting. But, for me--a marketer who has been watching and participating in the digital transformation of media for close to two decades--the most interesting thing about the Stanford study is the message it sends to the marketing industry. In the age of big content, where ordinary citizens have more power than ever to create their own media, ordinary citizens have more responsibility to tell the difference between fake and real, and between right and wrong. Media literacy is everyone's responsibility. It's the price we pay to live in the new digital economy, where every company--and every citizen--can act like a media company.

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A teachable moment

Marketing professionals, of course, are among those citizens. But, as the biggest creators of content today, we have an even greater responsibility. I suspect that many of us have understood this for a very long time. But sometimes it takes a crisis to get people to change. From where I sit, the fake news crisis is an opportunity: a teachable moment for all marketers who might have lost their way.

What can we learn? First, we can learn to be more responsible to our clients. On a tactical level, we can help them understand the tech tools that are emerging to prevent brands from trafficking on fake news sites. While these sites might be able to generate many page views and clicks--metrics that, by the way, tell you little about whether there is true engagement--they will almost certainly harm brands by mere association. At my own company--a video advertising platform--we help to ensure that campaigns are optimized for premium media placements. On a strategic level, we're educating agencies on how to prepare and respond to the damage that can be done by fake news that targets a brand. As Richard Edelman observed in a recent blog post, brands like Pepsi have been among the many entities harmed by fake newsmakers.

Second, we can be more responsible to readers, who are among the greatest victims of the false stories, rumors, and smears that are perpetrated. It robs them of their power as citizens, and as consumers. As I noted at the top of this post, media literacy will be required to combat fake news because the reality today is that the individual will need to be smarter than ever. Marketers might help here by starting or supporting media literacy projects (which are already beginning to proliferate). But the responsibility does not stop there. Marketers in digital should explore and embrace the technologies that not only protect their customers but their customers' customers as well.

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Marketers behaving badly

Which brings me to my third point: how we, as marketers, can also be more responsible to ourselves. By that I mean the rules that both enliven us as professionals, and protect our reputations.

There was a time, not long ago, that many marketers could feel proud by aligning along the right side of history. The social media movement--foreshadowed in the late 1990s by the Cluetrain Manifesto--was a call to arms to marketers in the emerging digital world to begin treating customers with respect. Number one rule from the Cluetrain: "markets are conversations." The idea was that digital--because it was designed to be interactive--could liberate marketers from the one-sided conversations they were having with their customers before the Web was born.

This was a common view in 2006, when social media marketers first began to seriously assert themselves. But fast forward one short decade: what we are seeing today is not only a violation of the new digital rules, but the wanton use of one the more morally neutral properties of digital: virality, which cares less about conversation and more about sensation. It's not like the ethos of social media disappeared. It's more like it's been sidelined in a game with different rules.
This blog post is co-authored with Jean-Vincent Place, French Minister of State for State Reform and Simplification, attached to the Prime Minister.

More than 4,000 people gathered in Paris from 7-9th December for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit 2016 hosted by the Government of France. OGP is a unique partnership dedicated to making government decision making more open, inclusive and responsive. Summit attendees included representatives from 80 governments, many of them heads of state and senior ministers; leaders from cities, municipalities and regions; and leading civil society organizations from around the world.

The goal for the summit was to highlight the crucial role of open government as a countervailing force to the rise of various forms of nationalism and populism around the world. Although open government alone can't solve this and other global challenges such as extreme poverty, climate change and mass migration, these problems can't be solved without greater transparency and civic participation.

To that end, the summit yielded outcomes that can help reshape the future of open government and combat threats to democracy around the world.

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The Paris Declaration

The Paris Declaration launched at the summit generated more than 250 contributions from governments and civil society in OGP member countries grouped under three priorities: advancing progress on transparency and anti-corruption, accelerating action on sustainable development and climate change, and developing common digital tools and capacity. These contributions will not only advance the open government agenda, but will also serve as an inspiration for future commitments taken on by OGP members.

To address transparency and anti-corruption, the Philippines supported the collective action on transparency and participation in budgets and fiscal policies through the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP). This policy mandates that local governments post key budget and planning documents on the FDP portal and three other public sites. The portal enables the public to view, download and print financial documents so that citizens can understand how their local governments budget and spend on public services.

To address the objective of harnessing the data revolution for sustainable development and climate risk resilience, many contributions have been put forward. Partners will collaborate to advance the legal, regulatory and institutional mechanisms to enable the collection, management and reporting of data in order to better inform decision making. For example, the U.S. government, World Resources Institute and private sector partners jointly developed and recently launched the Partnership for Resilience and Preparedness (PREP), a platform to enhance access to climate risk data. By connecting PREP to OGP, members of the Partnership have committed to contribute their own climate risk data, making the PREP platform an even more valuable resource to improve policy responses to climate change.

To address civic tools, the French government developed an open government toolbox with the help of coders and reformers from 135 countries. At the OGP Toolbox website, governments, civil society organizations, cities and parliaments from all over the world can share and reuse digital tools using government information and data.

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Building New Leadership

These types of open government innovations provide fertile soil for the next five years, but they require revitalized leadership and stronger coalitions to sustain their momentum.



First, OGP needs to create a new set of political champions. While much has been accomplished in the first five years of OGP, governments find themselves in new circumstances, challenged by the rise of populism and movements against globalization or weakened by internal corruption scandals. A new group of reformers with a zeal for leading the next phase of open government reforms is beginning to emerge. Leadership from the government of Georgia, which will co-chair OGP next year, and strong commitments from newly elected governments in Argentina, Nigeria and Canada are encouraging examples.

The second source of future leadership comes from subnational governments. Mayors, local councilors and civil society groups are all engaging in OGP as a new constituency for reform. Local actors have the greatest potential to promote changes in peoples' lives by showing how increased access to information and greater accountability can be powerful levers of reform. Under Mayor Anne Hidalgo, the Paris city government is leading the way in participatory budgeting, with 500 million Euros earmarked in 2014-2020 for projects identified and prioritized by citizens.

OGP can also bring in new civil society constituencies. One example is the global community dedicated to action on climate change, which converged in Paris one year ago to sign the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change. Coalitions between government and civil society reformers who champion transparency and anti-corruption and advocates of climate action create a powerful new lever for the Partnership by showing how open data, transparency and participation in decision making are all vital elements in galvanizing national climate action. A major civil society meeting held in advance of the OGP summit showed the way by bringing together the climate, transparency and open data communities in identifying joint priorities for using open government to advance climate change.

Improving Human Wellbeing

The ultimate potential of open government lies in its ability to improve human wellbeing. Greater public participation in decision making, increased transparency in how public resources are used, and more public scrutiny over decision makers are all vital to deepening democracy in rich and poor countries alike. Without such changes, open government could remain a sterile dream, divorced from everyday existence and limited to experiments in open data and information. It is much more than this, offering an antidote to movements that seek to close down civic space and creating opportunities for people to more fully engage in the decisions that affect their lives.
With all that our country faces, I wanted to keep the focus on what, I feel, makes America Great. Valuing our Diversity. We still have much work to impact diversity retention in many technology companies made this blog feels timely.

Our nation and our workforce are both becoming more diverse. The share of people of color in the United States is increasing; more women are entering the labor force, and the LGBT community continues to make vital contributions to our economy while being increasingly open about who they are. To that end, businesses that embrace diversity has a more solid footing in the marketplace than others.

A diverse workforce combines workers from different backgrounds and experiences that together breed a more creative, innovative, and productive workforce. And businesses have learned that they can draw upon our nation's diversity to strengthen their bottom line. In this way, diversity is a key ingredient to growing a strong and inclusive economy that's built to last.

Let's look at the top economic benefits of workplace diversity.

1. A diverse workforce drives economic growth. Our nation's human capital substantially grows as more women, racial and ethnic minorities, and gay and transgender individuals enter the workforce. A McKinsey & Company study, for example, found that the increase in women's overall share of labor in the United States--women went from holding 37 percent of all jobs to 47 percent over the past 40 years--has accounted for about a quarter of current GDP.

2. A diverse workforce can capture a greater share of the consumer market. By bringing together individuals from different backgrounds and experiences, businesses can more effectively market to consumers from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, women, and consumers who are gay or transgender. It is no surprise, then, those studies show diversifying the workplace helps businesses increase their market share.

3. Recruiting from a diverse pool of candidates means a more qualified workforce. When companies recruit from a diverse set of potential employees, they are more likely to hire the best and the brightest in the labor market. In an increasingly competitive economy where talent is crucial to improving the bottom line, pooling from the largest and most diverse set of candidates is increasingly necessary to succeed in the market.

4. A diverse and inclusive workforce helps businesses avoid employee turnover costs. Businesses that fail to foster inclusive workplaces see higher turnover rates than businesses that value a diverse workforce because they foster a hostile work environment that forces employees to leave. The failure to retain qualified employees results in avoidable turnover-related costs at the expense of a company's profits. Having a diverse and discrimination-free work environment helps businesses avoid these costs.

5. Diversity fosters a more creative and innovative workforce. Bringing together workers with different qualifications, backgrounds, and experiences are all key to effective problem-solving on the job. Similarly, diversity breeds creativity and innovation. Of 321 large global enterprises--companies with at least $500 million in annual revenue--surveyed in a Forbes study in 2011, 85 percent agreed or strongly agreed that diversity is crucial to fostering innovation in the workplace.

6. Businesses need to adapt to our changing nation to be competitive in the economic market. Census data tell us that by 2050 there will be no racial or ethnic majority in our country. Further, between 2000 and 2050 new immigrants and their children will account for 83 percent of the growth in the working-age population. Our economy will grow and benefit from these changing demographics if businesses commit to meeting the needs of diverse communities as workers and consumers.

7. Diversity is a key aspect of entrepreneurialism. Our nation's entrepreneurs are a diverse set of people of color, women, gay, and transgender individuals. According to the Census Bureau, people of color own 22.1 percent of U.S. businesses. Moreover, women own 28.8 percent of U.S. businesses, and Latina-owned businesses, in particular, are the fastest-growing segment of the women-owned business market. According to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, gay or transgender individuals own approximately 1.4 million (or approximately 5 percent) of U.S. businesses.

8. Diversity in business ownership, particularly among women of color, is key to moving our economy forward. The diversity of our nation's business owners helps boost employment and grow our economy. For example, women of color own 1.9 million firms. These businesses generate $165 billion in revenue annually and employ 1.2 million people. Latina-owned businesses, in particular, have total receipts of $55.7 billion since 2002.

9. Diversity in the workplace is necessary to create a competitive economy in a globalized world. As communities continue to grow, it's important to harness the talent of all Americans. Businesses should continue to capitalize on the growth of women, people of color, and gay and transgender people in the labor force. Our increasing diversity is a great opportunity for the United States to become more competitive in the global economy by capitalizing on the unique talents and contributions that diverse communities bring to the table.

10. Diversity in the boardroom is needed to leverage a company's full potential. By 2050 there will be no racial or ethnic majority in the United States, and our nation's boardrooms need to represent these changing demographics. Currently, people of color and women only represent about 14.5 percent and 18 percent, respectively, of corporate boards among the senior management of Fortune 500 companies. Recruiting board directors with a breadth of expertise and varied experiences will make companies more proficient.
Mississippi, United States - January 2, 2016: Donald Trump speaking to the crowd at a campaign rally at the Mississippi Coliseum in Biloxi.

Redemption. The Silent Majority. Trump. If there has been one clear, repeatable pattern throughout American history, it is that any major instance of African American advancement has always been met with a massive white backlash. From Stephen A. Douglas to Donald Trump, in Middle America this reaction has been validated historically through a language of economic displacement, political voicelessness, and cultural marginalization -- a "war" on "real American" values.

The wake of the American Civil War, like the aftermath of all wars, saw the construction of numerous, often contradictory narratives about why the war began, and how and for what it was fought. Some underscored Southern victimhood and downplayed the role of slavery. Others focused on the centrality of emancipation or the righteousness of the Union cause. Each meta-story privileged some events and actors, and relegated others to the commemorative sideline. As David Blight and other scholars of collective memory have asserted, remembering is a selective act, and it always involves some degree of forgetting.

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By 1870 a "Lost Cause" mythology, one which inflated Confederate prowess and downplayed the role of slavery in the Civil War, was taking hold throughout the American South. In New England and the Middle Atlantic states, an Eastern version of the Civil War had emerged that emphasized Antietam, Gettysburg, and the paramountcy of the Army of the Potomac. Urban industrialists and Eastern financiers, meanwhile, by way of newfound political influence, increasingly used speculation, monopoly, and new systems of currency and credit to estrange Western farmers, forcing them to bear the brunt of capitalist development. And Reconstruction, in which recently liberated African Americans looked to secure basic citizenship and voting rights, was being violently pushed back in the South and vocally opposed in the Midwest.

Citizens in rural and small town Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois -- who typically referred to themselves not as "Southerners" or "Northerners," but as "Westerners" -- felt they were being hemmed in on all sides.

It was a familiar fear, and one that the region's Civil War veterans regularly pushed back against. Speaking at the Society of the Army of the Cumberland annual reunion in Indianapolis in the fall of 1870, for instance, General Charles Cruft of Terre Haute, Indiana, insisted that "The Grand Army of the West" was the preeminent fighting force of the late civil war. In similar reunions throughout the late nineteenth-century Midwest, the region's wartime military and political leaders recalled fondly how Westerners-turned-citizens possessed unique traits acquired from honest work and the purity of the Western land. Explaining that Western values were American values, southern Illinois General John A. Logan extolled "the loyal character" derived from "the valleys and prairies of the West -- from farms and workshops -- from the varied vocations of civil life." The implication was that, once again, the West was being overlooked, and Western soldiers were in danger of being written out of the story of the Civil War.

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This nineteenth-century cult of the Westerner -- of the white rural and small town citizens from Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois who identified neither with minorities, the exotic South, nor the urban East -- was hardly confined to veterans' culture. Again and again in social and political discourse, and in everyday life, landlocked elites repeated the dictum that Westerners were exceptional in their deeds, their customs, and their virtue -- and that they were being wronged by outsiders.

Swaths of the Civil War West had been relatively hostile to Abraham Lincoln's administration, particularly the Emancipation Proclamation, the enlistment of African American soldiers, and the wartime power accrued by Eastern capitalists. As such, Westerners were often -- and overwhelmingly unfairly -- suspected of disloyalty to the Union, owing to their conservative politics. In opposition to newly-empowered African Americans and both culturally alien Easterners and defeated but defiant Southerners -- groups they often defamed as secessionist "fire-eaters" in the South and abolitionist "fanatics" in the industrial North and the urbanizing Great Lakes -- Westerners crafted a victimhood narrative of the late war, rooted in animus toward cultural outsiders and the belief that now-neglected Western soldiers had won the war.

Fast forward nearly 150 years to the Fall of 2016.

We are now in the hangover of a presidential election in which Donald Trump's conception of "forgotten Americans" played a central role. Despite an above average median household income voter base during the Republican primary and a mythical claim to "working class" support during the general election, Trump, aided no doubt by the decision of modern Democrats to move sharply rightward on questions of political economy, claimed to speak for the so-called "forgotten" voters of what outsiders have disparagingly labeled "flyover country."

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It worked. Even Charles Cruft's home of Vigo County, Indiana, saw a swing from Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 to Trump in 2016, part of an overall reddening of Middle America.

This appeal to a felt cultural and economic marginalization mirrored a tried-and-true strategy in the American inland. The notion of an especially "real" but "overlooked" bloc in the American interior is an old one, with roots in Thomas Jefferson's agrarian ideal. It was commonplace during the Age of Jackson for white Midwesterners to "normalize" themselves to ward off perceived political and cultural encroachment -- African Americans from the South and "Yankees" from the North and East. They defined themselves as the American default: the "middle," the "border," and the "center," or often as regular "white people." This exclusionary logic continued through the Reconstruction, Populist, New Deal, and Movement Conservative eras, reinforcing the long civil rights opposition of localism and "states' rights" so implicit in Richard Nixon's "silent majority" and Ronald Reagan's "undeserving poor."

Now, although over two and a half million more Americans voted for his opponent, Hillary Clinton, some pundits have cited the decisive role of a "silent majority" in securing Donald Trump's victory (despite the facts that roughly 80% of all Americans live within an hour's drive of the coast). Then as now, the dog whistles and coded appeals to very limited groups of citizens are not subtle. Indeed, Cruft's Westerners and what Sarah Palin once termed "real America" -- "small towns" and "little pockets" of "pro-America" patriots -- have one obvious similarity: their racial uniformity. This "real American" exists in opposition to, well, the "other," ostensibly "not real" America of Barack Obama.

Creators of racist narratives -- even coded ones -- understand the power those narratives vest to those who consume them. Stories we tell about ourselves and about the past reflect and reinforce racial, gender, class, and regional hierarchies. Sometimes such narratives are conscious in the racial exclusivity. Other times, such narratives develop out of nothing more than white people simply pursuing what they perceive as their own best social and economic interests. The not-so-hidden white supremacy behind the suggestion of a more "authentic" or "deserving" American is a byproduct of both. Like its historical forebears, Trump's new "silent majority" is in large part a covert defense against the perceived loss of racial and cultural status -- a resistance in the Heartland that even Charles Cruft would understand.
Universal Basic Income is a beautiful, yet extremely dangerous idea. But done right, it just might save humanity

In recent weeks, there has been a spike in the debate around the idea of Universal Basic Income (UBI). UBI basically means that if you're alive you deserve to receive enough money to keep you above the poverty line and provide for all your basic needs. The money can come either from a government or some other public institution, but the reception of the money is not contingent upon anything other than being alive.

Elon Musk: "There is a pretty good chance we end up with a universal basic income." REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

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Through a program called the Economic Security Project (ESP), endorsed by such high profile figures as Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook, and Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor in the first Clinton administration, the idea is being touted as a possible solution to the challenge of joblessness in the burgeoning era of redundancy of human labor. They are not alone. Already, more than one hundred thinkers, scientists, university professors, and artists have signed the project's Belief Statement. Others, such as hi-tech mogul, Elon Musk, who said, "There is a pretty good chance we end up with a universal basic income due to automation," and acclaimed astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking, who declared, "Automation and AI are going to decimate middle class jobs," are also making known their recognition that the age of work as we know it will soon be over, for good.

The top one percentile and celebrities would naturally be troubled by the prospect of a future in which their safety is jeopardized by a frustrated, hopeless, and starved mob coming to take what they feel is theirs. But governments, too, are interested in experimenting with UBI, possibly as a means to avoid social unrest. Canada, for instance, is about to launch a pilot in Prince Edward Island province, and Fife Council in Scotland is currently considering a trial UBI scheme. Next year, the Netherlands will launch what The Atlantic dubbed as the "money-for-nothing experiment," which guarantees residents in Utrecht and surrounding cities "a flat sum of 960 per month."

I am all for allowing people to live in dignity. I think that society must provide every citizen and resident with food, clothing, security, housing, healthcare, and education. However, and this is a huge however, as I wrote nearly four years ago in my book, Like a Bundle of Reeds: Why unity and mutual guarantee are today's call of the hour, giving money to people unconditionally would be a disaster. If we want to see the end of humanity, let's give everyone free money. Human nature will take care of the rest, and it will not be pretty.

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There Is No Life without a Reason to Live

If governments come to a state where they must give people substantial amounts of money just for being alive, then their next plan will necessarily entail means to reduce the number of people who are alive in order to reduce expenses.

But free money is not only a burden on the government. A person without commitments becomes a menace. Without aspirations, hopes and dreams, people cannot enjoy anything. When we work for our pay, we earn not only the money, but also the desire for the money. We dream about what we will do with it, how much more of it we want, and what we should do to make more money. But if a person is given the same amount of money today, tomorrow, and forever, and if each paycheck does not require fulfilling any obligation, then we have made the future the same as today. Without desires, hopes and dreams, people lose their minds. There is no worse punishment than to satisfy a person's wish before he or she wishes for it.

Without knowing why they should get out of bed in the morning, or at noon, or in the evening, people will go nuts. They will become violent just so they can feel alive. This is psychology 101; you really don't need to be a psychoanalyst to see this. If anything robs people of their dignity, it is the denial of their ability to contribute. Any country or community that implements UBI but does not condition it on fulfilling commitments seals its doom. Over time, people will become violent and devoid of human emotions.

How to Use UBI to Our Benefit

If UBI is to succeed, it must be part of a bigger plan. The fact that AI is decimating jobs, as Hawking put it, is not negative in and of itself. On the contrary, it liberates us to pursue our goals as human beings instead of being subjugated to modern slavery and exploitation. Society has much to gain from people's freedom, provided they use it in a pro-social manner.

In other words, if UBI is given in return for people's engagement in activities that contribute to society, then there is every reason to keep paying them. If they engage in negative activities, their payments should be withheld. That said, society must help them learn how to contribute positively and not automatically expect people to understand what this means or how to carry it out.

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Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. Prince Edward Island province is about to launch a pilot in UBI. REUTERS/Chris Wattie

The one ingredient that all societies desperately need, especially in less affluent areas, is social cohesion and solidarity. Therefore, the first "job" that the benefactors from the UBI program will have will be to connect among themselves. The job will consist of meetings that include straightforward teaching about the science behind, and importance of connection and solidarity in the community, as well as workshops where students will practice what they have learned and improve their communication skills and emotional solidarity.

Not all of the funds should go directly to the people. Some of the resources should support creating a warm environment in the community. Children and adults alike should enjoy free classes in complementary courses such as music, arts, and sports. The friendlier atmosphere in the neighborhood will complement the residents' schooling, allowing them to create an environment that changes their mindsets from distrust and alienation to openness and mutual concern.

Over time, senior students at the connection courses will become teachers themselves, enabling them to make extra income and expand the impact of their transformation beyond the boundaries of their neighborhoods. As the positive effect of the transformation ripples across cities and communities, the economic benefits of the positive atmosphere will begin to manifest. With far less hostility, and with a general atmosphere of support, municipalities and states will spend much less on policing and social services. Due to people's higher spirits and sense of purpose, their health will improve and depression related illnesses will become nearly obsolete, saving billions of dollars to the country's struggling healthcare system. Additionally, substance abuse will decline dramatically, since people will have no need to escape from a hostile environment at home, at school, or at work. Hopelessness will transform into hopefulness as people learn new and meaningful ways to connect and communicate.

While UBI will be the initial incentive for change, its impact will be deep and far reaching. In response to last week's column, a reader asked me what measures would be in place to ensure that people do not manipulate the proposed system for their own gain and self-interest. We tend to overlook the impact of society on our views and actions. But if we think of the horrible toll that people who suffer from online shaming sometimes pay, we will grasp the power of society over us. Just so, a person who exploits a system that the entire society cherishes will suffer such reproof that he or she will think twice and thrice before attempting foul play again. Naturally, there will be exceptions and incidents; no system is failsafe. Nevertheless, with a prevailing ambience of mutual responsibility and care for one another, such events will be the exception, as opposed to the current state where they are the norm.
Not surprisingly given the results of the presidential election, the supposed war between religion and science has just heated up. The most important facet of the last sentence isn't the fact that there's a new battle in that "war" but rather that the war isn't a real one, even in a metaphorical sense. In other words, there's no meaningful struggle between religion and science going on and there never really has been.

I'll expand and explain after describing the latest, absurd initiative. A petition directed toward Vice President Elect Mike Pence has just been posted on the Web. That petition calls for the banning of the teaching of evolution nationally: "We object to the teaching of the very controversial theory of evolution as part of the K-12 science curriculum which we regard to be unnecessary and unhelpful. It is obvious to us that Evolutionism-Darwinism is an anti-Christian atheistic dogma masquerading as science."

The petition goes on to implore "President Trump to issue an executive order imposing a nationwide indefinite moratorium on the teaching of evolution in public schools."

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(The petition is directed at Pence because he's on record as being opposed to the teaching of evolution in the manner recommended by scientists and educators.)

Let's leave aside the unbridled hypocrisy of those who are aghast by the federal government playing any role in local educational policy asking that same federal government to get involved in determining this one aspect of the science curriculum nationally. Instead, let's focus on the claim that evolution is an anti-Christian doctrine, one that undermines religious belief.

The simplest and politest response to such a claim is to say that it is utter nonsense. Indeed, the mere existence of The Clergy Letter Project, an organization I founded and currently lead, offers incontrovertible proof of the absurdity of this claim. The Clergy Letter Project consists of more than 14,000 members of the clergy from all corners of the United States representing a wide array of religions and denominations. Members are liberal and conservative, male and female, young and old, and represent every race and ethnicity imaginable. They have only one thing in common: they know that religion and science can be compatible and that the latter poses no threat to the former.

The Clergy Letter Project was founded to support the teaching of evolution in public school science classrooms and laboratories because the clergy members involved are well aware of the centrality of evolution to biology and hence to advances in medicine, agriculture, genomics and a host of other critical subjects. The clergy members comprising the organization understand that there is absolutely no controversy within the scientific community about the importance of evolution. Those clergy members also are well aware of the damage that is being done to education and society when facts are denied solely because they make some people uncomfortable. Whether scientific investigation points to evolution, anthropogenic climate change, or any other conclusion, the members of The Clergy Letter Project recognize that it makes no sense to hide from scientific conclusions.

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Why would thousands upon thousands of clergy members have banded together to promote the teaching of evolution if "evolution is an anti-Christian doctrine, one that undermines religious belief?" The simple answer is that they wouldn't!

Which takes me back to my original point. This petition and other actions like it should not be seen as evidence that there is a war between religion and science. Yes, it is true that some people who hold extreme religious views are opposed to evolution. But it is also true that many more religious leaders are fully comfortable with evolution and with all that it entails. They are fully supportive of the work that scientists are doing and want that science to be taught in our schools.

So, the supposed war between religion and science is actually something very different. Since the vast majority of religious leaders are fully aligned with scientists and opposed to the view of others who are attacking science in the name of a narrowly conceived version of religion, the war is actually between two different religious world views. One view represents modernism, asserts that scientific knowledge is different than religious faith, and values what both have to offer. The other perspective demands that its fundamentalist religious viewpoint be imposed on all citizens of the United States and that secular knowledge must take a backseat to religious dogma.

Of course, the US Supreme Court and numerous federal district courts have weighed in on this controversy. They've repeatedly determined that promoting one religious perspective by limiting the teaching of evolution or by requiring that religious doctrine be taught in addition to evolution is illegal.

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Over the next few weeks -- as you hit the malls for your holiday shopping, travel to be with loved ones or simply go out for dinner and a movie -- I encourage you to observe the youth and young adults you encounter.

More specifically, notice how many people 25 and younger are sucking on e-cigarettes.

After decades of anti-smoking campaigns, clean-air laws and other legislation, cigarette use is on the decline. Alas, e-cigarettes seem to be taking their place, especially among our nation's up-and-coming generation.

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They're being lured in by savory flavors, slick technology and kid-friendly advertising. Add in the cool vibe that's formed around the term for using an e-cigarette -- "vaping" -- and it's easy to understand why e-cigarettes have become the most common form of tobacco use among our nation's youth.

The popularity is alarming. And the alarm is being sounded by the nation's top doctor, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

Earlier this month, the federal government released its first detailed review of e-cigarette use among our nation's youth. In the preface, Dr. Murthy wrote, "E-cigarette use among U.S. youth and young adults is now a major public health concern."

At a news conference to discuss the 298-page report, Dr. Murthy urged adults in influential positions -- parents, teachers, healthcare providers and community leaders -- to have meaningful conversations with the at-risk generation about the dangers of e-cigarettes.

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Proponents of e-cigarettes claim those dangers are minimal. The reality is, we don't know the extent of the long-term effects because e-cigarettes are too new for researchers to have gathered such data. The Surgeon General's report acknowledges this gap.

But we know enough from our experiences with cigarettes and other tobacco products to believe that nothing good can come from any nicotine-delivery device. Decades of research shows that smoking can ruin and end lives; it's the most preventable cause of death in the United States.

Our fear regarding the dangers posed by e-cigarettes is amplified when it involves youthful users.

Consider this basic premise from the Surgeon General's report: Because the brain develops until about age 25, anyone younger who uses e-cigarettes is especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of nicotine.

Those effects go beyond the immediate risks to the heart and other organs.

Nicotine is highly addictive. So, as Dr. Murthy wrote, using e-cigarettes can lead to "use of other addictive substances, reduced impulse control, deficits in attention and cognition, and mood disorders." This is another way of saying that e-cigarettes can be a gateway to other, potentially more damaging substances. Concern for such a spin-off also extinguishes the notion that using e-cigarettes is a safer alternative to regular cigarettes and other tobacco products.

You also may have heard about a report that an annual survey of teens showed a decline in e-cigarette use this year. As optimistic as that headline seems, there's more to it.

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The 2016 data follows record highs in 2015. So while it's great that numbers are dropping for the first time since this report began, we'll need to see this reversal continue before we can truly say the tide has turned.

And the numbers they found are still way too high: 13 percent of high school seniors said they'd used an e-cigarette in the last 30 days, as did 6 percent of eighth-graders.

What can we do about all this?

On behalf of my organization, the American Heart Association, and all others linked by our concern over the damaging effects of e-cigarettes, we support actions outlined by the Surgeon General report, such as:

Raising and enforcing the minimum age for selling e-cigarettes and all tobacco products;

Monitoring e-cigarette marketing, and conducting what are essentially counter-campaigns educating the public about the potential dangers of e-cigarettes;

Including e-cigarettes in smoke-free policies, and widening research efforts related to e-cigarettes.

Also, we hope the incoming presidential administration leaves in place new rules that extend the Food and Drug Administration's regulatory authority to e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. We also support adding e-cigarettes to the federal smoke-free public housing rule announced earlier this month.

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While such efforts play out at higher levels, there's something each of us can do right away. It's exactly what Dr. Murthy recommended: Talk to teens and young adults about e-cigarettes.

Wherever you are this holiday season, if you see anyone 25 or younger with an e-cigarette, ask why they're vaping. Then discuss the risks they're taking, followed by the question, "Is it worth it?"

Better still, prepare for such moments. This website launched by the Surgeon General provides everything you need. This page offers includes a section called "Talk with Young People." It even includes tips for how to start the conversation.
Debbie Levy's terrific new book for children about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is called I Dissent. In an interview, Ms. Levy talked about what dissent is, when it's important, and how to get along with people even when you're dissenting.

What is dissent and why is it important?

What is dissent! Dissent is saying "no." Dissent is disagreeing. It's disapproving. It's differing, objecting, resisting. . . .



Why is it important! It's how we make change, in our own lives, and the lives of others.

How can we tell when to dissent and when to compromise?

This is a great question, and one that I'll be exploring with young readers when presenting I Dissent in schools. The first step, I think, is thinking about when the expression of dissent is important, and when expressions of dissent may be pointless, or more hurtful than helpful. If I may quote Justice Ginsburg:

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"Sometimes people say unkind or thoughtless things, and when they do, it is best . . . to tune out and not snap back in anger or impatience. . . . Anger, resentment, envy, and self-pity are wasteful reactions."

The point is, not every wrong needs to be righted, or even called out.



But then there are the wrongs that cry out for disagreement--bullying, bigotry, spreading falsehoods, denying rights, to name a few at the top of my list. Here, principle takes precedence over mere politeness, and yet I think RBG's example--of politeness!--shows the most desirable way to disagree and make change in our society. That is, there's disagreeing and there's disagreeing, as we've been made way too aware in this political season. There's flailing, insulting, divisive disagreeing. Not to mention willfully uninformed disagreeing. And then there's RBG's way: disagreeing by offering insight, not invective. Benefit of the doubt, not bashing. Is it any wonder that I think RBG is a great person to introduce to young people in a picture book?



As for the question of compromise, I'll pull out another favorite RBG quote, one I like so much it's on the back of the book jacket: "Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you." Sounds simple, but there's no question that second sentence is so hard to pull off. That's where compromise comes in.

What experiences did Justice Ginsburg have as a child that taught her the importance of dissent?

Oh my goodness. Plenty! My book shows her facing one such experience after another--and that is why, as the very first sentence says, "You could say that Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life has been . . . once disagreement after another."

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To wit:

"She disagreed" (when, on a car trip with her parents, she saw a sign that read "No Dogs or Jews Allowed!").

"She protested" (as a schoolgirl, to being forced to write with her right hand even though she is left-handed).

"Ruth objected" (also in school, to the rule that required girls to take home ec, reserving shop class for boys).

Little Ruth Bader was on her way to becoming the Ruth Bader Ginsburg we know today.

Why do judges who dissent explain their reasons?



Justice Ginsburg published a very interesting article (originally a speech) in the Minnesota Law Review in 2010, "The Role of Dissenting Opinions." In it, she quoted Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, who wrote, "A dissent in a court of last resort is an appeal . . . to the intelligence of a future day, when a later decision may possibly correct the error into which the dissenting judge believes the court to have been betrayed." The point is, dissenters explain their reasons in the hope that, somewhere down the road, future courts will adopt their reasoning and the dissenting view will be adopted as the law.

A dissenter may also explain her reasoning with a more immediate audience in mind, such as Congress. This is exactly what Justice Ginsburg did in her dissent in the famous 2007 Lilly Ledbetter case. She strongly believed that the court's majority was interpreting Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts incorrectly. At the end of her dissent, she wrote, "The ball is in Congress' court," and Congress heard her. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act became the first law signed by President Obama and it changed the law in the manner that Justice Ginsburg had hoped for in her dissent.

When judges disagree, do they get mad at each other?

Maybe some judges do. But one of my favorite parts of I Dissent shows that they don't have do. Justice Ginsburg and the late Justice Antonin Scalia disagreed deeply and widely on all manner of legal issues. They shared their conflicting ideas. They pointed out weaknesses in the other's arguments. But, however improbably, they managed to be the best of friends.





How could she be friends with a Justice who disagreed with her so much?

She admired his lively and penetrating mind. They shared a love of opera. And she liked his sense of humor--as she said after he died, he had the "rare talent to make even the most sober judge laugh."

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How did you teach your children about dissent?

First, where: at the dinner table. As for how: we had wide-ranging conversations about the news of the day, about school, about everything. (Confession: there were times when we thought perhaps we taught them to dissent too well.)

Did Justice Ginsburg ever inspire you to dissent?
I am a rabbi and I love Christmastime. I love the twinkling lights in the cool dark nights. I love listening to carolers sing of joy and hope as I sip my spiced cider or hot chocolate. I love that everyone greets each other more than any other time of the year. (I am, however, terrified of Santa Claus because of a run in with a mall Santa as a child.) And one of my favorite songs is "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas." It's not my favorite because of its religious theme, or even because of its references to snow (I'm an Arizona kid after all). It's my favorite because it was my dad's favorite.

Here's a little backstory on my family: My dad converted to Judaism when he married his first wife, decades before I was born. All my life he was extremely committed to being Jewish and for the last several years of his life he was dedicated to Jewish study and worship at his local synagogue. But he sang that song like it was his personal anthem. We even had it playing on the stereo during the luncheon after his funeral. I'm pretty sure that was the first (and last) time his synagogue has had Christmas music playing at a funeral... and maybe the only time it's ever played at any funeral in August. But it was his favorite, and now that it's Christmastime again I'm hearing it on the radio every day and thinking of my dad.

This year the first night of Hanukkah falls on Christmas Eve. Some people are very excited about this since it means that for the first time in decades Hanukkah has similar "status" as Christmas. To some people it means that Jews still get to take advantage of Christmas shopping sales, which doesn't happen when Hanukkah falls in November. But for some interfaith families it is a source of a lot of conflict.

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When the holidays are separate on the calendar it is easier to separate their celebrations. For my family, it doesn't matter that Hanukkah is on Christmas because Hanukkah is always on Thanksgiving for us. Growing up in a family that was geographically dispersed, Thanksgiving was the one weekend that we were all usually together. No matter when Hanukkah fell on the calendar, you could find us eating latkes and exchanging gifts on the Friday after Thanksgiving. In my family, Hanukkah was primarily about spending time with family, eating delicious food from family recipes, and presents.

To me, Hanukkah is a minor Jewish holiday from a religious perspective and does very little to define my Jewish identity. Which means that loving Christmastime does little to threaten my Jewish identity.

Because of my relationship with Hanukkah, when a friend recently asked me if it was OK for Jewish people to like Christmas movies and music, I chuckled thinking about my own annual tradition of watching "Elf" and my childhood memories of driving around town to see Christmas lights. And then I thought more closely about the question: IS it OK for Jewish people to like Christmas movies and music? What about lights? Trees?

As a Reform rabbi I do not feel it is my place to tell people what's "OK" for them to do Jewishly. I do feel it's my role to guide people along their path and offer expertise and opinions where appropriate. It is not my job to tell people not to listen to Christmas music, or not to have a tree or to keep kosher. It is my job to help people see how positive Jewish experience can impact your life and shape families' lives.

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When it comes to the winter holidays, there is so much more at play than religious beliefs. To one family Christmas music may symbolize songs of hope for a savior or faith in God. To another family it may symbolize beautiful melodies and joyful tunes. To me, it reminds me of my father who sung those songs with a huge smile and especially now that he's gone, I want to listen to that music to remind me of him. I spoke with an interfaith family recently whose kids identify as Jewish, and who have a tree to honor one parent's family tradition. They feel no guilt and they do not feel that having a tree in any way compromises their Jewish identity, but rather that it helps them represent their entire family.

Meanwhile, I hear rabbis and others tell scary tales of Christmas trees leading to diminishing Jewish communities and threatening Jewish identity. I've heard the sermons from rabbis who are committed to the survival of the Jewish people. I've read the articles describing how Jewish families (or interfaith families) having a Christmas tree is a threat to Jewish identity. I understand the argument that Jewish identity is important and the survival of Jewish community is essential. However, I believe that when many of our families are already embracing the tradition of the Christmas tree, despite the best efforts of some to discourage it, the real threat to our Jewish community is the dismissal and judgment of these families.

I think that if our Jewishness is defined by a tree or a movie or a song, we need to rethink our religious identity and spend the rest of the year strengthening it. There is more to a religious identity than physical symbols. It is about a way of life, a set of values and a tradition, and the ways in which we enact that tradition.
Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan has been the scene of scores of high-profile meetings since Donald J Trump's surprise election to the U.S. Presidency last month.

If I were to receive an invite to Trump Tower for a briefing with the president-elect, I'd be on the first flight to New York.

It's fair to say that Mr. Trump's victory sent shockwaves around the world, and those waves were felt no less keenly in Africa.



To date, the future president has given few indications of his views on Africa. His thoughts on that continent might not be as simplistic as suggested by a South African analyst who suggested the new administration's African policy would amount to little more than "where's that?"

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But equally, Africa's economic and political leaders are acutely aware that the poorest continent in the world could suffer if President Trump were to strongly advance the 'America First' policies outlined in his campaign.

While China and Mexico appear to be the two countries most immediately in the sights of the incoming President, Africa's trade with the United States could be substantially affected if US protectionism leads to a tightening of policies towards agricultural and manufacturing trade.

Another - very significant - impact could be on the United States' multi-million dollar development aid to Africa.



The US is currently Africa's largest bilateral aid donor, with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimating that spend at approximately $9bn, in 2015.

A new report by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales predicts that under a Trump presidency, the US is likely to streamline multi-billion dollar aid spending to countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Kenya, while Economic Insight Africa predicts that the new Republican administration will cut overseas spending to provide increased budgets for infrastructure at home.

Whatever the outcome, it's likely that policies towards Africa and African development will change from those pursued under the Obama administration over the past eight years.

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In that time, the US government expanded its presence and economic engagement with Africa, opening new offices in Angola, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Mozambique, expanding its presence in Ghana, and re-engaging with the African Development Bank.

In September, President Obama told the annual gathering of the US-Africa Business Forum that, as president, he had sought to transform the relationship between America and Africa to one of equal partners.

He talked of Africa as "home to some of the fastest-growing economies in the world - an Africa of telecom companies and clean-tech start-ups and silicon savannahs, all powered by the youngest population on the planet," and said that Africa wants trade, not aid with America and other regions of the world.

Unlikely as it is, I'd jump at the opportunity to take that elevator ride up Trump Tower in New York. What better opportunity to tell the world's most influential leader why continuing to fund African development makes sense.

Indeed, while the record of the last Republican president, George W Bush, has been criticized in many areas, his work on Africa is beyond reproach.



From the historic peace agreement between Sudan and South Sudan in 2005, to his work and investment in combatting HIV/AIDS and malaria, the 43rd President's legacy in Africa is, in the main, a good one.

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Indeed, during his eight years in office, President Bush increased aid to the continent by more than 640%. At more than $5 billion a year in humanitarian aid to the region, President Bush gave more assistance to Africa than any other president.

His commitment, and that of President Obama, resulted in a seven-fold increase in the number of people receiving anti-retroviral drugs to treat HIV/AIDS between 2005 and 2012, while since his time in the White House the share of Africans who are living in extreme poverty has fallen from 56% to a level of 43% in 2012.

So, the Republican party has a proud record on Africa in recent decades and, although a report published by CNN earlier this month predicted that Africa would slide down the list of foreign policy priorities for a Trump administration, there's also a sense that the new presidency will be pragmatic in its decision-making.



Investing in African development makes sense - for economic reasons, but also for security reasons. Stronger economies throughout Africa build societies where youth have employment and business opportunities, where children can access education, and where militants find little support for their cause.
Sex is about pleasure.

Sex is about connection.

Both of these statements are true. In every sexual encounter, the balance between them varies -- sometimes it's almost all about simple pleasure, while at other times, it's most important to just feel close to the person you're with -- but good sex always involves both components. The best sex happens when we find a way to balance the two equally. As someone who works in the sexual health and wellness industry, I stay pretty up-to-date on new developments to help my clients achieve this balance.

Some of the most obvious developments happen in the sex toy business. Every year, there are dozens of flashy, new sex toys that promise to add new dimensions to the experience of sexual pleasure. So, if this is the case, why have I never mentioned them before? Don't get me wrong -- sex toys are great. Lots of people use them on their own or with their partners to make their sexual experiences more playful and satisfying. Even better, toys are a fun and simple way to explore new forms of sexual expression.

But all too often, they're all about pleasure, and while that's awesome, it doesn't touch on the other half of great sex -- connection -- and it doesn't exactly make for a good article: "Have you heard of this vibrator? It feels great! And this cock ring? It also feels great!" (Are you bored yet? I am.)

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Recently, though, I heard about a new sex toy that promised more -- not only more pleasure, but more connection between partners. It's a vibrator called the We-Vibe Sync, and it's a quiet, U-shaped vibrator that a woman wears. There's a little remote control that changes the vibration patterns and intensity, and the flexible shape makes it so that there is constant, customizable stimulation to her clitoris and G-spot as well as his penis during sex.

Even if the list stopped there, it'd be a pretty neat vibrator, but it gets better: The We-Vibe Sync also comes with a free app that syncs to the device and allows couples to control the toy from long distances.

Have you ever been in a long-distance relationship or been away from your partner regularly because of work travel? The We-Vibe Sync can't make up for your partner being on the other side of the world, but it does allow you to connect and share sexual experiences with your partner, even when you're apart. As We-Vibe Sync's Global Passion Ambassador Tristan Weedmark explains, the We-Vibe allows couples to "become more vulnerable, which strengthens their bond" even if they are separated by hundreds or thousands of miles.

When I heard about this new app feature, I was intrigued, and I decided to try out the We-Vibe Sync for myself. My partner (thankfully) lives nearby, so we didn't need to try it out from different countries, and so we settled for a simpler experiment: We went out to dinner. I wore the We-Vibe Sync, and he had the app on his phone, always close at hand throughout the meal.

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During the whole drive to the restaurant and as we waited to be seated, I felt delightfully naughty. I had a secret that only me and my partner knew about, and it made me feel daring and sexy.

It started as soon as the waiter walked toward our table.

"Good evening! (bzzz) My name is Michael, and I'll be serving you tonight. (bzzz) Can I get you any wine (bzzz) to start?"

It felt good -- really good, in fact. Not knowing when the pulses were coming just intensified that oh-so-naughty feeling I'd had all night, but the best times were when my partner would catch my eye before casually reaching for his phone. It was hot, and it was also silly. As the waiter brought us desert, my partner decided to punctuate every word the waiter said with a quick little (bzzz), and we were both nearly crying with laughter. I'm sure poor Michael thought we were absolutely nuts, but it turned out to be a fun and memorable evening.

In the end, the We-Vibe did enhance sexual pleasure, but it did something even more important -- it brought two partners closer in emotional presence. It combined pleasure and connection, and that's what makes for the best sex and the best relationships.

Sandra LaMorgese Ph.D. is an expert in personal and professional reinvention, authentic living, communication, and bridging the gap between sexuality and a lifestyle that focuses on holistic health of the mind, body and spirit. She is the author of Switch: Time for a Change, a memoir of her journey from holistic practitioner to professional dominatrix at 55-years-old after losing everything, and her passion and purpose is to empower others towards healthy authentic living. To learn more about Sandra and receive your FREE eBook "5 Steps for Better Communication, Sex, and Happiness (Did I mention better sex?) visit www.sandralamorgese.com.

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Earlier on Huff/Post50:
Listening to music on my Sonos connected via Bluetooth to my smart phone is easy to use and enjoyable. On a recent visit to Urban Outfitters I was presently surprised to see for the holidays, a selection of analog record players at the center of the store for today's refined music listener. Another nod to this new trend for the younger crowd tiring of digital music players: the Ben Stiller movie 'While We Were Young."

The analog record is back, but where did it start? Not the recent trend. The original flat analog record? Something worth digging into while we have a little extra holiday time on our hands.

Over the course of music history, innovation did much to spread the sounds of the times and flat analog records were one of the big breakthrough. As Kenny Herzog pointed our in Rolling Stone Magazine: We've come a long way in capturing and reproducing sound, and in many ways, the journey has been a poetic and literal full circle. From Thomas Edison's first experiments with waveform-engraved cylinders to the rotating dials of our iPods  and every touchstone devoted to preserving composition and performance since and after.

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Back in the late 1880s the first phonograph cylinders, the things that looked like toilet paper rolls, started showing up in new machines in salons across Europe and the Americas. By the 1920s it was replaced by the flat gramophone record (phonograph record), commonly known as an analog record, a movement ignited by the technological breakthrough of the Victor Orthophonic Victrola Phonograph (1925). As Herzog points out, Victrolas set the precedent that fidelity rules above all, even if the equipment weighs a ton.

At the same time two creators launched one of the first flat record companies, known as the Goodson Record Company. The Goodson record company, founded in London and Montreal was one of the first record companies to adopt a flat plastic record instead of the cylindrical format. And they were flexible, meaning they could be bent with our forefinger and your thumb. As a new technology they were sold with music on the record but paid for primarily as an advertising vehicle for brands and products trying to reach a broader audience.

The GOODSON GRAMOPHONE RECORD CO. LTD, produced commercial recordings from the mid 1920s until the early 1930s. One of the characteristic features of these white flexible records, now collectors items on eBay, is the non-flammable material called Rhodoid was without a separate paper label around the hole like later records would have, but one important feature for the successful growth of the Goodson Record was its complete surface could be used for printed advertising messages.

Goodson Record Company, was founded by Jack Goodson in London England and his younger brother Joseph Goodson in Montreal, Canada. They sold their 9.5 inch records across Europe, the United States and Canada as well as smaller records with music and nursery rhymes for children. Remarkably they ended up across the globe. For example, according to this source, recently a find of rare records were discovered in Sevastopol (Ukraine). These flexible records seem to be rare Goodson Records. Instead of advertising emblazoned on the surfaces we see 1920s flapper women, all the rage at the time for the urban movers and shakers. The records have some real Goodson Records details like the trademark, the hand with the bended record expressing the fact that it was unbreakable, and the brand name GOODSON RECORDS, and also NON-FLAME.
When you think about the term marketing automation, it may make you cringe a little. In fact, you may not even like the phrase at all. This may be in part because there are a wealth of companies that produce poor attempts at automated marketing, and no doubt you've fallen victim to this once or twice in your own email box or Facebook feed. However, when done properly with a lot of forethought, marketing automation and content are a match made in marketing heaven.

Gather User Information

It's true that no one likes a pop-up, but a pop-up with an incredible incentive may be a different story. And you can offer incentives for first-time visitors in other ways such as 15% of their first order, or free shipping on all orders. To get this, however, the user must enter their email address to join the mailing list. This method truly works. Once you have a user's information, then you can send automated (but personalized!) emails on a regular basis to help keep them as a loyal customer.

SEO Is Still Relevant

SEO is still one of the most important pieces of content management. However, there are many online tools to help you research key phrases. Many websites and companies offer built-in SEO as part of their tools to lessen the chaos of keyword research. These streamlined tools provide you with reminders, such as using keywords and links in your content, as well as which keywords to use at what density. A Google search is still a user's main point of content, and automated SEO is a groundbreaking tool.

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Tracking Content

This is a very important piece of the puzzle, otherwise, you'll never know as a company what type of marketing works and what doesn't. However, in this age of automation, you want to go beyond the usual metrics and really dig deep, finding out social media shares, visitor geography and flow, conversions, and the like. As these metrics allow you to see what works and what doesn't, you'll have a clear path in store for where to go next with your marketing.

Social Media Done Right

An important part of brand management is getting your name out there in the first place - but flooding the system never worked well for anyone. First, you need someone at the helm who's in charge of your social media posts. Also, one of the most important things is to sound natural. It's perfectly fine to dream up the majority of the content yourself and have someone else work on the timing. Authenticity is a big part of getting through to the end user.
By Isabella Flores, Online Advisor

Students Rising Above

Applying Early Decision can be a great option if you are positive about where you want to attend college. You have completed your research and are prepared to attend that school if accepted. However, if you are unsure about applying to a school early, or are a first-generation college student unfamiliar with the college admissions process, it is crucial that you conduct research on the pros and cons of Early Decision. Access to professional mentorship and assistance, such as the free Students Rising Above (SRA) College2Careers Hub, can advise you on best options based on your goals and circumstances.

Below are three types of early admission options, and other key considerations:

Early Decision

Early Decision is BINDING. This means that if accepted, you must go to that college. You will apply early, and will find out very early - usually by December - whether you have been admitted. You can only apply to one college Early Decision. However, you can apply to other colleges under the regular deadline. If you get into your Early Decision school, you must withdraw your application from other schools.

Early Decision II

Some schools offer Early Decision II, which typically includes a January application deadline. You usually will find out if you have been admitted in mid-February. Early Decision II benefits you as an applicant because you have more time to research, conduct campus visits and compile your application. If you are accepted under Early Decision II, it is binding. Once again, you will need to withdraw your other applications.

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Early Action

Early Action is NOT binding. You will apply earlier, and will find out earlier whether you get into the college. Early Action applicants typically will receive an admissions decision in January or February, but will not have to commit to any college until the traditional reply date of May 1. With Early Action you can still apply to, and consider, other colleges as well.

What are the benefits? Should you apply early?

SRA's professionally trained advisors find that many students have a better chance of being accepted to a preferred school by applying early. Students who choose to apply early, and therefore receive admissions decisions earlier, also report less overall stress. If you apply early to a school and the school defers your application to the regular admission deadline, you still have a leg up. You have shown the school that you are strongly committed to attending if they admit you.

You should NOT apply early if:

You are not fully committed to a college

You are still researching schools

You had a bad junior year spring semester, and think your senior year fall semester grades might improve the way colleges evaluate you

Applicant Beware: Financial Drawbacks of Applying Early

The biggest drawback of applying early is that if you apply Early Decision, you cannot compare financial aid packages between schools. You are permitted to turn down an Early Decision school if the financial aid package does not meet your need. However, this is more difficult than it seems. "Need" is determined by your expected family contribution, not your "real-life" ability to pay.

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Use the school's financial aid calculator and fill out the information as accurately as possible to get a fairly accurate read on your financial aid package. You can also speak with the school's financial aid office to get a better estimate of what your aid might be if granted admission to the college. If you do not do this research before applying Early Decision, you may be at risk of attending a college that offers you a weak financial aid package.

Looking Ahead

Remember, if you are unsure about applying Early Decision or Early Action, seek out the help of an advisor to help you make smart academic and financial decisions. Once you have accepted admission, make sure to stay on top of your to-do list and check the school portal daily. You will likely need to submit deposits for tuition and housing; these must be turned in on time. Finally, finish your senior year strong. Don't gamble with your future by letting your grades slip in your final semester of senior year.


To serve another term as president of Paraguay, where reelection is not allowed, Horacio Cartes might need to resign first. Jorge Adorno/Reuters

Like the United States and Europe, most Latin American countries permit their presidents or prime ministers to be reelected, either consecutively (as in Brazil and Argentina) or after alternating out of office (as in Chile, Costa Rica and Uruguay, among others). Presidents can serve indefinitely in Venezuela, Nicaragua and, after a recent decision by its legislature, Ecuador.

But not in Paraguay, where the constitution prohibits reelection. Within the region, only Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia similarly limit presidents to one term. Honduras left that small cohort when it voted to allow reelection in 2015.

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A wavering commitment to term limits

Now the current Paraguayan president, tobacco mogul Horacio Cartes of the Colorado party, is proposing to amend the constitution to allow his reelection (low approval ratings notwithstanding). At least two past presidents - former bishop Fernando Lugo, who was unseated in a 2012 impeachment and his predecessor from the Colorado party, Nicanor Duarte Frutos - could also benefit from Cartes' effort.

Two other presidential candidates, Mario Abdo of the ruling Colorado party and Efrain Alegre, of the Liberal Radical Authentic Party (PLRA, in its Spanish acronym), staunchly oppose the proposal.

This is not the first time Paraguay has debated reelection. The rule came about in 1992, in response to the 34-year dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner. Never since his ouster in 1989 has a Paraguayan president served more than one five-year term in Asuncion's Lopez Presidential Palace.

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That doesn't mean they haven't tried. Over the past 27 years of Paraguayan democracy, at least three presidents have sought, unsuccessfully, to extend their tenures, including both Lugo and his predecessor, Duarte Frutos. Andres Rodriguez, the man who overthrew Stroessner in 1989, disputed the provision within his party even as the new government was penning the country's post-dictatorship Constitution in 1992.

The current debate, which is dominating headlines, is Paraguay's latest attempt to grapple with the reelection issue. There are four ways forward. The first, and most likely, is staying with the status quo. The next two paths would depend on congress, which could choose to either amend or reform the constitution. And the final option would call on the supreme court to reexamine article 229 of the constitution.

Lugo and his lawyers are pushing for the judicial route, based the interpretation that the prohibition on reelection only applies to current presidents (such as Cartes) and that former presidents are allowed to run again. But their camp has also suggested that Cartes would qualify if he's willing to resign at least six months before the election. A court date has not been scheduled.

Strange bedfellows and political infighting

Since the end of dictatorship in 1989, Paraguay's party system has been designed to prevent a concentration of power. Formally following the D'Hondt formula as well as an informal quota system, key positions are distributed across parties at all levels of government, both national and local.

The system also establishes factions within parties, each with its own leadership. This compels members of the same party to compete internally to determine the party's official candidate list for congressional seats, governorships, and even the presidency. Internal competition does not magically disappear after elections are over, maintaining proportional and distributed power.

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The setup can lead to strange bedfellows. Right now, ex-president Lugo's greatest ally for reelection is a prominent member of the opposition PLRA party, Blas Llano. Against his party's wishes, Llano hopes to maintain his internal PLRA faction's current quota by negotiating on behalf of both Lugo and Cartes to enable reelection. Other members of his party are pushing their preferred presidential candidate, internal PLRA caucus leader Efrain Alegre.

Prohibiting reelection significantly limits a president's ability to build political capital and influence his party's long-term agenda. It means the "lame duck" period of a presidency is unusually long at up to two years. So party members inevitably distance themselves from the weakened leader, making it far more difficult for sitting presidents, such as Cartes to pick their preferred successor (or, work towards reelection).

A president's diminished power at his or her term's end can even have the opposite result of empowering party members vying for leadership. That's the case now, as the most powerful spoiler of Cartes' bid to change the constitution to enable reelection is Senator Mario Abdo, leader of a defiant caucus within the president's own Colorado party.

But negotiations continue, with the president cozying up to various members of the political opposition, including people within Lugo's own Frente Guasu party. He is also seeking to ally himself with the PLRA caucus led by Blas Llano, though that effort is limited by the fact that the PLRA's other faction is rallying behind its leader, Efrain Alegre.

Given this scenario of infighting and across-the-aisle manoeuvering, it's not clear if congress will take any of the actions necessary to allow Cartes's reelection. That puts pressure on the supreme court to weigh in on presidential reelection.

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In the meantime, allegiances will continue to shift, perhaps unbalancing the power-sharing arrangement that has characterised Paraguayan democracy since 1989. For now, three former presidents - plus a handful of first-timers - eagerly await their chance to become future presidents.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 24: Santa Claus proceeds down 6th Av, during the 90th Macy's Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 24, 2016 in New York City. Security was tight in New York City on Thursday for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade after ISIS called supporters in the West to use rented trucks in attacks as similar as the ones operated in France this summer where at least 86 people were killed.(Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

The holiday season is upon us, and so are its attendant myths, most prominent of which is the Santa Claus story. This is the time that many children are told about a man who lives forever, resides at the North Pole, knows what every child in the world desires, drives a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer and enters one's house through a chimney, which most children don't even have.

Given the many absurdities and contradictions in this story, it's surprising that even young children would believe it. Yet research from my lab shows that 83 percent of five-year-olds think that Santa Claus is real.

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Why?

An evolutionary advantage?

At the root of this paradox is a very basic question regarding the nature of the young child as an inherently credulous being -- that is, believing everything he or she is told -- versus a rational one.

The noted author and ethologist Richard Dawkins, in a 1995 essay, proposed that children are inherently credulous, and prone to believing in just about anything. He even suggested that it was an evolutionary advantage for children to believe.

He illustrated that quite convincingly with an example of a young child living near an alligator-infested swamp. His point was that the child who is skeptical, and prone to critically evaluating his parents' advice not to go swimming in that swamp, has much less chance of surviving than does the child who unthinkingly heeds his parents' advice.

This view of young children who believe easily is shared by many, including 18th-century philosopher Thomas Reid, and developmental psychologists, who argue that children are strongly biased to trust what people tell them.

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Not very different from adults?

Yet research from my lab shows that children actually are rational, thoughtful consumers of information. In fact, they use many of the same tools as adults to decide what to believe.

So, what are some of the tools that adults use to decide what to believe, and what evidence is there that children possess them?

I'll focus on three: One is attention to the context in which new information is embedded. A second is the tendency to measure new information against one's existing knowledge base. And the third is the ability to evaluate the expertise of other people.

Let's look first at context.

Imagine reading an article about a new species of fish -- let's call them "surnits." Then imagine you're reading this article in two very different contexts -- one in which your doctor is late and you're in the waiting room reading the article in a copy of National Geographic, the official magazine of a scientific society.

In another context, you encounter a report of this discovery while waiting in line at the grocery store and perusing the National Enquirer, an American supermarket tabloid. My guess is that the context surrounding your introduction to this new information would guide your judgment about the reality status of this new fish.

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We essentially did this with children. We told them about animals they'd never heard of, like surnits. Some children heard about them in a fantastical context, in which they were told that dragons or ghosts collect them. Other children learned about surnits in a scientific context, in which they were told that doctors or scientists use them.

Children as young as four were more likely to claim that surnits really existed when they heard about them in the scientific context versus in the fantastical context.

How children use knowledge and expertise

One of the primary ways we, as adults, learn about new things is by hearing about them from others. Imagine hearing about a new kind of fish from a marine biologist versus from your next-door neighbor who often regales you with reports of his alien abductions. Your evaluation of the expertise and trustworthiness of these sources presumably will guide your beliefs about the true existence of this fish.

In another research project, we presented young children with novel animals that were either possible (e.g., a fish that lives in the ocean), impossible (e.g., a fish that lives on the moon) or improbable (e.g., a fish as big as a car). Then we gave them the choice to figure out on their own whether the entity really existed or to ask someone. They also heard reports from either a zookeeper (an expert) or a chef (a nonexpert).

We found that children believed in the possible entities and rejected the impossible ones. Children made these decisions by comparing the new information to their existing knowledge. For the improbable animals -- ones that could possibly exist but were rare or odd -- children were significantly more likely to believe in them when the zookeeper claimed they were real than when the chef did.

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In other words, children use expertise, just as adults do.

It's the adults

If children are so smart, why do they believe in Santa?

The reason is simple: Parents and others go to great lengths to support the Santa myth. In a recent study we found that 84 percent of parents reported taking their child to visit more than two Santa impersonators during the Christmas season.

The Elf on the Shelf, originally a children's picture book about elves who inform Santa about children's behavior around Christmastime, is now a multi-million-dollar franchise. And the United States Postal Service now promotes a "Letters from Santa" program in which it provides personal replies to children's letters to Santa.

Why do we feel compelled to go to such great lengths? Why does Uncle Jack insist on climbing onto the roof on Christmas Eve to stomp around and shake jingle bells?

The answer is simply this: Children are not unthinkingly credulous and do not believe everything we tell them. So, we adults must overwhelm them with evidence -- the bells on the roof, the live Santas at the mall, the half-eaten carrot on Christmas morning.

How children evaluate

Given this effort, it essentially would be irrational for children not to believe. In believing in Santa Claus, children, in fact, exercise their scientific thinking skills.

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First, they evaluate sources of information. As ongoing research in my lab indicates, they're more likely to believe an adult than a child about what's real.

Second, they use evidence (e.g., the empty glass of milk and half-eaten cookies on Christmas morning) to come to a conclusion about existence. Other research from my lab shows that children use similar evidence to guide their beliefs about a fantastical being, the Candy Witch, who visits children on Halloween night and leaves new toys in exchange for candy.

Third, research shows that, as children's understanding becomes more sophisticated, they tend to engage more with the absurdities in the Santa Claus myth, like how a fat man can fit through a small chimney, or how animals could possibly fly.

Wondering what to tell your child?

Some parents wonder whether they are harming their children by engaging in the Santa myth. Philosophers and bloggers alike have mounted arguments against perpetuating the "Santa-lie," some even claiming that it could lead to permanent distrust of parents and other authorities.

So, what should parents do?

There is no evidence that belief, and eventual disbelief in Santa, affects parental trust in any significant way. Furthermore, not only do children have the tools to ferret out the truth; but engaging with the Santa story may give them a chance to exercise these abilities.

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So, if you think it would be fun for you and your family to invite Santa Claus into your home at Christmas time, you should do so. Your children will be fine. And they might even learn something.


Credit: CG Roll Call

Disaffected, underemployed US workers' anger has erupted and carried Donald Trump to the precipice of our presidency. They voted for a pretender who promised to drain the swamp of big business and political cronies and reignite our failing economy (which is not failing, for the record).*

They are getting none of it. And won't.

Not from their newly elected president to be and not from his cabinet and staff choices - drawn directly from the swamp's sludge. And they are wading into a Congressional swamp already at an all time disapproval high - 79% - where just 19% of Americans "trust government to do what is right, an all-time low (Gallup, 2016/Pew, 2015)."

Beyond the president, and congress - and this may surprise you - Americans are looking to corporate America to address and react to political and social issues, and take action against them to improve our quality of life. According to the latest Business and Politics study by the Global Strategy Group in Manhattan (conducted one month before the election) "... 84% believe corporations should take action to address important issues facing society; and 88% believe corporations have the power to influence social change" (study conducted in October among American adults, with a subset of millennials/ibid).

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As described by Louis Killeffer of Five Mile River Marketing, "In what can only be called an age of transition, with folks largely disenchanted with our political institutions and frustrated by many of our politicians, the public clearly wants leaders and leadership. And they are actively looking to CEOs and their corporations for just such leadership "more than ever before on the pressing issues of the day."

Global Strategy Group's findings rank corporations just behind the President (89%) and Congress (92%) in their role of social responsibilities and political influence, and represents "...a seismic shift in the public's expectations for corporations to take a stance - and to take action - on political and social issues of the day."

First of all - America's voters did not elect Donald Trump president. We elected Hillary Clinton. Right, a detail. That aside, the disenfranchised who got swept up in Trump's egomaniacal, heedless attack on American politics, and bought his hollow promises for jobs, and economic recovery they were supposed to benefit from, are about to be stabbed in the back by the very guy they voted for. Or think they voted for.

All of it guaranteed by his choices for his cabinet and staff, plucked from the very corporate swamp he promised to drain. If you wanted to witness a Trump would be dynasty sink into a black bog, taking America with them, you could not come up with darker choices:

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Secretary of State - a guy with ties to Vladimir Putin (who gave him an "Order of Friendship award"), who has enriched himself by selling an environmentally destructive product and criticized Russian sanctions as "bad for his business" (NY Times, "Flawed Choices for the State Dept.," Dec 13).

But not to worry, Trump's choice for State's no. 2 wanted to lift the 1994 freeze on North Korea's plutonium-based nuclear deal and more recently to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities ... (ibid). And ...

An Energy Secretary committed to abolishing the department - and who couldn't even remember it existed during a presidential debate in 2011. And he's on the board of Energy Transfer Partners - the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline! Not to worry - he competed on Dancing with the Stars, even though he'd "...never danced before in his life."

National Security Advisor? A retired Army general who was fired by Obama as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, has business ties to Middle Eastern countries and has been paid by both Turkey and Russia. His dubious assertions are so proliferous they're called "Flynn facts," and include this tweet: "Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL: ... the truth fears no questions ..."

CIA director - wants to kill the Iran nuclear accord and has minimized any costs of actually bombing them.

Secretary of Education - anti-public schools and leading advocate of school voucher programs, this woman sees school choice as God's choice, leading to a "greater kingdom again" (NY Times, "DeVos and God's Plans For Schools," NY Times, Dec 13).

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Attorney General nominee opposes the Voting Rights Act; was denied a federal judgeship as a racist ("used the n-word and joked about the Ku Klux Klan, saying he thought they were 'okay, until he learned that they smoked marijuana'."

Housing Secretary opposes the Fair Housing Act and says HUD's rule "Is what you see in Communist countries."

Health and Human Resources Secretary is staunch pro-life, opposes federal funding for abortions and is in sync with Trump's VP's who said "We'll see Roe vs. Wade consigned to the ash heap of history where it belongs.". Further, he wants to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and restructure Medicare in a way that critics fear would burden users with greater costs.

Our new Treasury Secretary to be - a former Goldman Sachs swamp lizard and Hollywood financier, he led massive housing foreclosures following the bubble burst, a behavior a Suffolk County judge described as "harsh, repugnant and repulsive' as they attempted to toss (the family) out on the street ..."

Proposed EPA head is a climate change denier who has spent most of his adult life in government trying to eliminate the agency he is supposed to lead. He's pledged to severely limit, or eliminate, environmental executive orders and regulations, and supports Trump's threat to withdraw from the Paris climate deal.

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Now he's appointed an ambassador to Israel who called supporters of the progressive Jewish advocacy group J Street "worse than kapos" for supporting a two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Kapos were Jews in Nazi concentration camps who were put in charge of other inmates). His opposition to a two-state solution threatens years of work to achieve some kind of peace there.

And just to make sure these designates - IF they are approved - can operate in a conducive environment, emboldened with proactive public encouragement ...

Trump's choice for his chief strategist is a well-known alt-right publisher who " ... is adored by white supremacists, white nationalists, anti-Semites, neo-Nazi's and the K.K.K.

You who voted for an improved quality of life for yourselves and your families are not going to get it from these characters, thanks to the man you voted for and the choices he's making that will lead him and America into a cess pool - the stench of which will cling to us for a long time to come.

But not to worry, we count on corporate America almost as much as our president and congress to address social and political issues and act on them, all in our best interests.

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Yeah, right. Like Exxon Mobil?

Not exactly: a mere 6% of Americans have any confidence in big business (Gallup, 2016). Corporate America has become synonymous with greed and self-interest. Nearly 9 of 10 Americans (89%) believe that big business has too much influence over the decisions politicians make in Washington, and an equal number (88%) say our government prioritizes the interests of big business over the interests of its citizens.

So, now what?

Tim Arnold

Possible20@aol.com
Not many firms can say they employ hundreds of team members who are doing incredible things. Fast-growing Bradford Airport Logistics, a firm critical to keeping airports safe from terrorism, collects 300 success stories each year through an innovative system for recognizing employees who delight its customers.

When Mark Phillips, an employee of Bradford Airport Logistics, made an emergency delivery to a restaurant in Heathrow Airport for the venue's launch the following morning, he received an unusual form of recognition. The restaurant, Caviar House, gave him an "Employee Recognition Coin" for making the off-schedule delivery and for keeping other nearby merchants informed.

"Without the delivery arriving when it did, Caviar House may have been late in opening their new restaurant," wrote Julia Smith, customer terminal integration manager at Heathrow Airport.

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As a result of receiving the coin, Phillips will be celebrated in Bradford's global newsletter and mentioned in a variety of other ways by the company.

These specially minted and numbered coins are part of a unique system Bradford, based in Houston, has created to make its team feel appreciated. Each year, members of the company's executive team, managers of its business units and members of each airport's own leadership team (and even businesses in the airports) get to give out one of the recognition coins when they catch someone at Bradford doing something "incredibly right."

Bradford lets managers and stakeholders know how important their recognition is to its front-line employees, says its CEO and founder Ben Richter. "You get to give only one coin each year to the right deserving employee."



The Employee Service Excellence Award for Heathrow Airport

Once the coins are distributed, the company writes up the stories of the 300 team members who received them in its global newsletter, shares them in town hall meetings and considers the winners for annual awards it gives out--greatly contributing to morale. "It's the way you make people feel that matters," Richter says.

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Preventing terrorism

How employees at Bradford feel about their jobs is critically important. The firm runs centralized receiving and distribution centers that are very important to the efficient operation and security of airports such as London's Heathrow Airport. The firm's London Heathrow operation is run under a joint venture between Bradford Airport Logistics and Swissport, a large provider of ground and cargo handling services.

Airports function like mini cities these days, and Bradford helps prevent scenarios that can seriously disrupt them. Tight controls of material goods entering the airport reduce the risk of terror attacks such as truck bombings and the smuggling of prohibited items into airports. Bradford re-routes delivery trucks and parcel carriers away from the terminals to its centers, where they go through a multi-layered security and inspection process. Bradford then brings the material to the terminal through its "Virtual Secure Material Delivery Tunnel," greatly reducing the number of delivery people who enter the airport on any given day.

"We're delivering all of the goods consumed by the mini cities in an ultra-efficient and highly-secure manner," explains Richter.

Coin of the realm

As one might imagine, the employees who work in the receiving and distribution centers are critically important to Bradford's success. The recognition that comes with the coins has had a powerful underlying effect on Bradford's team, which includes more than 400 employees. "We're not just doing a job," says Richter. "We have a much greater mission." That mission, he notes, is to "help airports run great."

The coin system has also made it easier for company leaders to stay clear on what matters at Bradford. "Everyone is looking for employees to do great things," says Richter.

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Moved to tears

In addition the coins, the company also offers the Shepard Award, for "creating fanatic fans of our customers." Employees who are nominated by customers and facility managers are eligible. Vinny Carty, a team member at Heathrow Airport who won it recently, was sent on an exchange program with the facility that Bradford manages at San Diego International Airport. After he discussed the trip with colleagues at a meeting, Carty excused himself and left the room, recalls Richter.

"I got to the hallway and he was in tears, literally, just recalling how much his whole journey has meant to him as a person," says Richter, who felt choked up, too. "He got to see these programs linked together."



The coin delivery to Vinny Carty (center)



Rapid growth

Beyond making a difference in the lives of employees and customers, this approach has helped the company scale. Bradford has come a long way since Richter, a consultant for enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, launched it in 2001, upon winning a contract to manage and operate the Centralized Receiving and Distribution Center at the then-newly constructed Edward H. McNamara Terminal in Detroit, MI. When Bradford's work in Detroit proved successful, the company began winning other contracts. The company, which has annual revenue in the $30 million range, has been profitable since inception.

Bradford Airport Logistics was recently named as a 2016 Supplier of the Year for Heathrow International Airport in the category of Treating Everyone with Respect. Heathrow employs more than 76,000 people.
Reno Commission puts liquor by drink without food sales on 2023 ballot

Hutchinson board acts quickly to respond to brewery's dilemma, but vote is more than a year away.
It has been a year since the general election of December 20, when Spains new protest parties Podemos and Ciudadanos secured a spot in Congress. But the excitement has gradually given way to weariness among voters, and both parties are now fighting to remain relevant in national politics.

Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias and Cuidadanos leader Albert Rivera in Congress. ULY MARTIN

Although their stated goal was to end the two-party system that has characterized Spanish politics since the democratic transition of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the fact is that the Popular Party (PP) and the Socialist Party (PSOE) continue to be the first- and second-biggest forces in parliament.

Citizens have gradually lost their high hopes for meaningful change

In the meantime, leftist Podemos finds itself in congressional isolation, while the reform-oriented Ciudadanos is struggling to prove that its agreement with the PP is truly meaningful.

Whats happening with Podemos and Ciudadanos is the result of parties that once represented hope for new politics transitioning into a state of disappointment over the failure of their deal-making, says Angel Valencia, a professor of political science at Malaga University.

In both cases, their politics have been rather unexciting. While Ciudadanos has played the role of the party that holds the balance of power, reaching deals with the PP and PSOE that could not be honored because they did not lead to governments in and of themselves, Podemos has been ambiguously opening up to the PSOE, Valencia explains.

Podemos, born out of Spain's 15-M protest movement, once rode the top of the polls in Spain with 28% of voters saying they would cast their ballot for the party in January 2015, according to pollster Metroscopia. And just a month shy of the December 20 election, Ciudadanos was just one-tenth of a point away from the PP in the polls (22.6%).

That inconclusive election opened up months of fruitless negotiations, led to a repeat election on June 26, a fresh political stalemate, and an 11th-hour decision by the Socialists to allow a minority PP government that narrowly averted a record third national election.

Mariano Rajoy of the PP was finally reinstated in office. Efe

At the end of it all, the mood among Spanish voters has changed radically. According to pollster Metroscopia, support for Podemos now stands at 22.9%, making it the second-strongest force, while backing for Ciudadanos is 14.5%. And both party leaders  Pablo Iglesias for Podemos and Albert Rivera for Ciudadanos  get a failing grade from voters.

The repeat election of June 26 went down very badly, notes Pablo Simon, a lecturer in political science and member of Politikon, a nonpartisan think tank. Podemos wants the other three parties to vote as one as often as possible, in order to illustrate what it calls the Triple Alliance and underscore its own role as the opposition. But they run the risk of being seen as doing nothing, as being useless, just something of a vociferating mass that protests over everything and has trouble building bridges.

Meanwhile, adds Simon, Ciudadanos is the weakest link because it is highly vulnerable to strategic voting.

If it does not make it into government, it gets left half-in and half-out, and fails to show how it is being useful, thus exposing itself to a new blow at the polls.

After watching the new challengers vetoeing one another and spending more time discussing internal issues than home evictions, jobs or corruption, citizens have gradually lost the high hopes they had for meaningful change.

In the 12 opinion polls conducted by Metroscopia from January 2015 to January 2016, more respondents felt the political situation would improve than get worse. That was an exceptional attitude in a series marked by pessimism.

The repeat election of June 26 went down very badly Political scientist Pablo Simon

A year later, the optimism has vanished: the November 2016 Metroscopia poll showed 15% of optimists versus 26% of pessimists. A further 40% feel that everything is going to stay the same.

Nobody knows what will happen with the upstart parties now that they are part of the system. The true test will come in 2019, a year of local, regional and European elections.

English version by Susana Urra.
The Drake Effect: Thoughts From A&R Exec, Songwriter Spek

Here a recording artist and A&R executive reflects on how the ways in which consumers listen to music and engage with artists has fundamentally changed with more control now in the hands of the artist, something he refers to as the 'Drake effect'.

__________________________________

Guest post by Spek

As Senior Vice President of Creative & A&R at Reservoir, I work closely with a wide variety of songwriters, producers and artists helping to guide them through the arc of their careers. For some, this is about kick starting a series of collaborative writing sessions for them, helping to get them in the right rooms. For others, it might mean a more strategic, macro view of where we can help take their career from point A to point B.

It is an area I know a fair bit about, given that I spent most of my adult life as a songwriter and recording artist. I was born in Montreal, and moved to the Jane-Finch projects, a notoriously rough area of Toronto right after high school. There, I joined a Canadian hip hop group called Dream Warriors. I met them at an autograph session in 1990, just as they were breaking in Canada. I was 14 years old at the time, and the band liked what they heard in my freestyles, and began producing the demos for my high school group, Mama Tung. Three years later, Mama Tung had split up, I was asked to join the Warriors and began touring the world. We had just signed a new deal with a major label, and with the band's growing popularity, there was a sense that 1994 was going to be the year that Canadian hip hop would finally go global. The Toronto hip hop scene was bursting with talent, and there was an emerging recognition that there was more to Canadian musical identity than Neal Young, Bryan Adams and Celine Dion. In hindsight, even though we sold over a million albums during that period, it took literally 20 years before Drake came along to truly fulfill the promise of that era's ambitions for Canadian hip hop. So, it's with some pride as a pioneer of that early scene that so often struggled for legitimacy internationally, that we see our hometown hero taking that torch we passed to new heights that we couldn't have imagined back then in 94.

As an artist, its been some time since I released any new music; The last time I released a record was 2003. Early in my career I was signed to a publishing deal in the UK by the wonderful Annette Barrett. Annette had worked with David Bowie, Madonna and Sting throughout their illustrious careers and she sort of embodied everything that was good about the industry. She got what I was doing right away, and through her tutelage I developed my sound, connected with some established managers, and got a record deal. I thought to myself, if I ever work in the industry as an executive, Id want to be a music publisher like Annette. Years later, serendipity led me back to her when I joined Reservoir in 2015, and now I get to work with songwriters in the same way that she did with me all those years ago. Life comes full circle.

The industry has changed a lot in the past few years, and despite many of the challenges, theres no question that technology has changed not just how we access music, but the social behavior around that consumption. The old model, in which artists were up against gatekeepers at every junction in order to connect to audiences, no longer applies. That old structure placed emphasis on the album format; A cohesive body of work that is the core output and statement of an artist. Singles were offshoots from the album to help drive album sales for labels. Today however, you dont need labels to make artwork, or need them to front the costs of printing thousands of physical products to distribute into every shop around the world. The dissemination platform is in the hands of the creator now, and we dont listen to music or engage with artists the same way we used to. I call it the Drake Effect, not because hes the only one to do this, but because I think its a model hes used to optimal effect. The music paradigm has changed. I would argue it has become less about albums and hit singles  and more about consistency and volume of content released to your audience, no matter what the form of that content is. The body of work has now become all the forms of content artists produce and release to engage with their fan base in social media, YouTube and streaming services. Consistent releases with a volume of content leads to greater engagement with your fan base, thereby activating them. Drake continues to release single after single, sometimes knocking himself off the chart. As his album Views debuted in the US at #1, his single One Dance did the same on the Billboard 200 chart. Meanwhile between his album and his collaborations with Future and Rihanna, he had an unprecedented 20 songs in the Billboard Hot 100 in one week; . Volume and Consistency.

All the current talk in the industry of the new model as experts have pontificated over what belies the future of the music industry I think is often misdirected. There is no one new model, and the Drake approach, wont work for everyone. However, it has inspired me to re-think the possibilities of making music and sharing it. For me personally, its meant that, these realities now make it possible for someone like me to release music again, easily and rewrite the rules of how to do it. So along with my longtime friend and co-conspirator Brian Rose, plus Alex Donohoe and a team of close friends and collaborators Ive formed a group called Voo Doo Kids, with a simple premise:

We will put out one song, per month, every month, until one of us dies.

Morbid thought I guess, but the thinking is that I love writing music, it revitalizes what I do as an A&R, irrespective of how that success is measured and I want that to be a constant part of my life for the rest of my life in some way. My hunch is that people like us, with similar taste for old school hip hop and 70s folk influences, will find the music and there will be a positive cumulative effect provided we can do a good job of engaging, with volume and consistency. Time will tell if Im right of course, but it should be fun finding out.

Fine the debut single by Voo Doo Kids is out now on all digital music services. Voo Doo Kids second single Staring At The Sun releases January 13th, 2017. Subsequent singles will drop the second week of every month.

Spek is Senior Vice President of Creative and A&R at Reservoir Media Management, based out of NYC. He is the founder of PopArabia, the Middle Easts leading music publisher and rights consultancy, based out of Abu Dhabi, U.A.E, and founder/chair of the MEMPA (the Middle East Music Publishers Association). Spek is also a member of the Grammy Membership Committee, NY Chapter.

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Erie Insurance expects to create 1,000 jobs in its Pennsylvania headquarters as it undertakes a $135 million facility expansion with the construction of a 346,000 square foot building on East Sixth Street.According to an online report by GoErie.com, Erie Insurance chief executive Timothy G. NeCastro said that the company expects to add 1,000 jobs to the local economy. In November, he estimated the workforce expansion to reach 600, but the robust environment has proven to be auspicious for the job market.This is a demonstration of our commitment to the community, NeCastro said in the report.GoErie.com further noted that the firm has been overweight on the local community, as it commenced a spending spree in 2011. It has since acquired 30 properties in the east side neighborhood and has invested heavily in real property assets.The local community has been appreciative. Erie Bayfront East Side Taskforce executive director Jeremy Bloeser expressed his optimism about the sustained activity in his neighborhood.We are very excited about all of Erie Insurances investments and planned growth. We think it positively impacts our neighborhood and makes it a better place to live and gives us a sense that Erie is trending in the right direction, Bloeser said in the report.Erie Insurance is the only Fortune 500 company that is based in the Pennsylvania community.
John Hockridge and Ellen Kennedy presented to the Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District on Thursday. It was just one of many meetings the group has been presenting at in the county over the last month.

Educational Task Force 2/3 Way Through Presentations To Local Governments

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The Berkshire County Educational Task Force has had a busy month presenting at 30 or so public meetings with still more than a dozen to go.



The task force is rolling out its plans for Phase 2 of a study looking at the future of Berkshire County's school systems. The next phase will dive deep into various options  from leaving things as they are to creating super-regional school districts  and is funded with $150,000 from the state.



The efforts are to explore ways to counter declining enrollment mixed with the rising costs of education and offer school districts recommendations on how they might address those vexing issues.



"The do-nothing model will be an eye opener ... they're going to see the cliff is getting closer, closer, and closer," said task force Chairman John Hockridge, a North Adams School Committee member, when presenting to the McCann School Committee on Thursday night.



In the next phase, a consultant will take the data collected in the first phase to explore the impacts on education, finances, organization, legal, and political and social for four ideas  the towns can do nothing, can expand collaboration and shared services, can create more formal regional districts with neighboring towns, or create one to three super regional districts.



Each of those options will pose its own challenges and opportunities. The task force hasn't taken a stance on which model is the feasible or the best, but does agree the do-nothing concept isn't going to help schools in the long term.



"What are the barriers to these models?" said task force member and Berkshire Community College President Ellen Kennedy. "We want to fully explore every one of these options. We want concrete options to pursue."



The task force has already presented the Phase 1 results multiple times  painting a pretty clear picture of the current state of education. The enrollment in local schools has dropped 22.3 percent over the last 15 years, while the rest of the state only declined by 1.7 percent. By 2025, the county is looking to lose another 10.8 percent in enrollment, beyond that another another 6.5 percent decline. Meanwhile in the last decade, school expenditures grew by 27 percent while tax levies rose by 49 percent.



"I think the second phase will be a really sobering phase, as if this hasn't been sobering enough," Kennedy said.



Right now the county has 19 districts to educate between 15,000 and 16,000 students. The city of Springfield has 25,000 in one district. It is clear that cities and towns will have to work together.



"We're in this together and if you can give us any feedback or if we can do something on our end to get you more data, we'd like to have that feedback," said Andrea Wadsworth, business administrator for Lee Public Schools, when she presented to the Pittsfield City Council on Tuesday.



The hope is by next June, the advisory group will have recommendations to make. Because the issues are so vast  from the political feeling that towns won't want to give up their districts to finding out how to get the critical mass to offer the most Advanced Placement courses and other electives, to even figuring out how towns with limited Internet service would be able to succeed in certain schools  the task force is asking stakeholders to become active in this next process.



Each school district is facing different issues. Pittsfield has the most students, has an array of course offerings and the largest number of resources, but the city is close to its tax ceiling, limiting the amount it can pull from the taxpayers. Meanwhile, the city is seeing many students leave the district for other schools, chipping away at the budget. Ward 6 Councilor John Krol said he could envision a path that would bring more students into the district, helping the city, while also helping small towns.



"We have the resources and offerings," Krol said.



McCann, however, doesn't have the issue of declining enrollment. The vocational school is just one of two in the county and its higher enrollment trend is expected to continue. But the school is funded by participating towns and if more and more towns approach the tax limits, that could significantly strain the funding for the school.



"The enrollment piece doesn't affect you as much but the rising costs do," Hockridge told the McCann School Committee. "We are all in the same boat one way or the other."



Superintendent Jams Brosnan said, "every school district has to look in the mirror and say 'how can we do better?'"
Plans for the Redwood Motel project show how the bluff behind the buildings will be restored. Planners Paul Hopkins, left, Chairman Michael Leary and Kyle Hanlon, who expressed concern over the evolving Redwood Motel plans. Signage for BMC's North Adams Campus. PreviousNext

North Adams Planners Asking for Clarity in Motel Plans



Developer Benjamin Svenson, left, and project manager Eric Kerns of the Beyond Place LLC update the Planning Board last week.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The continued evolution of the Redwood Motel project is also leading to confusion for the Planning Board.



Developer Benjamin Svenson and project manager Eric Kerns of the Beyond Place LLC were back before the planners last week with the latest changes to the project and more updates.



Last Monday, they were looking for an endorsement of the partial restoration of a bluff on the south side of the river that was also before the Conservation Commission the same night. That change was going to mean another 20 parking spots, which would tie in to future plans for food service in the old farmhouse.



But board members weren't quite sure what was being asked of them.



"I'm getting very uncomfortable of approving things I don't see in writing prior to a meeting," Planner Kyle Hanlon told the developers last week. "I'm really not sure what I'm approving now ...



"I love the project, I love what you guys are doing. I don't want to be the one that slows it down but I am uncomfortable with this procedure."



The development has gone through a few iterations since being presented more than a year ago as a remodel and rebuild of the former motor court. Since then, its added another 18 parcels including an adjacent piece with an 1813 farmhouse and the Blackinton Mill and former wastewater plant property across the Hoosic River. The additional space is allowing more rooms  about 48 total  and a footbridge connection to the north side for use of the undeveloped land beyond.



The board's been getting updates on changes and has approved some things but say it's getting harder to track the revisions even as it has been supportive of the project.



"This piecemeal approach can get to be very confusing for the board," said Chairman Michael Leary. "We don't know what we've approved, what we haven't approved by looking back at the records."



Was it the bluff, which they really didn't have purview over, or the parking lot, for which they didn't have plans?



"For us, it's the parking, the nuts and bolts, is there going to be a restaurant," said Building Inspector William Meranti. "That's what we want to nail down and have good solid plan in the end, so we can say this is what they built."



Leary said the changes have become more problematic since the original plan went through a public hearning.



"We approved the overall project early on and gave the opportunity for neighbors, for people who were going to be abuttors, to be notified that this is what's happening so they had the opportunity to express their questions their concerns," Leary said. "If there are people who don't like what's happening to the property next to them, they don't have an opportunity to come back to us. ...



"At certain points, we need to inform the abuttors that these changes are being made so out of fairness, they don't wake up someday and say I don't remember that as part of the approval."



Building Inspector William Meranti show the board mockups of signage for BMC North.

"Rather than doing a less than natural stormwater system and knowing we have this existing isolated wetlands right here that is stagnant because it doesn't have any water moving through  it it just kind of puddles there. It's nasty, boggy, stinky, it's a mosquito incubator really."



Reed Hilderbrand is working on the landscaping in that area and a design firm Lake Flato based in San Antonio is looking at the cluster that will include the pavilion, farmhouse, and connection to the foot bridge.



The hope is to use the farmhouse built by Truman Paul in 1813 as a dining area.



"We just want to create a great culinary experience, we're in conversation with a fantastic chef of creating some kind of more than a breakfast to our guests but maybe get some sort of lunch and dinner service, too," Svenson said. "We think that that courtyard is going to be a really special place to pass a beautiful afternoon and it's going to be a great portal to your experience of going the bridge ... kind of like a gateway experience."



He did not expect to have those plans ready until next year. The project is still on goal for the majority of it to open in time for Solid Sound in June. Svenson also expected to unveil a new name and logo for the motel in the coming months.



In other business, the board:



 Approved new signage for Berkshire Medical Center's North Adams Campus (with both Leary and Planner Paul Hopkins abstaining because of their related employment).



 Approved an exterior barber pole for Christopher Barton's business, the Klipper Kingz, at 14 Eagle St.



 Approved the transfer of property at 18 Holden St. from Pam Rosasco to Alexis Rosasco, and for Alexis Rosasco to operate an art and clothing design shop as well as a body art studio.
Warren Beatty hangs his thesis on billionaire profoundity on a pair of less than inspiring young lovers.

'Rules Don't Apply': The Politics of Entitlement

Maybe it's because I've recently had my fill of bragging billionaires that I was slow to build interest in director-writer-actor Warren Beatty's "Rules Don't Apply." The partially fantasized biographical sketch about the much mythologized Howard Hughes also starts off sluggishly and is a mite jagged. It isn't until about the midpoint, when Beatty's eccentric caricature begins to gel, that the melange of loony and philosophical almost compensates for what then, alas, devolves into a run-of-the-mill romance.



In the opening scene we are welcomed into the opulently celebrated tarnish that is Hollywood just before the death knell sounds on the studio system. A dozen years after the conclusion of World War II, America is flexing its financial muscle, and nowhere is that arrogance exhibited more lavishly than in Tinsel Town. Arriving to seek fame and fortune is Lily Collins' small town beauty queen, Marla Mabrey, one of innumerable contract players picked to join the movie mogul's stable of hopefuls. Her mother, Lucy (Annette Bening), is in tow to chaperone.



But where is Mr. Hughes? Will our would-be ingenue ever meet him, let alone finally be called for a screen test? Just the tycoon's fabled reputation and mystique, hinted at in rumors that only enhance the wished for prize, is available to the pulchritudinous ladies he has plucked from city and hinterland. When Marla beseeches Frank Forbes, the chauffeur/unofficial emissary assigned to her, for info, he sheepishly admits that he has never met the Big Guy, and is her analogous counterpart  one of but many young men hoping to gain a toehold in the Hughes organization.



Frank, essentially the Pip to Marla's Estella, has great expectations for a piece of land up on Mullholland that might be developed for middle-income housing, if he can sell the idea to the mystery man  if and when he ever meets him. But now, added to the ambitious fellow's plans is the wooing of his charge, which is clearly verboten in his contract. Conversely, if Marla is really interested in her admirer, played by Alden Ehrenreich, you wouldn't know it. Besides, as she oft reminds in the flirtatious dialogue that ensues, he's engaged to his seventh-grade sweetheart.



Beatty uses this scenario to posit some points, both serious and humorous, about repressed sexuality and its attendant, naughty hypocrisy in the post-McCarthy era. While that comes across more curious and camp than profound, the period-proper fashions and cars do at least create a visual genuineness. All starch and doylies, Bening's mother hen, as counterpoint to the storied Lothario her real-life husband plays, successfully sets the story's moral compass.






iciHaiti - Petit-Goave : The main perpetrator ofsabotage identified and on the run...





Saturday evening, the drinking water supply of the downtown of Petit-Goave was restored, after 5 days of interruption following the sabotage of the water tank in the night from Monday to Tuesday https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19509-haiti-flash-sabotage-of-the-water-tank-at-petit-goave.html



On the other hand, the local authorities indicated that they would have identified the main perpetrator of this criminal act, who is currently on the run and actively sought.



It should be noted that the police officers of Petit-Goave contributed to the recovery of water at the site of the tank by providing assistance. Let them be thanked on behalf of the people.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19541-haiti-flash-petit-goave-without-water-for-5-days-due-to-sabotage.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19509-haiti-flash-sabotage-of-the-water-tank-at-petit-goave.html



IH/ iciHaiti / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goave)


















The Trump Organization, owned by American president-elect Donald Trump, will remove its brand name from the only luxury hotel in South America that carried it, the Trump Hotel in Rio de Janeiro. The company said on Wednesday that the decision was due to delays in construction. Managers had expected to unveil the finished project, which cost 333 million reales ($90 million), before the start of the Olympic Games last August, but they had to open their doors with construction still underway.

The Trump Hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Silvia Izquierdo (AP)

More information Trump retira su marca de su hotel en Rio de Janeiro

The Trump Organization said that its team works hard to meet the highest expectations and to offer clients an experience of unparalleled service. The vision of the hotel no longer fits the brand of the American company, it said.

The Trump Hotel, built in Barra de Tijuca, an upper-middle class neighborhood where the Olympic Games were held, is the property of LSH Barra Empresas Inmobiliarias S.A, a company that is currently under federal investigation. Last October, prosecutor Anselmo Cordeiro Lopes made public his suspicions about LSH Barra during Operation Greenfield, a series of investigations into possible fraud cases that led to million-dollar losses for Brazilian pension funds.

According to Lopes, the fund that allegedly mismanaged government employees pensions is the same one responsible for the construction of the Trump Hotel in Rio. The possibly fraudulent investments comprised, the prosecutor said, 77.3 million reales (22 million) from the securities portfolio at Serpro Social Security Institute the institutes second largest investment position and 54.3 million reales (15.3 million) from the Social Security Management Institute of the State of Tocantins.

The Rio de Janeiro hotel was Trumps largest investment in Latin America

The Trump Organization, which only lent its brand name to the project and does not own the hotel, has not made a statement regarding the investigation. LSH Barra did not respond to this newspapers calls for comments. A source familiar with the project says the partnership between the American company and LSH Barra was dissolved by mutual agreement.

Two weeks earlier, the American president-elect used his Twitter account to announce that he would delegate all business responsibilities to his children and that the Trump Organization would not close any new deals during his time in the White House. The goal was to avoid accusations of conflict of interests between his duties as president and his objectives as a real estate businessman who owns and manages buildings in about a dozen countries. Trump will maintain ownership of the Trump Organization but said he will focus totally on leading the country.

Paulo Figueiredo Filho, the man behind the Trump Hotel project in Rio de Janeiro, is the grandson of the last president of Brazils military dictatorship. Based in Miami, the businessman has had no official link to the hotel project since January though he remains a minority investor. Yet, after the press published the story about the failed partnership  The Washington Post was the first to break the news of the divorce  he lamented the Trumps decision.

The hotel was slated to be ready before the Rio Olympic Games of 2016

I was the director of that company until 2015 and my relationship with all the members of the Trump Organization was always excellent. Unfortunately, since I am no longer managing the company and I am a minority investor, I cannot interfere in decisions that I do not always agree with, Figueiredo said in a personal statement published on his Facebook page.

My reverence for the family and my admiration for businessman and president [sic] Donald Trump with whom I share many ideas and who I supported enthusiastically during the campaign have not changed one millimeter. As he himself said, this is part of doing business, and who knows, maybe we will do others together, Figueiredo added.

Ongoing investigation

The Rio de Janeiro hotel was Trumps largest investment in Latin America where he only owns one luxury hotel in Panama and has lent his name to a residential building, still under construction, in the exclusive resort city of Punta del Este in Uruguay. His company also planned to build the Trump Towers in Rio, a multi-million dollar complex of five commercial buildings 150 meters high in the revamped area near the citys port, but the project has yet to make it off the drawing board.

The Rio Trump Towers are mentioned in the federal fraud investigation. Lopes claims the Trump Organization benefited through an investment made by a multi-million dollar fund called Fi-fgts (managed by Caixa Economica Federal) into the Puerto Maravilla Real Estate Investment Fund, a vehicle for investing resources in the Rio Trump Towers. According to Mayor Eduardo Paes (Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement, PMDB), the project would be the biggest real estate investment made in the city. The investigation into possible mismanagement at Fi-fgts is linked to Eduardo Cunha (PMDB), the former speaker of Brazils Chamber of Deputies, who was arrested on bribery charges in October. Cunha is currently in jail.

English version by Dyane Jean Francois.
After years of drought-like conditions , southeastern Spain awoke to a state of emergency for flooding on Monday after a weekend of unremitting winds and heavy rain in which two people lost their lives.

Officials in Murcia, one of Spains dryest regions, have activated a Level 2 plan, which extends the available emergency resources from the regional to the national level. Military personnel have also been called in following heavy downpours in the areas of Campo de Cartagena and Mazarron.

A man died on Monday in the Murcia municipality of Los Alcazares after being swept away by the current and falling into a swimming pool. The mayor, Anastasio Bastida, said that the streets in the downtown area are all under water.

The Segura River has overflowed in Orihuela, an unseen occurrence since 1987

Over 350 people have been rescued from their homes and cars since Saturday, according to a Monday morning update by Murcias emergency services.

The rains have caused partial road closures on around 20 roads across the region, and two lanes on the A-30 highway to Murcia city were cordoned off at Puerto de la Cadena after rockfalls.

The regional government has issued an alert through its Twitter account, recommending that people use their cars only if absolutely necessary and always on major thoroughfares, avoiding secondary roads. School classes have been cancelled in 28 municipalities.

The storm has dumped over 150 l/m2 of rainfall on three quarters of the territory of Murcia.

A street in La Alberca, Murcia. Marcial Guillen (EFE)

Valencia region

North of Murcia, in the Valencia region, the storms have been particularly intense in Alicante province, with rainfall of 59 liters per square meter (l/m2) registered in Montesinos, and 44 l/m2 in the popular tourist resort of Torrevieja. Regional authorities have issued a flood alert in the entire Vega Baja area.

A man was carried out to sea on Saturday morning in Finestrat, near the tourist resort of Benidorm, after trying to reach his quickly-flooding vehicle. An onlooker captured the moment when the man is pulled away by the waters on a road built over a natural riverbed that was the site of another deadly flooding in October 2011. His body was later found floating in the sea.

Meanwhile, children from around 50 towns in the provinces of Alicante and Valencia stayed home on Monday after authorities decided to shut down schools due to the heavy downpours.

In the town of Orihuela, in Alicante province, authorities reported that the Segura River has overflowed in several spots for the first time since 1987. Four nearby residents have been taken to Red Cross shelters for safety while the municipality remains on high alert because of the risk of flooding.

Rising rivers are also threatening homes in Ontinyent (Valencia province), Orihuela and Torrevieja (Alicante), where several people were evacuated between Sunday and Monday, while nine municipalities near the Jucar River remain on alert for rising water.

English version by Susana Urra.
The crisis gripping Rio de Janeiro , where government employees are threatening to stop working if they continue to get paid late, is now affecting one of the new seven wonders of the world. The Archdiocese of Rio, which is in charge of the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue, is asking for help.

Workers making repairs on Christ the Redeemer. Ricardo moraes (REUTERS)

More information El Cristo Redentor de Rio de Janeiro pasa el cepillo

Saying they have no money for the upkeep of the 30-meter tall sculpture  a task that requires five million reales (1.4 million) a year  religious officials are asking the faithful (and others as well) to make donations.

The monument, completed in 1931, is a magnet for lightning on stormy days, and requires constant repairs as well as a new lightning protection system.

But the economic crisis means previous forms of financing have dried up. Businesses that normally help with the upkeep of one of the most famous statues in the world are now considering the wisdom of further investment, the Catholic Church is unable to find new partners, and donations have dropped considerably, in the words of Father Marcos Williams, the archdioceses spokesman, in statements to O Globo.

The Church says it does not see a penny of the entrance fee revenues

However, the call for donations has raised some eyebrows. Entrance to the monument is not cheap at 68 reales (19) on weekends and during the entire high season. An average of three million visitors pay their fee each year.

Part of the money goes directly to federal coffers, as it is the central government that manages Tijuca National Park. Another portion of the revenue goes to pay the transportation company that holds the concession to take tourists to and from the site, located 710 meters above sea level.

The archdiocese says that it does not see a penny of this income.

It is not the first time that the administrators of the Christ the Redeemer statue have resorted to charity. For the last 85 years, it has been living off corporate sponsors, donations by the faithful, and funds raised through hosting weddings, christenings and First Communions inside the chapel located at the base of the statue.

As a matter of fact, construction itself would not have been possible without all the popular support that flowed in during the donation drives of 1923 and 1929.

English version by Susana Urra.
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International Migrants Day

Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "International Migrants Day is an opportunity to reflect upon the many ways that migrants enrich our cultures, economies, and societies.

"Like no other time in modern history, the world is on the move. In 2015, some 244 million people crossed national borders to seek jobs, join family, study, invest, and contribute to cutting-edge research.

"Migrants contributions to America are striking. More than 40 percent of our high-tech companies have been founded by immigrants or their children. First and second-generation immigrants to the United States have won 65 percent of Nobel Prizes awarded for work here, and account for one-third of our physicists, engineers, and doctors, 60 percent of our construction workers, and the majority of agricultural workers. Migrants to the United States take risks, work hard, invest, and innovate. They make our culture more vibrant and our nation stronger.

"In the face of heated rhetoric that can distort the debate about migration, we must redouble our efforts to dispel unfounded fears, fight xenophobia, secure our borders, uphold our immigration laws, and ensure all migrants are treated with dignity and that their human rights are respected.

"The United States supports the UN General Assemblys September 19 New York Declaration, which established a process to create a global compact for safe, orderly, and regular migration. The compact should improve the treatment of vulnerable migrants, open new paths for legal migration, and maximize migrants contribution to sustainable development. The United States is committed to advancing these goals diplomatically and through assistance we provide to countries around the world. 

"We are proud to live in a nation that has offered unparalleled freedom and opportunity to migrants, and reaffirm our commitment to assisting those who are most in need of protection and aid. We will continue to work with partners throughout the international community to make migration safer, more orderly, and more lawful. As our experience has shown, properly managed migration can benefit us all."
Attack in Jordan

Washington, DC - The United States condemns today's attack in Karak and stands in solidarity with the Government of Jordan, its security forces, and the Jordanian people.

We offer our deepest condolences to all the victims and their families, and recognize the bravery of the Jordanian security personnel who died protecting their fellow citizens. We extend our hope for a full and speedy recovery to all the wounded.

The United States remains steadfast in our commitments to Jordan, one of our closest allies and partners. Such attacks only reinforce our collective resolve to create a more secure and stable region and world.
Communique on Yemen

Washington, DC - The Foreign Ministers of the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates met today along with the UN Special Envoy and the Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs. They discussed the October 23, 2016 proposals conveyed by UN Special Envoy and endorsed by the Ministers. In reaffirming the proposals, the Ministers emphasized several key points:

The UN proposals, that include the sequencing of political and security steps, represent an outline for a comprehensive agreement whose details will be settled in negotiations.

Those proposals set forth issues to be negotiated by the parties and the Ministers emphasized the operative measures do not take effect until all parties have signed a comprehensive agreement.

The transfer of presidential authorities will not take place until the parties begin implementation of all political and security steps.

The Ministers agreed to provide full support to the parties and the negotiations until an agreement is achieved.



The October 23 UN proposals include seven key elements:

Sequenced security steps and necessary withdrawals Appointments for the political transition Resumption of consultations with the UN based on the GCC Initiative and Implementation Mechanism, the National Dialogue Outcomes, UN Security Council resolution 2216 and other relevant resolutions Additional withdrawals Signing an agreement Donors conference The national unity government starts a political dialogue to finalize the electoral roadmap and draft constitution.

The Ministers urged the Yemeni government in advance of negotiations to engage on the basis of the UN Special Envoys proposals. They welcomed the November 16 endorsement of the Roadmap by the Houthis and elements of the General Peoples Congress and called on them to engage urgently on the basis of the UN Special Envoys security plan.



The Ministers urged all parties to agree to reinstate a cessation of hostilities based on the April 10 terms and conditions. The Ministers urged all parties to immediately agree to a cessation of hostilities that will be put in place two weeks after representatives of the parties arrive in Amman to begin planning and preparations for the cessation.



The Ministers expressed determination to increase the flow of commercial and humanitarian assistance to Yemen through Hudaydah and requested that the United Nations develop a plan for increased port functionality that includes enhanced inspections that accelerate the provision of increased aid to reach the Yemeni people.



The Ministers expressed condolences for the deaths of Yemeni soldiers and the importance of reaching a comprehensive peace agreement to prevent security vacuums that can be exploited by terrorists.
A leaked audit from Mexicos State Attorneys Office highlights important irregularities during the investigation into the disappearance of 43 students in the small town of Ayotzinapa in the southern state of Guerrero in September 2014.

One of the many protests calling for action over the Ayotzinapa disappearances. MARCO UGARTE (AP)

More information El informe que recorre los cajones de Mexico

Mexican daily Proceso has published extracts from the report that point to a major official cover up to protect public officials and members of the armed forces. It adds that there is no clear line of investigation and that the priority has never been to find the bodies of the trainee teachers. As a result, a serious, impartial and effective investigation was never carried out, the 1,050-page document concludes.

The report is signed off by lawyer Cesar Alejandro Chavez, who oversaw the audit. It demolishes the work carried out over the last two years and could well invalidate the more than 200 volumes of evidence collected as part of the official investigation.

It concludes that the version of events whereby the 43 students were kidnapped by the Guerreros Unidos cartel and their bodies burned at a dump in the nearby town of Cocula is based on confessions obtained through torture and the deliberate omission of the roles of soldiers and police on the night of the events.

So far, only two victims have been identified.

Mexicos State Attorneys office will shortly release its report into the 2014 massacre

The audit states that not even the exact number of students who were at the scene at the time of the kidnapping is not known, something that seriously undermines the official version.

The leaked report was prepared by the Visitaduria General, an autonomous, but not independent body, within the Mexican State Attorneys office charged with overseeing the work of the department.

The Visitaduria had agreed to send its conclusions to the parents of the 43 students by August of this year in line with the recommendations of an international group of experts. When Chavez failed to do so, his boss, State Attorney Araly Gomez did so. Both resigned in October of this year, without citing their reasons for doing so.

The State Attorneys office confirmed the existence of the Visitadurias audit to EL PAIS, describing it as a draft, and adding that it was an internal document that was not for publication and did not comply with the legal requirements of the institution.

A serious, impartial and effective investigation was never carried out Leaked reports conclusion

However, Vidulfo Rosales, the lawyer representing the 43 students, told EL PAIS that the State Attorneys office had agreed to send its conclusions: but hid them because it didnt want to appear weak and inefficient.

The audit notes that of the 120 people detained in relation to the disappearance of the students, 95 confessed under torture; it points out 17 deficiencies and nine serious irregularities in the case and makes 10 recommendations and 26 instructions to the office of the special investigator appointed by Mexico's embattled President Enrique Pena.

It also agrees with an international commission of experts and the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (CIDH) that statements should have been taken from soldiers of the 27th Iguala battalion of the Mexican armed forces and that charges should have been brought against federal police for not intervening to protect the students.

The report also notes that the conduct of the 27th infantary division had fatal consequences for the students of Ayotzinapa. At the beginning of December, the head of the 27th Iguala battalion, Alejandro Saavedra, was given a senior promotion.

The audit notes that the official report accepts without question the involvement of the Guerreros Unidos drugs cartel, putting in secondary level place the responsibility of the Mexican state to carry out a systematic and rigorous search to find the disappeared students.

It also recommends that what happened in Ayotzinapa be termed forced disappearance and not kidnapping and to act against federal police officers who ignored information about the attacks and failed to act.

Sources at Mexicos State Attorneys office say that the institution will shortly release its definitive report into the events of the night of September 26, 2014. The question is what relation it will bear to the version leaked to the press.

English version by Nick Lyne.
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On the off chance you're in need of a very modern reminder that our bodies are decaying and death marches ever closer, look no further than this visual effects production tidbit from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

*Spoilers ahead if you havent seen the film yet*

At 60, Carrie Fisher was unfortunately unable to play a version of Princess Leia Organa younger than the one she played in the original Star Wars trilogy, and, apparently, wasn't even able to do the motion capture for the CGI version of the character - even though it used her own likeness.

I mean ideally, you get the original actors to play these roles, but its been 30-odd years since then, and so its impossible, director Gareth Edwards explained to the Radio Times.

People have aged so much that you cant even get them to do the motion capture. As you get older youre not the same, your whole body language is different.

And so, we had to cast specific actors to play them. And there was an audition process for all of that as well.

It appears that Norwegian actress Ingvild Deila played Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in the film, at least judging be her IMDb credit and this Twitter hint she posted a few days before Rogue Ones release.

Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin meanwhile was based on motion capture of Holby City actor Guy Henry.

Both CGI replicas were breathtakingly executed but raise a few ethical questions.

[SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Show all 13 1 /13 [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'I rebel' Straight off the bat, that instantly infamous line from Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso - "This is a rebellion, isn't it? I rebel" - is missing from the final cut. Probably a good thing, considering nobody needs Jyn's entire character motivation spelled out in quite such obvious terms. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Moody Orson Krennic This brilliantly moody shot from the film's teaser never makes it into the final cut, but there's a good chance it was never intended to, having all the hallmarks of footage deliberately shot for the trailer. Walt Disney Studios [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Moody Jyn Erso The same goes for this look at Jyn Erso in her Imperial disguise, which definitely has the look of a promotional shot to it. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'What will you become?' The look at Jyn's Imperial outfit coincides with the final line of a cut monologue from Saw Gerrera: "What will you become?" The confusing part here is that Saw is seen with the close-cropped hair he sports only in the prologue scenes, when Jyn is only a child. When she visits him in Jedha, his hair is much fuller and he's sporting a beard. So, was this speech somehow originally delivered to Galen Erso in a cut prologue segment? In the context of Galen's work with the Empire and his later attempts to evade them, Saw's words would make a lot more sense. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film And Moody Darth Vader Potentially another promo shot, considering this was used as the very first reveal of Darth Vader in the trailers. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Krennic and Vader However, this shot also shows a cut scene between Krennic and Vader, in which the former talks about the "power we are dealing with here". [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'The captain says you are a friend. I will not kill you' K-2SO has many similar lines directed to Jyn throughout the film, but they're a lot less sinister than this one. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Captured rebel pilots This shot from Jedha is missing. It doesn't exactly add anything to the story, but it's an added touch of grit which sets the tone nicely in the trailers. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'Good.' 'Good.' A cut moment between Jyn and Cassian, though it's a little hard to tell where this comes from - there's no moment where Jyn sits as co-pilot on the U-wing, since it's usually K-2SO in the seat. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Jyn faces off against a TIE fighter What's interesting is that this shot of Jyn limping across the Scarif communications tower is, of course, in the final film. It's just that the TIE fighter is entirely absent. Was this a cut moment? Was Krennic piloting that thing? Or was it even just cut into the trailer to keep audiences off the scent? [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Krennic on the Scarif beaches And what about this great shot of Krennic marching amongst the dead? The set-up and lighting seem to imply he survives the initial battle without getting shot by Cassian, and is on the ground when the Death Star destroys Scarif - if that's indeed the source of the glow in the background. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Jyn and Cassian in the Scarif battle In fact, the trailer footage seems to hint at a drastically different ending, which may point to what exactly got changed during the re-shoots. We see multiple shots of Jyn and Cassian running along the Scarif beach with the Death Star plans. Considering the battle is still in full swing, it suggests the archives and the communications tower may have been separate locations in the original version. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Jyn, Cassian, and K-2SO running through Scarif base And here, again, we see Cassian, Jyn, and K-2SO running with the data plans through the Scarif base. That means the droid wasn't originally meant to die (or whatever happens to droids) defending the archive room.

Read more: Jyn Erso could still appear in a future Star wars film
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*WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY AHEAD*

For all there is to celebrate in Rogue One's diversity, it has to be said that LGBT fans are still found lacking in representation.

Which is one of the reasons a fairly dedicated fandom sprung up around the idea The Force Awakens' Finn and Poe could be the Star Wars franchise's first same-sex couple, though the theory was unfortunately shot down by John Boyega himself.

Yet, the same has happened again, with fans now more hopeful that the Star Wars franchise will finally offer an LGBT couple to its canon in the form of Rogue One's Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus.

Vulture writer Kyle Buchanan writes of the duo's "old-married-couple" vibe, thanks to Baze's bemused looks shot across to Chirrut every time he launches into another monologue about the powers of the Force.

Also highlighting the line "I don't need luck, I have you"; Buchanan particularly picks up on Chirrut's death scene, having sacrificed himself by walking out into open fire in order to pull the lever allowing an urgent message to be transmitted to the Rebel Alliance.

[SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Show all 13 1 /13 [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'I rebel' Straight off the bat, that instantly infamous line from Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso - "This is a rebellion, isn't it? I rebel" - is missing from the final cut. Probably a good thing, considering nobody needs Jyn's entire character motivation spelled out in quite such obvious terms. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Moody Orson Krennic This brilliantly moody shot from the film's teaser never makes it into the final cut, but there's a good chance it was never intended to, having all the hallmarks of footage deliberately shot for the trailer. Walt Disney Studios [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Moody Jyn Erso The same goes for this look at Jyn Erso in her Imperial disguise, which definitely has the look of a promotional shot to it. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'What will you become?' The look at Jyn's Imperial outfit coincides with the final line of a cut monologue from Saw Gerrera: "What will you become?" The confusing part here is that Saw is seen with the close-cropped hair he sports only in the prologue scenes, when Jyn is only a child. When she visits him in Jedha, his hair is much fuller and he's sporting a beard. So, was this speech somehow originally delivered to Galen Erso in a cut prologue segment? In the context of Galen's work with the Empire and his later attempts to evade them, Saw's words would make a lot more sense. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film And Moody Darth Vader Potentially another promo shot, considering this was used as the very first reveal of Darth Vader in the trailers. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Krennic and Vader However, this shot also shows a cut scene between Krennic and Vader, in which the former talks about the "power we are dealing with here". [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'The captain says you are a friend. I will not kill you' K-2SO has many similar lines directed to Jyn throughout the film, but they're a lot less sinister than this one. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Captured rebel pilots This shot from Jedha is missing. It doesn't exactly add anything to the story, but it's an added touch of grit which sets the tone nicely in the trailers. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'Good.' 'Good.' A cut moment between Jyn and Cassian, though it's a little hard to tell where this comes from - there's no moment where Jyn sits as co-pilot on the U-wing, since it's usually K-2SO in the seat. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Jyn faces off against a TIE fighter What's interesting is that this shot of Jyn limping across the Scarif communications tower is, of course, in the final film. It's just that the TIE fighter is entirely absent. Was this a cut moment? Was Krennic piloting that thing? Or was it even just cut into the trailer to keep audiences off the scent? [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Krennic on the Scarif beaches And what about this great shot of Krennic marching amongst the dead? The set-up and lighting seem to imply he survives the initial battle without getting shot by Cassian, and is on the ground when the Death Star destroys Scarif - if that's indeed the source of the glow in the background. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Jyn and Cassian in the Scarif battle In fact, the trailer footage seems to hint at a drastically different ending, which may point to what exactly got changed during the re-shoots. We see multiple shots of Jyn and Cassian running along the Scarif beach with the Death Star plans. Considering the battle is still in full swing, it suggests the archives and the communications tower may have been separate locations in the original version. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Jyn, Cassian, and K-2SO running through Scarif base And here, again, we see Cassian, Jyn, and K-2SO running with the data plans through the Scarif base. That means the droid wasn't originally meant to die (or whatever happens to droids) defending the archive room.



Chirrut dies in Baze's lap, momentarily raising his hand to caress Baze's cheek; who in turn runs into battle repeating Chirrut's mantra of, "I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me", in a suicidal gesture of vengeance and grief.

"I don't mind people reading into [Chirrut and Baze's relationship]. I think that's all good. Who knows? You'd have to speak to them," director Gareth Edwards told Yahoo! Movies when questioned about the relationship, which is at least less of a definite "no" than Finn and Poe received.

Buchanan may have picked up on a (potentially intended) subtext between the two Rogue One characters, but there's something perpetually frustrating about LGBT fans being left with nothing but subtext, having to read into characters' sexuality instead of it being explicitly expressed onscreen.

 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story IMAX Featurette

Whether its Finding Dory having to sneak in its same-sex couple with a quick cameo, or Ghostbusters' Paul Feig buckling under the studio pressure preventing him from officially confirming Kate McKinnon's character in the film is gay, filmmakers are still having to speak in code when it comes to LGBT representation; a trope that hasn't changed since Holllywood's early days.

J.J. Abrams has stated in the past that LGBT characters will appear in future Star Wars films, so hopefully we're only simply talking a question of when, and not if.

And, as GLAAD's criticism of Star Wars' lack of LGBT representation stated: "As sci-fi projects have the special opportunity to create unique worlds whose advanced societies can serve as a commentary on our own. The most obvious place where Disney could include LGBT characters is in the upcoming eighth Star Wars film."
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A US metal band have cancelled two gigs in their tour over their views on firearms, including one where they were banned from bringing guns into a venue.

King 810, who formed in 2007 in Flint, Michigan, cancelled their Detroit show at Saint Andrew's Hall on 17 December after they were reportedly searched and told they could not have their weapons with them.

Frontman Dave Gunn claimed the band were "singled out" and searched each time they tried to re-enter the building.

"During this process they let us know that they don't do this to other groups and that essentially they were singling us out," he wrote in a statement on the band's Facebook page.

"After informing them that a few people in the group are licensed to carry for security measures we were still not allowed to come onto their property with protection. Michigan is an open carry state.

"We had every intention of playing and were looking forward to the show, as the biggest one of our careers to date. This is not an easy decision to make, but we have to answer to ourselves first and foremost."

Gunn later posted a video where he aired those same views and elaborated on the issue.

Two weeks ago King 810 cancelled a gig for similar reasons, when a venue in Chicago said it was uncomfortable with their excessive use of guns and violent imagery, citing the city's record levels of gun-related crime along with several complaints from locals about the band's scheduled performance.

But Gunn said that firearms were part of the band's culture and was not something they would apologise for, TeamRock reported.

(King 810/press image (King 810/press image)

Excessive use of guns to me is something like what happened with Dimebag, or just this year what happened in Paris  thats excessive use of guns, he said.

With all due respect to anyone in those types of situations, if anyone ever comes through the front door with automatic rifles theyre not gonna be able to kill a 150 people at a King 810 show, theyll probably be shot from the stage. So the guns arent going away and we dont apologise for anything.
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Everyone remembers that scene in Love Actually, when Andrew Lincoln turns up at Keira Knightleys door with a hi-fi, chunky jumper and messages of almost creepy love written on white card.

Saturday Night Live got into the Christmas spirit when Kate McKinnon, aka Hillary Rodham Clinton, stood at the doorstep, warning an elector about the potential dangers of the president-elect.

Eight days before Christmas, and just two days before 19 December when 538 members of the electoral college convene to rubber stamp the election of Mr Trump, Ms McKinnon reels off her worries on a stack of white cards while a giggly, undecided elector hovers in the doorway.

"Let me just say," one card reads. "Because its Christmas And at Christmas you tell the truth I know youre an elector And on December 19th Youre supposed to vote for Donald Trump.

"But bish" The next card says: "He cray"

Ms McKinnon's character lists the reasons why Mr Trump might be "cray": refusing to attend security briefings, provoking China to steal a US navy drone, and his cabinet appointees' negative stance on immigrants, conspiracy theories, women and gay people.

Ms McKinnon suggested the elector vote for anyone else  John Kasich, Tom Hanks, The Rock.

The spoof taps into the mind-set of millions of people who signed a petition to reform or scrap the electoral college, a system which elected Mr Trump, despite Ms Clinton gaining a lead of more than 2.8 million votes in the popular count.

Electoral college members are usually chosen due to their party loyalty, therefore most of them are likely to stick with their party's candidate come 19 December.

One elector in Texas and a group of Democrats, however, have vowed to become "faithless electors" by breaking their pledge to vote for the candidate that won in their state and instead vote for a more moderate Republican. But most of the faithless electors are already bound to vote for Ms Clinton and therefore the protest vote is very unlikely to swing the result.

During times of turmoil, the comedy show has the potential to convey a powerful message to the president-elect, who has already shown his ire about the Alec Baldwin sketches on twitter. Even Mr Trumps aides, such as campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, have shared their views on CNN, perhaps knowing the message was more likely to be digested by Mr Trump via the medium of cable television.

Electors who break their pledge may face a fine of up to $1,000 depending on state laws, a fact that Ms McKinnon brought up in the sketch. It was a small price to pay, the show seemed to suggest, to avoid Mr Trump being president for the next eight years.

But keep in mind, if Donald Trump becomes president, he will kill us all, the cards read.

In Love Actually, the US president visits UK prime minister Hugh Grant. Played by Billy Bob Thornton, he has blonde hair and acts inappropriately with a Downing Street staffer.

Mr Trump has yet to tweet about the latest sketch.
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The creatives working across the fields of design in Africa have long been helping to shake off tired stereotypes pressed on the continent by colonialism and racism. Now, a new book is celebrating the most exciting and imaginative of the bunch.

Africa Rising: Fashion, Design and Lifestyle from Africa, gives an overview of the work of newcomers and established names across design, fashion, photography, and architecture who borrow ideas from traditional cultures across the land-mass and weave them with contemporary influences, technology and theories.

Inspiring designers featured in the book include South Africa-born Athi-Patra Rugas playful colour-filled artworks (shown above) which span photography, textiles, printmaking and video.

Africa Rising - in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Africa Rising - in pictures Africa Rising - in pictures Men using the natural Bogolan dyeing technique, which is an ancient craft tradition in the Niger River, particularly Mali. By Le Ndomo / Boubacar Doumbia. Photography by Adriaan Louw / Design Network Africa Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures An art piece by South African-born artists Athi-Patra Ruga. Photography by Adam McConnachie, Courtesy of Athi-Patra Ruga and WHATIFTHEWORLD Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures An image from C-Stunners by Nairobi-based artist Cyrus Kabiru. The phrames were made using scraps of disused technology. Photography by SMAC Gallery, South Africa Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Photography by Flurina Rothenberger published in the magazine 'I love to dress like I am coming from somewhere and I have a place to go'. Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures From the photographic series Proud Women of Africa: Rainbow Girls, which captures the lesbians of South African townships of Gugulethu and Khayelitsha who have been disowned by their families. Photography by : Magic Group Media, Amsterdam, NL Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Babylonstoren, where guests partake in curated dining experiences. Most of the food is planted and cultivated on the farm. Photography by Babylonstoren Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Work by The Nest Collective which spans film, music, fashion and visual arts. Photography by Phyllis Galembo Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Photography by Phyllis Galembo, who documented the clothing of people across Nigeria, Benin, and Burkina Faso. Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Architecture by Kunle Adeyemi / NLE Photography by Reze Bonna. In collaboration with Makoko Waterfront Community, Blok Kats van Veen architecten, Dykstra Naval Architects, Thieu Besselink, Roel Bosch architecten, Urhahn + Borra, Pieters Bouwtechniek, Ikeyi & Arifayan, Matrix Design & Works Nig Ltd., Solarmate Engineering Nig Ltd. Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures A collaboration between Amandine David and Marie Douel, inspired by Burkina Faso. Photography by Emile Barret / Hors Pistes Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Photography by Hector Mediavilla, whose photo series the SAPE Society of Ambianceurs and Elegant People captures the dandies of Congo. Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Fantasma, a 'superband' formed in 2014 by producer and rapper Spoek Mathambo who recruited members from acros South Africa. Photography by Fantasma Gestalten 2016

Photographers include Phyllis Galembo, who documented the elaborate and ambiguous costumes of people in Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso.

Meanwhile, architects include Kunle Adeyemi, who designed a floating school which collapsed earlier this year but was nevertheless a highly imaginative attempt at problem-solving in Nigerias largest city of Lagos.

Design is such an important and growing industry in Africa, writer and editor of the Design Indaba website, Katie de Klee, who contributed to the book, told The Independent.

Designers in Africa are dealing with real needs, not just with desires for objects or aesthetic. They are problem solvers, and with so many of the fastest growing economies and such a young population, the race to solve those problems is really on.

In often challenging and resource-scarce environments, design in the Africa continent requires a certain type of creative alchemy that it doesnt elsewhere, she adds.

Klee says there is plenty that throw-away consumer cultures can learn from those at the cutting edge in Africa, both designers starting out and those in the continents design canon.

Klee hopes that readers will gain an understanding of how diverse and contemporary African design is.

I hope they realise that it is not just artefact and curio. That not only can it compete with global design, but also set trends and teach designers all around the world a few important lessons.
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Whatever your political leanings, it is undeniable that Margaret Thatcher was an immensely influential figure. Foremost as the first female British Prime Minister and champion of neo-liberalism. But, as the Victoria and Albert Museum have suggested by recently introducing items of her clothing into their permanent collection, in her dress, too.

The same week that BBC Four's Woman's Hour named Baroness Thatcher as the most influential woman of the last 70 years, the museum in South Kensington unveiled what they have identified as three iconic outfits worn by the late Prime Minister including the blue wool Aquascutum suit she wore to the Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool in 1987 and again to cast her ballot in that years winning election. A custom-designed brocade suit and taffeta opera cape designed by Marianne Abrahams by Aquascutum she wore to the Lord Mayors Banquet in 1979, and a black slub silk hat with feathers and velvet-flecked tulle designed by Deida Acero, which she wore to her husband Sir Denis funeral in 2003 and again at memorial for US President Ronald Regan in the same year, are also appearing.

Margaret Thatcher outfits shown at the V&A museum - in pictures Show all 3 1 /3 Margaret Thatcher outfits shown at the V&A museum - in pictures Margaret Thatcher outfits shown at the V&A museum - in pictures Baroness Margaret Thatcher at Lord Mayor's Banquet, Guildhall, London, Britain, 1988 Rex Shutterstock Margaret Thatcher outfits shown at the V&A museum - in pictures Baroness Margaret Thatcher at the funeral of Denis Thatcher, 3 July 2003 Rex Shutterstock Margaret Thatcher outfits shown at the V&A museum - in pictures Margaret Thatcher Prime Minister With Husband Denis Thatcher Cast Their General Election Votes At Castle Lane South West London 1987. Steve Back/ANL/REX/Shutterstock

Reconsidering Thacthers dress-sense seems particularly important in a year when the UK gained its second female Prime Minister  without a little controversy surrounding her own fashion-sense and its costs  and women have held (in Germany) and narrowly lost (in the US) the worlds most important seats of power.

Jane Tynan, a lecturer in fashion history at Central St Martins School of Art in London, says that our tendency to scrutinise what women wear is a reflection of a sexist society that draws attention away from the real work they do in politics.

Nevertheless, she argues that Thatcher was very aware of her image and used clothing as a tool of power. But a trend setter she was not. Instead, the former Prime Minster adopted the signature power-dressing style of the 1980s.

Like many politicians, she created a personal style to project political values. She followed trends to some extent but matched this with style references to emphasise her conservative values," explains Dr Tynan.

With power dressing she could tap into the image of a career woman but her reputation as a fierce leader then drove her to wear clothes that might soften her image, which was why she wore pussy bow blouses. A symbol of the past reflecting a more conservative femininity, the pussy bow blouse clashed with the aggressive power suits.

This was the paradox of the Thatcher image: at once she sought to embody conservative values while also seeking to assert her right to power as a woman. Conservatism did not necessarily embrace women in positions of power. What Thatchers wardrobe represents are the contradictions of a woman leader gaining power through a Conservative ideology, which limits female power in wider society.

In turn, the dark Conservative blue was a recurring colour in her wardrobe as, says Dr Tynan, was her choice of heritage brand Aquascutum.

Here she sought to represent a certain version of Britishness that would see her share in their strong tradition of Military and Royal clients.

Three decades later, clothing is still important for politicians - and still perilous for women.

It is clear from the choices made by Hilary Clinton in the run up to the recent US Presidential election that clothing matters for all politicians, says Dr Tynan of the Democratic hopeful who became synonymous with pantsuits.

Commenting on the recent furore surrounding Theresa Mays 1,000 leather trousers she adds: The PM was criticised for what she was wearing simply because she is a woman. It is clearly unfair that women come under more scrutiny than men in this regard, particularly as male politicians often purchase expensive clothes, for instance, Savile Row suits.

Yet, men still dont quite escape scrutiny either, she adds. As Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn knows all too well, clothing is also a symbol of values for men. And yet, in a world of spin and PR, politicians must know exactly what they are doing.

While Theresa Mays expensive fashionable trousers came under criticism, Jeremy Corbyn has in the past been criticised for being scruffy and not spending enough on his clothes."

But we cannot ignore the fact that people are also using clothing  and its symbolism  to wage political wars because it is such a powerful marker of social values.
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Two Republican lawmakers in Utah are drafting legislation claiming abortion is reversible with medication - even though theres no solid scientific evidence behind the idea.

State Representative Keven Stratton and state Senator Curt Bramble are hoping to introduce a law that will force doctors to tell women undergoing abortions that the procedure could be reversed.

Whilst admitting theyre not doctors, Stratton believes the abortion reversal should be fairly straightforward, and the idea is supported by Pro-Life Utah.

But theres little science to back up the concept.

There are two steps to a drug-induced abortion: first, mifepristone is taken which blocks progesterone, breaks down the lining of the uterus and causes the fertilised egg to detach from the uterine wall.

24-48 hours later, the woman must take a drug called misoprostol which causes contractions and mimics a miscarriage.

The theory is that if a woman is injected with a high dose of progesterone before the second drug, misoprostol, is taken, the foetus could be saved.

Abortion reversal was invented by Dr George Delgado, whose website Abortion Pill Reversal features both success stories and regret stories from women whove had abortions.

Delgado carried out a study into the effectiveness of the procedure in 2012 which claimed it worked for two-thirds of women, however the study had just six participants.

Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Show all 23 1 /23 Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions An abortion rights activist holds placards outside of the US Supreme Court before the Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. The US Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Texas law placing a raft of restrictions on abortion clinics, handing a major victory to the "pro-choice" camp in the country's most important ruling on the divisive issue in a generation. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Pro-life activists pray on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Texas abortion provider Amy Hagstrom-Miller looks on as Nancy Northup, President of The Center for Reproductive Rights speaks to the media outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions An abortion rights activist holds placards outside of the US Supreme Court before the Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. The US Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Texas law placing a raft of restrictions on abortion clinics, handing a major victory to the "pro-choice" camp in the country's most important ruling on the divisive issue in a generation. Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Texas abortion provider Amy Hagstrom-Miller wipes a tear as she walks down the steps of the United States Supreme Court with Nancy Northup, President of The Center for Reproductive Rights on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Abortion rights activists Morgan Hopkins of Boston, left, and Alison Turkos of New York City, celebrate on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Abortion rights activists Morgan Hopkins of Boston, left, and Alison Turkos of New York City, celebrate on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images) Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activist Morgan Hopkins of Boston, celebrates on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists embrace after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of a ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists embrace after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Pro-choice activist, Alissa Manzoeillo, of Washington, D.C. waits for rulings in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. A ruling is expected in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, a Texas case the places restrictions on abortion clinics, as well as rulings in the former Virginia Governor's corruption case and a gun rights case. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. AFP/Getty Images

The American College of Gynecologists (ACOG), however, believes the procedure is potentially very dangerous.

According to the ACOG, for 30-50% of women who take just the first pill (mifepristone), their pregnancies continue even without taking the abortion reversal pill.

The medical literature is quite clear that mifepristone on its own is only about 50 percent effective at ending a pregnancy, according to Dr. Cheryl Chastine. That means that even if these doctors were to offer a large dose of purple Skittles, they'd appear to have 'worked' to 'save' the pregnancy about half the time.

Whats more, flooding the body with progesterone can cause an array of side-effects including blood clots, hair loss and nausea.

It remains to be seen whether the bill will be passed when the 2017 Legislative session begins in January.
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Apple has hit back at Brussels after filing an appeal against the European Commissions ruling that it must pay 13bn (11bn) in back tax to Ireland.

The iPhone maker said it has been singled out and was a convenient target.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook previously said the European Commission ruling is total political crap and maddening.

The case concerns Apples historic reporting of Europe-wide profits through Ireland, which charges the tech firm only for sales on its own territory at Europe-low rates of 12.5 per cent.

Apple said in a statement issued on Monday: The Commission took unilateral action and retroactively changed the rules, disregarding decades of Irish tax law, US tax law, as well as global consensus on tax policy, that everyone has relied on.

If their opinion is allowed to stand, Apple would pay 40 per cent of all the corporate income tax collected in Ireland, which is unprecedented and, far from levelling the playing field, selectively targets Apple.

The company said the ruling had no basis in fact or law and is confident the decision will be overturned.

Ireland is also contesting the decision.

The European authorities accused Ireland of helping Apple to avoid tax by means of a so-called sweetheart deal that is in breach of EU rules. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who oversees competition policy, said this allowed Apple to pay an effective corporate tax rate of 1 per cent on its European profits in 2003, falling to just 0.005 per cent in 2014.

The Irish finance ministry said the European Commission had misunderstood both Irish law and had exceeded its powers, seeking to breach Irelands sovereignty in national tax affairs.

Ireland did not give favourable tax treatment to Apple  the full amount of tax was paid in this case and no state aid was provided, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Ireland does not do deals with taxpayers.

5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Show all 5 1 /5 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Facebook Facebook paid 4327 in corporation tax in 2014, after it made a pre-tax loss of 28.5 million, according to filings at Companies House. That's less tax that new average UK employee pays on their salary. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Amazon Amazons UK business paid just 11.9m in corporation tax last year, even though the online retail giant took 5.3bn in sales from British shoppers. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Google So well known for avoiding tax that it had the 'Google tax' on multinationals that move profits to low-tax countries named after it. Alarm bells started ringing in 2012, when Google revealed it payed only 11.6 million to the Treasury, despite taking 3.4 billion in the UK. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Uber Uber paid 22,134 in UK corporation tax last year despite making an 866,000 profit. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Starbucks In October, the European Commission ruled that Starbucks' tax deal in the EU was illegal, ordering it to pay pay between 20-30 million to the Netherlands.

The ruling means Ireland stands to gain an additional 11bn from unpaid taxes.

However, Irelands decision to appeal  rather than take the money  is based around its economys dependence on foreign companies.

This means the ruling could be a devastating blow to a country that has thrived for decades on attracting foreign investment through its favourable tax regime.

About 1,000 such firms, including Facebook and Google, have their European headquarters in Ireland, due mainly to its headline rate of corporate income tax, which is the second-lowest in the EU.

 Watch a sneak peek of Apple's Campus 2 building in California

The Commission has become much more aggressive in its approach to the agreements struck between multinational companies and EU member states. Previously it ordered the Dutch authorities to recover 30m (26m) from Starbucks with a similar amount due to Luxembourg from Fiat Chrysler.

Meanwhile, Amazon and McDonalds are in the frame over deals struck with Luxembourg.
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Ireland has laid out grounds for its appeal against European Commissions demand that it collects a record 13bn (11bn) in back taxes from Apple, accusing Brussels of overstepping its authority.

The countrys decision to fight the European Commission all the way through the courts for the right not to collect the taxes that the iPhone-maker supposedly avoided over the last 12 years might seem surprising.

Recommended Ireland accuses Brussels of exceeding powers in Apple tax dispute

Most governments across the world would be pretty pleased if they just got a court ruling allowing it to collect billions in back taxes.

So why the ingratitude?

Why has the Commission ruled in this way?

The European authorities accused Ireland of helping Apple to avoid tax by means of a so-called "sweetheart deal" that is in breach of EU rules. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who oversees competition policy, said this allowed Apple to pay an effective corporate tax rate of 1 per cent on its European profits in 2003, falling to just 0.005 per cent in 2014.

Both Irish authorities and Apple have repeatedly denied breaching state aid rules.

What is Ireland saying?

The Irish finance ministry said the European Commission had misunderstood both Irish law and had exceeded its powers, seeking to breach Irelands sovereignty in national tax affairs.

Ireland did not give favourable tax treatment to Apple - the full amount of tax was paid in this case and no state aid was provided, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Ireland does not do deals with taxpayers.

I still dont understand, why is Ireland appealing the ruling?

The ruling means Ireland stands to gain an additional 11bn from unpaid taxes.

However, Ireland's decision to appeal - rather than take the money - is based around its economy's dependence on foreign companies.

The country has structured its economy around attracting multinationals with its low corporate tax rate.

About 1,000 such firms, including Facebook and Google, have their European headquarters in Ireland, due mainly to its 12.5 per cent headline rate of corporate income taxthe second-lowest in the EU.

Apple, which employs 6,000 staff in Ireland, is believed to bring about 16bn into the local economy annually through salaries, tax and investment.

5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Show all 5 1 /5 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Facebook Facebook paid 4327 in corporation tax in 2014, after it made a pre-tax loss of 28.5 million, according to filings at Companies House. That's less tax that new average UK employee pays on their salary. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Amazon Amazons UK business paid just 11.9m in corporation tax last year, even though the online retail giant took 5.3bn in sales from British shoppers. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Google So well known for avoiding tax that it had the 'Google tax' on multinationals that move profits to low-tax countries named after it. Alarm bells started ringing in 2012, when Google revealed it payed only 11.6 million to the Treasury, despite taking 3.4 billion in the UK. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Uber Uber paid 22,134 in UK corporation tax last year despite making an 866,000 profit. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Starbucks In October, the European Commission ruled that Starbucks' tax deal in the EU was illegal, ordering it to pay pay between 20-30 million to the Netherlands.

So what happens if Ireland loses its appeal?

The ruling could be a devastating blow to a country that has thrived for decades on attracting foreign investment through its favourable tax regime.

The stock of foreign direct investment in Ireland at the end of 2014 was 311bn euros (280 bn), or 165 per cent of GDP.

Losing the appeal could send a chilling message to other companies that have either invested in Ireland or were planning to do so in the future.

What are the wider implication of the ruling?

The Commission has become much more aggressive in its approach to the agreements struck between multinational companies and EU member states. Previously it ordered the Dutch authorities to recover 30m (26m) from Starbucks with a similar amount due to Luxembourg from Fiat Chrysler.

Meanwhile, Amazon and McDonald's are in the frame over deals struck with Luxembourg. It wouldnt be at all surprising to see further probes opened if the EU finds anything it doesnt like.

Look for the bloc to seek out non US based companies in the future, to avoid accusations of unfairly targeting American businesses.
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Britains hedge funds lobby groups are to lay out their wish list for Brexit negotiations, which will include access to EU investors and workers, in order to mitigate the damage a so-called hard Brexit could have on the City.

Hedge fund managers in the UK find themselves in an increasingly precarious position following Britains decision to leave the EU. A hard Brexit would result in the UK leaving Europes single market and therefore the loss of crucial passporting rights, which allow financial firms to sell their services freely across the rest of the EU.

The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), Managed Funds Association and the Alternative Credit Council, which kept studiously quiet ahead of the EU referendum, will publish a document this week urging for those rights to be maintained, according to a draft document seen by the Financial Times.

Assuming the UK will leave the single market, the group will call on the Government to strike an equivalent agreement to maximise access to EU investors

According to AIMA figures, cited in the FT, about 85 per cent of European hedge fund assets are managed from the UK, and investment from Europe accounts for about a quarter of the money managed by UK firms.

Meanwhile, the industry contributes nearly 4bn annually in tax, while also providing more than 40,000 jobs across the UK.

Losing the ability to hire talent from the EU would also hit the industry as 20 per cent of its employees in London come from the EU.

A cross-party group of peers, in a new report published last week, said Britains financial sector must be offered a Brexit bridge to prevent companies moving to rival locations, such as New York, Dublin, Frankfurt or Paris.

The Lords also stressed the need for businesses to have access to highly-qualified staff and easily transfer them between the EU and the UK after Brexit.

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

For some companies, it might already be too late.

Lloyds of London has become one of the first major City businesses to confirm it will move a part of its operations to the continent next year in reaction to the UKs vote to leave the EU.
Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

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Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

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The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

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This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

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Growing numbers of young gay people are being forced from their homes because their parents refuse to accept their sexuality, two leading LGBT charities have warned.

Despite the apparent progress suggested by equality legislation and gay marriage, the Albert Kennedy Trust and Stonewall Housing have reported a dramatic increase in young LGBT people being forced into homelessness by parental hostility.

Some young LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people are being beaten out of their homes by physically violent parents; others report being sent abroad in an attempt to cure them of their homosexuality.

Some young LGBT people forced into homelessness by violent parents have told the Albert Kennedy Trust of having to sell themselves for sex to survive. Others are being driven into homelessness, not by the hostility of their parents, but by aggression from the wider community.

LGBT youth homelessness charity the Albert Kennedy Trust said it had seen a 20 per cent increase in the numbers of young LGBT people seeking its help with homelessness, from 622 in 2012-13, to 750 in 2015-16.

The charity estimates that 4,800 young LGBT people  a figure it says equates to up to 24 per cent of the youth homeless population  are now homeless or living in hostile environments.

Homeless LGBT young people, the trust concluded, are one of the most disenfranchised and marginalised groups within the UK.

The trusts chief executive Tim Sigsworth told The Independent: LGBT people in this country have seen the benefit of many positive changes to legislation in recent years, and to some it might appear that the big battles have been won. They havent been.

At The Albert Kennedy Trust we are seeing increasing numbers of young LGBT people who are homeless or living in hostile conditions.

In most cases young people have been driven out of their family homes because of parental rejection, abuse from within the family, and aggression or violence. Were seeing a particular increase in the numbers of young people identifying as trans.

The trusts findings were echoed by those of Stonewall Housing, which specialises in providing LGBT housing advice and support.

It receives more than 1,800 calls a year from people of all ages seeking help, and in the past year has noticed a 30 per cent increase in calls from 16 to 25-year-olds.

Michael Nastari, Stonewall Housings advice team manager, said: We have seen a dramatic increase in young people coming to us for help. The majority of people contacting us feel their sexual orientation or gender identity is the reason.

It can be that they are victims of antisocial behaviour where they live. It can be violence against them at home. Young people being excluded by their families is still a big issue.

The LGBT community, he added, has had recent wins, but we are now seeing a backlash against that from people who arent happy with it.

We can legislate, but actually changing attitudes takes a long time.

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

Mr Nastari said austerity had further pushed homophobic parents into kicking dependent children out of the home.

We have seen in difficult economic times that families that werent that tolerant anyway, under increasing financial pressure, excluding more.

Fears of an increasingly intolerant undercurrent in UK society were echoed by ex-homeless LGBT people.

Charlotte Smith*, a 24-year-old helped by the charity Centrepoint, said she became homeless aged 16 after her mother changed the locks at the family home having discovered her daughter was a lesbian.

Charlotte, who has since reconciled with her parents and did not want her real name published, said: There are a lot of horror stories. I have got about five close, close friends who have been kicked out of the house because of their sexuality. One or two were beaten out of the house.

I know people where their family tried to send them to Africa to fix them.

She added: I might be out and proud, but I am not singing it or holding banners  because I know a lot of people only tolerate us because of the legislation.

People will never call me anything to my face in the workplace, because they know they are governed by legislation. That doesnt change how they truly feel, though.

They wont say anything in public, but they will at the dinner table, behind closed doors.

A lot of people are still homophobic. And when it comes to their kids being gay, they dont take it well.

Research by the Albert Kennedy Trust found that although 83 per cent of homeless young LGBT people reported their situation having a negative impact on their physical or mental health, less than half had sought help.

Charlotte Smith said the plight of homeless young LGBT people reinforced the need for the Young and Homeless Helpline being campaigned for by charity Centrepoint and The Independent.

The majority of my advice came from my friends, she admitted. When it came to where to go, what to do  We didnt know any of the answers.

She was backed by Paul Noblet, Centrepoints head of public affairs, who said: With so many young people being forced to leave home because of their sexuality, it is vital they are able to find advice and information on where they can get support quickly. That is why the Centrepoint Helpline is so important.

*Charlotte Smiths name has been changed to protect her identity
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A law professor and former senior State Department official believes that Donald Trump may have committed treason in four different ways in his response to the Russian hacking of Democratic Party emails.

In an op-ed for the Boston Globe, John Shattuck wrote that while there was no evidence the president-elect knew of the hack ahead of time, his response to the action should raise eyebrows.

Even after the FBI corroborated the CIAs findings  that Russia did aim to assist in getting Mr Trump elected  the Republican tycoon called their conclusions ridiculous.

Mr Shattuck has listed four reasons (Central European University)

I think it's just another excuse, Mr Trump said in an interview with Fox News. I don't believe it. . . . No, I don't believe it at all.

Mr Shattuck pointed out that treason is committed by a person who adheres to their enemies, "giving them aid or comfort, or who has knowledge of the commission of any treason [who] conceals and does not disclose.

 Donald Trump completes victory tour by declaring 'we have tremendous hope'

He said that by denying the attack, and at minimum, failing to legitimise the FBI and CIAs findings, Mr Trump could fit the definition of treason in four possible ways:

* He is trying to solidify the political standing before the electoral college vote, which is set to happen on Monday December 19.

* He wants to undermine the US intelligence agencies that conducted the investigation so that he may intimidate them or shape them to fit his own agendas.

* Hes testing US intelligence agencies to see how far he can push back against their investigations or findings.

* He could be covering up any possible involvement or knowledge he or his team had in regards to the Russian cyberattack.

Mr Shattuck, a former assistant secretary of state who is now a senior academic at Harvard, said these possible explanations were not mutually exclusive, but all undermined the United States ability to fully investigate the attacks.

As president-elect, he should have a strong interest in presenting a united front against Russias interference with the electoral process at the core of American democracy, wrote Mr Shattuck. By denigrating or seeking to prevent an investigation of the Russian cyberattack. Trump is giving aid or comfort to an enemy of the United States.

In July, Harvard law professor Lawrence Tribe raised similar questions, stating that Mr Trump may have committed treason when he called on Russia to bring forth knowledge of Hillary Clintons emails in a Tweet.

Mr Tribe cited the Logan Act, which states that any citizen of the United States who corresponds with a foreign government with an intent to influence measures in relation to any disputes or controversies within the United States may be fined or imprisoned.

Mr Shattuck further argued that the confirmation by Russias deputy foreign minister of contact between Moscow and the Trump campaign two days after the November 8 election legitimised his claims.

Trump should seek to clear the air by endorsing the proposed investigation of the Russian hacking scandal, he wrote. For him to continue to deny Russias cyberattack and resist the investigation invites a specter of treason to hover over the president-elect.
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Katie Hopkins has apologised to a Muslim family after she suggested they were extremists with links to Al-Qaeda in a column.

Last year, the Mahmood family, who live in east London, were prevented from boarding a flight to the United States to visit Disneyland in California with their children after officials in Homeland Security revoked their authorisation to travel to the country without further explanation.

The case attracted widespread media coverage and sparked outrage with the families MP Stella Creasy urging former Prime Minister David Cameron to challenge the US over the issue.

 Brunel students walk out on Katie Hopkins

Hopkins aired her opinions in an article for the Mail Online  where she is a regular columnist  on 23 December, 2015 under the headline: Just because Britains border security is a Mickey Mouse operation you cant blame America for not letting this lot travel to Disneyland  I wouldnt either.

In the article, which has now been taken down, Hopkins suggested the family were lying about travelling to the States to visit Disneyland and that brothers Mohammed Zahid Mahmood and Mohammed Tariq Mahmood were extremists with links to Al Qaeda. She also branded Waltham Forest, where the pair live, a known hotbed of extremism.

Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Show all 16 1 /16 Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on 'plus size' 'To call yourself 'plus-size' is just a euphemism for being fat. Life is much easier when you're thinner. Big is not beautiful, of course a job comes down to how you look.' Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on naming children I think you can tell a great deal from a name. For me, there are certain names that I hear and I think Urgh. For me, a name is a shortcut of finding out what class that child comes from and makes me ask, Do I want my children to play with them? Theres a whole set of things that go with children like that and thats why I dont like those sorts of children. Hi, this is my daughter Charmaine. I hear: Hi, I am thick and ignorant. Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on gender equality 'Women don't want equal treatment, they couldn't handle it if they got it. It's a tough world out there. What a lot of women are actually looking for is special treatment. What women need to realise is that they have to toughen up.' Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on immigration 'I've always said if you go into a school playground and shout Mohammad, you'll probably get 100 children running towards you!" Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins to Benefits Street's White Dee 'Do you not feel like the patron saint of druggies and dropouts?' Channel 5 Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on tattoos 'Are tattoos just a badge for the stupid? For me, and for lots of people like me, when you see tatoos you think of someone who is just looking for attention, who hasn't managed to find a way in their life through conventional means and who is just shouting 'I want attention! I want to be looked at!' Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on addiction I dont believe what Russell Brand says about addiction. I just dont buy it. Gazza likes drinking, let him crack on. He is enjoying himself. Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on The X Factor 'The X Factor 2013 has ended in a painful showdown between a fat mum in a jumpsuit (Sam Bailey) and a small boy in whatever his mum laid out for him on his bed (Nicholas McDonald)' ITV Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on the Egyptian uprising 'The difference between most mothers and me is that I didnt sit around drinking coffee at baby group for 12 months after the birth of my baby. No, in three weeks I was back in my suit, back at my desk earning profit for my business and I dont see why other women shouldnt do the same.' Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on maternity leave 'Egyptian uprising continues to look like Bonfire Night. Protest fireworks. Right up there with angry cup cakes.' Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on 'gingerism' 'Ginger babies. Like a baby. Just so much harder to love. A ginger person with tattoos called Jayden? The triumvirate of horror!' Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on affairs 'I lied to get someone else's husband because I wanted him. I give myself 8 out of 10 for ruthlessness for that one.' Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on the elderly Personally I hate mobility scooters. I find their owners intolerable. Ran past a mobility scooter going up hill. Made me giggle. I need to grow up and stop being an arse. Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins after the Glasgow helicopter crash 'Life expectancy in Scotland is 59.5. Goodness me. That lot will do anything to avoid working until retirement.' Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on Ramadan 'Channel 4 broadcasts Islamic calls to prayer for Ramadan. A 30 day reminder that minority rules in the UK. Any more PC, it'd be a bloody laptop.' Katie Hopkins' most offensive moments Katie Hopkins on self-harming 'I am advised by the Twitterati to 'cut myself'. I grazed myself on my house gate yesterday. Will that suffice?'

On Monday, the news outlet published an apology to the family, which Hopkins tweeted from her high-profile Twitter account at 2am on Monday morning.

We are happy to make clear that Tariq Mahmood and Zahid Mahmood are not extremists, nor do they have links to Al Qaeda. They were travelling to the USA with their families to see one of their brothers for a holiday in California and they had indeed planned to visit Disneyland as part of their trip, it said.

The fact that the tweet was sent out in the early hours of the morning also did not go unnoticed:

The publication also apologised for a further column by Hopkins on 29 December which suggested Tariq Mahmouds son Hamza was responsible for a Facebook page which allegedly contained extremist material. This article also included a picture of the Mahmood family home.

Hamza Mahmood has pointed out that he is not responsible for the Facebook page, which was linked to him as a result of an error involving his email address. We are happy to make clear that there is no suggestion that either Hamza nor Teeba or Hafsa Mahmood (Hamzas mother and sister) have any links to extremism.

We and Katie Hopkins apologise to the Mahmood family for the distress and embarrassment caused and have agreed to pay them substantial damages and their legal costs.

The libel damages are understood to amount to 150,000 in addition to their legal costs.

In response to the settlement, Tariq and Zahid said: We are very pleased that, after a great deal of dragging their heels, the Mail and Ms Hopkins have now accepted that what they published was completely false.

Even to this day the US authorities have not explained the reason why we were not permitted to travel; we assume it was an error or even a case of mistaken identity. However, matters are not helped when such sensationalist and, frankly, Islamophobic articles such as this are published, and which caused us all a great deal of distress and anxiety. We are very pleased that the record has been set straight.
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Michael Moore has vowed to pay the fines of any Republican electoral college members who refuse to vote for Donald Trump.

The outspoken Trump critic and documentary maker has issued a further rallying cry to the electoral college members days after calling for protests and civil disobedience ahead of the college meeting.

The electoral college, which has 538 members with a number allocated to each state, will hold meetings on Monday to officially elect the next president of the United States.

 Michael Moore suggests Trump still might not become President

The electoral college is often seen as a rubber stamp procedure for members to vote for whoever won the most votes in their state and never before has the college blocked the result of the public vote.

However, in case some members are thinking of rebelling, some states have measures in place which mean they could be subject to fines should they go against the public vote in their state.

President Trump protests Show all 20 1 /20 President Trump protests President Trump protests Patrons hold a sign as people march by while protesting the election of Republican Donald Trump as the president of the United States in downtown Los Angeles, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators rally following the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators march following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests Thousands of protesters rallied across the United States expressing shock and anger over Donald Trump's election, vowing to oppose divisive views they say helped the Republican billionaire win the presidency AFP/Getty Images President Trump protests Demonstrators protest outside the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois Getty President Trump protests A police officer aims a launcher after demonstrators threw projectiles toward a line of officers during a demonstration in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests An officer examines a vandalized police vehicle as demonstrators riot in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators take over the Hollywood 101 Freeway just north of Los Angeles City Hall in protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests A woman holds up a sign reading 'Trump you are an Idiot' as demonstrators gather during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump outside the City Hall building in Los Angeles, California EPA President Trump protests A masked demonstrator gestures toward a police line during a demonstration in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, near the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada Reuters President Trump protests Musician Lagy Gaga stages a protest against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on a sanitation truck outside Trump Tower in New York City Getty President Trump protests A woman yells as she takes part in a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests A man dressed in red-white-and-blue sits on the curb during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests A protester sets off fireworks during a protest against President-elect Donald Trumpin Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests University of California, Davis students protest on campus in Davis, California, U.S. following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests An Oakland police officer checks out damage after a window was broken by protesters at a car dealership in downtown Oakland, Calif AP President Trump protests A protester faces a police line in downtown Oakland, Calif AP President Trump protests President-elect Donald Trumpis victory set off multiple protests AP President Trump protests A fire burns during protests in Oakland, Calif AP

Moore, who has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence in the wake of the election after correctly predicting Mr Trump would be elected despite all polls and official forecasts, sought to address this issue in a lengthy pleading post on Facebook on Sunday.

Heres my offer to you: I obviously cant and wont give you money to vote tomorrow, but if you do vote your conscience and you are punished for it, I will personally step up [and] pay you fine which is my legal right to do so," the 62-year-old wrote.

In the open letter to Republican electors, Moore pleaded with them not to vote for Mr Trump citing the accusation that Russian hackers interfered with the presidential election and leaked emails of the Democratic Party (which the Kremlin denies) and the declaration from the President-elect that he has not been attending daily security briefings.

Moore also suggested Mr Trump will not last the four years of the presidency  he has previously claimed he will be impeached  saying: Why risk the volatile presence of Donald Trump in the White House  and help to guarantee another generation of Democrats in the Oval office?

Republican electors, you have a chance tomorrow to fix this, to make it right, for yourselves as Republicans and for the country. Please find the courage to seize this historic moment where you put country over party, he wrote.

Moore is not the only high-profile person to attempt to put pressure on members of the electoral college. In a video released by Unite for America, Martin Sheen, Debra Messing and Bob Odenkirk were among celebrities urging the electoral college delegates not to vote for Mr Trump.

A Harvard University law professor, Larry Lessig, has suggested as many as 30 Republican members of the college are willing to break their pledge and vote against Mr Trump. However, so far only one Republican elector, Chris Suprun of Texas, has publicly said he will vote against the real estate mogul.
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A waiter has described how a Muslim woman was left barely able to breathe after two teenagers ripped off her hijab in a sickening hate crime attack in London.

The 27-year-old woman, who has not been named, was attacked on Old Church Road in Chingford last week while walking down the street.

Two white male teenagers are understood to have approached the woman from the side, pulling her headscarf off before pushing her to the floor.

Recommended Most Brits believe hate crime has got worse since the EU referendum

The woman managed to reach a table outside a nearby Turkish restaurant where she was looked after by staff.

A waiter told the Evening Standard: The poor girl was shaking like a leaf, we had to sit her down and give her water before she could speak.

She was having a panic attack when we saw her and could barely breathe, the waiter said.

Its sickening that people can do this.

The woman had reportedly been lying on the floor for nearly 20 minutes. She is understood to have recently undergone back surgery and was worried the attack had caused more damage, witnesses told the newspaper.

Paramedics later arrived at the scene and treated the woman for back problems before taking her to hospital.

The Metropolitan police has appealed for information in relation to the incident.

The two teenagers are thought to be aged between 17 and 19 and were dressed in black clothing. No arrests have been made and officers from Waltham Forest CID are investigating.
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The human rights of EU nationals resident in the UK must not be used as bargaining chips in Brexit negotiations, a parliamentary watchdog has warned.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights has urged Prime Minister Theresa May to secure the status of the estimated 2.9 million people from the EU living in the UK at the start of the Article 50 negotiations by reaching a separate preliminary agreement on the matter.

An interim report by the cross-party parliamentary committee also calls on Mrs May to clarify whether she intends to strip any rights from the EU nationals resident here.

The committee is demanding that any future legislation should include safeguards for EU nationals, and Parliament should have the final say on any changes to their status.

The report notes that International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has reportedly described EU nationals in the UK as one of the "main cards" in Brexit negotiations.

Committee chairwoman and Labour MP Harriet Harman said: "The Government must not use human rights as a bargaining chip.

"Moreover, the Government will continue to have obligations under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as we set out in our report.

"The UK Government could not deport the large numbers of EU nationals currently in the UK.

"In the unlikely and unwelcome event that the Government sought to deport EU nationals, there could be the potential for significant, expensive and lengthy litigation, leading to considerable legal uncertainty for a prolonged period of time.

"These cases would have the potential to clog up and overwhelm the court system."

The report states the Government would not be able to establish a rule that would allow the deportation of EU nationals merely on the grounds that they had only been resident for a fixed period of time.

Other factors, such as family connections, and the residence rights of children, would be relevant, and each case would need to be considered on its own facts, it said.

The committee is calling on the Government to lay out a detailed list of fundamental rights currently guaranteed to such people by virtue of the UK's EU membership and what approach it intends to take towards them.

The report also states any changes to the status of EU citizens must be voted on by both Houses of Parliament, and not put through in secondary legislation.

"The Government should issue detailed statutory guidance on the status of existing case law. It will also have to determine how it will approach the status of future EU law and the Court of Justice of the European Union decisions to ensure that it is not isolated from developments emanating from the EU," the report states.

The committee said the Government should continue to impose human rights clauses in trade agreements after Brexit.

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

Ms Harman said: "Any dilution of human rights standards would be extremely undesirable.

"There is an argument to be made that if the UK enters into any new agreements, this is an opportunity to raise standards."

Press Association
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A 20-year-old student at Newcastle University has died after what police described as consuming excessive amount of alcohol.

Ed Farmer, who was reportedly studying economics at the university, was rushed to hospital last week in a life-threatening condition. He died in hospital.

A spokesperson for Northumbria police said officers received a report at 5:45am on Tuesday 13 December from RVI hospital of a man who was brought into hospital in a life threatening condition.

Initial inquiries suggested that the mans condition was as a result of consuming excessive amounts of alcohol on 14 December, the spokesperson said.

The investigation in to the students death has been passed to the coroner and police are assisting them with their enquiries. We are supporting the mans family at this difficult time, the spokesperson added.

According to the Daily Mail, Mr Farmer had been taking part in an unofficial student society initiation the night before he was taken to hospital, in which students are often dared to consume large amounts of alcohol and undertake dangerous challenges.

Mr Farmer was in his first year at the university. He had reportedly joined from the boarding school Oakham School in Rutland.

Ed Farmer was studying economics at Newcastle University (Facebook)

The students father released a statement to the newspaper, in which he thanked his son for all the memories.

You have undoubtedly proved to each and every one of us that there is such a thing as the guy who has it all  the intelligence, the humour, the looks and the personality. Not many people can challenge a position life that. Thank you for all the memories, he said.

His father also thanked the staff at the hospital and the university who have supported his family through this time.

Student news in pictures Show all 34 1 /34 Student news in pictures Student news in pictures South Korean policemen detain a student demonstrator during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye EPA Student news in pictures South Korean policemen detain student protestors during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea. The protesters demanded that the parliament takes steps to impeach President Park Geun-Hye EPA Student news in pictures Filipino demonstrators face off with anti-riot police during a protest near the US Embassy in Manila, Philippine EPA Student news in pictures Hundreds of protesters including Indigenous People, students and militant groups marched towards the US Embassy to protest against the presence of US military troops and condemning the violent dispersal which left at least forty people hurt including twenty police officers and three people who were run over by a police van EPA Student news in pictures A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students Student news in pictures A man holds up a photograph of a missing student with a caption reading 'We are missing 43,' during a meeting marking the 25-month anniversary of the disappearances of 43 students in the southern state of Guerrero, in Mexico City. A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students AP Student news in pictures Miguel Perez, an intern student from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, puts away his cell phone before walking into the operating room at the Dr. Isaac Gonzalez MartInez Oncological Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Once they complete their general surgery training, many residents are moving to the United States in search of better wages, one of the main factors linked to the current shortage of specialists in the Island Student news in pictures Fewer EU students have applied to start university courses in the UK next autumn. There was a 9% fall in the numbers who had applied for courses, according to admissions service UCAS. PA wire Student news in pictures University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela. Masses of protesters jammed the streets of Venezuela's capital on the heels of a move by congress to open a political trial against Maduro, whose allies have blocked moves for a recall election AP Student news in pictures University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela AP Student news in pictures Thousands, most of them high school students, march during a demonstration in Madrid, Spain, on a one day strike to protest about the country's education law that increases the number of annual exams AP Student news in pictures Students gather on the west mall to confront the Young Conservatives of Texas student organization over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action Student news in pictures Donald Parish Jr, right, confronts Electrical and Computer Engineering senior Dewayne Perry over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action AP Student news in pictures Brigham Young University announced that students who report sexual assault will no longer be investigated for possible violations of the Mormon-owned school's strict honor code that bans such things as alcohol use AP Student news in pictures Students of secondary education march to protest against the final examinations and LOMCE (The Improvement Quality Education Law) law, after a call by trade unions, in Murcia, Spain EPA Student news in pictures South African police have used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of protesters who had marched to the parliament building to call for free university education, where the finance minister was giving a budget speech AP Student news in pictures Police break up student protests outside the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa Reuters Student news in pictures South African Policemen fire rubber bullets at student protestors in Cape Town, South Africa AP Student news in pictures A student protestor is hit by a rubber bullet in Cape Town, South Africa AP Student news in pictures An injured student is helped by colleagues during protest outside the parliament during South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's medium term budget speech in Cape Town, South Africa Reuters Student news in pictures Plaintiffs and bereaved families of elementary school students killed in the tsunami that followed a major earthquake in northeastern Japan in 2011, show banners that say 'victory in a suit filed with the Sendai District Court' in Sendai. A Japanese court ordered municipalities to pay $13.7 million dollars to families of school children who were swept away to their deaths by the 2011 tsunami Getty Student news in pictures A group of student at Ewha Womans University calls for a thorough investigation into those involved in years of engagement with state affairs backstage by Choi Soon-sil, a personal confidante of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, at the school's front gate in Seoul, South Korea EPA Student news in pictures Students raise placards during a strike action called by the student union, in Madrid against university entry exams Getty Student news in pictures Libyans throw a newly graduated student into a fountain as they celebrate during the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Thousands of Thai Catholic students take part in mourning tributes and in singing the Thai Royal Anthem to honour late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Saint Dominic School in Bangkok, Thailand EPA Student news in pictures Students of Silpakorn University paint portraits of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty Student news in pictures A student of Silpakorn University paints a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty Student news in pictures St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend PA wire Student news in pictures St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend, an annual tradition where student 'parents' inflict tasks on the unfortunate first-years they have adopted as 'children' as part of a mentoring scheme PA wire Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba Reuters Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana, Cuba Reuters Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) wait in line to enter a classroom in Havana, Cuba Reuters

Professor John Wilson, director of Newcastle Universitys business school, said: It is with deep sadness we can confirm the death of one of our students and our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.

Whilst he was just starting out on his studies and only with us for a short period of time, he showed great academic promise and was well liked amongst his fellow students.

A spokesperson for Newcastle University said in a statement: We are deeply saddened by the news of the death of one of our students and our thoughts and sympathies are with the family at this very difficult and distressing time.

In close collaboration with our students union, we take a very hard line on all activities and behaviours that may constitute a risk to the safety of our students.

Both the university and the students union have strict codes of practice and policies on safety and responsible behaviour, and we take every opportunity to ensure that our students understand the importance of safety matters.
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Scotland will hold a new referendum on separation from the UK unless it can stay in the European Union single market, Nicola Sturgeon will warn this week, adding to the pressure on Theresa May as the UK prime minister draws up plans for Brexit.

Scottish First Minister Sturgeon will detail proposals for a new arrangement with the UK to enable her country to remain inside the single market area after Brexit, even if the London government pulls England out. Voters in Scotland chose to stay in the EU in Junes referendum and now face being pulled out against their wishes by votes cast in England, she said in an commentary published in the Financial Times on Sunday.

It remains my view, and that of the government I lead, that the best option for Scotland remains full membership of the EU as an independent member state, Sturgeon said. Independence must remain an option for safeguarding our European status, if it becomes clear that our interests cannot be protected in any other way.

 Theresa May refuses to comment on suggestions Brexit deal will take 10 years

The ultimatum from Edinburgh on single-market membership will intensify the strain on May, whos already battling to contain tensions within her own Conservative Party. On Sunday, Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, hinted that he was keen for a clean break from Brussels, while the former chancellor, George Osborne, warned that the UK should keep the closest possible ties to the bloc.

May has promised to listen to the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before taking an agreed UK-wide negotiation position to Brussels for formal talks, due to begin by the end of March.

Sturgeon said she wanted the UK as a whole to remain inside the single market, with tariff-free trade and freedom for banks to provide services across the 28-member bloc. If the UK government opts not to remain in the single market, our position is that Scotland should still be supported to do so - not instead of, but in addition to, free trade across the UK. she said.

A policy paper will outline how such a radical step could be achieved, including which powers would need to be devolved from London to Edinburgh, she said, warning that 80,000 jobs would be lost if Scotland left the single market. Such a solution will require political goodwill and an openness to new ways of doing things, Sturgeon said.

On Sunday, Fox warned that if the UK sought to remain part of the customs union - the EUs tariff-sharing trade bloc - it would limit the countrys options for new trade deals. He told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show that Turkey could provide a hybrid model for partial membership of the customs union, adding that the UKs future relations to the group didnt have to be binary.

Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Show all 13 1 /13 Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Supreme Court Brexit Challenge People wait to enter the public gallery outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Gina Miller, co-founder of investment fund SCM Private arrives at the Supreme court in London on the first day of a four-day hearing Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waves the EU flag in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Satirical artist Kaya Mar poses with two of his paintings in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin. The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Businesswoman Gina Miller arrives at the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Attorney General Jeremy Wright arrives at the Supreme Court in London EPA Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Protesters outside the Supreme Court in London, where the Government is appealing against a ruling that the Prime Minister must seek MPs' approval to trigger the process of taking Britain out of the European Union PA wire Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protesters wearing a judge's wigs and robes stands outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protester holds up a placard outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waiting to enter the public gallery waves a European Union flag outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters

In an interview on the same show, Osborne warned against ending tariff-free trade with Germany and France after Brexit. He said leaving the single market and the customs union would be the biggest act of protectionism in British history.

Bloomberg
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Theresa May dropped the clearest hint yet that Britain will still pay into the EU budget after Brexit  despite being told it would be betraying voters.

Delivering a statement on last weeks EU summit, the Prime Minister still gave little away about her Brexit strategy, refusing to tell MPs when it would be published.

And she batted away questions about single market membership as inquiries about means when what mattered was her end game of securing the best possible deal.

However, Ms May did appear to confirm that she is willing to continue paying into the EU budget, possibly as part of a transitional deal to cushion the exit.

The move will be controversial both with hardline Brexit supporters  and with voters who were told that 350m a week more will be given to the NHS instead.

Ms May was put under pressure by Conservative backbencher Philip Davies, who said funding for the EU was one of the big issues in the referendum campaign.

He said: Will the Prime Minister make a pledge that, when we leave the EU, we will not paying any money into the EU budget?

Surely even contemplating that will be contemplating betraying what people voted for?

But Ms May refused to give such a pledge, saying instead: Whats important is that, when we leave the European Union, people want to ensure that its the British Government that decides how taxpayers money is spent.

Other Cabinet ministers, led by Chancellor Philip Hammond, are calling for a transitional Brexit deal  which would require payments  but Ms May has refused to back her key colleague publicly.

In Brussels on Thursday, the other EU leaders spent just 20 minutes discussing Brexit  after Ms May had left for her RAF plane back to Britain.

They refused Ms Mays request for a quick decision on expat rights after Brexit until after Article 50 has been invoked, early next year.

And the Prime Minister was warned that a 50bn Brexit bill  for outstanding liabilities  would be one of the first issues on the table in the negotiations.

In the Commons, a string of right-wing Tory backbenchers urged Ms May not to give ground in the talks and to move ahead as quickly as possible.

Peter Lilley, the former Conservative Cabinet minister, demanded a speedy departure claiming every week Britain remains in the EU costs the country 250m.

Ms May again vowed to trigger Article 50 by the end of March  even if the Supreme Court rules that Parliament must give its approval.

And she hinted she wants Britain to remain in Europol and keep the European arrest warrant, after Brexit  having argued for them as Home Secretary.

But her refusal to give any further details of her economic Brexit strategy was strongly criticised by Pat McFadden, a pro-EU Labour MP.

He said: The Prime Ministers New Years resolution must be to give more information to Parliament and the people about what the Government actually wants from Brexit.

With the deadline for triggering Article 50 fast approaching, it is crucial that the Government presents a proper Brexit plan to Parliament in short order in the New Year.
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The rights of EU nationals living in the UK are not bargaining chips in Brexit negotiations, a parliamentary watchdog has warned the Prime Minister.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights has told Theresa May to treat as her first priority the status of the estimated 2.9 million people from the EU living in the UK, and reach a separate preliminary agreement on the matter before negotiations begin next year.

An interim report by the cross-party parliamentary committee also calls on Mrs May to clarify whether she intends to strip any rights from the EU nationals resident here.

Committee chairwoman Harriet Harman said: "The Government must not use human rights as a bargaining chip.

"Moreover, the Government will continue to have obligations under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as we set out in our report.

"The UK Government could not deport the large numbers of EU nationals currently in the UK.

"In the unlikely and unwelcome event that the Government sought to deport EU nationals, there could be the potential for significant, expensive and lengthy litigation, leading to considerable legal uncertainty for a prolonged period of time.

"These cases would have the potential to clog up and overwhelm the court system."

The report states the Government would not be able to establish a rule that would allow the deportation of EU nationals merely on the grounds that they had only been resident for a fixed period of time.

Other factors, such as family connections, and the residence rights of children, would be relevant, and each case would need to be considered on its own facts, it said.

The committee is calling on the Government to lay out a detailed list of fundamental rights currently guaranteed to such people by virtue of the UK's EU membership and what approach it intends to take towards them.

The report also states any changes to the status of EU citizens must be voted on by both Houses of Parliament, and not put through in secondary legislation.

"The Government should issue detailed statutory guidance on the status of existing case law. It will also have to determine how it will approach the status of future EU law and the Court of Justice of the European Union decisions to ensure that it is not isolated from developments emanating from the EU," the report states.

The committee said the Government should continue to impose human rights clauses in trade agreements after Brexit.

Ms Harman said: "Any dilution of human rights standards would be extremely undesirable.

"There is an argument to be made that if the UK enters into any new agreements, this is an opportunity to raise standards."
Kiraki: Why Syrian Armenians do not settle in regions (video)

This weeks topic of Kiraki (Sunday) program is the problems of Syrian Armenians. As a result of the conflict in Syria, as of now 25 000 people have moved from Syria to Armenia; about 20 000 of them settled in the homeland. NGOs, International organizations, as well as individuals from Armenia and the Diaspora got engaged in assisting the Syrian Armenians. According to different calculations, there are still more than 20 000 Syrian Armenians in Syria. The flow of Syrian Armenians to Armenia still continues. Employment and accommodation issues of Syrian Armenians remain priority. What the homeland has been able to do for Syrian Armenians during these 4 years, how they integrate, which the main issues are and what solutions can be reached. Watch all about this in the video! The program hosted Firdus Zakaryan, Head of the Staff of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, Head of the working group dealing with problems of Syrian Armenians, and Khachik Jozikyan, Vice President of Syrian Community in Armenia NGO. Our colleagues from Kyavar and Lori TV companies prepared materials for the program.
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The Governments implementation of English Votes for English Laws in Parliament does not command the respect of MPs from across the UK and contains elements which are are complex and largely unnecessary, a committee of MPs has said.

The Procedure Committee said the system, introduced by the Conservative government, needed to be re-drafted and simplified - warning that the system needed to be changed if [it] is to be sustainable through the political stresses it must expect to face in the future.

The complexity of a system which seeks to join two separate functionsa political voice and a legislative vetohas led to imperfect results, the report reads.

It is this contradiction at the heart of the systems design that the Government must urgently address.

The cross party group of MPs called for any new system to be made on the basis of a consensus of MPs from a different part of the UK.

One year on from their introduction, we find that the new EVEL procedures do not command the respect and support across all parties that they should if the system is to be sustainable through the political stresses it must expect to face in the future, the MPs said.

This is not a sound basis for a major long-term change to the legislative process in this House.

When reviewing the operation of the present system, and contemplating any change, it is vital that the Government seek consensus from Members representing constituencies in each constituent nation of the United Kingdom for the basis of a system which will meet its policy objectives.

Charles Walker, chair of the Procedure Committee, said: I hope that the Government will reflect on our report and use it as an opportunity to greatly simplify the procedures around EVEL.

The current procedural complexities around English votes for English laws do no credit to the House.

The current system was introduced by the Government without any legislation, through standing orders in the House of Commons.

The Scottish National Party described the system as "absurd" at its introduction.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters 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

Under the current EVEL method, the Speaker designates a part of the bill as relating to just England or England and Wales.

An extra committee stage composed of either a committee of English MPs or a legislative grand committee of all English or English and Welsh MPs is applied to the bill.

The idea was supposed to solve the so-called West Lothian question whereby Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh MPs are able to vote on matters that only affect England.
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Michael Fallon has confirmed British-made cluster bombs have been used by Saudi Arabian forces in the current Yemen conflict.

The admission by the Defence Secretary in the Commons came after a Government analysis indicated that cluster bombs manufactured in the UK in 1980s had been used by the Saudi-led coalition in the on-going civil war in Yemen.

The Arab coalition added that there was limited use the cluster munitions against legitimate military targets, according to a Middle East news service. Mr Fallon added that he welcomed Riyadhs confirmation it will not use further BL-755 cluster munitions.

Due to their extraordinary risk to civilians, cluster bombs, which release small bomblets over a wider area, were banned in 2010 in an international treaty signed by Britain. The Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster bombs. Saudi Arabia, however, is not signed up to the convention.

According to Human Rights Watch the weapons pose a threat post-conflict by leaving remnants, including submunitions that fail to explode upon impact becoming de facto landmines.

Speaking in the Commons, Sir Michael told MPs: One specific allegation  that UK-supplied cluster munitions were used in January this year  was raised in this House on 24 May.

The United Kingdom signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2008 and has not supplied any such weapons to Saudi Arabia since 1989  over a quarter of a century ago.

Our initial view, set out by the then minister of state for defence procurement and based on information we held at the time, was that a UK weapon had not been used but we committed to analyse the allegation and to seek a full investigation by the coalition.

That investigation has now concluded. The coalition confirmed earlier today that a limited number of BL-755 cluster munitions exported from the United Kingdom in the 1980s were dropped in Yemen, including in the incident alleged by Amnesty International not far from the Saudi border by a coalition aircraft.

Shadow Defence Minister Wayne David replied: The latest revelation about UK-made cluster munitions being used by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen is deeply worrying.

Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Show all 4 1 /4 Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Hugh McLeod Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Hugh McLeod Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Hugh McLeod Why Yemen's future threatens to destroy its past Hugh McLeod

Not only are these weapons immediately dangerous but they come with a toxic legacy  lying on battlefields and threatening civilians, especially children, long after a conflict has ended.

Amnesty International called for a suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Its UK director Kate Allen said: Over the years, the UK has sold billions and billions of pounds worth of weapons  including cluster bombs  to Saudi Arabia, and its hardly a surprise theyre turning up in bombed-out villages in Yemen.

Thousands of Yemeni civilians have already been killed and injured by the Saudi coalitions reckless and indiscriminate bombing of homes, hospitals, schools and factories.

It doesnt require a belated investigation within the MoD to tell us what we already knew  that the UK should immediately suspend all further weapons sales to Saudi Arabia that risk fuelling these appalling atrocities in Yemen.

The Prime Minister of the rebel Houthi government in Yemen has previously accused Britain of war crimes and said politicians cared more about making profits from arms sales than the humanitarian crisis enveloping his country.

Speaking last week Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour said: They have sold cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia. They know the Saudis are going to drop them on Yemen [...] in Saadah and in Sanaa and other provinces.

I dont think they are guilty of war crimes, I believe so. They are participating in the bombing of Yemen people.

Before Mr Fallons statement the Ministry of Defence said the Government takes such allegations very seriously. A spokesperson added: We have analysed the case carefully using all available information, considering all possibilities, and raised the issue with the Saudi-led coalition.

Andrew Smith, a spokesman for the Campaign Against Arms Trade, told The Guardian: The use of UK cluster bombs by Saudi Arabia is characteristic of a brutal war and a brutal regime. If Saudi forces are prepared to use cluster bombs, then why is the UK continuing to arm and support the regime?

Once a weapon has left these shores theres little if any control over where and when it will be used and who it will be used against. The UK must act now to stop the arms sales and to end its complicity in the humanitarian catastrophe that has been unleashed on the Yemeni people.

Oxfam chief executive Mark Goldring said the Governments international credibility is being mangled under the weight of evidence of international humanitarian law violations in Yemen.

He added: It cannot possibly expect to be taken seriously while it continues to ignore the breaches of the rules of war and sell arms that fuel this brutal conflict. The mounting civilian casualties in Yemen, the millions forced to flee their homes, the collapse of health care and the economy, all point to the same simple conclusion; it is imperative to end arms sales and military support to Saudi Arabia now and bring the warring parties to the negotiating table.
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The right to go on strike is a fundamental British liberty and should not be restricted by the Government, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress has said.

Frances OGrady told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the Government had another agenda in its opposition to the Southern railway strike and that it wanted to undermine trade union rights further.

Her warning comes as Downing Street distances itself from calls to strengthen anti-trade union laws further. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling previously said he would not rule anything out when it came to anti-strike laws.

This year the Government passed the Trade Union Act, which introduced further red tape to make it harder for workers to down tools.

But some Conservative MPs have seized upon the latest strike on ailing suburban railway networks in the south of the capital.

Many people worry that theres another agenda here. Some MPs seem to be calling for even more draconian laws against trade unions when weve just had the Trade Union Act, Ms OGrady told the Today programme.

Most people agree striking is a last resort, we dont want to do that, we want a fair agreement. The right to strike is a fundamental British liberty that the vast majority of the public support, including voters across all parties.

Conservative MP Chris Philp said during an appearance on the same programme that other countries had tighter restrictions on the extent to which railway workers could strike.

Chris Grayling had previously refused to rule out increasing strike red tape (PA)

I completely accept the right of people to strike but it has to be reasonable and proportionate and it can't inflict pain on the public that goes beyond the complaint," the Croydon South MP said.

A Downing Street source said last night: Any changes to union laws would not be able to solve the current disputes. They will be solved by mediation and we would urge the unions to get round the table.

In this Parliament, we have already passed legislation to provide people with better protection from undemocratic industrial action. Of course, we will keep under review how these measures are working in practice.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters 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 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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 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Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. 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Speaking this morning Ms OGrady added: Let's just remember that this dispute is about safety  on a 12-car train carrying over 1,000 passengers in the rush hour, the driver gets just two seconds to check 24 sets of doors.

We know that passengers, like staff, want guards on trains and they want them to have that safety-critical role.

I'm afraid that the ministers and MPs on this are sometimes just out of touch with overcrowded, overpriced trains, companies getting huge public subsidies.

Her invocation of British liberties come a day after Communities Secretary Sajid Javid suggested that all public officials should be forced to swear and oath of loyalty to British values.
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A man in his 20s has married his 13-year-old step-sister after making her pregnant.

The marriage took place in the northwest region of Kef in Tunisia, in the presence of their parents who had previously attempted to stop the wedding.

Although having sex with someone under the age of 15 is punishable by up to six years in prison under Tunisian law, according to article 277 of the countrys criminal code, if no force was used during the attack an alleged rapist can halt his prosecution by marrying his victim.

Chokri Mejri, a spokesperson for the court, claimed the girl was not raped.

We interviewed the girl and after verifying all the details, we considered her fit for marriage, Mr Mejri said.

The North African country has lead the way on advancing womens rights within the Arab world, yet gender stereotypes and archaic laws remain ingrained in its justice system.

The courts decision has enraged Tunisians who demonstrated outside the countrys parliament on Wednesday holding placards bearing messages such as: How I met your mother? I raped her when she was 13.

Tunisias prime minister said on Friday discussion of a bill to change the law should be a priority ahead of a review of all articles concerning the fight against violence targeting women".

Courts decision has enraged Tunisians who demonstrated outside parliament (FETHI BELAID/AFP/Getty Images)

A bill to counter violence against women was drafted in 2014 but is still waiting to be discussed in parliament.

Our country can no longer refer to laws that are old-fashioned and which do not reflect the spirit of rights and liberties, Youssef Chahed told Mosaique FM radio, vowing that 2017 would be the year of the child.

He said he would work to form a plan to improve the lives of children in the country, with a particular emphasis on education.

A planned wedding party for the girl involved in the case has been cancelled after the government's child protection office called for the marriage to be annulled.

Recommended Lebanon to abolish loophole law allowing rapists to marry victims

When it's a 13-year-old child, we can't talk of sexual relations with consent. It's rape, representative Houda Abboudi said.

The court's decision didn't take into account the interests of this child [...] who will marry her rapist. she added.

The President of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women, Monia Ben Jemia, demanded the repeal of article 227, telling Le Parisien it was scandalous that a judge could consider a 13-year-old girl willing, particularly since Tunisian schools do not provide any sex education.

Women in the country are discouraged from filing complaints of rape and are often feel made to feel as though they are bringing shame on their families by speaking about their sexual abuse, according to a 2015 report by Amnesty International into women's rights in Tunisia.

The countries with anti-women laws Show all 5 1 /5 The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws

In October a Tunisian talkshow host sparked controversy after he said a 14-year-old rape victim should marry her alleged attacker to close the case and contain the situation.

A similar draft bill in Turkey that would have allowed a child rapist to go free if he married his victim was thrown out after demonstrators took the streets.

In Lebanon, women in wedding dresses have protested a law stipulating that a seven-year-jail term for rape can be avoided if a rapist marries his victim.
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Police in Arkansas are hunting for a man who opened fire in an an apparent road rage incident - killing a three-year-old boy who had been taken shopping by his grandmother.

Reports said that the boys grandmother was driving through the city of Little Rock on Saturday night when another motorist opened fire. Police said that at some point, the person started firing at her car because he thought she wasnt moving fast enough at a stop sign.

The boy was struck at least once and was taken to a hospital where he died shortly afterwards. The grandmother was unhurt. None of the identities of those involved have yet been released.

Police Lt Steve McClanahan said investigators believed the boy and his grandmother were completely innocent and have no relationship with Saturdays shooter, who was being sought.

He said the grandmother simply was driving the car and was taking her grandson shopping when the incident occurred.

Police hunt motorist who 'killed three-year-old in road rage incident'

Police said they were looking for an older black Chevrolet Impala. Police did not release a detailed description of the man who was driving it.

The Associated Press said that last month, a two-year-old girl was killed when a car drove by and someone fired into her vehicle; the shooter in that case has not been captured.

Police Chief Kenton Buckner said the road rage killings were frustrating for police departments and the community, especially because the young victims were very innocent and can do very little to protect themselves.

We cannot have a community to where the least protected among us, being infants, who are dying in these senseless crimes in our city, he said.
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Donald Trump is on course to receive one of the lowest vote totals in history when the US Electoral College meets today to formally elect the next President.

Although the Republican is almost certain to overcome the last democratic barrier to becoming President, he is likely to rank 46th out of 58 on the list of Electoral College votes secured by US Presidents since George Washingon in 1789.

Mr Trump won 30 states in the 8 November election, securing 306 of the 538 Electoral College votes  56.9 per cent of the total. Only 12 other elections have seen a president receive a lower proportion of Electoral College votes, according to the New York Times. These include George W Bush in 2000 and 2004, and John F. Kennedy in 1960.

Recommended Poll shows half of Republicans believe Donald Trump won popular vote

The historic data appears to contradict Mr Trumps claim he won a landslide election.

Addressing supporters at a rally in Hershey, Pennsylvania last week, he said: We won in a landslide. This was a landslide victory. This was a landslide.

The businessman had earlier told Fox News: "We had a massive landslide victory, as you know, in the Electoral College.

Mr Trump currently trails Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million votes in the popular vote  the biggest numerical losing margin of any US President in history and, at 2.1 per cent, the third lowest deficit in proportion of the overall vote.

Despite this, the billionaire businessman won the presidency after victory in the Electoral College. This assigns each US state a number of votes loosely proportionate to its population. The candidate who wins the public vote in each state picks up that states College votes.

Mr Trumps 306 votes give him a sizeable margin over Hillary Clintons 232 but the gap is smaller than that secured by most other US Presidents.

Women go on strike against Donald Trump Show all 7 1 /7 Women go on strike against Donald Trump Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump Protestors march during a demonstration against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump near Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York City, December 12, 2016. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Women go on strike against Donald Trump Protestors march during a demonstration against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump near Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York City, December 12, 2016. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Following his shock victory over his Democrat rival, the President-elect described the Electoral College as genius.

In 2012, however, he called it a disaster for democracy after mistakenly predicting it would allow Barack Obama to lose the popular vote but still retain the White House.

There have been repeated calls for Electoral College electors to ignore the public vote in their state and instead vote against Mr Trump.

A petition signed by 4.9 million people calls on delegates to protect the Constitution from Donald Trump, and to support the national popular vote winner".

It states: 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 make him a danger to the Republic.

Very few delegates have said they will ignore the instructions given to them by the electorate in the state they represent, suggesting the College vote is likely to be a formality for the President-elect. Some states also have laws mandating Electoral College members to follow the popular vote in their state.

Mr Trump is set to take office on 20 January.
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A majority of US voters are in favour of delaying the Electoral College vote to confirm the next president until the extent of Russian hacking in the election can be explained, a new poll has shown.

The YouGov survey commissioned by campaign group Avaaz found 52 per cent of people were in favour of postponing the vote after the CIA said the Kremlin had consistently interfered with the election to help Donald Trump.

A further 46 per cent were also willing to support the faithless electors  the Electoral College voters planning to defy their states wishes  ahead of the vote on Monday.

 White House suggests Trump benefited from Russia hacking

Opponents of the former reality star have been attempting to persuade electors to change their vote to someone else and thereby deny him the crucial 270 college votes he needs to win.

Recommended Thousands urge electoral college to block Trump at Monday vote

One group of defiant electors, called the Hamilton Electors, said it would be against the principles of the Founding Fathers to vote for Mr Trump as Alexander Hamilton, said 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.

US presidential elections are not decided by the popular vote. The Electoral College is made up of 538 voters divided between the states according to population size to give smaller states more of a voice.

Mr Trumps defeated challenger, Hillary Clinton, is on course to win the popular vote by nearly three million votes but these were concentrated in safe Democrat states like California or New York.

The anxieties about Russian meddling come after the CIA said it was behind the leaks of damaging emails sent by key figures in the Democrat party to Wikileaks and other transparency websites.

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

Moscow has denied the allegations but is still widely believed they intervened on Mr Trumps side as they perceive that he will be more sympathetic towards them than Ms Clinton.

Indeed Mr Trump has appointed Rex Tillerson, an oil executive with close ties to the Kremlin, as his Secretary of State despite outcry over a conflict of interest.

Mr Tillerson was awarded the Order of Friendship by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2013  the highest Russian honour for foreigner.
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Google has published eight secret requests from the Federal Bureau of Investigation which sought customer data between 2010 and 2015.

Two months after being freed from a gag order, the internet company has released redacted versions of the subpoena letter and seven others. It has also published letters with the FBI relating to the release of the documents

"In our continued effort to increase transparency around government demands for user data, today we begin to make available to the public the National Security Letters (NSLs) we have received where, either through litigation or legislation, we have been freed of nondisclosure obligations," Richard Salgado, Googles director of law enforcement and information security policy, wrote in a statement.

Google and major tech companies still face several hundred thousand subpoenas every year and most of them are not allowed to be released. The US government made increasing requests after the introduction of the US Patriot Act following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The eight documents give an indication of the type of information requested by the government, and how internet companies are fighting those requests in court. One recent high profile example was when the FBI requested Apple to unlock the phone of a suspected terrorist in San Bernardino, California, and then got hold of the information without Apples help.

The move from Google follows Yahoo publishing three letters in June  the first internet company to do so  which revealed the intelligence agency had asked for email and browsing records of customers  more information than it was legally allowed to ask for.

The requests from the FBI are called National Security Letters, which are used to force third parties to hand over information pertaining to a government investigation. They are legal documents but are not signed by a judge.

One document from an agent in North Carolina in September 2014 asked Google for names, addresses and account information for 11 Gmail accounts. The details were redacted in the released document, as well as the agent asking for it to ensure their "safety".

Until the USA Freedom Act was passed in June 2015, agencies issuing NSLs could impose infinite gag orders.

Following years of controversy surrounding FBIs NSLs, the FBI must now review the gag order either three years after the date it was sent, or at the end of the agency's investigation.

"In the near future, we will establish a more permanent home for these and additional materials from our Transparency Report," Mr Salgado wrote.

Last week the FBI was reportedly forced to re-issue thousands of NSLs as it had failed to inform recipient firms that the law around challenging them had changed. Tech firms could now make multiple appeals per year, as opposed to just one.

The legal blunder came to light after the Internet Archive, which received an NSL in August, made a landmark appeal.
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The father of a slain American Muslim soldier who famously spoke against Donald Trump said his community's "fear is real" following two years of record-high hate crimes.

Speaking at the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)s annual banquet in Viriginia, Mr Khan told the 1,000-strong audience that every Muslim is fearful of their own wellbeing, and the safety of their family.

"I want to share with you: the concern and the fear is real, because the local law enforcement, the national law enforcement, tells us that there have been approximately 900 plus incidents of harassment, of bigotry, of un-American hate in this country since the election," he said.

"So our fear, our concern, is based on these events of harassment."

Mr Khan was referring to figures from CAIR. The FBI also found that there had been a 67 per cent increase in anti-Muslim incidents in 2015. The Southern Poverty Law Centre discovered there had been close to 1,100 reported hate crimes conducted in the month after Mr Trump was elected.

Mosques have been vandalised and threatened around the country, from New York to California. Women have reported being targeted with abuse and have their hijabs ripped off their heads. Muslim teenagers have been severely beaten in Brooklyn and a Muslim woman has been stabbed in Queens. Another woman was set on fire in New York. A mosque was set alight in Florida. Muslims have been shot and targeted with racial slurs.

But I want to share something more than that, said Mr Khan. And that is, that this Islamophhobia, this hatred, this discrimination is un-American. It is un-American. It is against the values of this county."

The father of capitain Humayan Khan, a soldier who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq, rose to become a voice for the Muslim community after he called out Mr Trumps heated rhetoric and bigotry against American Muslims. Mr Trump proposed banning Muslims from the US in November 2015 and has vowed to carry out extreme vetting and deporations.

Mr Khan rose his copy of the US constitution at the DNC and asked whether the president-elect had even read it, or if he had been to Arlington, Virginia, to visit the famous military cemetery. Mr Trump responded by saying Mr Khan had "viciously attacked" him.

Mr Khan and his wife, Ghazala Khan, were awarded CAIRs American Muslims of the Year award at the ceremony on Saturday.

Ghazala Khan thanked CAIR for the award. She was accused by Mr Trump of not being allowed to speak at the Democratic convention. She later explained she had been fearful to speak as she thought she might cry, not because her husband had instructed her to be silent.

"Peace on everyone who are here and who are in their homes, watching and praying for us, for all the Muslims, for or all the minorities. Thank you," she said.

Mr Khan also thanked men and women who were serving in the US military, women leaders in the Muslim community who will "lead us to a better future", and US law enforcement, "who work to keep us safe every day".
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The mayor of New Orleans announced the settlement in civil rights lawsuits over multiple cases of deadly police shootings in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced a $13.3m settlement in the cases following Department of Justice investigations into police violence as residents attempted to seek refuge during the catastrophic floods from the hurricane.

"We are going to change as a people and we are going to change as a city because we choose to," Mr Landrieu said. "In some small way, the lives that have been maimed and the lives that have been taken were not lives that were or will be lived in vain."

Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina A woman is carried out of flood waters after being trapped in her home in Orleans parish during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina A U.S. Coast Guard rescue boat carries US Army 82nd Airborne Division soldiers as it searches a flooded street in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina A SUV lies against a house and rubble in Biloxi, Mississippi as Hurricane Katrina hit USA, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina A plea for help appears on the roof of a home flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina People are taken ashore in a boat after being rescued from their homes in high water in the Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina struck in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina An aerial view of the flooding near downtown New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina Houses are seen submerged under water in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina Canal Street, in New Orleans, during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Getty Images Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina Debris from Hurricane Katrina piles up along a bridge in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina Firefighters inspect damage left by Hurricane Katrina, in Biloxi, Mississippi, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina The Kids Quest (C) building sits in the middle of the route 90 next to the Grand Casino (L) 30 August 2005 in Gulfport, Mississippi, both damaged from the high wind and waves Hurricane Katrina, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina The most costly hurricane in history caused damages of $85bn. The category-3 storm formed over the Bahamas crossed Florida and the Gulf of Mexico before striking New Orleans AP Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina evacuees sit on their bed, on the floor of the Astrodome stadium in Houston, Texas, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina People search for their belongings among debris washed up on the beach in Biloxi, Mississppi, after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina Parishioner Chloe Guice Wise (R) hugs Mark Washburn at the conclusion of services at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer (shown in background) which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, in Biloxi, Mississippi, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina Stranded victims of Hurricane Katrina are taken ashore by Air Force National Guard soldiers in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina Fishing boats lay in a pile after Hurricane Katrina passed through in Empire, Louisiana, 2005 Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina U.S. Navy flight deck personnel take part in an emergency replenishment working party aboard the dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), as they load water into an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter in support of Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts in the Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina A patriotic display can be seen in the ruins of a home in Waveland, Mississippi. Scenes like these dot the landscapes where homes once stood. Rescue and clean up efforts continued in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina three weeks after the deadly storm hit Hurricane Katrina - in pictures Hurricane Katrina A makeshift grave is seen for a woman on a downtown street in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005

The settlement is expected to resolve the lawsuits filed by 17 plaintiffs that range from wrongful death and personal injury claims. Some of the claims cover the deaths of three people killing in two different police shootings. Justice Department officials charged some 20 police officers following a series of civil rights investigations following the storm. Eleven of those officers charged pleaded guilty.

One case involved the beating death of Rayond Robair, 48, who was killed before the late August storm, according to the Times-Picayune.

Five officers were convicted in 2011 for their involvement in what is known as the Danziger Bridge shootings on 4 September 2005  the most notorious of the three cases included in the lawsuits.

The shootings claimed the lives of two black men  James Brisette, 19, and Ronald Madison, 40, who was mentally disabled  and wounded four others, as they sought refuge in the days after the citys levees failed and floods devastated the black community.

Earlier this year, a federal judge reduced the sentences of the five convicted officers after evidence of prosecutorial misconduct emerged. They ranged from 10 to 65 years.

All five officers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice after falsifying evidence, claiming to have been responding to a shots fired report from fellow officers.

Nine officers commandeered a Budget rental van and pulled up to a group of black families attempting to cross the bridge and opened fire.

Police immediately arrested Lance Madison, the brother of Ronald, and falsely accused him of attempted murder.

This has been a terrible ordeal for our family, or friends, and this community, said Mr Madison. While these officers will have to do time, it will never be enough to make up for what they did."
If the authorities try to rig elections, Sasna Dzrers option will again work (video)

After quitting his port in the presidential palace, Victor Dallakyan became a member of Third Republic party, and now he is Vice President of that party. Currently Eduard Antinyan is the President of that party. Antinyan will quit his post before the 7th congress scheduled on December 23. In 2016 three notable events happened in Armenia- April War, actions of Sasna Dzrer and appointment of new Prime Minister. In April Azerbaijan managed to make the change of status quo over Karabakh perceivable for the international community. Armenia, alas, is lead by the vision of change of status quo. Current mafiosi, clan, oligarchic system operating in Armenia cannot compete with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is getting ready for war, and the Armenian authorities must be removed from authority. The number one threat to Armenia is Armenian authorities, says the NA former lawmaker Victor Dallakyan during the press conference held in the headquarters of Third Republic party. He thinks that the actions of Sasna Dzrer show that if during 2017 parliamentary elections the authorities try to rig elections, Sasna Dzrers option will again work. There is no alternative to free and fair elections, said Dallakyan. He also touched upon PM Karen Karapetyans claim that Armenian economy is in bad condition, It is 8 years assessment of the current authorities. If the economy is in extremely hard situation, it means Armenia is vulnerable before external dangers. According to the official data, Dallakyan says, more than 400 000 people have migrated, which proves hard demographic situation. Armenias foreign debt makes up more than AMD 5.5 billion. He said that future development of the situation must be prevented. Dallakyan claims that the society must be divided into black and white, as a result of which regime change will happen, 2017 parliamentary elections are a good change of the oppositions large consolidation. During this time he has met with leaders of different parties, holding discussions on consolidation. Any results reached will be announced. Victor Dallakyan also touched upon Leon Ter-Petrosyans statement during the Armenian National Congress (HAK) conference held on December 17, I have other viewpoint over Karabakh. I will touch upon the solution to the NK conflict at the upcoming conference of the party. The conference on Third Republic party is scheduled on December 23, during which relevant decisions relating to 2017 parliamentary elections will be made. No other parties will take part in the conference. Will Victor Dallakyan join the authorities after the elections? I understand the pretext of the question. I can answer definitely no.
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A New York man convicted of creating an X-ray device intended to harm Muslims, is to be jailed for 30 years in jail.

Judge Gary Sharpe, who presides over cases in the Northern District of New York, ordered Glendon Crawford to the lengthy prison term and said he should undergo supervision upon release for the rest of his life.

Crawford, a Navy veteran and a member of the Ku Klux Klan, intended to kill victims with radiation sickness from the remote-control device, which be believed would shoot a lethal beam of radioactivity into its human target.

FBI surveillance video showing FBI agents raiding a garage where Glendon Crawford worked (AP)

The 52-year-old was found guilty of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction and distributing information about weapons of mass destruction, according to the Associated Press.

Crawford and co-defendant Eric Feight, who was sentenced by a federal court to eight years in prison last year, worked at General Motors in Schenectady, in upstate New York.

GE said it had suspended Crawford. The company said in a statement: On Tuesday afternoon the FBI informed GE that Glendon Scott Crawford, a GE manufacturing employee, was arrested for a criminal act.

We have no reason to believe the act took place on GE property nor is there any information indicating that our employees safety was ever compromised. Since this incident, Mr Crawford has been suspended. We are cooperating fully with the authorities on their investigation.

Crawford will be behind bars for 30 years (AP)

The FBI caught on to Crawford in 2012, when he visited a synagogue and asked to speak with a person who might be willing to help him with a type of technology that could be used by Israel to defeat its enemies, specifically, by killing Israels enemies while they slept, the complaint, obtained by NBC, said

Someone at the synagogue contacted the police.

The FBI was able to track Crawfords messages, get surveillance footage and eventually spoke with a source who met with him and relayed his plans and anti-Muslim beliefs.

Crawford also told the (source) that the target of his radiation emitting device would be the Muslim community, the charge said.

According to reports, the FBI met Crawford undercover at a Schaghticoke, warehouse on June 18, 2013. They apprehended the device and arrested him at the scene.

The New York Times reported that hate crimes have increased by six per cent, fueled by attacks against Muslims.
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The LGBT community and its supporters are celebrating after politicians in North Carolina said they were set to repeal a controversial law that was widely condemned as being discriminatory.

HB2, or the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, bans people from using a public lavatory that does not correspond with the sex listed on their birth certificate. Those opposed to the bill said it specifically targeted transgender individuals.

North Carolina governor-elect Roy Cooper said on Monday the state legislature would meet on Tuesday to get rid of the law, which has been called the most extreme anti-LGBT measure in the country.

Mr Cooper said the legislature will repeal the bill in full. His announcement followed the Charlotte City Councils 10-0 vote to rescind the ordinance that led to the bills passage.

In a statement, Mr Cooper confirmed his deal with senate and house leaders to overturn the law.

Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore assured me that as a result of Charlotte's vote, a special session will be called for Tuesday to repeal HB2 in full. I hope they will keep their word to me and with the help of Democrats in the legislature, HB2 will be repealed in full, Mr. Cooper said in a statement.

Full repeal will help to bring jobs, sports and entertainment events back and will provide the opportunity for strong LGBT protections in our state, he added.

Former North Carolina governor Pat McCrory signed the bill into law on March 24 after a Republican majority passed the bill in the senate  causing an uproar in the form of protests and boycotts among the LGBT community and supporters across the country the United States.

The state lost the ACC Championship football game, a planned expansion by PayPal and revenue from multiple concert cancellations.

The Department of Justice even filed a lawsuit against North Carolina after the bill went into effect, calling the law discriminatory.

The North Carolina General Assembly amended a section of HB2 in July to restore workers rights to sue their employer for discrimination, but left the other restrictions intact.

But that was not enough for voters to re-elect Republican incumbent Mr McCrory, who lost to his democratic opponent in November. Exit polls showing the bill to have been a catalyst for his loss with two-thirds of voters opposed to the controversial bill. The state also lost $600m in business.

Graham Wilson, a spokesman for Mr McCrory said in a statement that he supported a repeal of the ordinance but faced push-back from Democrats.

This sudden reversal with little notice after the gubernatorial election sadly proves this entire issue originated by the political left was all about politics and winning the governor's race at the expense of Charlotte and our entire state, the statement read.

LGBT rights group Equality North Carolina told The Independent it supported the demise of an "archaic law".

It's time to chart a new course guided by the state's values of dignity and respect, not discrimination and hate  and to ensure non-discrimination protections exist in cities, towns and across the state of North Carolina," said HRC President Chad Griffin: "Its been 271 days since the shameful and archaic HB2 was first passed, and the entire country has witnessed its devastating impact. It's time for state lawmakers to repeal HB2 and begin repairing the harm this bill has done to people and the damage it has done to North Carolina's reputation and economy.

The group reiterated they will not settle for anything less than a full repeal by December 31 at the latest.

The city needs fully inclusive non-discrimination protections, period, Equality NC press representative Ben Graumann said.

According to the Charlotte Observer, the appeal alone will not affect the federal lawsuit against the law, but could give either side the opportunity to drop the case.

For now, activists are considering the announcement a move a win.

Human Rights activist George Takei responded to the news, tweeting Victory is near! Oh happy day.
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Members of the electoral college in Pennsylvania who are voting for Donald Trump have been sent thousands of calls, letters and emails, urging them to vote for anyone else.

The Keystone State has one of the highest number of electoral votes in the country  20  and was crucial in the path to Mr Trumps victory. All of them voted for Mr Trump on 19 December.

But Mr Trumps critics were determined to at least try and change the course of history.

As the Electoral College members headed to their State Capitol, they were accompanied by state police troopers in plainclothes and met with protesters.

According to the Post-Gazette, electors have been inundated with letters and calls for the last few weeks, as their contact details had been made public.

Elector Ash Khare said he was once called at 1am, and one woman phoned to say her husband had left the country. He was sent a copy of John F Kennedys Profiles in Courage, which focused on eight senators whom Kennedy felt showed courage under enormous pressure from their parties and constituents.

Mr Khare said he also received a letter from a seven-year-old who was scared of Mr Trump.

 Michael Moore calls for protests and civil disobedience to stop Donald Trump two days before Electoral College votes

But Mr Khare said he would not change his mind, despite acknowledging that the country was deeply divided.

Another elector, Richard Stewart, told the Post-Gazette that he had received more than 60,000 emails and hundreds of letters, describing the people behind them as "sincere but ill-informed and uneducated with respect to the process".

Elector Mary Barket said she had been sent federalist papers and urged to read them.

 Electoral College voting: How the United States decides its president

At the voting ceremony on Monday, Robert Gleason, Pennsylvania Republican Party Chair, said the last time the state voted Republican was 1988, when the youngest state elector was four years old.

"I know what Donald Trump and Mike Pence will be working to make America great again, for everyone, and help shape the future of our country," he said. "For me the ceremony is the completion of a dream that is more than decade old."

The state's Democratic governor, Tom Wolf, also made a speech, thanking electors for their role and telling them to "savour their walk to the ballot box".

"We dont need armies, uprising or violence to change our countrys leadership. All we need is 538 people in rooms like this all around the country," he said.

In Pennsylvania, electors are required to write down their vote as opposed to saying it outloud. As the electors filed to the front of the room and cast their ballot, four voices of protest could be heard - "vote your conscience!" - from the gallery.

Millions of people signed multiple petitions to scrap or reform the electoral college, which saw Mr Trump win the election despite Hillary Clinton gaining at least 2.8 million more votes.

A small group of so-called faithless electors around the US have vowed to break ranks with their promise to vote for the winning candidate in their state, yet most of them are democrats and pledged to vote for Ms Clinton.

The Pennsylvania voting ceremony went without a hitch, despite protesters outside the building. When Mr Trump was announced as the president, the electors clapped loudly, then protesters called out from the gallery: "Shame on you!" and "He's not our president!"

It turned out the electors were determined not to change their minds after all. All 20 electors voted for Mr Trump and vice president Mike Pence.

The electoral college votes will not be made official until 6 January when they are tallied by US Congress. Mr Trump will then be inaugurated on 20 January.
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Saudi Arabia is lobbying the US government to change a law that allows victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to sue the country.

Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir said he returned from an extended trip to the US over the weekend to try and persuade them that there needs to be an amendment of the law.

President Barack Obama vetoed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) as he said it would harm US interests by opening up the country to private lawsuits regarding its military missions overseas.

Congress voted overwhelmingly against his veto, however. It became law on 28 September this year.

We believe the law, that curtails sovereign immunities, represents a grave danger to the international system, Mr Jubeir said at a press conference with US secretary of state John Kerry.

A total of 15 of the 19 hijackers on on 11 September 2001 were Saudi, but the Kingdom has denied any ties to the attack which killed more than 2,000 people. At least 1,000 people also died in the years following the Twin Towers collapse due to exposure to toxic chemicals and debris.

JASTA allows survivors and relatives of the victims to sue foreign governments in US federal court. Plaintiffs can demand compensation if those governments are found to bear some responsibility for an attack on US soil.

Mr Obamas concern about an influx of private lawsuits hurting US interests has a wider reach than Saudi Arabia. Lawyers in European countries like the UK, France and the Netherlands have threatened to amend their laws to allow the pursual of US officials.

 US Congress overrides Obama's veto on 9/11 bill

Mr Jubeir warned that the law would threaten sovereign immunity around the world, a founding principle of international relations.

The United States is, by eroding this principle, opening the door for other countries to take similar steps and then before you know it international order becomes governed by the law of the jungle, Mr Jubeir said.

Mr Kerry and the minister started discussing fixing the law several months ago. After his first announcement in October, Terry Strada, a spokeswoman for the 9/11 Families and Survivors United for Justice Against Terrorism whose husband died in the attack, said that the partnership was outrageous.

 Senate Votes to Overrule Obama's Veto of the 9/11 Victims Bill

Secretary Kerry is sworn to enforce the law, not work with foreign governments to undermine it, she said in a statement.

By siding with Saudi Arabia and working to torpedo JASTA, secretary Kerry is snubbing his constitutional obligations and asking all of us to turn our backs on our pursuit of justice.

JASTA, otherwise known as House Resolution 3815, provides an exception to the sovereign immunity law of 1976.

The foreign minister assured reporters he was not considering withdrawing investments from the US, which amount to $116.8 billion as of March 2016, according to the US treasury department.

Agencies contributed to this report.
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For all his reputation as a skilled political mover, Bill Clinton has never been very good at hiding his emotions. Especially when they are bubbling over.

In the aftermath of his wifes defeat to Donald Trump, the former president reportedly bumped into the editor of a local newspaper in upstate New York and made clear his opinion as to what had led to the surprise victory for the Republicans.

According to an editorial published in the Bedford-Pound Ridge Record Review, Mr Clinton laid the responsibility at the feet of FBI Director James Comey, and his revelation that the agency had reopened its probe into Ms Clintons use of a private email server.

The encounter with Mr Clinton was reported in a newspaper editorial (Bedford-Pound Ridge Record Review ) (Bedford-Pound Ridge Record Review)

The revelation provided fresh ammunition to Ms Clintons opponents to attack her in the final weeks of the campaign, even though Mr Comey subsequently made clear that the Democratic presidential candidate was not guilty of a prosecutable offence.

That controversial intervention was sufficient to cost Ms Clinton the chance of becoming the USs first female president, according to her husband.

James Comey cost her the election, he said, according to Ed Baum, editor of the newspaper, who encountered Mr Clinton at a bookstore in Katonah, a town in Westchester.

 Bill Clinton stony faced as Trump discusses rape accusations

Mr Clinton said his wifes campaign was leading in national polls and on course to win key battleground states prior to Mr Comeys letter, according to an account in The Hill.

It was in October that Mr Comey sent a letter to members of Congress about the discovery of new emails the FBI said were potentially relevant to the investigation into Ms Clintons use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state.

The emails were reportedly found during a separate FBI investigation into former Congressman Anthony Weiner, who is the estranged husband of one of Clintons top aides, Huma Abedin. Mr Weiner is accused of sending inapproprate images to a minor.

Since the election, Ms Clinton and other Democrats have cast blame on the FBI director for the Democratic nominees loss.

Mr Clinton was also asked if he thought Donald Trump was smart.

He doesn't know much, Bill Clinton said. One thing he does know is how to get angry, white men to vote for him.
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The evidence may seem overwhelming, but Donald Trumps top aides have said the President-elect will not accept the finding by US intelligence that Russia tried to influence the presidential election any time soon.

Though the CIA and FBI both confirmed that Russian hackers did release private democratic emails to try and influence a GOP win, the Trump camp maintains he would have came out victorious either way. They believe the findings, which emerged a few days before Mondays official Electoral College vote, are nothing but Democrats attempt to taint his win.

Reince Priebus, Mr Trumps incoming chief of staff, told the Associated Press that the whole thing is a spin job.

Kellyanne Conway, campaign manager for President-elect Donald Trump, talks to reporters at Trump Tower (Evan Vucci/AP)

And I think what the Democrats ought to do is look in the mirror and face the reality that they lost the election, he said.

KellyAnne Conway, an adviser and Mr Trumps former campaign manager, echoed this sentiment by saying there was no evidence that voters were swayed by the exposed emails.

 Kellyanne Conway says Donald Trumps team found 'an exception' in anti-nepotism law

A Fox News poll found that the majority of Americans agree: 59 per cent of those polled by the network said they do not believe the Russian hacking influenced the election outcome.

Mr Trump himself called the investigation findings ridiculous, during an interview with Fox News.

I think it's just another excuse, he said. I don't believe it. . . . No, I don't believe it at all.

The FBI and CIA found no evidence that Mr Trump knew about the hacking ahead of time, but Russias deputy foreign minister claimed his campaign had contact with Moscow two days after the November 8 election.

Former Clinton campaign Chairman John Podesta, who accepted some responsibility for Ms. Clintons loss, also said on NBCs Meet the Press December 18 that the electors have a right to know what happened.

What did Trump Inc know? When did they know it? Were they in touch with the Russians? Mr Podesta asked. I think the electors have the right to know what the answers are.
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Wikileaks has offered to help US President Barack Obama authenticate spy agencies' assessment that Russia was behind the leak of hacked Democratic emails during the presidential election.

The whistleblowing group, led by fugitive Julian Assange and which this summer published online the private medical files of mental health patients and teen rape victims, claimed on Twitter that only its authentication processes could render the conclusions credible.

Wikileaks published the leaked emails over the summer, the messages having been hacked from the Democratic National Convention and the account of Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta.

The group tweeted on Friday: "Obama should submit any Putin documents to WikiLeaks to be authenticated to our standards if he wants them to be seen as credible."

On Saturday it was revealed that the FBI and James Clapper, the US director of national intelligence, had come to agree with the CIA's assessment that Russia interfered in the election, in part to help Donald Trump win the White House.

Mr Assange had previously claimed in an interview on the Russian state-funded RT channel that Moscow was not the source of the emails. RT says on its website that it seeks to acquaint international audiences "with a Russian viewpoint on major global events".

Mr Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since he was granted political asylum in 2012. His self-imposed exile began to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over allegations of sexual assault.

In 2011 he was criticised after Wikileaks published its entire trove of leaked US diplomatic cables online without any attempt to redact them to protect whistleblowers or other innocent people named within. It provoked fears that lives could be endangered.
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Burmese security forces have killed, raped and burned down the houses of entire villages in a systematic campaign of violence against Rohingya Muslims, Amnesty International has said.

In a report based on interviews with Rohingyas in both Burma and Bangladesh, Amnesty says it has documented the militarys vicious and disproportionate security campaign in northern Rakhine state over the past two months.

The report cites multiple eyewitnesses alleging soldiers entered their villages and fired randomly, killing men, women and children. Several Rohingya women also claimed to have been raped by soldiers.

The rights group accused the countrys leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, of failing to live up to both her political and moral responsibility.

Burmese authorities have issued blanket denials that troops have committed any human rights violations, with Burmese government officials claiming the army is hunting terrorists behind raids on police on 9 October, in which nine police officers were killed.

The Burmese military has targeted Rohingya civilians in a callous and systematic campaign of violence, Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty Internationals Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said

Men, women, children, whole families and entire villages have been attacked and abused, as a form of collective punishment.

He added: The deplorable actions of the military could be part of a widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population and may amount to crimes against humanity.

While the military is directly responsible for the violations, Aung San Suu Kyi has failed to live up to both her political and moral responsibility to try to stop and condemn what is unfolding in Rakhine state.

The Burmese authorities have been wilfully ignorant over of the violations committed by the military in Rakhine state. These completely indefensible violations must end immediately, and independent investigations must be held to ensure that those responsible are held to account.

Although they have lived in Burma for generations, Rohingya Muslims are barred from citizenship in the nation of 50 million, and instead live as some of the most oppressed people in the world.

Since communal violence broke out in 2012, more than 120,000 Rohingya have been driven from their homes and crammed into squalid camps guarded by police. There, they are denied healthcare and education, and their movements are heavily restricted.

Some have tried to flee by boat, but many ended up becoming victims of human trafficking or were held for ransom.

The report comes as the United Nations human rights chief said rapes and killings of Rohingya Muslims are reported to the UN human rights office on a daily basis.

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said the government had taken a short-sighted, counterproductive, even callous approach to the crisis.

He said the government's handling of issues in northern Rakhine state, where independent monitors are barred from investigating, risk grave long term repercussions for the region.

At least 86 people have been killed, according to state media, and the UN estimates 27,000 members of the largely stateless Rohingya minority have fled across the border from Rakhine into Bangladesh.

The repeated dismissal of the claims of serious human rights violations as fabrications, coupled with the failure to allow our independent monitors access to the worst affected areas in northern Rakhine, is highly insulting to the victims and an abdication of the government's obligations under international human rights law, Mr Zeid said.

If the authorities have nothing to hide, then why is there such reluctance to grant us access? Given the continued failure to grant us access, we can only fear the worst.

UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said the UN human rights office had submitted a formal request for access to the area, which had not yet been granted.

Adrian Edwards, a spokesman for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, said his colleagues in Bangladesh had spoken to more than 1,000 newly-arrived refugees in the past few weeks who gave accounts of houses being burned, targeting of civilians and traumatised women and children who had witnessed the killing of family members.

UNHCR could not verify the accounts first-hand, but it was extremely concerned and it urged the Myanmar authorities to investigate and the government of Bangladesh to give the refugees a safe haven, he added.

Mr Zeid said in June that crimes against humanity may have been committed against the Rohingya.

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

Ms Shamdasani said if the government did not handle the situation very carefully and address the grievances of the Rohingya minority, violence could ensue.

Unfortunately this is exactly what has happened in the past couple of months, she added. We are worried that this is going to get further out of hand. This is perfect breeding ground for violent extremists.
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Chinese cities are limiting the number of cars on roads and have temporarily shut down factories to cut down pollution during a national red alert for smog.

State media reported Monday that more than 700 companies stopped production in Beijing, and that traffic police were restricting drivers by monitoring their license plate numbers.

Dozens of cities closed schools and took other emergency measures after a red alert was issued from Friday night to Wednesday for much of northern China.

Authorities in northern Hebei province ordered coal and cement plants to temporarily shut down or reduce production.

People told to stay indoors as air pollution in Beijing reaches hazardous levels Show all 5 1 /5 People told to stay indoors as air pollution in Beijing reaches hazardous levels People told to stay indoors as air pollution in Beijing reaches hazardous levels beijing-1.jpg GETTY People told to stay indoors as air pollution in Beijing reaches hazardous levels beijing-2.jpg GETTY People told to stay indoors as air pollution in Beijing reaches hazardous levels beijing-3.jpg GETTY People told to stay indoors as air pollution in Beijing reaches hazardous levels beijing-4.jpg GETTY People told to stay indoors as air pollution in Beijing reaches hazardous levels beijing-5.jpg GETTY

Elsewhere, hospitals prepared teams of doctors to handle an expected surge in cases of pollution-related illnesses.

China's long-standing air pollution is blamed on its reliance on coal and emissions from older cars.

AP
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Donald Trump does not know how to lead a superpower, Chinese state media is reported to have said on Monday morning, following the President-elects latest outburst on social media.

Trump is not behaving as a president who will become master of the White House in a month, an editorial in the state-backed Global Times newspaper read. He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower.

Tensions between Mr Trump and the leaders of the world's second largest economy came under additional strain last week when Mr Trump used Twitter to condemn China's seizing of a US drone which had allegedly been gathering unclassified information in international waters in the South China Sea.

Chinese officials initially indicated there would be a smooth resolution of the diplomatic incident, but after the President-elects tweet, they accused Washington of hyping up the issue.

China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters  rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented [sic] act, Mr Trump tweeted early on Saturday morning, after it emerged the Chinese navy had seized the US naval drone.

China announced on Saturday it would return the device, but complained about Mr Trump's reaction. Despite this, Mr Trump again took to Twitter on Sunday, writing in a second post on the social network: "We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it!"

Relations between the two countries had already been frayed by Mr Trump's decision after his election victory to speak to the Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen on the phone, defying a 40-year policy of abiding by the 'One-China policy', and not recognising Taiwan as an independent nation.

On Friday, President Obama cautioned Mr Trump against allowing relations with China to slip into full conflict mode.

Foreign policy experts in the US have expressed dismay at how Mr Trump -- who has been skipping intelligence briefings, claiming he does not need them because he's smart -- has approached international relations through angry, misspelt tweets.

In its editorial, the Global Times, a nationalist-tabloid, said people in China were unsure whether the President-elects attacks on Beijing were part of attempts to wage a psychological war or simply an example of his amateurishness, the Guardian reported.

Women go on strike against Donald Trump Show all 7 1 /7 Women go on strike against Donald Trump Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump Protestors march during a demonstration against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump near Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York City, December 12, 2016. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Women go on strike against Donald Trump Protestors march during a demonstration against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump near Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York City, December 12, 2016. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images

But if he treats China after assuming office in the same way as in his tweets, China will not exercise restraint, the newspaper warned. The Chinese government should be fully prepared for a hardline Trump.

"We should show Trump what the one-China policy is and what bottom lines in Sino-US ties he should not touch. Once he does, he is bound to suffer the same losses that he makes China suffer from.

"China should teach him some lessons so he might learn to respect China after he is sworn in.
Victor Dallakyan: Seyran Ohanyan will make a statement

Speaking about Vartan Oskanian-Seyran Ohanyan-Raffi Hovanisian possible alliance, Victor Dallakyan said, I have had several meetings with leaders of different parties. After my resignation I have met with Seyran Ohanyan for many times. We assess the current situation in Armenia in the same way. Seyran Ohanyan will soon make a statement, and we will cooperate with each other. Seyran Ohanyah is the political figure, whom I highly assess. I am aware of his plans; from time to time we discuss together those plans and he will make a statement in the near future. Will Seyran Ohanyan take part in the upcoming conference? Dallakyan does not give any clear answer, but he said, If we manage to reach great consolidation, well-known political and military figures can be represented by our pre-election list, heading the list and remaining non-partisan. According to Dallakyan, Serzh Sargsyan tried to prevent the previous press conference of Victor Dallakyan. According to his words, they tried to do it through Armen Gevorgyan, the latter sent him sms, asking to speak, Dallakyan, though, didnt answer. He is surprised by the statements that Seyran Ohanyan will head Victor Dallakyans party, We do not open a new party; it has operated since 2003. Does he consider cooperation with Levon Ter-Petrosyan to be possible? If the political forces think that in 2017 peaceful regime change must be carried out, we will cooperate with them. Supporting the idea of large consolidation, we have met with leaders of different parties and soon we will make a statement.
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A eurosceptic German MEP has blamed Chancellor Angela Merkel for a lorry which ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing nine people and injuring dozens of others.

When will the German rule of law strike back? tweeted Marcus Pretzell, an MEP for the right wing Alternative for Germany party. When will this cursed hypocrisy end? It is Merkel's dead!

The message was sent just minutes after the apparent attack, but details have yet to be confirmed by the authorities.

 Video shows immediate aftermath of Berlin lorry attack

Mr Pretzell has previously called for German border guards to use armed force against asylum seekers.

The comments, made in April 2016, led to him being expelled from the European Conservatives and Reformists faction of the European Parliament.

Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Show all 18 1 /18 Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Several people have been killed after a lorry drove into crowds at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Berlin Christmas market lorry attack 'At least nine' people have been killed and more than 50 injured. AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency Services rush a Berlin market victim to an ambulance Associated Press Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Police cordoned off the square at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church following the incident REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers inspect the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market close to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church in Berlin EPA Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency crews inspect the lorry that ploughed into a Berlin Christmas market, killing at least nine people AFP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Fire crews attend the scene of the attack AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Armed police secure the site of a lorry attack at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Crushed debris is visible beneath the wheels of the vehicle REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack An injured man is pushed to an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Medics attend an injured person after the lorry attack which killed at least nine and injured more than 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters examine the lorry which was rammed into a Berlin Christmas market REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack A person is carried into an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack View of the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing at least nine and injuring at least 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher to an ambulance Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters assess the damage after the lorry rammed the Christmas market, killing 'at least nine', and injuring more than 50 people AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters stand beside a toppled Christmas tree at the site of the suspected terrorist attack in a Berlin Christmas market AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Damaged stalls at the scene of the incident at a Berlin Christmas market where at least nine people have been killed EPA

After his dismissal, he joined the Europe of Nations and Freedom faction, chaired by Marine Le Pen.

Ms Merkel has faced criticism for allowing the entry of hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers into Germany, many from Syria.

The decision was not popular among some sections of the German public, contributing to the rise of populist political groups and parties in the country, including Alternative for Germany and Pegida.

If the suspected attack turns out to be related to refugees or is of jihadi in nature, it would pile immense pressure on Ms Merkel.
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Berlin police have advised residents to stay at home after a truck ploughed in a Christmas market, killing at least nine people and hurting many more.

The announcement was made on Twitter.

Police also urged people not to "spread rumours about the event".

Officials have said the event will be investigated as a terrorist attack and that they have arrested the driver.

Another person was found dead in the lorry, which was reportedly hijacked as it drove to Germany from Poland.

Recommended Suspect arrested after lorry ploughs into Berlin Christmas market

Chancellor Angela Merkel was being briefed by the Interior Minister and Berlin mayor on the situation, a government spokesman said.

Facebook activated its 'Safety Check' feature so its users in the city could identify as safe to family and friends.

However, police said there were no further indications of "dangerous situations" elsewhere in the city.

The authorties urged people to stay away from the area.

Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Show all 18 1 /18 Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Several people have been killed after a lorry drove into crowds at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Berlin Christmas market lorry attack 'At least nine' people have been killed and more than 50 injured. AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency Services rush a Berlin market victim to an ambulance Associated Press Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Police cordoned off the square at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church following the incident REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers inspect the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market close to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church in Berlin EPA Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency crews inspect the lorry that ploughed into a Berlin Christmas market, killing at least nine people AFP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Fire crews attend the scene of the attack AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Armed police secure the site of a lorry attack at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Crushed debris is visible beneath the wheels of the vehicle REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack An injured man is pushed to an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Medics attend an injured person after the lorry attack which killed at least nine and injured more than 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters examine the lorry which was rammed into a Berlin Christmas market REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack A person is carried into an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack View of the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing at least nine and injuring at least 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher to an ambulance Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters assess the damage after the lorry rammed the Christmas market, killing 'at least nine', and injuring more than 50 people AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters stand beside a toppled Christmas tree at the site of the suspected terrorist attack in a Berlin Christmas market AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Damaged stalls at the scene of the incident at a Berlin Christmas market where at least nine people have been killed EPA

Mike Fox, a tourist from Birmingham, England, told The Associated Press at the scene in Berlin that the large truck missed him by about three meters as it drove into the market, tearing through tables and wooden stands.

"It was definitely deliberate," Mr Fox said, adding that he helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands.

Dozens of ambulances lined the streets waiting to evacuate people, and heavily armed police patrolled the area.
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The suspected driver of the lorry which ploughed through a crowded Christmas market in the centre of Berlin has been arrested, police say.

At least nine people died and more than 50 were injured in what police said was probably a delibarate attack.

German police arrested the suspected driver, a police spokesman told N24 Television. The passenger in the truck died at scene.

Follow the latest updates here

Police said on Twitter that the truck rammed into the market outside the capital's popular Christmas market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

Police said the lorry had Polish number plates and belonged to a Polish delivery company. The company say they lost touch with the lorry about 4pm local time and there were suggestions that the vehicle may have been hijacked

Video of the aftermath showed people helping the injured on the ground.

Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Show all 18 1 /18 Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Several people have been killed after a lorry drove into crowds at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Berlin Christmas market lorry attack 'At least nine' people have been killed and more than 50 injured. AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency Services rush a Berlin market victim to an ambulance Associated Press Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Police cordoned off the square at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church following the incident REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers inspect the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market close to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church in Berlin EPA Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency crews inspect the lorry that ploughed into a Berlin Christmas market, killing at least nine people AFP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Fire crews attend the scene of the attack AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Armed police secure the site of a lorry attack at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Crushed debris is visible beneath the wheels of the vehicle REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack An injured man is pushed to an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Medics attend an injured person after the lorry attack which killed at least nine and injured more than 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters examine the lorry which was rammed into a Berlin Christmas market REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack A person is carried into an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack View of the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing at least nine and injuring at least 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher to an ambulance Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters assess the damage after the lorry rammed the Christmas market, killing 'at least nine', and injuring more than 50 people AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters stand beside a toppled Christmas tree at the site of the suspected terrorist attack in a Berlin Christmas market AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Damaged stalls at the scene of the incident at a Berlin Christmas market where at least nine people have been killed EPA

It came less than a month after the US State Department called for caution in markets and other public places, saying extremist groups including Isis and al-Qaeda were focusing on the upcoming holiday season and associated events.

Isis and al-Qaeda have both called on followers to use trucks in particular to attack public places.

On 14 July, a truck ploughed into a Bastille Day crowd in the southern French city of Nice, killing 86 people. Isis claimed that attack, which was carried out by a Tunisian living in France.

Mike Fox, a tourist from Birmingham, said the truck missed him by about three metres as it drove into the Berlin market.

It was definitely deliberate, he said, adding that he helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands.

Dozens of ambulances lined the streets waiting to take the injured away, and heavily armed police patrolled the area. Police on Twitter urged people to stay away from the area, saying they need to keep the streets clear for rescue vehicles.

Police spokesman Winfried Wenzel told ZDF television that the suspect was arrested nearby, but offered no further details.

Police also said that there was no indication of further dangerous situations in Berlin after the incident, but urged Berliners to stay indoors.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was being briefed on the incident by Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and the mayor of Berlin, a government spokesman said.

Agencies contributed to this report
 Close Video shows immediate aftermath of Berlin lorry attack

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A lorry has driven through a crowded Christmas market in the centre of Berlin, killing several people and leaving more than 50 injured.

Latest updates

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load

Video of the aftermath showed people helping the injured on the ground.

Police said on Twitter that the truck rammed into the market outside the capital's popular Christmas market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

Bild newspaper posted a picture of a large Scania truck with its windshield smashed out on the sidewalk alongside the market.

Eyewitnesses on social media reported hearing a big bang as the lorry entered the square.

Video showed destroyed hoardings and stalls.
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A lorry ploughed through a Christmas market in Berlin, killing at least nine and injuring 50, in what police said was probably a deliberate attack.

A suspect was arrested, police said. They are thought to be the driver. The co-driver "died on the spot", police added.

Citing police at the scene, German media said first indications pointed to an attack on the market, situated at the foot of the ruined Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, which was kept as a bombed-out ruin after World War Two.

Eyewitnesses reported that the lorry entered the market "at some speed - perhaps as high as 40mph", knocking down stalls before eventually coming to a standstill.

Video showed destroyed hoardings and stalls.

Mike Fox, a tourist from Birmingham, said that the lorry missed him by only about three meters as it drove into the market, tearing through tables and wooden stands.

"It was definitely deliberate," he said, adding that he helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands.

Another, Emma Rushton agreed that "it wasn't an accident."

She told Sky News: "It was going at 40mph through the middle of the market. There was no way it could have come off the road and it showed no signs of slowing down."

She added: "There were lots and lots of people, this is Monday evening, people had finished work. There were tourists there."

Jan Hollitzer, deputy editor in chief of the Berliner Morgenpost said: "I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos...many injured people," "It was really traumatic."

A photo posted by his newspaper showed damaged tables and stalls.

Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Show all 18 1 /18 Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Several people have been killed after a lorry drove into crowds at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Berlin Christmas market lorry attack 'At least nine' people have been killed and more than 50 injured. AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency Services rush a Berlin market victim to an ambulance Associated Press Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Police cordoned off the square at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church following the incident REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers inspect the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market close to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church in Berlin EPA Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency crews inspect the lorry that ploughed into a Berlin Christmas market, killing at least nine people AFP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Fire crews attend the scene of the attack AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Armed police secure the site of a lorry attack at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Crushed debris is visible beneath the wheels of the vehicle REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack An injured man is pushed to an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Medics attend an injured person after the lorry attack which killed at least nine and injured more than 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters examine the lorry which was rammed into a Berlin Christmas market REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack A person is carried into an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack View of the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing at least nine and injuring at least 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher to an ambulance Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters assess the damage after the lorry rammed the Christmas market, killing 'at least nine', and injuring more than 50 people AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters stand beside a toppled Christmas tree at the site of the suspected terrorist attack in a Berlin Christmas market AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Damaged stalls at the scene of the incident at a Berlin Christmas market where at least nine people have been killed EPA

Police cars and ambulances converged quickly on the scene as a huge security operation unfolded. The fate of the driver of the truck was not immediately clear, but Bild newspaper said he was on the run.

The incident evoked memories of the attack of the July attack in the French town of Nice when a Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne truck along the beach front, mowing down people who had gathered to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day, killing 86 people. The attack was claimed by Isis.
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A grandmother in Berlin has been spray-painting over neo-Nazi and racist graffiti with hearts.

Irmela Schramm, aged 70, has been fighting racist messages in her local neighbourhood for the past thirty years describing herself as "Polit-Putze" - a political cleaner.

She told CNN: "I'm really concerned by this hate propaganda. And I want to take a stand.

"Not just hollow words. But to do something. I could look at that swastika and "Nazi Kiez" graffiti and say 'oh, that's awful' and walk by.

"But no one would dare to do anything. Well, I don't want to wait for someone else to do something about it."

She was first inspired to take up her decades-long mission after she saw a flyer supporting Nazi criminal Rudolf Hess in a local bus stop.

When she saw it still there returning from work, she was disgusted, got out her house keys and scratched it off.

 German supermarket denies neo-nazi symbolism

Ms Schramm said:"I just scrubbed the hate away until it was all gone It was a fantastic feeling afterwards. This mind pollution was gone!

"The threshold on the misuse of freedom of speech has deteriorated over the last few years. I think it has now reached rock bottom

"People tell me I am intolerant, that I don't respect the far-right's freedom of speech. But I say: Freedom of speech has limits. It ends where hatred and contempt for humanity begins."
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An 18-year-old Frenchwoman faces murder charges after repeatedly hitting a man's head with a shoe - someone she claims groped her.

The man in his 30s died as a result of severe head injuries he received in Place de la Victoire in central Bordeaux in southwestern France.

The teenager allegedly hit her reported her attacker with the heel of her shoe after she claims he repeatedly hounded her across the square, according to reports.

She said the man refused to stop harassing her despite her protests.

After being hit, the man was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and went into a coma.

Two weeks later, the alleged sex attacker died of his injuries prompting prosecutors to upgrade their investigations to homicide.

The unnamed Frenchwoman has been arrested, remains in custody and is under investigation for inflicting "mortal blows leading to death".

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

Witnesses claim she did not stop the beating until he was unconscious.

Neither the teenager or the dead man have been named by police.
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International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has been convicted over her role in a controversial 400m (355m) payment to a businessman.

French judges found Ms Lagarde guilty of negligence for failing to challenge the state arbitration payout to the friend of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The 60-year-old, following a week-long trial in Paris, was not given any sentence and will not be punished.

The Court of Justice of the Republic, a special tribunal for ministers, could have given Ms Lagarde up to one-year in prison and a 13,000 fine.

The ruling, however, risks triggering a new leadership crisis at the IMF after Ms Lagardes predecessor Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned in 2011 over a sex assault scandal.

Ms Lagarde, who was French finance minister at the time of the payment in 2008, has denied the negligence charges.

Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain Show all 15 1 /15 Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21259.bin REUTERS/Darren Staples Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21258.bin AP Photo/Darren Staples Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21260.bin AP Photo/Cavan Pawson Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21300.bin AFP/Getty Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21301.bin AP Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21262.bin REUTERS/Kieran Doherty Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21304.bin AFP/Getty Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21299.bin AFP/Getty Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21265.bin REUTERS/Kieran Doherty Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21297.bin AP Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21296.bin PA Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21324.bin Getty Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21327.bin Reuters Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21323.bin Reuters Sarkozy uses state visit to praise Britain 21326.bin PA

Her lawyer said immediately after the ruling that his team would look into appealing the decision.

On Friday she told the court: These five days [of trial] put an end to a five-year ordeal for my partner, my sons, my brothers, who are here in this courtroom.

In this case, like in all the other cases, I acted with trust and with a clear conscience with the only intention of defending the public interest.

The case surrounded the decision to allow a dispute over Bernard Tapies sale of Adidas to Credit Lyonnais bank to be resolved by a rarely-used private arbitration panel  instead of the courts.

 IMF Chief Lagarde on Brexit

Investigators suspected the payment to 73-year-old Mr Tapie was the result of a behind closed doors agreement with then-President Mr Sarkozy in return for election support.

IMF managing director Ms Lagarde was suspected of rubber stamping a deal to effectively buy off the business magnate with taxpayers money.

Civil courts have since quashed the unusually generous award, declared the arbitration process and deal fraudulent, and ordered Mr Tapie to pay the money back.

Todays result was unexpected.

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

Even the trials chief prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin said the accusation was very weak and warned of confusion between criminal negligence and a bad political decision.

At the start of proceedings, the 355,000-a-year boss, of the global Washington-based institution, said: I would like to show you that I am in no way guilty of negligence, but rather that I acted in good faith with only the public interest in mind.

Was I negligent? No. And I will strive to convince you allegation by allegation.

Her lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve said on Europe-1 radio that Ms Lagarde was just following instructions from her administration and did not have time to read all 15 years of legal files on the case.

IMF says refugees could boost German economy

Ms Lagarde was only the fifth to be held before the Cour de Justice de la Republique since its inception in 1993.

IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said after Mondays verdict that its executive board would meet soon to consider the most recent developments.

Another former IMF head, Rodrigo Rato of Spain, is standing trial on charges of misusing funds when he was boss of the Spanish lender Bankia.
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Copenhagen officials are trying to legalise cannabis - despite the Danish government rejecting a proposed trial three times previously.

The city government, led by Mayor Frank Jensen, has made its fourth formal request that the capital is allowed to carry out a trial legalisation programme where sales are exclusively handled by public authorities.

The coalition of the left-wing Red-Green Alliance and the libertarian-leaning Liberal Alliance (LA) said the trial is necessary to prevent the increasing number of shootings in the city which they believe are linked to rival gangs attempting to control the local market.

LA council member told Danish broadcaster DR: The past months have seen an intensification in the fight between gangs to dominate the lucrative and illegal market. That causes insecurity for residents.

The move came just months after a market selling cannabis in the "hippie" district was torn down following a shooting incident in September.

The gunman, named as Mesa Hodzic, was shot dead by police. He was believed to have been an Isis sympathiser.

Two officers and one civilian were also wounded in the incident when police attempted to arrest a known drug dealer.

The Freetown Christiania district, which was founded by squatters who took over a disused army building 45 years ago, was a popular tourist attraction due to its colourful houses and cannabis trade.

Where cannabis is and isn't legal Show all 10 1 /10 Where cannabis is and isn't legal Where cannabis is and isn't legal UK Having been reclassified in 2009 from a Class C to a Class B drug, cannabis is now the most used illegal drug within the United Kingdom. The UK is also, however, the only country where Sativex  a prescribed drug that helps to combat muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis and contains some ingredients that are also found in cannabis - is licensed as a treatment Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal North Korea Although many people believe the consumption of cannabis in North Korea to be legal, the official law regarding the drug has never been made entirely clear whilst under Kim Jong Uns regime. However, it is said that the North Korean leader himself has openly said that he does not consider cannabis to be a drug and his regime doesnt take any issue with the consumption or sale of the drug MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/Getty Images Where cannabis is and isn't legal Netherlands In the Netherlands smoking cannabis is legal, given that it is smoked within the designated smoking areas and you dont possess more than 5 grams for personal use. It is also legal to sell the substance, but only in specified coffee shops Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal USA Although in some states of America cannabis has now been legalised, prior to the legalisation, police in the U.S. could make a marijuana-related arrest every 42 seconds, according to US News and World Report. The country also used to spend around $3.6 billion a year enforcing marijuana law, the American Civil Liberties Union notes AP Photo/Ted S. Warren Where cannabis is and isn't legal Spain Despite cannabis being officially illegal in Spain, the European hotspot has recently started to be branded, the new Amsterdam. This is because across Spain there are over 700 Cannabis Clubs  these are considered legal venues to consume cannabis in because the consumption of the drug is in private, and not in public. These figures have risen dramatically in the last three years  in 2010 there were just 40 Cannabis Clubs in the whole of Spain. Recent figures also show that in Catalonia alone there are 165,000 registered members of cannabis clubs  this amounts to over 5 million euros (4 million) in revenue each month Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Uruguay In December 2013, the House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill legalizing and regulating the production and sale of the drug. But the president has since postponed the legalization of cannabis until to 2015 and when it is made legal, it will be the authorities who will grow the cannabis that can be sold legally. Buyers must be 18 or older, residents of Uruguay, and must register with the authorities Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Pakistan Despite the fact that laws prohibiting the sale and misuse of cannabis exist and is considered a habit only entertained by lower-income groups, it is very rarely enforced. The occasional use of cannabis in community gatherings is broadly tolerated as a centuries old custom. The open use of cannabis by Sufis and Hindus as a means to induce euphoria has never been challenged by the state. Further, large tracts of cannabis grow unchecked in the wild Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Portugal In 2001, Portugal became the first country in the world to decriminalize the use of all drugs, and started treating drug users as sick people, instead of criminals. However, you can still be arrested or assigned mandatory rehab if you are caught several times in possession of drugs Getty Where cannabis is and isn't legal Puerto Rico Although the use of cannabis is currently illegal, it is said that Puerto Rico are in the process of decriminalising it RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images Where cannabis is and isn't legal China Cannabis is grown in the wild and has been used to treat conditions such as gout and malaria. But, officially the substance is illegal to consume, possess and sell Getty

The national government has traditionally been against any form of drug legalisation so it is unlikely it will support the Copenhagen ban but there are signs it could be softening its previously hardline stance, The Local reports.

Last month the government approved a four-year trial programme which allowed a small number of patients to be treated with medical marijuana from 2018.

Meanwhile, polls have shown 88 per cent of Danish people support legalising cannabis for medicinal use and just over half approve of its recreational use.
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Seven people have been arrested after at least 33 people from a Russian city died from drinking bath oil, despite clear warnings not to swallow the liquid.

Russia's Investigative Committee confirmed dozens of victims had consumed the hawthorn-scented oil, hoping it would give them a similar sensation to alcohol.

Overall more than 50 people in the Siberian city of Irkutsk sought urgent medical attention after consuming the product.

Investigators said the oil had a clear label instructing people not to consume it, but the warning was ignored.

The oil contained methanol, a toxic chemical found in antifreeze, and the labels said the liquid was 93 per cent methylated spirit.

Police confirmed they discovered a workshop where the oil was being produced alongside counterfeit alcohol. Two people were detained on suspicion of distributing the liquid, and a further five arrests were made. The product has now been removed from shops.

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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It was unclear whether those selling the product were marketing it as a cheaper substitute for alcoholic drinks such as vodka, although investigators said they suspected this was the case.

"It is a terrible tragedy," a spokesman for the Russia government told local reporters. "This type of problem is well known and the president has been informed. It undoubtedly demands our undivided attention and measures must be taken."

Last month, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Khloponin said medicines and perfumes account for up to 20% of the alcohol drunk in the country.
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A senior Russian MP and Putin ally has said Western countries planned the fatal shooting of Russias ambassador to Turkey.

Andrey Karlov was shot dead at an art gallery in Ankara by a man believed to be Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22, an off-duty Turkish police officer.

Altintas reportedly shouted: We die in Aleppo, you die here, before shooting the ambassador repeatedly in the back.

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed shortly after that Mr Karlov had died from his wounds and called the killing a terrorist act.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "Today in Ankara as a result of an attack, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, received a wound from which he died.

We regard this as a terrorist act."

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who leads the right-wing nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, said the killing was a false flag operation by the West.

Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Show all 13 1 /13 Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman opened fire at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was delivering a speech when the gunman opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman addressed the room after shooting the Russian Ambassador AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman spoke in Arabic after opening fire on the Russian ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara People in the art gallery react moments after the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot dead AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Turkish police secure the area near the art gallery where Andrei Karlov was shot REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman reportedly shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge" after shooting Mr Karlov dead AFP/Getty Images Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman, a Turkish policeman, can be seen standing behind the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, before he opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara An ambulance leaves the area near the art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Guests leave as the gunman holds his weapon behind them AFP/Getty

Mr Zhirinovsky claimed the West orchestrated the shooting to prevent Turkish-Russian rapprochement following a year of tensions, which have gradually eased in recent months.

Other Russian politicians also rushed to link Western governments to the assasination.

Alexey Pushkov, the former head of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian State Duma, or lower house of parliament, claimed the killing was a direct result of media "hysteria" concerning Aleppo, purveyed by "enemies" of Moscow.

Frantz Klintsevich, the deputy chairman of the upper chamber of the Russian Parliaments defence and security committee, reportedly said the assassination of Mr Karlov was a true provocation.

He said: "It was a planned action. Everyone knew that he was going to attend this photo exhibition.

"It can be Isis, or the Kurdish army which tries to hurt Erdogan.

"But may be - and it is highly likely - that representatives of foreign Nato secrets services are behind it.

"What has happened is a true provocation, a challenge. It is a challenge for Russia", he added.

Mr Klintsevich has previously promised a harsh and unambiguous response from Russia in response to NATO expansion and said Russia would aim our weapons, including the nuclear ones at any countries that seek to join the Western military pact.

The shooting came a day before Russia, Turkey and Iran were due to hold talks over the ongoing conflict in Syria. Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Turkey has supported his enemies.

World leaders and foreign minsters rushed to condemn the assassination. UK Foreign Secretary Boreign Johnson called it "despicable" and "cowardly".
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The Russian ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot in the capital city of Ankara, the Russian foreign ministry has confirmed.

Andrey Karlov was shot in the back as he made a speech at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital. Three others were reportedly injured in the attack.

Mr Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition when a man wearing a suit and tie shouted "Allahu akbar" and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience.

 Man shouts 'We die in Aleppo, you die here' after shooting dead Russian ambassador to Turkey

The gunman also reportedly shouted: "We die in Aleppo, you die here."

It was reported the gunman shouted in Turkish: "Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!"

He then yelled: "Stand back! Stand back! Only death will take me out of here. Anyone who has a role in this oppression will die one by one."

He also shouted "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great" and continued in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad."

Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Show all 13 1 /13 Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman opened fire at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was delivering a speech when the gunman opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman addressed the room after shooting the Russian Ambassador AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman spoke in Arabic after opening fire on the Russian ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara People in the art gallery react moments after the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot dead AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Turkish police secure the area near the art gallery where Andrei Karlov was shot REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman reportedly shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge" after shooting Mr Karlov dead AFP/Getty Images Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman, a Turkish policeman, can be seen standing behind the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, before he opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara An ambulance leaves the area near the art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Guests leave as the gunman holds his weapon behind them AFP/Getty

Turkish police shot and killed the gunman, Turkey's NTV reported.

Russia has said it regards the killing of its ambassador to Ankara "as a terrorist attack".

"Today in Ankara as a result of an attack, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, received a wound from which he died," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"We regard this as a terrorist act."

Ankara's mayor said the attack was aimed at ruining Russian-Turkish relations. However, talks between the two countries and Iran, scheduled for Tuesday to discuss Syria, are still expected to go ahead.

Mr Karlov was 62 and joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang in 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department.

He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

Russian and Turkey have had a tense relationship in recent times, and both support rival factions in the Syrian conflict.

However, after relations reached their lowest point after Turkey shot down a Russian jet in 2015, Ankara and Moscow have made efforts to improve diplomatic links.
 Close Man shouts 'We die in Aleppo, you die here' after shooting dead Russian ambassador to Turkey

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The Russian ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot in the capital city of Ankara. Andrey Karlov was shot in the back as he made a speech at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital.

Latest updates

Read our liveblog of the aftermath of the attack as it happened

Mr Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition when a man wearing a suit and tie shouted "Allahu akbar" and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience.

Mr Karlov died of his wounds, Russia's state-run RIA news agency reported, citing an unnamed source.

There was no official confirmation of the death from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Show all 13 1 /13 Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman opened fire at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was delivering a speech when the gunman opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman addressed the room after shooting the Russian Ambassador AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman spoke in Arabic after opening fire on the Russian ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara People in the art gallery react moments after the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot dead AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Turkish police secure the area near the art gallery where Andrei Karlov was shot REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman reportedly shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge" after shooting Mr Karlov dead AFP/Getty Images Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman, a Turkish policeman, can be seen standing behind the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, before he opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara An ambulance leaves the area near the art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Guests leave as the gunman holds his weapon behind them AFP/Getty

Turkish police shot and killed the gunman, Turkey's NTV reported.

Russia has said it regards the killing of its ambassador to Ankara "as a terrorist attack".

"Today in Ankara as a result of an attack, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, received a wound from which he died," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"We regard this as a terrorist act."

Mr Karlov had represented Russia in the country since 2013.
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A gunman reportedly shouted "We die in Aleppo, you die here," before shooting the Russian ambassador to Ankara.

Andrey Karlov was shot in the back as he made a speech at a photo exhibit in the Turkish capital, with the Russian foreign ministry confirming that Mr Karlov has died

The Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot in an attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital on Monday and the Russian RIA news agency said he had died of his wounds.

Video appears to show the alleged shooter shouting don't forget Aleppo, Syria, according to local reports.

The Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been "neutralised" soon after the attack, which appeared to mark one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict in Turkey. Relations between Moscow and Ankara have long been fraught over the conflict, the two supporting opposing sides.

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the attack mounted as Ambassador Andrei Karlov made a speech at the opening of a photographic exhibition. Hurriyet newspaper said Turkish special forces had surrounded the building. NTV said three other people were wounded.

 Russian ambassador shot in Turkey

A Reuters witness said that while gunfire rang out for some time after the attack, it had now stopped. A Hurriyet newspaper reporter said the attacker chanted Islamist slogans.

Russia and Turkey have been involved in conflict in Syria across the border from where over two million Syrian refugees have settled. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of President Bashar al-Assad while Russia has deployed troops and its air force in support of the Syrian leader.

Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Show all 13 1 /13 Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman opened fire at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was delivering a speech when the gunman opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman addressed the room after shooting the Russian Ambassador AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman spoke in Arabic after opening fire on the Russian ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara People in the art gallery react moments after the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot dead AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Turkish police secure the area near the art gallery where Andrei Karlov was shot REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman reportedly shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge" after shooting Mr Karlov dead AFP/Getty Images Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman, a Turkish policeman, can be seen standing behind the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, before he opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara An ambulance leaves the area near the art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Guests leave as the gunman holds his weapon behind them AFP/Getty

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Russian-backed Syrian forces have fought for control of the eastern part of the city of Aleppo, triggering a stream of refugees.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack.

Agencies contributed to this report
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The White House issued a statement condemning the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, who was gunned down at an art gallery in Ankara.

The United States strongly condemns the assassination  which reportedly also left others wounded, said National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of Ambassador Karlov and the other victims, and we offer our condolences to the Russion people and Government.

This heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable, and we stand united with Russia and Turkey in our determination to confront terrorism in all of its forms.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu confirmed that the gunman was a police officer. He reportedly entered the event using his official identification. It remains unclear whether he was off duty at the time.

Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Show all 13 1 /13 Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman opened fire at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was delivering a speech when the gunman opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman addressed the room after shooting the Russian Ambassador AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman spoke in Arabic after opening fire on the Russian ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara People in the art gallery react moments after the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot dead AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Turkish police secure the area near the art gallery where Andrei Karlov was shot REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman reportedly shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge" after shooting Mr Karlov dead AFP/Getty Images Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman, a Turkish policeman, can be seen standing behind the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, before he opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara An ambulance leaves the area near the art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Guests leave as the gunman holds his weapon behind them AFP/Getty

Police special forces surrounded the scene and "neutralised" the gunman after a 15 minute operation.

 Russian ambassador to Turkey fatally shot at exhibition

Karlov had reportedly been delivering a speech for minutes when the assailant opened fire, firing eight shots, according to an Associated Press photographer at the scene.

Video captured the assailant shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria! So long as our borthers are not in safety, you will not taste safety either. Only my dead body will leave here.

"Whoever is involved in this cruelty, one by one, you will pay for it."

Russian officials say they are treating the shooting as terrorism.

Today in Ankara as a result of an attack, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, received a wound from which he died, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

We regard this as a terrorist attack.
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A lorry has ploughed through a crowded Christmas market in the centre of Berlin, killing at least nine people in an incident being investigated as an act of terrorism.

The truck careered into the German capital's popular Christmas market near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, with loud bangs being heard as it crushed stands and tables and ripped out lighting and decorations.

The driver of the truck has been arrested, while a passenger died at the scene.

At least 50 people have been injured.

Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Show all 18 1 /18 Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Several people have been killed after a lorry drove into crowds at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Berlin Christmas market lorry attack 'At least nine' people have been killed and more than 50 injured. AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency Services rush a Berlin market victim to an ambulance Associated Press Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Police cordoned off the square at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church following the incident REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers inspect the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market close to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church in Berlin EPA Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency crews inspect the lorry that ploughed into a Berlin Christmas market, killing at least nine people AFP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Fire crews attend the scene of the attack AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Armed police secure the site of a lorry attack at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Crushed debris is visible beneath the wheels of the vehicle REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack An injured man is pushed to an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Medics attend an injured person after the lorry attack which killed at least nine and injured more than 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters examine the lorry which was rammed into a Berlin Christmas market REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack A person is carried into an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack View of the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing at least nine and injuring at least 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher to an ambulance Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters assess the damage after the lorry rammed the Christmas market, killing 'at least nine', and injuring more than 50 people AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters stand beside a toppled Christmas tree at the site of the suspected terrorist attack in a Berlin Christmas market AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Damaged stalls at the scene of the incident at a Berlin Christmas market where at least nine people have been killed EPA

The Polish owner of the truck said he feared the vehicle, originally driven by his cousin, may have been hijacked.

Ariel Zurawki said he last spoke with the driver around midday, and was told he was in Berlin and scheduled to unload on Tuesday morning.

Mr Zurawki told TVN24: They must have done something to my driver.

Facebook has initiated its Safety Check feature, allowing users in Berlin to notify friends and family that they are unharmed:

Chancellor Merkel is being briefed by the interior minister and Berlin mayor on the situation.

White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said the US condemns what it understands to be a "terrorist attack" in "the strongest terms.

He said the US is sending condolences to Germany's government and its people, thoughts and prayers to the relatives of those killed and is ready to assist German officials.

The White House said the US stands with Berlin in the fight against those who target our way of life and threaten our societies."
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the killing of the Russian ambassador to Ankara is designed to spoil Russian-Turkish ties.

Mr Putin said the killing of Andrey Karlov in the Turksih capital was also intended to derail Moscow's attempts to find, with Iran and Turkey, a solution for the Syria crisis.

He said Russian investigators have opened a criminal case into the killing.

In televised comments, Mr Putin, speaking at a special meeting in the Kremlin, ordered security at Russian embassies around the world to be stepped up and said he wanted to know who had "directed" the gunman's hand.

Recommended Gunman who shot Russian ambassador to Turkey named

He heaped praise on the murdered Russian ambassador, Mr Karlov, who was shot in the back and killed as he gave a speech at an Ankara art gallery, and made clear that Moscow's response to his assassination would be robust.

"A crime has been committed and it was without doubt a provocation aimed at spoiling the normalisation of Russo-Turkish relations and spoiling the Syrian peace process which is being actively pushed by Russia, Turkey, Iran and others," said a stern-faced Mr Putin.

"There can only be one response - stepping up the fight against terrorism. The bandits will feel this happening."

Mr Putin, who said he personally knew the slain envoy, said he had agreed in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Russian investigators would soon fly to Ankara to help the Turks with the investigation.

"We must know who directed the killer's hand," Mr Putin told Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Sergei Naryshkin, the head of his SVR foreign intelligence service, and Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the domestic FSB security service.

Mr Putin ordered security at Turkish diplomatic facilities in Russia to be stepped up and said he wanted guarantees from Turkey about the safety of Russian diplomatic facilities.

"I also ask you to implement the agreed proposals on strengthening security at Russian diplomatic facilities abroad," Mr Putin told the meeting.

Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Show all 13 1 /13 Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman opened fire at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was delivering a speech when the gunman opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman addressed the room after shooting the Russian Ambassador AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman spoke in Arabic after opening fire on the Russian ambassador to Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara People in the art gallery react moments after the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot dead AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Turkish police secure the area near the art gallery where Andrei Karlov was shot REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman reportedly shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge" after shooting Mr Karlov dead AFP/Getty Images Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman stands over the body of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara The gunman, a Turkish policeman, can be seen standing behind the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, before he opened fire AP Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara An ambulance leaves the area near the art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead REUTERS Russian ambassador to Turkey shot dead in Ankara Guests leave as the gunman holds his weapon behind them AFP/Getty

The foreign and defence ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey are due to discuss the future of Syria in Moscow on Tuesday.

The Interfax news agency cited Leonid Slutsky, a senior parliamentarian, as saying earlier on Monday that the talks would go ahead despite the murder.

In an odd coincidence, Putin had been planning to attend a Moscow play on Monday night written by Alexander Griboyedov, Russia's ambassador to Iran, who was murdered in 1829.

Using a similar message, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a video message being shown on several Turkish TV channels, said that this is a provocation to damage the normalisation process of Turkish-Russian relations.

But both the Russian and Turkish administrations have the determination not to fall for this provocation, he added.

Agencies contributed to this report
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Bombardment has left those civilians still stranded throughout Aleppo without access to medical facilities, food or shelter, while tens of thousands of internally displaced refugees are also in urgent need of aid.

Government forces, pro-Assad militias and armed opposition groups have all been accused of obstructing the flow of aid around Syria's largest city. On 18 December, buses intended to convey civilians out of the city were burned by an Islamist anti-government faction, while the Assad regime has repeatedly blocked aid convoys from entering the city.

In such circumstances, large charitable organisations may find it easier to cross political lines and deliver aid. But even the Red Cross has been unable to access parts of Aleppo from April until now, and smaller grassroots organisations with closer ties to local people can be more effective at turning donations into meaningful change on the ground.

Here are 16 different ways you can try and make a difference to ordinary residents still surviving in the decimated city.

UNHCR.

The United Nations' Refugee Agency has been criticised for its response to the global refugee crisis, but its policy of giving cash directly to refugees fleeing Aleppo and other war-struck locations across the region is seen "the preferred means of assistance" by a majority of Syrian refugees. $430 million (346 million) has been given to displaced people across the globe this year, and $355 million (286 million) in the Middle East alone. Donate here.

The Syrian American Medical Society.

An organisation with ties to the Aleppo area, SAMS provides financial and logistical support to beleaguered medical professionals in Syria, as well as online learning resources for Syrian medicine students. Donate here

Medecins Sans Frontieres.

The globally-respected medical relief organisation has seen its hospitals in Aleppo destroyed by indiscriminate bombing, but continues to send medical supplies to evacuees in Aleppo governate. Donate here.

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

Hand in Hand for Syria.

As the name suggests, a hands-on organisation which prides itself working directly with Syrians inside Syria, even when other aid organisations considered it too unsafe. They had a team inside Aleppo when it was over-run by Assad loyalists last week and are still sending aid into the area. Donate here.

Life for Relief and Development.

The largest Arab-American humanitarian charity, which is running an emergency appeal to get together basic supplies for families displaced from Aleppo into the harsh Syrian winter. Donate here.

Islamic Relief.

Vital hands-on work is being carried out in Aleppo by the multinational charity, distributing medical supplies, food parcels and fuel and airlifting severely wounded civilians to Turkey for treatment. Donate here.

Humanitarian Relief Organisation.

This Turkish organisation is en route to Aleppo in a convoy of 1500 aid trucks, while simultaneously bussing orphans out of the city to safety. Donate here.

Red Cross (Red Crescent).

"We are getting ready to resume the evacuation of people from eastern Aleppo," a Red Cross spokesperson announced yesterday, after intitial relief efforts collapsed following the failure of the ceasefire. They're working in partnership with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, an independent organisation based in Damascus. Donate here.

 Toddler weeps for dead father in harrowing footage from Aleppo

Syria Relief.

A British charity with an exclusive focus on Syria, fundraising for heating kits, blankets and wood fuel, among other services. Donate here.

Kesh Malek.

As late as 2 December, Kesh Malek was running seven underground schools for 1700 children in rebel-held Aleppo, though these were temporarily suspended as the siege worsened. Donate here.

Syria Relief and Development.

Another relatively grass-roots organisation, with a particular focus on supporting women. They're currently fundraising for the 30,000 people who have fled Aleppo in the past week. Donate here.

Zakat Foundation of America.

Zakat, the act of giving a percentage of your wealth to charity, is one of the five Pillars of Islam. This Islamic organisation is sending relief packages into the overwhelmingly Muslim city. Donate here.

International Orthodox Christian Charities.

Another religiously-motivated charity bringing aid to people displaced from Aleppo. Donate here.

Mercy Corps.

Among other services, this NGO is providing clean drinking water and hygiene kits to protect families from disease. It was in the city until September, and is now preparing to receive evacuees. Donate here.

Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations.

A coalition of humanitarian, non-governmental, and medical organizations from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Turkey, brought together in 2012 to tackle the Syrian crisis on non-partisan grounds. Donate here.

The White Helmets.

The civic emergency response unit are said to have saved over 70,000 lives, and accept donations to buy emergency equipment from defibrillators to knee protectors. Donate here.
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Armed men burned five buses that were supposed to be used for an evacuation near Idlib in Syria on Sunday, stalling a deal to allow thousands to depart the last rebel pocket in Aleppo, where evacuees crammed into buses for hours before departing the city.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the evacuation of the villages near Idlib had been postponed as a result of the incident. Five buses leaving Aleppo were held, packed with evacuees, for hours before they could drive the 5 km (3 miles) to rebel-held territory outside.

In return for the evacuation of fighters, their families and other civilians from Aleppo, the mostly Sunni insurgents had agreed that people in the villages of al-Foua and Kefraya, Shi'ite villages that they have besieged near Idlib, should also be allowed to leave.

Videos posted on social media showed bearded men with guns cheering and shouting "God is great" after torching the green buses before they were able to reach the villages.

State media said "armed terrorists", a term it uses for all groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad, had carried out the attack. Pro-Damascus Mayadeen television and the Observatory blamed the rebel group formerly known as the Nusra Front.

Rebel officials said an angry crowd of people, possibly alongside pro-government "operatives", was responsible.

Although the Aleppo evacuation convoy was eventually cleared to drive to rebel-held al-Rashideen, there was no official word on what impact the bus burning would have on the departure of more convoys from the city and the two villages.

While the Observatory said the convoy of five buses had reached al-Rashideen, a United Nations official in Syria said only that they had left east Aleppo, adding: "The evacuations are on".

Robert Mardini, regional director for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which is at the forefront of the operation, tweeted that the buses and one ambulance of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent "just left dark & cold E #Aleppo", adding: "Hopeful operation will proceed smoothly."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Assad's main foreign backer, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, the rebels' main supporter, agreed by telephone on Sunday that the disruptions must be quickly overcome, sources in Erdogan's office said.

The commander of forces allied to Assad said there was still a chance for states with influence over rebel groups to find a way to evacuate civilians safely.

In a statement carried by a military news outlet run by Damascus's ally, the Lebanese group Hezbollah, the allied forces leadership said responsibility for the delay in the evacuation falls with "terrorists and their state sponsors".

Some 40 km (26 miles) to the northeast, hundreds of fighters and their families in Aleppo sat or stood in buses, hoping the evacuation would resume after a three-day hiatus.

Syrian state television, citing its correspondent in the city, said buses had started to leave east Aleppo where over 15,000 people had gathered in a square to wait, many after a night sleeping in the streets in freezing temperatures.

Aleppo had been divided between government and rebel areas in the nearly six-year-long war, but a lightning advance by the Syrian army and its allies began in mid-November following months of intense air strikes, forcing the insurgents out of most of the rebel-held territory within a matter of weeks.

Everyone is waiting

According to Syria's al-Ikhbariya TV news, about 1,200 civilians would initially be evacuated from east Aleppo and a similar number from the two villages.

A document cited by al-Manar television and passed to Reuters by rebels and activists said the entire deal would see 2,500 citizens leave al-Foua and Kefraya in two batches, in exchange for the evacuation of people from east Aleppo in two corresponding batches.

Following this, another 1,500 would leave al-Foua and Kefraya in exchange for the evacuation of 1,500 from the towns of Madaya and Zabadani near Lebanon, which are besieged by pro-government forces.

Once evacuees from the villages have safely arrived in government areas, Aleppo fighters and more of their family members will be allowed to leave, in return for subsequent batches of people departing al-Foua and Kefraya, al-Ikhbariya TV reported.

In the square in Aleppo's Sukari district, organizers gave every family a number to allow them on buses.

"Everyone is waiting until they are evacuated. They just want to escape," said Salah al Attar, a former teacher with his five children, wife and mother.

Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Show all 12 1 /12 Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man crosses a street in Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A vendor sits inside an antique shop in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk inside the Khan al-Shounah market, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man walks past shops in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk along an alley in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors tour Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A general view shows the Old City of Aleppo as seen from Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk near Aleppo's Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower, Syria October 6, 2010 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man stands inside Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters

Thousands of people were evacuated on Thursday, the first to leave under a ceasefire deal that would end years of fighting for the city and mark a major victory for Assad.

They were taken to rebel-held districts of the countryside west of Aleppo. Turkey has said Aleppo evacuees could also be housed in a camp to be constructed near the Turkish border to the north.

Reuters
Levon Ter-Petrosyans speech- for several mandates (video)

2017 will be the most serious election year in the sense that it will finally become clear where Armenia is moving- again towards fall or the vice versa, said Aram Harutyunyan, Head of National Agreement Party during the meeting with journalists. According to his words, the authorities failed all the sectors and want to be reproduced, but the opposition political figures must prevent it. Mr Harutyunyan highlights union of opposition figures and establishment of alliances. He didnt give details whether his party will form an alliance or not; it is early to speak about it. Aram Harutyunyan thinks that it is not right to discuss and criticize the speeches of the opposition figures, but he cannot pass Levon Ter-Petrosyans last speech. Levon Ter-Petrosyan, not reconciling with regime change, brings forward the philosophy of mother cuckoo- handing over the chicks for saving the last chick, whats more- the stepmother of the cuckoo as it is not trying to hand over its personal chicks. If Levon Ter-Petrosyan made the same speech in Meli Mejlis, people would applaud him standing on their feet, said Harutyunyan, adding that in Karabakh issue the first president agrees with Serzh Sargsyan, For several mandates the first president becomes an institutional client. Territorial concession is discussed for an unclear status. What will we say to the parents of the deceased soldiers, to the servicemen standing on the border?
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The seven-year-old girl who has been tweeting about the dire situation in Aleppo has been evacuated from the city and is safe, a charity official has said.

Bana Alabed is among the around 3,000 people to have reached relative safety on Monday after a weekend in which the evacuation of thousands of civilians from the last rebel enclaves of the embattled Syrian city was delayed.

Ahmad Tarakji, the president of the Syrian American Medical Society, tweeted that Bana was safe and well in the Aleppo countryside, along with a picture of her smiling in an aid worker's arms.

The news comes as it emerged 10 buses carrying around 500 civilians from two Shiite villages besieged by rebels in northern Syria are on their way to government-controlled areas.

Evacuations of injured fighters and residents from Foua and Kfarya were conditions which were added to a ceasefire deal that paved the way for the last rebels and civilians to depart from what was left of the revolution in Aleppo.

However, the deal was jeopordised after both sides reported ceasefire violations last week, and al-Qaeda affiliated rebels set fire to some of the buses going to Foua and Kfraya on Sunday.

 Shocking video: Syrian citizens flee gunfire at Aleppo crossing

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV said that the operation was proceeding as of Monday, as buses left Foua and Kfarya. More than 2,000 sick and wounded people are supposed to leave the villages.

Bana set up a Twitter account with the help of her English-speaking mother Fatemeh in September, using it to talk about how she wanted to go to school. Fatemah Alabed also posted messages asking for the international community to help stop the air strikes that have pounded Aleppo in the last few months, and pictures of Bana and her two younger brothers.

The account was criticised by many, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad himself, who said he believes it is terrorist propaganda. However, several investigations have colloborated that Bana and her family are real.

When the Russian-backed Syrian government offensive on Aleppo intensified two weeks ago, Fatemeh tweeted that their home had been destroyed, and her father injured. The pair also posted 'goodbye' messages and temporarily deleted the account when it became clear the Syrian army and allied militias were closing in.

In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Show all 30 1 /30 In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian family arrives at a checkpoint, manned by pro-government forces, at the al-Hawoz street roundabout, after leaving Aleppo's eastern neighbourhoods Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian woman, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, reacts as she stands with her children in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood, after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-regime fighters, gesture as they drive past resident fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood , after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-regime fighters, gesture as they drive past residents fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood, after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian pro-regime fighter speaks with a child, as residents flee violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood. Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops AFP/Getty Images In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Smoke rises as seen from a governement-held area of Aleppo, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian soldiers targeting rebels-held areas in the eastern neighborhoods in Aleppo, Syria. According to media reports, the army is now holding on 99 percent of Aleppois eastern neighborhoods EPA In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-government forces patrol Aleppo's eastern al-Salihin neighbourhood after troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian soldiers rest following the battle at al-Sheik Saeed neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria EPA In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian pro-government fighter walking past closed shops in the Bab al-Nasr district of Aleppo's Old City. Once renowned for its bustling souks, grand citadel and historic gates, Aleppo's Old City has been rendered virtually unrecognisable by some of the worst violence of Syria's war Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria The crucial battle for Aleppo entered its 'final phase' after Syrian rebels retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances. The retreat leaves opposition fighters confined to just a handful of neighbourhoods in southeast Aleppo, the largest of them Sukkari and Mashhad Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian civilans arrive at a checkpoint, manned by pro-government forces, at the al-Hawoz street roundabout, after leaving Aleppo's eastern neighbourhoods. Syria's government has retaken at least 85 percent of east Aleppo, which fell to rebels in 2012, since beginning its operation Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian civilians flee the Sukkari neighbourhood towards safer rebel-held areas in southeastern Aleppo Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrians celebrate in the government-held Mogambo neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, after rebel fighters retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrians celebrate in the government-held Mogambo neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, after rebel fighters retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances. The fall of Aleppo would be the worst rebel defeat since Syria's conflict began in 2011, and leave the government in control of the country's five major cities Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian refugee Aliya inside the tent where she lives with her husband and ten children in a camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian refugee women and children outside the entrance to their tents in the refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA Wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA Wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee woman outside the entrance to the tent where her family live, in the refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A vehicle drives past a mosque at night in Idlib, Syria. Picture taken with a long exposure Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Damaged buildings stand in the rebel-controlled town of Binnish in Idlib province, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria The night sky is seen through damaged windows in the rebel-controlled town of Binnish in Idlib province, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Damaged buildings stand in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province, Syria Reuters

The Alabeds are now in Idlib, the rebel-held province to the west of Aleppo, but several aid agencies have warned that conditions for new arrivals are dire. There was not adequate time to prepare for the influx of people from Aleppo, meaning many are without adequate shelter in the freezing weather, and food and medical help are still scarce.

Idlib has also been heavily targeted by regime air strikes in the past few months - which analysts say are likely to continue.

Later on Monday, the UN Security Council will vote on a resolution to allow the international body's staff to monitor the evacuations in the hope they can contiune without further hold ups. The draft resolution was the result of a compromise between Russia and France, and the US said it was expected to pass unanimously.
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Isis is providing young boys and girls in the territory it controls with apps to access violent jihadi websites, as it makes increasing use of child fighters in a battle for survival in Iraq and Syria.

The attempt to create a new generation of terrorists, say military and security officials, comes amid evidence of a new drive to recruit among the young in the West to carry out attacks in Europe and America as well as make the journey to the Middle East to join the fighting.

There has been a sharp rise in the numbers of children on the frontline  up to 50,000 according to some estimates  in the wake of the heavy losses Isis has suffered while desperately defending Mosul, its last stronghold in Iraq, and Raqqa, the capital of its caliphate in Syria.

Around 300 young fighters have been killed, many in suicide attacks, and others too are likely to die as the campaign continues. Isis is, however, believed to have more than 1,500 in its Cubs of the Caliphate section, and security officials warn of a serious problem over what to do with indoctrinated boys and girls, psychologically damaged by what they have experienced, once the conflict is finally over.

The internet is the common avenue for indoctrination in both the West and the Middle-East for the young, say security sources. The British Government has disclosed that 50 young people were prevented from leaving the UK to go to Syria in the last 12 months  more than doubling last years figure of 23 at a time when the number of adults making the journey has dropped.

A dozen suspects, all teenagers, are reported to have been detained in Belgium last week for allegedly plotting to attack Christmas shoppers and a 12-year-old-boy was arrested in the German town of Ldwigshafen earlier this month after attempting to detonate a nail bomb at a Christmas market.

Isis has set up kiosks in the areas it controls in Iraq and Syria where children can use apps to read the Isis online magazine Rumiyah, as well as a website that teaches them Arabic.

Rumiyah has replaced Dabiq, another publication produced by Isis, in a move which has been interpreted as reflecting its changing strategy and aims. The town of Dabiq in northern Syria is, in Islamic scriptures, the setting for the final battle in which Muslims will defeat infidels. But in retreat, and losing tranches of land, the jihadis no longer see themselves as being victorious in a war in the Middle-East, and want to take jihad to the heart, as they see it, of political and spiritual power of the West : Rumiyah, or Rome.

Pictures of guns and tanks abound in the childrens Arabic learning website along with those of landmarks in Europe and America. Colonel John Dorrian, of the US-led coalition against Isis, said what they do is despicable, they are willing to use children to carry out suicide attacks: their apocalyptic vision is of damaging society everywhere they have gained control. What they are trying to do is create a generational problem with their poisonous ideology.

In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Isis' weapons factories In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A mortar round fin manufactured by Isis in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis rocket components discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, Iraq in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortars discovered near Karamlais, Iraq, in November 2016 CAR In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis rocket launch frame in Qaraqosh, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A memo from Isis' COSQC on quality control at a manufacturing facility in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Electrically-operated initiators manufactured by Isis in forces Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortar tubes at a manufacturing facility in Karamlais, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis mortar production facility discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis weapons manufacturing facilities near Mosul in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Stocks of French-manufactured Sorbitol, Latvian potassium nitrate and Lebanese sugar at an Isis weapons factory in Iraq Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A destroyed Isis weapons facility in Qaraqosh, Iraq, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research

They have even devised an app which is used to indoctrinate children. It is supposed to teach them Arabic. But the words they learn are related to violence and extremism such as tanks and grenades. The children are rewarded if they say they are prepared to carry out attacks on the West, the targets are places like the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower.

We are obviously very concerned about what they are learning through these apps turning to reality. But at the same time we need to take care of these children when the time comes, untold damage has been done to them which needs to be undone.

The vast majority of children in the ranks of Isis are Syrian and Iraqi, with large numbers of Yemenis and Moroccans among those from elsewhere in the region. There are also around 50 from Britain, along with smaller numbers from France, Australia and other Western countries.

A senior British security official said: We need to consider what needs to be done with these children. Some of them who have been used to carry out criminal acts, some really dreadful ones, are below the age of criminal responsibility in many countries in Europe. We know of children from the West who have been taken to Syria, but there are also children who have been born there to European parents. This is a complicated scenario and there are no easy answers.
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Isis has reportedly offered a $1 million reward for the killing of a Kurdish-Danish woman who dropped out of university in 2014 to fight the extremist group in Syria and Iraq.

Joanna Palani, 23, is currently behind bars and facing trial in Copenhagen for leaving the country after a 12-month travel ban imposed in June 2015.

Ironically, if found guilty she faces up to two years in prison under the new laws designed to stem the flow of Isis fighters from Denmark to the Middle East.

How can I pose a threat to Denmark and other countries by being a soldier in an official army that Denmark trains and supports directly in the fight against [Isis]? she posted on Facebook shortly after her passport was confiscated.

Ms Palanis high profile means she is often the subject of vicious threats both on and offline. The latest offerings of financial reward for her death were made by Isis social media channels in several different languages over the weekend, al-Arabiya reported.

Ms Palani, whose family originate from Iranian Kurdistan, was born in a refugee camp in Ramadi in Iraq during the first Gulf War. Her family won asylum in Denmark when she was a child.

 The all-female army fighting against ISIS

She quit a politics degree to join the Kurdish revolution against Isis after the extremists rose to prominence in 2014, fighting with both the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria and Peshmerga forces in Iraq. In a Facebook post, Ms Palani said she was inspired to fight for womens rights, for democracy - for the European values I learned as a Danish girl.

Her trial begins December 20, Danish media reports.
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Lebanon is on its way to ending more than two years of political deadlock after Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri announced the formation of a new 30-member strong government and cabinet.

The new government will have at the top of its list of priorities to preserve security against the fires ravaging our region, Mr Hariri said of the new line-up in a media conference on Sunday night. The announcements came six weeks after the country elected Christian Michel Aoun as President after two and a half years without a head of state, which had left parliament unable to pass legislation.

Mr Hariri stressed that the government would act to preserve our country from the negative consequences of the Syrian crisis.

Important changes include Yacoub al-Sarraf as defence minister and Cesar Abou Khalil as energy and water minister. Mr Hariri also announced the two new posts of anti-corruption minister and a minister of state for women's affairs, as well as a state secretariat for refugees.

However, the appointment of Jean Ogasapian  a male ex-army colonel from the centre-right Future Movement party  as the minister in charge of the newly created portfolio for womens affairs has drawn criticism.

Lebanon is generally at the forefront of human rights protection in the region, and women enjoy a higher level of autonomy than in many surrounding countries, but they are still woefully underrepresented in politics. There is only one woman in the new cabinet, and four female MPs sitting in the 128-strong parliament.

The broad new government encompasses members from all main Muslim and Christian political parties except for the Christian Phalangist Party, which turned down a post. Lebanons political system ensures parity between Muslim and Christian representatives.

The key positions of foreign minister, finance minister and interior minister will remain in the hands of Gebran Bassil, Ali Hassan Khalil and Nouhad Machnouk respectively.

 Women in Lebanon protest law allowing rapists to marry their victims to escape punishment

Mr Hariri was nominated to form Lebanon's next government in November, but it was expected that the process would not go smoothly thanks to his fierce opposition of Hezbollah, the influential Shia movement, which he maintains assassinated his father in 2005.

However, in a phenomenal realpolitiking move, Mr Hariri supported Hezbollahs candidate Mr Aouns run at the presidency in order to secure his own return to office as prime minister.

The new government will include two ministers from Hezbollah.

It is hoped that Lebanons politicians will now have the ability to tackle the countrys many challenges, including a stagnant economy and the influx of approximately one million Syrian refugees in the tiny country.

The first parliamentary elections in eight years are due to be held in May 2017.
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Heavy snowfall and freezing conditions in the northern Syrian province of Deir Ez Zor have added to the difficulties of locals in the area displaced by fighting.

The arid province, which is mostly desert, gets barely any rain and some areas had not seen snowfall in more than a quarter of a century until freezing conditions hit over the weekend.

The UNs partner agencies on the ground had been trying to get people to move to the town of al-Hawl to the northeast, which is better set up for internally displaced persons (IDPs), but thousands are still thought to be enduring the cold in inadequate shelter without proper clothing and fuel.

Deir Ez Zor has seen heavy fighting between Free Syrian Army rebels, extremists such as Isis and Syrian government troops throughout the civil war. The city itself, home to approximately 200,000 people, has been under siege by Isis forces since 2015, and only accesses fuel, medicine and other supplies through government aid drops.

Several thousand people have left their homes to escape fighting since the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces launched their operation on the nearby Isis stronghold of Raqqa last month.

The snow has also complicated relief efforts across the border in northern Iraq, where thousands of displaced Yazidis near Singar are dealing with unprecedented snow while living in refugee tents.

Nearly 50 centimetres of snow has fallen on Mount Singar, endangering the lives of the refugees there, said Mahma Khalil, the towns mayor.

Around 3,000 people are living in tents and another 9,000 in need of food, fuel and clothes to stay warm, Mr Khalil said, appealing to the Baghdad government for aid.

Singar, which is mostly home to the minority ethnic group known as the Yazidis, whose religion encopmasses aspects of Zoroastrianism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism, was overrun by Isis in August 2014. Thousands were enslaved and killed in a genocide before the town was liberated by Kurdish peshmerga forces in November 2015.
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The gunman who shot Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov in the back was a police officer, Turkey's Interior Minister, Suleyman Soylu, has confirmed.

The officer is believed to have used his official identification to enter the art gallery, before opening fire on the ambassador as he gave a speech

It was unclear whether he was on or off duty at the time of the shooting.

A video showed him shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria! So long as our brothers are not in safety, you will not taste safety either. Only my dead body will leave here.

"Whoever is involved in this cruelty, one by one, you will pay for it."

He fired at least eight shots, according to an Associated Press photographer in the audience.

The assailant was 'neutralized' during an operation that lasted around 15 minutes by police special forces at the scene, according to the state run Anadolu news agency.

 Russian ambassador to Turkey fatally shot at exhibition

Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek told reporters outside the exhibition centre that the "heinous" attack had aimed to disrupt newly-re-established relations between Turkey and Russia.

It came a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defense ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria.

This article will be updated shortly
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Saudi Arabia will have executed at least 150 people by the end of 2016, for the second year in a row, according to research by a human rights organisation.

Around 47 of those were tried in the kingdom's specialised criminial court, which the UK-based group Reprieve suggested is being used to silence political dissidents.

Of those tried for state security offences including protesting, two were confirmed to be foreign nationals and four were juveniles. Meanwhile, 81 people  including 20 foreign nationals - were executed for comitting murder, and 23 for drug trafficking.

Reprieve has claimed legal norms are being ignored in Saudi courts, such the lack of a lawyer present at hearings and even the use of torture to extract confessions.

On 2 January, 47 civilians were executed on terrorism charges in one day, with the majority beheaded. It was the largest mass execution carried out in Saudi Arabia since 1980.

Reprieve said 150 civilians have been executed in total this year, compared with 158 last year. The 2015 figure reflected a considerable rise in executions, up 71 from the year before.

The majority of those executed this year were arrested on drugs or terrorism offences. Several were young people under the age of 18, Reprieve alleged.

Recommended Saudi Arabia issues extraordinary speech defending human rights record

The January executions sparked protests across the Middle East, during which demonstrators attacked the Saudi Embassy in Baghdad and buildings were burned down in Tehran.

In Saudi Arabia, the death penalty can be imposed for a wide range of offences including murder, rape, blasphemy, drug use, adultery and witchcraft. It is one of four countries  the others are North Korea, Somalia and Iran  which still carries out public executions.

"These appalling abuses give the lie to the Prime Ministers claim that the UKs engagement with Saudi Arabia promotes reform," Reprieve director Maya Foa said.

"The Government must urgently use its ever-closer relationship with Saudi Arabia to secure genuine change  this includes the release of juveniles facing the death penalty."

In July, Sara Hashah, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa spokesperson, told The Independent that Saudi Arabia was "out of step" with the rest of the world.

(Statista (Statista)

"In Saudi Arabia, where people are routinely sentenced to death after grossly unfair trials, we have seen a dramatic surge in the number of executions in the past two years which has shown no sign of abating in 2016, she said.

This clearly demonstrates that Saudi Arabias authorities are increasingly out of step with a global trend of states moving away from the death penalty.

Human rights attacks around the world Show all 10 1 /10 Human rights attacks around the world Human rights attacks around the world China Escalating crackdown against human rights activists including mass arrests of lawyers and a series of sweeping laws in the name of national security. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Egypt The arrest of thousands, including peaceful critics, in a ruthless crackdown in the name of national security, the prolonged detention of hundreds without charge or trial and the sentencing of hundreds of others to death. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Gambia Torture, enforced disappearances and the criminalisation of LGBTI people; and utter refusal to co-operate with the UN and regional human rights mechanisms on issues including freedom of expression, enforced disappearance and the death penalty. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Hungary Sealing off its borders to thousands of refugees in dire need; and obstructing collective regional attempts to help them. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Israel Maintaining its military blockade of Gaza and therefore collective punishment of the 1.8 million inhabitants there, as well as failing, like Palestine, to comply with a UN call to conduct credible investigations into war crimes committed during the 2014 Gaza conflict. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Kenya Extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and discrimination against refugees in its counter-terrorism operations; and attempts to undermine the International Criminal Court and its ability to pursue justice. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Pakistan The severe human rights failings of its response to the horrific Peshawar school massacre including its relentless use of the death penalty; and its policy on international NGOs giving authorities the power to monitor them and close them down if they are considered to be against the interests of the country. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Russia Repressive use of vague national security and anti-extremism legislation and its concerted attempts to silence civil society in the country; its shameful refusal to acknowledge civilian killings in Syria and its callous moves to block Security Council action on Syria. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Saudi Arabia Brutally cracking down on those who dared to advocate reform or criticise the authorities; and committing war crimes in the bombing campaign it has led in Yemen (pictured) while obstructing the establishment of a UN-led inquiry into violations by all sides in the conflict. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Syria Killing thousands of civilians in direct and indiscriminate attacks with barrel bombs and other weaponry and through acts of torture in detention; and enforcing lengthy sieges of civilian areas, blocking international aid from reaching starving civilians. Getty Images

"Saudi Arabias authorities must end their reliance on this cruel, inhuman and degrading form of punishment immediately.

In March, the kingdoms culture minister delivered a speech to the UN in Geneva denying that the government was guilty of human rights offences.

Bandar al-Ali claimed Saudi Arabia was a bastion of human rights, and fights torture in all its physical and moral manifestations, in response to its increasing use of public executions.
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Government analysis has indicated that British-made cluster bombs have been used by Saudi Arabia-led forces in the war in Yemen.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon is among ministers to have been made aware of the analysis, sources told The Guardian.

The Government said it takes the allegations very seriously and has raised them with the Saudi-led coalition.

The analysis comes after the prime minister of Yemen's rebel Houthi government accused the UK of war crimes for supplying arms.

Media reports have repeatedly suggested cluster bombs made in the UK had been used in the war.

Because of their extraordinary risk to civilians, cluster bombs were banned in 2010 in an international treaty signed by Britain.

The UK's signature on the Cluster Munitions Convention also means it must be committed to preventing the banned weapon's use by other nations.

Rebel PM Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour previously said the UK Government was profiting from the humanitarian crisis by selling munitions.

He told Sky News: They have sold cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia.

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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. 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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

They know the Saudis are going to drop them on Yemen... in Sa'adah and in Sana'a and other provinces.

I don't think they are guilty of war crimes, I believe so. They are participating in the bombing of Yemen people.

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the latest claims but a government spokesman said: The Government takes such allegations very seriously.

We have analysed the case carefully using all available information, considering all possibilities, and raised the issue with the Saudi-led coalition.

PA
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A Muslim woman was reportedly subjected to a brutal verbal and physicial attack after her alleged attacker said "merry Christmas" but she replied "happy holidays".

Polie are investigating reports the man stole the woman's headscarf after the incident at the Beeliar Village shopping complex in Perth, Australia.

According to the Islamophobia Register Australia, the assailant smashed the 33-year-old woman over the back with a beer bottle after the exchange.

Her headscarf was allegedly stolen during the scuffle Google (Google)

Her headscarf came off during the scuffle and the man ran off with it before dumping it nearby.

Officers say they are looking for a light-skinned man aged between 25 and 35, around 5ft 9ins tall, of slim build and with short blond hair. He was reportedly wearing blue shorts and a white top.

Recommended Muslim woman dragged along pavement by headscarf in London attack

 Woman records furious Islamophobic rant in a London shop

The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, told WAtoday: He yelled, no merry Christmas, so I said OK, then he called me a f****** Muslim c***.

I asked him what he said and I saw him grab a bottle so I quickly turned away and he threw it at me and it smashed on my shoulder and neck.

Imagine if I didnt turn around, it could have cut my face open.

She also said he hurled sticks and rocks at her.

I was screaming on the phone to triple-zero because I thought this guy could kill me, she said.

I was running into oncoming traffic to get away from this guy because he was threatening to punch me in the face. I have been racially abused in the past because of my religion but this is by far worse.

Islamaphobia Register Australia president Mariam Veiszadeh said: I spoke to the victim last night and its obviously been very traumatic for her.

Unfortunately after incidents it injects a lot of fear into people, so we want the perpetrator caught as quickly as possible.

A Muslim woman was also dragged along the pavement by her hijab in north-east London last week.

Also this month, a Muslim woman was attacked by three men who yelled Donald Trump in Manhattan, and another who was pushed down stairs and called a terrorist.

Hate crimes soared by 41 per cent after the Brexit vote, according to Home Office figures, and after Mr Trumps election victory.
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In his first speech as Culture Secretary in April 2014, Sajid Javid said: What we do in this country is great because, far from being ruled by central diktats, our culture is based on freedom and self-determination.

Now, as Communities Secretary, the same Saijid Javid is proposing that every new recruit to the public sector swear a McCarthy-ite oath to something called British values  an oath no doubt drafted as a central diktat.

What a wonderful example hes given to the world of one outstanding British value, hypocrisy.

Sasha Simic

London N16

People like my friend are being led to the slaughter by DWP

I have a friend of over 25 years who I see nearly every day.

Sixteen years ago, following a stressful phone conversation, he suffered a massive brain haemorrhage. He was rushed to hospital by ambulance.

He almost died and I said my goodbyes several times, but a special coil was fitted internally and he survived. After rehabilitation, he was warned by medical staff that from then on, he must avoid stress and exertion. He was put on sickness benefit and told not to work.

Since then a new aneurysm has grown next to the site of the original bleed, which is cause for concern. On top of this he has sporadic rheumatoid arthritis which sometimes causes flare-ups requiring hospitalisation (again, stress seems to be the trigger for these events.)

He has worked all his adult life prior to the haemorrhage. He is not young and he struggles financially, but he still manages to hold on to some dignity and quality of life.

Despite the DWP previously accepting his medical professionals' opinions and placing him in the 'Limited Capability' group, he has been summoned to attend a face-to-face "assessment" with the Health Assessment Advisory Service.

They cannot look inside his head and they have all the information they need. So the assessment, with its two-way mirrors, secret cameras and target-driven staff, is unnecessary and I suspect part of the process of removing him off ESA.

If he gets thrown off ESA and moved on to JSA instead, there is a chance that the resulting stress could induce another haemorrhage. He is proud, vulnerable and middle-aged, and in my heart of hearts I wonder if he will be strong enough to cope in today's job market.

He has no friends that he sees, only me. We live away from family. He is not the edifice of strength that some people think he is.

A few years ago, a DWP error caused his benefits to be accidentally stopped, leaving him with no money. He became suicidal and I remember the desperate exchange of texts and the phone calls to the emergency services in the early hours of the morning.

I have looked up 'Work Capability Assessments' on the internet and I'm shocked to see numerous sites linking the WCA process to the deaths of thousands of other people.

The DWP knew that the process was causing people to die but it didn't stop the tests and review procedures. According to calumslist.org approximately 4,000 people have already died from the stress induced by this WCA test. The figure may even be as high as 81,000.

My friend can function in daily life (with limitations: no stress, no heavy lifting, and so on) but because of the potential time-bomb that resides behind his forehead, he is more vulnerable to stress than most.

Stress is his enemy. I can still vividly remember the day he suffered his haemorrhage, sitting with him in the ambulance while he vomited uncontrollably into a cardboard tray.

So it confuses me to know that he is being deliberately sent down this path that has already killed thousands before him. I am looking around, desperate and shouting for help to protect my friend  but no one is listening. Meanwhile, he is becoming depressed, losing his appetite and looking after himself less.

I have contacted anyone I can think of to try and help: support groups, my local MP, the Citizens' Advice Bureau, but the advice is the same: he has to attend.

All my desperate communications feel like a eulogy in preparation. I have a lifetime of shared memories with him: holidays, jokes, arguments, laughter, kindness... all of which could be reduced to a statistic.

He can walk and go about his daily life, but this is not the issue. The issue is that he needs protecting from emotional stress and this very process.

Jobseeking on its own, with its spurious sanctions and food banks, is brutal enough, as illustrated by the recent suicide of a 19-year-old man who felt belittled by the DWP.

My friend is being led to the slaughter and I want to confront those responsible for this humiliation and shout: "Leave him alone!" And if my friend should die like the others, then part of me shall die too. I have no words.

Tears flow and I feel a profound sense of emptiness. This country does not care about its people.

Vanessa Smyth

North Shields, Tyne and Wear

Prison reform begins with drugs reform

The principal problem that the Criminal Justice System faces is overcrowding in prisons. Judges and magistrates imprison too many people despite being told not to by every Lord Chief Justice since 1997. They have plenty more effective options in community service.

Towering over all this is the necessity to start a legal, regulated supply system for drugs whose supply is made a crime by our laws. These also make all who meet the demand into criminals and remove any hope of control.

We do not keep records of drug related crime, only records of the offences of muggings, burglaries and so on that motivate these acquisitive crimes. In the US they do: 66 per cent of all their crime is drug-related. Offences against drug laws are few. It is estimated that this is the same here. If a safe, regulated supply system existed, convictions could reduce by perhaps 70 per cent.

We might only need 30 per cent of our prisons to house the incorrigibly violent, who must still be confined. We could then have safe, local, humane prisons that encourage reform and teach rehabilitation. Then we would be able to pay for a really efficient non-privatised probation system.

Mick Humphreys

Taunton

Donald Trump is making us do his dirty work

We all recognise the annoying child who prods and goads until he gets a reaction, and later, when ostracised, claims it's all the fault of other people. Maybe that's Donald Trump's deliberate tactic. He wants to build walls and create trade barriers, except that's difficult working from the inside out with your own people and organisations. So with a surprising degree of self-awareness and the liberal use of Twitter, he gets everyone else on the outside to do it for him.

Patrick Cosgrove

Shropshire

Definition of anti-Semitism should stand

Ben White complained bitterly in Mondays Independent that the International Definition of Anti-Semitism adopted by the Prime Minister on Monday conflates anti-Semitism with criticism of Israel. But it is Ben White who seeks to conflate anti-Semitism and debate about Israel with his claim that Israel cannot be discussed properly without breaching that clear anti-Semitism definition.

All that Israels critics have to do is voice their opposition without calling Jews Nazis, claiming that Jews uniquely have no right to self-determination, accusing Jews of unpatriotic disloyalty or applying classical anti-Semitic slanders to Israelis or Israel as the Jew among nations, such as that Zionists control the banks or that Israel created Isis. Anybody who cannot do that thoroughly deserves to be called an anti-Semite.

Gideon Falter

Chairman, Campaign Against Anti-Semitism

London W1W

The real reason the high street is dying out

My wife and I and our cash-rich son went to Bournemouth to gift shop, he for perfume (girlfriend, not self) and I for a book. Result? We sat in the cafe of the bookshop and I ordered the book they did not have from Amazon and Giles ordered his perfume online (the people on the ground floor department stores had none).

Seemed ironic  I tried to support the shops but failed. Lesson learnt.

Bernard Piggott

Dorchester

Give actors a break

I was interested to read the discussion about actors picking up suitcases that should be heavy, but are obviously empty.

This does not add any authenticity to the scene.

Some years ago I was a pallbearer in a television drama.

When we pallbearers went to pick up the coffin for the first time we nearly dislocated our shoulders as the director had not told us he had placed blocks of concrete in the coffin. He said he was tired of seeing actors pick up an obviously heavy case with no obvious effort.

Fortunately for myself, but not the remaining three pallbearers, I was four inches shorter, which meant the coffin came nowhere near my shoulder and my colleagues had to carry the entire weight.

Once in real life when I was a pallbearer, the deceased's weight bore no resemblance to blocks of concrete.

Colin Bower

Sherwood, Nottingham

Orkney isn't what you think

As the population of Orkney was 21,670 in 2015, I am surprised that Halifax findings report only 27 souls in the archipelago in a quality of life new survey. Equally surprising is the surveys claim of the islands being about as far north as you can go in Great Britain. Herma Ness, the northernmost point of Shetland is some 145km further north than Orkney.

Peter Kellett

Kinlochewe

An alternative Christmas dinner

I think Grace Dent has been spying on my family Christmases for about 20 years. Also, corned beef pie is a very nice Christmas dinner alternative.

Gillian Rowe

Penryn, Cornwall
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A few days ago, a 16-year-old Eritrean refugee named Sami phoned me from a lorry park in Hazebrouck in the North of France. Hed fled the accommodation centre that housed him and made his way back towards Calais, where hed once lived, with the hope of climbing onto a UK-bound goods truck. In his phone call he begged me to help him reach his uncle in the UK: Help me. I have been in France too long a time.

He told me he would be sleeping outside in the woods that night. Since then, his phone has been off and I have been unable to contact him.

This is the reality facing many of those children still left in France after the eviction of the Jungle camp in Calais at the end of October. For many, settling in France was not something they wanted, and they voluntarily departed to accommodation centres across France, only because they were promised that there they would be fairly considered for transfer to the UK.

For those with close family in the UK, their rights to family reunification are enshrined in EU law, known as the Dublin III regulation. For those without family, an amendment to the Immigration Act known as Dubs (after Jewish refugee and Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs), passed through parliament in May 2016 to allow a number of unaccompanied minors refuge in the UK.

Since the eviction of the Calais Jungle, some 500 children have been transferred to the UK from centres in France. But on Friday the transfer of unaccompanied minors to the UK ceased, despite a thousand or more refugee children from Calais still being eligible for transfer. In some cases, the family members of these children in the UK have not even been contacted.

Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Show all 12 1 /12 Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man crosses a street in Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A vendor sits inside an antique shop in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk inside the Khan al-Shounah market, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man walks past shops in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk along an alley in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors tour Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A general view shows the Old City of Aleppo as seen from Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk near Aleppo's Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower, Syria October 6, 2010 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man stands inside Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters

Astoundingly, it appears as if the Home Office believe it to be a job well done. Government minister Edward Timpson said on Thursday during a parliamentary debate that the UK has moved on from Calais operations. Yet with only 200 unaccompanied children brought to the UK under the Dubs amendment, it appears that the humanitarian efforts of Parliament were undermined at every step by the Home Office.

I worked with unaccompanied minors in Calais and I visited many of them in accommodation centres across France after their eviction. These children have already experienced many traumatic experiences in their home countries and the journeys they have made since. Their mental wellbeing and anxieties were visibly worsened by the lack of information they received from the Home Office regarding their transfer to the UK. Children were self-harming with lighters and razors, were hunger striking and threatening suicide. One child told me: I need my brother. I only want my brother. I will kill myself if I am not with brother. In 11 out of 12 of the centres I visited, children received no psychological support.

As of yet no information has been shared and no explanation given to children about why their cases have been rejected (not even to the family members waiting patiently for news in the UK). Instead, the job of rejecting kids has fallen to the French authorities, who, fearing the worst reaction from the traumatised teenagers in their care, have in some cases called on French police officers to do the explaining. With their route now blocked, more children will follow those that have already fled, and disappear into French back roads, dodging authorities as they attempt to reach the UK by their own means.

As a result of their distress and the lack of information, children have been absconding from centres and returning to the North of France. There children are sleeping outside in the woods and in ditches, attempting to reach the UK at night with the help of people smugglers. Some are refusing the aid offered to them by charities, as they dont want to risk the attention of the French authorities, who they no longer trust.

In Paris I met with a disabled teenage Eritrean boy with an uncle in the UK, who had left his accommodation centre to sleep on the streets. He told me: There is nothing happen[ing] in France about going to UK and there is no way to go throughout this process. There is no hope. He left for the Netherlands, where he knew people who might be able to smuggle him to the UK, but was arrested en route in Belgium.

 Turkish news presenter cries on-air at refugee story

Children are putting their lives at risk only because they have exhausted their options: they were promised help and have been deceived. There is a real risk now that they will simply disappear, or freeze to death as the Winter temperatures drop.

The whole process of transferring unaccompanied minors to the UK from Calais has been deeply flawed from its inception. The restricted and arbitrary eligibility guidelines for Dubs, (released to the public by the Home Office only mid-way through the process) when put into practice only looks to assist Sudanese and Syrian children under 15, disregarding the large majority of vulnerable children who are either 16 or 17, or Eritrean, Afghan, Somali or Oromo. This redefines who is considered a child and discriminates against children based on their nationality rather than considering their best interests first. This was not what was agreed upon by MPs when they voted to approve the transfer of unaccompanied children to the UK, back in May, and it balks in the face of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In the coming weeks and months, there will be hundreds of children like Sami the 16-year-old Eritrean, who, upon learning that there is no hope of reaching the UK by legal means, will take the matter into their own hands and instead of refuge, choose climbing onto trucks and homelessness in the winter months. Closed routes and short term fixes deny safety to those who come to the shores of Europe carrying only hope on their shoulders. They need safe passage, not pulled drawbridges and state silence. The British government may have moved on from Calais, but the children of the Jungle have not.
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Donald Trump will face his final hurdle before being inaugurated as President of the United States on Monday, when members of the Electoral College meet to cast their votes.

Mr Trump must gain 270 votes for the election result to be formally recognised, in what is normally considered a rubber-stamping process. However, the vote has on this occasion been marred for widespread calls for recounts in key states, calls for electors to disregard their states' voting rules and a bill aimed at threatening Mr Trump with future impeachment by introducing new conflict-of-interest rules.

A vocal movement has pressured Republican electors to abandon Trump even though he won 30 states, giving him the electoral voters needed to be president.

Most base their plea on the fact that Clinton won some 2.8 million more popular votes.

The Independent asked two experts  assistant professor Rebecca Thorpe, a political scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle, and Dr Jacob Parakilas, assistant head of the US and Americas Programme at Chatham House  whether they thought there was really a chance Mr Trump may not succeed.

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

Is there anything or anyone that can derail Mr Trump's inauguration, besides the Electoral College?

Dr Parakilas: For very good reason, there is no legal mechanism that the CIA, or any other American executive agency or government body, can [use to] challenge or invalidate the result of the election. The only thing right now that stands between Trump and being inaugurated is the Electoral College.

Prof Thorpe: Legally, no. All we right now is that someone hacked the DNC and released details to Wikileaks, and that the source comes from Russia.

It is unclear whether the purpose of these hacks was to help elect Trump or simply to create chaos, and intelligence agencies have not released conclusive evidence confirming that the cyberattack was state-sponsored. There is also no evidence Russia tampered with actual voting machines or vote counts, and the Michigan recount did not reveal any evidence of voter fraud.

Given the razor-thin margins in key crucial swing states, essentially anything could have tilted the balance.

What about the threat of impeachment?

Dr Parakilas: There's no chance that he would be immediately impeached. It just wouldn't happen, partly because the Republicans would need to find political cause to do so.

He is their presidential candidate, it would look terrible. It would alienate a huge number of their voters.

Prof Thorpe: Given Trumps numerous financial conflicts of interests, the potential for corruption and the likely violations of the Emoluments Clause, the legal possibility for impeachment is rife.

However, with a GOP-controlled House and Senate, the possibility of impeachment is not a question of law but of political will. Trump is an unconventional Republican in many ways, but he has appointed a cabinet full [of] far-right conservatives with a conventional conservative agenda of tax cuts, reduced spending on health care and social services, and extensive deregulation.

Thus far, he has also received support from congressional Republicans who have blocked legislation to investigate or curb Trumps massive financial conflicts of interests.

Do you think Mr Trump will win the Electoral College vote?

Prof Thorpe: Given how many electors are pledged to Trump, what theyve said publicly and the norm of abiding by the state plurality winner, it is incredibly unlikely that the electors will alter the expected result.

If 37 Trump electors defect, this will deny Trump the 270 electors he needs to win. However, only one of the 306 electors pledged to Trump has said publicly that he will do so.

Faithless electors are extremely rare and have never changed the election outcome in US history  however, 2016 is an extremely abnormal election.

Dr Parakilas: I wouldn't be surprised if you saw three or four Republican electors [choose] someone else. I would be shocked if he got less than 270.

A lot of this is just a reaction to how outlandish the whole election season has been. I think there's also a sense that because Trump won with a significant gap between the Electoral College and the popular vote, that underscores calls for the Electoral College to do something different than it normally does.

By and large, those calls are going to fall on deaf ears.

Is the furore surrounding this election what you would typically expect after a vote?

Prof Thorpe: The controversy and legal challenges surrounding the election are highly abnormal. However, these are likely symptoms of the same syndrome that led to Trumps unprecedented rise to power.

Trump is the only presidential candidate in US history to openly challenge the legitimacy of the electoral process [by] falsely claiming that he lost the popular vote because of millions of people who voted illegally.

Trump rose to power by challenging President Obamas status as an American citizen, and his presidential campaign featured the claim that his political rival is criminal who should be in jail.

However, the ongoing legal challenges are unlikely to prevent a Trump presidency, and some in fact defy the same democratic norms that Trump's critics accuse him of dismissing.
The case centres on the amount of tax paid by iPhone maker Apple

Apple has hit out at the European Commission after filing an appeal against a ruling that would force the tech giant to return billions in unpaid taxes.

The US company launched its legal challenge overnight, as details of Ireland's appeal - which accused Brussels of exceeding its powers - went public.

Apple has been ordered to pay back 13 billion euro (10.9 billion) over an Irish tax deal that allowed the tech giant to pay 1% tax on its European profits in 2003 and 0.005% in 2014, which the European Commission said amounted to state aid and breached antitrust law.

In a statement, Apple said it was confident the ruling would be reversed.

It said: " It's been clear since the start of this case there was a pre-determined outcome.

"The Commission took unilateral action and retroactively changed the rules, disregarding decades of Irish tax law, US tax law, as well as global consensus on tax policy, that everyone has relied on.

"If their opinion is allowed to stand, Apple would pay 40% of all the corporate income tax collected in Ireland, which is unprecedented and, far from levelling the playing field, selectively targets Apple.

"This has no basis in fact or law and we're confident the ruling will be overturned."

Apple stressed that it has paid billions of dollars in taxes and created 1.5 million jobs across the European Union.

The company's Irish base alone has been running since 1980 and currently employs 6,000 people.

The Department of Finance in Dublin published its own legal arguments on Monday, having also made the decision to appeal against the European Commission's order.

It said: "The Commission has exceeded its powers and interfered with national tax sovereignty.

"The Commission has no competence, under State aid rules, unilaterally to substitute its own view of the geographic scope and extent of the member state's tax jurisdiction for those of the member state itself.

It added: "The Commission never clearly explained its State aid theory during the investigation, and the decision contains factual findings on which Ireland never had the chance to comment.

"The Commission breached the duty of good administration by failing to act impartially and in accordance with its duty of care."

Ireland has structured its economy around attracting multinationals with its low corporate tax rate but left-wing critics have argued accepting the windfall could bring dramatic changes to national coffers during recovery from a recession.

Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy said that the Irish government's appeal "is weak, shows poor political judgment and (is) likely to fail".

He added: "Just last week Oxfam labelled the Irish state as the sixth worst corporate tax haven in the world, in part due to sweetheart deals and other selective incentives provided to some multinationals.

"In siding with one of the wealthiest corporations in the world in appealing this ruling, the Irish government is sending a signal that it thinks massive and unfair tax avoidance by multinationals is legitimate."
The Cliffs of Moher enjoyed strong visitor numbers in a bumper year for Irish tourist attractions

Brexit is to hit the Irish tourism industry next year with growth rates set to plummet by an astonishing 9pc in just 12 months.

Tourism Ireland predicted that the sector would show 1pc growth in visitor numbers across 2017 - a major slowdown given the remarkable expansion of 10pc in visitor numbers this year.

Brexit, the strength of sterling against the euro and economic concerns across core markets are being blamed for the dramatic slowdown in growth.

However, Tourism Ireland boss Niall Gibbons said Ireland would target spending growth with visitors to Ireland in 2017 expected to stay longer and spend more compared with visitors in 2007.

"The best prospects for growth next year are across North America. We will see a growth of at least 10pc in seat numbers so that offers great prospects," he said.

"We are also expanding advertising across Germany and France next year."

However, Ireland's traditional reliance on the UK market has caused concern given repeated predictions that UK holidaymakers will travel less next year due to Brexit.

"In relation to Britain, we will have to see how it pans out. It is really going to be all about exchange rates," he said. "We are focusing on 4.5pc growth in visitor spending."

Junior Tourism Minister Patrick O'Donovan paid tribute to Tourism Ireland for an astonishingly successful tourist season.

But he admitted the Government would need to work hard with tourism interests to tackle challenges going forward ranging from the Brexit fallout to hotel bed supply within the critical Dublin market.

Triumph

"We have a low-lying capital city - a low rise capital, certainly compared to other European capital cities," he said. "We will have to have a conversation about that someday."

Central to that is the absence of high-rise buildings such as major hotels in the city centre and suburbs.

However, Ireland's tourism performance in 2016 was hailed as a triumph.

Top heritage attractions hailed a bumper season with visitor numbers up by between 5pc and 10pc.

The Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Zoo, the Cliffs of Moher, Fota Wildlife Park, Newgrange/Bru na Boinne, Blarney Castle, the Rock of Cashel and Loop Head Lighthouse enjoyed strong visitor numbers. Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports also enjoyed a bumper year.
Theresa May has vowed to trigger Brexit by the end of March 2017 even if the UK's highest court decides parliamentary approval is required.

The Prime Minister said the Government will "respect" the verdict of the independent judiciary, with the Supreme Court to announce its decision "as quickly as possible" in the new year.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on Mrs May to make sure her new year's resolution includes a "commitment to build better relations" with the UK's European partners to ensure she can secure the best deal possible.

The Supreme Court legal challenge from the Government emerged after a panel of three High Court judges decided in November that Mrs May lacked legal power to use the royal prerogative to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to start the two-year process of EU withdrawal.

Mrs May, updating MPs on last week's European Council meeting, said: "I'm clear the Government will respect the verdict of our independent judiciary.

"But I'm equally clear that whichever way the judgment goes we will meet the timetable I have set out.

"At the council I also reaffirmed my commitment to a smooth and orderly exit, and in this spirit I made it clear to the other EU leaders that it remains my objective to give reassurance early on in the negotiations to EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in EU countries that their right to stay where they have made their homes will be protected by our withdrawal."

Mr Corbyn said Mrs May and the UK are becoming "increasingly isolated" on the international stage.

Read More

He said: "As we move swiftly towards the triggering of Article 50, I want to appeal to the Prime Minister to not only work hard to heal those divisions in Britain but also to make sure her new year's resolution includes a commitment to build better relations with our European partners, so we get the best deal for the people of this country - not just a Brexit which benefits business and bankers.

"At the moment it's clear on the international stage the Prime Minister and Britain are becoming increasingly isolated."

The Opposition leader said his talks with European leaders have shown they are becoming "increasingly frustrated" by Mrs May's "shambolic Government and the contradictory approach" to Brexit negotiations.

He told the PM: "The mixed messages from your frontbench only add to the confusion. This Government fails to speak for the whole country.

"Instead we hear a babble of voices speaking for themselves and their vested interests."

Mr Corbyn raised contradictory statements from officials and ministers linked to the length of time needed to secure a Brexit deal and whether there will be transitional arrangements.

He added: "The people of Britain deserve better than this confusion at the heart of Government."

Mr Corbyn also claimed "confidence is being lost" as he pointed to Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts for 2017, noting growth, wages and business investment have been revised down.
A Co. Kildare farmer has lost a High Court application to set aside his bankruptcy.

The application was made by Paul O'Shea who, in July 2015, was jailed for 100 days after he failed to comply with court orders to hand over vacant possession of farm buildings on his property to a receiver appointed by Danske Bank.

Mr OShea, of Davidstown, Castledermot, Co. Kildare, was adjudicated as bankrupt by the court on July 4 last following an application by Danske Bank.

The bank said it was owed some 1.487m by Mr O'Shea, who opposed the application to have adjudicated a bankrupt.

The judgment was obtained following Mr O'Shea's failure to repay monies loaned to him.

Mr O'Shea however sought to have the adjudication set aside on a number of grounds.

These included that the bank was not a creditor of Mr O'Shea, that he was not served with bankruptcy summons, and the petition did not comply with the Rules of the Superior Courts.

On Monday this week, Ms Caroline Costello rejected all grounds raised by Mr O'Shea. The judge said she was not satisfied it would just to annul the adjudication in the circumstances of this case.

The adjudication was not improperly sought or obtained, she said.
Irish poultry farmers have been put on high alert for avian flu after migratory birds were blamed for an outbreak in the UK.

The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) warned that its primary concern was not the threat from the UK outbreak, but the potential introduction of the virus to Irish flocks by wild birds.

More than one million turkeys will be brought to market across Ireland this Christmas - and an outbreak of bird flu at the current time could prove devastating for poultry farmers.

A farm in Louth, Lincolnshire is now under strict quarantine controls as UK agriculture officials attempt to prevent a spread of the H5N8 strain of the bird flu virus.

While lethal to poultry, the virus does not pose any known human health risks.

The turkeys involved are free range and could have had contact in open yards with wild or migratory birds.

More than 5,000 birds are involved. The flock will be slaughtered and a special 3km control zone has been established around the area in Lincolnshire. Birds slaughtered due to quarantine control issues cannot be sold for consumption.

It is the latest in a series of bird flu outbreaks across flocks in northern Europe over the past three months. All the outbreaks have been linked to migratory birds.

The Department of Agriculture and the IFA urged Irish farmers to be vigilant for any signs of the virus.

IFA national poultry chairman Nigel Renaghan said he was more concerned about the threat from wild birds than the UK outbreak.

"Most of the migratory birds that would have this virus would be coming from Russia," he said.

"The birds that come to Ireland are generally from Iceland. They don't have any outbreaks of the virus in Iceland at the minute. The mere fact that it is in the UK would have its own risks associated with it, so we have to be very, very careful."

The Department of Agriculture, BirdWatch Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Association of Regional Game Councils are now operating a special "early warning system" which will raise the alarm over any signs of sick or diseased wild birds.

The last confirmed case of bird flu in Ireland was in 2012 when a strain of the virus was found in a flock of pheasants in Cork. The last major case of bird flu in Ireland was in 1983, though there was a scare in 2006/2007 after outbreaks across northern Europe.

The latest outbreak in the UK involves the H5N8 strand which has no human health concerns.
The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that a total of just under 14,000 applications were submitted under GLAS 3.

It says an analysis of the breakdown of these figures is now underway.

A decision on the number of farmers accepted into the Scheme will be made when this analysis is complete.

The Department has also said it is anticipated that GLAS 3 approval letters will issue to applicants before the end of January 2017 for approval into the scheme with effect from January 1, 2017.

The environmental initiative already has 38,000 participants, but with 14,000 applications in for the last tranche of the scheme, total demand is set to exceed the original target of 50,000 farmers.

A maximum annual amount of 250m has been budgeted for the scheme over seven years.

The interest in the scheme, coupled with the high proportion of tier one and two applications, looks set to eliminate all applicants that opted for the minimum measures required in tier three.

According to figures from the Department of Agriculture, some 95pc of the 14,500 online applications that had been received by last Thursday qualified for either the tier one or tier two options.

Farm organisations said that extra funding should be allocated to ensure all applicants are allowed into the scheme.

Both the IFA and ICMSA came out strongly yesterday to demand more flexibility from the agriculture minister.

The IFA's rural development chairman Joe Brady said that the total allocation of 1.45bn over the lifetime of the scheme had been significantly undershot so far, with around 160m set to be spent on the scheme in 2016.

Mr Brady has also suggested the numbers allowed into the scheme be increased to a minimum of 55,000.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., today announced the launch of the new Sheep Welfare Scheme which provides funding of up to 25 million for Irish sheep farmers in 2017.

The scheme will be introduced in January as part of Irelands Rural Development Programme having been agreed with the European Commission.

The scheme provides support of 10 per ewe to farmers for undertaking actions which make a positive contribution to flock welfare.

Under the scheme farmers will be required to choose actions which can improve the overall welfare of a flock. These actions will be chosen from a menu from which farmers must choose two actions based on whether the farmer has a lowland flock or hill flock.

These actions must be completed over a 12 month period. In return the farmer will receive a payment of 10 per breeding ewe, depending on the average number of ewes held on their farm in the years 2014 and 2015.

Key scheme details

Payment is 10 per breeding ewe. The number of allowable ewes for each participant will be calculated as the average number of ewes in their 2014 and 2015 sheep census;

The farmer is required to maintain the reference number of ewes which will form part of the inspection process

There is provision for new entrants to join where they do not have 2014/15 ewe numbers on which to base a reference number. A new entrant to this scheme is defined as an applicant who has applied for a new herd number from 1 January 2016 and before the closing date of the scheme in 2017 or an applicant with an existing herd number who has not held or traded in sheep for a two year period up to 31 October preceding the scheme year.

The actions for the scheme are outlined below. Farmers will either be in the hill or lowland sector and must choose one action from Category A plus one action from one Category B.

Speaking at the launch of the scheme in Kenmare Mart today, Minister Creed said I am delighted to launch the new Sheep Welfare Scheme today and to be investing 25m into Irish sheep farming next year. This scheme was key commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government and we have worked extremely hard over the last six months to bring it to fruition.

"This scheme also reflects the commitment of this Government to the sheep sector in Ireland and will make an important contribution to the sustainability of this sector.

"The sector makes an important contribution to the Agri-Food economy generating an output value of 320 million and exporting in excess of 230 million in 2015. It supports 34,000 farm families directly in addition to providing several thousand jobs indirectly in rural areas.

The Minister said in designing the scheme he was conscious that this scheme would have take into account the different challenges faced by sheep farmers in lowland and in hill areas and he believes the Department have successfully struck this balance.

"The end result is a reflection of extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders, particularly farm organisations, carried out by my Department over the last few months, in addition to intensive discussions with the European Commission

We are now moving to the implementation phase of this scheme and my Department will shortly issue an application form and the terms and condition, to all sheep farmers.

I would urge all farmers to study this information carefully and to note that the deadline for applying for the scheme will be the 31 January 2017.

To assist farmers my Department will be running a series of information meetings around the country in January where they can find out all the necessary information on the scheme.
Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

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Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

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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

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This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

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
Celebrating the deal in front of the iconic Kuwaiti Towers

Irish engineering consultancy firm Fehily Timoney has won a multi-million euro contract in Kuwait.

The company, which has offices in Cork and Dublin, secured the contract to design a major water distribution system in the country's capital city. It will also prepare tender documents for the project.

Fehily Timoney has signed the deal with Kuwait's ministry of electricity and water. The company will partner with Arab engineering consultants and Dublin-based firm Nicholas O'Dwyer to deliver the project, which is expected to last 17 months.

At least half of the total project revenue reverts directly back to Ireland, according to Fehily Timoney.

The new pumping station in Kuwait the partners are designing will handle twice the annual water supply requirements of Dublin.

Kuwait relies entirely on saline groundwater and sea water to meet its water supply requirements. It has no natural freshwater resources.

Average per capita water consumption levels in Kuwait are about 470 litres a day.

As many as 16 Irish jobs will be generated over the lifetime of the contract, according to Fehily Timoney managing director Eamon Timoney.

The company is also involved in wind energy projects.
It will be relatively quiet this week as Christmas approaches. But the agenda isn't completely bare, with what is likely to be a last-minute rush by Greencore shareholders to take part in the company's rights issue.

Greencore, headed by chief executive Patrick Coveney, is raising more than 500m from shareholders to help fund the $749m (716m) acquisition of US-based Peacock Foods.

Greencore shareholders have to have payment for the new shares submitted by Wednesday morning.

In other corporate news, Aer Lingus and Ryanair will this week hear whether or not they'll be liable for a 16m tax bill related to the Government's now suspended air travel tax.

A top adviser to the EU's Court of Justice said in July that the two carriers should repay what was classed as state-aid.

Ryanair would have to pay 12m and Aer Lingus 4m and the final judgment in the case is due on Wednesday.

There's some economic data out this week too.

Today, there are figures for European construction output, and also the German IFO business climate data.

The Markit services purchasing managers' index is also out in the United States.

Later in the week, data sets include the MBA mortgage applications numbers in the US.

Those figures will be out on Wednesday, when existing home sales numbers for November will also be released.

European consumer confidence figures will be published on Wednesday, and on Thursday the EU economic bulletin will be delivered by the European Central Bank.

In the United States, data for jobless claims and durable goods orders will also be released on Thursday.

Keenly watched on Friday will be the UK gross domestic product performance for the third quarter. Total business investment numbers for the UK will also be published.

They should both give an insight into the continuing impact of June's Brexit referendum.
Dublin retailers are expecting a bumper week for trade as the final countdown to Christmas begins today.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce has said it is expecting an influx of last-minute and panic-striken shoppers to rush to shops this week.

Expand Close Shopper Moira Goslin, from Swords, said the festive atmosphere was very good. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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Whatsapp Shopper Moira Goslin, from Swords, said the festive atmosphere was very good. Photo: Steve Humphreys

"The sense amongst retailers is that a lot of spending decisions have been delayed until the final week," said Mary Rose Burke, CEO of Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

"This is mainly due to Christmas day falling on a Sunday, which means people feel they have an extra weekend to shop."

Louis Copeland of Louis Copeland & Sons says that although trade so far has been at a similar level to previous years, they are expecting a major boost in sales in the coming days.

"From today on, it will all open up. With Christmas being on a Sunday, we're expecting some week ahead of us," he said. "Today people will realise that it's less than a week until Christmas, and they need to go to town."

Even though many people choose to do the majority of their Christmas shopping online, retailers say footfall will increase dramatically in the coming days as people get into the festive spirit.

Joe Plunkett of Tower Records said the company was expecting a "bumper" week.

"The last Saturday before Christmas and the 23rd of December are generally our busiest days," he said. "We're selling a good bit on the website but store footfall is the most important to us."

Paul Sheeran of Paul Sheeran Jewellers off Grafton Street said that people had been more willing to part with their hard earned cash this season when compared with previous years.

"There's a much nicer feeling around this year. People are getting back into enjoying and treating themselves," he said.

"Jewellery hasn't been top of the Christmas shopping list recently but now people are easing into spending more on themselves."

Busy

However, there have been some inevitable changes for high street retailers due to the increasing popularity of online shopping.

Chris Andrews of Weir and Sons on Grafton Street said although the retailer was looking forward to a busy week, consumers were also doing a lot of shopping via its website.

"A lot of people have left their shopping to the last minute with Christmas falling on a Sunday and it definitely has made a difference," he said.

"We're selling much more on the website compared to this time last year."

Shoppers on Grafton Street noted that the sales starting before Christmas have had a positive impact on their wallets.

"There are sales on everywhere and the atmosphere is very good," said Moira Goslin, from Swords.

"You may as well be in New York. There's no need to go anywhere else for shopping."
The chief executive of the main employer group has said that public servants are "wildly rich" compared with their counterparts in the private sector, in terms of their pensions.

Danny McCoy, of Ibec, has said that the value of pensions and job security will have to be central when the Government makes a decision to give further increases on top of those due under the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

But he said it would be "unrealistic and naive" to think public servants would not get a pay rise in talks with the Government. He also said the Government should not commit to fully restoring all the pay cuts suffered during the recession. A further 1.4bn is outstanding.

"It would be unrealistic and naive to think there won't be a pay increase, but the question will be what scale it's at for the economy and if its representative of the true value of the pension and so on," he said.

He said that although in general, public sector workers were on modest salaries, they were "wildly rich" when taking into consideration their pensions.

Public sector pensions are generally calculated as half of salary with full service - which is rarely the case with the private sector.

"There is a perception that they're all on big salaries, but that's not right. So teachers are on 60,000 and if they get half of that, they've 30,000 a year, but it's the fact that it (the pension) got escalation," he said. "So, it's not as if they're wildly rich, but they are wildly rich relative to the others who didn't go down that route at the age of 25."

He said there was a perception that someone on a 25,000 pension was not rich, given that those on the dole get around 13,000 a year. "It doesn't seem spectacular, but each of those have to have a 1m pension pot to have that," he added. He said pensions were explosively expensive and the cost of a pension like that for the workforce would be trillions of euro.

Mr McCoy said it was reasonable to hold talks on a deal to follow the Lansdowne Road Agreement early, as the economy had performed far better than the Government predicted.

Read more: Warning that public sector wage rows could drive up costs for Irish companies

"However, just because resources are generated doesn't mean that the first people who have a dibs on everything is public sector workers."

He said the private sector has a huge amount of demands, including improvements in public infrastructure and tax cuts.

"This is where the Government needs to show leadership," he said. "The public sector is not designed for the public sector workforce. It's designed for everybody in society."

He said that public sector pay should be determined by a centralised pay agreement every two years, so there would not be the "appalling vista" of recent weeks when unions were "leap-frogging" in the wake of a 50m pay deal for gardai.

He said if the private sector was paying 2pc to workers and the Government was paying 0.5pc in tax cuts as it did in the last Budget, that was a 2.5pc disposable income increase for the average worker - although not every worker was getting it.

"Arguably, what would be wrong with a situation where the private sector paid 1.5pc, a half came from tax cuts and the Government took the other half from the employers and said 'this is for public infrastructure'?

"Because at the moment, we're not doing the public infrastructure because of the fiscal rules. Ireland is in the throes of a private affluence, public squalor crisis."

At the same time, he said the population was surging and there were now nearly 4.9 million people living in Ireland.

"I suppose that goes to the heart of the pay dynamics, is that what gains a person has from getting a pay rise if they can't access public infrastructure, be that roads, schools, hospitals, or housing?" he said.
Former environment minister Alan Kelly has urged Government legal action against a landlord group that threatened new tenant charges in response to a new law capping rent increases.

Mr Kelly has written to Isolde Goggin, chairperson of the Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), calling on her to open an investigation into the Irish Property Owners' Association (IPOA).

The IPOA issued a statement at the weekend that said landlords would impose a range of levies, charges and other measures in response to the new measure.

The Labour TD unsuccessfully tried to curb rents during his term in charge of housing policy from 2014-2016.

But his efforts to link rent increases to the consumer price index were torpedoed by the Finance Department, which argued that it would be undue interference in the rental market.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney pushed through a measure in the Dail late on Friday that would see rental increases in key areas capped at 4pc a year for the next three years.

TDs voted by 52 votes to 43 and the abstention of Fianna Fail TDs facilitated the measure, which will now be considered by the Seanad this week.

Mr Kelly said the landlords' threatened action breached competition law.

"It is my view, having sought legal advice, that the statement issued by the IPOA - if carried out - is a breach [of law]. I have written to the chair of the CCPC asking her to launch an immediate investigation into the potential infringement of competition law," he said.

"If it is clear that such a breach is being threatened, or given effect, then it is incumbent on the CCPC to commence proceedings in the High Court.

"This would ensure that the IPOA gives a declaration that it will comply with the provisions of the Competition Acts.

"Furthermore, if there is any evidence that the IPOA has attempted to impose any of their proposals, the CCPC should immediately forward the evidence to the DPP with a view to criminal charges being brought.

"We cannot have a situation where a so-called representative association can threaten to engage in criminal activity that has been outlawed by the Oireachtas under the Competition Acts."

But Mr Kelly also said he believed the IPOA only represented a small number of landlords. He said the vast majority of landlords act in a fair and law-abiding manner.

The rent caps are expected to apply in rent pressure zones covering all of Co Dublin and Cork city from January.

The cities of Limerick, Waterford, and Galway, and Dublin's commuter belt, are expected to be included from later in 2017.

Other parts of the country can then also be designated as rent pressure zones.

But the IPOA group, which says it represents 5,000 landlords, warned it may withdraw from State-subsidised rent schemes.

They are also considering a series of new charges for tenants on things like keys, parking and administrative costs to claw back some costs.

"Property owners could not get sufficient income to maintain their property. The measures being introduced are so severe that rents will not cover costs, and devaluation of property will be significant," the IPOA warned as the draft law was making its way through the Dail.

Government chief whip Regina Doherty rounded on the IPOA, saying it was an "outrageous" warning.

"It is statements like that which give landlords a bad name," she said, questioning how many property owners the organisation represents.

She defended the new law.
Colin Dunne (6), from East Wall, Courtney Kenny (6), from Clontarf, Colins sister Layla Dunne (5), and Courtneys brother Matthew McGuinness (3) at the Christmas party in Coolock. Photo: Steve Humphreys

The father of a family in emergency accommodation has described the proposal for new rent caps "complete nonsense and useless".

Eoin Donegan (28) has been living in one bedroom in a Tallaght hotel on the south side of Dublin with his partner Aisling Freer (28) and their two children Adam (8) and Rebecca (6) since September.

Expand Close Leroy Cummins (7), from Santry, in Dublin. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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Whatsapp Leroy Cummins (7), from Santry, in Dublin. Photo: Steve Humphreys

The hotel the family are living in is the first "long-term accommodation" they have secured after being forced out of the rental market.

"After five years in rental accommodation our landlord was forced to sell during the recession so we had to leave and high interest mortgages don't help us either," Mr Donegan said.

"A house in south Dublin will cost 1,800 per month and that's not including the queue of 70 people down the road trying to get it.

"I knew a case of a house originally going for that, but then by the end it went for 2,400.

Expand Close Brother and sister Adam (8) and Rebecca (6) Freer, from Tallaght, in Dublin, at the party. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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Whatsapp Brother and sister Adam (8) and Rebecca (6) Freer, from Tallaght, in Dublin, at the party. Photo: Steve Humphreys

"The new rental caps are complete nonsense and useless. I would really like to see security for leases for people who are renting."

Mr Donegan is currently seeking employment while his partner Aisling works full-time in the retail sector, often working anti-social hours.

Support

"We moved in in September and my partner finds it really difficult with her late working hours," Mr Donegan said.

Expand Close Volunteer sisters Katie Byrne from Templeogue and Krista from Lucan at the Irish Housing Network Christmas party supported by Inner City Helping Homeless at Ayrfield Communit y Centre in Coolock in Dublin. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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Whatsapp Volunteer sisters Katie Byrne from Templeogue and Krista from Lucan at the Irish Housing Network Christmas party supported by Inner City Helping Homeless at Ayrfield Communit y Centre in Coolock in Dublin. Photo: Steve Humphreys

"In some ways we are lucky to get some food provided, but Aisling is unlucky because she would come home having worked 1-9 and therefore would miss dinner all the time."

Mr Donegan spoke to the Irish Independent at a Christmas party organised by activists for families in emergency accommodation.

The organisers of the party held in north Dublin said they were "completely blown away by the level of support and help from people".

Ann Farrelly from the Fingal Housing Crisis Committee said "we even got a donation from a woman who gave us her card and the details for it to go out and spend 500 on presents for children".

The party at the Ayrfield Community Centre, Coolock, had over 200 people at it where children living in emergency accommodation had the opportunity to receive a multitude of presents from Santa as well indulge in lots of treats.

The event was coordinated by David Norton of the North Dublin Bay Support group who have helped 150 families in emergency accommodation.
Google Maps is now wheelchair-friendly.

The wildly popular map app will now tell you whether locations are suitable for people with access needs  and it's thanks to a group of Googlers who worked on the feature in their "20pc time."

It's a famous policy of the Californian search giant: Employees can spend 20pc of their time working on other projects unrelated to their main jobs. Gmail, AdSense, and Google News all started as 20pc projects. These days, Google employees need to get permission from managers to get this time, and most don't do it. Google HR boss Lazlo Bock says it has "waxed and waned" over time. But some still do  and Rio Akasaka is one of them.

By day, Akasaka is a product manager on Google Drive, the cloud file-hosting service. But in his 20pc time, the Boulder, Colorado resident is a product manager working on accessibility features for Google Maps.

For the last year, he has worked with a team of contributors (between five and 10 of them, all in all) on introducing accessibility guidelines to Google Maps. The map tool already displays some information about venues and locations, like busy-ness, opening times, reviews, and atmosphere. Alongside this, it will now display information about their suitability for people with access needs.

Read More

How does Google Maps know? It sources the answers from its "Local Guides"  Google Maps users who answer questions about the places they visit on everything from cost to quietness. Earlier this year, queries on accessibility were added to the questions asked to these users, and with millions of answers, Google now feels confident enough to start displaying the results on its listings.

It looks like a small change  but if you're in a wheelchair, it's a pretty important one.

"Accessibility at Google is a big deal," Akasaka told Business Insider. "But it's often facilitated by whether or not there's a legal requirement, or some sort of requirement we need to adhere to." (There are standardised guidelines on how text should be rendered on the web to ensure it's legible, for example  but frustratingly, they are not always adhered to.)

But there are no rules governing accessibility requirements for mapping software, forcing Akasaka and his team to be more proactive.

The feature won't just help people in wheelchairs, either. The product manager cites parents with prams, or people reliant on canes, as people who will benefit from more information about a building's facilities.

"Googles mission is to organise the worlds information and make it universally accessible and useful," the company boasts. Akasaka says he wants to make sure that "even those with access needs" benefit from this.
Even though we use our iPhones all day every day, there are still a handful of features that are relatively unknown.

Some of these features are buried in the Settings menu while others are hidden in plain sight.

Plus, there are a few things Siri can do for you that you may not know about.

(Note: Most of these features are available in iOS 8 and higher, while some are available in iOS 9 and higher.)

Respond to texts without unlocking your phone.

You can respond to texts directly from your lock screen by pulling down on the notification drawer and swiping over to the left on the text notification. You'll see a "Reply" option, and tapping it will let you type a response without having to unlock your iPhone.

Respond to texts while you're in an app.

If you're in an app, you can swipe down from the top and access the notification drawer to answer a text the same way you would on the lock screen.

See which apps drain the most battery.

Want to know why your iPhone battery is draining faster than usual? Head over to Settings > Battery. This will tell you which apps are occupying the most battery power.

View every photo someone has texted you, and vice versa.

There's an easy way to view every photo and video you've sent someone. Just open the messaging thread in the "Messages" app and press the "Details" button in the upper right corner.

Send audio and video messages that self-destruct.

You can send audio snippets and video messages that expire after two minutes. If you head to Settings>Messages and scroll to the bottom, you'll notice a section for audio and video messages. You can choose to let them expire after two minutes or never.

Share your current location with a friend.

If you don't feel like explaining where you are, you can simply send your location to another person via text message. Just tap the "Details" button in the upper right corner of your message thread and select "Send My Location."

Let your friends track where you go.

If you want your friends or a family member to be able to track you as you move, you can complete the same steps mentioned in the previous slide and choose the "Share My Location" instead of "Send My Location." You can choose to share your location for one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely.

Mute text messages.

You can mute text message notifications for individual contacts and conversations. Just head over to your messaging thread and switch the "Do Not Disturb."

Leave a group conversation.

Group texts can be effective for reaching many people at once, but also annoying. If you want to leave a group conversation, simply tap the "Details" button in the upper right corner of the group conversation and select "Leave Conversation."

Name a group conversation.

If you frequently chat with the same group or are talking with multiple people about a particular topic, naming a group conversation can be helpful. To do this, head over to "Details" in the message thread and fill in the "Group Name" field with an appropriate title.

Multitask within emails.

If you're in the middle of an email, you don't need to trash it to return to your inbox and browse other messages. As you're composing an email, simply tap the top of the message where it says either "New Message" or the subject and drag it down to the bottom of the screen. This will push the message to the bottom so you can look at other emails. When you want to return, simply tap the email to keep editing it.

Forward text messages to other contacts.

You can forward text messages to other contacts the same way you would an email. Just double tap the message you want to forward, press the "More" option that appears next to the text, and that specific sentence, word, or phrase will appear copy and pasted into a new message. Fill in the "To" field at the top to forward that message to someone else.

Use Siri hands-free.

You don't always have to hold down the home button to launch Siri. If you have the new iPhone 6S, just say the phrase "Hey Siri"to launch Apple's virtual assistant (any phones older than the iPhone 6S must be plugged in to a power outlet for this feature to work). Just head over to Settings>General>Siri and turn on Enable Hey Siri first.

Have Siri read anything.

You can enable Siri to read articles on websites, books, text messages, and more thanks to one of the iPhone's lesser-known accessibility features. Head over to Settings > General > Accessibility > Speech. Then turn on Speak Screen and Speak Selection. Now, when you swipe down from from the top of the screen with two fingers, Siri will dictate the content of whatever is on the screen.

Tell Siri how to pronounce names.

You can also teach Siri how to pronounce names. First, launch Siri and ask her to say the name in question (i.e. if it's your name, ask "What's my name?"). When she answers, tell her that she's not pronouncing it correctly. Make sure you use her pronunciation so that she knows which word you're talking about. Siri should then ask you how to correctly pronounce the name. Once you do, she will present three ways to pronounce the name. Choose the correct one, and Siri will remember it.

Control your iPhone by moving your head

This is another feature buried in the Accessibility section. Navigate to Settings>General>Accessibility and then scroll down to the Interaction subhead and tap "Switch Control." Tap "Switches" and "Add New Switch." Select "Camera" and choose "Left Head Movement" or "Right Head Movement." Then pick an action under the "System" menu, which essentially tells you what task your head movement will trigger. I chose Siri, so each time I tilt my head to the left it automatically launches Siri.

See everywhere you've been.

You're iPhone tracks each place you've been, and there's a way to find it by digging into your phone's settings. Press the Settings icon and head to Privacy>Location Services>System Services. Then, scroll to the bottom and select "Frequent Locations" and look at the History section.

Save battery by putting your phone in grayscale mode.

If you're running low on juice and just need basic functionality from your iPhone, try switching it to grayscale mode to save power. Just head to Settings>General>Accessibility and tap "Grayscale."

Tap the home button twice to move app icons and other content toward the bottom of the screen (iPhone 6 Plus only).

If you're using the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus with one hand, you can double tap the home button to schootch content down toward the bottom of the screen. Apple calls this "Reachability Mode." Remember to tap the home button, don't press it or else it'll launch the app switcher.

Access emergency medical information directly from the lock screen.

If you set up a Medical ID in the Health app that comes with iOS 8, you can access medical information without having to unlock your iPhone. Tap the "Emergency" button that appears with the keypad for entering your passcode and you'll see the Medical ID button on the lower left corner.

See your iPhone's actual signal strength.

There's a clever trick that shows the actual signal strength on your iPhone rather than just the dots or bars you usually see in the upper left corner of the screen. Business Insider's Steven Tweedie explained it to us.

First, you'll need to access a hidden app on your phone called Field Test Mode. To do this, you'll need to open up your Phone app and dial the following number, *3001#12345#* , including the asterisks and hashtag, and tap "Call."

This opens up Field Test Mode, which is mostly filled with menus of cell signal jargon that you don't need to worry about. What you're interested in is the tiny number in the upper left-hand corner of your iPhone, which should have replaced those cell signal dots. While that number can vary anywhere from -40 to -130, it will always be negative, and the closer that number is to zero, the better your cell signal. The best signal you can get would be -40, and no signal at all would be -130.

See who's calling you even if a phone number isn't in your contacts.

With iOS 9, Apple added a new feature that displays the possible name of an unknown caller. If you're receiving a phone call from someone you've emailed, and that person's email address is associated with his or her phone number, it'll pop up as a suggestion when he or she calls you.

Use Siri to skip filter photos on your iPhone by date or location.

You can now ask Siri to show you photos from a certain time period or location. For instance, if you wanted to view photos taken two years ago on vacation, you could say something like, "Show me photos from 2013 taken in Jamaica." It saves a lot of time since you no longer have to scroll through your whole photo library to find older images. This only works if your iPhone is updated to iOS 9.

Have Siri remind you to read a text message or email at a later time.

If you just received a text or email but can't take the time to read it right now, you can ask Siri to remind you later on. When you receive the notification, just ask Siri to remind you to read it later. This works with Messages, Mail, Notes, and Safari as long as your iPhone is running iOS 9.

Launch a music app just by plugging in your earbuds.

If you listen to music at the same time every morning, your iPhone will automatically know that it should launch the music app as soon as you plug your headphones in. This is another feature thats new with iOS 9.

Use Low Power Mode to make your phone last longer.

Low Power Mode, which is also a new addition with iOS 9, tells your iPhone to cut down on certain features to lengthen its battery life. This means itll stop refreshing apps in the background, pushing email, and other tiny things in order to keep your battery going.

Search for anything in the Settings menu.

You no longer have to dig through the iPhones settings menu to find what youre looking for. If your iPhone is updated to iOS 9, youll notice theres a search bar at the top of the settings menu that helps you quickly jump to any given setting.
Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has been convicted of negligence by a special French court for her role in a controversial arbitration award made to a tycoon in 2008.

Lagarde, who was France's finance minister at the time, was spared jail time and a criminal record. She had risked a year of imprisonment and a fine.

The guilty verdict, even without punishment, tarnishes Lagarde's impressive career as one of the most powerful women in world finance.

It raised immediate doubts about whether the IMF's first female managing director will be able to continue in the job she has held since 2011.

The Washington-based IMF said after the verdict that its executive board would meet soon "to consider the most recent developments".

The case revolves around a 40m arbitration deal given to tycoon Bernard Tapie in 2008 over the botched sale of sportswear maker Adidas in the 1990s. The amount awarded prompted indignation in France.

Civil courts have since quashed the unusually generous award, declared the arbitration process and deal fraudulent and ordered Mr Tapie to pay the money back.

In deciding not to sentence Lagarde, the court noted that the award to Mr Tapie has since been annulled, sparing damage to the public purse. It also noted by way of explaining the lack of a sentence that Lagarde was caught up at the time in the storm of financial crisis which engulfed the global economy.

The court also said that Lagarde's "personality and national and international reputation" counted in her favour.

The Court of Justice of the Republic, made up of three judges and 12 parliamentarians, tries cases concerning ministers for alleged crimes while in office.

Lagarde, who was not present for the verdict, maintained her innocence through the week-long trial. The prosecutor had asked for an acquittal in the case, which began in 2011.

Christopher Baker, one of Lagarde's lawyers, would not speculate on any potential effect of the verdict on her high-flying career. A lawyer herself, she served as French finance minister from 2007 to 2011, when she took her job as head of the IMF.

"There is no sentence, which means there's no record of this," Mr Baker said.

"The result of this last five years is nothing, which leaves us in kind of a complicated and strange situation."

The special court acquitted Lagarde of negligence in her original decision to put the Tapie case to arbitration. But it found her guilty in a subsequent decision not to contest the amount of the arbitration award.

The court's presiding judge, in reading the verdict, said Lagarde should have asked her aides and others for more information about the "shocking arbitration award" that included a tax-free payment of 45 million euro in damages to Mr Tapie which the court described as fraudulent.

Investigating judges had alleged that Lagarde committed a series of serious errors in the award to Mr Tapie.

The amount - awarded to end years of legal wrangling with Tapie over the sale in the 1990s of his majority stake in sportswear giant Adidas - prompted indignation in France.

It also raised questions about whether Mr Tapie benefited from his political connections, including with then-president Nicolas Sarkozy, Lagarde's boss when she was his finance minister.

The legal battle between Mr Tapie and Credit Lyonnais over the public bank's sale of his Adidas stake was still unresolved when Lagarde took over at the Finance Ministry in 2007.

The first woman in that job, she oversaw France's finances as the global economy plunged into its worst crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Lagarde ordered that the dispute be settled through a private arbitration panel, instead of regular courts - against the advice of her own services. The decision led to the massive payout to Mr Tapie from public funds.

Soon after the award, investigators suspected the whole process was rigged in favour of the magnate.

In 2013, Mr Tapie, his lawyer, one of the arbitrators and Lagarde's chief of staff at the ministry, Stephane Richard, now the CEO of the telecom company Orange, were charged with gang-related fraud.

Lagarde's Paris home was searched by police. However, that case is separate from Lagarde's legal woes.

Mr Tapie was handed another charge of misappropriation of funds. However, in 2015, a court quashed the arbitration deal, and then ordered Mr Tapie to pay the money back. Last June, the top French court ruled the arbitration was fraudulent.

The IMF's board supported Lagarde throughout the French legal proceedings against her, which began the month after her appointment in July 2011.

She took over at the IMF from another French citizen, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned the post amid sexual assault allegations.
Liam Neeson as Santa Claus. Pic: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Liam Neeson has auditioned to play the part of Santa Claus in a Late Show parody and he's the most sinister Father Christmas you'll ever meet.

The Irish actor has been a Jedi Master, an Irish revolutionary hero, a hitman, a Jesuit priest and a German industrialist/World War II hero but playing the part of Jolly St Nick seems to be outside the realm of his capabilities.

In a sketch for Stephen Colbert's The Late Show, Neeson auditioned for the role of a mall Santa Claus.

But it's a Santa Claus whose lap you'd hesitate to sit on.

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The stars of the hit series First Dates Ireland are quickly becoming international stars as the series has been sold to networks in Australia, Canada and the UK.

The six episodes, which broadcast on RTE2 earlier this year proved a huge hit and are now being shown internationally, branded as First Dates Abroad.

The Irish version of the hit show has also been snapped up by E4 in the UK and has fared well with British audiences.

According to The Sunday World, the shows charm has also captured the hearts of audiences on the other side of the world, as well as proving a national favourite.

More than 4000 people applied to appear on the second series of the show filmed in Dublins Gibson Hotel.

The new series of the programme, hosted by Croatian Mateo Saina, has already been filmed by the national broadcaster and is expected to debut ahead of next summer.
Meet the Irish actor making waves in Hollywood thanks to his starring role in Netflix's epic new mystery series, The OA.

The eight-part, mystery, sci-fi series landed on Friday and it's already creating a stir among viewers.

The show follows a young woman named Prairie who disappeared seven years ago. She reappears and returns to her parents in Michigan and then starts confusing people with stories about how she is the OA. Nobody knows what that means. Oh, and Prairie used to be blind, but now she can see.

As you can probably guess, The OA can't or won't explain what has happened to her. It takes place in two different time periods and flashes between the American Midwest and Russia. Prepare for some red herrings, plenty of flashbacks and a twist or two or 20. It's a show that flips conventional storytelling on its head.

Expand Close The OA. Pic: Netflix / Facebook

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It's been billed as winter's Stranger Things and stars Irish actor Patrick Gibson (The Tudors, What Richard Did) who plays the role of Steve Winchell, a deeply troubled bully who strikes up a friendship with Prairie.

Show creator Brit Marling (who also plays the part of Prairie) said she was deeply impressed by Irish actor Patrick Gibson when he came to New York to discuss the part.

Bloody hooligans A photo posted by Paddy Gibson (@paddygibson) on Aug 31, 2016 at 9:54am PDT

He had this notebook in his lap labelled Steve Winchell, Marling says. He opened it and showed me page after page of watercolour drawings hed done, playlists for the kinds of music he would listen to as Steve. It was the kind of notebook that I would have made to prepare for a part I had gotten alreadyhe had made it just to come audition. The depth of work that he had done on that character was stunning.

Steves relationship with Prairie is something truly profound, Patrick Gibson says. She is, in many ways, Steves saviour. She isnt afraid of him like many others because she is one of the few who sees him for what he really is. Initially, that puts Steve on edge but that quickly changes Ultimately Steve just wants to fit in, something I think we can all relate to whether we admit it or not.

A photo posted by Paddy Gibson (@paddygibson) on Aug 26, 2016 at 12:17pm PDT

It looks like Gibson could be Netflix's new breakout star and he's got plenty of work lined up for 2017. He will star alongside Idris Elba in Sky Atlantics Guerrilla, a new political drama from the Oscar-winning writer of 12 Years a Slave, John Ridley.

Other upcoming projects include a leading role in the anticipated follow-up to The White Queen, Starzs historical drama series, The White Princess and the international release of Lone Scherfigs feature, Their Finest.

A photo posted by Paddy Gibson (@paddygibson) on Nov 14, 2016 at 4:18pm PST

All eight episodes of The OA are available on Netflix.
A mother-of-six whose estranged husband previously abducted three of their children now claims he is trying to lure their teenage daughter to Algeria.

Gina Davis claims Kamel Fekkar (52) is phoning their 15-year-old daughter Faatima and has arranged for Algerian travel documents to be sent to her.

The mum was left heartbroken after Fekkar took Zaineb (9) and twin brother and sister Hamza and Halimah (5) to the North African country in July 2015.

The couple separated in 2014 and Gina feels that the abductions were an act of vengeance.

Expand Close Zaineb, Hamza and Halimah's teddy bears which Gina still has / Facebook

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Whatsapp Zaineb, Hamza and Halimah's teddy bears which Gina still has

Speaking to the Irish Daily Mirror, Gina, from Dun Laoghaire, Dublin says she is in a state of shock.

I caught my daughter crying the other day and I asked her what was wrong and thats when she came out with it  I couldnt believe it. I was in shock.

Kamel told Faatima she could see her siblings and she would be there in time for her cousins wedding but it was to all be their secret, that she wasnt to tell me.

She couldnt hold it in anymore and she just came out with it, Mum, what if it was you? What if you had the chance to go to see the children  you would, wouldnt you?

All six of their children were born in Ireland.

After her husband took their three children to Algeria, she claims he phoned her and said Its three-all now.

I always feared he could come back and take more of my children but I had no clue he could arrange it this way and all without me knowing a thing.

Thankfully she told me before it went ahead.

She says he wont even allow her to speak to her children over the phone.

However, he has allowed for phone calls to take place between Faatima and her siblings.

This is how he was able to try to lure my daughter away too  he still has communication with her on her phone.

He even got my daughter Zaineb to say at one point that she didnt want to talk to me and I know that wasnt true.

My life is like a prison now. Im absolutely broken since he took my three beautiful children. I dont know what to do. And now I dont think he will stop until he has more of the children with him. I dont think hes even doing this out of love  I believe he is doing it as part of an evil game against me.

The Department of Foreign Affairs have been assisting Gina and she has reported Fekkars phone calls to gardai.
An elderly woman had her pension bonus and Christmas presents stolen from her home while she was attending her husbands funeral.

Pauline Moriarty (83) had been attending a private service for her husband John when she returned home to discover the house had been ransacked by thieves.

She says she has been left terrified by the incident and her grandson is moving in as she is too afraid to live alone.

Ms Moriarty had only been gone from her Tralee home for just over forty minutes to attend the service at Hogans Funeral Home on December 2.

Everything I own is gone, she told the Kerrys Eye.

Ill never get over it. It was an awful shock. I opened the wardrobe and nearly dropped when I saw the big empty space.

They couldnt have picked a worse time. What I had left they are after destroying it and I wont open the door to anyone anymore.

Read More

Her daughter Sandra Boylan says they are disgusted by what happened.

The casket wasnt even closed when they broke in. They took away the grieving process from us. I hope to god theyll catch them.

My mother is now petrified to be alone in the house.

Ms Moriarty has been living in Stacks Villas, Tralee for 57 years.

The thieves also stole birthday presents and Christmas presenters intended for her grandchildren.

Gardai in Tralee garda station are asking anyone with information on the burglary to contact them on 066-7102300.

Have you been affected by burglaries? Get in touch contact@independent.ie
Ken Smollen of the Irish Democratic Party with a man named Eddie, who has been homeless for two years

Chairperson of the Irish Democratic Party Ken Smollen recently took to the streets of Dublin to speak to people who were sleeping rough.

One of the people he met was a man in his early 40s, who had been living rough for two years and is a qualified engineer. Mr Smollen told Independent.ie that this man relies on the generosity of strangers and charities.

When I spoke to him he had just made his bed for the night in a doorway. He was going to read his book until he fell asleep, Mr Smollen said.

He hoped that nobody would kick him during the night as it appears to be a problem that many of our homeless people have  being kicked while asleep by drunken fools who find it amusing when they leave the night clubs and pubs.

Mr Smollen claims he asked could he take a photo with Eddie, advising him that he could blur his face out of the picture.

However, Eddie said he did not want his face to be hidden.

He said, If it helps to do something about the problem then I dont mind my face being shown. I got him another cup of tea, a bottle of water, 3 sandwiches and a bun for his breakfast.

He's a qualified engineer whose only previous crime was to listen to the advice of banks and financial experts.

Im ashamed of what our country has become and I know that at least 150 TDs need to pay the price for ignoring this desperate humanitarian crisis while purposely lying through their teeth and deceiving us all.

Since the picture of Ken and Eddie was shared on Facebook, Ken has been inundated with positive messages.

"It has been unbelievable. I have got messages and phone calls from all over Ireland and the UK offering this man somewhere to stay and offering him work as well," the Offaly man told Independent.ie.

"It's phenomenal. I couldnt believe thousands of people shared it all over the world."

Today it was revealed that Dublin City Council is paying hotels, hostels and other emergency accommodation providers almost 1m a week to shelter the spiralling numbers of homeless in the capital.

New figures from the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) show that 26.6m in payments has been made to hotels for the first nine months of this year outstripping the 2015 total by 10m.

In 2015, the combined spend on hotels and other private emergency accommodation was 25.3m. Last year, the city council paid city hoteliers 16.6m to provide accommodation for the homeless.

The amount individual hotels receives remains confidential.
Kym Owens remains in Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown following the savage attack at the end of last month

The community in Castleblayney have rallied together to help raise money for Maynooth student Kym Owens (18), who was attacked on her way back to college.

Elizabeth Mulholland, PRO for the Castleblayney fundraising group, said they are raising thousands of euro to help Kym and her family with the medical expenses.

"We did a bucket collection on the street and raised over 6,000 and we're holding a concert to try and raise more money," Ms Mulholland said.

"Everyone around Castleblayney was devastated when we heard. We wanted to try and alleviate the medical expenses for Kym's family."

Ms Mulholland said she was not sure "exactly how much the medical expenses are" but noted they were "quite high".

Read more: We were shocked and heartbroken when we heard what happened to Kym  Community raising thousands for student who was attacked

"People around Castleblayney are supporting her because we were so shocked and heartbroken," she said. "Kym was involved in the community here and we were all devastated when we heard what happened."

Kym remains in Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown after suffering severe facial injuries in the assault.

Gardai have again appealed for any information regarding the horrific attack.

Kym was walking to her accommodation when she was attacked and savagely beaten. She was attacked at the entrance to the Moyglare Abbey estate after travelling from her home town, near Castleblayney, on a private bus on November 20.

Detectives have taken 200 statements and trawled though hours of CCTV footage in an attempt to progress the case.

A number of fundraising events were held by local businesses in the area for the young student. One establishment, The Roost Maynooth, which is a popular venue for students, managed to raise more than 11,000 after holding a fundraiser.

Gardai have asked anybody with information to contact Leixlip garda station on 01 6667800.
A 69-year-old business woman, who suffered a triple fracture of her left ankle after she slipped and fell in the Herbert Park Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin, has been awarded 56,250 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.

Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke said he was satisfied the entrance hotel floor had been impeccable and maintained to the highest standard, but Delia Manning should not have been allowed to enter the hotel through the emergency exit doors without a mat.

Judge Groarke said engineering evidence showed the floor became slippery when moisture was carried under peoples shoes. He said there was no mat at the emergency doors to trap any potential moisture.

It was an accident waiting to happen, the judge said.

Manning, of Assumption Terrace, Kinsale, Co Cork, told the court that she had stayed at the hotel with her son and grandson in August 2014 to attend the RDS Horse Show.

She said the last day of the show, August 10, was a wet day and the show ended early. They had decided to go home and had been leaving the hotel car park but the barrier would not lift. She had gone back to the hotel to check that the ticket had been validated when she slipped and fell forward.

Manning told her barrister, Eamon Shanahan, that she felt pain in her ankle. She had been attended to by hotel staff before being taken by ambulance to St Vincents Hospital in Dublin, where X-rays revealed a fracture in her ankle.

She said she underwent surgery and had needed to wear a plaster cast for several weeks. The court heard she was no longer able to walk long distances and she may develop arthritis in the future.

She sued Hebert Park Hotel Limited, which trades as Herbert Park Hotel, and Sheelin McSharry (Ballsbridge) Limited, of Embassy House, Herbert Park Lane, Ballsbridge, for negligence.

The defendants had denied liability and had alleged that Manning had used the emergency doors because the main entrance was crowded with a group of tourists and she had been rushing when she slipped.

Judge Groarke said he accepted that Ms Manning, who suffered a very nasty and extremely serious injury, may have been distracted. Initially awarding her 75,000 damages, he reduced her award by 25% for contributory negligence.
A man who fraudulently pocketed a 40,000 pension pot, which he held jointly with his wife, has been ordered to pay her back 10,000 before Christmas.

Brendan Lynch (71) appeared before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of forgery. Mr Lynch, a retired bus driver from Birr, Co Offaly, forged his wife's name on an application to cash in their jointly held pension, the court heard.

Mr Lynch, who has an address at Kilmurry Lodge, Elm Park, Castletroy, Limerick, also forged his elderly sister's name as a third party witness although she had no knowledge of the matter.

In 1988, Brendan and Ann Pauline Lynch opened the pension policy with the Hibernian insurance group. When the policy reached maturity it was worth 40,645.90 and both parties were entitled to 50pc each.

However, after separating after 45 years of marriage, Mr Lynch cashed in the policy, forging his wife's signature in order to have the pension paid out.

Detective Garda Brian Cunningham, from Birr Garda Station, said Mr Lynch "lodged the cheque into his own account". Ms Lynch only became aware of what her husband had done six years later.

Detective Garda Cunningham said: "It caused her great alarm. She established a cheque was made payable to her and her husband. It was clear that a forgery had taken place."

Mr Lynch told gardai that he used the entire pension fund to "clear outstanding debts".

In a victim impact statement, Ms Lynch said: "It has left an indelible mark on myself and my family...the psychological effect is of disbelief and utter horror."

She added: "The financial loss is very much felt as I was the sole provider for our four children. And that money would be very much appreciated at this time."

Adjourning the matter for 12 months, Judge Tom O'Donnell ordered Mr Lynch to pay Ms Lynch 10,000 "as part payment" for her losses "before Christmas". "If the balance is paid within 12 months...I will factor that in [to sentencing]," the judge said.
A young woman whose father raped her repeatedly as a teenager says her family has been torn apart in the wake of the abuse and she will never forgive her mother for taking his side.

Ellen O'Driscoll (24) said she continues to serve a life sentence since coming forward with the allegations against her father, Patrick O'Driscoll. Her entire family, including eight siblings, have turned against her and she is now isolated from the Traveller community.

It's torn my family apart, Ms O'Driscoll said in a victim impact statement handed up to the Central Criminal Court today. My mam, sisters, brothers, uncles and aunts all took his side. So I have no family now.

I don't blame my brothers and sisters as I know what it's like to have someone messing inside your head. But I will never forgive my mam.

The court heard Ms O'Driscoll, who was not in court for the sentence hearing, wished to waive her right to anonymity. Her father, who is in custody, will be sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Butler on January 17 next year.

O'Driscoll (41) with an address in Codrum, Macroom, Co Cork was found guilty by a jury of 61 counts of raping his daughter between 2008 and 2009, when she was aged between 16 and 17 years old. He had denied the charges.

The week-long trial last month heard Ms O'Driscoll was the eldest child of a large Traveller family that moved around frequently, but was living in Cork city in 2008 and 2009.

She told the court her father raped her on a weekly basis from the time she turned 16, when her mother was out shopping and she was minding her younger siblings.

Ms O'Driscoll broke down several times as she told the court about the first time that he raped her.

He said, 'I've missed this. I won't go without it anymore', she said. She said afterwards, her father acted like nothing had happened.

He just acted like a normal loving father, when he was far from that, she said.

The trial heard Ms O'Driscoll wasn't allowed go to school. I had to stay at home, clean, cook, look after the kids, behave like a housewife, she said.

She said he threatened her not to tell anyone about the alleged abuse, telling her he would kill her and kill himself. He used to threaten that I would never see my brothers and sisters if I told anybody and that's what happened, she said. To this day, I don't see them.

When Ms O'Driscoll was in the stand during the trial, both her father and mother loudly refuted her allegations, moving the judge to warn against future outbursts. At one point, the woman's mother called out, that's a load of shit from the public gallery.

In her victim impact statement, read out by Garda Michael Dolan, Ms O'Driscoll said she missed her brothers and sisters very much.

We were very close siblings but it was taken away by a very sick man, she said. I feel I'm serving a life sentence, even though I didn't do anything wrong. I will be living half a life for the rest of my life.

Defence barrister, Thomas Creed SC, said there was little he could say in mitigation for his client, given his not guilty pleas. But he said O'Driscoll's family supported him and they were shocked and saddened by his conviction.

They still love him very much and miss him very much, he said
A LEGAL action by the management company of the Longboat Quay apartments in Dublin over liability for funding of 3.5m in fire safety works at the complex may be at an end, the Commercial Court heard.

More than 600 residents of 298 dockland apartments were affected by fire safety notices which empowered Dublin Fire Brigade to evacuate the complex should it be considered necessary.

The Longboat Quay Management Company sued the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) and a Bernard McNamara company, Gendsong Ltd, which built the apartments and which is now in receivership.

The case was also against Declan Taite and Anne O'Dwyer who were appointed receivers over some of Gendsong's assets, comprising 15 apartments in Longboat Quay.

The complex was developed in 2006 by Gendsong.

Among the management company's claims were that the DDDA was obliged, under a December 2004 agreement, to ensure works at the complex were completed in a manner that left it reasonably fit for immediate occupation. It was alleged the DDDA failed to do that.

It was also alleged both the DDDA and Gendsong were obliged to indemnify the management company for all costs, losses, and claims resulting from defects in the design, construction or certification of the development.

The case was admitted to the Commercial Court just over a year ago.

It came back for mention today before Mr Justice Brian McGovern who was told by Patrick Leonard SC, for the management company, it is expected the case "will come to an end in early January."

In those circumstances, the judge granted him a further adjournment until January 23.
A Vietnamese man found asleep among cannabis plants in Tralee potentially worth 1.4 million, has had his prison sentence cut on appeal.

Cao Son Nguyen (30), of no fixed abode, had pleaded guilty to cultivation as well as possession of cannabis for sale or supply at a unit in the Clash Industrial Estate, Tralee Co, Kerry on October 21, 2013.

He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with the final four suspended by Judge Tom E O'Donnell at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court.

Nguyen successfully appealed his sentence today and was accordingly resentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final three suspended.

Counsel for Nguyen, Philip Sheahan SC, told the Court of Appeal that it was akin to a growhouse case and unusual for the DPP to have charged his client with a sale or supply offence in that context.

Mr Sheahan said his client, who slept beside a toilet in the unit, was found asleep among the plants.

Giving judgment in the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan said the fact that the sale or supply offence occurred in the context of a growhouse operation did not in any way diminish the offending behaviour.

The court heard that some of the plants had reached maturity.

He said the court saw merit in submissions by Nguyen's barrister, Mr Sheahan SC, that the sentencing judge placed the offence on too high a point on the scale of available penalties and didn't sufficiently differentiate between Nguyen and his co-accused.

Mr Justice Sheehan, who sat with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards, said the appropriate sentence was seven-and-a-half years with the final three suspended.
TD Mick Wallace has said his bankruptcy, forced by a petition from vulture fund Cerberus, will not stop him speaking out about its controversial purchase of a major Nama portfolio.

Mr Wallace was adjudicated bankrupt in the High Court this morning with debts of over 30m following an application from Cerberus subsidiary Promontoria (Aran) Ltd.

The Independents4Change TD ended his fight to avoid bankruptcy after another major creditor, ACC, said it would not facilitate him in coming to a personal insolvency arrangement.

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Speaking to Independent.ie afterwards, Mr Wallace said he would not be stopped from criticising the purchase by Cerberus of Namas Northern Ireland loans portfolio, Project Eagle, for 1.6bn in 2014.

Mr Wallace raised concerns about a Stg7m payment related to the deal in the Dail last summer and matters are now being probed by the UKs National Crime Agency and the US Securities and Exchange Commission

I am going to continue what I am doing for the moment, he said.

He added: It is fairly obvious as to why I am here. Speaking truth to power is a dangerous game.

They dont like the way I have exposed their role in Project Eagle, which has left a lot to be desired.

Mr Wallace also hit out at insolvency legislation, which allows creditors owed 3m or more veto attempts by a debtor to come to a personal insolvency arrangement.

We argued at the time the legislation was introduced that it was a pointless exercise if you give the banks a veto, he said.

The whole idea was to give people a chance, people who were in trouble with banks, to find a different path out of it, rather than bankruptcy.

But giving the banks a veto, you might as well have binned the legislation there and then.

The heavily indebted Wexford politician was forced into bankruptcy after Promontoria (Aran) Ltd filed a petition against him last month.

The company already had a 2m judgment against him arising from loans issued by Ulster Bank to Mr Wallaces M&J Wallace construction firm. Cerberus bought the loan book these were in two years ago.

Mr Wallace arrived in court today for a brief hearing, accompanied by his solicitor Aidan Eames.

Ms Justice Caroline Costello was told James Green, a personal insolvency practitioner with McCambridge Duffy, had written to Mr Wallaces main creditors, AIB, ACC and Cerberus.

The court heard that ACC was the dominant creditor and, under personal insolvency laws, would have to give consent to any personal insolvency arrangement proposed by Mr Wallace as his debts with the financial institution were greater that 3m.

However, Mr Wallaces counsel, Keith Farry BL, said ACC had written back to say it was not willing to waive the 3m cap.

This effectively meant Mr Wallace could not proceed with a personal insolvency arrangement.

ACC got a judgment against Mr Wallace for 20m in 2012, but has not sought to enforce it.

Mr Farry said he had considered getting a protective certificate, which blocks creditors from moving against debtors for 70 days.

However, he said this option was not being pursued as there was no reality to it.

From my point of view I cannot put up any further resistance, he said.

I cannot see how we can come to a personal insolvency arrangement.

Eddie Farrelly BL, counsel for Cerberus subsidiary Promontoria (Aran) Ltd, said Mr Wallaces debts were in excess of 30m.

There is not much prospect of an arrangement, he said.

A copy of Mr Wallaces statement of affairs was handed into the court, as well as a letter written by Mr Green.

Having considered the documentation and the submissions from barristers, Ms Justice Costello said she was adjudicating Mr Wallace a bankrupt.

It means that for a period of at least 12 months all of his assets will be in the control of the Official Assignee, Christopher Lehane, who can seek to sell them to realise whatever value he can for creditors.

The bankruptcy will not effect on Mr Wallace's seat as the law disqualifying a bankrupt from being a member of the Dail was abolished in 2014.
The sentence hearing has begun of five Dubliners who admit killing a 20-year-old on a footbridge in Tallaght on New Years morning, three years ago.

Two others are being sentenced for lesser offences arising out of the same incident.

The six men and one woman were originally charged with murder and went on trial at the Central Criminal Court in October. However, those charges were dropped on the 15th day of the trial, after they pleaded guilty to lesser charges and had their new pleas accepted.

Dale Creighton was assaulted on New Years Morning 2014 at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass between Saint Dominics Road and Greenhills Road. The court heard that there had been an allegation that he had stolen the womans mobile phone.

The Tallaght man died in hospital the following day. The cause of his death was blunt force injury to his head and face.

The seven accused, who are in their 20s and from Tallaght, had all pleaded not guilty to murder.

They are 23-year-old Aisling Burke and 28-year-old David Burke, both with a current address at Beechpark, Collinstown, Co Westmeath; Graham Palmer (26) with a current address at Park Avenue, Portarlington, Co Laois; Ross Callery (23) currently of Gortlum Cottages, Brittas, Co Dublin; James Reid (26) currently of Glen Aoibhinn, Gorey, Co Wexford; Jason Beresford (23) with an address at Coill Diarmuida, Ard a Laoi, Castledermot, Co Kildare; and Gerard Stevens (27) currently of Grosvenor Square, Rathmines in Dublin.

Each accused also initially pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at the footbridge. However Jason Beresford later changed his plea and pleaded guilty to the violent disorder charge.

Aisling Burke, a mother of one, has now pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the bridge that New Years Morning.

Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, Gerard Stevens, Jason Beresford and David Burke have now pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

James Reid has pleaded guilty to possession of a knife, which had a blade or was sharply pointed.

Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy spent this morning watching CCTV footage of the attack and listening to the contents of the garda interviews of three of the accused.

She will hear the memos of more interviews this afternoon.
Growing risks to the quality of third-level education in Ireland due to a lack of funding are highlighted in a new report from the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

It warns the "system is approaching a point where the available resources will not be able to assure adequate quality of provision".

The renewed spotlight on the impact of funding shortfalls comes in the latest HEA System Performance report, which reviews the state of the sector in 2014 and 2015.

Launching the report today, Education Minister Richard Bruton acknowledged that State investment in the sector fell by 33pc, or 463m, over a nine-year period, at time when student numbers were rising.

The last Budget committed 36.6m to higher education, the first such investment since the financial crisis struck and Mr Bruton said he was working on putting in place a sustainable funding system. The Oireachtas Education Committee is deliberating on recommendations made in the Cassells Report for a new funding system.

Chair of the report, Peter Cassells, laid out three funding options when he delivered his report to Government earlier this year - all of which involve greater State investment with options for student loans and employer contributions.

Mr Bruton said it was an area where broad political consensus was needed on a future direction, and he would be working to build that consensus.

The HEA report points to the growth in student numbers, from 196,000 in 2011/12 to about 210,000 in 2014/15, a figure that will continue to rise.

Among the positives are progress in areas such as increasing the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds studying for a degree.

But it notes the precarious state of finances of many colleges, and of others also struggling to deliver quality against a background of worsening staff-student ratios and outdated buildings and equipment.

According to the report, a significant number of institutions are rapidly depleting their historic surpluses just to maintain quality.

It emerged recently that 10 of 14 institutes of technology are in financial difficulty, while the report also refers to the "vulnerable" position of a specialist third-level college.

Other institutions were severely restricted in their ability to grow because of unsustainable operational losses or lack of physical space, it said.

The report stated that HEA has sought to reduce the risks to vulnerable colleges through close financial supervision, and by seeking better strategic management and effective utilisation of resources.

But it added that some risks were outside the control of the HEA or the institutions, such as those relating to the overall funding of the system.
Gardai are hunting for two members of a Dublin gang who threatened a Cork couple at knife-point while their children were in the house in order to steal their car.

The three-man gang, believed to be from the Tallaght area, is being linked to a number of robberies and burglaries committed in the south Munster area between Wednesday and Friday.

Shortly after 11pm on Friday, the gang apparently wanted to change vehicles for their planned return to Dublin.

They spotted a BMW saloon parked in the driveway of a house in Togher on Cork's southside. The property is owned by a young couple, who were at home with their three children, all aged under 13.

The unsuspecting couple opened the door and were confronted by two men wielding a large knife.

Immediately, they were threatened as the armed gang demanded the keys to the BMW parked outside.

All the children were in bedrooms at the time and were not directly threatened by the raiders. While another weapon was waved at the couple, this is believed to have been an imitation firearm.

Minutes later, the gang fled in the BMW and another vehicle.

The couple and their children were left distressed, but unharmed by their ordeal. However, one of the gang's vehicles collided with another car as it drove from the area at high speed.

The second vehicle then fled the accident scene, but was stopped by a garda unit on routine patrol in the area after the officers became suspicious of the car and its occupant.

The driver was arrested under Section 3 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The man was taken to Bridewell Garda Station for questioning.

It is expected that he will appear before Cork District Court today.

The other two gang members fled the scene. It was unclear whether the duo escaped the area on foot or had another vehicle in which to make their getaway.

It is understood gardai are looking for two known individuals.

Gardai appealed for anyone who may have spotted suspicious activity in the Togher area between Friday night and early Saturday morning to contact them.

They are particularly appealing for anyone who may have noticed strange vehicles being driven slowly around estates in the Togher, Douglas and Frankfield areas.

Gardai are also examining CCTV security camera footage from a number of garages and business premises in the area in a bid to trace the movements of the various vehicles involved.

Detectives are also examining a number of robberies and burglaries reported around Cork, South Tipperary and Limerick.

This is to determine if there are any possible links to the Cork incident.

All three men involved are believed to be in their 20s and from the Tallaght area.

One of the men is believed to be well-known to gardai.

He has been the focus of previous investigations in relation to Dublin-based gangs conducting criminal operations around the provinces.

The garda crackdown on such robberies and burglaries has been extremely successful over recent months.

The crackdown has involved both surveillance and intelligence assets.
Pat Hickey says he is looking forward to spending Christmas with his family. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Former president of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) Pat Hickey is back in the country and intends to clear his name.

The 71-year-old, who arrived back in Dublin last night, said he was looking forward to spending Christmas with his family.

Mr Hickey was arrested at his hotel in Rio during the 2016 Olympics on allegations including ticket touting and money laundering. Mr Hickey has denied the allegations.

Upon arrival, Mr Hickey described the past few months as "traumatic" and insisted he would clear his name.

"It has been an extremely traumatic few months for myself and my family," he said in a statement.

"Once again, I wish to state that I am totally innocent of all charges against me.

"I will do everything possible to clear my name so that I can, in due course, get on with my life with my wife and family," he added.

Mr Hickey said he was "delighted" to be home and able to spend Christmas with his family.
A 16-year-old boy was shot in the legs in a paramilitary style attack in an Irish estate last night.

The youngster was blasted in both legs in the Aitnamona Crescent area of West Belfast.

The teenager was taken to hospital for treatment to gunshot wounds, which police said are not believed to be life-threatening.

The PSNI has condemned the attack as a "horrific act of violence".

There has been a paramilitary style shooting of a 16 y o male in Aitnamona Cres, Belfast, this evening. He has non-life threatening injuries  PSNI West Belfast (@PSNIBelfastW) December 18, 2016

Chief Inspector Norman Hanslet said: "This is blatant child abuse and there should be no place for the shooting of a child in todays society.

"I know that the local community abhor this type of behaviour and I ask for their support and assistance to help bring these people to justice."

It was the second paramilitary-style shooting in the area in just over 24 hours.

A 32-year-old man was shot in the leg in the Cluain Mor Drive area of west Belfast on Saturday evening.

The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information about both incidents to come forward.
The father of Emily Barut has spoken of his heartbreak after her mother Dr Bernadette Scully - his estranged wife - was cleared of the manslaughter of the severely disabled 11-year-old.

Harun Barut, whose relationship with Dr Scully broke down in 2003, said he missed his daughter so much.

Speaking over the weekend, for the first time since the case came to national attention, Mr Barut said he was unable to attend the full trial of Dr Scully because it was too painful.

"I miss Emily so much. She was my little girl and I loved her," he said.

On Friday, Dr Scully was acquitted of the manslaughter of Emily at their home in Co Offaly four years ago.

It was alleged that she killed her by an act of gross negligence involving the administration of an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate on September 15, 2012.

Dr Scully (58) pleaded not guilty and was cleared of the charges, saying afterwards that she was "traumatised" by the criminal proceedings and describing her daughter as "my little bird with a broken wing".

Turkish-born Mr Barut, who is the bar manager at Sean Og's in Edenderry, Co Offaly, told the Sunday World he fathered Emily in 2000, after the couple underwent three rounds of IVF treatment.

PAINFUL

He also spoke of his experience of the trial.

"I had to be at the trial on one day because I was called to give evidence.

"But it was very painful, too painful - I didn't want to be there," he said.

He described how even after the relationship with his wife ended, he would still see Emily.

"I had broken up with Bernadette, but the women who looked after [Emily] would bring her to me and I would walk around the town with her," he said.

Emily had microcephaly, severe epilepsy and could not speak or move.

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She had been in pain for the last eight days of her life, having had a medical procedure to replace the tube into her stomach, through which she received fluids and medication.

During her trial, Dr Scully said, she had administered chloral hydrate when her daughter became upset at 2am and 6am the day she died.

She said her daughter then had a massive fit after 11am and she administered more.

She said she had given more than double in those nine hours that she had ever previously given in 24 hours. She told gardai she knew she had given too much.

Dr Scully tried to take her own life twice after Emily had died, the second time by overdosing on medication for which she had written a prescription in her elderly mother's name.

She had sent her partner to fill the prescription, its purpose unknown to him. He found Emily dead and Dr Scully unconscious that evening.

Asked about the outcome of the case, Mr Barut said he did not know what to think.

"There were doctors there to give evidence and the law is the law," he said.

"To be honest I can't make any decision about what I think. I'd like to leave that for a couple of weeks."

Following her acquittal, Dr Scully released a statement in which she said she could not have made it through the ordeal without the love and support of her current partner Andrius and his daughter Kotryna.

HUMBLED

"I have been very humbled by the kindness and support offered to me and my family by friends, neighbours, former patients, the staff at my surgery, the people of Tullamore, Edenderry and surrounding areas, and the complete strangers who have taken the time to send messages, cards, flowers , mass bouquets and letters.

"Your positive energy has helped me and my family enormously in surviving the past 4 years and in particular during the course of the trial," she said.

"Emily was my little bird with a broken wing whom I loved, cared for and protected.

"Our struggle is mirrored in the lives of so many people in similar situations in Ireland.

"Like me, very many parents and carers of children who are disabled struggle on a daily basis to get access to services and support systems which are very often simply not there," she added.
Pat Hickey pictured outside his house in Castleknock this Morning. Pic: Justin Farrelly.

Pat Hickey pictured outside his house in Castleknock this Morning. Pic: Justin Farrelly.

Pat Hickey pictured outside his house in Castleknock this Morning. Pic: Justin Farrelly.

Pat Hickey pictured outside his house in Castleknock this Morning. Pic: Justin Farrelly.

Pat Hickey pictured outside his house in Castleknock this Morning. Pic: Justin Farrelly.

Pat Hickey pictured outside his house in Castleknock this morning. Pic: Justin Farrelly.

Pat Hickey pictured outside his house in Castleknock this morning. Pic: Justin Farrelly.

Pat Hickey pictured outside his house in Castleknock this morning. Pic: Justin Farrelly.

Former Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) president Pat Hickey has arrived back to his Dublin home and wished photographers a 'Happy Christmas'.

The 71-year-old arrived in Ireland last night and appeared at his home in Castleknock this morning.

Expand Close Pat Hickey pictured outside his house in Castleknock this Morning. Pic: Justin Farrelly. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Pat Hickey pictured outside his house in Castleknock this Morning. Pic: Justin Farrelly.

Speaking outside the house, Mr Hickey told photographers: "I want to wish you all a happy Christmas and it's good to be home."

Mr Hickey was arrested at his hotel in Rio during the 2016 Olympics on allegations including ticket touting and money laundering. He has denied the allegations.

This morning he appealed for privacy for his family and gave a thumbs-up to neighbour.

He said he arrived on a Ryanair flight last night to Dublin airport.

Expand Close Former OCI President, Pat Hickey pictured outside his home in Castleknock this morning after he returned from 4 months in Rio last night.. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Former OCI President, Pat Hickey pictured outside his home in Castleknock this morning after he returned from 4 months in Rio last night.. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

Prior to this he issued a statement describing the past few months as "traumatic" and insisted he would clear his name.

"It has been an extremely traumatic few months for myself and my family," he said in a statement.

"Once again, I wish to state that I am totally innocent of all charges against me.

"I will do everything possible to clear my name so that I can, in due course, get on with my life with my wife and family," he added.

Mr Hickey said he was "delighted" to be home and able to spend Christmas with his family.

He said he was looking forward to spending Christmas with his family.
A mother has described how she was left feeling "devastated" and "angry" after being told she was not permitted to bring her child's pram into a choir service at the weekend.

Heather Doyle travelled up to Farmleigh House in Dublin's Phoenix Park from their home in Celbridge, Co Kildare on Saturday with her fiance and their 10-month-old son Harry.

However, when they arrived at the entrance Ms Doyle claims she was told that they couldn't bring their 'Bugaboo' pram inside the building.

She told independent.ie: "We were so disappointed. We have a 10-month-old and they said they wouldn't let us in with the pram."

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A sign outside the building also stated that no buggys were permitted inside the building.

Ms Doyle claimed this was "discrimination" against mothers and families.

"It was our son's nap time but we were expected to carry him if we wanted to go into the house to hear a carol service and leave our buggy unattended outside.

"We felt so discriminated against and I wondered what would happen if that were a person in a wheelchair."

Ms Doyle said they were so angry that they didn't attend the choir service.

Farmleigh House is run by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Independent.ie has contacted the department for a comment.
Senior Fine Gael TDs believe Enda Kenny will continue as party leader and Taoiseach at least until next summer.

And despite Mr Kenny's assertions that he will not lead the party into the next election, it is now likely he will have to lead the party in any unexpected election between now and the Dail summer holiday next July. The move is a blow to contenders for the succession, Social Protection Minister, Leo Varadkar, and his Housing Minister, Simon Coveney. Supporters of both contenders are already active seeking support for a leadership campaign.

Mr Varadkar was perceived to be better fixed for the fray, especially if there was a short election contest. But Mr Coveney enhanced his chances in the past week by being seen as facing down Fianna Fail demands for changes to his legislation on rent control.

Senior party figures have argued in the past few days that Mr Kenny is needed to stay on to ensure continuity and stability in both the fragile minority Coalition and also to anchor the upcoming Brexit negotiations due to start in March.

One senior TD yesterday said that Mr Kenny's decision not to appoint a dedicated "Brexit Minister", and taking the lead role himself in that process, signalled an intention to stay on in Government Buildings and as party leader. Rebels who argued for an early change of leader have said that nobody can predict the timing of the next election, so the leadership issue must be dealt with quickly.

But Mr Kenny's supporters yesterday pointed out that the curious Dail arithmetic meant that 27 of the current crop of 50 Fine Gael TDs hold either a senior or a junior minister post. "That gives Enda Kenny great security. Those who want to see him gone are seen by many in the parliamentary party as 'disappointed people'," the Kenny supporter said.

Many TDs and senators in Fine Gael also see a leader change at this stage as likely to bring on an early general election, which they feel the party is ill-prepared to face.

"Fianna Fail would not want to see a new leader settle in in Fine Gael. At the same time, there might be a rush of blood to the head in our party, which could also see an unwise move to another general election," another Fine Gael TD said.

Last autumn, a number of backbench TDs, including Kerry TD Brendan Griffin, Waterford TD John Deasy, and Louth TD Fergus O'Dowd were urging that the leadership issue be addressed. Others, including Cork South-West TD Jim Daly, and Carlow-Kilkenny TD John Paul Phelan, have stressed the need for him to tell the party when he is going to leave.

But nothing came of the unrest and many believe that it has since calmed for the foreseeable future. When the party gathered in Newbridge, Co Kildare, last September ahead of a new Dail year, there were private rumblings that matters would come to a head over the Christmas recess. "It now looks that the party is more united than it has been for some time and the matter has been put off at least until the summer. There has been a focus on party reorganisation, which has helped defuse tensions."

Yesterday, Health Minister Simon Harris hinted he may contest the leadership, once the Taoiseach had left of his own accord. Other potential contenders include Frances Fitzgerald and Paschal Donohoe.
A government minister has said she's open to homeless people occupying the Apollo House office block staying there over Christmas if it provides "appropriate shelter".

However, Children Minister Katherine Zappone said she agrees with campaigner Fr Peter McVerry that the occupation is not the solution to the homelessness crisis.

She was asked if those occupying the vacant office building should be left there over Christmas.

"If that's what provides the appropriate shelter for those people during Christmas, why not?," she replied.

The building was lying empty ahead of a plan to redevelop the site.

Last week Fr McVerry applauded the campaigners in Apollo House on Dublin's Tara Street for highlighting the issue of homelessness.

But he told the Irish Times: I have no problem with them taking over the building. However, its not the solution to the homeless crisis, thats my difficulty and thats what I wont join them."

He said his focus is on finding solutions to the issue.

Children Minister Ms Zappone said: "I probably would be with Peter McVerry in relation to his view."

She said she does believe in the "politics of people power" and that it's important when government decisions don't move fast enough.

However, she said that while solving the housing and homelessness crisis is "very complicated", the government is making decisions, highlighting last week's moves to bring more certainty to the renters and efforts to reduce bureaucracy in the housing sector.

Ms Zappone, said it is "absolutely my hope" that there will be no children sleeping on the streets in the coming weeks.

"I think that the government has taken a number of actions in the short, medium and long term," she said.

"That's not to say that it might not happen. If that's the case then I would like to hear about it and make sure that there's a way of immediately responding to that if there is any child in that circumstance," she added.
Northern Ireland's First Minister has launched a blistering attack against political rivals and the media as she defended her handling of a botched green energy scheme.

Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster denounced opposition parties as "irrelevant and impotent" as she responded to an Assembly motion of no confidence in her.

"For almost two weeks I have listened on an almost daily basis to lies presented as facts, the truth distorted out of all recognition and a public narrative created and relentlessly pursued which bears no relationship to reality," she said.

All other parties in the Assembly - including the DUP's partner in government, Sinn Fein - have called on her to stand down pending an independent probe into an error-ridden scheme that has landed the Northern Ireland taxpayer an estimated bill of 400 million.

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was due to offer a proportion of the cost businesses had to pay to run eco-friendly boilers, but it ended up paying significantly more than the cost of fuel, enabling applicants to "burn to earn" - getting free heat and making a profit as they did it.

Claims of widespread abuse include a farmer allegedly set to pocket around 1 million in the next 20 years for heating an empty shed. Mrs Foster was the minister in charge of the scheme at its inception.

Expand Close First Minister Arlene Foster gives a statement on her role in a botched renewable energy scheme at Parliament Buildings, Belfast. Picture PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp First Minister Arlene Foster gives a statement on her role in a botched renewable energy scheme at Parliament Buildings, Belfast. Picture PA Wire

Assured of the party strength to defeat the SDLP motion of no confidence, Mrs Foster branded it a "kamikaze" attempt at a "constitutional coup d'etat".

"I have to say it's a coup d'etat more worthy of a Carry On film," she added.

The DUP leader said she would not run away from her responsibilities.

"I remain as committed today as I did on the day I was elected as First Minister to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith."

All non-DUP MLAs had earlier walked out of the chamber ahead of a statement by Mrs Foster.

The bitter row unfolded after Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness withdrew his approval for Mrs Foster to appear to explain her role in the RHI.

All statements by Mrs Foster and Mr McGuinness's joint office need the support of both sides of the power-sharing executive.

Mr McGuinness's move prompted members from all parties but the DUP to question the validity of Mrs Foster's appearance.

It led to the bizarre situation of Mrs Foster giving a statement to a three-quarters empty chamber and then answering questions tabled by her own members.

Now the Assembly speaker has faced a barrage of demands to explain his actions after he permitted the Ms Foster to make a statement, .

The Assembly speaker faced a barrage of demands to explain his actions after he permitted the First Minister Arlene Foster to make a statement without the required approval of the Deputy First Minister.

Robin Newton's assurances that he was acting in compliance with "legal and procedural advice" failed to assuage the anger of MLAs from all sides of the house, other than the DUP benches.

The majority of absent MLAs returned later for the motion of no confidence debate. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood tabled the proposal.

"This is biggest public finance scandal ever to hit these institutions," he said.

"As this scandal has unfolded it has suited some to muddy the waters but we must not be distracted.

"So far, digging into this scandal has uncovered staggering incompetence - digging deeper has the potential to uncover corruption."

Mr Eastwood said Mrs Foster must do the "dignified and decent" thing and stand down.

"We can't go on like this. The longer the First Minister clings on the more her credibility will fade," he said. "And let me assure the First Minister, Christmas will not save her."

The "cash for ash" scandal reached fever pitch last week when former DUP economy minister Jonathan Bell broke ranks to level a series of claims against his leader and party advisers.

In a TV interview, a tearful Mr Bell said God told him to come clean as he claimed a "highly agitated and angry" Mrs Foster demanded he keep the RHI open for an extra fortnight despite its huge losses.

Mrs Foster strongly rejected the claims. Mr Bell was suspended by the party over the weekend.

On Monday, Mr Bell claimed he had an email containing critical information about the scandal. He said he was being prevented from publishing details of the message and called for that ban to be lifted.

Much of the scrutiny on Mrs Foster has focused on how she responded to concerns raised by a whistleblower during her time as economy minister.

There was a flurry of claims last week about whether the individual raised concerns directly to Mrs Foster, or if she only outlined them after Mrs Foster passed her on to meet officials.

The DUP published an email from the whistleblower last week that made no mention of her RHI concerns - the party cited it to demand an apology from those who said she should have done more.

Another email has since emerged, sent directly to Mrs Foster in 2013, that raised specific concerns about the scheme.

During her statement, Mrs Foster said of the whistleblower: "She deserves our high respect and a sincere apology on behalf of my former department, which should not have dismissed her claims with disbelief, but examined them with diligence.

"It is no exaggeration to say that had she been listened to on any of the three occasions when she approached DETI, this crisis would have been avoided."

Regarding what information was passed directly to her, she added: "Unfortunately, it has been difficult to establish the exact facts around contact between this concerned citizen and myself and the department."
Sinn Fein has increased pressure on First Minister Arlene Foster in the controversy over the 400m (478m) "ash-for-cash" scheme.

The stand-off between the two governing parties in Belfast again threatens the fragile power-sharing institutions. The Democratic Unionist Party rejected calls from Sinn Fein that Ms Foster stand aside as First Minister until the matter is independently investigated.

In ill-tempered exchanges, Ms Foster refused to stand aside and said she would not be dictated to by Sinn Fein.

The DUP also attempted to rally behind its leader after a dissident former minister, Jonathan Bell, had broken ranks to make serious charges against the leader and party advisers.

Mr Bell has now been suspended from the party pending an investigation. Key DUP figures, including Jeffrey Donaldson, have been mobilised to defend Ms Foster.

Sinn Fein will today bring a proposal to Northern Ireland's Assembly formally calling on Ms Foster to comply with the call first made by Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

The DUP leader has been under mounting pressure over her handling of a botched green energy scheme which critics predict will cost the North's taxpayers 400m.

The DUP yesterday said it supported an independent investigation. Ms Foster is also due to outline her version of the scheme, which was part of her responsibility as a minister before she was elected First Minister last summer.

But there are likely to be continuing differences about what constitutes a robust and independent inquiry.

Mr McGuinness stepped up the pressure and signalled that Ms Foster's statements today must be treated as DUP statements rather than coming from the head of government.

Read more: McGuinness calls on Arlene Foster to 'step aside' for 'cash for ash' probe

Read more: Jonathan Bell suspended from DUP following series of allegations on BBC programme

"It is my firm belief the only way to establish the truth of what has occurred and to begin to restore public faith in the institutions is for an independent, time-framed and robust investigation to take place.

"The First Minister should stand aside to allow this. There is also an urgent need to minimise the cost of the scheme to the public purse," Mr McGuinness said.

"Given the First Minister's failure thus far to accept this, Sinn Fein will bring forward a proposal to the Assembly which calls on the First Minister to stand aside until this independent investigation brings forward a preliminary report."

This Sinn Fein-DUP estrangement could undermine the power-sharing institutions, which require cross-community co-operation between the two largest parties of unionism and nationalism.

The row arises from a generous scheme designed to encourage businesses to switch from burning fossil fuels. It is now predicted to cost the taxpayer millions in funds which could have been used elsewhere after inadequate cost control.

Ms Foster has denied any wrongdoing in establishing the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and during the period before it was shut down. Her role is now under intense scrutiny, but she has denied any wrongdoing.

Sinn Fein leader Mr McGuinness said there is no credibility in an inquiry established solely by the DUP or in the selective release of some documents by DUP departments.

"If the DUP does take a unilateral approach, disregarding the authority and joint nature of the executive office on an issue which is cross-cutting, with massive budgetary implications and which is undermining public confidence in the political institutions, this will have grave consequences," he said.

Claims of widespread abuse include a farmer allegedly set to pocket around 1m (1.19m) in the next 20 years for heating an empty shed.

In an extraordinary TV interview, a tearful Mr Bell said God told him to come clean but Ms Foster demanded he keep the RHI open for an extra fortnight despite its huge losses.

Back in 2010, the then first minister, Peter Robinson, stood aside while allegations concerning his wife were investigated.
Row upon row of empty benches in Parliament Buildings, Belfast after all non-Democratic Unionist members walked out ahead of First Minister Arlene Fosters statement on her role in a botched renewable energy scheme. Photo PA Wire

The Stormont Assembly has been plunged into crisis after all non-Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) members walked out ahead of a disputed statement by the First Minister on her role in a botched renewable energy scheme.

In unprecedented scenes, DUP leader Arlene Foster addressed row upon row of empty benches in Parliament Buildings in Belfast, with only party faithful remaining in the chamber in the seats behind her.

The bitter row unfolded after Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness withdrew his approval for Mrs Foster to appear to explain her role in an error-ridden scheme that has left the Northern Ireland taxpayer facing an overspend bill of an estimated 400 million.

All statements by Mrs Foster and Mr McGuinness's joint office need the support of both sides of the powersharing executive.

Mr McGuinness's move prompted members from all parties but the DUP to question the validity of Mrs Foster's appearance.

The Sinn Fein veteran said her remarks could only be viewed as a personal statement.

When she did rise to her feet, Mrs Foster reiterated her apology for not introducing cost controls in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

The DUP leader said it was the deepest regret of her time in office.

"Not for one minute do I want to shirk or avoid responsibility," she added.

Before the extraordinary walkout, Mr McGuinness told the media: "The statement does not have my authority or approval as Deputy First Minister.

"She is speaking in a personal capacity and not in her role as First Minister."

After Mrs Foster's statement, the Assembly is due to debate an SDLP motion of no confidence in the First Minister.

However, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has said the party "are not looking for an election" but acknowledged it could be a consequence of today's actions.

"It may well be but that's what happens when Governments fall out or when Governments fall," he told RTE Radio One.

"Martin McGuinness spoke to Arlene about these matters privately. We didn't want, in a crass way [to put] this into the public arena," he said.

He denied that the party's relationship with the DUP has broken down as a result of todays actions.

"We will continue to talk with Arlene Foster and we will continue to talk with the DUP," he said, adding that there was a lot of work to be done in relation to equality, the Irish language and budget agreement.

Mr Adams said the party want an independent investigation into the matter, which will vindicate Ms Foster is she is correct in her statements.

The row threatening the peace-building institutions has erupted over the controversial energy scheme - set up by Mrs Foster - which paid out subsidies well in excess of the costs of buying renewable fuel.

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Claims of widespread abuse include a farmer allegedly set to pocket around 1 million in the next 20 years for heating an empty shed.

The "cash for ash" scandal reached fever pitch last week when former DUP economy minister Jonathan Bell broke ranks to level a series of explosive claims against his leader and party advisers.

In an extraordinary TV interview, a tearful Mr Bell said God told him to come clean as he claimed a "highly agitated and angry" Mrs Foster demanded he keep the RHI open for an extra fortnight despite its huge losses.

Mrs Foster strongly rejected the claims. Mr Bell was suspended by the party over the weekend.

On Monday, Mr Bell claimed he had an email in his possession that contained critical information about the scandal.

He said he was being prevented from publishing details of the message and called for that ban to be lifted.

Mrs Foster told the three-quarters empty House that lessons would be learned and attempts made to mitigate the overspend.

"I am not immune to the considerable anger and frustration this issue has caused; not only do I understand it, I feel it too," she said.

After her statement, the DUP leader fielded questions from with her fellow MLAs.

She lambasted the rival politicians for walking out.

"For weeks now people have been calling on me to come forward, calling on me to go before the PAC (Public Accounts Committee). I said I would go to the PAC, that wasn't good enough. I'd say I'd come to this House, I would set out the facts, I would take questions from members of this House and where are they, where are they?

"The people of Northern Ireland deserve better than this. The people of Northern Ireland will look at this today and say 'What is all this about?'"

Much of the scrutiny on Mrs Foster has focused on how she responded to concerns raised by a whistleblower during her time as economy minister.

There was a flurry of claims and counter claims last week on whether the individual raised concerns directly to Mrs Foster, or if she only outlined them after Mrs Foster passed her on to meet with her officials.

The DUP published an email from the whistleblower last week that made no mention of her RHI concerns - the party cited it to demand an apology from those who had asserted she should have done more.

However, another email has since emerged, that was sent directly to Mrs Foster in 2013, that did raise specific concerns about the scheme.

Addressing the issue in the chamber, Mrs Foster said her former economy department owed the whistleblower an apology.

"She deserves our high respect and a sincere apology on behalf of my former department, which should not have dismissed her claims with disbelief, but examined them with diligence," she said.

"It is no exaggeration to say that had she been listened to on any of the three occasions when she approached DETI, this crisis would have been avoided."

In regard to what information was passed directly to her, the DUP leader added: "Unfortunately, it has been difficult to establish the exact facts around contact between this concerned citizen and myself and the department."
Support for Saint Vincent de Paul's annual appeal has been "phenomenal" but donations are still very much needed and will continue to be into the new year, the charity has said.

With just six days to go until Christmas, donation levels are high.

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St Vincent de Paul said that there is a spike in numbers around this time, particularly from new callers.

But SVP says many people will still need help once the pressure of the festive season has passed.

Kieran Stafford, vice-president of Saint Vincent de Paul, thanked the public for their support, calling it "absolutely phenomenal".

"What we've noticed this year is that people have been great in commenting on our work," he told the Irish Independent.

"We are getting lots of great, positive feedback from people, and that means so much to our members and our volunteers."

A vast portion of donations come in from church gate collections and online donations.

Donations are then spent in the area they were collected in.

But staff and volunteers are also starting to collect food and toys given by schools and businesses.

Funds have also been raised by a CD of live performances from 'The Late Late Show', as well as an accompanying single launched on last week's show.

SVP volunteers carry out an average of 8,000 visits a year.

But Mr Stafford said that number can be even higher at Christmas, when more people find themselves in need.

"Christmas puts an extra burden on individuals and families, and we would get calls from lots of new people who might need our help," he said.

"It can be very difficult for people who find they are struggling and need to ask for help.

"I've often wondered about how I'd feel in that situation."

But he stressed that all those who approached SVP would be treated with dignity and in a confidential manner.

Read more: Despite economic recovery, demand for SVP's help is still at recession levels

However, this year's appeal has not passed without its challenges.

Earlier this month, a Vincent's shop in Finglas was raided by a thief, who made off with the day's earnings of 1,500.

Mr Stafford said the break-in had triggered an "outpouring" of generosity among the local community.

"There has been an overwhelming show of support in donations and help from the local community," he said.

"The staff have put the shop back together in a very short space of time. It's wonderful."

While it's too soon to know a final figure for donations this year, Mr Stafford said the need for more donations heading into 2017 is also very important.

"There will be people who will overspend at Christmas and will find themselves short in the new year," he said.

"A lot of people will go to moneylenders to make ends meet.

"Many will come to us in the new year, and our organisation will help these people."

Meanwhile, Nichola Mullen, head of SVP fundraising, said the money raised now would be "absolutely crucial" to the charity next year.

"This will enable SVP to meet the demands in the community this Christmas and into 2017," she said.

"We only have one massive appeal every year.

"So we would like to say thanks to the public, who have supported us so generously."
TD Mick Wallace has been adjudicated bankrupt with debts of 30m in the High Court.

The Independents4Change TD ended his fight to avoid bankruptcy after a major debtor would not facilitate him in coming to a personal insolvency arrangement.

The heavily indebted Wexford politician was forced into bankruptcy by vulture fund Cerberus, which filed a petition earlier this year after obtaining a judgment against him for 2m.

The debt arose out of loans issued by Ulster Bank to Mr Wallaces M&J Wallace construction firm. Cerberus bought the loan book three years ago.

Mr Wallace has been a major critic of the vulture funds purchase of Project Eagle, the former Nama Northern Ireland loan book.

Mr Wallace was in High Court today, accompanied by his solicitor Aidan Eames, when the matter came before Ms Justice Caroline Costello.

She was told James Green, a personal insolvency practitioner with McCambridge Duffy, had written to Mr Wallaces main creditors, AIB, ACC and Cerberus.

The court heard that ACC was the dominant creditor and, under personal insolvency laws, would have to give consent to any personal insolvency arrangement proposed by Mr Wallace as his debts with the financial institution were greater that 3m.

However, Mr Wallaces counsel, Keith Farry BL, said ACC had written back to say it was not willing to waive the 3m cap.

This effectively meant Mr Wallace could not proceed with a personal insolvency arrangement.

ACC got a judgment against Mr Wallace for 20m in 2012, but has not sought to enforce it.

Mr Farry said he had considered getting a protective certificate, which blocks creditors from moving against debtors for 70 days.

However, he said this option was not being pursued as there was no reality to it.

From my point of view I cannot put up any further resistance, he said.

I cannot see how we can come to a personal insolvency arrangement.

Eddie Farrelly BL, counsel for Cerberus subsidiary Promontoria (Aran) Ltd, said Mr Wallaces debts were in excess of 30m.

There is not much prospect of an arrangement, he said.

A copy of Mr Wallaces statement of affairs was handed into the court, as well as a letter written by Mr Green.

Having considered the documentation and the submissions from barristers, Ms Justice Costello said she was adjudicating Mr Wallace a bankrupt.

It means that for a period of at least 12 months all of his assets will be in the control of the Official Assignee, Christopher Lehane, who will seek to realise whatever value he can for creditors.

Mr Wallace said afterwards that the proceeding showed the folly of allowing banks have a veto on efforts by debtors to come to an arrangement.
Olive Foley, the widow of Anthony Foley with her sons Tony (left) and Dan (centre), Fr Richard Gibbons and Anthonys parents Sheila and Brendan after a special Mass at Knock Shrine, Knock, Co Mayo. Photo: Keith Heneghan/Phocus

The widow of the late Anthony Foley has described the response to a campaign initiated by her 11-year-old son Tony following the death of the Munster legend as an "unforgettable experience of solidarity".

Speaking after the concluding Mass in the #8masses4no8 campaign yesterday, Olive Foley said the engagement around the campaign "has reflected the kindness of people".

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The final Mass in the campaign, which was initiated by Tony the day after his father's burial, encouraging people to attend Sunday Mass for eight weeks in memory of Anthony and their own lost loved ones, was celebrated at Knock Shrine by parish priest Fr Richard Gibbons.

The Mass saw crowds travel from the four provinces, with an estimated crowd of just short of 2,500 attending.

Olive, her sons Tony and Dan, Anthony's parents Brendan and Sheila, and sister Rosie all travelled from Killaloe and were joined by hundreds more from Co Clare. Speaking afterwards, Olive said the final Mass in Knock was an experience that will carry them through the tough days ahead.

She said: "We've had - and will continue to have for a long time - very difficult moments and days. But today was a good day for us and this campaign generally has been amazing. Tony came up with the idea and we all supported it on the grounds that it was so others could have their loved ones remembered alongside Anthony.

"We got such incredible support following what happened to Anthony that we just wanted others to come under that roof and feel the warmth.

"We had people contacting us from all over the world and today at Knock was no different. I must have met everyone in the basilica after Mass and many travelled for hours. Each and every one of them had a story to tell about a person close to them who also passed away."

She added: "We were just so privileged to have so many others join us in this journey and we will never, ever forget that. We offered today's Mass for all those who died and whose family or friends wanted remembered by this campaign."

On the Mass, Olive said: "It was incredible. There was such a sense of peace and compassion and Fr Richard's homily was amazing. It was so kind of him to invite us up today and to dedicate this Mass to the campaign. What we saw here again today reminded us of just how important our faith is and how it is carrying us through a very difficult time."

Through social media, the campaign reached over 2.5 million people and at the start of the Mass, the family presented a No. 8 jersey and placed it on a table in front of the altar. A candle was then lit and placed on the table in memory of all who have died and been remembered in the campaign.

Olive, Tony and Dan also brought the gifts at the offertory procession.
Shortly after he starts work at Dublin City Council each morning, Paddy Crosbie phones his partner Derek Simpson at the couple's home in Dalkey.

He asks Derek, with whom he has shared his life for nearly 30 years, whether he'll be biking from their house to the far end of Dun Laoghaire pier as usual.

Later, Paddy phones again, this time to check Derek has arrived home safe from his cycle, and remind him that it's time for his shower and shave.

Around lunchtime, Paddy (54) makes another quick call to the couple's home near Bullock Harbour, to remind Derek to take his medication and have his lunch.

Expand Expand Previous Next Close Need to feel secure: Paddy Crosbie, who is a carer for his partner, Derek Simpson. Photo: Damien Eagers Paddy Crosbie, left, who is a carer for his partner Derek / Facebook

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Whatsapp Need to feel secure: Paddy Crosbie, who is a carer for his partner, Derek Simpson. Photo: Damien Eagers

His final call of the day will talk Derek through the process of turning on the TV and finding his favourite rugby programme. Before the couple retire to bed that night, Paddy will remind Derek to brush his teeth.

Derek (63) has early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The daily routine of brief telephone 'prompts', and reminders such as the whiteboard in the kitchen on which Derek's routine is written, are Paddy's way of helping Derek maintain both his sense of independence and the structure of his day.

However, both men are aware that Derek's condition will inevitably deteriorate and choices will have to be made about the type of care that is most appropriate for him.

Paddy and Derek - who are together since 1988 - are among a growing number of LGBTI people living in Ireland who are both ageing and 'out', and who will eventually have to cope with finding the right care environment for either themselves or a loved one.

However, as Aine Duggan, chief executive officer of the Gay & Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) puts it, in a society which often associates 'gay' and LGBTI with young adults, the needs of this older community are not being considered - and they need to be.

"We are now on the cusp of the first generation of Irish people who have lived their lives 'out' and who are ageing into retirement," she points out.

"One of the images of the LGBTI community is that this is about young, able-bodied individuals who may be at mid-adult age - but the reality is that there are LGBTI individuals of all ages.

"Very often, our media doesn't adequately represent LGBTI people of retirement age or people who have a disability."

The question of appropriate care for elderly LGBTI people is a pressing topic, she believes, and particularly so in the context of the fact that London is currently in the throes of getting its first LGBT care home - such facilities already exist in Los Angeles, Berlin and Denmark.

Ireland now needs to think about the needs of ageing LGBTI members of the community, warns Duggan.

There's already a huge demand for such services abroad - according to research in the UK, some 45pc of LGBTI elderly people have experienced discrimination when using mainstream social services and 73pc are uncomfortable disclosing their sexuality to care staff.

However, unless things change here, many ageing Irish members of the LGBTI community may be faced with the prospect of having to move into retirement homes or facilities that are not necessarily LGBTI-friendly or even LGBTI-aware, Duggan points out.

"This is an emerging issue we have been looking at and trying to start a conversation around."

The question is, she asks, whether you develop specialised LGBTI care or ensure that existing services become more LGBTI-friendly and aware?

"The answer is both, and it takes time to evolve services to the level they need to be. However, there are people who need the services now and it is important that they have somewhere safe to go.

"It's important to have specialised LGBTI care services in the near future - we have decided as a society that we want to include our LGBTI brothers, sisters and partners, so the long-term goal is to ensure that all services are LGBTI friendly."

"It's really important that we're looking ahead because it is already here - we have people who are wondering what they will do, especially when the day hits that they will not be able to look after themselves. It is definitely a policy issue for us now," Duggan says, pointing, however, to the glaring lack of an LGBTI government strategy and to the fact that there is not a single government official dedicated to formulating one.

This, she warns, is a problem that is here now and that will only get worse.

For Paddy and Derek, the news in July 2012 that Derek, then 59, had been officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease came as a massive shock.

Paddy says he's not aware of any dedicated support group for gay carers. However, for him, being a gay carer has never been an issue - and the support the couple received from the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, has been "brilliant".

"Being a gay couple has not made any difference to how we were treated - we were welcomed with open arms as just another couple," says Paddy.

A number of gay-support and carer-support organisations contacted by Review said they did not specifically offer supports to gay carers, but a spokesperson for Family Carers Ireland said the organisation would certainly consider it in the event of a demand for such a service.

Although it had been in the planning for quite some time - "a good few of our friends had done it and we wanted to keep up with the Joneses," Paddy quips - the couple's Civil Partnership took place in August 2012, a month after Derek's diagnosis.

From the moment Derek received his diagnosis, Paddy recalls, he encouraged him to maintain his independence as much as possible: "He made a will, decided on Power of Attorney and got his affairs in order."

Over subsequent years, however, he observes sadly, Derek has "faded".

"It has been a gradual fading. I now have to prompt him to do things like brush his teeth, have his shower, empty the dishwasher; we have a whiteboard with lots of things to do on it. He uses the whiteboard to help him remember to do the things that form his daily routine - that was the advice of the Alzheimer Society, to help him maintain his independence," says Paddy, who continues to work full time.

He is very conscious that he and Derek are among a growing number of older members of Ireland's LGBTI community - and he is equally conscious that for a large portion of the general public, this demographic may not necessarily even exist.

"A lot of the emphasis is on the young culture of gay and having the buff body," he observes.

"It was always centred around a 'young' culture of being gay, but in Ireland the ageing profile of the community is becoming more obvious.

"I think the gay community might need to look at the situation - are care facilities appropriate for the needs of gay couples?

"This is 'now' to me as I get older," he says, adding that getting the right care is something he will have to consider, for Derek and later for himself.

"It is about trying to find the right place - and hopefully the right one will not have an issue about me being his gay partner.

"My priority is that the care would be good but the sexuality is not an issue - however, there may be people who would feel more comfortable in an LGBTI facility."

Paddy knows Derek's condition will probably deteriorate further, but he has no idea when.

"With Alzheimer's, you don't know when anything will happen. There are no hard or fast rules, so it's a matter of watching and learning and waiting and then dealing with it as it comes about.

"The thing I keep hanging on to is that Derek can do things when he gets the prompt. We have learned to live with Alzheimer's disease and to manage it on the basis of prompts and with my ringing Derek daily to ensure that everything is going okay."

Aware that the time is coming when expert care will have to be found for Derek, Paddy is in favour of a 'buddy system' under which a trained professional would come in and work with Derek.

This would involve getting to know him first as a friend and supporting him in day-to-day life, with a view to eventually becoming his carer when Derek's condition progresses.

"This kind of one-on-one, person-centred approach to care would allow Derek to remain as independent as possible for a long as possible.

"It would create a sense of security for the person with dementia and enable them to remain their best selves for longer. There's nothing like this available right now, even in the private sector. You can pay for private care, but the problem is you end up with different people sent around from agencies.

"People with dementia need routine and continuity in order to feel secure." Right now, Paddy observes: "The future is terrifying place. I'm aware of what's going to happen and how bad and difficult it may be - but I want to enjoy what we have at the moment because Derek is still so very much himself.

"It makes me sad to see this man who ran his own company, who was always so capable and so vibrant - it's hard to put into words, sometimes, what Alzheimer's disease has done to him but he's still here; we still have an awful lot of him with us."

The story of Derek and Paddy is one of six which make up a new social media campaign run by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Walk in Our Footprints: A Dementia Carer's Journey. The Alzheimer's Society of Ireland helpline number is 1800 341 341. For more information on the campaign, visit Alzheimer.ie
A bottle of wine is the ideal gift for that hard-to-buy for person

A well-chosen wine makes a great Christmas gift for those hard-to-buy-for people in your life. But beware, as a hastily bought bottle can seem as thoughtless as cheap socks and slippers.

Play to your audience. There's no point in buying that cut-price quaffer that regularly turns up in your shopping basket - especially if the wine lover you are gifting it to would spend twice that on their mid-week tipple.

Equally, a great gift is not about how much you spend but rather how you spend it. Consider the style of wine they usually drink: are they experimental, or more traditional? And then try to find a wine that takes them in a slightly new direction - whether that's by spending a little more, or by choosing something a little left-field. The best gifts are those we wouldn't have bought ourselves.

Remember that most local independent wine shops are willing and able to help you find the perfect wine for your brief and budget. And if you move fast enough to make last orders, you could still secure direct delivery from an online wine merchant.

1 TO SAVOUR

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Body Domaine Rene Favre et Fils, Petite Arvine 2015, 14pc, 28.95, selected independents and searsons.com

Adventurous wine drinkers will love this fascinating Swiss white wine with its delicate bouquet, generous body, flinty minerality and tangy acidity. A brilliant pairing for savoury flavours.

2 ASK SANTA

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Santa Duc Cotes du Rhone 'Vignes Vieilles' 2012, 14pc, 16.99,Selected independents and lecaveau.ie

A brilliant buy, hailing from an organic vineyard. Generous dark fruit flavours.

3 SOUTHERN STAR

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Badenhorst Secateurs Chenin Blanc 2015, 13pc, 16, selected independents and jnwine.com

Many South African wine-makers are now producing quality Chenin Blancs without the Old World price tag. A weighty white wine with bright acidity and honeyed notes.

4 SPANISH STANDOUT

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Bodegas Zarate, El Palomar Albarino Val do Salne 2014, 13pc, 32.95, selected independents and quintessentialwines.ie.

A treat for lovers of Albarino. Perfumed, complex, delicious.

5 WAIT LIST

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Az Ag II Cancelliere, Nero Ne Taurasi DOCG 2010, 14.5pc, 36.95, selected independents and quintessentialwines.ie.

This rich, dark and tannic Italian wine is ready to drink but will only improve with age - perfect for a patient wine lover.

6 GOOD BUY

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Conde de Valdemar Gran Reserva 2008, 13.5pc, 19.95 (from 33.45), obrienswine.ie

With its notes of vanilla spice, dark caramel and polished wood layered over persistent winter fruits - and its smart presentation box - this is a safe gift bet.

7 SOFT TOUCH

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Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile Riesling 2007, 12.5pc, 45, selected independents

Alsace do Riesling very well, in a less austere style than their neighbours in Germany. This aged wine from one of the region's finest producers is soft and juicy but with a taut spine of acidity. Gorgeous.

8 GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING

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Justinos Madeira Colheita 1996, 19pc, 27.99 (37.5cl), selected independents.

Madeira wine will last forever after opening  although I defy any fan of fortifieds to resist this beauty for long.

9 SILKEN TOUCH

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Domaine Yann Chave Crozes-Hermitage AOC 2014, 13.5pc, 28.95, selected independents and searsons.com

A good Northern Rhone Syrah is one of life's great pleasures but rarely comes cheap. This (relatively) accessibly priced example is silky and savoury with notes of balsamic and peppered strawberries. One to decant before a winter's feast.

10 BERRY NICE

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Moineir Blackberry Wine with Wild Elderberries, 11pc, 23.95, wicklowwaywines.ie

A wintry partner to the label's strawberry wine. Best enjoyed with food to balance its generous acidity: pair with turkey or goose dinner and cranberry sauce, or richer game.
Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones jetted out to Mexico for a break recently, taking her husband Michael Douglas along with her for some sunshine and relaxation.

The 47-year-old star and Douglas, 72, were accompanied by their son Dylan, 16, and daughter Carys, 13.

Factretriever.com has listed some interesting facts about Mexico. The chihuahua is the world's smallest dog and is named for a Mexican state. Mexican children do not receive presents on Christmas Day, they receive gifts on January 6, the day on which Mexicans celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men.

Mexico introduced chocolate and chillies to the world.Actor Anthony Quinn was the first Mexican to win an Academy Award for his role in the 1952 movie Viva Zapata. Only 10 countries have a bigger population than Mexico.

Don't be caught off-guard on hols

You're on holidays and see someone you vaguely know coming towards you. Succeedsocially.com has some tips on how to handle a potentially-awkward social encounter.....

* Take charge and set a tone indicating that the interaction will be brief and very friendly. If you give off a vibe that how you're acting is a totally normal response to running into someone, which it is, then the other person will usually follow suit. As long as you go about things with a friendly demeanour, of course.

* Have an excuse for why you really need to get going. It will help you escape if the other person seems to want to talk longer than you'd like. Perhaps you need to pick something up for someone in your travel group - a child needs some aftersun, etc.

* When you have no choice but to talk to someone, and aren't likely to have a sparkling discussion, one of the better things you can do is just accept it and at least go through the motions with some positive energy. Act interested and once you've politely caught up, smile as you make your getaway.

Do you need to book that break?

As you plan your holidays for 2017, here are some travel quotes to inspire you.

"People don't take trips, trips take people." John Steinbeck

"A bad day in Paris is still better than a good day anywhere else." Unknown

"Traveling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.'" Lisa St Aubin de Teran

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." Marcel Proust
The quality of non-fiction releases throughout 2016 was a thing to behold. The year got off to a very strong start with a plethora of titles to mark the 1916 Centenary, with Gene Kerrigan's reprint of The Scrap (Doubleday Ireland, 16.99) and the iconic 1916: Portraits & Lives (Royal Irish Academy, 30), edited by Lawrence White and James Quinn and illustrated with haunting poignancy by David Rooney, just two highlights.

A winner at the recent Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards, Paul Howard's Tara Browne biography I Read The News Today, Oh Boy (Picador, 19.99) was the result of a decade of research by the rugger-bugger satirist.

Another remarkable work that illuminated a hidden Irish life was Dr James Barry (Oneworld, 21.99), in which Michael du Preez and Jeremy Dronfield detailed the life of a lauded British medical practitioner who spent her adult years disguised as a man. Like it, A Doctor's Sword (The Collins Press, 22.99), Bob Jackson's exemplary biography of Castletownbere war hero Aidan MacCarthy, is to be filed under the "couldn't make it up" category.

Former Secret Serviceman Clint Hill bared his soul about the years of demons that followed JFK's assassination in Five Presidents (Gallery Books, 23.99), while also giving US history fans behind-the-scenes insight into Eisenhower, Johnson, Nixon and Ford.

More contemporary memoirs showed brilliant prose matched with a fresh worldview can make any subject compulsive reading. Olivia Laing's frankly astounding study on urban isolation and New York's artistic heritage in The Lonely City (Canongate, 21.99) was the one to beat in 2016.

Running a close runner-up was the imperious Bill Bryson with his new edition of The Road to Little Dribbling (Random House, 8.99). Here we found a slightly surlier Bryson on occasion pulling his hair out on a latitudinal jaunt through Britain, and it was all the more hilarious for it.

Alexander Armstrong adapted his well-received ITV Arctic travel series for print in Land of the Midnight Sun (Corgi Books, 11.99) with impeccable buoyancy and wit.

Food - exquisite, decadent, life-affirming food - became a brilliant prism through which to chart the tumult of modern living in Sophie White's Recipes for a Nervous Breakdown (Gill Books, 24.99). Told with an unflinching eye on mental health but also the LIFE magazine columnist's trademark alacrity, it very much stands out from the at-times cluttered cookery book market.

Superstar nature writer Helen Macdonald returned with a new edition of Falcon (Reaktion Books, 10.99) that saw the H Is For Hawk author feed echoes of that bestseller into a new preface. That painterly eye and sensory awareness that captivated the world are on show in this study of man's relationship with the falcon and all it has symbolised throughout history.

Pop-culture titles can get log-jammed at this time of year but there were plenty trickling out over the 12 months that were required reading. 2FM hero Dan Hegarty returned in the autumn with Buried Treasure Vol 2 (Liberties Press, 14.99). Featuring contributions from Glen Hansard, Candi Staton, Guy Garvey and Enda Walsh, Hegarty's compendium is a sumptuous stocking filler for musos that celebrates "overlooked, forgotten and uncrowned albums". Ex-Smash Hits and NME rock journalist Sylvia Patterson brought her usual exuberance to a biography every bit as rhythmic and entertaining as the music she was covering in I'm Not With The Band (Sphere, 23.99).

This also applies to Clive James's Play All (Yale University Press, 16.99), in which the Antipodean poet, author and wit essays the era of the boxset via references high-brow and low.

A leukaemia diagnosis afforded James time to watch hours of TV drama (and weave his own mortality into character studies of Tony Soprano, Cersei Lannister and Major Winters et al), giving these discussions a crushing edge at times.
Christmas shopping is always a daunting task, but if you've got a book lover (or several) in your life, then you're spoilt for choice this year as some of the greatest contemporary novelists in the UK, Ireland and the US have gone into print in 2016, and here's just a smattering of what's in the shops this Christmas.

The Gustav Sonata by Rose Tremain is a tale of the enduring friendship between Gustav and Anton, who first meet in Switzerland at the beginning of World War II. Following their lives from then to now, it's a story soaked in grief and has been hailed as Tremain's finest work yet.

Mike McCormack's Solar Bones, winner of both the Bord Gais Eason Novel of the Year and the UK's Goldsmith Prize, is as much a hymn to fatherhood and family as it is a fantasy novel. Marcus Conway returns from the dead on All Souls' Day. And that's just the beginning.

Graham Swift's Mothering Sunday is a sweeping historical novel about the persistence of memory and the loss of innocence. Jane Fairchild, a housemaid, has been given the day off on Mothering Sunday, March 30, 1924. But Jane is an orphan with no mother to visit. She instead visits the son and heir of the neighbouring estate, and her life is changed utterly.

Lives are also changed as the result of a single drunken kiss in Ann Patchett's latest novel Commonwealth. The aftershock of this bungling kiss is to determine the lives of the Keating and Cousins families for many decades afterwards.

Zadie Smith has wooed the literati yet again with her recently published Swing Time. Following the lives of two mixed-race friends from working-class London, moving on to West Africa and America, Smith explores familiar and unfamiliar ground, covering issues of identity and ethnicity with pathos and her trademark wry humour.

Donal Ryan has different ethnic issues on his mind in his latest novel, probably his best, All We Shall Know. When married schoolteacher Melody Shee falls pregnant, not by her husband but by a member of the Travelling community, she brings the ugly wrath of the whole parish on her head.

Julian Barnes and Ian McEwan have each had novels published this year. Barnes's The Noise of Time is based on fact, tracing the life of Shostakovich through the dark years of Stalin's Russia, while McEwan's Nutshell is a true original. Narrated by a foetus, the story follows an adulterous couple's plot to kill the foetus's father, who happens to be married to its mother.

It's a wonderfully dark and funny morality tale.

Emma Donoghue's The Wonder deals in mystery, superstition and the dark powers of the Catholic church in 1850s Ireland. Little Anna O'Donnell from Athlone has not eaten for four months, yet appears to be in good health. Until English nurse Lib Wright arrives to investigate, finding that all is not as it seems.

Sebastian Barry's Days Without End is also set in the 1850s and has a strong Irish flavour. Young Thomas McNulty has fled the famine and builds a life for himself in America, joining the army and enduring the savagery and turbulence of the bloodsoaked fight for the Wild West.

Staying in America, Elizabeth Strout's My Name is Lucy Barton finds Lucy Barton in hospital for a nine-week stretch, during which her estranged mother decides to maintain a bedside vigil.

And finally, Jo Baker's A Country Road, A Tree is another novel based on fact, tracing Samuel Beckett's journey from Paris to the south-eastern French village of Roussillon, where he continued his Resistance work - and where he started to write.
I thought my son was going to burst with excitement the day I went to meet Adam Driver, better known to my nine-year-old as Star Wars baddie Kylo Ren.

For older readers let me try to put this in perspective. Go back to when you were about 10 and imagine your mother announced she was off to chat to Darth Vader. (Admit it, part of you wouldn't want her to go, because as baddies go, Darth Vader was up there.)

As baddies go, Kylo Ren is far worse than Darth Vader. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, in one of the most shocking moments in cinema history, Kylo Ren killed his own father, the beloved and iconic Han Solo (Harrison Ford.)

How do you feel about being the man that killed Han Solo I ask? "I feel good about it!" Driver laughs but then adds in a more serious tone, "I thought about it for a couple of months before agreeing to do (the film) because of that plot point."

Adam Driver is a striking looking man. He's 6' 2" tall but looks taller and he certainly doesn't need a mask and a lightsaber to be intimidating. Not that he's even trying.

He's quietly intense and with his rugged good looks and tousled black hair he is a shoo-in for Heathcliff should anyone decide to remake Wuthering Heights.

Now 33, Driver got into acting later in life having joined the Marines soon after the 9/11 attacks.

He completed almost three years before being discharged on medical grounds. It was after spending a year at the University of Indianapolis that he won a place in the prestigious Juilliard school in New York.

Driver graduated in 2009 and has since established himself as one of the foremost actors of his generation.

In 2012 he got the role of Adam Sackler, Lena Dunham's love interest in her comedy Girls and has received three consecutive Emmy nominations for the role.

In Silence, his latest movie, directed by Martin Scorsese, his character couldn't be further from those of Adam Sackler or Kylo Ren.

He plays a Portuguese Jesuit priest who faces torture and persecution in 17th century Japan as he and another priest (Andrew Garfield) seek out their mentor (Liam Neeson).

Driver grew up in the small town of Mishawaka, Indiana, and both his father and step-father were Baptist preachers. I ask him if such a strong religious background helped him inhabit the role of a Jesuit priest. "I'm not a religious person now," he replies. "(but) it's good because I knew a lot about the stories from the Bible." Driver then goes on to say that the story isn't really about faith or religion but about "boundaries".

"I think you can substitute anything. For me the movie is very much about a crisis of faith It could be anything, like acting, you know.

"You've made a commitment to this thing that you want to do with your life and it's not like that's just it, that you make this commitment and then everything is easy after that - it's full of doubt and wondering what it is you're doing and if you're doing it badly. That part of the story I related to."

I express shock that Driver has gone from drama school graduate to international megastar in seven short years, how could he have a crisis of faith? "You know every project you have a crisis of faith," he replies. "If you're not making the right decision, or you played the scene wrong, or your accent is wrong, or you're too committed to what it is you're doing and ignoring your personal life which inevitably feeds your acting.

"I'm very lucky to get to work with those people but it doesn't stop there, you still have to do the job You're starting over every single time."

The actor goes on to tell me about working with Scorsese on what has been his pet project for many years. "You know he's accomplished so much in his life and career, he's thought about this movie for 28 years and easily could have been a dictator on set but because he's good at his job and generous as a person and director he actually doesn't want that. He knows his subject very well and has done all his homework but is a person who gets there on the day and is willing to throw it all away and sacrifice it if there's a better idea. That kind of collaborative energy is inspiring to see in someone especially of his age who has accomplished so much."

The film also stars Irish actor Ciaran Hinds.

"I've been a fan of Ciaran Hinds a long time. I saw him in a play called Seafarer in New York, with Jim Norton. Do you know Jim Norton?" he asks fired up with enthusiasm. "He's brilliant. He was fucking brilliant in that play."

There is no denying that Jim Norton is brilliant and like Driver I've had the pleasure of seeing him on Broadway. Despite Norton's long and illustrious CV, to my mind, his finest moment was as Bishop Len Brennen in Father Ted.

I ask Driver if he's ever seen the show. He hasn't. I urge him to watch it and tell him that the episode entitled Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse is one of the finest half hours of comedy ever made. For the briefest of moments Driver looks quite shocked but then lets out a deep-throated laugh.

(The irony of telling the star of a film about two priests looking for their older mentor to watch Father Ted is not lost on me.)

When Driver stops laughing he is full of praise for Ciaran Hinds too. "He's really great. A really good actor, very generous and so good. He's very nice."

Driver is that very rare thing - an American who has no known claims to Irishness. "We shot a lot of stuff in Ireland for Star Wars which was really fun," he tells me. "Dingle is great, we had a really good time there. It's so beautiful, Ireland, I know that's not a new thought. But I have no family connections."

Despite his incredible successes Driver appears to be his own biggest critic. Is he tortured or is he happy? "It's not like I'm defined by one condition but maybe I'm more weary than I probably should be, maybe I look at the negative outcome as opposed to the positive one," he says before adding "We're all going to die alone."

Are you absolutely sure you're not Irish, I ask him, you certainly sound like one of us. He laughs.

Later my son is eager to read what Kylo Ren was like. - "A right baddie, but Adam Driver seemed quite nice".

Silence will be in cinemas nationwide from January 1
Apprentice winner Alana Spencer has said launching her business when she was just 17 helped her in the battle to win Lord Sugar's 250,000 investment.

The business magnate revealed he had a sweet tooth with his decision to go into business with cake company owner Spencer over Courtney Wood, who runs a novelty gift company, in Sunday night's final.

Spencer started her company at school, selling home made chocolate to teachers before moving into cakes.

She told the Press Association the win was "incredible" and "hasn't quite sunk in".

The 24-year-old had unsuccessfully applied for the Junior Apprentice show seven years ago when she launched her company.

Lord Sugar was just 16 when he set up his own business and Spencer said her own determination as a teenager worked in her favour.

She said: "I think he admires people that go out and do it for themselves.

"Most of us had our own businesses but I think the fact I started so young was definitely a factor in it.

"It's mad. I started it when I was in school. It started as a chocolate company and then developed into cakes.

"I left school to do it. It just organically changed from chocolates to cakes.

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"It's gone strength to strength and it's a good small business but I really want to make it a big business and what better way to do that than get Lord Sugar on board."

Asked if Lord Sugar had tried her cakes, Spencer said she "did leave him a box" and was "hoping he has tried it".

Sunday night's finale saw Spencer and Wood joined by a number of their former Apprentice colleagues as they pitched their business plans to more than 200 industry experts including Lord Sugar.

They were are tasked with creating a brand for their business and unveiling an advertising campaign before being summoned to the boardroom.

Wood said he was "genuinely happy" for Spencer, adding: "I couldn't ask to be runner-up to a nicer girl."
Katie Holmes attends IFP's 26th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani, Wall Street on November 28, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for IFP)

Katie Holmes attends the Cartier Fifth Avenue Grand Reopening Event at the Cartier Mansion on September 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Cartier)

Jamie Foxx arrives at the Mercedes-Benz and African American Film Critics Association Oscar viewing party at Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills on February 28, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)

Katie Holmes attends the "Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx stand on the field before a game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins on September 11, 2006 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Actress Katie Holmes visits "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" at Rockefeller Center on December 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for NBC)

Katie Holmes reportedly jetted off to Mexico with Jamie Foxx to celebrate her 38th birthday with a one-night stay.

The Batman Begins star and Jamie, who has been linked to the actress for some time, arrived at the Las Ventanas al Paraiso resort in Cabo San Lucas on Friday, two days before celebrating her special day on Sunday.

"Katie and Jamie took a private jet to Cabo on Friday morning from Van Nuys Airport (in Los Angeles)," a source tells Us Weekly magazine. "It was a quick trip in honour of Katie's birthday. It was only them and two pilots on the plane."

"They stayed in one of the most private suites at the hotel, separate from other guests and entered by a small path," the insider continues. "They wanted to be very discreet and had everything delivered to their room and taken care of by a personal butler."

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The romantic getaway was a quick one - the pair returned home to Los Angeles on Saturday.

Katie and Jamie first sparked gossip of a secret romance in 2013, but the stars, who are known for their guarding their privacy, have never publicly commented on the relationship rumours.

However, they've been spotted out together on many occasions and it was previously thought the actress would unveil the romance soon.

"She's ready to go public and show the world how in love they are," an insider told Britain's Closer magazine earlier this year. "She wants him by her side at red carpet events."

Expand Close Katie Holmes attends IFP's 26th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani, Wall Street on November 28, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for IFP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Katie Holmes attends IFP's 26th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani, Wall Street on November 28, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for IFP)

Katie triggered engagement rumours back in January when she showed off a ring on her left wedding finger, although Jamie's representative dismissed claims of an impending wedding.

Katie was married to Tom Cruise, the father of her young daughter Suri, from 2006 to 2012 and Jamie has daughters Corinne Bishop and Annalise from previous relationships.

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Model turned lifestyle guru Roz Purcell is showing off the benefits of healthy living with her envy inducing photos in Thailand.

The cookbook author (26) is currently in Southeast Asia with her sister Rachel as they embark on their holiday tradition of jetting off abroad to mark Christmas together.

And the former Miss Universe Ireland has been busy showing her hard-earned figure in the sultry beach snaps.

In an interview with the Sunday Independent's Life magazine, Roz reflected on an "up and down year". At the start of 2016, Rachel was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

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"Is been a memorable year. It was probably the most up-and-down year, but also the most fun, which I know might sound strange. My sister Rachels diagnosis with cancer at the start of the year really shocked our whole family," she said.

"But its kind of come full circle, in that its the new normal, and shes inspired our whole family. I suppose it puts everything into perspective. I am definitely not as stressed a person as I used to be. Im really enjoying each moment, and I take the majority of opportunities that come to me."

"The family has become a lot closer, and now Rachel is on the road to recovery, and things are getting so much better. We got Wilko this year as well. I dont remember what my life was like before him. He is so good; he has just slotted into the family."

Early this year, Roz also split with boyfriend of four years Bressie, but has been dating MCD music promoter Zach Desmond for several months. And the pair recently flew to Hong Kong together with their sisters.

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"Rachel and I are going to Asia this year for Christmas. We are going to Hong Kong, Thailand and somewhere else; we havent fully decided. It will be a nice long holiday.

"We go away every Christmas; it is our thing. We had said this year we would stay in Ireland, but then as the months went on, we just thought, Well, you only live once. Were leaving two weeks before Christmas, and were back New Years.

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"Were so used to going away at Christmas time. I remember there was another Christmas Day that we ended up having dinner with a random Italian family. Its our normal," she said.

As for staying fit over the festive season, the Natural Born Feeder blogger said she will indulge herself on Christmas Day, but always makes time to train, no matter where she is in the world.

Expand Close Model Roz Purcell with boyfriend Zach Desmond. Picture: Instagram / Facebook

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"I will definitely indulge when were away. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Stephens Day, I will eat whatever I want. Like you would at home. I think its in our mentality. We are trained to think, I will eat everything at Christmas. Barrys teabags come with me everywhere, and a selection box," she explained.

"But I will still continue to train. I get quite antsy when I dont train. I have already looked up places I can train in Hong Kong. Theres a really amazing place  we went there last year  that has Muay Thai boxing, so I will just train as normal.

"You have so many Christmases in your life, so I like to do something a bit different. Im sure once I settle down and have a family, Ill be at home for most Christmases.

"Its just nice when Im young to go off and experience different things, and how people celebrate Christmas, and its different meals, all over the world."
The incident is one of the worst of its kind in years

At least 48 people have died from alcohol poisoning in a Siberian city after consuming bath lotion, prompting local officials to introduce a state of emergency.

The Russian government has also called for tighter regulation of the alcohol market in the wake of the tragedy in Irkutsk.

Investigators have arrested several people suspected of involvement in the sales of the lotion as part of a probe into the deaths.

Vladimir Putin's spokesman described the incident as a "terrible tragedy", and said the president is monitoring the situation.

The sale of lotions and tinctures containing alcohol has been on the rise in recent years as Russia has plunged into recession under the impact of Western sanctions and a slide in oil prices. Poisonings caused by cheap surrogate alcohol are a regular occurrence, but the Irkutsk case is unprecedented in its scale.

Officials in Irkutsk are going house-to-house in search for more victims.

Irkutsk's regional government said the victims had died of methanol poisoning after consuming the bath lotion. They added the lotion bottles were clearly marked with warnings that the substance was not for internal use.

The death toll has been growing quickly since the weekend, and reached 48, local prosecutor Stanislav Zubovsky said, according to Russian news agencies. He said that nine others remain in hospital in a grave condition, and officials are checking other locations in search for more victims.

Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev told a cabinet meeting that authorities need to ban such substances.

"It's an outrage, and we need to put an end to this," he said in televised remarks.

AP
The incident occurred in the town of Kef in Tunisia, marked here on the map (Photo: Google Maps)

A man in his twenties has married his 13-year-old step-sister after making her pregnant.

The marriage took place in the northwest region of Kef in Tunisia, in the presence of their parents who had previously attempted to stop the wedding.

Although having sex with someone under the age of 15 is punishable by up to six years in prison under Tunisian law, according to article 277 of the countrys criminal code, if no force was used during the attack an alleged rapist can halt his prosecution by marrying his victim.

Chokri Mejri, a spokesperson for the court, claimed the girl was not raped.

We interviewed the girl and after verifying all the details, we considered her fit for marriage, Mr Mejri said.

The North African country has lead the way on advancing womens rights within the Arab world, yet gender stereotypes and archaic laws remain ingrained in its justice system.

The courts decision has enraged Tunisians who demonstrated outside the countrys parliament on Wednesday holding placards bearing messages such as: How I met your mother? I raped her when she was 13.

Tunisias prime minister said on Friday discussion of a bill to change the law should be a priority ahead of a review of all articles concerning the fight against violence targeting women".

A bill to counter violence against women was drafted in 2014 but is still waiting to be discussed in parliament.

Our country can no longer refer to laws that are old-fashioned and which do not reflect the spirit of rights and liberties, Youssef Chahed told Mosaique FM radio, vowing that 2017 would be the year of the child.

He said he would work to form a plan to improve the lives of children in the country, with a particular emphasis on education.

A planned wedding party for the girl involved in the case has been cancelled after the government's child protection office called for the marriage to be annulled.

When it's a 13-year-old child, we can't talk of sexual relations with consent. It's rape, representative Houda Abboudi said.

The court's decision didn't take into account the interests of this child [...] who will marry her rapist. she added.

The President of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women, Monia Ben Jemia, demanded the repeal of article 227, telling Le Parisien it was scandalous that a judge could consider a 13-year-old girl willing, particularly since Tunisian schools do not provide any sex education.

Women in the country are discouraged from filing complaints of rape and are often feel made to feel as though they are bringing shame on their families by speaking about their sexual abuse, according to a 2015 report by Amnesty International into women's rights in Tunisia.

In October a Tunisian talkshow host sparked controversy after he said a 14-year-old rape victim should marry her alleged attacker to close the case and contain the situation.

A similar draft bill in Turkey that would have allowed a child rapist to go free if he married his victim was thrown out after demonstrators took the streets.

In Lebanon, women in wedding dresses have protested a law stipulating that a seven-year-jail term for rape can be avoided if a rapist marries his victim.
US president-elect Donald Trump with campaign communications director Hope Hicks and campaign manager Kellyanne Conway during a USA Thank You Tour event in Mobile, Alabama. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Republican electors due to cast the votes that will seal Donald Trump's presidency today have faced death threats and intense campaigns by opponents in a last-ditch bid to avert the outcome of the US election.

Amid concerns about Russian intervention to help elect Mr Trump, members of the Electoral College have been bombarded with calls to postpone this final seal of approval - or choose a different candidate for the presidency.

Expand Close On Friday, US President Barack Obama suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally authorised the Democratic Party email hacks. / Facebook

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Whatsapp On Friday, US President Barack Obama suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally authorised the Democratic Party email hacks.

Some 79 of the presidential electors, most of them Democrats, also called on James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, to authorise a classified briefing on the Russia hacking allegations before the Electoral College vote.

Even as Mr Clapper rejected the call, a barrage of other organisations have campaigned to stop the electors casting the votes in accordance with the popular election result in their state.

Last week a video was released of celebrities such as Martin Sheen pleading with Republican electors. And on Saturday, Unite for America - the group behind the video - began sending personalised versions to electors in which they are addressed by name.

Mary Barket, an elector and long-time Republican politician in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state which broke for Mr Trump, said her in-trays were stuffed and she had an "overflowing box" in her office of post from residents desperate to change her mind. Her voicemail has been full for weeks.

"There are some which are concerted efforts by groups, and others are personal letters. They say they are afraid of having Donald Trump as president," she said.

As the deadline nears, some of the appeals to electors have turned threatening. Electors around the country have reported being targeted by death threats, harassing phone calls and hate mail. In Pennsylvania, the situation is so serious that about 20 have reportedly been assigned plainclothes police troopers for protection.

As the hours to the final vote approached, Mr Trump's detractors were being forced to admit defeat. Like most electors Mrs Barket said these efforts would not change her decision: "We are solid in our determination to complete the mission we were charged with."

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign openly questioned yesterday whether Mr Trump's advisers colluded with Russia to hack Democratic Party emails to try to sway the November 8 election.

Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta said there was evidence Trump associates had contact with a Russian intelligence official and the website Wikileaks before US intelligence agencies accused Russia of being behind computer attacks of Democratic emails.

"It's very much unknown whether there was collusion. I think Russian diplomats have said post-election that they were talking to the Trump campaign," Mr Podesta said.

"Not what Mr Trump knew, but what did 'Trump Inc' know and when did they know it? Were they in touch with the Russians? I think those are still open questions."

Mr Trump's incoming White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, yesterday rejected the notion that Mr Trump or his associates were aware of and in touch with the Russians during the hack attack.

"Even this question is insane," Mr Priebus said. "Of course we don't interface with the Russians."

On Friday, US President Barack Obama suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured) personally authorised the Democratic Party email hacks. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
A South West Trains station got into the festive spirit.

A train company got into the festive mood by changing the names of railway stations to Christmas puns.

London Winterloo (London Waterloo), Haslemyrrh (Haslemere) and Snowymeads ( Sunnymeads) were a mong the stations given the Christmas treatment by South West Trains.

Other examples included Yule West (Ewell West), Wo Three Kings (Woking) and Deck The Vauxhall (Vauxhall).

A number of passengers took to social media to praise the company for the idea.

Peter Clayburn posted a photograph of a festive departures board, adding that it had " just made my Christmas".

Another Twitter user, Sophia Magneron, wrote: " Thanks for the festive cheer @SW_Trains!!"

Catherine Barr posted a message to South West Trains which read: "A t first this confused me, but your sense of humour is hugely appreciated on these cold days!!"
Australia's prime minister has outlined a road map for breaking away from Britain, renewing calls for a republic Down Under.

In Malcolm Turnbull's first speech on the topic since he took the leadership last year, the staunch republican called for a two-stage voting process, with a plebiscite to determine the election model before a referendum on whether or not Australia should become a republic.

Mr Turnbull said questions about how an Australian head of state would be elected - in a US presidential-style election or by parliamentary appointment - weakened support for a republic during a failed 1999 referendum on the topic.

He said his belief in the cause was based on patriotism. "Our head of state should be one of us," he said. "Our president should be a resident. We have no other motive, no other reason than love of our country."

But he urged caution and insisted that the nation should only abandon the monarchy when the Queen's reign ends.

"She is so admired and respected that few of us can say - whether monarchists or republicans - that we are not Elizabethans," he said.

Mr Turnbull delivered his speech at an event in Sydney to mark the 25th anniversary of the Australian Republican Movement, which he co-founded and led during the run-up to the 1999 referendum. The movement's head, Peter FitzSimons, said Mr Turnbull's impassioned support for the cause was "electrifying".

The speech came after a survey of MPs by the Australian Republican Movement found that 81 in the 150-member lower house and 40 in the upper house support a switch. (Daily Telegraph, London)
An Australian woman was left terrified after she discovered a deadly snake wrapped around her Christmas tree.

The woman, known only as Cheryl, mistook the reptile for tinsel.

CNN is reporting that she contacted snake catcher Barry Goldsmith to her home in Frankston, a Melbourne suburb.

"The snake is among the most dangerous of Australia," Mr Goldsmith told CNN.

Mr Goldsmith identified it as a tiger snake. They are very common in Southern Australia during summer and are protected in many states and usually released back into the wild when found inside houses.

Goldsmith, who has been running Snake Catcher Victoria for years, said he has seen the reptiles in many unusual places because they can climb almost anywhere, but never inside a Christmas tree.

Writing on Facebook, he said: "She didn't panic, she just took a photo and sent it to the snake catcher, me, and 20 minutes later I had the little bugger in a bag.

"Ho Ho Ho

"Have a happy and safe holiday season and be nice to snakes."
The UN Security Council has approved the deployment of UN monitors to Aleppo as the evacuation of fighters and civilians from the last remaining opposition stronghold in the northern city resumed after days of delays.

France said the monitors were needed to prevent "mass atrocities" from being committed by Syrian government forces, especially militias.

However, thousands of people have already been evacuated and the operation will likely be over before the observers arrive.

Another evacuation is under way in two rebel-besieged Shia villages, where the sick and wounded were being allowed out until gunmen torched several buses being used for the operation on Sunday. That evacuation has since resumed.

The resolution also adopted calls for the United Nations and other institutions to monitor evacuations from eastern Aleppo and demands that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should urgently consult Syria and other parties on security and arrangements for the immediate deployment of the monitors.

France and Russia, who submitted rival draft resolutions, announced the agreement on a text after more than three hours of closed-door consultations on Sunday.

The resolution also demands that all parties allow unconditional and immediate access for the UN and its partners to deliver humanitarian aid and medical care, and "respect and protect all civilians across Aleppo and throughout Syria".

The evacuation of Aleppo began last week after Turkey and Russia brokered a ceasefire as government forces were closing in on the rebels' last redoubt in the country's largest city, but has been repeatedly delayed.

The evacuation of more than 2,000 sick and wounded from the besieged Shia villages of Foua and Kfarya was tacked onto the deal at the last minute.

The UK -based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV said 10 buses left with civilians on Monday.

There are also plans to evacuate hundreds of people from two Madaya and Zabadani, two besieged, rebel-held villages near the Lebanese border. The Observatory and Mayadeen said 15 buses had entered the two villages on Monday.

Rebel-held eastern Aleppo has been besieged for months, with several previous ceasefires breaking down and virtually no humanitarian aid reaching its tens of thousands of residents.

One of those who left Aleppo on Monday was Mohammed Abu Jaafar, who described a miserable three-mile trip that took more than two hours in an overcrowded state bus.

He said they passed three checkpoints, one manned by Russian troops, another by plainclothes Syrian intelligence agents and the third by Syrian troops.

Inside the bus, men, women and children were hungry and cold as they waited for hours in freezing temperatures, he said.

"Children were screaming, and some people fainted," he said, adding that there was no baby formula or nappies.

Among those evacuated Monday was seven-year-old Bana Alabed and her mother Fatemah, who tweeted the horrors of living through the government's assault on eastern Aleppo, which destroyed much of the city. Their account had some 326,000 followers.

Speaking to the activist-run Qasioun News Agency in the Aleppo countryside, Fatemah said she was glad to have finally reached safety but expressed regret that she was forced out of her home city and said she did not want to become a refugee.

"I left my soul there," she said.

The Observatory and Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu later said that since midnight on Sunday, some 4,500 people have been evacuated from eastern Aleppo.

Reports differed on how many people remain in eastern Aleppo, but estimates converge on around 15,000 civilians and 6,000 fighters.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency said a total of 131 wounded people - including 46 children - were brought to Turkey for treatment since the evacuations began last week. The agency said five of them have since died.

The departure from the Shia villages had stalled on Sunday after militants burned six empty buses assigned to take the villagers out. Bashar al-Ja'afari, Syria's UN ambassador, told reporters in New York the bus drivers were taken hostage and three were killed.

If the evacuation from Aleppo is completed later on Monday, it will close another chapter in Syria's civil war, now in its sixth year, with the government in control of Syria's five largest cities and its Mediterranean coastline.

The rebels captured eastern Aleppo in July 2012 and held on to it despite a ferocious assault in recent months by Syrian government forces, backed by Russia and a host of Shia militias from Iraq, Lebanon, Iran and Afghanistan.

Capturing the entire city would be president Bashar Assad's biggest victory since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011.

The Observatory's chief, Rami Abdurrahman, said he expected the Aleppo evacuations to be completed later on Monday.

AP
US claims that China is the top source of synthetic opioids which have killed thousands of drug users in the US and Canada are unsubstantiated, Chinese officials have said.

Both the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy have pointed to China as North America's main source of fentanyl, as well as related drugs and the chemicals used to make them.

Such statements "lack the support of sufficient numbers of actual, confirmed cases," China's National Narcotics Control Commission told the DEA's Beijing office.

In a letter, which the commission also sent to reporters, Chinese officials urged the US to provide more evidence about China's role as a source country.

DEA officials said their casework and investigations consistently lead back to China. DEA data also shows that when China regulates synthetic drugs, US seizures plunge.

Russell Baer, a DEA special agent in Washington, said: "China is not the only source of the problem, but they are the dominant source for fentanyls along with precursor chemicals and pill presses that are being exported from China to the US, Canada and Mexico."

Beijing is so concerned about international perceptions of China's role in the opioid trade that after reports highlighting the easy availability of fentanyls online from Chinese suppliers, the narcotics commission made a rare invitation to a team of journalists to discuss the issue at the powerful Ministry of Public Security, just off Tiananmen Square.

US-Chinese cooperation is essential for mounting an effective global response to an epidemic of opioid abuse which has killed more than 300,000 Americans since 2000.

The presence of fentanyl, a prescription painkiller up to 50 times stronger than heroin, and related compounds in the US drug supply began to rise in 2013, after dealers learned they could multiply profits by cutting the potent chemicals into heroin, cocaine and counterfeit prescription pills.

Even as US Congress considers legislation to punish opioid source countries, no government agency has produced comprehensive data on seizures of fentanyl-related substances by country of origin.

The national database on drug seizures overseen by the DEA does not require reporting by source country and may not accurately reflect seizures of all fentanyl-related compounds.

Mr Baer said it did not even have a "fentanyl" category until around two years ago. It also takes time for chemists to identify seized drugs, which means fentanyl-related samples may be incorrectly logged as other drugs.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy declined to comment.

US Customs and Border Protection said it had data by country of origin only for 2015. Those figures showed nearly two-thirds of the 61 kilograms (134lbs) of fentanyl seized last year came from Mexico. The rest came from China.

DEA officials said Mexican cartels are key bulk suppliers of fentanyl to the US, but portrayed Mexico as a trans-shipment point.

Mexican officials said fentanyl and its precursors were coming from China. Only two labs trying to produce fentanyl from scratch have been located in Mexico in recent years, with others apparently taking simpler steps to turn precursors into fentanyl, the officials said.

Mexican authorities did not immediately respond to requests for seizure data by country of origin.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence indicating that China plays an important role in the fentanyls trade, and despite disagreements, Chinese authorities have been proactive in trying to stop fentanyl manufacture and export.

China's narcotics commission said it is scrutinising 12 opioid vendors identified in previous reports, along with others which advertise fentanyl analogues.

In some cases, China has enacted faster, more comprehensive changes to its drug control laws than much of the rest of the world.

Beijing already regulates fentanyl and 18 related compounds and is considering designating four more: carfentanil, furanyl fentanyl, acryl fentanyl and valeryl fentanyl. In the meantime, the commission said it had warned Chinese vendors and websites that carfentanil and other analogs are harmful and should not be sold.

The resulting ripple of anxiety prompted some companies to recommend alternative opioids, like U-47700. "Friend, fent is illegal in China," wrote one. "It is dangerous for us."

AP
'Almost all of them are in a serious condition and are in intensive care.' Picture: NTV

At least 30 people have died of alcohol poisoning in a Russian city after drinking bath lotion.

Russian health chiefs said the victims died of methanol poisoning after consuming the lotion containing alcohol in the city of Irkutsk. Another 15 people are in a serious condition in the city's hospitals.

The victims drank a lotion called Boyaryshnik (Hawthorn) which contains alcohol. Another 17 to 20 people are currently in three hospitals of the city, according to varying reports.

Officials said the bottles of lotion were clearly marked with warnings that they are not for internal use. A probe into the incident is under way.

'Almost all of them are in a serious condition and are in intensive care,' a source from the Health Ministry told Siberian Times.

Investigators say all the victims were residents of one neighbourhood, Novo-Lenino.

Poisonings with surrogate alcohol are a regular occurrence in Russia, but the Irkutsk case is one of the deadliest incidents of its kind in years.
An article by Katie Hopkins has resulted in a 150,000 (178k) libel damages payout for her publisher.

In a column for MailOnline in 2015 the TV and radio personality wrongly suggested two brothers were extremists with links to al Qaida.

Hopkins and MailOnline have also apologised for the column entitled "Just because Britain's border security is a Mickey Mouse operation you can't blame America for not letting this lot travel to Disneyland - I wouldn't either".

In the article, Hopkins said she did not believe Tariq Mahmood and his brother Zahid Mahmood were really flying to America with their children to visit Disneyland and said Homeland Security were right to refuse them entry to the country.

An apology published on MailOnline for the December 23 2015 article said: "We are happy to make clear that Tariq Mahmood and Zahid Mahmood are not extremists, nor do they have links to al Qaida.

"They were travelling to the USA with their families to see one of their brothers for a holiday in California and they had indeed planned to visit Disneyland as part of their trip."

The website also apologised for a second column by Hopkins, published on December 29 2015, that suggested that Tariq Mahmood's son, Hamza, was responsible for a Facebook page which allegedly contained extremist material.

As well as the libel damages the family's legal costs will also be met by the publisher.

The apology - which was tweeted by Hopkins in the early hours of Monday - added: "Hamza Mahmood has pointed out that he is not responsible for the Facebook page, which was linked to him as a result of an error involving his email address.

"We are happy to make clear that there is no suggestion that either Hamza nor Taeeba or Hafsa Mahmood (Hamza's mother and sister) have any links to extremism.

"We and Katie Hopkins apologise to the Mahmood family for the distress and embarrassment caused and have agreed to pay them substantial damages and their legal costs."

In a statement on behalf of the family, Tariq and Zahid Mahmood said: "Even to this day the US authorities have not explained the reason why we were not permitted to travel; we assume it was an error or even a case of mistaken identity.

"However, matters are not helped when such sensationalist and, frankly, Islamophobic articles such as this are published, and which caused us all a great deal of distress and anxiety.

"We are very pleased that the record has been set straight."
A man has admitted murdering a couple who were stabbed to death outside the shop where they worked.

Andrew Saunders, 20, pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to killing Matalan employees Zoe Morgan, 21, and Lee Simmons, 33.

The couple were found dead close to the fashion chain's store in Queen Street in Cardiff city centre on September 28.

Saunders, of no fixed address, spoke only to confirm his name before entering guilty pleas to the two charges he faced.

Judge Eleri Rees, the Recorder of Cardiff, remanded Saunders into custody.

The defendant, who had short brown hair and a beard and wore a blue hooded top, will be sentenced next year by Mrs Justice Nicola Davies.

Judge Rees said: "The defendant will be produced for sentence on a date to be fixed. I do not anticipate it being before mid-January."

She also ordered the Crown to produce for the court copies of the prosecution case, key evidence and submissions on the minimum term for the inevitable life sentence ahead of the next hearing.

Expand Close Floral tributes are left outside the Matalan store in Queen Street, Cardiff. Photo Benjamin Wright/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Floral tributes are left outside the Matalan store in Queen Street, Cardiff. Photo Benjamin Wright/PA Wire

Prosecutor Michael Jones said Mrs Justice Davies would have to watch "disturbing" CCTV of the incident.

He told the court: "The footage is disturbing but it is important evidence be seen by the judge."

Judge Rees questioned whether a psychiatric report would be of assistance to the court ahead of the sentencing.

Hilary Roberts, defending, said a report had already been produced for the defence.

"It is a report that only look backwards and I don't think it will be of much assistance to the court," he added.

The judge replied: "I would have thought that her ladyship would in any case like to have a psychiatric report. It is a matter for you..."

Miss Morgan, who worked as a window dresser, had only recently graduated from the University of South Wales with an honours degree in fashion marketing and retail design.

Following her death, her family said: "She was taken away from us tragically, too soon, and has left a massive hole in our lives that will never be filled. Zoe will always be in our hearts forever and always. We are all broken-hearted."

It is believed Miss Morgan and Mr Simmons struck up a romance while working together at Matalan and had been dating for four months.

Their bodies were discovered in the street outside the store at around 5.50am on September 28.

Police later said they believed the couple had died after suffering stab wounds.
The teenager took his case to the Family Division of the High Court in London CREDIT: PA

A transgender teenager who used human rights law to cut his parents out of his life has won thousands of pounds in compensation after a council official let slip his new identity.

The teenager, who was born female but now identifies as male, is to be paid nearly 5,000 (5664) in damages as a result of the official accidentally revealing his new first name and transgender status to friends of his parents.

The 17-year-old from Leicestershire, known only as PD, had become so estranged from his parents over his gender status that he wanted no more to do with them.

In September 2014, PD - then aged 15 - told his parents, who had adopted him as a girl at the age of six, that he wanted to change his identity to male.

PD was referred to the Tavistock Gender Identity Clinic in London, the only one of its kind for children in the UK, for a condition known as gender dysphoria - in which a person experiences severe discomfort or distress because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.

However, a court later heard that his adoptive mother and father struggled to come to terms with his decision and relations between P and his parents - who insisted on calling him by his original girls name - broke down.

Their relationship deteriorated to the point that PD left home and in September last year the teenager, who had a history of self harm, including taking overdoses of drugs, moved to a local authority unit for semi-independent living and cut off all communication with his parents.

In August 2015 the teenager took his case to the Family Division of the High Court in London, using Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights to argue that he had the right to privacy for his medical treatment.

Mr Justice Keehan ruled in his favour, arguing that it would not be in PDs best interests, and that his human rights would be breached, if his parents were kept abreast of developments.

But in January this year an official at Leicestershire County Council revealed his male forename and his transgender status to friends of his adoptive parents, in breach of the court ruling.

The teenager was initially told that the council official had also given the same friend the address of the unit where he was living, though this later appeared not to have been the case.

The family court heard that the impact of this wrongful disclosure on P was immediate and dramatic.

The teenager was initially told that the council official had also given the same friend the address of the unit where he was living, though this later appeared not to have been the case.

The family court heard that the impact of this wrongful disclosure on P was immediate and dramatic.

In an earlier ruling he said: The situation in which P and parents find themselves is extremely difficult. The parents struggle to understand Ps position, feelings and his decision about his gender.

He struggles to understand their complete lack of support and understanding. The upshot is that he, at 16 years of age, has decided to completely disengage from family life with them.

The judge said he hoped PD and his parents could be reconciled at some point in the future.

I am pleased to learn that the parents, having expressed a willingness to engage with the Tavistock Centre throughout, will continue to seek guidance and support from the same. It may well help them come to an understanding of why P finds it so distressing when they have referred to him as H, he said.

A spokesman for Leicestershire County Council, which has been ordered to pay 4,750 (5664) in compensation to the teenager, said: We accept the findings of the court and we have made a full and unreserved apology to PD, who we continue to support.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
An unnamed gunman holds the gun after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

The gunman who killed Russian ambassador was a police officer the Turkish Interior Minister has confirmed.

It is not yet clear if was he was on duty when he carried out the attack, a Turkish security source is reporting.

However, two sources have told Reuters that the man was an officer who worked in the Turkish capital.

Turkish police fatally shot the gunman after the attack, NTV reported.

The attacker also smashed several of the photos which were part of the exhibition.

There was panic as people ran for cover after the shots were fired, with three other people reportedly wounded in the attack.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov accompanies Russian President Vladimir Putin (not seen), who disembarks from the Presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov (L) accompanies Russian President Vladimir Putin who disembarks from the Presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov (L) accompanies Russian President Vladimir Putin who disembarks from the Presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) Turkish police secure the area near an art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot in Ankara, Turkey, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas A man gestures near to Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, on the ground, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) An unnamed gunman holds the gun after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) A man gestures near to Andrei Karlov on ground, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) A man gestures near to the body of a man at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks at a gallery in Ankara, moments before the fatal attack (AP/Burhan Ozbilici) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov accompanies Russian President Vladimir Putin (not seen), who disembarks from the Presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo

Ms Zakharova said Mr Karlov was shot "when an unidentified assailant opened chaotic gunfire during a public event in Ankara".

She later confirmed the ambassador had died, adding that Russia was in contact with Turkish officials about the incident.

Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek told reporters outside the exhibition centre that the "heinous" attack had aimed to disrupt newly-re-established relations between Turkey and Russia.

US state department spokesman John Kirby said US officials are aware of reports about the shooting.

"We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source," Mr Kirby said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski

A truck has run into crowded Christmas market in Berlin, causing at least nine deaths and injuring up to 50 others.

Police have said they have arrested the suspected driver of the truck, a spokesman said on N24 television.

The co-driver of truck died during the crash police have said. The passenger has been identified as Polish, while the nationality of the driver is not yet clear.

Some media reports suggested the truck may have been hijacked.

German media, citing police at the scene, said first indications pointed to an attack on the market, situated at the foot of the ruined Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, which was kept as a bombed-out ruin after World War Two.

However, the German state interior minister has said the background is still unclear and it "could be an accident or an attack".

The truck careered into the Berlin market at what would have been one of the most crowded times for the Christmas market, when adults and children would be gathering in the traditional cluster of wooden huts that sell food and Christmas goods.

Berlin police said nine people were killed.

Dubliner Conor Murphy (23) said his office is in the neighbouring district to the crash and he walked to his train in the minutes after the incident, which, he said, was something that gave him "shivers".

"It happened very close to where I work, I work in a call centre, around ten minutes away and I saw it [news reports] just before work finished," he told Independent.ie

Lorry just ploughed through Christmas market in #berlin. There is no road nearby. People crushed. I am safe. I am safe pic.twitter.com/63iWMmdSKr  Emma Rushton (@ERushton) December 19, 2016

This is the Breitscheidplatz a week ago. It's one of the most beautiful Berlin Christmas markets and popular among tourists. #Berlin pic.twitter.com/JrMQuvamBS  Mischa Heuer (@mischaheuer) December 19, 2016

"I work on a really long street that leads down to where it happened, usually there would be lots of hustle and bustle but tonight there wasn't a single car.

"I walked 2km to the train station and the mood was sombre, even on the train and in the train station, I've never seen so many people on the phone at the same time.

"It was really quiet, people were definitely a bit scared."

"My friend got caught up in the shooting in Munich and I was saying to her that I didn't know how to describe [how I felt about it]...it was like when you get the shivers but for the whole walk. I was thinking 'what's going to happen, is something more going to happen?'"

"Everyone seemed calm but you just didn't know what could happen or what could break out. I was glad to get in the door at home," he added.

Ambulances were rushing past him to the scene as he made his way home.

Mr Murphy, who has been living in the German city since May and works in a call centre said he will monitor developments but has no plans to return home on foot of the latest incident.

"I don't want to leave here, I'm happy here and I'm settled," he said.

Meanwhile, Nathan Young (23) from Derry is currently on holiday in Berlin with his girlfriend Claire.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Police stand near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski Police work near the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski Police secures the area at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Paramedics work at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Paramedics work at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Police and emergency workers are at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Police work at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch / Facebook

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Whatsapp Police stand near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski

The couple had visited the market earlier in the day and were enjoying a drink in Irish Pub in the Europa-Center when the truck collided with the market.

I think people are in shock, he said. We were in the bar and didnt hear anything. When we went outside the street was cordoned off with fire brigades, police and ambulance everywhere.

We were in the market earlier in the day. Its shocking to think that has just happened when we were just there. People dont really know whats going on.

The Whitehouse has condemned the apparent attack:

"We have been in touch with German officials, and we stand ready to provide assistance as they recover from and investigate this horrific incident," National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the French interior ministry has said security must be increased at Christmas markets immediately.

Neri Trott (60) and her husband David (59) from Glasgow in Scotland arrived in the Hotel California in Berlin a short distance from the Christmas market at 6.30pm German time.

They had just sat down and ordered at a restaurant in the Christmas Market when they heard sirens.

She said: We were just ordering some food and suddenly the emergency services were everywhere. They came up to us and spoke in German and a couple beside us said they were telling everyone to leave the market immediately, and that the restaurant wont be serving food or alcohol.

Apparently they said there had been an accident.

The market was all closing down when we came out. We were being herded in different directions; we didnt know were to go no one was speaking English, we just followed were other people were going. We left through the front entrance of the market.

I dont think people knew what was happening. We didnt understand the language and people were telling us to go different ways.

Richard Clarkson (20) from Brighton, England was at a bar called Irish Bar with his friends on the street near were the incident happened.

One of his friends heard a bang. He said: I just walked out and I saw the truck, the windscreen was broken, I didnt see any bodies they were very quick to cover them up I think.

The word terrorist is being thrown around a lot at the moment and people seem scared.

Police cars and ambulances converged quickly on the scene as a huge security operation unfolded.

"I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos...many injured people," Jan Hollitzer, deputy editor in chief of Berliner Morgenpost, told CNN. "It was really traumatic."

Emma Rushton, a tourist visiting Berlin, told Sky News the truck seemed to be traveling at about 40 mph (65 Kmh).

"We've never been to Berlin before. We decided to go down to the Christmas market.

"We saw the Christmas lights to our left being pulled down.

"People were running in the dark."

Emma grew emotional as she said; "It was very difficult to see.

"We were very lucky in that we went into one of the booths to go and sit. Had we been downstairs, we probably would have been caught up in it."

Eileen Thornhill from Cork has been living in Berlin for 26 years. She is working in The Irish Times Pub, approximately 4.5km from the incident, and became aware of the attack when friends and family suddenly started calling the bar.

We all started getting phone calls asking if we were all right and then we turned on the TV and saw what was happening, she told the Irish Independent.

We are all shocked and in a state of disbelief. I dont know what to say. But German people are very resilient and good at coping.

Its a huge shock."

Eileen drew comparisons with the Nice attack that occurred on Bastille Day, claiming the lives of 86.

The market is always filled with tourists and the fact that it happened near a holiday makes it more tragic. I suppose thats why they choose holidays to make the biggest impact possible," she added.

Julian Reichelt, editor in chief of Bild Berlin, said that there was currently a massive security operation under way.

"The scene certainly looks like a reminder of what we have seen in Nice," Reichelt said.

The incident evoked memories of an attack in France in July when Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne truck along the beach front, mowing down people who had gathered to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day, killing 86 people. That attack was claimed by Islamic State

Video footage emerging from the scene shows market stalls knocked over and people lying on the ground.

It is still unclear as to whether the incident was an accident or if it was deliberate.

Video has emerged online from the scene of the incident.

LIVE: Footage from near Breitscheidplatz #Berlin, after a truck ran through a Christmas market.https://t.co/5Epu91Qpjt  Conflict News (@Conflicts) December 19, 2016

The market is located at Breitscheidplatz, which is close to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church on the Kurfuerstendamm on the west of the city.
Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan has condemned the "brutal assassination" of Mr Karlov.

Releasing a statement soon after the attack, he wrote; "I condemn the brutal assassination of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey. I offer sincere condolences to Ambassador Karlovs family and loved ones and to the Government and People of Russia.

"Diplomats play critical role in the conduct of relations between States and today is a bleak day for the diplomatic community around the world.

The United Nations also condemned an attack on the Russian ambassador to Ankara, who was shot and killed in an attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital on Monday.

Expand Close An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) / Facebook

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Whatsapp An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

"We condemn the gun attack on the Russian ambassador to Turkey.

"There can be no justification for an attack on a diplomat or an ambassador," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

"We hope that the perpetrator will be brought to justice."

Assassination

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on Monday that the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, had died after being shot by a gunman.

"Today in Ankara as a result of an attack, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey, Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, received a wound from which he died," Zakharova said.

"We regard this as a terrorist act."

Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has condemned the "cowardly" and "despicable" murder.
With at least ten people dead in three separate suspected terror incidents here is what we know so far.

1. Three attacks

The Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot dead by a police man who allegedly shouted 'don't forget Aleppo' at an art gallery in Ankara during a press conference.

In Berlin, a truck was driven into a crowd at a Christmas market killing 12 and injuring 50.

Meanwhile, in Zurich three men were wounded after a gunman opened fire at a Mosque.

2. The attackers

In Turkey officials have confirmed the gunman who killed the ambassador was a police officer, he was 'neutralised' at the scene.

German police have arrested the suspected driver of the truck, a spokesman said on N24 television. It is believed the truck may have been hijacked earlier in the day, with local reports claiming the truck driver's family were trying to contact him with no avail since noon.

In Zurich the gunman, believed to be in his 30s, is still at large.

3. Witnesses

There was a heavy media presence at the gallery as a result of the press conference. A Reuters witness said that while gunfire rang out for some time after the attack. A Hurriyet newspaper reporter said the attacker chanted Islamist slogans.

In Berlin witnesses reported the truck travelling at 65kmph through the centre of the market.

"I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos...many injured people," Jan Hollitzer, deputy editor in chief of Berliner Morgenpost, told CNN. "It was really traumatic."

4. The reaction

World leaders have condemned the shooting of the ambassador as an act of terrorism and Turkey has said it will not let the incident 'cast a shadow' on its relationship with Russia.

In Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel is being briefed on the incident.

5. The background

This marks one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict in Turkey. Relations between Moscow and Ankara have long been fraught over the conflict, the two supporting opposing sides.

Meanwhile in Germany commentators have been remarking on the similarities between the Christmas market crash and the attack in France in July when Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne truck along the beach front, mowing down people who had gathered to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day, killing 86 people.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting in Zurich are not yet clear.

It is also not clear if any of the attacks are related.
Zsa Zsa Gabor was famous for her many marriages

Hollywood actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor has died aged 99, the star's husband said.

Prince Frederic von Anhalt said she died on Sunday after suffering a heart attack in their home in Bel-Air, Los Angeles.

Gabor, the great aunt of Paris Hilton, was credited with creating a new kind of fame based on flaunting wealth and possessing a jaded wisdom on glamour.

The Hungarian-born star was better known for her string of marriages, totalling nine if a quickly annulled shipboard ceremony is included, than her work on-screen.

The late Michael Winner, who directed her in the 1976 film Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood, once described her as largely playing a thinly-veiled version of herself.

She was also known for her wit, having once said : "I am a marvellous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house."

Gabor had long suffered from ill health after being partly paralysed in a car accident in 2002 and suffering a stroke in 2005.

She outlived both her older sister, Magda, and younger sister, Eva, who were also both actresses and socialites.

Gabor, born Sari Gabor in Budapest in 1917, started her career in the 1940s and went from being a beauty queen, to millionaire's wife to major public figure.

Celebrities paid tribute to her on social media.

US chat show host Larry King said: "There will only be one Zsa Zsa Gabor. And, I liked her a lot. Rest In Peace, my dear."

I Dream of Jeannie star Barbara Eden tweeted: "Rest in peace Zsa Zsa Gabor. She and her sisters were lovely ladies who were always fun and delightful to be around."

Burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese wrote: "Another Hollywood legend has left us, the glamorous Zsa Zsa Gabor, one of the wittiest beauties."

Piers Morgan tweeted: "99 years old, 9 husbands, Miss Hungary & Hollywood star. What a life!"
Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has been convicted of negligence by a special French court for her role in a controversial arbitration award made to a tycoon in 2008.

Lagarde, who was France's finance minister at the time, was spared jail time and a criminal record. She had risked a year of imprisonment and a fine.

The guilty verdict, even without punishment, tarnishes Lagarde's impressive career as one of the most powerful women in world finance.

It raised immediate doubts about whether the IMF's first female managing director will be able to continue in the job she has held since 2011.

The Washington-based IMF said after the verdict that its executive board would meet soon "to consider the most recent developments".

The case revolves around a 403 million euro (337 million) arbitration deal given to tycoon Bernard Tapie in 2008 over the botched sale of sportswear maker Adidas in the 1990s. The amount awarded prompted indignation in France.

Civil courts have since quashed the unusually generous award, declared the arbitration process and deal fraudulent and ordered Mr Tapie to pay the money back.

In deciding not to sentence Lagarde, the court noted that the award to Mr Tapie has since been annulled, sparing damage to the public purse. It also noted by way of explaining the lack of a sentence that Lagarde was caught up at the time in the storm of financial crisis which engulfed the global economy.

The court also said that Lagarde's "personality and national and international reputation" counted in her favour.

The Court of Justice of the Republic, made up of three judges and 12 parliamentarians, tries cases concerning ministers for alleged crimes while in office.

Lagarde, who was not present for the verdict, maintained her innocence through the week-long trial. The prosecutor had asked for an acquittal in the case, which began in 2011.

Christopher Baker, one of Lagarde's lawyers, would not speculate on any potential effect of the verdict on her high-flying career. A lawyer herself, she served as French finance minister from 2007 to 2011, when she took her job as head of the IMF.

"There is no sentence, which means there's no record of this," Mr Baker said.

"The result of this last five years is nothing, which leaves us in kind of a complicated and strange situation."

The special court acquitted Lagarde of negligence in her original decision to put the Tapie case to arbitration. But it found her guilty in a subsequent decision not to contest the amount of the arbitration award.

The court's presiding judge, in reading the verdict, said Lagarde should have asked her aides and others for more information about the "shocking arbitration award" that included a tax-free payment of 45 million euro in damages to Mr Tapie which the court described as fraudulent.

Investigating judges had alleged that Lagarde committed a series of serious errors in the award to Mr Tapie.

The amount - awarded to end years of legal wrangling with Tapie over the sale in the 1990s of his majority stake in sportswear giant Adidas - prompted indignation in France.

It also raised questions about whether Mr Tapie benefited from his political connections, including with then-president Nicolas Sarkozy, Lagarde's boss when she was his finance minister.

The legal battle between Mr Tapie and Credit Lyonnais over the public bank's sale of his Adidas stake was still unresolved when Lagarde took over at the Finance Ministry in 2007.

The first woman in that job, she oversaw France's finances as the global economy plunged into its worst crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Lagarde ordered that the dispute be settled through a private arbitration panel, instead of regular courts - against the advice of her own services. The decision led to the massive payout to Mr Tapie from public funds.

Soon after the award, investigators suspected the whole process was rigged in favour of the magnate.

In 2013, Mr Tapie, his lawyer, one of the arbitrators and Lagarde's chief of staff at the ministry, Stephane Richard, now the CEO of the telecom company Orange, were charged with gang-related fraud.

Lagarde's Paris home was searched by police. However, that case is separate from Lagarde's legal woes.

Mr Tapie was handed another charge of misappropriation of funds. However, in 2015, a court quashed the arbitration deal, and then ordered Mr Tapie to pay the money back. Last June, the top French court ruled the arbitration was fraudulent.

The IMF's board supported Lagarde throughout the French legal proceedings against her, which began the month after her appointment in July 2011.

She took over at the IMF from another French citizen, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned the post amid sexual assault allegations.

AP
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaches to one of the first two next-generation F-35 fighter jets after it landed during an unveiling ceremony upon arrival in Nevatim Air Force base near Beersheba (AP)

A leading Israeli think-tank has found that Israelis are increasingly losing faith in their government and most Israeli public institutions.

The findings of a survey from the Israel Democracy Institute mirror the global trend of dissatisfaction and cynicism which is thought to have helped propel Britain's exit from the European Union and the victory of US President-elect Donald Trump.

The think-tank also found a continuing nationalistic streak among the country's Jewish majority, with more than half of respondents in a nationwide survey opposed to allowing Arab political parties into the governing coalition.

Tamar Hermann, an Israeli professor who led the research, said the study found a "value shift" away from Israel's traditional liberal democratic roots which should concern its leadership.

"Israelis are shifting away from the cosmopolitan point of view to a more communitarian, nationalistic, ethnic, religious point of view, much like is happening in other countries," said Ms Hermann, academic director of the Guttman Centre for Public Opinion and Policy Research, which compiles the annual Israeli Democracy Index.

The study found a "significant drop" in the public's trust in Israeli political institutions.

Trust in the Knesset, or parliament, fell to 26.5% from 35% last year. Similarly, trust in the government fell to 27% from 36%, and three quarters of respondents now feel their politicians are detached.

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin said the findings are troubling and required national soul-searching, adding that "at this moment of trial for democracies, we have to make an effort so that our democracy will be vital, strong and committed to all it citizens".

The only institution that maintained its strong standing was the Israeli military, which is trusted by 90% of the Jewish public and 82% when the Arab minority is factored in.

While Ms Hermann cited "global trends" for the sentiments in the poll, Israel has been undergoing its own process of rising nationalism in recent years, driven by failed peace efforts with the Palestinians, a year-long wave of violence in Israel and the West Bank, three wars against Hamas militants in Gaza and the growing political power of religiously motivated West Bank settlers in the government.

The survey found that 71% of Jewish respondents believe that human rights groups, which have been harshly criticised by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, cause damage to the state. That was up from 56% a year earlier.

Likewise, it found that 59% of Jews oppose having Arab parties as part of governing coalitions, and 52.5% of Jews believe that those who refuse to accept Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people should be stripped of their right to vote.

Ms Hermann said that Mr Netanyahu should be "very worried" about the shrinking level of public trust in the government, but that overall he might be pleased by the growing nationalist tide in the country.

"He's not going to cry over the result," she said.

The Guttman Centre is a division of the Israel Democracy Institute, an independent non-partisan think-tank. The survey interviewed 1,531 adults, broken down between Jewish and Arab respondents, last May and had a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points for the Jewish sample, and 6.6 points for its smaller Arab sample.

The survey included some bright spots, including a widespread consensus that Israeli democracy must be maintained and high support for freedom of speech.

The survey also included comparisons with other countries, finding it average or above average in many key areas, such as freedom of the press and civil liberties.

Israel ranked very high in political participation, and near the bottom in a measure of political stability and absence of violence.

Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, urged the country's leaders to learn from the data.

"While there is overwhelming support for the notion of democracy, the democratic brand is still very strong. But the understanding or interpretation of what democracy is all about in some respects is extremely thin and requires immediate action," he said.
Doctors transport the body of one of the victims to a hospital in Aden following the suicide bomb. Photo: Getty Images

A suicide bomber killed at least 52 soldiers after he blew himself up outside a military camp in the southern Yemeni city of Aden.

At least 63 people were also injured in the blast, which was claimed by an affiliate of Isil.

Security officials said that preliminary investigations showed the blast was the work of a bomber wearing an explosives-laden vest. The attack took place as soldiers lined up to collect their salaries.

The Isil affiliate claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on Isil-run Aamaq news agency.

It identified the bomber as Abu Hashim al-Radfani and published a photo of him smiling and wearing a white vest as he stood next to the group's black flag. It also posted photos it said were of the blast that it claimed killed nearly 70.

The bombing was the latest to underscore how militants have been able to exploit Yemen's conflict to stage large-scale attacks and expand their reach, particularly in the south.

Yesterday's blast took place at the same military base that was also struck by a suicide bomber on December 10, killing 57 soldiers. The Isil Yemeni affiliate also claimed responsibility for that attack.

In August, another Isil-claimed suicide bombing in Aden left 72 people killed when the attacker detonated his pick-up truck among dozens of pro-government recruits.

In addition to Isil, Yemen is the long-time home to an active branch of al-Qa'ida, widely regarded as the most dangerous of the international extremist group.

Aden is controlled by a loose coalition of troops loyal to the internationally-recognised government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, local militias and jihadi groups. They are battling Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, who seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and later swept across much of northern Yemen.

The Houthis' advances forced President Hadi to flee the country and seek shelter in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition, mostly consisting of Gulf Arab states, subsequently intervened in Yemen in early 2015, launching a punishing air campaign against the Houthis.
A Jordanian man takes pictures amidst rain and tear gas fired by security forces to disperse local residents angry about the attack, next to Karak Castle, during an ongoing attack, in the central town of Karak (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Ten people, including a Canadian woman, have been killed after gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in Jordan.

One of the attacks targeted a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing seven officers, two civilians and the Canadian victim, Linda Vatcher.

Several armed men were barricaded inside the castle in Karak, a town in central Jordan about 87 miles south of the capital Amman, after night fell, surrounded by Jordanian special forces.

At least 34 people, including two foreigners, were wounded in Sunday's violence, one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory.

Several hours later security officials announced that the operation had ended and four gunmen were killed. They said large amounts of weapons had been seized and troops continued to search the area.

They made no reference, however, to news reports that at one point the attackers had held hostages.

The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged the pro-West kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

A witness said attackers immediately targeted tourists when they reached the castle.

Expand Close Jordanian security forces stand next to their armored vehicle at the scene next to Karak Castle(AP Photo/Ben Curtis) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jordanian security forces stand next to their armored vehicle at the scene next to Karak Castle(AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

"Four gunmen got out of their car" at the castle, said Wasfi al-Habashneh. "They opened fire at the Canadian tourists. The woman was killed, the other Canadian tourist escaped and hid behind a car and one of the children was injured."

Mr al-Habashneh said the attackers also targeted other people. Security forces "engaged with the gunmen and cornered the gunmen at the castle gate", he said.

The killing of the Canadian tourist could further hurt Jordan's embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighbouring Syria and Iraq two years ago.

Canada's global affairs spokesman John Babcock said Ms Vatcher was a former teacher from Burgeo, Newfoundland. Her son Chris was injured in the attack.

"Canadian officials in Amman are actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time," he said.

The Canadian embassy in Amman issued an alert warning Canadians to avoid travel to Karak.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in and near Karak.

The chain of events began when a police patrol received reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district, Jordan's Public Security Directorate said.

Officers responding to the call came under fire from inside the hous. Two policemen were wounded and the assailants fled in a car.

In another attack, gunmen fired on a security patrol in Karak, causing no injuries.

Armed men also opened fire on a police station at Karak Castle, a Crusader fort, wounding members of security forces. The statement said five or six gunmen were believed to be trapped inside the castle.

In all, seven members of the security forces, two local civilians and the Canadian woman were killed, security officials said. Fifteen members of the security forces, 17 civilians and two foreign nationals were injured.

Jordan faces home-grown extremism, with hundreds of Jordanians fighting alongside other IS militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more supporting the extremist group in the kingdom.

Jordan is a key US ally, and a member of a US-led military coalition fighting IS.

Over the past year, gunmen have carried out several attacks on members of the Jordanian security forces and foreign trainers. Earlier this year Jordanian security forces engaged in a deadly shoot-out with suspected IS sympathisers in a northern town.

In the most recent incident, three US military members were killed in a shooting outside an air base in southern Jordan in November. They were in the country on a training mission and came under fire while driving into the base.

Barb Rhymes, a cousin of widow and mother-of-two Ms Vatcher, 62, said she had been visiting her son in Jordan where he worked.

"She was very friendly, outgoing. She was nice to everyone. A friend to all," Ms Rhymes said from Burgeo, a remote town of 1,400 people on Canada's east coast.

"It's devastating. It has hit the town hard. My mind is not there right now. She was a beautiful person."
What happens when the propaganda war is so chaotic, so remote and so vicious, as it is in Aleppo? Photo: Getty Images

'My dad is injured now. I am crying. Bana." The seven-year-old girl, Bana Alabed, sent the tweet from eastern Aleppo a few days ago, as Syrian government forces closed in on her neighbourhood.

The first online response to her was not empathy, but total cynicism: "Wow! I'm crying but I can tweet propaganda." As bombs were dropping on Aleppo, a war of words was raging online that made the US "fake news" row look like child's play. Trapped residents of the city, some of them anti-government activists, posted videos of what they feared would be their last messages to the world before a potential massacre. Naysayers immediately claimed that the videos were a coordinated propaganda campaign mounted by rebels who were Al Qa'ida or Isil supporters.

What to believe? How is an interested browser in Europe to know? Against a growing tidal wave of contradictory information flooding the internet, searching for the truth starts to seem like a fool's errand. But although trying to sort the fake from the real might sometimes feel fruitless, it's not. As readers, companies, media and governments get shrewder about misinformation online, it will become easier to distinguish trash from truth. The question is whether we are willing to put in the effort.

Social media propaganda has been proliferating for years, recently spearheaded by Isil. But the Western world really woke up to the spread of "fake news" - bogus news stories that play on prejudices to spread misinformation - during the US election.

As the campaigns became increasingly vicious, outrageously false stories spread across social media like wildfire. Millions of users read and shared stories from fake news sites claiming that the Pope had endorsed Donald Trump, that protesters at Trump rallies were being paid to be there or that Mr Trump had, in 1998, claimed he'd one day run for president as a Republican because they were "the dumbest group of voters in the country". All were false.

Now, Facebook is trying to tackle the problem with a new set of tools. Users will be able to flag news they think is fake, which will prompt a team of Facebook staff to assess whether it comes from an obviously bogus new website. News from legitimate websites will be eligible for fact-checking by third parties, hired by Facebook, and readers who click on such links will be warned that the truthfulness of the story is in question.

The tools strike a good balance between trusting readers and educating them. No one wants to be a chump, so a lot of readers who receive a warning that a news article might be a hoax are at least likely to think twice. Just as we've become wiser about not clicking on links in spam emails, readers will gradually become more sophisticated in their use of social networks.

But what happens when the propaganda war is so chaotic, so remote and so vicious, as it is in Aleppo? I wanted to know whether Bana Alabed was a real Syrian girl suffering in the brutal war or whether she was the creation of rebels or Islamists.

Fortunately, her case has attracted so much attention that an investigative journalism website called Bellingcat decided to check it out. A former British army officer called Nick Waters performed basic but important tests: using geolocation data from her posts, he verified that she was indeed in eastern Aleppo. He then used satellite imagery to find exactly where, on maps of the city, various photos from her Twitter feed had been taken, verifying that they were all real places.

I found the analysis convincing. But I had to search for it. Western governments need to get cleverer about responding to the brutal propaganda war. They should confirm and rebut claims by offering evidence and uphold the truth, even if it's sometimes inconvenient.

As readers get savvier, so do propagandists. So the battle is never conclusively won. But those people and institutions who care about the truth have to fight for it, because fake news isn't just a matter of losing or winning elections. Sometimes, it's a matter of life or death. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

A man gestures near to the body of a man at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

A man gestures near to Andrei Karlov on ground, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

An unnamed gunman holds the gun after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

A man gestures near to Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, on the ground, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkish police secure the area near an art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot in Ankara, Turkey, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov (L) accompanies Russian President Vladimir Putin who disembarks from the Presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov (L) accompanies Russian President Vladimir Putin who disembarks from the Presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov accompanies Russian President Vladimir Putin (not seen), who disembarks from the Presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo

Police cars parked in front of the Islamic centre, in Zurich. (Ennio Leanza/Keystone/AP)

A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski

Police work near the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Paramedics work at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Paramedics work at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Police work at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Police and emergency workers are at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

The smashed window of the cabin of a truck which ran into a crowded Christmas market Monday evening killing several people Monday evening is seen in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016.(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

The damaged windscreen of the truck which ploughed last night into a crowded Christmas market is pictured in the German capital Berlin, Germany, December 20, 2016. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

Fire fighters stand beside the truck which ploughed last night into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital Berlin, Germany, December 20, 2016. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

A fire fighter stands beside the truck which ploughed last night into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital Berlin, Germany, December 20, 2016. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and German Foreign Minister Fank-Walter Steinmeier walk towards the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, December 20, 2016, one day after a truck ploughed into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

Police secures the area at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Terror group Islamic State have claimed responsibility for a horror attack on a German Christmas market which killed 12 and left up to 50 injured.

A news agency linked to the group have said the so-called Islamic State or IS has claimed responsibility for the truck crash as a new manhunt is underway for the suspect or suspects in the attack.

The executor of the operation.. in Berlin is a soldier of the Islamic state and he executed the operation in response to calls to target nationals of the coalition countries," the militant group's AMAQ news agency said on Tuesday

German authorities have released a man who was arrested in the wake of the attack, saying they do not have enough evidence to build a case.

Police have admitted that a suspect or suspects may still be at large.

However, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said investigators are now following several leads.

"We just heard about the supposed claim of responsibility by this so-called Islamic State that is in fact a gang of terrorists," de Maiziere told ARD broadcaster.

"There are several leads that investigators are following now," the minister added.

De Maiziere added that "nobody will rest until the perpetrator or the perpetrators are caught".

Islamic State has claimed the Berlin truck attacker is an IS soldier "targeting citizens of the Crusader coalition" .

A Pakistani asylum-seeker was arrested shortly after the horrifying incident but police said he may not be the attacker, and the real perpetrator could still be on the run before his release this evening.

Prosecutors noted in a statement that witnesses were able to follow the truck's driver from the scene but lost track of him. The man arrested matched witness descriptions of the truck driver, but investigators have not been able to prove he was in the truck's cab at the time of the attack.

Under German law, prosecutors have until the end of the calendar day following an arrest to seek a formal arrest warrant keeping a suspect in custody.

The German Interior Minister has said it is not yet known how many foreigners are among the victims of the Christmas Market crash but there are no children among the dead.

Earlier BKA chief Holger Muench said authorities are not sure if the suspect they have in custody was the driver of the truck, adding that the man denies being involved.

He said police have also not yet found a pistol believed to have been used to kill a Polish truck driver who was supposed to be delivering steel beams with the truck when it went missing.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Police stand near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski Police work near the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski Police secures the area at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Paramedics work at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Paramedics work at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch A truck is seen near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Police and emergency workers are at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Police work at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch / Facebook

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Whatsapp Police stand near the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski

Germany's top prosecutor Peter Frank told reporters the attack on the market outside the landmark Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was reminiscent of July's deadly truck attack in Nice and appeared to follow instructions published by Islamic State (IS).

Mr Frank said: "There is also the prominent and symbolic target of a Christmas market, and the modus operandi that mirrors at least past calls by jihadi terror organisations."

German chancellor Angela Merkel insisted the attack cannot change Germans' way of life.

She said in a televised statement: "Twelve people who were still among us yesterday, who were looking forward to Christmas, who had plans for the holidays, aren't among us any more.

"A gruesome and ultimately incomprehensible act has robbed them of their lives."

Witnesses saw only one man flee from the truck after it rammed into the crowded Christmas market on Monday evening. It smashed through the market, travelling 200-250ft before finally coming to a halt.

Six of those killed have been identified as Germans, and the man found shot and killed in the truck's passenger seat was Polish. The other five people killed have not yet been identified, and 18 people are still said to be suffering from serious injuries.

Interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said the man detained shortly after the attack was a Pakistani citizen. He had entered Germany as a migrant on December 31 last year and arrived in Berlin in February.

Berlin police urged people to remain "particularly vigilant" and to report "suspicious movement" to a special hotline.

"We may still have a dangerous criminal out there," Berlin police chief Klaus Kandt said.

Mr Merkel, who has been criticised for allowing in huge numbers of migrants last year, directly addressed the possibility that an asylum-seeker was responsible for the carnage.

"I know that it would be particularly hard for us all to bear if it were confirmed that a person committed this act who asked for protection and asylum in Germany," Mrs Merkel said.

Nine die in lorry 'attack' on Berlin Xmas market. US tourist Sabrina Glinz witnessed the aftermath of the incident. https://t.co/pOalxq41Oa  Sky News (@SkyNews) December 19, 2016

Horrified by the tragic loss of life in Berlin. Irish citizens in area: please follow advice of local authorities & consult @dfatravelwise pic.twitter.com/Tw36usXcDr  Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) December 19, 2016

"This would be particularly sickening for the many, many Germans who work to help refugees every day and for the many people who really need our help and are making an effort to integrate in our country."

A spokesman for Berlin's office for refugee affairs said police conducted a broad search overnight at a large shelter for asylum-seekers at the city's now-defunct Tempelhof airport. Four men in their late 20s were questioned but nobody was arrested.

The Polish owner of the truck said he feared the vehicle may have been hijacked. Ariel Zurawski said he last spoke with the driver, his cousin, around noon on Monday and the driver told him he was in Berlin and scheduled to unload Tuesday morning.

The driver Lukasz Urban has been named as the "the first victim of this heinous act of violence" by Poland's prime minister, Beata Szydlo.

His cousin told Polish media that it was clear the man 'fought for his life' during the incident.

On Tuesday, Mr Zurawski showed reporters a photo on his phone of his cousin in a kebab bar around 2pm, the last photo known of him still alive.

Alert

The truck smashed into wooden huts serving mulled wine and sausages at the foot of the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, one of west Berlin's most famous landmarks, at about 8 p.m. on Monday. Forty-eight people were injured, 18 severely.

News of the arrest of the 23-year-old Pakistani led politicians in Germany and beyond to demand a crackdown on immigration.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov accompanies Russian President Vladimir Putin (not seen), who disembarks from the Presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov (L) accompanies Russian President Vladimir Putin who disembarks from the Presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov (L) accompanies Russian President Vladimir Putin who disembarks from the Presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) Turkish police secure the area near an art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot in Ankara, Turkey, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas A man gestures near to Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, on the ground, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) An unnamed gunman holds the gun after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) A man gestures near to Andrei Karlov on ground, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) A man gestures near to the body of a man at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks at a gallery in Ankara, moments before the fatal attack (AP/Burhan Ozbilici) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov accompanies Russian President Vladimir Putin (not seen), who disembarks from the Presidential aircraft at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal/File Photo

Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters: "There is much we still do not know with sufficient certainty but we must, as things stand now, assume it was a terrorist attack."

She added: "I know it would be especially hard for us all to bear if it were confirmed that the person who committed this act was someone who sought protection and asylum."

In a dramatic twist, police later said the suspect had denied the offence and might not be the right man.

"According to my information it's uncertain whether he was really the driver," Police President Klaus Kandt told a news conference.

Berlin police tweeted that they were "particularly alert" because of the denial. "Please be alert," they added.

Die Welt newspaper quoted an unnamed police chief as saying: "We have the wrong man. And therefore a new situation. The true perpetrator is still armed, at large and can cause fresh damage."

German media said the arrested man had jumped out of the driver's cab and run down the street towards the Tiergarten, a vast park in central Berlin. Several witnesses called police, including one who chased the suspect while on the phone, constantly updating officials on his whereabouts.

The chief prosecutor has said it is not known yet if the perpetrator was being instructed from elsewhere.

The attack fuelled immediate demands for a change to Merkel's immigration policies, under which more than a million people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere have arrived in Germany this year and last.

"We must say that we are in a state of war, although some people, who always only want to see good, do not want to see this," said Klaus Bouillon, interior minister of the state of Saarland and a member of Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU).

Horst Seehofer, leader of the CDU's Bavarian sister party, said: "We owe it to the victims, to those affected and to the whole population to rethink our immigration and security policy and to change it."

The record influx has hit Merkel's ratings as she prepares to run for a fourth term next year, and boosted support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD). Senior AfD member Marcus Pretzell blamed Merkel for the attack on Twitter.

AfD leader Frauke Petry said Germany was no longer safe and "radical Islamic terrorism has struck in the heart of Germany".

The incident evoked memories of an attack in Nice, France in July when a Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne truck along the beach front, mowing down people who had gathered to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day, killing 86 people. That was claimed by Islamic State.

The temporary arrested suspect denies the offense.

Therefore we are particulary alert.

Please be also alert.#Breitscheidplatz  PolizeiBerlinEinsatz (@PolizeiBerlin_E) December 20, 2016

The mass influx of migrants and refugees to the European Union has deeply divided its 28 members and fuelled the rise of populist anti-immigration movements that hope to capitalise on public concerns next year in elections in France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico said the latest attack would change perceptions of migration. "I think that the cup of patience is beginning to spill over and Europe's public will rightfully expect rather stronger measures," he said.

Nigel Farage of Britain's UK Independence Party tweeted: "Terrible news from Berlin but no surprise. Events like these will be the Merkel legacy."

On Tuesday morning, investigators removed the black truck from the site for forensic examination. People left flowers at the scene and notes, one of which read: "Keep on living, Berliners!" One woman was crying as she stopped by the flowers.

Bild newspaper cited security sources as saying the arrested man was Naved B. and had arrived in Germany a year ago. In legal cases German officials routinely withhold the full name of suspects, using only an initial.

A security source told Reuters the suspect had been staying at a refugee centre in the now defunct Tempelhof airport.

Die Welt said police special forces stormed a hangar at Tempelhof at around 4 a.m. (0300 GMT). A refugee there who gave his name only as Ahmed told Reuters security guards had told him there was a raid at around 4 a.m.

Prosecutors declined to immediately comment on the report.

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IRISH IN BERLIN

A young Irish woman has told of the shock in Berlin after the suspected terror attack.

Shauna Sheridan (20) from Blanchardstown, Dublin works in an Irish bar with her boyfriend Alex Gutte (21), who is from Berlin.

The bar is called Irish Pub and is across from the Christmas market where the incident occurred.

She told Independent.ie how they were told they missed the situation by "five minutes".

So we were on the U-bahn from Alexanderplatz, just doing some Christmas shopping," she said.

"We wanted to stop by Zoologischer Garten (stop closest to the market) to get a present for my mum for Xmas because we're flying to Birmingham on Thursday.

We decided not to go to the market and get off at Ernst-Reuter-Platz instead to make some dinner first. At Ernst-Reuter-Platz we waited for our connecting bus when a bus with ambulance sirens on it drove by in the direction of the market.

She continued; "We spoke to a Spanish man who we had just got a lighter from and he said he just came from the market and said there were people screaming and running away from the scene, the guy didnt see it himself but he was shook up too.

Apparently we just missed the whole situation by five minutes. We arrived home 10 minutes later to see it all over the news.

Cillian McDonagh, an Irish student who works in a bar in Berlin, says there are systems in place in to make sure all Irish people are accounted for during any potential attack.

He says the Berlin GAA club contacted all of its members to make sure everyone was okay.

There are over 100 members in the GAA club and we also gave information to the Irish Embassy, he told the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk.

It is the best place to live in Europe which is why I suppose it was such a target."

People in Germany have been expecting this because Germany has been the leader of the free world."

He explained that raids on Tuesday morning were carried out near the home of Berlin GAA.

Police have now launched a raid on a refugee shelter which is actually near where Berlin GAA club train every Saturday.

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Jacintha Murphy from Wexford, who has been living in Berlin for two years, was at a Christmas market fifteen minutes away.

The 26-year-old says there was a sense that a terrorist attack was inevitable in Berlin.

"Well there was a large police presence gathered within a short time where I was (Christmas Market at Schloss Charlottenburg) and a lot of emergency vehicle activity even though I wasn't in the immediate vicinity.

"People didn't seem overly panicked where I was though."

Eileen Thornhill (below), from Co Cork, has been living in Berlin for 26 years. She is working in The Irish Times Pub, approximately 4.5km from the incident, and became aware of the attack when friends and family suddenly started calling the bar.

Expand Close Eileen Thornhill, from Cork, has been living in Berlin for 26 years / Facebook

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Whatsapp Eileen Thornhill, from Cork, has been living in Berlin for 26 years

We all started getting phone calls asking if we were all right and then we turned on the TV and saw what was happening, she told Independent.ie.

We are all shocked and in a state of disbelief. I dont know what to say. But German people are very resilient and good at coping.

Its a huge shock."

Eileen drew comparisons with the Nice attack that occurred on Bastille Day, claiming the lives of 86.

The market is always filled with tourists and the fact that it happened near a holiday makes it more tragic. I suppose thats why they choose holidays to make the biggest impact possible," she added.

Terror

The attack in Berlin came during a night of terror for Europe

In the Turkish city of Ankara, the Russian ambassador was shot dead while he spoke at a press conference at an art gallery.

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Expand Close The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

In Zurich, several people were injured by a gunman at a mosque.

However, police have now said they have found no sign of any radical Islamist or far-right motive by a gunman who killed himself after a shooting at a Zurich mosque which left three worshippers wounded.

Criminal police chief Christiane Lentjes Meili said investigations are continuing in connection with the 24-year-old Swiss citizen who was behind the shootings on Monday.

She told reporters: "There's no indication of any kind of terrorist connection to (the Islamic State group) or any Islamic radicalisation of the suspect. "

Ms Lentjes Meili said an investigation determined that the gunman, who was not named, had also recently stabbed an acquaintance to death.

She said two people who were seriously injured in the mosque attack are recovering.

Police forces and authorities across Europe have upped their security measures today, as it is suggested the suspected terror attacks may be linked.

Solidarity

Foreign Affairs Minister in Ireland, Charlie Flanagan, said he is "horrified" by the atrocity.

"I am horrified by the loss of life in Berlin this evening," he said in an official statement.

"I extend sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. Our thoughts are also with those injured in this appalling incident.

"Ireland stands in solidarity with Germany," he continued.

"I urge Irish citizens in Berlin to follow the advice of local authorities and to make contact with their families who may be concerned at this concern.

"For updated travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade please consult @dfattravelwise.

"If you are concerned about Irish citizens in Berlin, please call +353 1 408 2000."

Tainiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald described the as "unspeakably evil" the suspected terrorist attack in Berlin on Monday night.

Ms Fitzgerald said "This appears to have been an attack not just on people innocently going about their business preparing for Christmas, but on freedom itself.

"Our values of democracy and liberty are the target of those who wish to see a world of dark tyranny imposed on us all.

"I know particularly from my international Ministerial counterparts that there is a steady determination to continue to take - and where possible enhance - measures to counteract this threat. And An Garda Siochana will continue to work closely with their international colleagues to this end."

"Ultimately the values we cherish so deeply will prevail."

Berlin

In Germany, 12 people were killed and 48 were injured in the attack.

The driver, was reported to have fled. police later arrested a suspect but concerns were raised that they had the wrong man.

A passenger in the lorry  which came from Poland and may have been hijacked  was later found dead inside. It is believed he may have been the original driver of the truck.

According to a report in German newspaper Bild, the arrested man is a newly arrived 23-year-old Pakistani refugee.

Reuters is reporting that German Special Forces stormed a hangar at Berlin's defunct Tempelhof airport, which now houses a refugee accommodation centre.

The White House has condemned the apparent attack: "We have been in touch with German officials, and we stand ready to provide assistance as they recover from and investigate this horrific incident," National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement."

Meanwhile, UK and French authorities have increased security at Christmas markets immediately.

US president-elect Donald Trump has blamed 'Islamist terrorists' for 'slaughter' of Christians in Berlin in a statement released late on Monday.

Trump statement on Berlin pic.twitter.com/Sf8dJVV70J  Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) December 19, 2016

"ISIS and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad," Mr Trump said in the statement, using an acronym for Islamic State or Isil.

He added: "These terrorists and their regional and worldwide networks must be eradicated from teh face of the earth, a mission we will carry out with freedom loving partners."

Ankara

The Russian ambassador to Turkey died after being shot by a gunman in Ankara.

Andrei Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in the capital when a man wearing a suit and tie shouted "Allahu akbar" and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience.

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The gunman was a police officer the Turkish Interior Minister has confirmed.

Three others were wounded in the attack but none were seriously hurt and one has already been released from hospital according to Turkish officials.

President Vladimir Putin said the killing was a provocation to try to spoil Russia-Turkey ties and derail Moscow's attempts to find, with Iran and Turkey, a solution for the Syria crisis.

In televised comments, Putin, speaking at a special meeting in the Kremlin, ordered security at Russian embassies around the world to be stepped up and said he wanted to know who had "directed" the gunman's hand.

Meanwhile, details of a call between the Turkish and Russian president have also emerged.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he had agreed in a telephone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin that their cooperation and solidarity in fighting terrorism should be even stronger after the killing of the Russian ambassador in Turkey.

Erdogan also called the killing a clear provocation aimed at damaging relations between Turkey and Russia at a time of normalisation.

Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek told reporters outside the exhibition centre that the "heinous" attack had aimed to disrupt newly-re-established relations between Turkey and Russiia.

US state department spokesman John Kirby said US officials are aware of reports about the shooting.

"We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source," Mr Kirby said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said America stands ready to help Turkey investigate the attack.

Mr Karlov, 62, joined the diplomatic service in 1976, and went on to serve as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang from 2001-2006.

He later worked as the chief of the foreign ministry's consular department, and had been Russia's ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

It was reported that t he gunman shouted in Turkish ahead of the shooting: "Don't forget Aleppo. Don't forget Syria."

The man then yelled: "Stand back. Stand back. Only death will take me out of here.

"Anyone who has a role in this oppression will die one by one."

Zurich

Several people were wounded in a shooting at a mosque frequented largely by Somali immigrants in Switzerland's largest city while the suspect was shot dead by police.

Police and ambulances swarmed to the scene near the city's rail station, blocked off a nearby road, and secured the Islamic Centre.

On Twitter, the Zurich police department said: "Large operation after shooting at mosque in the Eisgasse. Several injured. Perpetrator on the run."

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It said the situation was under control and the wounded had been taken to hospital.

There were conflicting news reports about whether the shooting had taken place inside a prayer room itself, or outside.

A Zurich police official said the shooting occurred near the intersection of Militaerstrasse and Eisgasse streets.

Police told German-language daily Blick that three people had been injured.

On Tuesday morning, police confirmed that the gunman was dead.

Attacks by gunmen are rare in Switzerland. The country was shaken in 2013 by at least two multiple-fatality shootings.

The country has a long-standing tradition for men to keep their military rifles after completing compulsory military service - which partly explains a high rate of gun ownership in the country of about 8.2 million people.

Additional reporting by PA and Reuters
Pennsylvania electors take their oath of office before casting their votes for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, (Photo: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

Pennsylvania electors cast their ballots for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

Pennsylvania electors arrive to cast their votes for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

Electoral college tellers count the ballots Pennsylvania electors cast for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

Protestors have gathered as Pennsylvania electors get ready to cast their votes for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,

The U.S. Electoral College is meeting to officially confirm Republican Donald Trump as the next president, a vote that is usually a formality but that has taken on extra prominence after an unusual and particularly acrimonious election campaign.

At meetings scheduled in every state capitol and the District of Columbia, the institution's 538 electors, chosen by state parties, will cast official ballots for president and vice president.

The votes will be counted during a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6. It is highly unlikely the vote will change the outcome of the Nov. 8 election, which gave the White House to Trump after he won a majority of Electoral College votes.

The electors are expected to vote as directed by their state's popular ballot, and 24 states have laws requiring them to do so. But occasionally, "faithless electors" will ignore their pledge and change their vote.

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Democrat Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by a margin of nearly 2.9 million ballots at the last tally, according to the Cook Political Report. That outcome, combined with revelations by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia hacked into Democratic party emails to try to sway the election for Trump, has prompted some Democrats to urge electors to change their vote.

At least one elector - Christopher Suprun, a Republican elector in Texas - has said he won't vote for Trump. In an op-ed in the New York Times, Suprun said he had concerns about Trump's foreign policy experience and business conflicts.

Another group of bipartisan electors formally requested an intelligence briefing on Russian interference in the election, but were denied.

The Electoral College was established in 1787 and is part of the U.S. Constitution. It assigns each state electors equal to its number of representatives and senators in Congress.

When voters go to the polls to cast a ballot for president, they are actually choosing a presidential candidate's preferred slate of electors for their state.

A candidate must secure 270 votes to win. Trump won 306 electors from 30 states
Activists demonstrate against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump outside the Texas State Capitol in Austin, one day ahead of the meetings of the Electoral College in the U.S. REUTERS/Mohammad Khursheed

Activists hold placards while demonstrating against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump outside the Texas State Capitol in Austin, one day ahead of the meetings of the Electoral College in the U.S. REUTERS/Mohammad Khursheed

Donald Trump's top aides have said the US president-elect is not ready to accept the finding by intelligence officials that Moscow hacked Democratic emails in a bid to elevate the billionaire property mogul.

And they stressed that even if it were true, Republican Mr Trump still won the White House fair and square.

Meanwhile, members of the Electoral College will formally cast votes for Mr Trump as the nation's 45th president on Monday.

While Democrats are probably powerless to stop it, they suggested Mr Trump's victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton would forever be tainted by Russian meddling.

Republican electors have been inundated by Trump opponents urging them to defy the results in their states and vote against him.

"This whole thing is a spin job," said Mr Trump's incoming chief of staff Reince Priebus. "And I think what the Democrats ought to do is look in the mirror and face the reality that they lost the election."

Trump himself weighed in Sunday evening, tweeting, "If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!"

The partisan swipes mostly ignored warnings by foreign policy experts that part of Russia's calculation also was probably payback for years of US criticism of its own elections and a desire to portray America as a flawed champion of democracy - potentially weakening US power on the world stage.

If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2016

Russia has vehemently denied the accusation.

Many politicians, including some leading Republicans, say voters may not have been swayed by the release of tens of thousands of private emails. But the fact that a foreign power tried to intervene in US democracy and exploit divisions in American politics is cause for alarm, they say.

Still, Mr Trump's transition team and loyalists on Capitol Hill were not buying it, at least not on the eve of the Electoral College vote.

"Where's the evidence?" said Kellyanne Conway, another close Trump adviser.

Asked about President Barack Obama's vow to retaliate against the Russians, she said: "It seems like the president is under pressure from Team Hillary, who can't accept the election results."

Democrats say it is unlikely the public will ever hear detailed evidence because doing so would disclose classified sources and methods. But with last week's declaration by CIA director John Brennan that there was "strong consensus" that Russia hacked Democrats to try to sway the election, politicians are stepping up demands for closed-door briefings and a separate congressional investigation.

California congressman Adam Schiff, the senior Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said an unclassified intelligence review could be released within the next two or three weeks.

As president-elect, Mr Trump would have access to high-level intelligence on the matter, although it is unclear what he has been told. He has previously called the intelligence finding of Russian involvement "ridiculous".

On Sunday, Ms Conway said she was not privy to the same intelligence briefings as the president-elect and could not say what he knows.

Donna Brazile, interim head of the Democratic National Committee, said the DNC was no match for a sophisticated foreign power in cyberspace that "weaponised" private emails to "sow misinformation and to sow discord" between Mrs Clinton and her primary rival, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.

Ms Brazile said the cyber attacks against the DNC occurred every day through the end of the election - a comment that seemed to contradict Mr Obama's assertion that they stopped after he warned Russian president Vladimir Putin in September.

Democrat senator Chuck Schumer and Republican counterpart John McCain, meanwhile, have called for the creation of a Senate investigative committee focused on Russia, China and Iran potentially trying to interfere in US elections through high-tech meddling.
The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks at a gallery in Ankara, moments before the fatal attack (AP/Burhan Ozbilici)

A gunman shouted slogans about Syria's civil war after he killed Russia's ambassador to Turkey in front of stunned onlookers at a photo exhibition in Ankara.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition when a man fired at least eight shots, according to reports.

"Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria," the gunman shouted in Turkish, referring to the Syrian city where Russian bombardments have helped drive rebels from areas they had occupied for years during the war.

He also shouted: "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great" and continued in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Mohammad, for jihad."

The gunman approached Mr Karlov as he lay on the ground and shot him at least one more time at close range.

The attacker also smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition. There was panic as people ran for cover.

Three other people were wounded in the attack, Turkey's NTV television said.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman climbed to the second floor of the same building and a 15-minute shoot-out with police ensued before he was killed, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported.

The attack comes a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defence ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria.

Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nearly six-year conflict, while Turkey has supported Mr Assad's opponents.

"It's a tragic day in the history of our country and Russian diplomacy," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in televised comments.

"Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations," she said.

"He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. It's a terrible loss for us and also the world."

Mr Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang in 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department. He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

US State Department spokesman John Kirby said US officials were aware of reports about the shooting.

"We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source," Mr Kirby said.

The United Nations also condemned the attack.

"There can be no justification for an attack on an ambassador ... and we very much hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Melih Gokcek, the mayor for Ankara, told reporters outside the exhibition centre that the "heinous" attack aimed to disrupt newly-re-established relations between Turkey and Russia.

Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplane at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkey's apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift.

The leaders of the two countries, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have held several meetings in recent months and spoken frequently over the phone.

Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and also discussed the prospect of organising a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.

Turkey has struggled with multiple security threats in recent years, including Kurdish militants who claimed responsibility for a December 10 bombing in Istanbul that killed 44 people, many of them police.

The Islamic State group fighting in Syria and Iraq has also been blamed for attacks in Turkey, a Nato member and a partner in the US-led campaign against the group.

Additionally, Turkish security forces and courts remain preoccupied with purging state institutions of the supporters of an exiled Islamist cleric whom the government accuses of staging a failed coup attempt in July.

AP

Turkey's interior minister later said that the gunman who assassinated the ambassador was a policeman.

Suleyman Soylu said that the gunman was working for the riot police squad in Ankara for the past two-and-a-half years.

He identified the attacker as Mevlut Mert Altintas, who was born in 1994.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking in televised remarks during a meeting with senior officials, said that the killing of Ambassador Andrei Karlov was a "provocation aimed at derailing Russia-Turkey ties and the peace process in Syria".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a video message being shown on several Turkish TV channels, says that "this is a provocation to damage the normalisation process of Turkish-Russian relations".

"But both the Russian and Turkish administrations have the determination not to fall for this provocation," he added.

Both leaders said that Russian investigators will be part of the official probe into the assassination.

AP
Police cars parked in front of the Islamic centre, in Zurich. (Ennio Leanza/Keystone/AP)

A gunman dressed in black has stormed into the prayer hall of a mosque frequented by Somali immigrants and opened fire, wounding three people before fleeing, police in Zurich said.

Officers who rushed to the scene in a central neighbourhood known for trendy cafes and the city's red-light district are also investigating the discovery of a body at nearby Gessner bridge over the Sihl River, police spokesman Marco Bisa said.

Authorities are not considering the attack as terrorism, he said. Police also said it was too early to determine whether there might be any link to an incident in Berlin, where a truck rammed into a Christmas market.

"The unknown person fired several shots and fled from the building," Mr Bisa told reporters near the mosque, which was cordoned off by police.

"The shooting took place inside a prayer room with several people in it. Two victims were severely injured."

Mr Bisa said the injured were aged 30, 35 and 56, but did not specify their nationalities. He said witnesses described the attacker as clad head to foot in black, and he was believed to be aged about 30.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Police cover a body after a shooting outside an Islamic center in central Zurich, Switzerland December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann TEMPLATE OUT Police cover a body after a shooting outside an Islamic center in central Zurich, Switzerland December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann TEMPLATE OUT Police cover a body after a shooting outside an Islamic center in central Zurich, Switzerland December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann TEMPLATE OUT Police patrol near an Islamic center in central Zurich, Switzerland December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Police stand outside an Islamic center in central Zurich, Switzerland December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Police secure the area in front of the Islamic center, in Zurich, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP) Police stand outside an Islamic center in central Zurich, Switzerland December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Police stand outside an Islamic center in central Zurich, Switzerland December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Police secure the area in front of the Islamic center, in Zurich, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016.(Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP) Special Unit Policemen secure the area in front of the Islamic center, in Zurich, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Police cover a body after a shooting outside an Islamic center in central Zurich, Switzerland December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann TEMPLATE OUT

At the scene, Abukav Abshirow, a 30-year-old Somali man who works at a Zurich car dealership, said his friend was among the injured. He recalled how they had celebrated a religious occasion at the centre the night before.

"I am under shock," he said. "We've had great times here. The atmosphere was always friendly and happy at the centre.

"I am very, very sad this happened. We never had problems here before. We spend the weekend here with our children in peace.

"I am waiting to find out what happened, and who is responsible."

Attacks by gunmen are rare in Switzerland, although the country was shaken in 2013 by at least two multiple-fatality shootings.

The country has a long-standing tradition for men to keep their military rifles after completing compulsory military service - which partly explains a high rate of gun ownership in the country of about 8.2 million people.

AP
A client enters PrivatBank as other clients stand by in the centre Kiev, Uraine (AP)

Ukraine is nationalising its largest bank following concerns over its stability in a move welcomed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union.

The cabinet agreed to move PrivatBank into full state ownership, saying the move was carried out "in close coordination with international financial organisations" and with the consent of PrivatBank's owners - an apparent reference to the oligarchs Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennady Boholyubov, who together control more than 90% of the bank.

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko said the decision "saved both the bank and the banking system" in Ukraine. He said PrivatBank lacked capital and had been hit hard by the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the accompanying economic crash in 2014 and 2015.

"It is obvious that the only way to save the bank, and its customers' money, was to make it state property," Mr Poroshenko said.

"The alternative would appear irresponsible because it would mean closing our eyes, hiding our heads in the sand and waiting for the bank to fail."

Mr Poroshenko said he had submitted a bill to the Ukrainian parliament pushing for additional deposit guarantees for the bank's customers.

"I say to the customers of PrivatBank - remain calm," he said.

There were no obvious signs of panic after the move in the capital, Kiev, or of lengthy queues outside branches of Privatbank, which dominates Ukraine's retail banking sector.

PrivatBank and its owners have yet to comment. Last week, PrivatBank dismissed talk of nationalisation as an "informational attack" aimed at destabilising Ukrainian politics.

IMF president Christine Lagarde said: "Today's decision of Ukrainian authorities to nationalise PrivatBank is an important step in their efforts to safeguard financial stability.

"It is now important that the process of nationalisation be followed by firm efforts to maximize the repayment of related-party loans, and the appointment of an independent management team to restore the bank's viability, minimising the cost to the state and taxpayers in line with existing legislation and international best practice."

The EU's top foreign policy representative, Federica Mogherini, praised the "bold and courageous decision to nationalise PrivatBank," adding that it would strengthen regulation and help other EU-backed reforms.

Over the last two years, Ukrainian authorities have made a concerted effort to clean up the banking sector, closing dozens of so-called zombie banks. Many had been accused of involvement in money-laundering or related-party funding schemes, whereby people connected to the bank's management siphon off money via loans.

AP
The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

A man gestures near to the body of a man at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

A man gestures near to Andrei Karlov on ground, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

An unnamed gunman gestures after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

An unnamed gunman holds the gun after shooting the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

The Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov speaks a gallery in Ankara Monday Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

This shocking footage shows the moments after the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, was shot dead in an art gallery.

The clip, which is among a wealth of footage gathered at the time of the attack due to a heavy media presence at the event, shows a man with a gun in hand shouting.

He can be seen pointing the gun forward as he allegedly yelled 'Aleppo,' 'revenge' according to the Telegraphy.

The gun attack has drawn criticism from world leaders, including the United Nations.

Images have also emerged from the killing, which show the man brandishing the gun standing behind the ambassador before the shooting.
CONCORD  When Marilyn Geimer lost her newborn daughter to an illness that made her lungs unable to expand the nurse asked if Geimer wanted to see her daughters body.

The nurse brought her to the door of my room and there she was, but she was totally naked, no blanket or anything, Geimer said.

That image stayed with Geimer. Now, she and others with the volunteer organization Heavenly Oats, create blankets, clothes and other items for families who lose a newborn child or suffer a miscarriage.

It gives the child a more acceptable vision to carry and it give the infant dignity, Geimer said. I do this because I carry this image in my mind and want to spare anyone that image of the last time they see their child.

Heavenly Oats was founded by Bonnie Beck of Concord, and the group uses donated wedding dresses to repurpose, transforming into prayer shawls, blankets, booties, hats and other items from the wedding dresses.

The items are created for babies that have miscarried or died shortly after birth, but the group also creates items for premature babies to keep them warm, plus they create blankets for children in pediatric cancer wards. The group also creates items for babies of parents who decided not to abort a child.

There is not one person in Heavenly Oats that hasnt experienced something, whether being a nurse, having a baby thats died, having a miscarriage, having an abortion, Beck said. Theres not one person that isnt connected because they have not actively seen, felt or experienced what we doing for these people.

Healing ministry

Beck experienced the loss of a child. She lost a baby in 1979.

Theres not a birthday  when that childs due date was  theres not a day that I lost the baby  that anniversary  that I dont think about that child, Beck said. And you just never forget. Its a loneliness, its an emptiness you cant explain and you cant compare. Back then, in 1979, there was no support. They did not take pictures of babies, they did not do anything like this and basically the family was kind of left alone. And I just feel in my heart there is something I can do The last thing you are thinking about when a baby dies is, What am I going to bury the baby in?

It is a support system Beck created after her granddaughter was born. Her granddaughter was born five weeks early, and while at the hospital, Beck began thinking about how the family could have lost her.

At the time, having a premature baby, you think back to things that happen to you, Beck said. Well, one night, I was at home and the Lord just put on my heart, he gave me a vision, and the vision he gave me, I sat down in my guest bedroom and started cutting up my wedding dress. (Ive) Never sewed in my life. I thought I was crazy, and I thought, What am I doing? And what It was for was babies that, babies that are not aborted, whose mother choose to deliver them and not abort them.

Beck started her ministry in May 2014, after her granddaughter was born in March that year.

You see babies in intensive care and thats when I sat down and I sat in my spare bedroom upstairs and I started cutting up my (wedding) dress, Beck said.

Since then, Heavenly Oats has grown and helps with Carolinas HealthCare System NorthEast; Carolinas Medical Center-University; Novant Health in Salisbury; and Novant Health in Huntersville, among others. They also help a childrens hospital in New Orleans, where Beck is originally from.

Beck moved to the area, following her daughter, after Hurricane Katrina.

The group has about a dozen sewers and always need volunteers as well as donations of wedding dresses, embellishments and other materials to make the different gifts they create. The group also needs monetary donations to pay for mailing the packages around the nation.

The main thing I am trying to do is educate people on the importance of this, Beck said. Because unless you go through it, sometimes you dont even know it exists.

Donor support

Beck said the program is also a healing process for many of the people who donate their wedding dresses to Heavenly Oats.

The wedding dresses often come from donors who have gone through a divorce or lost a loved one or were never worn in the first place because the fiancee decided to not go through the marriage.

A lot of these dresses are just sitting in a closet, they are just gathering dust, Beck said. We dont want the dresses you are going to hand down to your daughter. I dont want the dresses that people want to give to their children. I just want the dresses that are in a box somewhere or they are not going to be used.

Georgeanne Norteman is one of the volunteers with Heavenly Oats and she has seen the ministry grow since she joined. She has also seen the impact of losing a child on numerous instances, working as a nurse at a small hospital in West Virginia.

She has seen families grieve, and knows the importance of creating the clothes and blankets they give to families.

Ive handed many a baby naked, wrapped in a blanket, to the parents just to be with and cuddle, Norteman said.

Norteman makes booties for babies that are born and survive and also makes prayer shawls.

Its just something God puts on your heart, Norteman said. And you dont want to do this, you need to do this.

But where does the name Heavenly Oats come from?

Its God inspired, so thats where heavenly came from and oats  when you sow oats you reap the harvest. Well, we are sewing  oats, which were giving to these babies and we are reaping the harvest, Beck said. The blessing is not only the blessing to the parents, the families and the babies, the blessing is also what we receive doing this. Im a giver and there is nothing more satisfying to me than to do something out of love and compassion for somebody that is hurting.
During the 1950s, my family was one of those above the store business owners. Downstairs the mansion built in 1821 had been converted into a pretty classy white-napkin restaurant with four dining rooms and a kitchen. We lived on the second floor; nicely appointed, but a little wanting for privacy at times if a customer decided to go exploring.

Seabrook, New Hampshire was a coastal town of ten square miles of wood land and salt marsh, hugging the Atlantic shore line. U.S. Route 1, known locally as Lafayette Road since the Marquis de Lafayette rode by on his way to Maine in 1835, dissected Seabrook down the middle.

Snow day! For Emerson School in Exeter New Hampshire there would be no suspension of classes, especially this close to final exams before Christmas break. Most of the students lived on-campus. But, I had an eight mile ride ahead of me. Frank, handyman for my Dads business, was behind the wheel of our 59 Ford Country Squire; wood fascia and big V8. For some time our secret routine, Frank and I, was to share the repetitive task of driving the car back and forth on the back roads to Exeter. We each had a job description, he manned the steering wheel and brake, and I the accelerator. I was proud of my skill. I practiced subtlety and nuance, jamming the pedal all the way to the floor at every opportunity.

What can I say - it was rural New Hampshire in 1959. Things have tightened up since then.

But, even then I knew that snow presented an occasion for restraint behind the wheel. I had learned this the previous winter when, at eleven years old, I began moving our cars around the parking lot, pretending to be helpful. Brother Roger was on hand as I moved Dads 57 Mercury Monterrey from this place in the parking lot to that place in the parking lot. The car moved forward at a stately two miles per hour as the rear wheel spun at a highway-gobbling rate. Youre driving like an old lady, was Rogers comment when I glided by him as he shoveled snow from beneath a snow-bound cars tires. My brother felt that wheel spinning was only for dry pavement.

Along the first leg to Exeter on Lafayette Road, Dodge Pond was a floating white tablecloth, a ten acre body of frozen water only a half mile inland from estuarial tide pools and salt marsh. Eight inches of new snow homogenized the landscape into a uniform white. The pond was jarringly flat in the context of its rolling hill surroundings. Now, up the hill to Exeter Road - past Edgerlys Vegetables (closed in winter), the Baptist Church at the north edge of Hampton Fallss common, over Interstate 95, wending our way between the Hampton Falls town hall and the one-room library. Into apple orchard now - row after row of grey, hibernating fruit trees. Then the long down-slope to the sharp left turn at the bottom.

Stop. This is where we need to pause the videotape. Rewind to the top of the hill. There, now. Frank and I are shushing the icy road at a cautious thirty-five miles per hour. As usual, Im manning the accelerator. OK, restart the tape.

We are moving with great deliberation downhill toward the left turn. I take my foot off the gas. Frank is steering. Umm.... Frank is still steering. I look at Frank. He continues to steer, his countenance unchanged. I look at the brake pedal. Yup, nobody moved it. Its still there. For the first time in our tag-team driving history, I consider pressing on the brake myself. But, surely Frank knows what hes doing. It would be an abrupt change in our established protocol if I were to suddenly assume brake duty.

We are moving downhill toward the curve, building kinetic energy notwithstanding the roads slushy resistance. Again I cast a sidelong glance at Frank whos remained utterly impassive. We have begun the turn. Well, actually, the road turns. We do not turn. We do, however, come to a stop - in a snowbank. Frank seems astonished. Im astonished hes astonished. One thing did not astonish me; we did not have enough traction to back out of the snow bank.

This is the end of the tape, although I can report that I still made it to school on time because of a kindly gentleman who stopped to help. Franks dumbfounded facial expression didnt change for at least a day.

When I returned home later, I was told Dad wanted to see me. Uh oh, Im in for a drubbing. I found him in the cocktail lounge. I sat as he puttered with bottles and glasses for some long, agonizingly quiet minutes. After a lengthy while, he quietly asked, Did you learn something today? Yes sir, I squeaked. Well, good. Im glad. And that was the end of that. For me, the cocktail lounge was the perfect venue for a disciplinary encounter. A little touch of Canadian blended whisky as he puttered unfailingly brought him to a happy place. And got me off the hook.

Gerry Dionne is a New Hampshire native who has lived in the Concord area for nearly 50 years.Yall give him a break.
Ongoing RCEP Negotiations  India Offers China Tariff Concessions on Over 70% Goods

Under the ongoing negotiations for a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, India is proposing to offer tariff elimination on over 70 percent of goods from China. In addition, India has offered the highest level of tariff elimination to the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during a bilateral meeting in Indonesia.

To protect its domestic industries, such as steel, the Indian government will extend the tariff elimination period by up to 30 years. Other member countries to the RCEP want shorter adjustment periods. However, India is committed to a longer phasing out period, having forgone its proposed three-tier tariff concession system at the Laos Ministerial session in August. Indias next big concern is with regards to negotiations on the services agreement.

With the President-elect Donald Trump announcing that the US will reject the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement once he takes office in January, the RCEP countries are keener than ever to arrive at a comprehensive free trade agreement. This will in turn establish the worlds largest regional trading bloc. Begun in 2013, RCEP consists of the ASEAN economies (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and six of its free trade partners (Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea). The next round of RCEP talks is to be held in February next year in Kobe, Japan.

Government to Disclose Disputes Negotiated under Mutual Agreement Procedures (MAPs)

The government intends to disclose the number of disputes being negotiated under the Mutual Agreement Procedures (MAPs) of tax treaties along with the resolution time for such disputes. This is in line with Action 14 of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project involving the G-20/OECD countries. Action 14 calls for reform measure to make dispute resolution mechanisms more effective and transparent, mandating that all participating countries provide details pertaining to tax disputes being negotiated under the MAP Article of tax treaties.

The details will be provided in the established templates that contains the information about inventory of cases and outcomes of cases. These details include the number of cases pending under MAP, number of cases fully resolved to eliminate double taxation, and the number of cases pending resolution.

The governments position was stated by the Ministry of Finance in a written reply to a question in the lower house of parliament on December 9, 2016.

India to Start Screening Imported Telecom Components from April 2017

India will start screening imported components for telecom network equipment and handsets from April 2017 due to security concerns. The move was previously held off numerous times in the last four years as the EU and US opposed to local checks fearing bottlenecks in the supply chain as well as increased costs to manufacturers.

The inspections of the imported components will be carried out by the state-owned quality control agency, Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification, which is part of the Ministry of Electronics and IT. In order to maintain supply chain efficiency, the government will screen those products that are deemed most vulnerable, such as core network systems, base stations, mobile switching centers, network management and billing systems, and transmission devices.

India imports nearly US$ 9 billion worth of telecom equipment, which can be overwhelming for one agency to handle. Consequently, the government plans to involve private sector companies to establish their own labs for local screening. In time, these labs could develop into a strong testing ecosystem. Nevertheless, private companies are not keen on this proposition due to the high costs involved, stipulated to be around US$ 200 million (Rs 14 billion). Also discouraging is the lack of any government funding.

About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email india@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight.

An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2016 Doing Business in India 2016 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in India. As such, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Indian market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to stay up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes.

Pre-Investment Due Diligence in India

In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we examine issues related to pre-investment due diligence in India. We highlight the different regulatory, tax, and socio-economic issues that a company should be aware of before entering the Indian market. We also detail some of the topics related to entry structures while investing in the Indian market, as well as cultural and HR due diligence, which may differ from state to state.

Strategies for Repatriating Funds from India

In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we look at issues related to repatriating funds from India. We highlight the unique regulations for sending funds back from India, examine the various strategies companies can make use of while repatriating, and look at remittance procedures for different types of Indian entities. Finally, we give some tips on how expats can remit their Indian money to their home countries.
Single-digit reduction in NBS rates The revised NBS rates for ensuing Rabi season have been announced by the Government of India. New rates have not seen much steeper cuts as was widely anticipated; therefore, positive for complex (NPKs) fertilizer companies. This brings much comfort to the domestic complex fertilizer companies as a steeper cut would have entailed higher inventory losses. 03 Nov 2022 11:10 AM

October 2022 auto sales: PV and CV segments continue to impress Underlying demand trend has stayed strong for PV and CV segments. Analysts at IIFL Securities estimate October 2022 wholesale dispatches in PV, MHCV and LCV segments to have grown 30%, 24% and 14% YoY, respectively. They expect the above segments to clock 25-35% volume growth in FY23. 02 Nov 2022 11:43 AM

Initial signs of moderation in API cost pressures: IIFL Securities High raw-material inflation, elevated freight expenses, and normalization in marketing spends have impacted margins of Indian pharma players over the past 12 months. However, some of these API/RM cost pressures have started abating in Q3CY22. Cipla, Sun, JB Pharma and Torrent remain IIFL Securities top-picks in the pharma sector owing to lowest risk to IIFL Securities margin and earnings estimates for these companies. 01 Nov 2022 10:53 AM
Downtown Indy, Inc. launched an initiative to engage architects state-wide to explore new, affordable, well-designed, single-family home designs for infill lots and undeveloped land in downtown/urban settings. The initiative, IN Fill, is a state-wide design competition to encourage architects to design mid-priced homes that will be contemporary, energy-efficient and sustainable. The homes will be sold for less than $225,000.

Downtown Indy, Inc., along with key partners, is hosting the competition to reutilize existing lots in Downtown Indianapolis, Anderson and Evansville. Partner support for this initiative includes the American Institute of Architects Indiana, the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and the Indiana Builders Association

Our civic focus is on talent attraction and retention for which we are seeing great success, said Sherry Seiwert, president of Downtown Indy, Inc. But with a strong workforce comes the need to maintain affordable housing in close proximity of our urban core. We recognize that home values in Downtown Indianapolis are rising and while this is positive, we are concerned that Downtown maintains a balance of households for all income levels.

The latest data from central Indianas realtor association MIBOR reveals that the price for single family homes in the Downtown core continues to rise. In 2016, 98 were sold in the Downtown area with a median sale price of $307,950. Since 2012, median Downtown home prices have increased 32 percent.

Awards up to $5,000 will be given to top design finalists. Funding for the awards will be provided by PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., Vectren Foundation, IHCDA and the Federal Home Loan Bank.

PNC recognizes the value of quality, innovative design coupled with the affordability of single family homes. We hope this competition advances the conversation for the betterment of housing options in walkable, urban cores, Said Patricia Gamble-Moore, PNC Bank Community Development Banking Manager in Indiana.

The anonymous submittal competition will be judged by expert jurors based on the following criteria:

Design quality and relevance to specific location, including energy solutions

Potential to positively impact surrounding neighborhood

Economic feasibility

The identified lot in Downtown Indianapolis lot is less than two miles from Monument Circle in the Kennedy-King Neighborhood on Cornell Avenue, immediate east of Herron-Morton Place just northeast of Downtown. The Anderson location is on 1102 Hendricks St. and the Evansville location is on 414 Read St.

Submissions are due by the end of January 2017. The winning design will be announced near the end of February. For more information, competition rules and requirements, visit www.INFILLIndiana.com.
Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Montana) has been nominated as Secretary of the Interior by Republican president-elect Donald Trump. Photo by Gage Skidmore



Opposition to the sale of public lands appears to have played a major role in the selection of Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Montana) to lead the Interior Department

Zinke has repeatedly spoken out against the sale or transfer of federal lands, citing Montana's reliance on public areas for hunting, fishing and other activities. He also has voted against legislation to sell off public lands

"The federal government needs to do a much better job of managing our resources, but the sale or transfer of our land is an extreme proposal and I wont tolerate it," Zinke, who just wrapped up his first term in Congress, said in June after he voted against one such measure.

Zinke's stance squares with that of Republican president-elect Donald Trump . In an interview with Outdoor Life earlier this year, he said he was worried about efforts to sell or transfer public lands to state governments.

"I dont like the idea because I want to keep the lands great, and you dont know what the state is going to do. I mean, are they going to sell if they get into a little bit of trouble?" Trump told editor Anthony Licata in January.

Sitting in on that interview was the incoming president's son, Donald Trump Jr. , who mentioned his love of hunting during a campaign stop on the Navajo Nation last month. According to news reports, he influenced his father to pick Zinke over Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) because she has supported selling off public lands in the past.

But McMorris Rodgers isn't the only one who embraces the idea. Top Republicans -- including the sponsor of the bill that Zinke opposed in June -- believe states can do a better job at managing lands than the federal government. Even the 2016 Republican Party platform weighs in on the issue.

"Its not that the federal government is malicious, but when they own one third of America, it is just too much to effectively manage from Washington," Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee , said in July when he introduced a controversial public lands bill that tribes and environmental groups fought to defeat.

Those sentiments have driven numerous proposals to sell or transfer public lands to states. But Indian Country has benefited too: this year alone, Congress passed at least three bills to transfer federal lands to tribes in California.

Those situations typically involve returning small parcels of aboriginal territory to tribes in recognition of their status as the original owners. States, on the other hand, often lay claim to lands that were originally set aside for tribes through treaties or other means.

And some groups often ignore the tribal aspect in their push to claim public lands. The 41-day armed standoff in Oregon was largely based on the premise that the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge should be returned to non-Indians when in fact it was originally set aside for the Burns Paiute Tribe

Read More on the Story: Trumps choice to head Interior opposes GOPs effort to sell public lands (The Salt Lake Tribune 12/14) Donald Trump Jr. Played a Key Role in Interior Pick (The Wall Street Journal 12/15) McConnell Eyed Ryan Zinke for a Senate Seat. Donald Trump Had Other Ideas. (The New York Times 12/16) Trump Still Hasnt Named a Democrat to His Cabinet (The New York Times 12/16) Outsiders Selected by Trump Aim to Unnerve Washington (The New York Times 12/17)

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Brenda White Bull, a veteran and great-great-granddaughter of Sitting Bull, at the #NoDAPL encampment in North Dakota. Photo by Ayse Gursoz | Indigenous Rising Media [Support the Indigenous Environmental Network]



A federal judge is clearing his plate in order to focus on the next phase of the #NoDAPL lawsuit.

A hearing isn't expected for another two months but it's going to be a big one. Judge James E. Boasberg will consider whether the wealthy backers of the Dakota Access Pipeline can finish the controversial project even though they lack a crucial easement in North Dakota.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe are vowing to fight the request and so is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . Their submissions are due on January 6, right after the new year.

But the tribes also agreed to put their own #NoDAPL claims aside, for now. In a joint filing with the Army Corps, they asked for the case to be held in "abeyance" while Boasberg focuses on the easement.

"Holding the tribes claims in abeyance will serve the interests of judicial economy by enabling Standing Rock, Cheyenne River, and the Corps and the court to focus on resolving the Dakota Access motion for summary judgment on an expedited basis," the motion stated, referring to the firm's legal push to finish the pipeline

The joint request, which was filed on Friday, was quickly approved by Boasberg . The move frees him to spend more time on the easement before the anticipated hearing in early February.

Boasberg also agreed to do the same in a different #NoDAPL lawsuit filed by the Yankton Sioux Tribe . The order in that case came last Tuesday.

An intimate photo essay. Indigenous Rising Media was honored to meet and interview Brenda White Bull, Sitting Bull's... Posted by Indigenous Rising Media on Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Indigenous Rising Media on Facebook: Meet Brenda White Bull - Sitting Bull's Great-Great Granddaughter



The developments underscore the significance of the easement, whose denial has kept Dakota Access from completing the $3.8 billion pipeline. Over the summer, as the #NoDAPL movement was gaining steam, the firm appeared confident that it would eventually gain approval to drill under the Missouri River and finish the project.

"Our argument is the decision has already been made on July 25," Dakota Access attorney David Debold said during a hearing on December 9, referring to the date when the Army Corps issued a finding of no significant impact regarding the proposed crossing.

The Army Corps has since been ordered to prepare an environmental impact statement regarding that crossing. Among other issues, the review will examine the potential for oil spills, address tribal treaty rights and even consider alternative routes.

"We must have confidence but ensure that this time around, the process works for us instead of against us," Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II said in an update last week

But as Boasberg pointed out during the hearing earlier this month, there's a big unknown facing everyone involved. Republican president-elect Donald Trump , whose ties to Dakota Access are strong, will be in office before the next hearing in the case.

"With regard to the Dakota Access Pipeline, that's something that we support construction of and we'll review the full situation when we're in the White House to make appropriate determination at that time," Jared Miller, a spokesperson for Trump's greatagain.gov transition told reporters on a December 5 conference call , the day after the decision on the easement.

Trump once held stock in Energy Transfer Partners , the firm behind the pipeline, and in Phillips 66 Company , which owns a stake in the project. The stocks were sold sometime in June, although the transition hasn't provided details.

Additionally, Trump's pick to lead the Department of Energy is former Texas governor Rick Perry , who sits on the board of directors for Energy Transfer Partners.

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Opponents of the Dakota Access Pipeline took their message to a governor's debate in Bismarck, North Dakota, on October 3, 2016. Photo by Rob Wilson [GoFundMe]



Standing Rock people are protecting the water; they are not just protesting. To protect something means to keep it safe from harm; to protest means to make an objection. Protection means positive action; protest means reaction. Furthermore, the fact that Americans and other peoples have joined the Standing Rock protectors does not change the fact that the protectors are making a stand on behalf of Creation. John Trudell said long ago that struggles for water would resonate far more strongly with non-Natives than struggles for land. He said everyone has connections with water every day, no matter how high they may live in a city; but many people have no connection to land, other than as real estate. John said: The water carries us from birth to life / we are a water voice. Standing Rock has shown how prescient John was. There was no big gathering last year in Apache country when the U.S. gave Oak Flats to Rio Tinto. Many are celebrating the U.S. Army decision to require a full environmental impact statement for the proposed Dakota Access pipeline crossing of the Missouri River. But the moment requires continued vigilance and clarity about the basic issue: Indigenous self-determination.

Retired professor Peter d'Errico offers another response to an opinion written by Ojibwe author David Treuer regarding the #NoDAPL movement and the Dakota Access Pipeline

Read More on the Story: Peter d'Errico: Be Clear: Distinguish Between Civil Rights and Treaty Rights (Indian Country Today 12/19)

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2016 was a horrible year, no doubt about it. Whether it was Pakistan at the border, demonetisation in the banks, Donald Trump in the US, or your own life's struggles, every week seemed to give us some news we didn't really want.

Week after week, only one thing was constant - a cup of tea when we needed it, and damn, we needed a lot of tea this year.

Is it then any surprise that the only person we may have looked up to was the chai-wallah, in his many avatars?

In no particular order...

1. The Pakistani chaiwala turned model: Arshad Khan

twitter

The blue-eyed Pakistani 'chaiwala' who took the internet by storm in just one day for his killer looks, after becoming famous on Instagram not only got the attention of Shah Rukh Khan (who he thinks he resembles), but also endorsements.

How sweet is this. Beauty lies in simplicity. https://t.co/QZbTMQN8Sj  Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 11, 2016

2. Chaiwali turned businesswoman: Uppma Vardi





She's actually a lawyer by training, and worked in Australia until her passion for a good cup of tea led her to start a chai business called 'Chai Walli''. In November, she was honoured as Australia's 'Businesswoman of the Year.'

3. Chaiwala-turned financier: Kishore Bhaijyawala

Reuters/Representational Image

When Income Tax Department raided the premises of city-based tea seller-turned-financier Kishore Bhaijyawala, they found hundreds of crores in cash, bullion, jewellery and property papers from his possession.

We cracked 'Black money, black tea' jokes when we wrote about him.



4. Chawala-turned-CA-turned-brand ambassador: Somnath Giram

Somnath Giram, a village lad who came to Pune to complete his education worked in various food stalls, and later started his own tea stall. He then cracked the Chartered Accountant entrance exam. Now, he has been appointed the Maharashtra government's brand ambassador for the government's earn-and-learn scheme.

5. Affluent engineer-turned-chaiwala: Madhur Malhotra

jagran.com

Some men are born into the chai profession. Some enter it out of desperation. Some enter it with a smile on their face.

Madhur Malhotra is an NRI-chaiwala in Bhopal, and his 'Chai 34' serves tea with 20 different flavours, making his outlet one of the most popular hangouts in the city. Madhur was living and working in Australia with a package over Rs 30 lakh, and gave up everything to start a tea stall. He came back to India not for chai, but to be near his parents.

6. Chaiwala world travellers: Vijayan and Mohana



We wrote about this tea shop couple back in 2014, but they just cannot stop travelling.

Vijayan, a 65-year-old tea-seller from Kochi travelled 16 countries with his wife Mohana. Their tea-stall is their source of income. Together, they have visited Egypt, Jordan, London, Paris, Switzerland, Venice, Singapore, Malaysia and America, apart from travelling the various states in the country.

They finance their journeys with loans, which they repay within 3 years.

7. Chaiwala-turned-PM: Narendra Modi

Image Credit: PTI

The man of the hour every single day of our lives since May 2014, (and the Man of the Year: Time Reader's poll), Modi has been causing metaphorical earthquakes this year, with a Swachh Bharat program not only in our villages and cities, but also our bank accounts and the Indo-Pak border (#surgicalstrike!)

Also read: Thief Threatens To Stab Punjabi Lady In UK, She Tells Him To Wait Until She Finishes Her Chai!


16 December saw the biggest surrender by any army in the recorded war history. 93,000 Pakistani army personnel surrendered before the Indian Army in their own backyard in erstwhile East Pakistan on this day in 1971.

Vijay Diwas, as it is remembered, not only marks the birth of a new nation, but also ended a seemingly never ending tale of atrocities by Pakistani army on Bengali population.

wikipedia

Nearly 3,800 soldier from both sides were killed in this 16-day war, but not all were as lucky as Lieutenant General Jagjit Sing Aurora, Second Liuetenant Arun Khetrapal, Major Hoshiyar Singh Dahiya and the famous Brigadier, Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, who fought and won the famous Longewala battle.

There were thousand others who didnt get to fame despite sacrificing their lives for the country.

Here are a few unknown or lesser known stories of those who laid their lives for India in battle of 1971.

1. Major Amarjit Singh Bal and Havildar T Phillipose

15 December 1971: During the battle of Basantar enemy launched a number of armoured counter attacks against own troops. Though heavily outnumbered, Major Amarjit Singh Bal and Havildar T Phillipose motivated their command to remain steadfast, thus repulsing all enemy attacks with heavy casualties to the enemy.

ADGPI - Indian Army

Throughout this action, Major A S Bal and Hav Phillipose displayed conspicuous gallantry, outstanding leadership and exceptional devotion to duty in keeping with the best traditions of the Army and were awarded Mahavir Chakra.

2. Captain Dara Dinshaw Mistry

15 December 1948: Captain Dara Dinshaw Mistry was the Observation Officer of the forward most picquet at Chhawa Ridge in the Naushera Sector(J&K), when the hostiles relentlessly shelled his position. Despite lethal fire, Captain Mistry stuck to his post and pinpointed the hostile guns and tanks.

ADGPI - Indian Army

In this act Capt Mistry displayed personal courage, unparalleled gallantry and devotion to duty with utter disregard for personal safety for which he was awarded Mahavir Chakra

3. Pradip Kumar Gour

14 December 1971: Captain Pradip Kumar Gour was a pilot with an Air Observation Post Squadron deployed on the Western front. Throughout the operations, undeterred by enemy anti aircraft fire, he flew round the clock deep inside enemy territory, directing artillery fire and obtaining vital information about the enemy.

ADGPI - Indian Army

On the fateful day, while locating and registering targets deep inside enemy territory, Captain Gour saw three enemy Sabre jets operating in the area. Instead of returning to the base and avoiding the danger, he decided to continue with the mission. In this action, Captain Gour displayed extraordinary courage, valour and devotion to duty of the highest order in the face of the enemy and was posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra.

4. Lance Naik D P Singh

On 13 December 1971: Lance Naik D P Singh was commanding a section of a battalion of Rajput Regiment during an attack on an enemy post on the Western Front. Despite the objective being captured by the battalion, two enemy medium machine guns in pillboxes were still interfering with the reorganization and were inflicting heavy casualties on own troops. Realising the importance of silencing these guns, Lance Naik D P Singh took two other ranks with him and with utter disregard for his life and safety crawled up to the first bunker and silenced the medium machine gun by lobbing a grenade. He then started crawling to the next bunker but in the process received a burst from the machine gun on his left shoulder.

ADGPI - Indian Army

Although bleeding profusely, he crawled to within six feet of the second bunker and lobbed a grenade. His daring act forced the enemy to abandon the second bunker, leaving behind the machine gun and a large quantity of ammunition. In this action, Lance Naik D P Singh displayed outstanding courage and determination and made the supreme sacrifice in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Army and was posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra

5. Subedar Bishan Singh and Jemadar Nand Singh

ADGPI - Indian Army

12 December 1947: Subedar Bishan Singh and Jemadar Nand Singh during a routine patrol suddenly came across enemy who were more in number, undaunted they led and encouraged the men to fight against the enemy. Subedar Bishan Singh and Jemadar Nand Singh displayed conspicuous gallantry, exemplary leadership, determination and devotion to duty of the highest order in keeping with the best traditions of the Army and were posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra.

6. Major V R Chowdhary

11 December 1971: Major V R Chowdhary was officer in charge of minefield clearance on the Western front. The safe lanes had to be made with great speed to enable our tanks and anti-tank weapons to reach Chakra, which was in an imminent danger of a counter-attack by the enemy armour. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Major Chowdhary personally supervised the operation, inspiring and motivating his men to their optimum efficiency.

ADGPI - Indian Army

Throughout the advance Major Chowdhary displayed an exemplary devotion to duty and was responsible for clearance of minefields of 1000-1500 yards. However while supervising the minefield lane near Basantar River, Major Chowdhary sustained injuries due to enemy artillery fire. Major Chowdhary displayed bravery, conspicuous courage, inspiring leadership and devotion to the duty in the highest traditions of the Army and was posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra

7. Lieutenant Colonel K S Pannu

11 December 1971: Lt Colonel K S Pannu was commanding a battalion, which was airdropped near Tangail. The battalion was tasked to cut the enemy routes of withdrawal and prevent the build up at Tangail. It also involved the capture of an enemy position on a vital bridge at Poongli.

ADGPI - Indian Army

The drop of the battalion was such widely dispersed that Lieutenant colonel Pannu had to move from one location to another under enemy fire to collect his troops. It was primarily due to his courage, timely and skillful direction and utter disregard to his personal safety that his battalion captured the enemy position at Poongli. Under his able leadership, the battalion also repulsed numerous counter-attacks inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Pannu displayed conspicuous gallantry, exemplary leadership, determination and devotion to duty in keeping with the best traditions of the Army and was awarded Mahavir Chakra.

8. Lieutenant Colonel Sukhjit Singh

10 December 1971: Lieutenant Colonel Sukhjit Singh was commanding an Armoured Regiment during the operations against Pakistan on the Western Front. The Regiment was deployed west of Naina Kot when the enemy launched an attack in strength under cover of intense medium artillery and heavy mortar fire.

ADGPI - Indian Army

With utter disregard to his own safety, he placed himself in the most threatened sector and under heavy shelling and tank fire, opened the cupola of his tank so that he could observe and direct the fire of his tanks effectively. Due to his mere presence and inspiring leadership, the enemy attack was beaten off without any loss to own troops. Later, on 11 December he personally led an outflanking attack under heavy medium artillery and mortar fire and closed in with the enemy and destroyed their eight tanks and captured one Officer,

Two Junior Commissioned Officers and two Other Ranks. Throughout this period, Lieutenant Colonel Sukhjit Singh displayed exemplary leadership, outstanding courage and firm determination in the face of the enemy in the best traditions of the Army and was awarded Mahabvir Chakra.

9. Naik Sugan Singh

09 December 1971: A battalion of Rajputana Rifles was ordered to attack the enemy defences at Mayanamati which comprised of well prepared concrete bunkers housing Medium Machine Guns whose crossfire covered every possible approach. Naik Sugan Singh was commanding one of the assaulting sections.

ADGPI - Indian Army

As the assaulting troops closed onto the objective, two Medium Machine Guns opened fire and held up the assault. Naik Sugan Singh charged at one of them though he received a burst on his shoulder. Although bleeding profusely, he crawled up to the bunker and lobbed a hand grenade killing two men.

Despite the grave injuries, he charged at the second Medium Machine Gun, though he could not carry himself far and fell down. He pushed a grenade into the bunker killing three of the enemy. Throughout the operation Naik Sugan Singh displayed conspicuous courage, gallantry, and devotion to duty of the highest order and was awarded Mahavir Chakra.

10. Major Chewang Rinchen

8 December 1971: Major Chewang Rinchen was commander of the force that was assigned the task of capturing the Chalunka complex of enemy defences in the Partappur Sector. Each of these nine enemy strong points were held by one to two platoons and fortified with mines and wire obstacles. This operation was planned and executed with professional competence and great zeal.

ADGPI - Indian Army

Under most adverse weather conditions, Major Rinchen led his command, displaying aggressive spirit, fighting from bunker to bunker, exhorting and encouraging his men to destroy the enemy thus making the operation a complete success. In this action, Major Chewang Rinchen displayed inspiring leadership, indomitable courage, initiative and exceptional devotion to duty in the highest traditions of the Indian Army and was award Mahavir Chakra.
Saturday's terror attack in Pampore, in which three soldiers were killed, took the number of casualties among forces this year to 87, making 2016 the bloodiest year since 2008 for security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir.

BCCL

Two motorcycle-borne terrorists opened fire on an Army convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in south Kashmir's Pulwama district in the afternoon. Police sources and eyewitnesses said terrorists wearing pherans fired incessantly at the vehicles carrying the Army men near Kadlabal area of Pampore.

After the attack, the terrorists fled from the spot, sources said. A massive search operation has been launched and the operation is still on, an Army spokesperson in Srinagar said. A police spokesman said the security forces exercised restraint due to the presence of a large number of civilians in the market.

According to terror-watch data site SATP, 84 security force personnel were killed in 2016, till last week, in various terror-related incidents in the conflict-ridden state. In 2008, which was marked by the Mumbai terror attacks and the subsequent escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, 90 security personnel were killed in the state.

BCCL

The following year, 78 securitymen were killed in various terror-related incidents. The number of casualties among the forces dropped sharply to 17 in 2012. In 2013, the number went up to 61 but came down steadily to 51 in 2014 and 41 in 2015.

Of the 87 casualties in 2016, 71 were killed in the Kashmir Valley. More than three dozen Army men, including half a dozen officers, were killed in different attacks in 2016. Nineteen Army men were killed in the Uri terror attack this year that led to massive ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border.

Security convoys have been targeted several times through the Pampore stretch of Srinagar-Jammu national highway that is also used to carry supplies to the Srinagar-based 15 Corps of the Indian Army.

BCCL

On February 20 this year, militants attacked an Army convoy and then took refuge in the government-run Entrepreneurship Development Institute. In the three-day stand-off, three soldiers, including two captains and a Special Forces operator, were killed and part of the building was destroyed. On June 25, Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists ambushed a CRPF convoy along the same Srinagar-Jammu national highway near Frestabal area of Pampore, killing eight officers.

The EDI building in Pampore was again targeted in October, resulting in another three-day stand-off between the forces and militants.
Owing to Britain's recent Brexit-related problems and thanks to India's rapid economic growth, India has managed to overtake its erstwhile colonial master United Kingdom in terms of the size of the economy - the first time after nearly 150 years.

Reuters

This dramatic shift has been driven by India's rapid economic growth over the past 25 years as well downslide in the value of the pound over the last 12 months, a report published in Forbes magazine said.

"Once expected to overtake the UK GDP in 2020, the surpasso has been accelerated by the nearly 20 per cent decline in the value of the pound over the last 12 months, consequently UK's 2016 GDP of GBP 1.87 trillion converts to $2.29 trillion at exchange rate of GBP 0.81 per $1, whereas India's GDP of INR 153 trillion converts to $2.30 trillion at exchange rate of INR 66.6 per $1," the report said.

Reuters

Interestingly, economic think-tank Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) had, in December 2011, forecasted that India would become the "fifth largest by 2020" but India has crossed this significant milestone much sooner.

"Furthermore, this gap is expected to widen as India grows at 6 to 8 per cent p.a. compared to UK's growth of 1 to 2 per cent p.a. until 2020, and likely beyond. Even if the currencies fluctuate that modify these figures to rough equality, the verdict is clear that India's economy has surpassed that of the UK based on future growth prospects," the report said.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju while celebrating India's landmark, said, "India overtakes UK & becomes 5th largest GDP after USA, China, Japan & Germany."

Reuters

"India may have large population base but this is a big leap," Rijiju added.

India overtakes UK & becomes 5th largest GDP after USA, China, Japan & Germany. India may have large population base but this is a big leap. pic.twitter.com/ANPUExHEyL  Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) December 18, 2016

On October 8, this year, International Monetary Fund (IMF) too had predicted India to surpass Europeans by the end of the fiscal.

"India is the seventh largest economy worth $2.29 trillion - just $50 billion less than the current UK's GDP, which will be bridged by end of this fiscal," IMF had said.
Owing to Britain's recent Brexit-related problems and thanks to India's rapid economic growth, India has managed to overtake its erstwhile colonial master United Kingdom in terms of the size of the economy - the first time after nearly 150 years.

1. CIA Analyst Who Quizzed Saddam Hussain Now Says US 'Got It Wrong' About The Iraqi Leader

AFP

The US "got it wrong" about Saddam Hussein and Iraq, the CIA analyst who interrogated the former dictator has said. John Nixon had numerous conversations with the deposed leader and now says that America was critically mistaken about their intervention Iraq in a number of ways. In particular, he claims, the CIA's view of Hussein's attitude to using chemical weapons was wrong. They were also mistaken about his health, personal habits and his involvement in running Iraq.

2. For The Second Year In A Row, Pakistan Is Among The World's Most Prolific Executioners

crimefeed.com

For the second year in a row, Pakistan has retained its "notorious status" of being the "third most prolific executioner" in the world, executing 419 people in two years, a rights group said today. Sarah Belal, Executive Director of Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), said in a statement that it has been two years since the tragic terrorist attack on the students of the army-run school in Peshawar in 2014 that killed 154 people, mostly students, prompting Pakistan to lift the six-year moratorium on death sentences.

3. Kerala Student Forced To Drink Deadly Cocktail During Ragging, Now On Dialysis After Kidneys Get Damaged

Cocktail/Representational Image

Six college students accused of severely ragging first-year students of a Government Polytechnic College in Kottayam, have surrendered before the police. The six senior students surrendered before the Deputy Superintendent of Police on Sunday night.

4. While Millions Are Queuing Outside Banks For Money, These Agents Are Converting 1 Cr In 1 Hour!

Owing to the struggle of demonetisation, it's obvious that every single one of us is looking for ways to get the new currency in exchange for the obsolete one, thus, giving birth to illegitimate methods. "If you have Rs 1 crore in cash, we can exchange it in one hour, anywhere in the country," said Jiten, a broker.

5. Pakistan International Airlines Sacrifices A Goat On The Runway For Safe Landing Of The Plane!

geotv

But look at the smiles of Pakistan International Airlines officials as they behead a black goat on the airport runway. They committed the deed right before a plane took off for from Islamabad to Multan. The order to sacrifice the goat apparently came from the Director of Engineering, after examining a plane, which went on to safely land at its scheduled destination. The move was to appease passengers and pilots, and is apparently a local practice to 'ward off the evil eye'.
Police detained writer and theatre activist Kamal C Chavara and charged him with sedition for insulting the national anthem in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Chavara's post was in response to the administrative crackdown on film buffs at the recent International film festival of Kerala for refusing to stand up during a rendition of the national anthem.

Kerala: Nadakkavu Police detains blogger Kamal C Chavara for allegedly insulting National Anthem via FB post; Blogger under surveillance.  ANI (@ANI_news) December 18, 2016

Rediff

Chavara has been charged under section 124 A of the IPC, while those held in Thiruvananthapuram earlier were booked under the less stringent charges.

Human rights activists slammed the arrest as a serious violation of civil liberties.

facebook

This is what he posted on Facebook, roughly translated as this:

"A school in Kerala. The 44 students there were named after the 44 rivers of Kerala, which have all dried up. The teachers of that school never used to heed requests of the children, including permission to go to the toilet to urinate. At 4 pm every day, these students had to stand up for the national anthem. Since urinating was more important for me than `Jana Gana Mana', I preferred to be an indisciplined (sic) student."

(ALSO READ: 11 People Arrested For Not Standing During National Anthem At Kerala Film Festival)

Cops took Chavara into custody following a directive from Kollam police, which itself followed a complaint filed by Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of BJP.

The police also raided his house and threatened his parents.
Ravi Jaiswal, a 32-year-old office assistant from Ganesh Deval Nagar slums in Bhayander (west), had a shock recently, when he received a notice from the Income Tax department: To pay tax dues of over Rs 5.4 crore. According to the notice, he owned four companies.

Twitter

Jaiswal immediately approached Thane superintendent of police Mahesh Patil who directed a probe after examining his financial status. Investigation revealed that Jaiswal's PAN and Aadhaar cards were used to start four bogus companiesShayansh Corporation, Gem Redtech, State Ford Textiles and Purvi Realty post-demonetisation, said inspector Rajendra Kamble of Bhayander police station.

Jaiswal told police that when he joined the firm of Kandivli-based chartered accountant Rajesh Agrawal in 2008, he was asked to submit his PAN and Aadhaar cards to open a bank account, but he got his salary in cash. In 2012, he left Agrawal and joined another firm.

businessinsider.in

Following their probe, Bhayander police on Saturday arrested Agrawal (42), his former business partner Rajeev Gupta (30) and his two employees, Juglesh Gupta (25) and Santosh Singh (32), for allegedly starting four bogus companies in Jaiswal's name to launder money. They have been sent to police custody by a Thane court.

According to police sources, Agrawal, a resident of Evershine Millennium Paradise, Thakur village, Kandivli (east), opened two bank accounts in Jaiswal's name post demonetisation by forging his signature. Rajeev, a Bhayander resident who had asked Jaiswal to join Agrawal's firm, left the firm in 2012 and started a gas agency. Police suspect that Juglesh and Santosh had done the paperwork for starting the bogus companies.

Police raided Agrawal's Malad office and seized a hard disk, documents and fake government rubber stamps. Police have learnt that they had started two more such companies.
The act of demonetisation has become a sorcery. Of late, the government said that political parties depositing the demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in their accounts will not face income tax investigation.

Why?

"If it is a deposit in the account of a political party, they are exempt. But if it is deposited in individual's account then that information will come into our radar. If the individual is putting money in his own account, then we will get information," revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia told reporters.

The idea of demonetisation was to fight corruption, reduce black wealth, eradicate corruption, subdue terrorism and what not.

Now, by allowing political parties to deposit money without any intervention is the exact opposite of what was promised to us in the first place.

#dhankibaat. @narendramodi... when it comes to dhan ki baat of political parties you need exemption...please explain sir  amey palekar (@PalekarAmey) December 16, 2016

Only common man have 2 show there source f Income & pay tax. Political parties have all d exemption! https://t.co/gneydp7T6C #Demonitization  Darshak Hathi (@DarshakHathi) December 17, 2016

Dr. Surya Kanta Mishra has questioned the exemption of political parties from IT Act and it's coming after crores were deposited in BJP A/cs  raj kumar jain (@rajjain1940) December 19, 2016

Honourable Supreme Court of India: Ask SC to revoke exemption of political parties from IT s... https://t.co/4UA1c8GXAP via @ChangeOrg_India  Commodore Ajaykumar (@cmdeajay) December 19, 2016

Exemption of political parties shows how the common man is being taken for a ride and some morons are still enjoying the ride ! #JantaVsNeta  tajinder singh (@tajindersinghp) December 16, 2016

Owing to the same, the former President of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union, Kanhaiya Kumar, filed a petition on change.org, asking SC to revoke exemption of political parties from IT scrutiny of deposits in old notes.

     

     

 ,     ?

Plz sign d petitionhttps://t.co/e0cvWhmh6i  Kanhaiya Kumar (@kanhaiyajnusu) December 17, 2016

"Bringing to your kind attention the exemption granted to political parties from IT scrutiny of old notes." the subject of the petition reads.

Respected Sir,

The present government has taken a decision to demonetize old currency notes of Rs. 500 and 1000 with a stated aim to fight the scourge of black money, corruption and terrorism.

Given the extraordinary nature of this measure which has affected every citizen and business's financial autonomy and brought their records under scrutiny; the exemption granted to political parties from any scrutiny from income tax authorities whatsoever in this regard, seems patently unfair to the citizenry.

Political Parties receive large amounts of funding from various sources. According to a report by transparency watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms, 75% of the funding of six major political parties is from unknown sources.

Therefore, exempting Political Parties from any scrutiny defeats the very purpose of this massive exercise of demonetization due to which common citizens have suffered immensely. On the contrary, it gives incentives for black money holders to use political parties as fronts for laundering black money; thereby, compromising the very functioning of our democracy and failing to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the demonetization.

This black money is endangering the free and fair democracy, which the Supreme Court has recognised as the basic structure of the constitution.

An estimate by the Centre for Media Studies in Delhi puts the total cost of this seasons campaigns for seats in Indias parliament and state assemblies at $4.9 billion. That would make it the second-most expensive in world history, trailing just behind Americas of 2012, which cost $6 billion. According to some estimates, Indias election will cost even more; total expenditures could exceed 0.35% of national GDP. The money raised by the electoral trusts is only 2.2% of the total reported by the parties; a drop in the bucketbut a limpid drop, with its donors and recipients, clearly labelled.

So, we on behalf of millions of citizens appeal to the good sense of our judiciary to proceed against this leniency provision in the Income Tax Act. Yours Sincerely, Kanhaiya Kumar

Please sign the petition here.
Horrific cases of animal cruelty have lately been reported from across the country  a stray dog thrown over a roof in Chennai, and a monkey tortured to death in Vellore, to name a few. In a small ray of hope, however, many of these cases have since then become a rallying cry for animal lovers, who have sought justice by unifying both online and on the ground.

punemirror

An echo of this assurance that unnecessary cruelty be brought to book was witnessed in Pune last week, thanks to a conscientious teen. All it took was for her to raise her voice against brutality for Pune commissioner of police (CP) Rashmi Shukla to intervene, and set the wheels of the law in motion.

Last Saturday, 18-year-old Diksha Thakkar, an experienced animal activist, was taken aback to see five to six youths torturing a pig in open public view, near the Krome Mall, on Pune-Solapur Road. The animal was being forcefully taken for slaughter to Ramtekdi, when a shocked Diksha intervened to ask whether the boys had the legal documents to do so.

When the local police chowky was approached, the college student was even more surprised by the cops response. Police cautioned her that these youths are dangerous and refused to take down her complaint. That was when the intrepid girl decided to approach the top cop. Asked about the incident, Shukla told Mirror, I have told Diksha to come and meet me. She need not fear anyone. The police will take action against the miscreants.

punemirror

Around 5 pm on Saturday, Diksha was on her regular rounds to check and feed roadside animals in the area. She then suddenly came across some young boys running behind a frightened, squealing pig outside the mall. She immediately stopped and asked for legal documents certifying its slaughter, but the boys began beating the pig with wooden sticks, kicking it and torturing it badly. They had muzzled it and tied its legs, and dragged it onto a bike to take away. I called up the 100 police number for help, but when the beat marshalls reached, they didnt even question the boys. Instead, they started telling me not to get involved, and insisted that these are dangerous people. In front of the cops, the boys took the pig away illegally, trussed up and tied to a wooden stick, said Diksha.

A first-year Bachelors of Business Management (BBM) student at Nowrosjee Wadia College, Diksha is an official volunteer of the Animal Law Enforcement and Rescue Team (ALERT) organisation; in fact, she is their zonal head for the Hadapsar, Kondhwa, Bibwewadi and Dhankawadi areas. She added, The boys brazenly told me to come to Ramtekdi and see their pig farming. They also offered me a deal, asking for Rs 2,000 to release the pig. As I was arguing with them, many people gathered around us, but no one came forward to help.

BCCL/Representational Image

Thinking on her feet, Diksha had taken ample photographic evidence of the act as evidence for police. She approached the Wanowrie police chowky to escalate the issue, but hit yet another dead end. A policeman there started telling me not to get involved in such cases. He said pigcatching is a regular activity in the area. When I informed them that there are laws related to the slaughter of livestock, they refused to listen. In the end, they sent me away and told me to contact their senior police inspector, said Diksha.

On Sunday, she contacted Shukla with all the proof she had. Diksha did not have to wait for long before the CP assured her that action will be taken, as well as a check made into why Wanowrie police displayed laxity. Said Shukla, I had a conversation with Diksha and instructed the officer concerned to immediately lodge an FIR in this case. The policemen who went to the spot were constables  they did not know exactly what action was to be taken in such a situation. But, it will be checked why no action was taken on that day itself.

BCCL/Representational Image

In her complaint, she demanded that an FIR be lodged against the culprits under sections 11(1) (a) and 11(1) (L) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, as well as sections 289 (negligent conduct with respect to any animal) and 429 (mischief by killing or maiming animals of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

By Sunday evening, a chastised Wanowrie police had called Diksha to tell her that a probe has been initiated into the case. She summed up, I cannot be totally sure I will not be harassed in this area again by these boys when I try to help stray animals. It is the responsibility of the police to protect all living beings under their jurisdiction.
When 67 years old Chris Connors died of pancreatic cancer, everybody thought that it was just another death, except for his family.

Chris, who lived his life to the fullest, enjoyed every single bit of it, had his obituary exactly his way. His family ensured that he gets the most hilarious and heartwarming obituary of all times.

If you haven't read this man's obituary yet, give it a click. A true reminder to live life to the fullest. https://t.co/N2kk7iXmiI  Hadley Barndollar (@hbarndollar) December 15, 2016

"Ladies man, game slayer, and outlaw Connors told his last inappropriate joke on Friday, December 9, 2016, that which cannot be printed here. it read.

The obituary recalls some of Chris' most hilarious moments. His 31-year-old daughter said that there were 'a million other stories' she could have used.

The Massachusetts man, who liked to think of himself as just a 'regular Irishman' was not so regular by the way. He was a boxer, sailor, drinker and self-styled 'man of the world'

He climbed to the base camp of Mount Everest when he was 64 - one of a long line of extraordinary events. He also tried to sail around the globe aged 26

A celebration of his life will be held in York, Maine, today.
The US "got it wrong" about Saddam Hussein and Iraq, the CIA analyst who interrogated the former dictator has said. John Nixon had numerous conversations with the deposed leader and now says that America was critically mistaken about their intervention Iraq in a number of ways. In particular, he claims, the CIA's view of Hussein's attitude to using chemical weapons was wrong. They were also mistaken about his health, personal habits and his involvement in running Iraq.

AFP

Nixon also criticised the conduct of George W Bush, under whose leadership America invaded Iraq, saying the former president heard "only what he wanted to hear" on the topic and reportedly made inappropriate jokes about the missing WMDs. Bush blamed the CIA for Iraq's failures, Nixon said, adding that he "called its analysis 'guesswork"'.

During the interrogations, Mr Nixon asked Hussein if he'd ever thought of engaging in a pre-emptive strike with WMDs against US troops based in Saudi Arabia. According to Nixon, writing in the Mail on Sunday, the former dictator's reply was: "We never thought about using weapons of mass destruction. It was not discussed. Use chemical weapons against the world? Is there anyone with full faculties who would do this? Who would use these weapons when they had not been used against us?" Mr Nixon admitted this was "not what we had expected to hear".

The main reason the American and British governments used to justify the controversial invasion of Iraq was the supposed risk posed by the WMDs possessed by the country. Hussein then said America had made such a grave misjudgement because "the spirit of listening and understanding was not there" and some of the blame for this lay with himself.

AFP

The faulty intelligence surrounding WMDs wasn't the only mistake the Americans made about Iraq. According to Nixon, Hussein warned him against the nation building the American government was attempting in the country. "You are going to fail," Hussein told him.

"You are going to find that it is not so easy to govern Iraq." When asked why he believed this, Hussein said it was because the Americans didn't understand the Iraqi people because they didn't know the language, mind-set of the country, the history and even the weather.

Hussein was executed in 2006, three years after his capture close to his home town of Tikrit at the hands of American Special Forces. But his predictions were accurate: The country descended into chaos after he was removed from power, and nearly 200,000 people have died in the conflicts that followed. Iraq is now widely regarded as a failed state, and still suffers from widespread violence, including from Isis, who are currently defending the city of Mosul. Thirteen years on, at least 5,000 American troops remain in the country.
For the second year in a row, Pakistan has retained its "notorious status" of being the "third most prolific executioner" in the world, executing 419 people in two years, a rights group said today.

Sarah Belal, Executive Director of Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), said in a statement that it has been two years since the tragic terrorist attack on the students of the army-run school in Peshawar in 2014 that killed 154 people, mostly students, prompting Pakistan to lift the six-year moratorium on death sentences.

crimefeed.com

She said that so far Pakistan has executed 419 death row prisoners convicted for terrorism and other crimes since re-starting executions. "Pakistan has retained its notorious status of being the third most prolific executioner in the world, two years in a row," she said.

According to Amnesty International, at least 1,634 people were executed in 25 countries in 2015. Out of these, most of the executions took place in China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the USA - in that order, it said.

Belal said that "No amount of commiseration or time can ever mitigate the horror" of the Peshawar attack but executions may not be the right way to deal with it. "An analysis of the 419 executions that have occurred so far reveals significant flaws in that narrative," she said.

trbimg

"According to data collected by Justice Project Pakistan, only 16 per cent of the executions carried out since December 2014 were related to terrorism charges," she said, adding that the remainder included several cases of wrongful execution such as juveniles, the mentally ill and the physically disabled, all of which are expressly forbidden in light of Pakistan's international legal obligations.

Belal said this figure is even more problematic when considering that in as many as 88 per cent of "terrorism" cases, there was no link to a terrorist organisation or anything that can reasonably be defined as terrorism.
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The Striking Audacity of the Coup-in-Process By Paul Craig Roberts December 18, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Unsubstantiated stories have been planted throughout the presstitute media by anonymous CIA officials that Donald Trumps electoral victory was the result of Russian intervention. This absurd claim has now been elevated to the even more absurd claim that Putin himself oversaw and even conducted the manipulation of the US presidential election. No evidence has been provided for these amazing claims. The presstitutes are reporting unsubstantiated wild accusations that portend both a constitutional crisis in the US and a crisis with Russia. We know that the presstitutes lie. The presstitutes lied when they reported contrary to the weapons inspectors in Iraq that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. They lied about fake evidence of yellowcake and alumninum tubes. They lied about Saddam Husseins al-Qaeda connections. They lied about Iranian nukes despite the unanimous report of all US intelligence agencies that Iran had abandoned interest in nuclear weapons years ago. The presstitutes lied about Assad using chemical weapons against the Syrian people. They lied about Gadaffi. They lied about Russian invasion of Ukraine. They lied about the cause of the Russian/Georgian conflict. They lied about the Sochi Olympics. Now the presstitutes are claiming that Russian interference determined the outcome of the US presidential election and the Brexit vote. As a result of the prestitutes lies, millions of peoples have been killed and dislocated. This blood is all on the heads of the American media. So we know for a proven fact that the US media has no integrity and no conscience. Now the presstitutes have surpassed their previous level of criminality. They are part and parcel of formenting a coup against the president-elect and throwing the country into a crisis of unknown proportion. Tomorrow the Electoral College meets to cast the ballots for president. There is a well organized effort to disrupt this normally routine procedure. Based on CIA lies spread over the country by the presstitutes, 62 electors have requested a CIA briefing prior to the vote on Russian interference in the election. As there is no formal CIA report and no evidence in support of the allegations, the briefing would consist of the allegations. A Harvard Law School professor, Lawrence Lessig, involved in the Stop-Trump movement, has promised free legal defence of electors who break with precedent and cast their votes differently from the majority vote of their states. This effort, which presents a grave and continual threat to the Constitution, to domestic tranquility, and to international stability, is said in a nationwide media ad campaign to be necessary in order to block Trump from presenting a grave and continual threat to the Constitution, to the domestic tranquility, and to international stabilithy. https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-12-15/long-shot-bid-to-block-trump-arrives-at-electoral-college-monday If the effort tomorrow fails, President Obama has put in motion a second shot at blocking Trumps inauguration with his order to the CIA to produce a report on Russian election meddling prior to January 20. This report could be used to delay the inauguration or to convey to the Amerian public and peoples abroad so many doubts that Trumps effectiveness as a leader would be undermined. And of course, the constant assaults on Trump can result in his assassination by a lone nut patriot incensed over having in office a president declared by the New York Times to be a Putin stooge and useful idiot for the Russians. This is the newspaper of records characterization of the president chosen by the American people. Professor Michel Chossudovsky of Global Research adds another dimension to the struggle a fight between rival oligarchic interests. Trump and his announced Secretary of State want the business deals that result from normal relations with Russia. The military/security oligarchs want the immense budgets and power that comes from positioning Russia as a dire threat. Even if Trump survives the CIAs challenge to his election, his cabinet appointees will have to survive confirmation fights and, if they do, ongoing challenges to their efforts to change policies from policies that favor oligarchs enriched by war to policies that favor oligarchs enriched by peace. In other words, whatever the outcome tomorrow and January 20th, the fight is ongoing. Only a Counter-Coup Can Save American Democracy By Paul Craig Roberts December 18, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - The CIA has long engineered coups in other countries. Now we are approaching at breakneck speed a CIA coup in the USA. When the presstitute media first published unverifired, unsourced leaks attributed to unnamed CIA officials, both the FBI and the Director of Homeland Security said that they did not embrace the accusation that Trumps election was a result of Russian interference in the US presidential election. Now suddenly we have a report from the Washington Post, a rag whose integrity is in doubt and a mainstay of anti-Trump propaganda suspected of being a CIA asset, that the FBI and Homeland Security are in agreement with the anonymous leaks to the presstitutes: FBI Director James B. Comey and Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. are in agreement with a CIA assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election in part to help Donald Trump win the White House, officials disclosed Friday, as President Obama issued a public warning to Moscow that it could face retaliation.

New revelations about Comeys position could put to rest suggestions by some lawmakers that the CIA and the FBI werent on the same page on Russian President Vladimir Putins intentions. The positions of Comey and Clapper were revealed in a message that CIA Director John Brennan sent to the agencys workforce Friday. Earlier this week, I met separately with FBI [Director] James Comey and DNI Jim Clapper, and there is strong consensus among us on the scope, nature, and intent of Russian interference in our presidential election, Brennan said, according to U.S. officials who have seen the message.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-blames-putins-personal-grudge-against-her-for-election-interference/2016/12/16/12f36250-c3be-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html?utm_term=.ad62c36e39ca Note, that this claim comes from the CIA. It has not been verified at this time of writing by the FBI and Homeland Security. Indeed, please note that the Washington Post, which is hyping this story of intelligence agency consensus, reports: The CIA and the FBI declined to comment on Brennans message or on the classified intelligence assessment that CIA officials shared with members of the Senate Intelligence Committee earlier this month, setting off a political firestorm. In other words, the CIA might be putting words in the mouths of the other intelligence officials. Note also that Hillary says that Putin interfered against her because he has a grudge against her for her interference in his reelection by fomenting protests against him with the Western-financed Russian NGOs. If what Hillary claims is correct, then any Russian interference, for which proof remains absent, was directed against Hillary in order to settle a score and has nothing to do with any Russian influence over Trump or 200 Internet sites as falsely and maliciously reported by the Washington Post. All the CIA officials making claims of Russian interference, according to the Washington Post, continue to speak on the condition of anonymity. So we have a coup against the president-elect based solely on unverified, unsourced, anonymous assertions made by the public knows not who. Rep. Davin Nunes, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, which has oversight over the CIA, has said that neither he nor the committee have seen any evidence from the CIA in support of the claims he reads in the media. He has asked the agency to brief the Intelligence Committee on the alleged evidence but has had no response. According to the Washington Post, Nunes said: We have not received any information from Intelligence Community (IC) agencies indicating that they have developed new assessments on this issue. I am alarmed that supposedly new information continues to leak to the media but has not been provided to Congress. Rep. Nunes statement makes it completely clear that the CIA is using the presstitute media to launch a coup against president-elect Trump. CIA director John Brennans audacity suggests that he expects the coup to succeed. Otherwise, he is dead meat along with Bezos, The Washington Post and the rest of the presstitute media. Trumps critics on the left and right and among the liberals and progressives have stupidly played into the CIAs hands. I tried to warn them not to judge Trump by the past associations of his appointees as no change was possible without strong knowledgeable appointees. Those who romanticize Bernie Sanders are out to lunch. A person as weak as Sanders proved to be, completely collapsing in the face of his stolen presidential nomination by Hillary, could not possibly have prevailed over the powerful oligarchic groups that rule America. When we finally get a president-elect strong enough to bring change from the top down, the leftwing-liberal-progressive elements join the CIA in denouncing him! If the generals Trump has announced as his appointees have been too marginalized within the military by the neoconservatives to be able to provide US military protection against the CIAs coup against the president-elect, do not expect Donald Trump to be inaugurated as President of the United States on January 20. We are at the point that only a countercoup against the CIA and the Hillary forces can save American democracy. High treason is alive and well in the United States, and it is operating against American democracy and president-elect Trump. Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West , How America Was Lost , and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order . Dialogos Interview with economist and analyst Paul Craig Roberts (English) 14-12-2016 Unity vigils launch in state capitols nationwide before Electoral College vote : Unite For America allies within the Electoral College have been in talks with multiple electors seeking public support and legal counsel in denying Trump their vote on December 19. Electors under siege: Members of the Electoral College have been inundated by harassing phone calls and hate mail. Many report receiving death threats. Electoral College members from Pa. issued state police protection: Report : One elector told the website that each elector has been assigned a plain clothes state police trooper for protection Why I Will Not Cast My Electoral Vote for Donald Trump: Mr. Trump lacks the foreign policy experience and demeanor needed to be commander in chief. Demonizing Trump? Three professors of psychiatry call for neuropsychiatric evaluation of Trump out of fears hes mentally ill : In a letter addressed to President Barack Obama, three professors of psychiatry  including one from Harvard Medical School  expressed fears that President-elect Donald Trumps exhibits signs he may not be mentally fit to assume the presidency. A Message for Electors to Unite For America https://www.uniteforamerica.org/ Reality Check: 5 Problems with CIA Claim That Russia Hacked DNC/Podesta emails The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Under Amazons CIA Cloud: The Washington Post By Norman Solomon December 18, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - News media should illuminate conflicts of interest, not embody them. But the owner of the Washington Post is now doing big business with the Central Intelligence Agency, while readers of the newspapers CIA coverage are left in the dark. The Posts new owner, Jeff Bezos, is the founder and CEO of Amazon -- which recently landed a $600 million contract with the CIA. But the Posts articles about the CIA are not disclosing that the newspapers sole owner is the main owner of CIA business partner Amazon. Even for a multi-billionaire like Bezos, a $600 million contract is a big deal. Thats more than twice as much as Bezos paid to buy the Post four months ago. And theres likely to be plenty more where that CIA largesse came from. Amazons offer wasnt the low bid, but it won the CIA contract anyway by offering advanced high-tech cloud infrastructure. Bezos personally and publicly touts Amazon Web Services, and its evident that Amazon will be seeking more CIA contracts. Last month, Amazon issued a statement saying, We look forward to a successful relationship with the CIA. As Amazons majority owner and the Posts only owner, Bezos stands to gain a lot more if his newspaper does less ruffling and more soothing of CIA feathers. Amazon has a bad history of currying favor with the U.S. governments national security establishment. The media watch group FAIR pointed out what happened after WikiLeaks published State Department cables: WikiLeaks was booted from Amazons webhosting service AWS. So at the height of public interest in what WikiLeaks was publishing, readers were unable to access the WikiLeaks website. Hows that for a commitment to the publics right to know? Days ago, my colleagues at RootsAction.org launched a petition that says: The Washington Posts coverage of the CIA should include full disclosure that the sole owner of the Post is also the main owner of Amazon -- and Amazon is now gaining huge profits directly from the CIA. More than 15,000 people have signed the petition so far this week, with many posting comments that underscore widespread belief in journalistic principles. While the Post functions as a powerhouse media outlet in the Nations Capital, its also a national and global entity -- read every day by millions of people who never hold its newsprint edition in their hands. Hundreds of daily papers reprint the Posts news articles and opinion pieces, while online readership spans the world. Propaganda largely depends on patterns of omission and repetition. If, in its coverage of the CIA, the Washington Post were willing to fully disclose the financial ties that bind its owner to the CIA, such candor would shed some light on how top-down power actually works in our society. The Post is unquestionably the political paper of record in the United States, and how it covers governance sets the agenda for the balance of the news media, journalism scholar Robert W. McChesney points out. Citizens need to know about this conflict of interest in the columns of the Post itself. In a statement just released by the Institute for Public Accuracy, McChesney added: If some official enemy of the United States had a comparable situation -- say the owner of the dominant newspaper in Caracas was getting $600 million in secretive contracts from the Maduro government -- the Post itself would lead the howling chorus impaling that newspaper and that government for making a mockery of a free press. It is time for the Post to take a dose of its own medicine. From the Institute, we also contacted other media and intelligence analysts to ask for assessments; their comments are unlikely to ever appear in the Washington Post. What emerges now is what, in intelligence parlance, is called an agent of influence owning the Post -- with a huge financial interest in playing nice with the CIA, said former CIA official Ray McGovern. In other words, two main players nourishing the national security state in undisguised collaboration. A former reporter for the Washington Post and many other news organizations, John Hanrahan, said: It's all so basic. Readers of the Washington Post, which reports frequently on the CIA, are entitled to know -- and to be reminded on a regular basis in stories and editorials in the newspaper and online -- that the Post's new owner Jeff Bezos stands to benefit substantially from Amazon's $600 million contract with the CIA. Even with such disclosure, the public should not feel assured they are getting tough-minded reporting on the CIA. One thing is certain: Post reporters and editors are aware that Bezos, as majority owner of Amazon, has a financial stake in maintaining good relations with the CIA -- and this sends a clear message to even the hardest-nosed journalist that making the CIA look bad might not be a good career move. The rich and powerful blow hard against the flame of truly independent journalism. If we want the lantern carried high, were going to have to do it ourselves. Follow Norman Solomon on Twitter: www.twitter.com/normansolomon The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Delays In East-Aleppo Evacuation Are Part Of A Plan By Moon Of Alabama December 18, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Moon Of Alabama " - The removal of defeated al-Qaeda fighters and their families from east-Aleppo has been on and off for several days now. The agreement between Turkey and Russia the evacuation is based on, stipulates that in parallel to the transfer from defeated fighters in east-Aleppo wounded people from the al-Qaeda besieged Shiite village Fu'a and Kafraya in Idleb province will be allowed to evacuate. Note that neither the U.S. nor the (partisan) UN were involved in the negotiations. The process was interrupted on Friday after al-Qaeda fighters in east-Aleppo opened fire on evacuating civilians. In parallel buses moving into Fu'a and Kafraya to evacuate people were held up by al-Qaeda aligned groups in the area. Opposition claims that Hizbullah fighters was killing people that were evacuating from east-Aleppo were, according to a BBC producer, lies. The agreement and evacuations were put on again and proceeded this morning after some new negotiations with unknown additional terms. The movements were to take place in strict parallel. Any move out of east-Aleppo on the government provided public buses would only happen at the very same moment that the wounded would move out of Fu'a and Kafraya on similar buses. Today's evacuations were again sabotaged by al-Qaeda forces: Several buses en route to evacuate the sick and injured from two government-held villages in Syria's Idlib province have been burned by rebels. The convoy was travelling to Foah and Kefraya, besieged by rebel fighters. Pro-government forces are demanding people be allowed to leave the mainly Shia villages in order for the evacuation of east Aleppo to restart. Thousands of people are waiting to leave in desperate conditions, reports say. Al-Qaeda gangs themselves provided video of the bus burning. The bus drivers were murdered which pretty much guarantees that no further buses will come or go. I doubt that this is a solely al-Qaeda induced incident. It seems to me that the certain U.S. forces (aka the CIA) are trying to prolong the removal of al-Qaeda from east-Aleppo for their own purpose. Just yesterday the Washington Post (again) reported on the years long collusion between the CIA and al-Qaeda in Syria: The CIA meanwhile continued to push a program that targeted Russia and its Syrian and Iranian allies  and helped shield Jabhat al-Nusra. There are several "western" groups that want to keep the evacuation stalled to continue their anti-Syrian, anti-Russian and anti-Iran agenda. The U.S. administration is miffed that it was kept out of the recent negotiations. It wants to demonstrate that any negotiations without its participation will not have any positive result. The hundreds of "last video from Aleppo" of "Bana" and other propaganda creatures claiming to be there look like a highly coordinated Information Warfare campaign. The "Stand with Aleppo" campaign in the U.S. was started and is propelled by a Democratic party operative who is also CEO of a public relations company and "strategic affairs consultant" in Chicago, Becky Carroll. Its aim is to escalated the situation in Syria. Meanwhile members of the Syrian opposition, or rather their "western" controllers in the CIA, are now emphasizing Iran, not Russia, as alleged spoiler in Syria. They claim, without any evidence, that Iran or its operatives held up the evacuations. This is part of a plan to preempt announced Trump policies of negotiating an end of the Syria conflict. The French president Hollande, despised by his people and with an approval rating between 4 and 6%, is calling for another UN Security Council vote over east-Aleppo. Such a vote, demanding UN observers for the evacuation, is intended to hold it up. Observers would need days to be in place and would lack any reasonable protection. Hollande also wants to provide food to the "civilians" in east-Aleppo while Reuters provides video showing that al-Qaeda and allies in east-Aleppo have horded enough food for years. Earlier Hollande ordered the lights at the Eiffel tower to be turned off to mourn the liberation of Aleppo from Takfiris and to make it look like the flag of his defeated al-Qaeda friends. His sponsors in Qatar and Saudi Arabia will reward his principled stand. With the burning of the buses the evacuation agreement is dead and unlikely to be revived. The Syrian army should tell al-Qaeda in Aleppo that there will be no longer be any ceasefire. It must make clear that they will now either be interned or killed. The final fighting should be over in a day or two. The Russian military learned the hard way in Grozny that any ceasefire or pause you give to a mostly defeated enemy only helps the enemy and will, in the end, cost more lives on both sides. Meanwhile as much air support as possible should be provided to the defenders at Fu'a and Kafayra. Putin and Lavrov have fallen for various negotiation scams with the U.S. that were designed to only hold back attacks on al-Qaeda and allies so that those forces could reorganize and resupply for renewed fighting. Kerry's promises to separate "moderates" from al-Qaeda in Syria was repeated over months until he finally claimed that the groups were too "marbled" to be taken apart. Similar deceiving delaying tactics are now evident with the negotiated evacuation of east-Aleppo. Meanwhile the next al-Qaeda stronghold to be attacked by government forces in the governate and city of Idleb can be prepared for defense. With the Syrian army and its allies still busy in Aleppo new arms supplies can arrive in Idleb and new formations can be organized. The British government even sends more troops to train "moderate" al-Qaeda allies. It is time to end such sorry play. Clean up Aleppo already. Hollande, Samantha Power and other stooges will howl anyway - no matter how the final scene is done. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Whistleblower John Kiriakou Critiques the CIAs Behavior



Joshua Scheer speaks with 15-year CIA veteran and whistleblower John Kiriakou about the U.S. intelligence establishment and its claims that hackers interfered with the 2016 U.S. elections at the behest of the Russian government. Posted December 18, 2016







Kiriakou discusses President-Elect Trumps refusal to receive daily intelligence briefings, the relationship between the CIA and the White House and how it may change under Trump, and the condition of fellow CIA whistleblower Jeffrey Sterling.



Lastly, Kiriakou talks about his new book, Doing Time Like a Spy: How the CIA Taught Me to Survive and Thrive in Prison. Rushed transcript: Joshua Scheer: My guest right now is John Kiriakou, a CIA whistleblower, author of three books, one that is available for pre-order that we will discuss, Doing Time Like a Spy, and were discussing, obviously, intelligent briefing, Russian hacks, and I want to talk about Jeffrey Sterling, another CIA whistleblower who is still in prison. Thank you for joining me. John Kiriakou: Oh, very happy to be with you. Scheer: Lets start obviously with the CIA and theres been anonymous sources in the Washington Post, Im sure you followed the story. Today, theres discussion of Vladimir Putin being involved in hacking our US election. What do you make of all this? Kiriakou: Honestly, in my gut, this just feels like a red herring to me. First of all, nobody has really defined what hacking means. Are the Russian being accused of having hacked in the voting machines to steal the election? Ive not seen that yet. Have they been accused of hacking emails? Yes, but if so, what was the fallout? I mean, this is something that the big powers do to each other all the time, and God knows the United States has a very long history, a rich history of interfering in the elections of other countries. Im not really sure what the outrage is. To your first point, Im not sure why we should really care. This is just something that the KGB does to the United States and that the CIA does to the Russians, and its just one of those dirty little poorly kept secrets and it has been for decades. Im just not getting the outrage. Scheer: Its very interesting, yeah. This is obviously causing, like many of the issues of this last presidential election causing a divide within the Liberal community. A lot of Liberals, surprisingly enough, have defended the CIA. Kiriakou: Right. Scheer: Im sure, for them, its strange ground. Strangely, in the Washington Post this October, same paper that had these allegations from the CIA that broke the story, talks about that, the long history of CIA involvement in elections. I mean, certainly off the top of my head, Im thinking of Iran the 54 coup in Guatemala, Vietnam, and the list goes on and on. I mean, yeah, youre part of this organization. Youre a whistleblower. You blew the whistle on the torture program, and every morning, when I read these stories, the first thing that comes to my mind is certainly the movies that have been about the CIA, but certainly is the torture program that you exposed and involvement in elections and gathering information and undermining, even if not involved, undermining foreign interests for US power, right? Kiriakou: Yeah, and when you look back through history, you can see that even where the CIA, Im going to use the word in quotation marks, successfully influenced foreign elections, almost uniformly, those have turned out to be disasters over the long term. We still had never recovered. At least our policy has never recovered from the Mossadegh overthrow in the Iran in the 1950s. Look at Latin America, its still a mess, largely because what the CIA has done there over the years, even in Greece where the CIA, it wasnt an election, but the CIA supported the overthrow of the Greek government in 1967 by a military junta. Even in Greece, people still hate and distrust the United States because of that. Its like the CIA does these kinds of things, they carry out these kinds of covert action operations without any thought to long-term policy, and like I said, uniformly, the policy has turned out to be a disaster. Scheer: I want to get into something, because obviously this is the Washington Post and people have written about this, about Philip Grahams involvement in the CIA Operation Mockingbird, talking about the use of journalist, Jason Leopold, who we both know wrote about this a few months ago for VICE News, about Leon Panetta getting information into mainstream media into popular shows certainly about the CIA or other intelligence information. Theres a long storied history of the combination of the press. There was a great piece by Philip Giraldi. This is before a lot of this Putin stuff had come out, before the CIA allegations, but discussing his role and a member of the CIA placing fake news articles across the world. You take all these things into consideration, is it just some people cant get over the fact that Donald Trump despite not winning the popular vote by millions is the president? Is that really what you think, it comes down to? I mean, certainly China has hacked us and all of this, and Ive had Malcolm Nance on, who wrote the book about hacking our election. Certainly, this malfeasance shouldnt go uninvestigated, but when youre talking about anonymous sources ... As you pointed out, I mean, this is a very confusing time for a lot of people. Do you even get what it is, this red herring with the CIA and Putin? Kiriakou: I think thats a part of it. I think the issue is deeper, but first lets talk about the Washington Post. Its funny to me that the Washington Post and elements of the Democratic Party have flipped sides, flipped positions with the conservative movement in this country. The Washington Post, for example, last week, listing websites that theyre accusing of being Russian influenced without any proof at all. That bothered me very much. In fact, several are websites that I write for regularly, including Truthdig. I happen to know the proprietors of Truthdig and I know that theyre not Russian agents. That was very disappointing to me. I would also say that Donald Trump aside, I have found that the Washington Post has made a very dramatic move to the right over the last couple of years. Fred Hiatt, the editor of the editorial page is a well-known conservative and ideologue here in Washington, and he has moved the editorial page pretty solidly to the right. Now, they happen to not like Donald Trump, and because they dont like Donald Trump, they have taken this misinformation of disinformation thats been handed to them by the White House, and presumably from the CIA originally, and they just publish it as fact. You mentioned this report that came out the other day citing anonymous sources or unnamed administration officials or unnamed intelligence officials. Well, my god, if youre going to accuse a major presidential campaign, and indeed the president-elect of being in the pay of the Russians or being a dupe of the Russians, then show us the evidence. I pointed out in an article just a couple of days ago, and by the way, it was illegal to leak that report to the Washington Post. That meets the Obama administrations definition of espionage. See, you cant have it both ways. Scheer: Certainly, you would know about the Obama administrations dealings with espionage and the double standard. My guest is John Kiriakou. You could find his work at JohnKiriakou.com. Hes written a number of books, three books. The one thats available now is Doing Time Like a Spy, about the CIA and about his time in prison. I want to ask you a question about the CIA because theres a lot of talk of the Koch brothers, their role in the Senate now. Mike Pence is really running government. We kind of know that. What I think what a lot of people can understand is happening, Donald Trump is looking at this as a certain kind of job, and the Koch brothers have long disdain for the CIA and the FBI. How much of this could be protectionist? Certainly, the Trump administration has made dangerous picks for certain cabinet positions, the EPA. A lot of the guys who hes picking dont even like the agencies theyre being task to run. Is this something where the CIA might be afraid of what Trump might do to the CIA? Kiriakou: Yeah. You know Josh, I think thats a very important point, and I think the answer is yes. I still stay in touch with a lot of CIA people, and just across the board, their opinion is that this is bad. I think most Americans dont realize how bad this is, if youre in the CIA, because for the first time, really, since John Kennedy was president, you have a president-elect who just simply doesnt trust the organization. Now, Kennedy famously wanted to break up the CIA. Trump hasnt said anything like that, but ignoring the CIA and its analysis is just about as bad if youre on the inside. I think the CIA now is flailing around and reacting or at least trying to react to Trumps position on them, and they dont know where to go. I mean, if the president wont see you in the morning and wont read your publication and wont let you brief him on what operations you want to run, then youre out of luck. Youve been marginalized, and the CIA has never been marginalized. This is something thats quite new for them. Scheer: Yeah. I want to ask another thing, because Michael Mad Dog Flynn, for those who dont know, is the President-elect Trumps nominee for Defense Secretary, and this is a man, he like brawling and killing the animal and battle in everything else. To be fair, this quote is from last year, so its not from this particular runabout with the CIA, but he talked about, basically, the CIA is no longer working for the American people, that its a wing of the Obama administration. I have read that elsewhere, the CIA tends to go with the people who are in power, I guess, to maintain their power, but weve seen this in this election. James Comey in the FBI being very anti-Obama, anti-Hillary leaked information saying that they wanted Trump to win. They talked about their email issue and the CIA. What is the political role of the CIA for those who may not know? I mean, when you were in the CIA, I mean, you heard things like youre very astute students of politics, but what is the role of the CIA in terms of the current administration, and then, as we just discussed, the incoming administration? Kiriakou: You know what? Let me go back a little further than that. When I first joined the CIA in 1990, I just kept my politics to myself and I just assumed was a Conservative Republican. Then on Election Day 1992, my branch chief asked our little group of, I guess, it was eight people who we were voting for, for president that day. He said, I know Im not supposed to ask, but Im just curious. Who are you voting for? It was three for Bush, three for Clinton, and two for Perot. I remember thinking, Wow, I guess Im not the only Liberal at the CIA. What I learned was that you just said, that the CIA really adapts itself to each administration. It doesnt matter if its a Democrat or Republican. The first thing that the CIA does as an organization is to try to win that person over, to win over that new president, because once you bring that president into the fold, you make him one of the guys, you tell him the cool operations that youre running, and you show him these special, classified, above top secret reports that youre preparing, you win him over. Once youve done that, hell do anything that you want him to do. Hell raise your budget. Hell approve risky operations. Anything you want, hell do. The CIA has had a very close relationship with Barack Obama, not just because John Brennan was a campaign official and was Obamas counter-terrorism czar on the NSC for four years, but also because of Leon Panetta and the personal closeness between Panetta and Obama. Sure, the CIA is very close to Obama personally and to the Obama administration, but it was also very close personally and organizationally to the Bush administration before it. Scheer: Its interesting you bring that up because theres a lot of talk about that. Certainly, you could talk about this personally because of your experience with it, with the Espionage Act and the harshness that Obama has done to whistleblowers is a lot of his relationship with the National Security establishment and his respect or devotion or whatever you want to call it. The use of Espionage Act, the keeping of Gitmo open, the drone warfare, all of these were example of his, again, respect, for a lack of a better word, of the National Intelligence establishment, the apparatus that they got on his good side and theyve convinced him that the use of ... How many times hes used the Espionage Act against whistleblowers as a good thing? Kiriakou: Eight so far. Scheer: Eight, yeah. Kiriakou: Yeah, and in my own case, weve received some documents from the Justice Department in discovery when I was gearing up to defend myself, and one of those was a memo from the CIA to the Justice Department saying, Charge him with espionage. The Justice Department responded, He hasnt committed espionage, and then the CIA responded back, Charge him anyway and make him defend himself. Thats exactly what they did. Its because of the tone set by the Obama White House, its the policy set by the administration to target whistleblowers and to use the Espionage Act to clamp down on defense and to make sure that would-be whistleblowers decide in the end to keep their mouth shut. Scheer: I want to let our listeners know we are speaking with CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou. You can find his work at JohnKiriakou.com or across the internet, and his third book that is coming out that you could pre-order now is Doing Time Like a Spy about his time in prison and how the CIA, I guess, inadvertently trained you to take on that harrowing experience. Kiriakou: They did indeed. Im calling it Doing Time Like a Spy: How the CIA Taught Me to Survive and Thrive in Prison, and really, thats what they did. I took these 20 life lessons that I learned in CIA training and applied them to life in prison from my very first day there, just to make sure that I ensured my own safety and remained at the top of the social heap. Scheer: Were definitely going to want to talk about that. Were also going to talk about Jeffrey Sterling who is another whistleblower who is still in prison. I believe he is the, at his time, was the fifth person used in history the Espionage Act by President Obama. I want to talk about this intelligence briefing because the president-elect said on Fox News this Sunday, hes a pretty smart guy. Weve discussed it in brief. I want to let our listeners know what this president intelligence checklist was. It started with Kennedy in 61. It was typewritten. Its stamped for president only. It has gone through, obviously, technological innovation. Obama gets it on an iPad, and Trump has kind of said, Ill get it when anything is new. Itll go through Mike Pence. Itll go through my generals. He said, this is his quote, If something should change from this point, immediately call me. Im available at one-minutes notice, but eight years, I dont need that. If something should change, let us know. Talk about this, because Im sure youve been involved in briefing the president and certainly writing these reports. Kiriakou: Sure. Scheer: How important are they? Some of the intelligence community, one David Bass, Im thinking, worked for the- Kiriakou: Priess. Scheer: Beast, yes, worked for the State Department, worked for Bush and Clinton as a CIA intelligence officer and talks about how important it is to be informed, and that youre making these decisions and you want to know all the information. Talk about this a little bit, about the president-elect rejecting these intelligence reports. Kiriakou: Yeah, weve never had a president since Kennedy who just outrightly rejected his intelligence briefings. Bill Clinton famously was not briefed by his PDB briefer. PDB is Presidents Daily Brief, but what the briefer would do is that he would go to the White House every morning at 7 a.m. and drop it off, and Clinton would read it at his leisure. He was only briefed in person twice during his presidency, but Gore was briefed six days a week. Clinton read the briefing later in the day, and so he was informed. Now, each days PDB is specifically tailored to the president and to his interests, and so what Trump is reading right now, or what Trump would be reading if he were being briefed is really Obamas briefing. Obama has been steeped in these issues for eight years. I can see how they might seem a little too tactical, too detailed for Trump, but thats not just what Trump said. He didnt say they were too detailed and too tactical. He said he was a smart guy already and he didnt need to be briefed. Thats a mistake, unless he is going to just wholesale turnover foreign and intelligence policy to Mike Pence. If Mike Pence is going to be the de facto president on these issues, then okay, I guess there is really no reason to brief Trump. If Trump is going to still have the final word on foreign defense and intelligence policy, I think this is a big mistake. Scheer: Yeah, go on on that a little bit. Obviously, Mike Pence, this guy ... Trump is acting as if this is not even a job. This is something where its one of the many things he will be doing, certainly has given Pence a lot of power, which is scary. Jeremy Scahill has written about this de facto Christian fascist in power. There has been others who have written about that. What do you make of this? I mean, youve obviously followed politics a long time. Certainly, weve talked about this earlier in the interview, the CIA is probably scared about this, but is to be expected both on ... Obviously, we all have other people on to talk about, the EPA. Were talking about scared agencies. The EPA right now is ... The Department of Energy, Im sorry, is hiding peoples names who have worked on climate science. Theyre not codifying the data they have gathered over a number of years to try to say that US States like California saying theyre going on alone on immigration, on climate change. I mean, this is a really tumultuous time for everybody. I mean, we talked about it a little bit earlier, but I cant imagine that this is ... I mean, this must be the most experience youve ever seen, right? Kiriakou: Yeah, Ive never seen anything like this, and Ive been close to several presidents from my CIA time. Even my wife was a senior CIA officer and has been even closer in some cases to presidents than have, and hes never seen anything like this either. I had dinner with a great friend of mine on Saturday night. He was my first boss at the CIA, and he goes back to the Carter administration, and he was of the opinion that this is utterly unprecedented. What makes is so dangerous is that this is not a weak president giving a strong president the authority to handle intelligence policy. This is a strongman who has surrounded himself with generals who is giving a weak vice president the authority to lead intelligence policy. He said, Its a disaster waiting to happen, and he feared that the only time the American people are going to understand what a terrible mistake this is, is when were the victims of a terrorist attack on American soil, and people are going to want to know why the president wasnt up on this, why the president didnt order countermeasures, why the president dropped the ball. I fear thats the direction were going in. Scheer: Well, its a scary time to be an American, obviously. I want to let our listener know were speaking with John Kiriakou. Were going to have him about Jeffrey Sterling and his book. I just want to take a quick break and well be right back. My guest is John Kiriakou. He is a CIA whistleblower. He is a author. His third book is Doing Time Like a Spy. Before we get into the book, because I do want to talk about the book a little bit, but I want to talk about Jeffrey Sterling. For those who dont know, Peter Maas, for The Intercept, wrote a piece last October, posted along with this on SoundCloud, which is really remarkable about Jeffreys life, but talk about Jeffrey a little bit. This was someone who James Risen wrote a book called State of War. There was a mention of Operation Merlin. Now, hes doing time. Hes still in prison and hes not in good health, right? Kiriakou: Hes not in good health. First, just real quickly about his case, as you did, I followed Jeffreys case very, very closely, day-to-day, blow-by-blow. I think that the government charged Jeffrey ... He was charged with seven counts of espionage and two counts of thefts of government property, with the property being the information. He stole it in his head. I think they charged him with those crimes. In the Eastern District of Virginia, despite the fact that Jeffrey was living in Saint Louis at the time and Jim Risen was living in Maryland and working in Washington, DC. They charged Jeffrey in Alexandria, Virginia because the Eastern District of Virginia is known as the Espionage Court, and no national security defendant has ever won a case there. The fix was in from the beginning. If you read the transcripts or even the reports about the trial, and Jeffrey did go to trial, because he believed that once he could get in front of the jury, the jury would see how ridiculous this whole case was. In the Eastern District of Virginia, juries are made up of current and former FBI, CIA, DOD, Homeland Security, intelligence contractors. They would convict a baloney sandwich. Jeffrey really never had a chance being tried in the Easter District of Virginia. The government asked for, I believe it was 20 years in prison. Jeffreys attorneys told him to be prepared to get as much as 45 years in prison, but serendipitously, Jeffreys sentencing was scheduled for the day after David Petraeus sentencing. David Petraeus got a sweetheart deal for committing major crimes. He outed the names of 10 covert operatives. He gave his girlfriend the presidential black books with highly classified information in them. The judge said that in good conscience, after Petraeus got 18 months of unsupervised probation, she couldnt give Jeffrey 24 years in prison, and she gave him what she called Kiriakou plus 12 months. I got 30 months. Jeffrey got 42 months. Hes actually going to be released in November and sent to a halfway house. Hell likely only be in that halfway house for a matter of hours before being transferred to house arrest, but his health is so bad that he and his wife Holly are genuinely worried that hes not going to live for 11 more months until his release date in November. Hes already had one heart attack in prison. Hes tested positive for the protein, I think its called troponin that the body produces when it has a heart attack. He was never treated. He was only given beta-blockers four weeks after the fact. Hes very weak. He has a heart arrhythmia, and the Bureau of Prisons is just refusing to treat him, not just are they refusing to treat him, theyre refusing to even allow his transfer to a nearby hospital for tests, not even shackled and bound. They wont even let him go for tests. Hes got some real worries. Scheer: Yeah. Its really important to know that this, again, is a whistleblower who talked about Operation Merlin. This is not giving away troop movements. This was about a program under Clinton and endorsed by Bush giving false information to Iran about how to build a nuclear weapon, but it turned out, because of the fact they have smart people over there that they actually were able to figure out it was not, and then it accelerated the program. I mean, thats the gist of why hes serving 42 months in prison, right? Kiriakou: Yeah, and to make matters worse, they convicted Jeffrey based solely on metadata. He had exchanged 52 telephone calls over the course of several years with Jim Risen, but the reason that he exchanged those phone calls with Risen is that Risen had been writing a long article about Jeffreys lawsuit against the CIA for racial discrimination. They refused to send him overseas because they said that, and this was a quote, A big black guy speaking Persian would stand out, and his response to his boss was, When did you realize I was black? He ended up not being sent overseas. He filed a complained against the agency. They trashed him in his performance evaluation, and he resigned. After he resigned, he filed this suit. Risen was covering the suit for the New York Times, and so it stands to reason that they were speaking on a regular basis. Now, the suit was dismissed with prejudice by the Eastern District of Virginia on national security grounds, so he never got his day in court. Then the CIA went to the Justice Department and said that they thought Jeffrey was the source of the leak to Risen. Well, no multiple Pulitzer Prize winning journalist is going to use one person to write a book about an intelligence operation. Risen himself has said has said that he spoke with dozens of former and current domestic and foreign intelligence officers for that book, but the government only went after Jeffrey. They didnt go after anybody else. There were no emails between them. There were no recordings between them. All we knew was that they had exchanged 52 phone calls over the course of, I think it was four years, and that was enough to convict him in the Eastern District. Scheer: Again, the backstory on Jeffrey is pretty amazing, and there is a piece that will be attached to this on SoundCloud, and I posted it a couple of times, but Peter Maas from The Intercept wrote a really wonderful piece about that, about racial discrimination, his life. He has clips that Ill probably try to intersplice, and certainly also, after he left the CIA, he went into investigating medical fraud and to save the American people, I believe, upwards of $40, $50 million. Kiriakou: Oh yeah. Scheer: Yeah. Kiriakou: In fact, he was honored by Blue Cross Blue Shield for the millions and millions of dollars that he saved in uncovering medical fraud. Scheer: This man is imprisoned. I want to know what we can do John. I cant do a call to action, but certainly there are thing that people can do if they hear about this case. Is there anything that we can do for Jeffrey? Kiriakou: Yeah, there is. His wife, Holly, has been really, really diligent and great about gathering support. What people have done in the past is theyve called the prison and ask the warden to allow Jeffrey to go to a hospital for medical treatment. That didnt work. One of the things that I think we can all do now that does seem to be working in that the prison has given a little bit is go to our elected representatives and ask them to inquire as to his well-being. Holly has spoken with Senator Bennets office in Colorado, and Senator Bennets office has actually been good about pushing the BOP to do something for the guy. It was only after this inquiry from Bennets office that Jeffrey was prescribed beta-blockers in the first place. Scheer: Wow. Kiriakou: That would be very helpful. Scheer: Yeah. Also, I mean, again, this not a call to action, but this is a questioning as a journalist. You sit as David Petraeus who is doing no time. He had asked his probation officer. He was considered for Secretary of State. Hes been considered for Cabinet position, and here you have someone who saved American people millions of dollars and everything, and John, obviously. My guest is John Kiriakou, CIA whistleblower, who now that you have a whole thing named after you, the John Kiriakou sentence. The fact is these guys are doing this time, its pretty haphazard. Its disgusting, really, because- Kiriakou: It is. Scheer: Yeah. Kiriakou: You see a trial ... Not a trial, you see a sentencing like Petraeus. Now, all the rest of us were charged in the Eastern District of Virginia. Petraeus was charged in the Western District of North Carolina. When the judge finished his sentencing, the judge came down from the bench to shake his hand and thank him for his service to the American people. I mean, Judge Leonie Brinkema in EDVA, she certainly didnt come down from the bench. What she said was, Mr. Kiriakou, if I could have, I wouldve given you 10 years. Thats what she said to me. I didnt get that kind of treatment in court. Scheer: I want to let our listeners know were speaking with John Kiriakou. Hes the author of three books. You can find more at JohnKiriakou.com. He writes for Reader Supported News among many other different sites, including Truthdig. For the last, maybe, five minutes here, I want to talk about your book, because you can pre-order it now, but its Doing Time Like a Spy. Certainly, this is something I just was having conversation with my father, Robert Scheer, because one of the Truthdig people was arrested and hes talked about his time being arrested is that you really dont know how youre going to react until it happens. Kiriakou: Yeah. Scheer: Talk about that a little bit and how CIA trained you and helped you in this situation. Kiriakou: Right. When you first arrive in prison, youre in a state of shock. You dont even realize that youre in shock until weeks or maybe even months later. I was in prison for about two hours. The only thing that any of the guards had said to me while I was being processed was that if somebody came into my cell uninvited, that was an act of aggression, and I was going to have to defend my territory. I thought, My god, I havent even been here one hour and now Im going to have to fight somebody and probably going to get my butt kicked, but I took in on board. A couple of hours later two Aryans just walk right into my room, and I jumped up and I put up my fists and I said, What do you want? One of them said, Are you the CIA guy? I said, Yeah. He said, Are you a fag? I said, No. Are you a rat? I said, No. He said, Are you a chomo? I said, I dont know what that word means. Like Im stupid, he said, Chomo, child molester. Are you a child molester? I said, No, Im not a child molester. He said, Okay, you can sit with us in the cafeteria then. I thought, Oh, well, okay, I guess Im with the Aryans now. What I did was, to make a long story short, I came up with these ... Looking back on my career, I came up with these 20 rules and decided to apply these rules to prison, because prison, there was no way prison was going to be worse than living in Afghanistan or Pakistan or Yemen or Iraq or someplace like that. God knows Ive been through rougher times than prison, so I started things down like, Recruit spies to steal secrets, right? That was ... The CIA, rule number one, recruit spies to steal secrets. I didnt need to steal secrets, but maybe I needed somebody to steal a couple of hard boiled eggs for me. That was one. Another one was everybody is working for somebody, which is true. Theyre working for themselves. Theyre working for the cops. Theyre working for a gang leader. In the event of violence, seek and utilize available cover. Thats the first thing they teach you in weapons training at the CIA. Admit nothing, deny everything, make counter accusations. I actually used these rules every day that I was in prison, and they really did keep me safe. Scheer: You could read all about those rules in the new book, Doing Time Like a Spy. Again, my guest has been John Kiriakou. I would love to talk to you. The next time were going to talk about Yemen and Saudi Arabia, because I know theres a lot of issues there certainly with your time and certainly whats going on there right now, but again, John Kiriakou. You could find his work at JohnKiriakou.com, and you could pre-order the book Doing Time Like a Spy, how those 20 rules helped him survive prison. Thank you so much for joining me. Kiriakou: Very, very happy to do it. Good to talk to you again. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
'Russian Hackers' and the Coup Against Trump



By Finian Cunningham December 18, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Sputnik " - The reckless accusations made by the Obama administration that Russia hacked the US elections are part of a Deep State coup unfolding against President-elect Donald Trump. Barack Obama's end-of-year press conference this week, in which he formally accused Russia of cyber-attacks on US democracy, had the hallmark of political theater befitting a seasonal pantomime. The performance was intended to give the computer hacking claims against Russia the highest stamp of credibility and foment a public mood of Russophobia. "We reserve the right to retaliate at a place and time of our choosing," said Obama in his best tough-guy voice, in a bid to transform wild speculation about alleged Russian malfeasance into seeming rock-solid fact which now requires a resolute patriotic response. The coup against Trump could manifest in his impeachment from the White House after his inauguration in January, or less dramatically it could result in Trump being allowed to stay in office but under full control of the Deep State  the shadowy unelected forces of the military-intelligence apparatus that really govern America. In the latter scenario, Trump will be obliged to fully submit to the Deep State's confrontational agenda towards Russia. Either way, it will mean the political emasculation of Trump. Pre-election claims of Russian state-sponsored cyber-attacks suddenly burst open again last week when top American newspapers the New York Times and Washington Post  both closely linked to the military-intelligence Deep State apparatus  reported on sensational claims attributed to the Central Intelligence Agency, which alleged that Russia had covertly interfered in the presidential election in order to get Trump into the White House. There is no evidence whatsoever presented to substantiate the allegations against Russia. It is an incredible sign of how degraded American mainstream journalism has become whenever such stilted stories are afforded gravitas. The whole narrative is clunking with contrivance. Furthermore, Moscow has dismissed the claims as nonsense, while Donald Trump has called them "ridiculous". Also, several respected former US intelligence experts have discounted them as implausible. Even the domestic anti-crime agency, the FBI, has declined to endorse the CIA's assessment. Nevertheless, a political climate is being fostered in which Russia is portrayed as a sinister interloper, subverting US democracy and "cherished American values of free speech". It should be obvious, but it is not, that the American public are being played like fiddle by the Deep State. Defeated Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton came out this week in a public statement decrying how Russia "had attacked our country" and that was the reason why she lost the election. US news media have hyped the Russian hacker story to the level of accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of personally ordering the computer hacking of Clinton's emails aimed at damaging her in order to advantage Trump. This taps accumulated negative imagery of Putin as the "new Hitler", which the Western media have been assiduously pushing for years. Obama added more twist to the unseemly plot by claiming that he personally warned Putin "to cut it out" when the pair met at the G20 summit last September in China. The innuendo of guilt here is a further smear. (The Kremlin said it was Putin who actually put Obama in his place over the allegations.) Of course, the alleged Russian plot against US democracy is ludicrous and baseless. But the interplay of intelligence agencies and the Washington establishment, which includes the dominant news media, is striving to poison the political atmosphere to the point where Trump's electoral mandate becomes discredited. That, in turn, will create a consensus whereby Congress will then call for his impeachment. In that case, the election would end up being awarded to Clinton. In other words, the 2016 US presidential election result could be overturned in what amounts to a coup by the Deep State. All based on a dirty tricks campaign and psychological operations orchestrated by the CIA and its Deep State network. How fitting that would be given the decades of such operations overseas to subvert foreign governments. Why would the US Deep State do this? We have to recognize that US hegemonic ambitions for global dominance going back several decades  from the CIA coup against John F Kennedy in 1963 up to the Wolfowitz doctrine of full spectrum dominance under George W Bush  has inevitably placed it on a confrontational course with Russia and any other geopolitical rival. American ambitions of unipolar supremacy is a zero-sum calculation in which no rival can be tolerated. This belligerence towards Russia became more pronounced when Putin's leadership demonstrated that Russia was not willing to be a vassal for American power. In particular, Putin checked American hegemonic schemes in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria. That is why over the past two years, Washington has intensified its propaganda to demonize Putin and Russia in order to isolate, destabilize and intimidate with all-out war. The build-up of NATO forces along Russia's borders is an integral part of this US-led belligerence. Hillary Clinton was the presidential candidate that the Deep State had ordained to take its hostile agenda towards Russia to the next level. But best-laid plans came undone when the populist Donald Trump pulled off a shock victory at the polls on November 8. Billionaire Trump is an arch-capitalist and from his cabinet appointments so far it is unlikely that he will be the defender of American workers that he claims to be. However, true to his pragmatic profit-making instincts, Trump wants to restore relations with Russia and cut lucrative energy deals. His nomination of ExxonMobil boss Rex Tillerson, who has extensive business links with Russia, as Secretary of State is consistent with this deal-making attitude. In that way, Trump is seen by the Deep State as an impediment to its long-term strategy of subjugating Russia. Trump will, therefore, have to be either tossed out or tamed.  Sputnik/ Alexei Druzhinin This is where all the recent hype about Russian cyber-attacks starts to make sense. In themselves, the claims are laughable. But with enough media and political orchestration, the conditions can be contrived for Trump's impeachment  because, it will be alleged, he is an illegitimate president and a beneficiary of a malign foreign enemy of the US. At which point Trump might take the option of remaining in office, but with the tacit agreement that he will henceforth "get tough on Russia" as dictated by the strategic interests of the Deep State. If Trump takes neither option but instead persists in attempting to chart his own course as an autonomous president, then the Deep State can always resort to its executive action policy. In short, assassination. It is ironic that magnate Donald Trump acquired his public fame through the reality TV program, The Apprentice, in which he would assess hapless individuals for career appointments. More times than not, Trump would callously discard candidates with the terse words: "You're Fired!" Watching how the sinister Deep State forces are maneuvering around Trump to assess his "suitability" for prosecuting their hostile agenda towards Russia, it is Trump who is now in the firing line. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
A Spy Coup in The USA



As the Electoral College assembles, U.S. intelligence agencies are stepping up a campaign to delegitimize Donald Trump as a Russian stooge, raising concerns about a spy coup in America.



By Robert Parry December 18, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Consortium News " - As Official Washingtons latest group think solidifies into certainty  that Russia used hacked Democratic emails to help elect Donald Trump  something entirely different may be afoot: a months-long effort by elements of the U.S. intelligence community to determine who becomes the next president. I was told by a well-placed intelligence source some months ago that senior leaders of the Obama administrations intelligence agencies  from the CIA to the FBI  were deeply concerned about either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump ascending to the presidency. And, its true that intelligence officials often come to see themselves as the stewards of Americas fundamental interests, sometimes needing to protect the country from dangerous passions of the public or from inept or corrupt political leaders. It was, after all, a senior FBI official, Mark Felt, who  as Deep Throat  guided The Washington Posts Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in their Watergate investigation into the criminality of President Richard Nixon. And, I was told by former U.S. intelligence officers that they wanted to block President Jimmy Carters reelection in 1980 because they viewed him as ineffectual and thus not protecting American global interests. Its also true that intelligence community sources frequently plant stories in major mainstream publications that serve propaganda or political goals, including stories that can be misleading or entirely false. Whats Going On? So, what to make of what we have seen over the past several months when there have been a series of leaks and investigations that have damaged both Clinton and Trump  with some major disclosures coming, overtly and covertly, from the U.S. intelligence community led by CIA Director John Brennan and FBI Director James Comey? Some sources of damaging disclosures remain mysterious. Clintons campaign was hobbled by leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee  showing it undercutting Clintons chief rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders  and from her campaign chairman John Podesta  exposing the content of her speeches to Wall Street banks that she had tried to hide from the voters and revealing the Clinton Foundations questionable contacts with foreign governments. Clinton  already burdened with a reputation for secrecy and dishonesty  suffered from the drip, drip, drip of releases from WikiLeaks of the DNC and Podesta emails although it remains unclear who gave the emails to WikiLeaks. Still, the combination of the two email batches added to public suspicions about Clinton and reminded people why they didnt trust her. But the most crippling blow to Clinton came from FBI Director Comey in the last week of the campaign when he reopened and then re-closed the investigation into whether she broke the law with her sloppy handling of classified material in her State Department emails funneled through a home server. Following Comeys last-minute revival of the Clinton email controversy, her poll numbers fell far enough to enable Trump to grab three normally Democratic states  Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin  enough to give him a victory in the Electoral College. Taking Down Trump However, over the past few weeks, the U.S. intelligence community, led by CIA Director Brennan and seconded by FBI Director Comey, has tried to delegitimize Trump by using leaks to the mainstream U.S. news media to pin the release of the DNC and Podesta emails on Russia and claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally trying to put Trump into the White House. This remarkable series of assessments from the CIA  now endorsed by the leadership of the FBI  come on the eve of the Electoral College members assembling to cast their formal votes to determine who becomes the new U.S. president. Although the Electoral College process is usually simply a formality, the Russian-hacking claims made by the U.S. intelligence community have raised the possibility that enough electors might withhold their votes from Trump to deny him the presidency. If on Monday enough Trump electors decide to cast their votes for someone else  possibly another Republican  the presidential selection could go to the House of Representatives where, conceivably, the Republican-controlled chamber could choose someone other than Trump. In other words, there is an arguable scenario in which the U.S. intelligence community first undercut Clinton and, secondly, Trump, seeking  however unlikely  to get someone installed in the White House considered more suitable to the CIAs and the FBIs views of whats good for the country. Who Did the Leaking? At the center of this controversy is the question of who leaked or hacked the DNC and Podesta emails. The CIA has planted the story in The Washington Post, The New York Times and other mainstream outlets that it was Russia that hacked both the DNC and Podesta emails and slipped the material to WikiLeaks with the goal of assisting the Trump campaign. The suggestion is that Trump is Putins puppet, just as Hillary Clinton alleged during the third presidential debate But WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has publicly denied that Russia was the source of the leaks and one of his associates, former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray, has suggested that the DNC leak came from a disgruntled Democrat upset with the DNCs sandbagging of the Sanders campaign and that the Podesta leak came from the U.S. intelligence community. Although Assange recently has sought to muzzle Murrays public comments  out of apparent concern for protecting the identity of sources  Murray offered possibly his most expansive account of the sourcing during a podcast interview with Scott Horton on Dec. 13. Murray, who became a whistleblower himself when he protested Britains tolerance of human rights abuses in Uzbekistan, explained that he consults with Assange and cooperates with WikiLeaks without being a formal member of the structure. But he appears to have undertaken a mission for WikiLeaks to contact one of the sources (or a representative) during a Sept. 25 visit to Washington where he says he met with a person in a wooded area of American University. At the time, Murray was at American University participating in an awards ceremony for former CIA officer John Kiriakou who was being honored by a group of former Western intelligence officials, the Sam Adams Associates, named for the late Vietnam War-era CIA analyst and whistleblower Sam Adams. Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, a founder of the Sam Adams group, told me that Murray was m-c-ing the event but then slipped away, skipping a reception that followed the award ceremony. Reading Between LInes Though Murray has declined to say exactly what the meeting in the woods was about, he may have been passing along messages about ways to protect the source from possible retaliation, maybe even an extraction plan if the source was in some legal or physical danger. Murray has disputed a report in Londons Daily Mail that he was receiving a batch of the leaked Democratic emails. The material, I think, was already safely with WikiLeaks before I got there in September, Murray said in the interview with Scott Horton. I had a small role to play. Murray also suggested that the DNC leak and the Podesta leak came from two different sources, neither of them the Russian government. The Podesta emails and the DNC emails are, of course, two separate things and we shouldnt conclude that they both have the same source, Murray said. In both cases were talking of a leak, not a hack, in that the person who was responsible for getting that information out had legal access to that information. Reading between the lines of the interview, one could interpret Murrays comments as suggesting that the DNC leak came from a Democratic source and that the Podesta leak came from someone inside the U.S. intelligence community, which may have been monitoring John Podestas emails because the Podesta Group, which he founded with his brother Tony, served as a registered foreign agent for Saudi Arabia. John Podesta was a paid lobbyist for the Saudi government, Murray noted. If the American security services were not watching the communications of the Saudi governments paid lobbyist in Washington, then the American security services would not be doing their job.  His communications are going to be of interest to a great number of other security services as well. Leak by Americans Scott Horton then asked, Is it fair to say that youre saying that the Podesta leak came from inside the intelligence services, NSA [the electronic spying National Security Agency] or another agency? I think what I said was certainly compatible with that kind of interpretation, yeah, Murray responded. In both cases they are leaks by Americans. In reference to the leak of the DNC emails, Murray noted that Julian Assange took very close interest in the death of Seth Rich, the Democratic staff member who had worked for the DNC on voter databases and was shot and killed on July 10 near his Washington, D.C., home. Murray continued, WikiLeaks offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the capture of his killers. So, obviously there are suspicions there about whats happening and things are somewhat murky. Im not saying  dont get me wrong  Im not saying that he was the source of the [DNC] leaks. What Im saying is that its probably not an unfair indication to draw that WikiLeaks believes that he may have been killed by someone who thought he was the source of the leaks  whether correctly or incorrectly. Though acknowledging that such killings can become grist for conspiracy buffs, Murray added: But people do die over this sort of stuff. There were billions of dollars  literally billions of dollars  behind Hillary Clintons election campaign and those people have lost their money. You have also to remember that theres a big financial interest  particularly in the armaments industry  in a bad American relationship with Russia and the worse the relationship with Russia is the larger contracts the armaments industry can expect especially in the most high-tech high-profit side of fighter jets and missiles and that kind of thing. And Trump has actually already indicated hes looking to make savings on the defense budget particularly in things like fighter [jet] projects. So, there are people standing to lose billions of dollars and anybody who thinks in that situation bad things dont happen to people is very naive. An Intelligence Coup? Theres another possibility in play here: that the U.S. intelligence community is felling a number of birds with one stone. If indeed U.S. intelligence bigwigs deemed both Clinton and Trump unfit to serve as President  albeit for different reasons  they could have become involved in leaking at least the Podesta emails to weaken Clintons campaign, setting the candidate up for the more severe blow from FBI Director Comey in the last week of the campaign. Then, by blaming the leaks on Russian President Putin, the U.S. intelligence leadership could set the stage for Trumps defeat in the Electoral College, opening the door to the elevation of a more traditional Republican. However, even if that unlikely event  defeating Trump in the Electoral College  proves impossible, Trump would at least be weakened as he enters the White House and thus might not be able to move very aggressively toward a detente with Russia. Further, the Russia-bashing that is all the rage in the mainstream U.S. media will surely encourage the Congress to escalate the New Cold War, regardless of Trumps desires, and thus ensure plenty more money for both the intelligence agencies and the military contractors. Official Washingtons group think holding Russia responsible for the Clinton leaks does draw some logical support from the near certainty that Russian intelligence has sought to penetrate information sources around both Clinton and Trump. But the gap between the likely Russian hacking efforts and the question of who gave the email information to WikiLeaks is where mainstream assumptions may fall down. As ex-Ambassador Murray has said, U.S. intelligence was almost surely keeping tabs on Podestas communications because of his ties to Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments. So, the U.S. intelligence community represents another suspect in the case of who leaked those emails to WikiLeaks. It would be a smart play, reminiscent of the convoluted spy tales of John LeCarre, if U.S. intelligence officials sought to cover their own tracks by shifting suspicions onto the Russians. But just the suspicion of the CIA joining the FBI and possibly other U.S. intelligence agencies to intervene in the American peoples choice of a president would cause President Harry Truman, who launched the CIA with prohibitions against it engaging in domestic activities, and Sen. Frank Church, who investigated the CIAs abuses, to spin in their graves. Investigative reporter Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories for The Associated Press and Newsweek in the 1980s. You can buy his latest book, Americas Stolen Narrative, either in print here or as an e-book (from Amazon and barnesandnoble.com). The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Gunman Kills Russian Ambassador to Turkey in Ankara :



Video A gunman assassinated Russias ambassador to Turkey during a gallery opening in the capital, an act that Russian officials called an act of terror and that appeared to be aimed as retribution for the Kremlins role in bloodshed in neighboring Syria.



A video taken of the event shows Ambassador Andrey Karlov at the podium surrounded by framed artwork and then flinching when the sound of two gunshots are fired. Dont forget Aleppo, dont forget Syria. Until our regions are safe, you wont have safety. Go Back! Go Back! Only death can take me from here, shouted the assassin, who walks around holding the pistol toward the assembled crowd of onlookers. Those who have a part in this atrocity will all pay for it, one by one. Posted December 19, 2016 Hasim Kilic, an Ankara reporter for Hurriyet newspaper who was at the event, said during a live broadcast on CNN Turk that there were dozens of rounds of gunfire after the Russian ambassador was shot. Other security officials at the gallery appeared to have gunned down the assassin and Turkeys state news agency Anadolu reported that he had been rendered ineffective. We need to know who gave the orders: Putin comments on ambassador assassination in Ankara Gunman who killed Russian ambassador a policeman : Suleyman Soylu said that the gunman was working for the riot police squad in Ankara for the past 2 1/2 years. US Embassy 'security incident' after Russian ambassador shooting in Ankara : THE US Embassy in Ankara is on lockdown after a 'security incident' moments after the Russian ambassador shooting this evening. 9 killed, multiple injured as truck plows into Christmas market in Berlin : German newspaper Bild quotes police as saying the attacker is on the run after the crash. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Seventy-four journalists and other media workers were killed worldwide in 2016, the majority of whom 53 died as a result of targeted attacks, media watchdog, Reporters without Borders (RSF) said Monday.

RSF Germany director Christian Mihr told newsmen in Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia were countries where media safety and freedom were particularly at risk in 2016.

Afghanistan is a classic example, even if Germany does not want to hear it, because there are always attempts to portray it as being safe.

This year the number of emergency requests from journalists in Afghanistan, who turned to us to ask for assistance, rose.

It was clearly compared to the previous year as the state no longer had control in many regions and regional warlords were in charge, Mihr said.

The remaining 21 journalists died while they were working in areas such as war zones, and five of the total victims were women.

The most dangerous countries were Syria, Afghanistan, Mexico, Iraq and Yemen.

The 2016 number was lower than last years total of 101 as many journalists had to flee countries where they were in danger.

According to RSF, a total of 348 journalists are also currently being detained worldwide a rise of 6 per cent since 2015.

Source: Punch
Six weeks after setting free all the prime suspects nabbed in connection to the gruesome murder of Bridget Agbahime, the Kano State Government has refused to give any useful explanation for its action.

Several efforts by PREMIUM TIMES within this period to obtain information from the Abdullahi Ganduje administration were frustrated.

Accused by a mob of committing blasphemy against Islam, Mrs. Agbahime, 74, was murdered in broad daylight in downtown Kano on June 2.

The murder, which took place at Kofar Wambai Market, cut deep into Nigerias religious and tribal fault lines.

It was roundly condemned by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sultan of Sokoto; both of whom urged an urgent and diligent investigation by concerned authorities.

On June 4, Mr. Ganduje announced the arrest of one Dauda Ahmad as a prime suspect in the murder, which helped douse sectarian tensions that were brewing at the time.

Mr. Ganduje, who announced the arrest at a meeting with a delegate of Christian leaders in the state, promised a thorough prosecution of anyone charged in connection to the murder.

On June 10, the police arraigned five suspects, including Mr. Ahmad, before a Chief Magistrates Court in Kano.

The remaining four were: Abdullahi Mustapha, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi.

They were all charged with four counts of incitement, culpable homicide and mischief, based on sections 144, 80, 51 and 327 of the state penal code. If convicted, the offences could attract a death penalty.

At the opening of the trial, state prosecutor, Dauda Jibrin, submitted to the trial judge that Mr. Ahmad led his alleged accomplices to confront Mrs. Agbahime.

After slapping her several times while chanting Allahu Akbar, the suspects then started hitting her with sticks, causing bruises and other bodily injuries to her until she struggled to death, Mr. Jibrin said.

Mr. Jibrin, who was representing the Kano State Attorney-General, Haruna Falali, told the court that even more suspects were at large.

He identified them as: Salawiyu, Ibrahim, Dini, Isiyaku Mada, Mallam Sani and Yunusa Sufi.

Shortly after the suspects were arraigned, the police transferred all the case files to Mr. Falalis office for legal advice and continued prosecution.

But on November 3, Mr. Falali abruptly withdrew the case and asked the court to discharge all suspects.

Mr. Falali said he discharged them because there was no case to answer as the suspects are all innocent. He ordered the court to discharge all the suspects.

The announcement sparked a nationwide outrage, with the Christian Association of Nigeria describing it as highly provocative and insulting act on our collective sensitivities as a democratic nation.

But efforts by PREMIUM TIMES to get the Kano State Government to give further explanation about its action were rebuffed.

Questions such as who the state believed was responsible for the act since those it initially described as prime suspects had been freed, why it failed to move the matter to a high court for prosecution after several months since the Magistrate Court can not try capital offences and how it arrived at the decision to exonerate the suspects were left unanswered.

Mike Agbahime, Bridgets husband, said he identified all the five suspects arraigned in connection to the murder of his wife.

Yes, I know all of them. Even at the police station, I identified all of them. All of us were in the same market (some of them in the same line), he told The Punch in an interview last month.

When contacted, Mr. Falali told PREMIUM TIMES that he wont be able to comment on the matter due to its sensitivity.

The Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, also declined to comment on the matter despite repeated enquiries from this newspaper.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, also declined comments, saying he could not obtain any information from the Attorney-General.

But some officials of the administration who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on the condition of anonymity blamed Mr. Falali for the withdrawal.

One source said Mr. Falali was determined to hush up the case out of bias even though he was warned not to do so but to charge it to the high court in Kano instead.

He had made up his mind to silence the case which is the reason he withdrew it when the governor travelled to Cairo, one official said. His action will do a lot of damage to this government.

Mr. Falali declined PREMIUM TIMES request for his reaction to the allegations from his cabinet colleagues.

Another source said the governor had not been able to compel Mr. Falali for further explanation because he had been too busy.

The governor has been very busy and I am sure that must have been the reason he could not force the attorney-general to give Nigerians and the world any explanation, the source said. I know this excuse will sound lazy to you because the story is a very big one and the governor had promised to do something about it and clearly failed.

The police in Kano absolved themselves of any involvement in the withdrawal of the case.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Magaji, told PREMIUM TIMES they arrested the suspects and ensured they were charged to court before pushing the case to the state government.

Since the state government had decided to withdraw the matter, we could not do anything about it, Mr. Magaji said. Our duty as the police was to arrest the suspects and ensure they were immediately charged to court. We did all of that.

Mr. Magaji said the options of the police are quite narrow at this point.

PREMIUM TIMESs efforts to reach Mike Agbahime, Bridgets husband, fell through because he had gone underground. Deeper Life Bible Church, where he had been a preacher for years, has taken charge of his welfare and will only allow him to make any public statement on an occasional basis.

Source: PremiumTimes
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to commence investigation of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF Babachir Lawal and other government officials allegedly accused of wrongdoing.

Malam Garba Shehu, the presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, made this known on his Facebook page on Sunday.

He said that the president, who expressed concern over the increasing media reports alleging various accusations of corruption against certain individuals in government, has vowed to prosecute any government official found wanting in the discharge of his/her responsibility.

The attention of the presidency has been drawn to a number of reports in the media in which various accusations of corruption have been levelled against some top officials in the administration.

In that regard, President Buhari has instructed the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate the involvement of any top government officials accused of any wrong-doing.

If any of them are liable they will not escape prosecution.

Some government officials, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu and others were allegedly accused of various wrong-doings by the Senate.

The Senate on Thursday rejected the nomination of Magu as substantive chairman of the EFCC, attributing its decision on damaging security reports against him.

Hajiya Najaatu Muhammed, a member of the ruling APC, also called on President Buhari to remove some of his aides being accused of various cases of corrupt practices.
In spite of huge investments made by the Federal Government in the cassava bread initiative over a period of 34 years, the project has remained a pipe dream, NIKE POPOOLA writes.

The founder of Idera Oluwa Super Bread in Ibadan, Mr. Abass Abiodun, was one of the bakers that were excited about the promotion of cassava bread initiative by the Federal Government. That was many years ago.

Abiodun had participated in a series of training organised by a government agency on how to produce cassava bread with composite flour (wheat and cassava), with the hope of accessing the intervention funds provided by the government to attract a lot of investors into the cassava bread production chain.

But today, the baker is disappointed as the government has dampened his enthusiasm in the initiative with its woeful implementation.

Enough experiment was not conducted on the cassava flour before trying to supply. When (we) bakers tasted the product and were not satisfied with it, we stopped patronising cassava flour and the millers stopped its production.

They failed big time to experiment it well so no baker is using it right now; its a big loss because the bread was not fine and no bakery or flour mill is producing it now, he said.

While speaking on loans provided by the government to promote the initiative, Abiodun said the bakers only heard about the intervention fund but could not access it.

On the intervention fund, I even partook in a programme introduced by former President Goodluck Jonathan but the conditions attached to access the loan by the Bank of Industry were too high for young entrepreneurs to benefit from it, he said.

Past initiatives

The first attempt by the Federal Government to introduce cassava bread into the country, with the ultimate aim of making it the national bread, was in 1982.

As Nigeria was fast becoming the worlds largest producer of cassava, the government decided to develop it and produce cassava flour from it.

Bread being eaten in the country has always been wholly made of wheat flour; but the government has been pushing to achieve the national bread by encouraging the bakers to mix locally made cassava flour with wheat in the baking process.

In 1982, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, presented the first cassava bread, which was it produced with 10 per cent of cassava flour and 90 per cent of wheat flour from its research work to the Federal Executive Council, under the administration of ex-President Shehu Shagari.

FIIRO is a parastatal under the agency of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

Information obtained from the agency showed that FEC members ate the bread made from cassava and wheat flour at the meeting in 1982.

It was after years that the Federal Government gave a directive that cassava flour should be included in bread making in the country. It also introduced measures to increase cassava cultivation.

Unfortunately, the directive faded away with the Shehu Shagari administration in December 31, 1983.

Again, in 2004, a new interest in the cassava bread was ignited after former President Olusegun Obasanjo paid a visit to FIIRO and renewed the process to achieve 10 per cent cassava flour inclusion in bread making in Nigeria.

According to FIIRO, Obasanjo directed the institute to hold a meeting with the major flour millers in Nigeria and teach them how to include cassava in their flour production to achieve the national cassava bread objective.

It was learnt that the flour millers used to import wheat and showed no interest in the cassava bread issue. They therefore reportedly showed strong resistance to the scheme, asserting that the inclusion of cassava in their flour would not allow the dough to rise.

Apart from FIIRO, some other bodies such as the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the National Root Crops Research Institute have also played important roles in promoting sufficient cassava production in the country.

In the past three decades, the IITA disclosed that its research programmes led to the production of high quality cassava flour.

According to the NRCRI, the combined efforts of the two institutes led to the release of improved cassava varieties to farmers in Nigeria.

These bodies noted that the cultivation of the improved cassava varieties had increased the local production and made Nigeria the worlds largest cassava producer.

Ironically, while cassava cultivation has continued to grow, efforts to develop cassava bread appears to have become weakened with the exit of Obasanjo.

Cassy bread

Another initiative to revive the cassava bread initiative began in February 2014 when a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, visited the premises of FIIRO.

Adesina had eaten a sample of the cassava bread, which was produced with both wheat and cassava. Impressed with the taste, he named it Cassy bread, and commenced another move to change the story of the cassava bread and make a success out of it. The target was for four years.

Efforts were geared towards training stakeholders in the production process such as the bakers and flour millers on how to include between 10 and 20 per cent cassava flour in the baking process.

Like the previous administrations had attempted to develop cassava bread, the Goodluck Jonathan government saw that it was relevant for the flour millers to embrace the scheme by voluntarily including cassava flour in their wheat flour mixig right from the factory level.

This, it reasoned, would automatically make any baker buying flour to have cassava in the content he was buying.

If this was achieved, it was hoped that 20 per cent cassava flour inclusion in bread would be achieved within four years.

Challenges

A former director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ademola Efuntoye, said that some of the flour millers were not patriotic and ready to embrace cassava flour, but only wanted to continue to import wheat to frustrate the plan.

The resistance by the millers, he noted, made the government to introduce the method of teaching and encouraging the bakers to pick up the cassava flour themselves and mix it while baking.

He said, There were a lot of activities to ensure that it succeeded. Master bakers were taught how to use the composite flour with wheat and cassava because it was not the same thing as when they just have straight wheat flour.

Efuntoye said the government tried to make some funds available from a wheat levy to develop cassava bread initiative and channelled the funds through the Bank of Industry.

The funds were to be disbursed in such a way that the beneficiaries will also be committed. They were asked to pay 50 per cent of the cost so that it could be a kind of revolving funds. In order to make the process transparent, the funds were transferred in bulk to the BoI. But they still subjected it to their own process, which did not give easy access to the intended beneficiaries, he said.

Efuntoye also said the government negotiated with suppliers of equipment needed for the project to make it cost effective to the entrepreneurs in the cassava bread process.

If we were able to get 10 per cent inclusion, we were going to save about N127bn annually and if we could go up to 20 per cent, we could save N254bn annually, he said.

According to him, this can be used to empower Nigerians instead of developing other countries with continuous importation of wheat.

Farmers woes

Some of the cassava farmers faced huge challenges such as drought, flood and inability to access loans of the government. Aside from that, many of them lost a lot to the menace of herdsmen attacks who have continued to destroy their farms.

A cassava farmer in Oyo State, Mr. Falade Agbatan, said that many farmers in the region wanted to be part of the cassava bread initiative but were not encouraged by the government.

He said, Many of us in this region heard about the loan government was disbursing to assist the farmers but the loan did not get to us. We tried, we went to the Bank of Agriculture here in our state but they said they could not offer us the loan so we had to leave.

According to him, if the government can distribute the stem to grow the special cassava to the farmers and give them addition training on it, it will support the initiative.

The State Chairman, Nigerian Cassava Growers Association in Cross Rivers State, Mr. Augustine Oqua said during the government of Jonathan, there was a programme on how to increase quality cassava flour in order to include 20 per cent of cassava in bread.

By this, he said it was hoped that wheat importation would be reduced in the country to accommodate more of the locally produced cassava.

Oqua said the government empowered a lot of farmers across the country to cultivate this high quality cassava through the farmers association at the national level.

This farmer said this initiative yielded result because the improved variety such as the high yielding variety PMS 419 had been cultivated on more than 10,000 hectares.

He however worried that after producing this special cassava, the flour millers were offering to pay the farmers just about N80,000 per tonne while the cost of production was well over N100,000.

This disequilibrium in pricing, he noted, was making the millers to refuse to take the cassava while the farmers were at a loss and just trying to process the little they could to gari.

He said, The farmers are not able to sell the products and these products are rotting away in the bush. If we go into gari production, a tonne of gari is sold for N120,000 so people will prefer the gari production to selling their cassava to the millers and the millers will not even buy it because they are not making profit from it.

According to him, the farmers could not even produce the gari in large quantity because they did not have the equipment to process it.

We also have the problem of the herdsmen who are attacking the farms because once these cows come to your farm and even eat the leaves, it affects the tubers, he said.

Bad loans

Oqua said loans were made available to farmers association and other stakeholders in the cassava bread production process but he noted that the challenges confronting them made it difficult for the farmers who got the intervention loans to repay when due.

Oqua urged the Nigerian government to go back to the drawing board and see how the cassava bread plan could be realised because it was a laudable idea.

Let the President set up a committee and look critically into it and make it workable; some people sat down and came up with it and it was supposed to work, he said.

Master bakers

The Financial Secretary, Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Oyegade Adeyemi, said the flour mill producing cassava flour ought to introduce the cassava flour to the bakers and not for the bakers to buy cassava flour and blend it.

For now, he said they were still trying to maintain 10 per cent inclusion.

It ought to be in phases; we started with about five per cent; we are now at about 10 per cent; but because of the inadequate production of cassava flour, it is not possible for them because there is a certain level of quality they require for it to blend perfectly with the normal wheat flour, he said.

According to him, they have a four-year development plan for the inclusion of at least 20 per cent cassava flour in bread.

He said it was difficult for the milers to include a large quantity of cassava in bread.

According to him, they were trying to gradually increase the quantity because if they used low quality cassava flour, it would affect the entire bread production.

Again, he said because people were not responding well to the cassava bread campaign, they had to reduce the inclusion of the cassava flour in their bread making to the minimum.

People were used to a particular taste over the years and the quality they get from wheat bread; so, it is difficult for people to change to another taste, he said.

Despite the fact that Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world, Adeyemi said the cassava being cultivated was not enough because people still had to produce gari and other food items from it.

According to him, without sufficient quality, it will be difficult for cassava processors because they need a particular level of quality that cannot be compromised so as not to affect their own production.

Mrs. Ronke Daudu is the owner of Kingsmill Bakery in Lagos and was one of the bakers trained at FIIRO to promote cassava bread.

Despite the training, she said she was not using cassava flour for making bread.

She said, I went to FIIRO to learn about the making of cassava bread among other things, but it is not well accepted by the people and I have not seen it in the market. Even when they tested it for, it was just 10 per cent cassava; the flour was 90 per cent so you wont really feel the cassava flour there.

It wont be like the normal bread. We want to protect our business but maybe later if they are able to get it right and it is well accepted, then I can go into it.

Cassava flour producers

Flour Mills Nigeria Limited is a major organisation that had been at the forefront of supporting the Federal Governments initiative in the provision of the composite flour into the market.

The Group Managing Director, Flour Mills Nigeria Limited, Mr. Paul Gbededo, said over the years, it had made significant investment and partnered with the Federal Government to develop quality cassava flour and actualise the policy.

What we need from the government is consistency and not a situation where we wake up tomorrow and the government has reversed the policy, knowing all the investment we have made which could then go down the drain, he said.

He also said the cassava bread initiative is a laudable one, adding that bakers were buying the composite flour from it and it was making progress.

He however noted that it was unable to get enough cassava for processing flour.

Gbededo said, Cassava prices have risen; it used to be N5,000 to N10,000. Today, cassava flour is going for N20,000 to N25,000 per metric tonne. There has been an increase in the prices of high quality cassava flour. Before now, they were selling high quality cassava flour for N80,000 per metric tonne, but today, we are paying N120,000 to N125,000 per metric tonne for high quality cassava flour.

According to him, the firm has to increase the prices correspondingly so that farmers and other stakeholders in the process will benefit and everyone in the value chain can be happy.

He observed that the government had been supporting the farmers through the provision of loans, fertilisers and different schemes to in order to lower the cost of production and motivate them to produce more.

We have started the (renewed) cassava campaign for almost 10 years now and we have been working to upscale the skill of bakers on how to bake composite cassava flour and teach them the ingredient to use.

We partnered the government in introducing this cassava flour to the market and others have joined. Among the flour millers association, we have a committee that monitors the inclusion of cassava flour in bread. He said.

Way forward

A spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye, said the cassava bread initiative was a good one, which was meant to save the nation tremendous foreign exchange.

He also said that a number of high quality cassava producers had sprung up and that more awareness was being created on the subject matter.

According to the Director-General, FIIRO, Dr. Gloria Elemo, cassava is a crop of relative advantage for Nigeria, being the largest producer in the world with current annual output of about 54 million metric tonnes.

She, however, said over 90 per cent of the annual output was consumed as food items with little quantity reserved for industrial use.

Elemo said, The nation can reap the benefits this golden crop offer only if it can find industrial utilisation for the crop. High quality cassava flour has been developed for this purpose for partial substitution of wheat flour for bread baking and confectionery production.

The attendant benefits at 20 per cent inclusion level for cassava bread baking and confectionery production include: potential annual foreign exchange savings of N127bn; generation of three million jobs within the next three years through direct employments by stakeholders operating within the value chain and multiplier effect; industrial development through creation of about 3,000 SME cassava processors; reduction in the cost of bread by about 15 per cent in the short run and greater reduction in the long run as well as establishment of about 19,350 commercial bakeries within the next three years by entrepreneurs taking advantage of new business opportunities and robust government incentives.

She also said scientific experiments had confirmed that cassava bread had no health and nutritional side effects and its consumption might not pose any threat to blood glucose response of individuals as being insinuated.

The technology of cassava bread production is already established in Nigeria with different knowledge centres playing complimentary roles, Elemo said.

She recalled that in 2011, the nation imported about 3.9 million tonnes of wheat, out of which 3.3 million tonnes came in from the United States.

The current annual value of wheat importation is about N635bn; whereas the total importation from 1999 to 2010 is N1,087tn ($6.792bn). This is a clear indication of high prospect for developing local substitutes for partial substitution of the wheat flour, she said.

She also said it was obvious that cassava bread industry could stimulate the economy of Nigeria better than it could be imagined.

What is left is the political will and appropriate legislation to drive the cassava bread industry so that the nation could start reaping the benefits of the golden crop. Vision 20:2020 cannot be realised without home-grown industries like the cassava industry with high potential for rural development, employment creation, wealth creation and value addition to local raw material, she said.

Source: Punch
Six weeks after the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election, the battle for the White House is yet to be over as the 538 electors formally cast their votes for either Democratic Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump on Monday.

Although, technically the President-elect Trump won the electoral college on Nov. 9, officially, he has not been voted for.

Under the US Constitution, the real presidential election takes place on Dec. 19, when electors meet in the 50 state capitals and Washington, D.C. to cast their ballots.

To be elected a president, therefore, a candidate must score 270 Electoral College votes, representing 50 per cent plus one vote or a simple majority vote.

As the electors prepare to vote on Monday, there are reports that many Republican electoral college members have been besieged by phone calls and e-mails to vote against Trump.

Clintons victory in the popular vote, by a margin of close to three million but not the electoral vote and controversies about Trump have generated unusual interest in the electoral college.

Trump needs 270 electoral votes on Monday to claim White House and his victory in various states in the Nov. 8 election put him in line to get 306 of the 538 electoral college votes as against Clinton who had 232.

NAN reports that Clintons almost three million over Trumps, made him the most unpopular president-elect since 1876 and heightening the tension in recent weeks.

Already 18 notable U.S. actors and other artists have urged Republican electors to go down in the books as American heroes by not voting for Trump.

One elector has resigned, another said he would not vote while electors in three states went to court seeking authority to vote as they please.

The Republican elector from Texas, Art Sisneros, resigned, saying a vote for Trump would bring dishonour to God.

Christopher Suprun, a Texas elector, said he would not vote for Trump, who won his states election.

Donald Trump lacks the foreign policy experience and demeanour needed to be commander in-chief, he said.

In California, a Federal Judge scheduled a hearing on a similar request from an elector, Vinzenz Koller, who said he could not vote for Clinton.

Courts in Colorado and Washington have rejected pleas from electors to be released from requirements to vote as their states did, although the electors in Colorado appealed the lower court ruling.

The state Supreme Court will have until noon on Monday, when electors cast their ballots, to decide.

On Sunday, John Podesta, Clintons campaign chairman, suggested that 37 electoral voters bound to Trump could defect, which would be enough to create at least a tie and send the votes to the House to decide.

Podesta predicated his argument on glaring allegations that Russians hacking the emails of Democrats during the election led in part to Clintons loss.

He also argued that members of the Electoral College should have an intelligence briefing about the hackings before voting on Monday.

I assume that our electors are going to vote for Hillary Clinton.

But the question is whether there are 37 Republican electors who think that either there are open questions about the purported Russian hackings or that Donald Trump is really unfit to be president and I guess we will know that tomorrow.

However, Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, said in spite of the mounting pressures on the electors to vote against Trump we expect everything to fall in line.

Priebus, however, confirmed the only known and so-called faithless balloter, who lives in Texas and whose vote goes to Trump but plans to vote for another, yet-to-be-named Republican.

But other than that, were very confident that everything is going to be very smooth, he said.

Source: Punch
Two female suicide bombers reportedly lost their lives yesterday in a village on the outskirt of Maiduguri, Borno State as one of them hurriedly detonated her strapped vest in order to prevent policemen from stopping them for a routine check.

Confirming the incident, the Borno State Police Spokesperson, Victor Isuku, said three people were injured in the attack.

At About 2030hrs yesterday (Sunday), two female suicide bombers were halted to stop for routine check at Geleri village which is about 5km to Muna Garage, an outskirt of Maiduguri, Isuku said.

One of the suicide bombers detonated IED strapped to her body killing her and her accomplice whose IED vest did not explode. Three residents of the area were however injured.

The commands EOD unit rushed to the scene to render the unexploded IED safe. The area has been secured and normalcy restored.
At the lawns of Australias Parliament House, up to 700 people gathered to roll downhill for potentially the last time before proposed fences are built.

A Facebook event was set up by Lester Yao, a Canberra architect, to gather friends and family on the Parliament House lawns Saturday to observe the unofficial local tradition of rolling down the hill, and the event soon went viral with hundreds of people participating.

It was only going to be about 20 friends and families, and now we had more than 600 or 700 people, Yao told the Canberra Times.

A video posted to Twitter shows hundreds of people doing a synchronised roll down the grassy hill outside of the building.

Yao said he organised the event to make sure his friends and family could have one last roll down the hill before a proposed security fence is built around the facility.

Unfortunately, kids might not be able to do this again and theyre just enjoying themselves, he said.

The fence was proposed as part of security measures discussed after demonstrators managed to breach security at Parliament House twice in a single week in late November and early December.
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has offered automatic employment to Kwara State indigenes who graduated with first class honors from different universities to celebrate his 54th birthday.

Saraki who hosted 72 first class graduates as part of the celebrations, said its part of the measures to encourage young entrepreneurs to focus on Made in Nigeria goods and services.

To celebrate my birthday, I hosted 72 Kwara indigenes that made first class honors from different universities, he said.

I decided to host these students to encourage and remind them that the best resource we have in Nigeria is not Oil, Gold or Tantalite but Human Capital, I assured them that I will continue to use my position to improve the human capital resource with any opportunity I find.

Delighted that some of my friends decided to give automatic employment to some of the graduates, to start in January.

I encourage others that might want to celebrate me to consider extending helping hand especially to young entrepreneurs who focus on Made In Nigeria goods and services, Saraki added.
Officials at a local hospital on Sunday said the death toll in a suicide attack targeting government soldiers in Yemens southern city of Aden has risen to 42.

The officials at the al-Jumhuri Hospital added on condition of anonymity that dozens of soldiers injured in the attack are still in critical conditions.

Ambulances continue to carry victims from the site of the attack, which took place outside the Solban Army Base in the north-eastern part of Aden, witnesses say.

The bomber blew himself up amid a group of soldiers who had gathered to receive their salaries.

There is no claim yet of responsibility for the bombing, the second of its kind in the same location this month.

Source: dpa/NAN
Double-talk Stock Market (and Sentiment Results) HedgeFundTips.com - 31 minutes ago ack when Jon Hilsenrath was the Fed Whisperer at the Wall Street Journal, you could count on whatever he signaled would be consistent with what came out of either Chairman Bernanke or Yellens...

Amazon pauses corporate hiring amid economic worries AP - 38 minutes ago Amazon is pausing hiring for its corporate workforce as the company moves to cut costs amid worries about the economic environment $SPX : 3,733.11 (-0.71%) $DOWI : 32,043.27 (-0.33%) $IUXX : 10,749.14 (-1.44%)

Microsoft extends aid for Ukraine's wartime tech innovation AP - 1 hour ago Ukraine is counting on more Western technological support as its war against Russia drags on, with Microsoft pledging to extend its backing for Kyiv through the end of next year MSFT : 216.50 (-1.64%) $SPX : 3,733.11 (-0.71%) $DOWI : 32,043.27 (-0.33%) $IUXX : 10,749.14 (-1.44%)

Cotton Continues Upward through Thursday Barchart - 1 hour ago The upward momentum continues in the cotton market through Thursdays midday. Gains are limited to 3.34 cents so far, with triple digit gains through October 23. Weekly Export Sales data had cotton... CTZ22 : 83.00 (+5.06%) CTH23 : 82.24 (+4.58%) CTK23 : 82.06 (+4.07%)

Hogs are Mixed Mostly Lower Barchart - 1 hour ago Dec and Feb hogs are in the black at midday, though gains are limited to 12 cents. The deferred contracts are giving back 2 to 30 cents through midday on Thursday. The USDA National Average Base Hog Price... HEZ22 : 83.375s (+0.09%) HEJ23 : 92.550s (-0.11%) KMZ22 : 94.000 (+0.16%)

Midday Cattle Mostly Red Barchart - 1 hour ago So far through Thursday front month live cattle futures are trading with losses of 15 to 20 cents. The December and April 23 contracts are in the black. Feeder cattle are down by 20 to 57 cents at midday.... LEZ22 : 151.950s (+0.36%) LEG23 : 154.875s (-0.02%) LEJ23 : 158.300s (-0.13%) GFX22 : 178.000s (-0.52%) GFF23 : 179.425s (-0.32%)

Mixed Midday in Wheat Market Barchart - 1 hour ago Thursday wheat futures are working with a mixed so far. SRW is down 2 1/4 to 3 cents at midday. KC wheat futures are up by as much as 4  cents so far. MPLS wheat futures are mixed within 3 1/4 cents... ZWZ22 : 840-0 (-0.71%) ZWH23 : 859-0 (-0.69%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.7168 (-0.77%) KEZ22 : 941-4 (+0.13%) KEPAWS.CM : 8.9929 (+0.14%) MWZ22 : 944-0 (-0.55%)

Corn Continuing Lower through Thursday Barchart - 1 hour ago Corn prices are working another 5 cents lower through Thursdays midday. Prices faded to as much as $6.87 1/2 December, before squaring up at midday. USDA reported 372,220 MT of corn was sold for export... ZCZ22 : 679-0 (-1.24%) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.7527 (-1.19%) ZCH23 : 684-6 (-1.15%) ZCK23 : 684-4 (-1.16%)
International IT firm Cognizant has announced a deal to acquire Sydney-based insurance consultancy Adaptra.The deal will see Adaptra, which works with five of the top 10 insurers in Australia and New Zealand, join the Cognizant business as the global firm expands its local presence.Adaptra, founded in 1998, specialises in consulting, programme management and implementation of core platforms to help insurance firms improve their businesses across underwriting, policy administration, claims management and billing.As part of the acquisition, approximately 100 Adaptra staff members will join the Cognizant business while the details of the transaction were not disclosed.Increasingly, insurers around the world are looking to simplify critical processes relating to policies, claims and billing, said Jayajyoti Sengupta, head of Asia Pacific, Cognizant.Analysing these processes provides an opportunity to enable insights on customer experiences and operational efficiencies.Sengupta said that Adaptras expertise in Guidewire will help insurance clients in Australia and New Zealand further develop their businesses.Peter Overton, managing director of Adaptra, said that the deal to combine Cognizants global experience with Adaptras expertise will position the business to help insurance clients as they navigate the changing digital landscape of the industry.
Disruption is a watch-word for many in the insurance industry at the moment but one expert has said that cyber insurance could be a force of disruption in its own right in 2017.Cyber risks continue to emerge and hit the headlines. Last weeks Yahoo hack was the latest cyber breach, proving that cyber insurance is set to be top of mind both inside and outside the industry in 2017.The insurance market will have an impact on all manner of businesses over the coming year, Carl Leonard, principal security analyst at Forcepoint said.The cyber insurance market will dramatically disrupt businesses in the next 12 months, Leonard told Insurance Business.Insurance companies will refuse to pay out for the increasing breaches that are caused by ineffective security practices, while premiums and payouts will become more aligned with the actual cost of a breach.Leonard added that he anticipates the requirements for cyber insurance will become as significant as regulatory requirements, and will therefore impact on businesses existing security programs.In Australia, experts believe that mandatory breach notification could become law over the coming months which could see a drastic uptick in the amount of cyber cover sold. Proposed mandatory breach notifications will also have an impact on the way businesses, including insurers and brokers, store data.Data security, while already paramount to many businesses, will become a key focus as transparency becomes more prevalent. The theme of transparency will have a trickle down affect from the largest businesses in the country as customers begin to expect clearer ways of working with companies, Leonard continued.Cyber prevention, detection, response, and remediation will become more important over the coming year and Leonard noted that moving into 2017, businesses will no longer be able to ignore cyber risk.Our world is changing, our digital and physical worlds are converging and our view of security must change with it, Leonard said.As we move in to 2017, the question is no longer if, but when, your business will experience an attack.
To reinforce its strategy for improving services through the delivery of enhanced customer experience, Zurich Financial Services Australia has announced the creation of the dedicated role of head of customer, claims.Hilary Bates, Zurich general insurance chief claims officer, said in a statement that the development is the companys direct response to brokers and customers as it strives to sustain service delivery standards.At Zurich we fully understand that it is at claim time when a customer needs to be confident in (their) insurance provider and that every customer touch point needs to be a highly responsive experience, Bates explained.To fill the newly created role, Zurich appointed Gavin Gibson who is backed by extensive industry experience spanning more than 20 years.The appointment of Mr. Gibson as the dedicated head of customer in the claims team is one element of our program designed to further improve our claims operations Bates added.He is ideally qualified to support and implement Zurichs desired changes to ensure that the customer experience feels personal, effective and uniquely Zurich, she concluded.Gibson will be based in Sydney and will start in his new role in January next year.
More than 10,000 children in the United States under the age of 15 were diagnosed with cancer in 2016. And the rate of childhood cancer has been rising slightly for several decades, according to the American Cancer Society.

Its an illness that no parent wants their child to experience  ever.

The City of Hope, a research and treatment center for adult and childhood cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases, works to combine science with soul to make miracles every day. One miracle is the story of young Marshall Cotta who at 11 months old was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer tumor that left his parents searching for hope when many doctors said there was none.

Marshall, now 19 years old, was advanced for his age, says his mother Pamela Cotta. Hes our third son and started walking at 10 months, which we thought was amazing because our two other children didnt walk until 12 months, Pamela said. Marshalls growth and development seemed right on track until one morning when he woke up and suddenly couldnt walk or move.

I took him out of his crib and put him on the floor and he just stood there and couldnt move so I called the pediatrician, Pamela said. The pediatrician sent Marshall immediately to a neurologist. That was the first of many difficult days to come for Marshall and the Cotta family.

The pediatric neurologist told Pamela and her husband that the prognosis was dire. I remember him saying to us, I wish I could tell you that everything was going to be OK but I cant.'

Marshalls first MRI revealed a brain tumor that was causing hydrocephalus, or water on his brain.

They took him right into surgery to put in a shunt. I remember it was my dads 70th birthday, Pamela said.

The surgeons removed a portion of the brain tumor but couldnt get it all because of its location next to the brain stem. They told us that this particular kind of tumor was normally seen in adults and very rarely in children. The bad thing was they had no treatment for it. They told us there was nothing they could do, his mother said.

This was 1998 and while the doctors at Childrens Hospital in San Diego had a pediatric chemotherapy protocol, they feared it wasnt going to work on Marshalls tumor. Even so, they said they would try.

The goal was that if they could stop the tumor from growing then they could go in and do radiation and there was a possibility that it would stop the growth, Pamela explained.

But treatment came with heavy risk to Marshalls health.

They told us that because of his age and because he hadnt grown yet, the radiation would cause his body growth to be stunted but his arms and legs would continue to grow and he would have learning disabilities.

But most disheartening was that the doctors didnt believe such treatment would even work, she said.

Thats when a friend of a friend recommended City of Hope.

It was just doom and gloom until Marshall arrived at City of Hope, Pamela said. Every time we spoke to a doctor they would tell us it wasnt going to work, this isnt a tumor that can be treated. Then we went to City of Hope and it was the most incredible thing. They didnt make us any promises but there was hope.

As soon as the doctors from City of Hope walked in, they took off their white coats so they wouldnt scare Marshall. Marshall was so calm, Pamela said. The City of Hope doctors told Pamela and Jeff Cotta that while there wasnt a treatment option for their sons cancer, they were willing to try but not if doing so meant destroying Marshall. Their whole motto is that theres no point in curing the body if in the process you destroy the soul.

City of Hope knew that radiation treatment would cause learning disabilities so full body radiation was not an option. Instead they moved forward with proton beam radiation directed only at the tumor site. They basically made up a treatment plan for him, harvested his stem cells, did stem cell rescue after every treatment because the treatment was so harsh it helped him recover, said his mother.

And it worked.

We were there almost a year. He had three cycles of the chemotherapy and then the stem cell rescue after each one. The whole time we would live in their Village. My husband went back home with the other two boys, Pamela said.

It was an interesting time, Pamela recalled. Throughout Marshalls stay at City of Hope, Pamela was pregnant with her fourth son. There were so many harsh chemicals in everything that I spent a lot of time in a chemo suit that the doctors would wear so I wouldnt be exposed. Sometimes when I think back on it, it doesnt even seem real, she said.

Today Marshall is a vibrant, healthy freshman studying music at San Diego State University.

He is here today thanks to the research and treatment offered by the City of Hope and the generous efforts of companies and supporters that continue to finance new research, treatment and educational programs, including longstanding contributions from the insurance industry. The City of Hope industry group, the National Insurance Industry Council, consists of representatives from the property/casualty industry and has raised close to $30 million to help fund the Duarte, Calif.-based centers research efforts throughout the past 38 years.

This year alone the City of Hopes brain tumor program will receive more than $1 million from the NIIC and Lori McGee, the widow of Liam McGee, the past chairman and CEO of The Hartford who battled a form of brain cancer as well. This is the first time in the brain tumors program for them to receive dedicated funds, said Ken Birkett, director of development of NIIC for the City of Hope.

The Cotta family has also made it a priority to give back to the place that saved their son. After Marshall was home about a year we started a fundraising group called Marshalls Roundup and have been fundraising for the past 16 years, Pamela said. Pamela and Jeff also dedicated a life insurance policys benefits to the City of Hope.

How do you put a price on what you pay back for a place that saved your child? she added. You really cant.

To learn more about the City of Hope or to find out more about the NIICs efforts, visit: www.cityofhope.org.

Topics Market
The Florida Supreme Court has ruled in favor of policyholders seeking coverage on claims where there is the possibility of multiple concurrent losses but at least one of the losses is covered under their policy.

Though the decision can have some far-reaching effects for the industry, attorneys that specialize in insurance law say the decision wasnt a surprise.

The 6-1 ruling, issued Dec. 1, came in the case of American Home Assurance Co. v. Sebo, 141 So. 3d 195 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013) where the homeowner, John Robert Sebo, was seeking review of the decision from the Second District Court of Appeals that found in favor of the insurer. The original case stems from a 2007 lawsuit by Sebo against his insurer, American Home Assurance Co., Inc., for denying coverage on his $8 million all risks homeowners policy.

Sebo said in the original suit that shortly after he purchased the home it began to incur major water leaks during rain storms and it was later discovered the home suffered from major design and construction defects. When Hurricane Wilma hit Florida in Oct. 2005, the home was further damaged and Sebo notified AHAC at the end of December of that year of the water intrusion and other damages. AHAC subsequently investigated and in April 2006 it denied coverage for most of the claimed losses saying the balance of the damages to the house, including any window, door, and other repairs is not covered. Sebo was paid $50,000 by AHAC for mold damage.

Sebo continued pursuing the claim, which AHAC refused to pay, and after the home was determined to be beyond repair it was demolished. Sebo filed suit in Jan. 2007 against a number of defendants and amended the complaint in 2009 to include AHAC. He sought a declaration that the policy provided coverage for his damages and the case went to trial, for which the jury found in favor of Sebo.

AHAC appealed the case to the Second District, which sided with AHAC because it disagreed with the trial courts application of the case of Wallach v. Rosenberg, 527 So. 2d 1386 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988), that applies the concurrent causation doctrine in a case involving multiple perils and a first-party insurance policy.

The Appeals Court reversed and remanded for a new trial saying the causation of Sebos loss must be examined under the efficient proximate cause theory (EPC). This theory finds that where there is a concurrence of different perils, the efficient cause  the one that set the other in motion  is the cause to which the loss should be attributed.

The Florida Supreme Court disagreed with the application of this theory to this case, and wrote in its opinion, We conclude that when independent perils converge and no single cause can be considered the sole or proximate cause, it is appropriate to apply the concurring cause doctrine (CCD). Accordingly, we quash the decision

The Florida Supreme Court reasoned that the Second District Court erred in its application of the EPC, cited from a case by the Florida Supreme Court (Fire Assn of Phila. v. Evansville Brewing Assn, 75 So. 196, Fla. 1917) where the court looked at a chain of events where one peril directly led to a subsequent peril.

In finding that coverage existed under the policy, we drew the distinction between a covered peril setting into motion an uncovered peril and an uncovered peril setting into motion a covered peril. Coverage exists for the former but not the latter, the court wrote.

Instead, the court said the CCD provides that coverage may exist where an insured risk constitutes a concurrent cause of the loss even when it is not the prime or efficient cause, as was the situation with the Wallach case and a California case of State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Partridge, 514 P.2d 123, 133 (Cal. 1973), which the court referenced in reaching its decision.

In that case, the California Supreme Court noted that exclusionary clauses are more strictly construed than coverage clauses, and reasoned that an insured risk combined with an excluded risk to produce the ultimate injury. The California Supreme Court determined that coverage under a liability insurance policy is equally available to an insured whenever an insured risk constitutes simply a concurrent proximate cause of the injuries.

The Florida Supreme Court said a California court found that a covered peril that convenes with an uncovered peril may still provide for coverage under a policy when the covered peril triggered the events that eventually led to the loss.

Florida has used that reasoning in its own courts since the 1988 Wallach case.

The Florida Supreme Court said it is undisputed that Sebos all-risk policy included exclusions against faulty, inadequate or defective planning, including for design, materials, and maintenance, as well as the fact that the rainwater and hurricane winds combined with the defective construction to cause the damage to Sebos property.

However, the court said there is no reasonable way to distinguish the proximate cause of Sebos property lossthe rain and construction defects acted in concert to create the destruction of Sebos home. As such, it would not be feasible to apply the EPC doctrine because no efficient cause can be determined.

The court said that as stated in Wallach, [w]here weather perils combine with human negligence to cause a loss, it seems logical and reasonable to find the loss covered by an all-risk policy even if one of the causes is excluded from coverage.

The court disagreed with the Second Districts finding that the CCD nullifies all exclusionary language and noted that AHAC explicitly wrote other sections of Sebos policy to avoid applying the CCD.

Because AHAC did not explicitly avoid applying the CCD, we find that the plain language of the policy does not preclude recovery in this case, the opinion said.

Attorneys familiar with the case say the decision is not a surprise because the court simply followed past precedents that had been applied in these types of cases.

The decision does, however, create some additional headaches for the insurance industry, including the possibility of the reopening of many claims where coverage was denied.

This decision will affect claims already in litigation or claims heading toward litigation, said Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Michael Packer, a shareholder with law firm Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin. There will also be massive requests for reopening of claims. We expect tremendous amounts of attempts to amend complaints.

Packer said while these types of claims are not very common, he suspects that every claim where coverage was denied for an exclusion will now become significant. The number of homeowners claims could also increase in the event of a large windstorm or hurricane.

The industry will have to be careful, Packer said. If there is a significant windstorm in the future they could see a lot of claimsit could be a significant issue for insurance companies.

Kyle Brinkman, an attorney with Washington D.C. firm Blank Rome, which represents policyholders, said the decision means the insurance industry will have to take a closer look at whether they should continue to use concurrent causation language in homeowners policies. That will be tough to exclude all together, however, based on what rest of the market allows.

There is a lesson to the insurance industry here  if an insurance company wants a more restrictive rule they will have to put it in the contract and see if the policyholder will still buy coverage, Brinkman said.

The other lesson, he said, is that when insurers have not selected more restrictive language on causation where there are multiple causes and one is covered, they will have to pay the claim.

Topics Carriers California Florida Claims Profit Loss Market Homeowners
The Department of Buildings of the City of New Yorks (DOB) recent move to better regulate crawler crane operations in New York City has led to concern for some in the insurance industry that a stricter regulatory environment could make a difficult coverage area even more challenging for insurers, according to several industry participants.

The new requirements resulted in an ongoing lawsuit filed last month against the DOB and its commissioner, Rick D. Chandler, claiming they are too burdensome for crane manufacturers and operators  a criticism echoed by some in the insurance industry.

I do not personally believe insurers will hustle back into New York due to these new regulations, said Jeffrey Haynes, senior vice president and crane and rigging practice leader at USI Insurance Services. This will not be a positive thing for insurers to want to jump back into writing cranes.

The lawsuit, filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York by the Building Trades Employers Association on behalf of its members, comes after the DOB issued a June 2016 Commissioners Order containing new requirements for crawler cranes.

The order was issued in response to a February crane collapse in New York that killed one person. Following the crane collapse, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio formed a new working group, the Crane Safety Technical Working Group, to recommend policies to improve crane safety.

The Citys crane rules are there to protect peoples lives, a DOB spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Insurance Journal. We look forward to reviewing this action and are confident we will prevail.

Several insurance industry participants have expressed concern, however, that higher costs associated with regulatory compliance and recordkeeping could push insurance carriers out of this coverage area.

The market of carriers available to cover projects that involve cranes in New York is already very small, said Anthony Kammas, Professional Insurance Agents of New York (PIANY) secretary and principal at Skyline Risk Management. This regulation is putting more burden on the crane manufacturers and operators, which in turn adds additional cost to their underlying insurance. The premiums are going sky high, and a lot of the carriers are putting crane exclusions on their policies because they dont want to deal with anything that involves cranes. If that continues, there will be a tremendous increase in premiums.

New York is an already risky place for construction projects due to its density. A stricter regulatory environment could negatively impact the risk/reward profile for insurers of construction projects involving cranes, according to Allen Wolff, shareholder at Anderson Kill.

Its a big question mark right now, and a lot of people in the industry are legitimately concerned they may face this increased expense but see no significant decrease in accidents, he said. At that point, regulations are burdensome and impose additional cost with no real reward.

Although some are calling for a more flexible approach to regulating crawler crane operations in New York, it is too early to tell if the current regulations will raise premiums, Haynes said. That said, any move to improve the safety of crawler crane operations in New York should look beyond cost, Kammas added.

No one wants anyone to get hurt, and when the situation arises, you cant think of dollars and cents. You need to think of how to get it resolved as safely as possible, he said.

One benefit that could be seen if fewer insurance companies begin entering the marketplace is unexpected upside while the industry adjusts to regulatory changes, Wolff said.

If fewer insurance companies are coming in to underwrite the risk, it may turn out that there is such a need in the industry and such a market opportunity in underwriting, that with a few tweaks, exclusions or modifications, insurers can re-enter the marketplace, he said. It is possible that one of the by-products of this will be a renewed effort to have discussions and meaningful engagement around this topic. No one wants to see injury or catastrophe  not the industry or the city  but there has to be a balance.

Topics Carriers Legislation New York Market
If a Dec. 1, 2016, hearing is any indication, Texas lawmakers will likely be encouraged in the coming legislative session to take up what the property/casualty insurance industry says is a problematic trend following severe weather-related events in the state: increased attorney and public adjuster involvement in residential property damage claims.

The insurance committee of the Texas House of Representatives heard testimony from invited speakers about the preliminary results of a Texas Department of Insurance insurer data call aimed at gathering information on residential property claims and any resulting litigation. The legislature had asked TDI to study whether the data revealed a trend or pattern of increased attorney or public adjuster involvement and, if so, to identify what impact such a trend might have on the property insurance market in the state.

Property insurers would like to see laws enacted to discourage public adjuster and attorney involvement in the claims process. They say increased involvement is causing significantly higher claim costs and will lead to higher insurance prices and fewer options statewide. Consumer advocates, however, caution against placing restrictions that would deny policyholders the right to hold insurers accountable for errors or perceived injustices in claims handling.

TDI Senior Actuary Brian Ryder summarized the preliminary findings of the data call, which was divided into three parts: a 5 percent random sampling of wind/hail claims from admitted property insurers (except farm mutuals) from 2010 to 2015; a 100 percent sampling from the top 15 property insurers of all wind/hail claims for nine specific events between 2009 and 2015; and a survey of all admitted property insurers (except farm mutuals) regarding their response to weather-related litigation such as non-renewals, reductions in coverage, restrictive underwriting guidelines and rate changes.

Emphasizing that the results are preliminary, Ryder said the data show that starting in 2012 the percentage of claims involving attorneys or public adjusters has increased in some areas. On average, that involvment has led to higher payments in such cases and longer settlement times.

Ryder said that the collected data show that on average attorneys became involved about eight months after the claim was reported to the insurer. Public adjusters tended to get involved in a claim about four months after it was reported.

Attorney involvement within a few days after the claim was reported to the insurer occurred in 7 percent of the cases. In 23 percent of cases, public adjusters became involved within a few days of the claim being reported.

Ryder said South Texas had the most attorney/public adjuster claim involvement. However, both the Panhandle and Southwest Texas also saw increases in claims involving attorneys and public adjusters.

Of the nine severe weather events between 2009 and 2015 that TDI studied, a late March 2012 hailstorm in Hidalgo County generated the highest percentage of claims with attorney/public adjuster involvement: 26 percent.

Except for the May 2013 hailstorm in Amarillo, in which 5 percent of the claims involved attorneys or PAs, the rest of the nine events examined had public adjuster/attorney involvement in less than 2 percent of claims.

Ryder said there was no indication of a statewide trend in increases in policy deductibles as a reaction to increased involvement. However, deductibles were found to have gone up in coastal areas. Similarly, statewide there has been no decrease in the percentage of policies with the broadest coverage in recent years, and no widespread exit by insurers, although some smaller companies have pulled out of coastal areas.

From 2000 to 2015, property insurers in Texas had an overall underwriting loss of 0.3 percent, but from 2012 to 2015 insurers experienced an underwriting profit of 0.6 percent, Ryder said.

For 2016 the projection is not looking good, however. TDI is estimating, on a very preliminary basis, an underwriting loss in the residential property market of 30 percent.

The numbers indicate that insurers paid $3.2 billion in hail losses in the first six months of 2016, Ryder said. By comparison for the full year 2015 insurers paid out $1.9 billion in hail claim losses, which previously was the most paid for hail losses in a full year in Texas.

He said while residential premiums have increased over the past four years, theres still plenty of competition in the property insurance market in Texas, and that competition has been steadily increasing statewide for the past 16 years.

Topics Lawsuits Carriers Texas Claims Property Market
A 48-year-old man convicted of killing his fiancee to collect on her life insurance has been sentenced to 60 years in prison.

Federal prosecutors said Thursday that Ronald Epps of Amherst was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.

A jury convicted Epps of wire and mail fraud, arson, possession of Molotov cocktails, drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession. U.S. Attorney William Hochul says its believed to be the first time his office has used federal fraud laws to convict a killer.

Epps was never charged with murder.

Prosecutors say Epps shot Angela Moss dead in 2009 after she made him the sole beneficiary of her $100,000 life insurance policy. Authorities say he set his apartment on fire the following year and collected about $4,000 from an insurance claim.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New York
Vermont transportation officials have decided to pursue a more detailed environmental study of a proposed $40 million rail tunnel project in Middlebury, which could delay construction by at least a year.

The project calls for replacing two aging bridges in the communitys downtown with an underground tunnel and lowering the rail bed to accommodate double-decker rail cars. It is related to a larger plan Vermont has been working on to improve a 75-mile stretch of tracks between Rutland and Burlington so passenger rail service can be restored.

The state Transportation Agency announced late Thursday its decision to study environmental and other risks the tunnel project might pose after opponents raised questions about the adequacy of a less rigorous review.

It is unfortunate that the collective efforts of so many can be sidelined by the threat of legal action, Vermont Transportation Secretary Chris Cole said in the statement. But rather than carry that risk into construction and potentially cost the taxpayers additional funds, VTrans and (the Federal Highway Administration) have elected to engage in an additional administrative process.

Jim Dumont, an attorney representing opponents of the project, said Friday his clients were eager to have the bridges replaced, but the Transportation Agency dropped the ball by failing to address public safety, pollution and business issues.

Its unclear if the study would delay a goal of completing work on the rail lines and infrastructure between Rutland and Burlington by 2020. The project would clear the way for Amtrak passenger rail service on the western side of Vermont between the two cities, which would include a stop in Middlebury.

Vermont had been working for years to improve the tracks between Rutland and Burlington so passenger rail service could be restored to its largest city for the first time in more than 50 years. The Amtrak Vermont currently serves the Burlington area with a train that stops in Essex Junction, about 7 miles from Burlington.

Over the years, most of the tracks along the route have been upgraded, and state officials last spring announced they had won a $10 million federal grant to help upgrade the last 11 miles of rail on the route.

Transportation Agency spokesman Erik Filkorn said the rail upgrades and other improvements along the route will continue as scheduled.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Pollution Vermont
Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. announced that Richard Thornton has been appointed to the newly created position of group chief operating officer.

Thornton will undertake this new role in addition to his responsibilities as group head of strategy, said the company, adding that he will relinquish his current role as group chief risk officer.

He joined Aspen as group head of strategy in March 2014 and was appointed group chief risk officer in September 2014. Aspen will appoint a new group chief risk officer over the coming months.

Prior to joining Aspen, Thornton was a partner at Oliver Wyman, leading the development of its general insurance business in the United Kingdom and Europe. He worked on a wide variety of projects spanning life and general insurance, ranging from retail to global corporate and from strategy to operations, risk and finance. Previously, he was an economist in the Bank of Englands monetary analysis division.

In this new role, Richard will be responsible for leading our operational strategy across our business segments, platforms and our corporate functions, said Chris OKane, group chief executive officer. Richard will bring strategic vision, new ideas and strong momentum to ensure that our operational activities are developed further and are even more effectively aligned to support our underwriting teams globally.

Source: Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd.
XL Catlins venture fund, XL Innovate, committed $4 million in first-round financing to Stonestep, a property/casualty insurtech startup looking to streamline how microinsurance is sold in emerging markets.

The Series A funding is designed to help Stonestep grow in the Asian market, starting in Myanmar. As well, the investment allows Stonestep to access XL Catlins experienced and insurance capacity.

For most people around the world, life is extremely risky: if people lose their home, theyre not checking into a hotel. If they have an accident, theres no ambulance. Stonesteps unique insurance platform can cover such risks for emerging consumers, and XL Innovates investment will help us implement this solution, beginning in Asia, Stonestep founder and CEO Brandon Matthews said in prepared remarks. Microinsurance as a service is a sustainable business model that can catalyze economic growth for all levels of society.

Matthews has previous insurance experience in emerging markets, having worked with AIG and Zurich to build large operations in Latin America, according to the funding announcement.

As part of the investment, XL Innovate director Sarah Street will join Stonesteps board of directors.

XL Catlin is also a founding member of Blue Marble Microinsurance, a consortium of insurers and reinsurers designed to create a market for microinsurance (insurance coverage with low premiums and low caps/coverage) to the underserved and emerging middle class in developing countries. The consortium also includes AIG, Aspen, Hamilton Insurance Group, TransRe, Old Mutual, Zurich, Marsh & McLennan and Guy Carpenter, according to Blue Marbles web site.

Stonestep said its microinsurance as a service technology platform is built to allow basic insurance products to be sold through different corporations such as mobile network operators, retailers and financial service providers, and use their distribution systems to sell insurance affordably.

The idea is that piggybacking on existing companies distribution systems could reduce infrastructure costs and allow for the sale of insurance services to geographically remote areas, connecting with customers that would not necessarily be reached through traditional means.

Stonestep said its system includes apps that help distribute policies and administer claims, and that its platform provides services to help customers resolve their needs quickly and directly, reducing the frictional costs associated with traditional insurance. Smartphones, microfinance and digital crypto-contacts would be some of the technologies to help make this happen.

We are excited to collaborate with [Stonestep] as they accelerate the growth of this business in Asia, Street said in a prepared statement.

Source: XL Innovate

A version of this article first appeared in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management.

Topics InsurTech Tech AXA XL
QBE Insurance Group Ltd. announced the appointment of Pat Regan as CEO, Australian & New Zealand Operations, effective March 1, 2017. Regan has been acting in this role since August 2016, in addition to his responsibilities as group chief financial officer.

Regan will continue to serve as group chief financial officer until the end of February 2017, with a global search now underway for a permanent appointment to this role. Victor Walter, who is currently chief financial officer, Australian & New Zealand Operations, will move across to be acting group chief financial officer for the period from March 1, 2017 until the new group CFO steps into the role.

Regan will retain responsibility for group corporate development in his new role.

John Neal, group chief executive officer, said: We are committed to delivering results that reflect QBEs position of leadership in our Australian home market. Pats broad experience and fresh perspective have proved invaluable in recent months and his full time appointment as chief executive officer, Australian & New Zealand Operations, will ensure QBE remains at the forefront of insurance and innovation in Australia and New Zealand.

Related:

Topics Australia
The recent passage of consumer protection legislation provides the Ohio Department of Insurance with better, more common sense tools when it comes to evaluating the financial health of Ohios insurance industry, according to Lt. Governor Mary Taylor. Taylor also serves of the director of the insurance department.

Senate Bill 273, sponsored by Senator Kevin Bacon (R-Minerva Park), requires Ohio insurers to file an annual corporate governance disclosure to the department. The law is in line with best practices outlined by National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)  a group the Ohio Department of Insurance is both a member of and accredited by.

The measure passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate. It awaits the signature of Gov. John Kasich.

The annual disclosure will give Ohio insurers an opportunity to outline their corporate structure to the department, as well as any changes to that structure that have taken place in the past year, the ODI said.

It also provides the department with information necessary to helping ensure Ohios insurers are financially stable and well positioned to meet consumers needs when it comes to paying claims.

Source: Ohio Department of Insurance

Topics Carriers Ohio
If a Dec. 1, 2016, hearing is any indication, Texas lawmakers will be encouraged in the coming legislative session to take up what the property/casualty insurance industry says is a problematic trend following severe weather-related events in the state: increased attorney and public adjuster involvement in residential property damage claims.

The insurance committee of the Texas House of Representatives heard testimony from invited speakers about the preliminary results of a Texas Department of Insurance insurer data call aimed at gathering information on residential property claims and any resulting litigation. The legislature had asked TDI to study whether the data revealed a trend or pattern of increased attorney or public adjuster involvement and, if so, to identify what impact such a trend might have on the property insurance market in the state.

Property insurers would like to see laws enacted to discourage public adjuster and attorney involvement in the claims process. They say increased involvement is causing significantly higher claim costs and will lead to higher insurance prices and fewer options statewide. Consumer advocates, however, caution against placing restrictions that would deny policyholders the right to hold insurers accountable for errors or perceived injustices in claims handling.

TDI Senior Actuary Brian Ryder summarized the preliminary findings of the data call, which was divided into three parts: a 5 percent random sampling of wind/hail claims from admitted property insurers (except farm mutuals) from 2010 to 2015; a 100 percent sampling from the top 15 property insurers of all wind/hail claims for nine specific events between 2009 and 2015; and a survey of all admitted property insurers (except farm mutuals) regarding their response to weather-related litigation such as non-renewals, reductions in coverage, restrictive underwriting guidelines and rate changes.

Emphasizing that the results are preliminary, Ryder said the data show that starting in 2012 the percentage of claims involving attorneys or public adjusters has increased in some areas. On average, that involvement has led to higher payments in such cases and longer settlement times.

Ryder said that the collected data show that on average attorneys became involved about eight months after the claim was reported to the insurer. Public adjusters tended to get involved in a claim about four months after it was reported.

Attorney involvement within a few days after the claim was reported to the insurer occurred in 7 percent of the cases. In 23 percent of cases, public adjusters became involved within a few days of the claim being reported.

Ryder said South Texas had the most attorney/public adjuster claim involvement. However, both the Panhandle and Southwest Texas also saw increases in claims involving attorneys and public adjusters.

Of the nine severe weather events between 2009 and 2015 that TDI studied, a late March 2012 hailstorm in Hidalgo County generated the highest percentage of claims with attorney/public adjuster involvement: 26 percent.

Except for the May 2013 hailstorm in Amarillo, in which 5 percent of the claims involved attorneys or PAs, the rest of the nine events examined had public adjuster/attorney involvement in less than 2 percent of claims.

Ryder said there was no indication of a statewide trend in increases in policy deductibles as a reaction to increased involvement. However, deductibles were found to have gone up in coastal areas. Similarly, statewide there has been no decrease in the percentage of policies with the broadest coverage in recent years, and no widespread exit by insurers, although some smaller companies have pulled out of coastal areas.

From 2000 to 2015, property insurers in Texas had an overall underwriting loss of 0.3 percent, but from 2012 to 2015 insurers experienced an underwriting profit of 0.6 percent, Ryder said.

For 2016 the projection is not looking good, however. TDI is estimating, on a very preliminary basis, an underwriting loss in the residential property market of 30 percent.

The numbers indicate that insurers paid $3.2 billion in hail losses in the first six months of 2016, Ryder said. By comparison for the full year 2015 insurers paid out $1.9 billion in hail claim losses, which previously was the most paid for hail losses in a full year in Texas.

He said while residential premiums have increased over the past four years, theres still plenty of competition in the property insurance market in Texas, and that competition has been steadily increasing statewide for the past 16 years.

Disparate Voices

Among those testifying during the Dec. 1 hearing were advocates on both sides of the issue.

Joe Matetich, with the Office of Public Insurance County (OPIC), told lawmakers that TDIs preliminary data shows that statewide hail litigation crisis does not currently exist in Texas, and that there does not appear to be an insurance market problem in the state.

Both Matetich and Bryan Blevins, with the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, asserted that if the experience of Hidalgo County in 2012 was removed from the analysis, the data would show that between 2012 and 2015 claims payouts actually came in below the 15-year average

Matetich and Blevins acknowledged that the data from Hidalgo County needs further study to determine what happened there and why. But, while some companies have pulled out of Hidalgo County, information weve been given is that [county residents] are still able to get insurance from other companies, Matetich said.

The TDI data call in no way supports, represents or even hints that there is a lawsuit abuse crisis in this state involving hail claims, Blevins said. He added that the reality is that of all the claims  only 1.7 percent end up in a lawsuit. And only 3.4 percent of all the claims made actually engage a lawyer or a public adjuster.

Ware Wendell, with Texas Watch, pointed out that there already are laws on the books that protect insurance companies, agencies, adjusters.  Many came from tort reform of 1995. He said his organization is concerned that if the insurance industry succeeds in limiting access of insurance consumers to the courts when it comes to claims, that the balance will be tipped further in favor of the insurance companies.

After all, we as consumers do not get to write the policy, we do not get to negotiate the policy, and we pay all of our money up front. Then we hope and we pay that they will follow through on their promise to help us in our time of need. All we have are the threat of these laws if they violate them, Wendell said.

On the other hand, Lee Parsley, with Texans for Lawsuit Reform, said the current hail litigation environment is largest lawsuit abuse in years and argued that the problem has not been limited to Hidalgo County. He added that in the long run, lawyer-driven litigation ultimately hurts consumer through higher rates that amount to what he called a tort tax.

Beaman Floyd with the Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions, a lobbying group that includes the top 10 property insurers in the state, said that the number of confirmed complaints against property insurers during the time studied by TDI was actually low compared the number of disputes that were filed.

Its important to look at the hail litigation that has occurred so far as possibly the beginning of a more widespread trend, he said.

You cant let little numbers get out of control, Floyd said. While its necessary to protect consumers from possible bad actions by insurers, corrections could be made that dont damage consumers and their right to go to court. But, he added, consumers should not be made to pay a higher rate to protect the few that are abusing the system.

Related:

Topics Lawsuits Carriers Texas Claims Property Market
A chemical leak from an asphalt plant that led Corpus Christi officials to warn its 300,000 residents not to drink the water last week was apparently reported a week earlier, according to an email from a state environmental official.

The internal email sent by Susan Clewis, a regional director for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, contained an incident report that described the leak as a backflow incident from a chemical tank impacting the public water system. It was reported Dec. 7 at a plant run by Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions.

The email doesnt say who initially reported the leak or to whom. It says the state environmental agency was notified around 3 p.m. on Dec. 7. City officials notified the public that evening.

Obviously we are concerned about that initial report, that this may have been known for seven days and it may have been going on for that long. And why did it take so long for TCEQ to get notified? asked Luis Moreno, chief of staff for state Sen. Juan Hinojosa, whose district includes Corpus Christi. Those are all things that I think are starting to be figured out right now.

Neither Clewis nor city officials responded to requests for comment.

Its the latest in a string of water scares for the Gulf Coast city. In May, the city issued its third boil-water advisory in a year as a precaution after nitrogen-rich runoff from rain flowed into the water system, resulting in low chlorine disinfectant levels in the water supply.

The TCEQ report indicates that a combination of Indulin AA-86 and hydrochloric acid leaked into the water supply. Indulin is an asphalt-emulsifying agent thats corrosive and can burn the eyes, skin and respiratory tract if a person comes into contact with concentrated amounts. The amber liquid is considered a hazardous material by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

You dont expect to see it in water, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality spokesman Terry Clawson said.

Up to 24 gallons of indulin may have seeped into a pipeline carrying water, allowing it to move to other areas of the city, city spokeswoman Kim Womack said Thursday.

Ergon has said it has been in contact with the TCEQ and was working cooperatively to provide all information to ensure state officials can remedy the situation as quickly as possible. Company spokesman Bill Miller declined to explain Friday how a hazardous chemical may have entered the water supply.

State and city officials have referred to a backflow problem at the plant, and Womack said inspectors didnt find a device that prevents contaminated water from flowing backward into a potable water supply. Ergon has argued that the plant does have a prevention device, Womack said.

Miller said Ergon Inc. is leasing the property for manufacturing purposes. The privately held Flowood, Mississippi-based conglomerates Corpus Christi subsidiary makes paving and pavement preservation products.

State and federal environmental records list no problems at the plant over the past five years. A Texas Commission on Environmental Quality record lists an emergency response March 24 as having been closed. Clawson said he had no details.

Nationwide, the Environmental Protection Agency reports no current significant violations at Ergon facilities but shows seven receiving fines since 2010, the highest $17,200 at a Vicksburg, Mississippi, refinery.

Meanwhile, city officials eased restrictions Friday on the use of tap water while workers flushed water pipes to make sure any remnants of the chemical are removed.

Residents in some parts of the city are now allowed to consume water however they wish, but authorities urge no use at all in other parts. Some neighborhoods can only use the water for showering and washing clothes, but not drinking.

Officials said plenty of bottled water has been donated to help residents.

No one has turned up at hospitals with symptoms that might indicate they were sickened or burned by the chemical, officials say. City councilman Michael Hunter told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times it was unlikely the leaked chemical was concentrated enough to do harm, but that every precaution must be taken.

The ban on drinking the citys water has ended after test results showed no contamination due to a chemical leak.

Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in Austin contributed to this report.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Texas Pollution Chemicals
Floridas workers compensation rate increase of 14.5 percent will remain in effect while a Florida appeals court reviews a legal challenge to the states recent ratemaking process.

The First District Court of Appeals granted an extension to the stay issued on Nov. 28 when the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) filed its notice of appeal to Leon County Circuit Court Judge Karen Gievers order halting the rate increase, which took effect Dec. 1.

Gievers ruling came in the case of Fee v. National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI)/Office. The challenge to the rate increase was brought by James Fee, a Miami attorney who represents injured workers. Fee claimed that NCCI was in violation of Floridas Sunshine Laws by holding multiple, non-public, secret meetings internally and with the OIR over the rates.

The 14.5 percent overall combined statewide average rate increase was approved by OIR on Oct. 5, 2016. NCCI claims it has complied with applicable open meeting and other Sunshine Laws on transparency and noted after the judges ruling that it would appeal.

NCCI and OIR filed motions on Dec. 5 and Dec. 8, respectively, seeking to stay the order on appeal and also granted their request to expedite the appeal process. In the Dec. 12 ruling, the appeals court ordered that the record on appeal must be filed on or before Dec. 30, 2016, and the initial briefs are due on or before Jan. 11, 2017. The answer brief must be filed no later than Jan. 23, 2017 and the reply brief will be due no later than Feb. 2, 2017.

NCCI expressed satisfaction that with the courts decision.

We continue to believe that NCCI, Commissioner Altmaier, and the Office of Insurance Regulation have fully complied with the law. NCCI looks forward to presenting its case to the Appellate Court, NCCI said.

Topics Florida Legislation Workers' Compensation Pricing Trends
Un ottobre da sogno per Antonio Conte: lex ct della Nazionale italiana, attualmente alla guida del Chelsea, nelle ultime quattro gare di Premier League ha collezionato solo successi, conditi da 11 reti segnate e addirittura nessuna incassata. Numeri da record che non sono certo passati inosservati alla Federazione inglese, la quale ha conferito al tecnico leccese lambito premio di Manager del mese.

Unavventura oltremanica iniziata in sordina, quella di Conte, pur a fronte di tre vittorie nelle prime tre gare di campionato. A far vacillare, anche se solo per un momento, le certezze del patron del club londinese, Roman Abramovich, i risultati conseguiti tra la 4a e la 6a giornata, coincisi con un pareggio sul campo dello Swansea City e, soprattutto, con le due pesanti sconfitte subite dal Liverpool, sul terreno casalingo di Stamford Bridge, e dallArsenal. In particolare, la debacle interna coi Reds, aveva irritato non poco il numero uno russo, poiche occorsa proprio nel giorno della sua 250esima partita da presidente della societa.

Come detto, solo un momento. Dopo lincontro dellEmirates, il tecnico salentino cambia modulo, adottando un piu equilibrato 3-4-3 e inserendo elementi di corsa come lo spagnolo Pedro. Una svolta totale perche, di li in poi, il Chelsea inanellera solo e soltanto vittorie: 2 gol allHull City e al Southampton in trasferta, 3 ai campioni dInghilterra del Leicester e 4 allo United in casa, con un meraviglioso numero zero nella casella delle reti subite. Un fantastico poker, ottenuto tra l1 e il 29 ottobre. Un cambio di marcia sbalorditivo, confermato dal 5 a 0 rifilato ai toffees dellEverton nel primo match di novembre, e una scalata che, man mano, ha portato i blues al secondo posto in classifica, a soli 2 punti dal Liverpool capolista.

E allora, non poteva mancare il riconoscimento di migliore allenatore del mese, ottenuto surclassando tecnici del calibro di Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) e Mark Hughes (Southampton). Tanta, ovviamente, la soddisfazione: E un grande onore e voglio condividerlo con i giocatori e con la societa  ha dichiarato Conte sul sito ufficiale della Premier League -. E la prima volta che lavoro in un altro Paese, con una cultura diversa, e portare la propria filosofia non e facile, ma ora sono contento di questa scelta.

A completare la festa, la premiazione del fantasista belga, Eden Hazard, come miglior giocatore di ottobre. Due risultati importanti per il club, ottimo incentivo per la rincorsa al trono dei campioni, occupato dal Leicester di Ranieri. Il prossimo appuntamento per l11 di Conte sara al Riverside Stadium, tana del Middlesborough neopromosso. Il tempo di festeggiare e gia finito.
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As president of the United States, Donald Trump was likely the wealthiest individual to inhabit the White House and his net worth remains a topic for debate.

In 2015, Donald Trump claimed in a press release that he was worth more than $10 billion, however, his net worth as of 2022 is estimated at $3 billion.

Key Takeaways Donald Trump is the founder of The Trump Organization, a private entity.

He is required to submit a financial disclosure document each year, although numbers are self-reported and dont provide an accurate estimate of his net worth.

Forbes estimates Donald Trump's net worth at $3 billion although Trump has claimed the value at $10 billion.

The Trump Organization

Since 1976, Donald Trump grew his wealth through global commercial, resort, and residential real estate development under the umbrella of The Trump Organization. As a private entity, The Trump Organization is not required to publish financial statements in the same manner as a publicly-traded company.

Donald Trump famously refused to publish his tax returns, which would show his annual income and taxes paid or owed. Although The New York Times published abbreviated information from Trump's tax returns on Sept. 27, 2020, the disclosure failed to provide details about his actual net worth.

As a former president, Trump completes a required annual financial disclosure to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. Government financial disclosures may list assets and investments but in estimates and broad value ranges. In 2021, many of Trump's properties were valued at "over $50 million," however, these estimates are self-reported, unaudited, and also differ from numbers The Trump Organization has reported to state and local tax officials.

71 The number of properties in the portfolio owned and operated by The Trump Organization. This total includes commercial and residential real estate, golf courses, hotels, and personal estates.

Assets

In May 2022, Forbes estimated Trumps net worth at $3 billion, falling short of the $10 billion estimates that Trump suggested while running for office in 2015.

Forbes' numbers marry with the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which placed the former presidents net worth at $2.97 billion in August 2020.Forbes has attempted to break down Trump's net worth by assets.

Net Worth The value of all assets minus liabilities.

Much of Trumps wealth is tied to multi-use buildings in Manhattan, including retail real estate in the busy Midtown district. His highest value asset is a 30% stake in the office and retail space at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, valued at $2.2 billion, with a debt value of $950 million on the property.



The Trump Organization owns several exclusive golf properties estimated at $730 million, including clubs in Scotland and Dubai. Trump's private golf club in Palm Beach, Fla, Mar-a-Lago, is valued at $350 million.

Trump holds approximately $275 million in cash and liquid assets. Other personal assets include three Florida homes and his 11,000-square-foot residence in New York City, the Trump Tower penthouse. Residential units throughout the United States and around the globe have an estimated value of $340 million. This includes hotels and residential locations in Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Europe, Asia, and South America.



Donald Trump announced in October 2021 that he was creating his own social media platform. Truth Social, held through Trump Media, garnered Donald Trump $430 million from investors. The Donald Trump brand, including his licensing and management business, is valued at just over $50 million.

Trump holds roughly $275 million in cash and liquid assets. Other personal assets include three Florida homes and his 11,000-square-foot residence in New York Citythe Trump Tower penthouse.



Trumps vast real estate empire includes approximately residential units throughout the United States. This includes hotels and retail locations in Chicago, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.

What Are Donald Trump's Estimated Liablities? Trump has a lengthy financial record which includes corporate bankruptcies and lawsuits. In 2021, Trump Organization owed $590 million in debts due within four years by 2025.



What Prominent Real Estate Locations in New York City Has Donald Trump Owned? Donald Trump has owned and sold many buildings in New York including the Plaza Hotel, the St. Moritz Hotel, now the Ritz Carlton on Central Park South, and the land under the Empire State Building.

What Is Considered One of Trump's Bad Investment Decisions? In 2014, Donald Trump partnered with an Azerbaijani family that U.S. officials called notoriously unethical. The building, a five-star hotel, and residence called the Trump International Hotel & Tower Baku in Azerbaijan has never opened.

The Bottom Line

Donald Trump's net worth has ranged in estimates from $3 billion to $10 billion. With his private firm, The Trump Organization, and its limited public disclosures, it has been difficult to capture the true net worth of his global commercial, resort, and residential real estate as well as his licensing and social media ventures.
The fate of the merger between T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) and Sprint Corporation (S) will soon be in the hands of Senior United States District Judge Victor Marrero, who presided over a December trial brought by 14 state attorneys general seeking to block the well-publicized hook-up. Opinions of Wall Street analysts are evenly divided on the court's decision, which may come later this month. U.S. government agencies have already stated they won't block the merger, so a "thumbs-up" here could finally end the legal battle.

T-Mobile US CEO John Legere triggered a stock decline in November when media outlets reported that he was seeking the CEO job at WeWork, the troubled start-up. That didn't happen, but the executive announced his resignation just one week later, effective when his contract expires on April 30. Unfortunately for shareholders, the drama unfolded right in the middle of the merger approval process, triggering an unneeded distraction while raising legitimate questions about his fiduciary obligations.

Even so, T-Mobile US stock is holding support at the 200-day exponential moving average (EMA) in the $70s ahead of the court decision and could gain ground regardless of the final outcome. Sprint's share price performance has deteriorated since the start of merger discussions, and many investors will be happy if the deal fails and T-Mobile gets a golden opportunity to walk away. However, volatility is likely to spike higher in the short term regardless of the outcome.

TMUS Long-Term Chart (2007  2020)

TradingView.com

The 13-year price history combines a number of mergers and acquisitions, as well as accounting changes by parent Deutsche Telekom AG (DTEGY). T-Mobile US stock charged higher after opening in the mid-$20s on the first day of trading in April 2007, entering a modest uptrend that topped out just above $40 in July. The subsequent downtrend hit new lows in September, signaling the next phase of a bearish period that finally ended at an all-time low in the single digits in February 2010.

A bounce into 2011 failed in the upper teens, giving way to renewed selling pressure, followed by a successful retest of the prior low in the second quarter of 2012. That price action completed a large-scale double bottom reversal, setting the stage for a new uptrend that stalled within five points of the 2007 high in 2014. The stock ground sideways around that level into the second quarter of 2015 and broke out, but upside momentum failed to develop until the first quarter of 2016.

That rally impulse posted impressive gains into 2017, stalling in the upper $80s, ahead of a broad and volatile trading range that persisted into a February 2019 breakout. The rally posted an all-time high at $85.22 on July 26, giving way to choppy sideways action between that resistance level and range support in the mid-$70s. The holding pattern remains in force this January, while market players patiently await the finalization of the merger process.

The monthly stochastics oscillator reached the overbought level in September 2019 and crossed into a long-term sell cycle in November, predicting at least six to nine months of relative weakness. The indicator is now accelerating through the panel's midpoint, suggesting that market players believe that the merger will get blocked. Even so, underlying accumulation remains exceptionally strong, and bears should stay on the sidelines as long as price continues to hold above 2017 breakout support in the upper $60s.

The Bottom Line

T-Mobile and Sprint shareholders are awaiting the outcome of a lawsuit brought by 14 state attorneys general, which is seeking to block their well-publicized merger.

Disclosure: The author held no positions in the aforementioned securities or their derivatives at the time of publication.
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A Boat-full of Potential - Renewed Interest in the Cruise Industry Bolsters Luxury Markets (OTC: MASN) (NYSE: CCL) (NYSE: CUK) (NYSE: RCL) (NYSE: NCLH)

Vancouver, Kelowna, Delta, BC - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Investorideas.com, a leading investor news resource covering luxury goods and cruise ship stocks releases a special report featuring Maison Luxe, Inc. (OTC: MASN), a company that offers luxury retail consumer items.

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Breaking AI Stock News: GBT's (OTCPK: GTCH) AI Driven Financial Technology Patent Application Received a Notice of Publication

San Diego, CA - November 3, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) received a notice of publication for its financial software patent application.

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Breaking AI Stock News: Intellagents, a FatBrain AI (OTCQB: LZGI) Company, Announces Hiring of Insurtech Industry Veteran as Chief Revenue Officer

NEW YORK, NY - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, announces the hiring of Euan King, an experienced and respected Insurtech industry leader as Chief Revenue Officer for insurance technology-focused subsidiary Intellagents.

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Health and Wellness Stock News - Endexx (OTCBB: EDXC) Secures $3.8M Order for Non-Nicotine Vape Product HYLA from Italy

CAVE CREEK, Az. - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Endexx Corporation (OTCBB:EDXC), a provider of innovative, plant-based, and sustainable health and skincare products, today announces it has secured a new $3.8 million USD order for its newly acquired, non-nicotine based vape product, HYLA from customers in Italy.

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Hollywood actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor has died aged 99, the star's husband said.

Prince Frederic von Anhalt said she died on Sunday after suffering a heat attack in their home in Bel-Air, Los Angeles.

Gabor, the great aunt of Paris Hilton, was credited with creating a new kind of fame based on flaunting wealth and possessing a jaded wisdom on glamour.

The Hungarian-born star was better known for her string of marriages, totalling nine if a quickly annulled shipboard ceremony is included, than her work on-screen.

The late Michael Winner, who directed her in the 1976 film Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood, once described her as largely playing a thinly-veiled version of herself.

She was also known for her wit, having once said: "I am a marvellous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house."

Gabor had long suffered from ill health after being partly paralysed in a car accident in 2002 and suffering a stroke in 2005.

She outlived both her older sister, Magda, and younger sister, Eva, who were also both actresses and socialites.

Gabor, born Sari Gabor in Budapest in 1917, started her career in the 1940s and went from being a beauty queen, to millionaire's wife to major public figure.

Celebrities paid tribute to her on social media.

US chat show host Larry King said: "There will only be one Zsa Zsa Gabor. And, I liked her a lot. Rest In Peace, my dear."

I Dream of Jeannie star Barbara Eden tweeted: "Rest in peace Zsa Zsa Gabor. She and her sisters were lovely ladies who were always fun and delightful to be around."

Burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese wrote: "Another Hollywood legend has left us, the glamorous Zsa Zsa Gabor, one of the wittiest beauties."

Piers Morgan tweeted: "99 years old, 9 husbands, Miss Hungary & Hollywood star. What a life!"
A senior Government minister has said the Department of Finance was wrong to claim last night the European Commission has misinterpreted Irish tax laws over the Apple tax scandal, writes Fiachra O Cionnaith of the Irish Examiner.

Children's Minister and unaligned Independent TD Katherine Zappone made the comment as Brussels prepared to release its full report into the controversy to explain why it believes the Irish state allowed the US multi-national to ignore a massive 13bn tax bill.

In a damning statement on Sunday night, the Department of Finance insisted this country has done nothing wrong and that the European Commission is incorrect in its assessment Ireland is a tax haven which cuts deals with multi-nationals.

"Ireland did not give favourable tax treatment to Apple. The full amount of tax was paid in this case and no State aid was provided. Ireland does not do deals with taxpayers," it said.

However, asked about the comment this morning, Ms Zappone contradicted her Government colleagues by saying she stands by her view in August that Ireland's tax laws must be reformed, adding the Department of Finance was "wrong" to send out Sunday's statement.

"In my view, yes," she said when asked if the Department of Finance was wrong on the issue.

"I think it was very clear at the time of the Apple judgement that I was at odds with some of my cabinet colleagues, Fine Gael government colleagues. I think that what happened was unethical.

"I think everyone should pay their fair share of tax including multi-national corporations, though I do believe it's important we appeal.

"I hope that many of the countries that didn't get their fair share of tax in the past have an opportunity to go into a court room and put that argument in an open-ended way," she said.
Former finance director of Anglo Irish Bank Willie McAteer has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining an 8m loan from the bank.

McAteer (aged 66) of Greenrath Tipperary Town, Tipperary entered the plea this morning at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ahead of his trial which was due to start in January 2017 and last for one month.
Macra na Feirme raised our concerns on the subject at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, which was convened to discuss Brexits potential implications.

The consequences and fallout from Brexit are, in my view, the biggest challenge our industry will face in our generation. In the past we have had BSE, Foot and Mouth and others crises but this is bigger than all of those together.

Young farmers have expressed their concerns about Brexit at numerous events hosted by Macra in the months after the referendum in Britain. Carrigaline Macra hosted a seminar Irish Agriculture at a Crossroads along with AIB in November.

I attended an All-Island dialogue on Brexit in City North Hotel, Co Meath, which brought together all stakeholders from industry, agencies and farm organisations from the North and South.

Huge concerns were expressed by all parties from both sides of the border on the implications for agriculture on both sides of the border.

There is a need for the EU and the UK to jointly state as soon as possible that a transitional arrangement will be possible should a deal not be completed within two years of triggering article 50. This will ease uncertainty in the short term and would help to reduce sterling fluctuations.

Border costs

Borders result in additional costs  which have the potential to drive up retail prices in the UK and in turn make foreign food imports into the UK more appealing. Borders have the potential to also encourage illegal activity and illegal trade.

That the speading of risk across the whole food supply chain is required and contract arrangements between primary producers and processors have the potential to spread some of the risk-taking away from farmers.

Fluctuations in the value of the sterling and disruptions to trade, as well as the prospect of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, are all contributing to the frustration young farmers are feeling about Brexit.

Young farmers have the most to lose from Brexit. We are establishing our careers in the sector and are more vulnerable to short term uncertainty and volatility as we dont have the financial means to cushion us from such volatility.

Young farmers in the border region do not want to see the introduction of a hard border as some of the businesses they work with operate in the North and South.

To ease into life without the UK as a member of the EU, Macra called for the minimisation of any barriers to trade, such as tariffs, and a continuation of the free movement of agri produce between Ireland and the UK.

The potential introduction of additional labelling regulations for trade between the UK and Europe is causing much anxiety amongst young farmers.

Should new labelling rules be introduced, then Macra na Feirme is calling for the appropriate resources to be put in place to ensure a smooth transition and to prevent farmers from bearing the brunt of additional costs associated with differing labelling criteria.

Diversification into new markets is essential to soften blows caused by Brexit that result in lower agri trade.

Inevitably the more markets Irish produce has access to, the less reliant we will become on Britain as a major agri trading partner.

However, Macra stresses that exploring entry to new markets takes time and resources and bodies such as Bord Bia will need the appropriate support to ensure entry is granted.

Expansion of access to new markets is important  trade missions should be accelerated further, and it is important to relay the message that Ireland is not part of Brexit and that it is open for business. Macra is calling for additional resources to be provided to bodies, such as Bord Bia, to sustain access to new global markets.

The implications of Brexit are all unknown and to conclude in sporting terms this match has just kicked off.

There is a long way to go and the result is far from certain for all of us both here and in the UK.
Seeing this as a simple retreat from the Middle Kingdom is tempting, but wrong. As elsewhere, franchising is a better business than owning and operating stores. There are other benefits to having a Chinese partner too.

The Oak Brook, Illinois company has picked private equity firm Carlyle and local outfit CITIC Group as buyers, according to Reuters.

While the mooted price tag is lower than earlier talk of a $3bn price, thats because McDonalds is keeping a 25% interest. Higher than average royalty fees by the American parent may also cut the upfront proceeds too.

The stake retention looks like classic shmuck insurance  keeping a slice to avoid sellers remorse if things go better than expected. It could also help McDonalds keep a closer quality control eye over a key part of its global empire.

China has been tricky for US players, who have faced slowing growth, food scares, emerging local competitors and anti-American protests. For Yum Brands, whose network of KFC and Pizza Huts in China is three times larger than McDonalds there, the answer was to spin Yum China off to shareholders.

But Chinese earnings will still matter to both parent companies, and both local arms will keep expanding at breakneck pace.

McDonalds has about 2,400 Chinese outlets, and will add 250 a year. The coffee world is equally enamoured of the Chinese consumer: Starbucks is opening a store every day on the mainland.

For McDonalds, the sale moves it closer to chief executive Stephen Easterbrooks goal of having the vast majority of its restaurants operated by franchisees. Thats a more attractive business model, but franchising has only in recent years become straightforward in China.

Having a local ally in CITIC, Chinas oldest financial conglomerate, could also help McDonalds better understand local tastes and handle future difficulties. Yum China also brought in local partners. It is easier to bash a wholly American company than it is to bash one backed by the local establishment.
New figures from the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) show the spend on emergency accommodation for the homeless totalled 34.85m for the nine months to the end of September.

The average weekly spend on emergency accommodation is just over 968,000. The figures also show that 26.6m has been paid to hotels in the nine months to the end of September  around 740,000 a week  outstripping the 2015 total by 10m.

The spend to September coincides with the numbers of homeless families topping the 1,000 mark, including 2,065 children, for the first time in Dublin.

The figures show that the payments to hoteliers in the quarter between the start of July to the end of September is the highest ever recorded at over 10.3m.

In addition, the city council paid emergency accommodation providers, including B&B and hostel owners, an additional 8.18m for the first nine months of the year.

The figures show that between January and September, a total of 69m has been spent on a variety of homeless services by local authorities in Dublin.

The projected budget for the year is 103.25m  more than double the spend in 2014.

Last month, the city council agreed a budget of almost 120m to be spent on homeless services next year.

Included in the 2016 spend is 1m on a freephone helpline service for the homeless in Dublin, with 653,270 spent on it to the end of September.

The figures show that the DRHE is budgeting to spend 1m this year on Merchants Quay Nite Cafe and 822,249 on the cafes services for the first nine months while an additional 1m is budgeted to be spent on Focus Irelands Open Access Coffee Shop with 803,193 spent on the service between January and the end of September.

The amount paid to individual hotels remains confidential.
Well give you a hand, answered the volunteers.

No, youre all right, me fellas in the car and I have the kids, as well, she replied. And with that, her two young children began carrying loaves of bread, cash-and-carry-sized boxes of tea bags, and packets of teacakes into Apollo House.

They bought them with their birthday money, her fella said, as the face-painted children handed over loaves of bread to the waiting volunteers.

This family were but some of the many Irish citizens who have donated food, clothing, and supplies to the new residents of Apollo House, since news broke about the homelessness initiative, last Friday.

The takeover of a vacant building in the capital, to house the homeless, was organised by the Irish Housing Network and various trade unionists, but under the name Home Sweet Home.

Home Sweet Home has been so inundated with donations that they issued a statement, last night, saying they were ceasing taking any more, for now.

However, anyone wishing to donate a bed is to contact them through their Home Sweet Home Facebook page.

At the time of writing, the initiative had raised 80,000 on a GoFundMe page and its petition to government had nearly 20,000 signatures.

Some of the accommodation being provided by the volunteers at Apollo House. Picture: Home Sweet Home

Plumbers, electricians, and carpenters have all donated their time to ensure that the building, which is now home to 15 people, was habitable, and, yesterday, the heating in the entire premises was turned on.

This highly organised act of civil disobedience has been months in the planning.

Michelle Connolly, one of the high-vis-wearing and walkie-talkie-carrying volunteers, told the Irish Examiner that there was a rota in place for professionals who want to lend their skills and do a shift.

We could do with support workers, so anyone who has any kind of background in social care [is needed]. We want to provide the best possible standard of care to the people who are in here, Ms Connolly said.

Joe Dunne, who works in construction, was one of the many van drivers in a queue yesterday afternoon, dropping off goods.

I was cleaning out apartments and decided to donate fridges and washing machines. What theyre doing is illegal, but its a matter of social justice and sometimes the law doesnt necessarily mean justice, he said.
Minister for Children Katherine Zappone will seek permission to give the children a special designation so their arrival complies with international regulations.

The minister, an independent, will also bring a memo to government seeking more funds for Tusla to cope with the migrant children.

The minister also hopes to set up a new agency, tasked with helping migrant children to settle in Ireland.

A legal framework is needed for the children, most of whom have fled from the war in Syria, to be resettled here, say government sources. The memo will ask that it be agreed that children coming from Calais be designated programme refugees.

They will then be afforded the same rights as other migrant children or refugees, who have come from camps in Greece or Italy.

Hundreds of children who were in the Calais camp have now been moved to different towns and villages around France, after authorities broke up the camp.

A Dail debate last month heard calls for the Government to resettle some of those minors here.

That was agreed, but the logistics of how and when those children come to Ireland has still to be teased through.

The redesignation of the migrant children will also allow Ireland to accept them here, under UN rules.

However, Ms Zappone is also keen to ensure that Tusla is properly resourced, as it will be one of the lead agencies involved in ensuring the migrant children are properly settled.

It is unclear, yet, whether 200 children from the Calais camp will be resettled here. Government sources suggest the number may be lower.

The minister also wants to establish a permanent office to oversee the resettling of migrant children here. This national office would then get its own funding, say sources.

It could also include a specialised team, who would visit other camps, in Greece or elsewhere, and assess children or refugees who have applied to move here. The new body will also likely interview the refugee children from Calais who will be moved here, say sources.

The proposed new office comes after recent difficulties for gardai in getting permission to operate, or interview, refugees in Italy.

Authorities there have objected to the gardai as a foreign force.

The Cabinet meeting this week is the last before Christmas.

The Seanad will also sit this week and debate the new rent-cap regulations, which passed through the Dail late on Friday.

Once the rent regulations are approved by the Upper House, they are then expected to be signed into law by the President, Michael D Higgins, and to come into force before the new year.
The rebuke, published last night by the Government, was released ahead of the expected publication today from Brussels of its ruling on why it claims the tech-giant owes Ireland 13bn in back-tax. Brussels argues Ireland did not collect enough tax due from Apple over a ten-year period and that the companys tax burden was reduced in what was an alleged breach of EU state aid rules.

The damning ruling against Ireland, originally made in August, threw the Government into disarray and it was forced to quickly reject the decision and defend its decision to appeal the ruling.

Government sources say they expect that ruling, a 150-page document, to be published today. Finance Minister Michael Noonans department last night released its defence, in anticipation of the EU release. This strongly refutes the claims that Ireland did a special deal with Apple. Ireland did not give favourable tax treatment to Apple  the full amount of tax was paid in this case and no state aid was provided. Ireland does not do deals with taxpayers, the department said.

Its document outlined eight reasons why it says the EU ruling was wrong. These arguments include:

The commission misunderstood relevant facts and Irish law regarding two decisions made by Revenue in 1991 and 2007 on taxation. Its decision mischaracterises the activities of the Irish branches of Apple. Profits were wrongly attributed to these branches;

The commission has misapplied state aid law. Its assertion Apple was granted an advantage was incorrect. The commission attempts to rewrite Irish corporation tax rules and its claims are inconsistent with state sovereignty;

The commission wrongly applied the arms length principle regarding Apples transfer pricing arrangements in Ireland;

The alternative line of reasoning by the commission misunderstands Irish law and no such discretion was given to Revenue in relation to taxation decisions;

The commission failed to follow required procedures and never clearly explained its state aid theory and the ruling contains findings which Ireland never had a chance to comment on;

The commission infringed the principles of legal certainty and legitimate expectations by invoking alleged rules of EU law never previously identified;

The commission exceeded its powers and interfered with national tax sovereignty. It has no competence to substitute its view of the geographic scope and extent of a states tax jurisdiction;

The commission has manifestly breached its duty to provide a clear and unequivocal statement of reasons for its decision

The defence reflects the Governments decision to appeal and fight the EUs Apple ruling. While the original ruling, set to be published as early as today, was given to the Government back in August, the document was never made public at the time and was only shared with Apple.

Its release is likely to throw the spotlight back onto Irelands tax arrangements with multinationals as well as how Apples relationship with Ireland will continue.

Mr Kenny met Apple CEO Tim Cook in the US earlier this month. The two discussed the EU case as well as the lodgement of some of the disputed 13bn into a holding account. Mr Kenny said the two men had then discussed the expansion of operations in Cork and that he had no concerns about Apples future in Ireland.

The appeal by the Government is expected to take a number of years.
A dairy co-op plans to construct a 14km pipe to carry an estimated 290m gallons of industrial effluent through a river in east Cork as part of a production expansion project.The planning application by Dairygold Co-op refers to treated fat oil grease (fog) being deposited into East Ferrys inner harbour at Rathcoursey through connection with an outfall pipe.

Fears were raised following the company seeking planning permission for a 10,000-tonnes capacity cheese-making factory at Mogeely near Castlemartyr. The expansion marks a major investment by Norways largest farmer-owned dairy co-op, TINE, to upscale its production of Jarlesberg cheese in partnership with Dairygold, who have been manufacturing the cheese for TINE since 2013.

However, the outfall pipe rests between two protected sites for migratory birds at Great Island to the north and Saleen Creek. The area is also a foraging location for sea bass, now a protected species, as well as being a popular sailing location.

Dairygolds Environmental Impact Study says no information is available on the ph or the fog characteristic of the waste water but believes a newly planned waste water treatment plant will reduce its status to grey water that will be safely carried from the harbour on outgoing tides. The company asserted all discharges would be in line with EPA standards.

However, Sail Cork proprietor and Cobh Sailing Club member Eddie English is concerned southerly gales, which can last for days, could lead to residue oils and grease congealing in the harbour or being blown back into it.

He was critical of the fact there was no public meeting held in the East Ferry region. He also has reservations as to why the company had chosen Rathcoursey which was a mile from the outer harbour and five miles from the open sea when there are closer points of discharge available. This is a particularly beautiful area, he says and it is a very sad development.

Marine expert Tom Doyle of Galway NUI, a native of east Cork, also expressed concern that any effluent with organic matter could threaten sea bass areas given that East Ferry  has some of the highest residence times in Cork harbour for effluent.

Cork County Councils planning department said submissions and observations on the expansion project will be accepted until January 20.
Thomas and Mary Mahon, of Rivervalley Grove, Swords, Co Dublin, were awarded 1,500 compensation each at Swords District Court following their case against The White House Hotel, Ashbourne Road, The Ward, Co Dublin.

The couple said they were refused service on Feb 15, by the bar manager Eddie Kinsella and owner Simon Ruthledge, after they made a booking to have an meal with Mrs Mahons mother and 25 friends on the day of their daughters wedding.

Mrs Mahon told the court her husband had booked a meal and paid a deposit of 190. However, she said the main wedding reception was taking place at a different hotel in Clonee, Co Meath.

She said the couple were regulars at the hotel for nearly 14 years and never had any problems.

My mother is elderly and had a stroke so we wanted to have an early meal for her and some friends after the wedding ceremony before we dropped my mother home, she told the court.

She said on her way to the bathroom, she heard a staff member telling her husband they could not serve the group.

We were told there was a wedding the day before at the hotel and a row broke out and a car was set alight in the car park but we explained to them that had nothing to do with us and we werent at that wedding.

We were left humiliated, ashamed and embarrassed and we havent been back to the hotel since. We didnt make a scene and I didnt take back the deposit because I was so upset. I had to go home and make sandwiches and tea for my mother, she added.

Under cross-examination, Mrs Mahon agreed that one of the people in her group was barred from the hotel for a previous incident.

The defence barrister put it to Mrs Mahon the group were offered their meal if the man who was barred left but that the staff wouldnt be serving them alcohol, which Mrs Mahon disagreed.

Mr Mahon told the court he did suggest to Mr Ruthledge that he would ask the man who was barred to leave but claimed Mr Ruthledge said, No, we are not having any of it.

I was discriminated because I am a member of the Travelling community. I knew nothing of the wedding the day before and they had my number so they could have rung me to say they werent taking a group booking that day.

Bar manager Eddie Kinsella said: Its premises policy that if someone who is barred is in the company of others, none of them would get served. I told them of an incident here the day before just on the spur of the moment but the reason they werent being served was because their friend was barred. If this barred man left, I told them I would serve them food without alcohol.

He said they have held four Traveller weddings since the incident.

Judge Dermot Dempsey said he was satisfied Mr and Mrs Mahon had successfully proved a prima facie case of discrimination by the hotel. This is a clear case of a reaction to what happened at the wedding the previous day.

As well as the compensation to the Mahons for the severe embarrassment and distressed caused, he awarded legal costs and the return of the 190 deposit.
As families across the country awake to the most magical day of the year, the first volunteers at Cork Penny Dinners arrive to prepare a special Christmas dinner for those less fortunate.

The promise is simple: anyone who calls in hungry will be given a traditional dinner of turkey and ham, with cranberry sauce and all the trimmings.

The guest of honour this year will none other than Santa Claus himself.

Santa will arrive by train at 11.57am into Corks Kent Station. There, hell alight from the Cork Penny Dinners Polar Express and board a sleigh for 4 Little Hanover Street.

Video by Dan Linehan.

Time was when Christmas dinner at Corks oldest charity was like every other meal here and was prepared from scratch by volunteers on the day. But recently demand has become so intense that the River Lee Hotel has stepped in to help, supplying the dinners ready-made.

Last Christmas Day, Cork Penny Dinners served over 200 Christmas dinners. This year, that figure will be even higher. General manager of the River Lee Hotel, Ruairi OConnor, modestly says that the hotel and its staff get back far more than they put in and their contribution is the least they can do.

Catriona Twomey, Penny Dinners co-ordinator, disagrees and says that the Christmas Day demand is such now that they simply couldnt manage without the kindness of the River Lee Hotel staff.

Its not just Christmastime, though, that sees this charity under pressure. Back in 2012, Cork Penny Dinners served about 100 meals every week. Now theyre serving nearly 2,000 every single week. Thats a staggering increase.

Whats more, Penny Dinners volunteers say they are serving meals now to people they never saw before, not just homeless people or just those with drug or alcohol dependency.

Now they are feeding people too who have jobs, families with small children, people just about paying their mortgage or meeting the rent and who cant afford food. Penny Dinners also supplies a weekly shop to several households, literally to put food on the family table.

And its not just Penny Dinners. All over Cork city, volunteers will move heaven and Earth to make this Christmas a special time for everyone.

Togher Meals On Wheels celebrates its 40th anniversary in March 2017, and this Christmas Day its volunteers will prepare and deliver meals to homes across Togher.

Douglas Meals on Wheels serves over 600 meals a month and will operate over the Christmas period. The Lough Meals on Wheels says it is Corks busiest such provider, serving 76 meals a day. They will operate over Christmas too.

Christmas Day, like every other day, will see Cork Simon Community staff and volunteers hard at work.

Since the beginning of this year, an average of 54 people per night have been staying in a Cork Simon emergency bed  our shelter normally accommodates 44 people, says Sophie Johnston of Cork Simon.

Operating at 115% capacity most nights, we take in as many people as we safely can.

In the Simon shelter, over 100 Christmas dinners will be served and every effort will be made to make the day as festive as possible, with staff and volunteers very much aware of how difficult a time of year this can be. There will be live music and a present for everyone.

This Christmas Day, when Santa arrives at Cork Penny Dinners, he will find the party already in full swing. Music and song will be provided by very special guests the High Hopes Choir and by rising Cork star Jack ORourke.

In addition to gifts, there will be a household hamper for everyone and a care pack too. These care packs will include gloves, hats, scarves, socks and toiletries.

We try to make everybody feel special on what could be the loneliest day of the year, says Catriona Twomey.

Nobody should ever, ever be lonely. Not on Christmas Day.
The Irish Prison Service said that no visits will be facilitated at any prison on Christmas Day this year, as it falls on a Sunday, when the facilities are usually closed to visitors.

A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service (IPS) said that no visiting hours will be available on Christmas Day due to a lack of demand.

Not having visits on Christmas Eve is borne out of our experience of visitors not wanting to attend the prison on that day, said the IPS spokesman.

Overall, the governor is satisfied that there are ample visits opportunities over the festive period. They have also put on visits on two mornings to facilitate more visits.

A survey by the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) found that approximately 6,000 children have a parent in prison in Ireland on any given day. It said that last year, 204 prisoners  approximately 5% of those serving time in Irish prisons  were granted temporary release for Christmas.

We would be concerned if there is any reduction in visiting hours, particularly at this time of year which is hard for those on the inside, but particularly so on their families and children on the outside, said Fiona Ni Chinneide, deputy executive director of the IPRT.

Ms Ni Chinneide said that while the transfer to the new Cork Prison has seen an improvement in visiting conditions, the IPRT is concerned that morning visits are no longer available to the families of inmates at the new facility.

In October, in response to a query from Wexford TD Mick Wallace, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald confirmed a change to the visiting hours at a number of prisons.

The Irish Prison Service is making some changes to the visiting timetable across a number of prisons to facilitate the implementation of a number of initiatives that are included in the new strategic plan, said Ms Fitzgerald.

This includes a new enhanced approach to staff learning and development, increased access to services for prisoners and increased use of video-link for court appearances.

To facilitate these new initiatives, a new prison visiting timetable is being introduced across certain closed prisons this month.

As a result, visits will no longer be held in the mornings, Monday to Friday, in Castlerea Prison, Cork Prison, and Limerick Prison, she said.
Business Hmawbi Township Fertilizer Factory will Continue Despite Local Protest

The construction site at Hmawbi Agricultural Input complex, Dec. 18, 2016. / Kyaw Hsu Mon / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  Myanmar Awba Group will continue building a controversial agricultural fertilizer plant in Rangoons Hmawbi Township despite recent criticism of the project, company representatives said.

The project, called the Hmawbi Agricultural Input complex, is funded with support from the World Banks International Finance Corporation (IFC). In September, the IFC loaned US$10 million to Myanmar Awba Group, and the developer chipped in additional funds.

The finished complex, which will produce liquid and powder fertilizers for plant crops, will be worth an estimated $15 million. The construction site is located 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Rangoon.

Since receiving the IFC loan, Myanmar Awba Group has started landscaping the eight acre site near War Net Chaung village in Hmawbi Township, according to U Nyan Lin Phyo, the chief operations officer of Awba Group subsidiary Piti Pyae Sone Company.

But some residents of War Net Chaung village organized a press conference on Dec. 16 aimed at stopping the construction. Former political prisoner U Aye Lwin joined the villagers in protest. The villagers alleged that the fertilizer complex would damage the surrounding environment and the village too, Kamayut Media reported.

Villagers said they didnt want to attack the interests of Myanmar Awba Group, but they feared the negative impact of the fertilizer plant.

On Sunday, Myanmar Awba Group announced that it would continue construction. The company plans to complete construction in phases through final completion in 2020. The first phase is scheduled to be completed by March 2017.

Weve been approved by the Myanmar Investment Commission to build this complex, said U Nyan Lin Phyo. We submitted an environmental impact report as well. We will also speak with the village residents about their concerns.

When completed, the Hmawbi Agricultural Input complex will produce 3 million liters (800,000 gallons) of liquid fertilizer and 2 million kilograms (4.4 million pounds) of powder fertilizer per year. This amount will supply 50 percent of total agri-input for the whole country, said Dr. Maung Maung Paing Soe, a factory manager at Myanmar Awba Group.

We will manage wastewater carefully too, he said.

Myanma Awba Group expects the new complex to create about 500 jobs and to supply fertilizer to more than 3 million farming families across the country.

The government currently leases the Hmawbi complex land on a 50-year BOT (build, operate, and transfer) contract. Nearby, Myanmar Awba Group and Malar Myaing operate a former government-run pesticide plant.

The government has designated this area for agricultural input production, said U Nyan Lin Phyo. But we will form a committee to negotiate with the villagers and to address their concerns.

Once the fertilizer complex is fully operating in 2020, the outstanding loan debt will be converted into company shares owned by the World Bank, according to U Thadoe Hein, Myanmar Awba Group chief executive.

During the fiscal year that ended in June 2016, the IFC invested $3.4 billion into the agribusiness supply chain across Burma to boost crop production, improve logistics and distribution, and expand credit access for small farmers. The IFC has invested in a portfolio of businesses in Burma valued at $5.6 billion as of June.
Burma Asean Foreign Ministers Pledge Aid to Arakan State

Asean foreign affairs ministers leave a meeting with Burmas State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the Sedona Hotel in Rangoon, on Monday. / Moe Myint / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  Burmas State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi convened an informal meeting with Asean foreign ministers to discuss the conflict in Arakan State at Rangoons Sedona Hotel on Monday morning.

The gathering was the first of its kind since the National League for Democracy government came to power earlier this year. An estimated 100 journalists attempted to obtain updates outside the hotel, but officials from Burmas Foreign Affairs Ministrywhich Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also headsremained mum on the details of the three-hour meeting, including the agenda.

The State Counselors Office released a statement on Monday afternoon emphasizing the need for time and space in handling the issues facing Arakan State, the importance of strengthening Asean unity and settling disagreements in the region through diplomatic consultations.

Also released on Monday was an updated report by international rights group Amnesty International on the Arakan State crisis, entitled, We Are at a Breaking Point. It outlines a series of abuses perpetrated by Burmese security forces against Rohingya Muslims, which the organization says may amount to crimes against humanity. The incidents are documented as having been carried out since an attack on three border police outposts by militants in October. It also criticizes neighboring Bangladesh for treating fleeing Rohingya as criminals.

Only after dozens of journalists blocked the hotel exit did some of the Asean foreign ministers briefly answer reporters questions.

Everybody was happy with the meeting. So, everybody is leaving Yangon with satisfaction today, Thailands foreign affairs minister Don Pramudwinai told members of the press.

He added that the meeting was held in order to give Asean members the opportunity to listen to Daw Aung San Suu Kyis explanation of how her government has been addressing the conflict.

This is a complicated issue that requires time and space to handle. The Myanmar government is trying its best to solve the issue, Mr. Pramudwinai said.

Burmas State Counselor also held a separate closed-door meeting with Indonesian foreign affairs minister Retno Marsudi.

We had a very transparent and honest exchange of views during the meeting, Ms. Marsudi said.

She told reporters that there were two important outcomes of the talks: Burma will regularly update Asean member countries of developments in Arakan State, and that Burmese government representatives expressed appreciation for offers of humanitarian assistance from its Southeast Asian neighbors.

I think all of the Asean member countries offered to assistance for Myanmar to [] restart peace and stability in Rakhine State, Retno Marsudi said.

Malaysias foreign minister, Anifah Aman, participated the discussion but did not speak to the reporters on Monday. Reuters reported that a transcript of Amans speech at the meeting described the situation as one of regional concern and noted that an estimated 56,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Burmas Arakan State and now reside in Malaysia.

In early December, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak led a massive protest in the capital of Kuala Lumpur, echoing accusations put forward by international rights groups that Burma was committing ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Arakan State.

Burmas Presidents Office spokesperson U Zaw Htay criticized the Malaysian leader for his role in the protest, saying that it breached Asean protocol and was undiplomatic.

In November, several similar demonstrations were held in Malaysia, Indonesia and in Bangladesh, calling on the Burmese government to end extrajudicial killings, arson and rape in Arakan States Maungdaw Township. The government rejected allegations that such abuses were occurring.
Burma Burma Army Seizes KIA Mountain Outpost

Burma Army Soldiers / Defense Services Office / Facebook

Burma Army troops seized the Kachin Independence Armys (KIA) mountaintop Gidon outpost in Kachin States Waingmaw Township over the weekend, four months after they began offensives against the ethnic armed group.

Both sides suffered heavy casualties after the Burma Army used mortar fire and air strikes in last weeks operations to overrun Gidon that succeeded Friday, according to a Burma Army statement.

The Burma Army also captured a KIA outpost some 8km north of Gidon in Waingmaw Township on Saturday afternoon.

Vice chairman of the the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) Gen Sumlut Gun Maw said on Facebook on Saturday that the Kachins morale was strong and encouraged his followers not to feel sad due to the loss of the post.

He said that the love and support of the public had been seen during the Gidon fighting.

Fighting at Gidon and surrounding outposts begun in late August as the government held the Union Peace Conference in Naypyidaw, attended by the political wing of the KIA the Kachin Independent Organization (KIO).

A statement by Shan State-based Kachin Youth Organization (KYO) said the Burma Army attacks would disrupt the peace process and affect the trust of ethnic groups.

The Burma Armys Northern Command is committed to offensives in the region for security and stability, military mouthpiece the Myawaddy reported Sunday.

The Burma Army accused the KIA of expanding their territories, building outposts, recruiting new soldiers, collecting taxes, arbitrarily arresting civilians, and attacking government security forces at jade and gold mines.

The Burma Army has been accused of abuses in Mong Ko of Shan States Muse Township following Nov. 20 offensives by the Northern Alliance of four ethnic armed groups that includes the KIA.

The KYO said the Burma Army arbitrarily arrested 80 local people in Mong Ko between Nov. 20 and Dec. 4 and detained them for 15 days as human shields.

The organization also reported that 17 civilians have been detained and executed by the Burma Army, while another 20 have been killed and 40 injured by artillery fire. More than 40 buildings, including churches, have been destroyed by government airstrikes.
Burma Burmese Migrant Workers in Thailand Demand Greater Rights Protection

Burmese migrant workers in Chiang Mai, Thailand join the two-day International Migrants Day 2016 seminar organized by Thailand's Northern Labor Network on Sunday. The workers and labor activists discussed workplace experiences and labor rights at the annual meeting. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

CHIANG MAI, Thailand  Nine years ago, Nang Kham Sein left her native Shan States Kunlon Township with her parents for northern Thailand in search of better incomes, leading them to work in masonry.

As a construction worker, she recalls working under difficult and dangerous conditions while she was carrying her child.

I had to carry heavy things, as such iron rods, in the workplace when I was seven months pregnant, she said. But now she explains that because she is aware of her labor rights, she manages to avoid work under such conditions.

Participating in a gathering to mark the International Migrants Day in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Nang Kham Sein was one of over 170 migrant workers and labor rights experts present at the two-day event. She expressed concern for a lack of social security benefits, linked to low enrollment of migrant workers by employers in the system which would grant them work permit documentation and registration.

We have to hire agents who act as the employers, but those people cannot guarantee us social benefits, said Nang Kham Sein.

She is one of the estimated several million Burmese nationals currently in Thailand facing hardship due to a lack of access to labor protection: migrant workers struggle with low pay, travel restrictions, and the high cost in obtaining official permits so that both they and their family members can live and work securely.

We want full labor rights and protections. Burmese workers are still not getting the minimum daily wage yet, and there is still lack of access to free travel, said Htong Kham, a consultant with the Chiang Mai-based Workers Solidarity Association (WSA). WSA is part of the 15-member Northern Labor Network in Thailand.

Earlier this year, Thailand shifted from the previous migrant passportintroduced in 2009to a pink card, which restricts migrant workers ability to travel between Thailands provinces.

Recently, Burmas State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi pledged to help address the challenges faced by Burmese nationals in Thailand and to negotiate with the Thai department of labor.

This month, the migrants who still have a valid passport will be able extend their visas without being forced to change to the pink card system, according to Brahm Press, the director of MAP Foundation, an organization which supports and advocates on behalf of migrant workers in Thailand. However, there remains no clear course of action for resolving the complaints of those who have recently obtained pink cards.

The two-day International Migrants Day event resulted in several recommendations for both the Thai and Burmese governments to ensure that the rights of migrant workers are better protected.

The WSAs Htong Kham added that that both the Burmese and Thai governments should collaborate to help vulnerable workers, regardless of their legal status.

The recommendations went on to detail the need for the Thai government to ratify several articles of International Labor Organization conventions on promoting worker rights, protecting worker safety and fighting exploitation.

We do not want any more exploitative agents. Also, we are now hearing that the Thai authorities will not extend stay-permits for elders who are over 55 years old. My mother is going to be over 55 soon, and I do not want that to happen, Nang Kham Sein said.

The workers demanded that the Burmese labor attache be directly involved in the monitoring of labor conditions for Burmese nationals in Thailand, and that their complaints of abuses be treated equally, regardless of ethnicity or legal status. They also want the Burmese government to ensure their civic and social rights, including access to household registration, education, and public and occupational heath.

The MAP Foundations Brahm Press said that he hoped Thailand and Asean would combat international trends toward xenophobia and racism which have been noted in the US, Europe and parts of Asia.

We want to see improved relations bilaterally. We want to see that the host society welcomes migrant workers and [is] more inclusive, rather than exclusive. That means we want migrants to have an opportunity to fulfill their aspirations and capabilities, not live under the current situations where they are discriminated against [because of] their nationalities or ethnicities and are limited to unskilled labor, Press explained.
Burma Ex-Lawmaker: Ethnic Armed Groups Cant be Negotiated With

People march in support of the Burma Army who are fighting armed ethnic groups in northern Burma, in Rangoon on Dec. 18. / Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters

RANGOON  Ethnic armed groups currently fighting the Burma Army cant be negotiated with for peace and will keep rebelling against whatever government is in power, claimed former lawmaker U Hla Swe at a rally in Rangoon on Sunday to support the Burma Army.

The ex-MP, a member of the former ruling party the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), asked thousands of people gathered in support of the Tatmadaw who they were fighting against, a reference to ethnic armed groups in conflict with government forces in northern Burma.

Are [ethnic armed groups] fighting against U Nu, U Ne Win, U Than Shwe, U Thein Sein or Daw Aung San Suu Kyi? They will keep fighting whoever is in powerthey cant be negotiated with for peace, he said.

Sunday afternoons march from the Shwedagon Pagoda to Maha Bandoola Park comprised several thousand people including USDP members, Buddhist monks and others labeling themselves supporters of the armys just war. Government forces have recently clashed with ethnic armed groups in Kachin and Shan states.

The demonstrators waved Burma flags and sang along to strident military songs blaring from a public address system. It was not clear who organized the demonstration as those involved only identified themselves as supporters of the Burma Armys actions.

Photographs of marchers claiming to be members of Burmas ethnic minorities went viral on social media after netizens noted irregularities in their traditional dress.

The guy in Kachin dress didnt wear the turban right and he wears the traditional sword on wrong shoulder, said one Facebook user with the ethnic Kachin name Kareng Bawm Awn.

The demonstrators were also criticized for using Burmas Independent hero and Burma Army founder Gen. Aung San picture alongside the current military chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Gen. Aung San only fought against the British [for independence], not the ethnic people of Burma, said one user.

U Nay Phone Latt, a lawmaker from Rangoon divisional parliament, wrote on his Facebook page that he was very disappointed to see monks attend the demonstration.

As a Buddhist, I feel really ashamed to see Buddhist monks taking part in a demonstration that supports war.
Burma Parliamentary Commission Considers Changes to Defamation Law

An NLD member who was charged under Burmas Telecommunications Act for insulting the army chief on Facebook appeared in Rangoons Hlaing Township Court on Nov. 17. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  A parliamentary commission is considering changes to the controversial Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law, which has often been used to silence political dissidents.

Parliaments Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission is reviewing the law. The commission will consider reducing the laws penalties to bring them more in line with existing laws, and it will considering narrowing what is considered defamation, said commission member U Maung Maung Ohn, an Upper House lawmaker from the National League for Democracy.

Article 66(d) states that whoever is convicted of using a telecommunication network to extort, threaten, obstruct, defame, disturb, inappropriately influence, or intimidate, can be punished with imprisonment for a term extending to a maximum of three years, and shall be liable to fine or both.

We are now talking about reducing the prison term to two years and also to allow the accused to be released on bail while an investigation is carried out, said U Maung Maung Ohn.

The law was enacted under the previous government of U Thein Sein.

An increasing number of defamation charges have been brought against politicians, reporters, and social media users under Article 66(d). Activists have called for the controversial defamation law to be abolished or amended, saying that it denies citizens their freedom of speech and expression.

In many cases, the accused have been denied bail.

Under the NLD government, there have been at least 33 defamation cases brought between April and November, according to a legal team working on the case of Maung Saungkha, a writer and activist in Rangoon who was charged and sentenced under the statute.

So far, defendants have been arrested in 13 cases, and three have been sentenced to prison terms.

Only seven defamation cases were brought during the term of former President U Thein Sein, and only five of those received sentencing, according to Maung Saungkhas legal team.
Burma Parliamentary Proposal to Invite All Ethnic Armed Groups to Peace Conference Rejected

Ethnic leaders and government officials attend the opening ceremony of the 21st Century Panglong Conference in Naypyidaw, August 31, 2016. / Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters

A national lawmaker proposed a bill last week that would have invited all ethnic groups to attend the Union Peace Conference in February, but the Parliament office director rejected the proposal and will not allow the issue to be debated or voted upon.

Lawmaker Mai Win Htoo of the Taang National Party sent his draft proposal to the Union Parliament office on Thursday, he told The Irrawaddy. The proposal asked the government to allow all ethnic armed groups to participate at the second 21st Century Panglong peace conference.

There are too many restrictions involved in the Panglong conference right now, said lawmaker Mai Win Htoo. The government is blocking some ethnic armed groups from the peace talks. My proposal asked the government to relax those restrictions. Lets bring all the armed groups to the table and talk about peace.

Mai Win Htoo submitted his draft proposal to the Union Parliament office on Dec. 15, but then the offices director, Kyaw Soe, told the lawmaker that he was not allowed to propose such a debate, the lawmaker said.

He gave me two reasons, Mai Win Htoo said. One reason was that the government is already working on this problem, and therefore, it does not need to be discussed in Parliament. The second reason was that peace was not an urgent issue.

Mai Win Htoo said that he wants the government to start a political dialogue that could quell the conflict in northern Shan State.

The fighting has escalated too much in our region of northern Shan, he said. We need to resolve this, so we must have political dialogue.

Burmas government will host the second peace conference in February. One of the governments stipulations is that all ethnic armed groups must sign the NCA before they may attend the peace conference.

Eight ethnic armed groups signed the NCA in 2015. Several armed groups which are now fighting the Burma Army in northern Shan Stateincluding the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and the Arakan Army (AA)have so far refused to sign the NCA.

The Burma Army also has opposed peace talks with non-signatories of the NCA.

Mai Win Htoo said it felt very strange to him that his proposal, which supports the peace process, could not be discussed and debated in Parliament. Only a week ago, Parliament took time to debate whether or not to call some ethnic armed groups terrorist organizations.

When the issue was to recognize ethnic armed groups as terrorists, then the Parliament said, lets discuss it. But when I put forward a proposal to talk about peace, the Parliament wont allow it to be discussed, he said. So I feel like we will not achieve peace for our country.
Guest Column Unifying Indigenous Karen to Preserve Sacred Forests and Cultural Heritage

A group of ethnic Karen and Karenni gathers in Kheshorter Forest in Mutraw District (Papun District), Karen State, to learn and share how they protect their forests from destruction, November 2016. / KESAN

On a misty morning in late November 2016, 77 community representatives from Karenni State as well as from all seven Karen districts gathered in the Karen village of Paw La Pu in Mutraw District, following a week-long trek from the Salween River.

They were about to go deeper into the jungles of eastern Burma. As they stood in a circle, Saw Tha Htoo, one of the villages community leaders, began telling the story of the Kheshorter Forest. His passionate voice filled the air, accompanied by melodies of songbirds flying through the forest around them.

A short time ago, before the armed conflicts with the Burma Army, wild elephants and rhinos walked the very spot where the representatives now stood. But today, there are none to be found. Despite two decades of conflict and resettlement, the forests here are doing much better than other parts of Burma. A chorus of endangered hoolock gibbons rang clearly through the evergreen forests, a testament to the communitys stewardship of their lands. We live in an era of environmental crises around the world, but it is communities, rather than governments, that are defending the ecological integrity of their homes.

The Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN), the Karen National Liberation Armys 5th Brigade, and the indigenous Karen communities of Kheshorter Forest jointly organized this historic gathering of community representatives from places as far as Dawei, to learn about how the local people have protected their forests from destruction.

Saw Ma Bu Htoo, the lead KESAN facilitator of the trip, said, In Kawthooleithe Karen name for Karen territories and lands, translated as land of the thoolei flower or land without evilweve never had a trip like this to exchange experiences and learn from each other.

He also said, Kheshorter is one of the largest, best managed forests, where communities still closely follow traditional forest management practices, adding that other districts could learn much from indigenous Karen customs and the local communitys active protection of its forests.

With the impacts of climate change increasing day by day, it is more urgent than ever to preserve the forests and watersheds that help to stabilize the climate and sustain the well being of humans and wildlife. The rapidly changing political situation in Burma, along with the lifting of sanctions on military-affiliated extractive industries, threatens the sustainability of development in ethnic states. According to a United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization report, in 2015, Burma had the third-worst annual deforestation rate in the world, losing up to 2 percent of the countrys forest area each year from 2010-2015. Much of that deforestation was due to logging, mining, rubber or palm oil plantations, and hydropower development, and it resulted in the mass dispossession of thousands of people.

There is no doubt that Burmas precious natural resources must be protected, but it must be done in a manner that does not violate the rights of people who live in and around forests. Many governments and international conservation organizations take the stance that effective forest conservation requires heavy restrictions on human access, which in turn often lead to the forced eviction of communities. But the evidence from many places, including Kawthoolei, suggests otherwise.

Most recently, a 2016 study by the World Resources Institute demonstrated that forests inhabited and managed by indigenous peoples have experienced deforestation rates that are 2 to 2.8 times lower than the deforestation rates in areas where indigenous people did not have secure land rights. In light of those realities, KESAN has been working to advance the recognition of land and forest rights of indigenous communities throughout Kawthoolei, so that people can lead both peaceful and sustainable lives.

The indigenous Karen worldview emphasizes living in harmony with their natural surroundings, as communities have traditionally relied on a deep historical knowledge of the land, forests, and water for survival. This recognition of the interdependence of humans and their surrounding environment informs and shapes the Karen way of life.

Saw Tha Htoo explained how, in 1997, the war waged by the Burma Army forced many Karen people to flee deep into the jungles. When the displaced villagers first settled in the Kheshorter area, out of desperation to survive and feed themselves, they had to clear previously undisturbed old-growth forests that they considered sacred. Given the dire circumstances they faced, the people of Kheshorter still wanted to conserve the forests for endangered species like gibbons and tigers.

Without any support from the central government, the Kheshorter villages came together to establish ground rules for the sustainable management of their new home. Collaborating as a grassroots democracy in the jungle, the 15 villages that make up the Kheshorter community collectively determined which forest zones were accessible or restricted, to ensure that no individual would be disproportionately affected by the community regulations. Only certain areas were reserved for shifting cultivation and paddy farming, while large swathes of forest were entirely protected for both conservation and spiritual reasons. Building on their knowledge of the forest ecosystem and indigenous taboos against hunting and harvesting, the villagers formally established the Kheshorter Community Forest, covering an area of 14,604 acresthe size of Insein and Mayangone townships combined.

Even after the 2012 ceasefire between the KNU and the former government, the militarization of the forests and mountains of Mutraw District continues to this day. Sadly, one of the Kheshorter Wildlife Patrol leaders was shot dead by the Burma Army in March 2015. Around Burma, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world, land and environmental defenders are being killed for wanting to protect their homes from destructive development. Nevertheless, locals persevere to fight for their land and way of life, risking their lives to patrol the forests against poachers and others hoping to exploit the forests natural resources.

Other Karen communities hope to replicate the Kheshorter communitys model of an indigenous-managed forest system that integrates biodiversity conservation and forest utilization. After a journey under canopies of ancient trees and over breathtaking mountains, many representatives from the seven districts of Kawthoolei were inspired to revitalize their own communities observance of indigenous Karen traditions and beliefs, in order to better preserve both their own cultural identity and natural landscapes. When people know that land is securely theirs, they will have a reason to take better care of it. One representative summed up what he learned: If you dont take care of the forest, nobody will take care of it for you.

The Kheshorter Community Forest is one of the keystone efforts that will serve as a model for other Karen communities to emulate. KESAN is currently working to establish an indigenous and community conserved area in Mutraw District called the Salween Peace Park. The Salween Peace Park will create space for Karen people to preserve their cultural heritage and natural resources, and enjoy a lasting, stable peace on their own terms. There is power and wisdom to be found in the traditions that Karen communities continue to practice, and that indigenous knowledge is more relevant than ever in the 21st century. The Salween Peace Park builds on and modernizes the Karen peoples ecologically sustainable heritage of land governance and management, so that communities can revitalize practices that sustain not only their livelihoods, but the land and forests as well.

The Kheshorter Community Forest is living proof that humans can co-exist with natural ecosystems and leave a smaller footprint than most in the developed world would imagine is possible. Indeed, there is much that the rest of the world can learn from the Karen people.

At the end of the journey through the Kheshorter Forest, Saw Tha Htoo looked back at the trees behind them. He was silent for a moment, then mused that one day, when the armed conflict and violence ends for good, the villagers will return to their original homes, and their sacred forests will once again return back to their original glory.

Has Moo is the media coordinator of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN), a non-profit ethnic Karen environmental and human rights advocacy organization.
5 Criteria for Selecting the Best Enterprise Collaboration Tool

Last month, I wrote about Joe Salesky, CEO of CRMNEXT, who argued that his companys approach to CRM could have prevented the recent scandal at Wells Fargo, in which bank employees were found to have fraudulently opened more than 1.5 million deposit and credit accounts without customer authorization. But another seasoned tech exec I recently spoke with raised a couple of good questions: How do you know that Saleskys claim is true? And what could Wells Fargo have done to ensure it was selecting the right CRM software in the first place?

That tech exec is Venkat Devraj, CEO of SelectHub, a technology evaluation platform provider in Denver that he co-founded three years ago. Devraj argues that the issue isnt that one CRM package is good, and another is bad. At issue is the need for the organization, Wells Fargo in this case, to look at technology purchases more holistically, and in a way thats much more collaborative. He explained it this way:

The CEO in that article talks about how Marc Benioff at Salesforce has perpetrated a problem where the CRM is in the cloud, and essentially that allows different departments within a company like Wells Fargo to get a different instance of Salesforce. A different department gets a different instance or a different product, and fundamentally these systems dont talk to each other. But the issue isnt that one CRM is better. Of course, with all due respect, his CRM may be the appropriate one in that scenario, but its not just for the vendor to make that claim, because every vendor is going to say that their solution is the best. So how do you identify what is the right solution for the company?

In 2006, Devraj had co-founded Stratavia, a data automation software provider that was sold to HP in 2010, when he became CTO of HPs cloud automation business unit. He said that as he spoke with CIOs, CTOs, and chief architects about HPs products, he was confronting that issue, just as he had confronted it at Stratavia:

The problem is that right around 2008, when the financial crisis happened, companies started coming under a lot of scrutiny on technology purchases. Every CIO was put under the gun by the CFO or by the CEO, depending on who they were reporting to, in terms of having measurable metrics, in terms of how you measure return on investment. Before that, if you look as far back as 1995, in the [Standish Group] CHAOS report, it was documented that seven out of 10 technology purchases tended to underperform, and that was just par for the course. But in 2008, with that increased level of scrutiny, CIOs and IT organizations were trying to figure out, How do we help the business? How do we work more closely with the business in terms of ensuring that the return on investment was high? So they started becoming more like control freaks. They said, Look, all technology needs to happen within the purview of the IT department.

At around the same time, Devraj said, the cloud emerged with platform-as-a-service and infrastructure-as-a-service offerings becoming commonplace  a lot of software companies were getting started in spite of the economic crisis:

So for any popular business application, like CRM in the case you wrote about, suddenly there were hundreds of software vendors, and companies werent very clear about which one was the right one. And here the IT department was saying, Look, we are the central policing figure, we are the central control body, all purchases need to go through us so we can be the custodian of the purchase, we can make sure that the technology integrates with our existing architecture, it integrates with our existing transactional streams, data streams. But business was having a different problem. They were saying, We cant go through IT for all of this. IT is too slow. Theres a lot of red tape, theres a lot of approval process, theres a lot of change control process, we dont have the time, IT people dont get it, they dont understand our business, weve got to move much faster. So suddenly the marketing department, the HR department, different groups started saying, Look, we have a budget for technology or we have discretionary spending, why dont we go out and get it? So its not a problem that was perpetuated by people like Benioff of Salesforce, or anybody else. Its just the nature of how it started happening right around 2008 onwards.

Still, Devraj said, a lot of fingers started pointing at the vendors:

We had our fair share. Back at Stratavia, we started seeing that in 2008. Lehman Brothers was a large contract for us, and thats a company that had been around for a long time. Suddenly they disappeared. We started seeing a lot of other financial services companies, oil and gas companies, stop their investment in our technology. I started flying out and meeting with a lot of these customers, and I personally started saying, Look, lets sit down. We dont want to just be a vendor, we want to be a partner. So I sat down with a lot of the CIOs, a lot of the CTOs, and had a conversation about what Stratavia could do to help them get beyond this issue, how we could show that there was a successful ROI with our deployment. We were able to get rid of the problem, but I saw that a more prescriptive methodology was needed in the industry to help companies help the IT department select and prescribe the right technology to the business. And it had to happen in a way that it was largely self-service. For example, if the marketing team is coming to the IT department and saying, I need new marketing automation software, I need a new CRM software, the IT department takes three to six months to figure out which is the right product, the right vendor. They do an RFI and RFP and so on, thats not going to work. Its going to create a lot of shadow IT  the marketing department is no longer going to come to the IT department. So the opportunity I saw is, if you could create a prescriptive workflow, a prescriptive platform that the IT department can enable in their organization, it can be done in a matter of days and weeks, instead of weeks and months, and sometimes longer than a year.

Right around 2012, I started speaking with a lot of my CIO customers, and started asking them how they thought we could solve this problem. The problem was that the IT department was seen as too slow, too lethargic, kind of a policeman rather than a true business partner. So end-user business units were bypassing them and getting their own technology. How could we solve this problem? Thats where, based on those conversations, we ended up creating a solution that is now SelectHub.

Devraj went on to explain exactly what SelectHub is doing to help solve the shadow IT problem. Ill cover that in a forthcoming post.

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.
An unusual video has recently circulated showing a UFO landing on Earth through a bright blue wormhole. The said footage has then gone viral and known to have been picked up by a number of conspiracy websites and fellow YouTube channels. It was found that although the video clip has spread like a wildfire online, the footage was shot in an unknown location. Eyewitness of the said incident described the phenomenon as something that shows a space ship being beamed down to earth via a bright blue tractor beam.

Aliens And Wormholes: Is This The Start Of Alien Invasion?

According to reports by Daily Mail, it was found that the video has sparked a debate online as people argue over whether the video is real or fake, and what it actually has captured. Skeptics of the phenomenon have argued that the video is only a spoof and that it was made to attract money through the advertisements that feature before a video on YouTube, while some say it was just a lightning strike.

However, although it has not been clear where the video was shot, some of the leading conspiracy theorists say that Nevada and Arizona are hot-spots for alleged UFO sightings since a number of spaceships could have been spotted there.

Furthermore, in one of his statements revealed by The Sun, Scott Brando, who runs a UFO Of Interest, a website which uncovers UFO hoaxes, has claimed that it is indeed a fake CGI. He said that there are previous sharings about the same video being fake and that there's nothing unusual to video.

On the other hand, renowned UFOlogist Scott C Waring from UFO Sightings Daily, claims sighting took place on December 1. He explained that Arizona is a famous hotspot for UFOs and Alien bases, so it's nice to get this substantial evidence of their existence in that area, thus, he is found to have been convinced that the video is about an alien ship, shooting off through the clouds, leaving earth. Ultimately, despite the allegations of both parties, NASA has refused to comment on what the image is claiming it could just be a loose bit of space debris.
A new study about the lava tubes found under the moon's surface have recently suggested that it can be larger and more stable than previously thought, making it as a potential place for humans to live in. Researchers of the study has explained that as they create the model of tunnels which was apparently left over from volcanic activity in the moon's youth, they believe that it could potentially be up to three miles (5 km) wide, which has then raised the hope for subterranean bases.

Lunar's Lava Tube: Could It Hold Human Life?

According to reports by Daily Mail, due to the formation of these lava tubes, geologists believe that they are formed from streams of magma which ran dry, leaving channels through the solid rock. In the same way, scientists were found to have been convinced that the same structures are likely to be found under the lunar surface, based on tiny gravitational changes and images of cave openings gleaned from lunar orbiters.

Furthermore, as per Click Ittefaq, a team from Purdue University in Indiana has allegedly used computer modeling techniques to analyze how large these tunnels could potentially grow. On Earth, scientists have compared that the conditions mean that the tubes are often limited to 30 meters across, but the gravitational evidence suggests on the moon they could be much bigger. Consequently, their study has revealed that the stability depended on the tube's width, the thickness of the roof and the physical stress on the rock.

Ultimately, the researchers has also revealed that earlier this year, it was found that NASA scientists calculated it may be possible to return to the surface of the moon within the next five to seven years for a total cost of just $10 billion (6.4 billion). They said a lunar base could double as a commercial mining base to allow the moon's resources to be exploited.
Microsoft has created itself as a consistent hardware player with the perfection of the Surface line, that includes some innovative ideas with the new Surface Studio. And it has made remarkable strides with its apps on Android and iOS in recent years, with some of the most famous productivity apps in both stores.

Powerful Performance

It's highly likely that the Microsoft Surface Phone will come powered by Qualcomm's brand-new Snapdragon 835 chipset. The new chip is set to come out on smartphones early next year and is a direct series to the top-end Snapdragon 820 and 821 chips, which will and has featured in Samsung Galaxy S8, OnePlus 3T, and Google Pixel phones. Many believed it could also have a whopping 6GB of RAM.

Superb Camera

The Surface Phone is anticipated to sport a 20-megapixel rear and 8 mp for the front with a Carl Zeiss lens and dual camera. We would expect big things from the Surface Phone camera. Starting with Apple, LG, and also Huawei have all shipped phones with dual-camera configurations, and Samsung is anticipated to follow suit in 2017. So Microsoft is more likely as anyone to utilize similar technology.

Will Support ARM Chipset And The Emulated Desktop Apps To Turn It Into A PC

The Surface Phone would support Win32 apps which allow users to run legacy Windows program that they run on their PCs. The availability of Win32 apps on the Phone would boost Android and iOS users to buy the Windows phone. Tech enthusiasts believe that the Surface Phone could get an edge over iPhone and Android devices if it comes with Win32 apps support. A device in your pocket that can indeed take the place of your full PC with support for the same software that you can able to use on a laptop or desktop would seem to fit the bill.

Well, it would seem that the Surface Phone will be a high-end smartphone that's possibly targetted at providing very specific value to the business market. Serving as a crown-of-light device for Microsoft's long-term mobile strategy or some mix of both.
The iPhone 8 rumors and leaks are the most trending topics on the web right now. Though the iPhone 8 is the most anticipated smartphone compared to its competitors, I find it rather strange that only a small number of articles that talks about the iPhone 8's leaks and rumors question if the device has great specs and features or not. Here is my take based on the latest and most popular rumored specs and features of the iPhone 8.

Smartphone Too Over Priced?

First, let me say that the Galaxy S8 is rumored to be priced at roughly around $810. Now, if you think about Samsung's "fire-prone" fiasco this year, one might really expect that Samsung might tone down its price to gain back the trust of the public. I mean, if you knew that a certain phone brand has a history of potentially endangering your safety, will you buy it? But if $810 is a toned down price for Samsung, then what will be the price of the iPhone 8?

According to reports, Apple will launch 3 models for the iPhone 8 series. One is called the iPhone 8, another is called the iPhone 8 Plus, and lastly a premium model which most people just calls it the iPhone 8 Pro. The latter of which, Apple has not yet given a name for but it's rumored to be the flagship. Now, if the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will be priced around $810, what will be the price of the iPhone 8 Pro, knowing that this is the flagship smartphone that features the best of the best high-end specs for Apple's 2017 iPhone series? Will it be priced around $1000 or more?

Smartphone Breakable Much?

According to reports, the iPhone 8 series will have an all-glass front and back design that would look like it was made from a single sheet of glass, stainless frames for its edges, OLED display, and a software touch home button. However, it is reported that only the iPhone 8 Pro will have the all-glass design and OLED screen. And plus, there is a new report that the iPhone 8 will feature a plastic OLED panel that curves "all over" the device.

But these things are not important, what I want to point out is that given that the iPhone 8 Pro will have an all-glass design which will give the impression as if the device is made out of a single sheet of glass, how tough will it be? I mean, one of its main features is its all-glass design, so there is a chance that it will be very fragile. To me, I don't want to be walking around with a smartphone worth $800-$1000 that can be shattered in a heartbeat if it's accidentally dropped, bumped or scratched. It will be a 24/7 nightmare.

Also, it the iPhone 8 will be a bezel-less phone that will instead feature a software touch Home Button that is built right into the display screen. It will feature a fingerprint reader touch ID that is also built into the display screen. Let's say the screen gets cracked, will you still be able to access the software Home Button, let alone unlock it?

Let's face it, we want the iPhone 8 Pro and most of us buying that device will pay for it from our hard-earned money. For me, I really hope it will be tough enough, because if not, it is a risk that I can't afford.

Wireless Charging Feature

Apple will launch 3 iPhone models. However, it is said that only the iPhone 8 Plus and Pro will have this feature. But there is another problem about this wireless charging feature. A couple of months ago, a feature presentation was held about wireless charging in Japan. In the presentation, the team was able to successfully charge a phone wirelessly. However, it took them 20 minutes just to charge one percent of the battery life.

Now, according to reports, the iPhone 8 can be wirelessly charged from up to 5 meters away from the charging unit or pad. About how long it took to charge, rumors said that the iPhone 8 can wirelessly charge 10 percent of battery life an hour. I don't know if this rumor is true, but if it is, 10 percent an hour is kind of slow for me. Well, at least the iPhone can wirelessly charge, right?
As everyone knows, the Galaxy S8 is the most important solution that Samsung has to restore its reputation and the customers confidence in the brand, after what happened with the Galaxy Note 7. However, new rumors about Samsungs new flagship have just come out, and believe it or not, it suggests that the South Korean company could make a controversial decision with this smartphone. To use some specs that the recalled mobile device also had.

The Galaxy S8 Could Have The Iris Recognition Technology

According to several reports, one of the specs that the Galaxy Note 7 used and it would be adopted by the Galaxy S8 is the iris recognition technology, which was something incredible before the recalled flagship exploded, and the opinions were only about how great it was. The cool thing about the Galaxy S8 having this spec is that it will be faster than the one used by the Note 7, and it will allow the South Korean company to launch the Samsung Pass one more time, which is a feature that the recalled mobile device also had.

In fact, its quite possible that once the iris recognition technology is equipped in the Galaxy S8, Samsung could once again engage with banks and any other financial institution in order to resurrect the Samsung Pass service. Although this is not exactly the majority of its customers, the South Korean company always saw as an important strategy to provide these kinds of services to these organizations.

The Galaxy S8 Could Have A Similar Display As The One That The Galaxy Note Used

Also, it was ha been known that the Galaxy S8 would wear a similar display to the one found on the Galaxy Note 7, since the specs sheet for the latest flagship could also be equipped with the Y-OCTA display technology that the recalled phone had, and helped the company to produce a thinner smartphone and lower production cost.

Apparently, this display technology might allow the Galaxy S8 to have more advanced technologies in it. For example, instead of using touch-sensitive films that are commonly used in the conventional touchscreen displays, this technology already integrates these touch sensors.

In fact, the Y-OCTA display might head to the smaller model of the Galaxy S8, which could possibly be a 5.7-inch version that would feature the entire display specs of the Galaxy Note 7, including the Super AMOLED panels with Quad HD resolution. On the other hand, the alleged bezel-less 6.2-inch model could wear the full RGB AMOLED panel.

The Galaxy S8 Could Wear A Fingerprint Scanner On The Back

Also, it has been reported that another detail that the Galaxy S8 will adopt from the Galaxy Note 7 could be the fingerprint scanner placed on the back, which would be huge bet for the South Korean company since everyone was expecting a fingerprint sensor. Another interesting detail about this rumor is that this ended up being the truth; the flagship would look quite similar to the design that Google choose for its Pixels devices since its fingerprint sensor technology is rear-mounted.

If all these rumors end up being true, the customers reaction to the Galaxy S8 will be unpredictable, since it doesn't seem to be a great strategy to wear a smartphone with similar specs as the previous one that turned into a total disaster. In fact, considering that Samsungs flagship haven't been released, a collateral damage could actually start because of these rumors, given the fact that no one wants to know any more about the Galaxy Note 7.

However, even when this smartphone became the worst in Samsungs modern history, the truth is that these specs and features might fit well in the Galaxy S8. Nevertheless, theres going to be people that will think that instead of killing the Galaxy Note 7 for good, the South Korean company might be resurrecting it in an advanced device, which could be an extraordinary if it wasn't for the fact that the recalled smartphone is quite unpopular.

Only time will tell if this was a good or a wrong move, but for now, the most important thing that Samsung should do is to concentrate on its harmed image. It remains to be seen if these rumors are counterintuitive. These specs and features don't have to be bad just because the Galaxy Note 7 ended up bursting into flames, but the rumors of this possibility would probably make it difficult for the Galaxy S8 to achieve its mission of restoring the companys reputation.
Google's first step into the hardware market has been made when the company has purchased Motorola in 2011 for $12.5 billion.

Google's Hardware Plans

Since Google has made its first step into the hardware market, the company shows its clear plans to expand on this new niche. And when a company on the scale of Google decides of getting involved in hardware, such plans certainly put some established manufacturers on edge. However, according to PC Mag, when Google later sold Motorola to Lenovo anxiety went down.

Google has continued to expand its influence over the market, without being directly involved in hardware production. Many hardware maker companies supported Android early on. That helped Google's mobile operating system to become the de facto alternative to iOS. Today, Android is the mainstream mobile OS and smartphone maker companies have no choice but to embrace Google.

But, according to Venture Beat, the development that is most alarming for the tech world is Google's recent launch of the Pixel smartphone. With missteps from Apple and Samsung providing an ideal window for the new device, Google's Pixel launch has become a true market success.

According to Wired. Samsung struggles with the biggest manufacturing mistake in the history of the mobile industry. Meanwhile, Apple has been less successful than the high-tech giant expected with its release an iPhone without a headphone jack. In this market conjuncture, the conditions are ideal for the Pixel's success.

Google's Growing Hardware Ambition

According to the International Data Corporation, with about 88 percent of the market, Google has a near monopoly of the mobile operating system marketplace. This gives the company a strong base for its efforts to dominate the hardware arena.

Smartphone maker companies such as LG, Samsung, and others have come to rely on the Android OS. Once Google begins to give its own devices preferential treatment through new features and software updates, they will have no way to compete.

The launch of Google's Pixel pushes companies such as LG and Samsung to seek business outside of the mobile marketplace. Because Google can leverage the huge data in its ecosystem, the company's products differ from competitors. For instance, the Pixel's Google Assistant artificial intelligence surpasses Apple's Siri and Microsoft's Cortana by personalizing every interaction based on users' existing Google accounts.

With its intuitive and essential services, Google has attracted billions of users, enjoying an incredible advantage over competitors. Some tech analysts have dismissed the threat of Google's hardware ambitions, based on legendary smartphone failures from Microsoft and Amazon. Other tech experts believe that Google's hardware push would not catch momentum because of privacy concerns raised by company's growing digital hegemony could lead to consumer backlash.

However, the middle ground of these expert opinions would signal that it is a mistake to see Google's focus on hardware as a market disruption. The mobile marketplace could gain from a new competitor, the Google Pixel smartphone.

The Pixel smartphone is part of new Google products that aim to spread on various verticals. For instance, Google Wifi aims to make other Internet routers obsolete, Google Home competes with Amazon's Echo and the Google Daydream headset could become a success on the emerging VR market.
Given the fact that automakers are basically competing for the same market, it is common to see rivalries between models from different manufacturers. The Subaru Impreza has always been an underdog compared to the Honda Civic. The former however, has been doing very well in the recent times. Will things be different this time as the 2017 Subaru Impreza takes on the 2017 Honda Civic in a sedan shootout?

Test Of Strength

The 2017 Subaru Impreza is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine capable of putting out 148 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with a seven-speed manual transmission with paddle shifters and an optional Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

The 2017 Honda Civic on the other hand draws 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for its base trim LX. The higher trims are equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbo engine that delivers 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque.

Real Strength Does Not Come From Muscles Alone

The 2017 Honda Civic may have the upper hand in terms of power but the 2017 Subaru Impreza has its own aces up its sleeves. According to report, the 2017 Subaru Impreza takes the lead in the aspects of design and road performance. Apparently, the 2017 Subaru Impreza has better handling and control. In addition, it also has greater cornering agility and straight-line stability because of the new Global Platform it's built on.

Battle Of Features

In terms of safety, the 2017 Honda Civic has the Honda Sensing while the 2017 Subaru Impreza has the Subaru EyeSight. These safety packages basically have the same features such as lane keep assist, rear proximity warning and reverse automatic braking. In the technology aspect, the 2017 Subaru Impreza has the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while the 2017 Honda Civic has added a new seven-inch screen along with several other features such as remote engine start and electronic parking brake.

End Of The Round

At the end of the round, the 2017 Honda Civic managed to score some points but so did the 2017 Subaru Impreza. This certainly was a close battle and the 2017 Subaru Impreza showed the 2017 Honda Civic that it should watch out.
"One Piece" will enter a new arc in 2017. Eiichiro Oda was not present during the Jump Festa panel but the voice actors were. The panel revealed exciting news about the direction of the series for the upcoming year and what the fans can expect.

"One Piece" Anime Jump Festa Panel

"One Piece" manga is one of the most popular manga series ever made. Oda did not make a personal appearance at the event but, in a way, he was still part of the Jump Festa. Through a letter, he revealed that "One Piece" will see the continuation of the Whole Cake arc in 2017. Aside from the said arc which is currently the episodes covered by the anime, "One Piece" will explore the Reverie arc and the Wano arc.

These arcs are among the most exciting arcs in the series and are bound to make fans more excited about what the Straw Hat Pirates will do next. Aside from the three arcs, fans can also look forward to the Marineford arc next year although it will not be part of the manga but of the popular "One Piece" kabuki which will play at Tokyo's Shimbashi Playhouse from Oct. 6 to Nov. 25, 2017.

A dedicated magazine for "One Piece" will be released within the year. There was also an announcement that the magazine will feature the story about "a certain flame-flame fruit user."

"One Piece" Manga New Arcs

A lot of fans have been speculating about the next arc in Oda's manga. For years, there have been rumors that the Reverie arc and the Wano arc will be the next to happen. This time, it is official and fans can rest assured that there will be chapters that will be released for these two arcs.

"One Piece" is a manga created by Oda and it is published by Shueisha in the Weekly Shonen Jump.
After the issue of 1 billion Yahoo passwords leaked, another online platform fell victim to hack attacks just recently. Lynda.Com, one of the most trusted and leading training websites was hacked over the weekend. LinkedIn's learning skill unit is already on the move and has been reported to reset passwords of affected users.

Over 55,000 Personal Information Of Lynda.Com Users Were Hacked

In a statement posted on their portal, Lynda.Com briefly explained that the database includes some learning data of users such as contact information and courses. Though there are no evidence yet that any data were leaked, they decided to reset the passwords of almost 55,000 users out of an abundance of caution. These compromised passwords were cryptographically salted and hashed. Furthermore, the company assures that no credit card information was made publicly available.

Lynda.Com Is Taking The Necessary Measures Regarding This Cyberattack

After discovering that an unauthorized external party had accessed a database, Lynda.Com immediately took action to secure the accounts. According to PC World, Lynda has sent notice to 9.5 million users via email to notify them of the breach. Aside from these, the company is said to be working with the law enforcement, taking this matter seriously.

LinkedIn's Alleged Data Breach Issue In 2012

In May 2016, a hacker was said to be selling 167 million LinkedIn user records on the dark market website called TheRealDeal. There were probing reports that said that it may not be the first time that the professional networking portal experienced a data breach. Rumors said that about 6.5 million hashed LinkedIn passwords were accessed and posted on an online Russian forum in 2012.

The best thing Lynda.Com users should do right now is to check their accounts and reset their passwords to make sure that they don't face a serious problem of their personal information being leaked. Should they confirm of the possible breach, they can contact Lynda.Com's help center.
LG, one of the largest manufacturers of gadgets has officially unveiled its newest LTE tablet, LG G Pad 3 10.1. The first country to discover its features and specifications is of course South Korea where the headquarters of the company is located.

Reports said that the sales of LG smartphones have been declining. But despite this sad reality, the company push to continue the tough battle against the competing brands. And while waiting for the launching of LG 6, the upcoming flagship phone next to LG 5, the company introduced their newest version of G Pad tablet.

The New LG G Pad 3 10.1 Comes With Preloaded Microsoft Suite Apps And A Built-In Kick Stand

As what LG promotes on their website, their android devices offers the ultimate all-in-one tablet solution that takes productivity to another level. The LG G Pad 3 10.1 is said to fit within any lifestyle and is a perfect companion to smartphones. Some of its special features are the Microsoft Suite Apps that includes Office, Word, and Excel. These applications are preloaded so that users no longer have to download them. But among these, the best highlight of this tablet is the built-in Kick Stand that allows folding and up to 70 degrees of adjustment.

More About The LG G Pad 3 10.1 Specifications and Features

Another key feature of LG G Pad 3 10.1 FHD LTE is the Time Square UX. With this addition, users use the tablet as a digital frame or a desk clock without needing any accessory. According to Phone Arena, people can expect the 3 GB or 4 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, and a 7400mAh battery of the tablet. India Today also said that the tablet will come with 4G VoLTE support like its predecessor, LG G Pad III 8.0. Other specifications are the 10.1-inch WUXGA display with 1920x1200 pixels and a 1.5GHz octa-core processor.

Price And Expected Release Date

Currently, LG G Pad 3 10.1 is only available in South Korea with a price of KRW 429,000 which is about $360 right now. But the company is said to release it in other markets like in Canada in May. For those want to see more of this G Pad version, LG says that they will also be producing variants that come with a stylus in 2017.
For the past days, netizens have been reading articles about Facebook's plans regarding the disrupting fake news being disseminated in the social network. German politicians, on the other hand, seems to have a better idea on this problem. They are thinking of imposing Facebook a 500,000 fine for each offending post that will not be taken down.

Germany Plans To Create A Law That Will Levy Fines On Facebook

According to Business Insider, the legislative of the Germany government is preparing to introduce a law that orders Facebook to compensate those who become victims of fake news. In an interview, Thomas Opperman, the parliamentary chairman of the SPD, said that the social network should face sanctions if it fails to handle the spread of false news story. Furthermore, he also said, "If, after appropriate examination, Facebook does not delete the offending message within 24 hours, it should expect individual fines of up to 500,000." That amounts to $522,000.

Facebook And Other Social Networks Should Set Up A 'Legal Protection Unit' in Germany

Germany takes serious action against defamation with their bills strictly being implemented. Forbes' recent article about the issue talks about Opperman adding that Facebook and other social media should set up local offices in the country in order to respond faster. This way, those who are greatly affected by the news can immediately communicate with them or file complaints.

What's The Major Deal About The 'Fake News' Issue?

Apparently, this is not the first time that Germany demanded something like this from Facebook. They have already conducted an investigation over the social network's lack of action against online hate speech in November. But this time, the move is a precautionary measure against the possible effect of fake news post to upcoming German parliamentary elections in 2017. Add to this, are the alleged reports that Moscow intelligence was behind the hacking of the Democratic National Convention which caused the leaks of thousands of emails of key aides to Hilary Clinton.

Although Mark Zuckerberg dismissed the rumors that it could have influenced the U.S. elections, the public's claim is strong. In fact, strong enough for him to include a fact-checking feature in Facebook in the future.
Unsubsidized solar power costs are beginning to outperform coal and natural gas and new solar energy projects in emerging markets cost less to build than wind turbines, according to a new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).

The study, which includes the average cost of new wind and solar from 58 emerging-market economies, including China, India, and Brazil, determined that even though the cost of solar had been expected to eventually fall below wind, steeper price declines spurred that to happen far faster than analysts thought possible.

Steep solar equipment cost drops are driving growth in new solar installations, BNEF's latest edition of Climatescope concluded; investment in utility-scale solar in the 58 emerging nations rose 43% to $71.8 (billion) in 2015.

By the end of 2016, the total amount of solar power installations added globally will likely exceed that of wind for the first time, the report concluded. BNEF's projections estimate that 70 gigawatts (GW) of new solar photovoltaic power will be installed in 2016 compared with 59GW of wind power.

BNEF

"Solar investment has gone from nothing -- literally nothing -- like five years ago to quite a lot," Ethan Zindler, head of U.S. policy analysis at BNEF, said in a statement. "A huge part of this story is China, which has been rapidly deploying solar" and helping other countries finance their own projects.

Climatescope is a clean energy country competitiveness index supported by the U.S. and U.K. governments. It offers an overall portrait of clean energy activity in 58 emerging markets in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The group includes major developing nations such as China, India, Egypt, Pakistan, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa as well as dozens of others.

In 2015, the emerging economy nations in Climascope's report set a new record for clean energy installations with 69.8 gigawatts (GW) of new energy, up 30% from the 48.4GW added in 2014. The 2015 total represents 10.6GW more than the 59.2GW of clean energy built in a group of countries that includes the world's wealthiest nations, such as the U.S., the U.K and Germany.

It marked the first time emerging market nations invested more in solar power than that of developed nations, BNEF said.

Since 2010, photovoltaic investment in Climatescope countries has grown more than 11-fold. And from 2014 to 2015, investment in solar power in those countries grew 16% to reach $154 billion. In addition, the investment in new clean energy generation in Climatescope nations last year topped global investment in thermal power generation worldwide as recorded by the International Energy Agency.

"Solar and onshore wind have historically accounted for the majority of clean energy investment globally and their shares have grown substantially in recent years. Together, these technologies accounted for 65% of new clean energy investment in 2011. By 2015, that had risen to 94%," BNEF said.

Solar saw the largest investment growth, from 8% in 2011 to just over 46% in 2015, the report said.

Throughout emerging markets, when private energy companies competed for massive contracts to provide electricity, new records were set for cheap solar power.

In January, for example, one massive contract in India set the per megawatt-hour price in India at $64. In August, another utility contract set the price at $29.10 per megawatt hour in Chile, according to BNEF.

"That's record-cheap electricity -- roughly half the price of competing coal power," BNEF stated in a statement.

"Renewables are robustly entering the era of undercutting" fossil fuel prices, BNEF chairman Michael Liebreich said in a note to clients this week.




Photo for illustration (Source: VNA)



The project to exploit the Thach Khe ore mine, which has the largest reserves in Southeast Asia, has been suspended since 2011 because of capital shortage.

Truong Thanh Hoai, Director of the ministrys Department of Heavy Industry, was responding to the request by the Viet Nam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) for the capital to be mobilised from local steel consumers such as Hoa Phat and Hoa Sen, local newspapers reported.

The total reserve of ore in the mine is estimated at 544 million tonnes and its value at USD35 billion. The mine would become a sound supply source for the country in the next five years, producing an estimated 20 tonnes a year, according to the Vietnam Steel Association.

The project, which kicked off in 2009 and required a total investment of VND10 trillion (USD444 million), was managed by the Thach Khe Iron Joint Stock Company.

However, two years later, the project was stopped after 13 million cubic metres of top soil were excavated. The reason given was the use of outdated technology.

The company was also short of capital at the time as only its biggest shareholder, Vinacomin, had fulfilled its commitments. To date, site clearance and the relocation of 4,000 households whose land has to be acquired, which will cost VND3.5 trillion (USD157 million), has not been completed.

In its request, Vinacomin said it has proposed the restructuring of shareholders in Thach Khe and the use of new technology to extract ore. It has also asked the Government to allow the payment of mineral exploitation tax to be delayed until 2019 so that the company has funds for site clearance.

Officials said the ministry was considering approving Vinacomins request. Vinacomin expects the project to restart at the end of the year./.
tmas is coming, Assistant is getting into the holiday spirit. st in time for Santas arrival, the fun-loving virtual helper has been given an injection of good tidings in the form of a few seasonal responses.

Available across all instances of Assistantlo, Home, the xel phonesthe new comms will help you find Santa, have a good laugh or just get a dose of cheer. If you ask where Santa is, for example, it will tell you that hes still chilling at the North le. esumably it will provide a more specific location on the night before tmas to match the Santa Tracker that also springs to life that night.

No matter your faith, Assistant will spread the holiday cheer.

In the meantime, you can ask it to tell you a holiday joke, delivering one of a variety of one-liners when prompted with either tmas joke or Santa joke. Many of the puns are St. related, though the occasional quip is more general, such as, at did the smart phone say on nuary 1? Appy New Years! (Insert emoji groan.)

For wish revelers, Assistant will also spin the dreidel on comm, returning one of the four results when asked. And if you say Happy Kwanza, it will return the greeting provide a fact about the holiday or wish you a happy lighting of the Kinara.

y this matters: always has lots of fun at the holidays, so its no surprise that Assistant has gotten into the spirit. But its nice to see extend it to all Android phones through the lo app, not just its newer xel Home devices.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
A corner of Binh Phuoc province (Photo: kinhtevadubao.vn)

At the event, the military command of the southern province and their Cambodian counterparts signed an agreement on coordinating activities and building a peaceful border in the first half of 2017.

Accordingly, the two sides will regularly exchange and update information about crimes, particularly armed robbery and violations of border regulations.

They will also promote communication work to raise public awareness about border regulations and legal documents.

At the same time, the two sides will work together to facilitate travel and business activities of border residents and enterprises.

Addressing the event, Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Huynh Anh Minh reaffirmed the traditional relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Binh Phuoc and the three Cambodian localities have developed fruitful socio-economic cooperation and ensured a peaceful border, Minh added./.
The meeting between the CPV delegation and MPLA Party Chief Antonio Paulo Kassoma (Source: VNA)

During the visit, Binh met with General Secretary of the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), Antonio Paulo Kassoma; and MPLA Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Juliao Mateus Paulo.

He also had working sessions with officials of the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Angola.

During the meetings, the Angolan side affirmed the importance of the traditional relationship between the MPLA and the CPV, and the two peoples, and expressed their admiration of the significant achievements Vietnam has made in the nations building and development.

Binh briefed the host on Vietnams socio-economic development and the outcomes of the CPVs 12th National Congress.

He congratulated the host on the successful organisation of the 7th Congress of the MPLA and shared joy over the accomplishments Angola has gained under the leadership of the MPLA.

The two sides discussed measures to promote economic and trade relations to fully tap the potential of the two nations.

The two sides agreed to continue exchanging experts and technology transfer in agriculture. The host supported Vietnams proposal to set up joint venture companies for rice and coffee cultivation, agricultural product processing, fish farming and cow breeding for meat and milk.

The MPLA Party chief spoke highly of projects invested by Vietnamese telecom group Viettel in Africa and Angola, saying that the country will consider setting up of a joint venture with Viettel to provide telecommunication service in Angola.

During the stay, Binh met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Angola and laid a wreath at the Memorial to the late Angolan President Agostinho Neto in Luanda./.
Party official Truong Thi Mai visits the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) (Photo: VNA)





Mai hailed the priests and followers of the ECVN for observing the principle of living gospel and serving God while cooperating with people in the country to carry out policies of the Party and laws of the State.

She also expressed her hope that Protestant pastors will continue guiding followers in practicing their religion in line with the law, and contributing to the national construction and defence.

Pastor Nguyen Huu Mac thanked the Party and State and the Vietnam Fatherlands Front for supporting Protestants, affirming that the church will make more contribution to the nations development./.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Uber CEO Travis Kalanick have been added to Donald Trump's advisory council despite heavily criticizing the U.S. President-elect during his campaign. These additions were confirmed by Trump's transition team in a statement on Dec. 14.

Musk and Kalanick have been very vocal in supporting Hillary Clinton during the campaign period. Musk has been quoted to say that Trump is "not the right man for the job" and that Trump's character "does not reflect well" on the country, as per a report from Independent UK. Kalanick, on the other hand, joked about moving to China if Trump wins the election.

USA Today reports that earlier this month, Trump presented the "Strategic and Policy Forum" - 16 members who will serve as his advisors regarding business matters and economic sectors. Among the selected members, only one hailed from the technology sector: IBM CEO Ginni Rometty.

It is no secret that the head honchos of Silicon Valley have been largely critical of Trump. Most of the CEOs have actively shown their support for Clinton during the recently concluded presidential elections. One of the pressing issues that the leaders vehemently fought for is Trump's advocacy to build the Muslim registry. In an open letter, more than 580 employees from tech conglomerates have given their support for Muslim Americans and immigrants.

A summit is being held on Dec. 14 in Trump Tower in New York in hopes that Trump and the tech leaders will come to an agreement regarding various issues that they've previously butted heads on. Among those attending include Musk, Rometty, Alphabet CEO Larry Page and Chairman Eric Schmidt, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, Oracle co-CEO Safra Catz, and Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins.

If there have been oppositions regarding Trump's appointments for his cabinet members and advisory council, the incoming U.S. president is having none of it. A recent article from Jobs & Hire reports how Trump is very protective of his cabinet picks and believes they can be a huge help to the American people.
Rex Tillerson is a known businessman and an engineer. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation, the world's richest and sixth largest company by revenue. Tillerson already spent the past 41 years at Exxon and he is to retire the coming year. Regulatory and company files reveal that he has a huge financial interest in the oil company, owning $151M in company stock. In the year 2015, Tillerson's total payroll including salary, profit, bonus, and stock share awards amounted to almost $27.3M.

According to The Guardian, Rex Tillerson was one of the choices of Donald Trump to be the Secretary of State causing a major controversy in the Senate. Senators from both democrat and republican have raised questions that concern Tillerson's lack of experience and his close business relationship with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

Trump praised Tillerson as one of the most accomplished business CEOs and international deal and liaison creators in the world. Trump added that Tillerson's tenacity, broad and raw experience, and deep grasp of geopolitics qualifies him as Secretary of State. Tillerson's duty will focus on promoting regional stability and core national security ambitions of United States. Trump even took to social media calling Tillerson as one of the great business leaders in the world and deals successfully with all types of foreign government.

Tillerson is an advocate of Moscow's Order of Friendship where he met Putin and circle of friends while working on the oil exploration in Russia which was stopped when the US government imposed US sanctions in the year 2014.

Two of the republican senators from Florida and South Carolina were against Trump's decision to include Tillerson in the list of nominees. Marco Rubio said that Tillerson is a respected businessman however he has serious suspicions about his nomination. He added that the next state secretary should possess qualities of moral clarity, zero potential interest and has an advocacy to promote and achieve America's policy and aspirations. On the other hand, Lindsay Graham also stated her stand on the issue most especially on Tillerson's business dealing with the Russian Government and there are many questions to be answered.

Furthermore, according to NBC, former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney was also in the list of nominees for the state secretary including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani followed by John Bolton who worked under the administration of George W. Bush. Meanwhile, get to know the best gift for men this Christmas Season, click here for details.


Dylann S. Roof, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, made headlines last year when he opened fire at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston that left 9 parishioners dead. On Thursday, a federal court in the same state found him guilty of all the 33 counts he has been charged with.

NY Times reported that Mr. Roof had shockingly admitted his guilt to investigators about 18 months ago and revealed his blatantly racist reasons through a manifesto that he circulated online. He seemed to have intensely premeditated his chosen target and scouted the church 12 times. While he also explored other black churches as well as a festival somewhere else in South Carolina, he wrote that he settled on Charleston because it is the "most historic city" in his state.

It took the jury only about a couple of hours to deliberate on the case. Afterward, a court official read out each count while the accused stood silent and emotionless, USA Today reported. A number of people inside the courtroom, who lost loved ones in that June 2015 horrific incident, nodded in silence each time "guilty" was recited.

"I wasn't expecting anything less," said Felicia Sanders about the verdict. Felicia, together with her 11-year-year old granddaughter, was among those who survived the attack. She was reported to have embraced the child so tightly she could have choked her just so she could keep her still in the middle of the gunfire.

However, Felicia's 26-year-old son, Tywanza Sanders, and her aunt, Susie Jackson, were among the 9 people who lost their lives. When the court was adjourned, she and fellow survivor, Polly Sheppard, shared an extended embrace.

Mr. Roof is scheduled to face the same jurors again on Jan. 3 next year as they have yet to decide between death and life imprisonment without parole for his sentence. Two months after his shooting rampage last year, Jobs & Hire reported about a local community opposing the ban of Tennessee's county flag among students.
Social media and tech giant Facebook -- due to mounting criticism over its confusing and ambiguous responses regarding false news stories circulating in social media -- has decided to outsource its fact-checking of external news sources and websites to smaller news organizations. Facebook News Feed Vice President Adam Mosseri said the company would release new features in its app to remove the "worst of the worst" or "the clear hoaxes spread by spammers."

According to Ars Technica, Facebook has become a pool for fake news as it cluttered its trending news module for two reasons. One is because the social network fired its editorial staff and second, its faulty algorithms can be "hijacked" by spammers if done properly.

The news website said Facebook News Feed VP Adam Mosseri said that features would allow flagging stories that gained fame more than normal such as "Pizzagate." Users can then flag potential fake stories, which then head towards the signatories of the International Fact-Checkers Network Code of Principles -- a journalistic non-profit that reviews the accuracy of news stories.

Some dispute the efficacy of using third-party peer reviews and fact-checking. According to Vox, the social network would be outsourcing to renowned fact-checkers Snopes, Politifact, Factcheck.org, ABC News and the Associated Press. It said Facebook is giving the news fact-checkers a new power over website branding through the "dispute" option -- which can then expose these small organizations to public scrutiny. Perhaps it is a way to "pay" them; the social media will not pay them a single cent for their services

Observers said media -- internal videos, photo memes, and images or texts will remain unaffected or until Facebook announces these troubling media would also be flagged. Another issue is that Facebook users disgruntled by accurate stories could flag such as "fake news" -- effectively clogging up the queue for fact-checking. Along with the outsourcing of news fact-checking, Facebook is also to hire a new "Head of News." The official advertising by the social media company indicates the head of news needs to have at least 20 years experience in the industry -- and also clues that he or she may be a "head editor" for news.
It has been 10 months since Samsung released its current flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S7, and now, many are on the lookout for details about the next generation device. Over the past few weeks, reports about the Samsung Galaxy S8s specs have been making the rounds online, with the latest batch of rumors claiming that the upcoming phone will have a fingerprint sensor on the back.

According to Korean publication Naven via Phone Arena, the fingerprint sensor of the Samsung Galaxy S8 will be placed on the back, below the rumored dual camera setup of the upcoming device. The phone is also touted to have a button-less design, with the report noting that the Galaxy S8 wont have a home button.

Other rumors indicate that the Galaxy S8 and S8 Edge will have Harman-branded speakers and that these could be mounted on the front, just like the Nexus 6P. It was also speculated that the speakers might be positioned in a way that the phone will mimic the iPhone 7. The Apple phones loudspeaker is embedded in its earpiece, while a regular speaker is at the bottom of the smartphone.

The latest rumor roundup regarding the Galaxy S8 appears to have shaken Samsung Mobile Head DJ Kho. The Korea Herald (via Android Authority) reports that the executive has sent out an email, urging employees to keep mum about the upcoming device. In his email, Kho said that he feels deeply regretful to hear news about the recent attempts at breach and prototype leak, presumably about the Galaxy S8.

It appears that someone in the company may have shared crucial information about the phone, and Android Authority points out that Kho has every reason to be concerned about it. Since the Galaxy S8 is said to be Samsungs attempt to win over fans again after the disaster that was the Galaxy Note 7, it makes sense for the executive to keep details about the flagship device under wraps before its official debut.

As for the phones release date, tech fans are expecting the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Edge to be unveiled at the 2017 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February. For more news about the Samsung Galaxy S8, check out Jobs & Hires previous report about the upcoming phones rumored specs and features.
Good news for BlackBerry fans who were sad to learn about the news that BlackBerry smartphones will no longer be available! TCL Corp., a Chinese handset manufacturer, will be in charge of selling Blackberry's future phones.

BlackBerry and TCL entered into an agreement that gives the Chinese manufacturers rights to the branding and sales of BlackBerry phones. Bloomberg News reported that the move is part of Chief Executive Officer John Chen's plan to ultimately focus on software acquisitions.

BlackBerry fans are thinking about what the agreement means to future BlackBerry handsets. ITPRO reported that one of the BlackBerry devices designed with the help of TCL has poor performance and the number of unique features is limited.

Basing on reviews of BlackBerry DTEK60, BlackBerry fans may not be expecting much. While there are many Chinese smartphones in the market, only a few have better performance than competing brands.

The agreement between BlackBerry and TCL will allow the Chinese manufacturer to sell BlackBerry handsets all over the globe except Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. This could mean that sooner or later BlackBerry fans will once again be able to buy BlackBerry-branded smartphones all around the world.

PCWorld reported TCL will now handle not just the sale of BlackBerry handsets but also their design, manufacturing and marketing. It is not yet immediately clear whether TCL plans to update BlackBerry DTEK50 and DTEK60.

Jobs & Hire previously reported that BlackBerry's Android phone, DTEK60, features a security software that is popular among BlackBerry users. It is not immediately clear whether new handsets under the TCL and BlackBerry agreement will have the same feature.

Are you excited about what the agreement between TCL and BlackBerry will bring to the market? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Tony Stark, without a doubt, is a centerpiece in all Avengers installments. His brilliant mind, playboy character and adorable nutcase personality are one of the important elements of the films. However, a recent report about Iron man's evanescence from the upcoming "Avengers: Infinity Wars" film is brooding some fans.

Iron Man Out from "Avengers: Infinity Wars"?

There have been reports that the beloved Tony Stark will not appear in the new Avengers installment. According to Bustle, Iron Man's character has been taken out from the first part of the two-part "Avengers: Infinity Wars" movie. The source, however, assured that Iron Man will return come the second part of the movie.

Source also added that major characters such as Thor, Hulk, and Hawkeye are out from Part 1 too. But the other characters like Falcon, Vision, and War Machine will remain on the show. Well, this seems very odd because Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, and Iron Man are all major members of "The Avengers" and taking them out would certainly pull out a big chunk from the team. Is Iron Man really gone from the movie?

No! Iron Man Stays. RDJ Confirmed

Avengers 3: Infinity War Cast: Robert Downey, Jr. Returns as Iron Man - https://t.co/M0FHPuDda0  Incredibly Downey Jr (@IncrediblyRDJ) December 12, 2016



Originally, "Avengers: Infinity War" was planned to be a two-part film namely "Avengers: Infinity War" Part 1 and "Avengers: Infinity War" Part 2. However, Marvel revealed that Part 1 and Part 2 of the titles were removed and the first part is plainly titled "Avengers: Infinity War" while the second part remains untitled for now. Does this mean Iron Man isn't really going anywhere? Well, RDJ just got an answer for that.

According to Citizen Role, Robert Downey Jr. confirmed that he will be reprising his role as the Iron Man. This is going to be RDJ's ninth appearance as Tony Stark/Iron Man, as his eighth stint has already been made for another upcoming Marvel film "Spider-Man: Homecoming" for which he admired Tom Holland as an actor. In his interview with Jimmy Kimmel on "The Tonight Show", RDJ was asked if it was okay with him to have a British actor take Spidey's role. He said he was okay with it and that he likes Holland, dubbing him as a fantastic actor.

"Infinity Wars" will be a 9-month production, commencing in late 2016 and lasting until August or September 2017. With the confirmation from the actor himself, fans will still see more of Iron Man/Tony Stark in action. Apart from Spidey and Avengers, another Marvel movie is on its way with a big Groot revelation. Here is a report by Jobs & Hire.
It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the
Susan Abeles saga began in 2013 when she took time off to observe the last two days of Passover, just as she had done annually for the past 26 years. During those years, Abeles, an Orthodox Jew, worked for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), mainly as a data specialist. In 2013, the MWAA stunned Abeles by suddenly labeling her annual Passover time off as AWOL absenteeism. The MWAA slapped her with a five-day suspension without pay.

Shaken, Abeles saw the action as a clear infringement of her religious rights.

The last two days of the eight-day holiday are considered holy days to observant Jews. Abeles then took retirement rather than endure continued for what she termed harassment on account of her religious faith.

For years, Abeles was told to routinely schedule her religious days off via various ordinary direct means, including use of the official departmental Outlook calendar. In 2013, the MWAA required an advance verbal approval from Abeles immediate supervisor. Even though Abeles, as in prior years, provided her supervisors in advance a complete list of all days she would be out for religious holidays in 2013, her immediate supervisor was on leave the last work day prior to the end of Passover and not available to acknowledge the final submitted request. So Abeles did the next best thing: She sent an email reminder to both her supervisor and her supervisors supervisor. The ranking supervisor promptly acknowledged the reminder with a reply email stating thanks.

Despite these efforts, Abeles was still punished.

Abeles sued the Authority and her two supervisors in federal court. Famed Jewish civil rights attorneys Nathan Lewin and daughter Alyza Lewin took up her cause. Defending the MWAA and its supervisors is Morris Kletzkin of the Washington-D.C. firm Friedlander Misler, and other attorneys.

The lower court dismissed the case, asserting Abeles had been properly penalized. The Lewins appealed. On Dec. 8, the case was argued before the federal appeals court in Richmond. Abeles legal claim involves a 1973 amendment to the Civil Rights Act that requires private employers to make a reasonable accommodation for employees religious observances, as well as the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act. MWAA has contended that neither the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act provisions or its Virginia state equivalent apply to it even though it is a governmental body.

The Authoritys defense has revolved around the minutia of workplace process because Abeles had not followed precise verbal procedures in this instance. For its part, the MWAA openly took the position in prior filings that Abeles, despite her 26 years of loyal service, was a long-term, albeit mediocre, employee. By utilizing the years-long procedure of email and official Outlook calendar postings in 2013, and not verbally reminding her direct supervisor and getting oral approval, Abeles was guilty of insubordination, the defendants argued. The Authoritys brief even denigrated Abeles legal arguments as most bizarre.

The oral arguments in Richmond lasted about an hour. After much debate about arcane job procedures, an exasperated Nathan Lewin finally declared: Your Honor, Im an Orthodox Jew. When Ive worked for people, Ive given them a list of what the Jewish holidays are at the beginning of the year. And they know that means Im going to be out for those days. This is a phony response by [the company]saying we didnt know why you would be out. Of course, they knew why she was out. Everybody in the whole company knew that she was a Sabbath observer and for 26 years had been absent on Jewish holidays. She listed all the Jewish holidays at the beginning of the year. And, suddenly, to penalize her even though she has listed them and has notified her supervisors on the day before she was gone  we submit thats outrageous.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and several Jewish organizations filed amicus briefs on behalf of Abeles. Eric Rassbach, deputy general counsel of the Becket Fund, quipped, It takes some chutzpah for the government to punish a Jewish woman for celebrating Passover. It takes even more chutzpah to say that they are the only government agency in D.C. exempt from our civil rights laws.

Nathan Lewin commented that if needed, he might appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. This is the ultimate plain denial of religious observance by an employer. Abeles gave plenty of notice and she got ambushed by her employer. He added, If this case is not illegal, then no such case will be illegal.
With the end of 2016 just days away, victims of North Carolinas forced sterilization program have yet to receive their last payment  or the simply courtesy of a written update from the state. The lack of an update is shameful.

The state last gave the victims an update in June, and that letter only came after weeks of pushing by the Journal editorial board. The situation has changed little since then: The final payments are still being held up by appeals to the state Supreme Court by those who did not qualify for compensation. Then, as now, we urge the court to speed up its work.

And we call on the state to update the victims, several of whom have been asking our editorial board what the holdup is. Were happy to explain it to them. But we worry about all the victims who dont know to call us. The state, through its Industrial Commission and Department of Administration, should be updating all the victims.

The Journal revealed the programs brutal inner machinations 14 Decembers ago in the series Against Their Will. North Carolina ran one of the most aggressive sterilization program in the country from 1929 through 1974, rendering barren more than 7,600 men, women and children, deciding, on often shaky evidence, that they were mentally or physically unfit to reproduce. But victims we know who had a child before the state got to them have proved to be excellent parents, and their children have carved out successful careers, giving the lie to the state program.

The Journal editorial board, former state Rep. Larry Womble of Winston-Salem and former state House Speaker Thom Tillis pushed for reparations for the sterilization victims. Womble, a Democrat, and Tillis, a Republican, joined forces to right a wrong that Democrats had created and failed to correct. Theirs was a strong show of bipartisanship for the best of causes.

North Carolina got a lot right in 2013 when it became the first state in the nation to approve compensation for victims of forced sterilization. The first checks went out in the fall of 2014. A second check went out a year later. Since then, nothing has happened. The final check, which should bring the total compensation for each victim to more than $45,000, has yet to go out.

The money for the more than 200 qualified victims is there by law, part of a $10-million pool approved by the legislature and Gov. Pat McCrory. The victims we talk to, of modest means and haunted by mental and physical pains from their operations, are anxious about their final payments. After what the state did to them all those years ago, they, understandably, dont trust the government.

The states highest court must pick up the pace on the appeals. And the McCrory administration should give these victims the simple courtesy of an update letter. That would be only decent for these victims who were treated so indecently by the state.
BOB REAGAN, Winston-Salem

Stock market surge

Some of my friends have suggested the recent jump in the stock market is a result of President Obamas economic policies. It does seem rather ironic to me that it all began the morning of Nov. 9.

Regardless of the cause, lets just hope it continues.

******

CYNDI BRIGGS, Winston-Salem

Anothers rights

In response to the Dec. 15 letter Limited freedom of speech, in which the writer expressed concern about Democrats hypocritical behavior regarding freedom of speech, I would say to him: Im a Democrat and I am reaching across the aisle to shake your hand. I agree that freedom of speech should not include destruction of property nor harm to individuals. These behaviors are not in alignment with the spirit of our constitutional right. And I, too, experience offense at times in response to words I read or hear from people with differing viewpoints from my own.

However, this is a natural and expected consequence of living in a Republic such as ours where free speech is guaranteed.

Would I burn a flag? No. But I support anothers right to do so. Do I stand up for the national anthem? Every time. But I support my fellow Americans right to kneel.

Im sure we disagree on many issues. But I would, quite literally, lay down my life for your right to speak your mind, even if it caused me offense.

Free speech comes with the expectation that we will not always feel comfortable about what we hear. But if restrictions are placed on our right to express dissent, where does it end?

I dont want to live in a country that wont allow free expression of opinion, and I bet you dont either. So in response to your question, Aint America wonderful? I respond, Yes. Youre darn right it is.

******

REGGIE BRANSON, Winston-Salem

Mainstream media

As I try to talk to my conservative acquaintances about the fake news theyve fallen for, they say, Yeah, but look at the mainstream media, you cant believe them, either.

I look at the mainstream media, and theres no comparison.

Mainstream media dont make up quotes. They dont say that since President-elect Donald Trump and Donald Rumsfeld have the same first name, they must be plotting something. They dont say that pizza party means kiddie porn. They dont add two plus two and get orange.

Mainstream media  liberal media, for that matter  dont claim that Trump is running a child sex ring or Republicans are committing voter fraud by casting ballots in their pets names. If they did, we liberals would all laugh. We can usually tell the difference between truth and falsehood.

And Democratic officials arent re-tweeting conspiracy theories about steroids in soy milk or Republican legislators secretly attending KKK meetings. We understand that if it sounds ridiculous, it probably is ridiculous.

I also notice that conservatives who think theyre smart often dont even understand the difference between news reporting and opinion/commentary. They think Sean Hannity is a reporter, for Gods sake.

Conservatives abandoned reality a long time ago, and its anyones guess how it happened or how to bring them back. But until they do, Im not going to believe anything they say, especially Trump. Ill have to see some evidence first.

******

BUDDY OSBORNE, Winston-Salem

Politically correct

Ive about had enough of this.

What could be more politically correct than these sensitive little flowers with their delicate feelings insisting that everyone say Merry Christmas even if they dont celebrate Christmas?

Happy holidays, everyone.

When You Write

The Journal encourages readers comments. To participate in The Readers Forum, please submit letters online to Letters@wsjournal.com. Please write The Readers Forum in the subject line and include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number. Or you may mail letters to: The Readers Forum, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Letters are subject to editing and may be published on journalnow.com. Letters are limited to 250 words. Letter writers are allowed one letter every 30 days.

If you would like a photo of yourself included with your letter, send it to us as a .jpg file.

For more guidelines and advice on writing letters, go to journalnow.com/opinion/submit_a_letter.

The Journal welcomes original submissions for guest columns on local, regional and statewide topics. Essay length should not exceed 750 words. The writer should have some authority for writing about his or her subject. Our email address is: Letters@wsjournal.com. Essays may also be mailed to: The Readers Forum, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Please include your name and address and a daytime telephone number.
Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has confirmed that Italian ace Antonio Giovinazzi will be the Scuderias third and reserve driver from the 2017 Formula One season.

Following earlier reports, Marchionne made the announcement on Monday during Ferraris Christmas lunch. Giovinazzi starred in F1s official feeder series GP2 this year, claiming a season-best five wins to finish a close runner-up to Red Bull junior Pierre Gasly as a rookie.

The 23-year-old was already given a run in Ferraris F1 simulator last September after taking a popular win at his home round of Monza.

The Maranello-based outfit has been reluctant to promote young drivers, even from its own Academy. While Marchionne explains that Giovinazzi will not be fast-tracked to an F1 seat, he also feels the Italian racer has what it takes to compete in grand prix racing.

We are not taking Giovinazzi to emulate the example of Max Verstappen, who is quite unique, Marchionne was quoted as saying by La Gazetta dello Sport.

We take him on board because he is a very good driver and Ferrari needs young talents that are ready to enter F1.

Corriere dello sport reports that Giovinazzi will start a simulator programme in January.

The last Italian driver to have competed for Maranello in F1 was Giancarlo Fisichella over the final races of the 2009 season.

Italy has not had a representative in the top flight since 2011 and the likes of Jarno Trulli and Vitantonio Liuzzi left the sport.

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Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

Incoming President Trump has repeatedly pledged to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, and he just proposed the appointment of a Zionist supremacist as ambassador to Israel, who equates American Jews who oppose squatting on Palestinian land in the West Bank as collaborators with the Nazis.

Jerusalem is extremely important and holy (just after Mecca and Medina) to the worlds 1.6 billion Muslims.

One of the three major motivations for Usama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda to attack the United States in 2001 was the Israeli occupation of the Muslim parts of Jerusalem. (The other two were the US sanctions on Iraq in the 1990s that were thought to have killed 500,000 children, and the presence of US troops at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia).

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharons provocative demarche on the Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem in 2000 caused Bin Laden to try to move up the date of the planned attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., as punishment for Sharons implicit threat.

Bin Laden composed a poem for his sons wedding in Afghanistan in fall of 2001, The wound of Jerusalem is making me boil. Its suffering is making me burn from within. Bin Laden was a mass murderer and not a good Muslim, but his rage over Jerusalem is shared by many in the Muslim world.

Muslims ruled Jerusalem nearly 1200 years, much longer than did the monotheistic Jews of the Ezra tradition.

It is foreseeable that a unilateral US recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, and moving the US embassy there (US embassies are big buildings increasingly built like fortresses, and it will be quite visible) will provoke attacks on the United States by angry Muslims. While the US should not shy away from taking risks on matters of principle, in this case Israel and the US are in the wrong, legally and morally, so that were doing something unethical and also risking attacks because of it.

Israelis consider an undivided Jerusalem as their capital, and Trump wants to acquiesce in that view. Unfortunately for the Israelis, their position contradicts international law, and if brought to the International Criminal Court it would certainly result in the conviction of high Israeli officials on charges of genocide.

In the Sykes Picot agreement during WW I, Jerusalem was given to Russia. The Communists under Lenin later pulled out of this deal, and the British got Jerusalem and the Mandate of Palestine. Palestine was a Class A Mandate and the British expected it to become the independent state of Palestine around 1949. When instead massive immigration took place by European Jews fleeing Fascism, civil war broke out in 1947-48. The 500,000 Jewish immigrants expelled 60% percent of the over one million Palestinians from their homes and made these families homeless, stateless refugees ever after. The newly minted Israelis just moved into the Palestinians homes and farms, forever confiscating them.

In fall of 1947, the UN General Assembly proposed an extremely unfair division of Palestine, giving massive amounts of territory to the Jews, who owned only 6% of the land. This UNGA plan was only proposal and was never endorsed by the UN Security Council, the only body with authority. The Palestinians and other Arabs rejected the partition as grossly unfair. Although Zionist propagandists say that the Jewish immigrants accepted it, their leadership did no such thing. David Ben Gurion clearly wanted much more land than the UNGA had suggested, and his forces went on to grab extra land. In later years the Israelis would try to annex parts of Egypt and Lebanon, and in 1967 they militarily occupied part of Syria and all of the Palestinian West Bank.

The UN General Assembly did not suggest giving Israel all of Jerusalem, including the Palestinian East of the city, and it didnt have the authority to make such grants of territory in any case.. Nor did that part of the city become part of Israel in 1948. But the Israelis conquered it along with the rest of the West Bank in 1967. They then annexed all of Jerusalem and part of the West Bank, adding that territory to Israel. Although military occupation of territory during war time is not illegal, annexing territory by military conquest is definitely illegal. It is strictly forbidden in the UN Charter and subsequent treaties and instruments, including the Rome Statute that created the International Criminal Court. Moreover, military occupiers may not radically alter the lifeways of the people they occupy (1907 Hague Agreement, 1949 Geneva Accords). Israels occupation of the Palestinians has become illegal because of extensive Apartheid policies.

So, Palestinian East Jerusalem belongs to Israel only in the way that the French city of Nice belonged to Mussolini during WW II (he annexed French territory to Italy by military fiat).

What is curious is that most Americans do not know that Jerusalem was one of three planks in al-Qaedas anti-American platform. Even more curious is that the US responded to 9/11 by invading and occupying Iraq, making Muslims even more upset. (Incoming Secretary of Defense Gen. Mike Mattis invaded and destroyed Falluja in 2004; one of the insurgent groups there had modeled itself on Hamas in Palestinian Gaza, and fought US occupation as an analogy to the fight against Israeli occupation). Mattis later frankly admitted that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian West Bank is a severe security problem for the United States.

Now Trump is planning to ratchet up tensions even further.

The national security elites in Washington and Tel Aviv have dealt with Muslim anger over the impoverishment of the Palestinians and the Israeli threat to the Muslim holy places of Jerusalem by covering up these actions, denying them, obfuscating them, and then crushing any Muslims who dare complain about them.

They call this counter-terrorism policy. And theyve made it work for them in grabbing power, both in the world and at home, where they argue to us that the terrorism that they are helping provoke means we have to give up the Bill of Rights.



Related video:

Euronews: Trump picks hardline pro-settlement lawyer as ambassador to Israel
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Maa News Agency |  

BETHLEHEM (Maan)  Residents of the illegal settlement outpost of Amona in the central occupied West Bank voted on Sunday to approve a relocation plan put forward by the Israeli government, after weeks of discussions trying to assuage settler anger over the mandated evacuation of the outpost.

Israeli news outlet Haaretz reported that the settlers residing in Amona in the Ramallah district  an outpost considered illegal by both the Israeli government and the international community  had decided to accept an evacuation plan which would see the majority of them relocated to a nearby hilltop by Dec. 25 following a ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court stating that the outpost was illegally built on privately owned Palestinian land.

After 20 years of pioneering settlement, and against all odds, and after two years of struggle, we have decided to suspend our struggle, and take the governments offer to build 52 houses and public buildings in new Amona, Ynet quoted the Amona settlers as saying.

A week prior, several hundred ultra-religious right-wing Israelis set up camp in Amona in anticipation of the outposts impending evacuation, raising tensions over a potentially violent confrontation between the settlers and Israeli forces.

Amona settlers had rejected previous plans which would have seen only half of them relocated nearby, whereas the current agreement will reportedly see almost all of them staying in the area.

However, Israeli rights group Peace Now has noted that the plan would have the settlers relocate to land privately owned by Palestinians, stating that the Israeli government is replacing one land theft by another.

Meanwhile, Amona Rabbi Yair Frank warned that if the settlers deemed that the Israeli government was not fulfilling its part of the deal, we will not hesitate to renew the fight, Ynet reported, quoting the rabbi as saying that we have no doubts that well return to the whole mountain.

In a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated the Israeli governments goodwill and love for settlement in finding a solution that would satisfy the Amona settlers.

There has not been a government that showed more concern for settlement in the Land of Israel and no government will show more concern, Netanyahu told the cabinet.

Haaretz reported that the Israeli government was set to approve a budget amounting to 130 million shekels ($33.5 million) for the relocation, which will include compensation for the displaced settlers and the establishment of a new settlement near the illegal outpost of Shvut Rachel.

Opposition lawmaker Tzipi Livni was quoted by Haaretz as lamenting that the agreement reached on Sunday was a sign that the threat of violence works. What remains of Amona isnt Zionism, settlement or any other value  just that the Israeli government caves to strongmen.

Meanwhile, Ynet reported that the head of the Binyamin settlement regional council, Yossi Dagan, bemoaned the forced displacement of Amona, claiming that such procedures would never have happened to the Bedouin in the Negev or any other population  a statement which completely disregarded Israeli authorities policy of wide-scale demolition of Bedouin villages in the Negev and of Palestinian homes and buildings in Area C of the West Bank.

While the settler outposts constructed in Palestinian territory are considered illegal by the Israeli government, each of the some 196 government-approved Israeli settlements scattered across the West Bank are also built in direct violation of international law.

Members of the international community have rested the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the discontinuation of illegal Israeli settlements and the establishment of a two-state solution, however Israeli leaders have instead shifted farther to the right, as many Knesset members have called for an escalation of settlement building in the occupied West Bank, and some have advocated for its complete annexation.

A number of Palestinian activists have criticized the two-state solution as unsustainable and unlikely to bring durable peace, proposing instead a binational state with equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians.

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By Jeffrey Rudolph | ( Detailed Political Quizzes ) |  

As Israels myriad human rights abuses and contraventions of international law have become impossible to deny, one argument that apologists for Israel routinely fall back on is: While Israel has engaged in human rights and other abuses, other countries commit far worse abuses. Therefore, it is wrong  and possibly indicative of anti-Semitism  to focus excessively on Israels wrongs.

As someone who has worked at information tables dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the following is my systematic response to this fallback argument.

1. It is true that Israel is not, and has never been, the worst human rights abuser in the world.



Vladimir Jabotinsky, a founder of the far right Likud Party

2. It is not true, however, that the main human rights groups focus primarily on Israel. Human rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International focus their attention and campaigns on abuses in many different countries, and only a small percentage of their work focuses on the Middle East and Israel. In fact, Most human rights organizations and international bodies, including the UN, do routinely condemn Palestinian acts of terror. http://www.supportisraelfreepalestine.org/documentary_site/Israel_singled_out.html

3. While many states domestic human rights record is far worse than Israels, there are not many states whose human rights record in occupied territories is far worse than Israels. And, needless to say, violations of human rights should be opposed regardless if they take place within a countrys internationally-recognized borders or in an illegally occupied territory.

[T]here are only three countries that are engaged in what the United Nations and the international community recognize as a foreign belligerent occupation: Israel [which occupies the Golan Heights, West Bank (including East Jerusalem), and the Gaza Strip], Morocco [which occupies the Western Sahara], and Armenia [which occupies a small portion of Azerbaijan]. http://fpif.org/divesting_from_all_occupations/

Sixty-four countries currently recognize the right of self-determination of the Sahrawi people [of Western Sahara], but absent from this list are the United States and Israel [both of which are on good terms with Morocco]. Thus, the two governments that most vociferously complain that Israel has been singled out for criticism have been rather muted in their condemnation of other occupations. http://www.wpunj.edu/cohss/departments/pol_sci/faculty/shalom/anti-semitism-and-the-israel-palestine-conflict.dot

4. [W]hile some anti-Semites do choose to single out Israel for criticism, that doesnt mean that the majority of criticism of Israel is therefore motivated by anti-Semitism. Likewise, that some criticism directed at Saudi Arabia is motivated by Islamophobia, is no reason to stop criticizing the many human rights abuses committed by Saudi Arabia.

When international human rights activists pursued a boycott campaign against South Africa for its apartheid policies, they were accused of unfairly singling out South Africa by the white South African apartheid regime and [its] closest supporters. Few people argued, however, that supporting a boycott of South Africa indicated a special or unique hatred of white South Africans [or of white Protestants]. http://www.supportisraelfreepalestine.org/documentary_site/Israel_singled_out.html

The simple fact that many Jews  including Israeli security professionals  criticize Israels illegal behavior makes it absurd to automatically label critics of Israel as anti-Semites. For example, in 2016, A group of more than 200 [former Israeli] military and intelligence officials criticized [their] government for a lack of action in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflictand issued a detailed plan they say can end the impasse. The groups chairman, [former IDF general] Amnon Reshef,warned the current status quo is an illusion that endangers a two-state solutionIn our experience we know that you cannot defeat terror only by military means, you have to improve the Palestinians quality of life, he said.

https://detailedpoliticalquizzes.wordpress.com/israel-palestine-quiz/

5. It is a fundamental moral principle that we are responsible for the reasonably foreseeable consequences of our actions. Therefore, while it may be satisfying for an American to criticize China for its poor human rights record, Americans are not responsible for those abuses. However, Americans, due to their countrys extensive financial, diplomatic and military support of Israel, are responsible for Israels human rights abuses. Accordingly, Americans should be more concerned with Israels abuses than with Chinas. While every abused person is a tragedy, Americans have the responsibility and power to prevent or correct some of those tragedies.

[T]here were two horrible atrocities in 1982 in the Middle East: Israels invasion of Lebanon and Syrias massacre in the city of Hama. But Israel was significantly armed by the United States. It was given diplomatic backing by the United States. So its appropriate for Americans to be critical of crimes for which they bear some significant responsibility and which they could stop. Syria, on the other hand, was not armed by Washington. The artillery shells that fell on Hama, unlike the cluster bombs that fell on Lebanon, were not made in the United States. The United States did not run interference for Syria in the UN. Americans bore little responsibility for the destruction of Hama and could do little to stop it. http://www.wpunj.edu/cohss/departments/pol_sci/faculty/shalom/anti-semitism-and-the-israel-palestine-conflict.dot

In the wake of Israels massive assault on heavily populated civilian areas of the Gaza Strip [in 2008/9], Amnesty International called for the United States to suspend military aid to Israel on human rights grounds. Amnesty has also called for the United Nations to impose a mandatory arms embargo on both Hamas and the Israeli government.[A]mnesty documented Israeli forces engaging in direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects in Gaza, and attacks which were disproportionate or indiscriminate. Israeli forces used white phosphorus and other weapons supplied by the US to carry out serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes. [And] fragments of US-made munitions [were found on] school playgrounds, in hospitals and in peoples homes. http://truth-out.org/archive/component/k2/item/92786:new-arms-deal-to-israel-stokes-militarism

Despite Israels ongoing US-enabled abuses and increasing dominance in the region, US military aid to Israel only keeps rising. In 2016, the US and Israel signed a new 10-year military-assistance deal [totaling $38 billion which represents] the single largest pledge of its kind in American history. https://detailedpoliticalquizzes.wordpress.com/hezbollah-quiz/

6. Israel does attract disproportionate attention from the United Nations for its many contraventions of international law. In fact, Israel has been condemned and censured by the Security Council more than any other country for its occupation, annexations, military actions, etc. However, Israel has not received disproportionate sanction, because every time Israel has been singled out for censure by the UN,Israel has also been singled out by the protection of US vetoes in the UN Security Council. Therefore, while countries such as Portugal, South Africa, Iraq, Serbia and Iran have had UN sanctions imposed on them for breaching international law, Israel has benefited from a double standard. Indeed, the international community has permitted Israel to conduct aggressive military actions, ignore UN resolutions, and continue policies that wouldnt be tolerated for other countries.

When Saddam Hussein flouted UN resolutions and international laws [by invading and occupying Kuwait in 1990/1, US-led coalition forces responded militarily] with full UN support. When Iran was suspected of breaking the NPT, it suffered harsh international sanctions. http://www.supportisraelfreepalestine.org/documentary_site/Israel_singled_out.html

Furthermore, the West has bypassed the UN to punish offending countries. Economic sanctions were imposed on Russia because of its 2014 invasion and annexation of Crimea. (And while the majority of Crimeans welcomed Russias illegal action, virtually no Palestinians support Israels illegal occupation.) When Slobodan Milosevic and Serbia carried out ethnic cleansing of Kosovar Muslims in the late 1990s, the US and NATO bombed Serbia and sent troops to the region.

There are currently many countries under various types of sanctions imposed by the US, EU, individual European countries and the UN Security Council. One country, however, is conspicuously absent from those sanctionedIsrael. (US Treasury Department Sanctions Programs and Country Information:

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/Programs.aspx;

EU Sanctions, Countries List:

http://www.bscn.nl/sanctions-consulting/sanctions-list-countries;

UN Security Council Sanctions Committees:

https://www.un.org/sc/suborg/en/sanctions/un-sc-consolidated-list)

7. Government sanctions are far more effective than individual or institutional actions to change the behavior of governments. For example, in 1986 Congress overturned President Reagans veto to adopt the Comprehensive anti-Apartheid Act of 1986. It resulted in the US government imposing dozens of tough sanctions on South Africa that soon played a major role in ending legal apartheid in that country. (US government sanctions also played an important part in persuading Iran to agree to the July 2015 nuclear deal.)

Accordingly, US government sanctions directed at Israel would dramatically change the political dynamic of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Once implemented, the United States would scale back the diplomatic, financial, military, and intelligence support that has enabled [nearly five decades] of Israeli military occupationIt would also end the US governments resupplying of Israel with arms used against civilians in the midst of war and shielding Israel from political and humanitarian accountability at international forums. http://mondoweiss.net/2015/07/government-sanctions-israel/

It is worth remembering that it was President Eisenhowers serious diplomatic pressure and threats of economic sanctions that finally forced Israel to withdraw from Gaza in 1957, following the Suez War. https://detailedpoliticalquizzes.wordpress.com/hamas-quiz/

8. [A] legitimate basis for criticism of Israel is the contradiction between its stated values as a democratic society and its oppressive policies, much in the same way that the United States was rightly criticized for racist and hypocritical policies against its African American population in the past. [As Israel benefits in many ways by being considered part of the democratic West,] international critics are holding Israel accountable for not abiding by the very values it claims to stand for. Even Israels own High Court has rejected many of its governments policies as illegal. http://www.supportisraelfreepalestine.org/documentary_site/Israel_singled_out.html

9. Everybody involved in US foreign policy and security knows that aggressive Israeli colonization of the Palestinian West Bank and siege of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip is a major cause of terrorism against the United States, since Washington is blamed for it, and is a major security problem because it makes the US a pariah in the Muslim world. One of the reasons Usama Bin Laden gave for attacking the US was the Israeli mistreatment of stateless Palestinians https://www.juancole.com/2016/12/occupation-apartheid-blackballing.html

The following are the 2013 words of General James Mattis, former head of US Central Command and President-elect Donald Trumps pick as Secretary of Defense: We have got to find a way to make the two-state-solution [a reality]. And the chances for itare starting to ebb because the settlements and where theyre at are going to make it impossibleAnd I paid a military-security price every day as the commander of CENTCOM because the Americans were seen as biased in support of Israel, andall the moderate Arabs who want to be with uscant come out publicly in support of people who dont show respect for thePalestinians. https://detailedpoliticalquizzes.wordpress.com/terrorism-quiz/

10. Anti-Semitism is one of the worlds foulest ideologies. But if we want to minimize it, then instead of attacking those who criticize Israels abuses, it would be far more effective to join those critics in urging Israel  which calls itself the state of the Jewish people  to end its abusive policies. http://www.wpunj.edu/cohss/departments/pol_sci/faculty/shalom/anti-semitism-and-the-israel-palestine-conflict.dot

As painful as it is for Jews to admit that race hatred can take root among a people that has suffered so profoundly from it, the ground truth is this: occupying another people requires racism, and breeds it. It is very difficult to work day after day at a checkpoint, making miserable people bake in the sun, or to blow up a familys house as they watch, or to cut off water to a village in the Jordan Valley because Palestinians are barred from living in most of that section of the West Bank, and still see the people you are dominating as fully human. Jews and others should not hesitate to denounce such racist behavior as people should distinguish between supporting the State of Israel and supporting whoever happens to be in the current, transitory government of Israel. https://detailedpoliticalquizzes.wordpress.com/israel-palestine-quiz/

Jeffrey Rudolph was the Quebec representative of the East Timor Alert Network and presented a paper on its behalf at the United Nations. He was awarded the prestigious Cheryl Rosa Teresa Doran Prize upon graduation from McGill Universitys faculty of law; has worked at one of the worlds largest public accounting firms; and, has taught at McGill University. He has prepared widely-distributed quizzes on Israel-Palestine, Iran, Hamas, Terrorism, Saudi Arabia, US Inequality, the US Christian Right, Hezbollah, the Israeli Ultra-Orthodox, Qatar, and China. These quizzes are available at: https://detailedpoliticalquizzes.wordpress.com/

Via Detailed Political Quizzes
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By Jon Queally, staff writer | Commondreams.org |  

Leaked documents show Trumps nominee for Secretary of State is director of subsidiary based in Bahamas

Documents leaked to a German newspaper reveal that ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be the next Secretary of State, has been the quiet director of a U.S.-Russian oil firm registered in the Bahamas, one of the worlds key tax havens.

According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which received the documents from the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper in Germany, registration papers show Tillerson was appointed in 1998 as a director of Exxon Neftegas, an ExxonMobil subsidiary involved in oil and gas operations in Russia.

The document is not new, though it was not reported on before Sunday, and is among more than 12 million leaked files that were provided anonymously to Suddeutsche Zeitung and then shared with ICIJ, resulting in the Panama Papers and Bahamas Leaks investigations.

ICIJ reports:

The document highlights Tillersons business dealings with Russia, which have drawn new attention as he prepares to face confirmation hearings before the U.S. Senate. Under Tillersons leadership, Exxon Neftegas managed a major oil and gas project near the island of Sakhalin in Russias Far East. After Tillerson was promoted to CEO of ExxonMobil, the oil giant launched a partnership to search for new reserves in the Arctic with Rosneft, a Russian state-owned company . . .

Though there is nothing technically untoward about Tillersons involvement with this off-shore subsidiary, as the Guardians reporting notes, the revelation is likely to raise fresh questions over Tillersons relationship with Russia ahead of a potentially stormy confirmation hearing by the US senate foreign relations committee.

In response to the revelations, Duncan Meisel, an organizer with the climate action group 350.org, used his personal Twitter account to offer one explanation as to why Tillerson might be heads one of the worlds most maligned oil companies while also running a Russian-affiliated subsidiary based in a notorious tax haven:

Rex Tillerson also runs a Russian oil company based in a Bahamas tax shelter. Because hes a supervillain. https://t.co/6vTKNXIpsJ  Duncan Meisel (@duncanwrites) December 18, 2016
Apple [corporate website] on Monday launched a legal challenge to a $14 billion tax penalty that the EU has levied against the company. The EU claimed in August that Apple took advantage of illegal state aid from Ireland, where Apple has its European Headquarters, and ordered the company to repay up to 13 billion euros. Apple claims [Reuters report] it was a convenient target for the EU because of the headlines the company generates and that the companys success caused it to be singled out.

Last month the Irish government announced [JURIST report] that it would submit its appeal within the week against the European Commissions demand that Apple pay back-taxes. In September Irish lawmakers voted to appeal the ruling [JURIST report] that would entitle the country to almost $15 billion of unpaid taxes from Apple. Finance Minister Michael Noonan [official profile] said that talks between the Fine Gael party and the Independent Alliance determined that allowing the ruling to stand could hurt Irelands ability to attract foreign investments in the future. Enda Kenny, Prime Minister of the Republic, gave an interview [transcript] detailing how he is confident that the appeal will succeed because tax issues are a matter for each sovereign to decide, not the European Commission. Apple pays from almost 0-1 percent taxes on its profits in Ireland and the European Commission is claiming that the tech giant illegally funded profits through its Ireland headquarters to avoid higher tax payments.
An Israeli parole board ruled Sunday that former president Moshe Katsav [official profile] will be released after serving five years of his seven-year sentence [JURIST report] for rape. After failing [NYT report] earlier this year to gain release, Katsav is to be released next week. Over the term of his imprisonment, Katsav was subject to fewer restrictions, including several day-long release passes [JURIST report].

Katsav, who served in the largely ceremonial role of president of Israel from 2000 to 2007, was first accused [JURIST report] of rape and sexual harassment in 2006. Though a prominent politician throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, Katsavs career ended abruptly after multiple women accused him of rape in the 2006 allegations. After resigning his position in 2007, Katsav was indicted in 2009 [JURIST report], convicted [JURIST report] in 2010 and imprisoned in 2011 after the Supreme Court of Israel rejected his appeal [JURIST report].
Christine Lagarde, current head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) [official website], was found negligent by a special French court Monday in her handling of a long-running fraud case involving a USD $400 million payment to French businessman and Nicolas Sarkozy supporter Bernard Tapie during her time as Frances finance minister. Lagarde will not be fined or imprisoned as a result of the verdict, and IMF spokespersons will meet shortly [press release] to discuss the verdict and how the IMF will proceed.

In July Lagarde was was ordered by a French court to face criminal trial [JURIST report] for her negligence in facilitating the government payout to Tapie. Lagarde was accused of allowing Tapies case to be decided upon by an arbitration panel, as opposed to the courts, during her time as Frances Finance Minister under then president Sarkozy. In 2011 a French court had ordered [JURIST report] a formal investigation into Lagardes involvement in Tapies arbitration agreement [BBC backgrounder]. Tapie had initially sued France for compensation after he claims a state-owned bank, Credit Lyonnais, defrauded him and sold his stock in Adidas at a much higher value. While Tapie had initially won a $400 million settlement through the arbitration, that decision was overturned and he has since been ordered to reimburse the state. Tapie has appealed the decision and the case is still pending.
[JURIST] An Iraqi militia, backed by the government, executed four men suspected of having ties to the Islamic State (IS), Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] reported on Sunday. Because the men were never tried, HRW claims their executions constitute war crimes [HRW report]. The human rights organization said that although the executions took place in November, the Iraqi government has still not condemned them. It also reported that members of the Iraqi Security Forces witnessed at least one execution and did nothing. The men were killed in a village outside of Mosul during the militias operation to retake [AP report] that city. HRW named the Hashad al-Jabour militia, a group made up of Sunni tribes, as the organization that carried out the executions. Hashad al-Jabour is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a militia group given legal status to fight IS.

The battle against IS wages on, simultaneously creating human rights and policy concerns. In November Iraq voted [JURIST report] to give the Popular Mobilization Forces legal status to fight IS. IS has used chemical weapons more than 52 times in Syria and Iraq since 2014, according to a report released [JURIST report] in November by London-based analytical group IHS Markit. Shortly before, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein called for [JURIST report] immediate action for the victims of IS, to ensure their rights are upheld in Iraq. HRW urged [JURIST report] Iraqi military commanders to prevent historically abusive militias from participating in the campaign to retake Mosul from the Islamic State in July.
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Less than three months after securing investment from the founders of the Innocent Drinks smoothies, UK popcorn maker Propercorn has added to its list of export markets and is also expanding its portfolio. As Propercorn prepares to enter its sixth year of operations, John Shepherd caught up with Propercorn co-founder Ryan Kohn to find out what the next moves ahead for the company might be.

Propercorn co-founders Ryan Kohn and Cassandra Stavrou had resisted many a tempting business proposal before agreeing earlier this year to investment from JamJar Investments, the vehicle of the founders of UK smoothie brand Innocent Drinks, and Piper Private Equity.

Kohn says the pair had been approached pretty much on a weekly basis over the past few years by investors eager for a large slice of Propercorn. However, Kohn says he and Stavrou wanted to keep control of the business. We were not tempted because we are not like that. Some wanted more control with their investment, but we wanted to keep our equity and keep growing our business into a really wonderful worldwide brand, Kohn says.

But, Kohn explains, with the men behind Innocent, it was different. Weve had a really good relationship for quite a while now with the Innocent guys, says Kohn, pointing out the team behind Innocent first expressed an interest in Propercorn quite a while ago.

Kohn adds: They never have an appetite to take control of a business. The investment vehicle holds a 25% stake in Propercorn and sees the value in trying to invest in really good management teams, which Propercorn has, Kohn says.

Under the terms of the deal with JamJar, one of Innocents founders, Adam Balon, became chairman of Propercorn. What that means in terms of the difference it makes to our business is there is now a continual focus on our strategy and what decisions need to be made strategically, Kohn says. Having Adam there gives us more experience and focus.

However, Kohn admits there are likely to be some tough times ahead for Propercorn in a competitive market. The market is challenging in as much as we are still growing and there are some big players who have entered the market, he says. We still seem to be winning and growing, but we want to make sure that we keep gaining market share. It is a very competitive market we are in. There are a lot of great companies out there, but we are confident in our ability and confident in our product and especially so with our new-found investors.

Propercorn is on course to turn in sales of around GBP15m (US$18.6m) by the end of this year, some 12% of which is the result of international sales. Kohn says the companys goal is for total sales to be north of GBP30m by the end of January 2019. The way we have been running our business is that we simply aim to grow. We are very ambitious. We want to start becoming a household name and be recognised not just in the UK but across Europe. So all of the money we do make we invest back into the business and into our relationships with our key customers.

Propercorn products are sold in around ten countries including the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Denmark.

In October, Propercorn added Sweden and Norway to its roster under a deal with Sweden-based confectionery supplier Candyking. Kohn says Propercorns Nordic push is enough for now. We would much rather be in fewer markets and do them properly and really build our brand, he says. When we feel a market is secure then we can move onto the next one, thats our approach.

Product development is another strayegy Propercorn is following to grow its business. In September, the company launched a half-popped corn snack Crunch Corn.

One of the reasons we took on the JamJar investment was to really get behind Crunch Corn, Kohn says. It is a genuine innovation in that it is only made in one place in the world [the US] and we have the exclusive rights for the whole of Europe. Its texture is a bit like a nut, but is nut-free and gluten-free. We now want to solidify that product in the market, while keep winning the popcorn battle and then start focusing on further building our international trade.

Propercorn does not modify its products for international markets, other than the packaging for different languages, but Kohn says that could change in future. One thing we will consider is whether to introduce country-specific flavours. If there is a really popular flavour in a country, we should think about whether we use and develop that, because there are so many different tastes and cultures. It would be naive to think that what works in the UK can work everywhere.

In terms of product development, the company holds quarterly meetings of its product focus team and forums to look specifically at flavours and innovations in products, but Kohn says Propercorn wont innovate for the sake of it, unless we genuinely believe that something will be the best in its category or be the best it could be.

Thats why Crunch Corn was interesting for us, because it was completely different and really added some innovation to the nuts category even though its not a nut. It allows us to play in some slightly different sectors.

In terms of the potential market for new products, Kohn says there is plenty of headroom in the UK alone. The crisps market has a penetration in the UK of over 90% while popcorn sits at around 45%  so there is room for us to grow. On frequency of purchase too, popcorn is still only about a quarter that of crisps, he adds.

Meanwhile, Kohn says Propercorn is continuing work to shed the image of popcorn as being a snack that is largely the preserve of cinema goers. There is nothing wrong with that, but this is an area where we are really trying to change peoples eating habits, says Kohn. When we launched our brand we were very conscious of trying to make it a snack that was available on the high street, so we launched in the single-serve bags and made sure we got them into lots of quick foodservice places.

Kohn says that has helped change the perception of popcorn from being something that you have at the cinema or take home and eat in front of the television but he admits there is still work to do. Popcorn is so well entrenched in the cinema world that people only think of popcorn as a snack when they go to the cinema.

Nonetheless, Propercorn is trying to expand its presence in cinemas. At the moment we are in more of the sort of art-house cinemas, where even if they already sell other popcorn, it is nice they can also offer our product as a premium option.

Among the issues the UK food industry is wrestling with at the moment is the countrys decision to leave the EU. For companies the size of Propercorn, Brexit could have a profound impact. Kohn says as a business Propercorn wanted the UK to stay in the EU but he is now looking forward.

We were in the remain campaign as a business, Kohn says. For example, a weak pound means our customers abroad potentially pushing us on prices. Raw materials will affect us to a certain extent because we do source certain products from the continent. But with things like corn you are paying in advance, so for the next year at least weve already been locked in on our price, but with a weakened pound that might change. But it is what it is, so lets make the best of it. We are now looking for guidance from the government as to whats next and how to make the best of the situation. Of course there are going to be some tensions, but we have to listen to what the country said and I am now focused on taking the next steps forward.
China-based company DaChan Food (Asia) is to set up two plants in the north of the country to support its processed food business.

Free Report Whats the forecast for the food and grocery industry? Market drivers and inhibitors

Five-year forecasts and the impact of COVID-19

The performance of the online channel versus offline

Major trends in the market including rapid delivery, ambient retailing, supply chain disruption, and inflation Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. The food and grocery sector thrived during the pandemic, largely due to the shutdown of the food service industry and the sectors subsequent necessity, panic-induced bulk purchasing, and spending more time at home. The market has grown as a result of inflation. Consumer unwillingness to go out and socialize, and the reopening of several hospitality facilities, helped maintain the demand for groceries, particularly online, in 2021. As consumer behavior changes, we consume more food and drink at home, and inflation increases basket sizes. GlobalData predicts that the sector will continue to hold a higher share than had been predicted prior to the pandemic. This is true despite the fact that the food and grocery sector's share of overall retail will decline from its peak in 2020. This report will discuss market forecasts and key themes in the global food & grocery industry in 2022 and beyond. It covers:Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. by GlobalData Enter your details here to receive your free Report. Please enter a work/business email address Country United Kingdom United States Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, The Democratic Republic of The Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote D"ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People"s Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People"s Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Timor-leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Download free Report By clicking the Download Free Report button, you accept the terms and conditions and acknowledge that your data will be used as described in the GlobalData privacy policy By downloading this Report, you acknowledge that we may share your information with our white paper partners/sponsors who may contact you directly with information on their products and services.



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DaChan Food, which claims to be the largest chicken processor in China by number of chickens slaughtered, said its existing plants do not have enough capacity to meet demand for its processed food.

The companys operations include chicken meat production, through which it claims to be the largest chicken meat supplier to KFC in China. DaChans processed food arm sells products including chicken, pork, fish and vegetables.

At present, DaChan Foods production network includes four processed food production facilities in China. The new sites will be in and around Bengbu, a city in the northern Chinese province of Anhui.

One of the new facilities will be set up through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Bengbu DaChan Food Co., with an investment of CNY200m (US$28.7m).

The other site will be established through Bengbu Taixu & DaChan, in which DaChan Food owns a stake. DaChan Food will put CNY80m into the project.

DaChan Food said the two plants would lead to a doubling in the production capacity  and sales  of its processed food.

The company said the move would help the business be in a more competitive position in markets which have higher consumption power and larger market scales, such as the east China, central China, south China and south-west China markets.

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Bail-in is foreseen for eurobonds of PrivatBank (Dnipro). The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) is considering them as the funds affiliated with former owners of the bank, Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk has said.

"According to the NBU's proposal, bail-in is foreseen for eurobonds. Then we will act. They are considered as affiliated bonds," Danyliuik said at a briefing on Monday.

NBU Governor Valeriya Gontareva said that according to the law on the Deposit Guarantee Fund, the NBU is obliged to send the proposal to nationalize the bank to the government, taking into account all so-called funds for which bail-in is foreseen  the funds affiliated with shareholders and the unburdened funds that are not deposit or current accounts.

"The gap is UAH 148 billion. We proposed to the Finance Ministry to additionally capitalize the bank for UAH 116 billion, as we proposed UAH 32 billion as the unburdened liabilities of PrivatBank for bail-in," Gontareva said, adding that bail-in implies conversion of the unburdened liabilities, first of all those affiliated with shareholders, to the bank's capital.

Danyliuk said that all liabilities will be determined after the bank's audit.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has taken part in forming a new team of top managers of PrivatBank (Dnipro), Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

"A new professional group of specialists has been hired to manage the bank. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development took part in the process," the president said on Monday in his video address commenting on the transfer of PrivatBank to state ownership.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President Federica Mogherini has said that the nationalization of PrivatBank ensures that all Ukrainian banks meet the same regulatory standards.

Mogherini said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Economic Development and Trade Minister Stepan Kubiv in Brussels on Monday that the efforts of the PM, the president and the government are bold steps to restore confidence in the financial sector by nationalizing PrivatBank. She said this should help to ensure that all banks in Ukraine meet the same regulatory standards, and will make the banking sector more stable.
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has approved amendments to the financial plan of state-run enterprise Boryspil International Airport for 2016 in resolution No. 963-r dated December 14, 2016.

According to an explanatory note to the resolution, the new plan says that net sales revenue will total UAH 2.923 billion and this is UAH 188.3 million more than it is outlined in the previous plan.

It is planned to send UAH 923 million to the national budget and targeted funds, and this is UAH 57.1 million more than in the previous plan.

"The decision would help to stabilize the financial state of the state-run enterprise, create proper conditions for bringing passenger and aircraft services to the certain level of quality and create conditions for further development of the enterprise," the document says.

Earlier the airport said that the government approved some top priority airport development projects among which is the completion of a multi-level parking area and the increase of wages for the airport's employees.

The decision to adjust the financial plan was made by the airport's top managers after the results of H1 2016. The airport's performance figures considerably exceeded the financial target.

Boryspil seeks to start design works to complete a wing of the multi-level parking area for 1,000 parking lots by the end of the year. Some UAH 100 million will be provided for the implementation of the project. The facility is to be launched by late summer 2017.

The Boryspil airport recalled that the issue with returning the funds from Finbank of the construction company that started building the parking area. Despite the court rulings favoring the airport, the Boryspil airport has failed to return the funds. The airport's top managers hope that law enforcement and supervision agencies would help to execute the court rulings.

The airport would also increase wages of the airport's employees by 30%. Earlier wages grew by 50% less than in one year.

"Important construction works and additional growth of wages will be secured thanks to the company's profit above the target, being over UAH 800 million," the press service said.

Boryspil airport services over 68% of passenger transportation in Ukraine. It is the only airport in the country servicing long-haul flights. Over 50 airlines fly from the airport on more than 100 routes worldwide.
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde has welcomed the decision of the Ukrainian government and the National Bank of Ukraine on the nationalization of PrivatBank, the largest bank in the country, as it is an important step to ensure financial stability.

"Today's decision of Ukrainian authorities to nationalize PrivatBank is an important step in their efforts to safeguard financial stability. This decision was taken to ensure the smooth operations of the bank given its systemic role in Ukraine's financial system, and in view of insufficient efforts to strengthen its capital adequacy in recent months," she said.

"Ensuring that all banks operating in Ukraine meet capital and regulatory requirements is essential to maintain public confidence in the banking system and reinforce the banks' ability to support productive activities necessary for the prosperity of the Ukrainian people," the banker said.

As reported, the government on the initiative of the National Bank and PrivatBank shareholders on December 18 made the decision on the nationalization of the financial institution: the state will obtain 100% of the bank capital, while the issue of government domestic loan bonds for this purpose is estimated at UAH 116.8-148 billion.
KEARNEY  Seth Van Horn set records this weekend not only raising money for Cop on Top in the shortest amount of time, but during the coldest weather in recent years.

Within 20 hours of ascending Walmart Supercenter at 5411 Second Ave., Van Horn had reached his goal of raising $6,000. Before taking his perch on the roof, he already had raised nearly $2,250.

This was by far the coldest year Ive done it, Van Horn said.

So cold, that at one point he couldnt feel his feet, despite being well bundled for the elements. The temperature Friday when Van Horn went on the roof was 25 degrees. But the temperature plummeted to 8 below zero by the time he came down.

I felt like I was walking around with no feet, they were so cold, he said.

Van Horn thanked members of the public and area businesses for donating to the Cop on Top program. Funds raised will go directly to Special Olympics Nebraska to help fund events and competitions.

Van Horn was put on top of the roof, and taken down, with the help of his younger brother Eric Van Horn and one of the Kearney Volunteer Fire Departments ladder trucks. Eric Van Horn is a lieutenant with KVFD, while Van Horn and his father, Rob, are both retired members.

Anyone still wanting to donate to the Cop on Top program can mail or drop off donations in care of Van Horn at the Kearney/Buffalo County Law Enforcement Center at 2025 Ave. A, Kearney, NE, 68847.

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Buhari, Shekau named among worlds most powerful Muslims



President Muhammadu Buhari has been included among the top 50 most influential Muslim leaders in the world.

According to the 2017 edition of The Muslim500, Buhari is the 17th most powerful Muslim in 2016. The Nigerian leader finished 20th last year.

Two other Nigerians make the top 50 list.

They are the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III and Borno State-based cleric, Sheik Ibrahim Saleh.

Africas richest man, Aliko Dangote and Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau are also included in the top 500.

The publication also claimed there were 1.7billion Muslims all over the world  approximately 23% of the worlds population.

The Muslim500 hailed Buhari and others, for their their influence on cultural, ideological, financial and political activities.



Commercial bus driver allegedly shot dead by police officers in Lagos

A commercial bus driver was allegedly shot dead by some police officers at 1004 gate along the Lekki-Epe Expressway on Friday. Facebook user, Christiana Ekpiken who shared the graphic photos from the incident, wrote; This horrible scenario happened yesterday 16th of December along 1004 lekki express Road, Lagos. He was shot by a police officer in a patrol van chasing after him, probably because the driver didnt stop while being chased.

The said driver was harmless carrying passengers yet he was shot by the police officer and immediately the officer noticed his death,He ran away with his team and caused serious accident with other nearby vehicles.(Eye witness said) This is a shame and disgrace to the NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE FOR HAVING OFFICERS WHO LACK DISCIPLINE, STUPID TEMPERAMENTS AND INABILITY TO APPREHEND SITUATIONS PROFESSIONALLY.

Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi and wife bag chieftaincy titles

Governor of Oyo state, Abiola Ajimobi and his wife Florence, were on Friday conferred the title, the Aare and Yeye Aare of Ibadan by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji (Aje Oguguniso 1). The chieftaincy was conferred on the state governor to mark his 67th birthday. Nobody forced me to concede defeat in 2015 presidential election  Goodluck Jonathan



It is my belief that no ones political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. And I am fulfilled knowing that my conceding while the votes were still being compiled, which was born out of my personal principles and convictions, is generating positive impact in other nations. Let me make it clear, that I was not persuaded to do so by anyone within or outside the country. I know it was the right thing to do. My mantra my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian is my vow. It was not just a political slogan. One of the reason I convened the 2014 National Conference was to come up with a polity devoid of tension and crisis. A polity that will bring unity to this country. A polity that will not divide us along tribal, ethnic or religious lines he said Former President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday disclosed that he was neither persuaded nor forced to concede defeat to President Buhari after the 2015 presidential election. Jonathan said this when he spoke at the convocation ceremony of Bingham University, Nassarawa state where he was awarded a honorary doctorate degree.It is my belief that no ones political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. And I am fulfilled knowing that my conceding while the votes were still being compiled, which was born out of my personal principles and convictions, is generating positive impact in other nations. Let me make it clear, that I was not persuaded to do so by anyone within or outside the country. I know it was the right thing to do. My mantra my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian is my vow. It was not just a political slogan. One of the reason I convened the 2014 National Conference was to come up with a polity devoid of tension and crisis. A polity that will bring unity to this country. A polity that will not divide us along tribal, ethnic or religious lines he said Corruption in power Sector: Senate vows to unravel disbursement of N213B



Also, the public hearing is expected to verify the claims and counter claims of non-remittance of revenues between the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET), Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) and Generation Companies (Gencos) as well as uncover how the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disbursed the N213 billion intervention fund to the power sector. Senate vows to unravel how N213bn power intervention fund was disbursed, plan to hold public hearing on poor electricity supply. According to the media office of the Senate President, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has urged the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy to conduct a public hearing into declining electricity generation in the country that currently stands at 3000 megawatts capacity.Also, the public hearing is expected to verify the claims and counter claims of non-remittance of revenues between the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET), Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) and Generation Companies (Gencos) as well as uncover how the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disbursed the N213 billion intervention fund to the power sector.

Families left homeless after their houses are destroyed by the Lagos state government
Oleksandr Dubilet, who had headed PrivatBank (Dnipro) for a long time prior to the decision on its nationalization, has said the National Bank of Ukraine's (NBU) statement on 97% of insider loans in PrivatBank's portfolio of corporate loans is exaggerated.

At the same time, NBU First Deputy Chairman Yakiv Smoliy said the share of loans to related parties in PrivatBank exceeds 90%.

At the same time, he stressed this cannot be classified as withdrawal of funds from Ukraine.

"To think that this is capital withdrawn abroad to offshores? No, I would not say so, because most of the loans were issued to the companies operating in Ukraine. It's another matter that there should be appropriate collaterals and reserves for this category," the official explained.

According to Dubilet, the main problem of the bank's and the NBU's credit evaluation is a new accounting procedure for credit risks: according to NBU regulations, which come into force on January 1, 2017, not all types of mortgages that were taken earlier as a pledge are recorded as such.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has cancelled a working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium scheduled on December 19, Deputy Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv will lead the Ukrainian delegation instead of him.

"The prime minister cancelled a visit to Brussels on December 19. Kubiv will head the delegation," deputy prime minister's spokesperson Oksana Sikora said in a commentary to Interfax on Sunday afternoon.

Ukrainian media assumed that the prime minister decided to remain for an extraordinary Ukrainian government meeting, which will be dedicated to possible nationalization of PrivatBank, which is owned by businessman Ihor Kolomoisky.

As reported on December 16, Groysman was scheduled to visit Belgium with working visit on Monday, December 19.

The visit program includes the participation of the Ukrainian government in the third meeting of the Ukraine-EU Association, separate meetings with European Council President Donald Tusk and other leaders of the EU institutions.

In addition, during a visit to Brussels, a high-level conference dedicated to the reform of the Ukrainian energy sector is planned.

"According to the results of the Ukraine-EU Association Council meeting, signing of a number of bilateral documents is envisaged," the Ukrainian government said.
Ukrainian army positions in Donbas came under 24 attacks by the militants over the past day, the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) staff said on Facebook on Monday.

In the Mariupol sector, the militants fired 122mm tube artillery on Shyrokyne, mortars on Talakivka, Vodiane, Hnutove and Shyrokyne, and small arms on Pavlopil. In addition, a sniper was active in Maryinka, and a tank was engaged in Shyrokyne, the report said.

In the Luhansk sector, the militants used mortars against Troyitske, grenade launchers against Novo-Oleksandrivka, and small arms against Syze, Zhovte and Stanytsia Luhanska, it said.

In the Donetsk sector, the militants attacked Luhanske and Avdiyivka. Besides, Ukrainian army positions came under attack on the Svitlodarsk arc and adjoining populated localities, the report said.
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Voluntary termination of pregnancy. Voluntary interruption of pregnancy. These are the medical terms for what the layperson thinks of as an abortion.

Missed abortion. Threatened abortion. Incomplete abortion. Spontaneous abortion. Septic abortion. Inevitable abortion. These are medical terms for the failure of a pregnancy.

All these medical terms are just that: medical terms. Nomenclature to differentiate biological processes, so as doctors, we can clearly communicate what is happening with our patients. However, in the mainstream, these terms are laced with judgment, bias, morals, ethics, and misinterpretation. I find it interesting that in medicine, the word abortion is not the term used when someone decides to end a pregnancy voluntarily.

As an obstetrician, I have to take care of two patients at once. Sometimes, their needs are very different, so different that one may need to sacrifice the other to survive. These choices are never black and white, but generally carry layers of possibilities and outcomes. And the choices are not between good and bad, but worse and less worse, leaving the patient having to live with the consequences of either decision being devastating. Let me walk you through one of those stories.

She is fairly young, early 20s, newly pregnant and excited about her family growing. At her first appointment, I talk with her and her husband and do an ultrasound. We see the baby, all one centimeter of it, and began the journey of a normal pregnancy. A bright woman, she comes to her appointments with few complaints, few questions, really just enjoying the ride. At about 16 weeks, we do a genetic screening test (a blood test) that includes something called AFP, which can be elevated with several fetal abnormalities. Unfortunately, her test is elevated; so after calling her, I have her set up an ultrasound appointment at the hospital. She does not seem particularly alarmed; I think she cant entertain the idea something could be wrong with her baby.

Never a good sign, the specialist at the hospital calls me the day of the ultrasound. This baby has a large cystic hygroma, already nearly as big as the babys head. A cystic hygroma is basically a cystic growth, generally arising at the neck, that can also be associated with abnormal chromosomes. The next step would be to get an amniocentesis to determine the chromosomes. Unfortunately, cystic hygromas can continue to grow during the pregnancy and cause many complications to both the baby and the mother.

Obviously, my patient is heartbroken. Her usually cheery, easygoing demeanor is now in a state of shock. How do you process this, especially when there is still so much unknown? By this time, she is nearly 18 weeks, and the results of the amino would take two weeks. She is starting to feel fluttering, maybe a slight kick, a reminder of the love she is growing inside of her except it is not the perfect baby she had expected. It is a long two weeks for her, and when the results come back, the hospital calls her before me . the chromosomes are abnormal. They recommend she come in for a multidisciplinary meeting, a meeting that consists of several specialists to assist in understanding the consequences of her diagnosis. They would discuss what would happen if she continued the pregnancy and if she didnt. I, unfortunately, cannot attend the meeting, but am informed of the details afterwards.

I call my patient later that day and we arrange an appointment the next day. She comes by herself, eyes puffy with lack of sleep and crying. She sits down, looking straight at me and says, I need someone to tell me what to do. I could feel my own tears forming; I know the prognosis of this baby surviving is nearly zero. How can I tell her this, the baby is very much alive in her now?

Unfortunately, she is running out of time to make a decision if she desires a termination, both because she is near the legal gestational age for a termination and because the size of the cystic hygroma is getting larger, making the delivery all that more laced with possible complications for her. We talk for quite a while about what it means for her to terminate the pregnancy versus letting nature take its course as well as the consequences to her either way.

In my heart, I want to protect her; she is my patient, and I dont want her harmed in any way. I dont know the baby; I dont have a relationship with the baby: My relationship is with mom. All I can see is that this pregnancy, if continued, could only harm her more, possibly harm her so she cant have any more children or even take her life. I know this baby cant survive, but there is no telling when it would die. And so, heavy hearted, I told her what I thought: You need to terminate this pregnancy.

She begins sobbing. Once she is able to settle herself, she looks at me again and with a calm voice says,Thank you. No one at that other meeting was straight with me. I just needed an honest answer, and I appreciate you giving me that.

That week she schedules the termination. Because it is such a high-risk situation, she has to be referred to a specialist downtown, the only person capable of doing the procedure. I hoped they would treat her with kindness and caring, and not just as another procedure. It is the week of Christmas, and it pains me to think the memory of this will be linked to the holiday for my patient.

Now years later, she has two healthy children. Although unspoken, we will always share the memory of her third child. At the time, she was accepting of the decision she needed to make, although I know it has haunted her.

The loss of a pregnancy, at any stage, whether a voluntary decision or one that Mother Nature makes, is never easy, is never clear, is never taken lightly.

Andrea Eisenberg is a obstetrician-gynecologist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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On November 18, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Zika will no longer be classified as a public health emergency, while maintaining that the epidemic remains a highly significant and long-term problem, and emphasizing that this change in designation did not represent a downgrade, but rather an escalation in its long-term importance.

Most major news outlets rushed to report the news, with headlines focusing on the end of the emergency designation. What was not emphasized by many was the second part of the statement. In an era where articles inundate social media newsfeeds, and many dont even click to read content before sharing or retweeting, headlines matter.

Consequently, the impression that the WHO announcement made, even amongst many physicians, is that Zika is not as big of a threat as it was once perceived. The timing of this misperception is particularly troubling, as the Southern hemisphere is heading into the muggy summer season, bringing with it the resurgence of Zika carrying mosquitos. As Zika continues to spread and research is still identifying potential additional harmful effects of the virus, if anything, our alert level should be higher.

Public health threats such as Zika and Ebola cant remain emergencies forever, and unfortunately, they also dont retain their sex appeal forever. In some ways, coverage of the WHO announcement felt like a goodbye from the press, who now has their hands full with stories about the incoming administration. The danger of this is that Zika, like Ebola, may slowly fade into oblivion in the minds of the public. But Ebola is still a real threat, as is Zika.

Every so often, infectious disease gets the spotlight, provoked by dramatic cases such as rapidly progressing, hemorrhage inducing, Ebola or Zika associated microcephaly. Millions cancel travel plans, and politicians, the public, and the media come together over these perceived threats to humanity to advocate for a forced allocation of resources and funds to create a vaccine and address the issue at hand. On September 28, 2016, over seven months after President Obama requested $1.9 billion in February, Congress finally agreed to fund $1.1 billion towards fighting the spread and effects of Zika. In the meantime, millions of dollars of Ebola funding was reappropriated to Zika. This funding is unlikely to be replenished.

Is this spotlight well-deserved? Absolutely. But its also arguably too little, and too late.

Whether we are hearing about them or not, emerging pathogens are a constant threat. Recently, a study released in the scientific journal Cell garnered national publicity with its findings that a simple single mutation in the Ebola virus was responsible for the 2014 outbreak. Yes, it is this easy.

How about other pathogens that the CDC and WHO are tracking? Marburg, Rift Valley fever, Monkeypox, and Candida auris are just a few that come to mind. These are permanent threats to global health which require constant attention. After all, they may also be a single mutation away from resulting in the next big outbreak.

When outbreaks occur, the costs are devastating. According to the CDC, over $3.6 billion dollars was spent to fight Ebola, with $2.2 billion in GDP lost in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This doesnt include the human effects of 28,639 (reported) cases, which are now estimated to be much higher according to a study published this month, and the 11,316 deaths. It also doesnt account for reduction in access to healthcare services because of Ebola, which resulted in an estimated additional 10,600 deaths from HIV, TB, and malaria, and ignores the longstanding effects of an 8% reduction in the healthcare workforce, more than 33 weeks of school closures, the 17,300 children who lost parents to Ebola, and the 30% decline in childhood vaccination in the countries hardest hit by Ebola.

Surely, if funds are diverted to prevention and control practices prospectively, rather than from a reactionary stance, some of these outbreaks could be prevented, repaying the investment in the process. Although funding preventative science lacks the buzz factor that emergencies have, for the sake of public health, the press has a responsibility to echo these sentiments when reporting announcements such as that of the WHO.

Perhaps a better headline would have been, Zika is here to stay. And if were being ambitious, an embedded Donate now link would have been great.

Nisha Mehta is a radiologist and founder, Deserved Splurges. She can be reached on Twitter @nishamehtamd and on Facebook.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
A Ukrainian military serviceman of the 80th airmobile brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Taras Kolodiy, who defended Donetsk Airport (defenders of Donetsk airport were nicknamed as "cyborgs") and held captive by militants nearly two years ago, was released on Sunday, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said.

"The SBU [Security Service of Ukraine] chief has just reported the release of our Cyborg Taras Kolodiy. After nearly two years of captivity he is free. I thank everyone who facilitated this!" Poroshenko wrote on his Facebook page.

According to Ukrainian media, the citizen of Lviv, Kolodiy, was called to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the framework of the partial mobilization of the fall of 2014. He served in the 80th Paratroops Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and participated in the defense of the international Donetsk airport named after Prokofyev. By mid-January 2015, as a result of fighting with heavy artillery, the infrastructure of the airport was completely destroyed, including both terminals and control tower which were destroyed to the ground.

Kolodiy, together with two dozen of his fellows, was captured by militants of the so called DPR (self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic) in the Donetsk airport on January 21, 2015. He was the last among "cyborgs" - Ukrainian military, defending Donetsk Airport, held captive by militants.
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2016 NatGeo Nature Photographer Contest Winners



National Geographic has finally announced the most awaited result of the 2016 Nature Photographer of the Year contest. The winner gets a 10-day trip for two to the Galapagos Islands, two 15-minute image portfolio reviews with organization`s photo editors and a 2,500 dollar cash prize. All these went to Greg Lecoeur for a superb shot of predators hunting sardines underwater. The competition attracted thousands of entries from extended in four categories viz. action, landscapes, animal portraits, and environmental issues. Here is the breathtaking winner list.

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The best young entrepreneur in Kilkenny city and county is 33-year-old Mel Clohosey, from Urlingford, for his business proposal SocialFeedia.

The entrepreneur also won the category for Best Idea Category and an investment fund from LEO Kilkenny worth 7,000 at the awards organised by the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny

Mel's concept is to build a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, buy and supply freshly produced local food  online, from a mobile or from door-to-door service. In essence Mel explains that SocialFeedia is a Daft.ie for fresh local food.

SocialFeedia will connect people who want to sell local food with people who want to buy local food.

The County Final of Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition was held at Kilkenny County Council on Monday. This competition is for young entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35.

It has a 2 million investment fund and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland.

The other main category winner on the day was Leanne Nolan in the Best Start-Up Category.

Leanne established her business Vow2WOW just over one year ago. She currently offers a specialised award winning freelance bridal hairstyling service with plans to expand into developing a hairdressing academy.

Mel and Leanne will represent the County at the IBYE Regional Finals at the end of January in Wexford.

Meanwhile, the category runners-up also shared an investment of 8,000 between their businesses. They were: Laura Fennelly, 24 year old recently qualified chartered physiotherapist who was awarded runner-up in the Best Idea Category. Laura is developing an app to enable both the physiotherapist and the client to work together as a team. Runner-up in the Best Start-Up Category is a young entrepreneur from Windgap, Luke Dunne aged 23 with his business Dunne Farm Services Ltd.

Luke, although not originally from a farming background, through his love and passion for farming along with his entrepreneurial ambitions has established a farm supply services company.

The business concentrates on selling products that will save time, labour and money for the farmer.

Fiona Deegan is the Head of Enterprise (Acting) with Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny and said the search to find Irelands best young entrepreneur started in August and had a record-breaking number of entries this year, with 1,800 young entrepreneurs applying nationally.

After a very successful IBYE bootcamp and County Final, the future is bright for both youth entrepreneurship and job creation in the region.

Special guests at the event included: Cathaoirleach Cllr Matt Doran; Cllr Pat Millea, Chairperson of the SPC  Economic, Enterprise Support and Tourism; Chief Executive Kilkenny Co Council, Collette Byrne and Head of Finance, Kilkenny County Co Martin Prendiville.

The vital role of the judging panel was also acknowledged. The judges included: Fiona Deegan, LEO Kilkenny, Carole Thurston, South East BIC and Blaise Brosnan, Management Resource Institute. Further details on the competition and supports available to young entrepreneurs are available through www.localenterprise.ie and from www.ibye.ie.
A year after the Williamsburg Regional Hospital suspended operations in the wake of the October 2015 historic flood, the passing of the symbolic key to the new temporary facility was celebrated. Senator Ronnie Sabb, County Supervisor Stanley Pasley, and Kingstree Mayor Darren Tisdale were am
It's a word that's been in the news a lot lately, leaving many people wondering, "What's a fiduciary?"

And it's something worth wondering about because it involves an important distinction that could affect your bottom line.

First, it's important to know that there are two standards when it comes to providing financial advice: a fiduciary standard and a suitability standard.

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Fiduciaries are governed by federal regulations and must place a client's needs first, ahead of their own.

The suitability standard is different. It only requires that a financial professional make investment recommendations that are "suitable" for the client's needs. So, let's say two investment options would achieve what the client wants, but one pays a higher fee to the financial professional. He or she could recommend that investment, even though it would be more costly for the client.

Many people probably don't know whether the person giving them advice is a fiduciary or not. The reason the word has been in the news so much is that the Department of Labor has set down new rules, which will take full effect beginning January 2018, that require all advisers to adhere to the fiduciary standard for advice on retirement accounts or qualified assets.

These new rules are meant to protect investors from unnecessary fees and to address conflicts of interest in retirement advice. According to the government, investors have been wasting an average of $17 billion a year in exorbitant fees. This new fiduciary rule is designed to help save middle-class families what is estimated from those costs.

Some financial advisers don't currently subscribe to this higher fiduciary standard. There are three types of advisers:

Insurance Agents and Producers: Insurance agents or producers are not the same as a financial adviser. Some insurance agents will tell you that they can advise you on your retirement and finances, when in fact, if they are licensed only as an insurance agent, they are limited to selling you only those insurance products they represent. They cannot give market-based advice. They are held to the suitability standard, not the fiduciary standard.

Broker-Dealer: A broker-dealer is someone who facilitates investment transactions. Typically they work for a large financial firm and are compensated through commissions and fees. Someone who is licensed only as a broker-dealer is not required to meet fiduciary standards. Therefore, they can recommend an investment that will make them a higher commission as long as it's "suitable" even if it could cost you, the investor, more than another product or investment that would be better for your situation.

Investment Adviser Representatives and Registered Investment Advisers: Registered Investment Adviser firms are registered either with the SEC or with applicable state agencies. Independent Registered Investment Advisers have the ability to offer investment products, and some may also be licensed to solicit insurance sales, but the products must be in the clients' best interest. All Registered Investment Advisers and their representatives are required by law to act in a fiduciary capacity. Their charges for securities transactions are often based on a percentage of investment assets under their management, rather than on commissions, and they are required by law to uphold a fiduciary standard, meaning the recommendations they make are required to be in your best interest.

Until the DOL's new fiduciary rule becomes effective, it's important for all investors and retirees to ask their current adviser, broker or insurance agent whether they are a fiduciary. This is one of the most important questions you can ask your adviser. Take caution when asking this questionsome advisers may tell you that even though they are not fiduciaries, they still "act like fiduciaries."

It's not the same. To be sure no one is pushing you toward products or investments that are not in your best interest, it's important to have an adviser who is legally bound to put you first.

Keith Ellis, co-founder of SHP Financial in Plymouth, Massachusetts, is insurance licensed and has passed his Series 65 securities exam, which qualifies him to provide financial and investment advice, as well as personally manage investment portfolios as a fiduciary adviser.

Rozel Swain contributed to this article.

Investment Advisory Services are offered through SHP Wealth Management LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Insurance sales are offered through SHP Financial, LLC. These are separate entities, Matthew Chapman Peck, CFP, CIMA, Derek Louis Gregoire, and Keith Winslow Ellis Jr. are independent licensed insurance agents, and Owners/Partners of an insurance agency, SHP Financial, LLC. In addition, other supervised persons of SHP Wealth Management, LLC are independent licensed insurance agents of SHP Financial, LLC. No statements made shall constitute tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own legal or tax professional before investing. Both SHP Wealth Management, LLC and SHP Financial, LLC will offer clients advice and/or products from each entity. No client is under any obligation to purchase any insurance product. SHP Financial utilizes third-party marketing and public relation firms to assist in securing media appearances, for securing interviews, to provide suggested content for radio, for article placements, and other supporting services.
The Ukrainian army has suffered casualties in the Anti-Terrorist operation zone in Donbas over the past day, Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Economic Development and Trade Minister Stepan Kubiv said during a working visit to Brussels on Monday.

"Six Ukrainian servicemen were killed and 20 were wounded" in Donbas over the past day, the Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Ministry said on Twitter on Monday.
Cryptologist Dennis Hofheinz is awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant this year. (Photo: KIT)

In the digital era, requirements on cryptography increase. Cloud computing and big data require solutions that are not only secure, but also practicable. Under the project PREP-CRYPTO: Preparing Cryptography for Modern Applications, Dennis Hofheinz of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) develops new systems combining established cryptography methods with new elements. The European Research Council (ERC) will fund this project with about EUR 2 million in the next five years.

In times of cloud computing and big data, cryptography is far more than secure communication, Hofheinz explains. While past work focused on sending encrypted messages, the challenge today is to provide agreed access rights to and processing options of data while ensuring data security. In this way, providers, such as outsourced computing centers, may be enabled to make calculations and carry out data processing based on sensitive, encoded data of companies or private persons without having to decode these data before. Thus, data security is ensured.

In the past years, various new cryptography elements were developed for these complex scenarios. An example is the so-called fully homomorphic encryption method (FHE). By means of this method, data can be further processed without their contents having to be decoded at any point in the process. For example, health data may be used for statistic evaluations without third parties gaining insight into the information on the individual patient.

Concepts like FHE have opened the door for applications that were infeasible so far, Hofheinz says. But they are far from being efficient enough for practical applications. The KIT expert thinks that encoding data with this method and archiving them externally is not worthwhile at the moment, because the expenditure is a million times higher than making calculations in house. To fully exploit the potentials of new cryptography methods, he wants to further develop two technical approaches with his team: Combinations of classical algebraic instruments and cryptography techniques with new methods and defined solutions for domain-specific applications. With the ERC Consolidator Grant, he now receives highly renowned European funding for his research project.

Since 2015, Dennis Hofheinz has been professor in the Cryptography and Security Group of KIT. Hofheinz completed his studies of informatics at then Universitat Karlsruhe (TH), todays KIT, by a diploma thesis on Ein Seitenkanalangriff auf das Signaturschema QUARTZ (A Side-channel Attack on the QUARTZ Signature Scheme). Then, he started his scientific career as a doctoral student at the Institute for Algorithms and Cognitive Systems (IAKS) of the TH. In 2005, he was conferred his doctorate for his thesis entitled Zur Analyse und Struktur von Sicherheitsbegriffen (On the Analysis and Structure of Security Notions). Then, he spent four years as post-doc at the Centrum Wiskunde en Informatica (CWI) in Amsterdam. In 2009, he returned to KIT as Junior Professor.

Information on the 2016 Consolidator Grant:

In the recent round, the ERC granted the Consolidator Grant to a total of 314 scientists selected from 2274 proposals, which corresponds to an approval rate of 13.8 percent. The total amount of funding financed from the Horizon 2020 research framework programme is about EUR 605 million. The European Research Council awards ERC Consolidator Grants to fund projects of excellent scientists who were conferred their doctorates between seven and twelve years ago. In 2007, the ERC was established as an institution to fund fundamental pioneer research in Europe.

Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
By Wayne Cole

SYDNEY, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Australia's conservative government will on Monday give an update on the national budget that could trigger a downgrade in the country's prized triple A credit rating and push up borrowing costs on over a trillion dollars of debt.

Facing slowing economic growth and a seemingly intractable deficit, Treasurer Scott Morrison is expected to reaffirm a pledge to return to surplus by 2020/21 through a mixture of spending cuts and tax-raising measures.

Many of the most contentious measures, however, are blocked in the Senate while record low wages growth and lacklustre nominal growth have badly crimped the government's revenue take.

S&P Global Ratings put Australia on negative watch back in July and might even cut the rating a notch later Monday should Morrison's plans fail to inspire.

Australia is among a dozen countries with the top rating from all three credit agencies.

A downgrade would likely nudge up borrowing costs on the Federal government's A$465 billion in debt and on some of the states' A$327 billion of borrowings and lead to Australia's major banks being downgraded as well as their debt pile mounts to more than A$500 billion.

It would also be a political nightmare for the Liberal National government of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, which has long sold itself as a competent economic manager that can be trusted to balance the books.

Morrison took to the airwaves early on Monday to essentially blame the opposition Labor Party for blocking budget savings measures in parliament, though many of the proposals are deeply unpopular with voters as well.

The budget update is due at midday and there are expectations that the A$37.1 billion deficit originally forecast for the year to June, 2017 could be revised to around A$40 billion.

"Australia's push back towards an underlying budget surplus has felt a bit like "groundhog day". It's there in the forecasts but continually recedes into the distance," says CBA chief economist Michael Blythe.

The Treasurer will also have to revise down estimates for growth after the A$1.6 trillion economy surprisingly contracted by 0.5 percent in the September quarter, the first shrinkage since 2011.

However, one bright spot has been a recovery in prices for many of Australia's major commodity exports, with coal and iron ore surging in the past few months. If sustained, that will add billions to the tax take and could ease the pressure on the ratings.

And even if the country is downgraded, analysts said they doubted that it would have much of an impact on bond yields or investor confidence.

"Our feedback from clients across Asia is that they seem quite relaxed about the issue, with many noting that their mandates allow purchases of AA rated securities and any rise in yields would allow them to purchase AUD bonds at better levels," said Andrew Ticehurst, an economist at Japanese broker Nomura.

(Editing by Greg Mahlich)
MANILA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The Philippines' electronics exports will likely increase 5-6 percent next year, supported by robust demand for gadgets and internet-connected equipment, a group representing the country's key semiconductor industry said on Monday.

For 2016, the Semiconductor and Electronic Industries in the Philippines Inc (SEIPI) has forecast an increase of 6 percent.

Danilo Lachica, SEIPI president, said 2017's "modest" anticipated gains will be driven by components, electronic data processing, telecommunications, automotive sectors, cyber security, self-driving cars and the general trend toward a digital society.

Electronics are the Philippines' top export item, and in October accounted for 52 percent of export revenue, according to the Philippine Statistics Agency. So the relatively firm outlook for 2017 bodes well for overall economic growth.

But President Rodrigo Duterte's comments about cutting ties with Washington posed some risks, Lachica said. He said 12 percent of the industry's exports go to the United States.

While the industry supports Duterte's move to expand commercial ties with other countries, Lachica said "it should not be at the expense of cutting ties with the U.S."

On Friday, Duterte told the U.S. "we do not need you", and that it should "prepare to leave" the Philippines. SEIPI, comprising 270 semiconductors and electronics manufacturers including units of Toshiba and Texas Instruments employing more than two million workers, wants to grow its business with the U.S., Lachica said.

The Philippine central bank expects total exports to contract 3 percent this year, due to sluggish global demand, but expand 2 percent next year. (Reporting by Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Richard Borsuk)
(Repeats Sunday story with no changes)

* Long hours, low overtime pay have become standard practice

* Union survey shows workers not paid for 44 pct of overtime

* In a deferential culture, staff typically don't speak out

* Wages up just 2.1 pct since late 2012, consumption up 1.2 pct

* PM Abe trying to change work culture, progress limited

By Stanley White and Izumi Nakagawa

TOKYO, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Japanese workers put up with long hours and unpaid overtime under pressure from cost-saving companies, and figures from government, which wants more money in workers' pockets to boost consumer spending, appear to underestimate the problem.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is trying to enact labour reforms as part of his "Abenomics" plan to end decades of stagnant growth and deflation. His proposals include measures to cut working hours and limit overtime, raise wages for temporary workers and make things easier for employees with children.

By law, both management and rank-and-file employees should get paid for extra work, but companies have been discouraging overtime claims for so long that employees accept it as normal.

Government data shows that Japanese work an average of 14.2 hours of overtime a month, but 2,000 respondents in a recent survey by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation said they worked an average of 40.3 hours of overtime a month, and get paid for just 22.7.

"Workers often face pressure from their superiors, sometimes in subtle, unspoken ways, to claim less overtime hours than actually worked," said Toshiaki Matsumoto, chief executive of HR Strategy, a human resources consultancy.

A deferential work culture means few speak up.

"Often I don't bother claiming overtime because my projects would run over budget, and that would hurt my chances for promotion," said one 38-year-old IT engineer who asked not to be named for fear of upsetting his boss.

He estimates that he works an average of 50 unpaid overtime hours a month, often leaving the office at 8 p.m., spending some time with his wife and 3-year-old son before bed, then getting up at 3 a.m. to tackle unfinished work.

A 26-year-old Tokyo man who works in sales at a steel trading company said his employer regularly pressured workers into reducing hours on their overtime forms. In busy times he works from 7 a.m. to midnight, plus Saturdays.

"The amount of overtime has left me exhausted," he said.

At times, the punishingly long hours can have tragic consequences. The suicide of a 24-year-old ad agency worker who clocked up 105 hours of overtime in the month before she fell into depression was last month ruled "karoshi", or death by overwork. DEAF EARS

Abe's pleas for businesses to put up wages to kickstart the economy have largely fallen on deaf ears. But if the results for the union survey are extrapolated nationwide, just paying employees for the hours they work could push up consumer spending by 13.4 percent, according to Reuters calculations based on monthly wage data and the propensity to consume.

"It's a problem if you're working long hours and not getting the compensation you're entitled to," said Norio Miyagawa, senior economist at Mizuho Securities, adding that working long hours also meant people didn't have time to go out and spend.

In an era of weak global demand and uncertainty about economic prospects, Japanese companies have been hoarding cash rather than sharing it with the workforce.

Since Abe took office in late 2012, recurring profits have gone up 62.3 percent, but staff compensation has grown a miserly 2.1 percent. Household spending has risen just 1.6 percent during the same period.

"Companies are without a doubt robbing workers of their wages and free time," said Toko Shirakawa, a visiting professor at Sagami Women's University and a member of the government's work culture panel.

But cultural and workplace expectations are difficult to change overnight, and civil servants say the government also needs to get its own house in order.

One 26-year-old at a government agency in downtown Tokyo said he was paid for about 70 percent of the overtime hours he worked.

"I request pay for all the overtime hours I work, but we operate on a fixed budget, which means you don't automatically receive the full amount," said the man, who declined to be named. "I feel like I'm working for free."

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Graphic on Japanese overtime ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting and writing by Stanley White and Izumi Nakagawa; Editing by Malcolm Foster and Will Waterman)
(Repeats story published earlier with no changes to text.)

* Hakim is 2nd CEO in a row with military background

* Freeport faces narrowing window for $18 bln expansion

* Ore exports could stop in January under existing rules

* January deadline could hit two-thirds of Grasberg output

By Fergus Jensen

JAKARTA, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Chappy Hakim, a retired air force chief who says he knows next to nothing about mining, now heads Indonesia's biggest copper producer, entrusted to use his connections to guide it through regulatory uncertainty to a renewed contract for its mine.

Picking another former military officer to lead the local unit of U.S. mining giant Freeport-McMoRan underlines how pivotal political ties can be in Indonesia, where the firm got its start nearly 50 years ago helped by close relations to late autocratic President Suharto.

At stake for Freeport is an $18 billion investment to expand its Grasberg mine - one of the world's biggest deposits of gold and copper - in the eastern Indonesian province of Papua. A government deadline in January to end ore exports from the country also threatens two-thirds of the mine's copper output.

"Freeport is more politics than business," Hakim told a recent media briefing.

"Right now we are working hard to negotiate with the government ... The political aspect has become very heavy here," said Hakim, who was appointed last month as Freeport Indonesia's new chief executive.

Hakim, 69, a keen saxophonist who holds Indonesian skydiving records, first saw the area where Freeport's giant Papua mine is located from the pilot's seat of a C-130 Hercules in the 1970s.

And while he may know little about mining and finance, Hakim said his experience leading the air force and later an air safety panel after a string of deadly plane crashes would help him with both human resource management and mine safety issues.

Grasberg has had several fatal accidents that disrupted operations and strained union relations, and in 2013 a tunnel collapse killed 28 workers, raising worries about its underground expansion plans. ( )

Hakim's appointment was made in consultation with the government, Freeport said, and comes as the company fights to win an extension on its mine beyond 2021.

Freeport needs to sign off in late 2017 on the $18 billion plan to transition Grasberg from open pit to underground mining, and it wants the contract renewed before committing the money.

"One of (Freeport's) priorities is clearly to have someone on board who supposedly has the ear of the government," said Bill Sullivan, a foreign legal counsel and expert on Indonesian mining issues.

"DISPENSATIONS" NEEDED

Freeport faces a narrowing window to make a new deal on taxes, royalties, divestment and a second smelter, before it develops what would be the world's biggest underground mine, Hakim said.

Indonesia has given mixed signals on negotiations, however, and it's not clear if Freeport will be able to win a contract extension next year. Regulations stipulate contracts can be renewed only in the last two years before they expire, but Hakim said Freeport needed "several dispensations" to justify its investment.

"We have no choice because we have spent so many billions of dollars on the contract ... and we'll be really devastated if we stop," he said.

Hakim also noted that existing rules forbid Freeport from exporting copper concentrate after Jan. 12, 2017, part of an effort to transform Indonesia into a producer of finished goods from a supplier of raw materials. About a third of Freeport's daily 220,000 tonnes of copper ore from Grasberg goes to its domestic smelter in Gresik, East Java, with the rest exported as concentrate. Jakarta has said it may revise the deadline on metals processing, but nothing has been announced. Freeport, which employs 32,400 workers in Indonesia, has said it does not believe Jakarta will ban all exports from 2017 given the harm it could do to Southeast Asia's biggest economy. Hakim's predecessor, Maroef Sjamsoeddin, also a former air force and intelligence officer, stepped down in January after being caught up in a scandal. The company said he resigned for personal reasons. (Reporting by Fergus Jensen; Additional reporting by Wilda Asmarini; Editing by Tom Hogue)
HANOI, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official market and indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi at 0059 GMT.

Dec 19 Dec 16 USD/VND mid-point 22,148 22,144

USD/VND interbank 22,745/22,755 22,753/22,758 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.70/36.32 35.42/36.04

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, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0401 GMT.

Dec 19 Dec 16 USD/VND mid-point 22,148 22,144 USD/VND interbank 22,758/22,760 22,753/22,758 USD/VND unofficial 23,270/23,320 23,260/23,300 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.80/36.47 35.42/36.04

Interbank offered rates Overnight 4.7-5.4 4.7-5.4

1 week 4.8-5.4 4.8-5.4

1 month 5.0-5.4 5.0-5.4

3 months 5.0-5.3 5.0-5.3

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 Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
KIEV, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Ukraine will on Monday nationalise PrivatBank, the country's biggest lender, a move undertaken in coordination with Ukraine's international lenders and with their support, the government said in a statement late on Sunday.

The finance ministry will take over the bank, which is partly owned by one of Ukraine's richest men, and the state will ensure its stable operation, the government said. Ukraine's president and prime minister are due to issue statements on Monday. "The private shareholders of PrivatBank proposed to the government that it become the bank's owner in the interests of its clients," the government said in a statement.

"The transition period begins on 19 December. The state will ensure a smooth transition and the stable functioning of the bank."

(Reporting by Alexei Kalmykov and Natalia Zinets; writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
(Adds details from statement, background on banking sector)

By Natalia Zinets and Pavel Polityuk

KIEV, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The Ukrainian government announced on Sunday that it will nationalise PrivatBank, the country's biggest lender, in one of the biggest shake-ups of the banking system since the country plunged into political and economic turmoil two years ago.

In a statement late on Sunday, the government made no mention of the size of the potential burden to the state budget, but said it would ensure a stable transition and the smooth functioning of the bank.

The Finance Ministry will take over PrivatBank, which is part-owned by one of Ukraine's richest men, the powerful oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky.

"The private shareholders of PrivatBank proposed to the government that it become the bank's owner in the interests of its clients," the government said in a statement.

"The transition period begins on 19 December. The state will ensure a smooth transition and the stable functioning of the bank."

Under Western-backed banking reforms, Ukraine is meant to shut lenders that cannot meet capitalisation targets, but with nearly $6 billion in private deposits - 36.5 percent of Ukraine's total - PrivatBank is considered too big to fail.

The bailout could fuel instability in Ukraine, where opposition parties have repeatedly called for snap elections to unseat the pro-Western leadership that took power after the 2014 Maidan protests.

The opposition has harnessed the anger of depositors from banks that were previously shut down in a sweeping cleanup of the financial system, mobilising rallies and demanding the central bank chief's resignation.

The announcement comes just days before parliament has to vote on next year's budget, which must stick to a shortfall of 3 percent of economic output, as agreed with Ukraine's international backers.

Over the past few months the central bank has repeatedly declined to comment on speculation that PrivatBank would be taken under state control due to an inability to meet an end-2016 recapitalisation target. Recapitalising PrivatBank and other large lenders and reducing their lending to shareholders was one of the tasks mandated by a $17.5 billion International Monetary Fund aid-for-reforms programme.

Kolomoisky's control of strategic industries, including energy and media holdings, has put him at the centre of ongoing power battles among the political elite since street protests ousted Moscow-backed Viktor Yanukovich and the pro-Russian rebellion erupted in the east.

PrivatBank's nationalisation is the culmination of the banking sector cleanup, which has closed dozens of lenders that were seen as little more than personal piggy banks for their owners. (Additional reporting by Alexei Kalmykov; writing by Alessandra Prentice and Matthias Williams)
(Adds S&P comment)

By Wayne Cole

SYDNEY, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Australia's conservative government on Monday forecast a A$10 billion deterioration in its budget deficit over the next four years but still hoped to snatch a surplus by 2021 and forestall a damaging downgrade of its top credit rating.

There have been fears the update could trigger a cut in the country's prized triple-A rating and push up borrowing costs on over a trillion dollars of federal, state and bank debt.

S&P Global Ratings, which put Australia on negative watch back in July, said the update had no immediate impact on the rating, but it again warned more revenue or saving steps would be needed to get back to surplus.

"The government's worsening forecast...further pressures the rating," S&P said. "We remain pessimistic about the government's ability to close existing budget deficits and return a balanced budget by the year ending June 30, 2021."

Facing slower economic growth and a seemingly intractable deficit, Treasurer Scott Morrison reaffirmed an aspiration to return to surplus by 2021 through a mixture of spending cuts and tax-raising measures.

Many of the most contentious measures, however, are blocked in the Senate while record low wages growth and lacklustre nominal growth have badly crimped the government's revenue take.

Australia is among a dozen countries with the top rating from all three credit agencies. Fitch and Moody's responded quickly by saying the budget outlook was still consistent with their triple-A ratings.

A downgrade would likely nudge up borrowing costs on the Federal government's A$465 billion in debt and on some states' A$327 billion of borrowings. Australia's major banks and their A$500 billion debt pile could also be downgraded.

A downgrade would also be a political nightmare for the Liberal National government of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, which has long sold itself as a competent economic manager that can be trusted to balance the books.

GROUNDHOG DAY

Morrison took to the airwaves on Monday to essentially blame the opposition Labor Party for blocking budget savings measures in parliament, though many of the proposals are deeply unpopular with voters as well.

The budget update showed the government expected a A$36.5 billion deficit for the year to June, slightly narrower than the initial forecast of A$37.1 billion. It then projected a steady, if slow, improvement to A$10 billion by mid-2020 and a wafer-thin surplus the year after.

Yet the four-year total for the deficit was still expected to be A$10 billion more than estimated back in June, largely due to weaker revenues.

"Australia's push back towards an underlying budget surplus has felt a bit like 'Groundhog Day'. It's there in the forecasts but continually recedes into the distance," says CBA chief economist Michael Blythe.

The Treasurer also revised down estimates for gross domestic product growth for this year and next after the A$1.6 trillion economy surprisingly contracted by 0.5 percent in the September quarter, the first shrinkage since 2011.

It now expects GDP growth of 2 percent in 2016/17, down from 2.5 percent, and a pick up to 2.75 percent in 2017/18.

One bright spot has been a recovery in prices for many of Australia's major commodity exports, with coal and iron ore surging in the past few months. If sustained, that will add billions to the tax take.

Even if the country is downgraded, analysts said they doubted that it would have much of an impact on bond yields or investor confidence.

"Our feedback from clients across Asia is that they seem quite relaxed about the issue, with many noting that their mandates allow purchases of AA rated securities and any rise in yields would allow them to purchase AUD bonds at better levels," said Andrew Ticehurst, an economist at Japanese broker Nomura.

(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Eric Meijer)
It was hard to return fire during the Svitlodarsk arc engagement in Donbas because militants attacked Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) positions from the territory of Debaltseve, Vuhlehirsk and Kalynivka, battalion commander Major General Oleksandr Syrsky said.

"Notably, the enemy's artillery was firing from within the populated localities of Kalynivka, Vuhlehirsk and Debaltseve and that made impossible an adequate response because civilian casualties needed to be avoided," he told a press briefing in Kyiv on Monday.

A total of 34 122mm shells and 694 120mm and 82mm mortar mines were fired on Ukrainian army positions in the past 24 hours, he said.

In the opinion of Syrsky, the militants seek to advance towards Luhanske in the Donetsk region and to take over strategic sites.

All is quiet on the Svitlodarsk arc at the moment, he said.

The latest reports have said that six Ukrainian servicemen were killed in the clash.

The self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) militants said earlier they had deterred the Ukrainian army's attempt at breaking through defense lines near the village of Kalynivka.

Kyiv said, in turn, that the Ukrainian army deterred the militants' attempt at driving forward units away from their positions in a two-hour engagement on Sunday, December 18.
JAKARTA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Indonesia central bank governor Agus Martowardojo said on Monday that depreciation of Chinese yuan could negatively affect Indonesia's export competitiveness.

The central bank noted that the yuan has depreciated by 6.3 percent against the U.S. dollar this year, while the rupiah has appreciated by about 3 percent.

"If we're not careful, we can have a difficult competitive situation against China, because China continues to have its currency depreciated," Martowardojo said.

(Reporting by Gayatri Suroyo; Writing by Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Richard Borsuk)
Editor's Note: Kitco News has officially launched its 2017 Outlook where we ask if this is the start of a new Raging Bull market. Be sure to catch all our coverage here, which includes gold forecasts, special technical reports and of course, our popular Invest Like The Experts Series. We will also be launching a new feature so be sure to stay tuned!

(Kitco News) - BMO Capital Markets has trimmed price targets for gold, silver and equities in the sector for 2017, although analysts still describe themselves as generally constructive on shares of mining companies.

A report Monday listed a 2017 gold-price forecast of $1,175 an ounce and a silver outlook of $17. The banks previous forecasts were $1,413 and $23.63, respectively. As of early New York trade, spot gold was around $1,140 and silver was just over $16 an ounce.

Analysts said they do see a risk of an upside move given the bank view that that markets are already pricing in the impact of three expected U.S. rate hikes in 2017. Rate-hike expectations have boosted U.S. Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar in recent weeks, pressuring gold.

In our view, global political uncertainty combined with the fragility of economic recovery within Europe and continued quantitative easing continue to be supportive of precious metals when the markets refocus on these systemic risks, BMO said.

Analysts described themselves as constructive on shares of precious-metals producers due to improved sector fundamentals and reasonable valuation, despite reduced outlooks for gold and silver prices. Nevertheless, BMO said it is lowering share target prices by 23% on average for the producers covered by bank analysts. The most significant changes are among the large producers, where target prices were revised down by an average of 30%.

Our outlook for the precious-metal equities can best be described in Dickens-like fashion as a Tale of

Two Themes, BMO said. On one hand, the downgrade of our gold and silver outlook for 2017 is a clear message to investors that we believe a key element of an investment thesis of the precious-metal sector is likely to be absent through most of 2017. Given strong sector fundamentals, valuations for the gold and silver companies under coverage remain reasonable, in our view, even accounting for our more conservative outlook for gold and silver prices in 2017.

That said, an investment case for gold and silver can be supported by continued global macroeconomic

uncertainty and related volatility combined with sector fundamentals and relative valuation.

The shares of precious-metals equities have come a long way since the dark days of 2013 when

gold and silver stocks were hurt by bloated costs and peak debt levels fueled by ill-timed growth strategies, BMO said.

Even after mark-to-market adjusting our gold and silver prices, and adjusting our gold and silver prices for 2017, our forecast presents a relatively constructive outlook for the sector that in aggregate should continue to generate free cash flow (3.0% free cash flow yield in 2017) and positions to withstand lower prices, as suggested by free cash flow breakeven prices for the next three years of $960/oz gold and $9.29/oz silver, on average, including growth capex.

BMOs preferred precious-metals equities, in alphabetical order, are Alamos Gold Inc., Belo Sun Mining Corp., B2Gold Corp., Continental Gold, Detour Gold Corp., Integra Gold Corp., Newmont Mining Corp., Osisko Mining, Royal Gold Inc., SEMAFO Inc. and Silver Standard Resources Inc.

BMO projects $1,000 platinum and $750 palladium for 2017, compared to $1,100 and $725 previously. These metals were around $923 and $680 early Monday.

Meanwhile, analysts say they are upbeat on the commodities complex as a whole.

We believe most commodities are moving up the recovery curve, BMO said. Certainly, a few may have overshot in 2016, so we expect some prices to fade from spot, but the overly bearish sentiment that plagued the entire commodity complex in late 2015 and early 2016 is behind us.

BMOs preferred commodities include zinc, U.S. steel, thermal coal and uranium.

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

Follow @KitcoNewsNOW
Dec 19 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's total exports to China for outward processing fell 0.6 percent to HK$141.6 billion ($18.23 billion) in value terms year on year during the third quarter of 2016, the Census and Statistics Department said on Monday.

Outward processing trade involves the shipment of raw materials to mainland China for manufacturing. Finished products are then shipped back to Hong Kong for re-export.

(Rounded figures in billions of Hong Kong dollars and year-on-year percentage change in brackets):

3rd qtr 2016 2nd qtr 2016 Total exports to China 141.61 (-0.6) 135.41 (-1.7) Domestic exports to China 0.61 (-18.3) 0.45 (-42.7) Re-exports to China 141.00 (-0.5) 134.96 (-1.5) Imports from China 194.46 (-2.6) 196.85 (-3.9) ($1 = 7.7660 Hong Kong dollars)

(Reporting by Twinnie Siu in HONG KONG; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)
(Kitco News) - In an effort to instill more confidence and promote stronger ethics and transparency in the precious metals market, the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) is reaching out to market players for some ideas and feedback.



The association is launching a survey -- that can be accessed here -- for feedback on its Precious Metals Code, which it is planning to launch in May.



The Code will cover principles that should be adopted by members including ethics, compliance, governance and risk management, as well as pre trade, execution and post trade business conduct, The LBMA said in a news release Monday.



For the past several years, the precious metals market has been plagued with ethical issues as several lawsuits, alleging market manipulation, have been filed against several banks.



This year alone, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $38 million to settle allegations for price manipulation in the silver market and $60 million to settle allegations for the gold market.



As part of its settlement deal, the German bank also agreed to provide evidence of collusion among other financial intuitions. Deutsche Bank provided telephone transcripts and chatroom transcripts, which showed traders colluded with each other, sharing their clients positions in the silver market and suggested that they could smash the silver fix by working together.



In these chats, traders would sometimes refer to their group as a mafia, a dream team and stop busters.

By Neils Christensen of Kitco News; nchristensen@kitco.com

Follow @Neils_C
MANILA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The Philippine central bank released on Monday the balance of payments (BOP) data for November.

KEY DATA

Nov Oct Sept Aug Jul Jun May (in $ mln) -1671 -183 117 682 215 418 241 KEY POINTS:

- The Philippines posted a BOP deficit of 206 million in the 11 months to November.

- The Philippine central bank on Friday said the nation's current account surplus next year will take a hit from sluggish global growth, expected at $800 million, down from an earlier forecast of $3 billion. - This year's current account surplus is forecast to reach $2.5 billion, less than half of the $5.8 billion surplus seen earlier, the central bank said.

- The central bank sees the balance of payments at a surplus of $1 billion next year, double this year's downgraded forecast of $500 million.

- In 2015, the Philippines had a current account surplus of $7.7 billion.

(Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
Serbian central bank sells euros to stem dinar losses -dealers

BELGRADE, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Serbia's central bank sold euros on Monday on the local interbank market to support the dinar, dealers said. The bank, which last week sold 25 million euros ($26 million), intervened as the dinar traded at around 123.65 to the euro. After the intervention, the dinar traded at 123.5 to the euro. ($1 = 0.9557 euros)

(Reporting by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Georgina Prodhan)

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 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.

kitco news
LJUBLJANA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Slovenian metal products maker Unior , which is due to be privatised, has received a loan of 112.8 million euros ($118 million) from a syndicate of banks, the company said on Monday.

"With the syndicated loan we repaid old loans, reduced the number of bank creditors ... improved conditions and opened a possibility for further growth of the company," Unior's CEO Darko Hrastnik said in a statement.

Shares in Unior, which has market capitalisation of about 50 million euros, jumped 7.5 percent to 18.8 euros by 1245 GMT, outperforming the blue-chip SBI index which was 1 percent lower.

The loan was organised by Slovenia's largest lender, state-owned Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB).

The five other banks in the syndicate were Slovenia's Abanka and Gorenjska banka, Nova KBM, which is owned by U.S. investment firm Apollo Global Management , and local subsidiaries of Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo and Russia's Sberbank .

Unior, which has almost 4,000 employees, exports 95 percent of its metal products, mainly to car factories. It also has a tourism division which accounts for 13 percent of its revenue.

Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SDH), a state-owned firm that is coordinating privatisations in the country, agreed with three other mostly state-owned firms in May to put their joint of 55 percent stake in Unior on sale. Unior is one of at least five companies Slovenia wants to privatise next year with NLB the biggest on the list. ($1 = 0.9582 euros)

(Reporting by Marja Novak; editing by David Clarke)
STOCKHOLM, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Swedish state-owned mining firm LKAB said on Monday it will mothball its Mertainen mine as it would not be profitable to put it into production, resulting in a 1.2 billion Swedish crown ($128 million) asset writedown.

LKAB said the decision to invest in the mine had been made in 2010 when prices for coarse iron ore fines were high.

"The products from Mertainen cannot be made profitable at the moment," LKAB CEO Jan Mostrom said in a statement.

"We are therefore focusing on the Leveaniemi and Gruvberget open-pit mines in Svappavaara and leaving Mertainen dormant until the market conditions change."

LKAB invested about 10 billion crowns in developing the three mines near the city of Kiruna in northern Sweden.

Mostrom said Mertainen could be started within a few months should demand conditions improve. ($1 = 9.3634 Swedish crowns)

(Reporting by Simon Johnson; editing by David Clarke)
TREASURIES-Bonds extend price gains on Russian ambassador shooting



Dec 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasuries added to price gains on Monday on news the Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot in an attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital on Monday. The Russian RIA news agency said he had died of his wounds. Benchmark 10-year notes were last up 15/32 in price to yield 2.53 percent, down from 2.55 percent before the reports and from 2.60 percent late on Friday.

(Reporting By Karen Brettell; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

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.

kitco news
LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Ukraine's dollar-denominated bonds jumped by more than 1 cent on Monday after the government said it would nationalise the country's biggest lender, PrivatBank. Longer-dated maturities chalked up the biggest gains, with the 2027 and the 2026 issues jumping more than 1.3 cents, according to Tradeweb data.

Shorter-dated bonds added around 0.8 cents.

Ukraine declared PrivatBank insolvent and said bringing it under state ownership was the only way to protect the money of 20 million Ukrainian clients and stave off threats to the financial system.

"It seemed quite clear for some time that the government had to do something, so this probably comes as a relief, especially if we see positive comments from the IMF (International Monetary Fund)," said Simon Quijano-Evans, emerging markets strategist at Legal & General Investment Management.

The government also said it expected the budget to be passed later in the week.

(Reporting by Karin Strohecker, editing by Nigel Stephenson)
Ukraine and the European Union (EU) have signed agreements to finance four border cooperation programs in the amount of EUR 365 million.

"On December 19, 2016, a signing ceremony was held in Brussels. The Ukrainian government and the European Commission signed agreements on financing joint operation border cooperation programs for 2014-2020: "Ukraine-Romania," "Ukraine-Hungary-Slovakia-Romania," "Ukraine-Poland-Belarus" and "Black Sea Basin" under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) tool," the press service of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry has reported.

First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Economic Development and Trade Minister Stepan Kybiv and Director for Neighbourhood East in the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) Lawrence Meredith signed the agreements.

The total budget provided by the EU to finance four programs would be over EUR 365 million.

The implementation of the programs would help to realize joint projects with program member countries in the following spheres: improvement of infrastructure of border districts, solving of general problems in the security and order area, support of border management and border safety, migration management, environment protection over climate changes and disasters and use of alternative energy.

The programs envisage support of business, development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), support of education, research, innovations, development of local culture and historic heritage preservation.

The implementation of the border cooperation programs would help to carry out effective and mutually beneficial cooperation of the Ukrainian border districts and partner countries via the realization of joint projects, exchange of experience and best practices with the partner countries in various spheres, attract additional resources for sustainable development and increase competitiveness of Ukrainian border districts.
Received by e-mail:

Kia Ora, My name is Sasha Perry, mid 2015 I performed on the Good Morning Show and shared the TVNZ green room with John Key.

John Key just starts talking in my direction saying You know if youre doing well, you should look into Mossack Fonseca. Or Invest into Mossack Fonseca. I did not remember the Fonseca part just the Mossack part because it sounded like Ballsacks and anyone who has spent time with John Key would understand why my brain did that.



By now Im totally looking the other way because I dont care about money or White Prime Ministers who dont return Maori Land back to Maori. Bedsides the point, but just so you get what the Conversation was like. After seeing I had no interest in what he was saying, John decides to name drop. My friend Donald Trump He said his whole name like that was going to impress me in some way. My Friend, Donald Trump, got me onto them years ago. Or something, along those lines, John said. I, being whangai to a lot of Maori houses growing up, just replied, This is Maori land, give it back, History will only remember you as a racist thief. Something along those lines, and carried on with my life. I never thought about that day again, my performance wasnt much to write about, and I never think about John Key, until a couple of days ago



I was watching an episode of Democracy Now. Which I had never seen before, but the show has been around for 20 years so you can decide if it can be trusted or not. Up comes an insert about the Panama Papers. In Democracy Now, they mention the lawyer firm or investment firm, Mossack Fonseca.



Mossack Fonseca, the same name John Key had spoke at me.



I googled it.



Wikipedia told me, The Panama Papers is a bunch of leaked files showing how some rich and heads of state, havent been paying taxes. Its probably a lot worse than that, but surely if John Key is involved, there would be enough evidence to have him held accountable for ripping off the people of Aotearoa?



So I googled to see if John Key and, or Donald Trump where named in these files. Both names came up linked to the files. I then googled to see if John Key had been in anyway questioned by the New Zealand media about his involvement. John Key was accused of being involved and he was able to say it was a mix up with the Cook Islands.



What?



I guess I would like to know.



A. Why is John Key saying he has left politics for family, when it is obvious he is running away from this scandal that has already forced the resignation of other leaders around the world? Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson, Icelands Prime Minister resigned as did Prime Minister Joseph Musca of Malta.



B. Why did our media help him hide his theft?



Ok thanks heaps for your time. I have no idea how these things are meant to be written but if someone could please explain this all to me, because all I can see is our illegal English government ripping off Maori, and the people of Aotearoa, while the media helps make that happen.



I cant remember what episode we were on but this is a link to our performance and on the episode John was defending touching a little girls hair. TVNZ should have records that will confirm that we were in the green room and adjacent hallway at the same time.
Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman during a telephone conversation with President of the European Council Donald Tusk have discussed the issue of the introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukrainians by the EU and the completion of the ratification of the Association Agreement.

"We synchronized watches together with the president of the European Council on such priority issues on the agenda of our relations as the introduction of a visa-free regime for citizens of Ukraine and the completion of the ratification of the Association Agreement. We agreed that the close cooperation and constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation should determine the content of EU-Ukraine relations in the future," Groysman wrote on his Facebook page on Monday.

Ukrainian PM said that the conversation was particularly important due to the fact that he could not take part in today's meeting of the Council of the EU-Ukraine Association in Brussels.

"The government has approached this meeting of the Association Council with specific results in the implementation of internal reforms, which have been positively marked by our European partners," Groysman said.

As reported, on December 15 the information which was posted on the website of the European Parliament said that European MPs planned to consider the issue of granting a visa-free regime to Ukraine at the plenary session, which was to be held on April 3, 2017. However, after some time, this information was removed from the site.
Three indicted in East Tennessee healthcare fraud scheme

December 19, 2016 at 2:55 p.m.





Left: Scott McClain, Right: Melinda Church allegedly involved in a healthcare fraud scheme.

KNOXVILLE  Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have obtained indictments for three people in connection with a case involving healthcare fraud at a former medical practice in Knoxville.



In August 2009, TBI Special Agents with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit received information pertaining to healthcare fraud and the illegal distribution of narcotics at Horizon Family Medicine, formerly located in Knoxville. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that between January 2009 and June 2012, Scott McClain and Melinda Church were involved in a fraudulent scheme that required patients to undergo unnecessary medical testing and procedures. Further investigation revealed that McLain, a physician, along with Church, a nurse practitioner, devised the scheme in an effort to generate more revenue for their medical practice. A third person was also indicted but has been exonerated.











Last week, the Knox County Grand Jury returned indictments charging McLain and Church with Theft over $60,000 and Computer Crimes over $60,000. On Wednesday, McLain, 47, was arrested in South Dakota by Agents with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He is currently being held in the Union County Jail in South Dakota, pending extradition to Tennessee. On Thursday, Church, 61, was arrested in Morristown. Both were booked into the Knox County Jail and released on a $10,000 bond. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with specific information pertaining to this investigation should contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.






There are some profound differences between NATO and Russia on the Ukrainian crisis, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said following the NATO-Russia Council meeting in Brussels on Monday.

The Ukrainian crisis was the first topic discussed at the meeting, Stoltenberg said.

"Today, Allies reiterated their strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Allies do not, and will not, recognise Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea," Stoltenberg said in a statement published by the NATO press service.

"The situation in eastern Ukraine also remains of deep concern", while "ceasefire violations have reached record levels in recent months", Stoltenberg said. "Heavy weapons have not been withdrawn. And OSCE monitors have repeatedly become targets [of shelling]," he said.

Stoltenberg also pointed out that the Minsk Agreements that provide a plan for the settlement in eastern Ukraine, must be performed in full by their signatories.

"Allies called on Russia to use its considerable influence on the militants," Stoltenberg also said.
Interfax-Ukraine to host roundtable talk today at 16.00 'PrivatBank is becoming public - what does that mean?'

Today, on Monday, December 19, at 16.00, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host an expert roundtable talk "PrivatBank is Becoming Public - What does That Mean?"

The participants will include chief economist at Dragon Capital Olena Belan, Deputy Executive Director of the Center for Economic Strategy Maria Repko, a senior fellow at the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting Vitaliy Kravchuk (8/5a Reitarska Street). Admission requires press accreditation.
"British Viola" by Richard Yongjae ONeill / Courtesy of Credia







Violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill poses during a press conference in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

By Yun Suh-young

American violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill, highly popular among Koreans, released a new solo album Monday, four years since his seventh solo album was released in 2012.

"It's a very special album which features the first piece I ever heard on the viola and it's the reason why I play the viola," said O'Neill, during a press conference held in Seoul, Monday, to introduce the album to the public.

"I was told to listen to Walton's album when I was playing in an orchestra for my community when I was 13. I come from a very small town in Washington state and I mention that because a lot of my inspiration as an artist comes from that period  my childhood, my early adolescence. So I went home and listened and at first I thought it was weird. It's dark with dissonant chords... But I listened again and again and I became hooked on this piece. It has an amazing story. It begins and ends in the same place and it's not a particularly happy ending," said the violist.

The Deutsche Grammophon-released album "British Viola" features his live performance recording with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis in 2013 and concertos for viola and orchestra composed by William Walton, a representative British composer of the 20th century.

"I've been a fan of Sir Andrew Davis for a very long time. As a child I had his recording and it was a huge privilege to work with him. He has an incredible sense of humor and is dear friends with the violinists in my quartet. Working with the BBC orchestra was a tremendous honor," said the violist, who has become popular among Koreans since his appearance on the "Human Theater" documentary series in 2004, and for his maternal Korean heritage.

His eighth album, "British Viola," features only pieces that are composed by British composers. It's an "homage to all the viola repertoires of the century" according to the violist.

"A huge majority of repertoire written for the viola has originated from the UK. It has a long history, longer than any other country featuring the viola as a solo instrument," said the artist as to why only British pieces were included in the album.

"I've always felt that there's always bad weather in Britain  fog, rain and winters are dreary. The countryside is beautiful but not incredibly pleasant  it's mysterious. That to me evoked the spirit of viola."

The live performance recording with the BBC orchestra playing Walton's pieces is featured for the first time in his album as well as pieces by British composers Frank Bridge, York Bowen, and Benjamin Britten. Steven Lin, a rising Taiwanese American pianist who won the Silver Prize at the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Competition in Israel in 2014, accompanied O'Neill on the piano.

"I found Steven Lin at a festival a few years ago and he was a young artist at the time and I was very impressed. He developed into a tremendous young artist. He came to the recording absolutely prepared and rock solid," said O'Neill, recalling his experience recording with the pianist.

"Recording is a difficult process. We really do many takes because it has to be a perfect performance. He was always spot on. It's such a delight to see him grow into a formidable artist."

O'Neill also had a showcase scheduled Monday night at Club Octagon in Gangnam, southern Seoul, to introduce his new album via the "Yellow Lounge Seoul" stage.

"I'm all for reaching out to a new audience and part of that is departing from the typical concert venue and traveling to unconventional places. I have a little bit of experience in New York. A lot of new music happens in downtown New York. A lot of traditional music happens in Carnegie Hall but a lot of experimental music happens in unconventional venues downtown and I'm looking forward to the performance tonight," said O'Neill.

"The Viola is a beautiful instrument of immense colors and emotional power and has been overlooked as a solo vehicle for many years. It's a beautiful thing to be part of a young generation of soloists fighting to make the viola a prominent solo instrument."
Chief prosecutor Bae Young-won, left, announces at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Monday, that "Beautiful Woman" by the late artist Chun Kyung-ja is genuine after an investigation. Yonhap



By Kwon Mee-yoo

Chun Kyung-ja

The late artist Chun Kyung-ja's "Beautiful Woman" was appraised as genuine by the prosecution Monday, putting an end to the largest forgery scandal in Korean art history since the painting surfaced in 1991.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced the results of the investigation, concluding that the techniques correspond with Chun's style based on scientific methods, expert's discernment and provenance.

Chun's family, led by her second daughter Kim Jeong-hee, filed complaints against National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) officials, including director Bartomeu Mari, in June, claiming the museum assessed the artwork as authentic despite the artist's denial.

The prosecution cleared five of them including director Mari of suspicion and charged a former MMCA official without detention for defaming the dead.

The prosecution asked experts to look at the painting and assess it with their eyes as well as employing scientific methods such as X-ray, far infrared, computer image analysis and DNA analysis and they judged that the painting has Chun's characteristic brush strokes.

The painting in question was painted over several times and a rare stone color often used by the artist, but not reproducible by forgers, was applied. It also had embossed lines, invisible to the naked eye, a feature of Chun's work.

It was modified during sketches and the prosecution said forged paintings usually do not have layers of different sketches beneath the final painting.

Nine appraisers appointed by the prosecution were also inclined to believe the painting was genuine as it has distinctive traits of Chun's style such as brushstrokes and the stone color.

The prosecution also traced the provenance of "Beautiful Woman" and confirmed it came from Kim Jae-gyu, the head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) who assassinated President Park Chung-hee in 1979.

According to the prosecution, Chun gifted two paintings including "Beautiful Woman" to a KCIA executive in 1977. The executive's wife, who had attended the same university as Kim Jae-gyu's wife, gave those to Kim Jae-gyu. Later, Kim Jae-gyu's property was confiscated and the art pieces were transferred to the MMCA in the end.

"We employed all kinds of appraisal methods to discern the authenticity of the painting, since it is one of Korea's major counterfeit scandals lasting 25 years," an official of the prosecution said.
By Chung Hyun-chae



A video in which a Korean diplomat in Chile sexually harassed a local teenage girl has been broadcast there, Sunday, fueling outrage among Chileans.



Investigative journalism program "En Su Propia Trampa" (In Your Own Trap) by Chilean broadcasting company Canal 13, revealed a preview of the program, Thursday, ahead of the scheduled broadcast on Sunday night.



In the hidden camera footage, a Korean diplomat, surnamed Park, tries to kiss a young Chilean girl, puts his arm around her neck and forcibly takes the girl to his home, seizing her by the wrist.



The broadcaster investigated the case after an underage girl, who was receiving Korean language lessons from Park, reported he had molested her.



The broadcaster had another girl approach Park on hidden camera to see whether he would harass her as well. Falling into the trap set by the broadcaster, Park tried to initiate inappropriate physical contact.



After the program producers revealed he was on camera, the diplomat begged them not to air the footage. The scene of his begging was also included in the video.



Park has been suspended from duty, according to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



The ministry said it will interrogate him and take punitive action, adding he may face criminal charges. It plans to revoke diplomatic immunity.



Korean communities in Chile, comprised of about 3,000 Korean residents, are worried the case might have a negative impact on the country's image. Chile is one of the Latin American countries where hallyu, or the Korean wave, has been gaining popularity.



Many Korean internet users are criticizing Park. "He should be ostracized from

society," a blogger with ID barb**** said. "He is a national disgrace."




Vice Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Lee Jun-won drinks water during a press briefing at the Sejong Government Complex, Monday, on the government's measures to deal with avian influenza. The ministry said the bird flu has been caused by two types of virus. / Yonhap



Poor government guidelines fail to contain spread



By Kim Rahn

A second strain of avian influenza has been found in addition to an already reported one, accelerating the unprecedentedly fast-spreading epidemic.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Monday a highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of the flu virus was found in a wild bird's excrement near Anseong Stream in Gyeonggi Province. This strain is the same one that spread in 2014, but different from H5N6, which has swept the country except for Jeju Island since November.

This is the first time two types of avian flu virus have spread here together, posing a greater burden on quarantine authorities' efforts to contain the epidemic.

The ministry is investigating how the new virus reached Korea. "We are not ruling out the possibility that the H5N8 strain had remained dormant since the outbreak two years ago and was recently rediscovered," a ministry official said.

Nearly 20 million chickens and ducks have been culled across the country since the first report of the disease on Nov. 16.

The epidemic has hit a zoo as well.

According to Seoul Metropolitan Government that runs Seoul Zoo in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, an H5 virus was detected in two dead storks and five mandarin ducks there. It is not known yet whether it is H5N6 or H5N8.

This was the first bird flu outbreak inside the zoo. The zoo has been closed since Saturday after the storks died.

To prevent further contamination, the zoo authorities culled the five mandarin ducks and another three that had been raised in the same cage. Mandarin ducks are designated as a natural monument and it is the first time for the zoo to cull an animal designated as such.

"We are examining 120 birds from 11 species kept in nearby cages and will look into more birds here," a city official said. "We'll close down the zoo until no virus is detected."

While the authorities are increasing their quarantine workforce, critics attributed the spread of the disease partly to the government guidelines on avian influenza because they contain only vague measures without detailed actions on each level of the alert.

For example, in the "vigilant" level, the second-highest level, the guidelines state the government shall "consider" ordering a nationwide standstill, without making such measure mandatory.

In the "serious" level, the highest one, it says the government shall also "consider" closing down traditional markets selling poultry. It also states the ministry "may suggest" setting up a central government-led disaster control headquarters for the disease "if necessary."

The Korea Federation for Environmental Movements said the vague guidelines lead to makeshift countermeasures every time the disease breaks out.

"The bird flu epidemic, which has been repeated for 13 years, shows the state does not have a responsible control tower," the group said in a statement. "The ministry, which should be the control tower, only blames migratory birds, and it is the animals and farmers that suffer."
Thirteen foreigners had reported health problems allegedly caused by toxic humidifier sterilizers as of last month. The photo shows a range of toxic humidifier disinfectants. / Korea Times file





By Lee Jin-a

Thirteen foreign residents reported health problems allegedly from toxic humidifier sterilizers, a civic environmental health organization said Sunday.

According to the Asian Citizens' Center on Environment and Health (ACCEH), the foreigners  among 5,226 people  had reported health problems to the Environment Ministry as of November.

Five were from China, three from the U.S. and two from Canada. A Japanese, Taiwanese and Malaysian also reported problems.

The foreign residents reported their injuries from last year throughout this year.

But, the Korean government has not started inspections or made decisions about their cases.

According to the ACCEH, a U.S.-born English teacher, one of the 13 foreigners, had an asthma attack after using a harmful Oxy Reckitt Benckiser humidifier sterilizer at his workplace for several years.

The man, who has lived here for more than 10 years, is married to a Korean.

"There might be more foreign victims who could not report their problems due to language barriers," said a spokesperson for the organization.

"The Health Ministry, the Labor Ministry and local governments should provide special services for foreign residents to check their use of toxic sterilizers and provide these people with information about the possible health hazards."

In August 2014, 13 people who had suffered health problems from using toxic humidifier sterilizers from February 2008 until April 2011 filed a suit against the government and companies that made the hazardous products, seeking compensation for injuries or death.

Last month, Seoul Central District Court found that one company  Seoul-based Butterfly Effect, which manufactured sterilizer brand Cefu  responsible for suffering and ordered it to pay 100 million won ($84,000) each to parents whose children died using its sterilizer.

The court also ordered the company to pay compensation ranging from 10 million to 30 million won to other victims.

Other companies, except for Butterfly Effect (now defunct), were not subject to the ruling because they had reached settlements.

However, the court freed the government from liability to compensate, citing lack of evidence.
By Kim Bo-eun



The independent counsel team investigating the Choi Soon-sil scandal plans to search President Park Geun-hye's office.



It plans to request multiple warrants to raid several rooms of the presidential office, including the security office and clinic, which are not considered classified zones, officials from the special investigation team said.



This is to counter Cheong Wa Dae's claims that the entire presidential office cannot be subject to searches as it is a security zone holding classified military and government information.



The presidential office refused to allow the prosecution to search offices in October, citing the confidentiality of state secrets.



The clinic is considered key to getting to the bottom of suspicions on the President's whereabouts on the day of the Sewol ferry disaster, as she is suspected of having received cosmetic treatment that day.



The team said it is considering a forced search if Cheong Wa Dae does not cooperate, but will continue negotiations for the time being.



Over the weekend, the team started summoning officials of conglomerates involved in the scandal.



It summoned Park Sang-jin, Samsung Electronics' chief of external affairs, and several Lotte Group executives, Sunday.



The team questioned Park Sang-jin over whether Samsung provided funds to Choi and her daughter in exchange for business favors from the President. Park Sang-jin, who is also chief of the Korea Equestrian Federation, is suspected of having provided 3.5 billion won for Choi as expenses to purchase a horse for her daughter who is a dressage competitor.



The team also looked into Lotte's second "donation" of 7 billion won to the Mir and K-Sports foundations controlled by Choi, which was later returned. It is suspected that Cheong Wa Dae pressured Lotte to provide additional funds to the foundations in return for exerting influence on the prosecution's investigations into the group's alleged irregularities at the time.



The summons of the corporate executives shows the counsel team is turning its eyes toward the third-party bribery allegations.



The prosecution earlier named the President as an accomplice of her former aides and Choi in acquiring funds from conglomerates for the foundations set up for Choi's benefit.



Third-party bribery applies when a public official (Park) receives a request for influence-peddling and in return makes the requesters (conglomerates) provide bribes to a third party (Choi).



The team is expected to conduct searches based on testimonies provided.



Spokesman Lee Kyu-chul said, "Raids can be conducted ahead of the official launch of investigations." The official launch will be Wednesday when the team plans to put up its signboard at its office. The team has 20 days to prepare and 70 days to conduct its investigation, which can be extended by 30 days if deemed necessary.




By Kim Hyo-jin







Rep. Yi Wan-young

Another Saenuri Party lawmaker allegedly told a witness in the corruption investigation of President Park Geun-hye and her friend Choi Soon-sil to give false testimony about key evidence during a National Assembly hearing.

According to the JoongAng Ilbo, Rep. Yi Wan-young, a lawmaker loyal to the impeached President, met with Chung Tong-choon, chairman of the K-Sports Foundation controlled by Choi, prior to the hearing and told him to lie about a tablet PC, the key evidence of Choi allegedly meddling in state affairs.

This report comes a day after one that Rep. Lee Man-hee of the Saenuri Party attempted to get Park Heon-young, a former staffer at the K-Sports Foundation and another witness at the hearing, to also commit perjury.

The two lawmakers belong to a National Assembly panel tasked with investigating the corruption scandal.

The allegation brought a severe backlash from the opposition parties. They raised questions about the lawmakers' qualifications to be members of the fact-finding panel, calling for their resignation.

"I heard Yi suggested Chung make it look like the tablet PC belonged to Ko Young-tae, a former close friend of Choi, and that it was stolen by JTBC," Roh Seung-il, a staffer at the foundation, told the newspaper, saying he heard it from Park Heon-young, a former colleague who appeared at the hearing along with Chung.

The corruption scandal surfaced in October after local broadcaster JTBC disclosed a tablet PC presumed to be used by Choi. It contained multiple files including presidential addresses and classified government documents.

Choi was indicted in late November and is now on trial for extorting tens of millions of dollars from conglomerates to set up the Mir and K-Sports foundations, and meddling in state affairs with access to internal government documents. The prosecution cited President Park as an accomplice in Choi's indictment documents, making her a criminal suspect.

Even though the prosecution concluded that Choi was the owner of the tablet PC, she still denies it belongs to her.

At the Assembly hearing Thursday, Rep. Lee Man-hee questioned Park Heon-young about the computer and he gave the alleged preplanned responses.

During the session, Lee asked, "Have you seen the tablet PC reported by JTBC?" Park responded, "I believe that's the PC I've seen with Ko. He used to carry it around and asked me to buy a charger for it one day."

Amid the worsening controversy, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) requested the Assembly panel replace the two accused lawmakers, calling their actions a potential crime.

"If it is true that the two panel members instigated the witnesses to give false testimony, it can be defined as a criminal act," DPK floor leader Rep. Woo Sang-ho said. "This can be a reason to dismiss them from working on the panel."

Ko and Park Heon-young are scheduled to appear at the fifth televised hearing of the National Assembly, Thursday. Opposition lawmakers are expected to grill them over the "testimony conspiracy."

Later, Yi Wan-young denied the accusation, saying he met Chung at his request and heard from him that the PC belonged to Ko, not Choi.

"I've never asked anyone to perjure themselves," he said during a panel meeting. "It was Chung who told me that Park said the PC belongs to Ko."
The planned China-Thailand railway linking the Thai-Lao border with Bangkok will benefit Thailand as the high-speed railway is expected to improve local people's livelihood, the Thai transport minister said. [Photo: Xinhua]

The planned China-Thailand railway linking the Thai-Lao border with Bangkok will benefit Thailand as the high-speed railway is expected to improve local people's livelihood, the Thai transport minister said.

"We don't have a high-speed railway here in Thailand yet, but we foresee that high-speed railways can bring change to the life of Thais, as (what has been) proved in China," Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said in an interview with Xinhua.

He believed that once the traveling time from Bangkok to cities along the railway is cut to one or two hours, these cities with railway stations may have a great chance to attract more people and investment becasue of the high living costs in Bangkok.

"The economic benefit is much higher than financial return," he said, adding that he learned from China that high-speed railways did help cities to attraction more population and investment.

Arkhom also mentioned that the 873-km railway can help bring more Chinese tourists to the kingdom and thus benefit its tourism.

"The traveling time from the northeastern Nong Khai province on the Thai-Lao border to Thai capital Bangkok will be shorter and it may attract Chinese tourists who like to travel by train," he said.

Around 8 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand in 2015 and the number for Chinese tourists this year is expected to exceed 9 million. China is now the largest source of visitors to Thailand, accounting for about 30 percent of all international tourists.

Lao people may also find the railway a convenient means of transport for them, as one-seventh of the landlocked country's 7 million population visited Thailand yearly.

Once the China-Thailand railway gets connected with the China-Laos railway, it would take around 4 hours to travel from the Lao capital of Vientiane to Bangkok, Arkhom said, adding that train tickets between the two capitals would become more competitive compared with airfares.

The minister said the railway is also to benefit China as it can thus be connected with Southeast Asia, where Chinese goods and commodities can be transported to Thai ports through Thai railways.

In the meantime, he pointed out that the China-Thailand railway with a maximum speed of 250 km per hour will be only for passenger transportation while cargos will be handled on the existing meter-gauge railways.

The Thai government decided to divide the project into two phases and build a 256-km railway from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima first. The remaining part will link Nakhon Ratchasima with Nong Khai.

According to Arkhom, the construction of an initial 3.5 km section will start soon after a bidding in early 2017, which will be followed by other sections of the first phase. The design work of the second phase, Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai will also begin early next year.

He said the first phase may finish in 3 years and the whole project may take 5 years and the railway will also be extended to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur and finally Singapore.

Regional connectivity, which the Belt and Road Initiative emphasizes, will finally benefit the whole region, Arkhom said.

During the interview, Arkhom denied that China ever asked for development rights to land alongside the China-Thailand railway, as there were reports by local media alleging China wanted to be involved in the commercial development of these land.

"I think it is clear since we started the cooperation, commercial development and business will be part of Thailand," said Arkhom.

He said that either the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will consider commercial development inside and outside of the stations and on both sides of the railway or the state-owned rail operator can give the rights to development to private sectors through a public-private partnership.

In that case, he explained, a Chinese company can join hands with a Thai firm to be a part of the land development.

Arkhom praised Chinese companies for their advanced technology, saying they can team up with local companies to participate in infrastructure projects.

According to the minister, Thailand has rolled out infrastructure programs with 65 billion U.S. dollars in the next 8 years. Some 10 metro lines will be built in Bangkok and its adjacent provinces.

He said Chinese companies can bid for these planned metro lines but they have to team up with a local company to join the biding, according to Thai laws and regulations.

"Some Chinese companies are already doing this way as we can find a Chinese company in the construction of Bangkok's blue line extension," Arkhom said. A Chinese firm is also joining hands with Thai companies in the planned high-speed railway between Bangkok to Rayong.
By Jung Min-ho



Nine justices of the Constitutional Court are deliberating to set the date for the first encounter between representatives of President Geun-hye and the National Assembly over impeachment.



The court said Monday it will determine this week the date for the first meeting between the representatives for a pre-trial hearing.



This is where the two sides present their plans for the trial hearings.



The two sides will clash over whether Park should retain the post despite her alleged violations of the law and political chaos her actions have created. By the end of the year, the representatives are expected to have two or three more hearings.



The prosecution has concluded that the President committed five Constitutional violations and eight legal offenses, but Cheong Wa Dae has denied them all.



To develop its own view over her alleged crimes, the court last week asked the prosecution and Park Young-soo, the special prosecutor appointed to investigate the case, to share the evidence they have collected, but has not received anything yet.



The Assembly aims to provide the court with its plans on how to prove the President's alleged crimes by Wednesday. Cheong Wa Dae has already provided a 24-page defense last Friday.



Since the case was brought to the court on Dec. 9, the justices have worked day and night to speed up their deliberations. With the terms for two justices _ Park Han-chul and Lee Jung-mi _ set to end on Jan. 31 and March 14, respectively, they are under great time pressure. The process of appointing their successors could delay the court proceedings significantly as the appointment process will certainly be difficult with the ongoing political tug of war.



Even if the court concludes that she committed constitutional violations or legal offenses, they have to be "grave enough" for impeachment. In 2004, the court rejected the impeachment push against then-President Roh Moo-hyun, saying his legal offenses were not grave.




Korea's top foreign language learning websites have been fined for using deceptive and exaggerated advertisements, according to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC). / Screencaptured from the Internet



By Hong Dam-young

Korea's top foreign language learning websites have been fined for using deceptive and exaggerated advertisements, according to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC).

The FTC said on Sunday it had slapped a 30.5 million won ($25,700) fine and issued correction orders on 10 popular institutes that run foreign language learning websites  such as YBM Sisa, Pagodastar, Siwon School, EBSLANG, and Global21  for deceptive advertising about discounts, enrolment deadlines and refund policies.

Most websites offered a free-pass coupon, offering access to all online classes at a discount from an unreasonably high sale price.

For example, they offered the coupon for 440,000 won, a 98 percent discount from the total price of 15.83 million won for all classes.

But the FTC noted that setting an original price that had no previous record of purchase violated advertising law.

Other violations included keeping classes running while alerting netizens that the deadline for signing up was imminent, and promoting classes with celebrities who did not even take them.

Some websites shortened the refund period from seven to three days, which violated law.

The e-learning operators are flexible in that although service providers are gaining subscribers, they need not invest in additional expansion costs because of the nature of online platforms.

Such an environment was a low-risk for operators, who frequently attracted netizens with false advertisements, according to the FTC.

"Most of those websites have made corrections to their ads as a result of the crackdown," an official said.

"We will continue the crackdown on such websites that keep using deceptive advertising."
By Jun Ji-hye



The investigation team led by independent counsel Park Young-soo has secured document files to prove that Choi Soon-sil, the close friend of impeached President Park Geun-hye, intervened in the appointments of high-ranking government officials, according to sources Monday.



Choi is at the center of the corruption and influence-peddling scandal that led to Park's impeachment by the National Assembly, Dec. 9.



The sources said the independent investigation team secured two kinds of files.



One was the draft version of a list of candidates drawn up by the Park government to appoint the prime minister, National Intelligence Service director, prosecutor general, ministers and vice ministers. Jeong Ho-sung, Park's former personal secretary, sent this file to Choi.



The other was the modified version that Choi sent back to Jeong. It is unknown which candidates Choi modified, but the modified version reportedly accorded substantially with the actual appointments.



Previously, the prosecution confirmed that Park ordered Jeong to send the list of candidates to Choi to listen to "her opinions" in 2013, right after Park was sworn in, and Jeong did so. Both Choi and Jeong were arrested by the prosecution.



When wrapping up its investigation, Dec. 11, the prosecution handed over its investigation records to the independent counsel. The special prosecutor confirmed that Choi actually modified the list, sources noted. This was the first time that Choi's modification of the list was confirmed.



The independent investigation team is paying keen attention to the possibility that Choi, with no government position or security clearance, exerted major influence upon the appointments of high-ranking officials rather than giving "conventional advice" to the President. The team is also looking into the possibility that Park was aware that Choi modified the list.



The team is planning to summon Choi and Jeong to find out the truth.



Political observers noted that if Choi's suspected influence peddling in the government's appointments turns out to be an undeniable fact, this will also affect the impeachment trial of the Constitutional Court that is currently conducting deliberations on whether to rule for or against the President's impeachment.



Opposition lawmakers have claimed that Choi's suspected influence peddling in state affairs violated the country's representative democracy.



For her part, the impeached President denied all suspicions in her written statement on the impeachment charges, submitted to the Constitutional Court Friday and unveiled Sunday.



She said she ordered her aide to send Choi presidential speeches only, and she did not know how other documents were leaked to Choi.



Park also said even if she reflected her friend's opinions in state affairs, "It was a socially accepted idea," saying former presidents also did so.




Ruling Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Chung Woo-taik, center, leaves the office of main opposition Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Woo Sang-ho at the National Assembly, Monday, after his request for a meeting with Woo was rejected.

/ Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo

Opposition leaders refused to meet the newly elected floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, Monday, claiming that they will not accept President Park Geun-hye's followers as their counterparts.

Rep. Chung Woo-taik, a four-term lawmaker who is loyal to the President, was elected as the ruling side's new floor leader on Friday, but the opposition has been refusing talks with a Saenuri Party controlled by the pro-Park faction.

In the wake of the corruption scandal involving President Park and her confidant Choi Soon-sil that led to impeaching the President, opposition parties are claiming that the pro-Park faction is a collaborator in the wrongdoing.

"I will wait with patience. We need to beg for forgiveness from the people," Chung said after being given the cold shoulder on his visit to the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). "We will take time and endure everything, and become a negotiation partner for the opposition parties."

DPK floor leader Woo Sang-ho called Chung's courtesy visit a "political show" to pass the blame for the political tension to the opposition bloc.

"We did not shut Chung out, but he visited us without advance notice. Such a political show should stop," Woo said.

"We decided to delay talks with the Saenuri Party, in order to deliver the public anger to its election of Park's loyalists as its leadership, but he ignored it."

However, the Saenuri floor leader was able to meet with National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun and asked him to help settle the political quandary.

The floor leader also held a meeting with Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho.

"The uncertainty in the economic field has been rising due to the rate hike in the United States. We would like to ask parliament to support the passing of bills that can help the economy," Yoo said.
Ban Ki-moon

By Kang Seung-woo

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has criticized President Park Geun-hye for betraying the public trust, describing the corruption scandal involving her and her friend Choi Soon-sil as the country's "biggest political turmoil since the Korean War."

This is in stark contrast to the long-circulating rumors that he is backed by Park and her loyalists as the ruling party's candidate for the next presidency.

"I believe that during my seven-decades-long life as a South Korean citizen, we have not been experiencing this kind of political turmoil except when the... Korean War broke out," the outgoing U.N. chief said. The comment was made at a discussion organized by the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Saturday.

"The people were very much frustrated and angry about the complete lack of good governance. And they believed that the trust on and for the leadership of the country was betrayed."

He added: "That's why people became much more frustrated and angry. And I fully understand this situation."

This was his latest comment on the current political turbulence in Korea  an apparent move to distance himself from the impeached President before possibly declaring his own candidacy for the presidency.

Ban, whose U.N. term ends at the end of the year, is highly anticipated to run in next year's presidential election.

"I hope that this will give up good lessons  good lessons to the leadership people of Korean society, whether political, economic or social. One must show the public common good ahead of their personal or organizational interest. That's what we have to learn," Ban said.

In his final U.N. press conference, last week, Ban also said he understood "the aspiration of people for a new type of inclusive leadership that can help them overcome the challenges ahead"  an indication he thinks he is the right person to provide it.

Political analysts believe his recent strong comments indicate that Ban is cranking up his presidential ambitions.

"Distancing himself from President Park, Ban seems to be taking the next step toward the presidency," said Yoon Tae-gon, a senior political analyst at Moa Agenda Strategy.

"Until he returns home, Ban is expected to take a similar stance in the United States."

President Park's stunning fall has adversely affected Ban's presidential ambitions as he was highly expected to join her Saenuri Party to run in the election, scheduled for December 2017.

However, since the corruption scandal broke in late October, Ban's once untouchable lead has been eroding in polls on potential presidential candidates, falling behind Moon Jae-in, a former chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).

A new Realmeter survey found, Monday, that Moon ranked first with 23.7 percent, up 0.6 percentage points from a week earlier, while Ban was second with 20.5 percent, up 1.7 percentage points over the cited period.

Despite the differentiation strategy, he once again failed to publicly declare his candidacy.

"I am extremely busy... so I don't have time to think about that," he said.

"When Jan. 1st comes, when I become a private citizen of the Republic of Korea, then I have to think seriously how best and what I can contribute to this situation. That's what I can tell you at this time... But for more than that, maybe you may have to wait until Jan. 1."

The DPK has begun to try and keep Ban, Moon's potential biggest challenge, in check.

"Ban is devising a scenario that will label him a savior to resolve the current political turmoil," said Rep. Park Kyung-mee, a DPK spokeswoman. "It just looks ridiculous."
By Jun Ji-hye



The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) will begin discussions this week on how to select a candidate for a possible early presidential election, party officials said Monday.



The 19th presidential election may take place within the first half of next year, instead of December, if the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment of scandal-ridden President Park Geun-hye. The election should be held within 60 days after the ruling, according to the Constitution.



The top court can spend up to six months in its deliberations, but the party apparently believes that it may spend only two to three months before making a decision, considering the Assembly's overwhelming support for the impeachment in addition to the mounting calls from the public for her immediate resignation.



"We will form a panel to work on the party's constitution and regulations by this week and meet with potential presidential candidates," said Lee Won-wook who is in charge of strategic planning at the DPK.



The panel will decide the method of a primary election after collecting opinions from each candidate, he explained.



Calling on the Constitutional Court to conclude the impeachment trial by January, DPK Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae also said, Dec. 10, that the party will come up with various methods for the primary and suggest them to the candidates.



"Fairness will be the most important aspect in deciding the method of the primary," she said.



With the party beginning preparations for an early presidential poll in earnest, the potential candidates are also expected to be engaged in a verbal battle to induce the party to make the rules in his or her favor.



Currently, former DPK Chairman Moon Jae-in maintains his top place in opinion polls of potential presidential candidates.



He garnered 23.7 percent support, putting him in first place for the seventh consecutive week Monday, according to a Realmeter survey.



U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who will finish his term at the end of December, ranked second with 20.5 percent support, while Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung, who has gained popularity among young voters with his street speeches criticizing Park, ranked third with 14.9 percent support.



Ban has yet to decide on which party he would join if he runs in the presidential poll; while Lee belongs to the DPK.



Other potential candidates who belong to the DPK include Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, South Chungcheong Governor Ahn Hee-jung and four-term lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum.



Park was impeached for a corruption and influence-peddling scandal in which she is alleged to have allowed her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil, with no government position and security clearance, unlawful access to advance drafts of presidential documents, some of which were classified as confidential.



Park is also suspected of playing a role in pressuring local conglomerates into donating large sums of money to two dubious foundations controlled by Choi, according to the prosecution.




Saenuri Party lawmakers attend a meeting, presided over by Reps. Chong Jong-sup, Na Kyung-won and Lee Ju-young  fourth, fifth, and sixth from left  at the National Assembly, Thursday, to discuss a constitutional amendment. / Yonhap



Politicians call for decentralizing presidential power



By Kim Hyo-jin



A constitutional revision emerged as a hot button issue in the post-impeachment stage in politics here.



A broad consensus has been built among the political circle about the need to change the current five-year single-term presidential system that allows unbridled power for an elected president.



The country's biggest corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil propelled the issue to be a priority for the National Assembly.



The rival parties agreed to set up a special panel to discuss a constitutional revision two days after the scandal-ridden President was impeached with support of over two-thirds of the 300 Assemblymen.



The related talks are expected to be further buoyed by some politicians seeking political realignment ahead of an early presidential election.



"Korea has had seven leaders under the imperial presidential system and they were all unhappy and failed in the end," said Rep. Kim Moo-sung, the former Saenuri Pary leader who leads the revisionist movement in the ruling bloc.



"Whoever seizes power, he or she is doomed to fail as long as the system malfunctions. I hope we can elect the next leader under a new system."



Imperial presidency



When the legislature amended the Constitution in 1987 inspired by the civic-led democratization movement, its focus was guaranteeing the direct election of the President and limiting a possible long-term presidency.



That last constitutional revision, introducing the five-year, single-term presidency, however, left many loopholes in terms of checks and balances of presidential power, pundits say.



"The South Korean government has excessive rights in managing state affairs if you consider it can even propose bills and devise budget plans, which are left in the hands of the legislature in the U.S.," Lee Jun-han, a politics professor at Incheon National University, said.



Kim Sung-soo, also a professor of politics at Hanyang University agreed, saying "The presidential system inevitably channels power to the president. Even still, there should be some institutional measures to keep the government's policy implementations in check."



"In the U.S., they can be contained by the states' law, federal law or even through the Senate. Korea lacks tools to prevent the president from overstepping his or her authority."



The latest corruption scandal, where President Park shared her power with her unofficial confidant Choi Soon-sil, was viewed as the naked reality of an imperial presidency.



Politicians added fuel to talks of decentralizing the president's power.

A four-year, two-term presidency; parliamentary system; or semi-presidential system, under which the president would be responsible for foreign and national security affairs while the prime minister would be responsible for domestic affairs are being discussed as possible alternatives.



"The fate of the country has been left in the hands of one person. We need a power-sharing system to dispel such uncertainty," Lee Nae-young, a politics professor at Korea University, said, welcoming the burgeoning talks in the politics sphere.



Lee and Kim said even if the country seeks the parliamentary system, unstable party politics will be a stumbling block to make it work smoothly.



"Parties here often engage with factional politics, mobilize public support relying on popular politicians, political ideology or regionalism, without representing the interests of voters," Kim noted.



Lee said in order for the parliamentary system to function, reforming the electoral and party system should accompany it. He exemplified a fair process of nominating candidates and an increase in the number of lawmakers elected through the proportional representation system.



Pundits viewed the semi-presidential system negatively. They noted that there was little possibility of being able to divide foreign and domestic affairs successfully and a greater chance for the president and prime minister to clash repeatedly over the extent of their authority.





Ex-Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung gives a speech at a National Assembly seminar to discuss a constitutional amendment, Tuesday. / Yonhap



Timing



The consensus on the constitutional revision might have been made in the National Assembly. But revisionists are divided into two groups _ those pushing for it before the presidential election and those after.



The parties are waiting for the Constitutional Count's ruling on Park's impeachment which could take up to six months. If the impeachment is ruled lawful, presidential election must take place two months later, shortening Park's term which is supposed to end in December.



Ahead of an early presidential election, many remain cautious of pushing for the revision. Most notable presidential candidates agree on a timetable of doing this under the next administration.



Moon Jae-in, the former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) who is leading polls of possible candidates for the presidency, said he believes it is necessary to revise the Constitution in a way to contain possible abuse of presidential power but the the timing is not right.



"We need to meet the public needs reflected in the candlelit rallies first," he told reporters. "After mending the situation, presidential runners should present their ideas on the constitutional revision as their electoral pledges and the next government should carry out the task."



Ahn Cheol-soo, the ex-chairman of the minor opposition People's Party, said "What the people want is the Assembly to work on matters that affect their livelihoods. Leaving the discussion to develop naturally during the presidential campaign is the most rational approach."



Meanwhile, voices for an early revision still remain. Notable figures are Sohn Hak-kyu, a former opposition advisor; DPK lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum; and ex-Saenuri Party leader Kim Moo-sung.



Their arguments, however, are viewed as an attempt to shake up the existing playing field. Minor potential presidential runners can expand their support by attracting the people or making alliances under the name of constitutional revision, analysts say.



Calls for the revision will hardly subside as long as political parties are seeking realignment ahead of the possible presidential election.



If Saenuri Party lawmakers aligned against President Park leave the party following a power struggle with Park loyalists, they will need to gain steam through a push for the constitutional revision.



The same goes for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is set to come back to the country and may run in the presidential race.



Prospects



Despite it being a much-talked issue, there is little possibility that a two-third majority of the 300 Assemblymen _ the minimum requirement for a constitutional revision _ will agree upon a single revision motion, according to DPK floor leader Woo Sang-ho.



"It was difficult to secure that many votes when pushing for the impeachment motion," he said. "Even if we have the number for a constitutional revision, there's a sharp division between those supporting the four-year, two-term presidency and those backing the parliamentary system."



He added a parliamentary system presumes that the Assembly is disbanded first, which means not many Assemblymen will give up their remaining terms.

The four-year term 20th Assembly was formed in April this year.



"Now there's no single politician mentioning the possibility of shortening their term. Once the official talks open, their true intentions will be revealed," Woo said.

Another issue is if public sentiment is ripe enough.



"Under the circumstances where public anger and distrust toward the politics are high, a discussion led by politicians will hardly gain momentum," a lawmaker said.

"We can push for the constitutional revision only when the public are truly onboard."
By Max Boot

ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson is by all accounts a shrewd, pragmatic and successful dealmaker. In another administration, he might have made an excellent secretary of state.

Serving a president with a strong moral grounding and certain fixed principles, such as Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush, he might have been successful in sanding off the rough edges and making the compromises necessary to get things done. But under Donald Trump, a man of few, if any, discernible principles beyond a desire for self-aggrandizement, he would be a dangerous choice because his role will be not just to implement policy but  more than most previous secretaries of State  to shape it.

As far as most foreign policy issues go, Tillerson is a tabula rasa. What does he think about the U.S. alliance with Israel? The U.S. policy toward Pakistan? The future of NATO? The North Korean nuclear program? Chinese aggression in the South China Sea? Syria and Iraq, Libya and Yemen? No one knows because he seldom has opined in public about non-energy issues.

To the extent that Tillerson has a track record, it is as an amoral businessman who has never hesitated to work with some of the world's most repressive and corrupt regimes in places such as Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Venezuela, Vietnam and of course Russia. Tillerson himself has said that he has "a very close relationship" with former KGB agent Vladimir Putin. He has negotiated multibillion-dollar oil deals with the state-controlled Rosneft oil company run by Putin crony Igor Sechin, another former KGB man, and he lobbied against the imposition of U.S. sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

It's hard to imagine Putin appointing someone who received a Medal of Freedom from America's president as his foreign minister, yet Tillerson received the Order of Friendship from Putin. Little wonder that pro-Kremlin commentators see his selection as "some kind of Christmas gift from the American people to the Russian people"  or, more properly, from Trump to Putin.

It's quite possible, as contended by former Secretary of Defense Bob Gates and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (whose consultancy counts ExxonMobil as a client), that Tillerson has no particular love for Putin and simply was doing what was best for his shareholders. But if Tillerson is not in favor of appeasing Russia, he has given no hint of it in the past. And if he is in favor of appeasing Russia, he will find little pushback from Trump, who has defended the Russian strongman from well-founded accusations that he murders his political opponents and meddled in the U.S. election.

Trump's national security advisor, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, also appears favorably predisposed toward the Kremlin. Last year, he accepted payment to attend a banquet in Moscow for the Kremlin's propaganda television station, RT, where he sat at a table near Putin himself.

Both Trump and Flynn seem to view Russia as an ally against Islamist extremism, which they believe is the No. 1 threat to the United States. Trump has even spoken of cooperating with Russia in Syria, where Putin's air force is helping the Assad regime slaughter civilians and moderate rebels in Aleppo.

In reality, the U.S. and Russia do not have congruent interests in Syria or most other places. Putin wants to prop up a pro-Iranian, anti-Israeli strongman; the U.S. goal should be to bring the civil war to an end in such a way that neither Sunni nor Shiite extremists are empowered. More broadly, the U.S. should be containing, rather than enabling, Putin as he attempts to resurrect the Russian empire and to dominate American allies in Eastern Europe.

The new secretary of Defense, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, undoubtedly understands these realities, as does Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the new CIA director, Rep. Mike Pompeo of Kansas. They can be expected to argue against a pro-Putin policy, and they might carry the day if they were to have the support of a secretary of State like former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, retired Gen. David Petraeus or retired Adm. James Stavridis, all of whom understand the nature of the Russian threat and the value of alliances such as NATO. But if the Senate confirms Tillerson, U.S. sanctions on Russia likely won't survive the administration's first 100 days  and if they are lifted, Putin will see that as a license for further aggression.

Congress will be able to do little if President Trump pursues a pro-Putin policy, but by rejecting Tillerson now, lawmakers can at least signal that not all Americans are ready to kneel before the Russian strongman.

Max Boot is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is a contributing writer to the Los Angeles Times' opinion section. This article was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
South Korea's Air Force has upgraded the capability of its F-16 fighter jets by equipping them with bombs and missiles capable of hitting key underground facilities in North Korea and shooting down combat aircraft at long range, officials said.

The completion of the upgrade enables the South Korean jets to fire AIM-120 mid-range air-to-air missiles, according to the Air Force. The missiles have a range of 50 to 180 kilometers.

They will also be equipped with GBU-31JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) air-to-ground guided bombs, which can hit underground military facilities and neutralize the North Korean leadership in the event of an emergency, it added.

The F-16 Peace Bridge Upgrade (PBU) project is part of the Air Force's efforts to enhance the overall capability of its frontline jets.

The U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets have played a key role in conducting air operations for the South Korean Air Force since their introduction in 1986.

But the need for the upgrade has been raised as existing electronic equipment on planes has been halted and precision weapons such as guided bombs cannot be installed in the original models, it said.

In November 2009, South Korea inked a deal to upgrade the F-16 combat planes with Lockheed Martin Corp. A total of around 30 jets have been improved since October 2013.

"The upgraded F-16 PBUs will have the same capability of the KF-16 jets and will operate as the main combat planes charged with defending South Korea's air," said an Air Force official

It added that Seoul will continue to make efforts to enhance its KF-16 fleet's combat readiness by installing advanced equipment including active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. (Yonhap)
By Doug Bandow



One of the world's leading industrial powers and America's most important allies no longer has a president in anything but name. And it will be months before a new, effective chief executive is in place in the Republic of Korea.



Today's imbroglio includes alleged undue private influence on the government and political shakedown of corporate chaebols, usual staples of past South Korean scandals. But added are the roles of an old family friend, a discarded tablet computer containing files of presidential documents, and a peculiarly Eastern element of a Shaman and old world spirituality.



President Park Geun-hye's narrow election victory in 2012 seemed to cement conservative control of the national government and led to a steadily tougher policy toward North Korea. Most notable was her closure of the Kaesong industrial park, cutting off nearly $100 million annually in hard currency for Pyongyang.



While her original popularity fade was typical for the South's succession of democratically elected presidents, the ongoing scandal reduced her approval rating to four percent. Mass demonstrations demanded her ouster. Members of her own party joined the overwhelming legislative majority in voting to impeach her.



She now is suspended. The acting president is Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who she had planned to replace, but whose successor had not been approved by the National Assembly.



The Constitutional Court must approve her ouster and could take months, four to six, most observers predict, to rule. If she is forced from office, a special election will have to be organized, even though the normal poll is scheduled for December.



However, her removal is by no means certain. Two-thirds of the nine judges must agree, and most of them were appointed by her Saenuri party. If the court fails to affirm her ouster, she will limp on as president until December, vilified by the public, afflicted by continuing demonstrations, and abandoned by her own party.



Whatever the Constitutional Court's decision, Park is political and legal road kill, facing prosecution the moment her presidential immunity expires. Already everyone is looking ahead to her successor. Acting President Hwang will have little authority  and none after the next election, whenever it is held.



Moon Jae-in leads the opposition party, lost narrowly to Park in 2012, and heads opinion surveys. He would seem to have the inside track to the presidency, but Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon has gained attention promoting left-wing causes and attacking Park. Another leftish activist on the rise is Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-Myeong, who calls himself the ROK's Bernie Sanders. Park's collapse leaves the opposition well-positioned to take control.



However, United Nations Secretary General Bank Ki-moon is likely to seek South Korea's presidency after his term expires at the end of December, as either the ruling party or an independent candidate. Ahn Cheol-soo heads a smaller party. He was a left-leaning contender in 2012 but ended up backing Moon.



Washington officials are less concerned about domestic ROK sensibilities and more worried about policy toward both North Korea and America. Hwang likely will be on auto-pilot, with little impact. Ahn has focused on domestic issues, while Ban's views are not clear, though he is presumed to lean in a more rightward direction.



Moon formally backs the South Korean alliance with America, but he has called for "balanced diplomacy" with the U.S. and China; many opposition activists oppose deployment of the anti-missile THAAD system. Moon also complained that sanctions won't end North Korea's nuclear program. The other potential opposition candidates are thought to generally share this perspective.



In practice, even when strongly critical of the U.S. South Korean leaders tend to reaffirm the trans-pacific military tie. After all, most South Koreans prefer to save money by having Americans pay for their defense.



If development of future policy must necessarily remain in abeyance, maintenance of the peace will remain first priority. The fact that the U.S., in the midst of its own power transition, must worry about the ROK's security is a reminder of the cost of antiquated, even "obsolete," to use the president-elect's term, alliances. Washington remains entangled and at risk.



Park's future matters only to her, but her successor matters to her countrymen  and, ultimately, to Americans. Incoming President Donald Trump should reconsider an alliance which makes the U.S. hostage to a shaman's ministrations in Seoul.



Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and a former special assistant to President Ronald Reagan. He is the author of "Tripwire: Korea and U.S. Foreign Policy in a Changed World" and co-author of "The Korean Conundrum: America's Troubled Relations with North and South Korea."




Liu Lin and her 93-year-old grandmother. (Photo/Chengdu Business Daily)

Liu Lin, a sophomore at Chengdu University, made a big decision this August. She decided to taken her 93-year-old grandmother from their hometown and live with her in a rented room just off campus.

Liu's family suffered a lot in 2016. In March, her grandmother broke her leg; in April, Liu's father passed away. Liu's mother, plagued by these events, lost the ability to take care of others.

"This was the only choice. No one else could care for her," Liu explained. Liu's grandmother has also had a hard life. The old woman's three sons have all died, and Liu couldn't leave her alone where nobody could look after her.

Liu Lin cooks a meal after class every day. (Photo/Chengdu Business Daily)

A room with two beds, a wardrobe, a desk and a table is the duo's new home in Chengdu. The room costs 600 RMB per month. Liu's younger brother works in the same city and spends most of his 2,000 RMB salary supporting the family.

"I was brought up by my grandma, and now it's my turn to take care of her," said Liu. When they were young, their capable grandmother "magically" prepared lunch on time for her grandchildren, even though she could not read a clock.

In the eyes of Liu's teacher Zhang Na, the girl is an exemplary student. Liu has applied for a work-study program at the university.

Liu Lin helps her grandmother to get up. (Photo/Chengdu Business Daily)

"Though taking care of her grandmother requires lots of energy, Liu has managed to stay on top of all her courses. She is even preparing for an English singing contest," Zhang said.

Liu declines financial help from others.

"It's kind of like reaping without sowing," she explained. At present, the girl is able to keep pace with her burden.
In the Annual Grimae Awards held December 15, 2016, Actor Yoon Kyun Sang, After School's UEE and Kang Hye-soo took home some of the most prestigious acting awards for the night.

Hosted by the Korean Television Producers Association (KTPA), It was held at the KBS Shin Kwan Hall.

The Rookie Actor Award went to Actor Yoon Kyun Sang for his artistic character roles in 'Six Flying Dragons' and 'Doctors', according to scoopnest.

Six Flying Dragons depicts the crash between Prince Lee Bang-won and Jeong Do-jeon.In the plot, Jeong Do-jeon helped King Taejo establish the nation of Joseon.

However, Prince Lee Bang- won turned out requiring the state ruled by his absolute power as against Jeong Do-jeon seeking the control of ministers instead.

It is where the conflict builds up. It became one of the primetime television hits during its air time.With the" Doctors," the actor became an established full-time resident artist at SBS having been seen in a series of dramas one after another such as Faith,The Time I've Loved Pinocchio, and his award-winning vehicle "Six Flying Dragons", as per allkpop.

Actor Yoon Kyun Sang's role in the' Doctors' is to meet the helpless gangster heroine who becomes a neuro-surgeon. He is an heir to a chaebol company.Surprisingly, hee has no liking for taking charge of the business, so he becomes a doctor instead.

As he favors a carefree behavior and a sweet romantic love life, he, by fate runs into the rebel heroine who equals his lifestyle.

Similarly, After School's UEE brought home the "Best Actress Award" that night for her outstanding performance in ''Marriage Contract''. In this drama, she is Kang Hye-soo, a widow who burdens in paying off her dead husband's debt while rearing a daughter.

She, however, is diagnosed with brain tumor. To ease things up a little bit and by luck, a rich chaebol wants to arrange a marriage for someone to help save his mother's life for a liver transplant.

She went on with this arrangement, agreed to part with a portion of her liver to the mother in exchange for an amount that would help her daughter have enough money to live by until she reaches adulthood.

The sacrifice she put into the arrangement makes the drama an interesting watch.

Kim Eung Soo for his part bagged the "Best Actor Award" for his portrayal as Toyotomi Hideyoshi.He is a poor peasant who excelled in the acts of war having fought for a group that honors strict family values and noble kinship.

That brought him to become the greatest ruler to the most industrialized and one of the world's dominant settlements in the world.It is in the historical film "The Imjin War 1592''.

The film traces the socio-political scenes between Myung - Joseon Dynasty and Japan during the Imjin War. The production included a big cast. Directors Kim Han Sol & Park Seong Joo took toe on the big production under the KBS1 label.
Akdong Musician (AKMU), comprises of K-Pop sibling duo, Lee Chanhyuk and Lee Suhyun, held their very first showcase 'AKMU Studio In Singapore' on 9th December 2016. Approximately 1,000 fans attended their first concert at Kallang Theatre.

The concert started with 'How People Move' from their new album, 'Spring' where they did a cute dance during the interlude of the song which made the crowd cheer loudly. They then sang 'Is It Ramen' and did an introduction of themselves in English. This made their fans cheered for them even more. They also expressed that they are currently studying different languages hoping to converse better to different fans from different countries. With that, Suhyun then said "I love you" in English and the fans loved it! Chanhyuk then explained that the set up on stage was filled with guitars and albums to recreate the look of a studio. They continued with 'Every Little Things' written by Chanhyuk himself as a reminder that as they work towards their goals, they should not miss out on the little things that brought them far.

They carried on the show with 'Re-Bye' which has a jazzy feel to it and 'Melted' which showcased Suhyun's soothing yet powerful vocals accompanied with the band and her brother. It is one song that really show how talented the duo are in singing!

AKMU then took a seat on stage and this brought us to the next part of the concert which was a mini interview. Dee Kosh, a famous DJ in Singapore came on stage to emcee the next section. The section started with Dee Kosh asking about Suhyun's new hair style, she replied that it was for a preparation of an upcoming album, giving the fans a hint that they will be having a comeback soon. Suhyun then commented that Dee Kosh hair was styled in a special way with all hair gelled standing up and he replied Suhyun that his hair was standing because they sang so well that his hair stood up. His reply made the siblings and the audience laughed. Chanhyuk also added that this was the first time that they are in Singapore and how this place had given them many memories. He said that one memory will be how supportive Singapore fans are. When questioned why, he further explained that there were so many fans in Changi Airport cheering for them when they arrived and some even made placards too! Dee Kosh continued the section by asking them, "What will you be doing if you are not singing?" Suhyun replied that she might go into musicals considering that she loves music, while Chanhyuk said that he might go into modeling. Immediately he stood up to demonstrate his model skills and this made the audience hyped up. The duo also said that their plans for Christmas this year is most likely to be singing for tours and festivals. The audience expressed their sadness considering that both siblings could not celebrate Christmas with their family. However, Suhyun added that it is fine with her since she loves to sing.

Dee Kosh suggested that since the set up on stage looked like a studio, he asked the audience to throw out some song requests to AKMU and the fans enthusiastically shouted songs and Chanhyuk told them to relax which made some audience laugh. Since they were unable to come to a conclusion, they sang the song 'Lucky' by Jason Mraz which Dee Kosh suggested. They also did their rendition of Taeyang's 'Eyes, Nose, Mouth' and 'Officially Missing You' by Tamia.

After which, Suhyun then said that she disliked having time to pass so fast because that means to say goodbye soon. They promised the fans to come back again with better greetings in English and they continued to sing a song composed by them to express their love for their fans.

For the last 2 songs they had, Chanhyuk told the audience to stand up and just have fun with them for the last time while they sing and the fans waved their light sticks and sang along with them. As the duo made their way out of the stage, the fans continued to wave their light sticks and shouted "Encore!" and this brought a video on screen which showed both siblings singing in a bed room with Chanhyuk playing the guitar and Suhyun singing. It showed their bloopers in trying to speak English to greet Singapore fans and with that, they came back up on stage to sing 'Give Love' and ended with the song '200%'. They also introduced their band members and gave credits to them.

AKMU has definitely showed us their true passion for music during the concert and made the whole concert a lively and enjoyable one. We hope to see them back again in Singapore with more of their powerful vocals and bubbly personalities. AKMU Studio continues in Shanghai, China on 22nd December.

Watch AKMU performed ' Every Little Thing':

Special thanks to IME Productions Singapore and Three Angles Group for inviting KpopStarz.com to cover AKMU STUDIO IN SINGAPORE.

Writer: Tam Jie Qi | Photo and Video Credits: Ong Melin
A group of pied avocets fly over the East Dongting Lake Natural Reserve in Hunan province. By the end of November each year, around 10,000 pied avocets have wintered in Hunan's East Dongting Lake and Hubei's Hong Lake. The bird has a curved beak and long legs. (Chinanews.cn)
A live-fire drill by Chinas Liaoning aircraft carrier was held on Dec. 15 and broadcast on CCTV. The slogan on the helmets of aviators for the J-15 carrier-based fighter aircraft -- urging those involved in the drill to "SHOOT IT" -- stood out during the broadcast.

During the drill, which was conducted in the Bohai Sea, dozens of naval vessels and aircraft launched missiles of various types. The formation consisted of the aircraft carrier Liaoning, together with destroyers and frigates. All the vessels practiced reconnaissance and early warning, air interception, assault at sea, air defense and missile defense.

The Chinese Navy arranged the drill in order to test the performance of weapons equipment as well as soldiers' training. After its conclusion, the drill was deemed a success.
(Xinhua) 19:46, December 19, 2016

A flight connecting Qiemo, a far-flung corner of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Urumqi, the regional capital, was launched Monday.

The round-trip flight, operated by China Southern Airlines, departs Urumqi every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and stops in Korla City, before arriving at Qiemo.

The CAAC Xinjiang Regional Administration said it was the first civilian airline since the the last passenger plane service at the old Qiemo airport expired five years ago.

Qiemo is over 1,100 kilometers from Urumqi, and 720 km from Korla. The flight will cut travel time between Qiemo and Urumqi to 2.5 hours, from 15 hours by road.

The new airport has 120,000 passengers a year, and a cargo handling capacity of 480 tonnes per year. The operating flight will receive state subsidies of about 7 million yuan (about 1 million U.S. dollars) every year.
The man whom police arrested near downtown Springfield after a standoff last week was on the Texas Most Wanted sex offenders list. Zachary Jenkins, 31, used to live in Hurst, just northeast of Fort Worth.

Springfield police got information from Texas Department of Public Safety special agents and the U.S. Marshals Service that Jenkins was living at 748 South Avenue and might be armed. Commanders called out the Special Response Team. Officers say Jenkins barricaded himself in the home for about an hour before he surrendered on the night of Dec. 14.

The Texas Department of Public Safetys records show Jenkins in July 2015 was convicted of indecency with a child-sexual contact involving a 9-year-old girl in Tarrant County. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation but fled within weeks.

Jenkins was wanted for failure to register as a sex offender, probation violation, forgery and fraud. He was still in the Greene County jail on Monday with no bond.
Following is the full text of a statement between China and Norway on normalization of bilateral relations released on Monday:

Statement of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway on Normalization of Bilateral Relations

The Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway have, through consultations, decided to realize normalization of bilateral relations as of today.

1. China and Norway recognize that our two peoples have enjoyed traditional friendship. Norway was among the first Western countries to have recognized and established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Over the years, generally speaking, the China-Norway relations have maintained sound development and the cooperations have been deepened in all fields.

2. Before the Nobel Peace Prize award in 2010, China and Norway had close relations. Due to the Nobel Peace Prize award and events connected to the Prize, China-Norway relations have deteriorated. The Norwegian side is fully conscious of the position and concerns of the Chinese side and has worked actively to bring the bilateral relations back to the right track. Through meticulous and numerous conversations, the two sides have over the last years reached a level of trust that allows for resumption of normal relationship.

3. The Norwegian Government fully respects China's development path and social system, and highly commends its historic and unparalleled development that has taken place. The Norwegian Government reiterates its commitment to the one-China policy, fully respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, attaches high importance to China's core interests and major concerns, will not support actions that undermine them, and will do its best to avoid any future damage to the bilateral relations.

4. China and Norway recognize that our two countries share broad common interests and have great potential for increased cooperation in many important fields. Both sides will develop friendly relations on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. Both sides will promote mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation in various fields, such as trade, culture, science, education as well as polar and other issues. Both sides will enhance communication and coordination on international issues and jointly deal with global challenges, so as to benefit our two countries and peoples, uphold world peace and promote common development.
A wreath-laying ceremony at Springfield National Cemetery honored fallen heroes on Saturday.

It was part of Wreaths Across America day -- a tribute to veterans laid to rest at national and state veterans cemeteries. The Civil Air Patrol, Missouri Veterans Memorial Team, veterans and their families all took part in the wreath laying.

More from news release:

Civil Air Patrol, veterans service organizations and citizens coordinate the event to honor veterans of each branch of the military, the Merchant Marines, as well as prisoners of war and those still missing in action (POW/MIA).

The Worcester Wreath Company, through a campaign called Wreaths Across America, began donating holiday wreaths in tribute to Veterans laid to rest at VA's national cemeteries and state Veterans cemeteries in 2006. Since 1992, they have donated wreaths for grave sites at Arlington National Cemetery.
The German government on Sunday donated military equipment and the sum of 3m to fight insurgency in the North-East region.

The German Minister of Defence, Dr. Ursula Von der Layen, handed over the equipment to her Nigerian counterpart, Mansur Dan-Ali, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, saying that the donation was done under the 2012-2016 Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries.

The equipment included Vallon Metal Detector, Ground Surveillance Radar System, Counter-Improvised Explosive Device and Explosive Ordinance Disposal Equipment.

Von der Layen clarified that the assistance did not extend to the sale of sophisticated military weapons.

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.19

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

US engineering, procurement, and construction company KBR signed two global agreements with BP International Limited on engineering services in Azerbaijan and other countries.

KBR today announced that one of the agreements is for the provision of conceptual engineering services and another for the provision of pre-front end engineering design (FEED) and FEED engineering services.

Each agreement has a contractual duration of three years with an option on each to extend for two additional years.

The global agreements are for reimbursable global engineering services provided by KBR and KBR subsidiaries Granherne, GVA Consultants and Energo.

The scope of services identified within both global agreements covers onshore, offshore, subsea, drilling, greenfield and brownfield upstream engineering services in Alaska, Angola, Azerbaijan, Gulf of Mexico, Indonesia, Oman, Trinidad and the United Kingdom.

KBR has recently played a key role in numerous BP projects, including most recently Mad Dog Phase II, Gulf of Mexico; Glen Lyon FPSO, UK; and the Shah Deniz Phase II projects, Azerbaijan.

Shah Deniz consortium signed an agreement with KBR company in 2013 as part of the second phase of development of the gas condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. The agreement envisaged rendering services for supporting the work for preparation of detailed engineering, project management and supply work.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 33 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Dec. 19.

The Azerbaijani army positions located in Kemerli village of the Qazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in Dovekh village of the Noyemberyan district of Armenia.

Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions also took fire from the Armenian positions located near the Armenian-occupied Chilaburt and Goyarkh villages of the Tartar district, Javakhirli village of the Aghdam district, Horadiz and Ashagi Seyidahmadli villages of the Fizuli district, Mehdili village of the Jabrayil district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of the Goranboy, Khojavand, Fuzuli and Tartar districts.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary

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Clover POS systems are a great solution if you want to streamline your internal services and want to replace an old kit like cash registers, payment terminals and other equipment. Clovers point of sale solution allows you to get rid of all that and replace it with a more integrated system with state of the
PRESS RELEASE

Russian General Staff Says Aleppo Liberation Operation Is Over

Dec. 17, 2016 (EIRNS)The operation to liberate Aleppo has been completed, according to the Russian General Staffs main operations directorate, Lt. Gen. Sergey Rudskoy. "The operation to clear Aleppo of terrorists is over. Government troops are wiping out scattered groups of radicals who have refused to leave the city," he said.

Rudskoy noted that the United States repeatedly promised to separate the so-called "moderate opposition" from terrorists, "but the U.S. invariably refused to do that on various excuses."

"Russia then proposed joint measures for removing Jabhat al-Nusra from eastern Aleppo. The U.S. refused to support that idea, either. Now weve done that on our own,"

Rudskoy said.

"During the liberation of Aleppos eastern quarters, as many as 3,406 gunmen of the moderate opposition stopped resistance and laid down arms. As many as 3,056 of them have been amnestied, the rest are being checked,"

he said. According to Rudskoy, the overall strength of radical groups in the city exceeded 4,500 men.

"Most of them were evacuated from the city throughout the previous day. This way the moderate opposition was separated from terrorists,"

he noted.

Rudskoy noted that more than 108,000 civilians were evacuated from the eastern sector of the city, while more than 7,000 civilians have already returned to their homes. Only Russia and Syria are providing food and shelter for these refugees.

The conditions are now available for a peace settlement of the conflict in Syria, Rudskoy said, echoing Russian President Putins remarks to that effect.

"We believe that with the pullout of armed groups from Aleppo and the completion of the operation to retake the city, all conditions have been created for a peace settlement in Syria,"

Rudskoy said.

"At present, Russian combat engineers are conducting mine-clearing work on the territory liberated from militants. The citys administration is carrying out restoration works. Electricity and water supplies have already been resumed in some districts,"

the Russian general said.

"Syrian troops discovered several warehouses in the liberated sections of Aleppo and they contained food supplied from abroad," Rudskoy said.

"The products were intended for terrorists and members of their families, while the rest of Aleppo residents suffered from malnourishment." "It seems that the Western countries and international humanitarian organizations are not in a hurry to start delivering aid to Aleppo since there are no more of their prime recipients, namely militants, and the peaceful citizens are not of interest for them,"

Rudskoy stressed.

"We have repeatedly heard pledges from the West and various international organizations to immediately organize the deliveries of food and essential items to residents of Aleppo,"

Rudskoy said.

"However, none of the countries and international organizations are providing such assistance to them. "They can express their concerns over the fates of Aleppo residents as much as possible either from Geneva or New York, but at the same time they can be doing nothing to help them,"

he said.
PRESS RELEASE

China to U.S.: National Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity Are Not Bargaining Chips

Dec. 17, 2016 (EIRNS)Chinas Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai responded on Dec. 14 to President-elect Donald Trumps suggestion that the long-standing "One China policy" might be up for negotiation.

"Basic norms of international relations should be observed, not ignored, certainly not be seen as something you can trade off. And indeed, national sovereignty and territorial integrity are not bargaining chips. Absolutely not. I hope everybody would understand that."

Cui was speaking at an award dinner (he being the awardee) at the U.S.-China Business Council (USBC). The event was scheduled to be private, but a short time before the event, the USBC was asked by the Chinese Embassy to open Cuis remarks to the media, in order to deliver a clear message on the subject to a broader public.

On Dec. 11, Trump had stated on Sunday Fox News:

"I fully understand the One China policy, but I dont know why we have to be bound by a One China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade."

The official Global Times of China had a slightly more muscular approach: "The Chinese mainland should display its resolution to recover Taiwan by force."

Meanwhile, the Chinese military conducted its first-ever live-fire drills with Chinas aircraft carrier in the Bohai Sea, near Korea, CCTV reported Dec. 15. "This is the first time an aircraft carrier squadron has performed drills with live ammunition and real troops," they noted. The carrier and 10 ships conducted air-to-sea, sea-to-air, and air-to-air combat drills featuring guided missiles.

The Washington think-tank CSIS on Dec. 14 reported that Beijing has been installing anti-missile and anti-aircraft systems on various man-made islands in the South China Sea. Chinas Defense Ministry issued a statement saying that "they are mainly for defense and self-protection and are legitimate and lawful.... If someone makes a show of force at your front door, would you not ready your slingshot?" Shanghai Daily reported.
PRESS RELEASE

House Intelligence Committees King Calls for Investigation of CIA Chief Brennan

Dec. 18, 2016 (EIRNS)Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), on the House Intelligence Committee said today on ABC News "This Week" that CIA Director John Brennan should be investigated for "the hit job he seems to be orchestrating against the President-elect" and for refusing to testify before the committee concerning his claims about Russian attempts to influence the presidential election.

When asked by ABC anchor Martha Raddatz, "Why dont you buy the consensus of the intelligence community on that?" King replied,

"Because we havent been shown that consensus. What weve been told all along is that it was virtually definite that the Russians did hack the Democratic National Committee. Im willing to accept that. I have no reason not to. But as far as John Podesta, it was uncertain whether or not that could be directly traced to the Russians. And I havent seen anything since then.... We have John Brennan ... leaking to the Washington Post, to a biased newspaper like the New York Times, findings and conclusion that is hes not telling the Intelligence Committee."

King said that Brennan, in a meeting this week with Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA), had shown Nunes no real evidence and had not agreed to testify to Congress on it. And President Obama, in his Dec. 16 press conference, told reporters, concerning this hacking evidence, "Its classified; you will not see it."

Asked, "So you think this is all political by John Brennan?" King said, "

I take that ... when he comes out and leaks to the newspapers that the entire intelligence community has concluded that the Russians were targeting Hillary Clinton and favoring Donald Trump, when weve never been told that beforecertainly Director Comey didnt tell us that. I have not heard that from Director Clapper. "So if heif that is such a dramatic finding, such a dramatic conclusion, then what he should have done is gone before the entire Intelligence Committee, briefed us on it. If thats the case, Ill accept it.... If they have evidence, show it. They have not shown it yet."

King concluded,
An appeals court in Egypt on Sunday ordered that novelist Ahmed Naji be be released pending appeal of his two-year sentence for violating public modesty after excerpts from his book that were printed in a state-funded magazine gave a complainant heart palpitations, sickness, and a drop in blood pressure.

Naji was initially acquitted, but he was sent to prison when the case was appealed to a higher court. In the excerpt from his 2014 book, The Use of Life, the narrator smokes hashish, drinks alcohol and has a sexual relationship with a woman.

The scene had been approved by Egypts censorship authority, but prosecutors called it vulgar. Naji was prosecuted under a statute in the Egyptian penal code that criminalizes any printed matter or art deemed to be against public morals.

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Najis conviction in February quickly became a cause celebre among free-speech advocates across the world.

The literary group PEN America condemned Najis arrest, suggesting it was related to the authors vocal criticism of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi. It awarded Naji its PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award in May.

PEN sponsored an open letter to Sisi and the Egyptian parliament, which read in part: Writing is not a crime. ... Mr. Najis sentencing is emblematic of the Egyptian governments deeply troubling crackdown on free expression.

The letter was signed by more than 100 writers, including Margaret Atwood, Sandra Cisneros, John Green, Philip Roth and Patti Smith.

The novelists sentence has been temporarily suspended by the Court of Cassation, the highest appeals court in Egypt. He will face a hearing on Jan. 1, at which time the court will either decide to order a third trial or to order him back to prison.

Suzanne Nossel, the executive director of PEN America, praised the courts decision to temporarily free Naji in a news release.

The Egyptian court finally awoke to the travesty of justice entailed in jailing a novelist for a work of fiction, Nossel said. The mobilization of leading writers in Egypt and all over the world who demanded Najis freedom is a clarion call to repressive regimes that train their sights on those who dare to speak out and to create.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

By Anakhanum Hidayatova  Trend:

Afghanistan is grateful to Azerbaijan for chairing and hosting The Heart of Asia  Istanbul Process ministerial conference in Baku in 2017, Afghan Ambassador Mohammad Tagi Khalili told Trend Dec. 19.

This highlights Azerbaijans vital role in the Istanbul process and demonstrates the commitment of Baku and Kabul to restoration of peace and stability in the region, Khalili said.

The Heart of Asia  Istanbul Process was established in Turkeys Istanbul in 2011 in order to provide a platform for discussing the regional issues, particularly encouraging security, political and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbors.

Undoubtedly, the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Afghanistan has reached such a level that the two countries can take joint steps to address regional challenges, noted the envoy.

We have a common understanding of regional issues and we are joining our powers to solve these problems, added the diplomat.

Khalili noted that holding the conference in Baku will be a positive moment in further strengthening of bilateral relations.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum
CalPERS on Monday rejected its staffs recommendation to again invest in tobacco stocks and instead widened the ban on tobacco investments for the nations largest public pension fund.

The staff of the California Public Employees Retirement System had recommended that the systems board approve ending restrictions on tobacco investments managed by its own staff. The ban began 16 years ago.

That restriction did not apply to CalPERS investment funds managed by outside firms. As of June 30, CalPERS retirement fund held $547 million of tobacco-related securities managed by outside investment firms, which are still authorized to invest in tobacco shares.

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But in a 9-3 vote Monday, CalPERS board rejected its staffs suggestion and extended the anti-tobacco restriction to its funds managed by outsiders.

Economically I dont see how [tobacco] is sustainable as an industry down the road, said state Controller Betty Yee, a CalPERS board member who introduced the motion to expand the ban. As fiduciaries we need to make a decision, with respect to the options laid out before us, on an economic basis.

It wasnt immediately clear how long it would take for CalPERS and its outside managers to unload the securities, but its likely to take at least several months.

CalPERS does not want to suppress prices of the stocks by dumping them too quickly, and it needs to find replacement stocks for the tobacco shares in its portfolios.

The pension fund, with about $290 billion in total assets, already is struggling with poor returns on its overall holdings. In its fiscal year that ended June 30, CalPERS earned a return of less than 1%, its worst performance since 2009.

In 2000, CalPERS voted to divest tobacco shares from its internally managed investment portfolio because of the products widespread health concerns, related healthcare costs for smokers and, at the time, massive litigation against the tobacco companies and the stocks poor returns.

But tobacco stocks have surged in recent years, and CalPERS staff recommended that the restriction be lifted.

The staffs recommendation partly reflected increasing demands on investment returns to fund benefits for the systems 1.8 million members and CalPERS duties as fiduciaries, CalPERS said in notes for Mondays meeting.

But it also said that while broader social implications of the tobacco industry may not be directly relevant to its role as a fiduciary, they can and should be factored into its analysis of the likely continued sustainability of this industry.

The outlook for the tobacco industry, and thus its stock prices, took up a sizable portion of the boards discussion Monday.

Stanton Glantz, director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California San Francisco, told the board that smoking worldwide was in decline because of such factors as heightened health-awareness campaigns and higher taxes, such as Californias recently passed proposition to raise its cigarette tax by $2 a pack.

Tobacco firms have continued to prosper in part by raising prices for remaining smokers, but those price hikes eventually will reach levels that further cut demand for smokes, Glantz said.

Board member J.J. Jelinic, on the other hand, opposed the motion to expand CalPERS anti-tobacco stance. I am not aware of anyone who smokes or doesnt smoke based on whether CalPERS invests or doesnt invest, and if were not changing behavior, then what are we getting for the money were giving up? Jelinic said.

The current market price reflects all available public information, so it reflects all the risks, Jelinic said.

Board member Bill Slaton also opposed the expanded ban. While acknowledging that the product is dangerous and expensive to society, Slaton said, lifting the ban would have provided the best chance of meeting our goals and providing retirement security to members of CalPERS.

Before the vote, however, board member and California Treasurer John Chiang wrote in a letter to his fellow board members that investing in tobacco-related securities is a bad economic decision for CalPERS beneficiaries, for the state in general and for the world as a whole, whether we invest directly or through others.

james.peltz@latimes.com

For more business news, follow James F. Peltz on Twitter: @PeltzLATimes

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UPDATES:

3 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with CalPERS board voting to expand the pension funds ban against investments in tobacco-related securities and with comments from board members.

This article was originally published at 9:40 a.m.
Brake Parts Inc. had manufactured brake calipers at a factory in the Central Valley community of Chowchilla for nearly 30 years, but a company executive said pressure was growing to reduce costs as competitors moved their factory work to Mexico.

About a year ago, employees got the bad news: Operations were moving to a facility in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. By the time the factory closed in August, about 280 Brake Parts workers had lost their jobs.

President-elect Donald Trump has strongly criticized such job losses and has threatened consequences for companies that ship factory work out of the country  among those, possible tariffs on bringing goods back into the U.S.

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He vowed never to eat Oreos again after Mondelez International Inc. announced it was moving some production to Mexico.

He slammed Rexnord Corp. for viciously firing workers in Indianapolis as part of a shift of operations south of the border.

And Trump personally intervened this month to pressure Carrier Corp. to reverse a decision to send hundreds of its jobs, also from Indianapolis, to Mexico.

But Randy Clausen, vice president for global human resources at Illinois-based Brake Parts, said it is difficult  and costly  for companies to fight changes taking place in the global economy.

The workforce we had in Chowchilla was a great workforce, and it would have been a hell of a lot easier to just leave it there, Ill tell you that, he said.

But because of lower prices offered by competitors, Brake Parts was losing money on each pair of calipers it churned out, Clausen said. In effect, he said, it was as if the company was taping dollar bills to every product sold at retail.

Since the North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada went into effect in 1994, trade with Mexico has grown dramatically. And during that period, a small U.S. trade surplus with Mexico of about $1.7 billion in 1993 has ballooned into a large deficit  $61 billion last year.

The federal government doesnt have figures on NAFTAs effect on jobs. But the Economic Policy Institute think tank estimated that as of 2010, the trade imbalance with Mexico had cost the U.S. about 683,000 net jobs  about 60% of those in manufacturing.

You can pay low wages. Youre not too far away. Youve got a border that because of the free trade area you can bring goods into the United States, said Martin Neil Baily, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank who has studied manufacturing job losses. So given the substantial wage advantages, for many companies, its an attractive proposition.

Also, some U.S. jobs have been created as companies here form part of the supply chain for Mexican factories.

During the presidential campaign, Trump vowed to reverse the loss of jobs by reworking NAFTA and other trade deals and threatening to place tariffs on goods whose production was shifted out of the country. His message resonated through Midwestern states such as Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, which have shouldered much of the manufacturing job losses.

Trumps success in convincing Carrier to keep jobs in Indianapolis has focused new attention on the shift of U.S. manufacturing to Mexico. The deal, in which Trump and Carrier said about 1,100 jobs were saved, although a union official said it was 730, included about $7 million in tax incentives over 10 years.

Heres a look at why three companies have moved, or are in the process of moving, work to Mexico.

Rexnord Corp., Indianapolis

In October, Rexnord, which makes industrial bearings at an Indianapolis factory, notified the United Steelworkers Union Local 1999 that it had tentatively decided to move its operations there to an existing company facility in Monterrey, Mexico, according to a notice from the company posted on the unions website.

The move will allow Rexnord to operate in a more cost effective manner, while continuing to produce high-quality products in a competitive environment at the right price to our customers, the notice said. Experts said improved skills by Mexican workers have allowed more precision manufacturing, such as producing bearings, to take place there.

The U.S. labor forces guy problem: Lots of men dont have a job and arent looking for one 

Union President Chuck Jones said 300 workers will lose their jobs as the factory operating since the 1950s will close its doors early next year.

We sat down with the company, and we made some proposals to try to keep the jobs here, to no avail, Jones said.

They said they were saving $15.5 million a year, and they said we couldnt come up with nothing, unless we worked for $5 an hour, to keep this facility open, he said.

Rexnords Indianapolis employees earn $25 an hour, along with benefits, compared to $3 an hour with no benefits for the workers in Mexico, Jones said.

Its going to be devastating, without a doubt, he said of the job losses. Some employees will face home foreclosures because they wont be able to get jobs for the most part that will pay anything close to what theyre currently making.

Rexnord did not respond to a request for comment.

The day after Trump flew to Indianapolis to tout Carriers decision to reverse plans to move its jobs to Mexico, he criticized Rexnord.

On Twitter, Trump wrote, Rexnord of Indiana is moving to Mexico and rather viciously firing all of its 300 workers. This is happening all over our country. No more!

Mondelez International, Chicago

Nabisco, a subsidiary of Illinois-based Mondelez, had been making Oreo cookies in Chicago since 1953. But in July, the last Oreos rolled off the production lines at the factory.

Last year, Mondelez chose its facility in Salinas, Mexico, over Chicago for a $130-million upgrade that included four new state-of-the-art manufacturing lines for the companys top products.

That meant the 1,200-person workforce in Chicago would be cut in half as nine older, inefficient manufacturing lines there  including those making Oreos  were shifted south of the border, the company said.

In April of last year, we engaged with the unions and talked to them and announced we were going to be making an investment either in Chicago or in Mexico, company spokeswoman Laurie M. Guzzinati said.

The company could save about $46 million a year by putting the new lines in Mexico because of fixed and variable costs, Guzzinati said.

Talks with the unions to reduce what the company said was a significant savings gap were unsuccessful, she said.

In recent years, the higher price of sugar in the U.S. caused by import restrictions and other federal policies to support the domestic industry have combined with cheaper Mexican labor to lead companies to move cookie production south of the border.

With layoffs coming, some Chicago employees took jobs at other Mondelez facilities, and some left for other work. About 435 employees were laid off, with about 100 recalled over the summer, Guzzinati said.

Anthony Jackson, 40, of Chicago, was among those laid off. Workers would have had to take a 60% pay cut for Mondelez to even consider choosing Chicago over Mexico for the manufacturing upgrades, he said.

You cant tell me that they seriously thought anyone would say OK to giving away 60% of their pay and benefits, said Jackson, a spokesman for the Local 300 of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers union who worked at the factory for five years before being laid off in March.

Guzzinati said the Chicago factory remains open, and it churns out other cookies and crackers, including belVita breakfast biscuits.

Our Chicago bakery remains an important part of our manufacturing network, and we continue to make Oreo cookies in three different locations in the U.S. Guzzinati said.

Mondelez has invested about $450 million in its U.S. factories since 2012.

But Trump, who once appeared in an Oreo commercial, slammed Mondelezs decision.

Ill never eat another Oreo again. Ever. Ever! Trump said during a 2015 campaign event in Richmond, Va.

How Trump could use the presidency to help his own business interests 

Trump said he planned to talk to company officials about reversing the decision. Guzzinati said this month that Mondelez had not had any contact with the new administration but looked forward to working with it to foster an environment thats conducive to economic growth and prosperity for U.S. companies to compete fairly in a global market.

Brake Parts Inc., Chowchilla, Calif.

When Chowchilla officials learned in September 2015 that the small Madera County city would be losing its biggest employer to the lure of lower costs in Mexico, they scrambled to try to save the jobs by offering incentives to stay.

The pay disparity was just so large, so it needed to be some pretty good credits, City Administrator Brian Haddix said.

After speaking with the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development and Pacific Gas & Electric Co., the city proposed a package worth about $325,000 over five years, including a 30% reduction in electricity rates, he said.

It was not enough, Haddix said.

Haddix said he understood the economic dynamics and didnt blame Brake Parts.

Theyve been good to our community. Theyre a good company, he said. It just came down to the bottom line.

Clausen, the companys human resources executive, said all of Brake Parts competitors are in Mexico.

Theres no way that U.S. workers are going to work for $3.50 or $4 an hour, and thats the reality of the situation, he said.

In recent years, Mexico has become an increasing force in automobile manufacturing as the workforce there has become more skilled, said Mark Muro, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who has studied the issue.

There clearly is a cost differential, and more and more kinds of activity are becoming feasible there, he said. Mexico no longer offers cheap, unskilled work. It offers cost-effective, fairly well-skilled work.

The company no longer does any domestic manufacturing. Of its 5,300 employees worldwide, 600 are in the U.S., Clausen said.

In order to get to business economics that made sense or even break even, we had to change the dynamics, and thats the only way we could do it, he said.

Trump is saying were going to bring back jobs to the U.S. OK, thats interesting. But whats the plan? Because its not as easy as just saying that.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

Follow @JimPuzzanghera on Twitter

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Three senior executives at medical scope maker Olympus Corp. repeatedly invoked their 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination when questioned recently about internal company emails dealing with its role in superbug outbreaks.

The executives declined to answer questions about the correspondence during two days of depositions in Tokyo on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in a U.S. civil case against Olympus, according to lawyers representing a Seattle hospital and a patients widow.

The company emails, first reported by the Los Angeles Times and Kaiser Health News, are key evidence in several pending civil suits against Olympus. They also could be relevant to an ongoing federal probe.

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The emails show that Susumu Nishina, one of the three executives deposed, told the companys U.S. managers in February 2013 not to issue a broad warning to American hospitals despite reports of scope-related infections in Dutch, French and U.S. hospitals.

At least 35 patients in American hospitals have died since 2013 after developing infections tied to tainted Olympus duodenoscopes  flexible, lighted tubes used to peer deep inside the body. More than 25 patients and families, including the Seattle-area widow, have sued Olympus alleging wrongful death, negligence or fraud.

Legal experts said its not uncommon for corporate executives to exercise their constitutional right against self-incrimination in civil lawsuits when separate criminal charges are possible. While not indicative of guilt, that legal move does indicate concern about what prosecutors could do with any testimony taken in the depositions, the experts said.

There is a real danger you end up saying something an aggressive prosecutor would seize on, said Patrick Cotter, a former federal prosecutor and white-collar criminal defense attorney at law firm Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale in Chicago. He isnt involved in the Olympus cases.

In addition to Nishina, the companys chief manager for market quality administration at the Tokyo headquarters, the other two executives who were questioned were Hisao Yabe and Hiroki Moriyama, court records show. Yabe appears to be the highest ranking official among the three, serving as an executive officer in charge of the medical manufacturing improvement division, according to the companys website.

Moriyama is a key figure in the companys regulatory affairs and quality assurance unit. Hes listed on several company patents for endoscopes. And he was the manufacturers contact on numerous injury reports filed with U.S. regulators about scope-related infections.

Nishina fielded numerous emails containing questions from Olympus executives in the U.S. and helped shape their response to infections at American hospitals. Yabe and Moriyama were included on some of those emails, court documents show.

The three executives were recently deposed at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo by lawyers representing Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and Theresa Bigler. Her 57-year-old husband, Richard, died in 2013 after he was infected by a contaminated Olympus scope, according to the familys lawsuit in King County Superior Court in Washington. Bigler is accusing Olympus of wrongful death and seeking damages.

The separate federal investigation into Olympus surfaced in March 2015, when the company said it received a subpoena from investigators that seeks information relating to duodenoscopes that Olympus manufactures and sells.

A year later, in March 2016, Paul Fishman, the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, said the scope-related investigation was continuing. The focus of the probe was not specified, and a spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office declined to comment further for this article.

The emails could figure in both the civil case and the federal investigation because they show that a month after Olympus alerted European customers in January 2013 that a scope it manufactured could become contaminated, it decided not to issue a broad warning to U.S. customers.

In a Feb. 6, 2013, response to a question from a U.S. Olympus executive about whether American hospitals should be warned, Nishina replied it is not need[ed] to communicate to all the users actively, because a company assessment of the risk to patients found it to be acceptable.

Nishina said, however, that a U.S. executive could respond to inquiries from a customer.

Nishina, Yabe and Moriyama didnt respond to requests for comment sent through their lawyers.

Olympus said it doesnt comment on pending litigation. Previously, the company has said that patient safety is a top priority and its working with the proper authorities to address any scope-related issues. The company recalled its duodenoscopes in January and made repairs over several months to reduce the risk of infection.

Duodenoscopes are threaded down a patients throat to diagnose and treat digestive tract problems such as gallstones, cancers and bile duct blockages. The tip of the snake-like device has proven difficult to clean, even when following the manufacturers instructions, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as superbugs can spread from one patient to another, with possibly life-threatening consequences.

Although infections have been tied to scopes made by other companies, Olympus dominates the market and its scopes remain in wide use.

In California, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, as well as Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, have reported infections linked to Olympus scopes.

In a court filing in the Washington state case, Olympus denies it is liable to plaintiff in any manner and said the alleged injuries to Richard Bigler may have been the result of unforeseeable circumstances and reasons beyond the control of the company.

Olympus said Virginia Mason Medical Center failed to follow the instructions for cleaning the scopes.

At Virginia Mason, 39 people became infected from contaminated Olympus scopes and 18 of them died. The hospital said the patients who died had other underlying illnesses.

Rando Wick, an attorney representing the hospital, said it was disappointing that Olympus executives refused to answer questions, but he said it lends support for the hospitals case.

Olympus in Japan knew of the dangers of the duodenoscopes not being able to be adequately disinfected, even when Olympus guidelines are followed, Wick said. Yet they failed to notify healthcare providers in the U.S. of this problem.

John Gagliardi, an attorney representing the Bigler family, said Olympus executives in the U.S. are scheduled to be deposed starting next month. They include Laura Storms, vice president of regulatory and clinical affairs at the companys U.S. headquarters in Center Valley, Pa., and Donny Shapiro, a director of regulatory affairs in San Jose.

Chad Terhune is a senior correspondent with California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation published by Kaiser Health News.

cterhune@kff.org

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State Farm customers in California could soon be paying lower premiums for homeowners, condo and renters insurance but will have to wait for the outcome of a lawsuit to know whether they will also get refunds from the company.

A judge ruled late Friday that State Farm must abide by a state order to cut its premiums but can hold off on repaying customers for alleged overcharges as it challenges Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones authority to demand refunds under landmark insurance law Proposition 103.

Jones last month ordered State Farm to lower rates retroactively to July 2015, prompting a lawsuit from the Bloomington, Ill., insurer, which argued Jones cannot retroactively cut rates. The insurer had asked the judge hearing the case in San Diego County Superior Court to put both the cuts and the refunds on hold until the suit is resolved.

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In a decision released Saturday, Judge Katherine Bacal found that State Farm must proceed with the rate cut, saying that forcing consumers to continue to pay rates deemed excessive by the state would harm the public. But, she concluded, There is no real harm in delaying payment of relatively small refunds, especially if policyholders would eventually be paid in full, with interest.

The refunds, which would go to about 1.7 million customers , would total about $100 million  or about $60 on average.

In a statement, Jones said he was pleased with Bacals decision, though he said he wants to make sure customers who may be owed refunds are not lost track of during the time  perhaps years  it will take to resolve the case.

I look forward to having my team work with the court to craft an order that requires State Farm fully identify the rate payers so that State Farm is actually able to issue rebates  when this case is concluded, he said. I am confident that we will convince the court that excessive rates are unlawful under Proposition 103 and State Farm consumers are entitled to rebates.

State Farm spokesman Sevag Sarkissian said the company would take steps to comply with the order to reduce rates but may appeal Bacals ruling so that it can leave rates at current levels.

We maintain that we do not believe the commissioners decision is lawful, and will continue taking the necessary legal steps to challenge the mandated rate reduction and rate refund, Sarkissian said in an emailed statement.

Consumer advocates and insurance industry trade groups say the dispute between Jones office and State Farm has the potential to become a landmark case that could strengthen or weaken consumer protections enacted by Proposition 103.

The 1988 California initiative included a one-time 20% cut in property and casualty insurance rates and gave the insurance commissioner the authority to review and reject future rate increases.

However, the trade groups note that since the roughly $1.2 billion in refunds prompted by the initial rate cut, no commissioner has gone so far as to order retroactive rate cuts. They argue the threat of such cuts could destabilize the insurance industry.

Harvey Rosenfield, the author of Proposition 103 and founder of advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, said a reversal of Jones order would amount to a significant weakening of the insurance law. Rosenfield argued against even a partial stay of Jones cut-and-refund order and called State Farms lawsuit frivolous.

We will fight as long as it takes to make sure that State Farm repays what it owes  with interest, Rosenfield said.  At the end of the day, State Farm will pay.

The dispute goes back to late 2014, when State Farm asked for permission to raise its renters and homeowners insurance rates by 6.9%.

Under Proposition 103, the Department of Insurance must find that rate changes proposed by insurers are neither excessive nor inadequate to cover the cost of possible losses and leave a reasonable amount of profit. The law also allows consumer advocacy groups to oppose rate increases, call for hearings and inspect insurers books.

Consumer Watchdog and the California Federation of Consumers sought to block State Farms proposed increase. After more than a year of proceedings, an administrative law judge recommended earlier this year that State Farms proposed increase be denied and went on to find that the companys existing rates were too high.

The judge said that State Farm should cut its homeowners insurance rates by 5.4%, condo rates by 13.8% and renters rates by 20.4%, and make those cuts retroactive to July 2015 because that is when State Farm had hoped to be able to increase rates.

Jones signed off on the judges ruling last month.

State Farm questioned how the rate cut was calculated. When determining if rates are reasonable, the state looks at whether insurers will have enough money to cover potential insurance claims, in part by estimating premium revenue and income earned by insurers vast investment portfolios.

In this case, State Farm has argued that the administrative law judge improperly included investment income earned by State Farm subsidiaries other than the one that writes insurance policies in California.

The company has also argued that even if its rates were too high in the past, Jones does not have the authority to reach back and cut them.

State Farm was and is legally charging rates that were approved by the commissioner, the company wrote in its suit. Now the commissioner wants to retroactively change a rate approval he issued.

A handful of insurance industry trade groups filed a brief with the court hearing State Farms case supporting the companys interpretation of Jones order as a sudden reversal in how Proposition 103 is interpreted.

The trade groups, including the Personal Insurance Federation of California and the Assn. of California Insurance Companies, supported State Farms position that department rate increases or decreases have always only been forward-looking.

The commissioner has issued an order that dramatically departs from long-standing practice, the trade groups wrote. Such a momentous and sudden change stands in contrast to 26 years of consistent application of the law, and has huge repercussions for the industry.

Rosenfield, though, said taking away the states ability to order a retroactive rate cut would give insurers an incentive to drag their feet and attempt to keep rate decisions tied up in procedural limbo.

If a company could avoid a rate reduction by delaying a legal proceeding so that the reduction didnt take effect for years, then there would be no point to the statute, he said.

james.koren@latimes.com

Follow me: @jrkoren

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Twentieth-century French literary maven Francois Mauriac once observed, If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads, but what he rereads.

That epigram could be extended to the theater, as certain works are so familiar and beloved, revisiting them can be a holiday reunion with old friends.



For the record: An earlier version of this post included a photo caption that misidentified to whom the character Anna (Laura Michelle Kelly) was speaking. She was talking to Tuptim (Manna Nichols).

Thats certainly the case with the touring production of The King and I, at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre through Jan. 21. Set in the 1860s, the musical is based on the novel by Margaret Landon, whose fictionalized account of the real-life adventures of Anna Leonowens in the court of the Siamese king inspired first a film, and then Rodgers and Hammersteins classic musical, which has been frequently revived since its Broadway bow in 1951.

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The Lincoln Centers recent production won the 2015 Tony Award for musical revival, and judging from this sumptuously mounted tour, which recapitulates director Bartlett Shers stunning staging, its easy to see why.

Christopher Gattellis delightful dance interludes, based on Jerome Robbins original choreography, also carry over from the Lincoln Center production, as do the shows superb design elements, including Scott Lehrers sound and Donald Holders lighting. Massive but malleable, Michael Yeargans eye-popping sets are an exercise in theatrical utility, while Catherine Zubers period costumes delicately convey the times, with just the right soupcon of glitz appropriate to the occasion.

A scene from The King and I featuring one of Michael Yeargans remarkable sets. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times )

Music supervisor Ted Sperling helms a blissful cast, spearheaded by Laura Michelle Kelly as Anna and Jose Llana as the King of Siam. Matter-of-factly elegant, Kelly imbues her character with a refreshing naturalism. Early in the musical, her rendition of Hello, Young Lovers establishes the widowed Annas sheer dauntlessness, but with an unmistakable undercurrent of loss that brings tears to our eyes  just one example of a masterful, moving performance.

Any actor who plays the King must find his own light in the shadow of Yul Brynners indelible portrayal, and Llana certainly shines in his delightfully revisionist turn, which emphasizes the boyish uncertainty under his characters outward imperiousness. Veins of previously unplumbed humor come to light in the performance, but when it comes time to twist the heartstrings, he has the gravitas, judging from the prolific use of hankies throughout the audience.

Gorgeous-voiced Joan Almedilla wrenches maximum emotion from her sublime rendition of Something Wonderful, while Manna Nichols and Kavin Panmeechao combine sheer youthful beauty with seasoned talent as the doomed lovers, Tuptim and Lun Tha.

King yields a motherlode of classic songs, including I Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You, I Have Dreamed and, of course, the shows signature tune, Shall We Dance?  all rendered with brio by an exceptional cast. If youre at all a fan of classic American musicals, this production is a joy.

------------

The King and I

Where: Hollywood Pantages Theater, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles

When: 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays; check for exceptions, including added Monday performances and added matinees. Ends Jan. 21. No evening performances on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, no performances on Christmas Day.

Tickets: $35 and up

Info: (800) 982-2787, www.hollywoodpantages.com

Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes

Follow The Times arts team @culturemonster.

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Sly wont be joining the federal family of artists. Revisiting an important 17th century Italian painter. And an art strike for Inauguration Day. Plus: L.A. welcomes George Lucas museum but advocates demolishing the Parker Center. Heres the Roundup:

 An item published in the Daily Mail last week claimed that President-elect Donald Trump had offered the top job at the National Endowment for the Arts to actor Sylvester Stallone. In a statement, Stallone has indicated that he is not likely to take such a job if formally offered. New York Times

 Critic Christian Viveros-Faune looks at how Trumps election has changed our view of art. While critic Kriston Capps looks at how the protests at Standing Rock weigh on an exhibition of work by Bill Viola. Artnet, Washington City Paper

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 A future visit to the Donald J. Trump presidential library. New Yorker

 Five books to read about artists under Nazism. Hyperallergic

 Should the art world strike on Inauguration Day? Hyperallergic

 A pair of Iranian gallerists have been held at Tehrans Evin Prison since July despite no formal charges filed against them. Artforum

 The U.S. attorney representing the Cuban dissident artist Danilo Maldonado Machado, known as El Sexto, was arrested in Havana for trying to hold a press conference in front of the National Capitol building. Artnet

 How 17th century Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi has re-emerged as an important feminist artist. NPR

 Indigenous artist DeLesslin George-Warren gives tours of the Smithsonians presidential portraits with a native point of view. Elena Goukassian has a terrific Q&A. Hyperallergic

 How new museums in Abu Dhabi have raised the issue of worker rights. And how Abu Dhabis Guggenheim outpost has been losing staff, even as its collection grows. New Yorker, The Art Newspaper

 The art handlers calendar. Artnet

 The Times editorial board is all for a George Lucas museum in L.A. Los Angeles Times

 Meanwhile, the city of L.A. wants to tear down the Parker Center, designed by Welton Becket in 1954  again. Los Angeles Downtown News

The Parker Center is seen behind an LAPD Honor Guard ceremony from 2013. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times )

 The Lytton bank building, at the site of a future Frank Gehry mega-project on Sunset Boulevard, has been declared a historic monument by the L.A. City Council. WEHOville

 Chicago-based artist Dushko Petrovich is launching a publication called The Daily Gentrifier. Art21

 Architecture critics Alexandra Lange and Mark Lamster give their design awards for the best and the worst of 2016  and it contains Trump and White Russians. The perfect list for 2016. Curbed

 The case for walking around big cities at night. The Guardian

 How cars got curvy. Kottke

 How fake news afflicted Enlightenment Age France. Los Angeles Times

 And because it all looks so quaint and small: An early map of the Internet. University of California Research

Sign up for our weekly Essential Arts & Culture newsletter 

Find me on Twitter @cmonstah.
Golden Globes voters have spritzed Tom Fords perfume. SAG Awards balloters have been playing Captain Fantastic. (And maybe the Brown Dirt Cowboy too, if they know their classic-era Elton John.)

What does it all mean for the Academy Awards? Time for another edition of Oscar Watch, as we puzzle through the latest news and developments leading up to the academy revealing its nominees on Jan. 24.

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Circle of trust

La La Land

Moonlight

Manchester by the Sea

Fences

Hell or High Water

Silence

Arrival

Prime contenders

Lion

Loving

Hacksaw Ridge

Jackie

Hidden Figures

Analysis: The glad-handing has ended, all the questions have been answered at the nightly Q&As and, sources tell me, the ocean called  theyre running out of shrimp. All of which is to say: The parties and promotional events are over and academy members are preparing to tuck in for the holidays with their DVD screeners.

A few questions to ponder: 1) Hidden Figures, as expected, scored big with actors. (And the Obamas at a White House screening.) Will it continue to show strength, appealing to other guilds, on the way to an underdog run to a best picture Oscar nomination? 2) Can Jackie catch on with anyone outside of critics? As one academy member complained to me after watching the movie: If I wanted to listen to someone planning a funeral for two hours, Id spend the holidays with my Aunt Edna.

And 3) Is there any hope left for Loving? Jeff Nichols moving love story put up a goose egg at the SAG Awards, but did manage nominations for its two leads  Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton  with the Globes. It didnt land a best picture drama nod, though, and the film hasnt caught on commercially. Its not too late for Focus Features to remind Oscar voters of the movies merits and some members initial admiration of it. But I cant escape the sagging feeling that this powerful movie will wind up overlooked.

LEAD ACTRESS

Circle of trust

Emma Stone, La La Land

Natalie Portman, Jackie

Prime contenders

Annette Bening, 20th Century Women

Ruth Negga, Loving

Isabelle Huppert, Elle

Amy Adams, Arrival

Taraji P. Henson, Hidden Figures

Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

Analysis: I have not written a word about Streep this season. How is that possible? Ive listed her every week among the prime contenders, never really believing that, with so many other worthy women, shed actually land yet another nomination.

That kind of (wishful?) thinking went out the window when Streep earned both Golden Globes and SAG Awards nods for Florence, playing a real-life New York socialite whose inability to sing didnt stop her from trying. The Globes nom was expected, as the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. has 10 spots for its acting categories and Florence, rightfully, landed in the less competitive comedy/musical category. But SAG too? Geez. That has me wondering if Streep is about to add to her Oscar nomination record, even if, yes, SAG voters might love her even more than the academy.

Can I admit that Im conflicted? Streeps work in Florence ranks among her best  very funny, deeply sad, always fearless. And yet handing her a 20th Oscar nomination would still feel like a profound failure of imagination. Sure, Streeps Florence performance is more deserving than her recent, scenery-chewing turns in Into the Woods or August: Osage County or even The Iron Lady, for which she won her third Oscar. But more deserving than the never-nominated Huppert or the beautifully understated Negga? Absolutely not. (And just in case you didnt catch it the first time, let me repeat: Isabelle Huppert has zero Oscar nominations. Time to rectify that, voters.)

LEAD ACTOR

Viggo Mortensen, star of Captain Fantastic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times )

Circle of trust

Denzel Washington, Fences

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Ryan Gosling, La La Land

Prime contenders

Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic

Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge

Joel Edgerton, Loving

Tom Hanks, Sully

Andrew Garfield, Silence

Analysis: I also havent written about Mortensen, but have kept him among the prime contenders until the last column when I deleted his name  because, hey, who was thinking good thoughts about Captain Fantastic?

Plenty of people, it turns out. Or, more specifically, at least a couple dozen of the 85 active Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. members and some of the 2,500 people voting for SAG Awards nominations. Mortensen scored nods from both groups and the film itself  an anarchistic family saga with Mortensen playing a demanding dad  earned a SAG ensemble mention.

In retrospect, it makes sense, even if moviegoers didnt really take to Captain Fantastic when it came out in July. Mortensens inflexible patriarch in the movie is an atheist who celebrates the birth of Noam Chomsky, not Jesus. In other words: Hes just like every other godless sinner living and working in Hollywood. Someone has to balance out Garfields devout Desmond Doss, right?

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Octavia Spencer, supporting actress contender for Hidden Figures. (Kirk McCoy / Los Angeles Times )

Circle of trust

Viola Davis, Fences

Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

Naomie Harris, Moonlight

Nicole Kidman, Lion

Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures

Prime contenders

Janelle Monae, Hidden Figures

Greta Gerwig, 20th Century Women

Analysis: Spencers SAG and Golden Globes noms have me ready to sign off on this category. She and the scene-stealing Monae are equally good in the earnest Hidden Figures, but the Oscar-winning Spencer possesses stronger name recognition and goodwill among academy members. Gerwig should be more of a factor, but the late-breaking 20th Century Women seems to be struggling to find its way to the top of voters screener stack. Maybe theres still time for a late-season run.

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Hugh Grant, supporting actor contender for Florence Foster Jenkins (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times )

Circle of trust

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water

Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea

Dev Patel, Lion

Prime contenders

Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins

Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

Issey Ogata, Silence

Mykelti Williamson, Fences

Andre Holland, Moonlight

Simon Helberg, Florence Foster Jenkins

Analysis: You know who else has never been nominated for an Oscar? Hugh Grant! But unlike Huppert, no one has been writing stories lamenting that fact or calling it a gross oversight on the part of the academy. Thats because Grants (seemingly) effortless charm isnt the kind of acting that the academy rewards. If Cary Grant couldnt win an Oscar, what chance does Hugh Grant have? But hes in the conversation this year for his knowing turn as Streeps husband in Florence Foster Jenkins. With Globes and SAG nods, its looking likely that we might see him at next years Oscars.

DIRECTOR

Denzel Washington, left, and Mel Gibson at the Critics Choice Awards. (Christopher Polk / Getty Images )

Circle of trust

Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

Martin Scorsese, Silence

Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea

Prime contenders

Denis Villeneuve, Arrival

Pablo Larrain, Jackie

Denzel Washington, Fences

Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge

David Mackenzie, Hell or High Water

Analysis: Washingtons adaptation of August Wilsons play Fences won key raves this weekend from the New York Times A.O. Scott and the Wall Street Journals Joe Morgenstern, with Scott praising Washingtons decision to resist the temptation to force a lot of unnecessary cinema on the play.

But if, as Scott notes, confinement is an implied theme in Fences, the materials inherent restrictions could end up hurting Washingtons chances with directors branch voters. The majority of the reviews note the primacy and poetry of Wilsons words. However, as my colleague, Kenneth Turan notes in his review, Washingtons reverence for the play and its language, in part, hamstrings its attempts at making the work fully come alive on screen.

Due respect will be given to Fences in the picture, screenplay and, of course, acting categories. But the restraint Washington shows behind the camera will likely cost him a nomination, even if, in the views of some, it results in a better film.

glenn.whipp@latimes.com

Twitter: @glennwhipp
Carrie Fisher on Princess Leia: Shes like a superhero

(Robert Carter / For The Times)

Actress and writer Carrie Fisher has died after suffering a cardiac episode during a flight from London to Los Angeles on Dec. 23. Prior to the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Fisher spoke to The Times about the film, Princess Leia and her Star Wars legacy. Below is an excerpt from a story originally published on Dec. 4, 2015.

Fisher would know what it takes to make a lasting legacy in this franchise. The first few precious moments of A New Hope follow the angry revolutionary pulling together a contingency plan to smuggle spy documents off a spaceship. Unafraid of being taken hostage by the nefarious Empire, Princess Leia blasts the invading Imperial Stormtroopers. Leia shoots first.

In captivity, Leia proceeds to throw some truly galactic shade: Darth Vader, only you could be so bold, Gov. Tarkin, I should have expected to find you holding Vaders leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board, and the classic, Arent you a little short for a Stormtrooper?

While Han Solo shirks responsibility and Luke Skywalker fumbles around with his evolving, boyish perception of the hero, Leia gets things done. When her own rescue goes awry, she grabs the blaster herself and finds a way out. Shes not just a princess but a radical fighting for freedom under a tyrannical empire.

She had contempt for and worked with men, and I liked that, Fisher says. There was something human about her. It showed that she could do whatever she needed to do, and if she could do that, then everybody could do it. People identified with her. Shes like a superhero.

Kennedy, who took over the reins for Lucas in 2012, agrees. When Princess Leia hit the scene in 1977 she was a pretty formidable character. I give George [Lucas] a huge amount of credit, she says. Leia really held her own. We used that as kind of a touchstone for why it was so important to have a strong female character and hopefully many more strong female characters in the Star Wars universe.

The new film reintroduces Leia 30 years after the war. Shes no longer a princess but a general. And shes still very much in command  still walking and talking, Fisher says. She doesnt have any mortal wounds or disease. But, she warns, things have happened that have been difficult.

Fisher was mum on the rest of her characters details but didnt mind sharing a moment of nostalgia she felt on the set of the new film:

Youre so self-conscious, youre exhausted before you get out of your trailer. I was in my trailer in the back and I heard Harrison. I recognized how his boots sound, and I heard him say, Is Carrie here? That was funny. That was like were back on Star Wars campus.

In response to this reporters surprise that the actress who brought to life Princess Leia  general of the new resistance  was self-conscious, Fisher let out a guffaw. I think everyone thinks the same way, only [some] people pretend better. Im going to do badly this time. I look like .... The new people are better. What am I going to do? My hair looks bad again.

Fisher may still get nervous, but that doesnt change her legacy. Nor did it stop her tenacious response about the recent kerfuffle over her characters notorious bikini. A frustrated father in Deptford, Pa., went viral in a Fox 29 report over a Target store selling Princess Leia action figure toys dressed in the divisive slave Leia ensemble (a metal two-piece the character was forced to wear while prisoner to character Jabba the Hutt). The man was perturbed it was being sold in the toy aisle and flustered over how he was going to explain the toys chain to his daughters.

How about telling his daughter that the character is wearing that outfit not because shes chosen to wear it. Shes been forced to wear it, Fisher advises. Shes a prisoner of a giant testicle who has a lot of saliva going on and she does not want to wear that thing and its ultimately that chain, which youre now indicating is some sort of accessory to S&M, that is used to kill the giant saliva testicle. Thats asinine.

Truly the contempt for the scruffy-looking nerf-herders of the world is very much alive and well in Fisher.

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What did Zsa Zsa Gabor do, exactly? She acted a little, got married a lot. Mostly she was a professional presence, the lively public performance of a fabulous self. She was a confectionary sort of person, sugar and cream spiked with something a little stronger, as soft as her name, as hard and bright as diamonds. She put the pop in the pop culture.

Born in Budapest in 1917, Gabor came to America from Hungary in 1941, more or less alongside her older sister, Magda; younger sister Eva, best known now as the star of the 60s sitcom Green Acres; and mother Jolie. It will be said many times in wake of her death Sunday at age 99, that the Gabors were the Kardashians of their day, famous for being famous. (They burst onto the society pages and into the gossip columns so suddenly, friend Merv Griffin recalled, and with such force, it was as if theyd been dropped out of the sky.) But it is true only to a point.

If they came to America to make their way in high society, they were also refugees  literally, having left Europe in advance of Hitler  hard-working, independent women. Survivors, on a rarefied level. Zsa Zsa liked to let it be known that she paid her way. Scandal, when it touched her, was glancing  apart from a couple of tabloid-covered affairs, her best-known breach of the peace was slapping a Beverly Hills policeman during a stop for a traffic violation. (She denied it, and also called him an Adonis, but was convicted and spent a few days in jail.)

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Zsa Zsa Gabor, center, and sisters sisters Eva, left, and Magda were considered a precursor to the Kardashians. (AFP / Getty Images )

The men in her life, even when as rich and famous as hotelier Conrad Hilton or actor George Sanders, seem like bit players; her multiple marriages  eight or nine by varying counts  may be seen as a search for love, but, as she more than once told it, they were also a flight from boredom.

Have any of your husbands had prostate problems? Dame Edna Everage (Australian comedian Barry Humphries) asked her in a 1987 interview. I never give them enough time, Zsa Zsa replied.

While her sister Eva was a focused actress, Gabors own film career was hodgepodge and eccentric, including small roles in big movies and big roles in small ones. In 1958, she had a brief part in Orson Welles Hollywood art-house classic Touch of Evil and starred in the sci-fi Amazon film Queen of Outer Space, in which, surprisingly, she does not play the Queen of Outer Space. Her first major role was for John Huston in 1952s Moulin Rouge, but the parts were mostly minor after that.

Television was the medium that best conveyed her earthy, approachable glamour. She was a born guest, and a guest star, propulsively talkative, blithely self-revealing, casually aphoristic. Appearing opposite Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, David Frost, Arsenio Hall, Phil Donahue or Joan Rivers, on Bob Hope specials, Dean Martin roasts, The Hollywood Squares or Laugh-In, Batman or Its Garry Shandlings Show, she filled up the small screen with glitter and light, the promise of fun, and the hint of some parallel world where her sort of rare bird was the norm.

How self-aware was this presentation, how much a creature and how much a creation? Who can say? The bottle-blond bombshells of her era were smarter than they let on  and as sex bombs go, Gabor could seem surprisingly proper, even chaste. I imagine that a life in modern reality television would hold no interest for her. She could sound at times like the product of cushioned privilege, a step removed from reality. But she never played dumb.

robert.lloyd@latimes.com

Follow Robert Lloyd on Twitter @LATimesTVLloyd

ALSO

Zsa Zsa Gabor dies at 99; she had glamour and husbands in spades

Rest in peace, my dear: Hollywood salutes Zsa Zsa Gabor
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

By Orkhan Quluzade  Trend:

Turkeys Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci will visit Baku on Dec. 20, a source in the Azerbaijani Economy Ministry told Trend.

During the visit, the Turkish minister is expected to hold meetings with Azerbaijani officials.

According to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkey amounted to $2.12 billion in January-November 2016, $1.05 billion of which accounts for exports to Turkey.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade
Zsa Zsa Gabor, who pioneered a modern version of celebrity  she was famous for being famous  died Dec. 18, 2016, of heart failure in her Bel-Air mansion. She was 99. In a 1990 article, the celebrity allowed a Times reporter to come along as she visited her Ventura County horse ranch.

The morning had begun badly, and Zsa Zsa Gabor was still shaken hours later. Schatzi the German shepherd had attacked Genghis Kahn the Shih Tzu, injuring the lap dogs eye in an apparent fit of jealousy.

Oh, I cant be-LIEVE it! Gabor declared. Heart attack time, darling. I thought I would have a heart attack!

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Parental anxiety lingered throughout the day, following Gabor and Prince Frederick von Anhalt of West Germany, her eighth husband, from their hilltop mansion in Bel-Air to their recently purchased horse ranch in Ventura County.

It was only the third or fourth trip the actress had made to the ranch since buying it. She had invited along a reporter who had asked permission to visit her on the spread.

Like doting parents preoccupied with sibling rivalry, Gabor and the prince mulled over the dogfight during their road trip, in the stables and again at lunch, recounting its horror and analyzing their pets personalities with gusto.

Ja, ja, ja, it was so terrible, murmured the prince, who had driven the injured Genghis Khan to the dogs West Los Angeles vet and now steered toward the Ventura County countryside. He was looking at me and it was so pitiful and he was bleeding and crying and my heart was breaking.

Schatzi is just another jealous woman, Gabor observed to the prince, as she sat hunkered down in the passengers seat with a Shih Tzu named Macho Man. If you would make such a fuss about another woman, Id shoot you!

And so it went during the jaunt a few days ago to the Silver Fox Farm in Somis. Love and animals, animals and love. She sipped coffee from a plastic mug that read Married but Not Dead, its slogan affirmed by the giant pear-shaped diamond ring on her finger. His said, Happiness is Being Single.

Prince Frederick drove not the famous Rolls-Royce in which Gabor was arrested last June but a proletarian Chevy station wagon. Its hood was festooned with a silver polo player bought in London, its maroon interior was slathered in dog hair.

Gabor cuddled Macho Man and Zoltan Gabor  our grandson  and a second Shih Tzu on the trip, delivering a stream-of-consciousness monologue about her life, her husbands, her real estate, her dogs, her horses. And, inevitably, her treatment at the hands of the Beverly Hills police.

Well, what can happen? What is the worst thing that can happen? I go to jail for two days. Big deal.  Zsa Zsa Gabor

Well, what can happen? What is the worst thing that can happen? asked Gabor, whose conviction for slapping a patrolman is on appeal. I go to jail for two days. Big deal.

Gabors publicist says she bought the horse ranch on Sand Canyon Road in Somis because she was fed up with Beverly Hills and planned to retire there. But, although Gabor stated: Ive had it with Beverly Hills! and acknowledged her Bel-Air home is for sale, she denied any plans to withdraw from city life, much less retire.

I dont want to retire as long as I live, she said. What the hell do I want to retire for?

Instead, as Gabor explained it, the ranch fulfills a lifelong dream of raising horses, especially Tennessee walking horses, which she admires for their elegant gait and smooth ride. All seven horses Gabor owns are Tennessee walkers, although only two  Miss Scarlet Honey and her son Red Baron - have been moved to the ranch. The rest, including her favorite white steed, Silver Fox, remain for now with their trainer in Chino.

So far, she has acquired 21 acres for $1.75 million, roughly half the Rancho de Courtesy owned by Chevrolet dealer Mitchell McClure and his wife, Eva (source of the station wagon). Gabor said she plans to buy more land to create a working ranch as large as 60 acres, possibly from her Los Angeles veterinarian Richard Gebhart, who owns a neighboring ranch and referred her to the McClure property.

(I dont judge people as to their celebrity status, Gebhart said by phone last week. I judge people by how they take care of their animals. And she takes excellent care of her animals. She definitely cares for them.)

About 50 horses are already boarded at the ranch, and Gabor said she plans to take on more, as well as buy some racehorses.

The horses are going to be looked after like babies, she said as the station wagon roared along the freeway at Autobahn speed. Youll see our grandson, Red Baron, and his mother is pregnant again.

Talk of pregnancy led to talk of love, and love led to marriage, which led to divorce. Gabor had advice for Ivana Trump.

If Mrs. Trump is so in love with Mr. Trump, she shouldnt ask for his money, she should just sit back and wait, because eventually hell come back to his children and his wife, she said.

Look, darling, a man like that, with three beautiful children, a wife whos a friend, of course hell come back. This is just sexual attraction with that starlet or whatever she is. She should wait like a lady, a European lady.

Gabors only child, daughter Francesca Hilton, is unmarried and has no children, a fact the actress mentioned several times during the trip, especially as she inquired about a visitors family and love life. At one point, Gabor appeared to let down her guard and remarked that her daughter might be afraid to marry because of her own celebrated series of divorces.

It cannot be easy for her, you know, Gabor reflected. To be the daughter of Zsa Zsa Gabor and Conrad Hilton.

But that subject was dismissed as quickly as it was raised. Soon the ranch came into view, its hillside orange groves and graceful rows of eucalyptus trees an oasis from miles of traffic and tract housing.

Zsa Zsa Gabor riding her Tennessee Walking horse Silver Fox in the Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade. (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times )

Silver Fox! I wish my Silver Fox were here! cried Gabor. I love that horse more than anything in the world.

Once at the ranch, Gabor fed raw carrots to her charges and strolled through the stables, planning how to repaint them. Maybe red and green, the colors of Fredericks family coat of arms and the Hungarian flag. Maybe purple, with gold medallions, like the Duke of Marlboroughs stables.

Here we come! Here we come to feed our children! she sang as she entered the stalls, looking for Red Baron, a rust-colored colt with a crimson ribbon in his hair.

Where is my honey child? Hes gorgeous. Hes a love. Hi, love! Hi, Red Baron! My grandson, my angel.

Gabor recalled that when Red Baron was born, she was dressing for a party. She was so excited, she said, and her hands were trembling so much that she was been unable to open her safe to take out her jewels. I went to the party without one jewelry on. I couldnt open the combination, I was so excited.

Gabor nuzzled the colt. Red Baron returned her affection, rubbing his nose on her chest.

As the prince rode, Gabor made a quick walking tour of the grounds with horse trainer and longtime rancher Victor Puentes, efficiently ticking off a list of orders. That cleaned up, this removed. Red Baron should be gelded. A tenant must leave a small rented house, and a trailer will be donated to the homeless.

A modest, cinder-block house will be transformed into an English cottage for guests, Gabor said, and eventually she will build a large house for herself and the prince. Gabor also said she plans a horse show and a Dallas"-style barbecue in the spring.

She was dressed in beige riding pants, a matching down vest and black Frankfurt Am Main sweat shirt she said the prince picked up at a West German airport. Despite the casual attire and her age, now believed to be 72, Gabor looked every bit the star and primped with abandon.

Her blond hair was pulled back in a French braid and tied with a large, black velvet bow. Diamond-studded hoops swung down from her ears, and a fashionably large, simply designed watch hung from her neck. (Not a stopwatch, she said. Nothing can stop me.)

A look at her Hermes saddle from Paris, a quick bit of business with Eva McClure, then a toast to her new venture. Lets open a bottle of Champagne, she said to the prince, launching anew into Genghis Kahns attack. I had such a terrible morning!

On the way back to Bel-Air, they stopped for a late lunch at the Top Notch, a Moorpark restaurant with paper place mats, lace curtains and a menu emphasizing barbecue. Im really just a peasant at heart, Gabor said. She may have been booed in the Rose Parade, but in Moorpark she was received like a queen.

A lady over here says your movies dont do you justice, a waitress confided. Youre more beautiful in real life.

Well, tell her that I love her dearly, Gabor replied.

Although they claim to love country food and Gabor nearly ordered pork chops with sauce, she and the prince both settled on chefs salads, then fastidiously removed all the cheese and much of the ham.

The cheese, Ill take the cheese for the kids, she told the prince as they concentrated on their plates.

Ja, ja ja. They like it.

After lunch, Prince Frederick headed straight for the station wagon, carrying the cheese in a Styrofoam takeout container to the yelping Macho Man and Zoltan Gabor.

Gabor stopped in at the Toy Attic, where she bought two windup horses called Pony Pals and chatted with proprietor Gigi Smith about toys in general and husband No. 6, Barbie Doll creator Jack Ryan, in particular.

I married Jack Ryan just because he made the Barbie Dolls, she said. He was impossible.

The prince stood in the toy stores doorway and said, Come! Gabor left the shop.

The station wagon headed south for Bel-Air. Prince Frederick and Gabor laughed over the wiggling, mechanical Pony Pals. The dogs clambered for the cheese.

Ja, you like that, dont you? And a little piece of ham in between? cooed the prince, as Gabor snuggled with her children most of the way home.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour >> 

ALSO

Rest in peace, my dear: Hollywood salutes Zsa Zsa Gabor

Francesca Hilton dies at 67; daughter of Zsa Zsa Gabor, Conrad Hilton

The love life of Zsa Zsa Gabor
Even now  almost a quarter century since the killing  Martha Guzman still obsesses over the last seconds of her younger sisters life. How did she feel before the bullet tore through her eyes as she sat in her car?

Terrified, ambushed, trapped?

I replay it over and over in my mind, she said, biting her lip to choke back tears.

In 1992, her sister, Vicki Ghonim, was 17  the new mother of a 6-month-old boy, who was in his car seat behind her when a gunman shot her in a parking lot at Creek Park in La Mirada. Prosecutors say the shooter had been hired by Vickis husband, Morrad, who paid to make it look like a botched robbery.

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At a court hearing Monday, before a judge sentenced Morrad Ghonim to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Guzman walked to the lectern to address her former brother-in-law.

Morrad, youre a coward and a monster, she told him. You deliberately put your son in danger  to make your story more believable.

He didnt look at her, but swallowed hard.

We now know the truth and find some peace in that, Guzman told him. Youre finally going to be held accountable.

Ghonim, 43, had said at the time that the shooting occurred after his wife exchanged words with a group of people he thought were gang members catcalling her. The shooter  or shooters  he said, had been hiding behind bushes so he never got a look at who had attacked his wife.

The case remained unsolved for years until DNA tests on clothing recovered from the scene found a genetic match to a prison inmate serving time for burglary  Leon Martinez. Initially, Martinez told authorities his dead friend was the gunman, but he eventually confessed to shooting Vicki, saying her husband had hired him as a hit man. At last months trial, Martinez testified that Ghonim paid him $20,000.

During Mondays hearing in Norwalk, Ghonim  who had relocated to Antigua and married his third wife, a beauty queen, before his arrest in this case  stood to address the judge. He spoke emphatically and with his hands, as if he were, himself, an attorney. He demanded a continuance so he could have more time to prove his innocence.

I didnt do anything, Ghonim said. I loved her.

Ghonim said hed never met Martinez and reminded the judge that at the time of the slaying he was a 19-year-old working at Little Caesars Pizza. How, he asked, could he have scrounged together so much money to hire a hit man?

Ghonim also accused a detective who investigated him of manipulating Vickis family and pitting them against him.

The family loved me so much, Ghonim said, turning to the audience, where Vickis mother and father cried quietly.

At one point, Ghonims hands started to shake, his voice cracking. Superior Court Judge John A. Torribio asked him to sit and compose himself, before denying his request for a continuance.

Ghonims attorney, Alan Eisner, asked the judge to consider his clients lack of a criminal record as a mitigating factor in deciding a sentence. According to a probation report, the only thing Ghonim had on his record before the murder conviction was a misdemeanor grand theft conviction, for which he was sentenced to three years of probation. And yet, the probation officer wrote in the report, the gruesome murder spoke for itself.

His plan to execute his wife, he wrote, shows his heinous and callous behavior and shows he does not value life.

As the judge read the sentence, Ghonim rested his forehead in his hands and plugged his ears with both of his thumbs. He sighed twice.

Martinez, 43, who was convicted last year of Vickis murder, agreed to give evidence against Ghonim in exchange for a sentence of 28 years to life in prison instead of life without the possibility of parole.

During Ghonims trial, Martinez testified that Ghonim asked him about killing his wife on the first day the two men met through a mutual friend. Martinez said he agreed to kill her and they settled on a price.

Martinez also testified that he was high on cocaine the evening of the killing but said he remembered walking up to the window, pulling the gun from his pocket and firing at Vickis head from a few feet away.

As Vicki pleaded with him not to hurt her baby, Martinez said he shot her again and again, eventually shooting her in the eyes. Martinez testified that Ghonim then handed him an envelope of cash, reaching over his wifes slumped body.

The defense attacked Martinezs credibility, noting he had changed some details while on the witness stand. During previous interviews and court appearances, Martinez had said that Ghonim paid him a lot less  once he said $500, another $10,000. When the defense challenged him on the inconsistent statements, Martinez said, My memory aint that good at all.

Jurors convicted Ghonim of first-degree murder.

On Monday, Ghonim reminded the judge of some of the inconsistencies, saying Martinez cant even keep up with his own lies.

After the hearing, Eisner said he expects his client to be vindicated during the appeals process.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

marisa.gerber@latimes.com

For more news from the Los Angeles County courts, follow me on Twitter: @marisagerber

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6:50 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details from Mondays sentencing hearing.

This article was originally published at 12:20 p.m.
Jeanette Rowe doesnt buy the charge from businesspeople and residents that homeless people who turn down help are service resistant.

Not even this month, when Beverly Walker, 76  a homeless woman who Rowe feared was at risk of being attacked  declined an offer to trade in her mattress on a freeway underpass for a motel room.

She wants to take real estate classes, get an RV, something small. If we had it, shed go just like that, said Rowe, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authoritys soon-to-retire outreach director. If nothing else, she has a sense of who she wants to be. I dig that these people have a choice.

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Nearly three decades ago, Rowe, 65, helped pioneer the then-novel idea of finding homeless people in the streets and helping them navigate the social service labyrinth, instead of hoping theyd scale the bureaucratic behemoth on their own. Shes stepping down in January after 19 years with the homeless services agencys emergency response team, having seen her department grow from two staff members to 85.

Finally were getting help, she said on a recent outreach trip. It makes it easier to retire.

The job was not without danger; workers have to distinguish homeless individuals from the gang members, drug dealers and pimps who infiltrate their camps. Its endless: Rowe leaves her cellphone on for midnight calls. When Union Station expelled hundreds of homeless people camped out inside, she worked through Christmas Eve and Day to get them on a train home, or into a shelter.

Not seven days, but six, Rowe described her typical schedule.

Mike Neely, a Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority commission member who worked outreach with her in the late 1980s, said of Rowe, It takes a special person not only to go out and do the outreach, but also have the wherewithal to transport them and find them a place to stay.

For her its more of a calling as opposed to a job.

Rowe, 65, calls herself an old hippie. Her braids stream over her shoulders, and her waxed canvas intake bag is battered by decades of use.

My mother always said you only need one pair of shoes, said Rowe, who remembers her upbringing in Newark, N.J., as very poor.

But I never felt poor, she said.

Her mother kept the back door, and her dinner table, open to a stream of visitors down on their luck.

I never slept by myself until I left home for college at Cal State Los Angeles and Dominguez Hills, where she studied music, Rowe said.

She was an accountant when the plight of young homeless people in Hollywood drew her to the cause. She lives with her partner in Leimert Park, an artsy, largely African American neighborhood.

Rowe said the long fight to end homelessness has been plagued by stops and starts. Until 2005, officials had no reliable homeless count, which she likened to trying to fix dinner without knowing whos eating. Sobering centers, serviced by skid rows boozer cruiser, and short-term rent vouchers were cut off for lack of funding.

Now the city and county, which dedicated hundreds of millions of dollars to homelessness, are heading in the right direction, she said. A $1.2-billion homeless housing bond passed in November, and the county has another measure to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars to homeless services.

The sobering center and rapid rehousing vouchers are back, and the coordinated entry system, a detailed database of homeless people and their conditions, is tracking how clients are progressing.

Drug abuse, however, is through the roof and theres still not enough housing.

Housing is the key, she said.

Rowe said she could bear the heartbreaking stories of homeless individuals because she feels she made their lives better. What still gets to her is societys indifference.

The thing that get me the most is this is our country, Rowe said, tearing up. Why is it like this?

I had a client who thought he was invisible. Literally, Rowe said. People would walk by and ignore him. Nobody had said anything to him for so long he thought he was invisible. Thats the depth of homelessness.

People would walk by and ignore him. Nobody had said anything to him for so long he thought he was invisible. Thats the depth of homelessness.  Jeanette Rowe

This year, the homelessness crisis landed in force at Rowes doorstep, with up to 70 people sleeping in Leimert Plaza Park, attended by drug dealers and pimps. During an outreach session there last week, Rowe offered to drive Dannell Isabel Page, 47, a Navy veteran who lost a husband to suicide, from the plaza to the library to get an ID card that would entitle her to veteran benefits.

I have to drink my beer first, Page said.

Have you been in detox? Rowe asked.

I hate those places, Page said.

Everybody hates them, Rowe responded smoothly. You can give it a shot. If it doesnt work, it doesnt work.

A woman in a long, mauve-tinted wig cut her conversation with Rowe short. The voices told her to quit talking to me, Rowe said.

Police came and went as Pearl Cortez, the homeless emergency-response team program manager, sat on the phone, trying to get a county mental health team to get the woman out of the park. Finally, they agreed to come.

That tied up that team for three hours, waiting for Department of Mental Health, Rowe said.

We will not leave a situation, Cortez said. Theres no reason to leave her there.

Rowe said she will stay busy rescuing animals and organizing concerts for homeless people with a musician friend from New York. She may make a trip to a Scottish archaeological project.

Shell be back in the streets, too.

Im not going to stop doing this. Its what Im good at, Rowe said. Ill be a rogue agent out there doing outreach.

gholland@latimes.com

Follow me for homelessness news on Twitter: @geholland

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A Santa Clara County judge who drew heated criticism for his decision to sentence former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman has been cleared of misconduct by the California Commission on Judicial Performance.

In a 12-page report released Monday, the commission wrote that Judge Aaron Perskys sentencing was within the parameters set by law and was therefore within the judges discretion. The commission, an independent state agency that is responsible for investigating claims of misconduct, said it found no evidence of bias in Perskys conduct and announced that it had closed its investigation.

The commission has concluded that there is not clear and convincing evidence of bias, abuse of authority, or other basis to conclude that Judge Persky engaged in judicial misconduct warranting discipline, the panel said.

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That assessment did little to quell the furor over Perskys decision however as his fiercest critics vowed Monday to continue their campaign to have the judge removed from the bench in a recall election.

We believe that the record is completely clear that Judge Persky has a long record of failing to take violence against women seriously, and we will demonstrate when we launch the campaign early next year, said Michelle Dauber, a Stanford law professor and friend of the victim who has spearheaded the campaign. We believe that voters support the recall and will replace Judge Persky.

Outrage over the Turner sentencing erupted in June, when the victims anguished impact statement was published online and shared via social media.

The commission, which consists of six public members, two lawyers, and three judicial officers, had received thousands of complaints and petitions charging Persky with gender, race and economic bias. Critics also alleged that a nonwhite, underprivileged defendant would have received a harsher sentence and that Persky should have been disqualified from the case because he graduated from Stanford and played lacrosse there.

Turner was facing a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for sexually assaulting Emily Doe behind a dumpster, after a fraternity party. At the time, prosecutors asked Persky to sentence him to six years in prison. Persky sentenced the then-20-year-old Turner to six months in county jail and three years probation. Because of Californias felony sentencing realignment, Turner served only half of the sentence.

In making his decision, Persky looked at both Turner and the victims account of the assault, the commission said. His sentencing, according to the judicial panel, was also consistent with a probation officers recommendation.

Turners chief probation officer, Monica Lassettre, recommended a sentence of county jail, three years of probation and sex offender treatment, according to her probation report.

The commission also found that Perskys ties to Stanford were insufficient to require disclosure or disqualification.

Since finishing his studies more than three decades ago, the judges contacts with Stanford University have been minimal, the commission wrote.

We will continue to proceed with the recall election as it is important for Santa Clara County voters to decide whether Judge Persky should remain on the bench, Dauber said in a prepared statement. This report simply highlights what we have been saying from the beginning, which is that a petition for judicial discipline was not the correct venue to address these concerns, and the recall is the only realistic way to remove Judge Persky from office.

The commission also reviewed four other cases handled by Persky, and found no evidence of bias. In those cases, his sentencings were usually part of negotiated plea agreements between prosecutors and defense attorneys, consistent with recommendations in the probation reports or both, according to the judicial panel.

The commissions assessment did not sit well with Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of the womens rights advocacy group UltraViolet. The report was an insult to survivors of sexual assault everywhere, she said in a prepared statement.

The epidemic of rape and sexual violence against women is a national problem, where our so-called justice system excuses rapists and normalizes sexual violence too often, she said. Todays decision from the California Commission on Judicial Performance, like Judge Perskys decision to prioritize the well-being of convicted rapist Brock Turner, is yet another example of our national rape culture epidemic at work.

Following Perskys controversial ruling, lawmakers passed legislation in California this year that expanded the definition of rape and increased penalties for offenders who assault unconscious victims.

On Monday, the prosecutor in the Turner case acknowledged that although the Turner sentence was extremely disappointing, Persky had the lawful discretion to give it.

That would not be the case with the new law however.

Inspired by Emily Doe and helped by your local legislators, we changed the law so that the next Brock Turner will not spend a semester in jail, Santa Clara County Dist. Atty. Jeff Rosen said in a prepared statement on Monday. The next Brock Turner will go to prison.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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Los Angeles city and county leaders on Monday unveiled a $10-million fund to provide legal assistance for residents facing deportation, the regions boldest move yet as it prepares for an expected crackdown on illegal immigration by Donald Trump.

If approved by lawmakers, Los Angeles two top government agencies could find themselves in the position of using public funds to challenge policies sought by the White House and Republican Congress.

The fund represents another provocative pushback against the Trump agenda in heavily Democratic California, but outside legal experts said the local government agencies are likely within their right to use the money for these purposes.

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Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer said the fund will ensure that there is more fairness and more effectiveness in the immigration system. He cited statistics showing that immigrants who have representation have a better chance at succeeding in court.

Still, some anti-illegal immigration activists criticized the move, saying its a waste of taxpayer dollars and interferes with the federal governments immigration policies.

L.A. officials should be focused on assisting the citizens, [not] taking tax dollars to pay for services to assist illegal residents countywide, said Robin Hvidston, executive director of We the People Rising, a Claremont-based organization against illegal immigration. The money, she added, would be better spent on unemployed citizens, veterans, disabled and the elderly.

L.A. Justice Fund would receive at least $5 million total from city and county government. Philanthropic groups would donate the rest of the money. The California Endowment, the states largest private healthcare foundation, plans to give the fund $2 million, according to a foundation spokeswoman.

The legal fund, aimed at helping immigrants who cant afford attorneys, follows similar efforts at the state and national level to provide protections for migrants.

The move come as immigration groups are demanding that Los Angeles political leaders take a harder line against the incoming Republican president. More than 1 million of the estimated 11 million immigrants in the country without legal status live in Los Angeles County, and local groups argue Los Angeles needs to be prepared for the threat of deportations.

Mayor Eric Garcetti said the fund would help the regions most vulnerable immigrants, including undocumented minors, refugees and military families.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote Tuesday on allocating $1 million this budget year toward the fund, with a commitment to add $2 million more in the coming years, according to Supervisor Hilda Solis office.

The Los Angeles City Council will vote on moving $2 million to the fund after it reconvenes in January. The city money will come from Los Angeles general fund, which pays for basic services like fire and police protection and street repairs.

City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who chairs the citys budget committee, didnt respond to a request for comment Monday. The councils lone Republican, Councilman Mitch Englander, also didnt respond.

Several similar bills to aid immigrants are pending at the state level. Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) introduced legislation earlier this month to create a state program to pay for legal representation for those facing deportation, while Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) wants to create state-funded centers to train attorneys on immigration law.

It remains far from clear what city governments can do to block or even delay deportations, which are under the jurisdiction of the federal government. But Trumps win has mayors in Democratic-majority cities scrambling to adopt new policies or allocate funds.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel this month announced the creation of a $1.3-million legal protection fund, created in partnership with the National Immigrant Justice Center. San Francisco is also weighing various plans to help fund legal services for immigrants, while New York City already directs money for such programs.

Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, an L.A.-based immigrant rights organization, said that many immigrants do not fight their cases because they cant afford lawyers, or they fall victim to unscrupulous attorneys.

Thats about to change in Los Angeles, and we applaud the initiative, Salas said.

CHIRLA was part of a coalition of immigrant rights advocates, unions and legal organizations that sent a letter last month to Garcetti, the City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors calling for more aggressive action in the face of possible deportations.

The letter warned that abstract statements and vague promises will not be enough to confront the threat we now face and sought a list of demands, including the creation of a legal defense fund.

But Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington, D.C., think tank that advocates for restrictions on immigration, questioned the dubious use of scarce taxpayer dollars.

Immigration proceedings are a civil matter, not criminal, and no Americans who are defending themselves in civil proceedings are entitled to taxpayer-funded representation, Vaughan said. She also questioned whether taxpayer money will be used for immigration cases that involve criminals who should be deported.

Some immigrants in the country illegally do have serious criminal histories. Others have committed low-level crimes that are considered deportable offenses but are relatively minor, such as low-level misdemeanors or immigration violations, which include illegal re-entry.

Garcetti said Monday that the L.A. Justice Fund would help law-abiding immigrants. Asked by a reporter if that meant that anyone with a criminal history would be disqualified from receiving aid, the mayor said no. He added the city will continue to work with federal immigration authorities to crack down on serious criminals.

Ingrid Eagly, professor of law at UCLA, said she sees no legal risk for the city and county in using taxpayer money for the program.

The city and state have historically used taxpayer funds to provide legal services for the poor, which includes both citizens and non-citizens, Eagly said. Its consistent with the policy of the state and the city, which is a welcoming and inclusive policy.

Gov. Jerry Brown in 2014 approved $3 million in taxpayer money to fund legal help for child migrants, money that followed the surge in children crossing the border to flee violence from Central America.

City and county representatives said the fund is one of the first times local taxpayer money has been allocated to provide legal services for those without documentation.

dakota.smith@latimes.com

@dakotacdsmith

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A person suspected of carrying a handgun was fatally shot by police in South Los Angeles on Sunday after he led officers on a foot pursuit.

The shooting occurred about 8:25 p.m. near 60th Place and Western Avenue, according to Lt. Chris Ramirez, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Uniformed officers from the LAPD Metro Division observed a male who had his hands near his waistband and was believed to be carrying a weapon, Ramirez said.

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When officers approached, he fled and ran through an apartment building before turning north on Western Avenue toward 60th Street, he said.

At that point, at least one officer opened fire, striking the person, Ramirez said. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His identity and age were not released pending notification of his family.

Its unclear what immediately led to the shooting. Ramirez said a handgun was recovered at the scene.

No officers were injured in the incident, and the officers involved were not equipped with body-worn cameras.

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

Twitter: @MattHjourno.

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The Mail Online, a website of the British tabloid Daily Mail, has apologized for running columns accusing a Muslim family of being extremists after they were denied entry to the U.S. last year for a Disneyland vacation.

Two columns by Katie Hopkins suggested that Mohammed Tariq Mahmood and his brother, Mohammed Zahid Mahmood, were extremists with links to Al Qaeda.

Last December, Hopkins wrote that the familys stated reason for visiting California  to visit Disneyland  was a lie and that the Department of Homeland Security was right to prevent them from boarding their flight.

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About two weeks later, Hopkins wrote in another column that Hamza Mahmood, Mohammed Tariq Mahmoods son, was responsible for a Facebook page that allegedly contained extremist material.

Our article included a photo of the family home. Hamza Mahmood has pointed out that he is not responsible for the Facebook page, which was linked to him as a result of an error involving his email address, the Mail Online said in its public apology.

The site said it has agreed to pay substantial damages totaling 150,000 British pounds to the Mahmood family. Hopkins also tweeted an apology on Monday at 2 a.m.

We are happy to make clear that Tariq Mahmood and Zahid Mahmood are not extremists, nor do they have links to Al Qaeda, the Mail said. They were travelling to the USA with their families to see one of their brothers for a holiday in California and they had indeed planned to visit Disneyland as part of their trip.

U.S. authorities barred the Mahmood family from boarding a flight to Los Angeles from Londons Gatwick airport last year. At the time, Department of Homeland Security officials did not provide an explanation for why the family of 11 was not allowed to fly out although they had been granted travel authorization online, according to the Guardian.

The family was then told they would not be refunded cost of their flights  about $13,000  and they had to return everything they purchased from airports duty-free shops, the OC Weekly reported.

Mahmood family press release - Katie Hopkins & the Mail apologise & Mail pays 150,000 in libel damages to Mahmood family. pic.twitter.com/fbp68PdtxV  MEND Community (@mendcommunity) December 19, 2016

The case prompted senior politicians to respond, including Labor Party lawmaker Stella Creasy, who warned that British Muslims were increasingly being denied entry to the U.S. without being told why. She pointed to policies suggested by President-elect Donald Trump  then one of many Republican presidential hopefuls  including his call to ban Muslims from entering the country.

On Monday, Creasy tweeted Hopkins apology.

Dont often share Katie Hopkins messages but do feel this late night tucked away one should be given more prominence, she wrote.

In a statement, the family said they are very pleased that, after a great deal of dragging of their heels, the Mail and Ms. Hopkins have now accepted that what they published was completely false.

The family said U.S. officials have yet to explain why they were not permitted to travel.

We assume it was an error or even a case of mistaken identity, they said. However, matters are not helped when such sensationalist and, frankly, Islamophobic articles such as this are published, and which caused us all a great deal of distress and anxiety. We are very pleased that the record has been set straight.

sarah.parvini@latimes.com

For more California news follow me on Twitter: @sarahparvini

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A former U.S. Homeland Security Investigations agent is accused of using his position to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from drug-money couriers and laundering the dirty money through real estate transactions in American and Croatian banks, according to a federal indictment filed in San Diego.

Tyrone Cedric Duren, 46, faces money laundering charges along with his wife, Jennifer Lynn Duren, 45, as well as charges of bank fraud conspiracy, making false statements to federal agents and structuring financial transactions.

The grand jury indictment, filed last week, does not specify how much Duren is suspected of stealing, although the U.S. attorneys office is asking the couple to forfeit $2 million, along with their home in Bonsall, east of Oceanside.

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The couple were arrested Nov. 30 at Los Angeles International Airport as they returned from a trip to Australia and New Zealand.

The case is being tried by a federal prosecutor from Arizona to avoid any conflicts of interest.

Court documents portray a law enforcement officer with financial problems who  without explanation  suddenly became flush with cash, depositing the riches into numerous banks, remodeling his home and vacationing around the world.

The evidence obtained during the investigation and detailed in the complaint paints Duren as an intelligent but deceitful person, sophisticated in the art of concealing assets and engages in international travel to hide assets, Special Assistant U.S. Atty. Kevin Rapp wrote in a motion arguing for Durens detention. He has used his position as a law enforcement agent for illegal financial gain to support himself and family with a lavish lifestyle.

A judge last week granted bail for Duren. His wife was released earlier on $50,000 bail.

They have pleaded not guilty.

Jennifer Durens attorney, Hamilton Arendsen, declined to discuss the case. Durens attorney did not return a phone call or email seeking comment.

Tyrone Duren was a California Highway Patrol officer from 2002 to 2007 and became a Homeland Security Investigations special agent in 2008. Along with the new job came a $31,000 pay cut.

Duren was assigned to the Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force, targeting drug trafficking organizations that smuggle illicit proceeds back to Mexico.

Over five years, records show Duren was involved in more than 40 cash seizures totaling $20 million, authorities said.

But investigators suspect Duren instigated other seizures of his own.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Inspector General was first tipped in September 2013 with a report that Duren was involved in money laundering, tax evasion and other financial fraud in connection with a property management business he co-owned in Philadelphia, according to the complaint.

The business, Granite Hill Properties, rents homes and rooms to tenants, including those who receive financial aid through state and federal programs. Durens wife works as a bookkeeper for the business.

The Inspector General received a second complaint in October 2013 that Duren had months earlier stolen an estimated $440,000 in drug proceeds during an off-the-books traffic stop near San Ysidro, according to the complaint.

The driver of the van mentioned in the complaint said that Duren walked up to his window and said: I smell something. I know there is something. It better not be guns, because there is nothing I can do about that, but if it is money I can write some paperwork and let you go.

Duren handcuffed the driver and passenger and put them in his SUV, then retrieved the tracker. He asked the van driver to make a phone call for instructions on how to open the roof compartment.

When it was opened, Duren removed bags of cash and told the driver to meet him at a nearby Bank of America. In the parking lot, Duren photographed the driver, scanned his fingerprint and told him to tell his boss he was stopped by the California Highway Patrol.

Surveillance video at the bank and at the border, along with computer and cellphone evidence, confirmed parts of the drivers story, the complaint states.

Duren was interviewed by federal agents in September 2014 and denied the accusations.

When asked about his financial situation, Duren said in the interview he was a millionaire.

I do this job because I like it, he said.

Agents served search warrants at Durens home, in his government vehicle and on his cellphones, and he was placed on administrative leave. He resigned from Homeland Security on March 15, 2015.

The investigation includes records of numerous bank deposits, including the time Duren brought $70,000 in $100 bills wrapped with rubber bands in a backpack and deposited it in a Union Bank. From 2012 to 2014, he and his wife deposited $1.27 million in cash and cashiers checks into various bank accounts, the complaint states.

Durens international travel also raised suspicions. From January 2012 to October 2013, he made several trips, including to Canada, the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Russia and European nations. He had $7,000 cash on him when searched by Canadian border security. Documents also show he and his wife opened bank accounts and credit cards in Croatia and that Duren opened an LLC there for the purposes of buying and selling real estate.

The couple are also accused of bank fraud in connection with real estate transactions, including submitting false information on loan documents. The couple owns some 30 properties, according to a search warrant.

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Davis writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The new chief of the Bakersfield Police Department has asked the FBI to review the case of a 73-year-old man with early dementia who was shot and killed by an officer just steps from his home last week.

Chief Lyle Martin has requested an examination of the facts and evidence surrounding the death of Francisco Serna to increase transparency and trust within our community. The FBI investigation will be independent of probes now underway by the department and the Kern County district attorneys office.

Public confidence in the criminal justice system is critical, the police department said in a statement issued Friday. The Bakersfield Department is committed to seeking justice in all cases and this is accomplished by ensuring investigations are completed thoroughly and without bias.

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The request comes amid public criticism of the department and demands by the Serna family to open state and federal investigations into the killing.

The shooting occurred around 12:40 a.m. on Dec. 12 in the Southwest Bakersfield neighborhood. Just prior to the shooting, a neighbor had called 911 to report that a man had flashed a gun at his wife and her friend, Martin told reporters last week.

When police responded to the 7900 block of Silver Birch Avenue, the 911 callers wife told police that Serna had approached her outside her home. She said Serna stood behind her and questioned her about living in the neighborhood.

During the exchange Serna had one hand in his pocket, Martin said. The woman told police that she saw a black- or brown-handled object in his jacket and that she believed it was a firearm.

She then identified Serna to police as he exited his home across the street. The woman pointed at him and yelled, Thats him, the chief said.

Officers ordered Serna to show his hands, but he ignored them and kept his hands in his jacket and continued walking toward police, Martin said.

After he ignored the officers commands, Officer Reagan Selman fired seven rounds at Serna, striking him five times, police said.

When police searched Sernas body and the scene, they did not find a weapon. Instead, officers found a dark, faux wood crucifix.

Martin said Serna never lunged or threatened officers. The officers, he said, did not attempt to use other methods of force.

Selman and the six other officers involved in the matter have been placed on routine administrative leave. It was Selmans first police shooting since joining the department in July 2015.

Serna had shown signs of dementia since 2015 and occasionally experienced delusions, according to his son, Rogelio Serna. His fathers symptoms seemed more pronounced in the last month, he said.

Before the shooting, Bakersfield police had been called to Sernas home eight times. Six of the visits occurred in the last month, and were mostly for false burglary calls, a police spokesman said.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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A man whom authorities suspect of stabbing two women, a 3-year-old girl and a 3-month old baby led police on a winding pursuit from the San Fernando Valley to Glendale, where he scaled a partly built home and waged a standoff with surrounding officers.

The stabbing was reported about 1 p.m. Sunday in the 8800 block of Tobias Avenue in Panorama City, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The suspect allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her relative several times, and both women were hospitalized in critical condition, LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez said. The 3-month-old girl had a cut to her thigh and the 3-year-old girl had multiple cuts, Ramirez said. The children were expected to survive.

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LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein said that after the stabbing, the assailant fled the area but later returned to pick up his car.

Officers were waiting at the property and tried to arrest the man. He eluded police, prompting the pursuit through the foothills and into Glendale.

The chase ended when the mans car crashed and flipped over. The driver got out and ran to a construction site on a hillside near Buckingham Road and Chevy Chase Drive.

He stood atop the partly built structure. Aerial images from KCBS-TV Channel 2 showed the man sitting on steel frames as LAPD officers advanced on the property.

Crisis negotiators were communicating with the suspect as the standoff continued.

The suspects mother arrived at the scene and officers coaxed him into surrendering without incident. He was taken into custody by 8 p.m. and was expected to be booked on suspicion of attempted murder. His identity was not released.

During the standoff, the Glendale Police Department urged residents near Chevy Chase Canyon to remain inside and keep their doors locked.

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

Twitter: @MattHjourno.

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UPDATES:

11:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details on the stabbing incident, including that four people were injured.

10:50 p.m.: This article was updated with confirmation that the man was taken into police custody.

This article was originally published at 6:20 p.m.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

Trend:

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry strongly condemn terror act resulted in killing of Ambassador of Russian Federation to the Republic of Turkey Andrey Karlov, Ministry said in it's statement.

"We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, relatives and all colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation. We remain assured that this terror act will thoroughly be investigated and culprits will get severe punishment". - said in a statement.

The Republic of Azerbaijan is convinced that the terror act committed against Ambassador Andrey Karlov will further strengthen the determination, cooperation and joint efforts of Russia and Turkey in the fight against terrorism.

Azerbaijan firmly condemns all forms and manifestation of terrorism. Terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances.
First came a snapping sound, almost like a firecracker, witnesses said. Next came the chorus of screams.

Federico Flores turned Saturday afternoon in Whittiers Penn Park and saw a large tree crashing down toward a wedding party, sending a group dressed in gowns and tuxedos scrambling for safety that some could not reach.

The eucalyptus tree, estimated to measure more than 80 feet tall, killed one woman and injured seven other people, including a 4-year-old girl who was listed in critical condition with head trauma, according to Whittier Police Department officials.

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At the park, family members and bystanders rushed to free those trapped under the trees limbs, Flores told reporters at the scene. Rescuers tried to administer CPR to the woman who later died, he said. The L.A. County coroners office did not release her identity.

The mother lost her life. A 4-year-old is injured. How do you explain it? You cant.  Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri

The mother lost her life. A 4-year-old is injured. How do you explain it? You cant, Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri said on Sunday. The tragedy of the situation is on the hearts and minds of many people. We need to pray for the family because of the injuries and losing someone on a day thats supposed to be a great celebration.

Those in the wedding party were taken to a nearby community center where mental health counselors and chaplains were on hand to console them, fire officials said. Meanwhile, crews used search dogs to make sure no others were pinned underneath the tangle of branches.

Penn Park, at nearly 6 acres, is popular for wedding photos because of its stately trees. Officials have closed it indefinitely until a certified arborist can inspect the tree and determine why it fell, according to City Manager Jeff Collier. The mayor said the tree was at least 50 years old.

Before the park is reopened, the city will also evaluate other trees and ensure there is no risk of them falling, Collier said.

Fire officials suspect recent rainfall coupled with Californias withering drought, now in its sixth year, may have played a role in the trees failure.

Weve seen this happen throughout Southern California with both the drought conditions  trees are stressed  and we did have a large amount of rain, said Deputy Chief John Tripp of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

A storm system dumped 1.85 inches of rain on Whittier on Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Last July, an 85-foot pine tree fell onto dozens of young day campers outside a museum in Pasadenas Brookside Park, critically injuring two children.

An arborists report later concluded that the prolonged drought, a lack of strong roots and a burst of rain were the main reasons behind the trees collapse. Pasadena had received 0.61 inches of rain in the 10 days before the incident.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

Twitter: @MattHjourno.

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Surrounded by miles of empty countryside, the small community of Hanover is something of an island on the high, rolling plains southeast of Colorado Springs.

When trouble strikes, the close-knit hamlet of ranchers and farmers can wait up to a half hour or more for sheriffs deputies to arrive.

That bothered Hanover school board member Michael Lawson. He felt the districts two schools and roughly 270 students were vulnerable to would-be attackers. Then there were the dozens of marijuana growers in the area whom he alleges have links to Cuban and Colombian drug cartels.

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Reports of foreign nationals illegally growing marijuana are widespread here in El Paso and neighboring Pueblo counties. Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers told the Colorado Springs Gazette in May that Cubans involved in organized crime were illegally growing pot in homes throughout the area. And last spring, the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested six Cubans in an illicit growing operation in Pueblo County.

Local law enforcement officials say they cant connect the marijuana grows near Hanover to foreign cartels.

But Lawson felt something needed to be done.

In June, he suggested a plan to allow trained faculty and staff to carry guns on campus. After months of debate, Hanover School District 28 voted 3-2 Wednesday in favor of the measure.

The vote came on the fourth anniversary of the Newtown, Conn., shootings that killed 20 students and six staffers at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The timing was a coincidence, said Lawson, a volunteer fireman and National Rifle Assn. firearms instructor.

He said the district cant afford its own police force or armed security so it had to look for other options.

School Board President Mark McPherson opposed it.

I dont feel we can train a teacher to respond effectively in that situation by giving them a 40-hour course, he said. That isnt enough for them to execute with clarity and in an expert manner in a situation that normally calls for a professional.

The district, about 30 miles from Colorado Springs, has secured doors, cameras and an armed school resource officer shared with five other schools. McPherson also said there was no evidence linking local marijuana growers with drug cartels.

We will come together as a team and look at policies, training and who will pay for it, he said.

As school shootings have mounted across the country, so has debate over how best to prevent the next slaughter. Some see the solution in tougher gun laws, while others believe the answer lies with more guns in properly trained hands.

State firearm regulations vary wildly when it comes to who can carry a gun on a K-12 campus. Some limit it to police and security guards while others, like Colorado, allow teachers and staffers with concealed carry permits to bring guns to school.

The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence reports that nearly all states forbid firearms in K-12 schools but only 39 states and the District of Columbia apply this to those with concealed carry permits. Twenty states have restricted guns on college campuses.

California requires written permission from authorized school officials before anyone with a concealed carry permit can bring a gun onto either a K-12 or college campus, according to the law center. Currently, three California school districts allow teachers and staff to carry a gun on campus. And there are efforts underway in other states, like North Dakota, to give teachers similar rights.

I think its a high risk, high liability proposition, said Ken Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, a consulting firm specializing in school security. Youre asking teachers, principals and support staff to perform a law enforcement function they arent trained for.

Trump, no relation to the president-elect, is skeptical of such plans.

Who will be responsible on a daily basis to make sure employees are trained? And to what standard? he asked. Are you going to take the school custodians and give them a once a year training so they can learn to shoot straight?

And there are psychological issues involved.

Do you have the mind-set to shoot a kid that two hours earlier you were teaching math to? he asked.

None of those questions seem to bother David Thweatt, an early advocate of arming teachers and currently superintendent of the tiny Harrold, Texas, school district with about 120 students.

Harrold, like Hanover, is 30 miles from help in the event of an attack. So in 2007, Thweatt created the Guardian Plan. School staff with concealed carry permits could bring guns to school after being approved by the school board. They also underwent regular training.

The only people who get more shooting instruction are our state highway patrol, he said. We want accuracy, we want placement, we dont want collateral damage.

Thweatt scoffed at emergency plans in many schools.

Most schools lock the doors and hope for the best, he said. If a bad person comes to our school that person is leaving in a body bag and your kid is coming home safe.

Hanover isnt the only Colorado school district to allow armed staffers. The school board in rural Fleming voted unanimously in July to do the same.

Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a national gun control group, rejects this approach.

In 2014 an Idaho State University professors hand gun discharged and he shot himself in the foot, she said. A teacher in a private school in Pennsylvania left her gun in the bathroom where it was found by kindergartners.

Trying to turn teachers into sharpshooters, she said, is obscene and perverted and frankly the wrong solution.

But residents of rural areas can feel helpless in the face of a potential attacker. The Hanover school district sits in El Paso County, which is larger than Rhode Island and patrolled by local sheriffs deputies. That includes four in the Rural Enforcement and Outreach Unit.

Deputy Jeff Schulz is one of them. He said response time had dropped significantly since the unit was formed two years ago.

There have been no attacks on local schools and Schulz said the only major pot bust done by the sheriffs department was in October, when a marijuana grower was caught with more weed than legally allowed. His office has identified 45 marijuana grows in eastern El Paso County.

There is stuff that happens out here but we cant correlate that with marijuana grows, he said. But where you have drugs, you have violence.

Before Wednesdays vote, the school board sent a survey to students, parents and community members asking, Are you in favor of arming staff? The results were tight with 126 in favor and 123 against.

Many left comments. A student said it was fine as long as a teacher doesnt go crazy and kill us. Another called it a stupid idea; one vowed not to attend school if it passed.

Terry Siewiyumptewa, 50, a parent of a Hanover student, is a supporter.

If I need a deputy it will take 30 to 45 minutes to get here, she said. How long did Sandy Hook take? Thirteen minutes? And 26 people were dead? So now you understand our problem.

Kelly is a special correspondent.

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Despite a statute binding the 12 members of the electoral college to vote for the winner of the states 2016 presidential election popular vote, four Washington electors made history and risked a $1,000 fine by voting for someone else Monday. But it wasnt Donald Trump.

Hillary Clinton, supported by 57% of the states voters, wound up with eight of the 12 electoral votes at a session held in the State Capitol building here.

Gen. Colin Powell received three votes. And Faith Spotted Eagle, an elder of the Yankton Sioux, received one.

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It was the first time in four decades that the states electors did not support the winner of Washingtons popular vote for president. In a tweet released shortly after the vote, Secretary of State Kim Wyman said she plans to enforce what is called the faithless voter law against the four who didnt follow the rules. She did not elaborate.

The separate vote for vice president drew some raised eyebrows as well. Clintons running mate, Tim Kaine, received eight votes. The other four went to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Winona LaDuke, a Native American activist.

The outcome had no affect on the ballyhooed effort to deprive Trump of his White House victory through the electoral process. He had earned none of his 306 electoral votes in the winner-take-all general election here and none of the protest votes went his way either. However, Clintons 232 electoral vote tally will drop.

Elector Peter B. Chiafolo, a 37-year-old Microsoft employee and co-founder of Hamilton Electors, which seeks to change the electoral process, nonetheless said he was inspired by the widespread support his group received across the U.S.

The first key of learning how to be a citizen is understanding how your government works, he said. The nations sudden interest in the usually routine electoral vote shows people are finding out, he added.

He plans to continue working for elimination of the electoral college, he said in the short speech allowed to each of the dozen electors, and was joined by Gov. Jay Inslee, who said the balloting for president should be done only by national popular vote.

Washington is one of 29 states where electors are bound by law or pledge to vote for the states popular vote winner. Faithless electors who dont follow the rules can be hit with up to a $1,000 civil fine.

Chiafolo, 37, and 19-year-old fellow elector Levi Guerra, an ex-high school wrestling champ, both had said they wanted to vote for a Republican other than Trump. They challenged the faithless elector law in court, but a federal judge threw out the case. Last Friday, a federal appellate court declined to grant an emergency injunction.

The results of the vote are to be sent to the president, the National Archives and federal court, a state spokesperson said.

Anderson is a special correspondent.
Dangerous, record-low temperatures caused cancellations of some holiday festivities in the Plains and Midwest over the weekend before the cold front pushed into the Ohio Valley and the Eastern Seaboard on Sunday.

The National Weather Service forecast a warming trend to start early in the week in many spots as a quieter weather pattern was expected to develop.

On Sunday, temperatures plunged to minus 20 degrees and lower across much of the northern Plains with a fresh surge of bitter arctic air reaching into the Midwest.

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A church in Lincoln, Neb., canceled its living nativity scene. In my opinion, this is too cold for anyone to be standing outside  bundled up or not, Patti Crittenden, Trinity United Methodist Churchs director of youth ministries, told the Lincoln Journal Star.

In suburban Chicago, an arboretum canceled its holiday light show planned for Sunday night, and a holiday gift market was canceled in the Chicago suburb of Naperville.

Travelers were stranded and delayed as a blizzard shut down Interstate 90 in parts of Montana on Sunday. Authorities urged people to stay home to avoid endangering themselves and possible rescuers.

Weather-related delays at Indianapolis International Airport caused about 100 passengers to spend the night in the terminal, but most travelers were on their way Sunday morning.

Chicago police said a commercial plane slid off a runway early Sunday at OHare International Airport. No injuries were reported from the incident just after 1 a.m.

Bismarck, N.D., posted a new record low for the date of Dec. 17 with 31 degrees below zero on Saturday before midnight, said National Weather Service meteorologist Zachary Hargrove. Linton, N.D., was even colder at minus 33 degrees early Sunday.

In South Dakota, the city of Huron set a new low for Sundays date of minus 31 degrees. Another record fell in Marshall, Minn., where it was 31 below zero. Spencer, Iowas negative 27 degrees was also a record-breaker.

Colorado residents were digging out after up to 16 inches of snow fell across the state Saturday, stranding motorists and leaving some areas of the state with subzero temperatures Sunday. The National Weather Service said the thermometer dipped to 27 degrees below zero in Limon. Breckenridge reported the most snow, with 16 inches, which gave skiers and snowboarders the heavy snow they have been hoping for all season.

Snow and freezing rain led to numerous highway accidents, some serious. Perhaps the biggest accident was in Baltimore, when a tanker carrying gasoline skidded off a highway and exploded, killing two people and causing a nearly 70-vehicle pileup on Interstate 95, authorities said.

Hospital officials said nearly two dozen people were treated for injuries, including broken bones and head trauma. A total of seven remained hospitalized Sunday with two in critical condition, two in serious condition and three in fair condition.

In southwestern Michigan, icy conditions appear to have played a role in a crash that killed a 73-year-old motorist. There were dozens of crashes in Indiana  two of them with fatalities  due to freezing rain and ice. The roads were so slick that authorities had to use a ladder to move motorists stranded on an overpass.

In Ohio, a Columbus woman died Saturday when her car skidded off a slick road, authorities said.

In Virginia, a Fairfax County firetruck slid off an icy road while responding to a crash, but no one was injured.

In North Carolina, police and emergency workers reported more than 100 crashes in Raleigh and Charlotte as the drizzle combined with below-freezing temperatures to create dangerous icy patches.

In Missouri, Jared Leighton, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill, said Sunday that the winter storm Saturday left 2 to 4 inches of snow in the state and was followed by subzero temperatures early Sunday.

Leighton said a gentle warmup is expected.

Its still going to be rather cold, but when you start with minus 9 anything is going to feel warm, he said. Well struggle to get out of the single digits, he said Sunday. We might get to 10 degrees today.
Update: President Obama on Thursday slapped Russia with new penalties for meddling in the U.S. presidential election, kicking out dozens of suspected spies and imposing banking restrictions on five people and four organizations the administration says were involved.

Four powerful members of the Senate called Sunday for creation of a special select committee to investigate Russian attempts to influence the presidential election, a sign of growing concern that GOP leaders plans to use existing panels will produce a partisan inquiry.

Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who chairs the Armed Services Committee, and Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), the incoming minority leader, said the specter of a foreign power trying to sway the U.S. election demands a special bipartisan investigation.

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We need to get to the bottom of this, McCain said on CNNs State of the Union.

Theres no doubt they were interfering, he said. Theres no doubt. The question is now, how much and what damage? And what should the United States of America do?

Schumer told a news conference in New York that its clearer and clearer that the Russians hacked our cybersystem with the intent of influencing the election.

It sure should raise the hackles of every American, he added.

Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) also called for creation of an independent investigation.

So far, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) have insisted that the GOP-controlled House and Senate intelligence committees should conduct any inquiry.

McCain and Schumer said four sets of committees have jurisdiction over foreign policy, cyber threats, law enforcement and intelligence.

Most will be tied up next spring with confirmation hearings for the incoming administration, they said, and only a special select committee can focus on cyberthreats from Russia, China, Iran and others.

On Oct. 7, the director of national intelligence released a public statement saying the nations intelligence agencies consensus view is that senior Russian officials had directed hacking of U.S. political organizations in an effort to interfere with the election.

Thousands of emails pilfered from the Democratic National Committee servers and from Hillary Clintons campaign chairman were posted on WikiLeaks and other websites through the summer and fall, undermining Clintons campaign.

In recent weeks, the CIA and other agencies have hardened their conclusions, saying they believe the Russian hacking and leaking was at least partly aimed at helped Donald Trump win the election.

Last week, Trump dismissed those intelligence reports as ridiculous, and on Sunday, his incoming White House chief of staff cast doubt on the intelligence agencies strong consensus on the question.

We havent heard from [FBI Director James] Comey, Reince Priebus said on Fox News Sunday.

I mean, if there is this conclusive opinion among all of these intelligence agencies, then they should issue a report or they should stand in front of a camera and make the case.

I dont think theyve been clear about it, he added. I think that its been all over the map.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, said he too is not yet convinced by the intelligence.

We havent been shown that consensus, he said on ABCs This Week. If they have the evidence, show it to us.

But Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), the top Democrat on the intelligence committee, defended John Brennan, the CIA director.

I think he has done a remarkable job at the agency and dont think hes trying to politicize this in any way, he said.

Intelligence officials are naturally wary of disclosing sources and methods used to obtain secret information, he said.

Schiff faulted Trump for using tweets to slam the intelligence reports.

In a future crisis, the public may doubt the Trump White House because hes sending false tweets or persuaded the American people not to believe our own intelligence agencies.

Democratic campaign officials who were the hacking targets said they received little help from Obama administration and the FBI.

Donna Brazile, the interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, said the attempting hacking continued up to election day.

They did not stop. They came after us absolutely every day until the end of the election. They tried to hack into our system repeatedly, she said on ABCs This Week.

I think the Obama administration  the FBI, the various other federal agencies  they informed us, they told us what was happening. We knew as of May. But in terms of helping us to fight, we were fighting a foreign adversary in cyberspace. The Democratic National Committee, we were not a match.

And John Podesta, the Clinton campaign chairman whose emails were stolen and publicized, said he had one conversation with the FBI in early October  months after the bureau had discovered the hacking.

The first time I was contacted by the FBI was two days after WikiLeaks started dropping my emails, he said on NBCs Meet the Press. That was the first and last time he spoke to the FBI, he said.

President Obama told a news conference on Friday that he is convinced the Russian cyberattack that roiled the fall election could not have happened unless Russian President Vladimir Putin had approved it.

Obama has ordered the intelligence community to produce a detailed report that he can share with Congress before he leaves office on Jan. 20.

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Democrats draw sharper battle lines in tug of war over party leadership By Chris Megerian Even as Democrats try to move past last years defeats, their internal fault lines show signs of deepening in the campaign for the partys leadership. The latest evidence came Wednesday when former Vice President Joe Biden endorsed Thomas E. Perez, who served as President Obamas Labor secretary, to chair the Democratic National Committee. We have a lot of good people vying for this important job, Biden said in a statement. But I do think for this moment and in this time, Tom Perez is our best bet to help bring the party back. The endorsement was seen as more evidence that key members of the recently departed Obama administration were backing Perez. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) with Sen. Bernie Sanders. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) It was followed by a statement from Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont reiterating his support for Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), another leading candidate in the race. Although Sanders lost to Hillary Clinton in the presidential primary, he has continued to try to pull Democrats to the left, and he has emphasized the need to create a grass-roots party. Obama left office with strong poll numbers, but under his watch, Democrats lost power not only in Washington but in states around the country, something Sanders and his allies have stressed in the fight over the party chairmanship. The question is simple: Do we stay with a failed status-quo approach or do we go forward with a fundamental restructuring of the Democratic Party? Sanders said. Read More Facebook

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Border Patrol chief is abruptly out after being brought in as a reformer By Brian Bennett The chief of the Border Patrol will leave his post at the end of the month, likely the result of a change in direction by the Trump administration and a reflection of the new power of the agencys union. Mark Morgan, the agencys head, was hired from the FBI in June to reform the force after a series of corruption allegations and problems with excessive force. He will leave the Border Patrol abruptly after seven months on the job, according to a person familiar with the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Morgans departure was first reported by the Associated Press. Morgan spent 20 years at the FBI and was first brought to Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrols parent agency, in 2014 to overhaul its internal affairs division. After a subsequent stint running the FBIs training academy, he started the top job at the Border Patrol in June. The Border Patrols union had opposed Morgans appointment, preferring a candidate who had risen through the ranks of the agency. The union endorsed President Trump in the election, breaking with its practice of remaining neutral in elections. News of Morgans departure comes a day after Trump announced he would build a border wall and hire 5,000 more Border Patrol agents, bringing the total force to 26,000. Trump said the Border Patrol union would have a lot of clout in department decisions. Facebook

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Trump was silent on new U.S. sanctions against Russia, but he praises Putins response By Michael A. Memoli After President Obama on Thursday announced retaliatory measures against the Russian government for what the U.S. has concluded were efforts to interfere in the election, President-elect Donald Trumps response was terse and dismissive, saying it was time to move on to bigger and better things. But after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he would not respond in kind to the U.S. actions  preferring to wait until the new administration takes office  Trump weighed in with high praise. Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2016 Trumps tweet did not appear to be off the cuff. As if to underscore his sentiment, Trump affixed the tweet to the top of his Twitter feed. And he posted an Instagram photo shortly after, quoting himself. View Instagram post Trumps effusive words were particularly striking given the bipartisan view of Putin as more adversary than ally. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said they supported the Obama administrations move to expel Russian diplomats and block access to two properties owned by its government. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) is expected to call a hearing on Russias cyber activities when the new Congress convenes next week. A Trump transition spokesman was asked earlier Friday whether Trump had spoken or planned to speak with Putin before his inauguration. The priority right now is for the president[-elect] to get an update next week from the intelligence community, Sean Spicer said. Trumps praise did get tacit approval from some quarters. The Russian embassy in Washington retweeted it. Facebook

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Most popular White House petitions included requests to label a hate group and deport Justin Bieber By Colleen Shalby Over the past five years, Americans have produced and signed nearly 5,000 petitions through the White Houses We the People site. How could we ever forget the effort to get the Obama administration on board with building a Death Star? Some, like that one and a petition to deport Justin Bieber, resulted only in conversation. But others made an impact. The Pew Research Center analyzed the petitions in a recent report. They ranged from serious, like an effort to ban gay conversion therapy at a state level that led the president in 2015 to support states bans, to playful. A request for Obama to appear on a previously unvisited talk show, for example, prompted him to appear on Real Time with Bill Maher in January 2016. In 2015, 106-year-old Virginia McLaurin requested a meeting with the first black president, something she never thought shed live to see. Her petition garnered only 19 signatures. But it nonetheless resulted in one of first couples most memorable meetings, this dance party: The petitioning system, launched in 2011, was part of Obamas open-government initiative. The most common topics for petitioning included healthcare, veterans issues and requests to honor individuals, such as Yogi Berra, and create or officially recognize holidays, like Talk Like a Pirate Day. While not every petition made a change or elicited a response from the White House, many captured a momentary pulse of the nation. Here are the five most popular: Legally recognize the Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group, posted Dec. 14, 2012; 367,180 signatures. Establish justice and prevent a great catastrophe, posted April 4, 2016; 331,914 signatures. File charges against the 47 U.S. senators in violation of the Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement, posted March 9, 2015; gained 322,117 signatures. Ask President Obama to appear on HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher,  posted Jan. 15, 2016; 314,226 signatures. Deport Justin Bieber and revoke his green card, posted Jan. 23, 2014; 273,698 signatures. Facebook

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Obama slaps Russia with sanctions for meddling in the U.S. election By Christi Parsons In the most sweeping retaliation against Russia in decades, President Obama slapped the country with new penalties Thursday for meddling in the U.S. presidential election, kicking out dozens of suspected spies and imposing banking restrictions on five people and four organizations the administration says were involved. All Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions, Obama said in a statement. Such activities have consequences. Read More Facebook

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How Trump and an Obamacare rollback could affect the growing gig economy By Chicago Tribune Gabby Golub of Chicago does chalkboard art for bars and restaurants in addition to driving for Lyft and working part time at her old high school. (Kristan Lieb / Chicago Tribune) A growing share of the U.S. workforce is reyling on alternative work arrangements, which include on-demand gigs through online platforms like Lyft or Uber as well as work through temporary help agencies, freelance assignments and independent contracts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics plans to conduct a comprehensive survey of these so-called contingent workers next year, its first since 2005, helping policymakers understand the size and makeup of a workforce not covered by many labor protections or privy to the benefits that come with a traditional employer relationship. Whether policy will catch up to the labor shifts is a question experts will watch in 2017. A major conversation point has been how to develop portable benefits that give gig economy workers access to retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid sick leave even as they move from job to job. Read More Facebook

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Trump touts plans by Sprint and OneWeb to create 8,000 U.S. jobs By Jim Puzzanghera (Don Emmert / AFP/Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday touted plans by telecom company Sprint and technology start-up OneWeb to hire a total of 8,000 workers in the U.S. in what he said was very good news for the economy. He appeared to be highlighting previously made jobs announcements. OneWeb, which is building a network of satellites to deliver high-speed Internet access, said on Dec. 19 that it expected to create nearly 3,000 jobs in the U.S. over the next four years after securing $1.2 billion in funding, mostly from Japans SoftBank Group Corp. And the head of SoftBank, which owns Sprint, said on Dec. 6 that the company had agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S. and create 50,000 jobs here. The announcement by SoftBank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son came after he met with Trump at Trump Tower in New York City. Trump touted it that day. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Wednesday, Trump said Sprint was going to be bringing 5,000 jobs back to the United States. They have taken them from other countries. They are bringing them back to the United States, Trump said. Sprint, though, said in a statement that the jobs would be a mixture of new positions and others that were reinstated. It wasnt clear whether those jobs were part of the 50,000 that were mentioned earlier in the month at Trump Tower. We are excited to work with President-Elect Trump and his administration to do our part to drive economic growth and create jobs in the U.S., said Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure. We believe it is critical for business and government to partner together to create more job opportunities in the U.S. and ensure prosperity for all Americans. Trump also said the OneWeb hiring is very exciting. OneWeb did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 3:25 p.m.: This story was updated with comment from Sprint. Facebook

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Kerry offers fierce defense of Obamas support for Israel, urges resumption of Mideast peace talks By Laura King Secretary of State John Kerry outlines his proposals for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Zach Gibson / Getty Images) With President-elect Donald Trump tweeting from the sidelines, Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Wednesday outlined broad principles for reviving the moribund Israel-Palestinian peace process -- calls that quickly ignited a new burst of Israeli anger against the Obama administration. Kerrys lengthy and impassioned address, delivered at the State Department, marked the latest chapter in an unusually bitter public clash between the United States and Israel -- and the even more extraordinary spectacle of a president-elect again inserting himself into a sensitive diplomatic matter before taking office. In a speech lasting more than an hour, Kerry appealed for a hiatus in Jewish settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, called on Palestinian leaders to explicitly denounce terrorist attacks against Israelis, and warned repeatedly that the prospects for a two-state solution, with Israel and a Palestinian state existing side-by-side, were in jeopardy. We cannot in good conscience do nothing, and say nothing, when we see the hope of peace slipping away, he said. Read More Facebook

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Former California lieutenant governor will meet with Trump to discuss running Agriculture department By Michael A. Memoli Abel Maldonado. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times) President-elect Donald Trump is considering former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado to lead the Agriculture department, a move that would bring greater diversity to the Republicans Cabinet. Maldonado will meet with Trump on Wednesday at his Palm Beach, Fla., estate. Trump spokesman Sean Spicer noted that Maldonado, owner of Runway Vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley, comes from three generations of farmers and has strong roots in the agriculture industry of California. Trump will also meet with Dr. Elsa Murano, the former president of Texas A&M University and a former Agriculture undersecretary for food safety, in connection to the post, one of the few Cabinet positions yet unfilled. Maldonado, 49, was once considered to be the kind of Republican who could break through the partys struggle to attract widespread Latino support. A Santa Barbara County farmer whose parents were Mexican farmworker immigrants, he served as mayor of Santa Maria before being elected to the state Assembly in 1998. Perhaps Maldonados most notable political moment came when he worked with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to force Democrats to embrace the top-two primary system for California during negotiations on the state budget crisis in 2009. Schwarzenegger rewarded Maldonado with the appointment to the then-vacant post of lieutenant governor in 2010. But Maldonados role in helping push the nonpartisan primary system made him a pariah among many conservative Republicans, and he failed in subsequent races for Congress in 2012 and a brief flirtation with a run for governor in 2014. If nominated and confirmed, Maldonado would be the sole Latino in Trumps Cabinet. Facebook

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Trump attacks Obama over Israel just ahead of Kerrys speech on the Mideast By Michael A. Memoli The detente between President Obama and President-elect Donald Trump, as both aimed to portray a smooth transition of power, appears in jeopardy. Trump condemned the Obama administrations foreign policy on Wednesday, tweeting he was doing his best to overlook inflammatory Obama moves, while engaging in 1990s-style sarcasm. Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.Thought it was going to be a smooth transition - NOT!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 Last week, Obama decided to have the U.S. abstain from a United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity, which allowed the measure to pass. The vote angered Israeli leaders, who accused senior U.S. officials of complicity in drafting the resolution, a claim disputed by the U.S. We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but.......  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 Trumps postings came just before Secretary of State John F. Kerry delivered a major address on U.S. foreign policy that included a rebuttal to Israeli government criticisms of the Obama administration. Trumps statement of support for Israel was welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long had a tense relationship with Obama. President-elect Trump, thank you for your warm friendship and your clear-cut support for Israel! @IvankaTrump @DonaldJTrumpJr https://t.co/lURPimG0wS  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) December 28, 2016 Trump transition spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that the president-elects tweets speak for themselves, very clearly. He also stressed that White House officials have been helpful and generous with their time, at least in terms of the mechanics of the transition. In a brief statement to reporters Wednesday night, Trump said he had a general conversation with Obama during the day. Very, very nice, was how the president-elect described the chat, which he said Obama initiated. A White House spokesman confirmed the call and characterized it as positive. When asked whether he thinks the U.S. should exit the U.N., Trump repeated his earlier comments that the global body is not living up to its potential. When do you see the United Nations solving problems? he asked. They dont, they cause problems, so if it lives up to its potential its a great thing, if it doesnt its a waste of time. The U.N. seemed to respond to Trump on Monday, in a message pinned to the top of its Twitter feed: Here's a list of 10 ways the UN makes a difference in the lives of millions every day.



See what else we do: https://t.co/MGT7G5uPFL pic.twitter.com/nMxHV0rvkf  United Nations (@UN) December 26, 2016 Times staff writer Christi Parsons in Honolulu contributed to this report. 5:10 p.m.: This story was updated with White House comment. 2:45 p.m.: This story was updated with Trumps comments. Facebook

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John Kerry, tireless in his diplomatic efforts, often came up empty-handed By Tracy Wilkinson John F. Kerry is nothing if not indefatigable, traveling to all corners of the world as Americas top diplomat over the last four years. But as he prepares to leave office, he confronts a mixed legacy: a handful of successes coupled with searing defeats, especially in the Middle East. His inability to halt the carnage in Syria, or to block Russias growing influence, ranks as the most serious blot on his record. But he also got nowhere trying to end the Israeli-Palestinian standoff, or to stop Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally, from bombing civilians in Yemen. Kerrys greatest success was the historic accord to curtail Irans nuclear development program and a landmark climate change treaty to limit greenhouse gas emissions and slow global warming. Read More Facebook

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At Pearl Harbor, Obama says we must resist the urge to demonize those who are different By Christi Parsons Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Obama. (Marco Garcia / Associated Press) President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scattered petals together on the waters of Pearl Harbor on Tuesday in a symbolic act aimed at laying to rest the enmity of the Japanese attack 75 years ago that drew the U.S. into World War II. In a moment consumed with history, both leaders were fixed on the future. They expressed concern that the lessons of the war might be forgotten amid a shifting world order and the anti-internationalist sentiment that has swept over politics around the globe, most notably with the ascendance of President-elect Donald Trump. Read More Facebook

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Obama and Japans Abe to visit Pearl Harbor amid renewed talk of nuclear concerns By Christi Parsons Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu on Monday. (AFP/Getty Images) President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are scheduled to honor the war dead at Pearl Harbor on Tuesday, marking the 75th anniversary of the attack that thrust the U.S. into World War II. The visit was planned as a coda to Obamas visit to Hiroshima in May, where Abe hosted him as the first sitting president to visit the site where the U.S. dropped one of two nuclear bombs in 1945 to end the war, the only instances of nuclear attacks in history. But the visit has taken on a new meaning. President-elect Donald Trump reawakened old fears of a nuclear arms race last week by declaring his commitment to strengthen and expand U.S. nuclear capability. In his remarks at Pearl Harbor, Obama will have an opportunity to address those renewed anxieties and to lay out the dangers of an arms race. Obama has fought to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to secure existing caches. The visit is meant to highlight the strength of the relationship between the U.S. and Japan, an administration official said. Several Japanese prime ministers before Abe have visited the Pearl Harbor site. But Abe is the first to go to the memorial at the resting place of the battleship Arizona, where 1,177 American military personnel died in the Japanese aerial attack on Dec. 7, 1941. Facebook

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Will the Feds Janet Yellen take away the punch bowl after Trump takes office? By Don Lee After three years of almost single-handedly juicing up the slow-growing economy, Janet L. Yellen and the Federal Reserve should be looking at easier days ahead. Yellen, in what will probably be her last full year as Fed chair, may finally get help from somewhere else in Washington. Tax cuts and infrastructure spending planned by President-elect Donald Trump, if backed by the Republican-controlled Congress, would lighten the load for a Fed whose easy-money policies have been the primary economic support for the nation. She is already breathing easier on the Feds employment mandate; the jobless rate has fallen to a nine-year low of 4.6%. Inflation, too, is under control and, by all accounts, creeping toward the central banks optimal level of 2%. And yet, Yellen may come under as much economic and political pressure as ever, on both the Feds policy and the independence of the institution. Read More Facebook

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Obama says he could have beaten Trump By Tracy Wilkinson (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press) President Obama says he could have defeated Donald Trump in last months election by recapturing the same vision of hope that twice carried him to the presidency. Obama also was mildly critical of the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, saying her campaign didnt do enough to get her message out. The remarks were notable because Obama has been careful since the election to avoid criticizing Trump, or to deliver a post-mortem on Clintons failed bid. Obama spoke in a wide-ranging interview with former senior advisor and now CNN commentator David Axelrod for the Democratic political operatives Axe Files podcast. The interview was released by CNN on Monday. You know, I am confident in this vision because Im confident that if I -- if I had run again and articulated it, I think I couldve mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it, Obama said. His comments were part of a wider discussion of what he called ugly sentiments of racism and xenophobia that surfaced during the 2016 campaign. Obama repeated his assertion that Clinton faced a double standard as a woman, which put her at a disadvantage. But he also said a kind of complacency set in that made the Clinton campaign too cautious and thus unable to get its message out sufficiently. If you think youre winning, then you have a tendency, just like in sports, maybe to play it safer, Obama said. During the interview, Obama also spoke of his family, the strength hed gotten from wife Michelle and the improbability of his own political career. And the president said the spirit that his candidacy originally inspired, especially among young people, was never snuffed out despite the last eight years of turmoil. The idealism and the dedication stayed with the staff and got us through some really hard times, he said. Trump later responded to the remarks on Twitter. UPDATE 2:07 p.m.: This article was updated with Trumps response. This article was originally published at 12:28 p.m. Facebook

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Obama personally authorized U.S. abstention from U.N. vote on Israeli settlements By Michael A. Memoli President Obama personally directed Friday that the U.S. abstain from a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity, seeing the escalation of settlement building as an increasing threat to the viability of a two-state solution to the regions problems. Ahead of the expected vote, Obama, who is vacationing with his family in Hawaii, convened a discussion Thursday with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John F. Kerry and other top national security officials. The vote was postponed, but U.S. officials continued to monitor discussions over the Egyptian-authored resolution until Friday. Obama spoke with national security advisor Susan Rice on Friday to issue his final decision. President-elect Donald Trumps intervention in the discussions, which included a conversation with Egypts president Thursday that preceded the delay in the planned vote, did not affect Obamas calculations, deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters.. Theres one president at a time, he said. The decision to allow the resolution to pass, rather than cast a veto to block it is consistent with long-standing, bipartisan U.S. policy opposing Israeli settlement activity, Rhodes said. One of the administrations great concerns was that such activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has accelerated significantly since 2011, when the U.S. last vetoed a comparable resolution. U.S. officials also have been concerned about continued incitements of violence by Palestinians, and Rhodes said the resolution voted on Friday included greater balance to reflect that than past resolutions. Weve been very concerned that these accelerating trends are putting the very viability of the two-state solution at risk, Rhodes said. In that context, we therefore thought that we could not in good conscience veto a resolution that expressed concerns about the very trends that are eroding the foundation for a two-state solution. He also underscored what he called Obamas iron-clad commitment to Israel and its security, noting that the administration recently concluded a major military assistance package. The U.S. did not vote for the resolution because of continued concerns about the United Nations as a venue for Middle East peace discussions, Rhodes said. He also responded to what he called strident comments of Israeli officials criticizing the U.S. move. It seems like the Israeli government wants the conversation to be about anything other than the settlement activity, he said. Facebook

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Trump team seeks to ease fears on womens programs at State Department By Tracy Wilkinson ( Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) Donald Trumps transition team said Friday its requests to the State Department for details on positions and funding for global womens programs were part of an effort to ensure and protect gender equality. The statement appeared to be an attempt to allay concerns that Trump might seek to cancel or roll back gender-focused programs at the State Department following a request by the transition team on Wednesday for information about them. Most were created or championed by Trumps campaign rival, Hillary Clinton, when she served as secretary of State during President Obamas first term. The transition team statement Friday did not outline Trumps plans for the programs, which seek to promote equality, education and vocational training for women around the world as well as combat gender-based violence. President-elect Trump will ensure the rights of women across the world are valued and protected, the statement said. To help fulfill this promise, the transition team inquired about existing programs at the State Department that helps [sic] foster gender equality, ends gender-based violence, and promotes economic and political participation  finding ways to improve them. The statement said the inquiry was one of hundreds of requests it sent to federal departments as part of the transition effort. Facebook

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Trump team asks State Department for details on programs aimed at helping women By Tracy Wilkinson Donald Trumps transition team has asked the State Department for details on programs aimed at benefiting women around the world, including identifying staff members who worked to reduce gender-based violence and promote women in the workplace. In an email sent to numerous State Department offices Wednesday, the president-elects transition team asked for urgent response to its inquiries about gender-related staffing, programming and funding. Many of the programs were begun or were championed by Hillary Clinton, who was secretary of State during President Obamas first term and who lost to Trump in November. The unusual request to the State Department follows a similar email to the Department of Energy. There the transition team asked for names of staff members who had worked on efforts to combat climate change, which Trump has dismissed as a hoax. Several Obama administration officials called that query chilling. The Trump team withdrew the request after it was widely criticized. The latest email suggests the incoming Trump administration will attempt to roll back some of the State Departments most innovative programs and may seek to penalize people who worked on them. People are freaked out, said a senior State Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly. The email asked the State Department to deliver issue papers from bureaus and offices (one paper max per bureau/office) outlining existing programs and activities to promote gender equality, such as ending gender-based violence, promoting womens participation in economic and political spheres, entrepreneurship, etc. It said the issue papers should note jobs whose primary functions are to promote such issues, as well as money allocated for those activities and programs in fiscal year 2017. While at State, Clinton made womens issues a top priority. An office was created to deal exclusively with global womens issues, and money was allocated for programs that promote education of girls, train women in marketable skills and offer microloans. Read More Facebook

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Trump taps seasoned Republican operative Sean Spicer as White House press secretary By Lisa Mascaro President-elect Donald Trump named Sean Spicer as his new press secretary, tapping a seasoned Republican operative as the public face of the new White House. Spicer, a top Republican National Committee strategist who brought a measure of establishment Washington to Trumps operation, is known for his combative but engaging approach to communications. He will likely take over the press podium as the top spokesman at the incoming White House. Two other veterans of the Trump campaigns press operation also will get White House jobs: Jason Miller, who had been Trumps communications chief after moving from the campaign of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, will stay in that role as communications director at the White House. Hope Hicks, who was Trumps spokesperson on the campaign trail and one of his earliest campaign aides, will be assistant to the president and director of strategic communications, and Dan Scavino will serve as director of social media. Sean, Hope, Jason and Dan have been key members of my team during the campaign and transition. I am excited they will be leading the team that will communicate my agenda that will Make America Great Again, Trump said in a statement. Facebook

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Obama eliminates post-9/11 registry for foreigners, making it harder for Trump to restart it By Brian Bennett (Don Emmert / AFP/Getty Images) The Obama administration is taking apart a controversial, dormant national registry program that tracked visitors from countries with active terrorist groups for several years following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A final rule eliminating the program will be published in the federal register on Friday. The move would make it more difficult for President-elect Donald Trump to revive the registry, which hasnt been used since 2011. The Department of Homeland Security determined it was ineffective and didnt improve security. Civil rights advocates have long said the program was discriminatory. On the campaign trail, Trump promised to track Muslims coming to the U.S. and require them to register. He later changed his stance to say he would bar people from countries with a record of Islamist extremism. Trumps policy advisors have been looking closely at ways to jump start the registry, called the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, after he takes office at the end of January. With the program being officially dismantled on Friday, Trumps team would have to issue new federal rules to restart it, a process that could take several months and would require a period for soliciting comments from the public, which likely would be contentious. The Trump transition team is preparing several executive actions for the incoming president, Trump spokesman Jason Miller told reporters Thursday morning when asked about Obama dismantling the registry. Stopping radical Islamic terrorists from entering the U.S. is of paramount importance, Miller said. He didnt say directly if Trump would rebuild the visitor registry. The American people strongly support tough measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of our country, and President-elect Trump has made clear that we will suspend admissions of those from countries with high terrorism rates and apply a strict vetting procedure for those seeking entry in order to protect American lives, he said. When asked on Wednesday if he would set up a registry for Muslims or impose a ban on Muslim immigrants in the wake of the truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, Trump said simply: You know my plans. Democratic lawmakers and civil liberties advocates have demanded in recent weeks that Obama dismantle the registry. Theyve cited a 2012 inspector general report that said Homeland Security databases collecting traveler fingerprints, flight manifests and intelligence information on foreigners are more effective at preventing terrorist attacks. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) praised the Homeland Security Departments decision to strip away dead-letter regulations no longer in use. These regulations symbolized an ineffective program based on religious and ethnic profiling, rather than individualized suspicion  a program based on fear, rather than reason, Leahy said in a statement. That has no place in this great country, under any administration. Facebook

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Trump is unwinding some foreign deals but many potential conflicts remain By Joseph Tanfani The Trump hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan, would be among the finest in the world, Donald Trump promised two years ago, another example of our involvement in only the best global development projects. But the dream of a world-class Trump Baku died this month, with Trump saying he was backing out of the deal because of delays and blown deadlines caused by the developer, a 34-year-old with close family connections to the countrys government. The demise of Trump Baku is not an isolated decision. With his inauguration less than a month away, President-elect Trumps company has pulled out of a few international business deals that might have created especially sticky conflicts and controversies for his administration. Read More Facebook

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Trump names UC Irvine professor and fierce China critic to new White House Trade Council By Don Lee Peter Navarro, left, and China expert Gordon Chang attend a screening of Death By China, the film adaptation of Navarros book, in New York in 2012. (Andy Kropa / Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump, signaling that he intends to follow through on his tough talk on trade, is establishing a new White House-based trade council to be headed by a vehement critic of Chinas economic policies. Trump on Wednesday named Peter Navarro, a Harvard-trained business professor at UC Irvine, as director of trade and industrial policy and head of the newly created White House National Trade Council. The move sends a strong message: The Trump administration will take a much more aggressive posture to shrink the nations large trade deficit and combat what the president-elect and Navarro believe are forces behind Americas manufacturing woes  unfair and mercantilist practices on the part of China and other trading partners. Read More Facebook

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The issue of race has hung over Sen. Jeff Sessions like a shadow. Heres why By Del Quentin Wilber (Scott Olson / AFP/Getty Images) Jeff Sessions uneasy history with race can be traced back to the long, winding country roads that cut through the pine forests and farm land in this deep corner of the Deep South. As a boy, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III began each day before dawn, boarding a segregated bus to his all-white school. En route he and his classmates passed the bus ferrying black students in the opposite direction. The day ended when he sat down to dinner each night with his father, an avowed segregationist until the end of his life. Reflecting on those years, Sessions acknowledged recently that he knew back then that segregation was morally wrong and regretted standing by passively as civil rights leaders in the 1960s struggled and died in the fight for equality. I should have stepped forward more and been a leader and more positive force, Sessions said in February while participating in a ceremony honoring the Selma foot soldiers. Read More Facebook

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Kellyanne Conway will join Trump in the White House By Evan Halper (Gerald Herber / Associated Press) Donald Trump has named his media-savvy campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, to advise him in the White House in the role of counselor, his transition team announced early Thursday morning. The move comes after Conway sought to put to rest speculation that she would continue to serve as the public face of the Trump team. But the new job is sure to keep her profile high. Conway will will work with senior leadership to effectively message and execute the administrations legislative priorities and actions, according to a statement from the Trump transition team. Kellyanne Conway has been a trusted advisor and strategist who played a crucial role in my victory, Trump said in the statement. She is a tireless and tenacious advocate of my agenda and has amazing insights on how to effectively communicate our message. The appointment would boost diversity in a Trump inner circle made up mostly of older white men. It also sets up another potentially competing power center on a White House staff that already will have several, including Reince Priebus, the chief of staff; Stephen K. Bannon, the chief strategist; and Stephen Miller, the policy chief. Conway had previously turned down other proposals for White House jobs, telling reporters late last month that she did not want to spend long hours away from her children. At that point, Conway said she thought she could best help Trump by forming an outside organization to support his policies. But that role appears to have gone to Brad Parscale, who ran Trumps online operations during the campaign. Conway joined Trumps campaign during the summer when it was beset with infighting and disarray. She is widely credited with helping bring message discipline and professionalism to an operation in desperate need of it. In the run-up to the election and the weeks that followed, Conway was a ubiquitous presence on cable news networks, capably moving through her talking points in tough interview settings  often on the firing line and held to account for the exaggerations and incendiary remarks Trump was prone to make on the campaign trail and Twitter. I am humbled and honored to play a role in helping transform the movement he has led into a real agenda of action and results, Conway said in the statement. She is the founder and owner of the Polling Company, inc./WomanTrend, a GOP firm that has been advising candidates for two decades. Trump has not yet chosen a press secretary. But he is believed to be considering several candidates. Sean Spicer, former communications chief of the Republican Party who has served in a spokesman role for Trump through the transition, has been a prominent possibility, although Trump reportedly has considered several women, including conservative talk radio star Laura Ingraham and Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle. Facebook

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Trump Hotel employees in Las Vegas get a union contract By Kurtis Lee (Mike Nelson / Getty Images) Its owned by President-elect Donald Trump and is among a handful of hotels on the Las Vegas Strip to not be unionized. But that will change soon. For more than a year, Trump and his staff at the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas have fought efforts by employees and the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 to negotiate a contract. But a four-year contract announced by the union on Wednesday will offer Trump employees annual wage increases, a pension and family healthcare, among other benefits. In Nevada, the culinary union is the states largest and most powerful, representing nearly 55,000 workers who serve cocktails and prepare food at hotels throughout the state. A majority of the unions members are Latino. Read More Facebook

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Wait! Dont cancel that Air Force One order just yet By Evan Halper Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2016 After Donald Trump scolded Boeing earlier this month for the escalating cost of building a new Air Force One, the companys CEO projected confidence that Trump wouldnt be following through with his threat to cancel order! The two men met together at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Wednesday. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said they spoke about a range of issues. The Air Force One project, which Trump complained would cost taxpayers more than $4 billion, invariably arose. Were going to get it done for less than that, and were committed to working together to make sure that happens, Muilenberg said. The company had previously noted that the project did not yet have a firm price tag. I was able to give the president-elect my personal commitment on behalf of the Boeing Company. This is a business thats important to us. We work on Air Force One because its important to our country, and were going to make sure that he gets the best capability and that its done affordably, Muilenberg added. He called the conversation terrific and Trump a good man who is doing the right thing. The presidential aircraft remains a long way from takeoff  a new plane wont be ready for use in the next four years. Even if Trump is reelected, he might not get to use the plane, as the earliest projected date for completion is 2024. Boeing is currently doing early development work on the plane  a modified 747  that will likely be outfitted with such gadgetry as top-secret communications equipment, countermeasures to foil missile attacks, and aerial refueling capability that would enable it to remain airborne for days at a time if necessary. The timing of delivery was among the topics that came up at Trumps meeting with the Boeing CEO. Thats what were going to work on together, Muilenberg said. We have an active 747 production line, and were eager to get started on the program. We havent actually started the build of the airplane yet, but once we finalize the requirements and make sure that its affordable, well launch on building the aircraft. Weve got a hot production line and were ready to go. The government actually has two planes outfitted to serve as Air Force One, which is the designation given to whichever plane is carrying the president. The current planes, which were put into service during the Reagan administration, are nearing the end of their design life. Facebook

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Fierce China critic and UC Irvine professor to head Trumps new trade council By Don Lee (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times) President-elect Donald Trump is establishing a new White House-based trade office that will be headed by a UC Irvine professor known for his fierce criticisms of Chinese trade and economic practices. In appointing Peter Navarro as director of trade and industrial policy and the head of the new National Trade Council inside the White House, Trump is signaling that he wants to follow through on his tough campaign rhetoric in which he blamed the Chinese for the large U.S. trade deficit and manufacturing woes. During the campaign,Trump threatened to slap a 45% tariff on Chinese imports. Navarro, a Harvard-trained economist who advised Trump during the campaign, is the author of the book Death by China: Confronting the Dragon  a Global Call to Action. Trump endorsed the 2011 book as well as Navarros film version of the polemical work. I read one of Peters books on Americas trade problems years ago and was impressed by the clarity of his arguments and thoroughness of his research, Trump said Wednesday in a statement announcing the appointment. He will fulfill an essential role in my administration as a trade advisor. Trump said the new trade office would develop policies to shrink the nations trade deficit and curb the off-shoring of jobs, as well as to lead initiatives such as the Buy America, Hire America program. Navarro, in a statement, said he would be honored to serve Trump and the nation and to advise on policies to re-balance our trade, rebuild our industrial base, and restore Americas comprehensive national power by making America great again. Facebook

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Trump stops the drain the swamp talk as new alligators emerge By Evan Halper Newt Gingrich. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press) It made for a great slogan during the campaign, but now that hes won, Donald Trump is finding that maybe he doesnt actually want to drain the swamp. In fact, the alligators seem to be doing quite well. Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Wednesday boasted about his access and proximity to Trump in announcing a new consulting firm he plans to open with former Trump campaign advisor Barry Bennett. The firms offices will be one block from the White House. Clients who pony up what are sure to be hefty fees for the firms services are being assured by Lewandowski in his marketing materials that he turned down multiple opportunities within the administration so he can serve them. The pitch implies Lewandowski will remain a de facto surrogate for Trump  with all the access that implies  as he bills those seeking to influence the Trump administration for his services. So perhaps the time is ripe for Trump to stop using the drain the swamp phrase. And that is what Trump has decided to do, according to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who describes himself as an outside advisor to the president-elect. Im told he now just disclaims that, Gingrich said in an interview on National Public Radio, referring to the slogan Trump used in the final phase of his campaign to crystallize his promise to cleanse Washington of insiders and self-dealers. He now says it was cute, but he doesnt want to use it anymore, Gingrich said, adding that perhaps all this swamp draining talk isnt presidential. Hes in a different role now and maybe he feels that as president, as the next president of the United States, that he should be marginally more dignified than talking about alligators in swamps, Gingrich said. I personally have, as a sense of humor, like the alligator and swamp language, he added. I think it vividly illustrates the problem, because all the people in this city who are the alligators are going to hate the swamp being drained. And theres going to be constant fighting over it. But, you know, he is my leader, and if he decides to drop the swamp and the alligator, I will drop the swamp and the alligator. Lewandowski, for his part, made no mention of swamps or alligators in announcing his new consulting firm would be open for business. Proud to launch our new venture today to support @realDonaldTrump achieve his agenda in Washington D.C. pic.twitter.com/ZEot6IrvJ4  Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) December 21, 2016 Facebook

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Death penalty in steep decline, but not in Los Angeles County By David Savage Lonnie Franklin Jr. was tried and convicted of 10 counts of murder. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles County and the state of California again recorded the most new death sentences this year, amid a sharp decline across the nation in both executions and new death sentences. Judges and juries in Los Angeles County imposed a death sentence on four murderers during 2016, including Lonnie Franklin Jr., the so-called Grim Sleeper, who was convicted of killing 10 women. No other county had more than one death sentence, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Since 2010, Los Angeles County has recorded 36 new death sentences, more than any county in the nation. This year marked the first time in more than 40 years where no state recorded 10 or more new death sentences, the group said in its year-end report. California had the most with nine, followed by Ohio (five), Texas (four), Alabama (three) and Florida (two). California has by far the nations largest death row, with 750 condemned inmates, but it has not carried out an execution in the past decade. Overall, the report documented the steep decline for capital punishment over the past two decades. The number of new death sentences had fallen by 90%, from 315 in 1996 to only 30 this year. And the number of executions has fallen from a high of 98 in 1999 to 20 this year. Georgia (nine) and Texas (seven) accounted for most of the executions. The only other states to put inmates to death were Alabama (two), Missouri (one) and Florida (one). Robert Dunham, the groups executive director, says the nation is clearly turning away from capital punishment. Whether its concerns about innocence, costs and discrimination, availability of life without parole as a safe alternative, or the questionable way in which states are attempting to carry out executions, the public grows increasingly uncomfortable with the death penalty each year, he said. But his report noted that Californias voters, by a 53%-47% margin, rejected a ballot measure to abolish the death penalty, and narrowly approved a measure, by a 51%-49% margin, to limit appeals and expedite executions. Facebook

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New survey finds less optimistic Democrats seeking many paths to their future success By Cathleen Decker (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) Since Hillary Clintons November defeat, Democrats have squabbled over how to return to prominence. Should they continue to court ascendant voter groups in the country, such as women, minorities and young people? Or should they turn to those who have long been in their camp but abandoned the party nominee this year, such as rural and non-college-educated voters. The answer, according to a Pew Research poll published Tuesday: Democrats want to walk both paths, simultaneously. The poll asked Democrats and Republicans whether their parties had spent too much, too little or just the right amount of time meeting the interests and concerns of specific groups of voters. Among Democrats, 64% said the party had spent too little time talking to rural voters, and 58% said the same about non-college voters. Almost two-thirds of Democrats said low-income voters had not gotten enough of the partys attention, and 58% said middle-class voters had been ignored to some extent. But Democratic voters did not want to let up on the partys outreach to its stronger supporters this year. About half said that the concerns of women and African American voters had gotten too little attention, while 43% said the same about Latinos. In the case of women, African Americans, Latinos, low-income voters, rural residents and younger voters, Democrats were substantially more likely than Republicans to say their party had not put enough emphasis on the groups concerns. The poll suggested far more confidence by Republicans than Democrats in their partys current positioning. Much of that may simply be the flood of confidence that accompanies a presidential victory. When the pollsters asked before the election about their view of their party, 61% of Republicans said they were optimistic, as did 77% of Democrats about their own party. After the election those figures reversed, with 79% of Republicans optimistic compared with 61% of Democrats. A key to Trumps success also was evident in the poll: a chameleon-like ability to make the different ideological groups in the party think he was one of them. Almost 3 in 5 conservatives said that Trumps views were conservative. And among moderates, 52% said that Trumps ideology was a mix of conservative and liberal, echoing their own posture. But queries about the new presidents impact on his party drew sharply partisan responses. More than two-thirds of all voters said that Trump had forced major changes on his party. Yet 72% of Democrats cast those changes as bad ones, while 83% of Republicans cast the changes as good ones. Facebook

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The artist and the senator: One built a desert masterpiece, the other a Nevada legacy By Lisa Mascaro When Sen. Harry Reid heard about a reclusive artist building a massive land sculpture across desolate acres in the Nevada desert, he knew they should meet. Its not just that Reid enjoys eccentrics and fighters, which he does. Michael Heizer had found an unusual way to express the majesty  and artistry  of the same lonely Nevada landscape that formed Reids childhood, when he would escape the dismal, rugged conditions of tiny Searchlight to play in the deserts hidden springs and abandoned fortresses. Both men discovered in Nevada what many outsiders miss. Far from seeing a nuclear wasteland, a dumping site or even a playground for gamblers, they drew inspiration from Nevadas quiet beauty. Heizer created an American masterpiece  a milelong complex of dirt, rock and cement rising from the desert floor like modern-day pyramids or the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. For Reid, his appreciation for Nevadas unique landscape became a cornerstone of one of the most lasting yet less-familiar pieces of his political legacy. Read More Artist Michael Heizer and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) speak in the Capitol. (Lisa Mascaro / Los Angeles Times) Facebook

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With 304 votes, electoral college seals Donald Trumps election as president  despite more desertions than ever By Michael Finnegan They convened amid unusual scrutiny, widespread protests and rafts of speculation about efforts to alter the outcome, but, in the end, the nations 538 presidential electors mostly stuck to the script Monday, formally sealing Donald Trumps victory with 304 votes in the electoral college, well above what he needed to capture the White House. After all the efforts to lobby Republican electors to desert Trump, only two did  a pair from Texas, one of whom voted for former Texas Rep. Ron Paul and the other for Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Indeed, instead of an uprising against Trump, the days voting was punctuated more by small, but persistent, gestures of Democratic discontent with Hillary Clinton. A handful of electors deserted her and a few more tried to, but were deterred by state faithless elector laws. Some of the Democratic dissenters were supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who lost the primaries to Clinton but galvanized the partys left wing. Others were backers of an abortive effort that had tried to recruit Democrats and Republicans to unite behind a third candidate other than Clinton or Trump. In the end, seven electors voted for a person other than the candidate who won their states  the largest number of electoral college desertions in a presidential contest in U.S. history, eclipsing a record set in 1808. Read More Facebook

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As electoral college meetings end in Hawaii, Bernie Sanders gets a vote that will stick By Michael A. Memoli David Mulinix, Hawaii elector who voted for Sanders, said Clinton wasn't qualified. Also said @POTUS wasn't progressive, but "conservative" pic.twitter.com/miCnZ6PzXI  Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) December 20, 2016 The last of the 50 states gave Bernie Sanders his first electoral college vote that counted. Hillary Clinton received three of the states four electoral votes after winning 60% of the popular vote here last month. But one elector, David Mulinix, said he cast his vote for the Vermont senator because he was the most qualified candidate. They can call me faithless, but the point is if we dont think someones qualified  and Hillary Clinton I do not feel is qualified, he said. Hawaiis electors are chosen by the major parties at their state conventions. Mulinix said he joined the party only this election cycle to support Sanders, who he said would have been elected president had he been the Democratic nominee. He had previously told the Associated Press he would cast his vote for Clinton, but said he changed his mind at the last minute. She did not lose the vote to Russian hackers; she lost the vote right there at the convention, he said, referring to the Democratic National Convention, where he said Sanders backers were treated unfairly. They robbed us, and the millennials know it. Mulinix, who, like his fellow electors, wore a lei made of green jade flowers, arrived for the vote with a list of candidates who had received votes in other electoral college meetings across the country. He was aware that an elector in Maine had tried to vote for Sanders but that his vote had been invalidated. An election official said the vote for Sanders here would count. The brief proceedings here in a nondescript conference room on the state Capitols third floor began with another elector, John Bickel, asking whether there was any penalty for electors who cast their ballots for someone other than the winner of the statewide vote. He said later that he had asked because he suspected someone might stray. The electoral college is outdated. If any election has proved the electoral college is outdated, its this one, Bickel said. Dolly Strazar, another elector and the vice chair of the state Democratic Party, said she had long supported the electoral college because it ensured some degree of competition between large states and small ones like Hawaii. It really seems in our times, its thoroughly outdated, she said. Janice Bond, the fourth elector, said she would have voted for Sanders but did not believe she was able to. She also expressed regret that President Obama, who was born in Hawaii and is vacationing here with his family, did not attend the meeting. To have him be on our island and not show face was disappointing, she said. Facebook

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No fireworks as Nevada electors cast votes for Clinton By David Montero Nevadas six electors cast their votes for Hillary Clinton on Monday afternoon in Carson City, reflecting her victory in the swing state despite losing the overall electoral college vote to President-elect Donald Trump. Clinton won Nevada by almost 3 points over Trump, and the swing state was one of her few bright spots on election day. The six electors  five from northern Nevada and one from Las Vegas  cast their ballots before about 75 people who had packed into the Old Assembly Chambers of the state Capitol. A few brought signs in support of Clinton, and there was some applause when the votes were cast. It all took place in less than a half-hour. No fireworks, said Wayne Thorley, deputy secretary of state for elections. He said about 40 people showed up in front of the state Capitol in the morning in sub-freezing temperatures to also show support for Clinton. Thorley said he hadnt anticipated a lot of controversy as the electors were required to sign a pledge before voting that said they wouldnt deviate from Nevadas Nov. 8 election results. Facebook

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In solemn ceremony, California electors cast votes for Hillary Clinton By Melanie Mason Casting my electoral vote for President and Vice President of the United States of .... https://t.co/jI2FGFCrVg pic.twitter.com/qufSJUM5WF  Susan Eggman (@SusanEggman) December 19, 2016 In a proceeding long on formalities and short on speeches, Californias 55 electors cast their vote for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Monday, a ceremony that coincided almost exactly with Republican Donald Trump clinching the national electoral college win. Contrasting with the spirited protests outside the state Capitol, the mood in the state Assembly chambers was muted, even a bit glum, as electors, tapped by the states Democratic establishment, convened to cast their votes for Clinton. California, which overwhelmingly backed Clinton in the presidential contest, requires all 55 electors to back the states winner. Todays solemnity and formality reminds us that in our nation, American greatness and American independence, rests on a foundation of law, said Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Cordova), who presided over the event. As written ballots were distributed, the room was completely silent, save for the clicking of camera shutters. Just moments before voting began, Trump, Clintons rival, had secured the electoral college win, with Texas, Californias perennial rival, putting him over the top. His victory went unacknowledged in the ceremony. Among the electors were current elected officials, such as Assemblywomen Susan Talamantes Eggman of Stockton and Shirley Weber of San Diego. Others included Christine Pelosi, daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Laphonza Butler, leader of the powerful labor union SEIU in California. Electors did not make individual speeches during the main ceremony, and Trumps name was hardly mentioned. But there were subtle references to the rancorous political season: Rev. Bob Oshita, the Assembly chaplain and former reverend of the Sacramento Buddhist Church, urged leaders to engage in calming self-reflection in an opening prayer. The tone grew considerably sharper at the end of the gathering, when Pelosi offered a motion calling for an investigation into Russian efforts to influence the election outcome. I move that as an Electoral College, we do not normalize this election. We do not accept Russian interference in our election, Pelosi said. Her motion was adopted by electors, with applause. View Twitter post This post was updated at 3:32 p.m. with comments from Christine Pelosi. It was originally published at 3:12 p.m. Facebook

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All of Floridas electoral votes go to Trump By Gray Rohrer Floridas electors applaud as the vote for Donald Trump is announced at the state Capitol in Tallahassee on Monday. (Steve Cannon / Associated Press) Donald Trump officially won all 29 of Floridas electoral college votes on Monday during a ceremony held at the Capitol in Tallahassee, despite pleas from protesters to electors to change their vote at the last minute. About 100 protesters gathered outside the Florida Senate chambers before the vote, chanting love trumps hate and flip the vote and holding signs that read Vote Your Conscience, Dont Make Russia Great Again! The electors, made up of Republican Party of Florida members and high-ranking elected officials like state Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, Senate President Joe Negron and state party chairman Blaise Ingoglia, did their best to ignore the protesters. Read More Facebook

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Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim was a Trump nemesis. Now the president-elect says hes wonderful By Evan Halper Donald Trump has decided that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, one of his favorite villains during the presidential election, might not be so bad after all. Hes even wonderful, Trump now says. The two dined together Saturday at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, after which Trump had only nice things to say about Slim, according to a report in the Washington Post. Trump described the interaction with his erstwhile nemesis as a lovely dinner with a wonderful man. This is not how Trump talked about Slim, one of the worlds richest men, during the election. The Mexican billionaire was a regular target of the then-GOP nominee because of his large ownership stake in the New York Times. Add to that Slims generous contributions to the Clinton Foundation and his citizenship in the country Trump reveled in attacking, and he made for good fodder at Trump rallies. When Trump objected to the New York Times coverage of his campaign  and its reporting on the allegations by multiple women of past inappropriate sexual advances by Trump  he alleged it was all part of a conspiracy cooked up by Slim. Trump called the outlets reporters corporate lobbyists for Carlos Slim and for Hillary Clinton. The New York Times called Trumps charges a fabrication, saying Slim had never inserted himself in editorial decision making there. And Trump offered no evidence to the contrary. A spokesman for Slim said at the time the two had never met, and the Mexican businessman had no interest in involving himself in the U.S. election. Now theyve met. The takeaway from the meeting, though, is murky. Maybe it indicates Trump is softening his posture toward Mexico  or maybe it just indicates billionaires enjoy the company of other billionaires. Facebook

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Meet the California electors By Liam Dillon Among the electors are Janine Bera, the wife of Rep. Ami Bera of Elk Grove; Christine Pelosi, the daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and chairwoman of the state partys womens caucus; Eileen Feinstein Mariano, granddaughter of Sen. Dianne Feinstein; and Olivia Reyes-Becerra, daughter of Rep. Xavier Becerra of Los Angeles. State Assemblywomen Susan Eggman of Stockton and Shirley Weber of San Diego, former state Sen. Christine Kehoe of San Diego, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez and Laphonza Butler, president of the Service Employees International Union chapter that represents home care employees, also are on the list. Read More Facebook

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Three Washington state Democratic electors vote for Gen. Colin Powell, one for Faith Spotted Eagle By Rick Anderson (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press) Despite a statute binding the 12 members of the electoral college to vote for the winner of the states 2016 presidential election popular vote, four Washington electors made history and risked a $1,000 fine by voting for someone else Monday. But it wasnt Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton, supported by 57% of the states voters, wound up with eight of the 12 electoral votes at a session held in the State Capitol building here. Gen. Colin Powell received three votes. And Faith Spotted Eagle, an elder of the Yankton Sioux, received one. Read More Facebook

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Colorado elector says he was oppressed by state law into voting for Clinton By David Kelly In Denver, all nine electors voted for Hillary Clinton, after one was replaced for casting his ballot for Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich instead. A boisterous crowd packed the state Capitol and booed when elector Michael Baca was dismissed and another sworn in to take his place. Vote your conscience! someone cried. The new elector voted for Clinton. Hecklers screamed Resign! Resign! at Secretary of State Wayne Williams after he shooed Bacas lawyer off the podium. Suspense had been building for weeks over how the electors would vote. Two courts blocked their attempts to vote for someone other than Clinton. State law here says electors must support the candidate who won the popular vote. On Sunday night they went to court again, this time asking a judge to reject a new oath drawn up by the secretary of state requiring electors to pledge to support the winner of the popular vote. Their motion was denied. As they waited, the crowd sang This Land is Your Land and America the Beautiful. But once the electors filed in, it was over quickly. Elector Robert Nemanich said he was oppressed by state law into voting for Clinton and would go to the U.S. Supreme Court. He did not elaborate. Lance Armstrong, 68, stood outside with an American flag. Im glad some of the electors made a point today, he said. Any point is better than none. Facebook

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Trump officially gets 270th electoral vote, sealing his election as president By Julie Westfall Donald Trump has obtained the required 270 electoral votes to become president. Although electors in dozens of states still have to vote, the electoral balloting in Texas put Trump over the majority threshold, according to a state-by-state tally by the Associated Press. Thirty-six of the states electors voted for Trump, one for John Kasich and one for Ron Paul. The next, and last, official step in the electoral process is for Congress to count the votes. Under the procedure set out by the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, that formal process is scheduled for Jan. 6. Some anti-Trump activists had hoped against hope that they could persuade electors in states that voted for Trump to defect, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Electors are nearly all party loyalists. Additionally, they faced more than two centuries of tradition and, in some states, legal obligations that called for them to cast their ballots according to which candidate won the popular vote in their states. No defectors have ever changed the result of a presidential election. Four electors today successfully defected in Washington state. Instead of voting for Hillary Clinton, who won the states popular vote, three electors voted for former secretary of State Colin Powell and one voted for Faith Spotted Eagle, an environmental activist. Electors in two other states who tried to vote against the states winner were replaced with alternates. There may be additional defections in the remaining states, but since Trump now has a majority of the electoral votes, those would not be enough to change the result. Facebook

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Emotions high in Maryland as electors unanimously vote for Clinton By Erin Cox (Erin Cox/Baltimore Sun) As Marylands 10 electors unanimously cast votes for Democrat Hillary Clinton for president Monday, several said they were privileged to vote for the countys first female presidential nominee. Outside, hundreds of anti-Trump protesters cheered as the solemn ceremony unfolded on live-stream television. A state delegate, who had the ceremonial task of handing the electors votes to another official, wept while executing her duty. This is an emotional moment for many, many women in this country and in this state, said Del. Maggie McIntosh, a Baltimore Democrat. She added later: I guess I didnt cry enough on Nov. 8. Marylands electors were bound by state law to vote for the winner of Marylands popular vote, which Clinton secured with more than 60% of the ballots cast. About 100 protesters who had been chanting and singing around the historic State House grounds for at least four hours before the vote said they came in solidarity with protesters in Republican state capitols, pleading with electors not to endorse President-elect Donald Trump. This is appalling and unacceptable, and Im hoping the Republicans, in particular, rise above and do the right thing, said Cheryl Kreiser, a retired teacher from the Washington, D.C., suburb of Silver Spring. For an hour every day for the last 21 days, Kreiser has protested Trumps win on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was the only way I could cope with the disappointment, she said. Marylands Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who wrote in his fathers name rather than vote for Trump on election day, opened Marylands 58th electoral college meeting but left the room before electors were sworn in. Each elector had been appointed by the Maryland Democratic Party state chair, Bruce Poole, who reminded the crowd the United States is not a direct democracy ruled by the popular vote. A lot of people lose sight of the fact that were a republic. Were not a democracy, Poole said. The whole idea was that the president would not be chosen just by the whims of the moment, but instead there would be an opportunity for people who were thoughtful, who had judgment, who had integrity to take a step back from the moment of emotion and consider what would be in the best interest of the country. Here is "the old book" where Maryland has recorded its Electoral College electors every year since 1789. pic.twitter.com/GlsaJd3F3X  Erin Cox (@ErinatThePost) December 19, 2016 Before he introduced Marylands electors, Poole lamented the state of political discourse in the country. We live in the age of information. It is not necessarily the age of wisdom or age of judgment, he said. People on both sides, on all sides, make decisions at the snap of a finger. Maryland was both the model for creating the electoral college and the first state in the country to vote to bypass it. Framers modeled todays system after the way the Maryland House of Delegates selected Maryland senators, a process the state later abandoned after it was considered undemocratic, according to a history of the electoral college written by staff at the Maryland Board of Elections. Hogan noted the state is one of six to have participated every year since 1789. In 2007, Maryland was the first state to vote to sign the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a promise designed to award the electoral college to the winner of the national popular vote. It required enough states to comprise 270 votes to sign on for it to take effect. So far, only 10 states  including California  with a combined 165 votes have signed the compact. The president of Marylands electors, Courtney Watson, also co-chaired Clintons campaign in Maryland. She said she thought changes to the electoral college should be considered and described Monday as a poignant moment for Maryland residents. Its a very emotional time, she said. Many of us have worked long and hard, and for the first woman candidate. The point, though, is that people are still moved and even more engaged. And thats what I find promising for our future and the future of women. Facebook

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Christine Pelosi, daughter of Nancy Pelosi and California elector, demands to know the truth about Russian influence By Jazmine Ulloa Elector @sfpelosi: We won't stand down. #caleg pic.twitter.com/4cM3cE4Wb6  Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) December 19, 2016 California elector Christine Pelosi on Monday told crowds gathered outside the Capitol that she has been part of a chorus of people demanding to know the truth about Russian interference in the November presidential election. Pelosi, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosis daughter, is leading 10 other electors in a call for an intelligence briefing on Russian influence. Shouting into a microphone Monday, she said Russian hackers aim to turn the American people against each other and had marginalized her and others for speaking out. They trespass on servers, she said. They receive stolen emails. They pump out stories that day after day focus on scandal rather than policy, rather than talking about climate and immigration and human rights. Californias meeting of electors is about to get underway in the state Capitol. Facebook

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After prayer for national unity, Georgia electors vote for Trump By Jenny Jarvie Outside the Georgia Capitol today, some may have held a flicker of hope that a GOP elector would refuse to cast a ballot for Donald Trump as 45th president of the United States. Yet among the inner circle of Republicans who gathered inside the cozy, wood-paneled Senate chamber, there was little doubt about what would unfold. One by one, all 16 electors - dressed in formal business suits and red dresses, bow ties and blazers -- cast their ballots for the contentious Republican candidate. It was a short ceremony, with little opportunity for disruption. Security guards prevented the public from entering the chamber, cordoning off the hallway outside the room with a red rope and locking the main door before proceedings began. The electors chosen by Georgias Republican Party included well-connected attorneys and real estate agents, a high school teacher and a farmer. As they waited for the gathering to begin, many snapped selfies and waved at loved ones above in the upper gallery. After a call to order by the Georgia Republican Party chair, the electors bowed their heads, and Rachel Little, an elector and grass-roots Republican organizer, delivered an invocation. Lord, we know we are a divided country right now, she said. We pray that you will unite us.  We pray that [those who oppose Trump] will see our conservatism lived out in a gracious way. In a short speech, Gov. Nathan Deal hit out at activists who had bombarded electors with emails, letters and phone calls in an effort to sway their votes. You have been the subject of harassment by those who perhaps are not as dedicated to the proposition of what this body is supposed to do as they are agitated by the fact that the people didnt do what they wanted them to do. I have every confidence you will not succumb to that, Deal told the electors. My words to you: Do your job. Shortly before the electors cast their ballots, Rep. Barry Loudermilk, a Republican who represents Georgias 11th District, took to the podium to present a short history of the electoral college. Our founders actually despised the idea of democracy because mob rule often results in a decision made out of pure emotion, Loudermilk told the electors, after referencing the noise of protesters outside. It does not result in good government. In fact, our founders often cited the historic trial of Jesus as how mob rule does not work. The electoral college was devised to protect the integrity of government, Loudermilk said. To protect those who live in the rural areas of America, those who work, those who are part of the farming communities and part of the industrial communities, those who live and work every day, that their interests are protected as well of those who make their living on Wall Street. For a moment earlier this year, there was an inkling of a Republican revolt against Trump in Georgia. In August, Baoky Vu, a GOP elector based in Decatur, Ga., admitted he might not cast his ballot for Trump if he won. Within hours, however, he was forced to resign. Trump went on to win 51% of Georgias popular vote. On Monday, Vu did not show up at the Capitol, and he was formally replaced by a solid Trump backer, John Padgett, the chairman of the Georgia Republican party. There seems little chance that Georgia legislators might vote to overhaul the electoral college. Earlier this year, Republican legislators authored two bipartisan pieces of legislation in Georgias House and Senate that would have made Georgias electoral votes based solely on the outcome of the national popular vote. Yet both bills stalled, and Republicans say there is little momentum to revive the debate. The system prevents the tyranny of the majority, said Kirk Shook, an elector who is a high school teacher in rural Oconee County. He scoffed at those who, since the election, had sought to overhaul the electoral college system. Theres all this weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, Shook said of those who opposed Trumps win. And rightly so. Theres going to be a Republican president, a Republican Congress and a Republican Supreme Court. With the stroke of a pen, 90 percent of what Obama considered his legacy will be gone. Facebook

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Four Washington state electors defect from Clinton; one chooses Faith Spotted Eagle instead By Associated Press (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press) Four members of the electoral college in Washington state cast their votes for a candidate other than Democrat Hillary Clinton, who won the states popular vote. Its the first time in four decades the states electors have broken from the popular vote for president. Washingtons 12 electors met Monday afternoon in the state Capitol to complete the constitutional formality. Clinton got eight votes while other candidates got the remaining four. Elector Bret Chiafalo, who earlier in the day said he planned to vote for Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, said that he ultimately changed his vote to former Secretary of State Colin Powell after conversations with other Washington electors. The exact breakdown of the other four votes wasnt immediately known, although at least one vote was cast for Faith Spotted Eagle. In last months election, Republican Donald Trump won 306 electoral votes to Clintons 232, though Clintons tally will now be lower. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win. The last time an elector broke from the popular vote in Washington was in 1976, when Mike Padden, who is currently a Republican state senator, voted for Ronald Reagan instead of Gerald Ford, who had won the state. Facebook

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Hundreds protest the electoral college at Capitol building in Sacramento By Jazmine Ulloa Protesters are now chanting, "hey hey ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go" pic.twitter.com/4nNyTMroI5  Marcus Yam  (@yamphoto) December 19, 2016 Cheers and chants of U.S.A and Keep him out filled the air Monday, as dozens of protestors gathered outside the California Capitol in a last ditch attempt to sway the electoral college from voting for president-elect Donald Trump. Speakers called Trump a celebrity and authoritarian unfit for the presidency. And they urged Congress to do away with the electoral college process, which they described as an outdated and broken system susceptible to foreign influence and manipulation. This is a secret system of voting where we are not allowed to see where the votes are actually coming from or how they are counted, Brent Turner, with the movement organization Democracy Spring, shouted into a microphone. John Franco, 52, says the electoral college is an outdated system that can be manipulated with or without hackers. #caleg pic.twitter.com/fs2L2W2HKp  Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) December 19, 2016 John Franco, a 52-year-old business owner visiting Sacramento from New Orleans, said he came to the demonstration with his family to protest that secret process. We dont feel a system that can be manipulated represents the interests of the people who voted for Hillary Clinton, he said. Rochelle Towers was among hundreds to protest at the CA Capitol today: "I'll take any shot that there is. #caleg https://t.co/QcOhWklrpx pic.twitter.com/mtx76NjdEW  Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) December 20, 2016 Rochelle Towers, 68, said she drove in from Oakland in an attempt to persuade the electoral college from voting for Trump. She said she would not have to live through a lot of what its decision would set in motion. But my children and grandchildren will, she said. Even though this is a real long shot, Ill take any shot that there is. Facebook

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Colorado elector removed after refusing to vote for Clinton By David Kelly A new elector is sworn in in Colorado after one refused to vote for Hillary Clinton. (David Kelly / Los Angeles Times) Eight of nine Colorado electors have voted for Hillary Clinton. One elector, Michael Baca, refused to vote for Clinton and was immediately replaced with an alternate, who was sworn in on the spot. As the crowd jeered, the new elector promptly voted for Clinton. Shouts of Resign! followed Secretary of State Wayne Williams announcement of the results. Protesters at the state capitol in Colorado. (David Kelly/Los Angeles Times) Facebook

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Electors say they have been barraged with emails By Nigel Duara View Twitter post Arizona elector J. Foster Morgan said he had received several letters protesting the election of Donald Trump, but experienced nothing on the scale of some his fellow Arizona electors whose email addresses were distributed to protest lists. They heard the worst thing imaginable, Morgan said. I just got a few letters. Despite protests outside the meeting, Morgan said, the vote went fine. Eleven votes for Donald Trump. Facebook

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Democratic electors in Minnesota and Maine try to vote for Bernie Sanders By Associated Press (Spencer Platt / Getty Images) A second elector  this one in Minnesota  has refused to cast a vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton in Mondays electoral college tally. It wasnt immediately clear why Muhammad Abdurrahman didnt vote for Clinton, but he was a delegate for Bernie Sanders at the Democratic National Convention. The electors are pledged to cast Minnesotas 10 electoral votes for Clinton since she won the state. Abdurrahman was immediately replaced by an alternate who later voted for Clinton. Earlier in the day, a so-called faithless elector in Maine cast his vote for Sanders, who lost the Democratic presidential nomination to Clinton. David Bright said on his Facebook page that he cast his vote for Sanders because voting for Clinton would not have helped her win. But he ultimately voted for Clinton on a second vote after being ruled out of order. Facebook

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Utah voting goes off without incident  six for Trump By David Montero A protest sign outside the gathering of Utah electors (Rick Bowmer / Associated Press) Despite chants of vote your conscience and the whole world is watching from more than 100 protesters, Utahs six electors cast their votes for President-elect Donald Trump today in Salt Lake City. Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox announced the official results within minutes of the votes being cast, but he was drowned out by jeers of Shame on you by the protesters. I hope you know this is what our country is all about, Cox said. I hope all of us here are sincerely grateful we live in a country where we have the opportunity to express ourselves. The six electors -- two small-business owners, a custom metal worker, a farmer, a Brigham Young University professor and a Republican activist -- quickly introduced themselves before casting their ballots. The votes were largely a formality, as the state requires electors to vote for the winner. Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by getting 45%t of the vote. He also withstood a challenge from Evan McMullin, who garnered 21% in what was largely a protest vote from those, many of them Mormons, who felt uncomfortable casting a ballot for Trump. Cox said the turnout for this years electoral vote was a far cry from 2012, when four people and one camera crew showed up. Im a big fan of the electoral college, Cox said to the restless crowd. You dont have to boo me now. You can boo me later. About 200 protesters and Trump supporters arrived in the rotunda of the state Capitol about three hours before the votes were cast shortly after noon. The room where the votes were cast was too small to accommodate everyone, and the fire marshal sought to limit occupancy to about 130 people. Interest was high, and the vote even drew Hawthorn Elementary School students, who helped lead the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Cox thanked them for coming and told them they were getting an experience youll never forget. Facebook

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Clinton elector balks in Minnesota One of 10 Minnesota electors has decided not cast a vote, Muhammad Abdurrahan. An alternate is now being sworn in. #ElectoralCollege pic.twitter.com/4eN1PIrZdO  Dylan Wohlenhaus (@DylanWohlenhaus) December 19, 2016 In Minnesota, where the 10 electors had all pledged their votes to Hillary Clinton, one of them refused to go through with it. Elector Muhammad Abdurrahman opted not to vote. He was replaced by an alternate, who cast a vote for Clinton. Facebook

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As Pennsylvania went unanimously for Trump, a voice from the back: Thank you By Steve Esack Electors sworn in in Pennsylvania (Matt Rourke/Associated Press) In Pennsylvanias capital of Harrisburg, the states 20 electoral college voters selected Trump today in a ceremony marked by traditional pomp and bellowing protests. Trump won the popular vote in Pennsylvania by 44,292 votes  the first Republican presidential candidate to do so since 1988. It earned him the states 20 electoral college votes. When the result was announced shortly before 1 p.m. inside the gilded, ornate House chamber, protesters jeered and supporters cheered. Shame on you, a womans voice called down from the public balcony. Thank you, a male voters voice responded back from the floor. Facebook

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How some electors have reacted to all the mail from voters Facebook

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Protesters outside Florida Senate chambers: Trump is dangerous By Gray Rohrer Protesters gather outside the Florida Senate chambers ahead of the electoral college voting ceremony. (Gray Rohrer / Orlando Sentinel) A group of about 100 protesters huddled outside the Florida Senate chambers Monday morning as Floridas 29 electors prepared to cast their votes for Donald Trump in the formal electoral eollege vote ceremony later in the day. The protesters held signs that read You can fix this, keep America free, What would Hamilton do? and Electors: Protect Us, Trump is Dangerous, pleading for electors to change their minds and not vote for Trump, who beat Hillary Clinton by 112,911 votes in Florida, about 1.2%t of all votes cast in the state. Tallahassee resident Bonnie McCluskey held a sign reading Send it to the House. If enough electors across the country do not vote for Trump, hell fall short of the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency, sending the matter to the U.S. House. The reason Im here is because I dont trust [Trump]) and I think he will harm the United States, McCluskey said. My grandmothers were suffragettes; their ancestors were willing to be traitors to the British crown to create this democracy and I dont want to see it end. And that sounds awfully dramatic but thats how Im feeling. She said that part of the reason she doesnt trust Trump is because he didnt pay a company she worked for that did promotional videos for his buildings in 1998. They were basically given the opportunity to take 10 percent or go to court. Back then I didnt realize that was his business plan, McCluskey said. I didnt make the deal with him I was just one of the people who saw a company go bankrupt. Despite the pleas from protesters, all of Floridas electors are expected to vote for Trump. Some, such as Florida Senate President Joe Negron, have posted pictures of hundreds of letters theyve received asking them to change their vote but declaring theyll be voting for the Republican candidate. Facebook

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Colorado electors make last-ditch plea to switch votes By David Kelly Crowds await the electoral college vote at the Colorado Capitol in Denver. (David Kelly / For The Times) Colorado electors are trying a last-chance legal appeal to avoid voting for Hillary Clinton, and instead vote for an alternative candidate to replace Donald Trump. A week ago, a district court judge told them they had to vote for Clinton, who won the popular vote in Colorado. A few days ago, a federal appeals court upheld that decision. But just hours before the vote today, two electors filed suit to stop the Colorado secretary of state from requiring them to swear to vote for the candidate supported by the electorate. Their effort is part of a loose national scheme to defeat Trump by persuading Republican electors to join with Democrats, such as those in Colorado, and coalesce around an alternative candidate. There has been no decision so far. Facebook

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Chants of Shame! erupt as Wisconsin electors cast ballots for Trump By Bill Ruthhart Demonstrators erupt after Wisconsin's 10 presidential electors cast their #ElectoralCollege ballots for Republican Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/A0GrASaIbY  Bill Ruthhart (@BillRuthhart) December 19, 2016 Wisconsins 10 presidential electors unanimously cast their ballots for Republican Donald Trump as expected Wednesday, but the vote still drew chants of Shame from dozens of demonstrators who had pleaded for them to back away from the president-elect. The typically procedural vote in a fourth-floor conference room in the Wisconsin State Capitol was anything but routine as about 150 protesters greeted the 10 electors with signs pleading for them to vote your conscience not your pledge. In a short 15-minute meeting, the electors quickly cast their ballots for Trump. They did not address the controversial nature of the election and no speeches were made before the 
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

Trend:

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has extended condolences to Russias President Vladimir Putin over the death of Russian Ambassador in Turkey Andrey Karlov after a terrorist attack on Dec. 19.

I am deeply shocked by the news of the tragic death of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Turkey Andrey Gennadyevich Karlov, said President Aliyev in his letter of condolences to Putin.

We resolutely and unconditionally condemn this bloody terrorist attack, he added. I extend my heartfelt condolences to you, the family and relatives of the late ambassador.
Good morning. Its Monday, Dec. 19, and heres whats happening in California:

TOP STORIES

Drug risks

Facing a national opioid epidemic, U.S. doctors are turning away from painkillers. So Purdue Pharma is moving into Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa  regions ill-prepared to deal with the ravages of addiction. Here is the latest in The Times series on OxyContin. Los Angeles Times

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Silent partners

Much of the debate about illegal immigration and the Trump era has focused on Latinos. Many Asian immigrants find themselves in the same position  but have decided to be more quiet about it. Because Latinos get the brunt of the anti-immigrant backlash, Asians may feel they can stay on the sidelines, said Apolonio Morales, political director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. But if the target suddenly shifts toward Asians, they would be compelled to act. Los Angeles Times

Pushed to the limit

This is the busy season in Californias sprawling warehouse and logistics industry, where Amazon is top dog. Delivery drivers in interviews with The Times and in court documents say Amazon is working them past a reasonable point and often avoids paying them overtime or giving legally required meal breaks. Los Angeles Times

L.A. STORIES

Wedding tragedy: Investigators are looking into a tragedy on what was supposed to be a joyous day. A large eucalyptus tree fell on a wedding party at a Whittier park Saturday, killing one woman and injuring several others. Los Angeles Times

Zsa Zsa dies: Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, who pioneered a modern version of celebrity, died at age 99. She had been in declining health after being injured when a Rolls-Royce in which she was riding, with her hairdresser at the wheel, jumped a curb in West Hollywood and struck a light pole in 2002. Los Angeles Times

Stand up to bullying: The San Fernando Valley is rallying around a boy who was seriously hurt when he was sucker-punched at a mall. Daily News

Big hack: The confidential health data or personal information of more than 750,000 people may have been accessed in a cyberattack on Los Angeles County employees in May that led to charges last week against a Nigerian national, officials have disclosed. Los Angeles Times

Lord Vader would be proud: With Star Wars the big movie this week, a look at the L.A. buildings that are so, well, distinctive that they made the list of Death Star architecture. Curbed Los Angeles

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Uber vs. S.F.: Inside Ubers risky war with regulators over self-driving cars in San Francisco. Will the companys in-your-face ethos finally meet its match? Los Angeles Times

Plus: This video of an Uber self-driving car running a red light is not helping the company, even though Uber maintains it was due to human error. BuzzFeed News

Academic drama: UC Riverside Provost Paul J. DAnieri announced Friday that he would step down from his administrative post, just days after the faculty said it would meet to consider a vote of no confidence in his leadership. Los Angeles Times

Retirement woes: For those who believe that California is in danger of breaking its promise of retirement cash for local and state government workers, this week marks another important milestone in taking stock of the effort to change course. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Gun run: Californias sweeping gun control legislation in July has triggered a run on firearms across the state, with some stores reporting sales have doubled since then. Los Angeles Times

The role of religion: When a religious organization takes in victims of sex trafficking, things can get sensitive very quickly. Sacramento Bee

Reform status: For California criminals helped by Prop. 47, the road back has been long and complicated. Desert Sun

Raisin legal drama: The California raisins are off the airwaves, but they remain a force in the courtroom. As recently as the last week of November, a group of raisin growers won a skirmish in federal court. It allows them to expand a compensation claim against the government for hundreds of thousands of dollars in raisins held off the market by agricultural officials in an effort to support prices. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Coastal access: The big promises California made generations ago to protect its beaches are proving difficult to keep in 2016. San Francisco Chronicle

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Cold shoulder? So if San Francisco is so liberal, why are voters being so parsimonious when it comes to new taxes for some pressing city needs? A case in point is when it comes to San Franciscos homeless population. New York Times

Fences: After complaints from residents about growing homeless problems, Riverside officials are considering an extreme solution: fencing off parts of parks. Press-Enterprise

Respecting the dead: Behind the tragedy of the Ghost Ship, there are questions about gender identity and how to treat some victims with respect. East Bay Times

Expanding the Star Wars narrative: The latest Star Wars movie had a monster opening weekend, as expected, but it did less business than its predecessor, which opened a year ago. Still, its great news for Disney, which has been trying to expand the Star Wars franchise beyond its central narrative. Los Angeles Times

Trying to reconcile: Her Japanese American relatives were interned in California during World War II. Now, a woman tries to understand why some of them are supporting Donald Trump. New York Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles area: After a cold weekend, things should warm up a bit, with highs approaching 70. San Francisco area: Mostly sunny, with highs in the lower 50s. Sacramento: Partly cloudy, with highs in the low 50s.

AND FINALLY

This weeks birthdays for notable Californians: Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Dec. 21, 1947), former L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (Dec. 21, 1948), film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg (Dec. 21, 1950) and former Dodger and Padres player Steve Garvey (Dec. 22, 1948).

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Shelby Grad.
Im Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I dont want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

Electoral College Is Now in Session

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The electoral colleges selection of the president of the United States is usually a pretty sleepy affair. Not so this year, with protests on the streets and many having signed petitions in opposition to Donald Trump. Today, electors will get down to business in 51 separate meetings nationwide. Anything other than a Trump victory seems highly unlikely  37 electors would have to turn from him to Clinton or some other candidate  but as with the rest of this election, dont rule out a few twists. Well be following all the developments here as they unfold.

More Politics

-- Four powerful members of the Senate called for the creation of a special select committee to investigate Russian attempts to influence the presidential election.

-- Trump tells China: Go ahead, keep that U.S. military drone you seized.

-- Trump is delivering on his promise to be unpredictable on foreign affairs. Not everyone is convinced thats a good idea.

-- Why our presidents are elected by a cabal of elites.

Like Big Tobacco, OxyContin Goes Global

Prescriptions for OxyContin in the United States have fallen nearly 40% since 2010, meaning billions in lost revenue for Purdue Pharma. So the companys owners are pursuing a new strategy: Put the painkiller that set off the U.S. opioid crisis into medicine cabinets around the world. Read the third part of a Los Angeles Times investigation exploring the role of OxyContin in the nations opioid epidemic.

East of Aleppo, a Stark Home Away From Home

In the cold of winter, thousands of Syrian refugees huddle in temporary shelters just east of the city of Aleppo. The conditions there are harsh, but with food, medical aid and relative safety, theyre better than the ones the people have escaped. Now, as the evacuation of residents from an area claimed by the rebels starts and stalls, the refugees wait. Heres a look inside one shelter.

Californias Public Pensions: Where Math and Politics Collide

The directors of CalPERS, the nations largest public pension fund, will meet on Tuesday to discuss whether taxpayers should pitch in more money to cover all those retirement costs that continue to build. If that sounds familiar, it is: It will be the second time in a month that they will do so. As Sacramento bureau chief John Myers writes, the math on this is pretty simple; the politics, not so much.

Loans to the Pot Industry: High Risk, High Return

For businesses in Californias newly legalized recreational marijuana industry, getting a bank loan isnt an option. With no protection in federal bankruptcy courts and the ever-present threat of federal asset seizures, traditional financial institutions wont go there. Thats opened the door for private lenders to step in and demand hefty interest on their loans, sometimes up to 20%.

She Was Larger Than Life, Dahlink

Zsa Zsa Gabor once said she was born to make headlines. That, she did  with a glamorous lifestyle, often risque one-liners, nine marriages, a 1989 assault conviction for slapping a Beverly Hills police officer and more. Yes, she was famous for being famous but also acted in at least 30 films. Take a look back at the last-surviving Gabor sister, who died at age 99 over the weekend.

The Year That Was in Arts and Entertainment

Films addressing the difficulties of human connection in moments of societal upheaval. Music that moved us as we lost our idols from the past. Triumphs on the stage, and Black Lives Matter as a case study in art as protest. In case you missed it, here are The Times critics and writers on the years defining moments in culture.

OUR MUST-READS FROM THE WEEKEND

-- Gun store owners in California say people are buying up weapons ahead of more restrictive state laws taking effect Jan. 1.

-- An internal report on last years unprecedented one-day shutdown of Los Angeles schools due to a terrorist threat reveals a confused chain of command.

-- For Asians in the U.S. illegally, theres more shame and more quiet, as one student puts it.

-- In one small Mexican town, the citizens have become armed vigilantes to take on a drug gang.

-- The worlds largest diamonds reveal the secrets of the inner Earth.

-- Amazon drivers say they are being pushed to the limit as holiday deliveries reach a frenzy.

-- The sweet results of this years Los Angeles Times Holiday Cookie Bake-Off. And the winners are

CALIFORNIA

-- The confidential health data or personal information of more than 750,000 people may have been accessed in a cyberattack on L.A. County employees. Officials say a Nigerian national has been charged.

-- Investigators are still trying to determine what caused a large eucalyptus tree to collapse on a wedding party in Whittier. It killed one woman.

-- Lytton Savings, a midcentury modern building on Sunset Boulevard that is set to be torn down for a Frank Gehry-designed complex, might be moved.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- L.A.s DIY music scene is thinking about its next steps amid a crackdown on unapproved venues after the Ghost Ship fire in Oakland.

-- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story had the third-best opening of a movie this year.

-- TV critic Robert Lloyd on that time when Jimmy mussed Donny and other instances of TV softballing Trump.

-- Theater review: The off-kilter charms of Amelie sing with spirit at the Ahmanson.

NATION-WORLD

-- In Hungary, the shutdown of a prominent, left-leaning newspaper has highlighted what media watchdogs and rights groups describe as an accelerating erosion of media freedom.

-- No walk of society is immune. Even the sons of Islamic clerics are patients in our clinics: Iran is confronting a growing drug problem.

-- Dissident artist Ai Weiwei, once banned from leaving China, wants to go to Syria for his documentary about refugees.

-- Emboldened by Trump, Taiwan sees an opening to improve its international standing.

-- With an especially busy travel season underway, the polar vortex hits the U.S. and Canada again, making the weather a mess.

BUSINESS

-- The U.S. shipping industry is poised for massive upheaval. Can FedEx ride it out?

-- Michael Hiltzik: Those California raisins may be gone from the airwaves, but theyre still making waves in court.

SPORTS

-- Jeff Fisher on his exit as Rams coach: Bottom line is I didnt win.

-- Boxer Bernard Hopkins lost his last fight at age 51 as he went crashing backward out of the ring and landed on his head.

OPINION

-- The slaughter of civilians in Aleppo last week may have shocked the conscience of the world, but no one should have been surprised.

-- What does a small puddle of tar seeping out of a seam in the sidewalk say about L.A.? Everything.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- Inside the cozy, profitable relationship between guns and Hollywood. (The Hollywood Reporter)

-- The CIA has released a collection of declassified maps from throughout its history. (National Geographic)

-- Fifty of this years best podcasts. (The Atlantic)

ONLY IN L.A.

It wouldnt be Christmas in Los Angeles without tamales. Spicy or mild; dense, stubby ones, or those with a delicate, pudding-like consistency. Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold went on a tamale crawl and once again shows us why you can never have too many tamales.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.

If you like this newsletter, please share it with friends.
To the editor: Philip Matthew Stinsons claim that cops kill 1,000 persons a year and almost always escape prosecution is misleading and disingenuous. (Cops shoot and kill someone about 1,000 times a year. Few are prosecuted. What can be done? Opinion, Dec. 15)

Yes, there are bad cop shootings. But taking a closer look at each of the roughly 1,000 shootings would lead one to the conclusion that the overwhelming majority are legal, moral and within policy. Throwing out the number 1,000 without further explanation is dishonest.

The real reason there are so many officer-involved shootings is that there are thousands of armed criminals who commit crimes and are a threat to cops and the civilian population. Prosecute the few cops who dont do their job correctly, but also work on the real problem: putting criminals in jail and eliminating weapons available to them on the street.

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Joe Gunn, Burbank

..

To the editor: The police are the best resource we have to protect the public from harm, even from other police. We must incentivize an end to the status quo by paying in bonuses to the police a percentage of what is saved in lawsuit payouts by using more cautious and careful policing.

Cynical? Possibly, but how truly American to pay police more not to shoot us.

Will this create problems in the police unions, locker rooms and squad rooms? Probably, but better there than on our streets. The police know who the problem cops are and who will cost them money.

Phil Connor, Alpine, Calif.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
To the editor: Contrary to your warning of a serious constitutional crisis, the 12th Amendment instructs that if no candidate were to receive an electoral college majority, the House of Representatives would determine the president. (The electoral college shouldnt veto Trumps election, editorial, Dec. 16)

Donald Trump would still likely emerge the victor in such a situation, but the precedent of faithless electors in the election of the most unhinged and inexperienced president in a lifetime sends a very clear and necessary statement that he should not govern by his own mandate.

The stakes are very high. Trumps statements and behavior demonstrate his willingness to use intimidation and brinksmanship in a world where such conduct can lead to very serious consequences.

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Richard Havenick, San Pedro

..

To the editor: I do not agree that the electoral college should not vote against Trump.

Aside from his temperamental unfitness to serve as president, there are two important things that should disqualify him: the Russian interference in the election and the fact that he lost the popular vote by more than 2.8 million votes.

It is lawful and important for the electors to prevent this dangerous, erratic man from becoming our president. Imagine Trump in charge of our nuclear arsenal.

Ann Edelman, Woodland Hills

..

To the editor: The only support that Kenneth Jost can muster for his remarkable argument that the electoral college is unconstitutional is the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Reynolds vs. Sims. (The electoral college has always been the wrong way to choose a president, Opinion, Dec. 16)

In that 1964 case, the justices invalidated Georgias apportionment scheme  where districts with greater population were underrepresented  finding that its design violates the principle of one person, one vote. Jost asserts that the two-century old electoral colleges basic architecture flouts the principle from this 50-year old case. As a threshold matter, the longevity of this practice is a solid indication that it is lawful.

In the 1963 case Gray vs. Sanders, Justice William O. Douglas specifically rejected the argument that the electoral college falls under the one person, one vote principle. He explained that despite the inherent numerical inequality of the electoral college, its inclusion ... in the Constitution, as the result of specific historical concerns, did not place it under the same regime as the states.

Josts argument is not supported by text, history or precedent.

Josh Blackman, Houston

The writer is an associate professor at South Texas College of Law, where he specializes in constitutional law and the Supreme Court.

..

To the editor: The current system is responsible for political gridlock because the national campaigns ignore all the states they know they will win or lose, reinforcing the local majority. Local media cater to that majority, stifling political dialogue, which is why residents of red and blue states see the world very differently.

The Democrats should take up abolition or reform of the electoral college as the civil rights issue of the 21st century and let the GOP be on the wrong side of history.

Scott S. Smith, West Hollywood

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

Trend:

Assassination of ambassador is one of the most vicious forms of terrorism, Novruz Mammadov, deputy head of Azerbaijani presidential administration, chief of the administration's foreign relations department, has tweeted.

Mammadovs tweets came in condemnation of the assassination of Russias Ambassador in Turkey Andrey Karlov in a terrorist attack on Dec. 19.

Assassination of Russia's Ambassador deserves strongest of condemnation! There can be no justification to this bloody terrorist act!, said Mammadov in another tweet.

Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov died after he was badly wounded in an armed assault in Ankara Dec. 19, Turkish newspaper Milliyet reported.

The ambassador was taken to a hospital, but died there.

The assailant was killed in an ensuing police operation.

The attack on the ambassador was carried out when Karlov was on the podium in order to deliver a speech at a photo exhibition in the Ankara Center for Contemporary Art.
A coalition of activist groups on Sunday took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles to protest against some of the labor and immigration policies proposed by President-elect Donald Trump, a day before he is expected to officially claim victory in the nations presidential contest.

On Monday, 538 presidential electors from across the country will convene in their respective states to cast their votes and finalize the results of the Nov. 8 election. Trump, who only needs 270 electoral votes, is expected to collect 306 votes as pledged by members of the electoral college.

Electors are chosen by the voters from party slates and are expected to support the party nominee. Although constitutional scholars agree that electors are free under the U.S. Constitution to cast their votes as they please, 29 states and the District of Columbia have statutes that seek to bind electors, sometimes with threats of fines or criminal penalties.

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But many Hillary Clinton supporters point out that she won the popular vote by almost 3 million votes and are urging electors to block Trumps path to the White House. While that is unlikely, they said they want to send a message of defiance over some of Trumps proposed policies, including a crackdown on illegal immigration.

Hundreds of activists from groups and unions that fight for the rights of Muslims, Jews, immigrants in the country illegally and the LGBT community marched through the streets of downtown Sunday, which is recognized by the United Nations as International Migrants Day. Many carried signs that said, Stop Trump, Im not a Criminal, I pay Taxes, and Fearless, United.

Today is about protecting our communities, especially our immigrant community, said David Huerta, the president of SEIU United Service Workers West, a union that represents janitors, security officers and other service workers.

The fear is real for Stephanie Temix, a 21-year-old immigrant from Mexico in the U.S. illegally, who is studying sociology at Cal State Northridge. She worries her family could be targeted for deportation if Trump follows through on his campaign promises calling for tougher immigration policies.

We need to show that we are people and our rights matter, she said. We are fighting for our future and rights.

Joe Salas, a board member of the Islamic Center of Claremont, said he wanted people outside of California to know the states activists were ready to mobilize.

We will stand up against discrimination, he said. We will go anywhere and help anyone being discriminated against.

The march paused outside Grand Central Market, where Father Greg Boyle stood on the back of a truck and promised the immigrants in the crowd, we will make sure that you are safe.

California state Senate leader Kevin de Leon, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, vowed to protect the rights of immigrants and said California would be a beacon of hope for the rest of America.

A group calling itself the Hamilton Electors will hold a candlelight vigil at City Hall at 6 p.m. to encourage members of the electoral college to vote their conscience when they cast their votes for president on Monday.

Updates on California politics 

javier.panzar@latimes.com

Twitter: jpanzar

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Donald Trump is expected to move a consequential step closer to his inauguration as president Monday when the members of the electoral college hold 51 separate meetings nationwide to cast the ballots that will formally determine the winner of the November election.

In keeping with the chaotic campaign, the run-up to the electors balloting has been filled with protests and disputes over the constitutionally mandated gatherings.

Millions of Americans have signed petitions, deluged electors with letters and emails and indulged in elaborate hypotheticals about how those votes might be swayed. The passion behind those efforts has been intensified by post-election drama over U.S. intelligence that indicates Russia attempted to assist Trump before the election by stealing and distributing private emails from Democratic institutions and activists.

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Going into the Monday meetings in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Trump held a comfortable lead of 306 votes to 232 for Hillary Clinton, based on the popular vote tallied on and after Nov. 8.

And by all indications, despite the unusual level of scrutiny, those votes largely will be cast according to expectations.

The 538 electoral votes are allocated by state. In nearly all states, the candidate who wins a majority of the popular vote in the state wins all of its electoral votes.

Trumps margin means 37 electors would have to turn from him to Clinton or some other candidate to deny him the majority, but unless another candidate spontaneously emerged to win a majority of electors votes, defections would serve only to send the election to the Republican-controlled House, which would presumably side with the partys nominee.

More electors would have to flip their votes in order to give the White House to the Democratic nominee. Any significant number of defections is highly unlikely, since most electors are party loyalists.

Rump efforts to deny Trump the presidency by turning his electors against him appear not to have gained much ground. To date, only one Republican elector, in Texas, has said publicly that he would not vote for Trump. A separate Democratic attempt to turn Clinton balloters away from her so they could join with Republicans to back a new candidate has similarly gotten little traction, not least because no alternative candidate has stepped forward.

A group of electors led by Christine Pelosi, the daughter of House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and like her mother a San Francisco Democrat, has sought a meeting with intelligence officials to discuss their views on the election hacking.

1 / 20 Andres Ramos collect the ballots voted by the members of the electoral college at the state Capitol in Sacramento. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 20 Members of the electoral college take an oath as they gather to vote for president at the state Capitol in Sacramento. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 20 Faith Garamendi turns in her ballot as members of the electoral college gather to vote at the state Capitol in Sacramento. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 20 Protesters march around the state Capitol to urge the members of the electoral college to vote against Donald Trump in a last-ditch effort to change the course of the presidential elections in Sacramento. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 20 Anne Corio, center, joins protesters in their last stand before members of the electoral college gather to vote at the state Capitol in Sacramento. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 20 An elector reacts while placing her signed ballot into a ballot box in the house of representatives chamber of the Pennsylvania Capitol building in Harrisburg. (Mark Makela / Getty Images) 7 / 20 Georgia electors meet to cast their ballots in Atlanta Monday. (ERIK S. LESSER / EPA) 8 / 20 A teller places ballots into a box after tallying electors votes in Pennsylvania. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press) 9 / 20 Tennessee electors Tom Lawless and Beth Scott Clayton Amos confer during a meeting of the states electoral college to cast ballots for Republican President-elect Donald Trump in Nashville. (Erik Schelzig / Associated Press) 10 / 20 Arizona electoral college members take their pledge of office prior to formally casting their ballots for President-elect Donald Trump at the Capitol in Phoenix, Monday. (Matt York / Associated Press) 11 / 20 Vermont electors are sworn in before casting their ballots for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the Statehouse in Montpelier, Monday. (Glenn Russell / AP) 12 / 20 Randall Kirkpatrick, one of Indianas eleven electors, signs paperwork to officially cast votes for President-elect Donald Trump in Indianapolis. (Darron Cummings / Associated Press) 13 / 20 Steve OHearn, 58, dressed as a Russian for Trump, poses as he joins protestors outside the Pennsylvania Capitol building. (Mark Makela / Getty Images) 14 / 20 Protesters demonstrate ahead of the electoral college vote at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg on Monday morning. (Dan Gleiter / Associated Press) 15 / 20 Daniel Bortner, one of Indianas eleven electors, holds the paperwork he signed to cast his ballot for Gov. Mike Pence as vice president. (Darron Cummings / Associated Press) 16 / 20 Brock Ervin demonstrates outside the Indiana House chamber before the states eleven electors cast ballots for president and vice president. (Darron Cummings / Associated Press) 17 / 20 Protesters demonstrate Monday before Pennsylvanias electors vote at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press) 18 / 20 Demonstrators wave signs and chant in freezing temperatures Monday morning as electors arrive at the Pennsylvania state Capitol to cast votes for president. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press) 19 / 20 Protesters demonstrate on the steps of the Pennsylvania state Capitol in Harrisburg. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press) 20 / 20 Kate Young, 43, has a plea for electors at the Pennsylvania Capitol. (Mark Makela / Getty Images)

The office of the director of national intelligence, James R. Clapper, released a statement Friday that said agencies continued to believe that hacking was meant to interfere with the election and that only Russias senior-most officials could have authorized these activities. But it declined to release more information pending the conclusion of an investigation that President Obama has directed.

Although Democrats  and many Republicans  have denounced the Russian interference and called for investigations, Clintons aides have not suggested that it caused her defeat. The release of Democratic emails created a head wind that impeded Clintons campaign, her campaign manager, Robby Mook, has said, but other factors loomed larger.

The last time the electoral college received anything like the attention showered on it this year was in 2000, when the extremely close presidential contest was decided in a December Supreme Court judgment. Democrat Al Gore won the popular vote that year, but Republican George W. Bush won more electoral votes. The electors themselves did not attract as much scrutiny that time around as they have this year, perhaps because of the large role played in 2000 by the high court.

The distance between the popular and electoral votes is even more pronounced this year; although Trump leads in the electoral college, Clinton beat him by almost 3 million individual votes out of the 137 million cast  more than five times larger than Gores margin in the popular vote. Clinton ran up huge margins in heavily populated, largely Democratic states, including California, while Trump eked out narrow victories in key swing states.

That and Trumps relative unpopularity for an incoming president are driving consternation about the formal vote, according to electoral college scholar George C. Edwards III.

Usually 99% of electors are faithful  they vote the way their state votes, said Edwards, a political science professor at Texas A & M. This year theres a more organized effort than normal to overturn the presumed majority.

Yet apart from the possibility of a few rogue votes, he said, I think nothing is going to happen in the end.

The process of formally naming a president was laid out in the Constitution and its 12th Amendment, adopted in 1804.

After Mondays voting, which is scheduled to begin in mid-morning in the east and then cascade across the country, ending in Hawaii late in the day, the ballots are sent to Washington. There, on Jan. 6, they will be tallied in a joint session of the House and Senate. Vice President Joe Biden, as president of the Senate, will formally declare the results. Barring a shocking reversal, Trump will be inaugurated on Jan. 20.

Californias 55 electors, pledged to Clinton under the winner-take-all rules in effect, are scheduled to meet at the state Capitol in Sacramento at 2 p.m. to cast their ballots.

Trump opponents, working until the last minute to try to overturn the expected result, plan to hold protests outside the state Capitol. Others are scheduled across the country.

President Obama, in his Friday news conference, declined to call on electors to change their votes, saying that its the American peoples job, and now the electors job, to decide my successor.

He called the electoral college a vestige from an earlier era, but advised Democrats to spend their time building a message that would win both the popular vote and the electoral college.

There are some structures in our political system, as envisioned by the founders, that sometimes are going to disadvantage Democrats, he said. But the truth of the matter is if we have a strong message, if were speaking to what the American people care about, typically the popular vote and the electoral college vote will align.

If we look for one explanation or one silver bullet or one easy fix for our politics, then were probably going to be disappointed, he added.

Outgoing Sen. Barbara Boxer of California was among Democrats who have made a post-election push for changes in the electoral system, citing the divergence between the electoral and the popular votes.

But given the nations current polarization, the odds of substantive change seem a stretch.

To alter the Constitution would require agreement of two-thirds of both houses of Congress and the approval of three-quarters of the states. Since the high population  and thus high popular vote  areas of the nation are strongly Democratic, the Republican areas have no incentive to change the rules that have favored them. A majority of states sided with Trump.

A new CBS News poll found views about the electoral college to be sharply polarized.

Overall, Americans favored deciding presidents by popular vote, 54% to 41%. Among Democrats, the popular vote was favored by a 60-point margin. Among Republicans, the electoral college was favored by a 43-point margin.

Still, Americans were more comfortable abiding this year by the rules now in place. Asked how they would feel about electors who sided with someone other than their states winner, 57% said they disapproved of that action, and only 37% said theyd back the move.

Live coverage from the campaign trail 

cathleen.decker@latimes.com

@cathleendecker

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Updates from the transition
Monday will bring the long presidential campaign to a close as electors across the nation meet in state capitals to certify the results. The moment marks an important shift for the country, just over one month before Donald Trump is inaugurated.

Im Christina Bellantoni, here with the last edition of Essential Politics for the year. Lets get right to it.

While there are plenty of Hillary Clinton supporters holding out some hope the result will somehow be different at the end of the electoral college process, all signs point to the status quo.

Will it bring some finality, even as Russian involvement in the elections continues to stir up political unrest and spark renewed calls for investigations on Capitol Hill?

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Cathleen Decker reports on the millions of Americans who have have signed petitions, deluged electors with letters and emails and indulged in elaborate hypotheticals about how those votes might be swayed, but she bursts that bubble.

Trumps comfortable lead of 306 votes to 232 for Clinton isnt budging, she writes, and that margin means 37 electors would have to turn from him to Clinton or some other candidate to deny him the majority. Even if that were to happen and someone else emerged, it would serve only to send the election to the Republican-controlled House, which would presumably side with Trump.

But of course it wont get that far, because the whole thing is controlled by a cabal of elites who are, for the most part, party loyalists. There was that time Congress actually tried to get rid of the electoral college, but its not going anywhere, at least for now.

Reality checks about how the process works didnt stop a coalition of activist groups from taking to the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Sunday to protest Trumps labor and immigration policies in hopes of changing Mondays results.

Californias 55 electors are convening in Sacramento on Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. to cast their votes for Clinton. The Democratic contender will collect all of the states votes after decisively winning California in November.

(For a refresher on who they are, catch up quick here.)

Well cover the days events in California and across the country live at latimes.com/electoralcollege. Join us.

CALIFORNIAS RELATIONSHIP WITH DONALD TRUMP

As California prepares to assume the role of top antagonist to the Trump administration, there is no shortage of political figures leading the opposition from the Golden State. Melanie Mason assembled a field guide to the various players who are positioning themselves to be a thorn in the president-elects side, from the governors office in Sacramento to city halls across the state.

Sarah Wire took a look at the California members of Congress who could help or hinder Trumps administration, from the guy helping him with intelligence issues during the transition (Rep. Devin Nunes) to Sen.-elect Kamala Harris, who has made clear she will challenge the incoming president on immigration issues.

The president-elect also has the support of Shirley Husar, a Republican convention delegate from Pasadena who visited Trump Tower last week. She met with Omarosa Manigault to talk about urban renewal.

Well be tracking these lawmakers and Californias continued reaction to Trump closely on our Essential Politics news feed, so dont miss a minute.

UNTIL NEXT YEAR

This is the last edition of Essential Politics for 2016. Well be taking a holiday hiatus and will return on Tuesday, Jan. 3, as Congress gavels into a new session and the California Legislature prepares for its Jan. 4 return.

Watch for news in California on Essential Politics and track the Trump transition on Trail Guide. Also make sure to follow @latimespolitics for in-the-moment news on whats happening in Washington.

On a personal note, you wont hear from me for a while. Sarah Wire will be taking over the newsletter on Mondays for a few months during my maternity leave. Sacramento bureau chief John Myers is in charge on Wednesdays, and Washington bureau chief David Lauter will continue his look at the week that was from a national perspective on Fridays.

Thanks for reading. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season and happy new year.

A RUN ON GUNS

In the six months since Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that will bar the sale of some semiautomatic rifles, the number of those weapons sold has doubled over sales from 2015. The guns are being purchased ahead of a Jan. 1 deadline for ending the sale of rifles with bullet buttons that allow the ammunition magazines to be easily detached.

ROAD MAP: A COLD WINTER AHEAD FOR PUBLIC PENSIONS

Leaders of the California Public Employees Retirement System meet this week in a prelude to what could be a big showdown come the new year: whether to lower CalPERS official prediction of investment returns, thus sending a bigger invoice to taxpayers.

In this weeks column, John Myers lays out an overview of the stakes involved. And the states major pension fund for teachers, CalSTRS, also faces tough questions in 2017 about overly optimistic investment expectations.

THE PATH FORWARD FOR CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS

For California Republicans, the road ahead could be a difficult one in a state where Democrats have supermajority status in both houses of the Legislature. But Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes of Yucca Valley could be just the person to pave the way to a successful future for the GOP here, George Skelton writes in his Monday column.

Mayes, who declined to say whether he voted for Trump in November, told Skelton hed like to see a return to civil discourse and a move away from the divisive rhetoric of the campaign. Running for office doesnt have to be a blood sport, he said. We can and should be civil, intelligent and honorable in our campaigning.

Meeting with the Sacramento bureau, Mayes also said he didnt believe there was any widespread voter fraud in California.

PODCAST: BROWN COMES OUT SWINGING

This weeks California Politics Podcast dives deep into the governors decision to throw down the gauntlet when it comes to climate change policies and the new Trump administration.

And in the last episode of 2016, Myers also leads a discussion of the years big political lessons in the Golden State and how they could continue to reverberate in the year ahead.

A COMPROMISE FOR GOV. BROWNS DELTA TUNNELS PLAN?

Fights dont get any more ferocious than the one over water in California, with several different parties at odds over Browns Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta twin tunnels plan, Skelton wrote in his Thursday column. Now the Public Policy Institute of California has proposed an idea for a compromise: Build one tunnel instead of two.

TODAYS ESSENTIALS

 A former top deputy for Bernie Sanders presidential campaign was one of the latest to throw his hat in the ring to replace Rep. Xavier Becerra. Arturo Carmona joins two other candidates actively vying for the votes of Sanders supporters.

 On Friday, former LAUSD board member Yolie Flores also announced her intention to run.

 In the meantime, Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), widely regarded as the frontrunner, is racking up endorsements from Latino elected officials.

 California Sen. Richard Pan has filed legislation to establish the rights of children and spur proposals that provide more assistance to their parents.

 Three prominent California Republicans are asking party delegates to keep Jim Brulte on as chairman of the state GOP. Party activists recently changed the rules to allow Brulte to take on two more terms if hes re-elected.

 Residents of government housing would be barred from smoking and using electronic cigarettes inside their residential units and within 25 feet of buildings under legislation introduced by Assemblyman Jim Wood.

 The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. has filed a lawsuit against Brown that seeks to invalidate a new law that will allow public funds to be used for political campaigning. The legal challenge says that a law signed by Brown in September that allows cities and counties to use public financing for political campaigns violates Proposition 73, which voters approved in 1988 and prohibits public funds from being used in campaigns.

 California Secretary of State Alex Padilla certified historic results in what he called a smooth election.

 North Carolina politics are basically a mess right now.

 Dont miss our look at whats happening during the 26-floor journey in Trump tower, arguably the most important elevator in New York at the moment.

 We examine the voter ID laws that governed the nation last month, and whether they may have affected the election outcome.

LOGISTICS

You may have noticed weve shifted to a Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule. It will be the same great newsletter, just not every day. You can keep up with breaking news on our politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics?

Miss Fridays newsletter? Here you go.

Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com.

Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox.
In their quest for more money for low-income housing construction, state lawmakers are now turning to Californians who own more than one home.

Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) introduced a bill Friday to end a tax break that allows homeowners to deduct the interest from the mortgage on their second home from their state taxes. About 31,000 Californians received the tax break last year, costing the state about $300 million, Chiu said. The bill, AB 71, would direct those funds to an existing program that finances low-income housing construction through tax credits.



For the record: In this story, the bills author says that about 31,000 taxpayers receive a state mortgage interest deduction on a second home. The correct estimate is 195,000 taxpayers, according to the state Franchise Tax Board.

We need to ensure everyone has a roof over their head before we spend tax dollars to help a small group of people have two roofs, said Chiu, who heads the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee.

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In recent years, state lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown have not agreed on major legislation aimed at addressing the states housing shortage at a time when home prices are spiking across California. Most notably, Brown and the Legislature earlier this year failed to reach a deal to implement Browns proposal to spur housing production by limiting some local approval hurdles for housing projects amid concern about weakening environmental laws and construction worker pay.

AB 71 is one of multiple bills introduced by Democratic lawmakers this month aimed at increasing money for low-income housing and boosting its production. Another new measure from Chiu would provide state dollars to cities that speed up permitting and environmental reviews within neighborhoods that reserve at least 20% of future housing development for low-income residents. Other bills would increase low-income housing dollars through new real estate transaction fees, put a $3-billion low-income housing bond measure before voters in 2018 and streamline permitting in jurisdictions that have fallen behind on their state housing production goals.

AB 71 is one of the more interesting proposals in the package of bills because it wouldnt cost the state any additional dollars but strips away a benefit from homeowners.

For decades, state and federal lawmakers have passed numerous subsidies designed to increase homeownership. But the measures often have disproportionately benefited the wealthy.

The federal mortgage interest deduction cost the U.S. Treasury $95.5 billion this year with the largest advantage going to the top 20% of taxpayers, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. Californias program has a $4.6-billion annual price tag and represents the states largest investment in housing, according to Chius office.

Beyond the mortgage interest deduction, California homeowners benefit from Proposition 13, the 1978 ballot measure that caps property tax increases at 2% a year regardless of the appreciation in a homes value.

Proposition 13 saved state homeowners $12.5 billion last year, according to a recent analysis from real estate website Trulia. The analysis also found that homeowners in wealthy coastal cities in Silicon Valley and Southern California receive the most benefit, while those in less expensive inland areas pay higher property tax rates.

Because AB 71 changes tax benefits to individuals, the measure would require a two-thirds vote in both houses of the Legislature to pass. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) announced his support for the bill in a news release Monday.

Chiu plans to introduce more legislation to boost housing supply in 2017, and said he hopes lawmakers see AB 71 as one part of a broader package to deal with Californias housing affordability problems.

Were in an enormous affordable-housing funding hole, Chiu said. The tax dollars were spending to help a small number of people be able to pay for their second vacation home just doesnt make sense in the context of the enormous housing crisis that we face in every part of this state. I hope that that trade-off is one that my colleagues can appreciate.

liam.dillon@latimes.com

Follow me at @dillonliam on Twitter

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An aggressive proposal that touched a lot of nerves: Why Gov. Browns plan to stem the housing crisis failed

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Updates on California politics
A Glendale woman was rescued by police early Monday morning after her home became engulfed in flames.

The fire was reported at around 5:15 a.m. in the 2000 block of Dublin Drive. According to Tahnee Lightfoot, a spokesperson with Glendale police, three officers were the first to arrive on the scene.

The officers were able to use a neighbors ladder to rescue the woman from the burning homes second-floor balcony.

If it wasnt for these officers quick actions, she wouldnt have been able to live through this, Lightfoot said.

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1 / 6 A Mercedes Benz destroyed by a house fire in Glendale is towed away from the scene on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. Three Glendale police officers were the first to respond to the blaze on the 2000 block of Dublin Drive at 5:17 a.m. Using a neighbors ladder, they were able to rescue a woman from a second-floor balcony. The officers and the woman were transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer) 2 / 6 Glendale firefighters look up at the smoldering shell of a home on the 2000 block of Dublin Drive on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer) 3 / 6 A Glendale firefighter inspects a home damaged by fire on the 2000 block of Dublin Drive on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer) 4 / 6 A group of Glendle firefighters push a vehicle from the driveway of a home destroyed by a fire on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer) 5 / 6 A Glendale firefighter rests atop an extended ladder above a smoldering home on the 2000 block of Dublin Drive on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer) 6 / 6 A home on the 2000 block of Dublin Drive was destroyed by a fire Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. Three Glendale police officers were the first to respond to the blaze. Using a neighbors ladder, they were able to rescue a woman from a second-floor balcony. The officers and the woman were transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Firefighters from both Glendale and Pasadena responded to the blaze and were able to extinguish it within an hour. Lightfoot said the house was destroyed, but no other buildings were damaged.

Both the woman and three officers were treated at a nearby hospital for minor injuries, while a dog perished in the fire.

Arson investigators are looking into the incident.

--

Andy Nguyen, andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @Andy_Truc

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The Los Angeles Police Department on Monday identified a Pacoima man who they say waged an hours-long standoff in Glendale after allegedly stabbing three people, including at least one child.

Authorities arrested 21-year-old Jorge Gomez on suspicion of attempted murder. LAPD Officer Mike Lopez said police first responded to reports of a stabbing at around 1 p.m. Sunday in the 8800 block of Tobias Avenue in Panorama City.

The officers responded to a knife-attack radio call and discovered [victims] with knife wounds, he said.

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Although the LAPD initially reported four female victims  two women and two young girls, ages 3 years and 3 months  the department revised its count Tuesday afternoon, saying that three victims were sent to the hospital in critical condition but declined to provide their ages.

The Los Angeles district attorneys office said Gomez broke into the Panorama City home of his ex-girlfriends mother and stabbed the mother, the ex-girlfriends 11-month-old sister and another relative.

Gomez reportedly used butcher and steak knives in the attack, according to the district attorneys office.

Gomez had left the scene when officers arrived but later returned to retrieve his car, Lopez said. Officers who had been waiting in the area to arrest him tried to stop the vehicle, but Gomez evaded them.

A pursuit ensued along the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway and into Glendale.

Gomez crashed in the 3000 block of East Chevy Chase Drive, Lopez said. The suspect attempted to flee on foot.

The suspect eventually made it to the top floor of an unfinished construction site and refused to submit to arrest, Lopez said.

The standoff went on for several hours before ending at around 8 p.m. Sunday after officers and Gomezs mother convinced him to surrender.

Gomez faces several charges, including three felony counts of attempted murder, one felony count of resisting arrest and one count of residential burglary.

His bail is set at $3 million.

--

Andy Nguyen, andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @Andy_Truc

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Suddenly, Taiwan sees an opening.

Having spent most of the last half a century in a diplomatic no mans land, in which it technically does not exist as far as most of the world is concerned, Taiwan is hoping to parlay President-elect Donald Trumps surprising response to its overture into enhanced relations with major countries in Asia.

The risk: an eventual backlash from China, which is both its archrival and its most important economic partner.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is asking India and countries in Southeast Asia for stronger ties in investment and tourism, while seeking to enhance a loose alliance with Japan. The president, in office since May, has chafed against Chinas insistence that her island and Beijing unite under one flag.

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China sees self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory, to be unified by force if needed. Taiwan, at least nominally, agrees that there is only one China, but sees itself as the legitimate government. It maintains its own military, Foreign Ministry and immigration rules.

Beijing, backed by the worlds No. 2 economy, demands that its 170-plus allies  including all the countries Tsai is courting  not regard Taiwan as a state.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone for 12 minutes on Dec. 2. (Jorge Saenz / Associated Press and Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press )

Taiwan got what may be a start to stronger relations with the United States when Trump and Tsai spoke by phone for 12 minutes on Dec. 2. The U.S. had not had such high-level contact with Taiwan since the 1970s, when Washington restored diplomatic relations with the mainland.

Now, Taiwan is hoping that the United States can help Taiwan make contact with other countries.

We want Taiwan-U.S. relations to spread to countries in the region, said Douglas Hsu, deputy North American affairs director with Taiwans Foreign Ministry. He said he hoped that Taiwan could use some of Americas existing connections in Asia or in Southeast Asia to do outreach to those countries and help us establish contact or interaction.

That synergy would lift Taiwan out of diplomatic isolation for the first time since Chinas rise in the 1970s. China has used its influence to keep most countries from signing free trade deals with Taiwan, holding summits with the islands leaders or letting it join the United Nations.

The United States conducts its affairs with the island through the American Institute in Taiwan, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization largely funded by the State Department.

Taiwanese citizens have pushed their leaders since the 1990s to build stronger foreign relations in keeping with the islands growth into the worlds 22nd largest economy. Taiwanese have been regular donors to overseas humanitarian causes, such as relief work after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Tsai has her sights on India and Southeast Asia because of their size and quick economic development. In her May 20 inauguration speech, she called for sharing resources, talents and markets with those countries.

Her government reiterated in September that it wanted Taiwanese to plant deep roots in India and Southeast Asia as investors, and to sell goods to those markets. Experts from India or Southeast Asia would be able to visit Taiwan and learn about issues such as public health and womens rights, where Taiwan sees itself as a leader. Taiwan expects other links in the high-tech, farming and tourism sectors.

Taiwan already has strong informal ties with Japan, whose colonial rule there in the first half of the 20th century was more benign than in, say, Korea. Tsai has proposed building on those ties with cooperation in maritime search-and-rescue work.

Other countries have not officially reacted to Taiwans ideas and Hsu declined to say whether Trump agreed on the call to help.

In principle, India looks like a particularly hopeful area in this respect, especially as the relationship is starting from a low base, said Alan Romberg, East Asia program director with the Stimson Center, a Washington-based think tank. Japan is another area where Taiwan could expand its economic links, and [Prime Minister Shinzo Abes] government seems more than willing to be helpful.

But Taiwan risks retaliation from China. Beijing has insisted on unifying with Taiwan since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s. Government opinion polls say 70% to 80% of Taiwanese oppose unification.

Chinese J-15 fighter jets are seen waiting on the deck of the aircraft carrier Liaoning in December 2016 during military drills in the Bohai Sea, off Chinas northeastern coast, as tensions with the U.S. and Taiwan escalate. (AFP/Getty Images)

China is likely to bristle at Taiwans new foreign relations but avoid moves that fan sentiment in favor of further independence from Beijing.

It has protested to the United States instead of Taiwan over Trumps phone call and his subsequent comments to Fox News Sunday that he sees no reason to continue the U.S. policy of observing just one China, ruled by Beijing.

China may also put pressure on other countries to avoid ties with Taiwan, analysts say. Since April, for example, it has persuaded Cambodia and Malaysia to send Taiwanese nationals to China, not Taiwan, for fraud prosecution.

Southeast Asian countries, with a total of about 600 million people, are expected to cleave particularly close to China, though Singapore is testing Beijing by continuing a 40-year tradition of military training with the Taiwanese army.

Most [countries] would prefer to build cooperation in a way that is not directly confrontational with Beijing, said Denny Roy, senior fellow at the East-West Center think tank in Honolulu.

China may vent at Taiwan by holding air force drills again near the islands airspace, as it did this month, said Alexander Huang, strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan.

Eventually it could offer development aid to coax some of Taiwans remaining 22 diplomatic allies into dropping those ties in favor of China, said Hsu Yung-ming, political scientist at Soochow University in Taipei, the Taiwanese capital. The allies give Taiwan a voice in the United Nations.

A decade ago, when Taiwans leader was the anti-China firebrand Chen Shui-bian, Beijing used offers of aid to woo away Taiwanese allies such as Costa Rica, Chad and Malawi.

Taiwan and the United States are expected to work more closely on military ties and free trade while seeing an increase in high-level contact.

If the Taiwan-U.S. relation is strong, that will enable Taiwan to have stronger confidence about itself and give it more flexibility in dealing with China, or at least not be oversensitive or over-reactive about Chinas behavior, said Lai I-chung, vice president of the Taiwan Thinktank, a research organization in Taipei aligned with the ruling party.

Jennings is a special correspondent.

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They loiter on pedestrian bridges, puffing on pipes. They squat behind bushes and palm trees in leafy parks to get their fix. Even doctors and nurses are users.

Irans drug problem has become a national epidemic, health ministry officials and local doctors say, drawing the poor as well as the affluent, the secular as well as the pious, to an assortment of hard drugs including crystal meth, painkillers, synthetic hallucinogens and heroin and opium trafficked from neighboring Afghanistan.

No walk of society is immune. Even the sons of Islamic clerics are patients in our clinics, said Dr. Hasan Razavi, who runs a small rehabilitation center in western Tehran.

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The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime says Iran has one of the gravest addiction crises in the world. Health ministry officials estimate there are 2.2 million drug addicts in this country of 80 million, 2.75% of the population, but doctors who operate some of the hundreds of government-sanctioned rehab clinics nationwide believe the actual figures are higher.

By comparison, according to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 21.6 million Americans had a substance abuse problem, or about 6.8% of the population.

One reason for the drug problem is availability: Iran lies on the main trafficking route for poppy, the source of opium and heroin, from Afghanistan to Western Europe. Iran accounted for the most opiate seizures in the world in 2014 as Afghan drug production has risen.

Doctors also say the economic stagnation brought about by international sanctions has provoked such social frustration and immobility that many are driven to substance abuse.

It made me forget all my troubles. I got high and played all night.  Shabanali Mirshekar, 40, a violinist and recovering opium addict

Among affluent young Iranians, use of methamphetamine, known as shisheh, or glass, also has risen because it is seen as a way to lose weight, focus on an exam or get high for parties.

Opium has been cultivated for centuries in Iran, where poets going back to the 10th century wrote of the plants healing properties. But in recent years, more opium and heroin from Afghanistan are finding their way into the country even though Iran has spent tens of millions of dollars on fortifying the 600-mile border with concrete barriers and deep ditches.

Sanctions and isolation from the international community, unhappiness due to being unemployed, even among the educated classes of society  and even unhappiness among the rich  these are all among the main causes of the increasing number of illicit drug abusers, Razavi said.

In downtown Tehran, amid the stately buildings of the Qajar Dynasty, which ruled Iran until 1925, petty dealers weave through crowds and almost whisper the word Darou, which means medicine  an offer to sell anything from prescription painkillers to synthetic narcotics. A days supply of opium costs as little as $1 in an economy where the average high school graduate earns about $10 a day.

Though many Iranians continue to hold jobs and live productive lives despite their drug use, the phenomenon of homeless addicts wandering the streets, often wild-eyed and disheveled, has become so common that there is a Farsi word for them: motejahr. The head of the Iranian polices anti-narcotics department, Gen. Mohammad Masoud Zahedi, recently told reporters that 50,000 to 60,000 Iranians fit this category.

Shabanali Mirshekar, a violinist from northeast Iran, first used opium when he was about 12 years old, when he was invited to play at village gatherings. His father had started to smoke opium to treat pain in his legs.

As he grew older, opium made me forget all my troubles, said Mirshekar, 40. I got high and played all night.

His addiction led his wife to seek a separation. He sleeps in a grubby, $1.40-a-night hostel for musicians in a crime-ridden part of southern Tehran.

A few times a week, Mirshekar visits Razavis clinic for a dose of methadone, a synthetic opiate used to wean addicts off of drugs.

Without the methadone pills, he said, I cant stand on my feet. My calves and legs hurt and I cant play the violin to earn a living, he said.

Mirshekar said the pills he gets are more than what he needs; he sells the surplus on the streets. Doctors acknowledge there is a thriving underground trade in domestically manufactured methadone  itself an addictive drug  which sells for double the health ministrys price of $1.40 for 100 pills.

The gap between the black market price of methadone and the official price we get from the health ministry is so big that it is provoking abusers and traffickers to sell them in the black market, Razavi said.

Inside Razavis 800-square-foot clinic, 250 patients have sought treatment for drug habits over the past three years. Razavis patients have included surgeons, operating-room nurses, managers of state-owned companies, teachers, salaried workers, artists and actors  yet in the last year, he said, none could be said to have gone clean.

Some clinicians argue that methadone treatment merely replaces one dependency for another and that Iran would be better off sanctioning small amounts of opium for addicts to reduce their dependency. Razavi disagrees, saying that the usual 36-hour life of a methadone dose  compared with four or five hours for the typical dose of heroin  allows the patient to lead a more productive life.

Irans theocracy has tried harsh anti-drug measures, sentencing huge numbers of convicts to death row. Last year, hundreds of Iranians were reportedly executed for drug crimes, prompting a movement among lawmakers and activists to abolish capital punishment for nonviolent drug offenses.

But some say the scourge of drugs has been treated less severely than alcohol abuse because drugs are believed to interfere less with the Islamic practice of praying five times a day.

The health ministry has authorized 8,000 rehabilitation clinics such as Razavis to begin methadone maintenance therapy. Razavi has hired part-time psychologists and keeps detailed dossiers on each patient.

But doctors say many private rehab camps have also cropped up, some of which serve as little more than minimum-security jails where families can deposit drug-addicted relatives for less than $200 per month.

In such facilities, doctors say, drug users are less likely to be treated than to fall in with criminals and traffickers.

But as long as nobody is killed or wounded, or no one files a lawsuit against the unauthorized camps, they are tolerated by police, Razavi said. At least for a short time, it means fewer addicts wandering in public places.

Special correspondent Mostaghim reported from Tehran and staff writer Bengali from Mumbai, India.

shashank.bengali@latimes.com

Follow @SBengali on Twitter for more news from South Asia

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An off-duty Turkish police officer who shouted, Dont forget Syria and Aleppo! shot and killed Russias ambassador to Turkey on Monday as he delivered a speech in the capital, Ankara  a bloody episode that was captured on video and posted on social media.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a nationally televised statement, called the assassination a provocation meant to hurt Turkeys ties with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, vowed that the bandits responsible would pay the price.

A crime has been committed and it was without doubt a provocation aimed at spoiling the normalization of Russo-Turkish relations and spoiling the Syrian peace process, Putin said in televised comments from Moscow. There can only be one response  stepping up the fight against terrorism.

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The assailant, identified by Turkish officials as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old off-duty riot policeman, was gunned down by security forces. The ambassador, who was shot multiple times, was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time after the attack, officials said.

The assassination appeared to represent the latest violent spillover of the Syrian conflict into neighboring Turkey. Suicide bombings linked to the fighting in Syria have become almost commonplace in Turkey, often causing mass casualties, but this was the first deadly attack on a senior diplomat that was seemingly motivated by the brutal and multi-sided war next door.

Russia and Turkey, which have both intervened militarily in Syria, are on opposite sides of the conflict. Russian firepower has helped Syrian President Bashar Assad cling to power and recapture opposition-held east Aleppo; Turkey has allied itself with some of the rebels seeking to topple him.

The video of the attack, which took place at a photo exhibition sponsored by the Russian Embassy, shows the envoy  veteran diplomat Andrei Karlov, 62  collapsing minutes into his speech after apparently being shot from behind. The gunman moves into the frame, clad in a black suit and tie and holding a handgun, and can be heard shouting in Turkish as onlookers flee in panic. At least three bystanders were reported injured.

We die in Aleppo, you die here! the shooter yells out before firing several shots into the air. You will not taste security until our towns are secure! Do not forget about Syria and Aleppo! Whoever is part of it will get their punishment!

U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry called the assassination a despicable attack and an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world. He pledged U.S. help in pursuing the investigation.

In New York, President-elect Donald Trump also responded to the attack: Today we offer our condolences to the family and loved ones of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, who was assassinated by a radical Islamic terrorist, he said in a statement.

The murder of an ambassador is a violation of all rules of civilized order and must be universally condemned.

The basis for Trumps claim that the incident was an act of Islamist terrorism is unclear; Turkish officials have said they are investigating the attack as a possible act of terrorism, but have raised various possible political motivations.

Supporters of Erdogan were quick to draw a connection to Julys attempted coup, which was followed by a purge of tens of thousands of suspected political opponents. The mayor of Ankara, Ibrahim Melih Gokcek, who is from Erdogans Justice and Development Party, claimed the shooter was a follower of Fethullah Gulen, an elderly cleric living in self-exile in the United States and blamed by Turkey for masterminding the coup attempt.

After the coup attempt, the presidents camp has consistently sought to implicate followers of Gulen in almost any unfortunate turn of events.

Relations between Turkey and Russia nosedived in November 2015 after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet along the Syrian border. Erdogan this year had a fence-mending session with Putin, and the two countries have agreed to revive a natural-gas pipeline project that had been suspended, among other cooperative steps.

The two countries have also cooperated to a degree on Aleppo. The killing came on the eve of planned talks in Moscow between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on the humanitarian crisis in the Syrian city.

The assassination came on the heels of near-daily protests outside the Russian Embassy in Ankara, as well as the consulate in Istanbul. Thousands of Turks and Syrians have been holding rallies at the Russian diplomatic outposts, as well as at Irans consulate and embassy, over the two governments war roles in support of Assad. The demonstrations have escalated amid reports of heavy civilian casualties in Aleppo during the recapture of the citys eastern sector from the rebels.

Scores of Turkish police officers were deployed at a protest last week at the Russian Consulate on Istanbuls main central avenue that drew thousands. Protesters chanted, Putin, murderer! Russia, murderer! You will get your punishment!

Protests are officially banned under a state of emergency imposed after the July 15 coup attempt, but analysts have said the rallies were a way for Erdogans ruling party to let people blow off some steam.

The general feeling in Turkey regarding Aleppo is quite strong; many people dont actually have the best feelings towards Russia, said Emre Ersen, a lecturer in political science and international relations at Marmara University. People are not really satisfied with Russias ongoing policy in Syria, but at the same time they also support the governments mending of ties with Russia.

The U.S. State Department, which has been harshly critical of Russias role in the Syrian war, expressed dismay over the attack. We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source, said spokesman John Kirby. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it will not allow the assassination to cast a shadow over relations with Russia, and called the killing a lowly terrorist attack. Erdogan called Putin to offer his condolences.

Russia called the killing a terrorist act and said it would bring up the episode with the United Nations Security Council.

There is no place for terrorism, and we will be resolutely fighting against it, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to the semiofficial news agency Tass.

Special correspondent Farooq reported from Istanbul and Times staff writer King from Washington.

MORE WORLD NEWS

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UPDATES:

6 p.m.: This article was updated with the ID of the gunman and comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

2:50 p.m.: The article was updated with a statement from President-elect Donald Trump.

2:15 p.m.: The article was updated with a response from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

1:41 p.m. The article was updated with additional background and analysis on Turkeys relations with Russia.

12:30 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting.

12:15 p.m.: This article was updated with the identity of the gunman and more details throughout.

1:05 p.m. The article was updated with a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

9:52 a.m.: This article was updated with Turkish TV saying police fatally shot the gunman.

9:35 a.m.: This article was updated with the Russian Foreign Ministry saying the ambassador has died.

8:45 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details, including a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman saying the ambassador was hospitalized with a gunshot wound.

This article was originally published at 8:30 a.m.
One convoy approached from the right, the other from the left. The buses rolled to a halt at the midpoint of the Ramousseh bridge, where a group of ambulances, aid workers and uniformed soldiers had been waiting for hours.

Minutes passed with both convoys frozen in place, all part of the intricately choreographed evacuation deal between the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad and the rebels trying to overthrow him.

One of the convoys on Monday contained some of the thousands of people being evacuated from the rebels bombed-out districts in eastern Aleppo  ending their five-year battle to take control over the city, the largest in Syria. They were headed to rebel-held Idlib province, most of which is in the grip of a hard-line Islamist coalition known as the Army of Conquest.

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The other convoy, consisting of 11 buses, had traveled roughly 30 miles from a pair of Shiite-majority towns, Foua and Kfarya, the last pro-government bastions in Idlib. For two years, people there had endured daily shellings and sniper attacks from rebel forces, as well as a crippling blockade.

It had taken days, and much bloodshed, to reach this point. There had been multiple rounds of tortuous negotiations involving the Assad government, the Army of Conquest and a variety of other parties with a stake in the fight: the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah; the governments of Iran, Russia and Turkey.

The evacuation had been set to begin Thursday, but quickly devolved into violence and recriminations from both sides, with the Syrian army and its allies accusing the rebels of smuggling weapons and hostages to their bastion in Idlib.

They also set as a precondition the emptying of Foua and Kfarya, where residents had become increasingly desperate.

Some of the Islamist factions balked at the loss of an important bargaining chip with the government. The threat of the two towns being overrun had guaranteed that Madaya and Zabadani, pro-opposition communities in the suburbs of Damascus, would not be forcibly taken over by the government forces surrounding them.

On Sunday, rebel fighters burned five of the buses that had come to Foua and Kfarya, spurring a round of condemnation.

Those still in eastern Aleppo meanwhile, thought to number anywhere from 4,000 to 40,000 people (accurate figures are impossible to obtain), uploaded videos on social media angrily beseeching their rebel allies to let the deal go through.

Cooler heads prevailed on Monday, as approximately 4,730 civilians and fighters left the rebels enclave by the afternoon, according to the Syrian state news agency, SANA.

Civilians from the remaining rebel-held pockets of eastern Aleppo are evacuated by bus on Dec. 19, 2016. (George Ourfalian / AFP/Getty Images )

Other pro-government outlets, as well as a number of opposition sources, put the figure at 5,500, adding that approximately 200 of them had chosen to remain in government-held areas of Aleppo.

Mondays operation raised the tally of those evacuated to at least 14,000 since Thursday. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in a Twitter post, put the number at 20,000.

Every step of Aleppos evacuees was matched by the convoy evacuating the 500 sick and wounded residents from Foua and Kfarya. Roughly 3,500 more would follow.

Subsequent convoys followed the same procedure, underscoring the lack of trust among the belligerents.

Later in the day, Syrian state TV beamed celebratory scenes of Foua and Kfaryas residents arriving at a temporary shelter in Jibreen, an industrial area just east of Aleppo.

But those still waiting their turn in the towns, like journalist Jamil Sheikh, were anxious at the thought of leaving.

We werent wishing for such an operation to happen this way. We just wanted the siege to be lifted, he said in a phone conversation on Monday.

This solution was like removing ones soul from your body. But the sick need to be treated immediately, he said.

In Idlib, Mahmoud Raslan, a pro-opposition activist, expressed disbelief that he had finally left Aleppo.

Im looking at piles of bread, and I cant believe its there, he said in a WhatsApp voice message on Monday. I see a fruit basket. I think this is plastic, that it cant be real.

Meanwhile, the U.N.s childrens agency said on Monday that 47 children trapped in an orphanage in east Aleppo had been safely evacuated, with some in critical condition from injuries and dehydration.

The evacuation of these orphans, along with thousands of other children from east Aleppo in the past days, is a glimmer of hope amid a grim reality for the children of Syria, said UNICEF Regional Director Geert Cappelaere.

The success in Syria comes as the United Nations Security Council passed a unanimous vote on Monday to send monitors from the U.N. and other relevant institutions [to] carry out adequate, neutral and direct observation of the evacuations, according to the text of the resolution released Monday.

The French-led initiative stated that security arrangements would be coordinated with interested parties to ensure the well-being of civilians in the eastern districts of Aleppo.

That provision had been added on Moscows insistence (Russia had threatened to veto earlier drafts), and would require permission from the Syrian government before any teams could deploy, in what was seen as a nod to Syrian sovereignty.

SANA said in a report Monday that approximately 100 officials from the U.N., the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent would be deployed in Aleppo.

But in a press briefing following the Security Council meeting Monday, Syrias U.N. ambassador, Bashar Jaafari, clarified that the resolution was concerned with observers already present in the location.

In an address to the Security Council, Jaafari also excoriated some member states, a barb apparently aimed at the U.S., France and Britain. He accused them of drafting and presenting resolutions under humanitarian pretexts in order to  fulfill their secret agendas and which aim at replacing legitimate governments by force and with the use of military force.

We are dealing with the adoption of this resolution as a moral test and a chance for them to prove their good intentions, if any, and to meet the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people without any malicious or bad agendas against the Syrian citizens.

Bulos is a special correspondent.

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UPDATES:

3:05 p.m.: This article has been updated throughout with staff reporting.

This article was originally posted at 7:15 a.m.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

It is planned to establish an agricultural insurance fund in Azerbaijan in 2018, according to the Strategic Road Map for the manufacture and processing of agricultural products in the country published in Azerbaijans official press.

Azerbaijans Financial Markets Supervision Chamber and the countrys Ministry of Agriculture with the participation of private insurance companies will study the possibility of creating an insurance fund to expand the coverage of agricultural insurance, the document noted.

International experience in this area will be studied, and reports prepared, which will include an analysis of the potential impact the funds creation may have on insurance of producers and development of the agriculture sphere as a whole, said the document.

Changes to the existing legislation related to agricultural insurance in Azerbaijan will also be proposed, according to the document.

These amendments include proposals for differential agricultural insurance (according to districts and products), as well as the use of compulsory insurance (for some products), said the document. In addition, it is planned to create an information base that includes climate data, information on natural disasters, animal and plant diseases as well as data on productivity.

The main objectives of the Strategic Road Map are strengthening the sustainability of food security, simplifying the access to financial resources, improving the quality of professional education, development of consulting and information services, simplification of the access to the markets for manufacturers, development of market infrastructure, improving the business environment in Azerbaijans agricultural sector and others.
At the edge of this shabby industrial town just east of Aleppo, a crowd milled about in front of a former cotton factory that was being used as a shelter.

A mountain of chopped lettuce was heaped on a table, along with stacks of bread and vats of oil. A uniformed soldier handed out falafel sandwiches and cups of sweet tea.

Suddenly, a voice blared out from a trio of large speakers standing across the vast lot of the battered factory.

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May God preserve the state of Syria. Thank God youre all safe, it shouted, before launching into an out-of-tune rendition of a patriotic song. The cheers of those congregating before the speakers provided an ardent if imprecise accompaniment, as people huddled in close ranks to fend off the bitter cold.

After pro-government forces attacked the rebel-held eastern districts of Aleppo, tens of thousands streamed out of the area into government-held territories.

They were sent to temporary shelters like this one in Jibreen, which was hastily set up by the Syrian government and its allies, including Russia. Here, people fleeing the fighting cross paths with others preparing to return, anxious to see what is left of their homes.

The exodus from east Aleppo put immense pressure on those giving aid. Last Sunday, recalled Ibrahim Ibrahim, a uniformed young man who ran one of the kitchens, 13,000 people had arrived in one go. We made 30,000 sandwiches that day, he said, shaking his head in wonder.

The number of people seeking shelter in Jibreen declined after authorities began offering assistance and clearing the rubble from some of Aleppos eastern neighborhoods, said Khaled Suleiman, the 48-year-old engineer who managed the facility. Less than 2,000 remain, all of whom came from areas still under rebel control, or had lost their homes in the five years of war that annihilated wide swaths of Aleppo.

For many, the harsh conditions in the camp are a step up from the ones they escaped after pro-government troops attacked.

We were so hungry, but weve made up for it in eating here, said one blue-eyed teenager with a wisp of a mustache. He declined to give his name for reasons of privacy.

He sat on a drab-gray mattress, where one of his younger brothers sliced chunks of thick pink sponge  fuel for a fire set up in a charred cooking pot.

Merchants in east Aleppo had engaged in war profiteering, he said, charging exorbitant prices for foodstuffs that had arrived as aid to the rebel pocket of the city.

A bag of sugar was for $16, a liter of oil was $10. It got to the point where a single cigarette would cost you $8, he said, rattling off prices that put everyday goods out of reach on his familys meager income, especially after a bomb killed his father two years ago.

In a side room, a gaggle of children sat on school desks. They shifted their gaze from their teacher, Zainab Sunji, to the notebooks before them in an attempt to replicate the verb conjugations Sunji had written on the board.

The war really affected these children, said Sunji, who apologized for the small number of students. Normally she taught 300 children per day, she explained, but most had run out earlier to participate in games organized by aid workers  an activity she deemed essential.

It helps make them feel better. When they first came here, many of them  it seemed like they had come from another planet.

One girl, Hamidah Zoori, a waif-like 11-year-old with a gray woolen cap on her head, slowly traced the curves of the words in neat Arabic script.

But she demurred when she was asked to read back what she wrote.

She doesnt know how, said Sunji.

Thats why shes writing so slowly. Shes drawing out the letters.

Outside the hangar, others were more concerned with receiving medical care. They lined up outside a hospital set up by the Russian Ministry of Emergencies. The Russian military had previously been accused, along with the Syrian government, of deliberately targeting hospitals and makeshift clinics in eastern Aleppo.

People outside the shelter in Jibreen, Syria. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles Times )

We treated wounds from shrapnel, bullets, burns  and we can do minor surgical procedures, said Col. Oleg Manyilo, a medical officer whose bulky frame belied a sunny bedside manner.

He listened intently to his interpreter, a doctor who gave his name as Hassan, when a woman came in carrying her young son. She said he had a fever and couldnt walk because of shooting pains in his foot.

Manyilo assigned one of his colleagues to treat the child, before turning to a visiting reporter.

People were afraid to come here. They had been told that Russians would rape them or kill them, he said.

But then they saw we treated them well, and were careful to respect their privacy.

People were afraid to come here. They had been told that Russians would rape them or kill them.  Col. Oleg Manyilo

Thousands were said to remain in the one-square mile area of Aleppo still claimed by the opposition. On Sunday, the evacuation of residents temporarily stalled after gunmen set fire to buses sent to Foua and Kfarya, a pair of Shiite-dominated towns besieged by the opposition that lie about 30 miles southwest of Aleppo.

Damascus has demanded that those towns be evacuated before east Aleppos last residents could be relocated to the rebel-held province of Idlib.

Although five buses made it through, the rest of the convoy was blocked by armed terrorists, state media said, employing the governments routine term for the rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Other rebel groups condemned the attack, saying it endangered the lives of east Aleppo residents, who have had their hopes dashed since Friday by successive collapses of the complex cease-fire deal.

Suleiman, who runs the Jibreen shelter, said that no one had been turned away, no matter which area of Aleppo they had come from.

These are our people. We couldnt leave them in the cold, he said. He turned and pointed to a child playing nearby.

You deal with a militant in terms of security, but what do you tell this kid? Your father shot at me? Some people couldnt leave. This was their fate.

Bulos is a special correspondent.

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All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced.  19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc.
Three Cups Of Coffee Helps Cure Alzheimer, Really? [Study]

staff@latinoshealth.com By Staff Reporter Dec 19, 2016 08:38 AM EST

Most of the people love enjoying a sip of two of their favorite caffeinated drink. But what most don't know is that drinking at least three cups of coffee can work wonders for their brain.

In one of the recent researches, it has been seen that drinking coffee has a good impact on Alzheimer disease as well as on the function of the brain. A new study from the Institute of Scientific Information on Coffee stated that people who usually drink at least 3 to 5 cups of coffee daily might suffer from a lower risk of dementia, Parkinson and Alzheimer disease.

Professor Rodrigo A of Cunha University, Portugal stated, "Moderate coffee consumption could play a significant role in reducing cognitive decline which would impact health outcomes and healthcare spending".

Interestingly, the ideal combination of antioxidants, caffeine and polyphenol, that are usually present in coffee are the contributing factor in this research. The report further stated caffeine's role in controlling the decline in cognitive behavior, especially in the case of aging men.

Now, there might be people who are wondering about the health issues it might concern due to drinking caffeine. But the study shows that a person can easily drink 400 milligrams of coffee, which is equivalent to five cups a day. Consuming five cups of coffee controls Alzheimer and doesn't cause any health concerns.

Experts and other studies also show that long intake of caffeine drinks tend to have a good impact to fill body with strong antioxidants that again boost up the cognitive functions. An analysis funded by six of Europe's coffee companies found that consuming coffee also has good impact on Parkinson and other neurological diseases.

Some early studies showed that drinking excessive coffee could trigger miscarriage during early stage of the pregnancy. But the latest researches and studies show drinking more than one cup of coffee a day doesn't cause any health issues and reduces Alzheimer.

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Microsoft Surface Pro 5: Rumors Say It Will Be First Microsoft ARM-Based Surface [VIDEO]

staff@latinoshealth.com By Surav Thakrar Dec 19, 2016 02:29 AM EST

It appears that Microsoft will not launch the new model of their hit series Surface Pro 5 until spring of next year. There is no doubt that it will be the biggest launch of next year.

The last model of surface series Pro 4 was released in October 2015. So, everyone expected Pro 5 to release in October 2016 but new Surface Book i7 and Surface Studio was introduced this time. So Surface Book 5 is expected to come on 2017.

TechRadar writes that the delay in the second major update of Windows 10 until next year spring is the main reason behind the delay. Microsoft recently announced a subscription program that lets people upgrade to a new model when it is released.

For the people wondering about the price of this product, Microsoft Surface Pro 5 will more likely to start at $899 and it will increase according to configuration and accessories of buyer's choice.

One of the most exciting things of Surface Book is its stylus. The most frequently asked question is that how Microsoft will upgrade its stylus accessory that comes with every tablet. Microsoft filed a patent for a stylus that features a rechargeable battery system.

Now, moving to the specifications, Surface Pro 5 will be powered by Intel's Kaby Lake chips, the RAM will start from 16GB and there will be a 2k screen. USB-C is also expected. These specifications are as per rumors according to Inquisitr.

Surface Pro 5 will release in two variants, a top-level Pro variant, and an entry-level non-Pro variant. Recently, Microsoft released a demo of Windows 10 running on an ARM-based computer for better speed.

It is more likely that the entry-level non-Pro variant would come up with Qualcomm Snapdragon processor instead of Intel Kaby Lake chip. Microsoft's ARM-based Surface raise a possibility of improved battery life and LTE connectivity as well.

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 would have many advantages if it is powered by ARM chip. Also, Microsoft will give a big competition to Apple with its ARM-based Surface with LTE connectivity. It is possible that Microsoft delayed the release because they wanted to release ARM-based Surface.



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Anastasia Lin has been Canada's contender for Miss World since last year, unfortunately, she was not granted a visa when the contest was held in China. Since then, she held onto the title till her chance to compete this year in Washington, D.C. What came about her fate as a contestant in Miss World was due to her loud and proud outcry against China's human rights issues.

But the 'Silent Giant' in Asia has grown to be one of the most powerful countries nowadays, and because of this, Anastasia Lin has been told not speak about her advocacy. In a recent report from PEOPLE, the Miss World competition is sponsored primarily by Chinese companies which are compromising her since day 1, barring her from speaking to the press, most especially about her stand. She was also not allowed to attend the premiere of her film Bleeding Eagle due to its content concerning Chinese prisoners of conscience organs being harvested.

Apparently, she was also not allowed to meet with a State Department official regarding the persistent harassment her father experiences in China but was later allowed with accompanying pageant official. Anastasia Lin has been very vocal of her advocacy against her native country's issues on human rights violations and persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Although born in China, she migrated to Canada with her mother at the age of 13.

Despite some news that she is currently been having 'a hard time' from pageant officials, Ms. Lin clarified in an interview from Huffington Post Canada that "she can speak whatever she wants to speak." She was also allowed to skip rehearsals to attend the premiere of her film Bleeding Eagle. Julia Morley, CEO of the London-based Miss World Organization also says that she is "a free person" to do whatever she wants but Anastasia Lin must bear in mind that she signed an agreement to attend to all functions and rehearsals of the pageant.

Anastasia Lin hopes to hone her acting skills and become an actress after representing Canada in the Miss World Competition. She also admitted that being a contestant with her kind of advocacy was not at all easy but it has somehow made her grow.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Azerbaijan and France are creating a Committee on Interregional Cooperation and Decentralization, Azerbaijani Economy Ministry said in a message Dec. 19.

This is envisaged by a memorandum of understanding signed in Baku by the Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Bertrand Fort, secretary general of the National Commission on Decentralization and Interregional Cooperation of France, delegate for the external action of local authorities of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The document envisages deepening of Azerbaijan-France cooperation in various areas and the creation of a relevant committee. The committee will be co-chaired by officials of Azerbaijans Economy Ministry and Frances Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.

While addressing the signing ceremony, Shahin Mustafayev noted that this document will make an important contribution to the expansion of ties and interregional cooperation between the two countries.

Bertrand Fort, in his turn, noted that the signed memorandum will allow taking the interregional cooperation and the Azerbaijan-France ties to a new level.

According to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and France amounted to $568.6 million in January-November 2016, $430.5 million of which accounts for exports to France.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

By Orkhan Quluzade  Trend:

The total volume of investments of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) in Azerbaijan exceeded $10 billion, the TPAO CEO Besim Sisman said in an interview with Bloomberg HaberTurk (Turkish economic newspaper).

TPAOs revenue from investments in Azerbaijan is the main portion of the corporations income, according to him.

Sisman noted that the corporation is about to reduce its investments abroad due to decline in oil prices.

TPAO called off its projects in Libya because of the unstable situation in the country and the corporation is now closing down its office there, he said.

Meanwhile, investments in Iraq and Russia will be maintained, Sisman added.

He said the corporation continues searching for oil and drilling wells in the Black Sea.

TPAO invested $1.5 billion in the drilling of six wells in the Black Sea, he added.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

By Farhad Daneshvar  Trend:

Iran says that a long awaited deal with the French aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, is due to reach over the current week.

Iranian transportation minister, Abbas Akhoundi, declined to provide further details vowing to disclose details after finalizing the aviation deal, ILNA news agency reported.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of an exhibition on transportation and urban planning in Tehran on Dec. 18.

Reuters earlier reported that Iran's Aseman Airlines had agreed to lease seven Airbus (AIR.PA) jets.

Labour Minister Ali Rabii was quoted by the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) as saying that Iran, which is negotiating with Airbus through state flag carrier IranAir, had agreed with Airbus to buy seven aircraft.

The report fueled French media speculation that a keenly awaited deal between IranAir and Airbus for more than 100 aircraft had been watered down significantly.

But industry sources said the two deals were not connected and identified regional carrier Aseman Airlines as the company behind the much smaller deal to procure seven aircraft, which Rabii said would start arriving in May.

Those jets will be leased rather than purchased directly from Airbus, the sources said, without identifying the leasing company.
A 22-year-old former Easton man last summer provided vodka to two 15-year-old girls when he lived in the first block of South 12th Street, city police report.

Sadu Dumbuya, now of the 1900 block of Washington Boulevard in Wilson Borough, bought New Amsterdam vodka in New Jersey, police said. He brought it back to his home where one of the girls got so drunk that she passed out on the couch and had to be carried to an upstairs bedroom, police said.

Dumbuya told a detective that he knew one of the girls was 15 but the other told him she was 18, still three years too young to be served alcohol in Pennsylvania, he acknowledged, police said.

The investigation began with a tip "on or around" Aug. 19, but court papers list the time and date of the crime as 9 p.m. April 9.

Dumbuya surrendered Monday morning to be arraigned before District Judge Richard Yetter III on a single charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor, police said. Unsecured bail was set at $10,000 and Dumbuya was released pending a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled 9 a.m. Dec. 30 in Yetter's Wilson Borough court, records show.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Bethlehem police detective testified he is certain a shotgun was used to kill 28-year-old Joseph Michael Goda following a drug-fueled night in Bethlehem.

James Heimbach, 30, of the 900 block of East Sixth Street in the city, wearing a red jumpsuit, shackles and handcuffs, and Charles Anthony Yocum Jr., 32, wearing a tan jumpsuit, shackles and handcuffs, appeared Monday in Northampton County Court before Senior District Judge Joseph Barner.

Heimbach is charged with one count of homicide while Yocum faces charges of abuse of a corpse, obstructing police, tampering with evidence and hindering an investigation. Yocum gave up his right Monday to a preliminary hearing.

Heimbach opted to go forward with the hearing, but the judge in the end determined there was enough evidence to send all charges in Heimbach's case over to Northampton County Court. A formal arraignment is scheduled for March 2.

Police said Heimbach and Goda snorted a synthetic drug known as "Flakka," in which its impact puts users in a "zombie" and "super human" state. Heimbach is accused of killing Goda of Bethlehem and Yocum acted as an alleged accomplice in trying to hide the body.

The pair then allegedly stuffed the deceased body into a rolled-up carpet found in the trunk of a gray Saab. The incident occurred over the Labor Day holiday weekend with police believing the trio began partying Sept. 2 at an apartment where Heimbach lived and Yocum sometimes stayed.

Bethlehem Police Detective James Ruvolo said he believed the weapon used to kill Goda was a shotgun. But defense attorney Chris Shipman repeatedly questioned Ruvolo how he could be sure if no murder weapon was found.

"Did you find anything that may have been used as a weapon at the home?," Shipman asked.

Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Richard Pepper repeatedly objected to the questions, in which most were sustained by the judge.

"I believe a shotgun was used to bludgeon Mr. Goda to death. Yes," Ruvolo replied.

"What is that belief based on?," Shipman asked.

After questioning both defendants, Ruvolo said he believed Yocum when he said he saw Heimbach beat the victim multiple times with the shotgun after Goda tried to bite Heimbach's face and bit his hand.

"He said he was begging for his life," Ruvolo said.

Shipman during the series of questioning asked if Ruvolo believed Yocum.

"I do," Ruvolo said.

Shipman went on to focus his questioning around a computer that was seized from Heimbach's girlfriend with video footage from Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

"Do you have images of Mr. Yocum holding a shotgun?," Shipman asked.

Ruvolo began to reply, "Yes," just as Pepper objected and the judge sustained the objection.

The car -- registered to the mother of Yocum -- was found in Pocono Township and opened at police headquarters, revealing Goda's body, police had said. The pair planned to dump the body, but instead spent several days continuing their drug-fueled spree, police said.

Heimbach told investigators he remembered being attacked by Goda and "fighting for his life," but broke away and ran, court records say. His next memory was being at Pocono Township police station when police found him running through traffic in his underwear.

Police obtained a search warrant of the car and Bethlehem apartment, where they found blood on the walls and floor of the apartment and blood on the driver's side and left passenger side of the car. Police believe Yocum was driving during the incident.

Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek Monday testified there were 13 drugs, including prescription drugs, found in Goda's system. He ruled the cause of death blunt force trauma and the manner homicide.

Shipman told the judge he didn't have a closing argument because "hearsay evidence" is allowed during preliminary hearings despite him objecting to it.

"Since hearsay is permissible, I don't think it matters at this point," Shipman said about making an argument.

Following the hearing, attorney Frank Trovato, representing Yocum, said Heimbach is at fault in the case and not his client. He said no plea deals have been worked out yet for Yocum.

"We're still discussing; the Commonwealth has more tests to run," he said. "I think the evidence will show Mr. Heimbach is responsible for this."

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Lynn Alexander and her West Ward Easton neighbors have been inspired by Bethlehem's annual luminaria tradition and want to start their own tradition.

She urges residents to participate in the relatively inexpensive neighborhood beautification effort to show that there's more to the neighborhood than crime.

"Messages of unity and peace are very important right now," Alexander said in an email. "It is important to show that we stand with one another and are willing to work against violence."

Luminara consist of tea candles placed in paper bags weighed down by a small amount of sand. The bags are lit in rows along sidewalks.

The Movies Along the Trail program has lit them along the Karl Stirner Arts Trail in the past. Bethlehem residents have been lighting them in December for years to raise money for the food pantry at New Bethany Ministries.

Residents got the luminara kits at a West Ward holiday party and tree lighting on Dec. 17. It's not too late to join in. Either buy the supplies yourself or get them from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 23 at the West Ward Christmas Tree at 11th and Northampton streets.

The luminaria will be lit the evening of Dec. 23.

Alexander hopes the lighting can become an annual event.

"Traditions are meaningful and important, and become shared experiences in communities that strengthen ties and a sense of home and place," she said.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Iran has started selling crude oil to Italys Eni, Mohsen Ghamsari, director of international affairs at National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC), said.

The NIOC has delivered one crude oil cargo to Eni based on a short-term contract recently, Ghamsari said, Mehr news agency reported Dec. 19.

Ghamsari added that talks are underway with Eni for signing a long-term oil contract.

Besides Eni, Iran has signed an oil export deal with Italian energy provider Saras, he said.

The volume of crude which is sold to Italy's Saras differs from 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 60,000 bpd, Ghamsari said.

Iran's first oil shipment for Saras will soon be sent to Italy, he said, Mehr news agency reported May 20.

Ghamsari earlier said that if the NIOC and Eni come to terms, it is likely that they settle a deal for 100,000 bpd of crude oil.

Eni also is interested to participate in Irans oil sector projects.

Eni came to Iran in the early 2000s. The company was to develop Phase 3 of Darkhovein Oilfield in Khuzestan Province and Phase 19 of South Pars Gas Field, but halted operations due to sanctions.

Eni is active in exploration and production sector as well as downstream projects, including refining and marketing of petroleum products. It is one of the world's major oil and gas contractors in engineering, construction and drilling projects both offshore and onshore.
New Year's Eve

(Chris Post | file photo)

With New Year's Eve two weeks away, now is the time to plot your celebration. The Lehigh Valley boasts a full slate of festivities, many requiring tickets or reservations, so you'll want to avoid scrambling for plans at the last minute. Whether you're looking for family fun or a good dance floor, the area is bursting with ways to welcome 2017.

If you'll be drinking for the evening, remember that LANta bus service will be free after 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve, thanks to an agreement between the transportation authority and the firm Aaroe Law.

Go downtown

Gather outside Lehigh County Government Center at 10 p.m. for Queen City's free end-of-the-year bash, scored by one of the Valley's top R&B acts. Charlie Brown's Notorious Groove will perform at the celebration, followed by a midnight countdown and a fireworks show over the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Get to downtown Allentown early to try some of the specials at the nearby bars and restaurants -- or snag a ticket for indoor auto racing at the PPL Center. 7th & Hamilton Streets. More information at citycenterlehighvalley.com.

Confetti cannons herald the new year at the Crayola Experience.

For the whole family

Kids don't need to stay up to midnight to get all the fun of New Year's Eve.

PeepsFest.

First Night Warren.

Crayola Experience.

Lehigh Valley Zoo

DaVinci Center.

Liberty Bell Museum

Historic Haunts of Bethlehem

Late-night Tubing & Skiing

At Blue Mountain Resort, speed toward 2017 while speeding down a hill. The New Year's Eve Tubing Party goes until 1 a.m., and includes a buffet, hot chocolate bar, DJ and Champagne toast for those of drinking age. The resort's Slopeside Pub & Grill will also host a party featuring a seven-course meal and open bar for $89.95 a head. 1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Palmerton. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets: Adults $55, children $25.

Bear Creek's lifts will be running until 12:30 a.m., while a free party rages in the lodge. Dancing starts at 9 p.m., and the fireworks display goes off at 11 p.m. The Times Square New Year's Eve will be broadcast on a giant screen. 101 Doe Mountain Lane, Macungie. 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Geek out

Grab your finest elfware and head to the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Breinigsville for the area's nerdiest New Year's rendezvous. At New Year's PartyCon, fans of comic books, gaming, live-action role-playing, anime and more will find a likeminded crowd participating in Sci-Fi Speed Dating, tabletop gaming and a massive Nerf Battle. 7736 Adrienne Drive, Breinigsville. Dec. 30 to 31. Tickets: Adults $17-40, children $8-21.

Bolete will serve an a la carte inspired by the late Michel Richard.

Last meal

Some of the area's top chefs are prepping special menus for the close of 2016. At the widely adored Bolete in Salisbury Township, Lee Chizmar crafts an a la carte menu inspired by a chef who died in the previous year. This time, he's honoring Michel Richard, who was known for French eateries Washington, D.C, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Richard suffered a fatal stroke in August.

In Bethlehem, The Mint Gastropub will have a three-course prix-fixe menu for $45. Social Still will have an $80 coursed menu paired with a cocktail. In Allentown, The Hamilton Kitchen's $75 celebration features a three-course menu, a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight and live blues-rock from the Groove Merchants. Plus, you'll be in a perfect spot to catch Allentown's fireworks.

Dance the Year Away

The Lehigh Valley's nightclubs are getting the turntables ready for one of the biggest nights of the year.

Maingate Nightclub will hold a New Year's Eve Masquerade, where the $10 (or $8 before 10 p.m.) cover includes a masquerade mask, party favors, appetizers, and a Champagne toast.

At Club Gravity in Allentown, DJs will spin hip hop, R&B, reggae and more. Corked Winebar will host New York City's DJ Danga, while the Bar with No Name's party includes hors d'oeuvres, party accessories and more.

Fegley's Allentown Brew Works will have a DJ at their downstairs club Silk until 2 a.m., plus a champagne toast and noisemakers at midnight.

For a blast from the past, Pennsylvania's own DJ Jerry Blavat, "the Geator with the Heater," will take over Sands Event Center with this catalogue of oldies. The $125 ticket also includes a cocktail reception, open bar and three-course meal. Sands Event Center, 9 p.m. Tickets: $125.

Over at SteelStacks, the Red Elvises will perform a "New Year's Eve" spectacular. Guitarist Igor Yuzov's garish project has been melding Russian music with surf rock, funk disco and more for over 20 years. Musikfest Cafe, 9 p.m. Tickets: $15-89 in advance, $20-$99 day of show.

If those don't sound heavy enough for you, led your hair down to some Led Zeppelin at Penn's Peak. Philadelphia tribute band Get the Led Out will serve up a three-set performance of the classic rock group's most beloved cuts. 8 p.m. 325 Maury Road, Jim Thorpe. $45 entry, $60 to upgrade to VIP.

Clover Hill's sparkling wines could replace your Champagne this year.

Toast local

Does Champagne sound passe? Mix it up and support local wineries by opting to pop one of their home-grown sparkling wines at midnight.

Choices range from Galen Glen's dry Stone Cellar Quartz to Pinnacle Ridge's slightly sweet Blanc de Blanc. For a splash of fruit, try Amore Vineyards' Strawberry Mist or Blue Mountain Vineyards' Sparkling Peach. Buck tradition altogether by eschewing the bottle with Franklin Hill's canned sparkling plum wine, Midnight Rush.

For more New Year's oenophilia, Clover Hill Winery in Breinigsville will be serving "Celebration Flights" of two wine and cheese pairings, two reserve wines and an additional wine of your choice. $8. Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, noon to 4 p.m.

Andrew Doerfler may be reached at adoerfler@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @adoerfler or on Facebook.
A man accused of robbing four Lehigh County banks since August was caught with the help of a tipster, prosecutors said.

Anthony Tillman, 46, was arrested Friday and is currently being held in lieu of $800,000 bail in connection with the following incidents:

Aug. 8th robbery of $14,092 from the

Dec. 6th robbery of $2,818 from the

Dec. 12th robbery of $2,856 from the

Dec. 14th robbery of $17,350 from the

Police said firearms were brandished in three of the robberies -- a sawed-off shotgun in Upper Macungie, a semi-automatic handgun in the Emmaus robbery, and handguns in the Whitehall Township heist.

In the Allentown robbery, Tillman kept his right hand in his coat pocket and implied he was armed, police said.

Tillman had an accomplice or accomplices on at least two of the robberies, prosecutors said. Asked if police were still looking for suspects, Lehigh County District Attorney spokeswoman Meg Wieand would only say it is an ongoing investigation.

On Wednesday, an unidentified man contacted Allentown police. The tipster said he saw Tillman with a large amount of cash, and that Tillman reportedly said he was involved in the Dec. 12 robbery of the BB&T branch in Allentown.

A second witness reported Tillman bought several items on Dec. 12, which was unusual because Tillman is unemployed and any money he receives "is normally spent within a few days due to drug usage," according to police.

In an interview with police on Friday, Tillman reportedly admitted to the Dec. 12th robbery, and implicated himself in the other robberies.

Tillman told officers he only received a fraction of the stolen money from two of the robberies-- $4,600 of the $14,092 taken from First Niagara, and $3,600 from the $17,350 stolen from Santander bank, according to police.

Tillman, no address listed in court paperwork, is charged with four counts of felony robbery.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Pike County taxpayers are facing a possible tax increase next year, due in part to money needed for the Eric Frein trial.

Frein, 33, is accused of fatally shooting Cpl. Bryon Dickson II and wounding Trooper Alex Douglass in a Sept. 12, 2014, ambush outside the Blooming Grove state police barracks.

Frein is being held in Pike County Prison without bail while he awaits his trial, slated to start March 9.

The Scranton Times-Tribune reports Pike County has set aside $250,000 for Frein's trial. The new costs, plus expenses for the county's pension and medical insurance has led to a proposed tax increase of 1.2 mills, the first tax increase in four years.

A vote on the Pike County budget is set for Dec. 28.

Frein faces 12 charges, including first-degree murder and murder of a law enforcement officer. If Frein is found guilty of first-degree murder, prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty.

Frein's trial will involve an out-of-county judge and out-of-county jury from Chester County, but the trial itself will be held in the Pike County courthouse in Milford, Pennsylvania.

Part of the $250,000 expense is for jury transportation costs to Pike County, and housing jurors in a hotel near the courthouse, the newspaper reports. The trial is estimated to last eight weeks.

Pennsylvania State Police said last year it spent $11.7 million on its investigation into Dickson's death and for the 48-day manhunt to find Frein.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Ireland West Airport is expecting to have its busiest Christmas period in the airport's 30 year history as thousands of people make their way home for Christmas to the West and North West.

Over the Christmas period the airport is expected to handle close to 30,000 passengers, making it the busiest Christmas period in the Airports history with traffic expected to be up by almost 10% compared to last Christmas.

Airlines have added extra flights in the last few days to cater for the increased demand for flights both to and from the West of Ireland with flights from UK cities such as East-Midlands, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool proving most in demand.

The 23rd December is expected to be the busiest day before Christmas with almost 2,500 passengers passing through the airport and the Mayo Male Voice Choir will be on hand to greet arriving passengers with a special Christmas performance.

Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport Knock said "We are expecting our busiest Christmas period in the airports history and its a special time of the year to be at the airport to see families and friends reunited.

"The Airport has had a memorable year with passengers expected to exceed 730,000 for the first time which is particularly poignant given we are celebrating our 30th anniversary this year. The run up to Christmas Day is a very busy period for the airport and this Christmas passenger numbers will be up by almost 10 percent compared to this time last year which is testament to the increasing popularity of the airport as the gateway to the West and North West of Ireland."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Iranian agriculture ministry will lift a ban on rice import on Dec. 21, Tasnim news agency reports.

The Iranian government bans rice import annually with only a few months of break to support domestic products.

The latest ban was imposed on July 21, 2016.

Iran imported 620,000 tons of rice, worth $520 million during the first eight months of the current fiscal year (started March 20, 2016). About 150,000 tons of rice was imported to the country during the ban period.

The countrys yearly rice consumption stands at some 3 million tons. Irans rice production stood at 1.8 million tons in 2015.

Iranian households regard the home-grown types of rice to be superior to those imported from India.

Rice is the staple product for almost half of the global population. Over 90 percent of the global rice output and consumption is concentrated in Asia, with China and India both the worlds largest producers and biggest consumers.
The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) is warning uninsured drivers they face major penalties if they do not meet their legal obligation to hold a valid motor insurance policy when driving on Irish roads.

The penalties applying to uninsured drivers include having their vehicles seized on the spot, an automatic court appearance, five penalty points and a significant fine if they are caught driving without insurance.

As well as these penalties, any accidents involving uninsured drivers will see the MIBI pursue the individuals involved for costs under their right of recovery.

The MIBI issued this warning following a significant increase this year in the estimated number of uninsured private vehicles on Irish roads.

As of the end of November there were over 151,000 uninsured private vehicles on Irish roads. This represents approximately 7.4% of the total 2,039,040 private vehicles in the Republic of Ireland.

The MIBI figures also show the growing number and proportion of uninsured vehicles in Ireland over the last 6 years. In 2011 there were just over 85,000 uninsured private vehicles in Ireland which represented 4.5% of the 1,887,810 total.

While the total number of uninsured private vehicles dropped in 2012 and 2013, the figure grew considerably in 2014, 2015 and over the course of this year.
Just as the Supreme Court Article 50 hearings finished, another two potential cases appeared which could affect the governments Brexit negotiating strategy, both of which address significant legal uncertainties remaining.

The first is a case developed by Jolyon Maugham QC that was crowdfunded in 48 hours last weekend. It seeks to resolve two legal uncertainties, i) whether Article 50 is indeed irrevocable (something that was not an issue in the recent Supreme Court case), and ii) whether the UK would automatically withdraw from the single market or European Economic Area (EEA) when Article 50 is triggered. The separate EEA Agreement was ratified by the UK in the EEA Act 1993. The case is being filed in the Irish courts, asking them to refer it directly to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), a process of at least 9 months.

Article 50 does not indicate whether or not its application is irrevocable, so it may be revocable following customary international law. Not surprisingly, David Davis sounded unsure when asked by the Brexit Select Committee! Only the ECJ can decide as the final arbiter of the EU treaties. If Article 50 is found to be revocable then we have a unilateral legal basis for implementing any second referendum decision to remain in the EU after the deal is agreed.

The second case is being brought by British Influence, a pro single market think tank, which is still seeking funding for a judicial review (Article127.org) in the UK High Court to address the same issue about the EEA Agreement. If successful, this would probably also be referred to the ECJ who could consider both cases together.

Automatic withdrawal from the EEA depends on whether the UK is a member of the of the EEA agreement in its own right or as a result of EU membership (the EEA Agreement can be read both ways). If the former, then Article 50 notification is irrelevant and the UK must withdraw under Article 127 of the EEA agreement giving 12 months notice  a separate process. If the latter, then Article 50 notification is enough for withdrawal.

The government has no mandate to withdraw from the single market as the EEA was not mentioned in the referendum question and as the Conservative 2015 manifesto promised to safeguard British interests in the single market. So parliamentarians are justified in opposing the repeal of the EEA Act. Furthermore, the government might not be able to use the Parliament Act because it was not a manifesto commitment (more work for the lawyers?).

I do not understand how the government can be serious about its negotiating strategy without resolving these two issues, both of which should strengthen its hand. The headlong rush to trigger Article 50 in March is driven only by a timetable that would allow the PM to say she has completed Brexit in the 2020 General Election whatever the cost.

* Richard Robinson was the PPC in East Hampshire in May 2015 and currently divides his time between there and Vienna.
At the weekend the Conservative Government proposed that civil servants and other holders of public office should be required to swear an oath to British values. I suggested that such a move would be superficial and divisive and heres why.

This is a reaction to The Casey Review: a review into opportunity and integration where she found small pockets of minority communities who were not integrating with the rest of society. These people represent a tiny proportion of the UK population but the report had the effect of further demonising minority communities generally and the Muslim community in particular. Of course, we should do everything we can to encourage people to integrate. We need to provide English language courses for those who find it difficult to communicate and we need to tackle the racism and xenophobia that makes some people feel unsafe in their own communities. Promoting British values is not the way forward.

For a start we are the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Apart from the far more encouraging tone of a being a United Kingdom, and not excluding Northern Ireland, I personally find Great Britain has echoes of the inglorious past of the British Empire. While this may not be relevant to many young people today, it may be significant for older generations whose origins are in the Indian sub-continent. Some British values from colonial times are ones we have thankfully left behind.

The Government has not yet defined British Values but they say they include democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. These are not uniquely British and you do not have to delve too far back in our history to discover that some of them were not very British at all.

At least for the remaining weeks of the Obama administration, I would expect the Americans would claim that such values are American values and likewise the Canadians and the Australians would also claim that they are values that they share. These are common values or universal values and if we are trying to encourage integration we should look at what unites us rather than use nationalistic terms that may make some people feel excluded.

Of course, some people do not believe in tolerating other faiths and beliefs but that is not something alien to Britain. I remember the Pastor in a Baptist church I used to worship in, leading us in prayer, asking God to prevent the Pope from coming to the UK as the visit might encourage people to become Roman Catholics. It might be a step on from burning Catholics at the stake but tolerance of different faiths and beliefs is not an inherently British value although it is one that should be a cornerstone of the common values we hold dear in a modern United Kingdom.

I am a great believer in Venn diagrams, those overlapping circles where common ground is found. The government should be going into those isolated minority communities and understand what their values are. It will be reassuring for them and reassuring for the rest of us to find that there are many that we share. It is about finding common ground, the realisation that there is far more that binds us together than separates us that is going to encourage integration. Imposing British values is not.

* Brian Paddick Is Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Home Affairs. He was Deputy Assistant Commissioner in London's Metropolitan Police Service until 2007, the Lib Dem candidate for the London mayoral election in 2008 and 2012, and a life peer since 2013. He is joint President of LGBT+ Lib Dems.
Today, the US Electoral College will meet in 51 separate locations to decide who will become the next President of the United States. The decision these individual men and women make will determine the outcome of every significant global event for the next decade, if not the next century.

Earlier this year, on 4th August, the Harvard Republican Club issued a press release stating that, for the first time in their one hundred and twenty-eight year history, they would not be endorsing the Republican nominee for president. The presumptive nominee, they said, was not just unfit to be president but represented, a threat to the survival of the republic.

They went on to say that, His authoritarian tendencies and flirtations with fascism are unparalleled in the history of our democracy. and that, He hopes to divide us by race, by class, and by religion, instilling enough fear and anxiety to propel himself to the White House. This approach, with a little assistance from foreign hackers, has brought him within touching distance of the White House.

Less than five months later, 306 Republican members of the electoral college must now decide whether to elect that same man president. A man who their fellow Republicans say is looking to pit neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend, American against American.

In the Federalist paper describing the system for electing the president, Alexander Hamilton warned that foreign powers might try to raise  a creature of their own to the presidency. There would be, he argued, no better way for a foreign power to destroy America than to gain an improper ascendant in our councils.

The framers of the US constitution chose to place the trust of electing a president with an intermediate body of electors, the electoral college, rather than directly with the people, specifically to protect against such an improper person becoming president. Later today, we will find out whether their idea worked.

Some electors are bound by state laws to vote for the partys nominee. But around 27 states do not require electors to vote for the nominees of their parties. If just 37 Republicans from those states choose not to vote for their partys nominee, then the most unfit candidate in history will be prevented from ascending to the most powerful office in the world.

One Texan Republican has already indicated he will not vote to elect Trump. If 36 more Republican electors join in condemning and withholding their endorsement from this dangerous man then they have the power to change the course of history for the better.

* Scott Craig is a member of the Liberal Democrats, currently living in Edinburgh
SINCE mid-November there have been four people killed on Irish farms, with 19 deaths in total so far this year  including one in County Limerick.

In March, a man died while cutting hedges near Athea. It is understood he was electrocuted when machinery he was using came into contact with power cables.

Minister for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen voiced his alarm at the spike in farm deaths in recent weeks at a farm safety walk in Kilrush this Monday.

No other sector is experiencing that level of fatal accidents and it is greatly concerning to me that so many families are losing loved ones due to work activity. I would appeal to farmers to take some time to consider the risks in every job they do and to work out a plan to manage the hazards before they start work.

Farming is a way of life as well as an industry and we must remember that it is not the farmer that is at risk, but family members too. I believe that we must all work together, as a community along with the HSA and Teagasc, to reduce these tragedies. Farm safety walks are an excellent example of this, they encourage farmer-to-farmer learning and promote safer farming, said Minister Breen, on the land of Martin Fennell.

The event, organised by the HSA and Teagasc, was designed to give local farmers an opportunity to learn first-hand about the practicalities of safety. It allowed farmers to see and discuss good practice, while learning how to minimise the risk of accidents to themselves and their families.

Limerickman John McNamara, national health and safety specialist with Teagasc, said that Knowledge Transfer (KT) is becoming important in all aspects of farming.

Farm walks and knowledge transfer groups are about establishing networks so farmers can learn from each other. They are integral to much of what we, in Teagasc, are working towards, said Mr McNamara.

There were four key areas addressed - tractors and machinery, livestock handling, farm buildings and slurry management. During the walk farmers were given advice and information on risks around tractor use, changing and maintaining PTO guards, vehicle safety including a safe stop procedure and the additional risks involved when carrying out maintenance work. Examples of good practice, such as yard layout and lighting, cattle handling facilities and adequate calving facilities, were also on show.

Farmers were encouraged to take more care when working at height, to use the appropriate equipment such as a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) and not to take risks particularly while carrying out maintenance on fragile roofs. The importance of removing livestock and only carrying out slurry agitation on a windy day was also emphasised.

Professor Jim Phelan, chair of the Farm Safety Partnership, called on farmers to commit to making changes in how they approach farm safety.

These events give the HSA and Teagasc an opportunity to meet with farmers in one location and give practical advice on farm safety. We know that farmers are receptive to the message that safety is vital, but we need to see that manifest in how they approach their work. Safety is not something you just talk about, it is something you must build into your work every day, said Mr Phelan. One of the most frightening statistics is in the last ten years almost half (48%) of all farm deaths have involved tractors and machinery.
THE MANAGER of Wacky Shoes has said that his team is "blessed" to have operated for 19 years, following the announcement of the closure of the city centre store.

The popular retailer announced its imminent closure on Facebook on Sunday evening.

Manager Peter Phelan said that it is a "sign of changing times" in the retail industry. The shop first opened its doors at 122 O'Connell Street in 1997.

For our target audience, teenagers and people aged 35 to 40, all of this age group is so savvy with online sales. And as well as us competing with other shops, we are also competing with our suppliers. Every brand that we would stock, would have their own online presence. And obviously your supplier can have a much bigger selection, size collection and colour selection. And when we go to buy shoes for the stock room, we can only buy a certain amount. And that makes it very difficult," he explained.

Wacky Shoes' Facenook statement said: "We are deeply saddened to announce the closure of Wacky Shoes Limerick. It was our pleasure to serve you and your families over the last 20 years. It has been a thoroughly fantastic experience.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting a small Irish business.

All credit notes and gift vouchers are still valid during our closing down sale."

Tributes have been paid by former customers and employees on its Facebook page since the announcement.

Mr Phelan thanked the public for their "wonderful comments" on social media.

Retail shopping is an experience, and having good staff to provide a service has made the shop. They made the shop what it was. And we are blessed to have been in Limerick over the last 20 years.

Deputy metropolitan mayor, Cllr Daniel Butler tweeted: "Saddened to hear @wackyshoes is closing. Huge loss to #Limerick retail. A store that brought fashion brand shoes to the city. #wackyshoes."
BERNARD Keogh vowed to rebuild the iconic Oyster Ballroom after it was destroyed by a fire in August 2015 - and he has been as good as his word.

Motorists forced to slow down on the N24 due to the speed limit in Dromkeen have seen his furniture business rise from the ashes.

While there hasnt been a dance or concert held in the old ballroom of romance for decades it still holds a special place in the hearts of countless men and women as it is where they met their husband and wife.

Dozens upon dozens drove out after the fire to see the site and reminisce about their halcyon days inside.

Bernard said that the project is ahead of schedule and he aims to open the new Furniture Man this coming April.

It is going well. The steel is up, the downstairs floor was poured last week and the second floor is going in as we speak.

We are ahead of schedule building-wise due to October being as mild as it was, said Bernard this Monday afternoon.

That will be the extent building-wise up to Christmas. It is like precast concrete, you drop it in blocks  it is like Lego. It is incredible.

We expect to be opening the doors around early April. It is like the light at the end of the tunnel, he adds.

In typical black Irish humour Bernard can even joke that the building is now completely fireproof!.

After the blaze that engulfed the building and an estimated half a million euros worth of stock inside, Bernard stressed that the most important thing was nobody was hurt and they would rebuild.

Seeing the structure come to life has brought a buzz to the area.

When you meet the local people they are excited about it . They are all happy to see it going back up.

We are seeing it even in the small shop we are operating from across the road - they are coming in and they are talking about it, said Bernard, who cant wait to have more space for his staff and merchandise.

It is a long time since August of last year. Patience is not something I was born with it is something I am after learning! he smiled.

Dozens of jobs have been created during the construction phase with a staff of upto 10 when Furniture Man  a business he built up with his brother, John  is fully operational.

And, of course, they will honour the history and legacy of the iconic dance hall, started by the visionary Pakie Hayes, by erecting a memorial plaque in pride of place in the new Furniture Man store.
Tehran, Iran, Dec. 19

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Iranian bitumen producer Negin Siyah Azerbaijan Refinery Co. exports about 110,000 tons of bitumen per year, according to factory manager Mohammad Vaez.

We roughly produce 110,000 tons of bitumen per year, 90 percent of which is exported, he told Trend.

Our exports are made largely to Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia and Armenia, he said.

The market is good. Iranian bitumen is known for its quality since the oil base is high. If there is no major currency rate oscillation things will progress well.
AT THE turn of last year 50 acres of Donal Hynes land in Lisnagry was underwater and he posed the question why hasnt the Shannon been dredged?

There was nothing done on the river since Ardnacrusha was built - that will tell you the extent of the neglect, said Mr Hynes, a former chairman of Limerick ICMSA.

It was announced last week that a dredging programme for the Shannon is planned to prevent flooding.

Minister for Flood Relief, Sean Canney, said a group made up of the OPW, Inland Fisheries, Waterways Ireland, ESB and other stakeholders had been tasked with assessing where dredging was required and what environmental measures are needed.

We have agreed to put in place a plan to start dredging the Shannon. Thats never been done before. We will look at the Shannon with all the groups to see how we can have maintenance for the Shannon, and not just the tributaries, said Minister Canney.

Works are unlikely to get underway before the end of next year as in-depth environmental assessments to ensure that the dredging does not result in flooding downstream or affect protected habitats.

Mr Hynes said he has been talking about having the Shannon dredged for years but despite holding meetings with bodies found it very difficult to make any progress in the line of maintaining the river.

I am talking specifically about the water flow from Parteen Weir to Limerick. Down river slightly from Castleconnell village there are trees, shrubs and bushes in the middle of the river.

There is no problem until you get to Castleconnell, it is deep water, but from Castleconnell down to where our land starts it is completely overgrown and totally neglected for the past 70 or 80 years. It has never been touched.

We are here for five or six generations. That part affects the village of Castleconnell when it was flooded. I am not an engineer but I have a lot of experience of land drainage over my lifetime. The water is just not able to get through, said Mr Hynes.

A number of years ago he brought down engineers to inspect the Shannon and he said they could not believe the neglect that was in the river.

There are trees there 14/15 inches inches in diameter growing in the middle of the river. There are sand banks built up all over the place - only small channels for the water to get through, said Mr Hynes.

Meanwhile, IFA flood project team chairman Padraic Joyce said the IFA has consistently argued that there should be maintenance works to help the flow of water and to remove blockages.
THE Peter McVerry Trust, the homeless and housing charity, will make a capital investment of 2.5m in Limerick by the end of next year in helping to house those who are homeless across the city and county.

Speaking at the opening of their new regional office in Limerick  the first outside of Dublin - chief executive of the Trust, Pat Doyle, announced that they will open five units of housing before Christmas.

He told the Limerick Leader that there has been an initial capital investment of 1.1m, rising to a 2.5m investment by the end of 2017.

An additional nine units will follow in the first quarter of 2017  one in the city, four in Askeaton, and four in Newcastle West.

It took us longer to get here than we had hoped, principally because an awful lot of the properties that we went after were under receivership and it was difficult to get the deeds for a number of them, said Mr Doyle, whose family hail from Limerick.

People shouldnt have to live in shelters forever  its degrading. We gave a lad a key to the door of his new home recently in Dublin, and he was 30 years homeless. Hes doing really well.

He said Every time I take out my keys, I cant believe they are mine, and keep thinking youll take them off me. We have never evicted anybody in the Trust because we are into solutions, not negative responses. I said What else do you feel, and he said I still dont feel I deserve it. Being homeless damages peoples self-esteem and their self worth, and we want to get people away from that.

The official opening of their offices at 50 OConnell Street was attended by Labour deputy Jan OSullivan, Sinn Fein deputy Maurice Quinlivan, and Fr Tony ORiordan, the parish priest in Moyross, and also a long-standing board member of the Trust.

The charity is working in partnership with Limerick City and County Council to identify, and respond to housing needs. Their offices in Limerick will be open five days a week.

Mr Doyle also stressed that they will be working in tandem with other agencies in this field, who already have an existence in Limerick such as Focus and Novas Initiatives, and praised their tireless work.

He added that trying to combat the crisis of homelessness has to be a combined effort, and that no one body has the solution.

Nationally, the Trust has 754 beds across a number of local authorities.

Mayor of Limerick, Fianna Fail councillor Kieran OHanlon said that homelessness in Limerick concerns him enormously on a daily basis.
RYANAIR has confirmed it is to slightly reduce its services from Shannon Airport in 2017.

A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed to the Limerick Leader that scheduled services to Paris Beauvais and Memmingen will stop next summer, while capacity on two UK routes is to fall.

Our Shannon routes to Paris Beauvais and Memmingen will not operate next summer, while weve slightly reduced our London Stansted and Manchester routes due to weaker demand from UK visitors post-Brexit, said a spokesperson.

However, we have increased our Lanzarote service and look forward to offering the lowest fare Shannon sun routes to the likes of Alicante, Faro and Malaga next summer, they added.

A spokesperson for Shannon said: "While schedules have still to be finalized, we are confident that in 2017 the airport will improve on its 2016 performance which saw the airport enjoy its fourth successive year of growth.

"We continue to work with all our airline partners to maximise potential for Shannon and this remains a work in progress. We have four new airlines announced for 2016/2017 (Kuwait, SAS, Lufthansa and Norwegian). Its been over 10 years since Shannon has announced four new airlines in any one year and we look forward to building on this capacity."

A Sunday Business Post report claimed that Shannon is to face a substantial drop in traffic next summer on both its transatlantic and European routes, according to industry data it has seen.

It claimed that Shannons total seat capacity for summer 2017 would be 6% down year on year  reducing capacity by 85,000 passengers compared to this summer period.

It also said that Ryanair was taking 100,000 seats out of Shannon  reducing Shannon to Stansted from 16 flights per week to 12.

The newspaper claims Aer Lingus, conversly, is to grow its capacity by 2%  or 10,000 seats  on short haul routes, but yet is to fly a smaller plane on its Boston service next summer.

The recent news that Norwegian is to operate transatlantic flights from Shannon next year is thought likely to affect Aer Lingus' US services however, with chief operating officer warning last week that the Norwegian services may have an effect on Shannon, where historically Aer Lingus has been committed to serving Boston and New York.

We obviously will do our best make sure that effect is as minimal as possible, he added, according to a report in the Examiner.

The Aer Lingus CFO was speaking as the airline announced increased services from Cork Airport last week. In reponse to a query from the Leader, a spokesperson said last Wednesdays announcement was about Cork only.

Shannon recently announced that it expects passenger numbers to rise this festive season by around 5%.

Over 70,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport between last Friday, December 16 and January 3  up from 66,500 over the same period last year.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

By Dalga Khatinoglu  Trend:

Two months after Iran announced that importing gas from Turkmenistan is no longer a necessity and urgency, Iran is now alarmed that its northern neighbour would use gas as a leverage of pressure in winter when the countrys gas demand is on peak point.

Turkmenistan claims Iran has a $2 billion debt over gas import, delayed since the international sanctions on Iran were commenced in 2012.

Fars news agency has quoted an Iranian official as saying on conditions anonymity that if Turkmenistan continues to threaten Iran with stopping gas deliveries in winter, Tehran would cancel gas deal with Ashgabat.

The official said that in case Turkmenistan claims debt against Iran, it should appeal to an international court.

During last decade, Turkmenistan halved gas deliveries to Iran, but shortly after negotiations it resumed gas export again.

Besides China, Iran is the only buyer of Turkmen gas, as Russia stopped gas intake from Ashgabat in early 2016.

Over the past Iranian year (March 2015-March 2016), Iran imported 9 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from Turkmenistan, twice as much as the previous year. But in the first half of the current year, imports dropped by 25 percent compared to the same period last year.

Irans Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Amir Hossein Zamaninia confirmed during an interview with Trend in August that Irans gas debt to Turkmenistan may even reach $2 billion.

Zamaninia said it was already estimated that the debt is between $600 million to $1.5 billion, but the exact figure will be determined after negotiations with Turkmen officials.

We should negotiate again with the Turkmen authorities on its calculation to determine how much and what type of gas had been imported, Zamaninia said.

The debt amount should be calculated again as some estimates put it at even $2 billion, he added.

Managing Director of National Iranian Gas Company Hamidreza Araqi said Oct. 3 that Iran had told Turkmenistan that importing gas is no longer a necessity and urgency.

Iran plans a 90 mcm/d rise in gas output and building five compressors in the current fiscal year (FY). Iran has said the gas supply to north-eastern regions would increase.

However, Irans housing gas consumption increased to 560 mcm/d in mid-November, about 3.5 times of the demand level in summer and caused gas deficit and outage in northern regions for several days. Currently, the housing sector consumes below 500 mcm/d as the weather becomes more moderate than in mid-November.

Irans housing sector consumes 90 bcm/y of natural gas, mostly in cold season.

Iran has defined a project for building a cross-country pipeline (IGAT 11) worth $4.3 billion, mainly after Turkmenistan cut gas export to Iran in winters of 2007 and 2009 and due to differences about price and debt of the country.

---

Dalga Khatinoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Iran news service, follow him on Twitter: @dalgakhatinoglu
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Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Irans President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated a ceremony on Dec. 19 to unveil Irans first ever Charter of Citizens Rights, the state-run IRINN TV reported.

The Charter focuses on points regarding the country's Constitution and rights of the nation.

Rouhani said that the president is responsible for implementation of the constitution, because the only person who is elected with the direct nation-wide votes in Iran is the president.

He further criticized neglecting certain articles of the constitution which are related to citizens rights, saying that some people do not even tolerate some parts of the constitution.

Rouhani added that Charter of Citizens Rights will facilitate implementation of the constitution.

He further said that preparing the charter was one of his campaign promises in 2013 which now is being materialized, adding that he is committed to fulfill all the promises regarding the rights of women, ethnic groups and religious minorities.

The Iranian president also said that all people and entities should move within the framework of the laws, adding that no institution or person, no group or party and the media is untouchable as far as law is concerned.
Tehran, Iran, December 19



By Mehdi Sepahvand, Khalid Kazimov - Trend:



Iranian, Turkish and Russian top diplomats are expected to meet on December 20 in Moscow to discuss the latest developments in Syria.



The spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Bahram Qasemi, has said that the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Sergey Lavrov and Mevlut Cavusoglu are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Trend's correspondent reported.



A plan for evacuation of the sick and injured from two government-held villages in Syria's Idlib province as well as evacuation of the last rebel-held enclaves in Aleppo City has stalled over the past several days.



On 18 December, the rebels reportedly set fire to several buses sent to transport the sick and injured from the two government-held villages of Foah and Kefraya in Idlib province.



Media reports suggest that the attack on the busses halted the latest efforts to evacuate the besieged areas.



Syrian army backed by Russian air strikes alongside with other allies has recently launched a massive assault to recapture the militant-held areas of the northern city of Aleppo.

Rebels took control of eastern parts of Aleppo in 2012. The latest media reports suggest that Syrian army has advanced through the rebel-held areas, though the rebels reportedly continued to resist in some parts of the city.
Tehran, Iran, Dec. 19

By Mehdi Sepahvand, Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

Iran has summoned Turkish ambassador to Tehran to protest against recent anti-Iran gatherings outside Iranian diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul.

Spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Bahram Qassemi said that unscheduled protests were held outside the buildings of Iranian consulate and embassy in Istanbul and Ankara, Trend correspondent reported from a press conference in the Foreign Ministry December 19.

Although the protests took place in the midnight hours, the Turkish police protected the buildings and no damage was reported, he added.

The Iranian diplomat said that Iran has received information showing that some regional players were behind the protests.

A group of people in the Turkish cities of Istanbul and Ankara staged three-day demonstrations since Dec. 14 outside Iranian and Russian diplomatic missions protesting against measures taken by Tehran and Moscow to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government as well as to protest the ongoing crisis in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Following the protests Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri postponed his scheduled Monday visit to Turkey.

However, Bahram Qassemi said that the visit was postponed due to the officials tight schedule.
Tehran, Iran, December 19



By Mehdi Sepahvand, Khalid Kazimov - Trend:



Tehran has confirmed that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his US counterpart, John Kerry, have recently discussed the US decision to extend the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA).



The spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Bahram Qasemi, has said that the top diplomats exchanged views about the US Senate vote on the extension of the ISA, Trend's correspondent reported.



Zarif gave Kerry the necessary notifications about the Senate decision, Qasemi told reporters at a press conference in Tehran.



Qasemi added that Iran continues to monitor the developments regarding the last years nuclear deal as well as the ISA and the Islamic Republic is prepared to set off the required reaction, if necessary.



The US Senate passed a 10-year extension of the ISA on December 1. Following the vote, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Dec 13 tasked the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) to plan work on nuclear propulsion devices to be used in sea transport in response to the US violation of the last years nuclear deal.
SAN FRANCISCO  Life has left its mark just about everywhere on this verdant planet.

Earth's environment not only shapes those life-forms that evolve, but the planet actually evolves and changes in response to those organisms. So if life is lurking on Mars, researchers need to look for evidence of life modifying Red Planet habitats, Nathalie Cabrol said here on Dec. 14 at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union's Carl Sagan Lecture.

"It's only recently we understood not only that the environment changes, but [also] life has an impact on how the environment can change," said Cabrol, who is a senior research scientist and director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute in California, and who gave the lecture.

However, looking for evidence of changes caused by life-forms won't be easy, Cabrol said. Any exploration on Mars needs to look at the right scale to find evidence of life modifying its habitat, she said. [7 Most Mars-Like Places on Earth]

Habitability versus habitat

Recent voyages to Mars have yielded fairly conclusive evidence that the Red Planet harbors theoretically habitable areas, such as the Gusev and Gale craters. For instance, chemical exploration has revealed that at different points in Martian history, the planet had an abundance of the building blocks of life, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrochloric acid and methane, Cabrol said. River deltas and ancient tsunami deposits reveal that Mars had a water column and even, briefly, a primeval ocean. Rock weathering and hydrothermal geological activity may have provided the necessary chemical energy for life, she said.

But simply being habitable is very different from actually having a habitat, she said.

"Our planet is bio-obvious," Cabrol said. When looking from space signatures of life everywhere are visible everywhere, Cabrol said. "There is a strong message from our planet: 'I am alive.'"

By contrast, Mars is also sending a strong message that life has not made a large impression on the Red Planet, she said.

Brief window of opportunity

Evidence suggests that the Martian atmosphere was declining as early as 4.1 billion years ago, and any surface water likely dried up long ago. With a thin atmosphere, bombardment by deadly cosmic radiation and likely no modern flowing water, any life that emerged on Mars likely did so very early on in the planet's history, during a time known as the Noachian period (from 4.1 billion to 3.7 billion years ago), Cabrol said. If that life is still hanging on, it likely went deep underground, where it is protected from Mars' current harsh environment, she said. [Boron Found On Mars For First Time By Curiosity Rover | Video]

"The window of time was very small," Cabrol said.

To understand what kind of Martian life-forms to look for, researchers need to understand the best Earth-based analog to the Martian Noachian period. This is Earth's Archean eon, between 4 billion and 2 billion years ago. During that period, all life on Earth consisted of primitive, single-celled creatures that lacked nuclei.

At that time, microbial mats of cyanobacteria living in shallow pools of water trapped grains of sediment to build up a kind of rock housing. Huge expanses of bulbous rock structures billions of years old have been found on Earth. Other primitive forms of life burrowed around in hydrothermal vents, creating signature cone-shaped structures, Cabrol said.

Earth analogs

Another way to determine what to look for is to find the most Martian-like places on Earth. The hyper-arid, high-altitude Atacama Desert, which, gets just 0.6 inches (15 millimeters) of rainfall a year but used to be much wetter, is exposed to punishing ultraviolet radiation and has active geothermal features such as hot springs.

"If you want to find the microbe, you have to become the microbe. Very early on, you need to shelter  you need to adapt and you need to survive," Cabrol said. Microbes would also have to "organize around oases and organize a lot faster."

These Martian oases could be similar, in some ways, to the evaporating lakes, salt flats and hot springs of the Atacama, Cabron said.

Ancient creatures in these Martian environments would likely be extremophiles or superbugs that are highly adaptive, and are possibly very quick to form symbiotic communities, Cabrol said.

While structures that could provide microbial habitats might be found on Mars, researchers will have to know where to look in the first place, Cabrol said. They won't get many opportunities to sample in many places, she said. Finding the tools with the resolution to identify those habitats will also be challenging, Cabrol added.

However, drones that can fly up and down to image the area at different scales could reveal some of the fine detail that provides clues for ancient life, she said.

And some tools already heading out on the Mars 2020 mission could reveal evidence of potential habitats. For instance, Cabrol showed images of Gusev Crater. Pictures of that feature initially lacked the resolution to reveal any evidence of habitat. But after looking at the light spectra reflected, "The spectra are telling us this is something that could be related to hydrothermal activity and constructs," Cabrol said. "There's only one way of knowing  it's to go back."

Original article on Live Science.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned as "barbarous" the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey in a gun attack in the Turkish capital city of Ankara, Press TV reported.

Andrey Karlov was shot dead while delivering a speech on the opening of a photo exhibition dubbed Russia in the eyes of Turks on Monday.

This criminal act indicates that terrorists affiliated to extremist and Takfiri groups are not bound by any standards, principles or the international law, the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Monday.

They are carrying out such brutal measures with the purpose of creating conflict among countries and [spreading] ever more insecurity and instability in the region, the Iranian spokesperson added.

He described terrorism as the ominous and detestable phenomenon of the century and current era, saying that that the scourge should only be addressed through solidarity and unity among all nations and states as well as a non-stop fight free from any double standards.

The Islamic Republic of Iran will stand by governments and nations in the region and across the world until the complete eradication of this vicious phenomenon, Qassemi stressed.

In another development, The Iranian Embassy in Turkey said in a statement that the Islamic Republics consular offices in Istanbul, Trabzon and Erzurum cities will be close on Dec. 20.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19



By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:



At least 12 people have been killed and three injured in a recent car accident in the Iranian southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan.



A provincial official with Legal Medicine Organization, Reza Abdi, has said that nine Afghan nationals were among the dead ones, Fars news agency reported.



The car accident took place in the evening of Dec. 19 near the border city of Khash on the countrys frontier area with Pakistan.



Local media reported that human traffickers carrying illegal Afghan migrants were involved in the car accident.
After a record number of sold out shows this season, 2017 is gearing up to be yet another busy year for Backstage Theatre.

They will be drawing 2016 to a close this week with a sold out performance of 'The Nutcracker' from Ballet Ireland this evening, Wednesday and a performance from the charismatic Swing Cats tomorrow, Thursday. Ballet Ireland will be making a welcome return in May with Giselle with tickets for this already moving.

2017 kicks off with the return of Jon Kenny and Mary McEvoy for another showing of 'The Matchmaker'. Also on the drama front is Mikel Murfi with I Hear You and Rejoice, the long awaited follow-up to 'The Man In The Womans Shoes', and Seamus ORourke with his new play 'My Aunt Bee'.

CoisCeim Dance Theatre are leading the fore in the family fun stakes with the critically acclaimed 'The Wolf and Peter'. Meanwhile Fidget Feet, Irelands answer to Cirque du Soleil, will be bringing 'Strange Feathers', a spellbinding show for schools, and an evening performance of 'Hang On'.

There are plenty of laughs in store with Youtube sensations Foil Arms and Hog, and Conal Gallen will be touching down with his 'Only Joking' tour.

On the music front, there is the enigmatic Jack L, fresh from his hugely successful tour of America.

Having sold out shows across the globe for the last 25 years, with their Queen Tribute concerts, 'Flash Harry' will be drawing the spring season to a close on Friday, April 28.

Lots of local talent will be taking to the stage with Backstage Youth Theatres ever popular post-Christmas panto 'Prince Handsome'; Backstage Theatre Group's 'Same Old Moon' and St Mels Musical Society's 'All Shook Up', as well as their collaboration with Evolution Stage School; 'A Night On Broadway'.

Details and tickets for all shows are available on 043 33 47888, from Farrell & Coy in Longford town or online on www.backstage.ie.
Did any of your family serve alongside Sean Mac Eoin during the War of Independence, perhaps when he ambushed a patrol of British troops at Clonfin?

Or maybe your relatives knew some of the Longford men who fought on the nationalist and republican sides during the Spanish Civil War, which started in 1936 and ended in 1939.

You may be surprised at the times in which your recent ancestors lived, according to a new company which aims to make the past a present for future generations with a revolutionary new way of compiling family histories, which will prove a boon for those planning upcoming celebrations.

A unique new service, Histories In The Making, presents peoples family research in a readable and informative way, putting that information into a wider historical context and delivering it in a way that is readable for all the family.

They also deliver that research in more tech-friendly way by offering their clients updatable, interactive web pages that can be sent to family members all around the globe.

Most families have an amateur historian  the one person who provides information on the family tree if a milestone celebration or gathering is planned.

However, with the oral tradition dying, and many families now connected digitally around the world, there is a fear that this information will become stagnant or lost.

We want to package the past for families. Very often, people will either have scraps of information about an ancestor or they might have a vast tome of genealogical research that is difficult to read, said David Lawlor, of Histories In The Making.

We knit their stories together and package what people have discovered, putting it into a broader historical context.

We produce printed posters and brochures, and also offer clients a secure digital file, which is easily updated to the entire family network in real time, allowing the family history to grow organically as time moves on.

Once you have sent the file to family members, any subsequent additions to it will automatically update on the original file received by relatives.

For further information, go to www.historiesinthemaking.ie or email historiesinthemaking@gmail.com
Ms Justice Carmel Stewart referred the jury to a recent Supreme Court decision in which Mr Justice Charleton stated that the absence of consent to sexual intercourse is an objective fact.



Quoting from the Supreme Court judgement she continued: The accuseds view as to the existence, or non-existence, of this fact is subjective. An honest, though unreasonable, mistake that the woman was consenting is a defence to rape.



Any such alleged belief in consent must be genuinely held. Self-deceit is not a defence. Certainly, while the test of belief is subjective, even still, individual states of mind are based on how the underlying facts are resolved.



She told the jury in the Central Criminal Court trial that they must consider whether a belief that the woman was consenting could have been genuinely held, given the circumstances she found herself in.



She said: The defence say that while he did forcibly take her from [her] house, at some stage she could have gone home....she decided to reconcile with him, that's how they ended up in the [second] house.



You have to decide that if he genuinely believed she was consenting, could that belief be genuinely held given the circumstances she has outlined.



The judge said that the woman, who is from Longford, had not tried to escape while in a pub and in a Londis shop with the man. The woman's explanation for this was that she had attempted previously and it hadn't worked.



The accused, who is the father of the woman's children, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to rape, false imprisonment, and production of an article in November 2015.



He has also denied three counts of assault causing harm between 2011 and 2015. A charge of breaching a barring order and one count of assault are not being proceeded with.



The jury begun deliberating in the trial on Monday afternoon (December 19). Before this, Ms Justice Stewart gave the jury a summary of the evidence and charged the jury in issues of law.



The woman's partner is accused of kidnapping her after she obtained a barring order against him. He also allegedly beat and threatened the 29 year old throughout their five year relationship.



The allegations include that he locked the woman and their children in a rat infested, flooded apartment for hours on end. She also alleged he urinated on her and her son and that held her head under water in the bath, knowing that she had a fear of water.



The woman further alleged the man forced her to drink a pint of milk and would slap her whenever she spilled a drop.





ALSO READ

Trial Day One: Gardai changed nappies and cooked dinner for children after mother allegedly kidnapped from Longford home

Trial Day Two: Longford man tells of woman's claim she was kidnapped by former partner

Trial Day Three: Rape trial continues with technical evidence

Evidence concludes: Witness tells trial alleged Longford rape victim did not appear upset or distressed
Nature & Weather, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 19 2016

NYS officials this week announced Suffolk will be awarded $60,000 in funding through the Regional Economic Development Council for the creation of a county-wide Blueway Trail.

Port Jefferson, NY - December 16, 2016 - New York State officials this week announced Suffolk will be awarded $60,000 in funding through the Regional Economic Development Council for the creation of a county-wide Blueway Trail. According to the proposal, during this first phase Suffolk County, in partnership with towns, villages, and paddling organizations, will develop a Blueway Trail plan for the North and South Shores as well as the Peconic Estuary. The plan will include a schematic design of the trail route, potential launch/landing locations, draft signage, project identification for public access and facilities, and an implementation plan.

The application submitted by the County earlier this year was based upon a recreational water trail plan being developed by Suffolk Legislator Kara Hahn for her north shore district. However, that preliminary plan was expanded by Legislator Hahn and working group members to include the entire County after reviewing the economic benefits and increased tourism that a more comprehensive blueway trail would provide to the region. In June, Legislator Hahn sponsored bi-partisan legislation that authorized the County to pursue the State funding to support the project.

For generations, Long Island has attracted both visitors from across the globe and international acclaim because of its shoreline of world-class beaches. However, as more and more tourists seek-out off-shore recreational activities like canoeing, windsurfing and stand-up water paddling, there isnt any reason why Suffolk Countys lure should end at the water's edge, said Legislator Hahn. Once complete, this project will help drive new opportunities for regional tourism and serve as a catalyst to the local economy as our residents and those vacationing here discover that Suffolk is amazing both on and off shore.

"Tourism is a $5.5 billion industry on Long Island, which translates to more than $356 million in local and state tax revenues for Suffolk County," said Kristen Jarnagin, president/CEO of Discover Long Island. "We applaud Legislator Hahn in her effort to develop the new Blueway Trail that reflects the beauty of our destination and will assist in meeting the demand of our 9.1 million annual visitors

"The Suffolk Blueway Trail will be a real benefit to prospective, novice and experienced kayakers alike. The Long Island Paddlers commend Suffolk County Legislator, Kara Hahn, for spearheading the efforts to create this trail, and New York State for recognizing the economic potential of such a plan," said Long Island Paddlers, Inc. President Steve Berner.

New York State established 10 Regional Economic Development Councils, including the Long Island Regional Council to help jumpstart the economy and create jobs across the State. The Councils empower community, business, and academic leaders, as well as members of the public in each region of the state, to develop strategic plans specifically tailored to their region's unique strengths and resources in order to create jobs, improve quality of life and grow the economy. During this most recent round of funding, the Long Island region awarded $62 million in grants that will support 101 projects, including the Suffolk County Blueway Trail Plan.
Family & Parenting, School & Education, Local News, Arts & Culture, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 19 2016

Hindus have welcomed reports of East Meadow School District in Westbury, NY, adopting Diwali as an official holiday on the 2017-2018 school year calendar.

Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

Westbury, NY - December 17, 2016 - Hindus have welcomed reports of East Meadow School District (EMSD) in Westbury (New York) adopting Diwali, most popular of their festival, as an official holiday on the 2017-2018 school year calendar.

Nearby Syosset Central School District also reportedly recently declared Diwali as an official holiday.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, describing it as a step in the right direction, urged all other public school districts and private schools in New York State to do the same.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that it would be a positive thing to do in view of presence of a substantial number of Hindu students at schools around the state, as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these pupils.

Rajan Zed indicated that schools should make efforts to accommodate the religious requirements of Hindu students and show respect to their faith by not conducting regular business and scheduling classes on Diwali. We did not want our students to be put at an unnecessary disadvantage for missing tests/examinations/papers, assignments, class work, etc., by taking a day-off to observe Diwali.

If schools had declared other religious holidays, why not Diwali, Zed asked. Holidays of all major religions should be honored and no one should be penalized for practicing their religion, Zed added

Rajan Zed suggested all New York State schools, both public and private, to seriously look into declaring Diwali as an official holiday, recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education. Zed noted that awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would make New York State students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.

Zed urged New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New York State Education Department Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa and New York State Commissioner of Education MaryEllen Elia; to work towards adding Diwali as an official holiday in all the 728 school districts, and persuading the private schools to follow.

Rajan Zed further says that Hinduism is rich in festivals and religious festivals are very dear and sacred to Hindus. 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.

Zed thanked EMSD Board of Education President Marcee Rubinstein and other Board members for supporting Diwali holiday. EMSD serves over 7,400 students in nine schools of East Meadow and Westbury communities of Long Island. Mission Statement of EMSD, formed in 1814, includes Understand our cultural heritage. Leon J. Campo is Superintendent of Schools.

Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 19 2016

The Suffolk County Police Department has issued a Silver Alert for a Wyandanch female who suffers from dementia.

Barbara Hunter, 74, of Wyandanch, suffers from dementia. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call 631-854-8145 or call 911.

Update - December 20, 2016 - Barbara Hunter has been located, unharmed.

The original alert is below.

Wyandanch, NY - December 19, 2016 - The Suffolk County Police Department has issued a Silver Alert for a Wyandanch female who suffers from dementia.

Barbara Hunter, 74, of Wyandanch, was last seen at 85 Parkway Boulevard, Wyandanch at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 18. Hunter was operating a grey 2004 Hyundai XG with New York license plate ASF7976.

Hunter is described as a black female, 5 feet 2 inches tall and approximately 120 pounds with black colored hair. Hunter has brown eyes and a light complexion. Hunter was wearing a grey coat, beige pants and black shoes.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding Hunters whereabouts to call 911 or the First Squad at 631-854-8145.
Local News, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Don Miller Published: December 19 2016

Grant will support 328,000 meals for Long Islands children, seniors, working families and veterans facing hunger.

Bethpage, NY - December 19, 2016 - Island Harvest Food Bank has recently received a $200,000 grant award from Capital One that will support approximately 328,000 meals to help the regions most vulnerable populations faced with the daily struggle of not having enough food to eat.

More than 316,000 Long Islanders, or one-in-ten, are faced with food insecurity according to Island Harvest Food Bank and Feeding America, a national hunger-relief organization. Food insecurity is a condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Those identified as food insecure include working families with adults often working two or more jobs, seniors citizens, veterans, and children under the age of 18.

Approximately 70,000 individuals are currently seeking food assistance in Nassau and Suffolk counties each week through soup kitchens, food pantries and other feeding programs served by Island Harvest Food Bank.

Capital Ones generous gift and their ongoing support of helping us address the issue of hunger is a shining example of a company that truly cares, said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO, Island Harvest. Capital One has established themselves as a valued partner in our fight against hunger and their active participation with us is having a positive impact on our Long Island neighbors who rely on our services each and every day.

In addition to providing financial assistance, Capital Ones Long Island-based employees routinely spend time volunteering at Island Harvest Food Bank throughout the year performing a variety of services such as sorting and packing food and conducting food drives.

A leader in hunger-relief efforts on Long Island, Island Harvest Food Bank is expected to collect and distribute approximately 10 million pounds of food in 2016 through its network of more than 400 community-based nonprofit agencies. In 2016 its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach efforts helped 1,256 families gain approval for SNAP resulting in $4 million in direct benefits, and a local economic multiplier benefit of approximately $7.1 million.

About Island Harvest Food Bank

Island Harvest Food Bank is a leading hunger-relief organization that provides food and other resources to people in need. Always treating those it helps with dignity and respect, its goal is to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island through efficient food collection and distribution; enhanced hunger-awareness and nutrition-education programs; job training; and direct services targeted at children, senior citizens, veterans, and others at risk of food insecurity. As a result of Island Harvest Food Banks dynamic business model, more than 94 percent of expended resources go directly to programs and services that support over 316,000 Long Islanders facing hunger. Island Harvest Food Bank is a lead agency in the regions emergency response preparedness for food and product distribution, and is a member of Feeding America, the nations leading domestic hunger-relief organization. Island Harvest is a four-star-rated nonprofit by Charity Navigator, an independent charity watchdog organization. More information can be found at www.islandharvest.org.
Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com

Columnists Press Releases
Time is on Bakus side in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement and this is getting more obvious for all sides involved in the conflict.

The critical economic situation in Armenia, worsening day by day, helps understand a simple truth  Armenias authorities who are not willing to refuse form the status quo are to blame for the blockade the country is in due to its occupation policy.

Not only this is talked about by external observers, but also Armenians  members of Armenian opposition  are in terror observing the countrys downfall in economic abyss.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan, leader of the Armenian National Congress party, first Armenian president, announced that corruption [] and political philosophy as the basis of the Armenian state-building or, to put it another way, the strategy of maintaining the status quo in the Karabakh issue and development in blockade conditions another 100 years is the root of all Armenias troubles  that is the difficult social position, poverty, mass emigration, illegitimate elections, lack of justice, violation of democracy and human rights.

He was addressing the second session of the Armenian National Congress.

It is obvious that the Armenian economy suffered deterioration because while continuing the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, the country deprived itself of the participation in all big regional projects which bring stable profit to Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Beggar Armenian people are witnessing many interesting projects which are concentrated in neighboring regional countries.

For example, Georgia earned a lot of money by transporting energy resources and those funds were spent for the countrys citizens welfare. While Armenia is aging and degenerating, its citizens are emigrating. At the same time, the birth rate has recently increased in Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Even the global economic crisis and the fall in energy prices did not greatly affect the regional countries with excellent tourism infrastructure, based on the income from the regional infrastructure projects, as those countries found new sources of revenues.

Beggar Armenia is unable to attract tourists by anything because the countrys authorities misappropriated all funds transferred by the Armenian diaspora in the form of handouts.

And such a situation will continue till the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved. The conflict settlement would solve the problems with Azerbaijan. Moreover, it would be a step towards opening the border with Turkey.

By the way, the Armenian diaspora has also opened its eyes and is outraged by the behavior of the Armenian authorities, which, under the pretext of aid to the population, simply fleece the representatives of the Armenian lobby. Not only the image of Armenia, in general, is so flawed that the Armenian diasporas money spent on lobbyists in the US, Europe and Russia, doesnt bring benefits, but also the population of the country doesnt receive anything from the aid of their rich relatives.

An indicative fact of the states plunder is the new law, under which in order to solve the social problems of families of killed or disabled servicemen, each working citizen of Armenia will have to pay 1,000 drams ($2.5) monthly to a special fund over 20 years.

The essence of the law is that all people, who suffered while serving in the Armenian Armed Forces, realizing the insane will of the occupation authorities and holding the Azerbaijani lands, will receive a small compensation for their crippled health and life. Moreover, the compensation will be paid not by the Armenian government, which stole billions of dollars, but just by victims of President Serzh Sargsyan and his criminal company.

In other words, during twenty years, a part of money should be deducted from already low salaries of Armenians for the governments apologies for victims fallen in vain in the occupied region of Azerbaijan.

Time is clearly against the Armenian authorities, and very soon the Armenians themselves will not want to see the government in power at the cost of the lives of citizens, the government, which holds the territories of Azerbaijan under occupation at the expense of Armenian citizens.

Armenias image as an occupant country with the corrupt government and doubtful leadership wont make it possible for the international community to build true partnership relations with this country, either. Moreover, the Armenian diaspora seems to have tired of cleaning up Sargsyans mess and pay for nothing.

Baku acts wisely by diplomatically trying to make Armenia resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as in this case, the longer Yerevan occupies the territories, the less chances are there for Armenia to survive.

Elmira Tariverdiyeva is the head of Trend Agency's Russian News Service
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

Trend:

UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to implement international monitoring of evacuation of civilians from Aleppo, as well as to provide civilians with humanitarian aid immediately, Sputnik reports.

The final draft resolution was agreed upon on Dec. 18 during closed consultations which lasted more than three hours.

The draft resolution is based on projects previously submitted by France and Russia.

The document assigns the United Nations secretary-general to prepare conditions for observers from the UN and other international organizations, to enable them to monitor "the state of civilians as well as the full compliance with the international humanitarian law in eastern parts of the city of Aleppo."

It is stressed in the resolution that "concerned parties" are to be consulted about these conditions.

The UN secretary-general is also to inform the Security Council about these preparations and implement the said measures immediately.
On Nov 3, 2016 10:16 AM, " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com > wrote:

>

> How are you doing over there together with your work i hope God almighty is taking Good Care of you for me over

> there, Thanks so much for your mail I will really like to have a Good Relationship with you and i have a special reason why i decided to contact you. because of the urgency of my situation here and after reading your profile, I am Miss joyce Wako 25 Years old Never married Before in life am from Liberia, the only daughter of Late Dr Christ Wako as i told you before.

>

> My Father was killed by his elder brother as i told you, I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment I was receiving from my late father elder brother and his wife. He planned to take away all my late father' s treasury and properties from me since the unexpected Death of my beloved Father. Meanwhile I wanted to escape to the Europe but he seized my international passport and other valuable traveling Documents. Luckily he did not discover where I kept my late father's File which contains important Documents. So I decided to run to the Senegal country where I am presently now, I wish to contact you personally to know you better and also for investment assistance in your Country. Please if you want to call me this is Rev. Pastor phone Number +221706133465, Which i told you in my first mail; You can use it and call me his name is Rev. Past. Peter Sagna, when you call just tell him that you want to speak with me and he will send some one to come and call me ok.

>

> My father of blessed memory deposited the sum of US$ 5.300, 000.00 in a Bank with my name as the next of kin. However, I shall forward you with the necessary Documents on confirmation of your acceptance to assist me for the transfer and investment of the fund. As you will help me in an investment, to come over to your country and start a new life in your country after the transfer of my late father' s money is transferred into your personal account.

> I will give you 15% of the total money as your compensation after the transfer.

>

> And again i will spend the rest of my life in your country, and also to invest my Capital. This is the reason why I decided to contact you. Please all communications should be through this email address only for confidential purposes. As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest I will put things into action immediately. In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely.

>

> I am waiting to receive your urgent and positive response. Please do keep this only to your self please i beg you not to disclose it till i come over to your country, once the fund is been transferred into your personal bank account you send me some little money from the money. So that i will use it and get all my Traveling Documents and come over to your country for my new life.

> And please send all these information' s bellow to me;

>

> 1) Your real Name and Surname

> 2) Your real Nationality or where your leaving right now.

> 3) Your Tel Numbers and your occupation

>

> Yours Sincerely;

> Joyce On Nov 6, 2016 3:48 AM, " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com > wrote:

>

> God will bless and reward you for every effort you are about to make to see me out from this horrible prison called refugee camp where i am living today as a result of the untimely death of my parents ( may their gentle souls rest in peace ) and the main reason why i have deposited much trust in you is because before i contacted you, i prayed to God that you should be the right man for these transaction which i don' t have any reason to doubt God.

>

> I will be waiting for your call by 1:00pm my time at the church office located in the refugee camp where i am living at moment with this number ( +221706133465 ) I thank God for the life of Rev. Pastor of the church located in the camp where i receive and send emails to you. He is like a father to us here as his church assists United Nations here in Senegal in taking care of refugees. When you call tell him that you want to speak with me so that he will send for me from the female's hostel to talk with you about what i am going through here.

>

> Here is the contact information of the bank where the money was deposited by my late father is as follows:

>

> BANK NAME. . . . . . . . . . . INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK

> NAME OF THE TRANSFER OFFICER. . . . . . . Mr. Philippe Kpenou.

> MANAGER' S EMAIL ADDRESS. . . . . ( icbanksenegal320@gmail.com )

> BANK EMAIL ADDRESS . . . . . . . . ( icbanksenegal320@gmail.com )

> TELEPHONE NUMBER IS. . . . . . . ( +221.77.712.7262 )

>

> Already i have informed this bank about my intention to claim my late father' s deposit of which my name appears as the next of kin. The only thing the bank told me is to look for a foreign partner who will assist me in the transfer due to my refugee status here in Senegal, as a refugee i am not allowed to make direct claim of the money but through an appointed representative as the united refugee law governing refugee all over the world states.

>

> Based on this information i will like you to send an email to the transfer department of the bank today with this email address ( icbanksenegal320@gmail.com )

> Attention MR. Philippe Kpenou. the foreign transfer officer of the bank telling him that you are my representative and that you want to assist me transfer to my (US$ 5.300, 000.00) five million three hundred thousand dollars deposited by my late father of which i am the next of kin after which you call me on phone.

>

> THE ACCOUNT INFORMATION IS AS FOLLOWS.

> ACCOUNT NAME IS DR. CHRIST WAKO.

> AMOUNT 5.3 MILLION DOLLARS.

> NEXT OF KIN MISS. JOYCE WAKO.

>

> God bless you as you do this today,

> Yours in love Joyce.

Date: Nov 7, 2016 11:42 AM

Subject: HONEY CONTACT MY BANK WITH THE EMAIL BELOW, AND FOR THE BANK YOU WILL USE TO RECEIVE THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY ANY BANK IS GOOD

Cc:



Honey good morning, how ar you today? and how was your night? I hope all is well. Honey thank you for yesterday i was so happy hearing your sweet voice, God bless you and keep you till we meet. Honey any of the two bank is ok to receive the money ok, what is important is for you to contact the international commercial bank of senegal which i have already given you their details ok. their email is ( icbanksenegal320@gmail.com )

As for the bank you will use to receive the money there in your country any of the two is good and well acceptable by me, i do not have any problem with that. Honey i am suffering here in Senegal even to eat is trouble, i do not feed well, so if there is anything you can do just for me to be sustaining till the transaction is completed please do for me God will bless you. I love you thanks. yours Joyce

From: " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com Date: Nov 7, 2016 11:42 AMSubject: HONEY CONTACT MY BANK WITH THE EMAIL BELOW, AND FOR THE BANK YOU WILL USE TO RECEIVE THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY ANY BANK IS GOODCc:







MY DEAR PLEASE SEND THIS LETTER TO THE BANK:



Attention Mr. Philippe Kpenou,



My name is Mr. . . . . . . . . . . .



i am from . . . . . . . . . . and i am the trustee/representative of Miss Joyce Wako in Dakar Senegal refugee camp. The daughter of late Dr. Christ Wako your late customer from Liberia who deposited a sum of $ 5.3 Million Us dollars in your bank. And because of her refugee' s status she is not allow to make a direct claim of the fund deposited by her late father.

Sir, I wish to know the process and procedures of transferring her late father's money into my account in my country. She is my partner and wishes to join me in my country immediately after the transfer.



Bank information is as follows:



BANK NAME. . . .International Commercial Bank ( SENEGAL )

NAME OF THE TRANSFER OFFICER. . . . MR. Philippe Kpenou.

EMAIL ADDRESS. . . . . ( icbanksenegal320@gmail.com )

BANK EMAIL ADDRESS . . . . . . . . ( icbanksenegal320@gmail.com )

TELEPHONE NUMBER IS. . . . . . ( +221.77.712. 7262 )



THE ACCOUNT INFORMATION IS AS FOLLOWS.

ACCOUNT HOLDER'S NAME = DR. CHRIST WAKO.

AMOUNT = 5.3 MILLION DOLLARS.

NEXT OF KIN = MISS. JOYCE WAKO.

ACCOUNT NUMBER = 43483002



Yours faithfully,

Mr . . . . .

On Nov 7, 2016 11:44 AM, " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com > wrote:

Date: Nov 7, 2016 11:46 AM

Subject: CONTACT THE BANK AS MY HUSBAND SO THAT THEY WILL NOT ASK MUCH QUESTION

Cc:



Honey the letter i sent to you will serve as prove that i sent you, and you are my foreign partner and will stand to claim all the money on my behalf. the bank are aware that you will contact them, they have been officially informed about you ok. you will have to tell them that you are my husband to be.

From: " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com Date: Nov 7, 2016 11:46 AMSubject: CONTACT THE BANK AS MY HUSBAND SO THAT THEY WILL NOT ASK MUCH QUESTIONCc:

Date: Nov 7, 2016 11:47 AM

Subject: THNK YOU FOR THE FLOWER YOU SENT TO ME

Cc:



Honey thanks for the flower i receive it with all my heart, you are indeed caring i love you thanks.

From: " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com Date: Nov 7, 2016 11:47 AMSubject: THNK YOU FOR THE FLOWER YOU SENT TO MECc:

Date: Nov 9, 2016 7:06 PM

Subject: INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK (SA-SENEGAL) TRANSFER DEPARTMENT.

Cc: <





INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK TRANSFER DEPARTMENT. ADDRESS: 18 AVENUE LEOPOLD S. SENGHOR Dakar, Senegal

MANAGER' S NAME: MR. PHILIPPE KPENOU (ICB ). FOREIGN OPERATIONS & INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT. TEL. +221.77.712.7262



EMAIL: ICBANKSENEGAL320@GMAIL. COM <ROYALBANKOFSCOTLANDTRANSFER@AOL.COM> DATE: 09 - NOVEMBER - 2016. SWIFT CODE: ICSGSNDA



Good day sir,

We have received your mail and we are aware that you will contact us because we have been earlier informed by your partner Miss JOYCE WAKO.

Sir, I have been directed by the director of Foreign Operation/Wire Transfer to write you in respect of your mail we received today Actually, we have earlier been told about you by the young lady Miss. JOYCE WAKO that she wishes you to be her trustee/representative for the claim of her late father' s deposit with our bank. The Late DR. WAKO CHRIST is our late customer with substantial amount Five Million Three Hundred Thousand US Dollars ($5.300.000 USD) of deposit with us.

Hence you have been really appointed as a trustee to represent the next of Kin.



However before our bank will transact any business concerning the transfer of the fund with you, we demand that you send the followings:



1. A POWER OF ATTORNEY: This document must be endorsed by a Senegalese resident lawyer as far as your partner is currently residing in this country. This document is a legal prove of change of ownership / Heir and must be signed by Miss. JOYCE WAKO.



2. A SWORN AFFIDAVIT OF OATH: on your name by a Senegalese residence lawyer too.



3. A DEATH CERTIFICATE: of late DR. WAKO CHRIST (Her deceased father) confirming the death.



4. A COPY OF STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT: Issued to DR. WAKO CHRIST by our bank.



Now you are required to send to us your data information as stated below:



Your Full Names:. . .

Yours Nationality:. .

Current City:. . . . .

Occupation:. . . . . .

Your Bank Name:. . . .

Your Bank Account Number:. . . .

Your Identity Card:. . . .

Your Drivers license:. . . .

Telephone Number:. . . . .

Sex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Next of Kin. . . . . . . . . . .



After the confirmation of the above listed information then we shall proceed immediately with the proper transaction.



Note that the above are compulsory, and are needed to protect our

interest, yours and that of the next of kin after the claims.

These shall also ensure a smooth, quick and successful transfer of the

fund is made.

We promise to give our customers the best of our services.



Should you have any question(s) please contact our foreign transfer

officer MR. Philippe Kpennou for more directives/clarifications

on this telephone number ( +221.77.712.7262 )

your co-operation we are at your service.



Yours Faithfully,

Mrs. Fatou Ndiaye Fall.



INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK (SA-SENEGAL)

internationalcommercialbanksen egal@consultant.com <internationalcommercialbanksenegal@consultant.com>

icbanksenegal320@gmail.com

Tel. +221.77.712.7262



Kind regards

ICB SENEGAL



From: " International CommercialBank" < icbanksenegal320@gmail.com Date: Nov 9, 2016 7:06 PMSubject: INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK (SA-SENEGAL) TRANSFER DEPARTMENT.Cc: < joycewako@hotmail.com

Date: Nov 10, 2016 12:17 PM

Subject: THANKS FOR CONTACTING THE BANK

Cc:



Honey thank you for contacting the bank, i have seen what the bank responded to you, wait as soon as i finish discussing with the reverend i will respond to you base on the way forward, the reverend has promised to help us look for a good lawyer, in fact he said he has a friend who is an international lawyer he will contact him now and will let me know.

once again thank you wait, just be patient i will write you again with the details of the lawyer to contact about the preparation of the power of attorney and the swearing of the affidavit of oath.

thanks yours beloved, Joyce.

From: " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com Date: Nov 10, 2016 12:17 PMSubject: THANKS FOR CONTACTING THE BANKCc:

Date: Nov 10, 2016 12:19 PM

Subject: PLEASE MY DEAR CONTACT THIS LAWYER IMMEDIATELY FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE POWER OF ATTORNEY AND A SWORN AFFIDAVIT OF OATH IN YOUR NAME AS THE BANK DEMANDED.

Cc:



My love it is my pleasure to write you this mail today with all the happiness and joy in my heart today because of the message from the bank. After reading the mail from the bank my heart were filled with joy and it restored my soul; though I did not feel much happy before i was only thinking, crying and wondering what i will do next if I loss you in my life.



God bless you and reward you for all your efforts to see me out of this horrible situation.

As for me I am here with all hope that you will help me transfer my late father's money into your account for a better life with you after the transfer. I appreciate the way you are handling the process of these transfer of my late father' s money to your account pending my arrival to meet with you and to start a new life.

I am suffering here in the prison called refugee camp, and I believe with you that I can start a new life in your country after the transfer of my late father' s money into your account. I have seen what the bank requires before they transfer my money into your account. Currently I have my late father' s Death Statement and statement of account with me here which i will give to the lawyer to send to you when you communicate with him.

The only problem we have now is the power of attorney and the sworn affidavit of oath which the bank said it must be endorsed by a lawyer living here in Senegal for me to sign my signature on it.

My love after reading the mail, I discussed it with (Rev.) Pastor Peter Sagna (the pastor) in charge of the Church here in the refugee camp, and he gave me the contact of this lawyer Dr. Barr. Stanley Davidson. He is one of the lawyers working with the UN here in Dakar Senegal. You have to contact him at both telephone and email to tell him that you are my foreign partner that you need his services to prepare a document that will enable you to transfer my Five million and three hundred thousand us dollars ($5.3000.00USD) from the International Commercial Bank Senegal, to your account on my behalf because of my refugee status.

HERE IS THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE LAWYER: NAME. . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Barr. Stanley Davidson. barr.stanleydavidson@gmail. com <barr.stanleydavidson@gmail.com> ) EMAIL ADDRESS. . . . . . . ( OFFICE TEL NUMBER. . . . . +221768470445

Please dear try and contact him today and when you do you let me know, meanwhile we have already told him everything about you; just send him an email today. May God bless you as you contact him immediately. Yours in love forever, Joyce.

From: " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com Date: Nov 10, 2016 12:19 PMSubject: PLEASE MY DEAR CONTACT THIS LAWYER IMMEDIATELY FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE POWER OF ATTORNEY AND A SWORN AFFIDAVIT OF OATH IN YOUR NAME AS THE BANK DEMANDED.Cc:

Date: Nov 14, 2016 7:16 PM

Subject: LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE & THE COST OF THE DOCUMENTS, YOU HAVE TO SEND THE MONEY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENABLE MY LAW FIRM TO PROCEED AND COMPLETE YOUR DOCUMENTS IMMEDIATELY.

Cc: <



DAVIDSON LAW CHAMBERS (ESQ)Our Ref: Dcc/Vol.18 Case No.16 14/11/2016.

Your Ref:Power of Attorney/Affidavit of oath and Changing of Ownership of support.

Mobil Phone:00221-768470445

Email: barr.stanleydavidson@gm ail.com

Address: Sicap Liberte 5 villa 351 2nd floor Dakar Senegal.



SUBJECT: LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.



Attention,



In-accordance to your request on the issue of procuring the necessary documents required in making the claims of transfer of fund to your account as a representative to the beneficiary Miss Joyce Wako.

We are happy and highly honored and promise to assist and represent you in all assigns.

These are documents you requested in our services: (POWER OF ATTORNEY AND an AFFIDAVIT OF OATH).



My noble law firm wish to convey to you that our legal duty to you and your partner Miss Joyce Wako is to execute the legitimate and authentication of the power of attorney from the federal high court of Senegal.



An Affidavit of support must at first be obtain from the federal High Court here in Senegal which i will swear in your favor and as soon as this is ready, we will proceed immediately to draft a Power of Attorney which will be dully signed by the owner of the fund or the next of kin to the fund, and witness by me and also notarized by the federal High Court to clear the fund of any form of money laundry.

Now for the processing of the documents after my findings from the high court.



Observing the cost of obtaining the required documents, Total cost $9 30 US dollars Only.



Included in fees are:

1: Attorney processing fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$350 US DOLLARS.

2: Authentication fees at the Federal high court. . . .$150US DOLLARS.

3: Notary stamping at the notary republic. . . . . . . .$100 US DOLLARS.

4: Power of attorney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2 00 US DOLLARS.

5: Affidavit of Oath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $130 US DOLLARS.

INFORMATION IS AS FOLLOW: My driver' s name and passport number

WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM; First Name : SEKYERE

Last Name : DANIEL

Passport Number : G0345288 Country : SENEGAL City : DAKAR

As soon as you send the money then you call me immediately I will be waiting for your call in my office in other to make everything fast thanks.



YOURS SINCERELY IN SERVICE.

DR. BARR. STANLEY DAVIDSON (ESQ).





From: " Stanley Davidson" < barr.stanleydavidson@gmail.com Date: Nov 14, 2016 7:16 PMSubject: LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE & THE COST OF THE DOCUMENTS, YOU HAVE TO SEND THE MONEY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENABLE MY LAW FIRM TO PROCEED AND COMPLETE YOUR DOCUMENTS IMMEDIATELY.Cc: < joycewako@hotmail.com





Date: Nov 15, 2016 1:23 PM

Subject: HONEY PLEASE HELP ME AND PAY THE LAWYER' S FEES

Cc:



Honey please try your best to send the money to the lawyer, as you know that i do not have anyone to help me if not you. You are the only one in my life now, my only family is you, please do not say no, i love you and i have the conviction that you will help me. Please help me and pay the lawyer' s fees. God bless you. Yours dearest affectionate Joyce From: " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com Date: Nov 15, 2016 1:23 PMSubject: HONEY PLEASE HELP ME AND PAY THE LAWYER' S FEESCc:

Date: Nov 21, 2016 11:05 AM

Subject: HONEY I LIKE YOUR IDEA FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY

Cc:



Honey good morning, i like your idea so much and i told the lawyer what you suggested but he said it is not done that way, I think i am interested in you buying the ticket, but if i may ask how much will the ticket cost in your country ? Please check very well before you decide to buy the ticket there in your country ok. I love you thanks. From: " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com Date: Nov 21, 2016 11:05 AMSubject: HONEY I LIKE YOUR IDEA FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRYCc:

Date: Dec 12, 2016 12:16 PM

Subject: HONEY I LOVE YOU, PLEASE SEND THE MONEY TO THE LAWYER TODAY

Cc:



Honey good morning, i am happy reading from you today, but it upset me to know that after all this while you are still doubting my love for you. Anyway you are a human being and you will alway have doubt. But if you know God as much as i know God and you put your trust in God, then you will know that there is nothing God can not do. I have decided to follow God' s direction from the first day, i think it is because of your poor background that made God to direct me to you so that through my father' s money your family will be rich. My late father' s money in the bank which will be transfer to you soon after the preparation of the documents is enough to change our lives and your entire family. Honey please if you have taken a loan from the bank stop delaying and send the money to the lawyer to start preparing the documents for us in your name. No mater the amount of interest of the loan you will pay double as soon as the money is transfer to you. I love you and i want to be your wife. i have seen your sincerity and humility, and i will love to be with you for the rest of my life. I am waiting for the good news that you have sent the money to the lawyer today. please as soon as you send the money do update me thank. God bless you. yours dearest wife to be Joyce From: " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com Date: Dec 12, 2016 12:16 PMSubject: HONEY I LOVE YOU, PLEASE SEND THE MONEY TO THE LAWYER TODAYCc:

Date: Dec 13, 2016 5:17 PM

Subject: HONEY THIS IS THE PHOTO

Cc:



Honey good afternoon, how is your day? i hope fine. I have attached the photo you asked of me.

From: " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com Date: Dec 13, 2016 5:17 PMSubject: HONEY THIS IS THE PHOTOCc:





Date: Dec 13, 2016 5:27 PM

Subject: HONEY PLEASE INFORM THE LAWYER ABOUT THE LOAN SUCCESS

Cc:



Honey it is a good thing to know that you have been given granted the loan, to God be the glory. Honey when did the bank said it will be given to you? Please honey do everything possible to see that it happen this week. i love you. Again i would like you to contact the lawyer or call him on phone to notify him about the loan that has been granted to you. have a nice day, yours dearest Joyce

From: " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com Date: Dec 13, 2016 5:27 PMSubject: HONEY PLEASE INFORM THE LAWYER ABOUT THE LOAN SUCCESSCc:

Date: Dec 16, 2016 12:40 PM

Subject: HONEY PLEASE SEND THE MONEY TO THE LAWYER DIRECTLY, I AM SO HAPPY

Cc:



How are you doing today? I hope you had a sound sleep last night, if so to God be the glory in Jesus name Amen. Honey you have to send the money to the lawyer directly ok. I am so happy reading this mail God bless you, i can' t wait to be with you after the transfer. Please do everything possible to ensure that you send the money to the lawyer today. Yours lovely wife to be Joyce. Honey good morning, From: " Joyce Wako" < joycewako@hotmail.com Date: Dec 16, 2016 12:40 PMSubject: HONEY PLEASE SEND THE MONEY TO THE LAWYER DIRECTLY, I AM SO HAPPYCc:





You have to send me the deposit slip now, i want your documents to be

completed today to avoid further delay, you know you too so long to

send the money.

The documents is the only thing holding the bank from transferring the

money into your bank account.

I am waiting to receive the money today.



Call me as soon as you send the money and the deposit slip, so that i

will proceed to the federal high court immediately, you know today is

Friday and the Muslim prayer starts in the afternoon and bank will go

for break, so be fast about it.



Thanks,

Barr. Stanley Davidson Esq.

On Dec 16, 2016 1:01 PM, " Stanley Davidson" < barr.stanleydavidson@gmail.com > wrote: If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more....
Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov who was badly wounded in an armed assault in Ankara has died, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday, Sputnik reported.

Moscow now views the murder of Russian Ambassador in Ankara as a terror attack, the statement said.

"We qualify what happened as a terror attack. We are currently in contact with Turkish authorities who are assuring us that a thorough, comprehensive investigation will be conducted." Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

The attack took place at the opening of the "Russia through Turks' eyes" photo exhibition.

The Ambassador was not taken to the hospital immediately after the attack. It was reported that he received medical help on the site first and was rushed to the hospital after that.

"Today is a tragic day in the history of Russian Federation," Zakharova said in a statement. "Today in Ankara, during a public event, Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov was shot and, shortly after that, he died."

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it is receiving condolences from foreign colleagues. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini was one of the first ones to offer her condolences, Zakharova said.
The US State Department is warning American citizens to avoid the countrys embassy in Turkey amid reports of a shooting in the area, RT reported.

The ongoing security incident comes about two hours after the Russian ambassador to Turkey was assassinated in the capital.

The embassy compound, which is approximately 2.5 miles away from the art gallery where Ambassador Andrey Karlov was shot and killed, has been placed on lockdown, the Daily Star reported.

"All US citizens should avoid area near Embassy compound until further notice," the State Departments Bureau of Consular Affairs tweeted.
New Delhi : NIA today filed a charge sheet in the Pathankot airbase terror attack, naming Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and three others of his organisation as accused. In a comprehensive charge sheet filed at Panchkula Special Court about a year after attack, NIA has highlighted the role of terror group Jaish in spreading mayhem in India and referred to the nefarious plans of the outfit, sources said. The charge sheet which also named Azhar's brother Rauf Asghar as accused, alleged that immediately after the Pathankot incident, he had hosted a video message claiming responsibility for the terror strike and glorified the role of Azhar, who was released in exchange for passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999.

The charge sheet is likely to be used by India at various international fora to highlight the role of Masood Azhar in Pathankot terror strike carried out on January 2 this year. Launching of a diplomatic offensive against the Jaish and its chief Masood Azhar has become imperative after China continued to stonewall efforts of India to get UN sanctions against the terrorist and his group. The Home Ministry had given sanction to NIA to file the charge sheet against Azhar, his brother and the two handlers -- Qashif Jan and Shaid Latif - of the four terrorists, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The four terrorists, after entering India from Bamiyal area of Gurdaspur, had carried out the strike at Pathankot IAF base killing eight people including seven personnel of IAF and NSG. The charge sheet named four terrorists involved in the attack. According to NIA, the terrorists, who were killed after two days of gunfight, were identified as Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum and they were residents of Vehari (Punjab), Gujranwala (Punjab), Sanghar (Sindh) and Sukkur (Sindh) of Pakistan respectively. PTI
Thiruvananthapuram: The Thiruvananthapuram Additional Sessions court on Monday pronounced double life imprisonment to 11 RSS activists in the infamous Vishnu murder case. On Friday, 13 RSS workers were convicted by the court for murdering DYFI activist Vishnu.

Meanwhile, the court also awarded a life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 to the 13th accused. While one of the accused died in 2008, one was acquitted by the court in the absence of substantial evidence against him.

A DYFI activist, Vishnu was hacked to death near the Kaithamukku passport office in April 2008. 16 BJP activists were initially named accused in the political murdered that shocked the state.
The mayor of Hartfordjunk-rated and taxed to the maxtalks up a regional solution to the citys woes.

When the Nutmeg States next legislative session begins in January, lawmakers will face two crises: a budget shortfall of more than $1 billion and the looming insolvency of Hartford, the capital city. Though it doesnt make many national headlines, Hartfords budgetary challengetaxed to the max, junk-rated and facing escalating deficitsranks among the most serious of any American city. Bankruptcy might be the only way out.

Hartfords mayor, Luke Bronin, knows that a bailout from the cash-strapped state government is not a likely option. So he has turned to the suburbs for support in stabilizing the citys budget. At a town meeting Monday evening in Rocky Hill, a pleasant bedroom community to the south, Mr. Bronin spoke in grand terms about how investing in getting cities strong helps economic growth for the state as a whole.

The mayor has talked up a regional solution to the citys woes. Interpretations vary as to what that means, but Mr. Bronin has floated the idea of a regional sales tax. If it is to help Hartfords bottom line, however, it would have to entail some sort of redistribution from higher-income areas.

Suburban taxpayers are perplexed as to how and why they should be responsible for Hartfords long record of mismanagement. Even after closing a $49 million deficit for the current fiscal year, Mr. Bronin projects growing gaps between expenditures and revenues. Four years from now they will top $70 million, in a total budget of about $560 million. Hartford also owes $410 million in unfunded retirement liabilities and $562 million in bonded debt, according to its most recent audit. Moodys downgraded Hartfords credit rating to junk in October.

Payments to service the bonded debt are soaring (up 29% this fiscal year alone) due in part to the citys habit of restructuring obligations to save on upfront costs. One-shot budget fixesselling a parking garage for $14 million; transferring a city park to the retirement system and calling that a pension contributiononly go so far.

Thus, Hartford has had to both raise taxes and slash services. The citys property-tax rate is not only the highest in the state, its 23% higher than the runner-up and nearly twice the levy in some neighboring suburbs. Subsidies for parades and festivals have been drastically reduced, and funding cut for senior-citizen programs. The citys workforce, now about 1,300, is down 12% from five years ago. If Mr. Bronin fails to persuade Hartfords unions to make $15 million in concessions, on which his current budget is based, more layoffs might be necessary.

In fairness to the mayor, who took office in January, he inherited this fiscal debacle and has pushed for changes. Last spring he called for the state to impose an oversight board, including both city and state officials, that would have special authority over union contract negotiations. The proposal got little support from Hartfords own city council, much less the Democratic state legislature. Recently Mr. Bronin proposed enrolling new nonunion city workers in a 401k-style defined-contribution plan.

The mayor also wants Connecticut to increase the reimbursement it sends localities for land owned by the state or nonprofits. More than 50% of Hartfords tax base is exempt. But that looks like a tough sell, too, given the state governments own fiscal crisis.

Connecticut isnt undertaxed. Its combined local and state tax burden is No. 2 in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation. It also tends to rank at or near the top of states in rankings of pension and bonded debt totals. Back in 2011 the Democratic governor, Dannel Malloy, pushed through the largest tax increase in state history. So he is reluctant to raise taxes to address the current deficit. The state might also want to be careful about allowing Hartford to somehow tap suburban taxpayers, since the legislature may want to go to that well itself in future years.

The Hartford suburbs are already on the hook for millions in costs associated with a bailout fund that the Metropolitan District Commission, the areas water and sewer agency, levied in case the city cant make its payments. Any new revenues raised to shore up the capitals budget would wind up backfilling pension liabilities. Between 2006 and 2015, according to my calculations, Hartfords pension costs rose 214%, whereas property-tax revenues grew only 25%.

All this explains why bankruptcy for Hartford is a topic of near-constant discussion. In Rocky Hill, Mayor Bronin played down the idea, raising fears about the reputational stain on this entire state that the move would cause. But the city is on the verge of insolvency, the state is tapped out, and there isnt a persuasive case for a suburban bailout. Is there any alternative, in the end, to bankruptcy?

This piece originally appeared at The Wall Street Journal

______________________

Stephen Eide is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

Trend:

Latest on the attack on Russian ambassador to Ankara, Andrey Karlov

21:16 (GMT +4) Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov has died after he was badly wounded in an armed assault in Ankara, Turkish newspaper Milliyet reports.

The ambassador was taken to a special hospital, but died there despite all the efforts of the doctors, said the report.

Three other people were wounded in the attack.

The assailant was killed in an ensuing police operation, says Milliyet.

21:16 (GMT +4) Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov has been badly wounded in an armed assault in Ankara, Sputnik reports citing Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

Sputnik said Karlov was not taken to the hospital after the assault, he is getting aid at the scene of shooting.

The ambassador is reported to be in a critical state.



The attack took place at the opening of the "Russia Through Turks' Eyes" photo exhibition, Turkish NTV news channel reported.

The assailant is reported to have been eliminated, according to Turkish NTV.

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the information that the ambassador suffered a gunshot wound.

20:39 (GMT +4) Andrey Karlov, Russian ambassador to Turkey, has come under an armed attack in Ankara, the Hurriyet newspaper reports.

According to the report, the attack was committed at the Contemporary Art Center in Ankara during an art exhibition.

The attack was carried out when Karlov came up to the podium in order to deliver a speech.

Reportedly, the diplomat is badly wounded and hospitalized.
Freedom in America Disappearing in Plain Sight

The republic was founded in strict secrecy, Benjamin Franklin explained. When asked what have we got, a republic or a monarchy, he responded (a) republic, if you can keep it.



Today hed say a coup to destroy it is underway in plain sight, the last vestiges of freedom fading with it - a fascist dictatorship emerging, far more ruthless and dangerous than others in world history.

A terrifying state of affairs exists, a grassroots nonviolent revolution vitally needed to change things. Otherwise all is lost.



Nothing but committed mass activism in the streets like never before can work. Voting is a waste of time. If it could change things, it would be banned. Its permitted because powerful deep state interests get their way no matter how elections turn out.



Monday, Electoral College members vote. Trump needs at least a 270 vote majority to be elected president. The popular vote is meaningless window dressing.



Power brokers choose presidents, not the popular will. On the eve of Mondays vote, its up for grabs whether Trump will get the office he won.



If so, will he keep it? Will he serve out his term, run for reelection or be impeached and removed from office - perhaps assassinated like Jack Kennedy to eliminate a thorn in the side of Wall Street, war-profiteers and other imperial interests?



Wrongfully accusing Russia of hacking Americas election reflects an old-fashioned coup attempt to delegitimize Trump, deprive him of the majority EC votes he needs to take office, or eliminate him another way if he gets them. Never before in US history have things sunk to todays deplorable state.



Pro-Hillary neocons infesting Washington are behind the coup attempt, including the CIA, NSA, DNI, FBI, DHS, congressional extremists, perhaps some Pentagon generals and admirals, maybe Obama, and media scoundrels by hyping anti-Trump fake news and vilifying him mercilessly.



Paul Craig Roberts is right explaining only a countercoup, a popular uprising against pro-Hillary dark forces can stop whats going on in America.



President-elect Trump is powerless to halt it. Hes being set up to be denied the office he won or perhaps eliminated if able to win an EC majority needed to succeed Obama.



If millions nationwide dont rise up against whats ongoing, all is lost! Things will never be the same again, nuclear war on Russia and China possible with Trump out of the picture - humanitys fate up for grabs like never before.

By Stephen Lendman

http://sjlendman.blogspot.com

His new book as editor and contributor is titled Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.

http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html

He lives in Chicago and can be reached in Chicago at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.



Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday through Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national topics. All programs are archived for easy listening.

 2016 Copyright Stephen Lendman - 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.




After Aleppo: America Needs a New Syria Policy

Over the past week, eastern Aleppo was completely brought back under control of the Syrian government. The population began to return to its homes, many of which were abandoned when al-Qaeda-linked rebels took over in 2012. As far as I know, the western mainstream media did not have a single reporter on the ground in Aleppo, but relied on "activists" to inform us that the Syrian army was massacring the civilian population. It hardly makes sense for an army to fight and defeat armed rebels just so it can go in and murder unarmed civilians, but then again not much mainstream reporting on the tragedy in Syria has made sense.

I spoke to one western journalist last week who actually did report from Aleppo and she painted a very different picture of what was going on there. She conducted video interviews with dozens of local residents and they told of being held hostage and starved by the "rebels," many of whom were using US-supplied weapons supposed to go to "moderates."

We cannot be sure what exactly is happening in Aleppo, but we do know a few things about what happened in Syria over the past five years. This was no popular uprising to overthrow a dictator and bring in democracy. From the moment President Obama declared "Assad must go" and approved sending in weapons, it was obvious this was a foreign-sponsored regime change operation that used foreign fighters against Syrian government forces. If the Syrian people really opposed Assad, there is no way he could have survived five years of attack from foreigners and his own people.

Recently we heard that the CIA and Hillary Clinton believe that the Russians are behind leaked Democratic National Committee documents, and that the leaks were meant to influence the US presidential election in Donald Trump's favor. These are the same people who for the past five years have been behind the violent overthrow of the Syrian government, which has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands. Isn't supporting violent overthrow to influence who runs a country even worse than leaking documents? Is it OK when we do it? Why? Because we are the most powerful country?

We are a country sitting on $20 trillion in debt, living far beyond our means. Power can oftentimes be an illusion, and in any case it doesn't last forever. We can be sure that the example we set while we are the most powerful country will be followed by those who may one day take our place. The hypocrisy of our political leaders who say one thing and do another does not go unnoticed.

We should end that hypocrisy starting with Syria. That government, along with its allies, seems to be on track to take their country back from ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups. The only sensible Syria policy is for the US to stop trying to overthrow their government, to treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves. It is a rule that is always good to remember, but perhaps especially important to recall at this time of year.



Buy Ron Paul's latest book, Swords into Plowshares, here.

Dr. Ron Paul

Project Freedom

Congressman Ron Paul of Texas enjoys a national reputation as the premier advocate for liberty in politics today. Dr. Paul is the leading spokesman in Washington for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He is known among both his colleagues in Congress and his constituents for his consistent voting record in the House of Representatives: Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution. In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, Dr. Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of 535" on Capitol Hill.

Dr. Ron Paul Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 19

By Orkhan Quluzade  Trend:

The attack on Russias ambassador to Turkey was aimed at inflicting blow to Ankara-Moscow relations, Ismail Hakki Pekin, former head of intelligence at General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, has told Trend.

Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov died after he was badly wounded in an armed assault in Ankara Dec. 19, Turkish newspaper Milliyet reported. The ambassador was taken to a special hospital, but died there despite all the efforts of the doctors, Milliyet said. The assailant was killed in an ensuing police operation.

Ismail Hakki Pekin says the assault on the ambassador Karlov has nothing to do with the situation in Syrias Aleppo.

This was done by the people who dont want to see friendship between Turkey and Russia, he added.

The former intelligence head also believes the assault on the ambassador is aimed at bringing yet another crisis in the relations between Ankara and Moscow.
The Turkish police officer who killed Russian Ambassador Andrew Karlov has been identified as Mevlut Mert Altntash of the Ankara Riot police, Sputnik reported.

Altntash, 22, was a graduate of Izmir Police School. He was not on duty when he made the attack at an art gallery on Monday, according to two Turkish Security sources who spoke to Reuters. He had previously been investigated for an attempted coup by the terrorist organization Haberturk, though the case was dismissed.

Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov died after he was badly wounded in an armed assault in Ankara Dec. 19, Turkish newspaper Milliyet reported. The ambassador was taken to a special hospital, but died there despite all the efforts of the doctors, Milliyet said. The assailant was killed in an ensuing police operation.
TODAY'S WORD is piacular (pee-ak-lure). Example: Even though the argument wasn't his fault, the man had a piacular conversation with his brother.

SUNDAYS WORD was hallelujah (ha-lay-lu-ya). It means praise ye the Lord. Example: The choir sang the Hallelujah Chorus from Handels Messiah.

Christmas closings

With the holiday comes some changes in county and city schedules. In Martinsville, the City Municipal Building, all administrative offices and all constitutional offices will be closed Friday and next Monday, Dec. 26. They'll reopen on Dec. 27. For city trash customers, regular trash collection will run on Dec. 23, but there will be no bulk trash pick-up. There will also be no regular trash or bulk trash pick-up on Dec. 26. Things will get back to the regular schedule on Dec. 27. While some city employees will be home, those in essential positions like the police, fire department, EMS, water and sewer plant operators will continue on a regular schedule.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

Are there any of our older readers looking for a morning Bible study? Nov. 30 and every Wednesday, the Martinsville Senior Center holds a Wednesday Bible Study. The only requirement is that people coming be 50 or older. The class meets at 10 a.m. with Pastor Zeke Zanatos. For more information, you can call (276) 403-5260.

Restocking

If youre looking to fish in Fairy Stone Lake, theres some good news. Rainbow trout have been restocked here lately at the lake, over at Fairy Stone State Park. Were not talking tiny fish either. The average size is about 15 inches and the average weight is about two pounds. This is the second year fish have been stocked at the 168-acre lake. Now if the question is whos allowed to fish, the answer is any visitors to Fairystone that paid the standard parking fee. For the weekdays, thats $4 and for the weekends, its $5. Now you do of course need a valid Virginia fishing license, but you wont need a special trout license. You can get a Virginia fishing license in the park or through the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The rules say that anglers may keep six trout per day, with no fish less than 7 inches, in accordance with general statewide limits. For more specific information about the park, you may call (276) 930-2424 or email fairystone@dcr.virginia.gov.

TRIVIA QUESTION: The three kings who gave gifts to the baby Jesus are an important part of the Christmas story. What were those three gifts given and what did they symbolize? The answer will be in tomorrow's Stroller.

TRIVIA ANSWER: We all know the story of the mistletoe. Where did that tradition come from and what color are the berries on the plant? For this one, we can thank the Norse. In Norse villages, mistletoe was a symbol of love and friendship. Once the Norse invaded England, some of their traditions stuck. This was one of them. By the 18th century, English residents would steal a kiss under the mistletoe around Christmas and that's where the tradition started. The tradition says it's bad luck to refuse a kiss under the mistletoe, but in those times, after the kiss, the couple was supposed to pluck one of the berries from the plant. Once all the berries were removed, then the bad luck of refusing a kiss is gone too.
On the weekend of November 1920, nearly 30 comrades gathered in Chico, California for the fourth annual Regional Marxist School - an important new milestone for the building of the IMT in the West Coast region.

The day started off with a discussion on World Perspectives led off by Antonio Balmer, formerly of the Chico branch and now in New York City, which set the tone of the school by placing it in the context of the impasse of the capitalist system globally, and by focusing a sharp lens on the political and social convulsions that these crises have wrought. Those interested can read the first part of the IMTs 2016 World Perspectives here.

Comrades came in on this discussion to highlight many important points: as in the case of Donald Trump, the rise of reactionary figures and parties is largely the result of the failure of workers leadership in the United States and elsewhere to provide a class-struggle alternative to austerity and the status-quo. Indicators like the dramatic fall in US exports and imports (plummeting over $670 billion since the start of 2015) and five consecutive quarters of falling corporate profits, among others, point to another major economic slump in the near future. Under such circumstances, the combination of the most unpopular administration in modern history with the need for the ruling class to implement austerity and pass the burden of the crisis onto the working class present a recipe for explosive class struggle. It is clear that we must work to build a strong Marxist organization in order to be ready for the even more dramatic shifts in society that lay ahead of us.

The second discussion was led off by K. Khan from Oakland, who gave an overview of the Colonial Revolution. Drawing on Ted Grants analysis of these revolutions and the theoretical tools laid out by Trotsky and Lenin for understanding imperialism and the development of capitalism in economically backwards countries, comrades were able to raise their political level by examining how revolutions during the 20th century in the so-called Third World continue to shape global politics, economics, and the struggle of the world working class. What was true in Cuba, China, Syria, Ethiopia, and the other countries that overthrew decrepit dictatorships and the stranglehold of imperialism is still true today.

To quote Ted Grant: The world crisis of capitalism hits the backward regions of the world even harder, and impels them to draw the conclusion that capitalism offers no way forward. On this basis, comrades are optimistic that with the training of a new layer of cadre we can avoid the mistakes of the past and establish the revolutionary leadership of the future.

The final discussion was on the National Question introduced by Farshad Azadian, a comrade from the Canadian section of the IMT, Fightback. With many parallels to the discussion on the Colonial Revolution, comrades were able to sharpen their focus on why national liberation and basic democratic struggles must go beyond the constraints of capitalism and fight for socialism. In a world carved up by imperialism, capitalism simply cannot solve the fundamental problems of the workers in these countries.

Marxists always stand for that which increases the unity, consciousness, and living standards of the working class, while never fostering illusions in the capitalist system, which is incapable of guaranteeing basic democratic rights and freedoms to the workers of any country. Due to this, the question of whether or not we support the formation of new independent nations is always subordinated to the class question, and the fact that only international socialism can provide the right of all nations to self-determination. The words of the Irish Marxist James Connolly were quoted more than once during the session:

If you remove the English army tomorrow and hoist the green flag over Dublin Castle, unless you set about the organization of the Socialist Republic your efforts would be in vain. England would still rule you. She would rule you through her capitalists, through her landlords, through her financiers, through the whole array of commercial and individualist institutions she has planted in this country and watered with the tears of our mothers and the blood of our martyrs.

Among contemporary topics discussed in this vein were the Scottish independence referendum, the European Union, the struggle of the Kurds in Syria and Turkey, and the situation in Quebec.

These quality discussions were made possible in large part by the well-executed logistics of the Chico comrades who hosted the school. Despite having been totally rained out of the original venue for the school, comrades were able to flexibly adapt and a new location was found at the last minute. Everyone was provided with lunch and dinner, coffee throughout the day, drinks for sale to boost the local fighting fund, and there were ample discussions into the night at the social following the days sessions.

While events like the California Regional School aim primarily at raising the level of theory and political training of comrades within a region, they also play an important role in the building of new branches in important areas throughout the country. To this end, after the school, a group of comrades made the long road trip down to Los Angeles from Chico to meet with IMT members in Southern California.

Meeting in the colorful space of Meltdown Comics in West Hollywood, comrades held a public meeting on the crisis of capitalism and the fight against Trump. With a table at the venue stocked with materials, and the lively, thoughtful intervention of comrades and contacts in the discussion, we were able to sell some political literature and discuss with a number of promising people who are eager to learn more about the work we are opening up in Southern California.

The school and visit to Los Angeles were both a great success. Comrades were happy for the opportunity to swap stories, share political experience, and with the big boost in morale, to lay the groundwork for another, even more successful year of growing the forces of Marxism on the West coast and beyond.
We are on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, the most important event in world history. The first time the working class took power and held it. This anniversary also takes place at a time of severe crisis of the capitalist system. The euphoria of capitalist commentators 25 years ago, at the time of the collapse of Stalinism, has turned into depression and deep worry for the future of their own system. This confirms Ted Grants prediction at the time when he said that the collapse of Stalinism was only a prelude to a new period of crisis for capitalism, which would make the former look like a tea party by comparison.

The last year has seen many indications that the International Marxist Tendency is advancing and connecting with a layer of radicalised youth who are seeking a revolutionary alternative to the status quo. Our World Congress this yea, was an indication of that, with a record attendance, gathering revolutionaries from around the world. (http://www.marxist.com/imt-world-congress-2016-the-most-successful-yet.htm).

A number of our sections are also growing at a fast pace. The Swiss comrades managed to get a record 130 from all the different language regions in the country to their autumn school. In Britain, the work amongst the university youth keeps on paying off and the comrades had an excellent Revolution! school with over 250 in attendance.

Particular mention should be made of the comrades in the US, who have been steadily growing and who have been intervening actively in all the major events surrounding Bernie Sanders and now anti-Trump movement of the youth. Their North Eastern and Northern California Marxist schools were also a success.

In Canada, the comrades are also tapping into the mood of radicalisation of a layer of youth and have had their best ever intervention at the start of the university year with some very large meetings. Most importantly, they have translated that into growth, and they are now the largest Marxist Group in the country! The comrades are also getting their fifth full-time revolutionary as of January.

The comrades in Pakistan have conducted impressive work over the past six months. They are rebuilding the organisation on a sound footing. They are intervening in student and workers struggles all over the country and have gained a foothold among teachers, textile workers and students. At their congress they gathered almost 300 comrades from all over the country, including far away Balochistan and Sindh.

These are just some examples of the good work comrades are doing around the international. The prospects for the work next year couldnt be better. We are uniquely positioned to take advantage of the 1917 centenary to explain our ideas and recruit new members. The publication of Trotskys Stalin biography should re-affirm our tendency as one which is firmly rooted in Marxist theory. The very successful launch in Mexico in the summer will be repeated in other countries as soon as translations are ready.

We also put in a lot of effort and resources in setting up the 2nd Panamerican Cadre School, in Mexico, with the presence of comrades from the US, Canada, El Salvador, Honduras, Brasil, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Bolivia.

In the period when he was struggling to establish a daily workers newspaper in Russia Lenin stressed the importance of regular financial contribution from workers, individually and collectively, as a barometre of the will of revolutionaries to achieve their tasks: Every group contribution means not merely the sum of five-kopek and ten kopek pieces, but something far more importantthe sum of combined, massed energy, the determination of groups to support a workers newspaper, to disseminate and guide it, to bring it into being through their own participation.

Likewise, if we want to carry on and strengthen our work, organisationally and politically, we need to strengthen our finances. In we need to strengthen the team behind the In Defence of Marxism website. For these reasons we are appealing to all revolutionies and Marxists to contribute towards our development fund and to help build the International Marxist Tendency. Also consider donating a monthly amount!

Lets get ready for a revolutionary 2017!
While hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend, Massachusetts native Casey Affleck performed in a skit relatable to many.

The fake advertisement features "actual customers" speaking of why they love Dunkin Donuts. One says she loves the Canton-based company's Peppermint Dunkaccino. Another says she enjoyed the mobile ordering app.

Affleck's character, speaking with a heavy Boston accent, calls himself the "mayor of Dunkin," while smoking a cigarette in the doorway.

He describes his daily routine as involving eating a cruller and drinking an extra large hot coffee. Filming takes a turn when he verbally and physically accosts others in the franchise.

The actor and filmmaker stars in the new drama Manchester by the Sea, based and shot in Massachusetts. Affleck and his brother, Ben, grew up in Falmouth.
Ryan Gosling joins Harrison Ford in the long-awaited sequel to the 1982 sci-fi film "Blade Runner."

The film is based on Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and features Ford as Rick Deckard, a "blade runner," who must hunt down rogue replicants (androids).

According to producers, the story centers on Los Angeles Police Officer K (Gosling), who unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. His discovery leads him on a quest to find Deckard (Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.

The film opens in October 2017.
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La Cucina employees (Left to right) Mary Lamber, Jake Trevallion, Same Goldaper, and Brittany Cudnick, stand in front of the toys the Hampden-based restaurant collected at its annual pasta dinner toy drive to donate to the 94th Toy for Joy campaign

(Courtesy of La Cucina Di Hampden House)

HAMPDEN -- There aren't many restaurants that would accept a toy as method of payment, but with Christmas just around the corner the staff at La Cucina di Hampden House did just that.

For the last 20 years La Cucina, located at 1 Allen St., has made the second Monday of December a day of giving, hosting a pasta dinner toy drive to gather gifts for donation to Toy for Joy.

This year was no different as the restaurant invited customers to bring in a new and unwrapped toy in exchange for a pasta dinner on the house.

Toy for Joy, a collaboration by the Salvation Army, The Republican, and MassLive, is in its 94th year of providing toys and gifts to children in need throughout Western Massachusetts. This year's campaign needs to raise $150,000 in donations by Christmas eve to cover the cost of toys distributed to families in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.

To date, Toy for Joy has received $45,551.38, leaving $104,448.62 to be raised in less than a week. Today's list of donations includes a $120 contribution from the Chicopee School Committee.

The restaurant donated 11 "Santa-Claus-sized" bags filled with toys to the Salvation Army and to the Center for Human Development, a nonprofit organization that provides health and welfare services to thousands of people across the region.

According to Richard De Mattia, who oversees events at La Cucina, the toy drive pasta dinner is a tradition that's began many years ago and which has forged a bond between the eatery and the Salvation Army.

"They've been doing this for many, many years, and we receive a large amount of toys from their dinner," said Danielle Lataille, social services director for the Salvation Army. "It's just so helpful to have those extra toys, especially as we get closer to the middle and end of the distribution week, so we're very grateful and appreciative of La Cucina."

Lataille commended the restaurant's generosity and dedication hosting the pasta dinner toy drive, stating that it was a "huge undertaking." Toy distribution was completed last week at Salvation Army units in Springfield, Holyoke and Greenfield.

De Mattia said that seeing customers donating to the event each year is a good feeling, but not as good as the next day when they deliver the toys to the Salvation Army.

"To see the look on people's faces who are receiving them as well as some of the employees of CHD and the Salvation Army, that's when you really feel like you've done something," he said. "It's that time of year, and everyone should be thinking along these lines."

To learn more about Toy for Joy, call the Salvation Army's Springfield citadel at 413-733-1518.

Online donations can be made by clicking here



Here is a list of the latest contributions to this year's campaign:

In memory of Mom from Karen and Dale, $50

Merry Christmas Shelby and Callie, $30

In memory of Betty, Tom and Bill Jekot, $100

In loving memory of our parents Evely and Daniel Callahan and Gram, $100

Remembering Grandpa Dale, Grandma Sue, Grandma Chickie, love Sarah, $20

In memory of my wife Ellie Magnacca, $25

This is for Harry who died December 8th, $50

In loving memory of Lee Hildreth, $50

In memory of Ginger, Missy and Tower who crossed the rainbow bridge, love ETA, $25

In loving memory of my son Paul Robert Banks, $25

In loving memory of Catherine and John Leahy who loved Christmas from your family, $50

In loving memory of our Tio Nelson, love Brian, Colleen, Mathew, Melissa and Noah, $200

In remembrance of Kevin and Glenn, love Dad and Mom, $50

Merry Christmas from John and Barbara, $200

In loving memory of Ralph O'Brien, always in our hearts from his family, $75

In loving remembrance of my brothers Michael and Jack from Joan, $25

In loving memory of Mildred and Stephen Bielizna, $10

In memory of our grandparents, love Lisa and Mary, $20

Merry Christmas, $250

In memory of Gus, MadDog, Pojke and Jerry from Jo and Pete, $25

YT and Jean, $100

In memory of Natala Keefe from the Picky McQuade family, $25

In loving memory of my lifetime friend Carol Foster McGann and classmate Roland Corbeil from Jo-ann S, $20

To our new bundle of joy Madigan Delaney Long, $100

Every mother's child is going to spy to see if reindeer really know how to fly, $25

For Papa, whose heart was huge especially for children and those in need, $25

In memory of Sandra Bostwick, love Kathy, $100

Memory of Cynthia Engel, miss you on Cyndays, the Dorseys, $10

In memory of loved ones who have passed away in the Nystrom, Pafitis and LaRoche families, $30

Happy Holidays to all, $50

In memory of Dave, Bridie, Kevin and Paul, $100

In memory of deceased Blakesley and McDonough family members, love Mary and Don, $50

In memory of Dory McKenna, love Mare, $50

From the Chicopee School Committee, $120

For Ma from John, $5

RECEIVED: $2,190.00

TOTAL TO DATE: $45,551.38

STILL NEEDED: $104,448.62
Turkey will continue to fight against terrorism with determination with Russia and other allies, Turkish Foreign Ministry says, Anadolu reported.

Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov died after he was badly wounded in an armed assault in Ankara Dec. 19, Turkish newspaper Milliyet reported. The ambassador was taken to a special hospital, but died there despite all the efforts of the doctors, Milliyet said. The assailant was killed in an ensuing police operation.
VT shooting mugshot.jpg

Vermont State Police have charged 19-year-old William Bailey, of Poultney, with shooting and killing Daniel Hein, 19, as they sat in a parked car on Roberts Street in Poultney shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday.

(Courtesy Vermont State Police)

POULTNEY, Vermont One man has been arrested and charged with the Sunday morning shooting of another Poultney man, Vermont State Police said in a written statement.

Police said William Bailey, 20, of Poultney, was arrested Sunday and charged with manslaughter in the shooting of Daniel Hein, 19. He was ordered held without the right to bail pending arraignment in Rutland Superior Court Monday.

Police investigators allege that Hein and Bailey were sitting in a parked car on Roberts Street in Poultney with two other men at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday when Bailey shot Hein to death with a semi-automatic handgun.

Police said Dylan Czarnecki, 21, and Jonathan Testa, 21, fled the scene right after the shooting. Czarnecki was located and interviewed by investigators. He is currently being held for probation violations.

Testa is being sought for questioning by police.
Senior Turkish officials have condemned the fatal shooting of Russias ambassador to Turkey on Monday evening.

In a statement Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Turkish officials had closely followed the process after the attack and relayed information to their Russian counterparts.

Yildirim said every effort was being made to uncover the dark circles behind the attack and bringing them to justice", Anadolu reported.

He said Turkey shared the pain of the Russian nation and conveyed his condolences to them.

Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman also condemned the attack with a statement issued on Monday.

"I wish that relations between the two countries will not be harmed after the attack which, I think, has been conducted by dark forces," said Kahraman, extending his condolence to Russian nation and the family of Andrey Karlov.

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has also condemned the attack.

"I extend my condolences to Ambassador Andrey Karlov's family, who we have lost after a malicious assassination, and to the friendly Russian nation," Kilicdaroglu tweeted.

Turkey's former President Abdullah Gul said the attack targeted not only the envoy but Turkish-Russian friendship.

"The prime target of this attack was not Ambassador Karlov but Turkish-Russian friendship," said Gul via his Twitter account.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik, Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek also condemned the attack after visiting the scene of the shooting in Ankara.
Turkey condemns the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey as a terrorist act aimed against both Russia and Turkey, but this crime will not damage bilateral relations, Turkish Foreign Minster Mevlut Chavushoglu said Monday, Anadolu reported.

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov died after being shot by a gunman at an art gallery exhibition opening in Ankara earlier on Monday.

"The whole Turkey condemns this terrorist act. Both the Rusian leadership and the rusian peole realize that this terrorist attack was aimed not only against Karlov, but against Russia and Turkey," Chavushoglu, who arrived in Moscow for talks on Syrian crisis, said. "It was an attack on political will that prioritized cooperationBut our relations will not be spoiled [by this incident]," Chavushoglu stressed.

According to the minister, Ankara and Moscow will set up a joint committee to investigate the murder of the Russian ambassador.
Scheels http://www.scheels.com/ spread $64,350 of holiday cheer to 15 different Great Falls-area nonprofits at its annual Community Day of Giving on Thursday.

"We understand what a strong nonprofit does for a community," Great Falls Scheels Store Leader Chrissy Brabandt told a crowd of representatives from nonprofits receiving checks. She said Scheels wants to "support the community that supports us."

Jim Strauss

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2016/12/15/scheels-donates-annual-day-giving/95496808/
More than 300 University of Montana employees recently participated in the 2016-17 Charitable Giving Campaign by donating $96,334 to local charitable organizations.

"The increased campaign results served as heartwarming news for both the University and the community," said 2016-17 Campaign Chair Beth Burman-Frazee. "For me, its proof that even during challenging times, UM employees will rally together to make great things happen."

Full Story: http://news.umt.edu/2016/12/121216give.php
The shooting dead of Moscows ambassador in Ankara is a provocation designed to destroy Turkish-Russian normalization, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Anadolu reported.

Erdogan "strongly" and "vehemently" condemned the assassination of Andrey Karlov on Monday evening.

"Both Turkey and Russia have the will not to be deceived by this provocation," Erdogan said.

"I believe this is an attack on Turkey, the Turkish state and the Turkish people, and also a clear provocation to Turkish-Russian relations. I am sure our Russian friends also see this fact," he added.

The Turkish President aid he had been closely following the incident from the very beginning, and offered his "deepest condolences to the friendly nation of Russia",.

Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on stronger cooperation to fight terrorism internationally, Erdogan also revealed.

Karlov died after being shot at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

He had been delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of an art gallery when an assailant opened fire on the diplomat before shooting into the air, according to an Anadolu Agency correspondent who witnessed the incident.

The envoy was seriously wounded and immediately taken to Guven Hospital in the capitals Cankaya district but later died.

Police special forces neutralized the assailant in an operation that lasted around 15 minutes.

Erdogan confirmed that the assailant was a 22-year-old Turkish riot police officer called Mevlut Mert Altintas.

He said a Turkey-Russia joint commission would be established to investigate the murder.

"All the security measures around the Russian embassy and consulate general have been tightened as we agreed with Mr. Putin," Erdogan noted.

"Our relations with Russia are significant," he said. "I am calling on those who aim to destroy our relations: You are waiting in vain. You will never reach your goals."
The assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was affiliated with the Gulen movement, chief advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Ilnur Cevik said Monday, Sputnik reported.

"Growing relations and intensive cooperation in all areas between Turkey and Russia has created anger in the West, especially in the United States and Germany. The latest example has been the joint efforts of the two countries to save the civilian people of Aleppo. It was inevitable that the West would try to sabotage these relations. It is sad that they used a policeman affiliated to Fethullah Gulen's terrorist organization to assassinate the ambassador. This organization was also behind the downing of the Russian fighter that hurt our relations," Cevik said.

Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov died after he was badly wounded in an armed assault in Ankara Dec. 19, Turkish newspaper Milliyet reported. The ambassador was taken to a special hospital, but died there despite all the efforts of the doctors, Milliyet said. The assailant was killed in an ensuing police operation.
China Warns Donald Trump Should Be Careful with What He Says

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has once again drawn the ire of China. (Photo : Twitter)

Chinese foreign relations officials warned incoming United States President Donald Trump that he need to be more careful in his pronouncements about international matters to avoid strains in the two countries' relations.



The Foreign Ministry made the statement on Monday following Trump's statements saying that the US does not need to adhere to the "One China" policy, China Daily reported. Trump made the controversial statement on Sunday in an interview with Fox News.



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The "One China" policy is a formal agreement between the two countries recognizing China's position that the island of Taiwan is just a province of the former.



Taiwan declared its independence 1949 following a civil war, but China refused to recognize it. The U.S. has adhered to the policy for more than four decades now.



In the interview, Trump questioned the need for the US to stay with the agreement despite not having other agreements in areas like trade. He stressed that his country will only come back to the agreement once China makes significant concessions.



In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said that the incoming Trump administration should fully understand the sensitivity of the Taiwan question before making proclamations.



Geng also said that State Councilor Yang Jiechi has already met with the US President-elect's transitional team to discuss the matter.



Trump's statement comes in just several days after he made a call to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, the South China Morning Post reported.



Renmin University of China international relations professor Shi Yinhong said that, should the Trump administration continue with its stance on the One China matter, the mainland could potentially downgrade its current diplomatic relations with the U.S.



China could also take economic actions against America. The former is the U.S.'s largest economic market, as well as holding a large amount of U.S. debt.


Elle China and Avene raised and donated cash to abandoned children to support their education. (Photo : Getty Images)

On Dec. 1, Avene, the French skin care brand owned by the Pierre Fabre Group, and Elle China, a French fashion magazine, raised and donated 300,000 yuan ($43,384) with the help of China Children and Teenagers Fund for 225 students from three elementary schools in Jiangsu Province.



Avene and Elle China have been working together for three years to raise and donate money for left-behind children.



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Those children were needy either because their legal guardians have passed away or the guardians do not have the ability to raise them. Those parents have no choice but to leave their children to the care of their grandparents.



Based on a report by All-China Womens Federation in 2015, there are more than 60 million abandoned children who are suffering all kinds of predicament during their younger years because of the absence of their parents love and affection.



In 2014, Avene and Elle China, with the help of Couluers de Chine, went to Mountain Damiao in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region where they helped educate children in the region.



In 2015, they showered love and sunshine to the homeless children in Beijing Guangai School.



"Though in the past three years we have had three different themes, our focus is still the education problems for children," Francis Canet, general manager of Pierre Fabre China, told the Global Times. "These left-over children who don't have care from their parents need care from the whole society."



Xiao Xue, the chief content officer of Elle China, said: "Our team visited students at each of the three schools for this year's project. We listen to their teachers' introduction and their own problems as well. Except for the donation that we made, what we can do is limited.



"What they really need is more care and for their parents to return home and be with them. Each time we go, everyone on the team and in the office has been touched by videos that our team has brought back, and many of them offer to help."



Canet said that on behalf of Elle China and Avene, he extends special appreciation to French Ambassador to China M. Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, for his support and acknowledgment of the charity gala, which was held at the ambassador's residence.



He also said the biggest challenge facing them is how to reshape the children's personalities and to help them regain confidence, in turn making them feel like valuable members of society.


An American diplomat and scholar asserted that Tibet is an "inseparable part of China." (Photo : Getty Images)

A recently published book that details the archives of a U.S. diplomat suggests that Tibet is "an inseparable part of China," China Daily reported.



Cheng Long, a former associate professor at the Beijing Language and Culture University, compiled the archives of William Rockhill, a Tibet scholar and U.S. diplomat, and said that the late academic considered Tibet as part of China.



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"Rockhill several times pointed out to the US public that Tibet is an inseparable part of China, and he introduced his position to president Theodore Roosevelt," Cheng said in a China Daily interview.



"So I came up with an idea - to tell the history and culture of Tibet by using Western historical documents, which are more convincing to them," he added.



Cheng compiled the records in a book titled "Selected Documents Relating to Tibet from William W. Rockhill Papers." It was published by the China Intercontinental Press.



According to Cheng, he began to focus on Rockhill in 2008 during his teaching stint at the University of South Carolina.



Since then, Rockhill's stance on Tibet and China has been his focus, inspiring him to dig up documents in Harvard and Yale, the U.S. National Archives and the Library of Congress, among others.



Philadelphia-born Rockhill served as the third assistant secretary of state starting in 1894, China Daily reported per the U.S. State Department's website. He then became the U.S. ambassador to China in 1905 and held the position for four years.



At present, the U.S., through current president Barack Obama, reaffirms its position that Tibet must be covered by China.



"The president stressed that he encourages direct dialogue to resolve long-standing differences and that a dialogue that produces results would be positive for China and Tibetans," the White House said as quoted by The Daily Mail. This was stressed during the White House visit of the XIV Dalai Lama, the revered Tibetan leader.


3D4Medicals (Dublin, Ireland) award-winning Complete Anatomy digital educational platform facilitates the exploration of human anatomical characteristics that are difficult to visualize via traditional methods or without hands-on training. The system, widely employed in medical education at the university level, offers students and educators a unique opportunity to investigate bodily systems, features, and conditions virtually with unprecedented precision and interactive control. Niall Johnston, the President of 3D4Medical, was kind enough to sit down with the Medgadget team recently to discuss his platforms technology, its success to date in the market, and whats to come.

Niall is a seasoned management executive who has extensive experience both nationally and internationally in hardware services and software industries. Upon emigrating to the United States following receipt of his 1989 Bachelors in Commerce degree from University College Galway, Niall established a noteworthy career working in sales for MicroAge. He quickly demonstrated an ability and affinity for growing teams, and progressed into senior sales and general management positions with significant operating budgets and revenue streams. Niall took the helm of MicroAge UK in 1999 and rapidly turned a loss-making venture into a profitable business. After a brief time in Ireland helping a fledgling eLearning company, Niall returned to the US in 2002 and setup his own company to help small Irish businesses establish their US presence. While running Seezn Technology, Niall met John Moore. The duo went on to form 3D4Medical in 2005. Our interview with Niall is reproduced below in full.

Zach Kaufman, Medgadget: As we start off here, is there anything specific about 3D4Medicals Complete Anatomy education tool that you would like to share with our readership?

Niall Johnston, 3D4Medical: Complete Anatomy is transforming how anatomy and physiology is studied in academic institutions across the world, allowing students to investigate every minute detail of the anatomy in incredible 3D. In the comfort of the 3D world, users can explore the anatomy by zooming to minutiae; rotating to every angle; cutting through structures and discovering what is behind every layer.

They can access vast libraries of anatomical information and watch 3D lectures and animations on anatomy-specific topics. They can simulate disease states by adding fractures, growths, bone spurs and pain sites  all without any of the blood and tissue usually associated with such exploration or cadaveric dissection. Users can create screens/recordings/quizzes using the tools mentioned above and share this content via the cloud-based platform to other groups of users.

In addition, a powerful tool within the app is the ground-breaking Lecture Builder feature, which allows educators to create custom lectures incorporating 3D4Medical lecture material and/or the educators own material. They can also add audio, import MRIs or X-rays and integrate them into their lectures.

A big focus for us at 3D4Medical is personalisation and, together, Complete Anatomy and Lecture Builder make the teaching and learning of anatomy a collaborative, yet highly-personalised, experience. These lectures are delivered to students via the cloud-based platform where they can consume the materials and still be part of an interactive learning environment.

We are also partnering with leading anatomists worldwide who are helping 3D4Medical create content in areas such as histology, radiology, cadaveric imagery, clinical correlates, physiology to name a few. This cloud-based platform is being tested in nearly 100 medical schools worldwide already, despite the fact that Lecture Builder was only released 4 months ago.

Medgadget: Speaking generally, would you mind telling me a bit about the platform? What are the most significant benefits of using Complete Anatomy as opposed to more traditional methods for learning and understanding complex anatomical information?

Johnston: Anatomy is an exhilarating and beautiful subject; however, it often proves to be a challenging topic for students to grasp.

Challenges reside in the fact that a deep anatomical understanding requires the student to envisage and manipulate a structure in their mind and then go on to use that knowledge in clinical practice. Until recently, the education of medicine and related fields has been solely through cumbersome and dense medical textbooks written almost 100 years ago, skeletons, elusive cadavers and rote-memorisation of body parts, none of which allow the student to fully grasp the magnificence of a beating heart, a pumping blood vessel or a moving muscle.

Complete Anatomy takes anatomical learning to another level and makes it a highly dynamic, interactive and engaging experience. The 3D world of Complete Anatomy and the level of detail provided for the user means that the user can grasp the anatomical detail of a specific structure without having to cut into a cadaver or be present at a procedure. The user can go behind all the blood and fascia and gain a full and proper appreciation of an entire anatomical structure and its relationship to those structures and systems surrounding it. The user can learn about the various systems of the body, how blood and nerve supplies move around the body and how the various systems interact, all in the comfort and convenience of a mobile platform and at their own pace.

Medgadget: Is there a particular anatomical system or application that is difficult to learn via traditional methods for which the software is especially helpful?

Johnston: Anatomy can be a difficult subject to grasp, primarily due to the fact that many of the structures are hidden away from the world amongst a complex network of skin, flesh, bones, muscles, arteries and fascia.

Although the opportunity to dissect and examine cadavers is a wonderful resource for medical students, the cadavers themselves are, of course, very different to a living body. Storage and maintenance costs are high. Studies have also shown that many students suffer PTSD-like symptoms due to the difficult emotional aspect of dissection, with 96% of US medical schools holding post-dissection ceremonies to honour the donors and help the students to process their emotions.

Our objective, however, is not to replace cadaveric dissection but to complement it with dynamic and engaging tools that can aid in the education process. Complete Anatomy removes all such concerns and restrictions and instead provides an interactive platform upon which students can completely strip back and closely examine every minute detail of the human anatomy in highly intricate and engaging 3D detail, where they can manipulate views, isolate entire systems and specific parts thereof, cut into specific structures and simulate disease states and areas of pain.

The quality of a students learning experience is infinitely improved across the board  the level of detail to which they are exposed is far superior to any other educational tool at their disposal; their interaction and engagement is richer and deeper, in turn contributing to a greater and more practical understanding of the anatomy and easier and more instant access to information leads to better use of student time.

Medgadget: What has enabled and inspired you to develop and release this product at this time? For example, was this a tool simply awaiting advancements in technical capability that made it possible? Or was this designed in response to perceived shortcomings in medical education?

Johnston: The student of today is very different than before. Their native language is digital; their preferred medium is digital; their world is digital. Methods of education must respond to this. Flat 2D imaging has been the best on offer in the past but times have changed and the magnificence of 3D is transformative. The digital landscape is itself constantly evolving, becoming more interactive and engaging by the minute. Complete Anatomy has embraced both the societal shift and the technology available, allowing the user to experience anatomy like never before.

Medgadget: Would you please describe the development process and timeline? Whose input helped to shape the technology? What anatomical truth is the Complete Anatomy educational platform based on? What types of continued development, upgrade, and update projects are ongoing?

Johnston: The concept of Complete Anatomy evolved from various enterprises over the past number of years, originating in the field of anatomical imaging for pharmaceutical companies before moving into the realm of medical apps. Since 2012, the company has been working on building the magnificent medical technology 3D platform that we have today and which has had more than 12 million downloads. The input of the various academic and medical experts that have come on board, together with our Advisory Board and Medical Review Board, has been crucial to the development of Complete Anatomy: their knowledge, experience and wisdom has been invaluable. Complete Anatomy is constantly being developed and updated, with an update approximately every 12 weeks.

Medgadget: I see that the Complete Anatomy application garnered a prestigious Apple Design Award earlier this year. Congratulations! Would you speak to the importance of design to the technology?

Johnston: Design is about solving a problem. At 3D4Medical, we are transforming medical learning (and practice), bringing it into the digital landscape of the 21st-century. We do this by developing the most cutting-edge innovative technology and filtering it through a refined user-interface design process in order to harness and present it in a way that is intuitive to use. For 3D4Medical, innovation and design are integral to our work: with the level of detail and anatomical complexity that we deal with in our software, good clean design is critical to help our user to navigate seamlessly through the abundance of information that we put at their fingertips. The technology opens the door to a whole new 3D world, with the ability to explore the human anatomy like never before and the smart design is the key. The recognition that we have received from Apple in the form of an Apple Design Award 2016 was something very special for the team.

Medgadget: Do you have any data and/or observational findings comparing the effectiveness of using the Complete Anatomy software or other digital learning techniques to live lecture presentations?

Johnston: The emergence of mobile technologies in recent years has triggered an academic shift in the world of medical education from the more traditional methods to mobile learning. Digital is becoming increasingly prevalent in the practice of medicine and students must be equipped for this. It was estimated in 2012 that nearly 25% of medical schools in the US had incorporated iPads as educational tools. A study completed in March 2016 found that the main advantages of iPads in medical learning included instant and constant access to information and resources, portability, ease of use and efficient time management. Other advantages of note are the cost-savings across the board on textbooks, paper and various other physical study aids.

Complete Anatomy has been rolled-out in a number of schools to date and, although the digital landscape is more native to the younger generations of today, is proving a major success with both tutors and students.

To quote Dr. Erin Fillmore, Anatomy Lecturer at Buckingham University, Its hard to argue against the fact that anatomy is a profession steeped in history, a history grounded in using traditional cadaveric dissection in order to understand the complexity of the human body. However, in an age where dissection is not always feasible and mobile digital learning aides are beginning to cleverly bridge the gap between real dissection and electronic representation, one cannot ignore the evolving tools in our profession. That is why we at the University of Buckingham Medical School decided to implement 3D4Medicals Complete Anatomy into our integrated curriculum and it has proven to be a fantastic decision.

In addition, there are a number of current studies that are measuring many different issues relating to both Complete Anatomy and Lecture Builder. We have nothing published yet but it wont be long.

Medgadget: It seems to me that your software is largely marketed to students. Is there value for existing medical professionals? If so, in what ways might the technology be most useful?

Johnston: Complete Anatomy is a product that greatly benefits educators, students, medical professionals and patients. It allows medical professionals to illustrate to a patient the precise details of an anatomical issue in 3D, how certain motion might affect or exacerbate an issue and how and why particular exercises or treatment might improve matters. Interestingly, it was indeed the medical professions widespread use of the platform that led to the development of 3D4Medicals Complete Ortho, which will launch in Q1 2017.

In addition, the precise knowledge that a medical professional must retain is colossal: Complete Anatomy serves as an incredibly powerful anatomical reference tool, allowing users to reference anatomical names, 3D animations, explanatory details, system interactions and refresh their understanding of same all at the touch of a screen. The ease of use of the platform in comparison to the laborious task of searching through medical texts and reference material is unquestionably incomparable.

Medgadget: You mentioned earlier the Lecture Builder feature, and we spoke offline about future versions of the software design for educators and/or as clinical solutions as well. Could you speak to those future plans?

Johnston: Building upon the interactive cutting-edge learning tools of Complete Anatomy, Lecture Builder allows educators to create Complete Anatomy lectures, incorporating their own anatomical simulations and manipulations using the various learning tools and adding lecture-specific text and relevant imaging such as MRIs and x-rays. Audio can also be layered over the lecture to guide the student through the material and a content-specific quiz can be included to allow the student to check their learning.

Using the revolutionary cloud-based sharing function, Lecture Builder allows the educator to then push the custom lectures to their various groups of students for uniquely tailored and ultra-convenient learning.

In terms of clinical solutions, 3D4Medicals Complete Ortho will be the first in a series of clinical applications we will be launching over the next year. It will be launched in Q1 2017 and will transform the doctor/patient relationship, allowing medical professionals to engage with their patients in a more informative, educational and empowering way, all across a fully HIPAA-compliant platform. The patient will be guided through the entire process to recovery (the anatomical issue, pathology and procedure) in incredible 3D, allowing for a greater level of understanding of their issue and the treatment options available to them. This level of shared decision-making, education and empowerment will no doubt lead to a decrease in unnecessary physician revisits, increased patient-satisfaction and better medical outcomes across the board.

Medgadget: The adoption of the technology to date has been quite overwhelming. The application, which is now available on desktops, notebooks, and mobile devices, has been used or piloted at, I believe, more than 100 universities in the United States and has been sold more than 12 million times worldwide. My question is, whats left to accomplish? What does 3D4Medical envision as the successful future for the Complete Anatomy application?

Johnston: Complete Anatomy is currently being piloted in over 100 medical schools around the world, approximately half of which are in the US. Although the power of Complete Anatomy is clear to anyone who sees it in use, the limitations are endless in terms of how it will evolve to ultimately become the platform for medical learning. Some of the features envisaged in the short-term include the addition histology, pathology, radiology and physiology, aiming to vastly increase the suite of learning opportunities that Complete Anatomy will offer. Given the increasing advancements in the areas of virtual, augmented and mixed realities, the sky is the limit for 3D4Medical and Complete Anatomy.

Complete Anatomy is currently compatible with iPad Pro (9.7 and 12), iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad Mini 4 and Mac, with a Windows release due in January 2017.

Company homepage: 3D4Medical

Product page: Complete Anatomy
by Tanya Gazdik , December 18, 2016

Honda surprised some sick children unable to leave the hospital as part of its Happy Honda Days campaign.

The automaker provided pediatric patients at Childrens Hospital of Orange County with Oculus headsets which took them on a virtual reality experience of Candy Cane Lane.

Their emotional reactions to the whimsical journey down a street filled with festive lights, and Santa and his reindeer were recorded in a documentary-style video which lives on Hondas Facebook page. The video was also shared on Hondas YouTube and Twitter channels.

For every Like of the Facebook post, Honda said it would donate $1 to CHOC Children's and Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (up to $100,000 through Jan 2). As of Dec. 18, the video had already exceeded 393,000 views. Honda is using #HondaCandyCaneLane to promote the video.

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This year Honda has the unique privilege of transporting children at CHOC Childrens to a virtual winter wonderland that brings the festive spirit of the holidays to the kids directly, said Susie Rossick, assistant vice president, Honda Auto marketing, in a release. Seeing the kids heartfelt reactions to the experience and being able to bring magic to their hospital stay is especially meaningful during the holidays.

Honda also created a 360-degree version of the Candy Cane Lane virtual-reality experience for Facebook, which launched in early December, to invite people to enjoy and share the festive lights of Candy Cane Lane.

This 360-video is part of Hondas annual Happy Honda Days campaign, which speaks to the nostalgia of the holidays and consists of four TV spots three Snapchat filters available at dealerships across the country, print, POP, out-of-home, digital, social and radio.
The New York Times, Monday, December 19, 2016 8:22 AM

New Orleans-based university Tulane has apologized after sending out acceptance emails to 130 applicants that did not get into the school. The email was followed by a retraction email with the subject line, "We Messed Up," explaining the mistake. Tulane is not the first university to make this mistake. M.I.T., Carnegie Mellon, Vassar, U.C.L.A., Fordham, Johns Hopkins and the University at Buffalo have all sent the same kind of acceptance message mistakenly.

Read the whole story at The New York Times 
by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, December 19, 2016

Don't expect the 538 people who will meet to determine the next president of the United States through the Electoral College to change their minds.

But vote has piqued interest in Americans wanting to know more about the process.

Electors -- who are all listed by Wikipedia -- will meet in their respective states to cast two votes: one for president and one for vice president. The New York Times explains the process, which many Americans, according to Google Search Trends, want to learn more about.

Google continues to track more searches today for the term "Electoral College" than ever before.

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Those searches are in the form of questions like "How does the Electoral College work?" "Will the Electoral College stop Trump," and "How does the Electoral College work" are the three top tending questions in search queries.

Those who are searching google.com also want to know "What happens if the Electoral College change their vote?" and "How do you become an Electoral College elector?" And they want to know how many Electoral College votes there are, when the Electoral College was formed, and who picks the Electoral College electors.

Vermont, District of Columbia, Alaska, Maine, and New Hampshire are the top give states in which searches have spiked.

In the past month, searchers in Kansas, Virginia, New Hampshire, District of Columbia, and West Virginia have been most interested in actor Martin Sheen and his quest to influence the Electoral College. Searches for Sheen's video that begs the Electoral College not to vote for Trump continues to spike in California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Florida, among other states.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, December 19, 2016

How much Google and search technology does Alphabet's modified Chrysler Pacifica have? Advertisers and marketers are likely scratching their heads asking themselves that very question.

On Monday, Alphabet shared a first look at the minivan equipped with the latest technology including a suite of sensors, mapping system, computer and other major updates, John Krafcik, Wymo CEO, wrote in a blog post on Medium.

Creating awareness on google.com, a paid-search ad from Alphabet's spinoff, Waymo, leads those who click through to a landing page describing the self-driving car's features, but details of the minivan are on Krafcik's page.

"The joint program team has been working to design and engineer the modifications to the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid that would allow us to integrate our new fully self-driving systems," Krafcik wrote, explaining the past six months of work.

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Alphabet's engineers used several early prototype minivans and a gamut of tests, including more than 200 hours of extreme-weather testing. These vehicles went through tests on Alphabet's own test track in California, and FCAs Chelsea Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Michigan and their Arizona Proving Grounds in Yucca, Arizona before product began in October.

The plan is to have the new vehicles on public roads in 2017, Krafcik wrote.

Google's self-driving car project began in 2009 to develop technology that could make roads safer and improve mobility for everyone. In October 2015, the team completed the first fully self-driving trip on public roads in a car without a steering wheel, pedals or test driver, but shortly after hit a few bumps along the way such as accidents, guidelines and legislation.

In September, Bloomberg reported on the Obama administration's proposed guidelines for self-driving cars highlighting 15 benchmarks automakers need to meet before their autonomous vehicles can hit the road.
by Philip Rosenstein , Staff Writer, December 19, 2016

The electors of the Electoral College meet today, in state capitals and the District of Columbia, to cast their votes for the 45th President of the United States.

Todays vote is the last barrier to Donald Trump taking office on January 20. Those who will inevitably keep pushing to remove Trump from office will have to shift their focus to Congress and the possibility of impeachment, should fewer than 37 faithless electors emerge in opposition to Trump.

While the convening of the electors has long been a formality, that is not the case in 2016. Electors have been receiving thousands of emails and phone calls asking them to cast their ballots against how their states voted. A number of them have even reported death threats.

The largest ever Change.org petition also called on electors to reject Trump, citing that he is unfit to hold the office of president.

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There are a few so-called faithless electors, those who will vote against their states popular vote. One such elector, Christopher Suprun of Texas, explained in a New York Times op-ed that he would not vote for Trump, stating, among many other arguments: Mr. Trump lacks the foreign-policy experience and demeanor needed to be commander in chief.

In order for Trump to be blocked from becoming president, 37 electors in states that voted for Trump would have to refuse to vote for him.

Lawrence Lessig, a law professor at Harvard, who has been offering free legal advice to electors who may want to vote against Trump, told CNNs Michael Smerconish that he was confident at least 20 electors were seriously considering changing their votes.

Others report that it is extremely unlikely Trump will be blocked by the electors.

Many electors are bound to vote in favor of their states vote and may face a fine or other reprimand should they ignore their constituents. Many have what Lessig calls a moral duty to vote with their states in those that require electors to pledge their vote. However, as Lessig explains, electors can deem their vote against Trump as the higher ethical imperative, finding it is an overriding moral duty to refrain from voting for him.

However, even if the Electoral College rejects Trump, he could still become president. If no candidate is chosen by a majority of electors, the U.S. House of Representatives choose between the three candidates who received the most electoral votes -- with each state delegation holding one vote.

As Lessig also told Chuck Todd of NBC: The Electoral College was made for this election precisely.
Maximilian Bittner, chief executive officer of Lazada Group SA, and Roger Egan, co-founder and chief executive officer of RedMart, pose for a photograph in Singapore. (Photo : Getty Images)

Southeast Asia's largest e-commerce site Lazada Group SA, a company bought by Alibaba for $1 billion this year, is enhancing its logistics control over Southeast Asia in anticipation of Amazon's entry in the region next year.



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According to a report by Bloomberg, Lazada has rolled out several initiatives ahead of the expected clash between the two giants. The company sought out partners in China and Korea to expand its delivery network in the region and other areas.



It is also looking for acquisitions and investments to strengthen its supply chain.



Next year, the company is also likely to engage into online groceries with the acquisition of RedMart, the report said.



The e-commerce site is reportedly doing all these efforts in the region, which is seen as the next battleground for the Alibaba and Amazon.



With the growing adoption of e-commerce in the region, Southeast Asia has become the fastest-growing Internet arena in the world although it lacks the transport and payments infrastructure, the report said.



When asked to comment about Amazon's entry, Lazada CEO Maximilian Bittner said: "It's a jungle out here. We are looking forward to seeing how they will differentiate themselves."



Alibaba's acquisition of Lazada from Rocket Internet is regarded as crucial to the company's plan to expand overseas and achieve its goal to become a global business.



On the other hand, Amazon has made significant moves in India.



Although Amazon has not announced its plans in Southeast Asia, the industry is expecting that it expand to the region next year.



In November, Techcrunch said that the company is likely to bring Prime delivery service and Amazon Fresh to Singapore in the first quarter, with the city state serving as a springboard for expansion in the region.



"Both of them will want to dominate Southeast Asia," Thompson Teo, an associate professor at NUS Business School was quoted as saying. "Alibaba has acquired companies to shorten the learning curve and grow faster. It's going to give Amazon a good fight."



The key to Lazada's effort is to have a system that will enable it to deliver goods from merchants in other countries into Southeast Asia.



Currently, the region is dominated by operators in some areas such as MatahariMall and Tokopedia in Indonesia and Garena, a startup.



The company operates in six countries, namely, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. It manages 12 warehouses and 92 distribution centers. Among its 100 logistics partners include Kerry Logistics Network Ltd. and DHL in Thailand and JNE Express in Indonesia. Recently, it partnered with China's state postal service and CJ Korea Express Corp.



Bittner said that the volume of Lazada in Indonesia grew 2.5 times in September, compared to figures last year.



"We see ourselves as a logistics control tower in Southeast Asia," Bittner said. "We are looking at building a better, more sophisticated logistics capability. The world is shifting toward borderless e-commerce system and that's very much the vision of Alibaba and us."



Lazada has now gained presence in Singapore with the acquisition of RedMart. In the second half of 2017, the company plans to start selling groceries online in Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand, according to Bittner.



RedMart co-founder and CEO, Roger Egan said that they have more than 150 trucks that can carry an average of 22 food items.



He said that they will also try to reduce delivery times to four to six hours (from mostly next-day) by the end of the first half of 2017. In the second half of the year, they will have an express service, to ship groceries within an hour or two after ordering them online.



"Grocery is seen as notoriously difficult one to do online, but it's the largest market representing 60 percent of overall Southeast Asian retail," Egan said.



"Customers are much more engaged. They visit twice a week so the frequency allows you to develop a deep relationship with customers."


by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, December 19, 2016

Microsoft is making available a data set from Bing search and Cortana virtual assistant queries to researchers who want to train their artificial intelligence systems. The data set -- called Microsoft Machine Reading Comprehension or MS MARCO -- is an anonymized data set based on real queries typed into the Bing search engine. The goal is to help AI platforms understand questions in a conversational tone.

The white paper, released in late November from the Microsoft AI and Research team, outlines ways to "overcome a number of well-known weaknesses of previous publicly available datasets for the same task of reading comprehension and question answering." Answers to the queries are generated by humans, and the subset of those queries have multiple answers.

For every question in the dataset, researchers asked a crowdsourced worker to answer those they can and to mark relevant passages that provide supporting information for the answer. If they cant answer the question, the researchers consider the question unanswerable and include a sample of those in MS MARCO.

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Last week, Microsoft Ventures, the company's VC arm, announced a new fund for AI startups, which already supports a startup called Element AI based in Montreal. The company is working to build AI systems. It works with local startups trying to apply neural networks for commercial use.

Researchers plan to release one million queries and corresponding answers in the dataset. "We are currently releasing 100,000 queries with their corresponding answers to inspire work in reading comprehension and question answering along with gathering feedback from the research community, researchers wrote in the white paper.

The long-term goal of the research is to develop more advanced data sets to assess and facilitate research toward real, human-like reading comprehension.
by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, December 19, 2016

This summer, Google revised its privacy policy to allow the company to combine data about people's Web-browsing activity -- which ad companies long insisted was "anonymous" -- with information seen as personally identifiable.

The updated terms apply to new account holders by default, but only affect existing users who opt in. The company rolled out the new policy in June, when it announced plans to beef up its ad-targeting capabilities by meshing data about people's Web browsing (gleaned from DoubleClick's ad service) with other information, like people's YouTube viewing and use of maps.

When Google notified users about the new policy, the company asked people to opt in to receiving personalized ads. At the time, Google promised users that doing so would allow them to control ads more easily. "Opting in gives you more granular control over how ads work across devices signed into your Google account," Wired wrote in June. "If a search for boat shoes (you know, the grey ones with white laces) haunts you across the web, youll be able to kill it everywhere, all at once, rather than going device by device."

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In October, ProPublica examined Google's move in depth, focusing on its decision to end a longstanding prohibition on combining personally identifiable data with non-personally identifiable information.

ProPublica concluded that Google's new policy lets the company "build a complete portrait of a user by name, based on everything they write in email, every website they visit and the searches they conduct."

Now, longtime Google critic Consumer Watchdog, along with the Privacy Rights Clearing House, is asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the company.

"Google has engaged in a dangerously invasive and far-reaching appropriation of user data," the groups say in an FTC complaint.

They add that the company "has given itself the power to track users across the overwhelming majority of websites in use in the world today, many of which appear to users to be entirely unconnected from Google."

The advocates accuse Google of duping users in June by asking them to accept the new policy without clearly explaining that it removes a longstanding ban on combining identifiable and anonymous information.

"Google required existing users to click through a notification announcing their accounts' 'new features,' which ostensibly gave the users 'more control over the data Google collects and how its used,'" the groups write. "The notification referenced the combination of the two data tranches two-thirds of the way down the page and in an oblique manner."

The groups continue: "This announcement intentionally misled users, who had no way to discern from the wording that Google was breaking from a nearly decade-old practice and asking them if it could link their personal information to data reflecting their behavior on as many as 80% of the Internets leading websites."

They also point out that in 2007, when Google sought to acquire DoubleClick, Google company worked hard to convey the impression that it would keep data about people's Web browsing separate from other information.

David Drummond, Google's chief legal officer, testified to a Senate panel that ad-serving information collected by DoubleClick data is "owned by the customers, publishers and advertisers," and that "DoubleClick or Google cannot do anything with it."

Drummond added in his prepared testimony that DoubleClick "does not own and has very limited rights to use any of the data it processes on behalf of its publisher and advertiser clients.

Consumer Watchdog and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse also note that Google has a checkered history when it comes to online privacy. In 2012, after Google was caught circumventing Safari's default settings, which prevented tracking, the company agreed to pay $22.5 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges. Several years before, Google entered into a consent decree with the FTC stemming from its launch of Buzz, which aimed to create networks out of people's email contacts. At launch, the feature revealed information about the names of users' email contacts, if users activated Buzz without changing the defaults.

The groups now want the FTC to fine Google and to order the company to disgorge ad revenues obtained as a result of the new policy.

For its part, Google says it tested the update "around the world with the goal of understanding how to provide users with clear choice and transparency."

The company adds: "It is 100% optional -- if users do not opt-in to these changes, their Google experience will remain unchanged."
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, December 19, 2016

Lawyers for a group of teen sex-trafficking victims are making a final push to convince the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on whether classifieds company Backpage can be sued for allegedly enabling crime.

The teens are trying to revive their 2014 lawsuit accusing the company of encouraging sex trafficking through the design of its Web site. The teens, who said that pimps posted ads about them in Backpage's escort section, argued that the company created an online marketplace "devoted to facilitating the sale of children for sex."

A trial judge in Boston dismissed the case, ruling that Backpage was protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which immunizes Web platforms from liability for users' activity.

A three-judge panel of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that ruling earlier this year. "Congress did not sound an uncertain trumpet when it enacted the CDA, and it chose to grant broad protections to internet publishers," the appellate judges wrote in a unanimous decision.

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After Backpage prevailed in that court, lawyers for the teens asked the Supreme Court to hear the case. Earlier this month, Backpage opposed that request, arguing in court papers that the earlier decisions are in line with numerous other rulings that dismissed cases against Web platforms.

Last week, counsel for the teens fired back against Backpage, arguing that the company's interpretation of the Communications Decency Act is too sweeping.

"Broad immunity from liability for criminal conduct is a rarity in our law, especially for private entities," they say in new court papers. "It was error for the court of appeals to confer such immunity on ISPs."

When the case was pending in front of the trial judge, Backpage drew the support of digital rights advocates including the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Center for Democracy & Technology. Those organizations argued that Web sites would lose their ability to serve as a forum for unfiltered speech if operators had to police the sites for crimes.

If online service providers were required to engage in protracted and expensive litigation whenever plaintiffs alleged that they were harmed by user-generated content hosted or transmitted by intermediaries, these online platforms for users speech would inevitably become more expensive, more restrictive, and ultimately less available for individual expression, the groups said in a friend-of-the-court brief filed with the trial judge.

But lawyers for the teens are dismissive of that argument. "Establishing clear boundaries between claims that would hold ISPs liable merely for hosting others content and claims that hold ISPs liable for their own criminal actions would protect rather than inhibit, lawful commerce and innovation on the internet," they write.

The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled on whether Section 230 immunizes Web companies when users post unlawful material. But courts have sided with numerous other Web companies -- including AOL, Craigslist, MySpace, Google and Facebook -- on that issue.
Sleeping in the first 24 hours after a traumatic event may help people to process the memory more effectively and therefore minimize the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to research published in the journal Sleep. Share on Pinterest A traumatic incident can sometimes leave people with long-term stress. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an ongoing reaction to events such as the sudden death of a loved one, an accident, a sexual assault, or a violent attack. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 7-8 percent of people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Statistics show that it is more common among war veterans, ranging from 11 percent to 20 percent, depending on the field of combat. When bad things happen, it can take time for a person to work through the negative emotions. In time, the distressing memories should gradually fade away. In PTSD, however, they may not. A person with PTSD can experience flashbacks, bad dreams, and seemingly illogical fears for months or even years after the event.

The effects of PTSD According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an adult must have certain symptoms for at least a month to be diagnosed with PTSD. Fast facts about PTSD Around 8 million adults in the U.S. will have PTSD during a given year

Some 50 percent of women and 60 percent of men experience trauma at some time

About 10 percent of women develop PTSD, compared with 4 percent of men. Learn more about PTSD The symptoms include: Flashbacks

Avoiding a person, event, or object related to the experience, or refusing to think about anything associated with it

Arousal and reactivity symptoms, such as feeling easily startled, tense, or being unable to sleep

Symptoms that affect cognition and mood, such as loss of interest in things the person usually enjoys, or distorted feelings of guilt If the effects interfere with work or relationships, this indicates that the person has PTSD. Children will have slightly different signs and symptoms. The symptoms of PTSD do not necessarily emerge straight away. They may start to develop 3 months or even a year after the event. Now, Prof. Birgit Kleim and colleagues from the University of Zurich and the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland have carried out an experiment, the findings of which suggest that sleeping after a traumatic event can help to process the memories and help people to move on. In the past, it has been unclear whether sleep plays a positive role in processing stress and trauma, or if it makes the emotional reactions and memories more intense.
In 2014, recreational cannabis use was legalized in Colorado, and seven other states have since followed suit. With an ever-expanding part of the population using marijuana to cure a number of ailments, researchers at Colorado State University have investigated its effects on mood. Share on Pinterest The latest study finds that casual cannabis users have a stronger relationship with negative moods, compared with heavy and nonusers. The researchers  led by Lucy Troup, assistant professor in the universitys Department of Psychology  publish their findings in the journal PeerJ. They note that the relationship between cannabis use and symptomatology of mood and anxiety disorders is complex, adding that although a great deal of research exists and continues to grow, the evidence remains contradictory. Troup and colleagues point to a large international survey published in 2013, in which 5.2 percent of respondents reported that they used cannabis to alleviate depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, a survey of medical marijuana users in California revealed that 26.1 percent of participants reported therapeutic benefits for depression, and 37.8 percent reported benefits for anxiety. This trend of self-medication for conditions other than the one prescribed is too large to ignore when investigating the associations between cannabis use and mood disorders, write the Colorado State University researchers. They add that this increases the need to include recreational users for research, especially when the casual user group are most likely recreational users and seem to sustain the greatest deficits in mood.

Is cannabis used correctly for self-medication? For their study, Troup and colleagues wanted to focus on Colorado, which was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana. As such, they conducted an in-depth, questionnaire-based study of 178 legal cannabis users who were aged 18-22. They divided their participants into three groups based on self-reported use: a control group who never used cannabis, a casual user group, and a group of chronic users. Interestingly, the participants who were categorized with subclinical depression, and who also used cannabis to treat their depressive symptoms, scored lower on anxiety symptoms than on their depressive symptoms. In short, they were more depressed than anxious. The researchers also say that the self-reported anxiety sufferers were found to be more anxious than depressed. Study co-author Jacob Braunwalder, a researcher in Troups laboratory, says that if they were using cannabis for self-medication, it wasnt doing what they thought it was doing. The questionnaire used in the study was developed by co-author Jeremy Andrzejewski. Called the Recreational Cannabis Use Evaluation, the questionnaire delved into users habits, including whether they smoked cannabis or used stronger products such as hash oils or edibles. The researchers say that inconsistencies in previous studies are better understood when considering how cannabis use is reported. Phytocannabinoid type and strength is not consistent between studies, they say, and there have been significant changes in the strength of these products post-legalization.
Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a computer simulation that helps predict under which circumstances a new short-course treatment regimen for drug-resistant tuberculosis could substantially reduce the global incidence and spread of the disease.

The computer model was developed to help understand the impact of a recommendation issued in May by the World Health Organization for wider use of a new nine- to 12-month treatment regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The conventional treatment regimen takes 18 months to two years.

Tuberculosis, which is spread through the air from one person to another, is the No. 1 cause of infectious disease deaths in the world, with an incidence of approximately 10 million new cases and 1.7 million deaths each year. MDR-TB is strains of TB bacteria that cannot be killed by the strongest-available TB drugs, rifampin and isoniazid. These strains alone are estimated to cause almost 500,000 new TB cases and over 100,000 deaths each year.

In the study, described in the The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, the researchers found that the new regimen could lower the incidence of MDR-TB in Southeast Asia by 23 percent more than conventional treatment over eight years. Importantly, they describe the types of situations where this number might be an over- or underestimate. If the new regimen could achieve this same impact on a global scale, over 100,000 new cases of MDR-TB could be averted every year.

Conventional treatments for MDR-TB are costly and uncomfortable. The drugs used include a daily injection that must be taken for the first eight months of the regimen, followed my many more months of pills. These drugs frequently cause severe side effects, such as nausea, headache, chest pain and rash. MDR-TB costs five to 10 times more to treat than other TB cases, and the costs of drugs and time are a burden to health systems and patients worldwide. In the U.S., treating MDR-TB can cost anywhere between $17,000 to $482,000 per person. As a result, compliance with the regimen and its availability in poorer countries is limited, leading to further spread of the disease.

"About 15 to 20 percent of patients who start conventional treatment for drug-resistant TB don't finish, mostly because of the length, expense and discomfort associated with it," says Emily Kendall, M.D., an instructor in the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "The short-course regimen could cut both treatment time and cost of treatment in half."

Promising outcomes of preliminary studies in patients in Southeast Asia and parts of Western and Central Africa led the World Health Organization to make the recommendation, but safety and efficacy have not yet been proven in large-scale clinical trials. Kendall says uncertainty about the new regimen's role prompted her group's interest in creating a computer model to assist health care groups and governments in deciding whether or not to switch to the new regimen, which uses a combination of seven drugs.

Kendall says the model her team created allows researchers to "virtually" explore the new regimen's impact in a simulated population. By tuning the model to replicate population data, such as the number of people at risk for developing TB and the fraction of TB patients who have drug resistance, the model can predict changes in the TB disease burden - or number of cases - over many years.

For the test study, Kendall's team based the model on experience in Southeast Asia, where the short-course regimen was originally developed by a group of researchers in Bangladesh. They found that, compared to using the conventional treatment in this population, which only reduced current MDR-TB incidence by 14 percent, using the new short-course treatment decreased the incidence of MDR-TB by 23 percent in eight years in the model.

The Johns Hopkins investigators caution, however, that the short-term treatment's impact is dependent on several assumptions, including that no more than 10 percent of possible patients are excluded from treatment by additional drug resistance and that using the new regimen actually increases the number of MDR-TB patients treated. If these assumptions do not play out in actual practice, using the new regimen could have substantially less impact - and even lead to more cases - than using the conventional regimen, in some cases. The model is helpful in describing the situations where the new regimen is likely to have large impact, small impact or no impact at all.

"Several important factors are still uncertain, but if we can keep the number of excluded patients down to around 10 percent, if treatment of the other 90 percent of patients is as successful as preliminary studies suggest and if cost savings from the shorter regimen allow more patients to be treated, then this regimen is likely to have a really big impact," says Kendall.

Kendall also cautioned that there are some populations in which the short-course regimen may not work well. For example, the regimen is not yet recommended for children or for TB infections outside of the lungs. "Our computer tool can help guide certain decisions about the short regimen," Kendall says, "but scientists and health care workers still need to be really vigilant about gathering more data on how it's working and for whom it is working best as we begin to use it more widely."

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (5T32AI007291-25) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Work Order 10).
Dendritic cells represent an important component of the immune system: they recognize and engulf invaders, which subsequently triggers a pathogen-specific immune response. Scientists of the University Hospital Erlangen of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nurnberg (FAU) and the LIMES (Life and Medical Sciences) Institute of the University of Bonn gained substantial knowledge of human dendritic cells, which might contribute to the development of immune therapies in the future. The results were recently published in the Journal Science Immunology.

Dendritic cells - their name is derived from the large amount of dendrites on their cell surface - populate most parts of the human body. There they act as guards by recognizing, engulfing, and processing foreign pathogens. Finally, those dendritic cells migrate to nearby lymph nodes, where they interact with other immune cells to trigger a pathogen-specific immune response. Consequently, dendritic cells play an important role within the complex immune system. In recent years, it became evident that in the mouse dendritic cells are composed of different subtypes, which differ in function and distribution across the body. In contrast, less was known about the corresponding situation in humans.

Recently, Dr. Gordon Heidkamp and Prof. Dr. Diana Dudziak from the University Hospital Erlangen performed a global study, which, for the first time, systematically characterized dendritic cells in different human organs such as blood, spleen, thymus, tonsils, bone marrow, cord blood. Using 16-color flow cytometry, they detected different dendritic cell subtypes, determined their distribution across the various organs and identified important cell surface proteins. As a result, the scientists revealed that the surface profiles of dendritic cells of the same subtype are constant throughout the different tissues.

Additionally, the scientists from Erlangen isolated dendritic cells from human blood, spleen, and thymus and analyzed their genetic information in the form of ribonucleic acid (RNA). The complex data analysis was performed in close collaboration with Jil Sander and Prof. Dr. Joachim L. Schultze from the LIMES Institute of the University of Bonn. Using innovative methods, for example Cibersort analysis, they were able to imposingly demonstrate that the different subtypes share a constant profile, regardless of their initial location. Prof. Dr. Schultze: "In contrast, our data further demonstrate that within non-lymphatic organs such as lungs and skin, tissue-specific signals have a higher impact on the transcriptional output of dendritic cells."

According to these recently published findings and due to the special characteristics of dendritic cells, the scientists expect substantial impacts on the therapy of immune diseases as well as on the development of new approaches to treat tumors. Prof. Dudziak summarizes: "There is evidence that dendritic cells might play a crucial role for the development of innovative therapies targeting the immune system. Our results help to understand the fundamental characteristics of dendritic cells."

The study was conducted in a close collaboration between Dr. Gordon Heidkamp and Prof. Dr. Diana Dudziak from the University Hospital Erlangen and Jil Sander and Prof. Dr. Joachim L. Schultze from the LIMES Institute of the University of Bonn. The latter are members of the excellence cluster ImmunoSensation. In total, 31 scientists were involved in this project, located in Erlangen, Bonn, Kiel, Bamberg, Augsburg, Frankfurt, and Singapore.


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If the at-least-70-year-old virus is responsible for the recently reported neurological diseases, why were the first serious effects not noticed until recently? And, why were these effects first in Brazil, very distant from its continent of apparent origin, Africa? The mysterious history of the virus matters because its details might tell us the backstory of how it came to be what it is where it is and from that, why it is doing so much damage.But, how do you know the history of an invisible virus, which leaves no physical record? It is especially hard to know the history of Zika because the seemingly benign disease has been under-the-radar for most of its known time in human hosts.This is where genetics can help, since single-strand RNA viruses like Zika tend to change rapidly over time and, with bioinformatics, researchers can deduce what the ancestral relationships are between different viruses collected at different places in different times from different hosts. While the first noted occurrence of the virus was in Africa, it was detected only a few years later in Asia, and separate lineages of the disease are known from both areas - a clue that the history hidden in the genes may be complicated."But sequence data on Zika is limited," notes University of North Carolina at Charlotte Bioinformatics and Genomics Professor Daniel Janies. "People have made the assumption that it came out of Africa because that's where it was discovered. However, it has not been easy to reconstruct the history of Zika with the data we have," he said.Janies heads a team of researchers who have recently completed a phylogenetic and geographic analysis of the available collection of Zika's genetic sequences. The analysis provides the most complete study of the virus's history to date and reveals specific genetic changes that occurred as the virus crossed the Pacific Ocean on its way to the Americas. An analysis of the genes involved also suggests new hypotheses to explain the virus's association with microcephaly and GBS.A report by Janies, Adriano de Bernardi Schneider, Jun-tao Guo, Gregorio Linchangco, Zachary Witter, Dylan Vinesett and Lambodhar Damodaran from the department of Bioinformatics and Genomics at UNC Charlotte, Robert Malone from Atheric Pharmaceutical, and Jane Homan from IoGenetics LLC appears in the current issue of"Our results indicate that Zika may have deep ancestry in Asia that has been under-recorded," Janies said. "For example, not all the recent global outbreaks of Zika appear to result from a simple linear chronology of travel from the most recent past outbreak.""Recently there has been an outbreak of Zika in Singapore in parallel to the one in the Americas. We have updated our analyses and the Singapore Zika virus is distantly related to the viral lineage in the Americas. This lends support for the hypothesis that there are yet-to-be discovered reservoirs of Zika virus in Asia," Janies said.The Cladistics report traces Zika's phylogenetic tree through analysis of genetic sequences, combining it with the chronology and geographic information from the samples, and allows the researchers to detail the virus' probable historical path as well as specific genetic and structural changes in the virus as it traveled to the Americas.The researchers noted in particular some new mutations that began appearing in the virus as it traveled from island to island across the Pacific. Not long after these mutations appear, there are records in French Polynesia of an increase in both microcephaly and GBS. The specific nature of the new mutations in the virus also suggest to the team some possible relationships between viral infection and the severe symptoms associated with the virus in the Americas."We looked at the viral changes that correspond to the first reports of microcephaly and we saw the origins of these changes in the Pacific lineages," Janies noted. "There are mutations that occurred in the part of the viral genome that codes the viral envelope protein and the ends of the viral genome that are called 'untranslated regions.' We focused on the envelope protein because that's the part responsible for the entry of the virus to host's cells. We studied the untranslated regions since they mediate the types of tissues the virus attacks and viral replication."Both sets of mutations suggested potential relationships to the virus's new association with neurological and developmental problems in adults and infants."Members of our team found that Zika has recently started making its envelope proteins with features, called epitopes, that are similar to human proteins, which could cause a human host immune response to the virus to be diluted," Janies said. "The theory underlying this idea is called 'epitope mimicry.' The similarity is advantageous to the virus because it confuses the host's immune system and blunts the immune reaction to the virus."However, the researchers suspect that the human proteins being mimicked may be significant for reasons besides providing immune system "cover" for the attacking virus.An important element of the envelope protein mutation, Janies points out, is not only in the mimicry itself, but also, in the specific genes being mimicked: "Our team members found that two of the human proteins that Zika is mimicking are involved in the signaling that goes on when the sensory organs are being formed in the fetus. These genes are called 'Neuron Navigator Protein 2' and 'Human Neurogenic Differentiation Factor 4'," he said."Because these are the proteins are being mimicked, a hypothesis is that the developmental pathways that rely on the proteins may be being disrupted by the immune system," Janies said.The other mutations, on the untranslated regions, suggest other possible effects that might change where Zika virus infects in the body."Although epitope mimicry hypothesis helps clarify the protein-immune interaction, the mutations in the untranslated regions may explain the types of tissues Zika attacks" UNC Charlotte Bioinformatics and Genomics graduate student Adriano de Bernardi Schneider said. "The presence of specific binding regions on untranslated regions of the Zika viral genome, called "Musashi Binding Elements" provides bases for the study of changes in tissue preference of the virus."In this part of the study, the authors evaluated the changes in the virus' Musashi Binding Elements and found that they increased the efficiency of the Zika virus that is circulating in the Americas in hijacking human cells.Musashi is a family of RNA-binding proteins in the host cells that control gene expression and the development of stem cells. The finding that Zika has mutated to be better at binding to human Musashi proteins, leads to the hypothesis that Zika is adapting to be more efficient at attacking human cells. Moreover, the role of Musashi proteins in stem cells provides another possible target for the study of developmental defects in the fetus associated with Zika infection in pregnancy.Both the autoimmune effect and changes in the virus' tissue specificity are working hypotheses suggested by computational models and will require further study to verify.In contrast, the information gained from studying Zika's phylogenetic history is of immediate importance to medicine and public health response, as this work puts the mutations in specific time and place context, at a time when the virus has nearly circled the planet, changing from place to place in its travels and leaving different variants. Many versions of the virus currently exist globally and these variants have different capabilities and effects."We're tracing the lineages and the geographic links in a very rigorous way and pulling it all together, pin-pointing Zika's molecular changes in time and space - showing what actually is going on in different places," Janies said."Why does it matter? Well, when Zika arrives someplace is it going to be benign or dangerous? It has been both - it depends on where it is coming from."Source: Eurekalert
Microsoft Surface Phone (Photo : Twitter / Evleaks)

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella hinted recently that there might be a future release date for the rumored Surface Phone but he stopped short of providing the juicy details. The company chief though allowed that the Windows 10 mobile handset will be the "ultimate mobile device" when it comes out.



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And 'ultimate' likely means that the upcoming Surface Phone will be distinct from the other smartphones, which could be in terms of functionalities. Reports said the main plus of the Surface Phone over the competition is the Windows 10 platform, specifically the built-in Continuum feature.



Continuum permits the transformation of a mobile device into a full desktop setting by simply hooking it up on a monitor. And this happening smoothly was seemingly confirmed by Microsoft's announced partnership with giant chipmaker Qualcomm.



The collaboration will result to Windows 10 supporting ARM-based chips starting with Qualcomm's next-generation Snapdragon 835. Experts said that with SD 835 powering the Surface Phone, the device will have the ability to emulate x86 applications in a mobile environment that will pave the way for Continuum in full function.



According to Tom's Guide, there Surface Phone will unbox in three editions that will lure in business, professional and average users. And like the Galaxy Note phablet by Samsung, the Surface Phone is likely to include a stylus or a scaled down version of the Surface Pen. This seems to align with the speculations that the device is actually planned by Microsoft as a downsized Surface Pro.



As for the pricing details, the same report is convinced that Microsoft will deliver the Surface Phone with competitive sticker price. The benchmark will likely be the Apple iPhone and flagship Android devices, meaning the asking price for a Surface Phone will range between $600 and $800. But it wouldn't be too surprising if certain editions of the mobile device will be priced beyond $1000, which likely will be true for the professional and enterprise builds.



And the Surface Phone rollout time will greatly depend on two things - the mass availability of SD 835 and the next instalment of Windows 10 update. Per Qualcomm, SD 835 will come out in the first quarter of 2017 as the chip is rumored to be the main engine for Samsung's Galaxy S8.



But it's unlikely that the Surface Phone will drop in the early months of next year since Microsoft has already indicated that the next-generation Surface devices will showcase the fresh features and capabilities that will be revealed by Windows 10 Creators and Redstone 3 updates.



That means the Surface Phone 2017 release date is set following the March rollout of Creators Update, or more likely in the immediate months or even weeks after the scheduled Redstone 3 arrival in August 2017.


A while ago, a film student from Amsterdam experienced what many people face every day. His iPhone was stolen while he was lunching and it led him to report the theft to the local authorities but nothing fruitful ever transpired. The thief had already disposed of the SIM card and disconnected the phone from the Internet so that it could not be tracked.

The victim, Anthony Van der Meer, was curious as to who and what kind of people steal phones and where do they eventually end up. So, Van der Meer decided to have yet another phone of his swiped again; however, he was prepared this time.

He pre-installed some necessary spyware so that he could track and keep tabs on the stolen phone and the thief. This enabled him to keep a close eye on the thief and get to know him up close and personal.

 Thinkstock

Van der Meer would be able to keep a tab on his phone as he installed the anti-theft app Cerberus. The app would enable him to track the phones location and even the contents of the phone. He could use the phones camera and microphone to listen in on conversations and surreptitiously spy on the thief. It took Van der Meer four days to get his phone nicked as he planted the phone in various locations and it was time for him to discover what was really going on with his stolen phone.

 YouTube

The film student secretly followed the thief for the next two weeks where he documented his each and every move. He was able to turn the footage he obtained into a documentary which was very thrilling, disturbing and informative.

 YouTube

To find out what goes on in the mind of a thief mind, we suggest you watch the short documentary below.
Even though it might seem that smartphones are enjoying a boom in the Indian smartphone market, one of the few Chinese mobile companies is calling it quits. Acer, have inevitably decided that they will no longer sell mobile phones in India.

 BCCL

The Taiwan-based company wants to focus on its growing laptop and other hardware business in India and want to put a hold on sales of Acer phones in India for the time being.

India is the fastest growing market when it comes to mobile phones as we see new entrants in the market every day. Chinese companies like OnePlus, Xiaomi and other Indian brands have enjoyed high volume sales in India especially when they participate in flash sales on e-commerce websites. However, Acer never really took part in the flash sale model, which resulted in them selling only 30,000 phones this year. If compared to Xiaomi, they have managed to sell over 3 million units between July and September alone.

 BCCL

Acer India didnt even bother to introduce a new flagship phone in India that might have helped their sales and footing in the smartphone industry. They lacked the proper distribution to penetrate the market, which also resulted in poor sales. Even though Acer might have launched a range of Android and Windows phones with ancient specs, they still remained dubious about their marketing strategies.

I hope you know what youre doing Acer India?
The Creepy Real-Life Men In Black (Photo : YouTube/ BuzzFeedBlue )

UFO conspiracy theorist was reported dead under questionable circumstance, including vomiting of black fluid before his death. Such incident ignited a series of speculations hinting at an unknown clandestine group aiming to silent UFO investigators and witnesses.



UFO conspiracy theorist, Max Spiers died last July 16, but details of his mysterious death have been gradually surfacing online. According to Yahoo News, the 39 year old UFO theorist and enthusiast was found dead on a couch in Poland. Based on reports online, Spiers went to the said state in order to speak at a conference, which somehow relates to his goal of exposing government cover-ups.



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Although his death was ruled as caused by natural factors, his mother thinks the opposite. Without any post-mortem being done by local authorities at the time, Spiers' mother Vanessa Bates does not accept the ruling, especially after his son sent a chilling message detailing that he (Max) is in danger.



Under such circumstances, Bates together with other people believed that Spiers investigations into UFOs and government cover-ups may have caused his alleged murder.



"But I think Max had been digging in some dark places and I fear that somebody wanted him dead," Yahoo News Australia quoted Vanessa Bates as saying.



As a means of speculation, the occurrence of events and questionable details surrounding the death of the UFO conspiracy theorist, it may somehow be relevant to look into the idea of real "Men in Black" as discussed by the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON).



MUFON in their report highlighted the idea of real "MIB" lurking in the background along with extra-terrestrial sightings and reports. Based on the report, these real "Men in Black" operates clandestinely from within a specific government agency and are traveling around with the goal of silencing witnesses.



That being said, it cannot be helped for conspiracy theorists to relegate the demise of UFO investigator Max Spiers to the clandestine men operating in the background and silencing witnesses. However, it is still too early to conclude on things, guess we would just have to wait and see where the investigation of Spiers' family will end.






Nokia P flagship (Photo : Twitter / AndroidHeadlines)

Nokia is expected to be working on couple of smartphones including flagship and mid range phones. Recently, the specifications and renders of an alleged Nokia flagship dubbed as Nokia P have surfaced.



Nokia P Specifications, Features

The purported upcoming Nokia flagship has been spotted on Weibo. It has a Nokia logo of placed on the rear side of the phone.



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The Nokia P flagship is likely to come powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset that includes Adreno 540 graphics. It will be supported by 6 GB of RAM. It is said to be equipped with a quad HD resolution display.



The device is also rumored to sport 23-megapixel rear camera featuring a Zeiss lens. The image indicates the device will be available in gray color variant, Phone Arena reported.



Nokia P Launch Date

Besides the leaked photos and few specs of Nokia P that have surfaced, there are no other information available. HMD is likely to announce the smartphone at the MWC 2017 event that will be held in February next year.



However, other speculations indicate that Nokia will focus on launching affordable smartphones at the beginning and the more powerful ones like the aforementioned Nokia P flagship may arrive later in 2017.



Recent rumors have also revealed that an alleged budget smartphone codenamed as Nokia D1C is also in works. Reports claim that the phone will come in two variants having different sizes, different RAM capacities and camera features.



Nokia D1C Specifications, Features

The first variant of Nokia D1C will feature a 5-inch screen with full HD resolution. It is likely to come equipped with 2 GB of RAM and will feature a 13-megapixel rear camera. The other variant of D1C will be packed with a 5.5-inch screen with full HD resolution. The phone is expected to come with 3 GB of RAM and it will sport 16-megapixel rear camera.



Both the variants are speculated to run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 430 processor. It is expected to run on the latest Nougat update, NokiaPowerUser reported.



Will Nokia be able to gain popularity among popular Chinese brands like Oppo, Xiaomi, Huawei, and Lenovo? Do let us know your views by adding your comments below.



In 2014, Nokia had released a Nokia N1 tablet running on Android. Here is its review:






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Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will attend the 4th European Union-Arab League Ministerial Meeting, which is taking place on Tuesday, 20 December, at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.



Discussion will focus on the prospects for strengthening and intensifying interregional cooperation and dialogue, while the Ministerial Meeting will culminate in the two organizations' adoption of a Joint Cooperation Programme for 2016-2018 and the EU-Arab League Declaration.
Given the fragile political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Foreign Ministry advises Greeks permanently residing there to stay abreast of developments and remain in contact with the Greek Embassy in Kinshasa (emergency telephone no. 00243 811050055) and with the Foreign Ministry (210-368 1730 / 1350, email: ).



The Foreign Ministry advises Greek citizens to avoid travelling to the Congo at the present time. Should security conditions deteriorate, Greeks in the DRC are called upon to remain calm, avoid venturing unnecessarily into public spaces, and contact the Greek Embassy in Kinshasa, which, depending on conditions, will consider the possible implementation of an evacuation process.

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Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will chair a meeting of the National Council on Foreign Policy (NCFP) on Friday, 23 December, at the Foreign Ministry.

For the second time this year, the Cyprus issue will be the sole item on the agenda for the NCFP meeting. The discussion will be a follow-up to the two briefings Mr. Kotzias has already held, within a month, for Greek MPs during meetings of the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee (18 November 2016) and the members of the Hellenic Parliament Friendship Groups (30 November 2016).
We're fascinated by homes that rise above the rest in terms of popularity. Each week, we count the clicks and run down the most popular homes on realtor.com. Now, we're ready to close the books on 2016 (in all ways imaginable)so we're counting down the most popular properties of the entire year.

Nearly 365 days' worth of your clicks have been tabulated, and we weren't completely shocked by this year's winner. The country's biggest fixer-upper was the subject of one of our most popular articles of the year. Located in Texas, the mammoth structure is still looking for a buyer willing to spend $3.6 million on a home that's only a little more than halfway done.
Derwent London plc owns 83 buildings in a commercial real estate portfolio predominantly in central London valued at 5.4 billion (including joint ventures) as at 30 June 2020, making it the largest London-focused real estate investment trust (REIT). Our experienced team has a long track record of creating value throughout the property cycle by regenerating our buildings via development or refurbishment, effective asset management and capital recycling. We typically acquire central London properties off-market with low capital values and modest rents in improving locations, most of which are either in the West End or the Tech Belt. We capitalise on the unique qualities of each of our properties - taking a fresh approach to the regeneration of every building with a focus on anticipating tenant requirements and an emphasis on design. Reflecting and supporting our long-term success, the business has a strong balance sheet with modest leverage, a robust income stream and flexible financing. As part of our commitment to lead the industry in mitigating climate change, in October 2019, Derwent London became the first UK REIT to sign a Green Revolving Credit Facility. At the same time, we also launched our Green Finance Framework and signed the Better Buildings Partnership's climate change commitment. The Group is a member of the 'RE100' which recognises Derwent London as an influential company, committed to 100% renewable power by purchasing renewable energy, a key step in becoming a net zero carbon business. Derwent London is one of only a few property companies worldwide to have science-based carbon targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Landmark schemes in our 5.6 million sq ft portfolio include 80 Charlotte Street W1, Brunel Building W2, White Collar Factory EC1, Angel Building EC1, 1-2 Stephen Street W1, Horseferry House SW1 and Tea Building E1. In 2019, the Group won several awards including EG Offices Company of the Year, the CoStar West End Deal of the Year for Brunel Building, Westminster Business Council's Best Achievement in Sustainability award and topped the real estate sector and was placed ninth overall in the Management Today 2019 awards for 'Britain's Most Admired Companies'. In 2013 the Company launched a voluntary Community Fund and has to date supported over 100 community projects in the West End and the Tech Belt. The Company is a public limited company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of its registered office is 25 Savile Row, London,
Emera Incorporated, an energy and services company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity to various customers. The company operates through Florida Electric Utility, Canadian Electric Utilities, Other Electric Utilities, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Other segments. It generates electricity through coal-fired, natural gas and/or oil, hydro, wind, solar, petroleum coke, and biomass-fueled power plants. The company is also involved in the purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of natural gas; and the provision of energy marketing, trading, and other energy asset management services. In addition, it transports re-gasified liquefied natural gas from Saint John, New Brunswick to consumers in the northeastern United States through its 145-kilometer pipeline. As of December 31, 2021, the company's electric utilities served approximately 810,600 customers in West Central Florida; 536,000 customers in Nova Scotia; 132,000 customers in the island of Barbados; 19,000 customers in the Grand Bahama Island; and 35,700 customers in the island of Dominica, as well as gas utilities and infrastructure served approximately 445,000 customers across Florida and 542,000 customers in New Mexico. It also provides insurance and reinsurance services to Emera and its affiliates, as well as offers financing services. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Halifax, Canada.
Model N, Inc. provides cloud revenue management solutions for life sciences and high-tech companies. The company offers Global Pricing Management, which minimizes price erosion of products; Global Tender Management that enhances revenue by enabling segmentation and targeting, optimal bid pricing, and post-award tracking; Provider Management, which minimizes rebate overpayments; Payer Management that minimizes revenue leakage and noncompliance of complex contracts; Government Pricing, which optimizes revenue, and reduces the risk of fines and other penalties; and Medicaid that enhances compliance with regulatory requirements and payments of rebate claims timely, as well as at correct rates for government medicaid programs. It also provides Deal Management, which increases deal conversion and pricing consistency; Deal Intelligence that controls price concessions and determines ideal prices; Channel Management, which provides manufacturers a view of inventory, as well as evaluate price protection and stock rotation, and matching available inventory to quotes; Market Development Fund Management that allows companies to streamline their MDF process and reduce revenue leakage; Rebates Management, which centralizes control of rebate programs; and Channel Data Management that automates the process of collection, cleansing, validation, and standardization of channel partner data, such as POS, inventory, and claims. In addition, the company offers implementation, managed, strategic, and customer support services. It primarily serves large and mid-sized organizations worldwide through its direct sales force. The company was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in San Mateo, California.
The following companies are subsidiares of PerkinElmer: 2Cure LLC, Analytica of Branford, Applied Biosystems, Arnel Inc., ArtusLabs, Beijing Huaan Magnech Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., Beijing Meizheng Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., Beijing Meizheng Testing Lab Co. Ltd., Beijing OUMENG Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Bio Evolution SAS, BioLegend, BioLegend CNS Inc., BioLegend China Beijing Ltd., BioLegend Europe B.V., BioLegend France SAS, BioLegend GmbH, BioLegend Inc., BioLegend Japan KK, BioLegend Shenzhen Ltd., BioLegend Taiwan Ltd., BioLegend UK Ltd., BioLegend Ventures LLC, Bioo Scientific Corporation, Biosense Technologies Pvt Ltd., Boulder Diagnostics Europe GmbH, Caliper Life Sciences, Caliper Life Sciences Inc., Cambridge Research & Instrumentation Inc., CambridgeSoft, Ceiba Solutions, Chengdu PerkinElmer Medical Laboratory Co. Ltd., Cisbio Asia Pacific Ltd, Cisbio Bioassays SAS, Cisbio China Ltd., Cisbio.com, DIA.Metra S.R.L., DNA Laboratories Sdn. Bhd., Dani Analitica S.r.l., Dexela, Dharmacon Inc., EUROIMMUN AG, EUROIMMUN Brasil Medicina Diagnostica Ltda., EUROIMMUN Diagnostics Espana S.L., EUROIMMUN France SAS, EUROIMMUN Hangzhou Medical Laboratory Diagnostics Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN Italia Diagnostica Medica S.r.l., EUROIMMUN Japan Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostics Canada Inc., EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostics China Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN Medical Laboratory Diagnostics South Africa Pty Ltd., EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG, EUROIMMUN Polska Sp. z o.o., EUROIMMUN Portugal Unipessoal Lda., EUROIMMUN Schweiz AG, EUROIMMUN South East Asia Pte Ltd., EUROIMMUN Tianjin Medical Diagnostic Technology Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN Turkey Tibbi Laboratuar Teshisleri A.S., EUROIMMUN UK Ltd., EUROIMMUN US Inc., EUROIMMUN US Real Estate LLC, Geospiza, Guangzhou EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostic Products Co. Ltd., Hangzhou EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostic Products Co. Ltd., Horizon Diagnostics Limited, Horizon Discovery, Horizon Discovery Biosciences Limited, Horizon Discovery Group Ltd., Horizon Discovery Inc., Horizon Discovery KK, Horizon Discovery Limited, Horizon Genomics GmbH, IDS Brasil Diagnosticos Ltda., Immunetics Inc., Immunodiagnostic Systems, Immunodiagnostic Systems Deutschland GmbH, Immunodiagnostic Systems France SAS, Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings Limited, Immunodiagnostic Systems Inc., Immunodiagnostic Systems Limited, Immunodiagnostic Systems SA, Inochem S.A. de C. V., Integromics S.L., Jiangsu Meizheng Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., LabMetrix Technologies, Labtronics, Nexcelom Bioscience, Nexcelom Bioscience Holdings LLC, Nexcelom Bioscience Instruments Shanghai Co. Ltd., Nexcelom Bioscience LLC, Nexcelom Bioscience Ltd., NovaScreen Biosciences Corporation, OZ Systems International SARL, OZ Systems USA LLC, Omni International Inc., Optimization Zorn Corporation, Opto Technology, Orchid Biomedical Systems Pvt Ltd., Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories UK Limited, Oxford Immunotec, Oxford Immunotec Asia Ltd, Oxford Immunotec Global Limited, Oxford Immunotec Ireland Limited, Oxford Immunotec KK, Oxford Immunotec Limited, Oxford Immunotec Shanghai Medical Device Co. Ltd., Oxford Immunotec USA Inc., Pediatrix Medical Group - Newborn Metabolic Screening Business, Perkin Elmer Chile Ltda., Perkin Elmer Instruments Philippines Corporation, Perkin Elmer Italia SpA, Perkin Elmer Sdn. Bhd., Perkin Elmer Yuhan Hoesa, Perkin-Elmer Argentina S.R.L., Perkin-Elmer de Mexico S.A., PerkinElmer Argentina Holdings LLC, PerkinElmer Automotive Research Inc., PerkinElmer BV, PerkinElmer CV Holdings LLC, PerkinElmer Cellular Technologies Germany GmbH, PerkinElmer Danmark A/S, PerkinElmer Diagnostics Global Holdings S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Diagnostics Holdings Inc., PerkinElmer Espana S.L., PerkinElmer Finance Luxembourg S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Finland Oy, PerkinElmer Genetics Inc., PerkinElmer Genomics Sweden AB, PerkinElmer Germany Diagnostics GmbH, PerkinElmer Global Diagnostics S.C.A., PerkinElmer Global Financing S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Global Holdings S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Health Sciences B.V., PerkinElmer Health Sciences Canada Inc., PerkinElmer Health Sciences FZ-LLC, PerkinElmer Health Sciences Inc., PerkinElmer Health Sciences Puerto Rico LLC, PerkinElmer Health Sciences Pvt Ltd., PerkinElmer Healthcare Diagnostics Shanghai Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer Holding Luxembourg S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Holdings Inc., PerkinElmer Holdings Singapore Pte Ltd., PerkinElmer Hong Kong Ltd., PerkinElmer IVD Pte Ltd., PerkinElmer Inc., PerkinElmer India Pvt Ltd., PerkinElmer Informatics Inc., PerkinElmer Instruments Suzhou Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer International C.V., PerkinElmer Investments Ky, PerkinElmer Ireland Ltd., PerkinElmer Israel Ltd., PerkinElmer Japan Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer LAS Germany GmbH, PerkinElmer LAS UK Ltd., PerkinElmer Life Sciences International Holdings, PerkinElmer Life Sciences Singapore Pte. Ltd., PerkinElmer Limited, PerkinElmer Ltd., PerkinElmer Management Chengdu Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer Management Shanghai Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer Nederland B.V. , PerkinElmer Norge AS, PerkinElmer Oy, PerkinElmer Polska Sp. z o.o., PerkinElmer Pty. Ltd., PerkinElmer SAS, PerkinElmer Saglk ve Cevre Bilimleri Ltd., PerkinElmer Schweiz AG, PerkinElmer Shanghai Equity Investment Fund L.P., PerkinElmer Shanghai Equity Investment Fund Management Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer Shared Services Sp. z o.o., PerkinElmer Singapore Pte Ltd., PerkinElmer South Africa Pty Ltd., PerkinElmer Sverige AB, PerkinElmer Taiwan Corporation, PerkinElmer UK Holdings Ltd., PerkinElmer VertriebsgmbH, PerkinElmer chemagen Technologie GmbH, PerkinElmer do Brasil Ltda., Perten Instruments, Perten Instruments AB, Perten Instruments GmbH, Perten Instruments of Australia Pty Ltd., Qognit Inc., RHS Ltd, RayAl Ltd., SIRION Biotech, SIRION Biotech GmbH, SIRION Biotech International Inc., Sage Labs LLC, Shandong Meizheng Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., Shanghai Haoyuan Biotech Co. Ltd., Shanghai Spectrum Instruments Co. Ltd., Shanghai Spectrum Instruments Co. Ltd., Signature Genomic Laboratories, Singapore Biosciences Pte Ltd., Solus Scientific Solutions Ltd., SonoVol Inc., Suomen Bioanalytiikka Oy, Surendra Genetic Labs, Suzhou PerkinElmer Medical Laboratory Co. Ltd., Suzhou Sym-Bio LifeScience, Suzhou Sym-Bio Lifescience Co. Ltd., Synthetx Limited, Tulip Diagnostics, Tulip Diagnostics Pvt Ltd., Vanadis Diagnostics, Vanadis Diagnostics AB, ViaCell, ViaCord LLC, VisEn Medical, VisEn Medical Inc., Wallac Oy, Wellesley B.V., Xenogen Corporation, ZeLab SAS, and chemagen Biopolymer-Technologie AG.

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Validus Holdings, Ltd. provides reinsurance coverage, insurance coverage, and insurance linked securities management services worldwide. It operates through three segments: Reinsurance, Insurance, and Asset Management. The Reinsurance segment underwrites property reinsurance products on a catastrophe excess of loss, per risk excess of loss and proportional basis; and aerospace and aviation, agriculture, composite, marine, technical lines, terrorism, trade credit, workers' compensation, and other specialty lines, as well as casualty and financial lines. The Insurance segment underwrites property, accident and health, agriculture, aviation, contingency, marine, and political lines insurance products; bankers blanket bond, commercial crime, computer crime, cyber- crime, professional indemnity, and directors' and officers' insurance products for various financial institutions and other companies; and commercial and institutional risks comprising general, professional, and product liability, as well as miscellaneous malpractice insurance products. This segment also underwrites marine and energy liability, and political risk insurance products, as well as insurance products for repair, maintenance, and upkeep of aircrafts and premises for small companies. The Asset Management segment manages capital for third parties through insurance-linked securities, and other property catastrophe and specialty reinsurance investments. Validus Holdings, Ltd. was founded in 2005 and is based in Pembroke, Bermuda.
Here are five news stories and events to start your week, from the editors at Military.com:

1. China to Return US Navy Drone, Easing Tensions

China has agreed to return a U.S. Navy drone seized in the South China Sea. The underwater glider was taken Thursday in international waters about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay Naval Air Station in the Philippines, according to the Pentagon. A crew on a small boat launched from a Chinese Navy Dalang-III class submarine captured the unmanned vehicle while it was collecting unclassified scientific data, The Pentagon said, though experts suspected the device was to help track Chinese submarine movement, The New York Times reported. The drone was operating from the oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch, whose crew was attempting to retrieve it and a second vehicle in the waters when the seizure took place. The incident quickly heightened tensions between the two countries. The U.S. had called on China to "immediately return" the "unlawfully seized" vehicle. President-elect Donald Trump tweeted, "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters -- rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act," he tweeted.

2. Navy Suspends Flights of Super Hornets, Growlers

The Navy has suspended flights of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets and E/A-18G Growler electronic attack jets after an accident at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington. A Growler experienced an unspecified "on-deck emergency" around 11 a.m. Friday, injuring an unspecified number of aircrew and damaging the Boeing Co.-made aircraft. It wasn't clear how the crew members were hurt, but they had to be medically evacuated from the scene. A search and rescue helicopter transported the Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 132 sailors from the installation to the Harborview Medical Center. Their status wasn't immediately available. The Navy is investigating the cause. The service has temporarily suspended flight operations for all Super Hornets and Growlers "as a safety precaution since they share common aircraft systems, with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis dependent upon operational requirements," according to a statement. "The operational pause will allow both Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and Boeing engineers time to investigate the incident."

3. Senators Call for Inquiry into Russian Election Hacking

A bipartisan group of senators has called on Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican from Kentucky and Senate Majority Leader, to convene a select committee to investigate potential Russian hacking and interference in the U.S. presidential election, multiple outlets including The New York Times reported on Sunday. The four senators include John McCain, a Republican from Arizona and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina and also a member of the panel; Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York and the Senate Minority Leader; and Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island and the most senior Democrat on the defense panel. "Recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American," they wrote in a letter. Speaking to CNN's Jack Tapper, McCain said the Russian hacking of the U.S. election threatens to "destroy democracy." He said the Russians "are ahead of us in many respects in this whole issue of cyberwarfare." President-elect Trump has refused to criticize Russia for the activity.

4. Defense, Vets Bills Await Obama's Signature

President Barack Obama this week may decide on two pieces of legislation affecting the military and veterans communities, including the massive defense authorization bill and a slimmed down veterans reform bill. Both chambers of Congress this month approved the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, including a 2.1 percent military pay raise for troops, by veto-proof majorities. The bill leaves housing allowances unchanged, drops a proposal requiring women to register for the draft and forgives the debt of Guardsmen ordered to pay back bonuses. Lawmakers have also approved the Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act, which leaves out many reform initiatives including a streamlined appeals process for filing disability claims. In a speech last week, VA Secretary Bob McDonald said he was informed by some lawmakers that the proposal would be delayed until next year so the new Congress could get credit for passing it. "I don't care who takes credit," he said. "All I care about is the outcome for veterans."

5. No Word Yet on Trump Pick for VA Secretary

The veterans community is still awaiting word from President-elect Trump on who he plans to nominate to become secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department. A transition official told ABC News the position is turning out to be the "most difficult" cabinet position to fill. Numerous veterans organizations are pushing for Trump to keep VA Secretary McDonald on the job. McDonald is a Republican, a West Point graduate and the former chief executive officer of the consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble. But Trump is also reportedly considering Rep. Jeff Miller, the retiring congressman from Florida and chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee; former Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts; and Pete Hegseth, an Army veteran and the former president of Concerned Veterans for America, which wants to open up veteran health care to the private market. Other contenders reportedly include Adm. Michelle Howard, commander of naval forces in Europe and Africa and the first black woman to command a Navy ship; and retired Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody, the service's first female four-star general.

-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.
Joseph V. Micallef is a military historian, bestselling author, keynote speaker, syndicated columnist and commentator on international politics and the future.

Several events in the past week have underscored both China's growing military strength in East Asia and how it might respond to the Trump administration's plans to "reset" U.S.-China relations.

On December 14, satellite reconnaissance revealed that China had installed anti-aircraft guns and what are presumed to be close-in weapons systems (CIWS) on all seven of the artificial islands it has created in the South China Sea.

That same day, the Global Times, an English-language Chinese newspaper that is often used as a vehicle by Beijing to float new policy proposals, published an editorial declaring that it was time for China "to reformulate its Taiwan policy, make the use of force as a main option and carefully prepare for it."

The next day Beijing confirmed that it had constructed defenses on the seven islands and that such steps were "legitimate and normal" to defend its territory. Up until now China had insisted that its construction of artificial islands on reefs in the South China Sea were primarily for civilian use.

Additional reports from Fox News confirmed that mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) platforms had been identified at the southeastern Chinese port of Jieyang. Presumably, these missile batteries are destined for China's new islands in the South China Sea. If so, they would represent a key defensive element to be installed on the islands before the actual deployment of Chinese military aircraft there.

At the other end of East Asia, in the Bohai Sea, China's first operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, carried out a series of live fire exercises. The exercises included the scrambling of Chinese Shenyang, J-15 jets to attack targets with live ordinance while the carrier itself conducted anti-missile defense drills and practiced engaging potential threats with its air defense systems. This is the first time that the Liaoning has conducted live fire exercises.

Both exercises came amidst a marked deterioration of U.S.-China relations following the decision of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to accept a congratulatory phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on December 2. Both events had been in the operational planning phase for months, as for that matter was the "Taiwan call" from President Tsai, and their occurrence had nothing to do with the Tsai-Trump phone exchange. Beijing's willingness to confirm and publicize both events, however, was likely triggered by that call.

Further aggravating, U.S.-China relations, in what was widely interpreted as a deliberate provocation of the incoming Trump administration, was the seizure by a Chinese naval vessel, on December 16, of an underwater drone. The unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), which was being employed by the USS Bowditch, a U.S. Navy, Pathfinder-class, oceanographic survey ship, was operating in international waters approximately 50-100 miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines.

Per the Pentagon, the UUVs, termed "Ocean Gliders," are unclassified and are routinely used to survey marine conditions, including water temperature and salinity, as well as map the ocean terrain. The latter is useful in designing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) plans. The Bowditch was operating two drones and was in the middle of recovering one drone when a Chinese warship appeared and scooped up the second drone. The Chinese vessel acknowledged receipt but otherwise ignored messages from the Bowditch to return the stolen drone.

Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook issued a statement calling for "China to return our UUV immediately" and disclosed that Washington had filed a "demarche," a formal diplomatic protest with Beijing. The seizure of a U.S. Navy drone by a Chinese warship would only have come on the direct orders of the highest levels of the Chinese government.

President-elect Donald Trump denounced the seizure, describing it as a theft of US Navy property; calling it an "unprecedented act." China's Defense Ministry has since announced that the drone would be returned and criticized Washington for having "hyped up" the incident.

The Obama administration had, until recently, been reluctant to challenge Chinese "island building" activity in the South China Sea. Over the course of the last year, however, it has stepped up so called "freedom of navigation" operations in the area. In such operations, the U.S. sails military vessels through waters claimed by Beijing in a symbolic rejection of Chinese sovereignty claims in the region. These operations, denounced by Beijing, serve little purpose beyond their diplomatic symbolism. They have not had any impact on China's island building activity or on the militarization of those islands.

The live fire exercise in the Bohai Sea, while it may produce dramatic video footage, is less significant. Live fire exercises are a normal aspect of military training. It is hardly a surprise that the Liaoning would eventually participate in such exercises.

The aircraft carrier was purchased from Ukraine, still incomplete, about 15 years ago, and its construction and outfitting was completed in China. Originally it had been destined to be the Varyag, a Soviet Navy Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier. It was commissioned by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)) on September 12, 2012. It has been used as a training vessel since then.

The flight deck of the Liaoning is a "ski ramp" design, and curves sharply upward at the bow. The design limits the weight of aircraft being launched and restricts both their fuel loads and armament payload. A second aircraft carrier, expected to be finished in 2017, is currently being built at the Dalian shipyard. Like its predecessor, China's second carrier will have a "ski ramp" design flight deck and feature a "Short Takeoff But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR)" system. STOBAR permits aircraft to takeoff under their own power, with assistance from a curved ramp, and utilizes arrestor wires for landing aircraft. The system, while functional, is less effective than the catapult system (CATOBAR) utilized on U.S. Nimitz Class carriers.

Both ships have a displacement of around 55,000 tons when fully operational, roughly comparable to the U.S. WW II era Midway Class Fleet Carriers. By comparison, Nimitz Class ships displace just under 100,000 tons.

By 2020, China will have the second largest carrier fleet in the world, second only to that of the U.S. Navy. The PLAN, however, has a long way to go before it has the training, experience and range to project naval air power of any significant distance from China's shores. It also lacks the complement of naval vessels required to constitute a carrier task force. By comparison, the U.S. Navy operates 10 carrier task forces.

The editorial suggesting that the use of force to unify Taiwan with the mainland was worthy of additional consideration is little more than empty rhetoric. China lacks the ability to seize and hold the air and sea battle space that such an invasion would require. Moreover, the PLAN lacks the amphibious capability, not to mention the training and experience, that such an invasion would entail. Taiwan has a smaller but modern, formidable military force and in the event of an outbreak of violence with Beijing could rely on significant help from Washington.

The militarization of China's newly built islands in the South China Sea is an issue that the incoming Trump administration may choose to address more forcefully. From a practical standpoint, the islands are quite small and lack the ability to store any significant quantity of fuel or munitions. A recent RAND study concluded that the islands were vulnerable to American precision-guided munitions and that the presence of military jets and SAMs on the islands would not alter the balance of power between the U.S. and Chinese forces in the region.

On the other hand, Beijing has made it clear that it intends to push out its defensive perimeter as far as it can. Doing so will entail political and diplomatic, and possibly economic costs, from China's neighbors. At the very least, it will prompt more aggressive arms buildups among China's neighbors and renewed calls for closer security arrangements with the United States, and possibly even the offering of military bases for U.S. forces.

The questions that Beijing must answer are: will the prospect of enhanced Chinese trade and investment be sufficient to neutralize that response and if not, then what costs will it be willing to pay for continuing to militarize the South and East China Seas? Under the Obama administration, those costs have been relatively light. The incoming Trump administration is signaling that it is willing to up the ante, exactly what those actions might entail, however, remains to be seen.

Beijing has a long history of provoking incoming administrations to see how they will respond to aggressive Chinese actions. The series of moves last week, and the willingness of Beijing to publicize them, suggest that China has already started to test the incoming Trump administration's resolve. At the very least, they imply that increased American support for Taiwan will spur a more aggressive Chinese policy in the South and East China Seas. More provocations, from both sides, are probably on the way.
Camp Lejeune Town Halls Aim to Help Those Exposed to Toxic Water. Heres How You Can Go.

Retired Marine Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger made it his mission to tell the world that if they lived or served on Camp Lejeune...
Marine MV-22 Ospreys in the Pacific are flying again after they were briefly grounded for safety checks in the wake of a mishap that destroyed an Osprey off the coast of Okinawa Dec. 13.

The emergency shallow-water landing, which left the five Marines on board injured, was the result of the aircraft's rotor blades hitting a fuel line during nighttime aerial refueling, III Marine Expeditionary Force Commanding General Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson has said.

Officials with III MEF announced that flights were resuming on Okinawa in a Dec. 18 news release. Nicholson notified the Okinawa Prefectural Government and Okinawa Defense Bureau before continuing flight operations, the release said.

"We have conducted a thorough, careful and exhaustive review of MV-22 aviation safety procedures and briefed Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials," U.S. Forces Japan Commander Lt. Gen. Jerry P. Martinez said in a statement.

"While the investigation is ongoing, we are highly confident in our assessment that the cause of the mishap was due solely to the aircraft's rotor blades coming into contact with the refueling line," he added. "We greatly appreciate the strong support from our Alliance partner in the aftermath of this incident."

In Okinawa, where locals have long opposed the presence of the Osprey due to concerns about its safety record, some had hoped the Marines would pull the aircraft out of the region entirely in the wake of the crash.

On Dec. 15, the editorial board of the Okinawan newspaper Ryukyu Shimpo wrote a searing editorial calling on the Marines to leave Okinawa entirely and to cancel plans to build a new air station near Henoko Bay, Okinawa, to replace Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

The editorial also accused the Marine Corps of minimizing the severity of the Dec. 13 crash by calling it a "shallow-water landing."

"As long as these dangerous and eerie-grey-colored aircrafts continue to fly, it would be no surprise if they eventually crashed somewhere. It has become all the more clear what needs to be done in order to protect the lives and dignity of Okinawans and to prevent casualties," the editorial board wrote.

In a statement, Nicholson said the decision to resume Osprey operations had been made after safety procedures were reviewed, and with the concerns of local Okinawans in mind.

"After a thorough and careful review of our safety procedures, checklists, and aircraft, I am highly confident that we can continue safe flight operations of the MV-22 in support of our Alliance partner and obligations," Nicholson said.

"It is very important for Japanese citizens to understand and share our utmost confidence in the safety and reliability of the MV-22, or we would not continue flight operations," he added. "It is equally important that we ensure our pilots have every opportunity to conduct training, which allows us to remain proficient, and enable us to respond when most needed in support of the Alliance."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
The U.S. Navy on Monday resumed flights of its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets and EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft after an accident triggered a temporary stand-down.

The sea service on Friday had suspended operations involving the twin-engine, Boeing Co.-made planes after an accident at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state.

A Growler experienced an unspecified "on-deck emergency" around 11 a.m. Friday, injuring both the pilot and electronic warfare officer, who were medically evacuated in a helicopter to Harborview Medical Center about 90 miles south.

A spokeswoman at Whidbey Island referred questions about the incident to Naval Air Forces in San Diego.

The sailors, members of the Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 132, remain hospitalized, according to Lt. Leslie Hubbell, a spokeswoman for Naval Air Forces in San Diego.

In a telephone interview with Military.com, Hubbell said the incident involved the plane's canopy, the enclosure over the cockpit and a key part of the ejection system. She wasn't able to provide additional details, citing the ongoing investigation into the mishap.

In a release, the Navy said safety concerns "necessitated an operational pause for all Super Hornets and Growlers."

Engineers from Naval Air Systems Command and the Chicago-based aerospace giant identified "several factors that likely contributed to the mishap," the service said without naming them, and directed "mitigation measures" to be taken across the fleet since the Growler and Super Hornet systems have "some similarities in the component designs."

The release continued, "Once individual squadrons have briefed and incorporated these mitigation measures, they may resume normal flight operations."

As of 2015, the Navy had 545 F/A-18E/F models in the inventory and plans to purchase a total of 563 of the aircraft, according to information compiled by the Navy League. As of last year, the sea service had 114 EA-18G aircraft, the electronic attack variant of the Block II Super Hornet, with plans to eventually buy 152 of the planes.

-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.
Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal also said that the constitution could be amended if necessary to help Egypt foil terrorist acts

Around 100 Egyptian MPs proposed on Monday that the Criminal Procedures Law, issued in 1950, be changed to help the country overcome terrorism.

The proposal, submitted by parliament deputy speaker and Wafdist MP Soliman Wahdan, suggests that 1950's criminal procedure law and 2014's presidential decree on protection of public property, be amended to allow all terrorism-related crimes to be referred to military courts.

Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal also said that the constitution could be amended if necessary to help Egypt foil terrorist acts.

The MPs proposal came one day after a bombing attack on a church attached to St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo left 24 dead and more than 40 injured.

After attending funeral services for the victims in east Cairo's district of Nasr City on Monday, MPs returned to parliament with differing perspectives.

Speaker Abdel-Aal told MPs in a plenary session that parliament is determined to uproot terrorism and obliterate "dark forces" in Egypt, even if this requires amending the country's 2014 constitution.

"Let me repeat, if it has become necessary that the constitution be amended to allow terrorism cases to be referred to military courts, parliament will not hesitate to ask for it," said Abdel-Aal.

The parliament speaker said one Western European country is currently debating an amendment to its constitution that would allow those convicted of terrorism crimes to be stripped of their nationality.

"This change to the constitution was presented in this country under the title of 'the Protection of the Nation Amendment," said Abdel-Aal.

Wahdan's proposal calls for "a new article by the name of 231 article to be added to 1950's law on criminal procedures require that 'all terrorism-related crimes be referred to military justice."

The proposal also states that article one of 2014's decree be amended to read: "without affecting the main role of the armed forces in safeguarding the nation and maintaining the integrity of its land and security, the military in full cooperation with police forces will participate in safeguarding vital public property, including electricity stations and pylons, gas and oil pipelines, railway tracks, networks of roads and bridges, and all other forms of public assets.

"Places of worship will be also considered public places and all of these will be classified as military installations as long as they are under the guard and protection of the military and those who attack these installations will be automatically referred to trial before military courts."

In a different proposal, Bahaaeddin Abu Shokka, head of parliament's legislative and constitutional affairs committee and secretary-general of Egypt's Al-Wafd party, proposed that the terrorism law (no.94 of 2015) be amended to designate certain judicial court circuits for the sole review of terrorism-related crimes.

"These circuits, which would be attached to appeal courts, will be asked to issue rulings on terrorism-related crimes within one week, and defendants will have the right to contest verdicts only one time," Abu Shokka proposed.

He added that "Parliament needs trials to be simultaneously fair and quick, with strict observance of the constitution and legislation," Abu Shokka stressed.

Joining forces with Abdel-Aal, the pro-government parliamentary bloc "Support Egypt", proposed Monday that all terrorism-related legislation should be amended to "stand up to recent, dangerous developments in terrorism crimes."

"Terrorists should face quick trials, and if existing laws do not allow this, the constitution itself should be amended to pave the way for this," said head of the bloc Mohamed El-Sewedi.

El-Sewedi, however, supported Wahdan's proposal that the existing criminal procedure law be amended to more easily refer terrorism cases to "quick and firm trials."

Speaker Abdel-Aal told MPs that "Terrorism aims to kill all Egyptians without discrimination between Muslims and Christians, saying the most lowly terrorist acts are the ones which aim to blow up mosques and churches."

"The message after the explosion in the Coptic cathedral yesterday is that terrorism targets all Egyptians  Muslims and Christians  but I am sure that Egyptians will not bow to this terrorism," said Abdel-Al, adding that "parliament will use all means possible to foil terrorist acts and make sure that terrorists fail to drive a wedge between Muslim and Christian Egyptians."

Abdel-Aal urged that all churches in Egypt be provided with "electronic closed-circuit cameras ahead of Christmas celebrations," adding that "this is an urgent measure to safeguard churches against acts of terrorism.'

Abdel-Aal concluded that "if we fail to stand firm against terrorism, there will be no economy, no politics and no state in Egypt."

The parliament speaker praised Egyptian Christians, saying that they have paid a dear price in the form of hundreds of victims.

After Monday's funeral services, deputy speaker Mahmoud El-Sherif told reporters that "parliament will give priority to amending the criminal procedures law."

"We hope within a few days that parliament's legislative and constitutional affairs committee, in cooperation with the minister of parliamentary affairs Magdy El-Agati, will be able to finish amending this law in order to make terrorists face quick and firm trials before a court," said El-Sherif.

El-Sherif indicated that parliament could go as far as approving the imposition of the emergency law to help foil terrorist attacks.

"Please note that countries like France resorted to implementing emergency law after a flurry of terrorist attacks hit the country this year," he said.

El-Sherif said the proposal that terrorism-related crimes be referred to military courts needs some review by parliament's constitutional and legislative affairs committee.

"We have to see first whether this proposal does not contravene the constitution," said El-Sherif, adding that "I agree that if the constitution itself needs amending in order to refer terrorism-related crimes to military courts, parliament will not hesitate to support this."

El-Sherif said the imposition of military tribunals in the 1990s was highly effective in stemming the tide of terrorist crimes in Egypt at the time.

El-Agati told MPs that he prefers amending the criminal procedure law to help expedite trials of terrorist suspects.

"Let me insist that there is no problem with the existing penalties for terrorist crimes; the problem lies with the long time these trials take without justification," said El-Agati.

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The cell involved in Sunday's attack on a Coptic church received directives from Muslim Brotherhood organisation's leaders residing in Qatar, a statement from the Ministry of Interior announced on Monday

Egypt's Ministry of Interior has accused the Muslim Brotherhood organisation's Qatar branch of involvement in Sunday's bombing of St. Peter and St. Paul Church inside a Coptic cathedral complex in Cairo, which killed 24 and injured 49.

The interior ministry, in a statement broadcast on state TV Monday evening, said it has identified members of the "terrorist cell'' involved in the bombing, and traced their leadership to a branch of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood group, which the state designates as a terrorist organisation, residing in Qatar.

The statement said that advanced investigation procedures led to the identification of fugitive Mohab Mostafa El-Sayed Kassem, whose militant code name is "The Doctor," as the lead man in the terrorist cell.

In a raid of cell's hideout in Cairo's Zeitoun district on Monday, police arrested four members, including a woman, according to the statement.

The arrested men were identified as Ramy Mohamed Abdel-Ghany, Mohamed Hamdy Abdel-Ghany and Mohsen El-Sayed Kassemthe brother of the cell's leader.

The woman was identified as Ola Hussein Ali, the wife of the accused Ramy Mohamed Abdel-Ghany.

The accused are believed to have aided the bomber who carried out the suicide attack on St. Peter and St. Paul Church and who was identified by authorities earlier on Monday as Mahmoud Shafiq Mostafa.

According to the ministry's statement, Kassem travelled to the Arab gulf state of Qatar in 2015, where he met with leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) organisation. He later returned to Egypt to lead a cell in carrying out terrorist attacks in the country, with full financial and logistical assistance from the MB organisation.

Upon directives from the MB in Qatar, Kassem communicated with members of Ansar Beit El-Maqdis terrorist group in North Sinai, moving there to receive training on the use of explosives.

After completing his training, Kassem was empowered by MB leaders in Qatar to carry out attacks against Egypt's Coptic Christians, with the aim of creating sectarian strife between Muslims and Christians in the country.

The interior ministry traced a statement to Kassem that called for carrying out attacks against Cairo's Coptic cathedral, on the basis that the church supports the current political regime.

The statement was issued on 5 December by a group calling itself "The Egyptian Revolutionary Council," which the ministry says is a political offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood organisation.

According to the interior ministry, the statement reveals that Kassem worked on recruiting other men to his cell and received training in a terrorist hideout based in Zeitoun district in Cairo.

Among Kassem's cell members was the man implicated in Sunday's attack, Mahmoud Shafik Mohamed Mostafa, known by the militant code name" Abu Dagana El-Kinany."

Mostafa was apprehended in March 2014 for involvement in violent incidents related to the MB organisation and possession of firearms. He was released by court two months later.

Mostafa was later sought for arrest in two separate cases in 2015 and 2016, for terrorism-related activities and affiliation with a terrorist organisation.

The Ministry of Interior said that all apprehended members of the cell were referred to state security prosecution, while investigations are ongoing to find and arrest other members.

Sunday's bombing was the deadliest attack on Egyptian Christians in years, killing 24, many of whom were women and children.

In 2011, at least 23 Coptic Christians were killed in a suicide attack which targeted a New Year's Eve mass at the Two Saints Church in Alexandria.

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The law will lead to the creation of three regulatory bodies to oversee all of Egypts media outlets

A law on the "Institutional Regulation of the Press and the Media in Egypt" was approved by Egypts parliament on Tuesday.

The parliaments speaker Ali Abdel-Aal told MPs that the law was completely reviewed by the State Council.

"We will discuss this law in principle first, then discuss it article by article, and then make a final vote," Abdel-Aal said.

Abdel-Aal also argued that the new law deals with press and media freedoms in regards to Egypt's 2014 constitution.

"This is why it took a long time to be reviewed by the State Council to ensure it does not infringe on freedoms or contravene the constitution," said Abdel-Aal.

Osama Heikal, the head of Parliament's Media, Culture and Antiquities Committee, also told MPs that the law was put in a debate only after it was approved by parliament's media committee and the legislative and constitutional affairs committee.

Heikal said the 89-article law, prepared by government-affiliated experts in media laws, aims to create three regulatory bodies that will oversee all media outlets in Egypt.

Heikal indicated that another law on media regulation, drafted by 101 MPs led by independent deputy and high-profile journalist Mostfa Bakri, was also proposed.

"But we will primarily focus on the first law because it is more comprehensive," said Heikal.

According to Heikal, "once the legislation on the three media bodies is ratified by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and their board members are named, the committee will begin discussing a second law on media and press conditions."

"The new three regulatory bodies will be invited to give their say on this general media law," said Heikal.

Leftist MPs Haitham Al-Hariri and Khaled Youssef attacked the new law, expressing fears that it might be ruled unconstitutional.

"The fact that it was reviewed by the State Council does not mean that it will not be ruled unconstitutional," said Al-Hariri, arguing that "the State Council has revised the general law on the media, but it did not have a say on the three media regulatory bodies law."

Speaker Abdel-Aal said articles 211, 212, and 213 stipulate that three regulatory bodies should be formed first to give a say on press and media laws.

"So it is logical that we discuss first the law on the three media regulatory bodies," said Abdel-Aal.

Alaa Abed, the head of parliament's human rights committee, said the release of new media laws in Egypt have become a pressing need.

"The new law should come to impose some control on the Egyptian media to ensure that it toes the national line," said Abed, accusing "private television channels of covering national issues in an unprofessional way, with some of them having gone to the extent of inciting violence against the state."

"While military and police soldiers sacrifice their lives defending the country against terrorism, we see that some media people are doing their best to tarnish the image of the state," said Abed.

However Abdel-Aal stressed that press and media freedoms are guaranteed by the constitution.

"I know that some media outlets do a bad job, but I insist that, in general, the Egyptian media does a good job and defend the supreme interests of the country," said Abdel-Aal.

Independent MP Mostafa Bakri also launched a scathing attack against the Higher Press Council and the Press Syndicate, accusing members of their boards of doing their best to delay the release of new media laws.

"They want to stay in their positions without any legal grounds," Bakri complained.

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The conference underscored preserving Libyan territory, supporting institutions, sovereignty and the maintenance of a civil state

Egypt's government concluded on Wednesday a conference with Libyan officials and representatives from the country's numerous factions, issuing a declaration of principles and five proposed amendments to an agreement, brokered by the UN in 2015, which aimed to create a unity government in the war-torn North African state.

Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shoukry and Army Chief of Staff Mahmoud Hegazy attended the two-day conference in Cairo, along with a range of Libyan representatives.

The conference concluded by underscoring four main principles to be respected in Libya's transition: the preservation of a united Libyan territory, support for national institutions, non-interference by foreign bodies, and the maintenance of a civil state.

After discussing political developments in Libya since 2014, participants in the conference concluded by proposing five amendments to the UN-brokered 2015 agreement, to guarantee its success in ending the violence and ongoing state of political, economic and humanitarian insecurity in the country.

The proposed amendments are as follows:

First, amend representation inside the Libyan National Dialogue Commission in a way that balances all national factions in the country.

Second, amend the authorities of the Libyan army chief commander outlined in the 8th article of the 2015 agreement.

Third, Guarantee the independence of the Libyan Army as a non-partisan, non-political force in the country.

Fourth, reform the Libyan State Council to include members of the Libyan General National Congressa legislative body elected to a two-year mandate in 2012 and replaced by Libya's current House of Representatives in August, 2014 .

Fifth, re-structure the Libyan Presidential Council and its system of decision-making.

Concluding the conference, the Libyan participants called on the Libyan National Dialogue Commission and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya to hold a meeting within two weeks to discuss the conference proposals and possible solutions to end the crisis.

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business TRAI moots aggregator model, 100 MBs free data for rural users The aggregator will be allowed to strike alliances with telecom services providers and content companies. However, the alliance between the aggregator and the telecom service provider will not be allowed to be exclusive
The French authorities said on Thursday that they remain committed to helping their Egyptian counterparts investigate the causes of the 19 May crash, which killed all passengers on board including 15 French nationals

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday evening that France and its experts remain at the disposal of the appropriate Egyptian authorities to contribute to the investigation into the causes of the crash of EgyptAir MS804 last spring.

The French ministry stressed that the investigation to determine the exact causes of the EgyptAir MS804 crash will continue.

The French statement comes hours after Egypt's Ministry of Civil Aviation announced that traces of explosives were found on the remains of the victims of the 19 May crash, suggesting a criminal act.

Following the deadly May incident, Egyptian authorities opened an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

French aviation authorities as well as Airbus, the manufacturer of the plane, have contributed to the Egyptian investigation.

France hopes that the transfer of the report [by the Egyptian investigative committees] to the Egyptian prosecutor-general's office will open the way to returning the [French] victims remains to their families as quickly as possible, said the French foreign ministry's statement.

"That is the wish that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Jean-Marc Ayrault, has expressed several times to his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry," the French statement read.

There were 15 French passengers among the 66 passengers killed in the crash.

Last week, the families of the French victims launched an online petition demanding that Egyptian authorities return the remains of their relatives.

The Paris prosecutor-general has not so far designated the crash as a terrorist or criminal incident.

Meanwhile, the French air safety agency BEA reacted with caution to Thursday's announcement in Egypt.

"In the absence of detailed information on the conditions in which samples were taken and measures which led to the detection of traces of explosives, BEA does not consider it possible at this stage to draw conclusions on the origin of the accident," a BEA spokesman told AFP.

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The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.
NORRISTOWN  A court ruling on Tuesday ordering that undated Pennsylvania mail-in ballots be segregated wont change much in Montgomery County, according to election officials. With regard to dated and undated ballots, theres still some litigation surrounding them. So our plan is to handle that exactly how we did in the primary, Montgomery County Elections Director Dori Sawyer said on...
The man who shot dead the Russian ambassador to Ankara on Monday has been identified as a Turkish policeman, the city's mayor said; Turkish president Erdogan briefs Russian president Putin on attack

A Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed in a televised statement on Monday evening that the country's ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot by a gunman in Ankara.

Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in the capital, Ankara, when a man wearing a suit and tie shouted "Allahu akbar" and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience.

The man who shot dead the Russian ambassador to Ankara on Monday has been identified as a Turkish policeman, the city's mayor said.

"The attacker is a policeman," Melih Gokcek said on his official Twitter account, after numerous reports on social media identified the gunman.

The Yeni Safak daily said on its website that the attacker -- named as M.M.A. -- worked with anti-riot police in Ankara.

Shortly after the gun attack, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to brief him, the Turkish presidency said.

"The president has spoken by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to share information about tonight's attack," presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said in a statement.

The Turkish Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been "neutralised" soon after the attack, which appeared to mark one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict in Turkey. Relations between Moscow and Ankara have long been fraught over the conflict, the two supporting opposing sides.

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the attack mounted as Ambassador Andrei Karlov made a speech at the opening of a photographic exhibition. Hurriyet newspaper said Turkish special forces had surrounded the building. NTV said three other people were wounded.

A Reuters witness said that while gunfire rang out for some time after the attack, it had now stopped. A Hurriyet newspaper reporter said the attacker chanted Islamist slogans.

Russia and Turkey have been involved in conflict in Syria across the border from where over two million Syrian refugees have settled. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of President Bashar al-Assad while Russia has deployed troops and its air force in support of the Syrian leader.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Russian-backed Syrian forces have fought for control of the eastern part of the city of Aleppo, triggering a stream of refugees.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. Islamic State militants have been active in Turkey and carried out several bomb attacks on Turkish targets.

A photograph posted on twitter showed a man in a black suit holding a pistol, standing close to a podium in the gallery, its walls hung with pictures. Four people including what appeared to be the ambassador lay on the floor.

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The banned Muslim Brotherhood claimed that Adel Habara, who was executed on Thursday for his role in killing 25 soldiers in 2013, was not granted full legal rights

Egypt's foreign ministry said Sunday that the denunciation by the banned Muslim Brotherhood group of the recent execution of Islamist militant Adel Habara reflects the organisation's "support for terrorism. "

Habara, 40, was sentenced to death in 2014 for murdering 25 army personnel in Sinai in August 2013.

Authorities executed him on Thursday days after a top court rejected his final appeal.

A day later, the Brotherhood -- designated by the government as a terrorist group in late 2013  condemned his execution as a "new crime [by the regime] of violating human rights and abusing the justice system."

The Brotherhood had said in a statement that Habara was not granted a fair trial and that authorities failed to offer him the internationally recognised human and legal rights he needed to defend himself.

The foreign ministry's statement said that "the [Brotherhood's] statement sympathises with a militant who carried out a terrorist attack that was condemned by the entire international community," referring to the 2013 Sinai attack.

"This is a categorical response to those who still doubt that the Brotherhood is a terrorist organisation," the statement added.

The ministry said that the once-ruling group failed to acknowledge the rights the court had granted Habara, including multiple appeals other judicial and legal proceedings the trial went through over the course of three years.

Egyptian authorities are battling an Islamist insurgency based in the border North Sinai region.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has made crushing the militancy a top priority in his administration.

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Accident

A brown Ford Ranger crashed into a tree and bridge on West Third Street, behind Ladera Grill restaurant. The crash resulted in unspecified structural damage to the bridge. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The accident was reported 12:09 p.m. Dec. 11.

No injuries were reported after a tan Chevrolet Tahoe and a white sedan collided in the middle of Monterey Road near Cosmo Avenue. The accident was reported 4:58 p.m. Dec. 11.

Fraud

An employee of a business on Murphy Avenue reported that $3,500 worth of payroll checks were stolen. The crime was reported 8:09 p.m. Dec. 12.

Vandalism

Someone slashed the tires on a white Ford Expedition on the 500 block of San Pedro Avenue. The vandalism was reported 9:08 p.m. Dec. 12.

An unknown male urinated on a chair inside the kitchen area of the Centennial Recreation Center, 171 West Edmundson Ave. Someone also drew a lewd image on a whiteboard in a nearby office. The crime was reported 10:30 a.m. Dec. 13.

Auto burglary

A thief or thieves smashed the passengers side window on a Toyota Corolla and wend through the glove box. The vehicle was parked on San Pedro Avenue. The crime was reported 1:48 p.m. Dec. 14.

Stolen vehicle

A gray 1997 Acura Integra with gold rims and a cracked windshield was stolen from the 17600 block of Crest Avenue. The theft was reported 8:24 a.m. Dec. 10.

Petty theft

Someone stole a tent and two tables from vendors at the downtown Morgan Hill Farmers Market, near Depot and Third streets. The theft was reported 1:32 a.m. Dec. 11.

A thief drove away in a gold 1980s model Mercedes-Benz after stealing a power drill from The Home Depot, 860 E. Dunne Ave. The crime was reported 7:18 a.m. Dec. 12.

Embezzlement

An employee of Dicks Sporting Goods, 1007 Cochrane Road, stole $240 cash from the store. The crime was reported 11:39 a.m. Dec. 12.

All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records.
I met Dae young Kim at First Presbyterian Church shortly after he and his family moved to Morganton from Seoul, South Korea, about five months ago. He had brought his daughter to the nursery. She did not speak English, Dae young explained, and indeed she spoke not at all during the nursery hour.

The next time I talked with him was after a Sunday school class. He told me that his wife, Hyun sook Lee, and her sister-in-law, Aeran Kim, had waited for him in the hall rather than join him because they werent comfortable speaking English.

Had they heard about Project Flower? I asked. They hadnt. I explained the English as a Second Language (ESL) classes offered two mornings a week by Burke Literacy Council.

Shortly after, both women arrived at the Literacy Council. They aced their placement tests, for theyd studied English and knew how to read and write it. Their language problem, they said, was speaking and comprehending it when spoken.

Neither was put in the group I taught, but Aeran smiled and greeted me with a hug before she headed into her first class. When she came out, she told me how much shed enjoyed it.

Hyun sook waved with a smile as she passed in the hall on her way to a different group. Afterwards, she joked that she needed to drop to a lower level class. Too hard, too hard! She gestured her frustration with her characteristic pizazz to sympathetic laughter from the teachers and students standing nearby.

People at Project Flower were charmed.

People at church noticed their dependability and friendliness. What lovely families! one woman said to me.

The Koreans soon discovered that some Americans (including me) had difficulty learning the names of the four adults and four children. To help us, they handed out papers with their full names and calling names.

They explained that though children use their fathers surnames, Korean women do not change their last names upon marriage. Also, over half of all South Koreans have one of three surnames.

When our associate pastor, the Rev. Adam Bowling, found the Sunday school curriculum was available in Korean, he asked the adults if theyd like to start a Korean Sunday school class. Yes, they would. Chulchae Lee, Aerans husband and Hyun sooks brother, joined them.

They meet Sunday mornings in a classroom and take turns discussing the lesson in Korean. They also sing hymns, a tradition that they brought from Korea. Dae young, who would love to be a classical guitarist, accompanies the singing on the guitar.

I love music, Hyun sook said. Even when she couldnt understand the English services, she understood the music, she said as she gestured to her heart.

Perhaps because I grew up hearing Bible stories about immigrants and strangers in strange lands, I have always been fascinated by people who have the courage to leave all they know and love and move to a foreign country. So I asked about their decision.

Dae young, said hed wanted to come to the United States ever since attending the International High School in Seoul 25 years ago, where hed developed a curiosity about another country.

Inspired by Dae young, Chulchae wanted to come, too. But he had to convince his wife, Aeran, who loved her family and friends in Seoul and did not want to leave them.

Hyun sook found it hard to give up her job as instructor at a University in Seoul, where she had prospects for an excellent future. More than anything, she hated to leave family. I miss them so much, she said with feeling. Especially my mother.

What did entice all four adults was the U.S. educational system, which they believed would allow more freedom for their children to pursue individual educational dreams and careers. In South Korea, they said, competition is so severe that students must study from dawn to night, attend extra private schools, andeven after all thatrarely get the major they want.

The process to get green cards was arduous. It is legally complicated and costs big money, Dae young said. They hired attorneys and go-betweens. Before they arrived, they had to obtain jobs, which they found at Case Farms on the production lines, where both men now work.

This work is harder than the computer and office work they were used to, but neither man complains. As for the wives, they get up at 5 a.m. every school morning to fix the Korean food that their children prefer for their lunches at Forest Hill and Walter Johnson schools.

They keep up with loved ones in Korea with Kakao Talk, a program like Skype.

In spite of these challenges, they speak highly of their new home.

I love to live in Morganton, Chulchae said. Its peaceful, and the landscape so beautiful. The landscape in South Korea is different. Seoul is much more urban, more like New York City, they all agreed.

I like the church, Hyun sook added. Its good, kind people.

In a couple of years, Dae young said he hoped his family could visit.

They graciously thanked me with words and gifts for inviting them to my home, even though Id peppered them with questions.

I am so happy to come, Aeran told me. This is the first time in an American home.

We are all strangers and come from another country, added Chulchae, and you all give us a warm welcome.

Their difficulties sound daunting to me. But Im grateful that in this story, at least, there has been room at the Inn.

Maggie McKinney is a member of Morganton Writers Group.
Egypt strongly denounced Sunday's attack in the Jordanian city of Karak which targeted security forces and killed at least nine people, the foreign ministry said.

In a statement late Sunday, the ministry said that Egypt expresses its "full solidarity" with the Jordanian people and stands by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the fight against terrorism.

"Egypt and Jordan, with our common cultural heritage and strong relations, are able to stand together as one in the face of extremism and terrorist groups," the statement read.

Gunmen attacked police forces at a crusader-era castle in the southern city of Karak Sunday, resulting in a shoot-out that killed at least nine people and injured at least 29 others.

A Canadian woman, three other civilians and five police officers were among those killed during the exchange of gunfire between the assailants and security forces.

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Egypt commenced on Monday joint military drills with Bahrain titled "Khaled Ibn Al-Waleed 2016" which will continue through 30 December, the armys spokesperson announced.

The spokesperson said the drills come "in the context of military partnership, cooperation and coordination between the armed forces of the two countries," in an official statement on Monday.

The training, which will take place in the Bahraini Eisa air base, will involve sharing expertise on a number of combat activities, including special forces training, counter-terrorism tactics, freeing hostages and storming facilities.

On 9 December, Egyptian and Greek armed forces concluded the "Medusa 2016" joint military drills in Greece.

Egypt has carried out 30 joint military exercises in 2016 with 20 Arab and African countries, and European countries including France and Russia.

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Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process.
Security forces killed on Sunday a prominent member of the militant "Hasm" group during a raid on a terrorist hideout in Giza's 6 of October city, according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior.

One security personnel was also killed during the operation.

The militant was killed after opening fire on police, according to the statement. The security forces found several loaded firearms in the terrorist hideout.

Last week, the Ministry of Interior said it killed three militants of the "Hasm" group during a security raid in Upper Egypt's Assiut governorate.

The "Hasm" ("Resolve") group, which Egyptian authorities say is affiliated with the banned Muslim Brotherhood organisation, has claimed responsibility for a several terrorist attacks in recent months.

Most recently, the group claimed an attack on 9 December on a police checkpoint in Cairo's Haram district, in which at least six policemen were killed.

Cairo designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation in December 2013, saying it was responsible for a range of attacks and violent incidents following the ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in July 2013.

Attacks against Egyptian security forces have become common in recent years but are mostly concentrated in North Sinai, where army and police are battling an entrenched Islamist insurgency.





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Provencale rose is very drinkable: pale, fruity and not too strong. It is usually seen as a girls drink (is it just the colour?), but everyone enjoys it in summer. The Switzerland of wines, rose marks neutral territory for red and white wine drinkers. Who doesnt like rose?

We dont drink rose in winter, which is odd when you think about it. We will happily quaff white wine, champagne and even pink champagne, all of which are served cold. Yet rose is invariably associated with summer  light, gluggable wines that go with salads, barbecues, fish and vegetables.

I say there is no reason we should not drink rose in winter. Ive even made mulled wine with it!

5 food pairings for rose in winter:

Canapes, as an aperitif

Fish, especially salmon (smoked or fresh)

Cheese boards and cheesy dishes

Winter salads

Dessert  anything with red fruit, berries, e.g. a pavlova with cream and raspberries, or stewed fruit with cinnamon and star anise

Chicory and goats cheese gratin

We dont eat much chicory in the UK. In France, endives are very popular and found piled up cheaply in the supermarkets. The ivory and chartreuse bud-shaped green is forced (i.e. grown in the dark) to ensure that the leaves are pale and tender. The flavour is crisp and slightly bitter. (Bitter foods are good for you, but cooking lessens the bitterness.)

If using in salad, I like to pair chicory with blue cheese, walnuts and a Dijon mustard vinaigrette. The French bake it with bechamel sauce, each shoot wrapped in ham. This is a vegetarian tweak on baked endives.

Tip: You can also use red chicory or endives, sometimes called radicchio. These work just as well.

Serves 2 to 4

Baking dish 20 x 15cm

Ingredients:





4 or 5 chicory tips, root trimmed and cut in half lengthways

100g butter (unsalted)

50g flour

1tbsp mustard

250g full fat milk

Salt and pepper

220g goats cheese (roulade-style), 1cm-wide slices

50g parmesan, grated

Handful of breadcrumbs

Method:

Preheat your oven to 180C. Grease the baking dish with half the butter and lay the chicory halves inside it. Cover the dish with foil, then bake for 20 minutes or until tender. In the meantime, make the bechamel. Using a good quality saucepan, melt the rest of the butter on a low heat. Add the flour and, using a wooden spoon, start to stir vigorously. Add the mustard and add the milk gradually, a bit at a time. Keep stirring so that the roux (the flour and butter) absorb the liquid. (If there are any lumps, use a whisk to eliminate them). Keep doing this until all the milk is absorbed and you have a thick white sauce. Season to taste. Remove the chicory from the oven and remove the foil (but dont get rid of it). Toss the chicory to make sure they arent stuck to the bottom. Line them up and pour the bechamel sauce over the chicory. Add the rounds of goats cheese to the top of the dish, spreading them evenly. Add the parmesan and the breadcrumbs. Replace the foil and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Finally, remove the foil and bake or grill the dish for another 10 minutes so that it browns. Serve hot.

I created this wintery gratin recipe for Provence wines UK. Served with a green salad and some crusty bread, its a wonderfully warming lunch or dinner.

Here are a list of wines that I tasted, all of which match very well with the dish:

Chateau de Berne, Grande Recolte, 2014  9.99 or 8.99 Mix Six price,  9.99 or 8.99 Mix Six price, Majestic

Chateau du Galoupet, Cru Classe, 2015  10.95,  10.95, The Wine Society

Domaine Sainte Lucie, MiP Classic, 2015  12.50 or 11.50 Mix Six price,  12.50 or 11.50 Mix Six price, Lea and Sandeman

Chateau La Gordonne, Verite du Terroir, 2015  9.99 until 3rd January 2017 (RRP 15),  9.99 until 3rd January 2017 (RRP 15), Ocado
Egypt's High Administrative Court has set 16 January as the date when it will rule on the governments appeal against an earlier court ruling that nullified Egypts agreement with Saudi Arabia to hand over two Red Sea islands to the Gulf country.

The Egyptian government presented its case to the court on Monday, submitting historical documents which it says prove that the islands of Tiran and Sanafir, which lie at the southern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, are in fact Saudi.

Opposing counsel Khaled Ali said during the court session there is no disagreement between us and the Saudi people, but this is our land, not theirs.

In April, Egypt's government made the deal to place the two islands under Saudi sovereignty, arguing that they had always belonged to Gulf country and that Egypt had merely been administering them on behalf of the kingdom since the 1950s.

The decision to transfer the two islands to Saudi Arabia sparked widespread public outcry in the country.

Shortly after the agreement, a number of lawyers, including rights lawyer Khaled Ali, filed a lawsuit with an administrative court to block the deal.

The court issued a ruling in June nullifying the agreement, which the government has appealed with a lower administrative court, the High Administrative Court, and Supreme Constitutional Court, the country's highest court.

In early November, the administrative court rejected the government's appeal, issuing a verdict on two separate motions by the government and the defence.

The court rejected the government's request to suspend the implementation of the June ruling, and accepted the defence's request to compel the state to implement the June verdict.

Later in November, the government submitted two appeals against the administrative court's decisions.

In late September, the Court for Urgent Matters accepted a government motion challenging the jurisdiction of administrative courts in issues of sovereignty, and voided the June decision.

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Egypt's former prime minister and 2012 presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq was officially removed from travel ban and arrival watch lists on Monday, said Shafiq's lawyer Dina Hussein.

On 16 November, a Cairo criminal court ruled to remove Shafiq from the arrival watch list.

The court decision was executed on Monday by the prosecutor general, Hussein said in a press statement.

Shafiq was placed on travel ban and arrival watch lists in late 2012 while under investigation for corruption charges.

The former prime minister was later acquitted in court of all charges.

Shafiq headed Egypt's civil aviation ministry from 2002 to 2011. He was appointed prime minister by ex-president Hosni Mubarak during the 2011 January uprising, but was forced to resign under public pressure in late February 2011.

In June 2012, he narrowly lost in the final round of the presidential election to Islamist candidate Mohamed Morsi, who was himself ousted from the presidency in 2013.

Since then, the 74-year-old has resided in the UAE, citing "personal safety concerns."

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CA Population Chart View Photos

Sonora, CA  Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador and Mariposa counties were among 14 in the state that saw its population decline over the past year.

Thats according to new statistics released by the California Department of Finance focused on the period stemming from July 1st of 2015 to July 1st of this year. Tuolumne Countys population fell to 54,282, which is a drop of 243 residents. Calaveras Countys population declined by 108 residents, down to 44,791. Mariposa County fell by 33 residents to 18,055 and Amador was down by 123 residents to 37,191.

The Mother Lode region has seen a gradual population decline over the past several years. In 2010, Tuolumne County had population of 55,350, Calaveras was 45,535, Mariposa was 18,245 and Amador was 38,069.

The statistics show that more residents are moving to urban areas as opposed to rural. As a whole, California added 295,000 people over the past year to bring the population up to 39.4 million. Counties that saw the most growth were Los Angeles (up 43,758), Riverside (up 31,471), San Diego (up 25,807) and Orange (up 20,153).
Egypt's minister of parliamentary affairs said that the conference will focus on legislative steps to combat terrorism

The Egyptian cabinet and the judiciary are currently preparing a conference to discuss issuing legislation to counter terrorism-related crimes, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Magdi El-Agati said on Monday at a press conference.

The judiciary and the Minister of Justice have agreed that workshops will be held on 2 January to debate what legislative steps should be taken to contain terrorism, said El-Agati.

The workshop debates will continue for almost one month, after which a public conference will be held on 29 January.

El-Agati said the conferences preliminary workshops will focus on amending the 1950s Criminal Procedures Law.

Different workshops will be formed to debate certain legislations, but the main focus will be on amending the current Criminal Procedures Law, which was issued more than 50 years ago, said El-Agati.

MPs and the cabinet agreed that last weeks Cairo church bombing has made amending terrorism-related legislations a pressing need.

El-Agati said that the law should be amended to expedite trials of terror suspects, though some MPs say they want even tougher measures, including referring all terrorism-related cases to military courts and stripping those convicted of their citizenship.

El-Agati said on Monday that proposed legislative amendments should gain consensus in a national conference before they are referred to parliament.

Invitations will be extended to MPs, judges, prosecutors, national security and intelligence officials, terrorism experts, university professors, lawyers, and even foreign ambassadors to attend the workshops to give their viewpoints on terrorism crimes and how legislations should be reformulated to overcome them, said El-Agati.

El-Agati indicated that at the end of their debates, the workshops will prepare a list of recommendations that will be discussed in a public conference on 29 January.

El-Agati said that judge Mohamed Eid Mahgoub has been named as the conference's secretary-general and that judge Mohamed Helmi Amin has been named as spokesman.

Mahgoub, the secretary-general of Egypt's Higher Council for Judges, said the conference will be held at the headquarters of the Justice Ministry in central Cairo.

We chose the justice ministry because its headquarters contain a good number of well-furnished hearing halls, not to mention that these headquarters are very close to parliament, the Lawyers Syndicate and the Higher Council for Judges, said Mahgoub.

Amin said the conference was originally proposed by the cabinet's Legislative Reform Committee.

The conference's workshops should conclude within two weeks before proposed legislative amendments are referred to more specialised committees, Amin said.

[The specialised committees] will take another two weeks to finish reviewing these amendments, and finally recommend them in a complete package to a public conference on 29 January, Amin said.

El-Agati explained that there is a general consensus in government and judicial circles that the amendment of the 1950 Criminal Procedures Law should focus on articles that unjustifiably prolong trials of terror suspects.

If necessary, this might entail amending articles of other related laws, said El-Agati, insisting that the conference's workshops will make sure that the amendments do not contravene the country's 2014 constitution.

Mahgoub said the conference's workshops will begin by reviewing a number of studies that have already been prepared by the justice ministry on terrorism crimes and the Criminal Procedures Law.

We will not begin from scratch, because we have complete studies that go in line with the constitution and deal with topics like the role of the cassation court, witnesses, defence, appeals and court recusals, said Mahgoub, arguing that some defendants, especially in terrorism-related crimes, exploit the legal procedures to delay the trial as much as possible.

All rights will be maintained during the trial, but the focus will be on briefing procedures and shortening trials while guaranteeing that defendants exercise their constitutional rights.

We want new legislations that meet a pressing national need while at the same time ensuring fair trials, said Mahgoub.

El-Agati said the conference's workshops will also discuss government-proposed amendments to the 2015's law on terrorists and terrorism entities.

These amendments aim to dry up sources of funding for terrorist activities and tighten control on terrorism crimes, said El-Agati.

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HART -- At the Dec. 15 evening meeting of the Hart City Council, council members present approved a settlement agreement between the Alliance of Xcel Municipalities (AXM) and Southwestern Public Service.

Xcel Energy, parent company of SPS, has reached a settlement with Texas customer groups to increase annual revenues to support close to $1 billion in capital improvements and recognize the impact of reductions in wholesale sales in 2015.

Xcel Energy, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, industry groups and an alliance of the 80 towns Xcel Energy serves in Texas have agreed to a $35 million, or 6.9 percent, annual revenue increase. The typical 1,000 kilowatt-hour residential bill will have risen on Dec. 10 by about 4 percent.

New rates also account for the reduction in wholesale power sold to rural cooperatives and municipal utilities in the region. Xcel Energys contracts with wholesale customers include planned reductions in sales, with most contracts ending in 2019.

In other business, the council approved a Texas Municipal League resolution opposing revenue caps and other legislative interferences with local services. TML notes that it appears that Texas cities will face a challenge in the form of the 85th Texas Legislatures seriously considering revenue caps on local governments and other measures that may limit a citys ability to locally determine tax rates and the best ways to address local issues.

One provision of the resolution is that the Hart City Council, by signing onto the resolution, feels it is necessary to establish ad valorem tax rates locally without a revenue cap to meet the health and safety needs of its residents through the provision of statutorily required and allowable activities.

In discussing responsibilities and duties of new City Administrator Adrian Rosas, Mayor Castillo told Rosas to make sure all employees arrive on time, address citizen complaints, note problems such as a trash receptacle having a hole in it and repair them. Rosas has been employed with the city, but was given extra responsibilities because Castillo said that because Castillo is employed with Hart ISD, he cant be meeting with citizens and addressing their complaints, questions, etc.

Paying overtime was discussed. In the past, the three employees of the Public Utility Service are allowed to work overtime, such as when spraying mosquitoes, and are paid at time and a half. The employees all punch a time clock, and Castillo said that when they work over 40 hours within the same week, the city is required to pay time and a half. It was pointed out that employees get two weeks of sick leave or personal time; and two weeks of vacation time. Monica Guzman, city secretary, and her assistant, Corie Longoria, as well as Rosas with his new job description are each on 90-day probationary periods.

Council member Johnny Carrasco told Rosas that if the three public utility employees are waiting on someone to do a job for the city, that two be sent home if after hours, to make wise use of the time and to keep equipment maintained.

Carrasco asked Rosas about the grapple truck, which is back in the shop. A new problem has arisen, and its at Sonnys Irrigation in Dimmitt.

Council members present were Mayor Eleazar Castillo and council members Mary Reyna, Johnny Carrasco and Ezekiel Barron.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received on Monday in Cairo a delegation from the American-Jewish Committee (AJC) at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace.

The meeting, which was attended by foreign minister Sameh Shokry, saw a discussion on Egypts role in the Middle East and the latest developments on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, as well as bilateral relations between Egypt and the US.

According to its website, the AJC is a leading global American-Jewish advocacy organisation, which works to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and to advance human rights and democratic values for all.

The committee visited Egypt in July 2015 to discuss with President El-Sisi regional developments and global counterterrorism efforts.
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John Harris and his small team were about to take a break from the annual Audubon Society bird count Sunday when he spotted one bird diving toward another.

Whoa, whats going on here? Harris said as he pulled out his birder binoculars. Another group member speculated it might be a type of Accipiter, but thats when Harris really became excited.

No, wait a minute. Its a peregrine, he shouted toward his fellow birders. Peregrine falcon.

Spotting a once-endangered species flying near Berkeley Aquatic Park is part of what makes bird watching fun, especially for the Audubon Societys 76th annual Christmas Bird Count.

The eight members of Harris team were among more than 270 bird counters, called birders, whom the Golden Gate Audubon Society registered for the count, which makes it the largest of its kind in the world for the third straight year. There were 29 teams in the field covering a 15-mile-wide circle centered in Oakland. A bird count centered in San Francisco is scheduled for Dec. 27.

While counts in Canada have more participants, those include people counting birds visiting backyard feeders, but the local society has more people in the field, said Ilana DeBare, Golden Gate Audubon Society spokeswoman.

Harris team covered the Berkeley waterfront area, arriving about 7 a.m. to count birds in the Brickyard Cove section of McLaughlin Eastshore State Park. They counted at least 2,500 least sandpipers alone.

Sometimes its hard to count birds that constantly move to different spots, but the birders work in small teams and can compare notes afterward.

The objective is to count every bird you see and not miss one bird, said Ed Vine, 66, a Berkeley resident whos been counting since 1973.

The preliminary count found that 177 different species were identified and noted, a total similar to last years count of 179 species, DeBare said. No unusual sightings were reported. The count of the total number of birds spotted wont be available for some time, but DeBare said early indications are that slightly fewer birds were out and about Sunday morning  probably because it was cold and they were hunkered down.

Although the section is still closed to the public, the East Bay Regional Park District gave the society access because of the importance of the count, which generates data used to track bird population trends and identify those that might be endangered. The data have been used for climate-change projections, DeBare said.

In the context of something like climate change, youve got hundreds and hundreds of these counts done every year for a long time, so you can look at very broad patterns, Harris said.

Although they use specialized bird-watching telescopes and binoculars, veteran birders such as Berkeleys Carolyn Weil, 58, can spot a certain type of bird from a distance just using their eyes.

For instance, she identified one bird as it flew over the Berkeley Marina by the way it stopped in one place and fluttered its wings.

That hovering is very unique to the white-tailed kite, said Weil, who first participated in the Christmas Bird Count in the early 1980s.

Steve Granholm, 69, began watching birds when he was 5, and its been a lifelong passion.

The birds are beautiful, and its fun to just watch the different behaviors they have, the Albany resident said. Feeding their young is really cute. Sometimes the birds fight with each other.

Sundays chilly air didnt deter the group from coming out. In fact, Harris arrived at 4:30 a.m., with the temperature about 37 degrees, to see if he could spot some barn owls. He found one.

The holiday tradition was started in 1900 by New Jersey conservationist Frank Chapman as a humane alternative to an annual bird hunt.

Vine noted that the number and types of birds have declined since the 1960s. But there are always enough to keep birders interested.

Its fun. Its always exciting. Each day is different, Vine said. You never know when you go out what youre going to see, so its never boring.

Benny Evangelista is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: bevangelista@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChronicleBenny
Southwest Bancshares Inc. CEO J. Bruce Bugg Jr. and other San Antonio executives are trying to start a new community bank in Austin.

The group has formed The Bank of Austin, a proposed state-chartered bank that is expected to be initially capitalized with up to $40 million, they announced in a press release Monday. The bank is scheduled to open by the end of June or early part of the third quarter, pending state and federal regulatory approvals.

The proposed board will be chaired by Bugg, whose Southwest Bancshares owns The Bank of San Antonio. Bugg also chairs The Tobin Endowment, a charitable foundation that supports the performing arts in San Antonio.

The board will be stocked with other notable local executives  including Robert Cavender, president of Cavender Automotive Group; Gene Dawson Jr., chairman of Pape-Dawson Engineers; David Spencer, biotech entrepreneur and investor; and Brent Given, Bank of San Antonios president and CEO.

They were also all founders of The Bank of San Antonio, which had more than $661 million in assets as of Nov. 30. It started with $25 million in capital and assets when it started in 2007.

There is a lack of locally own community banks in Austin, Bugg said in a statement.

Currently, there are 50 banks operating in Travis County, with only three having their headquarters in Austin, none of which offer the customer-centric focus on what locally owned businesses in Austin need and want, which we will offer the Austin business community, Bugg added.

Jon Eckert, who has more than 24 years of experience as a commercial banker in Austin, has been tapped as Bank of Austins proposed president and CEO and a board member, according to the news release.

A substantial portion of Bank of Austins capital is expected to come from the Austin business community. Applications for the new bank have been filed with the Texas Department of Banking and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

pdanner@express-news.net

Twitter: @AlamoPD
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Wells located in urban neighborhoods often require pressure kills and lease kills that are set to shut down for even the slightest leak in order to insure the safety of nearby residents. This is good and necessary in order for the producer to prevent the slightest chance of a dangerous incident.

But the constant starting and stopping is hard on the average ESP's run life. During starts and stops the seal, which is filled with oil to protect the motor, will release oil due to heat expansion. This expansion allows well bore fluid into the seal. If that fluid reaches the motor it can cause a downhole short. Additionally, solids produced in the well will "fall back" during a stop, building up around the top mechanical seal. This buildup can prevent the mechanical seal from closing properly, giving well bore fluids an open path to the motor.

In a recent case study a producer was using a Summit ESP in a west Texas urban neighborhood under the circumstances described above, with outstanding results. The Summit ESP system remained productive for over a year despite experiencing more than 830 safety shutdowns in a 12-month period.

That number is many times more than an average well's count of less than 20 shutdowns in a yearyet the Summit ESP continues to operate efficiently in this environment.

Patented Defender Seals

There are two main reasons for this exceptional performance. The first, Summit's patented Defender seals, feature enhanced high-load (EHL) bearing support, its exit ports prevent abrasive material from collecting inside and Defender's side wellbore pressure relief makes it more reliable than most legacy type seals.

They are designed to extend operating life in harsh environments by equalizing downhole pressure and preventing the intrusion of damaging intrusive solids and well bore fluids.

CORSAIR Motors

The second reason for improved performance are Summit's exclusive CORSAIR motors, which have precision hand-wound stators; shaped rotor bars; non-recessed rotors; and self-aligning wide profile Big Foot bearings. These features allow the rugged CORSAIR motors to withstand harsh conditions as well as frequent starts and stops, while delivering higher horsepower at cooler temperatures extending motor life.

Another breakthrough from Summit is their patent pending Inverted Shroud, which provides natural gas separation. It doubled oil production in Eddy County well.

An operator with a field in Eddy County, NM had a well with GORs as high as 2940, causing frequent shutdowns with resulting production losses.

Summit ESP's engineering team, with its extensive experience with high GOR wells, recommended the producer handle the gas issue by using Summit's patent-pending Inverted Shroud technology. The Inverted Shroud, compatible with standard ESP equipment, can be deployed quickly to provide natural gas separation. It is often used with Summit's patent pending, industry leading gas handling pumps.

Doubling oil production

By separating the gas from the liquid flow the Inverted Shroud reduced gas-induced shutdowns and boosted equipment life. Most importantly, the reduced shutdowns boosted production from an average of 52 BOPD before its installation to 106 BPOD afterward. At an average price of $50/BO that's $80,000 per month in increased revenue.

These are just two of the growing list of success stories at Summit ESP. Contact Summit today to see how their ESPs and related products can reduce downtime, extend the life of your equipment and, best of all, increase your cash flow.

Call Summit ESP in the Permian Basin at 432-563-7040. On the web, visit www.summitesp.com.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday evening that Egypt condemns the assassination of Russias Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov in Ankara.

The foreign ministry extended its condolence to Russia and its people and affirmed Egypts support for Moscow in its fight against terrorism.

The statement said Egypt "reminds all countries of international conventions to provide protection to diplomatic missions, particularly with the ongoing threat of terrorism."

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FAIRFIELD  A day of pre-Christmas festivities in the Big Apple ended in a night of horror for a local woman who police said was raped and robbed at knifepoint by a convicted felon as she walked home from the Fairfield Train Station Saturday night.

The alleged rapist, 48-year-old Michael Fontaine, of New Haven, who police said had gotten out of prison days before for committing similiar offenses, was tracked by dogs from the crime scene police said. Following a trail of Fontaines blood, officers said they found him hiding behind some bushes at a local church.

This is a horrible crime, Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara said. Our officers were able to locate him through perseverance and determination.

The woman had taken the train to New York City, where she had gone with friends to the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall, police said. When she got back to the Fairfield Train Station at about 10 p.m., she decided to take the short walk to her home on Reef Road, not far from the Police Department.

But Fontaine was apparently waiting in the shadows, police said. They said they dont know whether he had been on the train.

Neighbors reported hearing a woman screaming and called police. The woman, her clothes pulled off, managed to get to a house, police said.

The victim reported that she was walking on Reef Road from the train station when she heard heavy footsteps approaching from behind, right before she was attacked, Fairfield Police Lt. Robert Kalamaras said.

The woman was taken to the hospital while police with two dogs from the Westport Police Department and State Police began the search for her attacker.

Officers began to track shoe prints in the freshly fallen snow along with a blood trail left by the suspect as a result of the struggle with the victim, Kalamaras said. The trail led to Fontaine, who was hiding in bushes on Old Post Road with items he had allegedly stolen from the woman, police said.

Fontaine was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree robbery, third-degree assault and second-degree larceny. He had been released from a Connecticut prison 11 days before the attack, police said.

During his arraignment Monday morning, Fountaine was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bond by Superior Court Judge William Holden, who continued the case to Jan. 10.

MacNamara said Fontaine had been arrested in Fairfield on larceny charges in the early 1980s, and in Massachusetts for carjacking and sexual assault at knifepoint in the 1990s. After time in a Massachusetts prison, Fontaine was imprisoned in Pennsylvania for violating Megans Law, which requires sex offenders to register in the state, MacNamara said.

Detectives are also continuing to investigate whether there had been any unreported incidents in the area involving Fontaine. Police are asking anyone with related information to contact the Fairfield Police Department.

Police said those wishing to remain anonymous can also provide information by texting CRIMES (274637) with the keyword FPD.

Staff writers Frank Juliano and Daniel Tepfer contribted to this report.
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Two local teachers, one from Stratford, the other from Bridgeport, have helped their schools become statewide finalists in a contest that could solve a real-world issue and give them a much needed technology grant.

Christopher Newlan, a Wooster Middle School science teacher, and Carrie Ryall, a tenth grade biology teacher at Bassick High School, each submitted projects that were named among five state finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest.

The teachers designed projects to encourage their students to solve issues in the community using science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

The project designed by Newlan, who was the state winner in the 2015 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest, involves creating a flow sensor to prevent wasting water.

Last June, Newlan was named a finalist in the Connecticut Teacher of the Year recognition program.

Ryalls project is aimed at combatting urban poverty  and violence  through science.

I had two other teachers join my class with this project, Ryall said.

Mikayla Benbow and Denisse Aquino, both Bassick science teachers, joined Ryalls stem lab with their classes so her students would have opportunities to collaborate with students outside of their class.

She is a fantastic, Angela Bhushan, science director for Bridgeport Public Schools, said of Ryall. I am so happy to hear the news.

Ryall is no stranger to getting supplies for her classroom when district funds run short. She is a frequent participant on the DonorsChoose website, a popular crowd-funding platform for urban educators.

Other Connecticut state finalists include a teacher from Danbury High School, the Engineering and Science University Magnet School in Hamden and Plainville Community School.

Nationwide, there are 255 state finalists.

As state finalists, Newlan and Ryalls classes will each receive one Samsung Galaxy Tablet. Their next step is to submit a lesson plan. They will also identify a local nonprofit organization to receive a donation if the school wins the contest.

One of the five Connecticut finalists will go on to represent the state in a national competition. The state prize is $25,000 in technology for their school.

From the pool of 51 state winners, 10 national finalists will be selected. The national finalists will then pitch their idea live in New York to a panel of judges and America will be able to vote on their favorite ideas.

Three national winners will be named and honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The winning schools will receive a $150,000 technology grant as well as a $20,000 donation to their nonprofit of choice.
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STAMFORD  After WorldQuant CEO Igor Tulchinsky completed a quick tour of new classroom space Sunday, congregants of Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Stamford shouted, Mazal Tov! as Tulchinsky snipped a red ribbon commemorating the opening of a new Jewish learning center that bears his name.

The ribbon cutting prefaced a banquet lunch in the synagogue where Tulchinsky, 50, founder of the Greenwich-based investment management company WorldQuant, was honored for his ongoing philanthropy in Fairfield County and worldwide.

I want to thank you, Igor, personally again for the magnificent things youve done for us here  not only us here, but what you and your family have done has touched the world all over, said Rabbi Yisrael Deren, founder and director of Chabad Lubavitch of Fairfield County.

During the event, Deren, his son, Yossi Deren, former U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman and others praised the investment analyst for paying for the completion of Chabad Lubavitchs new Igor Tulchinsky Center for Jewish Life and Learning at the High Ridge Road center.

The establishment of the center caps off a project started 14 years ago, but stopped and started due to a lack of funding, said Rabbi Yisrael Deren. He oversees the countywide efforts of the group, while Yossi Deren oversees Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich.

This is an unbelievable gift to us, the elder Deren said.

During his comments at the lunch, he said Tulchinsky was a generous contributor to Chabad Lubavitchs efforts to relocate Ukrainian refugees in Dubinsk to safe areas during last years conflict and funding the provision of Passover seders to more than 50,000 Jews in remote areas around the world.

Addressing the audience, Tulchinsky told the lunchgoers his financial support of the global Chabad movement, as well as other philanthropic efforts to support higher education in finance through his company, were an obligation that comes with success.

Tulchinsky, who immigrated to the United States in 1977 from Belarus and lives in Greenwich, said he has been receiving instruction in the Torah from Rabbi Yossi Deren for the past five or six years, which has had a positive effect on his life.

Its a personal belief that the world has a tangible purpose and to do good things helps attach you to that purpose, Tulchinsky said. You need to make sure you are attached to the right purpose, and that is why I give and try to give to the right places.

While the Chabad movement is 250 years old, the Hasidic movements work is inspired by the philosophy of the late Lubavitcher leader, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, who led the orthodox Chabad-Lubavitch movements dramatic expansion after World War II and the Holocaust, Rabbi Yisrael Deren said.

Today, the movement has more than 3,500 centers worldwide that serve the needs of the Jewish community and others.

The philosophy of Chabad is open, accepting and nonjudgmental, Yisrael Deren said. Were not just here to create little rabbis or Hasidim.

The completely rebuilt Chabad Lubavitch center includes more than 6,000 feet of additional space for the centers ongoing programs like Camp Gan Pre-School and the Friendship Circle, a program that pairs high school volunteers with special need children, Deren said.

Other users of the new center include adult religious classes, after school youth groups, and various other forms of religious instruction.

This is a center that will help the entire community and were extremely fortunate that we had Igor Tulchinsky to help us to finish it, Deren said.
ALBANY  A Guilderland man was indicted Monday on five charges accusing him of raping a University at Albany student.

Franklin Casatelli, 25, is to appear Wednesday before Albany County Court Judge William Carter on charges of rape and burglary and two counts of attempted burglary, all felonies, as well as misdemeanor criminal trespass, according to a news release from District Attorney David Soares' office.
Albany

Two days after a rape charge was brought against a Hope House employee, a Hope House counselor has been accused of raping a resident in their care.

Nicole Hodgdon, 29, of Schenectady, on Dec. 16 was charged with felony rape and misdemeanor sexual abuse and sexual misconduct, according to the state Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs Prosecutor Patricia Gunning.

The center was created to investigate allegations of abuse committed against people with special needs who receive state care.

Gunning said Hodgdon's charges stem from a May incident where she allegedly had sex with a person who was at Hope House  an alcohol and substance abuse treatment facility in Albany  for drug treatment.

Sex crimes under the state law include sexual contact of any kind between an employee and a patient when the employee has reason to know their patient is placed at a facility licensed or certified by the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

Hope House terminated Hodgdon from her position.

On Dec. 14, Albany resident and Hope House employee James Whetstone, 32, was arrested for raping a teenage girl in his care. Officials said the incidents aren't related. Whetstone also was terminated from his job.

"Although the two cases are not related, this is the second Hope House employee we have arrested this week on charges of sexual abuse," Gunning said. "This defendant, like her colleague, allegedly used the victim for her own sexual gratification. We will hold this defendant accountable for her misconduct. People seeking to recover from addiction and chemical dependency should not be subjected to such abuse."

Hodgdon was arraigned in Colonie Town Justice Court and released under the supervision of the Albany County Department of Probation.

afries@timesunion.com  518-454-5353  @mandy_fries
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The Deer Park Police Department is seeking input from the community to locate a suspect thought to be responsible for thousands of dollars of fraudulent credit card transactions in Deer Park, Pasadena, Houston and La Porte.

"We're not 100 percent sure how the suspect is accessing the stolen credit card numbers," Deer Park police detective J. White said. "There are a couple of ways he could find stolen account numbers to create fictitious credit cards, such as using a skimmer."
An estimated 3,000 people were evacuated from the last rebel-held pocket of Syria's Aleppo early on Monday after hours of delay, a medical official told AFP.

"About 20 buses carrying people from Aleppo have arrived" at the staging ground west of the city, said Dr Ahmad Dbis, who heads a team of doctors and volunteers coordinating evacuations.

Another 25 vehicles arrived less than two hours later, he said, bringing the total evacuated on Monday morning to around 3,000 people.

Dbis said he saw families wrapped in several layers of coats getting off the buses and receiving packs of bottled water and food.

One thin young boy was biting into an apple while his family sat on the cold earth behind him.

More than 30 buses packed with people had waited overnight in freezing temperatures to leave Aleppo under a complex evacuation deal.

Just 350 people were able to leave after Russia and Turkey urged the government to allow five buses to pass its final checkpoint, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The departure of the remaining buses had reportedly been delayed until hundreds of people could be evacuated from two northwestern villages under siege by the rebels.

The Britain-based Observatory said an estimated 500 people were bussed out of Fuaa and Kafraya early on Monday.

"Ten buses carrying about 500 people have left Fuaa and Kafraya and are on their way to government-controlled territory in Aleppo," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

The evacuation deal for Aleppo was brokered by regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey, and has been overseen by the International Committee for the Red Cross.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura estimated that as of Thursday around 40,000 civilians and perhaps as many as 5,000 opposition fighters remained in Aleppo's rebel enclave.

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A group of newly settled Middle Eastern and African refugee families gathered in a small multi-purpose room Tuesday morning at Spring Forest Middle School to get one-on-one time with teachers and interpreters, who explained to them the complicated and often foreign procedures required for their children to enroll and attend school in the U.S.

Most of the families only have been in the country for a handful of months, are living in small apartments and are still looking for jobs. But they sat through the two-hour meeting, listening patiently while the English presentation was translated into Arabic, then later into Swahili in one corner of the room, where two fathers from the Congo sat with their Kenyan case manager from Catholic Charities.

They nodded with interest to each other as the after-school programs were explained, and asked questions about the immunization requirements when the school nurse explained that most parents were doing a great job getting the immunizations done, but failing to get the records back to the school.

On top of complicated privacy laws that regulate medical records in the U.S., the language barrier has created further challenges.

Spring Forest Middle School is meeting these challenges through the meeting they call a "Newcomer Breakfast" - the second in so many years - in order to support families as they navigate a new educational system.

The meeting comes one day after Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Monday the creation of the Office of New Americans where he said immigrants can get access to resources and will serve as an "engagement hub," according to a Houston Chronicle report.

In the same report, Turner said, Houston "is going to remain a city where all are welcome, where neighbors look out for one another and where we are proud of our diversity."

Patricia Economides, counselor for recent immigrants with Spring Branch Independent School District, relayed the mayor's sentiments to the group to bolster her message that each family would be welcomed into the school.

Spring Forest Middle School is leading the way locally with its efforts toward orienting refugee parents to school and American life with the morning session, and with the "Daily Dose" program where they teach refugee students ESL lessons on campus and are taught by local Mormon missionaries.

The creative collaboration with community members to address the needs of the new population came about through necessity, said Kaye Williams, principal at Spring Forest.

She said her campus has the highest number of refugee students enrolled in all of SBISD.

Of 851 students, 25 have official refugee status, but a total of 42 are "newcomers," a designation Williams uses to identify any student who has gaps in education or assimilation needs.

"At the end of the day, their needs are all the same," she said.

Administrators passed out pre-printed absentee notes and doctors' excuses in Spanish, Arabic and Swahili for parents to take home after they explained the excused versus unexcused absentee system.

Trina Morford, a parent volunteer, told them that families throughout the SBISD area want to help them find resources for basic needs through a program the school calls a "mentor family."

"You can have a couple of families you can call and ask questions and help you with all the complications of ... America," Morford said.

Mustafa Ibrahem and his family quickly signed up for the mentor program when the sheet was handed to them. Ibrehem, his wife and five children arrived in the U.S. two months ago from Iraq.

Two of the children attend Spring Forest, he said, and that the school was very good and very helpful to the children.

The family waited for 10 years to come to the U.S. under an International Organization for Migration program available to them in Iraq. Ibrahem, whose professional experience is in HVAC and air conditioning systems, worked for three years with the U.S. Army in his country in order to qualify for the program.

Nadia Ali, his adult daughter who attended the meeting with her parents, said that after the three years of work they had to wait seven more years for their application to be processed and approved.

Now that they're here, Ibrahem is looking for work, but feeling stuck. He has multiple certifications back in Iraq, and 20 years of experience in the industry, but needs American certifications to compete for jobs.

"I need help; where's the line?" he said.

Asumani Ndaye is from Congo and has 11 children, three at Spring Forest.

Before they arrived in the U.S. the family lived for eight years in a refugee camp in Uganda, where Ndaye said through an interpreter some of his children attended school but that, "Nobody cared, teachers beat the children.

"Here people care, they want to help the child and the parent."
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Fulshear High School Charger cheerleaders enthusiastically welcomed community guests to their new Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) campus for the dedication of Churchill Fulshear Jr. High School and Dean Leaman Junior High School.

The ceremony included performances by the Charger Band and school choirs, as well as remarks by the schools' respective principals, Dan Ward and Michael Semmler, District Superintendent Dr. Thomas Randle, and Leaman family representative Lee Leaman.

Fulshear principal Daniel Ward spoke about Churchill Fulshear's pioneer spirit, noting his service in the Texas Revolution while still a teenager.

"I feel sorry for Santa Anna," Ward said. "I deal with teens every day and I know how troublesome they can be."

Ward also called the facilities the best he's seen in his career in academics.

Fulshear went on to be a major land owner and donated the land for the railroad which helped the town become organized.

Lee Leaman spoke about his father's generosity and love for the community. He thanked the District for honoring his father with the naming of school.

Lee Leaman, his brother Ken and their families got a full tour of the junior high school, accompanied by many family friends.

"The overriding theme for the dedication is that we are part of a 'Charger Nation,' said Janet Burkett, Firethorne Marketing Director, noting Fulshear and Leaman are the new designated Lamar CISD schools for residents of Firethorne West. The District's Kathleen Joerger Lindsey Elementary School is under construction and slated to open in Firethorne in August 2017. It will mark the District's first-ever school in Katy.

Firethorne Marketing Director Janet Burkett congratulated Lamar Consolidated ISD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Randle on the opening of the new Fulshear High and Leaman Junior High Schools after the schools' dual dedication ceremony.

"It's great to be one of the original Chargers," Leaman Junior High Principal Mike Semmler said after the ceremony. "Both Mr. Ward and I are excited to be part of a growing, vibrant community. The community has already rallied around both schools."
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Atlanta

As members of the Electoral College prepare to choose Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, some Republican electors say they are defending rural and small-town America against big-state liberalism and its support for national popular vote leader Hillary Clinton.

But the picture is more complicated.

"Our Founding Fathers established the Electoral College because those larger states, those larger areas, don't necessarily need to be the ones that rule," said Mary Sue McClurkin, a Republican elector from Alabama.

In Trump's hometown of New York City, which Clinton won easily, Democratic elector Stuart Appelbaum countered that "we're electing the president of the entire country," so "the will of the entire country should be reflected in the results."

In Albany, members of the Electoral College  which includes former President Bill Clinton  will gather in the New York Senate chamber in Albany to cast votes for the presidency Monday.

Clinton and New York's 28 other electors will cast ballots for his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Clinton won some 2.6 million more votes than Trump in the nationwide tally. But Trump is in line to get 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

Trump won rural areas, small towns and many small cities, including in states Clinton carried. Clinton won in the largest urban areas, including in Trump states.

Former Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, a GOP elector, said Democrats' strength on the coasts is enough to justify the Electoral College. "A presidential election decided each time by either California or New York," he said, would leave voters in Alaska and many other places "with no voice" in presidential politics.

It's worth noting that Trump didn't just win small states and Clinton didn't just take large ones.

Trump and Clinton split the six most populous states, each winning three, but Trump won seven of the top 10. Of the 10 smallest states plus the District of Columbia, Trump edged Clinton 6-5. Trump actually ran up his national advantage in midsize states.

But the dynamics highlight the delicate balance in a political structure that defines itself simultaneously as a democracy and a republic.

When the Constitution was written, some signers wanted direct election of the president. Others wanted state legislatures or Congress to choose the executive. The Electoral College was the end result: Each state got a slate of electors numbering the same as its delegation in Congress. Electors vote, with rare exception, for whichever candidate won the most votes in their state  effectively meaning the presidential election is 51 separate popular votes.

"It's such an interesting compromise that gave us the Electoral College, unique to our American system," said elections law expert Will Sellers from Alabama, who will serve as a Republican elector for the fourth time.

The system gives smaller states an advantage: The number of electors is based on each state's number of U.S. representatives plus two, for each member of the U.S. Senate  itself a compromise favoring small states.

So California's 55 electoral votes reflect 53 House members and two senators. For seven states, including Wyoming, Delaware and the Dakotas, those extra two electoral votes bring their total to the minimum of three.

Put another way, Alaska's three electors will cast 0.56 percent of the 538 electoral votes despite casting just 0.23 percent of the national popular vote. But the advantage doesn't just favor Republicans. Democratic Nevada makes up 1.12 percent of the Electoral College but cast less than 1 of a 100 national ballots.

The Electoral College-popular vote split, along with Trump's larger-than-life personality and lack of elective experience, has fueled a vocal, but almost certainly futile, movement to deny him the presidency by pressuring electors to vote against him when they convene Monday in the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

The Associated Press tried to reach all 538 electors and was able to interview more than 330 of them. Many reported getting tens of thousands of emails, calls and letters asking them to vote against Trump.

But the canvass found overwhelming support for the system, and the nominee, among Republican electors. The AP found only one pledged to Trump who will refuse to vote for him.

"I feel like the Electoral College gives a very fair perspective, so that those who are in the rural areas are able to have an equal voice with those who are in the urban areas," said Oklahoma elector Lauree Elizabeth Marshall.

If anything, when Republican electors talk about large states, they actually mean New York and California. Clinton's lead in California, the most populous state, is more than her national lead. She won New York by about 1.7 million votes.

McClurkin, the Alabama elector, says many of the letters and emails she's received have come from those two states. "I've not gotten any from a Southern state," she said.

But Democratic elector Eric Herde from Washington state argued that the country should scrap electoral votes in favor of the national ballot count. All Electoral College defenses, whether citing population or the genius of the founders, amount to "states mattering more than people," Herde said. "The argument that the person who got the most votes should win is still the better argument."
HART  At the Dec. 12 meeting, the Hart School Board approved recommendations by Superintendent David Cox regarding high school science.

Shane McDaniel, who teaches science to students in grades 6-8, will also be teaching high school biology in place of Xiong Chen. Chen, of Amarillo, has never taught until this year, having been in pharmaceutical research. This research was funded by grants, and this wasnt always reliable as a source of income. Cox said Chen will continue to teach the science labs, and also is in charge of Plato, an online standards-based learning program.

Cox is continuing to look for a high school science teacher as well as an ag science teacher. Maddie Thompson, current ag science teacher, is leaving at the end of this semester.

Cox reported that a high school youth has been hired to help him with work on fences, etc.

The board voted to again appoint Scotty Clevenger to serve on the Castro County Appraisal District Board.

Cox reported that some school districts will be asking the Texas Legislature to reconsider the multiplier in funding small schools, and instead treat all schools the same. He said that the multiplier for small schools (fewer than 1,600 students) is 0.025 times the tax base; larger schools use 0.040. For Hart ISD, he said this can be a loss in annual revenue of at least $300,000. He said that when this funding mechanism was put in place in 1975, the legislature thought small schools would consolidate.

The board convened in executive session from 7:19-7:45 p.m. After returning to open session, the board approved the resignation of Cassie Baker, middle school math teacher, and employment of her replacement, Alexa Riley, who is a recent Texas Tech graduate. Also, the board hired former ag science teacher Jerry Mathis of Olton as a temporary teacher in place of Th
Related Hamas blames Israel for killing of drone expert in Tunisia

Tunisia's Prime Minister Youssef Chahed called on Sunday an emergency cabinet meeting, following the release of a statement from Hamas' military wing Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades that accused Israeli intelligence agency Mossad of murdering Tunisian aviation engineer Mohamed Zouari.

Zouari, 49, was shot last Thursday evening in his car outside his home in Sfax, on Tunisia's eastern coast.

Hamas' military wing Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said that Zouari had been a member of the Palestinian group for 10 years, responsible for supervising its Ababil drone program.

Tunisian officials and judicial bodies investigating Zouari's death have not commented on the accusation.

"Firing accusations and charges against any party would be premature," unnamed government sources said.

Some Tunisian media outlets have reported the accusation as fact, sparking anti-Israeli anger across the country.

Al-shourouk newspaper, one of the most popular Tunisian newspapers, ran a headline on Sunday titled "Mossad assassinates Zouari." Al-Maghreb newspaper reported Mossad's potential involvement but said that investigations are ongoing.

Tunisian police have arrested eight suspects including one woman in connection with the assassination, and are searching for another Moroccan-Belgian suspect.

Zouari was arrested in 1991 on suspicion of involvement with Islamic movements in Tunisia. He was pardoned months later, but was exiled from the country, returning only after the 2011 revolution that ousted ex-president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Media reports said Zouari recently travelled to Syria and Turkey on several occasions, and entered the Gaza Strip through illegal underground tunnels.

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The Library of Congress is heading into old territory with its newest online collection.

The research library is putting thousands of maps from the late 1800s to the early 1900s on its website, thanks to a partnership with the Digital Public Library of America.

Back before Google mapped the world and made flyover views available at everyone's fingertips, maps were created by cartographers who had a keen eye.

According to the Library of Congress, the panoramic maps shown above were also known as bird's-eye views, perspective maps and aero views. The maps were usually not drawn to scale but they gave a perspective of street patterns, buildings and major landscapes.

SEE ALSO: Bird's eye view of Midland

Most of the maps added to the website are documented in "Panoramic Maps of Cities in the United States and Canada" by John R. Hebert and Patric E. Dempsy.

The duo collected 1,726 panoramic maps of U.S. and Canadian cities, which were made by Albert Ruger, Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler, Lucien R. Burleigh, Henry Wellge and Oakley H. Bailey.The five men are responsible for more than 55 percent of the panoramic maps in the Library of Congress.

While not necessarily great for navigating  given the amount of development nationally in the 100 years or so since their creation  the maps offer an interesting view of early America.

In a release, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden called the maps "beautiful" and "one-of-a kind."

The panoramic maps have been released with maps from the Revolutionary War and Civil War.

Click through the slideshow above to see maps of Michigan cities from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
FAIRFIELD  A convicted rapist just released from prison is accused of sexually assaulting and robbing a woman at knifepoint as she walked home from the downtown Fairfield train station Saturday.

Michael Fontaine, 48, of New Haven, attacked a woman from behind when she was walking on Reef Road from the train station around 10 p.m. Dec. 17, according to police. Witnesses in the neighborhood heard screams and helped direct officers.

Officers set up a perimeter and called in two K-9s, from Westport and State Police. Officers tracked shoe prints in the snow and a blood trail from Fontaine, who had struggled with the woman he allegedly attacked, police said.

The blood trail led police to find Fontaine hiding in bushes at a local church on Old Post Road, with items he had allegedly stolen from the woman in his possession. He was arrested within an hour after the assault without further incident, according to police.

This is a horrible crime, Chief Gary MacNamara said. Our officers were able to locate him through perseverance and determination.

MacNamara said he was thankful for the aid of neighbors in the area and for the patrol officers that tracked down Fontaine within the hour. The woman and a witness called police at 10:19 p.m. after Fontaine had fled, and officers arrested him at 11:14 p.m.

Police said the victim was taken to the hospital for treatment after the attack.

The departments thoughts are focused on the victim of the crime, her family and the community at large, he said, and detectives are continuing to gather additional background information on Fontaine.

Fontaine had been released from a Connecticut prison 11 days before the attack, police said. Fontaine has past convictions for rape, sexual assault, robbery, carjacking, burglary and selling narcotics, across three states including Connecticut, according to the department.

MacNamara said Fontaine had been arrested in Fairfield on larceny charges in the early 1980s.

Furthermore, in the late 1980s, Fontaine was arrested in southwestern Connecticut for burglaries and narcotics violations, said Lt. Robert Kalamaras. Sentenced in 1990, Fontaine was released to a halfway house in 1991. Later that year he left the halfway house, considered an escape under state law, Kalamaras said.

Fontaine next served a prison sentence in Massachusetts for carjacking and rape at knifepoint and additional rape charges during his time in prison, according to police. Kalamaras said after Fontaines release, the convicted felon was arrested for driving under the influence in Pennsylvania four years ago.

Fontaine was transferred to Connecticut in 2014 after serving his Pennsylvania sentence to serve time on charges relating to his 1991 escape, Kalamaras said. Fontaine spent about two years in Osborn Correctional Institution in northern Connecticut.

Fontaine is a Bridgeport native and has a current address on Grand Avenue in New Haven. He is registered as a sex offender in Connecticut at different New Haven address, on Ella T. Grasso Boulevard.

Fairfield police charged him with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny and third-degree assault for the alleged Saturday attack.

Aggravated sexual assault, first-degree, has a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and five years of special parole in Connecticut. A class B felony, the charge can result in up to a 20-year sentence. The charge can involve use or threat with a deadly weapon. Fontaine allegedly had a knife during the attack.

The robbery and larceny charges are also felonies, while third-degree assault is a class A misdemeanor.

Fontaines bond was set at $500,000 and his arraignment was Monday morning in Bridgeport Superior Court, following the weekend arrest.

Detectives are also continuing to investigate whether there had been any unreported incidents in the greater Fairfield area involving Fontaine. Police are asking anyone with related information to contact the Fairfield Police Department.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide information by texting CRIMES (274637) with the keyword FPD.

Lweiss@hearstmediact.com; @LauraEWeiss16
Jordanian police said Monday they found suicide belts and other explosives in the hideout of suspected Islamic State group jihadists behind an attack that killed 10 people, including a Canadian tourist.

Another 34 people were wounded in Sunday's shooting spree, including a second Canadian. Four gunmen were shot dead by police during the course of a siege lasting several hours.

The attack took place in Karak, a tourist destination known for one of the region's biggest Crusader castles, around 120 kilometres (70 miles) south of the capital Amman.

Police said they suspected IS jihadists were behind the attack.

"The four dead militants are Jordanian members of a terrorist cell suspected of belonging to IS," a security source told AFP.

It was unclear whether any militants were still at large.

Prime Minister Hani al-Malki, who was addressing parliament at the time of the shootings, had spoken of as many as 10 gunmen.

Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting IS jihadists in neighbouring Iraq and Syria.

It has carried out air strikes targeting IS, and also hosts coalition troops on its territory.

Maaz al-Kassasbeh, a Jordanian fighter pilot, was captured by the jihadists when his plane went down in Syria in December 2014, and he was later burned alive in a cage.

Karak is Kassasbeh's hometown.

In June, a suicide bombing claimed by IS killed seven border guards near the Syrian frontier.

According to sources close to Islamists, almost 4,000 Jordanians have joined jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria, and an estimated 420 have been killed since 2011.

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Authorities believe the teen in a 'don't shoot' shirt who attacked an off-duty Montgomery County Sheriff's deputy at a gas station is a 16-year-old.

The juvenile, whose name was not released, was arrested Saturday following an "intensive investigation" by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, according to a press release from the County Attorney's Office. An arrest warrant has been issued for another individual in the case, according to the release.

Two men attacked the deputy, whose name has not been released, as he was packing ice into his truck at the Summer Hills Food Mart in the 24200 block of Sorters Road near Porter Dec. 10.

The two men allegedly approached the deputy and struck him on his head/jaw, according to the release. The two men then continued to assault the complainant in what was described as a robbery attempt.

The deputy's wife confronted the men before she and the deputy fired their handguns at the men. It is unclear whether or not either of the two men were struck.

The men left in a red pickup truck, according to Houston Chronicle reports, which was reported stolen in Houston just a day before the Porter robbery. Officers with the Houston Police Department found the truck Monday, according to a release. Since HPD's discovery of the vehicle, detectives with MCSO believe there may have been a third man with the two robbers Saturday.

As for the juvenile, County Attorney J D Lambright said youths from Harris County coming into Montgomery County to commit crimes has becoming a "recurring problem."

"The Interstate 45 and U.S. 59 corridors serve as attractive targets for Harris County youth who want to commit a crime in the suburbs and then make a quick escape home," Lambright stated in a press release.

MCSO officials did not respond to a request for additional info by press time.
Texas A&M International University and the Texas A&M University Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy have entered into a memorandum of agreement focused on the development of a TAMIU Cooperative Pharmacy Program.

The MOA was signed in brief ceremonies Tuesday at TAMIUs Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library.

TAMIU President Pablo Arenaz said the innovative MOA is aimed at leading to the successful admission of TAMIU students into the Rangel College of Pharmacy.

This visionary MOA establishes and maintains an academic program articulation, promotes the successful admission of TAMIU students who apply for admission through a 3+3+1 Cooperative Pharmacy Program and facilitates access to professional education in the region by providing acceptable course credit equivalencies. We are excited about working with our colleagues at the College of Pharmacy as we bring this new opportunity forward for our students, Arenaz said.

Indra K. Reddy, founding dean and professor of the Rangel College, said the initiative is a win-win-win.

Whats unique about this program is that its a three-way win. TAMIU attracts the best and brightest students into the Cooperative Pharmacy Program, the Rangel College partners with the students for their education in Kingsville for three years, and then Laredo receives them back in a community partnership that advances the quality of health care here -- truly a win-win-win, Reddy said.

The Cooperative Pharmacy Program is a joint program that selects highly motivated high school seniors who will be conditionally admitted to the TAMIU Cooperative Pharmacy Program, completing an 81-hour pre-pharmacy program at TAMIU. After completing their third year in Kingsville, the students will return to complete their fourth year in Laredo.

These students will be eligible to apply for admission into the Doctor of Pharmacy Program at Rangel College of Pharmacy in their junior year upon successful completion of the pre-pharmacy curriculum and meeting the requirements for College of Pharmacy admission.

Arenaz said that successful Doctor of Pharmacy graduates would have remarkable employment opportunities, especially in the South Texas area.

Recent research shows the population-to-pharmacist ratio in South Texas is 1,700 to 1, about 32 percent higher than the statewide ratio  so graduates would do well to return and address the shortage here at home, he observed.

Members of the College of Pharmacys Executive Committee joined Reddy and included Mary L. Chavez, Pharm.D. professor and chair of Pharmacy Practice, and interim vice dean, Juan Bustamante, assistant professor of pharmacy science and interim director of admissions, and Ramey A. Benfield, assistant dean for finance & administration.

The Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, located on the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus, opened its doors to students in 2006, and has graduated six cohorts of students. Today, 42 percent of the colleges graduates have returned to South Texas to help underserved populations. It is ranked in the Top 50 for pharmacy programs in the country, according to recent US News and World Report rankings.

The late Irma Lerma Rangel, a long-time Texas state representative from the 43rd District, served from 1977 until her death in 2003. An activist, educator and lawyer, she helped secure $460 million for the South Texas Border Initiative. In her last legislative session, Representative Rangel passed a bill creating the first professional school in South Texas, the Texas A&M Health Science Center - College of Pharmacy that would bear her name.

Additional information about the TAMIU Cooperative Pharmacy Program will be available after the start of the Spring semester, Jan. 17, at TAMIU from the Office of the Provost at 956.326. 2240.
A nationwide "sit-at-home" strike called by Sudanese opposition activists in protest at price hikes failed on Monday as buses ferried workers to offices and schools remained open.

The one-day action is part of a "civil disobedience movement" launched by activists against a government decision in November to hike fuel prices that has led to a sharp rise in the cost of other goods, including medicines.

But Sudanese went to work and traffic in Khartoum was busy as usual, an AFP correspondent reported after touring several districts of the capital.

"I have already made three trips to downtown ferrying passengers to their work places," said Ahmed Fadil, a minibus driver who operates from the main bus station.

The three-wheeled rickshaws, the main mode of transportation for thousands of labourers, were also trundling on Khartoum's streets.

"Everything is normal. I have been taking people to work as on any other day," said one driver.

Cafes, restaurants and shops were open in downtown Khartoum, as hawkers and street vendors displayed their goods on pavements.

Schools across Khartoum and other cities remained open, while several banks and private companies told AFP their employees had reported to work.

"It seems many people are not even aware of the strike call," the manager of a private hotel chain said, asking not to be named.

Ahead of the action, groups of activists, actors, journalists, lawyers, teachers and pharmacists had taken to social media to mobilise support after a similar three-day strike last month drew a mixed response.

On December 12, Bashir had vowed to crush any new anti-regime protests as the authorities did three years ago.

A previous round of fuel subsidy cuts in 2013 sparked serious unrest that was only suppressed by a deadly government crackdown that drew international condemnation.

Rights groups say about 200 lives were lost in street clashes with security forces, while the government puts the death toll at less than 100.

The authorities are determined to avoid any repetition of unrest and have rounded up several opposition leaders to prevent widespread protests this time.

Khartoum has been forced to progressively reduce fuel subsidies since 2011 when South Sudan seceded and took with it nearly three-quarters of the formerly united country's oil reserves.

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Several villages held by Islamic State group have been captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of militias backed by the United States that includes a strong Kurdish contingent, an organisation that monitors the war said on Monday.

The advance is part of a military campaign backed by an international coalition led by the United States to drive Islamic State group from its Syrian capital of Raqqa. It follows SDF gains against the militant group across the north of the country.

The strongest group in the SDF is the People's Protection Units or YPG, a Kurdish militia, but Washington has said that any operation to retake Raqqa should be predominantly Arab, the ethnicity of most of the city's residents.

The latest advances in the countryside about 50 km (30 miles) west and northwest of Raqqa follow an earlier phase of SDF gains on another front about 30 km north of the city.

Three SDF soldiers were killed fighting Islamic State group after the capture of five villages, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said on Monday.

Islamic State group had been on the back foot in both Syria and Iraq, where it is under attack in Mosul, its biggest and most important possession, and after a string of U.S. air strikes that have killed many of its leaders this year.

However, earlier this month it launched a surprise attack 160 km southwest of Raqqa to retake the ancient desert city of Palmyra, which it had lost in March to Syrian army forces backed by Russian air power after a nine-month occupation.

That attack demonstrated the risks still posed by the group across Syria even after its territorial losses there since mid-2015, including holdings along the Turkish border which were once its main route for supplies and recruits.

Complicating the efforts against Islamic State group is a second campaign being waged against it in northwest Syria by Turkey and Syrian rebel groups allied to Ankara. This has taken a large area from the jihadist group but is also aimed at stopping Kurdish expansion.

The Turkish-backed Syrian rebels are now attempting to capture the city of al-Bab from Islamic State group, a move that will end Kurdish hopes of uniting their two separated areas of self rule in northern Syria.

Early on Monday, the Turkish military said one of its soldiers had been killed in a car bomb in al-Bab on Sunday and that 11 militants were also killed in clashes that day.

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Asserting governmental immunity, Beaumont ISD does not want to answer attorneys' questions or release documents related to a carbon monoxide leak at Marshall Middle School that sent more than 100 people to the hospital in January.

Last month, Jeremy and Visa Kandi Robison requested to take depositions and obtain documents from the school district "to investigate potential negligence and gross negligence claims arising from the injuries to their child."

BISD responded this week that "under Texas law, school districts are political subdivisions, and while performing the governmental function of education, are not liable for assault, negligence or other tort claims," according to a filing in 136th District Court.

The Robisons' son was among the students and school employees who required hospitalization on Jan. 28 after a defective boiler leaked carbon monoxide.

A report from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation found two failures in the boiler that caused the leak three months after it passed its last inspection.

Scot Sheldon, one of two Beaumont attorneys representing the Robisons, said Judge Milton Gunn Shuffield heard both the plaintiffs' motion and the district's response at a hearing Wednesday.

A ruling is expected on the immunity claim at the beginning of next week, according to Shuffield's court.

BISD argued "there are no allegations that the Petitioners' child was actually injured as a result of any alleged exposure to the carbon monoxide."

Immunity claim

The district claimed because it would be immune from any suit, it should be immune from pre-lawsuit discovery, and that the plaintiffs are only allowed to request written or oral examinations, not the production of documents. The petition requested documents relating to the incident and to the boiler's inspection and maintenance.

The cost of providing those documents and taking depositions "are burdensome and costly to the school district and its employees in that funds and time are diverged from the students of BISD," the district claimed.

Christopher Gilbert, BISD's lawyer, said the court "does not have jurisdiction to grant these kinds of depositions" if the district would be immune from the underlying claim, as it would be if the family claims negligence.

"In this particular case, we don't think that governmental immunity should apply, we think that BISD should be required to provide the information that we need in order to consider pursuing claims on behalf of the families that were affected," Sheldon said.

In addition to requesting depositions and documents from BISD, the Robisons' petition also names as defendants Raypak, Inc., the boiler's manufacturer, and CNA Insurance Companies, whose inspector certified the boiler's operation in November before the incident.

Past use of immunity

BISD previously has invoked immunity, with mixed results.

The Ninth District Court of Appeals ruled in February that BISD was not immune from a lawsuit brought by former South Park Middle School teacher George Thomas, who alleged he was fired for reporting that the school was falsifying attendance records to the Texas Education Agency.

That same court ruled in favor of the district's immunity in May in another whistleblower suit, when former Jones-Clark principal Shaunte Guillory sued. Guillory claimed she was demoted and recommended for termination for assisting authorities' investigations into cheating at the school.

District Judge Gary Sanderson granted a temporary order preventing her from being fired until her suit was complete, but the appeals court cited the district's governmental immunity and dismissed the case.

Beaumont ISD claimed immunity from lawsuits and liability for student medical costs in the carbon monoxide incident less than a month after it happened, writing in a February statement that "paying for damages in a situation where the school district is clearly immune by law could be considered an illegal gift of tax dollars."

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz
A 21-year-old with alleged ties to a Mexican drug ring and a large amount of drugs was arrested in North Texas earlier this month.

Dallas police arrested Angel Alderete on Dec. 6 during a traffic stop in the 900 block of Trails Parkway. Alderete was in the possession of more than 5,400 grams (about 12 pounds) of heroin and 2,700 grams of methamphetamine, the Dallas Morning News reported.
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Two glowing, life-size cows made of silk and wire trailed behind a bright silk horse  a cowboy figure on top  next to an oil mill.

Its not every day that you see scenes of Southern Texas made out of traditional Chinese lanterns, but that kind of fusion was the basis for this years first Holiday Magic Festival of Lights at Retama Park, the horse racetrack in Selma.

Forged by Event Show Managements owners after the success of their Retama Spring Fest, Brady Yecker, their spokesman, said the idea for this holiday festival was to include cultures from around the world. Chinese culture was the pick for its inaugural year, but each following festival will highlight a different culture.

We wanted to bring out all different cultures and celebrate together. We wanted everyone to come out in a holiday spirit, Yecker said.

A Chinese flute plays from the towering statue of liberty lantern, like a beacon into the fest. A Chinese dancer wearing a bright gold cape dances and changes his mask in a blink of an eye after a swish of the cloak or a quick turn. Even the food selection is not that of your typical food court, offering Mexican pastries and hot chocolate as well as Chinese food and glow stick cotton candies.

A stand for lemonade shake-ups was neglected on Sunday night because of the bitter cold, while many of those selling hot chocolate ran out early in the night. Nicole Chapa and Emilce Ferreira, two women dressed as The Ice Sisters, said children grabbed their capes to wrap them up, concerned they would be too cold.

While there was sparse attendance that night, Yecker said about 12,000 people bought tickets on Saturday. The Festival of Lights is open from 5:30 to 11 p.m. until Jan. 8, and the tickets include unlimited carnival rides and performances.

Dozens of large Chinese lanterns decorate the park in scenes including a Swan Lake and Under the Sea.

Each little piece of coral is designed and built. Theres no machine that makes and repeats those, Yecker said.

He said a team of workers from China flew to San Antonio to install all of the lights. The statue of liberty and the 200-foot-long dragon that starts at the entrance to the park had to be built from scratch, on-scene.

Rafael Galindo was dressed as Santa Claus for the evening, wearing the padded, big-belted, bright-red garb. He said some of the most popular gift requests he got were hover boards, Nerf guns, art supplies, and a lot of Barbies, of course.

He said one child told him her wish was to have her family together for Christmas.

A blank stare is the weirdest thing I get. Or they just say a present. And then Im like What kind of a present? And they say a big one, he said, laughing.

Galindo said usually if they give him a blank stare, he just stares right back. And that many times, its not the child that wants to sit on his lap but the parents that want them to.

Its a really good thing to do this kind of event to bring our own culture, said Stephanie Zhou, of the Chinese company that was contracted for the event. We want to break this wall, we want people here to know the magic points of our culture and we want to know theirs.

sfosterfrau@express-news.net
A total of 12,000 civilians have so far been evacuated from Syria's east Aleppo, including 4,500 people since midnight, Turkey's foreign minister said on Monday.

"Including 4,500 people in east Aleppo since midnight, 12,000 civilians in total were evacuated so far to the area under control of opposition," Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter.

Dozens of buses carrying thousands of people from Aleppo's tiny rebel zone reached insurgent areas of countryside to the west of the city, according to a United Nations official and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group.

The evacuations are the result of intense negotiations between Russia - the main supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - and Turkey, which backs some large rebel groups.

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SAN ANTONIO  The police department is offering a little holiday cheer this winter by offering gifts to local shelters following a hefty anonymous donation to the department.

SAPD received a $5,000 donation from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous earlier this month, with hopes of it being given back to the people of San Antonio.
Two suspects in Austin walked into a jewelry store to try on a two-ring set worth $86,000 and ran out the door with it once it was on the womans finger, according to Austin police.

The alleged brazen theft occurred Friday at Spence Diamonds in the 11400 block of Century Oaks Terrace, in the Domain shopping center, when two suspects entered the store, a news release said Saturday.
The U.S. State Department issued travel warnings to Mexico ahead of the holidays due to "criminal organization" activity that has made citizens the victims of homicides, kidnappings, carjackings and robberies in the country.

"U.S. citizens have been murdered in carjacking and highway robberies, most frequently at night and on isolated roads," the December advisory said. "Carjackers use a variety of techniques, including roadblocks, bumping/moving vehicles to force them to stop, and running vehicles off the road at high speeds."
The Russian military says defense ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran will meet in Moscow to discuss Syria.

The meeting, due Tuesday, will coincide with the meeting of the three nation's foreign ministers, also in the Russian capital.

The military said on Monday that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will host his Iranian counterpart Hossein Dehghan and Turkey's Fikri Isik.

It says they will discuss ways to resolve the Syrian conflict and help implement U.N. Security Council's resolutions on Syria.

NATO and Russia ambassadors will also have a fresh attempt to improve relations, which have sunk to their lowest ebb since the Cold War.

The diplomats met in Brussels Monday for the third time this year, with the military alliance insisting on talking about the conflict in Ukraine and Russia's role there.

The U.S.-led alliance also wants to discuss ways to avoid incidents and accidents between Russian and NATO forces.

Russia has annoyed NATO with snap war games or by buzzing the alliance's ships and aircraft with fighter jets, as well as what NATO sees as aggressive use of propaganda.

Douglas Lute, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, told ABC news on Sunday that the allies "will bring up with our Russian counterpart this pattern of malign influence."



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Would you be upset to learn San Antonio is violating land use rules to subsidize Google Fiber  a $538 billion company?

I have watched the 1-acre Haskin Park on the near North Side of town functionally cut in half. Google installed an industrial building  a fiber hut  with four commercial air-conditioning units and a loud gas generator on 1,600 square feet of land in the middle of the park. Taxpayers also paid for an unnecessary parking area and a new road through Haskin Park for Googles use despite the lease requiring Google to pay for these improvements.

According to Richard Medellin, retired Army combat veteran and president of Highland Park Neighborhood Association, a similar building is planned for Highland Park. We hope our city leaders will stop this, Medellin said.

Having spent 35 years in commercial real estate, Im familiar with the laws required to develop property, and destroying parkland is not permitted.

Research indicates the San Antonio City Council granted permission to Google to materially degrade Highland Park in District 3, Haskin Park in District 10 and five other parks across the city. Nine sites targeted for this industrial building are zoned single family, with one in a historic neighborhood.

State parks and wildlife code required public hearings, consideration of alternatives and minimizing harm to parkland. A San Antonio ordinance further required Google to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Design and Review Commission before any permits on public property could be issued. Why werent these laws enforced before the green light was given?

The city granted a citywide master lease to Google at below fair market values (the subsidy), including in one park where the city does not even own fee title. Why were permits issued to Google without the HDRC holding the hearings necessary to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness?

San Antonio taxpayers pay a bloated city bureaucracy to enforce land-use laws, and the rules are strictly imposed on developers and homeowners. Medellin and I question why the city is allowing Google to violate preservation and residential zoning restrictions designed to protect neighborhoods from such commercial activity.

The citys website calls for modeling ethical behavior and core values of integrity at all levels, yet city management apparently waives many legal requirements for a project the city wants.

It is time for the city to stop this madness, preserve our parks, restore the damage already done, model its core values and enforce the rule of law fairly with everyone  including Google.

John Whitsett is a concerned San Antonio resident and is in the commercial real estate business.
In Texas, we dream big. We tackle challenges head-on, create solutions, and we take thats never been done before as a dare.

If you think that characterization is cliche, consider that four years ago, the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley was just an idea. Today, it is a thriving institution in its second year of providing unparalleled opportunity in South Texas.

Already, UTRGV is home to nearly 28,000 students. In fall 2016, more than 80 percent of the previous years freshmen returned for their sophomore year. That first-year retention rate beats both the state and national average, and is among the highest in Texas. In its first year of existence, UTRGV awarded more than 5,400 degrees.

The scale of what has been achieved is, in a word, enormous. The work accomplished by the Texas Legislature, the UT System and the extraordinary leadership at UTRGV in such a short time is truly incredible. I watched all this unfold while serving as provost of UT-Austin, and part of what attracted me to the UT System was a front-row seat to this historic endeavor.

The process of winding down two universities, severing a partnership with a community college, and establishing a new, regional university with a school of medicine has been an incredibly complex, complicated and tangled journey.

As a former university administrator, I have been involved in a number of accreditation issues, and I know it is not uncommon for universities to bump up against the standards and procedures put in place by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC. Some of the best universities in the state and nation have, from time to time, been placed on probation by SACSCOC for administrative technicalities and challenges. Generally, the accrediting organization provides specific direction, the university course corrects, and the issue is resolved.

The case is similar at UTRGV. According to a public disclosure statement released late Thursday, it appears that SACSCOCs decision to put UTRGV on probation for 12 months concerns the timing of administrative issues related to establishing the new university, the merging of assets from UT Brownsville and UT Pan American, and, specifically, dissolving the partnership between UT-Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, which took time to resolve as TSC needed to earn its own accreditation.

UTRGVs probation is not a statement on quality and in no way affects the value of a UTRGV degree or the future of the university. President Guy Bailey and his exemplary team have launched a high-caliber institution that is on a very fast track toward the kind of excellence we all expected.

What we are dealing with today are issues of the past, and we will work with SACSCOC with all deliberate speed to get them resolved. UTRGV is built on a strong foundation now, and we are looking and building toward an even stronger future.

A future where, for the first time, residents of the Rio Grande Valley will benefit from the Permanent University Fund, the public endowment contributing support to the UT and Texas A&M university systems. A future with a School of Medicine providing opportunities for tomorrows doctors to learn and train in the Rio Grande Valley, and stay in the region to make their neighbors, families, friends and communities healthier. A future with a university dedicated to excellence in student success, teaching, research and health care.

Rest assured, UTRGV is working diligently, with the support of UT System, to resolve the issues identified by SACSCOC, and I know that together we will address all of their concerns.

Our primary focus remains on the success of our students and to continue to expand educational opportunities throughout the Rio Grande Valley for generations to come.
It's the December before an odd-numbered year, so that means the Republican governor of Texas is talking about cutting taxes in the upcoming regular session of the Legislature.

Gov. Greg Abbott listed his priorities for the session last week, and he put tax cuts at the top of the list. He wants to see the business franchise tax and the energy margins tax reduced "by as much as I can get" along with a review of property taxes.

We all love tax cuts, and our state's low-tax rate has contributed to much of its economic growth in recent years.

But there can be too much of a good thing too, and state leaders must make sure that all necessary state obligations are funded properly before reducing tax revenues any more.

That list is a long one for this session:

-- The Department of Family Services has finally been promised the additional funding it needs to protect vulnerable children and keep experienced case-workers on the job.

-- The DPS wants even more money for border security, about a billion dollars in the next two-year budget after previous spending was doubled to $800 million in the last session.

-- Public schools always need more money, and this time an artificial cap on enrollment of students in special education has been lifted. That will mean more kids in special ed, and that curriculum is costly.

-- Highway funding covers maintenance but allows for few new roads.

-- Oh, and the oil business, which is crucial to the state's well-being, is still limping along. It may perk up in 2017 and 2018, but there's no guarantee of that as a worldwide glut of oil continues to exceed consumption.

When all these factors are added up, cutting taxes will not be easy. In fact, it may not be possible without harming our long-term future.

The Legislature should pay the bills first - in a prudent and logical manner. If there's any money left over, then lawmakers can start discussing tax cuts.
NAIROBI, Kenya  More than 30 political detainees in South Sudans most notorious prison face torture, starvation or death, according to a Danish man detained alongside them for over two months before being released in late November.

Henrik Tobiesen, a businessman and former United Nations de-mining worker who had lived in South Sudan for 11 years, said he was locked up for 67 days starting Sept. 16 in the National Security Service compound in the capital, Juba. He said he was arrested for losing his passport but was released after pressure from his government.

His account is one of the first to emerge from the compound, known locally as Blue House for its blue-tinted windows. Political detainees are held on the top floor, with suspected criminals below.

The detainees, who hail mainly from the southern Equatoria region, have been arrested during a worsening three-year civil war between the government of President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and rebels supporting former Vice President Riek Machar, a Nuer who has fled the country.

Tens of thousands have died in the fighting, and U.N. officials have warned of possible genocide.

Amnesty International has named 35 political detainees in the prison who have not been charged, some of them jailed for over two years, based on accounts of those released.

Prisoners have very little food, clean water, space or even sunlight, the 43-year-old Tobiesen said.

The cells become baking hot, up to 104 Fahrenheit, with only a slit near the ceiling for ventilation, Prisoners are allowed out once a week for an hour.

Guards provide no mattresses, sheets or mosquito nets, and prisoners sleep on the bare floor or on cardboard boxes if they can't smuggle in bedding by paying off guards.

Prisoners are fed once a day with a scoop of boiled beans and some maize meal, which Tobiesen said sometimes contains insects and is so foul it is inedible to many prisoners.
With Russia's backing, the Security Council on Monday voted to quickly deploy UN observers to Aleppo to monitor evacuations and report on the fate of civilians who remain in the besieged Syrian city.

The council unanimously adopted a French-drafted resolution that marks the first show of unity in months among world powers struggling to put an end to the nearly six-year war in Syria.

The measure tasks the United Nations with carrying out "adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations from eastern Aleppo and other districts of the city."

It requests that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon take urgent steps to allow the observers to monitor "the well-being of civilians" and to consult with interested parties on the deployment.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the international presence would prevent Aleppo from turning into another Srebrenica, where thousands of Bosnian men and boys were massacred in 1995 when the town fell to Serb forces.

It remained uncertain however whether the Syrian government would give the observers access to the city and allow operations there to come under international scrutiny.

"This is a starting point," Delattre told reporters. "We will be extremely attentive, extremely vigilant."

Russia, Syria's main ally, said it had been in contact with the Damascus government throughout the negotiations on the UN measure and that it was, in principle, on board.

"We kept contact with our Syrian colleagues here all the time so they were aware of the process and they did not raise any serious objections to what we delivered," said Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.

Russia had threatened to veto a first draft circulated by France on Friday but following nearly four hours of consultations on Sunday, a compromise text was agreed.

Ban is to report to the council within five days on whether access has been granted by the Syrian government, which has repeatedly blocked UN aid.

The adoption of the resolution could mark a shift from Russia toward renewed international engagement in efforts to settle the conflict, which has killed more than 310,000 people.

"We need that change," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft.

"It's Russian policy that has blocked the unity that the Security Council requires in order to set a course to end this conflict."

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura estimated that as of Thursday last week that around 40,000 civilians and perhaps as many as 5,000 opposition fighters remained in Aleppo's rebel enclave.

Thousands of traumatized Syrians left the rebel enclave of Aleppo on Monday under a complex evacuation agreement that will see regime forces exert full control over the battered city.

These were the first departures since Friday when the government suspended evacuations, insisting on a tit-for-tat deal to allow civilians and fighters to leave two northwestern villages under rebel siege.

Syrian Ambassador Bashar Jaafari accused Western powers of scrambling to send observers to east Aleppo to rescue what he described as foreign spies supporting the opposition forces.

"The main purpose is how to rescue these terrorist foreigners, intelligence officers," Jaafari told reporters. "This is why you saw this hysterical move in the council in the last few days."

The Syrian ambassador said his government will abide by the resolution and denied that it had blocked access in the past to UN officials.

"The last terrorists in some districts of the eastern part of Aleppo are evacuating their strongholds," Jaafari said.

"Aleppo this evening will be clean," he declared.

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The latest NACS Convenience Matters podcast looks at how the new Amazon Go retail store could affect convenience retailers.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  The new Amazon Go retail concept is one of the most talked about retail announcements of the yearand its also the subject of the latest NACS Convenience Matters podcast.

Amazon Go is an 1,800-square-foot store where customers use an app to continuously check out and never have to wait in lines. Amazon is just the latest in a long line of retail giants testing the convenience space, including Walmart, Tesco, Target and The Home Depot.

In the latest Convenience Matters podcast, Amazon Go: How It Could Disrupt Convenience Stores, cohosts Jeff Lenard of NACS and John Eichberger of the Fuels Institute talk to Kevin Coupe, author and content guy for MorningNewsBeat.com, about how the concept could revolutionize the retail environmentand what retailers can study to consider implementing at their own stores.

How might this affect the convenience store industry? And, how does this revolutionize the concept of convenience, both now and over the next few years? Those are the questions that retailers are asking and Kevin walks us through the answersadding plenty of retail context along the way, Lenard said.

The episode can be downloaded on iTunes or Google Play by searching for Convenience Matters. It is also available at nacsonline.com/podcasts.

A new Convenience Matters podcast is released every week, focusing on topics related to convenience stores. Since its launch in February 2016, it has been downloaded in more than 50 countries.
Iran has released four Kuwaitis arrested several days ago in the Islamic republic's southwestern region, Kuwait's deputy foreign minister said on Monday.

Cited by the official KUNA news agency, Khaled al-Jarallah said the four were handed over to the Kuwaiti embassy in Tehran and will return to the emirate on Tuesday.

Kuwait summoned the Iranian ambassador on Friday and demanded the release of its four citizens who had been detained in the Ahvaz area.

It was not clear when they were arrested. Local media said the four had been hunting in Iran.

Kuwait recalled its ambassador from Tehran in January after relations were broken off between Gulf Sunni heavyweight Saudi Arabia and Shia-dominated Iran following attacks on the kingdom's missions.

A Kuwaiti and an Iranian were sentenced to death in January by a court in Kuwait for spying for Iran and Lebanon's Shia group Hezbollah.

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YORK, Pa.  Rutters hosted the grand opening of its newest store in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, last week, and during the ribbon cutting ceremony, the c-store chain donated $4,000 to local charities.

Each organization received $1,000, including the Strasburg Borough Police Department and the Strasburg Fire Company #1. The Food Pantry in the First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg will use its contribution to provide 80 families food for Christmas, and the Solanco Food Bank will use the donation for 75 Christmas meal boxes.

This is Rutters fourth location in Lancaster County and its 66th store. Event participants included State Representative Keith Greiner, Strasburg Borough Mayor Henry Miller and many Strasburg Borough Council officials. Rutters new Strasburg location is currently in the process of featuring one of Rutters beer caves, stocked with a variety of craft, import and domestic beers and ciders available in singles, 6- and 12-packs inside.

Giving back to the community not only during our grand openings, but all throughout the year is something we value very much, especially during this time of year. We are excited to grow as a company, and in 2016 we will be giving away [more than] $500,000 to charities where our stores are located, said Derek Gaskins, Rutters chief customer officer.

With roots dating back to 1747, Rutters is the oldest family-owned food company in the United States. Rutters is currently guided by family leadership with Scott Hartman, president and CEO; Todd Rutter, president of Rutters Dairy; and Tim Rutter, president of M&G Realty.
By Zsolt Darvas, Associate Professor at the Corvinus University of Budapest. Originally published at Bruegel

There is a growing awareness that income inequality has increased in a number of developed countries. The lucky ones, with high levels of accumulated wealth, assets and top incomes, earn more and more, while those who are at the bottom of the income distribution increasingly see little opportunity for increased spending, buying a house of their own, or going to nice destinations for their holidays.

One possible explanation for these widening inequalities is technological progress, which may reward skilled workers more in comparison with unskilled workers. This idea sounds intuitive: those with higher skills, such as IT developers, are able to generate a great deal more output thanks to new technologies, and so they receive the proportionate remuneration . In contrast, those with lower skills, such as waiters, cannot generate much more value using new technologies and therefore do not receive extra compensation.

What is more, robots are replacing certain types of human labour altogether. Some jobs are more easily robotised than others, but certain low-skilled or routine tasks are the most easily automated. These workers risk finding themselves out of employment.

Globalisation may add a further twist. The immigration of low-skilled workers, a widespread phenomenon in many developed countries, may dampen the wages of local low-skilled workers by increasing the labour supply. Furthermore, offshoring production to low-wage emerging countries, as well imports of goods from these emerging economies, may supplant local jobs and further dampen the wages of local low-skilled workers.

So runs the argument. However, our recent research casts doubt on the hypothesis that technology-driven developments were a major factor behind rising inequalities in advanced countries.

Let me start with some facts about jobs. Both the European Union and the United States are characterised by strikingly similar labour force developments. In both regions, there has been a decline in the number of jobs for workers with low levels of educational attainment over the past 25 years. Meanwhile, there has been a tremendous increase in jobs for workers with tertiary education, and this is the only job category that expanded after 2008, even in several countries that were hit hard by the recent global and European financial and economic crises. While underemployment, when a worker takes a job for which they are over-qualified, is a prevailing phenomenon, it tends to be temporary.

If a greater share of jobs are only open to tertiary-educated workers, it could contribute to increasing inequality, if tertiary-educated workers earn ever more, relative to lower educated colleagues. Data shows that this has been the case in the United States and China, and to a much more limited extent in Germany. However, exactly the opposite has happened in many other countries during the past two decades, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, Sweden and Japan. In these countries the so called skills premium has actually fallen.

So, what can explain this divergence in wage developments for tertiary-educated workers between the United States and most of Europe, when the market of available jobs developed so similarly? One possible explanation could be the supply of workers: if there is a shortage of certain types of workers, their wages go up. But such labour shortages do not provide a sufficient explanation, since the number of new graduates increased at the same rate at both sides of the Atlantic.

Moreover, a statistical relationship can be established between the share of tertiary-educated workers and their wages relative to lower-educated peers, and also between the unemployment rate of tertiary-educated workers and their pay rises. The United States is an exception to both of these statistical observations: its relatively high share of tertiary-educated workers is associated with a relatively high skills premium, while the wage growth of tertiary-educated workers was much faster than what their unemployment rate would have implied.

Clearly, something special was going on in the United States, which contributed to the rising rate of compensation of tertiary-educated workers, which in turn boosted income inequality. Technological progress cannot really be an explanation, since technology also impacts Europe, but most European economies saw a relative wage decline of tertiary-educated workers. That is, the skills premium actually fell in most European countries. Also, job offer developments for high- and low-educated workers were so similar across the Atlantic, and technology likely played a role in this, but wages were on very different trends.

Instead, the explanation may be related to public policies and the formal protection of certain occupations. In the United States, a rather small fraction of the top one per cent of earners comes from high-tech industries such as ICT and manufacturing. The bulk of top earners are lawyers, doctors, dentists and financial sector professionals. Some of these industries enjoy a relatively high level of protection, while the impact of technological change may still be comparatively modest. Europe tells a different story. In many European countries, a much higher share of the top one percent of earners than in the United States is in the manufacturing sector.

Public policies, such as redistribution, education and labour market policies, may also play a role. Redistribution from the rich to the poor is at a much lower level in the United States than in Europe. Certainly, the national redistribution system could be made more effective in a number of European countries, but overall redistribution and social protection is much stronger in the EU.

Therefore, even though our analysis suggests that technological change tends to favour those with greater skills, it is hard to see how this has contributed to rising inequality. Other factors such as redistribution and education policies or the regulation of certain professions may be more relevant.

In any case, a new machine age is in the making, and ever more jobs will be replaced by automation. If technology is able to begin dealing with non-routine cognitive tasks, then the next generation of workers must be equipped with skills that benefit from technology rather than being threatened by it. Such skills are likely to emphasise social and creative intelligence. Appropriate shifts in education policy are therefore surely required in order to meet the challenge of technological development.
By Don Quijones, of Spain & Mexico, editor at Wolf Street. Originally published at Wolf Street

The Bank of Italys Target 2 liabilities towards other Eurozone central banks  one of the most important indicators of banking stress  has risen by 129 billion in the last 12 months through November to 358.6 billion. Thats well above the 289 billion peak reached in August 2012 at the height of Europes sovereign debt crisis.

Foreign and local investors are dumping Italian government bonds and withdrawing their funding to Italian banks. The bank at the heart of Italys financial crisis, Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS), has bled 6 billion of commercial direct deposits between September 30 and December 13, 2 billion of which since December 4, the date of Italys constitutional referendum.

Italys new Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, who took over from Matteo Renzi after his defeat in the referendum,said his government  a virtual carbon copy of the last one  is prepared to do whatever it takes to stop MPS from collapsing and thereby engulfing other European banks. His options would include directly supporting Italys ailing banks, in contravention of the EUs bail-in rules passed into law at the beginning of this year. Though now, that push comes to shove, the EU seems happy to look the other way.

While attention is focused on the rescue of MPS, news regarding another Italian bank, Banca Etruria, has quietly slipped by the wayside.

On Friday it was announced that the first part of an investigation concerning fraudulent bankruptcy charges, in which 21 board members are implicated, had been closed. This strand of the investigation concerns 180 million of loans offered by the bank which were never paid back, leading to the regional lenders bankruptcy and eventual bail-in/out last November that left bondholders holding virtually worthless bonds.

The Banca Etruria scandal is a reminder  and certainly not a welcome one right now for Italian authorities  that a large part of the 360 billion of toxic loans putrefying on the balance sheets of Italys banks should never have been created at all and were a result of the widespread culture of corruption, political kickbacks, and other forms of fraud and abuse infecting Italys banking sector.

Etruria is also under investigation for fraudulently selling high-risk bonds to retail investors  a common practice among banks in Italy (and Spain) during the liquidity-starved years of Europes sovereign debt crisis.

Put simply, misselling subordinated debt to unsuspecting depositors was the way they recapitalized the banking system, as Jim Millstein, the U.S. Treasury official who led the restructuring of U.S. banks after the financial crisis, told Bloomberg earlier this year.

At MPS, billions of euros worth of subordinate bonds were sold to retail customers, who now risk losing much, if not all, of their savings as a result. Their perilous fate is often held up as justification  some might even call it blackmail  for not bailing in junior bondholders as part of the banks resolution, as happened three years ago in Cyprus.

MPS is also facing criminal investigation for cooking its own books, with the help of two other banks. In early October MPSs head offices, fittingly housed within a restored ancient fortress in downtown Siena, were transformed into a gargantuan crime scene after a Milan court ordered MPS, Nomura, and Deutsche Bank to stand trial for a string of alleged financial crimes. They apparently include crimes that the Bank of Italy, under Mario Draghis tutelage, apparently knew about yet sat on its hands.

The court also indicted 13 former and current managers from the three banks over the case, with prosecutors alleging they had used complex derivatives trades to conceal losses at MPS.

Yet, as has happened in just about every Western jurisdiction since the Global Financial Crisis (bar Iceland, of course), no one will be held to account for the myriad alleged white-collar crimes, misdeeds and misdemeanors that paved the way to Italys unfolding banking crisis. As in Spain, high-profile investigations will be launched and trials will be held, yet they will lead nowhere. And they will take years getting there.

In Spain judge Elpidio Silva dared to buck this trend when, in 2013, he sent Miguel Blesa, former CEO of Caja Madrid (now part of rescued Bankia), to jail for his role in alleged financial fraud and the wrongful appropriation of funds. But it was the judge who paid the price. Within days, Blesa was released by Spains public prosecution service. Judge Silva was forced to face trial on three counts: perversion of justice, infringing a defendants individual liberty, and turning the case into a cause celebre against the banking profession. He was found guilty and expelled from the judiciary for 17.5 years.

If the last nine years have taught us anything, it is that banks  and bankers occupying the corner offices  operate above the law of just about any land. All too often theyre too big not to bail and too important and well-connected to jail. In some cases, banks are even deemed too broke to fine. As long as the people gaming the financial system remain immune from criminal prosecution, the crises will continue.

There is not and there will not be a banking crisis in Italy, nor will there be a European financial crisis coming from Italy, explained European Commissioner Moscovici. But wait So Who Gets to Pay for Italys Banking Crisis?
Yet another set of articles in todays Financial Times confirms what weve observed about the UKs stance towards Brexit from the outset: an astonishing capacity for denial. For Americans whove observed the Clinton bubble and the heroic post-election attempts to keep it pumped up, the Brits are managing to do them one better.

One of the sightings is on how foreign banks in the UK will make transition arrangements if theres no clear post-Brexit deal likely to be in place by the presumed Brexit date of March 2019. As we noted last week, Japanese banking leaders had a tea and cookies chat with British regulators and told them theyd start moving operation out in six months if they didnt get reassurances. That puts them behind pretty much all other foreign banks, who started getting licenses and looking into foreign office space locations pretty much as soon as theyd recovered from the immediate Brexit vote shock. Late last week, Lloyds of London was the first prominent City institution to set a schedule for relocating part of its operations to the Continent as a Brexit hedge.

As weve stressed, the surprising thing is that anyone is acting as if this a a surprise. The EU treaty rules are very clear: the UK cant negotiate any trade or services with the EU or bilateral deals with individual EU members as long as it is still a member of the EU. EU leaders, with a single voice, have said they are not going to be nice to the UK in the Brexit process. And more generally, as we have also stressed, Europeans are far more procedural and literal-minded about contracts and treaties than Anglo-Americans are.

So the only way Britain will get to negotiate any new deal before the drop-dead date of March 2019 is if it completes its exit negotiations a meaningful amount of time before then. How likely do you think that is? Look at some of the impediments. From the Financial Times:

But the first priority of Michel Barnier, chief EU negotiator, is to sort out the terms of the divorce. This means Britain must offer assurances on issues such as the rights of EU expats and paying an exit bill of up to 60bn before a deal on a soft landing is possible. Senior EU diplomats admit the timetable also reflects a cold calculation of interests: delaying agreement on a transition would spur companies to move some of their business to the EU to cope with the danger of a hard exit.

Again, weve stressed that Continental countries see Brexit as an opportunity to take a bite out of the Citys business and they look determined to do so. Recall that the EU plans to launch the procedures to require Euroclearing take place in EU-ex-UK countries immediately on the heels of the UK pulling the Article 50 trigger.

Remarkably, another Financial Times article last week showed that the City thinks it has a magical wand to get a deal that is nowhere in the offing, that of negotiating a transition deal before a Brexit, an idea that the EU has rejected each and every time a British leader has mooted any such idea. And the next fantasy is that the EU would be sporting and give the UK an equivalence deal:

And ECB chief Mario Draghi sees no financial stability impediment to playing hardball. Again from the pink paper:

Equivalence is in principle extremely attractive. EU business is, after all, only a subset  say 20 per cent  of most investment banks activities, and zero for domestic institutions such as building societies. The beauty is that it would not require the UK to replicate the EU rule book in its entirety  and certainly not for domestic business. When Michel Barnier, now the EUs lead negotiator on Brexit, cut an equivalence deal with the US over derivatives a few years ago, he stressed the principle that when two countries rules were comparable and consistent with each others objectives, it was reasonable to expect [each] to rely on those rules and recognise the activities regulated under them as compliant. Few could argue that Britains rules were not equivalent to European ones  they are currently identical. And with both sides following the same G20-led process of financial regulation, their objectives are carbon copies, too.

The comparisons here are disingenuous. The US and EU are comparable in size as economies. With the EU to move Euroclearing out of the UK, any institution that wants to deal with customers in Euro will have to have operations and licenses on the Continent (or in Dublin) or deal through correspondent banks, which is unattractive for reasons of cost and speed. This is no different than for banks who want to deal in dollars. They have to have a US operation, which is almost always a New York branch, so as to have direct access to dollar clearing facilities.

The UK banks can whinge all they want about how they will initiate a race to the bottom to get a competitive leg up. They wont be able to deal in Euros or directly with concerns that have Euro banking accounts unless they have operations licensed to do so, in the EU-ex-the-UK.

And thats before we get to the fact that the banks themselves arent so hot on the transition rules idea:

So why are the banks not keener on equivalence? The biggest issue is the lack of certainty. There is no agreed definition of what is equivalent when it comes to assessing different jurisdictions. There has been talk in Brussels of tightening the rules to make it tougher for non-EU jurisdictions to gain access. And, in principle, equivalence can be withdrawn at 30 days notice, leaving everyone in the lurch. Of course, it is worth noting that withdrawal would cut both ways, and would affect EU banks branching into London. Past experience also suggests that shared interests militate to keep these deals intact once they are going. An equivalence deal on futures between the US and foreign exchanges has lasted for more than two decades.

Back to the story from today. ECB chief Mario Draghi does not see any reason to cut the UK slack:

Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels last week, Mario Draghi, European Central Bank president, repeated his assessment that Britain would first and foremost bear the economic pain of Brexit, according to diplomats. Despite warnings from the Bank of England and UK ministers, Mr Draghi has been relaxed in private meetings with eurozone officials about the financial stability risks of Brexit, arguing financial services is a mobile industry able to bridge regulatory uncertainty.

Another Financial Times today is the functional equivalent of a press release from hedge fund lobbyists titled Hedge fund lobby groups outline Brexit wishlist. Im at a loss to understand why anyone would mistake Angela Merkel for Santa Claus.

How is it, now nearly six months after the Brexit vote, that UK leaders (including a disconcerting number of business executives) and EU authorities are still taking past each other? A fundamental reason seems to be that many in Britain believe the Brexit PR, that leaving the EU means they will regain national sovereignity and the EU must deal with them as a prospective equal.

Putting aside the substantial difference in size between the two economies, the fatal flaw of this logic is that the UK cannot be meaningfully sovereign due to its degree of economic integration into the EU. Theyve run up against Dani Rodriks trilemma, which he first wrote about in 2007:

Sometimes simple and bold ideas help us see more clearly a complex reality that requires nuanced approaches. I have an impossibility theorem for the global economy that is like that. It says that democracy, national sovereignty and global economic integration are mutually incompatible: we can combine any two of the three, but never have all three simultaneously and in full. Here is what the theorem looks like in a picture:



To see why this makes sense, note that deep economic integration requires that we eliminate all transaction costs traders and financiers face in their cross-border dealings. Nation-states are a fundamental source of such transaction costs. They generate sovereign risk, create regulatory discontinuities at the border, prevent global regulation and supervision of financial intermediaries, and render a global lender of last resort a hopeless dream. The malfunctioning of the global financial system is intimately linked with these specific transaction costs.. So I maintain that any reform of the international economic system must face up to this trilemma. If we want more globalization, we must either give up some democracy or some national sovereignty. Pretending that we can have all three simultaneously leaves us in an unstable no-mans land.

In other words, if the UK wants to have more national sovereignity, it must become more economically self-sufficient, as in more of an autarky. Yet making that sort of change would require a national economic policy, meaning having the government identify sectors where the UK has or could develop competitive advantage and do more to promote their growth. The failure to do planning (and better yet, some preliminary execution) means the UK, despite the phenomenal arrogance and ignorance of its officials, is approaching these negotiations as a beggar: it wants and needs to preserve substantial elements of the status quo, such as access to the single market and passporting rights for UK financial institutions, or face meaningful shifts of activities out of its economy (and please dont try the dubious statistic that the EU will face bigger trade losses than the UK. What matters isnt the absolute dollar, or in this case, pound and Euro hit, its the cost of the losses relative to the size of the economy. Measured properly, UK citizens will suffer considerably more than their EU counterparts).

And thats before you get to the fact that this sort of industrial policy is anathema to Thatcherites and neoliberals.

As they say in Maine, you cant get there from here. While greater national sovereignty is an estimable goal, the UK has gone down a path for decades that means it will take a long time to get the economic independence that would allow it to have more political autonomy. And despite all their bluster, UK leaders arent taking that objective seriously either.
Digital wallpaper means end for painting and decorating (Nanowerk News) Redecorating your living room could be as easy as pressing a button thanks to Italian scientists who have created a new ceramic tile that can change colour, pattern, or play videos with one tap of your finger, radically changing the way we interact with buildings or public spaces, and taking us a step closer to instant camouflage.

Ever wanted to make your living room look like the inside of an art gallery, a Stone Age hut or Buckingham Palace? Have you wanted to redecorate your bedroom every day of the week, or watch films on your ceiling? Now you can, thanks to this digital ceramic panel created by Italian scientists.

LUMENTILE ceramic tile.

Using pioneering photonics technology, The 'Luminous Electronic Tile', or LUMENTILE, project mixes the simplicity of a plain ceramic tile with the complexity of today's sophisticated touch screen technology, creating a light source and unparalleled interaction. All it takes is one tap to change the colour, look or mood of any room in your house.

This is the first time anyone has tried to embed electronics into ceramics or glass for a large-scale application. With the ability to play videos or display images, the tiles allow the user to turn their walls into a large cinema screen, where each unit acts as a set of pixels of the overall display.

A combination of ceramic, glass and organic electronics, the luminous tile includes structural materials, solid-state light sources and electronic chips and can be controlled with a central computer, a smart phone or tablet.

Project coordinator, Professor Guido Giuliani of the University of Pavia explains: This is not just a digital panel to replace an animated poster like you see on the Underground network, but a whole new way of life. You are instantly in control of your own environment: if you dont like your bathroom in blue, now you can change it to green with one tap. If you like flowery wallpaper, ducks or Christmas trees, thats up to you.

Each measuring the size of a standard, rectangular A3 piece of paper with their own internal power source, the tiles can be tailored entirely to the customers needs: completely or partially covering the walls of a room, a floor, ceiling, or perhaps total submersion. So long as the pieces tessellate, any shapes will be possible such as hexagonal or triangular ceramic tiles.

The tiles, which can be switched off so that a basic silver, black or white colour can be a default setting, are equipped with an on board micro-controller, and operate on a lexical network invisible to the user. The surface of each tile has uniform and efficient illumination, achieved by LUMENTILEs smart light management system, a new approach based on a light guiding slab and spatially selective light extraction.

Instant Camouflage

With its durable nature, the luminous ceramic tile holds boundless possibilities: placing it on the outside of a building creates the obvious potential for advertising or changing the colour or appearance. However the tiles can be flat or curved to fit around columns or uneven contours.

Military vehicles, for example, fitted with this external skin crossing a variety of terrains, such as woodland, desert or water would be capable of unlimited camouflage at the flick of a switch.

It may sound like the stuff of James Bond but external tiles would create a chameleonic skin, or instant camouflage. Although we are a long way off this yet, this would allow a car or building to blend completely into its surroundings, and hence disappear, Giuliani enthused.

Smart Floors

With the ability to configure the tiles to become smart floor panels that recognise when an elderly user is no longer standing or has perhaps fallen, in security situations where a floor will be sensitive to intruders, or in shopping centres where a dynamic path can be created to direct shoppers to a particular store, the LUMENTILE product is more than just a light source.

Earlier this year LUMENTILE received a grant of  2,470,113.75 from Horizon 2020 via the Photonics Public Private Partnership. Hoping to be available to users in two years the LUMENTILE project aims at mass production by the end of 2020.

Coordinated in Italy by UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PAVIA, LUMENTILE is comprised of a number of partners from Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, including TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT (Finland), ECLEXYS SAGL (Switzerland), JULIGHT SRL, KERAPLAN SRL (Italy), STUDIO ITINERANTE ARQUITECTURA SL, KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION MARKET S.L. (Spain).

About LUMENTILE
Janet Yellen, chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, speaks during her semiannual report on the economy to the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. Yellen said prospects are good for further improvement in the labor market and the economy, keeping the central bank on track for an interest-rate increase in 2015. Photographer: Drew Angerer/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Janet Yellen Drew Angerer/Bloomberg

This fall, a Massachusetts lender closed on a fully paperless mortgage. The work that led to this rare achievement captures the difficulties originators still face in digitizing the loan process.

Radius Financial Group in Norwell electronically closed six loans beginning in October. The process was created in partnership with the tech vendor DocMagic, the MERS loan registry, Fannie Mae and Santander Bank.

Electronic closings and e-notes have been kicking around for a long time. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have purchased e-mortgages since the early 2000s. But they remain rare, partly because there are few warehouse lenders that can handle these transactions. Rarer still are completely paperless loan processes that combine an electronic closing with an electronically signed promissory note and deed of trust.

Lately, however, momentum has been building to accelerate the move toward paper-free mortgages. A report last year from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that transactions were faster and borrowers walked away feeling better when a loan was closed using digital means rather than paper.

While the choice to push for a digital mortgage process was largely a matter of improving the customer experience, it also has bottom-line benefits for the company as well, Radius co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Keith Polaski said.

"The first thing for us was the consumer experience, but without a doubt there are tremendous derivative economic gains and efficiencies," Polaski said. "At the end of the day, decisions are made on surrounding economics. If I can save myself 200 bucks a loan, we should be looking at that."

The first loan done through the completely paperless process was closed on a Friday morning at the closing attorney's office "with cups of coffee and chocolate chip cookies," Polaski said. Radius had its technical staff on-site for the first two e-closings to ensure the process went smoothly.

The documents were signed using a tablet. (Notarized documents were also signed with ink for recording purposes because Massachusetts does not yet allow registries to accept electronically notarized documents, though the note and all other documents were electronic.)

That same day, Fannie Mae purchased the loan from Santander, the transaction's warehouse lender.

"For every [paper] transaction, there's five FedExes for that note  those go away," Polaski said. "How fast things turn around will save money."

More than 3,000 miles away, in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic followed the closing as it happened.

"What was interesting about the transaction was our ability to monitor its progress in real time," DocMagic CEO and President Dominic Iannitti said. "Because we were controlling all of the different web service calls that collectively made up that entire process, we were able to monitor it from our offices and watch it transpire without actually being there."

These half-dozen loans were the culmination of a journey that took more than two years. It began when Radius was approached by an aggregator  Polaski declined to identify the company by name  about working together on an e-note pilot program, having heard of Radius' interest in this area. After a promising start, this project ultimately fell through.

"All of sudden everyone was moving in the right direction and then it stopped," Polaski said.

Still the experience positioned Radius well to keep trudging along. In August 2015, Radius received seller-servicer approval from Fannie Mae, a process that Polaski said took roughly four months. Then, the company lined up its e-note approval from Fannie, which Polaski said took only 45 days thanks to the work already completed in the e-note pilot program.

"We were lucky because we had done a lot of the MERS and e-vault work ahead of time," he noted.

Radius and DocMagic were not the only parties to the closing that had to get the proper technology in place. Massachusetts is an attorney-closing state; Radius' closing agent had to get approved as an electronic notary from World Wide Notary, a vendor. This required him to obtain an electronic signature pad and install and learn software.

Perhaps the biggest challenge throughout the entire process though was securing a warehouse lender that was equipped to do electronic closings; there are only a handful of such providers.

"There are only a few e-warehouse lenders and that is definitely a factor," Iannitti said. "If you don't have a company that's ready to purchase that e-note then you haven't really accomplished anything at all."

Santander did not make executives available for interviews. According to Polaski, the bank had been pursuing the e-warehouse business for more than two years, and company executives even had to travel to the bank's parent company in Spain to receive the OK.

"The stars were aligned and we finally had everybody aboard," Polaski said.

The next step was identifying the borrowers from the large pool of customers who already had a digital relationship with Radius from the application stage and could act as guinea pigs for the new closing process. That included making sure they were "friendly," Polaski said, "because if stuff went sideways we wanted to be able to put a paper note in front of them and have them understand they were part of a pilot."

With a handful of loans closed, Polaski said, Santander is now reviewing the experience before it moves forward with further e-warehouse lines. He expects that his company will move "robustly" into the e-closing space next year.

Radius is close to receiving Freddie Mac seller-servicer approval. Currently, the company hopes to sell roughly 20% of its originations to the agencies annually; the company is aiming for $1 billion in originations total next year. Selling to Fannie and Freddie is one piece of its e-close strategy. One remaining obstacle Polaski sees on the horizon is the lack of aggregators willing to purchase these loans.

"If the only place to sell these loans is Fannie, I just don't have the execution there," Polaski said. "If I had a handful of aggregators step in, I think we would move the entire book of business to e-note if the consumer has e-consented."

DocMagic, meanwhile, came out of the transactions with no items left on its to-do list. And while the move toward greater adoption of e-closings has been a slow one, Iannitti said he is happy with where things are.

"We're very pleased with the rate of adoption and rate of interest that we're seeing right now," Iannitti said. "It definitely took longer than we thought, but now we're seeing the momentum and feel that everything is moving in the right direction."
Mongolia graduated its second Staff Officers Course class and declared a new capacity for the faculty of the Mongolian National Defence University at a ceremony held on 13 December 2016 at the Ministry of Defence in Ulaanbaatar.

These achievements were made possible by NATO's Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP), which is "providing Mongolian officers the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills to carry out their duties in international peacekeeping operations," explained the Mongolian National Defence University President Major General Yadmaa Choijamts.

Part of Mongolia's partnership with NATO, DEEP has been increasing the impulse for reform, by actively supporting transformational change in the Mongolian professional military education system. This has helped to modernise teaching methods and carve out a niche for Mongolia as a provider in NATO and partner education and training community.

"Since it started in 2013, DEEP has been a tremendous success," said Minister of Defence Bat-Erdene Badmaanyambuu.

Echoing this sentiment in his address to the new graduates, Dr Sven Gareis, DEEP Academic Lead for Mongolia, stated that "Mongolian ownership and leadership became the characteristics of DEEP  which was the key to success."

Mongolia and NATO also conducted an annual review of progress achieved through DEEP at the Mongolian National Defence University on 12-16 December 2016. "Educators passed the skills and experience gained through DEEP on to the rest of the faculty to transform the methods and the curriculum content of the Mongolian National Defence University in compatibility with western and NATO defence education standards," explained Major General Choijamts.

The programme has bolstered the Mongolian National Defence University's faculty and curriculum development efforts through the academic leadership of the George C. Marshall Center in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the contributions from institutions such as the German Staff College in Hamburg and the Slovak Armed Forces Academy in Liptovsky Mikulas.
I have just chaired a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council.

We had a frank and substantial discussion on issues of importance to our common security.

In times of tension, dialogue is more important than ever. So we remain committed to dialogue. And we will continue to keep channels of communication open.

******

The first topic we discussed was the crisis in and around Ukraine.

Allies and Russia have profound disagreements on the crisis.

Today, Allies reiterated their strong support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Allies do not, and will not, recognise Russias illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea.

The situation in eastern Ukraine also remains of deep concern.

Ceasefire violations have reached record levels in recent months. Heavy weapons have not been withdrawn. And OSCE monitors have repeatedly become targets.

The Minsk Agreements provide a plan for the settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. All signatories should fully comply with their commitments. And Allies called on Russia to use its considerable influence on the militants to meet their commitments in full.

******

We also discussed the security situation in Afghanistan, including the regional terrorist threat.

Supporting Afghan forces to provide for their countrys security remains crucial. That is what NATO and our partners are doing. With training and funding.

Because a stable Afghanistan is in everyones interest. So all outside actors need to play a constructive role in supporting the National Unity Government to stabilise Afghanistan.

***

Finally, we turned to military activities, transparency and risk reduction.

Behaving responsibly and predictably reduces the risk of misunderstanding, miscalculation, and unintended escalation.

As a result of our discussion at the NATO-Russia Council in July, we had briefings by representatives of the Baltic Sea Project Team and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Their work has made an important contribution towards improving air safety over the Baltic Sea.

I welcome Finlands initiative to host a technical-level meeting to take this work forward in the new year, supported by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The meeting will review the implementation of the recommendations made by the Baltic Sea Project Team. And it will assess whether any further work needs to be done.

It is important that we all follow the rules that are already there. Behave responsibly and safely. And engage in good airmanship at all times.

Russia also gave us a briefing on the recent KAVKAZ-2016 exercise. And NATO gave a presentation on Exercise Trident Juncture 2016.

Transparency on military exercises is essential. In the OSCE, 57 nations  including all NATO Allies and Russia  have agreed on rules governing military activities in Europe. Including the observation and notification of exercises.

Today, Allies raised particular concern over the excessive use of snap exercises. These are destabilising, and do not improve the overall climate of our relations.Many around the table called for the members of the NATO-Russia Council to contribute at the OSCE to updating the Vienna Document on military exercises and activities.

******

So this was the third time the NATO-Russia Council has met this year.

Allies and Russia hold different views. And our meeting does not indicate a return to business as usual.

But without talking, we cannot solve our differences and improve mutual understanding.

NATO does not seek confrontation and poses no threat. Everything we do  including strengthening our presence in the east of the Alliance  is defensive, proportionate and in line with our international commitments.

NATO's goal is, and remains, to protect our allies, prevent conflict and preserve the peace.
(Natural News) In the past, it had been assumed that the ability to learn was something exclusive to animals. However, new evidence has indicated that this may not be the case. Recent research from the land down under has shown that plants are also capable of learning.

Researchers from the University of Western Australia were determined to see if plants were also capable of associative learning, and their findings are quite astonishing. Their experiments with pea seedlings proved that plants can learn and adapt to their environment. In their study, the research team found that the seedlings were able to choose the optimal growth direction for survival by accurately anticipating the occurrence of light after it was removed.

Their findings were recently published in the online journal Scientific Reports. The team was actually inspired by one of the most telling studies in the history of behavioral research  Pavlovs experiments with dogs, which revealed that behavior could be changed through conditioning.

With a number of behavioral experiments, the Australian team was able to identify some very persuasive evidence which suggested that plants do indeed have the ability to learn. In fact, the plants were able to actually make an association between one events occurrence and the expectation of what would come next. The studys leader, Professor Gagliano, placed the pea seedlings into a Y-shaped maze to observe their response, after initially being exposed to light coming from a specific direction.

The team was able to train the pea seedlings where the best light would be coming from, simply with a fan and a light. They taught the seedlings to associate light as being in a certain location in relation to the fan.

What the researchers did was take a Y-shaped tube, and place a seedling at the bottom. The team then showed that placing a light at one end of the Y would result in the pea seedling growing towards it. Even after the light had been removed, the seedling would continue to grow in the direction of where the light had been, because it associated that location with the light. The finding indicates that the plants were capable of predicting the best direction to grow in for survival.

According to Gagliano, the reason why plants are a predominant life form on this planet is indeed because of their capacity to use a wide range of adaptations to their environment. While the possibility of plants making associations between other environmental cues and the presence of light had not yet been explored, the teams findings have certainly sparked interest in the topic.

Because our findings are unexpected, we anticipate that this study will stir a lively and exciting debate on the origin and properties of memory, learning and ultimately intelligent behaviour in biological systems, Gagliano explained. He went on to say, By challenging the way we currently view the agency of plants and their behaviours, which have enabled them to flourish, the research opens up new and bigger ecological questions of how modifications to our environment will shape future plant communities. The professor posits that their findings should also compel us to review our thinking about the essential mechanisms underlying information processing throughout living systems.

This study is not the first to provide evidence that plants have far more intelligence than they are credited with. Much research has indicated that despite not having brains, ears or eyes, plants are able to pick up cues from their environment and respond. For example, studies have found that plants can hear caterpillars munching on their leaves, and their response is to begin secreting defensive hormones.

Michael Pollan, author of such books as The Omnivores Dilemma and The Botany of Desire, explains, They have ways of taking all the sensory data they gather in their everyday lives  integrate it and then behave in an appropriate way in response. And they do this without brains, which, in a way, is whats incredible about it, because we automatically assume you need a brain to process information. Pollan says that plants have all the senses that humans do  and perhaps even more. He notes that plants can sense the presence of water and often shift their roots to avoid obstacles before coming into contact with an obstruction in their path.

Given the absence of a central or peripheral nervous system, how plants sense and react is still something of an unknown. But, even though they do not have nerve cells  as humans do  research has found that they do have a system for sending electrical cues. They even produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine  the same chemicals the human brain uses.

Science has been reluctant to use the word consciousness when it comes to plants, mostly because they do not have brains  at least not by the current definition of the word. Evidence continues to demonstrate, however, that plants are capable of a lot more than one might initially suspect, and some might even say that plants are smarter than people.

(Image credit: University of Western Australia)

Sources:

DailyMail.co.uk

PRI.org
(Natural News) Since Facebook has announced its intention to erect a Ministry of Truth echo chamber by labeling all news it doesnt like fake news, I thought it appropriate to unveil the top 10 most delusional facts people will be subjected to if they keep viewing Facebook, CNN, or any other news propaganda being put out by what has become the mentally ill political left in America today.

As anyone with a functioning brain already knows, the unhinged left is utterly clueless about the properties of facts or where they come from. To them, facts are whatever their friends keep repeating, even if they have no basis whatsoever in evidence or reality. In essence, facts are whatever they believe, while fake news is whatever you believe. (It really is that simple in their feeble brains.)

So consider these top 10 most delusional facts well soon see rolled out as truth by the newly-sprung news cartels operating inside Fakebook.

Fact #1: Eating meat is cruelty to animals, but harvesting the organs of living, partially-born human babies isnt cruel at all

Somehow, the delusional left has decided that animals are conscious beings but not human babies. Yeah, its insane, I know. Liberalism is best defined as a kind of mental illness where a person can hold two utterly contradictory thoughts in their head at the same time while simultaneously believing them both.

To demonstrate this particular brand of lunacy, a Beastie Boy recently announced a new line of cruelty free sneakers with proceeds to benefit abortion providers. Yep, no animals were harmed in the process of butchering these babies might as well be the sicko slogan of the unhinged left.

Fact #2: If not for the burning of fossil fuels, Earths climate would never change at all

At first, they called their hoax global warming, but when it turned out the Earth wasnt warming at all  funny how that works when you use actual data instead of fraudulently altered numbers  they had to roll out a more encompassing name: Climate Change.

According to Climate Change cultists  named thusly because no amount of evidence can alter their faith in Climate Change  Earths climate never changed at all until humankind came along and started burning fossil fuels.

But now  OMG!  every hurricane, flood, drought, forest fire and freezing arctic blast is automatically attributed to climate change. Yep, especially among young leftists who have been indoctrinated by the lies of government-run schools, they think their ancestors lived in a time when Earth was eternal Spring, with no climate variation or natural disasters whatsoever.

Its only because you and I are using air conditioning and driving SUVs that the planet has become angry, unleashing all sorts of climatic changes that otherwise would have never occurred. This explanation, you may have noticed, closely resembles the superstitions of 5th-century humans who largely believed that bad weather and solar eclipses were caused by angry gods seeking to punish them. In over 1000 years, weve learned nothing, it seems, and progressives have thrust us back to an era of incredible ignorance and superstition where scientific evidence is abandoned for the sake of powerful cult-like beliefs.

Fact #3: People with XY chromosomes can instantly transform all their genes into XX chromosomes by declaring themselves to be women (the Theory of Spontaneous Genetic Transmutation)

Ask any young liberal and theyll tell you there are at least 30 genders, maybe even more if you count TransUnicorn. If you can stop laughing hilariously, ask them whether sex is determined by genetic expression or by a choice. They will insist its a choice!

And just like that, the delusional leftists discard centuries of scientific knowledge in genetics, sexual reproduction, phenotype expressions and physical reality. If you dare point out to them that transgenderism is a mental illness, they will label you a purveyor of either hatred or fake news.

To them, a feeling is more REAL than actual science, you see. And if a young man sucks down enough bisphenol-A to start feeling like a woman, then his womanhood is accepted as a fact by the deranged lunatic left. Some of them even insist that such gender-fluid biological males can get pregnant and have babies!

I have named this hilarious bit of leftish delusional idiocy the Theory of Spontaneous Genetic Transmutation. This theory is quite literally accepted as fact by nearly every liberal under the age of 30.

Fact #4: Media news coverage during the presidential campaign was completely fair to both Clinton and Trump, but the DNC hacks were one-sided, and thus totally unfair

Yep, according to the delusional left, the almost universally glowing media coverage of Hillary Clinton  alongside relentless media attacks waged against Trump  were fair and balanced. But Trump won the election because the DNC hacks (which were actually leaks from a Bernie Sanders supporter, not hacks at all) were totally unfair because they only leaked the emails of the democrats, not republicans.

Hidden in that protest is an astonishing presumption that all the leaked DNC emails were true! And they reveal a deeply shocking level of collusion inside the DNC to destroy Bernie Sanders and steal the nomination for Hillary Clinton.

Fact #5: Hillary Clinton should be President because she won the popular vote, but when Bernie Sanders kept winning the popular vote during the primary, Clinton somehow got all the delegates hmmm

Hilariously, the Clinton campaign (and all delusional leftists in general) only believes in popular votes when they win the popular vote. When they dont win the popular vote, they believe in rigging the delegates to make sure their candidate gets the delegate votes even if they lost the popular vote. This is exactly how Hillary Clinton kept walking away with the vast majority of delegates even in states where Bernie Sanders won the popular votes (sometimes in a landslide).

Beyond all that, the presidential election is not determined by popular votes, or else Donald Trump would have campaigned heavily in places like New York City and Los Angeles. The winner is determined by Electoral Votes, which is why Donald Trump campaigned in the areas that deliver electoral victories. (Gosh, is he supposed to be a bad person for following the rules and winning by those rules?)

If the Clinton campaign didnt think the Electoral College was fair, why didnt they protest it before the results revealed Hillary to be the loser? The answer, of course, is because nearly every leftist in America was completely convinced that Hillary Clinton would win the election (because thats what the media echo chamber told them). Hilariously, this caused many of them to avoid going out to vote, thereby ensuring their ballot box loss. CNNs false media narrative that Hillary was unbeatable, in other words, may have actually handed Donald Trump the election victory. (Such is the price of extreme arrogance.)

Fact #6: Theres no such thing as a hate crime against white people

According to the lunatic left, hate crimes can only be committed by white people against people of color. The opposite cannot occur because white people deserve to be beaten, raped, or shot by people of color, you see. (For the record, I am a person of color, which means I am therefore incapable of committing any hate crime myself, you see.)

Thus, when a group of Black Lives Matter terrorists marches in the streets calling for the open murder of white people  or dragging people out of their vehicles and beating them solely because of their white skin color  they are not engage in hate crimes at all, according to the delusional left. Instead, they are said to be engaged in social justice. Because, you see, violence is always called justice by the worst criminals in every collapsing society.

This is why the entire left-wing media censors all news about black people attacking white people, but strongly emphasizes all news about white people attacking black people. Its all part of controlling the narrative to paint the kind of one-sided propaganda that the delusional left depends on for its very survival.

For the record, here at Natural News, we believe that there is no such thing as a thought crime. Crimes of violence are crimes in and of themselves due to their actions. Attaching a layer of hate to the motivation behind such a crime is a grave injustice. Crimes should be prosecuted based on the actions of those who committed them, not on the words uttered while carrying them out. Otherwise, we are admitting that words are crimes.

Fact #7: Guns are conscious, self-animating objects that leap out of their holsters and shoot people all on their own

According to delusional leftists who essentially believe in magic, guns are self-directed objects that shoot people all on their own. Leftists truly believe that a gun in a room can leap to its feet, target individuals and discharge bullets without needing to be actuated by the will of a person.

This is where the delusional left comes up with meaningless phrases like gun violence, placing the emphasis on the inanimate object rather than the person deploying it. There is no such thing as gun violence any more than there is hammer violence when murderers use hammers.

When Somali tribes commit mass murder against each other using machetes, the left never describes such events as machete violence and tries to blame machetes. Ever wonder why? Because that would sound incredibly stupid. But when it comes to guns, the left gladly invokes the phrase gun violence in order to blame guns rather than people. Its a deliberately loaded phrase thats designed to blame guns rather than the mostly left-wing criminals who use them to commit violence against society.

Similarly, when radical Islamic terrorists used an ice cream truck to mow down tourists in Paris, the left-wing media reported the mass murder as being carried out by the truck! News reports proclaimed, TRUCK runs over 85 people or Authorities are searching for TRUCK that murdered 85

Somehow, it never occurs to idiotic leftists that a terrorist was driving the truck. And if trucks are such murderous instruments of death, then why isnt the left calling for a nationwide truck ban?

Fact #8: Only progressives can identify facts  everyone else doesnt know what theyre talking about

This fact is the best one of all. According to the delusional, fringe left, only people who support left-wing policies can recognize or identify facts.

This twisted special sauce of circular logic is what leftists tell themselves when they proclaim their version of facts to be absolute and authoritative, while anyone elses version of facts are nothing but lies and falsehoods.

Thus, the lunatic left believes it gets facts straight from God in a sort of divining ritual from which indisputable facts emerge much like a genie might appear after vigorously rubbing a brass lamp.

This monopoly of facts is the sole domain of liberals, you see, and they know this because so many of them agree with that supposition, thus proving it to be true by social consensus. They surveyed each other, you see, and now they cite the survey which states that 100% of all people everywhere participate in surveys. This, too, is a fact of the delusional left-wing media.

(Its kind of convenient for journalists at the Washington Post when they merely need to cite each other as unnamed sources for whatever news they happen to be fabricating at the moment, too. Who needs actual intelligence sources when WashPost reporters can circle jerk each other for made-up quotes that get worked into their front page fabrications?)

Fact #9: Intentions count more than actions

Obama is a good President and a good person. How do we know that? Because he has good intentions.

Never mind the fact that he doubled the national debt to nearly $20 trillion. Never mind the fact that his DOJ masterminded a gun-running operation to put illegal weapons into the hands of Mexican drug cartels (Operation Fast and Furious). Never mind the indisputable observation that he was a race baiter who created division, hatred and distrust across Americas cultural fabric. And pay no attention to the astonishing job loss, unemployment and plummeting wages caused by the Obamacare scheme he championed as some sort of twisted, pathetic legacy.

Nope, youre not supposed to consider actual reality when it comes to judging people on the left. They are all given a pass on their behavior as long as they have good intentions, you see.

This is why it doesnt matter to the left that Bill Clinton is an accused rapist, sexual molester and repeated attacker of multiple women who have openly and publicly accused him of sexual assault. According to the delusional left, Bill Clinton gets a free pass on all that because hes a good liberal. He has compassion, dont you know? He supports abortion, carbon taxes and banning the Second Amendment. Thus, according to the left, it doesnt matter how many women he raped, abused or molested.

Facts be damned. When it comes to protecting the champions of the political left, no amount of legitimate evidence of criminal wrongdoing can overcome the lefts blind faith in their so-called leaders, even if they be pedophiles ordering sicko sessions with minors like buying pizza off a menu.

Fact #10: Bigger government is always the answer

No matter what challenges society may face, the disconnected left believes bigger government is always the answer.

Got a problem with people drinking too much soda? We need bigger government to function as food police and criminalize large sodas offerings.

Are too many dementia patients forgetting where they are and wandering aimlessly across mall parking lots? We need bigger government, the left insists, to microchip and track the location of all those afflicted with mental disorders. (Its true, Congress just passed the law for government to microchip citizens.)

Cant afford your rent? Mobile phone bills? Groceries? Dont worry, the government will create a new program to take money from all those who earned it and redistribute the funds to loyal democrat voters who consume it (while, of course, padding the pockets of the politically connected elite along the way).

According to the delusional left, theres no problem too large that even larger government cant solve! Their utopian economy, in fact, is a system where the free market is abolished and replaced by a centrally planned economy which values equality above all else.

Our world already has a system like that, by the way. Its called Venezuela. And right now, all the self-righteous Venezuelans who voted for equality are eating out of grocery store dumpsters while having their cash criminalized and confiscated by the very same government they stupidly put into power. (Will socialists never learn?)

The greatest fact of all is the fact that leftists have increasingly become fact-free lunatics

So lets cut the crap. Almost everything the lunatic left insists is a fact turns out to be a fairy tale or outright lie. Polar bears are going extinct! If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor! Raising taxes on corporations is good for creating jobs! Hillary Clinton believes in honoring the outcome of all democratic elections except for the ones she loses. And if you lose an election in a democracy, the correct course of action, according to the left, is to keep threatening electoral voters with murder until you get your way.

It turns out that, for the most part, leftists are fact-free lunatics. I could lay out a hundred striking examples of the lunacy and contradictions of the delusional left, but you probably already see many of them yourself. The left has become so deranged and disconnected from reality that their cheap tactics of race baiting and slandering their political opponents simply dont work anymore.

The political left in America, which was once a semi-respected organization that opposed George Bushs corporate-run wars and fought to reduce air pollution has become a twisted cabal of deranged fringe lunatics who have already crossed the threshold of mental illness. Now, with the help of Fakebook  which has become the online equivalent of Darth Vader  theyre going to try to steamroll society with a whole new set of fabricated facts that will also fail miserably just like their recent election efforts.

Facts are stubborn things. More importantly, no one has a monopoly on them. Those who try to censor whatever facts they dont agree with will only end up making the things they dispute increasingly popular for the simple reason that human beings are curious about the world around them, and they dont take kindly to having a homogenized, sanitized worldview shoved down their throats by self-proclaimed fact checkers who genuinely belong in a psychiatric ward.

But dont take my word for anything. After all, everything Ive written here is merely my opinion. Open your eyes, explore the world for yourself, and make up your own mind. That simple act, by the way, will make you a lifelong enemy of the left which demands you remain blindly obedient to their facts even when your own direct experiences contradict them. Remember: The ultimate goal of the radical left is to make you abandon trust in your own senses, thoughts and logical conclusions. Only then can they dominate your existence with their fabrications that any clear-headed person would instantly see right through.
(Natural News) Im a fan of physicist Richard Feynman, and one of his most memorable quotes explains that Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts.

Indeed, the experts of science are so often wrong that it makes their arrogance laughable, and today we have yet another example of an emerging, unexplained technology thats sending physicists back to the drawing board to rewrite the supposed laws of how the universe works.

The technology in question is called the EM Drive, and its an impossible spacecraft propulsion device that produces real thrust while emitting nothing (i.e. no exhaust) and having no moving parts. The EM Drive (Electro Magnetic Drive) uses electromagnetic microwave cavities to directly convert electrical energy to thrust without the need to expel any propellant, explains Hacked.com. [Harold G. White, a scientist] proposes that the EM Drives thrust is due to virtual particles in the quantum vacuum that behave like propellant ions in magneto-hydrodynamical propulsion systems, extracting fuel from the very fabric of space-time and eliminating the need to carry propellant.

Invented by engineering pioneer Roger Shawyer nearly 15 years ago, the EM Drive has long been ridiculed by mainstream scientists in much the same way that cold fusion (Low Energy Nuclear Reactions) have also been widely ridiculed by hot fusion academics.

Yet Shawyer may have the last laugh after all. Martin Tajmar, the Director of Institute and Head of Space Systems at the Dresden University of Technology in Germany, has just reproduced the thrust measurements of the seemingly impossible thrust device, conducting his experiment in a vacuum that mimics the environment of space. He presented his findings at the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Forum and Exposition in 2015. You can see his EM Drive talk listed in the event brochure at this link.

EMDrive appears to violate the laws of known physics but it also appears to work

Our measurements reveal thrusts as expected from previous claims after carefully studying thermal and electromagnetic interferences, says the science paper. Tests were also conducted in a high vacuum: We used this setup to test an EMDrive for the first time in high vacuum down to 410 -6 mbar observing similar thrusts (although at somewhat lower power levels) ruling out any air influence in this configuration.

As the document explains, numerous experiments have already apparently confirmed the thrust operation of this impossible engine that appears to violate the known laws of physics:

Some years ago, Shawyer claimed to have invented yet another type of propellantless propulsion system called EMDrive that only uses onboard electrical power similar to the photon rocket, but with orders of magnitude more thrust and without the need of another satellite. If true, this could certainly revolutionize space travel.

It must be noted that Shawyers analysis and claims are highly controversial (e.g. Ref. 9) as this would obviously violate the conservation of momentum (pushing against itself) following his theory. Aside from the theoretical concept, most interesting are the experimental claims that have been published to date. Shawyer tested the

EMDrive on a balance in the upwards and downwards direction observing weight changes (=thrusts) close to his theoretical predictions using precise Q factor measurements with 16 mN using 850 W of microwave power  <b>close to 5600 times larger than expected from pure classical radiation thrust</b>. He claimed to have done checks for thermal and electromagnetic influence. Later testing was done on a torsion balance using air bearings where he observed rotation of the complete apparatus with all electronics and power supplies on-board.

Independent tests were carried out in China by Yang et al10-12 who tested the EMDrive on a force-feedback thrust stand and achieved up to 720 mN of thrust with 1000 W microwave power with even higher Q factors compared to Shawyer. Most recently, Brady et al tested the concept on a torsion balance at NASA with a (micro)N resolution obtaining thrusts of 50 (micro)N using only 20 W of RF power. The microwave electronics were mounted on the balance and power was fed using liquid metal contacts. Strong magnets were used for eddy current damping of the balance and a laser interferometer for monitoring the balance movement. Testing was quite limited (only a few test runs performed, no thruster direction reversal) and interaction with the magnetic damping during operation of the thruster was observed  however below the EMDrive thrust values. A null measurement was performed using a resistor

instead of the EMDrive.

UK media begins to report on the EM Drive

Ive been watching this story for over a year, waiting for another laboratory confirmation of the thrust values. To my surprise, the UK media has begun to pick up on this development, too.

The drive is capable of producing thrust several thousand times greater than a standard photon rocket and could get to Mars within 70 days or Pluto within 18 months, reports the Telegraph. A trip to Alpha Centauri, which would take tens of thousands of years to reach right now, could be reached in just 100 years.

The Telegraph goes on to say:

Shawyer also claims that he is just a few months away from publishing new results confirming that his drive works in a peer reviewed journal.

However scientists still have no idea how it actually works. Nasa suggested that it could have something to do with the technology manipulating subatomic particles which constantly pop in and out of existence in empty space.

Prof Tajmer presented his findings to the 2015 American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics Propulsion and Energy Forum and Exposition this week.

Known science blown away by a breakthrough that no one understands

One of the reasons I love to cover this sort of news is because it reinforces the all-important idea that arrogant scientists arent fooling Mother Nature. Its nice to see arrogant scientists humbled from time to time by new, emerging phenomena they cant explain.

Richard Feynman understood this. He was brilliant but humble, always fascinated by the mysteries of nature. Feynman fully realized that even his own vast knowledge of physics was little more than a spec of dust compared to the realm of knowledge and yet to be explored.

Today, far too many scientists have abandoned the very idea that anything new might yet be discovered. They think they know everything already that science has reached a plateau of absolute truth from which zero divergence is tolerated. But that isnt science its dogma. Real science is the practice of intentionally pursuing new knowledge even when you realize that new discoveries might render your existing scientific beliefs obsolete.

New science, as its often described, enters the realm of quantum physics and even the influence of the observer (intention) on outcomes in the apparent physical universe. As the research document shown above explains, Nasa suggested that it could have something to do with the technology manipulating subatomic particles which constantly pop in and out of existence in empty space.

Such ideas frighten conventional, old-school scientists who are terrified of real discoveries because they might threaten their sacred dogma. The idea that a device which emits nothing might produce enormous thrust that could revolutionize space travel just isnt a concept most scientists are willing to entertain even if it might arguably be one of human civilizations most important inventions ever. (The implications for colonization of other worlds are staggering this could be the technology that takes humanity from a vulnerable, single-planet species to a galactic civilization.)

For that reason alone, the EM Drive will be viciously attacked by old-school physicists and stodgy, cognitively constipated scientists. The idea that their faith-based scientific beliefs might be overwritten by new expansions in human understanding simply infuriates them. So they lash out and attack the pioneers to tear them down, suppressing the advancement of science while simultaneously protecting their intellectual territory and industry influence.

Why future spaceships will look more like Death Stars than X-Wing Fighters

By the way, if the EM Drive proves workable, all those sci-fi films that depict spaceships producing visible, fiery thrust will suddenly be outmoded. In the future of space travel with EM Drives, there are no visible engines. Even better, a spaceship need not have any predetermined thrust orientation, since EM Drives could be built on internal gimbals deep inside the ship and pointed in any direction to produce thrust in that direction. You dont need to mount them on the perimeter of the ship, in other words. They can be internal. This also means spaceships do not have to turn to alter their direction of thrust. It also means communications gear on the outside of such craft can be permanently oriented toward Earth, making communications far easier to maintain.

As a scientist myself, I can also tell you this means such ships will be built as spherical machines in order to mount the EM Drive engines in the center of mass (for all sorts of obvious reasons involving the laws of physics). Thus, future spaceships will look more like mini Death Stars than X-Wing fighters. There is no air in space. Wings are not necessary. Essentially, every spaceship youve seen in Star Wars, Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica is completely wrong.

Additional sources for this story include:

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/evaluating-nasas-futuristic-em-drive/

https://hacked.com/scientists-confirm-impossible-em-drive-propulsion/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3177449/Nasa-s-impossible-fuel-free-thrusters-work-German-scientists-confirm-viability-super-fast-space-travel-slash-journey-moon-4-HOURS.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/space/11769030/Impossible-rocket-drive-works-and-could-get-to-Moon-in-four-hours.html

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36313.1940

https://www.naturalnews.com/files/EM-drive-thrust.pdf
Monday, December 19, 2016 by: JD Heyes Tags: automobiles , children , Scotland , smoking ban This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author

(Natural News) The nanny state is alive and well in Europe, as authoritarian democracies continue to enhance and expand the power of government under the assumption that ordinary mortals arent capable of making their own decisions.

As reported by Agence France Presse, a new law came into force in Scotland just recently, which bans smoking in automobiles where there are children present  part of the governments push to raise a tobacco-free generation.

The law gives authorities the power to fine violators the equivalent of about $127 or 119 euros, and will be issued on the spot if adults are caught lighting up where kids who are under 18 years of age are present in vehicles.

If a case goes to court, then the fine gets much steeper  about 10 times as much. The measure passed unanimously in the Scottish parliament this month.

The provision was introduced as part of the governments plans to reduce the number of smokers in the coming generations to below 5 percent by 2034.

Its simply not safe to smoke when a child is in the car. Dangerous levels of chemicals can build up, even on short journeys, Aileen Campbell, the public health minister of Scotland, told AFP.

Smoking is bad, sure, but isnt big government worse?

Breathing in secondhand tobacco smoke has been linked to respiratory infections, asthma, lung cancer and coronary heart disease, AFP reported, citing data from the World Health Organization.

A number of health charities have welcomed the new law. One, Ash Scotland, says the law is sending a clear signal that children ought to be tobacco-free and thus should grow up in a tobacco-free environment.

We know from speaking to parents that they want to protect their children from tobacco smoke, but often dont know enough about how smoke is harmful and lingers in the air even after you cant see or smell it, said Sheila Duffy, the groups chief executive.

Groups that back smokers, however, are decrying the new law. Simon Clark, director of smokers group Forest, called the law patronizing and unnecessary. He claimed that very few adults even smoke in their vehicles as long as children are in them, because smokers know it is inconsiderate. He predicted that there wouldnt be much enforcement of the new law because so few Scots do it.

England and Wales passed similar legislation in 2015 banning smoking in cars when children are present.

Granted, there are few people who could reasonably argue that it is a good thing to smoke cigarettes in vehicles with children. But, as Clark noted, its not a big problem anyway  so whats the point of writing and passing legislation for it?

What if the goal is to get everyone used to having government decide everything?

But the most alarming thing is that this represents nothing less than additional nanny state government whereby bureaucrats are deciding on behalf of citizens what is and is not good for them. Many European nations get away with this because of their universal, taxpayer-supported healthcare systems. Under the guise of improving health and lowering costs, nanny-crats tend to push for all sorts of rules and regulations limiting personal behavior. When something is determined to be bad by whichever agency is designated to self-determine such things, there is never even a choice offered  the activity or product is banned, and anyone who engages in said activity or uses said product is effectively punished.

Thats not democracy and freedom; thats tyranny.

Today its tobacco, but what will it be tomorrow? Free-range chickens? Raw milk? Non-GMO, organically-grown crops? And all under the pretend notion that such things are not good for you, as decided by some faceless bureaucrat sitting in some alphabet agency somewhere.

Freedom necessarily empowers the individual, not the state. But in a state where the government empowers itself at the expense of the individual, there is no limit to what said government will consider its right to regulate.

Sources:

SAMAA.tv

NaturalNews.com

StopSmoking.news
New York is yet to be the site of a new revolution. Eatsa, an innovative vegetarian automated restaurant chain, just opened its first East Coast location with a one-of-a-kind experience. This time, there's no room for small talk.



This is good news for introverts as the tech-savvy restaurant wants to offer fresh, affordable, fast food without even having to interact. Cashiers and waiters are now robots.



Customers at the restaurant can simply order the food by in-store kiosks, online, or through an app on their phone. The food "mysteriously" appears on location in a glass "cubby" that displays the customer's name.



This means there are no lines, no counters, and no human interaction.



This, of course, is a terrifying concept, given there is no interaction available. However, according to Mashable, the restaurant is an intriguing prospect.



The establishment had pumping noise, the customers were chatty, and a "mascot" greets visitors. Eatsa still has employees stationed to offer assistance just to ensure you are not "entirely" left alone.



According to Motherboard, the right part of the room has a ton of electronic kiosks, and there are tables to the left to those who want the casual dining experience. This all seemed normal, except the back.



The back part is an entire wall of electronic, microwave looking "cubbies" that somehow reveal your meal.



The cubby turns dark to prevent people from seeing the "secrets" of the kitchen. And then the cubby lights green for customers to check the order. It was even quick and easy.



However, Eatsa remains private with just how it works "behind" the scenes. There are robots back in the kitchen with the chefs, but customers are having more fun with their theories.



According to the New York Business Journal, intriguingly, this poses another question: is this the end of human interaction? Possibly, but the restaurant presents a future where people can simply go to restaurants and get food on their own.



The "lack" of human interaction seems to be even encouraging people to be more social and talk with one another.
Finally, animals will get instant treatment for free. Under the National Agriculture Development Project (NADP), two animal medical mobile ambulances have become operational with the help of the Veterinary University Training and Research Centre (VUTRC) in Trichy, India.

Reports from Times of India say that the system has been implemented in Kancheepuram, Trichy, Thanjavur, Namakkal and Madurai.

VUTRC Head and Trichy district level coordinator, Dr. PN Richard Jagatheesan, said the ambulance facility could save the lives of animals in times of emergency. "The ambulance would reach the spot in a timely manner and provide treatment because the vehicle is equipped with all the necessary facilities.

The mobile ambulances are equipped with an ultrasound scanner and an animal lifting facility where livestock and cattle can get treatment at their doorstep free of cost.

Accordingly, farmers could contact the toll-free number 1962 to get treatment for their animals at their doorsteps. Last October, the mobile ambulances were inaugurated by S. Thilagar, Vice-chancellor, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. The service is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on all days except Sundays.

The objective of the animal medical mobile ambulance is to provide emergency medical services to animals in rural areas under the 'animal mobile medical ambulance for rural veterinary care in Tamil Nadu scheme' with funds from Tamil Nadu and the Centre. Farmers can call the ambulance by dialing the toll-free number 1962 from 8 am to 8 pm on all days except Sunday.

Thilagar explained that the Standard Operating Procedure developed by the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University was the first-of-its-kind animal treatment in India, which is recognized by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research and Veterinary Council of India.

The system caters to animals in rural areas that are vulnerable to poisonous bites from insects, accidents, and other emergencies. The system allows ample time to give first aid treatment to the animals and a faster transport time for the animals to be taken into veterinary hospitals or waited for private veterinary doctors.
A recent spate of murder, intimidation and ecocide (the extensive destruction of the environment) in Guatemala has led an international coalition of environmental human rights and environmental organizations -- including the Friends of the Earth U.S., ActionAid USA, Rainforest Network, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Latin America Working Group, and the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission/USA -- to appeal to the authorities concerned.

The petition letter, which was sent to Guatemalan Attorney General Thelma Esperanza Aldana Hernandez and Interior Minister Francisco Manuel Rivas Lara, pressed for a thorough investigation on cases of reported violence against environment and human rights defenders, specifically against members of a Guatemalan community group called the Commission for the Defense of Life and Nature of Sayaxche, who are defending their lands against environmental contamination caused by the local palm oil industry, a press release by Friends of the Earth stated.

Sent in recognition of International Human Rights Defenders Day, the public appeal "urged the Guatemalan government to ensure the security of land defenders in the event that the palm oil multinationals do not follow through on their commitments to remove human rights abuses and exploitation from their supply chains."

"Today we are calling on government officials to take urgent action to address threats against the Commission for the Defense of Life and Nature and other civil society groups that are peacefully demanding justice and ecosystem repair in the wake of last year's palm oil ecocide in the Pasion River and the violence that followed," said Jeff Conant, senior international forests campaigner with Friends of the Earth U.S.

"Both government and private sector actors need to bring an end to the impunity that plagues the country and to clean up the dirty agribusinesses that are a major driver of the violence," Conant added.

In September 2015, three community leaders were abducted by workers of palm oil company, Reforestadora de Palmas del Peten, S.A. (REPSA), and local school teacher and Commission for the Defense of Life and Nature (CDVN) spokesman Rigoberto Lima Choc was murdered by still unidentified suspects.

According to reports, the assaults happened exactly a day after a judge suspended operations of REPSA for allegedly causing a massive fish kill along 100-mile stretch of the La Pasion River in June. A government agency has referred to the immense fish die-off as an obvious case of ecocide.

"We are extremely concerned about the threats towards members of Commission for the Defense of Life and Nature of Sayaxche, especially given that the ecocide in the Pasion River and the killing of Rigoberto Lima Choc remain uninvestigated, in a year in which Guatemala has seen literally a dozen killings of human rights defenders," said Dania Rodriguez of the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission/USA.

Based on the reports of Amnesty International, Guatemala is considered as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for environmental defenders today.
Syria on Monday condemned the murder in neighbouring Turkey of the ambassador of its key ally Russia as a "despicable crime", state news agency SANA said, quoting the foreign ministry.

"The Syrian republic condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly terrorist attack that led to the death of the Russian ambassador in Turkey, Andrei Karlov," a ministry statement said.

"This despicable crime confirms once again the urgent need to expand all efforts and means to fight and eliminate terrorism," it added.

Russia is Syria's main ally in the nearly six-year war, and has helped President Bashar al-Assad's forces to retake the battleground northern city of Aleppo from rebels.

On September 30, 2015, Russia began a campaign of air strikes in Syria to help government forces.

The gunman who shot Moscow's envoy at an art exhibition in Ankara shouted "Aleppo" and "revenge", a witness said.

Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek has identified the shooter as a Turkish policeman.

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A document uploaded claims to have found a diary containing some risky information on aliens and secret government programs, Inquistr reported.



According to the project titled, Pulsar Project, the content of the document came from the notes of a scientist who was contracted by the US government to look into alien existence.



The unnamed scientists allegedly visited all crash sites and interrogate captured Alien Life Forms for nearly 33 years. He took note of all the information and his analysis. The paper, which is a continuation of the Blue Planet Project, describes alien's pharmacology for humans, psychic ability, craft engines and language.

According to the paper, the aliens use nine languages -- Nordic, Pleiadian, Vegan, Syrius, K'Thai, Orion, Antarian, Grey Universal, and Universal Communication symbols.

Recently a sci-fi film about aliens was shown in the cinemas. Titled "Arrival," the movie focused on how aliens would communicate with humans once they come in contact. The movie depicted that aliens would communicate with humans using communication symbols.

Professor Jessica Coon, who consulted on the movie, said the language portrayal was accurate.

"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, 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."

The Auricmedia document also claimed that aliens are skilled at Psionic Power, the ability to possess all existing psychic powers which means they can manipulate everything including how a person perceives his surroundings.



Moreso, the document also revealed a number of "secret" government projects that have not been disclosed to the public, including the popular MK-ULTRA, CIA's mind control program. Gizmido notes that the project has been one of the most shocking and terrifying projects of all time.



According to Gizmodo, several investigations were conducted by the government to uncover truth about this project, and while it has been difficult to look for evidence, a hearing report revealed that t he project was intended to "develop a capability in the covert use of biological and chemical materials.



The project included erasure of memory, hypnotic resistance to torture, truth serums, post-hypnotic suggestions, rapid induction of hypnosis, electronic stimulation of the brain, and non-ionizing radiation, the document revealed.
Dr. Henry Heimlich, the creator of the life-saving maneuver that prevented thousands of people from choking to death, has passed away last Saturday at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati.

According to the report from National Public Radio, the thoracic surgeon died from complications of the massive heart attack he experienced last December 12. Earlier this year, Heimlich used his very own maneuver to help prevent a fellow resident at Episcopal Retirement Services form choking to death.

In 1974, Heimlich devised an anti-choking technique that so simple it could be performed by anyone even without any deep understanding of medical know-how. First introduced as subdiaphragmatic pressure, Heimlich published his anti-choking ideas in The Journal of Emergency Medicine in an informal article headline "Pop Goes the Cafe Coronary". However, Heimlich's paper was met with skepticism from his peers. In anticipation with this resistance, Heimlich sent his paper to major newspaper around the country.

Just a few months later, editors from the Journal of the American Medical Association called Heimlich and told him that his anti-choking technique has saved many lives. The medical association decided to change the name of subdiaphragmatic pressure to Heimlich maneuver in honor of the doctor.

New York Times reported that choking on food and foreign objects was the sixth leading cause of accidental death in the United States in the 1970s, killing nearly 4,000 Americans annually. To perform the Heimlich maneuver, the responder will stand behind the choking person and put his thumb inside his fist just above the belly button but the chest. The responder will then grasp his fist with his other arm and press it inward and upward. The abdominal jab will be repeated until the blockage is thrown to the air.

Aside from the highly celebrated Heimlich maneuver, Heimlich also devised numerous medical treatments and apparatus that helped save thousands of lives. Dr. Heimlich is the pioneer of the so-called Heimlich-Gavriliu Reversed Gastric Tube operation in America. Additionally, Heimlich also introduced the Heimlich Chest Drain Valve that was widely used by medics during the Vietnam War.


A divisive new gravity hypothesis has passed its first test and this could prove that Albert Einstein's theory is wrong.

Scientists have long been mystified about the universe, stating that the visible matter that we know cannot possibly produce all the gravity that there is in the universe.

Today, astronomers refer to Einstein's theory, that the universe's inconsistency has been explained by assuming the presence of dark matter. But despite searching for that elusive, invisible dark matter for years, researchers have come empty handed.

On the other hand, the new gravity theory, which was first proposed in 2010 by physicist Erik Verlinde from University of Amsterdam suggests that we do not need the dark matter to explain the anomalies in the universe.

Proving "Verlinde's hypothesis of gravity" could overhaul what we have long known about our universe and eradicate the possibility of dark matter.

As reported by Phys.org, a team led by astronomer Margot Brouwer from Leiden Observatory in Netherlands has tested Verlinde's theory for the first time through the gravitational lensing.

Science Alert noted that gravitational lensing is a well-established way of measuring the amount of dark matter in galaxies. The lensing of gravity is the way galaxies closer to us bend the light of more distant galaxies.

After measuring more than 33,000 galaxies, they concluded that all Verlinde's calculations agree well with the measured gravity distribution, meaning all the galaxies could be explained without the concept of dark matter.

In addition, the researchers said Verlinde's theory did not need "free parameters," which are values that can be modified a bit to make observations match a hypothesis. By contrast, says Brouwer, conventional dark matter models need four free parameters to be adjusted to explain the data, New Scientist reported.

"The dark matter model actually fits slightly better with the data than Verlinde's prediction," Brouwer tells New Scientist. "But then if you mathematically factor in the fact that Verlinde's prediction doesn't have any free parameters, whereas the dark matter prediction does, then you find Verlinde's model is actually performing slightly better."

The research has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
NASA commemorates the life of former astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn after his demise last Dec. 8. Glenn was known as part of the agency's Mercury astronauts.

Glenn is the first American to successfully orbit the Earth just when the times were at its worse and space explorations are in its most challenging phase. He is considered a hero because he was part of the team that proved that the U.S. is capable of dominating the space race against Russia due to his flight on Feb. 20, 1962, aboard Friendship 7.

Aside from that, Glenn also holds the record as the oldest human being to perform a space mission. This is because of his nine-day Discovery orbiter duty in space launched on Oct. 29, 1998, when the former astronaut was already 77 years old. His presence helped scientists study the aging process.

His works on space science also reflected on his performance as a senator. And because of his contribution to both the scientific and space community, colleagues laud Glenn. "Even after leaving public life, he loved to meet with citizens, school children in particular. He thrilled to music and had a weakness for chocolate," Trevor Brown, dean of John Glenn School of Public Affairs at the Ohio State University said in a press release.

Other high-ranking officials also lauded Glenn's contribution to science and the society. "With John's passing, our nation has lost an icon and Michelle and I have lost a friend," President Barrack Obama said in a press release. "The last of America's first astronauts has left us, but propelled by their example we know that our future here on Earth compels us to keep reaching for the heavens," Obama added.

NASA Administrator also expressed his admiration to the former astronaut. "Anybody who looks at John Glenn's life will recognize that John knew that he embodied taking care of people," Charles Bolden said in a statement.

Glenn died at the age of 95 but left a legacy in the name of public service and space science that the people of this generation and the next will look up to for a very long time.




Related Putin heads to Japan for hot spring meet on disputed islands

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin wrapped up two days of talks on Friday, with numerous economic deals but no big breakthrough on a territorial row that has over-shadowed ties since World War Two.

Putin was heading home with promises of economic cooperation after appearing to achieve what experts said was a key objective - easing international isolation when Russia faces Western condemnation over the destruction of eastern Aleppo in Syria, where it is backing President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Abe and Putin agreed to launch talks on joint economic activities on disputed islands at the centre of the territorial row as a step toward concluding a peace treaty formally ending World War Two, the two sides said in a joint statement.

The islands in the Western Pacific, called the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kuriles in Russia, were seized by Soviet forces at the end of World War Two and 17,000 Japanese residents were forced to flee.

The dispute over their sovereignty has prevented the two countries signing a peace treaty.

Abe said he and Putin had taken "an important step" toward a peace treaty but concluding one would not be easy.

"The issue won't be solved if each of us just make their own case," Abe said at a news conference with Putin.

"We need to make efforts toward a breakthrough so that we don't disappoint the next generation. We need to set aside the past and create a win-win solution for both of us."

Putin dismissed the notion that he was only interested in getting economic benefits from Japan.

"If anyone thinks we're interested only in developing economic links and a peace deal is of secondary importance, that's not the case," he told the same news conference.

"For me, the most important thing is to sign a peace agreement because that would create the conditions for long-term co-operation."

As the two leaders held their second round of talks on Friday, right-wing activists in trucks mounted with loudspeakers circled the streets not far from the prime ministers' office, blaring "Return the islands" and "Putin Go Home".

Abe has pledged to resolve the territorial dispute in the hope of leaving a significant diplomatic legacy and building better ties with Russia to counter a rising China.

He had hoped the lure of economic cooperation for Russia's economy, hit by low oil prices and Western sanctions, would pave the path for significant progress on the dispute.

Putin, however, would risk tarnishing his domestic image as a staunch defender of Russian sovereignty by compromising.

Japanese opposition politicians were quick to criticise the talks.

"How is this economic cooperation and these joint economic activities going to lead to a settlement of the islands issue?" said Ren Ho, head of the main opposition Democratic Party.

"Concerns that economic cooperation will bilk Japan remain, and that no concrete way to make progress on the islands issue was found is really too bad," she added in a statement.

Russian officials said the two sides had signed a total of 80 documents, including 68 on commercial matters, during Putin's visit, including private-sector deals.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Russian Direct Investment Fund signed an agreement to set up a $1 billion investment fund to promote economic cooperation between the two countries.

But there was less than met the eye in some of the deals.

Despite strong pressure from the Abe administration, companies remain wary of the risk of doing business in Russia, said a Japanese official involved in summit preparations.

"Hence many of the agreements being announced are vague memorandums of understanding," he said.

The two leaders agreed on Thursday, in talks at a hot spring resort in southwest Japan, on the importance of resuming security dialogue, a Japanese official said.

Ministerial level security talks were halted after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014, and Western countries imposed sanctions in response.

Japan has long insisted its sovereignty over all four islands be confirmed before a peace treaty is signed.

But there have been signs it has been rethinking its stance, perhaps by reviving a formula called "two-plus-alpha", based partly on a 1956 joint declaration in which the Soviet

Union agreed it would hand over the two smaller islands after a peace treaty.

Putin, a judo expert, wrapped up his visit with a stop at the Kodokan Institute, the global judo headquarters, where he and Abe watched a judo performance by two men dressed in what looked like samurai armour.

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A California agency that oversees judicial discipline in the state ruled Monday that a judge committed no misconduct when he sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting a young woman on campus.

The California Commission on Judicial Performance said there was no evidence that Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky displayed bias in handing down a sentence decried as too lenient by critics across the country.

"The commission has concluded that there is not clear and convincing evidence of bias, abuse of authority, or other basis to conclude that Judge Persky engaged in judicial misconduct warranting discipline," the 11-member panel concluded in its unsigned ruling.

Read the entire ruling

The commission said it received thousands of complaints and petitions regarding Persky and the sentence.

The petitions included complaints that Persky "displayed gender bias and failed to take sexual assault of women seriously," and showed favoritism to Turner because the judge was a former Stanford athlete as well.

Turner, 21, was released from jail in September after serving three months. He will be on probation for three years in his native Ohio and is a registered sex offender.

One of Persky's biggest critics, Stanford professor Michelle Dauber, said in a statement: We will continue to proceed with the recall election. It is important for Santa Clara County voters to decide whether Judge Persky should remain on the bench for the next six years.



She said the ruling highlights what her "Recall Persky" campaign has been saying from the beginning, which is that a petition for judicial discipline "was not the correct venue to address these concerns, and the recall is the only realistic way to remove Judge Persky from office."

"It appears this was a one-sided investigation that involved the statements of Judge Persky's lawyer and not anyone else," Dauber said.

Persky's attorney Kathleen Ewins said the canons prevented her client from defending against the criticisms leveled against him based on the Turner sentencing.

"Judges need to be able to exercise their judgment without threats to their physical safety or the threat of the loss of their jobs," Ewins said. "That Judge Persky has been subject to both is disconcerting, particularly where, as here, public reaction has been based on gut reaction and political forces, not on a reasoned understanding of the facts and the law."

Meanwhile, Dauber said her campaign has raised enough money to collect the signatures needed to put the recall on the ballot, which she said she'd do in April.

Legal analyst Steve Clark said he too is not surprised by the commission ruling because the judges sentence followed the recommendations of county probation officials.

"The question moving forward will be the vindication that Judge Persky received from the decision, will that do anything to mitigate the recall against him and the firestorm that it's created?" Clark said.

Turner was convicted of assaulting the woman near a trash bin after they drank heavily at a fraternity party. The woman had passed out and Turner was on top of her when confronted by two graduate students passing by on bicycles. They chased and tackled him when he tried to flee, holding him on the ground until police arrived.

A jury in March found Turner guilty of three felony sexual assault counts. Persky sentenced him to six months in jail, citing the "extraordinary circumstances" of Turner's youth, clean criminal record and other considerations in departing from the minimum sentence of two years in prison. Prosecutors had argued for six years.

Turner's case exploded on social media and ignited a debate about campus rape and the criminal justice system after the victim's 7,200-word letter that she read in the courtroom during sentencing was published online.

NBC Bay Area's Thom Jensen contributed to this report.
Two suspects, including one armed with a semi-automatic handgun, burst into a Verizon Wireless store in Pacifica on Saturday and stole an undetermined amount of cash and cell phones, police said.

The heist took place just before 9:30 a.m. at 80 West Manor Dr. when two suspects entered the establishment and demanded that an employee open a safe.

The thieves snatched the items before fleeing in an unknown direction, police said.

One suspect is described as being a short male who wore a white bandana on his face, according to police. The other suspect was a taller male wearing a ski mask.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pacifica Police Department at 650-738-7314. Anonymous tips can be delivered to 650-359-444.
A Turkish policeman fatally shot Russia's ambassador to Turkey on Monday in front of a shocked gathering at a photo exhibit and then, pacing near the body of his victim, appeared to condemn Russia's military role in Syria, shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!"

The leaders of Turkey and Russia said the attack in Ankara, the Turkish capital, was an attempt to disrupt efforts to repair ties between their countries, which have backed opposing sides in the Syrian civil war.

An Associated Press photographer and others at the art gallery watched in horror as the gunman, who was wearing a dark suit and tie, fired at least eight shots, at one point walking around Ambassador Andrei Karlov as he lay motionless and shooting him again at close range.

The assailant, who was identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old member of Ankara's riot police squad, was later killed in a shootout with police. Three other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said.

The assassination came after days of protests by Turks angry over Russia's support for President Bashar Assad in the Syrian conflict and Russia's role in the bombardment and destruction of Aleppo, Syria's largest city.

The gunman shouted about Aleppo in Turkish, and also yelled "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great," continuing in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad."

The attack, condemned by the White House and the United Nations, was another sign of how Turkey, a NATO member and a partner in the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State group, is struggling to contain multiple security threats. The war in Syria has been a major problem for years, sending several million refugees into Turkey and, more recently, drawing in Turkish troops.

Turkey has become accustomed to deadly attacks  Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for Dec. 10 bombings in Istanbul that killed 44 people, many of them police.

The spectacle of 62-year-old Karlov's assassination by a member of the Turkish security forces at a photography exhibit meant to highlight Russian culture reinforced the sense of unease over the region's conflict and complex web of alliances and relationships.

It came a day before a key meeting about Syria to be held in Moscow. Those attending include the foreign and defense ministers from Turkey, an opponent of Assad, and Russia and Iran, backers of the Syrian regime.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the killing of Karlov as an attempt to damage Russia-Turkey ties "and to thwart a peace process in Syria which Russia, Turkey and Iran have been actively trying to promote."

Putin said he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed in a phone call that Russian investigators would fly to Ankara to conduct a joint probe with their Turkish counterparts.

"We must know who was directing the killer," Putin said in televised remarks. He ordered top officials to strengthen protection of the Turkish Embassy in Moscow and asked Turkey to increase security at the Russian mission in Ankara.

In a video message shown on several Turkish TV channels, Erdogan said: "This is a provocation to damage the normalization process of Turkish-Russian relations. But both the Russian and Turkish administrations have the determination not to fall for this provocation."

Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when he was gunned down.

Altintas, the gunman, also fired shots in the air, sending panicked audience members running for cover, and smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition. The floor was splattered with blood, and the ambassador's eye glasses lay a few feet from his body.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman got into a 15-minute shootout with police before he was killed, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The shooter's family home in the western province of Aydin was later searched and his mother, father and sister were detained, the news agency said, without citing sources. The man's house in Ankara was raided and his roommate, also a police officer, was also taken into custody, it said.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Altintas, who was born in 1994, had been an officer with Ankara's riot police squad for more than two years. He did not give a motive for the attack.

"It's a tragic day in the history of our country and Russian diplomacy," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations," she said. "He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. It's a terrible loss for us and also the world."

Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang from 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department. He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

The White House condemned the assassination, saying "this heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable," President Barack Obama was briefed by his national security team while on vacation in Hawaii

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned what he called a "senseless act of terror," for which "there can be no justification."

Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplane at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkey's apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift. Putin and Erdogan have held several meetings in recent months and spoken frequently over the phone.

Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and also discussed the prospect of organizing a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.

Security threats to Turkey include the Islamic State group, and which has been blamed for attacks in Turkey. Additionally, Turkish security forces and courts remain preoccupied with purging state institutions of the supporters of an exiled Islamist cleric whom the government accuses of staging a failed coup attempt in July.
Police said Tuesday that the driver who rammed a truck into a crowded Christmas market in the heart of the German capital, killing at least 12 people and injuring nearly 50, did so intentionally and that they are investigating a suspected "terror attack."

The truck struck the popular Christmas market outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church late Monday as tourists and locals were enjoying a traditional pre-Christmas evening near Berlin's Zoo station.

"Our investigators are working on the assumption that the truck was intentionally driven into the crowd at the Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz," Berlin police said on Twitter.

"All police measures concerning the suspected terror attack at Breitscheidplatz are being taken with great speed and the necessary care," they said.

Hours earlier Germany's top security official had refrained from pointing to an intentional act, but said evidence pointed in that direction, while the White House condemned "what appears to have been a terrorist attack."

The crash came less than a month after the U.S. State Department called for caution in markets and other public places across Europe, saying extremist groups including Islamic State and al-Qaida were focusing "on the upcoming holiday season and associated events."

The Islamic State group and al-Qaida have both called on followers to use trucks in particular to attack crowds. On July 14, a truck plowed into Bastille Day revelers in the southern French city of Nice, killing 86 people. Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack, which was carried out by a Tunisian living in France.

After the Berlin attack, dozens of ambulances lined the streets waiting to evacuate people, and heavily armed police patrolled. Authorities on Twitter urged people to stay away from the area, to keep the streets clear for rescue vehicles.

Among the dead was a man in the truck, who succumbed as paramedics treated him, Berlin police spokesman Winfried Wenzel said. Police said later that the man was a Polish national, but didn't give further details of who he was or what happened to him.

A suspect believed to be the driver was picked up about 2 kilometers (1 miles) away, near the Victory Column monument.

Berlin's public radio station RBB-Inforadio reported that the suspect was a Pakistani citizen who entered Germany on Dec. 31, 2015. RBB-Inforadio cited unnamed security sources in its report, which concurred with those in other German media. Berlin police declined to confirm the reports, but Wenzel said the man was being interrogated.

The truck was registered in Poland.

The Polish owner of the truck said he feared the vehicle may have been hijacked. Ariel Zurawski said he last spoke with the driver, his cousin, around noon, and the driver told him he was in Berlin and scheduled to unload Tuesday morning. "They must have done something to my driver," he told TVN24.

Federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, took over the investigation, according to German Justice Minister Heiko Maas. In Washington, White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said the United States was in contact with German officials and ready to help in the investigation and response.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump blamed Islamist terrorists, though it was unclear what that assessment was based on. He said Islamic extremists must be "eradicated from the face of the earth" and pledged to carry out that mission with all "freedom-loving partners."

But German officials said shortly after the attack that it was too early to call the crash intentional.

"I don't want to use the word 'attack' yet at the moment, although a lot speaks for it," Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told ARD television. "There is a psychological effect in the whole country of the choice of words here, and we want to be very, very cautious and operate close to the actual investigation results, not with speculation."

Germany has not experienced any mass-casualty attacks by Islamic extremists, but has been increasingly wary since two attacks by asylum-seekers in the summer that were claimed by the Islamic State group. Five people were wounded in an ax rampage on a train near Wuerzburg and 15 in a bombing outside a bar in Ansbach, both in the southern state of Bavaria. Both attackers were killed.

Those attacks, and two others unrelated to Islamic extremism in the same weeklong period, helped stoke tensions in Germany over the arrival last year of 890,000 migrants.
Members of the Electoral College in Illinois cast their final ballots Monday in Springfield as a small group of protesters demonstrated against President-elect Donald Trump in the Capitol.

Clinton won her home state of Illinois in November, pulling in 55.4 percent of the vote to Trumps 39.4 percent, according to NBC News. As expected, all 20 Illinois electors voted for Clinton and her running mate Tim Kaine Monday.

Trump won the electoral college nationally, garnering 306 votes to Clintons 232, far more than the 270 votes needed to win the presidency.

However, some Republican electors have reportedly taken steps to deny Trump victory by voting against their states winner.

Constitutionalists argue that electors are free to vote however they please, although 29 states have Supreme Court-upheld laws requiring them to vote as their state did, NBC News reports. The constitutionality of those laws has never been tested.

Although its possible for "faithless objectors" to sway the election results by voting against Trump, it seems unlikely. Even if the electoral college is able to deny Trump the 270 votes needed to be elected, the election would then be sent to the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives, who would likely back the billionaire.

The House and Senate are scheduled to meet Jan 6 to officially county the votes.
The sight of Miss Piggy steadying Tony Bennett when the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade float they shared suddenly lurched offered not only gentle laughs but a reminder: It's good to have friends of all ages.



Bennett proved as much as a young man while learning from elders like Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. And hes returned the favor in his golden years, becoming a seemingly unlikely pal and inspiration to performers whose grandparents courted to "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."



Bennett marks his 90th birthday with a star-filled special Tuesday on NBC celebrating him as an ageless wonder.



He reached this latest highpoint not only by living long, but by living smart. Bennett reinvented himself in the late 1980s for the MTV generation without shedding the core of his talent or personality. Post-MTV phenom Lady Gaga, with whom Bennett recorded the hit 2014 standards collection, Cheek to Cheek, absorbed this trait from him as much as she did from chameleonic superstars David Bowie and Madonna.



Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Michael Buble, Leslie Odom Jr. and Elton John are among the performers who turn up for Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best is Yet to Come. So does Alec Baldwin, who impersonates Bennett as an unflappable, upbeat paragon of cool. Unlike the president-elect, Bennett enjoys Baldwin's talent for mimicry.



Thats because Bennett is the real deal. He posseses enduring, multigenerational appeal. Bennett earned his way into a rarefied league with his heroes, including Sinatra, who would have turned 100 last year, and Fitzgerald, whose birth centennial is in April.

Bennett is a living testament to their legacy and his own, with a voice that never falters  and he remains, thanks to Miss Piggy, a standup guy who never takes a fall.

Jere Hester is Director of News Products and Projects at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is also the author of "Raising a Beatle Baby: How John, Paul, George and Ringo Helped us Come Together as a Family." Follow him on Twitter.
In an op-ed published Friday in the Washington Post, Mayor Rahm Emanuel made a series of education policy recommendations for President-elect Donald Trumps incoming administration.

Trump named Betsy DeVos the head of the federal Department of Education last month. DeVos has been a proponent of voucher programs that allow parents to use taxpayer money to pay for private or parochial schools. Devos, whose husband is an heir to the Amway fortune, was a former chair of the Michigan Republican Party.

In the op-ed, Emanuel faulted DeVos for supporting voucher programs and charter schools.

Promoting choice at the expense of quality isnt an education strategy, its a political agenda, Emanuel wrote. Rather, those of us creating education policy need to simply focus on providing the quality choices that students deserve.

The Democrat pointed to some successful public charter schools in Chicago, like Noble Network and Urban Prep, but claimed students enrolling in neighborhood schools should also be provided with a high quality education."

Emanuel noted that Chicago Public Schools have found success by lengthening the school day, expanding the school year by 10 days, closing low-performing schools, turning around failing schools and expanding successful education models, like International Baccalaureate and STEM, a curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

As a result, the mayor said CPS graduation rate has grown by roughly 16 percent since 2011, more than three times than the growth in the national rate.

To continue this progress, those of us on the front lines need partners at the state and federal levels who are focused on quality, Emanuel wrote. Previous Republican administrations sounded the alarm on educational quality, prompting renewed focus on stronger accountability. Democratic administrations pushed higher standards.

Emanuel urged the incoming Trump administration to focus on qualitative choices in a variety of ways.

He urged DeVos and the Trump administration to support principals, who drive schools standards and accountability, by creating training pipelines that reward strong performance. The mayor noted that Chicago partnered with a handful of universities to train principals, placing them in year-long fellowships and launching a program to provide them with the freedom to innovate.

Emanuel also pushed for the expansion of early childhood education. Chicago has expanded full-day prekindergarten by more than 60 percent.

An analysis of CPS programs proved the value, finding that children who attend full-day preschool enter kindergarten twice as likely to read at grade level, Emanuel wrote. The Trump administration should make universal full-day prekindergarten a priority and make quality a prerequisite for receiving funding.

Additionally, Emanuel claimed high school was the toughest nut for urban school districts to crack, noting that Chicago has backed charter options in the city, as well as invested in the expansion of magnet, military, IB and STEM schools.

IB and STEM programs in particular are proven to raise graduation and college enrollment rates for students of all racial and income backgrounds, Emanuel wrote. In fact, our IB-enrolled students boast a nearly 100 percent graduation rate, and 81 percent enroll in college, a higher rate than their peers.

Lastly, Emanuel encouraged DeVos and the Trump administration to promote programs to turn around failing schools.

Instead of chasing another Washington debate about choice that goes nowhere, lets work together to help Americans get ahead by investing in better schools regardless of who operates them, he wrote.

Earlier this month, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis slammed Devos, warning that she would expand on policies that have been proven not to work, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Dont ask me why he picked her, Lewis said. I don't know who put her name on the list, but shes a nightmare.

However, Gov. Bruce Rauner praised DeVos earlier this month, calling her a very talented and very passionate education advocate, the Chicago Tribune reports.

I do know Betsy DeVos, I have great respect for her, Rauner said Thursday. I think shes a very talented and very passionate education advocate. And I personally believe in school choice. And I look forward to working together."

The DeVos family, who are among the countrys top Republican donors, contributed $13,000 to the governors 2014 campaign, according to the Tribune. That includes a $1,000 donation from DeVos herself.
Police said they have made an arrest in weekend sexual assault and robbery in Fairfield.

Officers responded to Reef Road at 10:20 p.m. Saturday after a woman said she had been sexually assaulted and robbed at knifepoint.

Lt. Robert Kalamaras told The Connecticut Post that the woman said she was walking from the train station when she heard heavy footsteps approaching from behind and was attacked.

The suspect's name was not immediately released, but police later identified him as 47-year-old Michael James Fontaine, was apprehended nearby.

Police said the suspect has a criminal history that includes convictions for robbery, sexual assault, carjacking, rape, drugs and burglary in multiple states.
A plane carrying Russian soldiers crashed in Siberia on Monday, seriously injuring 16, the defence ministry said, quoted by Russian news agencies.

The Ilyushin-18 plane carrying 32 passengers and seven crew made an emergency landing around 4:45 am Moscow time (01:45 GMT) in the eastern Siberian region of Sakha, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Everyone survived but 16 suffered serious injuries, with three in a very serious condition, and were airlifted to the nearest hospital, Sakha's regional authorities said in a statement, citing the emergency ministry.

In conflicting reports, the Sakha authorities said there were 32 people on board including eight crew.

The passengers were officers from the eastern Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk, a source in the emergency ministry told Interfax news agency.

The defence ministry plane was due to land at Tiksi, around 4,300 kilometres (2,700 miles) northeast of Moscow and beyond the Arctic Circle, the Sakha authorities said.

The plane was found 30 kilometres from the aerodrome at around 08:00 Moscow time, the Sakha authorities said.

The preliminary cause of the plane's emergency landing was "a strong sidewind with gusts," the authorities said.

The defence ministry said it had sent a specially equipped plane to evacuate those whose condition allowed them to travel to hospitals in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

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The city of Hartford has reached a four-year agreement with Hartford firefighters union, according to the mayors office, and it will go to the city council for approval.

The new contract is significant because of the savings it will provide. It's estimated by the mayor's administration and the union that savings will first be noticed toward the end of the current fiscal year to the tune of $1.5 million.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said the four-year agreement with Hartford Fire Fighters Association, Local 706 will save the city more than $3.5 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and larger amounts in the years that follow.

The union ratified the agreement on Friday, which will replace the current contract, which expired on June 30, 2016, and will extend until June 30, 2020.

I commend the Hartford Fire Union for recognizing the severity and the urgency of our fiscal crisis, and for doing their part to help put Hartford on the path to fiscal health. This agreement will save the City of Hartford millions of dollars in each of the next four years, and makes some very significant structural changes to reduce long-term liabilities. At a time when Hartford faces intense fiscal pressure, Im proud that we were able to work together to sign a serious, responsible agreement for Hartford and its taxpayers, Mayor Bronin said in a statement.

The mayors office said the four-year agreement includes no wage increases for four years, a 70 percent increase in annual employee contributions into the pension fund, substantial changes to health care plan design, an increase from a 20-year to a 25-year service requirement to retire for current employees with less than 10 years of service, substantial increases in employee share of health care premium costs and a reduction in the citys exposure for funding retiree healthcare after age 65.

For new hires the agreement caps future pensions at 70 percent of employees base pay, with overtime pay not factoring into earnings for pension, a nearly 10 percent salary reduction across the board and the elimination of the citys liability for funding retiree health care.

Vincent Fusco, the union's president knew going in that this contract year was one for concessions.

Even if he wanted higher wages, increased health benefits, or something similar, Fusco knew those weren't possible given the city's fiscal crisis. Fusco ruled out allowing negotiations to go to arbitration

"We had to look at what's the best solution for today. I don't think the best solution was to drag this out. The finances aren't going to get better any time soon and structural change was needed. We understood that."

The city faces a $20 million shortfall to end the current fiscal year and a $50 million shortfall in the next fiscal year.

Fusco said he won't predict whether other unions will take the same tactic he did, knowing the union would have to provide givebacks.

"I did what I thought was best for our membership and the city. I can't speak for other unions," he said.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal will be in Stonington on Monday afternoon to talk about rail safety issues after reaching out to Amtraks CEO and asking the company to take action to implement better safety standards at railroad crossings in town.

Senator Blumenthal, First Selectman Rob Simmons and some residents will attend the 2:30 p.m. news conference, calling for Amtrak to install technology that is already federally mandated.

Blumenthal said in a news release that Amtraks failure to install loop detectors or quad gates at the Walkers Dock and Freeman Island crossings have not only raised safety concerns, but have also disrupted the towns Quiet Zone residential policy due to the passing trains being forced to sound their horns at each crossing.

He went on to say that the horns dont provide adequate notice to passengers in a disabled vehicle on the rail crossing and the rail configuration does not provide a clear line of sight for the train engineer to safely react to such an incident.

Blumenthal introduced the Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act, which he said would provide new resources to the Federal Railroad Administration, states and communities to make critical engineering and safety upgrades at rail crossings, like installing new lights and signals, particularly at accident-prone crossings.
Dallas police are asking for the public's help finding a suspect who broke into a car last month.

The burglary happened on Nov. 16 in the 10800 block of Ferguson Road, police said. Photos pulled from surveillance video appear to show the man flipping off a security camera after he realized he was being recorded.

If anyone has any information about this case, they're asked to contact Detective Winkler at 214-460-6428.
Police said a homeowner fatally shot a man that broke into his Dallas house early Monday morning.

Dallas police said they responded to a home invasion call in the 2100 block of Hudspeth Avenue at about 2:30 a.m. and found the man dead.

According to investigators, the man broke into the victim's home and an exchange of gun fire followed.

The victim was able to escape the home and lock the man inside the home, according to police.

No further details have been released.
A family in Collin County was able to escape a large house fire Sunday night, but their home is a total loss.

Firefighters arrived at the house, located in the 100 block of North Warren Street in Nevada, Texas, to find it fully engulfed in flames. A family of six made it safely to the front yard, and the family's dogs were found safe in the backyard, firefighters said.

A neighbor reported hearing an explosion when the fire started, but fire investigators said they haven't determined what caused the fire.
A man featured on the Texas Department of Public Safety's list of 10 most wanted sex offenders was captured last week in Missouri.

Zachary Aaron Jenkins was arrested in Springfield, Mo. for failing to register as a sex offender, according to a DPS release sent out on Monday. In 2015, Jenkins was convicted of having indecent sexual contact with a 9-year-old girl in Tarrant County, DPS said.

Jenkins fled within weeks of being sentenced to 10 years of probation. He surrendered to Springfield police and U.S. Marshals after they surrounded a home where he was staying.
Demonstrators are gathering outside the Texas Capitol in hopes of persuading more than three dozen Republican electors to cast their ballot for someone other than President-elect Donald Trump.

A spokeswoman for Secretary of State Carlos Cascos on Monday accepted a box containing what organizers say are about 265,000 signatures from people opposed to a Trump presidency. But even several demonstrators outside weren't optimistic about changing the outcome of last month's election.

Among them was 78-year-old Jim Nelson, who held a sign that read "The Popular Vote Matters." Democrat Hillary Clinton lost despite getting 2.6 million more votes nationwide.

Trump won Texas' 38 electoral votes by nine percentage points. One Texas elector doesn't plan voting for Trump, but an Associated Press survey of other electors found little displeasure with the businessman.
Five rebels, a South African peacekeeper and a policeman were killed Monday when militia fighters attacked the city of Butembo in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, UN and police sources said.

The clashes between police and militia fighters, who attacked the prison in Butembo, a city of around one million people in troubled North Kivu province, came amid rising tension across the country as President Joseph Kabila's mandate runs out.

"At around 6 am (0400 GMT), the assailants, who were likely Mai-Mai fighters, launched an attack against the prison and other places," said the spokesman for the UN's MONUSCO peacekeeping force, Felix-Prosper Basse.

Mai-Mai militia have staged several attacks in Butembo in recent months and though the reasons for their return appear unclear, some residents say they have heard some fighters claim they are seeking to oust Kabila.

The country was due to hold a presidential election this year as Kabila's mandate ends December 20, but the authorities failed to organise the polls and there is widespread fear of protests and violence.

Kabila is barred from a third mandate under the constitution and the opposition has accused the authorities of delaying the vote in the hope of reworking the constitution to extend his tenure.

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Texas electors have cast their ballots for president at the state capitol in Austin Monday, with 36 of the 38 voters selecting Donald Trump.

The tally pushes the Republican president-elect over the 270-vote threshold and ensures that the billionaire will become America's 45th president.

Electors had been deluged with emails, phone calls and letters urging them not to support Trump. Two Texas electors cast protest votes against Trump, but in the end he had more than he needed. One vote went to former Texas Congressman Ron Paul, while another went to Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

Texas had been poised to put Trump over the top, but the proceedings dragged out because four absent electors had to be replaced.

One Texas elector previously resigned and was replaced on the panel after expressing concern about Trump's presidential qualifications.

Another elector, Chris Suprun, of Dallas, had previously said he won't pick Trump after comparing the businessman to "a king."

Suprun hasn't said who got his ballot.

There is no constitutional provision or federal law that requires electors to vote for the candidate who won their state  though some states require their electors to vote for the winning candidate.

Those laws, however, are rarely tested. More than 99 percent of electors through U.S. history have voted for the candidate who won their state. Of those who refused, none has ever been prosecuted, according to the National Archives.

Some Democrats have argued that the Electoral College is undemocratic because it gives more weight to less populated states. Hillary Clinton, who lost the election to Trump, received 2.8 million votes more votes than Trump nationwide.

A joint session of Congress is scheduled for Jan. 6 to certify the results of the Electoral College vote, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding as president of the Senate. Once the result is certified, the winner  almost certainly Trump  will be sworn in on Jan. 20.
Four police officers rescued a woman trapped in a burning two-story house Monday morning in Glendale.

The victim and at least three of the police officers who rescued her suffered minor injuries. A dog reported missing after the fire was presumed dead, according to fire officials.

The fire was reported at about 5 a.m. in the 2000 block of Dublin Drive.

"The fire had a huge head start before anybody had an opportunity to call 911," said Glendale Fire Chief Greg Fish.

Neighbors told NBC4 they heard a woman, the only person in the home, screaming from a balcony of the hillside home before four officers helped her escaped the smoke and flames. The officers placed a ladder against the side of the house to reach the woman, said neighbor Patrick Baghdaserian.

"Twenty seconds later, that balcony was gone," Baghdaserian said.

The fire spread to a car parked in the driveway, but firefighters protected nearby residences.

The house was not safe to enter due to damage from the fire, Fish said. A structural engineer will survey the building and determine when fire investigators can enter.

A cause was not immediately determined.
Hundreds of men, women and children marched across downtown Los Angeles Sunday to protest the imminent Electoral College confirmation of Donald Trump as U.S. president and to demonstrate for labor justice and immigrant rights.

Traffic in the heart of the city was brought to a standstill by the two simultaneous marches -- March Against Trump and the California Fearless and United March.

The two protests began in Pershing Square about noon, and demonstrators marched to Grand Park, where a combined rally was happening.

At least four large buses brought demonstrators downtown and were parked on First Street outside the LAPD headquarters while the marches went on.

At least one major labor union, the Service Employees International Union, was part of the protests.

The marchers brought traffic through the central part of downtown to a virtual standstill as LAPD officers shut down First, Second, Third and Fourth streets to traffic from Grand Avenue to Spring Street.

No arrests were reported during the first several hours of the demonstrations.
A security guard making the rounds behind a Walmart Supercenter in Santa Ana Sunday found a man dying from stab wounds.

The victim was a man in his late 20s to early 30s and possibly a transient. He was rushed to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where he died at 4:54 a.m., according to the coroner's office.

Officers were dispatched to the Walmart Supercenter at 3600 W. McFadden

Ave. at 2:45 a.m., in response to the discovery of a stabbing victim, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

"At this point, he's a John Doe," Bertagna said.

Santa Ana Police Department homicide detectives asked anyone with any information regarding his death to call them at 714-245-8390.
Two police officers are being hailed as heroes after saving the life of a choking infant.

LAPD Metropolitan officers Kenneth O Steen and Christian Marroquin were patrolling the 1600 block of East 32nd Street in South Los Angeles on Thursday when a woman approached them.

"My baby is choking!" the woman screamed.

She was "visibly distraught" and "crying," Marroquin said.

Liliana Bahena told the officers that her baby was unable to breathe and turning blue.

After requesting an ambulance a few minutes prior, Bahena was becoming impatient and that's when she spotted the officers patrol car a few houses down.

The officers followed Bahena to her home, and saw the child's father holding the 2-year-old in his arms. The child was gasping for air, they said.

Officers requested an ambulance and performed CPR on the boy. After a few attempts, the child spit out an earring.

The boy let out a loud cry and soon began to breathe normally.

The Bahena family and the officers who saved her son were reunited on Sunday.

"I don't know what would have happened if they hadn't been there," Bahena said. They "saved my son's life."

Marroquin said that he and his partner were "fortunate that we were at the right place at the right time."

Bahena and her family gave the officers a thank you letter expressing their gratitude.

"For me, they're heroes because they saved my son's life," she said. "And I'm very grateful for that."
As President-elect Donald Trump continues to fill positions for his future administration, his most recent nomination is a familiar name in South Florida sports.

Trumps transition team announced Monday morning that Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola is the president-elect's choice for secretary of the Army. Viola, who bought the team in 2013, is a West Point graduate who served as an Army Ranger and in the 101st Airborne Division before starting a successful business career. His Virtu Financial electronic trading firm went public last year, and he has been a chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Whether it is his distinguished military service or highly impressive track record in the world of business, Vinnie has proved throughout his life that he knows how to be a leader and deliver major results in the face of any challenge, Trump said in a statement.

If confirmed, I will work tirelessly to provide our President with the land force he will need to accomplish any mission in support of his National Defense Strategy, Viola said in the statement.

Viola remained a member of the Army Reserves after his active duty service, receiving a law degree before beginning a career on Wall Street. He earned a net worth of over $1.8 billion, according to a Forbes estimate.

Viola has worked with veterans' groups during his business career and while owning the Panthers. The team played a preseason game in October on the West Point campus and has raised funds and donations for groups across South Florida.

If Viola is approved for the civilian post, ownership of the NHL club would remain in his family. Viola would step down from his roles as chairman and governor of the team, and Doug Cifu would assume those duties. Cifu is currently the vice chairman and alternate governor.
State Sen. Tony Avella has announced his intent to challenge New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in the 2017 mayoral election.

The Queens Democrat launched his campaign on Sunday at a hotel in Queens that is used to house homeless people. Avella has been a fierce critic of the Democratic mayor's handling of the homeless crisis.

On Sunday, Avella claimed that under de Blasio there are more homeless than ever. He also blasted high taxes, backed free tuition at CUNY for city residents and said locals should have more control over what happens in their neighborhoods.

Avella previously ran for mayor in 2009. He has been a State Senator of the 11th district since 2010.
The World Bank will hold a meeting Tuesday to approve second $1 bln tranche of $3 bln loan to support Egypt's budget

Egypt signed on Monday the second tranche, worth USD 500 million, of a $1.5 billion loan package from the African Development Bank (AfDB), Egypt's Ministry of International Cooperation (MoIC) announced.

In a statement on the ministry's website, minister Sahar Nasr also said the World Bank would hold a meeting on Tuesday to approve the second $1 billion tranche of its $3 billion loan to Egypt, which is set to be delivered over three years to support the country's budget.

According to the MoIC, the AfDB loan is intended to support government programmes that aim to achieve social and economic development by creating new jobs and improving the business environment.

Nasr signed the first $500 million tranche of the AfDB loan in December 2015. That loan is also scheduled to be delivered over three years.

Leila El-Mokadem, the AfDBs representative in Egypt, confirmed that the bank aims to continue its partnership with Egypt in 2017 to deliver the 3rd and final tranche of the fund, also worth $500, the statement said.

The World Bank provided the first $1 billion to Egypt in September. The second tranche is expected to arrive in January, and the final one later in 2017.

On 11 November, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) confirmed its receipt of an initial $2.75 billion from the International Monetary Fund following the boards approval of a $12 billion loan to support Cairo's ongoing economic reforms.

Egypt's economy has been struggling since 2011 due to a sharp drop in tourism and foreign investment, two main sources of hard currency for the import-dependent country.

The country's foreign reserves stood at $23 billion by the end of November.

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The bumbling burglar who broke into a Long Island salad bar, ate several bananas and pre-packaged snacks, urinated in a trash can and fell asleep on the store floor won't face charges, officials said.

Police said that the man who broke into The Sexy Salad in Hauppage on Saturday paid restitution to the store's owner and will not face charges.

Authorities said the suspect left a New York State drivers license and watch at the scene after waking up later that morning.
A cash register filled with cash raised through a Christmas tree fundraiser all last month has been stolen from a volunteer firehouse in New Jersey, leaving firefighters and neighbors stunned.

The 30 volunteer members of the Spring Lake Heights fire department worked in the cold and the rain all month selling Christmas trees and wreaths, even making home deliveries, to raise money for needed repairs.

The entire cash register containing $1,000 was stolen from the firehouse early last week.

"They are such a wonderful fire department, they do wonderful fundraisers, wonderful things for children, who could do that?" said Spring Lake resident Sharon Cox.

"It is mind-boggling to think someone would actually do that," said Spring Lake Heights Fire Department Chief Joe Tompey.

When she heard about the money that was stolen, Sue Demaris, who works with the K-9 Valor Task Force, went to the firehouse to make a $500 donation in person. Firefighters had saved her four dogs when her house was burning.

"I wish I could have given them the full amount but we are a new nonprofit," she said.

"We are here every day, year-round, and now the community is helping us," said Tompey.

It's not clear how the thief was able to get into the firehouse, which is locked up around the clock. It is a volunteer department, so everyone has another job.

Spring Lake Heights Police Chief David Petriken called it an isolated incident "and I hope it never happens again anywhere."

There are surveillance cameras at the firehouse but police won't release the video. No suspect has been identified.
What to Know Gov. Cuomo announced that the first phase of the long-awaited Second Avenue subway will open on New Year's Day

The Electoral College will vote for the next president on Monday; Donald Trump is expected to get the most votes

Actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor died at the age of 99 on Sunday

Get the top headlines of the day in your morning briefing from NBC 4 New York, Monday through Friday. Sign up for our newsletter here.

2nd Avenue Subway to Open

Service to the public on the Second Avenue subway will begin on Jan. 1, Gov. Andrew Cuomo told NBC 4 New York during a one-on-one station tour Sunday. A ceremonial ride on Dec. 31 will usher in train service on the first phase of the line  a three-stop extension of the Q train that has been a century in the making. Construction on the Second Avenue line began in 2007, but it has been in planning by the city since 1929 and was first proposed by a Public Service Commission engineer in 1919 as part of an expansion of the transit system. Under the $4.5 billion first phase of the project, trains will run from 63rd Street to 96th Street. The second phase will extend the line up to 125th Street. Meanwhile, the new E train subway entrance will open Monday in the World Trade Center's Oculus transportation hub more than 15 years after it closed because of 9/11.

Zsa Zsa Gabor Dies at 99

Zsa Zsa Gabor, the jet-setting Hungarian actress who made a career out of multiple marriages, conspicuous wealth and jaded wisdom about the glamorous life, has died. She was 99. The middle and most famous of the sisters Gabor died Sunday of a heart attack at her Los Angeles home, husband Frederic von Anhalt told The Associated Press. "We tried everything, but her heart just stopped and that was it," he said. "Even the ambulance tried very hard to get her back, but there was no way." A spiritual matriarch to the Kardashians and other tabloid favorites, Gabor was the original hall-of-mirrors celebrity, famous for being famous for being famous.

Electoral College Votes for President

Electors are gathering Monday in every state to formally elect Donald Trump president even as anti-Trump forces try one last time to deny him the White House. Protests are planned Monday at state capitals, but they're unlikely to persuade the Electoral College to dump Trump. An Associated Press survey of electors found very little appetite to vote for alternative candidates. Republican electors say theyve been deluged with emails, phone calls and letters urging them not to support Trump. Meanwhile, a former Hillary Clinton staffer is tracking possible conflicts of interests that could arise because of Trumps businesses under this cheeky URL.

Poll: Public Concern Over Russian Hacks

More than half of Americans say they are significantly bothered by the news that hackers working in connection with a foreign government were involved in trying to influence November's presidential election, according to results from a new national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Forty-three percent of respondents say they are bothered a "great deal" about Russian interference, while an additional 12 percent were bothered "quite a bit." Despite more than half of Americans being concerned about Russia's interference, just 37 percent believe the actions helped President-elect Donald Trump win the presidential contest, while 57 percent say it didn't make a difference.

Merriam-Websters Word of the Year

Was 2016 a dream or a nightmare? Try something in between: "surreal," which is Merriam-Webster's word of the year, was unveiled Monday. Meaning "marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream," or "unbelievable, fantastic," the word joins Oxford's "post-truth" and Dictionary.com's "xenophobia" as the year's top choices. The single biggest spike in lookups came in November, he said, specifically Nov. 9, the day Donald Trump went from candidate to president-elect.

SNL: Christmas With the Trumps

This weeks "Saturday Night Live" cold open welcomes back Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump, the prolific tweeter and president-elect who is fuming over a bad restaurant review in "Vanity Fair." The Christmas-themed episode begins with a clatter in Donald Trump's chimney. Santa? No. Someone else. Vladimir, what are you doing here? Trump asks as a shirtless Putin (Beck Bennett) bearing a Santa sack emerges from the hearth. Watch the skit.
What to Know Glendon Scott Crawford, 52, who was convicted of weapons of mass destruction charges will be sentenced Monday; he faces 25 years in prison

Crawford was arrested by the FBI in 2013 for teaming up with another man to build an x-ray gun to target Muslims and other "medical waste"

Co-defendant Eric Feight pleaded to lesser charges and was sentenced to eight years in prison

An upstate New York industrial mechanic convicted of attempting to produce a mobile X-ray device intended to kill Muslims has been sentenced to 30 years behind bars.

Fifty-two-year-old Glendon Scott Crawford, of Galway, was also convicted of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction and distributing information about weapons of mass destruction. He was also ordered to go a lifetime of supervised release after the sentence.

Co-defendant Eric Feight, who is in his mid-50s, pleaded guilty to lesser charges of providing material support to terrorists and was sentenced last year to eight years in prison.

Both men worked for General Electric in Schenectady. Prosecutors say the device was intended to be a truck-mounted radiation particle weapon that could be remotely controlled and capable of silently aiming a lethal beam of radioactivity at its human targets. The concept was that victims would eventually die from radiation sickness.

The investigation broke open in April 2012 when Crawford allegedly went into an Albany synagogue and "asked to speak with a person who might be willing to help him with a type of technology that could be used by Israel to defeat its enemies, specifically, by killing Israel's enemies while they slept," the complaint says. He referred to Muslims and enemies of the United States as "medical waste," according to court records.

Later that day, Crawford telephoned a second area synagogue, using his cell phone, and made a similar offer, the complaint states. An FBI agent's affidavit indicates that someone at the unidentified synagogue contacted Albany police, who relayed the information to the FBI. At that point a Joint Terrorism Task Force began an investigation.

The FBI complaint states that on June 5, 2012, Crawford met with a confidential source for the FBI at a Scotia restaurant and allegedly talked about his enemies and of being "tired of getting 'raped,' that there are people out there who have decided that they don't get their fair share in life, and that (Crawford) wanted to stop these people."

During the meeting at the restaurant, Crawford described his plan to purchase or construct a powerful industrial x-ray machine that would be powered by batteries. The plan included an attempt by Crawford to find part-time work in a metal shop where he would have access to x-ray tubes, the complaint states.

"Crawford also told the (source) that the target of his radiation emitting device would be the Muslim community," the complaint states. "Crawford described the device's capabilities as 'Hiroshima on a light switch' and that 'everything with respiration would be dead by the morning.'"

Crawford ended the meeting by stating "how much sweeter could there be than a big stack of smelly bodies?"

The FBI complaint charges Crawford and Feight with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, including use of a weapon of mass destruction.

According to federal authorities, Crawford recruited Feight, who worked for a manufacturer of electronic control devices in Hudson, to assist him with the design and construction of the device. Feight, as an outside contractor, met Crawford last year through their association at General Electric Co., according to the complaint.

FBI agents tracked the two men through cell phone calls, emails and text messages beginning in December 2012. Under the plot described by the FBI, Crawford concentrated on building the radiation device while Feight was building the electronic controls. The two men met May 20, 2013, in Albany and Feight gave a remote-transmission device to Crawford. They had planned a test to take place at an undisclosed hotel in the Albany area.

The suspects had successfully tested the remote triggering system that could work from a little less than a half mile away from the weapon, the complaint states. On June 12, 2013, they planned to have a dinner where Crawford would be provided with the radiation system, which was not finished. When the men were meeting, the FBI was monitoring their activities, including using undercover informants who posed as members of a South Carolina Ku Klux Klan group interested in purchasing the device and financing the project.

The men were arrested by an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.

In a statement, General Electric said: "On Tuesday afternoon the FBI informed GE that Glendon Scott Crawford, a GE manufacturing employee, was arrested for a criminal act. We have no reason to believe the act took place on GE property nor is there any information indicating that our employees' safety was ever compromised. Since this incident, Mr. Crawford has been suspended. We are cooperating fully with the authorities on their investigation."
A founding partner of a hedge fund at the center of a scandal involving the head of the nation's largest jail guard union was charged on Monday in a $1 billion fraud case.

Mark Nordlicht, chief investment officer of Platinum Partners, was to appear in federal court in Brooklyn to face securities fraud conspiracy and other charges. Six other people, including other hedge fund executives, were named in an indictment that alleges a scheme beginning in 2012.

Former Correction Officers' Benevolent Association President Norman Seabrook pleaded not guilty last year to charges he steered $20 million in union pension money to Platinum Partners in 2014 in exchange for a $60,000 bribe - delivered in a black Ferragamo bag - and luxury trips.

The case stemmed from overlapping federal probes that resulted in several police officers being charged or disciplined and scrutinized the fundraising of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Court papers in the Platinum Partners case accuse the defendants of lying to investors about the value of funds they were managing. The evidence includes emails between Nordlicht and others that "illustrated their knowledge and awareness of the fraudulent scheme perpetrated on Platinum's investors and prospective investors," the papers say.

There was no immediate response to a message seeking comment from Nordlicht's attorney. Platinum representatives did not immediately respond to a comment request.

As the New York City-based hedge fund began to go under in December 2015, Nordlicht wrote that he was thinking about using $7.5 million from a second mortgage on his home to try to keep it afloat, the papers say. He also was considering fleeing the country, they say.

"Am on my way to JFK with the kids for their 6 p.m. flight to Israel," he wrote in one email, according to the indictment. "My wife is literally making me get on Israel flight if we don't connect and agree what we are doing."

One of his cohorts responded: "You should get on the flight if there is no bridge (loan), probably even if there is."
What to Know The victim, 23-year-old Connor Rasmussen, was stabbed on Madison Avenue early Sunday morning

The victim was able to pull the knife out of his own head, police said

He went to the hospital but was barely injured, and is now back home in Washington

A tourist who flew into New York City from Washington state to propose to his girlfriend was stabbed in the back of the head while walking down the street near Grand Central Terminal early Sunday morning, the third violent attack on a midtown street over the weekend.

The victim, 23-year-old Connor Rasmussen, was walking down Vanderbilt Avenue with a group of friends when he noticed someone following him, he later told police. He turned the corner at 46th Street, and the man allegedly yelled, "Hey!"

Once they got to Madison Avenue, police said the man pulled out a steak knife and stabbed Rasmussen in the back of the head.

The victim was able to pull the knife out of his own head, police said. He went to the hospital but was barely injured, and is now back home in Washington.

Police are investigating two other attacks in midtown over the weekend: one man was shot and killed across from Bryant Park Saturday morning, and in Times Square, two people were stabbed outside Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.
A 7-year-old Syrian girl whose Twitter updates chronicled the horrors of life in Aleppo for months was safely evacuated from the besieged city Monday, according to an aid organization, NBC News reported.

According to Ahmad Tarakji, president of the Syrian American Medical Society, Bana al-Abed was among "many children" safely evacuated into the surrounding countryside Monday.

The evacuation comes two days after she and her mother, Fatemah Bana al-Abed, appealed to first lady Michelle Obama for help.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said their Twitter account, which has 320,000 followers, is propaganda promoted by "terrorists" and their supporters.
President-elect Donald Trump promised to repeal Obamacare, defeat ISIS, withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, create 25 million jobs over the next decade and "drain the swamp" in Washington, D.C. How well do his Cabinet nominees reflect his governing philosophy? Here they are in their own words.

The retired neurosurgeon and unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination grew up in Detroit and has no experience in elected office or in running a large bureaucracy.

"These government-engineered attempts to legislate racial equality create consequences that often make matters worse. There are reasonable ways to use housing policy to enhance the opportunities available to lower-income citizens, but based on the history of failed socialist experiments in this country, entrusting the government to get it right can prove downright dangerous."  The Washington Times, 2015

Former secretary of labor under President George W. Bush, deputy transportation secretary under President George H.W. Bush, Chao is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"If vehicles already meet an acceptable level of safety on a particular aspect of vehicle performance without being required to do so by regulation, I believe the Department should devote its resources to other issues rather than engage in rulemaking simply to affirm the existing level of safety."  Statement before DOT deputy secretary confirmation hearing, 1989

A keen advocate for school vouchers and charter schools, influential in Detroit, where charter schools have a poor record and state legislators rejected calls for more oversight, she engages in political battles to help advance God's kingdom, she told a religious gathering in 2001.

"We are stuck in a partisan rut. The political parties are dead-enders when it comes to education revolution. As long as we think political parties might solve the problem it will never be solved. Oddly enough education choice is very unique in that some conservative Republicans and some liberal Democrats are actually on the same wavelength.But those are exceptions. The vast majority of the political class is committed to defending and protecting the status quo."  SXSW in Austin, 2015

The governor of South Carolina and the daughter of immigrants from India, Haley led the drive to remove the Confederate flag from the statehouse and during the Republican primary accused Donald Trump of "irresponsible talk."

"During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation." -- Speaking of Donald Trump and others in the Republican response to President Barack Obamas State of the Union speech, 2016

A retired four-star Marine general, he oversaw the Guantanamo Bay military prison and efforts to stop drug trafficking and other smuggling into the United States.

"In my opinion, the relative ease with which human smugglers move tens of thousands of people to our nations doorstep also serves as another warning sign: These smuggling routes are a potential vulnerability to our homeland. As I stated last year, terrorist organizations could seek to leverage those same smuggling routes to move operatives with intent to cause grave harm to our citizens or even bring weapons of mass destruction into the United States."  Testimony to the Senate Armed Forces Committee, 2015

Nicknamed "Mad Dog," the retired Marine Corps general and former commander of U.S. Central Command blames President Barack Obama's policy in the Middle East for adding to the rise of extremism.

"Is political Islam in the best interest of the United States? I suggest the answer is no but then we need to have the discussion. If we won't even ask the question, then how to we ever get to the point of recognizing which is our side in the fight. And if we don't take our own side in this fight we're leaving others adrift." The Heritage Foundation, 2015

Donald Trump's campaign finance chairman, a former partner at Goldman Sachs, and Hollywood financier, he and partners took over failed mortgage lender IndyMac Bank and operated it under the name, OneWest Bank. He pledged to tackle mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

"It makes no sense that these are owned by the government and have been controlled by the government for as long as they have. In many cases this displaces private lending in the mortgage markets, and we need these entities that will be safe. So let me just be clear we'll make sure that when they're restructured, they're absolutely safe and they don't get taken over again. But we've got to get them out of government control."  Fox Business, November

Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com

Perry, the former governor of Texas, has promoted the state's oil industry and has questioned climate change. He has advocated eliminating the department he would head though famously could not name it during a presidential debate in 2012.

"I do believe that the issue of global warming has been politicized. I think there are a substantial number or scientists who have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects. I think we're seeing, almost weekly or daily, scientists are coming forward and questioning the original idea that manmade global warming is what is causing the climate to change. Yes, our climate has changed. They've been changing ever since the earth was formed." -- Town Hall in Bedford, N.H., 2011

Republican congressman from Georgia, an orthopedic surgeon and persistent critic of Obamacare, he has repeatedly introduced his own legislation for replacing it.

"It's a fundamental philosophical difference that we have with the other side . They believe that government ought to be in control of health care. We believe that patients and families ought to be in control of health care. And sadly what we're seeing right now is that government control that we've seen ramped up over the past six or seven years has resulted in a decrease in quality that's being seen by patients. People have coverage, but they don't have care. They're priced out of the market."  American Enterprise Institute, June

Attorney general of Oklahoma, one of the Republicans leading the legal fight against President Barack Obama's attempts to curb carbon emissions, Pruitt questions how much human actions are contributing to climate change, a point disputed by the vast majority of the world's climate scientists.

"Healthy debate is the lifeblood of American democracy, and global warming has inspired one of the major policy debates of our time. That debate is far from settled. Scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind. That debate should be encouraged  in classrooms, public forums, and the halls of Congress. It should not be silenced with threats of prosecution. Dissent is not a crime."  with Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, Tulsa World, May

The CEO of CKE Restaurants, the fast-food company that owns burger chains Carl's Jr and Hardee's, Puzder is an opponent of the Affordable Care Act, which he said created a "government-mandated restaurant recession" and of raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, which he argues would lead to fewer jobs.

"I like our ads. I like beautiful women eating burgers in bikinis. I think it's very American. I used to hear, brands take on the personality of the CEO. And I rarely thought that was true, but I think this one, in this case, it kind of did take on my personality."  Entrepreneur, 2015

Turnaround specialist who became rich buying struggling steel, textile, coal and other companies and restructuring them, Ross came under criticism for a deadly explosion at a mine his company had bought.

"Clinton will raise taxes. Trump will cut taxes. Clinton will increase regulation. Trump will decrease regulation. Clinton has vowed to kill the coal industry. Trump will leverage America's energy resources to create new jobs and growth."  with Trump adviser Peter Navarro, CNBC, August

U.S. senator and former U.S. attorney from Alabama who failed to win confirmation to a federal judgeship because of concerns about racially charged comments he was accused of making, he has opposed immigration reform and the legalization of marijuana.

"You have to have leadership from Washington. You can't have the president of the United States of America talking about marijuana like it is no different than taking a drink, saying I used marijuana when I was in high school and it is no different than smoking. It is different. And 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. I think we need to be careful about this."  Senate floor speech, April 2016

Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil, has what he has called "a very close relationship" with Russia's Vladimir Putin, which could be problematic during his confirmation hearing. Although he does not have a political or diplomatic background, he has broad experience negotiating deals for ExxonMobil in troubled spots around the world.

"We do not support sanctions, generally, because we don't find them to be effective unless they are very well implemented comprehensively and that's a very hard thing to do," he said, adding, "We always encourage the people who are making those decisions to consider the very broad collateral damage of who are they really harming with sanctions."  ExxonMobil shareholders' meeting, 2014.

Montana's sole representative in the House, Zinke would end a moratorium on federal coal leases on public lands. He is also a hunter and fisherman who opposes transferring public lands to the states.

"It's not a hoax, but it's not proven science either. But you don't dismantle America's power and energy on a maybe. We need to be energy independent first. We need to do it better, which we can, but it is not a settled science."  Campaign debate, 2014
Last call could prove to be a hang-up this holiday season at Delaware bars and restaurants, and happy hour a little dour.

Alcohol enforcement agents are partnering with highway safety officials for a barroom blitz, conducting undercover operations to prevent bars and restaurants from serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons.

If agents see a drunk person being served alcohol, the server and the establishment could face criminal charges. The business also could face administrative penalties as well.

Officials say the crackdown is aimed at reducing drunken driving and will run through mid-February.

Officials say that prior to the undercover operations, uniformed alcohol enforcement officers will provide prevention and awareness training for retail establishments about the laws regarding serving intoxicated patrons.
The owner of the Merion Tribute House now controls another historic Main Line property, which was donated by the Women's Club of Bala Cynwyd.

The Merion Foundation, which handles grants for the Merion Community Association, now owns two historic buildings located on Bala Avenue near Levering Mill Road, according to Main Line Media News.

The Women's Club of Bala Cynwyd gifted the properties to the Foundation so it could better focus on its charitable work, and not have to worry about maintaining the buildings  one of which will be renamed the Levering Mill Tribute House, the newspaper reported.

To read full article, click here.

For more business news, visit Philadelphia Business Journal.
When a group of friends took their cameras to the streets of Damascus to document Syria's 2011 uprising, they could not have foretold how events would spiral out of control and change their lives forever.

Obaidah Zytoon, a radio host with big dreams for her country, was full of hope for freedom when she started filming the demonstrations that broke out against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011. Five years later, she is in Copenhagen living as a refugee.

Zytoon is one of the lucky ones. Most of her friends did not make it out of Syria alive.

Much of the death and destruction documented in Zytoon's hometown of Zabadani in the film is eerily similar to images coming out of the battle of Aleppo this week, where Syrian government forces and their allies finally broke rebel resistance to hand Assad his biggest victory of the civil war.

"What remains is the crime," Zytoon narrates as she watches dogs eating a dead sheep amidst the death and destruction of war.

The War Show, which premiered in the Middle East this week at the Dubai Film Festival, is a disturbing documentary that compiles footage shot inside Syria from 2011 to 2013, taking viewers through a journey of euphoria and revolution to disappointment and despair.

In one scene at the beginning, the friends sit together at a Damascus apartment smoking hash and discussing revolution. "By 2014, we will all be free," one of them says. Another replies that by 2014 they will all be dead.

The harrowing effect is amplified as viewers become deeply involved in the lives of Houssam, Hisham, Lulu, Rabea, Amal and Argha, joyful young Syrians who fall in love, play heavy metal, go to the beach and dream big, only to meet tragic ends.

"You were the love of his life, you know," Zytoon tells her friend Lulu in Turkey after they discover that Hisham, who had gone missing for years after being picked up at a checkpoint, had died in prison after repeated torture.

Rabea, a musician who Zytoon described as "universal" in his views on life, gets assassinated in his car. He is found dead by his sister, who desperately tries to put part of his shattered forehead together to bring him back to life.

Zytoon collaborated with Danish filmmaker and co-director Andreas Dalsgaard to bring those stories to life after meeting him in Turkey and showing him the footage.

"I hope the rest of the world can see the film and have a deeper understanding of what a Syrian leaving their country is forced to leave: what is it that they carry inside, and what was the experience emotionally that they are dealing with," Dalsgaard told Reuters in Dubai.

He said that unlike mainstream media coverage, which can desensitise viewers, the documentary was important in putting a face to the tragedy and revealing a story behind the pain.

"I see pictures from Aleppo, and everyone from around the world sees pictures of Aleppo, but there's no human connection," he said. "It destroys our senses. And only when we start understanding each other, and connect deeper on a human level, can our senses come alive."

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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A man charged with murder in the death of a college student is now accused of killing another woman, authorities said.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray told NJ.com on Sunday that Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, 20, of Orange, is charged with murder in the death of 33-year-old Joanne Brown.

Wheeler-Weaver remained jailed Monday in lieu of $5 million bail. It's not known if he has retained an attorney.

Brown was last seen Oct. 22 in Orange, Murray said. A work crew found her body Dec. 5 at a vacant house in Orange.

Brown was strangled and apparently killed at the house, Murray said.

"The connection between the defendant and the victim remains under investigation," Murray added.

Wheeler-Weaver recently pleaded not guilty to murder in the strangulation death of 20-year-old New Jersey City University student Sarah Butler, whose body was found Dec. 1 in West Orange. He's also charged with disturbing human remains.

Prosecutors have said Butler and Wheeler-Weaver were "acquainted" and encountered each other in Orange on Nov. 22. They have said there's no evidence they were dating.

Possible motives for both slayings have not been disclosed. Murray said the investigation into their deaths is ongoing and urged anyone with information on either death to contact her office.
A Philadelphia judge has dismissed the beverage industry's lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia over the so-called soda tax in a 14-page decision issued Friday.

Judge Gary S. Glazer ruled to dismiss the complaint "in its entirety," ticking off the argument lawyers for the city had previously told the Business Journal was the crux of its case.

Referred to as the Philadelphia Beverage Tax, or PBT, Glazer said the city's sugary beverage tax does not duplicate the Pennsylvania's sales and use tax, violate the state Constitution's Uniformity Clause, nor force SNAP beneficiaries to spend the program's funds on the sales tax.

"The Judge upheld the key points of our argument: the Philadelphia Beverage Tax cannot be considered a sales tax, and neither does it violate the uniformity clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution," City Solicitor Sozi Pedro Tulante said in a statement.



Read more about the suit on PBJ.com

For the latest business news from around the Philadelphia region go to PBJ.com.
A man and a woman died after slamming into a school bus on Roosevelt Boulevard Sunday night.

Ramon Rodriguez-Camacho, 32, was driving a silver 2000 Mercedes Benz northbound on the Boulevard near Woodward Street just before 9 p.m. when he crashed his vehicle into the rear of a school bus that was stopped at a red light, police said. The car went underneath the bus and burst into flames. Witnesses said the impact lifted up the bus and moved it forward.

Witnesses tried to put out the flames with fire extinguishers but were unable to bring the blaze under control. Both Rodriguez-Camacho and his passenger, Lorraine Rivera, 38, died in the crash.

The 41-year-old school bus driver was not injured. Police say the bus driver had dropped around two dozen teenagers from Huntington Valley Christian Academy off a few minutes before the crash and no one else was on board. [[407461226, C]]

"She just dropped them off at a nearby church. She said about three minutes prior to the accident," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. "So we're really lucky in that respect."

The driver, who wished not to be identified, felt blessed to escape unscathed.

"I feel happy that my life was saved," she exclusively told NBC10's Monique Braxton. "I feel born again. I am praying for the family of the people who died. Sad news for them. Thanks to God for saving me. Happy that I am alive."

Police continued to investigate the crash Monday and said speed likely played a role. Investigators also spoke with two off-duty police officers who witnessed the crash.
San Diego needs this new band. And it needs it now more than ever.

In an Instagram post on Friday, Dec. 16, Lindsay Lee (formerly of the Nervous Wreckords and currently of Flaggs) announced a new San Diego all-female supergroup, Locker Room Talk. The band, which also features Saba, Celeste CC Spina of Little Hurricane and Jessica Maros of Escondido (the band), has been quietly recording and cultivating an image for some time now.

According to Lee, with whom I corresponded over email late Monday morning, CC had this great idea to form a female-powered band that spoke strongly against current issues that we, as women, are dealing with.

CC, who is the drummer of the band, didnt hesitate to contact Lee for bass/guitar/vocals, Saba for guitar/keys/vocals and Maros for guitar/vocals. Now, how these four manage not to create a supernova when theyre all in the same room together is beyond me -- Lee, Spina and Saba (Im sure Maros would qualify if she were San Diego-based as well) are some of the most talented, prominent and experienced musicians in the local scene. Hands down.

And if youve been paying even the slightest bit of attention to the news, and Im talking the slightest, like seeing CNNs breaking news ticker out of the corner of your eye at the airport for a second, the band name should be a pretty clear indication of its immediate referent -- namely, the misogynistic comments president-elect Donald Trump made to Billy Bush in 2005, which Trump passed off as locker room talk.

When I asked Lee about the band names origins, she said, [Trumps comments] perpetuate rape culture and misogyny.

But the name extends beyond Trumps comments. She added, Locker Room Talk is a band taking a direct stand against the current direction of our country and the systematic abuse and harassment that women, and others marginalized by the current rhetoric, endure in their everyday lives. Our intention is to lean back on our musical backgrounds as a vessel for our anger and frustration in order to bring about real change and equality for future generations of women.

In an era when most bands are just hoping to be catchy enough to momentarily interest a blog like this one before fading into obscurity, its nice to see musicians that actually have other ends in mind. While we might not yet know what Locker Room Talk sounds like, throwing a wrench in the cogs of a patriarchal system of marginalization is just about as punk rock as it gets.

The band is currently writing, recording and preparing for their first show (hopefully in the spring), but in the meantime, you can follow them for updates on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Rutger Rosenborg was a Stanford neuroscientist before he formed Ed Ghost Tucker. He now plays in the Lulls and makes music on his own when he's not writing. Follow his updates on Facebook or contact him directly.
Police are searching for one to three men accused of shooting a victim in Pacific Beach, San Diego Police (SDPD) confirmed.

Police first responded to the area near Jewell Street and Roosevelt at approximately 12:41 p.m. Monday, police said.

There has been conflicting information about what happened before, during and after the shooting, police said.

A citizen called police saying he was with the victim. who had been shot in the arm or shoulder area. Initially, police went to a street west of the reported location, because there is where the victim was, but when police arrived on scene, they learned the shooting had actually happened on Shasta Street.

The victim had apparently been shot on Shasta Street and ran through an apartment complex to the next street, where he was found by a friend who ultimately called 911, police said.

The victim was taken to a local hospital with a non life-threatening shot to his arm.

Officers on scene said they found to shell casings from two different types of guns on the ground.

The shooting is not believed to be random, though police do not know what prompted it yet.

Police said there is also conflicting information about a suspect or suspects involved and what car they may have driven off in. However, the suspect(s) is still on the loose.

Police say they are actively searching for one to three men in what is likely a gray Dodge Charger. Authorities do not have a description of the men. The suspects were last seen on Southbound Shasta Street heading toward Crown Point Drive.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story.
The homelessness problem in San Diego affects us all and the number of people living on the streets continues to grow.

Countywide, there's been a 19 percent increase in people living on the streets. In downtown San Diego alone, there's been a 75 percent increase in street homelessness since just January.

One nonprofit is reaching out to the homeless youth population hoping to break the cycle.

Over the last 15 years, Doors of Change has helped more than 1,800 youth get off the streets by offering art and music classes. The classes help establish a sense of stability for homeless youth and allow them to, over time, learn to trust again.

"That's the beginning of their self-esteem, getting better so that they can do something, said Jeffrey Sitcov, Founder & President of Doors of Change. When someone says they're going to help them and they come through with their word, which we do- It blows their mind."

The nonprofit also hosts the Taking Music and Art to the Streets program twice a week in Ocean Beach, holding art classes on Thursdays and music classes on Sundays. Doors of Change even serves a meal and offers free clothing to participants during their visits.

Sitcov says that after participants come to Doors of Change for six classes they earn an instrument of their choice or art supplies, and it doesnt stop there.

After further sustained commitment the program, homeless youth are considered for a two-year transitional housing program that facilitates up to six people at a time.

We don't give it to them, they earn it," Sitcov said.

Deshawn Christopher, 24, has struggled for years.

"I'm a former foster youth, Christopher said. Right when I got out of the system, I didn't have the proper skills to be an effective adult."

He's one of thousands living on the streets in San Diego. Some are only in their teens. At a time when they should be going to school, they're instead just trying to survive.

"It was really rough. I didn't have anything to eat, out there in the cold. Not many resources around to really benefit me," he added.

Now Christopher has a home.

"There's a lot of struggle out there and some people just don't want to change; but there are a lot of people that do, you know?"

When asked if he was one of the latter, Christopher said Of Course! Im going to the top.

Doors of Change is always looking for volunteers and donations are always welcomed. Visit the Doors of Change website to learn more.
Someone was stabbed at a Metro station in Northern Virginia early Monday.

Metro Transit Police nabbed a suspect in the stabbing early Monday at the Dunn Loring station in Vienna with the help of surveillance video.

Police said about 9:30 a.m. that a suspect had been arrested, two hours after the stabbing. Shortly after the crime, Metro's Security Operations Control Center had broadcast a photo of the suspect to officers in the field, and figured out that he had fled on a specific Orange Line train.

That train was intercepted at Rosslyn and the suspect was arrested. Police say they found a knife on the man.

The suspect was carrying "multiple fake IDs," transit police said in a statement. He was not identified immediately.

It's unclear what led up to the stabbing, which occurred outside the entrance of the Metro station.

The victim is receiving medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries, Fairfax County Police said.
The Baltimore father who was hurt along with his 4-year-old son in a sledding accident on Saturday has died, police say.

Adam French, 35, died of his injuries Sunday night, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office said.

French and his son were badly hurt Sunday morning when their sled slid into a road and they were hit by an SUV.

French and his son were sledding down a driveway on the 3200 block of Lineboro Road in Manchester on Saturday morning. Their sled careened into the road, and they were hit by a 2004 Jeep Cherokee being driven by a 33-year-old man.

Police and an EMS crew arrived about 10:45 a.m. French had life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Carroll Hospital Center and then transferred to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

His son was transported to Sinai Hospital and initially was listed in critical condition. As of Monday morning, the child no longer was in critical condition and was expected to recover.

French and his son were visiting relatives in Carroll County when the crash occurred, police said.

Charges are not expected to be filed against the driver.

Anyone with information for investigators is asked to call the Carroll County Sheriff's Office at 410-386-2900. Tips may be made anonymously by calling 1-888-399-TIPP.
I bet you've seen a million articles touting the same advice. So, I decided not to include anything that won't GENUINELY change how you do things. And believe me, after 5 years of traveling, I know how you do things.



Google Trips [Android/iOS]

If, like me, you get lost with your plans, plane tickets, hotel confirmations, etc, Google is here to help you out! This app scans your Gmail for tickets, accommodation confirmationsany type of reservationand automatically groups them into a "Trips" file you can check through the app. So now, you can easily skim through your whole itinerary without breaking a sweat! A very cool app that will change how you organize your travel papers.



Lounge Buddy [Android/iOS]

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Cairo-Airport-VIP-Lounge-28.jpg



A lot of people dont know that there are lounges in the airport you can actually enter! I discovered this recently. Having a credit card or a frequent flier number will admit you to many of them around the world's airports; this app helps you get acquainted. You add your trip, and the app tells you about the lounges along your itinerary and how you can get access. Very useful and made my trip more enjoyable (You've got to try the MasterCard Cairo Airport Lounge)!



Rome2Rio [Android/iOS]

http://prntscr.com/dgehim



One of the most famous travel websites on the internet now has a mobile app!

This app is the easiest, most convenient tool to help you get from point A to point B, wherever these points may be. Try, for example, searching for the way to get from your home address to a certain address in Europe; you will be amazed at the details!



PackPoint [Android/iOS]





Packing is arguably the most important skill to master if you are a backpacker. Also, it's always a mess, and you always forget something. I've been using this app for a while now, and it has changed my "packing life" forever! You give it some details on the city you are visiting, the trip length and the activities you might get up to. The app then generates a packing list, with lots and lots of options and tricks to customize the right pack for you.



Hotel Tonight [Android/iOS]



How many times have you had a sudden change in the plan while traveling? You get tired, miss a flight, can't bear to leave, and you're suddenly in a city with no accommodation reserved and needing somewhere to stay for a night or 2? Here is a nifty solution: Hotel Tonight.

This app partners with a lot of hotel providers around the world that sell last-minute rooms left vacant after "check-in" time for knock-down prices. Its a win-win: you get a room for the low price, and they dont have empty rooms for the night. This app has saved me many times.



Viator [Android/iOS]



Your one-stop shop for finding tours, activities and figuring out what to do in a city you are visiting for the first time. Viator is part of the famous TripAdvisor group. It offers a wonderful mine of activities and paid guided tours. If you dont know what you want to do but have got some spare cash, this is a clever way to fit something extra into your trip.



RueBaRue [iOS]

Now this is truly revolutionary. I used it on my last trip, and it's just amazing!

I was in Berlin for 3 days, had no plans and hadn't done any research. So, I opened this cool website and created a must-see, 3-day, fast-paced travel guide in less than a minute.

And BAM, here I am with a map of 11 must-see places, with careful planning for time at every location, and a schedule that takes into consideration the distance between attractions, to make the most of my day with efficiency!

Unfortunately, this cool app is only iOS so far. But luckily it has a web version that I used on my Android mobile. You should definitely check this one out.



Got more revolutionary apps? Share with us!





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Donald Trump's top aides on Sunday said the president-elect isn't ready to accept the finding by intelligence agencies that Moscow hacked Democratic emails in a bid to elevate Trump. And that even if it's true, they said, Trump still won the White House fair and square.

The pushback came a day before members of the Electoral College formally cast their votes for Trump as the 45th president. While Democrats were likely powerless to stop it, they suggested Trump's victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton would forever be tainted by Russian meddling.

"This whole thing is a spin job," said Trump's incoming chief of staff, Reince Priebus. "And I think what the Democrats ought to do is look in the mirror and face the reality that they lost the election."

The partisan swipes mostly ignored warnings by foreign policy experts that part of Russia's calculation also was likely payback for years of U.S. criticism of its own elections and a desire to portray America as a flawed champion of democracy  potentially weakening U.S. power on the world stage.

Many lawmakers, including some leading Republicans, say voters may not have been swayed by the release of tens of thousands of private emails. But the fact that a foreign power tried to intervene in U.S. democracy and exploit divisions in American politics is cause for alarm.

Still, Trump's transition team and loyalists on Capitol Hill weren't buying it, at least not on the eve of the Electoral College vote.

"Where's the evidence?" asked Kellyanne Conway, another close Trump adviser.

Asked about President Barack Obama's vow to retaliate against the Russians, Conway said: "It seems like the president is under pressure from Team Hillary, who can't accept the election results."

Democrats say it's unlikely the public will ever hear detailed evidence because doing so would disclose classified sources and methods. But after last week's declaration by CIA Director John Brennan that there was "strong consensus" that Russia hacked Democrats to try to sway the election, lawmakers are demanding closed-door briefings and a separate congressional investigation.

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said an unclassified intelligence review could be released within the next two weeks or three weeks.

As president-elect, Trump would have access to high-level intelligence on the matter, although it's unclear what he's been told. Trump has previously called the intelligence finding of Russian involvement "ridiculous." On Sunday, Conway said she wasn't privy to the same intelligence briefings as the president-elect and couldn't say what he knows.

Donna Brazile, interim head of the Democratic National Committee, said the DNC was no match for a sophisticated foreign power in cyberspace that "weaponized" private emails to "sow misinformation and to sow discord" between Clinton and her primary rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
After witnessing the havoc wreaked on the neighborhood, a Massachusetts chef held a fundraiser to benefit victims of the Cambridge fire.

On December 3rd, Will Gilson saw fire trucks whizzing by his restaurant headed to Berkshire Street where one of the city's largest fires was burning.

"Whatever was happening looked absolutely horrible," said Gilson.

At that moment, he knew he wanted to help. In total, three buildings were flattened as a result of the massive 10 alarm fire in Cambridge. A dozen more buildings still have fire damage and over 100 people were left without a home.

Gilson, chef and owner of Puritan & Company, opened his doors to house a fundraiser Sunday night where Cambridge could come together for Cambridge. Gilson involved other local businesses, getting nearby restaurants to donate food and drinks to raise money for those displaced.

"We were very aware of what was going on," said Liz Vilardi of Blue Room. As soon as Will reached out, we of course said yes. It's sort of a no-brainer."

The money raised will go to the mayor's fire relief fund where hundreds of thousands of dollars has already been raised.

"I mean the holidays for me ... is seeing people who rally around a good cause," said Gilson.

Gilson raised about $8,000 for the dozens and dozens of families working to rebuild.
Members of the Electoral College selected Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States on Monday. Trump surpassed the 270 votes to formally win the presidency.

The voting didn't stop more than a hundred protesters at the Massachusetts State House.

The group called on members of the Electoral College to reconsider their decision. Spokesperson Elizabeth Weinbloom said their message to the electors was, "History is watching."

Weinbloom was looking to spread the word.

"To show support for electors across the country who are brave enough and patriotic enough to vote against Trump," Weinbloom said.

Despite the protest, the eleven members of the Electoral College from Massachusetts officially cast their votes for Hillary Clinton. The electors, chosen by the Democratic State Committee, gathered in the House of Representatives chamber at the Statehouse to perform their constitutional duties during a time-honored ceremony.
On Monday, December 19, members of the Electoral College are expected to select Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. But since his victory in November, there has been a push to somehow give that win to Hillary Clinton.

She will not have enough electors to win, said Paul Yorkis, one of eleven electors in Massachusetts.

Yorkis has always intended to vote for Clinton, but that hasnt quelled concerns from people who are still opposed to a Trump presidency.

Across the country, the 538 electors in the college have received emails, letters and phone calls from voters who are hoping to convince members to prevent Trump from taking office. While only one Republican elector in Texas has indicated he wont vote Trump, the effort to stop the president-elect has only grown in recent weeks.

I think that folks are nervous, still surprised, still maybe a little shocked from the election results last month. Theyre confused, angry and looking for solutions, explained state elector, Jason Palitsch.

Because Clinton won the popular vote, many have called for an end to the Electoral College.

But Rep. Shawn Dooley, R-Norfolk, said there is another route for Massachusetts. Within the last couple weeks, Dooley filed a bill proposing the state adopt a model similar to Maine. Under the plan, the states nine congressional districts would each receive one elector who is required to vote for the districts chosen candidate. There would also be two at-large electors who would follow the popular vote.

We are taken for granted by the Democratic Party and we are written off by the Republican Party, Dooley explained, If all of a sudden one or two districts are in play, both the Democrats and the Republicans would be coming, talking to Massachusetts voters.

Similar proposals have failed at the legislature in the past, but Dooley hopes the increased attention on the issue leads to further consideration.

Massachusetts electors will cast their votes at the State House on Monday at 3:00 p.m.
An off-duty Boston Police detective has successfully captured a breaking and entering suspect in Bosotn's Dorchester neighborhood.

Saturday night the detective, who was off-duty at the time, spotted a man breaking into his personal car and going through his belongings. While he removed the suspect, who was later identified as 46 year old Enrique Santos, the detective called in for backup.

Santos escaped and ran to hide in the basement of a nearby home. Additional units quickly arrived to the area of 120 Pleasant Street, ready to help the detective make the arrest.

After a brief but violent struggle, the officers were able to take control of Santos and place him in custody. Further investigation revealed Santos had three outstanding warrants for past instances of larceny related charges.

Santos will face charges of breaking and entering, trespassing, and resisting arrest. He is scheduled to appear in the Dorchester District Court.
Stamford police have arrested a driver who struck and killed an 18-year-old pedestrian in Stamford last month.

Police said Wilson Villa-Cabrera, 37, of Ecuador, hit Karina-Tinajero-Arreguin as she was crossing the street in from of Stamford High School on Nov. 5. Police said at the time that Villa-Cabrera did stop on scene and Tinajero-Arreguin was not in a crosswalk at the time of the crash.

On Dec. 17 Villa-Cabrera was arrested and charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle. He was held on a $50,000 bond and his passport was seized. He is currently scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 20.

Police said Villa-Cabrera was charged because he should have had adequate line of sight and road width to prevent him from hitting Tinajero-Arreguin. It does not appear that speed, distracted driving or drugs or alcohol were involved in the accident.
More than 30 members of Congress are pressing the federal Food and Drug Administration to stop manufacturers of almond milk, soy milk, and cashew milk, from using the word milk on their labels if the products contain no dairy.

Those products  soy products for instance  are good products, and consumers who like them can use them, but they cant appropriate the name milk if thats really not what it is, said Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, who led the bipartisan effort in Congress.

In a new letter to the FDA, Welch and colleagues say non-dairy products, including almond milk, are often mislabeled, and request the FDA to require the adoption of a new name that does not use the word milk.

At the St. Albans Co-op Creamery, dairy farmers cheered the new push.

We just want to level the playing field, said Harold Howrigan, the board chair of the cooperative.

Howrigan also said he believes almond milk and cashew milk belong in a different place in grocery stores, perhaps in the produce section, because they are not dairy products.

We dont think they should be placed side-by-side because they dont belong there, he told necn. Theyre a totally different makeup, and we dont feel they should be in the dairy case.

Rep. Welch also argued that dairy offers unmatched nutrition.

According to the letter authored by Rep. Welch and Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, sales of dairy milk fell 7 percent in 2015.

Conversely, the letter cites a Nielsen survey that shows sales of plant-based drinks have risen more than 250 percent over the past five years, to nearly $900-million.

The sales shift comes at a time production costs of dairy and low prices paid for fluid milk are making farming difficult, Welch said.

Our dairy farmers are really struggling, he added. Theyre hanging on by their fingernails and we need to help them out.

At My Little Cupcake in downtown Burlington, baker Steph Riggs goes through a lot of soy milk as a key ingredient in some of the shops cupcakes and frosting.

We get special orders for vegan, quite a bit, she said.

Riggs said at home, she generally uses almond milk. She said she certainly knows the difference between a cows milk and almond milk, but will continue using almond milk because she loves it.

The members of Congress who wrote the FDA included Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-New Hampshire, and Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York.
A Vermont teenager is dead and his friend is in jail, following what the suspect described to investigators as a night of horseplay gone tragically wrong.

William Bailey, 19, of Poultney, pled not guilty Monday in court in Rutland to a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Police said Bailey had been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana while hanging out with a group of friends this weekend, when they started playing with a handgun inside a car.

The night ended with 19-year-old Daniel Hein dead from a gunshot to the head, police said.

The suspect told investigators none of the young men knew the gun was loaded, and that Hein even dared Bailey to pull the trigger to see what would happen.

Bailey is being held on $50,000 bail.
The nature of the present environment and threats indicates a dire need for change in security approaches in Egypt

Approaches to security vary in different parts of the world. In the US, the levels of security for doors and locks are below those in Europe. This is probably attributable to easy access to guns. In the US, robbers are more likely to be armed; secure locks wont block automatic weapons.

The approach to safety also differs; where the British have firemen who seek to contain fires from the outside inwards, the Americans have firefighters who storm into the fires with flame retardant clothing and breathing apparatuses.

The high death toll amongst American firefighters from 9/11 and nearly annual tragedies from forest fires are a consequence of this American doctrine.

In another contrast, the American policing doctrine of remaining apart from the threat while ordering: Get out of the vehicle, put your hands on your head, or I blow you to pieces, often results in unnecessary deaths. These opposing approaches have historic and cultural roots that change over time.

Similarly, in Egypt, we can observe certain practices and contrast them with approaches from different parts of the world. I will focus on the following key points that can be seen in the Egyptian approach to security and safety: rotations, shift structure, crowd concentration and safety overrides.

Egyptian practices may have served Egypt well in the past, but the nature of the present environment and threats highlights a dire need for change.

Rotations

Egyptian security agencies tend to rotate their officers across different provinces and assignments. An officer in charge of the passport office in Aswan may be transferred to combating crime in Alexandria; another who is in charge of airport screening in Assiut may rotate to checkpoints in Sinai. There are historic advantages in a security force familiar with different parts of the country and different roles.

In contrast, in the UK, for example, airports rely on private specialist aviation security firms, and in the US post-9/11, a dedicated governmental agency for securing airports was established. The nature of threats today has made specialist security personnel vital. In the US and UK, those responsible for screening passengers are different from those responsible for passport control. These are different careers, not just temporary assignments. The technology and training used to support these two groups are different since one screens for imminent threats while the other looks for future threats.

Shift structure

From Hong Kong and Japan to Germany and Switzerland, across Middle Eastern countries such as UAE and Jordan, I cannot recall ever seeing a guard on duty at an airport or road checkpoint drinking tea, smoking or holding a personal mobile phone. Yet, this is normal practice, observed routinely in Egypt.

The issue is the length of a shift with no breaks and the absence of supervision. It is impossible to fault an officer or a security guard for losing concentration when assigned a full eight or 12-hour shift. These are critical roles that often combine surveillance, screening and response or intervention.

Crowd concentration

Perhaps as matter of doctrine, Egyptian security often relies on creating funnels, whether at road checkpoints, metro stations, entrances to buildings or airports. These funnels create large crowds and these crowds make it harder to observe the threat through automatic means such as video analytics or trained specialists. It is extremely difficult to detect suspicious behaviour or threatening objects in overcrowded areas.

Terminal 3 at Cairo Airport has multiple doors, yet only one or two are ever in use. These bottlenecks present an added security threat both to security operatives and to the public, for they could allow a hidden approach to the checkpoint with explosives or weapons.

Japan and Saudi Arabia, like Egypt, have vehicular checkpoints for cars approaching major airports, yet both avoid creating funnels, by having multiple tollgate like checkpoints and keeping the number of lanes unchanged.

Safety overrides

A significant investment in large modern facilities goes into safety. There are systems to detect and extinguish fires, control the spread of smoke and to facilitate egress of people in emergencies. The number of exits is often based on analysis of projected use. At Tahrir Square, in the very heart of Cairo, stand two examples of how safety can be set aside to create funnels as described above. Many of the doors to the Sadat metro station are permanently locked and barricaded. Entrance to this extremely busy station is limited to a few crowded points, where security operatives, on long shifts, screen commuters.

Should an emergency actually occur in the station, the result could be tragic as many exits lead to dead ends. Tahrir Garage, a modern underground parking facility, has the same problem. Many of the fire exits are locked and cannot be opened from inside. These real examples of limiting entry points show how crowd concentrations result in the override of safety while not improving security!

The evolution of the type and size of buildings and of threats in Egypt, like elsewhere, requires authorities deal with security, safety and crisis management in new ways. This is an urgent matter, for the sake of protecting security personnel as well as the general public.

Appreciation of the new types of threat, such as suicide bombing, requires a new security doctrine that abandons the deliberate creation of congestion and crowd concentration in favour of the exact opposite. Since Egypt has already invested in modern security and technologically advanced systems, it is critical that the human element is addressed. Specialisation, training and monitoring of officers and their personnel are of paramount importance. Finally, safety should not and need not be compromised to enhance security. With modern structures and present day threats, the consequences of marginalising safety could be catastrophic.

The writer is an Egyptian-American entrepreneur who focuses on technology in general and in on identification systems and security in particular. He is adjunct lecturer at the Sawyer Business School of Suffolk University in Boston.

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State police say a woman was seriously injured in a crash involving a highway sanding truck in Massachusetts Sunday evening.

Troopers responded to reports of a serious crash on Route 3 southbound just before exit 35 in Tyngsborough. When they arrived, state police say they found a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander had crashed into a 2009 Honda Accord and had also hit a 1987 Volvo truck that was treating the roadway.

The Mitsubishi's driver, a 28-year-old Lowell woman, was taken to Lowell General Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the truck, a 54-year-old Chelmsford man who is an independent subcontractor for MassDOT, and the driver of the Honda, a 21-year-old Georgetown man, were not injured.

During the initial investigation, the right lane of Route 3 southbound was closed until just after 9 p.m.

The crash is still under investigation.


Carols in the Bandstand from Celebrate King's Lynn Carols in the Bandstand from Celebrate King's Lynn

The Bandstand area in The Walks, Kings Lynn was aglow with lights on December 10 as churches joined together to share the joy and celebration of the birth of Jesus with carols and more.
Average internet users are starting to realize they should be protecting their personal information better. But do they understand why?

Protecting private data is more important than many people realize, and also quite simple. Id like to unpack the top five most common misconceptions of cybersecurity to demonstrate why you should learn how to protect yourself and your data.

1. I have nothing to hide. Why do I need my data to be encrypted?

No skeletons in your closet? No searches youd prefer didnt surface? Thats fine, but what about your credit card information, passwords and Social Security number? Just because you dont have dirty laundry to air doesnt mean your personal data isnt worth protecting.

Remember that even though you dont think its sensitive information at face value, in the wrong hands, your data has the potential to do serious damage to your life. Consider that many people have their identity stolen through the simple process of someone looking through their trash for personal information; now think what someone could do if they could see all of your emails.

2. Encryption gives wrong-doers/terrorists an invisibility cloak.

Well, not really. This argument is outdated. Were stuck in a Catch-22 where there will always be a threat. Either your right to privacy is protected (and potentially so are wrongdoers) OR your data is vulnerable (but weve made it more difficult for terrorists to communicate).

+ Also on Network World: 10 biggest hacks of user data in 2016 +

The truth is that theres no such thing as an encryption backdoor that somehow protects the good guys and not the bad guys. For encryption to be effective, it has to work for everyone. Who would you trust with a key to all your data: not only trusting that they wouldnt use it for purposes you dont approve of, but also trusting that they wont lose it and that they will keep it safe from those who want to steal it. There are many ways to track terrorists even if the contents of their communications are encrypted.

3. Why should I care about how big companies use my data? It doesnt matter to me.

It should matter to you. Many, if not most, of the services we use on the internet today are based on a simple bargain, which goes something like this: You get to use our service for 'free' (personally, I think its better to say you dont pay an upfront/regular fee), and in return you agree that we can use your personal data to target the advertising that actually funds our business.

Most people understand the free part, but they dont necessarily understand the implications of the second part. Its worth thinking about how a company that offers a free service can make tens of billions of dollars in revenue each year. That money has to be generated from somewhere, and ultimately its you, the consumer, who pays by sacrificing privacy to a greater or lesser degree.

The upside to companies using your data includes more accurate searches and suggestionsessentially convenience. But when does companies' use of your personal data begin to have diminishing returns? Chances are you dont even know exactly how much access youre giving to free sites such as Google and Facebook that monetize your data. Did you really read that privacy policy?

4. Protecting myself on every device feels impossible.

Its not. Easy solutions include using services such as Qwant.com or DuckDuckGo, which are non-tracking search engines. Non-tracking search engines do not record your every click, swipe and purchase, keeping your data safe from exploitation.

Additionally, almost all browsers support a Private/Incognito mode to stop sites from storing cookies and other tracking data in your browser. There are also password management systems such as LastPass that centralize and protect your passwords so that no one but you can gain access to them.

Services such as ownCloud and mailbox.org are easy ways to be in charge of and decentralize your data. Users should seriously consider services that charge a monthly/yearly fee, especially when that fee includes a promise not to monetize your private data.

5. Isnt it the governments job to protect my privacy?

One of the most shocking revelations that came from Edward Snowden was the extent to which western governments had been secretly and pervasively monitoring the internet traffic of their citizens. Despite the public outcry associated with these revelations, governments continue with these efforts, although now generally through legal means, for example, the Snoopers Charter bill recently passed by the U.K. government.

While it can be legitimately argued that forcing service providers to store our browsing and email traffic records is helpful in preventing and detecting terrorism and child pornography, it doesnt prevent the fact that this data is being stored and is thus potentially available not just to the government, but also anyone who is capable of stealing it.

If you are at all concerned about that, you should think about steps you can take as a consumer to protect yourself and consider joining or supporting organizations that work with industry and governments to create legal and regulatory safeguards to protect your privacy.
When it comes to enterprises successfully transitioning to the DevOps and the cloud, the key isnt just technological agility, but also organizational agility, also known as culture.

At least, that was the contention of Constantin Gonzalez, principal solutions architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS), in a session at the recent Amazon Web Services re:Invent conference in Las Vegas. Titled The Enterprise Fast LaneWhat Your Competition Doesnt Want You To Know, the session paired Gonzalez with Christian Deger, chief architect for European car-market site AutoScout24, to discuss the ongoing journey from monolithic apps running .Net/Windows in on-premise data centers to microservices architectures running in JVM/Linux in the AWS cloud. You can see the video of the entire talk below, but I wanted to highlight some of the most interesting takeaways.

+ Also on Network World: Can any cloud company keep up with Amazon +

1. Dev and Ops have different priorities

The journey to the cloud can raise issues between groups, Deger said. For example, while developers typically embrace change, operations staff traditionally strive for stability. Theres always tension between those two mantras, he noted.

2. More servers are not the answer

Before moving to the cloud, Deger said, the Munich-based companys traditional architectures were coupled with agile principles and supported the growth of AutoScout24 for many years.

So far so good. But engineers didnt know how their apps were run in production, so Ops would just spin up new servers to compensate for any performance issues. The company used a ticket system to request new resources, he explained, and engineers would specify what they needed and then wait for it to appear. No one was happy.

3. The desire for change is NOT universal

A small group wanted change, Deger recalled, but a large group opposed it. But when AutoScout24was sold to new investors, the new CEO realized that we are good, but not great and gave the company one year to get ready for the future. That meant everything from attracting the best talent to moving to more modern platforms.

4. Start small, but do it all

AutoScout24 decided to start small to avoid overwhelming the company. The idea was to treat initial changes as experiments, he said, and learn from them before tackling the bigger issues.

At the same time it was upgrading its infrastructure, the company was revamping the AutoScout24 website. Given the risks in changing so many things at once, Deger said, the company wondered if there were any intermediate steps it could takeleaving others for later. Ultimately, that was rejected. We need to do it all, Deger said.

5. Scaling teams is difficult

In November of 2014, Deger recalled, a group of Dev and Ops folks spun up an AWS instance and moved from running .Net on Dell PCs to C# on Macs. This new team was responsible for everything, from infrastructure to app delivery.

As the process progressed, Deger said, the company ramped up that original team, adding more members and then splitting it into two to four new teams. These split teams worked to share knowledge, and the new teams learned the new way of working very fast. Unfortunately, this process destabilized the existing teams and didnt allow them to become performant.

6. Decide on your core IT principles

In addition, the new team members didnt always understand the original goals.

So, AutoScout24 came up with a set of core IT principles designed to help everyone get on board. These principles included both strategic goalssuch as reduce time to marketand business objectives, as well as the architectural, design and delivery guidelines needed to support them.

While Deger presented this list of principles to the audience (and you can see them in the video below), he asked attendees not to copy them for their own use. Many are generic, he said, and youd likely come up with similar ones yourself. More important, he added, the valuable part is the discussions you have to come up with your own.

7. Create technology guilds

In what seemed a charmingly German approach, AutoScou24 also set up what it called guilds to foster cross-team communications around topics such as macro architecture, infrastructure, QA and so on. These self-organizing common-intent groups meet weekly, Deger said. Some do actual work, some make decisions and others just share information as needed.

8. Microservices architectures mirror corporate structures

Citing Conways Law, Deger noted that autonomous systems tend to organize around business capabilities.

We wanted to have a microservices architecture, Deger said, which means the company also had to be set up like that.  We wanted to build products, not projects, and allow teams to make fast, local decisions.

The mantra became: You build it, you run it. Each team is responsible for fixing anything that goes wrong, which leads to resilient and robust services, he said, because the team does not want to be woken up in the middle of the night when something goes wrong.

9. Have a plan for making ongoing technical decisions

Each team was empowered to make its own technology decisions, but AutoScout24 didnt want to end up with a stew of different technologies. So, while the first of the new teams made technology choices and built tooling around them, when the third, fourth and fifth teams came onboard, he said, they could pick up these choices. But they werent forced to do so if they had a good reason to do something different. Of course, these teams in turn would be required to support their own technology decisions.

10. Servers arent cattle; theyre hamburger

Expanding on the common meme that servers are becoming cattle, not pets, Deger went a step further. At AutoScout24, he said, servers are hamburger, not cattle:Were not interested in the cattle, but only in the meat.

None of the companys servers survive a software update, he said, and AutoScout24 is working on a containerized approach, though that is still in a transition phase.

11. Staging environments are history

Staging environments are designed to look like production, Deger said, and used to test every new software release. But in a microservices world, many releases behave differently in production than they do in testing.

AutosScout24 found it was an ongoing struggle to keep its staging environment looking like production. It took a lot of effort, Deger said, but we couldnt be confident it reflected what works happen in production.

So, the company decided to ditch its staging environment and make all new releases directly to production.

Moving to continuous delivery and constant updates may seem scary, Deger said, but if you increase the number of changes, and you do it right, then your failure rate actually goes down.

12. Monitoring is the new testing

Testing is still important, Deger said, but in a continuous deployment microservices environment, you cant easily tell how a change will affect other services. Still, the company wanted to be bold, not stupid, he said, so it used canary releases under production load, but not reporting as real, that created shadow traffic that could be monitored for problems before being rolled out to users.

Monitoring should include business KPIs, he said, not just operational metrics. For example, AutoScout24s engineers took it upon themselves to build their own dashboards, pulling everything together, including AWS costs.

Constant monitoring is especially important in the microservices world, Deger concluded, because your environment changes all the time.

If you want to learn more about AutoScout24s journey to a cloud-native microservices architecture and what it discovered along the way, watch the video of Deger and Gonzalez full presentation below. I found it packed with worthwhile insights into an increasingly common transition.
The election is well over, but the storm is still brewing with no end in sight when it comes to trying to figure out what to do about Russian hacks aimed at influencing the election.

On Sunday Dec. 11, US Senators John McCain, Chuck Schumer, Lindsey Graham and Jack Reed urged Majority Leader Mitch McConnell not to allow an investigation into Russian interference of the election to become a partisan issue. Its an issue which should alarm every American.

That same day, President-elect Donald Trump blew off the idea that the intelligence community had a clue as to whom was behind the hacks. His transition team later added, These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

A week later, the Senators wrote in a letter to McConnell that a bipartisan committee was needed to investigate the alleged Russian hacks, but not one of the many committees that have already claimed oversight. They asked for a temporary Select Committee on Cyber which is justified by the extraordinary scope and scale of the cyber problem.

Thats a sliding scale, depending upon who is asked. While Trump thinks it's ridiculous, Michael Morrell, former acting director of the CIA, referred to the Russian meddling in the election as the political equivalent of 9/11. Robert Gates, who served a secretary of defense under Presidents Obama and George W. Bush, said he wasnt certain if the hacks were intended to help a particular candidate, but I think it clearly was aimed at discrediting our elections, and I think it was aimed certainly at weakening Mrs. Clinton.

John Podesta, the chairman of the Clinton campaign, claimed the FBI wasnt very zealous about investigating. The New York Times reported that two days after WikiLeaks started publishing emails from his account, an FBI agent contacted Podesta and said, I dont know if youre aware, but your email account might have been hacked.

WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange claimed the Russian government was not the source of the leaked emails and that the FBI, CIA or other US intelligence agency have not contacted WikiLeaks for more information. Shortly thereafter, WikiLeaks tweeted another insurance policy via an 83GB file which could be decrypted if something happens to Assange and the key goes public.

President Obama, as well as Hillary Clinton, have suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally authorized the email hacks, but as for declassifying proof of the actor responsible for the hacking, Obama said on Friday, Dec. 16:

Look, we will provide evidence that we can safely provide, that does not compromise sources and methods. But I'll be honest with you, when you are talking about cybersecurity, a lot of it is classified, and we're not going to provide it, because the way we catch folks is by knowing certain things about them that they may not want us to know, and if we're gonna monitor this stuff effectively going forward, we don't want them to know that we know.

Senator John McCain claims Russian election hacking could destroy democracy

Senator John McCain had a great deal to say about the Russian hacks, telling CNN's Jake Tapper on State of the Union, Theres no doubt they were interfering and no doubt it was a cyber-attack. He claimed the Russians are ahead of us in many respects in this whole issue of cyberwarfare and the US has so far been totally paralyzed in deciding what to do about the hacks.

Although McCain said he hasnt seen proof that the election outcome would have had different results, that doesnt change the fact that the Russians and others  the Chinese to a lesser degree  have been able to interfere with our electoral process.

The Russian hacks are serious business, McCain stressed. If they're able to harm the electoral process, they may destroy democracy.

This is the sign of a possible unraveling of the world order that was established after World War II, which has made one of the most peaceful periods in the history of the world, McCain said. Were starting to see the strains and the unraveling of it, and that is because of the absolute failure of American leadership. He added, When America doesnt lead, a lot of other bad people do.

McCain also took a swipe at President Obama, saying, Im sure that when Vladimir Putin was told quote cut it out unquote, Im sure that Vladimir Putin immediately stopped all cyber-activities. The truth is, they are hacking every single day.

As far as McCain and the other three Senators pressuring McConnell are concerned, Only a select committee that is time-limited, cross-jurisdictional, and purpose-driven can address the challenge of cyber.
North Hampshire village crime round-up

SUSPECTED drug-dealing in the car park at Ecchinswell Village Hall was among crimes reported to police last month.

According to Hampshire Constabulary, 11 crimes were reported during November in an area including Ashmansworth, East Woodhay, Highclere, Burghclere, Newtown, Litchfield, Ecchinswell and Sydmonton, St Mary Bourne and Stoke.

Two incidents of anti-social behaviour included a report of suspicious activity in the car park at Ecchinswell Village Hall, possibly related to drug dealing.

High-visibility patrols had been carried out and a vehicle involved was found abandoned in a nearby village.

The second incident of anti-social behaviour involved a complaint from a Bishops Green resident, accusing another resident of aiming fireworks at their house.

Three burglaries included a Newtown incident in which electronic gates had been opened after the power supply was cut, before burglars entered the garage and stables.

In North Sydmonton, burglars broke into an outbuilding after snipping the lock and stole a strimmer.

The third burglary, in Ecchinswell, saw a lock broken off an outbuilding and two cans of petrol stolen.

One incident of criminal damage involved damage to a vehicle overnight.

Two assaults included a male driver becoming verbally aggressive towards two other women drivers at a Burghclere school.

The other assault involved a verbal altercation between two people in St Mary Bourne, with one pushed and another punched in the face.

Three domestic disputes included unwanted text messages received from an ex-partner in Bishops Green, and a verbal altercation between a Penwood couple while under the influence of alcohol.

The third was a verbal domestic incident in Bishops Green.

Anyone with information about the above incidents should telephone the police non emergency telephone number, 101.
A WIDE-ranging probe into child sex abuse in Thatcham is nearly complete.

A Serious Case Review (SCR), launched by the independent West Berkshire Local Safeguarding Childrens Board (LSCB), was initially charged with investigating how former Kennet School teacher Robert Alan Neill was able to rape and abuse boys in his care over a period of years.

Neill, who was employed at Kennet School from September 1, 1995, until November 9, 2007, was jailed for 21 years in March.

It was also charged with investigating the handling of the case of former Kennet School youth counsellor, the Rev Peter Jarvis, jailed in April for child sex offences.

But, in a dramatic development in September, review chairwoman Alex Walters announced a major widening of its focus.

The review is now looking at the way in which anyone who educated, trained or supervised child victims dealt with abuse claims in Thatcham between the late 1980s and 2015.

SCRs are carried out when there is cause for concern as to the way in which agencies or other relevant persons have worked together to safeguard an abused child.

A spokesman for the LSCB, Martin Dunscombe, said: This review is nearing completion and we hope to receive a draft report from the independent author, Alex Walters, before Christmas.

It will then need to be formally approved by West Berkshire LSCB and shared with the Department for Education and Ofsted  but we expect to be able to publish it early next year.

He added: The purpose is to understand what happened, learn lessons and improve future working practices.

Through their contribution to the review, organisations will already have identified areas of learning and will have begun implementing changes.

An overview report will provide additional recommendations and an action plan instigated to ensure these improvements are made.

If you are currently concerned about the safety or protection of a child, call the West Berkshire Contact Advice Assessment Service line on (01635) 503090.
By Reuters

PARIS: Iran has finalised an agreement with Airbus to acquire 100 jetliners, the first of which is tentatively expected to be delivered in mid-January, a senior official said on Monday.

The deal, split roughly equally between narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, will be signed in coming days, possibly as early as Monday or Tuesday, Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan told Reuters.

"We have finalised negotiations with Airbus and any day we will be able to sign the deal in Tehran. We are expecting some final clearances and expect to sign today or tomorrow," he said in a telephone interview.

Airbus will supply four types of aircraft: its medium-haul A320 and A321 aircraft and the long-haul A330 and A350, he said, in remarks confirming Iran's decision to drop the A380 superjumbo from a draft deal signed in Paris in January.

Iran, which last week finalised a parallel deal with Boeing for 80 jets, has reached agreements with foreign leasing firms to finance a total of 77 aircraft, including 42 from Airbus and 35 from Boeing, Kashan said.

"There will be at least two leasing companies," he said.

Iran is buying planes to rebuild the elderly fleet of flag carrier IranAir under an agreement with major powers that lifted most international sanctions in return for restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities.

The timing of the first delivery suggests the Airbus A321 could arrive before the Jan 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has voiced opposition to the nuclear deal, and well ahead of Iranian presidential elections in May.

The U.S. Treasury has granted export licences to allow both deals to go ahead, a step required for both suppliers because of the heavy use of American parts in Boeing and Airbus jets.

Asked whether the deal could be derailed if Washington withdraws the certificates or imposes fresh restrictions on trade with Iran, Kashan said: "We are not concerned, although we should not ignore such a possibility.

"The fact is that Mr Trump may impose certain new sanctions, but we would consider that to be a violation of the JCPOA (nuclear accord), which explicitly provides for the possibility for the purchase of aircraft and their sale by manufacturers."

PARIS: Iran has finalised an agreement with Airbus to acquire 100 jetliners, the first of which is tentatively expected to be delivered in mid-January, a senior official said on Monday. The deal, split roughly equally between narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, will be signed in coming days, possibly as early as Monday or Tuesday, Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan told Reuters. "We have finalised negotiations with Airbus and any day we will be able to sign the deal in Tehran. We are expecting some final clearances and expect to sign today or tomorrow," he said in a telephone interview. Airbus will supply four types of aircraft: its medium-haul A320 and A321 aircraft and the long-haul A330 and A350, he said, in remarks confirming Iran's decision to drop the A380 superjumbo from a draft deal signed in Paris in January. Iran, which last week finalised a parallel deal with Boeing for 80 jets, has reached agreements with foreign leasing firms to finance a total of 77 aircraft, including 42 from Airbus and 35 from Boeing, Kashan said. "There will be at least two leasing companies," he said. Iran is buying planes to rebuild the elderly fleet of flag carrier IranAir under an agreement with major powers that lifted most international sanctions in return for restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities. The timing of the first delivery suggests the Airbus A321 could arrive before the Jan 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has voiced opposition to the nuclear deal, and well ahead of Iranian presidential elections in May. The U.S. Treasury has granted export licences to allow both deals to go ahead, a step required for both suppliers because of the heavy use of American parts in Boeing and Airbus jets. Asked whether the deal could be derailed if Washington withdraws the certificates or imposes fresh restrictions on trade with Iran, Kashan said: "We are not concerned, although we should not ignore such a possibility. "The fact is that Mr Trump may impose certain new sanctions, but we would consider that to be a violation of the JCPOA (nuclear accord), which explicitly provides for the possibility for the purchase of aircraft and their sale by manufacturers."
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI:Cluless Delhi Police on Monday went to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus along with Sniffer dogs in search of Najeeb, a student who went missing in October. According to the police, 600 police personnel including DCP and ACsP etc were on task but so far nothing concrete has been found from the campus. Delhi police crime branch along with local police will visit the campus on Tuesday as well to continue its search. Also, Delhi Police has planned a lie detector test.

The Crime Branch team that is probing the case after it was transferred to them reached the campus this morning with sniffer dogs and the search is currently underway, police said.

Concerned over disappearance of the JNU student, Delhi High Court had last week directed police to "scan" the entire campus, including hostels, classrooms and rooftops, of the varsity by using sniffer dogs. The directions had come on a Habeas Corpus plea by Najeeb's mother, Fatima Nafees, who has moved court to trace her son. Najeeb went missing on October 15 following an on-campus scuffle allegedly with ABVP members the night before. The case was transferred from South District Police to Crime Branch last month.

According to the police, On Monday Delhi Police teams searched most of the buildings including academic institutions, hostel etc. Delhi Police also scanned residential area but most of the interiors of JNU campus, residential area etc will be conducted soon.

During two months of Investigation, Delhi police has failed to even get any break through apart from tracing an auto which was allegedly taken by Najeeb when he left from JNU on 15th October. Najeeb who went missing on October 15 following an on-campus scuffle allegedly with ABVP members the night before. The case was transferred from South District Police to Crime Branch last month.

NEW DELHI:Cluless Delhi Police on Monday went to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus along with Sniffer dogs in search of Najeeb, a student who went missing in October. According to the police, 600 police personnel including DCP and ACsP etc were on task but so far nothing concrete has been found from the campus. Delhi police crime branch along with local police will visit the campus on Tuesday as well to continue its search. Also, Delhi Police has planned a lie detector test. The Crime Branch team that is probing the case after it was transferred to them reached the campus this morning with sniffer dogs and the search is currently underway, police said. Concerned over disappearance of the JNU student, Delhi High Court had last week directed police to "scan" the entire campus, including hostels, classrooms and rooftops, of the varsity by using sniffer dogs. The directions had come on a Habeas Corpus plea by Najeeb's mother, Fatima Nafees, who has moved court to trace her son. Najeeb went missing on October 15 following an on-campus scuffle allegedly with ABVP members the night before. The case was transferred from South District Police to Crime Branch last month. According to the police, On Monday Delhi Police teams searched most of the buildings including academic institutions, hostel etc. Delhi Police also scanned residential area but most of the interiors of JNU campus, residential area etc will be conducted soon. During two months of Investigation, Delhi police has failed to even get any break through apart from tracing an auto which was allegedly taken by Najeeb when he left from JNU on 15th October. Najeeb who went missing on October 15 following an on-campus scuffle allegedly with ABVP members the night before. The case was transferred from South District Police to Crime Branch last month.
Suhas Yellapantula By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Sunday saw one of the biggest crowd-pullers in Indian cinema, Aamir Khan, visiting Hyderabad to promote his film Dangal, and in the process, batting for the Central governments demonetisation move.

Though Dangal, releasing on December 23, may not receive as many collections considering the severe cash crunch across the country, post demonetisation, Khan is unperturbed. I dont really a care about collections. To me its more important if the film is appreciated by the audience. I want to reach the audience through my work and a films collections do not matter to me so much, said the 51-year-old at a press conference with director Nitesh Tiwary and actress Fatima Sana Shaikh.

Rather, praising the move, Khan, whose comments last year about growing intolerance in the country dominated headlines, urged the nation to support it and co-operate with the PM. It (demonetisation) is something we should all support. The government is trying something new that will benefit us all. There will be some difficulties but in the long run, it will be good. We must look at the long term, he said.

Earlier, like every Bollywood star visiting Hyderabad, Khan was asked the customary Who will you like to work with in Tollywood question. The actor cleverly dodged the question by quipping, I dont choose my co-stars, its the director who decides. However, sensing the restlessness of the local media, he went on to add, In Telugu if I get the opportunity, I would like to work with Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan. In Tamil, I would like to work with Mr Rajinikanth, Khan shared.

The actor is also a huge fan of Baahubali director SS Rajamouli and said that he would love to work with him. Once Baahubali is completed, Rajamouli is planning to make a film based on the Mahabharata. When asked which character Aamir would like to play, the actor said, I think I would like to play Karn or Krishna. These are two characters that really excite me. Having said that, I dont see myself as a warrior. So Ill probably be more suited to play Krishna.

HYDERABAD: Sunday saw one of the biggest crowd-pullers in Indian cinema, Aamir Khan, visiting Hyderabad to promote his film Dangal, and in the process, batting for the Central governments demonetisation move. Though Dangal, releasing on December 23, may not receive as many collections considering the severe cash crunch across the country, post demonetisation, Khan is unperturbed. I dont really a care about collections. To me its more important if the film is appreciated by the audience. I want to reach the audience through my work and a films collections do not matter to me so much, said the 51-year-old at a press conference with director Nitesh Tiwary and actress Fatima Sana Shaikh. Rather, praising the move, Khan, whose comments last year about growing intolerance in the country dominated headlines, urged the nation to support it and co-operate with the PM. It (demonetisation) is something we should all support. The government is trying something new that will benefit us all. There will be some difficulties but in the long run, it will be good. We must look at the long term, he said. Earlier, like every Bollywood star visiting Hyderabad, Khan was asked the customary Who will you like to work with in Tollywood question. The actor cleverly dodged the question by quipping, I dont choose my co-stars, its the director who decides. However, sensing the restlessness of the local media, he went on to add, In Telugu if I get the opportunity, I would like to work with Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan. In Tamil, I would like to work with Mr Rajinikanth, Khan shared. The actor is also a huge fan of Baahubali director SS Rajamouli and said that he would love to work with him. Once Baahubali is completed, Rajamouli is planning to make a film based on the Mahabharata. When asked which character Aamir would like to play, the actor said, I think I would like to play Karn or Krishna. These are two characters that really excite me. Having said that, I dont see myself as a warrior. So Ill probably be more suited to play Krishna.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Manmath Dalai, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Krishna Bhima Samruddhi Local Area Bank (KBS) was fired at by an unknown person, who posing as a policeman entered his apartment, on Sunday. The man opened fire on the CEO after having an argument with him and fled, police said.

File photo of Manmath Dalai

According to police, around 1.15 pm on Sunday an unknown person came by bike to Sri Durga Kanumilli apartments, at Shanthinagar in Humayunagar police limits, where Dalai resides. After parking his bike, the man asked me about Dalai sir. As I only recently started working at the apartment, I said I have no idea. As the person showed me Dalais parked car and asked to meet the cars owner, I took him to Dalais flat, said watchman Shanker.

Minutes after the watchman returned to the cellar, he heard gunshots and Dalai screaming, catch him, catch him. However, the unknown man fled on his bike. West Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) A Venkateswara Rao, Task Force teams and Humayunagar police visited the apartment and shifted Dalai to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Dalai received injury to his knee in the firing. As the victim was in shock, we did not question him too much. We collected CCTV footage from the apartment and it is being verified to identify the miscreant. We registered attempt to murder, Arms Act cases and took up investigation, Venkateswara Rao said. As Dalai is a bank CEO, police suspect financial issues may be behind the incident. Police are also looking into whether the man was a hired assassin.

HYDERABAD: Manmath Dalai, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Krishna Bhima Samruddhi Local Area Bank (KBS) was fired at by an unknown person, who posing as a policeman entered his apartment, on Sunday. The man opened fire on the CEO after having an argument with him and fled, police said. File photo of Manmath DalaiAccording to police, around 1.15 pm on Sunday an unknown person came by bike to Sri Durga Kanumilli apartments, at Shanthinagar in Humayunagar police limits, where Dalai resides. After parking his bike, the man asked me about Dalai sir. As I only recently started working at the apartment, I said I have no idea. As the person showed me Dalais parked car and asked to meet the cars owner, I took him to Dalais flat, said watchman Shanker. Minutes after the watchman returned to the cellar, he heard gunshots and Dalai screaming, catch him, catch him. However, the unknown man fled on his bike. West Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) A Venkateswara Rao, Task Force teams and Humayunagar police visited the apartment and shifted Dalai to a nearby hospital for treatment. Dalai received injury to his knee in the firing. As the victim was in shock, we did not question him too much. We collected CCTV footage from the apartment and it is being verified to identify the miscreant. We registered attempt to murder, Arms Act cases and took up investigation, Venkateswara Rao said. As Dalai is a bank CEO, police suspect financial issues may be behind the incident. Police are also looking into whether the man was a hired assassin.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A new Malayalam translation of Anton Chekhovs works, screenings of classic Russian films, and an Olympiad for school children are part of this years Festival of Russian Language and Literature which has opened in the state capital.

The sixth edition of the festival is on till December 24, and the screenings of several classic Russian films will be held this week. The Road to Berlin, a World War II themed-classic produced by Mosfilm, is the inaugural film.

Caption

Other selections include Diamond Arm, a 1969 Mosfilm film production directed by Leonid Gaidai. This comedy was based on a real-life incident about Swiss smugglers who tried to sneak in diamonds using an orthopaedic cast. Battleship Potemkin, the 1925 classic directed by Sergei Eisenstein, and often referred to as the greatest film of all time, is also been screened.

The Malayalam translation of Chekhovs works will include 12 of his short stories, said Ratheesh C Nair, honorary consul of Russia in Thiruvananthapuram and director, Russian Cultural Centre. The translation is being brought out by the Pushkin Centre for Russian Language at the Russian Cultural Centre. This is the sixth edition of the Russian Language and Literature Festival in Thiruvananthapuram, which has been selected a permanent venue for the initiative aimed at promoting Russian language, literature and culture in India.

As the festival enters its sixth edition, the response in Thiruvananthapuram has been encouraging, Ratheesh C Nair said. People in India, and especially Kerala, are familiar with the pre-Soviet and Soviet-era writers like Maxim Gorky, Pushkin or Dostoevsky. But there is little awareness about contemporary Russian writers. This festival is a way to introduce them here. The festival is an opportunity for Keralites who wish to know more about the Russian literature and language, he said.

The event, which kicked off on December 14, is organised jointly by the Russkiy Mir Foundation, Moscow, the Honorary Russian Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram and the Pushkin Centre for Russian Language.

Dr K Jayakumar, vice chancellor, Thunchathu Ezhuthachchan Malayalam University, inaugurated the festival the other day. This year, an Olympiad - consisting of competitions for school children - and a series of seminars on the relevance of the Russian language in various sectors are also being held.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A new Malayalam translation of Anton Chekhovs works, screenings of classic Russian films, and an Olympiad for school children are part of this years Festival of Russian Language and Literature which has opened in the state capital. The sixth edition of the festival is on till December 24, and the screenings of several classic Russian films will be held this week. The Road to Berlin, a World War II themed-classic produced by Mosfilm, is the inaugural film. CaptionOther selections include Diamond Arm, a 1969 Mosfilm film production directed by Leonid Gaidai. This comedy was based on a real-life incident about Swiss smugglers who tried to sneak in diamonds using an orthopaedic cast. Battleship Potemkin, the 1925 classic directed by Sergei Eisenstein, and often referred to as the greatest film of all time, is also been screened. The Malayalam translation of Chekhovs works will include 12 of his short stories, said Ratheesh C Nair, honorary consul of Russia in Thiruvananthapuram and director, Russian Cultural Centre. The translation is being brought out by the Pushkin Centre for Russian Language at the Russian Cultural Centre. This is the sixth edition of the Russian Language and Literature Festival in Thiruvananthapuram, which has been selected a permanent venue for the initiative aimed at promoting Russian language, literature and culture in India. As the festival enters its sixth edition, the response in Thiruvananthapuram has been encouraging, Ratheesh C Nair said. People in India, and especially Kerala, are familiar with the pre-Soviet and Soviet-era writers like Maxim Gorky, Pushkin or Dostoevsky. But there is little awareness about contemporary Russian writers. This festival is a way to introduce them here. The festival is an opportunity for Keralites who wish to know more about the Russian literature and language, he said. The event, which kicked off on December 14, is organised jointly by the Russkiy Mir Foundation, Moscow, the Honorary Russian Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram and the Pushkin Centre for Russian Language. Dr K Jayakumar, vice chancellor, Thunchathu Ezhuthachchan Malayalam University, inaugurated the festival the other day. This year, an Olympiad - consisting of competitions for school children - and a series of seminars on the relevance of the Russian language in various sectors are also being held.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Aruvippuram temple, where Sree Narayana Guru famously consecrated the Siva idol and the nearby Kodithookimala where he meditated are gearing up to welcome pilgrims during the 84th Sivagiri pilgrimage.

Security, traffic arrangements and healthcare facilities for the pilgrims were discussed at a meeting here on Sunday presided over by C K Hareendran MLA ahead of the pilgrimage. As many as 500 policemen will be deployed to ensure security for the pilgrims. They will be deployed across a five km stretch covering Aruvippuram Math, the temple and Kumaragiri in Kodithookimala. A police control room will be set up at the venue to coordinate the security arrangements.

For handling medical emergencies, the Health Department will deploy allopathy, ayurveda and homoeo medical practitioners with ambulance facility. Excise squads, life guards and fire and rescue personnel will be deployed in the area. KSRTC will operate special services in view of the pilgrimage.

I B Satheesh MLA, Sivagiri Math general secretary Swami Sandrananda, Perungadavila grama panchayat president I R Sunitha, ADM John B Samuel, tahsildar A Markose, DySP M K Sulfikar and Aruvippuram Prachara Sabha chief coordinator Vandannur Suresh attended the meeting.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Aruvippuram temple, where Sree Narayana Guru famously consecrated the Siva idol and the nearby Kodithookimala where he meditated are gearing up to welcome pilgrims during the 84th Sivagiri pilgrimage. Security, traffic arrangements and healthcare facilities for the pilgrims were discussed at a meeting here on Sunday presided over by C K Hareendran MLA ahead of the pilgrimage. As many as 500 policemen will be deployed to ensure security for the pilgrims. They will be deployed across a five km stretch covering Aruvippuram Math, the temple and Kumaragiri in Kodithookimala. A police control room will be set up at the venue to coordinate the security arrangements. For handling medical emergencies, the Health Department will deploy allopathy, ayurveda and homoeo medical practitioners with ambulance facility. Excise squads, life guards and fire and rescue personnel will be deployed in the area. KSRTC will operate special services in view of the pilgrimage. I B Satheesh MLA, Sivagiri Math general secretary Swami Sandrananda, Perungadavila grama panchayat president I R Sunitha, ADM John B Samuel, tahsildar A Markose, DySP M K Sulfikar and Aruvippuram Prachara Sabha chief coordinator Vandannur Suresh attended the meeting.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

PANCHKULA: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday named Jaish-e-Mohammed (J-e-M) chief Masood Azhar and his brother Rauf Asghar besides two handlers identified as Kashif Jan and Shaid Latif in the chargesheet filed here on the Pathankot airbase terror attack.

Sources said that the detailed chargesheet filed in the Special Court by the investigation agency pointed the role of the militant outfit J-e-M in spreading mayhem in the country and also referred to the plans of the outfit.

The chargesheet alleged that Rauf Asghar had hosted a video message claiming responsibility for the terror strike immediately after the Pathankot attack and glorified the role of Azhar, who was released in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999.

The chargesheet has named four terrorists who were involved in the attack and they have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Earlier, ministry of home affairs had given sanction to the NIA to file the chargesheet under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

According to sources, the chargesheet named the persons based on certain evidences which include footprints of one of the terrorists obtained from Bamiyal and matching of DNA sample found from a soft drink can in the hijacked car of suspended superintendent of police Salwinder Singh.

According to the chargesheet, four terrorists had entered India from Bamiyal area of Gurdaspur district in Punjab and had carried out the strike at the Pathankot IAF base, killing eight people, including seven IAF personnel.

The terrorists, who were killed in the attack, were identified as Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum, residents of Vehari, Gujranwala in Punjab province of Pakistan and Sanghar and Sukkur in Sindh province of Pakistan, respectively.

PANCHKULA: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday named Jaish-e-Mohammed (J-e-M) chief Masood Azhar and his brother Rauf Asghar besides two handlers identified as Kashif Jan and Shaid Latif in the chargesheet filed here on the Pathankot airbase terror attack. Sources said that the detailed chargesheet filed in the Special Court by the investigation agency pointed the role of the militant outfit J-e-M in spreading mayhem in the country and also referred to the plans of the outfit. The chargesheet alleged that Rauf Asghar had hosted a video message claiming responsibility for the terror strike immediately after the Pathankot attack and glorified the role of Azhar, who was released in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999. The chargesheet has named four terrorists who were involved in the attack and they have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Earlier, ministry of home affairs had given sanction to the NIA to file the chargesheet under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. According to sources, the chargesheet named the persons based on certain evidences which include footprints of one of the terrorists obtained from Bamiyal and matching of DNA sample found from a soft drink can in the hijacked car of suspended superintendent of police Salwinder Singh. According to the chargesheet, four terrorists had entered India from Bamiyal area of Gurdaspur district in Punjab and had carried out the strike at the Pathankot IAF base, killing eight people, including seven IAF personnel. The terrorists, who were killed in the attack, were identified as Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum, residents of Vehari, Gujranwala in Punjab province of Pakistan and Sanghar and Sukkur in Sindh province of Pakistan, respectively.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: One of the Pathankot terrorists, who attacked an IAF base at Pathankot, Punjab, on January 2, spoke to his mother in Pakistan over a cell phone to express his last wish and called for a feast for his friends after his death, according to intercepts by the NIA.



Nasir Hussain of Vehari in Pakistan made multiple calls to his handlers and relatives from the two cell phones he and other terrorists snatched from two locals while the group made its way to the Indian Air Force base, according to an NIA chargesheet filed on Monday.



The chargesheet alleged that Hussain during his 18-minute conversation with a woman, whom he addressed as his mother, asked her to record his conversation on her mobile set.



He asked the woman "to host a 'dawat' (feast) for my 'derawala' friends after my death", the anti-terror probe agency said, citing intercepts.



Hussain also took the names of some of his family members and relatives -- Mudassir, Mariyam and Altamash.



He told his mother that the group infiltrated into the Indian territory at 2 a.m. on December 30, 2015 -- three days before they stormed into the military base and killed seven soldiers in a fierce gunfight.



"He also spoke to his brother or cousin who was referred to by the name Babar, and to another person name(d) Munna," the chargeshet read.



"During the conversation with his mother, Hussain mentioned about one 'ustad' (teacher) who was supposed to come to her with his 'wasihat' (last wish) after his death," said the chargesheet that named Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others as the masterminds of the terror attack.



The telephone call was made while the terrorists were hiding inside the air base as he told his mother that they were about to attack the camp.



The calls were made about 9.20 a.m. on January 1, 2016, to Pakistan telephone number +92 3000 957 212. The NIA said it belonged to Khayam Bhatti, also known as Babar Bhatti, a local merchandise shop in Sialkot of Pakistan.



"Hussain also disclosed the names of his other three associates as Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom," the NIA said. It said that Hussain tried to call on the same number around 8.40 a.m. in the morning but the call was not responded to.

NEW DELHI: One of the Pathankot terrorists, who attacked an IAF base at Pathankot, Punjab, on January 2, spoke to his mother in Pakistan over a cell phone to express his last wish and called for a feast for his friends after his death, according to intercepts by the NIA. Nasir Hussain of Vehari in Pakistan made multiple calls to his handlers and relatives from the two cell phones he and other terrorists snatched from two locals while the group made its way to the Indian Air Force base, according to an NIA chargesheet filed on Monday. The chargesheet alleged that Hussain during his 18-minute conversation with a woman, whom he addressed as his mother, asked her to record his conversation on her mobile set. He asked the woman "to host a 'dawat' (feast) for my 'derawala' friends after my death", the anti-terror probe agency said, citing intercepts. Hussain also took the names of some of his family members and relatives -- Mudassir, Mariyam and Altamash. He told his mother that the group infiltrated into the Indian territory at 2 a.m. on December 30, 2015 -- three days before they stormed into the military base and killed seven soldiers in a fierce gunfight. "He also spoke to his brother or cousin who was referred to by the name Babar, and to another person name(d) Munna," the chargeshet read. "During the conversation with his mother, Hussain mentioned about one 'ustad' (teacher) who was supposed to come to her with his 'wasihat' (last wish) after his death," said the chargesheet that named Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others as the masterminds of the terror attack. The telephone call was made while the terrorists were hiding inside the air base as he told his mother that they were about to attack the camp. The calls were made about 9.20 a.m. on January 1, 2016, to Pakistan telephone number +92 3000 957 212. The NIA said it belonged to Khayam Bhatti, also known as Babar Bhatti, a local merchandise shop in Sialkot of Pakistan. "Hussain also disclosed the names of his other three associates as Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayoom," the NIA said. It said that Hussain tried to call on the same number around 8.40 a.m. in the morning but the call was not responded to.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission urged the government on Sunday to ban anonymous contributions to political parties above Rs 2,000 to ensure they do not become conduits for black money. As per the proposed amendment sent by the Commission to the Law Ministry, and made part of its compendium on proposed electoral reforms, anonymous contributions above or equal to the amount of Rs 2,000 should be prohibited. The Commission has also proposed that exemption of income tax should only be extended to political parties that contest elections and win seats in Lok Sabha or State polls. This is crucial because between 2005 and 2015, only 400 of the 1900-odd registered political parties have contested elections.

While the existing law  The Representation of the People Act, 1951  does not bar political parties from accepting anonymous donations, it makes it mandatory for them - under section 29C - to divulge details of any donation above the Rs 20,000 limit.

The move comes on the heels of a furore over reports claiming political parties were exempt from IT scrutiny for deposits of demonetised notes. However, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia quickly clarified that the reports were false.

Political parties have not been granted any exemption or privilege, post demonetisation and introduction of Taxation Amendment Act, 2016, he said in a series of tweets. Post demonetisation, no political party can accept donations in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes since they were rendered illegal tenders. If there is any discrepancy, political parties are as liable to be questioned by IT authorities as is anyone else. They enjoy no immunity, Adhia added.

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission urged the government on Sunday to ban anonymous contributions to political parties above Rs 2,000 to ensure they do not become conduits for black money. As per the proposed amendment sent by the Commission to the Law Ministry, and made part of its compendium on proposed electoral reforms, anonymous contributions above or equal to the amount of Rs 2,000 should be prohibited. The Commission has also proposed that exemption of income tax should only be extended to political parties that contest elections and win seats in Lok Sabha or State polls. This is crucial because between 2005 and 2015, only 400 of the 1900-odd registered political parties have contested elections. While the existing law  The Representation of the People Act, 1951  does not bar political parties from accepting anonymous donations, it makes it mandatory for them - under section 29C - to divulge details of any donation above the Rs 20,000 limit. The move comes on the heels of a furore over reports claiming political parties were exempt from IT scrutiny for deposits of demonetised notes. However, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia quickly clarified that the reports were false. Political parties have not been granted any exemption or privilege, post demonetisation and introduction of Taxation Amendment Act, 2016, he said in a series of tweets. Post demonetisation, no political party can accept donations in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes since they were rendered illegal tenders. If there is any discrepancy, political parties are as liable to be questioned by IT authorities as is anyone else. They enjoy no immunity, Adhia added.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: The Election Commissions recommendation to the government to put a ban on anonymous donations above Rs. 2,000 has been welcomed by Minister of State for Law and Justice P.P.Choudhary.

Choudhary told ANI, The government has to take the decision keeping in view the positive constitution... The government will take into consideration these suggestions because these are in the path of creating a good election in our country for corruption less election and transparent election,

Choudhary further said the government will consider these suggestions by may be amending the Constitution or amending the said provision in the Representation of Peoples Act.

But I am of the view that there is nothing wrong if the anonymous amount is beyond Rs.2, 000, but it is required to be declared. It should be declared because it is one of the good election reforms, and secondly, about tax exemption, because a large number of political parties are registered and some of the political parties are not contesting any elections but are claiming tax exemption under the Income Tax Act Section 13. he added.

The Election Commission (EC) has proposed that the limit for accepting anonymous donations be slashed from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2,000 for all parties. It also wants parties to maintain accounts for all donations, get their accounts audited and submit the audited books to it annually.

"Anonymous contributions above or equal to the amount of Rs 2,000 should be prohibited," it said.

The proposal, if accepted by the government, will reduce the size of the window available to political parties to accept donations without having to reveal the donor and improve transparency in political funding.

The commission has also proposed that exemption of income tax should only be extended to political parties that contest elections and win seats in the Lok Sabha or in assembly polls.

NEW DELHI: The Election Commissions recommendation to the government to put a ban on anonymous donations above Rs. 2,000 has been welcomed by Minister of State for Law and Justice P.P.Choudhary. Choudhary told ANI, The government has to take the decision keeping in view the positive constitution... The government will take into consideration these suggestions because these are in the path of creating a good election in our country for corruption less election and transparent election, Choudhary further said the government will consider these suggestions by may be amending the Constitution or amending the said provision in the Representation of Peoples Act. But I am of the view that there is nothing wrong if the anonymous amount is beyond Rs.2, 000, but it is required to be declared. It should be declared because it is one of the good election reforms, and secondly, about tax exemption, because a large number of political parties are registered and some of the political parties are not contesting any elections but are claiming tax exemption under the Income Tax Act Section 13. he added. The Election Commission (EC) has proposed that the limit for accepting anonymous donations be slashed from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2,000 for all parties. It also wants parties to maintain accounts for all donations, get their accounts audited and submit the audited books to it annually. "Anonymous contributions above or equal to the amount of Rs 2,000 should be prohibited," it said. The proposal, if accepted by the government, will reduce the size of the window available to political parties to accept donations without having to reveal the donor and improve transparency in political funding. The commission has also proposed that exemption of income tax should only be extended to political parties that contest elections and win seats in the Lok Sabha or in assembly polls.
By Express News Service

MUMBAI: After Minister for Dairy Development Mahadev Jankar, state BJP president Raosaheb Danve courted controversy for asking voters to accept money, at an election rally in Paithan near Aurangbad. At an election rally on Saturday, Danve allegedly asked voters not to refuse Laxmi (money) if she comes a day ahead of the elections. Opposition Congress and Samajwadi Party demanded action against Danve while sources in the State Election Commission disclosed that the District Collector and election returning officer will take action on the basis of the complaint filed in this regard.

Minister Mahadev Jankar is already facing heat for his alleged attempt to pressurise the local election official over telephone, asking him to consider Congress candidate as an Independent in the election to Desaiganj municipal council. Jankar is now facing a court case in the matter.

MUMBAI: After Minister for Dairy Development Mahadev Jankar, state BJP president Raosaheb Danve courted controversy for asking voters to accept money, at an election rally in Paithan near Aurangbad. At an election rally on Saturday, Danve allegedly asked voters not to refuse Laxmi (money) if she comes a day ahead of the elections. Opposition Congress and Samajwadi Party demanded action against Danve while sources in the State Election Commission disclosed that the District Collector and election returning officer will take action on the basis of the complaint filed in this regard. Minister Mahadev Jankar is already facing heat for his alleged attempt to pressurise the local election official over telephone, asking him to consider Congress candidate as an Independent in the election to Desaiganj municipal council. Jankar is now facing a court case in the matter.
Rakesh K Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday chargesheeted Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar and two others as main accused in the January 2 Pathankot air base attack, giving a clean chit to the controversial Punjab police officer Salwinder Singh who was also under the scanner.



In the chargesheet filed within a year after the attack, the Central probe agency named four terrorists who had stormed the air base and killed seven soldiers, contrary to earlier claims by the Union home minister Rajnath Singh that there were six terrorists and not four.



Azhar has been named as the mastermind in the chargesheet. All the four have been charged with stringent sections under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other relevant sections of the IPC, a senior NIA official said, adding Salwinder has been made a witness in the case.



The four slain terrorists have been identified as Nasir Hussain, a resident of Vehari, Pakistan, Hafiz Abu Bakar, a resident of Gujranwala, Pakistan, Umar Farooq, a resident of Sanghar, Pakistan and Abdul Qayum, resident of Sukkur, Pakistan. A prosecution against them has been abated since they are dead.

The probe has established that the terrorists entered into a criminal conspiracy to infiltrate into the territory of India and to commit the terrorist attack and wage war against the Government of India.



In pursuance of the said criminal conspiracy, the accused persons, their leaders / handlers and co-conspirators including Masood Azhar, Abdul Rauf Asghar, Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif, had set up training camps in Pakistan and the PoK area, for recruitment and training of terrorists, in order to carry out terror attacks on the Indian soil, the chargesheet said.

During the training, these terrorists were made to undergo extensive motivational, physical, military and tactical training regimen, to radicalise them and to prepare them for Jihad, said the chargesheet which was filed before a Punjab court.



It further said they illegally crossed the Indo-Pak international border through the forest area near the Simbal Border outpost. Empty food packets manufactured in Pakistan and other food articles from Pakistan were recovered from the forest area near the Simbal Border during the investigation.



China has twice blocked Indias efforts to include Azhar on the UNs sanction list containing names of individuals. The Security Council had blacklisted the JeM chief and labelled him a terrorist but opposition from China had stalled issuing a ban on him.



India is likely to use the chargesheet at various international fora to nail Pakistans lie, a senior North Block official said.



NIA director general Sharad Kumar claimed that agency had collected irrefutable evidence against JeM terrorists and its chief Masood Azhar and it will pass scrutiny in any court of law.



It was a very important case and we have collected all the evidence to nail JeM terrorists and its chief. Our team has done a scientific investigation in the case and we have technical, physical, digital and documentary evidence to prove their guilt, he said.



The chargesheet includes evidence of linking the footprints of one of the terrorists obtained from Bamiyal besides matching of DNA sample found from a soft drink can in the hijacked car of Gurdapur SP Salwinder Singh.



The chargesheet said that immediately after the attack, Rauf had posted a video message claiming responsibility for the terror strike and glorified the role of his brother.



It has also been established through legal intercepts and statements of witnesses, that Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif had guided, equipped and launched the four terrorists, who carried out the terrorist attack at the Air Force Station, Pathankot, killing and injuring innocent persons and destroying public property. The recoveries from the crime scene, material and documentary evidence, forensic reports and extensive call data analysis, conclusively establish the complicity of the terrorists of JeM, in the attack at the Pathankot Airbase, the chargesheet said.



The list of witnesses includes the names of Mohammed Sadeek alias Muviya, a resident of Ghalotiakalan in Pakistan's Sialkot district and Abdul Rahman Mogul, a resident of Polas village of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir's Poonch district. The duo had helped in identifying voices and at least two bodies of the slain JeM terrorists. Others in the list include a Special Agent of FBI and an official of US Department of Justice who had executed the Indian request sent under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty for seeking the details from social networking company Facebook and other websites hosted by companies from that country on which Jaish had uploaded an audio file claiming responsibility for the attack.



NIA has also submitted statements of six other witnesses in a sealed cover before the court along with a prayer that the names of these persons be kept secret under section 44(3) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 17 of NIA Act (provision for the protection of witnesses).

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday chargesheeted Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar and two others as main accused in the January 2 Pathankot air base attack, giving a clean chit to the controversial Punjab police officer Salwinder Singh who was also under the scanner. In the chargesheet filed within a year after the attack, the Central probe agency named four terrorists who had stormed the air base and killed seven soldiers, contrary to earlier claims by the Union home minister Rajnath Singh that there were six terrorists and not four. Azhar has been named as the mastermind in the chargesheet. All the four have been charged with stringent sections under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other relevant sections of the IPC, a senior NIA official said, adding Salwinder has been made a witness in the case. The four slain terrorists have been identified as Nasir Hussain, a resident of Vehari, Pakistan, Hafiz Abu Bakar, a resident of Gujranwala, Pakistan, Umar Farooq, a resident of Sanghar, Pakistan and Abdul Qayum, resident of Sukkur, Pakistan. A prosecution against them has been abated since they are dead. The probe has established that the terrorists entered into a criminal conspiracy to infiltrate into the territory of India and to commit the terrorist attack and wage war against the Government of India. In pursuance of the said criminal conspiracy, the accused persons, their leaders / handlers and co-conspirators including Masood Azhar, Abdul Rauf Asghar, Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif, had set up training camps in Pakistan and the PoK area, for recruitment and training of terrorists, in order to carry out terror attacks on the Indian soil, the chargesheet said. During the training, these terrorists were made to undergo extensive motivational, physical, military and tactical training regimen, to radicalise them and to prepare them for Jihad, said the chargesheet which was filed before a Punjab court. It further said they illegally crossed the Indo-Pak international border through the forest area near the Simbal Border outpost. Empty food packets manufactured in Pakistan and other food articles from Pakistan were recovered from the forest area near the Simbal Border during the investigation. China has twice blocked Indias efforts to include Azhar on the UNs sanction list containing names of individuals. The Security Council had blacklisted the JeM chief and labelled him a terrorist but opposition from China had stalled issuing a ban on him. India is likely to use the chargesheet at various international fora to nail Pakistans lie, a senior North Block official said. NIA director general Sharad Kumar claimed that agency had collected irrefutable evidence against JeM terrorists and its chief Masood Azhar and it will pass scrutiny in any court of law. It was a very important case and we have collected all the evidence to nail JeM terrorists and its chief. Our team has done a scientific investigation in the case and we have technical, physical, digital and documentary evidence to prove their guilt, he said. The chargesheet includes evidence of linking the footprints of one of the terrorists obtained from Bamiyal besides matching of DNA sample found from a soft drink can in the hijacked car of Gurdapur SP Salwinder Singh. The chargesheet said that immediately after the attack, Rauf had posted a video message claiming responsibility for the terror strike and glorified the role of his brother. It has also been established through legal intercepts and statements of witnesses, that Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif had guided, equipped and launched the four terrorists, who carried out the terrorist attack at the Air Force Station, Pathankot, killing and injuring innocent persons and destroying public property. The recoveries from the crime scene, material and documentary evidence, forensic reports and extensive call data analysis, conclusively establish the complicity of the terrorists of JeM, in the attack at the Pathankot Airbase, the chargesheet said. The list of witnesses includes the names of Mohammed Sadeek alias Muviya, a resident of Ghalotiakalan in Pakistan's Sialkot district and Abdul Rahman Mogul, a resident of Polas village of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir's Poonch district. The duo had helped in identifying voices and at least two bodies of the slain JeM terrorists. Others in the list include a Special Agent of FBI and an official of US Department of Justice who had executed the Indian request sent under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty for seeking the details from social networking company Facebook and other websites hosted by companies from that country on which Jaish had uploaded an audio file claiming responsibility for the attack. NIA has also submitted statements of six other witnesses in a sealed cover before the court along with a prayer that the names of these persons be kept secret under section 44(3) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 17 of NIA Act (provision for the protection of witnesses).
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRI NAGAR: Police are linking the bank robberies that took place in the Valley since demonetisation to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and say militant groups are facing a cash crunch after the notes ban.

Due to the scrapping of `Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, militants are facing a shortage of money. They are now resorting to bank robberies to overcome the shortage of money caused by demonetisation, Special DGP S P Vaid told Express.

Pulwama SP Rayees Mohammad Bhat said four Lashkar-e-Toiba militants  two locals and two Pakistanis  were involved in the bank robberies. He said police had identified them after checking CCTV footage from the banks looted by militants in Pulwama. According to S P Vaid, Pakistani militant Abu Ali is heading the group of robbers.

Meanwhile, the Hizbul Mujahideen denied its involvement in the robberies, which it blamed on anti-Islamic and anti-freedom elements. Militants are risking their lives and everything for the sake of freedom and Islam, and they can never indulge in cheap acts like bank robberies, Hizb deputy chief Saifullah Khalid told a news agency.

SRI NAGAR: Police are linking the bank robberies that took place in the Valley since demonetisation to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and say militant groups are facing a cash crunch after the notes ban. Due to the scrapping of `Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, militants are facing a shortage of money. They are now resorting to bank robberies to overcome the shortage of money caused by demonetisation, Special DGP S P Vaid told Express. Pulwama SP Rayees Mohammad Bhat said four Lashkar-e-Toiba militants  two locals and two Pakistanis  were involved in the bank robberies. He said police had identified them after checking CCTV footage from the banks looted by militants in Pulwama. According to S P Vaid, Pakistani militant Abu Ali is heading the group of robbers. Meanwhile, the Hizbul Mujahideen denied its involvement in the robberies, which it blamed on anti-Islamic and anti-freedom elements. Militants are risking their lives and everything for the sake of freedom and Islam, and they can never indulge in cheap acts like bank robberies, Hizb deputy chief Saifullah Khalid told a news agency.
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday slammed the opposition for disrupting Parliament and felt the parties had lost an opportunity to make clear their stand and offer valuable suggestions on issues that have arisen post demonetisation of high value currency.

They disrupted Parliament by raising frivolous issues rather than demonetisation. Not allowing Parliament to function is contempt of democracy, he said. Naidu, who visited a paediatric and cardiac camp organised by Healing Little Hearts Foundation, UK and Andhra Hospital at Atkur near here, said demonetisation was a step taken to curb corruption.

He said excess revenue that could accrue to Centre due to demonetisation will be spent on health, education, housing to the poor and also on crop insurance schemes.

VIJAYAWADA: Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday slammed the opposition for disrupting Parliament and felt the parties had lost an opportunity to make clear their stand and offer valuable suggestions on issues that have arisen post demonetisation of high value currency. They disrupted Parliament by raising frivolous issues rather than demonetisation. Not allowing Parliament to function is contempt of democracy, he said. Naidu, who visited a paediatric and cardiac camp organised by Healing Little Hearts Foundation, UK and Andhra Hospital at Atkur near here, said demonetisation was a step taken to curb corruption. He said excess revenue that could accrue to Centre due to demonetisation will be spent on health, education, housing to the poor and also on crop insurance schemes.
By Express News Service

BALLARI: Police have registered an FIR based on the complaint filed by RTI activist Rajashekhar Mulali that some unidentified people, claiming to be the supporters of former minister and MLA H Y Meti, threatened him in connection with a sex scandal involving Meti.

RTI activist Rajashekhar Mulali

He complained that they warned him of dire consequences if he released the CD. Superintendent of Police Chethan R told Express that as the case was non-cognizable, an FIR was registered after approaching a local court.

He said the FIR does not have the name of any accused but mentions them as unidentified people. Further investigation will be done once Rajashekhar arrives from New Delhi, he said. The activist lodged a complaint with Gandhi Nagar police recently. The SP said a gunman will be provided to Rajashekhar once he comes back.

It may be recalled here that the activist alleged that the police had withdrawn the gunman though he had received life threats. However, the SP said a gunman was provided to Rajashekhar two years ago when he had trapped an excise official.

The gunman was deputed for nearly one year. However, a state level scrutiny committee decided that the gunman security could not be continued. It decided that the gunman security could be continued if Rajashekhar agreed to pay every month. However, Rajashekhar refused to pay and sent the gunman back. Based on the latest developments, a gunman will be provided to Rajashekhar free of cost, the SP added.

BALLARI: Police have registered an FIR based on the complaint filed by RTI activist Rajashekhar Mulali that some unidentified people, claiming to be the supporters of former minister and MLA H Y Meti, threatened him in connection with a sex scandal involving Meti. RTI activist Rajashekhar Mulali He complained that they warned him of dire consequences if he released the CD. Superintendent of Police Chethan R told Express that as the case was non-cognizable, an FIR was registered after approaching a local court. He said the FIR does not have the name of any accused but mentions them as unidentified people. Further investigation will be done once Rajashekhar arrives from New Delhi, he said. The activist lodged a complaint with Gandhi Nagar police recently. The SP said a gunman will be provided to Rajashekhar once he comes back. It may be recalled here that the activist alleged that the police had withdrawn the gunman though he had received life threats. However, the SP said a gunman was provided to Rajashekhar two years ago when he had trapped an excise official. The gunman was deputed for nearly one year. However, a state level scrutiny committee decided that the gunman security could not be continued. It decided that the gunman security could be continued if Rajashekhar agreed to pay every month. However, Rajashekhar refused to pay and sent the gunman back. Based on the latest developments, a gunman will be provided to Rajashekhar free of cost, the SP added.
Abhilash Chandran By

Express News Service

KOTTAYAM: : When Sony Koithara, a farmer from Thiruvarpp panchayat in Upper Kuttanad region of Kottayam district sowed seeds on his 10acre paddy field at Thiruvaykkarai on November 10, the banks across the country had just reopened after the demonetisation of Rs 500/Rs 1,000 notes.

Since he had made preparations for the Puncha cultivation prior to the Centres decision to discontinue the high value denomination notes, it didnt affect him initially stage.But he started feeling the heat within two weeks, when pesticides had to be used.

Rs 16,000 was needed for pesticides and the labour charges came to around Rs 6,000. The use of fertilisers required another Rs 25,000. The unavailability of cash and loans have made it virtually impossible to meet the additional costs, on account of replanting the seedlings and other daily farm work, Sony said.

Sony, who is also the secretary of Thiruvaykkari paddy farmers committee, pointed out that things were a tad more difficult for farmers solely dependent on paddy cultivation.

K O Aniyachan, secretary of the J-Block 9000 paddy fields in Thiruvarpp, said as many as 600 farmers here were finding it increasingly difficult to pay the daily wages of the labourers. The situation is similar in the paddy-rich Upper Kuttanad panchayats, which include Kumarakom, Arppookara, Aymanam, Vechoor and Thalayalam.

Sony said the crisis in the cooperative bank sector had also affected the farmers as primary cooperative banks and societies like Kanjiram, Thiruvarpp and Chengalam service cooperative Societies, could not provide agriloans or fertilisers to farmers.

At the same time, none of the nationalised or scheduled banks could provide Rs 24,000 to the farmers, he said.

KOTTAYAM: : When Sony Koithara, a farmer from Thiruvarpp panchayat in Upper Kuttanad region of Kottayam district sowed seeds on his 10acre paddy field at Thiruvaykkarai on November 10, the banks across the country had just reopened after the demonetisation of Rs 500/Rs 1,000 notes. Since he had made preparations for the Puncha cultivation prior to the Centres decision to discontinue the high value denomination notes, it didnt affect him initially stage.But he started feeling the heat within two weeks, when pesticides had to be used. Rs 16,000 was needed for pesticides and the labour charges came to around Rs 6,000. The use of fertilisers required another Rs 25,000. The unavailability of cash and loans have made it virtually impossible to meet the additional costs, on account of replanting the seedlings and other daily farm work, Sony said. Sony, who is also the secretary of Thiruvaykkari paddy farmers committee, pointed out that things were a tad more difficult for farmers solely dependent on paddy cultivation. K O Aniyachan, secretary of the J-Block 9000 paddy fields in Thiruvarpp, said as many as 600 farmers here were finding it increasingly difficult to pay the daily wages of the labourers. The situation is similar in the paddy-rich Upper Kuttanad panchayats, which include Kumarakom, Arppookara, Aymanam, Vechoor and Thalayalam. Sony said the crisis in the cooperative bank sector had also affected the farmers as primary cooperative banks and societies like Kanjiram, Thiruvarpp and Chengalam service cooperative Societies, could not provide agriloans or fertilisers to farmers. At the same time, none of the nationalised or scheduled banks could provide Rs 24,000 to the farmers, he said.
By Express News Service

KOTTAYAM: Five of the eight students accused in the ragging case in Government Polytechnic College (GPC), Nattakom in Kottayam, in which a first-year student suffered serious kidney damage, surrendered before police, on Sunday night.

The police recorded the arrest of Sankaran (18), Jerin (18), both hailing from Ernakulam; Jayaprakash (18) of Vandiperiar, Jayson of Chalakkudi and Manu (18) of Thriuvananthapuram who surrendered before Changanassery deputy superintendent of police.



The accused will be produced before the court on Monday. Meanwhile, police have intensified the search for the rest three accused in the case, identified as Abhilash, Praveen, and Rayson.

Earlier, the police had slapped various charges including IPC 307 (attempt to murder), following medical reports of the two ragging victims that had shown serious injuries.

On December 2, nine first-year students at GPC were brutally ragged by a gang of senior students at its mens hostel, led by a former student. Among the nine students, Avinash, hailing from Iringalakkuda, Thrissur and Shaiju D Gopi, from Cheranallur, Ernakulam were seriously injured and were admitted to a private hospital in Thrissur and General Hospital Ernakulam respectively. According to sources, students were forced to drink undiluted alcohol, leaving Avinash with serious kidney damages. He reportedly underwent dialysis. Later, his father Sivadasan filed a complaint at Chingavanam police.

Meanwhile, Shaiju, who was physically worn out after the incident, was admitted to General Hospital, Ernakulam and lodged a complaint at Cheranallur police station, which was later forwarded to Chingavanam police. The police registered two separate cases in connection with the incident, against eight students.

"Apart from the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, they have slapped IPC 307 and charges under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the complaint filed by Avinash," said Changanassery circle inspector Binu Varghese.

KOTTAYAM: Five of the eight students accused in the ragging case in Government Polytechnic College (GPC), Nattakom in Kottayam, in which a first-year student suffered serious kidney damage, surrendered before police, on Sunday night. The police recorded the arrest of Sankaran (18), Jerin (18), both hailing from Ernakulam; Jayaprakash (18) of Vandiperiar, Jayson of Chalakkudi and Manu (18) of Thriuvananthapuram who surrendered before Changanassery deputy superintendent of police. The accused will be produced before the court on Monday. Meanwhile, police have intensified the search for the rest three accused in the case, identified as Abhilash, Praveen, and Rayson. Earlier, the police had slapped various charges including IPC 307 (attempt to murder), following medical reports of the two ragging victims that had shown serious injuries. On December 2, nine first-year students at GPC were brutally ragged by a gang of senior students at its mens hostel, led by a former student. Among the nine students, Avinash, hailing from Iringalakkuda, Thrissur and Shaiju D Gopi, from Cheranallur, Ernakulam were seriously injured and were admitted to a private hospital in Thrissur and General Hospital Ernakulam respectively. According to sources, students were forced to drink undiluted alcohol, leaving Avinash with serious kidney damages. He reportedly underwent dialysis. Later, his father Sivadasan filed a complaint at Chingavanam police. Meanwhile, Shaiju, who was physically worn out after the incident, was admitted to General Hospital, Ernakulam and lodged a complaint at Cheranallur police station, which was later forwarded to Chingavanam police. The police registered two separate cases in connection with the incident, against eight students. "Apart from the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, they have slapped IPC 307 and charges under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the complaint filed by Avinash," said Changanassery circle inspector Binu Varghese.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Doctors in the state health service have decided to intensify their non-cooperation strike against the anomalies in the Tenth Pay Commission recommendations.

The Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA), which is spearheading the agitation, said that the mode of agitation would be decided on Tuesday after talks with the Government. We have been called for a discussion with the Health Minister on Tuesday. We hope that the government would come out with a positive stand. If not we would be forced to intensify our agitation.

The mode of agitation would be decided based on the outcome of the discussion, said KGMOA general secretary Dr A K Raoof.

KGMOA president Dr V Madhu and Raoof said that they were forced to resume their agitation on December 8 after the government backtracked from the agreement reached with it.

The government had issued an order on October 22 after talks with the Association. But the order was issued without incorporating the decisions that arrived at the September 22 meeting with the Health Minister, they said. The government was reluctant to re-look into the issue despite repeated pleas, they said.

One of the main demands was the restoration of basic pay which was slashed. The leaders said that it was not a democratic step to slash the salary. They also complained that there was no increase in the allowance of doctors, including those working in casualty departments.

As part of the non-cooperation strike, the doctors are not cooperating with the Comprehensive Primary Health Programme and Aardram scheme. They are also boycotting VIP duties, training programmes, meetings and medical camps.

Sources in the Health Department said that most of the demands of the doctors have been fulfilled. It was for the Finance Department to give clearance for one of the demands that is now pending, they said.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Doctors in the state health service have decided to intensify their non-cooperation strike against the anomalies in the Tenth Pay Commission recommendations. The Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA), which is spearheading the agitation, said that the mode of agitation would be decided on Tuesday after talks with the Government. We have been called for a discussion with the Health Minister on Tuesday. We hope that the government would come out with a positive stand. If not we would be forced to intensify our agitation. The mode of agitation would be decided based on the outcome of the discussion, said KGMOA general secretary Dr A K Raoof. KGMOA president Dr V Madhu and Raoof said that they were forced to resume their agitation on December 8 after the government backtracked from the agreement reached with it. The government had issued an order on October 22 after talks with the Association. But the order was issued without incorporating the decisions that arrived at the September 22 meeting with the Health Minister, they said. The government was reluctant to re-look into the issue despite repeated pleas, they said. One of the main demands was the restoration of basic pay which was slashed. The leaders said that it was not a democratic step to slash the salary. They also complained that there was no increase in the allowance of doctors, including those working in casualty departments. As part of the non-cooperation strike, the doctors are not cooperating with the Comprehensive Primary Health Programme and Aardram scheme. They are also boycotting VIP duties, training programmes, meetings and medical camps. Sources in the Health Department said that most of the demands of the doctors have been fulfilled. It was for the Finance Department to give clearance for one of the demands that is now pending, they said.
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said there is a need for bridging the gap between environmental scientists and policy makers to meet the global challenge of climate change and global warming.

Inaugurating the four-day national symposium on Tropical Meteorology (TROPMET-2016) here, Pradhan said, the weather scientists contribution is huge which has been realised in the recent years given how their predications have saved lives and property. There is a whole lot of contributions they have to make advising policy makers as to what needs to be done since climate change will have massive impact in the days to come.

Pradhan said, the Centre has planned a coastal highway from Odisha to Andhra Pradesh and is looking at ports and tourism infrastructure. Environmental scientists will have to assess how climate change is going to impact such projects through coastal erosion and sea level changes.

The symposium, organised by the Indian Meteorological Society (IMS) in collaboration with the SOA University, Odisha Government and the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has brought together scientists, environmentalists and experts in the field from within the country and abroad.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology Pradeep Panigrahy said State Government has taken a lead in disaster mitigation in the country. These initiatives are short term. What we need is long term plans from scientists, he said.

Development Commissioner of Odisha R Balakrishnan said, there is a greater need to increase synergy between prediction, mitigation and intervention agencies so that cost of intervention can be worked out more accurately because huge infrastructure assets created along the coastline are at stake. He also lauded the India Meteorological Department saying the national agency has become become more accurate now with the development of technology.

Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr M Rajeevan, IMS President Prof Ajit Tyagi, Director of Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar Sarat Chandra Sahu, Chairman of the Advisory Board of SOA University, Prof Damodar Acharya and Secretary of IMS, Anand Sharma also spoke.

TROPMET 2016 will comprise five plenary sessions, 23 parallel technical sessions, two special evening lectures and an interaction session with media and NGOs over next three days.

BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said there is a need for bridging the gap between environmental scientists and policy makers to meet the global challenge of climate change and global warming. Inaugurating the four-day national symposium on Tropical Meteorology (TROPMET-2016) here, Pradhan said, the weather scientists contribution is huge which has been realised in the recent years given how their predications have saved lives and property. There is a whole lot of contributions they have to make advising policy makers as to what needs to be done since climate change will have massive impact in the days to come. Pradhan said, the Centre has planned a coastal highway from Odisha to Andhra Pradesh and is looking at ports and tourism infrastructure. Environmental scientists will have to assess how climate change is going to impact such projects through coastal erosion and sea level changes. The symposium, organised by the Indian Meteorological Society (IMS) in collaboration with the SOA University, Odisha Government and the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has brought together scientists, environmentalists and experts in the field from within the country and abroad. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology Pradeep Panigrahy said State Government has taken a lead in disaster mitigation in the country. These initiatives are short term. What we need is long term plans from scientists, he said. Development Commissioner of Odisha R Balakrishnan said, there is a greater need to increase synergy between prediction, mitigation and intervention agencies so that cost of intervention can be worked out more accurately because huge infrastructure assets created along the coastline are at stake. He also lauded the India Meteorological Department saying the national agency has become become more accurate now with the development of technology. Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr M Rajeevan, IMS President Prof Ajit Tyagi, Director of Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar Sarat Chandra Sahu, Chairman of the Advisory Board of SOA University, Prof Damodar Acharya and Secretary of IMS, Anand Sharma also spoke. TROPMET 2016 will comprise five plenary sessions, 23 parallel technical sessions, two special evening lectures and an interaction session with media and NGOs over next three days.
By Associated Press

KARAK (JORDAN): Gunmen assaulted Jordanian police in a series of attacks Sunday, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing seven officers, two local civilians and a woman visiting from Canada, officials said. Several armed men barricaded themselves inside the castle for hours, hemmed in by special forces soldiers.

At least 34 people, including two foreign nationals, were wounded in the day's violence, which was one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory.

Security officials announced late Sunday, several hours after reports of the first shooting, that the operation had ended and that four gunmen were killed. They said troops continued to search the area.

The officials said large amounts of weapons had been seized. They made no reference to local media reports that at one point, the attackers had held hostages.

The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged this pro-Western kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

A witness said attackers immediately targeted tourists when they reached the castle.

"Four gunmen got out of their car" at the castle, said Wasfi al-Habashneh, a local resident. "They opened fire at the Canadian tourists. The woman was killed, the other Canadian tourist escaped and hid behind a car and one of the children was injured."

Al-Habashneh said the attackers also targeted other people. Security forces "engaged with the gunmen and cornered the gunmen at the castle gate," he said.

The killing of the Canadian visitor could further hurt Jordan's embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighboring Syria and Iraq two years ago.

Canada's global affairs spokesman, John Babcock, told The Associated Press that the dead woman was Linda Vatcher. Babcock said her son Chris was injured.

"Canadian officials in Amman are actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time," Babcock said.

Barb Rhymes, a cousin of the slain tourist, said the victim was a retired elementary teacher from Burgeo, Newfoundland, and was visiting her son in Jordan where he works. Rhymes said Linda Vatcher, 62, was a widow and a mother of two adult sons.

"She was very friendly, outgoing. She was nice to everyone. A friend to all," Rhymes said from Burgeo, a remote town of 1,400 people on Canada's East Coast. "It's devastating. It has hit the town hard. My mind is not there right now. She was a beautiful person."

The Canadian Embassy in Amman issued an alert warning urging Canadians to avoid travel to Karak, a town in central Jordan about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in and near Karak.

The chain of events began when a police patrol received reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district, said a statement by Jordan's Public Security Directorate. Officers responding to the call came under fire from inside the house, the statement said. Two policemen were wounded and the assailants fled in a car, it said.

In another attack, gunmen fired on a security patrol in Karak, causing no injuries, the statement said.

Armed men also opened fire on a police station at the Crusader fort, wounding members of security forces.

In all, seven members of the security forces, two local civilians and the tourist from Canada were killed, security officials said. Fifteen members of the security forces, 17 local civilians and two foreign nationals were injured.

Jordan faces homegrown extremism, with hundreds of Jordanians fighting alongside other Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more supporting the extremist group in the kingdom. Jordan is a key U.S. ally, and a member of a U.S.-led military coalition fighting IS.

Over the past year, gunmen have carried out several attacks on members of the Jordanian security forces and foreign trainers. Earlier this year, Jordanian security forces engaged in a deadly shootout with suspected IS sympathizers in a northern Jordanian town.

In the most recent incident, three U.S. military members were killed in a shooting outside an air base in southern Jordan in November. The three were in Jordan on a training mission, and came under fire while driving into the base.

KARAK (JORDAN): Gunmen assaulted Jordanian police in a series of attacks Sunday, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing seven officers, two local civilians and a woman visiting from Canada, officials said. Several armed men barricaded themselves inside the castle for hours, hemmed in by special forces soldiers. At least 34 people, including two foreign nationals, were wounded in the day's violence, which was one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory. Security officials announced late Sunday, several hours after reports of the first shooting, that the operation had ended and that four gunmen were killed. They said troops continued to search the area. The officials said large amounts of weapons had been seized. They made no reference to local media reports that at one point, the attackers had held hostages. The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged this pro-Western kingdom's claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists. A witness said attackers immediately targeted tourists when they reached the castle. "Four gunmen got out of their car" at the castle, said Wasfi al-Habashneh, a local resident. "They opened fire at the Canadian tourists. The woman was killed, the other Canadian tourist escaped and hid behind a car and one of the children was injured." Al-Habashneh said the attackers also targeted other people. Security forces "engaged with the gunmen and cornered the gunmen at the castle gate," he said. The killing of the Canadian visitor could further hurt Jordan's embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighboring Syria and Iraq two years ago. Canada's global affairs spokesman, John Babcock, told The Associated Press that the dead woman was Linda Vatcher. Babcock said her son Chris was injured. "Canadian officials in Amman are actively working with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to Canadians at this difficult time," Babcock said. Barb Rhymes, a cousin of the slain tourist, said the victim was a retired elementary teacher from Burgeo, Newfoundland, and was visiting her son in Jordan where he works. Rhymes said Linda Vatcher, 62, was a widow and a mother of two adult sons. "She was very friendly, outgoing. She was nice to everyone. A friend to all," Rhymes said from Burgeo, a remote town of 1,400 people on Canada's East Coast. "It's devastating. It has hit the town hard. My mind is not there right now. She was a beautiful person." The Canadian Embassy in Amman issued an alert warning urging Canadians to avoid travel to Karak, a town in central Jordan about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in and near Karak. The chain of events began when a police patrol received reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district, said a statement by Jordan's Public Security Directorate. Officers responding to the call came under fire from inside the house, the statement said. Two policemen were wounded and the assailants fled in a car, it said. In another attack, gunmen fired on a security patrol in Karak, causing no injuries, the statement said. Armed men also opened fire on a police station at the Crusader fort, wounding members of security forces. In all, seven members of the security forces, two local civilians and the tourist from Canada were killed, security officials said. Fifteen members of the security forces, 17 local civilians and two foreign nationals were injured. Jordan faces homegrown extremism, with hundreds of Jordanians fighting alongside other Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more supporting the extremist group in the kingdom. Jordan is a key U.S. ally, and a member of a U.S.-led military coalition fighting IS. Over the past year, gunmen have carried out several attacks on members of the Jordanian security forces and foreign trainers. Earlier this year, Jordanian security forces engaged in a deadly shootout with suspected IS sympathizers in a northern Jordanian town. In the most recent incident, three U.S. military members were killed in a shooting outside an air base in southern Jordan in November. The three were in Jordan on a training mission, and came under fire while driving into the base.
By ANI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that former president and party co- chairman Asif Ali Zardari, who had left the country in mid-2015 soon after accusing the military establishment of overstepping its domain, will return back to Pakistan from Dubai on December 23.



Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Bilawal, said doctors have allowed Zardari to travel to Pakistan and he would be landing in Karachi on Friday.



"Army chiefs come and go every three years but the political leadership is here to stay. We know the country better and we know how to run its affairs. If you do not stop, I will come out with a list of accused generals since Pakistan's creation," he had said then.



"We need the great strategic skill of Zardari to overwhelm the Sharif government so that despite their two-thirds majority, they will have to implement my four demands," the Dawn quoted Bilawal, as saying.



The PPP chairman had announced earlier that the party will launch an 'anti-government drive' on December 27 if its four demands are not met.



The four demands of the PPP were formation of a parliamentary committee on national security, adoption of a PPP-drafted bill on Panama Leaks probe, implementation of the decision of a multi-party conference chaired by Asif Zardari on CPEC and appointment of a full-time foreign minister.



Bilawal said our four demands will be fulfilled soon if Zardari is in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that former president and party co- chairman Asif Ali Zardari, who had left the country in mid-2015 soon after accusing the military establishment of overstepping its domain, will return back to Pakistan from Dubai on December 23. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Bilawal, said doctors have allowed Zardari to travel to Pakistan and he would be landing in Karachi on Friday. "Army chiefs come and go every three years but the political leadership is here to stay. We know the country better and we know how to run its affairs. If you do not stop, I will come out with a list of accused generals since Pakistan's creation," he had said then. "We need the great strategic skill of Zardari to overwhelm the Sharif government so that despite their two-thirds majority, they will have to implement my four demands," the Dawn quoted Bilawal, as saying. The PPP chairman had announced earlier that the party will launch an 'anti-government drive' on December 27 if its four demands are not met. The four demands of the PPP were formation of a parliamentary committee on national security, adoption of a PPP-drafted bill on Panama Leaks probe, implementation of the decision of a multi-party conference chaired by Asif Zardari on CPEC and appointment of a full-time foreign minister. Bilawal said our four demands will be fulfilled soon if Zardari is in Pakistan.
By Associated Press

ANKARA (TURKEY): A Turkish policeman fatally shot Russia's ambassador to Turkey on Monday in front of a shocked gathering at a photo exhibit and then, pacing near the body of his victim, appeared to condemn Russia's military role in Syria, shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!"

The leaders of Turkey and Russia said the attack in Ankara, the Turkish capital, was an attempt to disrupt efforts to repair ties between their countries, which have backed opposing sides in the Syrian civil war.

An Associated Press photographer and others at the art gallery watched in horror as the gunman, who was wearing a dark suit and tie, fired at least eight shots, at one point walking around Ambassador Andrei Karlov as he lay motionless and shooting him again at close range.

The assailant, who was identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old member of Ankara's riot police squad, was later killed in a shootout with police. Three other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said.

The assassination came after days of protests by Turks angry over Russia's support for President Bashar Assad in the Syrian conflict and Russia's role in the bombardment and destruction of Aleppo, Syria's largest city.

The gunman shouted about Aleppo in Turkish, and also yelled "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great," continuing in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad."

The attack, condemned by the White House and the United Nations, was another sign of how Turkey, a NATO member and a partner in the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State group, is struggling to contain multiple security threats. The war in Syria has been a major problem for years, sending several million refugees into Turkey and, more recently, drawing in Turkish troops.

Turkey has become accustomed to deadly attacks  Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for Dec. 10 bombings in Istanbul that killed 44 people, many of them police.

The spectacle of 62-year-old Karlov's assassination by a member of the Turkish security forces at a photography exhibit meant to highlight Russian culture reinforced the sense of unease over the region's conflict and complex web of alliances and relationships.

It came a day before a key meeting about Syria to be held in Moscow. Those attending include the foreign and defense ministers from Turkey, an opponent of Assad, and Russia and Iran, backers of the Syrian regime.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the killing of Karlov as an attempt to damage Russia-Turkey ties "and to thwart a peace process in Syria which Russia, Turkey and Iran have been actively trying to promote."

Putin said he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed in a phone call that Russian investigators would fly to Ankara to conduct a joint probe with their Turkish counterparts.

"We must know who was directing the killer," Putin said in televised remarks. He ordered top officials to strengthen protection of the Turkish Embassy in Moscow and asked Turkey to increase security at the Russian mission in Ankara.

In a video message shown on several Turkish TV channels, Erdogan said: "This is a provocation to damage the normalization process of Turkish-Russian relations. But both the Russian and Turkish administrations have the determination not to fall for this provocation."

Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when he was gunned down.

Altintas, the gunman, also fired shots in the air, sending panicked audience members running for cover, and smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition. The floor was splattered with blood, and the ambassador's eye glasses lay a few feet from his body.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman got into a 15-minute shootout with police before he was killed, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The shooter's family home in the western province of Aydin was later searched and his mother, father and sister were detained, the news agency said, without citing sources. The man's house in Ankara was raided and his roommate, also a police officer, was also taken into custody, it said.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Altintas, who was born in 1994, had been an officer with Ankara's riot police squad for more than two years. He did not give a motive for the attack.

"It's a tragic day in the history of our country and Russian diplomacy," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations," she said. "He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. It's a terrible loss for us and also the world."

Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang from 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department. He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

The White House condemned the assassination, saying "this heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable," President Barack Obama was briefed by his national security team while on vacation in Hawaii

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned what he called a "senseless act of terror," for which "there can be no justification."

Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplane at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkey's apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift. Putin and Erdogan have held several meetings in recent months and spoken frequently over the phone.

Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and also discussed the prospect of organizing a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.

Security threats to Turkey include the Islamic State group, and which has been blamed for attacks in Turkey. Additionally, Turkish security forces and courts remain preoccupied with purging state institutions of the supporters of an exiled Islamist cleric whom the government accuses of staging a failed coup attempt in July.

ANKARA (TURKEY): A Turkish policeman fatally shot Russia's ambassador to Turkey on Monday in front of a shocked gathering at a photo exhibit and then, pacing near the body of his victim, appeared to condemn Russia's military role in Syria, shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!" The leaders of Turkey and Russia said the attack in Ankara, the Turkish capital, was an attempt to disrupt efforts to repair ties between their countries, which have backed opposing sides in the Syrian civil war. An Associated Press photographer and others at the art gallery watched in horror as the gunman, who was wearing a dark suit and tie, fired at least eight shots, at one point walking around Ambassador Andrei Karlov as he lay motionless and shooting him again at close range. The assailant, who was identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old member of Ankara's riot police squad, was later killed in a shootout with police. Three other people were wounded in the attack, authorities said. The assassination came after days of protests by Turks angry over Russia's support for President Bashar Assad in the Syrian conflict and Russia's role in the bombardment and destruction of Aleppo, Syria's largest city. The gunman shouted about Aleppo in Turkish, and also yelled "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great," continuing in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad." The attack, condemned by the White House and the United Nations, was another sign of how Turkey, a NATO member and a partner in the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State group, is struggling to contain multiple security threats. The war in Syria has been a major problem for years, sending several million refugees into Turkey and, more recently, drawing in Turkish troops. Turkey has become accustomed to deadly attacks  Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for Dec. 10 bombings in Istanbul that killed 44 people, many of them police. The spectacle of 62-year-old Karlov's assassination by a member of the Turkish security forces at a photography exhibit meant to highlight Russian culture reinforced the sense of unease over the region's conflict and complex web of alliances and relationships. It came a day before a key meeting about Syria to be held in Moscow. Those attending include the foreign and defense ministers from Turkey, an opponent of Assad, and Russia and Iran, backers of the Syrian regime. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the killing of Karlov as an attempt to damage Russia-Turkey ties "and to thwart a peace process in Syria which Russia, Turkey and Iran have been actively trying to promote." Putin said he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed in a phone call that Russian investigators would fly to Ankara to conduct a joint probe with their Turkish counterparts. "We must know who was directing the killer," Putin said in televised remarks. He ordered top officials to strengthen protection of the Turkish Embassy in Moscow and asked Turkey to increase security at the Russian mission in Ankara. In a video message shown on several Turkish TV channels, Erdogan said: "This is a provocation to damage the normalization process of Turkish-Russian relations. But both the Russian and Turkish administrations have the determination not to fall for this provocation." Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when he was gunned down. Altintas, the gunman, also fired shots in the air, sending panicked audience members running for cover, and smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition. The floor was splattered with blood, and the ambassador's eye glasses lay a few feet from his body. After shooting the ambassador, the gunman got into a 15-minute shootout with police before he was killed, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported. The shooter's family home in the western province of Aydin was later searched and his mother, father and sister were detained, the news agency said, without citing sources. The man's house in Ankara was raided and his roommate, also a police officer, was also taken into custody, it said. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Altintas, who was born in 1994, had been an officer with Ankara's riot police squad for more than two years. He did not give a motive for the attack. "It's a tragic day in the history of our country and Russian diplomacy," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. "Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations," she said. "He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. It's a terrible loss for us and also the world." Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang from 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department. He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013. The White House condemned the assassination, saying "this heinous attack on a member of the diplomatic corps is unacceptable," President Barack Obama was briefed by his national security team while on vacation in Hawaii U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned what he called a "senseless act of terror," for which "there can be no justification." Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplane at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkey's apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift. Putin and Erdogan have held several meetings in recent months and spoken frequently over the phone. Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and also discussed the prospect of organizing a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana. Security threats to Turkey include the Islamic State group, and which has been blamed for attacks in Turkey. Additionally, Turkish security forces and courts remain preoccupied with purging state institutions of the supporters of an exiled Islamist cleric whom the government accuses of staging a failed coup attempt in July.
P K Balachandran By

Express News Service

COLOMBO: Sri Lankas revenue has increased by 23 percent during the first 9 months of this year compared with the same period in 2015, says M.Ali Hassen, Director of Information in the Ministry of Finance.

State revenue in the first nine months of 2016 rose to Rs. 1,180 billion from Rs. 959 billion earned during the same period in 2015,  Hassen said.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake attributed the rise in income to increased efficiency and the curbing of corruption in the collection of revenue by the Sri Lanka Customs, the Inland Revenue Department and the Excise Department.

A large percentage of State revenue is from income taxes. This has increased to SLR 1067 billion from Rs 882 billion on Year on Year basis within the first nine months of this year

During the last few years, due to increased heavy public debt, revenue gradually came down to 11 percent of the GDP in 2014.

But due to the reforms in the tax collection process, State revenue is expected to increase to 13.5 % of the GDP by the end of this year.

Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that the government would be able to cover the recurrent expenditure through State revenue this year.

During the previous regime, State revenue was not sufficient even to cover debt servicing since 2011.

The Finance Ministry claims that if State revenue goes up to 13.5% of the GDP by year end, the deficit will also come down from LKR 573 billion in the first nine months of last year to LKR 506 billion this year enabling the government to reach its deficit target of 5.4% conveniently by the end of the year.

The government is in the process of implementing a series of focused legislative, administrative, institutional and capacity improvement measures for revenue and expenditure management.

Accordingly, Budget-2017 has paved the way for allocation of funds to line ministries and the Provincial Councils based only on the action plan submitted by them considering the governments priority areas deviating from the hitherto practiced policy of allocating fund based on the previous years list of expenses The system of zero-based budget allocation, commenced with the budget 2017, is a prelude to introducing the performance-based budget by the year 2020.

Meanwhile, the government has initiated several reforms to improve tax administration with minimal enforcement costs enabling the automation of the tax system. This will give tax payers a number of web-based services such as registration, returns, tax payment, collection and appeals. Further, the changes introduced under the budget -2017will help deviate from the heavy reliance on Indirect Taxes gradually.

With the increase in the threshold for PAYE tax, none of the persons earning up to Rs 100,000 per month will be subject to taxes from next April Finance Minister Karunanayake said.

COLOMBO: Sri Lankas revenue has increased by 23 percent during the first 9 months of this year compared with the same period in 2015, says M.Ali Hassen, Director of Information in the Ministry of Finance. State revenue in the first nine months of 2016 rose to Rs. 1,180 billion from Rs. 959 billion earned during the same period in 2015,  Hassen said. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake attributed the rise in income to increased efficiency and the curbing of corruption in the collection of revenue by the Sri Lanka Customs, the Inland Revenue Department and the Excise Department. A large percentage of State revenue is from income taxes. This has increased to SLR 1067 billion from Rs 882 billion on Year on Year basis within the first nine months of this year During the last few years, due to increased heavy public debt, revenue gradually came down to 11 percent of the GDP in 2014. But due to the reforms in the tax collection process, State revenue is expected to increase to 13.5 % of the GDP by the end of this year. Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that the government would be able to cover the recurrent expenditure through State revenue this year. During the previous regime, State revenue was not sufficient even to cover debt servicing since 2011. The Finance Ministry claims that if State revenue goes up to 13.5% of the GDP by year end, the deficit will also come down from LKR 573 billion in the first nine months of last year to LKR 506 billion this year enabling the government to reach its deficit target of 5.4% conveniently by the end of the year. The government is in the process of implementing a series of focused legislative, administrative, institutional and capacity improvement measures for revenue and expenditure management. Accordingly, Budget-2017 has paved the way for allocation of funds to line ministries and the Provincial Councils based only on the action plan submitted by them considering the governments priority areas deviating from the hitherto practiced policy of allocating fund based on the previous years list of expenses The system of zero-based budget allocation, commenced with the budget 2017, is a prelude to introducing the performance-based budget by the year 2020. Meanwhile, the government has initiated several reforms to improve tax administration with minimal enforcement costs enabling the automation of the tax system. This will give tax payers a number of web-based services such as registration, returns, tax payment, collection and appeals. Further, the changes introduced under the budget -2017will help deviate from the heavy reliance on Indirect Taxes gradually. With the increase in the threshold for PAYE tax, none of the persons earning up to Rs 100,000 per month will be subject to taxes from next April Finance Minister Karunanayake said.
By PTI

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has warned the government against antagonising the Sinhala majority by "appeasing" the country's Tamil community by mulling to grant more powers to provincial chief ministers in the proposed constitutional reform process.

In the recent weeks, there has been a debate over a reported demand by the main Tamil Party -- Tamil National Alliance (TNA) -- to curb the powers of the provincial governors in order to empower the provincial chief ministers. Addressing public gatherings, Rajapaksa said even in India the provincial governor executes the presidential authority.

"In India, the governors can dissolve provincial assemblies, in our country they can't do it, he said, adding that it would be dangerous in terms of preserving the unitary character of the state in Sri Lanka," he said. Rajapaksa's Opposition Block in the recent weeks has stepped up their anti-constitutional reform campaign. They label the attempt as a "give in" to Tamil demands. He said the current government headed by his successor Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were attempting to "appease the Tamil minority while antagonising the Sinhala majority".

Sirisena has been advocating a constitutional solution to the Tamil demand for political recognition. His electoral victory over Rajapaksa in 2015 was overwhelmingly backed by the Tamil minority. The constitution making the process to replace the 1978 adopted existing constitution was set in motion by Sirisena in January this year.

Reports of six subcommittees now await to be received by the 21-member steering committee comprising members from all parties represented in parliament. The government blames Rajapaksa's Opposition Block for misleading the population in order to gain political advantage in the constitution reform process. Rajapaksa was also critical of the government's decision to create an industrial zone in his home district of Hambantota by granting 15,000 acres of land to the Chinese state-owned firms.

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has warned the government against antagonising the Sinhala majority by "appeasing" the country's Tamil community by mulling to grant more powers to provincial chief ministers in the proposed constitutional reform process. In the recent weeks, there has been a debate over a reported demand by the main Tamil Party -- Tamil National Alliance (TNA) -- to curb the powers of the provincial governors in order to empower the provincial chief ministers. Addressing public gatherings, Rajapaksa said even in India the provincial governor executes the presidential authority. "In India, the governors can dissolve provincial assemblies, in our country they can't do it, he said, adding that it would be dangerous in terms of preserving the unitary character of the state in Sri Lanka," he said. Rajapaksa's Opposition Block in the recent weeks has stepped up their anti-constitutional reform campaign. They label the attempt as a "give in" to Tamil demands. He said the current government headed by his successor Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were attempting to "appease the Tamil minority while antagonising the Sinhala majority". Sirisena has been advocating a constitutional solution to the Tamil demand for political recognition. His electoral victory over Rajapaksa in 2015 was overwhelmingly backed by the Tamil minority. The constitution making the process to replace the 1978 adopted existing constitution was set in motion by Sirisena in January this year. Reports of six subcommittees now await to be received by the 21-member steering committee comprising members from all parties represented in parliament. The government blames Rajapaksa's Opposition Block for misleading the population in order to gain political advantage in the constitution reform process. Rajapaksa was also critical of the government's decision to create an industrial zone in his home district of Hambantota by granting 15,000 acres of land to the Chinese state-owned firms.
By Associated Press

BEIRUT: The Russian military says defense ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran will meet in Moscow to discuss Syria.

The meeting, due Tuesday, will coincide with the meeting of the three nation's foreign ministers, also in the Russian capital.

The military said on Monday that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will host his Iranian counterpart Hossein Dehghan and Turkey's Fikri Isik.

It says they will discuss ways to resolve the Syrian conflict and help implement U.N. Security Council's resolutions on Syria.

___

1:20 p.m.

Turkey says some 4,500 people have been evacuated from eastern Aleppo since midnight, as a fragile cease-fire in Syria resumed.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said through his Twitter account on Monday that a total of 12,000 people have so far been evacuated from the besieged city to an area under opposition control.

The evacuations were made possible through a cease-fire deal brokered by Russia and Turkey that paved way for rebels and civilians to leave the last opposition-held enclave in the city.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency says a total of 131 wounded people  including 46 children  were brought to Turkey for treatment since the evacuations began last week.

The agency says five of them have since died.

Russia is allied with Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey is a leading sponsor of the opposition battling to topple him.

___

9:10 a.m.

A Syrian activist group and a Lebanon-based TV station say that 10 buses with civilians from two Shiite villages besieged by rebels in the country's north are on their way to government-controlled areas.

The evacuations from Foua and Kfarya were conditions that were added on to a cease-fire deal that paved way for the last rebels and civilians to depart from the remainder of the rebel enclave in the eastern half of the Syrian city of Aleppo.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV say the buses left Foua and Kfarya on Monday. More than 2,000 sick and wounded people are supposed to leave the villages.

The evacuation came a day after militants burned six buses assigned to the villages' evacuations. The Observatory reported shortly before midnight Sunday that government forces allowed five buses to leave rebel-held parts of east Aleppo.

___

8:20 a.m.

The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution aimed at immediately deploying U.N. monitors to eastern Aleppo, a move France says will be critical to prevent "mass atrocities" by Syrian forces, and especially militias, who captured the rebel stronghold.

The resolution, due to be put to a vote on Monday, comes as thousands more trapped Aleppo civilians and rebels await evacuation in freezing temperatures in the rebel enclave.

The text calls for the United Nations and other institutions to monitor the evacuations and demands that U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon urgently consult all parties on the immediate deployment of the monitors.

France and Russia, who submitted rival draft resolutions, struck a compromise text after more than three hours of closed-door consultations by the U.N. Security Council on Sunday.

BEIRUT: The Russian military says defense ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran will meet in Moscow to discuss Syria. The meeting, due Tuesday, will coincide with the meeting of the three nation's foreign ministers, also in the Russian capital. The military said on Monday that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will host his Iranian counterpart Hossein Dehghan and Turkey's Fikri Isik. It says they will discuss ways to resolve the Syrian conflict and help implement U.N. Security Council's resolutions on Syria. ___ 1:20 p.m. Turkey says some 4,500 people have been evacuated from eastern Aleppo since midnight, as a fragile cease-fire in Syria resumed. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said through his Twitter account on Monday that a total of 12,000 people have so far been evacuated from the besieged city to an area under opposition control. The evacuations were made possible through a cease-fire deal brokered by Russia and Turkey that paved way for rebels and civilians to leave the last opposition-held enclave in the city. Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency says a total of 131 wounded people  including 46 children  were brought to Turkey for treatment since the evacuations began last week. The agency says five of them have since died. Russia is allied with Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey is a leading sponsor of the opposition battling to topple him. ___ 9:10 a.m. A Syrian activist group and a Lebanon-based TV station say that 10 buses with civilians from two Shiite villages besieged by rebels in the country's north are on their way to government-controlled areas. The evacuations from Foua and Kfarya were conditions that were added on to a cease-fire deal that paved way for the last rebels and civilians to depart from the remainder of the rebel enclave in the eastern half of the Syrian city of Aleppo. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV say the buses left Foua and Kfarya on Monday. More than 2,000 sick and wounded people are supposed to leave the villages. The evacuation came a day after militants burned six buses assigned to the villages' evacuations. The Observatory reported shortly before midnight Sunday that government forces allowed five buses to leave rebel-held parts of east Aleppo. ___ 8:20 a.m. The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution aimed at immediately deploying U.N. monitors to eastern Aleppo, a move France says will be critical to prevent "mass atrocities" by Syrian forces, and especially militias, who captured the rebel stronghold. The resolution, due to be put to a vote on Monday, comes as thousands more trapped Aleppo civilians and rebels await evacuation in freezing temperatures in the rebel enclave. The text calls for the United Nations and other institutions to monitor the evacuations and demands that U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon urgently consult all parties on the immediate deployment of the monitors. France and Russia, who submitted rival draft resolutions, struck a compromise text after more than three hours of closed-door consultations by the U.N. Security Council on Sunday.
By ANI

KABUL: The Taliban militants publicly executed a woman in northwestern Badghis province of Afghanistan after forcing her to divorce her husband.

A local official said the incident took place in Ab Kamari district late on Sunday night after the Taliban militants stormed into her fathers house in Maida Qul village, reports the Khaama Press.

The official said that the woman was forced to shift to her fathers house after Taliban militants forced her to divorce her husband whom she had married after divorcing her first husband.

The Taliban militants punished the woman after her first husband returned from Iran and lodged a complaint with them.

The militant group has not commented regarding the report so far.

This comes as numerous incidents of public execution by the Taliban have been reported during the recent months across the country.

Earlier this month, the Taliban militants hanged a Kabul Polytechnic University engineering student accusing him of spying for the government.

KABUL: The Taliban militants publicly executed a woman in northwestern Badghis province of Afghanistan after forcing her to divorce her husband. A local official said the incident took place in Ab Kamari district late on Sunday night after the Taliban militants stormed into her fathers house in Maida Qul village, reports the Khaama Press. The official said that the woman was forced to shift to her fathers house after Taliban militants forced her to divorce her husband whom she had married after divorcing her first husband. The Taliban militants punished the woman after her first husband returned from Iran and lodged a complaint with them. The militant group has not commented regarding the report so far. This comes as numerous incidents of public execution by the Taliban have been reported during the recent months across the country. Earlier this month, the Taliban militants hanged a Kabul Polytechnic University engineering student accusing him of spying for the government.
By Associated Press

ANKARA: The gunman who killed the Russian ambassador to Turkey at a photo exhibition in Ankara shouted in Turkish "Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!"

The man then yelled: "Stand back! Stand back! Only death will take me out of here. Anyone who has a role in this oppression will die one by one."

Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition when he was shot. The gunman also shouted "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great." Police later killed the gunman, according to reports.

The attack comes a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defense ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria.

Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey has supported Assad's foes.

ANKARA: The gunman who killed the Russian ambassador to Turkey at a photo exhibition in Ankara shouted in Turkish "Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria!" The man then yelled: "Stand back! Stand back! Only death will take me out of here. Anyone who has a role in this oppression will die one by one." Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition when he was shot. The gunman also shouted "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great." Police later killed the gunman, according to reports. The attack comes a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defense ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria. Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey has supported Assad's foes.
By PTI

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will vote today on a French-drafted resolution to quickly deploy UN observers to Aleppo, with Russia, Syria's ally, giving cautious backing to the measure. Russia had threatened to veto a first draft presented by France calling for observers to monitor evacuations from Aleppo and report on the protection of civilians in the besieged Syrian city.

But after nearly four hours of closed-door council consultations yesterday, a new draft was agreed. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters: "We put in some good hours of work and I think we have a good text." French Ambassador Francois Delattre declared that the council had reached "common ground," while US Ambassador Samantha Power anticipated the member states would vote "unanimously" at 9 am (local time). The vote, initially tabled for yesterday, was delayed until today to allow the Russian delegation to consult with Moscow on the final draft resolution that provides for UN and other international observers to be dispatched to eastern Aleppo.

The new draft calls on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to make arrangements, in consultation with Syrian authorities and the rebels, to allow UN monitoring of "the well-being of civilians." Moscow had presented its own draft resolution that requested that the United Nations make "arrangements" to monitor the situation, but made no specific mention of sending observers to east Aleppo.

France and the United States said the new text, which took into account Russian proposals, resulted in minor changes. "The text left standing includes all the core provisions to allow for UN monitoring, to get the 100-plus UN people ready to go to team up with the ICRC and the Syrian Red Crescent," said Power. Evacuations of fighters and civilians from Aleppo were suspended yesterday after gunmen attacked buses for a similar operation from two rebel-besieged villages.

Syrian forces this week moved to assert full control over the east of the city, which had been held by opposition fighters since 2012. Russia, which has deployed forces in Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad's military, has vetoed six resolutions on Syria since the conflict began in March 2011. Delattre said the international presence would prevent Aleppo from turning into another Srebrenica, where thousands of Bosnian men and boys were massacred in 1995 when the town fell to Bosnian Serb forces.

"If adopted, I believe it will be the first time the Security Council has been able to agree on a text in a long time," said Delattre. "It will give us collectively the tools to try to avoid a new Srebrenica." The draft resolution "demands that all parties allow complete, immediate, unconditional, safe and unhindered access" for humanitarian aid to Aleppo, which has been under siege since July.

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will vote today on a French-drafted resolution to quickly deploy UN observers to Aleppo, with Russia, Syria's ally, giving cautious backing to the measure. Russia had threatened to veto a first draft presented by France calling for observers to monitor evacuations from Aleppo and report on the protection of civilians in the besieged Syrian city. But after nearly four hours of closed-door council consultations yesterday, a new draft was agreed. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters: "We put in some good hours of work and I think we have a good text." French Ambassador Francois Delattre declared that the council had reached "common ground," while US Ambassador Samantha Power anticipated the member states would vote "unanimously" at 9 am (local time). The vote, initially tabled for yesterday, was delayed until today to allow the Russian delegation to consult with Moscow on the final draft resolution that provides for UN and other international observers to be dispatched to eastern Aleppo. The new draft calls on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to make arrangements, in consultation with Syrian authorities and the rebels, to allow UN monitoring of "the well-being of civilians." Moscow had presented its own draft resolution that requested that the United Nations make "arrangements" to monitor the situation, but made no specific mention of sending observers to east Aleppo. France and the United States said the new text, which took into account Russian proposals, resulted in minor changes. "The text left standing includes all the core provisions to allow for UN monitoring, to get the 100-plus UN people ready to go to team up with the ICRC and the Syrian Red Crescent," said Power. Evacuations of fighters and civilians from Aleppo were suspended yesterday after gunmen attacked buses for a similar operation from two rebel-besieged villages. Syrian forces this week moved to assert full control over the east of the city, which had been held by opposition fighters since 2012. Russia, which has deployed forces in Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad's military, has vetoed six resolutions on Syria since the conflict began in March 2011. Delattre said the international presence would prevent Aleppo from turning into another Srebrenica, where thousands of Bosnian men and boys were massacred in 1995 when the town fell to Bosnian Serb forces. "If adopted, I believe it will be the first time the Security Council has been able to agree on a text in a long time," said Delattre. "It will give us collectively the tools to try to avoid a new Srebrenica." The draft resolution "demands that all parties allow complete, immediate, unconditional, safe and unhindered access" for humanitarian aid to Aleppo, which has been under siege since July.
By Associated Press

The assassinations of top world leaders, like U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, may be better remembered, but the killing of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov in Ankara on Monday serves as a grim reminder that diplomats and others representing their countries' away from home are also frequently targets. These are just some examples:

1914, Sarajevo: Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The heir to the Austrian throne. He was shot and killed by a Serbian independence group while riding in an open-top car in an incident widely seen as a catalyst leading to the start of World War I.

1918, Moscow: Wilhelm von Mirbach. German ambassador to Russia. Von Mirbach was shot and killed by members of the Left Socialist Revolutionary Party in an attack widely thought to have been a failed attempt to incite a war between Germany and newly-formed Soviet Russia.

1973, Khartoum: Cleo A. Noel, Jr. U.S. Ambassador to Sudan. Captured by the Black September militant group while attending an event at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, then killed.

1979, County Sligo, Ireland: Lord Louis Mountbatten. The last viceroy of India was killed in 1979 in an Irish Republican Army bombing while on holiday. Mountbatten was one of four people killed when the IRA bomb exploded on his yacht soon after it left Mullaghmore Harbor in western Ireland.

1979, The Hague: Richard Sykes. The British Ambassador to the Netherlands. Sykes was shot and killed outside his residence in The Hague. The Irish Republican Army later claimed responsibility.

1982, Ottawa: Atilla Altikat. Turkish military attache to Canada. Altikat's car was ambushed by an Armenian militant group, who fired into it when it was stopped for a red light.

2012, Benghazi: Christopher Stevens. U.S. Ambassador to Libya. Stevens and three others were killed when militants attacked the U.S. Special mission in Benghazi. In the aftermath of the attacks, Republicans criticized the Obama administration and its then-secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton, but a two-year investigation found the CIA and military acted properly in its response.

The assassinations of top world leaders, like U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, may be better remembered, but the killing of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov in Ankara on Monday serves as a grim reminder that diplomats and others representing their countries' away from home are also frequently targets. These are just some examples: 1914, Sarajevo: Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The heir to the Austrian throne. He was shot and killed by a Serbian independence group while riding in an open-top car in an incident widely seen as a catalyst leading to the start of World War I. 1918, Moscow: Wilhelm von Mirbach. German ambassador to Russia. Von Mirbach was shot and killed by members of the Left Socialist Revolutionary Party in an attack widely thought to have been a failed attempt to incite a war between Germany and newly-formed Soviet Russia. 1973, Khartoum: Cleo A. Noel, Jr. U.S. Ambassador to Sudan. Captured by the Black September militant group while attending an event at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, then killed. 1979, County Sligo, Ireland: Lord Louis Mountbatten. The last viceroy of India was killed in 1979 in an Irish Republican Army bombing while on holiday. Mountbatten was one of four people killed when the IRA bomb exploded on his yacht soon after it left Mullaghmore Harbor in western Ireland. 1979, The Hague: Richard Sykes. The British Ambassador to the Netherlands. Sykes was shot and killed outside his residence in The Hague. The Irish Republican Army later claimed responsibility. 1982, Ottawa: Atilla Altikat. Turkish military attache to Canada. Altikat's car was ambushed by an Armenian militant group, who fired into it when it was stopped for a red light. 2012, Benghazi: Christopher Stevens. U.S. Ambassador to Libya. Stevens and three others were killed when militants attacked the U.S. Special mission in Benghazi. In the aftermath of the attacks, Republicans criticized the Obama administration and its then-secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton, but a two-year investigation found the CIA and military acted properly in its response.
It's win-or-go-home time for Newport County football teams

This season marks the first time in three years all three Aquidneck Island high school football teams have qualified for postseason play.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 73F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
iMDsoft announced that Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Canada is now live with the MetaVision clinical information system throughout their critical care environment. The system has been implemented in adult, neonatal and burn intensive care units, across a total of 145 beds.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre has 1.2 million patient visits each year and is home to Canada's largest trauma centre. Two hundred scientists and clinician-scientists conduct more than a hundred million dollars of breakthrough research each year.

The centre now has complete and accurate electronic medical records and tools for clinical assessment, treatment and care planning. Advanced decision support options promote the delivery of best practices, protocols and regulatory requirements. MetaVision was adapted to support the centre's workflow and integration requirements and to expedite reporting.

MetaVision is successfully implemented in all types of ICUs across the globe. The systems robust architecture meets the challenges set by these high-need, data-rich environments, which have specific treatment regimens.

In the NICU, for example, MetaVision offers unique functionality such as drug and fluid management supporting micro-dosages and precise calculations of nutrition requirements.

Were very pleased to begin using MetaVision at Sunnybrook, said Debra Carew, Operations Director, Trauma, Emergency, and Critical Care Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. This is one of the first clinical documentation systems of this magnitude in the hospital, and were looking forward to how this will positively impact care of our patients.

We are pleased that Sunnybrook is joining the 350 hospitals world-wide that have chosen MetaVision. Together we look forward to improving patient care and safety in these complex departments," Shahar Sery, Executive Vice President of iMDsoft.

MetaVision provides deeper insight into patient care and offers a rich repository of patient data that Sunnybrook can use for quality improvement initiatives and for producing clinical studies. Debra Carew, Operations Director, Trauma, Emergency, and Critical Care Program
The degree to which one is disturbed by noises of everyday life may be related to how the brain processes variations in the sound stream, according to new findings published in Scientific Reports.

Some people experience strong discomfort of sounds around them and complain that they suffer from noise.

Previous studies have shown that noise sensitive individuals are more prone to negative effects of noise on health, such as sleep disturbance and heart diseases, and that sensitivity to noise may be rooted to one's genetic profile.

In the newly published work A window into the brain mechanisms associated with noise sensitivity, researchers from the University of Helsinki and Aarhus University addressed whether noise sensitivity is manifested in the way the brain processes sounds.

Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

They showed that the auditory system of noise sensitive individuals is less responsive to new sound features introduced among repetitive sounds, especially if the novel sound is noisier than the rest.

Seeming counterintuitive at first, this finding suggests that it may be harder for sensitive people to build a prediction about changes in a varying soundscape, and their auditory system might "tune down" its responsiveness to sounds in order to protect itself from overreacting to noise.

"We need further studies to conclude whether we've discovered something that is the reason why people are noise sensitive or is it the result of the brain's contractions against excessive noise. Nevertheless, this study advances the view on noise sensitivity being more than just a negative attitude to sounds and brings us new information on the physiology of environmental sensitivity," says the first author of the study, doctoral student Marina Kliuchko from the University of Helsinki.

The contribution of this study crosses boundaries of the brain science and reaches to public and occupational healthcare. The researchers hope that their work will highlight that noise sensitivity is an important issue to be recognized in planning noise control in living and working environments.

Source: Helsingin yliopisto (University of Helsinki)
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It looks as if GM's latest cars will be making their way to Detroit without any help from humans.Following Michigan's signing of the SAVE Act legislation, GM is to immediately start testing its autonomous cars on the state's roads."Revolutionizing transportation for our customers while improving safety on roads is the goal of our autonomous vehicle technology, and today's [signing] gets us one step closer to making this vision a reality," said General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra.Like Ford and Google's newly spun-out company Waymo, GM already has a sizable presence in the state when it comes to autonomous vehicle technology testing. However, until now development work was restricted to its own campus and more recently, to the Mcity, a new purpose-builtfacility created by the University of Michigan as a dedicated life-like testing ground for autonomous and connected car technology.Though Detroit, Michigan is known as the motor city - the birthplace of both Ford and the individual marques making up GM -- as the convergence between cars and technology accelerates, Silicon Valley has started to assert itself as America's center for automotive research and development.However, the opening of Mcity in July 2015 and now the passing of the SAVE Act will ensure that Michigan can continue to compete."For the past century, Detroit has been at the center of the automobile," said John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo, Google autonomous vehicle technology company. "As we look toward the next phase of mobility, it's clear that the Motor City will continue to play a pivotal role bringing together the best of what Detroit and Silicon Valley have to offer."Although there is a huge buzz around the subject of self-driving cars, many consumers are still less than comfortable with the idea of handing over control of their vehicles to hardware, software and algorithms."Our autonomous technology will be reliable and safe, as customers have come to expect from any of our vehicles," said Barra.
Cyrus Mistry has resigned from six listed Tata companies to battle the conglomerate in a larger platform where the rule of law and equity is upheld, CNBC TV18 reported, possibly indicating some kind of legal action in a court of law.



Mistry has resigned from companies including Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels and Tata Motors with immediate effect, CNBC TV 18 quoted sources as saying. Mistry, in a resignation, letter said that he would be moving away from the EGM process and shifting the battle to a larger platform.



Mistry also wrote that he was grappling with serious governance problems and ethical issues for a considerable period of time. My efforts were aimed at reforming the system from within, which may well be the real reason for my removal."



Tata Sons, in a statement on Monday, said: "Unfortunately, Mr. Mistry continues to make baseless, unsubstantiated and malicious allegations using selective disclosures of information against the very institution he claims to have the highest regard for."



"Mr. Mistry and his family companies have not upheld the high standards and values set by Jamsetji Tata and his successors. Mr. Mistry has done precious little to build the goodwill of the Tata Group, built through the hard work and dedication of its employees," the statement added.



Cyrus Mistry was sacked as Chairman of Tata Sons on October 24 in a boardroom coup and Ratan Tata was installed as the interim Chairman, in what has become one of the most high profile corporate battles in recent history.



Even though he was unseated as the Chairman he remained on the boards of individual Tata companies, where an effort has begun to dislodge him. He has been voted out by shareholders as director of TCS, Tata Chemicals and other firms in Extraordinary General Meetings in recent weeks.


Income Tax Slabs Current Proposed Slab (Rs. Lakh) Tax Rate (%) Slab (Rs. Lakh) Tax Rate (%) 0-2.5 No Tax 0-4 No Tax 2.5-5 10 4-10 10 5-10 20 10-15 15 10 + 30 15-20 20 20+ 30

After the economic disruption caused by demonetisation, the government may be looking at raising the threshold for paying income tax so that people have more disposable money in their hands.CNBC Awaaz reported that the government, in its coming budget, may raise the lowest income tax slab to Rs 4 lakh from the current Rs. 2.5 lakh. The proposed tax slabs, as reported by the channel belonging to Network18, are as follows:Income of Rs 4 lakh to 10 lakh may be taxed at 10% (the current slab is Rs. 2.5-5 lakh taxed at 10%); Rs 10-15 lakh will be taxed at 15% (currently Rs5-10 lakh is taxed at 20%); Rs 15-20 Lakh to be taxed at 20% (Currently Rs 10 lakh and above is taxed at 30%) and a slab where income above Rs 20 lakh will attract a tax of 30%.If the tax proposals are indeed implemented in the budget then it will result in greater disposable income with people across all slabs, which in theory, should boost consumption and the economy.Vikamsey Nilesh Shivji, a chartered accountant based in Mumbai said a cut in tax rates leads to increased compliance. The loss in government revenue may be compensated by an increase in compliance, Vikamsey told News18.Taxes are of two kinds: Direct taxes like Income Tax and Indirect tax like excise, sales tax and service tax.Sources in the Central Board of Customs and Excise department told News18 that this financial year, indirect taxes have been growing at a faster rate than direct taxes. Till October indirect taxes like central excise, customs and service tax was growing at 24% or so while direct taxes were only increasing at 15%.After demonetisation indirect tax collections have fallen by 20-30%. How the government intends to make up this shortfall will be revealed only in the budget.
Earlier this year, regulatory body TRAI had floated a consultation to know if there can be a model to provide free access to the Internet to those who do not have it, without violating the existing regulation on discriminatory pricing.Keeping this in mind, TRAI has now recommended providing 100MB free data every month for rural Internet users. This is only a recommendation and it remains to be seen as to how the Department of Telecommunications will respond to this.TRAI recommends doing so through a third-party aggregator model which must not violate TRAI's earlier regulation on discriminatory pricing.These aggregators must register with the Department of Telecommunications and must be registered under the Indian companies Act of 1956.There is little clarity on how this aggregator model will work.TRAI recommends using the India's Universal Service Obligation Fund for this scheme.In Feb 2016, TRAI had said no to discriminatory pricing regulation which was a setback to Facebook's Free Basics programme.
The situation in Aleppo has worsened rapidly after a truce accord collapsed in September, triggering an international outcry to stop hostilities in the strategically-located Syrian city which has been contested by the government forces and rebels since 2012.Tens of thousands of civilians remained trapped without food, water or medicine under a hail of artillery and airstrikes on Wednesday after Iranian-backed militia who had spearheaded the ground assault on eastern Aleppo defied a ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey to allow residents and opposition fighters under siege to leave the city.However, a new ceasefire deal was reached and civilians and the wounded in east Aleppo were expected to begin evacuation from the city on Thursday morning, rebel officials said late on Wednesday.On Thursday morning, buses carrying rebels started to leave eastern Aleppo as part of a deal to evacuate all the rebels from Aleppo city.However, the horrific experience and the plight of the people in Aleppo is something that only those suffering can imagine.Still, people from across the globe came out in large numbers to show solidarity.Here are few images to show that the world is standing with Aleppo.Demonstrators march with a banner during a protest against Iran's role in Aleppo, near the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.An Israeli protester holds a sign during a demonstration to show solidarity with the citizens of Aleppo, Syria, outside the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem.A woman, holding a placard reading "We support the Syrian people", cries as she stands among other Bosnians during a protest in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to show solidarity with trapped citizens of Aleppo in Syria.A Palestinian boy attends a protest to show solidarity with trapped citizens of Aleppo, Syria, in Gaza city.Israeli protesters hold signs during a demonstration to show solidarity with the citizens of Aleppo, Syria, outside the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem.Demonstrators take part in a protest against Russia's role in Aleppo, across the street from the Russian Embassy compound in Shaab, Kuwait.A Palestinian boy covered with ink gestures during a protest to show solidarity with trapped citizens of Aleppo, Syria, in Gaza city.With input from Agencies.
Some friends from @CHEOhospital joined me for a sneak preview today...the verdict? #RogueOne is the best of the Star Wars prequels. pic.twitter.com/UNCEZWTzPY  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 14, 2016

@JustinTrudeau @CHEOhospital On behalf of the ROGUE ONE crew THANK YOU!  Merry Whitta  (@garywhitta) December 14, 2016

@JustinTrudeau Thank you so much for creating such an unforgettable experience for these #CHEO kids &their families!  CHEO Hospital Ottawa (@CHEOhospital) December 14, 2016

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is the eighth film of the Star Wars franchise which was created by George Lucas in 1977. It tells the tale of a war that took place in an imaginary universe: "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away." It is not a sequel or a prequel to any of the previous films. Instead, it is a spin-off and the first in the Star Wars Anthology Series.On December 14, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, took 20 patients, all of them children, from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), for an advance screening of the movie Rogue One. He tweeted, "Some friends from @CHEOhospital joined me for a sneak preview today...the verdict? #RogueOne is the best of the Star Wars prequels.(sic)"Social media users lauded the Prime Minister for this wonderful gesture.In fact, Gary Whitta, the write of Rogue One, thanked Trudeau for a positive verdict for the film. Even CHEO expressed gratitude and thanked the Prime Minister for the beautiful gift he had given to the children.Guess, some experiences are for a lifetime. And Trudeau just gave an unforgettable one to the children.With input from IANS.
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi in a face-off against Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

Gandhi launched an attack on the PM for not revealing the names of the Swiss Account holders.

He has the names of those people who have Swiss Bank accounts but PM Modi is not dislosing the names, he said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a rally in Kanpur on Monday welcomed the Election Commission for the electoral reforms announced by it.

Stay tuned for more LIVE updates.

Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here.
There is evidence against Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and three of his terror partners in the NIA charge sheet on the Pathankot airbase attack, Facebook chats and other material accessed by CNN-News18 on Monday showed.



Facebook Chat and IP codes of Jaish- e- Mohammad leader Kashif Jan accessed by Indian agencies revealed incriminating details against Pakistan in the Pathankot terror attack. It showed that the terrorists, who addressed Jan as Ustaad ji, dialed him many times on his Pakistani phone number 923453030*** during the attack.



Jans Facebook messages also revealed that he had inside knowledge of Pathankot attack even when the operation was on and terrorists were using the word marriage to refer to fidayeen attack.



Kashif Jans facebook account was deactivated on January 5, 2016, hours after the terrorists in Pathankot were neutralised by Indian Army.



National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a comprehensive chargesheet at Panchkula Special Court naming Masood Azhar and three others of JeM as accused, nearly a year after the Pathankot attack. The others are: Shahid Latif, Kashif Jaan, Azhar's brother Rauf Asghar.



Four terrorists, all Pakistani nationals were were sent across the border on Decemebr 31, 2015 to launch the attack on the air base.



Another phone number Pathankot perpetrators called up to communicate with their bosses in Pakistan has links with Al Rahmat Trust and its website www.ranganoor.com. Later, Jaish commander uploaded audio clips on the same website claiming responsibility for Pathankot attack.



National Investigation Agency has traced the web host, administrator and designer of the aforementioned website and found all of them to be Pakistani citizens.



The charge sheet filed by the NIA has also listed all the food items and medicine found on terrorists bodies, which were manufactured in Karachi.


New Delhi: The NIA filed a chargesheet in the Pathankot airbase terror attack case at a Mohali court on Monday.



The agency has named Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar along with his brother Rauf Asghar as accused in its chargesheet.



Reacting to the news Sharad Kumar, DG NIA said, Investigation was extensive and done in a professional manner by our teams. We have collected digital, oral and documentary evidence which is irrefutable and nails the role of JeM terrorists, it's handlers and chief Maulana Masood Azhar.



The others named in the chargesheet are: Shahid Latif (resident of Mor Aminabad Gujrawala) and Kashif Jaan, a resident of Charsada Pakistan. The chargesheet claimed that Jaan was the main handler behind the attack.



The chargesheet highlighted the role of Jaish-e-Mohammed spreading mayhem in India and mentions the nefarious plans of the outfit.



Immediately after the Pathankot attack on January 2, Asghar had hosted a video message claiming the responsibility for the terror strike and glorified the role of his brother Azhar, who was released in exchange for passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999.



India will be using the charge sheet of NIA at various international forays to highlight the role of Azhar in the case relating to the Pathankot terror attack.



Launch of a diplomatic offensive against the group became an imperative after China continued to spurn efforts of India in getting UN sanctions against the terrorist and his group.





Earlier, the Home Ministry reportedly had given sanction to NIA to file the charge sheet against Azhar, Jaan and Shaid Latif, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).







The four terrorists, after entering into India from Bamiyal area of Gurdaspur, had carried out the strike at the Pathankot IAF base killing eight people including seven personnel of IAF and NSG.



According to NIA, the terrorists, who were killed after two days of gunfight, were identified as Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum and they were residents of Vehari (Punjab), Gujranwala (Punjab), Sanghar (Sindh) and Sukkur (Sindh) in Pakistan respectively.



The Pathankot terror strike had seen a joint investigation team from Pakistan also arriving in India for carrying out a thorough probe .



However, the Pakistani team, upon their return, claimed that India neither shared much of evidence nor allowed it to interrogate the security personnel involved in dealing with the attack.



(With PTI inputs)


Pampore attack: When will politicians understand our pain, asks father of martyr Saurabh Farate | https://t.co/DALUX21gZ3 pic.twitter.com/NAQfUnkM3F

 The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) December 18, 2016



Fursungi (Pune,Maha): Family mourns as mortal remains of gunner Saurabh Farate, who lost his life in #PamporeAttack, brought to his hometown pic.twitter.com/lc0HMzTshR



 ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2016





Fursungi (Pune,Maha): Wreath laying ceremony of gunner Saurabh Farate, who lost his life in #PamporeAttack, underway in his hometown pic.twitter.com/fCVn02Ht3O



 ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2016



: A large number of people in Pune's Phursungi village on Monday bid a tearful adieu to martyr Saurabh Farate who was killed by terrorists in Pampore (Jammu and Kashmir) on Saturday.Farate was laid to rest at his native place with full military honours on Monday after his mortal remains were flown to Pune and it reached his birthplace on Sunday evening.Thirty-two-year-old Farate, who has served in the Indian Army for the last 13 years as a Gunner, is survived by his wife, twin daughters and a brother who also serves in the Army. A pall of gloom descended on Phursungi as family members, friends and locals mourned Farate.NCP leader Sharad Pawar on Sunday also offered condolences to the bereaved family.Army paid tributes to Naik (Gunner) Ratheesh C (35), a resident of Kotolipram, Kannur district in Kerala, Gunner Sourabh Farate (32) of Village Phursungi in Pune and 24-year-old Gunner Shashikant Pandey, resident of Zharian, Dhanbad district in Jharkhand on Sunday.The three soldiers were killed after terrorists opened fire on an Army convoy in south Kashmir's Pulwana district, the Army said on Saturday.
Pune: Against the backdrop of seizure of valid currencies across country, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday questioned the "cash distribution sources" at a time when the common man is facing liquidity crunch.



Continuing his attack against demonetisation, the veteran politician said while the common man is standing in queues outside banks to get his money, crores of rupees in new notes are being seized from people with "wrong intentions".



"Nowadays on news channels, news reports are shown about seizures of crores of cash in new notes of Rs 2000.



However, the question is when common man is not getting cash from the banks, despite standing in queues outside the banks, how come such a huge cash in new notes being seized in raids in the country?" Pawar asked.



The former Union minister said there are four sources from where the cash is distributed in the country.



"First, the four printing presses, the Reserve Bank of India, State Bank of India and other banks..and when common man is having hardships getting his money through banks, crores of rupees in new currency are seized from people with wrong intentions. Is it that this huge cash coming from these sources?" Pawar questionned.



He was speaking at a state-level summit of non-teaching employers in Pimpri near here.



"Government is pitching for cashless society, but even in country like America, 52 per cent transactions are done through cash. Before November 8 (when demonetisation was announced), 98 per cent transactions were done in cash. That percentage might have gone down after demonetisation," Pawar said, adding people are finding it difficult to do cashless transactions.



Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal that cash crunch will gradually ease after 50 days since recall of old notes, Pawar said, "Modiji sought 50 days. Now we are counting the days. Forty days are over, 10 days are left, let's see what happens."



He said some MPs in ruling government are "scared" after demonetisation and the announcement of proposed curbs on unaccounted properties and gold.



"Some MPs who in power speak privately that they are scared of going to their towns after note recall. They fear that with Modiji deciding to go after properties and gold, it would be their last tenure as members," the Maratha leader said.
Bhopal: A 26-year-old woman from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh was arrested in Uttar Pradeshs Noida for conning 11 men after marrying them.



The accused, Meghna Bhargav, had allegedly married at least 11 men in Indore, Kerala, Pune, Mumbai and Rajasthan over the past few years.



When families of the grooms met fair skinned and MBA degree holder Meghna Bhargav, little did they know that she would runaway at the very first opportunity she gets with their belongings and hard-earned money.



The tip-off came when a Kerala resident Lauren Justin filed a complaint against his "wife" in October 2016 who had disappeared with Rs 15 lakh worth of ornaments soon after the marriage.



As the Kerala police probed her track record, they learnt that Justin was the fifth target of the runaway bride in Kerala.



Days after marriage, Megha used to give her husband and in-laws sedatives laced food and run away with the cash and ornaments. She normally targeted men who had divorced their wives or were differently-abled.



Kerala police, along with their counterparts from Noida, arrested Megha, along with her sister Prachi Bhargav and brother-in-law Devendra Sharma, from Sector 120 where they used to hide after every crime.



Indore resident Mahendra Bundela was instrumental in finding grooms for the cunning bride.
Hyderabad: Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, who is known for his portrayal of a wide range of characters on screen, today said that he would love to play the role of Hindu god Krishna.



If a film is being made on the epic Mahabharat, I would like to play the role of Krishna, he told reporters. The actor was replying to a query on ace Telugu director SS Rajamouli of Baahubali fame reportedly planning to make a film on Mahabharat.



The 51-year-old actor, who is selective about his work and usually dedicates a considerable amount of time for a particular role, said that his next movie would be released in about eight months.



"They say that your film comes after two years or three years. I thought I must address that complaint. So, within eight months you will see my next film," he said. Aamir, meanwhile, is out with his latest film Dangal, which is set to hit the theatres on December 23. He essays the

role of Mahavir Singh Phogat in the film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari.



Dangal has been declared tax-free in Uttar Pradesh. Aamir said the distribution team of Disney has applied for tax exemption in all the states so that maximum people watch the movie.



The message in the film (Dangal) is that there is no difference between a girl and a boy, he said. Aamir said his look for his next movie Thugs of Hindustan has not been finalised yet, but he was growing his beard and hair in the meantime.



On allegations that he used substances for losing and gaining weight for Dangal, he said, "I have not used any substances. I think that the good rate to lose weight is roughly one pound a week. If you want to lose weight little faster, then you have more of a calorie deficit."



"So, if you have calorie deficit of 500 calories a day, you lose one pound a week. If you have the calorie deficit of 1,000 calories a day, you lose two pounds a week. That is considered to be on the higher side.



"When I started the weight loss process, I was doing double of that. Four pounds a week, I was losing for the first three weeks. Then I brought it down to two pounds a week. So, I had 20 weeks to do that. If you do the math, you will understand that is how I got there. Immediately after PK, I was in the weight training mode for two years," he clarified.



Aamir said he would like to work with south Indian stars like Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan, adding that he was open to do a south Indian film, if the right script came his way.
Jaunpur (Uttar Pradesh): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday asked party workers not to raise 'murdabad' slogans against Prime Minster Narendra Modi, while attacking his policy of demonetisation.



While addressing 'Janakrosh Rally' at Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi said, "Using such word (murdabad) is not our culture. You can hear such word from hardliner like RSS. He (Modi) is our Prime Minister and we have a political rivalry against him. I would like to urge you all not to use such word against him."



He said, "Recently, I met PM Modi and demanded to waive farmers' loan. He looked at me and said nothing. He did not reply. He is targeting the poor people of this country and waiving loans of rich".



The decision (on demonetisation) made on Nov 8 was not against black money or corruption, but against farmers and the poor. PM Modis demonetisation is not a surgical strike but a fire bombing on poor, he added.



On Black Money he said, Only 6% unaccounted money is stashed in India and 94% blackmoney is stashed away in foreign banks, real estate and investment in land deals and gold. Why is PM Modi is running after only the 6%.




New Delhi: The election commission could sound the poll bugle in election-bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur anytime after December 20, sources told News18 on Monday.



Sources also said the EC is likely to go for dates between second week of February and the beginning of March, before school board examinations start. The commission has sent directives to the state governments to consult them before deciding on the dates of the board and intermediate examinations.



In 2012, elections to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative assembly were held in seven phases from February 8 to March 3, and the dates were announced December 24, 2011.



The state could well see a triangular contest with an SP-Congress alliance in the works. News18.com had broken the news of a possible UP Mahagathbandhan in October.



Late last week, Chief Election Commissioner Dr Nasim Zaidi during a visit to Goa had said the dates were yet to be finalised.We are taking a number of inputs regarding availability of security forces and other factors . We are also in consultation with the State examination boards, Dr Zaidi was quoted as saying.






However, her plans for those negotiations have been shrouded in secrecy, and businesses and investors fear Britain might seek a "hard Brexit" where controlling immigration takes priority over access to the European single market.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal process of leaving the EU, by the end of March to kick off two years of exit talks.

Scotland will publish proposals this week for how it can remain in the European single market after Britain leaves the European Union in order to avoid the "national disaster" of a "hard Brexit," the Scottish government said Sunday.

 Scotland Supports EU

While the United Kingdom as a whole voted to leave the EU in the June 23 referendum, Scotland strongly backed remaining in the bloc. The country's devolved nationalist government has said it wants to stay part of the EU when the rest of the UK leaves, and on Tuesday will put forward plans for remaining in the 500 million-consumer single market should that prove impossible.

"In line with our commitments to explore all options to protect Scotland's interests, we will set out compromise proposals which, while not conferring the full benefits of EU membership, would mitigate the Brexit damage," said Michael Russell, the Scottish government's minister for EU negotiations.

"At the heart of our plan is a framework to keep Scotland's place in the European Single Market," he added.

Russell said such a plan faced complexities but a "hard Brexit" threatened 80,000 Scottish jobs over a decade.

 "Hard Brexit" Would Be Disaster

"That would be a national disaster for Scotland," he said. "Brexit presents everyone with an unprecedented challenge, and with political goodwill on all sides and a willingness to cooperate, these proposals can effect a solution for Scotland."

The plans also will outline further substantial new powers that should be handed to the devolved parliament in Edinburgh post-Brexit.

May has promised to work with the devolved Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments to achieve a unified negotiating strategy for Brexit, which risks straining the centuries-old union between England and Scotland.

Scots rejected secession in a 2014 referendum, but the ruling Scottish National Party has warned it might hold a second independence vote.

"Our intention now is that these proposals can be discussed and agreed in a UK context and then form part of the UK government's overall negotiating position when Article 50 is triggered," Russell said.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Trivandrum additional sessions court on Monday awarded double life imprisonment to 11 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activists in DYFI activist V Vishnu murder case.



On April 1, 2008, Vishnu was hacked to death by RSS activists with swords in front of the Regional Passport Office at Kaithamukku on April 1, 2008.



Vishnu was believed to be the main conspirators behind the attempt on the life of RSS leader Thirumala Hari. Investigation revealed that RSS activists killed Vishnu in an act of revenge.



Beside 11, one of the accused got life imprisonment and one other accused has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment for providing shelters to the assailants who fled after committing the crime.


Attacking the Prime Minister, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said 50 families in India have most of the country's wealth, courtesy Narendra Modi who takes members of their families with him in his plane on his trips abroad.



"60 per cent of the country's wealth is amassed by the rich. Most of the wealth is with only 50 families of the country. It is courtesy Modiji. I don't want to name these families, as you know them... Members of these families travel with the Prime Minister on his plane when he goes to the US, China..," he said addressing a 'Janakrosh Rally' here.



This was his first rally in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh after the Winter Session of Parliament which was washed out over demonetisation.



Last week, Rahul had threatened to "expose personal corruption of Modi" while claiming that he was not being allowed to speak in Parliament as it would lead to an "earthquake".



He said 99 per cent of the people of the country are honest who sweat it out to earn their living but "the Prime Minister mocks at them in Parliament."



Insisting that "All cash is not black and all black money is not in cash", the Congress leader said, "94 per cent black money is stashed away in foreign banks, real estate and investment in land deals and gold. But why is PM running after only the rest 6 per cent?"



He said only one per cent people have 60 per cent of the country's wealth and that "Modi has made fun of 99 per cent honest people through demonetisation".



Rahul alleged that Modi had waived Rs 1,200 crore loan of Vijay Malya and Rs 1.10 lakh crore taken by 50 wealthy families, but did not care about writing off farmers' loans.



The Congress leader, who had undertaken a 'Deoria to Delhi' padayatra to highlight the plight of farmers, said he had met the Prime Minister to seek waiver of farmers' loans but the latter was non-committal.



The purpose of note ban was "Garib ka khincho, Amir ko sincho (extract from the poor and help the rich)", he said.



Interestingly, at the rally, when some workers shouted slogans against Modi, Rahul asked them to desist from making personal attacks.



"Our fight against Narendra Modi is political, please don't raise 'murdabad' slogans against him...Such language is used by fascists and RSS, not Congress," he told them.

(Reopen DEL91)



In a poser to the Prime Minister, Rahul asked, "In



September, before your speech (announcing note ban on November 8), how come six lakh crore rupees were deposited in banks all over the country?"



The Congress leader went on to add, "Such a huge sum has never been deposited in the history of the country. There should be an answer as to whose money it was and how come it was deposited just before the note ban annoncement."



He said, "Since Modi does not have a reply to it, every Congress worker needs to tell the truth of demonetisation and truth of suit-boot government to the country."



The Congress leader exhorted partymen to visit each household and tell farmers and labourers that "Narendra Modi has snatched your cash and on its basis, the loans of the wealthy is going to be waived."



Citing an example of a flower seller in Bengaluru, Rahul said all her transactions used to be in cash and after demonetisation, she has been left to beg for her living.



"Normally a person donating blood has to go to donation camp to give it on his own free will but Modi has extracted blood of 99 per cent poor and honest people without seeking their consent," he said.



"Modi has ruined small industries through note ban... labourers survive on daily wages...We gave MNREGS and you snatched their money...Modi wants that the money of poor and honest remain in banks for as long as possible so a maximum limit was fixed for all withdrawlas and rules have been changed a 100 times," he said.



Alleging that Modi cannot recover the loans of 50 wealthy families as they have made him the PM, Rahul said note ban was brought to waive it.



Rahul said Modi talked about black money, fake currency and then about terror funding to justify note ban and now when all these have failed, he is talking about cashless economy.



But the reality is that five per cent of the money withdrawn from the accounts will go to the pockets of Modi's friends, he claimed.
Kochi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's corruption charges against Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not a "loose statement", senior party leader Anand Sharma said on Sunday.



"Definitely there are issues. It is not a loose statement. That much I can say," he told reporters here when asked what was stopping Gandhi from revealing the "detailed information" on the "personal corruption" of Modi.



"Certain things must be placed on the table of the House under the rules. That is real. Outside, it can be debated, disputed or diluted. But once it is placed in Parliament, the Prime Minister or the Minister cannot escape accountability.



That is the difference," Sharma said when asked whether the people will have to wait till next session of Parliament to know about the "corruption" charges against Modi.



The Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said it was for the Prime Minister to tell the country why he "directed the Ministers to disrupt" both the Houses and "not allow Rahul Gandhi and the Opposition leaders to speak."



"If there is nothing Prime Minister is worried about, why he (Rahul) was not allowed to speak?," Sharma asked.



After claiming that there will be an "earthquake" if he speaks, Rahul Gandhi on December 14 had alleged he has detailed information about "personal corruption" by the Prime Minister which he wants to present in Lok Sabha.



"But he was not allowed to do so by Prime Minister", Sharma alleged.



Sharma also attacked Modi for his statement that Indira Gandhi paid no heed to the Wanchoo Committee's recommendation to demonetise high-value currency notes in 1971.



"Prime Minister must be condemned for tarnishing the image of a martyr Prime Minister, that too he chose December 16 when Vijay Diwas - The victory of India over Pakistani - is celebrated," he said.



The Prime Minister had cited a book to say that when the then Finance Minister Y B Chavan went to Indira Gandhi and supported the exercise, she asked "only one question. Are no elections to be fought by the Congress party?"



He also urged Modi to "stop insulting" former Prime Ministers.



Sharma said the Wanchoo committee report was not only on demonetisation.



"It was on the establishment of the tax settlement commission, which was accepted in 1976 and based on the recommendations Income Tax Commission's settlement was set up.



And the demonetisation got implemented in 1978 was a disaster," he added.
Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Monday ducked questions on whether he would pave the way for Sasikala Natarajan to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.



This is at a time when a section within the AIADMK has backed Sasikala, close aide of former CM J Jayalalithaa, to become party general secretary and Tamil Nadu chief minister.



AIADMK leader C Ponnaiyan earlier said, "Chinamma (Sasikala) will be the next General Secretary of the party." There have been posters put up across the city asking Sasikala to take over the mantle of the AIADMK.



Sasikala has not yet given an official statement but observers say she is waiting for the judgement on the disproportionate assets case before taking a call.



Panneerselvam, who was talking to reporters in Delhi after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reiterated his demand for a Bharat Ratna for Jayalalithaa and a bronze statue of the late AIADMK leader in Parliament complex.



"Amma has served the country for 32 years and she deserves the Bharat Ratna," Panneerselvam said in his first news conference since becoming chief minister.



Panneerselvam submitted a memorandum to PM Modi demanding Rs.22,573 crore for cyclone relief in the State. He also reiterated demands to form the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Regulation Committee as per Cauvery Tribunal Final verdict, 2007.
A day after Facebook said it was stepping up efforts against fake news and hoaxes, Germany announced a new law that will empower it to fine the social media giant 500,000 euros ($522,575) for every problematic post that does not vanish within 24 hours."After years of asking, cajoling and threatening the US social network to work faster to tackle fake news and hate speech, Berlin made clear it is no longer interested in self-regulation," a report in Irish Times said on Sunday."Facebook did not use the chance to regulate complaint management properly," Thomas Oppermann, the Bundestag floor leader of Germany's ruling Social Democrats (SPD), was quoted as saying.He said that after a "long and intensive effort to build bridges" with the company, the SPD and its coalition partner, chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), have agreed to present new legislation in the new year.The law will oblige all dominant internet platforms operating in Germany to have a legal contact, operating round-the-clock, for victims of hate speech and fake news, the report said.Currently, Facebook users in Germany complain to the platform's headquarters in Dublin - with an unclear response and action time.According to the law, the person affected by the fake news can demand a "correction with the same reach" as the original post.Facebook was accused of allowing fake news to be posted during the US presidential election in November.Facebook on Thursday it was stepping up efforts against fake news and hoaxes by testing several ways to make it easier to report a hoax if users see one on the social media network.Facebook asked its users to flag fake news stories which will be verified by third party fact-checkers.According to media reports, Facebook was going to work with five fact-checking agencies - ABC News, AP, FactCheck.org, Politifact and Snopes.
Moscow: At least 33 persons have died in the Siberian city of Irkutsk in the last 24 hours after drinking an alcohol-based lotion, local emergency services said on Monday.



The regional department of the Russian investigation committee reported that 54 persons have been hospitalised and 33 have died, reports Efe.



Irkustk Mayor Dmitri Berdnikov declared a state of emergency in the city on Monday and announced a provisional ban on the sale of all kinds of liquids containing alcohol if they are not certified alcoholic beverages.



Additionally, the committee ordered the seizure of the product, which on its label clearly indicates that it is only for external use.



The Russian Ministry of Health said product samples were being analysed.



According to local media, because of recession in the Russian economy, low-income Russians cannot afford to buy legitimate liquor and use alcohol-based products such as fragrances and lotions.



This has increased the number of fatal poisonings, especially during winter, when alcohol consumption usually increases.
Elderly woman found frozen in car turns out to be mannequin https://t.co/RlqCZH4L9k pic.twitter.com/XUwJjSP7L9  CNN (@CNN) December 17, 2016

Police in the US state of New York broke into a vehicle to 'rescue' an apparently frozen woman, only to find it was a life-size mannequin, media reports said.A caller described as "upset" called police on Friday to report a woman "frozen to death" in a parked car in the city of Hudson.Officers rushed to the scene found a seat-belted figure wearing an oxygen mask sitting motionless in the passenger seat.Police said the car was covered in snow, suggesting it had been left overnight in temperatures of about -13C.Police said the mannequin was extremely realistic, with real clothing, glasses, shoes, teeth and skin blemishes. It was even wearing a seat belt. They later tracked down the owner, who complained about the police action.The mannequin's owner said he used it as a medical training aid."It is my understanding that the owner was incredulous that we took action in this matter. He apparently was quite vocal and vulgar to my sergeant," police chief L Edward Moore said in a statement."Just to clear the record, all citizens of Hudson should be put on notice that if you park your locked vehicle on the street on a sub-zero night with a life-size realistic mannequin seated in it... we will break your window," Chief Moore had this message for mannequin owners.
Paris: The International Monetary Fund's managing director was convicted Monday of negligence by a special French court for her role in a hugely contentious arbitration award to a businessman in 2008.



But Christine Lagarde, who was France's finance minister at the time, was spared punishment and a criminal record.



The Court of Justice of the Republic, made up of three judges and 12 parliamentarians, tries cases concerning ministers for alleged crimes while in office.



Lagarde, not present for the verdict, maintained her innocence through the weeklong trial. The prosecutor had asked for an acquittal.



The guilty verdict, even without punishment, tarnishes Lagarde's impressive career as one of the most powerful women in world finance. It raised immediate doubts about whether the IMF's first female managing director will be able to continue in that job she has held since 2011.



The International Monetary Fund board is expected to meet shortly to discuss the implications of the surprise guilty verdict against IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Monday in a French court.



"The Executive Board has met on previous occasions to consider developments related to the legal proceedings in France. It is expected that the Board will meet again shortly to consider the most recent developments," fund spokesman Gerry Rice said in a statement.



The case revolves around a 403 million-euro ($425 million) arbitration deal given to tycoon Bernard Tapie in 2008 over the botched sale of sportswear maker Adidas in the 1990s. The amount prompted indignation in France.



Civil courts have since quashed the unusually generous award, declared the arbitration process and deal fraudulent and ordered Tapie to pay the money back.



The Washington-based IMF said after Monday's verdict that its executive board would meet soon "to consider the most recent developments."






Clinton piled up big vote margins in California and New York to give her a national popular vote edge, while Trump won enough states, sometimes relatively narrowly, to claim the Electoral College advantage and a four-year term as the nation's leader. It would be the fifth time in U.S. history, and the second in the last 16 years, that the popular vote winner did not win the all-important Electoral College vote.

The Democratic candidate, former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton, defeated Trump by nearly 2.9 million votes in the national popular vote. But the Republican Trump won where it mattered, in enough of the state-by-state contests to claim an apparent 306-232 edge in the Electoral College, well more than the 270 majority he needs.

The popular vote winner in each state normally receives all of that state's Electoral College votes, which are allotted in proportion to the state's population. A total of 538 electors will cast those ballots Monday in their respective state capitals.

Americans have known since early November that Trump would take over the White House when he is inaugurated Jan. 20. U.S. presidential elections, however, are not determined by the national popular vote, but rather by the individual outcomes in presidential balloting in all 50 states and the national capital city, Washington.

The next chapter in the tumultuous U.S. presidential election plays out Monday, with voting in the Electoral College expected to officially confirm that billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump will become the country's 45th president.

 Usually a Formality But Not This Year

In most election years, voting in the Electoral College is little more than a formality. But that is not the case this year.

Because of the close and bitterly contested race, and continuing opposition to Trump's victory by many Clinton supporters, thousands of Americans have bombarded the 306 Republican electors with e-mails and phone calls, demanding they reject Trump, either by voting for Clinton or another, more acceptable Republican. In the unlikely event that 37 Republican electors defect from Trump and the vote ends in a tie at 269, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives would pick the president.

Most of the electors, however, are bound by state law to vote for the candidate who won their state vote count, or if they are not, say they feel morally compelled to vote in the Electoral College the way their state voted.

 Faithless Electors

Faithless electors -- those who cast Electoral College votes for someone other than the presidential candidate who won their state -- are not unheard of in American political annals, but they are rare, with just a handful since the Electoral College was first used in 1789.

Several U.S. news media outlets who have interviewed at least some of the 2016 electors say the vast majority are planning to back the winner in their state, with only one known Republican elector, Chris Suprun in the southwestern state of Texas, saying he would not vote for Trump.

Suprun, however, told VOA that the number of faithless electors is "more than just me. I'm thinking we're working toward the (37) we need to throw this to the House of Representatives."

He declined to say whom he would vote for on Monday. He said Trump has "proved himself to be a demagogue," continuing his attacks on people who criticize him since the election, much the same as he did during the lengthy presidential campaign.

Some analysts have predicted there might be more defectors, but until the electors cast their Electoral College ballots, no one knows for sure. The country's Founding Fathers debated how to pick the country's presidents, deciding against using the popular vote for fear that mob rule might ensue or that the biggest states would have too much control of the ultimate outcome. It settled on the Electoral College, in part to give even the smallest states at least three electoral votes.

As it currently stands, seven states and the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., each have three electoral votes. The Pacific coast state of California has the most, at 55.


Amman: At least 15 persons were killed in a series of shootouts between Jordanian police and a group of gunmen, Jordan's homeland security department said in a statement.



Seven policemen, two Jordanian civilians, one Canadian tourist and four gunmen were killed, while 27 others were wounded, on Sunday, Efe news agency reported on Monday.



The shootings took place in the southern Jordanian city of Karak where the gunmen were holed up in a historic citadel.



An unspecified number of attackers holed themselves up, the statement said, describing them as "terrorists and outlaws", although it did not link the gunmen to any particular group.



The department confirmed that four "terrorist" gunmen were shot dead and security forces continued combing operations in the area for other potential attackers.



Security sources, however, did not rule out the possibility that the attackers could belong to the terrorist Islamic State (IS) group.



The Department of Homeland Security had previously reported that there were five or six attackers hiding in the Karak citadel, about 120 km south of the Jordanian capital, Amman.



The Karak citadel is a Crusader castle built in the Middle Ages and is a well-known tourist attraction in Jordan.



Security sources told Efe that the gunmen were surrounded and that shots were exchanged when policemen in several patrol cars tried to arrest them.



Jordanian Prime Minister Hani al-Mulqui confirmed the deaths of some "members of the security forces".



Another attack was also carried out in Karak governorate against another patrol, although no casualties were reported.



Jordan till now had remained relatively stable and had not suffered terror attacks in comparison to neighbouring country like Syria.



However fears were growing that the IS could target Jordan next as it was a key US ally and a member of the US-led military coalition.
Russia: Hours after Russias envoy to Islamabad Alexey Y Dedov was quoted by Radio Pakistan as saying that Russia strongly supports the China Pakistan Economic Corridor the Russian Embassy in Islamabad has urged the media not to make its own conclusions and treat the report carefully.



Speaking to CNN-News18, the embassys press attache Vyacheslav Sentyurin said, There is no question of joining or investing in the CPEC corridor. We are not going to be a part of it, but we have our own projects which we could connect to it. These ideas are not new and the media has made its own conclusions. We dont hide such things from India.



Sentyurin said the press should refer to the Russian Foreign Ministrys recent statement which said, Pakistani media reports about secret negotiations between Russia and Pakistan on the implementation of projects as part of CPEC are not true to facts and that Moscow is not discussing the possibility of joining this project with Islamabad.



While reports quoted the Russian Envoy as saying that Russia was thinking about merging the Eurasian Economic Corridor with CPEC, the embassy clarified that in the interview with the ambassador it was the merging of the EAEU with Chinese project of Silk Road Belt that was under discussion. Recognising the importance of CPEC for Pakistans economy and regional connectivity, the ambassador made it clear that Russia doesnt participate in it being engaged in realisation of its own large-scale bilateral project with Pakistan  that of North-South gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore.



Despite the clarification, recent developments have left Indian diplomats and foreign policy experts worried. After all, despite protests from India after the Uri attack Russia went ahead with army and navy drills with Pakistan and has been engaging with the Taliban as well. In fact on the 27th of this month Russia, Pakistan and China will be holding the next round of three way talks on counter terrorism in Afghanistan.



Strategic Affairs Expert Brahma Chellaney says, India ought to be worried because India and Russia relations have always been stable and now there is an element of uncertainty. Recent developments seen together indicate that Moscow is signalling things which are not in conformity with Indias key interests. Chellaney also said that the fact that China, Pakistan and Russia are engaging on Taliban shows that something fundamental is happening and India is being isolated as a result.



However, Indias former ambassador to Russia, PS Raghavan said, There is no rethink on ties with India. In fact results of the recently concluded Indo-Russia summit were far better than expected. Raghavan feels that Pakistani media reports tend to be exaggerated and the Russian foreign ministrys statement denying involvement in CPEC is the most authoritative so far. The former envoy also stressed on the importance of President Putins recent speech in the Russian Parliament on foreign policy where he referred only to USA, China and India and spoke about the special and privileged strategic partnership with India.



The Indian foreign ministry has refused to comment on Ambassador Dedovs statements but, sources say government officials are closely following Moscows statements on Pakistan.
Moscow: A plane carrying Russian soldiers crashed early Monday, seriously injuring 16, the defence ministry said, quoted by Russian news agencies.



The Ilyushin-18 plane carrying 32 passengers and seven crew made an emergency landing around 4:45 am Moscow time (01:45 GMT) in the eastern Siberian region of Sakha.



Everyone survived but 16 received serious injuries, RIA Novosti agency reported, citing the defence ministry, adding at least 20 of those on board required hospitalisation.



"Helicopters have evacuated all of them to health centres in Tiksi," the ministry.



It was not immediately clear whether the plane was owned by the military.



A source in the defence ministry told Interfax that the plane had not given a distress signal and that the flight took place in harsh weather conditions that could have led to icing of the plane.






"Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" the gunman shouted in Turkish, referring to the Syrian city where Russian bombardments have helped drive rebels from areas they had occupied for years during the war.



A gunman in a suit and tie shouted slogans about Syria's civil war after he killed Russia's ambassador to Turkey in front of stunned onlookers at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital on Monday, according to an Associated Press photographer who witnessed the shooting.Police later killed the assailant, Turkish station NTV reported.Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when a man fired at least eight shots, according to the AP photographer in the audience.He also shouted "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great" and continued in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad."The gunman approached Karlov as he lay on the ground and shot him at least one more time at close range, according to the AP photographer. The attacker also smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition. There was panic as people ran for cover. Three other people were wounded in the attack, NTV said. A man identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas holds up a gun after shooting Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (Photo: AP)The attack comes a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defense ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria. Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nearly six-year conflict, while Turkey has supported Assad's foes.Karlov was shot "when an unidentified assailant opened chaotic gunfire during a public event in Ankara," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. She said Russia was in contact with Turkish officials about the incident.U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said U.S. officials were aware of reports about the shooting. People crouch in a corner after Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, was shot at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 (Photo: AP)"We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source," Kirby said.The United Nations condemned the attack."There can be no justification for an attack on an ambassador ... and we very much hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.Melih Gokcek, the mayor for Ankara, told reporters outside the exhibition center that the "heinous" attack aimed to disrupt newly-re-established relations between Turkey and Russia. A child is held after Andrei Karlov, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, was shot at a photo gallery in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 (Photo: AP)Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplanes at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkey's apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift. The leaders of the two countries, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have held several meetings in recent months and spoken frequently over the phone.Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and also discussed the prospect of organizing a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.The Russian ambassador to Turkey who was fatally shot was a career diplomat.Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang in 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department. He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.
Washington: Republican Senator John McCain has said Russian election-related hacks threaten to "destroy democracy" and faulted the American response as "totally paralyzed", media reports said on Monday.



McCain from Arizona who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, also called for a select committee to investigate the CIA's finding on the Russia hacking, the CNN reported.



It was alleged that Russia hacked Democrats' emails in a bid to help President-elect Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.



"This is the sign of a possible unravelling of the world order that was established after World War II, one of the most peaceful periods in the history of the world," McCain told CNN.



"We're starting to see the strains and the unraveling of it, and that is because of the absolute failure of American leadership," the senator said in the interview to the CNN.



McCain mocked President Barack Obama's statement on Friday that he had personally told Russian President Vladimir Putin to "cut it out."

"When America doesn't lead, a lot of other bad people do," he added.



McCain's calls so far for an in depth investgation was rejected by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan.



Although both leaders backed investigations, but said they wanted to see them conducted through already-existing Senate and House committees.



"This is serious business. If they're able to harm the electoral process, they may destroy democracy, which is based on free and fair elections," McCain added.



McCain sent a letter to the majority leader asking him to allow for a Senate select committee to probe Russian hacking.



"Cyber is the rare kind of all-encompassing challenge for which the Congress's jurisdictional boundaries are an impediment to sufficient oversight and legislative action," McCain wrote in his letter to McConnell.



Only a select committee that is time-limited, cross-jurisdictional, and purpose-driven could address the challenge of cyber, a bipartisan quartet of senators said in the same letter.



In the programme "State of the Union" McCain in his interview said the responsibility for cyber-security was spread too broadly at present.



He said in the US, the responsibilities for cyber was spread over about four different committees in the Senate.



In the interview, McCain also spoke about China's seizure of a US underwater drone and the Syrian government's slaughter of the citizens of Aleppo -- in dire terms.



He said that there was no doubt about "interference" and "a cyber-attack".



"The question now was how much and what damage and what should the US do?" McCain asked.



Mc Cain mocked Obama's efforts and said: "I'm sure that when Russian President Vladimir Putin was told quote 'cut it out' unquote, Putin immediately stopped all cyber-activities."



"The truth is, they are hacking every single day," came McCain's wake up call for the US authorities.
Islamabad: Russia wants India and Pakistan to resolve all their differences, including the Kashmir issue, through peaceful means, the Russian envoy said in Islamabad on Saturday.



Replying to a question, Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Alexey Y Dedov said his country wants Pakistan and India to resolve all differences, including the Kashmir issue, through peaceful means.



He said Pakistan and Russia are also closely cooperating in efforts for restoration of peace in Afghanistan, Radio Pakistan reported.



Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, Dedov said Russia strongly supportsthe project as it is crucial for Pakistans economy and regional connectivity. He pointed out that CPEC is component of Chinas Silk Road and his country was also working on a similar Eurasian Economic Union and China and Russia are holding discussions to merge the two projects.



Asked about North-South gas pipeline project of Pakistan, the Russian Ambassador said they are eager to realise the project at the soonest. The Ambassador said the two countries are closely cooperating in different areas but there is need to enhance the volume of bilateral trade.



Russia and Pakistan rebuilding their ties after decades of mistrust during the Cold War and have recently given gestures in deepening ties.
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in the same month, said: There is a different leader in Syria now, adding, Many of the Congress leaders from both parties, who have gone to Syria in recent months, believed Assad is a reformer.

I would put blame on outside forces Forces, which were supporting one side or other, Brahimi told Aljazeera, adding, None of these countries had the interest of Syrian people as the first priority. He didnt spare Assad regime either. The government was interested in sticking to power rather than thinking about the interest of Syrians.

The Syrian exiles, he said, were made up of largely irrelevant people with no control whatsoever on the fighters on the ground,Assad continued his brutal assault using barrel bombs that killed scores on a daily basis.

The world has failed Syria. People kept on saying that Assad must go and on the other hand, everybody is terrorists, Brahimi said, referring to the rebels.

Aleppo is now a synonym for hell, United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon said in his farewell news conference last weekend adding that the world body has failed Syria.When and how did Syria begin this slide into perdition?Flash back to 2011, when the country slowly slanted towards a full-blown civil war. Little was known about the reality of Syria in the wider world, wrote Paul Danahar, BBCs Middle East Bureau Chief (2010-13) in his book The New Middle East. The dictators in Tunisia and Egypt, who not so long ago looked invincible, had already fallen, but Assad looked well-poised.In its February edition of 2011, Vogue magazine published a profile on his wife Asma-al-Assad titled A Rose in the Desert. The article was nothing less than a glowing tribute to the Assads. A Rose in the Desert, described them as a "wildly democratic" family-focused couple and Syria as the safest country in the Middle East.While the story showered praises over the Assads, back home his regime had started what will later lead to a monstrous conflict taking a heavy toll on civilians. In the same month, fifteen schoolchildren were arrested and tortured for writing words -- which Danahar writes  echoed across the Arab World, The people want the overthrow of the regime.This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows Syrian troops and pro-government gunmen marching walk inside the destroyed Grand Umayyad mosque in the old city of Aleppo, Syria. (AP)The article is no more available on the Internet and Clinton distanced herself from her remarks as the safest country in the Middle East descended into a civil war. Former UN Special Envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimis words corroborate that outside forces involved in Syria had little understanding of the situation. In an interview to Aljazeera in March 2016, Brahimi said, There are no good guys. Everybody was a victim of a very superficial analysis of the situation.Also Read: Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov Shot Dead in Ankara In the past five years, as Syria became a mere spectator to what many call a vicious cycle of violence, the purpose of the revolution slowly went into oblivion. A desire for freedom, democracy, justice, and opposition to Assads dictatorial regime seeded the revolution as the same brought about changes in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya.By the time the uprising had entered its second year, the dynamics around it had changed. The Gulf States, particularly, Saudi Arabia sought to exploit the turmoil in Syria to diminish Iranian influence, according to Danahar. By its third year, the Syrian civil war had gone beyond anyones control.The entry of Iran and Saudi Arabia in the Syrian quagmire gave it a sectarian colour. Though the Pandoras Box of sectarianism was opened by the US and UK-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. The mismanagement of post-invasion Iraq and the ensuing violence gave Iran an upper hand. It had allowed Iranians far more influence in their neighbours affairs than they could ever have dreamed of. Saudi Arabia wanted to turn the clock back, wrote Danahar.In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, green government buses carry residents evacuating from eastern Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Dec. 16, 2016. (Associated Press)However, Iranian involvement in Syria alongside Russia may not be a direct result of sectarianism that has plagued the region now. Isolated by the West after the 1979 Islamic revolution and surrounded by pro-west regimes, Iran sees Assad as the only reliable ally. The collapse of Assad would be a huge blow to Irans regional ambitions.Paul Danahar argues that the first attempt to unify Syrian opposition focused on Syrian exiles. In December 2011, US State Department met and anointed a group of exiles, Syrian National Council as the leading and legitimate representative of Syrians after a meeting in Geneva.The dynamics on the ground changed every passing moment as Syrias once famous socio-cultural fabric crumbled. An intransigent West demanded Assads ouster as the foundation stone for the peace process and refused to engage him. The regime was equally stubborn. It wreaked havoc on innocent civilians while suggesting that they were killing terrorists.Two days before Moons final press conference, the last messages from eastern Aleppo had started pouring in thereby manifesting the imminent fall of rebel-held areas to the Assad regime. While some called it liberation, others referred to it as occupation and systematic purge of revolution by government forces. Almost a week later, the fragile ceasefire as a part of which the rebels and civilians were to evacuate, has collapsed on multiple occasions.Syrian army soldiers patrol the east Aleppo neighbourhood of Tariq al-Bab, Syria on December 3, 2016. (AP Photo)What started in 2011 as a popular uprising against Assad regime has turned into an enduring nightmare for the civilians. The conflict in Syria, which looks far from over even after the fall of eastern Aleppo, has displaced more than half of countrys population and killed more than 4,00,000 civilians. Circumstances turned so bad that the UN stopped counting the number of deaths in 2014.The fall of eastern Aleppo to government forces shifts the focus on the last rebel bastion, Idlib. The province west of Aleppo is under control of Al-Qaeda affiliate, the Fatah al-Sham Front, formerly known as Nusra Front. As per the figures released by Institute for the Study of War, the province has as many as 50,000 fighters who coalesced under the Fatah al-Sham Front. The Population of Idlib is said to be 1.5 million people, which continues to rise after the fall of Eastern Aleppo.Identifying which city comes next depends on which city contains the largest number of terrorists and which city provides other countries with the opportunity to support them logistically, Assad told Russian media outlets in an interview in Damascus on December 14, 2016.The ceasefire in Aleppo hangs by a thread even as the civilians and rebels continue evacuating the city amid burning buses and attacks on convoys, which have halted the process more than once.
The United Nations humanitarian adviser for Syria, Jan Egeland, lashed out Sunday at al-Qaeda-aligned rebel fighters for upending a fragile evacuation deal for civilians in Aleppo, labeling the jihadists as "reckless."

Egeland warned their burning earlier in the day of buses that were meant to evacuate Shi'ites from two small towns neighboring Aleppo risked imperiling all relief efforts.

"Reckless armed men burning buses for Foua and Kefraya undermine evacuation and relief for all civilians in besieged areas in Syria," he complained in a Twitter post.

Buses headed to evacuate Foua and Kefraya, two Shi'ite towns that have been besieged for months by rebel fighters, were attacked and burned Sunday, Syrian state media and an independent monitoring group reported.

The vehicles were en route to transport more than 2,000 sick and injured people from the towns in northwest Idlib province, as part of a deal to resume the evacuation of eastern Aleppo, where an estimated 40,000 civilians and rebel fighters have remain trapped in a small enclave since Friday.

Forces fighting for the government of President Bashar al-Assad are demanding that people be allowed to leave Foua and Kefraya in exchange for allowing rebels and civilians to leave eastern Aleppo. The London-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Sunday that the rebel group Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly known as the Nusra Front, was behind the bus burnings.

Reuters news agency reported that other buses and Syrian Red Crescent vehicles reached the entrance to the towns as hope mounted that the people-swap plan would be resumed. But by early evening there had been no resumption of evacuations, condemning those trapped in eastern Aleppo to yet another night of sub-freezing temperatures.

In the last remaining hospital in the enclave, doctors struggled Sunday to save the life of a pregnant mother and her baby by performing a cesarian section. "We tried to evacuate her but we couldn't," said a medic. "We were able to get the baby out but both are dead," he added.
A Virginia state trooper dropped his appeal Monday of a misdemeanor public intoxication charge stemming from a June 16 incident at a Lynchburg restaurant.

Derrick Antwan Thompson, 30, agreed to drop his appeal in Lynchburg Circuit Court, and prosecutors agreed not to pursue a second related charge of carrying a concealed weapon while under the influence of alcohol in public, which also is a misdemeanor charge.

Thompson, of Drakes Branch in Charlotte County, was convicted July 14 of the public intoxication charge in Lynchburg District Court, which handles misdemeanors. He then immediately appealed to Circuit Court. The second, now-dismissed charge was handed down directly by the grand jury in October.

Circuit Judge F. Patrick Yeatts on Monday ordered Thompson to pay a $25 fine on the public intoxication charge.

Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said Monday Thompson remains on leave, and an administrative procedure begins now that the court process is over. Geller said she didnt know how long the internal process takes. Previously Geller said Thompson was on unpaid leave. She could not confirm Monday if he still was on unpaid leave.

Thompsons attorney, David Hawkins, said after the Circuit Court hearing, the public intoxication charge remained because the commonwealth feels like they cant offer anything in terms of a favorable plea in situations like the state troopers.

Sometimes you get treated more harshly when youre a public person than when youre a private person, he said.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Latest on the meeting of Virginia's members of the Electoral College (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

Virginia's 13 members of the Electoral College have cast their votes for Hillary Clinton as expected.

The electors met Monday afternoon at the state Capitol and voted unanimously for Clinton, who won the statewide vote in November.

Electors in every state are meeting Monday. Although Clinton won the popular vote by 2.6 million votes, Trump is expected to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

Usually a ceremonial step in the road to the presidency, the Electoral College has drawn intense scrutiny this year. GOP electors have been inundated with emails, phone calls and letters urging them to vote against Trump. But an Associated Press survey of electors found very little appetite to vote for alternative candidates.

___

10:50 a.m.

Dozens of people are gathered in Richmond for a peaceful demonstration urging members of the Electoral College to vote against Republican Donald Trump.

Around 60 people holding signs that say "respect my vote" and "say no to bigotry" congregated outside the state Capitol on Monday morning, hours before Virginia's electors are set to meet there. Demonstrators are singing "This Land is Your Land" and chanting, "You have a choice - raise your voice."

Virginia's 13 electors are bound to vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton, who won the state last month. They will convene at noon.

Clinton won the popular vote by 2.6 million votes, but Trump is poised to win 306 of the 538 electoral votes under the state-by-state distribution of electors used to choose presidents since 1789.

___

2 a.m.

Virginia's Democratic members of the Electoral College are convening to cast their vote for the next president of the United States.

The electors will meet at the state Capitol at noon. Virginia, like most states, has a winner-take-all system that awards all electors to the candidate that carried that state. The electors are bound to vote for their party's nominee.

Virginia has 13 electors, corresponding to the number of seats the state has in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives combined.

A candidate must get 270 votes to win the presidency.

***

As Virginia's 13 electors prepared to cast their votes today for Democrat Hillary Clinton, about three dozen protesters stood outside the Bank Street entrance to the state Capitol, holding signs and chanting slogans against Republican Donald Trump's imminent election.

Electors Wake Up. Break this Mess up," the protesters chanted.

You have a choice. Use your voice.

Among the signs they carried were messages such as: Putins Puppet, Vote your Conscience and Do the Right Thing.

A coalition opposed to Trump's election has organized protests today in all 50 states where electors are gathering to formally cast votes for the nation's 45th president, who will take office on Jan. 20.

Were really concerned about the possibility of Trump being president, said Shelli Frydman, 64, a massage therapist who made the drive from Chantilly in Fairfax County to stand in the cold with other protesters who apparently had been organized through social media.

I think its important to speak out (against) somebody so divisive for the country. It reminds me of Hitler and how he came to power, said Frydman, who said she is the daughter of Holocaust survivors

If you dont speak out the bullies take over," she said.

Ive been waking up every morning with a sinking feeling a dread of what is on the horizon.

A bundled-up Roger Hildreth, 81, from Richmond, wore a hand-made Kermit the Frog winter cap.

Im concerned about whats happening to the country, he said. I want to see anybody but Trump in that office, though he acknowledged that his presence outside the Capitol and the day's collective protests would likely have little impact on the inevitability of Trumps election.

He added: I hope things change at the midterms.
Stung by a failed Appomattox business deal, Virginia hopes to convince a judge next month to lay partial blame at the feet of the companys North Carolina site consultant.

State economic officials once touted Charlotte-based Development Advisors recommendation as a defense for the decision to grant foreign nationals $1.4 million for a factory project. Development Advisors is a reputable organization, former VEDP CEO Martin Briley wrote.

Now the partnership says in a legal complaint that the consultant failed to properly represent Lindenburg Industry, whose CEO, Yunshan Stella Li, was based in China.

Calling the states argument nebulous, Development Advisors said it did its job by negotiating the multimillion-dollar package of incentives that state and local governments offered Lindenburg. The company never delivered on plans to turn a former furniture factory into a catalytic converter plant in Appomattox.

VEDP spokeswoman Suzanne Clark said the state is using all avenues reasonably available to us to force repayment of the grant. A Virginia State Police investigation and the Appomattox court case have been underway since early 2016.

Lindenburg left behind one hard asset, the empty factory building it purchased in 2014 for $2.1 million. In late 2015, the building was sold at a foreclosure auction for $1 million to satisfy a lien held by Development Advisors. The consultant said Lindenburgs parent company, Catalon Chemical, had defaulted on a promise to pay for $859,485 worth of consulting services in early 2015.

After paying some building-related debts, Appomattox County Circuit Court Judge Donald Blessing parked the remaining foreclosure proceeds  about $950,000  in a court-administered account.

That money belongs to Development Advisors, the company says; Virginia wants the funds turned over to the state in light of the fact that Lindenburg failed to repay the grant.

The case is scheduled to be heard Jan. 27 in Appomattox County Circuit Court.

Lindenburg did not object when the judge seized the money, and the company has filed no response to the states legal action or made any accusations in court against Development Advisors.

Robin Wood, a Lynchburg attorney, said he was hired to represent Lindenburg, but company officials stopped communicating with him and he withdrew from the case this summer.

Virginias case, as outlined in court papers, goes like this: Lindenburg is broke and owes the state money. Lindenburgs only known asset is a breach-of-contract claim it allegedly could bring against Development Advisors. Virginia has no other means to recover the grant except to step into Lindenburgs shoes and challenge the work of the consultant.

Virginia has not filed any evidence of its claims of lapses by Development Advisors. Six deals with companies represented by Development Advisors have been closed in the state since 2006, while another 13 potential opportunities were not consummated, according to agency records.

Development Advisors filed a detailed attack on the states claim. The consultant said it was contracted to represent only Catalon, not Lindenburg, a limited liability company that Catalon formed for the Appomattox project. It also noted that Appomattox County was the government entity that actually cut the incentives check and, by extension, is the one to be repaid.

Appomattox County has not filed court papers, letting the state take the lead as it has from the inception of the Lindenburg project. The $1.4 million the county gave Lindenburg was furnished by state taxpayers.
Seoul and Tokyo have already started sharing intelligence on North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles under a bilateral pact that went into effect on Nov. 23.

"The two countries shared intelligence on the nuclear and missile threats from the North at a meeting at the Defense Ministry this morning," ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said Friday.

"We agreed with Tokyo not to make the nature of the information public."
20 X-Men characters that should make the jump from Marvel comics to the MCU

Some new mutant faces for the MCU X-Men era and a couple the movies can finally get right
GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us.
GRANNY GANG RAPED

Police said the weeping woman later begged nurses at a medical institution - where she was being treated - to keep her as she was too terrified to return to her own home following the brutal assault.

According to a police report, the 67-yearold woman was awakened from sleep at two oclock Friday morning by two men dressed in dark clothing who shook her shoulders and said, get up old lady! The men then demanded the womans pension money before ransacking the house and taking possession of several items. It did not end there. The men then took the woman back to a bedroom where they ordered her to strip. The two then took turns raping the woman even as she wept and begged them to stop.

After the assault, the men left the house and escaped by running away. The weeping woman crawled on the ground towards an open window on the southern end of the house. Pushing her head through the window and nearly falling out, the woman screamed for help. Police Constables Quashie and Ramoutar of Central Division, who were on mobile patrol, immediately responded to the screams and found the sobbing, hysterical woman sitting on the ground.

The officers comforted her as they radioed an All Points Bulletin advising all police on patrol in the area to be on the lookout for two men dressed in dark clothing. Up to press time, the human predators remained at large.

The woman was taken to a medical institution where she medically examined and later treated. The distraught woman, Newsday was told, begged nurses at the institution to keep her as she was terrified of returning home.

Police officers later promised her that they would institute patrols in the area and check in on her. Following the assault on the grandmother, it is understood that residents have formed themselves into a neighbourhood watch group to not only keep an eye on the woman, who lives alone, but to keep an eye on each others property as the rapists are still on the loose.

The rape of the elderly woman is the latest in a series of criminal acts to be perpetrated in the area as residents complained of robberies, break-ins and burglaries.

Yesterday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Surujdeen Persad said that all resources will be used to apprehend the suspects and assured residents of the area in Couva that more patrols would be stepped up in the area. He congratulated the residents for forming themselves into a neighbourhood watch group and urged others to follow suit and, be each others keeper. The victim is now staying at the home of relatives as she has maintained she is too afraid to return to her own home. Investigations are continuing.
President Park Geun-hye on Friday submitted a 24-page written statement to the Constitutional Court disputing every count of the impeachment bill against her.

"There is no reason for impeachment and the court must reject" the impeachment, her lawyer Lee Joong-hwan told reporters after submitting the statement in court. "It is impossible to accept her alleged violations, and there is no evidence for her legal offenses."

The impeachment bill accuses her of five violations of the Constitution and eight legal offenses, including bribery and inaction during the 2014 ferry disaster.

"The allegations are not true and there is no evidence to back them up." Park says in the submission. "They are based on mere suspicion, violating the presumption of innocence."

The statement claims that holding Park accountable for the transgressions of her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil, who allegedly roped the whole of Cheong Wa Dae into a bizarre extortion racket, constitutes "guilt by association."

Prosecutors have named Park as an accomplice in their indictments of Choi and two former Cheong Wa Dae secretaries who allegedly smoothed her path on Park's orders.

Park also continues to deny that she allowed Choi to meddle in state affairs. She claims her crony was involved in "less than one percent" of state affairs and there is no proof linking the president with her doings.

Park said she may have consulted others in appointing officials but did not abuse her authority since she made the final decisions. She also denies leaning on conglomerates to make vast donations to the dodgy Mir and K-Sports foundations, which were staffed with Choi's drinking buddies under the aegis of Cheong Wa Dae, and did not proffer favors in return.


'I Seem to Have Gotten Under a

Certain Billionaire's Skin': AOC
(Newser)  Whitney Roberts Logan hasn't felt quite as "merry" this season as she did when she wrote that one word on her Christmas card last year. With the number of Syrians killed in that nation's civil war estimated at near half a million, as PBS reported earlier this year, and on the heels of a divisive election during which Donald Trump's son likened Syrian refugees to Skittles, the Kansas mom says she felt compelled to do something different, reports the Houston Chronicle. So this year she penned a sentence, and it's gone viral: "This Christmas season we would like to remind everyone that Jesus was a Middle Eastern refugee."

Logan has posted her card to her personal Facebook page with the message, "Part of our human family is in crisis, and there are real ways you can help today," followed by links to places to help. She also shared it with Pantsuit Nation, a Facebook page for Hillary Clinton supporters, and it quickly garnered 180,000 responses, the Kansas City Star reports. She was driven, she writes to the Daily Dish, to "remind Christians specifically" of the refugee part of the Christmas story, given that Jesus and his parents fled to Egypt to escape King Herod. "If we say we love God, and he says 'whatever you do unto the least of these, you do unto me' (paraphrase), then we have a pretty clear spiritual directive when it comes to caring for those who would seek refuge." (A now-famous young Syrian girl is safely out of Aleppo.)
(Newser)  "Its just again showing that the vegetation in southern California is still very stressed from the drought weve had for five years." So said LA County Fire Department Deputy Chief John Tripp in the wake of a Saturday tragedy in Whittier, reports USA Today: A family was taking wedding photos in Penn Park near a 100-foot-tall eucalyptus tree when it uprooted and fell, trapping some of the party underneath. A woman was killed and five others, including 4-year-old girl, injured in the incident, which happened at 4:30pm local time, reports the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

The relationship of the woman and girl to the bride and groom has not been released. NBC Los Angeles reports as many as 20 people were trapped under the tree, and chainsaws were used to extricate them. A witness shared this wrenching observation about the bride: "She was limping a little bit, but she was screaming about her momthey couldnt wake her up." An arborist will investigate Monday or Tuesday. NBC notes it rained heavily the previous night. (Read more falling tree stories.)
(Newser)  Marc Anthony has confirmed he's splitting from his wife of two years, 28-year-old model Shannon de Lima, reports Billboard. Rumors surfaced that the pair were done after Anthony, 48, shared an on-stage kiss with ex-wife Jennifer Lopez at the Latin Grammys in November, a few months after Lopez broke up with her boyfriend of four years, Casper Smart. Anthony and de Limawho began dating months after Anthony and Lopez broke up in 2011, and wed in 2014only say that they came to the decision "mutually and amicably" after "much consideration," reports Us Weekly. (Read more celebrity divorces stories.)
(Newser)  You can coo at Sparky all you like and even dress him up as one of Santa's elves. But when it comes to the law, says a judge in Canada, Sparky is a dog, not your child. That ruling came as part of a pet "custody" battle in a divorce case. CBC News reports the wife wants the couple's two dogs, Kenya and Willow, to live with her. The husband (described by the wife as a "cat person") disagrees. So the matter ended up in the courtroom of Judge Richard Danyliuk, who in a ruling chides the couple for wasting "scarce judicial resources" and refuses to make any custody decision, reports the StarPhoenix of Saskatoon. Deciding where Kenya and Willow should live would be like arbitrating butter knives, he writes. "Am I to make an order that ... the other party have limited access to those knives for 1.5 hours per week to butter his or her toast?"

The judge goes on to detail several examples of why Fido lacks "familial rights," including these points: "In Canada, we tend not to purchase our children from breeders," and "when our children act improperly  we generally do not muzzle them or even put them to death for repeated transgressions." The 15-page ruling notes the couple's detailed history of pet ownership, including the wife's claim the husband was "improperly attentive" to his two cats, Slimey and Oinky. Sighs Danyliuk: "For present purposes, that information is not particularly helpful." For now, the dogs are staying with the wife's parents. In a Solomon-like move, Danyliuk warns that if the couple fails to settle the matter, the dogs might end up being "sold and the proceeds split." (Kicking a puppy cost this CEO $100,000.)
Samsung plans to use batteries from LG Chemical in smartphones starting next year in a deal that could break decades of bitter deadlock between the two conglomerates.

Samsung has been in talks with LG Chemical since it had to stop using batteries from its own affiliate Samsung SDI after the debacle surrounding the combustible Galaxy Note 7 phone in October.

An industry insider said the two rivals have been having "very productive talks" although a final agreement has yet to be reached. "There is a strong chance that LG will start supplying smartphone batteries to Samsung around the second half of next year."

Another industry source said the chances of the agreement working out are "90 percent."

It takes at least six months to design, manufacture and test batteries that go into new smartphones, which would put the earliest possible date for a new Samsung phone with LG batteries in the second half of 2017 and rules out the Galaxy S8, which comes out early next year.

Samsung also recently had to turn to rival LG Display for LCD panels after Japan's Sharp decided to stop supplying them. "In the past, we tended to avoid buying products from LG out of pride," a Samsung executive admitted. "But we can no longer let our emotions get in the way and we need to make decisions based on business feasibility."


(Newser)  The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge had its mailbox trampled and its name on the box replaced with "ISIS" while seeking permission to build a 4,400-square-foot mosque in Bernards Township, NJ. Then its 70 members feared it was all for naught when, after 39 public hearings, the township's planning board rejected the group's proposal over issues like parking spaces and storm water management, reports the New York Times. But now both the ISBC and the Justice Department have filed suit, accusing Bernards Township of violating a 2000 religious freedom law. According to the Justice Department, township committee officials belittled Islam in emails, per the Bernardsville News. One said it "owes its size and in(fl)uence to a tradition from Day One of forced conversion through violent means."

NBC News notes the township also changed a zoning rule for houses of worship after the ISBC's application had been submitted in 2012, while "fliers, social media and websites denounced the mosque," per the Justice Department. "What should have been a simple board approval for a permitted use devolved into a Kafkaesque process that spanned an unprecedented four years," the ISBC says. Bernards Township, however, says it rejected the proposal based on "legitimate land-use and safety concerns which plaintiffs refused, and to this day, refuse to address." A neighbor who opposed the mosque tells NJ.com he objected to a Presbyterian Church's application for a property improvement in 2011 for those same, non-religious reasons. That application was later rejected. (Read more New Jersey stories.)
(Newser)  Here's one good reason to sweat it out in the sauna on your next visit to the gym: It could reduce your risk of dementia. In the first study of its kind, Finnish researchers found that men who used a sauna four to seven times a week were 66% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia. Writing in the journal Age and Ageing, researchers said more study is needed to figure out the link between sauna bathing and memory. "It is known that cardiovascular health affects the brain as well," says lead author Jari Laukkanen, per Science Daily. "The sense of well-being and relaxation experienced during sauna bathing may also play a role."

Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland divided 2,300 men between 42 and 60 years old into three groups: those who used a sauna once a week, two to three times a week, and four to seven times a week. Not only were the frequent users 66% less likely to be troubled with any form of dementia, they were 65% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Average temperatures in the sauna hovered around 174 degrees Fahrenheit. The men were followed for more than 20 years as part of the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, which has produced valuable research over the years, including last year's findings that higher egg consumption lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes. (Previous research from the same long-term study suggests the sauna can help you live longer.)
(Newser)  Gunmen assaulted Jordanian police in a series of attacks Sunday, including one at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing 10, officials say. Several armed men barricaded themselves inside the castle for hours, hemmed in by special forces soldiers. At least 34 people, including two foreign nationals, were wounded in the day's violence, which was one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory, the AP reports. Security officials announced late Sunday, several hours after reports of the first shooting, that the operation had ended and that four gunmen were killed. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in Karak, which is in central Jordan, about 87 miles south of the capital.

"Four gunmen got out of their car" at the castle, says a local resident. "They opened fire at the Canadian tourists. The woman was killed, the other Canadian tourist escaped and hid behind a car, and one of the children was injured." Police came under fire in at least three other incidents in the district. In all, seven members of the security forces, two local civilians, and the tourist from Canada were killed, security officials said. Fifteen members of the security forces, 17 local civilians, and two foreign nationals were injured. The slain tourist was identified as Linda Vatcher, a 62-year-old retired elementary school teacher from Newfoundland who was a widow and the mother of two adult sons. The Canadian Embassy in Amman issued a warning urging Canadians to avoid travel to Karak. (Read more Jordan stories.)
(Newser)  Donald Trump has chosen a wrestling exec to head the Small Business Administration, but he's not getting Rocky to head the National Endowment for the Arts. Sylvester Stallone announced late Sunday that he isn't interested in taking the arts leadership role in the Trump administration, though he might be willing to take a post where he could help veterans. "I am incredibly flattered to have been suggested to be involved with the National Endowment of the Arts," Stallone said in a statement. "However, I believe I could be more effective by bringing national attention to returning military personnel in an effort to find gainful employment, suitable housing, and financial assistance these heroes respectfully deserve."

Insiders tell the New York Times that Trump allies had spoken to the star about the arts job, though no formal offer had been made. The NEA, a federal agency currently headed by Obama appointee Jane Chu, a musician and artist, grants funding to cultural projects. Republicans have long sought to get rid of the agency, which has an annual budget of around $150 million, the Times notes. It's not clear whether there will be another role available for Stallone in the Trump administration. The New York Daily News notes that the 70-year-old actor has long been a supporter of gun control, and called for an assault weapons ban after the Sandy Hook mass shooting. (Liberal Jewish groups aren't happy about Trump's pick for US ambassador to Israel.)
(Newser)  Your favorite whipped desserts might be a little less whipped this holiday. A deadly explosion back in August at a nitrous oxide plant home to North Americas largest producer means the gas used in aerosol toppings is in short supply, reports the Chicago Tribune. Reddi-wipwith $278 million in annual salesis just one of the products affected, with maker Conagra Brands claiming it won't be producing its usual supply of the whipped topping until February, per the Boston Globe. "It's in stores now, but we're encouraging people to buy it early," a rep says. "There will be a shortage if people buy at the typical levels during the holidays."

It isn't clear what caused two gas tankers and a nitrous oxide holding tank to explode at Airgas' plant in Contonment, Fla., killing a worker. Production is back to normal while an investigation continues, but Airgas is focused on getting nitrous oxidealso a general anestheticto medical customers before food manufacturers, reports the Los Angeles Times. That doesn't mean your holiday pies and frothy drinks must go without whipped cream. Popular Science notes it's possible to survive "the Great Whipped Cream Shortage of 2016" simply by making your own using heavy whipping cream and elbow grease. (At least there isn't a toilet paper shortage.)
(Newser)  One of the most famous residents of besieged Aleppo has made it out safely. Tweets from humanitarian officials show that 7-year-old Bana Alabed was evacuated safely from the city on Monday, reports the Independent. As government forces had closed in on the city in recent weeks, the girl's Twitter accountrun with the help of her mother, an English teacherexploded in popularity as it described their ordeal. The account currently has about 326,000 followers, with Bana being compared to a modern Anne Frank. Though critics including President Bashar al-Assad himself denounced the account as largely false propaganda, fact-checkers backed up its authenticity, reports the Washington Post.

Bana "is safe with her family after she was evacuated from her city," tweeted Zaher Sahloul, founder of the humanitarian organization American Relief Coalition for Syria. "She survived siege,bombing & apathy." Two days ago, the girl and her mother, Fatemah, sent a video message to NBC News appealing directly to Michelle Obama. "I talk to you as a mother," Fatemah says. "I implore you to help us ... because we are so afraid." It wasn't immediately clear where Bana is now, but the tweets say she had reached the Aleppo "countryside" with other evacuees. (Read more Syria stories.)
(Newser)  An ominous call to troll Jewish residents online in a Montana town has been issued by a white supremacist website, apparently because the mom of a hate-group leader owns a building there. The Missoulian reports that in Whitefish, where Sherry Spencer, mother of National Policy Institute head Richard Spencerdescribed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as "a kind of professional racist in khakis"owns a building that, per the Washington Post, holds "luxury vacation apartments and commercial office space." In a Friday post on the Daily Stormer site, the headline blares "Jews Targeting Richard Spencers Mother for Harassment and ExtortionTAKE ACTION!" while the story calls Jews "a vicious, evil race of hate-filled psychopaths" who "will call you names and  go after your money [and] if all of that fails, they will attack your mother."

The post references a recent Daily Mail piece in which Sherry Spencer says her business has been suffering because of backlash against her son, who's been publicly celebrating Donald Trump's win. To get back at community activists who've criticized Sherry Spencer for not denouncing her son's views, the Daily Stormer posted names, email addresses, phone numbers, and pictures of three local female activists, along with those of spouses and even an image and Twitter handle for one of the women's young sons. The Post notes local human-rights groups, as well as these three women and a few others, have been getting death threats. Sherry Spencer penned a Medium post Friday noting: "In what moral universe is it right for the 'sins' of the son to be visited upon the mother?" Richard Spencer decried the "vicious" attacks to the Post and said the Daily Stormer's posting of activists' personal info is "not really my style," though he didn't disavow it. (Google isn't fighting Holocaust deniers.)
(Newser)  Of all the fake news stories that circulated before the election, one stands above the rest: The tall tale that Pope Francis endorsed Donald Trump was shared more than any other on social media. So how did it come to be? A BuzzFeed investigation traces it back to a network of fake news sites that seem to have their origins in the small city of Atascadero, Calif. The papal story originally appeared on a now-shuttered bogus site called WTOE 5 News. BuzzFeed figured out that WTOE was one of about 40 fake websites seemingly registered by the same person for the express purpose of getting clicks and generating ad revenue. (All the sites had the same Google AdSense ID, meaning all their money went to the same account.) Up until the pope story, however, these sister websites didn't dabble in politics.

Instead, they specialized in one particular type of celebrity story that was kind of ingenious as these things go. The stories would name a big-name celebrity (Johnny Depp, Kate Perry, etc.) and say that he or she was moving to a particular small town. Hundreds of these stories circulated with great success. (An investigator at myth-busting site Snopes even voices grudging admiration for the scheme.) Eventually, the pope story entered the mix in Julyand kind of fizzled. But then an unrelated website called Ending the Fed published it in September with the same, fake headline, and it took off. BuzzFeed says a computer-savvy charter pilot in his 30s is the man behind the network of fake sites including WTOE, adding that he threatened to break their camera when they showed up on his porch in Atascadero. In an email, however, he has denied all. Click for the full investigative piece. (Read more fake news stories.)
(Newser)  In 2015, the state of West Virginia ranked first in the nation in per-capita opioid overdose deaths, according to CDC data. A new investigation by the Gazette-Mail reveals some harrowing background on how deaths like these may be facilitated. Over the 2007 to 2012 period, some 780 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills were shipped by drug wholesalers into the statewhich has an estimated population of just 1.84 million, per the Census Bureau. That roughly works out to a per-personchildren includedaverage allotment of 70 pain pills per year. Over that six-year period, 1,728 residents fatally overdosed on one of the two. The top three prescription drug wholesalers shipped 423 million of those pills to West Virginia pharmacies, to their financial gain.

Take, for instance, McKesson Corp: It's not just No. 1 among wholesalers, but was No. 5 on the Fortune 500 this year, behind the more-commonly-known Walmart, Exxon, Apple, and Berkshire Hathaway. "Don't blame the middleman," is the story the Gazette-Mail heard: Distributors say they only send to licensed pharmacies, which should only dole out pills when prescribed by a doctor. In a letter, McKesson argues "[those] two roles that interface directly with the patient" are better poised to stamp out abuse. The distributors are supposed to alert the state Board of Pharmacy when orders look suspicious, and yet the Gazette-Mail sussed out cases like the "mom-and-pop pharmacy in Oceana" whose oxycodone delivery was 600 times greater than that of the Rite Aid eight blocks away. Head to the Gazette-Mail for the full piece, which also tracks how the potency of the pills sent is increasing. (Read more Oxycodone stories.)
(Newser)  They say any publicity is good publicity, but the #GenerationKKK hashtag trending on Twitter Monday morning didn't hold many kind words for A&E's new series, or for the New York Times weekend review of it. The Generation KKK eight-episode documentary, which sources confirm to the Hollywood Reporter will debut in January, focuses on "pulling back the hood on several prominent members of the Ku Klux Klan." The cable network has had cameras following prominent Klansmen around for the past year, documenting the interactions between leaders of the hate group and family members looking for an exit ramp. One Klan member featured on the show: an Iraq war veteran bombarding his preschooler with "racist rhetoric." "This series gives viewers an unprecedented look at what it is like to be born into hate," A&E Executive VP and GM Rob Sharenow says, per Fox News.

But as Fox notes, the "Twitterverse [erupted] with criticism" over the serieswhich, per Vanity Fair, "promises to be its most controversial yet "and over the Times review, which describes a "warm and fuzzy" setup that has one Klansman giving his two little girls gifts of signature KKK hoods. "Oh, dear Lord. Please help dissuade the idiots at @AETV that #GenerationKKK is the worst idea ever," one Twitter user posted, while another noted: "'Generation KKK' will reveal a dangerous enemy while making them think they're being legitimized. Well done, A&E." Others make the point that the show might even be used by the KKK as a recruitment tool, an assertion Sharenow denies. "We certainly didn't want the show to be seen as a platform for the views of the KKK," he tells the Times. (Another A&E series with Leah Remini exposes the innards of Scientology.)
Unionized Korean Air pilots go on strike for the first time in 11 years this week. Management and the pilots union have been locked in a disagreement over pay rises since the end of last year.

A total of 84 flights will be canceled from Thursday to next Monday, including 20 flights from Incheon to Dubai, Hong Kong, Narita, Osaka and Saudi Arabia.
(Newser)  You're not the only one who'd describe 2016 as "surreal." Merriam-Webster has chosen the synonym for "unbelievable"officially defined as "marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream"as its word of the year, noting searches for "surreal" spiked following Donald Trump's election win, an attempted coup in Turkey, and terrorist attacks in Brussels and Nice. "Surreal has become this sort of word that people seek in moments of great shock and tragedy," the dictionary's editor-at-large tells the BBC. "It just seems like one of those years." Other popular words were bigly, deplorable, and revenant, per Time. (Read more Word of the Year stories.)
(Newser)  Russia's ambassador to Turkey was shot and killed Monday while making a speech in the Turkish capital of Ankara, the Russian Foreign Ministry is confirming, per the AP. Andrei Karlov was hit while inside an art gallery. Karlov was several minutes into his speech when a man wearing a suit and tie shouted "Allahu akbar" and fired at least eight shots, according to an AP photographer in the audience. The BBC reports that the assassin also shouted, "Don't forget about Aleppo, don't forget about Syria." Police then reportedly shot and killed the assailant. In the ongoing Syrian war, Turkey opposes the regime of Bashar al-Assad, while Russia supports him. (Read more Russia stories.)
(Newser)  A California agency that oversees judicial discipline ruled Monday that Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky committed no misconduct when he sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting a young woman, reports the AP. The California Commission on Judicial Performance "has concluded that there is not clear and convincing evidence of bias, abuse of authority, or other basis to conclude that Judge Persky engaged in judicial misconduct warranting discipline," the 11-member panel concluded in its unsigned ruling. The commission said it received thousands of complaints and petitions regarding Persky. Petitions included complaints that Persky "displayed gender bias and failed to take sexual assault of women seriously," and showed favoritism to Turner because Persky was a former Stanford athlete as well.

Turner, 21, was released from jail in September after serving three months. He will be on probation for three years in his native Ohio and is a registered sex offender. Persky is the target of a recall campaign. Turner was convicted of assaulting the woman near a trash bin after they drank heavily at a fraternity party. A jury in March found Turner guilty of three felony sexual assault counts. Persky sentenced him to six months in jail, citing the "extraordinary circumstances" of Turner's youth, clean criminal record and other considerations in departing from the minimum sentence of two years in prison. Prosecutors had argued for six years. Turner's case exploded on social media and ignited a debate about campus rape and the criminal justice system after the victim's 7,200-word letter that she read in the courtroom during sentencing was published online. (Read more Aaron Persky stories.)
(Newser)  A truck plowed into a crowded Berlin Christmas market on Monday, killing 12 in what Germany has yet to declare a deliberate attack. The White House went a bit further, saying it "appears to have been a terrorist attack," and president-elect Donald Trump pushed beyond that, calling it a "horrifying terror attack" in a statement that referenced ISIS and Islamist terrorists. The Guardian reports a suspect has been arrested; authorities are trying to determine if he was the driver; a passenger died, per the BBC. The New York Times reports the truck traveled about 250 feet into the market near the landmark Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and notes the church's meaning for Germans: Its "jagged spire was bombed on World War II, but it was not rebuilt, as a reminder of the war."

The truck, which came to a stop on a sidewalk, is owned by a Polish company that says its 37-year-old driver attempted to take Thyssen steel products from Italy to Berlin, but was told by the receiving company at the drop-off location to hold tight in Berlin and unload Tuesday morning. "We lost contact with him around 3pm local time. We dont know what happenedwhether he was taken hostage, killed. We know nothing. Were very worried about him." The AP notes the crash came less than a month after the State Department urged those visiting European markets to be cautious, as extremist groups were focusing "on the upcoming holiday season and associated events." No barriers were in place around the market. (Read more Germany stories.)
(Newser)  Christine Lagarde will remain head of the International Monetary Fund despite her conviction Monday of negligence in a case dating to her tenure as France's finance minister. The IMF's executive board quickly met after the court's decision and expressed "full confidence" in Lagarde's ability to carry out her duties at the head of the Washington-based international lending agency. In a statement, the board cited her "outstanding leadership" and the respect and trust she has worldwide. After a weeklong trial, France's Court of Justice of the Republic found Lagarde guilty on one count of negligence but spared her jail time and a criminal record. The 60-year-old IMF leader had risked a year of imprisonment and a fine, reports the AP.

The case revolves around a $425 million arbitration award given to tycoon Bernard Tapie in 2008 over the botched sale of sportswear giant Adidas in the 1990s. Civil courts have since quashed the unusually generous award, declared the arbitration process and deal fraudulent, and ordered Tapie to refund the money. The special court's presiding judge, in reading the verdict, said Lagarde should have asked her aides and others for more information about the "shocking arbitration award." In deciding not to sentence Lagarde, the court noted that the award to Tapie has since been annulled, sparing damage to the public purse. It also noted that Lagarde was busy at the time with the global economic crisis. Still, the guilty verdict tarnishes the career of one of the most powerful women in global finance; she's the first woman to head the IMF. (Read more Christine Lagarde stories.)
Around 35 million around the world suffer from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the demand for a fast discovery of a cure is a great concern. It seems that the patients infected with HIV will see the light pretty soon.

An International Research Group in Germany and Denmark claim to be one step closer to finding the cure for HIV. The said group relied on the support data coming from the University of California in San Francisco. In the data provided, the team will have to use not only immune boosters but also specialized antiretroviral drugs (which is the common medication of HIV-infected individuals) to target those specific HIV cells under the stage of reproduction.

They call the discovery as the "Shock and Kill" therapy. The team is now hopeful to get the results soon. They have also discovered that the combination of the immune boosters and the improved ARV drugs are successful to animal tests and even now the human trials. Just recently, the Vice President of amfAR Dr. Rowena Johnston said that they are confident about the fact that they are now close to the moment in discovering the possible cure for this disease based on the information and data they had recently acquired.

However, it seems that these promising results of the recently conducted studies in finding HIV's cure will be challenged. In the findings of AIDS Reseachers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reported that almost all ways in enhancing the immune system may instead bring danger to someone infected with HIV.

Veteran AIDS researcher from the same group and school named Janice Clements said that their report last December 12 stated that their findings include an alleged inflammation of the brain, because of the shock-and-kill therapy applied in tests.

In this fast-paced world, technology and science discoveries have certainly doubled its speed in terms of development and innovation. Now, in the medical field, discoveries on cures have been already put to test. We will never know if all diseases will already be cured a year, a month or even just a week from now.
If you're waiting for Samsung to reveal a new VR headset, then your wish is about to come true. Samsung is ready to roll out again with a new version of its VR headset. Sung-Hoon Hong, vice president of Samsung Electronics, says that they are working on a new version of Samsung Gear VR, a mobile virtual reality headset. According to Hong, the next version of the Gear VR could be revealed "in a short time".

Yet, people can't see what exactly Samsung will be adding to the new version of their Gear VR, since Hong didn't offer any details and no specifics were mentioned on what might be added. However, Hong added that Samsung is working on a better VR rendering machine and it's possible that the Gear VR will suit every phone's needs.

Few months ago, Samsung released an update for the Gear VR. They upgraded the Gear VR which becomes more comfortable and features USB-C. Since the issue of the exploding Galaxy Note 7, the tech giant remained close-mouthed about their headset.

Samsung Gear VR was released back in 2016 and was co-created with Oculus, a Facebook-owned company. Samsung also promised that they will release a phone that is compatible with the Daydream View, Google's version of virtual reality headset, perhaps the company is planning to support both virtual reality platforms simultaneously.

Another bright side of the story, an update for the Samsung Galaxy S8. No exact date yet on the release of Galaxy S8 but Samsung will still likely to dominate Apple iPhone 8 because of one reason. Everyone knows that Apple's iPhone 7 outmatched almost every devices in many ways. However, Samsung is working on display improvements and will use next-generation panels that not just improves display but also features Y-OCTA technology.
Antarctica is melting! Scientists in the US and Australia have now come up with worrisome observations near the largest glacier of the largest ice sheet which is Totten glacier in East Antarctica. The ocean observations confirmed that Totten was melting from below, something which has concerned the scientific and research community.

The observation which included sampling ocean temperatures in seas over one kilometer deep in some areas near the edge of Totten glacier's floating ice shelf showed that warm water of the ocean is flowing towards the glacier at a rate of 220,000 cubic meters a second.

The warm water, according to the observation, is making the ice shelf lose huge masses every year and if the entire shelf, which is larger than the size of California, gets dissolved in the ocean, its water level would go up by 11.5 feet, posing a threat to the coastal habitation.

Don Blankenship, a glaciologist at University of Texas, Austin, who is also one of the study's co-authors, said the ice shelf is thinning because the ocean's warm water, just like what is happening in West Antarctica. He was, however, not on Aurora Australis, the research vessel, from which the observation was conducted.

The lead author of the study which was published in Science Advances recently is Stephen Rintoul, a researcher with University of Tasmania, Hobart, and Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Canberra. Totten glacier is relatively close to Casey Station, one of Australia's bases in Antarctica.

Rintoul and his so-researchers went close to the Totten ice shelf in January last year by using an opening in the sea ice, thereby succeeding in making the necessary ocean observations and detect the warm water.

Though the water reaching the Totten ice shelf may not be called "warm" as they are a little bit below the freezing point. But at extreme depth and pressure, the freezing point of ice also goes down, making the water warm enough to dissolve the ice.

The melting of Totten ice shelf has worried the scientists all the more since they had thought that East Antarctica was isolated warm water. But in reality, things are proving to be otherwise. Are the people doing enough to save Antarctica to save ourselves?
Donald Trump's remarks on all political and diplomatic affairs in the United States entirely change, and "One China Policy" is one of the issues everyone is facing. White House top officials see it as a disrespect to President Barack Obama.

Incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said, "We're not suggesting that we're revisiting "One-China policy" right now and he's not president right now and he's respectful to the current president," on Fox News interview.

The Current Situation

In a diplomatic agreement, "one China Policy" is a deal between the United States and China since 1979. It recognized Taiwan being part of China and this diplomatic covenant is in the ring of controversies in the December 2 call between President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.

China signals the US of its statement saying that "One China Policy" is the bedrock of the diplomatic relations between two countries. It also brought similar warnings of a global crisis coming with economic sabotage and military confrontation.

Rising Concern

For the first time in history, China seized an underwater drone owned by the United States. This drone is situated in an international water, 50 nautical miles of Subic Bay Philippines. There is also tension growing between China and the Philippines with its growing South China Sea Territorial dispute.

On the other hand, Pentagon announced that China will return the drone and at least 80% of Americans in a survey suggest that China should return it. However, Donald Trump twitted that "China Should Keep it".

Global Times opinion on the "One China Policy" states, "China has so far practiced restraint at Trump's provocations as he's yet to enter the White House. But this attitude won't last too long after he officially becomes the U.S. president, were he still to treat China in the manner he tweeted today."
The official air date for "Attack on Titan" Season 2 has been announced. The manga series-turned-anime series returns for its second season in April 2017 in Japan's FunimationNow.

It's been three years since "Attack on Titan" Season 1 wrapped with 25 episodes, according to Screen Rant. Originally created by Hajime Isayama in 2009 as a magazine feature, "Attack on Titan" is set in a futuristic world where giant, man-eating creatures called Titans lord over humans. The story is centered on cadets who work under one of the three branches of government that have survived the chaos.

The company Funimation acquired the rights to "Attack on Titan" on Dec. 8, 2016. The firm's heads are now ecstatic to deliver Season 2 to fans, which they swore is "exciting."

Here it comes:



Attack On Titan Season 2 SPRING 2017.



Also, season 1 will air on TV starting this October.



Because we promised.  Attack On Titan (@KyojinShingeki) September 27, 2016

"Attack on Titan" has a sprawling and intricate universe. The story contains hundreds of years' worth of background stories and dozens of people with character growth. IGN reported that the "Attack on Titan" creative team intensely discusses each story component before making any advancement on the plot. And it seems like that penchant will be most evident in the second season.

Season 1 focused primarily on world building, but "Attack on Titan" Season 2 will slow down its story pacing throughout the middle part. Season 2 is expected to feature three to four story arcs composed of the "Clash of Titans," "Uprising," and "Return to Shiganshina" sagas. Fans should expect Season 2 to adapt the manga precisely and faithfully.

Bringing the "Clash of Titans" and "Return to Shiganshina" story arcs to the small screen is no doubt exciting for "Attack on Titan" fans. The sagas showcase the most violent and edgy battles of the heroes such as Eren's one-on-one match with the Armored Titan and the Survey Corps' bout with the Titan Shifter.

The "Uprising" arc, on the other hand, veers away from the vicious battles. This story is another long, world-building arc. "Uprising" reveals the truth about the titans, with Erwin jumpstarting his plan of overthrowing the government.

The "Uprising" story arc is one of the longest sagas in the manga, so "Attack on Titan" viewers should expect Season 2 to pace slowly to accommodate all the back stories and character development.

What do you think of "Attack on Titan" Season 2 so far? Which story arc are you most excited to see? Share your thoughts below!
Talks between Volkswagen and the government over the recall of 125,000 cars with doctored emissions and fuel efficiency are dragging on. The two sides apparently cannot agree on the amount of compensation for motorists.

According to government officials on Sunday, the Environment Ministry asked the German automaker to pay between W700,000 and W1 million to each owner as compensation to expedite the recalls (US$1=W1,187). But Volkswagen rejected the offer.

The ministry had hoped to get Volkswagen to complete 85 percent of the recall by the end of this year after fresh tests of the Tiguan small SUV with improved emissions equipment satisfied tests.

The automaker earlier agreed to pay US$5,100 to $10,000 in compensation to American customers. But Volkswagen argues that whereas the U.S. slaps punitive fines on automakers, Korean law does not mandate compensation if the fuel efficiency is more than five percent lower than advertised. Tests have shown that the difference is less than five percent.

If Volkswagen agrees to the government's demands, it will have to spend close to W100 billion, rising to W150 billion if fines imposed for emissions-cheating software in cars sold since 2007 are included. That is three times more than the W47.3 billion the automaker earned in Korea last year.

Industry watchers believe the recalls will not start this year as negotiations drag on.
"The Big Bang Theory" winter finale was one of the show's best episode to date. As expected, the show will have more material for the fans on the upcoming episodes.

The show is currently on a quick winter break before returning back on air with its remaining episodes for season 10 by January of next year. But before that, fans are excited to see whether a spin-off series for the show is actually happening.

According to reports, The Big Bang Theory will be getting a retro flashback spin-off series. The spin-off is said to revolve around a young Sheldon Cooper residing in east Texas.

The description for the character reads: "Socially awkward. A once in a generation genius. He lives in East Texas, although he has chosen to have no accent. "Short-tempered, outspoken. Confident in his intelligence to the point of arrogance. He doesn't make friends easily or at all. He struggles to read social cues and adhere to social protocols."

Back to the show's winter finale, Bernadette finally gave birth to Halley Wolowitz (named after the comet, of course). The show's executive producer, Steve Molaro spoke about Halley in a recent interview with Glamour Celebs. "I had been leaning toward [the baby] being a girl and that she would sound like Mrs. Wolowitz as a tribute to that character and to Carol Ann Susi," said Molary.

He continued "It just seemed so sweet, and what an awesome tribute and a way to keep the flavor of Carol Ann alive in our show. It just seemed to all make sense to us." In another interview with Hollywood Reporter, Molaro spoke about how a newborn could possibly affect the show, in which he said:

"It'll certainly have the greatest impact on Bernadette and Howard from all the typical things like lack of sleep to everything else. As far as the show goes, it's going to open up doors to more stories without drastically changing the DNA of what Big Bang Theory is."

Do you think baby Halley will affect the group in a possible way? Comment your thoughts below!
The University of Eastern Finland just released a new study stating that sauna baths may be linked in reducing the risk of dementia in men. The study was conducted on 2,315 healthy men whose age ranged from 42-60 years old who participated in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD).

The participants were divided into three groups based on their sauna-bathing frequency. One group was those going to the sauna once a week, another group having 2-3 sauna baths per week, and another for those taking sauna 4-7 times a week. Certain factors were adjusted that might affect the results. These were age, alcohol use, body mass index, smoking habits, and blood pressure. The team discovered in their 20-year-follow up that the more frequently the saunas were taken, the risk for dementia got lower.

The men who went to have a sauna 4-7 times per week were 66% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia and 65% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease compared to those taking sauna only once a week as per Luxemburger Wort.

Previous results from the KIHD study have also shown that frequent sauna bathing significantly reduces the risk of other conditions. These are sudden cardiac death, risk of death from coronary artery disease, and other cardiac events, and overall mortality.

Professor Jari Laukkanen who is the lead author said that sauna bathing may have some protective effect on the heart and memory via similar mechanisms. However, in what way has not yet been found out. He added that is is known that cardiovascular health affects the brain also. Plus, the sense of relaxation and well-being experienced during a sauna bath may also be a factor. The team believe that further studies are required in order to look further into the association of sauna bathing and memory diseases.

The online results can be found in the journal Age and Ageing. For more sauna baths may reduce risk of dementia in men news and latest updates, keep it here on News Everyday. Hit us with your feedback in the comments below.
End of the world news is slowly creeping the news feeds as we head towards the end of the year. According to some sources, a killer asteroid is about to hit the Earth that will likely end the human race.

Per Inquisitr, a "dinosaur killer" asteroid could hit the Earth. If this happens, it would be the end of the word. As how the report puts it, these asteroids are at the extinction levels. They are 50 to 60 million years apart and has a random course.

A NASA scientists have warned about a comet or asteroid that might hit the Earth. Dr. Joseph Nuth, a researcher with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center announced that if that happens, the humans are not prepared to combat it.

"The biggest problem, basically, is there's not a hell of a lot we can do about it at the moment," said Dr. Nuth per the Guardian. Nuth added that the Earth had already a closer encounter in 1996 and 2014.

Meanwhile, a massive fireball about 50 to 100 meter wide hits and flattened hundreds of square miles in Siberia. The windows were blown to about 30 miles away and witnesses burned their skin. Scientists believe that the said explosion was 185 times stronger than the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima in 1945.

Dr. Cathy Plesko believed that there are two ways to deflect the asteroid and one of these is by using a giant cannonball. Plesko explained that this is a very good technology and is even more effective than high explosives.

However, NASA reported earlier that at the time there are no asteroid threats that should worry us. Thus, the end of the world news suggesting an asteroid hitting the Earth causing the latter's demise is unlikely.

"Again, there is no existing evidence that an asteroid or any other celestial object is on a trajectory that will impact Earth," said Paul Chodas manager of NASA Near-Earth Object office. "In fact, not a single one of the known objects has any credible chance of hitting our planet over the next century."

Did the end of the world reports involving an asteroid scare you? Do you agree that it is unlikely to happen? Is the Earth safe to live in or is it doomed? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
An underwater drone seized by China will be returned back to the United States. The tension between Chinese Government and Donald Trump is growing, and this incident is fueling the situation.

There is a global crisis intensifying with the US-China Relation. People are in suspension that China is starting to infer their signal for a global crisis if Donald Trump continues with his undiplomatic behavior. Trump's action and use of words are described by China as "hyped up".

"We have registered our objection to China's unlawful seizure of a US unmanned underwater drone operating in international waters in the South China Sea," in a statement by Spokesman Peter Cook from Pentagon. He added, "Through direct engagement with Chinese authorities, we have secured an understanding that the Chinese will return the UUV to the United States."

Donald Trump adversely reacted on his Twitter posting, "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters, rips it out of the water and takes it to China in an unprecedented act." There is no clear indication if the Chinese Government is offended with this remark but Trump added that China can keep the underwater drone.

The underwater drone got seized in an international water. Located at least 50 nautical miles from Subic Bay in the Philippines. China is along these waters as they are also having territorial disputes with the Philippines in the South China Sea.

Two underwater drones cruised over this water for a research but one of it were taken by the Chinese Naval crew aboard a small boat. In response, the American force communicated with China indicating that the drone is a property of the United States, they got no response on the matter.

US official also explained that the vehicle cruising in the seas are not for espionage purposes but an underwater drone that measures the condition of the ocean. As of writing, there are no updates on the details on how this vehicle will be returned but Pentagon assured that there is no tension between both countries.
BlackBerry has put an end on its phone business after 14 years of manufacturing smartphones. Before, the company's phones were the choice of professional people providing them access to emails right away. The Canadian company had helped users the use of mobile phones in the office and any workplace with it iconic Curve design and bold smartphone physical keyboards.

But today, it looks like BlackBerry has lost the competition from its rivals Apple and Samsung as mobile users prefer to use touchscreens. The company now will be focusing on creating software and will utilize the manufacture of hardware to other companies.

BlackBerry CEO John Chen said, "We are focusing on software development, including security and applications. The company plans to end all internal hardware development and will outsource that function to partners. This allows us to reduce capital requirements and enhance return on invested capital."

Way back in May, Chen said that he would know by September if the company's mobile phone business was on the right track to stay profitable or not, after the years of struggle against its competitors. BlackBerry already confirmed that they will stop manufacturing their own phones and focus instead on services and software.

The end of BlackBerry handsets marked an end of a company that was once known as one of the world's major smartphone vendors. CMC Markets said that in September 2013, there were over 85 million BlackBerry subscribers worldwide, but suddenly fallen down by March 2016 with only 23 million subscribers as it struggled to keep pace with the Android and iOS platforms.

Meanwhile, BlackBerry already confirmed that it has signed over the global rights to use its company's brand to Chinese phone manufacturer TCL who also make phones under the Alcatel marquee. BlackBerry also announced that James Yersh, company's chief financial officer, has resigned on October for personal reasons. The former Sybase executive, Steven Capelli, will be replacing Yersh.
President Park Geun-hye on Friday submitted a 24-page written statement to the Constitutional Court rejecting the impeachment bill on every count. In it, she not only questions the constitutionality of the bill, which is purely a legal consideration, but also denies every well-documented allegation against her. The bill, she argues, is based on "mere suspicions" and thus violates the presumption of innocence afforded criminal suspects.

Among other implausible things she claims, or her legal team claim on her behalf, that the country's top conglomerates "voluntarily" coughed up huge sums of money for the dodgy Mir and K-Sports foundations controlled by her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil.

In the meantime it has been revealed that the head of one major conglomerate had to leave the country last year when he fell out of favor with Park. The Cheong Wa Dae secretary for economic affairs told her that was what the president wanted, so she left.

In a National Assembly hearing, the heads of conglomerates said under oath that it was difficult for them to turn down a request from the president. And Park, a woman so reclusive she even avoided seeing her own secretaries, went out of her way to meet the tycoons in person to solicit donations or ask them to support a company linked to Choi. How many could afford to turn her down?

Park also claims that her aides somehow went too far in implementing her instructions. She was referring to former presidential secretary An Chong-bum, who had 17 notebooks with 510 pages worth of hand-written notes on Park's instructions.

From them it emerges that Park micro-managed every last detail of the racket, from what to name the dubious nonprofits, which were ostensibly to promote culture and sports, to where they were to set up their offices.

Prosecutors said they only named Park as an accomplice in charges against Choi that they are 99 percent confident of proving. And yet the president claims she was completely unaware of Choi's intentions to pocket money from the projects. What else did she want to set them up for? They were staffed with Choi's drinking buddies, and they had lavish budgets to award projects from. Why on earth would Park otherwise hand control of them over to a woman with no official job or qualifications? The Constitutional Court will have an opinion on that.

Regarding charges that she pressured Hyundai Motor to pick a company owned by a friend of Choi's to supply automotive parts, Park claims her intention was to help out a small business. How kind, but why this one? And on charges that she leaked classified government information by letting Choi review copies of her speeches in advance, Park said she was merely seeking her opinion on certain expressions. Those who have heard her speeches will not agree that they improved in the process.

But woe betide anyone else who broke the code of silence that seems to have ruled Cheong Wa Dae. Only last year she embarrassed the county by bringing criminal charges against a senior Japanese correspondent who reported rumors about her whereabouts during the notorious "missing seven hours," when she was nowhere to be found during the 2014 ferry disaster.

Park also denies allowing Choi to meddle in state affairs, and claims her crony was involved in "less than one percent" of government business, and that no proof exists linking the president with her meddling. The diaries and phone records of her secretaries contradict that claim, but the public is at any rate more concerned about Park's incompetence in the other 99 percent.

The president also claims that the offenses she has been accused of were customary in previous administrations. But none have gone to the same bizarre lengths and appointed quite such a rogues' gallery of nobodies to key positions. One foundation board member was the owner of a massage parlor.

"The allegations for impeachment are not true and have no evidence to back them up. They are based on mere suspicions, violating the presumption of innocence," Park says in the statement. She adds that she has done nothing to lose the confidence of the public and that she is still entitled to lead the nation.

The decision is up to the Constitutional Court. What is clear from the statement is that Park has completely lost touch with reality.


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Coimbatore:

Around 60 MDMK workers recently staged a demonstration in Coimbatore condemning the alleged attack by DMK activists on party General Secretary Vaiko, when he had gone to visit the DMK Chief M Karunanidhi, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chennai.

Led by the Urban District secretary, R R Mohankumar, the activists raised slogans against the DMK workers, who allegedly pelted Vaiko's car with stones and footwear, police said. The workers condemned the act of a section of DMK workers, they said.

On Sunday, the MDMK founder Vaiko was allegedly attacked by DMK supporters when he went to visit M Karunanidhi at Kauvery hospital in Chennai, prompting him to return without meeting the veteran Dravidian leader.

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United Nations:

The UN Security Council will vote on Monday on a French-drafted resolution to quickly deploy UN observers to Aleppo, with Russia, Syrias ally, giving cautious backing to the measure.

Russia had threatened to veto a first draft presented by France calling for observers to monitor evacuations from Aleppo and report on the protection of civilians in the besieged Syrian city.

But after nearly four hours of closed-door council consultations on Sunday, a new draft was agreed.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters: We put in some good hours of work and I think we have a good text.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre declared that the council had reached common ground, while US Ambassador Samantha Power anticipated the member states would vote unanimously at 9 am (local time).

The vote, initially tabled for Sunday, was delayed until Monday to allow the Russian delegation to consult with Moscow on the final draft resolution that provides for UN and other international observers to be dispatched to eastern Aleppo.

The new draft calls on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to make arrangements, in consultation with Syrian authorities and the rebels, to allow UN monitoring of the well-being of civilians.

Moscow had presented its own draft resolution that requested that the United Nations make arrangements to monitor the situation, but made no specific mention of sending observers to east Aleppo.

France and the United States said the new text, which took into account Russian proposals, resulted in minor changes.

The text left standing includes all the core provisions to allow for UN monitoring, to get the 100-plus UN people ready to go to team up with the ICRC and the Syrian Red Crescent, said Power.

Evacuations of fighters and civilians from Aleppo were suspended yesterday after gunmen attacked buses for a similar operation from two rebel-besieged villages.

Syrian forces this week moved to assert full control over the east of the city, which had been held by opposition fighters since 2012.

Russia, which has deployed forces in Syria to support President Bashar al-Assads military, has vetoed six resolutions on Syria since the conflict began in March 2011.

Delattre said the international presence would prevent Aleppo from turning into another Srebrenica, where thousands of Bosnian men and boys were massacred in 1995 when the town fell to Bosnian Serb forces.

If adopted, I believe it will be the first time the Security Council has been able to agree on a text in a long time, said Delattre.

It will give us collectively the tools to try to avoid a new Srebrenica.

The draft resolution demands that all parties allow complete, immediate, unconditional, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian aid to Aleppo, which has been under siege since July.

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New Delhi:

Twitter is buzzing with News alerts from India and rest of the world.

NIA files charge sheet in NIA Special Court against senior commanders of JeM for their involvement in Pathankot Attack. Chargesheet filed against JeM Chief Masood Azhar, JeM Dy Chief MA Rauf Asghar, Shahid Latif, launching commander & Kashif Jan, main handler.

Here are the latest updates from the micro-blogging site in one scroll -

#11:03

Russia's ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot in Ankara, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman- AP

#10:55 PM

#US StateDepartment condemns killing of Russian Ambassador to Turkey

#10:51 PM

Russian ambassador to Turkey dies of gunshot wounds



#9:41 PM

Till now there were certain category of exemptions which were existing, and those who were receiving old currency notes in exempted areas: FM



#9:30 PM

Those who deal in the digital or a banking transaction mode their income will be presumed to be 2 percent less, that is, 6 percent: FM Jaitley-ANI



#8:56 PM

President Pranab Mukherjee clears the appointment of Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar as next Chief Justice of India

#8:18 PM

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde convicted by French court over tycoon payout



#7:30 PM

Cyrus Mistry pulls out of shareholder meetings of five listed Tata Group firms.



#7:24 PM

Elvis Gomes to be AAP Chief Ministerial candidate for Goa elections

#6:40 PM

CBI files charge sheet against former Delhi Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar in the ongoing corruption case against him

#6:20 PM

Submitted memorandum seeking aid of Rs 22573 crores for restoration and reconstruction: O Panneerselvam, TN CM after meeting PM regarding aftermath of cyclone Vardah



#6:10 PM

Rs 30 lakh seized in 2000-rupee notes in two separate searches in Nashi PTI



#6:00 PM

Candidates qualifying NEET would be eligible for All-India Quota and other Quotas under the State Govts/Institutes @JPNadda

#5:10 PM

IM co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, Pakistani national Zia-ur-Rahman and 3 others awarded death penalty by special NIA court in Hyderabad-PTI

# Govt to provide enhanced infrastructure, logistical facilities at border posts where women personnel are posted: Rajnath Singh

#4: 44 PM

5th test: India declare at 759 for 7. Total lead of 282 over England. Karun Nair not out on 303- ANI



#4:42 PM

Karun Nair is only the second Indian after Virender Sehwag to score a triple century- ANI



#4:36 PM

India vs England: Test Series, Chennai Test, Karun Nair slams triple century



#4:24 PM

India v England, 5th test: India pass their highest ever Test score of 726

# 4:16 PM

Priyanka Chopra to be brand ambassador of Assam Tourism for two years; state government

# 3:54 PM

Our fight against Narendra Modi is political, don't raise 'murdabad' slogan against him; RSS uses such language, not Cong: Rahul- PTI

# 3:05pm

'Money looted from a cash van in Delhi's Pandav Nagar area'

#2:58 PM

Pakistan cinemas resume screening of Indian films, over 2 months after it was suspended due to tensions following Uri attack.

# 2:42pm

India vs England, 5th Test: Karun Nair hits his maiden double century - ANI

# 2:40pm

EPFO fixes 8.65% interest on EPF deposits for 2016-17, 0.15% lower than last fiscal - PTI.

# 2:14 PM

Haryana Govt seeks time to file report in the alleged Murthal Gang rape case. Hearing deferred till January 19 2017 - ANI.

# 1:40 PM

PM Narendra Modi addresses Parivartan Rally in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh - ANI

#1:05 PM

Dilsukhnagar(Hyderabad) blast case: Arguments over in NIA's special court, sentence to be pronounced later in the day - ANI

#1:00 PM

Kolkata:Officers of UBI bank in Metiabruz questioned by ED,after finding 9 suspicious accounts with deposits of Rs6.6 cr, CBI registers case - ANI

#12:55 PM

Delhi: Crime Branch team reaches JNU to conduct enquiry in connection with missing student Najeeb Ahmed(ANI)

#12:50 PM

Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Fire breaks out in Signature Tower in Sarkhej Chokdi. 50 people rescued by fire department so far -ANI

#12:46 PM

If accounts are not KYC compliant credits may be restricted up to a 50,000 subject to conditions governing the conduct of such accounts: RBI - ANI

#12:45 PM

No limit on quantity or value of specified bank notes tendered for payment & deposit under Taxation & Investment Regime for PMGKY 2016 - ANI

#12:40 PM

Old Rs 500/1000 notes in excess of a5000 into bank a/c will be received for credit only once during remaining period till Dec 30,'16 - ANI

#12:30 PM

For non KYC account deposit of an amount exceeding Rs 5000 shall be made only once per account until December 30th 2016: Ministry of Finance - ANI

#12:20 PM

Chhattisgarh: 6 Naxals arrested during a joint operation of Police and Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) in Bijapur district - ANI

#12:10 PM

UN Security Council to vote on resolution on Syria's Aleppo - AP

#12:00 PM

NGT questions Uttarakhand Govt on issue of relief & rehabilitation of villagers residing inside Rajaji National Park, asks to file proper response- ANI

#11:48 AM

Total 597 people died due to grief post former TN CM Jayalalithaa's demise, a3 lakh aid will be given to each families: AIADMK - ANI

#11:20 AM

NIA files chargesheet in NIA Special Court against senior commanders of JeM for their involvement in Pathankot Attack - PTI

#11:10 AM

Earthquake tremors of 3.4 magnitude felt in Uttarkashi,Uttarakhand at around 10 AM - PTI

#10:43 AM

India vs England, 5th test, Chennai: Karun Nair hits his maiden test century

#10:05 AM

Namkun (Ranchi, Jharkhand): Tributes being paid to Gunner Shashikant Pandey, who lost his life in Pampore Attack- ANI

#9:55 AM

Satna (Madhya Pradesh): Truck rams into vehicle carrying school students, 6 children injured; admitted to hospital for treatment - ANI

#9:20 AM

TN CM O.Panneerselvam arrives in Delhi, will meet PM Narendra Modi later today - ANI

#8:45 AM

Tamil Nadu people suspect Sasikala Natarajan & her family might have done something in Amma's death; need justice: Sasikala Pushpa, Expelled AIADMK MP

#8:40 AM

Right from day she(Jayalalithaa)was admitted till she was declared dead, CBI must conduct judicial enquiry-Sasikala Pushpa on writ petition in SC - ANI

#7:40 AM

Wreath laying ceremony of gunner Saurabh Farate, who lost his life in Pampore Attack, underway in his hometown - ANI

#7:35 AM

Family mourns as mortal remains of gunner Saurabh Farate, who lost his life in Pampore Attack, brought to his hometown - ANI

#7:02 AM

24 trains running late, 5 rescheduled and 1 cancelled due to foggy weather - ANI

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Dubai:

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways, citing "an increasingly competitive landscape," says it is making an unspecified number of layoffs.

The Abu Dhabi-owned carrier, which is the United Arab Emirates' national airline, made the announcement late on Sunday night. An Etihad statement described the layoffs as "a measured reduction of headcount in some parts of the business." Etihad spokesman Updesh Kapur declined to offer any specifics, though the company's statement described the layoffs as coming "in a fair, structured and transparent way."

Etihad has code-share agreements with some 50 airlines and holds stakes in Air Berlin, Air Seychelles, Jet Airways, AirSerbia, Alitalia and Virgin Australia. It has a fleet of some 120 aircraft. The UAE is also home to the Dubai-based long-haul carrier Emirates. of layoffs.

The Abu Dhabi-owned carrier, which is the United Arab Emirates' national airline, made the announcement tonight. An Etihad statement described the layoffs as "a measured reduction of headcount in some parts of the business." Etihad spokesman Updesh Kapur declined to offer any specifics, though the company's statement described the layoffs as coming "in a fair, structured and transparent way." Etihad has code-share agreements with some 50 airlines and holds stakes in Air Berlin, Air Seychelles, Jet Airways, Air Serbia, Alitalia and Virgin Australia. It has a fleet of some 120 aircraft. The UAE is also home to the Dubai-based long-haul carrier Emirates. (AP) CHT 12190108

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New Delhi:

Facing attack from opposition parties, government justified the appointment of Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the army chief superseding two commanders, insisting that his operational experience and "general dynamism" tipped the scales in the officer's favour.

The defence ministry sources also asserted that selection of army chief is the sole prerogative of the government and it is based purely on merit, irrespective of the Corps to which the officer originally belonged.

The "outstanding" track record of Lt Gen Rawat, an Infantry officer, as Commanding Officer of 19 Division in J&K and his familiarity with the functioning of the Army Headquarters and MoD were cited by the ministry as the reasons for his selection for the top position.

The ministry sources said all officers in the panel of officers in the rank of army commanders are competent and the most suitable is selected "However, it must be emphasised that the prerogative of selecting the most eligible from the panel is that of the government," sources said.

However, mounting an attack on the Centre over the issue, Congress and the Left asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spell out the "compelling reasons" for it even as BJP hit back saying they should not politicise an issue related to defence forces.

Congress leader Manish Tewari slammed the government for "playing with institutions" and doing politics in the army even as he wondered if it was "whimsical cherry picking".

CPI leader D Raja also questioned the government's move and said appointments whether in the army, judiciary or those of CVC, acting CBI director and to Central Information Commission have become controversial.

BJP condemned Congress for its attack on the government over the army chief's appointment, saying there should be no politics on defence forces and asserted that Lt Gen Rawat has been elevated keeping in mind the current security scenario.

Lashing out at the opposition party, BJP said Congress politicising the appointment of the army chief shows its "frustration" after it has been pushed to the "margins" of national politics following successive electoral defeats.

BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said the opposition party should not reach a premature conclusion and wait for an appropriate time.

"If any party has flouted the democratic norms most, it is the Congress party. BJP has always adhered to democratic norms," he said. Congress and the Left have questioned the appointment of the new army chief by superseding two officers, asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spell out the "compelling reasons", and wondered if it was "whimsical cherry picking".

(With inputs from PTI)

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New Delhi:

Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to press for the demand for grant of Rs 1000 crore for cyclone relief operations in the state.

Panneerselvam will also urge the Centre to posthumously confer "Bharat Ratna" on former chief minister Jayalalithaa and also put up her life size bronze statue in Parliament complex, an official release said.

The first Cabinet meeting chaired by Panneerselvam on December 10 had adopted a resolution in which the twin matters of the highest civilian award and a statue for Jayalalithaa figured.

On December 13, a day after the cyclone wrecked havoc in the state, Panneerselvam had urged Modi in a letter to sanction Rs 1,000 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund to the state for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Panneerselvam will also give a memorandum on several other demands of Tamil Nadu to the Prime Minister, the release said adding he will return to Chennai the same day.

After he took over as chief minister on December 6, it will be the first visit of Panneerselvam to the PM in Delhi and he is expected to follow up on the previous memorandums submitted to Modi by his predecessor Jayalalithaa.

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New Delhi:

National Investigative agency on Monday filed a charge sheet in the Pathankot airbase terror attack, naming Pakistan-based Jaish-e Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and three others of his organisation as accused.

In a comprehensive charge sheet filed at Panchkula Special Court about a year after attack, NIA has highlighted the role of terror group Jaish in spreading mayhem in India and referred to the nefarious plans of the outfit, sources said.

Here are more insights into who is Maulana Masood Azhar and his alleged involvement with terrorist activities

Maulana Masood Azhar

Maulana Masood Azhar is a religious leader who supports Muslim separatists fighting in Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir (India).

Masood Azhar is the founder and leader of the UN-designated terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, active mainly in the Pakistani administered Azad Kashmir. He features on India's most wanted list of 20 people it accuses of terrorism.

Early Life and Education

Maulana Masood Azhar was born in 1968 in Bahawalpur, in the central Pakistani province of Punjab. He got his early education from Jamia Uloom-i-Islami, near Karachi, which is considered as one of the leading religious universities of Pakistan.

Jaish-e-Mohammad

Maulana Azhar heads Jaish-e-Mohammad, which is allegedly involved in numerous attacks in India that even include the attack on the parliament in December 2001.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad founder, after finishing his education joined the institute as a teacher and is believed to have written several books and even headed a editorial team of a magazine.

Involvement in Terrorist Activities

India arrested him in 1994, and accused him of being a member of the Harkat-ul Mujahideen, one of the leading militant groups in Kashmir.

In 1995 a group, which kidnapped six Western tourists, also called for his release. One of the hostages, a Norwegian was killed, one escaped and the remainder are missing but feared dead. The tourists were trekking in Kashmir's Pahalgam district when they were captured.

In 1999 he was freed from an Indian prison in exchange for passengers on a hijacked Indian Airlines jet. His brother, Ibrahim, is thought to have been one of the hijackers.

Maulana Azhar was detained for a year by authorities in Pakistan in connection with that attack, but never formally charged. Maulana Azhar was detained for a year by authorities in Pakistan in connection with that attack, but never formally charged.

The Lahore High Court ordered an end to his house arrest on 14 December 2002.

Following the January 2002 kidnapping and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl by Sheikh Ahmed Saeed Omar, a close aide of Azhar, the US had sought the custody of the Jaish chief, saying authorities wanted to file charges against him for his involvement in the hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight, which had an American citizen on board.



Also Read: NIA files chargesheet in Pathankot attack case; JeM chief Masood Azhar, his brother Rauf named as key conspirators

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed Parivartan Rally in Kanpur ahead of UP elections. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public rally in Uttar Pardeshs Bahraich through mobile phone as he was unable to land in the area due to foggy weather.

The Parivartan rally is part of Bhartiya Janata Partys campaign for the next Uttar Pradesh assembly elections due in 2017.

Here are the live updates:

#History will not record who was the PM who brought about this revolutionary change in eradicating corruption, but will praise people

#History will not remember this move for which PM took this decision but for the fight waged by common people against black money

#Shopkeepers who are using debit/credit cards to receive payments will also receive rewards in Thousands of rupees in a lucky draw scheme

#I am aware of their strength, when they can bribe bank officials they can do anything but we have to fight this

#Now we are using technology to track those who have stashed black money, we are vigilant & raids are being conducted country wide

#In our fight against corruption, we have been blessed by the poor

#Now your mobile phones can become your banks and wallets



#Before demonetisation decision, there was no value for Rs 100 notes but after this decision people are valuing it and poor people

#I requested in the all party meet that discussion on how political parties get funds should take place in the Parliament

#Had said in all party meet held before winter session tht we must have discussion on donations given to pol parties& LS-RS elections

#When there was a Rs1000 nobody cared for 500 & 100. Now Rs100 value is being seen, since Nov 8th directive

#Due to continues election mode, much time is wasted which can b used in development activities. I appeal to EC to start dialogue on this

#It is the responsibility of political parties to set an example on non-corrupt practices. Especially about donations to pol parties

#Not being accountable, corruption and doing as they please- these have been ways the Congress has been functioning



#People of Uttar Pradesh are tired of Goondaism. Those people have support from Govt, till Govt is not changed this prob won't be solved



#Corruption and black money adversely affected the poor and the middle class



#For the first time, we saw some people shouting slogans in order to save those who are corrupt. Government is keen to uproot corruption



#Why were they running away from the issues we wanted to discuss, the issues of making India free from corruption and black money



#What is our agenda- end corruption and black money. What is their agenda- to stall Parliament and have no debate



#You have elected a government that is fully dedicated to the welfare of the poor, the marginalised, the Dalit communities



#The contribution of UP in giving a stable government is noteworthy

ALSO READ | Parivartan Rally in Kanpur: People of Uttar Pradesh are tired of Goondaism, says PM Modi | Top 5 quotes

#Our youngsters have the skill to ensure that poverty becomes history in India



#Many initiatives have been taken by the Government to empower the youth especially in Uttar Pradesh



#Before coming here I witnessed an exhibition on skill development. Our youth can take India to new heights of progress



#I have got an opportunity to travel across UP in the recent past & am seeing the strong desire for Parivartan in the state



#PM Modi addresses Parivartan rally in Kanpur ahead of UP elections

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed the Opposition parties and said they did not want the Parliament to run as they were afraid to face the debate on corruption.

Prime Minister Modi also attacked the Samajwadi Party government of Uttar Pradesh and said that people are tired of 'goondaism' of Akhilesh Yadav government in the state.

"Over the past few days, I am experiencing, not just a wave but a storm of change in Uttar Pradesh," PM Modi said while addressing BJP's Parivartan rally in Kanpur on Monday.

Highlights of PM Narendra' Modi's speech at Kanpur -

# It is the responsibility of political parties to set an example on non-corrupt practices. Especially about donations to pol parties.

# An atmosphere should be created to have national, state elections together.

# Due to continuous election mode, much time is wasted which can b used in development activities. I appeal EC to start dialogue on this.

# When there were Rs 1000 notes, nobody considered Rs 100 notes. Now is the time of people who have Rs 100 notes

# UP gave many Prime Ministers to the nation, but still there are 1500-1600 villages where electricity had not reached.

# Now only 20-22 villages are left, if the state govt does not hinder, we will achieve complete rural electrification soon.

# Not being accountable, corruption and doing as they please - these have been ways the Congress has been functioning.

# While slamming Congress in Kanpur Modi makes a reference of Sitaram Kesri days.

ALSO READ | Parivartan Rally in Kanpur: People of UP are tired of Goondaism, says PM Modi | Top 5 quotes

# Government wants to scrap black money, they (opposition) want to shut Parliament.

# For the first time, we saw people shouting slogans in order to save those who are corrupt. Govt is keen to uproot corruption.

# This is the first time people raised slogans against the corrupt in Parliament.

# It is the responsibility of political parties to set an example on non-corrupt practices. Especially about donations to political parties.

# Due to continues election mode, much time is wasted which can b used in development activities. I appeal to the Election Commission to start dialogue on this.

# What is our agenda - end corruption and black money. What's Opposition's agenda - to disrupt Parliament & have no debate at all.

# An atmosphere should be created to have national, state elections together.

ALSO READ | Top Highlights: Storm of change in Uttar Pradesh, says PM Modi at Parivartan rally in Kanpur

# BJP welcomes steps taken by the Election Commission to curb black money.

# Our agenda is to stop corruption, Opposition's agenda is to stop Parliament.

# Parliament was disrupted earlier too, but this time some people were raising slogans to save the corrupt.

# Corruption and black money adversely affected the poor and the middle class.

# Why were they running away from the issues we wanted to discuss, the issues of making India free from corruption and black money.

# You have elected a government that is fully dedicated to the welfare of the poor, the marginalised, the Dalit communities.

# The contribution of UP in giving a stable government is noteworthy.

# Our government is dedicated to the poor and underprivileged.

# People of Uttar Pradesh are tired of 'goondaism'.

# Over the past few days, I am experiencing, not just a wave but a storm of change in Uttar Pradesh.

# I have got an opportunity to travel across Uttar Pradesh and I am seeing the strong desire for 'Parivartan' in the state.

# Wherever I have gone in UP in the last few days, I have observed a change. People of UP are ready for a change.

# Many initiatives have been taken by the government to empower the youth especially in Uttar Pradesh.

# Before coming here I witnessed an exhibition on skill development. Our youth can take India to new heights of progress.

# Many initiatives have been taken by the government to empower the youth of UP.

# Youths if given the right kind of exposure & facilities can contribute a lot in the growth of nation.

# Our youngsters have the skill to ensure that poverty becomes history in India.
Thane:

Hitting back at Sharad Pawar over note-ban remarks, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has said Y B Chavans disciples should at least understand his teachings on Monday as things would have been different had Indira Gandhi listened to his advise on demonetisation.

The Congress party was in power at the time and if the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had listened to the advice of Chavan, her cabinet colleague, on demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not have been compelled to take the note ban decision, Javadekar said at a function at the Dombivili Gymkhana in Thane last night.

Chavan was firm on demonetisation but no one in the government was ready to take his advice on it. His disciples should at least understand his teachings today, he said, in a veiled dig at NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

Pawar has slammed Modi for dragging Indira Gandhi into demonetisation debate by saying that the then Prime Minister virtually rejected Chavans proposal in that direction.

Javadekar said black money and corruption had become cancerous to the society and to get out of its grip there was a need for a firm decision, which was taken by Modi.

For the last 70 years people have been standing in queues for procuring rice and kerosene but now for some time they are required to stand in queues for the betterment of the nation, he said, adding that most people have welcomed the decision.

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New Delhi:

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that the government will provide enhanced infrastructure and logistical facilities at border posts where women personnel have been deployed, under the command of various frontier guarding forces.



Singh, after taking salute at the 53rd Raising Day event of paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at its camp in New delhi, said it was essential to have gender-friendly facilities at these far flung areas for women as the present support system is deficient.



There should be gender-friendly infrastructure at border posts where women are deployed....I believe there is a deficiency in this regard. This needs to be improved. I believe those border posts where women personnel are deployed, more facilities should be provided there, he said.



Apart from SSB, Border Security Force (deployed along Pakistan and Bangladesh borders) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (along Sino-India frontier) has deployed its women personnel as part of their border guarding charter.



While the forces have upgraded or created new infrastructure facilities at the border posts after women combatants were posted at these locations for the first time few years back, reports from the field units of these forces have desired that much more needs to be done in this regard.



Singh said that his ministry will give a serious thought to a pending proposal of SSB to have its own dedictated intelligence wing to aid its ground troops mandated to secure Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan.



Despite not having a dedicated intelligence wing, you have been quite successful in your operations along the two borders you guard, Singh said.



He said it was surely not an easy task to secure the two borders as they are not fenced and are fully open which leads to heavy movement across the frontiers.



The Home Minister lauded the force for detecting and apprehending narcotics, arms, ammunition and other banned susbtances estimated at Rs 274 crore when they were being illegally transacted across the two borders this year.



Calling SSB a multi-dimensional force, Singh welcomed the forces proposal to get erected at least ten FM radio towers in the border areas along Nepal.



During the event, SSB Director General Archana Ramasundaram said the force was facing vacancies in the officer cadres and has taken some of them on deputation from other sister forces.



The force, raised in 1963, has 67 operational battalions (about 67,000 personnel) at present and secures the 1,751-km Indo-Nepal border and the 699-km long Indo-Bhutan border apart from being deployed to render a variety of internal security duties in the hinterland.

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New Delhi:

Government of India's principal spokesperson and Press Information Bureau chief Frank Noronha on Monday rejected the media report about new income tax slabs.

According to news agency ANI, Noronha has termed the report baseless and unfounded.

Earlier the media reports had suggested that the Government of India is likely to give relief to millions of middle class people by revising the Income tax slabs in the next Union Budget.

The new slabs, as suggested by reports, granted 100% tax relief to people with annual income up to Rs 4 lakh. Currently, no tax is applicable on income up to Rs 2.5 lakh.

Attributing the likely revision to demonetization pressure of the government, the media reports said also said that the tax slabs for other categories may also be revised siginificantly.

Income tax slab (general category) speculated by media reports:

(Income in Rs)

0 to 4,00,000  No tax

4,00,000 to 10,00,000  10 per cent tax

10,00,000 to 15,00,000  15 per cent tax

15,00,000 to 20,00,000  20 per cent tax

Income above 20,00,000  30 per cent tax

Currently, nearly 4% of the total population of India files income tax.

Current income tax slab

Income tax slab (in Rs.)

0 to 2,50,000 - No tax

2,50,001 to 5,00,000  10 per cent tax

5,00,001 to 10,00,000 - 20 per cent tax

Above 10,00,000 - 30 per cent tax

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New Delhi:

A French court has found International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde guilty of criminal charges linked to the misuse of public funds during her time as Frances finance minister, a verdict that could force her out of her post.

However, the court ruled that she would not be penalised for the negligence.

As French finance minister in 2008, she approved an award of 404m ($429m; 340m) to businessman Bernard Tapie for the disputed sale of a firm.

Lagarde was not present in the court in Paris for the verdict, having left France for Washington.

The scandal has overshadowed her work at the fund, to which she was appointed in 2011, after Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned as managing director when he was accused of having sexually assaulted a maid in a New York City hotel.

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Islamabad:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday assured China that Pakistan has raised a 15,000-strong armed force to safeguard Chinese nationals working in the country for the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which also runs through the PoK.



Sharif also told Zheng Xiaosong, Vice Minister of International Department of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China, when the latter called on him at the PM House here that Pakistan was committed to provide security to the Chinese working in its territory.



We have raised Special Security Division (SSD), comprising of 15,000 military and civilian Armed Forces for ensuring safety of our Chinese brothers working on different projects under CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor), he said.



He also reaffirmed his governments resolve to take the war against terrorism and extremism to its logical end, and that the ongoing military operation has been effective.



The CPEC and its related projects symbolise the people-centric approach of the two countries which has certainly transformed the friendly relations between the two countries into a strong economic partnership, Sharif said.



On his part, Zheng expressed satisfaction with the pace of work under CPEC - the USD 46 billion project which became operational last month and also runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).



China-Pakistan friendship has entered into a new phase during the present government in Pakistan. We are satisfied with the pace of implementation work on various projects under CPEC, especially in Punjab the speedy work is exemplary, he told Sharif.



According to an official statement, Sharif while welcoming the Vice Minister on his visit to Pakistan called Islamabad and Beijing close friends, neighbours and partners as he expressed hope that Zhengs trip will further strengthen the warm and friendly ties between the two countries.



He also underlined that bilateral trade between China and Pakistan has crossed USD 18 billion.



The Prime Minister underlined that the benefits of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are visible in growing bilateral trade, which crossed the figure of USD 18 billion this year, the statement said.



The enormous potential of trade between China and Pakistan will further enhance the quantum of bilateral trade between the two countries, it quoted Sharif as saying.



Zheng said that alongside the rapidly improving relations between China and Pakistan, ties between the Communist Party of China and Pakistan Muslim League (N) are also fast increasing as he sought delegation-level exchanges between the two political parties.



We need to continue the high-level exchanges between our two countries and political parties, he added.

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New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the AAP government to complete its process of issuing 10,000 fresh auto permits by March 31 next year to increase the number of auto rickshaws plying on the city roads.

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi is directed to complete the process for issuance of fresh Letters of Intent (LoIs) by March 31, 2017, Justice Manmohan said.

The courts order came on the Delhi governments plea that it be allowed to start a fresh process which would be carried out online to ensure transparency.

The Delhi government has filed an application in the ongoing plea by some autodrivers who have moved the court challenging the cancellation of 324 permits to ply auto rickshaws in the city.

The permits were cancelled by the government on receiving complaints of irregularities in the allotment process.

The high court gave its consent to start the fresh process while observing that it was in favour of protecting the 324 individuals who had purchased autos after getting the LoIs from the Delhi government keeping in view their financial liability.

It allowed 324 drivers who had purchased autos after getting the LoIs in 2015 from the Delhi governments transport department to participate in the process.

The parties (the Delhi government and the auto drivers) have agreed that the Delhi government shall initiate process for fresh 10,000 three-seater auto rickshaw (TSR) licences within a period of two weeks.

They further agreed that applications of those who have a valid badge will be received and processed online. Those who do not have a valid badge will not be allowed to participate in the process, the court said, adding that besides these 324, there were others who were also given LoIs in 2015 and they too were entitled to participate in the process for applying for auto permits.

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the AAP government to complete its process of issuing 10,000 fresh auto permits by March 31 next year to increase the number of auto rickshaws plying on the city roads.

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Istanbul:

Russiaas ambassador to Ankara Andrey Karlov was mortally injured in a gun attack while visiting an art exhibition opening in the Turkish capital on Monday, television reports said.

The local news organisation RIA confirmed his demise at around 10:48 pm (IST), "Russian ambassador to Turkey dies of gunshot wounds," reports said.A



Karlov was shot earlier in the evening and was hospitalised along with several other people who were wounded in the attack by an unknown gunman, NTV and CNN-Turk televisions said.

Here are the live updates:A



#Turkey: Video footage of the moments of the assassination attempt on the Russian ambassador in #Ankara. pic.twitter.com/hy4rUvONfB a Mikhail D. (@Eire_QC) December 19, 2016

10:48 pm (IST):A US State Department condemns killing of Russian Ambassador to Turkey

A

Russian agency says ambassador in Turkey has died of his wounds after being shot: https://t.co/GmktzgyLTS pic.twitter.com/sTRVXGV3WT a Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) December 19, 2016

The attack came after days of protests in Turkey over Russiaas role in Syria, although Moscow and Ankara are now working closely together to evacuate citizens from Aleppo.

Pictures published by the Hurriyet daily showed at least two men in suits lying flat on the ground as another man brandished a gun.



The attack happened at the Cagdas Sanatlar Merkezi, a major art exhibition hall in the Cankaya district of Ankara where most foreign embassies are located including Russiaas mission.



CNN-Turk said the ambassador was in a serious condition.



Protesters in Turkey have held Moscow responsible for human rights violations in Aleppo.

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New Delhi:

Russiaas ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was killed on Monday night in a blatant assassination while he was visiting an art exhibition opening in Ankara.A



According to reports, the gunman who shot the ambassador was immediately neutralised by the police present at the spot. The gunman shouted out aAleppoa and arevengea as he fired, an eyewitness said.



A aWhen the ambassador was delivering a speech, a tall man wearing a suit fired into the air first and then took aim at the ambassador,a Hasim Kilic, a correspondent for the daily Hurriyet, told AFP.



aHe said something about aAleppoa and arevengea.a The attack came after days of protests in Turkey over Russiaas role in Syria.



The gunmanas shot gravely injured the ambassador, who was immediately taken to the hospital. However, he passed away soon after the attack.

Here are the updates:A A

11:49pm: US state department issues advisory:A Reports of shooting near US Embassy Ankara- US citizens advised to avoid Embassy area until further notice.

Russian envoy killed in Ankara:

- Amb. dies of wounds

- Gunman is police member

- MFA calls attack terrorist act https://t.co/sj5VJm1yUV pic.twitter.com/KnVBPHxkWY a RT (@RT_com) December 19, 2016

11:45pm:A Russian envoy assassin identified as special forces police member MevlAt Mert AltAntaAY a Ankara mayor: RT News

11:21pm:A Gunman who killed Russian ambassador was not on duty during the shooting: Turkish security sources (Reuters)

11:21pm:A Killer of Russian envoy identified as Turkish policeman: Ankara mayor (AFP)

11:15pm:A Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ambassador shooting with Foreign Ministry & intelligence a spokesman: Reports

11: 07pm:A Russian terms assasination a 'terrorist attack': PTI

#Turkey: Video footage of the moments of the assassination attempt on the Russian ambassador in #Ankara. pic.twitter.com/hy4rUvONfB a Mikhail D. (@Eire_QC) December 19, 2016

10:48 pm (IST):A US State Department condemns killing of Russian Ambassador to Turkey

#In 1976, Karlov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Economic Relations.A

#In 1992, he graduated from the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry.A

#He was fluent in Korean and from 2001 to 2006 served as Russia's ambassador to North Korea.A

#He was appointed ambassador to Turkey in 2013.

#Karlov was married, and he had a son.

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Washing:

Three prominent psychiatry professors of Americas famous universities have written to President Barack Obama and expressed their grave concern over US President-elect Donald Trumps mental stability.

In the letter addressed to the US president, the doctors one from the Harvard Medical School and two others who have been associated with top US varsities over the yearshave urged him to order a full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation before the President-elect takes office on January 20.

We are writing to express our grave concern regarding the mental stability of our President-elect, the letter published by the Huffington Post read.The letter assumes significance as it is written by three distinguished professors of psychiatryJudith Herman, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; Nanette Gartrell, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco (1988-2011,) and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (1983-87); and Dee Mosbacher, Ph.D. Assistant Clinical Professor Department of Community Health Systems University of California, San Francisco (2005-2013).

Also Read: US now has hope, says President-elect Trump to first Lady Michelle Obama

Professional standards do not permit us to venture a diagnosis for a public figure whom we have not evaluated personally. Nevertheless, his widely reported symptoms of mental instabilityincluding grandiosity, impulsivity, hypersensitivity to slights or criticism, and an apparent inability to distinguish between fantasy and realitylead us to question his fitness for the immense responsibilities of the office, the letter said.

We strongly recommend that, in preparation for assuming these responsibilities, he receive a full medical and neuropsychiatric evaluation by an impartial team of investigators, it said.In August, President Obama had questioned the 70-year-old business tycoons judgement and temperament and called him unfit to serve as president.

Also Read: Typo-prone Donald Trump comes up with 'unpresidented' China rant on Twitter, gets trolled

This is not the first time mental health professionals have weighed in on Trumps suitability for office.In June, Atlantic published a psychologists findings that Trump suffered from narcissism, disagreeableness, grandiosity.

In August, an Oxford study claimed that Trump has more psychopathic traits than Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.Psychologist Kevin Dutton from Oxford University ranked the psychopathic traits of the US presidential hopefuls and historical figures using a standard psychometric tool - the Psychopathic Personality Inventory - Revised (PPI-R).

Trump outstripped Hitler on factors including social influence and fearlessness, while the Nazi dictator scored higher on cold-heartedness and Machiavellian egocentricity -which describes a lack of empathy and sense of detachment from others for the sake of achieving ones own goals.

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Modi inaugurates country's first Indian Institute of Skills

Uttar Pradesh,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

Kanpur, Dec 19 (IANS) Aimed at making India the Skill Capital of the World, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday laid foundation stone of the country's first Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) here.

The IIS was conceptualised by Modi during his visit to Singapore's Institute of Technical Education.

The institute is being opened by the Skill Development Ministry in partnership with the Institute of Technical Education, Singapore.

The Ministry has decided to have six such institutes.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Kaushal Pradarshini (Skill Exhibition) for the youth of Uttar Pradesh.

Prime Minister will also address a Parivartan rally in Kanpur.

Earlier, he addressed rallies at Ghazipur, Agra, Kushinagar, Moradabad and Behraich.

--IANS

bns/ahm/vm
15 killed in Jordan shootings

Jordan,Defence/Security,Terrorism, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

Amman, Dec 19 (IANS) At least 15 persons were killed in a series of shootouts between Jordanian police and a group of gunmen, Jordan's homeland security department said in a statement.

Seven policemen, two Jordanian civilians, one Canadian tourist and four gunmen were killed, while 27 others were wounded, on Sunday, Efe news agency reported on Monday.

The shootings took place in the southern Jordanian city of Karak where the gunmen were holed up in a historic citadel.

An unspecified number of attackers holed themselves up, the statement said, describing them as "terrorists and outlaws", although it did not link the gunmen to any particular group.

The department confirmed that four "terrorist" gunmen were shot dead and security forces continued combing operations in the area for other potential attackers.

Security sources, however, did not rule out the possibility that the attackers could belong to the terrorist Islamic State (IS) group.

The Department of Homeland Security had previously reported that there were five or six attackers hiding in the Karak citadel, about 120 km south of the Jordanian capital, Amman.

The Karak citadel is a Crusader castle built in the Middle Ages and is a well-known tourist attraction in Jordan.

Security sources told Efe that the gunmen were surrounded and that shots were exchanged when policemen in several patrol cars tried to arrest them.

Jordanian Prime Minister Hani al-Mulqui confirmed the deaths of some "members of the security forces".

Another attack was also carried out in Karak governorate against another patrol, although no casualties were reported.

Jordan till now had remained relatively stable and had not suffered terror attacks in comparison to neighbouring country like Syria.

However fears were growing that the IS could target Jordan next as it was a key US ally and a member of the US-led military coalition.

--IANS

in/
Turkey not intending to accept evacuees from Aleppo: Official

Turkey,Politics,Diplomacy, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

Istanbul, Dec 19 (IANS) Turkey on Monday said it has no intention to bring in Syrian citizens evacuated from the city of Aleppo.

"Turkey prepares to keep these people in their home country in camps to be built by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency and the Turkish Red Crescent," Efe news quoted a Turkish Foreign Ministry official as saying to the foreign press here.

"The idea is to keep these people in and around Idlib," the official said, adding only those wounded, sick or in need of immediate attention might be brought to Turkey.

Turkey is currently hosting more than 2.5 million Syrians fleeing a civil war that has been raging for years.

According to Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak, the number of Syrians evacuated from Aleppo is expected to hit 30,000.

After the evacuation resumed on Sunday, 4,500 more had left eastern Aleppo since midnight, bringing the total evacuees to 20,000.

The evacuation of opposition forces from eastern Aleppo came as part of a Turkish-Russian deal and with the evacuation of the rebels from Aleppo's east, the Syrian army will take control of the entire city.

Foreign Ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran will meet in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the details of the evacuation.

--IANS

vgu/dg
India, Czech Republic discuss defence, commerce ties

Delhi,National,Diplomacy,Business/Economy, Mon, 19 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) India and the Czech Republic on Monday discussed the entire gamut of their bilateral relationship, stressing on defence and commercial ties.

At a meeting between Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar and visiting Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek here, the two sides discussed bilateral issues as well as important global and regional issues of mutual interest, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"India and Czech Republic have robust economic ties, with annual bilateral trade being $1.2 billion. Additionally, a number of Indian and Czech companies have invested in each otheras country," it said.

"There is a mechanism of Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation co-chaired by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India and Minister of Trade and Industry of Czech Republic from the respective sides, for discussing the ways and means of strengthening economic ties."

According to the statement, defence cooperation is an important component in India-Czech ties.

"There is a mechanism of India-Czech Joint Defence Committee meetings that met last in November 2016. There is a Joint Working Group on heavy engineering; the last JWG (Joint Working Group) meeting took place in October 2016," it said.

The two countries also have a cultural exchange programme and an education exchange programme and engage regularly in discussions on cooperation in science and technology and research and development.

"Minister Zaoralek and Minister M.J. Akbar discussed in detail the possibility of further cooperation in these crucial sectors of mutual interest," the statement said.

"The two Ministers held discussions also on major global issues such as climate change, Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations reforms, terrorism, Multilateral Export Control Regime etc."

They also exchanged views on important developments in the neighbouring regions of both countries.

The last visit of the Czech Foreign Minister to India was in 2013, the Czech Minister of Trade and Industry visited in January 2015 and the Czech Defence Minister in March 2016.

--IANS

ab/vd
TSX symbol: BX

TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - BIOX Corporation (BIOX) (TSX: BX), a renewable energy company that owns and operates biodiesel production facilities, today announced that Edwin Nordholm has resigned from its Board of Directors.

"On behalf of the Company, I thank Ed for the commitment and dedication he demonstrated to the Board during his tenure while BIOX transformed itself from a single facility company to a multi-facility company with production of more than 287 million litres of owned capacity," said Kevin Golding, Chair of the Board of BIOX. "Ed's leadership and relationships during the past two years were instrumental in the successful expansion we have undertaken. We wish him our best in his future endeavors."

About BIOX Corporation

BIOX is a renewable energy company that owns 287.5 million litres of nameplate biodiesel production capacity at plants located in southern Ontario and Houston, Texas. BIOX has an innovative, proprietary and patented production process that is capable of producing the highest quality, renewable, clean burning and biodegradable biodiesel fuel utilizing a variety of feedstocks - from pure seed oils to animal fats to recovered vegetable oils with no change to the production process. BIOX's high quality biodiesel fuel meets North American (ASTM D-6751) quality standards.

SOURCE BIOX Corporation

For further information: Alan Rickard, CEO, BIOX Corporation, 905-521-8205 ext. 253, [email protected]

Related Links

www.bioxcorp.com


TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Today at 10:00am. Mayor John Tory on behalf of Toronto City Council proclaims December 19-25, 2016 as "Salvation Army Week" in the City.

Mayor John Tory encourages everyone to support The Salvation Army this holiday season, especially during the final days leading up to Christmas Day. The Christmas Kettle Campaign is down 40% in some 905 locations.

The Salvation Army flag raising will take place at Toronto City Hall (Courtesy Flag Pole) at 10:00am. Salvation Army Spokesperson Andrew Burditt will be on hand to proclaim Salvation Army Week and will be available for interviews with the media.

"The Salvation Army is thankful to the citizens of this great city for their continued support of our Christmas Campaign," says Andrew Burditt, spokesperson for The Salvation Army. "As we push into the final days of our campaign we wanted to remind those who haven't been able to make their donation at one of our Kettles, that they can make their donation by visiting us online at FillTheKettle.com, SalvationArmy.ca or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY. When you donate at one of our Kettles your donation stays in that community to help support the many services we provide."

The Salvation Army in the Greater Toronto Area's annual Christmas Kettles goal is $3 million.

2016 Proclamation: http://tinyurl.com/go2zbvy

About The Salvation Army:

The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become one of the largest direct providers of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and every day in 400 communities across Canada and 128 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction.

When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of people in your community who are in greatest need. News releases, articles and updated information can be found at salvationarmy.ca.

SOURCE The Salvation Army - Ontario Central Division

For further information: Andrew Burditt, Divisional Secretary for Public Relations and Development, c) 416-845-8231, [email protected], twitter.com/tsatoronto, facebook.com/tsatoronto, instagram.com/tsatoronto

Related Links

http://www.salvationarmy.ca


TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Nearly 1.9 million passengers are expected to travel through Canada's largest airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, during the peak holiday travel period between December 20, 2016 and January 3, 2017.

Come see some of the action on December 20, 2016, the busiest day leading into the holiday season; when 124,000 people are expected to travel through Toronto Pearson.

Interview the experts:

Toronto Pearson International Airport spokesperson  Available for interviews on airport operations, tips for travel, winter operations, passenger experience activations

 Available for interviews on airport operations, tips for travel, winter operations, passenger experience activations Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) spokesperson  Available for interviews on tips to breeze through security and the most unique items intercepted at Toronto Pearson's security checkpoints.

Available for interviews on tips to breeze through security and the most unique items intercepted at Toronto Pearson's security checkpoints. Plus a guest appearance from PAW Patrol

Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 Time: 6:30 a.m.  11 a.m.

*Operationally dependent* Location: Terminal 1, Departures Level, Aisle 3 RSVP: Monday, December 19 at 1 p.m.

Please Note:

Special requests are welcome and will be assessed on a one-to-one basis. To schedule an interview, please call 416-776-3709.

About Toronto Pearson:

Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) is the operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport. Toronto Pearson is focused on becoming the best airport in the world; enhancing the passenger experience, safety, security, supports the success of our airline partners. With more than 41 million passengers in 2015, Toronto Pearson is Canada's largest airport and second busiest North American international airport.

The area around Toronto Pearson is the second-largest employment zone in Canada; it facilitates more than six per cent of Ontario's GDP and directly employs 49,000 people. Toronto Pearson believes being a good neighbour means balancing operations by engaging with communities that surround the airport. It strives to have a positive impact by investing in social good and community-building initiatives through its community investment program, The Propeller Project.

For more information please visit Toronto Pearson on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

SOURCE Toronto Pearson

For further information: GTAA Media Office: Call: 416-776-3709, Email: [email protected]; CATSA Media Relations: Call: 613-998-4527, Email: [email protected]
Potential for near-term cash flow

Right of first refusal on central area, including the existing mine

Option to earn up to 80% of non-explored claims

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Meridian Mining S.E. (TSX V: MNO) ("Meridian " or the "Company"), today announced that, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Brasil Manganes Corporation Mineracao S.A. ("BMC"), it has entered into a definitive Investment Agreement (the "Agreement") with Cooperativa de Garimperiros de Santa Cruz Ltda. ("Coopersanta") and Cooperativa Metalurgica de RondoniaLtda. ("Coopermetal") (together the "Cooperatives"), whereby BMC can earn an interest in up to three components of the Cooperatives operation. Pursuant to the Agreement, and as discussed in further detail below, BMC has the right to provide tailings reprocessing services on certain tailings to the Cooperatives; has a right of first refusal on either the acquisition of the mineral rights or the provision of underground mining services in the central area; and can earn 80% of the non-explored area surrounding the mines.

The Bom Futuro mine has produced more than 192,000 tonnes of tin since its discovery in 1987, and is the largest producing tin mine in the Ariquemes district. The Ariquemes District, located in Rondonia, NW Brazil has produced approximately 3% of the world's tin supply over the past 30 years.

"Similar to our manganese project, this option offers us both potential near-term cash flow through the re-processing of tailings from an existing tin mining operation, as well as longer-term exploration upside, consistent with our overall strategy for the Company," said Mr. Anthony Julien, President and CEO of Meridian. "Entering into this agreement will allow us to leverage our extensive experience in Rondonia and apply the latest exploration and production techniques in this underexplored, but prolific, tin region of Brazil."

Under the terms of the Agreement, BMC has the right to explore a 492.57ha Tailings Reprocessable Area (the "Tailings Area"), a 2,000ha Central Area, which includes the existing Bom Futuro mine, and an 18,000ha Non-Explored Area (together the "Total Area").

BMC has until March 15, 2017 to complete a preliminary technical audit of the Tailings Area and, if it so chooses, a review and exploration on the Central Area and the Non-Explored Area, with the goal of assessing the technical and economic viability of the project to determine if it wishes to exercise its option under the Agreement. During the same period, the Cooperatives will conduct negotiations and obtain the necessary approvals for BMC to take over construction of a power transmission line and hold a Special General Meeting to approve, among other items, a Tailings Reprocessing Permit and the Exploration Permit over the Total Area.

Upon completion of a successful preliminary technical audit and due diligence period, and at the election by BMC to proceed, the activities as contemplated by the Agreement will commence. At this time the Cooperatives will grant BMC a Tailings Reprocessing Permit for the Tailings Area for a term of five years, which can be extended for a further 5 years, provided BMC completes USD$1.5 million in exploration work on the area. In compensation for the tailings reprocessing services, BMC will receive cassiterite concentrate pricing less a 20% treatment charge and a 3% royalty payable to the Cooperatives.

BMC also has the right to explore the Central Area and will receive a right of first refusal on the provision of underground mining services to the Cooperatives or on the rights to acquire the area.

BMC is required to spend USD$10.5 million on exploration on the Non-Explored Area over five years. Upon completion of the exploration expenditures and a NI 43-101 or Joint Ore Reserves Committee Code compliant feasibility study showing economic potential, the Cooperatives will assign and transfer the rights of the Non-Explored Area to a special purpose company ("SPC"). The SPC will be set up by BMC and Coopermetal for the mineral and commercial exploration of this area, in which BMC will hold 80% interest and Coopermetal 20%. In the event BMC does not identify a NI 43-101 or Joint Ore Reserves Committee Code compliant feasibility study showing economic potential, the Cooperatives will also grant BMC a second exploration term of five years provided BMC invested USD$10.5 million in exploration work on the Non-Explored Area.

Upon completion of a successful preliminary technical audit and due diligence and at the election of BMC to proceed, the Company is required to finance the completion of the under construction 69kV power transmission line between Bom Futuro and Ariquemes. Subject to the renegotiation of some of the terms in the signed contract between Coopermetal and Centrais Electricas de Rondonia S/A  CERON (Electrobras) ("CERON"), the decision is expected to occur on or before March 15, 2017. At this time, BMC will become eligible for reimbursement for the work performed on the completion of the power transmission line (the cost of which will be estimated during the technical audit and due diligence period) in cash, in up to six instalments following completion. Should reimbursement from CERON not be made in cash, BMC will be reimbursed by offsetting bills for consumed energy over a period of not more than 36 months.

QUALIFIED PERSON

The technical information about the Company's activities has been prepared under the supervision of and verified by Dr. Adrian McArthur (B.Sc. Hons, PhD. FAusIMM), a consultant to Brazil Manganese Corporation, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Meridian Mining S.E.

"Anthony Julien"

Anthony Julien

President, CEO and Director

ABOUT MERIDIAN

Meridian Mining S.E. is focused on the acquisition, exploration, development and mining activities in Brazil. The Company is currently focused on exploring and developing the BMC manganese project, the Bom Futuro tin JV area, and adjacent areas in the state of Rondonia. The Company employs a two-pronged strategy with the objective of growing pilot production while advancing a parallel multi-commodity regional exploration program. Meridian is currently producing high grade manganese at the BMC project located near, Espigao de Oeste.

Further information can be found at www.meridianmining.co and http://bmcorporation.com.br/.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements include, among others, statements with respect to the Company's plans for exploration and development of its properties and potential mineralization. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such risk factors include, among others, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, failure to complete anticipated transactions, the timing and success of future exploration and development activities, exploration and development risks, title matters, inability to obtain any required third party consents, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices and one-time events. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that: (1) the proposed exploration and development of mineral projects will proceed as planned; (2) market fundamentals will result in sustained metals and minerals prices and (3) any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.

The Company cautions that it has not completed any feasibility studies on any of its mineral properties, and no mineral reserve estimate has been established. In particular, because the Company's production decision relating to BMC's manganese project is not based upon a feasibility study of mineral reserves, the economic and technical viability of the BMC manganese project has not been established.

The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Arrangement and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. 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 Meridian Mining S.E.

For further information: Nick Hurst, 416-586-1942, [email protected]
Roam Like Home customers using twice as much data in U.S., four times more internationally

Study finds almost 90 per cent of Canadian travellers packing their smartphone

TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Rogers today announced it is expanding Roam Like Home to make it available to most customers on a consumer plan. Now, in time for the busy winter travel season, more Canadians can use their wireless plan like they do at home when traveling to the U.S. and over 100 destinations around the world.

"Customers told us they wanted access to Roam Like Home no matter what wireless plan they were on and we listened," said Leroy Williams, Vice-President Wireless Marketing, Rogers Communications. "Now we're giving more customers the same freedom to roam, whether it's keeping the kids entertained on the drive down to Florida or using Google Maps to find your way through London. This is another way we are working to improve the customer experience."

According to a recent survey, almost three million Canadians plan on taking a trip this winter, and almost 90 per cent say they plan on bringing their smartphone. Canadians primarily bring their devices to stay connected, with 72 per cent using them as a way to keep in touch with their family and friends as well as a way to enhance their trip by searching the internet (54 per cent), sharing on social media (38 per cent) and using GPS and mapping (37 per cent). To stay connected, more than half of Canadians still rely on Wi-Fi (55 per cent), while almost 30 per cent use their devices just as often as they do at home.

"Roam Like Home has revolutionized the way our customers use their smartphones when they travel. They love the freedom of stepping off the plane and using their smartphone, knowing they won't come home to an unexpected roaming bill. Roam Like Home customers use twice the data in the U.S. and four times the data in international destinations as those without the service," added Williams.

Now, almost 800,000 additional postpaid wireless consumers can use the data bucket, and talk and text included in their plan in the U.S. for $5 per day and over 100 destinations around the world for $10 per day. Customers will only be charged for a maximum of 10 days on each monthly bill or $50 in the U.S. and $100 in eligible international destinations. No long distance charges apply to calls and texts to local numbers in the destination they're visiting or back to Canada are included.

For more information: http://www.rogers.com/roamlikehome.

About Rogers

Rogers is a leading diversified Canadian communications and media company that's working to deliver a great experience to our customers every day. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high-speed Internet, information technology, and telephony services to consumers and businesses. Through Rogers Media, we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, sports, televised and online shopping, magazines, and digital media. Our shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).

About the survey

The online survey was conducted among n=1,004 adult Canadians who plan on travelling internationally this winter and own a smartphone. The survey was administered by Rogers Consumer Insights in association with Maru/Matchbox, in both English and French between November 14 and November 21, 2016.

SOURCE Rogers Communications Canada Inc. - English

For further information: [email protected], 647-747-5118

Related Links

http://www.rogers.com


ASBESTOS, QC, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie and Member of Parliament for ComptonStanstead, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep BainMinister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED, Mr. Hugues Grimard, prefect of Des Sources RCM and mayor of Asbestos, and Mr. Stephane Santerre, Senior Director, Operations at Gaz Metro, today inaugurated the commissioning of the natural gas network in Asbestos.

This $4.4-million project to extend the gas network is getting under way thanks to financial contributions from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) and the Ville d'Asbestos. This investment will connect the 28 businesses in the town's industrial area, in addition to representing a significant economic development driver for the region.

"I am very pleased to be here to inaugurate this promising project for the Asbestos community. In addition to fostering new investment in the region, the gas pipeline system in the Asbestos industrial park is expected to generate many jobs that will definitely benefit the middle class." Stated Minister Bibeau.

The mayor of Asbestos, Mr. Hugues Grimard, would like to thank Economic Development Canada and Gaz Metro, the town's partners in this major project. "With natural gas, we have just provided ourselves with the missing asset in the range of services offered by the industrial park in Asbestos. Our industrial park now offers many fully serviced lots ready to be built on. With the benefits of the Fonds de diversification at our disposal, we can now claim to be one of the best destinations in Quebec for industrial construction," stated Mr. Grimard.

"I would like to congratulate all the local stakeholders who got this project off the ground; it holds major importance not only for the region but for the province of Quebec: it is a meaningful and innovative project in response to climate change issues. Thanks to their efforts, our new clients will be able, together, to save up to $200,000 a year in energy costs," said Mr. Santerre.

Related links

For more information about the Canadian Initiative for the Economic Diversification of Communities Reliant on Chrysotile: http://dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/funding/initiative/chrysotile/index.html

About Gaz Metro

With more than $7 billion in assets, Gaz Metro is a leading energy provider. It is the largest natural gas distribution company in Quebec, where its network of over 10,000 km of underground pipelines serves more than 300 municipalities and more than 200,000 customers. Gaz Metro is also present in Vermont, where it has more than 310,000 customers. There, it operates in the electricity production market and the electricity and natural gas distribution market. Gaz Metro is actively involved in developing and operating innovative, promising energy projects, including natural gas as fuel, liquefied natural gas as a replacement for higher emission-producing energies, the production of wind power and the development of biomethane. Gaz Metro is a major energy sector player that takes the lead in responding to the needs of its customers, regions and municipalities, local organizations, and communities while also satisfying the expectations of its Partners (GMi and Valener) and employees.

SOURCE Gaz Metro

For further information: Gaz Metro, Catherine Houde, Media and Public Relations, 514 598-3449, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.gazmetro.com


MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - According to a recent Ipsos poll, most Canadians agreed that good health is their wish for family and friends this Christmas. Six in ten Canadians picked health as their gift of choice over stability (15%), success (12%), education and freedom (tied at 5%).

While we can't quite wrap gifts like health and stability to give to family and friends, by purchasing gifts from the World Vision Gift Catalogue like Medicines for Children ($30), Start a Business ($100) and School Essentials ($10), you can provide these gifts to children who need it in developing countries.

Quotes:

"Good health is a gift we don't take for granted. Giving gifts like medicines, clean water and emergency nutrition mean this Christmas you can give the gift of health to children who need it in a real way."

-Lisa Fernandes, World Vision Gift Catalogue

Quick Facts:

62% of Canadians surveyed would give loved ones the gift of health

The majority of respondents (88%) agree that Christmas is a time to help those in need

With 9 in 10 of Canadians agreeing that Christmas is too commercial, giving from the Gift Catalogue helps gift givers make a lasting impact.

What Canadians can do:

This Christmas honour others with meaningful gifts. Last year, more than 50,000 Canadians gave gifts from the World Vision Gift Catalogue.

#meaningfulgifts

www.worldvision.ca/gifts

Background Information:

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by our Christian values, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world's most vulnerable people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. Visit our News Centre at worldvision.ca

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between October 11 and October 14, 2016, on behalf of World Vision. For this survey, a sample of 1,000 Canadians from Ipsos' online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/ - 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadian adults been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

SOURCE World Vision Canada

For further information: For interviews or a complete copy of the survey and factum contact: Sarah Bartley - 905-565-6200 ext. 4054 or [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.worldvision.ca


The Chief Commissioner of Canadian Human Rights Commission, Marie-Claude Landry, issues the following statement:

Is Canada all talk when it comes to inclusion? Could we fall prey to the wave of intolerance washing over the western world?

OTTAWA, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - In a year where Canadians had to respond to dramatic and sometimes troubling shifts in the world around us, we are all searching for answers. We have seen how human rights are fragile and tested every day around the world.

Many would suggest that when it comes to human rights, Canada is the envy of the world  that we are above the bigotry and hatred we are seeing elsewhere. Our Prime Minister is often heard saying that "diversity is Canada's strength." As we all celebrate diversity and inclusion, many would conclude that we have reached the perfect balance. That we are diverse enough. That we are inclusive enough. But what if this renewed emphasis on diversity and inclusion is blinding us to our own shortcomings.

We should be concerned that so many Canadians do not feel included. That our greatest achievement  our diversity  is being challenged. It's being challenged by the recent rise in hate messaging and violence. It's being challenged by a persistent xenophobic discourse cloaked in "Canadian values." It's being challenged by increasing intolerance and bigotry  acts of anti-Semitism, islamophobia, racism and misogyny. We must be continually mindful of history and the lessons it has taught us, because history is littered with subtle examples when indifference and intolerance  the lifeblood of hate  led to devastating consequences.

We need to be honest about what kind of country we want to be. We are still conflicted. While Canadians are open to immigration and multiculturalism, we are deeply divided about how immigrants and refugees should be "integrated" into Canadian society.

Many may be discouraged by this observation. We are so busy, lacking time and energy, and the problem may seem so big, but countering indifference and intolerance isn't only reserved for those who subscribe to big actions or to sustained advocacy. It starts with increased understanding and empathy. It only takes second to cultivate those small moments when we can tune in and try to see the world through someone else's eyes: hosting a book club that introduces different perspectives on indigenous issues; inviting the gender-creative child to play with your children; turning up the volume in the car so a teenager can listen to a radio story about reports of racism; honouring another culture by attending celebrations; or engaging in conversation with colleagues about human rights issues that hit close to home.

I believe that this is what Eleanor Roosevelt had in mind when she said: "Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world." It's as relevant today as it was 60 years ago, because despite all the progress we have made, human rights will always be fragile. We can never let our guard down. We all have a part, however small, to play in protecting inclusion and diversity. And so, in 2017, what part should we each play?

Stay Connected

Follow us on Twitter @CdnHumanRights and Facebook.

Watch us on YouTube

SOURCE Canadian Human Rights Commission

For further information: Media Contacts : Media Relations, 613-943-9118, www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca

Related Links

http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca


Proposed nationwide class settlement provides cash payments for approximately 105,000 2.0L TDI diesel vehicles in Canada .

. Many owners and lessees of these vehicles will also have choices that may include vehicle buyback; trade-in; emissions modification, if approved; and early lease termination.

AJAX, TORONTO, ON and MONTREAL, QC, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Volkswagen and Canadian class counsel announce they have agreed to resolve consumer claims in Canada related to the 2.0L TDI emissions matter for approximately 105,000 affected vehicles nationwide, subject to court approval. The proposed settlement provides for cash payments to eligible owners and lessees, and many of these settlement class members will also have choices that may include vehicle buybacks, trade-in, emissions modification (if approved by regulators) and early lease termination. The total value of the benefits is up to CAD $2.1 billion.

This result was reached by Volkswagen and Canadian class counsel in consultation with the Commissioner of Competition in Canada. Volkswagen Group Canada also has agreed with the Commissioner to resolve related civil consumer protection concerns with the agreed benefits in the proposed class settlement, as well as with a CAD $15 million civil administrative monetary penalty.

"Volkswagen's primary goal has always been to ensure our Canadian customers are treated fairly, and we believe that this proposed resolution achieves this aim," said Volkswagen Group Canada President and Chief Executive Officer, Maria Stenstroem. "We are working hard to earn back the trust of our customers, dealers and regulators, and today is an important step in that effort. We appreciate the engagement of the other parties to these agreements and thank our Canadian customers for their continued patience."

Harvey T. Strosberg QC, one of the two lead class counsel in the national class action certified in Ontario said: "Our team of lawyers is delighted to deliver to the Settlement Class Members a just settlement, valued at up to $2.1 billion, without legal costs to them."

Charles M. Wright, the other lead class counsel in the national class action certified in Ontario said: "Our clients were clearly looking for finality and choices, and we hope that through this agreement we have provided both."

Sylvie De Bellefeuille, Legal Advisor at Option consommateurs, Representative Plaintiff for the Quebec Settlement Class Members, said: "We are very pleased with this outcome. This is a great settlement for all Canadian consumers. Option consommateurs is proud to play a leadership role in large-scale class actions and consumer-related issues of national scope. We thank Belleau Lapointe, our lawyers in this class action, who have done an exceptional job for the benefit of all Canadian Settlement Class Members."

Proposed 2.0L TDI Settlement Program in Canada

The proposed nationwide class settlement is subject to approval by two courts. Approval hearings will take place around the end of March 2017 before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto and the Superior Court of Quebec in Montreal.

If approved, the 2.0L TDI settlement program in Canada will include:

Cash payments to eligible owners and lessees of approximately 105,000 affected vehicles nationwide.





Many of these eligible settlement class members can also choose to sell their vehicle to Volkswagen (the buyback option) or terminate their lease without penalty, or, if an emissions modification is approved, choose to keep their vehicle and have it modified at no charge and receive an extended emissions warranty.





An eligible vehicle's value for a buyback will be determined based on the Canadian Black Book Inc. wholesale value as of September 18, 2015 , with adjustments for factory options and mileage at the time of the buyback offer.





, with adjustments for factory options and mileage at the time of the buyback offer. Eligible owners can also choose to trade in their vehicle and apply its fair market value at that time towards the purchase of a new or used Volkswagen or Audi vehicle. In addition, they will receive payment of any amount by which their vehicle's wholesale value as of September 18, 2015 exceeds its fair market value at the time of the trade-in.

The proposed settlement agreement and Court-approved notices summarizing its terms can be found at www.VWCanadaSettlement.ca. Starting on or around January 4, 2017, the Court- approved notices will be published in newspapers and online media and sent to settlement class members.

Settlement class members may begin to take steps to determine their eligibility for benefits by visiting the Check My Eligibility and Vehicle Look-Up sections at www.VWCanadaSettlement.ca, or by calling 1-888-670-4773 for assistance with these steps. Settlement class members will need their vehicle identification number. Instructions on where to find this information are available online.

Eligible settlement class members who wish to make a claim for benefits under the settlement do not need to take any action at this time. The period to submit a claim will not begin until after the proposed settlement receives approval by the Courts.

More detailed information about the options settlement class members may have, including the choice to "opt out" of or "object" to the settlement by March 4, 2017, is available at www.VWCanadaSettlement.ca.

Notes to Editors:

The following 2.0L TDI engine vehicles are included in the proposed 2.0L TDI settlement program in Canada:

VW Jetta VW Jetta Wagon VW Golf VW Passat 2009-2015 2009 2010-2013, 2015 2012-2015







VW Beetle VW Golf Wagon VW Golf Sportwagon Audi A3 2013-2015 2010-2014 2015 2010-2013, 2015

Class settlement benefits of up to CAD $2.1 billion assumes that 100% of eligible settlement class members participate in the settlement program, and that 100% of the participants eligible for the buyback option choose that option.

Amounts for legal fees and expenses of class counsel that are approved by the Courts will be paid by Volkswagen and will not reduce the benefits to eligible settlement class members.

The agreements described here do not apply to owners or lessees of 3.0L TDI V6 vehicles. Proposed class actions that are under way will continue on their behalf.

The class settlement and agreement with the Commissioner of Competition are not an admission of liability by Volkswagen. By their terms, they are not intended to apply to or affect Volkswagen's obligations under the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction outside Canada.

Emission regulations and vehicle standards vary from country to country. Regulations governing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions limits for vehicles in Canada are stricter than those in other parts of the world and diesel engine variants also differ significantly.

About Volkswagen Group Canada Inc.:

Founded in 1952, Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. is headquartered in Ajax, Ontario, and the largest volume European automotive nameplate in Canada. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and is Europe's largest automaker.

About Option consommateurs:

Option consommateurs is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote and defend the rights and interests of consumers. In order to do so, it institutes class action suits. Option consommateurs is interested in various issues, namely business practices, financial services, energy, agro food and health.

SOURCE Volkswagen Group Canada Inc.

For further information: Volkswagen Canada Spokesperson: Thomas Tetzlaff, Phone: 905-428-5858, Email: [email protected], www.Volkswagen.ca; Representatives of Settlement Class Members: Harvey T. Strosberg, QC, Sutts, Strosberg LLP, Phone: 1-800-281-3120, Email: [email protected]; Charles M. Wright, Siskinds LLP, Phone: 519-868-6134, Email: [email protected]; Option consommateurs Spokesperson: Sylvie De Bellefeuille, Contact: Elise Theriault, Phone: 514-777-6133, Email: [email protected]; Daniel Belleau, Belleau Lapointe LLP, Phone: 514-987-6700, Email: [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.nptricepoint.com/


1. Forbes James Conca  Oops!  Rick Perry Chosen To Head Energy Department

The former Texas Governor is President-elect Donald Trumps choice to become the next Secretary for the Department of Energy (DOE). This is amazing given that Governor Perry wanted to kill the Department completely. Everyone seems fixated on shifting DOE away from renewable energy and toward oil and the other fossil fuels, but DOE doesnt have a whole lot to do with energy. Its all about nuclear weapons and nuclear waste.

2. Neutron Bytes  Dan Yurman  Nuclear Energy Development Groups Refresh their Vision

* Nuclear Matters, CASEnergy and NAN unite to form single coalition

* Third Way updates its advanced reactors advocacy effort

* X-Energy and Transatomic set their sights on Idaho lab for first of a kind units

3. Neutron Bytes  Dan Yurman  Investors Line Up for UKs Next Big Nuclear Reactor Projects

With Hinkley Point underway the UK government is lining up investors for the next massive project which is to build twin 1380 MW Hitachi-GE ABWRs at Wylfa Newydd on the Welsh Coast.

4. Nuclear Advocacy blog  Meredith Angwin  Joy and Celebration: Part of the Activist Toolkit

We won in Illinois! The two plants that were in danger of shutting down will keep operating, thanks to bill that was passed at the last hour of the early-December legislative session. While there are undoubtedly lessons-to-be-learned with this victory, Meredith Angwin recommends that we start by celebrating.. Success is fun, and it increases our motivation. Celebration is part of the activist toolkit.

5. Nextbigfuture  China fixing Pakistan energy infrastructure could boost GDP growth to 7% per year and enable a new Asian Tiger economy by 2018

Pakistan has a small nuclear power program, with 1040 MWe capacity, but is moving to increase this substantially with Chinese help. In July 2013 the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved 3.5 GWe of new power projects totalling Rs 1303 billion ($13 billion), comprising 2200 MWe nuclear, 425 MWe gas combined cycle, and 969 MWe hydro. These are designed to reduce the high reliance on oil and to reduce power costs.All depend on Chinese support.

Pakistan depends heavily on China, which is translating its long-term strategic ties with Pakistan into an economic partnership, part of a broader infrastructure push across Eurasia. China is financing many plants as commercial investments. But to expedite projects, the Pakistani government is funding some power stations in the run up to the election, including three gas-fired plants in Mr. Sharifs home province of Punjab. The eventual aim is to more than double Pakistans current output of around 16,000 megawatts.

6. Nextbigfuture  Russia planning to build up to 38 small 300 MW cogenerating nuclear reactors to reduce fossil fuel usage

Four Russian cities have expressed an interest in using small reactors to supply heat and power, according to Yuriy Kuznetsov of NA Dollezhal Research and Development Institute of Power Engineering (NIKIET). A Rosatom feasibility study has concluded that up to 38 cogeneration reactors could potentially be deployed at 14 sites for this purpose.

In many Russian cities district heating is a common feature that sees a local power plant supply up to around 250 MWe to the grid, as well as process heat to a communal system to warm homes, schools, factories and offices. These systems have traditionally relied on fossil fuels but will need to change in line with incoming goals to gain in efficiency and to decarbonise, as set out by a Presidium of the State Council which specifically mentioned nuclear as a potential technology.

In response, NIKIET has completed the detailed design of the VK-300 reactor.

VK-300 is a boiling water model with 750 MW thermal capacity and 150-250 MW electric depending on the required mix of heat and power. It uses proven components, including similar fuel elements to the large established VVER pressurized water design. Kuznetsov said VK-300 features fully passive cooling and safety features and has no need for operator action in an emergency or for offsite electricity or water supply. VK-300 has two containments and the consequences of any accident should not extend beyond the site boundary, he said.
1. Universe Today  SpaceX and NASA Confirm Delay of First Crewed Dragon Flight to 2018

2. Universe Today  Martian Mineral Points Toward Past Habitability

3. Universe Today  The Car Alan Stern Drove to Pluto

4. Blasting News  Donald Trump chooses more members of NASA landing team

5. Blasting News  Before he died John Glenn wrote a letter praising Blue Origins Jeff Bezos

6. God speed John Glenn, dead at 95

7. NASA funds Restore-L space mission to refuel and repair satellites

8. Moon Express co-founder Naveen Jain predicts $10,000 trips to the moon by 2026

9. Why the German Google Lunar XPrize mission will not debunk the moon landing hoax

NASA, Stephen Hawking Join Forces on Nano Starship Project

10. Incredible Computer Simulation Recreates The Evolution Of Our Universe

11. Reaction Engines UK progressing to full demonstrator hypersonic engine in 2020 and fully reusable spaceplanes and hypersonic fighter jets around 2030. SABRE  Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine  is a new class of engine for propelling both high speed aircraft and spacecraft. SABRE engines are unique in delivering the fuel efficiency of a jet engine with the power and high speed ability of a rocket.

Unlike jet engines, which are only capable of powering a vehicle up to Mach 3, three times the speed of sound, SABRE engines are capable of Mach 5.4 in air-breathing mode, and Mach 25 in rocket mode for space flight. They are simply going to revolutionise the way we travel around the globe, and into orbit. Like jet engines, SABRE can be scaled in size to provide difference levels of thrust for different applications which is crucial to our success  its going to enable a whole generation of air and space vehicles.

12. Nextbigfuture  Robert Zubrin makes the case that innovation and innovative people and scientific progress increases resources.

Hitler and Malthus made the case that there is only so much to go around and you must fight and kill for it.

However, there was 1 billion people at the time of Malthus and they had the equivalent in todays dollars of GDP $180 per person.

Malthus made the case that there was finite resources and we had to stop population growth.

But now there are 7 billion people with the equivalent of $9000 GDP per person.

7 times the population, 50 times the wealth (7 squared) and 350 times the total wealth (7 cubed)

13. Nextbigfuture  Physics Today has a speculative article that proposes that laser light be used to shape and polish an asteroid to high optical standards. This could create an Asteroid Belt Astronomical Telescope (ABAT). The imagined angular resolution of exoplanet Gliese 832 c is a factor of 10 000 short of the theoretical limit of 2  10^11 arcsec. Instead of waiting for laser shaping of asteroids, we can start mass production of cubesats with 2 meter mirrors. Deploying these telescopes around the solar system could form a hypertelescope that has the capabilities of the imagined asteroid belt telescope.

14. Nextbigfuture  Moon Express targets trips to the moon at $10,000 per person by 2026 and will use rocket with 3D printed parts. Naveen Jain, founder of Moon Express, sees moon exploration as part of a larger, ten-year vision that could span anywhere from research facilities for needed Mars-bound technologies to honeymoon destinations. That, and hes eyeing SpaceX as a natural launch partner in reaching for those goals.

In a recent interview with CNBC, Jain expressed his reason for getting involved in private space exploration as one we are familiar hearing from Elon Musk: Multi-planetary habitation as a backup plan for the survival of the human race. With such a compatible perspective, Elon Musk and SpaceX certainly would seem to have many reasons to work with Moon Express in the future. Jain also expressed his willingness to work with Elon.

If all goes well in the space tourism economy, tourists will be able to book a flight to the moon within the next decade and stay in a hotel in orbit above Earth while watching cargo ship shuttle up from our planets surface, Jain told Space.com.
At least 5,000 ghost workers have been discovered from the payroll of Bayelsa State, the government said yesterday.

The Chief Accountant in the Office of Special Adviser on Treasury, Accounts and Revenue, Dr David Ala-Peter, said the ghost workers were found after the recent staff verification exercise.He said more than 50,000 workers were captured in the exercise.Ala-Peter explained that the exercise was aimed at identifying fake names to reduce the states wage bill.He said: The panel has done well during the exercise. We use software of international standards such as the Oracle software.The method used was very effective. We have established staff data base; we captured both their finger prints, dates of birth and their credentials.During the exercise, we verified more than 50,000 workers. Right now, we are operating with little above 45,000 workers.The accountant said currently in the state, names in the payroll could not be duplicated because of fingerprint identification.While saying that the exercise reduced the states wage bill, he however, added: But I may not be able to ascertain the correct figure.Hitherto, the wage bill of the state ran above N4bn.Governor Seriake Dickson complained about the bloated wages of workers and lamented in July that the governments wage bill of N4.3bn was too much and unsustainable.He said that the state governments wage bills over the months remains a sour point in our financial balance sheet.He said: I disagree with this figure of N4.3bn because it is not sustainable for our economy. We must come together and do something urgently to reduce this figure. We have to do something if we must grow our economy.
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and embattled factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ali Modu-Sheriff on Sunday held a v...

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and embattled factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ali Modu-Sheriff on Sunday held a very private meeting at an enclosure within the International Conference Centre complex, Abuja, on Sunday.According to reports, Saraki made his way into the complex at about 7.30 pm and left around 7.51pm and was received by Sheriff who strolled with him to a corner of the hall where they held the meeting. The meeting lasted for about 20 minutes.They both refused to address the press after the meeting. When contacted, the Special Assistant to the Senate President (Print Media), Mr. Chucks Okocha, said while it was true that his boss met with Sheriff, it had nothing to do with politics.He said is was a social meeting to felicitate with Sheriff over his daughter's wedding.
A special court made up of members of parliament and magistrates announced the guilty verdict on Monday in Paris.

A special court made up of members of parliament and magistrates announced the guilty verdict on Monday in Paris.But it also said Lagarde won't be fined, serve any jail time, nor receive a criminal record.Lagarde had been accused of giving preferential treatment to businessman-turned-politician Bernard Tapie as he pursued a legal challenge against the French government.At the time, Lagarde was French economy minister.Tapie eventually won his case and was awarded 293 million ($306 million), plus interest. Lagarde was found to be negligent for not challenging the award of such a large sum of taxpayers' money.She was not in court for the verdict. Her lawyer said she was in Washington.
Following the allegation of corruption levelled against Mr. Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, President M...

Following the allegation of corruption levelled against Mr. Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday, directed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to probe all top government officials accused of corruption.The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stated this in a two-paragraph statement.Shehu said any of the government official found guilty of the allegations levelled against them would not escape prosecution.The statement read, The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to a number of reports in the media, in which various accusations of corruption have been levelled against some top officials in the administration.In that regard, President Buhari has instructed the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate the involvement of any top government official accused of any wrongdoing. If any of them are liable, they will not escape prosecution.Although Shehu did not mention names, top government officials who have been accused of corruption so far, included the SGF, the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; and the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.Meanwhile, a human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has called on President Buhari to fulfill his vow not to protect sacred cows in his government by immediately sacking the SGF.The call came on the heels of an allegation by the Senate that the SGF awarded contracts to a conpany, Rholavision Engineering Limited, allegedly belong to him in the Internally Displaced Persons camps.Also, a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Jiti Ogunye, and the Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adeniran, have called on the Presidency to refer Lawal to the EFCC or the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission for probe.Falana, in an interview with one our correspondents on Sunday, said not just Lawal, but all other corrupt members of the Presidents cabinet must be flushed out, or else the government would lose the moral right to continue to fight corruption.He said, So, the President has to decide because he has said that there shall be no sacred cows.If those involved in corruption are allowed to remain in government and treated like sacred cows, the government will lose the entire moral right to fight corruption.All the corrupt members of the cabinet have to be shown the way out, they have to be flushed out.The Senate had at a plenary on Wednesday called for the removal and prosecution of the SGF following alleged complicity in contract award in the IDP camps in the North-East.Lawal, who denied all the allegations, described them as balderdash even as he said they were aimed at pulling him down.But Falana said Lawals defence was not a denial, stressing that it was a confirmation of the allegations levelled against him.He said the allegations levelled against Lawal were on the same scale as crimes against humanity, stressing that the President must not allow Babachir to remain in office.Falana said, The President should relieve him of his position. The SGF has to be relieved of his post.He was appointed last year May or whenever, now you are telling us that you resigned from the company in August, during which time contracts were going to that company.His defence is not a denial of the allegation. In fact, it is a confirmation. Under the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, the first rule is that there shall be no conflict of interest.Also, Ogunye, and the Executive Chairman, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said if the anti-corruption agency established a prima facie case against Lawal, he should immediately be relieved of his post and subsequently prosecuted.Ogunye said, The Senate has made a report. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation has defended himself in the media. Both the allegations and the defence should be collated by the President and forwarded to the anti-corruption agencies and the President should tell the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to go and appear before the anti-corruption agency and clear himself.As to whether he should step down or not, an allegation has been made and he has defended himself. I do not know the truth of the situation but I believe that either of these two anti-corruption agencies would be in the best position to look into that matter, investigate and charge him to court appropriately if an offence has been committed.Also, a Second Republic lawmaker, Mohammed Junaid, said he was not surprised about the allegation of scam trailing Babachir, recalling that he had warned the President against appointing him as the SGF in the first place.He said, Now that he (Babachir) is enmeshed in a scandal, which has also become public knowledge, the person who should give explanation to Nigerians is Buhari himself. And if Babachir is corrupt, then it is Buhari that is corrupt, because he couldnt have done what he did without the foreknowledge of General Buhari.
Six weeks after the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election, the battle for the White House is yet to be over as the 538 electors formally cast ...

Six weeks after the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election, the battle for the White House is yet to be over as the 538 electors formally cast their votes for either Democratic Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump on Monday.Although, technically the President-elect Trump won the electoral college on Nov. 9, officially, he has not been voted for.Under the US Constitution, the real presidential election takes place on Dec. 19, when electors meet in the 50 state capitals and Washington, D.C. to cast their ballots.To be elected a president, therefore, a candidate must score 270 Electoral College votes, representing 50 per cent plus one vote or a simple majority vote.As the electors prepare to vote on Monday, there are reports that many Republican electoral college members have been besieged by phone calls and e-mails to vote against Trump.Clintons victory in the popular vote, by a margin of close to three million but not the electoral vote and controversies about Trump have generated unusual interest in the electoral college.Trump needs 270 electoral votes on Monday to claim White House and his victory in various states in the Nov. 8 election put him in line to get 306 of the 538 electoral college votes as against Clinton who had 232.NAN reports that Clintons almost three million over Trumps, made him the most unpopular president-elect since 1876 and heightening the tension in recent weeks.Already 18 notable U.S. actors and other artists have urged Republican electors to go down in the books as American heroes by not voting for Trump.One elector has resigned, another said he would not vote while electors in three states went to court seeking authority to vote as they please.The Republican elector from Texas, Art Sisneros, resigned, saying a vote for Trump would bring dishonour to God.Christopher Suprun, a Texas elector, said he would not vote for Trump, who won his states election.Donald Trump lacks the foreign policy experience and demeanour needed to be commander in-chief, he said.In California, a Federal Judge scheduled a hearing on a similar request from an elector, Vinzenz Koller, who said he could not vote for Clinton.Courts in Colorado and Washington have rejected pleas from electors to be released from requirements to vote as their states did, although the electors in Colorado appealed the lower court ruling.The state Supreme Court will have until noon on Monday, when electors cast their ballots, to decide.On Sunday, John Podesta, Clintons campaign chairman, suggested that 37 electoral voters bound to Trump could defect, which would be enough to create at least a tie and send the votes to the House to decide.Podesta predicated his argument on glaring allegations that Russians hacking the emails of Democrats during the election led in part to Clintons loss.He also argued that members of the Electoral College should have an intelligence briefing about the hackings before voting on Monday.I assume that our electors are going to vote for Hillary Clinton.But the question is whether there are 37 Republican electors who think that either there are open questions about the purported Russian hackings or that Donald Trump is really unfit to be president and I guess we will know that tomorrow.However, Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, said in spite of the mounting pressures on the electors to vote against Trump we expect everything to fall in line.Priebus, however, confirmed the only known and so-called faithless balloter, who lives in Texas and whose vote goes to Trump but plans to vote for another, yet-to-be-named Republican.But other than that, were very confident that everything is going to be very smooth, he said.
Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, have claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari will be visiting Enugu state on December 22...

Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, have claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari will be visiting Enugu state on December 22, 2016, and have threatened to die with the President should he step his foot on Enugu or any part of the area, the group calls Biafraland.Describing Buhari as the killer of Biafrans, they alleged that he has killed over two thousand unarmed and peaceful Biafrans since June 17, 2015, stressing that the President is not allowed into any part of Biafraland until all those detained are released, and Amnesty International report investigated.Amnesty International, AI, had released a video showing how security agents killed 150 peaceful pro-Biafra agitators, adding that based on visits to hospitals and mortuaries, at least 17 were killed and nearly 50 injured in Onitsha, Anambra state alone.But according to a statement issued on Monday by its spokespersons, Barrister Emma Nmezu, Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya, IPOB warned that any governor or Igbo politician that receives Buhari in Enugu will have himself or herself to blame.The statement reads in fullThe Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have received information that Retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari who committed treason on December 31, 1983, and was rewarded with Nigerias presidency after 32 years, will be visiting Enugu-Biafraland on the 22nd of December, 2016. We assert that inviting a killer and persecutor of Biafrans to our land is an insult to the memory of those killed by Muhammadu Buhari. Therefore, we object totally to this visit by the killer of Biafrans. We recall that Buhari started his killing of Biafrans with the assassination of Major General J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi on July 29, 1966. He followed up with the mass-murder of over two million Biafrans in 1968 at Owerri during the war of genocide on Biafra by Nigeria and Britain. From June 17, 2015, till date, Buhari has killed over two thousand unarmed and peaceful Biafrans.We warn any governor or Igbo politician that receives Buhari in Enugu will have himself or herself to blame. We make it public that should there be a breakdown of law and order in Enugu on the 22nd of December, greedy Igbo politicians will have themselves to blame. Any Igbo governor or politician that is found among those hobnobbing with Buhari the killer of Biafrans becomes an enemy of the people and shall pay dearly for it.Until all those detained are released, and Amnesty International report investigated, Buhari is not allowed into any part of Biafraland. Let Buhari know that if he (Buhari) comes to Enugu or any part of Biafraland, we will die with him there.We are calling on all Biafrans to descend on Enugu on the said date of 22 December 2016 to show our anger and displeasure at this attempt by some greedy Igbo men to insult the memory of our glorious dead and those still in detention with our leader.Should Buhari attempt to set foot on Enugu soil everybody involved, from Bart Nnaji to Governor Ugwuanyi will regret it. These criminal Igbo politicians without any iota of shame must know that Buhari is the Grand Patron of the terrorist Fulani Herdsmen that have been rampaging and killing our people in Enugu and other parts of Biafraland in the name of Islam. Buhari is the person behind the rise of the terrorist Fulani Herdsmen and must be made to know that we Biafrans are not in support of sponsors of terrorism. We are the children of the Most High God and do not associate with mass murderers like Buhari. Therefore we dont want him anywhere around our sacred land.Any Governor or Igbo politician who is stupid enough to invite Buhari into our capital will be taught a lesson that will reverberate in history. They should try us and see.A word is enough for the wise!SignedBarrister Emma NmezuDr. Clifford Chukwuemeka IroanyaSpokespersons for IPOB
The Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, on Monday said contrary to the information currently available to the public, the Upper Chamber of the Natio...

The Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, on Monday said contrary to the information currently available to the public, the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly has not rejected the nomination of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.He said what the Senate had done was just to step down Magus screening until issues surrounding the security report concerning him are cleared.He also said contrary to media reports, the Senate had not indicted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, of any wrongdoing.He said Lawals investigation by the Senate was still work in progress.Ndume spoke with State House correspondents shortly meeting President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed door at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.On Magu, he said what Senate will do is to clear from President Muhammadu Buhari whether it should go ahead with his approval process despite the security report.Details later
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Alhaji Isa Ciroma, has debunked governor Nasir El-Rufais claim that the wanton killings...

A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Alhaji Isa Ciroma, has debunked governor Nasir El-Rufais claim that the wanton killings and destruction of lives and property in Southern Kaduna is connected to the 2011 post-election violence.Ciroma denied the claim while fielding questions from journalists in Kafanchan, stressing that the killings in Southern Kaduna had nothing to do with the 2011 post-election violence that was fought in many parts of Northern Nigeria.There is no record of Fulani herders from Mali or elsewhere coming to Southern Kaduna as governor El-Rufai claimed. The Fulani I know in Southern Kaduna are the Kachechere people.The Fulani men they said intruded in Southern Kaduna, l dont know them. I have not seen them and I dont talk to them. They could be there but I dont see them, Ciroma added.l am 60 years of age and l have been living in Southern Kaduna. If there is anything like foreign Fulanis in the area at that time, l should know but there was nothing like that.To the best of our knowledge, there is no any strange Fulani that came from Mali or Senegal and was killed, Ciroma said.Ciroma also accused governor Nasir El-Rufai of talking too much with nothing to show for it.He explained that the governor was not working to ensure that normalcy returns to Southern Kaduna, adding, I dont want to talk too much about this Man (el-Rufai). He talks too much on security and we have not seen anything good in the area.I am a victim of the attack in Southern Kaduna and I am neither a cattle rearer nor a farmer but my younger brother was shot at the chest and he died during one of the attacks by herdsmen. This was caused by the nonchalant attitude of our security men.Ciroma stressed that if the security agencies had gone to the hideout of the terrorists killing Southern Kaduna villagers, I believed my brother would have been saved. It is glaring that the security agencies have not been asked to do their job, that is why we are in this mess.He maintained that the security challenges in Southern Kaduna has been politicize by selfish politicians, stressing that the governor of Kaduna state was aware that terrorists were camped inside the forest.But governor El-Rufai has not taken any proactive measure to ensure the terrorists are cleared. If the terrorists camps are cleared, it will nip the attacks going on, he lamented.
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.
Pre-Qin period settlement sites discovered in SW China's Sichuan

From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-12-19 13:46

Human settlement sites from the pre-Qin period are discovered along the Anning river valley plain in Southwest China's Sichuan province. [File photo/Western China Metropolis Daily Micro-Blog]

More than 20 human settlement sites from the pre-Qin period were discovered scattered along the Anning river valley plain for nearly 100 kilometers in Southwest China's Sichuan province, according an archaeological achievements briefing in Xichang on Dec 18, 2016.

These ruins from the Neolithic Age, dating back more than 4,000 years, prove human activity in the area of Anning river valley plain, the second largest in Sichuan province.

So far, a field covering 10,000 square meters has been excavated, but it is far from completion, Chen Wei, an expert working at the site from Relics and Archaeology Institute of Sichuan Province, told Western China Metropolis Daily.

Through excavation, more than 280 tombs, 500 sites including pits, house settlements and kilns, as well as other articles of daily use were unearthed, which provided valuable materials to study the ancient society and culture of the pre-Qin period.

Chen said the archaeological discovery is of great significance. It proves to be the earliest human settlements from the Neolithic Age in southwestern Sichuan. Besides, this area had the most widely distributed and largest number of human settlements from the pre-Qin period discovered in Sichuan province except for the Chengdu Plain. The findings will offer materials to study the ancient tribes' formation and settlement distribution.

The discovery of settlement sites from the pre-Qin period was only part of the archaeological achievements made on the construction project along the extended section of Chengdu - Kunming Railway from Emei to Miyi. Since 2014, 48 relic sites have been spotted.

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Despite an earlier report from renowned KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that the iPhone 8 would have an all-glass chassis to facilitate wireless charging, the latest rumors say this might not be so. HardwareZone reports that one iPhone model will be sporting a plastic, not glass, curved OLED display from Samsung, according to a source of the Korea Herald.
A smoke shop in Hobart plans to more than quadruple in size to keep up with demand.

Smoke City is going to move out of its current 1,500-square-foot space to an 8,000-square-foot location in the former Movie Gallery video store at 1165 W 37th Ave. in Hobart, behind the landmark Red Rooster restaurant. Owner Omar Alburei said he was investing more than $300,000 in the expansion, which will require him to hire four more employees, bringing the total to 12.

Smoke shops are a major retail force in Northwest Indiana, since cartons of cigarettes are about half as cheap here as they are in higher-tax Illinois and Chicago recently raised the minimum smoking age to 21 years old. More than 30 tobacco retailers, including a few with drive-throughs, operate in Lake County alone, mostly near the state line.

Manager Becky Griesse said the move into a much larger space would give the 15-year-old smoke shop the opportunity to diversify, such as by adding a money transfer service, a mobile phone retail section and possibly a car dealership in the back. Smoke City will also be able to stock more merchandise in its core businesses of cigarettes, loose tobacco, vaping eliquid, hookah and smoking accessories.

Its like the size of two stores, she said. We need at least five times the merchandise to fill it. Were also wholesale, but this is going to be one of the biggest retail smoke stores in the area.

Alburei said he was also adding a cigar case that would carry cigars ranging from $5 apiece to $60 apiece.

A grand opening celebration for the new location is planned for Jan. 6, and it will include donuts, coffee, pizza, discounts and live glassblowing demonstrations. Smoke City is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, call 219-942-3316.
Im not the first lady anymore, Natalie Portman says in the clenched and wheeling biopic Jackie.

Well, no, in the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, his widow  played by Portman with transfiguring intensity and focus  cedes her official position, her place in the White House and in the land.

But there is not one instant in Chilean director Pablo Larrains daring psychological portrait where the actress isnt that famous first lady  the elegant woman with the breathy locution, the prep school poise, and, after the horrible car ride along Dallas Dealey Plaza, the blood and brain matter splattered on her Chanel suit.

Shot in close-up, the camera never far from Portmans face, Jackie is anything but a traditional biopic. Flashing back and forth in time  the televised guided tour of the White House that Jacqueline Kennedy led in 1962, the magazine interview she held in the familys Hyannis Port home just a week after her husbands death  the film plays with history and memory, fact and speculation.

It is a fever dream of a movie, tracking its subject as she tries to maintain control, maintain her composure and her sanity, and as she tries  shellshocked, quaking with grief, but also fiercely determined  to shape and secure her husbands legacy.

Working with a script by Noah Oppenheim, director Larrain reclaims some of the iconic images of the events surrounding the assassination: the first lady stepping off Air Force One, waving, at the Dallas airfield; the funeral procession; the veiled mother grasping the hands of her two young children.

Some of the casting works well: Caspar Phillipson, chiseled and familiar, as JFK; Greta Gerwig as Nancy Tuckerman, Jacqueline Kennedys aide and confidant; Max Casella as Jack Valenti, the more-than-a-little-sycophantic assistant to President Johnson. Peter Sarsgaard gets the thankless task of trying to bring Robert Kennedy back to life, doing so with a furrowed brow but without much of the physical bearing, or manner, of JFKs brother, the attorney general.

And what to make of Billy Crudup as The Journalist, a composite character, cobbled together with bits of Kennedy chronicler Theodore H. White and other reporters who met with the grieving Jackie in the weeks following the presidents death?

Why is Crudups tie loose, the top button of his shirt unfastened? Is that an artistic decision on the part of the actor or the director? A historical detail? Whatever it is, its a distraction. (Look sharp for the first lady, dude!) And theres something about the mix of commiseration and confrontation in Crudups approach that rings wrong.

Still, as The Journalist and The Widow talk, framed by great windows looking onto trees and lawn and water, Jacqueline Kennedys mission  to seize the narrative, to fix her husbands place in the annals of the nation  becomes ringingly clear.

And it is a matter of record that Jacqueline Kennedy suggested to White, writing his story for Life magazine, that he compare Kennedy and his administration to that of King Arthurs and the fabled Camelot. Camelot, the Lerner and Loewe musical, was big on Broadway just then. And Jackie, a crystal shard of biography and myth, lets the original cast recording of Richard Burton, grandly intoning the title song, fill the air, the darkened room: Dont let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot.

Audacious. And exactly right.
Downtown Michigan City now has the Artspace Uptown Artist Lofts, and the Minnesota-based non-profit is looking to building more artist housing in the area over in the Pullman neighborhood on Chicago's far South Side.

Artspace, in partnership with Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives and PullmanArts, plans to start construction in mid-2017 on the Pullman Artspace Lofts. The $16.2 million infill development will result in 38 affordable, live/work units in the Pullman Historic District, a factory town that once produced rail cars and has become more artsy in recent years.

It will be the first new residential building built in industrialist George Pullman's namesake neighborhood, which is now a National Monument, in decades.

Artpace plans to build on Langley Avenue south of 111th Street between two historic apartment buildings on Pullman's eastern boundary.

The new three-story building will include 2,000 square feet of community space, including a gallery, classrooms and a studio.

Artspace has acquired federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits and Low Income Housing Tax Credits and grant money to finance the project, which now has local, state and federal approvals.

"The complex also must attract artists from outside the community and provide shared space that spurs creativity," Artspace said in a press release. "The Chicago office of international design firm Stantec won the competition with a design of a new three-story live-work building that incorporates traditional Pullman building features including front porches, mansard roofs and intricate masonry detailing. This project honors Pullmans historic legacy as a destination for skilled artisans and artists while meeting contemporary affordable housing and community gathering needs."

Construction is expected to take about 12 months.
PORTAGE TOWNSHIP  A 49-year-old Valparaiso man apparently was driving too fast for conditions Saturday afternoon and flipped his pickup truck into a ditch on County Road 700 North.

When police arrived, Georgie Evanovich was upside down in his pickup, conscious and not injured.

Witnesses told police that Evanovich had sped by them, lost control and flipped the truck onto its roof.

Evanovich initially told police he had not had a drink and was coming home from work. He later changed his story when police pointed out discrepancies. He then said he had stopped at a bar.

After emergency personnel extricated Evanovich from his truck, police requested he take field sobriety tests, which he failed, including registering a 0.259 blood alcohol content level. The legal limit is 0.08.

He was transported to Portage Hospital for a blood draw and was released by doctors. Evanovich was then transported to Porter County Jail and charged with two counts of operating while intoxicated.
VALPARAISO  A Valparaiso computer store was robbed Saturday for the second time in a week, and police are asking the public's help identifying suspects.

Four men and a woman robbed the store after taking a gun from a security guard and restraining all the employees in a backroom.

Police were called at 7:35 p.m. Saturday to Simply Mac, 2710 LaPorte Ave.

Police said a woman entered the store a few minutes before the robbery, left the store and came back with four men.

The woman was black and wore a distinctive jacket, a cap, bluejeans and dark shoes, police said. The jacket was black with white and red lettering with the words "PELLE PELLE" and "1972" on the back, "PELLE PELLE" also on the front left side of the jacket and a logo on the sleeve.

Police said the four men, described as wearing masks, hats or hoods, forced a security guard and other employees into the backroom. Police said at least one of the men was armed.

Numerous items, valued at $70,000 were taken from the store.

The same store was robbed Dec. 10. During the first robbery, two masked men who were armed took several items, including a large number of iPhones. Police said about $50,000 worth of merchandise was taken during the first robbery.

No one was hurt during either robbery.

Valparaiso police Sgt. Mike Grennes said investigators have been in contact with police from other departments in Illinois and Michigan where similar robberies have been reported. He said he does not believe the same people are responsible for the other robberies, but they are investigating a trend in robberies of Simply Mac stores in the Midwest.

Police on Monday released several surveillance photos from Saturday's robbery.

They are asking people to pay special attention to the woman's jacket.

Simply Mac is offering a $5,000 reward for information resulting in the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible, Grennes said.

Anyone with information can send an anonymous tip through Tip411 (847-411) and enter Valpo as the first word in the message field prior to sending the tip.

Individuals can also call the department at (219) 462-2135.
INDIANAPOLIS  Two LaPorte County men found guilty of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy last year for shooting to death a rival drug dealer and plotting to kill another are entitled to no reduction in their 120-year prison terms.

In separate rulings, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the convictions and sentences issued to Larry Crume Jr., 26, and Johnny McSwain, 25.

On Aug. 15, 2014, Crume and McSwain clashed over drug-selling turf with Daniel Mallett and Barry Williams outside the Michigan City home of Mallett's godmother, according to court records.

McSwain punched Williams in the face, knocking him out, while Crume shot at Mallett as he fled into the house.

Records indicate Crume then shot the unconscious Williams in the head, killing him. The duo later conspired to also kill Mallett so he could not tell police who murdered Williams.

However, a friend of McSwain's confessed the plot to police when he was picked up on an unrelated charge, ultimately leading to Crume and McSwain's arrests and convictions.

In their appeals, Crume and McSwain argued they should have been tried separately, the conspiracy charge should have been severed from the other counts and claimed their lengthy prison terms were inappropriate for their offenses.

The appellate court was unpersuaded.

It found LaPorte Superior Judge Michael Bergerson appropriately directed jurors to separately consider each defendant's guilt, but ruled there was no need for separate trials or to sever the conspiracy charge, since the defendants' crimes were undeniably connected and the conspiracy grew out of the initial shooting.

Moreover, the court concluded the long prison sentences were justified, because both Crume and McSwain have extensive criminal records and their crimes demonstrated a callous disregard for human life.
INDIANAPOLIS  The Indiana Court of Appeals on Thursday unanimously affirmed the murder conviction of a former Gary man found guilty last year for a 1979 murder in the Steel City.

L.C. Strong, now 67, was living in the 2300 block of Roosevelt Street on Feb. 21, 1979, when he encountered and strangled to death Linda Martin, 28, as she was walking home after midnight from a nearby lounge.

Martin's body was found at daybreak dumped in a snowbank in the 2300 block of Rutledge Street.

Her face and neck were bruised, there was blood under her fingernails and blood and semen in the crotch of her partially unzipped pants and bodysuit that had been put on inside-out, according to court records.

At the time police were unable to identify any suspects in Martin's murder as DNA testing had yet to be implemented.

In 2012, Lake County Sheriff's Department Cmdr. Matt Eaton reopened the case and sent a DNA sample from Martin's bodysuit to the Indiana State Police laboratory.

It matched Strong's DNA with a 1 in 1 billion possibility that it belonged to someone else, according to court records.

A Lake County jury took less than two hours to find Strong guilty of murder.

In his appeal, Strong argued there was insufficient evidence for his conviction as he insisted he never met Martin or had sexual contact with her.

The appellate court said it is not permitted to reweigh the evidence in the case, but found that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to the jury to sustain Strong's murder conviction.

Strong also alleged proprietorial misconduct by relying on victim sympathy to win a conviction after prosecutors said in their closing argument that the jury should "tell Linda Martin that justice has finally been found."

The court ruled that remark, in the context of recapping the evidence in the case, was nothing more than a comment that the state's burden of proof had been met.

Strong was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He'll begin serving time in Indiana after he's released in 2018 from a Michigan prison for a separate murder conviction.
INDIANAPOLIS  A Valparaiso state senator expects to spend much of the four-month legislative session that begins Jan. 3 reminding fellow lawmakers they can no longer ignore Indiana's multibillion dollar water infrastructure needs.

Republican state Sen. Ed Charbonneau realizes most of the focus for the 2017 General Assembly will be on deciding how to fund road and bridge construction and maintenance, but he said failing to address the state's crumbling water pipes could have a far more immediate and devastating impact on Hoosier lives and businesses.

"We can't afford to do nothing at this point," Charbonneau said. "With all the data and everything, we have to at least start."

A report recently issued by the Indiana Finance Authority found Hoosier water utilities need $2.3 billion for immediate repairs and $815 million a year in additional maintenance spending to protect human health and stem the annual loss of some 50 billion gallons of treated water that never make it to a customer.

Charbonneau said he accepts that "the timing is terrible" and there's no way the Legislature will spend 15 percent of the state's annual General Fund on water infrastructure, but pretending the problem isn't there won't make it go away.

"We need to find a way to at least get something," he said. "I'll start the bidding with $100 million that we would give to the IFA and they can then turn that $100 million into $600 million or $700 million by leveraging federal funds."

The state revenue forecast issued Thursday projects Indiana lawmakers will have approximately $1 billion in new money to spend between July 1 and June 30, 2019.

However, House and Senate budget leaders have signaled they are reluctant to appropriate that full amount since similarly rosy forecasts in prior years repeatedly failed to meet expectations.

There's also no shortage of competing priorities, including roads, education, pre-kindergarten expansion, Northwest Indiana rail transit, East Chicago lead remediation and hundreds of other state and local needs.

Charbonneau said one way to possibly get at the problem without necessarily spending state funds is for the General Assembly to authorize the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to include the cost of long-term water infrastructure needs when deciding whether to approve local water rate increases.

"We shouldn't have the decisions made on rates based on driving them to the lowest possible cost to the ratepayers," he said.

"When you start doing that you end up with where we are with $2.3 billion of infrastructure that needs to be taken care of  or we have got a disaster on our hands."

Beyond seeking funding for water infrastructure, Charbonneau also plans to propose legislation encouraging consolidation of Indiana's 554 independent water systems to reduce duplication and cost.

He also wants to concentrate state leadership on water issues in the IFA rather than the 11 different agencies that now each have a toe dipped in water.

Charbonneau hopes creation of a single water authority finally will enable Indiana to answer basic and critical questions about its current and long-term water supply.

"We don't know what we've got," Charbonneau said. "In many respects we don't know what we're doing, and we don't know how long it will last."
INDIANAPOLIS  The State Budget Committee has given the go-ahead for Purdue University Northwest to begin planning for construction of a $40.5 million Bioscience Innovation Building at its Hammond campus.

The decision releases $2.4 million in development funds set aside by state lawmakers in 2015 for an emerging technologies building that Purdue officials have decided now will be home to the College of Nursing and the Department of Biological Sciences.

"The structure will allow for shared instructional spaces that will facilitate applied research, technology-assisted learning and professional outreach to the community," said state Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond.

"The outdated labs will be replaced with state-of-the-art equipment and the space will provide the best possible learning experience for nursing students and those in the life sciences."

The revised use was approved by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education on Oct. 13.

The budget committee voted Thursday to release the planning funds.

"Legislators understood the great importance of this project," Lawson said. "I offer my appreciation to the State Budget Committee for proceeding with approval of this critical planning phase."

There is no firm estimate of when construction will begin on the new building.
INDIANAPOLIS  Since Election Day, Valparaiso businessman Chuck Williams said he's received about 74,000 emails, and found, on more than one occasion, his home mailbox completely stuffed with some of the more than 3,000 letters sent to him from across the country by Hillary Clinton supporters and others opposed to a Trump presidency.

Williams was one of the 11 Hoosiers who cast Indiana's electoral votes Monday for President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

Williams said afterward he had no doubts about supporting the Republican ticket, despite receiving plenty of encouragement to vote for any other candidate.

"The ones that I read were mostly very respectful," Williams said. "There weren't any crazy ones that I read."

He said he did not object to receiving anti-Trump missives and plans "to box them all up and have my kids look at them in 50 years."

Williams also wasn't bothered by the few dozen Hoosiers outside the House chamber encouraging the state's electors to vote for someone else.

"I think it's great. That's what makes America great," he said.

Williams, who serves as the Region's representative on the Republican State Committee, noted that when he cast an electoral vote in 2012 for Mitt Romney, "There wasn't anyone here except for the night cleaning staff."

This year, Williams had his 12-year-old son, Jonathan, seated nearby as he cast an Indiana electoral vote for a winning presidential candidate.

"It's pretty historic and pretty fun," Williams said. "I'm just happy to be a part of it."
EAST CHICAGO  Residents concerned about the possibility of elevated lead levels in their drinking water are advised to take certain safety precautions.

That was the message shared by Greg Crowley, utilities director for the city, as he briefed the City Council recently on a public forum designed to address recent EPA findings that some homes in the city contain elevated levels in their water.

"Our guidance to the residents is flush for at least three to five minutes before you consume any water for drinking or for food prep," Crowley said.

He said cold water should be used for flushing.

Crowley also recommended that residents install NSF 53 certified water filters on their kitchen taps as a short-term solution.

He said a long-term fix would be to replace lead service lines but that residents own a significant portion of those lines so it would have to be done as a joint venture with the city.

Crowley said lead does not come through the skin so there is no danger in bathing, as long as water is not consumed in the process.

He said boiling water does not remove lead from it.

Crowley said the EPA identified elevated levels in 18 out of 43 homes tested by performing a new type of "sequential sampling" in which 12 to 20 samples were taken at the residential sites.

He said the city complies with the Lead and Copper Rule, a federal guideline established in 1991.

He said the rule requires the city to sample at least 30 properties throughout the city every 3 years and that an effort is made to target homes known to have lead lines.

"Every year that we've done compliance testing through the Lead and Copper Rule, we have been in compliance with the guidelines from the state, through IDEM, and with the federal government," Crowley said.

Crowley said reports have shown there is no concern that there is lead in the city's distribution system.

But he said lead could be present in certain faucet fittings as well as some service lines.

Fifth District Councilman Robert Garcia asked Crowley if water sampling would be done throughout the city.

"With the old infrastructure that we got...I think the whole city needs to be tested," Garcia said.

Crowley said the specific testing conducted by the EPA cost $5,000 on each house so money is an issue and training would have to be acquired in order for the city to perform comparable testing.
Gary, East Chicago and Hammond officials will all be receiving additional money to get rid of blighted buildings in their communities.

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority said the three communities will receive a total of $5,591,000 to address blighted homes in their communities through the state's Blight Elimination Program.

Gary will receive the bulk of the money, $4,409,000. Hammond will receive $268,000 in funding and East Chicago will get $914,000.

The funds will come from the $221.7 million in federal Hardest Hit Fund money allocated to the state. The money was primarily designed for helping people who were in danger of losing their homes because of the economic downturn, but in February 2014 the U.S. Department of Treasury approved the use of $75 million for blight elimination in the state.

Hammond City Attorney Kristina Kantar said the program "has allowed the city of Hammond to demolish additional properties in areas that really need blight elimination and we are very excited to have it extended into the next phase."

She said the city was able to knock down 22 houses with money awarded during Phase 1 of the progrm.

Gary officials said in September that they were applying for another $4.5 million of the money to continue demolition program under the program.

At the time, the city's Redevelopment Commission was getting close to demolishing the last of the 379 blighted residential properties that it was originally scheduled to tear down with its initial allocation of funds from the program. The city was authorized to spend $6.6 million in funding to tear down that number of buildings, but will end up knocking down that many with only about $3.9 million of the allocation.

Joe Van Dyk, executive director of Garys Planning and Redevelopment Department, estimated at that time that the city might be able to tear down another 250 or so vacant buildings with the remaining $2.7 from that allocation.

Based on the city's performance in using the initial allocation of money, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority told city officials it was eligible to apply for $4.5 million and encouraged it to apply for that amount. Van Dyk has said that the additional amount of money might mean that the city might be able to remove more than 1,000 buildings through the program.
GRIFFITH  North Pole cold greeted guests outside Santas Workshop Sunday, but inside everything was jolly and bright.

The Lake Area United Ways first Santas Workshop for Struggling Working Families held at the Griffith Family YMCA featured lunch and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, activities for the kiddies and an opportunity for parents to choose gifts for their children.

A very generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous sponsored this event, said Erin Meisner, relationship manager at the LAUW. First Midwest Bank donated $750 from fundraisers at all the branches and Jedis Restaurant (in Griffith) donated two large boxes of gifts.

The donations enabled 20 families to participate, each nominated by a variety of organizations including the YMCA, Mental Health America, St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, Methodist Hospitals and the School City of Hammond.

Each family received $100 in Santa Bucks for each child. That provided them with between six and 10 gifts per child, Meisner said. The parents know what their children like, and they could select from a variety of gifts.

Nominated by Methodist Hospitals, Jawand and Tyniesha brought their five children, ages 5 to 12, to Santas Workshop.

Its important to be with your family. Its nice for people to think of others at this time of year and all the times, Jawand said. This brings joy to the kids.

Participants were not required to supply their last names for privacy reasons.

Emilio, age 3, just started preschool at the Griffith YMCA in October. He attended Santas Workshop with his grandmother, Mari, and Aunt Selina, nominated by the YMCA. Although he loved the food and the activities, Emilio didnt take to Santa at all.

The youngster wouldnt get anywhere near Jolly Old St. Nicholas. Clinging to Aunt Selina, Emilio screamed and cried rather than make any of his wishes known.

On the other hand, 15-month-old Amari Miller, of Gary, not only agreed to sit in Santa's lap, he waved goodbye to Santa and Mrs. Claus (aka as Bernie and Susan Bernacki of Hammond) and to Santas Elf (Evelyn Harris, LAUW resource development associate).

Amaris visit to Santas Workshop with his mother, Christina Cleveland, and grandmother, Crystal Cleveland of Gary, came about because of a bit of Kismet, said Angie Williams, LAUW director of community impact.

Erin and I and other volunteers were shopping in Kohls in Merrillville. We had four carts loaded with toys and went into Christinas checkout line, Williams said.

We started talking with her as we checked out and learned she was a single mother with a 15-month-old boy, and we invited her to Santas Workshop, Williams said.

For the little boy who loves helping Mom push a shopping cart, Christina selected a child-size shopping cart with toy food inside, a teddy bear, McDonalds gift cards, a toy truck, books, coloring books and Scout, a Leap Frog dog that can read books to Amari.

This is a blessing, said Crystal Cleveland as volunteers helped the women wrap the presents.

Volunteers are the only way we can do this. They are the backbone of what we do, said Munster resident Kristin Marlow-Kelleman of United for Families Network, an organization facilitated through the LAUW. Were wrapping presents and putting them in big plastic bags so they are truly a surprise for the children.

Three members of the Phelan family of St. John were among the 30 volunteers helping out at Santas Workshop.

On Christmas break from Purdue University in West Lafayette, 21-year-old Keller Phelan worked as an elf guiding families to see Santa. Her 25-year-old brother, Quinn, also came from Chicago to volunteer.

Weve always had our children volunteer. At Thanksgiving, wed work at a soup kitchen," said their mother, Sandie Phelan, director of marketing & development at University of St. Francis in Crown Point.

It teaches them to give back, she said.
We're still about a week away from the start of Hanukkah, but one museum is already starting to get New Yorkers into the spirit of the holiday with a traditional Jewish delicacy. NY1's Tara Lynn Wagner has the story.

Crispy, golden comfort food  what's not to love about a latke?

"They taste like hash browns," said 9-year-old Kol.

"They're so traditional, and they're also really good with like applesauce and all that stuff," said 12-year-old Isa Grumbach-Bloom.

Wagner: Why do you like them?



4-year-old Sophie: They're very delicious.

Potato pancakes were the stars of the show Sunday as the Museum of Jewish Heritage played host to its first-ever Latkepalooza.

Think of the event as an appetizer to Hanukkah, which officially starts on Saturday.

"Potato pancakes are delicious and fried in oil, which are all kind of Hanukah-themed," said Samantha Hirsch, the producer of public programs for the museum. "So the story of Hanukkah was about a miracle with oil, and so now we just kind of eat that oil and burn that oil."

In addition to food, the celebration also featured live music, art projects and a theatrical performance by National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. Nonprofit, The Workmen's Circle, also helped organize the event, crafting activities to be both fun for children and educational for parents.

"The parents are also going to learn how to take the Hanukkah traditions into their own homes and create special traditions for their own families," said Ann Toback, the executive director of The Workmen's Circle.

There are lots of places to get great latkes in the city, but you can also make them at home. So what's the secret to getting them perfectly crispy and delicious?

David Teyf, the owner of Lox, the museum's cafe, says hand-grate the potatoes and fry them in quality oil.

"Paper-thin in small batches and you'll get the perfect latke," Teyf said.

Ben's Kosher Delicatessen donated some 500 latkes, but what was really served up was community.

Kids, parents, and grandparents alike made menorahs and memories that will last far longer than the eight-day holiday.

"Instead of giving them a gift, one of the things we are giving them is the experience of coming here, so we brought them here as part of their Hanukkah experience," said Len Goldberg, who attended Latkepalooza.

"Your heritage is important to you," said Michelle Miller, a Latkepalooza volunteer. "It tells you something about who you are, and where you come from, and who your ancestors are, and what they gave you to carry forward to future generations."
Its as if Mr. Trumps media attacks have combined with the heightened attention on the perils of fake news to create one big fat advertisement for the value of basic journalism.

The fake news business is going to be great for journalism in the long run, Mr. Carter told me Friday, referring to Mr. Trump as the Fake Newser in Chief. Proper news organizations should thrive under this.

To do so, though, journalism is going to have to find its inner Taylor Swift.

In case you cant remember all the way back to 2015, Ms. Swift, the pop megastar, stood up to Apple after it tried to give away her songs  and those of her fellow musicians  for free, sans royalties, as part of a promotion for its new streaming service. We dont ask you for free iPhones, she wrote in an open letter to the company.

The music industry might seem like an odd place for people in the hard news game to turn. But, like the news industry, it had spent the better part of this century preparing its obituary as the web made it easy for people to listen to so much music without paying for it.

Then it happened upon the streaming subscription business. People started paying again, even for vinyl, and theres new talk of a corner turned, as The Financial Times recently reported.

Now, think of the readers as Apple in the showdown with Ms. Swift. In many cases, theyve been getting news for free that other people pay for through subscriptions. That is because newspapers for so long gave it all away for nothing, only to face dire economic consequences when players like Facebook and Google showed up to gobble up the online advertising market. That put the onus back onto selling subscriptions.

As the country and the world head into this confusing new era, news organizations are in a position to make a newly urgent pitch: Buying a subscription is tantamount to supporting the pillars of democracy. Its about maintaining the sort of reporting that debunks fake news, holds power accountable and keeps the nation on course in its own imperfect way.
The comic book author and screenwriter Marc Andreyko felt unfathomable horror when he heard the news of the June 12 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Feeling compelled to help, he posted on Facebook a suggestion to create a comic book that would benefit the victims.

The result is Love Is Love, a 144-page anthology filled with original work by contributors both familiar and unexpected. The book, which will be available Dec. 28, includes pages from the documentarian Morgan Spurlock, the actor Matt Bomer, the comedians Patton Oswalt and Taran Killam, and other entertainers.

I went through my Rolodex  to use a word for something that doesnt even exist anymore  and looked for people who Im friends with and had name value, Mr. Andreyko said. I want this book to be in as many hands as possible.
Zsa Zsa Gabor, the Hungarian actress whose self-parodying glamour and revolving-door marriages to millionaires put a luster of American celebrity on a long but only modestly successful career in movies and television, died on Sunday in Los Angeles. She was 99.

The cause was heart failure, her longtime publicist Edward Lozzi said.

Married at least eight times, calling everyone Dahlink, flaunting a diamonds-and-furs lifestyle and abetted by gossip columnists and tabloid headline writers, Ms. Gabor played the coifed platinum femme fatale in plunging necklines in dozens of film and television roles, many of them cameos as herself. Her career, which began with the title Miss Hungary in 1936, was still going strong in the 1990s, outlasting those of her sisters, Eva and Magda, celebrities in their own right. She was the last surviving Gabor sister.

A girl must marry for love, and keep on marrying until she finds it, Ms. Gabor once said. Her husbands included a Turkish diplomat, the hotel heir Conrad Hilton, the actor George Sanders, an industrialist, an oil magnate, a toy designer, a divorce lawyer and a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony. Another marriage that nobody counted  a case of bigamy at sea with a has-been Mexican actor  lasted only a day and was annulled.

In 1989, she was arrested for slapping a police officer who had pulled her over for a traffic violation and found that her license had expired and that she had an open vodka bottle in her car, a Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible. Breezing into court, she took the stand and, by turns haughty, coquettish, weepy and coarse, spoke of Gestapo tactics in Beverly Hills. The judge gave her 72 hours in jail.
In her 20th-floor apartment on the East Side of Manhattan, on a recent Saturday afternoon, Barbara Roston was busy explaining that she was definitely not a thief.

It was a youthful indiscretion, she said, I didnt mean to steal it.

And yet, there it was, sitting on her desk: A faded green copy of Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell, that belonged to the Brooklyn Public Library.

It was 57 years overdue.

In her retirement, Ms. Roston, 72, decided to reread the book, which she had kept on her bookshelf for years, when she noticed the librarys markings.

On the last page, stuck to the paper pocket, was a sticker explaining the librarys policy: Give your NEIGHBOR a chance to borrow this book. Return it on or before DUE DATE SHOWN ABOVE. The fee is 5 per calendar day for each book kept overdue.
If the next presidents immigration agenda includes a pitched battle over sanctuary cities, a term Donald Trump uses with disgust, the proper response from places like New York will be: Bring it on.

The word sanctuary as Mr. Trump deploys it  a place where immigrant criminals run amok, shielded from the long arm of federal law  is grossly misleading, because cities with sanctuary policies cannot obstruct federal enforcement and do not try to. Instead, they do what they can to welcome and support immigrants, including the unauthorized, and choose not to participate in deportation crackdowns they see as unjust, self-defeating and harmful to public safety.

New York City wears that kind of sanctuary label proudly. As California considers bold steps to shield its residents from a possible Trump immigration assault, the New York City Council has already built its own strong web of protections. A groundbreaking City Council program has provided free legal representation for children who fled violence in Central America and arrived unaccompanied at the border. Of 1,265 cases accepted under the program, 72 children were granted asylum and 55 obtained lawful permanent residency. The Council has expanded health and legal services in immigrant communities. And it passed bills to keep federal immigration agents out of the Rikers Island jails, and to forbid city police and corrections officers from detaining suspects for deportation, unless there is a judges warrant.
HOUSTON  A nearly four-day ban on drinking the water in Corpus Christi, Tex., was lifted on Sunday after test results showed no contamination because of a chemical leak, the citys mayor announced.

Mayor Dan McQueen said residents could resume using the citys water supply for drinking, bathing and cooking.

It is all full use, but we are going to continue to monitor as we go on, Mr. McQueen said.

None of the 28 drinking water samples the Environmental Protection Agency reviewed tested positive for Indulin AA-86, an asphalt-emulsifying agent that is corrosive, the federal agency said on Sunday in a statement. Indulin can burn the eyes, skin and respiratory tract if a person comes into contact with concentrated amounts.

The water ban had been issued late Wednesday out of concern that a chemical leak at an asphalt plant leased to Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions by oil refiner Valero could have contaminated the citys water supply.
WASHINGTON  Pressure mounted on Sunday for a broader congressional investigation of Russian cyberattacks aimed at influencing the American election, even as a top aide to President-elect Donald J. Trump said there was no conclusive evidence of foreign interference.

The effort was being led by a bipartisan group of senators, including John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate Democratic leader, who called on Sunday for the creation of a Senate select committee on cyberactivity to take the investigative lead on Capitol Hill.

Recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American, the senators wrote on Sunday in a letter to Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, who has said a select committee is not necessary. Cybersecurity is the ultimate cross-jurisdictional challenge, and we must take a comprehensive approach to meet this challenge effectively.

The developments served to deepen the fissures between high-ranking lawmakers of both parties who see American intelligence reports implicating Russia as the basis for additional inquiries and Mr. Trump, who continues to reject the conclusions of those reports.
HOUSTON  They still talk about the Saturday night here 27 years ago when Donald J. Trump partied with former President Richard M. Nixon.

Dressed in tuxedos, they sang Happy Birthday to Texas royalty  former Gov. John B. Connally and his wife, Nellie, whose birthdays were a few days apart  as Nixon played the tune on a white baby grand piano. They dined at Tonys, the 21 Club of Houston, and Nixon was so fond of the cannelloni pasta that he asked the owner, Tony Vallone, to write the recipe for him on a yellow legal pad. And when it was all over, Mr. Trump flew Nixon back to New York on his 727 private jet.

It happened one weekend in March 1989.

It was one of Nixons first public appearances since the Watergate scandal had forced him to resign in 1974. And it was one of Mr. Trumps first presidential experiences, as he socialized with and had the ear of a former president for two days in Houston at a gala event, an impromptu after-party at Tonys, a Sunday brunch the next day at a River Oaks mansion and later aboard his plane.

I think you can see a core of Trump in this, said Barry Silverman, a Houston advertising and marketing consultant who helped coordinate the gala and was a longtime friend of the Connallys. He obviously had a road map a lot bigger than any of us ever thought about.
Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns, whose advocacy of human rights in Brazil placed him in opposition to a military dictatorship that engaged in systemic torture, died on Wednesday in Sao Paulo. He was 95.

The Sao Paulo Archdiocese confirmed his death, from pneumonia.

Where human rights are not respected, we speak out against them, Cardinal Arns said in 1972, a year before he was made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI. When these rights are defended, we find ourselves in support.

Dom Paulo, as he was known, became an enemy of the government for his stance against the torture of political prisoners. After the murder in 1975 of a journalist, Vladimir Herzog, that the government called a suicide, Cardinal Arns led an ecumenical service, along with rabbis and a Presbyterian minister, that was attended by 8,000 people.

Afterward, a group of bishops issued a pastoral letter that deplored torture, the denial of prisoners rights to a full legal defense and the suspension of habeas corpus.
Given Swedens concerns about Russian intentions in Europe, is nonalignment still the best policy?

We are an independent country that has chosen for 200 years to be militarily nonaligned. It has served us well. We have to be credible by also showing we are ready to defend ourselves. We have a worsening security situation in our neighborhood. Its a threat to the European security order since Russia has illegally annexed Crimea. We see threats of the use of nuclear weapons. They have had a very provocative posture in our neighborhood, not that we see they are direct threats to our territorial integrity or our security. There are no direct threats to Sweden. But its a behavior thats been very provocative.

Sweden has been deepening its cooperation with NATO. Will it ever join the alliance?

Right now, we are very comfortable where we are. We dont want to be under a nuclear weapon umbrella, and we think we should stay militarily nonaligned. We are in a good position, especially now, when we dont know what will happen with NATO with the new commander in chief in the United States or with Turkey being increasingly difficult, as well. Theres a lot of uncertainty. We dont know what Trump will do with NATO.

Sweden opened its borders to more than 100,000 refugees in 2015, but has since scaled back. Will Sweden continue to welcome refugees?

Its not as though we have closed our borders, but we apply a stricter rule book, so to say. We could not take so many people, especially so many children. We needed to have other European countries to step up. Those we gave asylum to are supposed to enjoy the same rights and opportunities and possibilities as those who have been living in Sweden a long time. This is our principle. We have to build houses, we have to make sure there are schools. We needed over 30,000 new teachers all over the country. In the end, you need also public support to continue to be generous. So you need a balance.

Whats your position on banning Muslim veils, as some European countries have?

We dont have any rules about that. You can wear a head scarf. Its not a problem.

Do you have any concerns about President-elect Trump?

The lack of conviction about multilateral solutions. Because most of the problems we see are global. If a big country or a superpower like the United States says it will not even honor its signature on the climate deal in Paris, that worries me a lot. We want to find solutions that are of mutual interest, that create a win-win situation with the United States. Engaging in trade will bring more jobs and a better economy on both sides. The trans-Atlantic link is good for security on both sides. And those are the arguments that we have to use, maybe not so much of ideology or party lines or values. Maybe thats what he will understand best.
MOSCOW  At least seven militants were killed and three hospitalized with gunshot wounds after two clashes with special forces rocked the mountain republic of Chechnya over the weekend.

Ramzan A. Kadyrov, the Moscow-backed leader of Chechnya, was overseeing the operations in person in a clear attempt to show he was in full control of the situation in a republic often described as his personal fief.

Not a single devil will be able to leave Grozny if he came to it armed, Mr. Kadyrov wrote on Sunday on Instagram, his usual means of communication with the public. This was clearly proven over the last 24 hours.
ISTANBUL  After two months, the battle to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State has settled into a grinding war of attrition. The front lines have barely budged in weeks. Casualties of Iraqi security forces are so high that American commanders heading the United States-led air campaign worry that they are unsustainable. Civilians are being killed or injured by Islamic State snipers and growing numbers of suicide bombers.

As the world watches the horrors unfolding in Aleppo, Syria, where government forces and allied militias bombed civilians and carried out summary executions as they retook the last rebel-held areas, a different tragedy is transpiring in Mosul. Up to one million people are trapped inside the city, running low on food and drinking water and facing the worsening cruelty of Islamic State fighters.

ISIS members have become like mad dogs, and every member has the power of immediate execution, Abu Noor said by telephone from his home on the west side of Mosul, which government forces had not reached, referring to the terror group by one of its acronyms. We live in constant fear and worry.

As the fight drags on, it is looking more and more likely that Mosul will become one of the first national security issues facing President-elect Donald J. Trump when he takes office next month. While American forces have largely steered clear of the fighting in Syria, they are deeply involved in operations just over the border in Iraq, mainly in training, advising and support roles.
2. Just hours earlier, the United Nations Security Council voted to monitor evacuations from Aleppo, with an adjustment to win Russian backing that means Syrian soldiers and allied Shiite militias may be able to block monitors access.

Aid groups say about 50,000 civilians may still be trapped in besieged areas of the city.

Among those evacuated was Bana Alabed, the 7-year-old girl whose Twitter feed about life in wartime has led some to call her a modern-day Anne Frank.

_____
For years, the little-known New York hedge fund Platinum Partners stood out for double-digit investment returns that rivaled some of the biggest names in the industry.

It turned out that those returns were too good to be true, according to federal prosecutors.

Federal agents on Monday arrested Mark Nordlicht, a founder and the chief investment officer of Platinum, and six others on charges related to a $1 billion fraud that led the firm to be operated like a Ponzi scheme, prosecutors said. It is one of the largest such fraud cases since Bernard L. Madoffs investment firm unraveled in 2008.

David Levy, the firms co-chief investment officer, was also among those arrested in the morning by agents in Texas, Manhattan and New Rochelle, a suburb of New York City. The men were charged with securities fraud and investment adviser fraud, according to an unsealed indictment filed in Federal District Court in Brooklyn. The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a parallel civil case.

Platinum tapped prominent families and foundations within the Orthodox Jewish community in New York to fuel high-stake bets on payday lenders, oil companies and even the terminally ill. But prosecutors said these investments and the firms performance were misrepresented by its executives. Ultimately, Platinum took in new money in order to pay longtime investors who wanted their money back, something the firms executives called among themselves Hail Mary time.
Canadas busy deal maven is, in a sense, both hands-on and not. The Fairfax Financial boss Prem Watsa has drafted an airtight policy for the insurance companys $4.9 billion deal to buy its Swiss rival Allied World. And BlackBerry, where Mr. Watsa is both the lead director and a major investor, is trying to parlay its smartphone history into hands-free driving success.

Fairfaxs offer for Allied, unveiled on Sunday, looks anodyne on the surface. The 18 percent premium to combine two players in the property and casualty market is hardly over the top. But Allied will continue to operate as a stand-alone company, so there are no planned cost savings. Fairfaxs pitch is that the deal will diversify its earnings  and that both firms have good track records.

Mr. Watsa has taken some of the sting out of the premium tail for Fairfax investors: Half of the $900 million cash component will come from a special dividend Allied will pay to its own shareholders. Governance, though, is more troubling. Mr. Watsa owns 43 percent of Fairfax but is not excluding himself from the vote to approve the deal. It would be a more hands-off decision if he followed the example of Elon Musk, who earlier this year left it to the other shareholders to decide whether Tesla Motors and SolarCity should merge.

Fairfax also wants written support from other big owners to tip approval past the 50 percent needed, perhaps avoiding a vote involving all shareholders. The company has also left itself the flexibility to switch most of the financing for the deal to cash, which would remove the need for any vote at all.
RIO DE JANEIRO  The Brazilian mining giant Vale has reached an agreement to sell much of its fertilizer assets to the Mosaic Company of the United States in a deal worth $2.5 billion, the companies said on Monday.

The deal will help Vale reduce its debt, a major problem plaguing many Brazilian companies struggling with a prolonged recession and a weaker local currency. Earlier this year, Vales chief executive, Murilo Ferreira, said he wanted to reduce the companys debt by $10 billion.

At the same time, it gives Vale an important minority stake in Mosaic and the growing global fertilizer business.

For Mosaic, which is based in Plymouth, Minn., the acquisition gives it a foothold in Latin Americas largest economy, which boasts a strong agriculture sector.
She has been a very effective leader, said Edwin M. Truman, a specialist in international finance formerly at the Federal Reserve and the United States Treasury. Yes, there are big questions about the funds future. But for her to have to step down now  well, that would be complicated.

Jacob J. Lew, the Treasury secretary, expressed the Obama administrations support for Ms. Lagarde, saying that she is a strong leader of the I.M.F., and we have every confidence in her ability to guide the fund at a critical time for the global economy.

For the Trump administration, I dont think this kind of ethical question is likely to be the highest priority, Mr. Truman said. While the I.M.F. and other global institutions did not figure in the presidential debate, Mr. Trump repeatedly criticized a global power structure that fixed the economy against workers.

At bottom, its all about French politics, Mr. Truman said.

Members of the I.M.F. board were well aware that Ms. Lagarde was facing trial in her native France over allegations that occurred when she was the finance minister in the administration of Nicolas Sarkozy.

The consensus among the directors was that Ms. Lagardes transgressions occurred when she was not at the fund  in contrast to those of her predecessor, Dominique Strauss-Kahn  and since taking charge in 2011, she had proved to be a leader capable of presenting a softer side of the fund while fighting hard to bolster its legitimacy in the aftermath of the financial crisis.

More so than her predecessors, Ms. Lagarde has pushed the fund to be more aggressive in taking up the cause of women and focusing attention on growing issues of inequality around the world.

Over the last year and a half, she has also led a forceful public critique of Europes refusal to offer Greece debt relief in return for the difficult economic changes the country has been making.
Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, has been found guilty of criminal charges linked to the misuse of public funds dating to her time as Frances finance minister.

She will not serve jail time or have to pay a fine. But her position at the Washington-based I.M.F. is on shaky ground, at a time when the organization faces questions over its participation in a multibillion-dollar bailout for Greece and uncertainty about the role of the United States in the organization. The funds executive board will meet later on Monday to consider its options.

Here is a quick primer on the case.

What was she charged with?

Ms. Lagarde was accused of negligence by a person in a position of public authority, related to a 2007 arbitration case involving Bernard Tapie, a French tycoon close to Nicolas Sarkozy, then Frances president. In the case, Mr. Tapie was awarded more than 400 million euros, or $430 million, to settle a dispute with the partly state-owned bank Credit Lyonnais.

The size of the award stunned and angered the French public, and some of Ms. Lagardes advisers suggested that she take action to appeal the arbitration decision. But she declined to do because, her lawyer said, it would have resulted in costly new lawsuits by Mr. Tapie.
MURRAY, Ky.  The indecision flickered in Richard Knights eyes as soon as the white Ford pickup pulled into the empty used-car lot on a chilly Saturday morning this month. He was midconversation with some out-of-towners in this small western Kentucky town, where hospitality is a point of pride.

But loaded in the pickup were the last of Freddie Bryants 2016 hams, and if Mr. Knight didnt quickly join the gray-haired men crowding around the back of the truck, he could lose his chance to pick out the best-looking ham for his familys Christmas dinner.

The ham won out.

Im sorry, but thats the place Ive got to be, he said to the visitors, trotting toward the scrum, which grabbed up all 14 hams in about 20 minutes.

Mr. Knight, 72, like many people in these parts, has been buying his country hams for decades from three generations of Bryants, always on a single day in December at Billy Dan Crouses car lot.
China Machado, one of the first non-Caucasians to appear in the pages of an American glossy fashion magazine and a model who helped break not only the race barrier but also the age barrier, died on Sunday in Brookhaven, N.Y., on Long Island. She was 86.

Her family said the cause was cardiac arrest.

Ms. Machado (whose first name was pronounced CHEE-na) lived a colorful life: She was born Noelie de Souza Machado on Christmas Day 1929, in Shanghai; fled the country with her parents in 1946, after the Japanese occupation; had an affair with Luis Dominguin, the Spanish bullfighter, who left her for Ava Gardner; and socialized with Francois Truffaut.

But at a time when the fashion industry is still struggling with diversity, it is worth pausing to consider what colorful really meant when it came to Ms. Machado, what her career represented and how far we still have to go, nearly six decades later.

Her legacy extends far beyond the pictures she created, and the poses she struck, to make us rethink our assumptions about what is considered beautiful, and why. And it is as relevant today as when she first stepped on a runway, in the 1950s.
These decisions are usually made country by country and not across borders, said Ariane Hegewisch, the program director of employment and earnings at the Institute for Womens Policy Research. Human resource management, such as benefit policies and pay levels, is very influenced by national legislation, labor markets and the union structures in different countries.

Previously, Kerings various brands set their own policies, in compliance with local regulations. That means its 5,000-plus employees in the U.S., where federal law mandates only 12 weeks unpaid time off for new parents, were offered either no compensated time off or a combination of paid and unpaid leave. Meanwhile, Kerings Italian contingent  about 7,000 people  was given 22 weeks of maternity leave and three to four days of paternity leave with at least 80 percent of the salary paid out.

That approach is not atypical in luxury, an industry focused on attracting women (80 percent of Kerings consumers are women). Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, or LVMH, which owns fashion houses like Dior, Givenchy and Marc Jacobs, has different policies in different places, as does Prada Group, an umbrella organization for Prada, Miu Miu, Churchs and more, as well as Phillips-Van Heusen, which owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, among others.

But Kerings move has placed it among a growing list of multinational companies, including Nestle, LOreal and Spotify, that have set minimum parental-leave standards across all geographic zones where their employees work in the last few years. LVMH is set to follow in Kerings footsteps this spring with a program called Coeur Social, which will include a global parental-leave policy.

A report by the Center for American Progress argued that companies are taking these actions to balance out discrepancies in benefits across regions, in particular the unequal leave policies between the U.S. and most other nations (research focusing on members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and a few other nations found that the U.S. was the only one that didnt mandate paid parental leave).
Baby food is sold in every country on Earth, but in poor and middle-income countries, its quality is completely unpredictable, a new study has found.

Children would be healthier if an international agency tested brands and certified them as nutritious, the studys authors argued.

Some of these products are fine, but some are just awful, and theres no way for consumers to tell the difference, said William A. Masters, an economist with the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and the studys lead author. A wonderful food category is languishing for lack of quality certification.

His team tested 108 brands of infant porridge from 22 countries and found that less than a quarter met international standards for fat, protein, iron and zinc. The study is to be published soon in the journal Maternal and Child Nutrition.
When needle sharing among addicts triggered a sudden AIDS outbreak in Indiana last year, however, Mr. Pence allowed needle swaps in the most-affected counties.

Funding decisions for H.I.V. prevention have long been mired in an ideological battle pitting condoms versus abstinence. But experts note that the conflict is fading: Neither condoms nor abstinence has stopped the AIDS epidemic among gay Americans or heterosexual Africans.

Now more emphasis is being placed on getting all the infected on treatment, which reduces infectiousness, and getting all the vulnerable on prophylactic drugs. In Africa, circumcision is also emphasized.

Some advocates hope that the large circle of military men consulted by Mr. Trump will push him to spend more on health. Besides its historical interest in tropical diseases, the military maintains laboratories in Egypt, Indonesia, Peru and elsewhere that often act as an early warning system for epidemics.

Department of Defense and national security people know that no wall will keep disease out, said Amanda Glassman, director for global health security at the Center for Global Development, a Washington think tank. They care about biosecurity, and about monitoring outbreaks and antibiotic resistance and things like that.

Experts also note that regions where the United States spends the most on health  Africa and Southeast Asia  produce few Islamic State recruits or suicide bombers, and that sending foreign aid to countries that hate us, as Mr. Trump once put it, actually worked pretty well in Germany and Japan after World War II.

Americas image still shines in some parts of the world because of what the country has done for the poor. In Uganda, recipients of AIDS drugs sing a chorus: Thank you America, for saving my life.
Rachel Sachs, an associate law professor at Washington University in St. Louis and expert in innovation policy, said the government had every right to seek price concessions. She noted that the government, through Medicare and Medicaid, was effectively buying its inventions back from itself. The public is paying for the research and to the extent that many people, if not most, will pay through public insurance, were paying again, she said.

Hillary Clinton, in her campaign for president, promised to set new rules for federal support of research so that Americans get the value they deserve for the money taxpayers spend in supporting research. It is not clear how President-elect Donald J. Trump will approach these issues; he has said he favors reducing health care costs, but Republicans, who control Congress, too, have opposed a government role in price setting.

One mechanism to control pricing already exists. It is called march-in rights, and it lets the N.I.H. take back control of a patent on an invention made with federal funding if the drug is not being made available to the public on reasonable terms. The tool has gone unused.

Earlier this year, Knowledge Ecology International and another advocacy group, the Union for Affordable Cancer Treatment, petitioned the agency to exercise march-in rights on Xtandi, a prostate cancer drug that was developed by federally funded researchers at U.C.L.A. It said the price in the United States of about $129,000 a year, two to four times that in other developed countries, meant the drug was not reasonably available. The effort was supported by other public interest groups and some Democratic members of Congress.

U.C.L.A. made more than $500 million by selling its royalty rights to the drug. But the N.I.H. declined to exercise its march-in rights on Xtandi, arguing that it was not qualified to judge whether a drugs price is reasonable and that a high price does not mean a drug is not being made available to the public.

N.I.H. has made it clear that its job is not to decide prices of drugs, period, Dr. Rohrbaugh said

Kite says it has not decided what to charge for KTE-C19, but Dr. Belldegrun hinted that Kites therapy might be relatively expensive because ideally it would be a single treatment that would cure the patient, not a drug that would have to be taken continuously. He added that Kite would take steps to make sure that everyone who needed the drug could get it.
Article: In Turkeys Home of St. Nick, Far From North Pole, All Is Not Jolly

Before Reading

What do you know about the origins of the stories that are still told today about Santa Claus?

Questions for Comprehension and Analysis

1. Where is Demre? What is its connection to Christmas?

2. Why have few tourists visited Demre lately?

3. What tales of St. Nicholas does the article contain?

4. How do current residents of Demre regard the popular image of Santa Claus, according to the article?

5. What is the common thread between the history of St. Nicholas and the story of Santa Claus?

What Do You Think?
Long before the Kardashians, there were the Gabors. Before Paris Hilton, Ivanka Trump and other blondes with an air of effortless wealth and exaggerated glamour, there was Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Ms. Gabor, who died on Sunday, was a working actress who perfected the art of seeming idle. In that sense, she and her sisters anticipated the reality-show breed of semi-celebrities who are mostly famous for being famous. Ms. Gabor, who was married at least eight times and appeared in more than 60 films and television shows, never tried to pass as an actress perfecting her craft  her career consisted of preserving and polishing a Euro-courtesan persona.

And it was an act of alchemy  spinning gold out of a pretty face and an exotic Hungarian background. In almost every appearance, be it a cameo on Gilligans Island, Batman or Hollywood Squares, and toward the end of her career, a self-parodying star turn in The Naked Gun 2: The Smell of Fear, Ms. Gabor expertly impersonated herself, swathed in chiffon, marabou feathers and diamonds, talking about her many husbands with her patented and paprika-spiced intonation of Dahlink.

How many husbands have I had? she would reply when asked. You mean, apart from my own?

She was a fixture on The Merv Griffin Show back when talk-show guests were invited merely because they were amusing. Nowadays, the business is more bluntly transactional  actors, politicians and athletes show up when they have a new project to promote. In the 1970s, Ms. Gabor, along with other regulars such as Charo, rarely had anything new to sell; they were pros at presenting their same old selves.
Another member, Bea Tompkins, 84, now retired from teaching math at the exclusive Brearley School, said she never had access to Dickens  or any other books  until college.

She joked that she had a Dickensian childhood herself, growing up black in North Augusta, S.C., on a family farm bought by her great-grandfather, a former slave.

She recalled walking three miles each way to a small, segregated school where there was no money for materials, no books.

When she moved to New York City and checked out David Copperfield from the public library, she became smitten with Dickens. She has now read Bleak House six times.

A magician, Peter DePaula, performed magic in honor of Dickens, who was known to perform magic at his own Christmas parties.

There was Michelle Eldredge, from Ridgewood, N.J., in a Victorian dress, who narrated a section of Dickenss novel Martin Chuzzlewit, while Noelle McGrath, an actress, played Mrs. Gamp, the boozy nurse, and other characters.

Mr. Galazin told the group there was homemade plum pudding for dessert.

Full disclosure, confession  thats the only reason I come to these things, said Mr. Galazin, who then toasted the group and Dickens and most of all, fellowship  Dickensian fellowship.
A federal prosecutor in Manhattan said on Monday that the government had decided not to introduce at trial an extensive statement by the man accused of recent bombings in New York and New Jersey as it tries to keep to a schedule a judge has set for a trial in March.

The prosecutor, Nicholas J. Lewin of the United States attorneys office in Manhattan, told the judge that the office sought both on the governments behalf and the publics behalf a speedy trial in this matter.

The defendant, Ahmad Khan Rahimi, 28, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges stemming from a bombing in Chelsea on Sept. 17 that injured more than 30 people and an attempted bombing nearby.

The judge, Richard M. Berman of United States District Court in Manhattan, has scheduled the trial for March 27. But on Monday, Peggy Cross-Goldenberg, a federal public defender representing Mr. Rahimi, said the government had provided so much discovery material that the defense could not be ready that soon.
New York education officials said on Monday that they would retest all public school buildings in the city for unsafe levels of lead after the initial testing process was questioned.

The citys Education Department announced the new effort in a letter sent home to the parents of schoolchildren.

Out of an abundance of caution and because ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our top priority, the D.O.E. will retest all school buildings based on the new protocol this winter, the letter said. It also assured parents that our drinking water is of the highest quality in the world.

The new tests will be performed in accordance with state regulations issued this fall that mandate regular testing of water in schools and that discourage the citys earlier testing protocol, in which the water was run for two hours the night before sampling.
Try as she might, Carolyn Davidson knows she can no longer deny that at 67, she is starting to feel her age, especially the past few months. Her body aches, colds linger, her steps more deliberate, her energy easily sapped.

Her apartment, a tidy, decorated nook in Queens she shares with her three cats, reflects her less mobile life. Clutter, or rather the few stray items she designates as such, tends to accumulate more often. The wooden floors are overdue for a waxing. Laundry has piled up. The kitchen stove is mostly cold these days, with months passed since it lit up under fried chicken, beef stew and liverwurst.

It will all have to wait.

Im not going to wear myself out until Im back to Carolyn, she said.

And there will be a return of the spry Carolyn, she asserts. She cannot bear to think otherwise.

I might do it a little at a time, but Im not going to let nothing put me down, she said. I cant, because if I do Ill just wither away, and I dont want to wither away.
After nearly a century of delays and disappointment, the first phase of the Second Avenue subway is finally opening to the public on Jan. 1, officials at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Monday.

Trains will begin to run on the new line at noon on Jan. 1, 2017, the authority said in a statement. At an event to reveal the artwork at the new stations, the authoritys chairman, Thomas F. Prendergast, invited the crowd to ride the line on opening day.

I think youll find the art there exhilarating, Mr. Prendergast said. I think youll find the environment vastly different than what you see in the New York City subway, and youll be pleased I think with the end product.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has been pressing officials to open the line by the end of the year, said local leaders would take a ceremonial ride on the Second Avenue line on New Years Eve and perhaps toast the opening of the long-delayed project with champagne.
This is my last column of the year.

In 2015, my last column was a roundup of the years biggest social justice stories as ranked by intellectuals and activists.

I thought that Id make that a year-end tradition for the column, but this year Donald Trump has intruded.

That is not to say that issues of social justice have receded. They havent, at all. But the election of Donald Trump poses such a significant  and singular  threat to this country that for me all other issues are unfortunately, temporarily I hope, subsumed by the unshakable sense of impending calamity he presages.

The nation is soon to be under the aegis of an unstable, unqualified, undignified demagogue and with Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, there is little that can be done to constrict or control his power and unpredictability.
To the Editor:

As David Friedmans close friend and law partner for 25 years, I am uniquely well suited to explain why David is not a dangerous choice for ambassador to Israel, despite what your Dec. 17 editorial asserts.

Davids zeal is not for confrontation rather than diplomatic finesse, as you claim, but just the opposite. Davids greatest strength is his ability to find common ground in seemingly intractable situations, to reason through with all constituencies the most effective way to resolve disputes without resort to prolonged conflict. That is why David has been the most successful lawyer in this country in resolving the largest and most difficult bankruptcy cases.

Davids knowledge of the Middle East is deep and detailed, based in part on his own experience, with frequent travel to Israel and contacts deep in Israeli social and political life. Given Davids superb negotiating skills and background, it is difficult to think of any previous American ambassador who brings more to the table than David.

David also well understands that the Middle East needs peace, but that peace, to endure, must be based on the rights of both sides to exist, something the Palestinians have thus far refused to recognize.
To the Editor:

Re Senators Push to Widen Inquiry on Russian Meddling in Election (front page, Dec. 19):

This is not just about Russian hacking of our election, but about cybersecurity in general. If Russia gets away with this because our president-elect doesnt accept our intelligence agencies assessment, its open season for any foreign power to hack and disseminate information considered advantageous to its own welfare. This includes not only hostile regimes (Iran), but trading partners (China, India) and friendly governments (Israel) as well.

Our cybersecurity has been lagging behind technological advances for years. Rather than deride the intelligence that we are at risk, Donald Trump and the G.O.P. should be vowing to make ours the most cybersecure nation in the world. That is what would have happened had the Trump campaign emails been released, and Hillary Clinton been elected.

JESSE ALLEN

Santa Fe, N.M.

To the Editor:

If Donald Trump can be so dismissive of the American intelligence communitys consensus, now made public, of Russias cyber meddling in our presidential election on his behalf, what happens after his inauguration when that intelligence community reports exclusively to him?

Put another way, what future intelligence will President Trump dismiss or withhold from the American public, however accurate and alarming, if he finds it politically inconvenient or personally embarrassing?
This documentary film is a dramatization of actual accounts of the UKs immigration detention system, narrated by the migrants who experienced them. All names have been withheld to protect anonymity My name is Abal al-Bashir, I am from Sudan. I came to this country to seek safety. I came as a refugee and I claim asylum. I was originally born in Ghana, but I havent lived or been to that country since I was four years old Well, I came to the UK not for any reason, but to seek asylum, for the safety of my life. I was at risk back home in Uganda When my application was rejected, I was on the verge of committing suicide I spent a total of two and a half months in detention Im originally from Sri Lanka, Im here to save my life, Im a victim of torture. Ive been detained in this country for almost six years I would like to sort of shed a light onto an important issue the majority of people are not awrae of and thats indefinite detention. In 1995 the Uk detained 381 people under Immigration Act Powers [Darren: your source says that this figure is the number in detention of May 1995. Do you have a figure for the total of that year? Otherwise approximateLC]. By 2015 that number had risen to 32, 446. Detainees are held indefinitely. The Uk is one of few countries in Europe with no upper time limit on detention. [Darren: On Pg 16, the report says The United Kingdom is one of only a few countries within the Council of Europe not to have an upper time limit on detention.]  INVISIBLE John - 2.5 months in detention. Back home in Uganda, I was arrested, I was tortured, so it was just by luck that I left the country. I arrived in the UK, 4th of November, 2014. And on the same day I claimed asylum In itself I didnt know what was going on. They said they were taking me to a detention centre. The van it had disabled locks, it had quite a nasty smell because the windows cid not oopen at all. I looked at myself as a big criminal, like they were transporting a terrorist. What really terrified me was the big fence and the barbed wire and the officers that were guarding the place Thats when I passed out. Thats when my mind was like: Youre dead now, youre dead. They checked out stuff, took my phone That night I didnt manage to cathc any sleep whatsoever, I spent the whole night crying. I was scared, I was terrified. I was like: I think Im finished, I think Im finished, I think Im finished. David - Currently in detention. Welcome to Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre. If you have a touch headphone, please selct one of the following options: Press 1 for Colnbrook, or press 2 for Harmondsworth. Is this a real recording? Im at the detention centre, this one is called Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre. I have been detained for over a year now. People are desperate, people are desperate for freedom. Its a factory of mental illness, its completely diofferent from prison. They kill your hopes here, they kill your dreams, they destroy yourt family. When a human being has been stirpped of rights to family, rights to freddom, rights to expression, then you are no longer a human being. Thats why the suicide rate is very very high. Most of the time I feel like hitting the wall, I feel like I want to bang my head against the wall. Its frustration and some sort of mental pyschosis. You feel like you want to scream, you feel like you want to shout, you feel like you are going to die. Hearing somebody praying on their knees asking for strength not to kil themselves, its um yeah, its a very difficult thing, a very difficult thing Michael - 2.5 years in dentention. Self harm in detention was an everyday occurent thing. It ranges from people cutting themselves, trying to hang themselves The worst thing that I saw in detention was um I heard this scream. This scream wasnt like any other scream. So I decided to step outside my door. My whole body just froze. Everytime I try to picture it, it seems to be that he was on fire forever. How long? How long do I have to be in here until I reach that stage? Ive seen things. I have seen things. But nothing like this. In 2015, suicide attempts in detention centres averaged one a day. Of the 2,957 people on suicide watch in detention, 11 were children. Could be a week, there could be two. The two weeks might mount into a year. Two years or three. When I got detained, I was never given an explaination; why, or how, or when Id be released Idefenite means to be in a state, or be in a condition for a time you dont know how long. Thats indefinite. To me, asylum seeking in this country is like a living hell. When you look at the kind of beaureaucracy that is within detention and within the whole process of asylum seeking, its like climbing a mountain. Looking at all the forms and the procedure you have to go through is quite heartbreaking. When youre in a prison youll be counting your days down, but in detention youre counting them up. Many migrants in detention are deemed unreturnable to their country of origin. More than half of those detained are released back into the community. [what is the specific source for this? 55% per your press release is more than half, not nearly 2/3; cut rest of sentence] The happiness of release hits youa s a relaity of serious worries. Abdal - 6 years in detention. You only have your train ticket, or bus ticket to get you to the address the UK Border Agency has provided for you to go. You go back to society with nothing. No money, no clothes, no support, no nothing. You are starting form zero and youve got to build your life up again. Even though Im freed from detention, Im not free. Ive been tagged on my leg and I have to be at home every single day, as well as reporting every two weeks to the police station. For two years Ive been doing this. So how could I ever recover, how could I ever get on with my life? Is this an actor? May 7th 2016. Yarls wood Immigration Removal Centre National day of action against detention. I would like to see all detention centres closed down. I would like to see the word migrant iradicated. I would like to see the word illegal associated with a person iridicated. No person is illegal. But this is the country the aspire, this is the country that advocates human rights. This is a multi million pound industry for somebody. The routine detention of refugees and migrants has become an opaque and unregulated processas well as a multimillion-pound industry. They lock us up. We lost our family, we lost our children, we lost our self, our self confidence, our self esteem. And they broke us as mans[sic]. But will I sit here and cry about it? No. We still have guts, and we still have heart. Im gonna pick myself up, Im gonna stand, and Im gonna fight.
To the Editor:

Re The Dangers of Echo Chambers on Campus (column, Dec. 11):

I agree with Nicholas Kristof on the importance of young people understanding how others with differing outlooks see the world. But by relying on the reaction of many college students to Donald Trumps election to make his point, he misses the mark.

Young people I know arent dismayed because a Republican presidential candidate won. Theyre horrified because someone who lied, incited hatred, found joy in sexual harassment and denigrated the skin color and religions of people just like their friends will soon determine the course of their lives.

Just think of how young people on the threshold of adulthood see the world when a person who embodies the antithesis of character qualities their mothers and fathers worked so hard to instill  honesty, fairness, compassion, generosity  rises to occupy the most powerful office in the world.

JOHN KELLEY

Sun Valley, Idaho

To the Editor:

In repeated columns, Nicholas Kristof has chastised academics for rejecting diversity in ideology. I have been an academic for more than 20 years, and have never witnessed discrimination based on political ideology. Yet even in the sciences, academics are now overwhelmingly liberal.
While revelations about Russian involvement in the American presidential election rock the United States, there are ominous signs that Russia is spreading propaganda and engaging in cyberattacks in Europe in advance of several national elections next year.

In 2017, Germany, France and the Netherlands will hold elections. It is also possible that Italy will move elections scheduled for 2018 forward in the wake of the resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi after voters rejected a referendum on constitutional reforms this month. Candidates who are right-wing populists and friendly toward Russia are gaining ground across Europe, thanks, in part, to Russian interference along the lines of what Moscow was accused of doing in the United States. Russias goals in Europe appear to be to elect foreign leaders who are sympathetic to Russian expansionism, to weaken NATO and to fan anti-European Union forces.

In France, Marine Le Pens National Front party benefited in 2014 from an $11.7 million Kremlin loan to help finance its campaigns. And the winner of the center-right Les Republicains partys recent primary elections, Francois Fillon, has called for lifting sanctions on Russia for its annexation of Crimea and its war in Ukraine, and for working with Russia to curb immigration and prevent terrorism.

In the Netherlands, Geert Wilderss populist Party for Freedom has surged, with a Donald Trump look-alike Make the Netherlands Great Again campaign, which is anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim. Mr. Wilders is calling for an exit from the European Union. Matteo Salvini of Italys anti-immigrant Northern League opposes sanctions on Russia and boasts of his trips to Moscow.
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Since becoming president-elect, Donald Trump has chosen a few targets to mock regularly. Hillary Clinton, of course, has been one of them. So have the media. The Green Party has made the list too.

But one target isnt quite like the others, because its not usually a symbol of liberalism. It is the C.I.A.

In several tweets, as well as an official statement from Trumps transition team, he has derided the nations intelligence agency as incompetent. His ire stems from the C.I.A.s conclusion  shared by the F.B.I., as it happens  that Russia used cyberattacks to help Trumps campaign. These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of destruction, the transition team said, in response to the C.I.A. findings.
The truncated visit by Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain to the European Union summit meeting in Brussels on Thursday underscored just how hard it will be for Britain to quit the bloc anytime soon, if ever.

Mrs. May came to Brussels evidently intent on demonstrating that Britain is still an active member, and indeed she joined in all the critical discussions on Syria, Russia and other contentious issues. But when time came for the dinner at which Brexit was to be discussed, there was no place set for Britain.

And when the other 27 members did come around to talking Brexit, they spent all of 20 minutes on it, reaffirming that Britain cannot pick and choose what parts of membership it wants to keep or jettison and confirming Michel Barnier, a former French foreign minister, as the chief negotiator for the European Union.

The Unions sang froid was in sharp contrast to the fierce debate in Britain over how to proceed. Mrs. May has insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that she will invoke Article 50  the Unions rules that, once triggered, set a two-year deadline for completion  by the end of March.
Lots of adults started paying attention to Teen Vogue recently. It started with an opinion article by Lauren Duca, the magazines weekend editor, called Donald Trump Is Gaslighting America. Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse that causes the victim to question his or her own sanity, Ms. Duca writes, and thats precisely what Trump is doing to this country.

While some were surprised to see a magazine for teenagers making such a strong political statement, Teen Vogue has been speaking frankly about more than fashion for a while.

The magazine, whose top editor, Elaine Welteroth, and digital editorial director, Phillip Picardi, took over earlier this year, has been ramping up its political coverage since the primary debates. Aimed at teens and young women, the website and quarterly print magazine combine beauty tips and features on teen celebrities with stories about young activists, gender roles and LGBT rights. An explanation of the dangers of the Dakota Access Pipeline by two young women from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe was among the magazines most-watched videos ever.
Charlotte, N.C.  In recent days, folks from outside North Carolina have been asking me what, exactly, is wrong with my state. After a vicious governors race in which the Democrat, Roy Cooper, squeaked past the incumbent Republican, Pat McCrory, the state General Assembly drew up and passed a series of bills that greatly restrict the power of our incoming chief executive  bills that Mr. McCrory has signed.

This is only the latest in a series of fierce political fights in our state. Earlier this year, it was around H.B. 2, the so-called bathroom bill; before that, it was over efforts by state Republicans to restrict voting rights. All of this in a state long regarded as a paragon of Southern moderation.

But rather than being an outlier, North Carolina is the distillation of nationwide trends. Our cities are solidly blue, while our rural regions, which thanks to gerrymandering have an outsize power, are reactionary red, and their representatives are bent on breaking every rule to keep a hold on power.

It wasnt always this way.

My family and I moved to Greensboro in 1974. It was here where my fascination with politics took root. I participated in mock elections at school, and at age 17, was chosen to be a page for the Democratic governor, James B. Hunt Jr. Even then, I could tell that people on both sides were working toward the same goal, and respected each other for it.
Most people who think that climate change is really happening also acknowledge that humans have caused it. But getting people to actually do something about it may be the next phase in the battle to prevent catastrophic warming.

Over the course of the last year, Ive spoken with people in different communities around the world who are trying to do what they can to make a difference, even if they cant see the effects.

In a small village in the English countryside, residents have been working for 10 years to make their community carbon neutral  theyve insulated their homes, hung laundry out to dry and installed solar panels. Part of their success has been in their approach: This should be fun, and it should involve all of us, because all of us stand to benefit from staving off the worst effects of climate change.

They have tried to connect the global problem of climate change to normal life, because its not always about the melting polar ice caps or apocalyptic drought. Yes, climate change is about those things, but it is also about the ways that life in the 21st century makes most people, especially those in the developed world, part of the problem.

How are your own habits connected to larger environmental problems? How much power are you still using even when youve switched off your devices? How many plastic bottles of water do you drink every week, and how does that affect the environment and other people around you?

In the wake of the Paris agreement, most countries are involved in the fight against climate change. And while governments and power companies may make the most difference, what the rest of us  all seven billion of us  are doing matters, too.  Tatiana Schlossberg
GHENT, Belgium  Layers and layers of paint have been virtually and physically removed from the 15th-century Ghent Altarpiece, a renowned work of biblical figures on wood panels, revealing for the first time in hundreds of years the individual brush strokes of the original paintings.

In this first phase of restoration on one of the earliest art works to use oil paints on a large scale, new scanning techniques uncovered the singular skills of the Flemish brothers Jan and Hubert Van Eyck, beneath layers of overpainting and varnish.

The restoration, which has been taking place for the last four years here at the Museum of Fine Arts, has involved painstaking work that has led to a number of discoveries, including the dating of several wooden panels from the same oak trees.

As an early Renaissance piece, the altarpiece is widely recognized as one of historys most influential art works, because of the intimate attention it gives to both earthly and divine beauty. The polyptych altarpiece, consisting of 12 panels, has at its center its most iconic panel, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. It depicts a liturgy attended by different groups of people in a landscape rich in religious symbolism. In the middle is a white lamb on an altar, with a breast wound gushing blood.
Kenneth Nicholson

The designer Kenneth Nicholson had an unusual path to fashion. At age 20, he enlisted in the Navy  because at the time I thought they had the best uniforms, he said. At boot camp in Chicago, he found time to paint and sketch, drawing inspiration from the city and the rigid structure of his barracks. Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles, where he lives today (but not before enrolling in the Art Institute of Dallas, working briefly at a former subsidiary of Halliburton in Afghanistan and helping a friend open a lounge in Thailand). In a way, his first official mens collection, which he launched in January, was a reaction to his experiences traveling the world. It includes tunic-length shirts with epaulets, extra-wide-leg pants and a softly draped motorcycle jacket  all in linen. His approach is less about blurring gender lines than it is about creating something thats more inclusive. Theres a lack of options in mens wear, he said. I think masculinity is important and something to be celebrated. If one is to limit the options of mens wear, that can be taxing and imposing. Read the story.
One study found that only 1 percent of residents of New Hampshire used the states health care price comparison website over a three-year period. Another study found that use of the price transparency platform Castlight Health was associated with lower payments for lab tests, advanced imaging and office visits. However, the study did not examine outpatient spending over all.

Dennis Scanlon, a Penn State health economist, is not surprised. Health care choices are different than most product and services, he said. Most decisions are driven by physician referrals, and insured patients usually face little variation in costs across options.

Another reason people may not price-shop for health care is that they could find the process too complex. Providing more information to consumers doesnt always improve their decision making. In many settings, it can overwhelm a person and lead to poorer choices. Its far easier to go on a recommendation, even if it costs more.

And not every kind of health care is amenable to shopping. According to one analysis, only about 40 percent of spending on health care is. Patients can reasonably shop only for care that is for nonemergencies and would be motivated to do so only if they stood to gain. If patients out-of-pocket costs are the same at both a high-cost and low-cost doctor, whats to prompt them to select the cheaper one? Insurance is paying for the difference anyway.

Even consumers who use price comparison tools may select more expensive providers because they think higher health care prices imply higher quality, even if thats often not the case. Yet only half of price transparency tools offered by health plans include information about quality. One study found that including easy-to-understand quality information alongside prices helped patients select higher-value care.

But a 10-year study across 16 communities funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and published in the journal Health Services Research found that newly available reports comparing the quality of care of physician practices and physician groups had only a modest effect on the awareness and use of this information. Only about 5 percent of chronically ill people reported that they considered such information when making care decisions, an increase from just above 3 percent a few years earlier, although this increase varied across communities.

Changes to how health insurance works might improve the effectiveness of price transparency. For example, when an enrollee in a plan for Californias retired public-sector employees selects a hip or knee replacement more expensive than a preset price, she pays the entire difference. The shopping that this motivates is credited with reducing hip and knee replacement prices by 20 percent.
With an expected win in the Electoral College today, Donald J. Trump will seal his presidential victory  despite losing the national popular vote by a significant margin.

His Electoral College lead should be substantial, since he won states worth 306 electoral votes to 232 from states won by Hillary Clinton. Yet the nearly final popular vote count has him trailing by nearly three million votes, or 2.1 percentage points, the largest deficit for a winning candidate since 1876s notorious election.

How exactly did we end up with such divergent results?

Liberals say Mr. Trumps victory is proof that the Electoral College is biased against big states and undemocratically marginalizes urban and nonwhite voters. Conservatives say the Electoral College serves as a necessary bulwark against big states, preventing California in particular from imposing something like colonial rule over the rest of the nation, as the conservative analyst Michael Barone put it. California sided with Mrs. Clinton by a vote margin of four million, or 30 percentage points.

Both sides have a point. But in the end, Mr. Trump won for a simple reason: The Electoral Colleges (largely) winner-take-all design gives a lot of weight to battleground states. Mr. Trump had an advantage in the traditional battlegrounds because most are whiter and less educated than the country as a whole.
Aaron Persky, the judge who gave a former Stanford University swimmer a sentence that was condemned as too lenient for a sexual-assault conviction, was cleared of misconduct on Monday by a California panel.

Thousands of people had called for the removal of Judge Persky, who was serving on the Santa Clara County Superior Court in June when he sentenced the former swimmer, Brock Turner, 21, to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a Dumpster after a party in 2015.

Mr. Turner was released from jail in September after serving three months.

He had been convicted on three felony counts: intent to commit rape, sexual penetration with a foreign object of an intoxicated person and sexual penetration with a foreign object of an unconscious person.

In addition to the jail time, Mr. Turner was given three years probation and was required to register as a sex offender. Judge Persky said in court that Mr. Turner would not be a danger to others, and that a prison sentence would have a severe impact on him.
WASHINGTON  An American woman and her family who have been held hostage for four years in Afghanistan pleaded with President Obama to secure their release before he leaves office next month, according to a video that was made public Monday.

Please dont become the next Jimmy Carter, said Caitlan Coleman, 31, sitting with her husband, Joshua Boyle, a Canadian, and their two children, who were born in captivity. Just give the offenders something so they and you can save face so we can leave the region permanently.

Ms. Coleman was apparently referring to former President Jimmy Carters failed attempts to win the freedom of Americans held hostage in Iran.

The couple has been held by the Haqqani network, a Taliban faction, which seized them in late 2012 as they were backpacking in Wardak Province, an insurgent stronghold near Kabul. Ms. Coleman was pregnant at the time with their first child.
Right Now: The Electoral College has affirmed Donald J. Trump as the nations 45th president, pushing him past the 270-vote threshold for election, with scant evidence of the anti-Trump revolt among electors that some of his critics had hoped would occur.

Republican electors in Texas vaulted Mr. Trump past the 270 mark, granting him all but two of their 38 ballots in a ceremony in the State Capitol in Austin.

In the House chamber, where the electors met, the vote was greeted with a standing ovation by citizens and Republican officials who had come to witness the event. Outside, perhaps 100 protesters waved placards and chanted Save our democracy in a vain effort to persuade electors to reject the Republican nominee.

Normally a political footnote, the electoral vote acquired an unexpected element of drama this winter after Mr. Trumps upset of Hillary Clinton, who received 2.86 million more popular votes but won in states that totaled only 232 electoral votes. The states Mr. Trump won held 306 electoral votes.
Its that time of year again, folks. Its time for the War on Christmas.

What is that, you may ask? The short answer: a sometimes histrionic yuletide debate over whether the United States is a country that respects Christianity.

For the longer answer, keep reading.

The idea of a War on Christmas has turned things like holiday greetings and decorations into potentially divisive political statements. People who believe Christmas is under attack point to inclusive phrases like Happy Holidays as (liberal) insults to Christianity.

For over a decade, these debates have taken place mainly on conservative talk radio and cable programs. But this year they also burst onto a much grander stage: the presidential election.

At a rally in Wisconsin last week, Donald J. Trump stood in front of a line of Christmas trees and repeated a campaign-trail staple.
A report in September showed that those efforts began in the 1960s when the sugar industry paid scientists to cast doubt on the link between sugar and heart disease and promote saturated fat as the culprit instead. More recently, The New York Times found that Coca-Cola had been funding scientists who played down the connection between sugary drinks and obesity. And The Associated Press reported in June that food companies paid for studies that claimed candy-eating children weigh less.

Some experts said the Annals review appeared to be an attempt by the industry to undermine sugar guidelines from the World Health Organization and other health groups that urge children and adults to consume fewer products with added sugar, such as soft drinks, candy and sweetened cereals. The paper, they say, is reminiscent of tactics once used by the tobacco industry, which for decades enlisted scientists to become merchants of doubt about the health hazards of smoking.

This comes right out of the tobacco industrys playbook: cast doubt on the science, said Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University who studies conflicts of interest in nutrition research. This is a classic example of how industry funding biases opinion. Its shameful.

But the scientists behind the paper said more scrutiny of sugar guidelines was needed. The researchers reviewed guidelines issued by the W.H.O. and eight other agencies around the world and said the case against sugar was based on low-quality evidence.

The conclusion of our paper is a very simple one, said Bradley C. Johnston, a professor of clinical epidemiology at the University of Toronto and McMaster University and the lead author of the new paper. We hope that the results from this review can be used to promote improvement in the development of trustworthy guidelines on sugar intake.
Deaths of journalists in the line of duty fell sharply in 2016 compared with the year before, a news media advocacy group said Monday, attributing the decline to fewer intentional killings of journalists.

But the group, the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the number killed unintentionally in combat while covering wars remained high and accounted for a majority of overall deaths for the first time since the group began its annual tally in 1992.

At least 48 journalists were killed in relation to their work, compared with 72 in 2015, the group said in an annual report.

The group suggested that the final figures for 2016 could change, because it was still investigating the deaths of 27 journalists to determine if they were work-related.
BEIJING  Both came to power vowing to restore their nations to greatness. But Americas loud, ad-libbing president-elect, Donald J. Trump, and Chinas guarded, calculating president, Xi Jinping, are glaring contrasts as politicians, and their pairing has injected new unpredictability into relations between their governments.

I could not think of two more different protagonists in the great drama of U.S.-China relations, Evan S. Medeiros, formerly the senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, said by email. Personalities matter a lot in international relations, especially between great powers.

A quarrel after China seized an underwater drone from the United States Navy has given a taste of how Mr. Trumps and Mr. Xis different styles could play out if bigger tensions were to break out over the South China Sea, trade imbalances, North Koreas nuclear weapons or other issues that Mr. Trump has raised.

Mr. Trump has recently blared warnings at China, seemingly guided by visceral reflexes and a vague but bold set of demands. By contrast, Mr. Xi, the son of a Communist veteran, is disciplined and steely. He rarely speaks off the cuff in public. Even his seemingly impromptu gestures are often carefully choreographed, and he usually adheres to policy points when meeting foreign leaders. Mr. Xi is certainly capable of bold action, as he has shown in the South China Sea, but he tends to shroud his thinking in a cloud of slogans. That leaves outsiders guessing about when and how he will act on his demands.
BANGKOK  More than two months after the death of Thailands long-serving king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, the country is still in mourning for him, with most people wearing black, and black billboards carrying tributes in the place of advertising.

Black and white bunting festoons many buildings, and portraits of the widely beloved king still hang in the homes of many people who are loath to part with him.

But in small ways, Thais are beginning to accept his disappearance from their lives and the succession of his son, Maha Vajiralongkorn, to the throne.

The mourning period will continue for many months. King Bhumibols funeral pyre, devised as an ornate tower with the flourishes of a Thai temple, is still in the early stages of planning. It is to be completed in September, and a formal cremation will follow.
Russias ambassador to Turkey, Andrey G. Karlov, was killed by a gunman on Monday in Ankara, the capital.

Turkish officials said the killer had been a police officer who, after shooting, shouted: Dont forget Aleppo! Dont forget Syria! Russias Foreign Ministry called the assassination a terrorist attack.

Heres what we know about Mr. Karlov.

What was his background?

 Mr. Karlov had been Russias ambassador to Turkey since July 2013, according to a biography on the website of the Russian Embassy.

 Born in Moscow in 1954, he started his diplomatic career in his early 20s after graduating from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and the countrys diplomatic academy.
The Trump transition team did not respond to request for comment on the meeting.

The Freedom Party, founded in the 1950s by ex-Nazis, surged this year to nearly capture the largely ceremonial presidency of Austria in May, but was defeated in a final runoff on Dec. 4. Still, its ascendance, alongside the rise of rightist parties in many European countries and with Mr. Trumps victory, has raised new questions about political realignment across the continent.

Mr. Straches trips to New York and Moscow were clearly intended to convey the impression that the Freedom Party, which still leads all opinion polls ahead of the two mainstream parties that have governed Austria since World War II, has international standing and intends to continue vying for power.

A text of the cooperation agreement, published in Russian on the website of United Russia and in German on the website of an Austrian journalist, Claus Pandi, outlined plans for regular meetings and collaboration where suitable on economic, business and political projects. It said the accord was valid for five years, but was not legally binding.

It was signed for United Russia by Sergei Zheleznyak, a deputy to the partys general secretary who is among the Russian officials barred from the United States since March 2014 for supporting the Russian actions in Crimea.
Mr. Tonnesson said he doubted that the agreement would impair Norways reputation as an advocate for human rights, but he added that the timing  weeks after the election of Donald J. Trump as president of the United States  was significant.

The deal with Norway might be one pawn in a greater game to secure and renew trade policy with other countries in Europe and elsewhere traditionally close to the U.S., he said.

Mr. Liu, 60, was arrested in China in December 2008 and is serving an 11-year sentence for inciting subversion of state power by organizing a petition urging an end to one-party rule.

The decision by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which is composed of five members appointed by Parliament but is independent of the government, drew outrage from the government in Beijing. China had warned the secretary of the Nobel committee against giving Mr. Liu the prize, and after the decision, Beijing canceled meetings with Norwegian officials and it later halted the trade talks.

Even so, the overall impact on trade, even in the seafood sectors, was not very profound, and bilateral trade hit record levels in 2015, according to Marc Lanteigne, a senior research fellow at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs.

At the prize ceremony in December 2010, Mr. Liu was represented by an empty chair. It was the first time since 1935  when the laureate was Carl von Ossietzky, a German pacifist detained by the Nazis  that no relative or representative of the prizes recipient was present to accept the award or the $1.5 million check that came with it.

In 2013, after voters ousted Norways center-left government, the new conservative government vowed to improve relations with China. Symbolic steps were taken in that direction.
ISTANBUL  Russias ambassador to Turkey was assassinated at an Ankara art exhibit on Monday evening by a lone Turkish gunman shouting God is great! and dont forget Aleppo, dont forget Syria! in what the leaders of Turkey and Russia called a provocative terrorist attack.

The gunman, described by Turkish officials as a 22-year-old off-duty police officer, also wounded at least three others in the assault on the envoy, Andrey G. Karlov, which was captured on video. Turkish officials said the assailant was killed by other officers in a shootout.

The assassination, an embarrassing security failure in the Turkish capital, forced Turkey and Russia to confront a new crisis tied directly to the Syrian conflict, now in its sixth year.

The longer-term implications for the Russia-Turkey relationship, which had been warming recently after plunging a year ago, were not immediately clear. But some analysts played down the notion that the assassination would lead to a new rupture, saying it could conversely bring the countries closer together in a shared fight against terrorism.
MOSCOW  Dozens of people in the Siberian city of Irkutsk died after drinking cheap surrogate alcohol over the weekend, evoking memories of the poverty and social depression that came after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The tragedy was a reminder that while President Vladimir V. Putin may be taking a star turn on the world stage  dominating the war in Syria and alarming European and American leaders who fear the Kremlin is undermining democracy  Russia remains in many respects a struggling country. For all his bravado, Mr. Putin continues to wrestle with domestic economic woes, widening inequality and endemic corruption.

The economy, deeply dependent on oil revenues, was thrown into recession in 2015, after a collapse in oil prices, and is just now emerging tentatively into positive territory. The ensuing collapse of the ruble and Western economic sanctions over the Kremlins maneuvers in Crimea and Ukraine have hit living standards hard.

The number of victims in Irkutsk  49 dead, as of late Monday  evoked earlier periods in Russian history when alcohol was restricted and people turned to substitutes. Under Mikhail S. Gorbachev, who in the mid-1980s ordered shelves emptied of vodka and historic vineyards razed, many Russians drank after-shave, window cleaners and antifreeze.
LONDON  A gunman opened fire in a Muslim prayer center in Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland, late on Monday afternoon, wounding at least three people, according to the police.

Around 5:30 p.m., the gunman entered the prayer center, in a neighborhood known as Aussersihl, just south of the citys main train station. Several worshipers were praying. The assailant opened fire, injuring three men, ages 30, 35 and 56, before fleeing. The men were taken to a hospital. Two of the three were injured seriously, and one was lightly wounded, the police said.

The police said the gunman was about 30 years old and was wearing dark clothes, including a dark woolen cap.

Police officers from both the city and the canton of Zurich sealed off the area, a police spokeswoman, Judith Hodl, said in a statement. At the moment, no further information can be provided on the affected parties and on the crime, she said, adding an appeal for witnesses to come forward.
BEIRUT, Lebanon  With Russias backing, the United Nations Security Council voted on Monday to send United Nations observers to monitor evacuations from the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo and to report back regularly.

Russia had threatened to veto an earlier resolution proposed by France, which had sought to place the evacuations under United Nations supervision, but a compromise was reached on Sunday that would allow the monitors to observe after consultations with interested parties. The resolution passed unanimously.

That could, in principle, give any number of groups on the ground  including Syrian soldiers and the Shiite militias fighting alongside them  the ability to block access. Fighters from the array of rebel groups, including extremists, could also block access to areas they control. Three questions now loom: Will Russia lean on Syria to allow safe and unimpeded access, as the resolution demands? How long will it take for the monitors to start working? And would they be in place before the evacuations are complete?

Our objective is: immediately, Samantha Power, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, said when asked by reporters after the vote when the monitors would start. They need to get in there and be relevant on those green buses, the ones used to evacuate civilians and rebels.
Bana al-Abed, a 7-year-old Syrian girl who became the face of the civilian plight in eastern Aleppo through social media, has finally been evacuated. Bana and her mother, Fatemah, arrived in Al Rashideen, an opposition-held area in the countryside of western Aleppo Province, on Monday, along with thousands of others displaced from the city they called home.

On Twitter, Bana said simply, I escaped from East #Aleppo.

The bright-eyed girl with a toothy smile captured the worlds attention after her mother created a Twitter account in her name in September and began using it to share daily updates in English about Bana and her family. As the weeks went on, the posts changed from videos of Bana smiling and reading from books in broken English to desperate pleas for an end to the airstrikes raining down on her opposition-held neighborhood.

In one video, she said: Please save us. Thank you.

In late November, Fatemah posted that the familys home had been destroyed in an airstrike. As Syrian government forces retook Aleppo from rebel fighters last week, and Turkey, Russia and Iran brokered a deal for civilians to leave, it was clear that the Abeds would be among thousands displaced by the conflict.

Bana and Fatemah are seen in several videos published by journalists from Al Rashideen who documented the wave of civilians evacuated from the city. In the clips, the pair recounted their harrowing evacuation and the hours of uncertainty as it was stalled.
KARAK, Jordan  Gunmen involved in a rare terrorist attack in Jordan on Sunday had a large cache of weapons, explosives and suicide vests in the apartment where they had been living, the countrys interior minister said on Monday.

The discovery of the cache suggested that the men were preparing for multiple deadly attacks.

The gunmen killed 10 people and injured 34 more; seven of the dead were Jordanian security officers. The police said they had captured and killed four gunmen. It was not clear if that accounted for all of the attackers, or if more might have been involved.

The Jordanian security services were visible everywhere on Monday in and around Karak, the town where the attack took place, and at an ancient Crusader castle there where the gunmen tried to take refuge.

The violence began when a landlord in the southern town of Qatraneh heard an explosion coming from an apartment in his building. The landlord, who spoke on the condition that he not be named for safety reasons, said that when he knocked on the door, the tenants told him there had been a gas explosion.
Afghanistan may struggle to recruit enough soldiers for its armed forces, but its swimming in generals.

The country has close to 1,000 officers of general rank on its books  more than the United States, whose military is three times as large. And off the books? No one knows.

New names are added to the roster at a rate far out of proportion to battlefield realities, where the Afghan armed forces  the army, national police and intelligence forces, numbering 350,000 in all  have been steadily losing soldiers and territory to the Taliban. Meanwhile, retirements are rare.

The United States government, which picks up much of the tab for the Afghan military, cant pin down the number of generals. We still dont know how many police and how many soldiers were paying salaries for, said John F. Sopko, the United States special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction. We dont even know how many generals. It is pretty pathetic, and here we are, 15 years into this.
Of 306 electors pledged to vote for Donald J. Trump 304 voted for him 2 voted for someone else Of 232 electors pledged to vote for Hillary Clinton 227 voted for her 5 voted for someone else

Elector State Pledged to Voted for Hawaii Clinton Bernie Sanders Texas Trump Ron Paul Texas Trump John Kasich Bret Chiafalo Washington Clinton Colin L. Powell Washington Clinton Colin L. Powell Washington Clinton Colin L. Powell Washington Clinton Faith Spotted Eagle

In Washington, a state where Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont had strong support in the Democratic primary against Hillary Clinton, three of the states 12 electoral votes went to Colin L. Powell, the Republican former secretary of state. One more elector voted for Faith Spotted Eagle, a Native American leader. Another Democratic elector in Hawaii voted for Mr. Sanders.

Two Texas electors voted for different Republican politicians: Gov. John Kasich of Ohio and former Texas congressman Ron Paul.

In addition, three Democratic electors, in Colorado, Maine and Minnesota, initially declined to vote for Mrs. Clinton. Two were replaced by an alternate, and one ended up changing his vote.

Protest Votes in the Electoral College

Electors are not required by the Constitution to vote for a particular candidate. Some states and parties require their electors to pledge to vote for a candidate and may fine or replace electors who break their pledge.

It is rare for more than one elector to vote against the partys pledged candidate, but it has happened on a few occasions.

In 1808, six New York electors from the Democratic-Republican Party refused to vote for James Madison and instead voted for the partys vice-presidential candidate, George Clinton.
On a hot, late August afternoon in 2016, an expedition of scientists carefully turned onto a narrow, one-lane, dirt road that ran parallel to the railroad tracks. Their trucks precariously balanced canoes and kayaks as they weaved a short distance marked by deep potholes. In single file, they arrived at the back entrance to the property, property owned by a family from scientist Jeff Garners childhood.

The gates locked, shouted Garner to the team. I know another way in!

Garner grew up in Lauderdale County. A biologist with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Garners local connections were the teams key to accessing the more remote portions of Butler Creek, portions that run through private property.

The group, led by James Godwin, an aquatic zoologist with the Auburn University Museum of Natural Historys Alabama Natural Heritage Program, was searching for the Eastern Hellbender, the largest salamander in North America. A Hellbender can reach more than 2 feet long and can live for decades. Once found abundantly throughout its native range, which extends from northern Alabama and Georgia to New York, Eastern Hellbender populations are experiencing steep declines. In fact, the species was thought to be completely eliminated from the state of Alabama, but unconfirmed sightings in recent years have given scientists new hope that the species still exists in the state.

Hellbender expeditions

In 2015, another team of scientists working under Godwins direction found an Eastern Hellbender in Alabama in the Flint River, not far from the Tennessee border.

Over the course of the next year, Godwin continued to organize Hellbender expeditions but was unsuccessful in locating the creature a second time, despite the animals preference for a very specific habitat  swift-moving, clear-water streams or rivers with rocky bottoms in the northern Alabama, Tennessee River drainage basin.

On that summer afternoon in August, Godwins latest team had already explored another section of Butler Creek. The only animals they caught were a couple of turtles and a Midland Water Snake. No sign of the Eastern Hellbender.

Facing a locked gate, the caravan drove back down the dirt road and continued several miles, circling the edge of the property before ultimately arriving at a private residence.

Garner led the team down a long driveway, past a family home, and onto a barely visible trail, marked only by tire-flattened grass. At the end of the trail stood a rusting metal carport that shielded a couple of free-roaming house cats and an old sofa, and beyond that was Butler Creek.

After gathering their field tools, including snorkels and masks, underwater flashlights, nets, and a malleable clasp cant hook, the scientists stepped into the water to continue their search for the elusive Eastern Hellbender.

Butler Creek presents an ideal Hellbender habitat, and undaunted by more than a years worth of searching with no results, Godwin and his team of scientists waded confidently into the waist-deep waters of the creek. So accustomed were they to the work at hand, they hardly noticed the rocks in their shoes, the occasional leech on their skin, or the stray dog that swam up to investigate the activity as they dived into the water over and over again, blindly running their hands beneath rocks, hoping to feel the large flat body and lose folds of skin indicative of a Hellbender.

The flat body shape of a Hellbender allows it to create chambers beneath large flat rocks in streams where they dwell during the day. At night, they come out and forage in the streams.

Scientists at work

Hey Jim, someones coming, said Eric Soehren, a biologist with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Lands Division.

The good news is, he doesnt have a gun, said Godwin, as he turned to acknowledge an elderly man and a child walking along a limestone outcrop along the edge of the creek, making their way toward the group of scientists in the water.

Garner recognized the man as the property owner, Ulva Rhodes, whom everyone calls Uvie, and his grandson, Dalton.

Its just me! called Garner.

A wave of recognition passed over Uvie, and the men settled into a long conversation about family, fishing, and the work the scientists were conducting in Butler Creek.

Oh, yeah, said Uvie, Ive seen them. What did you say they are called?

Among locals, Hellbender is one of the least common names used for the massive salamander, preferring instead monikers like Snot Otter, Devil Dog, Lasagna Lizard, Grampus, or Mud Cat, among others.

Encouraged by the news that Hellbenders had been seen in the creek, the scientists continued their search, focusing their efforts on one area that appeared promising due to several large underwater rocks, prime habitat for the Hellbender.

Ive got one! shouted Soehren.

The group moved cautiously toward Soehren. Then, one by one, the scientists took turns diving under water, flashlights in hand, to capture a glimpse of the Hellbender hiding in the back corner of a rock cavity.

They are here! said Godwin, giving everyone a thumbs up as he emerged from inspecting the Hellbender under water. We havent lost them all!

The Hellbender was just out of arms reach, so the team explored other options for extracting the animal from its hiding place. The rock was large and heavy, and they feared if they lifted it using the malleable clasp cant hook, they might accidently drop the rock on top of the Hellbender and kill it.

Clean water required

In addition, moving a rock that large would stir up a lot of silt, and Hellbenders depend on clean, clear water because they absorb oxygen in the water through their wrinkled, baggy skin.

Soehren and Godwin both tried to coax the Hellbender out of hiding using a long thin stick, but to no avail.

Knowing Hellbenders are most active at night when they are hunting for food, the scientists asked Uvie if they could return in early evening and try again.

Sure, said Uvie. As long as you arent drinking or drugging, you are welcome to come back and work as long as you want.

Godwins team was unable to find the Hellbender when they returned that evening.

The scientists spent a week exploring other locations in the area. They canoed more than 8 miles down Sugar Creek and identified Wood Ducks and Great Blue Herons, River Cooters and hummingbirds. The team saw all manner of spiders and fishes, and countless wildflowers in bloom, but no Hellbenders.

Based on scientific records, populations of Hellbenders in Alabama have been in decline since the 1960s and 70s. Declines of other aquatic species, such as freshwater muscles, have also been reported during the same time period.

As scientists, we ask why, said Godwin. What has brought about this decline?

Based on observations, Godwin believes the disappearance of Hellbenders, as well as other freshwater species, may be directly related to a decline in water quality.

We know that we used to have a nice intact forest with good leaf litter on the forest floor that would capture rain water and serve as a water filter, cleaning out debris like sand, silt, clay and other materials before slowly releasing the water into the streams, said Godwin. Hellbenders thrive in clean, cool streams, and a natural forest would both clean the water and keep the water cool by providing shade. As the forests are being cut, as the landscapes are changing, as there are more impacts upon the natural areas surrounding the creeks, more soil is being freed up and washed into the creeks with each rain event. The adults cannot survive if there is too much soil, sediment and silt coming into the stream system.

More dams have impact

Godwin said another cause of the Hellbenders decline in Alabama is the construction of dams in the Tennessee River, which have changed water flow characteristics, including the creation of lakes where there were once small streams. Chemicals related to agriculture could also result in detrimental physiological effects on Hellbenders.

All these things begin to add up, and we begin to have extirpations and fragmentations of local Hellbender populations, said Godwin. We also see reduced numbers of Hellbender food sources, like crayfish and fish, so it becomes a loss-of-species snowball effect.

Out of approximately 836 total aquatic species in the state of Alabama, 246 are imperiled. The outlook for the southeastern U.S., an international hotbed of aquatic diversity, is just as dim, with approximately 763 imperiled aquatic species in the region. It is the threat of losing more biodiversity that pushes Godwin to continue.

The Hellbender is important because it is an indicator of water quality, said Godwin. Where we find the Hellbender we find a stream of good water quality. If we could find ways to bring about improvements in our streams so that we have the natural ecological filtering systems back in place, it would improve water quality for the Hellbender, it would improve water quality for the mussels, the fish, the insects, the crayfish, and it would improve water quality for us. The need for good water quality links us all together. So, for our own good, we need to think about why we are losing Hellbenders, look for solutions and implement those solutions.

Godwin has worked with the Alabama Natural Heritage Program for 24 years, and during that span, he has conducted research on a number of declining species in the state, including Eastern Indigo Snakes, Alabama Red-bellied Turtles, Alligator Snapping Turtles, Northern Map Turtles, Red Hills Salamanders, and more.

His current work with Eastern Hellbenders is supported in part by funding from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and a multi-state grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

For more information on the Auburn University Museum of Natural History Alabama Natural Heritage Program, visit the website at www.alnhp.org.

Candis Birchfield works at Auburn University's College of Sciences and Mathematics.
SANTA ANA  An Anaheim tagging crew member was found guilty of second-degree murder Monday for stabbing a 12-year-old rival tagger to death in 2011.

Jurors deliberated for about four days before rejecting a first-degree murder charge, which the prosecutor had sought, in favor of second-degree murder for 23-year-old Bryan Ocampo.

He faces 16 years to life in prison when he returns to court for sentencing March 10.

In a case that shocked the community, Ocampo, then 18, has said he acted in self-defense when he pulled out a knife during a fistfight with Juan Martinez, who was in a rival tagging crew, near Sycamore Junior High School in Anaheim. Ocampo said he was walking with two girls near the campus on the last day of school when he saw the boy and that the boy threw the first punches.

But during the trial, Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Herrera told jurors that the seventh-grader had been walking with friends when confronted by Ocampo, who had a 10-inch knife.

She noted that several witnesses said the defendant challenged Martinez and that Ocampo yelled Die! Die! Die! while stabbing him.

Testifying in the trial, Ocampo said he only meant to scare off Martinez and prevent others from entering the fight. He said he did not say Die! Die! Die!

As the verdict was read, Martinezs family members softly cried.

Hes only 23 now. How old will he be when he gets out? said Martinezs sister, Jackie Martinez, 35. He still gets to see his family. Ill never see my brother again. He deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison for what he did.

The fatal confrontation, which took place minutes after the last day of the school year at Sycamore, stunned parents and led police to warn residents about the dangers of tagging crews, which can be a steppingstone to gangs.

Staff writer Alma Fausto contributed to this report

Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com
ALEPPO, Syria  The removal of residents from besieged communities in Syria bogged down again on Sunday after rebels opposed to the agreement set fire to buses that were supposed to carry evacuees, while Security Council diplomats signaled that they had reached a compromise deal to send U.N. monitors to oversee the evacuations.

Turkey and Russia brokered the initial agreement to remove civilians and fighters from the last rebel-held districts of eastern Aleppo, but its implementation has been hampered by parties who opposed the deal and wanted to have residents of other besieged communities evacuated as well.

At the United Nations, Russia had threatened to block a Security Council resolution, drafted by France, that called for sending international observers to Aleppo. But after more than three hours of closed-door negotiations on Sunday, diplomats emerged from the Council chambers saying that they had reached a compromise and that they would vote on it Monday morning.

The deal would send U.N. monitors to observe the evacuation process after consultations with interested parties, which means that observers could be turned down by soldiers and militias on the ground.

This would give us collectively the tools to avoid another Srebrenica, said Francois Delattre, the French ambassador, referring to the massacre of civilians in that besieged city in Bosnia in the Balkans war more than 20 years ago.

The evacuation of eastern Aleppo was to begin on Wednesday, but it was aborted after gunfire on the route. Convoys of ambulances and buses began on Thursday to bring about 3,000 civilians and fighters out of eastern Aleppo.

At the same time, another convoy headed for two Shiite villages in Idlib province, Fua and Kfraya, that are surrounded by Sunni rebels, but their way was blocked. By Friday morning, the evacuations had stopped.

They resumed on Sunday. Syrian state television reported that one convoy had reached eastern Aleppo, where thousands of people are waiting to be evacuated. But rebel gunmen attacked the convoy heading to the Shiite villages, setting a number of the buses on fire.

After the buses heading to the Shiite villages were burned, and a driver killed, according to Jan Egeland, the U.N. humanitarian adviser for Syria, pro-government forces prevented buses from leaving eastern Aleppo, according to residents.
Pressure mounted Sunday for a broader congressional investigation of Russian cyberattacks aimed at influencing the U.S. election, even as a top aide to President-elect Donald Trump said there was no conclusive evidence of foreign interference.

The effort was being led by a bipartisan group of senators, including John McCain, R-Ariz., and Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate Democratic leader, who called on Sunday for the creation of a Senate select committee on cyberactivity to take the investigative lead on Capitol Hill.

Recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American, the senators wrote on Sunday in a letter to Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. the majority leader, who has said a select committee is not necessary. Cybersecurity is the ultimate cross-jurisdictional challenge, and we must take a comprehensive approach to meet this challenge effectively.

The developments put new strain on McConnell. He now faces calls from McCain and Lindsey Graham, two Senate Republicans considered well versed on national security issues, to form a select committee. If he were to reject that appeal, he would be subject to criticism that he was trying to avoid a spotlight on an issue that senators in both parties believe is worthy of more focused scrutiny.

McConnell said last week that while he respects the intelligence agencies conclusions, the Senate Intelligence Committee is more than capable of conducting a complete review itself. He also acknowledged that McCain could conduct an investigation on the Armed Services Committee, an option that remains open should McConnell decide against a select committee.

We share your respect for, and deference to, the regular order of the Senate, and we recognize that this is an extraordinary request, the senators wrote to McConnell. However, we believe it is justified by the extraordinary scope and scale of the cyber problem.

Speaker Paul D. Ryan said last week that the House Intelligence Committee would continue its own examination of Russian hacking.
Age: 83

Role: Former president of Los Amigos

Bio: Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, David co-founded and served as president of Los Amigos, a community group established in 1978 that discusses issues affecting the Latino and immigrant communities in Orange County. He was the first chairman of the Orange County Human Relations Commission and the first Latino appointed to the Anaheim Planning Commission. He ran a plumbing company and lived in Anaheim. He died in May.

Why he is an influencer: For more than four decades, David was the voice for Latino and immigrants rights in Orange County. He was a common sight at street protests, peaceful demonstrations and Anaheim City Council meetings. Los Amigos held weekly meetings that welcomed everyone.

Lisa David, Amins oldest child, provided her fathers thoughts:

Biggest challenge: Balancing family with his activism. My dad was so involved in his work that my mom mostly raised us. He (had) regrets but did the best he could. Dad taught us family extends beyond our home.

On immigration: Immigrants made for a richer community and contributed to our economy. I remember growing up we were not allowed to eat non-union grapes, because he believed in Cesar Chavezs union movement. When wed watch a movie, he would wait until the end credits and look at the surnames of the people involved. Hed say, Look, there are no Latinos. He wanted Latinos to be part of everything.

Inspiration: Jesus. My dad was a very spiritual person.  He was always humble and did his best to help others.

Cant live without: Family. Even with all of his work, he was always there for us.

Whats next: Each of us have a spark of our dad. Im an environmental educator and activist. I think we each find our passion and spark (from) our dad and carry that through.

 Joseph Pimentel

Contact the writer: jpimentel@scng.com
Chapman Universitys nationally recognized Holocaust Education program and its Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Memorial Library  part of the Universitys Leatherby Libraries  have received a major gift that will further distinguish its reputation: the most complete collection in the world of primary and secondary source material on the life and times of famed Holocaust rescuer Oskar Schindler.

The collection  to be known as the Oskar Schindler Ar-chive, donated by historian David M. Crowe, Ph.D.  includes interview transcripts, photographs, films, the authors extensive notes, and copies of archival documents gathered during Crowes many years of research on the lives of Schindler, his wife Emilie, and those they rescued.

The Archive also includes materials that were given to Dr. Crowe since the publication in 2004 of his definitive biography of Schindler: Oskar Schindler: The Untold Account of His Life, Wartime Activities, and the True Story Behind The List.

The Oskar Schindler Archive adds an extraordinary resource to the Samueli Holocaust Memorial Library, said Marilyn Harran, Ph.D., director of Chapmans Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education and Stern Chair in Holocaust History. Dr. Crowes collection is rich in materials that will interest scholars researching the Holocaust and World War II, and also those more generally interested in the topic of rescue.

Harran noted that the Archive contains, in one place, copies of documents from research sites around the world, which makes it truly remarkable, a transformative gift for our pro-gram. We are proud that the acquisition of this Archive builds upon the longstanding, close relationship we have had with several Schindlers List survivors whose names and legacies this collection will honor.

The survivors  known to historians and their fellow survivors as Schindlerjuden or Schindler Jews  who were close to Chapman included Leopold Page, who, with his wife Ludmila, played a key role in convincing author Thomas Keneally to write the book Schindlers List and director Steven Spielberg to create the Oscar-winning movie based on the book.

Another Schindler Jew who became very close to Chapmans Holocaust education program was Leon Leyson, one of the youngest survivors on Schindlers list, portrayed in the movie as the young boy who was so short he needed to stand on a box to work in Schindlers fac-tory. Page and Leyson visited and spoke at Chapman many times and delighted in meeting and talking to students.

Page passed away in 2001 at age 87, and Leon Leyson died in 2013 at age 83. Pages widow, Ludmila  known as Mila  continues to reside in Los Angeles. At age 96, now one of the oldest survivors rescued by Schindler, she attended the dedication and dinner celebrating Chap-mans Schindler Archive on November 10. He saved our lives, she said softly, as she looked at a photograph of Schindler and waited for the dedication to begin.

Over the years I have had the privilege of lecturing and teaching at Chapman University, said Dr. Crowe, an emeritus professor of history at Elon University. After each visit, I have come away deeply impressed with the leadership and commitment of the Rodgers Center and of the University to Holocaust education and research. This, coupled with the close ties of the Center to three

Schindler Jews  Leopold and Ludmilla Page and Leon Leyson  convinced me that Chapman was the perfect home for the Oskar Schindler Archive.

We are tremendously grateful to David Crowe

for entrusting the research materials he amassed over so many years to Chapman University, said Daniele Struppa, Ph.D., president of Chapman University. We expect the Oskar Schindler Archive will not only draw our own faculty and students, but also will draw interest from scholars far beyond California.

The Archive will be housed in the Brandman Survivors Room, part of the Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Memorial Library on the fourth floor of Chapmans Leatherby Libraries. The room and Archive will be open by appointment to Chapman students, faculty and visiting researchers.
After all the allegations of rampant voter fraud and claims that millions had voted illegally, the people who supervised the general election last month in states around the nation have been adding up how many credible reports of fraud they actually received. The overwhelming consensus: next to none.

In an election in which more than 137.7 million Americans cast ballots, election and law enforcement officials in 26 states and the District of Columbia  Democratic-leaning, Republican-leaning and in-between  said that they knew of no credible allegations of fraudulent voting. Officials in another eight states said they knew of only one allegation.

A few states reported somewhat larger numbers of fraud claims that were under review. Tennessee counted 40 credible allegations out of some 4.3 million primary and general election votes. In Georgia, where more than 4.1 million ballots were cast, officials said they had opened 25 inquiries into suspicious voting or election-related activity.

But inquiries to all 50 states (every one but Kansas responded), found no states that reported indications of widespread fraud. And while additional allegations could surface as states wind up postelection reviews, their conclusions are unlikely to change significantly.

The findings unambiguously debunk repeated statements by President-elect Donald Trump that millions of illegal voters backed his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. They also refute warnings by Republican governors in Maine and North Carolina that election results could not be trusted.

And they underscore what researchers and scholars have said for years: Fraud by voters casting ballots illegally is a minuscule problem, but a potent political weapon.

The old notion that somehow there are all these impostors out there, people not eligible to vote that are voting  its a lie, said Thomas E. Mann, a resident scholar at the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. But its whats being used in the states now to impose increased qualifications and restrictions on voting.

In a year that unfolded amid wild fraud claims, the reports from election officials were strikingly humdrum.

Nothing at all, really, said Jim Tenuto, assistant executive director of the Illinois Board of Elections.

We only had one, said Laura Strimple, Nebraskas assistant secretary of state. It hasnt been confirmed.

We havent received any complaints to our office or any word of suspicious activity, and we would definitely hear it, said Matt Roberts, spokesman for Arizonas secretary of state.

Some state officials qualified their estimates, saying they had not yet reviewed all questionable ballots, or that voter fraud was a local matter that was usually  but not always  reported to them. Ohio officials declined to offer totals, saying they were still assessing complaints; Pennsylvania and Mississippi officials said they did not track fraud cases.

Many Republicans insist significant problems persist, and that much fraud goes undetected. The conservative Heritage Foundation has published online what it calls an incomplete list of voter fraud and other election-law violations dating to 1982, roughly 450 cases involving voters and public officials. Properly written, laws requiring voters to display IDs could increase the fairness of the election process for everyone, regardless of party, said Hans von Spakovsky, manager of the foundations Election Law Reform Initiative.

Voting-rights advocates note that the current system caught those violations  and that the numbers, less than one per state per year  constitute a tiny sliver of the millions of votes cast in any election cycle.

No one doubts that election fraud has occurred and needs to be monitored. Election outcomes have been changed by officials who altered vote tallies, and in theory hackers could pick winners by playing havoc with voter rolls, voting machines or electronic reporting networks. But voter fraud, in which someone deliberately casts an invalid ballot or a ballot under someone elses name, is exceedingly rare.

Its prevalence is at the heart of the debate on restrictions like voter ID. Critics say that cracking down on abuses that barely exist can cost hundreds of thousands of people or more  often the poor and minorities  their ability to vote.

For example, a federal court in 2014 found that in Wisconsin an estimated 300,000 voters who had registered did not have any of the required IDs.

Federal courts have altered or nullified the strictest voter-ID laws, saying they suppress turnout among minorities, who are most likely to lack a required ID.

This year has set new benchmarks for accusations about tainted elections.

In Maine, Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican, this month certified state elections, in which Clinton won, but refused to call the vote count accurate. (Maines secretary of state says no voter fraud was detected.)

In North Carolina, Gov. Pat McCrory, also a Republican, charged that Democratic-driven fraud in more than half the states 100 counties contributed to his re-election defeat by the state attorney general, Roy Cooper.

McCrory conceded Dec. 6. But for three weeks before that, he and others repeatedly accused Democrats of concocting illegal absentee ballots and relying on votes by criminals, the dead and two-time voters.

The accusations proved largely spurious. Of more than 4.7 million ballots cast, election officials uncovered 25 apparently invalid votes by felons; whether they knew they were ineligible to vote is unclear. State and county election boards, all led by Republican majorities, threw out most of the remaining challenges. So-called dead voters actually had died after casting early votes; two-time voters turned out to be people with similar or identical names.

Trump falsely asserted on Twitter that he would have won the popular vote  Clinton received some 2.8 million more votes  if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.

But even Republican leaders who once disavowed Trumps fraud remarks have fallen silent. In October, House Speaker Paul Ryan countered Trumps rigged-election claims by noting through a spokeswoman that he was fully confident of an honest vote.

Asked this month about Trumps claim that Clinton won the popular vote with illegal ballots, Ryan demurred. I dont know. Im not really focused on these things, he told CBS News 60 Minutes.

In New Hampshire, said Brian W. Buonamano, an assistant attorney general, officials are examining four to six unconfirmed As for noncitizens casting invalid ballots, Trump was right: It did happen. Not millions of times, but at least once. Tennessee is still investigating one allegation of noncitizen voting. And in Oregon, a U.S. citizen registered her noncitizen husband to vote, which he did  until he discovered it was illegal. The man reported his mistake to county election officials, the secretary of states office said.

He asked that his ballot not be counted.
A week after a contentious election season ended, the Rev. Chineta Goodjoin led a prayer and dialog meeting in the sanctuary of New Hope Presbyterian Church in Orange.

She and her congregants invited all members of the community to this meeting. Christians, Buddhists, Jews and Muslims came.

The question on everyones mind that day: How do we heal as a country?

It became a safe place where all of us could express our feelings during a difficult time, Goodjoin said. Not everyone agreed. People understood, however, that reconciling is not surrendering, but hearing each others pain and finding a way to move forward  together.

This is the kind of year it has been for Goodjoin and her congregation. Healing, reconciliation and the fight for social justice propel them as a ministry, she says.

In 2007, Goodjoin was called by the Los Ranchos Presbytery to start an African American congregation in Orange. Today, the 125-strong church is about 40 percent African American.

This is a church with a social justice committee, which  under Goodjoins leadership  steers the congregation toward the causes that most affect the community.

In 2016, the church took a deep dive into several issues, most notably gun violence. It started with Lent, when New Hope members attended Ash Wednesday service at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, which is predominantly white.

Instead of ashes, congregants from both churches smeared gun powder on their foreheads during the service to remind themselves of those who have died in acts of violence and to move toward peace. Members of the two congregations also engaged in weekly conversations about gun violence and race relations.

For Goodjoin, the issue of gun violence was personal. Her best friend, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, was one of nine people shot and killed by Dylann Roof in June 2015 as they sat in prayer at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, S.C., where she was a minister.

Goodjoin inspires because she has taken a personal tragedy and used it as a motivation to do something meaningful and positive for the community, said the Rev. Mark Davis, pastor of St. Mark Presbyterian.

Chineta is looking at the root of gun violence, he said. Why are we so addicted to guns? Why are we determined to use them? She has consistently asked the questions and by doing so, she is raising the consciousness of everyone.

Community partnerships and conversations are crucial if individuals and communities are to heal and find solutions together, Goodjoin says.

But, she adds, it does come with challenges.

Theres always the challenge of hearing each others brokenness, she said. But thats necessary if we are to have critical conversations. We all have a story to tell and we need to hear each others stories. We dont have to agree. The challenge is to hear without feeling like we have to fix it all.

Goodjoin says liberals and conservatives go to New Hope. It allows for lively conversations, she said with a laugh.

We agree to disagree, she said. But we are united in faith. And we are united in the belief that we will work for a better society.

Goodjoin and her congregation have had a busy 2016 in the arena of social justice, advocacy and peace-building.

In April, the church held a forum on gun violence where speakers and other participants discussed gun regulation, the connection between race and gun violence and other facets of the issue. In August, the church held another town hall, this one with experts on human trafficking.

In June, she was one of 12 pastors from around the world to receive an invitation to attend the World Communion of Reformed Churches Summit on Peace in Leipzig, Germany.

New Hope also has been in partnership with U.S. Bank to help community members with financial literacy, holding classes to teach participants about personal finance  from getting loans to managing credit  Goodjoin says. When the program concluded this month, each of the class 12 graduates was assigned a financial analyst to help them implement what they learned from the class into their lives.

Music is also a big part of New Hopes ministry. Goodjoins husband, Reggie Goodjoin, leads the band and choir during the churchs Saturday evening services, bringing in guest musicians to perform. In November, New Hope partnered with The Arts and Learning Conservatory in Santa Ana to stage a production of The Wizard of Oz. Auditions were open to all children in the community, Goodjoin says.

The children who participated represented the diverse cultures in Orange County, she said.

In addition to theater, the church has a violin studio where children, and by popular demand, adults, receive violin instruction.

All these initiatives  be they related to social justice, economic stewardship or music  have to do with the idea of justice, Goodjoin said.

The big personal highlight for me in all of this is tapping into the community, touching peoples lives and building a bridge in the community for people who would otherwise be ignored, she said.

What does 2017 hold for Goodjoin and her ministry?

We will continue to advocate for those who are marginalized, she said. That will always be part of our DNA. As a woman who is also black, how could I not?

New Hope is working on partnering one more time with St. Mark Presbyterian to help the countys homeless population, Goodjoin said.

We plan to continue with phone calls to legislators and letter-writing campaigns and going to city hall meetings to make our voices heard, she said.

Her biggest inspiration and motivation is Jesus Christ, Goodjoin says.

He was a freedom fighter, she said. His love included all people, particularly the marginalized. If we look at scripture, how can we ignore our brothers and sisters who are in the fight of their lives?

Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@scng.com
AMMAN, Jordan  Seven Jordanian security officers, a Canadian tourist and two Jordanian civilians were killed by gunmen in the southern city of Karak on Sunday, according to a joint statement from the Public Security Department and the Jordanian armed forces.

The security forces later captured and killed four of the gunmen, the statement said. It did not specify the total number of what security officials called terrorist outlaws involved in the attacks, or suggest a motive. Officials were also investigating whether the gunmen had ties to any terrorist organization.

The violence began when a patrol was sent to check on reports of a house on fire. When security officers arrived on the scene, they were met with a barrage of gunfire from inside the home, injuring two officers. The gunmen fled, according to the statement.

Gunmen then attacked a police station in the city.

Later in the day, police were informed that gunmen were hiding inside the Karak Crusader castle, a tourist attraction on a hilltop. The gunmen fired at several police officers from the castle, security officials said.

A cache of weapons was seized from the castle, as well as explosives, suicide vests and more weapons from the home where the men first encountered the officers, said Amer Saratwi, a spokesman for the Public Security Department.

The statement confirmed the death of four police officers, three gendarmes, two civilians and a Canadian tourist, without specifying where the deaths had occurred. Twenty-seven people were injured, the statement said.

Several Canadian news outlets identified the tourist as Linda Vatcher, a retired teacher from Newfoundland. At the time of the attack, she was visiting her son David, who works in the region. He is among the injured, news reports said.

Prime Minister Hani Mulki said several people had been killed and Jordans special forces had surrounded an area in the city where five or six of the attackers were holed up.

Videos released by Karak residents showed tribal leaders and young local residents holding rifles and aiding officers in the hunt for the gunmen near the castle.
For six years, Douglas Finch hosted a Friday afternoon talk radio show in Las Vegas.

He took call-in questions from listeners seeking advice about anything to do with home improvement projects.

Finch, has 44 years of experience as a contractor. He now is General Manager of Energy Specialist Contracting, a whole-house contractor that provides homeowners numerous ways to save water, gas and electricity. For the past three years, Energy Specialist Contracting has been part of a network of home improvement contractors that can offer HERO Program financing to customers. To do so, they have registered with Renovate America, the parent company of HERO, and agreed to meet consumer safeguards.

So Finch, whose company has been in business for 34 years and now services Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Kern Counties, was the ideal expert to ask about best practices in his field, and what homeowners should consider before hiring a contractor for a home improvement project. Finch is a big fan of HERO, the nations leading provider of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. HERO allows homeowners to make energy- and water-saving improvements to their homes with no money upfront and to pay for them over time through voluntary assessments to their property tax bill.

HERO financing payments may have tax benefits, and many homeowners see immediate savings on utility bills. And because the assessment is attached to the property, if the homeowners move, they may be able to transfer responsibility for the remaining balance to the homeowners now enjoying the improvements.

Another benefit, says Finch, is the extra protection consumers get when they choose HERO Program financing, rather than paying in cash or using a credit card. Renovate America offers industry-leading consumer safeguards, such as payment to the contractor upon satisfied project completion, verification that installed products meet local, state or federal efficiency standards, and clear disclosures modeled after the Know Before You Owe form homebuyers now see when they purchase a house. This, according to Finch, gives homeowners an additional set of checks and balances.

Here are some tips Finch came up with for homeowners preparing for a home improvement project:

LICENSING & INSURANCE

Make sure your contractor is licensed in the scope of work they specialize in  and he or she must have a state license if the project is valued at $500 or more (check cslb.ca.gov for licensing status). If a contractor, say, has an air conditioning contractor license and no other license, they only can work on your air conditioner. If a job requires more than two types of work  say, plumbing and electrical  a licensed general contractor can be hired to oversee the entire project by subcontracting to contractors with licenses in those specialties. HERO checks the CSLB status of contractors every 24 hours. Finch recommends contractors carry a minimum of $1 million in both liability and workers compensation insurance.

BIDS

If you feel comfortable with one bid, and everything checks out with the contractor, then hire them, Finch says. But if for any reason you dont feel comfortable, its always a good idea to shop around for two or three bids before deciding who to hire. You may not hire on price alone, but its a best practice to check.

REFERRALS

Be sure to ask for them. Dont trust advertisements. Since word-of-mouth referrals are the best form of advertising, talk to homeowners who have used the contractor before. Finch says good contractors always show up clean and wearing neat clothes and on time  and if they are running late, they should call you.

PAYMENT

With HERO, the contractor doesnt get paid until the job is done to the homeowners satisfaction. Check to see if thats possible for your project.

ANY COMPLAINTS?

If youre paying cash or using credit cards or other financing, first ask your contractor to resolve any complaints. If that doesnt work, the Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board (cslb.ca.gov) tracks complaints. If you use HERO financing, and your contractor doesnt resolve the complaint at first, HERO may be able to help (855-411-HERO). Finch says that Energy Specialist Contracting has never had a complaint filed with the CSLB. Were not perfect  no contractor is, Finch says. But if a problem surfaces, we immediately go out and take care of it. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the customer is right.
Periodically and unpredictably, mysterious chemical-like fumes drift into Rhonda Wainwrights home not far from Huntington Beach Central Park.

The noxious odors have induced headaches, burning of the eyes and throat, nosebleeds and vomiting, she says. Even her dog and two cats have retched during the malodorous episodes that about knocks you on your knees, Wainwright said.

Roughly 10 miles away in coastal Seal Beach, resident Susan Perrell reports suffering similar foul odors. Perrell, an environmental adviser to an oil and gas company, also describes a petroleum-like stench that can be intense enough to knock you over.

Their experiences are far from isolated.

Last month, air-quality regulators saw a spike in such complaints in the Huntington Beach and Seal Beach area. Over several consecutive days, the South Coast Air Quality Management District fielded dozens of calls involving a nasty egg odor (or a) petroleum odor, said agency spokesman Sam Atwood.

Residents also have lodged complaints with fire officials, the gas company and others, seeking help in pinpointing the source of the smells, which many say have increased in frequency and intensity over the past two years.

But no one has identified a definitive cause or culprit.

The situation has been frustrating for residents and difficult for us, Atwood said.

In response to complaints, the air-quality agency has repeatedly dispatched investigators to the coastal cities from its Diamond Bar headquarters and Corona, according to residents. But by the time they arrive, the odor usually has dissipated. Its unclear whether the agency has collected any air samples from those calls.

Over the years, authorities have offered a variety of unsubstantiated theories to explain the odors, including offshore oil wells, smaller refineries, tanker ships along the coast and naturally occurring methane burps from the ocean floor, residents say. The head of a state oil and gas trade group suggests the cause of the recent odors are natural.

Typically, residents have been assured by officials that the odors are innocuous.

I was told the same old story: It is an offshore release; it wont harm you; there is nothing we can do about it anyway, said Wainwright, referring to responses from the Fire Department.

But several converging factors have heightened neighborhood anxiety in recent weeks and months.

Some people are reporting theyve become ill from the odors. And recent high-profile cases of toxic odors in other Southern California communities  and complaints of sluggish government response  have increased uneasiness about officials assurances that the odors dont appear to be a health concern.

Huntington Beach resident Adam Plesniak, who says the odors have caused him headaches, cited the continuing controversy in Los Angeles Porter Ranch neighborhood, where residents became sickened by contaminants from a massive natural-gas leak. Complaints of headaches and nausea were initially downplayed by authorities, but later prompted evacuations and cleanup of thousands of homes.

These issues are not remedied without significant community pushback, said Plesniak, who is leading an online petition to draw attention to the local odor issue.

In addition to residents, Kelly OReilly, an environmental scientist based in the Bolsa Chica wetlands, reported a particularly intense petroleum odor at her office on Nov. 15.

It was so pungent she immediately alerted a nearby oil operation, which assured her it wasnt the cause and seemed puzzled about the origin.

It was not an organic smell, said OReilly, who has worked at the wetlands for about a decade. She suspects the Nov. 15 odor came from the oil-and-gas industry and was chemical, she said.

Huntington Beach Fire Marshal and Division Chief Bill Reardon, a 20-year Fire Department veteran, said such odor complaints tend to be cyclic and that the odors are more of a nuisance and irritant than a serious health concern. Reardon said crews that have responded to such calls havent seen the need to evacuate homes or call in hazmat teams.

He does not know the cause of the odors but said the department will continue to respond to complaints. Reardon also said residents should file complaints with the air-quality management agency, which has jurisdiction over such issues.

Investigators there have pursued one potential explanation, Atwood said.

Last month, the agency received a call from an offshore shipping company indicating it was about to depressurize its vessel, which would mean a release of emissions, Atwood said. Thus far, investigators have been unable to reach the shipping company to further investigate, he added.

If the source turns out to be offshore, the regional air-quality agency would not be responsible for enforcement, Atwood said. Southern California air-quality officials plan to work with the federal Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Coast Guard to effectively track down potential sources offshore, he said.

Several state and federal agencies contacted by the Register over the past two weeks, including the EPA, Coast Guard, state Air Resources Board and State Lands Commission, said they werent aware of the surge of local odor complaints.

If the source of the odor is within 3 miles of shore, then the Lands Commission, which handles oil and gas leases, and Coast Guard would handle the complaint, said Don Drysdale, a spokesman for the California Department of Conservation.

Its Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources would also be involved if a regulated facility is the confirmed source, Drysdale added. The division permits and inspects offshore and onshore oil wells.

Records of past inspections and any violation notices involving oil and gas facilities in the area were not immediately available from the state regulatory agency.

Rock Zierman, CEO of the trade group California Independent Petroleum Association, said oil and gas operators must comply with more than two dozen air-quality regulations in Southern California.

These safeguards are in place so that regulators and operators can pinpoint if there is a problem, as well as rule out facilities in cases, like this, where it appears to be naturally occurring causes, said Zierman in a statement.

Richard Hart, who has lived in Huntington Beach for about four decades, says hes tired of the finger-pointing. It seems like the government doesnt want to deal with it, Hart said.

Gina Clayton-Tarvin, a Huntington Beach resident and president of the board of trustees of the Ocean View School District, is familiar with the uphill battle sometimes required for communities to resolve concerns about air-quality and possible health issues.

She and other board members battled Rainbow Environmental Services, a trash hauler that contracted with the school district, over complaints of odors, dust and other problems. Eventually the AQMD cited the company, and the school district ended the contract this year.

The odors reported in Huntington Beach and Seal Beach are trickier to combat.

Its very hard to organize against a phantom enemy, Clayton-Tarvin said.

Contact the writer: lleung@scng.com
J.R. Galardi is the new executive vice president of Irvine-based Wienerschnitzel. Galardi, the 27-year-old son of the late company founder, John Galardi, works with his mother, Cindy Galardi Culpepper, who assumed the role of CEO in 2013. Galardi most recently held the role of director of administration but began his career with the family business at age 13, when he manned the fry station and drive-through during his summer breaks from school. As executive vice president, Galardi will support brand initiatives for Galardi Group, the parent company of Wienerschnitzel, Hamburger and Tastee Freez.

Susan Corrales-Diaz has been elected by the California Chamber of Commerce as 2017 chair of the CalChamber board of directors. Corrales-Diaz is president and chief executive officer of Systems Integrated in Orange.

Kristen Pugh has been named vice president of Advocacy and Government Relations for MemorialCare Health System. Pugh, a Huntington Beach resident, will lead a team of legislation monitors. Recently she was executive director for Federal Research Relations at UC Irvine where she built a broad network of legislators, agency officials and industry stakeholders to advance research funding. She previously spent a decade as associate vice president of Government and Community Relations with City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Center working on cancer care policy and legislation.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire has added Tom Duddy and Thomas Reyes to its board of directors. Reyes, an Irvine resident, is president of Harbor Distributing and Gate City Beverage Distributors of Reyes Holdings. He is also a board member of the California Beer and Beverage Distributors. Duddy is president and chief executive officer of Elmco Duddy and vice president of Morris Group International. Duddy, a Newport Beach resident, also serves on the board for other local organizations including Anderson Deans, and CDM Boosters.

Diana L. Keary has joined Griffin Capital as senior vice president of marketing in the companys Irvine office. Keary comes to Griffin Capital from National Planning Holdings, where she most recently was vice president of practice management. She also has held management positions at Grubb & Ellis, AXA Equitable, WM Group of Funds, and MetLife Investors Group.

GOOD WORKS

Second Harvest Food Bank supporters and community leaders recently participated in the nonprofits annual No Lunch Lunch. Attendees and sponsors donated the equivalent of 425,322 meals for community members.

The American Honda Foundation awarded PBS SoCal a $75,000 grant to expand its educational outreach in underserved Southern California communities. The funding will further PBS SoCals Ready To Learn initiative, which uses educational PBS KIDS content and STEM resources to help prepare kids for school and life.

MILESTONES

North American Van Lines has recognized Nelson Moving & Storage of Lake Forest with its 2016 Agent of the Year Award. This is the second consecutive year Nelson has earned the award. Nelson, a family business founded in 1991 by Gust Nelson, is managed by Chapman Nelson.

The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, with locations in Tustin and Newport Beach, has been named 2016 Restaurant of the Year by the Orange County Concierge Association. The Winery also earned the title in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014. The Orange County Concierge Association is an industry organization of concierges from Orange County hotels, retail destinations, residential properties and other businesses.

NEW VENTURES

Professional Accountancy Corp. in Santa Ana has merged with Bolar Hirsch & Jennings, a certified public accountant firm in Irvine. Stephen G. Benavides and his staff of five joined BH&J on Dec. 1.

Girl Scouts of Orange County has launched a pilot robotics program. The goal is to engage girls with hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math skills while using their imaginations. Funding for the program was provided by the nonprofit FIRST, or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.
UNITED NATIONS  Margot Wallstrom, Swedens top diplomat, has sought to advance what she calls a feminist foreign policy. What does that mean?

She says it is a way to use the usual tools of diplomacy to address three questions: Do women have equal rights? Are women at the decision-making table? And, are resources equitably distributed to women?

A feminist foreign policy, she said, is an analysis of the world.

That worldview will be put to its biggest test yet next month, when Sweden will begin a two-year term on the U.N. Security Council, including serving as the bodys president, just as Russia and the United States seem poised for conflict.

In her two years as Swedens foreign minister, Wallstrom has found that fulfilling her governments left-of-center outlook can be tricky. Last week, she visited Israel, but was refused a meeting with Israeli officials, and met only with leaders of the Palestinian Authority. Sweden is one of a few countries that recognize Palestinian statehood, and her comments about Palestinians who resort to violence have been condemned by the administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Last year, she criticized Saudi Arabias restrictions against women, spurring a diplomatic spat: The kingdom recalled its ambassador to Sweden and temporarily refused to issue business visas to Swedes. The move sent chills through Swedens business community. Saudi Arabia is an important trading partner, and Wallstrom is quick to say that relations have since normalized.

Wallstrom must contend with what she calls Russias provocative posture, and an incoming U.S. administration that she worries is uninterested in international cooperation. Sweden has staunchly held out against joining NATO, the Western military alliance, and, until recently, its defense budget had been steadily shrinking.

As Sweden prepares for its term on the Security Council, I sat down with Wallstrom in New York to discuss President-elect Donald Trumps foreign policy, the future of NATO and the international refugee crisis.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Q. As a feminist foreign minister, what is your message to Trump?

A. I will, of course, use the argument that this will make America great again: if he includes women and makes sure he works for gender equality. Without it, he will not be able to make America great again. It is smart policy. It is not just the right thing to do.

Q. Do you think a Trump administration will continue to cooperate with Sweden on defense matters?

A. I dont think anyone is worried they would proactively break a deal that is beneficial to both sides. I dont think we should speculate. You should be judged by what you do. We just have to prepare. We have to stand our ground and present our arguments. We have to cooperate, and we have to insist on wanting to continue our close contacts.

Q. Given Swedens concerns about Russian intentions in Europe, is nonalignment still the best policy?

A. We are an independent country that has chosen for 200 years to be militarily nonaligned. It has served us well. We have to be credible by also showing we are ready to defend ourselves. We have a worsening security situation in our neighborhood. Its a threat to the European security order since Russia has illegally annexed Crimea. We see threats of the use of nuclear weapons. They have had a very provocative posture in our neighborhood, not that we see they are direct threats to our territorial integrity or our security. There are no direct threats to Sweden. But its a behavior thats been very provocative.

Q. Sweden has been deepening its cooperation with NATO. Will it ever join the alliance?

A. Right now, we are very comfortable where we are. We dont want to be under a nuclear weapon umbrella, and we think we should stay militarily nonaligned. We are in a good position, especially now, when we dont know what will happen with NATO with the new commander in chief in the United States or with Turkey being increasingly difficult, as well. Theres a lot of uncertainty. We dont know what Trump will do with NATO.

Q. Sweden opened its borders to more than 100,000 refugees in 2015, but has since scaled back. Will Sweden continue to welcomerefugees?

A. Its not as if we have closed our borders, but we apply a stricter rule book, so to say. We could not take so many people, especially so many children. We needed to have other European countries to step up. Those we gave asylum to are supposed to enjoy the same rights and opportunities and possibilities as those who have been living in Sweden a long time. This is our principle. We have to build houses, we have to make sure there are schools. We needed over 30,000 new teachers all over the country. In the end, you need also public support to continue to be generous. So you need a balance.

Q. Whats your position on banning Muslim veils, as some European countries have?

A. We dont have any rules about that. You can wear a headscarf. Its not a problem.

Q. Do you have any concerns about Trump?

A. The lack of conviction about multilateral solutions. Because most of the problems we see are global. If a big country or a superpower like the United States says it will not even honor its signature on the climate deal in Paris, that worries me a lot. We want to find solutions that are of mutual interest, that create a win-win situation with the United States. Engaging in trade will bring more jobs and a better economy on both sides. The trans-Atlantic link is good for security on both sides. And those are the arguments that we have to use, maybe not so much of ideology or party lines or values. Maybe thats what he will understand best.
SAN FRANCISCO  A California judge was cleared of misconduct Monday for sentencing a former Stanford University swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on campus, a punishment decried as too lenient by critics across the country.

There was no evidence that Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky displayed bias in his treatment of Brock Turner, according to the California Commission on Judicial Performance, which investigates complaints of judicial misconduct and disciplines judges.

The panel said it received thousands of complaints demanding Persky be punished over Turners sentence, which required the now-21-year-old to register as a sex offender for life.

Turners case exploded on social media and ignited a debate about campus rape and the criminal justice system after a powerful statement the victim read during the June 2 sentencing was posted online.

Some critics accused the judge of coddling Turner because they were both Stanford athletes or showing gender bias by failing to take campus sexual assault seriously enough. Others say the case underscored inequities in the criminal justice system because Turner could afford a private attorney rather than a public defender.

However, the commission has concluded that there is not clear and convincing evidence of bias, abuse of authority, or other basis to conclude that Judge Persky engaged in judicial misconduct warranting discipline, according to its unsigned decision.

Persky said he was following a recommendation from the local probation department and cited Turners clean criminal record and the effect the conviction would have on Turners life in departing from the minimum sentence of two years in prison.

The judge remains the target of a recall campaign, led by Stanford law professor Michele Dauber.
Mistress killer, Chinas top ladies detective or Terminator of extramarital affairs are just some of the nicknames that Zhang Yufen has earned during the 15 years she has dedicated to helping cheated wives gather evidence on their husbands affairs and helping them exact revenge on their mistresses.

Zhang Yufens war on adultery is fueled by her personal experience. During the late 90s her husband, who worked in the district taxation bureau in the city of Xian, started having an affair and eventually told her that he was seeing someone else and didnt want her anymore. He took their most valuable possessions, cleaned out their joint bank account and he was gone. The news was devastating and Zhang remembers curling up on the couch and crying for a week. But after the news finally sunk in, she decided that the only way to receive justice was to track down her husband and his mistress and gather evidence about their affair. Little did she know that she would spend the rest of her life doing the same thing for other cheated wives.

Zhang spent five long years tracking down her husband multiple times, as he moved to different locations every time he caught her snooping around. But in 2007, after gathering enough evidence about his infidelity, she was finally granted a divorce and became entitled to a payout from her former spouse. At that point, she had already made a name for herself as a detective helping other wives expose their cheating husbands and their mistresses.

Soon after she started stalking her husband, Zhang Yufen was approached by another woman, who told her that her son-in-law was cheating on her daughter, and she had already tried taking her life. The detective agreed to help her, but by the time she went to see the young woman about her problem, she had already killed herself. When she asked her mother why she didnt sue her son-in-law, the woman said that without conclusive evidence of his affair, she had no chance in court. Thats when Zhang realized that a lot of married women faced the same problem she did, so in 2003, with the help of nine female friends, she founded the Phoenix Detective Agency.

She only charged clients for basic expenses and in turn helped them gather evidence about their affairs, and also exact revenge on the mistresses. This was during the golden age of mistress beating when police was reluctant to get involved in family business, and she and scorned wives could beat and shame exposed mistresses in public.

The first time she physically abused a mistress was when helping a client. We beat the woman into the middle of the street, causing a traffic jam. There were lots of people standing there, watching us beat the woman, she recently told Global Times. When police arrived, she went straight to them and told them that the victim had seduced another womans husband. The police officer told me that he didnt see whats happening. When I heard this, I knew its OK. So I kept beating the mistress. I quite miss the past, Zhang added.

Even though today police are less likely to stand by while Zhang Yufen and her scorned clients abuse and shame mistresses publicly, she insists that mistress-beating is therapeutic for wives. Those who dont dare to beat will develop diseases including esophageal cancer, uterine cancer, lung cancer, she claims, adding that beating mistresses helps wives vent their anxiety and emotional pain.

Today, 59-year-old Zhang Yufen runs the Alliance Against Mistresses, an organization that offers betrayed wives detective services and advice on how to deal with adultery. The means she uses to gather evidence on cheating husbands are rudimentary but effective. Hiding behind trees and lamp posts during long stakeouts and following suspects on foot and by taxi are some of the most popular techniques used by Zhang and her colleagues.

But while they get the job done most of the time, gathering clear evidence of infidelity, the corruption in the Chinese justice system often prevents cheated wives from reaching their goal. Zhang Yufen claims that irrefutable evidence is often thrown out of court by judges sympathetic to the cheating husbands, or bribed by them, and she even recalls cases where the evidence was mysteriously lost by court officials.

The economic boom that started in China during the 90s has made adultery one of the countrys most widespread social problems, with state officials considered the worse offenders. After their divorce, Zhang Yufen confronted her ex-husband, asking him why he had turned his back on 16 years of marriage. He said: Everyone in the taxation bureau had a mistress. I would have lost face if I didnt have one,' she recalls.

Despite being threatened with violence and arrest, Zhang Yufen doesnt plan on stopping her mistress hunting activity anytime soon. She considers her organization one of the few tools available to Chinese wives looking for justice. To get compensation in a divorce, they need to present evidence of adultery, but no one is willing to help them do it. Thats where the mistress killer comes in.

Sources: Global Times, The Washington Post, China Daily
Trumps going directly to the public, almost never having a news conference, a tactic also used by Hillary Clinton, and the focus put on the two-edged sword of cellphones/computers and the web, have a lot of meaning for both journalists and PR.

Powers of Press/PR Shrink

Theres no doubt both industries have lost lots of their powers in recent years. The number of reporters has shrunk along with ad revenues. Both Gallup and Pew now put confidence in media down around 20%. It used to be in the 70s.

Media that bet heavily on Clinton winning the presidency were red-faced when the results became known. New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. published a half-hearted apology for the almost non-stop attacks on the Trump candidacy. NYTs estimate that Clinton had an 84% chance of winning, made on the day of the election, caused some women to think there was no need to vote.

NYT is an example of media shrinkage. It just told employees it will lease eight floors of its offices at 620 Eighth ave. at 42nd st., saying the space was too expensive and is not needed. Hundreds of employees have been laid off or retired in the past several years. NYT sold its space in the building in 2009 for $225 million and leased it for 15 years.



Zombie-Like Behavior at PRSA

Twenty silent PRSA delegates, marching to cellphone commands, harassed this writer at the 2010 Assembly as we tried to interview Art Stevens, who with Richard Edelman and Dave Rickey, had led a move to break the monopoly of APRs on the national board. It failed 172-104.

This was classic Zombie behavior as described in Stephen Kings 2006 book Cell that was made into a movie in 2016. Zombies are aggressive, even murderous. They travel in packs and, above all, are silent. They are hard-wired and uncompromising and don't "relate" to normal human beings. We see such behavioral patterns in the so-called "Educators" Academy of PRSA. The group has forfeited its right to use the word "Educators."



Education is the pursuit of facts and knowledge and not the flight from them.

Since around 2000, the Society has been dominated by PR professors and h.q. staff. Schools are by far the biggest advertisers and participants at the annual conference. More professors than any other class of members conduct sessions at the conferences.

The Society was dominated in the 1960s and 70s by major companies and agencies and in the 1980s and 90s by counselors. Most of the big counseling firms left after the PR Council was formed in 1998.

Press Conferences, Interviews, Vanish

PR people, who used to be able to produce CEOs and other executives for press interviews and conduct press conferences, now have their every word monitored by corporate administrative and legal staff. Virtually all communications are by email. Press queries are normally shifted to outside PR firms.

This shift, similar to the closing of corporate ad departments in the 1950s and 60s, has helped propel the growth of PR firms. Most firms in the top 25 ranked by this website grow in double-digits each year. Emphasis is on direct contact with customers, potential customers, stockholders, employees and other audiences via social media, house websites and emails to key audiences.

Lots of creativity is needed in reaching these audiences and its more likely found in agencies that cope with numerous client problems on a daily basis rather than in corporate departments that have the single corporate client.

Students Are Victims of PRSA/Academics

Many agencies deal with us, as evidenced by the 122 that provide documented evidence of their revenues and staff each year. But PR associations and educators keep their distance.

PRSA has not had anything to do with us since 1994 when we found it was selling info packets consisting mostly of articles that had been copied from major media, books and other sources, without the authors permission. That had started in 1978 and by the early 1990s had reached 3,500 packets yearly, netting $60K.

PR Profs Adopt PRSA ODwyer Boycott

Since the ODwyer Co. has the largest library of PR materials, including more than 700 volumes collected over a 48-year period as well as 16 years of archived web stories and databases, it would seem that PR professors would be constantly knocking on our doors and sending students to both our website and offices.

The opposite is true. No one from the educational community or "Educators" Academy ever contacts us and attempts to reach any of their leaders by phone or email go nowhere. Hillary Sisco of Quinnipiac University is current Academy chair. Same thing is true of the PRSA Student Society that has 10,000 members.

We wonder what PR profs are teaching their students? Both PR and journalism are under such pressures that constant monitoring of the changes is needed. PR textbooks can provide only part of the answers.

This refusal to talk, although the PR profs profess a belief in dialogic looping, meaning parties with different opinions must meet face-to-face, is zombie-like and must end. The isolationism of PRSA/PR profs is causing corporate leaders to flee in droves from the Society and funds to shift to the other PR associations such as Arthur W. Page, PR Council, (PR) Seminar, New York Women in Communications and National Investor Relations Institute.

Fortune editor-a-large Geoff Colvin who spoke at the Institute for PR dinner Nov. 30, discussed the benefits of F2F in a video titled The Power of Human Interaction. Certain parts of brains light up when people are facing each other but are inactive when they talk to each other without being F2F.

Students taking PR posts in corporations and institutions must realize anything they say and email will be watched and orchestrated. Cellphones can be used to control minds as well as inform them, as the Cell book and movie show.
The Government of Japan has awarded public affairs firm The Fratelli Group a $15,000-a-month contract for communications consulting services.

Working through The Embassy of Japan in Washington, The Fratelli Group will focus on media outreach and media coverage, as well as legislation and congressional actions that may affect or relate to the Japanese government, according to Foreign Agents Registration Act documents filed in December.

Services to be rendered include providing strategic counsel, message and materials development, media monitoring and outreach and contacting potential third-party spokespersons and opinion leaders.

The Agreement, which was made effective in December, runs for three months. The public policy firm, which has had a history of representing Japan, has also done international affairs and trade work for South Korea, Colombia, the U.S.-South Africa Business Council, US-ASEAN Business Council, and American Business Coalition for Doha.

The Fratelli Group was founded by Francis OBrien, who was press secretary to former Congresswoman and VP candidate Geraldine Ferraro.
Although John Maczynski no longer lives in Nebraska, he said its still important to give back to his roots.

Since 2008, Maczynski, 48, has donated money to The World-Heralds Goodfellows charity. This year he donated $1,000.

Maczynski grew up in Bellevue and started his college education at Creighton University.

After moving to Wichita, Kansas, to start his professional career, he moved in 2000 to Boston, where he now serves as executive vice president of Teleperformance.

Maczynski said the amount he has donated has increased each year, and he plans for that to continue.

Goodfellows is an important charity, he said, because the money stays in the area where he was raised.

He said its also nice to know that The World-Herald covers all administrative costs.

Even with well-known charities, 20 to 30 percent goes toward overhead costs, Maczynski said.

Maczynski said he also donates to other charities every year, including Toys for Tots and Habitat for Humanity.

Even his two sons, Luke, 11, and Ryan, 6, donate money to a charity of their choice each year.

Maczynski said his sons get $100 each Christmas that they can donate. One of them donated his money to a charity for orphans while the other gave to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Maczynski said he wants to get the children in the habit at a young age of giving back, just as he has done.
Pakistan has a long history of political violence. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007 in a gun and bomb attack after holding an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi.
Adriana Garcia teared up when she spoke about the early Christmas gift she and her 2-year-old son, Diego Avila, received Sunday at the Nebraska Medical Center, where Diego is hospitalized.

Bellevue firefighters brought in a home-style holiday meal of turkey, ham, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce for pediatric patients and their families.

It means a lot, said Garcia of Hereford, Texas. She and Diego have been in Omaha for two months. Diego, a transplant patient, has endured 16 surgeries in his young life, including transplants of his pancreas, intestines and liver.

For Garcia, it truly was the thought that counted, knowing that someone cared, she said. Being away from family is hard, Garcia said, but during the meal, held in a fifth-floor conference room, she didnt feel so alone or forgotten.

The full- and part-time professional firefighters gave up a few hours of their personal time to serve the 5:30 p.m. meal. They visited with the patients and adults and tried to make time for siblings, who might otherwise have felt left out.

We try to get the whole family involved, said Ben Burbridge, a Bellevue firefighter who organized the event.

We know holidays can be a tough time of year, Burbridge said. Many patients are states or hours away from home.

The firefighters figured that the families might be tired of hospital cafeteria or vending machine choices, Burbridge said. We wanted a chance for them to get some real food.

Kristabelle Denzlinger, 11, was grateful. When youre in the hospital like this, theres not much to eat, she said.

Kristabelle sported a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ball cap as her mother, Kristen, pushed her in a wheelchair. The family moved from the Houston area to Omaha when Kristabelle was just 4 months old so she could be treated at the medical center, where she has received small bowel, liver and pancreas transplants.

The pediatric unit was caring for about 25 children on Sunday, and the firefighters brought in enough food for 60 people. A firefighter and his family who have a food-service business prepared the fixings.

Firefighters had passed the hat to pay for the meals, and their union, the International Association of Firefighters Local No. 4906, picked up the rest of the tab, said Jeremy Zink, a Bellevue firefighter and union vice president.

The firefighters provided the hospital meal last year, too.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  Volkswind USA has halted its efforts to gain permission to build a wind farm near Hallam and Cortland in southeast Nebraska.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports the company asked the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Department to put its permit applications on hold. Sara Hartzell of the department says the Oregon-based company wants to do more noise studies and reach out to residents who are concerned about the project. Hartzell says placing an application on hold doesn't mean the project is dead.

On Thursday, Volkswind USA's president Jeffrey Wagner made a similar request for the company's permit applications in Gage County. Wagner says the company wants to fine-tune the wind farm's layout. He says he doesn't know when the application process will resume.

Volkswind USA wants to build the wind farm on 7,000 acres of land in Lancaster County and 4,000 acres in Gage County.

Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Metropolitan Community College will host its annual celebration in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at noon on Jan. 12 at the Swanson Conference Center.

The center is inside the Fort Omaha campus Institute for the Culinary Arts, near 32nd Street and Sorensen Parkway.

The event will feature Fredrecka S. McGlown, a motivational speaker from St. Louis, and the Salem Baptist Church Men of Power.

To register, call 531-622-5231. General admission is $15, and students will pay $10. To attend, guests must register. Payment will not be accepted at the door. The deadline to register is Jan. 4.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Sour grapes.

Thats how Donald Trumps closest advisers see Democrats complaints that Moscow hacked their private emails this election season in a bid to sow discord among their supporters and sway the election toward Republicans.

The pushback comes ahead of the Electoral College vote Monday, which is expected to make official Trumps election win.

Trumps incoming chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said theres no evidence that Russian interference in the election changed the outcome.

But for Democrats, it was a personal attack and a threat to democracy.

Foreign policy experts say part of Russias calculation was likely a desire for payback for years of U.S. criticism of its own elections and to paint America as a flawed champion of democracy  potentially weakening it on the world stage.
OMAHA (AP)  In Wheeler County, Nebraska, if you want a divorce, attorneys who can help you are nearly 50 miles away.

Theres only one attorney, James McNally, in the north-central county, and he is its sole prosecutor. He has been there for 50 years and was at one point one of five attorneys. He has a side practice handling probate and estate services, but obviously cant take criminal defense cases.

Theres a reason more lawyers dont land in places like Wheeler County, one of 11 Nebraska counties with no attorneys outside of elected prosecutors, he said. With so few people to serve and recent graduates carrying loads of student debt, it just doesnt pay, he said.

They go where the money is, and thats not a small town, he said.

Its an issue that several Plains States tried to address years ago but hasnt seemed to be solved  particularly in states such as Nebraska with vast stretches of sparsely populated land. In response, Nebraska has launched a program that targets rural high school students, hoping to persuade them to return to their roots to practice law.

Modeled after the Rural Health Opportunities Program, which recruits rural students to become small-town doctors, Nebraskas program targets high-achieving students with plans to go to law school, offering full-tuition undergraduate scholarships to three rural Nebraska colleges: Chadron State College, the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Wayne State College.

A participating student who maintains a 3.5 grade point average and gets a minimum LSAT score automatically will be accepted to the University of Nebraska College of Law in Lincoln.

The idea is Lets start with the kids that have come from rural areas,  said Thomas Maul, the immediate past president of the Nebraska State Bar Association who helped get the Rural Law Opportunities Program off the ground. I really think it could be a game changer. No other state has this.

Like the medical program, the rural lawyer program does not include a requirement that the students practice in rural areas after law school.

The rural health program reports about a 60 percent return on investment, meaning about 60 percent of the students return to rural areas to practice medicine, Maul said. We hope to achieve similar results with this program.

South Dakota is believed to be the first state to pay lawyers to practice in rural areas, as of 2013, offering an annual subsidy of 90 percent of the cost of a year at the University of South Dakota Law School to live and practice in rural communities.

Since the program began it has placed 17 attorneys in rural counties that have a population of 10,000 or less, said Suzanne Star, director of policy and legal services for the South Dakota State Court Administrators Office.

We consider it to be very successful, Star said. We are now looking at legislation to expand the programs to municipalities in counties where there are more than 10,000 people but do not have local access to an attorney.

But it hasnt been a panacea, Star acknowledged. Retirements and relocations left two South Dakota counties with no attorneys, eight counties with one lawyer and four counties with two.

Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa all run programs to help place recent law school grads in summer clerkships at rural firms as a way to get new lawyers into rural areas. But the states have learned that introductions simply arent enough.

Copyright 2016 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Kellyanne Conway, senior adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, said Sunday on CBS that any concerns about Russia's alleged interference with the 2016 presidential election were unfounded.

"Where's the evidence?" she asked "Face the Nation" host John Dickerson.

Earlier this month, the CIA concluded in a secret assessment that Russia meddled in the election to help Trump win the presidency. FBI Director James B. Comey and Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. agreed with the CIA's assessment.

The reports have prompted some electoral voters to call for an intelligence briefing on the extent of any Russian interference before the Electoral College vote on Monday.

John Podesta, former chairman of Hillary Clinton's campaign, has publicly supported those electors' demands.

On Sunday, Conway dismissed such calls.

"The entire nonsense about the electors trying to use the Russian hacking issue to change the election results is really unfortunate," she told Dickerson. "I think that actually undermines our democracy more than any other conversation that we're having right now."

Dickerson pressed Conway several times about whether Trump had evidence that Russians did not hack the election that would cause his stance to differ from that of the wider intelligence community.

"The president-elect receives intelligence briefings that I am not privy to," Conway responded.

She also suggested that President Barack Obama's recent tough talk on Russia came because he was "under political pressure" to do so. On Friday, Obama said the United States will retaliate against Russia "at a time and place of our own choosing" over its malicious cyber activities during the U.S. election.

Dickerson asked whether Trump supported Obama's approach, a question Conway did not directly address.

"The president-elect respects the ability of President Obama to do what he sees necessary in any number of different arenas," Conway said. "It does seem to be a political response at this point, because it seems like the president is under pressure from Team Hillary, who can't accept the election results."

Trump has been criticized for his friendly posturing toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and has minimized the allegations that Russia interfered with the U.S. election.

Like Conway, Trump's surrogates have largely done the same, suggesting that reports from the intelligence community are an attempt to delegitimize Trump's win.

"I think (Trump) would accept the conclusion if they would get together, put out a report and show the American people they are on the same page," Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee and incoming White House chief of staff, said on "Fox News Sunday."

Trump and his transition team's stance on the issue is at odds with several members of the Republican Party.

Earlier this month, four high-ranking senators called for a thorough investigation of alleged Russian meddling in the election.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Lindsey O. Graham, R-S.C., joined incoming Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer, N.Y., and Armed Services ranking Democrat Jack Reed, R.I., in issuing a bipartisan statement.

"This cannot become a partisan issue," the statement read in part. "The stakes are too high for our country."

In a separate appearance Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," McCain called for a select Senate committee to investigate Russia's cyber activities during the election.

McCain told host Jake Tapper that there was "no doubt" that Russia interfered - and that even if it would not have affected the outcome of the election, it was a serious matter.

"I have seen no evidence that the election would have been different, but that doesn't change the fact that the Russians and others - the Chinese, to a lesser degree - have been able to interfere with our electoral process," McCain said.

"If they are able to harm the electoral process, then they destroy democracy."
Karnataka government authority to verify terror cases against minorities

Bengaluru

oi-Anusha

The Karnataka government is mooting an authority to check authenticity of terror-related cases filed against those from the minority community. Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara announced the government's plan for the same on Sunday in an event for the minority community. The home minister said that cases filed under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967 will first be referred to the said committee before it reaches the investigation agency.

The home minister also assured to withdraw 'unnecessary' cases filed against those from the minority community after discussing the same with the cabinet. "The need for this authority has risen after investigative agencies have misused the UAPA over the years," he said.

He added that the decision was arrived at following a demand by the state's minority commission. Cases under UAPA filed against those from the minority committee will be reviewed by the authority before it is handed over to the investigative authorities, according to what the home minister said.

The UAPA only allows the Central government to form review committees. The state government only has supervisory powers over a Central act. Legal experts believe that rules are yet to be framed and brought under the statute. Even if the state government went ahead and formed the authority, it will not stand judicial scrutiny.

The opposition lashed out at the Congress government terming the move 'another leg of the prolonged appeasement politics'.

"The home minister should have been careful before making such a statement. How can an authority decide genuinity of a terror case? It will be extra-constitutional. The police probe the case and the HM heads the police, doesn't he trust his own police? This will only give way to a parallel institution," Suresh Kumar, spokesperson of the BJP said.

He added that this is coming from a government that released members Popular Front of India and Karnataka Forum for Dignity accused of rioting and violence at its discretion and this move is only disastrous.

OneIndia News
Demonetisation: Rs 10 crore, 6 kg gold seized by IT in Chennai

Chennai

oi-Anusha

Officials from the income tax department seized Rs 10 crore in demonetised currency notes and six kilograms of gold in Chennai. The unaccounted wealth was recovered from an imitation jewellery shop owner. Raids conducted in properties at Periyamet of Chennai led the officials to the unaccounted wealth. Furthur investigations are on in the case.

[Also Read: In Chennai Income Tax raids, Rs 170 crore cash, 130 kg gold unearthed]

Around six kg of gold was recovered in the form of bars from the merchant. This is the second biggest haul in Chennai after raids at residences and offices of three businessmen including one former member of Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam.

Income tax officials in Chennai had previously found Rs 170 crore in cash and 130 kg of gold in Chennai in addition to Rs 24 crore in Vellore after raids on three businessmen on December 8. Following the raids, the Andhra Pradesh government had suspended one of those raided, Sekar Reddy, from the board of TTD. The Income Tax Department suspected that the trio was part of a money laundering racket.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, December 19, 2016, 18:51 [IST]
Madras HC bans unauthorised Sharia courts in mosques

Chennai

oi-Anusha

The Madras high court on Monday banned all unauthorised Sharia courts functioning in mosque complexes in Tamil Nadu. The order was passed on a PIL filed by an NRI questioning illegal courts operating within mosques and passing orders on matrimonial issues including divorce.

Abdul Rahman, in his petition had alleged that a Sharia court, functioning like a regular court, was operating in a mosque in Anna Salai and was dealing with matrimonial issues. The court banned all such unauthorised courts within mosque complex across Tamil Nadu. The court directed the Tamil Nadu government to prevent functioning of such courts and to file a report on the same within four weeks. The court further observed that places of worship are only meant for religious purposes.

The petitioner was filed after the NRI became a victim of one such court and was forced to divorce his wife. His counsel said that the petition was filed to ensure that innocent Muslims don't suffer at the hands of Sharia courts or councils and to safeguard their interests. "Many Muslims were affected by the system as the council had created an impression that it was passing orders and judgements that were religiously binding on Muslims," he said.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, December 19, 2016, 15:49 [IST]
Golden intelligence rule: When your cover is blown, you are on your own

2016 Pathankot attack: NIA names Masood Azhar, 4 others

India

oi-Vicky

The National Investigation Agency on Monday filed a chargesheet in connection with the January 2, 2016 Pathankot attack. The NIA has named five persons including Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar who has been listed as the prime accused.

[Also read: The importance of Pathankot air force station and why terrorists targetted it]

The others named in the chargesheet are Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, the deputy chief of the Jaish, Shahid Latif the launching commander and Kashif Jan, the prime handler.

All the persons have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967, Indian Penal Code, Explosives Substances Act and Arms Act.

Pathankot terrorists revealed

The NIA also named the four terrorists who carried out the attack. The chargesheet states that the offences as noted above were also established against the attackers -- Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum. The prosecution against these persons stands abated as these persons are dead, the NIA also stated.

Criminal conspiracy:

The chargesheet that the JeM had entered into a conspiracy to carry out a terrorist strike and wage a war against the Indian government. The terrorist group had set up training camps in Pakistan and the PoK area. During the training programme the terrorists underwent extensive regimen of motivational, physical, military and tactical training. The terrorists were radicalised and were prepared for Jihad.

They illegally crossed the Indo-Pak international border through the forest area near the Simbal Border outpost. Empty food packets manufactured in Pakistan and other food articles from Pakistan were recovered from the forest area near the outpost, during investigation, the NIA states in the report.

After infiltrating into the Indian side, these terrorists reached Bhagwal village to Janial in Punjab. On December 31, 2015 at around 9.30 pm they hijacked an Innova taxi which was being driven by Ikagar Singh. The terrorists snatched the mobile phone of Ikagar Singh and used the same to communicate with their handler, Kashif Jan. They made calls to three Pakistan mobile numbers- 923453030479, 923213132786 and 923017775253.

The vehicle met with an accident at the Dhusi turn near the Ravi River bridge. The terrorists then killed the driver and dumped his body. The terrorists then drove the damaged Innova vehicle and abandoned it at a service station at Kolian Morh, district Pathankot.

Another hijack:

After abandoning the damaged vehicle, the terrorists hid in the nearby sugarcane fields and waited for another vehicle to pass by. They then hijacked a Mahindra XUV vehicle belonging to Salvinder Singh, (now-suspencded) superintendent of police, Punjab and moved towards the Air Force Station, Pathankot.

They then forced Singh and two others out of the vehicle and snatched away their mobile phones, and used these to communicate with their handlers. At around 4 am on January 1, 2016 the terrorists reached the Akalgarh village near the Air Force Station.

Thereafter, they moved towards the air base on foot. During the investigation, the NIA recovered a walkie-talkie set belonging to the terrorists. A slip was also retrieved in which it was written, "Jaish E Muhamad Zindabad Tanghdar se le kar Samba Kathua Rajbagh Aur delhi tak Afzal Guru Shadeed Kay Jan nisar Tum ko meltay rahege. Insha Allah(Long live Afzal Guru,we will take the fight from Kathua to Delhi) A.G.S. 25-12-15".

Entering the air base:

Investigation revealed that after abandoning the vehicle, the terrorists moved to the western side of the air base by foot and their entry into after cutting the wire fencing over the western side of the perimeter wall, and then crossed it and entered it on January 1m 2016.

After getting in, the terrorists hid themselves inside the nallah (drain). While the terrorists were hiding inside the base, they called their handler. The terrorists then launched the attack on January 2 2016. They fired indiscriminately and lobbed grenades.

The terrorists also specifically targeted fuel tanks of the vehicles parked in the MT Section setting them on fire, causing severe damage to the vehicles and the buildings, so as to cause panic, the NIA chargesheet says. During the attack 7 persons were martyred and 37 injured.

OneIndia News
Delhi: Ahead of Diwali, police seizes over 1400 kg of firecrackers in 3 separate operations

A fabricated case says police on kidnap and gang-rape of Delhi woman

Delhi Police search JNU campus for missing student Najeeb

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Dec 19: Police on Monday reached the sprawling Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in search of a student who went missing over two months ago.

Crime Branch personnel searched different parts of the campus with sniffer dogs in a desperate bid to find out what happened to Najeeb, whose disappearance had led to unending protests in the university.

A police officer said Najeeb's hostel, classrooms, rooftops and other deserted places were scanned.

"A search operation is on in various parts of the JNU campus to get clues which can help police locate Najeeb," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav said.

The search began as police have been unable to get any trace of the missing Najeeb, who went missing on October 15 following a scuffle the previous night with members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad (ABVP). The ABVP has denied any involvement in Najeeb's disappearance.

Missing JNU student Najeeb held captive, claims mysterious letter

Police have raised the reward amount for providing information that could help locate Najeeb from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

The Delhi High Court has directed the police to scan the entire JNU campus.

The court said the police were also free to search Jamia Millia Islamia where Najeeb was reportedly dropped by an auto-rickshaw driver after he left from JNU campus.

IANS
Dial toll-free number 1955 to report call drops

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

New Delhi, Dec 19: The Union government decided to launch a toll free number to report call drops on toll-free number 1955 on Monday evening. The government says that it would be taking a feed back from telecom subscribers on call drops.

"Short code 1955 has been allotted for IVRS system on call drop," government sources say. Provisioning of this number will be mandatory for telecom operators and should be accessible for local and STD calling.

As per a letter by the department of telecom to operators in last week of November the '1955' number 'is for the outbound calls to the subscribers, the IVRS system will have to present a pre-defined CLI (caller line identification) to the subscribers, through short code '1955'.

The state-run telecom firm MTNL has been directed to configure this short code. Telecom operators have been directed not to charge any integration, maintenance, operational fee from MTNL.

The Cellular Operators Association of India says that the industry has sought further technical clarifications from DoT on routing, charges etc for the implementation of the short code 1955 for IVRS system. Director General COAI Rajan S Mathews says that the industry remains committed towards addressing the issue of call drops and is continuously working shoulder to shoulder with the government, enhancing both investment and infrastructure.

OneIndia News
Enhanced facilities for women troops on borders: Rajnath Singh

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Dec 19: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that the government will provide enhanced infrastructure and logistical facilities at border posts where women personnel have been deployed, under the command of various frontier guarding forces.

Singh, after taking salute at the 53rd Raising Day event of paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at its camp here, said it was essential to have "gender-friendly" facilities at these far flung areas for women as the present support system is deficient. "There should be gender-friendly infrastructure at border posts where women are deployed....I believe there is a deficiency in this regard. This needs to be improved. I believe those border posts where women personnel are deployed, more facilities should be provided there," he said.

Apart from SSB, Border Security Force (deployed along Pakistan and Bangladesh borders) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (along Sino-India frontier) has deployed its women personnel as part of their border guarding charter. While the forces have upgraded or created new infrastructure facilities at the border posts after women combatants were posted at these locations for the first time few years back, reports from the field units of these forces have desired that much more needs to be done in this regard.

Singh said that his ministry will give a serious thought to a pending proposal of SSB to have its own dedictated intelligence wing to aid its ground troops mandated to secure Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan.

Also read: Rajnath Singh for incentives in defence manufacturing

"Despite not having a dedicated intelligence wing, you have been quite successful in your operations along the two borders you guard," Singh said. He said it was surely "not an easy" task to secure the two borders as they are not fenced and are fully open which leads to heavy movement across the frontiers.

The Home Minister lauded the force for detecting and apprehending narcotics, arms, ammunition and other banned susbtances estimated at Rs 274 crore when they were being illegally transacted across the two borders this year. Calling SSB a "multi-dimensional" force, Singh welcomed the forces' proposal to get erected at least ten FM radio towers in the border areas along Nepal.

During the event, SSB Director General Archana Ramasundaram said the force was facing vacancies in the officer cadres and has taken some of them on deputation from other sister forces.

The force, raised in 1963, has 67 operational battalions (about 67,000 personnel) at present and secures the 1,751-km Indo-Nepal border and the 699-km long Indo-Bhutan border apart from being deployed to render a variety of internal security duties in the hinterland.

PTI
Fire breaks out in BEST AC bus, no passenger hurt | VIDEO

On Camera: Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight grounded at Delhi airport after wing catches fire

Govt orders probe after Indigo flight catches fire moments before take-off in Delhi

Bihar: Fire breaks out amid Chhath Puja celebrations in Aurangabad; many critical

Fire breaks out at chemical plant in Navi Mumbai

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Dec 19: A fire broke out at a chemical manufacturing unit at Taloja MIDC, in adjoining Navi Mumbai today.

The fire broke out at 1.10 pm, a Taloja fire brigade official said adding that there were no reports of casualties so far.

"Two fire tenders have been rushed to the spot," the official added.

PTI
Flashback 2016: People's movements in India

India

oi-Anusha

People of India have always come together to voice their opinion, dissent, anger whether against the government or over a cause. From social media activism to getting on to the streets and getting their hands dirty, 2016 has seen many instances of people getting together in protest or solidarity. Here is a list of such People's movements in 2016 that got the nation to take notice for the good, the bad or the ugly.

1. Rohith Vemula suicide- The suicide of a Scholar with University of Hyderabad inside the campus sparked off protests across the country with people calling him a victim of casteism. Rohith Chakravarthy Vemula committed suicide on January 17. His death and corresponding students' movement came as a major embarrassment to the BJP government. His death sparked off people's movement for Dalit rights with political parties like the BSP calling it an institutional murder.

2. JNU students movement- Arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union's then President Kanhaiya Kumar split the country over opinion on sedition. Kumar was arrested on charges of sedition for raising Anti-India slogans in an event in the university. The incident triggered debates on sedition nationwide and became the trigger for many protests against and in support of the Delhi police and the Narendra Modi government.

3. Reservation agitations- 2016 saw caste-based reservation agitations like never before. Jat agitation in Haryana and the Kapu agitation in Andhra Pradesh saw widespread violence and damage to property while the Patidar agitation in Gujarat had spilled over from 2015. Trains were set ablaze by Kapu reservation agitators while allegations of unreported rape incidents, arson shadowed these agitations.

4. Una dalit movement- After members of a cow vigilante group publicly flogged dalits in Una of Gujarat on July 17, a rebellion broke open across the state. The incident was condemned by activists, public and politicians alike for government's inaction to rein in self styled protectors of the holy cow.Dalits in the Saurashtra region refused to clear animal carcass as a mark of protest against cow vigilantes. Protests were held across the country by various organisations in support of dalit rights and against vigilante groups.

[Also Read: Flashback 2016: When Islamic State went global]

5. Bengaluru steel flyover protest- A citizen movement like never before over an environment issue in the city of Bengaluru. The Karnataka government's proposal to build a steel flyover at the cost of over 800 trees was met with stiff opposition in the city. A citizen's action forum took the government to court to stall the project. Citizens came together to form a human chain in protest of the proposed steel flyover on October 16. The city witnessed many more protests along with the legal battle that resulted in NGT ordering a stay on any works on the project.

6. Cauvery protests- Two states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu came to mere shut down for days over Cauvery water sharing agitations. Protests turned violent in Mandya, Bengaluru, Mysuru of Karnataka with widespread arson being reported from various places. Situation wasn't different in Tamil Nadu with protestors stopping transportation between the two states. It took the Supreme Court slamming both state governments for necessary action to be taken to douse the fire of agitations.

7. New Delhi Smog protest- In what was one of its worst smog situations, New Delhi chocked on bad air quality. Tired of the government's inability to curb pollution and demanding their right to fresh air, citizens of Delhi took to protest. After two days of shut down of schools owning to alarming level of pollutants in the air in Delhi, children, senior citizens, celebrities protested at Jantar Mantar on November 6, forcing the Delhi goverment to implement swift action measures.

OneIndia News
PFI ban 'dangerous' as every Muslim who speaks his mind can now be arrested: AIMIM chief Owaisi

Why a terror angle should not be ruled out in the Coimbatore cylinder blast case

What if Owaisi had? Muslim users on Twitter blast Kejriwal for asking for Hindu God images on currency notes

Gujarat: Hindu man gets heart of Muslim person

India

oi-PTI

Ahmedabad, Dec 19 A Muslim man, declared brain dead following an accident, became the saviour of a 49-year-old Hindu person. The heart of the 37-year-old Muslim man was today transplanted in the body of a Hindu patient at a private hospital here.

The harvested heart was brought here from Bhavnagar city, around 180 kms away, through two green corridors in 82 minutes flat, hospital officials said. Doctors at the hospital claimed that in a first heart transplant surgery in Gujarat. "The recipient was 49-year-old patient from Jamnagar, and the donor was a 37-year-old male from Chorvadala village of Bhavnagar district who was declared brain dead after he met with a road accident on Saturday night," said doctor Dhiren Shah of CIMS Hospitals Ahmedabad.

The donor was operated at Bhavnagar government hospital. While the hospital refused to disclose the names of the donor and the patient due to legal and ethical reasons, it confirmed that they belong to Muslim and Hindu communities, respectively.

"A special green corridor of 6 minutes 22 seconds was made in Bhavnagar. A green corridor of 14 minutes was made in Ahmedabad. The heart was harvested today at 8:16 AM. The whole process could be successfully done with the help of police and minister of state for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja," he said.

PTI
How many terrorists in Pathankot attack? NIA still not sure

India

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Dec 19: The National Investigation Agency is likely to file its chargesheet in the January 2, 2016 Pathankot terror attack case on Monday. While the NIA would detail the role of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in the attack, it would also put to rest the confusion surrounding the number of terrorists who staged the attack.

There was a great deal of confusion over the number of terrorists who carried out the attack. On Jan 2 this year, terrorists stormed the Pathankot air base. Following an encounter, four terrorists were killed. While Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced that the encounter was over, the statement was withdrawn as security forces indicated that two more terrorists were at the site.

Even after several rounds of investigation, it could not be established that there were more than four terrorists present at the spot. The NIA is likely to state in its chargesheet that it was able to establish the presence of only four terrorists at the airbase. However, this would not be conclusive and the NIA is likely to ask for more time to probe whether there were more than four terrorists present.

So how many terrorists were present?

During the course of the investigations, the NIA had sent what was meant to be the charred remains of the two terrorists for forensic analysis. On two occasions, the analysis had stated that there is no evidence. The video footage of the air base did not indicate that there were more than four terrorists either.

Also read: Pathankot airbase attacked by four militants, maintains Govt

Moreover, the NIA had only managed to recover four bodies.

There was more confusion after it was claimed that two more backpacks were found. However, the NIA could not find evidence of this as well. When the joint investigation team from Pakistan visited India, the NIA had maintained that there were only four terrorists.

The remains, devoid of bones and teeth were sent for forensic analysis to ascertain if they belonged to human beings. In March 2016, Singh informed Parliament that the remains were of human males. However, the NIA was not able to ascertain this fact also.

Hence, the NIA is likely to ask for more time to investigate since the presence of two more terrorists could not be established.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, December 19, 2016, 11:03 [IST]
'Impossible' to implement SC order on shifting liquor shops : Odisha govt

India

oi-PTI

Bhubaneswar, Dec 19: Odisha government today said it was "impossible" to implement the Supreme Court order to shift liquor shops to at least 500 m away from national and state highways.

"It is impossible to move liquor shops 500 metre away from the highways. There are usually villages, temples, mutts located 500 m away from the highways.

People will object to liquor shops there. How can one open liquor shops? These kind of issues will come up in large numbers," Excise Minister Damodar Rout said. Rout, who had earlier said that total prohibition was an "impractical" idea, said, "It may so happen that most liquor shops won't apply for licenses under such a condition," he said.

Meanwhile, Odisha Liquor Sellers' Association decided to convene a meeting of its managing body to discuss the subject. "We will call a managing body meeting over this issue," secretary of the association Prabhat Das said.

Excise officials said the state's excise revenue collection would be "severely hit" if liquor shops are shifted 500 m away from the highways.

JD-U hails SC order on ban on liquor shops along highways

While the excise collection in 2015-16 was Rs 2,568 crore, the state government expected an additional Rs 800 crore in the ongoing fiscal. Besides, demonetisation has already made a visible impact on liquor sales across the state, they said.

Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha has said it will be difficult to shift the liquor shops. There are above 500 such liquor shops across the state located within 500 m from the highways, official sources said.

PTI
IED explosion outside former MLA's residence in Imphal

In Pics: Vehicles torched, curfew imposed in Imphal

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Imphal, Dec 19: Protestors angry over the economic blockade in Manipur resorted to violence and torched several vehicles especially those coming from the Naga-dominated hill districts over the weekend.

Authorities were forced to impose an indefinite curfew in Imphal East District. Internet mobile services were also shutdown in an effort to ease the tensions in the state. Officials sensing trouble, said that the decision was taken to prevent spreading of wrong and communal messages on social media.

The unrest is a result of the economic blockade and recent terror attacks including one where 70 suspected Naga terrorists attacked a police post on Saturday. Police officials had to use tear gas to disperse the angry mob. 22 vehicles were torched near Imphal and a church was set ablaze after tribals protested against differences with Christians.

State and central paramilitary forces have been keeping a sharp vigil at various areas to avoid any untoward incident.

Here are some images from the region:

Angry mob torched several vehicles Angry mob set on fire vehicles in Imphal East district on Sunday in protest against the United Naga Council (UNC)'s indefinite economic blockade. Tear gas used to disperse angry mob Police officials had to use tear gas to disperse angry mob that torched several vehicles in Imphal. Mobile internet service blocked Mobile internet services were blocked to prevent sharing of communal and hate messages. Economic blockade has been imposed by Naga Tribal groups The unrest is a result of the economic blockade imposed by Naga tribal groups and recent terror attacks in the state. Curfew imposed in Imphal till 4 pm on Monday Paramilitary forces keep a sharp vigil in the state after protests erupted resulting in several vehicles being torched.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, December 19, 2016, 11:53 [IST]
Maha BJP chief says complaint against him "motivated"

India

oi-PTI

Aurangabad, Dec 19: Mahatashtra BJP chief Raosaheb Danve today dubbed the complaint of alleged violation of modal code of conduct levelled against him as "politically motivated."

Danve recently courted a controversy with his remark asking voters polls to accept 'Laxmi' (the goddess of wealth) during the civic polls.

"On the eve of elections, Laxmi comes to your house and you should accept it," Danve had allegedly said during a civic poll campaign meeting at Paithan in Aurangabad on Saturday.

Elections to municipal councils are being held in the state at present. The opposition Congress and some social activists had objected to Danve's remarks, saying it amounted to asking people to accept money during election campaign,and urged the State Election Commission to a register a case of violation of model code against him.

Maharashtra civic polls: A thumbs up for demonetisation?

A notice was yesterday served to Danve by Returning Officer, Aurangabad,, and a report has been submitted to District Collector Nidhi Pandey. "We talk about Laxmi at least 25 times in a day and that does not mean money.

The move is politically motivated and I have this morning replied to the notice. Now the ball is in the court of Election Commission and it will take final decision on it," Danve told PTI.

Asked about Shiv Sena's critcism against the comment of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that the ally should be ready to accept its development vision for forging a tie-up for Mumbai civic polls, the BJP leader said "Now we have got used to this kind of criticism and we take it as a mark of appreciation."

PTI
Mamata's party has replaced 'Rule of Law' by 'Rule by TMC law': Rijiju

Mamata Banerjee warns against attempts to breach Bengal's communal amity

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Kolkata, Dec 19 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, warned against attempts at fomenting communal violence in the state.

"There is an attempt to disturb the communal amity that exists in Bengal. We will not allow that," Banerjee said addressing a public meeting in West Bengal's Bankura district.

"West Bengal is not the place for riots between Hindus and Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. People of all religions have mutually stayed here and it is going be that way," she asserted amid loud cheers from the people present in the meeting.

Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress chief, urged the people not to entertain any individual or organisation that tries to perpetrate communal violence.

IANS
Comedian Atul Khatri's joke on seatbelt becomes one on him as Mumbai Police responds

MNS will continue to oppose featuring Pakistani actors in Indian films

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Dec 19: Even as theatre owners in Pakistan have decided to lift the self-imposed suspension on Indian movies, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Monday said its opposition to featuring Pakistani actors in the films made in India will continue.

"Though Pakistan resumed screening of Indian cinema, our stand will remain unchanged, until Pak stops attacks on Indian lands," Ameya Khopkar, who heads the cinema wing of the MNS, said in a tweet on Monday.

Cinemas in Pakistan will start screening Indian movies from today as film exhibitors and cinema owners lifted the a two-month self-imposed suspension on their screening that was put in place amidst Indo-Pak tensions following the Uri terror attack. Following the Uri terror attack in September, the MNS Chitrapat Sena had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artistes to leave the country and had even threatened physical violence against them and anyone who cast them in their productions.

The row had erupted ahead of the release of filmmaker Karan Johar's movie, "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", which featured Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. Although the film was set to hit the screens on October 28, the MNS had threatened that it would not allow the release of any movie.

However, decks had been cleared for the film after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis mediated a dialogue between the filmmakers and Raj Thackeray. The controversy-hit film was finally released as per its schedule without any hiccups.

Before the truce was clinched, the producers had to give some assurances such as that they would not work with Pakistani artistes and technicians in their future projects, given the people's sentiments in the wake of Uri terror strikes. On December 11, Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan had met Raj Thackeray at the latter's residence here.

The meeting assumed significance as Khan's upcoming film "Raees", which features Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, is scheduled for a release next month.

PTI
UK PM Liz Truss resigns after 45 days in office, successor to be elected next week

Iraq gets a new government after a year of deadlock

Modi slams opposition for stalling Parliament

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Kanpur, Dec 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday attacked the opposition parties for stalling Parliament and accused them of running away from a debate on demonetisation to "safeguard the corrupt".

"They didn't allow Parliament to function as they were not ready to debate demonetisation," Modi told a rally here ahead of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh early next year.

Virtually the entire winter session of Parliament was washed out over the government's November 8 decision of scrapping Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to curb black money, corruption and terror funding.

"Even after the President (Pranab Mukherjee) urged them not to disrupt the Parliament, they didn't listen to his advise," Modi thundered.

"They did this because they were running away from the debate over demonetisation."

Javadekar pulls up Pawar over demonetisation remarks

Lashing out at the opposition leaders, Modi said: "They even threw torn papers at the Speaker to halt Parliament proceedings.

"They did all this to safeguard the corrupt when the government was busy catching the corrupt," the Prime Minister said.

IANS
UP: Kanpur airport to get World-Class facilities by year end

Narendra Modi inaugurates country's first Indian Institute of Skills

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Kanpur, Dec 19: Aimed at making India the Skill Capital of the World, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday laid foundation stone of the country's first Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) here. The IIS was conceptualised by Modi during his visit to Singapore's Institute of Technical Education.

The institute is being opened by the Skill Development Ministry in partnership with the Institute of Technical Education, Singapore. The Ministry has decided to have six such institutes.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Kaushal Pradarshini (Skill Exhibition) for the youth of Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister will also address a Parivartan rally in Kanpur.

Earlier, he addressed rallies at Ghazipur, Agra, Kushinagar, Moradabad and Behraich.

IANS
Bihar: When asked to take off hijab to check for bluetooth device, Muslim student leaves exam centre

Central team roped in as dengue cases in Bihar rise to over 5000

Bihar's Gopalganj by-poll to see a tough fight between BJP and RJD

Nitish mourns native soldier's death in terror attack in J&K

India

oi-PTI

Patna, Dec 19: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today mourned the death of soldier Shashikant Pandey who was killed in a terror attack at Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Our country will remember with gratitude the supreme sacrifice made by Shashikant Pandey," he said in a condolence message.

Kumar said the government would take steps for development of the martyr's native village Babhnauli under Ararej block in East Champaran district, an official release quoted him as saying.

Indian Army pays tribute to Pampore attack martyrs

Pandey, resident of Bihar, was among three soldiers killed in a terrorist attack on an army convoy at Pampore on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

PTI
Noted environmentalist Anupam Mishra passes away

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Noted environmentalist Anupam Mishra passed away in the All India Institute for Medical Sciences, New Delhi, on Monday morning. He was 68-years old.

A Gandhian, journalist and a water conservationist, Mishra was battling with prostrate cancer for the past one year. He was known for promoting water conservation, water management and traditional rainwater harvesting techniques.

He was awarded the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar in 1996 and was also a recipient of Jamnalal Bajaj Award. Mishra was also awarded the 'Amar Shaheed Chandrasekhar Azad National Award' of 2007-08, instituted by the Government of Madhya Pradesh

He has written several books such as Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talaab, Rajasthan Ki Rajat Boondein and Chipko movement: Uttarakhand women's bid to save forest wealth. His book Aaj Bhi Khare Hain Talaab became a handbook for many non-governmental organisations working on water-harvesting projects.

Mishra used to travel to villages across India describing the value of time-tested systems of water-harvesting. He advocated conservation of traditional water structures in India.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, December 19, 2016, 15:26 [IST]
Petitions over Jayalalithaa's death: Concern or publicity stunt?

India

oi-Anusha

Two petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court seeking investigations into Jayalalithaa's death. Telugu Yuva Shakti, a Chennai-based NGO, was the first to seek a probe followed by expelled All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Sasikala Pushpa. While the petitions sought redressal in the Supreme Court, they went to the media at the same time. The expelled party member and the NGO have drawn criticism for approaching the media for redressal, a tactic being accused as a mere publicity stunt.

The Supreme Court had once famously observed, 'If a person is seeking redressal in the media then a Public Interest Litigation will be viewed as a Publicity Interest Litigation.' The Supreme Court has observed on various occasions that while seeking redressal the petitioners are advised to avoid speaking to the media until and unless a notice has been issued.

There have also been instances of courts pulling up petitioners seeking redressal before the media. Courts have warned that unless cognisance of the petition is taken, the petitioners are not supposed to approach the media.

[Also Read: Expelled Aiadmk MP wants CBI to probe Jayalalithaa's death]

In the Gen V K Singh defamation case of 2012, the court had pulled up the petitioner Lt General Tejinder Singh for 'overreaching and pressuring the court'. A Metropolitan Magistrate observed that, "the tone and tenor of this application reflects an apparent attempt to overreach, browbeat and pressurising this court into falling into lines of dictates of the counsel for the complainant. It seems the counsel for the complainant, on each and every date, is taking advantage of wide media coverage this case is receiving and has been repeatedly pressuring this court for shorter dates."

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, December 19, 2016, 14:29 [IST]
Cabinet approves MoU between India, Denmark in field of Water Resources Development and Management

For beneficiaries of EWS flat a gift from PM Modi like none other

PM Modi hands over keys of 3024 EWS flats to beneficiaries under slum rehab plan

Pressure political parties to bring transparency, PM urges EC

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Kanpur, Dec 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged the Election Commission to pressure political parties to create transparency over the donations they get.

Addressing a rally here, Modi said he had told opposition members ahead of the just ended Parliament session to debate the issue of donations and of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

"I urged all leaders that the country expects honesty. There is mistrust against political parties. So it is our responsibility to make people believe in our honesty," Modi said.

"I said discuss how political parties should get donation," he said.

"But they did not let Parliament function because they did not want to debate the issue.

"I urge the Election Commission to take it forward, create pressure on parties... Our government will implement whatever decision is in favour of the nation," Modi said.

The Prime Minister insisted that his government had made no changes in laws related to donations to political parties.

IANS


Army chief appointment: It is prerogative of government, says former chief

India

oi-PTI

Kolkata, Dec 19: Former Army chief Gen (Retd) Shankar Roychowdhury today described the political slugfest over the new Army chief's appointment as "detestable", saying it was the prerogative of the government to select the chief of army staff.

"It is detestable. You can't stop politicians from commenting because it is a democracy. Their comments are ill-advised and ill-informed. It is futile to tell politicians not to drag the Army into this", he told PTI when asked about the controversy over the appointment of Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the new Army chief.

"It is the prerogative of the government to select the chief of Army staff. All the three names which cropped up in the media - Eastern Army Commander, Southern Army Commander and the vice-chief Lt Gen Bipin Rawat - are the best of the best.

They are extremely experienced with total integrity," he said. Asked whether the morale of the Army gets affected by such political controversies, he replied in the negative. "The morale doesn't get affected.

The Army will continue to do its duty but they take note of what has been said. The feeling is always there in their mind. But they know that politicians will always say something to suit their own interests," Gen Roychowdhury said.

Bipin Rawat to be new Army chief, Dhanoa to head IAF

A highly decorated war hero, Gen Roychowdhury fought the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war.

A political slugfest broke out over the new Army chief's appointment by superseding two officers with Congress asking the Prime Minister to spell out the "compelling reasons" for it and the Left questioning the move even as BJP hit back, saying they should not politicise an issue related to the defence forces.

PTI
Truth has come out, says Sasikala in reaction to OPS's remark before panel

Sasi a boon granted by Amma says AIADMK resolution

India

oi-Vicky

Sasikala is a boon granted by Amma read a resolution. Many in the AIADMK have been urging Sasikala Natarajan to take over not just as the general secretary of the party, but also as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

R B Udhaykumar who is the Revenue Minister of Tamil Nadu handed over a resolution titled "Thai Thanta Varam," (Sasikala is a boon granted by Amma) to Sasikala. In the resolution he urged Chinamma (younger mother) to take up the responsibilities of the party and also the government.

He also urged her to fight the elections from the RK Nagar constituency which is now vacant following Jayalalithaa's death. Udhaykumar told reporters that he along with many other AIADMK leaders urged Sasikala to take over all responsibilities and protect the party functionaries across the state.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, December 19, 2016, 8:16 [IST]
12-year-old Indian in Guinness World Record for identifying most aeroplane tails in UAE

Watch: Four Indian women racially abused in Texas in most horrific manner

Slain soldier cremated with full military honours

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Pune, Dec 19: Indian Army soldier Saurabh Nandkumar Pharate, who was killed by gunmen in a military convoy attack on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated here on Monday morning with full military honours, officials said.

Pharate, 32, was among the three soldiers killed when gunmen opened fire on the military convoy near Kadlabal in Pulwama district on Saturday.

Hailing from Bhekrainagar in Fursungi, his body was brought from Jammu to Pune on Sunday and kept at the Armed Forces Medical College here, where several thousands of people paid their homage.

Among those who offered their last respects, included Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, who also met the family members of the dead soldier, besides other local political and social bigwigs.

"We remember him a lot... We cherish many memories of Saurabh, how he was always courageous since his childhood and wanted to do something for the nation," said the grieving father, Nandkumar Pharate to Pawar, who consoled him.

Recalling his son's supreme sacrifice for the country, Pharate demanded toughest action by the government against the terrorists responsible for his death.

Saurabh had spent two months on vacation with his family and celebrated the birthday of his twin daughters on October 24.

Army convoy attacked in Pampore, 3 jawans martyred

Following in the footsteps of his elder brother, Saurabh had joined the army around 2003.

After his vacation, he had resumed duties barely a week ago when his entirely family had given him a fond farewell.

He is survived by his wife, twin daughters, a brother also posted in Jammu and Kashmir, and their aged parents.

Many of the grieving mourners from Bhekrainagar and surrounding villages joined the funeral procession amid cries of "Saurabh Pharate Amar Rahe" and "BharatMata Ki Jai".

IANS
Tension in Bhilwara after two groups clash, five injured

India

oi-PTI

Jaipur, Dec 19: Tension gripped Bhilwara city for several hours on Sunday when a religious procession was being taken out, with two groups belonging to different communities indulging in stone pelting and setting vehicles on fire, leaving five persons injured.

Police have registered four cases in connection with the incident and arrested 22 persons for disturbing peace in the area yesterday. It was the second time in the last six days that tension escalated between two communities in the district, forcing the administration to impose prohibitory orders.

The situation, however, now is under control following several rounds of talks with the people of different communities. "Following tussle between two major groups, we have arrested 22 persons for disturbing peace in the area.

Four cases have been registered after the incident. Situation is now under control," SHO Pratapnagar, Navneet Vyas said.

There was some tussle between two groups and few mischievous elements set vehicles on fire and vandalised four-wheelers, said the police. Stone pelting continued for nearly an hour in Gayatri Nagar and Sanjay Colony thus, injuring five persons.

PTI
Golden intelligence rule: When your cover is blown, you are on your own

Terrorists undergo 22-day training for winter; set to infiltrate India

India

oi-Vicky

An Intelligence Bureau reports suggests that terrorists in Pakistan have undergone a 22-day training course and are set to infiltrate into India. Pakistan which normally cuts down infiltrations during the winter, has decided to step up the heat instead.

The IB reports suggest that a 22-day training programme was undertaken across the Line of Control in November, during which special training on how to carry out attacks during the winter was imparted to a batch 30 terrorists.

The Pakistan army has handed out high-altitude gear to the terrorists that it uses in Siachin. During a recent meeting between the Pakistan Army officials and terrorists, it was decided that infiltrations should continue even when the snowfall is high, and so, high-altitude gear was provided to them (the terrorists).

No breather for security forces

Infiltrations normally slow down due to heavy snow fall in December. However, the Pakistan Army wants to ensure that the process continues and the Indian forces do not get time to settle down.

IB officials tell OneIndia that based on the information, there was a meeting that was held two weeks ago at Muridke in Punjab, Pakistan, in which officials of the Pak army and terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba were present.

IB officials report that this is a clear sign that the Pakistan Army does not want the issue to die down.

"In normal circumstances, during the winter, security forces get a bit of a breather as infiltrations are down. However this time around security forces will have to prepare for a long winter as terrorists will look to beat the snow and infiltrate," says the source.
Yasin Bhatkal, 4 others sentenced to death in Dilsukhnagar blast case

India

oi-Vicky

While handing out the deaths sentence, the court held that the case falls under the category of the rarest of the rare cases

A special court of the National Investigation Agency sentenced Indian Mujahideen leader, Yasin Bhatkal and four others to death in connection with the Hyderabad Dilsukhnagar blasts case on Monday. The court held that the case falls under the category of the rarest of rare cases.

[Also read: The rise and fall of India's deadliest bomber Yasin Bhatkal]

The special NIA court had on December 13 convicted Yasin and four others, after finding them guilty of carrying out the Dilsukhnagar blasts. Incidentally, this was the first conviction handed out to Yasin.

The NIA sought death sentence for Yasin and his accomplices. The NIA argued that the case falls under the definition of the rarest of rare cases and hence Yasin and his accomplices must hang to death.

On December 13, Yasin was handed out his first conviction under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 and the Indian Penal Code. Apart from Yasin, four others were also convicted by the court. The court, while delivering the verdict, said that the prosecution has managed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused are guilty.

The court had framed charges against Yasin, the IM co-founder, Pakistani national 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 in Hyderabad. The court however split up the case against Riyaz Bhatkal, one of the founders of the outfit as he is absconding.

A history of violence

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.

During the course of the arguments, the NIA pointed out that the IM was banned on June 22, 2009. The IM has been responsible for the November 2007 blasts in courts of Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow, the Varanasi blast of July 11, 2006, the Mumbai serial blasts of July 11, 2006 and the Hyderabad twin blasts of August 25, 2007.

The NIA said that the outfit was also behind the Jaipur blast of May 13, 2008, the Ahmedabad serial blasts of July 26, 2008, the September 13, 2008 serial blasts in Delhi, Pune's German Bakery blast in February 2010, the Chinnaswami stadium blast in Bangalore on April 17, 2010 and the Mumbai serial blasts of July 13, 2011 were also allegedly carried out by IM.
57 journalists killed worldwide in 2016: Reporters Without Borders

International

oi-PTI

Paris, Dec 19: At least 57 journalists have been killed around the world in 2016 while doing their job, Reporters Without Borders said Monday. The press freedom group said 19 were killed in Syria alone, followed by 10 in Afghanistan, nine in Mexico and five in Iraq.

Almost all of those killed were locally-based journalists. Although it was fewer than the 67 killed in 2015, the group put the decrease down to "the fact that many journalists have fled countries that became too dangerous, especially Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and Burundi". It said the withdrawal of reporters from these conflict- ridden countries had created "news and information black holes where impunity reigns".

Nine bloggers and eight media workers have also been killed this year. Reporters Without Borders said the fall in deaths was also the result of the "terror" imposed by what it called "press freedom predators" who close media outlets arbitrarily and gag journalists. In countries such as Mexico, this led to journalists self- censoring to avoid being murdered, the group said in its annual report. In Afghanistan, all of the 10 journalists killed were deliberately targeted because of their profession.

Seven, including three women, were killed in a suicide attack in January on a minibus used by privately-owned Tolo TV. The Taliban claimed responsibility. Yemen, where more than 7,000 people have been killed since 2015 in a war pitting Saudi-backed regime forces against Huthi rebels, was another a black spot for journalists with five killed.

Also read: Aleppo: Evacuations postponed following attacks

"The violence against journalists is more and more deliberate," RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. "They are clearly being targeted and murdered because they are journalists. This alarming situation reflects the glaring failure of the international initiatives aimed at protecting them, and is a death warrant for independent reporting in those areas where all possible means are used to impose censorship and propaganda, especially by fundamentalist groups in the Middle East."

The group called for incoming UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special representative for the protection of journalists.

PTI
Aleppo: Evacuations postponed following attacks

International

oi-PTI

Aleppo, Dec 19: Evacuations on Sunday of fighters and civilians from the devastated Syrian city of Aleppo were postponed until further notice after gunmen attacked buses for a similar operation from two rebel-besieged villages.

The development came as Syria ally Russia warned it would veto a French-drafted resolution at the Security Council on sending UN observers to Aleppo and submitted a counter draft resolution. Diplomats said the Security Council vote would take place on Monday.

Dozens of buses had entered the last rebel-held parts of Aleppo today to resume the evacuation of thousands of increasingly desperate trapped Syrian civilians and rebels. The evacuation was suspended on Friday, a day after convoys of people had begun leaving the rebel sector under a deal allowing the regime to take full control of the battleground city.

The main obstacle to a resumption had been a dispute over how many people would be evacuated in parallel from two Shiite villages, Fuaa and Kafraya, under rebel siege in northwestern Syria. But just as a deal to go ahead with the evacuations was found and announced by both sides, gunmen attacked buses sent to take people out of Fuaa and Kafraya and torched them, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said one bus driver was killed in the attack and that the overall evacuation operation was put on hold. The Britain-based monitor said security guarantees were needed before they could resume. Yasser al-Youssef of the Nureddin al-Zinki rebel group confirmed that "the evacuations have been momentarily suspended".

The Observatory said buses would not leave the rebel areas of Aleppo until residents of Fuaa and Kafraya were also able to leave. Buses began entering several east Aleppo districts earlier today under Red Crescent and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) supervision "to bring the remaining terrorists and their families out," state news agency SANA said, referring to the rebels.

State television said 100 buses would take people out. By early evening in Aleppo, more than 30 buses were packed with people awaiting evacuation, while thousands more stood in the cold for their turn to board other buses, an AFP reporter said. A rebel representative had also said that hundreds of people would also be evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya, two regime-besieged rebel towns in Damascus province, as part of the deal.

The UN Security Council met to discuss a French draft resolution saying that "tens of thousands of besieged Aleppo inhabitants" are in need of aid and evacuation. The measure would task Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with deploying UN staff to Aleppo to monitor evacuations and report on the protection of civilians who remain there. But Russia said it would use its veto to block the French proposal, and instead presented a rival draft asking the UN to make "arrangements" to monitor the situation.

PTI
China rejects Donald Trump's claim it stole US drone

International

oi-PTI

Beijing, Dec 19: China on Monday rejected President- elect Donald Trump's charge that it "stole" an American drone, saying the device was picked up to prevent "harm" to freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea, from where Beijing claims the US is spying on Chinese coast.

"First of all we did not like the word stealing. This is also not accurate," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a media briefing, hitting back at Trump's charge. "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters -- rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act," Trump tweeted.

His claim had come hours after the Chinese government had said it had been in touch with the US military about the incident. Hua said both militaries are handling the issue "smoothly". She also denied US allegations that the Chinese naval ship picked it up and took it away despite messages from the US survey ship USNS Bowditch which controlled the drone. "As really what happened you can see from Defence Ministry statement that the Chinese navy found this unidentified device and examined in a professional manner to verify it," Hua said.

"No matter how they see this unidentified device, most important thing is that Chinese navy took a professional and responsible decision to do this in order to prevent from causing harm to freedom of navigation," she said. "I think this is easy to understand. Just imagine that you found something on the street and you to first check and verify it before handing it back to someone else. So I believe it is something easy to understand," Hua said.

Also read: US should let China keep underwater drone: Trump

Asked whether China did not know that it belonged to US, she shot back saying, "what is your point. Do you think this fell from the pocket of US?" However, she said the militaries of both US and Beijing are in close touch to handle this issue smoothly. "All I can tell you is that the two sides are handling this issues properly handling through smooth military channels," Hua said, adding that she has nothing to offer on specifics like when the drone would be handed over to the US.

Hua said only the defence ministry will clarify that from where the drone was picked by the Chinese naval ship. The US military had said it was taken away from outside the nine dash line of the South China Sea.

The line in the Chinese maps indicates China's claims over the area, which is disputed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan. Also, Hua declined to comment on Trump's tweets on China, including the second one on the drone in which he said, "We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back -- let them keep it!"

PTI
Flashback 2016: When Islamic State went global

International

oi-Vicky

When the Islamic State came to be in 1999, its battle was restricted to the neighbourhood of Syria and Iraq. The IS, which was battling the establishment, eyed the seat of power in these two countries. This past year, however, saw a gradual shift in strategy and the outfit directed its fighters, especially those based in Europe, to focus on major cities in the Western European region.

The attacks in Paris, Nice and Orlando showed that there was a clear shift in strategy by the IS top brass. Losing ground in Syria and Iraq focused the groups attention at taking the fight outside of their home base.

"Go back to your home country and strike," was the directive of the outfit's supreme commander, Abu Bakr al-Bhagdadi. This was always part of the strategy and the IS knew it would not be able to battle the allied forces in Iraq and Syria.

Deserted markets after Paris attack Shoes and other belongings are seen in front of Ke Carillon Hotel after panic broke out among mourners who payed their respect at the attack sites at restaurant Le Petit Cambodge and the Carillon Hotel in Paris. French police officers storm a church French police officers storm a church after a raid in Paris suburb Saint-Denis.A woman wearing an explosive suicide vest blew herself up as heavily armed police tried to storm a suburban Paris apartment where the suspected mastermind was believed to be holed up Damaged building in Paris suburb of Saint-Denis Paris : The damaged building during raid on an apartment is pictured in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the Belgian extremist suspected of masterminding the deadly attacks in Paris died a day ago along with his female cousin in a police raid on a suburban apartment building. Leaders paying tribute Paris: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife Sophie Gregoire, French prime minister Manuel Valls, and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo pay their respects to victims of the Paris attacks in front of the Bataclan concert hall Police captured Salah Abdeslam Brussels: In this framegrab taken from VTM, armed police officers take part in a raid in the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels. After an intense four-month manhunt across Europe and beyond, police captured Salah Abdeslam, the top fugitive in the Paris attacks in the same Brussels neighborhood where he grew Manhunt in Brussels Special intervention forces sit on top of a roof as they prepare to enter a house in Brussels. A major action with heavily armed police was undertaken in the Brussels neighborhood of Molenbeek amid a manhunt for a suspect of the Paris terror attacks. Soldiers patrol in Brussels Belgian Army soldiers patrol outside the Central Station in Brussels. Zaventem airport The blown out windows of Zaventem airport are seen after a deadly attack in Brussels.

The 'war' online

Security experts say that the IS has mastered the art of propaganda. It does not want to invest in attacks outside of Iraq and Syria. It would spread its propaganda on the web and ensure that its followers strike in cities. Attacks are normally carried out by terror groups close to the IS or individuals assailants, deemed by security forces as 'lone wolves'. Following the attack, the IS would be quick to claim the attack. This trend was most evident in the attacks at Paris, Nice and Dhaka all of which were claimed by the IS.

The first half of 2016, saw IS sending its foreign fighters back home. Several foreign fighters had been asked to return home following the spate of defeats the outfit faced in both Iraq and Syria. The IS bastion in both countries had gone out of the outfit's control and hence a contingency plan had been adopted.

No end in sight

Western media largely hailed the decline of the IS in Iraq and Syria. However, this allied success had a dark side with the IS deciding to strike at the heartland. There were a lot of foreign fighters who returned home and this was at first considered to be a strategic retreat.

It was only following the Paris attack did security agencies realise that this was part of a larger IS strategy.

The IS had instructed its foreign fighters to gain entry into their home countries and stage attacks. The idea was to execute revenge in Europe for the defeats in Iraq and Syria.
Will continue to sell oil, Iran says on the day US sanctions get reimposed

Two days after quitting from post via Instagram post, Iranian foreign minister rejoins work

US is the real 'leader of world terrorism': Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

Iran asserts on adhereing by nuclear agreement: Rouhani

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Tehran, Dec 19: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stressed his country's commitment to the July 2015 nuclear agreement, insisting that Iran will continue to collaborate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In a meeting with IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, President Rouhani said that Iran has been loyal to its commitments to the nuclear agreement so far, Efe news reported on Sunday citing The Islamic Republic News Agency.

He emphasised that Iran will fulfill its obligations as long as the other parties do, per the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The agreement with the P5+1 (the US, Britain, China, Russia, France and Germany) limited Iran's nuclear capabilities in exchange for lifting the international sanctions imposed against the country.

Rouhani claimed that the recent US measures, especially the extension of Iran's Sanctions Act, are incompatible with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The president also expressed his hopes that Iran and the IAEA could have good technical cooperation in the field of nuclear-powered engines for maritime transport.

Amano said that Iran has remained committed to its pledges under JCPOA since the implementation of the deal last January, and reassured the president that the agency will observe impartiality in providing technical reports about the Iranian nuclear program, IRNA reported.

During his visit to the Islamic Republic on Sunday, Amano also conferred with the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali-Akbar Salehi and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Amano's visit coincided with the rising tensions between Washington and Tehran following the extension of Iran's Sanctions Act for 10 more years.

--IANS

pgh/
Photo of Chinese bomber flying over Taiwan sparks concerns

International

oi-PTI

Beijing, Dec 19: A photo published by Chinese military showing its strategic bomber reportedly flying over Taiwan has sparked concerns in the island, official media here reported. The incident occured days after Beijing's spat with US President-elect Donald Trump over his questioning of 'One China' policy.

The photo published by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) showing a long-range strategic bomber flying within visible range of Yushan, Taiwan's highest mountain, has caused great concern in Taiwan amid debate about whether the mainland will reunify the island by force, state-run Global Times reported.

It said the PLA Air Force published the photo on its Sina Weibo account, showing an Xian H-6K bomber flying above the clouds with two mountain peaks rising in the distance.

"Military commentators on the mainland believe the peaks are of a mountain in Taiwan, which has made many netizens marvel at the PLA's military capability," the report said.

However, the spokesman of Taiwan's "Defence Ministry," Chen Zhongji, told the Central News Agency that military aircraft from the mainland could only fly outside the air defence identification zone of Taiwan and the ministry could monitor their movements, saying the guesses were "groundless". The daily quoted a Military expert Chen Weihao as telling Taiwan-based satellite television channel and cable TV network TVBS that it was the first time that mainland aircraft had been photographed with Taiwan landscapes, which has a psychological impact on the island.

"Discussions about the possibility of the mainland reunifying Taiwan by force continues to gain momentum as pro- independence Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen keeps whipping up anti-mainland sentiment," it said.

The report in the official media in Beijing followed war of words between China and Trump after he spoke to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen which is unprecedented as US follows One China Policy under which China claims the breakaway province of Taiwan as part of its mainland.

"Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the US doesn't tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I don't think so!," angry Trump said after China lodged protests over his talks with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Later Trump said in an interview that "I don't want China dictating to me. I don't know why we have to be bound by a one -China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade".

This prompted China to react saying that One China policy formed the bed rock of its foreign policy and US-China ties will be "out of question" if Trump compromised with One China policy. Since then, Chinese military analysts have been saying that any plans by Trump to alter One China policy may heighten tensions in Taiwan Straits.

PTI
Ukraine grain deal: UN says shipments are still going out

Russia, Iran, Turkey to hold trilateral Syria talks

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Moscow, Dec 19 Russia on Monday said it will hold a trilateral meeting on the situation in Syria with Iran and Turkey.

Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu, his Iranian counterpart Hossein Dehqan and Turkey's Fikri Isik are due to gather in Moscow on Tuesday, coinciding with the meeting of the nations' respective Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov, Mohammad Javad Zarif and Mevlut Cavusoglu, reports Efe.

A statement released by the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs said the discussions would focus on finding a solution to the conflict in Syria, while aiming to contribute to the resolutions made by the UN Security Council.

The Ministers are expected to discuss the next stage in the Battle of Aleppo once the last remaining opposition neighbourhood is cleared.

While the ongoing evacuation process was brokered by the three regional powers, the Syrian civil war has provoked conflicting policies from the nations.

Both Russia and Iran have maintained firm support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by providing military support and counsel, while Turkey employs members of the opposition Free Syrian Army in an attempt to create a buffer zone in Syria's north.

The mass evacuations marked an effective end to the opposition insurgents who have held eastern Aleppo since it collapsed into war in 2012.

IANS
JNU Admissions 2022: PG First merit list for MCA, MA, MSc admissions released; how to check

Stage 4 of pollution action plan: Here's what will be affected in Delhi

Panneerselvam to meet PM Modi today, will seek Bharat Ratna for Jayalalithaa

New Delhi

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

New Delhi, Dec 19: Tamil Nadu chief minsiter O Panneerselvam arrived in Delhi on Monday and will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day.

Panneerselvam will meet Modi and is likely to put forth a request to bestow the Bharat Ratna to former chief minister Jayalalithaa, who died on Dec 5, 2016. Apart from this, he will also urge the PM to install a life size bronze statue of Jayalalithaa in the Parliament complex.

The Tamil Nadu Cabinet had decided to recommend Amma's name for Bharat Ratna in a meeting chaired by Panneerselvam, AIADMK said on Sunday.

Honourable CM Thiru.O.Panneerselvam to meet PM Modi tomorrow at Delhi, seeking Central aid for restoration works in cyclone-hit areas in TN.  AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) December 18, 2016

CM will also handover letter to PM to give Bharat Ratna to Puratchi Thalaivi Amma and for construction of Amma's bronze statue in parliament  AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) December 18, 2016

Jayalalithaa died on Dec 5 this year after being hospitalised for over 70 days. She had suffered a cardiac arrest on Dec 4 following which her condition deteriorated.

Also read: Sasi a boon granted by Amma says AIADMK resolution

Apart from this, Panneerselvam will also discuss the damage caused by Cyclone Vardah in the state and will seek funds for restoration works in cyclone-hit areas, AIADMK said on Sunday.

Cyclone Vardah has caused severe damage in Tamil Nadu, killing at least 10 people and displacing many. Cyclone Vardah had made landfall near Pulicat in Northern Chennai and had damaged several buildings that were in its way.

OneIndia News
While Police was on their job of patrolling in the city some unknown gunmen attacked and killed seven police men, a Canadian tourist, and two locals. The incident took place on Sunday in southern area of Jordan, named as Karak.

The tourists had gathered in Karak where the firing took place. The general security department said, "The first attack took place when a police patrol went to check on a fire that had broken out in a house in Karak. As soon as we reached the area, unknown gunmen who were inside the house opened fire on the patrol, wounding a policeman, and then fled by car,".

"Shortly afterwards, gunmen opened fire on another patrol without causing any casualties," they added in a statement given to a news agency.

"At the same time, gunmen in the Crusader castle opened fire on the Karak police station, wounding several policemen and passers-by who were rushed to hospital."

The Prime Minister Hani al-Malki, said that "special forces and policemen are surrounding 10 gunmen holed up inside the Karak citadel".

The hunt to find the gunmen is still on and the real reason behing firing and killing is still unknown. Jordan city has been targeted by IS group earlier in the past.

Millitary plane crashes killing 13 people, in Indonesia

IS lost 14 tanks in latest offensive by US air-strikes

Suicide Car bomb attacks kills 14 soldiers in Turkey
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Expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa demanded a CBI inquiry into the health condition of ailing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and alleged that her aide Sasikala Natarajan was now "controlling" the day-to-day affairs of the government."CM Jayalalithaa, who was doing well, fell sick all of a sudden. A proper enquiry must be done into her health condition which deteriorated suddenly. It should be found out that whether she fell sick naturally and or was forced to become sick," the expelled Rajya Sabha told a press conference.
Kerala CPI-M activist murder: Double life sentence for 11 RSS activists

Thiruvananthapuram

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

The Thiruvananthapuram additional sessions court on Monday awarded double life sentences to 11 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members in connection with the Vishnu murder case. Vishnu, a Communist Party of India-Marxist activist, was murdered on 1 April 2008. The court also sentenced one person to 3 years imprisonment for helping the accused hide. The court imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 and life imprisonment for accused number 13. In all 13 members of the RSS were convicted for the murder of a CPI-M activist.

The court on Friday had found all 13 accused guilty and announced the quantum of punishment on Monday. The court had acquitted one accused. While one accused, Renjith, died during trial another, Azam Ani, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader remains absconding. RSS activists Santosh, Manoj, Biju Kumar, Harilal, Renjith Kumar, Bibin, Satheesh, Bose, Vinod Kumar, Subhash, Satish and Sivalal have been convicted.

CPI-M activist Vishnu was hacked to death in broad daylight in April 2008 outside the passport office in Kaithamukku. 16 members of the BJP were initially named as accused in the murder. Vishnu was accused in three cases of attacks against RSS members in 2001. Investigating officials claimed that Vishnu was hacked as revenge crime after an attempt on RSS member Tirumala Hari's life.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, December 19, 2016, 12:35 [IST]
Sky News 03 Nov 2022

The Bank of England is expected to unveil the biggest interest rate rise since the 1980s today.
On Sunday, in Manipur the authorities has imposed Curfew after Anti-economic Blockade protesters torched 20 Ukhrul-Bound vehicles in Khurai area. Curfew is imposed from 6:30 PM Sunday to 4:00 AM Monday.

The Deputy commissioner has issued an order in which all telecom operators were asked to shut down all the internet services in the Imphal area. According to the officials, this is done to prevent "spreading of false propaganda and hate speech through social media".

Police dispersed the tear gas in the area so that angry public can go away from the place.

Minor injured in bomb blast near BSF camp in Manipur

Irom Sharmila announces new 'Regional Party' in Imphal

Manipur girl faced racism at Delhi airport on Monday
Uber Technologies Inc said it was disillusioned Taiwan's governing body had passed a direction that will raise fines pointedly on unlicensed ride-sharing services to the most elevated amount for such fines all around.

The Legislative Yuan concluded an alteration charge on Friday focusing on Uber by raising the greatest fine for unlawful traveler transportation administrations to up to T$25 million ($780,000) from amongst NT$50,000 and NT$150,000.

The move denotes the most recent conflict in the remain off between the Taiwan government and the worldwide ride-sharing firm. Uber asked Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in November to give the island's kin a chance to choose whether they need Uber benefits in Taiwan.

As indicated by Taiwan's Central News Agency, referring to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Uber has been fined a sum of NT$66.05 million for 465 infringement and Uber drivers have been fined NT$20.028 million. Numerous Uber drivers in Taiwan are not authorized.

Taiwan's bureau has said policymakers had achieved an accord on raising potential fines that would influence Uber's operations in Taiwan from current levels of at most T$150,000 to as much as T$25 million.

"This was a hurried choice, taken without a meeting," the San Francisco-based organization said in an announcement issued late on Friday.

"We are extremely disappointed to see the Legislative Yuan pass the adjustment charge raising fines against driver-accessories on the Uber application to the greatest wherever on the planet."

"We will keep on seeking a productive discussion with the Taiwanese government to guarantee Taiwan gets the full advantages that ridesharing conveys to riders, drivers, and urban communities. We will likewise concentrate the enactment before choosing our next strides," it said.

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Rumble 27 Oct 2022

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This time it's Pinterest, last time it was Facebook twice and before that Instagram banned her two different times.
Currently: Long Looking to: Sell @ 31,865



As of 3/21/21 @ 8:22pm EST: 29,310



LAST WEEK: We suggested buying any dips down to 28,308 with stops below 28,308 and with a target of 31,865.



UPDATE: The Nikkei 225 Index has held raised support at 28,308 thus far and has started to move higher. We believe this rally will continue up to 31,865.

Buy any dips from current levels down to 29,037 with stops below 28,308 and with a target of 31,865.
From Consortium News



CIA Director John Brennan addresses officials at the Agency's headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

(Image by (Photo credit: CIA)) Details DMCA



As Official Washington's latest "group think" solidifies into certainty -- that Russia used hacked Democratic emails to help elect Donald Trump -- something entirely different may be afoot: a months-long effort by elements of the U.S. intelligence community to determine who becomes the next president.

I was told by a well-placed intelligence source some months ago that senior leaders of the Obama administration's intelligence agencies -- from the CIA to the FBI -- were deeply concerned about either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump ascending to the presidency. And, it's true that intelligence officials often come to see themselves as the stewards of America's fundamental interests, sometimes needing to protect the country from dangerous passions of the public or from inept or corrupt political leaders.

It was, after all, a senior FBI official, Mark Felt, who -- as "Deep Throat" -- guided The Washington Post's Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in their Watergate investigation into the criminality of President Richard Nixon. And, I was told by former U.S. intelligence officers that they wanted to block President Jimmy Carter's reelection in 1980 because they viewed him as ineffectual and thus not protecting American global interests.

It's also true that intelligence community sources frequently plant stories in major mainstream publications that serve propaganda or political goals, including stories that can be misleading or entirely false.

What's Going On?

So, what to make of what we have seen over the past several months when there have been a series of leaks and investigations that have damaged both Clinton and Trump -- with some major disclosures coming, overtly and covertly, from the U.S. intelligence community led by CIA Director John Brennan and FBI Director James Comey?

Some sources of damaging disclosures remain mysterious. Clinton's campaign was hobbled by leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee -- showing it undercutting Clinton's chief rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders -- and from her campaign chairman John Podesta -- exposing the content of her speeches to Wall Street banks that she had tried to hide from the voters, and revealing the Clinton Foundation's questionable contacts with foreign governments.

Clinton -- already burdened with a reputation for secrecy and dishonesty -- suffered from the drip, drip, drip of releases from WikiLeaks of the DNC and Podesta emails although it remains unclear who gave the emails to WikiLeaks. Still, the combination of the two email batches added to public suspicions about Clinton and reminded people why they didn't trust her.

But the most crippling blow to Clinton came from FBI Director Comey in the last week of the campaign when he re-opened and then re-closed the investigation into whether she broke the law with her sloppy handling of classified material in her State Department emails funneled through a home server.

Following Comey's last-minute revival of the Clinton email controversy, her poll numbers fell far enough to enable Trump to grab three normally Democratic states -- Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin -- enough to give him a victory in the Electoral College.

Taking Down Trump

However, over the past few weeks, the U.S. intelligence community, led by CIA Director Brennan and seconded by FBI Director Comey, has tried to delegitimize Trump by using leaks to the mainstream U.S. news media to pin the release of the DNC and Podesta emails on Russia and claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally trying to put Trump into the White House.



Russian President Vladimir Putin during a state visit to Austria on June 24, 2014.

(Image by (Official Russian government photo)) Details DMCA



This remarkable series of assessments from the CIA -- now endorsed by the leadership of the FBI -- come on the eve of the Electoral College members assembling to cast their formal votes to determine who becomes the new U.S. president. Although the Electoral College process is usually simply a formality, the Russian-hacking claims made by the U.S. intelligence community have raised the possibility that enough electors might withhold their votes from Trump to deny him the presidency.

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Petrochemical companies may well create "African quality" fuel, but their market on the eponymous continent has gotten a little bit smaller after Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire all recently announced that they were banning European fuel imports .

This came after the Dirty Diesel report published by campaign group Public Eye highlighted that many petrochemical products sold by European firms in the African market are inferior and much dirtier because of their sulfur content. The revelations about this "African Quality" fuel, as the petrochemical companies slyly termed it, could act as the catalyst for a much greater shift in Africa, which for some time has known that the only way to solve its many crises is by catching up with the developed world by leapfrogging and adopting cutting edge technologies without going through the motions. And one of the most burning issues Africans face now is putting a stop to its on-going power crisis.

Indeed, this isn't just a public health issue -- 60,000 people die every year from air pollution across the continent -- but an economic problem. In many parts of Africa, there is little choice but to use dirty fossil fuels as alternative electricity sources are all but none-existent. Many rural areas in Africa are isolated, which increases the cost of capital infrastructure for electricity and presents a logistical challenge to the governments and private sector companies trying to bring electricity to these populations.

As a result, sub-Saharan Africa has a real dearth of electricity. By any measure -- access, capacity or usage -- the sector is significantly under-developed. Sub-Saharan Africa is 13% of the world's population, yet is responsible for 48% of the global population without access to electricity. And there are few parts of African life that this does not have an impact on as lack of electricity leads to truncated lives and stunted economies.

However, the scarcity of reliable, safe power sources in Africa provides an opportunity. Could Africa be the next big "leapfrogger" in the shift away from fossil fuels? There is already precedent for this on the continent. Mobile phone usage trends are one of the clearest examples of leapfrogging - many countries never went through the phase of being tethered by their landline, moving instead straight from no-phone to smart phone . And with its obvious advantages as an environment in which to deploy solar power, the conditions are right in Africa for it to leapfrog the West in the widespread adoption of solar power.

And, though entrepreneurialism isn't something typically associated with Africa, it actually has a huge pool of talent. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa's informal economy . Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. And Africa is a continent of small-scale inventors. It has a huge pool of indigenous talent, already highly experienced at creating whatever it is that their local market needs, whether it's water pumps or grass cutters. And what many markets need at the moment is reliable, clean, safe power.

For this reason, Africa is already witnessing the revival of a simple but effective technology for electricity production -- Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). This uses the sun's heat to create steam, and in turn electricity. Although a less streamlined process than other technologies such as photovoltaic cells, which can make electricity directly from sunlight, the energy generated by CSP can be stored for a few hours after the sun sets. Already, Africa hosts six of the 10 biggest CSP plants globally . And CSP isn't the only example of African countries embracing alternative sources of power.

The Olkaria plant in Kenya is the biggest single-turbine geothermal facility in the world. Similarly, Ethiopia has its MW GIBE III hydroelectric project and its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is expected to generate 6,000 MW at full capacity when it is completed in 2017.

And electricity generation isn't just the domain of the major players. There are also a host of electricity generation start-ups popping up all over the continent. There's Off Grid Electric; founded in 2011 in Tanzania, it allows people to pay for their solar electricity using a mobile money service. There's also South African firm Shakti Energy, which, among other things, uses pedal power on generators to charge mobile phones and Nuru lights. And there's also Solynta Energy in Nigeria, which in 2014, set up Bakka Oil, the first solar powered filling station in Abuja.

The importance of start-ups like these to Africa's future is being recognized globally. At the UN Climate conference held in Marrakech in November, the US' foreign aid agency USAID announced the recipients of $4 million in new funding for African off-grid solar energy start-ups following the Scaling Off-Grid Energy: Grand Challenge for Development competition. It is hoped that this funding injection will help the solar start-up recipients to expand into new territories, test new business models and eventually access further private and public financing.

And there is huge appetite in Africa for increasing its knowledge of clean energy models in order to better deploy them across the region. For example, more than 20 African countries will participate at the Future Energy Expo 2017 in Astana -- a place where these nations will undoubtedly benefit from everything ranging from exposure to new ideas and technology to clean energy investment. The event will feature the world's top green energy projects at The Energy Best Practice Area and will count on the participation of more than 110 countries.

Africa is already in possession of a lot of potential in alternative energy production. It has a huge, untapped market, the entrepreneurial spirit to make things happen and the right natural resources. What is needed now is a concerted effort to bring all these things together and help power the continent for the next generation.
Reprinted from LAProgressive

How do we define #fakenews and how does it spread? Heres a guide from @mmfa https://t.co/3ZFfk9SeYC https://t.co/cKVIdoBKio at https://t.co/3ZFfk9SeYC  Mi Familia Vota (@MiFamiliaVota) December 19, 2016

Fake news definition: A definition, desperately needed, appears right here.

The first step in addressing any problem is recognizing you have one. Unless that's closely followed by defining the nature of the problem -- what it actually IS -- then there's bound to be a lot of Chicken Little.

And that flapping and squawking, with plenty of hands dumping bags of extra feathers to cloud the view, is precisely where we are. This entire notion of "Fake News" is serious, and for some, that justifies calls for censorship. For us, it's too serious to allow such ad hoc self-serving exploitation.

"Fake News" is suddenly the most ubiquitously over-invoked, fear-fomenting, vilifying term in every mainstream news cycle.

Right now, we're dealing with a nebulous term, so it warrants the qualifying quotes. "Fake News" is suddenly the most ubiquitously over-invoked, fear-fomenting, vilifying term in every mainstream news cycle. It may be the most widely used label for anything that never acquired a clear definition before attaining mass dissemination. It is a chameleon portrayed as a rattlesnake. In fact, it's whatever you want it to be.

We're risking Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart's definition of pornography, when he said he couldn't tell you what it is, but "I know it when I see it."

This can't succumb to that. Journalism has rules and standards. They've flapped in the breeze with cable news practices. The collapse of competing daily newspapers brought a lack of alternative voices. The web, though apparently addressing that, did so from perspectives with little or no real journalism experience and no specific commitment to the same communities. Being serious on the web requires being even faster than cable, except the challenge has been met by speed instead of accuracy, because you can always post an update that erases the original content. Setting type for a printed page had an air of certainty--even if the paper ended up in the cat box.

Still, standards of real journalism, though stretched thin by cable and then internet outlets, were not immediately abandoned in favor of supermarket tabloid celebrity gossip and fantasies of aliens landing in the city park. But these days that isn't so certain.

That ridiculous crap that infested your email in the double-aughts began to take on the appearance of news sent from the paper in your drunk uncle's small town. Art and page design software arrived before social media exploded. Then everything was about sending selfies, making your cyber social world all about you, and demanding your "friends" (though you'd never laid eyes on them) are instantly responsive to your every stray thought. And they are, because social media's algorithms surround you with an echo chamber of like-minded friends to keep you feeling validated and online to feel more of that and enrich the sites through the data they stole from you to bundle and sell.

Your world became a place where reality played second fiddle to virtual reality. Even at work, there was time for cyber immersion. The lines blurred, then vanished.

Anything nebulous works to the advantage of those who want to manipulate it, and to the exploitation of everyone else. In any earlier age, we'd see that as detriment. But drinking the Koolade made it desirable. The nebulous nature of it is central. If I tell you, "I like that flower," is it a perennial, an annual, or made of plastic? Or is it the brand I use to bake biscuits -- it being "flour"?

Shakespeare observed that a rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet. Similarly, a skunk by another name does not have diminished stink. Make no mistake: the notion of "Fake News" is being manipulated by someone selling you the illusion of sweet intoxicating petals of their content, their roses. Which are probably plastic. Others, protecting the supposed integrity of their competing product, will tell you to avoid and fear something from "the other" because it's the turd in the punchbowl. Usually, it's actually something they're afraid may eclipse them, so they must ridicule or vilify it to dissuade you from it.





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"When government agents raid Uber's offices," Business Insider reports, "the company springs into action with an immediate response: it shuts everything down and encrypts all its computers." That claim comes from documents filed by former Uber forensic investigator Samuel Ward Spangenberg, who's suing the company for age discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, and defamation.

Merits of the lawsuit aside, the details of Uber's raid response protocol are fascinating. They should be standard practice for every company which electronically stores and transmits sensitive information -- in other words, pretty much every company on Earth.

Spangenberg's declaration describes a raid on Uber's Montreal office by Revenu Quebec, the Canadian province's tax agency. As soon as he was informed of the raid, Spangenberg says, he remotely encrypted the company's computers at the office and cut the office's network connectivity.

Business Insider describes Spangenberg's account as an "allegation," as if this is a bad thing. But it isn't. In fact, it's a great idea. In response to an inquiry from the publication, Uber explains why:

"It's no secret that Uber has trip coordinates and other personally identifiable information about riders and drivers, and it's our obligation to protect that. We cooperate with authorities when they come to us with subpoenas."

In the digital age, law enforcement worldwide is increasingly nosy. Its leaders and advocates bemoan any technological development or practice which might in any way impede their ability to find out anything they might happen to want to know for any reason. They want our lives to be open books, and for us to just trust them to not abuse their power. History says we should begrudge them that trust.

Searches -- including searches of digital logs and archives -- should be difficult, not easy. They should be narrow in scope, not fishing expeditions where everything gets caught in the net and examined.

Law enforcement should be required to specify up front exactly what they want and expect to find, based on probable cause to believe a particular crime has been committed and that the search will uncover evidence relating to that crime. That was the supposed American standard back before everything was stored electronically, and it should be the global standard now.

But even in the good old days, we could seldom trust judges to rein in law enforcement's interest in knowing as much about us as possible. This is something we, and the companies we do business with, need to take into our own hands.

Encryption isn't nearly the handicap the surveillance state's supporters pretend it is. There are lots of ways to figure out who's doing what and why without seizing and reading a hard drive, from direct physical surveillance to analysis of the target's "social graph" (his network of personal relations).

Law enforcement does not want for information if it's willing to work for that information. Thorough, ubiquitous (or quick on-demand) encryption is at best just a bare minimum tool for preserving SOME privacy. If that makes law enforcement's job a little harder, too bad.
By Kevin Stoda

The Southern Poverty Law Center is a famed non-profit that fights against hatred and bigotry since the 1960s in the USA. Among their many programs is the Center's TEACHING TOLERANCE. This program seeks to help improve "intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our children."

The most recent project of Teaching Tolerance has been Teaching the 2016 Election: The Trump Effect (The impact of the presidential campaign on our nation's schools.) The purpose of the project was explained in the executive summary as follows:

"EVERY FOUR YEARS, teachers in the United States use the presidential election to impart valuable lessons to students about the electoral process, democracy, government and the responsibilities of citizenship. But, for students and teachers alike, this year's primary season is [was] starkly different from any in recent memory. The results of an online survey conducted by Teaching Tolerance suggest that the [presidential] campaign is having [has had] a profoundly negative effect on children and classrooms. It's producing [It has produced] an alarming level of fear and anxiety among children of color and inflaming racial and ethnic tensions in the classroom. Many students worry about being deported."

Throughout the country, thinking educators have been "perplexed and conflicted about what to do. They report being stymied by the need to remain nonpartisan but disturbed by the anxiety in their classrooms and the lessons that children may be absorbing from this campaign."

Subsequently, some two-thousand-plus teachers in survey form responded to what they were observing and revealed: The key worrisome responses were time and again:

--"I try not to bring it [the elections] up since it is so stressful for my students."

--"I am at a point where I'm going to stake a stand even if it costs me my position."

I, myself, nodded as I read the comment about "losing one's position" because many years ago many of my friends and family in Kansas felt that I was likely blackballed back in my home state of Kansas, i.e. in at least several school districts because :

(a) I had taken a stance against the first Iraq war in 1990,

(b) I had opposed the building of private prisons in America instead of pouring money into better educational opportunities for struggling youths and

(c) I spoke out against the revolving-door for Army recruiters at one high school which was specifically allowing the recruiters to walk around hallways and around the school cafeteria recruiting youths.[1]

AMERICAN SCHOOLS TODAY

Highlights from the Teaching the 2016 Election: The Trump Effect report for teachers and parents in America in 2016 are the following:

(1) More than two-thirds of the teachers reported that students--mainly immigrants, children of immigrants and muslims--have expressed concerns or fears about what might happen to them or their families after the election.

(2) More than half [of the teachers] observed an increase in uncivil political discourse.

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Among the many lies being spread, including on these pages of OEN, is the lie that those who are calling for changing or repealing the Electoral College have just come out of the woodwork for partisan reasons because their candidate, who won by 3 million, is now planning an Electoral coup, whereas "they" were fine with the Electoral College in the past. I would call that a Lie of the Century, given the evidence of over 700 attempts to change or repeal, several being in this Century. The problem,of course, is that the anti-democratic Electoral College can only be touched with an anti-democratic 2/3 vote, nearly impossible to achieve when the "College" benefits the minority party, which needs only 34 out of 100 votes to block any changes or repeal.

Anti-democracy rules! And in the 20th Century, anti-democracy has been the ideology of fascism, the marriage of the power of the State with the financial power of the corporations. It was, after all, Hitler who first said "Liberalism is a disease," but not the first to say "Democracy is mob rule," before he banished elections, which he had never won. Our Founding Fathers, 95% slave owners, who frame the Constitution, believed that "Democracy is mob rule," and so they devised a system where the minority ruled, first the slave owners who had the first 7 Presidents, then the banks and corporations, who rule today.

This is a fake quote (per monticello.org) used by the right wing to justify the tyranny of the minority.

Below, I document the many failed efforts to change/repeal the Electoral College, to refute the current lie that this attempt to change the College is a new, Clintonite reaction to "losing." The truth of course that attempts to repeal or change are on behalf of democratic values, equality of votes, and the legitimacy of government based on consent of the governed. A minority can NEVER confer consent over a majority. That is a total violation of our founding values in the Declaration of Independence, betrayed in the Constitution which sets up many firewalls against democracy and the will of We the People. Well, change it, then: over 700 attempts have failed, due to the huge firewall of the 2/3 requirement, another way to thwart a supermajority even. I hope in this article to provide the evidence to crush this new lie with daunting evidence and provide others with the information needed to challenge the lie with the truth. If we do not challenge lies, we are complicit in them.

1. Slavery was once the law of the land. Legality does not confer legitimacy, as everything Hitler did was legal, including exterminating millions in the death camps. Jeffeson, who wrote "all men are created equal" sold slave children age 5 as a "good investment."

2. The claim that no on complained about the Electoral College before it became the tool by which a man who lost the election by 3 million votes was poised to use it to gain power...is not true.

3. The difficulty is that the Amendment process requires a 2/3 vote of Congress and this is nearly impossible to achieve on any significant issue: it is another way that democracy is thwarted.

4. archives.gov reports: "Reference sources indicate that over the past 200 years, over 700 proposals have been introduced in Congress to reform or eliminate the Electoral College. There have been more proposals for Constitutional amendments on changing the Electoral College than on any other subject."

5. Recent attempts show how difficult it is to find a consensus of 2/3, a bar so high that it has blocked attempts for our entire history.

Examples:

."1950: The Lodge-Gossett Amendment was a classic example of a reform plan known as proportional allocation. The plan was introduced in the 81st Congress (1949-1950) as an amendment proposal that would abolish the Electoral College as it was known, replacing it with a proportional electoral vote.

The Lodge-Gossett Amendment passed the Senate with a super majority by a vote of 64-27, but died a bitter death in the House. "

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Jesus was born into a police state not unlike the growing menace of the American police state.

But what if Jesus, the revered preacher, teacher, radical and prophet, had been born and raised 2,000 years later in the American police state?



Rick's folks wired baby Jesus down!

(Image by twodolla) Details DMCA



Consider the following if you will.

The Christmas narrative of a baby born in a manger is a familiar one.

The Roman Empire had ordered that a census be conducted. Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary traveled to the little town of Bethlehem so that they could be counted. There being no room for the couple at any of the inns, they stayed in a stable, where Mary gave birth to a baby boy. That boy, Jesus, would grow up to undermine the political and religious establishment of his day and was eventually crucified as a warning to others not to challenge the powers-that-be.

However, had Jesus been born in the year 2016"

Rather than traveling to Bethlehem for a census, Jesus' parents would have been mailed a 28-page American Community Survey, a mandatory government questionnaire documenting their habits, household inhabitants, work schedule, etc.

Instead of being born in a manger, Jesus might have been born at home. Rather than wise men and shepherds bringing gifts, however, the baby's parents might have been forced to ward off visits from state social workers intent on prosecuting them for the home birth. One couple in Washington had all three of their children removed after social services objected to the two youngest being birthed in an unassisted home delivery.

Had Jesus' parents been undocumented immigrants, they and the newborn baby might have been shuffled to a profit-driven, private prison for illegals where they would have been turned into cheap, forced laborers for corporations such as Starbucks, Microsoft, Walmart, and Victoria's Secret.

From the time he was old enough to attend school, Jesus would have been drilled in lessons of compliance and obedience to government authorities, while learning little about his own rights. Had he been daring enough to speak out against injustice while still in school, he might have found himself tasered or beaten by a school resource officer, or at the very least suspended under a school zero tolerance policy that punishes minor infractions as harshly as more serious offenses.

Had Jesus disappeared for a few hours let alone days as a 12-year-old, his parents would have been handcuffed, arrested and jailed for parental negligence. Parents across the country have been arrested for far less "offenses" such as allowing their children to walk to the park unaccompanied and play in their front yard alone.

Rather than disappearing from the history books from his early teenaged years to adulthood, Jesus' movements and personal data--including his biometrics--would have been documented, tracked, monitored and filed by governmental agencies and corporations.

From the moment Jesus made contact with an "extremist" such as John the Baptist, he would have been flagged for surveillance because of his association with a prominent activist, peaceful or otherwise. Since 9/11, the FBI has actively carried out surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations on a broad range of activist groups.

Jesus' anti-government views would certainly have resulted in him being labeled a domestic extremist. Law enforcement agencies are being trained to recognize signs of anti-government extremism during interactions with potential extremists who share a "belief in the approaching collapse of government and the economy."

While traveling from community to community, Jesus might have been reported to government officials as "suspicious" under the Department of Homeland Security's "See Something, Say Something" programs. Many states, including New York, are providing individuals with phone apps that allow them to take photos of suspicious activity and report them to their state Intelligence Center, where they are reviewed and forwarded to law-enforcement agencies.

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Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) December 19, 2016: Because the opposite of hope is hopelessness and despair, liberals and progressives need to avoid catastrophizing as a result of Donald J. Trump's decisive electoral victory in the 2016 presidential election, winning 306 of 538 electoral votes. To be sure, the Trump administration is not going to be conservatism lite. For this reason, progressives and liberals should brace themselves for the onslaught that is to come under President Trump.

Trump emerged with close electoral victories in Florida (29 electoral votes), Pennsylvania (20), Michigan (16), and Wisconsin (10). President Barack Obama won each of those four states both in 2012 and 2008. But former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was not able to win those four states in 2016, even though she won the popular vote overall -- 48.1% to Trump's 46.0%. She won Minnesota (10), Colorado (9), and Nevada (6) by narrow margins.

Of the people who voted in the 2016 presidential election, 81% of white evangelical Protestants voted for Trump. But only 16% voted for Hillary, a life-long Methodist.

Roman Catholics in general voted for Trump (52%), with 45% voting for Hillary. But 60% of white Catholics voted for Trump. However, in 2012, 50% of Catholics voted for Obama, who supports legalized abortion in the first trimester, as does Hillary. Because of the anti-abortion zealotry of certain evangelical Protestants and Catholics, journalists understandably refer to legalized abortion in the first trimester as a "hot button" issue. (Disclosure: I support legalized abortion in the first trimester, and I voted for Hillary.)

As we might expect, white voters were among the voters in Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the four key states that Hillary lost to Trump by a narrow margin. If we lump white evangelical Protestants together with white Catholics, we see that they made up at least half of the voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the three states that together enabled Trump to surpass 270 electoral votes.

See Daniel Cox's "White Christians Side with Trump" online at the Public Religion Research Institute.

Surprise, surprise! Hillary had no outreach to evangelical Protestants and Catholics. But Obama did -- and so did Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. Granted, Obama won only a modest percentage of their votes. But at least he asked for their votes, as did Trump.

See Michael Wear's "Why Did Obama Win More White Evangelical Vote than Clinton" in the Washington Post (dated November 22, 2016) and Ruth Graham's "Why Hillary Clinton Bombed with White Evangelical Voters" online at Slate Magazine (dated December 15, 2015).

Your guess is as good as mine as to why Hillary did not reach out to those religious voters. According to Cox, evangelical Protestants make up more than a quarter of the electorate and Catholics, slightly less than a quarter. In the end Hillary's strategy of not reaching out to those voters was not wise -- it may have cost her the election.

No doubt Hillary will continue to scapegoat Vladimir Putin for the Russian hacking certain email messages and FBI Director James Comey for his two interventions late in the campaign regarding the FBI's investigation of her emails.

Of course, Hillary is not the charismatic campaigner that Obama is. Perhaps she would not have won even the modest percentage of the white Christian votes that Obama won. But her lack of outreach effort surely did not help her in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the three key states that Trump won be a narrow margin.

So to avoid over-reacting to Trump's decisive electoral victory, progressives and liberals should not overlook Hillary's lack of outreach to white Christian voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
From Other Words

The next administration will have plenty of billionaires -- and no working class populists.

Actor Jack Nicholson says he finally understood the meaning of the word irony when his mother called him an SOB.

So let us consider Donald Trump, who campaigned as the populist champion of the working-class, promising that -- by golly -- he was going to take on Wall Street and the corporate elites.

But the bitter irony for the working class is that they now see what the SOB meant -- he's literally "taking on" the moneyed powers, by taking them on-board his administration. Already he's brought in Wall Street billionaires to fill the three top economic policy positions in his cabinet.

Then there's Betsy DeVos, the billionaire heiress to the scandal-plagued Amway fortune. Her life's work has been trying to defund and privatize the public schools that working-class people count on, and to eliminate the working-class jobs of teachers and support staff.

Her new job with Trump? Secretary of Education, where she'll now use our public money to undermine our public education system.

And here comes Myron Ebell, honcho of the Competitive Enterprise Institute -- a corporate front group funded by fossil fuel profiteers like Exxon and the Koch brothers -- where he pushed relentlessly to gut the Environmental Protection Agency.

Where's he now? Heading Trump's EPA transition team.

Also, more than half the members of Trump's Department of Defense transition team have been executives or lobbyists for such military contractors as Boeing.

Overall, according to the watchdog group Public Citizen, three-fourths of Trump's transition teams -- which are organizing, staffing, and shaping our new government -- come from corporate America. Not a single working class populist has been allowed a seat at the table.

As America's working stiffs know, if you're not at the table, you're on the menu. Trump's no populist. He's a full-time corporatist.
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Radiodermatitis Market: Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016  2024

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Radiodermatitis, also known as radiation dermatitis, is a significant symptom caused by radiation therapy used in treating cancer as well as exposure to radiation during nuclear disasters. During cancer radiotherapy, cumulative daily doses of radiation to the treatment field or target site on the body prevents normal skin to repopulate and weakens the skin integrity at and around the radiation field. Radiodermatitis may be acute or chronic and encompasses localized erythema, skin shedding (desquamation), hair loss (epilation), fibrosis, necrosis, and other similar conditions. Radiodermatitis affects a patients quality of life, causes pain and discomfort, and hinders in the continuous treatment regimes. Radiodermatitis can also cause interruption in or cessation of treatment, depending on the severity of reaction.For Any Queries Get Solutions With A PDF Sample :This report on the global radiodermatitis market analyzes the current and future prospects of the market. The report comprises an elaborate executive summary, including a market snapshot that provides overall information of various segments and sub-segments. The research is a combination of primary and secondary research. A detailed qualitative analysis of factors responsible for driving and restraining market growth and opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn for the period between 2014 and 2024 along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) from 2016 to 2024 are provided for all the segments, considering 2015 as the base year. Market related factors such as increasing preference for efficacious products, product innovation, and historical year-on-year growth have been taken into consideration while estimating the market size. Growth rates for each segment within the global radiodermatitis market have been determined after a thorough analysis of past trends, demographics, future trends, technological developments, clinical trials, and regulatory requirements. These factors would help the market players to take strategic decisions in order to strengthen their positions and expand their share in the global market.Based on product type, the global radiodermatitis market has been segmented into topical, oral medication and dressings. The market has been further studied from the point of view of major type of topical applicants, oral medication, and dressings used for radiation dermatitis treatment. The topical segment is sub-segmented into topical corticosteroids, hydrophilic creams, and others (topical antibiotics). The oral medication segment comprises oral corticosteroids and others (oral analgesic and antibiotics). Hydrogel, hydrocolloid, no sting barrier film, honey impregnated gauze, silicone coated dressing, and others (silver leaf dressings, GM-CSF gauze, etc.) form the major sub-segments of the dressings segment. Consumer buying behavior is inclined toward dressings and topical products due to ease of use and suitability in the treatment of radiodermatitis symptoms.The major distribution channels for sale of radiation dermatitis products include hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy store, and online store. Online store is set to witness rapid growth due to the various benefits rendered to a radiodermatitis affected patient unwilling to visit outdoor medical stores. These benefits include easy shipping, huge discounts, and convenience of purchasing from any location.View exclusive Global strategic Business report :Geographically, the global radiodermatitis market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In addition, the regions have been further segmented by major countries. These include the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, China, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, the UAE, and South Africa. The competition matrix section included in the report is likely to assist the existing players to increase their market shares and new companies to establish their presence in the radiodermatitis market. The report also profiles major players in the radiodermatitis market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, SWOT analysis, key business strategies, product portfolio, and recent developments. Key companies profiled in the report include 3M Health Care, BMG Pharma, Molnlycke Health Care, Smith & Nephew plc., Derma Sciences, Inc., Alliqua Biomedical, Acelity LP, Intermed Pharmaceuticals, and Stratpharma AG.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Shale Gas Market  Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2014  2020

Global Shale Gas Market

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Shale Gas Market by Technology (Horizontal Drilling, Hydraulic Fracturing, and Water Usage Issue) for Power Generation, Residential, Industrial, Commercial, Transportation and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2014-2020Global Shale Gas Market Set for Rapid Growth, To Reach Around USD 105.0 Billion by 2020The report covers forecast and analysis for the shale gas market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2014 along with a forecast from 2015 to 2020 based on volume (billion cubic feet) and revenue (USD billion). The study includes drivers and restraints for the shale gas 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 shale gas market on a global level.Request Sample Report:In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the shale gas 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 shale gas 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 shale gas 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 horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and water usage issue. Key application segments covered under this study includes power generation, residential, industrial, commercial, transportation 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. and China. This segmentation includes demand for shale gas based on individual applications in all the regions and countries.Browse detail report at:The report also includes detailed profiles of end players such as Baker Hughes Incorporation, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, BHP Billiton Limited, Devon Energy, EnCana Corporation, ConocoPhillips Co, Royal Dutch Shell plc, ExxonMobil, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, and BP plc. 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 shale gas market as:Shale Gas Market: Technology Segment AnalysisHorizontal drillingHydraulic fracturingWater usage issueShale Gas Market: Application Segment AnalysisPower generationResidentialIndustrialCommercialTransportationShale Gas Market: Regional Segment AnalysisRead Report TOC:North AmericaU.S.EuropeAsia PacificChinaLatin AmericaMiddle 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/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
Global Crop Protection Chemicals Market  Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2014  2020

Global Crop Protection Chemicals Market

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Crop Protection Chemicals (Herbicides, Fungicides, Insecticides, and Others) Market for Cereals & Grains, Oilseeds & Pulses, Fruits & Vegetables, and Other Crops: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2014  2020Global Crop Protection Chemicals Market Set for Rapid Growth, To Reach Around USD 70.0 Billion by 2020The report covers forecast and analysis for the crop protection chemicals market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2014 along with a forecast from 2015 to 2020 based on both volumes (kilo tons) and revenue (USD million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the crop protection chemicals 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 crop protection chemicals market on a global level.Request Sample Report:In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the crop protection chemicals 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 crop protection chemicals market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein product segments and crop type segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.The study provides a decisive view on the crop protection chemicals 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 chemicals types segmented market covered under this study includes herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and others. Key application segments that market covered under this study includes cereals & grains, oilseeds & pulses, fruits & vegetables, and others. The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil. This segmentation includes demand for crop protection chemicals based on individual applications in all the regions and countries.Browse detail report at:The report also includes detailed profiles of key players such as Syngenta, BASF, DuPont, Arystya Lifescience, Sumotomo Chemicals, Nufarm, Makhteshim Agam, and DOW Agroscience. The detailed description of companies includes parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies and recent developments of the company.The report segments the global crop protection chemicals market as:Crop Protection Chemicals Market: Product Segment AnalysisHerbicidesGlyphosateAtrazineAcetochlor2,4  DOthersInsecticidesChlorpyrifosMalathionPyrethrins and pyrethroidsCarbarylOthers (Diazinon, terbufos, methoxychlor)FungicidesMancozebChlorothalonilMetalaxylStrobilurinOthersCrop Protection Chemicals Market: Application Segment AnalysisRead Report TOC:Cereals & GrainRiceWheatCornOilseeds & PulsesRapeseedSunflowerSoya beanCottonSugarcaneFruits, Vegetables and NutsOthersCrop Protection Chemicals Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyUKFranceAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & 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/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
United States Surgical Robots For The Spine Market Report 2016

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This report studies sales (consumption) of Surgical Robots for the Spine in United States market, focuses on the top players, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player, coveringMazor Robotics...Split by product types, with sales, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoType IType IIType IIISplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Surgical Robots for the Spine in each application, can be divided intoApplication 1Application 2Application 3Download sample Copy of Report atTable of ContentsUnited States Surgical Robots for the Spine Market Report 20161 Surgical Robots for the Spine Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Surgical Robots for the Spine1.2 Classification of Surgical Robots for the Spine1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.2.3 Type III1.3 Application of Surgical Robots for the Spine1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.4 United States Market Size Sales (Value) and Revenue (Volume) of Surgical Robots for the Spine (2011-2021)1.4.1 United States Surgical Robots for the Spine Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.4.2 United States Surgical Robots for the Spine Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 United States Surgical Robots for the Spine Competition by Manufacturers2.1 United States Surgical Robots for the Spine Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 United States Surgical Robots for the Spine Revenue and Share by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.3 United States Surgical Robots for the Spine Average Price by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.4 Surgical Robots for the Spine Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.4.1 Surgical Robots for the Spine Market Concentration Rate2.4.2 Surgical Robots for the Spine Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.4.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 United States Surgical Robots for the Spine Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (2011-2016)3.1 United States Surgical Robots for the Spine Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)3.2 United States Surgical Robots for the Spine Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)3.3 United States Surgical Robots for the Spine Price by Type (2011-2016)3.4 United States Surgical Robots for the Spine Sales Growth Rate by Type (2011-2016)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
Agricultural Drones: Market Shares, Strategy, And Forecasts, Worldwide, 2016 To 2022

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The 2016 study has 288 pages, 127 tables and figures. Worldwide agricultural drone markets are poised to achieve significant growth with the use of cameras on stable flying platforms that are used to help implement precision farming. Crop visualization lets farmers better control and isolate areas for spraying and lets the drones do the spraying.Agricultural drones use automated process to make farming more productive. Drones provide better, more flexible visualization. Smart drone agricultural uses cameras and provide the prospect of trillions of dollars in farming economic growth. Smart commercial drones connect seamlessly and securely to the Internet and to each other.Agricultural drone technology has reached a level of maturity that has put these systems at the forefront of farming modernization. Farmers around the entire world are adapting to drone availability, using aerial cameras to visualize plants. Use cases are evolving rapidly. Video, specialized video, targeted video, and agricultural spraying systems are offered.Agricultural Drones Use Technology for Spraying, Mapping, Pest Control, Seeding, Remote Sensing, and Precision AgricultureAgricultural technology uses drones to leverage a data-driven future. Inexpensive sensors, cloud computing and intelligent software used in a drone system hold the potential to transform agriculture and help feed the worlds growing population.Venture investment in agricultural drones has been strong. Investment of venture capital in agricultural technology start-ups reached $2.06 billion in the first half of 2015, 4.25 billion in 2015 doubling the amount of capital invested in this area in 2014.Agricultural drones leverage the Internet of things (IoT). IoT brings sensors to supplement images of the land from above, making it possible to communicate and use analytics to understand changes in vegetation.Digital electronics brings significant change to the ancient manual processes of farming. Markets portend to reach multitrillion-dollar payoff from the emerging technology that increases the production and distribution of food. There are technical and policy issues to leverage the potential of the drone use of the Internet of Things (IoT). Challenges include security, privacy and standards. Hackers can enter apparently secure networks to remotely control engines, brakes and steering. This could create a problem on a farm if the network was hacked.Agricultural industrialization has been brought in some measure by tractors and columbines. Drones bring far greater automated process. Preindustrial agriculture, dating from before Christ to about 1920, consisted of labor-intensive, essentially subsistence farming on small farms. This took two acres to feed one person. With industrial agriculture, from 1920 to 2010, tractors and combine harvesters, chemical fertilizers and seed science opened commercialization of farms. Gains in productivity achieved one acre feeding five people.Digital agriculture brought by drones is part of the next stage in industrialization of agriculture. It involves exploiting data from many sources  sensors on farm equipment and plants, satellite images and weather tracking. The use of water and fertilizer is measured and monitored. Growing can be monitored on a plant-by-plant basis.Plant factories are being implemented worldwide that use 97% less water than an outdoor growing environment. Drones are anticipated to be used in those environments indoors.The data-rich approach to decision making represented a sharp break with tradition. It is a totally different world than walking out on the farmland, kicking the dirt and making a decision based on intuition.Transparency is a significant aspect of sensor use in farming logistics. Consumers care that their food is cared for in the proper manner: end to end.According to Susan Eustis, lead author of the study, Transparency is one of the benefits of IoT that drones bring to digital farming. The benefits of digital farming are higher productivity and more efficient use of land, water and fertilizer. Transparency in farming is being asked for by consumers. Consumers want to know where their food came from, how much water and chemicals were used, and when and how the food was harvested. They want to know about consistent refrigeration during transport.Use of drones represents a key milestone in provision of value to every industry. Customized cameras are used to take photos and videos with stunning representations. Digital controls will further automate flying, making ease of use and flight stability a reality. New materials and new designs are bringing that transformation forward. By furthering innovation, continued growth is assured.The worldwide market for agricultural drones is $494 million anticipated to reach $3.69 billion by 2022. The complete report provides a comprehensive analysis of drones in different categories, illustrating the diversity of uses for remote flying devices in farming. Analytics makes the images more cogent to farmers, letting them anticipate problems that only become visible to human farmers days or weeks after the drone images detect issues.download sample Copy of Report atCompanies ProfiledMarket LeadersYamahaDJIAeroVironmentMarket Participants3D RoboticsAeryon LabsAgEagleAirogisiticAirwareBlueSKyBoeingChina AerospaceIntel / Cyberhawk InnovationsDelair-TechDenel DynamicsDJIDraganflyerEHangFinmeccanicaFlirteyFT SistemasGoogleGoProGryphonHobbicoHubsanHUVRData, LLCIntelAscending TechnologiesIsrael Aerospace IndustriesJapan DronesL-3 CommunicationsParrot/senseFlyProx DynamicsProxy TechnologiesRoketsanRUAG AerospaceSafran MorphoSchiebelSecomSkycatchSky-FuturesYahamaYuneecMarketResearchReports.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




Commercial banks said the 2015 Civil Code, to take effect on January 1, 2017, stipulates that if asset holders refuse to hand over their assets, which act as collateral for loans, banks will only have the right to sue for assets.



Article No 301 of the 2015 Civil Code means that the governments Decree No 163 on secured transactions will no longer be valid. As such, credit institutions will not be able to seize collateral used to mortgage loans in case borrowers cannot pay debts on schedule.We still dont know what we need to do to collect debts from 2017, which is the most powerful instrument that helps us recover debts, and now it no longer exists, said Thieu Anh Duong, CEO of Techcombanks asset management company.Bankers said Decree 163 helps them collect debts. They reportedly have settled 55 percent of bad debts, but there is still a big amount of existing bad debt that needs to be recovered.According to Nguyen Kim Anh, Deputy Governor of the State Bank, there are many barriers that hinder the banks process of debt collection.About 45 percent of bad debts have been sold to the Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC), a 100 percent state owned company, to the Debt & Asset Trading Company (DATC) put under the management of the Ministry of Finance. It has been transferred to banks asset management companies. Most of the debts are unsettled at the companies.A report of the central bank showed that commercial banks non-performing loan (NPL) ratio has decreased to below 3 percent as expected.Meanwhile, Vu Dinh Anh, a respected economist, commented that though the goal is attainable, the bad debts have just been transferred to other bodies. The key to the bad debt settlement lies in the treatment of mortgaged assets.VAMC has bought hundreds of trillions of dong worth of bad debt in the last three years while it did not have to pay any dong in cash, but in special bonds issued by the company. Commercial banks, which sell bad debts to VAMC, still have to make provisions for the debts sold.According to Colonel Nguyen Trong Long from C46 Agency, in many cases, commercial banks cannot collect debts because the borrowers are uncooperative. The creditors deliberately refuse to pay debts, even though they have closed unprofitable businesses and set up new ones.Under the new law, banks wont be able to seize the assets mortgaged for loans to collect debts, but will have to bring the cases to court. This is expected to be a long and complicated process which takes time and money.

M.Ha
Global Express Market Size, Trends (Domestic & International): Industry Analysis & Outlook (2016-2020)

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The express market provides services that include integrated door-to-door transport and quick delivery of time-definite shipments of documents, samples, and parcels. The express market offers personal collection services from the point of dispatch, customs handling-en-route and personal delivery to the addressee at the destination.The key features of the express service include tracking of the item route and sending confirmation to the sender at the time of delivery. It also handles custom clearances and reduces the requirements of multiple agents such as freight forwarders and customs house clearance agents. The main characteristic of express market is that it simplifies and speeds the process of transporting goods. It organizes collection, usually at the end of the business day, allows the sender access to information on the progress of shipments from pick-up to delivery and provides proof of delivery.Express market growth is predominantly driven by domestic e-commerce and continuously increasing cross border and inter-regional trades. Other factors leading to growth of the market include rise in internet penetration, growing use of smartphones, growing urban population, and escalating middle class population. The ongoing trends of the market include rise in fleet management, use of new delivery methods and use of new technologies in express market.Request For Sample Copy:The global express market includes domestic and international product lines with focus on delivery speed. Asia-Pacific will emerge as a prominent leader of express market outpacing North America by end of year 2020. However, the market growth will be hindered by factors such as air traffic rights, fierce competition and high labor cost, and different laws in different countries.The report offers an in-depth analysis of the Global Express Market. It covers the regional and global aspect of the market. The top notch players in the market exhibit a very close competition. The report profiles DHL, FedEx, TNT and UPS companies.MarketResearchReports.biz supports your business intelligence needs with over 100,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments. We have built a veritable reputation for our commitment to fulfilling our clients' exacting market research solutions.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Electrosurgical Devices Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, And Forecast 2016 - 2024

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Global Electrosurgical Devices Market - OverviewThe electrosurgical devices market is driven by growing number of minimal invasive surgeries globally. With the changing face of medical field since the last decade, a larger number of surgical procedures are moving out of the traditional ways and they are replaced by minimally invasive techniques which is driving market of electrosurgical devices globally. Furthermore the rising coverage of healthcare and continuous increase in the geriatric population is expected to be the most vital reason for expansion of the electrosurgical devices market growth. According to WHO estimates, the global geriatric population is likely to reach around 2 billion (22% of global population) by 2050, which was around 524 million in 2010. Geriatric population is prone to several disease such as cancer, cardiac arrest, gastrointestinal diseases etc., due to weak immunity. So, there is a huge need for minimally-invasive surgeries for the treatment of such patients so as to avoid healing time and hospital stay. This factor will increase the use of electrosurgical devices further.Increasing focus on efficient health care systems in various developed countries is expected to fuel growth of electrosurgical devices and procedures. Rising government funding for research to develop advanced medical treatment and target-specific surgical devices is expected to drive the global electrosurgical devices market. Key players in the electrosurgical devices market are focusing more on development of innovative electrosurgical devices and accessories. Leading market players are focusing on new products and accessories with improved coagulation and cutting properties, multimodality application, and tissue vaporization applications to capitalize the growth opportunities in the market.Global Electrosurgical Devices Market - Scope of the ReportThe report is a combination of primary and secondary research. Primary research formed the bulk of our research efforts, with information collected from telephonic interviews and interactions via e-mail. Secondary research involved study of company websites, annual reports, press releases, stock analysis presentations, and various national and international databases. The report provides market size in terms of US$ Mn for each segment for the period from 2016 to 2024, considering the macro and micro-environmental factors. Growth rates for each segment within the electrosurgical devices market have been determined after a thorough analysis of past trends, demographics, future trends, technological developments, vaccination expenditure, and regulatory requirements.The market overview section of the report includes qualitative analysis of the overall electrosurgical devices market including the determining factors and market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, market trends and opportunities, along with white space analysis. In addition, market attractiveness analysis by country, isotopic application and end-user along with competitive landscape by key players have been provided which explain the intensity of competition in the market considering different geographical locations. The competitive scenario between market players has been evaluated through market share analysis. These factors would help the market players take strategic decisions in order to strengthen their positions and increase their shares in the global market. Pricing and cost teardown analysis holds a crucial part of the report, which further describes the cost to end-user and cost to patient.The global electrosurgical devices market is driven by rapid technological advancements and improved quality of patients life. The market is projected to grow due to increasing investment in healthcare sector. In terms of end user segment ambulatory surgery center is projected to expand at a high CAGR on the backdrop of growing investment healthcare sector.Global Electrosurgical Devices Market - Geographical and Competitive DynamicsGeographically, the global electrosurgical devices market has been segmented into five regions with North America leading the market in 2015 followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific has the highest growth rate and is expected to overtake Europe in the future. The requirement for electrosurgical devices are rapidly growing in Asia Pacific due to increasing direct and indirect investments by the Government and other private companies. Increasing investments and penetration by key market players globally are expected to drive the electrosurgical devices market during the forecast period.Key players in this market are as follows Bovie Medical Corporation, Medtronic, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH, Boston Scientific Corporation, Olympus, Johnson & Johnson, Symmetry Surgical Inc., CONMED, KLS Martin and BOWA-electronic GmbH & Co. KG.download sample copy of Report atThe electrosurgical devices market has been segmented as follows:Global Electrosurgical Devices Market, by ProductRadiofrequency Electrosurgery DevicesMonopolar DevicesBipolar DevicesElectrocautery DevicesMonopolar DevicesBipolar DevicesElectrosurgical AccessoriesGlobal Electrosurgical Devices Market, by ApplicationGeneral SurgeryGynecologyCardiologyUrology,Dermatology & CosmetologyOthers (Orthopedics, Neurology, Oncology, Dentistry And Gastrointestinal Surgery)Global Electrosurgical Devices Market, by End UserHospitalsAmbulatory Surgical CentersSpecialized ClinicsGlobal Electrosurgical Devices Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMEA (Middle East & Africa)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
Fuel Additives Market to reach US$9.784 billion by 2021

www.knowledge-sourcing.com/products/fuel-additives-market-forecasts-from-2016-to-2021

www.knowledge-sourcing.com/products/helium-market-forecasts-from-2016-to-2021

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Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence announces the publication of a new report "Fuel Additives Market - Forecasts from 2016 to 2021 " to their offering. The report has segmented the Fuel Additives market by Type (Deposit Control Additives, Cetane Improvers, Antioxidants, Dyes, Lubricity Additives, Corrosion Inhibitors, And Others), by Application (Gasoline, Diesel, And Others) and by Geography (Americas, Europe Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific) and estimates that the global fuel additives market is projected to have been US$6.394 billion in 2015, reaching US$9.784 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of 7.35% over the forecast period.Factors driving growth in the market are stringent government regulations for fuel efficiency and environmental protection, increasing demand for ultra-low-sulphur diesel, robust automobile markets like China and India, high growth in demand for gasoline, continuous up gradation in engine design and development and expanding urbanization leading to high demand for fuels for household personal consumption, industry, aviation, automobile, manufacturing, and transportation among others.Deposit Control additives to dominate by fuel additive type, while gasoline to lead in the application segment.High growth in the market for deposit control additives is anticipated due to rising focus on cleaner engines to meet fuel economy and emissions requirements. By reducing the rate of deposits formed along the fuel lines of vehicles, deposit control additives are considered one of the most efficient ways to curb overconsumption of fuel, thus maintain optimal engine performance. Also, rising use of biofuels such as ethanol has led to higher chances of deposit formation, increasing demand for higher additive levels.Asia Pacific to witness fastest regional market growth during the forecasted period.In Asia Pacific region, countries such as China and India are projected to witness high market growth due to the favourable regulatory environment and to stricter climate change control measures. High growth in the automobile industry will strengthen further growth. North America is also expected to witness considerable market growth during the forecasted period attributable to high demand for gasoline and rising penetration of ultra-low- sulfur diesel (ULSD).The key players of global fuel additives market covered in this report include Afton Chemical Corporation, BASF, Lubrizol Corporation, Huntsman Corporation LLC, Akzo Nobel N.V, Chemtura Corporation, Chevron Oronite, National Aluminium Company (NALCO), Baker Hughes Incorporated, and Evonik Industries AG.This report contains the market analysis on the current trends in the fuel additives market and the opportunities for the vendors over the next six years. It provides deep insights into the drivers and restraints of the industry. The fuel additives market report also consists of in-depth regional analysis. A lot of statistically relevant tools and detailed industry analysis models such as scenario analysis have been used to forecast the market trends and forecasts up to the year 2021.The report also talks about the strategies adopted by the industry leaders to gain an advantage over competitors and the recent deals that they have gone into to position themselves better in this market.Purchase the complete report or request for a sample:Browse Related Reports:Helium Market - Forecasts from 2016 To 2021Drilling Fluids Market - Forecasts from 2016 To 2021Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence is a market research and consulting firm based out of India. Driven by industry experts, the company provides syndicated reports, custom research, and consulting services. Our proprietary data analytics model blended with quality primary and secondary research data assists in generating quality reports providing crucial insights to managers and decision makers. The services offered by us help companies to gain required competitive edge. Our expertise across 10 industries such as ICT, Chemicals, Semiconductors, Healthcare among others caters to diverse client needs.Knowledge Sourcing IntelligenceAscent Business Center (1st Floor)H-38, Sector 63NOIDA (U.P.), India - 201301
ICT investment trends in telco/service providers, patterns through to the end of 2016

ICT investment trends in telco

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http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/ict-investment-trends-in-teico-report.html

http://www.marketresearchhub.com/

Albany, New York, December 19, 2016: Market Research Hub (MRH) has recently added a new research study on ICT Investment Trends In Telco. This report presents the findings from a survey of 157 telco/service providers regarding their Information & Communications Technology (ICT) investment trends. The survey investigates how telco/service providers currently allocate their ICT budgets across the core areas of enterprise ICT expenditure: hardware, software, IT services, communications, and consulting. The report illustrates the core technologies that banks are investing in, including business intelligence, IoT, green IT & virtualization and cloud computing.Request for Sample Report:The survey also highlights the approach to purchasing technology adopted by telco/service providers. Through Kables survey, the report aims to provide a better insight to ICT vendors and service providers when pitching their solutions to telco/service providers. The report focuses on telco/service providers ICT expenditure trends for specific technology areas and technologies, identifying the top three IT projects, and understanding the business challenges faced by organizations.The rise in the use of wireless technologies in the context of stiff competition within the telecoms industry is driving telcos to explore and invest in emerging technologies such as network functions, virtualization, data centers, and virtual private cloud, among others . The telecom industry is striving to remain competitive by adopting the latest and upcoming developments in telecommunications, and modifying products and services to meet the demands of users.Browse Full Info with TOC:Find updated market trends, and forecasts about Business Services & Administration industry Market research zone presents ICT investment trends in telco/service providers ; Enterprise ICT spending patterns through to the end of 2016 report contains an in-depth analysis, industry segmentation, development, target markets, statistics and figures.ICT investment trends in telco/service providers (telcos) presents the findings from a survey of 145 telcos regarding their Information and Communications Technology (ICT) investment trends. The survey investigates how telcos currently allocate their ICT budgets across the core areas of enterprise ICT expenditure: hardware, software, IT services, communications, and consulting. Pertaining to investments in the core areas of ICT expenditure, including hardware, software, and IT services, the survey reveals that respondents are increasing their investments in network and communications equipment, servers, and security.The report illustrates the core technologies telcos are investing in, including security products, green IT and virtualization, and mobility. Understand the approach adopted by telcos to purchase technology and get a better insight into ICT vendors and services providers when pitching their solutions to telcos.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:
Developments in SOA Applications Middleware Market Expected to Boost its Sales by 2021

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http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-soa-applications-middleware-sales-market-report-2016-report.html

http://www.marketresearchhub.com/

https://twitter.com/MktResearchHub

Albany, New York, December 19, 2016: A new report has been added to the vast portfolio of Market Research Hub (MRH), titled as Global SOA Applications Middleware Sales Market Report 2016. This report basically offers market forecast and analysis on the SOA applications in the global market along with precise information on its sales, price, revenue and market share in the key regions of United States, China, Europe and Japan. Worldwide markets are poised to achieve significant growth as the SOA systems provide the base for cloud computing.Request For Sample Report:It has been observed that SOA has evolved over the past few of years. The report starts with an overview of the service-oriented architecture along with its classification and applications. It's a software architecture framework style of developing software applications that will have loose coupling between its components so that we can reuse them. Thus, it's a new way of building applications. SOA represents a dramatic change in the relationship between business and IT. In the SOA environment, application's business logic or individual functions can be exposed as web services to internal and even external usage.At present, SOA is positioned to provide application middleware. Applications middleware markets come together to make information technology distribution a utility using SOA to transport code modules from one application to another. Services can be launched from applications as web services or internal enterprise network services to provide middleware for applications. Further, the research studies that in an organizations application development team, the application portfolio needs to be managed using SOA. This technology is generally managed on an application by application basis. SOA is a major component of that application management piece.The market is further segmented on the basis of regions, types and application. It has been observed by the study that applications middleware i.e. based on SOA approach, has the potential to dramatically increase automated process between partners. In this case, SOA can simplify the way companies communicate with partners and customers. The demand for SOA has increased because it can also help businesses to grow quickly & effectively as per changing marketing conditions.Moreover, key players are also highlighted which includes the following names: Oracle IBM Tibco Hewlett Packard (HP) Fiorano Fujitsu RedHat Software AGBrowse Full Report with TOC:Currently, IBM is the market leader in SOA application middleware with 75% market share. A detailed overview of these leading players along with manufacturing base and competitors is also presented in the report.About Market Research Hub: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:Follow us on twitter:
ICT investment trends in government patterns through to the end of 2016

ICT investment trends in government

http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=901372

http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/ict-investment-trends-in-government-report.html

http://www.marketresearchhub.com/

Albany, New York, December 19, 2016: Market Research Hub (MRH) has recently added a new research study on ICT investment trends in government. Government spending, especially on government entities, is affected by a wide range of external factors, such as earthquakes and floods. However, there are other important determinants that affect overall government spending, which are limited to specific categories including government policies, politics, and demographicsRequest for Sample Report:Key Findings-- Government spending in particular is affected by many factors including tax policies, monetary policies, and trade policies, which play a vital role during government budgeting and resource allocation. However, a careful evaluation of these factors will help government institutions make decisions pertaining to ICT expenditure.- The survey indicates that the majority of government institutions are willing to increase their ICT budget slightly or significantly.-According to the survey, government institutions are investing in enterprise applications and content management to support a seamless flow of information across different departments and to manage content integration, data automation, process management, and accessibility on-the-go.Browse Full Info with TOC:Synopsis-This report presents the findings from a survey of 109 government institutions regarding their Information & Communications Technology (ICT) investment trends. The survey investigates how government institutions currently allocate their ICT budgets across the core areas of enterprise ICT expenditure: hardware, software, IT services, communications, and consulting. The report illustrates the core technologies that institutions are investing in, including enterprise application, content management, IoT, and cloud computing. The survey also highlights the approach to purchasing technology adopted by government institutions. Through Kables survey, the report aims to provide a better insight to ICT vendors and service providers when pitching their solutions to government institutions. The report focuses on government institutions ICT expenditure trends for specific business areas and technologies, identifying the top three IT projects, and understanding the business challenges faced by organizations.In particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following:- How ICT budgets are set to change in 2016 in terms of their overall size- Allocation across the core elements of IT spend, including hardware, software, services, communications, and consulting- Distribution of ICT money in areas such as the networks, applications, service desk, and data centers- Which ICT functions government institutions are interested in outsourcing- Government institutions investment priorities based on their budget allocations across core technology categories such as IoT, cloud computing, business intelligence, and security products- Factors that are influencing government institutions investments in each technology category- How government institutions IT budgets are currently allocated across various segments within a technology category- Government institutions distribution of their ICT budget across various segments within a technology category- Vendor satisfaction ratings for various core and advanced technology categories- Insight into government institutions preferred buying approaches- Business and IT objectives that government institutions are looking to achieve through their IT investment strategies- Factors that are influencing government institutions decisions to select an ICT providerReasons To Buy -- Understand how government institutions' ICT landscape is set to change in 2016 to prioritize your target market- Comprehend how ICT money are being allocated by government institutions in specific geographies and size bands to improve your market penetration- Make effective business decisions by recognizing the opportunities within each of the core areas of ICT spend (hardware, software, IT services, telecommunications, and consulting)- Realign your sales initiatives by understanding the current strategic objectives of government institutions- Enhance your market segmentation with the included, detailed breakdown of opportunities within selected technology categories (enterprise application, content management, IoT, and cloud computing)- Prioritize your focus areas by understanding which factors are influencing government institutions decisions when selecting an ICT provider- Understand the changes in customers priorities and identify the business and IT objectives that government institutions are looking to achieve through their ICT investment strategiesMarket 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:
Are these the most necessary cyber security services for 2017?

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http://bit.ly/2hQyan2

Just as in 2016, cyber security services will continue to be decisive for most of the organizations in 2017. A market research by Gartner has suggested that organizations globally spend about 5.6% of their budget on IT security and risk management. But this figure varies from one organization to another depending upon the nature of business, geography, industry sector as well as size of business. Some businesses are trying to incorporate industry best practices for security into their operations to reduce the overall numbers of security vulnerabilities. With a steep rise in technology integration in our day to day lives, security attackers will find new ways to trouble. A couple of cyber security features have become imperative for businesses. Do you have these?Suma Soft Pvt. Ltd. is a global IT risk and security management company that has been actively providing top-notch cyber security services to businesses for over 16 years. Here are a list of must-have IT risk management features that will help you stay away from security breaches:Basics:1)Continuous IT Risk Analysis and Intrusion Detection2)Anti-virus and Malware protection, SPAM and Web filters3)Firewall validation, IDS verification, password cracking4)Business logic testing to prohibit authentication bypass, privilege escalation, unauthorized access to restricted data, etc.5)Social Engineering Attack assessmentAdvanced:1)Security Incident and Event Management tool in a SaaS-delivered format2)Real-time monitoring and reporting3)Static Application Security Testing for thorough source code analysis4)Digital Forensic Investigation and Awareness5)Internal Audit and Vulnerability AssessmentAbout Suma Soft:Suma Soft offers proactive IT risk and security management services for Automotive, Healthcare, Logistics, BFSI, Ecommerce and other industries. Suma Soft is credited with ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System, STQC and CERT-in empanelment.Name: StuartTelephone: +1 281 764 1821Email: info@sumasoft.comURL:Suma Soft Pvt. Ltd. is a global IT risk and security management company that has been actively providing top-notch cyber security services to businesses for over 16 years.Name: StuartTelephone: +1 281 764 1821Company Address:7880 San Felipe Street,Ste 120,Houston TX 77063-1647Email: info@sumasoft.comURL:
Michelin Bib Gourmand Winner for 3 Straight Years Due Italian Debuts in Singapore

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https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13031470/

https://www.facebook.com/takumen.sg

http://www.gourmet-innovation.co.jp

TAKUMEN is going to release new ramen brand-- Due Italian on 2016.12.20.Singapore, Dec 19, 2016 -- Due Italian is a popular ramen restaurant which won Michelin Bib Gourmand for 3 straight years. The owner of restaurant, Mr. Kazuo Ishizuka had engaged his business in Italy for 25 years and make Ramen Fromage which is using Italian cuisine ingredients.The rich cheese gradually melts into the soup, giving a bold combination of Gorgonzola Cheese mixed cream, which receives overwhelming positive reviews from females. In addition, the rich flavor of finely made cheese gives the broth a multi-layered taste.Due Italian (Besides Due Italian, Ramen Gallery TAKUMEN is also providing popular ramen from 7 famous Ramen Restaurants below:Bigiya (Bingiri (Hajime (Chibakara (Honda Shoten (Sakuta-Ya (DoMiso (Shop Detail66 CIRCULAR ROAD #01-01, SINGAPORE 04940Opening Hour:Mon - Thu: 11:3015:00, 17:30 - 22:00Fri: 11:30 - 15:00, 17:30 - 24:00Sat: 11:30 - 15:00, 17:30 - 21:00Sun: 11:30 - 15:00, 17:30 - 21:00FacebookAbout Ramen Gallery TAKUMEN:In 2010, Takumen opened an online ramen store "takumen.com" to deliver a wide variety of ramen. Our goal is to offer a new way to enjoy ramen, delivering you quality ramen  especially from popular shops where queues are inevitable  that have the identical flavor you will find at the shops, to savor in the comfort of your home.We have established a branch here in Singapore, featuring a range of ramen from selected ramen shop owners, and crafted with thought and care in order to deliver an authentic Japanese flavor to an audience beyond the shores of Japan. The creators have put their hearts and souls into their ramen, and so we have gone through repeated trial and error to adapt to the local water and ingredients, while still maintaining the authentic Japanese flavors. We offer only dishes approved by each shop owner.The same broth that you enjoy from each shop is properly cooked from scratch, and combined with a special soup base, the secret "kaeshi" (sauce), from each chef sent directly from Japan. From here, we recreate the taste, the richness, and the flavor of each shop's secret formula. The results are, in a word, delicious. We invite you to relish the flavor of these six first-class shops.Our promise at Ramen Gallery TAKUMEN[Select your favorite flavors delivered directly from the shop owners]Ramen-making at Ramen Gallery TAKUMEN begins with professional chefs spending several days in the kitchens of famous ramen shops in Japan, learning the recipes from the ramen craftsmen themselves. We then recreate the recipes from Japan in a Singapore kitchen using local ingredients, practicing and experimenting over and over to create the same flavors. As a final step, we invite the original shop owners sample the results; once theyve approved, we obtain their verification in writing to prove that we have faithfully reproduced their original flavors. Only then do we add the items to our menu.Cooked for long periods over high heat, our soups are carefully strained and watched over carefully to ensure that they don't burn. Also, in order to ensure that the soup has the same flavor as the original, not only the temperature and cooking time, but also salt content and thickness are meticulously checked during the manufacturing process. We add the secret tare-sauce bases delivered direct from Japan to our freshly-cooked soups, and go to great lengths to achieve the same taste that you can enjoy in Japan.We promise to deliver to you unmatched flavor-not only tonkotsu, but a wide and rich array of Japanese flavors -and we promise that you will savor the perfect bowl of ramen.In 2010, Takumen opened an online ramen store "takumen.com" to deliver a wide variety of ramen. Our goal is to offer a new way to enjoy ramen, delivering you quality ramen  especially from popular shops where queues are inevitable  that have the identical flavor you will find at the shops, to savor in the comfort of your home.Contact:Lee Kuan YiGourmet Innovation Pte Ltd#06-10 Food Xchange8A Admiralty Street Singapore 757437kuanyi@gourmet-innovation.co.jp
Global Retail E-commerce Packaging Market to Expand at 5% CAGR during 2016-2022

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Market research future published a raw research report on Retail e-commerce packaging Market that contains the information from 2014 to 2022. Retail e-commerce packaging market is expected to grow with the CAGR of approximately 5% from 2016 to 2022.Latest development in the e-commerce marketLatest development in the e-commerce market, availability of product and attractive offers increase the online-shopping market which ultimately boost the retail e-commerce packaging market. Additionally, advancement in technology in the household appliances market expected to uplift the retail e-commerce packaging market. Retail e-commerce packaging market is expected to grow at CAGR of 5% from during the forecast period.Key PlayersThe key players of Retail e-commerce packaging Market report include- Georgia-Pacific LLC International Paper Company DS Smith Plc Arihant Packaging Commonwealth Packaging Company DynaCorp Fencor Packaging Group Limited Lil Packaging Ltd. LINPAC Senior Holdings Limited Pioneer Packaging, Inc.Request a Sample Copy @Target Audience e-commerce packaging manufactures Distributors & Suppliers Research Institute / Education Institute Potential InvestorsAsk for your specific company profile and country level customization on reportsAsia-Pacific is the largest growing marketAsia-Pacific region dominates the market with its largest market share for Retail e-commerce packaging. Expanding manufacturing & electronics sector, increasing internet penetration, growing competition of ecommerce players are the factor driving this market in this region.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread in 110 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Global Retail E-commerce Packaging Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the Retail e-commerce packaging market, tracking two market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the Retail e-commerce packaging market as Material, and Application.The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Related ReportsGlobal Corrugated and Paperboard Boxes Market Information by Material (Paperboard, Adhesives, Inks, Waxes, and others) by Product (Corrugated & Solid fiber boxes, Set-up Paperboard boxes, Folding Paperboard boxes, and others) by Application (Durable goods, Food & beverages, Paper & Publishing, Chemicals, and others) and Region - Forecast to 2022.Know more about this report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Market research future published a raw research report on Retail e-commerce packaging Market that contains the information from 2014 to 2022. Retail e-commerce packaging market is expected to grow with the CAGR of approximately 5% from 2016 to 2022.Latest development in the e-commerce marketLatest development in the e-commerce market, availability of product and attractive offers increase the online-shopping market which ultimately boost the retail e-commerce packaging market. Additionally, advancement in technology in the household appliances market expected to uplift the retail e-commerce packaging market. Retail e-commerce packaging market is expected to grow at CAGR of 5% from during the forecast period.Key PlayersThe key players of Retail e-commerce packaging Market report include- Georgia-Pacific LLC International Paper Company DS Smith Plc Arihant Packaging Commonwealth Packaging Company DynaCorp Fencor Packaging Group Limited Lil Packaging Ltd. LINPAC Senior Holdings Limited Pioneer Packaging, Inc.Request a Sample Copy @Target Audience e-commerce packaging manufactures Distributors & Suppliers Research Institute / Education Institute Potential InvestorsAsk for your specific company profile and country level customization on reportsAsia-Pacific is the largest growing marketAsia-Pacific region dominates the market with its largest market share for Retail e-commerce packaging. Expanding manufacturing & electronics sector, increasing internet penetration, growing competition of ecommerce players are the factor driving this market in this region.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread in 110 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Global Retail E-commerce Packaging Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the Retail e-commerce packaging market, tracking two market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the Retail e-commerce packaging market as Material, and Application.The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Related ReportsGlobal Corrugated and Paperboard Boxes Market Information by Material (Paperboard, Adhesives, Inks, Waxes, and others) by Product (Corrugated & Solid fiber boxes, Set-up Paperboard boxes, Folding Paperboard boxes, and others) by Application (Durable goods, Food & beverages, Paper & Publishing, Chemicals, and others) and Region - Forecast to 2022.Know more about this report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash AnandMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Endoscopy Equipment Market worth 35.36 Billion USD by 2021

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This report "Endoscopy Equipment Market by Product (Endoscopes (Flexible, Rigid, Capsule), Visualization Systems, Other Endoscopy Equipment, Accessories), Application (GI Endoscopy, Laparoscopy), End User (Hospitals, ASCs/Clinics) - Trends & Forecasts to 2021", This report studies the global endoscopy equipment market for the forecast period of 2016 to 2021. This market is expected to reach USD 35.36 Billion by 2021 from USD 26.23 Billion in 2016, at a CAGR of 6.2%.The global endoscopy equipment market is segmented on the basis of product, application, end user, and region.Download PDF Brochure @Based on product, the endoscopy equipment market is categorized into endoscopes, visualization systems, other endoscopy equipment, and accessories. The endoscopes segment is further divided into flexible, rigid, and capsule endoscopes. The visualization systems segment include endoscopy cameras, camera heads, video convertors, transmitters & receivers, carts, and video recorders. The other endoscopy equipment is classified into other electrical endoscopy equipment and other mechanical endoscopy equipment. The accessories of endoscopy equipment include cleaning brushes, surgical dissectors, needle forceps & needle holders, fluid flushing devices, light cables, biopsy valves, mouthpieces, and overtubes. In 2016, the endoscopes segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the endoscopy equipment market.Based on application, the market is segmented into laparoscopy, gastrointestinal endoscopy, arthroscopy, obstetrics/gynecological endoscopy, urology endoscopy, bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy, otoscopy, and laryngoscopy. The gastrointestinal endoscopy segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market in 2016.Based on end user, the market is segmented into hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs)/clinics. The hospital segment is expected to account for the largest share of the endoscopy equipment market in 2016.On the basis of region, the global market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW (Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa). In 2016, North America is poised to account for the largest share of the endoscopy equipment market, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. However, the Asia-Pacific market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period and serve as a major revenue pocket for companies offering endoscopy equipment.Rising investments, funds, and grants by government bodies worldwide, rising number of hospitals and growing hospital investments in the expansion of endoscopy instruments, growing patient preference for minimally invasive surgeries, technological advancements, favorable reimbursement coverage in selected countries slated to propel the capsule endoscopy market, rising geriatric population, and rising prevalence of diseases that require endoscopy procedures are major factors driving the endoscopy equipment market.Some major players in the global endoscopy equipment market include Ethicon, Inc. (U.S.), Olympus Corporation (Japan), Fujifilm Holdings Corporation (Japan), KARL STORZ GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Medtronic plc (Ireland), Stryker Corporation (U.S.), Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.), Pentax Medical Corporation (Japan), Smith & Nephew plc (U.K.), Richard Wolf GmbH (Germany), and Cook Medical Incorporated (U.S.).About MarketsandMarketsMarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors.Mr. RohanMarkets and MarketsUNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZMagarpatta city, HadapsarPune, Maharashtra 411013, India1-888-600-6441
Power Tools Market to Reach $39,639 Million, Globally by 2022

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A new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Power Tools Market Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014 - 2022", projects that the global power tools market is expected to reach $39,639 million by 2022, registering a CAGR of 5.4% from 2016 to 2022. In the year 2015, electric power tools segment dominated the global market with more than 69% share in terms of revenue. North America accounted for more than one-third share of the global power tools market in 2015. The presence of key market players in the U.S. and upsurge in construction activities especially in residential sector have fueled the market growth.Power tools have emerged as an ideal alternative to traditional hand tools, owing to their efficiency, convenience, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility. Increase in housing investment, steady growth of the automotive industry, and growth in demand from manufacturing and logistics industries are expected to fuel the market growth. Recovery in housing sectors in North America and China and rising demand for vehicles in Asian and Middle-East countries are projected to fuel the demand for power tools in the near future. However, increasing prices of electricity and presence of domestic manufacturers which provide low-priced power tools could pose challenges to the market growth.Get full access of the report:The North American power tool market is the most lucrative as compared to other regions due to the presence of diverse industry verticals that use power tools. Furthermore, it is expected to generate the highest market revenue during the forecast period owing to the extensive use of these equipment in different industry applications such as construction and automotive. Logistics and aerospace industries are the potential investment areas for the key market players in world power tools market.Power tools are widely used in construction and manufacturing industries, globally, as they consume less time and labor. Moreover, rapid industrialization and growing automotive production in emerging countries such as India, and the usage of power tools in house renovations and other tasks are expected to boost the demand for power tools. Leading power tool manufacturers have focused on expanding in emerging markets due to the growing demand for power tools in construction and manufacturing industries.Among end users, non-residential users are expected to be the key consumers of power tools. Growing construction, manufacturing, and aerospace industries in the developing nations demand for technologically advanced and innovative power tool design, thereby supplementing the non-residential sector market growth. However, residentialend user segment is expected to grow at a fastest rate during the forecast period.Among different electric power tools available in the market, drills accounted for the highest share, owing to their extensive usage in both household and commercial sectors.Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing regional market during the forecast period due to higher adoption of power tools over hand tools in various industries and extensive growth in countries such as China and India.Download sample of the report at:Key Findings of Power Tools Market: Pneumatic power tools segment is expected to witness significant growth in the power tools market due to the growing adoption of this technology in the construction industry. North America is projected to exhibit a notable growth during the forecast period, owing to the upsurge in demand for power tools in automotive industries based out in the U.S. and Canada. The growth of the electric power tool segment is attributed to the increase in demand for advancements in battery technologies and upsurge infrastructural developments in the developing countries. The U.S. dominates the North American power tools market, contributing about 79% share of the market in 2015.The major companies profiled in this report include Stanley Black & Decker Inc., Atlas Copco AB, Robert Bosch GmbH, Techtronic Industries Co. Limited, Actuant Corporation, Makita Corporation, Danaher Corporation, Emerson Electric Co., Hitachi Koki Co. Ltd., and Hilti Corporation. These industry players have focused on collaboration, acquisition, and partnership strategies, and have launched innovative solutions to increase their market share. For instance, in December 2015, Stanley Decker & Black Inc. acquired Jiangsu Guoqiang Tools Co., Ltd. ("GQ"), China. This acquisition facilitated the companys existing power tools product offerings and diversify its presence in the global market.Allied Market Research is a global market research and business consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of Market Research Reports and Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220,United States.Int'l: +1-503-894-6022Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285Fax: +1-800-792-5285help@alliedmarketresearch.com
Smart Personal Safety and Security Device Market is expected to reach US ~$8 billion by 2022

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Market research future published a half cooked research report on Smart Personal Safety and Service Device Market. The global market for Smart Personal Safety and Service Device is majorly driven by factors such as high proliferation of smart wearable devices and increasing crime ratio.Market HighlightsGlobal Smart Personal Safety and Service Device is growing rapidly and the main factor which is supporting the market is increasing advancement in communication technologies. Growing interest of government, industrial sectors and corporates towards Smart Personal Safety and Service Device is helping the market to grow. In the year 2015, the global market size of Smart Personal Safety and Service Device has been valued at US ~$20.3 billion which is growing with CAGR of ~8%. Growing demand for big data analytics and market of data interpretation is expected to drive the market to US ~$36 billion by the end of forecast period.Key Players for Smart Personal Safety and Security Device Market: DAQRI LLC (U.S) Force Impact Technologies (U.S) Ericsson (Sweden) iBeat (U.S) Fitbit (U.S) UnaliWear Inc. (U.S) Honeywell International, Inc. (U.S) General Electric (U.S) Revolar Inc. (U.S.) Safelet B.V. (U.S.) among others.Request a Sample Copy @Target Audience: Software vendors Software developers System integrators Research & consultants IT and Cloud service providers GovernmentTaste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread in 110 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Smart Personal Safety and Security Device Market Research ReportCommenting on the report, an analyst from Market Research Future (MRFR)s team said:Smart Personal Safety and Security Device has already contributed immensely for the better development in the areas such as innovation, and the quality of human life and increasing awareness concerning personal safety and security among children, women, old age peopleis fueling the growth of smart personal safety and security device market.Browse full report @Table of Content1 Market Introduction1.1 Introduction1.2 Scope Of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions1.2.3 Limitations1.3 Market Structure:1.3.1 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market: By Component1.3.2 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market: By Technology1.3.3 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market: By End User2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Type2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research2.4 Forecast Model2.4.1 Market Data Collection, Analysis & Forecast2.4.2 Market Size Estimation2.4.3 Market Crackdown & Data Triangulation3 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market: Overview3.1 Introduction3.1.1 Definition3.1.2 Market Segmentation Of Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market4 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market, Competitive Landscape4.1 Key Strategies And Developments4.1.1 Acquisitions4.1.2 Partnerships & Collaborations4.1.3 Product Launch4.1.4 Business Expansion4.1.5 Others4.2 Porters Five Forces Analysis4.2.1 Threat Of New Entrants4.2.2 Bargaining Power Of Buyers4.2.3 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers4.2.4 Threat Of Substitutes4.2.5 Intensity Of Competitive Rivalry5 Market OverviewContinue..LIST OF TABLESTABLE 1 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market, By ComponentTABLE 2 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market, By TechnologyTABLE 3 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market, By End UsersTABLE 4 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market, By RegionsTABLE 5 North America Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market, By CountryContinue.LIST OF FIGURESFIGURE 1 Research ComponentFIGURE 2 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market: By Component (%)FIGURE 3 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market: By Technology (%)FIGURE 4 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market: By End Users (%)FIGURE 5 Global Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market: By RegionFIGURE 6 North America Smart Personal Safety And Security Device Market, By ComponentContinue..The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Related ReportGlobal Wireless Monitoring and Surveillance Market, by Technology (Video, IP), by End-user (Bank, Government (Military, law enforcement), Transportation), by Component (Server, Digital camera, Network node) - Forecast 2027. Know more about this report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Luxury Travel Market to Reach $1,154 Billion, Globally, by 2022

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According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Luxury Travel Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014-2022," the global luxury travel market is expected to generate $1,154 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 6.4% during 2016-2022. In 2015, North America and Europe collectively accounted for around 66% of the overall market revenue.Growing inclination of people towards unique and exotic holiday experiences, rise in middle and upper middle class spending and the increasing impact of social media on travel industry are the key factors that drive the market growth. Emerging new destinations coupled with rising service standards in the travel industry, is anticipated to further drive the demand for luxury travel, globally.Get access to detailed report at:The adventure and safari segment accounted for about 44% of the overall luxury travel market revenue, by tour type in 2015, as this is identified as the most popular vacation option among young and middle age group travelers. In addition, tours aimed at culinary and shopping experience, would witness the fastest growth, registering a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period. An increasing number of luxury travelers are indulging in these tours as they enable these travelers to experience the finest local delicacies and also buy some of the most exquisite handicrafts. These trips are getting popular among travelers of all age groups, especially the millennials (21 - 30 years). In 2015, approximately 70% of millennials took a trip based on culinary interest.Baby boomers segment is projected to hold the highest market share in the overall luxury travel market, by age group, as they have been identified as the highest travel spenders. As per industry sources, about 68% of the disposable income in the U.S. is controlled by Baby boomers and are estimated to inherit $15 trillion in the next 20 years. However, it has been identified that only 5-10% marketing is targeted at this traveler segment. Among the other age groups considered in our study, the segment of millennials; would exhibit the highest growth during the forecast period.High spending power and search for exclusivity with high comfort and first class facilities are the major factors that promote the demand for luxury travel by absolute luxury travelers. It has been identified that the absolute luxury travelers take at least three to four luxury trips in a year. Among the three luxury traveler types, the absolute luxury traveler segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period (2016-2022).Regionally, Asia Pacifics luxury travel market would exhibit the fastest growth owing to the rise in number of middle income groups. Within Asia-Pacific luxury travel market, India is estimated to register CAGR of 12.3% from 2016 - 2022. Europe and Caribbean would continue to be the most preferred luxury travel destinations. The most popular luxury travel destinations in Europe are identified as Germany and Italy. Whereas, Paris is the global leading metropolitan destination, which witnesses nearly 18.8 million international arrivals yearly. In LAMEA, Brazil continues to show a promising potential and is predicted to become one of the top-five global economies by the middle of this century. As per the tourism statistics, tourist arrival in Latin America has observed an increase of 50% in the past decade.Get Free Sample of This Report at:Key Findings of the Luxury Travel Market: In the year 2015, adventure and safari segment led the overall luxury travel market revenue, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period. Adventure and safari is the most sought after tour type, with travelers from Europe, Latin America, and North America, comprising 78% of overall international departures in this segment in 2015. The millennials age group segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.1%, owing to rising popularity of travel among this generation and the fact that they travel more often than the other generations. Absolute luxury traveler segment is projected to generate largest revenue in the luxury travel market. Asia-Pacific is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period (2016 to 2022), with China being the major stakeholder.Key players profiled in this report are Abercrombie & Kent Ltd, Cox & Kings Ltd, Macato Safaris, Ker & Downey, Tauck, Thomas Cook Group, Scott Dunn Ltd, Kensington Tours, and Butterfield & Robinson Inc. Other players in the value chain include TUI Group, Zicasso, Inc., Black Tomato, Backroads, Lindblad Expeditions, and Exodus travels.Allied Market Research is a global market research and business consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of Market Research Reports and Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220,United States.Int'l: +1-503-894-6022Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285Fax: +1-800-792-5285help@alliedmarketresearch.com
Market Overview: Deep Brain Stimulators - Medical Devices Pipeline Assessment, 2016

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"The Report Deep Brain Stimulators - Medical Devices Pipeline Assessment, 2016 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"GlobalData's Medical Devices sector report, Deep Brain Stimulators - Medical Devices Pipeline Assessment, 2016" provides an overview of Deep Brain Stimulators currently in pipeline stage.The report provides comprehensive information on the pipeline products with comparative analysis of the products at various stages of development. The report reviews major players involved in the pipeline product development. It also provides information about clinical trials in progress, which includes trial phase, trial status, trial start and end dates, and, the number of trials for the key Deep Brain Stimulators pipeline products.This report is prepared using data sourced from in-house databases, secondary and primary research by GlobalData's team of industry experts.View Report AtScope- Extensive coverage of the Deep Brain Stimulators under development- The report reviews details of major pipeline products which includes, product description, licensing and collaboration details and other developmental activities- The report reviews the major players involved in the development of Deep Brain Stimulators and list all their pipeline projects- The coverage of pipeline products based on various stages of development ranging from Early Development to Approved / Issued stage- The report provides key clinical trial data of ongoing trials specific to pipeline products- Recent developments in the segment / industryReasons to buyThe report enables you to -- Formulate significant competitor information, analysis, and insights to improve R&D strategies- Identify emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage- Identify and understand important and diverse types of Deep Brain Stimulators under development- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies- Plan mergers and acquisitions effectively by identifying major players with the most promising pipeline- In-depth analysis of the products current stage of development, territory and estimated launch dateDownload Sample copy of this Report at :Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 51.2 List of Figures 102 Introduction 112.1 Deep Brain Stimulators Overview 113 Products under Development 123.1 Deep Brain Stimulators - Pipeline Products by Stage of Development 123.2 Deep Brain Stimulators - Pipeline Products by Territory 133.3 Deep Brain Stimulators - Pipeline Products by Regulatory Path 143.4 Deep Brain Stimulators - Pipeline Products by Estimated Approval Date 153.5 Deep Brain Stimulators - Ongoing Clinical Trials 164 Deep Brain Stimulators - Pipeline Products under Development by Companies 174.1 Deep Brain Stimulators Companies - Pipeline Products by Stage of Development 174.2 Deep Brain Stimulators - Pipeline Products by Stage of Development 195 Deep Brain Stimulators Companies and Product Overview 215.1 Adaptive Neuromodulation GmbH Company Overview 215.1.1 Adaptive Neuromodulation GmbH Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 215.2 Aleva Neurotherapeutics SA Company Overview 225.2.1 Aleva Neurotherapeutics SA Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 225.3 Boston Scientific Corp Company Overview 255.3.1 Boston Scientific Corp Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 255.4 Brainsway Ltd Company Overview 305.4.1 Brainsway Ltd Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 305.5 Cerene Biomedics, Inc. Company Overview 405.5.1 Cerene Biomedics, Inc. Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 405.6 Cerevast Therapeutics Inc Company Overview 415.6.1 Cerevast Therapeutics Inc Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 415.7 Children's Hospital Boston Company Overview 425.7.1 Children's Hospital Boston Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 425.8 Cleveland Medical Devices Inc Company Overview 435.8.1 Cleveland Medical Devices Inc Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 435.9 Clinatec Company Overview 445.9.1 Clinatec Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 445.10 Deep Brain Innovations, LLC Company Overview 455.10.1 Deep Brain Innovations, LLC Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 455.11 Duke University Company Overview 505.11.1 Duke University Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 505.12 Functional Neuromodulation Inc. Company Overview 515.12.1 Functional Neuromodulation Inc. Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 515.13 Highland Instruments, Inc. Company Overview 535.13.1 Highland Instruments, Inc. Pipeline Products & Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview 535.14 Massachusetts General Hospital Company Overview 54MarketResearchReports.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
Smart Cards Market : Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2023

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Albany, NY, 19 DEC : Smart cards are IC-based cards that accumulate and retrieve information using various computer systems. Smart cards consist of central processing units and memory units. Smart cards primarily act as a cost-effective way to store, manage, and maintain credentials for their users. This makes these products highly convenient for different applications. In addition, the portability of smart cards enables their extensive adoption across different applications. Currently, smart cards are widely used across sectors such as telecommunications, BFSI, and government. Due to the numerous advantages they offer, smart cards are increasingly used in the healthcare, government IDs (e-passports), and retail sectors. Thus, strong ongoing adoption of smart cards across different sectors is estimated to substantially spur the markets growth in the coming years.The research study titled Smart Cards Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2023 provides in-depth analysis of the market and related sub-segments. The report strategically focuses on market segments including different types of smart cards and components. In addition, this report provides market insights and forecasts of the size and growth of each segment across each of the geographic regions. The report includes detailed analysis of prevalent market trends and profiles of key players. In order to provide better understanding of competition in the market, the report offers ecosystem analysis and competitive landscape. The study on the global smart cards market has been conducted with the objective of providing thorough coverage of the underlying technological and socio-economic factors driving the market.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The smart cards market is expected to see consistent growth in the coming years due to the increasing demand for secure and reliable payment transactions across the retail and BFSI sectors. Moreover, cost-saving schemes for merchants from payments brands such as Visa, MasterCard, and Europay is driving the smart card technology innovations. The decreasing prices of subscriber identification module (SIM) cards and tariff rates are increasing the number of mobile subscribers, and thus further contributing to the growth of the smart cards market. However, factors such as price pressures and technological challenges along with the cost of migrating to smartcard compatible readers affect the adoption of smartcards. Conversely, technological advancements, falling prices, and the introduction of high-end SIMs offer potential opportunities for the growth of the smart cards market.This report studies the current scenario as well as the future market potential for smart cards globally. The market for smart cards has been segmented based on three major parameters: card type, components, and geography. The major types of smart cards used are contact smart cards, contactless smart cards, hybrid smart cards, and dual-interface smart cards. On the basis of components, the smart cards market is segmented into microcontroller-based smart cards and memory-based smart cards. The demand for microcontroller-based smart cards is significantly high owing to the wide adoption of such cards for contactless and dual-interface smart cards. The market size and forecast, in terms of revenue and volume (US$ Mn & Mn units), for each of these segments has been provided for the period from 2013 to 2023, considering 2013 and 2014 as the base years. For 2015, report provides actual data for the first half and estimate for the second half. Also, the report provides market size and forecast in terms of volume (Mn Units) for various segments for the above mentioned period. The report also provides the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for each segment of the market for the forecast period 2016 to 2023.Enquiry @Geographically, the market for global smart cards has been segmented into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report also provides a competitive landscape, wherein the market share analysis of leading players in the global smart cards market for the year 2014, in terms of value percentage, has been discussed. The report concludes with the company profiles section, which provides an overview of the major companies operating in the market including strategies deployed by them to gain competitive advantage, annual revenue generated by them in the past two years, and key developments in the market. The companies profiled in this report include the American Express Company, Atos SE, NXP Semiconductors NV, Infineon Technologies AG, Gemalto NV, INSIDE Secure, Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) GmbH, and Texas Instruments, Inc.ResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @
Green Building Materials Market to Reach $377,029 Million, Globally by 2022

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According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, Green Building Materials Market by Product Type and by ApplicationGlobal Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20142022 The global green building materials market is expected to be $171,475 million in 2015, growing at a CAGR of 11.9% from 2016 to 2022 to reach $377,029 million by 2022. The exterior products segment dominated the market in 2015 with one-third share, in terms of revenue.Get access to detailed information visit on:Emission reduction potential of green building materials, high asset value of green buildings, growth in public awareness regarding green materials, and increase in client & market demand are the major factors that drive the green building materials market across the globe. In addition, reduction in operating costs and enhanced worker productivity due to healthier indoor environment supplements the market growth. A wide variety of green building materials are available in the market including linoleum, galvalume panels, and fiber-cement composites. New low-rise and high residential buildings, retrofits of existing buildings, and new industrial buildings are the major areas where growth of green building materials is expected. DGNB, LEED, BREEAM, HQE, and EnergyStar are some of the certification systems that evaluate performance of the green buildings. They rate the buildings according to some set standards.According to Eswara Prasad, Team Lead, Chemicals & Materials at Allied Market Research, Though, cost concerns, market barriers and lack of government policies encouraging green construction are some factors, which hinder the growth of green building materials, continuous innovation and rise in growth of building and construction sector provides a great potential for market expansion.Exterior products accounted for more than one-third of the market in terms of revenue in 2015. Employment of green building exterior products in construction industry offers energy efficiency, durability, low maintenance, and operation cost and waste reduction over traditional construction techniques. Residential buildings segment holds the largest share by application in terms of revenue and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.2%. Increase in concerns regarding rise in energy prices, accelerating climate change, negative health impact associated with building materials, and stormwater runoff polluting rivers and lakes have reinforced the need for green building construction in the residential sector.Key findings of the study Asia-Pacific is expected to continue to lead the market during the forecast period followed by Europe. Solar products market revenue is projected to grow with a high CAGR of 13.5% during the forecast period. Roofing is the fastest growing segment in green building exterior products registering a CAGR of 12.2% during the forecast period. Brazil accounts for three-fifths share in LAMEA green building materials market in 2015. India grows at a faster rate in Asia-Pacific green building materials market, registering a CAGR of 12.7% from 2016 to 2022. France accounts for 11.1% share in Europe green building materials market in 2015.Asia-Pacific and Europe collectively contributed more than half of the share to the global green building materials market revenue in 2015. In the same year, Asia-Pacific dominated the market, owing to the presence of healthier neighborhoods and pressure of environmental regulations pertaining harmful emissions.The prominent market players are Alumasc Group Plc (UK), Amvik Systems (Canada), BASF SE (Germany), Bauder Limited (UK), Binderholz GmbH (Germany), E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.), Forbo International SA (Switzerland), Interface Inc. (U.S.), Kingspan Group plc (Ireland), and Owens Corning (U.S.).Our market research department starts with the research task considering specific concerns and ambitions of the client. We understand that every market is driven by certain key factors locally as well as globally. Our analysts dig out those factors, helping clients understand the importance and impact of every such driving force. Moreover, possible restraints of the market are discovered and suggestions to tackle those restraints are formulated after extensive research and analysis of the overall market conditions. Making an even deeper insight, we analyze the market trend including both qualitative and quantitative present market scenario in every geographical region segmented as per the business domain concerned and overall performance in different regions throughout the globe.5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220,United States.Int'l: +1-503-894-6022Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285Fax: +1-800-792-5285help@alliedmarketresearch.com
SIM Assist- A tablet app to record the diagnostic assessments of the aged patients.

eTatvaSoft, a leading mobile app development company from India, had developed a SIM Assist - Tablet app for one of its client to record the evidence-based diagnostic assessments of the aged patient suffering from continence. The client wished to improve the quality of the life of the aging population. As the continence is a common health problem among the aging people, client wanted to develop a diagnostic tool that could be used easily and record all different types of clinical data. The client got benefited with the increased sales due to the extensive features and flexibility offered to them.The app behaves as a central collection of the important clinical data of the old age homes people, ensuring better tracking of their health. The team of eTatvaSoft had developed this app to allow conducting the medical assessment of the elderly patients by reducing the time and bring more authenticity to the clinical data. The brain behind developing this project was the Android Development team at eTatvaSoft.With all the key challenges like clean and easy app design, multiple user interface alert message, different parameters, display history, etc, eTatvaSoft developed a solution by providing a SIM Assist app with an interactive user interface to record clinical data with easy tap facility. The app was designed with the necessary observational entries and parameters to effortlessly record the data. A sleekly designed app with self-explanatory images to make an observation. Some notable features like efficient design, attractive icons and images, multiple user accessibilities, notifications, observation entities and many more were integrated in this system.The entire process became easier for the client to provide a flexible platform and meet the patients requirements. The flow got streamlines and new customers have gained interest.eTatvaSoft is a web development and mobile app development company from India, offering professional development services in multiple open source technologies like LAMP/WAMP, Magento, WordPress, Drupal, OXID, Prestashop, Moodle, CodeIgniter, Laravel, Symfony, Zend, Yii, AngularJS, Node.js, JavaScript, jQuery, Bootstrap, and mobile app development in Android and iOS. Our years of experience, development processes and expertise makes us a preferred offshore software development company to multiple industries and back-office to digital agencies worldwide.Suite 630, 33 Wood Avenue South, Iselin, New Jersey, 08830
Growth of Base Metal Mining in Global Industry : Research and Forecast 2016-2023

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Albany, NY, 19 DEC : This research study analyzes the market for base metal mining in terms of volume (million metric tonnes). The market has been segmented on the basis of type and region. The global base metal mining market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America. For the research, 2014 has been taken as the base year, while all forecasts have been given for the period from 2015 to 2023. Market data for all the metal types has been provided at the regional as well as country-specific level from 2015 to 2023. The report provides a broad competitive analysis of companies engaged in the base metal mining business. The report also includes the key market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities affecting the global base metal mining market. These market dynamics were analyzed in detail and are illustrated in the report with the help of supporting graphs and tables. The report also provides a comprehensive analysis of the global base metal mining market with the help of Porters Five Forces model. This analysis helps in understanding the five major forces that affect the market structure and market profitability. The forces analyzed are bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and degree of competition.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @The high-level analysis in the report provides detailed insights into the base metal mining business globally. There are currently numerous drivers of the market. One of the most prominent drivers is the rise in infrastructure development. Market attractiveness analysis was carried out for the base metal mining market on the basis of geography. Market attractiveness was estimated on the basis of common parameters that directly impact the market in different regions.The base metal mining market was segmented on the basis of type into copper, nickel, zinc-lead, aluminum, and tin. Base metals vary according to physical properties and applications.Aluminum held the significant market share in 2014 on account of its wide applications in various areas such as packaging, transportation, construction, consumer durables, machinery equipment, electrical systems, etc. Zinc is another most widely consumed base metal in the world due to its various physical properties such as galvanizing properties and capability of bonding with various metals. Zinc has been growing due to its anti-corrosion property which helps prevent corrosion in metals. Corrosion is a major hindrance to the base metal applications. Lead is primarily used in portable batteries, which are used in vehicles and emergency systems. Expanding portable batteries market, is driving the demand for lead. Demand for copper is projected to grow with increase in population as it would require expanding power infrastructure which is copper-intensive. Copper market would be boosted by the increase in number of infrastructure facilities such as buildings and complexes.Nickel is used in highly-specialized sectors such as industrial, aerospace, and military. Nickel plating is one of the important industries, wherein the usage of nickel is essential; expanding nickel plating industry would boost the demand for nickel in the next few years. Utilization of tin-coated electronic components is increasing in motor vehicles, which in turn, is boosting the consumption of tin. Tin is being used as an alternative to other materials. It is also used in various industries, such as food and beverage and packaging.Enquiry @The base metal mining market was analyzed across five geographies: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America. Regional data has been provided for each sub-segment of the base metal mining market. Key players in the market include Alcoa Inc., Anglo American plc, Antofagasta plc, BHP Billiton Ltd., Corporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile (CODELCO), First Quantum Minerals Ltd., Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Glencore plc, Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, Rio Tinto plc, Southern Copper Corporation, Teck Resources Limited, and Vale SA. The report provides an overview of these companies, followed by their financial details, business strategies, and recent developments.ResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @
Laboratory Centrifuge Market worth 1.74 Billion USD by 2020

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The report "Laboratory Centrifuge Market by Product (Equipment (Microcentrifuge/Ultracentrifuge), Accessories), Rotor Design, Intended Use, Application (Diagnostic/Microbiology/Proteomics/Genomics), End User (Hospital/Biotech/Pharmaceutical) - Global Forecast to 2020", The laboratory centrifuge market is expected to reach USD 1.74 Billion by 2020 from USD 1.53 Billion in 2015, growing at a CAGR of 2.5% from 2015 to 2020.Browse 107 market data Tables and 43 Figures spread through 152 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Laboratory Centrifuge Market"Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.Laboratory centrifuges enable the separation of various components from a liquid and facilitate easy and efficient diagnosis and research. This helps in understanding the present medical condition of a patient. This equipment is widely used in laboratories for various research purposes in the areas of chemistry, biology, and biochemistry. Increasing prevalence and incidence of diseases and growing focus of companies on clinical research are factors that are expected to drive the growth of the laboratory centrifuges market.In the report, the laboratory centrifuge market is segmented on the basis of products, rotor design, intended use, applications, end users, and regions.Get The Customized Information@Based on products, the equipment segment is expected to account for the largest share in 2015, closely followed by the accessory segment. The microcentrifuges segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to growth in various applications such as blood transfusion, processing of blood and other tissues, and biomedical and biochemical analysis which requires centrifugation of small amounts of liquids.Based on end users, the laboratory centrifuge market is segmented into hospitals, academic & research institutions, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and other end users.You Can Buy This Report@Geographically, North America dominates the laboratory centrifuge market, followed by Europe. North America is expected to account for the largest share of the laboratory centrifuges market in 2015, with Asia having the highest growth rate during the forecast period.Some of the prominent players in the laboratory centrifuge market include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (U.S.), Beckman Coulter, Inc. (U.S.), Eppendorf AG (Germany), Kubota Corporation (Japan), and Sigma Laborzentrifugen GmbH (Germany).About MarketsandMarkets:MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors.M&Ms flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.Contact:Mr. RohanMarketsandMarkets701 Pike StreetSuite 2175, Seattle,WA 98101, United StatesTelephone No : 1-888-600-6441
Pipeline Analysis: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Therapeutics Market Share, by Key Players, 2023

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TMR estimates the overall value of the global hypertrophic cardiomyopathy therapeutics market at US$1.2 bn in 2014. Exhibiting a moderate CAGR of 1.4% from 2015 to 2023, the market is expected to reach US$1.3 bn by the end of 2023.Global Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Therapeutics Market  Key TrendsWith heart diseases emerging as one of the most common causes of mortality among men and women worldwide, Transparency Market Research (TMR) expects the demand for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) therapeutics to surge considerably. Furthermore, the market is expected to gain significant impetus from successful government interventions aimed at spreading awareness about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Read Full Report:TMR projects the global HCM therapeutics market to expand at a moderate 1.4% CAGR between 2015 and 2023. Despite witnessing positive opportunities, the rising demand for advanced medical devices could threaten the markets growth to an extent. Nevertheless, since the majority of HCM drugs are yet to get approved, the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy therapeutics market is likely to gain momentum post their approval in the near future.According to TMR, the global hypertrophic cardiomyopathy therapeutics market is expected to reach US$1.37 bn in 2023, from US$1.2 bn in 2015. The leading players in the market are likely to capitalize on the untapped opportunities in the healthcare sector of emerging economies to expand their footprint.Demand for HCM Therapeutics Surges due to Increasing Incidence of Congestive Heart FailureThe prevalence of chronic cardiovascular ailments is fueling demand for effective treatment, which has been translating into lucrative sales opportunities for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy therapeutics, said a lead TMR analyst. Heart diseases make one of the most common causes of death in both men and women around the world. According to TMR, the rising incidence of congestive heart failure considerably fuels demand for effective medications. This creates attractive opportunities for sales of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy therapeutics.Download exclusive Sample of this Report:"Besides this, successful interventions conducted across several countries to spread awareness about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have also aided the expansion of the HCM therapeutics market, said the TMR analyst. Furthermore, patients are now more aware about the latest medical advances, which augurs well for the market. ECG screening is the most efficient technology for diagnosing HCM. The success demonstrated by this technology has significantly contributed in fuelling demand for HCM therapeutics.Rising Prevalence of Obesity to Fuel Demand for HCM Therapeutics in North AmericaNorth America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World constitute the key markets by geography for HCM therapeutics. Among these regions, with a share of 31.1%, North America emerged as the leading contributor to the market in 2014, followed by Europe. Both these regions boast a sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, which augurs well for the HCM therapeutics market.Brochure Download:The increasing prevalence of obesity among the younger population in North America and their preference towards a sedentary lifestyle, are primary factors augmenting demand for HCM therapeutics from the region. The rising cases of cardiac arrests reported every year in North America will seal the regions dominance in the market through the forecast period. In North America, the U.S. reports the highest demand for HCM therapeutics.However, according to TMR, the market is expected to witness stronger growth across the emerging economies of Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. Asia Pacific is expected to report the fastest CAGR during the course of the forecast period. The development of modern healthcare facilities in the region, rising healthcare expenditure, and the increasing awareness about HCM, are primary factors fuelling demand for HCM therapeutics from Asia Pacific.Some of the leading companies in the global hypertrophic cardiomyopathy therapeutics market are Sanofi S.A., Merck & Co., Pfizer, Inc., Mylan N. V. Teva Pharmaceuticals Limited, Novartis AG, and Others.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Mineral Oil Market - Global Industry Analysis 2019

Mineral Oil Market

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Mineral oil is a mixture characterized by no color or odor. This liquid by-product is a result of refining crude oil that is used for making gasoline and other petroleum-related products. Mineral oil is composed of cycloalkanes and alkanes. It is mainly used in cosmetics, biomedicine, food preparations, and mechanical and industrial processes such as thermic fluid. It serves the purpose of a lubricant, raw material for a wide range of industries, and an illuminant. The byproducts of mineral oil are mainly used in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and textile industries along with being used as a feed-stock for several important petrochemicals. Over the years, industrialization and research and development for various kinds of products has given a strong impetus to the global mineral oil market.The global mineral oil market has been examined and evaluated by industry experts with an aim to provide readers a credible document that can be used as a framework to make important business decisions. The global mineral oil market has also been analyzed using a SWOT analysis to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of key players. The report also includes a Porters five forces analysis for identifying the threat of new entrants, threat of substitute products or services, bargaining power of customers, bargaining power of suppliers, and intensity of competitive rivalry.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical insights:Overview of the Global Mineral Oil MarketThe global mineral oil market is expected to grow due to increasing demand for mineral oil in the ever-expanding food and cosmetic industries. The undercurrent for the relentless demand in the cosmetics industry is the growing young population and their changing lifestyles. In the case of the food industry, the FDAs approval for the usage of food-grade mineral oil in food preparation is anticipated to propel the demand for mineral oil in the food industry. Furthermore, the global mineral oil market is also witnessing growth as mineral oil is used as a thermic fluid in a wide range of industrial and mechanical applications as it offers several benefits when compared to steam systems.However, the market faces certain challenges such as fluctuating crude oil prices and toxicity that is released into mildly treated mineral oils. These restricting factors can be overcome with an increasing demand from end-user industries in Asia Pacific region and the rising usage of high-grade oils in biomedicine.North America was the biggest consumer of mineral oil in the recent past due to an exceptionally high demand for cosmetics and food in the region. Asia Pacific is expected to trail this growth rate due to the rise in the population here and the subsequent rise in the demand for mineral oil from the end-user industries. Furthermore, the mineral oil market in Europe is likely to grow at a medium pace due to strict regulations set by food agency authorities pertaining to the toxicity of mineral oil in food items.Companies Mentioned in the Global Mineral Oil MarketSome of the important players profiled in the global mineral oil market are the Dow Chemical Company, Petro Canada, Clariant AG, BASF SE, Solutia Inc., Applied Thermal Control, Flowserve Corporation, Huntsman Corporation, and Radco Industries.The global mineral oil market is segmented in the following ways:-North America-Europe-Asia Pacific-Rest of the WorldAbout UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insights for decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, TMR employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop 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:
Pet Wearable Market - Top Players (DeLaval Inc. (Sweden), Loc8tor Ltd. (United Kingdom), Nedap N.V. (Netherlands), PetPace Ltd. (Burlington)) - Emerging Trends to Watch out

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Pet Wearable Market: SnapshotOver the last couple of years, the advent of wearable technology and the ever-growing awareness about pet health, fitness, and safety have resulted in the emergence of pet wearables. The pet wearable market is presently in its nascent stage and holds significant potential in the ensuing years. Transparency Market Research projects that the spending on pet wearables is likely to surpass that on pet food by 2017.The global pet wearables market is estimated to be valued at US$1.0 bn by the end of 2016 and is expected to reach US$2.5 bn by 2024 at a 12.0% CAGR therein.Download Brochure for Emerging Market Insights atAvailability of Advanced Substitutes Threatening Uptake of Identification and Tracking Devices for PetsIn terms of application, the pet wearable market is classified into identification and tracking, facilitation, safety, and security, behaviour monitoring and control, and medical diagnosis and treatment. So far, majority of the demand in the pet wearables market has been generated by the identification and tracking segment. However, the adoption rate of identification and tracking devices for pets and farm animals is projected to witness a marginal decline during the forecast period mainly due to the availability of substitute products offering similar as well as more advanced and sophisticated features.Increasing awareness about pet health and fitness among owners, especially in North America and Europe, is expected to fuel the demand for devices providing medical diagnosis. The medical diagnosis and treatment segment, in combination with the facilitation, safety, and security segment, is expected to account for over a quarter of the pet wearables market by 2024.Stringent Regulations Pertaining to Treatment toward Animals Drives North America Pet Wearables MarketGeographically, North America and Europe are expected to be the major markets for pet wearables, with a combined share of around 75% during the forecast period. Market penetration of pet wearables is relatively high across these regions owing to greater purchasing power and stringent regulations pertaining to treatment toward animals. The latter has compelled households with pets to purchase products such as bark collars and behavior modification devices. In addition, the availability of advanced wireless infrastructure and telecommunications technologies has catalyzed the adoption of GPS collars along with monitoring devices for pets. The prevailing technological know-how of mobile devices and interpretation of mobile data among prospective customers in these regions also plays a major role in the uptake of these devices across North America and Europe.The Asia Pacific pet wearables market is projected to grow at a significant pace through 2024. GPS and RFID technology-based identification, tracking, behavior monitoring, and control are expected experience considerable demand during the forecast period. However, in terms of growth rate, the adoption of devices to ensure the safety and security of pets and to facilitate medical diagnosis and treatment is expected be the leading segment. The lack of advanced telecommunication infrastructure across major markets in the Asia-Pacific region has resulted in a relatively lower adoption of pet wearables and they are expected to gain traction only by the next decade.Some of the major players operating in the pet wearables market are DeLaval Inc. (Sweden), Loc8tor Ltd. (United Kingdom), Nedap N.V. (Netherlands), PetPace Ltd. (Burlington), Whistle Labs Inc. (United States), and IceRobotics Ltd (United Kingdom).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:
Comparative Analysis: Global Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Market, by Geography 2015 & 2023

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As per Transparency Market Research, the global primary immunodeficiency market stood at US$4.3 bn in 2014. Rising at a CAGR of 6.1% between 2015 and 2023, the market is expected to reach US$7.5 bn by the end of 2023.Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Market: Key InsightsIn response to the rising incidence of antibody diseases, Transparency Market Research (TMR) forecasts the global primary immunodeficiency market to surge at 6.1% CAGR between 2015 and 2023. Developed regions such as Europe and North America are predominantly contributing to the growth witnessed by this market. The consistent approval of novel therapeutic options for primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDD) and extensive research and development investments by key players are likely to bolster opportunities for the market in the forthcoming years.Read Full Report:On the flip side, the absence of proper reimbursement and high cost of therapies will inhibit the markets growth trajectory to an extent. Nevertheless, with favorable government policies and funding for research and development in biopharma and pharmaceuticals, growth prospects for the market seem quite promising.TMR expects the global PIDD market to reach US$7.5 bn by the end of 2023, from a valuation of US$4.3 bn in 2014.Demand for PIDD Treatment Highest in North America and EuropeCollectively accounting for a share of 79.4% in the global PIDD market, North America and Europe emerged as the dominant regional segments in 2014. Among these regions, North America boasted the largest share of 56.2% in 2014, with the U.S. at the fore. As per TMR, the U.S. held over 80.2% of the PIDD market in North America in the same year. The nation is expected to continue demonstrating lucrative opportunities for the PIDD market through the forecast period.Over the last couple of years, a persistently increasing prevalence of diseases such as selective IgA deficiency, IgG subclass deficiency, and common variable immune deficiency has been witnessed in North America. This has fuelled the uptake of PIDD therapeutics. However, the growing awareness pertaining to side-effects such as renal failure and allergic reactions frequently associated with the treatment could hamper the markets growth to an extent.Download exclusive Sample of this Report:The primary immunodeficiency diseases market in North America, which stood at US$2.4 bn in 2014, is expected to reach US$4.3 bn by the end of 2023. The market is therefore expected to rise at a CAGR of 6.4% during the period.In Europe, the market is expected to gain from the increasing awareness regarding PIDD and favorable government support. The presence of companies such as Baxter International Inc., CSL Behring LLC, and Blotest Pharmaceuticals Corporation also supports the markets expansion in the region. Apart from this, emerging nations in Asia Pacific also exhibit lucrative scope for the expansion of the PIDD market. The increasing willingness among people to spend on novel therapeutics augurs well for sales prospects of the market in Asia Pacific. The region currently holds only a moderate share in the market. However, in the near future the opportunities for sale of PIDD therapeutics in the region will increase considerably.Rising Uptake of Immunoglobulin (Ig) Replacement Therapy Expected in Near FutureBy treatment, stem cell and gene therapy, antibiotic therapy, immunoglobulin (Ig) replacement therapy, and others make the key segments in the global PIDD market. Of these, immunoglobulin replacement has been in use for the treatment of chronic ailments for the past two decades. Due to the recent developments, it is also used for the treatment of partial antibody deficiency and combined immunodeficiencies. The segment therefore emerged dominant in the market in 2014. As per TMR, immunoglobulin replacement therapy will hold on to its position as the market leader through the forecast period.Brochure Download:Despite, Ig replacement therapy being the most widely accepted treatment among PIDD patients, the use of antibiotics as an adjunct therapy is poised to surge in the near future. Some of the most commonly used antibiotics include penicillin, macrolides, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and tetracyclines.The demand for stem cell and gene therapy is also expected to increase during the forecast period, which in turn will augment the demand for effective PIDD treatment.Some of the most prominent companies in the global primary immunodeficiency diseases market are CSL Behring LLC, Baxter International, Inc., Grifols S.A., Octapharma AG, and others.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Naphthalene derivatives Market - Global Industry Analysis 2016 - 2024

Naphthalene derivatives Market

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Naphthalene Derivatives Market: OverviewThe basic necessity for synthesis of naphthalene derivatives is a naphthalene compound, which could is a suitable precursor for obtaining naphthalene-based derivatives. Naphthalene derivatives are synthesized in two steps viz. ring closure by cyclization reaction, followed by aromatization. However, a number of modifications can be tried to synthesize different types of naphthalene derivatives.1, 6-Dihydroxynaphthalene, 1-Methylnaphthalene, 1-Naphthol, and 2-Naphthol are some examples of naphthalene derivatives. Several kinds of naphthalene derivatives are available in the market.Naphthalene derivatives are available in two basic forms: liquid and solid. The nature of application decides which form of derivative is to be used. The powdered form is used on a larger scale than the liquid form.Derivatives of naphthalene are available in different types such as alkyl; naphthalene sulfonates, naphthalene sulfonic acid, naphthalene formaldehyde condensates (SNF), and naphthols.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical insights:Naphthalene Derivatives Market: Market TrendsNaphthalene derivatives have a wide range of application. They are used as chemical intermediates in industries such as textile, pharmaceuticals, rubber, photography, agrochemicals, detergents, and construction. In the textile sector, naphthalene derivatives are significant in the process of dyeing. Some naphthalene derivatives have insecticidal properties, which make them useful compounds in the agriculture sector. Naphthalene derivatives can function as plasticizers or dispensers and are used in the manufacture of good-quality concrete and plasterboards (i.e. drywall or wallboard).Another major application of naphthalene derivatives is the industrial synthesis of phthalic anhydride, which is a chemical intermediate in the synthesis of plastics from vinyl chloride. Phthalic anhydride is also used as a dye.Speedy growth of the textile industry is expected to drive the market for naphthalene derivatives during the forecast period. Construction is considered to be one of the speedily growing end-use application segments of the market for naphthalene derivatives.The rise in standards of living, constant urbanization, and increased R&D activities are expected to be major driving factors for the market for naphthalene derivatives in the near future.However, fluctuations in prices of crude oil and high level of toxicity associated with the use of naphthalene derivatives may prove to be a major restraint for growth of the market for naphthalene derivatives.Naphthalene Derivatives Market: Region-wise OutlookThe market for naphthalene derivatives in Asia Pacific is expected to witness speedy growth both in terms of volume and value. Various factors including presence of emerging economies such as China in the region, increasing investments by foreign countries, and high demand from textile and construction industries are anticipated to drive the naphthalene derivatives market in Asia Pacific during the forecast period.The naphthalene derivatives market in North America and Europe is expected to experience a moderate rate of growth, due to rules and regulations associated with the use of naphthalene derivatives. Also, the market for phthalic anhydride in these region is expected to experience a higher growth rate as compared to the market for naphthalene derivatives.The market in Latin America and Middle East & Africa is anticipated to witness a sluggish growth rate during the forecast period, owing to less number of end-user industries in these regions.Naphthalene Derivatives Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players operating in the market for naphthalene derivatives include Clariant, Koppers Inc., BASF SE, Arkema Group, RUTGERS N.V., Evonik Industries AG, King Industries Inc., KAO Corporation, and Huntsman International LLC.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insights for decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, TMR employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop 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:
A New Light on Blocked Arteries

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Narrowed and blocked arteries can now be diagnosed faster and more accurately with the help of special computer-aided image analysis techniques. This advance was made possible by the development of innovative techniques for the detailed visualisation of blood vessels with the support of the Austrian Science Fund FWF.Peripheral arterial occlusive disease poses a major health risk to patients. Various treatment options (widening, stenting, bypassing) offer good chances of recovery. The treatment planning requires the comprehensive analysis of blood flow through all of the peripheral blood vessels. CT angiography is one modality for this task, however, it produces thousands of images. The analysis of this huge amount of images is quite a challenge for the medical staff. Experts from the fields of medicine and IT have now collaborated on a project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF that aims at simplifying this evaluation process considerably.Seeing around cornersProject leader Milos Sramek, who is based at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, explains the main objectives: "The imaging of blood-vessel lumen is entirely feasible using CT. However, complications arise when the orientation of the vessels changes or they ramify. Obtaining a complete 3D visualisation has not been easy in such cases until now. The techniques we developed enable the accurate imaging of these aspects." The development is based on the collaborative work of teams from the Technische Universitat Wien and the Medical University of Vienna, which led to several pioneering innovations, i.e., "centerline reformation" and "curved surface reformation".A continuous pictureCenterline reformation is based on new algorithms of image processing, which enable the continuous representation of the blood-vessel lumen in case they change their spatial orientation. Rudiger Schernthaner from the Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy at the Medical University of Vienna explains: "Using this technique, we are actually able to visualise the lumen or inside of lung and brain blood vessels without overlaps  an approach that was considered extremely difficult up to now due to the sharp twists and turns." However, as Schernthaner points out, the technology is not yet perfect. In addition to known artefacts, which are inevitable with all imaging procedures, the simultaneous visualisation of several blood vessels requires further optimisation.A new dimension"Curved surface reformation" builds on "centerline reformation" and enables the complete 3D visualisation of the blood-vessel lumen. The spatial orientation and position of the blood vessel are completely irrelevant here. The method is based on a process known as raycasting, which enables the rapid visualisation of three-dimensional objects.Beyond the vessel wallsThe project participants are particularly proud of succeeding in facilitating another clinically important task. Eduard Groller from the Institute of Computer Graphics and Algorithms at the Technischen Universitat Wien remarks: "We further developed curved surface reformation so that, in addition to the blood-vessel interior, the adjacent anatomical structures are also visualized with low distortion. This allows the doctor to identify extravascular pathologies while examining the blood vessels." The adoption of appropriate "levels of detail", which process information near the centerline of a blood vessel with high accuracy, was crucial to this development.Smart super viewsThe team's other developments include intelligent visualisation methods, which make it possible, for example, to show the full volume of a blood vessel in a single image. This enables the rapid assessment of the blood flow in the entire blood vessel. The project participants have also been aware of the difficulty in identifying the most suitable choice from the large number of available imaging techniques and developed the "smart super views" approach in response. The technique automatically selects images from the available pool that are best suited for the assessment of a given area of the body. They are then presented in such a way that their diagnostic significance is immediately identifiable.The methods developed in the course of this FWF project have already been applied to over 600 medical cases per year. This underlines their relevance and importance in improving the health situation of patients.FWF Austrian Science FundThe Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is Austria's central funding organization for basic research.The purpose of the FWF is to support the ongoing development of Austrian science and basic research at a high international level. In this way, the FWF makes a significant contribution to cultural development, to the advancement of our knowledge-based society, and thus to the creation of value and wealth in Austria.Scientific Contact:Dr. Milos SramekAustrian Academy of SciencesGregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant BiologyDr. Bohr-Gasse 31030 Vienna, AustriaT +43 / 1 / 790 44 - 9813E Milos.Sramek@oeaw.ac.atAustrian Science Fund FWF:Marc SeumenichtHaus der ForschungSensengasse 11090 Vienna, AustriaT +43 / 1 / 505 67 40 - 8111E marc.seumenicht@fwf.ac.atCopy Editing & Distribution:PR&D  Public Relationsfor Research & EducationMariannengasse 81090 Vienna, AustriaT +43 / 1 / 505 70 44E contact@prd.at
Beer Market Estimated to Grow Strongly by 2020

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Beer is one of the alcoholic beverages containing 4% to 6% alcohol by volume. The main ingredients of beer include water, a starch source (such as malted barley, helps in saccharification and fermentation), a brewers yeast and flavors such as hops. Flavoring such as hops helps in adding bitterness and act as a natural preservative. Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage in the Asia Pacific region. Growing drinking population in the countries such as India and China is boosting the market for beer in the Asia-Pacific region. By types, Beer market can be segmented into premium, mainstream and economy.Request to view Sample Report @Countries such as China have the largest consumption of beer in the Asia Pacific region, followed by Japan. Increasing population and more inclined towards western culture are the major factors for the growth of beer market in the Asia Pacific region. Countries such as India, Singapore and South Korea are the fastest growing market for beer in the Asia-Pacific region.Rising disposable income, ever-increasing population, increasing in the number of bars and restaurants, increase in the acceptance of western culture and relaxation in the rules and regulation related to the operation of beer industry are some of the major driving force for beer market. Increasing disposable income among the working class population allows the customer to go out more to restaurants and bars and spend more on beer. In addition, consumers are now willing to pay more for premium segments also. According to the National Bureau of Statistics China, annual per capita disposable income of urban households in China increased from USD 2,271.0 in 2008 to USD 3408.5 in 2012. The overall annual disposable income in India medium household income increased from USD 1,366.2 billion in 2010 to USD 1,587.6 billion in 2013. Quick adoption of western culture has largely influenced the drinking habits in the Asia Pacific region. People living in the west usually have a habit of drinking beer with their meals, at parties and even during meetings. Rising Anti-alcohol campaigns and rising aging population are some of the major restraints for beer market.Request to view Table of content @The major companies operating in the beer market include Anheuser-Busch InBev, Tsingtao Brewery, Beijing Yanjing Brewery, San Miguel Brewery, Asahi Breweries and China Resources Enterprise.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.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Teleradiology Market - Global Trend, Growth Forecast & Industry Outlook Analysis Report 2015-2022

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DecisionDatabases.com offers Teleradiology Market Research Report. This Report covers the complete Industry Outlook, Growth, Size, Share and Forecast Till 2022.Get Free Sample Copy of this Report @The report on global teleradiology market evaluates the growth trends of the industry through historical study and estimates future prospects based on comprehensive research. The report extensively provides the market share, growth, trends and forecasts for the period 2015-2022. The market size in terms of revenue (USD MN) is calculated for the study period along with the details of the factors affecting the market growth (drivers and restraints).A. Drivers> Advancements in digital technology> Growth in health care expenditureB. Restraints> Lack of imaging data security> High cost of technology> Shortage of skilled radiologists and techniciansThe comprehensive value chain analysis of the market will assist in attaining better product differentiation, along with detailed understanding of the core competency of each activity involved. The market attractiveness analysis provided in the report aptly measures the potential value of the market providing business strategists with the latest growth opportunities.The report also covers the complete competitive landscape of the worldwide market with company profiles of key players such as 4Ways Healthcare Limited, Agfa-Gevaert n.v., Cybernet Medical Corporation, Everlight Radiology, Global Diagnostics Ltd., InHealth, Medica Reporting Ltd., Onrad, Inc., Radisphere National Radiology Group, Inc., Radiology Reporting Online (Rro), Ramsoft, Inc., Sectra AB, Telemedicine Clinic, Teleradiology Solutions, Inc., TeleDiagnosys Services Pvt. Ltd., The Telelaudo, and Virtual Radiologic (vRad).For More Information about this Report:A detailed description of each has been included, with information in terms of H.Q, future capacities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial overview, partnerships, collaborations, new product launches, new product developments and other latest industrial developments.SEGMENTATIONS IN THE REPORT:1. By Modality:> X-Ray> Ultrasound> Computed Tomography> Magnetic Resonance Imaging> Nuclear Imaging2. By Geography:> North America (NA)> Europe (EU)> Asia Pacific (APAC)> Latin America (LA)> Middle East & Africa (MEA)Major Table Of Contents:1. INTRODUCTION2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY3. MARKET ANALYSIS4. TELERADIOLOGY MARKET ANALYSIS BY MODALITY5. TELERADIOLOGY MARKET ANALYSIS BY GEOGRAPHY6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE OF THE TELERADIOLOGY MARKET COMPANIES7. COMPANY PROFILES OF THE TELERADIOLOGY MARKET INDUSTRYPurchase Global Teleradiology Market Research Report at:DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.3rd Floor,Fountain chambers,Nanabhai Lane,Fort, Mumbai - 1E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.comPhone: +91 99 28 237112Web:
Demand continues for Europe beer market by 2020

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Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverages in the World. Beer contains 4% to 6% alcohol by volume. The main ingredients of beer include water, a starch source (such as malted barley, helps in saccharification and fermentation), a brewers yeast and flavors such as hops. Flavoring such as hops helps in adding bitterness and act as a natural preservative. Most of the beers are sold in glass bottle and cans. The moderate consumption of beer reduced the risk of cardiac disease, stroke and cognitive decline. In contrast, heavy beer consumption increases the risk of liver diseases. The European communities have been enjoying beer for several thousand years. The beer cultures in the European countries vary remarkably, with different styles of beer and consumption habits and it forms an integral part of the Europes heritage, alimentation and culture. Europe is the second largest beer producer in the world. In 2012, around 390 million hectoliters of beer was produced in the Europe. Europe beer market can be bifurcated into four categories such as premium lager, standard lager, specialty beer and others.Request to view Sample Report @Europe beer market experienced a steady growth rate over the past few years. Flavor innovations and new target consumer are some of the major driving force for beer market. By adding new flavors in beer, manufacturers tries to attract new drinkers, thus driving the beer market. In the recent year, beer markets are opening up in an effort to target more customers. Now the beer manufacturers are offering verities of beer to target women. This can be a major driving force for beer market. Increasing number of health conscious people and rise in beer excise duty are some of the major restraints for beer market.Request to view Table of content @The major companies operating in the beer market include Scottish & Newcastle, Inbev, Heineken N.V and SABMiller.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.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Food Encapsulation Expected to Be Biggest Emerging Market by 2020

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Food encapsulation technology helps in stabilizing food ingredients to allow flavor retention, and remove bad taste from the food. With the help of food encapsulation, food and beverages industry tried to overcome challenges such as maintaining taste, color and nutrition of the product and preservation of the product. Food encapsulation has the ability to make easy coating of food particles or ingredients such as acidulants, fats, flavors, and whole ingredients such as raisins or nuts. With the increasing health awareness, consumers are giving more preference for tasty, healthy and convenient and these demands can be achieved by food encapsulation. On the basis of technology type, global food encapsulation market can be segmented into microencapsulation, nanoencapsulation and hybrid technologies. Food encapsulation technologies such as microencapsulation and nanoencapsulation have improved the food encapsulation industry. Microencapsulation is largely preferred over nanoencapsulation and hybrid technologies due to its cost-effectiveness, flexibility and versatility.Request to view Sample Report @North America is the largest market for food encapsulation, growing at a slower pace due to the saturated end-products market. Europe is the fastest growing market for food encapsulation. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for food encapsulation due to its booming food industry. In addition, rise in disposable income and increasing urbanization boost the food encapsulation market in this region.Increase in health conscious consumer, increasing consumption of functional foods and growing demand for convenience foods are some of the major driving force for food encapsulation market. With the increasing number of diseases such as diabetes and obesity globally, people are showing more consciousness towards their food and drinks. Health conscious consumers demand for healthy, tasty and nutrient rich products and these demands can be met by food encapsulation, thus driving the market for food encapsulation. Due to the busy life schedule consumers are demanding more for convenience foods. These are ready-to-eat foods which require certain shelf life and should maintain taste, color and flavor of the food. Food encapsulation helps in increasing shelf life and increasing product appeal by improving taste, color and flavor of the food. Growing demand for convenience foods boost the food encapsulation market.Request to view Table of content @The major companies operating in the food encapsulation market include ABCO Laboratories Inc, Advanced BioNutrition Corporation, Aveka Group, Balchem Corporation, Cargill Inc, Blue California, Encapsys Microencapsulation, Coating Place Inc, FrieslandCampina Kievit and Firmenich Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Ultrapure Water Market to generate strong growth by 20162024

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Ultrapure Water Market: OverviewThe ultrapure water generation process removes contaminants from the water by using a series of unit operations to obtain pure water. There are various types of contaminants such as organic or inorganic compounds, dissolved or particulate matter, and various kinds of dissolved gasses that may be reactive or inert. The water is treated in three stages for obtaining high purity water. In the pretreatment stage, the first stage purified water is produced. In the next stage, that is, the primary stage, the water is further purified. The last stage is the polishing stage which uses electro deionization. This stage is the most expensive owing to the use of highly specialized and sophisticated equipment.Request Free Sample Report @Ultrapure Water Market: SegmentationThe ultrapure water market can be segmented into application, end-use industry, and regions. Based on the application, the ultrapure water market is segmented into washing fluid and process feed. On the basis of end-use industry, the market is categorized into gas turbine power, flat panel display, semiconductors, coal-fired power, pharmaceuticals, and others. The ultrapure water market is geographically diversified into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Ultrapure Water Market: Growth FactorsThe ultrapure water is mainly used in the semiconductor industry. It is used in clean room practices, wafer fabrication, and other processes. The semiconductors market has developed technologically, thus the need to give the highest grade of ultrapure water has increased the unit costs for the industry. Hence, the semiconductor wafer manufacturers are the main consumers of the ultrapure water. The growth in the electronics and semiconductor industry has significantly impacted the ultrapure water market in a positive way. The ultrapure water is also highly used in power generation facilities, clinical research laboratories, and solar PV manufacturing sector, thus driving the ultrapure water market. In the coal-fired power plants, the ultrapure water plays a crucial role, hence increasing the demand of the ultrapure water market. The sluggish financial investments in different countries have disrupted many industrial projects which have created a problem for the ultrapure water market.Browse detail report @Ultrapure Water Market: Regional AnalysisThe ultrapure water market is dominated by Asia-Pacific mainly owing to the increase in the requirement for ultrapure water from China and other countries in this region. The high demand for ultrapure water in the semiconductors and coal-fired power plants has made China the leading country in the ultrapure water market followed by Taiwan and South Korea. The countries such as Canada and the U.S. have the largest consumption of the ultrapure water, thus driving the market of North America. The growth of the ultrapure water market in Europe is expected to remain steady.Ultrapure Water Market: Competitive PlayersSome of the major players operating in the ultrapure water market are Sterling Berkfeld, Ovivo Inc., MICRODYN-NADIR, Siemens Water Technologies, Pentair PLC, Koch Membrane Systems, Evoqua Water Technologies, GE Water and Process Technologies Inc., Asahi Kasei, Veolia Environment S.A., Aquatech, PALL Corporation, Neto Denco, Hyrdranautics, Alamo Water Refiners Inc., Kurita Water Industries Ltd., and Dow Water & Process Solutions. The GE Infrastructure supported its Water & Process Technologies division by purchasing both Osmonics, Ionics and Zenon, while Siemens Water Technologies attained USFilter as well as smaller alternative technologies to improve its technology.Inquire more before buying this report @Global Ultrapure Water Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaWhat Report ProvidesFull in-depth analysis of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsSegmentation details of the marketFormer, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and valueAssessment of niche industry developmentsVisit Our Blog :About UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Multimodal West Africa 2017 to be co-located with Nigeria Manufacturing Expo in Lagos in March

The largest conglomerate of the industrial, transport and logistics sectors ever in Nigeria

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Due to overwhelming industry support and in a bid to ensure delivery of value to all stakeholders by enhancing proper representation of all actors in the entire value chain of the transport and logistics sector of the Nigeria economy, the Multimodal West Africa 2017 (MMWA), is now to be held from 14-16 March 2017 at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. Multimodal West Africa will run concurrently with the hugely successful Nigeria Manufacturing Equipment Expo (NME) and the Nigerian Raw Material Expo (NIRAM).The relevance and huge potential opportunities the exhibition possesses, required the industry to act on the unique platform to co-locate Multimodal West Africa with the Nigeria Manufacturing & Equipment Expo (NME) and NIRAM Expo says Dele Alimi, Managing Director of Clarion Events West Africa, the organisers of both events. He adds with over 50 top transport and logistics companies, over 120 equipment manufacturers, over 100 raw materials manufacturers and other allied industry like finance, insurance and consultancy services displaying their equipment, product and services during the March event, it would be the largest conglomerate ever of the industrial, transport and logistics sectors in Nigeria, over a three-day period."He adds: with confirmed audience of 3,700 manufacturers already attending NME, the synergy of an additional audience of 2,000 cargo owners and shippers provides unprecedented networking potential and business opportunities. For terminals & ports, freight forwarders, shipping lines and clearing agents the unique prospect of reaching more than 5,000 customers in the space of three days will deliver incredible value to the entire industrial sector value chain!Furthermore says Dele, the manufacturers who had planned to visit NME and NIRAM Expo now have an even stronger value proposition and are able to find more cost effective and efficient supply chain solutions showcased in the MMWA exhibition for the movement of their cargo.He continues: when you consider that 90% of exhibitors for the NME are foreign equipment manufacturers from all over the world, 90% of the exhibitors for the MMWA and the NIRAM Expo are indigenous, it gives us a right mix of local and foreign business people to create a robust business event that will add tremendous value to the Nigerian industrial sector and would support the Federal Governments efforts to revitalize the Nigerian industrial sector.Some of the confirmed Multimodal West Africa speakers include;- Hajia Aisha Ali Ibrahim, FCILT,FNIS/ AGM Operations Nigerian Ports Authority- Mr. Hassan Bello, Esq, The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council,- Dr. Obiora E. Madu, Chief Facilitator/CEO, Multimix Academy, Nigeria- Mrs. Oluremi Ajayi, General Manager, DSV, Nigeria- Gabriel Aghunor, General Manger, Gadolng, Nigeria- Temitope Ogunfayo, Operational Manager, Procter & Gamble, Nigeria- Mr. Alban Igwe, Deputy National President, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport- Mr. Francis Ehiguese, Director Governing Council, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, Suleiman Ibrahim, Capital Project and Infrastructure, PwC Nigeria- Babatunde Omolabi, Warehouse, Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc- Suleiman Ibrahim, Capital Project and Infrastructure, PwC Nigeria- Kunle Adebajo, CEO, Ove Arup & Partners Nigeria LimitedAccording to Dele Alimi, the various free conferencing opportunities and the 4th mPAD sessions also holding concurrently, the event will also develop capacities and provide tremendous networking opportunities for all participants.With nine years experience in the transport and logistics industry, Clarion Events West Africa and the Clarion Events Multimodal portfolio successfully connect cargo owners, shippers, major importers and exporters with freight forwarders, ship owners, shipping lines, ports & terminal operators as well as official government bodies to bring about greater port activity, increase connectivity and display the latest solutions for a slicker supply chain. The portfolio consists of Multimodal, held in London, UK; The Supply Chain & Logistics Summit & Expo, held in Europe; and Multimodal West Africa, held in Lagos, Nigeria.Multimodal West Africa dates and venue:Exhibition and conference: 14-16 March 2017Venue: Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, NigeriaMultimodal West Africa is organised by the specialist, exhibition and conference organiser, Clarion Events West Africa, the Nigeria office of the Clarion Events Global Group. The same organisers responsible for the widely acclaimed Nigeria Manufacturing & Equipment Expo which took place March in Lagos, attracting more than 2,600 attendees, with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) as event patrons.Senior communications manager: Annemarie RoodbolTelephone: +27 21 700 3558Mobile: +27 82 562 7844Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.comWebsite:Postal address: PO Box 321, Steenberg,
Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market Worth US$ 9 Billion by 2021

Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market

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New York, December 19: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market By Product type, By Application type and By Geography  Global Forecast by 2021How Big is the Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market?The Global Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market is expected to exceed more than US$ 9 Billion by 2021.Browse Full Report:RFA that is radiofrequency ablation is a simply invasive process, appropriate for patients with cancer; cardiac disease includes cardiac arrhythmias, atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation and pain management. It has developed into a technique of selection because of its safety, ease of use and high efficacy. Radiofrequency removal is utilized by specialists to demolish dangerous cells, to evacuate or trim obstructive tissues, and stifle nerves. The procedure is helped by embeddings a unique needle through the skin onto the tumor and focused to the particular tissue/nerve with radiofrequency electrical vitality to warm the tumor through a dynamic uncovered anode tip. The warming created incites cell passing as a consequence of irreversible protein denaturation. This innovation has wide applications and is utilized as a part of different restorative fields, for example, heart beat, oncology, cerebral tumors, gynecology, and renal enervation for hypertension, Cardiac arrhythmia and cancer, torment administration, and cosmetology.The major driving factors of Global Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market are as follows: Increase in the prevalence of cardiac diseases and cancer High efficacy and little duration of the process Rise in the number of patients suffering from painThe restraining factors of Global Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market are as follows: High cost of treatment Availability of other treatments Limited awarenessThe Global Radiofequency Ablation Devices Market is segmented on the lines of its type, product, application and regional. Based on type segmentation it covers light /laser ablation, hydrothermal ablation, radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, electrical ablation, cryoablation and ultrasound ablation. Under product segmentation it covers disposable equipment, reusable equipment and capital equipment. Disposable equipment is further segmented into radiofrequency ablation single use electrodes, radiofrequency ablation single use probes, radiofrequency ablation needles and radiofrequency ablation cannulas. Reusable equipment is classified into radiofrequency ablation electrodes and radiofrequency ablation probes. Capital equipment contains radiofrequency ablation generator. The Global Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Markets geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.Download Free Sample Report:This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for Global Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market and related technologies.2) Analysis of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2020.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for Global Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market.4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various Global Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Stryker Corp., Accuray, St. Jude Medical Inc., Neurotherm Inc., Biosense Webster, Diros Technology Inc., Cosman Medical Inc. and Kimberly-Clark Corporation.Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary, business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Global Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market has been segmented as below:By Type Analysis Light/Laser Ablation Hydrothermal Ablation Radiofrequency Ablation Microwave Ablation Electrical Ablation Cryoablation Ultrasound AblationBy Product AnalysisDisposable Equipmento Radiofrequency ablation single use electrodeso Radiofrequency ablation single use probeso Radiofrequency ablation needleso Radiofrequency ablation cannulasReusable Equipmento Radiofrequency ablation electrodeso Radiofrequency ablation probesCapital Equipmento Radiofrequency ablation generatorBy Application Analysis Surgical oncology Cosmetology Hypertension Gynecology Pain management Cardiology and cardiac rhythm managementBy Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldReasons to Buy this Report:1) Obtain the most up to date information available on all Global Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market.2) Identify growth segments and opportunities in the industry.3) Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historic and forecast of Global Radiofrequency Ablation Devices Market data.4) Assess your competitors refining portfolio and its evolution.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
Ophthalmic Devices Market on Track to US$ 2,685.1 Million by 2020

Ophthalmic Devices Market, Ophthalmic Devices

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The global ophthalmic devices market was valued at USD 29,171.5 million in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2014 to 2020, to reach an estimated value of USD 42,685.1 million in 2020.Globally, the ophthalmic devices market is witnessing significant growth due to increasing prevalence of eye disorders, such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. In addition, growing global aging population, increasing government initiatives towards healthcare infrastructure in developing countries, and increasing incidence of lifestyle-associated diseases are also driving the growth of the market. However, lack of awareness among people about eye disorders, poor primary healthcare infrastructure, and lack of insurance in developing countries hamper growth of the global ophthalmic devices market. In addition, eye diseases in children are also increasing due to the general lack of awareness.The global ophthalmic devices market is anticipated to grow from an estimated USD 29,171.5 million in 2014 to USD 42,685.1 million in 2020 at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period.Age-related eye diseases, such as glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, are the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness in North America. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, approximately 22 million Americans aged 40 and above were affected by cataract and 2.3 million Americans were affected by glaucoma in 2011.In Europe, increasing prevalence of chronic eye diseases among the rising aging population is becoming a challenge for the European healthcare system. In France, the number of age-related macular degeneration cases was 0.3 million in 2000 and it is anticipated to increase by 0.5 million in 2020.However, glaucoma, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy are the major causes of blindness in Asia. Cataract can be held responsible for 50% to 80% of all cases of blindness in Southeast Asia. The prevalence of age-related macular degeneration is also increasing in Asia due to increase in life expectancy and rising incidence of diabetes among the younger population. As per the Centre for Eye Research Australia, prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among people ranged between 17% and 22% in India and 43.1% in rural China in 2012.Request to view Table of Content @Johnson & Johnson, Essilor International, Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Novartis AG, HOYA CORPORATION and Abbott Laboratories, Inc. are some of the major players of ophthalmic devices market.To Purchase Single User License @The ophthalmic devices market is segmented as follows:Ophthalmic devices market, by type Vision care devices Surgery devices Diagnostic devicesOphthalmic devices market, by vision care devices Contact lenses Spectacle lensesOphthalmic devices market, by surgery devices Cataract surgery devices Glaucoma surgery devices Refractive error surgery devices Vitreoretinal surgery devicesOphthalmic devices market, by diagnostic devices Optical coherence tomography scanners Fundus cameras Tonometers Ophthalmoscopes Retinoscope Pachymeter Wavefront aberrometers Corneal topographers Biometers Keratometers Visual field analyzers Specular microscopes Autorefractors Ophthalmic ultrasound imaging systemsOphthalmic devices market, by Geography North Americao U.S. Europeo Germanyo Franceo U.K.o Italyo Spain Asiao Japano Chinao India Rest of the World (RoW)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Satellite Transponders Market: Global Drivers and Restraints, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2014  2020

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Transponders form communication channel among transmitter and receiver. It is a part of the payload of a telecommunications satellite. Transponder modulates, receive, amplify, and retransmit an uplinked signal. There can be 20 to 30 transponders on a single satellite. Common bandwidths of a transponder are 27, 33, 36, 54 and 72 MHz. The signals transmitted from earth are received by the satellites at very low power level due to the large distance. The combination of equipment in transponder amplifies these carriers with given frequency. Transponder uses high power amplifier (HPA) in order to amplify carrier signal.Request Sample Report @The increase in growth of new subscribers and subscriber upgrades for Ku-band frequencies are the major factors driving the satellite transponders market. Ku-band frequency is mainly used for voice and video communications and data frequency. Additionally, a subscriber upgrade is another key factor to drive this market. Ka-band is also widely adopted as it has comparable performance with the digital subscriber line. C-bands are generally used for maritime communications and expected to witness strong growth during the forecast period. The report also analyzes several driving and restraining factors and their impact on the market during the forecast period.The report segments the satellite transponders market on the basis of frequency band and geography. Major frequency band segments covered in this report includes C-band, Ku-band, Ka-band, X-band, and others. Ku band is dominated the satellite transponders market followed by Ka-band and C-band. Ku-band is most widely used frequency band in commercial satellite commutation.Purchase a direct copy of report with TOC @On the basis of the geography, the satellite transponders market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S., Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India, and Brazil.In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the satellite transponders market. The report includes detailed competitive scenario and product portfolio of key vendors. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the satellite transponders market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein payload segments and applications segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.Browse the full report @The report provides comprehensive competitive analysis and profiles of prominent market players, such as Eutelsat S.A., Arianespace SA, Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Group SE, Orbital ATK, Inc., Loral Space and Communications, Inc., and Intelsat S.A.This report segments the global satellite transponders market as follows:Global Satellite Transponders Market: Frequency Band Segment AnalysisC-bandKu-bandKa-bandX-bandothersGlobal Satellite Transponders Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East & AfricaAbout US:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with the one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Organic Liquid Coating Industry Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report 2016

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Organic Liquid Coating Industry 2016 Market Research Report" to its huge collection of research reports.The Global Organic Liquid Coating Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Organic Liquid Coating industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Organic Liquid Coating market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.Secondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the Organic Liquid Coating industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Organic Liquid Coating1.1 Definition and Specifications of Organic Liquid Coating1.1.1 Definition of Organic Liquid Coating1.1.2 Specifications of Organic Liquid Coating1.2 Classification of Organic Liquid Coating1.3 Applications of Organic Liquid Coating1.3.1 Food1.3.2 Beverage1.3.3 Cosmetic1.3.4 Personal Care1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Organic Liquid Coating1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Organic Liquid Coating1.5.1 Industry Overview of Organic Liquid Coating1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Organic Liquid Coating1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating1.7 Industry News Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Organic Liquid Coating Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Organic Liquid Coating Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Organic Liquid Coating Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Organic Liquid Coating Major Manufacturers in 20154 Capacity, Production and Revenue Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating by Regions, Types and Manufacturers4.1 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Organic Liquid Coating by Regions 2011-20164.2 Global and Major Regions Capacity, Production, Revenue and Growth Rate of Organic Liquid Coating 2011-20164.3 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Organic Liquid Coating by Types 2011-20164.4 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Organic Liquid Coating by Manufacturers 2011-20165 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating by Regions, Types and Manufacturers5.1 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating by Regions 2011-20165.2 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating by Types 2011-20165.3 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Organic Liquid Coating by Manufacturers 2011-2016Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Automatic Passenger Counting and Information System Market: By Regional Segment Analysis, 2014  2020

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Automatic passenger counting and information system is an electronic device utilized by many public transit vehicles which correctly records boarding and alighting data. Automatic passenger counting system can be used autonomously as well as being integrated into existing system structures. The automatically transferred counting data is processed by the statistical tool. This device offers reliable and permanent data on the degree of utilization of vehicles used in public transit systems.Request Sample Report @The global automatic passenger counting and information system market are mainly driven by growing demand for smart telematic solutions coupled with technological advancement is expected to positively affect on market within the forecast period. Additionally, government support and increasing urbanization are anticipated to fuel the growth in the years to come. However, the high installation cost of the system may curb the market growth during the forecast period. Furthermore, dynamic ticket pricing and increasing adoption of real-time passenger information systems may open up new avenues for the growth of the market in the years to come.The report provides a compressive view of the automatic passenger counting and information system market based on system, devices, applications and region. The automatic passenger counting and information system market can be classified in terms of systems into passenger information display systems, passenger information announcement systems, emergency communication systems and others. Passenger information display system is the leading segment and expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period.Do Inquiry before buying @Based on the device, the market has been segmented into multimedia displays, networking and communication devices and sensors. In terms of revenue, the multimedia display was the largest segment in 2014 due to increasing installation of passenger information systems. Some of the key application in automatic passenger counting and information system includes roadways, railways, waterways and airways. Railway application segment is expected to be fastest growing market in the near future.Geographically, the automatic passenger counting and information system market have been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa, further bifurcation of the region on the country level, which includes U.S., Germany, UK, France, China, Japan and India. North America has witnessed the significant growth of automatic passenger counting and information system in recent past years on account of technological advancement. North America is expected to exhibit moderate growth over the forecast period.Browse the full report @The report provides a comprehensive view on the automatic passenger counting and information system market. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the automatic passenger counting and information system market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein application segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.Some of the key players operating in the automatic passenger counting and information system market Alstom, Cisco systems, Inc., Eurotech SpA, iris-GmbH, Urban Transportation Associates, Inc., DILAX Intercom GmbH, Hella Aglaia Mobile Vision GmbH, GE Transportation, Hitachi, Ltd and Siemens AG. The detailed description of players includes parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business and recent developments of the company.This report segments the global automatic passenger counting and information system market as follows:Global Automatic Passenger Counting and Information System Market: System Segment AnalysisInformation Display SystemsPassenger Information Announcement SystemsEmergency Communication SystemsOthersGlobal Automatic Passenger Counting and Information System Market: Devices and Component Segment AnalysisMultimedia DisplaysNetworking and Communication DevicesSensorsGlobal Automatic Passenger Counting and Information System Market: Application Segment AnalysisRoadwaysRailwaysWaterwaysAirwaysGlobal Automatic Passenger Counting and Information System Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaAbout US:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with the one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Dmlights easily manages product data of 50,000 SKUs in 4 languages with Perfion PIM

Dmlights easily manages product data of 50,000 SKUs in 4 languages with Perfion PIM

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Five years ago, dmlights  one of the worlds biggest online lighting stores  was still managing product information in spreadsheets. Today, dmlights handles all product data with the Perfion Product Information Management solution.The product information challenge was simple: With about 100 different brands and more than 50,000 products, it was no longer suitable to work with disjointed data sources. It was difficult to filter and find the products and insufficient performance was a big issue.Dmlights needed an efficient Product Information Management solution with complete integration to the companys eCommerce platform and chose the Perfion PIM system due to its flexibility and functionality.Since 2012, dmlights eCommerce platform has been fully integrated with Perfion PIM. Consequently, all the product information, descriptions and images managed in Perfion are automatically displayed in the webshop. If product data changes in the PIM system, the changes become visible after processing.The straightforward filtering functionality of Perfion PIM allows dmlights online customers to filter lamps and electrical supplies easily by a large number of different classifications and more than 250 attributes.Perfions formula functionality makes it easy for dmlights to describe products. The formulas make it possible to use values from other features in texts or descriptions. This ensures consistency and reduces updates. If a value is changed, it will change in the descriptions as well. It is no longer necessary for the employees to check everywhere that the correct data is displayed.Dmlights product data is available in Dutch, English, German and French. A future plan of adding Chinese as well can also come true because Perfion supports all languages.THE JOURNEY OF EVERY PRODUCT STARTS IN THE PIM SYSTEMDmlights is always creating new products in the PIM system first. As the PIM system is not limited by pre-defined input fields, all specifications can be added in a simple way. When a product is ready, its article number and description are imported into the ERP system. In this way, dmlights is keeping the ERP system clean from products that are not yet ready for sale.Because it is so easy to manage product data in Perfion, the products time-to-market is now much shorter than in the past.THE WMS PULLS BARCODES FROM PERFION AUTOMATICALLYDmlights has moved to a Warehouse Management System with full barcode and wireless scanner support. Because all items are stored in Perfion, it has been very easy to import all the barcodes from the suppliers into Perfion. A connection between Perfion and the WMS software allows the WMS to pull out barcodes from the PIM system automatically.MORE ABOUT DMLIGHTSdmlights was launched in Belgium in 2004 and is today one of the worlds biggest online stores of design lighting, accessories and electrical supplies with more than 50,000 different products by 100 quality manufacturers.Perfion is the worlds only 100% standard Product Information Management (PIM) solution for companies with a large number of product variants and parts and/or need for multi-channel, multi-language communication.With Perfion you get a single source of truth for product information which gives you full control of all product data from day one wherever it is applied (e.g. webshops, websites, supplier portals, smart phone apps, printed catalogues, fact sheets, social media, direct mails, newsletters).Perfion is the easiest and fastest PIM solution to implement. It is open to integrate with your existing IT-platform and handles continuous changes in requirements without extra cost.Perfion integrates easily with existing ERP systems and 100% into Microsoft Dynamics NAV, AX, GP and SL as well as SAP, Oracle, Infor, Movex plus Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint, EPiServer Commerce, Sana Commerce, Dynamicweb, Magento and OXID eSales.Perfion has a documented ROI of less than a year.PerfionNiels Jernes Vej 89220 AalborgDENMARKTel. +4570262680info@perfion.comWalter Van Dingenen,wvd@perfion.com
United States Digital Medicine Industry Demand, Growth, Size, Trends & Forecasts Research Report (2016-2020)

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "The United States Digital Medicine Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2016-2020)" to its huge collection of research reports.The report titled The United States Digital Medicine Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2016-2020), provides an in-depth analysis of the scenario of digital medicine market in the United States.The US digital medicine market has been analysed on the basis of value, segments and clinical trials sponsors. The report also provides the digital health market by categories of healthcare apps.The report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the US digital medicine market has also been forecasted for the period 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The competition in the digital medicine market is fragmented by the several small private players, such as Livongo, WellDoc, Inc., Ginger.io, Inc., Akili, Mocacare, AliveCor, Inc., 2morrow, Inc., Glooko, Inc., Omada Health, Inc., and Voluntis, etc., whose business profiling has been done in this report, which include their business overview and respective business strategies.Company Coverage- 2morrow, Inc.- Akili Interactive Labs, Inc.- AliveCor, Inc.- Glooko, Inc.- Livongo- Mocacare- Omada Health, Inc.- Proteus Digital Health, Inc.- Voluntis- WellDoc, Inc.- Ginger.io, Inc.Executive SummaryGlobally the health related issues are on rise. These health issues surround diseases, syndromes and disorders, etc. Many of these health issues can be detected early and can be tackled by a mere dose of medicine, but there are several others that get detected on the advanced stage and have no cure. Hence, scientists and doctors are trying to accommodate the use of advanced technology and apps in the field of medicine, thus bringing digital medicine and digital health at the doorstep via mobiles.Digital health is a platform that combines technology with personal health and genetic information, so that healthcare could be made personalized and precise. Digital health includes consumer focused fitness apps that have little or no clinical validation for patients and physicians. Digital health has been classified into EMR/HER, mobile health, telehealth and wireless health.Digital medicine is disease oriented healthcare, that is currently at nascent stage. Digital medicine is a subset of digital health. The concept of digital medicine revolves around studying and analysing the patients health and accordingly prescribing the customised medical aid. It involves either a combination of drugs with therapeutic treatments or simply digital therapeutic treatments; thus, providing real-time health information to the patients and the corresponding healthcare team. The major focus of digital medicine is on curing or managing the disorders or diseases that have no cure by alternative drugs, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, mental disorders, etc. The digital medicine has three phases namely, commercialization, combination therapies and stand-alone digital therapeutics.The digital medicine is supported by various growth drivers, such as increased smartphone usage, growing software industry, mobile phone proliferation, increasing biopharma investments, rising healthcare expenditure, and increasing population with chronic diseases, etc. Yet the digital medicine market faces several challenges, such as lack of clinical evidence, narrow functionality of apps, huge time and capital to be incurred, and regulatory hurdles, etc.Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
New Study Reveals Global Mobile Payment Market with Focus on Fingerprint Technology (2016 - 2020)

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Mobile Payment Market with Focus on Fingerprint Technology (2016 - 2020)" to its huge collection of research reports.The report titled Global Mobile Payment Market with Focus on Fingerprint Technology (2016 - 2020) provides an in-depth analysis of the global mobile payments with detailed analysis of market size and growth, market share and economic impact of the industry. The report also provides market size of the global payments market.The report provides regional analysis of North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Rest of Asia Pacific, Middle east and Africa for the mobile payments market. Regional analysis includes the actual and forecasted market sizing of the mobile payments market for the aforementioned regions. The report also provides the detailed analysis of the global mobile payment platforms and analysis of fingerprint technology for mobile payments.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Furthermore, the report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall global mobile payments market has also been forecasted for the period 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in the global payment market is dominated by the big players like Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay, whose company profiling has also been done in the report.Country Coverage- North America- Western Europe- Japan- Rest of APAC, Eastern Europe, Middle east and AfricaCompany Coverage- Apple (Apple Pay)- Samsung (Samsung Pay)- Google (Android Pay)Executive SummaryPayment is a transfer of value from one party to another in exchange for some good, service or both. Payment revenues can be divided into the following: Cross Border Transactions, Liquidity, Domestic Transaction and Credit Cards.Mobile payments refer to payment services performed via a mobile device, such as a cellular telephone or a smartphone. Instead of paying with cash, cheque, or credit cards, a consumer can use a mobile phone to pay for a wide range of services and digital or hard good. Mobile payments are also referred as mobile money, mobile money transfer or mobile wallet.The mobile Payment market can be segmented by type of payments, into P2P Transfer, bill payment, bulk disbursement, merchant payment, international remittance and airtime top up. The mobile payment facility can be accessed through various technologies, such as SMS/ USSD, direct mobile billing, WAP and NFC. There are four mobile payment service provider model: operator-centric model, bank-centric model, collaboration model and peer to peer model. Market participants in the mobile payment market include banks, telcos, smartphone manufacturers, social media, retailers, and niche providers that offer a wide range of products.The global mobile payment market has increased at a significant annual growth rate in 2015 as compared to the preceding year and projections are made that the market would rise in the next five years i.e. 2016-2020. The major growth drivers for the market are increasing global smartphone sales, rising NFC enabled smartphones, increasing international remittance, development of fintech players, banks focus on mobile payment facilities, etc. Yet there are some challenges, which the market faces, such as security concerns, immaturity, regulatory hold-back and availability of alternatives.Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Drones Industry Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report (2016-2020)

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Drones Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016-2020)" to its huge collection of research reports.The report titled Global Drones Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016-2020) provides an in-depth analysis of the global drones market with detailed analysis of market sizing and growth, market share and economic impact of the industry. The report also provides market size of global video surveillance system market. The report provides detailed regional analysis of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for the drones market. Regional analysis includes market share of each region along with the actual and forecasted market sizing of drone market for the aforementioned regions.The report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall global drone market has also been forecasted for the period 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in global drone market is stiff and dominated by the big players like DJI. Further, key players of the drone market AeroVironment and 3D Robotics are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Region CoverageNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificMiddle EastLatin AmericaAfricaCompany CoverageDJI InnovationsAeroVironment3D RoboticsExecutive SummaryDrones are the front-end video surveillance system products which are gaining popularity and playing their part in driving the global video surveillance system market. Drones market is currently at the nascent stage but is anticipated to rise in the next five years i.e. 2016-2020 tremendously at a significant CAGR. The market is largely governed by the military drones but civil drones are also gaining momentum and driving the market in the positive direction. The upsurge in the civil drones market is due to the increased need for video surveillance at various places as crime rate is increasing over the period.The major growth drivers for the drone market are: technological innovation, rise in civil drones market, persistent intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance and internal & external safety threats. Despite the market is governed by various growth drivers, there are certain challenges faced by the market such as legal and regulatory policies & procedures, negative environmental impact, privacy issues, high cost, spectrum allocation and UAS integration in the national airspace.Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Give The Gift Of Miracles For Christmas - Award Winning Author Donna Louis Explores Miracles In 'Miracles Of Direction'

Author Donna Louis

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The Christmas story, the Nativity and the stories surrounding the birth of Jesus are most likely the most well known examples of miracles in the world. While nearly everyone in the world is aware of these miracles, they are not the only miracles presented in the Bible.'Miracles of Direction, Miracles of Conquest, Miracles of Provision, and Miracles of Purpose' by award winning author Donna Louis is a Christian book that delves into Biblical miracles that took place while Jesus was here on earth and cross references with miracles that take place on a daily basis now in the 21st century.She breaks these miracles down into four categories and presents example of each, taken directly from the Bible.Louis knows the subject of miracles well, as she has personally experienced three miracles. As the result of those life-altering experiences, she began an in-depth study of some of Christianity's most well-documented miracles. In her book, she attempts to expand upon and explain both the purpose and the direction of those miracles.In that Christmas is the time of miracles, the book is an ideal Christmas gift for anyone who hopes to draw closer to God, or wants to explore how miracles and angels affect us here on Earth."Christmas can be one of the greatest times of the year, full of wonders and miracles," Louis stated. Christmas is the celebration of Christ, which reveals to us the love of the supernatural God who visits His people with signs and wonders. Christmas reminds us that we can expect the Lord to move in our lives in a supernatural way at exactly the right time."Christmas not only shows us Gods supernatural timing, but also how he weaves signs, wonders, and miracles into everyday life as He fulfills His promises. The birth of Jesus Christ is a fulfillment of Gods promise to His people to send a Savoir. It is also at Christmas time that we can be a miracle to someone the same way we are expecting miracles to come to us. The gift of this book can start to create miracles in someone elses life."It is also at Christmas time that we can be a miracle to someone the same way we are expecting miracles to come to us. The gift of this book can start to create miracles in someone elses life."Louis was just chosen as a winner in the 2016 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' awards contest for the second year in a row. 'Miracles' has also received rave reviews from readers. One review called it "amazing, uplifting and inspirational". Another stated, "I was profoundly impressed by the writing."Donna Louis is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below, or by email at louistolouis@aol.com. More information is available at her website. Miracles Of Direction is available at online retail book outlets. More information is available at her website.Donna Louis is happily married to her husband of 30 years Patrick Louis and currently resides in Florida. She lives to accomplish the task that God created her for and on a daily basis to follow Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC 28459
Thai Investors have joined hands with WorkVenture to provide more jobs in Bangkok

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WorkVenture Technologies, a Bangkok based company has improvised and upgraded their unique work algorithm that provides candidates with best matching jobs. To ace their service, now a group of investors are interested in funding the company.The investors are led by the chief executive of TCC Land Asset World, Mr. Sommaphat Traisorat and the executive director of Pace Development Corporation Mr. Songphon Chaovanayothin. They have shown keen interest in WorkVenture Technologies and their way of transforming potential candidates into purposeful employers.Mr. Alexander Kerbo, Executive director of WorkVenture Technologies Co, the Operator of workventure.com said, The fund from the Thai investors will be used in purposeful manner including recruiting system analysts, data scientists as well as more programmers. This will help us to find the appropriate job-candidate duo.The Thai investors are all the more interested with their WorkScore algorithm that modernizes the process of job hunt for applied candidates. It can instantly calculate large amount of data based on education, skill, requirement, background, etc.WorkVenture Technologies is presently tied up with 500 companies and their excellent website is visited by 400,000 potential job seekers.The standard of work they are providing now will be further enhanced and regional expansion is on the horizon once they manage to raise another $2-10 million in the next investment round. This will help WorkVenture Technologies to make much progress in the work algorithm and employers can get better candidates with matching jobs.The latest decision was taken to change JobNisit to WorkVenture Technologies to ensure not only University users but White-collar job seekers can also apply in the same manner.This shows the tenacity of WorkVenture Technologies and their dedication in settling professional career for candidates. All these points were considered by the Thai investors that encouraged them to invest in this company.I was very flustered by seeing the corporate section and how it works. It was very confusing for me to decide on one company before I applied with my CV on WorkVenture Technologies. There they used a very highly developed algorithm, WorkScore which fetched me the best jobs, as said by one of the potential candidate turned employee.With these great ideas and concepts, WorkVenture Technologies along with their Thai investors are now heading towards a bright corporate future in Bangkok.WorkVenture Technologies is a modern job hunting platform for the candidates. They work with a high-tech modern WorkScore algorithm that searches for the perfect job match that will benefit both the employers and the companies. They enhance the company branding via pictures, videos and other online media sources that will help candidates to understand about the job and company profile at a much higher level.141 Major Tower,Soi Sukhmumvit 63Bangkok, 10110Phone : +66840777805Fax : +66840777805Emailid: info@workventure.comWebsite -
Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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Mobile edge computing (MEC) is a platform used to deploy services inside the radio access network (RAN) to enhance user knowledge. It provides a capability that empowers workers to improve latency sensitive services. In other words, MEC is a platform used to bring an IT service and cloud computing environment to support content suppliers and application developers. Some of the notable characteristics of this environment includes high frequency range and ultra-low latency as well as real-time access to radio network data, which are consequently utilized by the applications. MEC platform enables mobile operators to make an exclusive mobile capability, which helps in reducing burden on network structure and bring a novel scalable solutions for the customers. MEC have the capability to hasten the distribution of media services by distributing content straight from the base station, which considerably improves the consumer experience in aspect of high data traffic growth. This technology allows administrators to well adapt traffic to the dominant radio circumstances, improve network efficiency and enhance service quality.Download Research Brochure PDF@MEC is an important part of edge computing and is applied on several frameworks including machine to machine (M2M), big data analytics and network security. The MEC server would be installed on the sites such as 3G radio network controller (RNC), LTE macro base station and multi-technology cell collection site. The MEC model has been developed with an aim to attract virtualization technology to permit virtual function execution on this disseminated MEC platform. It helps in enhancing network architecture valuation and distribution cloud to further introduce 5G network architecture in the real environment.The global mobile edge computing market is experiencing growth owing to factors such as base station evaluation, growing awareness about 5G networks, enabling faster content delivery, fog computing and low latency and virtualization and server. Also, cell aggregation point, IT and telecom network convergence, high volume servers and edge cloud and data transferability are major factors which would swell the MEC market to grow.The major factors which hamper the global mobile edge computing market include lack of managerial and analytical talent as well as gathering and storage issues. Furthermore, the lack of development of new technologies in emerging markets is hindering the MEC services adoption due to absence of technical knowledge and infrastructure availability.Moreover, the rapidly growing demand for technology based services is subsequently impelling the growth of the mobile edge computing market. Currently, the MEC growth is fueled by growing demand in developed countries, specifically in western markets such as Europe and North America. The emerging regions are comparatively slow in adopting the MEC platform, and are anticipated to fuel the growth of MEC market in the coming years.The global mobile edge computing market can be segmented on the basis of applications and end-use. By applications, the MEC market is segmented into location services, video analytics, internet-of-things (IOT) connectivity, environmental monitoring, optimized local content, augmented reality, offloading and data caching. Further, On the basis of end-use, the MEC market is segmented into education, gaming, healthcare, public safety, connected vehicles and location based services. MEC is also expected to produce a new environment, which helps in the growth of the various end-use markets over the coming years.The market for global mobile edge computing market is highly fragmented with the presence of players such as IBM Corporation, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Integrated Device Technology, Inc., Nokia Corporation, ETSI, Parallel Wireless, Inc., Juniper Networks, Inc., Vodafone Group, PeerApp, Vasona Networks, ADLINK Technology Inc., and Intel Corporation.Browse Full Report@About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Power Management IC Market: Competition to Heat up With Innovative Technologies Going Mainstream, finds TMR

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In the global power management IC market, teeming with global and regional players, a handful of prominent companies dominate, finds a report by Transparency Market Research. Competition is cutthroat on account of the players competing with each other on the basis of pricing, quality, innovation, and performance and support services. Emergence of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and soaring popularity of wearable technology, particularly in the rapidly growing, densely populated economies of India and China, is slated to encourage new entrants into the market. This would further intensify the competitive environment, along with substantial thrust on research and development.Some such big names operating in the industry are Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, Renesas Electronics, Mitsubishi Electric, Maxim Integrated, Dialog Semiconductor PLC, ON Semiconductor, Linear Technology, Rohm Co Ltd., Fairchild Semiconductor, and Toshiba. The TMR report forecasts the global power management IC market to reach a staggering value of US$46.0 bn by 2019.Get a PDF brochure atIncreasing Demand from Tourism Industry to Boost Demand for HVAC Equipment in Commercial SectorIn terms of application, the global market was led by the commercial sector in 2013. This sector is trailed by the residential sector in the same year. The demand for HVAC equipment in the commercial sector is due to the robust demand from the industries of tourism and construction. The commercial HVAC equipment market is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 64.49 bn by 2022, rising at a 6.20% CAGR between 2014 and 2022. On the other hand, the residential HVAC equipment market is poised to touch US$51.76 bn by 2022, rising at a 6.60% CAGR from 2014 and 2022.On the basis of geography, North America led the market and is predicted to occupy a share of US$31.62 bn by 2022. In North America, the segment of air conditioning systems, alone, is predicted to take up a share of 68.1% by 2022. The market within segment is predicted to touch US$ 21.55 Bn by 2022. The skyrocketing demand from both the commercial and residential sectors will provide impetus to the development of the HVAC equipment market in North America. On the other hand, the segment of ventilation systems will experience sluggish growth, while the segment of heating equipment will witness a steady demand in this region. On the other hand, the Asia Pacific HVAC equipment market is the most promising market and is anticipated to record an exponential CAGR of 6.20% between 2014 and 2022. The growing disposable income and the increasing count of households in Asia Pacific will boost market growth within this region.Technological Advancements will take Market to New HeightsThe global HVAC equipment market is predicted to rise owing to strict regulations posed by governments in numerous nations for the stabilization of levels of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and for the protection of environment, states a TMR analyst. In addition, a number of technological advancements in the market have met the expectation of customers, further fuelling the development of this market.Browse a Report:Furthermore, the advancement in the commercial segment and the swift development of Asia Pacific are also amongst the chief factors providing impetus to the growth of this market. On the other hand, huge consumption of energy in HVAC equipment may become a roadblock in the development of the overall market. Nonetheless, the introduction of energy efficient systems and the trend of smart homes have emerged as a key opportunity in this market, says a TMR analyst.This information is based on the findings of a report published by Transparency Market Research titled, HVAC Equipment Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2022.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:
HVAC Equipment Market: Trend of Smart Homes to Bring Lucrative Opportunities in Market

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The global HVAC equipment market is predicted to touch US$ 155.10 Bn by year 2022, rising at a healthy 6.20% CAGR between 2014 and 2022. On the basis of equipment type, the market is led by the segment of air conditioning systems, which represented a share of 70.5% in the market in 2013 and is poised to further grow in the coming years. The reason for the superiority of this segment is the rising demand for equipment in Asia Pacific as well as the increasing replacement demand in North America and Europe. On the other hand, the soaring demand for unitary heaters is predicted to fuel the trend of non-ducted HVAC systems, thus lowering the market share of ventilation systems.Download PDF brochure atIncreasing Demand from Tourism Industry to Boost Demand for HVAC Equipment in Commercial SectorIn terms of application, the global market was led by the commercial sector in 2013. This sector is trailed by the residential sector in the same year. The demand for HVAC equipment in the commercial sector is due to the robust demand from the industries of tourism and construction. The commercial HVAC equipment market is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 64.49 bn by 2022, rising at a 6.20% CAGR between 2014 and 2022. On the other hand, the residential HVAC equipment market is poised to touch US$51.76 bn by 2022, rising at a 6.60% CAGR from 2014 and 2022.On the basis of geography, North America led the market and is predicted to occupy a share of US$31.62 bn by 2022. In North America, the segment of air conditioning systems, alone, is predicted to take up a share of 68.1% by 2022. The market within segment is predicted to touch US$ 21.55 Bn by 2022. The skyrocketing demand from both the commercial and residential sectors will provide impetus to the development of the HVAC equipment market in North America. On the other hand, the segment of ventilation systems will experience sluggish growth, while the segment of heating equipment will witness a steady demand in this region. On the other hand, the Asia Pacific HVAC equipment market is the most promising market and is anticipated to record an exponential CAGR of 6.20% between 2014 and 2022. The growing disposable income and the increasing count of households in Asia Pacific will boost market growth within this region.Technological Advancements will take Market to New HeightsThe global HVAC equipment market is predicted to rise owing to strict regulations posed by governments in numerous nations for the stabilization of levels of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and for the protection of environment, states a TMR analyst. In addition, a number of technological advancements in the market have met the expectation of customers, further fuelling the development of this market.Furthermore, the advancement in the commercial segment and the swift development of Asia Pacific are also amongst the chief factors providing impetus to the growth of this market. On the other hand, huge consumption of energy in HVAC equipment may become a roadblock in the development of the overall market. Nonetheless, the introduction of energy efficient systems and the trend of smart homes have emerged as a key opportunity in this market, says a TMR analyst.The key players in the global HVAC equipment market are Panasonic Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and Daikin Industries Ltd., as per Transparency Market Research (TMR). These players constitute a share of about 51% in the market. These companies are focusing on expanding into numerous product markets and are targeting developing areas in order to gain a competitive edge in the market. Hence, there is a large count of industry vendors in the market, with key players representing major share. The emergence of new technologies in the global HVAC equipment market will raise the threat of internal substitutes.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:
5G Technology Market - New Tech Developments and advancements to watch out for 202

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5G technology has recently come into focus and different regions are anxious about deploying 5G at the earliest. Wireless industry is currently experimenting 5G technology i.e. fifth generation of wireless network technology.A number of companies, governments and institutes have started to lay the ground for 5G technology and nobody wants to be left behind. 5G which is expected to be faster, less power consuming will complement 4G in coming years.Get Sample Report Copy :5G technology market is segmented by technology as Wi-Fi, RAT (radio access technologies), WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access), HSPA (high speed package access) and GSM (global system for mobile).With 5G, RAT systems will need to be completely redesigned to accommodate a new mobile access paradigm of massive capacity and fast network speeds.Such breakthroughs in wireless network will also drive economic and societal growth globally.Geographically, the 5G technology market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle-East and Africa and Latin America.The United States and Japan are expected to be the most potential regionsin the 5G technology market.In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has started the assessment of the allocation of frequencies for 5G. China, Korea are striving to take over the 5G technology market and are experimenting with the technology.Some of the key features of the 5G technology are expected to be,support for M2M/IoT,Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output(MIMO), millimeter wave, spectrum sharing, application and device-centric network architectures.The standards for 5G are likely to be defined in 2018. 5G is expected towitness an explosion of applications and services companies. Applications such as autonomous driving,distant learning, multi-user gaming and video conferencing, opera livestreaming, augmented reality, telemedicine and many others will inescapably drive the need for higher performance from the network thus boosting the 5G technology market. 5G will push mobile network performance and capability and will provide the foundational infrastructure for building smart cities.The major challenge for 5G technology is enormously wide variation in the requirements. Moreover, the new 5G technology will need to address drawbacks of the previous generation technologies. For instance, 5G cellular systems will overcome the lack of coverage, dropped calls and low performance concerns in the 4G systems.Some of the potential 5G features will get incorporated in LTE-A+,as a result of which clear demarcation between the two will be difficult.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :Most of the companies are planning to launch 5G technology in 2020. The major universities and companiesactively involved in the 5G technology market are Alcatel-Lucent S.A., Deutsche Telekom AG, Aalborg University, BMW Group Research and Technology, Aalto University, Orange S.A., Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Chalmers University of Technology, Qualcomm Inc., NTT DOCOMO Inc., Ericsson (Telefonaktiebolaget L. M. Ericsson), KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., National and KapodistrianUniversity ofAthens,Samsung,PUT - Poznan University of Technology, Nokia Siemens Networks, RWTH Aachen University, University of Bremen, Institut Mines-Telecom, University of Oulu, Telecom Italia, University of Kaiserslautern, UPV - UniversitatPolitecnica de Valencia among others. 5G will reshape not only the wireless industry but all other industries around it.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global ATM Market - Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends Forecast 2019

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The global ATM market has been growing at significant rate in the last few years. With a simple card, an ATM allows its user to make monetary transactions irrespective of geography and time. A customer can perform a transaction by inserting by entering a PIN or a personal identification number of a CVV number, cards expiry date, and its 3D security pin in case of an online transaction. All of these numerical combinations are unique to every ATM card, and thus unique to every ATM user.Get Sample Report Copy :Transparency Market Researchs report on ATM market provides a wealth of knowledge about the market dynamics, current trends, and the forecast for the coming years. The ATM market report gives its readers a comprehensive outlook on the market. These reports have been written by expert industry analysts and thus contain a worthy perspective of the market. To identify the factors affecting the market, the report is written with a SWOT analysis and a Porters five forces analysis. Both these tools will help the readers know the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats the ATM market faces in absolute depth.The last segment of the report also provides its readers with company profiles of some of the important players in the ATM market.Overview of ATM MarketATM is an abbreviation for automated teller machine, which also popularly known as cash point, cash machine, cash line, or automated banking machine. Since the inception and introduction of ATM in the banking system, its market has only grown by leaps and bounds. The major factors driving the ATM market are the ease with which it allows its users to make cash transactions, withdrawals, check their balances, and make purchases both, online and offline. An ATM is also popularly used by foreign travelers as it allows them easy conversion of money in the required currency. As the ATM market allows a possibility of traveling cashless, it creates a chance for safety and security.However, the ATM market does face its own set of challenges. As the ATM card can be misused if it is not secured by a PIN. Additionally, sometimes ATM transactions dispense extra cash causing a loss to the bank. An ATM card can also be tampered with, which further leaves room for scams, frauds, and thefts.The report perfectly analyzes the market drivers and restraints for its readers. It also segments the market based on geographical market share. It states, North America is the biggest market share holder for ATM markets, which is then followed by Europe.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :Companies Mentioned in ATM Market Research ReportSome of the important players profiled in this report are Wincor Nixdorf AG, Diebold Inc, Triton Systems of Delaware LLC, NCR Corp., and among others. These players have been dominating the global ATM market for many years and are most likely the ones to impact it in the near future.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Social Networking Market - Advanced technologies & growth opportunities in global Industry by 2020

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Social networking has evolved from being a mere platform to bring together people who share activities, interests, real-life connections, or backgrounds. Companies today are using social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to build brand images, expand client base, recruit potential employees, and engage with consumers.The popularity of social networking sites depends on and varies by the level of usage among different demographics and in different countries. The research report compares the most popular social networking sites, reviews them on the basis of active account usage, number of user accounts, and frequency, and offers a summary on the latest trends that govern the social networking market.Get Sample Report Copy :Details on which is the most popular social networking site worldwide, fastest growing network, and use of social network by different demographics are covered by the report. In addition, the report also offers a look at the leading players in the social networking market, their features, product strengths and weaknesses, business strategies, market size and share, regional breakout, and forecasts through 2017.Overview of the Social Networking MarketAs of October 2014, Facebook had an estimated 1.36 billion active monthly users. Market analysts, however, have indicated that although Facebook continues to be the top-ranking social networking site in 2015, it is no longer growing at the pace it was a couple of years ago. With a figure rounding off at 343 million, Google+ in 2013 became the social networking site with the second highest number of monthly users. Facebook, however, has managed to retain its surging revenues even today thanks to the introduction of video calls and the acquisition of WhatsApp in February last year.Social networking sites have opened up a world of opportunities for both enterprises and consumers. Vendors in the enterprise social networking space such as Broadvision, Atlassian, Jive, IBM, Salesforce, Microsoft, Telligent, Social Text, and Yammer, and players in the consumer social networking sphere such as Facebook, Badoo, LinkedIn, Google+, Qzone, MySpace, Yelp, and Twitter have not only presented a platform to engage users and expand their services, but also turned out to be one of the most promising methods of revenue generation. Opportunities for content management companies, social media advertizing agencies, social media managers, and social media strategists have received a boost thanks to the global growth of the social networking market.Growing penetration of internet connectivity, economic growth and rise in disposable incomes in emerging economies, change in lifestyle, proliferation of smartphones, development of the e-commerce industry, and transition from texted-based content to image-centric solutions has fueled the growth of the social networking market.Companies Mentioned in the ReportThe leading players competing in the global social networking market today are Classmates, Tumblr, Inc, Google+, Meetup, Tagged Inc., Facebook, Inc., LinkedIn Corporation, Twitter Inc., MeetMe, Inc., Flickr, VKontakte, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, and Ask.fm.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :Some of these players are profiled in the research report based on parameters such as company and financial overview, recent developments, business strategies, and a SWOT analysis.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Business Rules Management System Market to Cross US$ 1.5 Billion By 2021

http://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/business-rules-management-system-market

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New York, December 19: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Global Business Rules Management System (BRMS) Market  Trends & Forecast, 2015-2020.The Global Business Rules Management System (BRMS) market is estimated to reach $636.7 million in 2015 to $1,443.9 million by 2020 at an estimated CAGR of 17.8% from 2015 to 2020.Browse Full Report:As a rule, technologies that entered in the other software market such as business process management (BPM) and service oriented architecture (SOA), began to compromise with the advantages of BRMS.Enterprises have become increasingly comfortable with the open source model for developing and deploying mission-critical applications. Depending on the operating environment, open source has the highest market growth, which is estimated at a CAGR of 31.2% from 2015 to 2020.The Business Rules Management System market has seen moderate growth in North America and Europe regions where North America had the largest share in 2014, but few regions such as Latin America, Middle East & Africa are expected to be the fastest growing markets in 2020 as compared to 2015.The BRMS adoption has been increasing every year in all verticals, such as banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, retail and manufacturing, contributing a positive growth in 2015 and expected the same growth by 2020 as well. The BRMS market penetration in BFSI and healthcare is more compared to the other verticals. Retail and manufacturing are the most emerging verticals in this market.The small and medium enterprise (SMEs), and enterprises are expected to contribute a huge market share for BRMS over the year 20152020. The BRMS is a very strong tool for modern enterprises. It allows the organizations to incorporate complex decision logic into line of business application and quickly updates underlying business rules as market conditions change.Download Free Sample Report:Essential Takeaways: The Windows operating system market share is expected to contribute $259.8 million in 2015 to $519.8% million by 2020 at an estimated CAGR of 14.9% from 2015 to 2020. North America market is estimated to reach at a CAGR of 14.7% from 2015 to 2020. The BRMS market penetration in BFSI and healthcare is estimated to reach at a CAGR of 16.5% and 15.9%, respectively from 2015 to 2020. Logistic vertical is an emerging sector of BRMS market and it is estimated to reach at CAGR of 24.8% by 2020.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
Automotive Headlamp Reflector Market to See 4.2% CAGR through 2021

Automotive Headlamp Reflector Market to See 4.2% CAGR through 2021

Today, the worlds market for automotive headlamp reflector is following an upward trend, offering a range of lucrative growth opportunities for established as well as new market players. The automotive headlamp reflector market is expected to register positive growth at a 4.2% CAGR through 2021. Key market growth drivers comprise rising disposable incomes, expanding urbanization, strong demand for LED based lighting systems and also impressive advancements.Passenger car segment is predicted to remain the growth engine of the worldwide automotive headlamp reflector market from 2016 up till 2021, majorly due to high vehicle production and rising adoption of advanced materials.The demand for headlamp reflector from the LED lighting segment is anticipated to witness the most rapidly growth in the next 5 years. Robust growth in this segment could be attributed to a steady shift from halogen lighting to LED lighting, owing to certain benefits offered by LED, for instance, high energy efficiency, lightweight, long life, faster illumination and focused brightness. LED lighting will likely gain popularity in middle, premium and electric vehicles.Bulk molding compounds (BMC) based composites are recognized as the top in-demand material used in the automotive headlamp reflector production, as it offers numerous benefits over alternative materials like high gloss surface finish, ability to manufacture complex and sharp curves, lightweight, excellent strength to weight ratio and excellent temperature resistance.APAC is forecast to continue holding the top position in the global automotive headlamp reflector market through 2021. China and India will likely be the key growth contributors.The leading automotive headlamp reflector manufacturers in the global arena include Koito Manufacturing, Magneti Marelli, Valeo S.A., Stanley Electric and Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.TD The Market Publishers, Ltd is involved in promoting and trading market research reports and analytical reviews produced by our numerous research partners including both large multinationals and smaller companies.Our web-based platform, MarketPublishers.com, offers a rich collection of market research reports, company reviews, databooks, articles, periodical publications, databases, on-line subscriber services and much more, delivered by the successful and well-established publishers.TD The Market Publishers Ltd.Chrysanthou Mylona 1, 3030,Limassol, CyprusContactNatalie AsterPhone: +44 208 144 6009Fax: +44 207 900 3970ps@marketpublishers.com
Virtual Private Cloud Market Worth US$ 45.00 Billion by 2022

http://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/virtual-private-cloud-market

http://www.marketresearchengine.com/requestsample/virtual-private-cloud-market

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Florida, December 19: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Virtual Private Cloud, By Organization Types (Large Enterprises, SMEs, SMBs), By Industry Verticals (BFSI, Transportation, Healthcare, Hospitality, E-Commerce, Telecom, Public Sector, Others) By Regions  Global Market Drivers, Opportunities, Trends, and Forecasts, 2016-2022.The Virtual Private Cloud market is an emerging market and it is estimated to cross $45.00 billion by 2022.Browse Full Report:With its recently published study on Virtual Private Cloud: Trends & Forecasts, 2016-2022, that SMEs will dominate the Virtual Private Cloud market. As per the study, VPC market will see a significant growth in the coming years due to the growing need for the cost friendly disaster recovery solutions. The SMEs and SMBs will continue to spend on the VPC solutions.Globally, BFSI and Telecom are the industry verticals which are spending a lot on the secure and cost friendly cloud solutions. It is foreseen by 2022 that Public and E-commerce sectors will be spending a lot on the cloud based solutions. The growing dependence of these sectors on internet based application is one of the reasons for the cloud dependency.The growing number of SMBs and their dependence on cloud are driving the growth of the VPC market in the emerging regions. The major contributors of the market will be countries such as India, China and South Africa. The report aims to highlight key insights from vendors and end users.Download Free Sample Report:The report provides an in-depth analysis and forecast about the industry covering the following key features:Organization Types and Industry Verticals.The market is divided into four regions: Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), and Middle East & Africa (MEA).Competitive benchmarking analysis to optimize short term and long term strategy of the organizations.Stakeholders insights and key trends (current and future) of the market.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
Jacksonville attorney admitted to practice law in Kenya

http://sdlitigation.com/

Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 19, 2016 -- Barry Newman, partner in the law firm of Spohrer & Dodd, has been admitted to practice law as a foreign advocate before the High Court of Kenya in Nairobi. Kenya Attorney General Githu Muigai approved Newmans application to allow him to appear with Muthoga Caturu & Co. before the Kenyan courts on behalf of two United Kingdom residents who were injured in the crash of a sightseeing helicopter while visiting Kenya. Only lawyers admitted as advocates of the High Court of Kenya, have the right of audience before Kenyan courts.It is a tremendous honor to appear before the court in Kenya on behalf of my clients, said Newman. During our investigation, it became clear the operator had no ties to the United Kingdom or the United States so we would have to bring the case before the courts in Kenya. Typically, firms facing such extreme obstacles are reluctant to proceed. Our firm decided to undertake the effort to file suit in Kenya and I look forward to serving as lead advocate as we move forward with the case.The crash occurred in 2010 as Matthew Shelton and Elizabeth von Guttman were vacationing at a wildlife lodge about five hours from Nairobi. The lodges management convinced the couple to enjoy a three-hour helicopter tour of Kenyas lakes, which are rich with waterfowl and exotic wildlife. The helicopter pilot took the couple over one of the lakes before landing for a picnic and pictures. During that time, the pilot warned them to stay away from the lake because of the danger posed by hippopotamuses and crocodiles. After lunch, they departed to Lake Logipi, which is known for its flamingo population. As the helicopter hovered over the lake, it began to tip and crashed, severely injuring the couple. Nearly 24 hours passed before any rescue was attempted or aid rendered, despite the fact the operator of the helicopter knew the whereabouts of their aircraft from GPS technology and were aware of the crash almost immediately.My clients were severely injured in this crash and had to not only deal with the pain from their injuries, but the fear of what was in the lake as they waited to be rescued, said Newman. Our only option to get results for our client was to file in the Kenyan courts where the accident occurred. I have been working closely with a Kenyan advocate for the last five years and I look forward to presenting to the Kenyan court in the next phase of the case.After more than five years of litigation, Newman and local Advocate Remigio Mugambi began the first phase of the trial in April of this year. The continuation of the trial has been scheduled for March of 2017. With this rare appointment, Newman can participate as lead trial advocate during the second phase. Newman is hopeful the court will find the pilot was solely responsible for the crash and appropriately compensate Shelton and von Guttman.About Spohrer & DoddSpohrer & Dodd is an elite law firm comprised of seasoned trial attorneys, expert professionals and specialized staff. Their experience, diligence, and creativity allow them to help clients achieve positive legal outcomes in the most challenging and complex personal injury cases, which are often cases that other personal injury law firms are unwilling to undertake. Their team of board certified trial lawyers, attorneys and staff, the firm's intellectual and financial resources, and their network of specialized experts are dedicated to every case their Jacksonville law firm handles. For more information, visit1611 San Marco BoulevardJacksonville, FL 32207
Steel Wire Rope Market 2016 - WireCo World Group, Tokyo Rope, Kiswire, Jiangsu Langshan

https://goo.gl/w8yWxu

http://marketinsights.biz/global-steel-wire-rope-market-2016-by-manufacturers-regions-type-and-application-forecast-to-2021/

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The Global Steel Wire Rope Market 2016 Industry Research Report focused on major manufacturers, regions, type as well as application of the Steel Wire Rope industry. Steel wire rope is a piece of machinery which is widely used in construction, mining, oil & gas extraction and other areas. Usually a steel wire rope is composed of wires, strands and a core, which is made of fiber or steel. The purpose of the core is to provide support and maintain the position of the outer strands during operation. The wires are predominantly constructed from high-carbon steel and stainless steel. The wires are twisted to form strands and they designate the strength of the steel wire rope.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Steel Wire Rope in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.For free sample of report visit atMarket Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversWireCo World GroupTokyo RopeKiswireJiangsu LangshanGuizhou Wire RopeFasten GroupUsha MartinBekaertXinri HengliBridonJuli SlingJiangsu ShenwangShinkoXianyang BamcoDSRJiangsu SafetyGustav Wolf?Ansteel Wire RopeYoungHeungPFEIFERTeufelbergerHubei FuxingRedaelliHaggieDIEPABruggDetail overview of report visit atMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)Latin America, Middle East and AfricaMarket Segment by Type, coversLeft Regular LayLeft Lang LayRight Regular LayRight Lang LayAlternate LayMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoOil & GasFishing & MarineMiningStructuresIndustrial & CraneThis Steel Wire Rope Industry report also states Company Profile, sales, Steel Wire Rope Market revenue, and price, market share, Contact Information and gross margin by regions.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and methodology of the report are offered.About Us:"MarketInsights.Biz offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact US:Frank ValadezDirector of Business DevelopmentWebsite:Email:sales@marketinsights.biz
Global Isoxaflutole (CAS 141112-29-0) Market 2016 Bayer, Dow AgroSciences, Jiangsu Flag, Shangyu Yingtai

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http://marketinsights.biz/global-isoxaflutole-cas-141112-29-0-market-outlook-2016-2021/#Enquiry-Before-Buying

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Isoxaflutole, a member of the isoxazoles, was the first HPPD inhibitor available in the United States to acquire EPA registration in 1998 and was developed by Rhone-Poulene-now Bayer Crop Science. Isoxaflutole is a proherbicide, meaning it does not have herbicidal effect in its original chemical form, but it is naturally converted in plant to diketonitrile derivative that binds to the HPPD enzyme. Isoxaflutole is used in agricultural systems as a preplant or preemergence herbicide for control of selected grass and broadleaf weeds in field corn. Pesticide Action Network lists it as a Bad Actor chemical and a carcinogen, with slight acute toxicity. As of 2012, isoxaflutole is only registered for use on corn. However, the EPA is reviewing whether to allow its use on soybeans.Major players in the global Isoxaflutole (CAS 141112-29-0) market :-Bayer (Germany)Dow AgroSciences (USA)Jiangsu Flag (China)Shangyu Yingtai (China)Request for sample @This report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Isoxaflutole (CAS 141112-29-0) from 2011-2015 and provides extensive market forecasts 2016-2021 by region/country and sub sectors. It covers the key technological and market trends in the Isoxaflutole (CAS 141112-29-0) market and further lays out an analysis of the factors influencing the supply/demand for Isoxaflutole (CAS 141112-29-0), and the opportunities/challenges faced by industry participants. It also acts as an essential tool to companies active across the value chain and to the new entrants by enabling them to capitalize the opportunities and develop business strategies.Global Isoxaflutole (CAS 141112-29-0) Market Outlook 2016-2021, has been prepared based on the synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of information about the global Isoxaflutole (CAS 141112-29-0) market collected from specialized sources. The report covers key technological developments in the recent times and profiles leading players in the market and analyzes their key strategies. The competitive landscape section of the report provides a clear insight into the market share analysis of key industry players.Request for sample @The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Rest of World. In this sector, global competitive landscape and supply/demand pattern of Isoxaflutole (CAS 141112-29-0) industry has been provided.About Us:"MarketInsights.Biz offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact US:Frank ValadezDirector of Business DevelopmentWebsite:Email:sales@marketinsights.biz
Global Losartan Potassium Market 2016 Hanmi Fine Chemical, Merck, Teva Pharmaceutical, Taj Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang Tianyu

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http://marketinsights.biz/global-losartan-potassium-market-outlook-2016-2021/#Enquiry-Before-Buying

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Losartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist drug used mainly to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It was the first angiotensin II antagonist to be marketed. Losartan potassium is marketed by Merck & Co. Inc. under the trade name Cozaar, and is available in generic form.Major players in the global Losartan Potassium market :-Hanmi Fine Chemical (Korea)Merck (USA)Teva Pharmaceutical (Israel)Taj Pharmaceuticals (India)Zhejiang Tianyu (China)Shanghai Pharma Xinya (China)Shandong Xinyi (China)Request for sample @This report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Losartan Potassium from 2011-2015 and provides extensive market forecasts 2016-2021 by region/country and sub sectors. It covers the key technological and market trends in the Losartan Potassium market and further lays out an analysis of the factors influencing the supply/demand for Losartan Potassium, and the opportunities/challenges faced by industry participants. It also acts as an essential tool to companies active across the value chain and to the new entrants by enabling them to capitalize the opportunities and develop business strategies.Global Losartan Potassium Market Outlook 2016-2021, has been prepared based on the synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of information about the global Losartan Potassium market collected from specialized sources. The report covers key technological developments in the recent times and profiles leading players in the market and analyzes their key strategies. The competitive landscape section of the report provides a clear insight into the market share analysis of key industry players.Request for sample @The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Rest of World. In this sector, global competitive landscape and supply/demand pattern of Losartan Potassium industry has been provided.About Us:"MarketInsights.Biz offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact US:Frank ValadezDirector of Business DevelopmentWebsite:Email:sales@marketinsights.biz
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In this Dec. 9, 2016, file photo, Betsy DeVos, selected for Education Secretary by President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally, in Grand Rapids, Mich.

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

By Rahm Emanuel

Special to The Washington Post

By nominating voucher and charter school advocate Betsy DeVos to be his education secretary, President-elect Donald Trump has ignited another round of debate over school choice. Yet as cable-news talking heads argue about whether or what kind of school reform is needed in the United States, parents are having a different discussion at the kitchen table - one based on finding the best school, not whether it's a "reform" school.

Promoting choice at the expense of quality isn't an education strategy, it's a political agenda. Rather, those of us creating education policy need to simply focus on providing the quality choices that students deserve.

We have seen successes when choice and quality have been pursued together. Some public charter schools, such as the Noble Network and Urban Prep in Chicago, have boosted graduation rates and increased college enrollment for low-income students of color. Noble's graduation rate is above 80 percent, and 100 percent of Urban Prep's 2016 graduates were college-bound.

Despite charter success stories such as these, however, most children will continue to enroll in their local neighborhood school. We need to ensure that those schools are providing a high-quality education, too.

In the Chicago Public Schools, we implemented the largest expansion in school time - lengthening the school day and expanding the school year by 10 days. We made full-day kindergarten universal and conducted an early-learning race-to-the-top competition to reward the best providers and removed those not meeting quality standards. We closed low-performing schools, turned around failing ones and dramatically expanded successful educational models such as International Baccalaureate (IB) and STEM.

Our graduation rate has grown by 16 points since 2011, more than three times faster than the growth in the national rate. Chicago's eighth-graders led large urban districts in math growth, while our fourth- graders ranked third in reading gains. And with 42 percent of graduates enrolling in four-year colleges and an additional 20 percent enrolling in two-year colleges, CPS is on par with the national average for college enrollment despite a student body that is more than 80 percent low-income and minority.

But to continue this progress, those of us on the front lines need partners at the state and federal levels who are focused on quality. Previous Republican administrations sounded the alarm on educational quality, prompting renewed focus on stronger accountability. Democratic administrations pushed higher standards. The incoming Trump administration would be wise to focus on qualitative choices in four ways.

Put principals first: For too long the debate has been focused on teachers, but principals drive the standards and accountability in a school. The Trump administration should support efforts to increase principal quality, from creating training pipelines to rewarding strong performance. In Chicago, we partnered with 10 universities to train the next generation of principals and place them in year-long fellowships in our schools, and launched a program to provide our best principals more freedom to innovate.

Make the early years count: Children start dropping out of school in third grade, which is why the early years are the most important. We expanded full-day pre-K in Chicago by more than60 percent. An analysis of CPS programs proved the value, finding that children who attend full-day preschool enter kindergarten twice as likely to read at grade level. The Trump administration should make universal full-day prekindergarten a priority and make quality a prerequisite for receiving funding.

Fight the toughest battle: The toughest nut for urban school districts to crack is high school, but again, investing in quality is the key. While we have backed quality charter options in Chicago, we have also invested in quality through magnet, military, IB and STEM schools to the point that 50 percent of our kids attend one of these models. IB and STEM programs in particular are proven to raise graduation and college enrollment rates for students of all racial and income backgrounds. In fact, our IB-enrolled students boast a nearly 100 percent graduation rate, and 81 percent enroll in college, a higher rate than their peers.

Failure is not an option: Children get only one chance at a good education. We closed failing charter and neighborhood schools and expanded those with higher quality. The incoming presidential administration should promote proven programs to turn around failing schools. In Chicago, in partnership with the Academy for Urban School Leadership, we worked to turn around 14 failing schools. Today, roughly 80 percent of these schools have attained high- performing quality ratings.

Instead of chasing another Washington debate about choice that goes nowhere, let's work together to help Americans get ahead by investing in better schools regardless of who operates them.

Emanuel, a Democrat, is mayor of Chicago. He served as White House chief of staff from 2009 to 2010.
1trump.JPG

US President-elect Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally at the Giant Center, December 15, 2016 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

(Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

By Ruth Marcus

WASHINGTON -- President-elect Donald Trump needs to heal, not revel. That is, he must work on healing the divided country he is about to lead, not continue to revel in his victory with a round of thank-you rallies.

Instead, we see: Trump griping about the political correctness of being named "person of the year." Quieting, but not really, chants of "lock her up." Revving up the crowd against the "very dishonest" media. Thanking African-Americans who "didn't come out to vote." Jabbing at the "foolish" White House press secretary for daring to point out that candidate Trump had encouraged Russian hacking.

Crybaby, the Trump supporters will tweet. He won, get over it. But the president-elect is the one who seems to be having a hard time getting over it, or rising above, or inhabiting the responsibility -- the majesty -- of his new role.

"Elections have consequences, and at the end of the day, I won," a newly sworn-in President Obama said eight years ago. So I accept: Trump won, Hillary Clinton lost. That has consequences for personnel and policy.

But the manner of winning and the scope of victory also have consequences. Let Trump proclaim his Electoral College "landslide" -- not true. Let him insist that he would have triumphed in the popular vote as well, "if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally." Deduct away, notwithstanding that there is zero evidence of such massive fraud.

Even by Trump math, he will preside over a deeply divided country. Half its citizens, or more, are worried about what a Trump presidency augurs. They doubt that he has the temperament or experience for the job. It is Trump's responsibility to reassure and reach out to them. It is his duty to consider -- not summarily reject -- evidence that Russia may have intervened on his behalf.

This is the sixth presidential transition I have witnessed, beginning with Jimmy Carter to Ronald Reagan in 1980, and the mood of the city is like no other. Anxious does not begin to convey the profound sense of worry.

The Reagan parallel may be most instructive. His election was greeted with a degree of shocked condescension by a large segment of the city's permanent establishment. The conservative blueprint of the Heritage Foundation was ascendant. The Reagan people swept into town for the inauguration, with their furs and limousines, and it felt like an invasion, a hostile takeover of government. Plus ca change.

But for all the disdain with which Reagan was greeted, the genial star of "Bedtime for Bonzo" was a far less frightening figure than Trump. He had governed the nation's largest state; he had a clear, and clearly understood, political philosophy. The establishment may have disagreed with Reagan; it did not view him with dread.

Thus, the Washington Post editorial board, the day of Reagan's inauguration, acknowledged "the political and ideological meaning of the Reagan victory," yet noted approvingly that the new president "has shown ... an ease and openness and willingness to expand his perspective that is as admirable as it is essential -- essential to a successful presidency."

The next day, New York Times columnist James Reston noted the "paradox that those who were most determined to elect Mr. Reagan now seem more worried about what he will do as president than those who opposed him."

That those conservative jitters proved unfounded does not undermine my point about the chasm between Washington's wary embrace of the 40th president and its cringing at the prospect of the 45th.

Now, sober-minded people speak in all seriousness about fears for the future of the republic and the prospect of impeachment. These are not wild leftists but experienced hands, with long historical memories and understanding of how power ebbs and flows here. Whether or not these dire prognostications prove correct, the fact they are being voiced is alarming.

Dismiss this as the griping of obsolescent elites, but regular Americans are similarly apprehensive. Majorities in a Pew Research Center poll say Trump is reckless (65 percent) and has poor judgment (62 percent). More Americans (38 percent) believe he will be a poor or terrible president than are confident (35 percent) he will be a good or great one. Crowds at Trump rallies cheer, but the country worries.

In his finest post-election moment, Trump, echoing Lincoln, vowed on election night to "bind the wounds of division." To acknowledge citizens' concerns and adjust accordingly is an essential, if unlikely, first step -- so far missing from the president-elect's repertoire.

Ruth Marcus' email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com.

(c) 2016, Washington Post Writers Group
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Democratic presidential elector Bret Chiafalo stands outside the U.S. Courthouse in Seattle before a hearing on Dec. 14, 2016. (Elaine Thompson / AP)

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday refused to issue a restraining order that would bar Washington from fining two Democratic electors up to $1,000 if they vote Monday for someone other than their party's nominee.

"We do not find that appellants have shown a likelihood of success or serious questions going to the merits, or that appellants have shown a likelihood of irreparable harm," the three-member appellate panel wrote.

Two presidential electors in Washington state had filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit court after a district court judge refused to prevent such a fine.

Washington's attorney general had argued that the appellants had no legitimate basis to grant their emergency motion.

"No court, anywhere has adopted appellants' argument that the Constitution requires allowing electors to ignore the will of their state's voters without consequence,'' Washington Deputy Solicitors General Callie Castillo and Rebecca R. Glasgow, wrote in a legal brief on behalf of the state attorney general.

Unlike 25 other states, Washington does not mandate that presidential electors cast an electoral vote in a particular manner or require automatic resignation or forfeiture of the elector's office when an elector votes contrary to his or her pledge, the state's brief said.

On Monday, appellants may cast their electoral ballot for whomever they chose, according to state law. However, Washington state law imposes a consequence for violation of an elector's pledge, up to a $1,000 penalty.

The two electors in this case had asked a federal district court judge to find the $1,000 penalty unconstitutional. They are electors for the Democratic Party in Washington and were considering not voting for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, but were discussing with electors of other states electing a candidate other than Republican Donald J. Trump because they believe Trump is unfit for office.

In legal briefs, they argue that the founders of the U.S. Constitution created the electoral college "so that informed people could use their experience and judgment to safeguard the nation in the Presidential election.''

"If the Electors are not permitted to assure the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates meet the constitutional qualifications, then the country might have to suffer through impeachment proceedings and--worst of all--being governed by an unfit President or Vice President in the meantime,'' wrote attorney Andrew J. Dhuey, for the electors, P. Bret Chafalo and Levi Guerra.

Guerra, a 19-year-old college student, would be unable to pay such a fine, her attorney wrote.

Attorneys on behalf of President-elect Donald J. Trump and Washington's Republican Party filed a legal brief as an intervenor in the appeal.

"The most frequently mentioned choice of the handful of 'rogue" electors in Washington and elsewhere is Ohio Governor John Kasich. Yet Kasich (who has said he does not want the electors' votes) was no more a candidate during the general election than was Kanye West--meaning that these electors now seek the right to vote for anyone they see fit, no matter whether the individual campaigned for office or received any public scrutiny. Hardly the sort of power that should be left to 538 people most Americans have never heard of,'' wrote attorneys for Trump and the Washington Republican Party.

Washington state lawyers argued that the electors could challenge the fine, if one is brought, afterwards, and the appeals court need not bar the fine.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
Monday 19 December 2016 9:30am



Dr Liu Jinghui, Secretary-General, China Scholarship Council, signs a MOU with University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne

The University of Otago is entering an agreement that will see up to five PhD students from China take up scholarships at Otago each year.

University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) on Monday, December 19.

This will allow the CSC and the University to jointly sponsor up to five selected Chinese students. There is also the option for a further five students who are studying in Chinese universities to spend up to 24 months of their degree working with researchers at Otago.

In both cases these will be top students.

The University hosted a delegation from China for the Memorandum signing, which included Dr Liu Jinghui, Secretary-General of China Scholarship Council and Li Meng, Deputy Director, Division of American and Oceanian Affairs, China Scholarship Council.



Professor Helen Nicholson

Professor Helen Nicholson, University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Division of External Engagement, said that the MOU is another exciting opportunity for Otago to bring new students in to study and support postgraduate programmes in Health Sciences, Sciences, Humanities and Commerce.

The visit of the China Scholarship Council is a significant opportunity and it is a pleasure to host Madam Liu and Li Meng at Otago.

We have a growing number of PhD students from China, now 52 compared to 34 in 2014, and this arrangement will facilitate the growth of Chinese students with strong academic backgrounds at Otago. We also look forward to building on the MOU to develop further research collaborations and exchanges between the University and China, she said.

The costs of the scholarship will be shared between the two organisations.

The students are not expected to arrive until later in 2017.

The CSC is a non-profit institution, affiliated with the Ministry of Education in China, which provides financial assistance to Chinese citizens studying abroad and to foreign citizens wishing to study in China.

The aim of the CSC is to develop the educational, scientific and technological, and cultural exchanges and economic and trade cooperation between China and other countries, to strengthen the friendship and understanding between Chinese people and other countries, and to promote world peace and the socialist modernisation drive in China.
Nature has always played a big part in Karen Brooks life. Now she is sharing her love of the outdoors with younger generations through her series of childrens books about B3, the bald eagle.

It was really a latent interest in creative writing, Brooks explained. I liked writing and writing poems especially when I was younger. ... And then as you morph into an adult, everything else takes over  your studies, getting a full-time job and growing into adulthood. That (writing) kinda went dormant.

Brooks has been interested in nature since she was young, taking walks in the woods and fishing with her father to snapping pictures of wildlife as an amateur photographer. From time to time she would exchange online links and pictures concerning the environment with a cousin in Alaska. One day in 2014, her cousin sent Brooks a link to a webcam set up near an eagle nest at Berry College in Georgia.

Brooks enjoyed watching the pair of bald eagles that resided there, along with an eaglet named B3, and learning about their life cycle, habitat and behaviors. Even when Brooks went to work at The Dow Chemical Co., the eagles were on her mind.

One day, and it was during a really, really busy period of time at work, one day I just said I gotta get out of here, I gotta get out of the office so Im going to walk the trails near Dow Chemical Corporate ... I was just walking and just the beat of my feet beat out a little rhyme and it was that very first rhyme in the book, she recalled.

Brooks wrote the rhyme down and set it aside for a time. Eventually, she started to form other rhymes about the eagles, which ended up being the foundation of the book.

It was really an experiment, No. 1, to see if I still had it in me. And No. 2, if I could make a decent book out of it that other people would like to read, too.

But B3 seems like a rather strange name for an eagle, especially in a childrens book. Why not Anne or perhaps Horus? Brooks decided to refer to her title character using the name the eagle was given. In fact, the name B3 signifies where the eaglet hatched (B for Berry College) and the lineage (3 for the third hatch at the nest).

The first book, published in 2015, contains Brooks story about B3, followed by an information section with facts and still shots of bald eagles. It did well with online sales and direct sales at art fairs, which Brooks attended. She had not considered continuing B3s narrative until she took a trip down to Berry College where she met a couple of ladies at the college gift shop. They asked if she was going to write more about B3.

Once again, the idea took hold and Brooks decided to write about the rest of B3s life from juvenile to sub-adult and adult. In the end, she planned a series of four books. However, since the real B3 had already left the nest in June of 2014, Brooks had to change tactics.

And I was nervous about that for the second book because its one thing about writing a story on true events, but now I got to make everything up, she said.

Nevertheless, if Berry was going to portray B3s development, she had to ensure that she had the correct facts. She researched online and cross-referenced sources, making sure to use information provided by reliable, established organizations. Brooks even provided her own pictures, as well as those of other photographers around the country, as visual aids for the educational information in the back of the books.

I wanted to take her to different parts of the country and I had different ideas of what parts of the country (to use). What I settled on for the second book is that weve done a lot of traveling out west and Ive got a lot of photography, scenic photography of some of the picturesque things out west.

With new locations come new adventures for B3, including meeting other types of raptors.

Part of the story is that she met a golden eagle out west. ... I wanted to have in the facts (section) how do you tell the difference between a juvenile bald eagle and a juvenile golden eagle. I actually have a photographer who lives out in Colorado that has a picture of that, too.

While the third and fourth books in the series will continue to focus on B3s journey from fledgling to full-fledged adult, the locations will continue to change.

I know where the locations going to be for the next book, but Im not going to reveal it yet, Brooks smiled. I want to keep common themes, but I want to change it up a little bit, too, so that its not the same old story. Im just now starting to think about that.

The second book, B3 the Juvenile Eagle, was published in October. Brooks, now retired, hopes to publish the next installment sometime next year. Since the process of self-publishing takes anywhere from eight months to a year, she is eager to start the process as soon as possible.

Im really shooting for one a year because Im trying to follow the timeline of what B3 would be.

For Brooks, the journey of B3 has not only been a learning experience, but also a really cool success story. She grew up hearing about the effects of DDT pesticide on the bald eagle population in the 1960s. For a time, bald eagles were listed as an endangered species; now, with populations growing and nests being found all across the continental United States, they have been removed from the list. Brooks appreciates the knowledge and insight that modern resources, such as web cams at nest sites, have provided.

You start to see a level of understanding. Its a really good learning experience for everybody.

In addition, writing the book has caused a reawakening to something that you enjoyed doing when you were young and kinda forgot about. ... Just because you liked it as a kid and didnt do it doesnt mean you still cant do it as an adult.

It made me realize how much things have changed, but you can make it for the better through the Internet or webcams or whatever, Brooks continued. People can learn about nature and maybe actually want to go out and experience nature for themselves or realize that some of the things they do can hurt nature and some of the things they do can help nature. I feel good that Im hopefully passing a little of that along to the young kids.

Once B3 flies her course, Brooks hopes to continue writing and publishing stories focused on nature.

I gave me something to be more excited about after retirement. Its something that I call a right-brain job. Ive been in mainly a left-brain job for 33-some years and now Im using my right brain, so Im in my right-brain career now between the photography and writing books. Its a life change in what your focusing on, what youre feeling your contributing to.

B3 the Baby Eagle and B3 the Juvenile Eagle are available in hardcover and ebook editions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, or by contacting Brooks directly at karen@kabscapes.com
To the editor:

In the mid-1940s, a stripper named Gypsy Rose Lee sang a song in the Broadway musical Gypsy Let me entertain you. The lyrics epitomize Vladimir Putins hold over Donald Trump and the Republican Party hierarchy.

Let me entertain you

Let me make you smile

Let me do a few tricks

Some old and then some new tricks

Im very versatile

We are about to have a vacuous man as president of the United States of America who is spinning slowly, slowly, in the wind. The more often he speaks the clearer it becomes that there is nothing behind his eyes.

The word physiognomy (14 c Greek) The art of discovering temperament and character from outward appearance describes what Vladimir Putin is using to influence Trump and Company.

DOUGLAS D. SOLOSKY

Midland
To the editor:

A minority of voters has elected the least qualified presidential candidate in history, a Putin-loving con man with a personality disorder. He claims he will, drain the swamp, while nominating a menagerie of millionaires, billionaires and generals who boggle the mind with their extreme ideologies, conflicts of interest and lack of qualifications:

For EPA Administrator and Secretary of Energy, two candidates who both deny the reality of climate change. For Chief Strategist, a man who ran a racist, misogynist, xenophobic, white supremacist fake news factory. For Secretary of Education, a billionaire heiress who never attended any public school or university, but seeks to destroy that most affordable option. For Secretary of the Treasury, a Wall Street billionaire who made his fortune foreclosing on homes. For Attorney General, a senator who was deemed by his Senate colleagues to be too racist to be a federal judge. For Secretary of Labor, a fast-food magnate who thinks the minimum wage is too high. For HUD Secretary, a man whos only qualification is that he has lived in a house. For National Security Advisor, a general who has retweeted vicious fake news. And now, for Secretary of State, the CEO of Exxon, who has received a friendship medal from Vladimir Putin.

It is clear that FBI Director Comey put his thumb on the scale for Trump. It is clear that Republicans worked hard to suppress the vote of Democrats. It is clear that Republicans unconstitutionally prevented President Obama from making an appointment to the Supreme Court. It is clear that the majority of fake news stories (lies) were spread by Republicans. And it is now clear that Russians, under the direction of Putin, interfered with our election by hacking and selectively releasing emails to help Trump. He can never be the legitimate leader of the free world, and never, ever, my world.

Mr. Trump is not draining the swamp. He is gold plating it. I grieve for our democracy and our planet. Stand up. Organize. Resist.

JAMES W. CRISSMAN

Midland
To the editor:

I read with great interest Kepka Beltons letter, A place called Midland, on Dec. 7. When she mentioned the dessert called kolaches I can resonate to this pontifical dish as I ate many meals my mother baked of these goodies back in the 1930s and 40s. Our family grew their own poppie seeds (illegal now). My favorite was grape, when in season, grown on our farm.

All my grandparents immigrated to this country from Prague, Bohemia, as young adults back in the 1800s, bringing this fine recipe with them.

If only I could have a dish this late in life, it would be joyful. The last time I had some was at a Bohemian restaurant in Chicago years ago.

JOE E. BENES

Midland
"Rome had always had a way of making even the most egregious aspects of its past look romantic and alluring." - Shawn Levy





Italian taste  and, as well, a taste for Italy and things Italian  was spreading rapidly in the biggest market in the world [the USA].  Shawn Levy





The focus of this book is not solely on films but there is much for the film buff to savor here. The film industry influenced many of the other aspects of the culture. For example, there was a huge increase in sales of Vespas after the release of Roman Holiday (1953). Burgeoning Italian dressmakers and designers like the Fontana Sisters, Pucci and Valentino made everything from wedding dresses, sportswear, and costumes for American film stars. The world of scandal, notoriety and gossip always intersected with the world of film.





Rome's film industry was put on pause during the war. Cinecitta, a local movie studio made 279 films before it was shut down by WWII and after the war it struggled to get back into the business. American filmmakers were coming in droves to Italy to capture the essence of what made the city such a hub of lifestyle, culture, fashion and history. But most of these were parachute projects where they filmed on location in Rome, used their own crews instead of local ones and opted out of utilizing Cinecitta as a home base for shooting interiors. They often flew back home to Hollywood to film the rest. It wasn't until American filmmakers saw the benefits, and tax breaks, of filming solely in Italy that Rome became "Hollywood on the Tiber", a term invented by TIME magazine.





Prince of Foxes (1949), Quo Vadis (1951) The Barefoot Contessa (1954), Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), Ben-Hur (1959) and brief mentions of some '60s films including Come September (1961), Rome Adventure (1962) and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963). And then there were the many Scandaloni films: low-budget, Italian-made, sword-and-sandal movies, bowdlerized rehashings of tales from Greek, Roman, and Judeo-Christian history and mythology.



Then there were the Italian filmmakers of the 1950s. According to Levy, hese directors and producers "created brave new works that explored the human struggles of the moment. These include Robert Rossellini, Dino De Laurentiis, Frederico Fellini, Carlo Ponti and more. Films discussed include The Bicycle Thief (1948), La Strada (1954) and many more. Levy lingers on the career of Fellini most of all especially his two epic works La Dolce Vita (1960) and 8-1/2 (1963).



To understand La Dolce Vita one must understand the celebrity culture of Rome. It starts with Via Veneto, a street in Rome that became the mecca for the Hollywood elite. It boasted an American embassy, American style restaurants, luxury hotels, shops and boutiques and pretty much everything an American movie star visiting the city would want to have nearby. Via Veneto also became a haunt for photojournalists who worked for the increasingly popular gossip rags and wanted to photograph the Hollywood icons at play. It was the birthplace of the celebrity and paparazzi culture complete with harassment, scandal, grit and glamour. Without Via Veneto there would be no TMZ. Fellini's La Dolce Vita captured this new culture on screen and it's most iconic scene, Anita Ekberg wading through the waters of the Trevi fountain, was based on a real incident with Ekberg who was herself a major celebrity in Rome. La Dolce Vita's effect on Rome was immediate. Via Veneto was no longer a safe place for Hollywood elite and soon became where wanna-be celebrities came seeking any morsels of fame their outrageous antics might garner them. La Dolce Vita as a catchphrase came to represent what moviegoers around the world, especially in the United States, thought life was like in Rome. And while the word paparazzi is never used in the film it was created during the making of and has stuck ever since.



Swedish actress Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vita (1960) Levy touches upon many of the American films shot on Hollywood on the Tiber including(1949),(1951)(1954),(1954),(1959) and brief mentions of some '60s films including(1961),(1962) and(1963). And then there were the many Scandaloni films: low-budget, Italian-made, sword-and-sandal movies, bowdlerized rehashings of tales from Greek, Roman, and Judeo-Christian history and mythology.Then there were the Italian filmmakers of the 1950s. According to Levy, hese directors and producers "created brave new works that explored the human struggles of the moment. These include Robert Rossellini, Dino De Laurentiis, Frederico Fellini, Carlo Ponti and more. Films discussed include(1948),(1954) and many more. Levy lingers on the career of Fellini most of all especially his two epic works(1960) and(1963).To understandone must understand the celebrity culture of Rome. It starts with Via Veneto, a street in Rome that became the mecca for the Hollywood elite. It boasted an American embassy, American style restaurants, luxury hotels, shops and boutiques and pretty much everything an American movie star visiting the city would want to have nearby. Via Veneto also became a haunt for photojournalists who worked for the increasingly popular gossip rags and wanted to photograph the Hollywood icons at play. It was the birthplace of the celebrity and paparazzi culture complete with harassment, scandal, grit and glamour. Without Via Veneto there would be no TMZ. Fellini'scaptured this new culture on screen and it's most iconic scene, Anita Ekberg wading through the waters of the Trevi fountain, was based on a real incident with Ekberg who was herself a major celebrity in Rome.'s effect on Rome was immediate. Via Veneto was no longer a safe place for Hollywood elite and soon became where wanna-be celebrities came seeking any morsels of fame their outrageous antics might garner them.as a catchphrase came to represent what moviegoers around the world, especially in the United States, thought life was like in Rome. And while the word paparazzi is never used in the film it was created during the making of and has stuck ever since.



The idea for the film is inseparable from the idea of Anita Ekberg.  Frederico Fellini on La Dolce Vita

Sophia Loren, Yvonne De Carlo and Gina Lollobrigida. Lollo refused to be in a picture only with Loren but agreed when De Carlo stepped in to make it a trio.

Fellini, Loren, Pucci, Paparazzi, and the Swinging High Life of 1950s Rome by Shawn LevyW.W. Norton & Company9780393247589 - 480 pagesSeptember 20161950s Rome was the epicenter of culture: fashion, film, luxury cars, Vespas, race car driving, celebrity and paparazzi. How did a city in ruins after the destruction of WWII transform itself into the epitome of glamour and fame? The answer to this is found in Shawn Levy's book. In the book Levy paints the picture of postwar Italy and how luck, good timing and lots of talent transformed how the world saw Italy and how Italy saw itself.Foreign celebrities like Ekberg, Ava Gardner, Ingrid Bergman, Linda Christian and Audrey Hepburn infiltrated Rome but a new class of Italian film stars were elbowing their way in for a chance at the spotlight. I was particularly fascinated by competition between two maggioratas ("curvy girls") Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida. I'm team Lollo all the way but can appreciate what both brought to the table. Levy says "Gina had become famous and her natural beauty, her rags-to-riches story, and her aura of sexuality paired with moral decency all combined to make her an ideal of young Italian girls who all wanted to follow in her footsteps. Sophia Loren was her polar opposite. Scandal arose from her complicated relationship to the already married Carlo Ponti and it didn't help that Loren was born out of wedlock. Both scenarios were not looked upon well by a strict Catholic culture. Loren even had to leave Italy for several years when her marriage to Ponti was not recognized by the Italian government. Lollobrigida had her own struggles; she couldn't make films with American producers due to a strange contract the ever controlling Howard Hughes made her sign. (was a convenient workaround. Although it's an American film it was financed in Europe). Both became giant movie stars but in the end Lollo's heart wasn't in acting and other creative pursuits called her name. Loren went on to have a fantastic career throughout the '60s and '70s where as Lollo gave up acting in movies in the 1970s.I particularly enjoyed this observation Levy shares about actor Rossano Brazzi that applies to many Italian film stars of the time: the figure held an attraction/repulsion for American audiences who were fascinated by what they saw as Continental charm and sexual libertinism but preferred to think of it, apparently, at a remove of a few thousand miles rather than on the streets they walked. Even reluctant sex symbols like Marcello Mastroianni held the thrall of Americans at a safe distance.paints the picture of 1950s Rome in all it's glory and scandal. It's a fun and entertaining read with much information to take in. The book is very readable but it will take you a while to get through it as it's packed with much detail.Notes: My husband is a big fan of Shawn Levy's Rat Pack Confidential and comes highly recommended by him. If you have a subscription to FilmStruck many of the Italian films mentioned in the book are available on that service.Thank you to W.W. Norton and Company for sending me this book for review!
Team Andersen honored the memory of those who served in Operation Linebacker II with a remembrance ceremony Dec. 16 here.



The operation was carried out 44 years ago on Dec. 18-29, 1972. The strategic bombing over North Vietnam lasted 11 days and its success heralded the end of the conflict.



Seventy-five Airmen died supporting the operation, 33 of whom died in the 15 downed B-52 Stratofortress bombers  the primary bomber flown during Operation Linebacker II. During the operation, also referred to as the 11-Day War or 11 Days of Christmas, more than 700 sorties were flown out of Andersen AFB and U-Tapao Royal Thai Airbase, Thailand. Fifteen thousand tons of munitions were dropped mainly on military targets in North Vietnam by the completion of the operation.



The operation proved successful, said Jeffrey Meyer, 36th Wing historian. North Vietnam was brought back to the negotiation table, officially ending direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and obtained the release of 591 prisoners of war in February 1973.



To ramp up for the flights, 153 B-52s and additional support aircraft filled Andersen AFBs runways. To support the increased bomber presence, the bases population rose to more than 15,000 Airmen and support personnel to enable the launch of more than 700 long-distance missions within 11 days.



With over 15,000 Airmen working on Andersen, the base was taxed beyond its limits, Meyer said. Two-man rooms became six-man rooms. Every military dorm on this island was filled to capacity.



Andersen AFB Airmen have maintained a rotational strategic bomber presence on Guam for more than a decade, strengthening regional security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.



In honor of Andersen Airmen past and present, two B-1B Lancer aircrews with the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, performed a commemorative fly-over concluding the ceremony with a powerful roar.

The B-1B is the current aircraft deployed to Guam in support of the continuous bomber presence.
Bloomington-Normal

POP LORE, Cautious Exuberance and Flowers, For You; through Jan. 10, Jan Brandt Gallery, 1106 W. Bell St., Bloomington; ink on cheesecloth by Andrew LeMay Cox, mixed-media works by Erin Elizabeth and Harry Widebotham, paintings by Danny Epstein; viewing by appointment at janbrandtgallery@gmail.com.

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.

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.

Abstracted Landscapes; through Dec. 31, McLean County Arts Center, see above.; paintings by Dick Folse.

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), closed 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.

Spencer Sauter: Painting; 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 9:30 a.m.-noon Fri., through Jan. 16, Illinois Central College Performing Arts Center Gallery, East Peoria; paintings; free; 309-694-5113.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.
NORMAL  A local woman said a trip to a Normal pet store for an in-store promotional picture with Santa ended tragically in the death of her beloved dog.

Blair Bourret of Normal and her boyfriend, Kevin Hankemeier, took her 8-year-old white Maltipoo, Chloe Rose, and his dachshund, Fordo to the Petco store on Saturday at 1700 E College Ave., No. 1, Normal.

I had her dressed up with a bow tie on and she looked so cute, said Bourret. Anybody that knows me, knows how much I love her. I was so proud.

The store requires customers to pay for the pictures with Santa first, so the couple took their place in line at the cash register, they said.

While waiting, Chloe Rose was rushed by a yellow Labrador retriever, Bourret said.

A Petco manager accompanied Bourret to a veterinary hospital, but Chloe Rose died. While the smaller dog did not suffer any bite wounds, she suffered an injury during the confrontation and she went limp, Bourret said.

To some people, a dog is just a dog, Bourret said Monday. She was my best friend, my companion, my cheerleader. I dont have any children, and so, to me, it was like my child. She was there and helped me through some tough times the past few years.

McLean County Animal Control was contacted, as was the Normal Police Department. The case is under investigation, Police Chief Rick Bleichner told The Pantagraph on Monday.

We havent issued any paperwork yet, and are still trying to find some video to help clear up what might have happened, he said.

Bleichner said officials are trying to determine what kind of contact there was, if any, between the two dogs. While it is clear the Labrador was unleashed, the owner told police the leash was off because the dog was going to have its picture taken.

He told police he never saw his dog make contact with Bouret's dog.

In the police report, it indicates that the womans friend had to separate the two dogs, said Bleichner. But the owner of the Labrador said his dog approached the other dog and he saw the lady pull her dog away from him by the leash.

Chloe Roses neck may have been injured as the leash was pulled, and that is one of the working theories of what caused the death, Bleichner said, but the preliminary investigation has not proven that. The veterinarian report indicated that the dogs neck was broken, but exactly what caused it is not yet known.

Bourret said the leash was attached to a chest harness, not a collar around the neck.

"So there is no possibility of yanking on her neck," she said.

The police investigation and Bourret confirmed there were no bite marks on Chloe Rose.

There was some blood coming from her mouth, Bourret said.

To get more insight into what happened, Bourret is taking Chloe Rose to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana for a full necropsy, which is an autopsy of an animal.

But she is gone and I am just heartbroken, she said. She meant everything to me.

Bourret said she is contemplating legal action but is still gathering information.

Petco has a policy of allowing animals, including dogs, in their stores. The policy states that all visiting pets are required to be appropriately restrained on a leash/tether or carrier.

At Petco, the safety and well-being of people and pets in our stores is always our top priority, said Stephanie Wilson, from the Corporate Communications and Public Relations Department at Petco. Leashed pets are always welcome and incidents like this are extremely rare. In this situation, a pet was off-leash against our policy when Chloe was injured. Were heartbroken over her untimely passing and our thoughts are with her family during this difficult time. We are in close contact with Chloes pet parent and are cooperating with local authorities investigating this matter.

The owner of the Labrador, who has not been identified, could face leash law ordinance violations, Bleichner said.

We will look into the process of a dangerous dog violation, because if a dog approaches in a dangerous or reckless manner, then there are penalties for that, but there are a couple of things that we have to research first, he said.
BLOOMINGTON  Matthew Drat, the director of resource development and community engagement for Mid Central Community Action, felt there was no better time for a holiday open house and he had the perfect location.

For about two hours on Sunday, about 30 people  many of them west-side residents  visited the Community Action property at 828 W. Jefferson St., the site of a proposed Bloomington police substation.

When I was growing up, it was common to have an open house during the winter and just invite your neighbors over, he said. We sent out about 200 postcards to people in the neighborhood, for no other reason than to just share the holiday spirit.

In addition to refreshments such as hot chocolate and cookies, a separate room was made available for children to make arts and crafts, such as making Christmas cards or ornaments.

This is an example of the kind of home that we are purchasing and rehabbing as part of the attorney generals grant as part of the West Bloomington Housing Collaborative, he said. We are talking to people about our Next Step program which is part of a home-ownership promotion and assists and encourages people to purchase their own homes.

The open house gave residents an opportunity to view the house. Many west-side residents have criticized plans to open a new substation for police at the residence. Next month, the Bloomington City Council will consider a proposal to approve leasing the house from Community Action for $12 per year.

We wanted to have the opportunity for people to see the house and in addition, we have been trying to get out into the community more, particularly in this area, he said. I have been at Mid Central Community Action since August and I just felt that we need to get out in the neighborhood more, talk to people and build relationships. As for the planned substation, that's not our focus today. If people have questions, of course, we will answer those as best we can, but we really have no agenda. We just want to share the holidays.

Ward 1 Alderman Kevin Lower was among those who visited the open house, looking for feedback from area residents on the proposed substation.

We want this to be a positive influence on the neighborhood and have it prosper, he said. About two months ago, I was in this area, knocking on doors talking with people about this and I got some positive comments and some negative comments, but it is important to be heard.

Jim Hafley, who lives a few blocks from the house, said he had mixed feelings about the proposed substation, but wanted to see the residence to see if it would make sense for police to open a substation. If approved, police would stop by the residence, possibly do their reports or eat there.

At first, I didnt really care one way or the other, he said. But a lot of the neighbors were against it and I think some have the opinion that it would create additional problems and Im not sure I agree with all of their points, but I agree with some. 
Sweating is normal but when it comes with numbness and shaking then that could be a sign of anxiety sensitivity. A person who gets anxious for fear of getting anxious or fears the idea of fear itself could be suffering from this psychological condition called anxiety sensitivity.

The term anxiety sensitivity, which is known as the mother of all disorders related to anxiety, got everyone's attention when it was coined and defined in 1985. A person who has this condition is at a greater risk of developing anxiety problems from the simple panic attacks to phobias.

Psychologist Ellen Hendriksen defined anxiety sensitivity as a condition characterized by shaking and a racing heart. Worse, Scientific American said a person suffering from this condition could interpret the symptoms as a prelude to a heart attack or fear that they are losing their minds.

Other people may dismiss this as normal anxiety problems but Huffington Post said anxiety sensitivity could be dangerous. While those with lower sensitivity to anxiety do not consider this as harmful, those with high levels of anxiety sensitivity consider this as debilitating, preventing them from performing normal activities.

"These are symptoms that occur in stressful situations; for others, these same symptoms are interpreted as a sign of impending doom," said Dr. Nancy Frasure-Smith, who studied anxiety sensitivity among cardiac patients in Canada way back 2010. "People with high anxiety sensitivity tend to magnify the potential consequences of their anxiety symptoms, leading to an increase in anxiety and its symptoms in a spiralling increase of fear and worry."

There are various signs of anxiety sensitivity such as freaking out whenever one experiences a racing heart and most often, the tendency to fear anxious sensations. New York Magazine said the presence of anxiety sensitivity does not necessarily mean the person is suffering from an anxiety disorder but it is an indication that one is at risk of developing that disorder.


New research shows that teenagers are not taking the warnings on the harmful effects of smoking cigars in their health seriously. Scientists are suggesting to enhance the approach of teaching teenagers these days the dangers of smoking cigars.

In an article shared by WebMD, Dr. Adam Goldstein, one of the lead scientists for this research, said that teens are not exactly getting the right information about the harms of smoking cigars. Goldstein, a professor at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, added that there are still people who think that smoking fewer cigars could lower the risk of getting sick from it. Contrary to popular belief, even just a single cigar a day could already cause possible deadly diseases like lung cancer and cardiovascular problems.

For this particular study, Goldstein and his team got all their data from a phone survey of over 1,100 teenagers in America who are 13 to 17 years old. They gave them three kinds of labels with different warnings. One says cigars could result in cancers of the mouth and throat without the need to inhale it. The second one says, cigars could result in having lung and heart disease. The last one says, cigars are still bad for the health and therefore not a suitable replacement for cigarettes.

My Fox Zone stated that about 53 percent of those teens believed that cigar could result in having mouth and throat cancer without even inhaling it. Three out of four of them believed that smoking it could lead to lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases and only half agreed that cigars are not good for the health.

All these just shows that there are a lot of teens who still think a cigar is good and even better to use than cigarettes when the truth is completely the opposite of it. Parents and health teachers must indeed do something to convince teenagers that cigars are no better than cigarettes, as it would still cause them some deadly diseases.


Anyone who has tried eating in a restaurant surrounded by diners with crying and shrieking toddlers in tow would agree that it could be a harrowing experiencing. After all, one eats at a restaurant not only to get nourishment but to relax but this is impossible when there are tantrum-throwing toddlers around.

This could be the reason why Chef Grant Achatz of Alinea in Chicago, a three Michelin-starred gained support when he floated on Twitter the idea of banning children from restaurants. Most children do not only behave badly in restaurants but they also disturb customers who could not even hear each other over the children's loud voices.

Daily Mail said the modern society has always put emphasis on making facilities friendly for children so it is common to see restaurants advertising their diaper-changing facilities and high chairs for children. While other people do not really hate children, they want to have a pleasant lunch or any meal without toddlers who can ruin the ambiance. It cannot be denied that there are parents who just can't seem to control their children while other simply do not care to check their behaviors at all.

A crying child of any age is undeniably annoying even to parents and more so for strangers. The Guardian said there are times when parents want to eat out with their children as this is not only gastronomic hour but could also be an opportunity to teach kids proper behavior in public. If they are not allowed to bring children with them, there might come a time when society would raise kids who will never know the proper restaurant etiquette at all.

Telegraph said there are restaurants in Italy, known for being family-friendly, that ban children in restaurants. But there are restaurants that do welcome children, even when they start to get noisy. It is important to bring children to restaurants that provide activities for children such as pizza restaurants that even offer crayons to kids.


A manhunt operation is underway for the suspect who shot at a vehicle during a road rage incident. The incident is said to be due to the fact that a grandmother was not moving fast enough but the suspect missed her when he fired so the bullet struck a three-year-old boy and caused his death.

Little Rock police officials in Arkansas offered a $20,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the man who shot the car and killed the boy, ABC News reported. The grandmother was reportedly taking the boy and his sibling, an infant, to a shopping trip when the incident took place on Saturday evening.

Lt. Steven McClanahan noted that the grandmother stopped at an intersection and the suspect, who is said to be a black man, pulled up behind the car of the grandmother and honked his horn, News.com.au reported. The grandmother then honked back and that was when the man stepped out of his vehicle and fired his gun.

The boy was believed to have been struck at least once. The infant and the grandmother were not injured in the incident.

The boy was taken to Arkansas Children's Hospital but he later died there. Police officials said via a tweet that the homicide was a road rage incident and the grandmother and her grandchildren were all innocent. The three had no relationship with the suspect.

Meanwhile, the incident came weeks after a two-year-old girl was shot dead when a car drove past and someone fired a shot towards the vehicle where she was in. The incident was on Nov. 22 and the attacker or attackers have not been caught yet.

The death of the three-year-old boy marks the 40th murder in Little Rock, Arkansas this year. It is not being considered that the shooting of the two-year-old girl and the three-year-old boy are related.
Two teenagers are facing firearm possession charges after they reportedly shot four people during a party at a night club in Charlotte over the weekend. All of the victims have been taken to a hospital.

ABC News reported that the two teenagers opened fired at a parking lot of a North Carolina night club. A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were arrested over the shooting but police believed there is a third person, who pulled the trigger.

The first two teens arrested have been charged only with possession of a firearm by a minor. The 15-year-old was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon and shooting in city limits as he shot into the air after the shooting at the four teens took place.

An assault call was reported at around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday outside of the Spice Lounge in Charlotte. The officers arrived and saw four teenagers suffering from gunshot wounds. All four teenagers, who are said to be between 14 and 16 years of age, were taken to hospitals for treatment.

One of the victims is said to be suffering from a life-threatening injury, Time Warner Cable News shared. No other details are available about the victims. It is unclear if the victims were the intended targets or if it was a random attack.

Meanwhile, two guns were found on the scene and several people were questioned by the authorities. The manager of the nearby Popeye's, Jonathan Owens, said that there was a group of around 100 kids before the shooting broke out and the kids looked like they were ready to fight.

This is not the first time that violence erupted from Spice Lounge. But iIt remains unknown what prompted the shooting and if the teens are in any way related. Police have not yet determined if the victims and the suspects were related or if this stemmed from a possible beef between groups.

Anyone who has information to the matter is asked to call CMPD at (704) 432-TIPS or Crime Stoppers at (704) 334-1600. The investigation is ongoing.
A transgender teen from Leicestershire, who cut off all communications lines with his parents, will receive thousands of pounds in preparation after an official at Leicestershire County Council 'accidentally' revealed his transgender status and male forename to friends of his adoptive parents, breaching the court ruling. Now the official has to pay the teen 4,750 in compensation for the damages the council official has done.

PD was born female. She was adopted at the age of six. When she turned 15, she told her adoptive parents that she wanted to change her identity to that of a male. The teen's parents did not like the idea and have "struggled to come to terms with the teen's decision," as per what the court has heard, later on, the Parent Herald has learned. This led to the teen's total disengagement with his parents.

PD was sent to Tavistock Gender Identity Clinic in London, for a disorder called "gender identity disorder." NHS defined gender identity disorder as a condition where an individual experiences distress or discomfort because there is a mismatch between their gender identity and biological sex.

In September 2015, the teen relocated to an authority unit and decided to self-support himself. The following month, he brought his case to the London's Family Division of the High Court, appealing that he has the right to privacy for his medical treatment. The court found for the teen, contending that the teen's human rights would be breached and that it won't be in the teen's best interest if his adoptive parents were well-informed of his developments.

However, in January 2016, a Leicestershire County Council official has revealed PD's new transgender status and male forename to the friends of his adoptive parents, breaking the rule of the court. Telegraph reported that the impact of the wrongful disclosure on the teen was dramatic and immediate.

Justice Keehan said the teen felt unsafe at his unit and left. He added that the teenager first stayed with his girlfriend and then some residential units given by the local authority. The teen's mental health was also very harshly compromised. According to reports, the transgender teenager made few suicide attempts and many instances of self-harm.

Now, the court ordered the official at county council to pay the teenager a sum of 4,750 in damages. A spokesperson for county official said they accept the verdict of the court and they have made an unreserved and full apology to the teenager, whom they will continue to support. Meanwhile, the judge hoped the teen, and his parents could be reconciled in the future.


MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Christmas spirit is in the air and this time, less of the spirit of receiving but of giving instead. FedEx and the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation joint forces to send to America's service members and their families with special deliveries of live Christmas trees from the Trees for Troops program.

FedEx drivers have patiently traveled over 350,000 miles in total to deliver all the trees since the first year of the program. NBC 12 reported. The Trees for Troops program was first launched in 2005.

FedEx has shipped more than 176,000 real Christmas trees to service members and their families since then. This has covered every branch of the military at close to 65 bases in 17 countries, as reported by Fox News.

"We have had an amazing year with Trees for Troops!" said Ann O'Connor, Executive Director of Christmas SPIRIT Foundation to Fox. The program is something big that most of the people are looking forward to each year. The Christmas tree growers who can donate Christmas trees from their farms are always excited about it, according to O'Connor.

As this year marks the 12th anniversary of the program, more and more hearts are touched and inspired to give as well. Many are inspired by the generosity of tree farmers across North America with more than 18,000 real Christmas trees to be donated and delivered. The 65 military bases during the busy weeks leading up to Christmas are most likely to experience the impact and are to be channels of blessings to others as well.

The foundation is also open for hearts who want to reach out to the military families as well by sending their life in kind or monetary donation. Such will be used to support the Trees for Troops effort and others ways to help the Christmas Spirit Foundation.


It's been an ongoing debate as to whether some people just have a sweet tooth, or sugar is the culprit for the unusual sugary cravings. There are countless theories as to why a person longs for a sugary treat, but it is noted that sugar is one of the most common causes of obesity.

The sugar cravings were then explained by health care experts were it was pointed out that an individual's sweet tooth is possible inherited from his/her ancestors. The Daily Beast noted that Brenda Davy, a nutritionist from Virginia Tech pointed out that it is still unclear as to what causes these sugar cravings, but it is, however, being pointed that health care experts are looking for ways to decrease sugar cravings to lessen the risk of obesity.

"Foods perceived as undesirable tend to be underreported, and there's a lot of literature that links added sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages with adverse health outcomes," Davy stated during an interview.

Business Insider then pointed out that a person's strong knack for sugary treats may have come from his/her ancestors. The news website explained that back in the days, they used to consume sugary meals including sweet fruits. These animals evolved along with their sugar craving in which they eventually opted for riper fruits because of its high sugar content.

Danil Liberman, an evolutionary biologist who studied at Harvard University, the author of "The Story the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease, stated that sugar has been a strong craving among the ancient ancestors.

"For millions of years, our cravings and digestive systems were exquisitely balanced because sugar was rare, apart from honey, most of the foods our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate were no sweeter than a carrot," Liberman stated. "The invention of farming made starchy foods more abundant, but it wasn't until very recently that technology made pure sugar bountiful."

Up to this date, it is still an ongoing debate as to what could have possibly caused the intense sugar craving an individual experience. Health care experts, on the other hand, have been doing their best to alleviate these cravings as they hope to eventually put an end to obesity.
By John Cravero and Richard Martin --

About the PTAB Life Sciences Report: Each month (or more frequently) we will report on developments at the PTAB involving life sciences patents.

Apotex Inc. and Apotex Corp. v. Alcon Research, Ltd.

PTAB Petition: IPR2016-01640; filed August 18, 2016.

PTAB Trial Instituted Document filed October 5, 2016.

Patent at Issue: U.S. Patent No. 8,791,154 ("High concentration olopatadine ophthalmic composition," issued July 29, 2014) claims an ophthalmic aqueous solution containing relatively high concentrations of olopatadine solubilized within the solution where the composition is preferably capable of providing enhanced relief from symptoms of ocular allergic conjunctivitis, particularly late phase symptoms of ocular allergic conjunctivitis.

Petitioners Apotex Inc. and Apotex Corp. are challenging the '154 patent on two grounds as being obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a). View the petition here. Administrative Patent Judges Jennifer Meyer Chagnon, Christopher M. Kaiser (author), and Christopher G. Paulraj issued a decision instituting review of claims 14, 8, 12, 13, 21, and 22 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a) over Bhowmick, Yanni, and Castillo; and claims 14, 8, 12, 13, 21, and 22 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a) over Schneider, Hayakawa, Bhowmick, and Castillo. The panel also granted Petitioner's Motion under 37 C.F.R.  42.122 for Joinder to IPR2016-00544 (Argentum Pharmaceuticals v. Alcon Research, Ltd, Argentum Pharmaceuticals; filed 02/02/2016; Instituted 07/18/2016), adding Apotex Inc. and Apotex Corp. as petitioners to IPR2016-00544 and terminating IPR2016-01640 under 37 C.F.R.  42.72.

Related Matters: According to the petition, the '154 patent is the subject of two litigations in the District of Delaware captioned Alcon Research, Ltd. v. Watson Laboratories, Inc., Case No. 1-15-cv-01159-SLR, and Alcon Research, Ltd. v. Lupin Ltd., Case No. 1-16-cv-00195.



ABS Global, Inc. v. Inguran, LLC

PTAB Petition: IPR2016-000927; filed April 21, 2016.

PTAB Trial Instituted Document filed October 5, 2016.

Patent at Issue: U.S. Patent No. 8,198,092 ("Digital sampling apparatus and methods for sorting particles," issued June 12, 2012) claims a system and method for sorting a mixture of stained particles including a digital signal processor for analyzing and classifying the digital information generated from the particles and providing a sorting signal to a sorting system as a function of the analyzed and classified digital information.

Petitioner ABS Global, Inc. is challenging the '092 patent on three grounds as being obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a). View the petition here. Administrative Patent Judges Grace Karaffa Obermann, Kristina M. Kalan (author), and Christopher M. Kaiser issued a decision instituting review of claims 13, 59, 1113, 16, 1819, 21, 28, 32, 4041, and 4346 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103 over Godavarti and Leary; claims 4, 2627, 42, and 49 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103 over Godavarti, Leary, and Johnson; and claim 10 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103 over Godavarti, Leary, and Piper.

Related Matters: According to the petition, the '092 patent is involved in litigation in the Western District of Wisconsin captioned ABS Global, Inc. v. Inguran, LLC, Case No. 3:14-cv-00503-wmc.



Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC. v. Eli Lilly & Company

PTAB Petition: IPR2016-01341; filed July 1, 2016.

PTAB Trial Instituted Document filed October 6, 2016.

Patent at Issue: U.S. Patent No. 7,772,209 ("Antifolate combination therapies," issued August 10, 2010) claims a method of administering an antifolate to a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of said antifolate in combination with a methylmalonic acid lowering agent.

Petitioners Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC are challenging the '209 patent on two grounds as being obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a). View the petition here. Administrative Patent Judges Michael P. Tierney (author), Jacqueline Wright Bonilla, and Tina E. Hulse issued a decision instituting review of claims 122 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a) over Niyikiza in view of U.S. Patent No. 5,217,974, and in further view of European Patent Application No. 0,595,005 A1. The panel also granted Petitioner's Motion under 37 C.F.R.  42.122 for Joinder to IPR2016-00237 (Neptune Generics, LLC. v. Eli Lilly & Compnay, Petitioners GKC General Partner II, LLC; GKC Partners II, LLC; Gerchen Keller Capital, LLC; and Neptune Generics, LLC; filed 11/24/2015; Instituted 06/03/2016), adding Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC as petitioners to IPR2016-00237, and terminating IPR2016-01341 under 37 C.F.R.  42.72.

Related Matters: According to the petition, the '209 patent is the subject of litigation in the Southern District of Indiana, including Eli Lilly & Co. v. Teva Parenteral Medicines, Inc., Case No. 1:10-cv-1376.

The '209 patent also has been challenged in the following instituted inter partes reviews: IPR2016-00237 and IPR2016-00240 by Neptune and IPR2016-00318 by Sandoz Inc. Several parties, including Petitioner, seek to join the instituted reviews. Specifically, in addition to the current case, IPR2016-01190 (Apotex) and IPR2016-01335 (Wockhardt) seek to join IPR2016-00237. Also, IPR2016-01191 (Apotex), IPR2016-01337 (Wockhardt), and IPR2016-01343 (Teva) seek to join IPR2016-00240. Additionally, IPR2016-01429 (Apotex et. al.), IPR2016-01393 (Wockhardt), and IPR2016-01340 (Teva) seek to join IPR2016-00318.



Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC. v. Eli Lilly & Company

PTAB Petition: IPR2016-01343; filed July 1, 2016.

PTAB Trial Instituted Document filed October 6, 2016.

Patent at Issue: U.S. Patent No. 7,772,209 ("Antifolate combination therapies," issued August 10, 2010) claims a method of administering an antifolate to a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of said antifolate in combination with a methylmalonic acid lowering agent.

Petitioners Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC are challenging the '209 patent on two grounds as being obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a). View the petition here. Administrative Patent Judges Michael P. Tierney (author), Jacqueline Wright Bonilla, and Tina E. Hulse issued a decision instituting review of claims 122 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a) over Niyikiza in view of U.S. Patent No. 5,217,974, and in further view of European Patent Application No. 0,595,005 A1. The panel also granted Petitioner's Motion under 37 C.F.R.  42.122 for Joinder to IPR2016-00240 (Neptune Generics, LLC. v. Eli Lilly & Compnay, Petitioners GKC General Partner II, LLC; GKC Partners II, LLC; Gerchen Keller Capital, LLC; and Neptune Generics, LLC; filed 11/24/2015; Instituted 06/03/2016), adding Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC as petitioners to IPR2016-00240, and terminating IPR2016-01343 under 37 C.F.R.  42.72.

Related Matters: According to the petition, the '209 patent is the subject of litigation in the Southern District of Indiana, including Eli Lilly & Co. v. Teva Parenteral Medicines, Inc., Case No. 1:10-cv-1376.

The '209 patent also has been challenged in the following instituted inter partes reviews: IPR2016-00237 and IPR2016-00240 by Neptune and IPR2016-00318 by Sandoz Inc. Several parties, including Petitioner, seek to join the instituted reviews. Specifically, in addition to the current case, IPR2016-001191 (Apotex) and IPR2016-01337 (Wockhardt) seek to join IPR2016-00240. Also, IPR2016-01190 (Apotex), IPR2016-01335 (Wockhardt), and IPR2016-01341 (Teva) seek to join IPR2016-00237. Additionally, IPR2016-01429 (Apotex et. al.), IPR2016-01393 (Wockhardt), and IPR2016-01340 (Teva) seek to join IPR2016-00318.



Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC. v. Eli Lilly & Company

PTAB Petition: IPR2016-01340; filed July 1, 2016.

PTAB Trial Instituted Document filed October 6, 2016.

Patent at Issue: U.S. Patent No. 7,772,209 ("Antifolate combination therapies," issued August 10, 2010) claims a method of administering an antifolate to a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of said antifolate in combination with a methylmalonic acid lowering agent.

Petitioners Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC are challenging the '209 patent on two grounds as being obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a). View the petition here. Administrative Patent Judges Michael P. Tierney (author), Jacqueline Wright Bonilla, and Tina E. Hulse issued a decision instituting review of claims 122 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a) over Niyikiza in view of U.S. Patent No. 5,217,974, and in further view of European Patent Application No. 0,595,005 A1. The panel also granted Petitioner's Motion under 37 C.F.R.  42.122 for Joinder to IPR2016-00318 (Sandoz Inc. v. Eli Lilly & Compnay, Sandoz; filed 12/14/2015; Instituted 06/16/2016), adding Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC as petitioners to IPR2016-00318 and terminating IPR2016-01340 under 37 C.F.R.  42.72.

Related Matters: According to the petition, the '209 patent is the subject of litigation in the Southern District of Indiana, including Eli Lilly & Co. v. Teva Parenteral Medicines, Inc., Case No. 1:10-cv-1376.

The '209 patent also has been challenged in the following instituted inter partes reviews: IPR2016-00237 and IPR2016-00240 by Neptune Generics, LLC and IPR2016-00318 by Sandoz. Several parties, including Petitioner, seek to join the instituted reviews. Specifically, in addition to the current case, IPR2016-01393 (Wockhardt) and IPR2016-01429 (Apotex et al.) seek to join IPR2016-00318. Also, IPR2016-01190 (Apotex), IPR2016-01335 (Wockhardt), and IPR2016-01341 (Teva) seek to join IPR2016-00237. Additionally, IPR2016-01191 (Apotex), IPR2016-01337 (Wockhardt), and IPR2016-01343 (Teva) seek to join IPR2016-00240.



Minerva Surgical, Inc. v. Hologic, Inc.

PTAB Petition: IPR2016-00868; filed April 11, 2016.

PTAB Trial Instituted Document filed October 6, 2016.

Patent at Issue: U.S. Patent No. 6,872,183 ("System and method for detecting perforations in a body cavity," issued March 29, 2005) claims a method and system for detecting perforations in a body cavity, where a fluid (liquid or gas) is delivered into a body cavity to slightly pressurize the cavity. A pressure sensing system monitors the pressure within the cavity for a predetermined test period. If cavity pressure is not substantially sustained during the test period, the physician is alerted to further assess the cavity for perforations before initiating treatment within the cavity.

Petitioner Minerva Surgical, Inc. is challenging the '183 patent on seven grounds as being obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a). View the petition here. Administrative Patent Judges Meredith C. Petravick (author), Mitchell G. Weatherly, and Timothy J. Goodson issued a decision instituting review of claims 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 1113, and 15 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103 over Masterson and Bolduc; claim 14 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103 over Masterson, Bolduc, and Isaacson; claim 5 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103 over Masterson, Bolduc, and Himmelstein; claims 8 and 10 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103 over Masterson, Bolduc, and Benaron; claims 14, 6, 7, 9, and 1115 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103 over Isaacson and Goldrath; claim 5 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103 over Isaacson, Goldrath, and Himmelstein; and claims 8 and 10 as obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103 over Isaacson, Goldrath, and Benaron.

Related Matters: According to the petition, the '183 patent is the subject of litigation in the District of Delaware captioned Hologic, Inc. v. Minerva Surgical, Inc., Case No. 1:15-cv-01031-SLR.



Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH

PTAB Petition: IPR2017-00041; filed October 7, 2016

Patent at Issue: U.S. Patent No. 7,157,456 ("Substituted oxazolidinones and their use in the field of blood coagulation," issued January 27, 2007) claims oxazolidinone derivatives, the processes for their preparation and the use of such oxazolidinone derivatives as active compounds in medicaments.

Petitioner Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is challenging the '456 patent on two grounds as being obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a). View the petition here.

Related Matters: According to the petition, the '456 patent is involved in litigation in the District of Delaware, captioned Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH et al v. Aurobindo Pharma Limited et al, 1:15-cv-00902-SLR; Bayer GmbH v. Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc., 1:16-cv-00628, District of Delaware; and Bayer GmbH v. InvaGen Pharmaceutical Inc., 1:16-cv-00064, in the District of Delaware.



Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH

PTAB Petition: IPR2017-00042; filed October 7, 2016

Patent at Issue: U.S. Patent No. 7,585,860 ("Substituted oxazolidinones and their use in the field of blood coagulation," issued September 8, 2009) claims oxazolidinone derivatives, the processes for their preparation and the use of such oxazolidinone derivatives as active compounds in medicaments.

Petitioner Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is challenging the '860 patent on one ground as being obvious under 35 U.S.C.  103(a). View the petition here.

Related Matters: According to the petition, the '860 patent is involved in litigation in the District of Delaware, captioned Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH et al v. Aurobindo Pharma Limited et al, 1:15-cv-00902-SLR; Bayer GmbH v. Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc., 1:16-cv-00628, District of Delaware; and Bayer GmbH v. InvaGen Pharmaceutical Inc., 1:16-cv-00064, District of Delaware.



Sienna Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Rice University

PTAB Petition: IPR2017-00045; filed October 7, 2016

Patent at Issue: U.S. Patent No. 6,530,944 ("Optically-active nanoparticles for use in therapeutic and diagnostic methods," issued March 11, 2003) claims a method for inducing localized hyperthermia in a cell or tissue comprising the steps of delivering nanoparticles to said cell or tissue and exposing said nanoparticles to infrared radiation under conditions wherein said nanoparticles emit heat upon exposure to said infrared radiation.

Petitioner Sienna Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. is challenging the '944 patent on seven grounds as being anticipated under 35 U.S.C.  102(b) (grounds 1, 2, 3, and 4) or obviousness under 35 U.S.C.  103(a) (grounds 5, 6, and 7). View the petition here.

Related Matters: According to the petition, the '730 patent is not involved in any litigation or administrative proceeding.
As promised, Samsung Electronics announced that a software update that shuts off battery charging of Galaxy Note7s to consumers in the U.S. will be delivered today, Dec 19, 2016. On December 12, Patently Apple posted a report titled "Verizon Refuses to Comply with Samsung's Directive to Issue a Software Update to Shut down Customer's Note7 Smartphones." The report noted that "Verizon, the number one mobile carrier in the U.S., said it would not comply with the Samsung plan, because the move could cause problems in the case of an emergency." Today we're learning that Verizon announced last Thursday that it would carry out a software update on January 5 so that its Galaxy Note 7 users cannot charge their smartphones.

A secondary report on the matter published today notes that "Samsung Electronics is shutting off battery charging of Galaxy Note 7s in major countries such as the U.S. one after the other."

Although Samsung doesn't have any immediate plans of limiting battery charging in South Korea, it is predicted that it will be inevitable in a long term. By shutting off battery charging, which is the strongest action for recovering Galaxy Note 7s, it is predicted that recovery rate will increase at a fast rate. When battery charging is shut off, it is impossible to use any functions of Galaxy Note 7s including making calls.

Further, the report noted that "T-Mobile is going to start this update on the 27th." However, AT&T and Sprint will be joining Verizon in postponing the shut off until the first week of January.

Although recovery rate of Galaxy Note 7s is at 90% in the U.S., Samsung Electronics and mobile network providers from the U.S. are carrying out this software update so that they can complete the process of recall as soon as possible and guarantee safety of consumers.

Beside the U.S., Samsung Electronics also shut off battery charging in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. In Europe, it has adjusted limitation of battery charging from 60% to 30%.

South Korean mobile network providers are refusing to support the software update fearing that they'll lose customers to competing carriers. Nice to see where their priorities are: Profit over safety. Of course Samsung could always put their foot down and force the software on the carriers, but refuses to do so. Is it some kind of political statement? You be the judge.

About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.
IAEA satisfied by Iran commitment to nuclear deal: Yukiya Amano

12/11/16

Source: Press TV

During a visit to Tehran, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has expressed satisfaction with Iran's commitment to its obligations under the 2015 nuclear accord with world powers. "Iran has been committed to its obligations and this is an important matter," the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Director General Yukiya Amano said on Sunday at a joint press conference with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).



Yukiya Amano (R) with Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran

(December 18, 2016 photo by Islamic Republic News Agency)



The nuclear accord, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries -- the US, Britain, Russia, France and China plus Germany -- last year in Vienna.



The IAEA is tasked with monitoring the technical implementation of the nuclear deal.



Since January, when the JCPOA took effect, the agency has confirmed Iran's compliance in several reports.



"We are satisfied with the trend of the JCPOA's implementation, and hope for this trend to continue," added Amano, who is in Tehran on a one-day visit at the invitation of Salehi.

Concerning his meeting with Salehi, he said the two had discussed a range of issues, including heavywater, enriched uranium, Iran's uranium stockpiles as well as research and development in the field of nuclear energy.

Among other topics in the talks was a recent order by President Hassan Rouhani to the AEOI to plan work on nuclear propulsion devices to be used in sea transport, Amano added.



The Iranian chief executive issued the decree in response to the recent violation of the multilateral nuclear deal by the United States. The US Congress recently voted to extend Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), Washington's sanctions law against Iran, for another 10 years. This is while Iran had all its nuclear-related sanctions removed on the back of the JCPOA.



Salehi, in turn, said he had addressed cooperation with the IAEA on the JCPOA's implementation.



He urged the IAEA to "act as an impartial international authority, whose reports do not reflect leverage or influence peddling by any party," the Iranian official asserted, thanking the agency for "acting in such a manner so far" in its reports on the JCPOA's implementation.

He said the two had addressed the presidential decree and how to implement it as well as Tehran's obligations under the IAEA's Nuclear Safeguards Agreement during the JCPOA's implementation process.



Salehi also touched on Washington's extension of the Iran Sanctions Act, saying Tehran "is ready to take whatever proportionate measure upon the decision of the Iranian establishment's authorities."



Later in the day, Amano sat down for talks with the Iranian president, who likewise called on the agency to produce impartial and technical reports on Iran.



"We expect that this international institution perform its responsibility in the area of technical cooperation, the transfer of peaceful nuclear technology, and nuclear trade, too," President Rouhani said.



He said the JCPOA's sustainability hinged on compliance by all parties, and added, "The Islamic Republic will honor its commitments as long as other parties honor theirs."





Yukiya Amano (L) with President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran

(December 18, 2016 photo by Mehr News Agency)



Rouhani said some recent measures by the US, including the extension of the ISA, contravened the nuclear agreement. "The course the United States has taken vis-a-vis Iran will lead to the reduction of international confidence in the US government," he said.



Amano, for his part, reiterated that Iran had lived up to its contractual obligations since the accord's implementation. "The JCPOA was a big achievement, whose implementation the IAEA will support with all its might."
Cyber Monday gaming laptop deals 2022: everything we expect

Cyber Monday 2022 We're getting you up to speed on all this year's Cyber Monday gaming laptop deals, with the dates, prices and models you need to know about.
A trustworthy virtual private network (VPN) is a good way to keep your internet usage secure and private whether at home or on public Wi-Fi. But just how private is your activity over a VPN? In other words, how do you know if the VPN is doing its job or if youre unwittingly leaking information to prying eyes?

To find out, you first need to know what your computer looks like to the internet without a VPN running. Start by searching for what is my IP on Google. At the top of the search results, Google will report back your current public Internet Protocol (IP) address. Thats a good place to start, but there is more to your internet connection and its potential for leaks.

Diving deeper

An example analysis from IPLeak.net.

Your public IP address is one way private information can leak over a VPN, but you can also leak information via Domain Name System (DNS) queries, WebRTC, torrents, and geolocation. To see what you look like in your default state, visit IPLeak.net. This website checks all the previously mentioned methods for leaking data. Take note of all the data you see on this page so you can compare it to your VPNs.

Now close this site, connect to your VPN, and navigate back to IPLeak once again to see what you look like over your VPN of choice.

Not all of these tests happen automatically. The torrent test, for example, requires a small torrent file (available via magnet link) to run before it can detect any potential leakage.

The geolocation test is helpful, but keeping your location secure is pretty straightforward. Just dont allow any website to use your location while on a VPN. One way to do that is to specify a browser, Firefox for example, as your VPN-only browser. Then disallow location requests on that browser. Alternatively, you could use a browser extension that provides a fake location to websites that request it.

The most likely culprit for leaked information, however, is DNS. To navigate the web your machine requires contact with DNS servers to help translate website addresses from names to numeric IP addresses. Typically your PC automatically uses the DNS servers of your internet service provider. The problem is that if youre using a VPN and leaking DNS through a local service provider, you can reveal enough information to point anyone spying on you in the right direction. Thats why VPN services often funnel their customers queries through DNS servers that arent connected to your ISP.

Diving even deeper

IDG The landing page for DNSLeakTest.com.

IPLeak is great, but theres nothing like a little redundancy to ensure youre really private over a VPN. As a second check against DNS leaks go to DNSLeakTest.com, and from the landing page choose the Extended test. This typically takes some time to complete, but its worth it as I have seen leaky results on this site that IPLeak didnt catch.

If you are still seeing DNS servers from your VPN provider, and not your ISP, then you can be reasonably sure you arent leaking data.

Some top VPN choices

Many VPN services these days do a good job of preventing the various data leaks that could reveal your identity, and our top-rated VPN services should all work well. Still, if youd like some specific advice, here are four VPNs that do a good job of protecting against data leaks on both Windows and Android. In most cases, you shouldnt have to make any settings adjustments to the VPN, but if there are any notable settings to be aware of we will note them here.
For Californians opposed to illegal immigration, the November elections brought both hope and frustration.

In Washington, D.C., they now have a president who shares their views on border security and the need to deport undocumented immigrants. But in their home state, legislative leaders are vowing to fight Donald Trump and protect those in this country illegally.

Its insulting how our officials endanger our citizens, said Sabine Durden of Moreno Valley, a native of Germany whose son, a Riverside County sheriffs dispatcher, was killed in a 2012 traffic accident by an undocumented, unlicensed immigrant with a criminal record.

Were a country of laws and they need to be enforced, she said.

Next year is shaping up as a showdown, pitting the Trump administration and its GOP congressional allies against California, where Democrats are in power.

Trump promised to build a wall on the Mexican border, deport millions of undocumented immigrants and ban Muslims from entering the United States; he later said the ban would apply to immigrants from countries linked to terrorism. He won the electoral vote but lost California to Hillary Clinton.

When the California Legislature convened in Sacramento earlier this month, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, signaled their resolve to fight Trumps agenda, especially on immigration. Bills in the Assembly and Senate would use taxpayer dollars to help undocumented immigrants facing deportation.

Immigrants are a part of Californias history, our culture, and our society, Rendon said in a news release. They pay taxes, sometimes more than billionaires, and they help drive the engine that makes California the sixth-largest economy in the world.

With this package of legislation, we are telling the (Trump) administration and Congress: if you want to get to them, you have to go through us.

Gov. Jerry Browns pick for California attorney general also reflects the states intent to fight Trump. He chose Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, to serve the unexpired term of Kamala Harris, who was elected to U.S. Senate. Becerras mother is an immigrant from Mexico.

Assuming the legislature confirms him, Becerra could sue the federal government to block Trumps policies on immigration and other matters, just as Republican attorneys general in other states sued the Obama administration to challenge that president.

In return, Trump and Republicans in Congress could seek to punish California for shielding those in the country illegally. That could include denying funding to sanctuary cities such as San Francisco that have policies to protect undocumented immigrants.

The state has more registered Democratic voters, who are more likely to sympathize with undocumented immigrants, than Republicans. And polls show the majority of Californians are in favor of protecting undocumented immigrants.

Immigrant advocates are organizing as well. Javier Hernandez, director for the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, said its exciting to see California taking a strong stance against Trump, but said its crucial that regional organizers continue to stand up for immigrant rights.

What were really focusing on is what we can do locally to ensure that if there is this big deportation push from the new administration, that we have protections for the immigrant community, Hernandez said.

AN ALLY NOW

Polls aside, the state is home to many residents concerned that undocumented immigrants threaten public safety and take jobs from American citizens. Two years ago, sign-waving protesters blocked a busload of Central American migrants from being processed at a border patrol station in Murrieta.

For anti-illegal immigration activists, whats coming out of Sacramento brings anger. I wish these same state lawmakers would fight this hard for suffering American citizens, our homeless, our unemployed, disabled Americans, said Robin Hvidston of We the People Rising, an anti-illegal immigration group based in Claremont.

It is sad to see this energy focused so exclusively on people that are breaking our immigration laws and are in our state without proper documents.

Hvidston described the sanctuary movement as hysteria, because Trump said hed focus his deportation efforts on those who have committed crimes.

She said We the People Rising and similar groups have been conducting email campaigns forwarded to Trump, telling him that they support enforcement of laws in this state.

As Californians, (were) reminding him theres almost four and a half million of us here in California that voted for him and that we are asking that he does take action in this state when it comes to immigration laws, Hvidston said.

We want to be a voice in California for Trump, and let him know that we do support new policy regardless of how our state is behaving.

She said members of her group will attend city council meetings across Southern California to denounce any plans to declare their cities as sanctuary spaces for undocumented immigrants. Activists also plan to visit state lawmakers offices to share their opposition to a bill that would create deportation safe zones for undocumented immigrants in California.

We feel like we have an ally now in the White House and at the federal level, Hvidston said.

A LONG HAUL

Tustin resident Betty Robinson, the Orange County project coordinator for We the People Rising, said that she has largely given up on state lawmakers.

California is going to be a long haul, she said.

With Trumps ascension to the White House, she and other local activists are focused on holding him to task for his promised immigration crackdown, in particular his pledge to build the border wall. Her hope is that an aggressive federal approach will weaken any opposition Trump faces in California.

I know a lot of people dont like that, but a wall is permanent, she said. Weve let this go on for so long. I think its the only way.

If Trump doesnt follow through with those plans, as some have suggested, we will be back, Robinson added. We will Facebook, we will tweet, we will email.

Meanwhile, some conservative activists are losing hope about gaining any ground in the California Legislature.

Greg Brittain, 58, a Redlands attorney and member of the Redlands Tea Party Patriots, said that while he is concerned about the states leftward shift on the issue, the growing weakness of the Republican Party in Southern California leaves conservative groups with few options to push back against immigrant protections at the state and local level.

It would be the equivalent of tilting at windmills, Brittain said.

When it comes to how to revive the conservative movement in California, I just dont know, he added. I think we need to work on judiciously picking local targets and local issues that we can support.

Durdens activism earned her an audience with Trump. She spoke at this summers Republican National Convention and attended a presidential debate as Trumps guest.

Now, shes planning a move to Arkansas. She still plans to visit California, but there are too many painful reminders here of the loss of her son, Dominic.

(Ill) just continue to speak up about illegal immigration and how it destroyed my family and share how any given moment this could happen to (anyone), Durden said.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9547 or jhorseman@scng.com
Three people were injured during a fire at a home in Perris early Monday, Dec. 19, that involved multiple oxygen tank explosions, fire officials said.

Firefighters were summoned to the 500 block of Cherry Vista Drive about 2:45 a.m. and arrived to find flames accompanied by explosions, according to a Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department news release.

UPDATE: Oxygen tanks explode in Perris house fire

Two of the three victims at the home had major injuries and one had minor injuries. All three suffered smoke inhalation, according to a Cal Fire spokeswoman.

The fires cause is still being investigated. Damages at the home amounted to $150,000.

Approximately 25 firefighters had the flames contained about an hour after the initial report. Southern California Edison and American Red Cross were requested to assist firefighters at the scene.
At least one Inland resident will be in Washington, D.C. for President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20.

Sabine Durden of Moreno Valley tweeted that she has been invited to attend the inauguration ceremony. The tweet included a picture of Durden with the president-elect.

Durden, who is in the process of moving to Arkansas, became an anti-illegal immigration activist following the 2012 death of her son, Dominic. A volunteer of the year and sheriffs dispatcher, Dominic Durden was killed on his way to work in a traffic collision with an unlicensed, undocumented immigrant with a criminal record.

Her activism led to a meeting with Trump, and she spoke about her son at the Republican National Convention this summer. Sabine Durden also attended a presidential debate as Trumps guest.
Russias ambassador to Turkey was assassinated at an Ankara art exhibit Monday evening by a lone Turkish gunman shouting God is great! and dont forget Aleppo, dont forget Syria! in what Russia called a terrorist attack.

The gunman, described by Ankaras mayor as a policeman, also wounded at least three others in the assault on the envoy, Andrei G. Karlov, which was captured on Turkish video. Turkish officials said the assailant was killed by other officers in a shootout.

The assassination, an embarrassing security failure in the Turkish capital, instantly vaulted relations between Turkey and Russia to a new level of crisis over the Syrian conflict on Turkeys southern doorstep, now in its sixth year.

The longer-term implications for the Russia-Turkey relationship, which had been warming recently after plunging a year ago, were not immediately clear. But some analysts played down the notion that the assassination would lead to a new rupture, saying it could conversely bring the countries closer together in a shared fight against terrorism.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia said on Russian television that Karlov had been despicably killed in a provocation meant to disrupt ties with Turkey.

In an emergency meeting with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other top officials, Putin said, There can be only one answer to this: stepping up the fight against terrorism, and the bandits will feel this.

The assassination came after days of protests by Turks angry over Russias support for Syrias government in the conflict and the Russian role in the killings and destruction in Aleppo, the northern Syrian city.

The Russian envoy was shot from behind and immediately fell to the floor while speaking at an exhibition of photographs, according to multiple accounts from the scene, the Contemporary Arts Center in the Cankaya area of Ankara.

The gunman, wearing a dark suit and tie, was seen in video footage of the assault waving a pistol and shouting in Arabic: God is great! Those who pledged allegiance to Muhammad for jihad. God is great!

Then he switched to Turkish and shouted: Dont forget Aleppo, dont forget Syria! Step back! Step back! Only death can take me from here.

Turkish officials said the gunman was killed after a shootout with Turkish Special Forces. His identity was not immediately known.

Russias Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, told the Rossiya 24 news channel that Karlov had died of his wounds in what she described as a terrorist attack. Turkeys Interior Ministry said the ambassador had died at Guven Hospital in Ankara.

Russian news agencies said the ambassadors wife fainted and was hospitalized after learning of her husbands death. They also said Russian tourists in Turkey had been advised against leaving their hotel rooms or visiting public places as a precaution.

Russias Tass news agency said Karlov had been shot from behind while finishing remarks at the opening of an art exhibition titled Russia Through Turks Eyes.

Karlov, who started his career as a diplomat in 1976, worked extensively in North Korea over two decades, before moving to the region in 2007, according to a biography on the Russian Embassys website. He became ambassador in July 2013.

The attack was a rare instance of an assassination of a Russian envoy. Historians said it might have been the first since Pyotr Voykov, a Soviet ambassador to Poland, was shot to death in Warsaw in 1927.

For many Russians, the assassination is likely to recall the 19th-century killing in Tehran of Aleksandr Griboyedov, a poet and diplomat who died after a mob stormed the Russian Embassy. That episode is remembered as the most severe insult to Russias diplomatic corps in the countrys history.

More recently, the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah, now allied with Russia in Syria, kidnapped four Soviet diplomats in 1985, killing one and releasing three a month later.

The United States, which has tangled bitterly with Russia over the Syrian conflict, quickly condemned the assassination in Ankara. In a statement, Secretary of State John Kerry called it a despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world.

Other prominent officials who often criticize Russias actions in Syria and elsewhere also offered their condolences. No justification for such a heinous act, Jens Stoltenberg, secretary-general of NATO, wrote on Twitter. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations said in a statement that he was appalled by this senseless act of terror.

The assassination also illustrated the long reach of the Syrian war. It has destabilized Europe with hundreds of thousands of refugees, spawned terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, and led to the rise of the Islamic State, which controls territory across Iraq and Syria.

When the war began, Turkey was rising and confident, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then its prime minister, began supporting rebels seeking the ouster of the Syrian president, Bashar Assad. Entirely preoccupied with bringing Assad down, Turkey opened its borders to weapons and fighters flowing to the rebels, turning a blind eye, for a time, when the opposition turned increasingly Islamist.

As the war ground on, the consequences for Turkey were profound. It was overwhelmed with refugees  more than three million now reside in the country  and the rise of the Islamic State led to terrorist attacks within Turkeys borders.

In fall 2015, with Assad confronting multiple challenges at home, Russia entered the conflict in support of the Syrian government, reinforcing Assad at a weak moment and dealing a blow to Turkeys ambitions in Syria. Relations between Turkey and Russia reached a low point in November 2015 after Turkey shot down a Russian jet near the Syrian border.

But this year, in an effort to restore relations, Erdogan, now the president, met with Putin in St. Petersburg, and ever since the two countries have largely put aside their differences on Syria and focused on improving economic ties. In August, when Turkeys military went into Syria to push the Islamic State out of the border town of Jarabulus, the move was widely seen as having been made with the tacit approval of Russia.

For Turkey, the Russian diplomats assassination resonated in the Turkish collective memory: Turkey lost many diplomats in the 20th century to Armenian militants in a campaign of assassination in revenge for the Armenian genocide during World War I.

Turkey is very aware of the size of this failure, and I think the government will make every effort to investigate this fully, Sinan Ulgen, a former Turkish diplomat who is the chairman of the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies, an Istanbul research organization, said. I dont expect any crisis between Turkey and Russia.

Since the Turkish military incursion into Syria in August, Erdogans criticism of Russia over Syria had been muted. But Erdogan faced a dilemma: Even as he was warming to Russia, he faced a Turkish public, not to mention the Syrian refugees within Turkey, angry over Russias role in the bombing of Aleppo.

On Monday evening in Istanbul, just after the assassination, a group of protesters gathered outside the Russian consulate on Istiklal Avenue, the citys largest pedestrian street. The gathering was more street theater than protest, with two men lying on the street, shrouded in bloody sheets and the Syrian flag, and surrounded by candles, to represent the killings in Aleppo.

Mohammed al-Shibli, a Syrian activist who participated, said, I felt extreme happiness when I heard the news of the assassination.

He continued: This is the first step in getting justice for the Syrian people. The ambassador is not innocent. He represents the foreign policy of his murderous state and thus he is a murderer, as well. Now we are waiting for revenge against everyone who shed blood in Syria.
The Riverside and San Bernardino county district attorneys offices say they plan to fight the parole of some prisoners whose crimes are considered non-violent by the state Penal Code but are judged to be violent by the DAs themselves.

The 23 crimes California classifies as violent dont include offenses such as raping an unconscious person, human trafficking involving sex acts with minors, taking a hostage and domestic violence involving trauma.

Under Prop. 57, approved by voters in November, prisoners convicted of non-violent felonies are eligible for parole after completing the prison term for their primary offense, but before they serve any additional time connected to other crimes or enhancements, such as using a gun or committing a crime to benefit a gang. A parole board would have to approve their release.

This adds a whole new layer, San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos said.

RELATED: Prop. 57: Rewarding good prison behavior or increasing public danger?

Ramos said he already struggles to find enough deputy DAs to attend parole hearings for convicts sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, so he doesnt know if his office will be able to raise its objections in person at the prison hearings.

Were overwhelmed, he said.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has not yet said whether DA representatives will be able to attend the hearings, nor has it said when the parole hearings will begin.

Obviously we would like to have input, especially on behalf of victims, said Riverside County Senior Deputy District Attorney Ivy Fitzpatrick. Instead, emails or letters might be sent, she said.

Advocates of Prop. 57 say the measure, which allows prisoners to shave time off their sentences if they participate in life-skills programs while behind bars, will leave them better-equipped to succeed in society.

Ramos vowed to continue to charge defendants with enhancements, even if under the new law some prisoners may not have to do time for them. The additional penalties can add a year to a felony conviction if the defendant served time in prison for a prior felony, three years for narcotics offenses for each previous narcotics convictions and 10, 20, or 25-to-life for using a firearm during a violent felony.

Filing the enhancements, Ramos said, will not be a wasted exercise.

I think that is what the people intended, to hold these people responsible, especially gang members that are using weapons, Ramos said. Whoever (at the parole board) makes the decision to release them, I want the world to know that the district attorney filed the case appropriately under the Penal Code and the wish of the people of California to hold these people responsible for this serious conduct.

John Hall, a spokesman for Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, said it was too soon to say whether Hestrin would continue to file enhancements.

Were not going to speculate what we may or may not do on particular cases, Hall said. It will depend on the evidence or facts of each case what we file.

Contact the writer: brokos@scng.com or 951-368-9569
The FBI quietly acquired sweeping surveillance powers, beginning Dec. 1, it had sought for years, and the change came without a single congressional hearing or vote.

Under a change to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the FBI will now be able to obtain a single warrant from a magistrate that allows it to hack thousands  or perhaps millions  of computers across the country, or even outside it, in certain circumstances. It would apply when technology like Tor or VPNs (virtual private networks) are used to hide the location of users, or when a computer is swept up in a botnet, a network of private computers infected by malware and controlled without the users knowledge, such as by an email spammer.

In these circumstances, law enforcement could remotely access, search, seize or copy data on computers, no matter where the computers were located and without providing notice to the users being searched, the Electronic Frontier Foundation cautioned.

Previously, magistrates could only issue warrants for searches within their districts. Thus, the rule change raises fears about forum shopping, under which the FBI could seek warrants from magistrates known to hand out warrants with little scrutiny, even if no devices to be searched reside in their districts.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who led a bipartisan group of senators attempting to block the rule change the day before it went into effect, but was rebuffed by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called it one of the biggest mistakes in surveillance policy in years and years.

Wyden contended that government hacking attempts could inadvertently damage personal computers and cellphones, hospital systems or even the power grid. [I]nnocent Americans could be victimized twice  once by their hackers and a second time by their government, he said on the floor of the Senate. This rule change will give the government unprecedented authority to hack into Americans personal phones, computers and other devices.

Wyden was joined on the floor by Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana. This proposed solution essentially gives the government a blank check to infringe upon our civil liberties, Daines asserted. Our civil liberties and our Fourth Amendment can be chipped away little by little until we barely recognize them anymore. We simply cant give unlimited power for unlimited hacking which puts Americans civil liberties at risk.

The rule change also illustrates an astonishing lack of oversight. It was made by the Rules Advisory Committee, which typically addresses modest changes to mundane procedural rules, and approved by the U.S. Supreme Court in a private vote. And it offers no privacy protections or transparency over how the FBI is implementing its hacking activities. In effect, the policy is trust us, Wyden maintained.

There is a lot more debate in this body over the tax treatment of race horses than massive expansion of surveillance authority, Wyden said. [W]e should at least have a hearing on a topic with enormous potential consequences for millions of Americans.

When lawmakers from all sides of the political spectrum in both the House and the Senate are raising alarms about a new questionable surveillance policy that could run afoul of the Fourth Amendment and infringe upon the privacy of millions of Americans, the very least congressional leaders can do is hold public hearings and try to incorporate some basic privacy protections. Their unwillingness to do so should enrage a liberty-loving populace, and spur demands for their representatives to correct this wrong. Sadly, too many people seem to be either blissfully ignorant of the scope of the governments spying activities or simply resigned to the loss of their civil liberties in the digital age.
Susan Romero remembers how she welled with pride when her family bought their first washer and dryer in 1968. At Sears, of course.

My whole kitchen, my whole house was furnished by Sears, said Romero, 74, who has shopped at the retail mainstay for 50 years. I go to other stores but I always come back here. Its always full of what I need.

Once an essential part of life for American consumers like Romero, the 123-year-old retail icon for a graying generation is sinking.

Its so sad, Romero said, looking across the deserted aisles at a Burbank store.

The years end inspires holiday-shopping nostalgia for its loyal customers, but it brings mostly gloom for once-mighty Sears  including an adjusted loss of $333 million for the third quarter landed as Black Friday sales were being tallied.

RELATED: From Sears to Amazon: Shop-at-home pioneer hands the torch to another

Earlier this year, the Illinois-based retailer announced it would shutter 76 stores across the country. Its also considering selling off its most popular and enduring brands  Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard.

Sears isnt alone; most of the chains traditional mall-anchor peers are struggling, too, wooed away to discounters, young-skewing specialty retailers and on-demand/on-your-porch competitors such as Amazon.

Across the mall, however, 114-year-old competitor JCPenney has logged a surprising, against-the-wind comeback.

Casting aside the trendy designs and one-price-fits-all strategy of former CEO Ron Johnson, JCP appears to have reconnected with its mid-level market after years in decline.

Once at deaths door, JCP is scrapping head-to-head with Sears for the admittedly shrinking mid-level, bricks-and-mortar market with assertively marketed doorbusters and a strong connection between its websites and its mall stores.

Its even gambled by returning major appliances to the sales floor.

The company rushed to open up 500 new appliance showrooms by October, which it said help raise sales 2 percent that month.

We literally touched and rearranged one half of our stores to accomplish this reset,  CEO Marvin Ellison told investors last month. We felt it was important to enter this appliance business in a meaningful way going into key holiday selling periods.

The sales bump came on the heels on a three-year period that saw the chain close more than 80 stores.

Regardless of how they fare, some analysts see the fates of the two consumer stalwarts as tied, two legacy companies choosing divergent paths to an uncertain future.

Sears and JC Penney have similar issues, said Ira Kalb, professor at USC Marshall School of Business. The world of retailing has changed, and to date, neither has done a very good job of adjusting.

Searss decade of decline

At Sears first custom-built store in Glendale, there are still hints of brighter days.

A wide-rimmed stair well leads up to showrooms built in 1935. The the tall, old-fashioned, display-friendly windows that once wooed passers-by to peek inside have been covered up and the aisles at the store were a ghost town during a weekday in late November.

Its empty now, said Michael Morgan, a 65-year-old local historian.

It used to be like Hollywood and Vine or Grand Central Station during Christmas time, said Morgan, who fondly recalls gathering there during Christmas in the 1950s, particularly the toy train that once ran along its roof.

Sears has been on a long free-fall, closing hundreds of stores, firing thousands and losing billions over the past decade.

Most analysts predict the companys demise and pin much of the blame squarely on hedge-fund CEO Eddie Lampert, who as chairman of Kmart Holding Company struck an $11 billion deal to create the Sears Holding Company in 2004.

The cultural identity of Sears was literally destroyed with the merger of Kmart, said Nick Vyas, head of USCs Center for Global Supply Chain Management and a former executive at Sears before Lampert took over. It was an identity that the company had for 90 plus years.

So, when it kicked in, it costs Sears customers, he said. But you werent talking about one time customers, you were talking about generations.

When billionaire investor Lampert took over the company, he thought he could turn around its sagging performance. He put hedge-fund managers in charge of the retail business and took a hands-on approach. He focused on slashing costs and moved away from the Sears long-recognized emphasis on customer service.

But he failed. Sears has lost more than 90 percent of its value since 2007 and is mired in debt. To keep it above water, Lampert sold off its valuable real estate. Fitch estimates its raised $4.7 billion from real estate transactions, but it still expects the company to burn through as much as $1.8 billion this year to keep operating.

Sears used to be a cultural event, said Leon Nicholas, an analyst at Kantar Retail. It was a place for the family to get together.

Brian Hanover, a Sears spokesman, repeated what has become Lamperts mantra, Sears Holdings is committed to returning the company to profitability and has a number of initiatives to increase revenues.

The brightest spot has been their Craftsman tools line and the chain remains a leader in appliance sales, although JCPenney is attempting to chip into that market.

In May, Sears announced it would seek buyers for its Kenmore appliance and Craftsman tool brand, two of its most enduring products.

Its a dire future for Sears on the horizon, Vyas said. I am actually shocked they have survived this long.

JCPs balancing act

JCPenney is expecting to turn a profit next year for the first time since 2010  in part because of Ellison, a former Home Depot executive, and his vision.

The 56-year-old executive took over the helm in 2015 and focused the Texas-based company on presentation at the store, supply-chain efficiency and appealing to its frugal base.

The move was largely a reversal of the strategy forged by former CEO Johnson, who brought in upscale designers and distanced the company from its deep-discount culture.

Under Johnson, JCP eschewed its heavily marketed sales and loyalty perks for JCP credit-card customers. The change cost the company billions of dollars and nearly sunk it.

On a recent weekday, a new era was clear. Piped-in salsa music filled the young mens section at the Glendale Galleria store, Christmas-themed icicles hung from the ceiling and a group of teenagers rummaged through discounted Levis jeans.

Upstairs, a modest appliance section attracted shoppers.

We are well-positioned to drive further growth and profitability, win market share and increase our top line while remaining fiscally disciplined, he said last month. Hes put a focus on the stores home section, expanded the Sephora makeup department and this year even opened a new JCPenney in San Bernardino.

Lugging several JCPenney bags filled with shoes and jackets for her teenage son, Rose Flores, a 57-year-old from Downey, said her family has been coming to the store for generations.

They have a whole floor of clothes, she beamed, adding that she got a 25 percent discount through her credit card.

JCPenney is going to get back to its roots, Rajiv Lal, a Harvard professor and co-author of Retail Revolution: Will Your Brick and Mortar Store Survive? But I dont know that they are as compelling as they used to be.

Unlike Sears, JCPenney is heavily focused on apparel. The company recently dusted off an old marketing model, offering deals for consumers to get their Penneys worth, again. During the holiday shopping season, theyve again offered deep discounts  including offering early-morning Black Friday coupons worth up to $100 and program matching lower prices at competitors stores. The move toward thrifty consumers shopping for the family has helped lift its profile.

JCPenneys stores within the store  salons, the home section, jewelry and the Sephora makeup brand, most added to stores a decade ago  have all driven sales, not the chains longstanding clothing lines.

Revenue, however, still pales in comparison to pre-Recession levels. And, after its early-year sale surge, the company recently reported weaker than expected third quarter earnings.

We believe CEO Marvin Ellison has JCP on the right path, analysts at New York-based Cowen and Company concluded in their latest report. However, it is still early in the long-term turnaround. The consumer shift away from department stores and the companys debt had them skeptical about JCPs future, as it does others.

What next?

Even if the legacy companies enjoy a short-term holiday boost, Lal is skeptical the strategy will work for either store in the long run.

There is too much similarity in department stores, Lal said. They have lost their luster in the concept of todays retail market.

The old-school department-store model is under assault by specialty retailers like fashion-forward H&M and Zara. At the same time it is also being squeezed on the low and high end from sellers like Nordstroms and Target.

More department stores could close in the coming years. An April report by real-estate research firm Green Street advisors released found that per square foot sales dropped 24 percent at mall departments stores. To become profitable, the firm estimates Sears would have to shed 300 stores and JCPenney 320.

And in more than 400 mall settings, Sears and JCP are direct competitors for a a declining number of shoppers.

In some ways, this is a generational thing, said Leon Nicholas, an analyst at Kantar Retail. (Department stores) failed to respond to all the specialties.

And, as younger shoppers snag deals on their phones and frequent edgier specialty shops, many older shoppers would love to see the spark rekindled for their longtime retail favorites.

Especially this time of year.

There is still a twinkle in my heart when I pass the building, because it Sears, said historian Morgan. And I always wish they would put the train back on top.

Contact the writer: ruranga@scng.com@racheluranga on Twitter
The phone call must have seemed like an answer to a Christmas prayer, as if everyone in Bedford Falls, clutching dollar bills en route to George Baileys drafty old house, had detoured to LaSonya Spates tiny apartment instead.

Spates, a telephone survey worker who crams nine children into her one-bedroom apartment, said she cant afford much of a celebration at her home on Dec. 25.

But that grim forecast appeared to change this month when a caller who claimed to work for the U.S. government informed Spates that she had qualified for a $7,500 grant. Miss Haley told Spates all she had to do was load $200 on an iTunes debit card and read Haley the serial number on the back. When Spates said she didnt have the money, the caller pushed her to borrow it from family or friends.

To me, she sounded like a salesperson, said Spates, a former telemarketer.

Her instincts were correct.

The call was a scam, a little-known twist on the iTunes ruse. Typically, callers pretend to be IRS agents demanding back taxes, court employees seeking payment of a fine for missed jury duty or the victims grandchild who faces arrest unless bail can be raised. The supposed consequence for failing to comply is typically arrest.

The perpetrator, having successfully used fear to rip someone off, vanishes with the money.

This year, a Murrieta couple were swindled out of $5,000 by someone claiming to be their granddaughter, in legal trouble in Florida. The woman was actually safe in Indiana the entire time.

In Spates case, the caller was counting on her to be so thrilled that her mind disengaged.

But Spates, who lives in Nevada, did a search online for iTunes scams and found Press-Enterprise stories on the rip-off. She didnt take the bait. But others feeling desperation to put presents under a tree  if they can afford a tree to begin with  might not be so cautious.

My heart breaks for a family that is struggling to provide Christmas for their family, said Lisa Wright, chief executive officer of the United Way of the Inland Valleys. The United Way connects clients with education, financial assistance and housing. Wright said she had not heard of the ruse.

Its disappointing that some people would take advantage of others that dont have anything, she said.

Contact the writer: brokos@scng.com or 951-368-9569
The heads of the UC, Cal State and California community college systems wrote President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday, urging him to continue the program that gives young undocumented immigrants temporary legal status.

We implore you to let them know they are valued members of our communities and that they will be allowed to continue to pursue the American dream, wrote Janet Napolitano, president of the University of California, Timothy P. White, chancellor of California State University, and Eloy Ortiz Oakley, chancellor-designate of California Community Colleges.

Trump has pledged to get rid of a program created by President Barack Obama that allows those brought to the country at a young age to apply for a two-year deferment from deportation. The program known as DACA, for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, offers renewals every two years and work permits.

It also offers its recipients some peace of mind, if only for a time.

These sons and daughters of undocumented immigrants are as American as any other child across the nation, in all but in the letter of the law In fact, they represent some of the best our nation has to offer, the education leaders wrote Trump.

They should be able to pursue their dream of higher education without fear of being arrested, deported, or rounded up for just trying to learn, they wrote.

Led by Pomona College President David Oxtoby, as of Tuesday afternoon nearly 400 university and college presidents signed another letter calling on the government to continue DACA. The signers include the presidents of Cal State universities in Fullerton, Long Beach, Bakersfield and Pomona, and all the UC schools.

Meanwhile, the University of California Undocumented Legal Services Center, which serves UC undocumented students and is based at UC Davis, plans to train UC Irvine law students, faculty and staff volunteers to help undocumented students and their families with immigration questions.

Some UCI law students also will begin this week working pro bono to assist DACA recipients with their renewal applications.

Following the election, theres just been a feeling among the students, the staff and the faculty that people wanted to do something to help the immigrant community that is feeling scared right now, said Anna Davis, director of pro bono programs at the UCI School of Law.

We want to use our legal skills to help that community, Davis said.

Many students across California and the nation have reacted to Trumps election with protests and calls to create sanctuary campuses that could harbor students and their families from federal immigration authorities. During his campaign, Trump pledged to deport the 11 million-plus people living in the country illegally. Since then, he has said his priority would be to deport criminals who are not legal residents.

Contact the writer: Twitter@RoxanaKopetman and rkopetman@scng.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.
A banker who is accused of siphoning GH356,100.00 from various accounts with Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Thursday.



Frednard Kofi Amponsah, an employee of the Bank, and Issah Abdul aka Issah Alhassan have been charged with Conspiracy and Stealing.



The two have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been admitted to bail in the sum of GH400,000.00 with four sureties each with a justification.



The accused persons are to deposit their passport to the courts registry and report to the Criminal Investigations Department every Wednesday.



The case had been adjourned to December 29 by the Court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku.



Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) George Amega said Amponsah is stationed at the Takoradi branch of GCB and Abdul is an auto-mechanic and a customer of the Bank.



DSP Amega said during the period between September and November this year, Management of GCB Bank, Accra, received complaints on fraudulent withdrawals from various customers accounts.



According to the prosecutor, these withdrawals were carried out with cheques found to be cloned cheques, drawn on accounts located at the Banks branches in Accra.



Prosecution said it was established that while the true account holders had their genuine cheque books intact, replicated copies of leaflets bearing the serial numbers of leaflets not yet issued by account holders were produced with forged signatures.



DSP Amega said these cloned leaflets were drawn on the Bank and presented at braches outside Accra and various withdrawals made.



The Prosecutor said the Police established that four accounts of the Bank had fraudulent withdrawals made on them.



Police investigation revealed that Amponsah even though stationed at Takoradi at the Corporate Banking used his identification number FC07072 which was assigned to him at Mampong to make several enquiries on the accounts prior to or after the cloned cheques were presented.



Based on that, prosecution said Amponsah was nabbed and during Police investigations, he admitted the offence and disclosed that it was upon the request of Abdul that he made enquiries on the account.



According to the Prosecutor, Amponsah also indicated that he took photographs of signature mandates, cheque book serial numbers, photographs and other confidential details of high valued accounts holders, which he forwarded to Abdul and others.



It came to light that Amponsah in his current deployment was not permitted to check or query individual customer accounts of the Bank but he was engaged in these activities secretly in collaboration with accomplices to steal money from the Bank.



Prosecution said cloned cheques presented at various branches of the Bank had resulted in the theft of GH 356,100.00.



Prosecution said Amponsah had admitted receiving money from Abdul and claims to own two houses at Kosoa , which were built from the proceeds of the crime.



Prosecution said seven other accounts have also been identified as being used by Amponsah and other staff of the Bank and huge withdrawals made.



The Prosecutor said investigations were underway.





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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A patient on admission at the Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern region has been found dead on the Tamale-Yendi Highway Monday December 19, 2016.



Residents of Bakery in the Tamale Metropolis woke up Monday morning to utmost shock when they found the dead body of a man believed to be in his late 20s on the street with a transfusion kit on his wrist.



After several minutes of not been able to identify the corpse by any of the residents who had thronged the scene, some nurses at the Tamale Teaching Hospital chanced on him and identified him as a patient at the Emergency Ward.



According the nurses, his condition had been unstable for some days now, but would not reveal any further details about their patient. They quickly organized a taxi that conveyed the body back to the hospital.

Source: 3news









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 National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sammi Awuku has cautioned future appointees in President-elect Akufo Addos government which comes into power begining January 7, 2017 to eschew acts of arrogance lest they incur the wrath of Ghanaians.



According to him, it is apprarantly clear that the Ghanaian electorate has taken a decision to punish any government whose officials lord it over them as they demonstrated by voting out the ruling NDC government in the December 7 general elections.



The NDC lost the general polls, both Presidential and Parliamentary in an election that the party was so confident of winning, due to the massive infrastructural development carried out by President John Mahama in his first term of office.



On Friday, December 9, 2016, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei, declared the NPPs presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo winner and President-elect of the Republic of Ghana.



The opposition leader polled 5,716, 026 votes to beat the incumbent President John Dramani Mahama who garnered 4,713,277 votes out of the 10,615,361 valid votes cast, which were votes from 271 out of 275 constituencies



Speaking on Peace FM, Sammy Awuku stated that the NPP risks going back into opposition after only one term of Akufo Addos government if arrogance drives the actions of his appointees.

Lets learn a lesson from the arrogance of the NDC appointees for which they were punished during the elections. NPP should be modest even in government, Ghanaians have taken a decision that inspite of the amount of developmental projects a particular government carries out, if appointees in that government exhibit signs and acts of arrogance, that party is voted out of power. That is a very good decision adopted, they know that the power belongs to them and can take back power at any given time.









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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President John Mahama during his last address to the West African Leaders gathered at the ECOWAS summit in Nigeiran capital, Abuja took an ooportunity to bid an 'emotional' farewell to the leaders.



The President announced that he was exiting office on January 6th, 2017 and would hand over power to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP who emerged victorious in the December 7th polls.



The elections of 2016, he said has added another further to Ghana's democratic creditials. He also announced that transition was already underway in Ghana.



The President also invited all the heads of West African countries to the event which would be held at the sitting of Parliament at the Independence Square in Accra.





Source: adomonline









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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WARNING: This story might be distressing for some readers. If you are in distress, or if you or someone you know are being bullied, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 338 881 for anonymous, 24/7 counselling and advice.

Welp, hes done it.

Cartoonist / pen-and-paper shitposter Bill Leak is no longer merely provoking those he deems oversensitive  hes started using mental health and youth suicide as a flat-out punchline.

In a comic posted earlier today, The Australians resident doodler joked that a vote on Australia becoming a republic would be as damaging to the mental health of young royalists as the debate before a same-sex plebiscite would have been to that of LGBTQIA youth.

via The Australian.

It appears Leaks humour hinges on the faulty assumption that since no Wills and Kate fan would take their own life if we suggested losing our ties to the British royal family, no vulnerable Aussie kid would commit suicide over homophobic rhetoric either.

Of course, we only need to look into the very recent past to see that yes, discrimination against LGBTQIA youth can have utterly tragic outcomes. Yet, less than a month after 13-year-old Tyrone Unsworth took his own life after enduring homophobic bullying, Leak has used the issue of teen suicide as a cheap gag.

Were not suggesting any hypothetical debate before a same-sex marriage plebiscite would necessarily result in bullying of the kind Unsworth received, but the circumstances of his death do not exist in a bubble removed from the broader public discourse.

You can turn Leaks logic upon itself here, too. Itd be ridiculous if the debate on an Australian republic legitimised language that discriminated against monarchists, and itd be even worse if their rights were voted into law by republicans, making them de facto second class citizens.

In fact, its this exact kind of bullshit that convinced equality advocates to oppose the plebiscite  it was feared that people would be emboldened to say horrific things in the interests of so-called parity. The plebiscite was canned, but obviously Leak still wants to have a pop.

If this comic was targeted at a group that wasnt already statistically more likely to face abuse, perhaps itd be less rank. But its not. Its poking fun at one of Australias more vulnerable groups, which seems to be all Leak is capable of at this point, and were not pearl-clutching softies just because we think its fucked.

Source and photo: The Australian.
Rod Culleton has had a wild year. He was elected as a One Nation senator and almost instantly drowned in scandals, before unceremoniously quitting from the party less than six months later.

Culleton is currently facing a court battle over whether or not he was legitimately elected as a senator thanks to a conviction he had at the time that has since been thrown out, and he had also been having personality clashes with Pauline Hanson for pretty much the entire duration of the brief tenure he enjoyed as a senator  despite his best attempts to make like everything was fine.

Not one to break from traditional, his day facing a bankruptcy hearing in a Perth courtroom today was pretty much a perfect microcosm of his career, with all the upsets and particularly Australiana-y kitschiness weve come to expect from him.

In one instance, Culleton threatened to leave the courtroom if two men who he believed to have violated restraining orders were not removed, but continued after his wife told him that she had it under control. Shortly thereafter, they were both removed by police.

The real kickers, though, were two of the most unbelievably Australian things possibly ever to have happened in a courtroom: firstly, Culleton getting admonished by the judge for referring to the court as mate.

Judge tells Senator Culleton  Dont refer to the court as mate. @abcnewsPerth  Nicolas Perpitch (@NicPerpitch) December 19, 2016

And even more impressively, being accused of stealing his legal strategy from classic Australian comedy film The Castle:

Culleton is basing one of his legal arguments on the famous movie The Castle, lawyer for creditor Dick Lester tells the court.  Andrew Burrell (@AndrewBurrell7) December 19, 2016

Say what you will about his politics, he is definitely a character.

Source: ABC.
One of the last bastions of the Kings Cross of old, Candys Apartment, has been shut down for 72 hours after a police operation alleged it was being used to supply drugs.

NSW police raided the Bayswater Road venue on Saturday night as part of an ongoing operation, in what Keep Sydney Open has slammed as a completely unnecessary and a waste of taxpayers money.

Outside the venue, a 21-year-old man was arrested in alleged possession of 60 MDMA caps. Police executed a search warrant at his Oakhurst home, and charged him with 22 drug offences. Hes set to appear in Central Local Court today.

The raid is being slammed as overkill. Sydney producer Elliott Harper wrote on Facebook that youd think that a murder has taken place, based on the number of police outside.

KSO claim the entire operation is evidence of Mike Bairds government and Andrew Scipiones NSW Police Force engaging in a culture war thats not only out-of-touch, its futile, and it puts them at odds with generations of Australians.



One single drug arrest does not justify the dramatic operation undertaken by police, no matter how its explained. There are numerous other ways in which such an operation could have been conducted to avoid alarming patrons or hitting the pockets of hardworking artists and staff, it wrote on Facebook.

We know there is a deal in the works to develop the land that Candys sits on, and the over-the-top raid does nothing to dissuade the communitys skepticism of police and government motives.







Photos: Liam Burnett-Blue / Supplied.
Ali Ziggi Mosslmani, the Sydney teen suing a raft of publications for what he claims constituted ridicule of his luxurious mullet, copped a fair bit of publicity earlier in the year when people caught sight of the somewhat humorous court documents relating to his case. Mosslmanis case against Daily Mail Australia, The Daily Telegraph and KIIS radio is proceeding  but it has hit a few speed-bumps along the way.





The case is currently in its preliminary stages, but Judge Judith Gibson is knocking down key pillars of Mosslmanis claim. In an earlier hearing, Gibson already indicated that a number of claims had been struck out, and questioned the logic of the entire case, given that it has attracted much more attention to the original photos.

One hears talk of the Streisand effect and that is very much the case, Judge Gibson said at the time.

Gibson struck down Mosslmanis claim against the digital edition of the Daily Telegraph article. Mosslmanis claim was the caption the Tele added to one of the online pictures  stunned mullet  implied that he was stupid, as mullet can mean a stupid person in Australian vernacular.

The judge rejected this, claiming that stunned mullet referred to the fact that Mosslmani was shocked by his sudden viral fame. The whole tenor of the [article] . is that, to use the actual words of the publication, the plaintiff had become an internet sensation because of his hair-larious mullet hairstyle, Judge Gibson said.

Mosslmani still has a claim against the print edition of the article, but cannot plead that said article implies he is stupid. The judge pointed to the pictures that were published alongside the article, including mulleted celebrities like Mel Gibson, Jason Donovan, John Farnham, Billy Ray Cyrus and John Bon Jovi as evidence that there was no implication of stupidity.

However, Mosslmani can claim that the print article implied he was a ridiculous person. Well keep you posted on how exactly he does that.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald.

Photo: Jnoodles Photography.
Police are investigating an incident at new Gold Coast nightclub The Truth that has left the venue with a broken door and a punter with a seriously gnarly head wound.

Goldie local Kodey Godino says he went to the rescue of a friend who was getting hassled by security, and was rewarded for his troubles with a punch in the face and a headfirst trip through a window. Along with a sliced-open forehead, he says hes suffering from ongoing neck pain and is waiting for results from nose and head scans.

The Truth claims that Godino and his four friends were aggressive and violent, alleging that one of them smashed a beer bottle over the head of a security guard and concussed him before they were all kicked out of the venue. According to Truth promotions manager Raymond Frangieh, Godino hit his head on the door walking out. The Truth is seeking damages for the cost of repairing the door.

Despite his 8cm forehead gash, Godino refused transport to the hospital after the ambos patched him up on the night of the incident. Recent Facebook posts indicate that a little cut on the face is not going to take the party out of Surfers Paradise for this guy; not sure if the same will be said about the venue once local cops resolve their investigation.

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin.

Image: Facebook.
Not that you had a chance anyway, but Margot Robbie might be off the market.

The Suicide Squad actress and national treasure returned to the Gold Coast to spend the holidays with her fam, and also may-be-getting-hitched to long-term BF and director Tom Ackerley.

We know this because a friend spilled to magazine Womans Day about the upcoming nuptials, telling the publication that guests  who flew into town mid-December  were sworn to secrecy to keep the event private. (Oops.)

The Gold Coast was somewhere she always wanted to get married, given its where she was raised as a kid, on her grandparents farm, the mate told Womans Day. Tom initially wanted to get married in the UK, but he knows how much it means to Margot to tie the knot on home soil and how special it is for her, so he didnt put up much of a fight.

They decided to marry around Christmas so they could spend time with both their families afterwards, which theyve never done before.



The Daily Mail reports that WD claims (bear with us here) that shes wearing Oscar de la Renta, and that her sister Anya will be the maid of honour. (Side note: you want a confusing time? Have a read of all have they / havent they reports that the two are already married.)

Robbie told The Project earlier this year that she def wants to raise her future offspring in Australia, and that her British-born boyfriend (now husband?!) is also keen on our sunburnt country.





He loves Australia. Hes like, I dont know why anyone leaves Australia!' she said.

Hmmm. *Gestures to firmly cemented communities of pommies in the Eastern Beaches* Story checks out.

?? A photo posted by @margotrobbie on Dec 16, 2016 at 12:29am PST



Photo: Getty / James Devany.
Germany Christmas Market

Police guard a Christmas market after a truck ran into the crowded Christmas market in Berliin Berlin, Germany, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

(Michael Sohn)

Various media sources are reporting that a truck crashed into a popular Berlin Christmas market on Monday morning, injuring and killing multiple people. CNN is reporting that nine people have been killed and at least 50 people are injured.

Lorry just ploughed through Christmas market in #berlin. There is no road nearby. People crushed. I am safe. I am safe pic.twitter.com/63iWMmdSKr  Emma Rushton (@ERushton) December 19, 2016

It is not clear at the moment whether the incident was an accident or a planned attack.
2-dead-in-violent-crash-with-PA-school-bus.jpg

Two people are dead following a violent crash in which a Mercedes sedan slammed into the back of a Pa. school bus that had just dropped off more than two-dozen children. The roof of the car appeared to be sheared off by the violent collision.

(screen shot/6ABC)

Two people are dead following a violent crash in which a Mercedes sedan slammed into the back of a school bus that had just dropped off more than two-dozen children in Northeast Philadelphia.

According to 6ABC in Philly, the crash occurred around 9 p.m. Sunday night along Roosevelt Boulevard.

The Mercedes allegedly was speeding in an outer lane of the road when it slammed into the school bus owned by Huntingdon Valley Christian Academy, 6ABC reports, adding:

The bus was stopped for a red light when it was rear-ended, with the Mercedes going underneath the bus.

The roof of the car appeared to be sheared off by the violent collision.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told 6ABC both the male driver and the female passenger were "killed instantly." The victims' names were not immediately released.

The bus driver refused medical treatment.

Bystanders attempted to free the woman inside the car, but the vehicle erupted in flames, 6ABC reports.

The posted speed limit in the area is 45 mph, but police tell 6ABC the driver of the Mercedes exceeded that. However, no estimate of the car's actual speed was given.

The bus had just deposited about two dozen children at the church just minutes before the violent crash.

Read more Pa. buzz:
An apartment fire in Susquehanna Township Sunday morning displaced a family of three.



The fire broke out at around 7:05 a.m. on the 3300 block of Union Deposit Road, according to a news release from Susquehanna Township public safety. The woman who called 911 to report the fire said she was leaving her home with her children and trying to alert neighbors about the blaze.

Progress Fire Company firefighters arrived at the scene minutes later to find heavy smoke coming from the roof of the building. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze that originated in the utility closet of a second floor apartment.

No injuries were reported. Damage is estimated at $35,000. The Red Cross is assisting the displaced family.

The fire was ruled as accidental, officials said. Susquehanna Township officials will follow up with apartment management after crews discovered several code violations following the fire. No further information was available at the time of this post.
pennsylvania judicial center

The Pennsylvania Judicial Center

(Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com )

Saying a judge miscalculated his criminal record, a state appeals court panel has overturned a 10- to 20-year prison sentence imposed on a man convicted of raping a drunk and unconscious 17-year-old girl.

The recent Superior Court ruling won't make 40-year-old Hamett Diaz a free man. The state judges upheld his multiple convictions and merely sent the case back to Monroe County Court for resentencing.

The incident that sent Diaz to jail occurred in October 2013 when Diaz took his teenage stepdaughter and her 17-year-old friend on a trip to New York City, according to the recent state court opinion by Judge Paula Francisco Ott.

Police said Diaz provided both girls with alcohol. The 17-year-old became so intoxicated she could hardly walk or speak, they said.

When they returned to Pennsylvania, Diaz dropped his stepdaughter off at their home, then drove off in his minivan with the other girl. She testified she flashed in and out of consciousness, but remembers Hamett performing oral sex on her and then raping her, Ott noted.

In February 2015, a county jury convicted Diaz on charges including rape of an unconscious victim, aggravated indecent assault and sexual assault. He was sentenced to 12 to 24 years in prison, with 10 to 20 years of that penalty tied to the rape conviction.

Although Ott's court rejected Diaz's claims on appeal that the evidence didn't justify his convictions, it did agree that his prison term for the rape wasn't legally justified. Ott noted the county judge wrongly imposed that mandatory penalty after finding Diaz had a 2001 federal conspiracy to commit robbery conviction that qualified as a crime of violence.

That federal charge doesn't meet Pennsylvania guidelines for a crime of violence, however, so the mandatory sentence can't apply, Ott concluded in sending Diaz back to the county court for resentencing solely on the rape count.
u.s. courthouse

The U.S. Courthouse in Harrisburg

(Matt Miller, PennLive)

More than a year after the district attorney ruled the police-involved shooting was justified, a woman who was injured by a York City cop's gunfire at the end of a car chase is suing the city in federal court.



Erika Eberhardinger claims in her U.S. Middle District Court suit that the officer used excessive force when he shot into the windshield of a car in which she was riding. The car's driver wasn't hit, but Eberhardinger received several gunshot wounds during the incident on Dec. 19, 2014.



Those shots were fired after the driver, Matthew Foster, fled a traffic stop, police said. They said Officer Benjamin Smith opened fire when Foster drove toward him after being boxed in by two police cruisers. Foster kept driving, but soon crashed and surrendered.



York County District Attorney Tom Kearney ruled the shooting justified in a decision issued in September 2015, after Foster pleaded no contest to an aggravated assault charge and guilty to counts of fleeing police, drunken driving, and reckless endangerment. Foster was sentenced to 3 to 6 years in state prison.



Eberhardinger claims her suit that the car chase began when another York officer tried to pull Foster over for running a stop sign. She, Foster, and another passenger had just left the Banana Max Bar & Grill, she said.



Police said Foster told them he fled because his driver's license was suspended. He also admitted to drinking six shots of whiskey before getting behind the wheel, investigators said.



Eberhardinger, who was Foster's front seat passenger, claims Foster was trying to drive around Officer Smith to flee when the policeman started shooting.



Kearney found that Smith, who was on foot, fired because Foster was driving the car right at him. Police said Smith jumped out of the way while simultaneously firing at the driver.



Smith's shots hit her in the face, forearm and hand, Eberhardinger says in her suit. There was no legal justification for Smith to use such deadly force, she contends. She claims the city is liable for her injuries because it failed to properly train police "to avoid shooting car windshields" and to "avoid shooting moving vehicles."



Eberhardinger also is suing her auto insurer, State Farm, for breach of contract. She claims the company has refused to pay her medical bills.




Narmo Sanchez.png

Narmo L. Sanchez

(Provided photo)

A state Superior Court panel on Monday refused to allow a "lieutenant" in a major midstate heroin distribution ring to use a language barrier to overturn his 5- to 10-year prison sentence for drug trafficking.



Narmo L. Sanchez, 48, a native Spanish speaker, claimed his lawyers didn't adequately explain a plea deal in his primary language before he agreed to plead guilty in his Lancaster County Court case.



The state court rejected Sanchez's claims in an opinion by Judge Lillian Harris Ransom. She noted that Spanish interpreters and his own family members were present at every step to provide English-to-Spanish translations for Sanchez during the county court proceedings.



So, Ransom found, Sanchez can't claim he didn't understand what he was doing when he pleaded guilty in 2014 to drug delivery, conspiracy and corrupt organizations charges.



Sanchez insisted in his appeal that, because of the language barrier, he erroneously believed he would receive a 2- to 4-year prison term by agreeing to plead guilty.



Sanchez was among 11 people arrested by the state attorney general's office in early 2014 on charged off conspiring to distribute at least $500,000 worth of heroin in Lancaster City during the previous year.



Investigators said their probe was triggered by resident complaints of frequent drug dealing on Stevens and East End avenues and Mifflin Street. Agents said they seized more the 1,300 bags of heroin. Sanchez was the top aide for the ring's kingpin, prosecutors insisted.
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From left, Timothy Rissmiller and John Gilbert III

(Dauphin County Prison)

Two Harrisburg men who were arrested after their child pornography pictures got jammed in a printer at a city drug store have pleaded guilty to federal charges that will send them to prison.

Timothy Rissmiller, 44, and John L. Gilbert III, 36, both pleaded guilty to child porn possession charges before U.S. Middle District Chief Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson, U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler said Monday.

City police nabbed both men in July 2015 because of the printer malfunction at the Rite Aid store on Market Street. A store manager called police after Rissmiller and Gilbert left their illicit images behind.

Police said they found other child porn at a halfway house where the men were serving time for prior child porn possession convictions.

A grand jury indicted the pair on the federal charges in June after an investigation that also involved the FBI. Brandler said Rissmiller and Gilbert each face mandatory prison terms of at least 10 years.
PA-teen-learns-fate-in-gang-shooting-over-girl.jpg

A 14-year-old in Bethlehem, Pa., was shot an astonishing eight times and lived. Now the admitted shooter -- Omar "Kush" Quinones, 18 -- has learned his legal fate for pulling the trigger in what police say was a gang shooting over a woman.

(police photo via LehighValleyLive.com)

A 14-year-old in Bethlehem, Pa., was shot an astonishing eight times and lived. Now the admitted shooter -- still in his teens, too -- has learned his legal fate for pulling the trigger in what police say was a gang shooting over a woman.

As our sister website, LehighValleyLive.com reports, the admitted shooter, Omar "Kush" Quinones, 18, of Bethlehem, is a member of the Crips gang, and on Jan. 30, 2016, he is accused of shooting a 14-year-old Taron Walker, an alleged member of the Bloods gang.

The violent episode was supposedly triggered over a woman.

Now, Quinones, who has pleaded guilty in the shooting, faces ten to 24 years in prison, according to the sentence handed down late last week, the new website reports, adding:

Quinones had nothing to say to Northampton County Judge Stephen Baratta except that he wants to put the case behind him and move on with his life. He pleaded guilty to attempted homicide.

A plea deal is on the table for co-defendant Elias Zachariah Ariza, 19, of Bethlehem, who allegedly shot 16-year-old Kyre Williams during the same violent melee.

Read more Pa. buzz:
buckshot war.jpg

A depiction of events from "The Tired Soldier," published in 1839.

(Courtesy of the Internet Archive)

Reporters note: This is the second in an occasional series of interesting bits of Pennsylvania's history based on the biographies of legislators. Last week we wrote about the state's first speaker, whose father was a United Empire Loyalist during the Revolutionary War. You can find the Legislature's historical biographies here. (h/t to Erik Arneson)

Charles Bingham Penrose, a state Senator who played a key role in the "Buckshot War."

This week we're examining the life of Charles Bingham Penrose, who was Speaker of the Senate during the 1839 legislative session, and a key figure in what would become known as the "Buckshot War," or "that time the outgoing governor might have tried to seize power by ordering the militia to Harrisburg."

Penrose was born near Philadelphia in 1798, a member of a high-profile family whose grandfather was a former member of the state Senate and whose ancestors were among the city's first pioneers. After serving in the war of 1812, Penrose returned to Pennsylvania and opened his law practice in Carlisle. Of local interest: He was an investor in the Cumberland Valley Railroad and "obtained" Pine Grover Furnace in 1838.

His biography describes him as "pro-improvement." As a legislator he backed the expansion of the Cumberland Valley Railroad between Chambersburg and Harrisburg, backed laws regarding public schooling, and helped repeal Pennsylvania's property and personal tax laws.

In 1838 he was elected speaker of the Senate, during a fascinating (if largely forgotten) period of Pennsylvania's history.

Pennsylvania's gubernatorial election of 1838 was a bitterly fought struggle between the Anti-Mason Whig party and the Democratic Party (there's a frightfully interesting backstory there as well, but for brevity I am not including it. Maybe it will be its own story). Incumbent Gov. Joseph Ritner, an Anti-Mason Whig, had apparently lost to his opponent Democrat David R. Porter in a narrow victory of some 5,000 votes amid allegations of rampant voter fraud in Philadelphia (sound familiar?).

According to William Henry Egle, writing some 60 years later for the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, after the election the vitriol continued, with Anti-Mason Whig extremists exhorting their followers to "treat the election held on the 9th of October as if it had never taken place" and to take steps to ensure "that Porter should never be governor."

When it became time to seat the Legislature after the election to certify the results (and either Porter's or Ritner's victory), these tensions and allegations boiled over into what would become known as the "Buckshot War." In a nutshell, control of both houses of the Legislature and the executive branch hinged upon the results of the election in Philadelphia which, as previously mentioned, were rife with allegations of voter fraud.

In the state House, these allegations caused two sets of results to be read into the record, with two sets (one Anti-Mason Whig, one Democrat) of delegates from Philadelphia being seated at once. Both parties thus believed they held a majority and, calling to order two separate instances of the House at the same time, elected their own set of leaders.

In the state Senate, where Penrose was speaker, a similar thing occurred, with fraudulent results being read into the record. Because the election was so contentious, a large crowd of men had traveled to Harrisburg to support their respective parties (some estimates say as many as 50,000 people had flocked to Harrisburg). On the day the Legislature convened, the visitors had crowded into both houses to witness the proceedings and were described by Egle as a crowd of "excited and enraged citizens."

The fraudulent results (which favored the Anti-Mason Whig party) were challenged on the floor by a Democratic senator and "the scene now become one of fearful confusion, disorder and terror." Penrose, whose party had endorsed the bad results, was forced to leave his post, and with two other men escaped through a window. The Legislature was thus left in chaos, with mobs of angry men roaming the streets of Harrisburg.

"Determined and desperate men were there on both sides, threats were made, defiance hurled back and forth, and to the timid the aspect of affairs appeared alarming," wrote Egle, describing the scene outside the Capitol.

That night Gov. Ritner issued a proclamation calling for order by -- among other things -- asking the state militia to come to Harrisburg. Supporters of Ritner and the Anti-Mason Whig party then seized the state arsenal, after which, again according to Egle, "a polyglot crowd flocked to the arsenal, determined to prevent the ammunition from being seized by the governor."

Robert Patterson, portrait made during Mexican-American War

Speeches by local dignatries calmed the crowds, at least for the moment. However the next day Ritner called upon Major-General Robert Patterson (who commanded a portion of the state militia) to move his troops from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, an order Patterson complied with.

With state troops now in the capital, a fascinating exchange (according to Egle) then took place between Patterson and Ritner. Meeting at the governor's house two days after the Legislature fell into chaos, Patterson told Ritner he had not come to Harrisburg for political purposes, and would not support either party. Patterson said he would also only obey orders given by the governor (not Penrose or any other man) and only those orders he deemed lawful -- i.e. orders related to the safety of the public and the preservation of public order.

Further, Patterson told the governor that if he was asked to clear the Capitol and install either of the disputed parties he would not do it. Nor would he comply with orders to fire upon those the governor had termed "rebels," unless in self-defense.

Reflect for a moment upon that exchange.

Ritner, who may or may not have been re-elected, was apparently sounding out Patterson to see if he would take control of the state government to support Ritner's party (and quite possibly, his governorship). But for Patterson's principals, we could be living in a rather different Pennsylvania today.

Ritner did not like Patterson's answers, and ordered him and his troops to return home. He then turned around and called upon troops from Carlisle to come to Harrisburg, which they did. Egle notes that at no time were the soldiers necessary and, by the time the Carlisle troops arrived, "the soldiers regarded the trip as a frolic, and enjoyed themselves accordingly."

To make a rather long story short, roughly two weeks after the episode began several members of the Anti-Mason Whig party abandoned their party and joined the Democrats in the Legislature, which broke the deadlock in the houses and enabled the inauguration of Democrat David R. Porter -- not Ritner -- as governor.

Written the following year, a report by a state House committee to investigate the disturbances which became known as the Buckshot War characterized the events in this manner:

"The results represent a page in our history which the lover of his country would willingly obliterate forever. The astounding fact that in the capitol of the commonwealth, in a time of quiet and peace, and when her Legislature was occupying these sacred halls appropriated to the business of legislation, should be surrounded by bands of armed men, by the order of her Governor, is humiliating and mortifying ... They sought to advance their own selfish and sordid interests, at the expense of the honor and integrity of our beloved commonwealth."

Despite the entire affair Penrose went on to have a long and rather powerful career as a politician before dying, in office, in April of 1857.

Note: Main image from "The Tired Soldier," courtesy of the Internet Archive.
LIVE COVERAGE: Protesters rally as electors gather in Harrisburg

WILLIAMSPORT - Imagine receiving nearly 27,000 emails and close to 3,000 letters in the past six weeks and most of them not Christmas greetings.

Add in the many telephone calls and Carol Sides said it has been an "uncomfortable" period.

She is attracting so much attention because Monday she will be casting a vote for Donald Trump when the Pennsylvania Electoral College members meet in Harrisburg.

The letters, emails and phone calls are an effort to convince Sides, a long-time Republican, not to vote for Trump.

"I thought it was an honor to be an elector," she said. "I didn't expect this. I did not know I would have to go through this for weeks."

After the Republican National Convention where she was a Trump delegate and a member of the platform committee, Sides said she expected a quiet time until the Electoral College met.

That did not happen because the Pennsylvania Department of State released personal information about the Trump electors in the commonwealth.

A spokesperson told her it was a mistake and the office was very sorry about it, she said. But, the damage was done and the letters, emails and telephone calls started coming, she said.

The volume of mail was so great to the Side home twice last week the Postal Service delivered it large plastic containers.

That decision was made after so much mail was stuffed into the box when she pulled it out it flew all over the snow. It was like 52-card pick up, she said.

The letters have come from all over the United States including California, Oregon, Texas and Maine, she said. Some by Federal Express and United Parcel Service, she said.

"How am I going to find my things in all this," she said was her thought as the letters started pouring in.

Sides has not attempted to read all the letters. Those she has appear to be mostly form letters, she said. The word "implore" is common in most of them, she said.

The phone calls come at all hours, she said. One from New York City came at 5:34 a.m. she said.

One caller, a woman, was crying as she urged her not to vote for Trump because he will get the United States into war, Sides said.

She is keeping all the letters and emails at the advice of the state GOP organization, she said. "I'm told they will be picked up," she said.

Local police have been made aware she is an elector and a retired officer will drive her to Harrisburg Monday.

Sides hopes the letters, emails and phone calls will stop but she said Republican officials are anticipating a response if Trump's election becomes official.
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A winter storm is to hit the midstate this weekend.

(AccuWeather)

A snowstorm that is expected to hit the midstate on Friday night into Saturday is so far having little impact on air traffic from Harrisburg International Airport.



Just before noon, only two flights, both American Airlines flights departing from or coming to HIA from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, had been cancelled.



O'Hare is the only major airport in the storm's path that has so far had a significant number of cancellations. As of 11:30 a.m., that midwest hub had posted 111 cancellations of departures and 134 cancellations of arrivals.



Snow, sleet and freezing rain are forecast for the midstate from late Friday through Saturday afternoon. Some areas could see about 2 inches of snow. Ice accumulations are predicted at less than a quarter-inch.



The Pittsburgh area is expected to get about an inch of snow and the same quantity of ice. Philadelphia's forecast echoes that for central Pennsylvania.



In Chicago, the forecast calls for up 4 to 9 inches of frozen precip over the two-day period.

For the latest forecasts, visit PennLive's weather page.

You can see live weather updates via the National Weather Service and other Twitter sources below.

Tweet us at @pennlive with photos of inclement weather at your place, incidents you see on your commute or send a submission to submissions@pennlive.com.
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Meet Megan Hicks, sore loser.

The Philadelphian was camped on a bench in the Pennsylvania state Capitol rotunda in Harrisburg on Monday morning, waiting, like the rest of us, for the Keystone State's presidential electors to go through a hugely symbolic, yet no less hugely important, exercise.

And it did, right on time.

At 12:54 p.m., barely an hour after the gaveled into session in the ornate chamber of state House of Representatives, Pennsylvania's 20 electors, all of them Republican, unanimously cast their votes for Donald Trump and Mike Pence.

And with that, the Manhattan mogul and his running-mate officially cemented the first GOP presidential victory in Pennsylvania in 28 years. Pennsylvania was supposed to be part of the vaunted blue wall that saved Hillary Clinton on Election Day. It didn't hold.

Hicks knew the result was coming. She knew it even before she rolled into Pennsylvania's capital city on a freezing cold December morning And she knew there was nothing she could do to change the result. But she was protesting anyway.

"Showing up is a very important habit to get into," she said. "We're not going gently. We know who won the popular vote by almost 3 million votes."

She wasn't alone.

More than 100 protesters gathered on the Capitol steps to wave banners (a lot of them connecting Trump to a certain Russian strongman), to sing patriotic songs (over and over again), and to officially register their displeasure with the incoming administration.

"Trump is not our president," they chanted at one point.

Hicks knew full well what Trump's legions of supporters thought of her and her fellow protesters: She's a sore loser who should just go home, sit quietly, and let the President-elect get about the business of making ... well ... you know the rest.

You didn't have to look any further than Twitter for evidence of that sentiment.

"These people are sad excuses for Americians (sic)," a Twitter user named Toni Maneval wrote in response to the Harrisburg protests. " ... take the loss with dignity & go home to cry the blues. Trump won fair & square ... she lost!!!"

Which is rich when you consider that some members of the loyal opposition (aided and abetted by the White House's next occupant) spent eight years protesting President Barack Obama and questioning his parentage, citizenship and religious beliefs -- often in the most vile of terms.

And that went to the fundamental tension in the Pennsylvania capitol - and, likely, in state capitols across the country on Monday:

Can America's tradition of the peaceful transition of power survive the installation of a president whose critics fear - not without justification - doesn't respect democratic norms and centuries of engrained political tradition?

From the outside that looked like it just might be the case. A deeper look cast grim doubts.

"Today we're here to honor a tradition that is at the heart of our democracy ... it is a process of peaceful transition," Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, said during a brief speech. to electors.

"It is unique around the world, it's special. We don't need armies, we don't uprisings to change our country's leadership. We just need 538 people in rooms like this across the country," he said.

And then there's this:

"We know one thing is certain no matter what happens today Trump has no mandate for his agenda if he does become president," Kai Newkirk of Democracy Spring, a group helping to organize of the protests in capitals around the country, said.

Trump's victory is "illegitimate because he lost by 3 million votes and there's a movement growing across our country that's going to defend our democracy and make sure we have an America for all of us, not just the elite Trump represents," Newkirk said.

So extra-credit for those who tried to set the right tone - however fruitless it'll be.

"I believe it's their right to be here and state their opinion," Bob Asher, a GOP elector from Montgomery County, outside Philadelphia, told reporters after the vote.

When he was asked if he believed Trump could get the country to pull together, he said, "I believe we'll get the job done ... This nation seems to have a lot of spunk and resolve."

"But that's also going to require a concession from Trump and his camp followers: They need to drop the sore winner act.

"We are really the people that love this country," Trump said during a stop in Mobile, Ala., last week on his self-aggrandizing 'thank you' tour.

That pretty firmly closes the door on cooperation. So maybe it's understandable that Hicks isn't about to back down.

"It's democracy," she said. "It's a muscle. If you don't exercise it, it'll atrophy."

Monday changed nothing. It just flipped the script.
By Joel Mathis

Does Donald Trump really deserve to be president?

For all the ways Trump has broken the normal rules of political discourse, he'll be sworn into the Oval Office next month having one thing in common with his immediate predecessors -- widespread doubts about the legitimacy of his presidency.

It's been a generation since a president held office for four years without a significant public challenge to his right to hold office.

George H.W. Bush was probably the last president who was widely accepted by both Democrats and Republicans -- and their respective bases -- as the legitimate holder of the office.

Since then:

Bill Clinton: Impeached.

George W. Bush: "Selected not elected" by the Supreme Court, as they say, following a razor-thin election outcome in Florida.

Barack Obama: Haunted by "birtherism" accusations.

The cases against Clinton and Bush at least had roots in reality. Clinton really did have sex with that woman in the Oval Office, and he really did perjure himself afterward.

Was it a high crime or misdemeanor? The Senate decided no, but the effort to remove Clinton from office hindered his effectiveness during the second term. And Bush? The unprecedented manner of his rise to the Oval Office was going to leave some hard feelings.

As for Obama: Birtherism was false and racist -- as well as widely accepted among Republican voters even after he furnished his birth certificate. Truth, it seems, is no defense against charges of illegitimacy.

Now comes Trump. Like George W. Bush, he was already going to be hampered by his sizable loss in the popular vote count, regardless of his Electoral College win. But recent revelations -- that the CIA believes Russia intervened in the election on his behalf -- will probably leave more of a permanent mark.

Given the trend of the last three presidencies, it was probably inevitable that there would be a challenge -- fair or not -- to Trump's legitimacy. The concept of "loyal opposition" has become badly tattered: Democrats and Republicans aren't just rivals anymore; they're enemies. The other side isn't merely wrong or mistaken, but cartoonishly evil.

Still, the ongoing challenges to the legitimacy of each and every president presents a real problem for all of us.

Why?

Because our democracy isn't etched in stone -- it happens because we, the citizens, agree to recognize the validity of the institutions and rules that govern our country. Without that agreement, a government either loses control or increasingly resorts to force to main power. Continuing disputes of presidential legitimacy, then, seem likely to have one of two results: Anarchy or authoritarianism.

The problem doesn't just exist at the presidential level. States that make it harder for black people to vote, for example, help delegitimize themselves. Gerrymandering does the same. The more a process appears rigged in favor of one side or the other, the less likely it is that citizens will accept it as legitimate.

All of which means we're likely headed toward a crisis of legitimacy. The advent of the allegations of Russian interference may be a sign we've arrived.

Can anything be done?

The first thing, probably, is to take a deep breath and understand that America has survived earlier challenges to the legitimacy of its government: Rutherford Hayes lost the popular vote in 1877 and was referred to as "His Fraudulency" after he took office. Richard Nixon resigned once he realized his support in the "Watergate" scandal had evaporated. The republic survived.

Second: We might try to fix some of the processes that lead people to believe the system is fixed.

Beyond that, though, maybe we all -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- need a civics lesson: Sometimes, in a democracy, your side loses. Sometimes you have to be willing to live with that, to go back to work and try to win the next election.

It is admittedly difficult to feel bad for Trump in this case. He did, after all, launch his own political career by being birtherism's best-known proponent. And he did complain during the campaign that the system was "rigged." Trump would be nowhere if he hadn't actively worked to undermine the legitimacy of our elections and governance. Now he's getting a taste of his own medicine, and it's rooted in reality instead of myth? You reap what you sow.

When it comes to the crisis of legitimacy, though, all of us will reap what has been sown. We need to find a new path.

Joel Mathis, a former associate editor of Philadelphia Magazine, is a frequent PennLive Opinion contributor.
Boyne City Splash Pad construction continues, to open next year

The project is being funded by the sale of the Boyne City Community Building.
One correctional officer was killed and another was seriously injured after an inmate attacked them inside the Miller County, AR, jail's kitchen Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

Around 1 p.m., an inmate attacked officers Lisa Mauldin and Demaris Allen at the jail in Texarkana, the Miller County sheriff's office said in a statement.

Both women were transported to Wadley Regional Medical Center in Texarkana. Mauldin died from her injuries, and Allen was then taken to a hospital in Little Rock, the statement said.

Arkansas State Police are investigating the attack, Arkansas Online reports. The name of the inmate has not been released.
An off-duty Cordova, AL, officer was seriously wounded by gunfire during a surprise birthday party for his wife on Saturday night.

The shooting happened about 11 p.m. in Jasper. Shelby Luttrell, a part-time Cordova police officer, was shot in the stomach and the arm. He remains hospitalized at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.

Cordova police spokesman T.J. Armstrong said the 25-year-old Luttrell was hosting a party for his wife at their apartment when the shooting happened late Saturday night.

An acquaintance of someone at the party showed up and got into a struggle with Luttrell, who wasn't armed at the time. The suspect, whose name has not yet been released, fired on Luttrell and then fled the scene.

Luttrell is expected to make a full recovery, AL.com reports.

The investigation is being conducted by Jasper police, who arrested the suspect early Sunday. Formal charges have not yet been announced.

Luttrell was a full-time Cordova police officer, but recently took a full-time job in the private sector.
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*The following is an opinion column by R Muse*

As a con man, it is nearly certain that except for maybe Bernie Madoff, dirty Donald Trump is without peer in modern times. No, not just because he lied and conned his way to Washington D.C. with free valuable assistance from the Russians and alt-right rogues (Nazis) ensconced in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If anyone was doubtful that Trump intends to use the office of the president to increase his wealth, CNN is reporting that while running for office the scam artist turned Republican politician and his family profited to the tune of at least $12.5 million just for running, with some of that money coming directly from taxpayers.

It was reported here that before the ink was dry on a signing deal giving him access to RNC donor money, Trump wasted no time pilfering donor money for personal profit at his Florida resort. It was a small con that only earned him over a million dollars entertaining primarily members of the Donald Trump Palm Beach country club. But as it turns out, Trump found other ways to profit off of being a Republican candidate and indirectly conned taxpayers into patronizing his businesses.

Apparently the RNC donor bank couldnt sate his greed and it was a con that Republicans and taxpayers should have seen coming. After all, Trump did say I could be the first presidential candidate to run and make money on it.

According to a campaign watchdog, running as a Republican was profitable for the crook because his various Trump enterprises made over $12.5 million; a figure that is unprecedented in American history and probably grossly underreported. Political campaigns are generally not in the profit-generating business, but this is a con man and it is worth noting that the Trump presidential campaign did not earn millions of dollars in profit, Donald Trumps businesses and family did. It is a portent of things to come and exactly what most conscious human beings are certain is going to happen regularly with corrupt Trump in the White House.

A lawyer with the Campaign Legal Center, Larry Noble, expressed to CNN that Trumps personal campaign yield is beyond unprecedented; I dont think weve ever seen one like this. As noted above, Trump is a con man without peer; particularly because he exists to make money off of other people, and besides Republican donors, Trump made money off of taxpayers as well.

Of special note within the eight-digit profit margin is about $1.6 million Trump earned by flying the Secret Service around on his private Boeing 757 jet. It is typical for a campaign to charter a jet for the candidate and staff, while the secret service provides transit for its own agents. But according to several reports, Trump turned that tradition on its heels, using his own aviation company to provide campaign transportation, and charging the federal government airfare for his required security entourage. According to CNN, Trumps aviation company alone collected about $8.7 million during the 18-month campaign.

There is a reason so many Americans are criticizing, and warning about, Trumps intent to mix his business and politics to an unprecedented degree. A campaign finance lawyer with Akerman LLP, Brett Kappel, said The taxpayers are actually reimbursing Trump for the travel of the Secret Service agents. Its just another example of how the Trump campaign has taken an unprecedentedly large amount of its money and spent it at Trump-owned facilities.

Politico pointed out that Trump typically promoted, or advertised, the awesome quality of his properties throughout the campaign. And the New York Times reported that his daughter, Ivanka, sat in on an official meeting with the prime minister of Japan. Ms. Trumps clothing line company does business with the Japanese government. Despite Trump saying he couldnt possibly mix business with governing, there can be no doubt that Trump will continue finding creative ways to monetize his connection to the White House and increase his wealth.

It is a sad state of affairs, but with Trump going to Washington and having control and authority over the Department of Justice and top investigative agencies, he will have veritable free reign to use his power as president to increase his wealth at home and particularly around the world. Oh it is true Trump promised to bifurcate his business interests from his intent to tyrannize Americans, but he lies at about the same frequency that most humans draw breath.

He already canceled, not postponed, canceled a press conference he promised would carefully lay out in front of the American people precisely how he was going to disentangle the conflicts of interest posed by his far-flung business interests. Canceling promises (lying) is a pattern with Trump who also pledged to the American people that were working on releasing his tax returns to exhibit the transparency and honesty of Donald J. Trump. He also swore that he would produce evidence that he never groped a woman on an airplane. He also vowed to hold a press conference for the sole purpose of clearing up his wifes messy immigration history. But like his tax returns, grabbing pussy on airplanes, clarifying Melanias foreigner issues, and his alleged business divestiture plan, they never happened because it is a typically lying Trump pattern the American people are going to see over and over again.

Donald Trump is a scam artist and it was too bad he swindled the RNC into giving him access to donor money to transfer directly to his businesses, but that was their problem and gross underestimation of the mans greed. That he conned taxpayers into paying him for flying secret service protection is all the more telling. Remember, this cretin, Donald Trump, said he would be the first presidential candidate to run and make money on it and after experiencing the realization of that prophecy, Americans should brace for how much money he is going to make off of taxpayers as president with no-one to stop him.

Image: Brigette Supernova/Daily Beast
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Former President Bill Clinton has lashed out and his blaming FBI Director James Comey for Donald Trump winning the presidential election.

CNN reported on former President Clintons interview with the Bedford and Pound Ridge Record-Review:

James Comey cost her the election, Clinton said during a lengthy conversation, according to the paper. He argued that we were seven points up in polls and on track to win, before the FBI director made an 11th-hour announcement that the bureaus probe into Hillary Clintons email use as Secretary of State was being reexamined in light of potential new evidence.

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According to the Record-Review, Clinton suggested the confusion created by Comeys announcement lead voters to not knowing what information to trust, and that not enough was made of the fact that the FBI boss said days later there was no new evidence of illegal activity.

There are a lot of Democrats who feel the same way as former President Clinton, but the problem goes much deeper. It wasnt Comeys letter by itself that cost Clinton the election. The problem was that the media chose to use Comeys letter to elevate Clintons emails and place them on a level the same or above that of the real scandals that surrounded Donald Trump. Comeys letter received more mainstream media attention than Russias interference in the election, Trumps refusal to disclose his conflicts of interests, the allegations of sexual assault against Trump, Trumps refusal to release his tax returns, and the Republican candidates lack of disclosure of his health records.

Instead of these very real issues, the media chose to obsess and elevate a non-scandal related to Hillary Clintons emails. If one wants to understand how much of a non-scandal the emails were, consider that after Trump had won the election, Republicans dropped all talk of investigating or prosecuting Hillary Clinton.

The emails were a nothing story that the media happily inflated to boost Donald Trump and add drama to the presidential campaign.

What Comey did was provide fuel to an already burning media fire, but the collusion to elect Trump goes beyond Comey and Russia to the heart of the media and how the corporate press picked a president.
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The following is an editorial by PoliticusUSAs co-publisher Sarah Jones.

If youve been feeling vaguely hysterical, what I like to call hysterical-adjacent, at the idea of Donald Trump running the U.S., youre not alone.

Its so uncomfortable to feel the simmerings of hysteria that we are prone to deny it, stuff it, pack it away, and choose even to gaslight ourselves in order to convince ourselves that the ground underneath our feet is solid. Gravity is real. Democracy will check this.

And yet Donald Trump is already causing international incidents and we now know that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) hid from the American public the fact that the Russians hacked into the DNC and Hillary Clinton in order to interfere with our elections.

Putin wants Donald Trump in office for a reason, and its not because hes so smart.

Monday morning, the Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot and reportedly died due to his wounds. Reuters noted the attack, appeared to mark one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict in Turkey. Relations between Moscow and Ankara have long been fraught over the conflict, the two supporting opposing sides.

Trump first offended China with his Taiwan call, and then when they retaliated by taking an underwater U.S. drone, Trump hit them with a misspelled tweet.

The adults in the Obama administration managed the precarious situation.

Who will help us when Obama is gone?

The checks and balances inherent in our system have been undermined by Republicans to such an extent that even our Supreme Court is suffering and will be immediately subject to Trumps pro-Russian stances.

Just like the fall of the Roman Empire can be partially attributed to an incompetent and corrupt Senate that wouldnt check the Emperor, the fate of the United States is in the hands of an incompetent, lazy, Machiavellian corrupt Congress. This check and balance is all but destroyed right now.

Our Senate is run by Mitch McConnell (R-KY), a man who obstructed President Obama for eight years for no reason other than partisan gain, including refusing hearings on Obamas Supreme Court nominee  a man, Merrick Garland, equally respected by both sides of the aisle. The nomination of Justice Garland could have been an Obama legacy to bipartisanship and sanity. A huge drop of hope for our republic.

But Republicans werent having that. They wanted Donald Trump to pick the seat, even though the people had voted for Obama by a real landslide. Republicans wanted a corrupt, sexually-assaulting, failed know-nothing, who is empowering Putin with his cabinet, to pick the next Supreme Court Justice.

There is no reason to discuss the House of Representatives unless youve been sleeping for six years, because that chamber was an easy takeover for extremists and has been dysfunctional for years. Its dysfunction caused former Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to retire, and no doubt hes quite pleased with his prescient move, given the coming Age of Trump.

Trump supporting Republicans pretend that Donald Trump is like a Jeb Bush in many ways, but the truth is that while we might worry about war with Jeb Bush and worry about oil and policies with which we disagree, we would not be vaguely terrified. This is not a partisan terror.

We are terrified for a reason, and we are sadly correct to be terrified. Republican national security experts agreed that Trump wasnt fit for office for a reason.

It seems our nations viability might actually hinge on the whims of Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, and while Id like to have faith in them, John McCain is not known for staying the course. So his calls for a bipartisan investigation into Russians hacking into our election are promising, but Im not holding my breath.

What will stop Trump? I suspect only Trump will stop Trump. The toxic combination of Trumps fragile ego with his general low level of intellectual functioning is his Achilles Heel. This weakness has already been exploited by Putin. This combination suggests he will be his own downfall.

Think Nixon, but without the intelligence.

Trump will go after Republicans who dont kiss his feet, and one day he will go after the wrong Republican. Putin will have the goods on this Republican, and his relationship with Wikileaks could prove helpful once again, or perhaps things will be so distorted that Trump will just be able to dump documents directly with the media instead of taking the Wikileaks route. It isnt a stretch to think that Trump will have a cozy relationship with a publicity arm for his government that passes as media like Putins RT, or much like Breitbart already is.

But this will be the wrong Republican to do this to, and Trumps ego will blind him to this. This will awaken the slumbering patriotism of the Republican Party and finally the nation will see real investigations into Trump, for whatever. It wont matter to Republicans. They will have gotten what they needed from Trump, an assist even down ballot in an election they should have lost. A Supreme Court seat they violated their Constitutional duty to give to Trump. And who knows what other horrors for climate change, human rights, etc.

This is the only scenario through which I view the country might be saved, unless the CIA drops some damage on Trump that cant be ignored. But being a Putin puppet seems like it would be damage enough in sane times. If our democracy werent already undermined to a frightening degree, this would be a real problem, even for Republicans.

But Republicans are okay with Trump having gotten into office through the help of Putin and a partisan move by the FBI. These are the same people who flipped out and pretended the IRS was targeting only conservatives. But they are proudly standing by their man who was the clear product of abuse of power and even the interference of a foreign power with an agenda to undermine western democracy.

Hang on to reality, its all we have. Do not gaslight yourselves. You are right to be vaguely hysterical but we must all prepare to fight the onslaught. We must not allow complacency and exhaustion to whittle down the screech of our alarm bells.

It is time to scream. Things are that bad. The country we love is under attack from a foreign entity who has infiltrated an entire party or at least has that party covering for their attack, and that party is in control of all branches of government.

Happy holidays.
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*The following is an opinion column by R Muse*

There has been an appropriate amount of concern and criticism around depraved Donald Trumps predilection to corrupt business practices he cant resist bringing to the White House. Part of that corruption is nominating a close confidante, ally, and friend of Russian president Vladimir Putin who also runs a giant oil company the Kremlin wants desperately to do business with. If Trumps proposed secretary of state was involved in any industry other than big oil, his friendship with Putin would likely destroy his chances of ever winning Senate confirmation, but Republicans exist to serve the needs of the oil industry.

However, now a leaked document containing 1.3 million files reveals that Trumps choice for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, not only runs ExxonMobil, he is also the director of a Russian oil company registered in the Bahamas, a secretive tax haven.

The Guardian revealed that the leaked document was given to a German newspaper, Suddeutsche Zeitung, by an anonymous source. The ExxonMobil chief executive has been a director of the oil companys Russian subsidiary, Exxon Neftegas, since 1998 and his name appears with other corporate officers based in Moscow, and Sakhalin, in Russias far east. What that means is that Trump nominated an American-born, Russian businessman to be the nations top diplomat who will be looking out for Russias interests, not Americas. Of course it is troubling, but not surprising after learning that Trumps path to the White House was made possible by Russian espionage under direction of oil-hungry Vladimir Putin.

Many of Tillersons detractors say he is far too cozy with Russias tyrannical president, and it is an apropos concern regarding the obvious and very real conflicts of interest. This is particularly true since the non-Russian oil company Tillerson oversees (ExxonMobil) lusts to get involved in Russias oil and gas development that will monumentally increase the worth of Tillersons current $218 million in Exxon stock. There is already sufficient evidence that Tillerson has benefitted from his close relationship to Putin, as well as the second most powerful man in the Kremlin, Igor Sechin. Sechin is ex-KGB and the head of the official Russian state oil company Rosneft. In fact, Vladimir Putin awarded Tillerson the Russian Order of Friendship medal directly following a deal between Tillerson and Sechin to explore and exploit Russias Arctic oil; exploration and exploitation that will enrich Putin, Sechin, and of course Rex Tillerson.

However, that special deal suffered a serious setback when President Obama imposed wide-ranging sanctions against Russia for Putins illegal annexation of Crimea and Russias shadow invasion and war against Ukraine. Those sanctions infuriated Rex Tillerson as much as they did Vladimir Putin and it drove Tillerson mad enough to demand that sanctions were immediately lifted to help Russia, and Tillersons portfolio. Although Tillerson has had to wait longer than his BFF Putin wanted, ExxonMobils investors are celebrating that Putin-puppet Trump will lift the sanctions. Trump did, by the way, condone Putins aggressive imperialism and hinted that if he is president, the Russian dictator will be able to proceed unimpeded by Trumps great America that is unwilling to honor its NATO commitments as remuneration to Russia for aiding his campaign for the White House.

There is nothing whatsoever good or appropriate about Tillerson as possible secretary of state, and this new revelation makes his nomination all the more unacceptable. In fact, Trump nominating Tillerson epitomizes everything corrupt about Trump and leads one to seriously believe that Tillerson was chosen to be the United States of Americas secretary of state by Vladimir Putin. There is no other reasonable explanation except that Trump took into account who as secretary of state would be most agreeable to Vladimir Putins interests.

Coupled with Trumps glowing praise for Russian policy positions under a tyrannical dictator and his indebtedness to Putin, and Russian oligarchs, for installing him as Americas president, the only reason a Russian oil executive was nominated as Americas secretary of state is to benefit Russia, Vladimir Putin and Rex Tillersons stock portfolio; America or its national security interests never figured in the equation. It is precisely what one expects from a hostile power allowed to appoint Americas president and who nominates members of Trumps cabinet.

Although some Republicans have expressed reservations about a Putin ally and confidante as secretary of state, their reservations will be overshadowed by their devotion to the oil industry and dependency on big oil money to stay in office. It is that devotion that should depress any hopes that even one Republican will oppose Tillersons confirmation despite he is running a Russian oil company and concealed that fact in a Bahamian tax haven.
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Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, fresh from being called demented by the unhinged Donald Trump, reacted to a Politico piece this morning with a tweet saying, That 1930s show returns. And Im not talking about macroeconomics.

Indeed, he is not. He is talking about Trumps bully boys, his own personal bodyguards. And Krugman is not the only one who is concerned:

If we're in a place where a president has private police forces and doesn't take intelligence, we're all in body bags soon.  Eric Garland (@ericgarland) December 19, 2016

Adolf Hitler called them his Schutzstaffel, or Protection Squadron, formed of NSDAP volunteers. Donald Trumps battalion of retired cops and FBI agents perform the same task for another would-be Fuhrer, aiming, like Hitlers security force, to protect him and clamp down on protesters.

Politico explains that Trump has opted to maintain an aggressive and unprecedented private security force, led by Keith Schiller, a retired New York City cop and Navy veteran who started working for Trump in 1999 as a part-time bodyguard, eventually rising to become his head of security.

The Secret Service like the White House is not good enough for Trump. Politico goes on to tell us how significant Trumps decision to retain a private security force is:

Several past presidential nominees have used private security or, in the case of governors running for president, state police details. But the experts could not think of another example of a president-elect continuing with any private security after Election Day, when Secret Service protection expands dramatically for the winner.

In fact, Trump spent over $1 million on security during his campaign compared to the $360K spent by Hillary Clinton, and his spending actually increased after the Secret Service picked up his security after November 2015. Paranoid much, this new strongman of ours?

Politico explains that The Trump associates say Schiller is expected to become a personal White House aide who would serve as the incoming presidents full-time physical gatekeeper, but theoretically, he will not be armed as federal law prohibits anyone being armed in the White House outside of law enforcement personnel.

On the other hand, what regard has Trump ever shown for federal law, or indeed, any law? What other candidate has given and received the Hitler salute and demanded personal oaths of loyalty from his followers? What other candidate repeats Nazi tropes right out of Hitlers own mouth?

Taken together, these developments are obviously a point of concern for Americans living in what is already a police state. Trump has demanded lists of names of those within the Energy Department who back climate science and one prominent hate group leader has already asked Trump to lead a witch-hunt of pro-LGBT officials in the State Department.

As Krugman tells us in another tweet,

Whats about to happen here is populist style, with a heavy racist component, wedded to oligarch-friendly, middle-class-destroying policy.

With a strong dose of fascism to back it up, apparently. And in a new opinion column, Krugman says,

Many people are reacting to the rise of Trumpism and nativist movements in Europe by reading history  specifically, the history of the 1930s. And they are right to do so. It takes willful blindness not to see the parallels between the rise of fascism and our current political nightmare.

But it is what he has learned from his reading of ancient history that are most critical:

Heres what I learned: Republican institutions dont protect against tyranny when powerful people start defying political norms.

It did not work in Republican Rome. It did not work in Weimar Germany. It will not work here.

As I have argued here before, the Constitution works only so long as we all agree that it works. There are no mechanisms within the Constitution itself to actually protect us when presidents or legislatures choose to ignore it, or court rulings (even Supreme Court rulings).

Our Constitution and the democratic system it gave us is fragile. As Krugman says, The erosion of democratic foundations has been underway for decades, and theres no guarantee that we will ever be able to recover.

And Donald Trump is about to show us just how fragile.
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ANKARA (Reuters)  The Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot in an attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital on Monday and the Russian RIA news agency said he had died of his wounds.

The Anadolu news agency said the gunman had been neutralized soon after the attack, which appeared to mark one of the most serious spillovers of the Syria conflict in Turkey. Relations between Moscow and Ankara have long been fraught over the conflict, the two supporting opposing sides.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov made a speech at the opening of a photographic exhibition. Hurriyet newspaper said Turkish special forces had surrounded the building. NTV said three other people were wounded.

A Reuters witness said that while gunfire rang out for some time after the attack, it had now stopped. A Hurriyet newspaper reporter said the attacker chanted Islamist slogans.

Russia and Turkey have been involved in conflict in Syria across the border from where over two million Syrian refugees have settled. Turkey has been a staunch opponent of President Bashar al-Assad while Russia has deployed troops and its air force in support of the Syrian leader.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Russian-backed Syrian forces have fought for control of the eastern part of the city of Aleppo, triggering a stream of refugees.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. Islamic State militants have been active in Turkey and carried out several bomb attacks on Turkish targets.

A photograph posted on twitter showed a man in a black suit holding a pistol, standing close to a podium in the gallery, its walls hung with pictures. Four people including what appeared to be the ambassador lay on the floor.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Daren Butler; editing by Ralph Boulton)
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Our collective Trump nightmare could be encapsulated in the last stop of his Thank You tour. All the elements, all the Trumpisms, came together in Mobile, Alabama as he attacked journalists, Michelle Obama, and reality itself, claiming We won by a lot. It wasnt even close.

Of course, he lost by a lot and it wasnt even close. But reality is not something a Trump crowd would applaud.

Donald Trump, who, along with Ivanka, has his line of clothes made in Mexico, China and elsewhere, used his visit to Mobile, Alabama yesterday, for an opportunity to tweet Our goal is to bring back that wonderful phrase: #MadeInTheUSA!

Is it possible all those thousands of people who attend his rallies dont know their hero pays foreign workers, not American, to make clothes in other countries? You would like to think so, but you should never, ever, bet on it.

This is why:

Explaining why Trump won in his opening prayer, Franklin Graham said, I believe it was God. This earned him enthusiastic cheers. God showed up, he announced.

In fact, it was the Russians, however much youd like to think your religious leaders could tell the difference between a flabby Russian dictator and God.

It is rather bizarre to see a president-elect go back out on the campaign trail immediately after a grueling election schedule, but then Trump really has no desire to be president, and given the new scrutiny being given to his unhinged rantings, he almost has to do what he does best, by word and by tweet distract folks from whats really going on.

As an example, this tweet he sent out:

If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned & called terrible names!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2016

To which Sopan Deb could offer only a sigh:

Obviously, any threats are unacceptable, whoever is making them. However, it is the height of hypocrisy for Trump to now pretend his own followers are innocent and that they are not zealously earning every name they are being called. A day didnt go by all campaign long where Trump didnt blame what he was doing on Hillary Clinton or somebody else. Dont expect that to change now.

While he was speaking in Mobile, Trump attacked not only Paul Krugman for pointing to Trumps Neocon tendencies, by calling him demented, to which Krugman responded,

I also hear that the Orange One says I'm demented. It's an honor to be cited.  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) December 18, 2016

But he took a shot (for him, a mild shot) at Michelle Obama also, saying of the First Ladys interview with Oprah Winfrey,

Michelle Obama said yesterday that there is no hope. But I assume she was talking about the past and not the future. Im telling you that we have tremendous hope. We have tremendous promise and we have tremendous potential. We are going to be so successful as a country again. We are going to be amazing.

I honestly believe she meant that statement in a different way than in the way that came out, because I believe that there is tremendous hope. And beyond hope, we have such potential. This country has such potential. You watch, it will be so special. Things are going to happen like you havent seen in many, many decades.

While speaking of Donald Trump, Sen. John McCain told Jake Tapper Sunday that, I think reality is going to intercede at one point or another, just because of the Russian activities.

It would be nice if this were true but it is by no means assured. Trump has reality-proofed himself very thoroughly so far.

There is no evidence anywhere to be found that the president-elect takes cognizance of any facts anywhere, and his Thank You tour has proven his capacity for dishonesty is undiminished. He lies often and enthusiastically.

And scarier than that, there is apparently not a soul in his crowds who either know or care, while he is shouting his made in the USA nonsense, that he has his own clothes made in other countries.

None of them have a problem with their president shouting America First while only 29 percent of Republicans in an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll are bothered by Russian interference in our elections.

Only to them could it make sense that you could put America first while still letting Russia elect our president.

Trump used his Thank You tour finale to remind America what an unhinged liar he is, and the Mobile crowd loved him for it: We are really the people that love this country he said, even as he prepares to destroy it with their enthusiastic backing.
While some longtime locals have moved away  frustrated by traffic, cut-down trees, more parking  a surprising number of residents say Bluffton is managing to preserve the funky, laid-back vibe that drew so many people to it in the first place. Read moreDespite enormous growth, Bluffton is trying to hang on to its small-town charm
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
This hasn't received a lot of attention, in part because talk is cheap and four years is a long time, but in advance of Silicon Valley executives meeting with the president-elect last week, IBM's chief executive revealed that the company plans to hire 25,000 employees during Donald J. Trump'sfour-year term.

IBM CEO Ginni Rometty wrote in a guest column in USA Today T uesday that "at IBM alone, we have thousands of open positions at any given moment, and we intend to hire about 25,000 professionals in the next four years in the United States, 6,000 of those in 2017."

Rometty also said IBM will invest $1 billion in "training and development of our U.S. employees in the next four years."

She made the comments as part of a call for a "new educational model" that puts more emphasis on vocational training for jobs at companies such as IBM. "We are hiring because the nature of work is evolving  and that is also why so many of these jobs remain hard to fill," Rometty wrote. "As industries from manufacturing to agriculture are reshaped by data science and cloud computing, jobs are being created that demand new skills  which in turn requires new approaches to education, training and recruiting."

Bloomberg News, in reporting IBM's plans, noted that the company said in March that it had about 25,000 jobs open worldwide "and that it had started to cut some jobs in the U.S. as part of a 'workforce rebalancing' in an effort to add staff with cloud and other specific skills."

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Some of those job losses apparently have come in Minnesota , though whether in the Twin Cities or Rochester is unclear. In fact, there was a dust-up last month over a comment about IBM that Trump made during a campaign appearance at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport two days before the election. Trump said IBM had laid off 500 in Minneapolis and "moved their jobs to India and various other countries."

An IBM spokesperson last month denied that but provided no other details.

Rometty's pledge to hire 6,000 workers in the U.S. next year provides some modest holiday cheer for IBM employees in Rochester. The company reportedly had 377,000 employees worldwide at year-end 2015, so the hiring would amount to maybe 7 percent over four years. IBM doesn't report employment levels, but the number of workers in Rochester has been estimated at 2,000-2,500.

In May, the company announced plans to sell two-thirds of its nearly 3 million-square-foot campus in northwest Rochester and consolidate its operations into eight buildings. Tory Johnson, senior location executive for IBM in Rochester, said the consolidation of operations "will involve no personnel changes" and should be completed by March.
NEW YORK  As a girl, Tracy Reese thought she might be an architect. Then she caught the fashion bug.

She knew, of course, that designers who are black such as herself existed. She used to snap up Willi Smith at The Limited growing up in Detroit. She headed to New York with high hopes.

"When I first came to New York my eyes were really opened to the breadth of the industry, but I was looking for our place in it," recalled Reese, who has dressed first lady Michelle Obama.

Reese, along with other noted designers of color, Jeffrey Banks and Laura Smalls among them, spoke at the opening recently of a new exhibition, "Black Fashion Designers," at The Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Running through May 16, the show offers a glimpse into exactly how impactful designers of color have been through the decades, including Reese, Banks and Smalls. Smalls has seen her dresses worn seven times by the departing Obama.

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They also know the challenges of striving for beauty in design while attempting to break through in an industry still dominated by whites.

"Designers of color don't get a lot of publicity, and so many of the businesses are not sizable. It's tough to get recognition," Reese said, standing amid rows of mannequins spanning decades of diverse black voices in fashion.

Father's help

Reese's father provided initial startup money when she first went into business for herself.

"I had to go out and get loans. I did a lot of paper writing. A lot of business planning. I had to have a lot of assistance because I didn't have business training," she said. "That's usually what a banker wants to see, or a financial person. It's a kind of closed industry. And as difficult as it is for a person of color, you really have to rise through the ranks high enough to grab the attention of the people who are holding the purse strings."

Smalls, who grew up in Queens, knew at 8 or 9 that she wanted to be a fashion designer. She went to the High School of Art and Design, followed by Parsons School of Design.

"When I graduated Parsons, being African-American, it was not easy for me to get a job. It was just not easy. I couldn't fathom that I would be able to support myself with my own collection. They don't say anything. I mean, you know. It's just you don't get the job. I could tell you a horrible story, but I won't," said Smalls, who worked in relative obscurity until 2012, when Obama first wore some of her pieces.

Banks, at 63 the oldest of the three, has focused on menswear during his decades in the business, adding home decor and childrenswear in more recent years, selling on HSN.

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"I was very lucky in that I met Ralph Lauren when I was 16. I started working for him when I was 17, three weeks out of high school and two months before I started college."

Unreasonable impediment

Even so, it wasn't easy.

"I remember when I was 10 years old and talking to a former nursery school teacher and telling her that I wanted to be a fashion designer and she said, 'Well, whoever heard of a black fashion designer,' and she was black," said Banks, who was raised in Washington, D.C.

"I was so angry, even at 10 years old, to think why would someone say something like that? Why should that be an impediment to anything? I think it made me even more determined to become a designer," he said.

Banks looked to those who came before him, but his eye was on the beauty of their creations, not necessarily their skin color.

"Growing up, Stephen Burrows, when I was in high school, he was just starting to design and I thought his designs were extraordinary, and that was way before I knew he was black," Banks said. "I just thought they were great looking clothes. At the end of the day that's really what counts."

High and Lowe

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Jacqueline Bouvier must have thought so, too. In 1953, she wore an ivory silk taffeta gown to marry the young Sen. John F. Kennedy. It was designed by Ann Lowe, already a noted dressmaker for high society patrons in New York.

Lowe also was the great-granddaughter of an enslaved woman and an Alabama plantation owner. She learned to sew at the knees of her mother and grandmother.

"Yet, she embraced all of the beauty of European couture," said Andre Leon Talley, the former editor-at-large for Vogue who remains a fashion pundit and served on the show's advisory committee.

The exhibition is intended as a sampling, not an all-consuming account of black contributions to fashion, but it does offer a wide range, from a modest ivory wedding gown by Lowe (not Jackie's) to a risque royal blue satin Playboy bunny uniform by Zelda Wynn Valdes.

Among others represented: Pyer Moss, Duro Olowu, Kevan Hall, Andre Walker, Lawrence Steele and Patrick Kelly.

And the legacy?

"The legacy is perseverance, and of struggling through many decades of culture," Talley said. "Struggling black individualism. Struggling in a country that perhaps did not recognize black people as designers. You have a rainbow of success based on innate quality and innate technique. They had dreams, and they put their dreams into fashion."
Dodge County

Alley improvement hearing set for Jan. 23

DODGE CENTER  The Dodge Center City Council approved a resolution at its meeting Dec. 12, setting Jan. 23 as a date for a public hearing on the 2017 Downtown Alley Improvement Project for reconstruction of the alley between NAPA Auto Parts and Citizens State Bank.

Houston County

Owl workshop to run Jan. 13-15

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HOUSTON  The International Owl Center will host a weekendlong owl journaling workshop Jan. 13-15 with Joanne Klees. Intended for ages 16 and older, it is an opportunity to experience owls and sketch and write about them.

A maximum of 12 people has been set for the class. Call the Owl Center to register at 507-896-6957.

Fillmore County

Legislation could create veterans home

PRESTON  There is growing desire for a veterans home in Fillmore County.

State Rep. Greg Davids said he will author legislation at the next session to create one. He plans to call for a facility of 140 beds for eligible veterans and their spouses.

Mower County

Get set for Jingle Bell Jog on Wednesday

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GRAND MEADOW  The Jingle Bell Jog is taking place Wednesday, benefiting the Burman family, which includes 15 children, many of whom have special needs.

The run begins at the Grand Meadow School gym at 1:30 p.m.

Wabasha County

Part-time police officers to get raise

LAKE CITY  Part-time police officers in Lake City soon will be getting paid more.

Police Chief Cory Kubista requested the city council pay part-time officers $3 more per hour. He plans to ask for more next year.

The council also agreed to give a cost-of-living increase to city nonunion employees, department heads and the city administrator.

Goodhue County

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Food Shelf reports strong November

ZUMBROTA  The Zumbrota Food Shelf reported strong earnings in November. It collected more than 2,000 pounds of food and nearly $4,900 in cash donations.

Winona County

Study projects need for 1,500 more housing units

WINONA  Winona's housing needs are projected to increase to nearly 1,500 new housing units through 2031, according to a study from Maxfield Research and Consulting.

The largest market is expected to be for market-rate rental, followed by single-family for-sale housing.
The city of Rochester knows it has transportation challenges coming with Destination Medical Center and anticipated downtown job growth; a new technology, autonomous vehicles, could be a part of the solution.

One of the companies on the forefront of autonomous vehicles already has a foothold in Rochester. First Transit Inc., the parent company of the Rochester Public Transit Operator, is piloting an autonomous passenger shuttle at an office park near San Francisco.

According to a Rochester Public Transit news release, the autonomous vehicle passenger shuttle pilot program is the first of its kind in North America.

In partnership with EasyMile, a driverless vehicle company, First Transit is exploring an autonomous vehicle passenger shuttle that would connect riders to multiple Bay-area transit options by running a fixed route in the office park.

The pilot will begin with two vehicles, and each vehicle will be staffed with a customer service agent for questions and information, a press release said. The vehicles can carry 12 passengers each and run for 14 hours on a battery charge.

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Autonomous vehicles are well suited to address "first mile, last mile" service, said Richard Freese, Rochester Public Works director and city engineer. It could help connect people from their homes or park and ride locations to buses that would take them to end destinations.

"New technologies such as autonomous shuttles, which compliment a strong fixed route system, can make it more convenient to use transit and will help us attract new riders," Freese wrote in an email to the Post Bulletin. "Attracting new riders is essential for achieving our goals in terms of the transit share of commuter trips into the central business district."

Transit currently accounts for about 10 percent of commuter trips to downtown Rochester, Freese said. To accommodate job growth anticipated with the DMC initiative, the transit share of downtown commuter trips needs to increase to about 30 percent.

The city of Rochester is in the process of conducting four integrated transit studies that will refine the concepts in the DMC Development Plan. The public's first chance to give input and comments on the studies is Jan. 24 at an open house hosted by the Public Works Department.

The department in October hosted a transit technology workshop where concepts for new and emerging transit technologies were explored for their potential applications in Rochester.

Autonomous vehicles were a part of that discussion, said Nick Lemmer, Rochester Public Transit marketing and outreach coordinator. Lemmer was excited when First Transit Inc. announced its pilot program.

"This was one of those items from the technology workshop that seemed a little bit beyond the horizon in terms of being in operation. So I was most excited to see one of those items actually being piloted, and coincidentally, being piloted by the same operator that we have here at RPT," Lemmer said.

While the autonomous vehicle technology has a Rochester connection, Lemmer said it was far too soon for the city to commit to any one mode for future transit technologies. Lemmer would like to see other technologies piloted  in Rochester, if possible.

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"We are encouraging all kinds of transportation companies and providers to include the city of Rochester in potential future pilot programs, like the one you're seeing in San Francisco," Lemmer said. "We happen to think Rochester, with its potential growth, might be the perfect test case for some evolving technologies in transit."
Rochester firefighters battled a blaze early Sunday that left residents without a home for the holidays in the 4200 block of 28th Street SE.

Firefighters responded to the call around 1:40 a.m. to find flames visible. Because of the fire's intensity, they began working on the outside of the house, which was made more difficult by the minus 15-degree cold.

Deputy Fire Chief Steven Belau said the extreme cold freezes the outside of the hose lines and protective gear the firefighters wear. "Both conditions increase the stresses on the firefighters," he said.

Once firefighters had knocked down the largest part of the fire outside, they moved inside the house.

The lone occupant home at the time called 911, then waited outside in his vehicle; he was treated for smoke inhalation by firefighters on scene until Gold Cross Ambulance arrived.

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While the Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the fire, the occupant reported hearing a "pop" shortly before smoke alarms began to sound.

It wasn't an explosion, however, according to Vance Swisher, assistant fire marshal.

Instead, he characterized it as a "malfunction" of the boiler.

The home was significantly damaged, Belau said, and will not be habitable. "A large portion of the house was damaged due to direct flame contact," he said, adding that the overall damage exceeded $100,000. The fire was fed by the fuel for the boiler, helping the fire spread quickly.

No other homes in the area were damaged, Belau said.

The fire was reported out just over an hour after the initial call. Belau said firefighters who responded worked "extra hard" because other emergency calls throughout Rochester had the few remaining fire crews tied up; relief crews weren't available until after the fire was out.

A crew returned to the address about 8 a.m. to make sure there were no flare-ups, Swisher said.

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While many voters may think the presidential election ended Nov. 8, the real vote for the next president of the United States will take place on Monday.

A total of 538 electors will gather at state capitols across the country to vote for the president. It all is part of the country's Electoral College system. When people vote for president, they actually are voting for an elector who will cast the official ballot for president.

"I don't think a lot of people understand that to be president, you have to be elected by the Electoral College, and I think that everyone kind of forgets about that piece," said Linda Wunderlich.

The Mantorville Democrat is one of 10 alternate electors poised to step in if necessary to cast one of Minnesota's 10 electoral votes. The process is getting more attention than usual this year thanks to a push by some to encourage Republican electors not to vote for Donald Trump. Those urging electors to revolt are pointing to Democrat Hillary Clinton having won the popular vote by more than 2.8 million votes and raising concerns about Trump's qualifications to be president.

In addition, several electors are requesting an intelligence briefing about alleged Russian cyber attacks in the lead up to the election. Officials with the Central Intelligence Agency have accused Moscow of trying to interfere with the U.S. election to support Trump's candidacy. That request has not been granted.

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So how does the Electoral College system work, and why does America have it? For answers to those and other questions, read on.

What is the Electoral College?

Quite simply, it is a process for electing the president and the vice president of the United States. The nation's forefathers put the provision in the Constitution as a compromise between two other proposals  having the popular vote determine the presidency or the U.S. Senate electing the nation's leader. Instead, each state has electors who vote for president.

How does it work?

There are a total of 538 electors. States are granted an elector for each congressional district and two more for each Senate position. In Minnesota, that means a total of 10 electors.

In order to the win the presidency, a candidate must have at least 270 electoral votes.

How do you become an elector?

In most states, including Minnesota, the political parties determine who the electors will be. Each party submits a slate of electors to the Minnesota Secretary of State. Minnesota is among the 48 states with a "winner-take-all" system, meaning whichever candidate wins the popular vote statewide gets all the electoral votes.

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So who are Minnesota's electors?

They all are Democrats because Hillary Clinton won the the state. An elector and an alternate elector were elected during each of Minnesota's congressional district conventions. Two electors and two alternates also were selected at the state level. Often the people chosen to be electors are longtime party members.

That's the case in the 1st Congressional District, where DFL activist and former state Senate candidate Fred Knudsen was picked to be the elector. Four years ago, the Owatonna Democrat had the chance to be an alternate elector. This time, he gets to be the one filling out the ballot.

"It's frankly an honor to represent the people of the 1st District. You represent not only your party, but you represent the people who voted for the winning candidate in Minnesota," Knudsen said.

What happens if electors don't vote for the party's designated candidate?

The short answer is it depends on where they live. There is no federal law or constitutional provision requiring electors to vote for their party's candidate. However, 30 states  including Minnesota  have laws requiring their electors to vote as pledged, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some states, such as Oklahoma and Washington, impose a $1,000 civil penalty. In South Carolina, faithless electors can face criminal penalties. Minnesota officials know first hand what it's like to have a problem with a faithless elector.

You mean Minnesota already has had to deal with a faithless elector?

Yup. In 2004, one of Minnesota's 10 electors voted for Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards for president instead of John Kerry. The ballots were anonymous, and none of the electors fessed up for having voted for Edwards. Election officials at the time questioned whether it was simply an error.

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What's Minnesota's faithless elector law?

In 2015, lawmakers revamped the state law surrounding electors. It requires the election of not only electors but also alternate electors. In addition, an elector must pledge they will vote for the party's designated candidate. If the elector fails to do that, then Minnesota's Secretary of State can reject the ballot and an alternate elector steps in to vote instead.

Do the 1st District electors plan to vote for Clinton?

You bet. Knudsen says he "definitely" will be voting for Clinton. As for Wunderlich, if she gets called in to pinch hit as an elector, she also is committed to voting for Clinton.

What are the odds that electors will go rogue on Monday?

Not very high. Faithless electors never have changed the outcome of a presidential election. The Associated Press recently interviewed more than 330 electors from both parties in states across the U.S. and found little interest among them to vote for someone other than the party's designated candidate.
Electors gather to cast presidential votes

ST. PAUL  A select few Minnesota residents are ready to cast their ballots as the Electoral College officially selects the next president.

Presidential electors will meet in St. Paul today to pledge the state's 10 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton. Those electors will meet in an office building near the usual site inside the state Capitol, which is closed for ongoing renovations.

It's part of the formal process to choose the next president based upon nationwide voting results. Some Democrats upset with the Nov. 8 results have urged electors not to cast their ballot for Trump.

Minnesota voters narrowly broke for Clinton on Nov. 8, extending a 40-year streak of voting for Democrats. Democrats chose 10 people involved with the party to become presidential electors.

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Staff trains for U of Minnesota mental health program

MINNEAPOLIS  A few dozen University of Minnesota faculty members have started receiving training through a pilot program organizers say can help promote mental health.

The new "mental health advocates" program teaches school faculty and staff how to look for signs of mental health issues primarily in students.

Advocates received a folder in their November training with tips on identifying distressed students, as well as best practices for responding to threatening or disruptive classroom behavior.

Disability Resource Center Director Donna Johnson said these advocates are not meant to serve as therapists but rather people who can provide students with a variety of mental health resources on campus.

"The idea (is) to have a point person at the department or the college level ... who knows everything about the resources," psychology graduate student Lauren Mitchell said.

Student out on bail in sexual assault case

EDINA  A suspended University of Wisconsin-Madison student accused of sexually assaulting and harassing women is out on bail.

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Twenty-year-old Alec Cook, of Edina, was released with conditions Friday after a judge cut his bail in half and his parents paid $100,000.

Cook's release comes a day after more charges were filed against him. He now faces 21 charges involving 10 women. Prosecutors say Cook's behavior had been escalating, but his attorneys say that's not the case and the new charges give an unfair impression.

The university sent an email to students Friday telling them to call 911 if Cook is on campus.

Cook's next hearing is Jan. 20. His attorneys plan to file motions to dismiss the case, and the Wisconsin State Journal reports they may seek a change of venue.

Attorneys charged in porn movie scam

MINNEAPOLIS  Two attorneys face federal fraud charges after authorities say they used copyright lawsuits to extort money from hundreds who allegedly downloaded pornographic movies, prosecutors announced Friday.

Paul Hansmeier, of Woodbury, was arrested Friday in Minnesota, and John Steele, a Chicago attorney, was arrested in Florida. Federal prosecutors said the pair used sham entities to purchase copyrights to pornographic movies, then sued people who allegedly downloaded the movies  collecting about $6 million in settlements from 2011 through 2014.

Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said the men's conduct was outrageous and cast doubt on the integrity of the legal profession. The men were charged Wednesday in an 18-count indictment unsealed Friday.

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Neither man had an attorney officially listed in the court docket. A phone call to a number listed for Hansmeier went unanswered, and no message could be left. A number for Steele was not immediately available Friday.

Hansmeier has been suspended from practicing law in Minnesota.
MONTGOMERY  A cancer patient who restored a dilapidated church in rural south-central Minnesota said he no longer feels welcome.

Greg Thomas began restoring the church eight years ago after being diagnosed with cancer.

But officials with Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, which owns the building and surrounding cemetery, told Thomas to suspend all activities during the summer. He no longer is allowed to enter the church he restored without an escort.

"It's a bitter pill," the Army veteran said. "It's really truly sad."

Trustee Gene Mach said while church officials were grateful for Thomas' restoration, they grew increasingly uncomfortable with some of the improvements, including a gas fireplace and an electrical service paid with money that Thomas collected through donations. Church officials also were concerned they'd have to get insurance for the building.

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"If we completely fix this up, then we're going to end up having to insure it," Mach said. "If someone were to get hurt or injured, then it falls back on to us."

Thomas said he feels the historic church should be open inside and out for people to worship and enjoy.

"It was a thing that brought the community together. Everyone enjoyed it. It was glory to God, which was my main focus, and now it just sits there," he said.

However, Mach believes the church should serve as a "showpiece."

Thomas has offered to buy the church, but the church's officials have declined to discuss that because of the cemetery.

"It is sacred ground, and there are people buried there, and it's not really an event center," Mach said.
It requires an extra level of dedication.

As one of two states requiring at least a two-year degree to become a licensed police officer, Minnesota has created a system that ensures those patrolling our streets are properly trained. It provides an extra layer of commitment for future police officers by giving them an opportunity to know firsthand on whether the profession would be right for them.

Ideally, such efforts will also address concerns that have become part of the national focus on police-involved shootings.

For months Rochester Police Chief Roger Peterson has been raising the need to change the direction of training and police policy to encourage  if not mandate  a reduced use of force.

For his part, about 75 percent of Rochester officers have already taken a week of training in crisis intervention tactics, offering strategies to defuse potentially dangerous or violent situations. Peterson's is to have all officers trained within the next year.

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The crisis intervention training is not state mandated, and it's expensive. Including such training in college years could reduce financial burdens on police departments while also ensuring Minnesota officers are trained to seek alternatives to the use of force.

College curricula also have the flexibility needed to provide unique skills that can help officers in the field. If implemented properly, the college environment provides much more than specific skill training; it helps students engage with people from other backgrounds, providing an enriched learning environment.

College campuses provide safe spaces to promote partnerships and examine cultural differences. It can offer insights into how background and experience can affect police interactions.

The opportunities to address emerging concerns are endless.

Ideally, college programs will help future officers find ways to engage with community residents who may have long-held distrust of police officers. Through such efforts, programs would have the opportunity to create new partnerships to strengthen the future of police and community relations.

Minnesota may be an outlier when it comes to requiring a two-year degree for licensed police officers, but the state's colleges have the opportunity to lead by example in creating superior police forces trained to better embrace their communities' needs.
This morning in Ankara, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was speaking at an art gallery when he was murdered by a Muslim terrorist. The terrorist shouted Allahu akbar and delivered a monologue about Russias actions in Syria. The gunman apparently agreed with Russia that its efforts are anti-terrorist.

A courageous Associated Press photographer who was present shot a stunning series of photos. The gunman approaches the ambassador from behind:

The assassin was killed by police; unfortunately, not soon enough. No word yet on a Russian reaction.

UPDATE: It is being reported that the murderer was a 22-year-old off-duty Turkish policeman named Mevlut Mert Altntas.

MORE: There is video of the attack, too. I am not going to post it because it includes the moment when the ambassador is shot, but you can see it here.

One more photo:
The left has been marching relentlessly through our institutions for decades. Thats a major reason why confidence in our institutions  e.g. the mainstream media  is so low.

Now, as John points out, the left is trying to march through the Electoral College, an institution that has been around since the birth of the Republic. Left-liberals want electors to nullify the vote in their states in order to prevent a Trump win, and are harassing and even threatening them in an attempt to bring this about.

Has anything like this ever been attempted? Not to my knowledge. The election of 1876 produced a huge controversy involving the Electoral College. But this was because there were disputes about the outcome of the vote in a number of states.

This year, there are no such disputes. Instead, electors are being asked to ignore the outcome in their states, and the request is backed in some cases by attempts at coercion.

On what basis? Because Russia allegedly interfered in our election and because leftists really, really, really dislike Donald Trump. (Some also point out that Trump lost the popular vote, but this has never been considered grounds for electors to vote their conscience.)

Many conservatives really, really, really dislike Barack Obama. And it would not have been difficult to gin up a case that he won the last election unfairly.

After their first debate, Romney pulled even with Obama. With the Benghazi attacks in the mix, there was good reason to believe Romney might win.

However, the Obama administration lied about the nature of Benghazi in order to preserve its claim that it had essentially defeated al Qaeda. Team Obama also worked Candy Crowley, moderator of the second debate, so she could take the presidents side against Romney when the issue of Obamas honesty about Benghazi came up.

This wasnt the case of a foreign power trying to help a particular candidate  hardly an unheard of occurrence in the annals of presidential elections. This was one of the candidates lying about a matter of national security in order to gain an advantage.

As far as I know, conservatives/Republicans never considered urging the Electoral College to nullify Obamas victory on this basis (or any other). To do so would not only have been absurd, it would have been obscene.

The same is true of what the left is trying to do now. And the left is doing it without a murmur of disapproval from the Democratic party. To my knowledge, Hillary Clinton, who promised to accept the outcome of the election, has not denounced the lefts effort. During his press conference last week, President Obama declined to weigh in on the question of what electors should do  as if this is something about which reasonable people can disagree.

Meanwhile, liberal pundits are calling for president-elect Trump to stop talking about the election in order to heal the country. See, for example, this column by Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post.

But with the left trying to prevent Trumps accession to the presidency based on claims that his victory is illegitimate, Trump has good reason to tout his win and to address, in his inimitable way, the various claims of illegitimacy. Trump will continue to have reason to do so after the Electoral College votes because the left surely will continue to insist that the Russians tilted the election in his favor and to hammer home the almost entirely irrelevant fact that Clinton won the popular vote.

Faced with claims that his victory was illegitimate, President George W. Bush tried to heal the country. He never denied the thinness of his victory margin and he compromised with Democrats on judges and on some policy matters.

This approach didnt work out very well for Bush or his party. Trump has a different one in mind, and I dont blame him.
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As parts of activities marking the sixth anniversary of the death of Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Fuji enthusiasts have continued to celebrate the late music icon in grand style.

A fan and relative of the late fuji musician, Gani Balogun, translated the lyrics of one of the late artistes album from Yoruba to English.

The album, Fantasia Fuji, produced under the Barry Black Music Company, was recorded in Yoruba language and released in 1991.

Until his death, Ayinde Barrister was regarded as one of the pioneers of Fuji music. The late musician, popularly called Barry wonder, was well respected for his deep and philosophical lyrics.

Below is the translated version of the second side (Side B) of the Fantasia album.

Mr. Balogun gave PREMIUM TIMES the permission to publish the translation.

ODE TO DEATH

Death, oh so powerful,

That no herbalist can do anything about it.

The majesty of death is so awesome

That even God does not review its actions.

If death should snatch one of Gods anointed,

And God gets angry enough to give him a query,

Asking why it should do such a thing,

Maybe then death would show remorse and just concentrate on the wicked.

But it is so powerful, a power it derives from the Almighty Himself.

But it is the same death that snatches a Muslim, will also snatch a Christian, even the Traditional worshipper.

If death collects bribes, it would have killed only the poor and leave the rich. But death do not care for bribes.

It is the same death that takes the poor that will also take the wealthy, so let us stop all the posturing.

If death is looking for a mansion to live in, it would have bypassed the landlords and snatch only the tenants, but death has no such needs.

It is the same death that takes the tenant that will also take the landlord, so let us stop the muscle flexing.

If death is afraid of bad publicity, it would have ignored the famous and kill only the masses.

But death does not give a damn.

That is why it is imperative to always remember that we came from Him, and to Him we shall return, no matter how long we lived on this Earth.

What is important is that we have accumulated a lot of good deeds when death arrives. So we can have a good report on judgement day.

Because death is a debt we all must pay, as everyone has sown his own garment of death.

My prayer to God is that for the young not to die before the elderly.

That the death that will snatch me, should first snatches mother, just like it took my father.

Once they are properly buried and celebrated, even if it is the next day, I am ready.

So who the hell is death threatening? Who is it that it is daring? When it is obvious that there is no cure, no escape, from dying?

And that once ones time is up, thats it.

Please let me finish my lunch and wash my hands. Let me go in and bid my loved ones farewell, are no excuses once death comes.

No matter how smooth a talker you are, how many languages you speak, death does not care, even as it understands all languages on Earth.

It would not even converse with anyone before snatching its victim.

Oh, Death is so heartless!

The death that takes the poor will take the rich, the same death that takes the man sleeping in the mansion will take the one sleeping by the roadside. Even the one that sleeps in the palace and the lunatic under the bridge, if we remove the Omnipotence of the Almighty, death is so wicked, it takes whoever it pleases.

If this is our fate, on the day we depart this world, all our hustles and ambitions also end.

The wealth you have acquired would be divided without any portion reserved for you.

The children you left behind, if care is not taken, would inherit none of your wealth.

Even if they inherit and then go on to become even richer than you, they too will grow old and die.

They will remove your body from the Mansion that you are so proud of, take you outside, dig a hole, and bury you inside.

Or is it your beautiful wife or handsome husband that is dear to you? Let us compare that to honey or okro. Honey will never be bitter, but okro, if not spoiled, will be cut to pieces.

If life is like this, you can now see how fleeting life is! Please tell me why we keep grabbing everything in sight?

My song is a message, my lyrics are lessons, when we get to heaven we become equals.

After all, if we have never been to heaven, we have been to Mount Arafat.

I want to be rich, I want to live life to the fullest.

The world is your oyster, keep enjoying yourself.

But remember, God begets none and he was not begotten, but he begot retribution.

The Almighty is not for anyone, apart from those that worship him, do good deeds,and acknowledge the prophethood of Muhammad Rasull lahi. It is only he that can truly have gained from this earthly journey.

Now you can see that death can be the subject of a sermon.

Mr. Balogun, a fan of the late music legend, is a journalist and public affairs analyst.
Oil workers have asked the Federal Government and the National Assembly to ensure that the various interest groups in the oil and gas industry are involved in the implementation of the new Joint Venture Cash Calls.

They also advised that workers should be consulted on efforts to pass the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill and to amend the Nigeria LNG Act.

The workers, under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said this at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

While commending the governments decision to exit the current JV Cash Calls arrangement, the workers said it led to the huge indebtedness to international oil companies and the attendant challenges associated with the system.

The NEC-in-Session appreciates the Federal Government efforts in the payment of arrears of Joint Venture Cash Calls, particularly the establishment of a roadmap to clear outstanding Cash Calls arrears.

The NEC-in-Session reiterates the need for the Federal Government to engage the labour unions in the implementation of the proposed new Joint Venture Cash Calls structure, which is scheduled to commence in January, 2017, the union said.

On the recent attempt to amend the NLNG Act (Fiscal, Guarantees, Assurances and Incentives) by the House of Representatives, PENGASSAN said the consequences of the proposed amendment would impinge on the continued existence of the nations most productive public corporation.

It also noted that the proposed amendment would discourage inflow of foreign investment, with the loss of $25 billion investment, loss of 18,000 potential jobs, reversal of gains in gas flaring reduction and constrained NLNGs development initiatives in the Niger Delta region.

The Association therefore advised the House of Representatives to seek wider input before commencing on the proposed amendment of the NLNG Act.

The group commended the recent efforts by the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the petroleum industry bill, saying the delay in passage of the bill had rather been a disincentive to investments in Nigerias oil and gas industry.
The Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, has been shot and badly injured in Ankara while attending an art exhibition on Monday, state-broadcaster TRT reported.

The ambassador was attacked shortly after giving an opening speech at the event, TRT said, adding that three shots were fired.

Police have launched an operation in the area.

Russia and Turkey patched up rocky relations over the summer and have recently been working together on the evacuations from Aleppo, despite supporting opposite sides in the Syrian civil war.

(dpa/NAN)
To defeat Boko Haram, the Nigerian government must tackle poverty, insecurity and underdevelopment, a UN official has said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filipo Grandi, made the call on Monday in Abuja, while briefing the media at the end of a visit to the Lake Chad Countries of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

Mr. Grandi explained that poverty, underdevelopment and lack of education are what breed insecurity .

He said that there was urgent need for the Nigerian government to tackle these challenges especially in the north-east.

Over 20,000 people have been killed, mainly in Nigerias north-east since the Boko Haram insurgency started in 2009. Millions of others remain displaced by the insurgency.

Mr. Grandi said that there was need for governments in the Lake Chad region to invest greatly in the human development of its citizens.

He said that for any government to successfully win the war on terrorists, insecurity and insurgency, it must first of all win the battle of development.

We need to look at peoples rights and welfare and this has to remain a people oriented response.

I have had very important discussions with the President, the Vice President and Ministers and we have agreed that this is a very difficult challenge because very often it is women and children are the victims.

The women and children that need the most protection have now become the agents of insecurity that are strapped with explosives.

We need to resolve this very important dilemma and ensure that it does not limit the rights of the people and ensure protection of the most vulnerable.

We have agreed with the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish a dialogue on this important factor of protection, Mr. Grandi said.

The UNHCR chief said that the focus of his visit was to see for himself the situation in Nigerias north-east, the displacement caused by Boko Haram insurgencies and its consequences.

He said that after seeing for himself and interacting with the victims of the insurgency, there is an urgent need for donor agencies to come to the aid of Nigeria.

Mr. Grandi called on donors to respond to the needs of the displaced persons especially by providing food as a lot of lives would be saved through their assistance.

UNHCR has asked for 1 billion dollars for 2017 in Nigeria and 250 million dollars to be precise in neighbouring countries.

For 2016, the appeals that were smaller was funded to the tune of 50-60 per cent and so, for 2017, we need to be more ambitious.

We have to let our donors know that lives are saved through their assistance, and so, I am really urging donors to respond, Mr. Grandi said.

He said he was elated to hear from the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, that Nigerian donor agencies and philanthropists have been helping to this course, for the welfare of their brothers in the north-east.

Mr. Grandi encouraged them to keep up with the good work as the humanitarian assistance was not only a government effort but a collective one for the whole of society.

He advised the Nigerian government to put in place its own mechanism for the judicious utilisation of the funds its purpose.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees began his humanitarian visit to the Lake Chad region on December10 to Niger and ended up the visit in Nigeria between December 17 and 19.

(NAN)
Six weeks after setting free all the prime suspects nabbed in connection to the gruesome murder of Bridget Agbahime, the Kano State Government has refused to give any useful explanation for its action.

Several efforts by PREMIUM TIMES within this period to obtain information from the Abdullahi Ganduje administration were frustrated.

Accused by a mob of committing blasphemy against Islam, Mrs. Agbahime, 74, was murdered in broad daylight in downtown Kano on June 2.

The murder, which took place at Kofar Wambai Market, cut deep into Nigerias religious and tribal fault lines.

It was roundly condemned by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sultan of Sokoto; both of whom urged an urgent and diligent investigation by concerned authorities.

On June 4, Mr. Ganduje announced the arrest of one Dauda Ahmad as a prime suspect in the murder, which helped douse sectarian tensions that were brewing at the time.

Mr. Ganduje, who announced the arrest at a meeting with a delegate of Christian leaders in the state, promised a thorough prosecution of anyone charged in connection to the murder.

On June 10, the police arraigned five suspects, including Mr. Ahmad, before a Chief Magistrates Court in Kano.

The remaining four were: Abdullahi Mustapha, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi.

They were all charged with four counts of incitement, culpable homicide and mischief, based on sections 144, 80, 51 and 327 of the state penal code. If convicted, the offences could attract a death penalty.

At the opening of the trial, state prosecutor, Dauda Jibrin, submitted to the trial judge that Mr. Ahmad led his alleged accomplices to confront Mrs. Agbahime.

After slapping her several times while chanting Allahu Akbar, the suspects then started hitting her with sticks, causing bruises and other bodily injuries to her until she struggled to death, Mr. Jibrin said.

Mr. Jibrin, who was representing the Kano State Attorney-General, Haruna Falali, told the court that even more suspects were at large.

He identified them as: Salawiyu, Ibrahim, Dini, Isiyaku Mada, Mallam Sani and Yunusa Sufi.

Shortly after the suspects were arraigned, the police transferred all the case files to Mr. Falalis office for legal advice and continued prosecution.

But on November 3, Mr. Falali abruptly withdrew the case and asked the court to discharge all suspects.

Mr. Falali said he discharged them because there was no case to answer as the suspects are all innocent. He ordered the court to discharge all the suspects.

The announcement sparked a nationwide outrage, with the Christian Association of Nigeria describing it as highly provocative and insulting act on our collective sensitivities as a democratic nation.

But efforts by PREMIUM TIMES to get the Kano State Government to give further explanation about its action were rebuffed.

Questions such as who the state believed was responsible for the act since those it initially described as prime suspects had been freed, why it failed to move the matter to a high court for prosecution after several months since the Magistrate Court can not try capital offences and how it arrived at the decision to exonerate the suspects were left unanswered.

Mike Agbahime, Bridgets husband, said he identified all the five suspects arraigned in connection to the murder of his wife.

Yes, I know all of them. Even at the police station, I identified all of them. All of us were in the same market (some of them in the same line), he told The Punch in an interview last month.

When contacted, Mr. Falali told PREMIUM TIMES that he wont be able to comment on the matter due to its sensitivity.

The Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, also declined to comment on the matter despite repeated enquiries from this newspaper.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, also declined comments, saying he could not obtain any information from the Attorney-General.

But some officials of the administration who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on the condition of anonymity blamed Mr. Falali for the withdrawal.

One source said Mr. Falali was determined to hush up the case out of bias even though he was warned not to do so but to charge it to the high court in Kano instead.

He had made up his mind to silence the case which is the reason he withdrew it when the governor travelled to Cairo, one official said. His action will do a lot of damage to this government.

Mr. Falali declined PREMIUM TIMES request for his reaction to the allegations from his cabinet colleagues.

Another source said the governor had not been able to compel Mr. Falali for further explanation because he had been too busy.

The governor has been very busy and I am sure that must have been the reason he could not force the attorney-general to give Nigerians and the world any explanation, the source said. I know this excuse will sound lazy to you because the story is a very big one and the governor had promised to do something about it and clearly failed.

The police in Kano absolved themselves of any involvement in the withdrawal of the case.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Magaji, told PREMIUM TIMES they arrested the suspects and ensured they were charged to court before pushing the case to the state government.

Since the state government had decided to withdraw the matter, we could not do anything about it, Mr. Magaji said. Our duty as the police was to arrest the suspects and ensure they were immediately charged to court. We did all of that.

Mr. Magaji said the options of the police are quite narrow at this point.

PREMIUM TIMESs efforts to reach Mike Agbahime, Bridgets husband, fell through because he had gone underground. Deeper Life Bible Church, where he had been a preacher for years, has taken charge of his welfare and will only allow him to make any public statement on an occasional basis.
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the investigation of top officials of his administration who have been accused of corruption.

A short statement by Mr. Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu, indicated the presidents directive.

The attention of the presidency has been drawn to a number of reports in the media, in which various accusations of corruption have been levelled against some top officials in the administration, Mr. Shehu said in the Sunday statement.

In that regard, President Buhari has instructed the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate the involvement of any top government officials accused of any wrong-doing. If any of them are liable they will not escape prosecution.

Although the statement did not mention any specific officials, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the Acting Chairman of the anti-graft EFCC have both been accused of corrupt practices.

Mr. Lawal was indicted by the Senate of making millions of naira of public funds from non-executed contracts in the troubled north-east using one of his companies. The Senate has since asked for his suspension and prosecution, although he has denied any wrongdoing.

Mr. Magus confirmation as substantive chairman was blocked by the Senate last week. The Senate based its decision on a security report believed to have emanated from the State Security Service, SSS. A fact-check of the content of the report by PREMIUM TIMES, however, revealed most of the allegations were false.
The State Security Service (SSS) sent two different and contradictory security reports to the Nigerian Senate on the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report today.

While both reports stated that Mr. Magu had some integrity issues, they differed on the actions they suggest the upper chamber take on the confirmation of the EFCC boss.

One of the reports suggested that clearing the anti-corruption fighter would spell danger for the administrations anti-graft war.

The other described Mr. Magu as having performed excellently so far, and should therefore be favourably considered for the post of substantive chair of the EFCC.

Three senators told PREMIUM TIMES in separate interviews that the two reports were dated October 3, 2016, with one addressed to the acting clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, and the other to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang.

The two reports were also signed by the same official, Folashade Bello, on behalf of the Director General of the SSS, Lawal Daura.

The two documents were sent to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.

The senators, who requested not to be named so they are not accused of divulging proceedings at a closed session, said both letters were read to lawmakers during the executive session held to decide the fate of Mr. Magu last Thursday.

The two letters contain almost the same allegations against Magu, one of the senators said. But they are different in the recommendations made.

While the report addressed to Ita Enang was dated August 25, 2016, the one to the acting clerk was dated September 21, 2016. But both were signed by the same Folashade Bello on behalf of Daura.

Another Senator disclosed that in the letter written to Mr. Enang, the SSS stated that although they found some adverse things in relation to Magu, he should be cleared given his excellent performance. They said he should be given the chance to run the commission.

However, the senator said, the same SSS in the report addressed to the acting clerk about a month later asked the Senate not to confirm Mr. Magu.

That other report concluded by saying Magu is integrity-challenged and will constitute a liability to the anti-corruption stand of the Buhari administration, he said. We cant understand why the SSS cannot get its act together to issue a single report and make the same recommendation.

A third senator told PREMIUM TIMES the Senate decided not to confirm Mr. Magu because of the two contradictory reports.

It is our position that given the two confusing reports, it is only the president that can decide whether he still wants the man to run the EFCC or not. The ball is in his court, he said.

The spokesperson for the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, had told journalists on Thursday that the upper chamber decided against confirming Mr. Magu based on adverse security report from the SSS and that the Senate would write to the president intimating him of the decision.

Contacted on Monday for comments on the two contradictory reports the Senate received, Mr. Abdullahi said he would not join issue with anyone on the decision taken on the Magu affair.

We have a moral, legal and constitutional duties to vet nominees, and that is what we did, Mr. Abdullahi said. Every necessary administrative actions were taken.

What usually happen in every confirmation hearing was what took place. Whoever is not satisfied should explore other avenues to make his or her case. As far as we are concerned, we have done our job.

In the reports, the SSS, among other allegations, accused Mr. Magu of benefitting from proceeds of fraud from an individual it (SSS) is prosecuting.

The agency alleged that the suspect, Umar Mohammed, who was a member of the presidential panel on arms procurement, paid the rent and furnished Mr. Magus official residence in the Maitama district of Abuja.

It also claimed that Mr. Magu used Mr. Mohammeds private jets for trips outside Abuja.

A fact-check of the allegations by this newspaper indicates they were largely false.

The presidency said on Sunday that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to investigate allegations of corruption against Mr. Magu and other officials of his administration accused of corruption.
Hours after the Nigerian Senate rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission last week, the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption wrote to advise President Muhammadu Buhari to re-submit his name to the lawmakers, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

The Upper House, last Thursday, declined to confirm Mr. Magus nomination, citing available security report sent to it by the State Security Service.

A top presidency source told this newspaper that in the letter to the president, the anti-corruption committee said the allegations against Mr. Magu in the SSS report were weak and unsubstantiated.

And that therefore, the president should do nothing but resubmit his (Mr. Magus) name, said the source, who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak on such matters.

That it seems it was just internal politics and it was interest groups fighting back to stop the mans work.

And that because there is no proof that Magu took money or compromised himself in any way.

When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, Bolaji Owasanoye, the Executive Secretary of Mr. Buharis anti-corruption advisory committee, declined to say anything further than what Sagay had said on the matter.

Mr. Owasanoye, a professor, also said he would not comment on correspondences between his committee and the president.

In an interview published in the current edition of The Interview, Itse Sagay, the committee chairman, said Mr. Magus appointment as the EFCC boss would be renewed whether or not the Senate confirms him.

Mr. Sagays interview was conducted before the Senates Thursday resolution.

According to the security report forwarded to the lawmakers, the SSS, among other allegations, accused Mr. Magu of benefitting from the proceeds of fraud from an individual it (SSS) is prosecuting.

The secret police alleged that the suspect, Umar Mohammed, who was a member of the presidential panel on arms procurement, paid a multi-million naira rent as well as furnished Mr. Magus official residence in the highbrow Maitama district of Abuja.

A fact-check of the allegations by this newspaper indicates they were largely false.

Mr. Buhari, however, on Sunday ordered an investigation into the allegations against Mr. Magu and other top officials of his administration.
Four days after the Senates initial stance, the Senate Leader has said the upper chamber did not reject Ibrahim Magu as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Ali Ndume said this after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House on Monday

Last Thursday, at a hurriedly arranged press conference just about same time the Senate was ending a one-hour executive session, the spokesperson for the senate, Abdullahi Sabi, announced that Mr. Magus nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari as EFCC chairman had been rejected.

The Senate wishes to inform the public that based on available security report, the Senate cannot proceed with the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The nomination of Ibrahim Magu is hereby rejected and has been returned to the President for further action, said Mr. Abdullahi.

But Mr. Ndume on Monday gave a contradictory position, stressing that the Senate had not rejected Mr. Magus nomination.

We did not reject Ibrahim Magu as EFCC Chairman, said Mr. Ndume.

Rather, he said what the Senate did was to step down Mr. Magus confirmation hearing until issues raised in the report on him by the State Security Service, SSS, are resolved.

He further said the Senate would seek understanding with Mr. Buhari on whether to proceed with the confirmation.

Mr. Abdullahi did not pick or return calls to his phone seeking his clarification on the statement by the Senate Leader. The Senate had announced a recesses on Thursday and will only formally reconvene next year.

The rejection of Mr. Magus nomination, as announced by the Senates spokesperson on Thursday, was based on a security report by the SSS.

In the report confirmed by PREMIUM TIMES, the SSS concluded Mr. Magu would constitute a liability to Mr. Buharis anti-corruption campaign, and ask that he should not be confirmed.

The SSS based its conclusion on some claims including the allegation that Mr. Magu lives in a rented Abuja apartment paid for by a questionable businessman and retired air commodore, Umar Mohammed; and that he is living a luxurious lifestyle. The SSS also found Mr. Magu culpable of professional misconducts in previous positions he held at the EFCC.

However, a fact-check by PREMIUM TIMES revealed several inaccuracies in the SSS report.
Two female suicide bombers were on Sunday night killed as their weapon went off as they attempted to invade Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, officials said.

The incident happened at about 10.30p.m., near Muna Garage, one of the most attacked motor parks in recent times.

Two young girls, with explosives on their bodies, made their ways to a suburb village called Geleri, about 5km away from Muna park.

One of the suicide bombers detonated her device in the village, which also killed her partner whose device failed to explode.

Police spokesman, Victor Isuku, who confirmed the incident to journalists, said three villagers were injured in the explosion.

At About 2030hrs yesterday, two female suicide bombers were halted to stop for routine check at Geleri village which is about 5km to Muna Garage, an outskirt of Maiduguri, he said.

One of the suicide bombers detonated IED strapped to her body killing her and her accomplice whose IED vest did not explode.

Three residents of the area were however injured. The commands EOD unit rushed to the scene to render the unexploded IED safe. The area has been secured and normalcy restored.
Militiamen in eastern Congo attacked a prison on Monday, engaging in gun battle with security forces amid heightened tensions as President Joseph Kabilas last term in office ends.

Report said no election was held to choose a successor to Mr. Kabila , whose mandate had expired and opponents said it was an attempt to cling to power in defiance of the constitution.

Fabrice Kakubuzi, a local activist in the eastern city of Butembo told journalists that since early morning on Monday, there have been incursions by the Mai Mai militia.

They wanted to liberate prisoners at the central prison.

They want to take advantage of the day to liberate prisoners, Mr. Kakubuzi said.

A police spokesman said the militiamen were trying to loot but had been pushed back by security forces.

A presidential election was postponed until April 2018 because of logistical and financial problems and some opposition leaders agreed that Mr. Kabila could remain in office until then.

The constitutional court has also ruled that Mr. Kabila, who had been the countrys president since his father was assassinated in 2001, can stay on.

However, Democratic Republic of Congos main opposition bloc rejected the deal as a ploy.

Recent talks mediated by the Catholic Church failed to reach a compromise.

The capital Kinshasa, an opposition stronghold of 12 million people, was quiet on Monday, with many residents staying at home and shops and businesses shuttered.

Military and police patrolled the streets with riot trucks.

The government has outlawed protests there, raising fears of repression and violence in a nation that has been plagued by war and instability for two decades since the fall of kleptocrat Mobutu Sese Seko.

Congo has not seen a peaceful transfer of power since independence in 1960.

The opposition said on Saturday that it would not call for protests, but that may not stop them happening.

Kabila will be an illegal president, said Diego Kas, 29, who is unemployed like much of Congos adult population, as he stripped a discarded fridge they were prepared to take to the streets to chase out Mr. Kabila.

I dont know how Kabila is going to stay on because we dont like him anymore. We are not his tenants. Congo is our country, Mr. Kas said.

More than fifty people were killed in anti-Kabila protests in September; mostly protesters shot by police, although some mobs also attacked police stations and lynched officers.

However many people died during demonstrations in January 2015. (Reuters/NAN)
A Nigerian naval officer has been rewarded for enthusiasm and commitment to his training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in the UK.

Abdulrahman Buniyamin, a sub lieutenant, was presented with a ceremonial sword by Royal Marines, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Gordon Messenger, during the final passing-out-parade held at BRNC on Friday.

Among the VIP guests invited to attend the parade was the Defence Advisor at the Nigerian High Commissioner, Gbolahan Oyefesobi, a Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army

The sword, sponsored by the Britannia Association, the College Alumni, also recognisec the Cadet who improved the most during training.

Mr. Buniyamin trained at the College between February and October 2015, completing the 30-week initial naval training course alongside his UK counterparts.

Through hard work and dedication, he overcame initial difficulties to meet the standards required of him, putting in extra hours of study and foregoing his free time for private tutoring.

During his time at the world-renowned College, Mr. Buniyamin achieved a Royal Yacht Association Powerboat Level 2 qualification and became known as the first to volunteer for any extra task.

Mr. Buniyamin, who is currently serving on the Nigerian Navy ship Burutu, said: I am very happy to receive this prize. I put in my best effort for every activity, be it assessed or not assessed. My knowledge has improved by being here, which has made me a better Naval officer back at home.

BRNC is a modern military College steeped in traditional values. In 2016 the College provided initial naval training for nearly 500 cadets destined for careers in the Royal Navy, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary or overseas naval and defence forces.

In addition the Royal Naval Leadership Academy has provided professional development courses for almost 6,000 Officers and Ratings across the Service. Members of the Royal Naval Reserve and the Cadet Forces have also had extensive use of the facilities at the College.

As part of the UKs commitment to Nigeria, a resident British Military Advisory and Training Team in Nigeria coordinates an expanding programme of UK support in capacity building for the Nigerian Armed Forces. A Liaison and Support Team provides specific guidance and medical provision.

Some 2,000 Nigerian military personnel have received UK training prior to deploying on operations in the North East. Several thousand more have benefitted from UK specialist military training.

More than 300 UK military personnel provided training to the Nigerian Armed Forces this year (2016). This is more than double the number of UK personnel who deployed to Nigeria on training tasks in 2015.
The National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has given the Federal Government up to January 2 to implement the National Health Act and other demands or face withdrawal of service.

Addressing journalists in Enugu after its emergency executive committee meeting in Abuja, its President, John Onyebueze, said the government should also implement the July 14 agreement reached by stakeholders at a meeting called by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Dogara.

Mr. Onyebueze also called on NARD members to wear black ward coats or clinical gowns from January 2 to mourn the death of the countrys health sector.

He said that the association would not be intimidated by the governments no-work, no-pay order, saying that the policy seemed to be targeted at the association.

He said that the National Health Act was applauded when it was signed into law as the solution to the countrys health challenges, adding that its non-implementation was stunting the growth of the sector.

The NARD president regretted that the money spent by Nigerians on medical tourism was enough to correct the anomalies in the health sector and stem the tide of people seeking treatment abroad.

He threatened that the members of the association would storm the National Assembly and other relevant places to protest the treatment meted to them.

Mr. Onyebueze said that an ultimatum, which took effect from December 12, had been served on the relevant authorities.

In the 15-point observation and 15-point resolution, the association also called on the government to pay outstanding salaries to NARD members in the 72 institutions nationwide where its members worked.

(NAN)
The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho appears set to resume in January as the owner states of the university consider the report of a panel they set up on the crisis that has kept students away since June.

Multiple sources, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that a key recommendation of the panel is an increase in tuition and other fees to shore up internally generated revenue as a solution to the recurrent funding challenges of the university.

Another recommendation, said the sources, would be to share out the faculties to the owner states under a new funding arrangement.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities in the university had declared a strike on June 9 to protest inadequate funds to run the institution and pay the workers.

LAUTECH is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun, the two states that constituted old Oyo State before Osun was excised in 1991 to form a separate state.

PREMIUM TIMES can exclusively report that the visitation panel set up by the governments of the two states has concluded its work and is about to submit its report.

A member of the committee, who pleased anonymity, confirmed the development.

The spokesman of the university, Lekan Fadeyi, in a chat with PREMIUM TIMES said there was confidence the protracted crisis was coming to a close and that the management was waiting for the directive to reopen the university.

Mr. Fadeyi cited the visitation panel as a demonstration of the seriousness Oyo and Osun state governments attached to resolving the crisis.

A top source in the University, who also asked not to be named, said the reopening of the university hinged on the submission of the report of the visitation panel.

Nothing can be done until they submit their report and then the directive to open the university will follow soon, all things being equal, said the source.

In an audio obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, expressed dismay over a recent street protest by students of the university on the long closure of the institution.

One of the students called me that they were arrested by the police, the governor, speaking in Yoruba, said in the audio. I asked them what they have done and they said they blocked the main road. Why will they block the main road, for what?

Well, there are universities that operate without subvention and a committee has been set up to look at how LAUTECH can operate; when they submit their report in January, we will reopen the university.

There is no subsidy anywhere again, but some students should not start going on the streets to protest, if there is anything wrong, one doesnt have to fight, the governor said.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the academic staff had at some point turned down an offer of 41 percent of their salaries from the university management.

It is not clear whether the management intends to go ahead with the payment before a white paper on the report of the visitation panel is released.

If they receive alert on Monday (December19), if ASUU changes her stance, the university will resume for sure by January, a top management staff told this newspaper at the weekend.

The protracted crisis in the university had been blamed on the failure of Osun state to meet its financial obligation to the university.
The second annual workshop on girls education, organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in collaboration with the development Research and Projects Center (dRPC) opens today, Monday, in Abuja.

The workshop has the theme Leadership and Management in Girls Education for GPE States.

It is aimed at improving the management and leadership skills of strategic education sector officials to deliver high performing girls education programmes by leveraging the opportunities provided by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) grants.

PREMIUM TIMES Hassan Adebayo and Oluwatoyosi Olawande are at the opening ceremony at the FCT Education Resources Centre to bring you live updates.

The opening ceremony just ended. The session now moves to the workshop proper.

The workshop has 40 of the most strategic officers with responsibility for implementing the Global Partnership for Education grants in Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto States.

Participating states are being called to give reflections from their states.

Jigawa States representative, Sani Halisu, says the main challenge the state faces is political interference.

However, he says in the 2017 budget, Jigawa plans to commit more funding to girl child education. He says that scholarship opportunities will be extended to teachers.

Kano State talking now.

Kano State disbursed N308,000 to over 900 primary schools.

The state is in the process of enlisting the service of CSOs to monitor utilisation of funds at the school level, says Kano representative.

In a Kano school, there were 25 girls, but within the space of disbursing funds to improve girl education, enrollment increased by 80 per cent, he said.

Scholarship opportunities worth N50,000 have been extended to over 200 trainee female teachers in Kano State, he adds.

In Sokoto, the key challenge is low capacity among staff of the Ministry of Education, the states representative says. He also mentions the challenge of leadership and good governance.

A representative of the Kano Emirate Council is now speaking.

He highlights the efforts of the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido, to improve girl child education in the state.

Examples of such efforts are the setting up of private schools for girls only, and the free classes for girls who are primary school dropouts and those who left at JSCE level.

In Sokoto State, the Sultan Foundation is encouraging an integration of Islamic and Western education, a representative of the body says.

The Sultan Foundation plans to establish a female only medical university, the representative discloses, adding that details will of the plan will be unveiled in the next three months.

Tea break just ended. Participants are now back to continue with the workshop.

Participants/field implementers are now being asked to make contributions towards development of new gender mainstreaming strategy.

But before the participants have the floor, the anchor invites the African Director of the McArthur Foundation, Professor Shettima, to to address the workshop.

Mr. Shettima says Nigeria should be proud for helping to develop a model on gender issues and girl education.

After Mr. Shettimas remarks, participants are grouped according their states to brainstorm on gender mainstreaming and girl education policy.

The workshop is now moving to the Bolton White Apartment to continue with the session on Group Work to Conduct Analysis of Education Plan. The facilitators for the session will be drawn from the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.

But before the session at the Bolton Apartment commences, participants, mostly Muslims from Northwestern states, are to go observe Zuhr prayer and take lunch.

Representatives of the Kano Emirate Council and the Sultan Foundation are joined to form one group.

Except Kaduna and Sokoto State, other states dont have a female representative at a workshop based on girl child education.

Each group is now ready to present the outcome of its brainstorming session. Katsina is the first to present.

Katsina State draws attention to the implication of girl only and female teacher-only scholarship opportunities from socio-cultural perspective.

Through GPE, female pupils and female teacher trainees are given N20,000 and N50,000 respectively.

Kaduna, like Katsina, says much focus on girl education only could lead to negligence of boys. It also emphasises focus on peculiar needs of each states and disintegration from federal policy.

Jigawa also says GPE should rather focus on both boys and girls. However, it mentions advantages of focus on girl education namely: reduction in cases early marriage; helping girls become role models; reduction in number girls out of school; self-employability for girls.

According to Jigawa State, the strategies for improving girl education are poverty alleviation; enlightenment; and free education.

Kano State emphasises focus on boys and girls. It says already there high rate of illiteracy among boys too.

Sokoto State says stand alone component for girls amounts to gender discrimination.

The girl child in Northern Nigeria is greatly disadvantaged, Paramalam says. She adds that the situation is so dire that there have been suggestions to declare a state of emergency in the the girl child education in the North.

Participants from Kaduna State in brainstorming session.

Prof Funmi Paramalam: Most people think gender automatically means sex. Sex refers to male and female attributes. Gender refers to the personal worth accorded to being male or female, the roles men/boys and women/girls play in the society and the status, power/privileges attached to those roles.

Gender is formed though social learning. And through the social learning, stereotypes emerge.

The facilitator makes distinction between gender roles and sex roles. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, insemination are sex roles because they biologically given. But roles that can be done by either with full competence like politics, farmers, sweeping are gender roles.

From Anthropological research, there are five cultures in the world where men do the cooking.

Gender is learnt and culture specific, Paramlam says.

The main important of gender analysis is gender mainstreaming. Gender mainstreaming is policy focused, and it means working towards gender parity in education at all levels in order to ensure inclusiveness and equality between boys and girls. So, the issue of negligence of boys in gender issues does not arise.  Prof- Paramalam.

Components of Gender Analysis: 1.equal access to education in practice; 2.Uses men and women make of their education (does the social context allow the women to full use of their education); 3. Do women and men enroll in university subjects according to stereotypes; 4. Are men and women stereotyped in school curricula.

The over-riding of goal of gender analysis in education is to ensure adherence to principles of inclusiveness and equality for the good of the society.

Change strategies towards inclusive education: Teacher training: mindset change, curriculum review (stop saying policemen always but police officer to refer to men and women in police), environment and methodology.

Prof. Paramalam ends her presentation.

A participant from Sokoto State says I want to tell you things are changingmen are now looking for women who are educated and have money.

We need to mainstream, but unfortunately because of social, political and economic contexts of Nigeria, we still need to give special focus to girls/women, says Prof. Paramalam while responding to comments.
For several years, Nigeria has consistently spent only about one per cent of its GDP on health, a professor has said.

The Provost of the College of Medicine of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Kehinde Oluwadiya, said public spending on health in Nigeria amount to only 1 per cent of the countrys GDP.

According to the don, governments at the various levels have been spending just over one-third of what should have been spent on the health of the citizens.

Mr. Oluwadiya, a professor of medicine, disclosed this while delivering a lecture organized by the Association of Resident Doctors of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, LAUTECH, Osogbo chapter.

The lecture, titled Impact of Present Economic Challenges on Health Indices in Nigeria and Medical Practice in Nigeria as a whole, was held over the weekend.

According to a Channels television news report, the provost said statistics showed that the government only spent one per cent of Nigerias GDP on health in 2013, a figure he noted has remained unchanged since 1995.

Please, note that there is a difference between GDP and budget. Nigeria has spent eight point something on the budget but when you look at the GDP in general, it is only one per cent that Nigeria has been spending since 1995 when ideally it should be spending five percent.

According to him, part of the reasons for Nigerias low performance was that most of the GDP does not go through the government.

Currently Nigeria ranks the very lowest in the world on government revenue as a percentage of GDP and one of the reasons is because our tax system is extremely poor.

If Nigeria has the same efficient tax structure as Lagos, then government can generate more and invest in the health sector, the don said.

Speaking on the economic situation in the country, he said it has led to an increase in prices of commodities, including drugs.

This, he said, was making people, who could not afford medicine, go for cheaper ones which were mostly counterfeits.

He added that government is spending less than what is needed on each persons health annually.

Government is spending an average of $31 but in order for the government to provide just the basic health need of an average Nigerian, they should be spending $86 per person.

This means that the government is only spending 36 per cent of what its supposed to spend.

He pointed out that if the government can have the political will to invest in health, it will outlast this recession.

Mr. Oluwadiya, however, encouraged the resident doctors to continue to uphold professionalism in rendering medical service to patients.

The president of the Association of Resident Doctors of the university, Olayinka Owolabi, in an interview said the need to encourage members to understand Nigerias current status informed the gathering and the topic.

In this period of recession, in this period of economic challenges, there is the tendency for our people to actually access alternative healthcare services.

They now patronise religious centres and traditional medicine for things they should ordinarily go to the hospital for.

He, however, called on the government to intervene and see health as wealth.
The Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as `unrealistic political dream, the claim that nine PDP governors support the Ali Sheriff faction.

Dayo Adeyeye, the National Publicity Secretary of the Makarfi-led faction, made the remark in a statement issued to journalists on Monday in Abuja.

Mr. Adeyeye said that the partys attention was drawn to a statement credited to Ahmed Gulak, an aide of Mr. Sheriff that up to eight PDP governors were in support of his group.

We naturally wouldnt have dignified Gulak and his cohorts with a response but silence could be misinterpreted as admission of the lies of this pathological liars.

We are amused by Gulaks claims.

Since the 21st May 2016 convention which held in Port Harcourt, Ali Sheriff and his renegade band have never missed any opportunity to blame the governors for the problems of the party.

Only last week their self appointed Deputy National Chairman, Cairo Ojugboh, was still castigating the governors for the partys woes at a press conference.

Why attack those who are supporting you?

Mr. Adeyeye said that if Mr. Gulak wanted to be taken seriously, he should name those governors who were supporting his group.

He added that Mr. Gulak should also disclose the type of support his group received from the governors.

On the other hand, it may be a case of political hallucination (where someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that dont exist outside their mind).

Mr. Adeyeye said maybe Mr. Gulak actually meant the All Progressives Congress, APC, governors.

The whole world knows that these are paid agents of the APC being used to destabilize our great party.

We make bold to say that all PDP governors are fully in support of the caretaker committee which they and other stakeholders created

Gulak should wake up from his dream and come to the world of reality, Mr. Adeyeye said.

(NAN)
Unions in the aviation sector have directed the commencement of a joint strike at Arik Air, with effect from Tuesday, over the airlines failure to pay seven months salary arrears and other anti-labour practices.

The unions gave the directive in a strike notice obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

NAN reports that the notice was signed by Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and Frances Akinjole, General Secretary, Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).

It was also signed by the General Secretary of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Aba Ocheme.

The unions said the strike would continue indefinitely, until their demands were met by the management of Arik Air.

Their demands include: That the management of Arik Air allows total unionisation of its employees, in compliance with extant labour laws and with respect to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The management of Arik Air recalls all sacked employees who have been victimised for their roles in the effort to bring about unionisation in Arik Air.

Payment of salary arrears for seven months, with a commitment to pay salaries as at when due, henceforth.

They also called for the immediate review of all employee remunerations which had remained the same since the inception of Arik Air, over ten years ago.

The unions further demanded for immediate commencement of negotiations of Conditions of Service to be concluded within four weeksand remittance of Pension, Tax, and statutory deductions to the appropriate authorities.

They also urged the management of Arik Air to comply with the Nigerian Expatriate Quota law.

Towards the full realisation of the strike, all aviation workers, in complete solidarity with their enslaved comrades in Arik Air shall withdraw all services being rendered by third parties.

The aviation workers will be supported by Nigerian workers from all other sectors throughout Nigeria, to underscore the seriousness of the matter at hand.

In the above respect, all ground handling services, security clearance for Arik Air ticket holders, marshalling, aviation fuel supply, air traffic control, safety inspection, etc, will be completely withdrawn.

All Arik Air employees, aviation workers, and other stakeholders are hereby enjoined to ensure full compliance with this directive please, the unions said.

(NAN)
Pupils of Children International School, Lekki in Lagos State, at an emotional event on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State, donated sanitary kits worth about N2.5 million to soldiers fighting Boko Haram insurgents in North-east Nigeria.

The pupils raised the money for the items by forfeiting their lunch in appreciation of the troops sacrifices for the country.

The contribution was coordinated by a Lagos based non-governmental organisation known as Volt Club, which conveyed the items to Maiduguri on behalf of the pupils.

Leader of the delegation and Volt Clubs Head of Assesment, Bhila Khipani, said the donations were made by the pupils, following the clubs advocacy campaign calling young Nigerians to show supports for troops in the battle field.

Volt Club is a voluntary organisation within Lagos with interest in charity, especially on issues concerning children and their educational needs, said Khipani.

This is just a token of appreciation from school children all the way from Lekki Phase 1 Lagos. It is a kind gesture coming from school children in times of celebrations like this.

But the key message in this gesture is in urging all Nigerians to take this torch onward and do something to make a soldier smile.

It may not be in this form; other Nigerians can do even more. Let everyone go out and think of what they can do to make a soldier happy by telling them they are all appreciated for the sacrifices they are making for the country, he said.

Receiving the gift items on behalf of the soldiers, the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigeria Army, Victor Ezugwu, said the gesture by the children brought him to experience his most emotional moment as an officer.

On behalf of soldiers of the 7 Division Nigeria army, I want to thank you for this show of solidarity, brotherhood and camaraderie for our soldiers out there fighting Boko Haram, Mr. Ezugwu, a brigadier-general, said.

We have fought Boko Haram from the land areas and territories they had hitherto command as their caliphate; we have taken the battle right to them in Sambisa forest where we are now and we are trying to clear them out once and for all so that our peace can be total and whole.

This is a very emotional moment for all of us that have been fighting Boko Haram; and of course the most emotional moment of my stay as a GOC.

Children of ages 3, 4 and 5 years being able to remember that there are soldiers and commanding officers in the North-east fighting Boko Haram and laying down their lives, is quite commendable. Of course family members have lost their loved ones all because we want to keep peace in our father land.

He said he was touched emotionally because the childrens kind donation came at a time some other Nigerians were allegedly trying to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Army.

Some people are trying to paint us black and trying not to see anything good in our efforts to safeguards our nation. But we take it that God almighty will bless these children because they are very patriotic in their attitudes and behaviour. God will bless them and bless their parents.

Officials of the Volt Club said they had presented 1000 sachet packs containing a unit of tissue paper, tooth paste, hand towel, shaving sticks, toothbrush, bars of soap, sanitary pads, chewing gum and recharge cards ranging from N1000, N500 and N200.

Each of the packs was worth N2500.
Two professors from the University of Ilorin, Unilorin, have been appointed vice-chancellors of two new private universities.

They are Hussein Oloyede of the Faculty of Life Sciences, and John Olorunmaiye of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology.

According to the bulletin of the university issued on Monday, Mr. Oloyede will head the newly licensed Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, while Mr. Olorunmaiye will take charge of the Crown-Hill University, Eiyenkorin, also in Kwara State.

It stated that the new vice-chancellors have since assumed duties as the new universities get ready to begin their 2016/2017 academic sessions.

It explained that Mr. Oloyede is a Professor of Biochemistry and a pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Fountain University, Osogbo from 2007 to 2012.

It noted that Mr. Oloyede demonstrated astute academic and administrative leadership in laying a very solid academic foundation.

Under his stewardship, the university had 100 per cent success in accreditation of its courses within the first two years and the award of the Presidential scholarship to some of the pioneer students to study abroad.

Oloyede had his University education at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he obtained his B. Sc. (Hons.) Biochemistry in 1976, and M. Sc. Biochemistry in 1981.

In 1986, he obtained his Ph.D. in Food Biochemistry in the Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

The Summit University Vice-Chancellor joined the services of the University of Ilorin in 1977 as a Graduate Assistant and rose to rank of a professor in 1995, it said.

It stated further that Mr. Oloyede has held several positions at the Department, Faculty and the University levels.

According to the publication, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Science, University of Ilorin between August 2006 and February 2008.

This, it said, was after the successful completion of his sabbatical leave between 2005 and 2006 at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, where he was the pioneer Dean, College of Natural Sciences and overseer of the College of Management Sciences.

The bulletin also stated that Mr. Olorunmaiye, a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, is the immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Ilorin.

It said that during his tenure he facilitated the donation of a Heat Exchanger worth N2 million by Aston University, UK to the Department of Chemical Engineering among other things.

Olorunmaiye attended the University of Ibadan, where he graduated in 1979 with B. Sc (First Class Honours) in Mechanical Engineering.

He then proceeded to the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada between 19 81 and 1985 for his PhD.

A 1991 COREN Registered Engineer, the new Crown-Hills University Vice-Chancellor is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and also a Fellow of the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering, it said.

It further explained that Mr. Olorunmaiye joined the services of the University of Ilorin in 1980 as an Assistant Lecturer before becoming a Training/Research Assistant at the University of Calgary, Canada between January 1981 and June 1985.

The publication said he returned to the University of Ilorin on completion of his PhD programme in 1985 and rose to become a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in October 1997.

(NAN)
The Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO, has set up a task force to check vandalisation of its property after a loss of over N108 million in August and September to the menace.

Speaking at the inauguration of the team, the acting spokesperson of the company, Bala Sani, said the company was alarmed by the frequency of vandalism.

He said the task force, which has representatives from the police, State Security Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the local hisbah and vigilante groups, is headed by Yusuf Aminu, a retired lieutenant-colonel of the Nigerian Army.

The group was charged with stopping the rampant vandalisation of electricity transformers and other property of KEDCO.

Mr. Sani explained that the task force would routinely go on security patrols, including to market places and other locations of suspected buyers of vandalised public electricity equipment.

He said the team would also try to check energy theft and the activities of touts and quacks who parade themselves as KEDCO staff to collect unauthorised fees from consumers.

Right now we have 100 vandalised transformers undergoing repairs, Mr. Sani said. This is because the vandals steal transformer oil and cables in them, rendering them ineffective and useless.

He said the most notorious areas for the activities of vandals were Sabon Gari, Shahada, Bompai and some Government Reserved Areas of the sprawling Kano city.

Mr. Sani lamented that four out of every ten transformers with problems were as a result of vandalism.

He said the company has lost almost one billion Naira to vandals in 2016.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP  As Kedar Dockery got ready for Stockton Universitys final December graduation ceremony, he thought about how far he has come during the past 4 years and how far the school has come, too.

Dockery, 23, of Buena, was one of nearly 600 undergraduate and graduate students who celebrated their accomplishments Sunday morning.(tncms-asset)187db236-c59c-11e6-93c6-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset)

The ceremony is expected to be the last fall commencement at the campus, as the university plans to hold future ceremonies once a year at Atlantic Citys Boardwalk Hall. The May 12 graduation will highlight Stocktons commitment to Atlantic City, where a new campus is being built.

I dont know if I would have come back for something in the spring, Dockery said as he adjusted his cap and gown before the ceremony. It means a lot to be part of the last class to graduate on campus. Ive put a lot of hard work into this. Im glad its happening here.

The new Atlantic City Campus, which is scheduled to open in 2018, is part of the Gateway Project at the end of Albany Avenue on the site of the old Atlantic City High School. The $178 million campus will include housing for 500 students.

When I first got here, it was a little college. Now its grown into a big university, said Matt Arcure, 22, who graduated with a degree in communications. It continues to grow every year.

The Gateway project includes a parking garage, retail spaces and offices for South Jersey Industries, the parent company of South Jersey Gas.

Sonia V. Gonsalves, professor of psychology and director of academic assessment, told the graduating students their Stockton family will always be there for them.

We are living in a time of rapid change, Gonsalves said. One of our timeless constants is family. We have, for the 25 years that I have been here, described our community as a family and most importantly behaved in ways that make this designation true.

Despite its growth, the university has continued working to maintain a family atmosphere, graduates said.

I cant thank them enough for what they have done for me. Ive grown up so much as a person during my time here, said Ryan Matarante, 22, who graduated with a degree in physics. It has gotten away from its small-school feel a little but they are trying to do their best to keep it. Its great that more people are going to be able to go to the school.

During the ceremony, the university presented an honorary doctoral degree to Rabbi Aaron Krauss, who was instrumental in Stocktons founding.
MAYS LANDING  From the second-floor conference room window in J-wing, Atlantic Cape Community College President Peter Mora watches construction of the $10.3 million Student Success and Career Planning Center.

The center is a fitting finale to the 41-year career of Mora, 73, who will retire as the colleges president at the end of December.

If you dont have a career plan, you wont do well, Mora said. Undecided students are more likely to drop out. The nursing program, which is the hardest, has the lowest dropout rate.

Mora started teaching writing at the college part-time in the early 1970s, when the concept of an affordable, two-year college open to everyone was just taking hold.

I liked the concept and the mission, he said.

As he started a family and wanted to travel less, he left his job at Prudential to work full-time at the college. He became a department chairman. And as he rose through the ranks, he started to think he could become president.

In 2005 he did, when the Board of Trustees determined after a national search that their best candidate had been here all along. Then-chairman Brian Lefke said at the time they liked Moras vision for the college and that he knew the area so well.

At the time, Mora was vice president for continuing education. Larry Nespoli, president of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, said Mora is one of the rare presidents who came up through the career and community-based side of the college rather than the strictly academic side.

He is career-centered and entrepreneurial, Nespoli said.

The college is part of the national Achieving the Dream program, which has allowed Mora to share ideas for student success with other county colleges throughout the nation and learn from them.

We did have some things that didnt work, he said, citing an early alert system to identify struggling students that just wasnt reaching them early enough to help.

A new technology-based system has helped improve the process, and accelerated remedial programs have shortened the time and cost to graduate. Their success earned the college a national award this year from the Two-Year College English Association of the National Council of Teachers of English.

Mora said the college has to adapt to its often-nontraditional students needs.

People leave for so many reasons, he said. It could be a lost job, or they were moved to a different shift.

Mora also faced challenges as the only county college president in the state to preside over three campuses  in Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May Court House. Nespoli said county colleges are already several types of colleges rolled into one, and it takes a talented person to make it work at multiple sites.

Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson said Mora has been a practical leader who set goals but also understood the realities of the local economy.

He understands that the economy has to be more than tourism, Levinson said. He knows we have to diversify. And he truly cares about his students and their futures.

The college has been in the forefront of promoting careers in health care and aviation, while keeping roots in tourism with the Academy of Culinary Arts and gaming instruction.

An Atlantic City native who now lives in Upper Township, Mora works with the county Workforce Investment Boards and other colleges. The Mays Landing campus now hosts a Rutgers University completion site so graduates can get a bachelors degree without leaving the county. The college has partnerships that include Stockton Universitys new campus in Atlantic City.

We are both very committed to being part of Atlantic City, Stockton President Harvey Kesselman said. We want to work closely with them to have complimentary programs.

Cape May County Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton said Mora has always looked toward the future.

Hes worked hard to provide equity, and that campus has enhanced the quality of education and life in the county.

This semester, the college is offering teleconferenced hybrid courses that allow more students in Cape May County to stay at their local campus. The Cape May Court House site also got its own smaller career center that can replicate the services at the new building under construction in Mays Landing.

Moras Blueprint 2020 $65 million capital improvement plan led to the construction of a new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) building in 2015 as well as the Student Success Centers and expansion of the Atlantic City campus. This was at a time when funding was tight and had to be cobbled together from multiple sources.

Nespoli said Mora was among the first to address the issue of college campus safety and chaired a statewide committee of two- and four-year colleges to develop solutions and procedures. Atlantic Cape has since added armed security at all three campuses.

As he prepares to have more time for his five grandchildren, Mora isnt leaving higher education entirely. Hes been invited to lead a review team for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the body that handles college accreditation.

Mora said while the early mission of county colleges was providing affordable access, the new challenge is making sure students complete their programs. His legacy will continue in the new Student Success Center.

We got (students) in, but then how many are graduating became the issue, he said. That is the challenge. That is the goal now.
Question: After a recent hospital stay, I have a stack of confusing medical bills at home I need to decipher. Ive heard these bills frequently contain mistakes. How do I spot them to ensure Im not paying more than I need to be?  Cautious Carol

Answer: Medical billing errors and overcharging are not uncommon. According to the American Medical Association, 7 percent of medical bills in 2013 had errors, and other groups estimate the figure to be much higher. Unfortunately, untangling those mistakes is almost always up to you. Here are some tips and tools that can help.

Check for errors: To help you get a grip on your medical bills and check for errors, you need to familiarize yourself with what your insurance does and doesnt cover. Then you need to carefully review the explanation of benefits from your insurer and the invoices you receive from your doctor, hospital and/or outpatient facility providers.

These invoices need to be itemized bills detailing the charges for every procedure, test, service and supply you received. If you didnt receive an itemized invoice, request it from your health care providers. And if the invoices contain any confusing billing codes or abbreviations that you dont understand, ask them for an explanation. You can also look up most medical billing codes online by going to any online search engine and typing in CPT followed by the code number.

Once you receive and decode the invoices, keep your eyes peeled for these mistakes:

 Typos: Incorrect billing codes, a misspelled name or a wrong policy number.

 Double billing: Being charged twice for the same services, drugs or supplies.

 Canceled work: Charging for a test your doctor ordered, then canceled.

 Phantom services: Being charged for services, test or treatments that were never received.

 Up-coding: Inflated charges for medications and supplies.

 Incorrect length of stay: Most hospitals will charge for the admission day, but not for day of discharge. Be sure youre not paying for both.

 Incorrect room charges: Being charged for a private room when you stayed in a semi-private room.

 Inflated operating-room fees: Being billed for more time than was actually used. Compare the charge with your anesthesiologists records.

To make sure the charges on your bill are reasonably priced, your insurance provider may offer an online price transparency tool, or use the Healthcare Bluebook (healthcarebluebook.com) or Guroo (guroo.com). These are free resources that let you look up the going rate of many procedures, tests or services in your area.

Make corrections: If you find errors or have questions about charges, contact your insurer and your health care providers billing office. When you call, be sure you write down the date, time and name of the person you speak to and a summary of the conversation, in case you need to refer back to it at a later time.

If theres a billing code error or some other mistake thats easily correctable, ask your health care provider to resubmit a corrected claim to your insurance company.

Get help: If you arent able to resolve the dispute on your own, you may want to consider hiring a medical billing advocate to work on your behalf. To find someone, try sites like billadvocates.com or claims.org. Most advocates charge an hourly fee  somewhere between $50 and $200 per hour  for their services, or they may work on a contingency basis, earning a commission of 25 percent to 35 percent of the amount they save you.

If youre a Medicare beneficiary, another resource is your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP. It provides free counseling and can help you understand your medical bills and Medicare coverage. To find a local SHIP counselor, see shiptacenter.org or call 800-633-4227.
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Update  Both bills were pulled during the Dec. 19 legislative session.

A controversial bill that would allow government agencies to post legal notices on their websites instead of in newspapers appears to have stalled.

On Monday, the state Assembly and Legislature both did not have enough votes to pass the bill, according to legislative sources.

The bill, which opponents claim would limit government transparency, is set for a vote Monday in the state Assembly and Senate.

If Christie signs the bill into law, New Jersey would be the first state to remove the requirement that government legal notices be published in newspapers.

The legislation provides the option of posting notices online and citizens will be allowed to take advantage of modern technologies that are already in use by the vast majority of the people in our state, Christie said in a statement Sunday. It also saves money.

Some state lawmakers have claimed the bill is part of a vendetta against the media for its coverage of the Bridgegate scandal.

The Governors Office said the bill would save taxpayers $80 million. The New Jersey Press Association, however, said municipalities pay a total of $4 million per year for legal notices.

Opponents of the bill claim only a small group of insiders would know about the actions of government. Politicians also could use public notices to reward newspapers that give them favorable coverage and punish those that dont, opponents said. Representatives of the states newspapers say the bill would cripple an already struggling industry and lead to the loss of about 300 jobs and the closing of some small newspapers.

If it passes, readers of newspapers in the state would no longer find notices of sheriffs sales, planning board notices, municipal budgets and other information they have long been accustomed to in their papers.
ISTANBUL  Russias ambassador was shot dead in the Turkish capital on Monday in an assassination apparently linked to Syrias civil war, heightening tensions over a conflict thats drawn in almost all the regions main powers.

Andrey Karlov was shot in the back at an art exhibit in Ankara on Monday, and later died from injuries sustained, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The assailant shouted comments about Aleppo, the Syrian city where mostly Islamist rebels have been defeated this month by Russian-backed government forces, CNN-Turk television said. Turkish media reported that the attacker was killed by security forces.

Karlovs killing comes days after one of Russias biggest victories since it joined the Syrian war last year in support of President Bashar Assad. Assads army, with Russian air support, has retaken almost all of the city that was once Syrias largest. Turkey, which has backed the rebels in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria, has played a key role along with Russia in negotiating the ongoing evacuation of fighters and civilians.

The attack on the Russian ambassador is the latest flashpoint between major powers that are engaged on opposite sides of the Syrian war. Ties between Turkey and Russia came under heavy strain after the Turkish military shot down a Russian plane last year, though both governments have since made an effort to repair them. The U.S., Iran and Saudi Arabia are among the other countries that are either fighting in Syria themselves or providing money and weapons to groups that are.
WILDWOOD  Six city police officers will be heading to Washington, D.C., Jan. 20 to assist in providing security at the President-elect Donald J. Trump's inauguration.

"We received a call to see if we had any police who could serve in that capacity," Mayor Ernie Troiano said.

Decades later, local Vietnam veterans still battling Agent Orange On a bitter December day, Navy veteran Mike Kelly walked in front of the Wildwood Vietnam Me

Commissioner Anthony Leonetti, who oversees the department, said more than six officers volunteered to help out at the inauguration, so the department held a lottery to pick who would get the opportunity to go.

"We're very excited and very honored," Leonetti said.

Troiano said some of the officers will serve as patrolmen and others as motorcycle cops. Leonetti declined to identify the officers attending, citing security concerns.

In addition to the swearing-in ceremony, the inauguration includes a procession to the Capitol, a departure of the outgoing president, a luncheon and a ball.

An earlier version of this story mistakenly referred to Police Chief Robert Regalbuto instead of Commissioner Anthony Leonetti.
An angry and vindictive governor is planning to exact revenge on the press with your cooperation and the complicity of your leadership.

Mondays vote is a vote of conscience.

The motivation and lies that surround this bill make it a sickening display of politics at its worst by initiators and supporters of these bills.

SAVINGS  There are no cost savings to municipalities. The average municipality spends $7,100 per year on public notices, according to the League of Municipalities. That figure comes from a survey of 147 towns done at the request of the governor. The governor refused to reveal that figure and instead put out a figure of $80 million. Factoring in personnel to handle private public notices and system requirements, costs will far outweigh any savings.

COMPROMISE  Newspapers have offered to cut the current public notice rate in half, reducing the average cost for towns to $3,550 per year. The governor has rejected the compromise out of hand.

INTERNET  The claim that everyone is on or uses the Internet is not true, since 1.8 million or 22 percent of New Jerseyans choose not to access the internet. New Jersey daily newspapers sell 1 million copies per day. Weeklies sell 1.3 million copies per week. The perception that no one reads newspapers is wrong. All of the states public notices are online on one website. That site is searchable and translatable into multiple languages. All notices are in one place for residents instead of spread out over hundreds of websites.

PERMISSIVENESS  A towns ability to now decide whether to continue using newspapers or not would provide unscrupulous public officials the opportunity to threaten to withdraw advertising if favorable coverage werent provided or negative coverage werent withheld from publication. Does the state want to open the door to this policy?

STUDY  No study has been done to determine the cost to taxpayers of these bills. Neither the Office of Legislative Services nor the state comptroller have been asked to study the impact. The last time this bill was introduced, OLS stated the cost to towns was indeterminate. Instead, the bill was fast-tracked going from introduction to a vote in eight days.

DEAL  It is known to many of you that both the Democratic and Republican leadership have agreed to this bill in exchange for the governors signature on some important, necessary bills. Caught between the need for their bills and the governors desire to hurt newspapers, the leadership made a deal.

GOOD GOVERNMENT  Right now, public notices are read by both the print audience through the states newspapers and the online audience through NJpublicnotices.com. As municipal costs increase, government transparency decreases.

CLOSINGS  In addition, some, maybe a good percentage of the states 240 weeklies would have to close. Owner-operator in most instances, these publications operate on very thin profit margins as do the states dailies.

THE HUMAN COST  The New Jersey Press Association estimates that as many as 300 jobs would be lost.

We call this a vote of conscience because you have been lied to by the governor, because the justification that it will save money is wrong, because a significant number of residents will be cut off from access to public information, because local officials have been given the power to bargain their advertising for favorable coverage, because no homework has been done on this bill, and because some residents will lose their local news as papers close.

The tragedy of this bill is the 300 people who will lose their jobs and livelihood solely because of a governors vendetta and the worst kind of political deal. Those people will be sacrificed because legislators became complicit to this deal. At this point only you can say no to this.

Rich Vezza is publisher and editor of The Star-Ledger newspaper in Newark.
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.




Stil has extensive experience working with global clients including Unilever, KPN, monster.com, ING, Dell, and Kodak. As the top commercial executive for GroupM Connect, Stil played a significant role supporting GroupM's agencies in real time media management. Stil started his career at GroupM in 2008 as Chief Operating Officer for Mindshare in the Netherlands, and he subsequently led the whole of Mindshare's digital practice in EMEA. His entry to the group came when WPP acquired Reddion, the first online media agency in Europe, in 2007. Stil was co-CEO and co-founder of Reddion with Moesman.

"Alex is one of the most accomplished digital innovators in Europe and since joining GroupM he has significantly furthered our group's knowledge and acumen in real time media while also engaging directly with top clients as they've worked with GroupM's agencies to assemble bespoke technology stacks and data strategies," said Brian Gleason, CEO, [m]PLATFORM. "As we rollout the [m]PLATFORM technology suite in Europe, Alex's knowledge and client experience will inspire our teams and our clients who are all focused on evolving their media strategies for the real time era."

As the global head of operations for GroupM Connect, Moesman oversaw the development of a coherent global strategy for programmatic media, corporate acquisitions and the incubation of new technologies and services to support GroupM's agencies. Since Reddion's acquisition, Moesman held a number of GroupM leadership positions including COO for GroupM Netherlands and CEO GroupM Interaction, also in the Netherlands.

"In a number of Europe-based operational leadership roles, Sebastiaan amassed the experience and marketplace knowledge needed to ensure [m]PLATFORM is an unrivaled solution for clients in EMEA markets, working with diverse local media partners, technology vendors and other unique local market factors," said Dominic Grainger, Chief Executive Officer, GroupM, EMEA. "Our deployment of [m]PLATFORM will be rapid, and Alex and Sebastiaan have the passion and energy to ensure flawless execution to the benefit of our agencies and their clients across many markets."

About GroupM

GroupM is the leading global media investment management group serving as the parent to WPP media agencies including Mindshare, MEC, MediaCom, Maxus, Essence and m/SIX, as well as the programmatic digital media platform, Xaxis, each global operations in their own right with leading market positions. GroupM's primary purpose is to maximize the performance of WPP's media agencies by operating as leader and collaborator in trading, content creation, sports, digital, finance, and proprietary tool development. GroupM's focus is to deliver unrivaled marketplace advantage to its clients, stakeholders and people, and is increasingly working closely for the benefit of clients with WPP's data investment management group, Kantar. Together GroupM and Kantar account for over 50% of WPP's group revenues of more than $20 billion.

Discover more about GroupM at www.groupm.com.

Follow @GroupMWorldwide on Twitter

Follow GroupM on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/groupm

Media Contacts:

David.Grabert@GroupM.com

+1 212.297.8092 (U.S.)

Samantha.Kops@GroupM.com

+1 917.421.3019 (U.S.)

Related Links

http://www.groupm.com



SOURCE GroupM
ASCHHEIM, Germany, December 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Same flexibility, security features and full cost control as at the Point-of-Sale is now possible in e-commerce with the virtual boon. MasterCard

Users of the Android mobile payment app boon are now able to use their virtual prepaid credit card, which can be topped up and which forms the basis of the app, for mobile online purchases. The app issued by Wirecard offers a transparent overview of the entire transaction process. Wirecard, a supplier of internet technology, is therefore expanding its mobile payment solution by this extra additional function for all users in Spain, Ireland and Germany. Value added offers and financial services such as microcredit, peer-to-peer (P2P) payments and much more will follow in due course.

In future, boon users will conveniently be able to launch and close the "online payment" function in the app. After the function is launched, the credit card is immediately ready for use. The credit card number is copied into the app and can be added via the user's smartphone to the respective online shop in which a payment needs to be made. If the credit card is deactivated, no online payments are possible. Using the digital MasterCard incurs no additional fees for the user.

Georg von Waldenfels, Executive Vice President Consumer Solutions at Wirecard: "Our intention is to continually expand boon by integrating innovative features. The possibility of now making online purchases via the boon app offers users a unique multichannel payment experience - this is advanced modern technology offering decisive value added."

The desired credit can simply be loaded onto the digital prepaid MasterCard by credit card or bank transfer. Wirecard's mobile payment solution can be used by anyone who owns an NFC-enabled Android smartphone with OS 4.4 or above. boon is currently available in seven countries.

For more information on the mobile payment app boon, please visit:

http://www.boonpayment.de

About Wirecard:

Wirecard AG is a global technology group that supports companies in accepting electronic payments from all sales channels. As a leading independent supplier, the Wirecard Group offers outsourcing and white label solutions for electronic payments. A global platform bundles international payment acceptances and methods with supplementary fraud prevention solutions. With regard to issuing own payment instruments in the form of cards or mobile payment solutions, the Wirecard Group provides companies with an end-to-end infrastructure, including the requisite licences for card and account products. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Securities Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060, WDI). For further information about Wirecard, please visit http://www.wirecard.com or follow us on Twitter @wirecard.

Wirecard media contact:



Wirecard AG

Jana Tilz

Tel.: +49 (0) 89 4424 1363

Email: jana.tilz@wirecard.com



SOURCE Wirecard AG
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Monthly information on debtor composition in Nordea Kredit published in order to comply with the Transparency Directive's disclosure requirements.



Nordea Kredit hereby publishes monthly data on debtor composition of all callable bond series. The information is subject to disclosure requirements in the Securities Trading Act  27a section 1.

The information is also published in the usual way via the Copenhagen Stock Exchange / OMX.

Nordea Kredit Realkreditaktieselskab

Terese Dissing

Phone : +45 55 47 31 56

CONTACT:

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/nordea-kredit/r/company-announcement-no--117--2016---debtor-composition-in-nordea-kredit--ck-92-,c2153322

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Public/105/2153322/bdb860daf92e896b.xml debmas20161216 http://mb.cision.com/Public/105/2153322/b2494fd1d5a30687.pdf Press release (PDF)

SOURCE Nordea Kredit
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Halal medicines are estimated to make for almost one-third of the total revenue from the global halal market, and are thus becoming an extremely attractive opportunity for Sharia compliant drugs producers. In fact demand outstrips supply by a significant margin.

Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20161216/8521608249LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150730/8521504987LOGO

Drugs approved by halal drug certifying agencies such as LPPOM MUI of Indonesia and Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia are therefore expected to witness rising consumption globally.

This in turn is driving regulatory convergence in the halal medicines market among countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Turkey, France and others.



Some key accredited players in the halal medicine market include Chemical Company of Malaysia Berhad (CCM Pharmaceuticals Sdn Bhd), Pharmaniaga Bhd, Simpor Pharma Sdn Bhd, EMBIL Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Nutramedica Incorporated, among others.

These developments have contributed to the upsurge in interest in being part of CPhI SEA, the only trade exhibition dedicated to the pharma industry in the region, organized in the most populous Muslim country in the world. Held at Jakarta International Expo during March 22-24, 2017, CPhI SEA is the platform of choice to discuss regional harmonization and trade.

Don't miss the opportunity to be part of the change, register here and join the event!

The CPhI series of events drives growth and innovation in the global pharmaceutical industry, with leading exhibitions and online communities covering every step of the supply chain from drug discovery to finished dosage.

More than 100,000 visitors meet over 6,000 exhibitors at events in Europe, China, India, Japan, South East Asia, Russia, Brazil, Istanbul and Korea every year to exchange ideas, form alliances and conduct business on an international scale. CPhI also provides an online buyer & supplier directory at CPhI-Online.com.

Contact Person: Ivan Ferrari

Phone Number: +62 21 2930 5959

Email: ivan.ferrari@ubm.com

Related Links

http://www.cphi.com/sea/



SOURCE CPhI SEA
DUBAI, UAE, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Strategic partnerships to strengthen Japanese companies in GCC as their presence grows by 19 per cent in the Freezone

A high-profile delegation from the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) recently held a series of seminars in Japan to discuss investment opportunities in Dubai with the local business community. These seminars enlighten global investors about lucrative investment potential within one of the world's most advanced free zones while promoting the emirate as one of the world's most important business hubs in line with Dubai Plan 2021. The number of Japanese companies in DAFZA grew by 19 per cent at the end of the third quarter of 2016 over the same period in 2015.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/450066/Dubai_Airport.jpg )



Jamal Bin Marghoob, Director of DAFZA's Marketing and Corporate Communications, headed the delegation. He opened 'A Gateway to the Business and Investment Opportunities in DAFZA' in Tokyo in the presence of H.E. Khaled Omran Al Amiri, UAE Ambassador to Japan, who delivered the opening speech. Daisuke Yonekura, Deputy Director of JETRO's Overseas Investment Division, delivered 'Business Chance in Middle East and Dubai's Pivotal Role' in Osaka. 'The New Business Model in MENA Countries ... Strategic Hub of Dubai' was the focus of the speech of Yusuke Inoue, Advisor for Mizuho Bank's Global Strategic Advisory Department, in Fukoka.

Bin Marghoob said: "We are pleased to meet Japanese government officials and business leaders to discuss the potential of our cooperation. It will help us forge strategic partnerships with the public and private sectors, especially in terms of capitalizing on existing and emerging trade and investment opportunities between Japan and the UAE and the MENA region in general. These seminars also provide a perfect opportunity for us to intensify our contributions to the national economy by attracting further foreign investments to the Freezone. We confidently look forward to lucrative prospects by signing a series of joint agreements that will pave the way for expanding the presence of Japanese companies in DAFZA."

The seminars complement growing trade between the two countries which amounted to AED 43.3 billion in the first half of 2016, making the UAE Japan's largest trading partner and main market among GCC countries.

Contact: Eyad Zeidan, +971-55-1908590

SOURCE Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA)
SAN FRANCISCO, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The global dental X-ray market size is expected to reach USD 2.4 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The dental X-ray market is anticipated to witness lucrative growth during the period 2016 - 2024. This growth is attributed to a majority of factors concerning the prevalence of oral diseases worldwide.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/723757 )



The key factors contributing to the growth of this vertical are thesurgingincidence of dental diseases, rising demand for dental digital X-rays in oral disease treatments, numerous technological advancements that have revolutionized the obsoleteimaging modalities, and other demographic determinants. However, the high cost of digital radiography systems is expected to restrain the growth of the sector.

The dental X-ray market has been classified by type, product, and application. By type, the market is classified into digital and analog. On the basis of product, it is distinguished by intraoral and extraoral X-ray systems with intraoral being the most common type of dental imaging system in use. The intraoral segment is further classified into bitewing, occlusal, and periapical.The extra-oral radiography systems are of two types, namely panoramic and conebeam computed tomography. On the basis of applications, this categoryis classified asdiagnostic and therapeutic, cosmetic, and forensic dentistry areas.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Dental X-Ray Market Analysis By Product (Analog, Digital), By Type (Intraoral - Bitewing, Periapical, Occlusal; Extraoral - Panoramic, Cone Beam Computed Tomography), By Application (Medical, Cosmetic, Forensic), And Segment Forecasts, 2013 - 2024" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/dental-x-ray-market

Further key findings from the study suggest:

As of 2015, in North America , the U.S. is estimated to be the highest grossing market due to the high prevalence of oral and gum-related diseasesin the region.

, the U.S. is estimated to be the highest grossing market due to the high prevalence of oral and gum-related diseasesin the region. Digital X-ray systems are gaining significant popularity, though analog systems continue to exist at large. The digital sensor technology segment has already been studied to be growing at a rapid pace owing to the huge necessity and demand for technologically advanced products in the U.S. market.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region during the forecast period. This growth is expected due to the steep rise in the healthcare spending in countries including China and India .

is expected to be the fastest growing region during the forecast period. This growth is expected due to the steep rise in the healthcare spending in countries including and . The Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) segment has recorded the highest growth rate among all other extraoral radiography systems. They have been outstripping the growth of extraoral systems, such as cephalometric and panoramic systems, ascribable to its ability to provide images with increased clarity of contrasting structures, thus allowing better diagnosis.

The industry comprises several local as well as global players. Some of the major players of this industry include Sirona Dental Systems, Inc., Planmeca Oy, Carestream Health, Inc., and Danaher Corporation.

Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Kidney Fibrosis Treatment Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/kidney-fibrosis-treatment-market

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/magnetic-resonance-imaging-market

Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Devices Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/gastrointestinal-endoscopic-devices-market

Contrast Agent Market- http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/contrast-agent-market

Grand View Research has segmented the dental X-ray market on the basis of product, type, application, and region:

Product (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) Digital Analog

Type (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) Intraoral X-rays Bitewing Periapical Occlusal Extraoral X-rays Panoramic CBCT Others

Application (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) Medical Cosmetic Forensic

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2013 - 2024) North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America MEA



Read Our Blog : http://www.grandviewresearch.com/blog/dental-x-ray-market-size-share

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.

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.
PORTO, Portugal and HATFIELD, England, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

FOR EMEA MEDIA ONLY - NOT FOR SWISS/AUSTRIAN JOURNALISTS

The European Commission extended the Marketing Authorisation for Zebinix (eslicarbazepine acetate) as a once-daily adjunctive treatment for patients aged above six years with partial-onset (focal) seizures with or without secondary generalisation.[1]

Eslicarbazepine acetate was previously indicated only for the adjunctive treatment of adults aged over 18 with partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation.[2]

The variation to the license is based on data from one Phase III study (305), one Phase II study (208) and from population PK modelling and exposure-efficacy analyses. The Commission considered the efficacy results from the mentioned studies to be acceptable for an extension of the Marketing Authorization. The safety analyses show no new or unexpected safety findings and eslicarbazepine acetate does not appear to have negative neurocognitive consequences (power of attention, information processing and working memory).[1],[3]

"We welcome the decision of the European Commission to extend the licence for once daily eslicarbazepine acetate to paediatric patients. Bial has an ongoing commitment to all people living with epilepsy and this important milestone reinforces this commitment, as well as the company's mission to care for the health of people worldwide," comments Antonio Portela, CEO, Bial.

"We are pleased to be able to offer the paediatric neurology community a new treatment option to consider when caring for children aged above six years and adolescents with partial onset seizures. Eisai recognise the importance of delivering new clinical treatments in this particular group of patients," comments Neil West, Vice President, Global Neurology Business Unit, Eisai.

Notes to Editors

About Zebinix (eslicarbazepine acetate)

Eslicarbazepine acetate is a voltage-gated sodium channel blocker. It selectively targets the slow inactivated state of the sodium ion channel (which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of epilepsy), preventing its return to the active state, and thereby reduces repetitive neuronal firing.[4]

Further, eslicarbazepine acetate does not inhibit potassium efflux, which may reduce the potential for repetitive neuronal firings.[5] The efficacy of eslicarbazepine acetate in adult patients was demonstrated in an initial proof-of-concept phase II study[6] and three subsequent phase III randomised, placebo controlled studies in 1,049 people with refractory partial-onset seizures.[7],[8],[9]

Eslicarbazepine acetate is indicated as adjunctive therapy in adults, adolescents and children aged above 6 years, with partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation.

Eslicarbazepine acetate is currently marketed in Europe and Russia by Bial and by Bial's licensee, Eisai Europe Limited, a European subsidiary of Eisai Co Ltd under the trade name Zebinix or Exalief. In the United States and Canada eslicarbazepine acetate (tradename Aptiom) is marketed by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc under an exclusive license from Bial.

About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in the world, affecting approximately 6 million people in Europe, and an estimated 50 million people worldwide.[10],[11] Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain that affects people of all ages, and is a common neurological disorder in childhood, with approximately 100,000 children and adolescents diagnosed every year.[12] It is characterised by abnormal discharges of neuronal activity which causes seizures. Seizures can vary in severity, from brief lapses of attention or jerking of muscles, to severe and prolonged convulsions. Depending on the seizure type, seizures may be limited to one part of the body, or may involve the whole body. Seizures can also vary in frequency from less than one per year, to several per day. Epilepsy has many possible causes but often the cause is unknown.

About Bial

Founded in 1924, Bial's mission is to discover, develop and provide therapeutic solutions within the area of health. In recent decades, Bial has strategically focused on quality, innovation and internationalisation.

Being the partner of choice for many pharma companies, Bial is strongly committed to therapeutic innovation, investing more than 20% of its turnover in Research and Development (R&D) every year.

Bial has established an ambitious R&D programme centred in neurosciences, cardiovascular system and allergic immunotherapy. The company expects to continue to introduce new medicines and vaccines to the market in the next years, strengthening its position worldwide and accomplishing the company's purpose of "Caring for your Health."

For more information about Bial, please visit http://www.bial.com

About Eisai Co Ltd

Eisai Co Ltd. is a leading global research and development-based pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan. We define our corporate mission as "giving first thought to patients and their families and to increasing the benefits health care provides," which we call our human health care (hhc) philosophy. With over 10,000 employees working across our global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to realise our hhc philosophy by delivering innovative products in multiple therapeutic areas with high unmet medical needs, including Oncology and Neurology.

As a global pharmaceutical company, our mission extends to patients around the world through our investment and participation in partnership-based initiatives to improve access to medicines in developing and emerging countries.

For more information about Eisai Co Ltd, please visit http://www.eisai.com

References



1. European Commission: Community register of medicinal products for human use. Product Information - Zebinix. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/h514.htm Last updated December 2016

2. Zebinix SMPC, Available at http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/000988/WC500047225.pdf Last updated: May 2016

3. Moreira J, et al. J Neurol Sci 2015;357:e432-456 (abstract 1513; WFN15-1735; e439)

4. Hebeisen S, et al. Eslicarbazepine and the enhancement of slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels: a comparison with carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine and lacosamide. Neuropharmacology 2015; 89:122-35

5. Soares-da-Silva P, et al. Eslicarbazepine acetate for the treatment of focal epilepsy: an update on its proposed mechanisms of action. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2015; 3:e00124

6. Elger C, et al. Eslicarbazepine acetate: A double-blind, add-on, placebo-controlled exploratory trial in adult patients with partial-onset seizures. Epilepsia 2007; 48:497-504

7. Elger C, et al. Efficacy and safety of eslicarbazepine acetate as adjunctive treatment in adults with refractory partial-onset seizures: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase III study. Epilepsia. 2009;50:454-63

8. Ben-Menachem E, et al. Eslicarbazepine acetate as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with partial epilepsy. Epilepsy Res. 2010;89(2-3):278-85

9. Gil-Nagel A, et al. Efficacy and safety of 800 and 1200 mg eslicarbazepine acetate as adjunctive treatment in adults with refractory partial-onset seizures. Acta Neurol Scand. 2009; 120:281-87

10. Epilepsy in the WHO European Region: Fostering Epilepsy Care in Europe. Available at: http://www.ibe-epilepsy.org/downloads/EURO%20Report%20160510.pdf Accessed November 2016

11. Pugliatti M, et al. Estimating the cost of epilepsy in Europe: A review with economic modeling. Epilepsia 2007:48(12):2224-33

12. Forsgren L, et al. The epidemiology of epilepsy in Europe - a systematic review. Eur J Neurol. 2005; 12(4):245-53

December 2016

Zebinix-EU0112

SOURCE Eisai
HONG KONG, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

- FSG aligning its corporate strategy to capitalize on China's One Belt, One Road development initiative

- New outpost announced in Yunnan and further post planned for Xinjiang

- FSG is expanding its global security services to meet increasing requests from customers for total solutions

Frontier Services Group Limited (FSG or the Company) (SEHK: 00500), is adjusting its corporate strategy to better capitalize on the opportunities available from China's One Belt, One Road (OBOR) development initiative. The updated strategic focus will enable FSG to offer its customers improved access to the challenging markets surrounding China's borders.

FSG, founded by Erik Prince and Hong Kong entrepreneur Mr. Johnson Ko, helps businesses operating in frontier markets overcome complex security, logistics and operational challenges.

Erik Prince, the Executive Chairman of FSG said, "We help businesses in frontier markets overcome the unique logistics challenges they face. Our specialty is addressing these challenges in regions, some high-risk, where developed infrastructure simply doesn't exist. By aligning ourselves closely to China's One Belt One Road development strategy we will be well placed to offer our customers world class service where they are increasingly in demand."

From its inception, FSG has been focused on helping its customers operate more securely and efficiently in frontier markets. OBOR focuses on connectivity, development and cooperation among countries situated primarily between the People's Republic of China and Eurasia. FSG is positioning itself to better serve its customers in these rapidly developing markets by building new operational bases in the region, establishing a China based logistics team and developing strategic partnerships with local operators.

To ensure it remains close to its customers, FSG will be opening a forward operating base in China's Yunnan province. This will allow FSG to be able to better serve companies in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Subsequently, FSG will be opening a forward operating base in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to serve businesses in the surrounding countries. These bases will provide training, communications, risk mitigation, risk assessments, information gathering, medevac and joint operations centers that coordinate security, logistics and aviation services.

In addition, FSG is building a project logistics team in China to understand the challenges and needs of our clients working on projects along OBOR. The multidisciplinary team will be able to create solutions for clients across sea, air and land, enabling FSG to better deliver services across new frontier markets.

Finally, FSG is partnering with leading firms in China to bring customers customized insurance and aviation solutions. The unique opportunities presented by OBOR will allow FSG to utilize the strengths of its partners to create custom made products and solutions for these new markets.

Dr. Dongyi Hua, FSG CEO, commented: "FSG is that truly unique corporation - a hybrid between China and the West, bringing the best of both worlds to the benefit our international clients. One Belt, One Road provides FSG with an exciting opportunity to support firms with their secure logistics and transportation needs from Asia to Africa".

David Whittingham, FSG's head of Corporate Development and Strategy, added: "FSG is a unique company operating in an extremely dynamic and growing market. No other China-focused secure logistics company in the world has FSG's experience working in such challenging markets, moving people, goods and equipment safely and efficiently".

ENDS

About Frontier Services Group Limited

Frontier Services Group Limited ("FSG") (SEHK: 00500) is a publicly listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with its headquarters in Hong Kong, China and offices in Beijing, Dubai, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Kinshasa. FSG supports businesses operating in frontier markets overcome complex security, logistics and operational challenges. From Asia to Africa, FSG helps transport and protect your people, goods and equipment across air, sea and ground.

E nquiries :

International media/sell-side analysts/investors:

PRO, Marc Cohen or Aaron Bass:

E: FrontierServicesGroup@theproffice.com

T: + 44 20 7284 6969



China media



Wonderful Sky Financial Group Holdings Limited

Nicole Liu / Coco He / Wendy Chan

E: frontierser@wsfg.hk / po@wsfg.hk

T: +852-3970 2298 / 3641 1300 / 3970 2200



SOURCE Frontier Services Group
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nomination Committee in HEXPOL AB (publ.) will propose Georg Brunstam to become new Chairman of the Board in HEXPOL to the Annual General Meeting April 28, 2017.

"As CEO Georg Brunstam has successfully lead HEXPOL since the start and listing on the Stock Exchange and the proposal is a natural step to ensure continuity and further development of HEXPOL." Melker Schorling, Chairman of Board HEXPOL

"After almost ten years as CEO of HEXPOL I have with pride accepted the proposal from the Nomination Committee to become Chairman of the Board in HEXPOL." Georg Brunstam, President and CEO HEXPOL

The recruitment of a new President and CEO in HEXPOL will start immediately and Georg Brunstam will of course continue as CEO until a new CEO is in place.

The Nomination Committee is also proposing that the newly appointed CEO in MSAB, Gun Nilsson, is elected to the Board of Directors of HEXPOL after resigning Ulrik Svensson.

CONTACT:

For further information, please contact:

Melker Schorling

+46 (0) 8 407 36 60

Mikael Ekdahl, Chairman of the Nomination Committee

+46 (0) 8 407 36 60

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/hexpol/r/georg-brunstam-proposed-to-new-chairman-of-the-board-in-hexpol,c2152754

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/1100/2152754/605610.pdf Georg Brunstam proposed to new Chairman of the Board in HEXPOL

SOURCE HEXPOL
NEW YORK, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Driven by growing popularity across the globe and steady adoption by the F&B industry, global tahini market volumes are estimated to surpass 314 thousand tonnes in 2016, up from nearly 305 thousand tonnes in 2015. According to the latest report published by Persistence Market Research titled "Global Market Study on Tahini: Paste and Spreads Product Type Segment Projected to Remain the Largest Segment during the Forecast Period.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161114/438683LOGO )



" Besides the availability of myriad flavors, rising adoption by local eateries are most likely to impact the global tahini market. "

- Market Research Expert, Persistence Market Research

Growing popularity of authentic Middle Eastern food flavors is expected to escalate the demand for tahini-based products, such as hummus and tahini spread. The surging significance of social media marketing will play a pivotal role in the promotion of tahini and derived products. Emerging tahini applications in hummus, butter and spreads, halva, salads, bakery products, toppings, and traditional Middle Eastern recipes such as Baba Ghanoush will also influence the market favorably.

Request a Sample Report@ http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/12883

By product type, tahini paste and spreads will witness the highest demand

Paste and spreads segment will account for over 55% share in terms of revenues by 2025

Desserts and sweets segment, aggravated by growing popularity of halva, will maintain a market share of over 25% during the assessed period

Sustained consumption of tahini dips and sauces will fuel the sauces and dips sub-segment, capturing over 18% market value share

By distribution channel, major tahini sales will be directed through exports

Conventional retail will lose its market share over 2015-2025; from over 37% market share in 2015, this sub-segment will settle at around 34% in 2025

Modern trade is expected to witness decent growth, accounting for a revenue share of over 29% by 2025 end

Exports will, however, exhibit the fastest growth in terms of a distribution channel. With over 20% share of the revenues, this sub-segment is anticipated to reach US$ 465.9 Mn with a promising CAGR of 6.1%

Considering product size, the tahini market is projected to gain the highest traction in the 50-150 gm size sub-segment

With over 56% value share in 2025, the 50-150 gm size sub-segment will reportedly reach a consumption of around 243,189 tonnes

Above 150 gm size sub-segment is likely to witness an uptick over the forecast period, capturing a considerable 28% market value share in 2025

Below 50 gm product size will be the fastest growing sub-segment at 5.9% CAGR

Depending on the production process, industrial production process will remain dominant over conventional process

With a slight setback from 76% share in 2015 to around 73% share estimated by 2025 end, industrial production process will witness moderate growth with a CAGR to the tune of 5.3%

Conventional process will experience significant growth over the forecast period

Browse Market Overview and Research Methodology@ http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/tahini-market.asp

According to Persistence Market Research's regional analysis, Western Asia will continue to be the largest market, whereas GCC will emerge lucrative by 2025 end

West Asia , identified as the most lucrative market for tahini, will predictably cross US$ 608 Mn by 2025 end, accounting for maximum revenues in the global market

, identified as the most lucrative market for tahini, will predictably cross by 2025 end, accounting for maximum revenues in the global market GCC countries will exhibit the fastest growth at 5.9% CAGR, primarily driven by Kuwait , UAE, and Saudi Arabia . GCC tahini market revenues will reach around US$ 202 Mn by 2025 end

, UAE, and . GCC tahini market revenues will reach around by 2025 end North Africa , followed by the U.K., are projected to grow moderately at respective CAGRs of 5.7% and 5.4%

View Report Table of Contents, Figures, and Tables@ http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/tahini-market/toc

New Production Plants on Key Players' Agenda

Dipasa International S.A., Sunshine International Foods, Inc., Kevala International LLC, Joyva Corp, Premier Organics, Haitoglou Bros S.A., Halwani Bros. Co., Prince Tahina Ltd., El Rashidi El Mizan, Al-Wadi Al-Akhdar S.A.L, Carleys of Cornwell Ltd., Balsam Tahini, Ismail Termurcugil, and Alseedawi Sweets Factories Co. constitute some of the key players in the global market for tahini. While major export opportunities lie in Asia and North America, a majority of leading players are based in the Middle East and North America. Halwani Bros. Co. and Haitoglou Bros. are top Middle East companies, whereas Joyva Corp, Dipasa, and Kevala Int. are the key North American players. Alwadi Al Akhdar's new factory in Lebanon is due in 2017 and Sabra Dipping Co. will soon double its tahini hummus production capacity.

To Buy Full Report @ http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/12883

PMR Overview

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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.

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SOURCE Persistence Market Research
SINGAPORE, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

South-East Asia's first Illumina Hiseq X is now operational at MedGenome's lab in Singapore in partnership with Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160112/784044 )

To celebrate the launch and completion of first 250 whole genomes, MedGenome today announced a Grant Challenge offering human Whole Genome Sequencing at 30X coverage for USD 199 per genome. Based on evaluation of one-page project proposals submitted, 10 projects would be selected for this co-funding. Each proposal can be for up to 10 whole genomes. All submissions should be submitted by 31st of December 2016 to singapore_grant@medgenome.com. Funded proposals will be announced on Feb 3, 2017 during the Grand Challenge Ceremony at NTU.

Large-scale genomic sequencing projects and innovative genomics research enable better understanding of complex human diseases and population structure. This has become a reality only with the high throughput and unprecedented low price per genome of HiSeq X Ten. "Local South-East Asian research communities need access to low cost high throughput NGS technologies to remain competitive with global initiatives in precision medicine," said MedGenome's COO, Dr. Ramprasad. The technology is bringing down the price of Whole Genome and Whole Genome Methylation sequencing to the much anticipated USD 1,000.

"We are very excited to collaborate with a leading academic institution, NTU Singapore, to provide access to the latest sequencing technology to further population level and precision medicine initiatives. Illumina has been very supportive in the speedy setup of this technology platform and the Grant Challenge program," said Sam Santhosh, Chairman and Global CEO, MedGenome.

"The lack of ultra-high throughput DNA sequencing locally, which reduces the cost per sample by as much as 80%, has restrained the pace of scientific discoveries in this region." said Stephan C. Schuster, Professor, NTU Singapore. "This joint initiative between NTU and our industry partner, MedGenome, will massively benefit our research projects not only at NTU, but across all leading research institutions and life sciences companies in the South-East Asian region."

All MedGenome Singapore Grant Challenge samples will be sequenced within 30 days of receipt.

About MedGenome

MedGenome (http://www.medgenome.com) is a genomics-driven research and diagnostics company. MedGenome is a market leader for genomic diagnostics in South Asia and a leading provider of genomics research services globally. MedGenome offers genomics solutions in cancer immunotherapy and diabetes and works with various commercial and academic researchers globally on genomic research projects. It is also a founding member of GenomeAsia 100K initiative to sequence 100,000 genomes in South, North and East Asia.

MedGenome is a global genomics firm with presence in San Francisco, USA, Bangalore, India and Singapore. Our NGS lab in Foster City, California is ISO 15189 compliant, CLIA certified and CAP accredited.

About Nanyang Technological University

A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University (http://www.ntu.edu.sg), Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the colleges of Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and it's Interdisciplinary Graduate School.

Media contact

Name: Mahesh Pratapneni

Email ID: mahesh@emergeout.com



SOURCE MedGenome
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The shareholders of East Capital Explorer AB (publ), 556693-7404 (the "Company"), are hereby given notice to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") to be held on Monday 23 January 2017, at 13.00 at IVA's Conference Centre, Grev Turegatan 16, Stockholm. Registration for the meeting will commence at 12.30.

Notification of participation

In order to be entitled to participate at the EGM, shareholders must be recorded as shareholders in the printout of the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Tuesday 17 January 2017, and give notice of their intention to participate at the EGM no later than Tuesday 17 January 2017, preferably before 16:00.

Notice of participation at the EGM may be given either by telephone +46 8-402 90 46, on the website www.eastcapitalexplorer.com/en/egm-2017, or by regular mail to East Capital Explorer AB (publ), P.O. Box 7839, 103 98, Stockholm, Sweden. Please state "EGM" on the envelope.

The name, personal identification number (or company registration number), address and telephone number of the shareholder, shareholding and, if applicable, attendance of any representatives or assistants should be provided in the notice of participation. No more than two assistants may attend and only if the number of assistants have been stated in advance.

Personal data collected from powers of attorney and the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB will be used for registration and preparation of the voting list for the EGM.

Nominee-registered shares

In order to be entitled to participate at the EGM, shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee must temporarily re-register the shares in their own name. Such registration must be effected at Euroclear Sweden AB on Tuesday 17 January 2017. Thus, the nominee should be notified in due time prior to this date.

Proxies etc.

Shareholders who are represented by proxy shall issue a power of attorney for the representative. Powers of attorney in original and, for legal entities, certificate of registration should be submitted to the Company at the address above in due time prior to the EGM. The power of attorney and certificate of registration may not be older than one year, the power of attorney may, however, be older if it, according to its wording, is valid for a longer period, maximum five years. The Company provides proxy forms on the website www.eastcapitalexplorer.com/en/egm-2017. The proxy form may also be requested by telephone on +46 8-402 90 46.

Note that shareholders who are represented by proxy must also give notice of participation in accordance with the instructions given above and be registered in their own name at Euroclear Sweden AB on Tuesday 17 January 2017. A submitted proxy is not valid as a notification to participate at the EGM.

Number of shares and votes

At the time of issuing the notice to attend the EGM, the Company has a total of 28,161,563 registered shares, with one vote per share. At the time of issuing the notice, the Company holds 2,523,100 own shares.

Right to request information

Shareholders present at the EGM have a right to request information regarding the matters on the agenda in accordance with Chapter 7, Sections 32 and 57 of the Swedish Companies Act (2005:551).

Proposed agenda

1. Opening of the meeting

2. Election of the chairman of the meeting

3. Preparation and approval of the voting register

4. Approval of the agenda

5. Election of one or two persons to attest the minutes of the meeting

6. Decision on whether the meeting has been duly convened

7. Decision on the number of members of the board of directors

8. Decision on remuneration to the board

9. Election of board member

10. Decision on:

a) reduction of the share capital by way of retirement of own shares, and

b) increase of the share capital by way of bonus issue

11. Decision regarding amendments to the articles of association

12. Closing of the meeting

The nomination committee's proposals

7. The nomination committee proposes that the board of directors shall be increased from four members to five members.

8. Provided that the EGM elects Goran Bronner as a new member of the board of directors in accordance with item 9 below, the nomination committee proposes that Goran Bronner shall receive a remuneration of SEK 100,000, corresponding to the remuneration received by other members of the board of directors in proportion to the length of the mandate.

9. The nomination committee proposes that Goran Bronner is elected as a new member of the board of directors. The proposal means that the board of directors thereafter will consist of Lars O Gronstedt, Goran Bronner, Peter Elam Hakansson, Liselotte Hjorth and Nadya Wells.

Goran Bronner (born 1962) has held several leading positions at Swedbank AB, most recently as the bank's Chief Financial Officer and prior to that as Chief Risk Officer. He has more than 30 years of experience from the global financial markets. He founded Tanglin Asset Management AB and served as the firm's Chief Investment Officer, and has held several positions at SEB in Stockholm, London and Singapore. Today he serves as Board Member of CTT Systems AB. Goran Bronner holds a B.Sc. in Business Administration and Economics from Stockholm University.

The Board of Directors' proposals for resolutions

10. Decision on a) reduction of the share capital by way of retirement of own shares, and

b) increase of the share capital by way of bonus issue

a) Reduction of the share capital by way of retirement of own shares

The board of directors proposes that the EGM resolves to reduce the share capital by way of retirement of own shares. The purpose of the reduction is allocation to unrestricted shareholders' equity to be used as decided by the EGM in accordance with item b) below. The reduction of the share capital shall be made with a total of EUR 324,500 by way of retirement of a total of 2,500,000 shares.

The resolution to reduce the share capital under this item a) may be effectuated without obtaining an authorization from the Swedish Companies Registration Office or, in disputed cases, a court of general jurisdiction as the company simultaneously effectuates a bonus issues as set out under item b) below, with an amount corresponding to no less than the amount the share capital is being reduced with as set out above. Combined, these measures entail that neither the company's restricted equity nor its share capital is reduced.

b) Increase of the share capital by way of bonus issue

With the purpose of restoring the share capital after the proposed reduction of the share capital as set out under item a) above, the board of directors proposes that the EGM simultaneously resolves to increase the share capital by way of a bonus issue with an amount corresponding to EUR 325,902, which equals slightly more than the amount the share capital is reduced with by way of retirement of shares as set out under item a) above. No new shares shall be issued in connection with the bonus issue.

Majority requirements

Resolutions by the EGM in accordance with item 16 a) - b) above shall be adopted as a joint decision. Resolutions in accordance with item 16 a)  b) above require that shareholders representing no less than two thirds of the votes cast as well as the shares represented at the EGM approve the resolution. The board of directors further proposes that the EGM authorizes the board of directors to make such minor adjustments to the above resolutions as may be required to register the resolutions with the Swedish Companies Registration Office or Euroclear Sweden AB and to take the measures required to execute the resolutions.

11. Decision regarding amendments to the articles of association

 3 "Operations"

The Board of Directors proposes that  3 "Operations" of the Company's articles of association is given the wording set out below:

The object of the company's operations is to acquire, manage and sell real property and chattels and to conduct other activities compatible therewith.

 12 "Record day"

The Board of Directors proposes that  12 "Record day" of the Company's articles of association is, due to the change of name of the Central Securities Depositories and Financial Instruments (Accounts) Act (SFS 1998:1479), given the wording set out below:

The company's shares shall be registered in a CSD register (central securities depository) pursuant to the Central Securities Depositories and Financial Instruments (Accounts) Act (SFS 1998:1479).

 7 "The Board of Directors and auditors" paragraph 2 and  13 " Majority resolutions in certain cases"

The Board of Directors proposes that  7 "The Board of Directors and auditors" paragraph 2 and  13 "Majority resolutions in certain cases" of the company's articles of association are deleted.

Majority requirements

Resolution in accordance with item 11 above require that shareholders representing no less than two thirds of the votes cast as well as the shares represented at the EGM approve the resolution.

Available documents

The board of directors' complete proposals will be made available at the offices of the Company on Kungsgatan 35 in Stockholm and on the website www.eastcapitalexplorer.com/en/egm-2017 as from Monday, 2 January 2017, at the latest. Copies will be sent to shareholders who so request and state their mailing address.

* * *

Stockholm in December 2016

EAST CAPITAL EXPLORER AB (publ)

Board of Directors

CONTACT:

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/east-capital-explorer-ab/r/notice-of-an-extraordinary-general-meeting-of-east-capital-explorer-ab--publ-,c2153069

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/13001/2153069/605834.pdf Notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting of East Capital Explorer AB (publ)

Related Links

http://www.eastcapitalexplorer.com/en/egm-2017



SOURCE East Capital Explorer AB
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

SCA has entered into an agreement to acquire BSN medical, a leading medical solutions company, from the private equity group EQT. BSN medical develops, manufactures, markets and sells products within wound care, compression therapy and orthopedics. The purchase price amounts to EUR 2,740m* on a debt- and cash-free basis. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Closing is expected to take place during the second quarter 2017.

BSN medical is an innovative medical solutions company with well-known brands such as Leukoplast, Cutimed, JOBST, Delta Cast, Delta Lite and Actimove which are long established brand leaders in their key markets. BSN medical has a strong go-to-market and supply chain with sales in more than 140 countries and production in 11 countries. BSN medical has approximately 6,000 employees.

"The BSN medical acquisition is an excellent strategic fit for SCA supporting our vision to improve well-being through leading hygiene and health solutions, two closely interlinked areas. BSN medical has leading market positions in several attractive medical product categories and provides a new growth platform with future industry consolidation opportunities. Our incontinence business, with the global leading TENA brand, shares similar positive market characteristics, customer and sales channels, which provide opportunities for accelerated growth through cross-selling," says Magnus Groth, President and CEO, SCA.

BSN medical reported net sales for year 2015 amounted to EUR 861m (SEK 8,050m) and adjusted EBITDA** of EUR 201m (SEK 1,879m), adjusted operating profit*** of EUR 137m (SEK 1,281m), an adjusted operating margin*** of 15.9% and adjusted return on capital employed*** of 7.7%. The reported net sales for BSN medical for the first nine months of 2016 amounted to EUR 627m (SEK 5,872m), adjusted EBITDA** of EUR 151m (SEK 1,414m), adjusted operating profit*** of EUR 103m (SEK 965m) and an adjusted operating margin*** of 16.4%.

On a pro forma basis, giving effect to the acquisition, SCA's net sales for the full year 2015 would have increased from SEK 115.3bn to SEK 123.4bn. Pro forma adjusted EBITDA** for the full year 2015 would have increased from SEK 19.0bn to SEK 20.9bn, adjusted EBITDA margin would have increased from16.5% to 16.9%, pro forma adjusted operating profit** for the full year 2015 would have increased from SEK 13.0bn to approximately SEK 14.0bn****, adjusted operating margin** would have remained at 11.3%**** and adjusted return on capital employed** would have decreased from 12.0% to 10.7%****.

The acquisition is expected to be accretive to SCA's earnings per share from year one. BSN medical has high cash conversion and an asset light business model.

BSN medical's global addressable market size 2015 is estimated to amount to EUR 11.6bn*****, with an estimated market growth (CAGR 2015-2020) of approximately 4%*****, mainly driven by an aging population, increased prevalence of chronic conditions and increased access to health care.

"BSN medical provides an opportunity for SCA to expand our market presence through adding adjacent medical product categories with shared underlying market and customer characteristics of our incontinence business. This acquisition will significantly strengthen SCA's customer offering, channel presence and market access. This will further strengthen and develop SCA's global market leading position within incontinence products under the TENA brand. At the same time, the BSN medical business will benefit from SCA's strong presence in healthcare and retail sales channels as well as SCA's extensive knowledge in brand building and focus on digitalization," says Magnus Groth, President and CEO, SCA.

In relation to the acquisition, SCA expects to realize annual synergies of at least EUR 30m with full effect three years after closing. These include sales synergies from accelerated growth from cross-selling of BSN medical products and SCA incontinence products as well as cost synergies primarily in supply chain and administration. Restructuring costs are expected to amount to approximately EUR 10m and are expected to be incurred in the first three years following completion.

Transaction costs amount to approximately EUR 25m of which approximately EUR 15m will be recognized as an item affecting comparability during Q4 2016. The remaining costs will be recognized as an item affecting comparability during Q2 2017.

Intangibles related to the acquisition is expected to amount to approximately EUR 2.7bn.

The acquisition will be fully debt funded and SCA has committed credit facilities in place. SCA remains fully committed to retaining solid investment grade rating.

*Based on an estimated net debt as per December 31, 2016, of EUR 1,340m

**Excluding items affecting comparability

***Excluding items affecting comparability and including BSN medical's purchase price allocation amortization

****Including BSN medical's purchase price allocation amortization and SCA's estimated purchase price allocation amortization

*****Based on market data and company estimates

Conference call

A conference call, in English, for media, analysts and investors will be held today at 09:30 CET with Magnus Groth, President and CEO of SCA and Fredrik Rystedt, CFO of SCA. The conference call including slides will be live webcasted at www.sca.com. You can also participate by telephone, call: +1 646 851 2407, +44 (0)20 7162 0077 or

+46 (0)8 5052 0110. Specify "SCA" or conference id 961028. Please call in good time before the conference starts.

NB: This information is information that SCA is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation or the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at 07:15 CET on December 19, 2016.

Karl Stoltz, Media Relations Manager,

Tel: +46 8 788 51 55

CONTACT:

For further information, please contact:

Josephine Edwall-Bjorklund, Senior Vice President Communications,

Tel: 46 ( 0)8 788 52 20

Linda Nyberg, Vice President Media Relations,

Tel: 46 (0)8 788 51 58

Johan Karlsson, Vice President Investor Relations,

Tel: 46 (0)8 - 788 51 30

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/sca/r/sca-to-acquire-bsn-medical--a-leading-medical-solutions-company--for-eur-2-740m--on-a-debt--and-cash,c2152706

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/600/2152706/605573.pdf SCA to acquire BSN medical, a leading medical solutions company, for EUR 2,740m* on a debt- and cash-free basis

Related Links

http://www.sca.com



SOURCE SCA
LIVERPOOL, England, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 380 graduates from the University of Liverpool's online programmes celebrated their graduation during ceremonies and events in Liverpool between 6 and 8 December 2016. They are part of a graduating class of more than 980 students, representing 131 countries, who have recently completed University of Liverpool master's and doctoral degrees, and postgraduate certificate programmes online. Graduates from the online programmes have the option to receive their degree certificate in person at graduation ceremonies held twice a year at the University of Liverpool.

"It's a great honour to welcome our new online graduates and their families to Liverpool along with our campus graduates," said the University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janet Beer. "I hope all of our online graduates will celebrate their great achievements and are ready to use their new knowledge and skills to enhance their professional impact in businesses, organisations and communities globally."

In addition to attending the campus ceremonies, the graduates and their families and friends, as well as faculty members, were welcomed at the Online Graduates' Recognition Ceremony and Reception at the Titanic Hotel, Stanley Dock, Liverpool on 8 December. The event honoured graduates from several online programmes who received the Student of the Year and Dissertation of the Year Awards, and provided an opportunity for all online graduates to meet and network with their peers from around the world.

The Student of the Year Awards  for outstanding performance throughout an online degree programme  were awarded to:

The Dissertation of the Year Awards  for an outstanding dissertation  were awarded to:

Dennis Bloch , an LLM in International Business Law graduate in Germany

, an LLM in International Business Law graduate in Natalie Drever , an MSc in Applied Psychology graduate in Canada

, an MSc in Applied Psychology graduate in Francesca Jones , an MSc in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Investigation graduate in the UK

, an MSc in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Investigation graduate in the UK Juan Manuel Vergara Montiel , an MSc in Software Engineering graduate in Spain .

, an MSc in Software Engineering graduate in . Linnea Renton , a Master of Public Health (MPH) graduate in the UK

"An emergency doctor by training, I took the online masters to increase my management knowledge, focusing my dissertation research on emergency medicine in the private health care sector in Hong Kong. The programme gave me flexibility and was very well structured, with a lot of interaction with students and instructors from all over the world  the Middle East, Europe, America and even China," said Dr. Clara Wing Yee Wu, MSc in International Management graduate and Student of the Year Award winner, from Hong Kong. "Here in the UK, I am meeting my Dissertation Advisor. It's like going to meet an old friend whom you have worked with for over a year but have never met in person before."

Designed for working professionals, the University of Liverpool's fully online learning model enables students to earn an advanced academic degree without interrupting their career  from wherever they are based in the world. Students enjoy an engaging, global and highly collaborative learning experience that provides them with the knowledge and skills to achieve immediate professional impact.

For more information about the University of Liverpool's online programmes, visit www.online.liverpool.ac.uk.

About the University of Liverpool Online Programmes

The University of Liverpool ranks in the top 1% of universities worldwide as listed in the International Handbook of Universities, published by the International Association of Universities (2014),and is a member of the UK's Russell Group of research-led universities. More than 10,000 students from more than 160 countries are studying for postgraduate certificates, master's and doctoral degrees online with the University of Liverpool. These programmes are provided in partnership with online learning expert, Laureate Online Education. For more information about Laureate, visit www.laureate.net.

Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/69935/university_of_liverpool_online_programmes_logo.jpg

Related Links

http://www.online.liverpool.ac.uk



SOURCE University of Liverpool online programmes
HELSINKI and BEIJING, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Rightware, the leading provider of automotive user interface software, today announced its acquisition by Thundersoft, the world's leading provider of operating systems and smart device platform technology. The arrangement supports the continued development of both companies - by creating a growth platform to help secure the top position in the rapidly expanding automotive software industry, while creating more complete solutions for customers. Rightware will remain an independent company with its current management and continued investments in the automotive business and Finland. The deal is worth 64 million Euros (471M RMB; 68M USD) and is expected to be closed in early 2017.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/450675/Rightware_Logo.jpg )



(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/450676/ThunderSoft_Logo.jpg )



Rightware was founded in 2009, and the company's flagship product, Kanzi, is used by over 20 global automotive brands. Kanzi enables the creation of digital instrument clusters and infotainment systems that enhance automotive brands and the overall driving experience. Thundersoft, founded in 2008 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, provides operating system technology and services globally for the mobile, automotive and IoT markets. This arrangement advances Rightware to the next chapter in its growth and strengthens its presence in the global automotive software and connected car market.

"Kanzi is expected to power over 25 million cars by 2022. With Thundersoft, we can expand this footprint further and support our customers even better. At Rightware, we take great pride in creating software that shapes the experiences of millions of drivers across the globe. We see that the specialisation within the global automotive industry software will continue. This creates a huge possibility for us to position Kanzi as the industry standard software solution. The arrangement further strengthens our presence in the growing Asian automotive market and complements our strong footprint in the European and American automotive markets. Thundersoft is already an established software player in the automotive industry and the perfect fit for Rightware. Thundersoft's investment in Rightware perfectly demonstrates how Finland can breed unique knowhow, solutions and technology for global markets, as well as attract global investments," says Jonas Geust , CEO of Rightware.

With its first overseas acquisition, Thundersoft enters the European market and further expands its platform technology and services within the automotive industry. "The automotive market is one of the fastest growing segments for Thundersoft, and we are providing in-vehicle infotainment and cluster OS solutions to our customers worldwide. Cars are getting smarter - with rich applications and fully optimized OS solutions. Rightware has the best user experience design technology, which will be featured in more connected cars in the market. In combination with Rightware's unique technology, design knowhow and world-class talent, we can bring more value to our customers and transform the automotive industry with our innovations," says Larry Geng, CEO of Thundersoft.

Rightware remains an independent company through its existing brand, products and focus on the automotive industry. The current Rightware management will remain and re-invest in the company. Rightware currently employs around 50 professionals and has a 12-month plan to recruit 20 new experts, approximately half of which are expected to be recruited in Finland.

Rightware's existing shareholders include Finnish Industry Investment Ltd, Inventure Fund Ky, Nexit Ventures, the current management and the company founders. The deal is worth 64 million Euros and is expected to be closed in early 2017. Rightware has grown rapidly in recent years. Its turnover for 2016 is expected to reach around 7 million Euros, with profitability being reached by the end of the year.

Additional information:

Rightware pictures:

http://www.rightware.com/kanzi

http://www.rightware.com/kanzi/benefits

Thundersoft fact sheet:

http://www.rightware.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Thundersoft_fact-sheet.pdf

About Rightware

Rightware is the market leader in advanced user interface technology, serving the automotive industry and other embedded industries with its Kanzi software product family for rapid user interface design and deployment. Featured on Deloitte's "Fast 50" list of most rapidly growing tech companies in 2015, Rightware is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland with a presence in Silicon Valley, Detroit, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai, London and Munich.

http://www.rightware.com

About Thundersoft

Headquartered in Beijing and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (300496.SZ), Thundersoft is a world-leading provider of mobile operating system and smart device solutions. The company delivers solutions and services to markets (including smartphone, tablet, IoT, automotive and enterprise markets) with full-stack engineering resources covering software and hardware. Thundersoft offers expertise in operating systems (Android, Linux, Windows and others), a broad software and algorithm technology portfolio, strategic partnerships with key semiconductor vendors and its global support network. These assets make Thundersoft a valuable and trusted partner for worldwide customers aiming to build innovative and high-quality smart devices that can be launched into the market after short development times. Thundersoft has seven R&D centres in China, with a global presence in Japan, South Korea and the U.S. Learn more at http://www.thundersoft.com.

Thundersoft is a registered trademark of Thunder Software Technology Co., Ltd. in China and elsewhere.

SOURCE Rightware
VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Increasing consumer spending on health and wellness products will continue to push sales in urban clusters, such as Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Caracas, and Buenos Aires.

In South America, the residential water treatment equipment sales remain concentrated in Brazil - which accounts for over 60% share of the region's market value. In 2016, the residential water treatment equipment market in South America is anticipated to attain a market value of over US$ 300 million. Future Market Insights, in its latest study on the residential water treatment equipment market in South America, offers a comprehensive analysis on key factors expected to impact market growth through 2026.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430874LOGO )



South America's residential water treatment equipment sales will surpass 12 million units in volume by the end of 2026 - increasing at a stellar CAGR of 10.2%

Key Excerpts from Analysis of South America's Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market

By the end of 2016, reverse osmosis equipment sales in Brazil are projected to account for a market value of US$ 88.3 million

are projected to account for a market value of In 2016, UV purification systems will attribute to more than 30% share of the overall market value in South America

Low product availability remains a key challenge impeding market growth

Advanced purification technologies & high-end RO-based water purifiers are witnessing low demand owing to unstable product pricing across South America



Request a Sample Report with Table of Contents: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-za-2473

Market Strategy of Key Players

Established players: Europa Group, PSA, and Ceramic Stefani are focussing on expanding their presence in Brazil. Establishment of authorised retail outlets and partnership with e-commerce sites are the key growth strategies for established players.

Emerging players: Eureka Forbes, IBBL, and Lorenzetti are focussing on expanding manufacturing capacity. Targeting top of the pyramid customers and direct marketing remain key growth strategies for emerging players.

New players: Expansion of distribution partners and strengthening of distribution channels are the key strategies for Panasonic, LG, and HUL.

Preview Analysis on South America Residential Water Treatment Equipment Market Taxonomy By Purification Devices - Reverse Osmosis, Ultra Violet and Gravity/ Media; By Filtration Devices - Faucet Filters and Others (Includes Water Pitcher, Solar Ball, Filter Water Bottle): http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/south-america-residential-water-treatment-equipment-market

Regional Overview of South America's RWTE Market

Poor water quality remains a longstanding challenge in many South American countries, including Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Argentina. Recent studies have found a high concentration of Arsenic in many South American rivers, and this has resulted in higher demand for residential water treatment equipment. Dissimilarity in per capita water consumption among South American countries is reflecting upon their respective residential water treatment equipment markets. Higher freshwater withdrawal by Brazil and Argentina has incited rampant adoption of effective purification systems, while ample availability of per capita water resources in Chile and Peru has rendered their residential water treatment equipment markets to be nascent as of now.

Speak with Analyst for any Report Related Quires: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-za-2473

In Argentina, comprehensive urbanisation witnessed across the country has resulted in active participation of companies and governing authorities towards improvement of its water treatment systems. In 2016, Argentina's residential water treatment equipment sales are estimated to garner revenue worth US$ 36.7 million, with reverse osmosis equipment accounting for nearly 40% share. Meanwhile, residential water treatment equipment market in countries such as Chile, Venezuela and Peru are expected to evolve at a comparable pace; with each accounting for sales of more than 230,000 units.

Queries regarding the research's key findings can be resolved by contacting concerned analysts at press@futuremarketinsights.com

More From FMI's Cutting-edge Intelligence:

APAC Halal Cosmetics Market: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/halal-cosmetics-market

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PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today 48 Factoring Inc. announced the attainment of $10 million funded to small businesses since the company's inception. Many of these placements occurred in the greater Philadelphia area, but the company has also continued to expand its geographic presence to adjacent markets as well. This benchmark was achieved only two years after the company was formed.

George Bessenyei, director, commented as follows:

"We are thrilled to be able to help businesses throughout the area achieve their capital objectives and assist in the obtainment of their business goals. I am grateful to see that our efforts to provide top-notch customer service and attract the most talented and hardworking staff have paid off. We look forward to continuing to serve small businesses throughout the region."

About 48 Factoring Inc.

48 Factoring Inc. is a Better Business Bureau accredited financial services company using proprietary software technology to assess funding risk and create innovative solutions to help small businesses grow. Its unique Factoring 2.0 financial product is tailored to small, fast-growing companies in need of working capital. As a result, 48 Factoring markets its services directly to small business owners. Incorporated in March 2014 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the company is led by experienced managers and staff with decades of experience in the field.

For more information, please contact:

Sandi Sheehan

Phone: 1-84-48-FACTOR (1-844-832-2867)

Website: https://48factoring.com/

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: https://48factoring.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/48Factoring

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/48-Factoring-Inc

SOURCE 48 Factoring Inc.

Related Links

https://48factoring.com


NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of Americans (52%) who get paid vacation time say they won't use all their allotted time this year, according to a new Bankrate.com (NYSE: RATE) report. Among those who get paid vacation time and won't use all of it, the most popular responses are: 7-10 days left over (30%), 4-6 days (21%) and 1-3 days (15%). 8% expect that they'll leave more than 30 days on the table. The median is 7 days and the average is 19. To view the survey results, go to:

www.bankrate.com/finance/consumer-index/money-pulse-1216.aspx

59% of younger millennials (18-25 year-olds) won't use all of their company-provided time this year. In fact, 25% say they'll use none of their paid vacation days for 2016, compared to only 9% of older millennials (age 26-35), 6% of Gen-Xers and 7% of Baby Boomers.

"This 'workaholic' approach is deeply embedded in our country's culture, but working more hours and sacrificing vacation days does not make you a better employee or help you climb the ladder any faster," said Sarah Berger, personal finance expert and "The Cashlorette" at Bankrate.com. "Without taking time to recharge, employees can find themselves stressed, overworked and sick - all of which have a direct impact on their work performance."

Many companies offer employees the option of rolling over unused vacation time into the next calendar year which can be helpful to plan for an extended vacation or major life event. It seems many are taking advantage of this perk, with 35% giving this reason for not using up all vacation days this year. Other reasons for not using vacation time include: too much work (23%), enjoy working (16%), can't afford to go anywhere (13%) and afraid your job will be at risk if you take too much time off (4%).

Given a choice between extra cash or additional paid time-off, cash wins out. A majority of working Americans would prefer a cash bonus equal to 1 week of pay (56%) instead of an additional week of paid vacation each year (42%). This is fairly consistent across all age groups.

The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates on behalf of Bankrate.com.

About Bankrate.com

Bankrate.com provides consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life's financial journey. For over two decades, Bankrate.com has been a leading personal finance destination. The company offers award-winning editorial content, competitive rate information, and calculators and tools across multiple categories, including mortgages, deposits, credit cards, retirement, automobile loans, and taxes. Bankrate aggregates rate information from over 4,800 institutions on more than 300 financial products. With coverage of over 600 local markets, Bankrate generates rate tables in all 50 U.S. states. Bankrate develops and provides web services to more than 100 cobranded websites with online partners, including some of the most trusted and frequently visited personal finance sites on the internet, such as Comcast, Yahoo!, CNBC and Bloomberg. In addition, Bankrate licenses editorial content to more than 500 newspapers on a daily basis including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times.

For more information:

Kayleen (Katie) Yates

Vice President, Corporate Communications

[email protected]

(917) 368-8677

SOURCE Bankrate, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.bankrate.com


WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Chemistry Council's North American Flame Retardant Alliance (NAFRA), a group that represents manufacturers of flame retardants, launched an effort today in support of home fire safety over the holidays. The campaign, Celebrate Safely, comes in response to an annual increase in home fires during the winter holiday season.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are over 104,000 fires each year during the winter holidays, claiming 890 lives and $2 billion in property damage. Candle fires are 4 times more likely to occur during winter holidays, compared to the rest of the year, according to the American Red Cross, and on average 210 home fires start with Christmas trees each season.

"The good news is that there are steps families can take to reduce the risk of holiday fires," said Robert Simon, Vice President at the American Chemistry Council. "The Celebrate Safely campaign will offer tips that every family can, and should, do to improve their fire safety over the holidays."

The Celebrate Safely campaign will run throughout the month of December and into early January, and it will focus on five tips to stay safe:

Decorate Safely. Choose decorations that carry a UL or CSA label, indicating that they have been tested for fire safety. The American Red Cross recommends placing Christmas trees and holiday decorations at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, heaters, and candles.

Choose decorations that carry a UL or CSA label, indicating that they have been tested for fire safety. The American Red Cross recommends placing Christmas trees and holiday decorations at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, heaters, and candles. Cook Safely. Keep things that can catch fire, such as oven mitts, towels, and wooden utensils, away from stoves and ranges.

Keep things that can catch fire, such as oven mitts, towels, and wooden utensils, away from stoves and ranges. Observe Safely. Make sure to blow out lit candles when you leave the room and keep your Christmas tree hydrated.

Make sure to blow out lit candles when you leave the room and keep your Christmas tree hydrated. Play Safely. Keep matches and lighters out of reach from children and in locked cabinets and be mindful of the fire safety of individual products.

Keep matches and lighters out of reach from children and in locked cabinets and be mindful of the fire safety of individual products. Entertain Safely. Make sure guests know about fire exits, be mindful of crowds near open flame sources, and make sure smoke detectors are working properly.

These tips and more can be found on a new website devoted to the campaign: www.celebratesafelycampaign.com

Throughout the campaign, NAFRA (@AMChemistry) will be using Twitter to share additional tips on how to stay safe from fires during the holiday season. NAFRA will be using the hashtag #CelebrateSafely and invite individuals around the country to take part in the conversation.

About The North American Flame Retardant Alliance

The American Chemistry Council's North American Flame Retardant Alliance (NAFRA) supports a robust and transparent regulatory system that provides both strong fire protection and chemical safety. NAFRA's members represent the cutting edge of fire safety chemistry and technology and are dedicated to protecting consumers through the safe and effective use of flame retardants. Our work includes:

Conducting original, peer-reviewed research;

Enhancing awareness of fire safety and the efficacy of flame retardants;

Supporting risk-based policies and regulations based on sound science; and

Establishing constructive dialogue with flame retardant users and other stakeholders.

NAFRA's members represent the world's leading producers and users of a variety of flame retardants. Membership is open to producers, distributors and companies that use flame retardants in their own equipment or product, and related trade associations.

NAFRA Members:

Albemarle Corporation

Great Lakes Solutions, A Chemtura Business

ICL Industrial Products

More information at: http://flameretardants.americanchemistry.com

SOURCE The North American Flame Retardant Alliance (NAFRA)

Related Links

http://www.celebratesafelycampaign.com/


PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Law Institute CLE is pleased to announce the next presentation of The Year in Employee Benefits: Insights and Strategies for Retirement, Health, and Executive Compensation Plans. This annual advanced course will be held on March 1-3, 2017 at the Washington Plaza Hotel, in Washington, DC. Nationally-recognized for its comprehensive coverage of legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments that effect employee benefits plans, this year will cover key changes in 2016 and look ahead to 2017, providing valuable guidance for attorneys, accountants, consultants, and human resource professionals.

Just some of the many featured topics include: Working with Form 1095/1096 reporting and disclosures; responding to marketplace notices; state-run retirement plans; Department of Labor disclosure powers; and new actuarial equivalence regulations. The program will also address the new 409A proposed regulations; the new IRS RAP rules; Department of the Treasury developments; recent ERISA litigation; updates on the Affordable Care Act; and what to expect in the new EPCRS world.

In addition to its distinguished faculty of private practitioners, this year's conference includes several government representatives, including Assistant Secretary of Labor Phyllis Borzi with the Employee Benefits Security Administration; Kathryn Johnson and Robert Neis from the Treasury Department; Kevin P. Knopf from the IRS Chief Counsel's Office; and Tom Reeder, Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

"Our area of expertise is so very complex," said 2016 attendee Sissy Sailors of Scottsdale, Arizona. "It is wonderful to have the time (and forum) to speak casually with THE experts in our field for guidance."

To learn more about this program and to register for The Year in Employee Benefits 2017, please click here.

About American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education

American Law Institute CLE is the continuing legal education division of the American Law Institute. American Law Institute CLE, a non-profit organization, is committed to the work of promoting continuing professional education for lawyers throughout the United States and to creating standards to ensure quality and relevance in CLE programs. American Law Institute CLE is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the legal profession, furthering a tradition of unparalleled service to lawyers. For more information please go to www.ali-cle.org.

CONTACT: Danelsy Medrano

Senior Digital Marketing Manager

ALI CLE

(215) 243-1622

[email protected]

SOURCE American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education

Related Links

http://www.ali-cle.org


LONDON, Dec. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an important component of modern therapy for diabetes mellitus. SMBG has been recommended for people with diabetes and their health care professionals in order to achieve a specific level of glycemic control and to prevent hypoglycemia. Self-monitoring of blood glucose is a very lucrative business with enormous market opportunity. The primary growth factors for the SMBG market is the increasing global diabetic population; increasing awareness among the diabetes population, increasing spending on healthcare, active reimbursement policies and the technological advancement aimed at minimal and non-invasive testing methods.

Key Highlights

- In 2015, Asian SMBG market was valued at nearly US$ 2 Billion.

- It is anticipated that the Asian SMBG users will cross the figure of 20 Million by 2021.

- China dominates the self-monitoring of blood glucose users, with over XX percent users share in 2015.

- Thailand and Malaysia are competing closely with each other to grab maximum share of the blood glucose users.

- In Asia, China is the single largest market for SMBG followed by Australia and India.

- Test Strips account for maximum share of the SMBG market.

iGATE RESEARCH report titled "Asia - Self Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) (Test Strips, Lancet, Meter) Market and Forecast" is a 123 Page report with 122 Figures and 12 Tables. This report analyses the 7 Asian countries Diabetes Population, SMBG Users and SMBG Market by Product Segment (Test Strips, Lancet, Meter).

All the 7 Countries in the report have been studied from 3 viewpoints.

1. Country Wise Diabetes Population and Forecast (2007 - 2021)

I. Type 1 Diabetes Population

II. Type 2 Diabetes Population

2. Country Wise SMBG Users and Forecast (2007 - 2021)

3. Country Wise SMBG Market and Forecast (2007 - 2021)

I. Blood Glucose Test Strips Market

II. Blood Glucose Lancet Market

III. Blood Glucose Meter Market



The 7 Countries Studied in the reports are as follows:

1. India

2. China

3. Thailand

4. Korea

5. Malaysia

6. Australia

7. Kuwait



Research Methodologies

Primary Research Methodologies: Questionnaires, Surveys, Interviews with Individuals, Small Groups, Telephonic Interview, etc.Secondary Research Methodologies: Printable and Non-printable sources, Newspaper, Magazine and Journal Content, Government And NGO Statistics, white Papers, Information on the Web, Information from Agencies Such as Industry Bodies, Companies Annual Report, Government Agencies, Libraries And Local Councils and a large number of Paid Databases.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4128995/

About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

http://www.reportbuyer.com


SANTA ANA, Calif., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Optima Tax Relief was honored this month by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as a Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics finalist at a ceremony hosted by the BBB which monitors close to 85,000 businesses throughout San Diego, Orange, and Imperial Counties. Optima Tax Relief was one of just 15 companies honored at the annual event recognizing outstanding ethics in business.

Optima Tax Relief honored this month by the Better Business Bureau as a Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics finalist.

Started in 1996, the Torch Awards for Ethics was created by the BBB to recognize companies who demonstrate best practices in leadership character and high standards of organizational ethics that benefits their customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and communities.

The BBB's long-standing leadership in evaluating best business practices makes the award especially important, says David King, CEO of Optima Tax Relief. "Ethical practices are the bedrock of our company," says King. "It's tremendous to have the BBB, with their 100-plus-year history as leaders in consumer advocacy, honor us for our uncompromising ethical standards."

The awards were open to all businesses and organizations in the San Diego, Orange and Imperial Counties that are in good standing with the BBB, though BBB Accreditation is not a requirement for entry or consideration. The nominations are judged by a third-party panel that adheres to six specific areas of criteria in selecting companies who demonstrate the highest levels of ethical practices in business.

"At Optima, we make it our personal responsibility to provide our clients with exceptional service and results," says Jesse Stockwell, Co-founder of Optima. "Everything we do is done in pursuit of achieving the best for our clients."

Harry Langenberg, Optima's Managing Partner, added, "This award belongs to each and every one of our employees. It's a direct reflection of our staff's dedication to operating at the highest standards every day for every client."

This year's Torch Awards were formally handed out at a ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla in San Diego on November 29th.

About Optima Tax Relief

Optima Tax Relief, LLC, headquartered in Orange County, CA, is a nationwide tax resolution firm that provides assistance to those individuals struggling with unmanageable IRS or state tax burdens. The company's unique two-phase approach to tax relief is revolutionary in the industry and provides consumers unparalleled clarity into their options to resolve tax issues. Fully accredited and A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, Optima currently employs over 400 professionals, including over 30 Tax Attorneys and Enrolled Agents. Optima offers full service tax resolution for almost any IRS or state tax issue and the company's mission is to obtain the best possible result for each client's specific situation, providing a better financial future by making their tax issues a thing of the past.

Press Contact: Brent Rickles, 800-536-0734, [email protected]

Related Images

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Related Links

Optima Tax Relief

http://www.bbb.org/sdoc/torch-awards-for-ethics/recipients/list-of-past-recipients/

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com/.

SOURCE Optima Tax Relief

Related Links

http://www.optimataxrelief.com


SAN RAMON, Calif., and HAMBURG, Germany, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BioVentrix, Inc. a pioneer of technologies and procedures for less invasive treatment of heart failure (HF), today announced the first closed-chest Revivent TC TransCatheter Ventricular Enhancement System procedure in Germany since receiving CE mark certification. The Less Invasive Ventricular Enhancement or LIVE procedure was performed by interventional cardiologists Dr. Christian Frerker, MD and Dr. Tobias Schmidt, MD and by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Ralf Bader, MD at Asklepios Klinik St. Georg in Hamburg, Germany. The St. Georg Heart team is led by Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Kuck, who is also the Chairman of the Department of Cardiology and Electrophysiology.

The physicians implanted 2 anchor pairs and achieved a left ventricular volume reduction of 24%, which is a significant improvement for a patient suffering from ischemic heart failure. Left Ventricular volume reduction is a common measure of cardiac performance that significantly impacts the short and long-term survival rates. By remodeling the LV to a more normal shape and size, the implant improves pumping efficiency, decreases wall stress, and immediately reverses patient symptoms.

"We are pleased to be the first center in Germany to perform the Revivent TC procedure after CE mark certification," said Dr. Frerker. "The Revivent TC procedure continues to show significant clinical benefits to patients who suffer from ischemic cardiomyopathy post-myocardial infarction. It's a viable solution when guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) is not suitable," continued Dr. Frerker.

"The 24% volume reduction should directly impact the heart's pumping efficiency, which is a positive outcome for ischemic patients. That will result in an improvement in the patient's quality of life," added Dr. Schmidt. "This is the only minimally invasive technology which enables plication of scar tissue resulting in complete exclusion outside the LV cavity," continued Dr. Schmidt.

"The Revivent TC procedure alleviates wall stress by the reshaping of the left ventricle and allowing for the heart to operate as it was intended to going forward. The immediate impact the Revivent TC procedure has on a patient is life-changing," added Dr. Bader.

About BioVentrix and the Revivent TC System

BioVentrix, a privately held medical technology company headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., is focused on developing and commercializing minimally invasive therapies for treating HF. The company recently received CE mark certification for its closed-chest Revivent TC TransCatheter Ventricular Enhancement System for plication of scar tissue in post-MI, ischemic cardiomyopathy patients. Placement of the Revivent TC System via the LIVE procedure obviates the need for more invasive surgery. Instead, small titanium anchors are placed along the outer surface of the heart and along one of the interior walls via a catheter-based approach. The anchors are then pulled towards one another, effectively excluding the scarred and non-functioning heart wall. Ventricular volume is immediately reduced as a result of the exclusion, by as much as 30-40 percent1.

Click here for corporate video with animation

Note: The Revivent TC System is approved for sale in Europe; it is not approved for sale in the United States.

SOURCE BioVentrix Inc.

Related Links

http://www.bioventrix.com


COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, hosted three Innovation Summit events in China, Japan and Brazil during November. Innovation Summit, a CAS event, is organized to engage global business leaders and influential decision makers to collectively address business challenges that face all organizations, regardless of geography.

The Innovation Summit held November 15 in Tokyo, Japan was led by CAS country manager, Dr. Chiharu Isobe. This year's agenda focused on strategy development and decision making in R&D, as well as intellectual property protection. CAS was honored to welcome Ms. Yoshiko Shirokizawa, deputy director of Japan Science & Technology (JST), who addressed the participants on funding to ensure world-class innovation. Dr. Matthew J. Toussant, sr. vice president of product and content operations for CAS, also provided a global view of innovation. Attendees enjoyed open dialogue on the latest research trends in Japan, including growth in research across large chemical companies in Japan, increasing generic pharmaceutical production and the recent growth in patenting of therapeutic applications.

A panel agenda for the Innovation Summit in Shanghai, China held November 16 highlighted research and development in the information era, as well as ways to remain competitive in IP in the ever-evolving chemistry, pharmaceutical and related-science marketplace. Lively dialogue and networking were an integral part of the value derived by attendees. Esteemed colleagues from academic and commercial organizations shared insights on R&D strategies, innovation in drug research and development, information design and CRO innovation in China that are driving growth for the world's patent leader. Following the summit, a librarian roundtable was held in Guangzhou to address specific challenges facing academic institutions as they develop the next generation of research leaders.

The final Innovation Summit for 2016, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil on November 22, welcomed highly respected guests from FAPESP; the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; and EMBRAPII, among others. Members of the Brazil Advisory Board to CAS helped facilitate lively discussions around topics ranging from innovation in the private sector to bioeconomics to funding innovation that fuels the economy, as well as promoting a culture of collaboration to drive innovation across research in Brazil. Participants analyzed case studies demonstrating successful innovation in Brazil, and CAS chief innovation officer, Kathy Gibson, provided a case study on creating a sustainable innovation capability highlighting the implementation of this function at CAS.

CAS leadership, including President Manuel Guzman, shared insights on the transformation of CAS to an innovative solutions provider that has transitioned from offering three primary research and intellectual property solutions to one that is continuously introducing exciting new solutions that advance scientific research faster than ever.

"CAS is on an evolutionary path to enhance the sophistication of its solutions, and we must push ourselves to extend support beyond traditional chemistry to other scientific domains in order to better serve scientific discovery long term," said Guzman. "The innovation infusion across CAS is infectious, and we're humbled to share our experiences in these Innovation Summit forums and to also learn from other global leaders who are making differences in people's lives every day. We're working together to make our world a better place."

About CAS

CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, is dedicated to the ACS vision of improving people's lives through the transforming power of chemistry. The CAS team of highly trained scientists finds, collects, and organizes all publicly disclosed substance information, creating the world's most valuable collection of content that is vital to innovation worldwide. Scientific researchers, patent professionals and business leaders around the world rely on a suite of research solutions from CAS that enables discovery and facilitates workflows to fuel tomorrow's innovation.

SOURCE CAS

Related Links

http://www.cas.org


MIDWEST CITY, Okla., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chet Dodrill has been named a bronze winner in Finance Executive of the Year in Best in Biz Awards, the only independent business awards program judged by members of the press and industry analysts. Dodrill has served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and now Chief Administrative Officer (CFO) for the growing Oklahoma-based Chloeta for five (5) years. Chloeta is an international leader in wildland fire, aviation and all-hazards incident management with locations in California, Idaho, Oklahoma and Florida.

Chloeta Fire

The sixth annual program in North America garnered more than 600 entries, from an impressive array of public and private companies of all sizes and from a variety of industries and geographic regions in the U.S. and Canada. Best in Biz Awards 2016 honors were presented in 60 categories, including Company of the Year, Fastest-Growing Company of the Year, Most Innovative Company of the Year, Best Place to Work, Technology Department of the Year, Executive of the Year, Most Innovative Product of the Year, Best New Product of the Year, App of the Year, PR Campaign of the Year and Website of the Year.

"We're pleased that Mr. Dodrill's dedication to service and excellence was recognized in this public format by Best in Biz. He's been an integral part of the growth of our firm in recent years," stated Chloeta CEO Mark Masters from their Oklahoma City headquarters.

Winners of Best in Biz Awards 2016 were determined based on scoring from an independent panel of 50 judges from widely known newspapers, business, consumer and technology publications, TV outlets, and analyst firms. In addition to numerous judges returning from the 2011-2015 judging panels, this year's panel included several worthy additions to the high-profile group. The panel included Accounting Today, AdWeek, Associated Press, Atlanta Tribune, Business News Daily, CNET, Computerworld, Consumer Affairs, Entrepreneur, eWeek Channel Insider, Forbes, Healthcare Innovation News, Inc., Information Week, InfoWorld, Investment Advisor Magazine, MediaPost, Multifamily Executive, Network World, Portland Business Journal, Security Products Magazine, South Florida Business Journal, Wall Street Journal, Wired, WLRN and ZDNet.

For a full list of gold, silver and bronze winners in Best in Biz Awards 2016, visit: http://www.bestinbizawards.com/2016-winners.

Contact Chloeta at info(at)chloetafire(dot)com or 1.877.CHLOETA.

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com/.

SOURCE Chloeta
HAMILTON, Ontario, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cinnos MCI, the Hamilton-based high-tech start-up that introduced the world's first data centre appliance to the global market, announced today that it successfully raised over $2.3 million in equity financing from the community of angel investors in the Hamilton, Burlington and the Greater Toronto Area, as well as Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) through its Market Readiness Company Building (MRCB) program. The financing was led by the Burlington-based Angel One Investor Network, one of the most active angel groups in Canada. The funds raised will provide the capital for Cinnos to build its next generation of the Mission Critical X (MCX), and fund its global expansion.

"Our MCX brings unprecedented economic and environmental efficiencies to the $170 billion data centre industry, and we intend to use this funding to capitalize fully on our unique and proprietary technology," said Hussam Haroun, Cinnos CEO and co-founder.

"We thought we would need to syndicate outside of Angel One to deliver the $1 million of funding Cinnos was seeking," said Karen Grant, Executive Director of Angel One. "But by the time our due diligence was completed, our members delivered over $1 million all by themselves. I received calls from Angel One members who missed the first round, and we had strong interest from our friends at Maple Leaf Angels and York Angel Investors. Rather than leave anyone out, we went back to Cinnos and asked if they would consider increasing the round to $2 million. And they did."

"The Market Readiness Company Building program is designed to assist companies like Cinnos scale up, and advance their early-stage commercialization efforts," said Dr. Tom Corr, OCE's President and CEO. "Companies like Cinnos illustrate how the programs at OCE can help innovators capitalize on Ontario's first-class academic institutions, and support local innovation in the global marketplace through strategic investment at critical stages in their growth."

"This is a watershed event for the innovation ecosystem in the Hamilton region. I was really impressed by Karen's professionalism and her fantastic due diligence team," said Dr. Lotfi Belkhir, Chairman of the Board of Cinnos, and Associate Professor at the W Booth School of Engineering Practice & Technology at McMaster University. "What fills me with pride is the visionary leadership of Hussam Haroun, and how he was able to translate the learning experience he received from our Master's in Engineering, Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MEEI) at the W Booth into one of the most promising start-ups in the Greater Toronto Area."

About Cinnos

Cinnos has developed and commercialized the world's first data centre appliance that enables immediate deployment and a pay-as-you-grow model for data centre providers. Furthermore, thanks to its proprietary modular design, The Cinnos Smart MCX enables immediate deployment of data centres for a fraction of the cost of traditional mission critical facilities (MCF), hence accelerating revenues and bringing dramatically higher ROI to our customers as compared with the traditional construction-based MCF. Founded by Hussam Haroun in June 2015 following his graduation from McMaster MEEI program, Cinnos achieved breakeven in less than twelve (12) months of operations. For more information, please visit http://cinnos.com

Cinnos Media Contact:

Brook Azezew

[email protected]

t: 416.270.7807

About Angel One Investor Network

Angel One Network Inc. is a not-for-profit organization with 90+ high net worth members who live, work or have strong interests in Southern Ontario. In the 5 years since Angel One's inception, its members have invested over $22 million in 84 rounds into 52 companies. In 2016 alone, Angel One members have invested $4.36 million into 10 companies as of October 15, 2016. Angel One members have also realized success from three successful exits that delivered a blended annualized return of 69%.

Angel One Media Contact:

Karen Grant

[email protected]

T: 905.308.4969



About Ontario Centres of Excellence

OCE drives the commercialization of cutting-edge research across key market sectors to build the economy of tomorrow and secure Ontario's global competitiveness. In doing this, OCE fosters the training and development of the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs and is a key partner with Ontario's industry, universities, colleges, research hospitals, investors and governments. A champion of leading-edge technologies, best practices and research, OCE invests in sectors such as advanced health, digital media and information communications, advanced manufacturing and materials, and cleantech including energy, environment and water. OCE is a key partner in delivering Ontario's Innovation Agenda as a member of the province's Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE). Funded by the Government of Ontario, the ONE is made up of regional and sector-focused organizations and helps Ontario-based entrepreneurs rapidly grow their company and create jobs.

OCE Media Contact:

Andrew Robertson

Manager, Media Relations

t: 416.861.1092 x 1092

[email protected]



Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12608253

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Cinnos Mission Critical Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cinnos.com


SEATTLE, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will continue its commitment of investment and growth in the Pacific Northwest following a decision by Delta and Alaska Airlines to end their partnership. The decision is a positive milestone for both airlines as Alaska focuses on its merger integration with Virgin America and Delta focuses on creating more customer choice at its Seattle-Tacoma International Airport hub, where it now operates more than 150 peak-day flights to more than 40 destinations.

Effective May 1, 2017, Delta and Alaska will no longer have a codeshare agreement, and sales of flights under DL- and AS-coded flight numbers flown on Alaska and Delta aircraft respectively will cease. Additionally, customers of each airline will no longer be able to earn and redeem Delta miles or Mileage Plan miles on flights operated by the other carrier. The carriers will retain an interline agreement, allowing them to continue offering customers ticketing and baggage connectivity. Delta and Alaska today codeshare on only a small number of flights as Delta's growth in Seattle has reduced the need for codeshare flying.

Seattle businesses have global travel needs, and Delta customers in Seattle retain a robust selection of flights following the end of the partnership. Delta has built a strong hub at Sea-Tac, having more than tripled flights and destinations since 2013, and has become a reliable and collaborative travel partner, offering unmatched products and services and a team of 3,200 local employees to support Seattleites' travel needs.

"We view Seattle and the Pacific Northwest as one of the most important markets in the country, with strong economic growth, cultural diversity and some of the world's most innovative brands and minds," said Mike Medeiros, Delta's Vice President  Seattle. "As a result, we have invested heavily in our product, services, facilities and the community. Our focus now is earning the long-term trust of Pacific Northwest customers by demonstrating the value of partnering with a global airline and the benefits of being a Delta SkyMiles Member."

Mileage Earning and Redemption

Delta SkyMiles Members will be able to earn and redeem miles on flights operated by Alaska Airlines through April 30, 2017. SkyMiles Medallion Members will continue to receive their benefits when flying with Alaska Airlines through April 30, 2017.

Beginning May 1, 2017, SkyMiles Members will not be able to earn and redeem miles on flights operated by Alaska Airlines unless a ticket was purchased before Dec. 19, 2016. Medallion Benefits will not be available on flights operated by Alaska Airlines.

Delta SkyMiles Members enjoy the following benefits:

Miles that never expire.

Miles can be redeemed for Award Travel to more than 1,000 destinations.

One-Way Award Tickets start at just 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees (on select flights within the US 48 and Alaska ).

). Earn miles when you fly with any of our 25 partner airlines including Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Air France, KLM and Aeromexico.

All Medallion Tiers are eligible to receive Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades into First Class and Delta Comfort+ on paid and Award Tickets.

Diamond and Platinum Medallion Members are offered exclusive Choice Benefits which enables Members to customize their benefits by what matters most, including upgrade certificates, gifting Medallion Status, and more.

All SkyMiles program rules apply to SkyMiles program membership, miles, offers, mile accrual, mile redemption and travel benefits. To review the rules, see Membership Guide & Program Rules at http://www.delta.com/memberguide.

To learn more, customers can visit Delta.com/skymilesinseattle or call 800-323-2323.

Booking/Ticketing Date Travel Date Earn miles Redeem miles Before 12/19/2016 12/19/2016  12/17/17 Yes Yes 12/19/2016 - 4/30/2017 12/19/2016 - 4/30/17 Yes Yes 12/19/2016 - 4/30/2017 5/1/2017 and beyond No Yes 5/1/2017 and beyond 5/1/2017 and beyond No No



Unmatched Products and Services in Seattle

Delta is the largest global carrier at Sea-Tac with more than 150 peak-day departures to more than 40 destinations. Some flights may be operated by Delta Connection carriers Compass Airlines and SkyWest Airlines. The airline offers products and services unmatched by any carrier:

All-jet flights and a seamless, true international network that doesn't require a change of airlines. With 9 peak-day flights serving eight long-haul international destinations, including Amsterdam , Beijing , Hong Kong , London , Paris, SeoulIncheon, Shanghai and TokyoNarita, Delta people serve Seattleites at Sea-Tac and around the world.

, , , , Paris, SeoulIncheon, and TokyoNarita, Delta people serve Seattleites at Sea-Tac and around the world. Delta One/First Class and Comfort+ seating on all flights from Sea-Tac for customers who want extra legroom, priority boarding, dedicated overhead bin space and complimentary beer, wine and spirits.

Delta Shuttle service from Sea-Tac to Los Angeles and San Francisco , offering customers dedicated check-in counters, gates located near security, complimentary meals in First Class, Luvo snack boxes in Comfort+, onboard snacks provided by Nourish Snacks in main cabin and in-flight beer, wine, spirits (21+, please drink responsibly) and other beverages in all classes of service, including Lagunitas Brewing Company and Fremont Brewing Company craft beer and Starbucks coffee.

and , offering customers dedicated check-in counters, gates located near security, complimentary meals in First Class, Luvo snack boxes in Comfort+, onboard snacks provided by Nourish Snacks in main cabin and in-flight beer, wine, spirits (21+, please drink responsibly) and other beverages in all classes of service, including Lagunitas Brewing Company and Fremont Brewing Company craft beer and Starbucks coffee. Free in-flight entertainment in all cabins of service out of Seattle through Delta Studio, Delta's industry-leading suite of onboard entertainment. Delta operates the world's largest in-flight entertainment-equipped fleet, with more than 1,000 aircraft offering Delta Studio via streaming through laptops, mobile devices and tablets, in addition to nearly 400 aircraft equipped with seat-back entertainment systems.

through Delta Studio, Delta's industry-leading suite of onboard entertainment. Delta operates the world's largest in-flight entertainment-equipped fleet, with more than 1,000 aircraft offering Delta Studio via streaming through laptops, mobile devices and tablets, in addition to nearly 400 aircraft equipped with seat-back entertainment systems. Wi-Fi availability on all long-haul international and all domestic flights operating in the contiguous U.S. out of Seattle .

. A new, 21,000 sq. ft. Delta Sky Club conveniently located between concourses A and B, featuring contemporary furniture with power outlets near every seat, warm wood finishes reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest, rotating art curated from local galleries, a unique spa space to rejuvenate or relax, personalized flight assistance, a complimentary menu featuring chef-driven selections highlighting local flavors along with a complimentary local IPA craft beer, Starbucks coffee and local wines by the glass curated by Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson.

A second, recently renovated Delta Sky Club for travelers leaving from the South Satellite.

Fresh, seasonal meals crafted with ingredients from local purveyors at Pike Place Market for First Class customers on select flights from Seattle .

Delta in Seattle

Delta people are active members of the community, giving their time and resources to more than 100 organizations close to the hearts of Seattleites, including Habitat for Humanity  Seattle King County, Boys & Girls Club of King County, PATH, KaBOOM!, Seattle Pride and End AIDS Walk Seattle, among others. In 2016, Delta paid out more than $53 million in profit sharing to its Seattle employees and committed to contributing 1 percent of its net income from the previous year to key charitable organizations, including organizations in Seattle. Delta is one of the world's largest operators of Boeing aircraft, with more than 700 Boeing jets flying around the globe each day. The airline has hired more than 1,000 employees since 2013, and its expansion at Sea-Tac is estimated to contribute $571 million annually in total economic output.

Delta Air Lines serves nearly 180 million customers each year. In 2016, Delta was named to Fortune's top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the fifth time in six years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 323 destinations in 57 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry's leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta, and Facebook.com/delta.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines

Related Links

http://www.delta.com


COSTA MESA, Calif., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With the increased attention on fraud and cyber security, Experian has seen more companies turn to its CrossCore product to strengthen fraud mitigation efforts without the burden of custom integrations for every new service.

"We're quickly adding new partners so we can give our clients more choices than ever before," said Steve Platt, global executive vice president, Fraud and Identity, Experian. "When we launched CrossCore in June, we said that before CrossCore, no one vendor could do it all. The 'plug-and-play' capability allows companies to connect multiple disparate services through a common access point for a layered approach to managing risk."

We are determined to help clients stop fraud faster while minimizing the integration burden on IT. So, how are we doing that? CrossCore supports a layered approach to managing risk, allowing partners to offer value-added services alongside existing Experian fraud and identity solutions. Experian clients can further reduce risks by accessing capabilities from Emailage, Whitepages Pro, iQor and myNetWatchman through the industry's first open platform. Additionally, Monitise FINKit clients can access the identity and fraud management capabilities of the CrossCore platform.

There is an essential complexity to fraud mitigation. Integration through CrossCore makes things like policy changes a simple matter by turning specific services on and off in each decision flow. Clients can choose the services they want, when they want them, to dial in the right confidence level for each and every transaction  and they can do it with the click of a button.

Companies can connect any new or existing tools and systems in one place. Powerful workflow and strategy design capabilities allow fraud and compliance teams to rapidly create and adapt strategies based on evolving threats and business needs.

The new CrossCore partners include:

Monitise: Monitise PLC is a specialist in financial services technology focused on accelerating the digital transformation of banks and financial institutions.

Monitise FINKit platform and associated capabilities build on more than a decade of experience in delivering digital services to banks and financial services partners. Whether it is augmenting legacy services with minimal impact on those systems, a greenfield project or strategic digital transformation, FINKit delivers innovation at speed  safely and securely.

Emailage: A global hub of intelligence associated with email addresses, which enables companies to determine whether a transaction is fraudulent or legitimate. This vast network is combined with machine learning algorithms to generate a Risk Score, based on rules that are easily tailored to existing risk engines. Emailage Risk Assessment empowers CrossCore users to effectively fight fraud and increase revenue and transaction approvals  all while preventing unnecessary customer friction.

Whitepages Pro: Provides businesses with global identity verification data via enterprise-scale APIs and web tools to help them quickly identify legitimate customers, prevent fraudulent transactions and smooth new customer account creation. CrossCore clients will have access to authoritative phone, email, address and IP verification data for real-time identity insights along with powerful analytics and tools to maximize the power of that data.

iQor: A global provider of business process outsourcing and product support solutions and the leading provider of e-commerce card-not-present chargeback services. The partnership with iQor ensures CrossCore clients looking for an additional chargeback management solution can round out their overall fraud management portfolio.

myNetWatchman: A leading threat intelligence firm with the ability to flag fraudulent connections in real time. Integrating such threat intelligence with CrossCore improves fraud detection, mitigation and investigation through extrapolated visibility, automated flagging and granular reporting.

Partner quotes:

"There are a lot of powerful solutions out there to help companies improve their fraud detection and prevention, but limited budgets and ever-challenged IT resources often stand in the way," said Rob Eleveld, CEO, Whitepages Pro. "The Experian CrossCore platform makes it possible for those companies to easily access best-in-class products and services like Whitepages Pro when they need them without the implementation burden."

"Our partnership with Experian and integration with the CrossCore platform means we can now offer Emailage fraud detection while working seamlessly with other best-in-class technology services," said Rei Carvalho, CEO, Emailage.

Learn more about CrossCore at www.experian.com/crosscore.

About Experian

Experian is the world's leading global information services company. During life's big moments  from buying a home or a car, to sending a child to college, to growing a business by connecting with new customers  we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organizations to prevent identity fraud and crime.

We have 17,000 people operating across 37 countries and every day we're investing in new technologies, talented people and innovation to help all our clients maximize every opportunity. We are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Learn more at www.experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at our global news blog for the latest news and insights from the company.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts:





Kristie Galvani Matt Tatham Rubenstein Public Relations Experian Public Relations 1 212 805 3005 1 917 446 7227 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Experian

Related Links

http://www.experian.com


EMERYVILLE, Calif., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Emeryville-based f'real foods supports Make-A-Wish through over $100,000 in annual contributions and a social media consumer wish program that drives further donations. f'real sells self-serve milkshakes, smoothies and frozen coffee product in over 16,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada, including convenience stores, colleges, universities and military bases. As part of the partnership with Make-A-Wish, f'real hosted a group of wish children at their Emeryville lab, where each child developed his or her own milkshake concept. f'real then asked their social media followers to vote on their favorite flavor. The top vote-getter was 9-year-old Raffia, who created a Frosted Cupcake milkshake. This is described as "a classic vanilla cupcake with rich vanilla frosting, yummy chocolate pieces and fun colorful sprinkles." This Limited Edition flavor is available now through February 2017. "Raffia has been so excited about winning and he and his siblings have been counting down the days until they would actually be able to taste it!" says his mom, Nairi.

In addition to the more than $100,000 donation and offering wish child Raffi's special milkshake flavor in stores, f'real is also holding a social media campaign to benefit Make-A-Wish. Between December 15th and January 31st, 2017 f'real is requesting photo and video posts on Instagram and Twitter to help all share #myfrealwish with loved ones. For every post with this hashtag, f'real will donate $5 to Make-A-Wish, up to $25,000. f'real's website, myfrealwish.com, will showcase all social media wishes posted, as well as other information about the flavor and Make-A-Wish donations.

"f'real has not only impacted the lives of wish kids by providing funds to help grant wishes, but also by inviting wish kids to help develop new products. The experiences that f'real makes possible will forever serve as a source of positivity for these children dealing with serious illnesses," says Kathy Forshey, vice president of corporate alliances for Make-A-Wish America.

About f'real

Established in 1998, f'real foods designs, sells and markets blended frozen beverages in more than 16,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada including convenience stores, military bases and colleges & universities. The patented in-store blending systems blends delicious and authentic milkshakes, smoothies and frozen coffee products at the touch of a button in under a minute! As the #1 frozen novelty offering in convenience stores, f'real's success can be attributed to continued innovation in the category and quality products, all made with real ingredients. f'real foods is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rich Products Corporation and is based in Emeryville, CA. For more information, visit freal.com.

About Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true has positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illness, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Headquartered in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish is one of the world's leading children's charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 28,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 35 minutes. It has granted more than 270,000 wishes since its inception in 1980; more than 14,800 in 2015 alone. Visit Make-A-Wish at www.wish.org to learn more.

Contact:

Yulanda Smith, f'real foods

[email protected]

510-388-9076

SOURCE freal foods

Related Links

http://freal.com


HOLON, Israel, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Consulting firm Frost & Sullivan has awarded Aerotel Medical Systems, a leading global vendor of advanced remote patient monitoring solutions, with the prestigious 2016 European Telehealth and Telecare Solutions Market Leadership Award.

"Years of world-class engineering efforts have made Aerotel a robust vendor offering best-of-breed technology for multi-parameter remote patient monitoring focused on cardiac diseases," said Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Dinesh Kumar.

Aerotel's telecare solutions are more versatile than traditional remote patient monitoring solutions, and the company's direct sales approach ensures end-user flexibility through customization, personalization, and integration of the solution into the existing workflow.

"In a short time span, many of the company's contracted customers, including some of the most prestigious healthcare institutions around the world, have leveraged the company's cutting-edge ECG monitoring platform and its rich expertise to advance the current capabilities of their remote patient monitoring solutions," noted Kumar.

Aerotel offers the most comprehensive and advanced remote monitoring solutions in the European telehealth and telecare market. Care providers and patients find the company's monitoring solutions to be intuitive and simple to use. Aerotel offers interactive sessions to train end users on how to operate the devices and mobile apps to transfer data seamlessly to providers.

Additionally, complementing its superior engineering skills, Aerotel's research-backed device design and customer centricity have become the backbone of the company's overall success in the global market.

Competitive benchmarking of the telehealth, telecare, and remote monitoring verticals reveals that Aerotel's telecardiology and medical parameters remote monitoring solution has proved to be a solid market differentiator in an increasingly crowded landscape. The company is increasingly recognized by its customers for its innovation, drive, and field success.

"Perhaps the most significant trait of Aerotel Medical Systems' progressive value proposition is its customer-centric approach, with personalized attention that represents the cornerstone of the company's success in the overall remote patient monitoring market," noted Kumar. "This has made the Aerotel brand synonymous with remote patient monitoring market."

Aerotel's best-of-breed ECG monitoring platform is helping the company realize its vision of being a superior remote home and elderly care monitoring provider, while enhancing the overall care delivery experience for patients.

About Aerotel Medical Systems

Aerotel Medical Systems is a global pioneering market leader in telemedicine solutions, with a presence in more than 45 countries. The company provides complete solutions for telehealth and telecare applications.



Aerotel's patient monitoring systems consist of dedicated medical call center software and compact, reliable transtelephonic and digital monitoring devices that eectively transfer vital medical or lifestyle data over the telephone, the Internet, or wireless networks.

To get a copy of the research analysis and for more information: http://www.aerotel.com

Contact Person

Ionatan Galeano

Sales & Marketing Manager

Aerotel Medical Systems

Phone: +972-3-5593222 x109

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Aerotel Medical Systems
NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Summary

The South African defense budget values US$4.1 billion in 2016, dropping from US$4.6 billion in 2012, and registered a CAGR of -2.56% during 2012-2016. Even though the actual budget increased in local currency, it showed a downward trend in terms of dollar value owing to variations in the exchange rate. However, modest growth in defense expenditure is expected during the forecast period at a CAGR of 1.83%, to reach a value US$4.6 billion in 2021. The country's defense budget is mainly driven by factors such as modernization initiatives, participation in peacekeeping missions, and border security challenges.

Key Findings

- During 2012-2016, South African defense expenditure registered a growth rate of -2.56%, decreasing from US$4.6billion in 2012 to US$4.1 billion in 2016

- South African military expenditure, valued at US$4.1billion in 2016, is expected to increase to US$4.6 billion by 2021, registering a CAGR of 1.83% over the forecast period

- South African military expenditure will be driven by the country's participation in peacekeeping programs, border security challenges, and a focus on the modernization of its armed forces

- The Defense Ministry is expected to procure Naval Vessels, Transport Aircraft, and MIL-IT Software and Hardware

Synopsis

This report offers detailed analysis of the South African defense industry with market size forecasts covering the next five years. This report will also analyze factors that influence demand for the industry, key market trends, and challenges faced by industry participants.

In particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following:

- The South African defense industry market size and drivers: detailed analysis of the South African defense industry during 2017-2021, including highlights of the demand drivers and growth stimulators for the industry. It also provides a snapshot of the country's expenditure and modernization patterns

- Budget allocation and key challenges: insights into procurement schedules formulated within the country and a breakdown of the defense budget with respect to the army, navy, and air force. It also details the key challenges faced by defense market participants within the country

- Porter's Five Force analysis of the South African defense industry: analysis of the market characteristics by determining the bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitution, intensity of rivalry, and barriers to entry

- Import and Export Dynamics: analysis of prevalent trends in the country's imports and exports over the last five years

- Market opportunities: details of the top five defense investment opportunities over the coming 10 years

- Competitive landscape and strategic insights: analysis of the competitive landscape of the South African defense industry. It provides an overview of key players, together with insights such as key alliances, strategic initiatives, and a brief financial analysis

Reasons To Buy

- This report will give the user confidence to make the correct business decisions based on a detailed analysis of the South African defense industry market trends for the coming five years

- The market opportunity section will inform the user about the various military requirements that are expected to generate revenues during the forecast period. The description includes technical specifications, recent orders, and the expected investment pattern by the country during the forecast period

- Detailed profiles of the top domestic and foreign defense manufacturers with information about their products, alliances, recent contract wins, and financial analysis wherever available. This will provide the user with a total competitive landscape of the sector

- A deep qualitative analysis of the South African defense industry covering sections including demand drivers, Porter's Five Forces Analysis, Key Trends and Growth Stimulators, and latest industry contracts

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03889325-summary/view-report.html

About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

http://www.reportlinker.com

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

Related Links

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NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Summary

The Future of the Taiwanese Defense Industry- Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts to 2021, published by Strategic Defence Intelligence, provides readers with detailed analysis of both historic and forecast defense industry values, factors influencing demand, the challenges faced by industry participants, analysis of industry leading companies, and key developments

Key Findings

- Over the historic period, Taiwan's defense expenditure registered CAGR of -2.16%,decreasingfrom US$10.8billion in 2012 to US$9.9 billion in 2016

- Taiwanese military expenditure, estimated to value US$9.9billion in 2017, is expected to increase marginally, to reachUS$10.9 billion by 2021, registering a CAGR of 2.38% over the forecast period

- The country's military expenditure will be driven by the modernization of its defense systems and the issue of "One China"

- The Defense Ministry is expected to spend more on upgrading multi-role aircraft, diesel electric submarines, missile defense systems, and corvettes

Synopsis

This report offers detailed analysis of the Taiwanese defense industry with market size forecasts covering the next five years. This report will also analyze factors that influence demand for the industry, key market trends, and challenges faced by industry participants.

In particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following:

- The Taiwanese defense industry market size and drivers: detailed analysis of the Taiwanese defense industry during 2017-2021, including highlights of the demand drivers and growth stimulators for the industry. It also provides a snapshot of the country's expenditure and modernization programs

- Budget allocation and key challenges: insights into procurement schedules formulated within the country. It also details the key challenges faced by defense market participants within the country

- Porter's Five Force analysis of the Taiwanese defense industry: analysis of market characteristics by determining the bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitution, intensity of rivalry, and barriers to entry

- Import and Export Dynamics: analysis of prevalent trends in the country's imports and exports over the last five years

- Market opportunities: Details of the top five defense investment opportunities over the coming 10 years

- Competitive landscape and strategic insights: Competitive landscape analysis of the Taiwanese defense industry. It provides an overview of key players, together with insights such as key alliances, strategic initiatives, and a brief financial analysis

Reasons To Buy

- This report will give the user confidence to make the correct business decisions based on a detailed analysis of the Taiwanese defense industry market trends for the coming five years

- The market opportunity section will inform the user about the various military requirements that are expected to generate revenues during the forecast period. The description includes technical specifications, recent orders, and the expected investment pattern by the country during the forecast period

- Detailed profiles of the top domestic and foreign defense manufacturers with information about their products, alliances, recent contract wins, and financial analysis wherever available. This will provide the user with a total competitive landscape of the sector

- A deep qualitative analysis of the Taiwanese defense industry covering sections including demand drivers, Porter's Five Forces Analysis, Key Trends and Growth Stimulators, and latest industry contracts

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p01590704-summary/view-report.html

About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

http://www.reportlinker.com



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

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LONDON, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The air quality monitoring (AQM) devices are used by public or private organizations to check any violation in air quality standards, to gather information and knowledge for corrective and preventive air pollution measures, and for monitoring wind based movement, dispersion, dry deposition, chemical transformation and precipitation of generated pollutants. Different manufacturers are investing huge capital for the development of advanced air quality monitoring devices.

The global air quality market was valued at $3,378.9 million in 2015, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.8% during 2016 - 2022. The increasing level of air pollution across the globe, the favorable government regulations for air quality monitoring, increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases and increasing awareness regarding environmental and healthcare implications of air pollution are the key factors driving the growth of the global market.

The key opportunities witnessed in the global market are huge growth potential in emerging economies and technological advancements for air quality monitoring. The high operating margins in emerging economies make them attractive to investors when compared to developed economies. Manufacturing air quality monitoring products in the developing regions tend to decrease the overall cost of manufacturing, thus reducing the cost of the product without altering the quality. However, high cost of air quality monitoring equipment and the limitations associated with the air quality monitoring devices are expected to hamper the growth of the global market to some extent.

Air quality monitoring devices are mostly used for monitoring chemical pollutants. Among the different product types of air quality monitoring, the outdoor air quality monitor market would witness faster growth during the forecast period. Increasing adoption of outdoor air quality monitors in different industries and increasing installation of AQM stations are the major factors driving the growth of the outdoor air quality monitors market. The government agencies and academic institutes were the largest end user of the air quality monitoring. The global air quality monitoring market for government agencies and academic institutes was at $1,219.1 million in 2015 and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.0% during 2016  2022.

North America accounted for the largest share in the global market in 2015 and it is expected to grow at the considerable rate during the forecast period. The factors driving the air quality monitoring market in the region are technological advancements and high public private funding for air pollution control. Europe was the second largest market for air quality monitoring devices in 2015. The European market is primarily driven by stringent regulatory norms for industrial air pollution and high public funding for air pollution control.

The air quality monitoring devices market in Asia-Pacific would witness highest growth during the forecast period. The highest growth in the region is attributed to the increasing compliance for environment safety norms and increasing air pollution in the region. The emerging economies of Asia, especially China and India, offers huge revenue generation opportunities for the key players in the global market.

Some of the major players operating in the global market include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Merck KGaA, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, HORIBA, Ltd., Emerson Electric Co., General Electric Company, TSI Incorporated, 3M Company, and Siemens AG.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4402416/

About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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NEW YORK, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Adopting the business model of Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) has become a pragmatic choice for companies looking at integrating security with their business infrastructure. Furthermore, emerging technological trends related to the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-computing will continue to compel more businesses towards implementation of a Security-as-a-Service business model, which will incidentally benefit them through cost savings.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161114/438683LOGO )



"Persistence Market Research's report on the global Security-as-a-Service market titled "Global Market Study on Security-as-a-Service: IT & Telecom and BFSI Industry Segments Major Adopters of Security-as-a-Service Solutions," includes a comprehensive study that has predicted the market to attain US$ 3.3 billion in value by the end of 2016. Over a ten-year forecast period of 2016-2026, the global Security-as-a-Service market is projected to expand at a staggering CAGR of 17.1%".

Request a Sample [email protected] http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/12583

Telecom & IT remains the largest industry for SaaS. Healthcare, Retail & Consumer Goods, and BFSI are the other prominent industries for the global SaaS market. The risks of data loss in the healthcare industry can disrupt dozens of associated businesses such as insurance reimbursement and drug development, and with it, compromise the health of millions of patients. Cloud computing is being merged in the global finance industry, but protection of electronic transactions has necessitated the need for amalgamating a Security-as-a-Service business model. By the end of the forecast period, Healthcare and BFSI industries will account for a market value share of 20.3% and 17.7% respectively, with the global IT & Telecom sector accounting for a revenue share of nearly 30%.

Competitive Backdrop & Enterprise-based Market Segmentation

Providing security services to large enterprises remains a lucrative revenue-generation business model for leading players. By 2026, large enterprises such as conglomerates or multinational corporations will procure about 50% share of global market value, higher than the collective revenue share of small and medium enterprises. Meanwhile, companies in the global Security-as-a-Service market have transformed from being service providers, software developers, and security platform providers to managed security service providers and integrators of Security-as-a-Service for client enterprises. Some of the leading market players profiled in this report include Intel Security, Oracle Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., Gemalto NV, Qualys Inc., Alert Logic Inc., Trend Micro Inc., Proofpoint Inc., Zscaler, Inc., and Okta, Inc.

Browse Market Overview and Research [email protected] http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/security-as-a-service-market.asp

The Need for Subscription-based Security Keeps Surging

Interlinked businesses within a company or within multiple corporations are exposed to the threats of network breach, now that cybercrime is at large. As a countermeasure, business operations need to be integrated with security services that safeguard the companies, not just at the "firewall" level, but at an out-and-out networking parameter. Fusing a security-based business model in an existing and complicated corporate structure can be really formidable for companies, considering the added expenditure of developing an individual security service.

Additionally, companies are not looking to further implicate their operational accountabilities by gaining a total ownership of such developed security services. Ergo, the growth of the global market for Security-as-a-Service will be primarily driven by increasing partnerships of companies with service providers offering subscription-based security. So, cost advantages of integrating a Security-as-a-Service business model will encourage more companies to upgrade security measures of their businesses.

View Report Table of Contents, Figures, and [email protected] http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/security-as-a-service-market/toc

North America to Account for over 35% of Global Revenues by 2026

Cloud-based security services are proliferating the US corporate world; from budding startups to established conglomerates. North America's robust Telecom and IT infrastructure aids the extension of its Security-as-a-Service market, which is anticipated to garner revenues worth US$ 8 billion by 2026-end. With an estimated global market revenue share of 36.4% in 2016, North America's Security-as-a-Service market will account for nearly half of the global market by the end of 2026, growing at the fastest CAGR among all the regions. Meanwhile, the Security-as-a-Service market in Western Europe will expand gradually, generating an opportune incremental value of an estimated US$ 3,059.6 million over the forecast period. Other regions analyzed in the report include Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA).

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PMR Overview

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.

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SOURCE Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.
NEW YORK, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Driven by growing popularity across the globe and steady adoption by the F&B industry, global tahini market volumes are estimated to surpass 314 thousand tonnes in 2016, up from nearly 305 thousand tonnes in 2015. According to the latest report published by Persistence Market Research titled "Global Market Study on Tahini: Paste and Spreads Product Type Segment Projected to Remain the Largest Segment during the Forecast Period.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161114/438683LOGO )



" Besides the availability of myriad flavors, rising adoption by local eateries are most likely to impact the global tahini market. "

- Market Research Expert, Persistence Market Research

Growing popularity of authentic Middle Eastern food flavors is expected to escalate the demand for tahini-based products, such as hummus and tahini spread. The surging significance of social media marketing will play a pivotal role in the promotion of tahini and derived products. Emerging tahini applications in hummus, butter and spreads, halva, salads, bakery products, toppings, and traditional Middle Eastern recipes such as Baba Ghanoush will also influence the market favorably.

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By product type, tahini paste and spreads will witness the highest demand

Paste and spreads segment will account for over 55% share in terms of revenues by 2025

Desserts and sweets segment, aggravated by growing popularity of halva, will maintain a market share of over 25% during the assessed period

Sustained consumption of tahini dips and sauces will fuel the sauces and dips sub-segment, capturing over 18% market value share

By distribution channel, major tahini sales will be directed through exports

Conventional retail will lose its market share over 2015-2025; from over 37% market share in 2015, this sub-segment will settle at around 34% in 2025

Modern trade is expected to witness decent growth, accounting for a revenue share of over 29% by 2025 end

Exports will, however, exhibit the fastest growth in terms of a distribution channel. With over 20% share of the revenues, this sub-segment is anticipated to reach US$ 465.9 Mn with a promising CAGR of 6.1%

Considering product size, the tahini market is projected to gain the highest traction in the 50-150 gm size sub-segment

With over 56% value share in 2025, the 50-150 gm size sub-segment will reportedly reach a consumption of around 243,189 tonnes

Above 150 gm size sub-segment is likely to witness an uptick over the forecast period, capturing a considerable 28% market value share in 2025

Below 50 gm product size will be the fastest growing sub-segment at 5.9% CAGR

Depending on the production process, industrial production process will remain dominant over conventional process

With a slight setback from 76% share in 2015 to around 73% share estimated by 2025 end, industrial production process will witness moderate growth with a CAGR to the tune of 5.3%

Conventional process will experience significant growth over the forecast period

Browse Market Overview and Research [email protected] http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/tahini-market.asp

According to Persistence Market Research's regional analysis, Western Asia will continue to be the largest market, whereas GCC will emerge lucrative by 2025 end

West Asia , identified as the most lucrative market for tahini, will predictably cross US$ 608 Mn by 2025 end, accounting for maximum revenues in the global market

, identified as the most lucrative market for tahini, will predictably cross by 2025 end, accounting for maximum revenues in the global market GCC countries will exhibit the fastest growth at 5.9% CAGR, primarily driven by Kuwait , UAE, and Saudi Arabia . GCC tahini market revenues will reach around US$ 202 Mn by 2025 end

, UAE, and . GCC tahini market revenues will reach around by 2025 end North Africa , followed by the U.K., are projected to grow moderately at respective CAGRs of 5.7% and 5.4%

View Report Table of Contents, Figures, and [email protected] http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/tahini-market/toc

New Production Plants on Key Players' Agenda

Dipasa International S.A., Sunshine International Foods, Inc., Kevala International LLC, Joyva Corp, Premier Organics, Haitoglou Bros S.A., Halwani Bros. Co., Prince Tahina Ltd., El Rashidi El Mizan, Al-Wadi Al-Akhdar S.A.L, Carleys of Cornwell Ltd., Balsam Tahini, Ismail Termurcugil, and Alseedawi Sweets Factories Co. constitute some of the key players in the global market for tahini. While major export opportunities lie in Asia and North America, a majority of leading players are based in the Middle East and North America. Halwani Bros. Co. and Haitoglou Bros. are top Middle East companies, whereas Joyva Corp, Dipasa, and Kevala Int. are the key North American players. Alwadi Al Akhdar's new factory in Lebanon is due in 2017 and Sabra Dipping Co. will soon double its tahini hummus production capacity.

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SOURCE Persistence Market Research
LONDON, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The ever increasing rise in the cardiovascular diseases, especially the valvular diseases, has led to the discovery of innovative treatment techniques. One of the recent technological innovations include the transcatheter heart valve replacement, which involves delivering the new replacement valves without removing the diseased valve via a catheter. This newly developed procedure thus eliminates the need of an open heart surgery. The technique has emerged to prove extremely beneficial for patients with high risk for the traditional open heart surgery. The success of these innovative techniques has garnered interest from major medical devices players from across the globe.

According to a new analysis from RNCOS in "Global Transcatheter Market Outlook 2020" report, the Global Transcatheter Heart Valve Replacement Market is valued at around US$ 1.8 Billion in 2015. The evolving market size could be attributed to factors such as rising incidences of valvular heart diseases, the increasing adoption of transcatheter aortic valve replacement as an alternate to the traditional open heart surgery, and the overall improving reimbursement scenario for this new procedure.

The report segments the market based on the types of transcatheter heart valves. The transcatheter aortic valve replacement accounted for the largest share in 2015. This high share of the market is attributed to large number of transcatheter aortic procedures in the US and Europe. Also, in terms of the route of delivery, the Transfemoral approach is the most preferred one, owing to the lower mortality rate and shorter recovery time.

In terms of geography, Europe is the largest market for the transcatheter heart valve replacement market. The large share of the European market is due less stringent regulatory environment in the region, which allows faster approval and commercialization of products in Europe as compared to other regions. However, it is the US market, which is expected to witness the highest growth, largely due to increasing regulatory approvals for the transcatheter heart valves, in addition to the increasing awareness of the technologically advanced technique. The report provides information on the current scenario, market outlook on the basis of the products available, application and geography, and the future forecasts on all prominent segments of the industry till 2020. Moreover, the report also provides information about the regulatory landscapes prevailing in different regions. The number of procedures performed for transcatheter aortic valve replacement is also analyzed in the report.

The report also provides details about the pipeline analysis of the various transcatheter heart valves, which are currently in the process of getting regulatory approvals in the US and Europe. The later part of the report focuses on competitive analysis of the key market players, in terms of their market share and their product offerings. Major players operating in this market include Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, St. Jude, amongst others. The competitive analysis is done at each player level, including their recent developments. To provide a thorough understanding of each player's business model, the player's current and historical financials have been analyzed. On the whole, the study included in the report provides a detailed market overview, current and future scenario, and industry trends which will likely generate key interest in investors thinking about joining the industry.

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The research collaboration will be jointly headed by Gradalis' Chief Scientific Officer, John Nemunaitis, MD, and by Seunghee Kim-Schulze, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Facility Director, Human Immune Monitoring Core at The Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

"We are extremely pleased to collaborate with the world class Immune Monitoring program at Mount Sinai," said Sunil Joshi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gradalis. "This research collaboration will help us elucidate further the robust ELISPOT response observed in the Vigil EATC clinical trials, and characterize the nature of the immune response."

"We are pleased to collaborate on this important project with Gradalis," said Miriam Merad, Professor of Oncological Science, Medicine (Hem/Onc Division) and Immunology, The Tisch Cancer and Precision Immunology Institutes at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "Over the last few years, we have invested heavily in the latest technology to assist companies like Gradalis develop a deeper understanding of the immune mechanisms underlying their technologies. We look forward to leveraging our collective experience in helping Gradalis better understand the nature of the immune response generated to Vigil EATC."

This collaboration will span multiple clinical trials including the recently completed First in Human study and Ovarian Phase 2A study. Additional collaboration effort may be initiated to support ongoing registrational clinical trials in Ewing's sarcoma and ovarian cancer, as well as trials exploring the combination of Vigil and PD-1/PDL-1 inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma and triple negative breast cancer.

About Vigil EATC

Vigil is an investigational cellular immunotherapy technology that combines the concepts of genetic engineering with the science of immuno-oncology to enable an immune response to cancer cells. A patient's tumor cells are engineered with a plasmid carrying the gene vector for shRNA Furin and GMCSF to elicit a systemic T-cell directed immune response when administered to the patient through intradermal injections. By utilizing the patient's own tumor as the antigen source, Vigil EATC is designed to elicit an immune response that is specifically targeted and broadly relevant to each patient's unique tumor antigens. Vigil EATC is being studied in Ewing's sarcoma and ovarian cancer as a single agent, and in breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma in combination with PD-L1 inhibitors. More information about these studies can be found on www.vigilclinicaltrials.com.

About Gradalis

Gradalis is a fully integrated biotechnology company based in Dallas, Texas, that focuses on the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of novel proprietary personalized cellular immunotherapies to treat cancer. Gradalis operates a cGMP manufacturing facility in Carrollton, Texas. For more information about Gradalis, Inc., please visit www.gradalisinc.com.

Gradalis and Vigil are registered trademarks of Gradalis, Inc.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient servicesfrom community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care.

The System includes approximately 7,100 primary and specialty care physicians; 12 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the renowned Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the highest in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding per investigator. The Mount Sinai Hospital is in the "Honor Roll" of best hospitals in America, ranked No. 15 nationally in the 2016-2017 "Best Hospitals" issue of U.S. News & World Report. The Mount Sinai Hospital is also ranked as one of the nation's top 20 hospitals in Geriatrics, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology/Neurosurgery, and Ear, Nose & Throat, and is in the top 50 in four other specialties. New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked No. 10 nationally for Ophthalmology, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke's, and Mount Sinai West are ranked regionally. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital is ranked in seven out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report in "Best Children's Hospitals."

For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook , Twitter and YouTube.

Gradalis Contact:

Beth Kriegel

Chief Financial Officer

(214) 307-8203

Mount Sinai Contact:

Lucia L. Lee

Senior Director of Media

(212) 605-5940

SOURCE Gradalis, Inc.

Related Links

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DALLAS, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Haggar Clothing Co. announced today that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Bernette Textile Company for men's sweaters. The agreement includes exclusive rights for Bernette to design, produce and sell men's sweaters in the U.S. The initial collection is expected to launch with major national retailers, in Haggar stores and on haggar.com in fall 2017.

Michael Stitt, Chief Executive Officer of Haggar said, "As Haggar celebrates our 90th year, our partnership with Bernette Textiles further strengthens our product portfolio. Bernette's mission, vision and history align with ours, and both companies are committed to delivering the highest quality apparel, innovation and exceptional value for the consumer. We are excited to have Jeff Siskind and his team on board."

"Licensing Haggar sweaters is a natural fit for Bernette," said Jeff Siskind, Bernette Textile Company President. "Since our inception 75 years ago, sweaters has been the mainstay of the Bernette business. Partnering with Haggar, a brand that has led the apparel market through innovation and dependable high quality product, is consistent with our business model. We are thrilled by the opportunity to market and represent Haggar, an iconic heritage brand."

Bernette also has licenses with Coleman, The American Outdoorsman, US Polo Assn, Tricots St Raphael and ArgyleCulture.

About Haggar Clothing Co.

Since its beginnings in a one-room office in Dallas, Texas in 1926, Haggar Clothing Co. has grown from a manufacturer of men's fine dress pants and slacks, into one of the most recognized and original apparel brands in the market. Haggar coined the term "slacks" in 1938 and has continued to lead menswear innovation and technology for the last 90 years. For more on Haggar, visit haggar.com.

About The Bernette Textile Company

Bernette Textile Company (a third-generation company established in 1942 by Jack Siskind) and The Castlewood Group (established in 1991 by its original founders Henry Sutton and Nicholas Koles) together thrive on uninterrupted leadership, stability, continuity, and an "execute to perform" corporate culture. The companies manufacture products under several owned brands, private label brands and prominent licensed brands. The company has maintained steady growth, demonstrating their ability to remain competitive yet conservative in even the most difficult economic climate.

Haggar Media Contact:

Shelly Hairston

QMobius for Haggar

[email protected]

(724) 301-8956

SOURCE Haggar Clothing Co.

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MIAMI, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s (NYSE: RCL) latest Sustainability Report, released today, documents the Company's commitment to environmental stewardship and showcases improved efficiencies across its fleet.

For RCL, 2015 marked the completion of its 10-year Save the Waves goals, which focused on emissions and waste reduction, as well as increasing the number of shore excursions that met an internationally recognized sustainability standard.

In line with these goals, over the past decade RCL built its most efficient cruise ships and reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 25 percent. In 2015, 17 ships reported 100 percent re-purposed waste on certain itineraries.

"At Royal Caribbean, we are working to put sustainability into the heart of our business," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "We bring 5,000,000 guests to nearly 500 ports around the world every year, and we understand our responsibility to do so in a way that protects the oceans that we sail every day. Our mantra is continuous improvement, and that especially applies to our environmental performance."

In the report, the company noted the expansion of its Advanced Emissions Purification program, as well as a new set of goals for the year 2020 that were established with input from the company's global conservation partner, World Wildlife Fund.

For the third year, the RCL developed its sustainability report in accordance with the internationally recognized GRI G4 guidelines. Additional highlights from the report include:

The company achieved a daily water consumption average of 55 gallons/day  nearly half of the U.S. average of 100 gallons/day

An industry-first software, seven years in the making, is optimizing ship speeds and routes to achieve the best possible fuel efficiency

The company was named to the 2016 World's Most Ethical Companies list  a distinction granted to only 130 companies in 21 countries

The company has committed to only sourcing cage-free eggs and gestation-crate-free pork by 2022

The full Sustainability Report may be viewed at www.rclcorporate.com/environment.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company that owns and operates three global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. We also own a 50 percent joint venture interest in the German brand TUI Cruises and a 49 percent interest in the Spanish brand Pullmantur and have a minority interest in smaller regional brands. Together, these brands operate a combined total of 49 ships with an additional 13 on order. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 490 destinations on all seven continents. Additional information can be found on www.rclcorporate.com.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Holter monitor is a portable ECG device that can be worn by the patient to record heart activity continuously for a certain period. Other ECG devices record heart activity only for a certain period. However, a patient may suffer from irregular heartbeat at any point in time, thereby requiring continuous monitoring for a longer period. Holter ECGs are capable of recording data for a longer period, and transferring the same to doctors for analysis.

Persistence Market Research (PMR) offers a 10-year forecast of the global Holter monitoring Systems market between 2016 and 2024. In terms of value, the market is expected to register a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period. This study analyses market dynamics that are expected to influence the current environment and future status of the global Holter monitoring systems market over the forecast period. It includes key trends, drivers, restraints, and opportunities that are influencing growth of the global Holter monitoring systems market over the forecast period. Impact analysis of key growth drivers and restraints based on the weighted average model are included in this report to better equip clients with crystal clear decision-making insights.

The global Holter monitoring systems market is segmented on the basis of:

Product typeEnd userRegionOn the basis of product type the market is segmented as follows:

Holter monitoring systems

Holter monitoring devices

Event monitoring devices

Holter monitoring software

Holter monitoring devices segment is estimated to account for highest revenue share of US$ 512 Mn in 2016, and is expected to register highest CAGR during the forecast period.

On the basis of end user the market is segmented as follows;

End user

Hospitals

Diagnostic centers

Clinics

Ambulatory surgical centers

The hospitals segment is expected to witness highest CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period.

On the basis of region/country the market is segmented as follows:

North America

U.S.

Canada

Latin America

Argentina

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Europe

France

Germany

Italy

Spain

U.K.

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

Australia & New Zealand

Rest of APAC

Middle East & Africa

GCC countries

South Africa

Rest of MEA

North America and APAC markets are estimated to account for 34.9 % and 27.3 % revenue share respectively in 2016 and are expected to dominate the market over the forecast period.

Key features of this report

Drivers and restraints

Latest product innovations and key developments in the market

Analysis of business strategies of top players

Holter monitoring systems market estimates and forecast

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AUSTIN, Minn., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods International Corporation, a division of Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), today announced that Don Gadsden, who has significant multinational leadership and strategic experience, will assume the position of president of Asia- Pacific, Hormel Foods International Corporation. This appointment is a result of the previous announcement of Swen Neufeldt's transition to vice president of meat products marketing.

"Don brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Asia-Pacific region to the Hormel Foods International team and we look forward to his leadership," said Larry Vorpahl, President of Hormel Foods International Corporation. "The Asia-Pacific region continues to be the growth engine for us and we fully expect Don to accelerate our performance through organic growth and M&A opportunities."

Gadsden

Gadsden brings more than 30 years of experience growing businesses across the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia. He is a former CEO and CFO of Asia-Pacific for large multinational companies including Heinz, Electrolux, Danone and the Sara Lee Corporation. Gadsden's most recent position was director/advisor for PwC Consulting. His leadership experience spans across strategy, board management, governance, international expansions and offshore operations. He is renowned by the industry and his peers for identifying market opportunities, restructuring and transforming multinational and multicultural complex businesses, building brands for profit growth and market share, and new market expansions.

About Hormel Foods  Inspired People. Inspired Food.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenues across 75 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly Guacamole, Hormel Black Label and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the eighth year in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. In 2016, the company celebrated its 125th anniversary and announced its new vision for the future - Inspired People. Inspired Food. - focusing on its legacy of innovation. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://2015csr.hormelfoods.com/.

Contact: Richard M. Williamson

Hormel Foods

[email protected]

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation

Related Links

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NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



The report titled "India Industrial Automation Outlook to 2020- Growth Driven by Rapid Adoption of Modern Technology backed by Cost Saving Features" provides a comprehensive analysis of the various aspects such as market size of the process and factory automation being an integral part of industrial automation. The market is segmented on the basis of products, industrial network, applications, industry scale, imported and domestic procurement and control devices. The report covers market positioning of major players in factory as well as process automation along with their detailed company profiles. The future outlook of the industrial automation with the major growth drivers and challenges, trends and development, SWOT analysis and macroeconomic variables are presented in the report.



Factory Automation:



The factory automation market in India has been the fastest emerging segment in the industrial automation market in India. The factory automation industry in India has escalated remarkably at a CAGR of ~% from FY'2010- FY'2015. The control devices segment depicted the highest share of ~% in the factory automation market with INR ~ billion in FY'2015. Automotive industry has been an integral part of the factory automation since the inception of automation practices. The share of automotive sector was recorded to be ~% in FY'2015 due to assembly line mass production which includes wielding, cleaning, joining solutions, engine assembly.

Imports in factory automation industry contributed ~% in FY' 2015, of which majority of sales were from foreign manufacturers namely Siemens, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric and others. Siemens Ltd. was the largest player in the market for factory automation products in India at ~% market share with INR ~ billion in FY'2015. A major portion of the company's revenues is contributed by the brand image. The factory automation market in India has been estimated to grow at an astounding CAGR of ~%. The revenues are expected to reach INR ~ billion by FY'2020. The number of companies from different industries which would opt for automation of manufacturing plant will not only increase but automation companies or manufacturers in India



Process Automation:



Process automation market contributed the largest market in industrial automation industry in India, commanding ~% share in the overall sales in FY'2015. In FY'2015, the process automation registered revenues worth INR ~ billion. During the year, the market recorded exponential rate of ~% relative to previous fiscal year especially on account of signs of revival of growth and proportionate increase in GDP. Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) has been an integral part of the process automation market since its inception. The share of PLC was recorded to be ~% with INR ~ billion in FY'2015.



The demand of process automation products has been primarily driven by pharmaceutical sector with ~% market share with INR ~ billion in FY'2015. This is largely due to huge demand of medicines and other pharmaceutical products. The process automation market in India has been largely dominated by pressure transmitters. Pressure transmitters market contributed ~% of the revenues generated by the process automation market in FY'2015. ABB ltd held the first ranking in terms of revenue generation from process automation market in India in FY'2015. The company had a grip over ~% market shares in terms of revenue during FY'2015

Given the present scenario, the process automation market is expected to continue its growth trajectory in the next five years reaching revenues worth INR ~ billion in FY'2020, registering a remarkable CAGR of ~% from FY'2016-FY'2020.



Key Topics Covered in the Report:

- Comparative Analysis of India Industrial Automation Market with Developed Countries

- Market Size of India Industrial Automation Market

- Introduction and Market Size of India Factory Automation Market

- Market Segmentation of India Factory Automation and Process Automation Market by products, applications, industry scale and imported and domestic procurement.

- Detailed company profile of major players in Industrial Automation with their market share.

- Future Outlook and Projections of India Factory and Process Automation Market

- Trends and development in the India Industrial Automation market.

- Growth Drivers in the India Industrial Automation market.

- Growth Restraints in the India Industrial Automation market.

- SWOT Analysis in the India Industrial Automation market.

- Entry Barriers and Prerequisites in the India Industrial Automation market.

- Business Models adopted in the India Industrial Automation market.

- Future Outlook and Projections in Industrial Automation market along with Analyst Recommendations

- Case Study Analysis: How much Investment is Automate a sugar plant in India

- Major Macroeconomic factors in India Industrial Automation Market





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PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Longtime JDRF supporters, Jon and Bonnie O'Neil of Berwyn, PA, led a "Celebration Major Gift" Campaign engaging five generous donors to make a multi-year combined gift of $110K to the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of JDRF. The gift was in honor of the exciting efforts of JDRF to make the artificial pancreas (AP) a reality in just 10 short years. In addition to the O'Neil family, gifts included pledges from Norman and Suzanne Cohn, Matthew and Lea Cohn, Bobby and Randie Harmelin, and Ryan and Carolyn Harkins. Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D., chief mission officer at JDRF International accepted the award on behalf of JDRF.

In September, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first commercial version of the Medtronic MiniMed 670G hybrid closed-loop system. Dr. Kowalski was part of the team at JDRF that catalyzed the research and advocacy work in the development of artificial pancreas systems over the past decade.

"The gift comes at an exciting time in type 1 diabetes research. JDRF began its support of artificial pancreas technology more than a decade ago, when it was still a concept that companies were hesitant to embrace," said Patrick K. Delaney, executive director, JDRF Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter. "After years of laying the groundwork, this breakthrough is a testament to the reason JDRF exists  to help people with this disease lead better, safer, healthier lives while we continue on the path to cure and prevent the disease altogether. The leadership of so many people is indispensable to our ability to achieve our vision, and we are profoundly grateful to them."

Artificial pancreas systems automate blood-sugar management, dramatically reducing type 1 diabetes-related risks and improving the lives of people who have the disease. These systems monitor glucose levels around the clock and automatically provide the right amount of basal insulin, and potentially other blood-sugar stabilizing hormones, at the right time.

"When I heard about the launch of the first commercial artificial pancreas system, I was overwhelmed with pride and amazement for all that JDRF has been able to accomplish in 10 short years," said Bonnie O'Neil, former Chapter Board President and current Leadership Giving Chair. "Growing up with siblings with T1D, it seemed decades would pass without any visible progress toward a cure. When Aaron first shared JDRF's vision of an AP in 2006 at our chapter's bi-annual Education Conference it sounded like science fiction. My husband and I, and all of us who have contributed to the Celebration Major Gift, wanted to honor JDRF's accomplishment, and our hope is that this gift will help launch the next great projects of the coming decade. How fitting it was to be able to present the gift to Aaron, as he has been JDRF's AP champion from the very beginning."

The Celebration Major Gift was presented at the chapter's annual Research Update, held on November 29 at the home of Matthew and Lea Cohn. Attendees included chapter board of director members, chapter board of chancellor members, major donors, corporate partners and new friends to JDRF. Lea Cohn welcomed the guests and her JDRF family, including daughter Sydney Cohn, who is living with T1D and who participated in an artificial pancreas clinical trial.

The combined pledge from multiple families of $110K comes at a critical time in JDRF-funded research. T1D is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly, without regard to lifestyle or activity level, and leaves them dependent on injected or pump-infused insulin for life.

About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our six international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter: @JDRF

SOURCE JDRF

Related Links

http://jdrf.org


RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Avaya has today announced that it has been awarded a contract by King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), a leading referral specialist hospital in Saudi Arabia, to deliver unified communications and contact centre solutions. This solution is designed to enhance the healthcare experience at KAMC for patients, and improve collaboration and communication channels for teams in emergency and non-emergency medical cases.

With this implementation, KAMC will have the latest Avaya contact center solutions that will deliver efficient and instant capabilities to handle the large number of transactions and patients as well as the internal collaboration requirements. The KAMC team will be able to respond to emergency and non-emergency calls quickly and contextually, supported by instant access to registered patients' history. The contact center will also automate a large number of operations and will be able to route the calls to the right agent for different enquiries (skills-based calls routing). Integrated social engagement will also enable patients to interact with the hospital customer service through various social media channels.

Mohsen Ba-Abdullah, Chief Information Officer, KAMC, said: "KAMC is pursuing a digital transformation strategy very aggressively, and we are fully committed to becoming a fully-digital and 'Smart' hospital in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. We strongly believe that smart organisations are the foundation of a smart economy. With this partnership with Avaya, we are well-placed to build the hospital of the future today, with advanced communication and collaboration platforms, and a matchless and seamless customer and patient experience."

Nidal Abou-ltaif, President, Avaya International, said: "We are very proud to work closely with KAMC on their transformational goals, and are committed to supporting them as they transform healthcare services in preparation for the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The patient experience has become a key competitive differentiator in the healthcare industry, and our solution is designed to bring together the entire hospital as a unified and collaborative entity, united in the vision to provide an excellent, seamless experience. We are happy to bring our global expertise to KAMC and work with them towards a digitally transformed healthcare industry in the Kingdom."

For more information, please visit www.avaya.com.

Contact:

Peter Branton

Avaya

+971-4-404-8315

[email protected]



SOURCE Avaya
LONDON, December 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

LetterOne (L1), the international investment business, today announces the launch of L1 Retail, a new retail investment arm.

L1 Retail aims to find and develop 21st century retail stars, initially in Europe, including the UK, and in the emerging markets (with the exception of Russia). It will invest up to $3 billion in a small number of retailers that have the potential to become market leaders in their segments and markets.

L1 Retail will focus on companies with customer propositions that reflect value for money and convenience, as well as retailers in the health and wellness areas.

L1 believes that a combination of store and online assets, combined with state of the art analytics and logistics, will drive growth in the next 10 to 20 years. Unique business models offering efficient growth platforms and best in class management teams will feature prominently in L1 Retail's investment choices.

The L1 Retail investment team, which will be based in London, led by Managing Partner Stephan DuCharme, former CEO and current non-executive Chairman of X5 Retail Group, Russia's largest food retailer, has over 70 years of combined investment and retail sector expertise.

Commenting on the launch of L1 Retail, Mikhail Fridman, Founder of L1 said:

"As entrepreneurs, we have over 20 years built the largest food retailer in Russia. Our aim is to leverage our track record to invest in, and build, the next generation of retailers internationally".

"Current trends in global consumer markets and on-going technological disruptions represent a unique opportunity to build hybrid platforms for growth and value creation in the retail space," he said.

Commenting on the L1 Retail launch, Stephan DuCharme said:

"We are looking forward to working together with experienced management teams to create new retail leaders. Our long-term investment time horizon coupled with disciplined execution of strategy, and our retail sector expertise, will open up interesting investment opportunities."

L1 Retail is delighted to announce that John Walden, former CEO of Home Retail Group, and Clive Humby, one of the founders of dunnhumby, have been appointed to the L1 Retail Advisory Board with immediate effect.

John Walden joined Argos as Managing Director in February 2012. His leadership was instrumental in the digital transformation of Argos to become a modern player in its space. He was subsequently appointed Chief Executive of Home Retail Group in March 2014, which included Argos, Homebase and Habitat. John's executive track record across companies like Home Retail Group, Best Buy and Peapod will guide L1 Retail as it builds leading companies in the retail space.

Commenting on the launch of L1 Retail John Walden said:

"I look forward to being part of something new and entrepreneurial - and to help build a new retail portfolio from the bottom up. The retail market is undergoing constant change. This is creating new opportunities for investors with real retail vision but also the ability to drive disciplined long-term execution of strategy".

Dunnhumby, created by Clive Humby and Edwina Dunn, transformed supermarkets' understanding of shopping habits through data analysis and led, among other achievements, to the creation of Tesco's pioneering loyalty card scheme and a successful joint venture with Kroger in the US. Clive's understanding of customer behaviour and consumer trends will be of unique value to L1 Retail as it invests in new platforms for growth.

Commenting on the launch of L1 Retail Clive Humby said:

"Understanding customer behaviour and adapting to new trends is the key to success. Data is the new oil. It's immensely valuable, but if unrefined it cannot really be used. I look forward to working with L1 Retail to identify consumer emerging trends and themes as they invest in new platforms for growth".

L1 Retail is part of L1, the privately owned international investment business, which was founded in 2013. L1's aim is to build a world class diversified global investment business. It is a long term investor which invests in sectors where it has specialism - such as the energy, telecoms and technology, health and now the retail sector. L1 owns companies - and has equity investments in companies - with operations in 31 countries around the world. It is actively looking for more investment opportunities.

Biography

John Walden

John started his retail career in the US with Peapod. He joined Best Buy in 1999 as President of its internet and direct-channels division and also served as Executive Vice President, Human Capital and Leadership, and ultimately as Executive Vice President of its Customer Business Group. John later moved to Sears where he led marketing, merchandising and the internet, catalogue and home services divisions. He joined Argos as Managing Director in February 2012 and was appointed Chief Executive of Home Retail Group in March 2014.

Clive Humby

Clive is an Investor and Director in Purple Seven. In addition, Clive is Chief Data Scientist at Starcount, exploring mathematical methods for building insight in social media to understand influence, effectiveness and sentiments of consumer tribes, stars and brands. Previously Clive was Founder and Director of dunnhumby, pioneering the application of technology to understanding consumer behaviour. Before dunnhumby, Clive was the leader of the technical team that developed the first commercial application of census data to consumer marketing and the development of the ACORN system at CACI. Clive is also visiting professor in Integrated Marketing at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. USA and in Marketing at Cranfield University as well as recently becoming Director on the Board of Friends at the Royal Academy.

Stephan DuCharme

Stephan has been non-executive Chairman of X5 Retail Group since November 2015. Over the 2012-2015 period he served as CEO of X5, leading the strategic turnaround of the company to become the fastest growing and now the largest food retailer in Russia. He has over 25 years of financial sector and retail expertise. Previously he held senior positions in family offices (SUN Group, Alfa Group) and financial institutions (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Salomon Brothers Inc.). Stephan graduated with distinction from the University of California at Berkeley and received his MBA from INSEAD.

SOURCE LetterOne
NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This Future Market Insights report examines the 'Global Light Therapy Market' for the period 20162026. The primary objective of the report is to offer updates, trends, drivers, restraints, volume and value forecasts and opportunities for manufacturers operating in the global light therapy market.

Global demand for light therapy devices is increasing as a result of rapid adoption of new technologies and increasing incidence of Seasonal Affective disorder (SAD) and skin treatments. Markets in developed economies are witnessing increasing demand for light therapy products due to the geographic location and high prevalence rate of SAD. Adoption of light therapy devices is projected to increase at a rate of 4.8% over the forecast period. The trend is expected to boost the overall demand for light therapy products such as light boxes, dawn simulators, handheld devices for skin treatment during the forecast period. To understand and assess the opportunities in this market, the report is categorically split into four sections, namely market analysis by product type, end user type, light type and region. The report analyses the global light therapy market in terms of market value (US$ Mn).

The report starts with an overview of the light therapy market and its usage in various applications globally. In the same section, FMI covers the light therapy market performance in terms of revenue. This section includes FMI's analyses of key trends, drivers and restraints from the supply and demand perspective.

The next section of the report analyses the market is based on product type and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next ten years. Product types covered in the report include:



Light Box

Floor and Desk Lamps

Light Visor

Dawn Simulator

Light Therapy Bulbs

Handheld Devices for skin treatment

The next section of the report analyses the market based on light type segments and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next ten years. The light type segments covered in the report include:



White Light

Blue Light

Red Light

Others (green light, yellow light)

The next section of the report analyses the market based on end user type segments and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next ten years. The end user type segments covered in the report include:



Dermatology Clinics

Homecare Settings

Others (workplace, salons)

Furthermore, the report analyses the market based on regions and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next ten years. Regions covered in the report include:



North America

Latin America

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

Asia Pacific Excluding Japan

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

Japan

The forecast presented for the market assesses the total revenue generated in the light therapy market. When developing the forecast, the starting point involves sizing the current market, which forms the basis for the forecast of how the market is anticipated to take shape in the near future. Given the characteristics of market, we triangulated the outcome based on different analysis of the supply side, demand side and GDP growth rate. However, quantifying the market across aforementioned segments and regions is more a matter of quantifying expectations and identifying opportunities rather than rationalising them after the forecast has been completed.

In addition, we have taken into consideration the year-on-year growth to understand the predictability of the market and to identify the right growth opportunities in the global light therapy market.

As previously highlighted, the global light therapy market is split into various categories based on region, product type, end user type and light type. All these segments or categories have been analyzed in terms of Basis Point Share (BPS) to understand the individual segments' relative contribution to market growth. This detailed level of information is important for identification of various key trends in the global light therapy market.

Another key feature of this report is the analysis of the light therapy market by region and product type segments, end user type and light type segments; and the market revenue forecast in terms of absolute dollar opportunity. This is traditionally overlooked while forecasting the market. However, absolute dollar opportunity is critical in assessing the level of opportunity that a provider can look to achieve, as well as to identify potential resources from a sales perspective in the global light therapy market.

Furthermore, Future Market Insights has developed a market attractiveness index for all four segments, namely regional, product type, end user type and light type. This index helps in identifying the real opportunities in the market.

The final section of the report includes the competitive landscape to provide report audiences a dashboard view, based on categories of providers across the market, their presence in the light therapy product portfolio and key differentiators.

Key players in the global light therapy market include Koninklijke Philips N.V., Verilux, Inc., Northern Light Technology, Zepter International, Photomedex Inc., Beurer, Nature Bright, Lucimed SA, Chal-Tec-GmbH, Lumie, Aura Daylight and Sphere Gadget Technologies

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03816974-summary/view-report.html

About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

http://www.reportlinker.com

__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

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"The renovation plans incorporate IACC design standards that adhere to a set of quality standards in physical meeting room design, food & beverage and service," said Desai. "The IACC designation coupled with the recognizable Holiday Inn brand flag will give meeting planners complete confidence to book their next meeting in Newport News, knowing the venue and staff are focused on delivering exceptional meeting experiences." The IACC is the only global professional association which represents small to medium-sized venues focused on meetings, training courses and conference-related standards.

The planned conversion will feature the Holiday Inn brand's newest guestroom design, which was created to better meet the changing needs of the contemporary traveler. The new flexible design allows guests to work or relax wherever and however they want and truly make the space their own. Unique in-room elements include:

A design-infused approach that is both warm and inviting, with familiar, yet modern touches, created to feel more like a home than a hotel.

A Welcome Nook serves as a drop zone for guests to hang their coat, drop their keys or bag and plug in their devices, much like they would an entryway or mud room in their own home.

An entirely new room type: the King Bed with Comfort Hideaway features a trundle-type bed which doubles as a sofa during the day and can pull out into two twin beds at night. The room design is ideal for both business travelers, serving as a separate place to work or relax and unwind, and families with kids and teens, giving each member of the family a comfortable place to sleep and play.

A new Moveable Desk and more than five dedicated points of power throughout the room were designed with today's travelers in mind, giving them the ability to work and play anywhere in the room.

Chris Drazba, Vice President, Development, The Americas, IHG said, "We are pleased to work with Neel Desai and LTD Hospitality Group on the addition of this new Holiday Inn property to the Newport News area. We look forward to working with the LTD team to bring our signature new design solution to life, which aims to create a more welcoming environment for business travelers and families."

About LTD Hospitality Group:

Founded in 1983, LTD Hospitality Group is headquartered in Chesapeake, VA and is comprised of several key business units including Asset Management, Hotel Management and Development that specialize in the lodging real estate sector. LTD is proud to be recognized as a distinguished leader in the hospitality industry with a portfolio of the finest brands available. LTD's mission is to drive value by delivering first class service to each and every one of its partners, who are its customers, investors, team members, and brands.

For more information, please visit: www.ltdhospitality.com

About the Holiday Inn brand:

The Holiday Inn brand, which offers nearly 1,220 hotels and resorts worldwide, has helped millions of travelers discover the joy of travel since its inception in 1952. Designed to meet the needs of both business and leisure travelers, Holiday Inn hotels deliver memorable experiences through warm and welcoming service, contemporary design that blends the familiar with the new, and a sense of comfort unique to the brand and its iconic green sign. At Holiday Inn hotels, guests can find amenities to help them work and play, including full-service restaurants where Kids Eat Free, meeting and business facilities, bright swimming pools and comfortable lounges all designed to help guests relax and refresh, making travel more enjoyable for all. For more information about the Holiday Inn brand, visit www.holidayinn.com or call 1-888-HOLIDAY. Find us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/holidayinn or Facebook www.Facebook.com/holidayinnhotels .

SOURCE LTD Hospitality Group

Related Links

http://www.ltdhospitality.com


ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NanoBio Corporation today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 9,492,525 Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine. The patent broadly covers the composition of NanoBio's intramuscular and intranasal RSV vaccine candidates, which combine the company's innovative nanoemulsion (NE) adjuvant with strain L19 of RSV. Additional patent applications covering the combination of the NE adjuvant with other strains of RSV and with RSV F protein are currently being pursued.

"This critical patent strengthens NanoBio's position as we prepare to advance our NE RSV vaccine into clinical studies," said Dr. Ali Fattom, Senior Vice President of Vaccine Research and Development, NanoBio. "Based on our research to date, the use of whole inactivated RSV L19 in combination with our NE adjuvant elicits robust protection across multiple strains of RSV in both cotton rats and non-human primates, without evidence of safety concerns or the enhancement of disease observed with prior formalin-inactivated vaccines."

Formulation of RSV L19 virus with NanoBio's NE adjuvant splits and fully inactivates the virus as a result of the adjuvant's inherent antimicrobial properties, yet the immunogenicity of L19's native viral proteins is preserved. The resulting NE RSV vaccine incorporates all of the viral epitopes-including F, G and other proteins-enabling a potentially much broader immune response than what is elicited by subunit vaccine candidates.

About RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus, commonly referred to as RSV, is a highly contagious viral disease and is one of the most common causes of bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Up to 2.5 million infections occur in the U.S. each year. It is the number one cause of childhood hospitalization globally. Nearly all children are infected with the virus at least once by the age of two to three years, and many develop pulmonary disease and/or asthma that persists throughout adult life, making them susceptible to re-infection. The disease is particularly dangerous for premature babies, children with preexisting health conditions and the elderly. RSV is responsible for 16,000 deaths each year in adults older than 65. Currently, there are no approved vaccines for RSV.

About NanoBio

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, NanoBio Corporation is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing vaccines and anti-infective treatments derived from its patented NanoStat technology platform. The company's NanoStat vaccine technology employs a novel oil-in-water nanoemulsion (NE) that can incorporate, deliver and adjuvant multiple antigen types. The NE adjuvant is effective when administered via intranasal or intramuscular vaccination. When applied intranasally, NE vaccines elicit both mucosal and systemic immunity.

NanoBio is currently developing NE vaccines for several respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases, including RSV, pertussis, pandemic influenza, anthrax, and prophylactic and therapeutic HSV2.

For more information on NanoBio or its products, please visit www.nanobio.com.

SOURCE NanoBio Corporation

Related Links

http://www.nanobio.com


SAN MATEO, Calif., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NuevaCare, a leading Bay Area home care agency based in San Mateo but serving the entire San Francisco Peninsula region, is proud to announce a 'Family Learning Center', an online interactive series of courses focusing on in-home care and the needs of families. With over fifty zero cost courses, the online Learning Center aims to help families in diverse communities such as Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and San Mateo cope with the challenges of in-home care for loved ones. In many cases, this will assist families that also have a paid caregiver offering assistance to a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer's, Dementia, Cancer or other ailments as well as just general 'Senior Care' topics.

"We are very fortunate in the San Francisco Bay Area to have a strongly motivated community of families in the home care community," explained Kamran Nasser, CEO of NuevaCare. "Knowledge is power, and our new 'Family Learning Center' will give family members easy access to learning materials to help them with caregiver and home care issues."

Summary of the Family Learning Center

To access the family care center, go to: http://nuevacare.com/family-education-series/.

The NuevaCare Family Learning Center is a vast educational resource for families with a loved one who is beginning to need care. The Family Learning Center offers over fifty courses relating to the roles, responsibilities, and challenges surrounding the care of our elderly loved ones. Topics of the family courses range from understanding signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, managing and coping with challenging behaviors, daily care skills, First Aid, and even information on how to create engaging activities for a family member. All of these courses are online and are very easy to use.

It should be noted that NuevaCare also produces explanatory information pages on topics such as Alzheimer's care (http://nuevacare.com/alzheimers-dementia/) and service pages focused on individual cities such as home care service options for San Mateo (http://nuevacare.com/san-mateo-3/).

About NuevaCare

A premier technology based home care company based in San Mateo and servicing the San Francisco Bay Area, NuevaCare delivers responsive, quality, and affordable in-home care to those who need care due to old age or recovering from surgery or illness. NuevaCare services clients in diverse Bay Area cities from Burlingame to Santa Clara, San Mateo to Palo Alto, Foster City to Hillsborough and everywhere in between. NuevaCare provides hourly, live-in, overnight, and 24/7 care. Recognized as one of the best home care agencies in the Bay Area, NuevaCare can be found at http://nuevacare.com/.

Contact: Kamran Nassar, Media Relations at NuevaCare - Tel. 650-727-5882

Related Links

Home Care

San Mateo Home Care

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com/.

SOURCE NuevaCare

Related Links

http://nuevacare.com


PHOENIX, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker & Sons has served as one of Phoenix's premier HVAC, electrical, and plumbing service providers for over forty years. Providing Phoenix residents with top quality customer and technical services, the company is looking to bring on a few Residential Service and Repair Plumbers by the end of the year.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161207/446803

There are numerous reasons as to why job seekers would want a job at Parker & Sons. Not only does the company provide frequent technical training programs to their employees to learn the tricks of the trade, but employment at Parker & Sons comes with great employee benefits, including, but not limited to health and dental plans, 401(k) retirement plans, paid time off, vacation days, short and long term disability insurance, and many more. For those in the plumbing sector in particular, Parker & Sons provides their plumbers with fully stocked service vans, meaning that no one will have to use their own personal equipment to do a job.

Mark Carrasco, who serves as the manager of Parker & Sons plumbing division, provided insight on the types of people they like to hire. "What we really look for is passion, experience, and overall friendliness," said Carrasco. And since Parker & Sons has been a leader in the industry when it comes to customer service and satisfaction, this should come to no surprise. Carrasco continued by saying that "we always get a job done, and we always do it well. What keeps customers coming back to us versus going to another company is the real effort on our plumbers' part to make the experience memorable."

Carrasco and the team won't hire just anybody who applies. In effect, there are some requirements to be aware of before applying to the position. First is a commitment to go above and beyond when it comes to providing customer service, seeing as satisfaction and retention has kept them in business for so long. Likewise, they would like applicants to have at least three or more years of plumbing experience. Applicants must also have a high school diploma or GED equivalent, valid Arizona driver's license, and the ability to pass a preliminary background check and drug screening.

All of the information regarding this position can be found on their website, parkerandsonsaz.com.

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Parker & Sons

Related Links

http://parkerandsonsaz.com


NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of young readers voted for the News-O-Matic "Kid of the Year". They elected Payton Alexander from Glen Rose, Texas, as the winner for 2016! Payton joins Malala Yousafzai (2012), Vivienne Harr (2013), Mo'Ne Davis (2014), and Madison Tevlin (2015) as the children making the biggest differences in the world.

The cover image from the edition featuring Payton Alexander as the News-O-Matic 2016 Kid of the Year

Payton, age 10, made $11,000 in just one day with a lemonade stand this summer. Then she gave it all away! Payton was raising money for the families of the police officers killed on July 7 in Dallas. "I wanted to do something," Payton said. Funds from her stand, "Back the Blue," went to the families of the fallen officers. "I'm just glad I was able to support them through all the hard things they were going through," Payton said.

"All of the 'Kid of the Year' candidates had great causes," wrote 14-year-old News-O-Matic reader Katrina. "But Payton should win," explained the 14-year-old in the News Room. "The fact that she raised $11,000 in just one day is nothing short of amazing."

"Payton is a sweet young lady with a loving and giving heart," wrote voter BrookLynn, age 10. "She is always thinking of others!"

"Payton was an inspiration to our entire newsroom in New York City," said News-O-Matic Editor-in-Chief Russell "Russ" Kahn. "She represents the best of youth engagement," he explained. "Payton reacted to the news by taking concrete action and found a way to galvanize her community and create a powerful positive reaction."

Payton didn't know she was the winner until a school assembly. Her teachers brought her on stage in the auditorium. Kahn broke the news, and the students cheered! Payton had a message for young readers. "Just keep doing what you're doing," said the fourth grader. "And show kindness and compassion to other people."

About News-O-Matic

News-O-Matic is the Daily News Just for Kids. Its app is available on iOS and Android, and schools subscribe at www.newsomatic.org. News-O-Matic is an exciting and engaging nonfiction experience, giving young readers a window into the world  and a reason to love reading on a daily basis. The tool allows students to make connections in meaningful ways and gives them a voice to communicate with peers across the planet. The app has more than 3 million downloads from 150 countries. With News-O-Matic, reading proficiency grew by 26% in two pilot classes.

Media Contact:

Russell Kahn, Editor in Chief, News-O-Matic

Email: [email protected]

Office: 646.329.6593 / Cell: 646.226.0241

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SOURCE News-O-Matic
ALAMEDA, Calif., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE: PEN) today announced that Thomas C. Wilder has been appointed to its Board of Directors, effective January 13, 2017. Mr. Wilder will serve on the board for a term expiring at Penumbra's 2019 annual meeting of stockholders.

Mr. Wilder has over 30 years of experience, having most recently led Sequent Medical, Inc., a company dedicated to the development of innovative catheter-based neurovascular technologies, as its CEO for the past six years. Prior to joining Sequent, Mr. Wilder served as the President and CEO of PhotoThera, Inc., a company that was developing a unique therapy for acute ischemic stroke patients. Prior to this, Mr. Wilder served as the President and CEO of MicroTherapeutics, Inc. (MTIX), a company also focused on the neurovascular space. In addition, Mr. Wilder served in positions of increasing responsibility at Medtronic, Inc. from 1991 through 2002, most recently as Vice President and General Manager of its endovascular stent grafts division. Mr. Wilder began his career in the Financial Statement Audit Practice of Price Waterhouse, where he worked from 1986 to 1989.

Mr. Wilder currently serves on the Board of Directors of Benvenue Medical, Inc. and Endologix, Inc. (ELGX).

"We are pleased to be adding Tom to our board. He brings deep development, commercial, and financial experience across both high growth and large, established medical device organizations. He is a medical device industry leader who will add great value to Penumbra as we continue to grow and scale our business," said Adam Elsesser, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President.

"I am delighted to join one of the most innovative companies in the medical device industry," said Mr. Wilder. "I have closely followed Penumbra's progress over the years, and have been impressed. I am excited to join the Board in this capacity."

In connection with Mr. Wilder's appointment, Walter Wang (Wang Ventures) is stepping down from the Board of Directors of Penumbra, where he serves on the Audit and Executive Committees and as chair of the Compensation Committee. His resignation is effective January 13, 2017. "Walter has been an integral part of Penumbra since our founding in 2004, both as an investor and then as a board member," said Mr. Elsesser. "We are extremely thankful for his contributions to our success."

With the concurrent arrival and departure of these directors, the Penumbra Board of Directors will be comprised of five directors, three of whom are independent. Mr. Wilder will serve as the Chair of the Compensation Committee and as a member of the Audit, Executive and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.

About Penumbra

Penumbra, Inc., headquartered in Alameda, California, is a global interventional therapies company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical devices. The company has a broad portfolio of products that address challenging medical conditions and significant clinical needs across two major markets, neuro and peripheral vascular. Penumbra sells its products to hospitals primarily through its direct sales organization in the U.S., most of Europe, Canada and Australia, and through distributors in select international markets. Penumbra and the Penumbra logo are trademarks of Penumbra, Inc.

Investor Relations

Penumbra, Inc.

510-995-2461

[email protected]

SOURCE Penumbra, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.penumbrainc.com


SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Plug and Play Insurance, the world's largest Insurtech Platform, is opening applications to startups from different growth stages for its business development program, giving them the chance to secure a spot in the second cohort. Since its launch in May, Plug and Play Insurance has partnered with over 30 of the largest insurance corporations, including Admiral Group, Aon, American National, Aviva, Farmers, Markel, Munich Re, Nissay, Pronto Insurance, SOMPO Digital Lab, State Farm, Sun Life Financial, Talanx, The Hartford, Thrivent Financial, Torchmark, Travelers, USAA, and Westfield Insurance.

"Being a part of the Plug and Play Insurance Innovation Platform gave us a tremendous amount of exposure to insurance carriers and VCs across the world," says Tim Attia, CEO and Co-Founder of Slice Labs. "Through the program, we were able to develop many strong relationships and partnerships, which will be crucial as we grow and expand."

Startups accepted into the 12-week program will get access to a number of insurance companies, including all of the program's partners for potential pilots and investments. They will also receive office space at Plug and Play's Silicon Valley headquarters, expert mentor curricula, expedited business development, exposure to corporate partners from other Plug and Play's programs, and a chance to pitch in front of Silicon Valley's biggest investors at the Insurance EXPO.

With the conclusion of the first insurance batch, Plug and Play has begun actively sourcing for the next tier of high quality startups. The first cohort of companies covered an expansive market from new risk and underwriting techniques to drone-based image processing ranging from early stage to growth companies. These startups have had the opportunity to meet with some of the largest carriers, brokers, and investors in the world who are actively seeking partnership and investment opportunities with startups.

"With the high interest that we have received from industry leaders and their eagerness to innovate, we plan to not only replicate the success of the first cohort, but to improve on our service offerings. We will continue to facilitate the growth for the entrepreneurs that are targeting to innovate the industry even more," says Ali Safavi, Director of Plug and Play Insurance.

With over 500 portfolio companies and more than 130 corporate partners, Plug and Play is a leader in startup success. Plug and Play has created focused innovation platforms in the areas of Brand & Retail, Health & Wellness, FinTech & Security, Internet of Things, Mobility, Media & Mobile, New Materials & Packaging, and Travel & Hospitality. With the launch of the Insurtech Platform earlier this year, the program aims to bring together everyone who can add value to the startup ecosystem and facilitate innovation in the industry.

Startups of all stages are encouraged to apply: http://bit.ly/startup-apply

Media Contact:

Allison Romero

Phone: 408-524-1457

Email: [email protected]

About Plug and Play Tech Center

Plug and Play Tech Center is a global innovation platform. We connect startups to corporations and invest in over 100 companies every year. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in 10 countries and 20 cities providing necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley. With over 6,000 startups and 130 official corporate partners in our network, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. Plug and Play provides active investments with 180 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and more than 365 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over $3.5 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club, PayPal, SoundHound, and Zoosk. For more information, visit: http://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com

SOURCE Plug and Play Tech Center

Related Links

http://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com


NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network  it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform

EXPERT ALERT

Digital Coupon Marketing Predictions for 2017

EXPERT ROUNDUP

New Year's Resolutions

MEDIA JOBS

South Florida Reporter  The Real Deal

Editor/Journalist  MT Newswires

Senior Reporter, Business of Law  Law360

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

Holiday Gift Guide: Last-Minute Ideas for Bloggers and Storytellers

Blog Profiles: Holiday DIY Blogs

Journalist Spotlight: Amanda Baltazar , Freelance Journalist

-------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPERT ALERT:

Digital Coupon Marketing Predictions for 2017

Cheryl Black

CEO

YOU Technology

"I expect the unexpected in 2017 as the dust settles from the election. People will return to frugality as they wait to see what happens with the economy and our country. Rewarding customers with relevant coupons, rewards, and offers is a highly effective tool, especially in times of economic uncertainty. Emailing shoppers with personalized offers is not only helpful, but also highly motivating to your customer. Retailers who take the time to deliver relevant digital offers to shoppers will have an enormous advantage in attracting customers with what they want because digital offers uniquely give marketers the ability to target, personalize, and measure ROI very precisely."

Black joined YOU Tech in early 2007, when she first acted as COO, overseeing software engineering, IT, product, and customer facing capabilities. In late 2007, she played a major role in changing the direction of YOU Tech, pioneering digital coupons as a new scalable line of business. She assumed the role of CEO in early 2014 when YOU Tech joined the Kroger family. Black began her career in 1982 as a software engineer at Cullinet, a leading database provider. Since that time, she has held leadership positions in numerous organizations, including Digital Equipment Corporation and Cap Gemini. She was bit by the startup bug in 1999, when she moved to San Francisco and started a company in a rented house with 55 employees. She then joined Cariocas, an early competitor to YOU Tech as VP of product and services in 2001. She holds an MBA from the University of Denver. A former ballerina, she enjoys running, reading and international travel in her free time, and was recently charged by an elephant in Tanzania.

Website: www.you.net

Contact: Chris Navalta, [email protected]





EXPERT ROUNDUP: New Year's Resolutions

Following are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to share tips on business and financial New Year's resolutions for your readers:

Before the Ball Drops, Set Your Financial Resolutions for a Brighter 2017

Ken Hevert

Senior Vice President of Retirement

Fidelity Investments

"The start of a new year is the perfect time to review your financial plan. Even if you don't like making specific resolutions, you can still resolve to identify financial areas that might need some improvement and make some smart financial moves before Dec. 31."

Hevert can speak to the findings from Fidelity's eighth annual New Year Financial Resolutions study (to be released Dec. 13), which reveals that many Americans are in better financial shape this year and predict their future will be bright in 2017. He can also discuss the benefits of setting both long-term and short-term savings goals; the hazards of being unprepared for whatever 2017 throws your way; and the top financial resolutions, the advantages of setting them and what to do to make them stick.

Contact: Julia B. Mellon, [email protected]





New Year's Resolution: Getting Your Insurance in Order

Keith Brown

CEO

Aon National Flood Services

"Everyone is at risk of flood. In fact, you're more likely to flood than have a fire over a 30-year mortgage."

Flooding can happen every single day of the year, whether due to weather events, such as hurricanes, heavy rains or snow melt, or due to burst pipes, backed-up sewers and more. In recent years, we had several major, even historic, flooding events, including Hurricane Matthew, that killed thousands of people and destroyed homes and businesses in Louisiana, Texas, Iowa and elsewhere. Brown can explain what options homeowners have for flood insurance in 2017, including FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program and the growing number of private flood policies that now offer more affordable rates and more variety in what is covered. Brown can also explain what changes lie ahead for flood insurance policies in 2017 (rate changes, flood map changes, etc.).

Website: www.nfsfloodcentral.com

Contact: Astrid Greve Spencer, [email protected]





Personal Finance and Goal-Setting

Dave Ramsey

Nationally Syndicated Radio Talk Show Host and Bestselling Author

"The Dave Ramsey Show"/Ramsey Solutions

Ramsey is America's trusted voice on money and business. He's authored seven bestselling books: "Financial Peace," "More Than Enough," "The Total Money Makeover," "EntreLeadership," "Complete Guide to Money," "Smart Money Smart Kids" and "The Legacy Journey." His show is heard by more than 12 million listeners each week on more than 575 radio stations and digitally through podcasts, online audio streaming and a 24-hour online streaming video channel.

Ramsey can address all aspects of personal finance, as well as general goal-setting for the new year. He is well-known for recommending the Debt Snowball method for debt elimination. "Normal is broke -- be weird" and "Live like no one else so later you can live and give like no one else" are commonly quoted Davisms. Along with getting out of debt, Ramsey can address getting on a budget, saving for the future, saving for retirement and education funding, and giving like crazy.

Website: www.daveramsey.com/mediarelations

Contact: Beth Tallent, [email protected]





The Five P's to Achieving Your Resolutions

Pamela Yellen

Financial Security Expert

Yellen shares the five P's of successful goal-setting that can help people who have failed in the past at keeping their resolutions and achieving their goals: 1) Passion: "You've got to want the goal badly enough that you won't allow yourself to become discouraged when the finish line proves hard to reach." 2) Persistence: "Cliche as it may be, if at first you don't succeed, well just don't give up. Any goal worth attaining is also well worth missing -- as many times as necessary." 3) Planning: "The road to defeat is paved with good intentions. The surface of the 'road to success' is smoothed with actual planning. Successful goal setters likewise require a carefully considered goal-plan that includes among its elements: ways to break the main goal into smaller, easier-to-accomplish parts; a realistic timetable; strategies and resources (including mentors); a system for tracking your progress; and fallback positions for when you encounter potholes and detours -- which you will." 4) People: "Family, friends and coworkers can give you the extra boost you require to reach your goal. Whether they are running alongside you, cheering you on from the sidelines, or handing you advice based upon their own scrapes and triumphs, enlisting the help of others dramatically increases your chances of success." 5) Positivity: "Mental attitude can carry you forward even when circumstances aren't breaking your way. Picture your path as an adventure, an opportunity, a competition and a growth experience. The task is the same regardless of how you view it. The outcome, however, is far more likely to be to your liking if you remain upbeat and optimistic at each step along the way."

Yellen is a financial investigator and the author of two New York Times bestselling books, including her latest, "The Bank on Yourself Revolution: Fire Your Banker, Bypass Wall Street, and Take Control of Your Own Financial Future." Pamela investigated more than 450 financial strategies seeking an alternative to the risk and volatility of stocks and other investments, which led her to a time-tested, predictable method of growing wealth now used by more than 500,000 Americans.

Online Press Kit: www.pamelayellen.presskit247.com

Website: www.BankOnYourself.com

Contact: Jennifer Thomas, [email protected]





Personal Finance Resolutions

Michelle Brownstein

Certified Financial Planner

Brownstein, a Certified Financial Planner with Personal Capital, the leading digital wealth management firm, shares the following personal finance tips for those resolving to improve their finances: 1) Create a Paper Budget: Before you embark on your shopping trips, note every family member, friend or co-worker you'll be shopping for and plan a maximum amount for each one. 2) Know Your Number: The number should be taken as the amount you want to spend during the holidays, and can be broken down on a per-person level. 3) Track Your Spending as You Go: Set a monthly spending goal with Personal Capital's spending tool to make sure you receive an alert when you're running hot. 4) Pay With Cash: Once you've established a spending budget you are comfortable with, ensure you stick to it by taking out the full amount of cash you need for all of your holiday spending. Since you'll eventually run out, this will help you take a close look at individual purchases. 5) Use Credit With Care: If you opt to use credit, make sure you are being diligent about sticking to your budget by tracking every purchase. Since every purchase will need to be paid back, make sure that you do not rack up excess amounts of interest on top of your balance each month. 6) Check for Coupon Codes and Sales: Even if you decide to skip Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there are plenty of top retailers announcing sales throughout the holiday season. Sites such as RetailMeNot can help you find coupon codes to apply to your cart.

To help people start on the right financial track in 2017, Personal Capital has also created a 30-day money challenge so people can stick to those financial resolutions; more info is available at the link below.

30-Day Money Challenge: https://www.personalcapital.com/blog/retirement-planning/30-day-money-cleanse-week-1-awareness/

Website: http://www.personalcapital.com

Contact: Alia Dudum, [email protected]





Personal Finance Resolutions

Larry Jacobson

Personal Finance Instructor

Online Trading Academy

Jacobson is a personal finance instructor at Online Trading Academy and is available to advise on personal-finance-related New Year's resolutions. Specifically, Jacobson can speak to the importance of financial planning, time and growth of money, the value of a personal budget, the cost of procrastination, the value of paying yourself first, how to choose your financial planning team and the automation of billing. Jacobson recommends setting goals to achieve your desired financial outcome. To create successful goals, he recommends that they are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Goals become helpful when you have a plan that guides you through the steps and motivates you to action. In these uncertain economic times, it is important for everyone to understand how to handle their own personal finances.

Contact: Brooke Ferreri, [email protected]





Financial Resolutions

Scott Hanson

Senior Partner, Co-Founder

Hanson McClain Advisors

A Certified Financial Planner, Hanson is available to discuss financial New Year's resolutions. He is a senior partner and co-founder of Hanson McClain Advisors, a California-based financial advising firm. He has over 25 years' experience as a financial expert.

Contact: Jasmin Flores, [email protected]





Tips for Optimizing Your Online Self

Heather Hiles

Founder and CEO, Pathbrite, a Cengage company

Senior Education Advisor, Cengage

In the spring of 2017, many college students will be vying for the same open positions as the others in their chosen fields. As a result, students must differentiate themselves from other candidates -- making it a must that they put their best online selves forward. With the new year just around the corner, Hiles believes it's the perfect time for students to optimize their online selves. She offers students three valuable tips: 1) Review and refine social media presence: "Researching a candidate on social media is a way for prospective employers to learn who a person actually is. That's why it is extremely important for students to make sure they are putting their best selves forward on their profiles by posting, liking and sharing appropriate content, including content related to skills, interests and accomplishments (And remember, some memories are better left in the mind than online)." 2) Develop a digital portfolio: "Employers want to see that a candidate has the skills needed to be successful in their company. Students can showcase these skills by creating a digital portfolio. These online portfolios catalog achievements by providing a space for users to aggregate all digital evidence of what they have created, achieved and mastered." 3) Start networking online: "Once they have refined their social media presence and created their digital portfolios, students should start networking online through platforms like LinkedIn. By networking before they graduate, students can start making valuable connections that could help them get a job once -- and even sometimes before -- they graduate."

Website: https://pathbrite.com/#maker

Contact: Maggie Markert, [email protected]





New Year's Resolution: Creating Diversity in the Workplace

Andrew Faas

Founder

The Faas Foundation

Faas, author of From Bully to Bull's-Eye," says organizational leaders should resolve to get serious about diversity: "There are a lot of people who feel that many of the advancements on diversity and equality are at risk because of the election. Despite billions of dollars spent on diversity and harassment programs and ethics training, very little by way of advancement has been made. To send the right signals during these troubling times when there are so many raw emotions out there, leaders really need to differentiate themselves as an employer. The best way to differentiate themselves is to become an employer of choice by putting their focus on diversity, equity, harassment and ethics. Companies like Fox News, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Wyndham Hotels, Amazon, Wells Fargo, and Volkswagen give us examples of corruption, harassment, denial, cover-ups, abuse, lack of diversity, and the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, we are hard pressed to come up with our list of organizations who we can hold up as positive examples. Organizational leaders should reflect on what keeps them up at night, and if issues like diversity, abuse, harassment, equity and ethics don't keep them up at night, then somebody should wake them up."

Faas is a philanthropist and management advisor promoting psychologically healthy, safe and fair workplaces. To do so, The Faas Foundation is partnering with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence on a groundbreaking initiative, "Emotional Revolution in the Workplace," which will revolutionize the way organizations operate, leveraging the power of emotional intelligence.

Websites: www.faasfoundation.org and www.andrewfaas.com

Contact: Deb Zipf, [email protected]





New Year's Resolution: Create Your Customized 2017 Business Blueprint

Allison Maslan

Business Mentor and Serial Entrepreneur

Maslan, author of the Amazon #1 bestseller "Blast Off!: The Surefire Success Plan to Launch Your Dreams into Reality," shows entrepreneurs how to get out of their business rut by creating a Customized Business Blueprint using her "6 M's of Success": 1) Magic  getting clarity on your big and brilliant ideas; 2. Mojo  the expansive mindset you must have to succeed; 3. Magnetics  draw in awesome prospects; 4. Money  cash in on your magic; 5. Mechanics  create a solid structure you can build on; and 6. Map  your plan for success, now and in the future.

Maslan is a serial entrepreneur, having created and successfully run 10 different companies including cultivating a 20-year practice as a holistic physician. Her company Allison Maslan International offers Pinnacle Global, a three-tier business coaching program that teaches entrepreneurs how to accelerate their growth, capitalize on their success and balance it all with a meaningful life. She brings her three-day live Blast Off Business Breakthrough event back to San Diego on Jan. 2022. The event has sold out five years in a row and offers participants the opportunity to create a Customized Business Blueprint. Her free video series for business owners, "The 12 Month Business Blueprint to Multiply your Profits and Simplify your Life," is available at the link below.

Video Series: www.AllisonMaslan.com/CEO

Online Press Kit: www.allisonmaslan.onlinepresskit247.com

Websites: www.AllisonMaslan.com and http://blastoffevent.com

Contact: Hannah Coloson, [email protected]





****************

MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/

South Florida Reporter  The Real Deal

Editor/Journalist  MT Newswires

Senior Reporter, Business of Law  Law360

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OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: LAST-MINUTE IDEAS FOR BLOGGERS AND STORYTELLERS. When you're a professional storyteller  be it a journalist, blogger, videographer, or cartoonist  you're only as good as the tools you use. This holiday season, there's a host of new gadgets and gizmos available to aid in the search of the story or combat any issues one may come across in their pursuit. Below, we've compiled a list of our favorite gift ideas, so you can keep the journalists, bloggers, and storytellers in your life equipped to catch their next byline: http://bit.ly/2hLNEu5





BLOG PROFILES: HOLIDAY DIY BLOGS. Each week, PR Newswire's Audience Research team selects an industry/subject and a handful of blogs that do a good job with contributing to the conversation. This week, they look at holiday DIY blogs: http://bit.ly/2hiDznf





JOURNALIST SPOTLIGHT: AMANDA BALTAZAR , FREELANCE JOURNALIST. In our Journalist Spotlight Q&A series, PR Newswire for Journalists and ProfNet users share their insight and advice on how PR professionals and experts can improve communications and increase their chances of being featured in their publications. In this edition, we catch up with Amanda Baltazar , a freelance writer for a variety of trade publications. Amanda writes about nearly everything -- except perhaps politics. A few of her trade and industry specialties include restaurants, food, beverages, retail, and health. She also writes essays for consumer publications: http://prn.to/abaltazar

****************

PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire.

SOURCE ProfNet

Related Links

http://www.profnet.com


WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Providence Medical Technology, Inc., an innovator in tissue-sparing, cervical-fusion technology, today announced the closing of $10.5 million in new equity financing for the company. The proceeds will be used to further commercialize and expand its portfolio of cervical-fusion technology.

Providence's family of cervical-fusion products now includes DTRAX Spinal Systems, CAVUX Cervical Cages, ALLY Screw Systems, and BIOLOGIX Allograft Bone. The Company's cervical-fusion products are provided in sterile packaging for single use and fill critical gaps in the continuum of cervical spine care.

New investor MVM Life Science Partners ("MVM") led the financing and will join the Providence Board of Directors. Stanmore Medical Investments, Aphelion Capital, and existing private investors also participated in the round.

Dr. Bali Muralidhar, a partner at MVM said, "Providence's unique product suite addresses key unmet needs in cervical spine fusion surgery. MVM is delighted to support the business through the next phase of growth and to be working with such a high-quality CEO and management team."

Providence Chief Executive Officer Jeff Smith commented, "I am thrilled MVM is joining our group of supportive investors. MVM's deep scientific expertise and success globally commercializing medical technologies make them an ideal partner for Providence."

"We are excited by the continued growth of our business and wide adoption of our innovative, cervical-fusion technology," said Smith. "With our expanding product offering and growing body of clinical evidence, surgeons are increasingly choosing Providence. We are so pleased that our products are resulting in positive patient outcomes and resonating with spine surgeons and hospital administrators alike."

About MVM Life Science Partners LLP.

MVM Life Science Partners LLP, founded in 1997, is a leading global healthcare Venture Capital / Private Equity firm based in London and Boston who manages four funds totaling over US$700 million. MVM invests across the Life Sciences market including biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, drug delivery, gene therapy, medical devices, OTC medicines, research tools and vaccines. The MVM team has broad experience across the Life Science and Venture Capital / Private Equity markets. For more information: www.mvm.com

About Providence Medical Technology, Inc.

Providence Medical Technology, Inc. is a privately-held medical device company developing innovative solutions addressing the $2 billion worldwide cervical spine market. The company is focused on commercializing the DTRAX platform of single-use, tissue-sparing instruments and CAVUX implants for cervical fusion, as well as other technologies that improve cervical spine procedures for both physicians and patients. For more information, visit www.providencemt.com.

SOURCE Providence Medical Technology, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.providencemt.com


LONDON, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This report on the respiratory monitoring devices market studies the current and future prospects of the market globally. Growing incidences of respiratory diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, COPDs, in addition to increasing geriatric population, and rising number of medical devices companies is expected to accentuate the growth of respiratory monitoring devices market. The respiratory monitoring devices market report comprises an elaborate executive summary, which includes a market snapshot that provides information about various segments and sub-segments of the market. It also provides information and data analysis of the respiratory monitoring devices market with respect to market segments based on product, end user and their geographic analysis.

Based on product, the global respiratory monitoring devices market has been segmented into four major categories: spirometer, peak flow meter, pulse oximeter, and capnographs. Likewise, on the basis of end user, the global respiratory monitoring devices market has been segmented into hospitals, laboratories, and home use. The market segments have been extensively analyzed based on usefulness, adoption, efficacy, revenue, and geographical coverage. The market size and forecast in terms of US$ Mn for each segment has been provided for the period from 2013 to 2023. The global respiratory monitoring devices market report also provides the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) for each market segment for the forecast period from 2015 to 2023, considering 2014 as the base year. A brief annual cost estimation, prevalence of asthma and COPD, average pricing analysis, reimbursement scenario have also been discussed in the global respiratory monitoring devices market report.



Geographically, the global respiratory monitoring devices market has been categorized into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. The market size and forecast for each of these regions has been provided for the period from 2013 to 2023, along with their respective CAGRs for the forecast period from 2015 to 2023, considering 2014 as the base year. The research study also covers the competitive scenario in these regions. A detailed qualitative analysis of factors responsible for driving and restraining the growth of the market and future opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. This section of the report also provides market attractiveness analysis, Porter's Five Forces analysis, and market share analysis by key players, thus presenting a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario in the global respiratory monitoring devices market.



A list of recommendations has also been provided for new entrants as well as existing market players to assist them in taking strategic initiatives to establish a strong presence in the market. The report also profiles major players in the global respiratory monitoring devices market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, product portfolio, business strategies, and recent developments. Major players profiled in this report include CareFusion Corporation, Smiths Medical, ResMed, Inc., Masimo Corporation. COSMED, GE Healthcare, MGC Diagnostic Corporation, ndd Medical Technologies, Inc., and others.



The global respiratory monitoring market is segmented as given below:



Global Respiratory Monitoring Devices Market, by Product



Spirometer

Peak Flow Meter

Pulse Oximeter

Capnograps

Global Respiratory Monitoring Devices Market, by End User



Hospitals

Laboratories

Home Use

Global Respiratory Monitoring Devices Market, by Geography

North America

U.S.

Canada

Europe

Germany

Europe

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

Japan

Australia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East and Africa

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4000026/



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

http://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Advertising -- the law firm of Salpeter Gitkin, LLP is informing investors and shareholders of Allergan plc ("Allergan" or the "Company") (NYSE: AGN) of various securities class actions that have been filed on behalf of investors of the Company. The lawsuits are on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Allergan securities between February 25, 2014 and November 2, 2016. It is alleged that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects.

Although Salpeter Gitkin, LLP is currently not involved in the lawsuits, it is endeavoring to inform investors and provide counsel to those seeking information about the claims. If you are an investor and would like to find out more information, please contact Salpeter Gitkin, LLP (Attn: James Gitkin) at 800-675-4128 or [email protected] or shareholders can complete the contact page at http://www.salpetergitkin.com/Contact.shtml.

Allergan, a specialty pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes medical aesthetics, biosimilar, and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products worldwide. The Company was formerly known as Actavis plc and changed its name to Allergan plc in June 2015 after acquiring Allergan Inc. The Company's common stock has traded under the ticker symbol "AGN" since June 15, 2015. Prior to June 15, 2015, the common stock of Actavis plc traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "ACT".

Salpeter Gitkin, LLP is a civil litigation and transactional law firm handling cases throughout the United States. Its principal areas of practice include shareholder and consumer class actions, serious personal injury, complex commercial ligation, and real estate litigation and transactions. The firm is currently investigating and litigating various shareholder claims against major corporations. More information on the firm and its lawyers can be found at www.salpetergitkin.com.

CONTACT:

Salpeter Gitkin, LLP

Attn: James P. Gitkin, Esq.

1 E. Broward Boulevard

Suite 1500

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

800-675-4128

954-467-8622

[email protected]

SOURCE Salpeter Gitkin, LLP

Related Links

http://www.salpetergitkin.com


NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The report mainly highlights the following:

1. ADAS and self-driving vehicle chassis and braking system

2. Traditional braking system

3. Braking system for new energy vehicles

4. Global EPS Industry

5. Global braking system and EPS manufacturers

As far as ADAS is concerned, a simple alarm is not enough, and even at the critical moment, active braking system, active deceleration or steering system are needed, for machines are more reliable than people. And controllers and actuators are thus introduced. An actuator is very simple, consisting of brake caliper, steering gear, and air valve, while a controller involves ETC (Electric Throttle Control) and EPS (Electric Power Steering). The brake system is very complicated, and the brake system for the ordinary gasoline and diesel passenger vehicle is controlled by hydraulic system and vacuum servo. But for passenger vehicles, passive safety is superior to active safety. Hence, ESP (ESC, Electronic Stability Control) needs standard configuration, and the brake control system is ESP, which can also control ETC.

To enable active ADAS and self-driving, deep communication between ADAS and controllers is indispensable, which requires controller manufacturers to provide deep support. Of course, they can also create a new system to bypass the original controller. However, the original controller has gained safety certification for scores of years, and the new system has not been certified, which greatly adds costs and complexity. Moreover, it is not realistic for vehicles to be mass-produced. Therefore, it is necessary to win the great support from controller manufacturers. But these controller manufacturers have their own ADAS, unwilling to give up this market. As a result, controller manufacturers do not make available some ports or provide support, so that customers are forced to choose their full set of ADAS. So we can see that the whole ADAS, including sensor algorithm, of Chang'an and Geely is all from Bosch, which has a great impact on China-made sensor manufacturers.

Given the ESC system is paramount, most OEMs have related technology. Various names for ESC, hence, have sprung up. Although the prices for these ESC systems are higher than those of Bosch and Continental, manufacturers still use them to maintain their own independence, with Hyundai, for example, adopting Mando's ESC system. It takes more than 20 years to develop a new ESC system, during which period large amount of capital and practice cost will be incurred.

Most electric vehicles still adopt the braking system of fuel vehicles and gain additional braking power with EVP or Bosch iBooster. As for these electric vehicles, ESC is still the master controller of braking system. But things have changed. As electric vehicles can, through AC motor, achieve reverse deceleration and recover braking energy, the load of EV braking system reduces considerably. And the new technology drive-by-wire braking system can thus be used.

Drive-by-wire braking system has been extensively used in F1cars, and is replaced when the driving range reaches less than 2,000 km, which causes high costs. Its braking sensitivity is much higher than that of traditional braking systems. Moreover, its flexibility increases dramatically. Hence, the braking system is very practical in the field of ADAS and self-driving. This is why Tesla can achieve intelligentization more easily. Drive-by-wire braking system substitutes ESC system or TCS (traction control system), which allows vehicle manufacturers to get rid of dependence on ESC manufacturers. Tesla Model S, Porsche 918 Spyder, and Audi R8-ETRON adopt this design. There are two systems inside the car: one is traditional front wheel hydraulic brake without EVP, which has the function of ABS; the other is rear-wheel drive-by-wire braking system, which uses electrical signal and motor to control brake calipers.

The disadvantages of drive-by-wire braking system are also evident: first, small braking force due to limited motor power; second, high requirements for heat resistance of brake discs. Porsche 918 Spyder and Audi R8-ETRON adopt ceramic brake discs while Tesla uses high-grade ITT brake discs. Third, due to small volume left for braking motor, only permanent magnet motor can be used. And when you put on brakes, permanent magnet has long been working under the high temperature, thus leading to demagnetization. The reliability of drive-by-wire braking system is yet to be tested. At present, the system, which incurs high costs, can not be used as main braking system but only as auxiliary brake.

In the field of EPS, things get better. China acquired Nexteer, and some enterprises can produce low-end C-EPS. However, the future development of EPS is targeted at R-EPS. There is still an obvious gap between at home and abroad. EPS market is highly concentrated, with the top four manufacturers holding a combined market share of over 75%. The market share of Jtekt exceeded one third. After selling ZF Lenksysteme, ZF still has TRW steering business, reflecting that it has placed emphasis on steering system.

For fuel vehicle design, if you want to develop ADAS or self-driving, it may well be the fastest and most cost-effective way to cooperate with Bosch rather than Continental, whose ESC system is rare in China. As for independent sensor design companies, it is the best choice to partner with manufacturers capable of developing ESC braking system, and the same is true of international companies. Take Sweden-based Autoliv, which invested JPY30 billion in April 2016 to cooperate with Japan's Nissin Kyogo. With regard to China-made vehicle design, we suggest the cooperation with South Korean Mando

In terms of hybrid electric vehicle design, it is best way to adopt ZFTRW IBC and Continental MK C1 to develop ADAS or self-driving. At the early stage of promotion. Continental and ZF are eager to get support from vehicle manufacturers. Moreover, due to its high integration level, the self-driving function can easily be set in drive-by-wire hydraulic brake.

For electric vehicle design, if you adopt permanent magnet motor, given the narrow working range and poor high-temperature resistance of permanent magnet motor, braking system cannot depends too much on the opposing torque of the motor, hence the need to use the powerful booster brake system like Bosch iBooster. If you use AC induction motor, braking system can rely heavily on the opposing torque of the motor, and rear wheel can use the most advanced EMB, or the real drive-by-wire brake.

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03851602-summary/view-report.html

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LONDON, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The smart glass market is expected to reach USD 8.13 billion by 2022 from USD 2.34 billion in 2015, at a CAGR of 19.2% between 2016 and 2022. Improving the energy efficiency of infrastructures is imperative and inevitable to address the energy supply and demand. Switching to smart windows can significantly help reduce the overall energy consumption. Smart windows are made of smart glass, which regulates the amount of light passing through them depending on the time of the day. Thus, windows with smart glass can switch from being translucent to transparent without consuming a large amount of energy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the use of smart glass can reduce energy consumption by almost 40%. This energy-saving property of the smart glass is a driving force for the smart glass market.

"Robust demand for smart glass in the premium automotive sector during the forecast period"

Smart glass is ideal for automobile, aviation, and any other transportation applications where heat and glare control are required. In the automotive sector, smart glass is used in applications such as rear view mirrors, windows, sun roofs, and windshields. Smart glass provides protection from harmful UV rays and glare, helps to control heat inside the vehicle, and saves energy. Hence, it is expected to have a major demand in the automotive sector during the forecast period.

"North America and Europe are the major markets for smart glass"

Europe and North America hold the largest share of the smart glass market. North America and Europe are the biggest contributors in this industry in terms of consumption and manufacturing capacities. Players such as SAGE Electrochromics (U.S.), Research Frontiers Inc. (U.S.), View Inc. (U.S.), PPG Industries (U.S.), and Corning Incorporation (U.S.) have manufacturing facilities in these two regions. Green building initiatives, supportive government policies, and need for energy-efficient products are driving the European and North American smart glass market. The governments of many European countries are framing policies to encourage the use of energy-efficient products. Moreover, the revised government building construction and efficiency standards would further drive the European market. Currently, Europe is the leading market in smart glass; however, the APAC market is expected to provide stiff competition to the European market after 2022 owing to the demand from its architecture sector.

In the process of determining and verifying the market size for several segments and subsegments gathered through secondary research, extensive primary interviews were conducted with key people.

The break-up of the profile of primary participants is given below:- By Company Type: Tier 1 - 50 %, Tier 2 - 20%, Tier 3 - 30%- By Designation: C-level - 40%, Director level - 35%, Others - 25%- By Region: North America - 15%, Europe - 30%, APAC - 40%, RoW - 15%

Given the rising demand for energy-efficient solutions and the emerging green building concept, the smart glass market has a huge opportunity for expansion in the next five years.

The report profiles the key players in the smart glass market with their respective ranking analysis. The prominent players profiled in this report are SAGE Electrochromics (U.S.), Research Frontiers, Inc. (U.S.), View, Inc. (U.S.), AGC, Ltd. (Japan), PPG Industries (U.S.), Gentex Corp. (U.S.), Hitachi Chemicals Co., Ltd. (Japan), Glass Apps. (U.S.), Pleotint, LLC (U.S.), RavenBrick LLC (U.S.), Scienstry Inc. (U.S.), SmartGlass International Ltd. (Ireland), and SPD Control System Corporation (U.S.).

Objectives of the Study:

- To define, describe, and forecast the global smart glass market on the basis of technology, end-use industry, and geography

- To analyze the market structure by identifying various subsegments of the smart glass market

- To forecast the market size in terms of value for various geographies, with regard to four main regionsNorth America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW

- To provide detailed information regarding the major factors influencing the growth of the market

- To strategically analyze micromarkets with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and contribution to the total market

- To identify the major market trends and factors driving or restraining the growth of the smart glass market and its various submarkets

- To analyze the Porter's Five Forces in detail along with the value chain analysis of the smart glass market

- To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of the smart glass ecosystem

- To strategically profile the key players in the smart glass market and comprehensively analyze their market shares and core competencies in each segment

- To analyze competitive developments in the smart glass market such as alliances, joint ventures, and mergers & acquisitions

Key Target Audience

- Smart glass manufacturers- Building material suppliers- Switchable film manufacturers - Dimmable/smart glass film manufacturers - Aerospace and automotive glass industry players - Architects and building owners - Smart glass-related technology investors- Advanced glass and film technology researchers and developers

Scope of the Report:

The research report segments the smart glass market into the following submarkets:

By Technology:- Low E-Glasses- Active GlassesSuspended Particle Device GlassElectrochromic GlassLiquid Crystal/ Polymer Disperse Liquid Crystal GlassMicro-BlindsNanocrystal Glass- Passive GlassesPhotochromic GlassThermochromic Glass

By End-Use Industry:

- Architecture

Commercial

Residential

- Transportation

Automotive

Bus/Rail

Aerospace

Marine

- Power Generation Plant

Solar

- Consumer Electronics

- Others

Government

Museum Artwork Exposition

Sunglasses

By Geography:- North AmericaU.S.CanadaMexico- EuropeU.KGermanyFranceItalyRest of Europe- Asia-Pacific (APAC)JapanChinaSouth KoreaIndiaRest of Asia-Pacific- Rest of the World (RoW)Middle East and AfricaLatin America

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4141099/

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"We are fortunate to have three science teachers who are very creative and innovative thinkers," said Ginger Wooten, academic dean at St. John's Military School. "They have really dedicated themselves to staying current with what is going on in the world of science. They work as a team extremely well and are experienced teachers who think specifically about how to make an impact on young boys, who we know really need a hands-on approach to help them succeed in the classroom."

The goal of each of the science teachers at St. John's is to make science applicable, and fun, so that regardless of what career paths their cadets intend to pursue, they can benefit from the critical thinking skills learned in the classroom.

"Students are best able to understand biology concepts when they see how it applies to their everyday life," said Jordan. "One of the first themes we study is biology in the twenty first century and how it's changing. To help the cadets understand how biology applies to their everyday life, we explore the meadow near our campus. The cadets get to experience some of the fundamentals of how a biologist studies the ecosystem."

Read more>>> http://bit.ly/SJMSScience

SOURCE St. John's Military School

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NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This report explains the materials and performance achievements and objectives of the 80 manufacturers of supercapacitors and supercabatteries. It reveals, in easily accessed form, the performance, formulation and morphology of the key materials used and planned for the future. It concerns materials work both by the device manufacturers and by the many third party developers and suppliers across the world. The structure of a supercapacitor and supercabattery is introduced together with the materials and parameters needed.

Particularly focussed on the primary market need for the future - lower cost and higher energy density - the candidate families of material are assess and progress reported and predicted. Notably that means electrode and electrolyte materials. For electrodes that includes graphene, aerogels and chemically-derived carbons. Important for future electrolyte needs are such things as the new neutral aqueous electrolytes permitting low cost current collectors, ionic liquids that now work at low temperatures and new organic solvents that are less toxic and flammable.

For electrodes, the various hierarchical, exohedral and thin film options are compared and all is related to various end points from micro-supercapacitors to structural ones and large ones in electric vehicles, grid and other electrical engineering applications. For example, we forecast the best energy density that will be achieved in volume production in the next ten years and in 15 years from now, the best candidate materials, capacitor structures and electrolytes for achieving this and the value market resulting.

Key players are identified and their plans revealed based on a host of ongoing interviews. This report is a sister report to our supercapacitor report covering company strategies and the road map of new applications and markets for the devices that is enabled by forecasted improvements in performance. Over these, there is a broad master report introducing the whole breadth of the subject. The years of ongoing research carried out for these earlier reports leverages this new report on materials.

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04447357-summary/view-report.html

About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

http://www.reportlinker.com

Contact Clare: [email protected]: (339)-368-6001Intl: +1 339-368-6001

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NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Synopsis

Timetric's 'The Cards and Payments Industry in Ireland: Emerging Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Irish cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including check payments, payment cards, cash transactions, direct debits and credit transfers during the review period (20112015).

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 (20162020). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including the market shares of issuers and schemes.

The report brings together Timetric's 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

Timetric's 'The Cards and Payments Industry in Ireland: Emerging Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Irish cards and payments industry, including:

- Current and forecast values for each market in the Irish cards and payments industry, including debit and credit cards.

- Detailed insights into payment instruments including credit transfers, direct debits, cash transactions, checks and payment cards. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.

- E-commerce market analysis.

- Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Irish cards and payments industry.

- Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit and credit cards.

- Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.

- The competitive landscape in the Irish cards and payments industry.

Scope

- This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Irish cards and payments industry.

- It provides current values for the Irish cards and payments industry for 2015, and forecast figures to 2020.

- It details the different demographic, economic, infrastructural and business drivers affecting the Irish cards and payments industry.

- It outlines the current regulatory framework in the industry.

- It details marketing strategies used by various banks and other institutions.

Reasons To Buy

- Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Irish cards and payments industry and each market within it.

- Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Irish cards and payments industry.

- Assess the competitive dynamics in the Irish cards and payments industry.

- Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Ireland.

- Gain insights into key regulations governing the Irish cards and payments industry.

Key Highlights

- The Irish government abolished stamp duty on debit card transactions effective from January 1, 2016 to reduce cash withdrawals at ATMs using debit cards. Before the abolition, consumers in Ireland paid an annual fee of US$3.3 (EUR2.5) for ATM cards and US$6.6 (EUR5) for a combination of debit and ATM card. The government replaced the duty with a new fee of US$0.16 (EUR0.12) for each cash withdrawal, in addition to the bank charges. However, there are no charges for debit card transactions at POS terminals. This initiative is anticipated to encourage debit card use at POS terminals.

- Uptake of contactless technology among Irish consumers is growing. To encourage contactless transactions, the Irish government increased the contactless payment limit from US$16.7 (EUR15) to US$33.3 (EUR30) from October 31, 2015. On February 16, 2016, Visa Europe announced that 1 million contactless transactions on Visa cards are made every week in Ireland, as a result of the increased spending limit, compared to 2 million transactions per month in September 2015. Banks are also taking steps to encourage contactless transactions. For instance, in September 2015 Allied Irish Banks (AIB) announced plans to waive fees for contactless transactions for one year from the date of announcement.

- The growing payment cards market has encouraged several mobile POS (mPOS) solution providers to enter the Irish market. The latest is the launch of a low-cost mPOS terminal by UK-based online solution provider Payleven (now SumUp) in March 2015. The mPOS terminal costs US$71.1 (EUR64). In October 2014, another UK-based online payment solution provider, Paysafe, partnered with domestic mPOS solution provider Handpoint to introduce mPOS terminals in Ireland. The terminals are compatible with Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, and can be linked via Bluetooth. The introduction of low-cost solutions is expected to encourage merchants to accept card-based payments, further driving payment card transaction volumes and values.Read the full report:

http://www.reportlinker.com/p03994848-summary/view-report.html

About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

http://www.reportlinker.com

__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Latino Coalition (TLC), the leading national non-partisan advocacy organization representing Hispanic businesses and consumers, today announced that the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) will join TLC as co-host for an event to celebrate the inauguration of Donald J. Trump.

"We're so honored to be hosting this event in conjunction with the presidential inauguration festivities in January, and to be joined in this effort by the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute," said TLC Chairman Hector Barreto, former administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

"The Latino Coalition is looking forward to working with the Trump administration to advance opportunities for Latinos, particularly through the unique vehicle of small-business ownership. Our celebration on the 18th of January will be just the beginning of what our two organizations believe will be a productive and collaborative relationship with the incoming administration," Barreto added.

Former Congressman and CHLI Chairman and Founding Member Lincoln Diaz-Balart pointed out: "I speak for our entire Board of Directors when I say it is a genuine privilege for CHLI to host this important Presidential Inaugural event with The Latino Coalition. With great optimism we look forward to a future of freedom and prosperity for all."

"Presidential inaugurations are great, historic moments of American unity and optimism," said TLC National Executive Director Allen Gutierrez. "We are looking forward to celebrating the new president, then helping his team lead an economic rebirth for our nation that includes terrific opportunities for Latino business owners and consumers."

The January 18th event has already attracted more than a dozen honorary host committee members, including Mercedes Viana-Schlapp, Co-Founder, Cove Strategies, and Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The Libre Initiative.

"It's an honor to serve on the host committee of this event," said Viana-Schlapp. "I've worked with TLC and CHLI throughout my career and know how sincere they are about celebrating and helping President-elect Trump during his transition into office and beyond."

"It's important for the Hispanic community to be represented during inauguration week festivities," said Garza. "This event promises to be the premier Latino event of the 2017 inauguration; I'm delighted to play a role as a host committee member."

Honorary host committee members for TLC's Presidential Inauguration Event include:

Irma Aguirre , Owner, El Sombrero & President Elect Trump's- Small Business Advisory Committee

, Owner, El Sombrero & President Elect Trump's- Small Business Advisory Committee Hector V. Barreto , Chairman, The Latino Coalition

, Chairman, The Latino Coalition Rachel Campos Duffy , Fox News Contributor

, Fox News Contributor James Campos , Senior Advisor to the President Nevada State College / Nevada State Taxicab Authority Commissioner

, Senior Advisor to the President / Nevada State Taxicab Authority Commissioner Adrienne Foster , Executive Director, Office of Governor Sam Brownback

, Executive Director, Office of Governor Omar Franco , Office Managing Director, Becker & Poliakoff

Office Managing Director, Becker & Poliakoff Teri Galvez , President, Paradigm Event Management

, President, Paradigm Event Management Joxel Garcia , Executive Director, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

, Executive Director, MD Anderson Cancer Center Daniel Garza , Executive Director, The Libre Initiative

, Executive Director, The Libre Initiative Mary Ann Gomez Orta , President & CEO, Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI)

, President & CEO, Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) Neri A. Martinez , Executive Director of the Future Majority Project, Republican State Leadership Committee

, Executive Director of the Future Majority Project, Republican State Leadership Committee Charles Munoz , former Trump/ Pence State Director for Nevada / Member of Presidential Inaugural Committee

former Trump/ Pence State Director for / Member of Presidential Inaugural Committee Jerry M. Natividad , President / CEO, American Facility Services Group

, President / CEO, American Facility Services Group Alfonso Pino , MD - Managing Partner, Allied Anesthesia Associates, Dallas, Texas and Owner, Gatewood Vineyards and Winery, Dublin, Texas

Managing Partner, Allied Anesthesia Associates, and Owner, and Winery, Jeanette Prenger , President & CEO, ECCO Select

, President & CEO, Cici Rojas , President, Tico Sports

, President, Manuel Rosales , Chairman, Hispanic Business Roundtable Institute

, Chairman, Hispanic Business Roundtable Institute Jenny Korn , Deputy Political Director, Republican National Committee

Deputy Political Director, Republican National Committee Mercedes Viana-Schlapp , Co-Founder, Cove Strategies & Fox News Contributor

, Co-Founder, Cove Strategies & Fox News Contributor Gail M. Smith , Managing Director, Impacto Latino

, Managing Director, Impacto Latino Elizabeth Vasquez-Gallagher , Chairwoman, City Connect

ABOUT THE LATINO COALITION- The Latino Coalition (TLC) was founded in 1995 by a group of Hispanic business owners from across the country to research and develop policies solutions relevant to Latinos. TLC is a non-profit nationwide organization with offices in California, Washington, DC and Guadalajara, Mexico. Established to address and engage on key issues that that directly affect the well-being of Hispanics in the United States, TLC's agenda is to create and promote initiatives and partnerships that will foster economic equivalency and enhance and empower overall business, economic and social development for Latinos. Visit www.thelatinocoalition.com.

ABOUT CHLI: The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) is the premier organization founded by Members of Congress and corporate executive leaders to advance the Hispanic community's economic progress with a focus on social responsibility and global competitiveness. Founded in 2003, CHLI is a 501(c)3 non-profit and non-partisan organization. CHLI is dedicated to fostering a broad awareness of the diversity of thought, heritage, interests, and views of Americans of Hispanic and Portuguese descent.

SOURCE The Latino Coalition

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LONDON, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- M2M (Machine-to-Machine) refers to the flow of data between physical objects, without the need for human interaction. M2M connectivity has opened a multi-billion dollar revenue opportunity for mobile operators, MVNOs and service aggregators, addressing the application needs of several verticals markets. By enabling network connectivity among physical objects, M2M has also initiated the IoT (Internet of Things) vision - a global network of sensors, equipment, appliances, smart devices and applications that can communicate in real time.



SNS Research estimates that global spending on M2M and IoT technologies will reach nearly $250 Billion by 2020, driven by a host of vertical market applications including but not limited to connected car services, remote asset tracking, healthcare monitoring, smart metering, digital signage, home automation and intelligent buildings.



The "M2M & IoT Ecosystem: 2015  2030  Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies, Industry Verticals & Forecasts" report presents an in-depth assessment of the M2M and IoT ecosystem including enabling technologies, key trends, market drivers, challenges, vertical market applications, deployment case studies, collaborative initiatives, regulatory landscape, standardization, opportunities, future roadmap, value chain, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents market size forecasts from 2015 till 2030. The forecasts are segmented for 8 vertical markets, 7 access networking technologies, 6 regions and over 70 leading countries.



The report comes with an associated Excel datasheet suite covering quantitative data from all numeric forecasts presented in the report.



Topics Covered

The report covers the following topics:

- M2M and IoT ecosystem

- Market drivers and barriers

- Enabling technologies and key trends

- Network architecture and mobile operator business models

- Assessment of cellular, satellite, LPWA (Low Power Wide Area), wireline and short range networking technologies

- Analysis of key trends in the ecosystem including but not limited to IoT platforms, traffic projections, multimedia applications, LTE adoption, roaming, cloud services and network security

- Vertical market applications, opportunities and deployment case studies

- Regulatory landscape, collaborative initiatives and standardization

- Industry roadmap and value chain

- Profiles and strategies of over 240 leading ecosystem players, including enabling technology providers, mobile operators, MVNOs, aggregators, IoT platform providers, system integrators and vertical market specialists

- Strategic recommendations for ecosystem players

- Market analysis and forecasts from 2015 till 2030



Historical Revenue and Forecast Segmentation

Connection and service revenue forecasts are provided for each of the following submarkets and their subcategories:



Vertical Markets

- Automotive & Transportation

- Asset Management & Logistics

- Consumer Electronics & Home Automation

- Energy & Utilities

- Healthcare

- Intelligent Buildings & Infrastructure

- Public Safety, Security & Surveillance

- Retail & Vending

- Others



Wide Area Networking Technologies

- 2G & 3G Cellular

- LTE & 5G Cellular

- Satellite

- LPWA

- Wireline

- Others



Short Range Networking Technologies

- WiFi

- Bluetooth & ZigBee

- Others



Application Categories

- Multimedia & Video

- Remote Monitoring, Maintenance & Control

- Metering

- Tracking & Tracing

- Security

- Payments

- Others



Revenue forecasts for the wider M2M and IoT market are provided for each of the following submarkets:

Submarkets

- M2M Application Services & Connectivity

- M2M Modules & Hardware

- M2M & IoT Security

- CDP (Connected Device Platforms)

- M2M & IoT Application Platforms

- Other M2M & IoT Software

- Network Integration & Professional Services



The following regional and country level markets are also covered:

Regional Markets

- Asia Pacific

- Eastern Europe

- Middle East & Africa

- Latin & Central America

- North America

- Western Europe



Country Markets

- Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, UK, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Vietnam



Additional forecasts are provided for:

- Embedded M2M Cellular Module Shipments and Revenue

- Smart Meter Penetration

- M2M and IoT Traffic

- M2M and IoT Software Submarkets including OS & Software Stack, Middleware & Storage, Analytics Platforms and Business Process Applications



Key Questions Answered

The report provides answers to the following key questions:

- How big is the M2M and IoT opportunity?

- What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth?

- How is the ecosystem evolving by segment and region?

- What will the market size be in 2020 and at what rate will it grow?

- Which regions, countries and verticals will see the highest percentage of growth?

- Who are the key market players and what are their strategies?

- How will M2M and IoT services drive investments in cloud based IoT platforms, Big Data, analytics, network security and other technologies?

- What are the growth prospects of cellular, satellite, LPWA, wireline and short range networking technologies?

- How do government mandates and initiatives impact the adoption of embedded M2M connectivity?

- How will LTE drive the adoption of multimedia and video based IoT applications?

- Do LPWA IoT networks pose a threat to cellular network technologies?

- What strategies should enabling technology providers, mobile operators, MVNOs, aggregators, IoT platform providers and other ecosystem players adopt to remain competitive?



Key Findings

The report has the following key findings:

- SNS Research estimates that global spending on M2M and IoT technologies will reach nearly $250 Billion by 2020, driven by a host of vertical market applications including but not limited to connected car services, remote asset tracking, healthcare monitoring, smart metering, digital signage, home automation and intelligent buildings

- The installed base of M2M connections will grow at a CAGR of nearly 30% between 2015 and 2020, eventually accounting for over 10 Billion connections worldwide

- SNS Research estimates that multimedia and video applications will account for more than 20% of the revenue generated by M2M and IoT services by 2020, amid growing incorporation of LTE in M2M modules and gateways

- Besides optimizing their cellular networks for M2M services, mobile operators are increasingly investing in LPWA networks for low power, low bandwidth IoT applications



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3331688/



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers



http://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Can top-ranked GLP1 agonists move out of the third-line setting?

GLP1 agonists may be the top-ranked type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treatment according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), but physicians pushing to move them up the treatment algorithm are finding their progress hindered by complicated market dynamics.

Get the details in T2DM: KOL Insight.

We interviewed 12 key opinion leaders (KOLs) from North America and Europe to get their candid thoughts on 18 recently marketed T2DM treatments, and 5 more currently in the pipeline.

You'll learn how GLP1 agonists are likely to fare in early treatment settings, whether SGLT2 inhibitors will see widespread use in the second line, how FDCs and longer-acting formulations affect compliance, and whether biosimilar insulin can bring much needed price relief to last line treatment.

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Plus: Order the report and you'll receive three quarterly FirstWord Therapy Trends Update Bulletins free!

"The best drugs we have in the market are the GLP-1 analogues. They have safety data, and with the LEADER trial we now have positive cardiovascular outcome studies. They [GLP1s] have this body weight effect which is really attractive, so I'm giving it very rapidly in overweight patients" EU Key Opinion Leader

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Table of contents >

Key questions answered >

KOL quotes >

List of the 23 therapies covered >

Profiles of the 12 US & EU KOLs interviewed>

Review an extract from the report - 1 drug profile >

Sample of brands covered:



Trulicity (dulaglutide; Eli Lilly)

IDegLira/Xultophy (liraglutide (Victoza) and insulin degludec (Tresiba); Novo Nordisk)

Glyxambi (empagliflozin/ linagliptin; Boehringer Ingelheim/Eli Lilly)

Jardiance (empagliflozin; Boehringer Ingelheim/Eli Lilly)

Tresiba (insulin degludec; Novo Nordisk)

Plus 18 more  download the full list now

Sample of KOLS interviewed



Dr. Silvio Inzucchi MD. Professor of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA

Jay S. Skyler, MD, MACP. Professor of Medicine, Paediatrics and Psychology and Deputy Director, Clinical Research and Academic Programmes, Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Bernard Charbonnel, MD. Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Nantes, France.

Professor Antonio Ceriello, MD. Head of the Research Department on Diabetes and CVD, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.

Plus 8 more  download the full list now

Top Takeaways



KOLs pushing for earlier use of GLP1 agonists: Despite a top AACE ranking, GLP1 agonists face a steep climb up the treatment algorithm. Can new formulations and delivery systems improve their prospects?

SGLT2 inhibitors ready for take-off: They could see widespread use in the 2nd line, but their prospects hinge on the results of high-risk clinical trials. What potential "nightmare scenario" worries otherwise optimistic KOLs?

DPP4 inhibitors still widely prescribed, but for how long? KOLS point to several trends that may threaten their status as the go-to second line treatment. Find out what they are.

Mixed feelings about FDCs: Lower pill burden can increase compliance but choosing an FDC isn't always straightforward, KOLs say. What are their concerns, and how do they feel about newer SGLT2/DPP4 combinations?

Longer-acting formulations aren't always the answer: KOLs say that weekly formulations make sense for some classes of drugs, but are cost-prohibitive for others. Find out which is which?

Slow changes in the insulin market: How do KOLs view the newer brands that are gaining on the market leader? How do they expect insulin-based FDCs to be used?

Biosimilar insulin to bring much needed competition: KOLs expect both a drop in prices and increased pressure from payers. What are their thoughts on interchangeability?

Is T2DM's "holy grail" in sight? KOLs say oral GLP1 agonists would revolutionise treatment. Can Novo Nordisk's pipeline oral semaglutide deliver on that promise? What are KOLs key concerns?

Ongoing Benefits



The world of pharma is ever changing and executives must always be up-to-date with new developments that could affect their own products, position and research. That is why FirstWord's guarantee to keep Therapy Trends clients up to date with Update Bulletins offers a real commercial advantage.

Update Bulletins include expert insight and analysis based on FirstWord analyst re-engagement with the KOLs after major events such as product approvals, key data releases and major conferences to deliver the most valuable insights with each update.

Your Therapy Trends Report purchase entitles you to receive three Update Bulletins, which are published approximately every three months for 12 months following the report's publication date.

You will receive a copy of each Update Bulletin once available, which are issued each quarter after the publication date.

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MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. (Upsher-Smith), a Minnesota-based pharmaceutical company today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which Sandoz Inc. has acquired its AmLactin brand family of skin care brands. This agreement is part of Upsher-Smith's strategy to focus with even greater precision on its mission of delivering high-value, high-quality generics and novel therapies to customers.

Specific terms related to the deal have not been disclosed. Piper Jaffray & Company served as exclusive advisor to Upsher-Smith on this transaction.

About Upsher-Smith

Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc., founded in 1919, is a growing, fully integrated pharmaceutical company dedicated to its mission of delivering high-value, high-quality therapies and solutions which measurably improve individuals' lives. As a family-owned pharmaceutical company, we are able to adapt and thrive in a dynamic healthcare environment. Our world is constantly evolving, and we are continually adapting to the ever-changing needs of patients, physicians, pharmacists, and healthcare organizations. Where there is a need, we will work to deliver solutions that simplify access to treatment, deliver better health outcomes, and enhance life. Upsher-Smith has a particular focus on developing therapies for people living with central nervous system (CNS) conditions, such as seizure disorders. For more information, visit www.upsher-smith.com.

SOURCE Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.

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PALO ALTO, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Angiotech Pharmaceuticals (Canada) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by a group of investors led by Vivo Capital LLC, a leading healthcare focused investment firm, and ZQ Capital Limited, a leading China-based investment and advisory firm. The investment syndicate also includes GSO Capital Partners LP, China Orient Asset Management (International) Holding Limited and Fung Shing Investments Ltd. Pursuant to the agreement, the investment syndicate will acquire 100% of the shares of Angiotech. In addition, business development companies managed by affiliates of FS Investments and sub-advised by an affiliate of GSO Capital Partners LP (GSO, a division of The Blackstone Group), provided senior secured financing into the transaction. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The closing of the transaction is expected to occur during the first quarter of 2017.

Angiotech is a diversified medical device manufacturer of branded, private label and OEM products with more than 2,000 employees worldwide, manufacturing facilities in England, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Germany and customers in over 80 countries worldwide.

Chen Yu, Managing Partner of Vivo Capital, commented, "We are excited by the opportunity to work with the management team, employees and customers of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals. The Company is well positioned for continued sales growth in their core markets of needles, sutures and surgical knives. We look forward to working with them to selectively expand the product offerings leveraging the multi-channel strategy used by Angiotech, while driving strong geographic growth in key markets including China and other parts of Asia."

Simon Shen, Chairman of ZQ Capital, commented, "We believe that Angiotech fits perfectly with our growth strategy and are excited to welcome the Company and its strong management team and employees to our portfolio. We are honored to have the opportunity to partner with the Company to further enhance its comprehensive product offerings and markets and to expand its influence and benefits to millions of patients worldwide, including in China."

"The key shareholders in Angiotech Pharmaceuticals believe this is an excellent time to transition to new ownership and we are confident that the syndicate led by Vivo Capital and ZQ Capital Limited will continue the strong momentum already established," commented Jeff Goldberg, Co-Chairman of the Board of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals. "The Company has made significant progress under this shareholder group including enhancing the management team, launching new products and line extensions, while streamlining operations."

John Barr, CEO of Angiotech, commented, "I would first like to thank our customers for their continued support of Angiotech. We remain committed to continuing to improve our ability to service those customers. Our employees have worked hard and through significant change over the past few years. We acknowledge their continued commitment to the mission of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals that centers on our customers. I want to thank our shareholders and Board for their investment, long term support and strong guidance in Angiotech and the critical role they played in our success. The management team and I are excited to work with our new owners on a seamless transition and to further accelerate our growth while continuing to invest in improved quality and service for all our customers."

O'Melveny & Myers LLP is acting as legal advisor to the investment syndicate and Paul Hastings LLP and Magstone Law acted as legal advisors to ZQ Capital. Piper Jaffray & Co is acting as financial advisor and Irell & Manella LLP as legal advisor, respectively, to Angiotech.

About Vivo Capital

Vivo Capital is a global healthcare focused investment firm formed in 1996 with over $1.8 billion under management. Vivo Capital has offices in Palo Alto, California, Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei. Vivo's current portfolio includes more than 80 private and public biotechnology companies in the areas of biopharmaceuticals, specialty pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

More information can be found at www.vivocapital.com.

About ZQ Capital Limited

ZQ Capital is an investment and advisory firm that specializes in identifying, investing in, and working together with global companies to realize their growth potential in the Chinese market. Utilizing its deep local knowledge of China as well as extensive relationships with financial institutions and leading entrepreneurs across numerous industries in Asia, ZQ Capital is focused on partnering with successful global brands and leveraging its relationships in and knowledge of China to bring added value to its partners.

About China Orient Asset Management (International) Holding Limited

China Orient Asset Management (International) Holding Limited is headquartered in Hong Kong, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Orient Asset Management Group Company. COAMI is the Group Company's primary overseas platform. As of 31 December 2015, COAMI has assets over HKD 52bn. The key businesses of COAMI include investment, corporate finance advisory, non-performing asset acquisitions and asset management.

About Fung Shing Investment Limited

Fung Shing Investment Limited is an investment company that invests in various sectors, including but not limited to media, telecom, healthcare, real estate and financial institutions.

About Angiotech

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals has developed and manufactured branded, private label, and OEM surgical instruments for over 40 years. The Company offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of blades and sutures available, including innovative products such as the Quill Knotless Tissue-Closure Device. Headquartered in Vancouver, CA, Angiotech devotes itself to exceeding the needs of the specialty surgery market, having trusted partnerships within dental, ophthalmic, plastic surgery, dermatology, orthopedics, urology, microsurgery, veterinary and trauma specialties. The key shareholders in Angiotech include affiliates of Blue Mountain Capital LLC, Courage Capital Management LLC and Cetus Capital LLC.

SOURCE Vivo Capital

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Tokyo, Dec 14 : Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday regretted the crash-landing of a US Marine aircraft in its waters.

The US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft crash landed in the sea off Okinawa Prefecture, south of Japan, on Tuesday night, Efe news reported.

"It is regrettable that an accident of this seriousness occurred. It is essential that security be guaranteed. We have called on the US to disclose the cause and guarantee the safety of its flights," Abe told reporters.

The Pentagon confirmed that two of the five crew members in the US Osprey that "landed in shallow water" one km off the coast, were injured.

Japan's Defence Minister Tomomi Inada called on the US military authorities to ground its Osprey aircraft flights until the cause of the accident was known and safety was assured.

These aircrafts are capable of vertical takeoffs and landings.

The US Defence Department Spokesman Jeff Davis said that Washington "will absolutely get to the bottom of the cause" of the accident and promised to "learn from it so that it doesn't happen again."

Japan decided in 2012 to allow the operations of the controversial US military Osprey aircraft, whose security was under cloud due to several accidents.
Srinagar, Dec 15 : Gunmen looted Rs 11 lakh from a bank in the Kashmir Valley on Thursday, authorities said.

Police said four gunmen entered the Ratnipora branch of the J&K Bank Ltd in Pulwama and decamed with the money.

"They looted around Rs 11 lakh at gunpoint from the cash counter. A manhunt has been launched to nab the robbers," a police officer said.

This is the fourth bank robbery in the valley in the last five months.
Damascus, Dec 16 : While the rebels and civilians besieged in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo were being evacuated in accordance with a truce deal, the UN would join other international organisations in monitoring the situation, an official of the world body said on Friday.

It is estimated that 15,000 people, including 4,000 rebels, were set to be evacuated from the city, where the Syrian army has already recaptured 99 per cent of the rebel-held eastern part after an intensive offensive, the official SANA news agency reported.

The first batch of rebels and their families reached Rashidien in the western countryside of Aleppo. The second round of evacuees also withdrew aboard buses and ambulances.

According to earlier state TV reports, the evacuation from Aleppo was supervised solely by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), without the presence of UN staff.

However, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Friday said the world body has been invited to monitor and assist in the evacuation.

"It is a three-pronged evacuation: a medical evacuation of wounded and sick, as well as an evacuation of vulnerable civilians and of fighters," the spokesman said.

Jan Egeland, the UN special adviser on Syria, clarified that this was not an agreement mediated by the US, rather, it is an agreement that has been made in direct talks between the parties to this war, which the bloc was only invited on Friday to monitor.

UN monitors will accompany those who were being evacuated, not only from east Aleppo but all the way to the northwestern province of Idlib, and they also stand ready to care for them all the way into Turkey, if they chose that to be their final destination, Dujarric said.

The ICRC, the World Health Organisation and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent were on the ground to provide assistance to those fleeing Aleppo.

With the anticipated rebel retreat from Aleppo, the Syrian government would take complete control of the strategically-located city.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday hailed the recapture of Aleppo as epoch-making.

"Not only the Syrian and the regional, but also the international situation will not be the same after the liberation of Aleppo," Assad was quoted as saying by SANA.

Once Syria's commercial hub, Aleppo has been divided roughly in two since 2012, with the western parts under government control and eastern districts held by rebels.

The situation in Aleppo has worsened rapidly after a truce accord collapsed in September, and months of heavy fighting has driven the city dwellers to the brink of humanitarian crisis.

Tens of thousands of people have fled eastern Aleppo over the past couple of weeks, with local media reports placing the number of evacuees at 85,000.
Seoul, Dec 16 : Officials of the independent team investigating the 'Korean Rasputin' corruption scandal on Friday sought permission to search the South Korean president's official residence.

After examining the evidence provided by the public prosecutors on the corruption scandal that implicates President Park Geun-hye, the investigators concluded it was necessary to search the Presidential Blue House, Efe news agency quoted an official as saying at a press conference here.

A local daily reported that Blue House officials rejected the possibility of searching the Presidential office due to reasons of national security, but have provided the documents demanded by the public prosecutors.

The South Korean Parliament approved a motion last week to impeach Park and it is now up to the Constitutional Court to accept or reject the decision, a process that could take up to six months.

The public prosecutor's office had named Park as an accomplice of Choi Soon-sil, dubbed the "Korean Rasputin" in a corruption scandal.

Choi, Park's close friend, now in custody, allegedly meddled in state affairs despite not holding any public office and received substantial sums of money from large South Korean companies, which she appropriated for her personal use.
Tehran, Dec 17 : Foreign ministers from Iran, Russia, and Turkey are likely to meet in Moscow on December 27 to discuss the situation in Syria following the recent developments in the country.

"Our Foreign Minister has done his utmost effort to finalize the meeting of Foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, and Turkey in Moscow on Dec. 27," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi according to the official IRNA news agency.

The meeting would seek to find effective ways to deal with the ongoing situation in Syria, he said, adding that Iran has been the first to propose ceasefire in the Arab state, relief aid transfer to the civilians, and dialog among the Syrians, said Qasemi.

Iran announced Friday that the Islamic republic is ready to send humanitarian aid to Syria.

Es'haq Jahangiri, Iran's First Vice President, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, urging for Tehran-Ankara cooperation to diplomatically resolve the crisis in Syria.

Over 8,000 rebels and their families have been evacuated from their last strongholds in Syria's northern city of Aleppo since the announcement of truce on Thursday.

Nearly 15,000 people, including 4,000 rebels, were set to evacuate eastern Aleppo as part of a Russian-Turkish deal to end the presence of rebels in the city.

In exchange for the evacuation in eastern Aleppo, rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib will allow civilians to leave the besieged Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa.

With the evacuation, the Syrian army will take over the whole Aleppo city, as it has already controlled 99 percent of the rebel-held areas in the eastern part of the city.
Tehran, Dec 17 : International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano will arrive in Iran's capital Tehran on Sunday to discuss the implementation of Iranian nuclear deal, known as JCPOA, with the senior Iranian officials.

Amano is scheduled to meet with the Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, and a number of Iranian officials during his trip to Tehran, official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

Amano will discuss Iran and IAEA cooperation in technical and safeguard aspects as well as the state of the implementation of the JCPOA.

This would be the second visit by the head of IAEA to Tehran following the clinch of the nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers in July 2015 and its implementation in January.

The deal between Iran and six world major countries, namely the United States, Britain, China, Russia, France and Germany, on the former's nuclear issue put Iran on the path of sanctions relief but more strict limits on its nuclear program.

The deal sets limits on Iran's nuclear activities and allows regular inspections of the facilities inside the Islamic republic.

In return, the US and the European Union will suspend nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.
Washington, Dec 17 : The US has demanded the return of an underwater drone that was seized by China in the disputed South China Sea as an American crew was moving in to retrieve it, the New York Times said on Friday.

Chinese media reported that Beijing had received a "claim request" from the US for an underwater drone.

The episode threatens to increase tensions in a region already fraught with great power rivalries.

A Chinese warship had been shadowing the Bowditch, a US naval vessel, in the international waters of the South China Sea. The Chinese then launched a small boat and snatched the unmanned underwater vehicle, the Pentagon said.

Ignoring radio demands from the Americans to return the drone, the Chinese ship sailed away.

The episode led to one of the tensest standoffs between Beijing and Washington in 15 years and occurred a day after the Chinese signalled that they had installed weapons along a string of disputed islands in the South China Sea.

The seizure of the drone brought a formal protest from the United States at a time when China is extending claims over the South China Sea and is watching the US - and its incoming president - with wariness.

The episode did not have the life-or-death drama of the April 2001 midair collision between a Chinese fighter jet and a Navy surveillance plane that forced the Americans to make an emergency landing on Chinese territory.

Acknowledging the odd nature of Chinese sailors seizing the drone close to its American mother ship, an official here likened it to watching a thief steal a wallet in broad daylight.

American officials said they were still trying to determine whether the seizure was a low-level action taken by Chinese sailors who spotted the drone - which the Pentagon said was conducting scientific research - or a strategic-level action ordered by more senior Chinese leaders to challenge the American presence in those waters.

"We call upon China to return" the underwater vehicle "immediately," New York Times quoted Peter Cook, the Pentagon press secretary, as saying on Friday, The incident complicates already testy relations between China and the United States, ties that have been further frayed by President-elect Donald J. Trump's phone conversation with the president of Taiwan.

Trump angered Chinese officials by holding a phone conversation with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, an island that Beijing deems a breakaway province of China.

It has been nearly four decades since a US president or President-elect had such direct contact with a Taiwanese leader.

Pentagon officials said on Friday that they were trying to determine if the seizure of the underwater drone had anything to do with Trump's comments.
Actor Ge You and actress Gillian Chung attend the press conference of the film The Wasted Times in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 1, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

At an event that was anything but a waste of time, the main cast and the director of the movie The Wasted Times met their fans in South China's Guangzhou on Sunday.

The Chinese mainland-Hong Kong co-produced thriller, which stars Ge You, Du Chun, Huo Siyan and Gillian Chung along with award-winning actress Zhang Ziyi and Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano, centers on mafia member Mr. Lu, played by Ge, and events surrounding him as the Japanese forces infiltrate Shanghai.

Veteran actor Ge You, who has always kept a low profile, said at the event that he has become less talkative over the years and prefers to let the viewers be the judge. When asked what's yet to come, he said he would probably only take on supportive roles in the future.

On film and history: No deliberate link

The Wasted Times, which is currently playing in theaters, has stirred heated discussion for its distinctive style. The story has multiple timelines with multi-faceted and overlapping settings, leaving some in awe while others confused.

The director, Cheng Er, said he did not intentionally make the film based on history, but many viewers are associating Mr. Lu with Du Yuesheng, a Shanghai-based secret society leader, banker and industrialist. Ge said he did look into Du's profile but made no deliberate effort to associate his character with Du.

"I just wanted to define him as someone with money and power. It is up to the audiences what they make of it," said Ge.

According to Cheng, much of the film is fiction, "but if you are interested in history, or know enough history, then it is understandable to link it to history. But, even if you are not a history guru, you can still understand the film."

Though not a prolific director, Cheng has his fair share of fans thanks to the grim tones in his works. Cheng, whose works always leave lots of room for imagination, has carried that style forward with The Wasted Times.

"We deleted a very small portion of the film during editing, so it is right that the audiences feel like they haven't seen enough. We are working on a sequel," said Cheng.
Jerusalem, Dec 18 : A Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli gunfire early on Sunday near the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

In an e-mailed statement, the ministry said that the victim Ahmed Rimawi, 23, was from Beit Rima village near Ramallah, Xinhua news reported.

Witnesses said that Rimawi was killed during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers when Israeli forces stormed the village.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli side on the incident.

Since October 2015, 345 Palestinians and 42 Israelis have been killed and hundreds injured in violent clashes between the two sides that happened on Palestinian territories.
Tehran, Dec 19 : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stressed his country's commitment to the July 2015 nuclear agreement, insisting that Iran will continue to collaborate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In a meeting with IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, President Rouhani said that Iran has been loyal to its commitments to the nuclear agreement so far, Efe news reported on Sunday citing The Islamic Republic News Agency.

He emphasised that Iran will fulfill its obligations as long as the other parties do, per the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The agreement with the P5+1 (the US, Britain, China, Russia, France and Germany) limited Iran's nuclear capabilities in exchange for lifting the international sanctions imposed against the country.

Rouhani claimed that the recent US measures, especially the extension of Iran's Sanctions Act, are incompatible with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The president also expressed his hopes that Iran and the IAEA could have good technical cooperation in the field of nuclear-powered engines for maritime transport.

Amano said that Iran has remained committed to its pledges under JCPOA since the implementation of the deal last January, and reassured the president that the agency will observe impartiality in providing technical reports about the Iranian nuclear program, IRNA reported.

During his visit to the Islamic Republic on Sunday, Amano also conferred with the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali-Akbar Salehi and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Amano's visit coincided with the rising tensions between Washington and Tehran following the extension of Iran's Sanctions Act for 10 more years.
New Delhi, Dec 19 : Ailing External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who underwent a kidney transplant on December 10, is recovering steadily and would be discharged later on Monday, authorities said.

"MEA Minister Sushma Swaraj has shown a speedy recovery after her kidney transplant and is being discharged today (Monday)," said the statement issued by the communication department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

According to the authorities, the minister's post-operative recovery was closely monitored by a team of specialists.

They include transplant surgeons and a team of nephrologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists and pulmonologists, other than anaesthesists and critical care experts. The team also includes hysiotherapists, resident doctors and specialised nurses.
Visakhapatnam, Dec 19 : Former union secretary E.A.S. Sarma has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to force people to use credit and debit cards as every transaction takes away a portion of their hard earned money.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Sarma said knowing the risk of hacking, the Finance Minister should not force the citizens to switch over to credit and debit cards without taking the necessary precautions.

"While the cashless economy will and should evolve in step with the citizens' needs, the government should not force the people into the plastic card world in which every transaction has a cost and every transaction transfers a portion of the hard earned money of the citizen to the pockets of the private companies that profit from such operations," Sarma wrote.

This is the latest in a series of letters sent by the former bureaucrat to Modi since the demonetisation of high value currency notes last month.

Sarma, who is fighting for democratic reforms, expressed disappointment that the reforms necessary along with demonetisation were not initiated and that the central investigating agencies were not laying their hands on big fish hoarding black money.

"While you have been exhorting the people standing in queues for cash to be patient and lend you support, I feel disappointed that the central investigating agencies are yet to lay their hands on the big fish who are apparently involved in the hoarding of large volumes of black cash," Sarma said.

The retired IAS officer said though names of even some BJP legislators were mentioned in media reports on unauthorised conversion of invalidated high currency notes, no central agency seem to have probed into such cases.

"Unless those specific high profile cases are scrutinised and culprits, however high and mighty they may be, are brought to book, the ongoing cash crisis will soon snowball into a crisis of public confidence on demonetisation," he added.
Phnom Penh, Dec 19 : A one-tonne haul of elephant ivory, tiger bones and pangolin scales was found at a dry port in Cambodia, an official said on Monday.

The animal parts were found in hollowed-out logs imported from Africa, Xinhua news agency quoted Un Vannarith, deputy chief of the Phnom Penh Forestry Administration cantonment, as saying.

"We have found elephant tusks, elephant tails, tiger bones and pangolin scales," he said, adding that the raid was made following a tip-off from the NGO Regional Intelligence Liaison Office of the World Customs Organisation.
Hyderabad, Dec 19 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday rejected the opposition demand for a CBI probe into the case relating to slain gangster Nayeem, who allegedly had links with top politicians and police officials.

He assured the state assembly that those found involved in the activities will not be spared, irrespective of the positions they hold and the parties they come from.

Stating that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police is doing is job efficiently and in an impartial manner, Rao said there was no need for handing over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The chief minister made a statement in the assembly on the activities of Nayeem and his associates.

Renegade Maoist-turned-gangster Nayeem was gunned down by police in an alleged exchange of fire on Aug 8 in Shadnagar town near Hyderabad. An AK47, a 9mm pistol and ammunition were recovered.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said for last two and half decades, Nayeem gang committed heinous crimes in Telangana and was carrying out its activities without any hindrance under the rule of the previous governments.

He said soon after the formation of TRS government, it decided to contain Nayeem gang's activities with iron hand.

After the death of Nayeem, people living in fear had a sigh of relief and his victims came out to lodge complaints, he said. Police registered 174 cases. It examined 741 witnesses and arrested 124 accused.

The Chief Minister said during the raids on the gang's hideouts, police seized 21 firearms, 21 cars, 26 motorcycles and Rs.2.95 lakh cash. Police also seized documents of properties registered in the name of the family and friends of the gangster. The registered value properties including over 1,000 acres of land, 27 houses and 1.67 square yard residential plots is estimated to be over Rs 143 crore.

He said the gang's involvement was established in 27 murder cases and it was suspected to be involved in 25 other murder cases.

KCR said police had filed two charge sheets and 15 more charge sheets were ready to be filed.

During the debate, Congress legislator Jeevan Reddy said CBI probe was necessary for an impartial probe as politicians from all political parties were suspected to have links with Nayeem. He wanted the government to produce Nayeem's diary and other material in the court.

Targetting Congress and Telugu Desam Party, KCR said it was no secret which parties created the monster and allowed it to have free run. He reminded Jeevan Reddy that it was during Congress rule that Nayeem escaped from a court.

As a Maoist, Nayeem had killed an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, K.L. Vyas in 1993. After being expelled from the People's War Group (PWG) for indulging in extortion, he turned a police spy to help them effectively counter Left-wing extremism, which was then at its peak. Nayeem had close links with politicians and top police officials and eliminated some top Maoists and their sympathisers in the then united Andhra Pradesh.
Jaunpur (Uttar Pradesh), Dec 19 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has taken blood out of the veins of 99 per cent Indians with its demonetisation decision.

At a rally in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi stopped people from hurling invective against Modi, saying he is the Prime Minister and "we must not say 'murdabad' (Down with) for anyone".

He said the Congress would have assisted any move of the government to weed out corruption and black money from India but "the decision on demonetisation was neither against corruption, nor against black money".

He said: "We want to root out corruption from India. If the government takes any decisions against corruption, we will support it 100 per cent."

The Congress leader said the November 8 announcement to spike nearly 86 per cent of the country's total currency in circulation "was against poor people of India".

"It is against 99 per cent people of India, against farmers and labourers. Without seeking their permission, Modi has taken blood out of their veins."

As Gandhi began his speech at the public rally, some people from among the crowd shouted slogans against Modi.

Gandhi asked them not to do that. "We have differences of opinion with Modi and the BJP. Do not use the word 'murdabad'... Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister. Political fight is there.

"That is for the RSS people to say, not for us."
Hyderabad, Dec 19 : A special NIA court here sentenced to death five convicts, including the banned Indian Mujahideen's (IM) co-founder Yaseen Bhatkal and a Pakistani national, in the 2013 Hyderabad bomb blasts.

Apart from Bhatkal alias Ahmed Siddibappa Zaraar, and Pakistani national Zia ur Rehman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu, and Aizaz Saeed Shaik alias Aijaz Shaikh were convicted by the court on December 13 for offences including waging war against the nation, criminal conspiracy and murder.

The twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar area on February 21, 2013, killed 18 persons, including one unborn child in mother's womb, and injured 131 others.

Public Prosecutor V. Surender Rao told reporters that based on the peculiar facts and circumstantial evidence, the judge concluded that the case fell in the category of "rarest of rare" case and the convicts deserve capital punishment.

The convicts said they will challenge the NIA court's order in the High Court and sought a copy of the judgement, the prosecutor said.

The death sentence was pronounced under sections 302 Aand 121 of Indian Penal Code, section 3B Explosive Substance Act and section 16 of Unlawful Activities Act.

Rao said the court would send the record to the high court and after it confirms the death sentence, it will be implemented. The convicts, however, will still have option to challenge it in Supreme Court and even seek President's pardon.

Tight security arrangements were made since morning at Cherlapally Jail, where the special court pronounced the judgement.

The public prosecutor said the court asked the convicts if they have anything to say but they just asked the judge to pronounce his sentence. After the sentence was pronounced, the convicts showed no emotion. "They were absolutely normal. They were not angry or showed any remorse or repentance," he said.

Earlier, the convicts submitted letters to the court stating that they have no confidence as the trial was conducted in a hasty manner.

After taking the letters into consideration, the judge pronounced the sentence. He found that the cruel act of the convicts fell in the "rarest of rare" case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought death penalty on the ground that the accused planned and executed bomb blasts, killing many people and later went on to carry out another bombing.

According to NIA, this is the first case in which any operative of the Indian Mujahideen have been convicted and sentenced.

The NIA counsel termed the verdict as a victory for investigations and for people who came out as witnesses. They include witnesses who recorded their statements regarding the stay of the accused in Mangluru, their visit to Hyderabad, stay in Qutbullapur on the city outskirts, purchase of pressure cookers and cycles.

Bhatkal is brother of Riyaz Bhatkal, the brain behind the blasts, who is absconding and suspected to be hiding in Pakistan. The NIA has already issued Interpol Red Corner notice for him.

The public prosecutor said NIA had collected evidence against Riyaz and once he is arrested, the record will be produced before the court.

Bhatkal brothers are from Bhatkal town of Karnataka, while Rehman is a resident of Mustafabad of Pakistan's Punjab province, Asadullah Akhtar from Uttar Pradesh while Tahseen Akhtar and Aizaz Saeed are residents of Bihar and Maharashtra respectively.

All five were convicted for offences including waging war against nation, criminal conspiracy and murder.

The investigating agency filed three charge sheets in the case. Charges were framed against the five accused on July 16, 2015 and the trial commenced on August 24 the same year.

The NIA said during the trial, the prosecution examined a total of 157 witnesses.

The twin blasts occurred within a distance of 100 metres at crowded places in shopping area Dilsukhnagar on the evening of February 21, 2013.
New Delhi, Dec 19 : Terming the Delhi Police the puppet of the central government, the JNU Students Union (JNUSU) on Monday denounced the campus search operation undertaken by it to find missing student Najeeb Ahmed, as absurd, and their methodology as clueless.

"After 65 days of Najeeb's disappearance, this is the state of affairs. In an utter sense of mockery of justice earlier, the police worked like a puppet of the government and now to save their face in front of the court, they are doing absurd exercises with clueless methodology," JNUSU President Mohit Pandey said in a statement.

Police on Monday morning, with a strength of 600-700, embarked upon a comprehensive search operation inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, including the combing of a sprawling Sanjay Van, which comes under southern-central ridge, spreading over 626 hectares.

This search operation has come following a rap by the Delhi High Court delivered to police for latter's failure to trace Ahmed, an M.Sc. student at the university.

The court on December 14, hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by Ahmed's mother, had directed the Delhi Police to conduct a thorough search of the JNU Campus, including its class-rooms, rooms in hostels etc.

"Now after court's order, to pay lip service, Delhi Police appears to have come out of their slumber. But this also shows that they never had any seriousness in Najeeb's case," Pandey said.

He also discredited the whole seach operation as futile for having come after so many days, and said that in all likelihoodm many important details must have been lost due to the time gap.

Qasim, Ahmed's room-mate at Mahi-Mandavi hostel inside the campus, also appeared unenthused about the prospects of police finding anything of consequence after two months.

"What's the point of sniffer dogs? They would be just as clueless and useless as the police, for it's very unlikely for them after 65 days to pick any scent which might lead to some clue," Qasim told IANS.

"We had demanded a room-to-room search and the combing of the forest the very day we picketed outside the Vasant Kunj Police Station (October 26), but the police is waking up only now," he added.

Ahmed, 27, was beaten up by a mob of students, who had gone to his room to canvas for the mess-elections, on the night of October 14. He then went missing mysteriously on the intervening night of October 14-15 leaving his belongings including phone behind, and police is still clueless about his whereabouts.

From among the students who had beaten up Ahmed, at least four were served a notice by the university after a Proctorial inquiry had found them guilty, and were asked to change their hostels.
Istanbul, Dec 19 : Turkey on Monday said it has no intention to bring in Syrian citizens evacuated from the city of Aleppo.

"Turkey prepares to keep these people in their home country in camps to be built by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency and the Turkish Red Crescent," Efe news quoted a Turkish Foreign Ministry official as saying to the foreign press here.

"The idea is to keep these people in and around Idlib," the official said, adding only those wounded, sick or in need of immediate attention might be brought to Turkey.

Turkey is currently hosting more than 2.5 million Syrians fleeing a civil war that has been raging for years.

According to Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak, the number of Syrians evacuated from Aleppo is expected to hit 30,000.

After the evacuation resumed on Sunday, 4,500 more had left eastern Aleppo since midnight, bringing the total evacuees to 20,000.

The evacuation of opposition forces from eastern Aleppo came as part of a Turkish-Russian deal and with the evacuation of the rebels from Aleppo's east, the Syrian army will take control of the entire city.

Foreign Ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran will meet in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the details of the evacuation.
The bad taste joke of this holiday season is that back in January everyone thought the worst thing that could happen in 2016 was the death of David Bowie.

It turned out that the sad and premature demise of The Man Who Fell to Earth on Jan 10 was just the start of it. Maybe, the superstar knew something that we didn't.

Since then, Britain has effectively retreated behind the Channel fogbanks, while in the US a man who lost money running a casinoan extraordinarily rare featis headed for the White House.

Wars continue unabated in the Middle East, with world powers seemingly unable or unwilling to stop them. At least, so-called Islamic State is on the retreat but, as with previous conflicts, this one will defy the prediction that it will all be over by Christmas.

There have been a few bright spots. Brazil hosted a successful Olympics, even if it did slightly spoil the party atmosphere by impeaching and removing its president the following week. Queen Elizabeth II turned 90 in a rain-spattered celebration that heartened all but the most diehard republicans. In May, the orbit of the planet Mercury transited the sun, an event for which, exceptionally, neither monarchs nor politicians could be credited or blamed.

David Bowie died as the year began and things did not get any better. [Photo/Agencies]

Much of the current angst in the West, it must be said, is self-induced. How else to explain the decision by Britain's ITV to screen a pre-Christmas special by cranky Australian controversialist John Pilger, entitled The Coming War on China? (He blames it on the Americans, by the way).

Britain's red-top, right-wing press, having boosted the Brexit vote with dire tales of baby-eating immigrants and vampiric Eurocrats (well, almost) also appears to have caught the war bug as the festive season approaches.

"Britain and NATO ready to launch a 'MAJOR WAR' with Russia in Europe," trumpeted The Express, cavalierly interpreting the somewhat less apocalyptic remarks of Moscow's ambassador to London. Things are no more cheerful across the Channel. Even the sober Les Echos ran a piece asking "Can a third world war break out?" The UN had certainly displayed its incapacity to stop the conflicts that would continue to torment the world into 2017, lamented its author, Jacques Hubert-Rodier.

But even Les Echos' Cassandra saw one bright spot on the horizon, writing that, despite tensions in the South China Sea, "it is difficult to see China launching itself into a major military adventure. Nevertheless, the spark of conflicts is never foreseeable".

It was a further sign that, in Europe, China is increasingly viewed as one of the sensible voices in an increasingly mad world, a perception that has strengthened when contrasted with the worryingly divisive rhetoric coming from president-elect Donald Trump.

China has a host of issues to resolve with its Western partners, not least over trade, tariffs and emergent protectionist tendencies in the US and Europe, and there are also differences over how to handle the conflicts in the Middle East, but Beijing's contribution has remained diplomatic and, for the most part, low-key.

China's economic power means it inevitably continues to be drawn ever more tightly into the international discourse in the United Nations and other international forums.

There has been speculation that the first Chinese person to enter the top echelon of the UN bureaucracy could be the next head of the department of peacekeeping, a post traditionally filled by a Westerner.

Once reticent about intervening, China now contributes more soldiers to UN peace missions than any other permanent member of the Security Council. And China is unique in only engaging in peacekeeping through the world body.

Antonio Guterres, the former Portuguese prime minister who takes office as the next UN Secretary-General on Jan 1, was recently in Beijing, where he praised China's contribution.

"Today, China is one of the biggest financers of the UN and its actions," he said. "At the same time, it is making a very important contribution to peacekeeping and to more initiatives that will be announced soon."

Maybe it was a hint for 2017.

Harvey Morris is a Senior Media Consultant for China Daily UK.
Kolkata, Dec 19 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, warned against attempts at fomenting communal violence in the state.

"There is an attempt to disturb the communal amity that exists in Bengal. We will not allow that," Banerjee said addressing a public meeting in West Bengal's Bankura district.

"West Bengal is not the place for riots between Hindus and Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. People of all religions have mutually stayed here and it is going be that way," she asserted amid loud cheers from the people present in the meeting.

Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress chief, urged the people not to entertain any individual or organisation that tries to perpetrate communal violence.
Ahmedabad, Dec 19 : People furious over lack of cash in banks on Monday attacked bank branches in two districts of Gujarat, the authorities said.

A mob locked up the State Bank of India and Dena Bank branches in Samadhiyala village in Amreli district in Saurashtra region after hundreds waiting in long queues were told the banks had no cash to give.

Most of the people were farmers, witnesses said.

In Surendranagar district, mobs attacked some bank branches and damaged their doors and windows after they were found to have been kept closed for the third consecutive day since Saturday.

The bank authorities said there was no meaning of opening the branches as no cash had reached the branches on Monday.

In Silvassa, capital of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the manager and some staff members of a nationalized bank were roughed up by people as the bank had no cash to distribute.

The police had to intervene to rescue the bank staff.

The central government on November 8 demonetised the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, saying the move was aimed at tackling corruption, black money and terror funding.

The move has led to an unprecedented cash crunch across the country.
Ankara, Dec 19 : Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov was attacked by unidentified gunmen late Monday in Ankara.

Karlov was shot with a gun while making a speech at a painting exhibition in the Turkish capital, the Russian embassy said, adding it believed that it was a radical Islamist attack.

The attack comes a day before Turkish Foreign Minister MevlAt Cavusoglu heads to Moscow for talks on Syria with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.

Private broadcaster CNN Turk said Karlov was in a critical state.

Meanwhile, private broadcaster NTV said three other persons were also injured in the attack.

CNN Turk said the attacker might be still inside the building and that Karlov had not yet been sent to hospital.
New Delhi, Dec 19 : Railways on Monday said that it will provide 10 per cent rebate on any seat left vacant after the preparation of the chart.

According to the Railways Ministry, the decision was taken after the review meeting on "Flexi fare", which was launched in September.

"10 per cent rebate shall be applicable on the base fare of last ticket sold for a particular class and train just before preparation of first chart," said a Ministry statement.

The discount would however be applicable on the surged fare base and not on the original base fare.

The Railways also said that it has reduced the seats in the Tatkal quota in Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi Express trains.

"The tatkal quota should be reduced to 10 per cent of the total classwise accommodation," the statement said.

The railways also said that it willundertake a fortnightly review of utilisation of tatkal quota by Chief Commerical Manager of the Zonal Railways.

"Based on its utilisation, Tatkal quota may be increased upto a maximum of 30 per cent of total classwise accommodation in the train," it added.

The Railways also said that it has rolled back flexi fare system between Jaipur and Ajmer in the New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi Express and between Mysore and Bengaluru city on Mysore-Chennai Central Shatabdi Express. Even the fares on these routes have been reduced up to Rs 140.
Ankara, Dec 19 : Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov died after being shot by an unidentified gunman here late Monday, the embassy announced.

Karlov was shot while making a speech at a painting exhibition in the Turkish capital, the Russian embassy said, adding it believed that it was a radical Islamist attack.

Karlov was envoy since July 2013.

The attack comes a day before Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu heads to Moscow for talks on Syria with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.

CNN reported the attacker shouted "Allahu Akbar" before firing at the diplomat.
We provide a simple solution that streamlines business processes for wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers and third-party logistics providers in the food and beverage industry

Food Logistics, the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global food supply chain, has named Esker, a worldwide leader in document process automation solutions and pioneer in cloud computing, to its 2016 FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list.

The FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list serves as a resource guide of software and technology providers whose products and services are critical for companies in the global food and beverage supply chain.

The software and technology sector continues to generate new and exciting opportunities for growers, food manufacturers, grocery retailers and the many logistics providers that support them, notes Lara L. Sowinski, editorial director at Food Logistics. Todays cloud-based solutions and mobile connectivity are helping create tools that are more flexible, affordable and responsive, making software and technology even more valuable to those in the global food supply chain.

Eskers cloud solutions allow food and beverage companies to cut costs by automating manual tasks via one integrated platform. Increasing industry pressures have many companies seeking to lower operational costs and maintain supplier relationships. These companies are directly impacted by errors that occur in order processing due to increased costs from incorrect shipments, returns and lost goods. Esker helps manufacturers and distributors manage the supply chain without paper-based documents such as fax and postal mail, creating easier access to documents and reducing costs with fewer manual tasks. Supplier relationships are also improved when orders are on time, correct and can be accessed in real-time if questions arise.

We provide a simple solution that streamlines business processes for wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers and third-party logistics providers in the food and beverage industry, said Steve Smith, U.S. chief operating officer at Esker. We strive to deliver the most value by giving organizations the ability to cut costs and improve supplier relationships, and consider it a significant achievement to be recognized as a top technology provider and resource in this industry.

Companies on this years 2016 FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list will be profiled in the November/December 2016 issue of Food Logistics, as well as online at http://www.foodlogistics.com.



About Food Logistics

Food Logistics is published by AC Business Media, a business-to-business media company that provides targeted content and comprehensive, integrated advertising and promotion opportunities for some of the worlds most recognized B2B brands. Its diverse portfolio serves the construction, logistics, supply chain and other industries with print, digital and custom products, events and social media.

About Esker

Esker is a worldwide leader in cloud-based document process automation software. Esker solutions help organizations of all sizes to improve efficiencies, accuracy, visibility and costs associated with business processes. Esker provides on-demand and on-premises software to automate accounts payable, order processing, accounts receivable, purchasing and more.

Founded in 1985, Esker operates in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific with global headquarters in Lyon, France and U.S. headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin. Last year Esker generated 58.5 million euros in total sales revenue. For more information on Esker and its solutions, visit http://www.esker.com. Follow Esker on Twitter @EskerInc and join the conversation on the Esker blog at blog.esker.com.
Distribution of hams to fire fighters in Ohio from Mansfield Plumbing "Our contributions locally in 2016 were the greatest our company has ever made in a single year a quotable." Natalie Thomas Mansfield Plumbing

Mansfield Plumbing played a strong role in supporting the communities where they operate in 2016 with 89 different donations totaling $38,309. From school scholarships for employees' children to contributions of toilets to churches, fire departments and shelters, the company responded generously to community requests for cash donations and products.

"Our contributions locally in 2016 were the greatest our company has ever made in a single year," according to Natalie Thomas, vice president of human resources for Mansfield Plumbing. "We give top priority to organizations our current or past employees are connected to and then strong consideration to activities in our immediate geographic manufacturing areas."

From hams donated to the Mansfield fire station during the Thanksgiving holiday to constant support of high school and booster club programs, Mansfield Plumbing plays an integral role in community activities. The company also donated toilets, sinks and tubs to almost a dozen homes created for disabled U.S. veterans as part of the 2016 Building Homes for Heroes program.

"Each donation request, whether it's for cash or product, is reviewed and analyzed carefully," says Thomas. "We give equal consideration to a request for $100 to support a local elementary school as we would a $1,000 request for the robotics team at the Loudonville high school. Being a responsible, involved member of our communities helps Mansfield Plumbing stay connected with our employees and the places where we work and live."

During the past five years, Mansfield Plumbing has made more than 275 donations locally totaling $128,180 to support communities in Ohio and Texas where the company has manufacturing operations.

Mansfield Plumbing precision manufactures millions of pieces of sanitaryware and bathware each year at its facilities in Perrysville and Big Prairie, Ohio and in Henderson, Texas. Founded in 1929, Mansfield Plumbing, which is owned by Corona, is a leading producer of top-quality, high-design, performance plumbing fixtures and fittings for use in residential, commercial and institutional markets. For more information, visit http://www.mansfieldplumbing.com or call 877-850-3060.

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Performers from Chinese Arts Space take the stage at China Changing festival. [Brian Roberts images/For China Daily]

British-Chinese actors and producers are calling for more East Asian artists to be welcomed into the limelight, instead of being relegated to stereotypical and minor roles in theatre and TV.

London-based British East Asian performance company Chinese Arts Space joined with Moongate Productions in describing British-Chinese people and East Asians as underrepresented in mainstream media.

Both companies were participating in the China Changing festival in the capital's Southbank Centre, an event showcasing innovative artists from China, as well as British-based Asian artists.

Moongate staged a performance of a contemporary reimagining of Lady Precious Stream and the company's creative producer and actor, Jennifer Lim, told China Daily: "China Changing is tremendously important. It raises the profile of British-Chinese work... The gatekeepers of the industry need to see that there are British-Chinese talents out there."

Rachel Harris, the lead programmer for China Changing, said part of the festival's agenda was to act as a platform for British-based Chinese artists and British-East Asian artists.

"This festival at the Southbank Centre can throw a spotlight on the issue of diversity and profile the great work done by British-Chinese artists," she said.

Project New Earth, presented by Chinese Arts Space, tells the oft-forgotten story of the Chinese men who participated in the Chinese Labour Corps during World War I. The corps, which was made up of around 140,000 Chinese men, was recruited by the British and French military to provided support services to front-line soldiers.

David Tse, CAS creative director said: "A festival like China Changing is long overdue. The event is important for British-Chinese because it is at the Southbank Centre and that attracts a large audience."

Tse added that there should be more Chinese faces on popular TV soap operas, to change how Chinese and East Asians are perceived and also break the so-called 'bamboo ceiling'.

"When people are encouraged to think internationally and to celebrate and value diversity within this country, then we have more opportunities for more Chinese and East Asian faces on our screens and stage," Tse told China Daily.

And things do seem to be slowly starting to change. Next year, the Royal Shakespeare Company will stage Snow in Midsummer, a contemporary re-imagining of one of the most famous classical Chinese dramas, which Tse said will feature a cast comprised entirely of people originating from East Asia and China. It follows a controversy in 2012 when the RSC only hired three East Asian actors in a cast of 17 when it staged Orphan of Zhao, which is often referred to as the Chinese Hamlet.

"There's an unconscious bias," said Tse, "People aren't deliberately being racist, but they are so ignorant and unaware of our presence here. You don't see us on TV or film or theatre regularly, so people think we don't exist."
Liguria Foods, the countrys premier pepperoni and dried sausage manufacturer, is pleased to announce the addition of Philip Latona to the staff. Philip will cover the Southeast U.S from his home outside Tampa in Bradenton, FL.

Philip brings a long history in the food industry: More than 18 years in retail and another dozen in foodservice. His experience includes more than 10 years with Performance Food Group as an Area Sales Representative and more recently as Vice President of Sales, managing 28 foodservice territories in the Southeast.

He left PFG in 2012 to return to his hometown in Pittsburgh as the Vice President of Sales at Clover Mountain Foods, where he had started his career in 1985. Philip stayed on at Clover Mountain after the food distributor was acquired in 2015 by Lipari Foods.

Philip said he was excited to be back on the street working directly with pizza restaurant owners. I enjoy helping people to be successful and working with my customers to grow their business, he said.

He especially enjoys reconnecting with his previous clients all over the Southeast and converting them to Liguria Pepperoni. Liguria Pepperoni has so much more flavor and is far less greasy than the previous PFG supplier. After cutting with Liguria, the customers are much happier, he said.

Liguria tastes like real pepperoni, not the bland salami taste of so many competitors, Philip said. We have whatever a customer is looking for, as Ligurias Pepperoni comes in over 25 different varieties, flavor profiles, slice counts and uses unique ingredients and spices.

Joe Henry, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, comments on the hiring of Phil. "Phil brings a wealth of experience, expertise and passion to the business. He is well known and very respected in the South East." Henry continues, "His enthusiasm for the pizza world has already been positively received by his customers. Phil will be an asset to them and their businesses."

Philip said hes also happy to be working at Liguria because hes spent his entire career in the food industry and he really likes pizza. I eat it five days a week.

For more information or to request samples, contact Liguria Foods at http://www.liguriafoods.com.

Liguria Foods, Inc. provides premium quality dry sausage toppings, including what many consider to be the markets best-tasting pepperoni. Since its founding in 1974, Liguria Foods has been dedicated to the foundation of recipe formulation. The classic recipe combines distinctive spices, enticing color, and a consistent blend of meats, providing customers with the same performance and flavor every day. The dedicated production process merges the best modern technology with traditional touches like a redwood drying room, resulting in consistently delicious products. For more than 40 years, Liguria Foods has provided pizza lovers with enjoyable, memorable dining experiences, sharing a passion for the best-tasting pepperoni and Italian meat products.

At Liguria, we produce high quality pepperoni that makes every pizza taste better.
Nate Aloni of BBEX Marketing presenting at Lynn University It's not every day that a student gets to implement concepts learned in class into real-life applications.

BBEX Marketing (BBEX Inc.), a successful South Florida marketing firm that specializes in online marketing, including web design and search engine optimization, coordinated with Lynn University for a third consecutive semester. The marketing firm opened its doors to students enrolled in Lynn Universitys College of Business and Management, working in conjunction with Dr. Henry Schrader, Assistant Professor.

The collaboration was a natural choice for Lynn University, which has long been known for its innovation-friendly philosophy. The Boca Raton educational institution prides itself in Looking at whats out there and creating different pathways for... students, according to the schools president, Kevin M. Ross.

Offering this unique opportunity highlights Lynn Universitys commitment to preparing students for an innovative future. BBEX Marketing is on the cutting edge of online marketing and SEO, continually seeking to exceed the expectations of its clients by conducting an in-depth analysis of their marketing needs, and by applying the most recent, proven marketing strategies to fulfil those needs. It is this commitment to innovation that brought Lynn University and BBEX together for a unique hands-on teaching experience focused on putting good theory into real practice.

It's not every day that a student gets to implement concepts learned in class into real-life applications. The MBA students in Dr. Schrader's Integrated Marketing Communications class were separated into teams with each team receiving an actual client of BBEX to manage.

Working with Project Manager Nate Aloni of BBEX, the teams were assigned a number of projects designed to give them the experience to promote brand awareness and increase online visibility for real-life clients, consisting of South Florida companies in various industries. Students were responsible for managing a clients social media, writing quality press releases, and content marketing. Additionally, the teams were provided a hands-on opportunity to experiment with applying search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to rank blog posts in Googles search engine.

The BBEX Project was entertaining and educational, and it counted as 35% of the student's final grade for the class. Aloni said, The BBEX Project is a great way for us to reach out to the university and the community at large, and its an excellent opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience with a marketing firm. One student, Leonard Vargas, stated, The project was an eye-opening experience that provided me an opportunity to use knowledge learned in class to implement real-world strategies.

Both BBEX and the Lynn University College of Business and Management considered the project to be a success, and there are plans to collaborate again in the future.

About BBEX Marketing

Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, BBEX Marketing is an internet marketing consulting company. For nearly a decade, the firm has been implementing unique and innovative strategies designed to improve their customers online presence, and in turn, improve their sales results. The company specializes in web design, search engine optimization, and search engine rankings, and aspires to be a one-stop shop for all of their clients online marketing needs. You can find BBEX online at http://www.bbexmarketing.com/.

About Lynn University

Lynn University, located in Boca Raton, Florida, is notable for its small size and large aspirations. Being smaller has allowed this ground-breaking institution of higher education to do things the big schools only wish they could. Their students enjoy advantages like iPad-powered learning, early contact with potential employers, and accelerated degree programs designed to help them jumpstart their futures. You can find Lynn University online at http://www.lynn.edu.
The Atlanta Distinguished Clown Corps Its invaluable to visit and interact with the kids and see first-hand the happiness youre bringing to their holidays.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Atlanta Distinguished Clown Corps' annual charity event. The Distinguished Clown Corps was established in 1991 to raise money for the Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) non-profit hospital. Each year, business and community leaders such as Incentive Solutions President Mark Herbert grab their colorful clown gear and visit children at CHOA hospital before marching in the Childrens Christmas Parade to spread holiday cheer and gifts. This years parade was held in Midtown Atlanta on Saturday, December 3rd.

Each Distinguished Clown must raise a minimum of $1,500 in order to qualify as part of the Clown Corps. Mark Herberts individual goal this year is $4,000 and hes excited to be joining the Clown Corps for the sixth year in a row. Its a joy and an honor to be part of the Clown Corps, Herbert says. I love the opportunity to raise money for CHOA, but its invaluable to visit and interact with the kids and see first-hand the happiness youre bringing to their holidays.

All money raised this year will go toward CHOAs 2015-2016 Friends fundraising goals, which include the replacement of an emergency medical transport vehicle, an additional psychologist at the Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Hughes Spalding and new medical equipment.

Herbert has reached over 70% of his $4,000 goal. He will be accepting contributions through his donation page until December 31st.

About Incentive Solutions

Incentive Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is based in Atlanta, GA. Part of The Incentive Solutions Group of Companies, consisting of Incentive Solutions and Loyaltyworks, Incentive Solutions offers online rewards, travel incentives and gift card reward programs. Since its creation, Incentive Solutions has been an innovator in the incentive industry by utilizing emerging online technologies that help companies increase sales, encourage customer loyalty and enrich sales channel relationships.

Incentive Solutions

2299 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 150

Atlanta, GA 30341

(770) 457-4597

1-866-567-7432
On December 15th, 225 years ago, the Founding Fathers, in their eternal wisdom, oversaw the adoption of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. -Alexander Hamilton

Founder of the US Militia, Jackson Calhoun was proud to announce: "On this day we also announce the launch of The US Militia. The US Militia is a member-based, centrist, gun advocacy organization that will fight for the rights of responsible gun ownership for all Americans. On this day we are also announcing the launch of our beta site, USMilitia.org, which will shortly be the worlds most social, interactive and user-friendly online gun club in the world. The US Militia will bring gun rights groups into the 21st century with the most advanced social, user-generated and mobile content platform available.

"We invite all of Americas fifty million gun owners to join our cause. If you believe in the right to bear arms, if you believe in freedom, if you believe in responsible gun ownership, then please join us at usmilitia.org."

Guns are used 2.5 million times per year by ordinary citizens to protect themselves, their families and their property, says Calhoun. These individuals have respect for their guns as well as the responsibility that comes with them, but the NRA has taken this right to the extreme, almost to the point of a fetish, and we want to redirect the conversation to be more welcoming to the millions of gun owners who want the culture to be more inclusive than the "gun nut" representation that currently exists."

The US Militia is dedicated to protecting the rights of responsible gun owners. "By providing organization, and education, we are an organized force committed to defending our culture and our Constitution."

About The US Militia

"The US Militia is a member-based, centrist, gun advocacy organization that will fight for the rights of responsible gun ownership for all Americans. We are prepared protectors, we are brothers and sisters in arms, we defenders of freedom, we are responsible citizens - we are the US Militia."
Pyramid Healthcare, Inc. announced today an agreement with Applications2U (A2U), a full-service IT consulting and cloud hosting provider. With the help of A2U, Pyramid Healthcare plans to move its data to cloud-based technologies.

The Pyramid Healthcare treatment network consists of 12 brands, over 80 facilities, and 1,700 employees across three states. By moving all currently decentralized data to the cloud, employees of Pyramid Healthcare and all its brands will be able to access company email, data, and resources from any device, anywhere, and at any time. This move also increases data security and protects Pyramid Healthcare from potential ransomware attacks, viruses, and malware.

The shift to cloud-based technologies will begin in December 2016, with an expected completion date of early March 2017.

Jonathan Wolf, CEO of Pyramid Healthcare, commented, Pyramid Healthcare is dedicated to providing both its employees and clients with the best experience possible. Additionally, we need to provide a data environment that offers the highest degree of protection of healthcare and other information. We believe that a move to the cloud will bring state-of-the-art technology to the Pyramid Healthcare treatment network, and we look forward to working with A2U to implement this change.

Its exciting to be able to say that one of the largest behavioral healthcare providers in the country chose us as their trusted advisor to make their transition to the cloud. This new partnership attests to A2Us extensive knowledge and understanding of the unique demands of healthcare IT, said Dan Dillman, CEO, A2U.

About Pyramid Healthcare, Inc.

Pyramid Healthcare, Inc. is a premier provider of behavioral healthcare founded in 1999 and headquartered in Altoona, PA. Pyramid Healthcare operates over 80 treatment facilities and schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and North Carolina, offering a variety of treatment and recovery services for teens and adults. Its facilities are CARF accredited and staffed by licensed and qualified professionals. For more information, visit http://www.pyramidhealthcarepa.com.

About Applications2U:

Founded in 2003, Applications2U (A2U) is a full-service IT consulting and cloud hosting provider. A2U creates both private and public virtual environments for its clients. The company specializes in complete IT solutions, particularly within the healthcare, financial, manufacturing and educational industries. For more information, visit http://www.applications2u.com
Pyramid Healthcare, Blair Drug & Alcohol Partnerships, the law offices of Edgar Snyder & Associates, and WTAJ-TV 10 are pleased to announce the return of their annual Take a Cab, Well Pay the Tab campaign.

On Saturday, December 31 from 10 PM  3 AM, Pyramid Healthcare will provide free rides to New Years Eve revelers as part of an effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate alcohol-related traffic violations, crashes, and fatalities that occur during the holiday season.

For over 20 years, the campaign has provided safe, free rides from sober drivers. Residents can get a free ride to a private residence anywhere within Blair County from bars, clubs, restaurants, or private homes. In 2015, Take a Cab, Well Pay the Tab provided 59 rides for 126 residents who otherwise may have chosen to get behind the wheel of a car after one too many drinks.

Residents of Blair County can call (814) 947-6805 any time between 10 PM and 3 AM on Saturday, December 31 for a free ride. Rides cannot be reserved in advance and passengers are responsible for providing and installing a child safety seat for each accompanying child. Voicemails left at the Take a Cab number cannot be returned.

For more information on the 2016 Take a Cab, Well Pay the Tab campaign, visit https://www.pyramidhealthcarepa.com/blog/.

About Pyramid Healthcare, Inc.

Pyramid Healthcare, Inc. is a premier provider of behavioral healthcare founded in 1999 and headquartered in Altoona, PA. Pyramid Healthcare operates over 80 treatment facilities and schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and North Carolina, offering a variety of treatment and recovery services for teens and adults. Its facilities are CARF accredited and staffed by licensed and qualified professionals. For more information, visit http://www.pyramidhealthcarepa.com.
Bonita Pharmaceuticals today announced that it has now achieved its licensing agreement for the state of Arizona.

Pharmacies in Arizona can now order medications from Bonita Pharmaceuticals at industry competitive wholesale pricing.

Bonita Pharmaceuticals is aggressively expanding with an intent to increase product lines exponentially, says Charles Patel, Regulatory Officer at Bonita Pharmaceuticals.

As a pharmaceutical wholesale distributor, we have great pricing on Abilify, Vasotec, Lidocaine 5% gel, Diclofenac 3% gel and Pennsaid 1.5% topical solution. Charles stated.

Bonita Pharmaceuticals responsibility extends beyond products. Through direct contracts with manufacturers, Bonita Pharmaceuticals provides customers with top-rated products from major manufacturers.

We also have direct accounts with major manufacturers like Qualitest, Sandoz, and Amneal, he added.

Using only FDA approved products, Bonita Pharmaceuticals stocks over 2000 products which includes: injectables, gels/lotions, compounding APIs, tablets and capsules, ointments and creams, nutritional supplements, over the counter medication, liquid syrups and dry powder syrups.

Bonita Pharmaceuticals caters to retail chains, independent retail pharmacies, wholesale distributors, and institutional providers such as hospitals, health systems, Integrated delivery networks and long-term care providers.

We provide a quality resource to purchase name brand, generic prescriptions and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and ensure our well trained professional representatives maintain long term relationships with all clients, concluded Charles.

###

ABOUT BONITA PHARMACEUTICALS

Bonita Pharmaceuticals is a licensed wholesale distributor. Bonita Pharmaceuticals provides a wide variety of FDA approved products including Generics, Brands, Vital Compounding Ingredients, Over-the-Counter Medications and Nutraceutical products. We provide our services to the Retail Chains, Independent Retail Pharmacies, Wholesale Distributors, and Institutional Providers such as Hospitals, Health Systems, Integrated Delivery Networks and Long-Term Care Providers. For more information: http://www.bonitapharma.com

LIST OF LICENSED STATES.

Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.
Michael Welp, co-founder of diversity consultants White Men As Full Diversity Partners, delves into the importance of diversity in the workplace The amount to be gained through a culture of full diversity has the potential of propelling this new economy further than anyone really realizes.

The cost of a workplace discrimination settlement can cost companies between $125,000 and $200,000 for each case. This one aspect of discrimination in the workplace costs companies $64 billion annually and causes more than two million workers to quit their jobs each year due to unfair practices.(1,2)

Systemic bias in the workplace will inevitably reach deep into the pockets of the employer, while its ripple effect undermines the principles of good business. There is simply too much at stake to ignore the warning signals, said Michael Welp, co-founder of diversity consultants White Men As Full Diversity Partners (WMFDP). Working with multinational corporations and focusing on the white male executive demographicthe group often left out of the diversity conversation but essential to its resolutionWelp and his partner, Bill Proudman, developed an innovative experiential learning and leadership development approach to D&I work.

People now live and work in the gig economy, where the Internet has allowed employers to hand-pick remote workers from anywhere in the world. It is estimated that by the year 2020, more than 40% of the American workforceroughly 60 million peoplewill operate as independent contractors, freelancers and temporary workers.(3) But despite the broader playing field, employees and other workers are by no means working under a pure meritocracy.

Disruptive platforms such as Uber, Lyft and Airbnb have come under fire recently for evidence of discrimination. One study analyzed 1,500 ride requests in two different cities. In Seattle, African American customers waited up to 35% longer for rides for Uber and Lyft. In Boston, Uber drivers cancelled rides twice as often for customers with black-sounding male names listed on the request.(4)

Airbnb has received scrutiny for its terms of service, which prevent individuals from seeking damages in court and instead force them to settle in private arbitration.(5)

While the information is not entirely conclusive, it did prompt Uber, Lyft and Airbnb to issue statements regarding their policies and intentions, with emphasis on their company cultures of full inclusion. With valuations in the billions, these companies represent the new economy being forced to come to grips with old biases. However, they appear to have the right idea when they say they wish to augment their diversity efforts.

What weve learned is that issuing calming statements, banning offensive behaviors and settling lawsuits doesnt dig deep enough, Welp said. What is required, then, is a cultural transformation, working with leaders who become proactive partners, and creating what you might describe as a grassroots movement within the company.

Cultural fit is a phrase that has worked its way into the corporate vernacular in recent years, used by HR and managers to denote the compatibility of an applicant to the company in terms of his/her attitude, values and personality. But is cultural fit simply being used as a politically correct way to hire people who look, talk or act the same as the employer?(6)

Welp explains that company culture is a vibrant and important pursuit, as long as its based on merit and contribution. Diversity breeds innovation, creativity and greater market share. The amount to be gained through a culture of full diversity has the potential of propelling this new economy further than anyone really realizes. Its limitless, but it takes heightened awareness, hard work and making smart choices.

About White Men As Full Diversity Partners (WMFDP):

White Men as Full Diversity Partners (WMFDP) is a diversity and leadership development firm in Portland, Oregon, founded in 1996 by Bill Proudman, Michael Welp, Ph.D., and Jo Ann Morris. WMFDP takes an unorthodox approach towards eradicating bias and discrimination in the workplace. Their client list includes Alaska Airlines, Dell, Lockheed Martin, Northwestern Mutual, Chevron Drilling & Completion, The Nature Conservancy, Mass Mutual, and more. The majority of C level executives are white and male, and they are frequently omitted from a vital role in diversity and equality. Proudman and Welp observed that these critical subjects were not being taken to the doorstep of these leadersall to the detriment of struggling minorities and the economy as a whole. With a background that includes extensive field work in post-Apartheid South Africa in the early 1990s, Proudman and Welp have dedicated the last two decades to educating and engaging leaders of any race, color, gender and orientation. Welp is the author of the book, Four Days to Change. With an insightful foreword by Proudman, the book chronicles the journey from rural South Africa to the boardrooms of Americaall to lay the groundwork of a global paradigm shift.

1. Schappel, Christian, What will that next discrimination charge cost you? HRMorning, November 6, 2015.

2. Burns, Crosby, The Costly Business of Discrimination, Center for American Progress, March 22, 2012.

3. Schrader, Brendon, Heres Why The Freelancer Economy Is On The Rise, Fast Company, August 10, 2015.

4. Ehrenkranz, Melanie, Uber and Lyft drivers exhibit racial bias against passengers, study finds, Mic Network Inc, October 31, 2016.

5. Dennin, James, Heres the trick Airbnb and other companies use to beat racial discrimination lawsuits, Mic Network Inc, November 3, 2016.

6. Andersen, Erika, Is Cultural Fit Just A New Way To Discriminate? Forbes, March 17, 2015.
Benzer Pharmacy today announced that it has been selected as a specialty provider for Aralast.

Aralast, an alpha-1 antitrypsin therapeutic also known as Alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor (A1PI), is used for the treatment of hereditary emphysema. It is made from human blood products to replace the deficient enzyme to reduce emphysema symptoms.

Aralast is a limited distribution drug only available to a small network of specialty pharmacies and Benzer Pharmacy is now able to fill this medication, said Lindsay Wall, Benzer Pharmacy Chief Clinical Officer.

Benzer Pharmacy provides specialized pharmacy and related services pursuant to agreements with biotechnology drug manufacturers relating to the treatment of patients with certain costly, chronic diseases.

We provide timely, accurate and confidential dispensing of medications through our specialty pharmacy that is accredited by Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC), Lindsay added.

Benzer Pharmacy will deliver Aralast through our specialty pharmacy located at: 301 Havendale Blvd. Auburndale, FL 33823.

For more information, including initiating a prescription for use of Aralast or for assistance in locating a pharmacy to dispense Aralast call: 877-4-BENZER.

More information about Aralast can be found at http://ow.ly/UNaC3077DqW

CONTACTS

Benzer Pharmacy

Chief Clinical Officer:

Lindsay Wall, 813-304-2221 Ext 110

Or

Media and Public Relations:

Emah Madegwa, 813-304-2221 Ext 104

###

ABOUT BENZER PHARMACY

Benzer Pharmacy is a chain of independent retail pharmacies that specializes in specialty drugs and also focusses on medication management programs for people with complex chronic diseases, including Hepatitis, HIV, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Dermatological conditions and Gastrointestinal Disorders (GI). The first Benzer Pharmacy opened in the year 2009 and there are now over 60 locations throughout Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Oklahoma, Iowa, Louisiana and Arkansas.

ACCREDITATIONS



2016: Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) accreditation for Specialty Pharmacy

2015: PCAB compounding accreditation with Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)

ACCOLADES



Florida Fast 50 (2016) - Tampa Bays Fastest Growing Companies.

EY Entrepreneur of the Year, (2016) - Benzer Pharmacy CEO was a Florida Finalist.

CFO of the Year Awards (2016): Finalist Large company category.

Chain Drug Review (2016: Rank 54 out of 100 in the Top 100 Chains by Pharmacy Count

Inc. 5000 (2015): Rank 1500 - Fastest growing private company in America.

Florida Fast 100 (2015): Rank 39 out of 100  Fastest growing private companies in Florida

TBBJ 200 (2015): Rank 67 out of 200 - Tampa Bays largest private companies

All Benzer Pharmacy medications require a doctor's prescription. For more information: http://www.benzerpharmacy.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenzerPharmacy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/benzerpharmacy
Today, Laurie Moldawer, founder and CEO of Park City Culinary Institute announced that the Park City Culinary Institute (PCCI) will be opening a new culinary school in Salt Lake City in January, 2017. The new school is located at 1484 South State Street, an area becoming known for international cuisine and nightlife. Neighbors include Toshs Ramen, Mahider Ethiopian Restaurant and Piper Down.

PCCI will retain its current space in Park City, UT at the Deer Valley Club for catered private events and corporate team-building programs. Once the new facility is fully operational, nearly all of PCCIs Certificate Programs in Culinary Arts will be held at the new Salt Lake location.

Said Moldawer, With students driving from hours away, we knew we needed to be in Salt Lake City. Its remarkable how many students have driven up to Deer Valley since we opened in 2013. After graduating dozens of students over the years, we knew exactly what type of facility we wanted, and that Salt Lake City was the place.

The school tapped Kin Ng of MJSA Architecture to design the project. Ng has designed many of the areas most fun restaurant spaces including Wasatch Brew Pub, Squatters and Pago, as well as incubator Church and State. High-end commercial equipment basks in natural light from dramatic skylights, surrounded by red brick and an exposed barrel roof. The atmosphere allows students to immerse themselves in cooking, and be endlessly inspired at the same time.

Whether someone wants to start their own business, or change careers, they are drawn to Park City Culinary Institute. The school attracts students straight out of high school, to people with college and graduate degrees. Novice cooks attend as well as experienced cooks and restaurant owners. They all agree that small classes, personalized attention, and hands-on training with Award-Winning Chefs is what it takes to build a solid foundation.

Said Moldawer, Other culinary schools were starting to rip off students. We wanted to offer a sensible alternative. A fast, affordable way to go to Culinary School. Without the debt load of a 2-year degree.

Classes are already filling up for 2017. An evening program is now available, as well as a Level II Certificate for people who want to continue their education. New students can now choose between 8-week and 16-week programs.

The 2017 schedule is as follows:

Level I Daytime Programs: Monday through Thursday, 9am to 3pm with a light lunch during class

Options for a Daytime Session:

January 9 to March 2

March 6 to April 27

May 1 to June 23

June 26 to August 18

October 16 to December 8

New Level I Evening Program: 3 days a week for 15 weeks, Tuesday through Thursday, 6pm to 9:30pm. A light dinner is available before class

January 31 to May 12

Same 160 hours as the day program, but after work!

New Level II Program: Monday through Thursday, 9am to 3pm with a light lunch during class

August 21 to October 13

If youve taken our Regular Two-Month Level I Program and youre ready to up your game to an even higher level, this is for you.



Tuition and fees for all Level I Daytime and Evening programs is just $8,900 for the complete hands-on immersive experience, including $700 of knives, uniform, and meal during class. For alumni stepping up to Level II, tuition is $8,300. New students can save by signing up for Level I and Level II together, for $16,700  that's a $500 savings.

More information is available by visiting http://www.parkcityculinaryinstitute.com

####

About Park City Culinary Institute:

PCCI offers an immersive, hands-on culinary school taught by award-winning chefs with real industry experience. Instructors have owned restaurants, and managed top-tier food and beverage operations. Students spend 160 hours in each program, learning and sharpening their basic skills with hands-on practice preparing classic and modern dishes. Tuition is $8,900 including a Wusthof Classic Ikon knife set worth $700, chef jackets, aprons, chef pants, chef hat, and a light meal each day during class. Graduates are awarded a Professional Certificate in the Culinary Arts upon completion of the program. PCCI is Registered with the State of Utah to offer professional training and degrees, bonded and insured.

For Hi-Res photos, school tours, interview requests and additional information:

Laurie Moldawer, laurie(at)pcculinary(dot)com, 917-400-2239 or

Robin Whitney, robin(at)whitneyonline(dot)com, 435-640-0740
SignUpGenius honored with Silver Davey Award for online sign up service and named a fast-growing private company by the Charlotte Business Journal.

SignUpGenius, the leading online sign up service for event and volunteer management, was recently awarded a Silver Davey Award for Website Consumer Products/Services. The popular tech site also garnered the 11th spot on the Charlotte Business Journals list of fastest-growing private companies in the Charlotte metro area, up one spot from the companys standing last year.

Its especially meaningful to be recognized for our work as a small, fast-growing company, CEO Dan Rutledge said. We are constantly encouraged to see how our online sign up tool helps 7-12 million users change the world every month.

SignUpGenius has received several honors this year including recognition as Small Tech Company of the Year at the 2016 NC Tech Awards in November and the highest honor possible from the WebAwards for Outstanding Computer Software Website. The Charlotte Business Journal also recognized SignUpGenius as the 9th Best Place to Work in Charlotte on the list of midsized companies.

Davey Awards honor the finest creative work from the best small agencies, firms, and companies worldwide. The awards are judged and overseen by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), a 700+ member organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts. Current membership represents a "Who's Who" of acclaimed media, advertising and marketing firms including: Conde Nast, Disney, GE, Microsoft, Monster.com, MTV, Publicis, Sesame Workshops, Yahoo! and many others.

Since moving to larger corporate headquarters in Charlotte last year, SignUpGenius has doubled its staff to 27 employees and increased its revenue by 89 percent in 2015 compared to the year before.

About SignUpGenius

SignUpGenius simplifies the process of coordinating events and people by providing online sign ups for nonprofits, schools, sports, churches, families, colleges, businesses and organizations. By enabling up to 12 million unique visitors per month to sign up for tasks online, SignUpGenius has done away with the need for paper sign ups, "reply-all" emails and phone trees.
A recent report from the Brookings Institution assumes a tension between policies that address school segregation and policies aimed at improving achievement for students of color. The report argues that school segregation has remained flat for decades and also argues that students of color have lower achievement because of their disproportionate exposure to low-income students. Instead of attending to school segregation to address achievement gaps, the report argues policy should attend to improving the quality of schools that students of color and low-income students attend, with a focus on expanding urban charter schools in particular.

Erica Frankenberg, associate professor of education and demography at the Pennsylvania State University, and co-director of the Center for Education and Civil Rights, reviewed Segregation, Race, and Charter Schools: What Do We Know? for the Think Twice Think Tank Review Project at the National Education Policy Center, housed at CU Boulders School of Education.

Professor Frankenbergs review finds that the report omits significant research directly related to the topic and includes other studies that are less relevant. Moreover, the report draws questionable conclusions from studies that are includedconclusions that are not reflective of the research consensus.

Frankenberg notes that issues of racial equity and segregation have gained renewed interest in recent years, but she finds that the new Brookings report has little policy value. This report is more a distraction than a contribution, she cautions.

The reports selective interpretation of existing research leads to two erroneous conclusions about improving educational outcomes for students of color: (1) that focusing on school integration is relatively unimportant; and (2) that attending to school quality via school choice, rather than addressing the complex array of policies to combat racial segregation, should instead be pursued. In fact, Frankenberg points out, since most forms of school choice further segregation, the reports recommendation will likely only further segregation and inequality for students.

Find Erica Frankenbergs review at:

http://nepc.colorado.edu/thinktank/review-segregation

Find Segregation, Race, and Charter Schools: What Do We Know? by Grover J. Russ Whitehurst, Richard V. Reeves, & Edward Rodrigue, published by the Center on Children and Families at Brookings, at:

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ccf_20161021segregation_version-10_211.pdf

The National Education Policy Center (NEPC) Think Twice Think Tank Review Project (http://thinktankreview.org) provides the public, policymakers, and the press with timely, academically sound reviews of selected publications. The project is made possible in part by support provided by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice: http://www.greatlakescenter.org

The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: http://nepc.colorado.edu

Find Documents:

Press Release: nepc.info/node/8394

NEPC Review: nepc.colorado.edu/thinktank/review-segregation

Report Reviewed: http://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ccf_20161021segregation_version-10_211.pdf
We are very pleased to welcome Redline Trading Solutions as an independent software partner of Aquis Exchange," said Graham Dick, Head of Sales and Business Development at Aquis Exchange.

Redline Trading Solutions, the premier provider of high-performance market data and order execution systems for automated trading, today announced release of a feed handler for Aquis Exchange, the independent pan-European cash equities trading venue headquartered in London.

Redlines InRush Ticker Plant now supports traders accessing Aquis Exchange as a single venue and can formulate a user-specified regional best bid and offer (BBO) by compositing Aquis Exchange market data with data from the other European exchanges. With a low-latency understanding of where this BBO exists for any security, automated trading applications can discern available liquidity and book depth for better execution.

We are very pleased to welcome Redline Trading Solutions as an independent software partner of Aquis Exchange, said Graham Dick, Head of Sales and Business Development at Aquis Exchange. It is gratifying that Redlines solution can now normalise market data that our customers receive from our unique and innovative exchange.

Our ultra-low latency ticker plant constructs a user-defined BBO from direct feeds in less than two microseconds on a fraction of a single server, said Mark Skalabrin, CEO of Redline. We are pleased to see our customers deploying our trading platform on venues across Europe to gain better trading performance, exceptional reliability, and lower operational costs.

Redlines InRush Ticker Plant normalises market data from over 150 global trading venues across equities, options, futures, foreign exchange, and fixed income asset classes and delivers the data of interest, at ultra-low latency speeds, to subscribing automated trading applications.

For more information, contact Redline at sales@redlinetrading.com.

About Redline Trading Solutions, Inc.

Redline Trading Solutions, a pre-eminent financial technology firm, empowers trading with high-performance market data and order execution solutions that solve todays toughest latency and reliability challenges while reducing costs. With offices in Boston, New York, London, Hong Kong and Belfast, Redlines customers include leading investment banks, brokers, exchanges, hedge funds, and proprietary trading firms. http://www.redlinetrading.com

About Aquis Exchange

Aquis Exchange Limited is an exchange services group, which operates a pan-European cash equities trading exchange (Aquis Exchange) and develops and licenses exchange software to third parties (Aquis Technologies). Aquis Exchange is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority to operate a Multilateral Trading Facility. The Aquis MTF uses a subscription pricing model which works by charging users according to the message traffic they generate, rather than a percentage of the value of each stock that they trade. Aquis operates a lit order book and does not allow aggressive non-client proprietary trading, thus toxicity and signalling risk is lower on Aquis than other trading venues in Europe. According to independent studies, trades on Aquis are less likely to lead to price movement than on other lit markets. For more information, please go to http://www.aquis.eu.

# # #

Redline and InRush are trademarks of Redline Trading Solutions, Inc. Aquis is a trademark of Aquis Exchange Limited.
The Prairie Farms/Swiss Valley merger is consistent with our growth strategy.

Prairie Farms Dairy and Swiss Valley Farms, today announced the two companies have entered into a merger agreement. Both companies are farmer-owned dairy cooperatives and recognized leaders within the dairy industry. The combined entity will bring together two well-known brands and will expand sales opportunities for both cooperatives.

Under the terms of the agreement, Prairie Farms will merge the assets of Swiss Valley Farms into Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. Assets include five manufacturing plants that produce cheese and whey powder located in: Luana, Iowa; Shullsburg and Mindoro in Wisconsin; Rochester and Faribault in Minnesota. Swiss Valley Farms CEO Chris Hoeger will continue to oversee the operation of the plants. The combined company will operate under the name Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. The terms of the merger agreement must be approved by cooperative members from both companies.

The merger with Swiss Valley was driven by our commitment to build value for our cooperative members and is consistent with our growth strategy. Swiss Valleys contributions will allow us to diversify our product portfolio and expand into new markets, said Ed Mullins, Executive Vice President and CEO of Prairie Farms.

Chris Hoeger, Swiss Valley's CEO, stated, "We are very excited to be joining forces with Prairie Farms. This merger offers numerous benefits for our cooperative members and is an ideal opportunity to bring together two industry leaders. We will leverage the strengths of both companies to offer a broader range of products and to enhance and expand relationships with customers.

As Prairie Farms and Swiss Valley collaborate on pre-merger integration activities, their employees and customers can expect a business-as-usual environment. If approved, the deal is expected to close mid-2017.

About:

Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful dairy cooperatives in the Midwest, with over 600 farm families, 5700 employees, 35 manufacturing plants, over 100 distribution facilities and annual sales of over $3 billion. Prairie Farms is a nationally recognized leader in the dairy industry and is known for setting the standard for milk flavor innovations and producing award winning milk and dairy products. With headquarters in Carlinville, Ill., Prairie Farms distribution footprint covers over 30 percent of the United States; products are available in grocery chains, mass merchandiser stores, club stores, convenience stores, dollar stores, drug stores, schools, food service outlets and warehouse distribution centers. Prairie Farms charitable giving program, Our Caps Your Cause, supports a variety of non-profit organizations. Prairiefarms.com

Swiss Valley Farms is a dairy cooperative, headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, with five cheese production facilities that manufacture award-winning Swiss, Baby Swiss, Blue, Gorgonzola, Cream Cheese, Neufchatel, Gouda and Sweet Whey. Swiss Valley also produces pasteurized process cheeses, cold pack club blends, enzyme-modified cheeses and cheese analogs. Swiss Valley operates two subsidiary companies - Rochester Cheese and Caves of Faribault. In a joint venture with Emmi-Roth, Swiss Valley Farms also co-operates White Hill Cheese Co., LLC in Shullsburg, WI. Swiss Valley Farms has 400 dairy producer members in Iowa, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and Southern Minnesota. swissvalley.com
Viewers can join award-winning actor James Earl Jones as he hosts another installment of "Front Page." This upcoming episode will focus on supply chain efficiency, which includes activities, employees, information, organizations, resources, and technology that are responsible for getting products from suppliers to consumers.

Supply chain efficiency depends on several trends to help determine a company's strengths and weaknesses. These trends concern relationships between people (customer relationship management, talent management, and collaborative relationships) and relationships between data that is collected and analyzed (strategies, demand management, and driver-based metrics).

According to Forbes magazine, most companies' investments in technology have improved certain links of efficiency in the chain of supply, but economic success and customer satisfaction are short lived as a result. This means that the most efficient supply chain is likely to be the least effective. The most effective supply chain should benefit supplier and consumer, and all of the suppliers and consumers in between.

Audiences can tune in to the show to see how analyzing data, providing comprehensive workforce training, implementing effective communication, improving information sharing and visibility, and nurturing innovation can help to create a situation that satisfies suppliers and customers alike. Though the show is informative and appears on public television and PBS member stations, it is not affiliated with the Public Broadcasting Service, American Public Television, or any of their affiliates.

(Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/loracecere/2014/03/10/the-most-efficient-supply-chain-is-not-the-most-effective/#52e1c80672fa)
The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) and the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities (Alliance) are proud to announce that the 2017 APHSA National Health and Human Services Summit (http://www.aphsanationalsummit.com/) held April 30May 3 at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland will be a first ever, joint summit bringing their two networks together. The Summit is designed to advance solutions within and across sectors to improve outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

Partnering with the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities on our Summit is a natural fit for APHSA and our members, said Tracy Wareing Evans, CEO of APHSA. Both of our organizations share the belief that the nations H/HS system is a cornerstone to building a strong, dynamic, and healthy nation. By working together, we can positively impact state, local, and federal policy and ensure that all Americans are provided with the opportunities to live well and reach their fullest potential. We have been enjoying our evolving partnership with the Alliance and look forward to expanding our relationship over the coming months and years, she added.

Generative partnerships are the currency of the day and our evolving partnership with APHSA is one we are very proud of, said Susan Dreyfus, president and CEO of the Alliance. "While there are important distinctions between the public and social sectors that must be honored, we need to be working together to share and accelerate knowledge that will help us better address the systemic issues facing the neighbors and communities we are privileged to serve.

APHSA and the Alliance firmly believe that that the time is ripe for significant leaps forward in creating a modern, nimble health and human services system that leads to better outcomes for all people. The partnership seeks to accelerate the evolution of the current H/HS framework from the traditional regulative model rooted in regulatory compliance and programmatic outputs, to a generative approach that works seamlessly across sectors and engages whole communities in addressing the multi-dimensional health and socioeconomic issues that families and individuals face today.

To learn more about the Summit visit http://www.aphsanationalsummit.com/.

The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) is a bipartisan, nonprofit membership organization representing state and local human service agencies through their top-level leadership. Through our member network and three national Collaborative Centers, APHSA seeks to influence modern policies and practices that support the health and well-being of all children and families and that lead to stronger communities. APHSA connects its members to national policymakers and human-serving organizations across a wide circle of stakeholders in the health and human services sector, as well as key partners in education, housing, employment and others. APHSA also helps members build more capacity for their teams through access to our professional education and development conferences, technical expertise, publications and our Organizational Effectiveness practice. To learn more about APHSA please visit http://www.aphsa.org, or contact Jessica Hall, jhall(at)aphsa(dot)org, 202-682-0100 x223.

The Alliance for Strong Families and Communities is a national organization dedicated to achieving its vision of a healthy and equitable society. The Alliance works for systemic change by harnessing the distinction and collective power of its strategic action network of hundreds of nonprofit human-serving organizations across North America as they translate knowledge into best practices that improve their communities. Working with and through its network on leadership, organizational excellence, innovation, and values based advocacy, the Alliance strives to unleash the power of the social sector to achieve equal access and opportunity throughout America to ensure all people can reach their fullest potential. Go to http://www.alliance1.org for more information, or contact Lorraine Dowdey, ldowdey(at)alliance1(dot)org, 202-429-0599.
FL100+ Top Technology and Service Provider The software and technology sector continues to generate new and exciting opportunities for growers, food manufacturers, grocery retailers and the many logistics providers that support them.

Food Logistics, the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global food supply chain, has named Blue Horseshoe to its 2016 FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list.

The FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list serves as a resource guide of software and technology providers whose products and services are critical for companies in the global food and beverage supply chain.

The software and technology sector continues to generate new and exciting opportunities for growers, food manufacturers, grocery retailers and the many logistics providers that support them, said Lara L. Sowinski, editorial director at Food Logistics. Todays cloud-based solutions and mobile connectivity are helping create tools that are more flexible, affordable and responsive, making software and technology even more valuable to those in the global food supply chain.

For more than two decades, Blue Horseshoe has specialized in the food and beverage manufacturing and distribution industry, providing the tools necessary to simplify shelf-life management, improve order fulfillment and accuracy and create visibility within the supply chain  all necessary steps to ensure food travels from farm to plate efficiently to safeguard the quality and freshness.

Blue Horseshoe is glad to be named to the FL100+ list again for 2016. said Chris Cason, President of Blue Horseshoe. This award recognizes our teams continued dedication to improving the business of our Food and Beverage Distribution customers.

Companies on this years 2016 FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list will be profiled in the November/December 2016 issue of Food Logistics, as well as online at http://www.foodlogistics.com.

About Food Logistics

Food Logistics is published by AC Business Media, a business-to-business media company that provides targeted content and comprehensive, integrated advertising and promotion opportunities for some of the worlds most recognized B2B brands. Its diverse portfolio serves the construction, logistics, supply chain and other industries with print, digital and custom products, events and social media.

About Blue Horseshoe

Blue Horseshoe is an Enterprise Cloud Solution Provider based in Carmel, Indiana. It provides expert management and strategy consulting to Fortune 500 companies and mid-market businesses across the globe, covering system design and implementation, optimization, and distribution design services. With a specific focus on Microsoft Dynamics 365, Blue Horseshoe provides custom solutions tailored for food & beverage distribution, retail supply chain, CPG distribution and logistics and transportation. Blue Horseshoe was founded in 2001 with office locations in Carmel (IN), Columbus (OH), Denver (CO), Charlotte (NC) and Amsterdam (Netherlands). Learn more about Blue Horseshoe at http://www.bhsolutions.com.
The Alain Locke Charter School All-Star Choir Our partnership with Alain Locke is one of the more rewarding activities we as a company have the opportunity to participate in, and we are honored to supplement the hard work Alain Locke is doing to improve education and shape these future leaders.

SWC Technology Partners, an award-winning provider of IT solutions for mid-market organizations, has worked with Microsoft Store at Oakbrook Center and Alain Locke Charter School to spread cheer this season to local professionals and holiday shoppers alike. Fifty students from Alain Locke Charter Schools All-Star Choir and Band travelled from their campus in Chicagos East Garfield Park to Oak Brook for a performance of holiday songs at SWC Technology Partners headquarters. Following a visit with the SWC team, the students performed an encore at the Microsoft Store at Oakbrook Center for staff and customers to enjoy.

SWC has partnered with Alain Locke Charter School since 2011 on initiatives to enhance the lives of the students by providing solutions and IT expertise to progress the schools educational technology and infrastructure, helping Alain Locke stay competitive with todays scholastic demands. SWC has also become part of the school community by participating in various fundraising and volunteer activities throughout year.

Alain Locke is located in Chicago's historically underserved neighborhood of East Garfield Park, and serves a population of 568 students in pre-K-8, which is 99% African-American and 95% low-income.

Throughout the organization, employees cite the opportunity to work with Alain Locke as one of their favorite activities to be a part of said Bob Knott, President of SWC Technology Partners. Our partnership with Alain Locke is one of the more rewarding activities we as a company have the opportunity to participate in, and we are honored to supplement the hard work Alain Locke is doing to improve education and shape these future leaders.

Alain Locke is consistently recognized for academic achievement and was recently named one of the Top 5 Charter Elementary Schools by Chicago Magazine. Alain Locke students consistently outperform national averages, especially in language arts and mathematics, and recently attained the third highest combined average score amongst all Chicago elementary schools on the PARRC achievement test.

Weve partnered with SWC for many years, and the partnership has allowed our students to have more access to technology and computers than theyve ever had before. said Patrick Love, Principal of Alain Locke Charter School. This access has really helped our students grow academically.

As a gesture of appreciation each year, the Alain Locke All-Star Choir and Band visit the SWC offices in Oak Brook to sing holiday songs for the entire building to enjoy.

Our students work so hard not only academically, but in the arts as well. Love continued, It is always a privilege to share their gifts with others.

This year, Microsoft Store at Oakbrook Center gave students the opportunity to spread the holiday cheer even further by arranging for the students to share their gift at the store. After the performance, the Microsoft Store prepared an afternoon of activities for the students.

This holiday season isnt the first time SWC, Microsoft and Alain Locke have come together. In 2012, SWC led an initiative with Microsoft to transform the schools entire technology infrastructure. Microsoft provided the school with new software while SWC donated new hardware and consultative services.

Alain Locke is on an ambitious mission right now to get 600 or more books in every classroom. To get involved by donating to the book drive visit alainlocke.org/donate. Alain Locke has a challenge grant that will match dollar for dollar up to $25,000 for books.

About SWC Technology Partners

SWC Technology Partners is an award-winning business technology consultancy, providing IT solutions for midsize organizations. For more than 35 years, SWC has excelled at helping Midwest organizations harness technology to drive innovation and accelerate business transformation. SWC specializes in matching technology solutions with the needs of mid-market organizations, including Cloud Computing, Managed Services, Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, End-User Enablement, Infrastructure Solutions, Software Solutions and Digital Marketing. Our focus is to identify our clients business goals first, then leverage our team of business and technology experts to partner in their success. To learn more, visit SWC.com.

About Alain Locke Charter School

Alain Locke Charter School is part of Accelerate Institute, which maintains the singular focus of closing the achievement gap by creating high-impact school leaders that accelerate student achievement. Alain Locke is one of four innovative programs: The Ryan Fellowship, which identifies and selects the most highly qualified educators, and prepares them through a yearlong fellowship to become transformational leaders for urban charter schools nationwide; The Accelerator Principal program, which trains sitting principals alongside Ryan Fellows; The Ryan Award, a national award recognizing principals who have demonstrated accelerated results in underserved schools; and Alain Locke Charter School. To learn more about the Accelerate Institute, please visit accelerateinstitute.org.
PKF OConnor Davies, LLP, the nations 26th largest accounting and advisory firm, announced today that its Family Office Services Division has been shortlisted in five categories of the 2017 Family Wealth Report Awards. The Firm was shortlisted in the Tax Advice, Philanthropy Advice, Family Office Management Consultancy, Best Implementation of a Tech Solution and Company Thought Leadership categories. The winners of each category will be announced at the Family Wealth Report Awards ceremony on March 2, 2017, in New York City. The range of awards the Firm is being recognized for reinforces the depth and expertise of the PKF OConnor Davies team and validates its leadership position in the family office space.

We are relentless in our drive to create value for our clients, said Gemma Leddy, CPA and Partner-in-Charge of PKF OConnor Davies Family Office. Its the unique combination of our innovative, technologically driven reporting platform with the deep expertise of our Family Office team that enables us to deliver value-generating insights to our clients. We are honored to be recognized by Family Wealth Report for our work in each of these fields.

Showcasing best in class providers in the global private banking, wealth management and trusted advisor communities, the Family Wealth Report Awards 2017 recognize companies, teams and individuals which the panel of judges deemed to have demonstrated innovation and excellence during 2016.

The firms who have been shortlisted in these awards are all worthy competitors, and I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations, said Stephen Harris, ClearView Financial Medias Chief Executive, and Publisher of Family Wealth Report. These awards are judged solely on the basis of entrants submissions and their response to a number of specific questions, which had to be answered focusing on the client experience, not quantitative performance metrics. That is a unique, and I believe, compelling feature. These awards will recognize the very best operators in the private client industry, with independence, integrity and genuine insight the watchwords of the judging process - such that the awards truly reflect excellence in wealth management.

PKF OConnor Davies Family Office provides a full range of family office, accounting, tax, administration and advanced planning services to high net worth individuals, families and their closely held businesses in the United States and abroad. The Firms single-point-of-entry model captures the entire universe of holdings and transactions for a family and provides customized reporting based on family needs.

About PKF OConnor Davies, LLP

PKF OConnor Davies, LLP is a full service Certified Public Accounting and advisory firm with a long history of serving clients both domestically and internationally. With roots tracing to 1891, 10 offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland, and more than 600 professionals, led by over 100 partners, the Firm provides a complete range of accounting, auditing, tax and management advisory services.

PKF OConnor Davies is ranked number 26 in Accounting Todays 2016 Top 100 Firms list and the Firm is also recognized as a Leader in Audit and Accounting, a Pacesetter in Growth and one of the Top Firms in the Mid-Atlantic. PKF OConnor Davies is ranked number 29 in INSIDE Public Accountings 2015 Top 100 Firms list and recognized as one of the Top Ten Fastest-Growing Firms." In 2016, PKF O'Connor Davies was named one of Vault's Accounting 50, a ranking of the 50 best accounting employers to work for in North America, and ranked among the top 50 most prestigious accounting firms in America in a complementary Vault survey. The Firm is the 11th largest accounting firm in the New York Metropolitan area, according to Crains New York Business, and was named the 10th top accounting firm in New Jersey according to NJBizs 2016 rankings.

By consistently delivering proactive, thorough and efficient service, PKF O'Connor Davies has built long-lasting, valuable relationships with its clients. Partners are intimately involved in the day-to-day management of engagements, ensuring a high degree of client service and cost effectiveness. The Firms seasoned professional staff members employ a team approach to all engagements to provide clients with the utmost quality and timely services aimed at helping them succeed. Continuity of staffing and attention to detail in all client engagements make the Firm stand out among its competitors.

PKF OConnor Davies is the lead North American representative of the international association of PKF member firms. PKF International is a network of legally independent member firms providing accounting and business advisory services in 440 locations in 150 countries around the world. With its tradition, experience and focus on the future, PKF OConnor Davies is ready to help clients meet todays ever-changing economic conditions and manage the growing complexities of the regulatory environment. For more information, visit http://www.PKFOD.com.

About ClearView Financial Media Ltd (ClearView)

ClearView Financial Media was founded by Chief Executive, Stephen Harris in 2004, to provide high quality need to know information for the discerning private client community. London-based, but with a truly global focus, ClearView publishes the Family Wealth Report group of newswires, along with research reports and newsletters, while also running a pan-global thought-leadership events programme.

With teams based in New York, London, Singapore, Switzerland, South Africa and Malaysia, the company is one of the fastest-growing media groups serving the financial services sector.
NJ law firm forges a plan toward a brighter, stronger future. It gives us the opportunity to spend less time on the mundane and more time on the creative, said Matthew K. Blaine, Esq. who was promoted to partner in August and chairs the firms Technology and Innovation Committee.

Davison, Eastman & Munoz, P.A. is once again establishing itself as a leader in cutting-edge cybersecurity, legal productivity process improvement, workflow streamlining, and collaboration among law firms with its launch of a technology overhaul that has been over two years in the making.

It gives us the opportunity to spend less time on the mundane and more time on the creative, said Matthew K. Blaine, Esq. who was promoted to partner in August and chairs the firms Technology and Innovation Committee. Instead of waiting for problems to arise, we have implemented a system that significantly limits them and adapts to the exponential growth of electronic data. This gives all of us time to do our jobs well and fosters a collaborative environment that stretches across every department.

The NJ law firms leadership and technology team embraced a collaborative philosophy of creating a long-term, building-block approach to developing its information technology infrastructure from the ground up, like a Lego set on interlocking pieces. Led by a diverse team of attorneys, employees, and technologists, the firm collectively developed and implemented a number of projects that enabled improved efficiencies, security, and productivity for itself and its clients.

At the head of this team is the firms Technology Director, Jim Petrozelli. After a year and a half of research, design, and staff training, its exciting to see this project come to fruition. In the area of technology, its rewarding to implement a venture that is on the cutting-edge in this field, but, more importantly, it lends a sense of satisfaction and security knowing this new network provides not only protection, but an overall higher level of efficiency for all of the firms needs.

The firm also engaged the services of Ann Gorr, a legal technology consultant based out of central New Jersey, who helped it to design a legal technology design/roadmap and align itself with outside technology partners that met the firms innovative needs and adhered to the unique information governance and stringent compliance mandates encountered by the legal community.

Project planning and the team selection process began in early 2015. In mid-2015, the firm launched Phase I of its three-phased approach when, focusing on work continuity, it implemented Office 365, redesigned its infrastructure to increase speed while also boosting on- and -off-campus storage, implemented backup email continuity and enhanced spam-filtering solutions, and rolled out a much-improved business continuity and disaster recovery system. The firms partner here was Adaptive Solutions (http://www.adaptivesolutions.com), a leading provider of IT system design and consulting services in the legal industry. It was a true pleasure working with the firm on this project, said Chuck Davis, president and CEO; They are clearly committed to the alignment of business and technology, in order to provide market leading legal services to their client-base.

In Phase II, the company replaced all computers and upgraded software to Windows 10, Office 2016 and the Microsoft Suite. The firm also partnered with Chicago-based Microsystems whose legal productivity suite enhances the overall efficiency of the attorney and support staff by drastically mitigating risk and eliminating potentially damaging ambiguities and inconsistent legal references that often exist in contracts, email communications, and other legal documentation. In addition to using Microsystems document-processing solutions to help proofread documents, fine tune their details, and quickly solve what used to be time-consuming formatting issues, the firm also acquired Microsystems 3BClean solution, which the firm now uses to remove potentially hazardous metadata from sensitive documents before sharing them outside its four walls. Metadata, commonly-known as the data about data, can be hidden within a document (i.e., track changes, footnotes, comments, properties, etc.) and may be inadvertently exposed to adversaries or third parties via emailing and other document-sharing conduits. The insidious result is the Russian Doll effect, where layers of erroneous or confidential information are being shared to many parties, potentially compromising client privacy and the firms integrity.

In short, we create bullet-proof documents and continuity, said Norm Bothwell, an account executive with Microsystems, the legal industrys leading provider of document editing, proofreading, and metadata scrubbing software. We automate tedious, time-consuming tasks with effortless technology solutions that bullet-proof documents throughout the drafting process. Our system cleans up copy instantly.

The firm, now at the tail end of Phase III and still with the assistance of Adaptive Solutions and Ann Gorr, is putting the finishing touches on it design and deployment of the iManage Document Management System. The firm also recently introduced a new state-of-the-art VOIP phone system designed by Safari Telecommunications that places the finishing touches on the firms over-arching legal technology roadmap.

This latest move in the legal technology realm is consistent with the firms overall restructuring and advancement. In the past year, the firm has hired several new attorneys to improve and expand the service the 30-year old firm already provides.

About Davison, Eastman & Munoz, P.A.

Founded in 1988, Davison, Eastman & Munoz, P.A. represents clients in corporate litigation as well as in civil and criminal cases, business and employment law, trusts and estates, municipal, community associations, real estate and land use and DWI defense. Five of the firms attorneys hold the distinction of being certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as trial attorneys in civil, criminal or municipal law. The attorneys are encouraged to be civic-minded, follow their passions and support their communities. One conduit to achieve this is through its Davison, Eastman & Munoz, Inc. Charitable Fund, a 501 (c)(3) established in 2006, which raises funds to directly benefit local individuals and families who are in need or who have suffered a financial or personal hardship. Offices are located in Freehold and Toms River. For more information, visit demlplaw.com, or call (800) 262-7170.
2017 Tire Rack One Lap of America Route This is the type of route Brock would have loved.

The Tire Rack One Lap of America enters its 34th year with the release of the 2017 route. This years route features long transits, some of the most challenging race courses in the country as well as a variety of racing disciplines. Beginning and ending at the Tire Rack's headquarters in South Bend, Indiana, the event will wind through the Eastern and Midwestern portions of the country, going as far South as Sebring and as far West as Memphis.

The full schedule is as follows:

May 5: Registration/Tech/Drivers Meeting at Waterford Estates Lodge

May 6: Tire Rack Wet Skid Pad at the Tire Rack Headquarters/Autocross at Grissom Air Force Base

May 7: Road Course Time Trial and Bracket Drag at Memphis Motorsports Park

May 8: Road Course Time Trial at Road Atlanta Grand Prix Course

May 9: Road Course Time Trial at Sebring International Raceway

May 10: Road Course Time Trial at Carolina Motorsports Park National Standard Track

May 11: Road Course Time Trial and Oval at Dominion Raceway

May 12: Road Course Time Trial at Gingerman Raceway

May 13: Dry Skid Pad Competition/Skidpad Smoke-out at Tire Rack Headquarters

This year will be the first year the event will be run without the One Lap's founder, Brock Yates. After battling Alzheimers for a number of years, Brock Yates passed away on October 5, 2016. The event has been and continues and to be organized by his son, Brock Yates Jr. "This is the type of route that Brock would have loved." said Brock Yates Jr. "Participants will get to experience some of the most scenic roads in the country while competing on historic and new tracks. It's the blend of the traditional and the new that Brock was famous for, I think our participants will enjoy that same blend in this route." continued Brock Yates Jr.

"We are going to have quite a few great announcements leading up to the event this year." said Media Director, Solomon Rosenthal. "Our event partners understand the significance of this years event and are really going above and beyond. I think One Lapper's and fans alike will be pleased with our plans for 2017, so stay tuned for future announcements." continued Rosenthal.

Competitors are now welcome to sign up for the toughest 8 days in motorsports through the official web-site http://www.OneLapofAmerica.com as well as review the rules for the competition. Last year saw first timers Robert Thorne and Amanda Hahn take the overall win in a stock Nissan GTR.
PREMIER Biosoft today announced the release of SimLipid v. 5.50, which provides an automated data analysis solution for shotgun lipidomics workflows. The program exploits the features offered by multiple precursor ion scan (PIS) and neutral loss scan (NLS) methods of triple quadrupole (QqQ) mass spectrometers. This functionality enables lipid species identification and subsequent quantitation and comparison of the identified lipids across biological samples. Native file formats from Waters Corporation (.raw) and Shimadzu (.lcd) instruments are now supported as well.

PIS and NLS full scan methods of QqQ mass spectrometers only detect lipids that create well-defined fragments e.g., polar head groups, fatty acyl moieties and specific backbone features in MS/MS scans. This unique feature of the workflow not only facilitates targeted lipidomics but also discovery lipidomics. The current version of the SimLipid database stores 5227 unique target masses and enables automatic interpretation of PIS/NLS based full scans. These masses correspond to 1179, 393, and 221 unique fatty acyls and 49 head groups from glycerophospholipids, glycerolipids, and sphingolipids categories respectively. The program also enables users to further populate the database with new lipid species along with corresponding PIS/NLS based target masses.

Shotgun lipidomics offer high throughput, limited sample prep time solutions for targeted as well as discovery based lipidomics. said Dr. Vladimir Shulaev, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences at the University of North Texas, TX. PREMIER Biosofts SimLipid software provides not only a fast data analysis software solution for shotgun lipidomics but also a reliable single-platform software solution for all the major mass spectrometry based qualitative and quantitative lipidomics methods. This enables the researcher community to make use of the high quality data generated by multiple sophisticated mass spectrometry based workflows to help understand their function in all biological systems.

PREMIER Biosoft is committed to providing cutting edge software solutions for advancing lipidomics research. said Arun Apte, CEO at PREMIER Biosoft. SimLipid addresses the daunting task of interpreting large data sets generated by mass spectrometry based shotgun lipidomics workflows.

For details, please visit: http://www.premierbiosoft.com/lipid/features/features.html

About PREMIER Biosoft:

Founded in 1994, is a group of computer scientists and biologists dedicated to producing cutting edge intuitive software for research in life sciences. Our goal is to study the most recent innovations in life sciences and translate them into software products to aid research.

More information is available at: http://www.premierbiosoft.com.
Cynopsis Media is announcing the call for entries for the third annual Top Women in Digital Awards, celebrating the unique, the uncommon and the bold in the digital media industry. The awards will honor women who excel in digital content, marketing, advertising, social media, and online. Cynopsis is now accepting entries for a variety of categories through January 10, 2017. The winners will be announced in late-January and honored at a special awards reception on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in New York City.

This will be the third year that Cynopsis spotlights and celebrates the incredible women in the digital arena, said Roberta Caploe, Cynopsis Publisher. They have earned our respect and admiration, and as one of the industry's most-read and trusted brands, we're pleased to have the perfect vehicle to recognize their accomplishments.

The eligibility period is January 2016 - January 2017. Previous winners include AT&T, AwesomenessTV, Cablevision, Collective Digital Studio, Comcast, Deutsch, DigitasLBi, Discovery, Dunkin Brands, DXagency, ESPN, Hasbro, Horizon Media, Hulu, Mashable, Mediavest, Mindshare, Octagon, OMD, NBC Sports, New Form Digital, NY Red Bulls, Refinery29, Scripps, Shareablee, Showtime, Telemundo, The Players Tribune, Turner Sports, WWE, Xaxis, Yahoo, Zenith and more. (Enter Online Now).

Spanning the spectrum of television, radio, and online platforms, the category list encompasses rising stars, corporate visionaries, entrepreneurs, and more. To see the complete list of categories, visit the award webpage.

Winners and honorable mentions will be celebrated at an awards luncheon on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 in New York City and profiled in a special edition of Cynopsis Digital. For entry questions, contact Sarah Martinez at sarah(at)cynopsis.com. For advertising or sponsorship information, contact VP of Sales & Marketing Mike Farina at mike(at)cynopsis.com.

About Cynopsis Media:

Cynopsis is what the TV industry reads first every day. The Cynopsis family of products includes the media industry's most-read daily, Cynopsis, plus sister dailies Cynopsis Digital and Cynopsis Sports, the Cynopsis Jobs board and special reports. Serving TV, agency and brand professionals, Cynopsis Media produces conferences, webinars, and awards programs that are second to none. Find out more at cynopsis.com.

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"...Smallholder farmers and communities...will act as forests best line of defense while supplying end-consumers with sustainable and climate-smart products." - Nigel Sizer, President of the Rainforest Alliance

Impact investment advisor AlphaSource announced today that they have teamed up with conservation NGO the Rainforest Alliance; wildlife and forest protection experts Wildlife Works; and the newly-formed environmental product marketing company Everland; in an ambitious plan to protect vast tracts of critically endangered forests across the globe.

The consortium aims to develop and fund comprehensive landscape protection programs aligning incentives that benefit smallholders, communities, government, businesses and consumers as envisioned by the UN climate change mitigation mechanism known as REDD+, an acronym for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation.

The sustainable landscape protection programs will operate through a market-driven plan to provide buyers with certified sustainable supply chain goods. Buyers will be assured that forests and their surrounding areas are protected and that goods are produced in a sustainable and climate-smart manner. We hope this will serve as a new model for large-scale conservation, where the production of goods is achieved in a way that is in harmony with nature, and where responsible commerce becomes the normal way of doing business, said Gerald Prolman, President of Everland.

Priority areas include Indonesia, the Congo Basin, the Guinean Forest, and Amazonia. Both the Rainforest Alliance and Wildlife Works have decades of experience developing market based solutions for landscape conservation, and where national and sub-national REDD+ programs are being developed.

AlphaSource is contributing its impact investment expertise to raise $250 million for the new AlphaSource Climate Fund, the worlds first women-led climate change impact fund. The AlphaSource Climate Fund will provide global impact investors with a compelling vehicle to participate in forest conservation at scale. Were addressing the need for scalable and diversified opportunities for institutional capital to combat climate change without sacrificing returns, said Noelle-Claire LeCann, President of AlphaSource Advisors.

Programs will build on the Rainforest Alliances network of 1.4 million farmers who are already trained in sustainable land management across 45.9 million hectares of farms and forestlands in 74 countries. This network of highly-trained farmers deliver commodities to the global marketplace, including to more than 4,000 companies that source their commodities from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, and use the Rainforest Alliances globally recognized tree-frog logo.

The partnership will help catalyze finance to incentivize smallholder farmers and communities to implement sustainable land management practices, said Nigel Sizer, President of the Rainforest Alliance. They will act as forests best line of defense while supplying end-consumers with sustainable and climate-smart products.

Wildlife Works brings technical expertise in large scale REDD+, as well as expertise in landscape interventions that reduce pressure on forests, as ultimately the measure of the alliances success will be how many hectares of forest are saved and how many tonnes of emissions avoided. The success of these programs will be highly dependent on our ability to link the performance incentives emerging at national and sub-national levels to concrete performance rewards for the communities within these critical landscapes, said Mike Korchinsky, President of Wildlife Works. We must maximize the value that forest communities can earn from forest conservation in these landscapes to reverse decades of economically motivated forest destruction.

Everland will market the verified emission reduction units (VERs) generated by the programs to companies who are seeking to offset their unavoidable emissions and achieve corporate social responsibility goals. VER sales are expected to enhance the income of hundreds of thousands of smallholder famers as well as bring significant benefits to the local communities, which is a key part of the strategy to minimize pressure on the forests.

About the Rainforest Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance, established in 1987, is a non-governmental organization working to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. The Rainforest Alliance operates in 74 countries and has certified more than 45.9 million hectares of land to sustainable land management standards. The Rainforest Alliance has trained more than 1.4 million people in earth-friendly land management practices, and 1.3 million farms use Rainforest Alliance methods, designed to protect ecosystems, workers and local communities.

About The AlphaSource Climate Fund

The AlphaSource Climate Fund is focused on a market-based holistic landscape approach to sustainable development that will provide alternatives to the drivers of deforestation, combining climate finance, community engagement and facilitative, climate-smart technologies. The conservation of large threatened forests and associated emission reductions depends on a scalable strategy with differentiated access to impact and uncorrelated, diversified returns.

About Wildlife Works

Wildlife Works, established in 1997, headquartered in Mill Valley, CA, is the carbon market's leading REDD+ project development and management company. Under rigorous environmental and social standards with third-party audits, Wildlife Works REDD+ projects generate Verified Emission Reductions (VERs), where each VER represents the avoidance of one ton of CO2 being released into the atmosphere. VERs are purchased by corporations who voluntarily elect to reduce their unavoidable emissions. Proceeds from Wildlife Works VER sales are reinvested in green economic development for the forest communities, thus removing the threat to the forest. Wildlife Works REDD+ projects deliver unprecedented environmental and social benefits to seriously impoverished parts of Africa that are in desperate need of change.

About Everland

Everland is a forest carbon marketing company that is newly formed and built upon the success of Wildlife Works. The company was established to bring marketing support to a portfolio of high quality REDD+ project developers to help them monetize their REDD+ Verified Emission Reductions (VERs). Everland represents projects that conserve some of the worlds most threatened forests and wildlife and where project impacts are independently verified by internationally recognized environmental audit firms.
We are excited about the addition of these two promising attorneys. We continue to expand both Dallas and Houston to meet the needs of our clients.

Kane Russell Coleman & Logan PC is pleased to announce the addition of Nathan Tenney and Clark Samuelson to the firms Litigation Group.

Nathan Tenney joins the firm as an associate attorney in the Litigation Section in the Dallas office. He represents individual and corporate clients in complex litigation matters, specifically in the areas of commercial disputes, employment, insurance, securities, products liability, premises liability, construction, and transportation. Prior to joining KRCL, Nathan practiced at a Dallas-based litigation firm, where he represented clients in state and federal courts across multiple jurisdictions. Nathan earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Creighton University School of Law and Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Brigham Young University.

We are happy to welcome Nathan to the KRCL team here in Dallas, said Zach Mayer, a director of the firm. His approach to building relationships and working collaboratively with clients make him a welcome fit for the Litigation Section.

Clark Samuelson will practice with the Litigation Section in the firms Houston office. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation and has extensive corporate tax experience. Previously, Clark worked for a major national consulting and advisory firm, where he provided specialty tax credit and tax controversy services to companies and their tax advisors. He holds a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Spring Hill College.

We are excited about the addition of these two promising attorneys. We continue to expand both Dallas and Houston to meet the needs of our clients, says Chris Pappas, a director of the firm and head of the Litigation Section in Houston. "Clark is a diversely experienced attorney who will add real value to the firm."

Kane Russell Coleman & Logan PC is a full service law firm with offices in Dallas and Houston. Formed in 1992 with five lawyers, today KRCL has more than 95 attorneys. The Firm provides professional services for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to medium-sized public and private companies to entrepreneurs. KRCL handles transactional, litigation and bankruptcy matters in Texas and throughout the country.
2017 Consumer Electronics Show  San Jose-based smart camera developer MCNEX/Eyeclon announces its newest and most advanced dashboard video camera to date: the L5 Prime. The wide-screen, FHD (1920x1080) resolution camera is making its U.S. debut at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This is the first step in many that the Korean electronics manufacturer is taking to introduce OEM quality safety features to the U.S. consumer electronics market. Employing the same Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) used in brands like Volvo and Hyundai, Eyeclon is delivering powerful safety technology within a dashboard cameras form factor and ease of installation.

Available now, the L5 Prime goes far beyond the average capabilities of a dashboard camera by providing an additional array of ADAS safety features meant to actively inform motorists about their surroundings. By mounting the L5 Prime in a vehicle, drivers can immediately receive warnings for lane departure, forward collisions and even sudden stops by vehicles ahead. The L5 Prime doesnt just record, it sees and reacts.

Now, no matter whether you are behind the wheel of a new luxury vehicle, or a classic 1960s muscle car, the same ADAS safety technology is available to you as a driver. We leveraged what we learned as OEM manufacturers to deliver smart features customers never thought a product like the L5 Prime could provide. The latest safety features are no longer for just the latest vehicles, said Donguk Min, founder and CEO of MCNEX, the global manufacturer behind the Eyeclon brand.

The L5 Prime will let consumers capture 120 degree, wide-angle video at 30fps, while the vibrant 3.5 LCD display allows for easy review. The cameras interface is made for quick setup and operation, being wifi-enabled and pairing effortlessly with a companion smartphone app. The application allows users to wirelessly search and review device files without having to remove the SD card or sync to a PC. Drivers have the option to upload recorded video over wifi, in conjunction with 16, 32, and 64 GB physical storage options.

CES 2017

At the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, Eyeclon is premiering its family of innovative home and automotive devices meant to become seamless parts of your personal and digital life. From motion activated home security to a suite of automotive safety features provided through the Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS), Eyeclon is a leader in manufacturing devices that help us live better and safer lives.

About Eyeclon (MCNEX America)

After years in the B2B OEM market, Korean-based MCNEX launched its first consumer-facing brand, Eyeclon, as part of its U.S. strategy. With offices in San Jose, CA Eyeclon offers two lines of product designed to give consumers peace of mind whether they are at home (home security products) or away (dash-mounted driver safety units).

Visit us at http://www.eyeclon.com, or at CES Booth # 36419.
Jordan W. Cowman, a shareholder in the Dallas office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, served as the U.S. Employers Delegate to the International Labor Organizations (ILO) Meeting of Experts to Adopt a Revised Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Ports, held in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 21-30. Cowman has represented U.S. Employers at the ILO since 2002. He was appointed as an expert by International Employers Organization (IOE), which chose only eight Employer experts from the 193 United Nations (UN) member nations through their highly selective process.

The ILO is unique among UN agencies in that it has a tripartite structure with workers, employers and governments all having a voice in shaping international labor and employment policy and standards. The ILO functions as an international parliament on international labor issues. Founded in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles, the ILO became the first specialized agency of the UN in 1949.

I am extremely honored to have served as the Employers representative of the United States, and more specifically, represented U.S. business interests at the Meeting of Experts, said Cowman.

At the Meeting of Experts, Cowman and his fellow ILO delegates representing Workers, Governments and Employers from around the world, revised and voted to adopt a new Code of practice on safety and health in seaports.

Cowman advises that U.S.-based companies conducting business across borders should not ignore the ILO. I encourage U.S. businesses to pay close attention to the ILO. Active participation in the ILOs activities and instrument drafting, including international labor standards, Conventions, Recommendations, Declarations and Codes provides U.S. businesses with a unique and important opportunity to craft, shape and design international labor policy, Cowman said. Having worked with the ILO through the U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB) for many years now, I am convinced that U.S. businesses need to better understand the importance of the ILOs influence on national laws regulating business, and take a more proactive interest in this internationally-respected institution.

Recognized as a leader in the legal profession by his peers, Cowman is a frequent speaker and contributor to publications on corporate compliance and international employment and labor law. He is admitted to practice in New York; Washington, D.C.; and Texas, and focuses his practice on international compliance and global human capital. He has a broad range of international experience representing and advising governments and international agencies on policy issues, as well as multinationals in industries including: logistics, technology, transportation, energy, defense, manufacturing, retail, banking, food, aviation, chemical, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing and private equity. Cowman is an active member of the Dallas community and has served as a past Chairman of the Texas Lyceum and the Texas Business Hall of Fame.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP  Texas

Greenberg Traurig has more than 100 attorneys in Texas, serving clients from offices in Austin, Dallas and Houston.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, multi-practice law firm with approximately 2,000 attorneys serving clients from 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is No. 1 on the 2015 Law360 Most Charitable Firms list, second largest in the U.S. on the 2016 Law360 400, Top 20 on the 2015 Am Law Global 100, and among the 2016 BTI Brand Elite. More information at: http://www.gtlaw.com.
Dan Tivnan I plan on growing my business by creating 4-5 jobs within my agency made up of licensed insurance producers who live in the community. Who better to help me grow it than those who know it the best? Past News Releases RSS

Dan Tivnan, a State Farm team member for the past eight years, is proud to announce the recent opening of his State Farm agency, which he partially took over from another longtime State Farm agent, located at 8081 Brewerton Road in Cicero, NY. Taking over this office means a lot to me, as I love the Cicero area, said Tivnan. I plan on growing my business by creating 4-5 jobs within my agency made up of licensed insurance producers who live in the community. Who better to help me grow it than those who know it the best?

Tivnan has an associate degree in accounting from Mohawk Valley Community College and a BA in marketing from State University of New York at Oswego. He also holds certificates in property and casualty, health and life insurance, and focuses on life insurance because its only pennies for dollars to protect loved ones in the event of the insureds passing.

My advice to everyone in New York this winter is to check your backup and basement insurance, in the event that water backs up into your home, concluded Tivnan. Most homeowners insurance in New York does not cover backup unless you specifically request an endorsement to add coverage. Its a big seasonal risk I have seen around here in my years in the industry. Large amounts of rain, ice and snow can put pressure on systems such as septic, sewers, and sump pumps.

About Dan Tivnan, State Farm

Dan Tivnan sells auto, home, property, business, flood, life and health insurance, as well as banking products and annuities. For more information, please call (315) 699-8000, or visit http://www.dantivnaninsurance.com. The office is located at 8081 Brewerton Road, Cicero, NY 13039.

About the NALA

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
It is an honor to be placed on this list and recognized for our stellar academics, and we hope that it encourages more people to look into Ecotech Institute and all that we have to offer.

Ecotech Institute announced today that it earned a coveted spot in Great College Deals list of 20 Best Deals on Colleges with Energy Research Programs. The school was ranked #6 in the listing, among an elite group of the nations most respected colleges and universities.

When composing this list, Great College Deals considered a variety of data about each school, including academic offerings, diversity and tuition cost. Among other things, Ecotech Institute was highlighted for its flexible course schedule. With options for both day and night classes, Ecotech Institute offers its students maximum convenience for their studies.

Renewable Energy Technicians are in high demand. Career opportunities in the fields of wind, solar, electrical and power utility abound and Ecotech Institute is the only college that focuses exclusively on these areas of study. Located in the beautiful city of Aurora, Colorado. Ecotech Institute offers six different degree options for the environmentally-minded student.

Ecotech Institutes small size allows for intimate class settings and a myriad of mentorship opportunities. The programs can be completed in as few as 18 months, allowing students to enter their new careers quickly.

It is an honor to be placed on this list and recognized for our stellar academics, and we hope that it encourages more people to look into Ecotech Institute and all that we have to offer, said Ecotech Institute Campus President Chris Gorrie. As the only school that focuses exclusively on these timely and important energy issues, we truly offer a unique experience for our students.

Students interested in learning more about Ecotech Institute can visit https://www.ecotechinstitute.com/.

About Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training:

Ecotech Institute is the first and only college in the U.S. solely focused on energy. Through flexible options designed for different levels of experience and to meet diverse career goals, students can pursue education in energy in a way that works for them. There are two paths through which students can receive training: Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training. Located in Aurora, CO, Ecotech Institute offers six highly practical energy degree programs that prepare students for energy careers. Individuals across the country also have the opportunity to take courses and pursue individual certifications in-person or online through Ecotech Training. Both Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training are committed to equipping students with the skills and training they need to meet today and tomorrows clean energy industry needs. Ecotech Institute and Ecotech Training are divisions of Education Corporation of America and are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.
Grocery and food wholesale has been C3s core market since the beginning and we are dedicated to continue providing innovative solutions for this industry.

C3 Solutions, a provider of software solutions dedicated to the area of yard management and dock scheduling, is proud to announce that it has been selected by Food Logistics as one of the Top 100 software and technology providers.

C3 Reservations, C3s Online Dock Scheduling System, streamlines the scheduling process by improving dock productivity, expanding visibility on scheduled appointments and measuring vendor compliance.

C3 Yard, C3s Web-based Yard Management Solution empowers yard managers by providing visibility on yard assets, optimizing the flow of trailers from gate to gate and automating yard driver task assignment.

The Food Logistics Top 100 Software and Technology Providers list serves as a resource guide of software and technology providers whose products and services are critical for companies in the global food and beverage supply chain.

The software and technology sector continues to generate new and exciting opportunities for growers, food manufacturers, grocery retailers and the many logistics providers that support them, notes Lara L. Sowinski, editorial director at Food Logistics. Todays cloud-based solutions and mobile connectivity are helping create tools that are more flexible, affordable and responsive, making software and technology even more valuable to those in the global food supply chain.

We are honoured to be recognized by Food Logistics as part of the Top 100 Software Providers, says Greg Braun, Senior Vice-President at C3 Solutions. Food and beverage distributors face complex challenges and are under enormous pressure to be efficient. Grocery and food wholesale has been C3s core market since the beginning and we are dedicated to continue providing innovative solutions for this industry.

About C3 Solutions

C3 Solutions is an information technology company specialized in yard management (YMS) and dock scheduling (DSS) systems. Since its founding in 2000, C3 has gained the confidence of clients around the world and across many industries including retail, grocery, distribution, manufacturing and parcel post.

Headquartered in Montreal (QC), Canada and privately owned, C3 is dedicated to developing, implementing and supporting the most complete yard management and dock scheduling products on the market today. For more information on C3s products, schedule a free on-line demonstration. http://www.c3solutions.com

About Food Logistics

Food Logistics is published by AC Business Media, a business-to-business media company that provides targeted content and comprehensive, integrated advertising and promotion opportunities for some of the worlds most recognized B2B brands. Its diverse portfolio serves the construction, logistics, supply chain and other industries with print, digital and custom products, events and social media.
Talent, passion and innovation are the lifeblood of the financial advice business. We wanted to recognize those who carry that lifeblood in their veins.

InvestmentNews announced it named Ken Fisher as one of its 2016 Icons and Innovators. Based on his accomplishments, a spirit of innovation, passion, and a commitment to advancing the profession of financial advice, Ken Fisher was selected as one of 18 innovators for the inaugural list: http://www.investmentnews.com/section/icons-and-innovators/2016/profile/15/Ken-Fisher

Speaking about his approach to innovation, Ken said, My father taught me when I was young to think in terms of others about What are you doing your competitors arent doing yet?, which I turned around and applied to myself. He continued, A primary feature in my brain has always been the question What can you fathom others find unfathomable?, and every form of analysis Ive ever done has been predicated on how everyone else does something and then looking for a different way.

Ken Fisher is featured along with the other Icons and Innovators in the Dec. 19 issue of InvestmentNews.

"Talent, passion and innovation are the lifeblood of the financial advice business, said Frederick P. Gabriel Jr., editor of InvestmentNews. We wanted to recognize those who carry that lifeblood in their veins. So, we asked ourselves: Who has shaped the advice industry most? Who are the big thinkers, the folks who have carried the profession forward on the shoulders of their ideas?

With the help of readers, the reporters and editors picked two icons and 18 innovators.

Ken Fisher will be honored at an awards luncheon on April 3 in New York City.

To learn more about Ken Fisher and the award, please go to InvestmentNews.com/icons.

About Ken Fisher

Ken Fisher is the founder, Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Fisher Investments. He writes the prestigious Portfolio Strategy column in Forbes, where his 32-year tenure makes him the longest continuously running columnist in Forbes 90+ year history. Ken's theoretical work in the early 1970s yielded a tool known as the Price to Sales Ratio, now a core element of modern financial curriculum. In the 1980s, he and Fisher Investments' research team helped create a school of equity style management called domestic small cap value equity, now a major category for institutional and retail investors. The firm has since expanded its research and management expertise into a wide array of style-based strategies. Ken Fisher's recent research focuses on the emerging field of behavioral finance. As of 2016, Ken is ranked #185 on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans.

About Fisher Investments

Fisher Investments is an independent, fee-only investment adviser founded in 1979. As of 11/30/2016, Fisher Investments and its subsidiaries manage over $70 billion in assetsover $35 billion for North American private investors, over $31 billion for institutional investors and over $3 billion for European private investors. Fisher Investments maintains four principal business units: Fisher Investments Institutional Group, Fisher Investments Private Client Group, Fisher Investments 401(k) Solutions Group and Fisher Investments International Group, which serve a global client base of diverse investors. The clients of Fisher investments and its affiliates include over 180 large institutions and over 35,000 high net worth individuals. For more information, please visit http://www.fisherinvestments.com/.
"These program requirements are consistent with our current approach, and represent a standard of comprehensive, responsive care that people contending with cancer deserve," said Terrill Jordan, RCCA president & CEO.

Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) has been selected by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as one of nearly 200 physician group practices and 17 health insurance companies to participate in an innovative care delivery model. The cancer treatment program supports and encourages higher quality, more coordinated cancer care. The Medicare arm of the Oncology Care Model includes more than 3,200 oncologists and will cover approximately 155,000 Medicare beneficiaries nationwide.

"RCCA was created specifically to provide clinically excellent, compassionate, and cost-effective care in a community setting, and we welcome this opportunity to partner with CMS in taking another step forward in enhancing cancer care," said Edward J. Licitra, MD, Ph.D., Chairperson of the RCCA board.

Cancer is one of the most common and devastating diseases in the United States: more than 1.6 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed, and cancer will kill an estimated 600,000 Americans in 2016. According to the National Institutes of Health, based on growth and aging of the U.S. population, medical expenditures for cancer in the year 2020 are projected to reach at least $158 billion (in 2010 dollars)  an increase of 27 percent over 2010. A significant proportion of those diagnosed are over 65 years old and Medicare beneficiaries.

"The Oncology Care Model encourages greater collaboration, information sharing, and care coordination so that patients get the care they need when they need it," said Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. "The CMS Oncology Care Model attracts almost twice the expected number of physician group practices. This patient-centered care model fits within the administration's dual missions for delivery system reform and the White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force to improve patient access to the quality of health care while spending dollars more wisely."

The Oncology Care Model encourages practices to improve care and lower costs through episode- and performance-based payments that reward high-quality patient care. The Oncology Care Model is one of the first CMS physician-led specialty care models and builds on lessons learned from other innovative programs and private-sector models. As part of this model, physician practices may receive performance-based payments for episodes of care surrounding chemotherapy administration to Medicare patients with cancer, as well as a monthly care management payment for each beneficiary. The two-sided risk track of this model would be an Advanced Alternative Payment Model under the newly proposed Quality Payment Program, which would implement provisions of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.

Cancer treatment centers participating in the five-year Oncology Care Model will provide treatment following nationally recognized clinical guidelines for beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy, with an emphasis on patient-centered care. They will provide enhanced services to beneficiaries who are in the Oncology Care Model to help them receive timely, coordinated treatment. These services may include:



Coordinating appointments with providers within and outside the medical oncology practice to ensure timely delivery of diagnostic and treatment services;

Providing 24/7 access to care when needed;

Arranging for diagnostic scans and follow up with other members of the medical team such as surgeons, radiation oncologists, and other specialists that support the beneficiary through their cancer treatment;

Making sure that data from scans, blood test results, and other tests are received in advance of patient appointments so that patients do not need to schedule additional visits; and

Providing access to additional patient resources such as emotional support groups, pain management services, and clinical trials.

"CMS is thrilled with how many physician groups chose to be a part of the Oncology Care Model," said Patrick Conway, MD, CMS Principal Deputy Administrator and Chief Medical Officer. "We have nearly doubled the number of participants that we anticipated. It's clear that oncology physicians recognize the importance of this new performance-based, episode-based payment approach to cancer care. As a practicing physician and son of a Medicare beneficiary who died from cancer, I know the importance of well-coordinated care focused on the patient's needs."

"These program requirements are consistent with our current approach, and represent a standard of comprehensive, responsive care that people contending with cancer deserve," added Terrill Jordan, RCCA president & CEO.

The names of those practices and payers participating in the Oncology Care Model, and more information about the model, can be found on CMS's website. The Oncology Care Model began on July 1, 2016, and runs through June 30, 2021.

As part of the Administration's "better care, smarter spending, healthier people" approach to improving health delivery, the Oncology Care Model is one of many innovative payment and care delivery models developed by the CMS Innovation Center and advanced by the Affordable Care Act. The Innovation Center is committed to transforming the Medicare, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs and is expected to help deliver better care for individuals, better health for populations and lower growth in expenditures for Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries.

For more information on RCCA, readers are encouraged to visit http://www.regionalcancercare.org or contact the center directly at (201) 510-0950.

Note: The statements contained in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CMS. The authors assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this document.

Regional Cancer Care Associates, one of the largest oncology physician networks in the United States, is transforming oncology care by ensuring that cancer patients have access to the highest-quality, most comprehensive, cutting-edge treatments in a compassionate and community-based setting. RCCA includes ~100 cancer care specialists and is supported by 700 employees at 27 sites, providing care to more than 23,000 new patients annually and over 230,000 existing patients.
Our Community Program is all about neighbors helping neighbors, and keeping kids safe and helping them to work through the pain toward a healthy, happy future is an honor.

Old Savannah Insurance Agency has revealed the latest campaign in their Agents of Change movement benefitting the people of greater Savannah. The newest initiative supports Coastal Childrens Advocacy Center and local victims of child abuse. Donations to this worthy cause may now be made at http://www.ccac-savannah.org/make_a_donation.aspx.

Coastal Childrens Advocacy Center (CCAC) is a private, nonprofit organization providing safe, confidential, child-friendly investigative and therapeutic services to victims of child abuse since 1992. They strive to make the system more humane and responsive to the needs of victimized children by effectively coordinating services which meet the childs best interests. All services are free and include crisis intervention, individual counseling, non-offending family member support, long-term therapy and support groups. CCAC maintains an extensive library of materials, as well as providing the community with education and professional training on the issue of child abuse.

CCAC is such a vital resource for kids who have faced unimaginable situations, said James Grusheski, owner of Old Savannah. Our Community Program is all about neighbors helping neighbors, and keeping kids safe and helping them to work through the pain toward a healthy, happy future is an honor. Our hope is that in this season of love and giving, the community rallies behind these children and CCAC.

The caring team at Old Savannah is busy mobilizing support for CCAC through a dynamic social media and email awareness campaign. They have also featured the initiative in their vibrant community magazine, which is delivered to thousands of households in and around Savannah every month. Helping customers and friends to live well and thrive, the electronic version of current and archived issues of Our Hometown may be enjoyed at http://www.oldsavannahinsuranceagency.com/Our-Hometown-Magazine_41.

The agency has pledged to donate $10 to Coastal Childrens Advocacy Center for each and every referral they receive for an insurance quote for the duration of the campaign, once again demonstrating their passion for strengthening their community. Readers who would like to have a donation made on their behalf may recommend friends and family members for a no-obligation quotation here.

Old Savannah has promised to support a new worthy community cause every two months and has invited concerned community members to suggest ideas for future campaigns by visiting http://www.oldsavannahinsuranceagency.com/Submit-A-Community-Cause-Idea_45. To keep tabs on past and future initiatives, readers may bookmark http://www.oldsavannahinsuranceagency.com/community-cause.

About Old Savannah Insurance Agency

A full-service firm serving Georgias families from offices in Savannah, Old Savannah has one simple mission: to provide the finest insurance and financial products in the industry while delivering consistently superior service. James Grusheski and his dedicated team of caring professionals focus on helping clients to protect the things which are most important to them (their families, homes, cars and more) and on developing strategies to fulfill long-term financial goals. The agency has made an ongoing commitment to positively impact the community they serve by vigorously seeking out and supporting local worthy causes. More information on the agency may be found at http://www.oldsavannahinsuranceagency.com/ and a caring expert may be reached by calling 912-352-7620.
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The question is, can creative writing be taught? The answer seems to be: yes and no.

Take this statement from the website of the acclaimed Iowa Writers Workshop, for example: Though we agree in part with the popular insistence that writing cannot be taught, we exist and proceed on the assumption that talent can be developed... If one can learn to play the violin or to paint, one can learn to write, though no processes of externally induced training can ensure that one will do it well.... We continue to look for the most promising talent in the country, in our conviction that writing cannot be taught but that writers can be encouraged.

In other words, yes and nobut it is comforting to be reminded that all writers can and should, in my opinion, be encouraged. For a witty, thorough, and thought-provoking examination of this question, check out Louis Menand's piece "Show or Tell" in the June 8, 2009, issue of the New Yorker.

If you are a novelist, poet, or short story writer and youre ready for a little encouragement, youre tired of working alone, or feel like youve gone about as far as you can go on your own, maybe its time seek a little advice from the pros, as well as from some of your peers. If you have time and can afford it, a residency at a writers colony, a workshop specializing in your genre, a conference, online help, or even a master of fine arts in creative writing could be just what youre looking for. Here are some of your options.

A Writers Colony: Yaddo, the MacDowell Colony, and several others provide accepted applicants with a quiet place to live, write, and get to know other serious writers. They are often referred to as retreats or residencies and offer no instructionjust room and board and a community atmosphere for dedicated writers. My two residencies at Yaddo were an incredible gift, allowing me to unplug from the world and fully immerse myself in a long stretch of reading and writing," says John Searles, the author of Help for the Haunted. "In fact, certain aspects of my recent novel were inspired by the gothic atmosphere of Yaddo.

A Writers Workshop: Workshops usually offer both guidance from the leader, who is often a published author, and feedback from fellow writers who are in the workshop. Workshops typically last from six to 10 weeks and require that you attend in person, though you can find some online. There are hundreds of fine workshops all around the country, so youll have to do a little research to figure out which ones best suit your needs. You can often find a workshop or two that focuses on your genre. Do a general online search and check out writing.shawguides.com and newpages.com/writers-resources.

A Writers Conference: If you are ready to try to find an agent; learn more about self-publishing, book distribution, and promotion; and meet other writers, bloggers, and editors from the Big Five publishers and independent presses, then try a writers conference or two. They often start off with a talk from a bestselling author and wrap up with an address from a major publishing executive. You can find a list of some of the most popular conferences at thewritelife.com.

A Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing: Hundreds of colleges and universities now offer this terminal graduate degree. Terminal sounds ominous, but it simply means that this is the highest degree awarded in the field of creative writing. These programs usually require a commitment of two to three years. Often, talented writers are able to get funding to help with costs. When checking out M.F.A. programs, consider the location, the cost and funding options, and the credentials and experience of the faculty. And, if you dont have two or three years to invest full time in your writing, check out the many low-residency M.F.A. programs available online. They are often less expensive and usually require little to no time spent on campus. You can find lots of up-to-date information on M.F.A. programs at pw.org/toolsforwriters and awpwriter.org/guide, as well as in The Creative Writing M.F.A. Handbook by Tom Kealey and The Low-Residency M.F.A. Handbook by Lori A. May.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University agricultural economist Maria Marshall understands the significant financial and emotional investment required to run a successful family business.

Research shows that one of the biggest reasons family businesses fail is family dynamics, says Marshall, director of the Purdue Initiative for Family Firms, commonly known as PIFF. A lot of families want to talk about these issues, but they might not know exactly how.

A good first step, she said, is to visit PIFFs new website.

The site, available at www.purdue.ag/piff, provides a wealth of information in four critical subject areas: estate and personal financial planning, strategic business planning, leadership and succession planning and maintaining family bonds.

The content was developed through extensive research conducted by Marshall and her colleagues from Purdues Department of Agricultural Economics.

We do a lot of education, helping people think through the process, Marshall said. Its all about setting expectations before a crisis comes about.

Interactive tools available on the website can help families in business make critical decisions about financial management, personnel issues, marketing and legal matters. There are also resources available for improving communication within both the business and family.

Family businesses are a critical part of the U.S. economy, especially so in rural areas, Marshall said.

If you go to a restaurant or small retail shop, youre probably dealing with a family business, Marshall said. About 77 percent of all U.S. businesses started as family-owned organizations. Family firms comprise about 80 to 90 percent of all business enterprises. About 35 percent of the Fortune 500 firms are family controlled. Moreover, the majority of farm and agricultural businesses are family controlled, from Cargill to the smallest family farm.

The Purdue Initiative for Family Firms was created to conduct research and provide information to help families in businesses succeed, she said.

We provide multi-generational family businesses in Indiana with research-based business management resources aimed at improving personal leadership performance and driving operational growth, she said. The goal is to prepare family business owners, shareholders and stakeholders, including non-owner spouses and future owners, for effective stewardship of their family enterprises.

Educators, students, attorneys, accountants and others who work with family businesses can find vital information through the initiative, Marshall said.

We hope to provide the research and resources to help a variety of people, both urban and rural, she said.

For more information, go to the PIFF website at www.purdue.ag/piff, or contact Marshall at 765-494-4268, mimarsha@purdue.edu.

Writer: Darrin Pack, 765-494-8415, dpack@purdue.edu

Source: Maria Marshall, 765-494-4268, mimarsha@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;

Darrin Pack, dpack@purdue.edu

Agriculture News Page
In the 1930s, Adolf Hitler arrested and executed fake news journalists who rightfully claimed that Jews were being exterminated

In the 1920s and 1930s Americans thought of Hitler as a joke. His shrill voice and jerky hand movements made it difficult to take him seriously. But some of the first people to meet him didnt feel the same way.

Junior military attache Truman Smith said, This is a marvelous demagogue who can really inspire loyalty. Karl von Wiegand was the first American journalist to interview Hitler in 1922. He felt the same way as Smith. They were both struck by Hitlers oratorical skills and his ability to drive people into a frenzy.

The Nazi Party finally emerged as a major contender for power after the great depression hit, but Americans still considered Hitler to be a clown. Most people believed that if Hitler gained power, German politicians would take control of him. Reassessments unfortunately came soon thereafter.

Chicago Daily News correspondent Edgar Mowrer frantically tried to warn readers worldwide, saying, What hes saying about the Jews is serious. Dont underestimate him.

American correspondents in Berlin were living in relative luxury. The good correspondents and diplomats worked hard to gather information, although it was becoming progressively more difficult and dangerous to obtain.

Edgar Mowrer took huge risks to get information by meeting with a German-Jewish doctor. During regular doctor visits, the doctor would slip him notes when his assistant left the room. The notes contained information about who had been arrested, presumably journalists. The meetings became too risky, and the two moved their meetings to a public restroom where the doctor would drop the note and Mowrer would retrieve it undetected.

Not all correspondents and diplomats were so brave as to obtain dangerous information. Most felt constrained and didnt wish to put themselves in jeopardy. The mainstream media was used against the people, and those brave enough to report the truth were subject to the ultimate consequence.

Reporters were slow to write about things they had witnessed firsthand. After Hitler took power, there were attacks on Americans who refused to give the Hitler salute. Radio broadcaster Hans Kaltenborn believed that the reports were an exaggeration  until his teenage son was beaten up for the refusal to salute. The Nazis apologized and told Kaltenborn, I hope you wont write about this. Kaltenborn was reluctant to do so, most likely because the apology was really a warning.

Charles Lindberg was among the Americans that believed Hitler was helping to get Germany back on its feet. Amazed at how orderly Germany had become, Lindberg was also providing real-time intelligence for the U.S. He became part of the America First movement, and tried to keep America out of the war by giving information to American diplomats that he thought would urge Washington to stay away.

American journalists were often the first to warn German Jews what danger they were in. Mowrer was run out of Germany after he kept advising Jews to get out quickly. But German-Jews were also urged by non-Jewish industrialists to give money to the Nazi Party. They were told that it would be a way for them to protect themselves. Like most Americans, German-Jews didnt believe what was happening. Thats the power of state-controlled media working hard against the people.

Sources:

TheAtlantic.com

Science.NaturalNews.com
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP)  A U.S.-Canadian agency is considering additional ways to measure the safety of Great Lakes water for drinking and activities such as swimming and fishing.

The proposals were developed by researchers with the International Joint Commission, which advises both nations on issues involving shared waterways.

Scientists who advise the commission say assuring good water quality in the Great Lakes will require accurate measurements of not just treated drinking water, but also the sources of that water.

Also needed is a good accounting of phosphorus flows into the lakes from major tributaries. Phosphorus contributes to harmful algae blooms that have plagued sections of Lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan.

Additionally, the researchers call for close monitoring of invasive Asian carp, which might out-compete native fish species if they infest the Great Lakes.
WASHINGTON (AP)  So much for an Electoral College revolt.

Despite weeks of lobbying and a day of protests, President-elect Donald Trump won all but two of the Electoral College votes he claimed on Election Day, ensuring he will become America's 45th president.

There were more protest votes among Democratic electors  five  than there were among Republicans.

All 538 electors met in state capitals across the country Monday to cast their votes. Trump's polarizing victory in November and the fact that Democrat Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by more than 2.8 million votes had stirred an intense lobbying effort. But the endeavor produced more noise than results.

With all states reporting, Trump finished with 304 votes and Clinton had 227. It takes 270 Electoral College votes to win the presidency. Texas put Trump over the top, despite two Republican electors casting protest votes.

"We did it!" Trump tweeted Monday evening. "Thank you to all of my great supporters, we just officially won the election (despite all of the distorted and inaccurate media)."

He later issued a statement saying: "With this historic step we can look forward to the bright future ahead. I will work hard to unite our country and be the President of all Americans."

Befitting an election filled with acrimony, thousands of protesters converged on state capitals Monday, urging Republican electors to abandon their party's winning candidate.

More than 200 demonstrators braved freezing temperatures at Pennsylvania's capitol, chanting, "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!" and "No treason, no Trump!"

In Madison, Wisconsin, protesters shouted, cried and sang "Silent Night." In Augusta, Maine, they banged on drums and held signs that said, "Don't let Putin Pick Our President," referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Among the Republican electors in Texas who cast protest votes, one voted for Ohio Gov. John Kasich; the other voted for former Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

Clinton lost four electors in Washington state  three voted for former Secretary of State Colin Powell and one voted for Native American tribal leader Faith Spotted Eagle. She also lost an elector in Hawaii to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Clinton beat Sanders in the Democratic primaries.

Several Democratic electors in other states tried to vote for protest candidates but they either changed their votes to Clinton or were replaced.

The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.

There is no constitutional provision or federal law that requires electors to vote for the candidate who won their state  though some states require their electors to vote for the winning candidate.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, elector Charlie Buckels reached out to Trump's opponents after the New York businessman got all of the state's eight votes.

"For those of you who wished it had gone another way, I thank you for being here," said Buckels, the state GOP finance chairman. "I thank you for your passion for our country."

A joint session of Congress is scheduled for Jan. 6 to certify the results of the Electoral College vote, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding as president of the Senate. Once the result is certified, Trump will be sworn in on Jan. 20.
Tributes are pouring in for Zsa Zsa Gabor.

The Hungarian actress, whose Kardashian-like self-parodying glamour and revolving-door marriages to millionaires made her a permanent tabloid fixture, died Sunday in Los Angeles at age 99.

A lesser-known fact about Gabor is that she was featured in a PR coup orchestrated by brand communications pioneer Daniel Edelman. The stunt is widely credited as saving a struggling California wine industry from being wiped out by competition from French imports.

When Edelman was starting out, the firm focused on brand communications. In the late 1960s, the fledgling agency represented the California Wine Institute, launching a program to educate consumers and journalists about California wines.

As part of the publicity campaign, Edelman retained movie star Vincent Price as a spokesman. It was one of the first uses of a celebrity in a public relations campaign.
The 472km Mombasa  Nairobi standard-gauge line is nearing completion and due to open in the second half of next year.

CRRC Qishuyan was awarded a contract earlier this year by China Road and Bridge Corporation to supply 56 locomotives for the line. The order comprises 43 DF8B freight locomotives, five DF11 passenger locomotives, and eight DF7G shunters.
Nearly 70%, or 33 of the 49 measures voted on were approved, with the total ballot measures proposing nearly $US 200bn in support for public transport schemes, the largest in history.

Los Angeles was the big winner, with the Measure M sales tax increase passing with 69% approval. The measure is now expected to raise $US 120bn over 40 years to support transport improvement projects. Voters in San Francisco bay area, Seattle, Atlanta, Indianapolis and Raleigh also gave their seal of approval for tax hikes that will fund a variety of projects and improvements.

The election showed the strong appetite among the people living in US cities to support improved public transport. It also sent a clear message to president-elect Mr Donald Trump that his proposed $US 1 trillion infrastructure investment plan should include a significant appropriation to public transport, a sentiment that the American Public Transportation Association was keen to echo in the aftermath of the election.

Public transportation is critical for a communitys economic prosperity and competitiveness, said Apta chair Mr Doran Barnes and acting president and CEO Mr Richard White in a statement. As nearly 60% of the trips taken on public transportation are for work commutes, we believe that a significant portion of his infrastructure proposal should be dedicated to public transportation.

Details of exactly what will be prioritised in this plan are limited. According to the president-elects transition team website, the new administration is seeking to invest $US 550bn to build the roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, and railways of tomorrow, all of which will be the envy of the world. No specifics are offered.

The cynics among us may immediately assume that a Republican president would always favour road over passenger rail. Trump though regularly spoke of his admiration for Chinas high-speed rail network during the campaign, and as a life-long New Yorker, he should be familiar with the importance of public transport to that particular city and others of similar size and status. There is hope.

The biggest clue to how the infrastructure spending might be structured is available in a 10-page document issued by two senior Trump policy advisors during the campaign, which compared the respective infrastructure plans of Trump and Hillary Clinton. The overarching feature is the reliance on the private sector to fund and ultimately take ownership of the new infrastructure projects that will result.

Specifically, Trumps plan offers $US 137bn in tax credits to private companies. In exchange, they would be expected to raise $US 167bn in total equity, which would support $US 1 trillion of new construction over 10 years. Projects would also have to raise user fees to pay back initial loans and corporate equity contributions.

The document praises the plans capability to deliver projects on time and on budget, and cut wasteful spending all without creating further government bureaucracy. However, critiques of what it will offer in reality have been extensive. From recognising its failure to support projects that do not make money, and not identifying a source to pay for the tax credits, which may mean cuts to other government-funded programmes, to effectively handing the keys to Americas infrastructure to private companies, and the continued suburban sprawl that will result from more road projects, which will increase air pollution and congestion.

Whether the plan becomes the foundation of the final legislation remains to be seen - it will have to secure approval from Congress before it reaches president Trumps desk. However, by encouraging private investment, there might be a major winner: High-speed inter-city rail.

Offering incentives to private consortia may finally provide the leg-up that the numerous proposed privately-funded schemes require: from the Texas Centrals Dallas/Fort Worth - Houston project to XpressWests Los Angeles - Las Vegas line, and others. In addition, if Floridas Brightline project, which is set to begin operations on its first phase from Miami to West Palm Beach in mid-2017, proves a success, it may also convince other prospective private investors that supporting a passenger rail project is a sound bet.

The prospects for urban projects look more bleak, particularly given the likely end of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (Tiger) grant programme. Established in 2009, it has provided more than $US 2.3bn in federal funds to rail and transit projects including light rail lines in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Denver, and Minneapolis.

Republicans have attacked Tiger ever since it was adopted and there is now little to stop them from shutting it down. If this scheme does fall by the wayside, and the new infrastructure investment programme fails to deliver, to retain the momentum, it might be left up to the states to take on greater responsibility.

In the aftermath of the vote more progressive states such as California have indicated that in order to counter Trump, they will look to shape the agenda through greater intervention - from protecting the environment, to investing in infrastructure. This then could translate into reforms of state budgets and perhaps more ballot measures to appropriate further funds for public transport.

As the world awaits president Trump, a lot of questions clearly remain to be answered. Everything will become clearer in the weeks and months after January 20.

This article will appear in the The Railway in 2017, IRJs January issue, which looks ahead to the major issue impacting the global rail industry in the next 12 months, available from January 1.
Wuppertal City Authority (WSW) placed a 122m order with Vossloh Kiepe and Vossloh Rail Vehicles (now Stadler Rail Valencia) in November 2011 for 31 two-car Generation 15 articulated trains to replace the current fleet of 27 two-car trains, which dates back to 1977.

The trains are being assembled at Stadler Rail Valencia's Albuixech plant near Valencia in Spain, while Vossloh Kiepe is producing electrical equipment for the fleet at its Dusseldorf facility.

Five trains are now in passenger service and the remainder of the fleet is due to enter service by early 2018.

The 13.3km line from Oberbarmen to Wuppertal city centre and Vohwinkel opened in 1901 and carries around 80,000 passengers a day.
The four-system trains have been allowed to operate as single EMUs on the French network since March 31 2015, and gaining approval for multiple operation was part of Siemens contract with German Rail (DB).

The eight-car trains are designed for commercial operation at up to 320km/h. They currently operate between Paris Est and Frankfurt and Stuttgart, and are already approved for multiple operation in Germany.
The trains have been ordered as part of the first phase of the $C 2bn 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transportation, which is being funded jointly by the Canadian federal government (50%) the province of British Columbia (33%), TransLink, and authorities in the Vancouver region.

The new trains are due to enter service by early 2019 and will be used on the Expo and Millennium Lines, increasing the SkyTrain fleet to 314 cars.

TransLink ordered seven Mark III trains in December 2012 to expand the fleet in readiness for the opening of the Evergreen Extension. The aluminium-bodied articulated trains, which are based on Bombardiers Innovia 300 platform, are equipped with full-width gangways and each car accommodates up to 134 passengers at 4 passengers/m2.
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Singapores broadcast regulator and funding body Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has appointed Tan Kiat How as CEO, effective from 1 January 2017.





Tan takes over from Gabriel Lim, who was in charge of the Media Development Authority from December 2014, and who steered its merger with the Infocomm Development Authority recently. Lim will now take the role of second permanent secretary (communications and information) at the ministry.Tan is currently deputy secretary (cyber and technology) at the Ministry of Communications and Information. He also previously had postings at the IDA and the Ministry of Finance.Tan will build on ongoing efforts to strengthen the IMDA and partner industry stakeholders to grow the infocomm media sector, the ministry said in a statement.The IMDA is responsible for the Singapore Media Festival, which took place recently, incorporating broadcast and movie markets the Asia Television Forum, Singapore Film Festival and ScreenSingapore. It has also launched the Pixel Studios facility to incubate digital start-up companies.
Facilis, which provides network shared storage to post-production and content creation professionals, has announced strong growth in sales throughout 2016 in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.





Recently, the company announced a number of new high-profile customer installations of its TerraBlock shared storage systems. These include Philippines-based ABS-CBN Corporation iPost (Integrated Post Production), which has purchased four TerraBlock 24D Hybrid 24 systems, as well as Facilis first ever Hong Kong-based customer, Taoist religious and cultural broadcaster, Fung Ying Seen Koon (FYSK).In both of the customer projects, the active support of local channel partners was an important factor. With ABS-CBN, the order was secured by Facilis working in partnership with local authorised reseller, Singapore and Philippines-based Media Village.The way the TerraBlock system supports the production facilitys network of 30 Avid Media Composer workstations was specified and designed by Media Villages expert team of workflow designers.We evaluated several other shared storage systems prior to making our decision and the Facilis TerraBlock out-performed all of its rivals, said Jessie Yamzon, head of post-production at iPost. Price and performance combined with its ease of maintenance were major factors that also led to the decision.At FYSK, the input of Facilis newly acquired local channel partner was equally strategic. Central to this project is Pictures Planes, a Hong Kong-based systems integration specialist which has helped FYSK redesign, construct and commission the TV channels new IT and broadcast infrastructure, studio and production facilities.Until recently, Pictures Planes was an Avid partner, but now it has become a Facilis channel partner and it is experiencing significant interest for the TerraBlock product from many of its established customers.We are impressed with TerraBlock, said Francis Yeung, director of product and marketing, at Pictures Planes. It is a flexible and stable shared storage system that is well suited to the dynamic and competitive Hong Kong market. We are optimistic of further major sales in the months to come.
Hambastagi.org (Translated by RAWA), December 10, 2016

By Khalil

On November 10, 2016, at 11 pm, there was a huge blast in Mazar city. The blast occurred in front of the German consulate in Mazar Hotel. The blast was so powerful that the debris was scattered to over one kilometer from the area of the incident. Homes and trade centers around the consulate at a distance of 500 meters suffered great damage. The glass windows of many houses in the city were broken. Contrary to reports by the spokespersons of the filthy government, the number of dead stood at 20 with more than 200 people injured. The financial loss reached millions of dollars as most of the trade markets and centers of Mazar are located in that area. The government lied as usual and announced that a truck filled with explosives caused the bloody incident, however, the people who lived near the area when the incident happened stated that they saw a blinding flash of light from the east of the city followed by a terrifying sound, which was probably a missile that had hit its target and caused an unusually huge amount of damage. It is surprising that despite such a forceful blast, not a single German was even scratched because the diplomats usually slept in Camp Marmal at night. The next day, the remainder of the Mazar Hotel was destroyed and burned to ground in three back to back blasts.

Early the next morning, two of our laborer compatriots who had left their homes to earn a mouthful of food, became target of the bullets of the German occupiers.

The first victim was Ziauddin, a 21-year-old worker, who worked from morning to evening in the Band-e-Amir Wedding Hall for a decent living. The savage German soldiers brutally shot this energetic, young man in the first light of dawn under the excuse that he was a suicide bomber and had not paid attention to their warnings.

Following this, Enayatullah, son of Agha Mohammad, was killed under a Nazi-style volley of fire by German soldiers on November 11, at 6 am. He was a chef in the Marmarin Hotel and was walking to work that morning when he was shot and murdered from a distance of 500 meters. Enayatullah belonged to a poor family. His mother cried with tears streaming down her face, Enayatullah was the only breadwinner of this family. His father is very old and cannot work. We dont have anybody else. He married two years ago and has a son now. How can we survive the hardships and burdens of life without him? He went to the hotel early that morning like every morning without knowing that wild hounds thirsty forhis blood waited for him. He was killed in a horrific way. They had not stopped at one shot. They put tens of bullets into his half dead body and my Enayatullah died helplessly.

Enayatullahs family is demanding justice, saying anyone in this country can commit crimes and kill people under any excuse they wish to, no one asks questions or holds them liable. They demanded the prosecution of the killers of their beloved son.

Originally published on Dec. 5, 2016
Hambastagi.org (Translated by RAWA), December 17, 2016

By Kawa Azem



Nadir Khan, Marwa's father. Nadir Khan, Marwa's father.

The heart wrenching cries of a father of two young girls who were forced into marriage with a warlord in Khewa district of Nangahar province, has been echoing in the media and social networking websites for days, wounding the conscience of everyone. This incident had occurred months back but officials in Nangarhar province had threatened and deceived the father to silence this case, like they had in hundreds of other cases of crimes and atrocities committed by local powerful men. The silence of Ghani and Abdullah in the face of this tormenting crime truly shows that not a flicker of human emotion exists in them.

Three months back, in the Kohna Deh village of Khewa district, Khudai Raam, the deputy and ringleader of Gul Karims group, forced Nadir Khans two daughters into marriage with his brother, threatening them with guns. Marwas (Nadir Khans elder daughter) aunt who was the eye witness in this painful incident cried and screamed, As per our tradition, I went with the girl on the wedding night. It was twelve at midnight when they came and told me that the girl is not fine. I was surprised because our girl was pure (virgin) and this was a false accusation. The groom and Khudai Raam had badly beaten the girl to make her confess who she had relations with. The girl screamed and cried that she was innocent but the men refused to believe her. They beat me up too, pulled my hair, tore my cloths and threw me on the ground in the physical attack. I ran away to Qilatak village and took refuge in the Safis houses. They then took me back to my home.

She added, They tied Marwas hands and feet and took her to her fathers house that night. There they also beat up her father and mother and then left.

Khudai Raam sold timber before the factional infighting (1992-1996). During the dog-eat-dog fighting of the Jehadis, he was a bootlicker of a local warlord named Gul Karim, and was later promoted to become his ringleader and secretary. Now, both are warlords of the area and are busy looting innocent people. The local government is actively assisting him to escape from prosecution in this case. Mukhtar (pseudonym), a resident of the area says, Khudai Raam called the district office at one that night and asked for two to three Rangers (police cars). Haji Akram, the local police chief, arrived with the cars and surrounded Nadir Khans house. They all severely beat up Nadir Khan and his wife and daughter and kidnapped Nadir Khans other 10-year-old daughter. The girls family first went to the district office but nobody paid attention to their case. They then went to Jalalabad and filed their case with the attorneys office. The attorney investigating the case was continuously threatened by Gul Karim, Hazrat Ali, and Ahmad Ali (Hazrat Alis son).

Marwas aunt says, When we heard that they had attacked our house again, we hid the little girl in the big clay oven. They shamelessly forced the girl out of the oven and dragged her with them. The girl cried that she will be killed but they had no mercy.



Hazrat Ali, infamous warlord and criminal of the area. Hazrat Ali, infamous warlord and criminal of the area.

Marwa left her fathers house out of fear of Gul Karim and Khudai Raam and tried to take refuge in a womens shelter in Jalalabad but nobody was ready to take her in. The case was silenced this way for three months until Marwa was invited in an event organized by the Womens Affairs office in Nangarhar on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to talk about the incident. Hanif Gardiwal, deputy of Nangarhars governor, was also present in the event. He got very angry after Marwas speech and ordered that the girl be silenced immediately. He also threatened the reporters to delete her video. One participant of the event said, Hanif Gardiwal was very angry and said that his pants will be pulled (he will be disgraced) if this becomes news. He ordered that the speech should not be published and the video be deleted.

Marwa spoke with reporters in the Womens Affairs office on November 29, 2016 and said, He (the husband) accused me of not being fine (virgin), and beat me up. They tied me up at twelve at night and took me back to my fathers house. At two the same night, they attacked our home again and took away my little sister with them. We dont have any money. They have money and power, and you know that in this government everything is controlled by money.

The locals of Kohna Deh village say that Jehadi commanders commit such crimes every day. Some time back, Haji Akrams men kidnapped a young girl from Taawarr village. They later paid 200,000 Pakistani Rupees (1900 USD) to the girls father and threatened him into silence.

It should be mentioned that Khudai Raam is one of Hazrat Alis prominent commanders. Hazrat Ali is a member of Jamiate Islami Party and is supported by CEO Abdullah Abdullah.

The dishonorable crimes of local powerful men who are coddled by officials and given an open hand in their crimes, is the reason for the peoples misfortunes. People who are fed up with these atrocities and oppression and see no other way to get justice, join the Taliban and other terrorist groups.
Our home states  Mississippi and Massachusetts -- could not be more different when it comes to politics, sports, cuisine and almost everything else. But one thing the two of us share is a long track record of supporting the rooftop solar industry. We believe it is a national priority to produce clean energy and slow the pace of global warming.

While we support solar power, we are both alarmed by growing concerns about the rooftop solar industry using unscrupulous business practices to reel in new customers. This is something we are seeing in cities and towns all across the nation. In fact, the Attorneys Generals of Massachusetts, Mississippi and other four states have taken actions to warn consumers about scams in the rooftop solar business.

What is most concerning is that these bad actors in the solar industry are not just limited to the small players. Some of the biggest players in the rooftop solar industry have raised concerns with consumer watchdogs. Earlier this year, Public Citizen took issue with SolarCity's (now owned by Tesla) use of mandatory arbitration contracts. This is unacceptable for an industry that is heavily subsidized by the American taxpayer.

This year, working together, the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission brought a federal court action against a company that used harassing robocalls that promised energy savings in order to generate sales leads for a solar rooftop company. Known as lead generators, these types of companies have raised serious alarms among consumer advocates for years.

The greatest concern we have with the rooftop solar industry is the underhanded tactics some in the industry use to get new customers to sign agreements that put very expensive solar panels on their houses. Generally, the problems lie in what consumers dont understand about these long-term, legally binding contracts.

First, some people are told that they are eligible for government loans or programs that help pay for the cost of the installment. This is typically false. Rooftop solar panels generally cost around $20,000 for a moderate size home, and the customer is going to have to pay for that one way or another.

Second, solar companies tell prospective customers that utility prices are quickly rising, and because of this trend, energy savings generated by their solar panels will allow them to quickly recoup the cost of the installation. In reality, electricity prices are not shooting up everywhere. In Massachusetts and Mississippi, the cost of residential electricity is actually less in 2016, than it was the previous year. For some solar customers, savings on their utility bills may never fully offset the cost of the solar panels. These customers have been encouraged to make a decision against their familys financial interest.

Third, putting solar panels on your rooftop can reduce the value of your home by making it harder to sell. If you install these panels, and want to sell your house, new buyers will inherit your lease. Because of this, buyers may demand reimbursement or negotiate a lower purchasing price. For seniors relying on the value of their home in order to retire, this could mean delaying retirement or retiring with a smaller nest egg.

This year alone, the American rooftop solar industry will secure over $100 million dollars in taxpayer subsidies. For that support, the solar companies must be held to the highest standard of consumer protection. Sadly, many are failing. Unless things change quickly, we believe federal and state regulators must take action to curtail these abuses. The rooftop solar industry will only lead the transition to clean energy if we eliminate these unscrupulous practices now.
Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot and killed Dec. 19 at an art exhibition in Ankara, where he was delivering a public address. Turkish security forces subsequently killed the gunman, reported to be Mert Altintas, a member of the special forces department of the Turkish National Police and part of Karlov's security detail. Three others were wounded in the attack.

Witnesses reported hearing the gunman shout that he was seeking revenge for Russia's actions in Aleppo, saying in Turkish "We die in Aleppo, you die here." There are many possible motives for the attack on Karlov: Most obviously, it could have been an angry Turkish citizen upset by the recent rebel defeat in Aleppo; it could have also been a jihadist plot seeking retribution for Russian action against terrorist groups in Syria. Regardless, if confirmed that the attacker was a member of the Turkish National Police, which was heavily infiltrated by Gulenists prior to the coup, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may further clamp down on the Gulenists, whether the attacker actually had links to the group or not.

The attack comes at a bad time: Moscow and Ankara have only recently restored diplomatic ties after Turkey downed a Russian aircraft in November 2015. Though the attack will strain relations between the two countries, however, it is not likely to rupture them altogether. Moscow will lean heavily on Ankara for intelligence-sharing and will demand more autonomy in protecting its assets. Yet neither country is keen to backtrack on the economic and diplomatic progress made over the past year. And now that Turkish forces are active deep within Syria, Ankara needs to maintain a working relationship with Moscow now more than ever. Turkey's foreign minister is scheduled to attend a meeting in Moscow tomorrow with his Russian and Iranian counterparts to discuss Syria. Russian officials have confirmed that the meeting will still take place.

If the attack on the Russian Ambassador is in fact an angry response to Moscow's involvement in the retaking of Aleppo, it is a violent aberration of recent anti-Russia protests, which have been mostly peaceful, at diplomatic buildings worldwide. In fact, pressure is mounting on Russia for a range of reasons. There has been an uptick in thwarted terrorist plots and threats in Russia over the past few months. On Aug 1, the Islamic State called for attacks against Russia. In November, Russian security forces conducted several raids that appeared to link radicalized Central Asian militants and plots against major Russian cities. On Dec. 15, Russian authorities broke up a group allegedly plotting attacks against targets in Moscow. The plots are probably not directly linked to today's assassination, but taken together, they clearly demonstrate the growing threats Russia, and its citizens, face. Moscow is unlikely to shift its approach in Syria in response.
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Nearby California
Chicago just missed breaking a record Monday morning, but it was still cold enough to close nearly 300 schools in the area, cancel dozens of flights and slow trains.



A low of minus 13 was recorded at O'Hare International Airport between 4 and 5 a.m., one degree shy of the record of minus 14 set Dec. 19, 1983. By 7 a.m., the temperature had climbed to minus 7 and was expected to top off near 18 during the day, according to the National Weather Service.



A wind chill advisory remained in effect until 10 a.m. Wind chills dipped to minus 30 in Waukegan and West Chicago overnight, minus 25 in Aurora and minus 19 in Gary.



"(It's a) light wind but enough wind when the temperature is so cold to make it feel even colder," said weather service meteorologist Matt Friedlein.



About 270 schools across the Chicago area were closed Monday because of the weather, from Wauconda and Lake in the Hills to Naperville and Schaumburg to Tinley Park and Palos Heights. Chicago public schools were not closed. You can see the entire list here.



Delays were reported on nearly every Metra line Monday morning, some as long as 30 minutes. The CTA was reporting delays on the Red and Blue lines at 7:30 a.m. because of mechanical problems.



Flight delays and cancellations were still affecting travel at O'Hare from the weekend snow and the cold. As of 7:30 a.m., more than 40 flights had been canceled and more than 155 were delayed, according to FlightStats, which gathers data from the airlines and airports.

About 8 a.m. a crash at 75th and Kedzie caused a small traffic snarl after an 8-vehicle crash, according to Chicago Fire Department officials. No one was seriously injured and no one was taken to a hospital.



The Chicago area should be back to normal by the middle of the week. Wednesday is expected to be near 34 with a chance of snow. On Christmas, the forecast is for a high near 35 with rain and snow.
The company raised $145 million (about Rs 1,000 crore) recently from investors. The portal, which has 15 million unique customers and 32 million visits per month, is already a market leader. Sohini Das reports from Ahmedabad.

Automobile classifieds portal CarTrade.com, which might go in for an initial public offering in the next two years, is betting on the services segment in used car financing.

The company recently launched certification, valuation and transfer of ownership services. Going forward, CarTrade, which together with CarWale.com draws 75 per cent of all online automobile traffic, is also looking at potential acquisitions.

Vinay Sanghi, founder and chief executive officer of CarTrade.com, pointed out that the market for used car finance in India was an estimated Rs 1.2 lakh crore and only 8 per cent of used cars sold were financed by a formal lender.

This is due to the dearth of solution-oriented services in the sector. The financier needs data on the value of the vehicle, its condition, certification and name transfer.

He added, We have started working on these aspects. We piloted our auto-finance services a month ago that provides services on certification, valuation and transfer, Sanghi said.

CarTrade aims to evolve as a services provider because Sanghi feels this is one of the largest consumer finance opportunities.

The company raised $145 million (about Rs 1,000 crore) recently from investors led by Temasek. The CarTrade portal, which has 15 million unique customers and 32 million visits per month, is already a market leader.

Sanghi said the existing business was profitable and he did not need funds for it, but for inorganic growth opportunities in the product, technology and content space.

He added the company had so far raised $180 million (about Rs 1,242 crore). We might go in for an IPO to offer an exit to our investors, and that should be in the next two to three years, says Sanghi.

Warburg Pincus, JP Morgan, Temasek and March Capital Partners are investors in the automobile classifieds portal CarTrade.com.

At present, around 9,000 new and used car dealers are listed on CarTrade, including 7,500 used car dealers.
'Pakistan thinks it is winning this low intensity conflict. It is a serious observation.'

'Half the battle is convincing your adversary that he cannot make headway.'

'A lot depends on how the internal professional management of the army and the handling of situations that are bound to rise sooner than later in his command, are done,' says Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).

Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat, the current Vice Chief of the Army Staff, has been appointed the new army chief and will assume the appointment on General Dalbir Singh Suhag's superannuation on December 31, 2016.

His appointment is not without controversy because he supersedes two of his seniors to become the chief. In a tradition bound army which keeps itself completely outside political influence of any kind it is not easy to have such a situation where insinuations are flying around and allegations of even regional parochialism are being made.

This article will only briefly delve into the controversial part and explain the procedural aspects and the government's rationale. It will take no sides in this awkward game and focus primarily on the professional challenges before the new army chief.

The selection procedure for the army chief requires the shortlisting of the five senior most -- qualified officers -- and their record and dossiers are sent through the MoD to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

The ACC scrutinises the records and makes the selection with additional inputs from vigilance and intelligence.

In the case of the army only once have we had supersession with General Arun S Vaidya being promoted over Lieutenant General S K Sinha.

Since the system is based upon seniority cum merit the government of the day is well within its rights to make an actual selection and not merely tick off the senior most.

Not an eyelid batted when Admiral R K Dhowan was promoted over Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha in 2014.

It was under Vice Admiral Sinha's watch that the submarine INS Sindhurakshak met its doom, but there was nothing personally against him to merit his being overlooked. The UPA government did its cherry picking.

In the current context the shortlist was submitted to the ACC which then picked General Rawat as the next chief. No aspersions on the outstanding officers who have been overlooked. Yet, General Bipin Rawat clearly stands out if the government criterion was to have a hands on chief with operational experience in handling threats as perceived today.

The challenges before the new chief

To avoid making this too complex I have decided to limit this to only two domains for now and promise to expand this in a subsequent essay.

It starts with the thing for which General Rawat has probably been selected as the chief.

This relates to Jammu and Kashmir, counter-terrorism and the situation at the LoC.

Briefly, 2016 was a bad year from the perspective of India's security managers.

Pathankot, Uri and Nagrota, three major terror attacks showed Pakistan and its Deep State cocking a snook at India; the casualties were high.

Rear area security has suddenly taken a hit almost as bad as the first time we were targeted in 1999 by the so-called fidayeen (suicide attack) squads.

Garrisons are extremely vulnerable and in turn families, schools, clubs and officer messes.

The Kashmir valley has witnessed increasing alienation along with vigilantism and radicalism and currently only a tenuous peace based on dilution of stamina is holding.

The terrorist strength is low, but infiltration has been higher this year placing question marks on the efficacy of counter infiltration grid.

Lastly, the LoC is becoming the location where Pakistan plays its games when it has no other options.

Thus, the ceasefire of 2003 is known more by the breaches than the peace and tranquility it was to promote.

Lastly and most importantly, there appears in Pakistan a perception that it is winning the low intensity war against India without any timelines.

The problem for India's defence and security establishment increases with the expectation of muscularity of response due to the successful surgical strikes.

The army is obviously central to the entire strategy against Pakistan and the new army chief will be expected to evolve a winnable one.

The resources at his command are the maximum; it is a question of how they are harnessed.

I would attach highest priority to garrison security and LoC management for now even as the valley is quietly addressed.

General Rawat's ability to sit across the table and professionally advise the NSA, RM and the PM would be the clincher.

He must also be able to convince the J&K political and civil hierarchy to take professional advice from the army. It is already happening, but it must become institutionalised.

For garrison security a hard approach will have to be adopted as in 1999.

On both sides of the border/LoC there are new military hierarchies; both are experienced in handling security affairs related to Kashmir and both will take time to evolve new strategies.

General Rawat will have to have to work fast and win confidence of the security hierarchy.

As the prime mover in the entire national security matrix the army has to show the direction.

Lastly, on this aspect I would advise General Rawat to take stock of my words that Pakistan thinks it is winning this low intensity conflict. It is a serious observation.

Half the battle is convincing your adversary that he cannot make headway.

A lot depends on how the internal professional management of the army and the handling of situations that are bound to rise sooner than later in his command are done.

The internal management of the health of the army, as many former army chiefs have termed it, takes the next priority and much higher over all aspects of procurement, equipment, training and doctrine.

His own elevation is not being taken too kindly by a segment of the officer cadre.

It is being perceived as political interference or the stage is being set up for that. The fact that so many officers of the Gorkha Rifles are packed into the Army HQ does no good to perception.

General Rawat is a second generation 11 Gorkha Rifles officer and his predecessor, the current chief General Dalbir Singh too is from the 5 Gorkha Rifles.

My advice is that among the 'do-ables' a more equitable distribution of posts between Arms and Services must be done at the earliest.

His vice chief must be an officer from a different Arm. He has very little choice for this as both General Bakshi and General Hariz if they choose to serve on will surely not wish to be his number two.

That only leaves Lieutenant General Surinder Singh, an outstanding officer from the Guards and Lieutenant General Soni from the Armoured Corps.

If the two seniors decide to resign there will be more officers who will be elevated to army commander status and the choice may increase.

For very long the rivalry between the Armoured Corps and the Infantry has been a matter of friendly banter. I now sense this is becoming more serious than that.

It is the worst thing for the army if such light hearted rivalry gets reduced to professional competition of the worst kind.

At the bottom of this is the 2003 distribution of vacancies of the general cadre in the rank of brigadier, the entry point to the funnel of the general cadre from where command opportunities for higher promotion open up. Earlier there was no reservation.

In 2003, for whatever reasons of perceived discrimination in numbers of promotions the general cadre was divided into proportionate vacancies for the main arms of the general cadre.

That reduced the number of officers getting promoted from the Armored Corps and Mechanized Infantry to only the proportionate vacancies which accrued.

To top it, the distribution of vacancies of colonels then went in favour of the Infantry and Artillery on a skewed policy flowing out of the additional vacancies from the Ajay Vikram Singh Committee recommendations. Further description of this will only confuse readers no end.

Suffice to say that the Military Secretary Branch policies on promotion have been the cause of even a Supreme Court case.

It is difficult to take sides on this as there are pros and cons but these issues need early resolution.

It is little known that General Bipin Rawat handled the Military Secretary Branch (Policy) and is fully aware of issues which take army chiefs some time to grasp.

He should use the repertoire of his knowledge and experience to bring about a fair system of promotion; a system which must be perceived by all as fair and above parochialism.

The army appears to have tied itself in knots on some of these personnel related policies which definitely need a relook.

Gen Rawat will have to prove that he is his own man and that the promotion and appointment by the government was no favor to him.

To that extent his approach on dealing with Seventh Pay Commission issues and OROP will be under deep scrutiny by the veteran community which in today's world is an important opinion maker through social media.

On issues of equipment, procurement, doctrine including such aspects as theatrisation, welfare of jawans and financial management perhaps a separate piece will need to be written at an early date.

This ends with a note of caution. General Rawat's biggest handicap for some time will be the presence of his own batch mates and some senior to him in other Arms and Services. It does cause awkward moments and will need full maturity and firmness to handle.

My last advice to the new chief. Somewhere the happiness associated with the profession of arms appears to be dwindling.

It may well be worth mulling this and deciding how within constraints of political pressure and demands of operational situations can the Indian Army restore to its rank and file the concept of happiness it has always been known for.

Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd), a former General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, is now associated as a senior analyst at the Vivekanand International Foundation and the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.

IMAGE: Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat, the next Chief of the Army Staff. Photograph: Press Information Bureau.
Over the past two decades, six of the eight army chiefs have been from the infantry and the other two from the artillery division.

The appointment of either General Bakshi or General Hariz would interrupt the infantry's prolonged domination of the army command, says Ajai Shukla, a retired army officer himself.

An inevitable controversy has erupted after the government's announcement of Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat as the general who will succeed General Dalbir Singh Suhag on December 31 to the post of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), or army chief.

Opposition parties have accused the government of politicising the appointment by abandoning the traditional criterion of seniority.

More worryingly, there is sharp resentment within sections of the army on the sidelining of two high-calibre officers who General Rawat will supersede -- Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi, currently commanding the Eastern Army in Kolkata, the senior-most after General Suhag, and Lieutenant General P M Hariz, also senior to General Rawat, who commands the Southern Army from his headquarters in Pune.

Officers from the infantry are defending the superession of Generals Bakshi and Hariz, the former from the armoured corps, and the latter from the mechanised infantry.

Over the past two decades, six of the eight army chiefs have been from the infantry and the other two from the artillery division.

The appointment of either General Bakshi or General Hariz would interrupt the infantry's prolonged domination of the army command -- which comes with the right to make appointments and shape promotion policy.

The elevation of General Rawat, like General Suhag an infantryman from the Gorkha Rifles, preserves this arrangement.

However, even infantry officers are alarmed at how General Suhag has packed army headquarters with fellow Gorkha Regiment officers.

Besides General Rawat, Gorkha officers occupy the key posts of Director General of Military Operations (Lieutenant General A K Bhatt); Director General of Military Intelligence (Lieutenant General S K Patyal); Director General of Military Training (Lieutenant General A L Chavan); Adjutant General (Lieutenant General Rakesh Sharma); and Director General Staff Duties (Lieutenant General Vijay Singh), among many others.

General Rawat's supersession of General Bakshi and General Hariz indicates how difficult it has become for a non-infantry general to become chief, even when he has the seniority and merits.

The army's command hierarchy has demonstrated its ability to bring the government around to their viewpoint.

The government, however, justifies General Rawat's selection as based on merit. In leaks to chosen journalists on WhatsApp (which this correspondent has reviewed) a defence ministry spokesperson claimed General Rawat's rare combination of skill and experience makes him 'the best suited among the lieutenant generals, to deal with the emerging challenges...'

Separately, the defence ministry spokesperson has told journalists over the phone that General Bakshi, a tank man who has spent many years in the deserts of Rajasthan and in Punjab, was ill equipped to handle the internal security challenges of Jammu & Kashmir and the northeast.

General Bakshi's tenures as chief of staff at the Northern Command and at the Eastern Army command apparently count for nothing.

Nor apparently does the fact that war with Pakistan would centre on swift tank offensives under the 'Cold Start' doctrine.

"The army believes peacetime operations are more important than preparing for a real war," says a senior serving general.

Without question, the government has the right to appoint an army chief of its choice.

In an army where seniority has often elevated the wrong general to the top job, a move to meritocratic selection must be unambiguously welcomed.

"Though it is good to have a meritocracy, there must be clear criteria for determining merit. Otherwise, generals will start approaching politicians who can promote them to the top, and that will end the apolitical character of the army," warns Lieutenant General H S Panag (retd), a former army commander.

While General Bakshi, General Hariz and General Rawat are all capable of leading the army successfully, there are no objective criteria to suggest General Rawat is any more meritorious than the officers he superseded.

General Bakshi, particularly, has distinguished himself from his cadet days, performing outstandingly over decades. He is enormously respected by subordinates and peers for his integrity and blunt forthrightness, both valuable military qualities.

"When I heard about Bipin Rawat's appointment as the next chief, I immediately assumed that Praveen Bakshi -- who I know enjoys an excellent reputation -- was being named the first tri-service chief. That might still happen, but the government should have first announced Bakshi's elevation," says Lieutenant General Rustom Nanavatty, a revered former army commander who happens to be from the Gorkha Rifles.

That an unusual succession might be coming became evident in September, when the chief cut short General Rawat's tenure at the head of the Southern Command, and appointed him vice-chief -- a placement usually given to chiefs-in-waiting to acquaint them with army headquarters functioning before they take over the army.

Then came the inexplicable delay in announcing General Suhag's successor, traditionally done two or three months before the outgoing chief retires. Eventually, the announcement came only two weeks before General Suhag was due to retire.

Since Independence, successive governments have appointed army chiefs based on the principle of seniority.

The one exception was the appointment of General Arun S Vaidya as army chief in 1983, superseding Lieutenant General S K Sinha, who the Indira Gandhi government considered dangerously political.

Earlier, in 1975, when Indira Gandhi had reservations over appointing the strong-willed and forthright Lieutenant General Prem Bhagat as army chief, for which he would have been in line when General G G Bewoor retired, the government granted General Bewoor an extension to continue until General Bhagat retired.

As a result of this subterfuge, General Bhagat (who won the Victoria Cross in World War II) never had to be superseded.
'In the present era of strategic uncertainty and rapidly changing threats, no military professional disputes the necessity of a joint planning staff for the planning and conduct of joint operations,' notes Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).

Ending the speculation caused by the unexplained delay in the announcement of the new army and air force chiefs, the government approved the appointment of Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat and Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa to the two posts, respectively, on December 17, 2016, barely two weeks before the present incumbents are to retire.

While in Air Marshal Dhanoa's case the principle of appointing the senior most among the commanders-in-chief (C-in-C) and the vice chief as the new chief has been followed, General Rawat, the vice chief of the army, will supersede Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi and Lieutenant General P M Hariz the day he takes over the reins.

Both army commanders are senior to him by virtue of their date of commission into the army.

Appointing a new chief of the army, the navy or the air force is a prerogative of the government and there cannot be a quarrel with this fundamental tenet of civilian control over the military.

The government may choose to appoint the next senior C-in-C to the post, as has mostly been the case in the past, or ignore the principle of seniority and choose the most suitable candidate among all the contenders.

However, unless objective criteria are laid down and studiously observed, deep selection runs the risk of the politicisation of the senior leadership of the armed forces.

It will be an adverse development for the management of national security if senior military leaders begin to look over their shoulders to discern whether intended actions, for example in counter-insurgency operations, will have negative repercussions for one political party or another. Or, if they deem it necessary to cultivate friends among political leaders.

One saving grace of the recent government announcement of the new chiefs for the army and the air force is the widespread speculation, particularly in the social media, that though General Bakshi will not be the next army chief, he may soon be appointed the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

The post of CDS was approved by the Vajpayee government in 2001, but is yet to be established.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said on several occasions, including while releasing The New Arthashastra: A Security Strategy for India on November 10, 2016, that he will soon send his recommendations for the appointment of the CDS to the Cabinet Committee on Security. If this turns out to be true, it will be a welcome development.

The need for an early appointment of a CDS must be seen in the light of the efforts aimed at undertaking urgently needed defence reforms. Many attempts were made to streamline the national security decision making apparatus after independence, but these were mostly superficial.

After the Kargil conflict of 1999, a comprehensive security review was undertaken when the government appointed the Kargil Review Committee headed by the late K Subrahmanyam.

The committee looked holistically at the threats and challenges and examined the loopholes in the management of national security.

The committee made far reaching recommendations on the development of India's nuclear deterrence, the management of national security, intelligence reforms, border management, the defence budget, the use of air power, counter-insurgency operations, integrated manpower policy, defence research and development, and media relations.

The CCS then appointed a Group of Ministers to study the Kargil Review Committee report and recommend measures for implementation.

In turn, the GoM set up four task forces on intelligence reforms, internal security, border management and higher defence management to undertake in-depth analysis of various facets of national security management.

The task force on higher defence management was headed by Arun Singh, former Union minister who was then an advisor to the ministry of external affairs on security matters and who had headed the Committee on Defence Expenditure in the early 1990s.

Based on the reports of the four task forces, the GoM recommended sweeping reforms to the existing national security management system.

Among the major recommendations of the Arun Singh task force was the creation of the post of the CDS with a tri-Service joint planning staff HQ to provide 'single-point military advice' to the Cabinet Committee on Security.

The Cabinet Committee on Security accepted all its recommendations, including the one for the establishment of the post of the CDS -- a decision that has still not been implemented.

The two reasons cited for the deferment were the lack of political consensus on the establishment of the post of CDS and opposition within certain sections of the armed forces.

The early appointment of a CDS is an inescapable operational necessity. More than ever before, and especially in the nuclear era, it is now necessary for the national security decision makers to be given 'single-point military advice' that takes into account the inter-dependence of each of the armed forces on the other to meet complex emerging challenges.

Success in modern war hinges on the formulation of a joint military strategy based on the military aim and its joint and integrated execution.

At present, under the system bequeathed to India by Lord Ismay in the early 1950s, the three Services draw up their individual operational plans based on the Raksha Mantri's Operational Directive.

Only limited coordination is carried out at the operational level and the tactical level.

In the present era of strategic uncertainty and rapidly changing threats, no military professional now disputes the unavoidable necessity of a joint planning staff for the planning and conduct of joint operations so that integrated operations can be planned 'top down.'

HQ IDS will undoubtedly meet this requirement in the years to come, but if it remains headless, its functioning will remain disjointed and it will never carry the clout necessary to ensure that difficult and sometimes unpalatable decisions are accepted by the three services without questioning.

Hence, while wishing General Rawat good luck on shortly assuming the challenging assignment of a great army's new chief, one also hopes that General Bakshi will soon be appointed India's first CDS.

It is an idea whose time has come.

Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd) is Distinguished Fellow, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi.

IMAGE: A soldier marches past the national flag in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
A report released by Human Rights Watch states that police regularly disregard arrest procedures and torture suspects in custody to death. The police often blame the deaths on suicide or illness. A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com reports.

In India, 591 people have died in police custody between 2010 and 2015, the United States-based Human Rights Watch has said in a new report which was released in a press conference in Chennai on December 19.

Peoples Watch co-founder and leader Henry Tiphange, who has been fighting for human rights for four decades, speaking at the press conference, said that both the police and the judiciary have to share the blame for custodial deaths and violence. One perpetrates the crime, and the other does not question it, he said.

The report, Bound by Brotherhood-- Indias Failure to End Killings in Police Custody (external link), said a failure to follow proper arrest procedures, such as presenting a suspect before a magistrate within 24 hours, was allowing police to get away with murder.

Tiphange, speaking at the conference said that under Section 41-A, B, C and D, the police has to inform the family that the person has been arrested. They also have to inform the local superintendent of police and state director general of police. The DGP has to acknowledge and announce their arrest with their names, why and also which police station has arrested them. This has been ignored completely he thundered.

97 Number of custody deaths reported by authorities in 2015

Jayshree Bajoria, author of the report, has investigated custodial deaths in great detail. In her 114-page report, she focused on 17 deaths in custody from 2009 to 2015, including more than 70 interviews with witnesses, victims families, justice experts, and police officials.

I chose those cases where the family has approached the court and the court has ordered an inquiry. In such cases, there are documents and evidence available on record. All her findings are backed by such documents and also documents that she obtained by filings RTIs to the appropriate authorities.

She told Rediff.com, The police invariable say suicide or heart attack or some natural death. They never admit that their beating killed the person. We are trying to establish the truth about the killing.

Tiphange said, It is shocking that there are more deaths in judicial custody than in police custody. That means it is happening in prison and in the police station. And invariably, the person always dies in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, he said.

Jayshrees report of the 17 cases runs into 110 pages. She says, The police are bound by a brotherhood and their own investigation will never pin point their own people for killings in custody.

6 Number of people who died in prison owing to physical assault in 2015

Henry adds, Earlier it was enquiry by a RDO who gave the report to the home secretary who used to direct the petitioners to file a private complaint in court. Now the enquiry is done by a judicial magistrate and he keeps the report. He does not give any direction and a court ordered him to keep the report when we asked for it.

What is the point of an inquiry if the findings are not made public? he wanted to know.

Former Tamil Nadu DGP Dr Shyam Sundar, the chief guest at the event, said, When I was in service, I used to tell my police that it is okay if you cannot solve a couple of cases but do not violate human rights.

He added that though all cops know the law, around 20 per cent of them feel human rights arent an issue when dealing with criminals.

Image used is for representation purposes only. Photograph: Khaled Abdullah/Reuters
A photo published by Chinese military showing its strategic bomber reportedly flying over Taiwan, days after Beijing's spat with US President-elect Donald Trump over his questioning of 'One China' policy, has sparked concerns in the island, official Chinese media reported.

The photo published by the People's Liberation Army Air Force showing a long-range strategic bomber flying within visible range of Yushan, Taiwan's highest mountain, has caused great concern in Taiwan amid debate about whether the mainland will reunify the island by force, state-run Global Times reported.

It said the PLA Air Force published the photo on its Sina Weibo account, showing an Xian H-6K bomber flying above the clouds with two mountain peaks rising in the distance.

"Military commentators on the mainland believe the peaks are of a mountain in Taiwan, which has made many netizens marvel at the PLA's military capability," the report said.

However, the spokesman of Taiwan's "Defence Ministry," Chen Zhongji, told the Central News Agency that military aircraft from the mainland could only fly outside the air defence identification zone of Taiwan and the ministry could monitor their movements, saying the guesses were "groundless".

The daily quoted a Military expert Chen Weihao as telling Taiwan-based satellite television channel and cable TV network TVBS that it was the first time that mainland aircraft had been photographed with Taiwan landscapes, which has a psychological impact on the island.

"Discussions about the possibility of the mainland reunifying Taiwan by force continues to gain momentum as pro-independence Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen keeps whipping up anti-mainland sentiment," it said.

The report in the official Chinese media followed war of words between China and Trump after he spoke to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen which is unprecedented as US follows One China Policy under which China claims the breakaway province of Taiwan as part of its mainland.

"Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the US doesn't tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea? I don't think so!," angry Trump said after China lodged protests over his talks with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Later, Trump said in an interview that "I don't want China dictating to me. I don't know why we have to be bound by a one-China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade".

This prompted China to react saying that One China policy formed the bed rock of its foreign policy and US-China ties will be "out of question" if Trump compromised with One China policy.

Since then, Chinese military analysts have been saying that any plans by Trump to alter One China policy may heighten tensions in Taiwan Straits.

"The Taiwan regional government has lost its independence and become an agent of US and Japanese anti-China forces," Wang Zaixi, former vice president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, said at an annual meeting of the Global Times on Saturday, adding that the mainland is the only force at present that could curb "Taiwan-independence" forces.

"Military conflicts would occur between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan by 2020. It is quite possible that the mainland will take the island in one stroke," former deputy commander of the Nanjing military region Wang Hongguang said, adding that US President-elect Trump has pushed cross-Straits ties to a critical point, given his recent words on the Taiwan question.

However, Chen Yixin, a political expert from Taiwan-based Chinese Culture University, told the paper that Chinese leadership might not favour reunification by force, which would hurt both sides' interests.

"The mainland is upset about some of Tsai's policies such as Taiwan's culture independence, but they haven't had a great impact yet," Chen said.

"Even though Tsai wants to pave the way for jurisprudential independence, she does not have the nerve to do it, and the US will not necessarily admit the independence," Chen said, adding the mainland should show some restraint.
More than six hundred Delhi Police personnel assisted by sniffer dogs scanned the inhabited and forested areas of the sprawling Jawaharlal Nehru University campus on Monday to search for clues that could help them trace MSc student Najeeb Ahmed, who has been missing for over two months now.

The men and women of the Delhi Police began their search around 11 am under the supervision of deputy commissioner of police-crime branch, G Ram Gopal Naik. A team visited Mahi-Mandvi hostel where Najeeb

stayed and took help of sniffer dogs who smelled Najeeb's clothes.

The sniffer dogs failed to make any headway and stopped after circling around in the hostel.

"All agencies of the Delhi Police including special cell, special branch and the local police pooling more than 600 personnel scanned the hostels, residential areas, academic blocks and forested area till 5 pm. Help of mounted police was also taken to scan the vast area but nothing was found," said a senior police officer.

About 65-70 percent of the campus was covered on Monday and rest including the residential areas and the interiors of the campus will be scanned on Tuesday, he said.

The exercise is being undertaken by 12 assistant commissioner of police, 30 inspectors and 60 sub inspectors along with hundreds of constables under monitoring of two DCP rank officers.

Najeeb has been missing since October 15 after a scuffle at his hostel allegedly with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad students on the night of October 14. A reward of Rs 10 lakh has been announced by the Delhi Police on any information about Najeeb.

Najeeb's mother Fatima Nafees who was present at the hostel termed the police search "too late" and "futile".

"They should have carried out this search immediately after Najeeb went missing. But now, its of no use. I appeal to police to bring back my son and I will take him home from here," she said.

The massive search was mounted following a Delhi high court order last week directing the Delhi Police to scan the entire JNU campus including hostels, classrooms as well as rooftops of the buildings with help of sniffer dogs.

The JNU Students Union which was asked by court to furnish affidavit regarding its cooperation with police also expressed dissatisfaction with it.

"Sixty five days of Najeeb's disappearance, what did Delhi Police do? In last 3 hearings in the court counsel for crime branch himself accepted that there has been delay by Delhi Police in searching Najeeb," said a JNUSU statement.

Accusing the Delhi Police of "paying lip service" after court order, the students union charged it of indulging in "absurd exercises with "clueless methodology.

"Now to save their face in front of court they are doing absurd exercises with clueless methodology," said the statement.
Did Jayalalithaa, who was also in jail then, know about these transactions?

N Sundaresha Subramanian reports.

Sasikala, a confidante of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, had bought a 75% stake in Mavis Satcom, the company that runs Jaya TV network, when in a cell at Bengaluru's Parapana Agrahara jail.

While the details of their custody are in the public domain, Business Standard pieced together the acquisition from the company's filings with the ministry of corporate affairs.

On September 27, 2014, a court in Bengaluru had sentenced Jayalalithaa and three associates -- Sasikala, J Ilavarasi and V N Sudhakaran -- to four years imprisonment in the Rs 66.65 crore (Rs 666.5 million) disproportionate assets case.

Ilavarasi is Sasikala's sister-in-law and Sudhakaran her nephew. They were moved to the city's Parappana Agrahara prison soon.

Four days later, on October 1, Mavis issued a notice for a board resolution to approve a transfer of shares.

On October 10, 2014, the board approved a transfer of 659,200 shares or 75.8% to Sasikala from two directors, Venkatesh and Maruthappa Palanivelu.

The Supreme Court granted bail to them on October 17.

An extract of the board minutes of October 10, 2014, signed by Managing Director Prabha Sivakumar, read: 'The chairman informed the board that the share transfer form has been lodged by the members to the company for share transfer, along with revalidation of share transfer form.'

'The board after due deliberation passed the following resolution: Resolved that the approval be and hereby given to the under noted transfers.'

Accordingly, Venkatesh, director since inception, transferred 219,400 shares. Palanivelu, who joined the board in 2006, transferred 439,900 shares.

This took Sasikala's holding to 701,260 or 80.76%.

While the filings do not reveal the value of these deals, there are some clues in an earlier transaction, where Sasikala and a couple of other companies bought Mavis shares.

Sasikala did not own any shares at the end of the company's annual general meeting in September 2013.

Somewhere in 2013-2014, she purchased 42,860 shares from three existing shareholders.

She bought 26,789 from Indian Tropical Agro products, a company based in the port town of Tuticorin.

Chandra Bhuppathi and D Gnanaraj sold her 10,714 and 5,357 shares respectively.

During the same period, two companies associated with Sasikala and her relatives, Signet Exports and Hot Wheels Engineering (now Jazz Cinemas), also bought Mavis shares.

While Hot Wheels bought 41,571 shares from 11 individuals, Signet bought a total of 37,499 shares.

Sellers included Mumbai-based Candock Investments and S Vaikunda Rajan, a Tamil Nadu-based mining baron.

In Signet's financial statements, these Mavis shares were valued at cost. The cost of the Signet holding was Rs 2.56 crore (Rs 25.6 million), valuing each Mavis Satcom share around Rs 683.

At these prices, the value of Sasikala's holding in Mavis comes to around Rs 48 crore (Rs 480 million).

To be sure, company law experts say there are no specific qualifications or qualities for a shareholder in companies that would bar a person in jail from becoming one.

However, the shareholding of companies running news channels is governed by the of information and broadcasting's uplinking guidelines.

Clause 3.1.4 says: 'The company shall make full disclosure, at the time of application, of shareholders agreements, loan agreements and such other agreements that are finalised or are proposed to be entered into.'

Some media investors said the phrase 'are proposed to be entered into' implied that any change in shareholding should be intimated to the ministry in advance.

These guidelines also provide that changes to shareholding should be intimated to the ministry within 15 days of such changes.

Although Jaya TV started off as a general channel, it grew its network to include news a few years later.

'On the 6th of December 2008, Jaya Network launched Jaya Plus -- a 24x7 news and current affairs channel; Jaya Max -- a musical channel; and J-Movies -- a movie channel. These channels are available on most global cable networks,' the Jaya TV Web site said.

Last June, the Union home ministry cited pending criminal investigations against the promoter to deny security clearance for radio stations and channels of the Sun TV Network.

Apart from the legal issues, the transactions also raise the question if these moves were under instructions or knowledge of Jayalalithaa, who was also in jail then.

These could be politically significant as her long-term companion closes in on the reins of the party and the government.

Media vehicles have traditionally played a key role in Dravidian politics.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi is fond of calling party mouthpiece Murasoli his first child.

After becoming active in the government, he left the editorial role to his nephew Maran, who came to be known as 'Murasoli' Maran.

Maran's son Kalanithi Maran launched Sun TV in 1993. Sun TV played its part in broadcasting visuals of assets seized from Jayalalithaa's house after she lost power in 1996. Jaya TV was launched in 1999.

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OPS in Delhi to seek Cyclone Vardah aid, Bharat Ratna for Jaya

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam is in New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek support to meet the losses caused by the cyclonic storm, Vardah, which hit northern Tamil Nadu on December 12.

He will also hand over letters requesting the Bharat Ratna for the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

The Tamil Nadu government said Panneerselvam would also give detailed memorandum with various other requests for the state.

He will also hand over a letter to the prime minister with a request for a bronze statue of Jayalalithaa in Parliament.

The state government has earlier sought the Centre to release Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) immediately from the National Disaster Response Fund, for the state to assist rehabilitation work.

In a letter to the prime minister, the chief minister said a severe cyclonic storm Vardah hit the northern districts of Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram leaving in its wake a trail of destruction and causing further damages in the districts of Vellore, Thiruvannamalai and Dharmapuri.

More than 15,000 persons from identified vulnerable and low lying areas were evacuated to 104 relief camps and provided with food, water, medical services and other essential services.

Almost 16 lives have been lost due to the cyclone.

The cyclone uprooted more than 12,000 trees disrupting traffic in Chennai and its suburbs.

It caused extensive damage to road infrastructure including attendant road furniture. Due to the extensive damage caused to transmission lines, sub-stations, transformers and distribution lines, power supply was cut off in almost the entire city of Chennai as well as large parts of Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur districts.

More than 10,000 electric poles have been mangled and more than 800 transformers damaged.

Extensive damage has been caused to huts, drinking water infrastructure and sewerage facilities.

The state will carry a detailed exercise to assess the damages and the requirement of funds for immediate relief and restoration is being carried out.

The chief minister has asked the prime minister to depute a team from the Centre to study the extensive damages caused by the cyclonic storm.

Further, as a number of relief, rehabilitation and immediate reconstruction measures have to be undertaken by the government of Tamil Nadu along with the urban and rural local bodies in the area affected by the cyclone, which is beyond the funds available in the State Disaster Response Fund.

Photograph: Kind courtesy AIADMK/Twitter
Unable to bear the demise of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, 597 people have died so far in Tamil Nadu, the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said on Monday.

The party released the latest list of 127 such deceased persons on Monday, taking the total number to 597.

It also announced relief of Rs 3 lakh each to the bereaved families, who hail from various parts of the state including Chennai, Tirunelveli, Dindigul, Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts.

They died as they were unable to bear the death of Jayalalithaa, who passed away on December 5 in Chennai, an AIADMK release said.

Photograph: PTI Photo
Stepping up attack on opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleged that Parliament was not allowed to function as rival parties were trying to defend the dishonest and were running away from a debate on issues like graft and simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assemblies.

He also hailed the efforts of the Election Commission to get rid of black money from electoral system and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party welcomes it.

Addressing BJP's 'parivartan rally' in Kanpur, he also said that some politicians had tried to "provoke" people standing in ATM queues, but their designs did not succeed as the common man was patient and understood that larger interest of the country was at stake.

"Our agenda is to fight for a country free of corruption and black money. But their agenda is to close (disrupt) Parliament...I am puzzled," Modi said, days after the winter session ended in a washout due to the standoff over demonetisation.

He said he given a suggestion at an all-party meeting convened before the winter session of Parliament that a debate should be held on simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies and donations to political parties.

"But Parliament was not allowed to function for a month as the opposition parties were not interested in a discussion on the two issue," the prime minister said.

He said "earlier, the opposition would disrupt Parliament as they wanted to expose the corrupt and bring out scams. But this time, Parliament was disrupted as opposition wanted to defend the dishonest and hence were running away from debate."

Singling out the Congress, he said its leaders have often claimed that late Rajiv Gandhi brought computer and mobile phone to the common man in India.

"But now when I say mobile phone can be used as a bank, they say the poor people do not have cell phone...they said people do not have bank accounts. Now they claim poor went to the bank, but there was no money...they are spreading lies," the prime minister said.

He said that the Congress has always shied away from being accountable to the people and recalled a saying about then AICC Treasurer Sitaram Kesri to drive home the point.

"Na khata, na bahi, jo Kesri kahe wahi sahi (neither accounts nor ledgers, only thing that matters is what is said by Kesri)," he said.

Modi told the gathering that the decision to demonetise Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes has shown that there are two sides in the country -- one consisting of a "handful" of people who have been defending those who exploit the middle class and snatch the right of the poor and the other comprising of those who are fighting corruption and the scourge of black money.

Attacking the Akhilesh Yadav government of Uttar Pradesh, Modi alleged that "goons are troubling the people openly as they have the blessings of those in power in the state".

He hoped that people of the sate will "vote for change" in the assembly polls due early next year.

The prime minister asked people to spread the word that government is beginning a lucky draw scheme for people using cards and E-wallets for purchases and merchants accepting digital payments.

He said only those who buy anything between Rs 50 and Rs 3000 will be eligible for the draw as it is meant to encourage the common man and not the rich.

Photograph: PTI Photo
Russia has described the killing of Andrey Karlov at an art exhibition in Ankara as a terror attack.

IMAGE: Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov's body lies on the ground after he was shot dead by a gunman at an art gallery in Ankara. Photograph: Hasim Kilic/Hurriyet via Reuters

A gunman assassinated Russias ambassador to Turkey on Monday, shouting Dont forget Aleppo as he opened fire on Andrey Karlov at an art exhibition in Ankara.

Russias foreign ministry described the shooting, which was captured on video, as a terror attack.

We are currently in contact with Turkish authorities, who are assuring us that a thorough, comprehensive investigation will be conducted, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in remarks broadcast on Russian television.

Murderers will be punished. Terrorism wont sustain. Well fight it.

IMAGE: Turkish police secure the area near an art gallery where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot in Ankara, Turkey. Photograph: Umit Bektas/Reuters

Drama unfolded when Ambassador Andrey Karlov, 62, was giving a speech at the opening ceremony of a photo exhibit.

The shooter, now identified as on social media as Mevlut Mert Altntas, 22, an off-duty police officer from the Ankara special forces department, repeatedly shot Karlov in the back at close range, shouting: We die in Aleppo, you die here!

Altintas was later shot dead by police, according to local media.

IMAGE: Mevlut Mert Altntas, 22, an off-duty police officer from the Ankara special forces department, was later shot dead by police, according to local media. Photograph: Umit Bektas/Reuters

The horrific scene was caught on camera by journalists at the gallery to cover the event.

Footage shows the gunman, dressed in a suit and tie, pacing the gallery while brandishing a gun in one hand and waving the other in the air.

It is believed he used his police ID to bypass security staff at the exhibition.

One pro-Kremlin news website reported that Karlov was shot 11 times.

The fatal attack follows days of protests in Turkey over Russias role in Syria.

IMAGE: K arlov, 62, was a veteran diplomat who had served as Soviet ambassador to North Korea for much of the 1980s. He took up the Ankara posting in July 2013. Photograph: Osman Orsal/File Photo/Reuters

Karlov, 62, was a veteran diplomat who had served as Soviet ambassador to North Korea for much of the 1980s.

After the fall of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991, he had a posting as Russian ambassador to South Korea before returning to the North for five years in 2001.

Taking up the Ankara posting in July 2013, he had to grapple with a major diplomatic crisis last year when a Turkish plane shot down a Russian jet close to the Syrian border.

The shooting of the ambassador is the latest in a long string of attacks in Turkey this year, although its the first in recent memory to be directed at a foreign dignitary.

The United States condemns the gun attack on the Russian ambassador to Turkey earlier on Monday, the US State Department said.

We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source, said US State Department spokesman John Kirby in a statement, Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

India on Tuesday condemned the assassination of Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, saying it was shocked by the dastardly act and that there can never be any justification for terrorism.

"India strongly condemns the tragic assassination of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Turkey. We are deeply saddened and shocked by this dastardly act," the External Affairs Ministry said.

"We offer our condolences to the family of Ambassador Andrey Karlov and share their pain and grief. There can never be any justification for violence and terrorism," the MEA said in a statement.
Even as the Narendra Modi government has turned its full attention towards promoting digital transactions, there are key questions being posed by the people -- is it is safe to trust the Internet? Is our country is ready for safe digital transactions?

So, the Rediff labs team analysed the data from the National Crime Records Bureau on cyber crimes that have been reported across the country.

The map, above, shows the change in the number of cyber-crimes reported in each state in 2014-2015. The top three states where the number of crimes increased the most in this period are Odisha, Tripura and Bihar. Cyber crime figures have also risen in states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. The states that fared better include Sikkim, Goa and Arunachal Pradesh.

The map, above, shows how various state governments have responded to tackling cyber crime by comparing the number of persons arrested in 2014-2015. The data reveals that even though cyber crime is lower in states like Bihar, Tripura and Odisha, they have been highly responsive in arresting those who perpetrate such crimes. On the contrary, even though cyber crime cases are high, states like Maharashtra and Karnataka haven't had much success in tracking down the accused.



Considering the data on display, how then can the government assure safe online transactions?



For more data driven journalism, check out Rediff Labs.
The American oceanographic survey ship which controls the underwater drone seized by China had been spying against the Communist nation posing a threat to Chinese naval ships in the South China Sea, a state-run daily has said while claiming that such activities by the US Navy were "very rampant" in the strategic region.

"We welcome that the Chinese navy is conducting regular 'verification and examination' of devices dispatched by the US to collect intelligence in China's surrounding waters in future. This should go along with US sabotage activities in China's periphery," an editorial posted on the web edition of the state-run Global Times daily said on Sunday.

"The US claimed that the glider was collecting unclassified data such as salinity and water temperature, which are routine operations in accordance with international

law. However, this argument is absurd," the daily said.

The Chinese military said on Saturday night that the drone seized by its naval boat would be returned "in an appropriate manner" after the US took up the issue with China, but did not give any time line.

"The USNS Bowditch (which controlled the drone) has appeared in the waters around China now and then. It caused a dispute between China and the US in the Yellow Sea in 2002. The surveillance ship has been engaged in maritime intelligence gathering, posing a long-term threat to the safety of Chinese navy vessels, especially submarines," the editorial said.

Reports said a Chinese naval boat seized the drone before the Bowditch could retrieve it from the water.

Defending the seizure of the drone Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun yesterday dismissed the US allegations, insisting China had been "professional and responsible" to take the drone.

"We had to examine and verify the device in a bid to avoid any harm it might cause to the safety of navigation and personnel," he said.

US president-elect Donald Trump has accused China of stealing the drone.

In its editorial, Global Times said "it's well-known that the South China Sea is an important area where Chinese strategic submarines conduct activities. Intelligence gathering activities by the US Navy in the region are very rampant," it said.

China and the US have confronted each other over US intelligence gathering in China's periphery for a long time.

In 2001, a US Navy intelligence aircraft collided with a Chinese jet while in 2009, several Chinese fishing vessels besieged US surveillance ship USNS Impeccable, it said.

"Many people worry that the US Navy has collected too much information about China's naval base in Hainan Island, and it may even have deployed underwater devices that can continuously send signals," it said.

The US has always claimed its practices are consistent with international law and regards maritime reconnaissance operations targeting China as a key aspect of "freedom of navigation in the South China Sea".

"This is a typical hegemonic approach. It's common sense that freedom of navigation should not harm China's national security. With the increase in China's defensive capabilities, we believe such a common-sense approach will win more respect," the editorial said.

"If one day Chinese navy ships conduct intelligence gathering around US coastlines and its surrounding waters, what will the US think? It's worth noting that it won't take a long time for the Chinese ships to develop such capabilities," it said.

"Does the US want the two countries to engage in offshore intelligence gathering oneupmanship? China knows the strength of the US Navy. But no matter how powerful the US Navy is, it cannot act on the bottom line of China's security. Otherwise, misunderstandings and frictions are bound to occur," it said.

The Global Times also quoted Chinese military analysts as saying the US should put a halt to its spying activities in the South China Sea.

"This is not the first time that we seized a US underwater drone in the South China Sea, but the one we seized on Thursday is new and more advanced than before and might carry valuable information just gathered in the South China Sea," Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert told the daily.

This is why the US was so nervous and tried to use the media to hype it up this time while it had remained silent before, Li said.

A Chinese military source confirmed with the Global Times that on Saturday they received a "claim request" from the US for the underwater drone.

Song Zhongping, a military commentator at Phoenix TV, told the Global Times that in the military field, the drone, or UUV (unmanned underwater vehicle), can gather hydrological intelligence about salinity, temperature and ocean currents.

"More importantly, it can also gather military intelligence like the movements of submarines," Song said, adding that the South China Sea is a significant area for Chinese navy and nuclear submarines.
I want to ask Papa Noel (Santa Claus) to bring me an electric guitar this Christmas, because I love music and Ive wanted one for a long time.

Reuters photographers across continents have asked youngsters to depict what they wanted as gifts this festive season and heres what they said.

KEEP WARM: Alicia, 4, from the indigenous community Tarahumara in Mexico with her drawing. All she wants for Christmas is a winter jacket and clothes for her cousins. Photograph: Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

HITTING HIGH NOTES: In Beirut, six-year-old Lunn Habbouche, who has leukaemia, said all she wanted from Santa Claus was to recover from her illness, and an iPad. Photograph: Jamal Saidi/Reuters

HOME, SWEET, HOME: Khanyo Mchunu, 13, poses for a photograph in front of her house in Embo, South Africa. Khanyo as you can see wanted a roof over her head. Photograph: Rogan Ward/Reuters

LAUGH OUT LOUD! Natsuki Ariga, a nine-year-old, from Japan. He wants to get comic books on Japanese and world history. "Santa gives me a present every year for working hard. That's why I practise Electone (Yamaha's electronic organ), abacus and track and field very hard, " he said. Photograph: Toru Hanai/Reuters

RUN, PALESA, RUN: Twelve-year-old Palesa Vinger from GillView, a suburb south of Johannesburg, South Africa said she would love it if Santa gave her her a pair of Nike sneakers. "My mother promised to buy me one once I pass my grade, but I don't trust she will keep her promises," Palesa said. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

DREAMING OF PARIS! Like many other people in life, eight-year-old Zeynep Akgul from Turkey wishes to live in the city of Eiffel Tower, Paris with her best mate Alya. "I want a house in Paris from Santa. I want to live in France because I was there for holiday this summer. I like Paris, I like people there. Everything in Paris is the way I like," Zeynep said. Photograph: Umit Bektas/Reuters

RIDE OF A LIFE! For David Arias, 5, who is admitted to UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica in California, a police motorbike would be a perfect Christmas gift. Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS: Nine-year-old Argentinian Morena Fay and her drawing of what she wants to get for Christmas from Santa. "I want to ask Papa Noel (Santa Claus) to bring me an electric guitar this Christmas, because I love music and I've wanted one for a long time," Morena said. Photograph: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

IT'S A DOG'S LIFE! Zofie Cizkova, 8, from Prague, Czech Republic had quite a unique request from Santa. "I want all dogs to love all the cats," Sofie said. Photograph: David W Cerny/Reuters

LOVE 'EM ALL: Dora Stanzl, 8, wishes on the drawing read: "Love and peace in the world" (left) and "diary". Photograph: Antonio Bronic/Reuters
EU-Turkey statement, 18 March 2016

Publisher European Union: Council of the European Union Publication Date 18 March 2016 Cite as European Union: Council of the European Union, EU-Turkey statement, 18 March 2016, 18 March 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857b3444.html [accessed 3 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.

Today the Members of the European Council met with their Turkish counterpart. This was the third meeting since November 2015 dedicated to deepening Turkey-EU relations as well as addressing the migration crisis.

The Members of the European Council expressed their deepest condolences to the people of Turkey following the bomb attack in Ankara on Sunday. They strongly condemned this heinous act and reiterated their continued support to fight terrorism in all its forms.

Turkey and the European Union reconfirmed their commitment to the implementation of their joint action plan activated on 29 November 2015. Much progress has been achieved already, including Turkey's opening of its labour market to Syrians under temporary protection, the introduction of new visa requirements for Syrians and other nationalities, stepped up security efforts by the Turkish coast guard and police and enhanced information sharing. Moreover, the European Union has begun disbursing the 3 billion euro of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey for concrete projects and work has advanced on visa liberalisation and in the accession talks, including the opening of Chapter 17 last December. On 7 March 2016, Turkey furthermore agreed to accept the rapid return of all migrants not in need of international protection crossing from Turkey into Greece and to take back all irregular migrants intercepted in Turkish waters. Turkey and the EU also agreed to continue stepping up measures against migrant smugglers and welcomed the establishment of the NATO activity on the Aegean Sea. At the same time Turkey and the EU recognise that further, swift and determined efforts are needed.

In order to break the business model of the smugglers and to offer migrants an alternative to putting their lives at risk, the EU and Turkey today decided to end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU. In order to achieve this goal, they agreed on the following additional action points:

1) All new irregular migrants crossing from Turkey into Greek islands as from 20 March 2016 will be returned to Turkey. This will take place in full accordance with EU and international law, thus excluding any kind of collective expulsion. All migrants will be protected in accordance with the relevant international standards and in respect of the principle of non-refoulement. It will be a temporary and extraordinary measure which is necessary to end the human suffering and restore public order. Migrants arriving in the Greek islands will be duly registered and any application for asylum will be processed individually by the Greek authorities in accordance with the Asylum Procedures Directive, in cooperation with UNHCR. Migrants not applying for asylum or whose application has been found unfounded or inadmissible in accordance with the said directive will be returned to Turkey. Turkey and Greece, assisted by EU institutions and agencies, will take the necessary steps and agree any necessary bilateral arrangements, including the presence of Turkish officials on Greek islands and Greek officials in Turkey as from 20 March 2016, to ensure liaison and thereby facilitate the smooth functioning of these arrangements. The costs of the return operations of irregular migrants will be covered by the EU.

2) For every Syrian being returned to Turkey from Greek islands, another Syrian will be resettled from Turkey to the EU taking into account the UN Vulnerability Criteria. A mechanism will be established, with the assistance of the Commission, EU agencies and other Member States, as well as the UNHCR, to ensure that this principle will be implemented as from the same day the returns start. Priority will be given to migrants who have not previously entered or tried to enter the EU irregularly. On the EU side, resettlement under this mechanism will take place, in the first instance, by honouring the commitments taken by Member States in the conclusions of Representatives of the Governments of Member States meeting within the Council on 20 July 2015, of which 18.000 places for resettlement remain. Any further need for resettlement will be carried out through a similar voluntary arrangement up to a limit of an additional 54.000 persons. The Members of the European Council welcome the Commission's intention to propose an amendment to the relocation decision of 22 September 2015 to allow for any resettlement commitment undertaken in the framework of this arrangement to be offset from non-allocated places under the decision. Should these arrangements not meet the objective of ending the irregular migration and the number of returns come close to the numbers provided for above, this mechanism will be reviewed. Should the number of returns exceed the numbers provided for above, this mechanism will be discontinued.

3) Turkey will take any necessary measures to prevent new sea or land routes for illegal migration opening from Turkey to the EU, and will cooperate with neighbouring states as well as the EU to this effect.

4) Once irregular crossings between Turkey and the EU are ending or at least have been substantially and sustainably reduced, a Voluntary Humanitarian Admission Scheme will be activated. EU Member States will contribute on a voluntary basis to this scheme.

5) The fulfilment of the visa liberalisation roadmap will be accelerated vis-a-vis all participating Member States with a view to lifting the visa requirements for Turkish citizens at the latest by the end of June 2016, provided that all benchmarks have been met. To this end Turkey will take the necessary steps to fulfil the remaining requirements to allow the Commission to make, following the required assessment of compliance with the benchmarks, an appropriate proposal by the end of April on the basis of which the European Parliament and the Council can make a final decision.

6) The EU, in close cooperation with Turkey, will further speed up the disbursement of the initially allocated 3 billion euros under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey and ensure funding of further projects for persons under temporary protection identified with swift input from Turkey before the end of March. A first list of concrete projects for refugees, notably in the field of health, education, infrastructure, food and other living costs, that can be swiftly financed from the Facility, will be jointly identified within a week. Once these resources are about to be used to the full, and provided the above commitments are met, the EU will mobilise additional funding for the Facility of an additional 3 billion euro up to the end of 2018.

7) The EU and Turkey welcomed the ongoing work on the upgrading of the Customs Union.

8) The EU and Turkey reconfirmed their commitment to re-energise the accession process as set out in their joint statement of 29 November 2015. They welcomed the opening of Chapter 17 on 14 December 2015 and decided, as a next step, to open Chapter 33 during the Netherlands presidency. They welcomed that the Commission will put forward a proposal to this effect in April. Preparatory work for the opening of other Chapters will continue at an accelerated pace without prejudice to Member States' positions in accordance with the existing rules.

9) The EU and its Member States will work with Turkey in any joint endeavour to improve humanitarian conditions inside Syria, in particular in certain areas near the Turkish border which would allow for the local population and refugees to live in areas which will be more safe.

All these elements will be taken forward in parallel and monitored jointly on a monthly basis.

The EU and Turkey decided to meet again as necessary in accordance with the joint statement of 29 November 2015.
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.
China: Three Activists Feared 'Disappeared'

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, China: Three Activists Feared 'Disappeared', 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857b4a14.html [accessed 3 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.

China's government should immediately account for three prominent human rights defenders who appear to have been forcibly disappeared, Human Rights Watch said today. Human rights campaigner Liu Feiyue, lawyer Jiang Tianyong, and activist Huang Qi, have all been previously harassed by the authorities and have been missing since November 17, 21, and 28, 2016, respectively.

The secret detention of individuals without access to family members or legal counsel significantly increases the risk of torture in detention.

"The Chinese authorities should formally notify the families of Huang, Jiang, and Liu of their whereabouts and urgently allow them and their lawyers to visit," said Sophie Richardson, China director. "Officials involved in these forced disappearances are responsible for any mistreatment they suffer in detention."

On November 17, Liu Feiyue, 46, founder of the Hubei-based grassroots rights monitoring organization Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch, texted his colleague saying that national security police had come to take him away. On November 18, Hubei police told Liu's family that he had been detained on suspicion of "subversion of state power." The family still has not received a written notice. On December 6, Zhang Keke, Liu's lawyer, learned verbally from police that Liu was being held in Suizhou City No.1 Detention Center on suspicion of "inciting subversion." The officers said they would deliver Liu's detention notice "later, in accordance with the law," and they also declined Zhang's request to meet with his client before they had "studied" his request.

Although China's Criminal Procedure Law requires police to notify families within 24 hours of criminal detention, such requirement can be waived in cases involving "national security" and "terrorism," and when the police believe that such notification could "impede the investigation." Similarly, although the Criminal Procedure Law allows lawyer-client meetings within 48 hours of lawyers making such requests, in cases involving "national security," "terrorism," and "major corruption," police approval is required before such meetings can take place. No publicly available information suggests the accusations have any merit. Charges of inciting subversion can result in 15 years in prison.

On November 21, Beijing-based human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong, 45, went missing en route home from Changsha, Hunan Province, after he visited the family of a friend who had been arrested. Jiang's family tried for several days to report his disappearance to various police units in Changsha, Beijing, and Henan Province, where Jiang's residency is registered, but officers declined to act. Jiang's lawyer, Qin Chenshou, said that on December 13 he had been told by a police officer at Changsha train station that Jiang had been subjected to nine days of administrative detention for "purchasing over 20 tickets using others' identification cards." The officer said Jiang has been released on December 1, and that they had mailed the notification to Jiang's family, only to have it returned. But the officer declined to provide the lawyer a copy of the notification. He also said he had no further information, such as whether Jiang remained in detention or his whereabouts.

On December 15, Jiang's wife, Jin Bianling, who has been living in the United States, said she learned that on December 4 police had broken into an apartment Jiang used in Beijing. On December 16, state press reported that Jiang has been held under an unspecified "coercive criminal measure" for "illegally holding state secrets documents" and "illegally providing state secrets to other countries." The report also says Jiang's family "has been notified according to the law." Yet his family said they have received no such notification. The report also does not explain where Jiang is held.

On November 28, police officers in Sichuan Province took Huang Qi, 53, founder of the rights monitoring website 64tianwang, from his home and searched the premises. The whereabouts of Huang's 83-year-old mother are also unclear, but the website's volunteers suspect police involvement. There has been no formal notification about his detention. Huang suffers from serious kidney disease and requires daily medication.

The three men have for many years been active in promoting human rights in China. Liu's Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch is a grassroots platform that has been reporting on human rights abuses in China since its founding in 2006, documenting detention, imprisonment, and harassment of activists, petitioners, and protesters, including the abusive use of involuntary psychiatric detention. Jiang, who was disbarred in 2009 for political reasons, has long been active in human rights cases, including providing legal advice to Falun Gong practitioners and Christians. In 2011, he was detained for two months and tortured for his activism. Huang, imprisoned twice for a total of eight years, has since 1999 used his website to report on human rights violations, including detentions of activists, petitioners, and Falun Gong practitioners, and forced demolitions. Awarded the Press Freedom Prize by Reporters Without Borders in November 2016, 64tianwang is possibly the longest-running human rights website based in China.

Although the three cases reflect the broader Chinese government crackdown on human rights defenders since President Xi Jinping formally took power in March 2013, there is no information directly linking them.

Under international law, a government commits an enforced disappearance when state agents take a person into custody and then deny holding the person, or conceal or fail to disclose the person's whereabouts. Family members and legal representatives are not informed of the person's location, well-being, or legal status. "Disappeared" people are often at high risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

The Chinese government has long used enforced disappearances against its critics. In 2011, authorities responded to an anonymous online call for a "Jasmine Revolution" in China by disappearing dozens of critics across the country and holding them in secret locations for weeks. In 2012, revisions to the Criminal Procedure Law made it lawful to hold persons for up to six months without disclosing their whereabouts  effectively legalizing enforced disappearance.

In July 2015, the government took into custody 300 human rights lawyers and their associates, as well as activists supporting them; in more than a dozen of these cases, authorities concealed, for months, information about the detainees, including whether they were in custody, their whereabouts, and their well-being. Sixteen remain in detention. Between October and December 2015, five staff members of the Causeway Bay Bookstore, which publishes and sells books in Hong Kong about mainland politics, went missing. Four were released months later after "confessing" on television to smuggling banned books, but one, Swedish national Gui Minhai, remains detained incommunicado in an unknown location.

"The Chinese authorities appear to have replaced the mass arrests of human rights defenders in 2015 with the equally invidious enforced disappearance of activists one by one," Richardson said. "Not only does it terrorize those held and their family members, but it reinforces a message to the rest of civil society: stay silent  or we'll silence you."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Iraq: Executions by Government-Backed Militia

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 18 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Iraq: Executions by Government-Backed Militia, 18 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857b5004.html [accessed 3 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.

An Iraqi government-backed militia on November 29, 2016, executed at least four men they suspected of affiliation with the Islamic State (also known as ISIS), Human Rights Watch said today. The men were killed without any judicial proceeding. Murder of prisoners in a conflict is a war crime.

Residents of the Shayalat al-Imam village said that Iraqi Security Forces were in the village when the Hashad al-Jabour militia executed the men and stood idly by while they witnessed at least one execution. The villagers did not see them take any steps to stop the killings or punish the killers. Some Hashad al-Asha`ri militias from Sunni tribes, including the Hashad al-Jabour, are members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which are fighting alongside the Iraqi troops to retake areas of northern Iraq from ISIS.

"The Iraqi government should make clear that government-backed militias don't have a green light to abuse or execute captives regardless of what they think they're guilty of," said Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "The Iraqi army should intervene to stop militias from committing abuses against civilians and captured fighters, not stand idly by, and should punish fighters who commit abuses."

Human Rights Watch visited a camp for displaced people south of Mosul on December 11, and interviewed eight residents of Shayalat al-Imam, which is 70 kilometers south of Mosul in the northern Salah al-Din Governorate. The residents said that the approximately 50 families in the village fled on November 29, after a complete army division and militia forces in at least 15 vehicles entered the village at around 8 a.m. after ISIS fighters withdrew to the west. Residents said that some of the Hashad fighters they saw covered their faces.

The "Battle to Liberate Nineveh  War Media" Facebook page, which posts regular updates on the conflict, says that the Iraqi army's 60th infantry brigade 17th division and the Hashad al-Asha`ri pushed out ISIS fighters and retook the village on November 29.

Village residents said that the militia fighters were from nearby villages, including Kan`us, Hajj Ali, Sudayrah, and al-Hayjal. A Shayalat al-Imam community leader said they were under the control of a local sheikh who had previously worked as the leader of an "awakening force" unit, the Sunni force that had turned against earlier militant takeovers in the region. The militia is locally known as Hashad al-Jabour, the community leader said. Villagers said that the Hashad fighters ordered the villagers to assemble in an open area south of the village close to the highway. Amer, 52, whose surname is being withheld for his safety, said: "They rounded us up in a yard. We were about 50 families, but they separated the men from the women. They started asking who is ISIS, how many ISIS [members] were there in the village, does anyone know ISIS [members] from the village?"

Village residents said that Hashad fighters executed four men, two from the assembled group, and two taken from the village school, which was housing displaced people. Fighters detained another two men, one of them from the assembled group, but residents did not know what happened to them.

Village residents said that the fighters called a 20-year-old man. "Ahmed," first.

"[Ahmed] was executed 15 meters from me," one resident said. The Hashad fighters "tied his hands behind his back and put him on his knees. Then another whose face was covered came with a pistol and shot him in the head with one bullet. After that, three other [fighters] came and shot the dead body. I don't know why they shot him again, but I heard them saying 'This man is a Daeshi [ISIS] dog.'"

Ahmed's brother, who was there, said that Ahmed had previously joined ISIS for about two or three months in their home village of Kan`us, about five kilometers west, but had left the group and returned to the family. He said: "I was there when it happened, they already knew about my brother when they came, there must have been an informant. He was five meters away from me when it happened."

Village residents said that when they left the village, they saw three other men they recognized lying dead on the ground about 200 meters from the gathering. They had seen Hashad fighters pick one of them out of the assembled group and two others were the ones the fighters had previously detained. The village residents said they did not see the executions.

One of the executed men, "Abdulaziz," was a resident of Shayalat al-Imam, and the other two, "Musa" and "Sa`ad," were a father and son from the Hajj Ali area, the residents said. Relatives of the two said they had fled with their families to Shayalat al-Imam seven months before over a conflict with one of their neighbors and were living in the school housing displaced families.

Sa`ad's wife said that when the women went out to join the assembled men they did not see her husband or his father:

I went to the soldiers and asked about my husband, but they said they don't know anything. Then I saw three corpses on the ground, two of them were my husband and his father. I started crying and shouting. The Hashad [fighters] came to me and said, 'We killed them and they don't exist anymore,' and told me to go and stay with the women. I went to the women but kept shouting. One Hashad [fighter] came to me and said, 'Why are you crying for ISIS,' and held his gun to my face and said 'I will kill you here.' My husband's mother calmed me down and the fighter left

Both men's wives said the men had not been ISIS members and that they did not know why the fighters executed them.

Village residents said that fighters also detained another two men, "Hazem" and "Firas," cousins from Shayalat al-Imam, and they did not know their fate.

The men's uncle said that both had joined ISIS for one month in the past:

[The fighters] had someone from the village to identify the ones who joined ISIS. Hazem was detained before they gathered all of the villagers, but Firas was detained by [Hashed fighters] in front of me and the rest of the group.

All the villagers who spoke to Human Rights Watch separately said that an entire army regiment was in the village standing alongside the Hashad fighters and watched the first execution but did not intervene. "The military forces were only watching," one resident said. "they didn't do anything to stop [them]."

The village residents arrived at the camp for displaced people on December 1.

Human Rights Watch has documented summary killings, enforced disappearances, beatings, torture, and the destruction of homes property by the PMF during operations to retake territory from ISIS.

The laws of war prohibit the deliberate killing of civilians and captured or incapacitated soldiers. All those responsible for such murders, including as a matter of command responsibility, are culpable for war crimes.

Iraqi authorities should investigate all suspected crimes, including pillaging, torture, murder, and other abuses, by members of any side in the conflict, in a speedy, transparent, and effective manner, up to the highest levels of responsibility. When evidence of criminal responsibility emerges, prosecutions should follow. Those conducting such criminal investigations and making decisions about prosecutions should be independent of those being investigated, outside any military chain of command and free from political interference in their decisions. The authorities should ensure the safety of all witnesses.

"Given the record of abuses by government-backed militias, it is crucial for Iraq's military and political leaders to hold accountable those who have violated the laws of war," Fakih said.

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
'Aleppo now synonym for hell,' Ban warns in final press conference as UN chief

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, 'Aleppo now synonym for hell,' Ban warns in final press conference as UN chief, 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857ba9d412.html [accessed 3 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.

16 December 2016 - In his last press conference as United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon today delivered stark warnings on two issues at the forefront of international concern: that "the carnage in Syria remains a gaping hole in the global conscience;" and that South Sudan faces a risk of genocide as the country leaders have "squandered a peace agreement."

"Aleppo is now a synonym for hell," Mr. Ban said at UN Headquarters in New York, bidding farewell to the UN press corps.

"We have collectively failed the people of Syria. Peace will only prevail when it is accompanied by compassion, justice and accountability for the abominable crimes we have seen," he added.

On another front, he noted that this week will mark the third year of conflict in South Sudan, and he deplored that "the country's leaders have betrayed their people's trust, and squandered a peace agreement."

"Most immediately, my Special Adviser [on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng] has warned of the risk of genocide," he said, urging the UN Security Council to take more concerted action, including through punitive measures.

Mr. Ban will complete his 10-year service as the world's top diplomat on 31 December, passing the baton to his successor Antonio Guterres, who was sworn in this past Monday.

In his last press conference as United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon today delivered stark warnings on two issues at the forefront of international concern: Syria and South Sudan. Mr. Ban said "the carnage in Syria remains a gaping hole in the global conscience," and that South Sudan faces a risk of genocide as the country's leaders have "squandered a peace agreement."

As the Syria crisis enters its sixth year, civilians continue to bear the brunt of a conflict marked by unparalleled suffering, destruction and disregard for human life. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 13.5 million people require humanitarian assistance, including 4.9 million people in need trapped in besieged and hard-to-reach areas, where they are exposed to grave protection threats.
Silencing opposition is 'not the solution,' UN rights chief says as Internet blackout looms in DR Congo

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Silencing opposition is 'not the solution,' UN rights chief says as Internet blackout looms in DR Congo, 17 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857babf40e.html [accessed 3 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 December 2016 - The United Nations human rights chief today said he is deeply alarmed at a planned Government shutdown of social media in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from Sunday evening, ahead of the end of President Joseph Kabila's mandate, coupled with a continuing ban on demonstrations by civil society and the opposition.

We are especially concerned as Monday also marks three months since 54 people died in Kinshasa, when defence and security forces used excessive force against people calling for constitutional deadlines to be respected and for President Kabila to step down at the end of his second and final mandate, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said, adding that to date, no one has been held accountable for this violent repression of demonstrations.

Since the beginning of December, the UN Joint Human Rights Office in the DRC documented at least 45 arrests of people trying to exercise their right to peaceful assembly. Of these, at least 16 people were detained in Bunia, Kinshasa, the capital, and Goma in the context of the 'Bye Bye Kabila' campaign organized by the Filimbi and Lucha youth movements. A further 26 people were reportedly arrested for their political links or because they belong to citizen movements.

Intimidating and targeting opponents and civil society is not the answer. Silencing their views and stopping them from protesting is not the solution, and in fact is more likely to push them to resort to violence, said Mr. Zeid, calling on the Government, and especially its security forces, to take all necessary measures to guarantee the rights to freedom of association and of peaceful assembly.

He went on to express concern that the DRC Government has asked Internet providers and phone operators to block social media networks from Sunday evening. Such disruption is generally disproportionate and risks heightening tensions and fears, as it follows recent increased restrictions on independent media and on political debate, he stressed, adding: I urge the authorities to reverse this order and to guarantee the right to freedom of expression and to access information, in line with the Congolese constitution.

Under an agreement reached with some members of the opposition, elections are not expected before April 2018, with Mr. Kabila planning to stay on in office beyond 19 December. Talks mediated by the Catholic Church have been taking place in Kinshasa to try to find a negotiated way forward beyond this date and to avoid violence. Respect for the Constitution and human rights principles and standards must be a cornerstone of any agreement achieved at these talks, the High Commissioner noted.

Let me stress how important the implementation of confidence-building measures is to reassure the Congolese population. I call on the Government to release all political prisoners, guarantee the independence of State institutions, including the judiciary, and open up the political space. At the same time, the opposition and civil society must strictly adhere to the peaceful exercise of their rights and freedoms, Mr. Zeid said.
Political accord's slow implementation has not brought peace and stability Libyans deserve - Ban

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 December 2016 Related Document(s) Libyan Political Agreement Cite as UN News Service, Political accord's slow implementation has not brought peace and stability Libyans deserve - Ban, 17 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857bb0b40c.html [accessed 3 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 December 2016 - Marking the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today commended all Libyans who engaged in the milestone process, but cautioned that while much progress has been made, the road to peace is long and the Libyan people have not yet achieved the stability and security they deserve.

One year ago today, the Libyan Political Agreement was signed in Skhirat, Morocco, marking a critical milestone in the country's democratic transition, said a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson, which commended all Libyans who engaged in the process, in the spirit of reconciliation, inclusion and human rights.

The statement noted that the road to peace is long and requires hard work and commitment and points out that much has been achieved in the past year: the Presidency Council was formed and operates from Tripoli; oil production has increased; and significant advances have been made against terrorism across the country.

The Secretary-General cautions, however, that the slow pace of implementation of the Agreement has not brought the stability and security the Libyan people need and deserve, the statement said, adding that the 2011 revolution brought hope for a better life and that it is imperative that the sacrifices of so many Libyans should not have been in vain.

Mr. Ban through the statement went on to urge those that are not currently engaged in the process to join efforts to find a consensual solution to the ongoing crisis.

The Secretary-General reiterates that the United Nations will continue to accompany the process and support the Libyan people, said the statement, through which the UN chief saluted the efforts of his Special Representative, Martin Kobler, as well as of the staff of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Appreciation was also expressed to the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States and Member States for their strong support to the Libyan political process.

Today's statement follows Mr. Kobler's 6 December briefing to the UN Security Council in which he noted that implementation of the Political Agreement is lagging and that its institutions continue to work far below expectations.

The Agreement rests on four main principles: ensuring the democratic rights of the Libyan people, the need for a consensual government based on the principle of the separation of powers, oversight and balance between them, as well as the need to empower State institutions like the Government of National Accord so that they can address the serious challenges ahead, respect for the Libyan judiciary and its independence.

Sporadic outbursts of violence continue to rattle the beleaguered nation, in conflict since the beginning of the revolution in 2011 which resulted in the ouster of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Security Council adjusts mandate of UN mission in South Sudan to deter sexual violence, monitor hate speech

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Security Council adjusts mandate of UN mission in South Sudan to deter sexual violence, monitor hate speech, 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857bbfb40d.html [accessed 3 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.

16 December 2016 - Approving a one-year extension of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the Security Council today demanded an end to the fighting in the war-riven country, and decided that the mission, known as UNMISS, shall "use all necessary means" to "deter and prevent" sexual violence within its capacity, and "monitor, investigate and report incidents of hate speech."

Through a unanimously adopted resolution, the Security Council extended the mandate of UNMISS through 15 December 2017, maintaining its core functions, while also maintaining a troop ceiling of 17,000, including a 4,000-strong Regional Protection Force (approved in mid-August), and increasing the police ceiling to 2,101 police personnel, and 78 corrections officers, and requesting the Secretary-General "to take the necessary steps to expedite force and asset generation."

South Sudan has faced ongoing challenges since a political face-off between President Salva Kiir and his Vice-President Riek Machar erupted into full blown conflict in December 2013. The crisis has produced one of the world's worst displacement situations with immense suffering for civilians.

Despite the August 2015 peace agreement that formally ended the war, conflict and instability have also spread to previously unaffected areas in the Greater Equatoria and Greater Bahr-El-Ghazal regions of South Sudan.

Through the text adopted today, the Council reiterated its increasingly grave alarm and concern regarding the political, security, economic and humanitarian crisis in South Sudan resulting from a political dispute within the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and subsequent violence caused by the country's political and military leaders. It also expressed its intention to consider sanctions against those whose actions undermined peace, stability and security in the country.

The Council demanded that South Sudan's leaders implement the permanent ceasefire declared in the peace agreement and respective ceasefires, but also expressed grave concern at the findings of the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict [Zainab Hawa Bangura] of the systematic and widespread use of sexual violence as a tactic by parties against the civilian population, particularly against the country's women and girls.

To this end, the Council decided that UNMISS would "use all necessary means" to deter and prevent sexual and gender-based violence within its capacity and areas of deployment, and "monitor, investigate, verify and report specifically and publicly on violations and abuses committed against children and women."

Further expressing deep concern at the possibility that what began as a political conflict could transform into an outright ethnic war, as noted by the Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, the Council condemned the use of media to broadcast hate speech and transmit messages instigating violence against a particular ethnic group, a practice that has the potential to play a significant role in promoting mass violence."

As such, in today's resolution, the Council tasked UNMISS with monitoring, investigating and reporting on incidents of hate speech and incitement to violence in cooperation with the UN Special Adviser.
Ban condemns deadly attack on military post in northern Burkina Faso

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Ban condemns deadly attack on military post in northern Burkina Faso, 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857bc4b40c.html [accessed 3 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.

16 December 2016 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned today's attack against a military post in Nassoumbou, province of Soum in the north of Burkina Faso, in which Burkinabe soldiers were killed and injured.

A statement issued by his spokesperson said Mr. Ban wishes a speedy and full recovery to those injured in the attack, which was near the border with Mali, and sends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, to the Government and people of Burkina Faso.

The statement reiterated that the UN will remain committed to sustaining peace and reinforcing security in Burkina Faso, while also continuing its cooperation with the countries in Sahel region, as well as the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

Finally, the Secretary-General in his statement expressed his appreciation for Burkina Faso's contribution to the stabilization and peace efforts in Mali, and encouraged the authorities to launch an investigation to bring the perpetrators of this attack to justice.
Philippines: UN expert rejects Government-imposed conditions on fact-finding mission

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Philippines: UN expert rejects Government-imposed conditions on fact-finding mission, 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857bca940c.html [accessed 3 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.

16 December 2016 - The United Nations Special Rapporteur on summary executions urged the Government of the Philippines to lift a series of preconditions it has imposed on her planned visit to investigate the alleged extra-judicial killings of suspected drug dealers, since President Rodrigo Duterte took office.

According to a news release from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), estimates by the authorities themselves suggest that close to 6,000 people have been killed since the beginning of President Duterte's anti-drug campaign. Of these, 2,086 were allegedly killed in police operations and 3,841 in other circumstance, including vigilante-style killings.

Agnes Callamard encouraged the Philippines Government to respect the Special Rapporteurs' Code of Conduct, adopted by the UN Human Rights Council.

"I deeply regret the Government's position and urge the authorities to reconsider their demands," said Ms. Callamard, adding that she proposed an alternative, which comply with the Human Rights Council's code of conduct governing country visits by Special Rapporteurs."

Ms. Callamard's visit was aimed at investigating the rising death toll in the context of President Duterte's 'war on drugs.' Despite media reports, the Government claims it did not cancel the visit, insisting, however, that the Special Rapporteur will have to comply with the conditions imposed by the president in order to visit the country.

So far, the specific demands are: that the Special Rapporteur holds a public debate with President Duterte; that the president can put forward his own questions to "whoever he deems appropriate, including the Special Rapporteur," and that the Special Rapporteur takes an oath before answering questions from government officials and the President.

"It is crucial for the effective implementation of the mission that the UN terms of reference are fully accepted by governments and that the code of conduct is respected," stressed Ms. Callamard, adding that these are essential guarantees which ensure that the mission delivers on its outcomes, to the benefit of all those involved.
Possibility of genocide in South Sudan is 'all too real,' Ban warns in opinion piece

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Possibility of genocide in South Sudan is 'all too real,' Ban warns in opinion piece, 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857bcd140e.html [accessed 3 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.

16 December 2016 - Given the scale of the disaster in South Sudan, the United Nations Security Council, regional organizations and the international community must step up to their responsibility to the help the country's people, who have suffered through three years of bloody conflict, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today in an opinion piece published by Newsweek.

The UN chief recalled that following decades of war, South Sudan became the world's newest country five years ago and when he attended the 2011 independence celebrations in the capital, Juba, "hopes were high that the long-suffering people of the oil-rich country would finally see the fruits of a peace dividend after a prolonged civil war. Instead, the people of South Sudan now face a more dismal anniversary."

South Sudan has faced ongoing challenges since a political face-off between President Salva Kiir and his Vice-President Riek Machar erupted into full blown conflict in December 2013. The crisis has produced one of the world's worst displacement situations with immense suffering for civilians.

Despite the August 2015 peace agreement that formally ended the war, conflict and instability have also spread to previously unaffected areas in the Greater Equatoria and Greater Bahr-El-Ghazal regions of South Sudan.

Mr. Ban said tens of thousands have been killed, the country's social fabric has been "shattered," the economy is ruined, millions have fled their homes, and hunger and poverty prevail. More than six million people are in need of life-saving aid.

A primary school destroyed in conflict in Bentiu, Unity State. Years of war have destroyed the infrastructure of education in South Sudan. Photo: UNICEF/Sebastian Rich

"Meanwhile," he wrote, "restrictions imposed by the Government of South Sudan on the UN Mission in the country," known as UNMISS, and humanitarian organizations continue to tighten.

He also pointed to the ways in which the Government has betrayed its people's trust: "President Salva Kiir has pursued an ethnically-based strategy to suppress dissent, muzzle the media, exclude significant South Sudanese actors in the peace process, and unilaterally implement an agreement to reach elections."

Other leaders in the country have intensified the conflict by "manipulating ethnicity for political gain."

He warned that "the risk of these mass atrocities, which include recurring episodes of ethnic cleansing, escalating into possible genocide is all too real."

Stakeholders in the region and the UN Security Council have been in a deadlock on how to respond to the conflict, despite the fact that thousands continue to die and suffer horrendous crimes. Mr. Ban insisted that the international community must meet its responsibilities, and noted that while leaders such as the former Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare (the African Union High Representative for South Sudan) had made important strides, far greater action is required.

While the Secretary- General has taken important measures to improve UNMISS, he noted that the conflict would not be resolved simply by reinforcing the peacekeeping Mission. He called for a cessation of hostilities and an authentically inclusive political process and that if it were to not happen immediately, the Security Council should impose an arms embargo along with targeted sanctions to elicit peaceful cooperation from all parties. He added that perpetrators of crimes must be held accountable at all levels.

Noting that as the rainy season ends and both sides are gearing up for "another vicious cycle of violence," Mr. Ban said swift action is critical and all leaders within the country are responsible for the restoration of inclusive dialogue.

"If they fail," he concluded, "the international community, the region, and the Security Council in particular, must impose penalties on the leadership on both sides. We owe this to the people of South Sudan, who have suffered far too much, for far too long."
UN refugee agency chief launches appeal to support thousands displaced in Lake Chad Basin

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN refugee agency chief launches appeal to support thousands displaced in Lake Chad Basin, 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857bd0440c.html [accessed 3 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.

16 December 2016 - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, launched today a multi-million dollar inter-agency appeal to provide support to nearly 500,000 people who have been affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, including those in Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, as well as Nigerian refugees.

"This is one of Africa's largest displacement crises and the world cannot afford to brush it under the carpet," said Mr. Grandi before a ceremony in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, where he announced the Nigeria Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP).

Earlier the week, Mr. Grandi visited refugees and internally displaced people in Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. He will visit those in Nigeria in the coming days.

"The suffering and desperate conditions in the Lake Chad region are among the harshest I have seen. Refugees, returnees and host communities who have survived violence and trauma by the Boko Haram insurgency urgently need help," he said.

The United Nations and its partners are seeking $241 million over the next year to support some 460,000 people through the 2017 Nigeria RRRP. More than half of the funds ($154.29 million) will be allocated to refugees in Niger, with $67.25 million for operations in Cameroon and $19.61 million for those in Chad. The request for 2017 is a $43 million increase from this year's plan.

Attacks by Boko Haram and counter-insurgency measures in the Lake Chad Basin have displaced more than 2.5 million people in four countries. Credit: OCHA/Ivo Brandau

While security in the host countries has improved, refugees remain insufficiently protected, lack durable shelter, food, and health care, are facing malnutrition, and need access to water, sanitation, and hygiene as well as education and a means of livelihood. Environmental damage is also an issue throughout the host countries.

Stepped up funding from the international community is essential, particularly because the situation remains unpredictable and there are no immediate prospects of a resolution or an opportunity for return.

Meanwhile, the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is urging the international community to invest in development programmes for refugees and the host communities. During his field visits, Mr. Grandi noted the innovative development taking place to benefit both groups of people, including gas distribution projects in Diffa, Niger, and boats for fishing communities in Baga Sola, Chad.

Throughout 2016, refugees faced continued conflict, displacement, and suffering in an area already facing extreme poverty, harsh climatic conditions, disrupted economic activity, and limited or destroyed infrastructure. The UNHCR is therefore urging humanitarian aid agencies to work with governments in order to reach more people in need and calling for urgent funding so that such work can continue.

Separately, aid groups in the region are seeking more than $1 billion from donors in order to support some 1.8 million people within Nigeria.

A full report of the plan is available online.
UN rights chief urges Gambian leader to respect results of presidential election

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN rights chief urges Gambian leader to respect results of presidential election, 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857bd5340c.html [accessed 3 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.

16 December 2016 - The increased military presence deployed across Gambia since President Yayha Jammeh rejected the election result risks heightening the current climate of intimidation and harassment in the country, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights warned today.

"This is deeply worrying, given the record of human rights violations in The Gambia, including excessive use of force against demonstrators, arbitrary detention and deaths in custody, as well as allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees," Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said.

The High Commissioner also urged the Gambian authorities to allow people to exercise their rights to peaceful assembly, association and freedom of expression. "All those responsible for human rights violations must be held accountable."

President Jammeh, who initially accepted his loss in the elections, later rejected the results published by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and filed a petition with the Supreme Court.

Mr. Zeid urged the President and all political parties to respect the result of the elections, the democratic process and the independent status of the IEC, whose premises were taken over by the army on Tuesday and officials ordered to leave.

"All parties should conduct themselves in a manner that contributes to a peaceful atmosphere during this crucial period and, in particular, avoid using inflammatory language. We urge all sides to reaffirm their commitment to democracy and to work to ensure that there is a peaceful handover of the presidency by 18 January in line with the freely expressed desire and will of the Gambian people," the High Commissioner stressed.

"President Jammeh and his Government should avoid resorting to threats or acts of intimidation, including against Mr. Barrow and his supporters, and members of the IEC," he added.
Israelis and Palestinians must 'rebuild trust in each other,' Ban tells Security Council

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Israelis and Palestinians must 'rebuild trust in each other,' Ban tells Security Council, 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857bd8d40c.html [accessed 3 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.

16 December 2016 - While the international community must spare no effort revive waning support for the long-sought two-state solution for Middle East peace, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the United Nations Security Council today that "ultimately, it is up to the Israelis and the Palestinians to make peace," and called on the two sides to "rebuild trust in each other."

"Despite early optimism, attempts at reaching a final resolution failed to make headway and were upended with the eruption of conflict in Gaza in December 2008. Further attempts at peace in 2010 and 2013 were equally eclipsed by renewed hostilities [and] the summer of 2014 saw the most devastating conflict in Gaza to date," said Mr. Ban, recalling the situation in the region when he assumed office in 2006.

"We are fast approaching a precipice as a direct result of the actions of those seeking to destroy the prospects for peace," he cautioned.

Calling on both sides to implement the recommendations put forward by the so-named diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East peace process in its recent report to break the deadlock, he added: "This would demonstrate that Israelis and Palestinians are serious about building trust and laying the foundations for meaningful negotiations that will end the occupation [], establish a viable, independent Palestinian state and resolve all final status issues."

He also expressed concern over Israel's settlement activity beyond the 1967 line as well as a bill currently under discussion at the parliament which risks the "regularization" of more than 50 outposts and thousands of housing units built on private Palestinian land in the West Bank.

A wide view of the Security Council Chamber as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the Council's meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. UN Photo/Manuel Elias

Mr. Ban also called on Palestinian authorities take "brave and concrete steps" to address incitement and violence. "Acts and statements that glorify terror are unacceptable. I have repeatedly and strongly denounced incitement and all acts of terror. Stabbings, vehicle rammings and other attacks by Palestinians do nothing to advance their dream of statehood," he said.

He also noted the failure to hold Palestinian general elections remained one of the clearest signs of disunity as well as of the fragile Palestinian democratic process.

"The division between the West Bank and Gaza can be overcome only with the formation of a single, legitimate, inclusive Palestinian government, on the basis of PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization] principles," he said.

Recalling his trips to Gaza, Mr. Ban cautioned that Gaza is a "tinder box".

"It is almost certain to explode unless movement and access restrictions are lifted and humanitarian needs are addressed; unless rocket attacks, tunnel construction and smuggling stop; unless progress is made on establishing a Palestinian state, with Gaza an integral and peaceful part," he said.

Looking to the future, Mr. Ban urged the Security Council to "reaffirm without reservations that there is no alternative to the two-state solution."

He called on the international community to not give up on the right of Palestine to exist, just as it must protect the right of Israel to exist in peace and security with its neighbours, he urged Council members to explore the potential of incentives and begin immediately to develop, in consultation with the parties, an agreed framework for advancing a final resolution to this conflict on the basis of direct negotiations.

"For ten years, I pressed Israelis and Palestinians to start believing in a common future, bound by their undeniable historic, religious and national connection to the land. These aspirations have not been fulfilled," he said.

"Ultimately, it is up to the Israelis and Palestinians to make peace - we cannot do it for them. They must rebuild trust in each other, as the only way to address the fears and suspicions that have led to the deep polarization we see today. At the same time, we all can and must contribute to building trust, so sorely needed in the Middle East and the world today," concluded Secretary-General Ban.
Cambodia: In landmark decision, UN body declares the detention of five human rights defenders arbitrary #FreeThe5KH

Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 19 December 2016 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Cambodia: In landmark decision, UN body declares the detention of five human rights defenders arbitrary #FreeThe5KH, 19 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857be984.html [accessed 3 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.

Our organisations welcome the recent Opinion adopted by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) that recognise the arbitrary nature of the detention of human rights defenders Ny Chakrya, Ny Sokha, Yi Soksan, Nay Vanda, and Lim Mony. Our organisations call upon the Cambodian authorities to implement the Opinion of the WGAD by releasing the five human rights defenders immediately and providing them appropriate compensation.

On November 21, 2016, the WGAD ruled that the ongoing detention of Mr. Ny Chakrya, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Election Committee (NEC), and four staff members of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC), Messrs. Ny Sokha , Yi Soksan, Nay Vanda, and Ms. Lim Mony, was "arbitrary."

Following a submission made by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (OMCT-FIDH partnership), the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) and the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) in June 2016, the WGAD's Opinion No. 45/2016 ruled that the five human rights defenders (HRDs) "have been discriminated against based on their status as human rights defenders, and in violation of their right to equality before the law and equal protection of the law under article 26 of the ICCPR." This is the first time ever that the WGAD - or any other UN mechanism receiving individual complaints - has referred to HRDs as a protected group that is entitled to equal legal protection under Article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The ruling also recognised the violation of the five HRDs' "rights to offer and provide professionally qualified legal assistance and other relevant advice and assistance in defending human rights."

In addition, the WGAD found that the targeting of ADHOC staff members for having provided "legitimate legal advice and other assistance " violated the five HRDs' right to freedom of association. It ruled that violations of fair trial rights (including the fact that the five were denied legal counsel from the beginning of their questioning), unjustified pre-trial detention, and statements made by the Cambodian authorities which denied the five the presumption of innocence - all of which contravene Cambodia's international human rights obligations in respect to the right to a fair trial - are also serious enough to consider their ongoing detention as arbitrary.

The WGAD concluded that "the deprivation of liberty of Ny Sokha, Nay Vanda,Yi Soksan, Lim Mony and Ny Chakrya, being in contravention of articles 7, 9, 10, 11 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of articles 9, 10, 14, 22 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is arbitrary."

" We welcome this landmark Opinion adopted by the Working Group, and now call upon the Cambodian authorities to act on the ruling and immediately release Ny Chakrya, Ny Sokha , Yi Soksan, Nay Vanda, and Lim Mony and drop all charges against them ," declared our organisations today.

The five human rights defenders have now been in pre-trial detention on charges of bribery for 234 days since their arrest in April 2016. Their deprivation of liberty infringes on both international human rights law and Article 205 of Cambodia's Criminal Procedure Code, which sets out the conditions under which provisional detention can be ordered. On November 30, 2016, the Supreme Court upheld a previous decision adopted by the Court of Appeals on June 13, 2016 to refuse to release the five HRDs on bail. On November 28, 2016, the Court of Appeals upheld the extension of the pre-trial detention for another six months and refused to close the investigation. All five detainees are being held alongside convicted criminals, contrary to Article 10(2)(a) of the ICCPR, and Article 26 of Cambodia's Law on Prisons.

On September 22, 2016, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court convicted Mr. Ny Chakrya on charges of defamation, malicious denunciation, and publication of commentaries intended to unlawfully coerce judicial authorities and sentenced him to six months in prison. The charges stemmed from a criminal case dating back to the time when he was Head of the Human Rights Section at ADHOC. Mr. Ny Chakrya's conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal on December 14, 2016.

" These cases bear all the hallmarks of politically-motivated harassment of human rights defenders because of their legitimate human rights activities, and are illustrative of the Cambodian Government's deliberate effort to eliminate all dissenting voices. We urge the Cambodian authorities to stop the harassment of all human rights defenders in the country, " concluded our organisations.

***

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH. The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. OMCT and FIDH are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.

The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) is a non-governmental, independent and non-partisan human rights organisation founded in 1991, which promotes and protects human rights in Cambodia by means of its 24 provincial offices and its headquarters in Phnom Penh. ADHOC's Human Rights and Legal Aid Section, Land and Natural Resources Section and Women and Children's Rights Section monitor the human rights situation on the ground, intervene in case of violations, provide assistance to victims of rights violations - including free legal aid, and engage in empowerment activities.

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), founded in November 2002, is a non-aligned, independent, non-governmental organisation that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia.

The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), established in 1992, seeks to protect and promote civil, political, economic and social rights in Cambodia through advocating for the rights of Cambodian people and monitoring human rights abuses from its main office in Phnom Penh and 13 provincial offices.
Bahrain: Court postpones verdict for the fifth time of human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, facing up to 15 years in jail

Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Bahrain: Court postpones verdict for the fifth time of human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, facing up to 15 years in jail, 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857befc4.html [accessed 3 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.

For the fifth time in a row, Court postpones verdict of human rights defender Nabeel Rajab as he remains jailed for his tweets and his human rights activities in violation of his right to freedom of expression. Furthermore, the health of Mr. Rajab has seriously deteriorated since his arrest in June 2016.

On December 15, 2016, after a fifteen minutes hearing during which Nabeel Rajab was not allowed to speak, the Fourth High Criminal Court postponed the verdict until December 28, 2016 and refused to release him, after he has spent more than six months in pre-trial detention.

"In a sad parody of justice, Bahraini authorities are punishing Nabeel Rajab for exercising his right to freedom of expression. Mr. Rajab should be released immediately and unconditionally", said FIDH President Dimitris Christopoulos.

Nabeel Rajab is co-founder and President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), founding director of the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR), Deputy Secretary General of FIDH from 2012 to 2016 and a member of the Middle East advisory committee at Human Rights Watch. He was arrested on June 13, 2016 on several charges and has suffered from poor health in prison including irregular heartbeats, an ulcer and problems with his gallbladder.

Nabeel Rajab is facing up to 15 years in prison on charges related to comments posted on Twitter in 2015 about the conditions of detention in Jaw prison and the war in Yemen. According to the United Nations, the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in Yemen have so far been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians [1].

"The detention of one of Bahrain's most prominent defender for speaking out on rights violations sends a chilling message about the status of human rights in the country", said OMCT Secretary General Gerald Staberock.

Mr. Rajab is facing charges of allegedly "offending a foreign country" (Saudi Arabia) and "offending national institutions" for the comments about the alleged torture of inmates in Bahrain's Jaw Prison in March 2015. In September 2016, an additional charge was brought against Mr. Rajab following the publication on September 5, 2016 of an Op-Ed in The New York Times with his by-line, which discussed the conditions of his imprisonment and arrest. He was charged with "intentionally broadcasting false news and malicious rumors abroad impairing the prestige of the state", which carries an additional one-year prison term.

His peaceful human rights activism and criticism of the Bahraini authorities has resulted in his imprisonment on two previous occasions, between May 2012 and May 2014, and between January 2015 and July 2015. In 2013, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) found that Mr. Rajab's detention was arbitrary, noting that the "domestic laws of Bahrain () seem to deny persons the basic right to freedom of opinion, expression" [2].

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT partnership) urges the international community to urgently take a strong stand against the systematic repression of human rights defenders in Bahrain.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.

For more information, please contact:

 FIDH: Arthur Manet / Audrey Couprie: + 33143552518 (Paris)

 OMCT: Delphine Reculeau: +41 22 809 49 39 (Geneva)

Footnotes

[1] See Article in Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-toll-idUSKCN11516W

[2] Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Opinion A/HRC/WGAD/2013/12 No. 12/2013, July 25, 2013, available at: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G13/159/40/PDF/G1315940.pdf?OpenElement.
Vietnamese human rights lawyer and blogger arbitrarily detained for the last year

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 19 December 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Vietnamese human rights lawyer and blogger arbitrarily detained for the last year, 19 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857c08c4.html [accessed 3 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 Vietnamese government must immediately and unconditionally release human rights lawyer and blogger Nguyen Van Dai who has been arbitrarily detained for a year without access to legal representation or any word of an upcoming trial.

Nguyen Van Dai was arrested on December 16, 2015, charged with "conducting propaganda against the State" under Article 88 of the Vietnamese Penal Code. Vietnamese authorities continue to remain silent regarding the investigation process, with no sign of his trial. Furthermore, neither his wife nor his lawyers have been granted visitation rights.

Nguyen Van Dai was stopped by police on the day of his arrest while on his way to meet with the European Union delegation participating in the bilateral human rights dialogue with Hanoi. His colleague Le Thu Ha was also arrested at the same time under the same charge and has been held incommunicado since.

A long-time advocate for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Vietnamese citizens, Nguyen Van Dai had just been physically attacked by thugs in Nghe An province after organising and facilitating a human rights teach-in.

Nguyen Van Dai co-founded the Vietnam Human Rights Committee which aims to promote education on civil and legal rights. He has travelled across Vietnam to train young law students and human rights defenders on human rights reporting. He also co-founded the Brotherhood for Democracy in 2013 to support civic mobilization.

He was previously imprisoned for four years under Article 88 and was released to four years of house arrest in March 2011, barred from practicing law. He has experienced continual monitoring, harassment and physical attacks.

The Vietnamese government detained Nguyen Van Dai amidst a larger crackdown on bloggers and activists for expressing their political views. Many activists - including Dr. Ho Huy Hai, Nguyen Huu Quoc Duy, Nguyen Huu Thien An and Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh - have also been charged with "propaganda."

A coalition of organisations including Lawyers for Lawyers, Media Legal Defence Initiative, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, PEN International, and Viet Tan recently submitted a petition to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) regarding Nguyen Van Dai's case. The petition asks the seeks UNWGAD for a determination to render an opinion that the arrest and detention of Dai contravenes Viet Nam's international human rights law obligations and is are arbitrary as they are the result of the exercise of Dai's rights and a to recommendation for Dai's immediate and unconditional release.

The Vietnamese government must immediately release Nguyen Van Dai and restore his political and civil rights, including his ability to practice law.

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)

Eva Galperin

Senior Policy Analyst

[email protected]





Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L)

Adrie van de Streek

Executive Director

[email protected]





Medial Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI)

Padraig Hughes

Legal Director

[email protected]





Viet Tan

Duy Hoang

Spokesperson

[email protected]





English PEN

Cat Lucas

Writers at Risk Programme Manager

[email protected]





Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada (LRWC)

Gail Davidson

Executive Director

[email protected]





Reporters sans frontieres (RSF)

Benjamin Ismail

Head of Asia-Pacific Desk

[email protected]
RSF condemns Swedish radio reporter's expulsion from Aleppo

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, RSF condemns Swedish radio reporter's expulsion from Aleppo, 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857c0e74.html [accessed 3 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 expulsion of Radio Sweden's Middle East correspondent, Cecilia Udden, from Syria, where she had been reporting from Aleppo and Damascus.

Udden left the country yesterday after the Syrian authorities withdrew her press visa on the grounds that her reporting was "false." She is now in Beirut.

"We deplore the expulsion of a journalist who was accredited with the Syrian government," said Alexandra El Khazen, the head of RSF's Middle East desk. "By censoring a journalist because of her coverage of events in Syria, the government has clearly shown that it wants to control the reporting coming out of the country. We call on the authorities to let journalists cover the war in Syria freely."

Radio Sweden issued a statement yesterday condemning the way Udden had been treated. Sweden's prime minister also criticized the Syrian government's decision.

Reporters risk their lives to operate in Syria, which is the world's deadliest country for media personnel. At least 62 journalists and 152 citizen journalists and media contributors have been killed there since 2011.

There have been fewer and fewer foreign journalists in Syria in recent years because of the difficulties of getting a visa and moving about a freely, and because of the risk of being kidnapped by an armed group.

At least 26 journalists, citizen journalists and media contributors are currently held hostage by armed groups in Syria, while another 28 are in Syrian government jails.

Syria is ranked 177th out of 180 countries in RSFs 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
Uzbekistan: Concern mounts for long-imprisoned journalist moved into solitary confinement

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 19 December 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Uzbekistan: Concern mounts for long-imprisoned journalist moved into solitary confinement, 19 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857c1944.html [accessed 3 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.

Prison authorities in Uzbekistan have placed Muhammad Bekjanov, one of the world's longest-imprisoned journalists, in solitary confinement, the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia (AHRCA), Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights (UGF) said today.

Bekjanov, 62, has been in prison for 17 years, and the move could be a sign that the government is preparing to extend his prison term yet again. He is in very poor health and his condition could decline rapidly in solitary confinement, the groups said. The Uzbek government and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev should ensure his immediate and unconditional release.

"Muhammad Bekjanov's solitary confinement is an ominous sign that causes us to fear that his health could deteriorate and that his sentence could be extended again," said Nadejda Atayeva, the head of the AHRCA. "The international community must do everything in its power to save him."

The onetime editor of what was Uzbekistan's leading opposition newspaper, Bekjanov has been imprisoned since 1999. He was awarded Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Prize in 2013.

He is being held in Prison No. 48, in Zarafshon, in the central Navoiy region. When his brother, Jumanazar Bekjanov, tried to visit him there on December 13, 2016, prison officials said he was in solitary confinement and would not be able to receive a visitor until January 10, 2017. No one at the prison would say how long he had been in solitary or why he was being held there.

The sentences of political prisoners are often arbitrarily extended in Uzbekistan on the ground that they allegedly violated article 221 of the criminal code by "refusing to comply with the prison administration's legal requirements." These additional sentences are typically imposed on the basis of false testimony and without due process. Prisoners can be given successive sentence extensions that in practice amount to life in prison.

Bekjanov, who has a wife and three children, has already been a victim of this practice. He was given an additional sentence of four years and eight months in February 2012, just days before he was due to be released.

"The Uzbek authorities have already stolen Muhammad Bekjanov's health and 17 years of his life," said Johann Bihr, the head of RSF's Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk. "How much more time will they continue to persecute this journalist, whose only crime was to have done his job in an honest and courageous manner?"

The groups also noted that an amnesty passed by the Uzbek senate on October 12 applies to prisoners over the age of 60 and should therefore be applicable to Bekjanov, who ought to be freed without delay. However, political prisoners have usually been excluded from the amnesties that have been issued in recent years.

"The immediate release of Muhammad Bekjanov and others imprisoned for the exercise of freedom of speech, would be a positive sign by the new president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, that he is looking to pursue reform and reverse Uzbekistan's terrible human rights record," said Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "It would show that Uzbekistan's new leader is willing to end impunity for the abuses committed during Islam Karimov's long reign," added Brigitte Dufour, director of IPHR.

As the editor of Erk (Freedom) in the early 1990s, Bekjanov tried to initiate a debate on such taboo subjects as the state of the economy, the use of forced labor in the cotton harvest and the Aral Sea environmental disaster. His brother, the well-known poet and government opponent Muhammad Salikh, was the

only person to run against President Karimov in the December 1991 election.

Karimov took advantage of a series of bombings in Tashkent in 1999 to silence outspoken critics by prosecuting them as accomplices to the attacks. Like many pro-democracy activists, Bekjanov was tried in this way and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Yusuf Ruzimuradov, a fellow Erk journalist who was arrested at the same time as Bekjanov, is also still in jail.

Bekjanov has been repeatedly tortured in prison. He has lost many teeth and much of his hearing as a result of mistreatment and a serious case of tuberculosis that was left untreated for a long time.

In recent years, he has suffered from intermittent acute pain as well as permanent discomfort from an inguinal hernia that developed when he was assigned to prison work making bricks. He has refused to undergo an operation because operations in prison are usually carried out with no anaesthetic and little hygiene.

After repeatedly refusing to allow the lawyer appointed by his family, Polina Braunerg, to see Bekjanov, the prison authorities finally told her earlier this year that she needed to show a letter from him requesting her visit. But this is impossible because he does not know that she is acting as his defence lawyer.

Braunerg is herself now being harassed by the authorities. She has been constantly followed for the past two years or so, and has not been allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Uzbekistan is ranked 166 out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index. At least nine other journalists are currently jailed in Uzbekistan connection with their work. Many opposition politicians, human rights defenders and other civil society representatives languish in prison, along with thousands of people arbitrarily accused of "religious extremism."

Islam Karimov, who ruled Uzbekistan from independence until his death in August, was succeeded by former Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev after an election that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said was "devoid of genuine competition."
Tanzania: Popular website Jamii Forum's office raided, staff arrested and detained

Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 16 December 2016 Cite as Article 19, Tanzania: Popular website Jamii Forum's office raided, staff arrested and detained, 16 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857e2484.html [accessed 3 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 arrest on Tuesday of Maxence Melo, founder and editor of Jamii Forum, the popular Tanzanian website, has raised serious concerns among the human rights community in the region.

Mela was arrested and detained on 13 December. A day later the offices of the website were ransacked by police who subsequently arrested two more employees, and carried out a search of Melo's house.

According to Melo's lawyer, Benedict Ishabakaki, who is quoted by the independent newspaper The Citizen, the police detained his client for declining to disclose the identities of several online contributors who - according to the police - posted controversial content. The posts in questions related to the allegations of corruption in President John Magufuli's government.

Melo remains detained without trial despite the fact that, according to Tanzanian law, anybody arrested must be charged within 24 hours.

"Ability to exercise the right to freedom of expression anonymously - that is without being identified - is a vital enabler of freedom of expression in relation to digital technologies. Hence, any lifting of anonymity in defamation cases should be subject to strong procedural safeguards. As a matter of principle, the disclosure of an individual's online identity should only be ordered by the courts, which are best placed to properly balance the right to anonymous expression with other interests. The attempts of state security agencies to tacquire the identities of online users from Maxence Melo is a violation of Tanzania's obligations under the Constitution and international human rights law," said Henry Maina, Director of ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa.

Since his election in October 2015, Tanzanian President John Magufuli has increased efforts to limit media freedom and access to information.

"Resorting to intimidation and harassment of the editor and website managers in an effort to avoid confronting allegations of corruption in government, is unacceptable. These disturbing developments are the latest in a series of events that illustrate how internet freedom and freedom of expression have become a battle front for Magufuli's government." continued Maina.

In January,Tanzania Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Nape Nnauye, announced a permanent ban on Mawio newspaper, claiming the paper had carried news articles that had "all the ingredients of inciting violence".

On 15 November 2016, President Magufuli assented to law the Media Service Act that requires journalists and social media users to acquire a license from the government-led Media Services Council.

According to media reports, at least 10 Tanzanians have been charged under various sections of the Cybercrime Act 2015 with "insulting" president Magufuli and publication of false news, for posts on social media platforms.

"We call upon the government to ensure the unconditional release of Maxence Melo and to respect and uphold media freedom and the right to freedom of expression information as recognised in the Tanzanian Constitution, as well as in regional and international law", said Mania.

"Most importantly we encourage the Tanzanian government to initiate the process of reforming the Penal Code, the Cybercrimes Act and the Media Services Act as it promised during the recent Universal Periodic Review held at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva less than three months ago."

Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19
Title Report submitted by the Austrian authorities on measures taken to comply with Committee of the Parties Recommendation CP(2011)1 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

Publication Date 26 September 2013

Country Austria

Citation / Document Symbol CP(2013)11

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Title Recommendation CP(2014)10 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Azerbaijan

Publication Date 7 July 2014

Country Azerbaijan

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Recommendation CP(2014)10 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Azerbaijan, 7 July 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857fea44.html [accessed 3 November 2022]

Comments Adopted at the 14th meeting of the Committee of the Parties on 7 July 2014
Title Reply from Belarus to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the Parties

Publication Date 21 March 2016

Country Belarus

Citation / Document Symbol GRETA(2016)14

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Reply from Belarus to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the Parties, 21 March 2016, GRETA(2016)14, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5857ffcc4.html [accessed 3 November 2022]

Comments First evaluation round (Reply submitted on 3 February 2016)
Title Recommendation CP(2013)8 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Belgium

Publication Date 7 October 2013

Country Belgium

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Recommendation CP(2013)8 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Belgium, 7 October 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585800bb4.html [accessed 3 November 2022]

Comments Adopted at the 12th meeting of the Committee of the Parties on 7 October 2013
Title Report submitted by the Bosnian authorities on measures taken to comply with Committee of the Parties Recommendation CP(2013)5 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

Publication Date 25 May 2016

Country Bosnia and Herzegovina

Citation / Document Symbol CP(2015)5

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Title Reply from Bulgaria to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the parties

Publication Date 7 March 2011

Country Bulgaria

Citation / Document Symbol GRETA(2011)2

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Reply from Bulgaria to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the parties, 7 March 2011, GRETA(2011)2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5858048b4.html [accessed 3 November 2022]
Title Recommendation CP(2016)3 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Croatia

Publication Date 23 May 2016

Country Croatia

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Recommendation CP(2016)3 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Croatia, 23 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5858084d4.html [accessed 3 November 2022]

Comments Adopted at the 18th meeting of the Committee of the Parties on 23 May 2016
Title Reply from Cyprus to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the Parties

Publication Date 11 February 2015

Country Cyprus

Citation / Document Symbol GRETA(2015)6

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Reply from Cyprus to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the Parties, 11 February 2015, GRETA(2015)6, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58580a754.html [accessed 3 November 2022]

Comments Second evaluation round (Reply submitted on 15 October 2014)
Title Reply from Denmark to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the parties

Publication Date 2011

Country Denmark

Citation / Document Symbol GRETA(2011)01

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Reply from Denmark to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the parties, 2011, GRETA(2011)01, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58580b794.html [accessed 3 November 2022]
Title Recommendation CP(2015)1 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Finland

Publication Date 15 June 2015

Country Finland

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Recommendation CP(2015)1 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Finland , 15 June 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58580e6b4.html [accessed 3 November 2022]

Comments Adopted at the 16th meeting of the Committee of the Parties on 15 June 2015
Title Report submitted by the French authorities on measures taken to comply with Committee of the Parties Recommendation CP(2013)1 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

Publication Date 13 February 2015

Country France

Citation / Document Symbol CP(2015)6

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Report submitted by the French authorities on measures taken to comply with Committee of the Parties Recommendation CP(2013)1 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, 13 February 2015, CP(2015)6, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58580f0b4.html [accessed 3 November 2022]
Title Reply from Georgia to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the parties

Publication Date 18 April 2011

Country Georgia

Citation / Document Symbol GRETA(2011)6

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Reply from Georgia to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the parties, 18 April 2011, GRETA(2011)6, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585810934.html [accessed 3 November 2022]
Title Recommendation CP(2014)15 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Iceland

Publication Date 5 December 2016

Country Iceland

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Recommendation CP(2014)15 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Iceland, 5 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585813b94.html [accessed 3 November 2022]

Comments Adopted at the 15th meeting of the Committee of the Parties on 5 December 2014
Title Report submitted by the Irish authorities on measures taken to comply with Committee of the Parties Recommendation CP(2013)9 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

Publication Date 7 October 2015

Country Ireland

Citation / Document Symbol CP(2015)18

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Report submitted by the Irish authorities on measures taken to comply with Committee of the Parties Recommendation CP(2013)9 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings , 7 October 2015, CP(2015)18, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585815a24.html [accessed 3 November 2022]
Title Recommendation CP(2014)16 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Italy

Publication Date 5 December 2014

Country Italy

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Recommendation CP(2014)16 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Italy, 5 December 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585816644.html [accessed 3 November 2022]

Comments Adopted at the 15th meeting of the Committee of the Parties on 5 December 2014
Title Recommendation CP(2013)2 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Latvia

Publication Date 15 February 2013

Country Latvia

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Recommendation CP(2013)2 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Latvia, 15 February 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585817384.html [accessed 3 November 2022]

Comments Adopted at the 10th meeting of the Committee of the Parties on 15 February 2013
Title Recommendation CP(2015)4 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Lithuania

Publication Date 15 June 2015

Country Lithuania

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Recommendation CP(2015)4 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Lithuania, 15 June 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/585818064.html [accessed 3 November 2022]

Comments Adopted at the 16th meeting of the Committee of the Parties on 15 June 2015
Title Report submitted by the authorities of Luxembourg on measures taken to comply with Committee of the Parties Recommendation CP(2012)10 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

Publication Date 3 February 2016

Country Luxembourg

Citation / Document Symbol CP(2016)7

Cite as Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Report submitted by the authorities of Luxembourg on measures taken to comply with Committee of the Parties Recommendation CP(2012)10 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, 3 February 2016, CP(2016)7, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5858190c4.html [accessed 3 November 2022]
Dan Conway, Don Lipps discuss challenges at MSD of Martinsville

For the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville, there are two open seats for the school board in Tuesday's election.
An undated photo by Cambodian Police of members of the Khmer National Liberation Front with founder Sam Serey (center, standing).

The Denmark-based leader of the anti-government Khmer National Liberation Front (KNLF) accused Cambodian authorities of killing his brother while he was imprisoned for plotting to overthrow the government.

KNLF leader Serey Sam told RFAs Khmer Service that he doubted the governments story that his brother dropped dead of a heart attack on Wednesday night, saying he was in good health.

Fellow inmates told Serey Sam that his brother Yean Yoeurb took his regular evening jog and seemed to be fine until he ate food given to him by a guard, he told RFA.

After eating the food given by the security guard, he choked and grasped for air, Serey Sam said from Denmark. He died instantly.

The lack of an investigation into the death, the guards lackadaisical handling of the body and his quick cremation all factored into Serey Sams accusation,

His body was left in the prison unattended for the whole night, Serey Sam said. The following morning it he was cremated.

Prison officials told local media that Yen Yoeurb died of a heart attack,

I received the name of a prisoner from Prey Sar prison, Yean Yoeurb, and he died because of a heart attack, Be Tea Leng, deputy director-general of the Interior Ministrys general department of prisons told The Cambodia Daily.

The government has named the KNFL a terrorist organization and Yean Yoeurb was serving a seven-year prison sentence, although it was unclear on what charge.

Earlier this month, 11 more KNLF members were handed five- to nine-year prison sentences for plans they said amounted to a peaceful protest outside the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh in 2014, but which authorities claimed was intended to sow violence and disorder, according to The Cambodia Daily report.

Serey Sam was also convicted in 2014 for plotting to overthrow the government. In a report by the Khmer Times, Serey Sam said his organization was a peaceful one.

Reported for RFA's Khmer Service by Sothearin Yeang. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
From left to right: Ny Chakrya, National Election Committee officer, Yi Soksan, Ny Sokha, Lim Mony and Nay Vanda of Adhoc before the Cambodian Supreme Court, Nov. 11, 2011.

A U.N. working group called on the Cambodian government to release the five people still held in the governments probe into an alleged affair by opposition party leader Kem Sokha.

In a decision made public over the weekend, the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) said detaining the four workers for human rights group ADHOC and an election official violated international human, political and civil rights conventions to which the Cambodian government is a signatory.

There is a sufficient basis to conclude that the five individuals in this case have been discriminated against based on their status as human rights defenders, and in violation of their right to equality before the law and equal protection of the law, the WGAD wrote in their findings.

Lim Mony, Nay Vanda, Ny Sokha, Yi Soksan, all workers for ADHOC (the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association) and National Election Commission (NEC) deputy secretary-general Ny Chakrya were arrested in April. They are accused of attempting to pay hush money to Kem Sokhas purported mistress in order to buy here silence.

Kem Sokha and a local Cambodia National Rescue Party official were granted royal pardons in the case against the CNRP leader, but the other five people accused in the case remain in prison. The pardons came after Prime Minister Hun Sen, who heads the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, asked King Norodom Sihamoni to issue them.

In addition, the WGAD found that targeting of ADHOC staff members for having provided legitimate legal advice and other assistance violated the five detained activists their right to freedom of association.

It also found that pre-trial detentions, lack of legal counsel and government bias against the five also violated their rights.

The statements made by the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Cambodia Human Rights Committee, the Head of the Anti-Corruption Unit, and the investigating judge assumed that the five individuals were guilty of a crime and denied them the presumption of innocence, the working group wrote.

I trust he wouldnt fail to follow his words

Ministry of Justice spokesman Chin Malin brushed aside the groups findings, telling the Phnom Penh Post that the courts have investigated the case with enough evidence [and] witnesses, and found that the five people had bad intentions to commit a crime.

While the five still remain in jail, there is hope of reaching a pardon deal for the five and land-rights activist Tep Vanny similar to the one that absolved Kem Sokha.

Bov Sophea, a representative of Boeng Kak lake community, told RFA she hopes that Minister of Interior Sar Kheng will honor his words to release the five while he spoke to the reports at the National Assembly recently.

We have faith in the Minister of Interior Sar Kheng who has promised to release the jailed NGOs staffers by the end of this month, she said. I trust that as a senior official, he wouldnt fail to follow his words.

Tep Vanny gained prominence as an activist fighting the Boeung Kak Lake land grab, when some 3,500 families were evicted from the neighborhood surrounding the urban lake in Phnom Penh.

On Sept. 19 Tep Vanny was convicted of insulting and obstructing public officials and was sentenced to six months in prison in relation to a protest in November 2011 near Hun Sens residence.

Her attorney was absent from the courtroom in what some human rights organizations called an abuse of her right to a fair trial.

The lake was filled with sand to make way for a development project with close ties to Hun Sen and the CPP.

Seizure of land for developmentoften without due process or fair compensation for displaced residents is a major cause of protests in Cambodia and other authoritarian Asian countries, including China and Laos.

Reported for RFA's Khmer Service by Samnang Rann. Translated by Narerth Muong. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
Detained rights activist Wu Gan, known by his online nickname "The Butcher," has suffered torture while being held under investigation in a police detention center in the northern port city of Tianjin, his lawyers have complained after visiting him last week.



Wu Gan, 42, was initially detained in the eastern province of Jiangxi last year and handed a 10-day administrative sentence before being placed under criminal detention on suspicion of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," "libel," and "incitement to subvert state power."



The "libel" charge was later dropped and his case transferred to Tianjin, making it likely that he is being treated as part of a nationwide crackdown on lawyers and rights activists that began July 9, 2015 with a raid on the Beijing Fengrui law firm.



His lawyers Ge Yongxi and Yan Xin said he had been tortured following a meeting with Wu at the Tianjin No. 2 Detention Center.



In a complaint filed to the Tianjin municipal state prosecutor's office, Yan wrote that Wu had been interrogated "more than 300 times" since his incarceration began.



"Wu Gan has been subjected to illegal treatment during his detention," the complaint said.



It said Wu had been repeatedly and illegally held in solitary confinement, tortured, and deprived of his right to complai and to access legal advice.



The complaint called on the prosecutor's office to investigation the allegations, "to find out which departments and individuals are responsible."



'Nothing to add'



Ge declined to comment when contacted by RFA recently, however.



"I have already released the information I am able to release, and I have nothing else to add," he said.



Calls to Yan Xin's phone rang unanswered on Sunday.



A friend of Wu's, who asked to remain anonymous, said his treatment was in line with that meted out to other detainees in the crackdown on lawyers, including rights attorneys Li Heping and Wang Quanzhang.



He said the fact that Wu had finally been allowed a visit from his lawyers suggests the authorities may have run out of ways to stall his case.



"His case has been sent back for further investigation on a number of occasions, probably because he refuses to confess to the charges against him," the friend said.



"They have now exhausted all the procedural options open to them under Chinese law, and on top of that, there is the pressure of international public opinion," he said.



Torture widespread



Guangdong-based rights activist Ye Du said the use of torture and other forms of mistreatment to elicit "confessions" from political detainees has become widespread for dissenting voices in China in recent years.



"Pretty much all of the big political cases now use these methods on the victims," Ye said. "They have already had the trials of several others who were forced into making confessions."



"It's easy to imagine the sorts of torment they must have been put through in order to [confess]," he said.



"It says a lot that Wu Gan has been able to withstand it, and he deserves our respect for that," Ye said.



Fellow rights activist Zhuang Lei said many people have been deeply angered by the reports of Wu's mistreatment in detention.



"Civil society is very angry about this torture, which is a serious violation of someone's fundamental human rights," Zhuang said.



Performance protest



Wang was initially detained by police during a performance protest he titled "Selling my Body to Raise Funds" in Nanchang city in eastern Jiangxi province.



He was trying to help finance a legal defense for Huang Zhiqiang, Fang Chunping, Cheng Fagen, and Cheng Lihe, who were jailed in Jiangxi's Leping city for robbery, rape, and dismembering a corpse.



The four received suspended death sentences in 2000 that were later commuted to jail terms, but their lawyers and rights activists say their confessions were obtained through torture, and that the men are victims of a miscarriage of justice.



Meanwhile, the official media has hit out at Wu for his criticism of the police shooting of a man at a railway station in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang in May 2015.



Wu likely drew the ire of authorities by expressing doubts online over the credibility of the governments investigation of the killing, rights groups have said.



Reported by Hai Nan for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Xin Lin for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.




Myanmar State Counselor and Foreign Affairs Minister Aung San Suu Kyi (C) and foreign ministers from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations pose for a group photo in Yangon, Dec. 19, 2016.

UPDATED at 4:08 P.M. EST on 2016-12-19

Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with 10 foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday in Yangon to brief them on the situation in troubled Rakhine state where controversial security operations have been in place since deadly attacks on border guard posts in early October.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who also serves as state counselor and foreign affairs minister, informed the ASEAN ministers about the governments efforts to provide assistance to both the Rohingya Muslim community and ethnic Rakhine Buddhist communities affected by violence in the wake of the attacks, according to a statement issued by the State Counselors Office.

The retreat was initiated by the Government of Myanmar with the aim of apprising fellow members of the ASEAN family of Myanmars efforts in ensuring peace, security, and development in the Rakhine state, the statement said. It was also intended to strengthen ASEAN unity and solidarity.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who called for the meeting, said the government is committed to resolving the Rakhine crisis, but needs time, and stressed the importance of clearing up differences among ASEAN members through friendly consultations, it said.

Following the security crackdown to find attackers believed to be Rohingya militants, reports about Myanmar army soldiers committing extrajudicial killings, torturing villagers, raping women and burning down homes in Rohingya communities have sparked protests by Muslims in Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, as well as accusations of human rights abuses and possible ethnic cleansing by some international organizations, Western governments, and the United Nations.

The government, which has denied the allegations, has a few backers among the international community.

Priscilla Clapp, a retired U.S. diplomat who was the charge d'affaires at the American embassy in Myanmar from 1999 to 2002, questioned the veracity of the accusations by outside nongovernmental organizations and others.

She told RFA's Myanmar Service on Dec. 12 that those who support such charges "don't known what the situation is."

"They don't understand the language, and people make things up," she said. "They make things up just to spread rumors."

Most urgent matter

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman of Malaysia, whose leaders have been critical of Myanmars handling of the Rakhine dispute, called on the regional bloc to coordinate humanitarian efforts to assist people uprooted by violence in Rakhine state as well as establish an independent body to probe allegations of human rights abuses in the area.

[T]he most urgent matter is the humanitarian conditions of the people in the affected areas, he said.

Like others, we call for unimpeded humanitarian access to the affected areas, he said, in a reference to security forces barring international humanitarian groups from entering northern Rakhine to deliver aid.

We further propose that ASEAN coordinates the humanitarian assistance to Rakhine state, as we did during Cyclone Nargis in 2008,Anifah said, referring to Myanmars worst natural disaster in its recorded history.

Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country in Southeast Asia, irked officials in Myanmar after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak participated in a protest rally in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 4 during which he called on the United Nations to end ethnic cleansing targeting Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state.

Anifah proposed that ASEAN establish its own independent group of experts or eminent persons to investigate and verify the situation in Rakhine and provide recommendations to the foreign ministers about how the situation should be dealt with.

He also called on Myanmar to uphold the rights of all people living with the boundaries of the state in the western part of the country.

[M]yanmar must take steps to build confidence and reassurance among the local population, and to also protect all residents regardless of their ethnicity, religious beliefs, or status, Anifah said. Although Myanmar may not recognize the Rohingya as its citizens, we must not forget that they too deserve basic human rights.

An inclusive approach

Retno L.P. Marsudi, minister of foreign affairs of Muslim-majority Indonesia, echoed the sentiments of her Malaysian counterpart.

Human rights protection and respect for all communities, including Muslim communities in Rakhine state, must be done by using an inclusive approach, she said at the meeting.

I urge all members of ASEAN to continue to constructively support and assist Myanmar in addressing the complex situation in Rakhine state, said Retno who will travel to Bangladesh for bilateral talks about the Rohingya issue on Tuesday.

The meeting of the ASEAN foreign ministers came just days after international rights group Amnesty International released a report on the Rakhine crisis about what it calls the persecution of Rohingya in Myanmar, the neglect they face in Bangladesh, and abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity.

In the Dec. 16 report entitled We Are at a Breaking Point, Amnesty International says it has found that government security forces did commit atrocities against Rohingya villagers in Rakhine based on mostly phone interviews from outside the country with 55 victims, eyewitnesses, human rights monitors, humanitarian workers, journalists, and Rohingya leaders in October, November and December.

The violence in northern Rakhine state has forced more than 27,000 Rohingya to flee to southeastern Bangladesh since early October.

Border guards report that Bangladeshi authorities turned back 306 boats carrying Rohingya across the Naaf River, which separates the two countries, between early October and Dec. 15.

On Monday, border guard officials told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, that they had turned back another 40 Rohingya as they tried to cross the border at Ukhia and Teknaf, two subdistricts in southeastern Coxs Bazar district.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service and BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Ta'ang National Liberation Army soldiers march to mark the 51st anniversary of Ta'ang National Resistance Day in Homain, Nansan township, in northern Myanmar's Shan state, Jan. 12, 2014.

Soldiers from two of Myanmars ethnic armed groups clashed on Monday near Thibaw township in volatile northern Shan state, though no one was injured or killed, said an officer from one of the militias and a state parliamentarian.

The hostilities occurred between the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in an area where both ethnic Shan and Palaung (Taang) groups live, Colonel Tar Aik Kyaw of the TNLA said.

We had two fights with the RCSS today in Pankhataund village in Thibaw township, he said. Another fight occurred in Manlwe village in Thibaw township.

Tar Aik Kyaw also said a battle was under way between government armed forces and the TNLA in the town of Kutkai.

We heard there is fighting between the RCSS and TNLA in Thibaw township, but no one was killed or injured, said Shan state assembly legislator Sai Tun Nyan of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party who represents the town of Kyaukme.

The RCSS/SSA has also engaged in periodic skirmishes with the Myanmar army, the latest of which occurred Friday near Shan states capital Taunggyi.

Fighting between the two militias broke out in late November 2015, about six weeks after the signing of the nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA) between the government and eight of the countrys more than 20 ethnic armed groups.

The RCSS, the political organization that oversees the SSA, is a signatory to the NCA, but the TNLA is not.

After the RCSS signed the accord, Myanmar army forces teamed up with it and launched the offensive against the holdout TNLA in Shan state.

Northern Alliance

The TNLA recently joined a coalition of four ethnic armed groups engaged in hostilities with Myanmars armed forces in war-torn Shan state.

On Nov. 20, The Northern Alliance, which includes the Arakan Army (AA), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), launched coordinated attacks on 10 government and military targets in the Muse township villages of Mong Ko and Pang Zai, the 105-mile border trade zone between Myanmar and China, and areas of Namhkam and Kutkai townships.

The attacks triggered a new round of intensified fighting with government troops that has displaced thousands of residents.

Government army soldiers seized the KIA mountaintop Gidon outpost in Waingmaw township in northern Myanmar's Kachin state during the weekend with both sides suffering casualties, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported on Monday.

The government army also captured a KIA outpost about eight kilometers (five miles) north of Gidon on Saturday afternoon, the report said.

The Northern Alliance and the governments Peace Commission are discussing a date on which to hold peace talks. A previous round of talks in November failed.

Reported by Kyaw Thu for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
The Chinese government has destroyed thousands of mosques over the past three months in the restive Xinjiang region in Beijings latest attempt to rectify the largely Muslim population there, RFAs Uyghur Service has learned.

Under the Mosque Rectification campaign launched by the Chinese Central Ethnic-Religious Affairs Department and overseen by the local police, the mosques were demolished as a way to sort out dilapidated buildings that allegedly posed a safety threat for worshippers in the Uyghur Autonomous Region, officials told RFA.

Convincing the people that one of the purposes for demolishing the mosques was for the safety of the worshipers was a bit difficult, said Eysajan Yaqup, a police officer in Toqquzaq township. Some of them laughed at us when we explained the purpose, and some of them stared at us to show their disagreement.

Eysajan Yaqup said he and other officials ignored the laughter and the stares and most of the prayers were silenced.

We successfully completed our duty within three months, he said.

China estimates that it is home to 23 million Muslims, although some independent sources claim as many as 50 million Muslims live in the country.

Beijing blames Uyghur extremists for a string of violent attacks and clashes in recent years. But critics say the government has exaggerated the threat from the Uyghurs, and that repressive domestic policies are responsible for violence that has left hundreds dead since 2009.

China has vowed to crack down on what it calls religious extremism in Xinjiang, and regularly conducts "strike hard campaigns that include random, nighttime police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people, including clothing and personal appearance.

The government also employs an army of religious affairs officials whose job it is to impose strict limits on all forms of religious worship, and to crack down on faith-based activities that haven't submitted to government regulation.

We demolished nearly 70 percent of mosques in the city.

Officials in Kashgar (in Chinese, Kashi) confirmed that a rectification campaign had been carried out in the city, saying that most of mosques in Kashgar were demolished for the purpose of ensuring stability and protecting the safety of the Muslims.

While government officials refused to say how many mosques were demolished, an investigation by RFAs Uyghur Service indicated that around 5,000 mosques were destroyed over the three months of the campaign.

RFA listener Abduraxman Abdurehim, a Uyghur refugee living in Turkey, said villagers from his home town told him that that 70 percent of the mosques in Lenger township were demolished in the campaign

His account was backed up by local officials and villagers in Kashgar, Hotan (in Chinese, Hetian) and Asku (in Chinese, Akesu).

While other listeners told RFA the rectification campaign encompassed the entire region, RFA was only able to independently confirm the destruction of mosques in those three areas.

Wang Jingfu, head of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee in Kashgar City, told RFA that the government was acting out of safety concerns because many of the mosques were antiquated.

We launched the rectification campaign with the purpose of protecting the safety of the worshippers because all the mosques were too old, he said. We demolished nearly 70 percent of mosques in the city, because there were more than enough mosques and some were unnecessary.

Its all just a slogan

Hajim Yusup, the deputy police chief in Toqquzaq countys Mush township said 46 of the 65 mosques in his town were demolished.

The demolition was carried out and organized by the Ethnic and Religious Committee of the county, we just watched in case there was any opposition, he said. Fortunately, almost nothing happened in our township during the campaign.

The deputy committee chief, who said his name is Ghulamidin, told RFA that government officials explained to religious leaders and residents why the mosques needed to be destroyed.

Before we launched the campaign, we went to villages in the city and conducted a conversation with religious figures and residents to patiently explain the importance of the rectification campaign, he said. The residents agreed to the order issued by central government, I believe we did nothing wrong in this campaign.

The residents may have agreed, but they werent fooled by the reason behind the campaign.

Rectifying or standardizing, its all just a slogan, said the teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity. The truth is it is a demolishing.

To the teacher the rectification campaign is all part of Beijings attempts to subjugate the Uyghur population.

It is part of the campaign to eliminate so-called religious extremism, the teacher said. First the authorities jailed all the young men who could oppose such a policy with the strike-hard campaign that started May 2014, then the authorities implemented new rules to punish rumor spreaders and now this campaign to demolish mosques.

Reported and translated by Shohret Hoshur for RFA's Uyghur Service. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
WASHINGTON -- Two new Russian-language websites have found ready audiences in Russias North Caucasus and mid-Volga regions, providing accurate reporting for populations that lack access to a local, independent press.

Caucasus Realities, known locally as Kavkaz.Realii, reports news and information from all of Russias North Caucasus republics -- Chechnya, Daghestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, and North Ossetia. The website focuses on real issues that worry real people, says North Caucasus Service Director Aslan Doukaev, citing political and economic disenfranchisement, corruption, and police brutality as concerns that unite all of the regions ethnic groups.

Idel Realities (Idel.Realii) covers the middle Volga republics of Bashkortostan, Chuvashia, Mari El, Mordovia, Tatarstan, Udmurtia, and surrounding Russian oblasts. The websites reporting has brought new scrutiny to actions of local authorities that have previously gone unchecked. In one case, the sites journalists revealed that the process for awarding a tender for a construction project was a sham. In response to the story, the regions anti-monopoly body cancelled the contract. On another occasion, authorities reversed a decision to cancel a festival celebrating the regions Finno-Ugric minority after an Idel.Realities report caused a public outcry.

Because of their unique content about regions that are known for their colorful politicians and compelling stories, and yet which are underreported, both sites attract audiences from Moscow, amplifying their local impact. Theres almost no other option for reliable news from the region in Russian, says Doukaev. But, says Tatar-Bashkir Service Director Rim Gilfanov, the added visibility has brought heightened risks for their reporters. When we were reporting only in Tatar and Bashkir, officials sort of tolerated it, but now theyre getting worried.

Gilfanov cited the case of one free-lancer in Udmurtia who was threatened by Russian security agents in October with charges of extremism because of her reporting, and vilified in the local media for ties to American propagandist RFE/RL. Independent journalists in Chechnya and other North Caucasus republics work in fear for their lives.

Both new projects are additions to RFE/RLs Realities brand, a growing set of so-called hyper-local websites that launched in 2015 with Crimea Realities and Donbas Realities. The sites target areas particularly vulnerable to disinformation, and command audiences in the millions. They have also taken the lead in introducing innovative media practices to their local markets: an Idel Realities social video documenting police brutality in Tatarstans capital of Kazan, for example, was the first of its kind.

The new websites are managed by RFE/RLs North Caucasus and Tatar-Bashkir services, complementing their continuing reporting in Chechen, Tatar and Bashkir languages while extending their reach to new audiences.
Some 350 evacuees were able to leave the rebel-held pocket in eastern Aleppo in Syria late on December 18 despite an attack on buses set to deliver wounded and sick people from government-held villages, monitors and aid officials.

Reports of the successful evacuations followed a December 18 attack on buses in northwestern Syria that threatened the wider deal to ship out thousands of civilians and rebel fighters still trapped in eastern Aleppo that had already been stalled by disagreements.

The reports also came as the UN Security Council prepared to convene on December 19 to vote on a French-drafted proposal to send UN monitors to Aleppo to observe evacuations from besieged areas.

At least five buses carrying evacuees from eastern Aleppo arrived in rebel-controlled areas outside the city on December 18 after they were held up in government-controlled southern Aleppo, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and activists on the ground who were in contact with the evacuees.

It was not immediately clear if convoys would be allowed to deliver more evacuees after armed assailants on December 18 attacked and burned five buses en route to evacuate ill and injured from villages near Idlib in northwestern Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed the attack on Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants.

Some 1,200 people were to be taken out of the rebel enclave in return for a similar number taken out of the two villages, Foah and Kefraya, that have been besieged by the armed opposition.

But Reuters cited an unidentified UN official in Syria as saying that "evacuations are on" and that the first people left eastern Aleppo late on December 18.

"Buses and ambulances are leaving east Aleppo now," Reuters quoted the official as saying in an e-mail.

The forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the past week have pushed to establish full control over the eastern part of Aleppo, which the opposition had held since 2012, with an offensive that has been harshly criticized by the UN and Western governments.

The operation prompted France on December 16 to circulate a draft text of a proposed resolution stating that the UN Security Council is "alarmed" by the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo and due to the fact that "tens of thousands of besieged Aleppo inhabitants" require aid and evacuation.

After initial resistance from Russia, which has backed Assad in the war and wields veto power on the council, Moscow appeared to give its backing to the resolution, which the council was set to vote on December 19.

"We put in some good hours of work and I think we have a good text," Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the UN, said on December 18.

The new text calls on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to consult with Syrian authorities and the armed opposition to arrange for the UN monitoring of "the wellbeing of civilians."

Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, said on December 18 that the text of the new proposal "includes all the core provisions to allow for UN monitoring, to get the 100-plus UN people ready to go to team up" with the Red Cross and the Syrian Red Crescent.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, and dpa
An international press freedom group says the number of journalists killed in connection with their work is set to decline in 2016 from record levels in previous years, but that deaths of journalists covering war zones are on the rise.

In a report issued on December 19, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said fewer journalists were targeted for murder in 2016, while working as a war photographer or correspondent became the deadliest journalistic job.

CPJ said deaths of journalists in combat or caught in a crossfire was at the highest level since 2013 -- bolstered by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

The study concludes that at least 48 journalists were killed in relation to their work from January 1 through December 15, 2016 -- down from 72 the previous year.

CPJ added, however, that it is still investigating the deaths of at least 27 other journalists around the world during 2016 to determine whether those deaths were work-related.

CPJ executive director Joel Simon said it is good news that fewer journalists were murdered in 2016 than in recent record years.

"The decline shows the critical importance of the fight to end impunity," Simon said. "However, journalists covering war continue to be killed at an extraordinarily high rate, a reflection of the brutality and unpredictability of modern conflict."

The journalists who were murdered in 2016 included Pavel Sheremet, a native of Belarus who was killed in Kyiv in July when a bomb was detonated under a car he was driving.

CPJ says Sheremet, a 1998 recipient of the media watchdogs International Press Freedom Award, was stripped of his Belarusian citizenship in 2010 in retaliation for his reporting.

Other journalists died while on dangerous assignments, such as covering political unrest.

In Pakistan, DawnNews cameraman and Aaj TV cameraman Shehzad Ahmed were killed in August at Quetta Civil Hospital when a bomb killed at least 70 people -- many of them lawyers -- among a crowd that was grieving the assassination of the head of Balochistan's Bar Association.

In 2016, Syria remained the world's deadliest country for journalists for the fifth year in a row, according to CPJ.

Fourteen journalists were killed covering Syria's conflict in 2016, the same number as in 2015, the report said.

Altogether during the past five years, 107 journalists have been killed in the line of duty in Syria, CPJ says.

The report also noted that political groups, including Islamist militant organizations, were responsible for more than half of the killings of journalists around the world during 2016.

The watchdog's research concluded that photographer and camera operator were the deadliest journalistic jobs.

Around 20 percent of the journalists killed during 2016 were freelancers, while 90 percent of the journalists killed were local, not foreign, journalists, according to CPJ.
BRUSSELS -- The European Union has extended sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine for another six months.

The European Council formally approved the extension on December 19 after EU leaders agreed to the move at a summit last week.

"The council prolonged the economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy until July 31, 2017," the council said in a statement.

The sanctions target the financial, energy, and defense sectors and material that can be used for both industrial and military means.

Last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande voiced support for prolonging the sanctions.

They faulted Moscow for failing to do its part in implementing the Minsk accords -- a February 2015 agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where more than 9,750 people have died since April 2014 in fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces.

While agreement on the extension was reached with little trouble by the 28-member EU, supporters of the sanctions fear it could be far harder to prolong them again next summer, even if there is little progress toward implementation of the Minsk accords.

That is in part due to the impending exit of Britain, which has supported the measures, as well as opposition to the sanctions in some other countries and uncertainty about the U.S. stance after President-elect Donald Trump -- who has vowed to seek to improve relations with Russia -- takes office in January.

Meanwhile, French voters appear likely to elect a president who is less critical of Russia than Hollande in an election in the spring.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak
Ukrainian forces are facing Russian attacks in multiple locations, where heavy shelling and air strikes damaged infrastructure as Moscow stepped up its offensive, the Ukrainian military said on November 3.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine was again disconnected from the power grid after shelling damaged the remaining high voltage lines, leaving it with just diesel generators, Ukraine's nuclear firm Enerhoatom said.

Enerhoatom said it believes Russia will soon try to repair and connect Europe's largest nuclear station toward the Russia-occupied Crimea and Donbas regions.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said in its November 3 briefing that heavy fighting was under way in the east, with Russian troops conducting offensive operations in the Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Novopavlivka areas of the Donetsk region.

Russia launched attacks on 12 settlements in Donetsk and the neighboring Luhansk region. Ukrainian forces repelled the attacks, the military said.

In Luhansk, the Ukrainian military accused Russian forces are using civilians as human shields. The claim could not be independently confirmed.

Russian strikes were also reported in the central area of Kryviy Rih and in the northeast in Sumy and Kharkiv.

"The enemy is trying to keep the temporarily captured territories, concentrating its efforts on restraining the actions of the defense forces in certain areas," Ukraine's military said.

Russia has targeted Ukrainian civilian and energy infrastructure in recent weeks, prompting power and water outages and causing casualties among civilians.

Russia keeps denying targeting civilians, though the conflict has killed thousands, displaced millions, and razed some Ukrainian cities to the ground.

In the south, Ukraine's counteroffensive has left Russian forces fighting to hold their ground around the city of Kherson, on the right bank of the Dnieper River.

Moscow-installed authorities are urging residents to evacuate, the Ukrainian military said.



Residents of the town of Nova Zburiyvka had been given three days to leave and were told that evacuation would be obligatory from November 5, it said.

Russian authorities have repeatedly said Ukraine could be preparing to attack the massive Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper and flood the region. Kyiv denies that.

Russia and Ukraine will each hand over 107 captured fighters on November 3 in the latest prisoner exchange between the two sides, Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-installed administrator of Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine's Donetsk region, said in a post on his Telegram channel. He said 65 of those released by Ukraine will be separatist fighters from Donetsk and Luhansk.

Seven ships carrying agricultural products left Ukrainian Black Sea ports on November 3, a day after the resumption of a grain deal aimed at delivering Ukrainian food to foreign markets, the Infrastructure Ministry said.

The vessels were loaded with 290,000 tons of food products and were headed toward European and Asian countries, the ministry said in a statement without elaborating.

The British ambassador arrived at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow on November 3, Reuters reported, after she was summoned to discuss Moscow's claims that Britain was involved in a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.

WATCH: RFE/RL asked people in Moscow how they thought the war in Ukraine -- which Russian President Vladimir Putin maintains is a "special military operation" -- is going.

Russia's Defense Ministry has said the attack was carried out under the guidance and leadership of British Navy specialists, an assertion Britain has dismissed as false.

Meanwhile, two U.S. officials told CBS News on November 2 that senior Russian military leaders discussed last month how and when they might use nuclear weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin was not involved in the talks, they told CBS News.

The White House said it has grown "increasingly concerned" about the potential use of nuclear weapons in the past few months. But it stressed Washington saw no signs of Russia preparing for such use.



In September, Putin escalated his nuclear and anti-Western rhetoric, mentioning that Russia could use all means at its disposal to protect itself and the occupied Ukrainian territories.

With reporting by Reuters and BBC
India's top counterterrorism agency has indicted the leader of a Pakistan-based militant group and three others with perpetrating an attack on an Indian air base.

The January attack in northern India left seven soldiers dead and led to a breakdown in relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

India's National Investigative Agency (NIA) filed formal charges on December 19 naming Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother Rauf Asghar, and two other members of the group.

All the accused are reportedly living in Pakistan.

The NIA said four gunmen from Pakistan were killed by Indian forces in the January attack.

Initial reports put the number of attackers at six.

New Delhi has long accused Islamabad of using JeM as a proxy to launch attacks on Indian soil.

Pakistan banned the group in 2002.

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters
Iranian President Hassan Rohani has launched a Citizens' Rights Charter that represents one of his administration's most conspicuous efforts so far to fulfill campaign pledges he made in winning the presidency three years ago.

Although it is not a legally binding document, the text contains 120 articles pertaining to freedoms that critics say are routinely violated in the Islamic republic, including rights to "life," which is aimed at capital punishment, "free expression," and against an "inquisition of ideas."

Rohani, who has helped rally reformists and other opponents of hard-liners within Iran's staunchly conservative political system, faces a reelection challenge in May.

He called the release of the Citizens' Rights Charter on December 19 a step toward fulfillment of his 2013 campaign promises, but Rohani has largely failed to soften hard-liners' increased use of the death penalty, strict curbs on public debate, and discrimination against women in cultural and legislative matters.

"I'm very pleased that today one of my most important promises is being fulfilled and I'm achieving one of my longest-standing dreams," the Iranian president was quoted by domestic media as saying. "I've made other promises to the people by which I will stand by until the last day of my duty."

Rohani called on the government to implement the charter while urging everyone, including academics, artists, and the elite to "promote and consolidate" the rights laid out in the charter.

He warned that "some individuals do not like to hear about some of the articles" in Iran's 1979 constitution and instead prefer to "ignore" some of the rights outlined in the charter.

What Chance Of Change?

The move appears to be a response to criticism that Rohani put rights issues on a backburner while focusing on Iran's economic woes and the landmark nuclear agreement reached with world powers last year.

Rohani released a draft of the Citizens' Rights Charter during his first 100 days in office, but the text was heavily criticized for its reliance on the constitution and Islamic law and for failing to offer any mechanisms to protect the rights in question.

There did not appear to be significant changes to the most closely watched sections of the new version, and similar criticism could follow.

Article 1 asserts that "citizens have the right to life" but stops short of mentioning Iran's status as one of the world's busiest executioners. A report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic estimates that between 966 and 1,054 executions were carried out in Iran in 2015. Rights groups believe that is more than at any other time in the past 20 years.

Article 3 states that citizens' individual and public liberties are "immune" from attacks and that "no citizen should be deprived of these freedoms."

Article 25 says that the "inquisition of ideas is prohibited," adding that "no one should be harassed and reprimanded over [his or her] ideas."

Groups like Amnesty International accuse Iran of not only jailing ideological opponents but of extracting forced "confessions" or "repentance" and "callously toying with the lives of prisoners of conscience and other political prisoners by denying them adequate medical care."

Article 26 says that "each citizen enjoys the right to freedom of expression," while adding that this right should be enforced "based on limits prescribed by laws."

The Committee To Protect Journalists lists Iran among the world's top 10 most-censored countries, and its system of enforcing "red lines" for journalists is well-known.

Reporters Without Borders ranked Iran 169th out of 180 countries in its 2016 World Press Freedom Index.

Intellectuals, journalists, activists, and rights lawyers have been harassed, summoned, and sentenced to jail for criticism of the Iranian establishment or their defense of human rights and civil liberties.

Many of the abuses are carried out by powerful conservative bodies, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the judiciary, that do not report to Rohani.

Iran's supreme leader, currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has wielded the final say in religious and government matters since the country's religiously fueled revolution to overthrow the shah in 1979 and install a system ruled by Islamic clerics.
BRUSSELS -- NATO and Russia still "have profound disagreements on the crisis" in Ukraine, the head of the Western military alliance says.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made the comments after the NATO-Russia Council, their main forum for dialogue, held more than three hours of talks in Brussels on December 19.

It was only the third such meeting of the council in 2016.

NATO has suspended all practical cooperation with Russia after Moscow's seizure and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in March 2014.

Stoltenberg said NATO allies "reiterated their strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," and insisted that they would never "recognize Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea."

The meeting also looked at ways to avoid incidents and accidents between Russian and NATO forces.

Russia has annoyed NATO with snap military exercises or by buzzing the alliance's ships and aircraft with fighter jets, as well as what NATO sees as aggressive use of propaganda.

Douglas Lute, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, told ABC News on December 18 that "I don't believe that anyone in Russia today intends to attack NATO."

But Lute added, "I worry about attempts by Russia...to influence political campaigns, flooding allied capitals, the news media with misinformation or disinformation and all these with an attempt to fragment internally our societies, perhaps distort our political processes, and to sow discontent and a lack of cohesion across the allies."

With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak in Brussels, AP, and Reuters
5 Relatives mourn in front of the casket of Andrei Karlov, the slain Russian ambassador to Turkey, during his funeral ceremony at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. Karlov was assassinated in Turkey by an off-duty policeman. (AFP/Alexander Nemenov)
An Austrian far-right party has signed a "cooperation pact" with Russia's ruling party, which is loyal to President Vladimir Putin, the latest sign of ties between the Kremlin and populist, anti-EU parties in Europe.

Heinze-Christian Strache, the leader of the Freedom Party (FPOe), announced the five-year agreement with United Russia in Moscow on December 19.

Strache said the parties pledged to strengthen political and economic ties between Vienna and Moscow as well as "strengthen the friendship and education of young generations, in the spirit of patriotism and of finding joy in work."

Norbert Hofer, the FPOe's presidential candidate, missed out on becoming the European Union's first far-right head of state after losing a repeat runoff on December 4.

Strache also renewed his call to lift "damaging and pointless international sanctions" against Russia over its actions in Ukraine, including the 2014 annexation of Crimea and its backing of separatists in the southeast of the country.

United Russia confirmed the parties had agreed to organize "regular consultations" as well as "conferences, seminars, and roundtables."

"There are ancient cultural and economic links between Austria and Russia," party official Sergei Zheleznyak said in a statement.

Based on reporting by TASS, AFP, and dpa
MOSCOW -- A factory that hoped to manufacture condoms in a Russian village acclaimed for its Christian heritage will forgo the contraceptives production after protests by Orthodox activists, says its managing partner.

Pavel Spichakov told local media on December 16 that the factory, owned by Bergus, will stick to making adhesive bandages and diapers, placating religious conservatives who had categorically opposed condom production.

Dozens of protesters staged a rally in Bogolyubovo last month with banners and slogans like "Mother of God, save us from desecration" and "No condom manufacturing on a holy site."

The factory is due to start production in 2017.

The planned site -- about 180 kilometers northeast of Moscow in the Vladimir region -- is near a monastery in Bogolyubovo, whose name is a compound of the Russian words for "God" and "lovers."

Spichakov told local news site Gubernia33 that the protests generated so much publicity for the manufacturer that it was inundated with interest from big companies at a recent business expo.

"As a result, orders for 'Lelia' diapers, which we had on display, turned out to be many times higher than expected. So we made the decision to devote more manufacturing and storage space to diapers than was earlier planned. All the rest of the space in Bogolyubovo will be taken up by adhesive bandages. There is physically no more space for condoms."

"The activists exerted influence on moving production [to another location] by virtue of the fact that they made the factory well-known and provided it with big orders for diapers," he said. "I am only grateful to them for this."

The village carries the name of 12th-century Russian Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, who built the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, a landmark on UNESCO's World Heritage Site list.

Kirill Vasilyev, a local journalist, told RFE/RL's Russian Service that "many" of the more than a dozen people who were leading the protests against condom manufacturing "are not residents of the village of Bogolyubovo," including "many Muscovites."

The country's practicing Russian Orthodox population is thought to compose only around 15-20 percent of its 142 million or so people, although many more Russians are nonpracticing believers.

The Russian Orthodox Church permits its adherents to use condoms, while noting, however, that "the deliberate refusal to have children because of selfish urges devalues marriage and is undoubtedly a sin."
The Russian Defense Ministry says one of its planes has crash-landed in northern Siberia.

Everyone survived but 32 people were hospitalized, including 16 in grave condition.

The Ilyushin Il-18 made an emergency landing about 30 kilometers from an airfield near the town of Tiksi in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) early on December 19, the ministry said.

The Il-18, a propeller plane designed in the 1950s, had taken off from an air base in Kansk in the Krasnoyarsk region with 32 passengers and seven crew.

Aleksei Kolodeznikov, the deputy head of the regional government, was quoted as saying that high winds may have forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing.

The Defense Ministry said military investigators were flown to the crash site.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP and the BBC


Serbia has announced it will purchase Russian military jets in a move that could add to tensions in the Balkans amid alleged Russian attempts to block countries in the region from joining Western institutions.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on December 19 that he will travel to Moscow later this week to sign a deal that will include six MiG-29 fighters, which he says are needed "to protect our freedom and sovereignty."

Despite officially pursuing EU membership, Serbia has been sliding closer to its traditional Slavic ally Russia. Commentators say Moscow has launched a major propaganda effort to keep it away from the West.

The regional tensions have risen in the wake of an alleged coup attempt in October by Serbian and Russian nationalists against Montenegro's pro-Western government for its efforts to joining NATO.

Based on reporting by AP and Interfax
The mayor of the Siberian city of Irkutsk has declared a state of emergency as the death toll mounts after dozens of people drank scented bath lotion containing methyl alcohol, or methanol.

It was one of the deadliest mass poisonings in years in Russia, where people hard up for cash sometimes drink beauty or cleaning products that contain alcohol and are cheaper than store-bought vodka or other beverages.

The Kremlin called the deaths "a terrible tragedy."

The federal Investigative Committee said on December 19 that 25 people died after they drinking the liquid, called Boyaryshnik (Hawthorn), despite a warning on the label saying it cannot be consumed internally.

A local prosecutor said later that the death toll had risen to 48 as law enforcement authorities found dead bodies in apartments and sewer or heating grates where homeless people sometimes seek shelter.

Irkutsk Mayor Dmitry Berdnikov announced a state of emergency in the city 4,200 kilometers east of Moscow and banned retail sales of all liquids that contain alcohol but are not intended for internal consumption.

Authorities said most of the victims were 35 to 50 years old and lived in Novo-Lenino, a district on the outskirts of Irkutsk.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the poisonings "a terrible tragedy that requires close attention," and said that President Vladimir Putin had been informed.

"Measures must be taken," Peskov said.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Boyaryshnik and similar liquids containing alcohol should be removed from shop shelves or even banned, but he did not appear to have issued a formal order for either of those measures.

The Investigative Committee said the bath lotion contained methanol, which can be fatal if consumed internally, instead of regular alcohol, or ethanol.

It said seven people suspected of selling the lotion had been detained, and more than 2,000 containers containing over 500 liters of the lotion confiscated.

'Greatest National Threat'

The Reuters news agency quoted alcohol market expert Vadim Drobiz as saying that up to 12 million Russians, or about one-12th of the population, drink cheap surrogate alcohol.

Opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, who announced last week that he plans to run for president in 2018, said that the case had attracted attention because so many deaths occurred in a small area in a short period of time, but that hundreds of people die of similar causes every day.

"The problem...for Russia and its national security is roughly a thousand times more important than Syria, Aleppo, Ukraine and [U.S. President-elect Donald] Trump put together," said Navalny, who blamed poverty and corruption for the sale of poisonous surrogate alcohol.

He said such substances "kill more people [every year] than have been killed in terrorist attacks in Russia's entire history."

With reporting by Reuters, RIA Novosti, Interfax, and TASS
The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution calling for the immediate deployment of United Nations monitors to eastern Aleppo, with France saying it must be implemented to prevent "mass atrocities" by Syrian forces in areas formerly held by rebels.

The resolution adopted by the 15-nation council on December 19 calls for the United Nations and other institutions to monitor evacuations from eastern Aleppo and says that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon must urgently consult Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government and other parties on security and arrangements for the immediate deployment of the monitors.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said that adoption of the resolution was just a first step and that all sides, especially Assad's government and its allies, which include Russia and Iran, must implement it immediately.

"France calls on each side, in particular the regime and its supporters, to be responsible so that this resolution is implemented without delay and a lasting cease-fire is put in place across the country," he said.

Veto-wielding permanent Security Council members France and Russia had submitted competing draft resolutions but announced agreement on a text after more than three hours of talks behind closed doors on December 18.

The resolution also demands that all parties allow unconditional and immediate access for the UN and its partners to deliver humanitarian aid and medical care, and that they "respect and protect all civilians across Aleppo and throughout Syria."

The vote came amid efforts to evacuate civilians from eastern Aleppo, most of which had been held by rebels until a major government offensive this fall supported from Assad's allies Russia and Iran.

France has warned of what it said could be "mass atrocities" by Syrian forces and pro-government militias as they assume control.

On December 19, evacuations from the rebel-held pocket in Aleppo and from two villages besieged by rebels began after a dayslong standoff.

Dozens of buses carrying thousands of people from eastern Aleppo reached rebel-held areas to the west of the city, a UN official and the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said 4,500 civilians had left east Aleppo since midnight, bringing the number of evacuees to 12,000.

UNICEF, the UN children's agency, said 47 children who had been trapped in an orphanage in east Aleppo have been safely evacuated, though some were in "critical condition from injuries and dehydration."

Meanwhile, hundreds of civilians from the Shi'ite villages of Foua and Kefraya in northwestern Syria arrived in government-held Aleppo, the observatory and state television reported.

The evacuation of civilians from the villages was a condition for the departure of people trapped in the remaining rebel-held area of Aleppo.

On December 18, armed assailants attacked and set fire to buses that were about to transport the sick and injured from the villages.

Eastern Aleppo had been held by the rebels since 2012, but Syrian government forces and their allies squeezed them into small corners of the city over the past month. along with thousands of civilians.

Russia, Iran, Turkey To Meet

Evacuations from the remaining rebel-held parts of the city started last week before collapsing on December 16.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the defense and foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, and Turkey were to meet in Moscow on December 20 to discuss Syria.

The meeting will be "dedicated to the problems of the Syrian settlement" and aim at "facilitating the implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions."

The meeting will be to "understand the views of all three sides, laying out where we all stand and discuss where we go from here," an official from Turkey's Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying.

"It is not a miracle meeting, but will give all sides a chance to listen to each other," the official added.

All three countries have played key roles in the Syrian war, with Iran and Russia strongly backing Assad while NATO member Turkey has been a main supporter of the rebels.

The evacuation efforts follow a cease-fire deal brokered by Russia and Turkey after Assad's forces and their allies drove rebels out of most of eastern Aleppo in an offensive that has been sharply criticized by the UN and Western governments.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry last week accused Assad of committing "nothing short of a massacre" in Aleppo, and the UN human rights chief said that the "bombardment by the Syrian government forces and their allies [of] an area packed with civilians is almost certainly a violation of international law and most likely constitutes war crimes."

Four Syrian organizations including the search-and-rescue group known as the White Helmets accused Russia of having "committed or been complicit in war crimes in Syria," saying that Russian air strikes in the Aleppo area had killed some 1,200 civilians since July.

With reporting by AFP, AP, Reuters, and TASS
A gunman shot Russia's ambassador to Turkey as he was giving a speech at an art gallery in Ankara, yelling "Don't forget Aleppo!" Russia's Foreign Ministry said the diplomat later died of his wounds.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov was speaking at the Center for Modern Art, at an opening of an exhibit featuring Turkish photographs of Russia, when the man -- identified as 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, a member of Ankara's riot police -- opened fire with a handgun on December 19.

Turkish authorities said had detained four people related to Altintas in connection with the killing.

Video of the incident showed the gunman, dressed in a suit and tie, yelling that the shooting was "payback for Aleppo" -- a reference to the Syrian city where hundreds of thousands have been under bombardment by Russian and Syrian forces.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters in Moscow that Andrei Karlov died not long after the shooting.

"We regard this as a terrorist act," Zakharova said. "Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively."

NTV said three other people were wounded and that Turkish police fatally shot the gunman, who appeared to be the sole attacker.

Kyrgyzstan's ambassador to Turkey, Ibragim Zhunusov, told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service he was standing near Karlov when the shooting began.

"There was a guy standing there. I thought he was a security officer. Less than two minutes after Karlov started his speech, shooting started," Zhunusov said. "We were just 3 to 4 meters from the [Russian] ambassador. We all lay on the floor with our faces down. People started to run. The attacker shouted that we shouldnt move and remain in our places. Then the shooting started again. We managed to escape to the street."

Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported that after shooting the ambassador and yelling at guests cowering in the gallery's corners, the gunman went to the building's second floor and exchanged gunfire with police for 15 minutes before being killed.

Karlov was speaking at the Center for Modern Art, at an opening of an exhibit featuring Turkish photographs of Russia.

Video shot by audience members during the attack showed a man wearing a suit and tie and brandishing a gun, yelling first in Arabic and then in Turkish as he stood by a microphone in the gallery.

"Allahu akbar! We are those who have promised [the Prophet] Muhammad to wage jihad. Allahu akbar! [This] payback is for Aleppo. [This] payback is for Syria. [This] payback is for Aleppo. [This] payback is for Syria," he said in Arabic.

"Allahu akbar" is a commonly heard Arabic phrase meaning "God is great."

"Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria! Until our towns are safe, you will not taste safety!" the man then added in Turkish. "Go back, go back, only death will take me from here. Whoever has part in this cruelty, everyone of them will pay for this one by one!"

WATCH: The Russian ambassador to Ankara was shot dead in an attack at an art gallery in the Turkish capital. (AP still photo/Reuters video)



In a video message broadcast on several TV channels, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had spoken by telephone with his Russian counterpart.

"This is a provocation to damage the process of normalizing Turkish-Russian relations. But both the Russian and Turkish administrations have determined not to fall for this provocation," Erdogan said.

According to his official biography, Karlov was born in 1954 and joined the Russian foreign service in 1976. He became Moscows chief diplomat in Turkey in July 2013.

The attack came a day before defense and foreign ministers from Russia, Turkey, and Iran were to meet in Moscow to discuss the conflict ongoing in neighboring Syria.

Since September 2015, Russia has waged a potent air campaign in Syria, seeking to bolster the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and defeat the myriad rebel groups seeking to overthrow him.

Iran, which has amicable ties with Russia, has also backed Assad, while Turkey has supported Assad's foes.

Ties between Moscow and Ankara have ebbed and flowed in recent years. Russia had sought to deepen economic relations with Moscow, including building ambitious undersea natural gas pipelines.

But Erdogan has also pushed back against Russian President Vladimir Putin and has viewed the Russian air campaign in Syria with suspicion.

At a late-night Kremlin meeting shown on state TV, Putin said he had ordered security tightened at Russian embassies around the world and vowed to step up the fight against "bandits."

He also said the killing was intended to disrupt ties between Moscow and Ankara.

In Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the attack and offered condolences to Moscow.

"We stand ready to offer assistance to Russia and Turkey as they investigate this despicable attack, which was also an assault on the right of all diplomats to safely and securely advance and represent their nations around the world," Kerry said in a statement.

With reporting by Vesti, TASS, Reuters, and AP
WASHINGTON -- A fugitive Ukrainian lawmaker, whose accusations of top-level corruption have sparked a political furor, has charged that President Petro Poroshenko's allies are profiting from supplying troops fighting Russia-backed separatists.

Poroshenko's government has pushed back aggressively against the media blitz by Oleksandr Onyshchenko, denying the allegations outright and threatening to sue some journalists who report on his claims.

Onyshchenko, who fled Ukraine before being stripped of his parliamentary immunity from prosecution in the summer, claims to have recorded conversations detailing corruption involving Poroshenko, his political party members, business partners, and others.

He faces criminal charges in Ukraine.

Among the materials Onyshchenko claimed he has are recordings of members of Poroshenko's inner circle discussing schemes to steal money from state and private companies and buy votes in parliament.

He also said he had been involved in a complex scheme to drive down the approval ratings of the former prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, so he could then be replaced.

At a December 19 news conference, Onyshchenko repeated long-simmering suspicions that companies connected to Poroshenko's inner circle were profiting from contracts to supply the frontline troops battling Russia-backed insurgents in eastern regions.

For that reason, he told reporters, Poroshenko had less incentive to bring a full end to the fighting and fulfill the 2015 Minsk accords reached with Moscow.

"He doesn't want to do this, actually, because the war also for him is business. And it's a way also for him to keep power," Onyshchenko told the news conference via Skype.

A representative for Onyshchenko said he was in Europe but asked not to disclose his exact location because of security threats.

Roshen In Russia, Still

Onyshchenko also criticized Poroshenko for retaining an ownership stake in a Russian confectionary factory that supplies chocolates and other candy in Russia.

Poroshenko, a billionaire whose fortune comes in part from his candy company Roshen, has repeatedly pledged to sell off the factory, in the Russian city of Lipetsk.

As of October, Roshen continued to own the factory.

Poroshenko and his supporters have denied using insider deals or other suspect means to win supply contracts for the thousands of government troops fighting in the Donbas region.

Poroshenko's allies have also repeatedly demanded that Onyshchenko back up his claims and turn over evidence for further investigation.



Earlier this month, Andriy Zhyhulin , a spokesman for Poroshenkos office, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that investigators had yet to receive any incriminating materials from Onyshchenko.



Last week, Nazar Kholodnytsky, the head of Ukraines anticorruption bureau, a specialized investigative unit set up in 2015 to deal with the countrys rampant corruption, said his unit would close its case by December 27 if Onyshchenko fails to turn over any evidence.

Earlier this month, Onyshchenko said he turned over materials to the U.S. Justice Department, upping the ante in his fight and threatening to draw the U.S. government deeper into Ukraine's messy domestic politics.

On December 17, the Justice Department confirmed it had met with Onyshchenko but pointedly said it would have no more contact with him.

"They say to me one thing: 'You know this corruption in Ukraine is, like, your own problem,'" Onyshchenko said. "'We just want to look to see if it touches American law, American banks, American accounts, but we don't want to go inside of Ukraine.'"

He argued that the United States, which has given nearly $500 million in assistance since the conflict erupted in 2014, and $2 billion in loan guarantees, should be more involved in the fight against corruption.

Otherwise, he said, "Ukraine will be the same country like Afghanistan or Iraq or these kinds of countries where corruption is at the highest level."

"If you [the Americans] want Ukraine to be in Europe, if you want Ukraine to be a better economical [sic] situation, you should control all this financial support that you give to Ukraine. You should be more involved," he said.
The U.S. ambassador to NATO says envoys from the alliance may raise the issue of what he called Moscow's "malign influence" on the internal affairs of NATO countries when they meet their Russian counterpart in Brussels on December 19.

Douglas Lute told ABC News in an interview that cyberattacks targeting American political organizations, including the Democratic National Committee (DNC), that Washington accuses Russia of directing are "not an immediate agenda item" for the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council.

"I imagine that more than one ally, however, will bring up with our Russian counterpart this pattern of malign influence that is seen not only in the United States by way of this DNC hacking experience but across other democracies in the alliance," Lute said in the interview broadcast December 18.

The meeting of the council, which brings together Russia's top diplomat to the alliance and ambassadors from NATO-member countries, comes amid mounting calls in Washington for an investigation into possible Russian hacking aimed at influencing the U.S. presidential election.

The U.S. intelligence community has concluded that hackers directed by the Russian government targeted DNC servers and e-mail accounts, as well as the campaign staff of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, ahead of the November 8 election.

Several media outlets later reported that a CIA assessment had concluded that Russian hackers intervened to help Republican Donald Trump win the election, an allegation Trump has rejected.

Russia has denied it was behind the cyber intrusions.



Lute suggested NATO envoys could press Russia over other areas in which Western governments believe Moscow is seeking to sow disunity across the alliance, alluding to Russian courting of populist, anti-establishment, and often fringe movements in Europe and the United States.

German intelligence has said it fears potential attempts by Russia to use cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns to interfere in federal elections next year.

"These are activities which includefunding of political parties, misinformation campaigns, and even promoting civil unrest," Lute said. "So there's a larger pattern here that the alliance is aware and which is a good topic for our discussion with our Russian colleague."

Russian officials have routinely rejected accusations that their government is engaged in such meddling, and Moscow has long accused NATO of stoking tensions with its expansion toward Russia's borders after the fall of the Soviet Union.

NATO says it is a defensive alliance and does not represent a threat to Russia.

The December 19 meeting will be only the third time the NATO-Russia Council has met during 2016.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said last week that the two sides plan to discuss the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Kyiv's forces and Russia-backed separatists.

NATO has suspended all practical cooperation with Russia since Moscow's seizure and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.

But Stoltenberg said on December 15 that talking with the Kremlin is necessary in order to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to broader conflict.

"When tensions run high, as today, it is even more important to have direct dialogue with Russia," he said.

With reporting by ABC News, Reuters, and AP
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Richmond police were investigating after two shootings Sunday night in South Side left one person dead and another injured.

The shootings, which occurred a few blocks apart not far from Oak Grove/Bellemeade Elementary School, were reported about 8:20 p.m. Authorities found a deceased male in the 1500 block of Bowen Street and were in the early stages of a death investigation, police said.

In the 2300 block of Oakland Place, officers found a male shooting victim, who was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The shootings are believed to be related, police said.
Motley Fool

Tech giants Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) were among the companies that posted disappointing quarterly results and saw their stock prices subsequently plunge. With powerful brands such as Windows, Office, Android, and Google between them, Alphabet and Microsoft have had unquestionable impacts on consumer technology and are still likely to continue doing so well into the future. As a result, you might be wondering which is the better buy: Alphabet or Microsoft?
Beltone, a global leader in hearing aids and hearing health for the past 76 years, recently announced the launch of the Beltone Outerwear and Underwear Clothing Drive to help clothe those in need during the holidays. The drive will take place in local communities throughout select cities across the United States.

From Dec. 1 - Dec. 31, the public is invited to bring donations of new or gently used hats, scarves, gloves and coats, along with brand new socks and underwear to their participating local Beltone Hearing Center, located at 325 Elm Ave. SE. In return for helping with this very worthy cause, current hearing aid users will receive a FREE pack of batteries (limit one package per person) for their donation.

Those not currently wearing hearing aids will receive a FREE hearing screening.

The hearing screening will help determine how well they currently hear and if they could benefit from hearing help.

Our mission at Beltone is to help people hear better through our products and professional hearing care services, said Beltone president, Corrine Perritano. We are proud to improve quality of life for so many people and, at the same time, give back to the local communities in which we serve through the Beltone Outerwear and Underwear Clothing Drive.

Beltone will match all donations of items collected with a monetary cash donation to the Salvation Army, an international charitable organization.

Also, during the month of December, select Beltone locations will be offering extended holiday hours to receive clothing donations.

Submitted by Nelson Hudes
Given the magnitude of raw material required, would India ever become self-sufficient with regards to its rough diamonds requirement, if diamonds were mined within the country? Never, and the thought would be preposterous, as the cutting and polishing sector in the country seems to be growing by the day. It would be inevitable for the country to import/buy rough diamonds from multiple producers. But, producing diamonds from local mines will definitely ease the shortage situation as well as give some solace to rough buyers in terms of price, which is currently eating into their profits.

Earlier this year, it came as a surprise to many when Rio Tinto withdrew from the Bunder project, as it was widely believed that the company was close to getting a forest clearance for the diamond mine from the Indian Environment Ministry. When Rio Tinto pulled out of the project in August 2016, presumably to conserve cash and cut costs, more than $ 500 million had already been spent on the project. But, most importantly, India's dream of being able to have source 'rough' from within the country and its perpetual shortage of rough eased to an extent, was dashed to the ground, literally.

Some media reports also hinted that Rio Tinto decided to pull out of the Bunder project because the Indian government, in a bid to make India a major mineral producer, was seeking Anglo American (a rival of Rio Tinto) to explore for diamonds and gold in India. While it is futile now to look for the reason as the project is stalled, it would be worthwhile for the government to make sure that the Bunder deposits are tapped in the future, as it is the best deposit in the country.

In June this year, the Supreme Court of India ordered the only diamond mine in production today - the government-owned National Mineral Development Corporations (NMDC) Panna Mines - to be closed for environmental reasons. NMDC still insists that there are a lot of diamond deposits to be mined. For a country, which boasted of being the only supplier of diamonds thousands of years ago, this seems to be an unbelievable situation. India could well be called the first diamond miner in the world; and the worlds only supplier until the 18th century.

History has it that for centuries India was the only place where diamonds were found. And the world became aware of what a diamond was only when Alexander the Great came to India and carried away the loot. It was then that the marvel stone was introduced to the world. But one wonders about what happened to all those great diamond mines of India. Are they still good enough to be tapped, because diamonds under the ground is useless for the humans in general, but could be beneficial if they are mined and used instead.

Some of the most famous diamonds in the world, with a story attached to each stone, all came from India. For instance, the 105-carat Koh-i-Noor, now in the crown of Queen of England; the 410-carat Regent Diamond which was discovered by a slave; the Hope Diamond, Idols Eye, Dresden Green, Briolette of India, the Florentine, the Princie, the Nur-ul-Ain and many more, were all mined from Kollur, Chennur, Kurnool and Panna mines.

Commenting on the mining activities in India, Sanjay Kothari, Vice Chairman, KGK Group said, "The diamond mining industry has never flourished in India in the past due to various reasons and with not much change in the situations, it is still either being stalled or not able to find enthusiastic investors to take up the projects. The high environmental and legal issues that surround this subject often lead to heavy losses for the investor, in this capital-intensive industry, if stopped half way. Various NGOs mushroom around the project and create problems and long delays. Even the technology that is being used in mining diamonds in Canada, Australia, Russia and Africa is far more superior than what we have in India. It is not due to doubts whether the lands of India do have high quality minerals hidden underneath or not, but due to these fears no investor is willing to take the risk. And, the situation is true for types of mining like copper, gold, etc., and not just diamonds."

So, it is true that there is still huge potential for diamond mining in India. It is not surprising that when the Indian government opened up mining to the private sector in 1995, there was an immense interest among global companies to mine diamonds in India. But, most of them were wound up due to the slow progress in securing approvals from the government organizations. Interested companies had to start with a Reconnaissance Permit, followed by a Prospecting Licence and then a Mining Lease, in that order, which took years, forcing the global companies to give up on the projects.

In 2004, Rio Tinto discovered eight diamondiferous pipes near Bunder, in the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. But problems arose when it was noticed that the 1,000 hectares of the area was between the Panna Tiger Reserve and the Navardeli Wildlife Sanctuary - an environmentally-sensitive zone. Apparently, there are 34 million carats of diamond deposits there, but the project is stalled by environmentalists as it would mean cutting down thousands of trees and harming the habitat of animals and birds, including tigers.

Indias Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar said on 30th August, 2016 that the Bunder diamond mine would be allocated to a state firm or auctioned soon. Now, the Indian diamond industry waits and hopes that some sort of solution is arrived at; and the diamond-rich deposits are tapped for the benefit of the Indian diamond industry in particular and the country on the whole.

Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished




Osino receives 20-year mining licence for Namibia project Osino Resources has received a 20-year mining licence for its wholly-owned Twin Hills gold project, in Namibia. The mining licence is subject to the fulfilment of several customary conditions which include adherence to an agreed work programme, conclusion...

Newmont announces third quarter 2022 results Newmont Corporation announced third quarter 2022 results. The company produced 1.49 million attributable ounces of gold and 299.000 attributable gold equivalent ounces from co-products.

Debswana boosts diamond sales Debswana, a 50/50 joint venture between De Beers and the Botswana government, recorded a 37.5% growth in rough diamond sales in the first nine months of 2022, statistics released by the Bank of Botswana showed Tuesday, driven by steady demand for...

AGC signs declaration of responsibility and sustainability principles with gold industry leaders Artisanal Gold Council Executive Director Dr. Kevin Telmer signed a Declaration of Responsibility and Sustainability Principles along with other gold industry leaders at the LBMA/LPPM Global Precious Metals Conference in Lisbon on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022...
1. The Administrative Decision on the Central African Republic [Temporary Suspension] of May 23, 2013 was modified by the 2015 Administrative Decision of July 17, 2015 for Central African Republics (CAR) defining conditions for the resumption of trade in rough diamonds from compliant zones.

2. Under the supervision of a Monitoring Team, a forensic audit needs to be conducted of the rough diamond stockpiles held in the Central African Republic (CAR) per the criteria set forth in the Kimberley Process Operational Framework Agreement.

3. The audit will focus on assessing, to the extent possible, the place and date of the sourcing of the rough diamonds in the stockpiles.

4. The auditor is expected to report to the Kimberley Process Monitoring Team on results in a written report and to make itself available by conference call.

5. The auditor will be selected taking into consideration the following criteria:

1.) A broad a level of knowledge and experience in the rough diamond industry; previous experience with certification scheme, protocols and guidelines;

2.) Proficiency in rough diamond valuations; experience and uptodate technical knowledge of rough diamond pricing.

3.) Knowledge and experience of audit processes in the rough diamond industry under certification guidelines; the ability to assess the effectiveness of available methodologies for controlling the chain of provenance (from extraction to point of sale) of rough diamonds.

4.) Experience in audit processes involving the production of a detailed stockpile inventory; the ability to extract and catalogue relevant information/data on stockpiles related to set Terms of References.

5.) Thorough knowledge and experience of working on the ground in Africa in artisanal and alluvial diamond mining; in-depth knowledge of issues related to the alluvial and artisanal mining sector.

6. Proposals are to be sent to the Administrative Support Mechanism of the Kimberley Process at focalpointASM@kimberleyprocess.com before 15.01.2017.




Cameroon has dismissed reports that it is trading in conflict diamonds from the troubled Central African Republic (CAR).

Partnership Africa Canada recently claimed in a report that proceeds from the illicit diamond trade was being used to partially finance an almost three-year conflict.

Cameroon is not a transit point for Central African rebel diamonds. And if you want to efficiently fight this traffic, help the Central African government to take full control of their country!, Governor of the Eastern Region Gregoire Mvongo was quoted by Investir au Cameroun as saying to the Kimberly Process evaluation mission in Cameroon.

The mission led by Congolese Maurice Miema, had been visiting the Eastern Cameroon mining region since 7 December 2016.

The KP experts were said to have assessed the risks in seeing cross-border exchanges between CAR and Cameroon become a channel to facilitate the traffic of blood diamonds coming from the Central African Republic.

They also carried out inspection missions in the towns of Boumbe Bakari, Boumbe Chateau, Gbiti and Roma, well-known for being diamond mining sites.

The objective of these site visits was to assess the security of the trading systems, reports Investir au Cameroun.

An internecine conflict broke out in CAR in 2013 when Muslim Seleka rebels seized power, causing retaliations by "anti-balaka" Christian militias.

Diamonds were used to fund operations of the warring groups, a move that forced the Kimberley Process to ban the export of diamonds from the landlocked country.

However, the diamond watchdog partially lifted the ban this year.

Partnership Africa Canada urged the Kimberley Process to place Cameroon under special measures, which would require a tightening of internal controls within a three-month period.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Botswana Diamonds, which convened its annual general meeting in London Thursday, said new areas will be prospected in Orapa, Gope and Khutse kimberlite fields next year.

Company chairperson John Teeling said in an email to Rough & Polished that Botswana remained the best place in the world to find diamonds.

He said the recent discovery of macro diamonds on kimberlites AK 21 and AK 22 in the Orapa area was significant and follow up analyses of core hole samples was ongoing.

The geophysical technology of Alrosa has been perfected on known models of kimberlite pipes, he said.

This gives the opportunity to interpret sections of rock to a depth of 250-300 metres [and] allows us to discover buried pipes under the Kalahari sediments or basalts.

Teeling said the company was also re-evaluating kimberlites in the Orapa field.

He said the kimberlites found in Gope by the Maibwe joint venture need verification drilling and the operating partner in the joint venture, BCL, was currently unable to fund the work.

The company is happy to assist either on its own account or an equity holder in the joint partner Siseko, in which we hold a 51% interest, he said.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Lucara Diamond has allayed fears that at least 450 miners will be retrenched at Karowe diamond mine in Botswana following its recent decision to terminate a mining services contract with South African company Eqstra.

The contract was due to end in December 2020, but Lucara allegedly told Eqstra that it would be terminated last Tuesday.

The termination was prompted by differences over volumes of ore mined by the contractor, according to local media reports.

However, the move was said to affect mining staff responsible for the drill, blast and delivery of ore to the plant, while diamond sorters were unaffected.

Rapaport quoted company chief executive William Lamb as saying that a new contractor was yet to be named and would be responsible for recruiting its own employees.

He, nevertheless, said that the Eqstra workforce at Karowe whose employment had been affected would be largely transferred to the employ of the new mining contractor.

Eqstra Botswana said it would seek to recoup damages from Lucara over the premature termination of the opencast mining contract.

The company categorically denies and refutes any allegations of improper conduct relating to the performance of its contractual obligations, it said.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Valley Metro

Valley Metro Rails board of directors approved a contract with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., for Tempe Streetcar design services on Dec. 12.

Stantec brings tremendous experience and talent to our project, designing streetcar projects across the country, said Mark Mitchell, Tempe Mayor and Valley Metro Rail board chair.

The Tempe Streetcar project is expected to span three miles and be completed in 2017, with construction starting later in 2017 and anticipated service beginning in 2020.

Stantec also understands our region, having worked on the design of Valley Metro Rail. Im confident they will ensure that the Tempe Streetcar serves the communitys needs, and we will work together with them to get input from our community throughout the design process, Mitchell added.

The $177 million project has been organized with the use of federal, regional and local funds, representatives say.

As lead designer, we look forward to working alongside Valley Metro, the city of Tempe, project artists and construction contractor, said Tom Wolf, Stantec project manager. Together, well find the best way to efficiently design and construct the first modern streetcar in the region, a vital extension of the Valleys transit system.

Stantec was previously involved with Valley Metro Rail during the design of the systems first 20 miles that opened eight years ago, as well as providing design work for the systems extensions located in downtown Mesa and northwest Phoenix, Ariz.

The transit systems board also approved artist contracts for public art installments to be created for each of the 14 streetcar stops.
Japan posted a merchandise trade surplus of 152.513 billion yen in November, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday.

That was shy of expectations for a surplus of 227.4 billion yen following the 496.2 billion yen surplus in October.

Exports were down 0.4 percent on year to 5.956 trillion yen, beating expectations for a decline of 2.3 percent following the 10.3 percent fall in the previous month.

Exports to all of Asia gained 3.4 percent on year to 3.235 trillion yen, while exports to China alone climbed 4.4 percent to 1.103 trillion yen.

Exports to the United States skidded an annual 1.8 percent to 1.211 trillion yen, while exports to the European Union slid 2.2 percent to 633.258 billion yen.

Imports slipped an annual 8.8 percent to 5.804 trillion yen versus expectations for a decline of 12.1 percent following the 16.5 percent tumble a month earlier.

Imports from the rest of Asia dropped 7.7 percent on year to 2.883 trillion yen, while imports from China alone slid 9.9 percent to 1.4876 trillion yen.

Imports from the United States fell 5.1 percent to 630.121 billion yen, while imports from the European Union dropped 13.3 percent to 716.954 billion yen.

The adjusted trade surplus was 536.1 billion yen, missing expectations for 590.5 billion yen and up from 474.3 billion yen in October.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

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Slovakia's producer prices continued to decline in November, though at a slower pace than in the previous month, figures from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic showed Monday.

The producer price index dropped 2.5 percent year-over-year in November, following a 3.1 percent decrease in October. The measure has been falling since March 2013.

Prices in the manufacturing sector fell 0.5 percent annually in November and mining and quarrying prices slid by 1.4 percent.

Month-on-month, producer prices rose 0.4 percent from October, when it climbed by 0.3 percent. It was the third month of increase in a row.

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.
Fastest internet South Korea

South Korea tops the charts when it comes to measuring the worlds fastest internet connectivity speeds. At 26.3 megabits per second, it was the only country above the 25 Mbps threshold in the third quarter of 2016, according to a new report (pdf) published by US-based cloud services provider Akamai.

South Koreas hyper-connectivity is no surprise: It is the result of nearly 20 years of labor.

In the 1990s, the South Korean government made a big push toward the broadband industry. It liberalized its telecommunications sector, built a robust national infrastructure for high-speed internet, and introduced regulations to keep the broadband market competitive. The government encouraged citizens to get computers and use high-speed internet connections by subsidizing the cost for low-income people and others not connected at the time.

Between 1996 and 2001, there was a six-fold rise in Korean internet hosts. And South Korea is the world leader in broadband adoption with a rate of 78%10 percentage points higher than second place Japan, the report said.

A high population density works in Koreas favor. Over 80% of the countrys citizens live in urban areassetting up fast connections over short distances is more efficient. Places like Hong Kong and Singapore also place highly when it comes to top internet speeds in the world, largely because they have a 100% urban population. At a 5.3% increase, Singapore saw the greatest jump in connection speeds from the quarter prior, according to the Akamai report. (The US, on the other hand, suffers in these metrics because of its suburban sprawl.)

The global average connection speed rose 2.3% from Q2 to Q3 2016, landing at 6.3 Mbps.

Despite Latvia, South Korea, and Norway posting quarterly decreases of 3.5%, 2.5%, and 0.2% respectively, they managed to retain a spot in the top ten. Iceland didnt have the same luck: its 5.4% drop in speed from Q2 to Q3 caused it to slip down from the 10th spot to the 14th.

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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
The 9/11 attack on U.S. soil in 2001 triggered the War on Terror, which intensified manifold with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) gaining ground in recent years. The incoming Trump administrations campaign pledges to pursue the threat of terrorism more vigorously and broadly strengthen the countrys defenses has raised hopes of increased spending on defense and intelligence services. This has encouraged investors to closely track defense stocks and the sector overall.

Increasing threats, uncertainty and the rising need to safeguard the interest of nations and people have pushed up demand for weapons. The ongoing geo-political tension across the Middle East, continued saber-rattling by North Korean leadership and high tensions over the disputed ownership of islands in the East and South China Sea have been the other catalysts to the constant competition among nations in manufacturing military goods.

Although the global aerospace and defense industry suffered a setback for the past three years as a result of weaker U.S. defense budgets, this year a total rebound is expected. The increase in the domestic defense budget and growth in defense budgets of important allied nations spurred by emergent global security threats are expected to aid the sector as a whole.

The U.S. remains atop all nations when it comes to military expenditures. Military spending consumes more than 50% of the U.S. discretionary budget, way ahead of the second-spot occupant China and third, Russia.

Many of the defense majors in the nation are doing a decent job, propelled by the following strategies:

Budget Stability: On the eve of Halloween 2015, Congress approved a crucial bipartisan budget agreement, in line with the White House. Although it was $5 billion short of the President's 2016 defense budget request, the comprehensive two-year budget deal, unveiled on Oct 26, 2015, has been expected to give Pentagon planners the fiscal stability they have been pleading for.

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Adding to the positive sentiment, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter unveiled the fiscal 2017 (FY 2017) defense budget this past February. Among the priorities, the budget seeks a major boost in funding for the fight against ISIS as part of its FY 2017 defense budget request. In particular, the budget requests for a fund of $11 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State to support U.S. efforts to continue hunting down terrorists -- especially those hailing from ISIS -- as well as to support a political solution to the Syrian civil war. This signifies a potential stepping up of U.S. military efforts.

The proposed budget also seeks to enhance spending in several key areas, including cybersecurity, electronic warfare and increased security for crucial U.S. satellites. Funds of $8.1 billion for submarines (with over $40 billion in the next five years) bring into focus the likes of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) and General Dynamics Corp. (GD).

Now, as Donald Trump gets ready to take over the Oval Office in Jan 2017, a few changes can be expected, especially if defense proposals during his presidential campaign are considered. His plan, at that time, included raising the number of active Army troops from 475,000 to 540,000, raising the number of Marine battalions from 24 to 36, expanding the naval fleet from a planned 280 to 350 and adding more Air Force fighter aircraft to at least 1,200. If these plans of Trump are finally implemented, it will definitely boost the major defense players.

Foreign Military Sales (FMS): The big defense operators are expanding their markets, with foreign sales acting as a key top-line growth driver. Driving demand for foreign sales is a number of escalating regional conflicts, such as the ongoing Syrian civil war, the unsettled situation in Iraq, Yemen and Libya, and tensions in Eastern Europe. Apart from the U.S., U.K. or France, a number of emerging markets as well as nations, such as India, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Brazil, are increasing defense spending and generating business for the U.S. aerospace and defense companies.

Defense stocks are in the spotlight as countries in Europe and the Middle East may need to ramp up their defense spending in order to combat the threats posed by ISIS. Indeed, Britain has planned to boost its defense equipment budget by 7% over the next 10 years. The total budget amounts to approximately $270 billion, including the uplift in equipment spending, the purchase of nine new Boeing P8 maritime patrol aircraft and two new strike brigades by 2025.

In this regard, the $38 billion U.S.-Israel defense deal inked in Sep 2016, for a total of 10 years, is worth mentioning. This deal represented the largest ever military aid pledged by the U.S. to any foreign nation. The new aid package reflects an increase of $700 million over the existing contract between the two nations under which Israel is receiving $3.1 billion annually.Pentagons two prime defense contractors  The Boeing Company (BA) and Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT)  are expected to gain the most from this deal. Under this deal, Israel will receive 33 F-35 jets of Lockheed Martin.

The deal also calls for the delivery of 10 Boeing F-15 aircraft to Israel.Other military systems like C-130 heavy-lift cargo planes, four SAAR 6 Corvettes, Merkava tanks and Namer Armored Personnel Carriers, Hellfire missiles, the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), and other Precision Guided Munitions will also be delivered to the country.

There are some questions about the incoming administrations commitment to allies and global alliances, with the President-elect repeatedly referring to insufficient contributions from many alliance partners during the campaign. We will see how the U.S. governments policy on this front evolves after the new administration takes charge, but these comments during the campaign has added to unease among many partners.

Restructuring/Acquisition: To maintain margins in a tough business environment, companies are squeezing costs out of their operations and diversifying into new business areas. Commercial aviation is one such diversification play, with opportunities in emerging markets driving the trend.

New macro challenges are prompting industry players to revisit their business models. One such example is the recent takeover of Camber Corporation  a government services company  by Huntington Ingalls, for a value of $380 million. Camber is a pure-play provider of sophisticated mission-based and information technology solutions. The acquisition is intended to diversify Huntington Ingalls revenue stream and add new information technology work with the U.S. defense, intelligence and civilian agencies.



Earlier, L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. (LLL) purchased Micreo Limited, a specialized Electronic Warfare subsystems provider. Micreo specializes in solutions that employ high-performance microwave, millimeter wave and photonic technology. Its business line should align perfectly with L-3 Communications wide range of sensors.Additionally, Micreo has counter-IED capabilities that will bolster L-3 Communications existing line of man-portable and vehicle electronic counter measures (ECM) equipment.

Increase in Cyber Spending: Computer attacks are among the most pressing security challenges facing the U.S. Increasing cyber-attacks, terrorism threats, and enhanced geopolitical instability are driving focus toward electronic warfare, C4ISR (Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and cybersecurity. In this context, President Obama in the fiscal 2017 budget proposal has asked for $19 billion for cyber security across the U.S. government, an increase of $5 billion over fiscal 2016.

We dont know the full extent of the incoming administrations cybersecurity policy, but it is reasonable to assume continuation of existing measures at the minimum. Questions about Russias involvement in election related hacking incidents has elevated this issue even further.

Next-Generation Technology: At the macro level, there has been a gradual shift in defense spending patterns. In response to asymmetric terrorist threats, the emphasis appears to have shifted to high-tech intelligence equipment, replacing demand for conventional big guns and heavy armor.

The major industry players have, in response, resorted to bolt-on acquisitions to plug gaps in their product offerings. A focus on R&D is also helping these companies to develop next-generation technologies essential in a climate of fewer programs and reduced budgets.

As of now, the Pentagon intends to invest $2 billion over the next five years to acquire more of Raytheons Tomahawk missiles and upgrade their capabilities. This would bring the U.S. inventory of the missiles to more than 4,000.

Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC) is bringing more focus to its airborne and space ISR business by realigning its divisions. In particular, the emphasis is on ISR systems, advanced electronics and software development technologies. It is the proud owner of the popular Global Hawk, an unmanned system with the ability to transform itself into an operational weapons system when required. Northrop also boasts products like the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, which provides 360-degree surveillance at all times.

Although sequestration has been an issue for the space for a while now, we are bullish on Engility Holdings, Inc. (EGL), Arotech Corporation (ARTX) and Northrop Grumman; all three sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We are also positive on stocks like Ducommun Inc. (DCO), Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) and Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (SPR); all three carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Bottom Line

President-elect Trump has been a supporter of higher defense spending from the very beginning. So investing in defense looks to be a good idea now -- particularly buying attractive stocks, like those mentioned above, on the dip.

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By Guillermo Parra-Bernal

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais SA will announce the ouster of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer as early as Wednesday after the Brazilian utility's largest shareholder balked at the slow pace of a debt-reduction plan, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The board of the company, also known as Cemig, could officially announce their replacements on the same day, the sources said. The state of Minas Gerais, Cemig's controlling shareholder, has picked former Anglo American Plc executive Paulo Castellari to replace CFO Fabiano Maia, one source said.

The sources declined to say who will replace CEO Mauro Borges, a former professor who Minas Gerais Governor Fernando Pimentel tapped to run Cemig less than two years ago. Reuters reported on Friday that tensions between Pimentel's team and both executives escalated over the course of the electricity utility's debt plan.

Under Borges and Maia, the company has reworked terms of some loans and sold a stake in Transmissao Alianca de Energia Eletrica SA. However, the sources said Minas Gerais officials reckoned they were too slow to proceed with the sale of Cia de Gas de Minas Gerais SA, a telecommunications subsidiary, and information technology firm Axxiom SA.

A representative for Belo Horizonte, Brazil-based Cemig did not have an immediate comment. Efforts to contact Borges, Maia and Castellari were not immediately successful.

The changes at the top underscore how Pimentel, who is facing a probe for alleged illegal campaign funding, wants to shore up a company hobbled by a legacy of underinvestment.

Analysts said Cemig's 16.3 billion reais ($4.8 billion) of debt is becoming harder to service, threatening investments and the utility's ability to generate revenue.

According to one source, Pimentel wants debt to be paid down faster to open the door for much-needed investments in power generation, transmission and distribution. Currently Cemig is carrying out a reorganization that includes centralizing purchases and other activities into a single platform to cut costs.

Story continues

Reuters reported on Nov. 18 that Cemig was trying to sell a 45 percent stake in the Alianca Geracao de Energia SA venture. Reuters reported on Sept. 16 that the company was looking for new partners for Light Energia SA.

Cemig has been the center of political and investor battles in the past. In 1999, former Minas Governor Itamar Franco wrested control of Cemig from AES Corp and Southern Co in courts by questioning the privatization process by which the firms took over the utility.

(Additional reporting by Brad Haynes in Sao Paulo; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
Fiber optic network by Bluebird now live for businesses in Salina
Smiles of joy and disbelief were seen on the faces of the children at Pediatric ward at the Motootua hospital yesterday when a very high profile visitor turned up with bags of Christmas gifts.

The visitor was none other than world heavyweight champion, Lupesoliai Joseph Parker, who fronted up as Digicels Ambassador for the companys annual Christmas hospital visit. It proved a massive hit as childrens faces lit up at the realization that Parker was there to see them.

Din Lino, 9-years-old from Vaiala, said its a moment she will never forget.

I opened my eyes and I saw him smiling, she said. I thought it was a dream; I was really shocked.

She went on to say that she was so happy to finally meet him in person. I am happy and grateful to Digicel for the presents, but I am happier because I finally got to see Joseph Parker in person.

Owen Usufono, 11 years old, was equally excited.

I am thrilled to have finally seen him in real life, he told the Samoa Observer. I want to be just like him when I grow up. I want to be a boxer and represent my family and country.

Uanita Leuluai, a mother whose child was at the hospital as well spoke on behalf of the parents there to thank Digicel for the great initiative.

Turning to Lupesoliai, Uanita thanked him for putting a smile on the childrens faces and for taking Samoa to the top of the world. Thanks for the surprise and for the presents, said Uanita.

You guys definitely made our children smile; it was an unexpected visit. But thanks a lot for taking time out of your busy schedule to come and visit the children here at the hospital.

Keep up the good work, and we will be cheering for you all the way.
Businessman Frankie Cai has done it again.

Only this time, his newest venture is bigger, better and hyper.

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, opened the Vaitele-based $10million project yesterday.

In congratulating Mr. Cai, P.M. Tuilaepa said only five per cent of the Samoan population consists of business people. The other ninety five percent comprises of people who do not have any sort of business, but they buy from shops like Frankies.

The governments priority is to keep supporting all kinds of good businesses that will provide employment for our people, he said.

We also support the kinds of businesses that will provide all kinds of good quality goods, at affordable prices. So we support the business community, and we also support those who buy from these businesses.

For Mr. Cai, yesterdays opening was the continuation of a dream to help Samoa. But at $10million tala, its a steep climb.

For Frankies, it all started from humble beginnings, small and delegate.

By slowly developing plans to improve and carefully analyse the market, hes grown to become one of the leading retailers in Samoa.

With nine stores nationwide  including a mall at Fugalei  Frankies now employs more than 600 people. We currently have over 600 employees in total, Mr. Cai told the Samoa Observer. We are trying to give back to the Samoan community the best way we can and for me, creating employment opportunities is a really good way of giving back.

We heard that Yazaki will unfortunately come to a close soon, so I told my staff to contact them to offer any of their staff members a job at our new hypermarket.

We would be delighted to take over some of their staff members because we are a local business; we are trying to help out the employment rate here in Samoa as much as we can.

This is why the government is so fond of Frankies.

Mr. Cai said, that with every new project, he plans on developing every aspect of the business for better service to the public.

This new hypermarket is similar to our other businesses, he said.

But with every project we are trying to improve its quality, so we are bringing more variety of goods for a better choice range for people.

We are also concentrating on bringing better quality goods and also better customer service with an improved hygiene standard.

We look to Australian and New Zealand standard of customer services to help better our service to the public.

With this new supermarket, we require a new standard, a better standard.

Lastly, he said: At the moment, this is probably the largest supermarket in Samoa, thats why its called a hypermarket.

Theres no denying the fact that Frankies has been with us for an extended period of time, always providing affordable goods and much-needed services to the public of Samoa.

The companys latest venture is part of an overall desire to improve those services.
The Unit Trust of Samoa (U.T.O.S) has come to the rescue.

It has approved a $10 million loan from the Ministry of Prison and Correction Services for the proposed Tanugamalala Prison.

The approval follows a failed plan to attract donors to fund the new prison facility.

The Minister of Revenue, who is also responsible for Prisons, Tialavea Seigafolava Hunt. confirmed the loan yesterday.

He said no one had come forth to help in funding the new prison.

We also plan to pull down (facilities) at Tafaigata and use the materials at the new prison, Tialavea told the Samoa Observer yesterday.

Asked how the Ministry plans to pay back the loan at U.T.O.S. the Minister said they have a plan.

From the government budget, he explained.

He declined to go into details saying he will explain everything later.

In August this year, Tialavea said there was a $9 million shortfall in funding the new prison at Tanugamalala.

He said the Ministry was allocated $1 million from government, less than a quarter of the targeted amount of $10 million needed for the project.

The relocation of Tafaigata prison to Tanugamalala is for the construction of eight buildings including a medical clinic and a rehabilitation center.

According to Tialavea in August, the Ministrys $1 million was for preparation of the prison works.

That was to prepare the roads, electricity, water and other things, he said.

At the moment we are currently looking for funds to fund the actual prison buildings.

The Ministry of Prisons was given a total budget of $5 million for this financial year. From that amount, $1 million goes towards prison preparations, nearly $3 million goes to wages while $360,000 is allocated for food at prison for the 12 months.

The prison population continues to climb with numbers far exceeding the capacity of officers employed there.

Tialavea explained that there are only 53 staff handling the prisoners with 20 of them being sworn in.

The other 30 unsworn officers are running the administration and rehabilitation works. As to how the Authority handles the overcrowded prison, Tialavea said culture is the answer.

Its run like a village where there is an elderly matai who looks after each cell, he said. We cannot move away from our culture and it has shown that it workswe cannot afford more staff.
A $1million lawsuit against the former Minister of Police, Sala Fata Pinati, suspended Police Commissioner, Fuavailiili Egon Keil and the Ministry of Police has been referred to Judiciary Settlement Conference (J.S.C).

The lawsuit filed earlier this year is being brought by member of public, Suitupe Misa, who was wrongly arrested at the Fugalei Market.

The matter was adjourned from last week to yesterday to set a date for the J.S.C.

Brigitta Lo Tam Faafifita is the lawyer for the Attorney Generals Office.

Mr. Misa is represented by Seuamuli Sarona Ponifasio.

Yesterday, Seuamuli sought leave to file an application of discovery.

Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiavaasue Falefatu Sapolu, then adjourned the matter until 16 January 2017 to hear the discovery application. Chief Justice Patu added that a date for the J.S.C would be set on the next day the matter is called.

According to a document obtained by the Samoa Observer, Mr. Misa is suing the Minister of Police for a breach of statutory duty. In the statement of claim, the plaintiff argues that the first defendant breached his duty under section 13 (3) of the Police Powers Act.

In particular, Sala is accused of failing to consider any exceptional circumstances to establish whether or not a police officer(s) ought to be armed when the police arrested the plaintiff.

The second cause of action against the Commissioner is an alleged abuse of process.

The second defendant received information from the first defendant that a person by the name of Suitupe apparently made threats to kill the first and second defendants, and other senior government officials (alleged threat), says the statement of claim.

The first defendant had also informed the second defendant of a witness who may verify the alleged threat. The second defendant however failed to verify the reliability of the alleged threat through direct enquiry with the witness referred to.

The second defendant could have easily found out the truth regarding the alleged threat if he had made reasonable enquiries with the witness. The second defendant used and relied on the apparent validity of the Ministers approval by ordering certain police officers including Officer Iosefa to be armed and to arrest the plaintiff upon confirmation of the plaintiffs presence at the market.

Fuiavailiili is accused of using the legal process in order to accomplish an ulterior purpose of oppression against the plaintiff.

Mr. Misa claims that the Commissioner abused the process to effect an improper purpose.

The third cause of action is against the third defendant or the Ministry of Police for unlawful arrest and unlawful detention.

Accordingly the plaintiffs detention was unlawful, said the statement of claim.

That the plaintiffs unlawful arrest and unlawful detention deprived the plaintiff of his personal liberty, and the third defendant therefore breached the plaintiffs right to liberty under Article 6 of the Constitution.

Lastly, the fourth cause of action is against the Ministry of police for unlawful search.

The statement of claim pointed out that the circumstances under which the relevant police officers carried out the said searches did not justify an immediate search or a search without a warrant.

The plaintiff was not committing any offence at the time of the searches, the statement of claim stated. There was no reasonable ground to believe that the plaintiff was in possession of any narcotics or any other drugs or any dangerous weapon.

That the police officers who searched the plaintiffs poloka and taxi did not identify themselves to the plaintiff or Catherine or any other person operating the nearby poloka in the market, nor was any reference made to an authority used by the said police officers to carry out a search without a warrant.

Furthermore the statement highlighted that as a result of the first defendants breach of stator duty, the second defendants abuse of process, the third defendants unlawful arrest and unlawful detention of the plaintiff and the third defendants unlawful search of the plaintiff, Mr. Misa has suffered damages.

In particular, the plaintiff has suffered injury to liberty, injury to feelings, dignity and mental suffering, disgrace and humiliation.

Mr. Misa also claims he had suffered temporary confusion and shame experienced, temporary loss of physical comfort for a period of 2 to 3hours from the time of the unlawful arrest until released at the Main police station.

In addition the plaintiff is also seeking damages for distress, anger, anxiety and uncertainty associated with his unlawful detention.

The plaintiff seeks against the first, second and third defendants jointly and severally global award in the sum of $1,050,370.00 tala.

General damages in the sum of $300,000tala, aggravated and punitive damages in the sum of $750,000tala special damages of $370tala.
Meet Vaileti Tupai, 41 years old from the village of Faleula.

She was spotted by the Village Voice yesterday working on cleaning her land.

Asked about how life is in the village for her and her family, she said all is well in the village.

Life is just peaceful and great here for us, said Vaileti.

Right now, the only thing thats keeping us busy right now is to prepare and clean our houses and lands for Christmas.

As usual, there are a lot of people and relatives from overseas coming to Samoa for the holidays so its always good to be prepared.

Not only that but we have inspections here in our village on Saturday, and thats why we are cleaning this morning.

The main idea behind this is to make sure that our villages are beautiful and attractive for our visitors from overseas.

She went on to say that beautifying villages is one way to attract tourists to Samoa especially around festive seasons.

Like I said before, it is always good for us to be well-prepared. If we keep our villages clean, our visitors will go back to their home countries with nice stories to tell to their families and friends so that they can all again visit our shores again.

Beautifying villages is not something new. This was a common practice in the villages back in the days. And Samoa was beautiful back then because of the competitions we used to have. But we dont really need to have competitions in order for us to do it.

We all need to work together to keep our country clean. Especially times like these as we look ahead to hosting a lot of relatives and people from overseas.

It is something that we all need to do. Not just one village. You know like they always say, a task is soon accomplished if several people help.

So for me, I think this initiative by our village is very important.

Moreover, Vaileti said that our villages and houses shouldnt be the only things we need to clean preparing for Christmas.

We also need to clear our hearts and minds as we celebrate the birth of our Christ, she said.

Whatever happened throughout this year, its always good to have new mindsets and hearts for this celebration.

We only have this once a year and I think its important that we celebrate it with clean hearts and minds.

Christmas is a time of forgiving and thanksgiving. And as we draw closer to the end of this year and looking ahead to 2017, we should forget all the bad things and obstacles we faced along the way.

God sent Jesus Christ to show his love for us and we should celebrate it with clean hearts and minds.
BEIRUT (AP)  The leaders of Russia and Iran, military allies of Syria's president, talked Monday about joining forces to reach a quick political settlement in Syria, as the country's largest city, Aleppo, was poised to return to full government control.

Syrian state TV said it expected the evacuation of thousands of civilians and fighters from the last opposition footholds in Aleppo to be completed by early Tuesday.

The departure of the last rebels from Aleppo would close another chapter in Syria's civil war and would give President Bashar Assad a significant symbolic and strategic victory.

Almost six years after the outbreak of an armed rebellion against Assad, the Syrian leader will be in charge again of the country's five largest cities and the Mediterranean coast.

The presidents of Russia and Iran spoke by phone Monday to discuss the next moves. The Kremlin said Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani "underlined the need for joint efforts to launch a real political process aimed at a quick settlement in Syria."

The leaders noted that a quick launch of talks between the Syrian government and the opposition in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, would be an important step toward that goal, a Kremlin statement said.

The conversation came a day before a scheduled meeting of foreign and defense ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran in Moscow. Russia and Iran have backed Assad, while Turkey has supported the opposition.

In the Turkish capital of Ankara, meanwhile, the Russian ambassador was shot and killed by a man shouting, "Don't forget Aleppo. Don't forget Syria!" The gunman fired at least eight shots, killing Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, at an embassy-sponsored exhibition, and was then shot dead by police.

At the United Nations, officials said more than 100 U.N. humanitarian staff on the ground in Syria, most of them Syrian nationals, could start monitoring the Aleppo evacuations. Earlier Monday, the U.N. Security Council had approved a resolution urging the immediate deployment of the monitors, following a French-Russian compromise over the text.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said there will also be observers from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Crescent.

France said the monitors were needed to prevent "mass atrocities" from being committed by Syrian government forces, especially militias. But thousands have already been evacuated from the city and the operation could be completed before the observers arrive.

The resolution also demands that all parties allow unconditional and immediate access for the U.N. and its partners to deliver humanitarian aid and medical care, and "respect and protect all civilians across Aleppo and throughout Syria."

Syria's U.N. Ambassador, Bashar al-Ja'afari, claimed that one of the "main purposes" of the deployment was to rescue foreign intelligence officers from the former rebel-held area.

He named 12 alleged officers still trying to get out of Aleppo  six from Saudi Arabia and one each from Turkey, the United States, Israel, Qatar, Jordan and Morocco. He said: "We are going to catch them ... and show them to you."

The rebels captured eastern Aleppo in July 2012 and held on to it despite a ferocious assault in recent months by Syrian government forces, backed by Russia and a host of Shiite militias from Iraq, Lebanon, Iran and Afghanistan.

The evacuation of Aleppo began last week after Turkey and Russia brokered a cease-fire as government forces were closing in on the rebels' last redoubt, but has been repeatedly delayed.

The evacuation of more than 2,000 sick and wounded from the rebel- besieged Shiite villages of Foua and Kfarya was tacked onto the deal at the last minute. The opposition's Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV said 10 buses left those villages with civilians on Monday.

There are also plans to evacuate hundreds of people from Madaya and Zabadani, two besieged, rebel-held villages near the Lebanese border. The Observatory and Mayadeen said 15 buses entered the two villages on Monday.

Rebel-held eastern Aleppo has been besieged for months, with several previous cease-fires breaking down and virtually no humanitarian aid reaching its tens of thousands of residents.

One of those who left Aleppo on Monday was Mohammed Abu Jaafar, who described a miserable five-kilometer (three-mile) trip that took more than two hours in an overcrowded government bus.

He said they passed three checkpoints, one manned by Russian troops, another by plainclothes Syrian intelligence agents and the third by Syrian troops.

Inside the bus, men, women and children were hungry and cold as they waited for hours in freezing temperatures, he said.

"Children were screaming, and some people fainted," he said, adding that there was no baby formula or diapers.

Among those evacuated Monday was 7-year-old Bana Alabed and her mother Fatemah, who tweeted about the horrors of living through the government's assault on eastern Aleppo, which destroyed much of the city. Their account had some 334,000 followers.

Speaking to the activist-run Qasioun News Agency in the Aleppo countryside, Fatemah said she was glad to have finally reached safety but expressed regret that she was forced out of her home city and said she did not want to become a refugee.

"I left my soul there," she said.

The Observatory and Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu later said that since midnight Sunday, some 4,500 people have been evacuated from eastern Aleppo.

Reports differed on how many people remain in eastern Aleppo, but estimates converge around 15,000 civilians and 6,000 fighters.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency said a total of 131 wounded people  including 46 children  were brought to Turkey for treatment since the evacuations began last week. The agency said five of them have since died.
Still pinched from the shutdown at the Aliso Canyon storage facility, Southern California Gas has issued an advisory asking customers to immediately reduce their natural gas use to help lower the risk of possible gas and electricity shortages.

We are asking all Southern Californians to conserve natural gas now, a page from the utilitys website declared Monday, under the headline Lets Dial It Down, SoCal.

The company cited a recent cold snap in its service area as well as states in the southwestern United States producing potential for interstate pipeline supply disruptions.

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SoCalGas asks its residential consumers to:

lower their thermostats to 68 degrees or below

wait a day until using natural gas appliances, and

wash clothes in cold water when possible

The company also issued a system-wide curtailment watch for what it calls non-core customers  large commercial and industrial users such as electric generation plants. The utility says it is meeting current demands through significant storage withdrawal.

The advisory does not affect San Diego Gas & Electric customers.

Like SDG&E, SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 company based in San Diego.

The SoCalGas territory counts some 21.6 million consumers, extending 20,000 square miles from Visalia to the north to parts of the Mexican border to the south.

The advisory comes little more than two weeks after the California Public Utilities Commission called on SoCalGas to establish the program that resembles Flex Alerts used by the California Independent System Operator that call for consumers to reduce electricity usage during high-demand periods.

State agencies have worried about grid reliability after the Aliso Canyon storage facility suspended operations after a massive natural gas leak that eventually forced about 8,000 families in the Porter Ranch area in Los Angeles County to temporarily relocate.

Estimates say the leak spewed the equivalent of 84,200 metric tons of methane  a potent greenhouse gas  in the fourth months it took before it was finally plugged in February.

Since then, the 114 wells at Aliso Canyon have been undergoing a series of inspections. In early November, SoCalGas officials said they were ready to re-inject some of the wells that cleared inspection by the states Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) but the facility has not been restarted.

It looks like the earliest date for re-injection wont come until at least the first quarter of 2017, as inspection reviews need to be completed and public hearings are held.

According to SoCalGas, 32 wells have passed all the test required by DOGGR.

Aliso Canyon has the largest daily deliverability  the amount of gas that can be withdrawn from a storage facility each day  of any storage facility west of the Rockies, estimated at 1.9 billion cubic feet per day.

Gas withdrawn from Aliso also fuels 17 Southern California power plants.

rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski
The best known of three glamorous sisters from Hungary, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor pioneered a modern version of celebrity  she was famous for being famous.

With the advent of television talk shows, Gabor became a frequent guest as early as the 1950s, charming audiences with her fractured English and slightly risque jokes about her reputation as an oft-married seductress fond of men and money.

Husbands are like fires. They go out if unattended, she would say. Or I want a man who is kind and understanding. Is that too much to ask of a millionaire?

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Her nine marriages and reputation for shaving years off her age made her a pop-culture punch line. When entertainer Bob Hope joked, You can calculate Zsa Zsa Gabors age by the rings on her fingers, it only cemented her fame.

So did a penchant for public escapades that included a 1989 assault conviction for slapping a Beverly Hills police officer. When reporters asked if she was prepared for a long trial, she cooed: I have enough outfits to last a year.

The final years of her life were marked by a strange circus of publicity often orchestrated by her ninth husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalt, a German immigrant who had brokered an adoption as an adult to gain a royal-sounding title. He issued frequent media alerts on her precarious health and publicly squabbled with Gabors only child, Francesca Hilton.

Gabor died Sunday of heart failure in her Bel Air mansion, according to her publicist Edward Lozzi. She was 99.

1 / 4 Gabor with her first husband, Turkish diplomat Burhan Asaf Belge, in Ankara. (Pictorial Parade / Getty Images) 2 / 4 Gabor and her third husband, actor George Sanders, whom she called the love of her life. Sanders, who later married Gabors sister Magda, wrote in his autobiography that Zsa Zsa was the 20th centurys Madame de Pompadour, Queen of Sheba and Cleopatra. (Jim Pringle / Associated Press) 3 / 4 With Mexican businessman Felipe de Alba after their 1982 wedding in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The marriage lasted only a day before it was declared invalid because Gabors divorce from husband No. 7 wasnt final. (Pat Alisau / Associated Press) 4 / 4 Gabor and Prince Frederic von Anhalt leave court in Beverly Hills in 1989. When she married him three years earlier, she told reporters he would be her last husband, and she was right. (Doug Sheridan / Associated Press)

The last surviving Gabor sister, she had been in declining health after being seriously injured in 2002 when the Rolls-Royce convertible in which she was riding, with her hairdresser at the wheel, jumped a curb on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood and struck a light pole. The accident left Gabor partially paralyzed.

She had been in and out of the hospital since breaking her hip in 2010 and having most of her right leg amputated in early 2011 after developing an infection following hip-replacement surgery.

Although her personal life grabbed the headlines, Gabor did build an acting career. One of her finest film roles came early in her career when she portrayed Henri Toulouse-Lautrecs model in 1952s Moulin Rouge. In directing her, John Huston reportedly said: Zsa Zsa, forget about acting. Just make love to the camera.

Gabor later told a biographer: Now, I knew very little about acting but a great deal about making love. It worked.

In 1958 she made an impression as a strip-club owner in the Orson Welles cult classic Touch of Evil and appeared in the campy Queen of Outer Space, one of her many more forgettable movies. She acted in at least 30 films.

By the 1970s, Gabor had begun turning down the smaller parts that came her way but would occasionally appear on TV and in movies. She made appearances on talk shows, and on game shows as a panelist, into the 1990s.

To Gabor, everyone was dahlink, an endearment that entered the vernacular of mid-20th century America. She was a celebrity of the old school who believed in glamour. She once said of todays actresses, When you see them in real life, they look like nothing. Not so Zsa Zsa, who flaunted her jewels and furs.

She turned her celebrity into a commodity, mining her own reputation for one-liners. I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house, she might say, or There is nothing wrong with a woman encouraging a mans advances, as long as they are in cash.

The aristocratic, blond Gabor was reportedly wooed by such rich and famous men as Prince Aly Khan, billionaire J. Paul Getty and actor Richard Burton, none of whom she married.

Shortly after arriving in the U.S. in 1942, she made her most notable marriage with second husband Conrad Hilton, the hotel magnate, who was more than twice her age.

The union lasted five years. The couples daughter, Francesca, was the only offspring of the Gabor sisters, who had at least 18 marriages among them. Older sister Magda, who largely stayed out of the limelight, had at least five husbands, while younger sister Eva had at least four. Eva made the biggest splash as an actress, co-starring in the CBS sitcom Green Acres, which debuted in 1965.

Life with his young wife, Hilton later wrote, was a little like holding a Roman candle  beautiful, exciting, but you were never quite sure when it would go off. And it is surprisingly hard to live the Fourth of July every day.

He added, Glamour, I found, is expensive.

For her part, Gabor later said Hilton was the only husband she had married for money. In the divorce settlement she received $35,000 and $2,500 a month until she remarried. That union linked her by marriage to tabloid favorite Paris Hilton, Conrads great-granddaughter.

Gabors next marriage, in 1949, was to actor George Sanders, whom she called her one true love. But Gabor complained that the mercurial Sanders wanted to turn her into a little hausfrau and divorced him after five years. Sanders, who was later briefly married to Gabors sister Magda, committed suicide in 1972.

Gabor next married businessman Herbert Hutner, oilman Joshua Cosden, inventor Jack Ryan, attorney Michael OHara and Mexican businessman Felipe de Alba. The De Alba union was declared invalid after a day because Gabors divorce from OHara wasnt final.

In 1986, when Gabor married Von Anhalt, she told reporters he would be her last husband. She was true to her word.

Zsa Zsa Gabor was born Sari Gabor in Budapest on Feb. 6, 1917, and named for Hungarian actress Sari Fedak. Her father, Vilmos, was a cavalry officer turned diamond merchant, and her mother, Jolie, was a onetime aspiring actress who steered her daughters toward show business.

At 15, Zsa Zsa entered the Miss Hungary contest, which led to another beauty contest in Vienna. Instead of returning to Swiss boarding school, Gabor proposed to Burhan Belge, a former Turkish ambassador to Hungary, and the couple married.

But bored with her first husband  and entranced by sister Evas descriptions of life in Hollywood, where she had started acting  Gabor hopped a ship to America in 1941 and had her marriage annulled.

Her mother came too and started a successful jewelry business in New York. With her daughters, she became a fixture of high society. Both Zsa Zsa and Eva often appeared on the covers of popular magazines, and in 1953 the three sisters had a nightclub act in Las Vegas.

Gabor said she was born to make headlines, and often did.

In a 1989 incident that came to be known as the slap heard round the world, she was convicted of assaulting Paul Kramer, a Beverly Hills police officer who had pulled over her Rolls-Royce Corniche for having expired license-plate tags. She claimed she never hit him, served three days in an El Segundo jail and paid nearly $13,000 in fines. She later poked fun at the cop-slapping incident in the movie The Naked Gun 2 1/2.

She became entangled in a slander suit brought by actress Elke Sommer, who didnt appreciate being called a has-been. Gabor was ordered to pay $3.3 million in damages in 1993.

Gabor and Von Anhalt pursued lawsuits against the driver of her Rolls-Royce in the aftermath of her 2002 accident, and against Gabors daughter over disputed finances, one of several clashes that publicly pitted Von Anhalt against Francesca Hilton.

But when Francesca Hilton began performing a stand-up comedy routine in 2008 that riffed on her famous family lineage, Gabor supported the move, according to her daughter. My mother and I, were the best of friends now that were the same age, Hilton, then 61, said in a joke referring to Gabor that wrapped up the act. Hilton died in January 2014 of an apparent stroke. She was 67.

Medical bills and meager savings forced Von Anhalt to list Gabors mansion in 2011, he said. Two years later the home sold for $11 million in a court-approved deal that allowed the couple to continue living there for three more years.

An accomplished horsewoman, Gabor rode in the Rose Parade and owned a horse ranch in Ventura County. She also wrote several autobiographies, including a slender 1970 volume, How to Catch a Man, How to Keep a Man, How to Get Rid of a Man.

A girl must marry for love, Gabor once said, and keep on marrying until she finds it.

She is survived by her husband, who could not immediately be reached for comment by The Times on Sunday.

Nelson and Beyette are former Times staff writers.

Times staff writer Trevell Anderson contributed to this report.

ALSO

From the Archives: That time we spent the day with Zsa Zsa Gabor and the prince at their ranch

When Jimmy mussed Donny and other instances of TV softballing Trump

Henry Heimlich, doctor who invented lifesaving anti-choking procedure, dies at 96

Lawrence Colburn dies at 67; helped end Vietnams My Lai massacre

More Los Angeles Times obituaries
The great majority of Americas young people are not qualified to enlist in the military. With women comprising 50 percent of the countrys population, it would be foolhardy to exclude them from service in all military occupations or limit the female recruiting mission because of assumptions about gender.

Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, Trumps nomination for defense secretary, has expressed traditional views about women in the past.

But in his new position, Mattis must be a defense secretary for all military members not just the Marines and not just men. Here is how the next defense secretary can ensure he strengthens our military and keeps the faith of service women, regardless of his own biases.

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First and foremost, Mattis should quickly and publicly allay the concerns of service women that the ban on women in ground combat roles will be reinstated.

A recent survey conducted by the Service Womens Action Network indicates that military women are most concerned about job opportunities and assignments and gender bias.

It will no longer be enough for him to just be the hero of military men.

This is especially true for women who have successfully completed formal schooling for ground combat jobs. These women must have confidence that Mattis knows they met rigorous standards for their professions and that he in turn is willing to give them the opportunity to succeed.

Mattis will also need to ensure accountability of the services in the implementation of their integration plans and focus carefully on any indicators that women are being set up to fail.

And any conversation about rolling back the policy must include subject matter experts from all sides of the debate and should not rely on assumptions about female physiology, manipulation of data, and or myths about the impact of integration on unit cohesion.

Second, Mattis should build a team of gender advisers particularly when it comes to gender and personnel policies. Although Mattis is a bonafide expert at waging war, his career in the Marines the most conservative of all of the services has not made him much of an expert on gender issues and military culture.

To ensure his decisions as defense secretary are based on reason rather than preconceived notions, Mattis must be willing to listen to subject matter experts who do not share his conservative views and who will use scientific data from a variety of sources to challenge his assertions about women.

Taking a such a red cell approach to test the effectiveness of personnel policies in the Defense Department will allow Mattis to ensure facts outweigh personal biases when it comes to policies affecting service women. And he has a good example to follow.

The Air Force is already leading the way for the other services when it comes to policy initiatives for women.

Understanding that service women are generally the primary caregivers for children, the Air Force has developed several policies that reduce separations for active duty couples and increase the recovery time associated with pregnancy while on active duty before deployments and assignments away from home.

These policies have resulted in better recruiting and retention results.

The other services have not implemented any policy changes for women except the Defense Department-mandated maternity leave change.

According to a 2016 RAND study on retention rates between military men and women, policies that target work-family balance could have an important impact on reducing the explained gender gap in career progression.

Mattis should ensure the other services follow the lead of the Air Force to improve retention and promotion results for women.

Third, Mattis should set the tone from the start when it comes to establishing expected standards of conduct by service members, both on and off duty.

President- elect Trump has a firmly established track record of groping women, judging them by their physical attributes, and making negative comments about their looks.

Service women already face threats, harassment, and negativity from some their male counterparts, particularly on social media, and Trumps behavior threatens to legitimize this conduct in the military.

To counteract any negative impact Trumps history of sexual harassment and assault will have on the culture of the military, Mattis will have to clearly define and communicate the consequences of negative behavior by military offenders.

He will also have to develop a sound understanding of the extent of harassment against women in the military as well as the negative behaviors that lead to sexual assault.

He must ensure that investigations into misconduct are timely and thorough and most importantly, that perpetrators of harassment and violence in the military are held accountable to the fullest extent of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Finally, Mattis should revamp recruiting and entry-level training for military women in order to ensure they are adequately represented in marketing materials and recruiters enlist only the highest caliber young Americans, no matter their gender.

Regardless of the issue of women in ground combat jobs, Mattis should want higher standards and better performance for women across the services and across all occupations.

If Mattis is to advocate for military women, he must ensure the recruiting force does everything possible to ensure women are set up for success from the onset of their service.

This means requiring the recruiting force to focus on female athletes who are mentally and physically tough and holding them accountable for achieving high standards before they go to recruit training.

As the top pick for the future defense secretary, no one can argue that Mattis has the combat experience necessary to lead our country out of 16 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. But it will no longer be enough for him to just be the hero of military men.

Our nation must seek to enlist only the highest qualified applicants in our military if we are going to fight battles and win. Now more than ever, service women need a championthe question remains if that person will be Defense Secretary Mattis.

Kate Germano writes about the challenges faced by service women, the policy change that opened all military jobs to women and the need to desegregate Marine Corps recruit training. A retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, Germano is chief operating officer of Service Womens Action Network, though the opinions expressed here are hers alone. You can reach her at germanokki@gmail.com.
Grounded last week after a spate of incidents on two continents, a trio of key American military aircraft resumed flights on Monday.

Military leaders cleared the Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys in Japan and the Navys fleet of F/A-18 E/F/ Super Hornets and E/A-18G Growlers worldwide to return to the skies after initial probes appeared to detect the problems that caused the problems.

A Marine tiltrotor Bell Boeing Osprey made an emergency water landing on Dec. 12 near the shore of the Japanese island of Okinawa after apparently colliding with a fuel hose during a routine aerial refueling mission over the Pacific Ocean.

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U.S. Air Force and Japanese military rescue teams saved the crew.

On Friday, a canopy malfunction on a Boeing E/A-18G Growler at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station seriously injured two crewmen and triggered the temporary grounding of both the advanced electronic warfare jets nationwide and all F/A-18 E/F/ Super Hornets, fighters that share aircraft components.

We have conducted a thorough, careful and exhaustive review of MV-22 aviation safety procedures and briefed Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, said Air Force Lt. Gen Jerry P. Martinez, the commander of the American military in Japan, in a prepared statement.

While the investigation is ongoing, we are highly confident in our assessment that the cause of the mishap was due solely to the aircrafts rotor blades coming into contact with the refueling line. We greatly appreciate the strong support from our Alliance partner in the aftermath of this incident.

Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson, commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, added that he was highly confident that the Osprey could safely resume operations there, according to the statement.

On North Island, Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander of Naval Air Forces, cleared Growler and Super Hornet squadrons to resume normal operations early Monday once all flight crews are briefed about initial findings into the Whidbey Island accident.

Navy and Boeing engineers determined that cold Puget Sound temperatures and water combined to ice important components on the Growler before its Friday takeoff.

They directed changes to aircraft water-wash procedures and other ground maintenance procedures to mitigate the effects of the icing and extended the reforms to the entire F-18 fleet of jets, including Hornet strike fighters operated by the Navy and Marine Corps worldwide.

Investigations continue into both the Osprey and Growler incidents, officials added.

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cprine@sduniontribune.com
Two men were pulled from Coronado Bay early Sunday morning after their car plunged into the water from a bayside parking lot, Coronado police said.

Police responded to the parking lot of the Loews Coronado Resort about 1:30 a.m. to find a car submerged in about 12 feet water, authorities said.

Two men were pulled from the water by witnesses and taken to the hospital with moderate to serious injuries, according to Coronado police.

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Harbor police assisted with the vehicle recovery. The investigation is ongoing.

Police said it was unknown yet whether alcohol was a factor in the incident.

allison.sampite-montecalvo@utsandiego.com

Sampite-Montecalvo writes for the San Diego Union Tribune
After spending millions of dollars on a court battle, Tri-City Medical Center announced Friday that it will try to abandon its eminent-domain claim on a three-story medical office building at its Oceanside campus.

In a short statement, the public-district hospital said its board members voted 5-0 to drop the condemnation proceeding they started in 2014 because the $16.8 million value a jury put on the building in June is double its actual value.

Tri-City said it will seek to pull back a $4.7 million deposit it made on the building and give the structure back to owner Medical Acquisition Company of Carlsbad.

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But Duane Horning, an attorney for that company, said Friday that he will file a motion in court to vacate Tri-Citys eminent-domain reversal on grounds that more than two years of acrimony between the parties, which included a five-week jury trial, make it impossible for them to work together as envisioned when the building project started.

Too much has changed. We cant go back to where we were as if eminent domain had never started. We cant put this relationship back together again. Its just not viable, Horning said.

Meanwhile, the court has a pending order for Tri-City to deposit $12.1 million into a special account which, combined with the nearly $5 million already deposited, would set aside the building full value while the hospital appeals the jurys valuation.

Tri-City asked the appellate court to stay an order made in November for it to pay up immediately, but a panel of three judges denied that request on Monday.

The hospitals statement did not specify whether its board and administrators believe that abandoning the eminent-domain process obviates Tri-Citys requirement to make the $12.1 million deposit. It did say the money can be used to provide health care to the community.

Horning said Medical Acquistion believes the court order remains in full effect and that the company expects the sum to be deposited promptly. If it isnt, he added, his client would ask a judge to hold the hospitals board in contempt of court.

It was not clear what Tri-City makes of that threat. In an email sent Friday morning, David Bennett, Tri-Citys chief marketing officer, said the hospital will not address any further questions on this matter.

Tri-City has spent a lot of cash on its pursuit of a modern glass-and-concrete structure that was to house the offices of doctors whose specialties are currently underrepresented at the hospital.

According to its published financial statements, Tri-City spent about $2.6 million during its 2015-2016 fiscal year on legal fees to conduct the trial. A court order made after the jury returned its value verdict said that Tri-City also must pay Medical Acquisitions legal costs, which were estimated at $2.2 million at the time.

In addition to the buildings value, the jury awarded $2.9 million in damages to the company, pushing the total amount invested above and beyond bricks and mortar at $7.7 million.

Horning said he does not expect to get a court hearing on Tri-Citys attempted eminent-domain reversal until March.

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(619) 293-1850

Twitter: @paulsisson
A practice rocket warhead found in the yard of a Hillcrest home Sunday may have been unearthed by weekend rain, a fire official said.

A resident at the home on Dove Street near West Pennsylvania Avenue found the rusty ordnance in her garden, authorities said. She ended up posting a picture of the find on Facebook in an effort to identify what it was.

One of her friends told the resident she had some kind of artillery shell on her hands and offered to call 911 so authorities could come take care of it.

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Fire crews arrived about 3 p.m. and the bomb squad was called soon after, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Capt. Joe Amador said. The item was identified to be a 6-inch practice military warhead used to simulate the flight of an actual warhead.

Crews from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar were called to dispose of the munition, Amador said. It was unclear if it contained anything explosive.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

Dec. 19, 8:50 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details.
Its Electoral College decision day, and Americans are watching as Donald Trump is officially handed the White House via ballots of electors from every state in the country. Yes, election season is almost over.

Despite (lets be honest here) some pretty feeble attempts by Hillary Clinton supporters, celebrities, a few electors themselves and other desperate citizens to block Trumps election, there was never any way these electors would not choose Trump as the official winner of the 2016 election.

No level of frustration over Clintons popular vote victory or Trumps cabinet picks or Russian election interference can do anything about it.

As the San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board put it so definitively Sunday: The Electoral College is here to stay, so deal with it

Across social media Monday, people were reacting to the Electoral College. Without further ado, we give you the 12 different types of Americans watching Trump be made official. Which one are you?

Proud Trump supporter

Clinton supporter trying to move on

Electoral College defender

Hopeful rebel

Electoral College hater

Desperate protester

Bitter pundit

Jokester hoping to lighten the mood

Angry citizen

Controversial documentary filmmaker

Sarcastic gloater

Victory lap runner

The Electoral Colleges decision will be made official by Congress on Jan. 6. Trump will be sworn in on Jan. 20.

Let us know what kind of Electoral College observer you are.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin
The University of Kentucky has drawn questions about its Title IX coordinators office  which polices sex-related discrimination  after it punished a professor for publicly singing the Beach Boys song California Girls during a university-related trip overseas.

Journalism associate professor Buck Ryan claims in an op-ed published in the Lexington (Kentucky) Herald-Leader he was punished for singing the song while attending an event in China that was part of the universitys program. Ryan said the university considered the songs language of a sexual nature as somehow offensive.

For those who dont know, the 1960s classic references women of different regions across the U.S.  southern girls with the way they talk, northern girls with the way they kiss.

The punishment? Ryan says it bans him from using university funds to travel abroad, which he claims prevented him from receiving a prestigious award worth thousands of dollars.

So the question arises: How competent is UKs Title IX office? Ryan asks in his op-ed, making the case that the university failed to name any victims or accusers, which he says may have been fellow faculty.

Ryans case drew attention from some conservative blogs like the Daily Caller and the Reason blog and others on Twitter who place some blame on the universitys enforcement of the Title IX without due process.

And when Mark Cuban shared the story on Twitter, the University of Kentuckys account replied with a link to a 2015 letter describing accusations brought against Ryan, which included questions about his behavior with an unnamed student.

The universitys Title IX enforcer, Patty Bender, wrote that in addition to the questions about his behavior with the student, others were also concerned about the song Ryan sang at the closing ceremony of the event. The letter is heavily redacted to protect the identity of the student and it remained unclear when the events described in the letter occurred.

Bender concluded: More than a preponderance of the evidence reveals that Mr. Ryan acted inappropriately in violation of the discrimination and harassment policy prohibiting inappropriate touching and language of a sexual nature.

In his op-ed, Ryan said that the universitys three-month investigation revealed no student complaints and that in his more than 30 years of college teaching he has never faced sexual misconduct complaints from any students.

The reaction on the internet has largely focused on Ryans singing of the Beach Boys song, with some calling criticism an attack on free speech and university power overreach into political correctness. But there were certainly many people who didnt take his side.

What do you think happened here: Did the university overreact and unfairly punish this professor or is there more to the story? Share your thoughts with me  shoot me an email or tweet at me.

Three stories you can't miss

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez
The kidnapping of Lakeside teen Hannah Anderson following the heinous murders of her mom and little brother and her subsequent rescue from the wilds of Idaho has been made into a movie for the Lifetime cable network thats set to air this weekend.

And she and her family are not pleased.

Its no wonder the real-life abduction and murder case in August 2013 was made into a movie. It definitely had all the trappings of a TV drama.

First there was Hannah, the blonde 16-year-old, who was whisked away by kidnapper - and family friend - Jim DiMaggio. The two had recently returned from a trip to Hollywood where Hannah posted photos of herself posing in what some would say were suggestive short shorts and tank tops. Combined with the selfies the attractive and social-media savvy teen posted, not to mention the shots of her and DiMaggio clowning around, people started to question the nature of the pairs relationship.

Hannah said the man she had known for years as Uncle Jim told her he had a crush on her, but more of a family crush like he had feelings as in he wanted nothing bad to happen to me.

FILE - This combination of undated file photos provided by the San Diego Sheriffs Department shows James Lee DiMaggio, 40, left, and Hannah Anderson, 16.  AP ( / AP)

Then there was the fiery and horrific crime scene at his Boulevard home where the bodies of Hannahs mother Christina, little brother Ethan, 8, and the family dog were discovered.

Then, of course, there was the good-guys-to-the-rescue ending after horseback riders serendipitously spotted the pair in an area of Idaho called the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.

Hannahs ordeal ended when FBI snipers opened fire on DiMaggio, killing him with six bullets to his head and torso.

The movie feeds the speculation that there was something more between the kidnapper and his victim than meets the eye. In the promo for the show, which stars Scott Patterson (of Gilmore Girls" fame) as DiMaggio and 20-year-old Canadian actress Jessica Amlee as Hannah, the network writes: As the dust settled, questions began to emerge about the nature of the relationship between Hannah and her kidnapper... and what really happened?

One provocative scene shows Hannah blowing DiMaggio a kiss. Another shows the actress who plays DiMaggio's sister doing a television interview in which she she says that Hannah flirted with DiMaggio and that she "wouldn't put anything past her."

According to 10 News, Hannah was not too happy about those scenarios, angrily posting on her Instagram page this week that she never gave her permission for the movie and that the preview alone contained false facts and untrue events. If anyone is gonna tell my story it should be me, the El Capitan High School honor student wrote.

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Hannahs grandmother Sara Britt said says the family had nothing to do with the movie and was surprised to hear about it. You would think that they would have contacted the family and its just a heartbreaking to see that it keeps on going, she said in an interview with Fox 5 News.

San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore stated unequivocally at the time that Hannah, who returned to San Diego days after her rescue amid a media frenzy, was an unwilling participant in her ordeal. There is no doubt in our mind she was definitely a victim here and under extreme duress from the time she was abducted by DiMaggio until she was rescued by the FBI hostage rescue team, Gore told the Union-Tribune.

Will that statement be in the movie? Stay tuned.

RELATED: Sheriff Gore discusses the Hannah Anderson Rescue
When I first started going on vacation in my early 20s, my friends and I always looked for the cheapest, all inclusive places in a warm climate. Ive seen most lower budget spots in the Caribbean  Aruba, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Paradise Island, Bahamas, Grenada, Curacao. Time off and sun were important to mequality? Not so much.

I even attended Club Med singles-mingles week in Turks & Caicos. Dont ask.

And then things changed. It just happened to be my 30th birthday and friends invited me to Costa Rica. NO ALL INCLUSIVE! No more all you can eat, watery spaghetti over sterno burners. No more all you can drink budget keg beer. No horrid music by the pool or aggressive staff members prodding me to join the volleyball game on the Lido Deck. See a bit of the country. Do our own thing.

And then another change to my idea of vacation. I got an invite to meet 8 friends in Sicily at a rented house. Apparently this has always been very popular with Europeans. Cook your own meals or eat out when you want, swim in your own pool, stock your full sized refrigerator, peace and quiet when you just want to read, watch the channel you want at the bar because you hold the remote. Staying at what seemed like a palatial mansion, we even saved money. And in return gained freedom!

It took me 15 years to do it. Your learning curve was probably way shorter. And today, there are SO many options available for your vacation. AirBNB, VRBO, countless hotel/resorts search engines, travel agents, vacation rental companies, even couch surfing if that is your thing. Youve got CHOICES. And more and more people are asking me about all of them  especially renting a home.

Since I havent done much research on it  I decided to attend an open house. I RSVPed YES to my first ever open house invitation. It was held by Sunrise Property Management for a spot at about 4 miles north Ambergris Caye. A spot called Solaria.

I got a tour of the 3 HUGE villas on the beachfront property. And if you are coming to Ambergris Caye on vacation with a very large familyor with 2 or three other couples? This would be a fabulous way to go.

Four or five bedrooms on multiple floors. All sorts of nooks, crannies, balconies, 2 master bedrooms/villa, bathrooms off every bedroom, large kitchens, great views. I could get used to this. Chat with folks in the living room, hide on the back balcony over looking the lagoon for some privacy.

Here are some pictures I took of the properties.

There really isnt a bad view to be found.

Beautiful circular rooms with these gorgeous hardwood ceilings make for more ways to admire that view.

There are probably about 8 days a year that I really wish I had a fireplace in Belize. Here it is!

Each villa is decorated differently by the owners

Sorry about the long winded openingbut what Im trying to say is: whether you are on a budget and want to share a house with 10 friends or you like to go all out when you are on vacation and you value your privacy, skip my learning curve and check out rental condos or rental homes.

I know it doesnt sound that sexy but it sure is convenient if you can throw in a load of laundry when you are on vacation.

And now if we only had Uber

One day.

AND, the center villa is for sale. I loved this one for the views of the lagoon from the back porch and wellfor many many many reasons. Wouldnt it be luxurious if each of my cats could have their own bed and bath?

Here is the information.
Dallas, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/19/2016 -- Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. He married his first wife, Mary, and resided in the parish of Hursley, Hampshire. They had three (3) children: Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles; all baptized there. It has long been claimed that the Hopkins family was from Wortley, Gloucester, but this was disproven in 1998 with the discovery of his true origins in Hursley.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-stephen/



Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company." He managed to get his sentence commuted. Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles.



Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an "expert" on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region.



Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child.



Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children.



BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins.

FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604.

SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England.

CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles.

CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth.

DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269



The Mayflower was hired in London, and sailed from London to Southampton in July 1620 to begin loading food and supplies for the voyage--much of which was purchased at Southampton. The Pilgrims were mostly still living in the city of Leiden, in the Netherlands. They hired a ship called the Speedwell to take them from Delfshaven, the Netherlands, to Southampton, England, to meet up with the Mayflower. The two ships planned to sail together to Northern Virginia. The Speedwell departed Delfthaven on July 22, and arrived at Southampton, where they found the Mayflower waiting for them. The Speedwell had been leaking on her voyage from the Netherlands to England, though, so they spent the next week patching her up.



On August 5, the two ships finally set sail for America. But the Speedwell began leaking again, so they pulled into the town of Dartmouth for repairs, arriving there about August 12. The Speedwell was patched up again, and the two ships again set sail for America about August 21. After the two ships had sailed about 300 miles out to sea, the Speedwell again began to leak. Frustrated with the enormous amount of time lost, and their inability to fix the Speedwell so that it could be sea-worthy, they returned to Plymouth, England, and made the decision to leave the Speedwell behind. The Mayflower would go to America alone. The cargo on the Speedwell was transferred over to the Mayflower; some of the passengers were so tired and disappointed with all the problems that they quit and went home. Others crammed themselves onto the already very crowded Mayflower.



Finally, on September 6, the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England, and headed for America. By the time the Pilgrims had left England, they had already been living onboard the ships for nearly a month and a half. The voyage itself across the Atlantic Ocean took 66 days, from their departure on September 6, until Cape Cod was sighted on 9 November 1620. The first half of the voyage went fairly smoothly, the only major problem was sea-sickness. But by October, they began encountering a number of Atlantic storms that made the voyage treacherous. Several times, the wind was so strong they had to just drift where the weather took them; it was not safe to use the ship's sails. The Pilgrims intended to land in Northern Virginia, which at the time included the region as far north as the Hudson River in the modern State of New York. The Hudson River, in fact, was their originally intended destination. They had received good reports on this region while in the Netherlands. All things considered, the Mayflower was almost right on target, missing the Hudson River by just a few degrees.



As the Mayflower approached land, the crew spotted Cape Cod just as the sun rose on November 9. The Pilgrims decided to head south, to the mouth of the Hudson River in New York, where they intended to make their plantation. However, as the Mayflower headed south, it encountered some very rough seas, and nearly shipwrecked. The Pilgrims then decided, rather than risk another attempt to go south they would just stay and explore Cape Cod. They turned back north, rounded the tip, and anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor. The Pilgrims would spend the next month and a half exploring Cape Cod, trying to decide where they would build their plantation. On December 25, 1620, they had finally decided upon Plymouth, and began construction of their first buildings.



Master Christopher Jones and several business partners purchased the ship Mayflower about 1607. Its origins prior to that remain uncertain. Its first documented voyage of record was to Trondheim, Norway, in 1609. Andrew Pawling hired the ship to take a cargo of London goods to Norway, sell them off, and buy Norway goods (lumber, tar, and fish) to return back to England. Unfortunately on the return voyage, the Mayflower encountered a severe North Sea storm and the master and crew were forced to toss most of Pawlings goods overboard to lighten the ship. The home of Master Christopher Jones: Harwich, co. Essex, England.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/



Following that, Christopher Jones seems to have stuck with safer trading routes. The Mayflower made numerous trips primarily to Bordeaux, France, returning to London with cargoes of French wine, Cognac, vinegar, and salt. The Mayflower could freight about 180 tons of cargo. The Mayflower also made occasional voyages to other ports, including once to Malaga, Spain, and twice to Hamburg, Germany.



Upon returning from a voyage to Bordeaux, France, in May 1620, the Mayflower and master Christopher Jones were hired to take the Pilgrims to Northern Virginia. This was the first recorded trans-Atlantic voyage for both ship and master, though Christopher Jones had several crewmembers, including pilot and master's mates John Clarke and Robert Coppin, who had been to the New World before.



The Mayflower was supposed to accompany another ship, the Speedwell, to America, but the Speedwell proved too leaky for the voyage so the Mayflower proceeded alone. Departing on 6 September 1620, the ship was at sea for 66 days, arriving November 9. The ship and crew overwintered with the Pilgrims and departed back for England on 5 April 1621, arriving back to England on May 6.



Christopher Jones took the ship out for a few more trading runs, but he died a couple of years later in March 1621/2. The ship was appraised for probate purposes in May 1624, and was referred to as being "in ruins." It was only valued at 128 pounds sterling, and was almost certainly broken up and sold off as scrap.



Dallas, Texas General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Reveals New Geneology Support Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.g3-development.co/



Women of Early Plymouth: Governor William Bradford reported that the Pilgrims were worried that the "weak bodies of women" would not be able to withstand the rigors of a trans-Atlantic voyage and the construction of a colony. Prior to the Mayflower, very few English women had made the voyage across the ocean.



Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke colony arrived in Virginia in 1587, and amongst those 120 colonists there were 17 women: a baby girl, Virginia Dare, was born after arrival. When re-supply ships came from England, they could not relocate the people. The colony had mysteriously disappeared, and was never seen again. The Jamestown Colony was founded in 1607, but relatively few women had yet made the voyage and taken up residence there.



The Pilgrim husband, as head of the household, had an important and difficult decision to make. Building a colony would be hard on a woman's "weaker body." It might be safer and healthier to leave her behind, and have her come later once the houses were built, and the general safety and successfulness of the colony were better established. But that could be several years. Could he live several years without his wife? How strong was his wife anyway, could she really handle it? Was it right to put your wife's life in danger in this manner?



As the Mayflower left England for America, there were 18 adult women on-board. Three of them, Elizabeth Hopkins, Susanna White, and Mary Allerton, were actually in their last trimester of a pregnancy. All the adult women on the Mayflower were married; there were no single women--although there were a few teenage girls nearing marriageable age.



While no women would die during the Mayflower's voyage, life after arrival proved extremely difficult. In fact, 78% of the women would die the first winter, a far higher percentage than for men or children. Dorothy Bradford was the first woman to die, and the only woman who died in the month of December. While many of the men, including her husband, were out exploring on Cape Cod, she accidentally fell off the Mayflower into the bitter cold waters of Provincetown Harbor. Most of the women's death dates were not recorded, but we do know that Rose Standish died on January 29, Mary Allerton died on February 25, and Elizabeth Winslow died on March 24. Most of the women died in February and March.



The extremely high mortality rate among women is probably explainable by the fact the men were out in the fresh air, felling trees, building structures and drinking fresh New England water; while the women were confined to the damp, filthy and crowded quarters offered by the Mayflower, where disease would have spread much more quickly. The two-month voyage was long enough; the women, however, remained living on the ship for an additional four months while the men built storehouses and living quarters on shore. Many of the sick were no doubt cared for on-board the ship by the women, increasing their exposure to colds and pneumonias. William Mullins died on February 21, apparently on-board the Mayflower since his will was witnessed by the ship's captain and ship's surgeon. His wife Alice and son Joseph had not yet died, but it wasn't too long before they did, orphaning their teenage daughter Priscilla in the New World.



Only five women survived the first winter. One of the five survivors, Mrs. Katherine Carver, died in May of a "broken heart," her husband John having died of sunstroke a month earlier. Weak bodies or not, by the time of the famous "Thanksgiving," there were only four women left to care for the Colony's fifty surviving men and children. The four women were Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster, and Susanna (White) Winslow.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/women



Adam's hard work and creativity helped him land this job of a lifetime. He obtained incredible business experience there and spent years innovating, improving processes and setting sales records. Although this dream job in Traditional Corporate America was a fun challenge for him, and something he truly enjoyed mastering, Adam's natural entrepreneurial spirit kept nudging him to do something more significant with his time and talents.



http://www.MyChocolatePod.com

http://www.Facebook.com/AdamPaulGreen



Since 2001, Adam has been involved in the Health and Wellness Industry as a successful Entrepreneur, Broker, Product Developer and Manufacturer of Cosmeceutical products. During his career, he has worked with some of the most recognizable Fortune 500 businesses along with many top international Network Marketing companies. Adam has consistently proven his unique ability to help his clients achieve their goals through creative Distribution-Channel Placement, innovative Product Development and custom Manufacturing. Adam currently owns three profitable businesses.



http://www.ImAdamGreen.com



About MayflowerHistory.com

MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material.



http://mayflowerhistory.com
Southampton, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/19/2016 -- Dr. Aaron Shiloh, head of the practice specializing in weight loss, varicose vein and hair restoration treatments in Greater Philadelphia, Shiloh Vein & Aesthetic Institute, is reminding patients that his office offers VenaSeal. The treatment is a leading minimally-invasive procedure to eliminate varicose and spider veins, and has seen high success rates since its release. In a write-up just posted on his website, Dr. Shiloh explained VenaSeal and its benefits.



VenaSeal is a popular method for treating varicose veins that involves delivering a proprietary medical-grade adhesive via a small catheter. "When you come in for a VenaSeal procedure, I'll deliver a numbing agent to your leg to remove any chance of discomfort or pain, then I'll deliver the adhesive to various points on the affected veins," said Dr. Shiloh. "The beauty of VenaSeal is that afterwards, there's no downtime, recovery or need for compression."



Dr. Shiloh's article noted that that VenaSeal is a superior treatment for its lack of recovery time need, leading to patients' abilities to get back to life as normal directly after a procedure. "Most treatments require compression stockings afterwards, but VenaSeal patients just need a bandage," said Dr. Shiloh.



Dr. Shiloh is the only physician in Bucks County who offers the VenaSeal procedure, and he has more experience than any other doctor in the area with administering the treatment.



To read the article in full, or to learn more about the leading VenaSeal and hair loss treatment provider in Greater Philadelphia, PA please visit SVAI's website, or dial 215-695-4169.



About Dr. Shiloh

Dr. Shiloh is the lead practitioner at the Shiloh Vein and Aesthetics Institute. With years of experience as a vascular physician and an Arteriologist, he now provides the highest quality treatments for the removal of varicose veins, wrinkles and spider veins. His office is located in Southampton, Pennsylvania, and can be reached by phone at 215-695-4169.



For more information, please visit http://www.drshiloh.com.
Wappingers Falls, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/19/2016 -- A New York girl's dream came true when she received this year's New York Hero Scholarship from the Law firm of Stenger, Roberts, Davis & Diamond, LLP. Local student Abigail Calandra is this year's winner of a scholarship that is sponsored every year by the law firm.



"I want to be a part of the publishing process of many stories that will change people's lives forever. I want to shape the world, and where better to start my journey than Binghamton University where I will be majoring in English?" she said.



The $1,000 scholarship, known as the New York Hero Scholarship, is awarded to one lucky student every year.



The law firm of Stenger, Roberts, Davis & Diamond started their campaign for giving away this award at the beginning of this year. Their main motivation was their conviction in giving back to the community and teaching future generations about the importance of learning. The belief in learning and shaping young minds to pursue higher learning is one that they strongly uphold in their practice.



Not only are they strong advocates for good education and further learning, but the law firm is also dedicated in ensuring a conducive atmosphere for its clients and a tenacious protectiveness in their well-being.



Located in Dutchess County, Stenger, Roberts, Davis & Diamond offer free consultations and take pride in their ability to tackle a wide variety of cases in many areas of law.



For general questions or additional information, please write tdavis@srddlaw.com



Contact:

Deidra Drews

Company: Stenger, Roberts, Davis & Diamond, LLP

Address: 1136 Route 9, Suite 2, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590

Phone: 845-298-2000

Email: tdavis@srddlaw.com

Website: http://srddlaw.com/
Hatfield, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/19/2016 -- Montgomeryville Cycle Center, the best place to shop for used motorcycles in Bucks County, PA, recently announced that their inventory of in-stock apparel and accessories is on sale now through December 31st. Through this promotion, which Montgomeryville Cycle Center calls the Remodeling Sale, shoppers can save 40% on the aforementioned apparel and accessories. Visit Montgomeryville Cycle Center online today to learn more about this, and other, promotions the dealership is currently offering.



Montgomeryville Cycle Center's Remodeling Sale is being offered because the dealership wants to sell their existing inventory and stock their new store with new items. In fact, as a bonus incentive to make that happen, the Remodeling Sale features a special selection of items whose discounts are even deeper than the standard 40%.



In addition to their remodeling sale, Montgomeryville Cycle Center is also offering shoppers the opportunity to take advantage of manufacturer holiday promotions, such as the Yamaha Holiday Sales Event. Customers who are searching for motorcycle dealers serving Philadelphia and its neighboring communities are encouraged to visit Montgomeryville Cycle Center online to learn more about how they can save on Yamaha cruiser/touring bikes, as well as Yamaha street motorcycles through the Yamaha Holiday Sales event.



Call 215-486-2020 to speak with one of Montgomeryville Cycle Center's representatives today. Or, stop by their Hatfield, PA location at 2901 Bethlehem Pike. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9:00AM-7:00PM and Saturday 9:00AM-5:00PM.



About Montgomeryville Cycle Center

Montgomeryville Cycle Center is a multiline dealership that is dedicated to providing excellent service, support and satisfaction to the Delaware Valley's powersport community. Since 1974, their commitment to excellence has garnered them a rock-solid reputation for being one of the area's best places for motorcycle, ATV and dirtbike enthusiasts. Montgomeryville Cycle Center and their knowledgeable, friendly staff specializes in BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kymco USA products.



Like Montgomeryville Cycle Center on Facebook to receive updates. For more information about Montgomeryville Cycle Center, visit their website at http://www.montgomeryvillecc.com.
Austin, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/19/2016 -- Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Centre is proud to announce that Ashley Gordon, M.D., and Dustin Reid, M.D., are both included in the MSP Communications exclusive list of esteemed physicians. MSP Communications, researcher and publisher of the annual Super Doctors list, employs a rigorous, multi-step process to select physicians for inclusion in their publication that recognizes a diverse pool of medical doctors over various specialties.



What makes the Super Doctors list such a significant achievement is the detailed selection criteria. The physicians are not only vetted for professional accomplishments, but they must also have attained peer recognition during the period of time they've been in practice.



Dr. Gordon's inclusion on the Super Doctors list this year follows her presence on the Rising Star Super Doctor list in both 2012 and 2013 and on the Texas Super Doctors list in 2014 and 2015. Rising Star candidates are evaluated over 10 areas including fellowships, professional activities, leadership positions, board certifications, honors and awards and have been fully licensed to practice for approximately 10 years or fewer. While approximately 5 percent of the physicians within Texas are named to Super Doctors, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list. Dr. Gordon also recently received the distinguished Castle-Connelly "Top Doctors" nomination by her peers.



Dr. Reid is making his fourth consecutive appearance on the Super Doctors list this year. He also recently received the distinguished Castle-Connelly "Top Doctors" nomination by his peers. Both surgeons have been nominated as a "Top Doc" in their specialty by Austin Monthly magazine.



Each year MSP Communications invites doctors to nominate colleagues they know to be exceptional in their specified field. Physicians are posed this question: If you needed medical care in one of the following specialties, which doctor would you choose? Numerous safeguards are in place to prevent ballot manipulation and doctors may not self-nominate. Their research staff then searches medical databases, online sources, and publications for doctors who have attained certain credentials, honors or professional achievements.



Nominees are then grouped into specialties and those with the highest scores from the nomination and evaluation steps are invited to serve on a "blue ribbon panel." Each panelist reviews and evaluates a list of nominees from his/her area of focus. Finally points are tallied with only the highest-scoring doctors included on the Super Doctors list. The research staff also independently reviews the discipline record of each candidate before publication and verifies that the doctor is active and in good standing.



Those physicians on the Super Doctors' list can be searched online by the general public by name, location, or area of specialty at SuperDoctors.com. The list was also published in the December 2016 issue of Texas Monthly magazine.



Bios of the Super Doctors from Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Centre:



Dr. Ashley Gordon was the first board-certified female plastic surgeon, who is also fellowship trained in aesthetic surgery, to practice in Austin, Texas. She is Board-Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Gordon, a native of Louisiana, received her undergraduate education at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, her medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA. After medical school, Dr. Gordon moved to New York for her general surgery residency at St. Vincent's Hospital. During her general surgery residency, she was chosen to spend a year as a Post-Doctoral Scholar at The Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. After completing her general surgery training, Dr. Gordon moved to Atlanta where she was formally trained in plastic surgery at Emory University Hospital, one of the top three plastic surgery training programs in the country. She then pursued a fellowship in Aesthetic and Oculoplastic Surgery at Paces Plastic Surgery in Atlanta.



Dr. Dustin Reid is double Board-Certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Reid, a native of Clovis, New Mexico, received his undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University and his medical degree from Texas Tech University School of Medicine, graduating first in his class. He went on to train in a vigorous 5 year General/Trauma surgical residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. He subsequently trained in plastic surgery at the prestigious Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA, completing a 3-year residency and serving as chief resident in his final year. This cutting-edge program is world-recognized for excellence in plastic surgery training and focuses on breast and aesthetic surgery. Upon completion of his training, he moved to Austin and founded Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Centre in 2005.



Both surgeons belong to numerous regional and national societies, including the The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery , Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Austin Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Texas Medical Association, the Travis County Medical Society, the Maurice J. Jurkiewicz Society of Plastic Surgeons. Both are expert contributors on RealSelf.



About Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Centre

Restora Austin includes a plastic surgery clinic, a skin and laser clinic and a hair restoration center. Considered the most innovative plastic surgery practice in Austin and Central Texas, Drs. Gordon and Reid were the first to offer SAFELipo, the Tummy Tuck 360, Drain-Free Abdominoplasty using TissuGlu, and Halo laser by Sciton, just to name a few. The surgeons specialize in all areas of aesthetic surgery of the face, breasts and body. The team at Restora Austin is dedicated to an exceptional plastic surgery experience.



For more information, please visit RestoraAustin or connect with them on Facebook.



Media Contact:

Aesthetic Brand Marketing  Michelle Hartwell

E-mail: mhartwell@aestheticbm.com

Website: http://www.aestheticbrandmarketing.com

Restora Austin Plastic Surgery Centre

Location: 901 W. 38th St. Suite 401 Austin, TX 78705

Telephone: 512-371-8817

Website: https://www.restoraaustin.com/
A novel technique developed by a team of researchers in Australia has made it possible to produce some of the first reliable radiocarbon dates for Australian rock art.

Indigenous Australian rock art is very interesting, it is believed to be among the most ancient in the world but it is one of the least dated, said Dr. Vladimir Levchenko, a researcher at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and co-author of the paper reporting the results in the Journal of Archaeological Science Reports.

The teams approach involved extracting calcium oxalate from a mineral crust growing on the surface of rock art from sites in western Arnhem Land.

Generally speaking, radiocarbon dating cannot readily be used to date Australian indigenous rock art directly, because it is characterized by the use of ochre, an inorganic mineral pigment that contains no carbon, the researchers said.

The new approach has produced an upper and lower limit of dates for a regional art style known as Northern Running Figures (NRF), or Mountford Figures, believed to have been created in Australia during the early to mid-Holocene (10,000  6,000 years ago).

The authors suggested the maximum age is likely to be far older.

We present nine radiocarbon age determinations producing a minimum age and a minimum age range for a regionally distinct rock art style known as the Northern Running Figures from Red Lily Lagoon, western Arnhem Land Australia, the researchers said.

These radiocarbon determinations provide age constraints for both Pleistocene and early Holocene rock art in western Arnhem Land.

The limited distribution of the NRF style and its unclear relationship to earlier and later art styles has posed challenges for rock art researchers.

With the ages we acquired using carbon-14 on our accelerators, we showed effectively that the age ranges hypothesised for the NRF art style are generally correct, Dr. Levchenko said.

The team reports that the minimum age of the NRF rock art style is reported to be 9,034  9,402 years before present, which also produces a minimum age for other art styles that occur in the Middle Period sequence.

The results are exciting as although they generally support the chronology and assumed antiquity for the NRF art style, they provide minimum ages which suggest that the art style is actually a few thousand years older than what was anticipated, said lead author Tristen Jones, a Ph.D. candidate at the Australian National University.

They also demonstrate that the art style was painted over a considerably long period. Most excitingly the results also provide the chronometric data to support a Pleistocene antiquity for the earliest known figurative art styles, such as Dynamic Figures, in Arnhem Land.

_____

Tristen Jones et al. 2017. Radiocarbon age constraints for a PleistoceneHolocene transition rock art style: The Northern Running Figures of the East Alligator River region, western Arnhem Land, Australia. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 11: 80-89; doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.11.016

This article is based on a press-release from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
Nadia Al-Ansari says research funding is the Gulf states bridge to knowledge economy and sustainable development.

Since the emergence of the oil era in the Arab Gulf, its six Arab states have become major importers of technological products from around the world. This reflects high levels of income and living standards on one hand. On the other hand, it reflects the lack of a vision, on the part of officials, for a future where technology is developed and transferring to other countries, rather than imported.

With the demise of the oil era come economic changes that Arab Gulf states should have recognized  especially in light of free trade, the World Trade Organisations trade laws and globalization, which opened up competition for goods and services in global markets.

To guarantee their presence and staying power in these markets, Gulf states need to find and indigenise a competitive advantage. This can only be achieved through funding scientific research, technology and innovation (STI), and then commercialising the products of research and development.

Investment in scientific research will not be effective unless research results are applied to catalyse development and societal progress. Nadia Al Ansary, Science and Technology Development Fund

Recent moves by the Arab Gulf states indicate a desire to shift towards knowledge-based economies and knowledge industries. This desire is clearly reflected in countries interest to support scientific and technological research projects, encourage creativity and innovation, invest in intellectual property rights including patents, and build the capacities of a national workforce while attracting capable scientists from abroad. [1] But more needs to be done.

Spending is a necessity

Since oil is the primary source of national income for Gulf Cooperation Council states, responsible for about 47 percent of their GDP (gross domestic product), these states face tremendous pressures as a result of falling oil prices. They needed to diversify the sources of national income to avoid risks of dependence on oil exports, and to maintain long-term growth and financial surpluses. [2]

There is some investment in scientific research as part of that diversification. But investment in scientific research will not be effective unless research results are applied to catalyse development and societal progress. And this depends on finding the political will to create the right climate, build human capacities and increase spending on scientific research.

South Korea is a clear example of the benefits of such a shift in national spending. Its spending on research development in the 1960s did not exceed 0.2 per cent of GDP; by 2014, it increased to about 4.3 per cent, transforming the country into one of the worlds most technologically developed. This gives a strong indication of the relationship between spending on scientific research and industrial progress. [3]

In Arab Gulf states, spending on scientific research as a percentage of national income does not exceed 1 per cent on average  with the exception of Qatar, whose spending reached about 2.8 per cent of GDP in 2009.

We should admit that achieving sustainable development and a globally competitive economic growth rate, and so reducing the technological gap between Gulf countries and developed countries, depends on increasing spending on scientific research to no less than 2 per cent of GDP.

Diversifying funding sources

The low level of spending on scientific research compared with other regions indicates another flaw: Gulf states heavy dependence on governmental spending. By contrast, in developed countries the private sector supports most of research and development operations by financing research activities relevant to developing industry.

Scientific research in the Arab Gulf states has not prioritised solving problems affecting communities. Nadia Al Ansary, Science and Technology Development Fund

In the Arab Gulf states, a lack of trust between scientific research and industrial sectors also undermines the links that are needed in order to discuss technological problems and solve them locally. This increases reliance on recruiting foreign experts and technologies.

It is also worth noting that scientific research in the Arab Gulf states has not prioritised solving problems affecting communities.

And it is worth remembering that for many countries, funding for scientific research may come from international grants and aid budgets. Other sources generally range from governmental spending, through allocating part of the national income and which varies depending on the annual budget, from companies in the productive and service sectors, and from research units in public sector companies.

Yet, the Gulf states rarely depend on foreign funds to support scientific research, given the huge surpluses in their annual budgets. They do not suffer from a lack of funds, but from the goals of their expenditure.



A solid foundation

The cornerstone of scientific research is human resources. The GCC countries suffer, as is the case in all Arab countries, from a shortage of qualified staff in the field of scientific research. The percentage of scientific researchers in the population is lower than the global average  in developed countries, researchers may exceed 3,600 per each million people. [4]

GCC states generally depend largely on the availability of labour from foreign countries. The percentage of migrant workers exceed that of local people in some Gulf countries (such as UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait), and is about to reach half of the population in other countries (such as Saudi Arabia). This means Gulf states should invest in human resources if they want to make the transition from knowledge-consuming nations to knowledge producers and exporters.

Moreover, most holders of postgraduate degrees in science and technology work in universities, opting against scientific research centers for the relatively easy work and social prestige of teaching posts, as teaching often prevails at the expense of research activity at universities.

Gulf states rarely depend on foreign funds to support scientific research, given the huge surpluses in their annual budgets. They do not suffer from a lack of funds, but from the goals of their expenditure. Nadia Al Ansary, Science and Technology Development Fund

Gulf states should be credited, however, for recent efforts to establish research centers that are independent of universities, with research and development their primary function. Yet, we must admit that they are not enough.



Providing incubators

There is data to back this up. A field survey of research and development centers in GCC states found a significant increase in the number of research centers from 2005 to 2011, in comparison to previous decades. It also found a lack of human resources in these centres, except in Qatar. [5]

The survey revealed that more than half of the surveyed research and development centers have at least one industrial partner, with Saudi Arabia considered a leader in the Gulf in terms of linking scientific research to industry. Forty-one per cent of these centers do not enter into partnership with industrial enterprises.

Positive signs included the fact that research and development centers, especially in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have excellent international, regional and local partnerships with industry. They also support work in a diverse set of scientific fields and have the ability to attract international staff, as well as the potential to attract more funds dedicated to research, development and industry.

Applied research in the GCC states focuses on the environment (19 per cent), energy (16 per cent), information and communication technology (13 per cent), medicine and pharmacy (11 per cent), and engineering (9 per cent). This is a good sign, as these fields are linked to a great extent to economic development and knowledge industries.



Lifting barriers

The survey found five obstacles to the progress of scientific research and development for industrial applications in the Gulf states: a lack of clear methodology for allocating research funding, the weak role of the private sector in providing this funding, the absence of a Gulf strategy for research and development, industrial enterprises poor awareness of the importance of scientific research in developing their business or products, and the absence of an index for classifying Gulf research centers in terms of quality.

Therefore, what is needed is action to reverse these trends.

In order to maximize the role of scientific research as a driver of development, we must work to remove obstacles, support researchers, and create opportunities for cooperation. This can be done by encouraging and financing scientific networks, setting up a fund for collaborative projects between researchers in the region, and promoting the exchange of visiting professors between universities and research centers. [6]

It is clear that Gulf Arab states fall into two main groups in terms of scientific research capacity. The first comprises Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, which have made remarkable progress in STI (science, technology and innovation) global indicators in recent years. By 2020, this group is expected to be ready for a knowledge-based economy.

The other group includes Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, which rank modestly on STI global indicators and will need much time and effort to improve their environment for scientific research. [7]

One final point: the capital spent on research and development in Arab Gulf states must be considered a strategic investment to achieve growth and sustainable development, especially if it depends on national capabilities and experience. The best proof of this is in the contribution of scientific research and development to GDP growth, which has reached 80 percent in developed countries  meaning that the return is far greater than that of investing in other sectors.



Nadia Al Ansary is a project officer for nanotechnology research, and programmes director of the short-term fellowship of the STF & Technology Incubator Program at the Science and Technology Development Fund. Nadia is also cofounder and member of advisory board of the Egyptian Young Academy of Science.



This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Middle East & North Africa desk.

This article is part of a series on the future of research funding in low and middle income countries supported by the International Development Research Centre
Various space agencies across the globe are racing to conquer space travel and one of the most promising missions is launching a manned mission to Mars. NASA has many plans for Mars but the election of Donald Trump spurred numerous uncertainties especially about his plans for space exploration. The question is, will he still send humans to Mars?

Space bosses and investors are now looking forward to hearing from the U.S. president-elect to spell out his plans for NASA. According to Phys.org, during the campaign for the presidency, Donald Trump said he wanted to "free NASA from the restriction of serving primarily as a logistics agency for low-orbit activity" that includes the International Space Station (ISS), Earth-observation satellites and the Hubble Space Telescope.

This makes scientists hope that Donald Trump would grant permission to continue with the Mars mission. He, in fact, promised that the Americans will "lead the way into the stars."

The previous administration has already laid the groundwork for the mission on the Red Planet. The primary goal is to establish a settlement on the planet. That is also the ambition of space giant, SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk. Its main goal is to send 100 humans at a time -- starting in 2024.

If the Trump administration would ensure that the trip to Mars is feasible by 2030, as promised, this brings hope to NASA as the front runner in space exploration.

Apart from a settlement and exploration on Mars, NASA and other countries are looking forward to establishing lunar bases. NASA hopes to have a lunar colony by 2020.

"This is our Sputnik moment. America must forever be the pre-eminent spacefaring nation, and the moon is our path to being so," Jim Bridenstine, an Oklahoma congressman rumored to be in the hunt for NASA administrator, said in a recent speech as reported by Dispatch.

Establishing a lunar base is just one of the space agency's aims. It also aims to mine ice at the Moon's poles to produce rocket fuel.
A five-year research project for the study of cosmic rays via antiparticle experiments was granted by NASA. A total of $487,259 funding has been allotted for the project, which is a joint venture of America and Japan. The international team of scientists will work on the design and development of a next-generation cosmic ray balloon antiparticle experiment called General AntiParticle Spectrometer (GAPS).

The GAPS team of scientists belongs to various institutes in America and Japan, including Columbia University, University of California, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The research project will use the novel detection approach to search for low-energy cosmic ray antideuterons, which will help in studying the mysterious dark matter, present abundantly in the universe, reported University of HAWAI'I News.

The project will conduct experiments on long-duration balloon flights from the Antarctica. It is expected that in around four years, the scientists will successfully design, construct and complete testing of the payload and will be ready to launch the first flight by the end of 2020.

In an ongoing project on study of cosmic rays in the space, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) was attached to the International Space Station on May 19, 2011. The experiment is funded by the U.S Department of Energy and NASA. In a recently published report in the Symmetry, the AMS has already completed five years in space and has provided valuable data regarding 90 billion cosmic ray events that occurred in space in the last five years. Sam Ting, Nobel Laureate, and Thomas Dudley Cabot, Professor in Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, discussed the results of the AMS experiments and said that "We have a lot to learn from cosmic rays." He also said that cosmic rays could provide humans with the insights related to the balance and imbalance between matter and antimatter in space.

Roger Blandford, theoretical astrophysicist at Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, said that, "Given the success of the standard cosmological model and the absence of gamma rays from hypothetical matter-antimatter interfaces, I think it is very implausible that there'd be whole galaxies made of antimatter."

Roger Blandford further said that cosmic rays may help people study and reveal surprising results on the illusive dark matter that has not been studied directly till date.
(Updates with report on vessels, Rouhani meeting)

DUBAI, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Iran has shown commitment to the deal on its nuclear programme agreed with world powers, the head of the United Nations atomic energy watchdog said on Sunday, following complaints by Tehran over what it calls a U.S. violation of the accord.

The White House said on Thursday that a bill extending U.S. sanctions against Iran for 10 years would become law without President Barack Obama's signature, adding this would not affect overall implementation of the nuclear agreement.

"We are satisfied with the implementation of the (agreement) and hope that this process will continue," IAEA director general Yukiya Amano was quoted as telling reporters in Tehran by the IRNA news agency.

"Iran has been committed to its engagement so far and this is important," Amano was quoted as saying after meeting Iran's nuclear energy chief, Ali Akbar Salehi.

In response to the U.S. sanctions extension, Iran ordered its scientists last week to start developing systems for nuclear-powered marine vessels.

That action is expected to worsen tensions with Washington, already heightened by a promise by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's to scrap the deal.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani met Amano on Sunday and "expressed hope Iran and the IAEA will be able to have good technical cooperation on nuclear propulsion for transports", the semi-official Fars news agency said.

Iran's nuclear energy chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, said he presented the nuclear propulsion project to Amano during their meeting, adding that Iran would provide details of it in three months, IRNA reported.

Nuclear experts have said that Iran's move, if carried out, would probably require Tehran to enrich uranium to a fissile purity above the maximum level set in the nuclear deal to allay fears of the country building an atomic bomb.

Salehi said the fuel used for nuclear propulsion could range between 5 and 90 percent in enrichment, but added: "We will certainly act within the framework of the (agreement)," IRNA reported.

Story continues

Under the 2015 deal, Iran curbed its nuclear fuel production activities in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Tehran is not allowed to enrich uranium above a 3.67 percent purity for 15 years, a level unlikely to be enough to run such vessels, according to experts.

Iran on Saturday also requested a meeting of a commission comprising representatives of signatories to the accord that is overseeing its implementation.

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; editing by Sami Aboudi and Raissa Kasolowsky)
Microsoft fans have been eagerly waiting for the tech giant to announce at least something about Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 release date, specs and price details, but, no infomrtaion has yet been revealed. New reports suggest the Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 release date may be scheduled for Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2017 in January. However, some reports even claim that the much awaited smartphone will be unveilied only at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017.

It should be noted that Microsoft has started a web page where visitors of the MWC 2017 can meet and greet with the company representatives. The MWC is supposed to happen from February 27 to March 2, 2017.

Needless to say, people are making a lot of speculations all over the world about the final Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 release date. However, even though the fans are happy, the tech experts actually believe that the release might not happen just yet. Even though Microsoft Surface family as a whole is doing really well, the company has not been able to uplift its smartphone segment as well. This has been pegged to many reasons including the lack of a viable OS in the phones. However, Windows based smartphone might make an awesome comeback in 2017- atleast that is what we hope.

Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 Specs

Talking about Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 specs, the upcoming smartphone is rumored to feature the most recent Snapdragon processors with full Windows 10 mobile support. Rumour has it that these ARM processor powered devices will be able to process desktop apps, too. The features also include Snapdragon 835 and 6GB of RAM.

Are you excited about the latest smartphone offerings from the tech giant Microsoft? Microsoft Surface Phone might be a game changer for the company in 2017- we are excited to see what is in store for all the fans and users out there.

Stay tuned to SWR for more updates and latest news on Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 release date, specs and price details.
Killer whales may be coming to take the crown as the top predator of the North, taking the title away from the polar bears.

In a report by Vice, the sight of a killer whale is not rare in Churchill, Manitoba, these days. Because the lack of sea ice allowed them to move into the bay, the town's polar bear capital seems to be making large changes in their landscape as their numbers decline, thanks to climate change.

Steve Ferguson from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada told CBC that they are "seeing a lot more killer whale activity in Hudson Bay and they are a top predator." He also added that these creatures are magnificent and interesting, and highly efficient. "They appear to be eating other whales and seals and, I would imagine, if we lose our sea ice they will replace polar bears as that top predator."

It is not like orcas actually live like Free Willy after all. These marine animals are more closely related to dolphins, but they kill whales that are considerably larger than they are, thus their original name -- "whale killers."

Due to the fact that the Arctic is warming up twice as fast as the rest of the planet, The New York Times noted that the ice cover has been retreating at an accelerated pace, which does not bode well for polar bears, that, despite being called the largest of the bear subspecies, rely on the ice to survive. Steve Amstrup of the Polar Bears International stated that, "as the sea ice goes, so goes the polar bear."

The effect of climate change is not clear-cut for polar bears, but out of 19 subpopulations of polar bears in five countries, three populations are already falling in number, while six are stable. The increasing temperatures are also causing the orcas to move further into the Hudson Bay, causing the drastic change in the Arctic food chain.
In eastern Aleppo, evacuations of civilians and rebels from the eastern part of the city finally resumed after hours of delay due to a number of buses set on fire.

The first "limited evacuations" from eastern Aleppo, as well as the towns of Kefraya and Foua, resumed after a few hours, as thousands of people are still awaiting to be evacuated. Robert Mardini of the International Committee of the Red Cross told CNN that five buses and one ambulance left the area shortly after midnight, in an operation that he hoped will proceed smoothly.

Thousands are still waiting to leave the desperate conditions of the city. In fact, the United Nations Security Council was said to have agreed for a compromise that will allow the U.N. to monitor the operations after Russia rejected the French-drafted plan to send officials to East Aleppo. Initial efforts to evacuate the last of the rebel-held areas collapsed on Friday, in a move that BBC News noted to have left civilians stranded at various points without access to food or shelter.

The delay was also noted to have left thousands in limbo as the interruptions left them in bombed-out buildings in subfreezing temperatures. Still, resistance to the deal was expected, especially considering that it requires the cooperation of opposing parties that have been at war for over five years.

Being taken from one part of Syria to another still has people expecting that refugees are being moved from one war zone to another, as Idlib -- where the rescued civilians are sent -- is said to be the next target of the regime, making the evacuations an effective way to move rebels to a single containable zone.

The United Nations Security Council is set to meet on Monday to vote on France's proposal regarding the redeployment of staff to monitor and report on civilian evacuations, as well as to provide "immediate and unconditional" access to humanitarian aid and protection.
The United Kingdom legalizes the three-parent baby using healthy DNA material of two women and one man. This is created to inhibit the children born with deadly genetic diseases.

The U.K. fertility clinic regulator, Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA), approved the controversial three-parent baby technique. This is developed by British scientists to replace the egg's defective mitochondrial DNA with healthy mitochondrial DNA from another female donor to prevent the child from having genetic flaws, according to Camping Nuck.

Sally Cheshire, HFEA Chair, said that today's historic decision means that parents at very high risk of having a child with a life-threatening mitochondrial disease may soon have the chance of a healthy, genetically related child. She further said that this is life-changing for those families.

Huffington Post reports that the baby would have two biological mothers and a father. This could potentially trigger challenges on the custody or inheritance. The HFEA approved this technique in "certain, specific cases" only if there are no other options. These include screening for healthy embryos.

Britain Agrees to License "Three-Parent" Baby Approach https://t.co/yqrTSD57HN  BRN Computer (@BRNComputer) December 18, 2016

The technique has a process of transplanting nuclear DNA. This encodes the individual's characteristics from a fertilized egg into the donated egg from a donor that has healthy mitochondria. The damaged mitochondrial DNA will be replaced with healthy mitochondria. Children with damaged mitochondria resulted to a potentially fatal condition. This mitochondrial DNA is inherited from the mother.

It is reported that the first three-parent babies would likely be born in late 2017. The Newcastle University is the one that established the technique. It is seeking women with healthy eggs for replacement DNA. It hopes to treat 25 carefully selected parents a year. There will also be a provision for long-term follow-up of any children born, according to Professor Doug Turnbull, director of the University's Mitochondrial Research Center.
Dr. Henry Heimlich, the inventor of the popular Heimlich Maneuver to save people from choking, died on Dec. 17 at age 96. He died at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati where he was staying after suffering a heart attack earlier this week.

"My father was a great man who saved many lives," Phil Heimlich said as reported by the Advertiser. "He will be missed not only by his family but by all of the humanity," he added.

The Episcopal Retirement Services, the company that owns Deupree House, where Heimlich stayed, confirmed the news.

"We are deeply saddened by his passing," Laura Lamb, the incoming chief executive of Episcopal Retirement Services, said as reported by CNN. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. It was an absolute pleasure serving Dr. Heimlich. He was very kind and caring, and was respected by all," she added.

The Heimlich Maneuver

The world-famous Heimlich maneuver, introduced in 1974, has been able to save people from choking to death as high as 100,000, the Medscape reports.

In 1974, Dr. Henry Heimlich was the director of surgery at Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati when he devised and introduced the treatment for choking victims. The first aid procedure relies on abdominal thrusts to clear the person's airways of foreign bodies. It is performed by wrapping one's arms around the victim's waist and thrusting it upward to dislodge an airway obstruction to prevent suffocation.

The popular first aid treatment has saved a lot of lives of many people including some famous people like President Ronald Reagan, Halle Berry, Carrie Fisher, Cher and Nicole Kidman.

Dr. Henry Heimlich's Long Battle Against Red Cross

In the 1980s, Dr. Henry Heimlich wanted to recommend the maneuver to save drowning patients. However, he failed to convince the Red Cross and the American Heart Association to replace cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with the Heimlich maneuver.

In 2006, the Red Cross updated its official guidelines, telling people to give five back blows on the victim and only try the Heimlich maneuver if the first action did not work. The doctor said that he did not want his name attached to performing back blows because it could cause danger to the patient. Thus, Red Cross changed it to abdominal thrusts, Mental Floss reports.
Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory wanted to evaluate what could possibly occur when a huge asteroid strikes the sea. They found the results to be extremely fascinating. The study was presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting.

The study spearheaded by Galen Gisler and team from ANL employed supercomputers to gauge the impact of a speeding space rock hitting the ocean.

The results turned out to be quite surprising. Gisler and the team used simulated experiments to find that waves created from point sources just vanished at a quick pace. They did not expand or grow as it was predicted, reveals Gizmodo.

Scientists still need to probe on a worrying matter -- the effects of water vapor. The water vapor that comes out after a giant and hot meteor strikes the ocean could cause some significant effects on the climate.

Explaining the concern, Gisler said that a huge meteor coming in extremely hot is capable of vaporizing close to 250 metric megatons of water. He also said that the water vapor, which eventually reaches the stratosphere, continues to remain there for some time. The powerful greenhouse gas can actually affect the climate in a big way.

The silver lining is that most asteroids never manage to reach the Earth. The small ones almost always explode mid-way.

Gisler's models have also demonstrated that when airburst meteors actually strike the ocean, they are less potent. They produce smaller waves and stratospheric water vapor. Explaining the phenomenon, Gisler said that the airburst reduces the powerful effect of the asteroid hitting the water. In his analysis, asteroids hitting the ocean is a safer prospect for humans than those that strike the land.

Gisler also added that if an asteroid strikes on a shoreline that is thickly populated, there is bound to be a huge disaster.
Pregnant women infected with Zika virus during pregnancy have given birth to infants with severe abnormalities, a new study found.

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers have found that 42 percent of pregnant women infected with the dreaded Zika virus gave birth to infants with severe neurological problems in Brazil.

The study also shed light on the fact that Zika infections acquired in the third trimester are as dangerous and risky as those infected during the first trimester, Sci-Tech Today reports.

Another study published in JAMA by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States discovered that about 11 percent of pregnant women gave birth to an infant with a birth defect, Five Thirty Eight reports.

The officials in CDC said the findings of the study show that the rate of microcephaly cases and fetal abnormalities linked to Zika is similar among these babies born in the United States whose mothers were infected during travel to the Americas like Brazil.

"Our findings show that Zika virus can continue to replicate in infants' brains even after birth and that the virus can persist in placentas for months -- much longer than we expected," said Julu Bhatnagar, lead of the molecular pathology team at the CDC's Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch and lead author of the study, as reported by Medline Plus.

It has been studied that Zika virus could cause severe infant abnormalities if the mother was infected during pregnancy and the most common problem is microcephaly. In fact, Brazil reported the most cases since the outbreak emerged in 2015.

However, a new study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine shows that in a patient infected with Zika, the scientists have found key proteins that could help them create vaccines and medicines to stem the infection.

They suggest that two antibodies were able to eliminate samples of the virus when tested on laboratory petri dishes. Moreover, the antibodies do not seem to recognize strains of dengue virus. Hence, when medicines are developed, these could reduce the risk of triggering the rise of a more dangerous strain of dengue, which is more fatal than Zika.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Today is the last chance for Florence residents to donate to the Empty Stocking Fund before Christmas Day, according to Major Lynda Thornhill of the Salvation Army.

Donations this year compared with last year are way down, Thornhill said. Last Christmas season, donation totals reached upward of $80,000, but this year the donations have yet to reach a quarter of that amount.

More numbers are coming in but as of this year right now the Empty Stocking Fund is at $16,000, Major Christopher Thornhill said. That may not be enough to fill all of the needs that we have for bikes and funds.

Donations to the Empty Stocking Fund go toward children in the Angel Tree program who are not adopted and ensures they will still be able to received toys and gifts for the holidays.

Both Thornhills are hoping for a last-minute push of donations, and they are urging Florence residents to stop by the Salvation Army office or the Christmas Center to drop off their toy or monetary donations before the Monday night deadline. Toys will begin to be distributed to families on Wednesday.

Weve got get everything in on Monday so we can get everything processed and put in the right place, Lynda Thornhill said.

Our hope is over the next day or two that people will come in with the funds needed to get all the services the Salvation Army provides out to the people who need it this time of year, Christopher Thornhill said. We are relying on community support.

The Empty Stocking Fund can accept donations at two different locations: The Salvation Army Office at 2210 Hoffemeyer Road and the Christmas Center at 1611 S. Irby Street. All monetary donations should be taken to the Salvation Army office.

Checks should be made payable to the Salvation Army with Empty Stocking Fund written on the memo line. Empty Stocking Fund donations also can be dropped off in the red kettles as part of the Salvation Armys Red Kettle Campaign at various Florence locations.

Families who missed the Empty Stocking Fund application deadline in October can still receive help this holiday during the Salvation Armys emergency assistance day on Thursday. Families in need can go to the Christmas Center on a first-come, first-serve basis, and any donations remaining will be distributed.

We will make sure the children have Christmas but the overall quantity of gifts may be affected, Christopher Thornhill said. Were moving forward with the idea that were going to be serving over 600 children for Christmas.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Rashadah Jordan came across a picture that inspired her to create a movement that encourages women to embrace their beauty and love the skin they are in.

On June 23, just one day after posting the picture to her Facebook page, Black Girl Magic came to life.

Jordan describes Black Girl Magic, which she leads, as "a feminist group that focuses primarily on African-American women of all ages to spread ideas of self-love."

"Black Girl Magic literally evolved overnight with the help of social media," Jordan said.

She had no idea she would receive hundreds of likes and several comments overnight on her Facebook page. Just a few hours before, she had wondered how many people would be interested not only in embracing themselves and their differences but also in inspiring other women to do so.

It turned out that the picture she had posted inspired many other women who supported her movement to embrace themselves and accept who they are. At that moment she said to herself, "Let's do it!" She decided to take a stand against the media and show women that it's OK to look different from what society expects them to be.

Jordan said the media have a huge influence on the way women view themselves. Her goal is "for women to feel comfortable walking out the house without a full face of makeup."

She said her goal is to show not only black women, but all women, that it's OK to look different and that the media should not be the place you turn to when trying to determine what you should look like.

She also wants to provide mentoring for students in schools.

"Our goal is by next year be in the school system as a mentoring program," she said. "There are also plans to partner with a charity or give back to the community through service."

Jordan recognizes that kids can be cruel, and she says it is important that children not wait until they are adults to realize that they are beautiful just the way they are.

The Black Girl Magic creator wants women to start "embracing their flaws and knowing who they are and being comfortable in that."

The group includes 10 women ranging in age from 21 to 50 from Florence, Lake City, Timmonsville and Myrtle Beach. Other members are from Charlotte, North Carolina, Atlanta and Miami.

At a photo shoot earlier this year in downtown Florence, her vision was brought to life by photographer Walter Priece.

"If it wasn't for him and his camera, we wouldn't have these pictures, she said. He took it and ran with it."

Jordan said Priece is responsible for making the group bigger by making the decision to travel and recruit natives of other states. She also credits Demonshay Scipio of Darlington for his assistance and for creating T-shirts that represent the group's message.

She showed another photo of the group in which the women proudly wore shirts that read, "I Am Queen."

Jordan said Black Girl Magic welcomes diversity.

"Even though it says Black Girl Magic, I wouldn't mind having people of other ethnicities in it as well, she said. I want all women to feel comfortable no matter who they are."

Jordan added that the groups main goal is for women to "embrace who you are, not who you're not."
On the evening of Dec. 7, minutes after a local Indiana union leader, Chuck Jones, criticized Donald Trump on CNN for falsely claiming that he had kept 1,100 Carrier jobs in the United States, Trump tweeted, "Chuck Jones, who is President of United Steelworkers 1999, has done a terrible job representing workers. No wonder companies flee country!"

Since that tweet went out, some news organizations have reported that Jones has received death threats.

A few days before, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg was quoted in the Chicago Tribune gently chiding Trump for being against trade.

Soon after, Trump tweeted: "Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!" Later, he added, "We want Boeing to make a lot of money but not that much money."

Boeing shares immediately took a hit. As it turns out, Boeing does not even have a $4 billion order to make Air Force One planes.

This has been Trump's pattern. In October 2015, 18-year-old college student Lauren Batchelder stood up at a political forum in New Hampshire and told Trump that she didn't think he was "a friend to women."

The next morning, Trump fired back on Twitter. He called Batchelder an "arrogant young woman" and accused her of being a "plant" from a rival campaign.

Almost immediately, Batchelder began receiving threatening messages on her phone. "I didn't really know what anyone was going to do," Batchelder told the Washington Post. "He was only going to tweet about it and that was it, but I didn't really know what his supporters were going to do, and that to me was the scariest part."

Trump doesn't take kindly to anyone criticizing him  not journalists (whom he refers to as "dishonest," "disgusting" and "scum" when they take him on), not corporate executives, not entertainers who satirize him, not local labor leaders, not college students, no one.

The president-elect's tendency to go after people who criticize him by sending false and provocative statements to his 17 million Twitter followers not only imperils those people and their organizations, it also poses a clear and present danger to our democracy.

Democracy depends on the freedom to criticize those in power without fear of retribution. Presidents and president-elects throughout history have refrained from publicly condemning individual citizens for criticizing them. That sort of thing occurs in two-bit dictatorships with leaders intent on stamping out dissent.

No president or president-elect has ever before bypassed the media and spoken directly to large numbers of his followers to disparage individual citizens who criticize him. That occurred in the fascist rallies of the 1930s.

America came closest to this in the 1950s, when Sen. Joseph McCarthy wrecked the lives of thousands of American citizens whom he arbitrarily and carelessly claimed were communists.

McCarthy's reign of terror ended when a single man, U.S. Army counsel Joseph Welch, asked him publicly, during the televised hearings McCarthy was conducting, "Have you no sense of decency, sir?" In that moment, Americans began to see McCarthy for the tyrant he was.

Not incidentally, McCarthy's assistant was Roy Cohn, an attorney who perfected the art of character assassination. Cohn was also one of Donald Trump's mentors.

Trump's capricious use of power to denigrate and even endanger his critics must end. He is not yet our president. When he becomes so, and has far greater power, our freedom and our democracy could be gravely jeopardized.

We must join together to condemn these acts. We must ask: Has Trump no sense of decency?

Robert Reich, a former U.S. secretary of labor, is professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley and the author of "Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few," now available in paperback. His new film, "Inequality for All," is on Amazon, DVD and On Demand.
Iranian officials have suggested Iran would claw back any lost money if President-elect Donald Trump attempts to reverse a deal with U.S. plane manufacturer Boeing.

Iran inked a $16.6 billion agreement for 80 Boeing passenger jets on Sunday 11 December, marking the first major business agreement between a U.S. company and the Islamic Republic.

Both Boeing and Iran are keen to seal the deal before the inauguration of Donald Trump, given his skepticism over a recently agreed nuclear accord with Iran.

Iranian officials told reporters Sunday that if Trump or the U.S. Congress disrupted the deal, Iran would seek to recover lost payments.

"Both they [Boeing] and we were willing to reach the conclusion sooner, and fortunately it took place before the new government [in the U.S. takes office]," Farhad Parvaresh, the chief executive of state-owned carrier Iran Air, told reporters Sunday.

"Both sides are committed, and there are scenarios in the contracts for violation of commitments or in case of force majeure to deal with those cases," he said.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill last month seeking to restrict financial transactions by U.S. banks in an effort to block the sale of Western passenger jets to Iran.

However, Iranian officials told reporters Sunday they remained confident of securing the necessary finance.

The deal between IranAir and U.S. planemaker Boeing includes 50 narrow-body 737 MAX aircraft and 30 long-haul 777s.

A Boeing statement earlier this month said the Iranian contract would support tens of thousands of U.S. jobs for the 777-300ER jets and nearly 100,000 U.S. aerospace jobs for the whole package.

Boeing said the first airplanes under this agreement are scheduled for delivery in 2018 although the Wall Street Journal reported that the deal does remain subject to final sign-offs from both Washington and Tehran.

Also from CNBC:

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DUBLIN, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Ireland accused the European Commission on Monday of exceeding its powers and interfering with the EU member's national sovereignty over tax affairs in ruling that Apple owes Dublin billions of euros in taxes, saying it had failed to give proper reasons for its decision.

In September the Irish government agreed to join with Apple in appealing against the Commission's order that the U.S. company must pay Dublin up to 13 billion euros ($14 billion) after ruling the firm had received illegal state aid in avoiding paying such taxes.

On Monday both Ireland and Apple laid out the legal arguments that would form the basis of their appeals.

"The Commission has manifestly breached its duty to provide a clear and unequivocal statement of reasons in its decision, in relying simultaneously on grossly divergent factual scenarios, in contradicting itself as to the source of the rule that Ireland is said to have breached, and in suggesting that Ireland granted aid in relation to profits taxable in other jurisdictions," the Irish government said in a statement.

Dublin, which is seeking to protect a tax regime that has helped attract multinational companies that employ around 10 percent of the country's workforce, listed a number of areas where it believed the commission had misapplied tax rules.

Firstly, it said Apple's subsidiaries did not receive special treatment in the 1991 and 2007 tax opinions at the centre of the case, and that the company's treatment did not depart from normal taxation, the statement said.

It then said the commission had overstated the level of profits attributable to Apple subsidiaries Apple Sales International and Apple Operations Europe.

It said important decisions within the companies were made in the United States and the profits derived from these decisions were not properly attributable to them.

"The Commission's attribution of Apple's intellectual property licences to the Irish branches of Apple Operations Europe and Apple Sales International is not consistent with Irish law," it said.

Story continues

The Irish government said the Commission had incorrectly applied the "arm's length" principle, according to which individual group members of a multinational enterprise must be taxed on the basis that they act at arm's length in their dealings with each other.

And it said the Commission "failed to act impartially and in accordance with its duty of care" because it did not "clearly explain" its state aid theory during the investigation.

The European Commission is expected to shortly publish a more detailed version of its ruling against Apple.

($1 = 0.9574 euros) (Reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
A Monte dei Paschi di Siena advertisement is seen on a screen in a bank window in downtown Milan, Italy, January 14, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's cabinet will meet on Monday to prepare the way for any eventual increase to the national debt to cover the cost of saving Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS.MI) and other ailing banks, government sources said.

Monte dei Paschi has launched a 5-billion-euro (4.2 billion pounds) capital increase and must raise the money by the end of the year or face being wound down. If it cannot find takers in the private sector, the government will be forced to step in.

Sources told Reuters last week that the government was ready to pump 15 billion euros -- just under one percentage point of gross domestic product -- into Monte dei Paschi and other ailing banks.

Before it can do that, the cabinet needs parliamentary authorisation to lift national debt levels.

On Monday, ministers are due to approve the eventual request, sources said. There was no word on when it might call on parliament to give it the green light.

(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte and Francesca Piscioneri; Writing by Crispian Balmer)
Seat42f and CBS Films have teamed up to give THREE lucky winners a Mark Wahlberg signed PATRIOTS DAY poster. For a chance to win leave a comment below telling us your favorite Mark Wahlberg movie. Only one entry per person. Contest ends December 29th. Winners will be notified on December 30th via email so make sure to use a valid email address when you post your comment. Open to US Residents Only.

PATRIOTS DAY will open in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles on December 21, 2016

The film will open nationwide on January 13, 2017

In the aftermath of an unspeakable attack, Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg) joins courageous survivors, first responders and investigators in a race against the clock to hunt down the bombers before they strike again. Weaving together the stories of Special Agent Richard Deslauriers (Kevin Bacon), Police Commissioner Ed Davis (John Goodman), Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese (J.K. Simmons) and nurse Carol Saunders (Michelle Monaghan) this visceral and unflinching chronicle captures the suspense of one of the most sophisticated manhunts in law enforcement history and celebrates the strength of the people of Boston.

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Kevin Bacon, J.K. Simmons & Michelle Monaghan
It's the flu season, so there is a good chance that if you come down with a virus and have a pet, you could sneeze or cough all over them. Your ailing dog or parrot could do the same to you. If you and your pet both then become ill with similar symptoms, is that just a coincidence?

Perhaps not, according to new research showing how certain flu viruses can sometimes jump from species to species.

For example, there is a flu epidemic currently at a Manhattan shelter that has sickened some 45 cats and killed one. Given the number of victims, the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) School of Veterinary Medicine investigated the outbreak and determined that the culprit was "low pathogenic avian influenza H7N2." This marks the first known time that this relatively mild bird flu has sickened cats.

RELATED: Dog Flu Jumps to Cats in Midwest

"Many of the cats who became ill are recovering, and the one who developed pneumonia and died was an older feline," Sandra Newbury, director of the UW Shelter Medicine Program and a clinical assistant professor at the university's School of Veterinary Medicine, told Seeker. "Their symptoms included fever, runny nose, lip smacking and a persistent cough."

She added that there have been two documented cases of people catching H7N2 in the United States: a 2002 incident involving a farmer who worked closely with chickens, and another case in New York a year later, with the source of his infection unknown. Both people recovered.

Because people can contract H7N2, however infrequently, the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (NYC Health) is advising staff at the site of the current outbreak-Manhattan Animal Care Center-to take precautions.

"The infected cats are housed separately from the other animals," Julien Martinez, an NYC Health spokesperson, told Seeker. "We are contacting all people who adopted cats from ACC's Manhattan care center since November 12, the earliest date when the virus was introduced into the shelter. They can also call the Health Department at 866-692-3641 for care instructions."

The instructions, he explained, include keeping the affected cat away from other animals, and regular washing of hands and clothing that come into contact with the cats.

Cats and birds aren't the only animals that can carry flu viruses with the potential of spreading to different species. In fact, Newbury and her team initially thought the Manhattan shelter cats had caught H3N2 canine influenza. H3N2 first appeared in sick dogs in the Midwest in 2015 and later infected a group of cats in northwest Indiana in 2016.
The Japanese space agency will soon be testing a new technology that would use a roughly half-mile-long tether to grab large pieces of space debris and dispose of them.

The proposed technology (first announced in 2014) would include a spacecraft that would deploy a 700-meter-long (2,296 feet) electrodynamic tether (EDT) and guide it toward a piece of space junk. The tether would latch onto the orbiting hunk of trash, and the operating spacecraft would then drag the debris down into the incinerator of Earth's atmosphere (causing the operating spacecraft to burn up as well).

A prototype system called the Kounotori Integrated Tether Experiments (KITE) arrived at the International Space Station on Dec. 12. That system will allow engineers to test the mechanisms that propel the tether when it is deployed in space.. [Worst Space Debris Events of All Time]

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, released a brief description of the tether technology, as well as an animated video illustrating the details of the tether and the spacecraft - unfortunately for some of us, it's subtitled in Japanese only.

RELATED: Japan Sends Space Junk Collector to the International Space Station

Space debris, or "space junk," is becoming an increasingly large problem for space agencies and private companies. Even small pieces of space debris, when moving fast enough, can tear through satellites and human habitats such as the International Space Station; a collision with space debris may have been responsible for the loss of a Japanese science satellite earlier this year.

In 2013, more than 500,000 pieces of space junk were being tracked by space agencies, according to NASA. That includes more than 21,000 pieces of space trash larger than 4 inches (10 centimeters) in size, and half a million bits of junk between 0.4 inches and 4 inches (1 cm and 10 cm).
Press Release

December 18, 2016 Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy 2016

"Promoting Global Human Rights Through Cultural Diplomacy" December 18, 2016, 2:30 P.M. Berlin, Germany

THE PHILIPPINES IN 2016:

On Forgotten Histories and Identities in Peril Good afternoon to everyone. It is a great honor and pleasure to be among the invited speakers for this Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy 2016. In the seven years I have been in public service, I have had various opportunities to speak before groups of multinational audience in international events - first, as Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights and, thereafter, as Secretary of the Department of Justice. This occasion, though, bears a great and unique significance to me - both professionally and personally - not only because this is the very first time I will be delivering a formal speech, on global a platform, as an elected official, but also because of the current state of the country and of the people I am here to represent. If, before, I came to offer answers; now, for better or for worse, I come with questions and points for self-reflection about what the future holds for our country. To be completely honest, I am representing a country and a people whose true complexity and indefinability I am only beginning to truly understand. Whereas I used to stand before international stakeholders, assuring them that all is well - or, at least, everything is being done to make sure that all will be well - on the human rights front in the Philippines, I myself am one of those who are, today, looking for similar reassurances. Whereas I used to think that we, Filipinos, have long learned our lessons about the folly of falling for authoritarian rule under a charismatic and dangerous cult-like leader, I myself am not so sure why we are in this situation once again. 2016 will be remembered as the year of - shall we say - interesting turns of events. This time last year, I had a clear vision of the Republic and of the Filipino people that I was seeking to serve: a people that valued justice and humanity; independence, democracy and the rule of law; truth, justice, freedom, love, equality and peace. Our country seemed well on its way to realizing these aspirations and ideals as embodied in the Preamble to our Constitution. Never could I have foreseen the extent to which the very face and values of my country and my people could have changed in just 12 months, nor the disturbing direction we seem to be hurtling towards from here on. In May of this year, 16 million Filipinos elected a self-confessed serial killer1 as President; the same candidate who, while on the campaign trail, told a rape joke about an Australian missionary who was raped and killed in the city where he was then serving as Mayor; cursed the Pope for having caused traffic jams during his papal visit; evaded questions about the source of his alleged undeclared wealth amounting to billions of pesos; and basically promised to employ summary killings as a policy to curtail criminality. In the last five months, he has proven true his blood-soaked promise, at least to the extent that, by the Philippine National Police's own statistics, we have now recorded a total of more than 6,095 deaths in connection with the Duterte Administration's so-called "War on Drugs"2 - which is turning out to be more of a "war on the poor", while big-time drug lords have thus far been mostly allowed to evade justice. He has also allowed the former dictator, Ferdinand E. Marcos, to be buried as a hero. The same dictator whose 20-year regime - which was as corrupt as it was bloody from similar acts of summary execution, torture, enforced disappearances and various other forms of human rights abuses and political oppression - is the very raison d'etre for the drafting of the 1987 Constitution, which sought to ensure that similar abuses and heinousness will never again find space within the annals of Philippine history. In one fell swoop, the current President obscured the rejection of such dictatorial regime by allowing a plunderer and a killer to be given a hero's burial. He has also driven the women's empowerment and gender sensitivity movement several decades back, by himself creating a culture of misogyny wherein female members of the press are catcalled during press conferences, female police officers are touched inappropriately, the vice president's legs are openly ogled during cabinet meetings, and slut-shaming is employed as a form of political reprisal against women who dare criticize him. He and his men - preying on the people's fears from so-called anticipated reprisals by those involved in the drug trade, or from terrorist attacks, or some other undefined threats that prey upon their feelings of insecurity - are keeping the threat of a declaration of a state of national emergency, martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus perpetually hanging above the Filipino's heads, thus priming them for malleability for other extreme actions. And even after all of that, what is most disturbing is the way he is shaping the very psyche and identity of the Filipino people. We have gotten to the point where we are trying to convince ourselves that we do not hear what we are hearing; that we do not see what we are seeing; that it's ok for the President to do and say what he does and says because he is just being true to himself, and that's a good thing; that to speak against the President is to stand against the 16 million people who voted for him. In fact, in spite of everything and against all reasonable expectations, he still enjoys a "Very Good" Performance Rating from the people according to a latest survey released just days ago. Of course surveys aren't always accurate, but the absence of a roaring rejection of the occurrence of daily deaths in our streets is in itself quite disturbing. If 6,095 deaths, including deaths of innocent children, in less than 6 months, isn't enough to spark outrage, how many more will it take? Apparently, much, much more, if we go by the proposal to revive the Death Penalty, which, I predict, can easily pass in the lower house of the Philippine Congress. Apparently, our choice is be killed in the streets, or be killed by public execution. It doesn't matter that we all know that death penalty has never been as successful a deterrent to crime as it is a weapon of political suppression. It doesn't' matter that our justice system is far from being perfect to ensure that no innocent lives are taken. All that matters is that macabre mathematics that equates death tolls to accomplishments. That is the true horror of it all: we are fast becoming a nation where killing is seen as the solution to our problems. Not a solution; not the first or the last resort; but the solution. It doesn't even matter that it has been clearly demonstrated that some cops are complicit in the very crimes they are supposed to suppress- clearly, the only real solution is to give them a carte blanche authority to kill the suspects outright. That is our brand of justice these days. And the true horror is that some of our people will stand up and applaud this reality. What does this say about our people? Are we evil that we condone evil to be done in our name? Are we cowards? Or are we simply realists? Maybe it isn't a question of how many are dying, but who are dying? Perhaps the outrage will be greater if it were prominent people who are dying, instead of the poor whose lives, by society's measure perhaps, is already forfeit anyway? Perhaps it is simply the old Melian Dialogue applied in our times: the strong do as they can, while the weak suffer as they must.... Is there room for idealism in our society, or should the rest of us, who are still hanging on to the values we were raised to aspire to, simply bow to the demands of those who want us to simply blindly support the President? Unity for the sake of unity? Earlier in the year, I would have called these turn of events "unexpected", "shocking" or maybe even "unforeseeable". "Of course that will never happen again! We know better, don't we?" Apparently, we don't. Not really. Armed with the benefit of hindsight, I see now that, in our preoccupation to realize the idealized version of our nation, we failed to see the vulnerabilities in our notion of nationhood that make those ideals still far out of reach - one of which is the absence of a truly and deeply shared Filipino identity. There is still a huge gap between who we have been thought to think we are, and who we truly are. The gaps in income, social status, education, culture, language, beliefs, values, histories and even geography are too real, too deep and too long-unexplored to allow us to form a true Filipino identity. We forget that, before the Spaniards came along, there was no single Filipino nation to speak of. Even after we declared independence from colonial rule, we formed a unitary government that merely adopted the colonial boundaries we inherited. Even our very flag, for instance, only has eight rays to its sun to symbolize the eight northern provinces that started the Revolution against Spain. Whether we intend it or not, it sends the message that the long-standing resistance to colonial rule in other areas, especially in the South, do not mean as much. Several weeks ago, for instance, when the Marcos burial became an issue, it turned out to be more divisive than anticipated. While there were people who came out to oppose it, there were also those who were very vocal in their support for it. That was baffling to us. How can we reconcile our political history with this act of honoring the one man who single-handedly brought on the darkest period of our post-colonial history? We thought that, perhaps, it was a failure on our part to teach history properly and effectively. But, now, I realize that it may not just be about forgotten histories, but altogether neglected ones. By failing to account for the flipside of history - the experiences of those who remained loyal to the dictator, who never personally suffered during Martial Law but saw it as a time of prosperity, thus enabling them to look back to it with nostalgia rather than trauma - we allowed misconceptions and feelings of marginalization to germinate. It isn't so much a problem of the fading of scars, but of a wound that never completely healed in the first place. Peoples and interests were bound to be overlooked if we never took the time to consciously seek, develop and integrate them into the Filipino identity. That is why we still have indigenous peoples fighting for recognition of their rights, areas like the Bangsamoro where the fight for freedom has never waned, and feelings of oppression by the so-called "Imperial Manila". That is why, even as people are dying, people are much too accepting of the injustice, rather than fighting to correct it. There, I believe, lies the answer as to why authoritarian leaders who excel at manipulation can find the gaps that allow them to sink their claws into our nation, and rip us apart from the inside: they have been able to prey on our fears and self-interests in order to divide and conquer us. The harder we try to gloss over these differences, or insist that they do not exist, the more weapon we give to the next person who promises to deliver them their validation at whatever cost. They prey on our feelings of marginalization and victimization, and offer themselves up as the agents of change and champions of our cause. For as long as we see one another as "others" we will never trust that we truly have each other's interests in mind, and we will always look for the person who will fight for us, even if that person employs means that we would otherwise have found unacceptable. That, therefore, is the challenge that we Filipinos face in 2017. We must find who we are as one people. We must define the identity of the Filipino. To know who we are is to trust who we are. To know our identity is to recognize it in others. To recognize it in others is to feel revulsion when their lives are taken. This is critical to our future, not the least because there are proposals to convert our unitary government to a federal one, among other proposed constitutional amendments. While there may be good reasons to convert to a federal system of government, I firmly believe and truly do fear that doing it now, under these circumstances when we are more fragmented than truly united, there is a real danger that it would create greater friction among our people, without the hope of a common identity or common interests to hold us together. I believe that it all starts with cultivating a culture of listening - one that is oriented towards conversations that lead to true understanding, not just towards unproductive reactions and divisive debates. True diplomacy, if you will, employed, not between two states, but person-to-person. When I go back to my country in a few days, I know that there are those who, until now, will seek to cast me as the enemy because I dare question the abuses of power that I see, and I dare object to the rampant killings taking place in our streets. But I shall take with me the knowledge that my one and only "sin", so to speak, is having stepped out of the cave and seen the world outside - especially through the eyes and wisdom of all of you who have graced this year's conference. Having done so, I go back home, conscious of my duty to help the prisoners still trapped in the cave: to make them see the chains that bind them for what they are, to help them free themselves of those chains, and to finally step outside the cave and see the beauty, freedom and opportunities that the real world has to offer. For a person who lives a hard, but fulfilling life outside the cave is still more fortunate than the prisoner who wastes his life chained inside, believing in the tricks of light and shadows, while waiting in line for their turn under the butcher's knife. As I come to the close of my humble contribution to this conference, I would make clear that I am not an academic. I am not an expert. I am but a public servant and a human rights advocate, who herself has felt the claws of political persecution in retaliation for standing up against the most powerful official in the land. At a time and under circumstances when our very identity and moral values as a people is in question, and when I myself do not know what the future holds for me and other human rights defenders, I lament that I cannot offer categorical answers or endorsements for completely fool- and dictator-proof practices to promote and uphold human rights... except perhaps to, first and foremost, recognize that it is a never-ending process that requires constant vigilance. While we open our hearts and minds to different views, experiences, fears and aspirations, we must hold on to our fearless and uncompromising tenacity never to surrender our humanity. For our humanity is the one thing that can ever truly bind us. The basis for trust. The basis for unity. The very survival of our species. Thank you for your attention. ____________________________ 1 http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/14/asia/duterte-philippines-davao-killings/ see also http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/547235/news/nation/duterte-says-he-killed-1-700-not-just-700 and http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/546271/news/nation/duterte-boasts-of-killing-kidnappers-in-davao-city 2 http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/145814-numbers-statistics-philippines-war-drugs
Press Release

December 19, 2016 De Lima warns vs attempts to undermine PHL history, identity BERLIN - Sen. Leila M. de Lima warned against the reconstruction of the Philippine history and the national identity of the Filipino people by the so-called "agents of change" who want us to think and act contrary to the values and principles we fought hard for. She also alluded to "authoritarian leaders who excel at manipulation" and who have been able "to prey on our fears and self-interests in order to divide and conquer us." Speaking at the Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy 2016 here, De Lima said there are some disturbing events in the past few months of the country's political history that are being used to manipulate and decimate the national psyche and identity. "One year ago, our country seemed well on its way to realizing these aspirations and ideals as embodied in the Preamble to our Constitution," she said, referring to the year 2016 are "the year of interesting turns of events." "Never could I have foreseen the extent to which the very face and values of my country and my people could have changed in just 12 months, nor the disturbing direction we seem to be hurtling towards from here on," she added. De Lima noted the rash of vigilante-type killings in the first six months of the administration of Philippine President Duterte since his assumption in July. To date, about 6,095 people were reportedly killed in the government's all-out war against drugs. She also took issue at the apparent rush by the administration-dominated Congress to pass a law restoring the death penalty law purportedly to deter crimes in the country despite worldwide abolition of the capital punishment. "That is the true horror of it all: we are fast becoming a nation where killing is seen as the solution to our problems. Not a solution; not the first or the last resort; but the solution," she said. "Clearly, the only real solution is to give them a carte blanche (blank card) authority to kill the suspects outright. That is our brand of justice these days. And the true horror is that some of our people will stand up and applaud this reality," she added. The former justice secretary also lambasted a hero's burial given to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, an administration's move she said violated the Constitution which ensured that similar abuses will and should never happen again in the country's history. "That was baffling to us. How can we reconcile our political history thus far, with this act of honoring the one man who single-handedly brought on the darkest period of our post-colonial history?," she said. The neophyte senator also lashed out at the Duterte administration for continually dangling the declaration of martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus to curb threats of drug-related reprisal and possible terrorist attacks. "He and his men (are) preying on the people's fears from so-called anticipated reprisals by those involved in the drug trade, or from terrorist attacks, or some other undefined threats that prey upon their feelings of insecurity," she said. "(They) are keeping the threat of a declaration of a state of national emergency, martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus perpetually hanging above the Filipino's heads, thus priming them for malleability for other extreme actions," she added. De Lima challenged the people that the year 2017 should be an opportunity to reclaim our national identity by resisting attempts to prey upon our marginalization and victimization by so-called "agents of change and champions of cause." "That is the challenge that we Filipinos face in 2017. We must find who we are. To know who we are is to trust who we are. We must define the identity of the Filipino. To know it is to recognize it in others; to recognize it is to feel revulsion when their lives are taken," she added.
Co-workers busy in office | Compassionate Eye Foundation/Hero Images/Getty Images

Compassionate Eye Foundation/Hero Images/Getty Images

Work hard, play hard, right? Maybe not. More employees are working harder, with less play. Over half of all American workers who receive paid vacation aren't using all of the time they're entitled to, a new Bankrate survey reveals.

Fifty-two percent of Americans who get vacation days say they plan to leave some of their paid time off in the bank -- unused this year. That compares with 47 percent who say they will use up all of it. Most workers not taking all of their 2016 vacation are leaving at least one full week of days on the table.

"I get 23 days off a year, and I think last year I had 17 or 18 days left by the end of the year," says 31-year-old Aaron Lurth, who works as a photographer and art teacher in Decorah, Iowa.

Americans and their vacation days | Bankrate.com

Why we leave vacation time unused

The most popular reason for not wanting to take the full amount of paid vacation days offered is wanting to save up days for next year, followed by having too much work.

Who, in particular, are these non-vacay workaholics? Millennials like Lurth -- only younger.

One quarter of young millennials between ages 18 and 25 say they're not using any of their vacation time this year, versus fewer than 1 in 10 Americans overall.

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"I think they (younger millennials) certainly are at a point in their careers and lives where they are ambitious," says John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray and Christmas, a Chicago-based employment services firm. "This is the time where you are laying the foundation for your career and what to do next."

There are also regional differences, with 60 percent of Northeasterners saying they'll use all of their paid vacation time compared with a mere 39 percent of Southerners. Vacation time also cuts across party lines: 15 percent of people who identify themselves as Republicans say they'll take no vacation time, compared with 6 percent of Democrats.

Story continues

A culture of work, work, work

One underlying reason that so many workers of all stripes are reluctant to take their vacation time is the work ethic that's embedded deeply into American culture.

"Maybe it's an internal thing," says Lurth, "but I start to feel guilty when I leave because I feel like when I'm away, I'm making more work for others, or I'm worried I am going to make more work for myself when I come back."

He blames those internal struggles on a culture that he says is "built around working long hours."

Americans are the hardest-working people in the world, says former Deputy U.S. Labor Secretary Seth Harris, who adds that it's not just a statistic -- it's an expectation.

"Workers get those signals very clearly and many are afraid to take the time they're entitled, even if their employer explicitly offers them vacation time," says Harris, currently a member of the public policy and regulation practice at the Dentons law firm in Washington, D.C.

RATE SEARCH: You need a vacation -- and a vacation fund. Shop Bankrate today for the best money market rates.

Vacation is good for you

Many employees might worry that if they take their allocated time off, they'll be seen as slackers or lacking in commitment. The survey found that a majority of U.S. workers (56 percent) would prefer one week of pay instead of one additional week of paid vacation time.

"Nobody sees the cash," Harris says. "Everyone sees the time, especially supervisors."

Taking the paid vacation time you're entitled to and recharging every now and then can be beneficial to your career. "We would all be much better off if every employee took the paid vacation time that's provided to them," says Harris.

Challenger agrees.

"That could be really valuable when you come back refreshed and better able to manage your tasks and the work that's in front of you," Challenger says. "It gives you a fresh perspective."

RATE SEARCH: Maybe you need a fresh mortgage, too. Shop for a refi mortgage today.

Methodology: Bankrate's Money Pulse survey was conducted Dec. 8-11, 2016, by Princeton Survey Research Associates International with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults living in the continental U.S. Telephone interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by landline (500) and cellphone (500, including 305 without a landline phone). Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points for the complete set of data.





More From Bankrate.com


Eric Kayne/Special to The Chronicle

Fresh from a standing ovation at the American Geophysical Union conference, Gov. Jerry Brown was decidedly upbeat when he showed up at a holiday party at a local bar hosted by his political team from SCN Strategies.

Brown declared that his rallying call to 3,000 climate scientists at their San Francisco convention  promising to fight President-elect Donald Trump on climate change  was probably his best speech since he decried unchecked power and privilege at the 1992 Democratic National Convention.
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A state commission cleared Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky of misconduct Monday in his sentencing of a former Stanford student-athlete who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman outside a college party in 2015.

The Commission on Judicial Performance received thousands of complaints and petitions  including one with more than 1 million signatures  claiming that Persky was biased on June 2 when he sentenced Brock Allen Turner, then 20, to six months in county jail, three years probation and lifetime registration as a sex offender. The district attorneys office had asked for six years in state prison, while the defense had requested four months in county jail with up to five years probation.

Turner was convicted in March of three counts of felony sexual assault and released from jail in September after serving half his sentence.

During the sentencing hearing, Turners victim, using the pseudonym Emily Doe, read a letter in which she described in frank terms the emotional and physical impact the assault had on her and why Turners defense of his crime  he blamed it on drinking  was wrong.

While acknowledging that Does life had been devastated, Persky said that a long prison sentence would have a severe impact on Turner, who had no previous criminal record. He declared that when released, Turner would not be a danger to anyone. Further fueling a perception of bias was that the judge had graduated from Stanford and had been captain of the campus lacrosse team.

His sympathetic stance toward Turner made international headlines, prompted numerous protests calling for his removal from the bench, and led to an ongoing recall campaign against him. Perskys term is up in 2023.

In June, more than a dozen state lawmakers asked the commission to investigate and discipline Persky. Activists from a group called UltraViolet bought a billboard aimed at the commission that read #PerskyMustGo and organized potential jurors to agree not to serve in Perskys courtroom, among other actions. In September, Persky was reassigned to the courts civil division from its criminal side.

On Monday the independent, 11-member commission announced its unanimous verdict, with two members recusing themselves: Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Erica Yew and public member Richard Simpson.

There is not clear and convincing evidence of bias, abuse of authority, or other basis to conclude that Judge Persky engaged in judicial misconduct warranting discipline, the commission concluded. Neither the judges statements about the impact of prison and the defendants future dangerousness  factors that the judge was required to address on the record  nor any other remarks made by Judge Persky at the sentencing hearing constitute clear and convincing evidence of judicial bias.

The commission offered four reasons for its decision:

The sentence was within the parameters of the law.

The judge considered both the victim and the defendant, as required, when making his decision.

His sentence was consistent with the recommendation in the probation report.

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.

And the sentence did not suggest bias when considered against other cases handled by the same judge.

We strongly disagree with the Commissions conclusion on judicial bias and we believe that Judge Persky has in fact demonstrated a clear pattern of bias in cases of sex crimes and violence against women, Michele Dauber, a Stanford law professor leading the recall effort against Persky, said in a statement.

The commissions report highlights that the recall is the only realistic way to remove Judge Persky from office, Dauber said, noting that voters have the right to decide whether he should continue to serve on the bench for the next six years.

UltraViolet activists said in a statement Monday that they were deeply disappointed by the commissions decision.

A message left in Perskys courtroom was not returned.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov
Just before the Ghost Ship lost power, a makeshift staircase turned into a confused bottleneck. A few people ran up the narrow passageway from the ground floor to flee the flames downstairs, hampering a much larger group trying to crowd-surf down. Not far from the mass, Aaron Marin scanned the second floor of the warehouse.

We all just looked at each other and knew we were trapped, said Marin, 45, one of the last people to escape the Oakland building as it was consumed by flames.

With just Christmas lights illuminating the room, he stumbled through thick smoke, clawed his way behind an inflatable projection screen, and jumped from a window to a patch of mud below.

Although the warehouse never would have passed a fire safety inspection, Ghost Ship operator Derick Ion Almena had recently refurbished a few windows so they could open and planned to install escape ladders, said Gwen Procknow, Marins girlfriend. Almena told Procknow they kept some hoses coiled upstairs and had fire extinguishers around the warehouse.

But no one besides Marin who knew the layout of the building was on the second floor when the deadly fire broke out during an electronic music party Dec. 2  not Almena; his wife, Micah Allison; or other residents. Only Marin, who had moved in two weeks earlier, was familiar enough with the Ghost Ship to try to guide people to safety. But smoke, noise, darkness and panic were murderous opponents.

As fire investigators with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives work to reconstruct the night of the disaster, when 36 people were killed in the worst structure fire in California since 1906, their interviews with Marin are providing insight into the blazes rapid progression and the maze inside the warehouse-turned-art collective.

From his home in Portland, Ore., Marin spoke extensively with The Chronicle by phone, detailing his escape from a second-floor window. His recollections also shed light on how the setup of the party that night may have blocked off pathways through the building.

The San Francisco native said he is haunted by the last hours before the fire. He wishes now that he had socialized more during the party  it would have been a chance to tell these strangers that in case of an emergency, there was a way out.

Marin, who plays bass guitar, said he accepted his old friend Almenas invitation in mid-November to reconnect with the Bay Area music scene and help the collective set up a recording space. Procknow drove him from Portland to the collective on 31st Avenue near International Boulevard and remembered voicing her concerns about the lack of fire safety measures.

There were extension cords and plug-ins everywhere, Procknow said, describing the space as full of stuff.

She asked Allison about the emergency escape plan and what they would do in case of a fire. Procknow found out that a few hoses were coiled upstairs and that Almena had just reconstructed a few windows that were previously closed solidly so they could open. Almenas family planned to use escape ladders in case of a fire, Procknow learned.

As they walked through the warehouse, Marin told his girlfriend he wanted to set up a living space for himself in a back room. It had no windows and was nowhere near an exit.

I was like, No, its a dead end, Procknow said. I was like, Babe, if there was ever a fire and you were here, youd never get out.

Marin ended up staying in a loft area above the second floor, and Procknow returned to Portland. By Dec. 2, Marin said, he and other residents had gotten the place in immaculate condition, compared with the shape it was in two weeks before.

Thomas Patterson/Special to the Chronicle

But Marin said he didnt know about the Dec. 2 concert until that afternoon, and when he found out, he felt an immediate bad vibe. He texted his friends with his unease.

I didnt think the place was safe for people, he said. It wasnt ready for any events or concerts.

Almena, who has been unavailable for interviews, told NBC News shortly after the fire that he and his family checked into a hotel that night so they could get some sleep.

The people setting up the music show put bicycles and piano benches in front of paths leading to living quarters downstairs, Marin said. On the second floor, a giant blow-up projection screen was positioned squarely in front of a kitchen area, and a big crate was placed next to it.

Downstairs was the usual disarray: about four pathways through the furniture and art, five or six dead ends, a camper, and numerous rooms and nooks, Marin said.

Marin said he wandered around long enough to watch a woman paint a band members nails before he retreated from the dance-floor area and into the recording studio. For most of the party, Marin said, he was by himself playing acoustic music.

Sometime after 11 p.m., the smell of burning rubber got him out of the studio and halfway down a staircase in the back of the warehouse that led to living spaces.

On a landing of the staircase he ran into a Ghost Ship resident, Bob Mule, who thought there was a fire downstairs but wanted to come back to collect a few art pieces. They briefly investigated a lightbulb they remembered had been going on and off, thinking it might have something to do with the fire, before they parted ways, with Mule going down the stairs and Marin back up the way he came.

Aaron Marin

On the second floor, Marin encountered a bizarre scene. The DJs turntables were on fire, and a band member was staring straight at the flames. Thinking he could put them out, Marin asked around for water. Someone running by handed him a bottle. But as light smoke wafted into the room from every direction, Marin realized the flames werent coming from the turntables but were crawling up from the first floor.

ATF investigators have said the fire started downstairs at the back of the building. There were no sprinklers or alarms. Smoke overwhelmed nearly everyone upstairs before they had a chance to get out, investigators said.

There was rapid fire progression, said ATF Special Agent Jill Snyder. Initial witness interviews have indicated that the fire was well developed by the time the second-floor occupants realized that a fire was going on on the first floor.

Turning his eyes away from the turntables, Marin looked to the makeshift staircase that party guests had walked up single file earlier to get to the dance floor.

Theres so many people trying to barrel down that one-person stairwell, he said. People were screaming, panicking, kind of trying to get back up. One of them yelled, Not good!

Within seconds, the smoke turned thick and black as the shouts and frantic pushing at the stairwell continued, Marin said.

I just saw all those kids, he said. There was so much chaos and they were all so focused on those stairs. They didnt know what else to do.

As the second floor went dark, Marin looked up to the ceiling shaft, thinking he could get out through the roof if only a ladder were nearby. Then a single thought took over: There was a window in the kitchen on the second floor  people wouldnt have to negotiate the staircase.

He let out a few screams, Kitchen! Kitchen! Window! as he pushed his way behind the stupid giant ice cube of a projection screen. The people closest to him didnt know what he was doing, and the crowd farther away couldnt see or hear him over the din and smoke. Someone brushed against him, and Marin tried grabbing the person, but whoever it was pulled away.

When he got to the kitchen window and flung it open, people below in a storage lot remembered seeing smoke shoot into the air. Marin screamed for a ladder and shouted, People are dying in here!

I was two or three breaths away from hitting that last breath before I got to the window, he said.

With no ladder in sight, he threw one leg over the ledge, then the other. Hanging by his hands, he searched for a foothold and felt nothing but smooth wall. As his hands started burning, he dropped, landing on his knees and arms in the mud. He wasnt injured.

I was looking up, ready to catch anyone, and no one else came, Marin said. No one else ever got through the window.

In the days after the fire, Marin said he couldnt stop coughing up black gunk. He went back to the scene once with ATF investigators to do a walk-through as they pieced together where things were and how the night unfolded.

I couldnt recognize the place, Marin said. You cant recognize something when its gone.

Marin said he still cant shake the replays of those last moments inside the Ghost Ship and the collective terror on peoples faces when they realized they werent going to get out.

I feel like I shouldve just died, he said. When I close my eyes, that feeling ... theres no words to describe everyones last fear. Youre just thinking, This is it.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
After a decade of thumbing its nose at San Franciscos zoning laws, the Academy of Art University has agreed to a $60 million settlement with the city aimed at bringing the schools many illegally converted buildings into compliance with local rules.

The deal caps a highly charged battle with one of the nations largest for-profit art schools, an institution that is also one of the citys biggest landlords  a fight that culminated in May when City Attorney Dennis Herrera sued the academy.

The citys lawsuit said that at least 33 of the academys 40 buildings throughout the city  including its campus headquarters on New Montgomery Street  were out of compliance with zoning codes, signage laws or historic preservation rules. In addition, Herrera said, the school had taken 160 units of affordable residential units off the market and illegally turned them into student housing.

Academy of Art University and its real estate affiliates behaved for more than a decade like they were above the law, Herrera said. Weve ensured those days are over.

Academy of Art President Elisa Stephens said in a statement, We are very pleased to reach this agreement, which allows the academy to make significant contributions to San Francisco while maintaining our academic excellence and providing for our students.

Under the settlement, the academy has agreed to:

Pay the city $20 million in fines and fees over five years  $7 million of which would go into a city fund to buy rent-controlled apartment buildings and maintain them as low-cost housing.

Provide and maintain at least 160 units of low-income housing for senior citizens on two adjacent sites that the academy owns on Nob Hill near Chinatown. Some of the units would be new construction. The Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development estimates the deal will be worth $40 million to the city over the 66-year life of the agreement.

Shut down school operations at three sites the academy owns, at 2295 Taylor St. on Russian Hill, at 2340 Stockton St. near Fishermans Wharf, and at 700 Montgomery St. in the Financial District.

Limit future enrollment to the amount of housing that the academy has on hand.

On a different front, the academy will also work to keep its fleet of buses off of the citys main traffic arteries and provide students and staff with free Muni passes.

In return, the city has agreed to pave the way for the academys illegally converted buildings to be brought into compliance. The changes would mean the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors will need to amend zoning codes at the sites.

That process starts Monday, when the school is expected to file an application for a master development agreement covering its buildings and any expansion plans.

If either the commission or the supervisors balk at changing the codes, the deal will have to be renegotiated.

The settlement follows months of negotiations between the city attorney and the academys legal team at Morrison & Foerster, led by senior counsel James Brosnahan. The Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development, the Planning Department and the Planning Commission were also involved in the talks.

Herreras lawsuit said the academys building conversions unlawfully deprived San Francisco of housing, skirted neighborhood planning rules and disadvantaged competitors in the real estate marketplace.

This was housing that San Francisco desperately needed in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, Herrera said. Im pleased this company has finally agreed to be part of the solution rather than a major contributor to the problem.

Since its founding in 1929, the academy has become the nations largest private, regionally accredited art and design school. It now has 8,700 students, and with 2,000 employees, its also one of the citys largest employers.

In the past decade, the academy has also become one of the citys largest property owners, often buying and converting buildings into dormitories and classrooms without regard to local zoning laws.

Academy President Stephens  the driving force behind the schools expansion  is a fixture on the civic and charity circuit. The school regularly lends its classic car collection to politicians and other VIPs to use in parades.

As the citys affordable housing crisis and traffic troubles in San Francisco grew, however, so did complaints that City Hall was giving the school a pass.

The Planning Department pointed out that it was the one that uncovered what the academy was doing, and argued that the school and Stephens threw up an endless series of challenges to efforts to get it to comply with the rules. It wasnt until Herrera sued that the academy budged.

Dennis put a gun to Elisas head, and she finally caved, said one source with inside knowledge of the deal who wasnt authorized to speak for the record.

This day has been a long time in the making, Herrera said. Our work here sends a clear message: No matter how wealthy or politically connected you may be, the same rules apply to everyone.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
Saturday, Dec. 17, marked the 124th anniversary of the premiere of Nutcracker in St. Petersburg, Russia. The czar and his party, reportedly, loved it; the critics were cool. But audiences have had the last word, and the youthful crowd at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 17, expressed their pleasure with the Oakland Ballets staging with cheers and, alas, chatter.

The weekend marked the sixth holiday season for Artistic Director Graham Lustigs Nutcracker, and the production has become a part of the Bay Area holiday schedule. There are reasons. Like its Oakland Ballet predecessor (by Ronn Guidi), the newcomer is viewer friendly to a degree. The ballet seems about real people dealing with real vexations and pleasures. That affability often compensates for a variable caliber of dancing.

Lustig goes his own way setting the first act in pre-World War 1 Vienna, made concrete with Zack Browns appealing Secession-era designs and costumes. Were at a family skating party, and the guest list includes Mr. and Mrs. Kokoshka, who, unfortunately, brought no paintings along. Heroine Marie stands on the threshold of maturity and gets to dance a bit. Uncle Drosselmeyer is no old geezer, but a genial young Viennese metrosexual (Scott McMahon) who fancies a walk on stilts (his green formal wear is a mistake).

Theres a battle with the mice, but these rodents are too adorable to exterminate, and, in fact, Marie establishes her humanity by saving one from the knife. Lustig makes his own choices, and you succumb to the charms, even if, like the air balloon, youd feel churlish for resisting.

Nevertheless, a few lapses bring you back to reality. The transformation from toy to human nutcracker (behind a curtain) lacks magic, while Lustig never quite synchronizes the growing Christmas tree with its corresponding place in the Tchaikovsky score.

The journey to Confiturembourg (Land of the Sweets) goes smoothly, but the divertissements are blandly plotted and danced competently, and only Vincent Chavezs Spanish dancer brought intensity to the job. One inescapable fact: This second act, much like the frozen forest at the end of Act 1, looks underpopulated. The Oakland Ballet lists only 20 dancers, and they are not enough, especially in the waltz of the flowers, to make the intended effect.

The Oakland Nutcracker stands halfway between a professional performance and a community celebration. Lustig recruited 40 young Bay Area dancers who appear as everything from peppermints to snowballs, and they all seemed disciplined. Among the professionals, Megan Terrys sugarplum fairy (warm and supple) and her cavalier, Jesse Campbell (good partnering), commanded attention in the grand pas de deux. Except for intermittent balance problems, Seyong Kim was a worthy squire to Ramona Kelleys Marie.

Again Saturday, the Mount Edens Women Ensemble supplied the wordless chorus in the snow scene (most companies settle for a recording). Again, Michael Morgan conducted the Oakland East Bay Symphony in the Tchaikovsky. The pacing was measured, the sound luxuriant. Morgan seems to have figured out how dancers breathe, and there was something organic about his splendid performance. He has become indispensable to this annual ritual.

Allan Ulrich is The San Francisco Chronicles dance correspondent.

Oakland Ballet Company: Graham Lustigs Nutcracker. 2pm, Sunday, Jan. 18, Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. $23-$90. 800-745-3000

For a preview, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV3V8zfZJNk
Traveling in Japan recently, Bill LeBlond stopped in to a bar where a man sitting nearby asked if he was American. When LeBlond said yes, the man asked where he was from. San Francisco, said LeBlond.

Homeless, said the man.

Editors have decreed that we at The Chronicle are not supposed to refer to any event as the first annual because it cant be determined that anything is, indeed, annual until it occurs again 12 months later. But that is an underestimation of the determination of Del Seymour, who organized Wednesday, Dec. 14s Swords to Plowshares free holiday lunch for veterans.

Seymour is founder of Code Tenderloin, leader of Tenderloin Walking Tours, veteran, vice chairman of the board of Swords to Plowshares, and former homeless drug addict. If Seymour  who rounded up volunteers, whose daughters baked dessert, whose grandson helped serve, who got most of the fixings for dinner from St. Anthonys and the beverages from Silicon Valley firms  says its going to happen next year, itll happen.

In November, Seymour was at the White House, standing in for Mayor Ed Lee when the San Francisco mayor was unable to attend a summit on homelessness among veterans. Filet mignon was served. President Obama was on his way to Greece, but Seymour did manage to meet the first lady, and somehow take a selfie video of their encounter.

That was a month to the day before this lunch on Taylor Street. Sitting for a moment at a long table decorated with red runners, tea lights and pine boughs, Seymour greets the others at table, about 200 of whom are expected. He knows a good many of them from his life on the streets, which ended eight years ago. In a back room, backpacks filled with products for living on the street are being handed out.

I look down the table and notice a man to my left, the planes of his face dramatic despite the missing teeth I notice when he laughs at a friends joke. A half hour later, walking past the bus stop at Cyril Magnin Street, I see him outside, laughing again. I nod at him, but he takes no notice.

At last weeks meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco, Gov. Jerry Brown was aggressive, as Joe Garofoli and David Perlman reported, about his intention to fight the president-elects refusal to accept global warming warnings. Among the other nonscientists at the event was European royalty, Prince Albert II of Monaco, whose great-great-grandfather was an oceanographer. He has traveled to the North Pole, said Ned Black, who attended, and is concerned about the effects of climate change at the poles.

In the parking lot for Target in Walnut Creek, Carolyn Newbergh saw a woman carefully backing into a space ... only to have it disappear when a man who drove up in a gray van a few seconds later swooped in and grabbed the space. Both drivers emerged from their cars, and Newbergh, who was standing nearby, challenged the man about backing into the womans space.

The man scoffed, and said, People dont ordinarily back into parking spaces. They sometimes do, argued Newbergh. At which the man smiled and said, Oh, well. Trump won and I dont have to be politically correct anymore. Not politely correct, either.

Noting that many of Donald Trumps Cabinet picks are military men, Dan St. Paul is guessing that his selection for FDA chief will be Col. Sanders.

Near the Civic Center in San Francisco, Erik Wilson saw a newish sedan with a big Trump sticker in an upper corner of the rear window; in the opposite corner, a sticker said, Im proud to be everything that liberals hate. In a corner at the bottom of the window, stickers for Uber and Lyft.

I had to wonder about the kind of reception he must get in this town when he shows up to give someone a ride, said Wilson, who describes the driver as a 30- to 40-ish white male with an angry gaze.

A short and (probably too sweet) Days of Dismal Dysfunction entry from Julian Grant: Just for the holidays, some Starbucks are offering Fruitcake Frappuccino, made with hazelnut syrup, cream, dried fruit and cinnamon, topped with whipped cream, caramel dots and matcha (green tea powder).

Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik

Public Eavesdropping

Wow, shes moving to Colorado. Nobody comes back from Colorado.

Woman at Oakland YMCA, overheard by Vaughn Hovanessian
REXBURG, ID--(Marketwired - December 19, 2016) - Mountain America Credit Union is partnering with Voices of Change, Inc. to bring motivational speaker LT Smooth back to Eastern Idaho for the Idaho Youth Outreach Program. January 3 through January 13, Smooth will be touring schools throughout the region, presenting to junior high and high school students. He brings messages of hope to anyone struggling with challenges like bullying and substance abuse.

"We are so grateful to Mountain America for helping Voices of Change attain our goal of reaching over 50,000 students in 2017," says Donna Benfield, CEO of Voices of Change, Inc. "Motivational speaker LT Smooth has an exceptional ability to give inspiration to at-risk youth through his music and life experiences. LT often says and believes if he can reach just one youth, then it is all worthwhile. Thank you Mountain America for believing in and supporting this priceless effort."

"Mountain America feels that all youth deserve the chance to live their dreams. Some may just not realize how much strength and resilience they have within themselves to fulfill those dreams," says Sharon Cook, chief marketing officer for Mountain America. "We are proud to help continue to inspire hope in the youth of Eastern Idaho."

This is the third Eastern Idaho youth tour for LT Smooth, a Grammy-nominated musician, who has also performed at Rexburg's annual International Summerfest. Smooth, a New Zealand native, overcame his own issues growing up in a life filled with gangs, crime and addiction. He is an accomplished musician who has performed all over the world with well-known artists such as Bono, Sting, Stevie Wonder, John Legend and Alicia Keys.

Voices of Change is a nonprofit organization with the mission of providing motivation and inspiration for at-risk youth and individuals who are coping with addictions, depression and suicidal tendencies. Voices of Change helps create paths for transformation through presentations using music, the arts and cultural and educational opportunities. To learn more, visit www.vc4u.org.

Story continues

About Mountain America Credit Union

Mountain America Credit Union has more than $5.9 billion in assets and serves more than 700,000 members, wherever they are, through online and mobile banking, 86 branches in five states, and provides access to more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs and 5,000 shared-branching locations nationwide. With roots dating back to the 1930s, Mountain America offers a variety of financial products and services for consumers and businesses, including savings accounts, auto loans, checking accounts, mortgage loans, business checking, student loans, SBA loans and retirement options. Visit www.macu.com for more information.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/12/19/11G125568/Images/lt_smooth-c229c85044ed8f42b46fb06d04d6ecf4.jpg


You probably know what kind of experience to expect from Hidden Figures, so the task of this review is more or less to tell you that youre right  and thats mostly good news. It is old-fashioned in a good way, classical and well acted, and the fact that it has no surprises keeps it from being disappointing, even as it keeps it from being great.

It tells the story of three black women who worked at NASA in the early 1960s, back when the Soviets were outpacing us in the race for the moon. It takes place not in Houston but in NASAs Northern Virginia headquarters, which is important, as this was the South before civil rights.

In an early scene, the three women, stuck on the side of the road with car trouble, are approached by a white highway trooper. The dynamic is positively weird  the women have to practically do everything but kiss his ring  and it would be nice to be able to say that, more than 50 years later, that kind of tension were foreign to our modern understanding.

All three of these real-life women made contributions to American space exploration, but Katherine Johnson, played by Taraji P. Henson, is at the center of the film. A math prodigy from childhood, she was one of a team assigned to double-check NASAs mathematical calculations.

Gradually, she began to stand out from the pack and assume greater importance, though at the time no one expected genius in the form of a woman, or a black person, or most especially a black woman, so nothing was easy for her.

Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) was the leader of a computing team, back when the word computers referred to people who did computations. Eventually, she would become an expert in computers as we now know them. And Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) became an aerospace engineer.

Because its based on fact, Hidden Figures is not as immediately satisfying as a fictional version of this story might have been. For one thing, the women remain hidden figures. Though they achieve professional respect and security in their positions, people dont fall over themselves to tell them how right and wonderful they are, and the movie doesnt overestimate their impact. Hidden Figures is quietly, cumulatively, calmly gratifying.

Theodore Melfi (St. Vincent), who directed and co-wrote the film, based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly, does a nice job of organizing and telling a complicated story involving three women and their personal and professional lives. Where the movie lets us down is in the matter of tone. It feels light  at times too light  and so we get a scene of the three women dancing around the house, which is obligatory in all Hollywood movies dealing with female friendship.

More problematic is the recurring scene of Katherine having to run to the bathroom. Apparently, in the division in which Katherine worked, there were no colored bathrooms, and so she had to walk (or run) a half mile every time she needed to relieve herself. But the movie underscores these scenes with music suggesting that this situation is comic or at least farcical, when its neither.

Henson, Spencer and Monae all excel, conveying the intensity and worthiness of these womens ambitions, even as they deal, almost in a matter-of-fact way, with obstacles that are maddening. Through them, we see the shadows of thousands and millions of others in our history whose gifts dried up unused and unrecognized. The waste is painful to contemplate, and so its right for movies to celebrate where they can.

Kevin Costner is nicely cast as Al Harrison, Katherines boss, who is mostly too busy to differentiate the very smart people on his staff from the flat-out geniuses. Costner is a useful actor to have in period films, because he can slip into that midcentury vibe like nobody else. Its more than just short hair and a white shirt; rather, its a whole way of being, an attitude, the life history. In a way, hes the most authentically 1962 thing in the movie.

Speaking of 1962, the late John Glenn missed seeing Hidden Figures by a few days, and thats too bad, especially since they got a 28-year-old actor (Glen Powell) with a full head of hair to play Glenn back when he was a bald 40-year-old. And thats the beauty of film in a sentence. If nature wont give you a full head of hair, Hollywood can at least correct the oversight.

Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicles movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle

Hidden Figures

Drama. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae and Kevin Costner. Directed by Theodore Melfi. (PG. 127 minutes.)

To see a trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK8xHq6dfAo
Up it went, and the Space Race was suddenly neck and neck.

The Chronicles front page from Dec. 19, 1958, covers the launch of a communications satellite now known as SCORE (Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment).

The U.S. Air Force put the worlds biggest satellite into orbit last night  a 4-ton Atlas ICBM loaded with surprises, the story read.

The Soviet Union had launched Sputnik 1 more than a year before, and the U.S. was playing catchup. The Russians followed with Sputnik 2 and Sputnik 3. The Americans needed a win. The SCORE satellite, for all its technological innovations, had the Soviets beat in one important category.

The 4-ton Atlas put into orbit by the Air Force yesterday was the biggest satellite ever put up, the story read. The previous biggest was Russias Sputnik 3.

The tale of the tape: SCORE, 8,700 pounds. Sputnik 3, 2,900 pounds.

Boom.

But weight wasnt the best measure of this man-made moon. It broadcast from space, for the first time, a Christmas message from President Dwight D. Eisenhower on short-wave radio.

This is the president of the United States speaking, the transmission crackled. Through the marvels of scientific advance my voice is coming to you from a satellite circling in outer space. My message is a simple one. Through this unique means I convey to you and to all mankind Americas wish for peace on earth and good will toward men everywhere.

Scandal, circa 1958: Heres one that would lead TMZ today. The love motif in Tuesdays slaying of Wolfgang Ludwig Marx, 26-year-old German student at the University of California, took on fuller Wagnerian overtones yesterday, the story read. Madeleine Baum Hampton, blonde wife of research chemist John W. Hampton, had regular trysts with Marx in his apartment (in the 2300 block of) Ward Street, Berkeley, it was learned. Hampton shot and killed Marx in a physics laboratory on the Berkeley campus only a few hours after Mrs. Hampton had her final rendezvous with the man she described as her only real lover.

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 highlighting one classic Chronicle newspaper page from our archive every day for 366 days. Library director Bill Van Niekerken and producers Kimberly Chua, Alexandra Irving 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)




SACRAMENTO  As the Legislature opened a new two-year session this month, staffers lined up before 9 a.m. to hand freshly written bills to the clerk, who assigns them an all-important number. Whether a bill lives or dies wont be known for many months, but the work to nab the right bill number starts the minute the session opens.

First up in the state Senate: a bill by Sen. Jim Beall, D-San Jose, that would raise gas taxes and car registration fees to pay for a backlog of road repairs. The plan envisions spending $6 billion a year for the next decade fixing roads, bridges and transit systems  repairs that have been delayed for years and are now widely seen as urgent.

After getting its official stamp, the legislation became SB1.

When you put No. 1 on the bill, that means its a high priority, said Beall, who has worked unsuccessfully for the past two years to pass similar legislation. Whether or not that means, in the final analysis, that people vote for it is another question. But it indicates that its a priority.

Politics is full of symbolism, and its no different when it comes to the arcane system of numbering bills. With the start of a new session of the California Legislature, the numbering begins anew. And if past years are any indication, laws proposed in the coming months will be slapped with clever, silly and superstitious numbers.

In past years, a bill dealing with optometry was AB2020. Legislation about emergency phone lines was AB911. A proposal to change gambling licenses got lucky number 777. And an Assembly bill declaring denim the official state fabric carried the number of a famous pair of jeans: 501.

Some numbers are very important to members, said Bernadette McNulty, the Senate official who gives bills their numbers. I try to accommodate that as a much as I can.

For the most part, assigning bill numbers is haphazard. Legislative staffers line up at McNultys desk inside the Senate chambers and she stamps bills in the order received.

Whos 56? Fifty-six next, she called out on a recent afternoon as a senators staffer stepped up to hand her a new bill.

But timing is critical because McNulty and her counterpart in the Assembly wont skip numbers. Take 420  the number that became a celebratory code among cannabis aficionados. Now its a number that senators request for bills dealing with marijuana.

If Im in the process and Im at 410, Ill call them and say, Bring the (folder) down, McNulty said.

With the Legislature processing thousands of bills each session, symbolic numbers help lawmakers market their bills, providing fodder for social media slogans or nerdy humor. When Sen. Mike McGuire presented his SB747 last year  a bill dealing with airport funding  the Healdsburg Democrat opened his speech joking that there are four exits, two in the front of the room and two in the back.

Former Democratic Assemblyman Luis Alejo of Watsonville went after bill number 10 for his 2013 legislation to raise the states minimum wage to $10 an hour. He thought it would be a way to make it stand out, said spokesman Andrew Bird.

The same year, former Assemblyman Mike Gatto carried a bill to alleviate freeway congestion. So naturally we sought AB405, a freeway number which Southern Californians instantly associate with commuting delays, the Los Angeles Democrat said by email.

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.

Other legislators take a cultural approach to seeking bill numbers. Democratic state Sen. Richard Pan of Sacramento, who is Chinese American, said he often tries to get his legislation tagged with anything that includes the number 8, a symbol for good luck in many Asian cultures. He also tries to avoid bills with the number 4, which represents bad luck.

A few years ago, while Pan carried AB888 (about procedures for giving students medicine at school). Other Chinese American legislators carried SB888 (about picketing at funerals) and SB88 (about translating candidate names on ballots).

Despite the auspicious numbers, all three bills died or were vetoed. Still, Pan said its fun to play the numbers game.

For the new session, hes already nabbed Senate Bills 18 and 28.

CALmatters.org is a nonprofit news venture devoted to covering California policy and politics. For more stories by Laurel Rosenhall, go to www.calmatters.org/newsanalysis.
Its hard to imagine that, in theater right now, a Trump joke could feel like anything more than a lazy bid for topicality. But in The Madwoman in the Volvo, which opened Friday, Dec. 16, at Berkeley Rep, writer and performer Sandra Tsing Loh more than pulls it off.

Near the beginning of the show, she scurries into the audience to give front row occupants consolation hugs, then invites everyone to indulge, in unison, in a therapeutic scream to release pent-up election-related fury.

Its emblematic of the tell-all, which Loh adapted from her book of the same name about a hormone- and Burning Man-fueled midlife crisis, that what easily could have been a cheesy gambit instead is funny and, more important, warm and earnest. If not every joke succeeds  multiple references to the pervasiveness of kale are tired, and at times Lohs delivery is so eager and energetic that her punch lines dont have time to land  on the whole the show triumphs through sheer honesty and intimacy.

Youre not likely to hear an anecdote get closer to the heart of what it means to be a bumbling human in the world than Lohs story about trying to pee during a Burning Man sandstorm, as she at once fumbles positioning herself at a favorable angle with regard to the wind, disguises what shes doing to other wanderers who materialize in the storm, reckons with the disappointments of an aging body and also parses, as if having an out-of-body experience, mysterious urges to have an affair with her best friend.

As fluent as Loh is in the idiom of humorous, unsparing confession, voicing with glee the myriad bodily, romantic and social humiliations we all suffer but probably wouldnt share with anyone, she also excels in other registers. A side note about her brother, meant to illustrate why she gives so much weight to his thoughts, has the spare storytelling and the weighty impact of a Greek tragedy. An account of an especially bad depressive episode becomes even deadlier through Lohs flat delivery, as if shes reporting a news story. (Loh has also been a commentator for NPR.)

The Madwoman in the Volvo very well could have been a solo show; Loh has performed many before, and the narrator voice she employs would seem to lend itself to that format. But its a true treat for audiences that she and director Lisa Peterson tweaked the format, creating a kind of solo show with two helpers. Playing a variety of small parts, Caroline Aaron and Shannon Holt make delectable contributions. Theyre especially memorable as a pair of drunks at a divorcees-only party. Holt sucks on her cocktail as might a vampire; Aaron makes her characters monologue into a word salad, as if with each newly heaved syllable, all shes really saying is, Arent words funny?

Madwoman is billed as a play about menopause, and as much credit as a marveling Loh gives to all the enlightened men in the audience  Youre going to have sex tonight! she jokes  the show uses that biological phenomenon only as a lens into a much larger idea: how real life doesnt conform to narrative myth making.

Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak

The Madwoman in the Volvo: By Sandra Tsing Loh. Directed by Lisa Peterson. Through Jan. 17. 90 minutes. $60-$75. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

To see a video: https://vimeo.com/186335313
With my mother visiting us from Bombay for the first time this holiday season, Ive been thinking long and hard about our Christmas dinner. Well, its actually going to be a Christmas lunch, since thats how her family celebrated.

A true testament to our intense Christmas traditions is our practice of soaking raisins and dry fruit in dark rum, months before they are added to batter for a spiced fruit cake. Yup, Ill admit it: I love a good boozy fruit cake.

But this year, I botched things up. Life got in the way, and even with the best of intentions, I failed to plan well. The raisins never got their long soak in the rum. Without that critical step, theres no way I can make a fruit cake to impress my mom. But one thing I did plan well were the cookies, the same ones that Ive eaten every Christmas.

Nankhatais are an eggless version of cookies, the naan part originating from the Persian word for bread and khatai from the Afghani word for biscuit. They were the first cookies that I learned to bake at home, and the ones that I made with the women from the maternal side of my family throughout December. Instead of Play-Doh, I was entertained by the mixture of flour, ghee, sugar and vanilla.

But for some reason, chocolate was never a big deal with our holiday desserts, except perhaps for a chocolate fudge that would sometimes show up. And we never added rich, dark cocoa powder into shortbread-like nankhatai dough. (Which, looking back, is also odd since my grandmother and I shared a common love for chocolate, liquors and chocolate-encased liquors.)

I wasnt originally confident that the combination of ghee and cocoa would work, but when I tested my theory a few years ago, the first batch of chocolate nankhatai  with a dash of coffee to amplify the cocoa flavor  was marvelous. Since then, the cocoa cookies make an appearance at our Christmas dessert table, in some form, year after year.

A few weeks ago, late at night, I prepped the dough with a dash of cinnamon and added crushed peppermint sticks on top. The aroma was strong enough to wake up my mom, who grabbed a hot cookie straight off the cooling rack. With a big smile on her face and a nod to me, I knew then that I might have failed my fruit cake mission, but I surely aced the cookie test.

Nik Sharma lives in Oakland. Follow him on Twitter at @abrowntable Email food@sfchronicle.com

Cocoa Cinnamon Peppermint Nankhatais

Makes 2 dozen cookies

4 cups (568 grams) all-purpose flour

 cup (50 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

 teaspoon ground cinnamon

 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon dark roast instant coffee powder (optional)

1 cups (350 grams) packed dark brown sugar

1 cups melted ghee, at room temperature

 cup (124 grams) crushed peppermint sticks

Instructions:

Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl, twice. Add coffee powder, if using.

Sift dry ingredients for Cocoa Cinnamon Peppermint Nankhatais. Roll the dough into balls and flatten before placing on the cookie sheet. Flatten the balls of dough and place on a baking sheet before sprinkling with crushed candy canes.

Place the brown sugar in a plastic Ziploc bag, remove any excess air and seal the bag. Crush the sugar crystals to a fine powder using a rolling pin. (Alternatively, you can use a blender if your brown sugar is not too sticky.) Open the bag and transfer the sugar to a medium-size mixing bowl and mix it with the melted ghee.

Use a mortar and pestle to grind the candy canes. Sprinkle each cookie with crushed candy cane.

Make a well in the center of the whisked dry ingredients. Pour the ghee-sugar mixture into the center of the well and, using a large wooden spoon, stir the ingredients to combine and then use your hands to form a dough. Wrap the dough with cling film and allow to rest for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Nik Sharma

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Once the dough has rested, unwrap and divide the dough into 24 equal parts and shape them into small balls. Use your hands to flatten each ball into 2-inch discs that are about -inch thick. Place the cookies on the baking sheets. Sprinkle a generous teaspoon of the crushed peppermint stick/candy canes on top of each cookie in the center; using your fingers, gently press the bits into the dough. Place the cookie sheets in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking.

Nik Sharma

When ready to bake, place two oven racks at midlevel in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake both sheets of cookies for about 15 to 20 minutes in the oven, rotating the sheets halfway through. The cookies will be done when they are slightly darker on the edges. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 to 6 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature. Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
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Before me, a wobbly wooden footbridge stretched across the valley. On the other side was a trail that wound through the forest to a remote mass of ice called El Ventisquero Colgante. The Hanging Glacier.

Far below me, a milky-jade-colored river rushed over the rocks, meltwater from the snow-topped Andes racing through rapids, eventually to the Pacific. Immediately in front of me, a sign.

Maximum capacity, four persons.

The toll for seeing the ancient blue ice, apparently, is a little sweat.

Our group was exploring Queulat National Park, on the western slopes of the Andes in the Aysen (or Aisen) region of Chile.

While Patagonia, the vast region that makes up most of South Americas tail and is shared by Chile and Argentina, has become increasingly traveled and celebrated, this area is one of its lesser-known corners. Queulat National Park opened in 1983  after the Carretera Austral highway finally reached here that year  so the parks 600 square miles of mountains, forests, rivers and glaciers are still pristine.

The journey started with a flight to Balmaceda airport, about 2 hours south of Santiago and about three-quarters of the way down Chiles long stretch of 2,700 miles, and then it was a five-hour drive north on the Carretera Austral.

The journey on the Carretera Austral offered a dramatic introduction. It was exactly how I imagined Patagonia, a wide-open landscape with cattle grazing on grasslands under a perfect blue sky, with a backdrop of the snow-covered Andes.

Every so often wed pass a small wooden cabin with a spiral of smoke coming from a chimney, but these faded away as we drove north. The last hour of the drive, we were bumping along unpaved roads through the national park.

Rodrigo Hernandez, the groups guide, explained how early explorers once thought that there were monsters  Patagons  here at the bottom of the world, hence the name Patagonia. It was getting dark, so I was hoping we wouldnt come across any.

It was in darkness that we set off in a tiny boat across the fjord to Puyuhuapi Lodge, our base for a few days of exploring the park and the region. There was a full ceiling of stars across the clear night sky as we crossed the calm waters and docked at the small jetty. The lodge, which can only be reached by boat, is popular for its volcanic hot springs  which we hoped would ease our post-hiking aches during the coming days.

In the morning, I opened the curtains to see the completely still fjord with a light mist rising from it, and the snow-topped Andes silhouetted by the orange glow of the rising sun, perfectly mirrored in the water. Behind the lodge was dense forest and enormous nalca plants (Chilean giant rhubarb); the only sound was of running water in the distance  the hot volcanic waters making their way down the hill to the springs. It was easy to understand why they say Puyuhuapi Fjord is south of silence.

Rodrigo led us on the Chucao walking trail through the forest, listening for the distinctive call of the chucao bird and pointing out flora such as the canelo tree, which can live for 600 years and was important to the indigenous Araucano and Mapuche people.

Pablo Ocqueteau/Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa

When a Mapuche dies, they can live again in the tree, especially in the silver part of the leaf, said Rodrigo, as I quietly examined a few silver leaves for any signs of life. Perhaps I needed something to help. This tree is called sauco del diablo  the Araucanos used to eat the seed. It was hallucinogenic and was used in rituals, especially by the machi (the elder), said Rodrigo, hurrying us along before we decided to put it to the test.

Back across the fjord, we drove north for 20 minutes to the tiny village of Puyuhuapi to visit historian and author Luisa Ludwig, who lives in a large yellow wooden house that is also a guesthouse, Casa Ludwig. Luisas German father, Karl, was one of the three original founders of the town in 1935, when the Germans came here looking for a place to settle to escape the economic woes in Europe.

At the start of the 20th century, the Patagonia area was so sparsely populated, the government offered free land to lure people to live here. Its still a bit sparse  Aysen is Chiles least-populated region, with a density less than one person for every square kilometer.

On the shores of the Seno Ventisquero fjord, Puyuhuapi now has a population of about 500. Although she misses the buzz and culture of a city, Ludwig says she loves living here.

I dont have restaurants, bars or theater. I love that culture and I miss that, but I have other things here  peace, tranquillity and security, she says. Theres only one road north and one road south.

Although her home overlooks the fjord, looking out the side window of the house, she points out three volcanic pimples on the hill. Like much of Chile, the area is on an active fault line, and theres a volcano nearby, which could go off at any time. The town was officially recognized by the Chilean state only in 1971, she said, and it hasnt suffered a major catastrophe, yet.

Yvonne Gordon/Special to The Chronicle

The roads in the park wed been driving on were still being paved  similar to portions of Carretera Austral. As more areas of the region become accessible, apparently, there are plans to open more national parks. The parks strength, however, is how quickly we were able to leave paved roads behind.

One day we hiked through the Enchanted Forest in the national park, through unusually twisted branches and tree trunks encased in green moss, ferns and vines, making the scenery seem supernatural.

After a couple of hours of climbing over trunks, passing small clearings and crossing wooden bridges, the trees came to an end and we reached snow on the higher ground. Rodrigo pointed out a large cat footprint in the snow. Near Los Gnomos Lagoon (Lagoon of the Gnomes), a glacier bowl with a huge lagoon of ice at the bottom, we sat on a rock with our picnic lunches and took in the scene, listening to the sound from the immense waterfalls.

On another trek, after crossing the wobbly bridge in Queulat National Park  being careful not to test the maximum capacity  we followed the 2-mile, mostly vertical trail, climbing uphill over branches and following the mud path through the trees. Chucao calls echoed through the forest.

Finally, we reached a view of the Hanging Glacier, a spectacular mass of blue-white ice that, like other hanging glaciers, terminates at the top of a sheer cliff. Waterfalls pour from each side to the valley and lake below.

Suddenly one of the waterfall streams split into two as the glacier calved a car-size ice block, which plunged into the valley, followed by a thundering rumble as the crash of the impact reached us.

The moment was one our group had pretty much to ourselves. We came across very few other hikers  the entire park only gets around 13,000 a visitors a year.

Back at the lodge, an elderly Chilean guest named Manuel, a farmer and guanaco conservationist, put the comparatively young region  and the road that leads here  into perspective.

This is the New World, he said. I go to the Old World once or twice a year, South Africa, Paris or London, for culture. If you want nature, you go to Chile.

Yvonne Gordon is a freelance writer in Dublin, Ireland. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @yvgordon

If you go

GETTING THERE

From Chiles main international airport, Santiago, there are daily flights to Balmaceda airport (about 2 hours). From there, Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa is 175 miles, a five-hour drive, then the boat crossing to the lodge.

WHERE TO STAY

Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa: Bahia Dorita s/n, Puyuhuapi; +56 67 2450305; www.puyuhuapilodge.com. A night at Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa costs $130 to $160 per person (sharing) and includes breakfast, hot springs, boat shuttle and parking.

What to do

Guided hikes to the Enchanted Forest or Hanging Glacier cost $58; a guided hike on the Chucao trail walk is $15; and kayak rental from the lodge is $9 per hour.

MORE INFORMATION

Chile Travel: www.chile.travel/en

Aysen-Patagonia: www.recorreaysen.cl
WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of senators on Sunday urged Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. and majority leader, to create a new, select committee on cyberattacks to investigate possible Russian interference in the U.S. election.

Recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American, the senators wrote in a letter released on Sunday. Cybersecurity is the ultimate cross-jurisdictional challenge, and we must take a comprehensive approach to meet this challenge effectively.

They recommended that the select committee undertake a comprehensive investigation of Russian interference and develop comprehensive recommendations and, as necessary, new legislation to modernize our nations laws, governmental organization, and related practices to meet this challenge.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. and chairman of the armed services committee, signed the letter, along with fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina; Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and minority leader; and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who also serves on McCains committee. They had previously warned that any congressional investigation into the hacks cannot become a partisan issue.

Alex Brandon/STF

Their call is at odds with McConnell, who has said that the Senate Intelligence Committee is more than capable of conducting a complete review of the interference without the creation of a select committee. As majority leader, McConnell has the power to decide whether to form a new committee.

The view is also starkly at odds with President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly rejected the conclusions of U.S. intelligence reports, saying they are politically motivated.

Robert Gates, who served as secretary of defense under President Obama and President George W. Bush, said on Sunday that Russian cyberattacks were aimed at discrediting the U.S. electoral process and certainly at weakening Hillary Clinton.

Whether it or not it was intended to help one candidate or another, I dont know, said Gates, who also served as CIA director under Bush. But I think it clearly was aimed at discrediting our elections, and I think it was aimed certainly at weakening Clinton.

Speaking on NBCs Meet the Press, he stopped short of saying the meddling was intended to help Trump, and said the best course of action to respond to the cyberattacks was unclear.

Asked why Trump appeared not to be taking the allegations against Russia seriously, Gates speculated that the president-elect felt the way this information came out through newspaper stories and so on was somehow intended to delegitimize his victory in the election and that hes reacting to that rather than the facts on the ground, as it were.
WASHINGTON  Californias Sen.-elect, Kamala Harris, won committee assignments Monday that place the Democrat on the front lines of immigration and climate change policy, two areas that likely will put the state into the sharpest conflict with the Trump administration.

Harris is also poised to play a role in one of the only areas that so far shows potential for bipartisan cooperation: infrastructure policy, which deals with roads, bridges, dams, airports and other such projects.

She did not, however, win a seat on the Judiciary Committee, the panel for which she is perhaps best suited as Californias soon-to-be former attorney general and a former San Francisco district attorney. Senate party leaders, who divvy up the committee assignments, avoid naming two members from the same state to any panel. Californias senior senator, Dianne Feinstein, has served on the Judiciary Committee for 24 years and will assume the top Democratic spot on the panel next year.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., was the leading Democrat on the committee for years but chose to take the ranking post on the Appropriations Committee. That opened up the leadership role for Feinstein, who will lead Democrats in coming battles over President-elect Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominations.

Senate leadership assigned Harris to four Senate committees in all. They are:

Homeland Security and Government Affairs: The panel shares jurisdiction over some immigration issues with the Judiciary Committee, which has primary oversight over immigration law. Homeland Security oversees border security and other immigration issues. Harris has said she intends to make defending immigrants and refugees a priority in the Senate.

Environment and Public Works: Harris will fill the seat of the Californian she replaced, retiring Democrat Barbara Boxer, the committees former chair and ranking member. This committee oversees climate change and other environmental policies that the Trump administration and Republican majorities in the Senate and House want to roll back. California will be waging a particularly intense defense of its own climate policies, the most aggressive in the nation. As Californias attorney general, Harris joined other states in defending President Obamas Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, a policy Republicans say they hope to terminate.

This committee also oversees infrastructure policy, which appears to be one area holding potential for bipartisan cooperation. Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton both promised during the just-concluded campaign to modernize the nations infrastructure. After Trump won, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, and incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., both singled out infrastructure as an area of potential agreement with the new administration.

Intelligence Committee: This assignment could put Harris in the middle of the intensifying dispute over allegations of Russian-sponsored hacking in the presidential election. Senators in both parties are calling for a special panel to deal with the issue, but GOP leaders are resisting, saying they want to retain primary jurisdiction over the matter in the Senate and House Intelligence panels.

Budget Committee: Republican vows to repeal the Affordable Care Act will give the Budget Committee more prominence this year. California, with 3.8 million people enrolled under the program known as Obamacare, stands to be among the biggest losers if the law is repealed. It could potentially cost the state billions of dollars in federal subsidies to help individuals buy insurance on the states insurance exchange and for the states expansion of Medi-Cal.

Harris will have no seniority as a Senate freshman, but committee assignments shape careers as members gain years in office. Harris described her committee assignments in a written statement as key battlegrounds in the fight for the future of our country, adding that she will aggressively fight for our families and the ideals of our nation.

Harris will be sworn in Jan. 3.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead
KARAK, Jordan Gunmen assaulted Jordanian police in a series of attacks Sunday, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing seven officers, two local civilians and a woman visiting from Canada, officials said. Several armed men were reported barricaded inside the castle after nightfall, hemmed in by special forces soldiers.

At least 34 people, including two foreign nationals, were wounded in the days violence, which was one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory.

Security officials announced late Sunday, several hours after reports of the first shooting, that the operation had ended and that four gunmen were killed. They said troops continued to search the area.

The officials said large amounts of weapons had been seized. They made no reference to local media reports that at one point, the attackers had held hostages.

The shootings were the latest in a series of attacks that have challenged this pro-Western kingdoms claim to be an oasis of calm in a region threatened by Islamic extremists.

The killing of the Canadian tourist could further hurt Jordans embattled tourism sector, which has declined sharply since the Islamic State group seized large parts of neighboring Syria and Iraq two years ago.

Another Canadian was injured in the shooting, Canadas Global Affairs spokesman John Babcock said.

The Canadian Embassy in Amman issued an alert warning urging Canadians to avoid travel to Karak, a town in central Jordan about 87 miles south of the capital.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in and near Karak.

The chain of events began when a police patrol received reports of a house fire in the town of Qatraneh in the Karak district, said a statement by Jordans Public Security Directorate. Officers responding to the call came under fire from inside the house, the statement said. Two police officers were wounded, and the assailants fled in a car, it said.

In another attack, gunmen fired on a security patrol in Karak, causing no injuries, the statement said.

Armed men also opened fire on a police station at Karak Castle, a Crusader fort, wounding members of security forces. The statement said five or six gunmen were believed to be holed up inside the castle.

Jordan faces homegrown extremism, with hundreds of Jordanians fighting alongside other Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria and several thousand more supporting the extremist group in the kingdom. Jordan is a key U.S. ally, and a member of a U.S.-led military coalition fighting Islamic State.
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LOS ANGELES  Several shadowy craters on the dwarf planet Ceres contain ice, scientists have reported.

Deposits of ice have previously been spied in craters on Mercury and our moon, also in regions that are permanently in the dark.

The discovery comes from pictures taken by NASAs Dawn spacecraft, which has been in orbit for over a year around Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Scientists identified more than 600 craters in the northern polar region that never receive sunlight. Of these, bright patches thought to be ice were found in just 10 places.

Such a small number is unusual and needs further study, said Thomas Platz of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany who published the discovery in Nature Astronomy.

Ice appears to be widespread, however, just below the surface, according to a separate study in the journal Science. Readings by an instrument on Dawn that can peer below the surface detected abundant ice especially near the poles.

Its the long-awaited confirmation of widespread underground ice that scientists have been waiting for, said Thomas Prettyman, a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in New Mexico.

Both studies were presented last week at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.

Powered by ion propulsion, Dawn is the first spacecraft to orbit two celestial bodies to better understand how the solar system evolved.

It previously visited the asteroid Vesta, beaming back tens of thousands of pictures of the dry and rugged world.

Dawn has been studying Ceres from various altitudes, getting as close as 235 miles, the distance of the International Space Station above Earth. It previously spotted an inactive volcano on the surface of Ceres.

Dawn wrapped up its prime mission over the summer and is on bonus time.
Brazil's state-run energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. or Petrobras PBR recently announced that it has inked definitive terms for a $5 billion, 10-year financing agreement with China Development Bank Corp. Also, the company declared that it has entered into an oil supply accord with Chinese companies. We believe that through these moves the company is seeking stable revenues for the futurefollowing the corruption scandal and its struggle with huge debt load.

Under Petrobras 10-year financing deal with China Development Bank Corp., the company will be selling a total volume of 100,000 bpd to China National United Oil Corporation, China Zhenhua Oil Co. Ltd, and Chemchina Petrochemical Co. Ltd. over a period of 10 years.

Petrobras, with net debt of around $103.56 billion, is the most indebted energy company in the world. The company is undergoing a deep financial crisis due to low oil prices and the loss of goodwill owing to the discovery of massive corruption within its ranks.

Price Movement

Year to date, the Zacks categorized U.S. Oil and Gas Emerging Markets Integrated industry has registered an impressive growth of 61.91%. However, shares of Petrobras have outperformed the industry by registering growth of 143.02%.

PETROBRAS-ADR C Price

PETROBRAS-ADR C Price | PETROBRAS-ADR C Quote

Petrobras engages in the exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Additionally, the company sells crude oil and oil products produced at natural gas processing plants in domestic and foreign markets. It is also involved in the refining, logistics, transport, and trading of crude oil and oil products. Moreover, the firm exports ethanol and invests in petrochemical companies.

Petrobras currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which implies that the stock will perform in line with the broader U.S. equity market over the next one to three months.

Some better-ranked players from the broader energy sector include Braskem S.A. BAK, Ocean Rig UDW LLC ORIG and McDermott International Inc. MDR. Braskem and McDermott sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), whereas Ocean Rig carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Story continues

In the last four quarters, Braskem posted an average positive earnings surprise of 105.5%.

Ocean Rig, on the other hand, delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 66.39% in the last four quarters.

In the last four quarters, McDermott posted an average positive earnings surprise of 250.00%.

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A state commission cleared Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky of misconduct Monday in his sentencing of a former Stanford student-athlete who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman outside a college party in 2015.

The Commission on Judicial Performance received thousands of complaints and petitions  including one with more than 1 million signatures  claiming that Persky was biased on June 2 when he sentenced Brock Allen Turner, then 20, to six months in county jail, three years probation and lifetime registration as a sex offender. The district attorneys office had asked for six years in state prison, while the defense had requested four months in county jail with up to five years probation.

Turner was convicted in March of three counts of felony sexual assault and released from jail in September after serving half his sentence.

During the sentencing hearing, Turners victim, using the pseudonym Emily Doe, read a letter in which she described in frank terms the emotional and physical impact the assault had on her and why Turners defense of his crime  he blamed it on drinking  was wrong.

While acknowledging that Does life had been devastated, Persky said that a long prison sentence would have a severe impact on Turner, who had no previous criminal record. He declared that when released, Turner would not be a danger to anyone. Further fueling a perception of bias was that the judge had graduated from Stanford and had been captain of the campus lacrosse team.

His sympathetic stance toward Turner made international headlines, prompted numerous protests calling for his removal from the bench, and led to an ongoing recall campaign against him. Perskys term is up in 2023.

In June, more than a dozen state lawmakers asked the commission to investigate and discipline Persky. Activists from a group called UltraViolet bought a billboard aimed at the commission that read #PerskyMustGo and organized potential jurors to agree not to serve in Perskys courtroom, among other actions. In September, Persky was reassigned to the courts civil division from its criminal side.

On Monday the independent, 11-member commission announced its unanimous verdict, with two members recusing themselves: Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Erica Yew and public member Richard Simpson.

There is not clear and convincing evidence of bias, abuse of authority, or other basis to conclude that Judge Persky engaged in judicial misconduct warranting discipline, the commission concluded. Neither the judges statements about the impact of prison and the defendants future dangerousness  factors that the judge was required to address on the record  nor any other remarks made by Judge Persky at the sentencing hearing constitute clear and convincing evidence of judicial bias.

The commission offered four reasons for its decision:

The sentence was within the parameters of the law.

The judge considered both the victim and the defendant, as required, when making his decision.

His sentence was consistent with the recommendation in the probation report.

And the sentence did not suggest bias when considered against other cases handled by the same judge.

We strongly disagree with the Commissions conclusion on judicial bias and we believe that Judge Persky has in fact demonstrated a clear pattern of bias in cases of sex crimes and violence against women, Michele Dauber, a Stanford law professor leading the recall effort against Persky, said in a statement.

The commissions report highlights that the recall is the only realistic way to remove Judge Persky from office, Dauber said, noting that voters have the right to decide whether he should continue to serve on the bench for the next six years.

UltraViolet activists said in a statement Monday that they were deeply disappointed by the commissions decision.

A message left in Perskys courtroom was not returned.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov
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Gov. Jerry Browns approval of wide-ranging gun control legislation in July has led to a run on firearms in California, with some stores reporting sales have doubled since then.

Starting Jan. 1, the general public in California can no longer buy semiautomatic rifles equipped with bullet-buttons that allow for the quick removal and replacement of ammunition magazines.

Guns purchased before Jan. 1 can be kept as long as the owners register them with the state as assault weapons.

As a result, sales of the long guns have at least doubled at many California gun stores, owners report.

When Gov. Brown signed that bill, the first 30 days in July were just insane, said Joshua Deaser, the owner of Just Guns, a store in Sacramento. It died down for a while, but now we are back with everyone trying to get what they can before the end of the year.

Terry McGuire, owner of the Get Loaded gun store in Grand Terrace (San Bernardino County), said people are clamoring to buy semiautomatic rifles this month, because the state background check process takes about 10 days.

We have people lined up out the door and around the block, McGuire said.

State officials confirm there has been a surge in gun sales.

The number of semiautomatic rifles registered this year with the state has more than doubled over past year, according to the state Department of Justice.

In the less than six months since the July 1 signing of the rifle ban, 257,895 semiautomatic rifles have been purchased, eclipsing the 153,931 rifle purchases reported to the state in all of 2015, the state agency said.

Purchases of all firearms, including handguns, have jumped 40 percent over last year, to nearly 1 million this year, according to the state agency.

We expected this, said Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California. Any time the government comes up with a ban on guns, the public rushes to buy them to make sure they have at least one.

The state Legislature approved the new gun control measures this year in response to mass shootings around the nation.

The new law was also in response to a terrorist shooting in San Bernardino last year in which weapons, including AR-15 rifles, were used to kill 14 people at a holiday party.

Customers who are buying the guns are as upset as store owners, according to Pete Brown, the retail sales manager at American Gun Works in Glendale (Los Angeles County), where he said sales are way up.

People are angry, Brown said. They are angry with the Legislature because (the law) doesnt address crime. Nothing in the law addresses criminals. Its another way of cutting back on whats available to law-abiding citizens, and thats why they are angry.

Alex Lopez, the owner of Western Firearms in Bell (Los Angeles County), confirmed that gun buyers dont like the direction the new laws are taking the state.

They cant figure out how this is going to affect criminals from getting access to firearms, Lopez said.
DailyFX.com -

Quieter Week for Euro in Run-Up to Holidays; Watch Yield Spreads

Fundamental Forecast for EUR/USD: Neutral

- EUR/USD weakness sets in thanks to steeper Fed rate hike expectations, which should continue to drive rate differentials in the near-term.

- Quiet economic calendar on both sides of the Atlantic keeps focus on how market is pricing event risk for 2017.

- See the DailyFX Economic Calendar and see what live coverage for key event risk impacting FX markets is scheduled for the coming days on the DailyFX Webinar Calendar.

In what will be an admittedly quiet week on the economic calendar, the Euro finds itself in a precarious position heading into the final weeks of 2016. There was but one somewhat significant economic data release on the calendar today, but the German ZEW survey, despite its increasingly positive sentiment, isnt the type of information that could help the Euro stage a prolonged rally.

With lurking political risks becoming more apparent across Europe, financial risks are starting to rise in periphery countries. In Italy, the countrys oldest bank, Monti dei Paschi, just launched a 5 billion cash call  a liquidity injection from shareholders  in an effort to avoid needing a bailout from the newly-minted Paolo Gentiloni government. Elsewhere, with Brexit negotiations highlighting the discrepancy in opinion between establishment Eurocrats and populists in the UK, its not a far stretch to imagine that certain election results in France, the Netherlands, or Germany over the next year could drive a stake into the heart of the Euro project.

On the central bank front, with the Federal Reserve signaling the potential for three rate hikes next year while the European Central Bank kicks its easing program into the next gear, market forces have started to push EUR/USD lower. On the Feds side, the decision last week to signal three rates in 2017  as opposed to the market-priced two ahead of the policy statement  has sent US Treasury yields higher, and in turn, firmed up the US Dollar.

Story continues

The ECBs decision in early-December to alter how its QE program is undertaken can erode the markets desire to hold Euros over the medium-term. Previously, yield curves in Europe were flattening as investors front-ran ECB bond-buying: with the ECB saying it wouldnt buy debt with yields to maturity below the deposit threshold of -0.400%, there was a scarcity effect along the yield curve. This is no longer the case now that the ECB will buy bonds at any YTM, which reduces the need to go further down the curve. Concurrently, with the decision to buy 1-year debt, the ECB has signaled that it is basically altering policy to be able to keep the front-end of European yield curves pinned to the floor.

On the surface, both US Treasury and German Bund yield curves are steepening  but theyre doing so for very different reasons. With the UST yield curve, its a result of both short- and long-end yields running higher, but with longer-dated bonds showing the sharper increase in yield  a bear steepener. With the German Bund yield curve, short-end yields are falling faster than long-end yields are rising  akin to a bull steepener.

Chart 1: EUR/USD versus German-US 2-year Yield Spread (June 20 to December 19, 2016)

Quieter Week for Euro in Run-Up to Holidays; Watch Yield Spreads

In conjunction, these twists and shifts in the US Treasury and German Bund yield curves have pushed out the German-US yield spread. This will be the most important factor to watch for EUR/USD going forward, particularly as the relationship between yields and EUR/USD appears to be such a significant driver. In the first week of November, when EUR/USD traded near 1.1140, the German-US 2-year yield (Ger-US 2YY spread) spread was roughly -145-bps. Today, with EUR/USD trading near 1.0420, the Ger-US 2YY spread is -203-bps. The 20-day correlation between EUR/USD and the Ger-US 2YY spread is currently +0.833, confirming the significance of relationship at present time. CV

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SIERRA BLANCA, TX--(Marketwired - December 19, 2016) - Texas Mineral Resources Corp. (TMRC)

U.S. Department of Energy research data indicates potentially significant amounts of scandium and rare earth byproducts in coal properties

Preliminary internal economic analysis of a coal-associated rare earth project suggests potential significant profitability coupled with potentially low capital requirements

TMRC led a team which recently submitted a proposal for a $23.75 million Department of Energy funding opportunity utilizing coal material from Jeddo properties

Texas Mineral Resources Corp. (TMRC), an exploration company targeting the heavy rare earths and a variety of other high-value elements and industrial minerals, is pleased to announce that it has signed an extension to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) executed in July 2016 with Pagnotti Enterprises, parent of Jeddo Coal Company. Jeddo Coal Company and its affiliates have been in the anthracite mining business for over 80 years and Jeddo remains a major producer of anthracite coal with active mining and preparation operations at the Jeddo Basin near Hazelton, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the MOU and this extension, is to evaluate the potential to recover and produce scandium and other rare earth byproducts from sedimentary rocks associated with the coal deposits.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) has been conducting studies of technology metals associated with Appalachian coal deposits. This study has included extensive sampling of various coal properties. In 2015 the DOE researchers collected 135 samples from Jeddo Coal Co. properties, principally from drill core. The average technology metals content of these samples was 407 ppm total rare earth and 102 ppm scandium. Other work being carried out at Penn State University indicates that these metals can be effectively recovered by leaching the whole rock with ammonium sulfate. Assuming the applicability of these leaching techniques, and the very favorable prices for scandium, TMRC executed an MOU with Pagnotti Enterprises Inc. to jointly develop these technology metals associated with the coal beds. In September, 2016 the Office of Fossil Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy issued a $23.75 million Financial Assistance Funding Opportunity Announcement titled: Production of Salable Rare Earth Elements from Domestic U.S. Coal and Coal By-Products. TMRC, its processing partners Inventure Renewables/K Technologies and Penn State University have jointly submitted an application for this grant.

Preliminary internal analysis done by TMRC, assuming a processing rate at a modest 250 tons per day of sand and siltstones associated with the coal containing an estimated 100 ppm (parts per million) scandium content, would result in an operation with an estimated capex of approximately $24 million, inclusive of a 25% contingency. Potential estimated production of scandium oxide would be approximately 13,000 kg annually. At a 250 tonnes per day production rate and using a current scandium market price of $2,000/kg such an operation would potentially result in an annual pre-tax cash flow of approximately $17 million, after royalty payments to the coal company. This analysis assumes that only the scandium recovered would be sold, attributing no value to other elements and minerals that could be recovered. "The use of scandium in making high strength aluminum alloy is well understood and documented. The only limits to its wide acceptance in the aircraft industry and for its use in military vehicles is its limited supply," said TMRC CEO Dan Gorski.

"A significant portion of the feasibility work we will undertake to explore the potential of the coal deposits will be equally applicable to feasibility work required at our Round Top deposit in southwestern Texas," Gorski added. "We will do all we can to leverage these synergies as we move forward."

Anthony Marchese, Chairman, further commented: "We believe joining forces with a well- established Pennsylvania coal company such as Jeddo in the recovery of scandium and other valuable rare earth minerals is a perfect complement to our Round Top heavy rare earth project in Texas. The potential benefits of such a project will be felt in the surrounding coal community in Pennsylvania as well as by TMRC shareholders. Along with the Department of Energy, we strongly believe there is enormous potential to recover rare earth minerals from coal deposits in the northeastern United States."

About Texas Mineral Resources Corp.

Texas Mineral Resources Corp.'s primary focus is exploring and, if warranted, developing its Round Top heavy rare earth and industrial minerals project located in Hudspeth County, Texas, 85 miles east of El Paso. The Company's common stock trades on the OTCQX U.S. tier under the symbol "TMRC."

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, but not limited to, statements recovery rates of scandium from coal material leach solution being indicative of production potential, potential development and production of scandium in Pennsylvania, potential production rates and mining costs, potential revenue streams from such production, anticipated production methods and results, anticipated mine life in Pennsylvania, potential production of scandium de-risking project economics, Pennsylvania coal deposits being a stable, long-term supply of scandium, projected increased demand in the scandium market and other similar statements. When used in this press release, the words "potential," "indicate," "expect," "intend," "hopes," "believe," "may," "will," "if, "anticipate," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the development of the Round Top project, up-scaling of extraction testing, risks related to changes in future operating costs and working capital balance, risks related to mining results not matching preliminary tests and risks related to the ability of TRER to raise adequate working capital and continue as a going concern, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K, as filed on December 14, 2016, and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.
United StatesCellular Corp. USM, a subsidiary of Telephone & Data Systems Inc. TDS, recently conducted joint 5G trials with Ericsson ERIC in Madison, WI. At the trial, the companies showcased enhanced bandwidth and ultra-fast speeds of 5G networks. The companies achieved peak speeds of 9Gbps at a distance of 787 feet and 1.5Gbps at a distance of one mile in the trial.

The innovative 5G technology trial showcased Ericsson's strength in 5G and is expected to open up more opportunities to bring 5G services to the North American market.

Ericsson installed 5G radios on a tower that is currently being used for commercial service by U.S. Cellular. The trial was conducted using 15 GHz spectrum through an experimental license from U.S. telecom regulator, Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The tests were carried out in a variety of environmental conditions to replicate real world usage. The tests evaluated a number of new radio access (NX) carrier combinations to verify their benefits to network throughput and performance.

The companies also revealed that the tests included next-generation technologies and strategies, such as radio resource sharing, beamforming, beam tracking, peak throughput and multiuser MIMO.

U.S. Cellular is optimistic about its collaboration with Ericsson. Together, the companies are expected to improve standards for a healthy 5G ecosystem to better serve their customers with the latest technology to enhance their lives or businesses. The companies also target a fast, high-quality network that works whenever and wherever needed. Hence, the companies look forward to the outcome of the 5G trials.

We note that on Dec 7,Telecom behemoth AT&T Inc. T initiated next-gen 5G technology trials in partnership with Ericsson using the millimeter wavelength technology. The trial was carried out in Intel Corp.s INTC Austin office. This February, AT&T decided to execute 5G field tests after rival Verizon Communications Inc. VZ made a similar announcement.

Story continues

We expect U.S. Cellular and Ericsson to continue working together to further develop the 5G technology in sync with their business requirements.

Conclusion

We are impressed with U.S. Cellulars strategies like the introduction of a new billing system, continuous rollout of 4G LTE, enhancement of LTE handsets, completion of various spectrum transactions and monetization of non-strategic assets. These business moves might help the company increase subscriber base and arrest churn.

In spite of these efforts, shares of U.S. Cellular have underperformed the Zacks categorized Wireless National industry on a year-to-date basis. The stock has gained 4.88% but lagged the industrys growth of 21.55% over the same period.

We believe the underperformance of the stock price reflects highly competitive nature of the U.S. wireless industry, which is witnessing cut-throat pricing competition at present. Hence, the company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here

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BEIRUT  France struck a compromise Sunday with Russia on a U.N. resolution that it said would prevent mass atrocities in besieged areas of Aleppo, where thousands of trapped civilians and rebel fighters await evacuation in freezing temperatures.

On the ground, prospects for swift evacuations from Aleppo and other besieged areas were thrown into doubt again Sunday after militants burned buses assigned to the rescue operation.

The Aleppo evacuations were to have been part of a wider deal that would simultaneously allow more than 2,000 sick and wounded people to leave two pro-government villages that have been besieged by Syrian rebels. Most villagers are Shiite Muslims, while most rebels are Sunni Muslims.

Six buses that were among those poised to enter the villages of Foua and Kfarya on Sunday were set on fire by unidentified militants, presumably to scuttle any deal.

A video posted online showed armed men near the burning buses as celebratory gunshots rang out. The buses that came to evacuate the apostates have been burned, the narrator of the video said. He warned that no Shiite pigs would be allowed to leave the towns.

The video could not be verified independently.

Earlier Sunday, pro-Syrian government TV stations showed dozens of buses on stand-by at a crossing near eastern Aleppo, reportedly poised to resume evacuations from the oppositions last foothold in the city.

The evacuations had been suspended two days earlier amid mutual recriminations after several thousand people had been ferried out of the war zone. Thousands more desperate civilians are believed trapped in the city.

About 2,700 children were evacuated in the first rescue mission earlier this week, but hundreds more are now waiting in freezing temperatures, close to the front lines, said Shushan Mebrahtu of the U.N. agency for children, UNICEF. We are deeply worried.

At the United Nations, France and Russia announced agreement on a compromise U.N. resolution to deploy U.N. monitors to eastern Aleppo to ensure safe evacuations and immediate delivery of humanitarian aid.

Frances U.N. ambassador, Francois Delattre, said the compromise was reached after more than three hours of closed consultations Sunday and the Security Council would vote on the resolution on Monday.
BAGHDAD  A militia backed by the Iraqi government killed suspected Islamic State fighters captured during the operation to retake Mosul, Human Rights Watch said Sunday.The Hashed al-Jabour militia, made up of Sunni tribal fighters, killed four men it had captured in a village north of Mosul in November, according to a report published by the New York-based group. The report cited witnesses who said the men were shot in the presence of Iraqi security forces without any judicial proceedings.

The militia is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a group of mostly Shiite militias sanctioned by the government which have been accused of abuses during past campaigns against Islamic State, a Sunni extremist group.
SANAA, Yemen  A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a military camp in the southern city of Aden on Sunday morning, killing at least 52 soldiers, a security official said. The Islamic States Yemen-based affiliate claimed responsibility.

Abdel-Rahman al-Naqeeb said 63 people were also injured in the blast. Other security officials said preliminary investigations showed the blast was the work of a bomber wearing an explosives-laden vest. He had been dressed in a police uniform, pretending to be disabled, and infiltrating the crowd before detonating his explosive.

The attack took place as soldiers lined up to collect their salaries, they said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

The Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on Islamic State-run Aamaq news agency. It identified the bomber as Abu Hashim al-Radfani and published a photo of him smiling and wearing a white vest as he stood next to the groups black flag. It also posted photos it said were of the blast that it claimed killed nearly 70. It was not possible to immediately verify the claim.

The bombing was the latest to underscore how militants have been able to exploit Yemens conflict to stage large-scale attacks and expand their reach, particularly in the south.

Sundays blast took place at the same military base that was also struck by a suicide bomber on Dec. 10, killing 57 soldiers. The Islamic State Yemeni affiliate also claimed responsibility for that attack.

In August, another Islamic State-claimed suicide bombing in Aden left 72 people killed when the attacker detonated his pick-up truck among dozens of pro-government recruits.

In addition to Islamic State, Yemen is the longtime home to an active branch of al Qaeda, widely regarded as the most dangerous of the international extremist group.

Aden is controlled by a loose coalition of troops loyal to the internationally-recognized government of President Abed Rabu Mansour Hadi, local militias and jihadist groups. They are battling Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, who seized Yemens capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and later swept across much of northern Yemen. Aden serves as the temporary capital for the internationally-recognized government.

The Houthis advances forced Hadi to flee the country and seek shelter in neighboring Saudi Arabia.

A Saudi-led coalition, mostly consisting of Gulf Arab states, subsequently intervened in Yemen in early 2015, launching a punishing air campaign against the Houthis and their allies.

Sundays bombing came as Secretary of State John Kerry met Saudi King Salman and others to discuss the war in Yemen.
Electoral College Convenes to Elect Trump Today

At least 37 Republican electors would have to

today to change the outcome of the presidential election, an unlikely scenario as Donald Trump prepares to move into the White House.

Wilson Tells Staff She'd Considered Intelligence Post

New Mexico Political Report posted a copy of the letter Heather Wilson sent to her colleagues at the South Dakota School of Mines after she met with Donald Trumps transition team to talk about the Director of National Intelligence post. Wilson told staff

, but when a President or President-elect asks you to consider whether your gifts could be used in the service of the nation, you have to be willing to consider it. Carly Fiorina, who ran for the Republican nomination, is considered the frontrunner for the job.

Unemployment Rate Up

No one likes to be out of a job during the holidays, but the

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions reports the unemployment rate in November was 6.7 percent, up from 6.6 percent a year ago.

The national rate was 4.6 percent.

Six Years of Controversy

After New Mexico Tax and Revenue Secretary Demesia Padillas resignation jolted state government last week, Steve Terrell decided to l

that have caused headaches for Gov. Susana Martinez over the past six years.

Additional Roundhouse Security Measures Proposed

The Capitol Security Subcommittee is recommending

at the Roundhouse ahead of the 2017 Legislature, which convenes in Santa Fe in less than a month.

Higher Education Secretary Could Lead UNM

New Mexico Higher Education Department Secretary

as a potential candidate to replace University of New Mexico President Bob Frank. She has, according to blogger Joe Monahan, received kudos for promising a reform report in September of next year to resolve the dysfunction of higher education in the state which has too many institutions, too many governing boards and a shortage of money to fund them. Damron would be the universitys first woman president.

Cyber Sales Tax Considered

Andrew Oxford reports, Cyberspace

for New Mexico shoppers much longer."

Dallas Fans Smiling Today

Dallas Cowboys' fans are celebrating their teams

Sunday Night. After beating Tampa Bay 26-20, the Cowboys are now 12-2. Denver fans are

after the New England Patriots beat the Broncos 16-3.

Santa Fe Reporter
Slow progress in developing ports in Auckland and Lyttelton is hampering the growth of the $490 million cruise ship industry in New Zealand, Cruise New Zealand says.

Executive officer of Cruise NZ, Kevin O'Sullivan, said the industry association was disappointed to learn a new ship planned for the New Zealand and Australian cruise market by P&O Cruises Australia, capable of carrying 4,200 passengers, won't go ahead.

"The good news is that P&O will still bring the 3,000 passenger Carnival Splendor to Australia and New Zealand in 2019, but it has cited a lack of infrastructure progress in the region as one of the reasons for deferring the build of a bigger ship," Sullivan said.

Slow progress in building berths for larger cruise ships in Auckland, and even slower decision-making about a cruise ship berth in Lyttelton, is stifling the industry's growth here, he said.

"We have huge opportunities to continue to grow cruise tourism and we are missing out because of delays in providing infrastructure. The decision by P&O is a wake-up call that we must get our act together to improve cruise infrastructure if we are to continue to enjoy the benefits that cruise tourism brings," Sullivan said. "Auckland must provide a berth for larger cruise ships urgently, and Lyttelton should proceed with bringing cruise ships back, to ensure Canterbury does not miss out on this large tourism market."

Sullivan said the largest cruise ship to visit New Zealand, the Ovation of the Seas, will come to Auckland in January but is too long to berth, and passengers will have be ferried from the anchored ship. A consent application for a mooring dolphin in Auckland, a structure which would allow larger cruise ships to berth, has been delayed, and it's unclear when the structure could be built. The ship will skip Canterbury as there are no berths available in Lyttelton, he said.

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Air New Zealand issues Performance Rights

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Stephen England-Hall has resigned as chief executive of Loyalty New Zealand, which analyses the spending habits of consumers who sign up to loyalty schemes, to take the top job at Tourism New Zealand.

He will start the new role at the state-funded tourism marketing body, famed for its 100% Pure New Zealand campaign, in April next year.

England-Hall has been CEO of Loyalty since November 2013, having previously worked in marketing for Syncapse Corp, a New York-based firm that uses social media data to help big brands target customers more accurately. Prior to that, he spent two years as CEO of Razorfish, a London-based marketing firm that acts as Tourism NZ's global media company.

It has been a year of change for loyalty schemes in New Zealand, with Fly Buys parting company with Air New Zealand's Airports in October after a six-year relationship. In an interview with Fairfax Media this week, England-Hall said he had tried to stay outside the "yelling match" of the flurry of loyalty programmes this year.

The report said some 60 percent of all retail transactions in New Zealand were linked to Fly Buys, giving the company a huge amount of detailed information about the spending habits of Kiwis which it can then analyse and sell back to companies. In exchange, consumers accumulate 'reward' points that can be redeemed for products ranging from bottles of wine (80 points) to an upscale home brew kit (41,560 points).

Loyalty NZ chairman Phil Norman said in a statement that the business, which is 25 percent owned by each of Z Energy, Bank of New Zealand, IAG New Zealand and Foodstuffs Ventures, was "well ahead of plan for the current financial year on the back of double-digit growth in issuance and redemption activity, having added 214,000 Fly Buys members in the past 12 months while launching Lab360, its data and analytics business.

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November 3rd Morning Report

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The New Zealand dollar consolidated below 70 US cents, recovering some ground from Friday's selloff in New York after a survey showed a pickup in business confidence led by the construction industry.

The kiwi traded at 69.79 US cents as at 5 pm in Wellington, having dropped to a six-month low of 69.27 cents in New York on Friday, from 70.27 cents in Asia at the end of last week. The trade-weighted index was at 77.58, up from 77.42 in New York and down from 78.05 in Wellington on Friday.

A net 21.7 percent of firms in the ANZ Business Outlook survey were optimistic about the general outlook for the economy in December, up from 20.5 percent of firms last month. A net 31 percent of firms expect to be more profitable in the coming year, up from 29.4 percent a month earlier, and a net 25.6 percent want to raise prices, up from 20.8 percent in November, the survey showed. The survey comes ahead of Thursday's gross domestic product report, which is expected to show the economy continues to grow at a steady clip, while traders are also awaiting the latest dairy auction this week.

"It's recovered from Friday's sell-off after the confidence data was better that the previous month," said Stuart Ive, senior client adviser for OM Financial. The survey showed that businesses, in particular in the construction sector, remain upbeat. While there was some risk the kiwi could fall further, Ive said the latest drop was largely due to an "over-extended USD" and noted that holiday-thinned trading could be exacerbating the move.

The kiwi has been under pressure since the US Federal Reserve raised the target federal funds rate a quarter-point and signalled a more aggressive hiking track for 2017 than expected. It took a further tumble overnight Friday after Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard told the Wall Street Journal that the US central bank should consider shrinking its balance sheet next year while saying more than one rate hike may be needed, a change of view for an official previously saying one increase was enough. Separately, Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker said the Fed may need to raise rates more than three times in 2017.

"It's that side of things that is really driving NZD," said Ive, although he noted a raft of domestic data could support the kiwi this week.

The kiwi rose to 95.64 Australian cents from 95.41 cents on Friday in Wellington. Ive said the focus remains on whether Australia might lose its prized triple-A credit rating after the government flagged a deeper budget deficit over the next four years in its mid-year budget update.

The local currency slipped to 4.8462 yuan from 4.8810 yuan and declined to 81.96 yen from 83.02 yen. It fell to 66.71 euro cents from 67.36 cents and dropped to 55.91 British pence from 56.62 pence.

New Zealand's two-year swap rate rose two basis points to 2.38 percent, and 10-year swaps were unchanged at 3.57 percent.

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New Zealands Terra Vitae Vineyards and Craggy Range Vineyards both reported a rise in full-year profit on the back of a solid harvest and improving prices as wine remains one of the Pacific Nations fastest growing exports.

Terra Vitae Vineyards reported total gross income from grape sales at $8.9 million in the year to June 30, up from $7.1 million in 2015. After expenses, its operating profit of $3.4 million was more than twice the $1.4 million reported in the prior year. The company, which trades on the Unlisted Market, declared a dividend of 1.5 cents per share, which was paid on Dec. 15, 2016, with a record date of Nov. 30, 2016. The shares were last quoted at $0.48.

Craggy Range, owned by the Peabody family, reported an operating profit of $2 million in the year to June, up from $916,444 in the prior period as group revenues rose. Profit for the year was $690,550 versus $222,975 in the year to June 2015. The company produces wine from Hawkes Bay and Martinborough in the North Island and Marlborough at the top of the South Island.

New Zealands wine exports reached $1.6 billion in the year to October, up 7.1 percent from the prior 12-month period. In 1960, wine exports were $51 million. The industry, which aims to hit $2 billion of exports by 2020, has been bolstered by strong demand, supply constraints after a smaller 2015 vintage and a weaker New Zealand dollar against the U.S. dollar.

Terra Vitae Vineyards said its total production was 4,693 tonnes compared with 3,882 tonnes in the prior year and was 18 percent higher than its budget forecast. Crop value increased in four of its five vineyards. Only Twyford Gravels, in Hawke's Bay, yielded below budget, which the company said was a direct result of untimely Easter rain.

Terra Vitae Vineyards, with vineyards in Hawke's Bay and Marlborough, joined forces with Seddon Vineyards of Marlborough Ltd a decade ago and has a long-term supply arrangement with Villa Maria Estate, one of New Zealands largest locally owned wine companies. The deal gives it a guaranteed purchaser for its grapes at market prices. Board members include Milan Brajkovich, Vineyard Director at Kumeu River Wines.

Looking ahead, chairman Joe Ferraby said the companys bid to concentrate on sustainable yields of good quality grapes and the long term health of the vines was paying off but sounded a note of caution. "Various factors out of our control will have an impact on each vintage. Temperatures throughout the growing season, rainfall, disease pressure and the timing of pruning can all impact heavily on the operating profit," he said.

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Platinum Partners' Mark Nordlicht (L) and Uri Landesman pose in their New York offices in this undated photograph provided on April 11, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Hartman

By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The founder of New York-based hedge fund Platinum Partners was arrested on Monday as prosecutors unveiled an indictment charging him and six others with participating in an approximately $1 billion fraud.

Mark Nordlicht, Platinum's founding partner and chief investment officer, was taken into custody at his New Rochelle, New York, home in connection with charges contained in an indictment filed in federal court in Brooklyn.

Others arrested included David Levy, Platinum's co-chief investment officer, and Uri Landesman, the former president of the firm's signature fund, said Federal Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Adrienne Senatore.

Platinum is liquidating its hedge funds, two of which have received bankruptcy protection.

The indictment said that since 2012, Nordlicht, Levy and Landesman schemed to defraud Platinum investors by overvaluing illiquid assets held by its flagship fund.

This caused a "severe liquidity crisis" that Platinum at first tried to remedy through high-interest loans between its funds before selectively paying some investors ahead of others, the indictment said.

Nordlicht, Levy and Jeffrey Shulse, former chief executive officer of Platinum's majority-owned Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC [BLCELB.UL], also defrauded the Texas energy company's bondholders, the indictment said.

A Platinum spokesman declined to comment. Nordlicht's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Michael Sommer, Levy's lawyer, said he looked forward to clearing his client's "good name."

Lawyers for Shulse and the other defendants could not be immediately identified.

Founded in 2003, Platinum Partners until this year had more than $1.7 billion under management, the indictment said. The flagship fund reported returning profits of more than 8 percent in 2015 and 7 percent from January to April 2016, it said.

But this year, a series of investigations tied to Platinum came to a head, leading to a Cayman Islands court placing its two main funds into liquidation in August.

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In June, Murray Huberfeld, a Platinum associate who prosecutors say was a founder, was charged in Manhattan federal court with orchestrating a bribe to the head of the New York City prison guards' union, Norman Seabrook, to secure a $20 million investment. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Two weeks later, the FBI raided Platinum's Manhattan offices in a separate fraud investigation that culminated in Monday's indictment.

Others indicted include Joseph Sanfilippo, the former chief financial officer of flagship fund Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage Fund LP; Joseph Mann, a former Platinum marketing employee; and Daniel Small, a Platinum managing director.

The case is U.S. v. Nordlicht et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 16-cr-640.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Additional reporting by Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Lisa Von Ahn)
Mainfreight, the transport and logistics group, said two women, Kate Parsons and Sue Tindal, will join the company as non-executive directors starting on Jan. 1.

The company came under pressure to renew its board at its annual meeting last July. At the time Radio New Zealand reported there was a tense exchange between Mainfreight chairman Bruce Plested and a representative of the New Zealand Super Fund. Plested reportedly said there was no succession plan but the company was committed to refreshing the board with new members at some point.

In a release to the NZX today, Plested said: We have been on the lookout for appropriate individuals to bring onto Mainfreights board for some time.

Mainfreight said Parsons has more than 20 years finance experience in a number of industries both in New Zealand and overseas, including a number of chief financial officer roles. Tindal is currently group chief financial officer at Auckland Council and has held numerous senior executive roles at Westpac Banking Corp and Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Both will stand for election at Mainfreights annual shareholders' meeting on July 27. There are currently no women on Mainfreights board.

In October, leadership lobby group Global Women said it wants to see a minimum target of 30 percent female board composition of NZX-listed companies as a best-practice standard benchmarked globally by 2020. According to New Zealands gender diversity statistics, women comprise 16 percent of board members and 28 percent of senior management officers as at December 2015. That compares to 21.5 percent of women on ASX 200 boards and 26 percent on the UKs FTSE 100 boards.

This week telecommunications network operator Chorus appointed Kate McKenzie as its next chief executive, making her the only woman to head an S&P/NZX 50 index company.

Mainfreight shares rose 0.7 percent to $20.76.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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The High Court in Christchurch has banned property developer David Henderson from running a company for six years on top of his six-year-long bankruptcy, which is set to be lifted next month.

Associate Judge Rob Osborne today ordered a number of restrictions on Henderson's dealings in a 134-page judgment, which will release the developer from his second bankruptcy on Jan. 27. Henderson was bankrupted in 2010 when his property empire failed in the collapse of the country's finance sector. While the amount owing was disputed, Judge Osborne estimated it fell between $100 million and $150 million.

The Official Assignee objected to Henderson's automatic discharge, which had been scheduled for 2014, seeking either that it be refused or that restrictions be placed on Henderson's business dealings. Henderson had previously been bankrupted in 1996 before being discharged in 1999.

Judge Osborne sided with the Official Assignee by "a fine margin", ruling that Henderson's dealings should be restricted for a specified period beyond bankruptcy, ordering that the 61 year-old not enter into any contract by providing a personal guarantee, banning him from acting as a director or manager of a company until Dec. 9, 2022, and prohibiting him from being employed by a relative or entity controlled by his family.

The judge said Henderson's personal guarantees that weren't backed by assets were the main and direct cause of his second bankruptcy. At the same time, Henderson rendered "himself insolvent through his tax arrangements and his inability to meet his resulting liabilities".

"What crystallised Mr Hendersons exposure to bankruptcy was the financial failure of entities associated with him and to a large extent controlled by him."

The most favourable view of those guarantees was that they were "grossly reckless", yet the judge said Henderson "had acquired no significant insight into the recklessness of his giving of personal guarantees and the extent to which he was thereby the cause of his own bankruptcy."

The judge credited Henderson's business acumen, but said that doesn't "mitigate the risks which arise from Mr Hendersons conduct of business." Similarly, there were strong arguments in favour of protecting the public from the irrecoverability of debts and drain on government and judicial resources, weighed up against Henderson's skill in contributing to the wider good as he did in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes.

"The evidence establishes that, although Mr Henderson may express aspiration towards dealing with such shortcomings, he does not have the skills or discipline necessary to appropriately minimise the risk of personal insolvency and damage and loss to corporate or personal creditors (including the IRD)," the judge said. "The court (in a way which Mr Henderson himself will view as paternalistic) must consider business prohibition as appropriate in Mr Hendersons own interests (beyond the communitys interest)."

Judge Osborne said he wasn't persuaded that Henderson would be able to initiate a liquidation or administration if "he perceived an opportunity, by way of reallocating resources and arranging debt payments, to trade his way out of insolvency" and "would back his judgement on the prospects of financial survival ahead of the judgement of others and against any urging to adopt a formal response to insolvency under either the Companies Act or the Insolvency Act."

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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Rakon will raise US$10 million from Siward Crystal Technology, selling shares at a 115 percent premium, which it will use to repay debt while gaining a new partner with an established crystal manufacturer.

Auckland-based Rakon will sell 38 million shares, or 17 percent of the company, at 37 cents apiece to Taiwan Stock Exchange-listed Siward in a placement that is expected to settle on Feb. 15, it said in a statement. As part of the deal, Siward will appoint a director to Rakon's board, which faced a shareholder revolt at this year's annual meeting that led to executive director Darren Robinson being dumped from the board.

The sale price is more than twice the 17.2 cents Rakon shares last traded at. The high-tech components maker's stock has slumped 44 percent this year as it sank back into losses.

"Siward's manufacturing scale and expertise is a perfect complement to Rakon's leading-edge technology," managing director Brent Robinson said. "This partnership will give both companies a broader range of products and alternative channels into new and exciting markets."

Rakon and Siward also signed a technology deed to work more closely on development and manufacturing.

The Taiwanese company makes crystals and oscillators used in telecommunications and GPS devices, with operations in Taiwan, China, Japan, Singapore, the US and Europe.

Rakon tilted its focus to the telecommunications sector after rivals in the smart wireless market caught up, turning what was once a niche product into a commoditised one. The shift helped Rakon return to profitability in the March 2015 year, but a slump in spending by network operators weighed on the Kiwi firm in 2016 and pushed it back into the red, with the company reporting a first-half loss of $5.7 million.

The company said it will use the $14.1 million raised to repay debt, which was at $22.8 million as at Sept. 30, up $100,000 from a year earlier. Rakon was in a negative cash position of $688,000 as at Sept. 30 as its operational cash flow turned negative in the half.

Rakon also said it's still seeking another New Zealand-based director and expects to make an announcement early next year.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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A man leafs through the pages of a book of drawings apparently by Vincent Van Gogh (AFP Photo/Jacques Demarthon)

Paris (AFP) - The French publishers of a book of "lost" Vincent Van Gogh sketches on Monday threatened legal action against a Dutch museum that has questioned the authenticity of the works.

The threat follows the publication in six countries last month of "Vincent Van Gogh, the fog of Arles: the rediscovered sketchbook" in which sketches apparently from the artist's legendary stay in the southern French city are reproduced.

The Vincent Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, however, has dismissed the sketches as fakes triggering a war of words with publishing house Le Seuil.

Le Seuil "intends to obtain compensation for the damage they have suffered as a result of an insidious and unfounded campaign" on the part of the Van Gogh Museum, the publisher said in a statement, without elaborating on the exact legal action they intended to take.

The owner of the sketches, who is said to have had them in her possession for 60 years, is also threatening legal action.

In a statement, the art expert Franck Baille, who was involved in the discovery, added that the owner, who has not been publicly identified, "reserved the right to undertake any appropriate action to repair the damage caused by these claims that describe her as a forgerer".

- Debate ruled out -

Canadian art historian Bogomila Welsh-Ovcharov, who authored the book and is the main expert behind the find, has accused the Amsterdam museum of basing its verdict on photographs of the drawings rather than properly examining 10 originals which she brought to them.

And in a point-by-point rebuttal of the museum's damning assessment of the sketchbook, the experts backing the find have also questioned its "monopoly" on deciding what is and is not by Van Gogh.

Le Seuil has also accused the Van Gogh Museum of twice rejecting work it later accepted as the artist's.

Australian researcher Felicity Strong of the University of Melbourne told AFP last month "the Van Gogh Museum has been wrong in the past.

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"Their unveiling of a long-lost painting 'Sunset at Montmajour' was examined by curators at the museum at least twice before they reassessed it in 2012 and changed their minds," she said.

The museum has ruled out a public debate on the authenticity of the sketches, saying it has sought answers directly from the publisher and that an open debate would not be useful.

"We will need to have all the hard facts first," it said on November 29.

"We therefore call on the publisher and the author to provide a clear and open response to all our comments, to all the issues in need of clarification and to the questions raised," it said.

"Until they have, we see no point in a scholarly debate and our contribution to the discussion ends here: we will no longer respond to further questions."
There is certainly a lot of hype and talk about IoT and all the attention is warranted! If "Big Data" was the transformative trend of the past few years, then IoT follows it as something that will completely transform and innovate businesses. Sometimes the hype is justified. Big Data is changing how companies operate because it allows them to be more efficient and make connections out of seemingly unconnected data. IoT holds a similar promise, where information about processes and sales will be available in real time, and not only that, but companies will be able to seamlessly link this data across both online and offline channels creating a truly amazing omnichannel experience for their customers.However, despite all the hype surrounding IoT, it doesn't have to be a complicated or expensive endeavour. Most businesses already have the tools in place, and with a few additional hardware and software components they can realize the value IoT can bring. Many companies are already realizing this value and the immense ROI that IoT has.Here are three reasons why IoT implementation isn't insurmountable and why there's much more substance behind the hype:Much of the promise of IoT hinges on the sensors that provide the data. These sensors include things like micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) that can detect changes in pressure, sound, light, temperature, and other conditions in a factory as well as Wi-Fi sensors that can detect mobile devices-for example in a retail store setting. The sophistication of these sensors is improving year-over-year which only makes the investment for companies more worth-while.Additionally, the falling costs of these devices, only further improves ROI. A late 2014 Goldman Sachs report says "Sensor prices have dropped to an average of 60 cents from $1.30 in the past 10 years." And the report mentions the cost of bandwidth has plummeted by a factor of nearly forty in that same span. Combined, these two factors make the move to sensor implementation and full-scale IoT much more attainable and lead to a pretty straightforward cost-benefit analysis.Companies today are already embracing IoT to reduce their labor and energy costs by working more efficiently and intelligently. In fact, an article published by CMO states that a whopping 94 percent of businesses have seen a return on their IoT investments.Consider the factory floor, where sensors can detect miniscule production errors, material inventory problems, and a host of other interconnected areas that can run more smoothly when they are more visible. Or look at the work Microsoft is doing with ThysenKrupp Elevator to monitor its elevators in real time for optimal performance by spotting maintenance issues before they cause any interruption of service. These benefits translate to a variety of other industries such as Green Energy and Utilities or Public Transportation.For individual workers, wearable devices that are IoT enabled will also be a benefit for productivity. Google Glass might not appeal right away to consumers, but consider the benefits of "smart helmets" for manufacturing workers or engineers who can see real-time data that relates to what they are doing as well as current safety protocols. For example, an alert will come up if the temperature in a certain manufacturing area is rising too quickly.Once the big money comes into play, then a trend has moved beyond the hype stage. Microsoft is heading full steam into IoT along with its partners such as TechBlocks, with the launch of a new Azure platform that is devoted to IoT and helping companies leverage their cloud data. Microsoft encourages clients to look at the technology tools they already have in place such as BI platforms and cloud infrastructure and to add simple sensors in order to begin accumulating data. Many enterprises already have experience with the Microsoft suite, and this familiarity and trust will enable a smoother IoT transition.According to analysts, IoT investment has reached a "tipping point" as enterprises prepare for a new and more connected type of infrastructure.Need another reason to embrace IoT as much more than hype? Check out the new job title that's entering the "C-suite" ranks. There's now Chief IoT Officers (joining Chief Data Officers) which signifies the emphasis industry leaders are placing on IoT to be a dynamic force going forward.
NEW DELHI: Around 9,500 persons attended a two-day awareness camp here to create awareness about digital payments and help people open bank accounts and enroll for Aadhaar, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said today.



Digital transactions worth 60,000 were conducted at the event that concluded today, it said.



"DigiDhan Mela witnessed footfall of over 9500 visitors in two days," a release by the ministry said.



The camp commenced on December 17 culminated today at Major Dhyanchand National Stadium, Delhi.



The objective of the initiative was to enable citizens and merchants to undertake real-time digital transactions through the DigiDhan Bazaar and encourage them to use digital platforms for day-to-day transactions, the statement said.



"As many as 72 participants from 29 banks including State Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Andhra Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank were present," the statement said.



Eighteen mobile wallet operators like MobiKwik, Oxygen, TranServ; telecom companies like Airtel, Idea, Reliance Jio participated in the event.



Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) vendors, merchants (through marketing associations), co-operatives like Kendriya Bhandar and organised retail fruits and vegetable chains like Safal, Mother Dairy took part in the DigiDhan Mela.



"Cashless transactions took place worth 60,000 at the DigiBazar," the statement said.



The UIDAI counter at the Mela created about 500 new Aadhaar accounts and registered over 2,000 new applications and NPCI (National Payment Corporation of India) has made almost 6000 people aware about USSD (, AEPS and RuPay card in a span of two days, it added.



The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology plans to follow up the DigiDhanMela by camps organised at state level and at bank branch levels.

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NEW DELHI: With the country logging into the digital world to become a cashless economy, the threat of data breach loomed over both public and private enterprises, with several such cases being reported through the year -- forcing the government to wake up from its slumber and prepare for digital war.

In one of the financial sector's biggest cyber threats, millions of debit cards were compromised after a malware-related security breach was detected in a particular ATM network in October. The State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and YES Bank were among those which reported several of their customers' debit cards being compromised.

India was also listed among the top five in the world to be attacked by ransomware -- malware that forces its victims to pay a ransom through certain online payment methods to regain their data -- as reported by Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab, a leading software security group operating in almost 200 countries and territories worldwide.

In September, Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in security software and solutions, reported that over 180 Indian companies were victims of ransomware in the first six months of 2016.

Indian businesses lost over $1 million from data losses and downtime in the last 12 months, a survey by EMC Corporation -- the world's largest data storage multinational -- revealed in July. According to EMC, 46 pct of organisations in India suffered unplanned system downtime and/or data loss due to external or internal security breaches.

Amid this, Pavan Duggal, the country's leading cyber law expert, lamented that Indian Cyber law does not have adequate provisions to deal with the growing cyber threats.

"The Information Technology Act, 2000, amended in 2008, still does not comprehensively deal with all relevant issues in the cyber security ecosystem. India not being a signatory to any international treaty on cyber crime complicates the intrinsic ability of the immense law and legal frameworks to provide effective remedies against cyber crimes which are committed from abroad," Duggal told IANS.

With increased 4G and 3G penetration, the internet user-base in India is expected to double to 600 million users by 2020 from the current 343 million -- so the threat will only grow.

"With the surge in digital transactions via e-wallets and other online payment gateways, mobile frauds are expected to grow to 60-65 per cent in the country by 2017," warned leading industry body Assocham and global research firm EY in December.

According to Oracle India Managing Director Shailender Kumar, security breaches have moved information security from a hidden corner of the IT function to a topic of strategic importance to both business and society.

"Towards the beginning of 2016, cyber security had started to become a boardroom discussion. It has emerged to be a key concern for IT and business managers alike this year. In 2017, if security is not attended to, it will negatively impact not only the brand reputation but also the shareholders' trust, revenue loss and result in higher risks for organisation," Kumar told IANS.

With more and more Indians buying phones, enhanced security for the devices became another concern this year. India is the second-largest mobile phone market globally, with over one billion mobile subscriptions. Of this, smartphone users account for approximately 240 million subscriptions, which is expected to grow to 520 million by 2020, said a joint study by Assocham and Deloitte released in December.

The threat gets bigger with more and more people embracing mobile digital payments in the wake of demonetisation. "Mobile continues to be an area of exposure. As we get more and more used to transactions with mobile banking or e-commerce, mobile becomes more of a financial gateway and the implications are huge," said Anand Ramamoorthy, Managing Director, South Asia, Intel Security.

Keeping this in mind, the IT industry's apex body Nasscom and the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) launched a detailed road map for the next 10 years. Titled "Growing Cyber Security Industry, Road Map for India," the report identifies Managed Security Service (MSS), Security and Vulnerability Management (SVM) and Network Security (NS) as attractive emerging opportunities globally.

Nasscom-DSCI have also established the Cyber Security Task Force (CSTF) initiative that aims to create one million cyber security jobs and 1,000 cyber security start-ups by 2025.

As the year drew to an end, the hacker group "Legion" broke into the Twitter accounts of the Congress Party, its Vice President Rahul Gandhi, controversial liquor baron Vijay Mallya and TV journalists Barkha Dutt and Ravish Kumar, threatening to leak data that will create "chaos" in India.

The government later asked the micro-blogging website to strengthen its security and announced measures like audit of the Indian IT infrastructure and setting up a task force to quicken action on cyber security.

Highlights of the Indian cyber security scene in 2016:

* The government announced it will set up the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) to provide near real-time situational awareness and rapid response to cyber attacks; expected to be operational by March 2017.

* India poised to build a cyber security product and services industry of $35 billion by 2025 and generate a skilled workforce of one million in the security sector.

* The Ministry of Electronics and IT ordered review of the IT Act 2000 and set up a crack team to respond to cyber security incidents quickly.

* Nasscom and the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) launched a detailed road map for the next 10 years.

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NEW DELHI: Government will soon launch a mobile application to facilitate Aadhaar-linked digital payments and roll out a nation-wide programme to train over 1 crore people on e-payments.

"We are going to promote Aadhaar-enabled payment system (AEPS) in coordination with Finance Ministry. About 40 crore bank accounts have been linked to Aadhaar," IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters on Friday.

He said that the government is working on a plan to connect rest of the accounts with Aadhaar numbers.

He said that there are biometric devices which can be connected to smartphones and convert a smartphone into a Point of Sale (PoS) machine.

"We are developing a UPI enabled mobile application. It will be available in 2-4 days. Customer feed Aadhaar number, scan finger on the biometric, approve the amount to be paid on the application and the payment will be transferred from his account to merchant's account," CSC SPV CEO Dinesh Tyagi said.

The customer will not need to share bank account details as the application will detect the bank account linked to the Aadhaar number with help of Unified Payment Interface (UPI).

He said that Common Service Centres across country are already carrying out AEPS transactions and the government is converting same process in to a mobile app.

Prasad said that government will conduct workshops to train 14 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLE) across 500 districts and 6,500 blocks about carrying out digital transactions which will be attended by Members of Parliament as well.

As per the programme, each VLE will train 40 individuals covering 80 lakh individuals and at least 10 shopkeepers with target to cover total of 25 merchants across country.

He said that Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will organise a two-day event at Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in Delhi to create awareness about digital payments and also help people open bank accounts and enrol for Aadhaar.

Prasad said that even migrant labours having Aadhaar will be provided help to open their bank accounts.

"27 banks will have their stalls at the venue. Private mobile wallet companies will also be there to help people in making digital payments," Prasad said.

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NEW DELHI: Stating that they live in an extended neighbourhood that continues to face multiple security challenges, India and Tajikistan today decided to strengthen defence cooperation and inked a pact to share financial intelligence to counter money laundering and financing of terrorism.



The pact was among three signed by the two countries after comprehensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on strategic issues including threats posed by radicalisation and extremism, trade and investments.



"We assessed the broad progress achieved under different pillars of our bilateral engagement, including our partnership in defence and security.



"India and Tajikistan live in an extended neighbourhood that continues to face multiple security challenges and threats. The threat from terrorism endangers not just our two countries. It casts a long shadow of violence and instability over the entire region," Modi said at a joint press meet with Rahmon.



Combating terrorism has, therefore, been an important area of cooperative engagement between the two countries, the PM said.



"We appreciate Tajikistan's role in the Central Asian region as a mainstay against forces of extremism, radicalism, and terrorism. President Rahmon and I agreed today to strengthen action on this front based on mutually agreed priorities," he said.



On his part, Rahmon said terrorism and extremism undermine all developmental efforts worldwide.



A joint statement issued after the talks said the two leaders discussed situation in the region and stressed that terrorism and extremism seriously threaten peace, stability and progress of all countries.



"The two leaders agreed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations must be eliminated without any distinction between good and bad terrorists and called for an end to sponsorship, support and provision of safe havens and sanctuaries to terrorists," the statement said.



Modi and Rahmon reaffirmed their resolve to work for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism by the UN General Assembly.



Apart from MoU concerning Cooperation in the Exchange of Financial Intelligence related to money laundering, related crimes and financing of terrorism, the two sides also inked pacts on broadcasting of audio visual programmes and protocol amending the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion and announced initialling of document on Bilateral Investment Treaty.

On further deepening of security cooperation, the Prime



Minister said this will be done on multiple levels - through reinforcing overall bilateral security cooperation, through greater training, capacity building and information exchanges and through active coordination in regional and multilateral contexts.



India's membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will also be a valuable platform to work closely on regional security and counter-terrorism efforts with Tajikistan, he said.



Describing Tajikistan as "valued friend and strategic partner in Asia", Modi said they have also agreed on the need to increase the scope and scale of our economic engagement, especially trade and investment traffic including in hydel- power and Information Technology.



Agreeing that peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan are important for the region, the two countries are joined in steadfast support of the Afghan people and their aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous nation, he added.



Asserting that pharmaceuticals and healthcare would be areas of priority action, Modi said they shared the view that enhanced surface connectivity is crucial to realise the promise of our economic partnership for the benefit of our countries.



"India supports initiatives to develop the existing port and transport infrastructure and connecting it through road and rail network to Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Central Asia.



"In this respect, we will work to build trade and transit links through Chahbahar port in Iran. India is also engaged in facilitating the International North South Transport Corridor with other members, including Tajikistan. Our planned accession to the Ashgabat Agreement will further help in linking us to Tajikistan and Central Asia," the Prime Minister said.

(REOPENS DEL 20)



The joint statement said Prime Minister Modi and President Rahmon agreed to celebrate the 25th year of establishment of diplomatic relations next year in a befitting manner through festivals, cultural events, conferences and other means of mutual interaction.



They also called for greater exchanges of films, TV programmes and other cultural creations between the peoples of the two countries.



Modi and Rahmon expressed satisfaction at the excellent cooperation between the two countries on multilateral and international forums including at the UN with the visiting dignitary reiterating support of Tajikistan to India's candidature for permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council.



President Rahmon thanked India for co-sponsoring resolution strongly moved by Tajikistan for declaration of years 2018-28 as 'International Decade of Action: Water for Sustainable Development'.

Read Also:

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Aviation: India Inks Pacts With Sri Lanka, 5 Other Countries
KANPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil a clutch of skill development initiatives aimed at skilling unemployed youth and also lay the foundation stone of the Indian Institute of Skills in Kanpur.



"Apart from launching 31 Kaushal Kendras which will serve as skilling centres and target mainly unemployed youth for training purposes, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate an exhibition named Kaushal Mahotsav," a senior official in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said.

"The PM will also lay the foundation stone for the Indian Institute of Skills in Kanpur which will focus on providing industrial training," the official added.



The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is also set to enter into a strategic partnership with the leather and textiles industry in Kanpur to place one lakh youth under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.



Moreover, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme will also be launched formally, the official said.



The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras are state-of-the-art Model Training Centres (MTCs) which the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship intends to establish in every district of the country.



The model training centres envisage to create benchmark institutions that demonstrate aspirational value for competency based skill development training.



They would focus on elements of quality, sustainability and connect with stakeholders in skills delivery process. The centres will transform from a mandate-driven footloose model to a sustainable institutional model.

Read Also:

Disney Teaches Computer Programming To School Kids In India

India, Tajikistan To Step Up Anti-Terror, Defence Cooperation
WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump has acknowledged the contribution of Indian-Americans in his electoral triumph, saying his victorious campaign did "great with the Hindus".



"We have a lot of people here tonight from the Indian community, Hindus. We did great with the Hindus," Trump said while addressing thousands of his supporters during a "Thank You" rally in Orlando, Florida, the key battle ground state where he emerged victorious.



The event in Florida, which has a sizeable Indian-American population, was attended by a large number of community members. This is for the first time that Trump has acknowledged the contribution of Indian-Americans and Hindus in his historic electoral victory.



"Where are they? We have a big group. There they are. I want to thank you. You folks were amazing. They were amazing and voted and they were fantastic," Trump said, pointing his fingers to the Indian-American community present at the rally.



Fortnight before the elections, Trump attended a charity event organised by Republican Hindu Coalition to raise funds for Hindu victims of terror in Kashmir and Bangladesh.



This was for the first time a presidential candidate attended an Indian-American event.



In his address, Trump pledged to work for betterment of India-US relationship and said he would be the best friend of India in the White House. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his economic reforms and steps that he has taken to remove bureaucratic red tape.



After Trump's address, his family members visited temples in both Florida and Virginia; a first time for a presidential campaign.



The Trump Campaign also released an advertisement in which he was seen saying "Aab Ki Baar Trump Sarkar", copying Modi's historic 2014 election punchline.



Republican Hindu Coalition chairman Shalabh Salli Kumar said all this had an impact on voting pattern of Indian- Americans, who traditionally have been a strong Democratic supporters.



Based on a survey, Kumar said more than 60 per cent of the community members voted for Trump this time.



In his address, Trump asked people to dream big.



"Dream big and bold and daring. I am asking you to believe in yourself and asking you to believe in America. Together we will make America great again," he said.



Trump reiterated his plan of extreme vetting of refugee, asylum and visa applicants seeking to enter the US from regions where terrorists have strongholds.



He said his administration will suspend immigration from some regions where applicants "cannot be safely processed or vetted" due to a lack of government records.

(Reopens FGN 11)



Pledging to keep Islamic terrorists "the hell out of our country", Trump said the attack on Pulse Nightclub in Orlando was the worst mass shooting in American history and the deadliest assault on the LGBTQ community in American history.



"We have seen Islamic terror attacks from Paris to Belgium to San Bernardino. One after other, again and again. We are going to stop it. Let me state this as clearly as I can: I am going to keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country," Trump said.



Trump also thanked the large Cuban community in Florida.



"America will also stand with the Cuban people in their long struggle for freedom. And I want to appreciate - I tell you what, their support has been unbelievable," he said.



"The Cuban people - we know what we have to do and we will do it so do not worry about it. The numbers - the numbers have been incredible.



"In fact, they gave me just prior to the election, the Bay of Pigs award and, that was a great honour for me," Trump said, referring to the endorsement he received from Miami- based veterans who fought in the Bay of Pigs invasion in October, the first such endorsement from the group in its more than 50-year history.

Read Also:

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PepsiCo Chief Indra Nooyi Joins Trump's Strategic Policy Forum

Source: PTI
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Phill Errigo saw an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a hip, up-and-coming commercial strip.

The Huguenot native didn't choose to open in a strip mall on the South Shore. Instead, he chose to open Paulie's Pizzeria and an Italian Restaurant, Errigo's, in two storefronts in the heart of a once-thriving section of Bay Street in Stapleton.

Ironically, this is one of the few places on Staten Island where Italian food and pizza parlors are scarce.

Although the commercial strip has been somewhat of a ghost town over the last two and half decades, Errigo remembered when the storefronts he's occupying were once popular bars in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

"Back in the day, this was a bar called Narrows," he said of the storefront where Errigo's Restaurant has been operating for the last seven months.

"I did some research, and I saw the potential. With all the development with the NY Wheel and Empire Outlets, this is going to be the next hurrah around the city and I wanted to be part of it," said Errigo,

And he's hoping other Islanders catch the entrepreneurial fever and open up businesses alongside him on Bay Street.

"The more businesses that are here, the more people who will come to the area and spend money," he added.

And some say Errigo has gotten in on the very early stages of a true renaissance of the Bay Street strip.

"I think what's happening is just the beginning of a major renaissance and resurgence in that area," said Dean Balsamini, director of the Small Business Development Center at the College of Staten Island.

"There's a lot of marketing it as a downtown area and Staten Island's hub for economic activity," he added.

TOO MUCH SKEPTICISM?



However, there is a lot of skepticism still, as the area's face hasn't changed in some time. And, with the exception of Urby, new projects, like the Wheel, Empire Outlets and Lighthouse Point, are still under construction.

"What needs to happen is you need to have businesses come in that cater to the new residents in the neighborhood. Whether it's a coffee shop or a destination bar or a gym, it has to be service-oriented and/or food-oriented," said Scott Plasky, vice president of investments of the Manhattan-based Marcus & Millichap, who has closed more than $60 million worth of retail properties on Staten Island.

"The neighborhood isn't a destination yet. That's what is going on inside Urby and will go on inside Lighthouse Point. It's not on Bay Street yet," he added.

And the commercial strip that extends from Tompkinsville to Stapleton is littered with vacant properties -- some with "for lease" signs, others just boarded up in a state of disrepair.

LANDLORDS HOLDING ONTO PROPERTIES

The skeptics are on both sides.

There are the budding business owners, who know they're taking a risk opening in an area that is still not very economically viable -- especially if they are relying on foot traffic.

And then there are the property owners, who right now can get between $15 and $25 per square foot ($1,250 to $1,850 monthly rent) for a storefront. But if the predicated renaissance becomes reality, those landlords will likely be able to charge more for commercial space.

"I think there is a lot of 'wait and see' over there (on Bay Street). People have owned these properties on Bay Street forever. You don't have people with high mortgages who are pressing to get leases done. ...There's also the unknowns. When we deal with some of these neighborhoods that are gentrifying and transitioning, nobody wants to be the first guy in who messes up," said Plasky.

"There's a lot of hesitation that if they sign that lease today, they are losing $20 per square foot," he added.

SHORT-TERM LEASES: THE ONLY OPTION

Many of those landlords who are leasing their commercial properties are only offering short-term leases until they can command higher rent prices, said Jon Salmon, broker/owner of Salmon Real Estate in Castleton Corners.

"The people who are renting want to do short-term leases because while it's not happening now, it is going to happen," he said.

"Property owners don't want to be stuck at $15 a foot when in one or two years, you can get $25, $30. I've had people fantasizing about $40 and $50 a square foot (which is $4,166.67 per month)," he added.

The reason more businesses haven't come in yet is because "people are trying to time it," said Salmon. "But you can't time real estate."

That, combined with the fact that Stapleton over the last 100 years has had its ups and downs, is causing any renaissance of this area to be very slow going, said Salmon.

Back in the 1980s the Stapleton Navy Homeport was supposed to fuel businesses there, but the area saw little uptick, and shortly after fell into disrepair, he said.

"People remember this, so while everything says this area will be revitalized, people aren't convinced yet," added Salmon.

DEMAND NOT HIGH

Some Realtors say it's harder to rent properties in Stapleton, even at low monthly rents.

"It's been a little harder than expected to rent these spaces," said Neil Grasso, a salesperson with the Castleton Corners-based Encore Realty, who has four vacant storefronts on Broad Street (right off Bay Street) of about 1,000 square feet each listed for approximate rents of $1,850 per month.

"There are a lot more older buildings with smaller spaces, (that his listed properties are competing with) so obviously they go first," he added.

GRANTS FOR BAY STREET CLEAN-UP

One of the ways to draw in businesses to the area, will be to "clean-up" the commercial strip, said Balsamini. And that is already in the pipeline via the city Department of Small Business Services' Neighborhood 360 program -- a project to strengthen and revitalize commercial corridors in the city. Bay Street will soon be fueled with a grant of $500,000.

It was one of six communities in the city to receive a grant thanks to the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce's lobbying for the area to receive funding.

Linda Baran, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce president, said the grant money will be used to beautify the area.

"That's $500,000 that will be pushed into the area over three years, which will help with everything from security to lighting and street cleaning ... I think this will help attract businesses down there," she said.

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View the photo gallery above for additional photos of the FDNY response.

By JAN SOMMA-HAMMEL

and EDDIE D'ANNA



STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The FDNY battled a fire at a laundromat in Graniteville late Monday morning.

Several units were on the scene at the Richmond Express Laundromat at 962 Richmond Ave.

A small fire in a dryer was reported at 10:32 a.m., according to an FDNY spokesman.

There were no reports of injuries and the fire appears to be under control.

Firefighters could be seen accessing the building's roof with a ladder.

Burnt dryers could be seen inside the store.
SetonElves2.jpg

Hannah Khanshali of Graniteville and Alyssa Saulle of Midland Beach are dressed as elves to serve guests at the Children's Holiday Tea and Shopping Spree, held at the Historic Old Bermuda Inn, Rossville. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Kasday sisters - Alexandria, 5, and Alyssa, 6 - were all smiles as they crossed names off their holiday shopping lists and headed over to the gift-wrapping table.

They were among dozens of young shoppers at the Children's Holiday Tea and Shopping Spree, held Sunday afternoon at the Historic Old Bermuda Inn, Rossville.

The event was a fundraiser for the Seton Foundation for Learning, a not-for-profit organization that supports special education programs for students between the ages of 3 and 21.

Maryann Lauria, an assistant teacher for 26 years with the Seton Foundation, accompanies her granddaughters, Alexandria Kasday, 5, and Alyssa Kasday, 6, at the Children's Holiday Tea and Shopping Spree. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan)

The prices were reasonable and the lines moved quickly at tables marked Men's Corner, Ladies Boutique and Sweet Treats. A popular stop was the Pet Store table, where the Kasday sisters, accompanied by their grandmother, Maryann Lauria, picked out a squeaky toy for their aunt's dog.

Kaitlyn Esposito of Spotswood, N.J., also shopping with her grandmother, Josephine Esposito of Eltingville, picked out a squeaky toy for her own dog, a Shih-Poo named Scout.

Two-year-old Peter Intravaia of Bulls Head is caught up in the excitement at the Seton Foundation fundraiser. "I love afternoon teas," said his mother, Laura. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan)

All gift items for sale were donated by the planning committee.

Founded in 1985, the Seton Foundation operates three borough schools on two separate campuses, the Joan Ann Kennedy Memorial Preschool and the Mother Franciska Elementary School on the grounds of St. Joseph Hill Academy, Arrochar, and the Bishop Patrick V. Ahern High School at Moore Catholic High School, Graniteville.

Cecilia Scalia, left, and Mary Hughes, right, join Mrs. Claus (a.k.a. Joan Saulle) at the Children's Holiday Tea and Shopping Spree, a fundraiser for the Seton Foundation. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan)

Ninety children with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorders are served by 90 faculty and staff, creating a nearly one-on-one environment at the three schools, according to Mary D. Hughes, Seton's executive director. The curriculums include academics, speech and physical therapy and skills for everyday living.

Sold out for weeks, two seatings of the Tea and Shopping Spree included a child-friendly luncheon of peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, chicken cutlet sandwiches, pasta salad, fruit salad, muffins, cookies and chocolate-covered strawberries.

Santa and Mrs. Claus made appearances and the wait staff dressed as elves to assist children with their shopping.

Kaitlyn Esposito of Spotswood, N.J., shops with her grandmother, Josephine Esposito of Eltingville, at the Seton Foundation fundraiser. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan)

Young guests enjoyed exploring the catering hall, decorated from top to bottom with 27 Christmas trees on two floors and a mechanical toy soldier at the front door.

The holiday tea was the brainchild of Old Bermuda Inn staffers Cindy Brennan, general manager, and Sandy Salerno, director of operations, with support from Cecilia Scalia, wife of Inn owner John Vincent Scalia and a former teacher of sign language at the Seton schools.

"Seton is a special place," said executive director Hughes, pleased that the fundraiser was a success and will benefit programs in the classrooms. "Our teachers and staff make sure our children have the very best."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Local organizations across Staten Island hosted holiday parties this weekend to get into the holiday spirit.

Here are a few of the holiday parties that took place:

GIOVANNI'S TRATTORIA AND VERRAZANO KIWANIS CLUB

Giovanni's Trattoria, Eltingville, partnered with the Verrazano Kiwanis Club to host their first Brunch With Santa event on Sunday with two sessions at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. More than 70 people turned out for the festivities which included a gourmet brunch, Hollywood-style snow, photo favors with Santa Claus and free toys to all children who attended.

"It's important to partner with businesses in the community," said Steve Argentine founder of the Verrazano Kiwanis club. "Our club is happy to know that children will be receiving the toys we collected this Christmas."

The Verrazano Kiwanis Club donated 50 toys for the event. The remaining toys will be given out to children who come to the restaurant with their families this week until the toys run out.

"It was a great day all around," said Frank Rapacciuolo, owner of Giovanni's Trattoria. "We look forward to giving out the toys this week and thank Steve Argentine and the Verrazano Kiwanis Club for partnering with us."

The event was held at the restaurant located at 3800 Richmond Ave.

JERSEY STREET MERCHANT ASSOCIATION

The Jersey Street Merchant Association hosted its first holiday party on Friday to celebrate new businesses that opened along the corridor and to help encourage future businesses to locate there.

The free party was hosted in conjunction with Councilwoman Debi Rose, the Staten Island Downtown Alliance, the NYC Department of Small Business Services, the Verrazano Kiwanis Club and the Mt. Sinai United Christian Church.

"This is a great event and a good way to start off the holiday season," said Vincent Chirrico, owner of Columbia Meat Market and treasurer for the Jersey Street Merchant Association. "I'm so happy to see all the merchants coming together to celebrate our community."

Approximately 120 people attended the event to enjoy holiday music, refreshments and gifts from Santa Claus.

"This whole party was donated by the merchants for the community and now we must all say thank you by patronizing their shops," said Rose. "This is only the beginning. The Jersey Street Merchant Association will be doing other great things in the future."

Those who donated to the event included: Jim McCaig, president of the Jersey Street Merchant Association; Vincent Chirrico, treasurer of the Jersey Street Merchant Association; Kennedy Fried Chicken; Family Dollar; the Verrazano Kiwanis; The Von Agency; the Staten Island Downtown Alliance; Cynthia Davis, National Action Network; and Riverside Galleria.

The Jersey Street Merchant Association was formed to promote Jersey Street, between Victory Boulevard and Richmond Terrace, as a viable retail corridor connecting the upland portion of Staten Island with the large scale retail projects taking place along the waterfront.

For more information about the association and to see available properties and demographics for the area, visit www.JerseyStreetMerchant.com or contact Wayne McDougall, Assistant Program Manager at 718-556-5300.

The Jersey Street Merchant Association was created under the guidance of the Staten Island Downtown Alliance. For more information, visit www.StatenIslandDowntownAlliance.com
A city with a fascinating yet troubled past, Berlin is a place to immerse yourself in history and culture and explore museums and galleries. Though as I found on my recent trip, theres also plenty of opportunity to indulge yourself in the capital of Germany. Here are my top ten luxurious things to do in Berlin.

1. Stay in a luxurious hotel



With its marble clad public rooms, Biedermeier furniture and glittering chandeliers, Regent Berlin is pure, classic, old-fashioned luxury. One of the most luxurious hotels in Berlin, theres also a two-Michelin star restaurant on site, a glamorous bar and a relaxing spa.

2. Shopping at Quartier 206

Located a stones throw from Regent Berlin, Quartier 206 is one the most exclusive shopping locations in Berlin.

The stunning architecture of the shopping centre alone, makes it a fabulous place to shop but it is also home to labels such as Paul Davis, Wolford, Gant and Bally. During my visit I also explored some of the fantastic artisan food brands available at Quartier 206.

Einstein Kafee was fundamental to introducing the Viennese coffee culture to Berlin and now coffee shops can be found throughout Germany. So much care is taken in the preparation of the beans and they are prepared by hand in Einsteins roasting house and delivered fresh to the shop.

I learnt exactly how cold press juice is made at Los Angeles Cold Press, a place founded by two sisters who bought the Los Angeles healthy juicing concept to Berlin.

Finally I checked out beeftub, a company that has created an indoor barbecue so theres no disturbing smoke. They do this by cooking beef in a bath tub using a sous vide method. The food I tried here is incredibly hearty and full of flavour, perfect to refuel during shopping. I didnt get time to visit myself but a trip to luxurious department store, KaDeWe was also recommended to me.

3. Discover The Christmas Markets

My trip to Berlin was actually my first ever time discovering European Christmas markets but I think its going to become an annual tradition! WeihnachtsZauber at the Gendarmenmarkt (Christmas Magic at Gendarmenmarkt) was quite literally opposite Regent Berlin and one of the most popular Christmas markets in Berlin.

Peaked white tents sit against a back drop of German landmarks such as Deutscher Dom, Franzosischer Dom, the Konzerthaus and theres festive music to entertain you as you explore the food and souvenirs on offer with a glass of mulled wine in hand.

I was concerned that the market would be a little touristy but I loved the warm feeling of walking around this gorgeous mini-Christmas village. As well as tents selling traditional Christmas fare such as hot chestnuts, waffles and gingerbread, there are glass blowers, candle makers, jewellers, milliners and other handicrafts.

4. Eat Traditional Food

After a cold morning thoroughly exploring the city I couldnt imagine anything better than some traditional hearty food to boost my energy. We stopped off at Roter Jager to sample the German / Austrian menu.



The cute interior looks like an alpine lodge and the menu uses all fresh and local products.

Potato soup for starters and roast duck leg for main course, really hit the spot after a cold and busy morning.

5. Cocktails at Soho House Berlin

When I signed up for Soho House I chose the Every House option that allows me access to all the international members club. If you have membership or know someone who does, Id definitely recommend visiting Soho House Berlin. Theres a cinema, a restaurant and a club bar to stop for a glass of bubbly.

Champagne at #SohoHouseBerlin A photo posted by Angie Silver (@angiesilverspoon) on Nov 27, 2016 at 7:25am PST



But best of all the rooftop floor has a bistro restaurant with indoor seating and a terrace leading out to a rooftop pool!

Ok, so despite the fact the pool is heated, I wasnt quite brave enough to take a dip but I did admire the gorgeous sunset over the Berlin skyline. If youre not a member, non-members can also the visit the clubs Italian restaurant, Cecconis. Though I didnt go, Im a big fan of the London and Miami branches so its definitely worth taking a look.

6. Discover Fine Dining Restaurants

Theres no shortage of fine dining restaurants in Berlin, one of the top being two-Michelin starred Fischers Fritz located in the Regent Berlin. But I was fortunate enough to try rising star, Eins Unter Nell, a restaurant with Michelin aspirations. With a name meaning One Floor Below the restaurant is all about exploring ingredients from underground but also from fields and forest.



With a focus on ingredients, the interior is fairly simple but I loved clean lines and simple Skandi-style.

With vgetables are at the heart of the menu and not so much meat and fish, Im not sure everyone will be quite on board with the concept but I loved the presentation and the lightness of ingredients. Plus the hospitality of the owners was just perfection, something that would definitely be expected as the restaurant is the project of three former employees of two-Michelin starred Berlin-based restaurant, Reinstoff.



Be prepared that not everything is as it seems at Eins Unter Nell and this dessert that looks like chocolate is actually a much healthier sweet beetroot pudding.

7. Enjoy Afternoon Tea

Looking for a quintessential British afternoon tea in Berlin? Regent Berlin is the place. With over 40 different types of tea and advice from a Tea Master Gold, you cant go wrong.

Expect traditional sandwiches, scones and cakes from afternoon tea at this luxury hotel. Check out other luxurious hotels such as Hotel Adlon, Hotel De Rome and Ritz Carlton Berlin for other fine tea offerings.

8. Shop in beautiful design stores

Berlin is home to so many beautiful design and concept stores.

As I was only in the city a short while, its difficult for me to put together guide but this one from hipshops is very comprehensive and covers some of the beautiful interiors, bookshops, and fashion stores that I popped into. For smaller and more unique shops check out Hackescher Markt, a labyrinth of eight courtyards with gorgeous specialised shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.

9. Discover the History and Glamour of the Hotel Adlon

The gorgeous Hotel Adlon Kempinski is one of the most famous in the city and it has history that reflects the tumultuous past of Berlin. Lorenz Adlon convinced Kaiser Wilhelm that Germany needed a luxury hotel that would compete with London and Paris. Built in 1907 it became a very important social centre for the German glitteratti and one of the most famous in the world. Though the hotel survived World War II, it was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1945 it was left in ruins until it was reconstructed and reopened in 1997. Its now home to a two Michelin star restaurant, a restaurant of International cuisine and an Asian-inspired restaurant.

10. Enjoy incredible Art

Berlin was famously described as poor but sexy by Mayor Klaus Wowereit, a city that may not have beauty but makes up for that in character. Famous galleries and museums house famous master pieces but personally I preferred admiring the street art that can be found in many places around the city. The art at Rosenthaler Stae and the East Side Gallery are some fantastic examples.



but you can also see little motifs, drawing and graffiti adorning buildings throughout the city.

Have you been to Berlin? Do you have any recommendations?

PIN FOR LATER:



I was a guess of Regent Berlin and Visit Berlin for this trip
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/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948

/var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f022f8a0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f011b9d8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f022f8a0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f011b9d8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0211e58)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f011b9d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f011b9d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e92824b0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02bfd28)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02bfd28)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948

/var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0262f40)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ed9eaae8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0262f40)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ed9eaae8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f02183c8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ed9eaae8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ed9eaae8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e92818b8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f025a180)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f025a180)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948

/var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612e92868d8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f02e3fc8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612e92868d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f02e3fc8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efe50880)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f02e3fc8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f02e3fc8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e9282738)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0279d38)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0279d38)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
The ACT government is looking at using hundreds of felled trees from Northbourne Avenue for public art, river "re-snagging", playground mulch and other projects.

The felling of 358 trees from the Northbourne Avenue median strip has begun to make way for the tram line.

Tree removal begins on Northbourne Avenue on Monday to make way for the light rail. Credit:karleen Minney

In about a year's time, the light rail consortium will begin planting replacement Eucalyptus mannifera trees, which are being grown to about 4m at the Yarralumla nursery before they are planted.

Meantime, the government is deciding what to do with the trees being removed, most of which are Eucalyptus elata, or river peppermint trees, planted more than 30 years ago in the 1980s.
At the beginning of this year, George Prasad launched Homegrown Me, an online marketplace to connect local food producers directly to buyers.

And now she's taking things even further, giving local producers easier access to a commercial kitchen.

Liz Cotton from Free Range by Burra Berkshires and Homegrown Me founder George Prasad at the commercial kitchen space at Westside Village. Credit:Jil Hogan

"As I was contacting other people who were in the market stall scene, the thing that always came up was the issue of accessing commercial kitchen space," said Prasad.

"I'd sort of looked into it a couple of years ago myself. But you really had to know the right people so I gave up."
Peter Dutton told radio listeners his blood was boiling when he heard that the greeting 'Merry Christmas' has been changed to 'Happy Holiday' at the Kedron end-of-year concert. This school's in Wayne Swan's electorate, inner-north Brisbane, so he probably thinks the schoolteachers there are all just part of the subversive, insidious plot that's eating away at his own weird, private vision of what Australia should be like. You know, the sort of place where black-clothed border force officers can randomly stop citizens in the street and ask them for ID.

More interestingly, nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of those living in Kedron were born overseas. Barely half the electorate bothered with religion in the latest census, but I'd bet, though, that even fewer go to church every Sunday. The place is, in other words, typical Australia, one of those marginals that Labor held by just 1.3 percent until this year's election. Then, like the nation, it swung against the government. By 4 per cent. Dutton's world-view is under challenge. His raging won't stop this.

If he doesn't want change, he should have spoken out earlier. Our major parties have conspired to dramatically boost immigration. They're hooked: it keeps the growth figures solid. This avoids a proper debate on what size Australia should be; an intellectual discussion about how big a population we can support, not some kind of coded fury directed at 'foreigners' and teachers. Dutton wants us to "rise up" against an epidemic of political correctness supposedly sweeping across the nation. He's living in fantasy.

Most of us have grown too old to believe in Santa Claus, or sparkling nativity scenes sprinkled with fairy dust. Two of my uncles were once ministers. Out of politeness I've always been a bit reticent to bother asserting religion itself is the problem. There's always been quite enough existential angst at family Christmases without deliberately introducing any more. This doesn't mean, however, that we should avoid a civilised debate about important issues.
Residents of the Florey street where a teenage girl was seriously injured in a hit and run on the weekend are calling for heavier police presence in the area.

Four years ago, a cyclist slammed into a bus full of school children on Krefft Street in the north Canberra suburb.

Residents are concerned about speeding cars.

One resident said she saw a woman lying on the ground after being hit by a car on the same street two years later.

And on Saturday night, police say a car hit a 13-year-old girl near the intersection of Krefft and Boswell streets before fleeing the scene without stopping. The young girl was in a stable condition in the Canberra Hospital on Monday.
Health experts are urging consumers to think twice about sugar-free claims made by beer giant Lion in its advertising campaign "Beer: The Beautiful Truth", seen on television and bus shelters.

The LiveLighter campaign, run by the Cancer Council Victoria and Heart Foundation, said the claim "99.9 per cent sugar free" was a "sneaky" tactic, not because it wasn't true, but because it diverted the attention away from the impact of alcohol.

"It's a sneaky strategy, a half-truth. They're telling you one side of the story, that it's low in sugar, which it is, but they haven't told you it actually is still high in alcohol, which contributes to weight and is a risk factor for cancer," said Alison McAleese from LiveLighter, which is also funded by the Victorian Government.

"Alcohol has 29 kilojoules per gram, a standard drink is 10 grams of alcohol, and the beers being advertised are regular strength, so most of the kilojoules are coming from the alcohol and can lead to weight gain."
The federal government has abandoned plans to commercialise the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's registry because it would not deliver any benefit.

The sale was potentially worth between $3 billion and $6 billion, and cancellation will be good news for about 250 people in Traralgon, where a lot of registry work is done.

Finance Minister Mathias Corman: "The election result last night has been a long time coming." Credit:Andrew Meares

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann announced on Monday the government would not proceed with the sale following a "thorough evaluation of final private sector bids to upgrade and operate the ASIC registry functions".

"The reason the government decided not to proceed with the commercialisation of the ASIC Registry is that the final bids received did not deliver a net financial benefit for the commonwealth," according to a statement from the Finance Department.
Beny Steinmetz, the Israeli billionaire who's been entangled in a long-running dispute with authorities over rights to one of the world's most valuable mining assets, was detained in Israel on suspicion of bribing government officials in Guinea.

An Israeli businessman was detained on suspicion of money laundering, a police spokeswoman said earlier by text message, without identifying the individual. He and other Israelis, who live mostly abroad, are suspected of paying tens of millions of dollars to senior state officials in the Guinean capital of Conakry, the spokeswoman said. BSG Resources confirmed Steinmetz had been detained by Israeli police for questioning.

An investigation is being conducted in conjunction with enforcement agencies in the US, Switzerland and Guinea, the police spokeswoman said.

"It is BSGR's strong belief that these allegations of bribery by the government of Guinea are not only baseless, but are a systematic attempt by the government of Guinea to cover up the endemic corruption which has blighted this country for a number of years," the company said in an emailed statement.
The 2016 federal election has given rise to many reform ideas. Electronic voting has been supported by Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten, while others have called for a radical overhaul of political donations. Another persistent idea is that every Australian should be entitled to vote, even if they live overseas. Other countries permit this, and we should follow their lead.

People are normally able to vote in federal elections if they are an Australian citizen aged over 18 years. However, there are some notable exceptions, including where a person is disqualified because they are of "unsound mind", has been convicted of treason or treachery or are serving three years or more in jail.

The vote is denied to citizens intending to live overseas for more than six years. Credit:Paul Harris

The vote is also denied to citizens intending to live overseas for more than six years. This rule was imposed decades ago on the basis that a person living overseas cannot keep in touch with local issues, and so should not be allowed to vote. This reasoning is now redundant. It has become a straightforward exercise for Australia's large expat community to read the local news, and even to participate in debates via social media.

Many Australians living overseas want to maintain a strong connection with home, and can bring a useful international perspective to our discussions. Indeed, their viewpoint is becoming increasingly important. We are highly integrated into global systems through trade and diplomacy, and our citizens can be found in key leadership positions in international organisations, multinational businesses and foreign governments. A prominent example is Andrew Liveris, an Australian businessman appointed to head Donald Trump's Manufacturing Council.
Dr Eric Fisher AM was a leader in the field of medical general practice in Australia who was still seeing patients at the age of 90. Central to his approach was a belief that emotional well-being has a significant impact on a person's health and recovery.

Rather than just treat the symptoms, Eric and his wife and medical partner Anne encouraged their patients to talk during their consultations and saw it as a central part of their treatment.

Eric Fisher, leading GP.

Eric was seen as a role model by his colleagues and held key leadership positions throughout his 67 years of medicine. He was president of the Marriage Guidance Council in 1985 and president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners from1986 to 1988. In 2006, he was bestowed life fellowship by the college and in 2010 he was awarded their most prestigious honour, the Rose-Hunt Medal. Like Sir Winston Churchill, he was a 33rd-degree mason, the highest degree conferred on members of the Masonic Lodge.

In 1991, he was appointed a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia for services to medicine as a general practitioner and for services to the community.
The stark, unpalatable reality is that the numbers of prisoners in Australia grew 8 per cent from 36,134 in 2015 to 38,845 in 2016. This is nothing short of scandalous.

The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world  with fewer than 5 per cent of the world population but about 25 per cent of its prisoners. Yet the US has started reducing the size of its prison population  quite significantly in some states, including Texas. This is because it is evident that there are cheaper, more effective ways to reduce crime.

Shipping containers being used as cells at the Dhurringile Prison near Shepparton to relieve the pressure of overcrowding in Victoria's prisons. Credit:Angela Wylie

For example, on November 8, 2016 California voted to tax and regulate cannabis  with much of this revenue allocated to "justice reinvestment". This involves re-directing money spent on prisons to community-based initiatives that address the underlying causes of crime.

Here in Australia there is a growing realisation that large prison populations are very expensive, with severe social costs for the community.
But these smaller businesses provide a financial scaffold to the economy of creation, to the political economy of ideas. And to authors like Anna Funder.

Funder spoke at the Australian Booksellers Association conference earlier this year to an onside audience who I hope took her message to the rest of the world. In it she said: "It feels like our leaders do not want people to see themselves or their country in the variety of ways that literature allows."

And that's what really worries me here. That we might structure our industry in such a way that only those working within big profitable companies will ever be paid more than a pittance for creative work. That people can take my work  or the work of those much more profound than me  and change the original purpose, use it whatever way they like, profit from it.

I understand that the federal government was annoyed that the draft Productivity Commission report on intellectual property was published just a few weeks out from the election. Apparently, it detracted from the message of jobs and growth. But this government claims it's all about innovation, about agility, about a new economy and entrepreneurship, yet these proposed changes to copyright punish creators, who innovate and are entrepreneurial every day of their lives. They have to be, otherwise they would never get a single thing published or broadcast. Writers and broadcasters were already part of the gig economy well before we were provided with a phrase that covers up exploitation of creative workers.

Last Friday, thousands of creators received a payment, from small to substantial. It lobbed into my account, very welcome in the days before Christmas; a copyright payment for work I'd done over the past few months and used in other places than the original publication. I'm used to my work being taken out of context, particularly by News Ltd columnists, but in each of these cases, my work was used as a whole and paid for in this small way.
Since the US presidential election six weeks ago, Democrats have scoured the legal landscape for ways to rollback the results. There is the fight for the electoral college, an attempt to get dozens of the delegates pledged to Donald Trump to vote for someone  anyone  else. The longer battle is taking place in think tanks and law schools across the nation, as analysts scour the constitution for clauses that will open the door to Trump's impeachment.

The electoral college pipedream came to an end on Monday. Impeachment will stalk the Trump presidency, but will be a dormant threat unless Democrats win back the Congress. Trump will become president, and his presidency will exacerbate the very problems that catapulted him into office.

Grasping at straws: Democrats are exhausting legal avenues to get rid of Donald Trump. Credit:AP

The first gilded age, which spanned the last third of the 19th century, was marked by tremendous wealth and gutting poverty, an inequality that has re-emerged in the US over the past several decades. Policies supported by both parties  though championed mostly by Republicans  have led to stagnant wages not just among the poorest Americans but for the entire bottom half of the country.

Trump's rhetoric acknowledged that struggle, at least for white Americans, but his policies will do nothing to fix it. They will, in fact, exacerbate it. But in the face of that stagnation, voters were drawn to either panaceas or despair. Whether it was the white voter in Janesville, Wisconsin, who rushed to pull the lever for Trump or the black voter in Milwaukee who chose not to vote at all, frustration with this new gilded age fundamentally shaped the 2016 election.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance is confident the state government and Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore will come to a mutually agreeable design for the light rail line and pedestrian boulevard down George Street.

Mr Constance on Monday witnessed the first section of track laid on George Street for the tram project, which is scheduled to be finished in 2019.

The design of the line down George Street has been criticised by Cr Moore, who has threatened to withhold some of the City of Sydney's $220 million contribution to the $2.1 billion project.

But Mr Constance said he and Cr Moore were not far apart in their vision for what the tram line would look like.
A man has been arrested after a 2-year-old girl was taken to hospital in a critical condition, when she was found unconscious in Sydney's west on Monday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to McCredie Road in Guildford West just before 3.30pm, where they found the girl "unresponsive".

Police said the girl was found inside a parked car after a caller phoned triple zero with a "concern for welfare".

Neighbours told Seven News they heard a woman screaming "you have killed my baby" before emergency services arrived.
Christmas Day prawn supplies will be unaffected around Australia after more tests on prawns taken from southeast Queensland's Logan River have not returned any further positive results for an exotic virus new to the country.

Major retailers Coles and Woolworths have said their prawn supplies are totally unaffected by the testing for white spot disease in the Logan River.

White spot has been found in the Logan River. Credit:Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Biosecurity Queensland said on Tuesday that testing will continue on catches from Moreton Bay and the Brisbane River.

Australia had been considered free of the disease, which can have a devastating effect on farmed prawn production.
Police hope a belt found at the scene of a "horrific" assault on a 24-year-old Polish woman in Brisbane's north can help them track down her attacker.

The woman was severely assaulted in Petrie on November 25 before making it to a nearby house with serious head and facial injuries.

The woman was beaten so badly police were unable to initially speak to her.

She was so badly beaten police weren't immediately able to speak to her.

"She had trouble identifying him because of the degree she was assaulted," a police spokeswoman said, describing the injuries as "horrific".
Painkillers containing codeine, such as Panadeine and Nurofen Plus, will require a prescription from 2018 to help prevent Australians getting addicted to the drug.

In response to growing concerns about addiction, overdoses and other harm caused by codeine, the Therapeutic Goods Administration has decided to re-schedule the drugs so people cannot buy them over the counter in a pharmacy from February 2018.

Nurofen Plus contains codeine, which the TGA says is "increasingly a drug of abuse in Australia". Credit:AAP

The controversial decision, which will anger drug companies and pharmacies that sell the products, is being introduced with a year-long lead time so people with chronic pain conditions can adjust their pain management plans with doctors.

While an original decision on the re-scheduling of codeine products was meant to be made by November last year, Fairfax Media has previously reported on a quiet push by three large pharmaceutical lobby groups for a regulatory impact statement, which delayed the decision for 12 months.
A dying killer who refuses to take HIV medication has been jailed for 15 years for murdering a lover, but is expected to die in prison within the next year.

Simon Kepenci, 39, bashed Gordon Harvey, 62, with a hammer in Mr Harvey's Fitzroy T-shirt shop, Fetish, some time between January 17 and January 19. He then set fire to the building with the victim's body inside.

Gordon Harvey was killed inside his Brunswick Street shop.

The two men met online and were in a semi-regular sexual relationship.

Kepenci pleaded guilty to murder and was on Monday jailed for 15 years, to serve a minimum 10 years, but Justice Paul Coghlan said the killer was expected to die within the next six to 12 months as he was refusing HIV treatment. Kepenci had developed AIDS and had refused any treatment since 2014, the court heard.
Once a police officer with an "impeccable" record, David Lister has had a huge fall from grace.

The former Broadmeadows senior constable became embroiled in a drug syndicate, ferrying a large amount of ice and cash to Queensland and also feeding back police intelligence to the alleged cartel leader.

David Lister leaves court in May. He admitted to trafficking ice between January 6 and April 3 this year. Credit:Luis Ascui

Lister's criminality abruptly ended in April when he was arrested at the Townsville airport with almost half-a-kilogram of ice in his backpack.

The 37-year-old pleaded guilty in the County Court in Melbourne on Monday to trafficking ice, possessing drugs and cultivating cannabis in his home.
A 53-year-old woman who was punched in the head and robbed in Melbourne's south-east, chased three teenage offenders onto a bus to get her handbag back.

Police say one male and two female teenagers, aged between 15 and 18, approached the woman about 10am on Monday as she was getting into her car at the Bentleigh Coles car park, between Vickery and Bent streets.

The male punched the victim in the head after an unsuccessful attempt to steal her car keys, a police spokeswoman said.

"The woman chased the teens onto the bus and was further assaulted before managing to retrieve her handbag," she said.
A legal hearing involving West Australian senator Rod Culleton descended into chaos on Monday morning with the embattled politician delaying proceedings by refusing to take to the court room.

Less than 24 hours after resigning from Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party, Senator Culleton demanded an adjournment in Federal Court in Perth - claiming two people in attendance were breaching violence restraining orders, taken out by his wife Ioanna.

"If you're not going to remove them, I will stand down," Senator Culleton said during a brief spell in front of the judge before walking out on proceedings.

"If you're not going to address the issue, I will remove myself, I need my wife here now. I will not be bullied."
London: There can be few more quintessentially festive places than a Christmas market, a place decked out in tinsel and holly, where parents and children come to shop and congregate in preparation for one of the Christian calendar's most family-orientated holidays.

Berlin's popular Christmas market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is just such a place - and that is precisely why, if the ramming of that market with an articulated truck is confirmed as a terrorist attack, it will resonate so deeply in Germany.

Firefighters attend an injured person after a truck ran into crowded Christmas market in Berlin, on Monday. Credit:AP

Inevitably, the sight of truck jammed into market has evoked memories of July's attack in Nice when a 19-tonne truck went on a rampage through a similarly symbolic setting - in that case the annual Bastille Day parade on the sea front promenade.

Such attacks are calculated by Islamic State to cause maximum carnage and to sow the seeds of division in western societies: to pit Christians against Muslims, Europeans against those of Middle Eastern descent.
Jakarta: Indonesian police have been accused by mainstream Muslim groups of weakening the rule of law by providing security for Islamic hardliners who visited shopping centres in the nation's second-largest city urging them not to ask Muslim shop assistants to wear Christmas costumes.

The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) - the vigilante group that spearheaded three mass protests in Jakarta calling for the city's Christian governor to be jailed for alleged blasphemy - were guarded by police when they went to seven shopping centres in Surabaya on Sunday.

The hardline group told managers at the centres of a fatwa issued by Indonesia's top Muslim scholarly body, the Majelis Ulema Indonesia (MUI), banning Muslims from wearing Christmas apparel such as Santa hats.

But police have been criticised by Indonesia's largest Islamic civil organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and human rights groups for providing security at the shopping centre visits, which some say gives legitimacy to radical fringe groups.
Washington: Pressure is mounting for a broader congressional investigation of Russian cyberattacks aimed at influencing the US election, even as a top aide to President-elect Donald Trump said there was no conclusive evidence of foreign interference.

The effort was being led by a bipartisan group of senators, including Republican John McCain, and Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate Democratic leader, who called on Sunday for the creation of a Senate select committee on cyberactivity to take the investigative lead on Capitol Hill.

Donald Trump has dismissed reports of Russian involvement in cyberattacks during the presidential election. Credit:AP

"Recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American," the senators wrote in a letter to Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader, who has said a select committee is not necessary. "Cybersecurity is the ultimate cross-jurisdictional challenge, and we must take a comprehensive approach to meet this challenge effectively."

The developments served to deepen the fissures between high-ranking lawmakers of both parties who see US intelligence reports implicating Russia as the basis for additional inquiries and Mr Trump, who continues to reject the conclusions of those reports.
Washington: Donald Trump's election victory has been made official as electors gave him more than the 270 votes needed to win the US presidency, despite a campaign to deny him a majority.

The meeting of the Electoral College's 538 members - which took place at statehouses across the country - is typically a formality. But extra drama was added to the proceedings as a concerted campaign took place among activists and even celebrities to convince electors to vote their conscience and overturn the November 8 election results.

Their efforts failed. Trump, who won 30 states with a total of 306 electoral votes, amassed enough votes on Monday afternoon when Texas electors cast their ballots, according to an Associated Press tally.

In fact, the electors who switched their votes were at the expense of Hillary Clinton. Four electors in Washington state, which she won handily, cast their ballots for someone else. Three went to Colin Powell and one for "Faith Spotted Eagle." In Texas, which Trump won, one elector cast his ballot for John Kasich and another for Ron Paul. At least one, the elector from Maine, voted for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius:--- The Board of financial supervision Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Cft) has stressed during its visit to Sint Eustatius on December 14 that the lacking visible results in terms of improving financial management must now quickly and effectively be implemented. There was willingness of Sint Eustatius to address the capacity problems, but in recent months this has not led to a well-functioning Finance department, Chairman Age Bakker stated. The temporary hiring of support did result though in improvement of the accounting processes during 2016, reason why the reports have been submitted.

During its visit the Cft met with the Executive Council and the Island Council. The Cft has noted that the quality of the financial management has improved during 2016, but this is mainly on account of the temporary support that was made available by means of a contribution from the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations. This temporary support however in the long term offers no solution in arriving at a solid Finance department. The lack of visible results to structurally reinforce the Finance department was discussed. Although the need and willingness to build up a solid and capable Finance Department has been recognized during previous visits by the Executive Council, this has so far not led to sufficiently concrete actions to actually address the problems. The Executive Council has informed the Cft further about the steps it intends to take in the short term to tackle the problems after all.

Budget implementation

During the visit the budget and accounting process were also discussed. The 2015 financial statements have been prepared and are currently reviewed by the external auditor. The projected shortfall will have to be entirely offset in the 2017 budget. The Cft has indicated that the expected deficit of around USD 631,000 for 2015 may still change as a result of the audit, and if that is the case this has to be processed in the 2017 budget.

The understanding of the budgetary execution in 2016 has been greatly improved with the assistance of the temporary support. Based on the budget exhaustion until September, Sint Eustatius expects to break even, while on the expenses side the compensation of the deficit of approximately $ 506,000 as reflected in the financial statements 2014 was taken into account. The Cft also discussed with the Island Council the increasing current liabilities for amongst others pensions and the possible financial risks that may result from these.

The Minister of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations has withheld his approval of the 2017 budget. Sint Eustatius government will have to act firmly so that in the foreseeable future it can follow-up on the decision making of the Minister of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations and the recommendations of the Cft.

Working visit STUCO

During a working visit the Cft received information about the sustainable development at the energy and water company STUCO and the impact on the public entity and the Sint Eustatius residents. The Cft congratulated STUCO director Fred Cuvalay on the inclusion of STUCO in the Durability top 100 published by the Dutch newspaper Trouw.

CFT Press Release
Global SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software Market Poised for Substantial Growth through 2021

Albany, New York, December 19, 2016: A recent study on the supply chain management has been focused in a report added to the online repository of Market Research Hub. The report is titled as Global SaaS-based Supply Chain Management Software Market Research Report 2016. Geographically, the market covers some key regions such as North America, Europe, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. By analyzing these regions, the report evaluates the growth prospects, market share, consumption, revenue etc. that influence the growth of the market during the forecast period of 2011 to 2021.

Request for Sample Report: http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=883257

First of all, the report provides brief overview on Supply Chain Management (SCM) industry and also the market segmentation. SCM, including all warehouse and inventory management, is the management of services & products that are to be delivered to the customers. In this management, software tools are used for executing supply chain transactions, managing suppliers relationships and controlling business processes. The most sustainable solution to SCM software is Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). It is a relatively new mode of ERP distribution that allows smaller firms to take advantage of offsite integrated business solution hardware.

Further, the report segments the market on the basis of types and applications. By application, it can be divided into; Private enterprises, Government agencies and Listed Companies. Additionally, the report also focuses on development policies and plans for the industry as well as considers a cost structure analysis.

Some of the benefits that will add value to the supply chain management & company profitability, includes

 No more software installations on maintenance.

 Reduces IT staffing and technology spends.

 Improves mobility.

 Immediate access to the latest software innovations, logistics supply chain tools and regulatory compliance.

In addition to helping smaller businesses and checking the cost associated with hardware maintenance, SaaS can also ensure data and system security. Low upfront costs and access to back & front office applications makes it easier for smaller and mid-sized enterprises to gain faster returns on their technology investments. As per the research study, due to growing realization of the benefits of cloud-based services, such as increasing productivity, visibility and competitiveness of an organization, the SaaS-based SCMS market grew by about 24 % in 2014 and is further projected to continue to grow at a high rate by 2021.

Browse Full Report with TOC: http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-saas-based-supply-chain-management-software-market-research-report-2016-report.html

Key manufactures of global market highlighted in the report are: SAP, Oracle, JDA, Infor, IBM, Manhattan Associates, Microsoft, and High jump, See burger and Fishbowl. Moreover, significant information on manufacturing base distribution, product type and sales area of each manufacturer are also covered.
Metalogix Public Sector Vice President Tod Tompkins Honored with ESGR Patriot Award

Posted by Publisher Hardware

WASHINGTON, DC  (Marketwired)  12/19/16  , the market-leading provider of solutions to move, manage and protect content within enterprise collaboration platforms, today announced that its Vice President of Public Sector, Tod Tompkins, has been awarded the Service Member Patriot Award by the Department of Defenses Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program. The award acknowledges Tompkins role as a civilian employer of a United States Marine Corps Reservist (USMCR) and his superlative efforts to make Metalogix a supportive and flexible work environment for USMCR Second Lieutenant (2NDLT) William Murphy.

Murphy had been working at Metalogix for four years when he decided to enroll in the U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate School. With the support of Metalogix, Murphy was able to successfully complete four courses over 16 months in order to become an Infantry Officer, whereupon he returned to Metalogix. As the new Vice President of Public Sector, Tompkins opened a new position on his team to welcome Murphy back to the company, providing flexibility in time requirements in order to enable a balance between reserve and job responsibilities.

Upon my return, Tod took the time and initiative to provide me with the guidance, oversight, background and mentorship I needed to enter the public sector market  a market that was largely foreign to me at the time  and rejoin the corporate work environment in general, said Murphy. This is the same approach Tod takes with all of his team members and customers alike. I cannot emphasize enough how much Tods graciousness means to me and how deserving he is of this award.

For these efforts, and for his ongoing support of the reservist program, Tompkins was presented with the ESGR Service Member Patriot Award last week during a private company event. Tompkins is humbled and honored by this recognition and will continue to do everything in his power to support the United States military, as a proud employer of current and former service members, and through his professional capacity as a provider of technology solutions that help the military achieve higher levels of efficiency and collaboration.

We are very proud of Wills commitment to serve in our armed services, and thankful for the dedication, discipline and work ethic that he applies to his work at Metalogix on a daily basis, said Tompkins. We are truly privileged to have Will as an employee, and will continue to do all that we can to live up to this honor, and to further foster Metalogix as a welcoming professional environment for our countrys service members.

is the market-leading provider of solutions to move, manage and protect content within enterprise collaboration platforms. Over 20,000 clients trust Metalogix to optimize the availability, performance and security of their content across the collaboration lifecycle. For more information, please visit us at or call us at +1 202.609.9100.

Metalogix is a registered trademark of Metalogix, Inc. All other trademarks used are the property of the respective trademark owners.

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A.J. Guenther

ConnellyWorks

Phone: 571-323-2585 x2130
The incident occurred in about 4:30 p..m. Sept. 18, 2021 during a child-custody exchange in the parking lot of the mini-station on Van Dyke near Nine Mile Road, according to police and witness testimony.
A guide to voter rights in Indiana. What you need to know before you cast a ballot
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An illustration of ESA's AIM spacecraft, accompanied by two cubesats, observing the collision of NASA's DART spacecraft with a near Earth asteroid.

WASHINGTON  Scientists involved with a proposed NASA mission to a near Earth asteroid say their work is not affected, for now, by a decision by the European Space Agency earlier this month not to fund a companion spacecraft.

NASA and ESA had been cooperating on a joint effort known as the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA). That mission concept involved two spacecraft: the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), to be developed by NASA, and ESA's Asteroid Impact Mission (AIM).

The AIDA concept involved sending AIM to Didymos, a near Earth asteroid about 800 meters in diameter that has a moonlet, informally known as Didymoon, about 150 meters across orbiting it. AIM, launched in October 2020 and arriving in May 2022, would study Didymos and its moonlet prior to the arrival of DART. [Potentially Dangerous Asteroids (Images)]

DART, launched in December 2020 and powered by a solar electric propulsion system, would then collide with Didymos in October 2022. AIM would observe the collision and its aftermath, including measuring the deflection in the moonlet's orbit caused by the collision. That collision is intended to test a concept called a kinetic impactor that could be used to deflect a threatening asteroid.

AIDA suffered a setback, though, when ESA member states declined to fund AIM at the agency's ministerial meeting in Switzerland Dec. 2. ESA Director General Jan Woerner, speaking at a Space Transportation Association luncheon here Dec. 9, said that in discussions among member nations, Germany pledged 35 million euros, less than the expected 60 million euros, then withdrew the funding entirely later in the negotiations.

That loss of funding put AIM below the threshold that would allow the program to continue. "And then, unfortunately, I had to cancel the program at that moment," Woerner said.

That decision has not affected work on DART, which is in the midst of a Phase A study led by the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) of Johns Hopkins University. "DART is actually continuing," said Andrew Cheng of APL, the AIDA coordination lead for the mission, during a Dec. 12 session of the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in San Francisco. "The NASA approval decision will be in March 2017, so we're funded through then."

Cheng said he believed that ESA would find some way to restore AIM despite the lack of funding for the mission at the ministerial meeting. "ESA and the ESA director general very much have the intention of continuing AIM and reformulating it in some form," he said.

Woerner, at the luncheon, said he was trying to revive AIM. "I'm still working on it at the political level, and I see some chances that we can still do it," he said. "We have a very tight calendar for the launch, but we have some weeks to rescue it, and I'm working on it."

Even if ESA is not able to revive AIM, scientists said that DART alone can still carry out its mission to demonstrate kinetic impacts. That would require observations by ground-based telescopes to monitor the deflection in Didymoon's orbit after the impact.

"DART was designed to be independent of AIM," said Joseph Nuth, senior scientist for primitive bodies at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, at the AGU meeting Dec. 12. "AIM makes it better, but all the information can be derived from ground-based instruments."

Woerner hopes AIM can still be a part of AIDA. "I think AIM is not lost," he said. "I'm convinced that this is a good mission. It's a cheap mission, but it's a good one."

Debra Werner contributed to this story from San Francisco.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
Rocket Lab says it is ready to begin test flights of its Electron launch vehicle early next year.

WASHINGTON  Launch startup Rocket Lab says it is ready to begin test flights of its Electron launch vehicleearly next year, having concluded flight qualification and acceptance of the first stage booster.

Rocket Lab announced completion of these final milestones Dec. 12, saying in a press release that the company is waiting on international launch licensing before kicking off full vehicle testing. Spokesperson Catherine Moreau-Hammond told SpaceNews the company is imminently anticipating licenses from the U.S. and New Zealand  a requirement due to its status as a U.S. company launching out of New Zealand.

Electron, the company's dedicated small satellite launch vehicle, is a two-stage rocket with a price tag of $4.9 million for 150 kilogram payloads to a 500-kilometer orbit. Rocket Lab created the Rutherford engines used in the first stage, along with all other primary components including vehicle structures, avionics and software systems in-house.

The first stage booster for Electron uses nine Rutherford engines linked together, and a single vacuum-optimized Rutherford engine powers the second stage.

Rocket Lab describes Electron as a vehicle designed for high-volume production. The company hopes to reach a launch cadence of around once a week after the first few years of operations.

Rocket Lab's Mahia Peninsula launch site, designated Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, is the company's location for the test launches. In the press release, CEO Peter Beck said Rocket Lab will continue testing Electron in the lead-up to commercial operations and is optimistic about starting the test flight program.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

News of the death of John Glenn  "the last genuine American hero"  ricocheted across the internet on Dec. 8, 2016, in less time than it had taken the famed astronaut to complete his first Earth orbit.

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NASA, the U.S. Marine Corps, President Barack Obama and many others quickly posted laudatory tributes on social media. In the first 48 hours after it was published, The New York Times' obituary garnered more than 500 online comments from readers sharing their sentiments and personal memories, many laced with nostalgia.

One commenter, "Mom," wrote about being a fifth grader, listening at school to a transistor radio on the morning of John Glenn's flight. "This was the definition of the future," Mom wrote. "I wanted to do hard math with slide rules and learn hard languages and solve mysteries. I wanted to be like John Glenn."

'Word cloud made from readers' comments on The New York Times obituary, Dec. 8-9, 2016.

But was the pioneering starman really everybody's hero?

At least in the early days after his flight, the relationship between John Glenn and his young female fans was complicated by the male-dominated cultures of 1960s America and the U.S. space program. Prevailing gender role stereotypes, limited opportunities, sexism and a lack of female role models in the world of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) all stood between girls' dreams and the stars.

'Even though I am a girl'

Recollections of Glenn are of particular interest to me as a historian undertaking a major (opens in new tab) research project called "A Sky Full of Stars: Girls and Space-Age Cultures in Cold War America and the Soviet Union." At the heart of the study is my analysis of hundreds of fan mail letters written by girls in the U.S. and USSR to three pioneers of human space flight  Yuri Gagarin, John Glenn and Valentina Tereshkova  whose respective orbital voyages around the Earth in 1961, 1962 and 1963 unleashed the imaginations of a generation of children swept up in the "space craze."

I set out to discover how girls in both countries understood their life possibilities at the dawn of the space age and how science and technology fit into their equations.

Schoolgirls in New York, 1962. (Image credit: John Glenn Archives, The Ohio State University)

Based on my research in the John H. Glenn Archives at The Ohio State University, the majority of American girls' letters to Glenn conformed to established gender conventions. Girls frequently congratulated the astronaut on stereotypically masculine characteristics  strength and bravery  while denying that they themselves possessed those qualities. Some were openly flirtatious, offering admiring personal comments on Glenn's appearance, physique and sex appeal. Some also wrote to request an autograph or glossy photo, embracing a well-established culture of celebrity and fandom that was pervasive among American girls of the era.

The letters that interest me most are from girls who were so inspired by Glenn's accomplishment that they envisioned for themselves a place in the STEM sphere. Some wrote to Glenn to report about their science fair projects or rocket design clubs and to ask for technical advice. Some expressed the desire to follow their hero into careers in aviation and astronautics, even as they expressed skepticism that such a path would be open to them.

The formulation "even though I am a girl I hope to be just like you" in various manifestations appeared as a steady refrain in girls' letters. Diane A. of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, wrote, "I would very much like to become an astronaut, but since I am a 15-year-old girl I guess that would be impossible." Suzanne K. from Fairfax, Virginia, was more defiant: "I hope I go to the moon sometime when I'm older. I'm a girl but if men can go in space so can women." Carol C. of Glendale, New York, wrote to ask "this one simple question concerning a woman's place in space. Will she only be needed around Cape Canaveral or will she eventually accompany an astronaut into space? If so I sure wish I were she."

The news that "the Russians" had sent a woman into space in June 1963 emboldened some girls to ask Glenn more pointed questions. Ella H. of Meridian, Mississippi, wrote on behalf of her junior high school class to inquire, "What were our male astronauts' reactions when Russia's female astronaut made more orbits than they? Do you seven male astronauts think that a women will go into space within the next two years?" Meanwhile, Patricia A. of Newport News, Virginia, asked Glenn outright, "Do you think that sending women into space is a very good idea?"

Glenn and the 'problem' of 'lady astronauts'

Although Jerrie Cobb never flew in space, she and 24 other women underwent physical tests similar to those taken by the Mercury astronauts with the belief that she might become an astronaut trainee. (Image credit: NASA)

While few of his replies to letter writers were preserved in the archive, those that exist suggest Glenn avoided encouraging girls' dreams of flight and space exploration.

Fourteen-year-old Carol S. in Brooklyn wrote to her "idol" to share her "strong desire to be an astronaut" and seek Glenn's advice on how to overcome the obstacle of being a girl, "a slight problem it seems." Glenn replied four months later to thank Carol for her letter, but rather than answering her query directly he enclosed "some literature which I hope will answer your questions."

A girl named "Pudge" from Springfield, Illinois sent a long enthusiastic letter sharing her plans to join the Air Force and her "thrill at the sight or sound of jets, helicopters (especially the H-37A 'Mojave') rockets or anything connected with space, the Air Force or flying." Glenn sent a friendly reply including "some literature about the space program which I hope you will enjoy," but said nothing about the viability of the girls aspirations.

Hard evidence of Glenn's position on the question of "lady astronauts" came in the form of his congressional testimony in July 1962. A Special Subcommittee on the Selection of Astronauts of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics was formed in response to the quashing of the privately funded "woman in space" program and related allegations of sexual discrimination at NASA.

A March 1962 letter from the director of NASAs Office of Public Services and Information to a young girl who had written to President John F. Kennedy to ask if she could become an astronaut stated that "we have no present plans to employ women on space flights because of the degree of scientific and flight training, and the physical characteristics, which are required."

Glenn's testimony before the subcommittee echoed that position. In his opinion, the best-qualified astronauts were those who had experience as military pilots, a career path that was closed to women. In a much-quoted statement, Glenn asserted that "the men go off and fight the wars and fly the airplanes and come back and help design and build and test them. The fact that women are not in this field is a fact of our social order." The subcommittee's final report concurred, effectively barring female applicants from consideration for the Apollo missions.

Crucially, Glenn's position soon evolved in a more egalitarian direction. As historian Amy E. Foster (opens in new tab) noted, a May 1965 Miami Herald article headlined "Glenn Sees Place for Girls In Space" quoted the astronaut as saying that NASA's plans to develop a new "scientist-astronaut" program should "offer a serious chance for space women."

Not looking like John Glenn

John Glenn, circa 1923. (Image credit: John Glenn Archives, The Ohio State University)

While much of the commentary about Glenn since his death has been highly celebratory, a subtle line of critique has reawakened questions about the ways in which gender, race, ethnicity and class have been inscribed in the history of America's space program. A woman identified as "Hope" was the lone voice in The New York Times comments to urge people to remember that the first astronauts "knew they were there because they were men, and were white, and were chosen above others who may have been just as fit but didn't look like John Glenn."

In fact, Glenn's death has helped bring welcome attention to the accomplishments of some of the U.S. space program's unsung heroes, individuals who did not look like the famed astronaut but who helped make his voyage possible. Mentions of the much-anticipated feature film "Hidden Figures," set for debut in early January, are especially noticeable.

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The movie focuses on Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughn  three African-American women of NASA who helped make John Glenn's flight around the Earth possible. As writer and social critic Rebecca Carroll put it in a tweet, Glenn became "the first American to orbit the earth bc he trusted a black woman to do the math." As of this writing, it was retweeted more than any other #johnglenn item in recent days.

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President Obama wrote in his statement on Glenns death that "John always had the right stuff, inspiring generations of scientists, engineers and astronauts who will take us to Mars and beyond  not just to visit, but to stay." The quest to broaden that group to include people who don't look like Glenn, but who aspire to his highest goals has become a national priority. NASA has diversified the astronaut corps significantly since the heyday of Projects Mercury and Apollo, and has taken conscious steps to make the agency more inclusive overall. Meanwhile, a much wider spectrum of positive STEM role models exists today both in real life and mass culture.

The excitement of a Mars mission featuring a diverse set of heroes might be just the ticket America needs to inspire a new generation of children to reach for the stars. Fill out your application here.

Roshanna Sylvester, Associate Professor of History, DePaul University

Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates  and become part of the discussion  on Facebook, Twitter and Google +. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This version of the article was originally published on Space.com.
Fifteen years ago, Galen Gisler had a gut feeling that something wasn't right about the Hollywood portrayal of asteroid impacts in the world's oceans.

"Movies like 'Deep Impact' and 'Armageddon' suggested that an ocean impact would produce a devastating tsunami that would affect everything along the shorelines surrounding an ocean basin ... but I was skeptical," Gisler, a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, told Seeker.

Generally speaking, getting hit by an asteroid is a bad day for life on Earth, even if it is a part of the natural cycle of living in the dynamic and evolving solar system. Marauding space rocks fly around interplanetary space with no regard for Earth's precious biosphere. If they have our planet in their sights, they're going to hit us. And depending on their mass and speed, they could hit us hard.

But depending on where an asteroid hits, the fallout will vary greatly. If an asteroid was predicted to hit land near a major city, we might be able to evacuate in time (and disaster response agencies have carried out drills that focus on this possibility), but the damage to society, infrastructure and economy would be terrible, obviously. But if an asteroid hits one of our oceans  water makes up for 70 percent of our planet's surface and is therefore a more likely scenario  the scope of the impact is poorly understood.

A visualization of an asteroid splashing down in one of Earths oceans. (Image credit: LLNL)

RELATED: What Happens If an Asteroid Takes Aim at Los Angeles?

Gisler is determined to better understand the realities of a massive impact in the ocean and presented his team's findings at the American Geophysical Union's Fall Meeting in San Francisco last week, showcasing the dramatic 3-D modeling results of an ocean-impacting asteroid. Never before has an impact scenario like this been studied in such detail and the simulation revealed that Gisler's original instincts had merit: devastating post-impact tsunamis we see in the movies are as fictional as the science fiction plot lines they are a part of.

"An asteroid impact is a point source and it only affects the immediate region around the impact point and moreover, to create a tsunami, you need something that disturbs the entire water column," said Gisler.

He likens an asteroid ocean impact to throwing a rock into a pond. Sure, the energy of the rock hitting the water will produce waves, but the ripples are very dispersive. In other words, they lose their energy very quickly. These dispersive waves in an ocean will be very localized and won't have the energy that a tsunami does. "It's very different physics," he added.

RELATED: Large-ish Meteor Hits Earth... But No One Notices

Tsunamis occur when there's large scale shifts of mass in the seabed, such during a submarine earthquake or landslide. These shifts cause a huge movement in a massive column of water, from the seabed to the surface, that can create wavelengths of a hundred kilometers or more, said Gisler, which is many times longer than the depth of the ocean (of a few kilometers). Tsunamis aren't very dispersive and therefore don't lose energy as they travel through the ocean basin, hitting coastlines hundreds or maybe thousands of kilometers away, often with devastating results.

But that's not to say an asteroid impact in the middle of an ocean wouldn't be dramatic.

"They're spectacular to be sure; they would produce splashes that go up tens of kilometers," he added. According to the model, a jet of water would also protrude from the ocean's surface by a few kilometers, producing rim waves surrounding the transient water crater reaching 400 meters in height. "That's awfully high! But unless it's very close to a shore, it's not going to be very dangerous."

In addition, a significant fraction of the kinetic energy of the impacting asteroid will go into vaporizing huge quantities of water, according to the team's award-winning video explaining the research findings. Water vapor is a potent greenhouse gas, so the injection of vapor into the stratosphere could linger for months or years, altering global climates.

Intense shock waves and violent winds will also wreak havoc on the surface, so the further the impact is from any populated coastal regions, the better.

RELATED: Huge Tsunamis May Have Ravaged Ancient Mars

Gisler's research adds another layer of understanding of how an asteroid impact would affect Earth and, for asteroids of 300 meters wide or less, we could use an ocean impact as a strategy to limit global damage.

"I think it gives us more options. If you find an asteroid in this size range is on a collision course with Earth, and you can't deflect it from hitting the Earth's surface, you might be able to deflect it into the middle of the ocean," he said.

Although NASA and other agencies are working to identify and track asteroids that pose a significant threat to Earth, we could be blind-sided and have little time to prepare a mission to knock the asteroid off course. But now we have more of an understanding about how an ocean impact may go down, we might be able to slightly nudge it toward a new target that will produce less collateral damage, like the middle of the ocean.

Originally published on Seeker.
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Madrid, December 19, 2016 (SPS) - Canary Islands Polisario Front Delegation said that the Moroccan authorities are trying to legitimize the occupation of the territories of Western Sahara with their proposal to share tourists with the Spanish archipelago and to promote the cooperation in this sector.

The Sahrawi delegation criticized, in a communique, the Moroccan proposal to the autonomous Spanish community to share tourists with it and to sustainably boost this sector by underlining that Morocco tries once again to involve the Canary Islands in a conflict which is not of benefit to it, on one hand, and which tries to legitimize the occupation of the Sahrawi territories, on the other hand.

The Polisario Front considers that this proposal is made to legitimize its occupation that Morocco hasnt been able to achieve in the international institutions.

The failure of the Moroccan diplomacy led by the different governments after 41 years encouraged the king to make a tour in several African countries promising cooperation projects in exchange for giving up the support to the Sahrawi cause, said the source.

After all these failures, Morocco tries to use the Canary Islands once again, as a breath of fresh air, by proposing to it fictitious projects which do not benefit the Sahrawi people. (SPS)

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NSA welcomed the exhibition and reception as an opportunity to highlight its report on the Complementary role of sheep in upland and hill areas to an audience of MPs, Government officials and invited guests. NSA is working to circulate the specialist report as far and wide as possible, following its publication earlier this year to raise awareness of the wide range of public goods and services sheep farming in marginal areas of the UK provides, It is aimed to promote understanding among policy makers and opinion formers, with the aim of working towards a positive situation where farming, environment and societal needs can all thrive.

The exhibition was situated in the Upper Waiting Hall of the House of Commons, providing an eye-catching and interactive display relating to the report. MPs and visitors could view a video summarising the report, as well as a display of items relating to the sheep industry, such as sheep management tools, lamb recipes, fleeces and skins. NSA staff members were on-hand all week to engage with individuals and answer any questions relating to the report.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, said:

We are delighted to have been given this opportunity, through the support of Neil Parrish MP and George Eustice MP, to present our report highlighting the many public goods that come from sheep farming and in particular the uplands. This audience will have the potential to offer a level of influence we considered to be crucial when we planned this exhibition, even before the EU referendum. Now its importance is even greater, as we face farming policies being restructured in light of Brexit.

We set out with the aim to convince decision makers of the unique contribution upland sheep farming provides and this report has formed the basis of many discussions around the importance of marginal areas, some of the UKs most iconic landscapes.
Dealing with Bovine TB in England costs taxpayers over 100 million a year, required the culling of 28,000 cattle in 2015 and causes devastation and distress for rural communities.

Gaining OTF status for the low risk area, covering the north and east of England, would boost trade opportunities and mean some herds require less regular TB testing, reducing costs for farmers.

This would be the first time anywhere in England has enjoyed this status, making beef exports from the UK more attractive for trade partners around the world. Achieving this status for the low risk area is a key step in the governments 25-year plan for the whole of the UK to be TB-free by 2038.

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said:

Gaining global recognition that more than half of England is TB-free will be a significant milestone in our long-term plan to eradicate this devastating disease, and will open up new trading opportunities for farmers.

We have much still to do in the worst affected parts of the country, but this shows that our strategy - combining practical biosecurity measures, a robust cattle movement and testing regime, and badger control in areas where the disease is rife - is right and is working.

Results confirm all ten licensed badger control operations achieved successful outcomes. A consultation opens today on next steps for badger control in areas that have completed the first four years of intensive culling. This will mean the disease reduction benefits we anticipate are prolonged for many years to come.

Other measures announced today as part of the governments 25-year strategy to eradicate bovine TB are:
Stamford police

STAMFORD  A city man under suspicion in the murder of his estranged wife in their Glenbrook apartment waived extradition Monday and is expected to be returned to Connecticut this week, his lawyer said.

Elmer Gomez Ruano, 32, appeared in a Manhattan courtroom to waive extradition in exchange for the dismissal of a child endangerment charge in New York, his Stamford attorney Darnell Crosland said. Crosland said his client is cooperating with Stamford police who have arranged for Gomez Ruano to be picked up Thursday when he next appears in Manhattan court.
STAMFORD  The string of smash-and-grab burglaries of city businesses continued over the weekend.

A pizzeria and a Chinese restaurant were hit early Saturday morning in the Cove and police are investigating if the incidents are related to nine similar burglaries over the past month.

Stamford Police Sgt. Thomas Scanlon said rocks were used to smash glass doors to enter Michaels Pizza at 118 Cove Road and Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant at 598 Cove Road sometime early Saturday morning.

A small amount of cash was taken from each business cash register, Scanlon said.

The damage to the windows far exceeds any proceeds of the burglaries, Scanlon said.

Michael Lionetti, owner of Michaels Pizza, said the burglar also broke a second larger window in front of the store in an effort to gain entry. Repairing both windows will cost him about $800, Lionetti said.

Lionetti said the surveillance video shows the intruder spent a significant amount of time walking around the business before stealing the $50 in the restaurants cash register.

Lionetti said hes considering installing an alarm system to scare off future intruders.

It shocks me, Lionetti said. We have a camera and everything, but the guy didnt care. He walked around like he was the owner and took his time.

Police have identified potential suspects in the nine previous smash-and-grab burglaries and plan to interview them about the latest incidents, Scanlon said.

The burglaries began about a month ago when five High Ridge Road merchants found their windows broken and stores burglarized on Nov. 22. A beauty salon on the citys East Side reported a similar burglary on Dec. 7 and three more High Ridge-area businesses were hit a few days later.

Anyone with information about the burglaries can call the Stamford Police Property Crimes Unit at 203-977-4407.
M ore than a third of London businesses are put off by the cost of apprenticeships, dealing a blow to the Governments ambitions of achieving three million new starters in 2020.

The London Chamber of Commerce and Industrys survey of more than 500 firms found the cost, which can range between 15,000 and 24,000 a year, prohibitive.

It also found a third of companies did not have the human resources support to handle hiring one.

A previous study by the body found just 6% of firms taking on apprenticeships. More than three quarters have no plans to do so.

Despite the Governments target, in 2015-16 there were 509,400 apprenticeship starts in England and firms with a payroll of more than 3 million will fund a new levy from next April to boost numbers.

The reluctance of London businesses to commit comes at a time when key industries in the capital, like construction, have the Brexit threat of restricted freedom of movement hanging over them.

LCCI chief executive Colin Stanbridge said: We were very concerned to note the low take-up of apprentices in London as we believe they have a central role to play.
B P was back on the dealmaking rampage on Monday, investing nearly $1 billion (801 million) in a huge African natural gas field that could cover Britains gas needs for two decades.

The agreement with US exploration company Kosmos Energy to explore waters off Mauritania and Senegal comes just days after BP signed a $2.4 billion deal to buy a stake in Abu Dhabis largest oilfields.

The FTSE 100 oil major is beefing up its new drilling frontiers after years of sell-offs  BP has sold assets worth $40 billion since 2010 to cover the costs of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Monday's deal sees BP acquire an almost two thirds stake in Kosmoss exploration blocks in Mauritania and one third of its Senegal exploration blocks  together forecast to hold some 50 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Thats enough to power Britains needs for 20 years, plus one billion barrels of liquids.

The oil giant called its purchases world-class deepwater gas discoveries and exploration prospectivity.

Chief executive Bob Dudley claimed that the deal could create a new liquified natural gas hub in Africa.

It has been a busy month for BPs deal-makers: as well as the Abu Dhabi stake, they have bought a 10% share of Egypts giant Zohr field for $375 million, acquired a 3% stake in Indonesias Tangguh natural gas project for $313 million, and signed off a $9 billion expansion of the Mad Dog oilfield in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oil prices have risen since Opec and non-Opec nations agreed a historic production cut this month, with Brent crude at $55.42 a barrel today.

Rival Shell on Monday sold a 31% stake in its Japanese arm to local refiner Idemitsu Kosan for 1 billion, and further boosted its cash pile by 200 million after selling its Australian aviation business to Viva Energy.
S ome of Skys biggest investors sold hundreds of millions of pounds worth of shares just days after Rupert Murdoch launched his 18.5 billion bid for the group, it has emerged.

The new chief executive of Debenhams is cutting back on some of the older fashion designers who have been selling ranges at the department store for decades as he tries to freshen up its cool credentials.

BP was back on the dealmaking rampage on Monday, investing nearly $1 billion (801 million) in a huge African natural gas field that could cover Britains gas needs for two decades.

Londons most popular restaurant chains have demanded thatTheresa May ease the crippling burdens caused by a perfect storm of soaring business rates, taxes and the weak pound.

Barclays is getting ready to show 7000 trading clients the door unless they increase the business they do with the bank.

More than a third of London businesses are put off by the cost of apprenticeships, dealing a blow to the Governments ambitions of achieving three million new starters in 2020.

Investors in Ashtead have been happy to take Donald Trumps word for it, but on Monday they cast doubt over his ambitious spending plans in the US.

Entrepreneurs

Perkbox founders Chieu Cao and Saurav Chopra say their platform drastically reduces staff.

Comment

Jim Armitage looks at why some fund managers are selling their shares in Sky.


T his week marks exactly six months since the Brexit referendum. So how much have we learned over the past half a year about our future? What comes next? Zip. Zilch. Nada. In the wake of their remarkable victory, the Brexiteers have said, er. very little. Never in the history of British politics has such a stunning victory been followed by such stunning silence.

So here are five questions that will need to be answered in 2017. Take them as my New Year checklist for any of you trying to make sense of it all.

First, will the Brexiteers start acting like winners? It really is the strangest thing but I am increasingly persuaded that at some deep, unspoken psychological level many of the leading Brexiteers would have preferred to have lost on June 23.

Listen to their spluttering indignation aimed at anyone who has the temerity to ask them for a plan. Read the splenetic bilge in the Brexit papers as they condemn anyone who disagrees with them as enemies of the people. Look at the rage with which they continue to denounce Brussels and all its works. The Brexiteers are so good at hating things, and so bad at running things. They prefer to shake their angry fists at the world rather than assume the responsibility that comes with victory.

But time is running out. In 2017 they will need to stop fighting yesterdays battles and do the messy grind of government instead. They will soon discover that taking decisions about Europe is a lot more difficult than shouting at Europe.

Theresa May's red, white, and blue Brexit

Second, will Brexit be hard or soft? It will, I regret to say, be far harder and more self-harming than it need be.

This is not because of the conventional wisdom that says Theresa Mays focus on immigration makes a soft Brexit impossible. In my view, it is not beyond the ingenuity of Theresa May and Angela Merkel  if they wanted to  to forge a new pan-European approach to immigration that deals both with the EUs porous external borders, which are of huge concern to millions of voters across the continent, and with some of the concerns about freedom of movement in the UK.

It is not as if mass migration is a new issue: a quarter of a million Belgian refugees flowed into Britain during the First World War, the biggest single influx of its kind in our history. In the Sixties, Harold Wilsons government unveiled sweeping changes to allay public concerns about immigration. As Labour leader Richard Crossman wrote at the time: Politically, fear of immigration is the most powerful undertow today. This is not a new problem.

No, the reason I believe that Theresa May will be driven towards the rocks of an increasingly hard Brexit is simply this: her claim at the Conservative Party conference in September that Britain will never again abide by the rulings of the European Court of Justice makes staying in the single market very difficult. The single market, contrary to repeated claims from ministers, has very little to do with tariffs. It is  as Margaret Thatcher rightly recognised at its inception  a single body of rules that removes the threat of 28 countries inventing their own red tape to impede trade. And you cant trade freely into a marketplace of rules if youre not prepared to abide by them. Unlike the issue of immigration, Theresa May has created a rock and a hard place concerning the single market which cannot be negotiated away, unless she changes tack.

18 months for Brexit deal, says EU's chief negotiator

Third, will public opinion change? Of course it will. No snapshot of public opinion, especially one with such a narrow margin of victory, remains exactly the same for ever. What little polling evidence there is since the referendum suggests that a large share of those who didnt vote would have voted Remain, that the margin between the two sides is even narrower now, and that many voters are unwilling to make any economic sacrifices for Brexit. Heaven knows what they will think as their gas, electricity and food prices go up next year because of the plummeting Brexit pound. No wonder hardline Brexiteers are screeching that we should pull out of the EU overnight  they know that with each passing month public opinion may slip away from them.

Will the rest of the EU implode? No. This, of course, is the real ulterior ambition for the most dedicated of Brexiteers. For them, yanking the UK out of Europe is only a means to a wider end: the destruction of the EU itself. The EU has big problems  most notably the north-south tensions within the single currency  but the Anglo-American political and media elite have consistently underestimated the determination of European governments to keep the EU going. For us, British membership of the EU has always been a pounds-and-pence calculation of costs and benefits. For other European countries it has symbolised much bigger things: peace over war, democracy after fascism, freedom after communism. Dont expect that to evaporate in 2017.

Theresa May has created a rock and a hard place concerning the single market which cannot be negotiated away

Finally, will the Brexit talks affect the economy in 2017? Undoubtedly. As the Bank of England and others have pointed out, some of the collateral damage is already in the pipeline, especially higher prices following a lower pound. Sadly, this will mean that many peoples take-home pay will be worth less just as it was finally starting to recover from the 2008 crisis.

That will hit consumer spending, and households are once again mired in very high levels of debt. Investors will get jittery as the Brexit talks stop and start. The public finances will deteriorate. I sincerely hope we can avoid a Brexit recession but it would be foolish to discount the risk. Given that Brexiteers promised voters an economic utopia, not to mention 350 million per week for the NHS, they might have some serious explaining to do.

So hold on to your hats and buckle up  reality will start to bite in 2017.
P icture the scene. Its December 19, 1938, and hundreds of Jewish children are on a heavily guarded train from Vienna to London. Had they stayed with their families, they would certainly have been killed by the National Socialists, but as they hurtled towards the UK, none of them could know what kind of welcome lay ahead.

Shortly after they arrived here  in the bleak midwinter, so to speak  the young refugees were taken to a cinema. When they walked in, they each found a chocolate bar on their seat, a Christmas present from the local community.

Just think about that for a moment. It was the eve of the Second World War, and much of Europe was succumbing to ethnic hatred and extremism. Against that backdrop, this festive offering was simply magnificent  a wonderfully open-hearted and charitable gesture.

In total, more than 10,000 Jewish children arrived in the UK, thanks to a series of rescue efforts known as the Kindertransport, to be housed by foster parents in London and beyond. (Next time youre at Liverpool Street station, check out the statues commemorating the safe passage of these child refugees.)

Today that quintessentially British spirit of generosity lives on. In recent months, around 750 refugee children  fleeing wars in the Middle East and Africa  have been welcomed to our shores. Here theyre looked after by their families and social services rather than in camps scattered across the continent.

Theresa May and her officials deserve a huge amount of credit for making this happen. The bureaucratic obstacles werent easy to overcome, and significant sums of money have been spent.

But as we look forward to spending Christmas with our loved ones, we should reflect on the fact that there is more to be done to protect child refugees. Earlier this year, Home Secretary Amber Rudd pledged that 1,000 unaccompanied minors would be allowed to come to the UK, meaning were duty-bound to bring over another 250 youngsters.

This is a fraction of the estimated 90,000 children whove travelled alone across Europe, but its absolutely the right thing to do. In the words of the Talmud, the book of Jewish law: Whosoever rescues a single soul is credited as though they had saved the whole world.

As successive reports have shown, children in refugee camps are at risk of sexual exploitation, mental illness, disease and human trafficking. One study concluded that as many as 10,000 refugee children are missing, their fates unknown.

Whats especially upsetting is that many refugee children in Europe have family members in the UK, and according to campaigning groups such as Citizens UK, could yet be brought together with their relatives in time for Christmas.

This is eminently achievable. All we need is renewed political will and continued focus from our leaders. All of us can do our bit by writing to our local MP, calling on them to put pressure on the Government to fulfil its promise.

What an incredible Yuletide gift it would be for those 250 refugee children to be brought to the UK and  wherever possible  reunited with their families. So before you finish work for Christmas, please take a minute to email your MP. If we all do that, we can show that Britains sense of compassion and humanity is as strong today as it was on this date in 1938.
Review at a glance









B rian Cox and Robin Inces annual shows combining comedy, science and music have become an institution and this years epic will take some beating in terms of diversity. No other gig has ever started with chatter about gravitational waves and ended with waves of 1980s nostalgia.

Highlights included zoologist Lucy Cooke debunking the myth that beavers bite off their testicles and geneticist Adam Rutherford explaining that it was unsurprising that Danny Dyer had royal blood as revealed on Who Do You Think You Are? as umpteen Brits are descended from Charlemagne the Great.

Stand-up came from James Acaster, whose loosely scientific research prompted him to wonder how there is prawn toast yet no prawn bread. Milton Jones found an apt quip for the bookish occasion: Ive just completed a study. It took four yearsI wont be asked to decorate again.

Cox and Ince kept the conveyor belt of experts and entertainers moving with their banter, part-professorial, part-Morecambe and Wise. As proceedings entered the fourth hour, there were fears of fines for overrunning. Ince suggested that Cox wonders if time exists, which may help them avoid penalties.

And the incongruously brilliant finale was worth the wait. Astronaut Chris Hadfield was discussing space walks when the curtains parted and Duran Duran broke into their hit Planet Earth. Even normally reserved astronomers in the audience were singing along to these genuine pop stars.

Listen to podcasts with Robin Ince and more at cosmicgenome.com.

Visit standard.co.uk/arts for the latest news and reviews from Londons arts scene

Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
D ouglas Booth says that, after almost a decade of acting in film and television, he now feels ready to make his West End debut.

The actor, who has starred in Riot Club and Noah on the big screen, will appear in Speech And Debate at the Trafalgar Studios next year.

Booth, 24, said he was looking forward to swapping film sets for the intimate space of the Whitehall venue to play a misfit teenager caught up in a high school sex scandal.

He said: I feel ready. Ive got three films coming out next year and then Im going to shoot another movie so it feels like I want to go on stage and it feels like the right time.

There is nowhere to hide but that is just how I want it. Im very fortunate in that I started working when I was 16 and kept getting screen jobs and film jobs but I always wanted to come back and this is the perfect transition.

Booth will play a gay teenage boy called Howie who joins two other members of the schools speech and debate club in a ploy to expose a sexually predatory teacher.

The actor said the show, by American playwright Stephen Karam, is a dark comedy that touches on serious issues and brought back memories of an awkward adolescence.

Im playing 18 and Im 24 now but I vividly remember those years, he said. Also I was just speaking to my cousin, whos that age, and I was saying Im going to have to come and hang out with her and her friends because it is about that very specific way you carry yourself when youre a teenager.

Booth, who will soon be seen in cinemas as real-life music hall star Dan Leno in The Limehouse Golem and poet Percy Shelley in A Storm In The Stars, is looking forward to playing a fictional character in the stage show. He said: Stephen has drawn a character that Im going to portray but it gives you a certain freedom to play with.

Speech And Debate is at Trafalgar Studio 2 from February 22 to April 1

Visit standard.co.uk/theatre for the latest news and reviews from Londons theatre scene

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S ome of Londons top chefs are trying to elevate the humble pitta bread to the realms of top gastronomy.

Chef Josh Katz, who owns upmarket kebab joint Shawarma Bar and Berber & Q, will be working with Dan Doherty of Duck & Waffle, Sam Clark of Moro, Tom Browne of Decatur and Miles Kirby of Caravan on his pitta project.

Each chef has designed a pitta, which will run as a weekly special in January. On February 5, Katz will host a Pitta Party bonanza for all four chefs.

Doherty created a duck fat-toasted pitta with crispy duck shawarma, chilli and pomegranate glaze, pickled cucumbers and onions, roasted garlic and sumac yoghurt. Browne will be serving a kibbeh-spiced pork belly with hummus, charred onion, parsley and sumac salad, with Kirby choosing a roast lamb, kimchi slaw, gochujang ketchup and mint yoghurt pitta.

30 must-try dishes in London restaurants 1 /41 30 must-try dishes in London restaurants Bone marrow on toast with parsley salad at St John Not only has this dish kicked off countless wonderful meals over the course of St Johns 25 years, but it also gets credit for putting British cooking back on the global culinary map. Roasted bone marrow, coaxed out onto toast, cut perfectly with salad of parsley, shallots and capers. A nose-to-tail revolution, and utterly divine. Whole turbot at Brat Tomos Parrys talents with a turbot first came to feverish acclaim at Mayfair restaurant Kitty Fishers, but they are now the star attraction at his Michelin-starred solo spot. This whole fish  grilled Basque-style, over hot coals and in a specially designed cage  softens as if it has melted, and is basted at the table in an emulsion made with its own juices. Benjamin McMahon Marinara at 50 Kalo di Ciro Salvo Superlatives should be used in moderation  but heck it, this might just be Londons best pizza. This under-the-radar London iteration of a Naples pizzeria serves an unrivalled marinara: just tomato sauce, oil, garlic and oregano. No need for any more  with a sauce this good and a base so fine and perfectly charred, you can stop mourning your cancelled Italian holiday at first bite. Luciano Furia Clay pot baked pork and crab glass noodles at Kiln When we say Kiln is one of the hottest spots in town, we mean it  hang over the counter at the Thai barbecue and youre not far out of range for the odd flame. Baking in the heart of the swirling heat is this must order: shimmering glass noodles, coated with a silky sauce enriched with fatty slicks of Tamworth pork belly and improbably unctuous crab meat. Lamb chops, Melabes Perhaps because its quietly tucked in among its unassuming neighbours down on the wrong end of High Street Kensington, Melabes is often overlooked by Londons food lovers. An unwarranted shame, as this partly Middle Eastern, partly Mediterranean set-up is really very good; it is somewhere to pick and choose from bits and pieces, and put a meal together yourself. The lamb chops, which come all smokey and burnished from the grill, are perfect; pink as a Vegas sign inside, but the fat all soft and dripping and delicious. A must, whatever the order. Steak tartare imperial at Bob Bob Ricard Theres Press For Champagne buttons, lobster in your mac and cheese and anything that stays still long enough gets gilded  there is no point in going small at Bob Bob Ricard. Steak tartare is a luxurious pick at the best of times, but the Imperial upgrade here comes with a dollop of caviar  even without the finishing touch, the tartare itself is one of the best in the capital. Bacon naan at Dishoom Londoners spent decades believing bacon in a bap with some ketchup (or brown sauce, but lets not have that argument now) couldnt be beaten  and then Dishoom came along. This breakfast sandwich fills a fresh naan with bacon, a slathering of cream cheese, a luxurious tomato and chilli chutney, coriander and an oozing fried egg if you feel so inclined. Hangover be gone. Cacio e pepe at Padella Five years ago, you would have thought anyone queuing for pasta in London to have lost their minds  this dish changed that. The starlet of Padellas much coveted is this plate of pici  hand-rolled fat worms of eggless pasta  with a mirror-shine sauce of parmesan cheese and pasta. Simple but unrivalled  and itll set you back just 6. Jamon croquetas at Barrafina A dish like this should be elusive  it is far too easy to eat seven portions of croquetas in a single sitting, which is why we presume Barrafina makes you queue. Very sensible. As the crunchy coating gives way to the oozing centre, enriched with the flavour of Spanish jamon (the best ham in the business), were already planning our next visit. Biang biang noodles at Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles There are oodles of noodles in the capital, but Guirong Weis triumphant take is one of the finest. First finding followers at her north London restaurant Xian Impression (soon to reopen for dine-in, but not yet), the dish of has inspired a whole spin-off restaurant in Spitalfields. Thick, hand-pulled, chewy noodles soak up all the spice and zing of the special sauce they swim in  very special indeed. Souffle Suissesse, Le Gavroche Le Gavroche  the street urchin  is perhaps not for everyone. It is a Mayfair time machine, a reminder of how things were done once upon a time. Fortunately, it happens that how things were once done was very well indeed, and lunch or supper here is a masterclass in traditional French luxury (and often, happily, includes very large glasses of wine). Staff make the place, anyone who has been gently teased by the twins pretending to be each other will know. A tendency towards the old ways does mean the cooking offers little in the way of evolution or revolution, but new, after all, isnt always better. Michel Roux Jrs cheese souffle, baked on double cream, stuns, so overwhelmingly tasty, utter decadence that clings to the taste buds. Buttermilk Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Around the Cluck / 12:51 James Cochran found his signature dish early on, but its good it should stay with him for the rest of his career. While he has chops, and can do more beyond, theres something special in the way he works with his chicken; hotly spiced, gorgeously crispy, beautifully soft on the inside. A long-standing favourite and, though 12:51 cant operate as it did before, there are tables at his new project Around the Cluck, which is operating out of the same site. Breakfast at Hawksmoor Guildhall Your Full English is not full in comparison to the Hawksmoor breakfast at the steak connoisseurs Guildhall restaurant. The mind-boggling two-person spread swaps bacon rashers for an entire smoked chop, serves its bubble and squeak with short rib, puts trotter meat into its baked beans, and adds grilled bone marrow to all the usual trimmings. Cauliflower shawarma at Berber & Q Its not often that the main event at a barbecue restaurant is the veg, but Berber & Q have achieved just that. The cauliflower shawarma here is cooked on their flaming grill until softened and charred, before being doused liberally in tahini, pomegranate molasses, coriander, pomegranate seeds and a scattering of dried rose petals. BBQ Butter Chicken Wings at Brigadiers Brigadiers is a bold, boisterous sort of place: a labyrinthine City dining room, packed to the rafters with beer and Indian food that is indisputably gutsy. But arguably its finest moment comes in one of its smallest packages  these chicken wings may be diminutive, but are mightily spiced, deftly charred and dripping with ghee-fuelled succulence. Beef brisket bun at Smokestak David Carters Shoreditch restaurant occupies itself by giving the entirety of Kansas City a run for its money on a daily basis. The star turn at this lauded barbecue restaurant is its beef brisket bun  the meat is soft and juicy, riddled with its fats in the centre, while charred and treacle-like on the outside, paired perfectly with pickled chillies. To remember it is to salivate, we assure you. Snails, LEscargot LEscargot is one of Sohos old aristocrats and in its grand, beret red dining room there is always a mischievous sense of fun  perhaps because it is still such a smart, suited, chandeliered place, and people are often drinking themselves rather silly. The clue to good eating is in the name; the snails come still clinging to their shells and submerged in their butter and parsley sauce. Dive in; you will emerge stinking gloriously of garlic. It wont matter a jot; roll on the red wine and settle in for a long, comforting night. Confit potatoes at Quality Chop House Yes, there are some high quality chops on offer at this 150-year-old Clerkenwell restaurant but blimey, leave room for the chips. Fine slices of potato are stacked into architecturally sound wedges, and confited until shatteringly crispy on the outside and devastatingly soft in the centre. They have been much imitated in recent years, but never bettered. Smoked eel sandwich at Quo Vadis Jeremy Lee cooks many things to a legendary level at Quo Vadis  his pies could so easily have also made this list  but he gets the nod here for his unrivalled take on the fancy sandwich. Smoked eel, horseradish cream and Dijon mustard, served with red onion pickle  a combination so popular Lee says he nearly ran out of eel on post-lockdown reopening. Classic bao at Bao London has buns in abundance, but we still bow down to the fluffy superiority of Bao. The Taiwanese restaurant has become a cross-town favourite, thanks to its pleasingly pert rice buns (they are genuinely very pert, no crassness intended) and carefully considered fillings. The classic order comes filled with braised pork, fermented veg, coriander and a dusting of peanut powder. Carol Sachs Potato and roe, Core by Clare Smyth Clare Smyth has a knack that must infuriate other chefs; she is able to take the simplest of ingredients  say, a single carrot and a smattering of lamb mince  do something devilish with it and charge rather a lot for it; so good are the results, though, that few mind. Smyths sorcery is perhaps best witnessed with her signature, the potato and roe. It is simply a potato on a plate in a little sauce, but then it is also perhaps the best potato dish in the world; it has this wonderful salty richness, a certain seaside intenseness. It is glorious; so too is the smoked chicken that tends to come as an amuse bouche. Youll be treated here. Omelette Arnold Bennett Dont worry, no Arnolds were harmed in the making of this dish. Alongside impeccable service and an arguably perfect dining room, you could add another highlight to your breakfast at The Wolseley by ordering this creamy, haddock-filled dish, named for the writer who inspired its creation while staying at the Savoy. Fish pie, J Sheekey Long an actors favourite, J Sheekeys glamour has never lost its lustre. Its kept its regulars and charmed newcomers with a menu that plays the greatest hits of fine dining favourites. Seafood is Sheekeys thing; simply done sole is beautiful here, crab comes three ways, brill brushed in butter has a meatiness thats beyond satisfying. The fish pie is famous though, and rightly so; beneath the flaking pastry is a sea of cream, mustard and white wine, in it bobbing cod, haddock and salmon. It is simple but never fails; it does on its own for lunch, but is a failsafe at supper, too. John Carey The Ari Gold at Patty & Bun Theres a cheeseburger on every high street in the capital  but not all of them are created equal. Patty & Bun has got the classic combination down to a tee with its curiously named Ari Gold burger: a fat, 35-day aged patty is served medium rare, and topped with gooey American cheese, smokey house mayo and tangy pickled red onions. Xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung Few dishes in the capital have been known to cause queues of four hours. Thats exactly what the world-famous xiao long bao dumplings did when top Taiwanese restaurant group Din Tai Fung first opened in Covent Garden. An intricately folded out layer (made by chefs trained for at least 18 months) gives way to succulent meat and a broth you could take on by the bowlful. Pig's trotter, the French House Upstairs in the Soho local, Neil Borthwick is quietly running one of the areas best kitchens. He orders in particularly good oysters, does brilliant things with brill and with his pigs trotter, has a dish that is rich and fatty, but with a beautiful salty cut that makes it madly moreish. The menu tends to change often upstairs in the French, but have this if its on. That little dining room is somewhere to go in early for lunch and stay until late, eventually spilling down into the pub below, to drink pints  they do pints now, not just halfs  all while merrily reliving the joys upstairs. Peter Clark Dover sole with crab butter at Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill There are so many delights at Bentleys, its tricky to pick a single one. This could so easily have been a plate of rigorously sourced oysters, the fish pie, the decadent Royal seafood platter (pictured). It is however, the Dover sole that wins. A sublime piece of fish always, expertly cooked without fail  choose it either filleted with beautiful crab butter, or grilled and whole for a simple pleasure. Over in the City, Corrigan does similarly brilliant things with lobster at Daffodil Mulligan. Ragu, Lina Stores Sohos Lina Stores  the pasta bar, not the longstanding Italian deli it comes from  is the sort of restaurant one longs for; small, fun, friendly, not too pricey. They do small plates of near perfect pasta; their ragu, whether lamb or veal, is a gem. A good ragu is hard to find  too often theres too little meat, or meat not cooked for long enough  but here, they spend the time over it, cooking slowly, carefully. No restaurant can compare with a Nonna, but Lina gets gratifyingly close. Porterhouse steak, the Guinea Grill London is not short of steakhouses, but the Guinea does not number among them. A pub  a proper one  it is tucked down a Mayfair sidestreet, away from everything and yet still perpetually busy. Besides the small bar is a dining room that looks much as it must have done when the likes of Sinatra was in (or Bette Midler, or Kylie, or Regan, or, or, or), where theyve served prime Aberdeen Angus cooked on a smoking hot grill. The Guinea is all about having a good time  pints, red wine, brandies, the lot  but they cook beautifully, and their handling of a good piece of beef is second to none. Puree de pommes de terre, Le Comptoir Robuchon The late Joel Robuchon may have been the most decorated chef of his and perhaps any other era, but his signature stayed humble  mashed potato. Until youve had it, it is hard to believe it could be quite so good; mash, after all, is mash. No matter the scepticism, it will always surprise; it is almost silly that so little could taste of so much. A side, it will match almost everything on the menu; of which, the lamb with aubergine on the menu of classics is extraordinarily good.

Clark opted for lamb shish pitta with tomato and cinnamon, yoghurt and chilli butter, burnt aubergines, pomegranate, coriander and pine nut salsa.

Katz said: A stuffed pita kebab has huge nostalgic value for most people.

The 29 tickets are available at billetto.co.uk

Visit standard.co.uk/restaurants for the latest news and reviews from Londons food scene.

Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
A poet and campaigner who will become the first British Muslim to travel to space has penned a poem to highlight the plight of the homeless in London.

Hussain Manawer, 25, from east London, has written Streets Of London and recorded it on video to a piano track from Hollywood film score writer Moghul Veyron.

Today he backed the Standards Christmas campaign to help charity Centrepoint launch a helpline to give young homeless people vital support.

Mr Manawer, who will travel to space in 2018 after winning an international competition by delivering a speech on mental health, said: I came across a poet once called Rhymestein, he is an incredible talent.

Hussain Manawer: The poet was inspired by the plight of the homeless

"He was homeless. I was inspired by his wordplay. But the fact that he was sleeping outside brought home that this problem lives amongst us. Its a very big problem.

A lot of the time you feel powerless. I just dont think its fair - we should all have access to equal things.

In his poem, he says: Let me walk through the streets of London, where life can be so tragic. The stories of the unheard live on our pavements and fight against the midnight magic.

Centrepoint: Monique's story

Supporting the Standards campaign, he added: Its incredibly important. The most important thing you can do is to speak to someone. No-ones going to judge you. You will just have a listening ear.

Mr Manawer was at Centrepoints Sleep Out, where more than 1,000 people slept rough on the Greenwich Peninsular to raise money for the Young and Homeless Helpline last month.

Homeless appeal: The annual Centrepoint sleep out at the Greenwich Peninsula. / NIGEL HOWARD

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.
A young woman today told of the horror of being driven out of her home in south London aged 16 by her parents because she was gay.

Charlotte Smith*, 24, said her mother changed the locks soon after she found her kissing another girl.

She had come out to her conservative, church-going Nigerian parents several months before.

Charlotte said: Dad thought it was a phase. Mum thought it was a joke.

Centrepoint helpline pkg

But then her mother found her with the girl at home: Mum started sort of smacking me, saying, Not in my house, not in my house.

"I had to leave and spend the night with my aunt. When I came back home, it was tense. Mum wouldnt speak to me.

For several weeks her 14-year-old brother would let her in and she would sneak into her room to sleep - until he was forbidden to help her.

She said: One night no one came to the door. My brother told me, I cant do this any more. He would get in trouble with mum if he let me in.

After sofa surfing at a friends house she sought help from her local authority. Initially, the council didnt want to take me on, said Charlotte.

Centrepoint: Monique's story

They just told me, Go back home, not understanding that was no longer an option. I was grieving the loss of my family. I felt isolated, like the black sheep of the family, the cause of all problems. It was hurtful.

She spent time in a bedsit on a sink estate, with a shared toilet with faeces all over it before being referred to safe, clean accommodation with Centrepoint.

"Helped by the charity, Charlotte has moved into a housing association flat and found work as an administrator for a construction company. They have helped her to a reconciliation with her family.

She said the Young & Homeless Helpline would be vital as she had not known where to go for help.

Young and homeless: Charlotte's parents could not accept that she was homosexual

While she is proudly out as gay, she said people should not be fooled that society was becoming more accepting of homosexuals  especially within the family home.

She said: I have about five close, close friends who have been kicked out of the house because of their sexuality. One or two were beaten out of the house. I know people where their family tried to send them to Africa to fix them.

* Name has been changed to protect her identity
They visited The Mix, Centrepoints partner charity for the Evening Standards Young and Homeless Helpline appeal, to thank volunteers.

The royals also attended the Heads Together Christmas party, hosted by the Mix.

The new helpline will, for the first time, give young homeless people, and those at risk of ending up on the streets, a national freephone number for advisers who can link them to the services they need.

The Royals visit The Mix 1 /17 The Royals visit The Mix The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined Prince Harry at a visit to The Mix. Andy Rain/EPA The Duchess dressed in a festive red and green dress and the Duke and Prince Harry wore dark blue suits. Yui Mok/PA The Duchess of Cambridge attended a training session for volunteers on hosting online live chats. Yui Mok/PA The royals also attended the Heads Together Christmas party, hosted by the Mix. Kensington Palace/PA The three joined the Christmas party Kensington Palace/PA The Duke attended a session with Centrepoint counsellors Kensington Palace/PA The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry during a visit to The Mix in London, where they attended the youth charity's Christmas party Alastair Grant/PA The Duke of Cambridge during a visit to The Mix in London Alastair Grant/PA The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to The Mix in London Alastair Grant/PA The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to The Mix in London Alastair Grant/PA Prince Harry during a visit to The Mix in London, where he spoke with staff and and young people Alastair Grant/PA The Duchess of Cambridge arrives for a visit to The Mix in London Chris Jackson/Getty Images The Duchess of Cambridge receives a bouquet as she arrives for a visit to The Mix in London Yui Mok/PA

On arrival at the Harrow Club, a centre for young people in west London, the royal party - the Duchess dressed in a festive red and green dress and the Duke and Prince Harry in dark blue suits - were met by both volunteers and those who use The Mixs services.

The Mix: Kate, William and Harry visited the charity and learnt about how it helps young people (PA) / Kensington Palace/PA

They were then shown how the charity connects young people with experts and their peers for advice on everything from jobs to relationship problems and drugs and why it will be such a key partner for delivering the new homelessness helpline.

Christmas party: The Duchess wore a festive red and green dress (PA) / Yui Mok/PA

The Duke attended a session with Centrepoint counsellors, where he asked about what more could be done to raise awareness of the services available to young people and was told how the new helpline could make a real difference.

Prince Harry went to a role-playing session on how best to help young people who might feel suicidal.

Centrepoint helpline pkg

The Duchess of Cambridge attended a training session for volunteers on hosting online live chats.

The three then joined The Mixs Christmas party, making decorations, drinking tea and listening to music played by a DJ.

Royal visit: The Mix is a partner charity to youth homelessness charity Centrepoint (PA) / Yui Mok/PA

We are delighted that their royal highnesses joined us, said Chris Martin, The Mixs chief executive.

One of the problems young people face is the difficult and chaotic journey trying to get information. At the moment about 20 per cent of the calls we receive are about homelessness.

Were working side by side with Centrepoint, and their counsellors are helping to train our volunteers to be even more efficient at dealing with homelessness. A single helpline with a lot of expertise, which can tell young people where to go and what to do  and also provide listening support will be hugely powerful.

Centrepoint campaign: Streets Of London Poem | Hussain's House

The Mix, which helps people aged under 25 facing issues such as drug dependency, mental health problems or family breakdown, will work with Centrepoint to deliver the helpline.

The two charities will share a call centre and work together to answer phones.

Callers will be passed between the services depending on the type of support they need.

The Evening Standards Christmas appeal was launched in response to a call for action by Prince William, Centrepoints patron, in November, for more to be done to combat the shameful levels of youth homelessness.

If we are serious about ending homelessness, Prince William said, the most effective solution is to prevent people becoming homeless in the first place.

Currently more than 150,000 young people seek help with homelessness from their local authorities each year.
I didnt expect the Tory peer Julian Fellowes  Baron Fellowes of West Stafford  to be quite as camp he is, sitting before me, spooning multiple sugars into his coffee because I have left my Hermesetas in my evening trousers.

It adds an unlikely shade of pantomime dame to the Oscar-winning author of Gosford Park and Downton Abbey and undermines his efforts to persuade me that he has always been serious, out of step with his time  a man who, essentially, wanted to be a 40-year old, even as a child.

And as the world anticipates the long-promised film version of Downton (I am very keen on the idea and the cast is keen. Were just waiting for the go- ahead from NBC Universal), Fellowes, 67, seems in general rather content. School of Rock  the musical he wrote with fellow peer Andrew Lloyd Webber (they first discussed the collaboration in the Lords)  recently launched in the West End. People were so surprised that I did it, he says. I mean, it wasnt as if Id founded a hula dance group.

He gurgles with pleasure that he made it in show business at all after a stint as a not very good actor, and he puts his entire career down to luck. I think ones temptation in these encounters is to tell your life as if youve overcome all these difficulties but really Ive been very lucky. There are a hell of a lot of people out there who are more talented than I am who havent been lucky.

But luck came late. He was 52 when Gosford Park came out. A number of other writers, including Tom Stoppard, had turned it down. Before that, he claims his career was stalled by the fact that his graduation from drama school was badly timed with the rise of the working-class hero. Alan Bates, Tom Courtenay, Albert Finney  these were the exciting people. I wouldve fitted in more easily 15 years earlier.

Of course, Fellowes, with his incredibly privileged childhood of ponies and birthday cakes, was a diplomats son whose family had a townhouse in South Kensington and a vicarage-y type house in Sussex (although there wasnt any great money going on).

Downton Abbey (CARNIVAL FILMS ) / CARNIVAL FILMS

With this in mind, he wants me to imagine his extreme discomfort growing up in the swinging Sixties  an era he sums up as a girl on a top of a yellow taxi covered in shaving foam.

The whole thing was so incredibly boring, he baritones, particularly the dope smoking, which happened all the time after dinner. I was in Cambridge in 1968 and there was a cloud of marijuana hanging over the city. People would say things that werent funny and then theyd laugh and then everyone would laugh, except you, because you werent smoking. And you would think: Jeepers, how can I get out of here?

Best TV dramas 2016 1 /38 Best TV dramas 2016 The Missing The addictive and twisty second series of the BBC's crime anthology series BBC/New Pictures/Robert Viglasky Dark Angel Joanne Froggatt stared as Victorian mass murderer Mary Ann Cotton in this ITV drama ITV Close to the Enemy Stephen Poliakoff's post-war drama thriller BBC/Little Island Pictures Ordinary Lies The BBC anthology drama returns with more twisted tales BBC/Red Productions/Adrian Rogers The Night Of Riz Ahmed stars in HBO's critically acclaimed crime mini-series HBO Cold Feet The classic ITV comedy-drama returns - and it's just as good as it ever was ITV Victoria ITV have given Poldark some stiff competition with this period drama about a young Queen Victoria ITV Poldark The BBC's hit drama returns with more brooding, and less naked scything BBC/Robert Viglasky One of Us The BBC kept everyone guessing with this claustrophobic four-part whodunit Ripper Street The fan-favourite Victorian police drama returned for Series 4 BBC/Tiger Aspect 2016/Bernard Walsh The Secret Agent Toby Jones led the cast in the BBC's Joseph Conrad adaptation BBC/World Productions/Mark Mainz/Matt Burlem The Living and the Dead The BBC's gothic romance debuted in full on iPlayer BBC Preacher AMC's adaptation of Garth Ennis' cult comic book is available week-by-week on Amazon Prime Amazon / AMC Versailles A raunchy royal romp around the court of King Louis XIV, spicing up Wednesdays on BBC Two Canal +/ BBC Locked Up The Spanish prison drama came to the UK thanks to Channel 4's Walter Presents series Channel 4 / Global Series Peaky Blinders The Birmingham-set gangster thriller was more popular than ever in its third series BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky The A Word The BBC gave us a nuanced and emotional take on autism BBC/Fifty Fathoms Marcella Anna Friel stars in ITV's British take on the Scandi-noir thriller ITV Grantchester James Norton is back as the crime-solving vicar ITV / Lovely Day Stag The comedy-thriller from the team behind The Wrong Mans is both hilarious and chilling BBC/Des Willie/Hal Shinnie/Matt Burlem Vinyl Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger present a glossy drama about the Seventies music industry HBO American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson Cuba Gooding Jr leads an all-star cast in a dramatic re-telling of the 'trial of century' BBC/Fox Happy Valley Sarah Lancashire returned as Sgt Catherine Cawood for a second series of the gritty crime thriller BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall The X Files Mulder and Scully return for a brand new set of mysteries War and Peace The BBC's epic adaptation of the Russian literary classic BBC/Mitch Jenkins Call the Midwife The BBC period drama moved into the Sixties for Series 5 BBC/Neal Street Productions/Sophie Mutevelian Dickensian Charles Dickens' most famous characters collide in this historical soap BBC Jericho ITV's British western set in the wilds of Yorkshire Silent Witness The hugely popular detective drama returns for a 19th series

Everyone else was lighting spliffs, enjoying free love and dropping out. I remember thinking that theyd got it wrong with this idea that getting on and being successful and making money was not going to matter. I thought, But I bet it is.

But just as Im buying the idea that he was a stuffed shirt in black tie reading the FT while everyone else was shaving their heads and going to India, he ruins it all by confessing to a phase.

This included growing his hair Mick Jagger-long and trying to wear pretty outrageous outfits brought from shops in the Kings Road and Carnaby Street. I had a shirt covered in hamburgers, he says. The breast pocket was an embroidered hamburger. And I had a hamburger on a thong around my neck.

Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria / PUBLICITY PICTURE

And later he admits that he was once at a party in the Kings Road where everyone was spiked and went mad. So Ive eaten a hash cake, he concludes. You couldnt imagine that now, could you?

Well actually I could. Theres something about Lord Fellowes thats quite mischievous. Despite all the fustian bluff, hes not as conventional as hed have you believe.

It turns out to be fabricated nonsense that he railed against blue jeans, as was once reported, when actually he couldnt care less what anyone wears. (He mutters that inventing opinions for people is dishonourable, then checks: Are we allowed to say dishonourable any more?)

And although he is married to a former royal lady-in-waiting, Emma Kitchener, descendant of the belligerent war hero Lord Kitchener, has a son called Peregrine and lives in a splendid house in Dorset, it doesnt stop him taking pops at the Establishment.

As president of the Thomas Hardy Society, hes currently battling Prince Charles over a plan to built 100 Arts and Crafts-inspired houses on a patch of land next to Max Gate, the home where Hardy lived, died and wrote, among others, Tess of the dUrbervilles and The Mayor of Casterbridge. (Far from the Madding Crowd is Fellowess favourite  in that its the only one that doesnt actually depress you).

Gosford Park / PUBLICITY PICTURE

He was a Debs Delight back in the day, so its no surprise that he ended up penning scripts centred on rich families who lived in big houses.

But he also enjoyed shining a light on the lives of all the characters downstairs that made up the beehive of the grand family seat. If anything, he sees those people as more interesting in some ways, all these people working all the way around the clock to make the engine happen.

And he wont stop rattling the cage of the aristocracy over male primogeniture, something he finds splutteringly inexplicable in 2016. I am so surprised its legal. I dont agree with the total exclusion of women from anything, he continues. You have to separate those who dont approve of hereditary titles full stop  which is a perfectly valid argument  but while they do exist, I dont really see the logic of the exclusion of women.

Initially he was spurred on by the case of his wife  were titles not sexist, she would be Countess Kitchener. But I dont want to make it sound as if I lie awake in bed worrying about it. (What does he lie awake thinking about? Why I am so fat.)

I suggest hes an unlikely champion of equality of the sexes. He regards me gruffly, with an eyebrow raised. Hes hugely pro-women: women in the army, women in politics. He loves Theresa May  although she has an Ariadne-like task to steer her way though Brexit.

He points out that those lady baronesses who are in the House of Lords in their own right are not given equal treatment to their male counterparts because the wives of life peers all have a courtesy title. In the case of women, husbands get nothing. Its an issue that a lot of people mind about.

On the other hand, he drawls, at least were not in Aleppo.

But later, out of nowhere, he comes back to the subject of women again, while saying how important it is to feel safe, and those with that luxury often forget how it is for others, such as those suffering domestic abuse.

Those who have jobs and happy families and so on can forget how important it is to feel safe. When your husband hits you, [then] cries and says he cant imagine how he did something so terrible and how hell never do it again and so on, you know what it is to be unsafe. You know deep down that hes broken a barrier and you can never feel completely safe again because if he gets sufficiently angry, he might do it again.

While a Brexiteer, Lord Fellowes says hes determinedly pro-immigration. And I feel this country not only benefits from immigration but has always done so.

Lord Fellowes says hes determinedly pro-immigration" / ITV

Having Cairo on his own passport as his place of birth has caused its own problems at immigration, he adds. I was stopped in the US and they said, Do you still have friends in Cairo? And I said, No, because I left before I was one. And they said, Do you still have any friends in Cairo? And I said, Obviously your infancy was much more social than mine.

Of course, one lesson we should all learn is never joke with an immigration officer. I was there for hours.

Another valuable lesson, he says, is the importance of re-invention. I dont agree with sending a child to the same school from nought to 18 because at certain points theyll want to get rid of the person they were at that school.

I had periods of re-invention. After Id been at school in Sussex and Yorkshire and in the shadow of my brother, I found a new gang in London. I was able to be me without being compared to my brother. So it felt very liberating and good fun and a happy time. I think that being able to be re-invent is essential, actually.

Hes so bombastic in some ways, I ask if he was ever afraid of anything? He says he had a subterranean fear of going blind  something he muses may have contributed to the charity work he does with the RNIB now. His stepmother went blind, which caused him to redouble his efforts on behalf of the charity (he fundraises and reads, in that voice of rolling thunder, stories for its audio tapes).

As a child, he says: You often saw wounded and blind soldiers begging or shaking tins. They were a common sight on the streets of London. I had a nanny who said, Dont look at them, and my mother when she heard got angry. She said, No, do look at them. And smile.

Find out how you can support RNIBs Talking Books service at rnib.org.uk/sponsortalkingbooks

Follow Charlotte Edwardes on Twitter: @chedwardes
I t was a year that was big for portmanteaus but bad for general sanity.

If youre struggling to comprehend everything that happened in 2016, Penguin has performed a feat of extreme publishing and quickly churned out a handy guide called F*ck You, 2016: A Look Back on the Worst Year Ever. The book aims to be an homage to a year of unparalleled cockhattery, f**kmuppetry and s**tcombobulating world events.

Although AD79 (Pompeii), 1520 (smallpox) and 1845 (Irish famine) might have something to say about that, 2016 is definitely up there.

We even had a signature disease thanks to Zika. Relive the horror with the top 16 terrible moments of a year well all be glad to see the back of. Heres to 2017. It cant get any worse... can it?

Brexit

The big one. After the threat of Grexit and the spectre of Frexit, Spexit and Whateverthef**kelseexit, here was something real and tangible. There was the mess of the EU referendum followed by possibly the most significant historical decision of our lifetimes, and bolstered by a chaotic Tory leadership battle. Waking up at Glastonbury it was clear that (based on overheard phone calls) no one believed the news until it had been confirmed by their mum.

Londoners react to Brexit: 'I'm upset, disappointed and disgusted'

The casualties are yet to be determined but things arent looking good for Marmite or Toblerone. Great for jam, though.

Boris Johnson speech on Brexit

The Donald

Round-up of Trump's most infamous comments in the run-up to his presidency

The second lightning strike hit with all the might of inexplicable hair and voracious misogyny. The President-elect of the most powerful country in the Western world unashamedly applied reality TV tactics to real life and got hired. The end is nigh.

The Donalds hair

A feat of hairspray. Some have speculated that the hair is not in actual fact real because it moves on its own accord. Hopefully it will resist pressing the nuclear button.

Hair-raising: Donald Trump / John Minchillo/AP

Nigel Farage

Celebrating 2016: Nigel Farage / Stefan Rousseau/PA

While David Cameron will go down in history as the guy who jumped ship, Farage, confusingly, has achieved more of his political goals than almost anyone else. Short of becoming an MP, that is. He topped off the year with Ferrero Rocher celebrations at The Ritz to remind us all that Trump had suggested he should be ambassador to the US and that he remembers an old advert from 1993.

Nigel Farage is given Ferrero Rochers as a thank you for Brexit

David Bowie

David Bowie tributes in Brixton FiNAL

Alan Rickman. Terry Wogan. Harper Lee. George Martin. Paul Daniels. Johan Cruyff. Ronnie Corbett. Victoria Wood. Prince. Muhammad Ali. Caroline Aherne. Gene Wilder. Leonard Cohen. And now  Zsa Zsa Gabor.

David Bowie's iconic style - in pictures 1 /40 David Bowie's iconic style - in pictures 1960s In an embroidered short-sleeved jacket Dezo Hoffmann/Rex June, 1964 Posing for a portrait Dezo Hoffmann/Rex May 19, 1968 In mime at The Middle Earth Club in Covent Garden Ray Stevenson/Rex January 5, 1969 Wearing a knitted jumper and dishevelled hair at home in Kent Ray Stevenson/Rex 1972 In a bright ensemble and red lace-up boxer boots for a performance on ITV television show Lift Off ITV/Rex 1973 In Paris without his eyebrows, which he drunkenly shaved off when glam-rock band Mott The Hoople rejected a song that he had written for them Tony Grylla/Rex 1973 Performing at Earl's Court Ilpo Musto/Rex 1973 Performing at Earl's Court Ilpo Musto/Rex 1973 Posing for a photo still R Bamber/Rex June, 1973 In concert at the Hammersmith Odeon Ilpo Musto/Rex 1973 Performing Roger Bamber/Rex 1974 With his then-wife, Angie, and son Zowie Roger Bamber/Rex 1975 At Hilversum TV studios for 'TOP POP' Barry Schultz/Sunshine/Rex 1975 At Hilversum TV studios for 'TOP POP' Barry Schultz/Sunshine/Rex April 25, 1976 In Helsinki, Finland IBL/Rex 1978 Walking through Heathrow Airport Bill Howard /Rex March, 1983 At a 'Serious Moonlight Tour' press conference in Claridge's Andre Csillag/Rex 1987 Posing for a portrait Courtesy Everett Collection/Rex 1990 With girlfriend, Iman Sipa Press/Rex November, 1991 Performing at Brixton Academy Andre Csillag/Rex 1991 Iman and David announce their engagement Richard Young/Rex 1991 Performing in Paris Mephisto/Rex July, 1997 Phoenix Music Festival, Stratford Upon Avon Piers Allardyce/Rex December 9, 2002 With Iman at a film premiere in New York Matt Baron/BEI/Rex December 15, 2003 Performing at Madison Square Garden Startraks Photo/Rex February 23, 2004 Performing in Adelaide, Australia Brenton Edwards/Newspix/Rex January 19, 2006 The opening of 'Lou Reed's New York' exhibition Startraks Photo/Rex May 5, 2008 With Iman at the Met Gala Richard Young/Rex November 4, 2009 Walking through New York Startraks Photo/Rex November 5, 2013 With Iman at MoMA's 6th Annual Film Benefit Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com/Rex

The Bake Off fiasco

Capitalism even ruined cakes. As Bake Off heads to Channel 4 with whatever remains of the format (from what we can tell: a tent, a Magimix and Paul Hollywoods tangible desperation) we can at least look forward to what Mary, Mel and Sue will get up to next. Bets are on something revolving around innuendo and wry smiles.

Twitter reacts: BBC loses The Great British Bake Off

Top Gear (in its new incarnation)

Top Flop: Matt LeBlanc failed to please Top Gear fans / BBC Worldwide/Gus Gregory

We thought it couldnt get much worse than Jeremy Clarkson lamping a producer in the face after some lukewarm steak but it could. Chris Evans, Eddie Jordan, Matt LeBlanc and all 37 other new presenters failing to muster even a simmer of charisma between them.

Amazon launch trailer of The Grand Tour

Brangelina

And Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, Cara Delevingne and St Vincent and Zoe Ball and Fatboy Slim. Celebrity love died this year in a hailstorm of highly conscious uncouplings which have left the red carpet full of singletons. Perhaps expect an A-List version of Take Me Out in the New Year?

Brangelina split: What you need to know

Pokemon GO

The beginning of the end for human interaction. In August we grasped the concept of augmented reality, caught a few Spearows and walked into several lampposts but the truth was we were all bored after five minutes. That, and wed used up all our data allowance.

Pokemon Go: Gotta catch 'em all / David Mirzoeff/PA

Bono

Named as Glamour magazines Woman of the Year. Congratulations to women everywhere: enjoy your vaginas and your equality.

Woman of the Year: Bono / Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

Gary Lineker being vilified

Presenting Match of the Day in his boxers could reasonably have been what Lineker expected to be his defining moment of the year. But expressing empathy with young refugees stranded in France on Twitter proved too much for some, who trolled him mercilessly. But the silver fox hasnt gone anywhere and is still in the studio on a Saturday night looking as bemused as the rest of us at Ian Wrights choice of outfit.

Harambe

Nobody got the justice they deserved this year, and when it all got too depressing, the easiest thing was to channel our grief towards the innocent silverback gorilla at Cincinnati Zoo who was shot and killed after a four-year-old boy crawled into his enclosure.

#JusticeForHarambe #RIPHarambe

Global outcry: Harambe (Reuters/Cincinnati Zoo) / Cincinnati Zoo/Reuters

Cecil the Lion

It should be noted that this book was produced in a hurry: this actually happened in July 2015. Still bad, though  we miss you, Cecil.

Hiddleswift

In the year we lost Brangelina, we needed a replacement. And Hiddleswift was not it. But it was a good opportunity to scrutinise the most staged set of photo opportunities since Blac Chyna accidentally included Rob Kardashians tattooed arm in a selfie. Tom Hiddleston will be ruing that I heart TS vest as he watches Idris Elba killing it as the next James Bond.

But who would have thought that we would all identify with Ryan Reynolds, who suddenly became relevant again when he embodied all our thoughts and feelings on the topic in one murderous facial expression at Hiddleswifts saccharine Fourth of July party?

Short-lived: Hiddleswift / Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock

Exploding phones

Its bad enough that our mobiles are causing chronic social anxiety, ruining our sleep, giving us RSI and that there STILL inexplicably isnt a fingers-crossed emoji. Now theyre literally setting us on fire too.

Post-truth

350 million in cold, hard cash straight from the EU coffers and into the NHS, President Obama founded IS and the US election was rigged (until it wasnt  although it was hacked). Who needs truth when we can have a Twitterstorm? According to the OED, post-truth is the word 2016 will be most remembered for. Trust no-one.

Follow Rachael Sigee on Twitter: @littlewondering

F*ck you, 2016 by Bob A N Grypants is out now, 5.99, penguin.co.uk
A s a rule you can guarantee that at any one time Marrakech usually has a riad or a high-end hotel chain opening an outpost, but far from the souks and bustle, the hotel scene is a little more static.

Just opened in Tassoultante, 14km out of Marrakech at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, is the Fellah Hotel.

All 69 rooms and 10 villas are furnished minimally, mixing items from local flea markets and modern pieces made by local craftsmen with views of the palm tree and cactus-fringed pool and mountains beyond. Two restaurants serve local cuisine.

But what sets this hotel apart is its non-profit UNESCO-Aschberg-recognised arts and cultural centre, Dar al-Mamun. Also supporting local education and literacy centres, Dar al-Mamun is supported by visitors.

The Wat Po Thai Massage Centre offers two-hour southern-Thai style massages while the Moroccan Wellness Centre has yoga and the expected hammam.

Doubles from 170 B&B. For more details, visit fellah-hotel.com
W e cant get enough of Iceland, with more tourists than ever heading to the Land of Fire and Ice this year. Tourism is such big business, it has even surpassed fishing as the countrys main earner.

And it shows no sign of letting up. Hotels are springing up like daisies in the capital, Reykjavik, with construction under way on the citys first five-star address. Restaurants, too, are taking advantage of the buoyant economy, with longer opening hours and more experimental cooking. At last, Icelandic cuisine, which has long stood on the fringes of the New Nordic movement (dominated by Norway and Denmark), is catching up, with chefs re-inventing classic dishes with new flavours while retaining traditional ingredients.

And winter is the time to go. Yes, its cold but there are far fewer tourists, and with unpredictable weather throughout the year its more fun exploring in the snow than the rain. Plus theres every chance of catching the northern lights too  even in Reykjavik.

Where to stay

A bedroom at the Canopy Hilton

A new Hilton is the latest to open its doors and  whisper this  is arguably the citys coolest address. But this is not just some business hotel without personality: its the first in the groups new Canopy boutique-style brand (00 354 528 7000; canopy.hilton.com/reykjavik). Spread across six converted townhouses, the hotel has the feel of an ultra-cool home, with vibrant colours, clean lines and stylish design. And the cocktail bar, with local mixologists, feels more hip hangout than hotel. Doubles from ISK 25,220 (180), including breakfast.

Where to eat and drink

Eating out in Reykjavik can leave a serious dent in your wallet, and therefore for lunch its best to opt for a cafe rather than a full-blown restaurant. Cafe Loki (00 354 466 2828)  opposite the impressive Hallgrimskirkja church  is a locals haunt, serving traditional Icelandic cuisine without pomp or ceremony. The Icelandic Plates, of which there are three to choose from, are a good pick for newcomers, with delicacies such as sheeps head jelly, smoked lamb and fermented shark. Groups should choose a couple to share, while adventurous types should opt for the Icelandic Braveheart (ISK 1,900/14), which has a little of everything.

For many years, Iceland lagged in the kitchen, with restaurants serving the same old dishes. These days, while the staples (fish and lamb) remain ever present, the citys best chefs have ripped up the rule book to produce an eclectic mix of exciting new Icelandic fare. Gisli Matthias Auunsson, head chef at Matur og Drykkur (00 354 571 8877; maturogdrykkur.is), is one of the pioneers, and has created a modern menu inspired by a famous cookbook that features 1,400 old family recipes from around the island. The eight-course tasting menu, including the scary-sounding but tasty cods head, and a sheeps blood meringue, costs ISK 9,990 (70).

Kol

For fresh seafood and craft cocktails made using homemade syrups and infusers, try Kol (00 354 517 7474; kolrestaurant.is). Inside, the interior is trendy yet chic with an open kitchen and impressive bar. The charred salmon melts in the mouth and is served with a subtle dill hollandaise and homemade granola (ISK 4,590/32). The restaurant is also a good choice for vegetarians in a city that otherwise barely caters  the vegan nut steak comes highly recommended (ISK 4,390/30).

The Icelandic microbrewing scene has exploded of late, with craft-beer-makers fermenting hops at a rate of knots, in a country where beer was outlawed until 1989. Bryggjan Brugghus (00 354 456 4040; bryggjanbrugghus.is) is both a bistro and a microbrewery  and a great place for a bite before a bar crawl. The langoustine feast platter (ISK6,600/47) should set you up well, or the mussels in beer (ISK 3,100/22), washed down with a glass of this years Christmas brew (a glass of their Session IPA).

Lebrowski Bar

On a Saturday night, head for Laugavegur, the citys main street, and join the runtur (the round-tour). Start at the MicroBar (00 354 865 8389), a popular haunt for the arty crowd, for more craft beer or head a little further up the road to Lebowski Bar (00 354 552 2300; lebowski.is), another locals hangout famed for its White Russian made with Icelandic vodka.

MicroBar

The final call for any late-night Reykjavik reveller is inevitably Bjarins Beztu Pylsur (00 354 511 1566; bbp.is)  the best hotdog in town, to translate the name  which has queues 50-strong at kicking-out time. Order one with everything for the lamb hotdog covered in ketchup, mustard, raw and fried onion and remoulade (ISK 420/3).

Where to shop

Take a stroll along Skolavorustigur  a small street dwarfed by the mighty Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran church  stopping to explore the boutiques. For a traditional Icelandic sweater, with its coarse but seriously toasty sheeps wool, make a beeline for the Handknitting Association (00 354 552 1890; handknit.is). Inside, the shop is packed with jumpers of all size, shape and style, knitted by country folk from all over Iceland  you wont find them cheaper anywhere.

What to do and see

Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran church / Alamy Stock Photo

Its hard to miss Hallgrimskirkja, which is visible from all over the city. Its arresting steeple, with columns resembling the shapes lava forms when it cools into basalt rock, seems to sum up Nordic design and the Icelandic sagas in one building.

If youre keen to learn about Icelands historical Sagas  written in the 13th and 14th centuries  start at the Saga Museum (00 354 511 1517; sagamuseum.is).

Now for something completely different... The Icelandic Phallological Museum (00 354 561 6663; phallus.is) is, as youve probably guessed, an exhibition celebrating penises of all shapes and sizes. Sixty-two varieties of them, from those of the humble dormouse to polar bears. The centrepiece, however, is that of the sperm whale (ISK 1,500, 10).

Rex Features

A trip to Iceland wouldnt be complete without exploring its natural wonders, and a Golden Circle tour is a great introduction, taking in ingvellir National Park (where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet), Gullfoss waterfall and the Strokkur geyser. For geology buffs, a full-day tour with a guide is best, while those after Instagram bragging rights will be fine on the Grey Line afternoon express tour (00 354 540 1313; grayline.is).

Details: Reykjavik

Icelandair (020 7874 1000; icelandair.co.uk) flies from Heathrow and Gatwick to Reykjavik from 153 return.

visitreykjavik.is
F our Londoners are enduring searing heat, no fresh water and less than four hours sleep a night as they row across Atlantic for charity in one of the toughest endurance tests.

The team, led by Harry Wentworth-Stanley, is at the front of the pack in the 3,000-mile Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge from the Canary Islands to Antigua. The 6ft 6in property agent, rumoured to be back with on-off girlfriend Cressida Bonas, an ex of Prince Harry, only began rowing 12 months ago. Now he and friends Rory Buchanan, 28, Sam Greenly, 27, and Toby Fenwicke-Clennell, 27, are set to battle tropical storms.

The four aim to raise 500,000 for mental health charity Jamess Place  set up in memory of Mr Wentworth-Stanleys brother. James Wentworth-Stanley killed himself 10 years ago at the age of 21. Speaking from the boat on Friday, Mr Wentworth-Stanley, 27, said: We are right out in front of the pack. There are 12 boats in the race and we are neck-and-neck with another boat.

Everyone is doing two hours rowing, then two hours resting. The winds have been really nice to us so far, which is obviously very helpful, and we have managed to do 165 nautical miles in just under 2.5 days which is good progress.

We are carrying all our food, with enough to last 50 days. We are aiming to do it in under 40 days, but the average is higher. We are struggling to get more than an hour and a half to sleep at a time but theres a lot of adrenaline pumping.

He told how the first morning of the race was the 10-year anniversary of his brothers death so the crew marked it by watching the sun rise.

Harry, pictured with Cressida Bonas

We stopped to watch it and think of him  it was an important moment for me, he said. The people with me are all great friends. They are enthusiastic about the cause and all have their own personal motivation for wanting to row and raise money for mental health and suicide prevention. Toby and Sam also knew my brother. James was sporty and I have been on the hunt for an adventure that felt like an appropriate tribute. Now we want to take this feat on and win the race.

The brothers both went to Harrow and grew up in Battersea. Their divorced parents are Clare Mounbatten, now Marchioness of Milford Haven, and former Lloyds insurance boss Nicholas Wentworth-Stanley.

The four set out to cross the Atlantic on December 14. Mr Wentworth-Stanley continued: Theres no shower, theres no loo, so its pretty primitive living. We just have a bucket on deck to use as a loo. For now, we are aiming to raise 500,000 for Jamess memorial fund. So far we have raised 410,000 and if people can visit our website and donate, it would be brilliant.

The charity aims to open a network of walk-in centres where people in emotional distress can see experts.

rowforjames.com
A three-year-old boy was killed in a suspected road rage shooting while he was on a shopping trip with his grandmother in the US.

Police said the car was shot at by a driver who thought his grandmother was not driving quickly enough in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Saturday.

She drove away from the scene and did not realise her grandson was hit until she arrived at a shopping centre where she called the police.

The boy, who police said was shot at least once, later died in hospital.

Little Rock Police said on Twitter that the boy and his grandmother were completely innocent and had no relationship with the gunman.

A manhunt was underway for the shooter and police were looking for a black Chevrolet Impala.

Police chief Kenton Buckner said: "This is probably one of the most frustrating things you will encounter in your career when it involves children, particularly of kids that are [at] this age very innocent, they can do very little to protect themselves."

Last month, a two-year-old girl was killed in Little Rock when a suspect drove by and fired into her vehicle. The perpetrator is yet to be found.
T hugs have ransacked a charity cafe in south-east London set up in memory of murdered schoolboy Jimmy Mizen.

Callous thieves allegedly broke into the Ten Thousand Hands Cafe in Ladywell Fields, Lewisham, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The cafe, which opened in 2014, has been used to train young people including those with autism and provide a community facility.

It follows on from the charity's successful Cafe of Good Hope in Hither Green, set up in memory of 16-year-old Jimmy who was murdered at a Lee bakery in 2008.

Mizen cafe robbery CCTV

He died after Jake Fahri hurled a glass dish at him in the bakery following a trivial row. A shard cut his throat and he bled to death.

Since Fahris conviction in 2009, Jimmy's parents Margaret and Barry Mizen have been campaigning to end violence in the capital through the Jimmy Mizen Foundation.

The cafe, which is run by Jimmys brother Tommy, gets its name from an anti-violence campaign started by Lewisham teenager Camilla Yahaya to promote a message of peace across the borough.

A coffee machine and panini maker were among the items stolen in the reported burglary, which looks set cost the Mizen family around 6,000, Jimmys mother Margaret told the Standard.

She shared the devastating news in a Facebook post which read: Our cafe in Ladywell Park was broken into and everything was taken so please keep our Tommy in your thoughts.

Dedicated to London: Barry and Margaret Mizen at their cafe in Ladywell / Alex Lentati

All the work we do will continue as this proves how much we need it but I don't think it was our young people who did this it was experienced thieves.

Family member Sophie Davies set up an online fundraising page in a bid to help the family.

A statement posted on the JustGiving site reads: I have decided to set up a fundraising page for my relatives - the Mizen family.

Known to many people because of their spirit and kindness, their story is also one of sadness.

Their son Jimmy was taken from them in a way I can't comprehend. He was murdered. This is something his parents Margaret and Barry Mizen have had to deal with ever since.

The family have had many hurdles to overcome and I learnt today that again one of their cafes has been burgled and many of their items have been taken, even the coffee machine.

The family have been and still are going through a lot personally and I would like to do what I can to help raise funds for them to be able to buy what they need for future projects after so many knock backs.

The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for a comment.

To donate to the JustGiving page click here.
T his is the moment hooded thieves ransacked a community cafe in south-east London set up in memory of murdered schoolboy Jimmy Mizen.

The Mizen family today told of their heartbreak after thieves broke into the community cafe set up in Jimmy's memory days before Christmas.

At least 5,000 of equipment was stolen in the break-in at Ten Thousand Hands Cafe in Ladywell Fields, Lewisham, in the early hours of Sunday.

The cafe, which flooded after the thieves ripped out the coffee machine, opened in 2014 and is run by the Mizen familys charitable foundation, For Jimmy.

CCTV: Two hooded men are caught on camera taking equipment from the cafe / NIGEL HOWARD 

The teenager was killed the day after his 16th birthday in 2008 after being attacked at a bakery near his home in Lee.

He died after Jake Fahri, 19, threw a glass dish that shattered on his neck and severed an artery and his jugular vein. Fahri was jailed for life in 2009, and must serve at least 14 years.

Victim: Jimmy Mizen, 16, was killed in 2008

Jimmys brother Tommy Mizen, who runs the cafe, said: Its a kick in the teeth. Youre trying to help people out, and then this happens.

Until we can get more security there, theres not really any point reopening. Its up in the air.

Mr Mizen, 34, revealed that the cafe, which raises money for the foundation as well as providing training for young people with autism, has been the target of three separate break-ins in the past two weeks. He had even been in discussions with private security firms about extra protection, he said.

Shocked: The brother of murdered schoolboy Jimmy Mizen after a break-in at his family's cafe / NIGEL HOWARD 

He added: The thieves dont normally take anything as we dont leave any money on site. I think they knew what they were going for this time.

Its there for a good reason, and the actions of a few silly kids have caused the community to lose out.

Tommy and Jimmys father Barry Mizen, 65, called on Lewisham council to improve security in Ladywell Fields, which he said was open 24 hours but not lit up at night.

One of the alleged thieves inside the cafe / NIGEL HOWARD 

He said: Unless something is done by the council to make it a bit more secure, its probably not a good business decision to open again.

Its quite depressing when youre trying to do stuff for the local area, and people are just undermining it. We are driven by the reason of Jimmy, and we keep on doing our bit.

An online fundraising page set up by family member Sophie Davies to help the Mizen family has already raised more than its 200 target, with donations topping 500.

A Met spokesman said police are investigating the break-in.

To donate, visit tinyurl.com/mizencafe.
T he frozen body of a young British man who went missing after being drugged in a strangers car has been found in a village north of Moscow.

Nicolas Lazareff, 22, a dual British-French national, went missing in the early hours of last Thursday after visiting a bar in Moscow with friends.

The Manchester University graduate hitched a lift in the strangers car with his brother Alexis and their female British friend Tatyana.

The driver reportedly gave the two boys a spiked beer before throwing them out of the vehicle miles from their desired destination, near the small village of Chelobityevo, north of Moscow.

His friends say that on leaving the car Mr Lazareff stumbled into the forest and could not be found despite a long search.

In the days that followed friends and family issued appeals for people to help, but his mother confirmed on Sunday that her son had died of hypothermia in temperatures of -10C.

Mr Lazareff had studied Russian and business at Manchester University and was in Moscow in the hope of finding a job.

Speaking to The Times, his mother, Fiona Scott Lazareff, criticised the pathetic inaction of the British embassy in Moscow, while praising the French ambassador and Russian police.

She told the paper: "The Russian police have been marvellous. They used CCTV to find the numberplate of the people who owned the car and arrested them and made them show the spot where they had robbed them.

"For the last few days, his brother and friend had been trying to find him but had no idea where he'd been left.

"The British ambassador and the Foreign Office were remarkable only for the complete absence of their help. The first time they said they couldn't help me with the police unless my son had been taken into custody. They suggested I report him going missing to my local police station in Battersea.

"I had a pathetic call every now and then from the Foreign Office saying 'have you heard from your son?' when I thought they would be ringing me with information about him. After their latest phone call, asking if I'd heard anything, I found out that Nicolas's body had been found, through Russian media.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed said: "Following the death of a British national in Russia, we are providing support to their family and are in touch with the local authorities."
A woman who was found dead at a north London home has been named as 51-year-old Angela Best.

Ms Best, from Tottenham, was found unresponsive at a house on Upper Holloway, Dartmouth Park Hill in Islington on the evening of last Thursday, December 15.

Paramedics found the woman at 7.35pm and she was pronounced dead at just before 8pm.

Police soon launched a murder investigation into her death.

Murder probe: A 51-year-old woman was found dead in Dartmouth Park Hill / Google maps

No one has yet been arrested  but police are treating a man in his 60s, who was taken to an east London hospital on the same night, as a suspect.

His injuries are not thought to be suspicious and he remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A post-mortem examination into the womans death did not provide a clear cause and officers are awaiting more tests.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to call the incident room at Barking on 020 8345 3985 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
T wo men have been jailed over the murder of a father-to-be who was stabbed to death at a rave in south-east London.

Renea Campbell was fatally injured when a fight broke out close to an industrial estate in Abbey Wood in June last year.

Police officers rushed to Felixstowe Road where Mr Campbell and three other men had been stabbed.

The 26-year-old was taken to an east London hospital where he died from a single stab wound.

Mr Campbell had been out celebrating the news he was to become father to a second son with his brother Rico.

The pair were also both celebrating getting new jobs, their mother Claudette Campbell said in a statement.

Behind bars: Damian Fraser, 27, was jailed for 21 years over the murder / Met Police

She said her world came crashing down after hearing something bad had happened to her sons.

The statement read: I have been living in the worst nightmare ever since.

"Renea and I shared a bond which was unique, he was my first child and I adored him from the moment he was born, he was my friend as well as my son and would regularly go out with me just to be with me, even on boring shopping trips.

He liked to be my protector and would always need to know where I was going and make sure that I was safe and ok.

I miss him and my heart hurts every single day. Renea was a loving, caring young man with genuinely good values, manners a bright future and a smile which always made me smile with him.

She went on to describe her sorrow that her son never met his youngest child.

Mrs Campbell said: "My two grandsons will never see their dad and he was an amazing father who couldn't wait to meet his new son.

"Time has gone on, a year and a half later my grandson is a year older and the son Renea, never got to see is now a year old.

Locked up: Aiden McGowan, 25, was jailed for 19 years over the murder / Met Police

Both his children have missed out on many things with their dad. The communication, the first steps. Renea would have been there for those special moments in his sons life, but they were cut short.

Damien Fraser, 27, from Somerfield Grove, Tottenham was jailed for 21 years at the Old Bailey on Monday.

Aiden Mcgowan, 25, of Northumberland Park, Tottenham, was jailed for 19 years.

He was found guilty of murder, GBH, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon at the same court on December 14.

Rennae Henriques, 29, of Gillham Terrace, Tottenham, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for violent disorder immediately after the incident.

A charge of violent disorder Trimaine Laing, of Newington Green, Islington was dropped.


T his is the moment police "ruined Christmas for drug dealers" as they raided a huge cannabis farm in south-west London.

The footage shows rows of cannabis plants growing under LED lights in a house in the borough of Kingston upon Thames.

It captures the moment officers searched the residential property in Hawkhurst Way, New Malden which had been turned into a cannabis factory.

Kingston Police obtained a warrant and raided the property on December 13, finding industrial quantities of the illegal drug.

They posted the video on their Facebook page along with the caption: We ruin Christmas for drug dealers in Kingston..

A police spokesman said: Officers for Kingston have carried out a raid at a cannabis factory.

On Tuesday, 13 December officers searched premises at Hawkhurst Way, New Malden and about 200 plants were seized.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.
A Queen's Guardsman grabbed a police officer around the throat as a fellow soldier hurled racist abuse when they were kicked out of a Leicester Square club, a court heard.

Oliver White, 21, grabbed Pc Owura Kodua in a choke-hold during a confrontation outside Zoo Bar. His colleague Thomas McLaughlin, also 21, shouted black c*** at the officer.

White, McLaughlin and 19-year-old Paul Holland, who were all serving with an elite regiment at Wellington Barracks, had been thrown out of the nightclub on August 2 for insulting the US army and abusing a group of American tourists.

When they continued to be abusive outside, door staff asked Pc Kodua and Pc Andrew Fletcher to help get rid of them.

Hit with fine: Paul Holland / Central News

McLaughlin squared up to Pc Fletcher, spitting at him, shouting insults and threatening to destroy him, the court heard. White then grabbed Pc Kodua, leaving him struggling to breathe and fearing he would suffer neck damage. When Holland was arrested he screamed: All for one and one for all.

Pc Kodua told Westminster magistrates court: Ive been assaulted during my seven years as a police officer, but this incident was the worst and the most frightening. Being grabbed around the throat while I am trying to do my job is not something you should be subjected to.

White pleaded guilty to assaulting a constable in the execution of their duty, while McLaughlin admitted two counts of racially aggravated harassment. Holland admitted being drunk and disorderly and obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.

The soldiers had responsibility for guarding Buckingham Palace / Reuters

All three soldiers had responsibility for guarding the Royal Palaces in London, including Buckingham Palace, but McLaughlin has now left the army, the court was told.

In September, he was also convicted of going on a 4,500 spending spree on champagne and strippers with a fellow guardsmans bank card. He persuaded his colleague to hand over his card and Pin, claiming he needed to borrow 20, then headed to a gentlemans club for a night out with friends. McLaughlin pleaded guilty to theft, and was ordered to pay back his victim and complete 95 hours of community service.

At court on Friday, Amiz Ahmaz, representing both White and Holland, said McLaughlin was the main player in the abuse leading up to the scuffle with the police officers.

Had it not been for the behaviour of Mr McLaughlin, Mr White and Mr Holland would not necessarily have been involved, he said.

McLaughlin was sentenced to an 18-month community order, including 120 hours of community service, and ordered to pay 100 compensation to each police officer.

White was given an 18-month community order, including 100 hours of community service, and ordered to pay 150 compensation to Pc Kodua. Holland was fined 430.
T his is the shocking moment a father-of-two was stabbed in a random frenzied knife attack as he made his way home from a night out.

CCTV footage shows the hooded knifeman lunging at his 50-year-old victim from behind and throwing him to the ground before stabbing him repeatedly during the unprovoked attack in Barking.

He was stabbed 10 times by his attacker and left fighting for his life in hospital with a punctured lung and injuries to his chest, stomach, bowel and liver.

The shocking footage shows the man walking down the middle of a quiet residential street before being approached from behind by the attacker.

'Frenzied' attack: The knifeman seen on CCTV approaching the victim from behind / Metropolitan Police

The knifeman grabs his victim by the neck and shoulder before plunging the blade into his back and wrestling the stranger to the ground.

He can then be seen repeatedly plunging the weapon into his victim before fleeing the scene.

Images released by police show the extent of the injuries inflicted on the man, who was found collapsed in the road by his wife.

Shocking injures: The victim spent weeks in hospital / Metropolitan Police

Detective Constable Roxanne Dawe, from Barking and Dagenham CID, said: "This was an incredibly violent attack on a married father-of-two who was just walking home after a night out as he did every Friday.

"He had not had an argument or a dispute with anyone that night and we can find no motive at all for what happened. Nothing was stolen from him.

"We hope the release of CCTV footage showing what happened will prompt someone to come forward with information.

The victim's injuries after the shocking attack in east London

"An innocent man very nearly lost his life and this incident is being treated as attempted murder."

Police said the victim was attacked as he walked home from a social club at about 9.45pm on Friday, October 28.

He was approached from behind by the suspect as he walked down Pelham Avenue. The suspect ran off along Sterry Road towards Denham Way, while the victim managed to stagger a short distance towards his home before he collapsed.

Knife attack: A CCTV still of the attacker as he stabs his victim

Emergency services raced to the scene and he was taken to the Royal London Hospital where he spent two days in a coma.

After being discharged from hospital just over a week later, his stomach wound became infected and he was readmitted and forced to spend another two weeks undergoing treatment.

The suspect is described as aged between 20 and 30. He wore a dark hooded top with the hood up, light-coloured trousers and light trainers.

Police said no arrests have been made so far.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dagenham CID on 020 3276 1096 or if you wish to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A Tube passenger was left with a broken ankle following a brawl with another man at a station in central London, police said.

Violence broke out in the Central line ticket hall at Liverpool Street station after the two men became involved in an argument as they walked up an escalator from the eastbound platform.

The row escalated as they walked through the ticket barriers and both men began to grapple with one another and fell to the floor.

Police said one of the men walked away but the other was left needing surgery for a broken ankle.

Appeal: Police want to speak to this man in connection with a fight at Liverpool Street station / British Transport Police

British Transport Police officers have released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident at 5.45pm on Friday, October 14.

Investigating DC Paul Cudby said: This incident just goes to show how quickly a verbal altercation can get out of hand.

This man was left with a broken ankle and in severe pain after the incident. I would like to speak to the man in the CCTV images I believe he was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the incident.

Anyone with any information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 citing reference 152 of 19/12/2016.
R esidents are pleading with Transport for London to prevent traffic disruption worsening by delaying a Tube station closure till roadworks are completed on a nearby cycle superhighway.

Lancaster Gate station is due to shut from January 4 to allow its two 30-year-old lifts to be replaced in time for the Notting Hill Carnival.

Unlike neighbouring Queensway, kept open as its lifts were replaced one at a time, TfL says lack of space prevents this being done at Lancaster Gate.

Locals have sent more than 450 emails in a bid to force a TfL rethink.

Westminster councils deputy leader Robert Davis said he and fellow councillors felt the closure could not have been timed worse.

He added: Current disruption in the area caused by the cycle superhighway works is already acute and its highly regrettable were only being notified now, a month ahead of TfLs announced closure date.

Work on the western extension of the east-west superhighway is not due for completion till March  though a two-way system recently opened on Bayswater Road, easing the gridlock.

Resident Kevin Lowther told the Evening Standard: It has improved, certainly in the morning, though traffic heading west in evenings is still really slow compared to what it used to be.

Traffic heading north through Hyde Park still has horrendous tailbacks.

TfL advised Tube passengers to use Paddington, Queensway or Marble Arch station, all about 10 minutes walk away. Lancaster Gate, on the Central line, is used by more than six million passengers a year. London Undergrounds chief operating officer Steve Griffiths said: I apologise for the disruption the lift work will cause our customers.

We explored the option of replacing the lifts one at a time to keep the station open but this would be unsafe. Having only one lift operating would lead to long queues and severe congestion.

There would also be no alternative available amid the increased likelihood of one lift failing, meaning it would take longer for emergency services to rescue customers or tend to someone requiring medical attention.
L ondons most popular restaurant chains have demanded that Theresa May ease the crippling burdens caused by a perfect storm of soaring business rates, taxes and the weak pound.

Chief executives of chains ranging from Leon, Wagamama and Pizza Express to Wahaca, Yo! Sushi and Carluccios have written a letter in todays Evening Standard (see end of article) warning that they must get help offsetting a shocking combination of new overheads.

The bosses also urged the Prime Minister to give assurances that they will be able to retain foreign EU workers after Brexit. Together, the 23 chiefs own hundreds of London restaurants employing tens of thousands of workers. But the biggest fear was looming new business rates, which will hit London companies particularly hard.

Some of the signatories to the letter will be hit by rates rises of more than 50 per cent. The new valuations are being phased in from next April.

18 months for Brexit deal, says EU's chief negotiator

Analysts say the rates, added to upwards-only rent reviews from big landlords, could see scores of shops and restaurants go out of business.

John Vincent, co-founder and chief executive of Leon, said: Londons restaurant chains are being squeezed as never before and we really need some respite, particularly from the huge hike in business rates.

Leon founder John Vincent was among the signatories

"The Leon in The Strand alone will see its rates go up by 24,000 next year. Thats why were joining together with other restaurants to make this call for action. The Government needs to listen or restaurants will close and thousands of people will lose their livelihoods.

Restaurateurs also face higher prices on ingredients bought from Europe due to the collapse in the value of the pound since Junes Brexit vote. Some products have become 20 per cent more expensive.

They are also being penalised by the tax system that orders them to charge 20 per cent VAT, the letter says. On top of these costs, the chains are being hit by a new apprenticeship tax and increases to the National Living Wage from 7.20 an hour to 7.50 next year and towards 9 by 2020.

Although the companies said they strongly support these initiatives on pay, they need the extra costs to be offset elsewhere in the tax regime.

The letter adds: We employ hundreds of thousands of people and pay millions in VAT, business rates, National Insurance and other taxes. In other countries, taxes are lowered for the hospitality sector in recognition of the foreign earnings it brings in, offsetting trade deficits.

However, in this country, were not sure the Government has modelled and understood the mounting, crippling commercial pressures we face and we urgently call for [Mrs Mays] support.

Finally, we want to tell the Prime Minister that there is a widespread anxiety about the fate of our sector if we lose significant numbers of our hard-working teams, many of whom come from Europe.

Theresa May's red, white, and blue Brexit

The business rates rise is biggest in London because property rental values have increased here since the Governments last valuation in 2010. While property owners may have benefited, tenants are punished with higher rents and rates.

London businesses will be forced to hand over an extra 4 billion in tax from the new rates over the next five years. The biggest increases will be for businesses in the West End and the City, with some rates there going up fivefold by 2020.

The list of signatories to the letter is a whos who of the biggest groups of restaurants in the country, including Casual Dining Group, which owns Cafe Rouge, Bella Italia, La Tasca and Belgo, and Stock Exchange behemoth The Restaurant Group  owner of Frankie & Bennys, Garfunkels and Chiquito. Wahaca founder and former Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers also signed.

The companies demanded the Prime Minister consider a reduction in VAT, an extension to the phasing-in period for business rate rises and a cut to employers National Insurance contributions.

Ufi Ibrahim, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, welcomed the effort to pressurise No 10. She said: Restaurants are being hit by a perfect storm of extra costs. We fear that business rate rises will have a very damaging effect on our ability to keep contributing to jobs and the economy. We are very, very concerned. We have asked the Chancellor for help but he has done nothing.

The hospitality sector employs about 500,000 Londoners. Although todays call in the Standard is the biggest coordinated effort by businesses since the rates revaluation, the looming increase has caused huge protests from most industries with premises in London.

The Treasury highlighted how it had cut business rates in many parts of the country and was supporting the minority of businesses facing an increase with 3.6 billion of transitional relief. It added that it had cut the cost of employing new staff.
A London university is hosting world experts on loving and having sex with robots this week.

The two-day conference, which has been banned in Malaysia, will address the ethics around sexual relationships with robots and includes a talk on teledildonics called Teletongues - lollipop devices for remote oral interaction.

Event organiser Dr Kate Devlin, senior lecturer in computing at Goldsmiths, has previously written about sex robots potential to help sex offenders.

She told the Standard: It may be have a controversial or trivial-sounding topic title, but this is an academic conference area with a lot of growth and development.

Sex technology is a huge industry worth billions of dollars worldwide. Humanoid sex robots are more niche, they are only manufactured in the US and Japan at the moment.

Humans and robots: A two-day conference will look into the ethics of having sexual relations between the two. / AFP/Getty Images

There are several important things to consider with these robots. Is it ethical to make machines to have sex with? At the moment there is not much interactivity with sex robots, they are just sex dolls, they are not sentient. But with artificial intelligence, in the future we will be able to create robots that think for themselves.

Another thing to consider is who collects the data from the robots? Will we have privacy? Even vibrators are starting to collect data.

Having relationships with robotic technology became a topic of debate after the release of Scarlett Johansson film Her in 2013, a romantic sci-fi drama whose main character falls in love with his female intelligent computer operating system.

Dr Devlin added: We need to fully understand the ethics and therapeutic uses of sex with robots and where its going in a diverse and equal manner.

A lot of technology now is being created by men and for men but they are just mechanised sex dolls, the stereotypical seductive woman  though the market for sex toys is evenly split between men and women. Why cant we explore new forms of sex robot and less heteronormative ones?

Also, these robots could help people who cannot normally form relationships and provide them with a form of intimacy they would not otherwise have.

The conference is taking place today and tomorrow at the university New Cross campus, with keynote speaker artificial intelligence and industry expert David Levy.
A busy Soho street was cordoned off today as more than 20 firefighters battled to extinguish a blaze in an apartment block.

The fire brigade was called to Dean Street at 11am after the fire broke out in a basement kitchen and spread to a restaurant's extraction sytem as well as a flat roof.

A resident who lives in the same block described being woken up by the smell of smoke and having to rush outside.

Tristan Pineiro told the Standard: I have the day off for Christmas shopping so we were still in bed. The smell of smoke and the fire engine woke me up, so we grabbed the dog and ran out.

The flats full of smoke - we're first floor and it looks like it's the top floor.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said the fire was affecting around 10 per cent of an apartment roof as four fire engines were employed to stop the flames spreading.

They said: Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers have been called to a fire at a restaurant and flats on Dean Street in Soho.

The Brigade was called at 1100. Crews from Soho, Lambeth and Islington fire stations are attending the incident.

The busy, central district suffered increased congestion throughout the morning as traffic sought alternative routes.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.
T raders at a South American market fighting plans to demolish and redevelop their stalls now face a nervous wait over Christmas to see if they will be forced to sell up.

The owners of stalls in the Seven Sisters Indoor Market in Tottenham are in a fight against Haringey council and developer Grainger which have long planned a comprehensive redevelopment of the 3,600 sq m area.

The area, next to Seven Sisters Tube station, includes abandoned former department store Wards, a row of shops and a hub of about 35 South American food, cafe and retail stalls, some established three decades ago.

Grainger has planning permission for 196 new homes and commercial space for retail and cafes.

A computer-generated image of how Wards Corner could look if it is redeveloped

Most recent drawings include a space for a new indoor market of the same size, and the firm says it will find a temporary space for the market while work takes place.

However, stall owners argue they will struggle to survive competition from American big business firms planned for the site, and moving  albeit temporarily  would be bad for business.

In October, they were issued with a Compulsory Purchase Order. The traders have objected and are waiting for the Department for Communities and Local Government to set a date for an inquiry to determine their fate.

Lita Kawajigashi, 56, has run the family-owned Pueblito Paisa Cafe for three decades.

She said the process  which began in 2004  had been exhausting.

Supermarket owner Luis Rotiz of Dindas Manuelita / Alex Lentati

But we will keep fighting the plans every step. To be moved, or destroyed, it would cost us everything. It would break up the community.

Pam Isherwood, 67, is one of the leaders of the Wards Corner Community Coalition, the lead group fighting proposals. The photographer, who lives nearby, said the plans would destroy something special, adding: The plans by Grainger would make this area look just like everywhere else in London.

A spokesman from Grainger said: Seven Sisters Indoor market is at the heart of our development and our intention is to encapsulate the culture and vibrancy of the current market in the new development.

Haringey councillor Alan Strickland, cabinet member for housing, regeneration and planning, said issuing the CPO had been a last resort.

Ensuring there is a new and long-term market is key to our plans for Wards Corner, he said.
W itnesses today told of their horror after a Mercedes ploughed into pedestrians killing a young man and leaving a woman fighting for her life.

Dozens of people ran out of their homes to try and save two pedestrians who were struck on a pedestrian crossing by the Mercedes C Class about 11.30pm in Willesden Green, north west London.

A man, in his 30s, was thrown into the air and died from his injuries at the scene. A woman in her late 20s is in hospital today in a critical condition.

The 33-year-old driver was taken to hospital before being arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and drink drinking.

A passenger in the car fled the scene and has not been traced.

One resident gave the woman first aid at the scene at the junction of Walm Lane and Willesden Lane. She described the crash as the most horrific thing she had ever seen and added: I did my best. Absolutely tragic, the girl I helped was no older than me. Thank God nobody else was on that crossing.

Residents pulled the keys out of the ignition as the car, which had flipped onto its roof, was leaking fuel.

Riesse Hamilton, 21, a graphic designer, whose flat overlooks the scene, told the Standard: It was like a grenade went off outside  it was that loud.

Its so sad people losing family members so close to Christmas. I ran out and saw the girl first.

She was in front of the Mercedes. She looked in a bad way but there was no sign of cuts or bruises she just looked in severe pain.

I turned around and my girlfriend went to give first aid to her.

I went over to the man who was at the rear of the car and you could tell he was losing his life.

The girl was put in the ambulance first and taken away. There was loads of paramedics around the man desperately trying to save his life.

The guy was in a really bad way.

Everyone did the best they could to help.

This could have killed more people. What I saw last night was horrid."

The driver has been bailed to a date in early March. Police are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit based at Alperton on 020 8991 9555 or the police non-emergency line on 101.
S adiq Khan today appointed a panel of senior business figures to advise him on the risks and opportunities presented by Brexit.

The Mayors heavyweight group includes Canary Wharf boss George Iacobescu, Santander chair Baroness Vadera and former EU trade commissioner Lord Mandelson.

The Brexit Expert Advisory Panel will provide on-call guidance and includes members of key sectors in the capital, including financial services, technology, science and the media, and education.

The team includes Xavier Rolet, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange Group, Julia Onslow-Cole, head of global immigration at PwC and Sir John Sorrell, chairman of the Creative Industries Federation.

The Mayor had called for a seat at the Government table during Brexit negotiations, along with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. His request was turned down in favour of monthly face-to-face talks with Brexit Secretary David Davis, who said his door is open to Mr Khan.

Brexit panel: Mayor Sadiq Khan / PA

The panel will help the Mayor prepare for these meetings so that he can push for the best solutions for the capital and members will meet on an ad hoc basis.

Mr Khan said: This expert group of advisers will allow me to tap into some of our top business minds as negotiations progress.

Securing privileged access to the single market, maintaining a world-class financial sector and ensuring London can continue to attract global talent are all recurring themes.

Mark Boleat, City of London policy chairman and a member of the panel, said: Londons success is based on the incredible number of interconnected businesses and sectors that support each other. If one sector suffers, the knock-on effects to the capitals whole economy could be substantial.

18 months for Brexit deal, says EU's chief negotiator

 The Mayor understands this and Im pleased hell be using his meetings with David Davis to ensure that the Government does as well.

Fellow panel member Professor Alice Gast, president of Imperial College London, said: It is vital that the capital has the access to the talent and market conditions needed to create the jobs, prosperity and discoveries that will improve the lives of all Londoners.

Other panel members, who will not be paid for their work, include Catherine Dixon, chief executive of the Law Society, Sir Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK chief, Vanessa Kingori, publisher of British GQ, Victoria Quinlan, boss of Lendlease Europe, Geoffrey Spence, head of global infrastructure at Lloyds Bank, and Sherry Coutu, of the ScaleUp Institute.

Theresa May's red, white, and blue Brexit

Tory leader on the London Assembly Gareth Bacon criticised the appointment of Lord Mandelson as an advisor to the Mayor on Brexit.

Leaving aside Peter Mandelsons numerous controversies in public office, this is a bizarre appointment. Sadiq Khan is appointing as an EU advisor a former EU Commissioner who is banned from ever criticising the EU at risk of losing a significant pension," he said.

Now that the British people have voted to leave Europe, the Mayors job is to make the best of that decision for London and Londoners. On those terms, appointing the Blairite Peter Mandelson to any sort of role is a gross misjudgement and one the Mayor should reverse immediately.
O verseas Aid Secretary Priti Patel today vowed to clamp down on wasted foreign aid to ensure more funds can go towards crises like the Syrian civil war.

The Cabinet minister spoke out following a claim that more than 5 million of UK taxpayers cash was being given to support a girl band in Ethiopia, a figure disputed by the Department for International Development, which said only part of the sum was allocated to the band.

The department also faced criticism for channelling huge sums of money through the World Bank for development projects.

Ms Patel defended the work done through the World Bank and other aid schemes supported by Britain.

However, she said: We have to ensure maximum value for every penny we spend... UK aid is making a real difference on the ground and making us safer at home.

She stressed that she would continue to push effective institutions like the World Bank to be more transparent.
T he Government has been accused of hiding a report that shows employment tribunal fees have hit women and ethnic minorities the hardest.

Since charges of up to 1,200 were introduced in 2013, cases have fallen by 70 per cent with the number of race discrimination hearings down by 50 per cent.

Shadow minister for diverse communities, Dawn Butler, believes hundreds of Londoners are now struggling to access justice and claims the Government has known about difficulties with the fees for 18 months.

In a letter to the Commons Procedure Committee, she claims the Ministry of Justice has been sitting on an equality impact assessment and the reviews findings since July last year.

She believes both documents will show the Government knew the fees would discriminate against certain groups.

The Brent Central MP said: All the data tells us that the introduction of fees has hindered the ability of people with limited means to seek justice.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: Legal aid is available in discrimination cases and we are protecting the most vulnerable by introducing waivers for those who cannot afford the fees.

Between January and March 2013  before the introduction of fees  there were 1,240 race discrimination cases in the UK.

However, up to last March this had halved to 530 cases, according to research by union Unison. Employment tribunal fees are now set at 160 to lodge a claim and 230 for the first hearing for cases dealing with unpaid wages, redundancy pay, holiday pay, notice pay and equal pay.

For unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing the initial fee ranges between 350 and 950. Equalities minister Caroline Dineage said more people were opting for mediation.
T rade union chiefs need a wake-up call over strike action likely to spark a Christmas of discontent, a leading Labour MP has warned.

Walk-outs and industrial action planned by rail, postal and airport workers look set to cause chaos throughout the festive season.

Now, Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the influential Commons financial watchdog the Public Accounts Committee, said union leaders were in danger of shooting themselves in the foot.

But Labour's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott insisted she would not "second guess" strike decisions even though she acknowledged the industrial action would be "very disastrous" for the public.

Talks aimed at heading-off strikes by baggage handlers and other staff at 18 airports, and a walk-out by British Airways cabin crew will be held at Acas this week.

Ms Hillier said unions needed to think about the impact the strikes would have on airline passengers.

"I think it's absolutely right people should have the right to strike, but I think it is a very unfortunate combination for people travelling, workers, at a particularly difficult time of year.

"And I think that all trade unions, even though they are fighting for their rights, need to really think about the impact on the people they are actually there to serve, their customers, or their passengers.

"And I think that there needs to be a bit of a wake-up call about the impact on hard working people who are trying to get to work, or go on holiday.

"And I think that if they are not careful they could be shooting themselves in the foot," she told Sky News.

Ms Abbott refused to endorse the views of her colleague.

"I agree with what she is saying that it's a really unfortunate situation, but I am not going to be second guessing the leadership of trade unions.

"And we need to remember that it takes two to cause a strike. It is not just the trade union, it is also the problems and the incompetence of some management, and Southern Rail is an example of that.

"Of course we think about the public we serve, and, of course, these strikes are going to be very disastrous, if they all go ahead, for the public over Christmas time, but people do have a legal right to strike," Ms Abbott added.

A dispute between Southern Rail and train drivers has already brought a large portion of the travel network to a standstill this December.

Virgin pilots have not planned a fully-fledged strike but will work strictly to contract with a removal of goodwill from December 23, their union, the PPU, said.
T his is the moment Theresa May broke the news to Parliament that the Russian ambassador had been shot.

MPs had met in the House of Commons for a general debate but MPs were momentarily interrupted when news broke of the shooting.

The Prime Minister became distracted and said: "I apologise to my honourable friend because I was just looking at what I believe Mr Speaker is some breaking news that the Russian ambassador to Turkey has been shot. which is a matter which is yet to be confirmed but I think is a matter of concern."

She can then be seen talking with foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who then quickly gets up and leaves the chamber.

Breaking: Boris Johnson hurriedly leaves the chamber as he is told about the Russian ambassador being shot. / House of Commons

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed on Monday that Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, had been shot dead while visiting an art gallery in the country's capital of Ankara.

The mayor of the city later said the killer was a 22-year-old Ankara police officer.

He opened fire on 62-year-old diplomat Mr Karlov, who is married with one son.
A seven-year-old girl whose tweets from Aleppo touched the world was today revealed to be safe and well as hundreds more people were evacuated from the war-torn city.

Bana Alabed managed to escape a weekend in which the evacuation of civilians from the last rebel enclaves of the embattled Syrian city was delayed.

The president of the Syrian American Medical Society Ahmad Tarakji tweeted a picture of Bana showing her safe and well.

The tweet said: .@AlabedBana and many children arrived to #Aleppo countryside. @sams_usa @UOSSM and partners arr coordinating the response plan there.

There were fears for Banas safety after her account went silent a few week ago as the Syrian regime backed by Russia bombarded rebel-held eastern Aleppo.

Buses have been used to clear people from war-torn Aleppo / AFP/Getty Images

Her messages had become increasingly desperate, detailing how their home was destroyed and they nearly escaped death.

Dozens of buses were reported to have left the last rebel-held enclave in the Syrian city shortly before midnight.

The buses were heading west, toward rebel-held parts of the Aleppo province.

About 10 buses also left the Shia villages of al-Foua and Kefraya, north of Idlib, which have been surrounded by rebel forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The vehicles drove towards government controlled-areas of Aleppo.

Tens of thousands more people are still trapped in the city and the villages.

The United Nations Security Council was due to vote in New York today on a resolution to allow the international bodys staff to monitor the evacuations.

The draft resolution was agreed after a compromise between Russia and France, and American diplomats said it was expected to pass unanimously.

The departure from the Shia villages stalled yesterday after militants burned six empty buses sent to take the villagers out.

But the evacuations restarted after fresh talks.

First limited evacuations, finally, tonight from east Aleppo and Foua & Kefraya. Many thousands more are waiting to be evacuated soon, Jan Egeland, who chairs the UN aid task force in Syria, tweeted late last night.

Thousands of fighters and civilians, including many children, some orphaned, who are leaving Aleppo are heading to rebel strongholds in the Idlib province.

But fears remain that they will be targeted there by pro-Assad forces as the five-year civil war, which has already left up to 500,000 dead, rages on.
A brave young woman has penned a powerful open letter to the man who barricaded her in a room and attempted to rape her in a French nightclub.

Sara Roebuck, from Yorkshire, was subjected to the horrifying 20-minute ordeal during a night out just weeks after she moved to Paris in January.

An unknown attacker forced the 24-year-old Masters student into a stock room at the club, barricaded the door with a fire extinguisher, hurled her onto a sink and attempted to rape her, she told the Standard.

The University of Warwick graduate published the moving open letter on French website Medium following a court hearing at which she was forced to face her unknown attacker.

Describing his black and piercing look, she wrote: You said that while you were throwing me on the sink, spreading my legs and placing yourself between them as I cried and cried, raising my dress well over my chest and revealing the most sensitive parts and more vulnerable person, all you did was touch me once or twice.

We both know that's wrong () it was not you who decided to stop. It was I who managed to defend myself.

Ms Roebuck went on to explain how she fought off her attacker, who has already spent 10 months in jail.

She added: Whilst I kicked and screamed and cried, you grabbed and constrained and yanked and hurt every part of me that in no given universe would I have consented you to touch.

The student, who was undertaking an internship in the city when the attack took place, also addressed the letter to all men who have tried to abuse, to enjoy her body without consent.

She described the courage it took to face her attacker in court after being unable to speak about the ordeal for months after it happened.

My mum tried to talk to me but I couldnt, Im usually very open and if I have an issue I would want to talk about it but with this, I found it very difficult.

I was told I didnt need to attend the hearing but I needed to do it for closure for me.

Afterwards, I walked around, a bit lost, and then I went home and I opened my laptop and started writing. It was like after months all my thoughts started to come together and to get it out was cathartic to me, she added.

The letter read: At that moment I stood up and spoke on behalf of all the women in the world who have suffered in the hands of men like you.

READ MORE

I stood up for all the women returning home, the keys clasped in their hands.

I stood up for all the women whose parents insist that they send a message, after a night out, even aged twenty-four, because they worry about the safety of their daughter because she is a woman and not a man.

I stood up for all women who see their sexuality pointed at as they pass by a group of men.

Just hours after posting about her ordeal online, Ms Roebuck was inundated with messages from across the globe.

She said: I had messages from women in Pakistan, Ethiopia, Europe, all over telling details of what had happened to them.

There are some that had been raped by their boyfriends and other that had had similar experiences to me.

It was hard to read, overwhelming.

But, what really struck me was the messages from men. Some apologised for their actions and others said it had made them realise they needed to rethink their subconsciously sexist views.

The letter revealed the attacker would spend a portion of his adult life in jail.
H ollywood actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor has died aged 99, the star's husband said.

Prince Frederic von Anhalt said she died on Sunday after suffering a heart attack in their home in Bel-Air, Los Angeles.

Gabor, the great aunt of Paris Hilton, was credited with creating a new kind of fame based on flaunting wealth and possessing a jaded wisdom on glamour.

The Hungarian-born star was better known for her string of marriages, totalling nine if a quickly annulled shipboard ceremony is included, than her work on-screen.

The late Michael Winner, who directed her in the 1976 film Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood, once described her as largely playing a thinly-veiled version of herself.

She was also known for her wit, having once said: "I am a marvellous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house."

Zsa Zsa Gabor - In pictures 1 /32 Zsa Zsa Gabor - In pictures 1939 Zsa Zsa Gabor and 1st Husband Burham Belge. Married between 1936-1939. He was Director of Press in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affaires at Victoria 1940 Hungarian born actress Zsa Zsa Gabor Keystone/Getty Images 1947 Zsa Zsa Gabor and 2nd Husband Conrad Hilton. They were married between 1942-1947 AP 1952 Zsa Zsa Gabor in 'Lovely to Look at' 1953 George Sanders kisses his wife Zsa Zsa Gabor on her arrival at the Rome Ciampino Airport Jim Pringle/AP 1954 Zsa Zsa Gabor and her sisters Eva and Magda, playing piano for new year's day AFP/Getty Images 1954 Zsa Zsa Gabor Getty Images 1954 Zsa Zsa Gabor and her companion, Dominican Diplomat Porfirio Rubirosa in Paris AFP/Getty Images 1955 Zsa Zsa Gabor in 'Moulin Rouge' ASSOCIATED PRESS 1955 Zsa Zsa Gabor arrives at London Airport from Paris, in a Crimson dress and a straw hat AP 1957 Zsa Zsa Gabor and Frank Smith star in 'The Man who wouldn't talk' 1958 Zsa Zsa Gabor poses in front of her Mercedes car AFP/Getty Images 1958 Hungarian actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor with her family at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna Getty Images 1962 Zsa Zsa Gabor and Herbert Hunter, 4th Husband. They were married between 1962-1966 AP 1962 Hungarian born actor Zsa Zsa Gabor pushes American television host Jack Paar (1918 - 2003) as actor Jayne Mansfield (1933 - 1967) watches in a still from the television program, 'The Jack Paar Show NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images 1965 Zsa Zsa Gabor and Tony Curtis star in 'Goodbye Baby' 1966 Zsa Zsa Gabor and Joshua Cosden, 5th Husband. They married in 1966 and Divorced in 1967. 1972 John Paul Getty with Zsa Zsa Gabo Evening Standard 1975 Hungarian film star Zsa Zsa Gabor with her sixth husband, former actor Jack Ryan, after their wedding at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 1982 Zsa Zsa Gabor and Count Felipe de Alba, he was her eighth Husband whom she married in 1982, the marriage lasted just seven days AP 1988 TV presenter Michael Aspel with Zsa Zsa Gabor at the studios of LWT 1989 Zsa Zsa Gabor, flanked by her husband, Prince Frederick von Anhalt, Germany's duke of Saxony, AFP/Getty Images 1990 Zsa Zsa Gabor gestures as she while answering questions as she leaves the Beverly Hills courtroom where judge Charles Rubin ruled that she violated her probation Kevork Djansezian/AP 1996 Zsa Zsa Gabor holds up a beaded purse removed from a 30-year-old trunk containing possession's from actress Marilyn Monroe 11 April at Planet Hollywood in Beverly Hills, California Kim Kulish/AFP/Getty Images

Gabor had long suffered from ill health after being partly paralysed in a car accident in 2002 and suffering a stroke in 2005.

She outlived both her older sister, Magda, and younger sister, Eva, who were also both actresses and socialites.

Gabor, born Sari Gabor in Budapest in 1917, started her career in the 1940s and went from being a beauty queen, to millionaire's wife to major public figure.

Zsa Zsa Gabor and Herbert Hutner arrive for the New York premier of the film "The Ugly American" in 1963 (AP) / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Celebrities paid tribute to her on social media.

US chat show host Larry King said: "There will only be one Zsa Zsa Gabor. And, I liked her a lot. Rest In Peace, my dear."

I Dream of Jeannie star Barbara Eden tweeted: "Rest in peace Zsa Zsa Gabor. She and her sisters were lovely ladies who were always fun and delightful to be around."

Burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese wrote: "Another Hollywood legend has left us, the glamorous Zsa Zsa Gabor, one of the wittiest beauties."

Piers Morgan tweeted: "99 years old, 9 husbands, Miss Hungary & Hollywood star. What a life!"
I nternational Monetary Fund boss Christine Lagarde has been found guilty over a huge public money payout - but will not be penalised.

Lagarde was found guilty of negligence over the 404 million (340 million) payout to a businessman while she was Frances minister for finance in 2008.

But the IMF chief  the head of the financial body made up of 189 countries  will not go to prison over her actions.

She was not in the Court of Justice of the Republic in Paris on Monday for the verdict following the week-long trial. The court handles allegations facing cabinet members.

Trial: Christine Lagarde reacts before the start of her trial about a state payout in 2008 to a French businessman. / REUTERS

Lagarde, 60, was found guilty of "negligence by a person in a position of public authority".

Although she did not face accusations of corruption, Lagarde had failed to challenge the multimillion pound sum given to businessman Bernard Tabie following a private arbitration panel decision.

The compensation was given to Mr Tapie through the arbitration process after he alleged bank Credit Lyonnais had undervalued his firm Adidas when he sold it in the early 1990s. The decision followed years of legal wrangling.

Lagarde could have been jailed for up to a year for her actions. She would look into appealing the verdict, Reuters reported.
A homeless man threw hot coffee at a Muslim woman before hitting her and calling her a terrorist at a branch of Dunkin Donuts in New York, US authorities said.

Nathan Gray, 34, allegedly told his 21-year-old victim he hated Muslims before threatening to kill her.

He has been charged with assault as a hate crime, police said.

The New York Daily News reported that Mr Gray walked into the fast food store in mid-town Manhattan on Sunday afternoon and asked for a cup of coffee.

A store employee, who did not want to be named, told the paper that on paying for his coffee the 34-year-old allegedly sat next to group of Muslim women and started shouting at them, calling them terrorists.

The women reportedly tried to ignore him but he continued shouting.

She said: One woman called him stupid. So he threw his hot coffee in her face.

It was hot, hot coffee. She could have been burned. Then he swung his bag at her and it hit her in the face.

The woman then ran outside where Mr Gray allegedly put her in a headlock.

Emergency services were called to the scene and Mr Gray was arrested. The victim reportedly refused medical attention.
A furious row was sparked over reports that a Turkish school in Istanbul had banned Christmas.

Politicians in Berlin voiced their outrage over an alleged decision by the German-backed international school in Istanbul to cancel its Christmas festivities.

But the Turkish school denied the ban, which was first reported by the respected German news agency dpa last week.

Set up in 1884, the Istanbul Lisesi is a Turkish-German bilingual state school partly backed by the German government.

The German foreign ministry said in a statement: We dont understand the surprising decision by the management of the Istanbul Lisesi.

It is too bad that the good tradition of pre-Christmas intercultural exchanges at the school with a long German-Turkish tradition has been suspended.

We are of course taking this up with our Turkish partners.

In response to the claims, the school said: The reports in German media about restrictions on Christmas festivities of German teachers do not reflect reality.

A concert was cancelled by the German teachers in question without explanation. There is no question of the school or its management placing an obstacle in its way or prohibiting it.

German politicians reacted with anger including left-wing lawmaker Sevim Dagdelen, who said the government must immediately summon the Turkish ambassador and send a note of protest to Ankara.

The Greens education policy spokesman Ozcan Mutlu described the alleged ban as simply shocking and said if it remained then the Government should urgently reconsider whether German taxpayers should continue to fund the school.
T he Russian ambassador to Turkey has been killed in a shooting at an art gallery, the Russian foreign ministry has confirmed.

A gunman opened fire while diplomat Andrei Karlov was giving a speech at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Monday.

The attacker is a 22-year-old off-duty police officer, Turkey's interior minister confirmed.

Mr Karlov, 62, was initially said to be seriously injured but it has since been confirmed that he died from his wounds.

A man wearing a suit and tie reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" and "Don't forget Aleppo" and fired at least eight shots just minutes after the envoy started speaking, a press photographer in the audience said.

Witnesses also said he also yelled: "Stand back. Stand back. Only death will take me out of here. Anyone who has a role in this oppression will die one by one."

Turkey Russian Ambassador shot: Eyewitness footage of aftermath

Russia's Foreign Ministry said they are treating the shooting as a "terrorist act".

The attacker also said some words in Russian and smashed photos hung in the exhibition.

Shot: Karlov speaking moments before the attack happened. / AP

Turkish police have fatally shot the gunman involved, according to the NTV news channel.

Ankara's mayor, Melih Gokcek, said the attacker was a policeman and believes the attack was aimed at Turkey-Russia relations.

Photos from the scene taken by people inside the art gallery show the ambassador giving a speech reportedly just moments before he was shot.

Outside the cultural centre were scores of armed police and emergency vehicles.

Police: The shooter has been shot, local media has reported. / Umit Bektas/Reuters

The attack comes a day after protests in the country over Russias bombing in Syria.

Security around the Russian embassy in Ankara has been stepped up after the gun attack, it has been reported.

A spokesman for the UN said they condemned the attack and hope the perpetrator is brought to justice.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively."

Russian ambassador to Turkey fatally shot at exhibition

"The memory of an outstanding Russian diplomat, Andrei Gennadyevich Karlov, a person who did a great deal to fight terrorism in his diplomatic post, will always be in our hearts."

PM Theresa May told Parliament she was concerned about the shooting.

"I was just looking at what I believe ... is some breaking news, that the Russian ambassador to Turkey has been shot, a matter which is yet to be confirmed, but I think is a matter of concern," May said in the middle of a question and answer session.

Lockdown: Police descend on the gallery in Ankara. / Umit Bektas/Reuters

Mr Karlov has been the Russian ambassador to Turkey since July 2013, having started his diplomatic career for the former Soviet Union in 1976, according to the website for his embassy.

He was born in Moscow in 1954 and is married with one son.

Attack: A Russian ministry spokesman said the gunman opened "chaotic gunfire during a public event in Ankara". / Burhan Ozbilici/AP

Much of Mr Karlovs career has been in North and South Korea.

He worked in the Soviet embassy in North Korea in two spells between 1979 and 1984 and then between 1986 and 1991.

Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, and President Vladimir Putin. / Osman Orsal/Reuters

A year later he started a five-year posting in the Russian Federations embassy in South Korea.

He returned to North Korea in 2001 as ambassador extraordinary for a further five years.

Cowering: People huddle together following the shooting. / Burhan Ozbilici/AP

PM Theresa May told Parliament she was concerned about the shooting.

"I was just looking at what I believe ... is some breaking news, that the Russian ambassador to Turkey has been shot, a matter which is yet to be confirmed, but I think is a matter of concern," May said in the middle of a question and answer session.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson condemned the "despicable murder" of the ambassador.

Mr Johnson left the House of Commons chamber immediately when news of the Ankara incident broke.
T ributes were today paid to a Canadian tourist among ten people killed in a gun attack at a historic hilltop castle in Jordan.

Retired teacher Linda Vatcher, 62, died after gunmen stormed the castle in the town of Karak yesterday. Seven police officers and two civilians were also killed, and at least 34 people, including two foreigners, wounded in one of the bloodiest attacks in Jordan in recent memory.

Several armed men barricaded themselves inside the castle. Security officials later announced four gunmen were killed and that large amounts of weapons had been seized.

Barb Rhymes, a cousin of widow and mother-of-two Ms Vatcher, said she had been visiting her son in Jordan where he worked.

She was very friendly, outgoing. She was nice to everyone. A friend to all, Ms Rhymes said from Burgeo, a remote town of 1,400 people on Canadas east coast.

Its devastating. It has hit the town hard. My mind is not there right now. She was a beautiful person.
A photo of Ed Milband blowing his nose was used as a generic man with the flu picture on an American news channel.

The ex-Labour leader was shown on the NBCs Nightly News programme as a stock image to introduce a news report about flu vaccinations.

It was believed to have been taken at the 2011 Labour Party conference following the 2010 Labour leadership election which saw Mr Miliband voted in.

Scores of people took to social media to respond to the embarrassing moment for the Doncaster North MP.

Morgan Rigg said on Twitter: Now we Americans will remember him alright: Ed Miliband, the Man with Flu!

Lorraine Homer said: I keep checking@Ed_Miliband profile hoping that his bio now reads Husband. Dad. MP. Former Labour leader. US TV flu guy. No joy yet
A gunman opened fire in a mosque in Switzerland and injured three people while they prayed.

The man stormed the temple in central Zurich on Monday evening.

Two of the three men - aged 30, 35 and 56 years - were seriously injured, Zurich city police said.

The suspect, a man believed to be in his 30s, had fled the mosque.

Police said a body was found nearby, but could not comment on any link to the shootings while investigations were still under way.

Officers collected evidence inside the building and said they could not comment on the motive or the suspect's background.

He was wearing dark clothing and a dark wool cap, they said.
T rue whisky weather is here. Rain has returned. The sky comes grey, two ways: bright grey and gloomy grey. The wind slips under the shawls of skin and whistles against the bones. The light clothes are gone; everything in the wardrobe must now either be warming or waterproof, and preferably both.

Not much fun if you live for sun, but just the excuse to pour out something soft on a Sunday afternoon. Whisky has a lived-in reputation as a warming drink, which is mostly fair for the high-street malts and certainly feels true now, when comforting, easy-drinking sherried malts are the thing  it seems like the popularity of perplexingly heavily-peated bottles is on the wane.

No-one sane, so far as I can tell, says they drink whisky seasonally, but theres no harm in trying different things at different times: keep the younger Speysides for spring, skip over the US for ryes and bourbons when the summer is dry and baking, and slowly shift into the highlands and islands as the cold comes. This month might feel like one for the comforting drinks, but keep trying new things or youll be bored of them by Christmas, when you really want the warming ones.

In that thread, this month is more heavily weighted to new things than normal, but theres an old release to rediscover too. As I wrote in September, Im no whisky investor  by necessity of the column, I open and drink these bottles, which for some reason puts off collectors  but the Macallan Editions have typically done well; when I put away the No. 2, it was retailing at 75. Now they sell for around 400. More fool me but still, drinking is more fun than hoarding, so heres my glass raised. As ever, cheers.

Dartmoor Whisky Ex-Bordeaux Single Malt

When the press release came through about Dartmoor whisky, which is the first distillery producing in Devon, one name took me by surprise  that of Frank McHardy. McHardy has lived a life in whisky, working first at Invergordon, then Tamanvulin and Bruichladdich, before settling at Campbeltowns Springbank in 1977, remaining their until he retired in 2014 (albeit with a decade as Bushmills that crossed from the mid 80s to the mid 90s). Its a testament to either Dartmoors marketing nouse or to their good intentions that hes involved.

Being a first means theres a novelty to what Dartmoor are doing  theres no reputation to live up to, no distillery character to fit in with. The range has three first cask releases: sherry (159.50), Bordeaux (139.50) and bourbon (139.50), but I tried the cheaper standard ex-Bordeaux release at just under 60. Whisky made using red wine casks is always interesting: that pale gold colour gets a pink tinge  a touch of the sunsets  while the flavour always gets a fresh edge of red berry fruit. Thats true here: this is a young whisky, where the flavour rushes all at once; you get the faint smell of old tobacco, like if you opened a drawer in a desk at your grandparents house, and something biscuity too. Theres a lemon freshness though, on top of that. To drink, you might taste those red berries but also cherries, though the fresh burn of whisky dominates, which softens into something fudgy at the end. Its just three years old, the legal minimum, and in parts it shows; you feel like its almost there, needing just a little more depth. But, on the other hand, its fun to try something new and its still very pleasant (although ice, for instance, completely tears it in two). Add a drop of water to calm down the spikiness that comes with it being so green, and youve something to slowly savour. Good things in Dartmoors future, Id wager.

59.50 | Dartmoor Whisky Distillery

Macallan Edition No.6

A special one, this. The sixth and final bottle to come in the Macallan Edition range, No. 6 marks the conclusion of a series that began back in 2016 and quickly caught on with collectors and casual drinkers alike. Im fond of Macallan, having happy memories of driving up to the distillery. It looks over the River Spey  whos water is said to be in half of Scotlands whisky  and its the river that has inspired this release. Its beautiful up there, to walk along the riverbank on the loose rocks, the water always icy and sometimes flashing a flinty silver with salmon. I can imagine drinking it up there, hipflask in the pocket.

Matured in five different sherry casks, theres the expected sherry solace of toffee and dark chocolate chocolate and nutmeg, all those welcome winter flavours. This is a rich, hearty drink: it smells of hazelnuts and cinnamon, with a little fruit in there too  think plums, maybe. It tastes a bit spicy, and its the warming type  the whisky youd want after a long day out in the cold, the whisky to drink as youre drying off, the room smelling of wet waxed jackets and sopping grass stuck on the bottom of boots. Its an atmosphere dram  theres lots of flavour here, but youre opening it for a feeling. Those with a mind for collecting bottles would do well to buy two; one to crack open and one to keep. Having a bottle without getting a taste would be too much of a shame.

94.95 | The Whisky Exchange

Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve

Despite being just about as close to a household name as single malts get, the Glenlivet rarely pops up on this page, but this one deserves a little attention as its not some airport-only release or some oddball only found online.

The Caribbean Reserve has been popping up at supermarkets  Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose and the Co-op  so is a readily available bottle for those looking to experiment on a whim while doing the weekly shop. This is a drink for those still clinging to the last of the summer: this no-age, 40 per cent ABV release has been finished in ex-rum casks from Jamaica, which first started to be fashionable in Scotch circles a couple of years ago. The result here isnt revolutionary, but its good for the price (decent rum finishes tend to get pricey, quickly). You get a great waft of alcohol with a sniff, which may be the rum influence, as well as something fresh and sugary, like apple juice and bananas. But the good side of rum comes in the taste: its all honey and spice, a little ginger, cinnamon and some cloves, and something bright and arresting thats almost minty. You could stretch and say there was mango in here, but thats trying: this isnt some hugely complex dram for deep conversations. Instead, its fresh and fun and light and probably built for cocktails, or at least a swig of soda, poured over ice with a slice of orange to match the box. After middling first impressions, I warmed to this one, and liked it in a whisky sour, too. Ill keep the rest of the bottle to share with friends curious about new things.

36 | Tesco

Ballantines 7 Bourbon Finish

Ballentines has long been an easy-going drink, but for years barely changed  you drank Ballantines Finest, the familiar medicine-brown bottle with its cream label, or not at all.

Over the last decade or so thats changed with the 17-year-old (wonderful stuff), and the 21, both now hard to find, as well as the 30-year-old, still going strong. But the move towards premium blends has also been derailed by experiments; take the lime-infused Brasil, or the exotic fruits in the Passion, both releases best forgotten. At times its looked from the outside as though the brand is confused by what it wants to be and which direction its heading in. This new release isnt entirely convincing  it looks as though theyre hoping to bridge the gap between American and Scotch whisky  but at least theyre concentrating on being whisky again, not some ill-advised rival to Southern Comfort.

This new bottle is aged for seven years before splashing about in a bourbon cask. To avoid excess nerdiness, Ill assume this means new-fill casks, as scotch is often aged in ex-bourbon casks anyway, and they dont specify, but it could just be two ex-bourbon casks used. Whatever it is, this stuff gets a little of that bourbon-sharp brightness, as well as a touch of sweetness that marks a lot of stuff from the US. It smells of wood and oil, of vanilla, and its sweet, which carries over mostly into the taste. The bourbon touch has added a little peppery spiciness on first taste, but then that dies and theres a rush of that vanilla flavour, with something like burnt sugar and honey in there, and then all the oak wood comes through. Ballantines suggest its best mixed up in an Old Fashioned and theyre not wrong, but it stands up well enough on its own, though neat Id take it over ice to soften the sugar. All in all, decent, and worth trying at the price.

28 | Ballantines

Teaninich 1999, 17 Year Old, 2017 Special Release

The Whisky Exchange have long had a Malt of the Month which, although Im sometimes sceptical of (the cynic in me assumes theyre trying to shift slow-sellers), tends to actually be reliably well considered; rarely have I seen a duff choice and the pick often comes with a deal to boot  as here, where theyve knocked 100 off. While you may not have heard of Teaninich, youve likely tasted it; Diageo, who own the longstanding distillery, use the place to pump out malt for mixing in their biggest brands, including Johnnie Walker, Vat 69 and Haig Club.

Though Diageo have released Teaninich single malts in their Flora and Fauna series and That Boutique-y Whisky Company have bought casks for their bottlings, official releases are rare. Unlike the other bottles here, which are drunk thoroughly and enthusiastically at home, with ice, water, mixed in a drink and the rest, Ive only tried a large measure of this with a bartender friend who insisted I should. This Highlander is punchy, but with an apple-and-melon sweetness that lingers nicely, and runs into caramel flavours. Id have liked to have more time with this one but just remember thinking; this is a serious drink. And now, given the money off, not quite so far out of reach.
R yan Gosling and Harrison Ford come face-to-face in the first look at the eagerly-awaited new Blade Runner film.

The teaser trailer for Blade Runner 2049, made 34 years after the original cult sci-fi hit, shows Fords original blade runner Rick Deckard meet his replacement.

Released on Monday afternoon, the surprise trailer gives little away as to plot details but does showcase Denis Villeneuve moody, yellow cityscape, seemingly paying homage to Ridley Scotts dystopian original.

Apparently confirming that Gosling is the lead, rather than Ford, the actor features heavily as the brand new blade runner.

But a rough-around-the-edges Deckard emerges from an abandoned house in one scene, telling Goslings character that he used to do the same job.

According to the official synopsis, the new film is set thirty years after the events of the original, and follows LAPD officer K (Gosling) as he unearths a long-buried secret.

Cult classic: Harrison Ford in the orginal 1982 Blade Runner / Allstar

In order to work out what it means, he must track down original blade runner Deckard, who has been missing for three decades.

Jared Leto, Robin Wright, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Carla Juri, Barkhad Abdi, and Dave Bautista also star in the highly-anticipated new film.

The film has been written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, while Scott has handed over directing duties to Sciario director Villeneuve.

Blade Runner received several nominations on its release, including a BAFTA and a Los Angeles Film Critics Association award.

Blade Runner 2049 is slated for release on October 6, 2017.
M argot Robbie has reportedly tied the knot with her British boyfriend Tom Ackerley.

The Suicide Squad star is thought to have married the director in a secret ceremony over the weekend after three years of dating.

While neither Robbie nor Ackerley have confirmed the news, the pair are said to have walked down the aisle near the actress hometown of Dalby on the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast was somewhere she always wanted to get married, given it's where she was raised as a kid, on her grandparents' farm, a source told Australian magazine Womens Day.

Newlyweds? Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley have been together since 2014 / REX

Tom initially wanted to get married in the UK, but he knows how much it means to Margot to tie the knot on home soil and how special it is for her, so he didn't put up much of a fight.

"They decided to marry around Christmas so they could spend time with both their families afterwards, which they've never done before.

While the couple kept their nuptials low-key, the Wolf of Wall Street actress gave a hint that she was set to marry as she was pictured arriving in Australia wearing a Say I Do Down Under T-shirt.

The couple met back in 2014 and lived together with flatmates in London until last month.

Suicide Squad MovieBites - Margot Robbie On Suicide Squad

Speaking about eventually moving back to Australia, the actress told The Project: They'll be here. The kids will be in Australia."

Talking about Ackerley, she added: He loves Australia. He's like, 'I don't know why anyone leaves.
A fter twelve weeks of gruelling tasks, Lord Sugar has chosen his latest business partner on The Apprentice.

24 year-old baker Alana Spencer won out over 30 year old novelty gift designer Courtney Wood in the final.

Spencer will receive a 250,000 investment to launch her baked goods business in Wales.

Its amazing, I think Im still in shock! she said. But Im incredibly excited about the future of By Alana and about working with Lord Sugar  I cant wait to get started.

Courtney Wood and Alana Spencer face off in The Apprentice final / BBC/Boundless

Speaking on The Apprentice: Youre Hired, Lord Sugar said: I chose Alana because she went on a great journey. Week 1, Week 2, she looked like she was dead meat.

But this is what The Apprentice is about, people pick it up as they go along, which she did. Her determination and her business plan was the best.

The final saw Spencer and Wood launch their businesses and pitch them to a room of 200 industry experts, including Lord Sugar.

The Apprentice 2016 - who's been fired? 1 /18 The Apprentice 2016 - who's been fired? Who's been fired? Need a quick catch up on The Apprentice? Here are the candidates who have been fired so far BBC Week Ten: Trishna Thakrar A boozy gin-making task saw Trishna slip up and miss out on a place in the interviews round BBC/PA Week Nine: Dillon St.Paul The luck of the Irish ran out on the Virtual Reality task - though Dillon was fired "with regret" BBC/PA Week Nine: Sofiane Khelfa After Dillon was fired, Sofiane thought he was safe - until Lord Sugar sent him packing in the second double firing of the series BBC/PA Week Eight: Paul Sullivan Hot-tempered Paul was fired on the events task - and even answered back to Lord Sugar in the boardroom BBC/PA Week Seven: Samuel Boateng In the first double firing of the series, Samuel Boateng left after struggling to sell boat products BBC/PA Week Seven: Karthik Nagesan Outspoken Karthik was fired instantly by Lord Sugar when his team lost the boat show task by over 40,000 BBC/PA Week Six: Rebecca Jeffery Rebecca Jeffery said she was fired because she's "not a t***" as she left the show BBC/PA Week Five: JD O'Brien JD was branded a "nice guy" by Lord Sugar as he was sent home from the process BBC Week Four: Mukai Noiri Fashion-conscious Mukai slipped up during a task selling handbags at Liberty BBC Week Four: Aleksandra King Aleksandra stunned her team by walking out at the start of the task, saying: "I'm just not enjoying it" Week Three: Oliver Nohl-Oser Sausage manufacturer Oliver was fired as losing Project Manager on a task creating and selling sweets BBC Week Two: Natalie Hughes The second task saw both teams lose, with Lord Sugar furious over their disastrous performance - but it was Natalie who was eventually fired BBC Week One: Michelle Niziol The first casualty of the boardroom was Michelle, who took on the Project Manager role in the opening task BBC

Speaking in the boardroom, Lord Sugars aide Karren Brady highlighted the area where the business giant can help out this years winner.

[Alana] certainly knows her products, she said. Where she struggles is understanding how to run a business.

You need a completely different skill set; running something in your mothers kitchen to going out and being a big distributer. But thats where [Lord Sugar can] come in and can really help her.

BBC One, 9pm
I TVs new documentary Prince Harry in Africa reveals the moment the British Royal was reunited with an orphan he first met over a decade ago.

The film sees Harry return to Lesotho, where he set up the Sentebale charity.

In an emotional moment, Harry embraces Mutsu, an orphan he originally met in 2004 when he first visited the country.

How are you? Look at you! he says as he hugs the now-teenager.

Sentebale Concert with Coldplay and Prince Harry 1 /6 Sentebale Concert with Coldplay and Prince Harry Sentebale Concert with Coldplay and Prince Harry at Kensington Palace Rex Prince Harry ajoins Coldplay on stage at Kensington Palace Rex Prince Harry shows off his vocal talents for the crowd Rex Chris Martin and Prince Harry share a moment Rex Chris Martin and Prince Harry share a hug during the show Rex

Look how big you are now, how old are you? 15? Good man!

He adds: I got your letter, the letter you sent me. Remember?

Mutsu then shows Harry the tree that they had planted years ago  now in full bloom.

It looks very different to when I was last here," he says.

Prince Harrys charity provides care, support and education for young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana, while the name Sentebale means Forget Me Not.

Prince Harry in Africa: The Prince with some of the children of Lesotho

The last 10 years that Ive been coming here, every single time we turn up somewhere, theyre always singing, Harry says of his trip to Lesotho.

Its never shake hands, its sing, dance, embarrass yourself. Everywhere I look I can hear songs from 10 years ago in my head.

To me, thats what this country is about, you just feel welcome everywhere you go.

The documentary shows Prince Harry getting involved hands-on in his charity work, as well as talking about wanting to use his status to change the world for the better.

ITV, 9pm
LINCOLN  The Nebraska Supreme Court zeroed in on what defines a concealed weapon Friday, delivering a ruling that one attorney said could make it harder for people to legally transport firearms.

The law simply says its a violation for someone without a state-issued permit to carry a hidden handgun on or about his or her person.

But how the law applies to weapons in vehicles frequently ignites debates among lawful gun owners. The Supreme Court has ruled in the past that a concealed handgun in a vehicle must be within reach to violate the law.

In Fridays case, the court decided its not enough for the gun to be beyond reach while driving; it must also be inaccessible when the vehicle comes to a stop.

The case involves Joseph D. Senn Jr. of Craig, Missouri, who was convicted and fined $200 in 2015 for carrying a concealed handgun in Richardson County. Officers pulled Senn over north of Falls City on suspicion of a shooting and discovered a loaded 9 mm handgun inside a case behind the passenger seat of a rental truck he was driving.

Senn appealed and, in a split decision, the Nebraska Court of Appeals reversed the misdemeanor gun conviction.

The appeals court cited testimony from a sheriffs deputy who said the handgun was hidden on the opposite side of the truck cab. The majority concluded the gun was out of Senns reach while he was driving the truck.

In a prior ruling on the issue, the Supreme Court had said the weapon must be within immediate physical reach to result in a concealed weapons charge. Yet another previous ruling by the court said immediate reach would include storing the gun in a locked glove box.

In Senns case, the state appealed the appeals courts decision. Assistant Attorney General George Love argued that the presence of the gun in the trucks cab satisfied the laws requirement that the gun be on or about Senns person.

The Supreme Court ruled that the appeals court improperly focused on the gun being out of reach while Senn was driving. The high court stated that Senn could have reached the gun while the truck was stopped.

We conclude that the jury, as a rational trier of fact, could have found that the handgun was on or about Senns person, even though it was not within his reach while driving, Supreme Court Judge Max Kelch wrote for the unanimous court.

Auburn attorney Keith Kollasch, who represented Senn, said the ruling appears to leave little area inside a vehicle where it would be legal to store a gun.

How do you transport a firearm in Nebraska, then? he asked. Youre pheasant hunting, youve got a firearm in a case, outside your reach. Under this ruling, they could probably charge you with a concealed weapons charge.

Suzanne Gage, spokeswoman for the Attorney Generals Office, declined to comment on the ruling.

Rod Moeller of Omaha, president of the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association, said he had not yet read the opinion, so he wasnt sure how far-reaching it might be.

A gun owner has three choices when it comes to transporting guns, Moeller said. He could obtain a state permit to carry a concealed handgun, which allows him to keep the gun out of sight while driving.

Otherwise, he can keep the gun in plain sight  on the dash, for example  so that an officer can clearly see the weapon during a stop.

But Moeller advises unloading the gun and placing it in a case fully out of reach from the vehicles seating compartment.

Moeller said hes heard of cases in which the open carry approach has resulted in a concealed weapons charge.

There can be a risk, he said.
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With one hand holding a bottle of champagne and the other an oversized certificate declaring him the winner of $1 million from Publishers Clearing House, Bruce Saunders stood on the front porch of his western Davie County Monday and rattled off a list of things he plans spend his spend money on  medical bills, fixing his lawnmower and helping family members.
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The Department for Emergency Situations (DSU) and the Romanian Red Cross signed on Monday a cooperation protocol that regulates the management of emergencies according to the risk type.

"What the Red Cross will do in the end is to complement what we do by using its direct mechanisms via the Red Cross organisations in all the other EU member countries. There is a huge cooperation potential in this regard that can be capitalized upon, if needed, in case of disaster," DSU head Raed Arafat said on Monday.

According to the protocol, the Red Cross and DSU, or the structures under the latter's coordination, will jointly organize and carry out training and prevention activities to mitigate the nationwide effects of disasters.

"There will definitely be training courses, we'll precisely determine which are the most important areas. One area that we have identified and which was also discussed with president of the National Red Cross Society, Her Highness [Princess Margareta] is securing assistance to disaster-stricken population. We want to create capacity within both the Red Cross and the General Inspectorate for Emergencies, so that if we need to handle high numbers of disaster-stricken people, we are able to provide care in the shortest time and until the situation fully returns to normalcy," said Raed Arafat.

In his turn, Romanian Red Cross director general Ioan Silviu Lefter said that in the next two years the two institutions will harmonize their alert, communication and intervention mechanisms to increase the reaction capacity and for the population to benefit from an efficient as possible specific aid in case of major disasters.

"We noticed that is certain situations our subsidiaries, represented by their executives, were not invited, for instance to the commissions for emergencies. This way we make sure that they will participate in all the meetings, in all counties in order to ensure coordinated action in case of disaster," said Lefter.

The protocol was signed in the presence of Princess Margareta.
The Social Democrat Party (PSD) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) will put together a joint governing programme and a sole Prime Minister candidate, according to the protocol between the two parties, signed on Monday, at the Parliament Palace. The document has three main objectives: ensuring sustainable economic growth and new jobs, increasing material wealth and the quality of life and respecting citizens' rights and liberties. "PSD and ALDE will put together a joint governing programme by harmonizing the stipulations in their electoral programmes," the document specifies.

Furthermore, given that the parliamentary groups of PSD and ALDE hold together 250 mandates, out of the overall 465 mandates, the Governing Coalition for Development and Democracy PSD-ALDE will propose a sole candidate for the position of Prime Minister, jointly designated and will back up, through voting in the Parliament of Romania, a coalition government led by the respective candidate, whose governmental team will be made up of ministers designated proportionately by PSD and ALDE.

The parliamentary groups of PSD and ALDE in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies will constitute a parliamentary majority with a view to support the election of their own representatives in the Standing Bureaus of the two Chambers, within the leadership of the standing commissions, as well as to promote the legislative initiatives and the drafts for laws that the two parties decide upon, by mutual consultations, to initiate at parliamentary and governmental level.

In the protocol, the two parties commit themselves to proportionately carry out the political nominations in ministers, in governmental agencies, in the Government's structure, in the institutions representing the Government in the country, based on criteria of competence, integrity and determination to achieve the objectives of defending the citizens' rights and liberties from the joint governing programme. "The present protocol is signed for the entire period of the parliamentary mandate from December 2016 to December 2020," reads the mentioned document.

Agerpres
A report by the Prime Minister's Control Body shines a light on the flaws in the management of hospital-acquired infections in the health facilities where the victims of the Colectiv fire were treated, as well as in the way the Bucharest Public Health Directorate (DSPMB) handled the situation.

"As concerns the inspections carried out by DSPMB in the health care facilities with beds and emergency departments/units prior and after the Colectiv club fire, we found that this institution has acted differently, as prior to this event it did not take samples for microbiological control (sanitation tests, drinking water and food samples) to highlight potential hospital infections in any of the 50 verified health care facilities with beds, although deficiencies regarding the sanitary and hygiene conditions, the sterilization and cleanliness / disinfection standards had been reported in most of the hospitals. Also, during hospital verifications before the Colectiv club fire, DSPMB did not proceed to the assessment / monitoring of the situation of hospital-acquired infections, as it did subsequently to this event," reads the report of the Prime Minister's Control Body posted on Monday on the control.ro website.

The document also shows that as a result of repeated and uncorrelated legislative amendments, the scope of DSPMB's control activities has diminished.

"The institutional capacity and existing control mechanisms in the health care system are insufficiently developed. Thus, in the context of legislative changes in the field of public health and the lack of correlation of the provisions of the relevant regulations, in the period 2010 - 2016 DSPMB's activities of assessment, control and participation in / coordination of emergency medical services and the Directorate's responsibilities related to medical assistance in disasters, epidemics, catastrophes and other special situations have diminished," found the Prime Minister's Control Body.

The major failures found by the Control Body's investigative report and referred to the competent authorities were constraints related to the premises where medical emergency activities are being performed - old buildings, damaged wall painting, destroyed flooring - understaffing of the medical emergency services, insufficient medical emergency equipment, medicines and sanitary materials, overcrowding of the emergency departments/units with patients with conditions that could have been treated by family doctors or in outpatient centres.

The control was conducted from March to September at the units under the Health Ministry's authority where the Colectiv fire victims were hospitalized, and at the Bucharest Public Health Directorate, and targeted the way how these entities complied with the legal provisions on the organization and functioning of medical emergency services in the period January 2015 - June 2016.

agerpres.
Jediism not a religion, Charity Commission rules

What is Jediism?





Yoda, who appeared as Jedi Master in the Star Wars films, was stronger than most in his connection with the Force



Jediism is based on the observance of the Force, described as "the ubiquitous and metaphysical power" that a Jedi believes to be the underlying, fundamental nature of the universe



Jedi do not believe in a god, having faith instead "in the Force, and in the inherent worth of all life within it"



They believe in eternal life through the Force and do not become "obsessed in mourning those who pass"



Jedi may grieve but are content, knowing they will "forever be a part of the Force"



The definition of Jediism states the religion is an "inspiration and a way of life" for people who take on "the mantle of Jedi"



The Jedi Doctrine acknowledges there is some "scope for followers to simply view Jediism as a philosophy or way of life" and some Jedi prefer to avoid the word religion



Read more Jediism is based on the observance of the Force, described as "the ubiquitous and metaphysical power" that a Jedi believes to be the underlying, fundamental nature of the universeJedi do not believe in a god, having faith instead "in the Force, and in the inherent worth of all life within it"They believe in eternal life through the Force and do not become "obsessed in mourning those who pass"Jedi may grieve but are content, knowing they will "forever be a part of the Force"The definition of Jediism states the religion is an "inspiration and a way of life" for people who take on "the mantle of Jedi"The Jedi Doctrine acknowledges there is some "scope for followers to simply view Jediism as a philosophy or way of life" and some Jedi prefer to avoid the word religionRead more

19 December 2016BBC NewsJediism, the worship of the mythology of Star Wars, is not a religion, the Charity Commission has ruled.The commission rejected an application to grant charitable status to The Temple of the Jedi Order.It said Jediism did not "promote moral or ethical improvement" for charity law purposes in England and Wales.In the 2011 census, 177,000 people declared themselves Jedi under the religion section, making it the seventh most popular religion.In its ruling the Charity Commission said there was insufficient evidence that "moral improvement" was central to the beliefs and practices of Jediism.It also noted the Jedi Doctrine can be accepted, rejected and interpreted by individuals as they see fit.The commission said to be classed as a religion it must have a positive beneficial impact on society in general and raised concerns that Jediism may, in part, have an "inward focus" on its members.Daniel Jones, leader of the Church of Jediism, said Jedi would continue to do charity work without any legal status and was convinced "Jediism's status will change in the next five years"."It's not what anyone in the Jediism community wants to hear, when you have churches like Satan and Scientology with charitable religious statuses," he told the BBC.Jediism has more adherents than Rastafarians and Jains, according to the census.But the number of Jedi fell sharply from 2001, when 390,000 people said they were followers of The Force.Kenneth Dibble, the chief legal adviser at the Charity Commission, said: "The law relating to what is and is not a charity evolves continuously and, as in this case, can be influenced by decisions in other areas. Our role is critical in interpreting and explaining the extent of what the law considers charitable."
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is selling St. Charles-based American Railcar Leasing , or ARL, to another railroad car management company owned by a Japanese bank.

Icahn Enterprises announced the agreement Monday to sell ARL to SMBC Rail Services, owned by the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The cash sale price, subject to adjustments, is based on an ARL enterprise value of $2.78 billion and a fleet of 29,000 rail cars.

SMBC will have a three-year option to purchase an additional 4,800 rail cars for $586 million, boosting the total price to $3.36 billion. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017.

I have been in the rail car business for over 30 years, Icahn said in a statement. During that time we have built one of the leading rail car fleets in the world. ... I am very proud of the business we have built at ARL and am pleased that SMBC Rail Services also sees the tremendous value in this business.

In 2005, American Railcar Leasing separated from American Railcar Industries Inc., the publicly traded St. Charles company that makes and repairs railroad cars. Icahn is also American Railcar Inc.s largest shareholder.

ARL markets American Railcar Industries cars for sale and lease and manages their storage, repair and service.

As part of the deal, American Railcar Inc. will assume the management of the cars it owns, and it is barred from hiring certain ARL employees for 24 months. It can, however, hire principal officers of ARL and certain other employees. Those other positions were not identified in a regulatory filing from American Railcar Inc.

Shares of American Railcar Inc. rose $2, or 4.4 percent, to close Monday at $47.38.
Federal Authorities Investigating Possible $2.6 Million Embezzlement In Oklahoma From the High Plains / Midwest Journal on 1/8/17: The Oklahoma Beef Council has confirmed that federal authorities are investigating a ...

Former Fire Captain In California Accused Of Embezzling Nearly $300K From Union A former fire captain in Lodi, California has been accused of embezzling $297K from local fire fighter's union where he had served as tr...

Michigan Woman Sentenced In $2 Million Credit Union Embezzlement Case From the Detroit Free Press on 1/4/17: She gambled, bought a Mercedes and big motor home, took luxury vacations. Now, a Westland woman...

Illinois Woman Charged With Embezzling $370K From Assisted Living Facility Another shameless example of brazen fraud involving a bookkeeper willing to fleece her employer with no apparent concern about the consequen...
T-Mobile employees under pressure to meet sales goals are sometimes driven to mislead customers or to enroll them in services they didn't ask for, according to allegations in a report from a labor coalition.

In a complaint that Change to Win said it filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Friday, the labor group claimed that T-Mobile sets "unrealistic sales targets" that encourage workers to act in ways that may not benefit consumers.

The group found that some workers said they felt pressure to add insurance, phone lines and other services that customers didn't explicitly ask for to meet sales targets and earn commission payments. The findings were based on a review of consumer complaints collected by the Federal Trade Commission, a consumer protection agency, interviews with workers and online surveys of people who identified themselves as T-Mobile employees and customers.

"We want T-Mobile to behave ethically and truly align customer service goals with consumers' best interests," said Matthew Painter, a spokesman for Change to Win.

T-Mobile declined to comment on the report.

Workers face daily pressure to produce sales, according to some employees interviewed by The Post. Progress may be tracked on a large board in a back room, where workers are ranked based on the number of activations, or new lines, they've sold, the employees said. People at the top of the list may have their numbers written in green and are rewarded with perks, such as being able to leave early or having first choice on days off, employees said.

Employees with lagging sales numbers have their figures marked in red. Workers who don't meet daily goals may have to email their managers explaining why they didn't, said Jerrica Croxson, a retail sales associate for T-Mobile in San Antonio.

Some T-Mobile employees told The Post they are encouraged to present services and products as part of a "bundle," by focusing on the total price and then listing the various items included.

"When I tell you what the total is going to be, I'm supposed to include insurance," Croxson said about the charge that can cost about $10 a month. "It's technically optional, but I'm not supposed to present it as such."

One employee based in the Northeast who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her job said it took two weeks to figure out why her co-workers were meeting their sales targets while she was not: She alleged that many were knowingly presenting products vaguely to customers in hopes of getting them to agree to more expensive packages. When the customers complained about being charged for unwanted services, the employees would simply apologize, remove the offending product from the customer's bill and issue a credit to the user's account.

Roughly 1 in 3 of the 2,200 self-identified T-Mobile customers surveyed by Change to Win claimed the company enrolled them in services without their explicit consent. The unscientific poll questioned customers in five states  Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. Consumer complaints collected by the FTC also reflect these experiences, though the agency did not verify them.

Still, many customers who were interviewed for this story said they had not experienced the problems identified by Change to Win.

"They've always been super clear when I've called and asked about anything," said Emil Caillaux, who has had his T-Mobile plan since 2008. "I've actually been very happy with how transparent they've been."

The report comes weeks after the CFPB warned financial companies in the wake of the Wells Fargo scandal to avoid sales incentives that can lead to unauthorized accounts or to overcharging consumers. The warning is what prompted Change to Win to file to the agency.

In 2014, T-Mobile and AT&T agreed to settlements of $90 million and $105 million, respectively, for "cramming" millions of customers with unwanted charges on their accounts. Federal and state regulators said the companies charged customers $9.99 a month for ringtones, wallpaper, horoscopes and other services they never requested.

"Phone bills are an easy place to extract phony charges [from customers] because they are generally very difficult to read, and many of these charges are masked," said David Vladeck, a Georgetown University law professor and former head of the FTC's consumer protection bureau.

The FTC declined to comment on whether it was investigating T-Mobile for the sales practices highlighted by the labor group.

The Washington Post's Alice Crites and Andrea Peterson contributed to the report.
The U.S. Department of Education has two quite different roles in the lives of indebted former students. The same bureaucracy that must safeguard taxpayer dollars by collecting $1.1 trillion in loans also oversees the nation's largest-ever effort to forgive student debt.

These dual roles have culminated in a strange situation. The administration of President Barack Obama has repeatedly promised that borrowers eligible to have their student loans cancelled would be reimbursed for "every penny." But for months, the Education Department has been actively working to collect on federal student debt owed by tens of thousands of former students at Corinthian Colleges, which filed for bankruptcy in 2015 under a cloud of fraud investigations. It is clear that government officials, working under their own guidelines, have reason to believe at least some of these same debts should be forgiven. When companies have similarly hounded borrowers to repay debt without disclosing that borrowers do not owe it, they have been charged by federal and state regulators with violating the law.

"There's no clear-cut reason why there shouldn't be automatic loan forgiveness for people who otherwise would have a legal claim for deceptive conduct against this now-bankrupt company," David Vladeck, a former director of the FTC's consumer protection division, said of Corinthian students. "These kids by and large have been scammed, and the Department of Education in some sense is continuing that harm by making them jump through hoops to get the relief to which they are entitled."

The Education Department is effectively disregarding records it obtained earlier this year  a development not previously reported  that identify former Corinthian students eligible for debt relief under the administration's criteria. Instead of halting collections, however, the department has outsourced the work of informing these borrowers to budget-strapped state attorneys general. This account of the government's inconsistent actions toward distressed borrowers is based on records and interviews with more than two dozen borrowers, former federal regulators, current state prosecutors, public interest attorneys, and others working on student loan issues,

The government stands to gain from muscular collection tactics. Not all former Corinthian students are eligible to have their debt canceled, but eliminating the debt of those who are could cost the federal government nearly $4 billion, according to Education Department estimates. That's enough money to fund one year of Pell Grants for more than 600,000 students.

Eligible borrowers may have their debts erased because the Education Department determined that Corinthian defrauded them into taking out federal loans by advertising false job placement rates for its many career programs. Department officials concluded that Corinthian engaged in "widespread placement rate fraud" for almost 800 programs at nearly every one of its more than 100 U.S. campuses. Before its collapse, Corinthian consistently denied any wrongdoing.

"The department is not collecting on loans from borrowers that it knows are eligible" for fraud-based debt cancellations, said Kelly Leon, an Education Department spokeswoman. Leon said the department had corrected errors after identifying them and that education officials believe "nobody should be in collections for a loan that is eligible to be discharged." The department worked with state prosecutors because they have resources the department doesn't have, Leon said. She declined to answer numerous questions submitted in writing or provide further comment addressing Bloomberg News's findings.

_________

Corinthian, once among the nation's largest for-profit chains with such schools as Everest, WyoTech, and Heald, faced a flood of government investigations and lawsuits alleging systemic fraud before filing for bankruptcy. In the aftermath, the federal government declared that as many as 335,000 former students could erase their loans by checking a box and signing their names on a simple form, under penalty of perjury. Doing so, former students were told, would void their debt and prompt a refund on past payments.

But things turned out to be far more complicated for defrauded borrowers.

Even though the Obama administration presumes Corinthian misled these borrowers, as many as 80,000 of them are in default and battling draconian collection efforts  wage garnishments, the seizure of tax refunds and federal benefits  on behalf of the Education and Treasury departments. Others are paying off debt they aren't aware they don't owe.

The Obama administration's moves underscore a basic fact about the officials who run the federal student loan program: Their job is to maximize collections, not assist borrowers. In fact, the same person-James W. Runcie, chief operating officer of the department's student aid unit-directly oversees both collection and forgiveness. Runcie declined to comment.

_________

Christopher Suarez was unemployed when he enrolled at a Corinthian school in 2011. Recruiters promised he'd make a minimum of $30 an hour following graduation from a car repair program, he said, and showed him data on how the previous year's graduating class had fared in the workforce. But after he graduated, interviewers told him the best he could hope for was a retail job at Pep Boys or AutoZone making $9 an hour.

This year, Suarez received letters from a government contractor threatening to garnish his wages to pay back some $25,000 in defaulted student loans even though he submitted required government paperwork for debt relief in August with the help of a public interest attorney. Unable to land a job repairing cars, the 42-year-old from Antioch, Calif., makes about $25,000 annually as an office assistant at a hospital.

"Oh, God, they're going to take my car, garnish my paycheck, or come into my house and take stuff that I own," Suarez said of his fears of the government's contracted debt collectors.

The first wage garnishment order came a few weeks after Suarez petitioned the Education Department to cancel his debt. He appealed the decision by submitting his debt-relief application, to no avail. "You have provided no evidence or documentation to support the objection(s) you raised," read the Oct. 6 letter from the department's loan contractor. Both Suarez and his attorney say he meets the qualifications for debt cancellation.

Tens of thousands of former Corinthian students are similarly eligible to have their federal loans wiped-and many of them remain unaware.

Debtors such as Suarez aren't told on their monthly bills that they're eligible to have their loans erased. While the Education Department has sent a few letters and emails to some 335,000 former Corinthian students telling them they could be eligible for debt relief, advocates say that's hardly the most effective way to get the message out.

"Consumers are much more likely to open mail containing their bills rather than some random letter," said Joel C. Winston, a former senior official at the Federal Trade Commission.

When Suarez received one such letter from the feds, he thought it was a hoax. He once had been taken in by a television ad promising debt relief, forking over $500 before he realized it was a scam. "I can't see a reason why they just wouldn't put something on the bill saying, 'Hey, if you feel you've been defrauded, check this box,'" Winston said.

_________

In fact, the feds have taken similar steps in previous cases. In 2014, the FTC required T-Mobile to notify consumers of their right to refunds on different color paper than their bills. Robert Kaye, an Education Department official supervising its debt-relief initiative, was a senior official in the FTC's consumer protection division at the time. When asked during a conference call on Oct. 18 why the department wasn't doing more to help borrowers, Kaye cited budgetary implications beyond his control, said Luke Herrine, a member of the activist group Debt Collective who was on the call. Kaye declined to comment.

"When the Department of Education wants to collect the money, it doesn't stop," said Maggie Robb, a staff attorney at the Empire Justice Center in Rochester, N.Y., who has represented former Corinthian students. "It figures out a way. Why don't they do that in trying to help these students get their loans discharged?"

Even when borrowers do apply for relief, they face the prospect of what appear to be baseless rejections. Education Department employees have erroneously told some borrowers there's no federal right to debt cancellations. (The department issued an apology.) Some borrowers say they never hear anything at all. "To this day I have heard nothing," said Ann Bowers, 56, of Paris, Tenn. Bowers, a former Corinthian student who served on a government advisory committee grappling with student debt, applied for debt relief herself nine months ago.

Even when the government has tried to notify borrowers, it hasn't been consistent about eligibility requirements. In June, the department quietly revised the list of programs marred by fraudulent employment claims first published on its website three months earlier. The changes affected more than 100 programs.

Federal student debtors have had the right since 1995 to void their loans if their school engaged in fraudulent behavior, but few borrowers applied for loan cancellations over the following two decades. The Education Department buried the right in loan contracts and does not appear to have advertised it to students.

Despite the small number of debtors attempting to utilize the provision prior to last year, internal department e-mails from 1998, reviewed by Bloomberg News, show officials fretting about the "increasing number" of claims asserted by the borrowers. In one email, Ronald B. Sann, an attorney still at the Education Department, recommended to colleagues that they develop a system for addressing these claims. His suggestion was ignored. Sann declined to comment.

Corinthian's bankruptcy strained the department's ability to process requests for debt cancellation. Efforts to prop up the struggling chain generated a backlash by former students who went on a debt strike. Federal officials, who announced plans last year to create the kind of system Sann suggested nearly two decades earlier, have been overwhelmed by some 82,000 claims from allegedly defrauded former college students.

The Obama administration's moves underscore a basic fact about the officials who run the federal student loan program: Their job is to maximize collections, not assist borrowers.

_________

By and large, students who took out federal loans to pay for Corinthian classes couldn't afford them.

Julio Gonzalez, 49, of Boston, said he enrolled in a Corinthian medical assistant program in 2010 after recruiters told him his criminal record wouldn't prevent him from landing a high-paying hospital job. A few months into a nine-month program, he said, the school reversed itself, warning that his past would make him unemployable at hospitals. He was fielding daily calls from the Education Department's contracted debt collectors about his roughly $16,500 in defaulted loans until last month, when he complained to the Massachusetts attorney general's office.

"They were blowing up my phone," said Gonzalez, a father of four. "I was getting calls every few minutes. I had to shut it off."

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey called such collection efforts "deeply unfair and unjust" and urged education officials to reform their practices.

Gonzalez also worries about the wage garnishment order his employer, an adult day-care center, received in September, four months after he applied for debt relief with the help of state prosecutors. "I have a car payment, rent, insurance," he said. "How am I going to live?"

Although the Education Department states on its website that it will cease collection efforts on Corinthian borrowers' disputed debt, experiences like Gonzalez's are common. There simply may be too much money at stake.

A department analysis from March 2015 disclosed to the New York Legal Assistance Group found that the feds disbursed more than $3.24 billion in loans and accumulated interest to Corinthian students in the previous four and half years. If the loans are cancelled, the federal government won't see a dime of that revenue.

_________

The department has long resisted easing borrowers' path to debt relief. The Education Department insists that borrowers fill out paperwork confirming its suspicions, said Noah Zinner, Suarez's attorney at Housing & Economic Rights Advocates, an Oakland, Calif.-based public interest organization. Similarly, former students of a defunct for-profit beauty school chain had to sue the Education Department in an attempt to force it to send notices to former students informing them that they could have their debts discharged. The case is pending.

Education Secretary John B. King Jr. has broad legal authority to cancel student debt, a step critics have urged him to take. But his agency has refused to act by claiming, in part, that it doesn't know which career programs allegedly defrauded Corinthian students attended. Before 2014, the federal government's student loan database identified only which schools students attended and when. The department needed former Corinthian students to show which programs they attended in order to obtain debt forgiveness. The department declined to make King available for an interview.

But in interviews with Bloomberg News, prosecutors from California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Nebraska said the department now has those records. They know this, the prosecutors said, because the Education Department began sharing them with state attorneys general offices in July. For the first time, the records identified the career programs Corinthian students had attended. In Illinois, for example, prosecutors estimate as many as 40 percent of the roughly 17,000 Corinthian debtors in the state attended programs that advertised false career claims. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said a thorough analysis of Education Department records by her office revealed them to be reliable.

The feds now have a good idea which borrowers were misled by Corinthian's bogus job-placement statistics and might face assertive collection attempts on debt they arguably don't owe. But the Education and Treasury departments still continue to collect on that debt with regular monthly bills, wage garnishment orders, and threats to seize tax credits and Social Security benefits-without accompanying those demands with information on borrowers' right to discharge their debt, Bloomberg News found.

A study by Massachusetts prosecutors revealed that nearly one-quarter of eligible debtors who petitioned the Education Department for debt relief later received notices from department contractors threatening to seize their wages or federal benefits.

It's not even clear whether the federal government is collecting on these debts legally. In October, lawyers at the Project on Predatory Student Lending at Harvard Law School sued the Education and Treasury departments over their efforts to collect on Corinthian-related student debt. They argued that the government ignored its own evidence of fraud and falsely certified the debt was legally collectible. The government has not yet responded to the complaint.

The Education Department has defended itself by pointing to debt cancellation for approximately 15,000 former Corinthian students and ongoing outreach efforts such as a telephone hotline staffed by one of its loan contractors. There's even a $5,000 ad campaign on Facebook meant to reach defrauded students. By contrast, the Massachusetts attorney general's office said in August it has devoted more than 1,200 hours of employee time to aid former Corinthian students.

"We were all taught to trust education," said Bowers, the former Corinthian student. "But trusting the Education Department put me in a bad situation."

Earlier this year, she said, she confronted department officials she blames for her plight. "I said, 'I trusted you, and you let us down. You were supposed to be the gatekeeper. You were supposed to protect us. Instead, you fed us to the wolves.'"
Filmmaker James Gray mines his own childhood for Armageddon Time," about an 11-year-old kid in the fall of 1980 in Queens who transfers from public to private school and his family life starts to change. Banks Repeta plays Gray's stand-in Paul, an artistically and anarchically-minded kid who is in danger of being left behind by the structures in place. His struggles are juxtaposed with those of a friend Johnny (Jaylin Webb) who is Black. AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr writes in her review that it is a patient and essential work that has painful lessons and reminders for today. Rated R, Armageddon Time opens in limited release Friday and nationwide Nov. 4.
The soon-to-be 11-year-old left the Washington University School of Medicine lab with an instruction manual for her new robotic arm. Dont get it wet. Turn it off when not in use. Change the two 9-volt batteries.

But for a girl who has adapted to living a life with a left arm that ends just past her elbow, theres no instruction manual for how to incorporate this new technology into her day. That will be up to her to figure out.

And researchers at the biomaterials laboratory will be studying her, trying to figure it out, too.

Delanie Gallagher of Spanish Lake is the first of 10 children researchers plan to enroll in a study trying to determine how to develop a prosthetic that is useful for children like her born with an arm missing below the elbow or who lost their forearm in an accident or by disease.

Most end up living without a prosthetic because it lacks function and only gets in the way. Of the more than 540,000 Americans living with upper limb amputations, only about 20 percent use a prosthetic.

Delanies new arm incorporates myoelectric technology  sensors that detect when muscles in the stump contract and signal parts in the prosthetic to move. Prosthetics with this technology typically cost from $25,000 to $50,000, making them unfeasible for fast-growing children.

The Washington University lab created a hard plastic arm using a 3-D printer at a cost of just a few hundred dollars. The myoelectric technology was kept simple enough to keep the prosthetic low-cost and lightweight, with one sensor that signals the hand to either open or close, or the wrist to turn.

Nick Thompson, a scientist in the lab, hopes the simple route will make arm prostheses more accessible and useful to children.

Tons of people are doing this now, but they are reaching for the fruit high in the tree, trying to develop something with the most functionality that is the closest you can get to your biological limb, Thompson said. We are going the opposite. We are looking for something quick that can be made and modified quickly. That is our goal.

But the big question is how useful it will be. Delanie is proof of how children overcome. She had difficulty thinking of something that she cant already do.

What does she hope her new prosthetic will help her do?

I dont know, Delanie said. I dont know what I can do.

Rosy Pink Petunia

Delanies mother, Janet Gallagher, remembered when Delanie was a baby and got her first prosthetic to help her crawl. She just dragged it along, Gallagher said. It was quickly tossed aside.

Delanie has had two other prostheses, used only to help her steady and steer her bike, hold up a fishing pole or brace her bow and arrow.

It didnt help her, Gallagher said. She could do better without it.

Using her stump, Delanie figured out how to color, use scissors, tie her shoes, braid her hair, put her hair in a ponytail and play the piano.

On a recent day at school at Gateway Science Academy in south St. Louis, she needed no help. She carried her books in a shoulder bag rather than a backpack. She held a pencil sharpener in the crook of her elbow as she turned her pencil.

She played with a piece of clay, molding it into a flower between her stump and hand. She twirled her hair with her stump, raised it high when the teacher sought answers from the class.

At lunch, Delanie ripped open bags with her teeth and braced her Capri Sun against her body so she could stab it with a straw.

When the English teacher read a book aloud, no one batted an eye at a quote by a character who lost part of her leg from a land mine: Every day, I wished I had it back.

Delanies fifth-grade classmates say they are excited about her new robotic arm, but they are used to how she is. Its going to be cool, but she does so much without it, her best friend, Georgia Collier, said. Its going to be different.

Gallagher said Delanie sometimes worried about her future. She wonders how she will drive a car, if she will be able to take care of children.

As she enters her preteen years, shes figuring out new things such as how to hold a blow dryer, put on makeup and curl her hair.

Delanie definitely likes how the new arm looks. She asked that it be pink, engraved with her initials. She named it Rosy Pink Petunia Gallagher.

Dr. Charles Goldfarb, a Washington U. orthopedic surgeon at St. Louis Childrens Hospital who cares for children with amputated limbs, said a prosthetic could have social benefits.

Can we help her do more things a little similar to her peers? Goldfarb said. That may become more important as she gets older. A teenager wants to be like any other teenager, he said.

Sydney Syndrome

The Minimally Invasive Surgery Biomaterials Lab opened on the medical campus just over three years ago. Its focus was using a 3-D printer to create and test bioabsorbable surgical mesh.

In 2014, the lab learned of three engineering students whose senior project involved using a 3-D printer to create a prosthetic for 13-year-old Sydney Kendall who had lost her arm six years earlier in a boating accident.

That sparked the start of the labs work with prosthetic arms. We asked, Can we take this up and improve what the students have worked on? Thompson said.

A wire in the arm the students created for Sydney was connected to a sensor in her shoulder. Shrugging her shoulder caused the hand to open or close. The wire was cumbersome, she told the scientists, and difficult to use.

So, the lab printed a prosthetic with a myoelectric sensor inside its socket that could move the hand and wrist and gave it to Sydney. She found it needed a stronger grip and was heavy. They refined it again, printing her another last spring. The process offered promise.

It justified to do this type of study on pediatric patients, Thompson said. Thats where we are now.

Scientists hope a study of more children will give them feedback on how to overcome what they refer to as Sydney Syndrome  the prosthetic sitting in a drawer collecting dust.

Participants will complete questionnaires three months, six months and a year after getting their prostheses.

Now we feel we have a design that is of high enough utility to try on multiple patients to see if theres any benefit from using them, Thompson said. The patients will tell us what directions we need to go in to make it better.

Superhero arms

The study is funded by a $10,000 grant from the St. Louis Childrens Hospital Foundation. Low-cost 3-D printing makes it feasible.

A 3-D printer works like a regular ink printer, but instead of ink, it prints layers of heated plastic to create models designed with a computer program.

The technology dates to the 1980s and was used in manufacturing to make machine parts. In the 2000s, consumers began buying home printers to make jewelry or toys.

In the past several years, surgeons have created models of organs and tumors to plan for surgeries. And researchers are experimenting with using materials to print heart valves, stents and skull fragments.

The science is advancing rapidly. The concept of 3-D printing has flipped the prosthetic world over, Goldfarb said, not just in terms of the possibilities, but also in its purpose.

For forever, our goal with a prosthetic has been to make something unobtrusive and unnoticeable with the same skin tone. But it doesnt do much, Goldfarb said. These prostheses look nothing like your arm. They look like superhero arms. They are bold and distinctive looking.

The difference philosophically is were making arms that say, Hey, look at me. Ive got a great, cool arm; and Im not trying to hide it. Its part of who I am. ... Its a different concept, and its helpful for a lot of kids.

Learning curve

Back in the lab, as technicians tested the myolectric sensor in Delanies new arm, the sensor wasnt consistently picking up the signal to move the wrist. After more than an hour of trying to find the problem, they determined that Delanie would have to figure out how to best position the arm so the sensor picks up the signal from her muscle.

Thats the learning curve for her. No one can do it except her, Thompson said. As she wears it more and more, shell figure out how it feels when its in the best spot.

Delanies father, Joe Gallagher, joked that she wasnt allowed to hold eggs with it yet.

If she gets to move it three times out of 10, thats a good thing, her father said. Its a learning process.

Though the family is wondering how the robotic arm might help Delanie with what she can already do, they dont have expectations that the science will be life-changing  at least for her.

But with Delanies help, scientists could someday develop a useful prosthetic for a child who suddenly loses an arm. Or one that a child with a congenital defect could use as a toddler.

Delanie is excited, her parents said, mostly about helping other children.

She says, Im helping make an arm for people who lose it or for people who are born like me, her mom said. Shes looking at it as, Im making history, and helping makes lives better.

Blythe Bernhard of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
THE WALL OF SHAME

"The only thing [Trump's] mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin's c--k holster."

--STEPHEN COLBERT

"[Ivanka Trump] Your father is a racist birther. Steve Bannon an anti-Semitic opportunist. You and your husband are enabling hatred. F--- your shoes."

--BRADLEY WHITFORD

"Melania [Trump] is a hooker."

--JACOB BERNSTEIN

"And my job is to shut other white people down when they want to interrupt."

"We have to, at the DNC, provide training. We have to teach them how to communicate, how to be sensitive, and how to shut their mouths if they're white."

--SALLY BOYNTON BROWN

"And to our detractors that insist that this march will never add up to anything: F--- you! F---you!

"Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House."

--MADONNA

"Barron Trump looks like a very handsome date-rapist-to-be."

--STEPHEN SPINOLA

"Barron [Trump] will be this country's first homeschool shooter."

--KATIE RICH

"Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners, and if we kick 'em all out, you'll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts."

--MERYL STREEP

"There's a billion to one chance we're living in base reality."

[That means we're almost positively living in a simulation, like a video game.]

--ELON MUSK

"When I would deny that there was a significant racist component in some of the politics on our side, it was because the people I hung out with were certainly not. When suddenly, this rock is turned over, there is this'Oh shit, did I not see that?'"

----------------------------

"In any other scenario, Hillary Clinton's lying about her emails, and her pay-for-play relationship with the Clinton Foundation would be disqualifying issues. The only reason they're not disqualifying is because Donald Trump is a fundamentally more repellent, dishonest figure."

--CHARLIE SYKES

"I made a mistake in recalling the events of twelve years ago... I said I was traveling in an aircraft that was hit by RPG fire. I was instead in a following aircraft."

--BRIAN WILLIAMS

"I'm here to tell you if you elect me governor of this state, I will end the civil war."

--TOM BARRETT

"I would not look to the U.S. Constitution, if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012. I might look at the constitution of South Africa. That was a deliberate attempt to have a fundamental instrument of government that embraced basic human rights, had an independent judiciary. It really is, I think, a great piece of work that was done."

--RUTH BADER GINSBURG

"Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now, do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?"

--ROBERT DE NIRO

"The death of Andrew Breitbart disproves the adage that only the good die young."

--JULIAN BOND

"The National Institute of Health has said that it is a danger to women's health and safety of their families that for 30 years to be exposed to the prospects of pregnancy."

--GWEN MOORE

"[Tea Party Republicans] have acted like terrorists."

--JOE BIDEN

"Why did- Couldn't the President have said at that moment, way back in December of last year, 'no game playing. No hostage-taking. No terrorizing this country with the debt ceiling. I'm not going to negotiate with you guys. You can't play it that way.' Could he have done that?"

--CHRIS MATTHEWS

"[T]he tea-party Hobbits could return to Middle Earth having defeated Mordor."

--WALL STREET JOURNAL EDITORIAL

"I remember distinctly an image of--we were sitting on his couches, and I was looking at [Obama's] pant leg and his perfectly creased pant, and I'm thinking, a) he's going to be president and b) he'll be a very good president."

--DAVID BROOKS

"I feel like calling her back and smackin' her around."

--FRED CLARK, DEMOCRAT

"The picture was of me, and I sent it."

--ANTHONY WEINER

"[I]f you go back to the year 2000, when we had an obvious disaster and - and saw that our voting process needed refinement, and we did that in the America Votes Act and made sure that we could iron out those kinks, now you have the Republicans, who want to literally drag us all the way back to Jim Crow laws and literally - and very transparently - block access to the polls to voters who are more likely to vote Democratic candidates than Republican candidates. And it's nothing short of that blatant."

--DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

"This is probably one of the worst times we've seen because the numbers of people elected to Congress. I went through this as co-chair of the arts caucus. In '94 people were elected simply to come here to kill the National Endowment for the Arts. Now theyre here to kill women."

--LOUISE SLAUGHTER

"The protesters have proven today that theyre not going away. It was a pretty rough night last night. You can imagine if people said, well, we just cant fight the power. Instead, this morning, they came by tens, by hundreds, by thousands. By midday today, it was easily more than 10,000, perhaps as many as 15,000 people on the square here in Madison. Not organized by anyone, just grassroots citizens who came out just like the Minutemen in 1776."

--JOHN NICHOLS

"They're sitting on the money, they're using it for their own -- they're putting it someplace else with no interest in helping you with your life, with that money. We've allowed them to take that. That's not theirs, that's a national resource, that's ours. We all have this -- we all benefit from this or we all suffer as a result of not having it. I think we need to go back to taxing these people at the proper rates."

--MICHAEL MOORE

"Why don't we just raise the taxes and let these folks have their collective bargaining, have their union representation and go back to their jobs? Raise the taxes on the wealthy."

--DAVID LETTERMAN

"In 1933, [Hitler] abolished unions and that's what our Governor [Scott Walker] is doing today."

--LENA TAYLOR, Democrat State Senator

"So I would urge my Republican colleagues, no matter how strongly they feel -- you know, we have three branches of government. We have a House. We have a Senate. We have a president. And all three of us are going to have to come together and give some, but it is playing with fire to risk the shutting down of the government."

--CHUCK SCHUMER

"Well, when you start off with the Preamble of the Constitution, you talk about the pursuit of happiness."

--JOHN LEWIS

"I'm Rebecca Kleefisch. I performed fellatio on all the talk show hosts in Milwaukee. And they endorsed me and that's how I became lieutenant governor."

--SLY SYLVESTER

"Do you think this Constitution-loving is getting out of hand? I mean, is it a nod to the Tea Party?"

--JOY BEHAR

"We cant just leave it up to the parents."

"[Military leaders] tell us that childhood obesity isnt just a public health issue; they tell us that it is not just an economic threat -- it is a national security threat as well."

--MICHELLE OBAMA

"Actually, I did not take part in [the assassination of Sarah Palin]. I led it."

--KATHLEEN PARKER

"[The repeal of ObamaCare is] a kind of creeping genocide."

--JESSE JACKSON

"[Obama] has to realize that Mitch McConnell has virtually said so that politically he wants to cut out his heart and throw his liver to the dogs."

--DAN RATHER

"And the instructions are not to improvise a comedy sketch, but to elect a group of unqualified, unstable individuals who will do what they are told, in exchange for money and power, and march this nation as far backward as they can get, backward to Jim Crow, or backward to the breadlines of the '30s, or backward to hanging union organizers, or backward to the trusts and the robber barons.

"Result: the Tea Party. Vote backward, vote Tea Party. And if you are somehow indifferent to what is planned for next Tuesday, it is nothing short of an attempted use of democracy to end this democracy."

--KEITH "Reagan's dead and he was a lousy President" OLBERMANN

"I gotta wonder when people are gonna start wearing uniforms. I mean they've got an army out there in Alaska of militia people. You've got these guys going around acting like street thugs. I mean it isn't far from what we saw in the thirties, where all of a sudden, political parties started showing up in uniform."

--CHRIS MATTHEWS

"[Sharron Angle] is a moron on top of being evil... I'd like to see her do this ad in the South Bronx. Come here, bitch. Come to New York and do it. I'm not praying for her. She's going to hell. She's going to hell, this bitch."

--JOY BEHAR

"So people have been hurting and I understand that. And it doesn't give them comfort or solace for me to tell them, you know, but for me, we'd be in a worldwide depression."

--HARRY REID

"And to play Dick Cheney, all I had to do was find my Dick Cheney. And you can find all the villainy in the world in your own heart, and that's what an actor's job is. I always say to kids, inside you is Hitler and Jesus. And you got to find the appropriate person and bring them out."

--RICHARD DREYFUSS

"Because I live in the District of Columbia which is so predominantly Democratic, I am a registered Democrat. But I am an avowed neutral. And to put that into practice, I take my young daughter into the voting booth and she votes for me. She's now 14. We've been doing this since she was about age 4. She's now quite informed."

--BOB WOODWARD

"Sarah Palin's an idiot. Come on. This is a remarkably, stunningly, jaw-droppingly incompetent and mean woman."

"The Democrats may have moved into the center, but the Republicans have moved into a mental institution."

--AARON SORKIN

"Perhaps the greatest threat of all is the undermining of our Constitution and the systematic attack against the inalienable rights of the citizens of this nation, rights that are guaranteed by our Constitution. At the vanguard of this insidious attack is the Tea Party. This band of misguided citizens is moving perilously close to achieving villainous ends."

--HARRY BELAFONTE

"[Christine O'Donnell is] a witch who doesn't masturbate."

--JOY BEHAR

"Ah, the Tea Party, the nativist bed-wetters who somehow control our national dialogue. Yes, I call them the Pee Party, Jay, because they're always peeing in their pants about something. They're just, they're afraid of a mosque being built in New York. They're afraid of guns. You know, they think Obama, who like every other pussy Democrat has never said a single word about gun control, but they are very sure that he and his Negro army are coming after their guns. You know what? If you think that he's coming after your guns, you need to get out of your chat room and have your house tested for lead. He's not coming after your guns or your Bible or your fishing pole or your chewing tobacco."

--BILL MAHER

"That's a trade-off society is making because of very, very high medical costs, and a lack of willingness to say, you know, is spending a million dollars on that last three months of life for that patient, would it be better not to lay off those ten teachers and to make that trade-off in medical costs. But that;s called the 'Death Panel' and you're not supposed to have that discussion."

--BILL GATES

"NOT the 'whiteman's bitch'"

--IESHUH GRIFFIN

"[If Rush Limbaugh suffered a heart attack in my presence, I would] laugh loudly like a maniac and watch his eyes bug out. I never knew I had this much hate in me. But he deserves it."

--SARAH SPITZ

"You want freedom, you going to have to kill some crackers. You going to have to kill some of their babies."

--KING SAMIR SHABAZZ

"If this was Texas, which is the state that, that is directly on the border with Mexico, and they were calling for a measure like this, saying that they had a major issue with, you know, with undocumented people flooding their borders, I would say I would have to look twice at this. "But this is a state that is a ways removed from the border. And, um, it just, it doesn't make sense to me that when you google this subject, if you put in 'Arizona S.B. 1070,' that you see a picture of the governor of Arizona meeting with President Obama in May of 2010. If you have direct linkage to the president, there are already National Guard troops on the border in Arizona."

--PEGGY WEST

"Tell [the Jews] to get the hell out of Palestine. Remember, these people are occupied and it's their land. It's not German. It's not Poland. [The Jews] can go home. Poland. Germany."

--HELEN THOMAS

"After the last eight years, it's good to have a president that knows what a library is."

--PAUL McCARTNEY

"By the way, I just want to point out I'm wearing my splash shield because I was told I was going to be in the splash zone (during Harry Smith's colonoscopy on live TV)."

--KATIE COURIC

"And that Word is, we have to give voice to what that means in terms of public policy that would be in keeping with the values of the Word."

----------------------------

"Think of an economy where people could be an artist or a photographer or a writer without worrying about keeping their day job in order to have health insurance or that people could start a business and be entrepreneurial and take risk, but not job loss because of a child with asthma or someone in the family is bipolaryou name it, any condition  is job-locking."

--NANCY PELOSI

"Back in World War II, we viewed the Japanese as 'yellow, slant-eyed dogs' that believed in different gods. They were out to kill us because our way of living was different. We, in turn, wanted to annihilate them because they were different. Does that sound familiar, by any chance, to what's going on today?"

--TOM HANKS

"The 'White Right' is trying to set Barack up to be assassinated.... Here are Christians praying for God to kill Barack Obama."

--LOUIS FARRAKHAN

"I refuse to accept the notion that the United States of America is not going to lead the world economically throughout the 20th Century."

--JOE BIDEN

"Obama's critics keep blasting him for Chicago-style politics. So, fine. Channel your inner Al Capone and go gangsta against your foes. Let 'em know that if they aren't with you, they are against you, and will pay the price."

--ROLAND MARTIN

"Martha Coakley is running to fill the rest of Ted Kennedy's term, and her opponent is a far-right tea-bagger Republican."

--CHUCK SCHUMER

"I tell you what, if I lived in Massachusetts, I'd try to vote ten times. I don't know if they'd let me or not, but I'd try to. Yeah, that's right, I'd cheat to keep these bastards out. I would. 'Cause that's exactly what they are."

--ED SCHULTZ

"We also see how revved up the tea baggers are at the thought of hijacking health care reform and every chance we have at making progress in Washington."

--JOHN KERRY

"A few years ago, this guy (Obama) would have been getting us coffee."

--BILL CLINTON

"I didn't realize I had written a column defending Roman Polanski and minimized his crime - are you sure it was me? I mean, I? There is, apparently, more to this crime than it would seem, and it may sound like a hollow defense, but in Hollywood I am not sure a 13-year-old is really a 13-year-old."

--TOM SHALES

"Joe Wilson yelled 'You lie!' at a president who didn't. But, fair or not, what I heard was an unspoken word in the air: You lie, boy!"

--MAUREEN DOWD

"One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game... During the 7th inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez."

--DAVID LETTERMAN

"I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasnt lived that life."

--SONIA SOTOMAYOR

"We all considered sexual abuse of minors as a moral evil, but had no understanding of its criminal nature."

--REMBERT WEAKLAND, Archbishop of Milwaukee 1977- 2002

"You know, you might want to look into this, [President Obama], because I think maybe Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker, but he was so strung out on Oxycontin he missed his flight."

"Rush Limbaugh -- 'I hope the country fails.' I hope his kidneys fail."

----------------------------

"[Obama] told me I did a great job. The first lady said the same thing. I got a 'well done' from the president, I'm on cloud nine."

--WANDA SYKES

"Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less."

--COLIN POWELL

"[Tea Party goers are] just a bunch of wimpy, whiny, weasels who don't love their country."

--PAUL BEGALA

"I wouldn't want [gay marriage] to go to the United States Supreme Court now because that homophobe Antonin Scalia has too many votes on this current court."

--BARNEY FRANK

"Going forward, my mind will be open to every solution -- except one. We should not -- we must not -- and I will not -- raise taxes."

--JIM DOYLE, Liar

"He's a terrorist. Rush Limbaugh is a terrorist."

--JOY BEHAR

"You know, I just want to say to her (Sarah Palin), just very quickly...F--- you."

--JON STEWART

"Should I be worried about being a slave and being returned to slavery?"

--WHOOPI GOLDBERG

"I also believe that America is the greatest sin against God."

--FR. MICHAEL PFLEGER

"Those who think they can revive the stinking corpse of the usurping and fake Israeli regime by throwing a birthday party are seriously mistaken. Today the reason for the Zionist regime's existence is questioned, and this regime is on its way to annihilation."

--MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD

"We'll be eight degrees hotter in ten, not ten but 30 or 40 years and basically none of the crops will grow. Most of the people will have died and the rest of us will be cannibals."

--TED TURNER

"Look, [Mitt] Romney comes from a religion founded by a criminal who was anti-American, pro-slavery, and a rapist. And he comes from that lineage and says, 'I respect this religion fully.'"

--LAWRENCE O'DONNELL

"Mexico does not end at its borders... Where there is a Mexican, there is Mexico."

--FELIPE CALDERON

"The planet has a fever. If your baby has a fever, you go to the doctor. If the doctor says you need to intervene here, you don't say, 'Well, I read a science fiction novel that told me it's not a problem.' If the crib's on fire, you don't speculate that the baby is flame retardant."

--AL GORE

"Don't fear the terrorists. They're mothers and fathers."

--ROSIE O'DONNELL

"Is America ready for a black president? Well, I say we just had a retarded one. When did being black become a bigger deterrent than being retarded?"

--CHRIS ROCK

"Shut the f--- up! Shut up if you can't take a joke [about President Bush]!"

--BARBRA STREISAND

"Right, oh, yeah, Happy 9/11! Celebrate the day, right?"

--JAMES BROLIN, Mr. Barbra Streisand

"I think President Bush very well may have signed an authorization for the 9/11 attacks."

--KEVIN BARRETT, UW-MADISON Lecturer

"I said what I said. I am not guilty."

--SADDAM HUSSEIN

"Terri will not be starved to death. Her nutrition and hydration will be taken away."

--MICHAEL SCHIAVO

"On the eve of the election last month my wife Judith and I were driving home late in the afternoon and turned on the radio for the traffic and weather. What we instantly got was a freak show of political pornography: lies, distortions, and half-truths -- half-truths being perhaps the blackest of all lies. "

--BILL MOYERS

"I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for."

--HOWARD DEAN

"The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not 'insurgents' or 'terrorists' or 'The Enemy.' They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow -- and they will win."

--MICHAEL MOORE

"And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the--of--the historical customs, religious customs."

--JOHN KERRY

"F---ing retarded."

"[Republicans] can go f--- themselves!"

--RAHM EMANUEL

"I'm not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president."

--HILLARY CLINTON

"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is."

--BILL CLINTON

"And let me tell you something -- for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment."

--MICHELLE OBAMA

"If asking a billionaire to pay the same tax rate as a Jew, uh, as a janitor, makes me a warrior for the working class, I wear that with a badge of honor."

----------------------------

"If you love me, you got to help me pass this bill."

----------------------------

"[F]or most of my lifetime, the United States was such a dominant economic power, we were such a large market, our industry, our technology, our manufacturing was so significant that we always met the rest of the world economically on our terms. And now, because of the incredible rise of India and China and Brazil and other countries, the United States remains the largest economic and the largest market but theres real competition out there. And that's potentially healthy. It makes -- Michelle was saying earlier I like tough questions because it keeps me on my toes. Well, this will keep America on its toes."

----------------------------

"If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, 'We're gonna PUNISH OUR ENEMIES and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,' if they don't see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it's gonna be harder and that's why I think it's so important that people focus on voting on November 2."

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"We don't mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but THEY GOTTA SIT IN BACK."

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"We can absorb a terrorist attack. We'll do everything we can to prevent it, but even a 9/11, even the biggest attack ever... we absorbed it and we are stronger."

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"We're buying shrimp, guys."

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"We are the ones we've been waiting for."

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"We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers so I know whose ass to kick."

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"We're not trying to push financial reform because we begrudge success that's fairly earned. I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money. But, you know, part of the American way is, you know, you can just keep on making it if youre providing a good product or you're providing good service. We don't want people to stop fulfilling the core responsibilities of the financial system to help grow the economy."

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"If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."

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"It is a vital national security interest of the United States to reduce these conflicts because whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower, and when conflicts break out, one way or another we get pulled into them. And that ends up costing us significantly in terms of both blood and treasure."

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"But I -- I think that the most important thing for the public to understand is, we're not handling any of these cases any different than the Bush administration handled them all through 9/11."

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"One such translator was an American of Haitian descent, representative of the extraordinary work that our men and women in uniform do all around the world -- Navy CORPSE-MAN Christian [sic] Brossard. And lying on a gurney aboard the USNS Comfort, a woman asked Christopher: 'Where do you come from? What country? After my operation,' she said, 'I will pray for that country.' And in Creole, CORPSE-MAN Brossard responded, 'Etazini.' The United States of America."

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"I hear that Dr. Joe Medicine Crow was around, and so I want to give a shout-out to that Congressional Medal of Honor winner. It's good to see you."

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"We are God's partners in matters of life and death."

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"[T]he Cambridge police acted stupidly."

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"I am going to teach [my daughters] first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

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"The reforms we seek would bring greater competition, choice, savings, and INEFFICIENCIES to our health care system."

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"Over the last 15 months, weve traveled to every corner of the United States. Ive now been in 57 states? I think one left to go. Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go to even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not justify it."

--BARACK OBAMA
Bitterly cold temperatures are expected to stick around Monday in the St. Louis metro area before climbing into the 40s Tuesday for a few days.

It was 5 degrees at 7 a.m. Monday, with calm winds; forecasters with the National Weather Service expected it to warm up to only 25 Monday. The normal high for this time of year in St. Louis is about 41.

Here is a list of Monday's school closings.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reported that roadways glazed with ice contributed to more than 1,500 car crashes statewide between Friday afternoon and Saturday evening. Seven people were killed and 171 were injured.

Four of the dead were involved in one crash, five miles north of Lebanon, on Friday afternoon.

Two fatalities occurred in the St. Louis region. Raymond J. Prince, 44, of Pevely, was killed at 3:45 p.m. Friday in a multi-vehicle crash just south of Stone Ridge Court on Highway 61 in Jefferson County, according to the patrol crash reports.

Prince was a passenger in a 2002 Honda Odyssey traveling southbound on Highway 61. The Honda was in the left lane, passing another vehicle when the driver lost control around a curve and began to spin out, crashing into an oncoming vehicle traveling northbound.

Prince was ejected from the Honda. The car continued to spin and struck a second vehicle.

The driver of Princes vehicle survived with moderate injuries. The four occupants in the first vehicle struck survived with moderate to minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.

On Sunday, officials identified the driver killed in an accident due to icy conditions Saturday in Madison County as Rebecca Lin-Dawn Morgan, 20. She was driving south on Interstate 255 near Pontoon Beach when her vehicle hit a slick spot and left the roadway, according to Illinois State Police Trooper Calvin Dye Jr.

Morgans vehicle crossed the median and struck a northbound vehicle on Interstate 255. Morgan was pronounced dead at the scene.

The winter weather resulted in 135 canceled flights Saturday and 62 canceled Sunday, said Jeff Lea, spokesman for Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

Because of the icy conditions, some airplanes had to be towed to the gate, Lea said.

The frigid weather also contributed to at least 10 water main breaks throughout St. Louis County on Sunday, according to water utility Missouri American Water. Low temperatures and century-old pipes are the leading culprits behind the fractures, said spokesman Brian Russell.

He reported that Jefferson and St. Charles counties experienced some water main breaks, too.

On Sunday, one firefighter was injured while responding to a fire in an abandoned warehouse north of downtown. His injuries are not life-threatening. Two homeless men were rescued, St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said. The warehouse fire originated from fires in barrels inside the structure situated near the intersection of Lewis and OFallon streets.

The cold will continue Monday, with a wind chill advisory in effect until 10 a.m.

A slight warmup is expected midweek with highs above normal range. Forecasters say Tuesday's high should be 45 degrees, Wednesday's high 48, Thursday's 41 and Friday's 47.

The next chance of precipitation could come Friday as rain. There is a 30 percent chance of rain Friday and Saturday. Chances for rain increase for Saturday night, Christmas Eve.

On Sunday, Christmas Day, the forecast calls for rain and a high near 44 degrees.

However, meteorologists say they probably will be altering in the next few days their forecast for the Christmas weekend.

Samantha Liss of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report.
SHREWSBURY  He knew how to get stuff built. For three decades, John P. King was considered the best at it.

He constructed his own reputation with a unique skill set: the ability to advocate without being adversarial, to forge a large number of personal relationships and to understand that being cast as the villain sometimes comes with the job.

He was the dominant attorney for development proposals in the county for all the time I have worked here, said Glenn Powers, St. Louis Countys interim chief operating officer. He carried out his duties with kindness, really. ... Thats where he had his impact.

King, who worked at Lathrop and Gage in Clayton, died of what his family believes was a heart attack Saturday morning (Dec. 16, 2016) at his home in Shrewsbury. He was 79.

At the time of his death, he was a Republican commissioner on the St. Louis County Board of Elections, but he made his biggest impact as an attorney for developers.

Car washes. Gas stations. Apartment buildings. The Galleria. King guided scores of projects, both large and small, through zoning commissions and city councils.

In a 2005 interview, King said his father taught him how to compromise. R.J. Bus King was a nine-term state representative who made an unsuccessful bid for governor in 1972, losing the Republican primary to Christopher S. Kit Bond.

John P. King never ran for office; he lamented the lack of civility in modern politics.

I think that permeates all areas of our lives, he said in the 2005 interview. And I dont like that. Im not a mean person.

King was a 1960 graduate of the St. Louis University School of Law. He started out as a personal injury attorney. But one of his bosses told him that with his personality, and his fathers contacts, he could become a successful business lawyer.

Bill Kuehling, a St. Louis lawyer who works with developers and cities, said King often came up with creative compromises that benefited both his clients and the community.

I think that helped set a tone in St. Louis for the conversations that other developers, other development attorneys, would have with the planning officials, Kuehling said. That was really positive for really the whole region. There really isnt anybody like him anymore.

Beth Kistner, chairwoman of Creve Coeurs planning and zoning commission and a former city council member, said King was a tenacious champion for his clients and always arrived at zoning hearings well prepared.

He was just one of those attorneys you liked seeing out there in the hearing room, Kistner said.

His clients projects often put him at odds with neighborhood groups who saw him as defending corporate interests over local ones. Sometimes he got booed by boisterous opponents.

That was hard for him, said Jerry King, his younger brother. John really wanted to be liked. ... Usually the people on the municipal boards or on the county council and planning commissions, they understood John. ... I think as long as he was respected professionally, that made it easier for him to put up with the anger of individuals.

King wasnt always affable. In one 2008 letter, he threatened a homeowner with a lawsuit for opposing a project. The owner of a mansion in Town and Country was putting an iron fence around his property. Two of his neighbors werent happy about it. According to Kings letter, the neighbors had indicated they would request that the fence permit be revoked.

Furthermore, if Ms. Godding pursues the delay of the building of this gate, and construction is delayed by one day due to Ms. Goddings claims, you can rest assured that she too will be the focus of intense litigation that will not be abandoned until my clients are victorious, King wrote to the neighbors attorneys.

Its difficult to reconcile the communique with Kings reputation.

Kuehling, who was a Town and Country alderman at the time, vaguely recalled the conflict.

There are times when you are representing somebody that you do have to take the gloves off, Kuehling said. You dont like doing it lightly and you dont do it without thinking, but there are times when you have to do it. That may have been one of those times.

Whatever the case, it wasnt a version of King that most seemed to remember.

Powers said what was most interesting to him was how much King did for people outside of his work. Jerry King said that included paying students tuition and providing lots of free legal work.

I dont think he ever charged anybody for an adoption, Jerry King said. He had three adopted children of his own.

Visitation for King will be on Wednesday from 3 to 9 p.m. at Kutis Funeral Homes in the Affton area, 10151 Gravois Road. On Thursday, a procession will leave Kutis Afton at 8:30 a.m. for a graveside service at Resurrection Cemetery. A memorial Mass at Christian Brothers College High School is scheduled for 10 a.m.
ANKARA, Turkey  An Ankara police officer dressed in a suit and tie shouted slogans about Syria's civil war after he killed Russia's ambassador to Turkey in front of stunned onlookers at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital on Monday, according to officials and an Associated Press photographer who witnessed the shooting. Police later killed the assailant.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when a man identified by Turkey's interior minister as Mevlut Mert Altintas fired at least eight shots, according to the AP photographer in the audience.

"Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" the gunman shouted in Turkish, referring to the Syrian city where Russian bombardments have helped drive rebels from areas they had occupied for years during the war.

He also shouted "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great" and continued in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad."

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Altintas, who was born in 1994, had been an officer with Ankara's riot police squad for more than two years. Soylu did not give a motive for the attack.

The gunman approached Karlov as he lay on the ground and shot him at least one more time at close range, according to the AP photographer. The attacker also smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition. There was panic as people ran for cover. Three other people were wounded in the attack, Turkey's NTV television said.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman climbed to the second floor of the same building and a 15-minute shootout with police ensued before he was killed, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported.

The attack comes a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defense ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria. Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nearly six-year conflict, while Turkey has supported Assad's foes.

"It's a tragic day in the history of our country and Russian diplomacy," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in televised comments.

"Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations," she said. "He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. It's a terrible loss for us and also the world."

Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang in 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department. He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said U.S. officials were aware of reports about the shooting.

"We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source," Kirby said.

The United Nations also condemned the attack.

"There can be no justification for an attack on an ambassador ... and we very much hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Melih Gokcek, the mayor for Ankara, told reporters outside the exhibition center that the "heinous" attack aimed to disrupt newly-re-established relations between Turkey and Russia.

Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplanes at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkey's apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift. The leaders of the two countries, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have held several meetings in recent months and spoken frequently over the phone.

Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and also discussed the prospect of organizing a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.

Turkey has struggled with multiple security threats in recent years, including Kurdish militants who claimed responsibility for a Dec. 10 bombing in Istanbul that killed 44 people, many of them police. The Islamic State group fighting in Syria and Iraq has also been blamed for attacks in Turkey, a NATO member and a partner in the U.S.-led campaign against the group.

Additionally, Turkish security forces and courts remain preoccupied with purging state institutions of the supporters of an exiled Islamist cleric whom the government accuses of staging a failed coup attempt in July.
For anyone wondering what it would take to oust the Missouri Department of Corrections chief, whose administration has been tarnished by accusations of $7.6 million in secretive payments to employees challenging workplace abuses, the answer seems to be a new governor.

Gov.-elect Eric Greitens senior adviser, Austin Chambers, said Thursday that corrections chief George Lombardi is going to be replaced. This is probably not the ending that Lombardi had expected to his 41-year career in the Missouri Department of Corrections, but its the right step to clean up the department. The next step is to provide taxpayers with a full accounting of what they paid for.

Gov. Jay Nixon failed to exercise leadership in dealing with Lombardi during the past four years, when payments were escalating dramatically for legal settlements and judgments related to harassment and retaliation complaints by employees. The money came from a legal-expense fund in the attorney generals office. From 2002 through 2006 the payout totaled $340,612, but they mushroomed in 2012 under Lombardis watch.

Outgoing Attorney General Chris Koster should accept responsibility, too, for remaining mum on the issue when it is his job to oversee the states Sunshine Law, the linchpin to openness in government. The law gives government officials leeway to maintain confidentiality in some circumstances, but the fiasco in corrections does not seem to qualify as an exemption from accountability for the apparent abuses that prompted the payouts.

Nixon ignored other problems dating to 2013, when the department began catching up on a backlog of executions and handed out $284,551.84 in cash stuffed into envelopes to members of the team that carried out 18 executions. Lombardi told a legislative committee then that the state did not file IRS Form 1099s for the payments, which seemingly violated federal law requiring that vendors declare such payments as income.

Nixon nominated Lombardi to be director in 2008. Lombardi had retired in 2005 after a 33-year career, the final 18 in charge of adult facilities.

Meanwhile, Lombardi seems to be under the impression that hes done a great job and that he deserved to stay in place once the new administration takes office. Hes fooling himself.

The Legislature plans to investigate the abuses that led to multimillion-dollar payouts. State Auditor Nicole Galloway plans her own review. Lombardis performance has tainted Nixon and Kosters records, and none of the three has offered an explanation as to why the culture of harassment was allowed to continue.

The problems were brought to light by The Pitch, a Kansas City alternative weekly newspaper.

The case, along with the return from suspension of Larry Kay, the disgraced head of the Missouri Veterans Commission who lost a $2.9 million sexual discrimination and harassment judgment, deserve to go down in the books as egregious executive mismanagement.
By law, legislative redistricting isnt supposed to be a partisan process. In practice, it almost always is. This fundamental building block of our democracy is flawed because it has been so badly abused by the people drawing the lines.

Congressional districts must be of nearly equal population; legislative districts must be substantially equal in size and as compact as possible. Theyre not supposed to be racially polarized. In reality, politicians of both parties generally work together to make sure that incumbents are protected. Party is less important than job protection.

With rules being fairly vague, courts often sign off on absurdly awkward districts. Since the 2010 census, the redistricting process has worked to the devastating disadvantage of the Democratic Party.

Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia, reckons that since the 2008 election, Democrats have suffered a net loss of 13 governorships, nine U.S. Senate seats, 63 U.S. House seats and 949 seats in the 50 state legislatures. The GOP controls 32 of those Legislatures and after inauguration days, will have 33 governorships. In 23 states, including Missouri, Republicans will have a trifecta: both houses of the Legislature and the governors office.

Democratic Party officials, reeling from shocking losses last month, have decided to start over. From the bottom. They formed the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, headed by former Attorney General Eric Holder, to coordinate efforts to win state legislative and gubernatorial races in 2018 and 2020. The goal is to block Republicans from retaining control of redistricting after the 2020 census.

President Barack Obama has promised to get behind the effort, pointing to the partisan gridlock that plagued his eight years in the White House. The committee should focus particularly on helping moderate candidates, who have had a difficult time gaining traction. Incumbents in both parties fear alienating their hard-core base lest they face primary challenges from the left or right.

Democrats are onto something. The question is whether they can unify the various identity groups within the party around the concept of moderation. With the waning power of labor unions, theres also a question of who pays for the effort and who does the heavy lifting of candidate recruitment and getting out the vote.

Republicans achieved their sweep with relentless discipline and plenty of money from advocacy groups and corporate interests. Too often, while Republicans were recruiting, organizing and enacting voter suppression laws, Democrats were complacent. Now theyre in a deep hole; the next round of redistricting could make the hole deeper.

The current system, as Obama recognized, rewards partisans, not centrists. Government becomes more polarized. Now Democrats are going to try to fix this in two to four years. Its a battle worth fighting, but theyre getting a very late start.
One person was killed and five more hurt when a large tree fell on a wedding party taking photos in a California park, authorities said.

The incident happened Saturday afternoon at Penn Park in Whittier, Calif. Police got multiple 911 calls and found several members of the wedding party trapped beneath a large eucalyptus tree.

Police immediately began trying to free those under what they described as a large tree with multiple trunks. Los Angeles County firefighters used chain saws to cut away the branches.

One person was pronounced dead at the scene; five were taken to a hospital with injuries that were described as mostly scrapes and bruises.

Were trying to make sure were giving all the dignity and respect to that family, the fire spokesman said. They were here for a joyous occasion and then unfortunately a very large tree interrupted that and they right now are going through a lot of issues that were trying to make sure [we] support.

Witnesses described hearing a loud crack and seeing people running from the area, according to the Associated Press. At the news conference Saturday, authorities said the tree collapsed as members of the wedding party were taking pictures after the ceremony at the park.
The Capitol Christmas tree has officially been lit, which means the holiday season is here! This time of year brings family and friends together around great food and long-held traditions. Its a time for reflection and meditation. And its also a time for giving back to one another. At its foundation, this season is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The story of the Nativity and many other traditions have inspired generations of Nebraskans, and have helped us renew our commitment to the values that make Nebraska the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family.

Nebraskans have a long tradition of deep commitment and engagement in their churches, schools, and other voluntary organizations. From soup kitchens to parent-teacher associations to retirement facilities, Nebraskans invested 58.23 million volunteer hours in 2015. This helped our state improve our standing to sixth best among all states for volunteerism. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, these volunteer hours have a value of $1.3 billion. In addition to giving of our time, 56.2 percent of Nebraskans donated at least $25 to charity in the last year.

Some of the most inspiring stories of service and giving come from the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our liberties and freedom. This week, I spoke at the Nebraska National Guards 162nd birthday celebration at the State Capitol in Lincoln. At the event, I thanked our National Guard members for their service to the state, and let them know how much Nebraskans appreciate their sacrifices and those of their families. Thousands of Nebraska men and women have dedicated themselves over the years to serving our state and country in the National Guard. During this holiday season, I encourage you to take time to thank the men and women who serve our country in the military as well as those who serve our state and communities in law enforcement. Their service is vital to protecting our way of life.

While many of us will never serve in the military or law enforcement, we can give back to our communities in ways that protect public safety. Earlier this year, the American Red Cross and I launched a disaster and emergency preparedness initiative that will touch every Nebraska community in the coming years. Over the next four years, the Red Cross will work with communities across Nebraska to build a foundation of preparedness. This includes recruiting volunteers, developing shelter agreements, and creating an American Red Cross Engagement Plan for each community in the state. To find out how you can help, please visit the American Red Cross in Nebraska online at http://www.redcross.org/local/nebraska/ for more information.

No matter how you decide to give back to your community, it makes a big difference. During this holiday season, I invite you to join me and my family as we renew our commitment to serve and give back. If youre looking for fresh ideas, consider visiting www.serve.gov. Even something as simple as sharing a meal with a neighbor, or donating to your local food pantry helps renew the bonds of fellowship that make our state the Good Life. Additionally, I encourage you to save the date for the next ServeNebraska Week of Service, which will run April 23-29, 2017. It is another opportunity for Nebraskans to come together and give back.

As the year comes to a close, I would be remiss if I didnt mention that Nebraska has a big birthday coming up. In 2017, we will be celebrating 150 years of statehood. My wife, First Lady Susanne Shore, has been working with a collaborative team of Nebraskans on developing plans for the coming celebration. This upcoming year will be a great time to highlight why Nebraska truly is the Good Life full of Great Opportunities. More on that in the near future! Until then, you are always welcome to share your thoughts and concerns with my office by emailing pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or by calling 402-471-2244. We look forward to hearing from you!
Donald Trump had nothing to fear, here or across the country.

As expected, all five Electoral College members from Nebraska cast ballots for Trump on Monday to help secure victory for the nations 45th president-elect.

The procedural step  in Nebraska, electors are bound by law based on the public vote  ended an unusually tumultuous post-election period in which electors reported a deluge of letters, emails and phone calls from people urging them to ditch Trump.

In this state, those efforts were futile.

I think hes doing a fantastic job, Nebraska elector John Dinkel of Norfolk said of Trump. I just hope and pray that his detractors will give him a chance, and that for the sake of America that they will come around.

Nebraskas vote took place in the governors hearing room at the state Capitol.

Gov. Pete Ricketts presided as, one by one, electors cast ballots for Trump and then for Vice President-elect Mike Pence. The votes were verified by Secretary of State John Gale.

The meeting opened with a public comment period in which five people spoke, all urging the electors to delay the vote or to support someone else.

Anyone else, said Korynne Bolt of Lincoln.

Bolts brother has cancer, and she fears his health insurance coverage might get worse or disappear altogether once Trump becomes president, should he approve a bill to repeal Obamacare.

This is not a matter of policy or party lines, its very personal, she said.

Other people asked electors to consider developments since the election, raising concerns about Trumps cabinet picks and Russian influence on the vote. One noted that Hillary Clinton, not Trump, had won the popular vote.

Earlier Monday, about 40 protesters had gathered in the state Capitol Rotunda to show opposition to Trump, some with signs that said Dont Let Russia Trump America and Elect the Real Winner. Some later crowded into the governors hearing room during a news conference on an unrelated topic.

Elector Craig Safranek of Merna said later that he was just representing the people. They voted for Trump.

Trump won Nebraskas statewide popular vote and claimed a majority in all three of Nebraskas congressional districts. Clinton won the national popular vote but lost in the electoral college.

A 2014 law requires Nebraskas at-large electors to vote for the statewide winner and district electors to vote for their districts winner.
AN elderly man, who was airlifted to hospital after he was in collision with a train, near to Henley-in-Arden railway station, on Sunday afternoon, remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital, transport police said this evening (Tuesday 20th December).

British Transport Police were called to the railway station, shortly after 1.10pm, to reports that a man had been struck by a train.

A transport police spokeswoman told the Herald that the incident is not currently being treated as suspicious: "He remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital."

West Midlands Ambulance Service, two Warwickshire Fire and Rescue appliances from Henley and Stratford, and Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, were also called to the scene.

A spokesman from West Midlands Ambulance Service said: When we arrived, the man was conscious and breathing, but under the train. Once the line was made safe, one of the paramedics went in underneath the train.

He had arm and head injuries. A doctor from WNAA anaesthetised him at the scene, and he was taken to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire by aircraft.

The ambulance spokesman said that the collision happened just past the railway station, and that the fire and rescue service helped get access from the train to the helicopter, by cutting a hole in the fence.

A London Midland spokesman said that the train was the 10.57am service from Great Malvern to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Passengers on board the train were placed on buses to their destined railway station. Buses were also used by other railway passengers throughout the afternoon, while the incident was investigated.
Chevron Products Company, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (NYSE: CVX), has announced it has signed a long-term agreement with WEX Bank, a subsidiary of WEX Inc. (NYSE: WEX), a global provider of industry-leading corporate payments solutions, to issue and operate Chevron- and Texaco-branded commercial fleet cards commencing in January 2018.

Through this agreement, WEX will manage fleet card distribution and provide related payment services to Chevron and Texaco customers. WEX will also provide Chevron and Texaco customers with a complete range of features, functionality and solutions to manage their fleets, offering ongoing benefits to Chevron and Texaco customers.

Were excited to add the Chevron and Texaco brands to our commercial fleet card services portfolio and to leverage their strong market presence in the United States and Canada. We look forward to working with Chevron over the next year as we prepare to implement the program in 2018, said Melissa Smith, WEXs President and Chief Executive Officer. The agreement with Chevron underscores our commitment to growth in the North American fleet market and offers fleet customers another robust fleet card program option with one of the most recognized brands in the industry.

Additionally, Chevron and WEX will build a comprehensive sales and marketing program for direct sales and will also support the local efforts of Chevron and Texaco marketers and retailers through a network of nearly 8,000 branded retail locations in the United States and Canada.

Chevron has provided a branded commercial card program for more than 30 years, attracting large, loyal customers to our Chevron- and Texaco-branded stations, said Glenn Johnson, General Manager of Americas Marketing Sales & Services, Chevron. Supporting our customers through our agreement with WEX further confirms our commitment to offering innovative payment solutions that bring ongoing benefits to this valued network.
Thank you, President Schmoke, for this award and for the opportunity to be here today to offer my congratulations to the members of the Class of 2016. I would also like to recognize the vital support students have received from family, friends, and others, many of whom are here to share this great occasion.

In a moment, I will explain why I am particularly proud and honored to be speaking to the new graduates of this university, but first I'd like to address students on a topic that I expect is on the minds of many of you, which is the job market.

The short version of what I have to say is that while I expect workers will continue to face some challenges in the coming years, I believe, for two reasons, that the job prospects and career opportunities for new graduates at this time are very good. First, after years of a slow economic recovery, you are entering the strongest job market in nearly a decade. The unemployment rate, at 4.6 percent, is near what it was before the recession. This is a level that has been associated with good job opportunities. Job creation is continuing at a steady pace; the layoff rate is low; and job openings are up over the past couple years, which is another sign of a healthy job market. There are also indications that wage growth is picking up, and weekly earnings for younger workers have made strong gains over the past couple of years. That is probably one reason why younger workers reported feeling significantly more optimistic about the job market compared with 2013, according to a survey published just today by the Federal Reserve.1

Challenges do remain. The economy is growing more slowly than in past recoveries, and productivity growth, which is a major influence on wages, has been disappointing.

But it also looks like the economic gains of the past few years are finally raising living standards for most people. Median household income grew and poverty fell significantly in 2015, although these measures were still lagging their levels from before the recession.2An improving economy may be especially important for you, as new graduates. Those who graduate and enter the workforce during a strong economy are more likely to find employment, remain employed, and enjoy persistently higher earnings.3

The second reason for optimism is that you have already done the one thing that research shows is most important to a successful and stable working life: earning the degrees you will receive today. Economists are not certain about many things. But we are quite certain that a college diploma or an advanced degree is a key to economic success. Those with a college degree are more likely to find a job, keep a job, have higher job satisfaction, and earn a higher salary. The advantage in earnings is large. College grads' annual earnings last year were, on average, 70 percent higher than those with only a high school diploma. Back in 1980, the difference was only 20 percent. The gap in earnings is significant only a few years after graduation--almost $18,000 a year, according to some recent data. Beyond these advantages, research also shows that a college or graduate degree typically leads to a happier, healthier, and longer life.4

One explanation for the greater advantage in recent decades conferred by higher education is that it reflects an increase in the demand for educated workers compared with others. The drivers of this increasing demand for those with college and graduate degrees are likely to continue to be important. Let me mention two of the most important factors.

First, technology. For decades, technological advances have increasingly allowed simpler, repetitive tasks to be done more cheaply and safely by machines. This kind of work in factories, stores, and offices often required only a high school education. At the same time, technological advances have increased demand for workers with the education necessary to perform the ever-growing share of jobs where technology is important. More recently, further advances are automating increasingly complex tasks and allowing workers with the ability and flexibility to use technology to be more productive. Higher education has also changed in response, and one of the most important things many of you learned at the University of Baltimore was how to learn, adapt, and succeed in the technology-rich environment of most workplaces.

The second major development in the job market is globalization, which allows goods and services to be produced wherever it is most economical. Offshoring and trade have profoundly affected the U.S. economy. No one knows which jobs and which industries will thrive as globalization continues or how each of you will be affected, but I can say that the education you have earned will provide an important advantage. Like technological change, globalization has reinforced the shift away from lower-skilled jobs that require less education to higher-skilled jobs that require college and advanced degrees. The jobs that globalization creates in the United States, serving a global economy of billions of people, are more likely to be filled by those who, like you, have secured the advantage of higher education.

While globalization will likely continue and technology will continue to advance, we don't know how fast the economy will grow, what new technologies will be developed, or how quickly and consistently employment will expand. What is considerably more certain, however, is that success will continue to be tied to education, in part because a good education enhances one's ability to adapt to a changing economy.

One reason for the increasing economic advantage of a college or graduate degree is the very slow growth of earnings in the last few decades for those with only a high school education. It concerns me, as it should concern all of us, that many are falling behind. Improvements in elementary and secondary education can help prepare more people for college and the opportunities college makes available, but for those who do not attend college, we must find other ways to extend economic opportunity to everyone in America.

In discussing higher education, you may have noticed that I have spoken in terms of completing your degrees. Research shows that a large share of the benefits I have described from higher education comes only to those who graduate. Even those completing three or more years of college benefit much less when they don't get a degree.5 For example, some of you may be worried about paying off loans you have taken out to pay for your education. The good news is that the vast majority of student borrowers who complete their degrees find work that allows them to keep up with their payments and pay off their loans.

Everything I have said so far could apply to the graduates this year of any college or university. The rest of what I have to say is about you, the 2016 graduates of the University of Baltimore. I have learned a bit about you recently, with the help of the university's staff. Let me tell you a few things about some of your classmates that you may not know.

Among you today is a full-time student who found the time each semester to volunteer with non-profit organizations, including one that helps refugees from other countries find their place in this community. Another of your fellow students, who used to doubt that she could ever afford college, has become a student leader. She made the Dean's List every semester after transferring from community college.

Like many of you, another of your fellow graduates took day and evening classes to balance work and family demands. She was forced to change jobs to accommodate this schedule. She later decided her future lay in digital communications, which required her to switch majors after taking some required classes. Today she will become the first person in her family to graduate from college.

Some of you were born in other countries. One of you lived in four other countries before coming to the University of Baltimore for a master's degree. Many of you have contributed to the sense of community at the University of Baltimore by actively participating in student life. One of you has even decided to seek a career helping other students as a student affairs professional.

These are a few of the outstanding people who will join you in walking across this stage today. Let me describe one more.

To that student, sitting in the audience, I would say: you deserve a tremendous amount of credit. Based on what I have learned, you did not have all of the advantages that can pave the way to college and graduate school. You overcame obstacles to make it here, and more obstacles to complete your degree. One of the biggest of these obstacles, in fact, was that some people doubted you could or would succeed. But others in your life believed in you. Some of them are here today. They believed in you, and you believed in yourself, and your talent and intelligence and hard work enabled you to earn the degree you are about to receive.

If this sounds like you, then you are absolutely right, because I am not describing just one member of the University of Baltimore's Class of 2016--I am trying to describe every one of you. In different ways, I expect all of you have overcome obstacles and demonstrated resilience and determination to succeed. All of you have gained knowledge and used your intelligence and talents to complete your degrees. As impressed as I am with any individual graduating today, I am more impressed with what all of you have achieved.

Let me tell you what else I have learned. More than the students of some colleges and universities, I know that many of you have deep roots in this city and in the county. Many of you will start careers, build your lives, and raise your families here. The challenges you have overcome are the challenges faced by many people in Baltimore and in communities throughout America. Your success, which we celebrate today, is also the promise of a brighter future for this city. The degrees you have worked so hard to earn and the opportunities now opening up to you represent the stubborn, earnest hope that anyone and everyone who strives to succeed still can succeed.

And that is why I consider it a rare privilege to speak to you today, and a great honor to be associated with the University of Baltimore and the members of the Class of 2016. Thank you, and congratulations.
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Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde reacts before the start of her trial about a state payout in 2008 to a French businessman, at the courts in Paris, France, December 12, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

By Chine Labbe and David Lawder

PARIS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde escaped punishment and kept her job on Monday despite a conviction on negligence charges over a state payout made while she served as France's finance minister in 2008.

The executive board representing the IMF's 189 member countries reaffirmed its full confidence in Lagarde's ability to lead the crisis lender, hours after the verdict was issued by a panel of judges in Paris with no fine or jail term.

Lagarde told reporters at IMF headquarters that she would not appeal the decision after vigorously fighting the charge since she took the IMF's helm in 2011.

"I have been held negligent, but without penalty, without sanction, without registration of the decision," she said. "I am not satisfied with it, but there's a point in time when one has to just stop, turn the page and move on and continue to work with those who have put their trust in me."

In Monday's ruling, the judges did not find negligence in Lagarde's decision to seek an out-of-court settlement with tycoon Bernard Tapie, but they said her failure to contest the award to him of about 400 million euros ($417 million) was negligent and led to a misuse of public funds.

The lead judge on the case, Martine Ract Madoux, explained the absence of any sentence by citing Lagarde's preoccupation with the 2008-09 financial crisis that was raging at the time of the payout as well as her strong international reputation. The charge could have carried a maximum one-year prison sentence.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew called Lagarde a "strong leader," adding: "We have every confidence in her ability to guide the fund at a critical time for the global economy."

But the conviction may still work against Lagarde in her campaign to push back against a wave of protectionist sentiment and populist mistrust of public officials. She has called on IMF member countries to better promote the benefits of trade and globalization and adopt policies that combat growing inequality.

Reappointed to a five-year term in February, Lagarde said on Monday that she would now "focus all my attention, all my time, all my efforts, all my energy and enthusiasm to my mission as head of the IMF."

Lagarde, 60, who described the case as a five-year-long ordeal, argued in the trial last week that she had acted in good faith and with the public interest in mind.

She also said she had signed off on the arbitration - against the advice of some Finance Ministry officials - to end a costly 15-year-old legal battle between the government and Tapie, a supporter of then-President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The case dates back to when Tapie sued the French state for compensation after selling his stake in sports company Adidas to then state-owned Credit Lyonnais in 1993.

He accused the bank of defrauding him after it resold its stake for a much higher price. With the case stuck in the courts, the two sides agreed to a private settlement and Tapie was awarded a 403 million euro payout, including interest and damages.

The case was only the fifth ever heard by a special French court created in 1993 to try government ministers. The court of 15 judges, including 12 lawmakers, has never handed down a firm prison sentence.

(Additional reporting by David Lawder in Washington; writing by Leigh Thomas; editing by Mark Heinrich, Dan Grebler and G Crosse)
By Umit Bektas, Orhan Coskun and Tuvan Gumrukcu

ANKARA (Reuters) - The Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot in the back and killed as he gave a speech at an Ankara art gallery on Monday by an off-duty police officer who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo" and "Allahu Akbar" as he opened fire.

President Tayyip Erdogan, in a video message to the nation, cast the attack as an attempt to undermine NATO-member Turkey's relations with Russia - ties long tested by the war in Syria. He said he had agreed in a telephone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin to step up cooperation in fighting terrorism.

At a special meeting at the Kremlin, President Putin ordered increased security at all Russian missions and said "the bandits" who committed the act would feel retribution.

"We must know who directed the killer's hand."

The assassination of an ambassador, not least of a major power such as Russia, marks a dangerous escalation of tension in the region and beyond. Security sources said he was off duty and some witnesses said there was no security scanning machine at the entrance.

The attacker was smartly dressed in black suit and tie and stood, alone, behind the ambassador as he began his speech at the art exhibition, a person at the scene told Reuters.

"He took out his gun and shot the ambassador from behind. We saw him lying on the floor and then we ran out," said the witness, who asked not to be identified. People took refuge in adjoining rooms as the shooting continued.

A video showed the attacker shouting: "Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" and "Allahu Akbar" ("God is Greatest") as screams rang out. He paced about and shouted as he held the gun in one hand and waved the other in the air.

Russia is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes helped Syrian forces end rebel resistance last week in the northern city of Aleppo. Turkey, which seeks Assad's ouster, has been repairing ties with Moscow after shooting down a Russian warplane over Syria last year.

The gunman was killed by special forces. Three other people were injured.

"We regard this as a terrorist act," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. "Terrorism will not win and we will fight against it decisively."

GULEN

Erdogan, who has faced a string of attacks by Islamist and Kurdish militants as well as an attempted coup in July, identified the attacker as 22-year-old Mevlut Mert Altintas, who had worked for Ankara riot police for two and a half years. CNN Turk TV said police had detained his sister and mother.

A senior security official said there were "very strong signs" the gunman belonged to the network of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says orchestrated the failed coup in July. Erdogan has denounced Gulen as a terrorist, but the cleric, a former ally, denies the accusation.

Gulen described the killing as a "heinous act of terror" that pointed to a deterioration of security in Turkey resulting from Erdogan's wide-ranging purge of police as well as the army, judiciary and media following the coup bid.

The government says Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, created a "parallel network" in the police, military, judiciary and civil service aimed at overthrowing the state.

Suspicion could also fall on a group such as Islamic State, which has carried out a string of bomb attacks in Turkey in the last year as Ankara has pressed a military campaign against the militants in Syria. The group has urged "lone" attacks in the West.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to meet his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Russia on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Syria. Officials said the meeting would still go on, despite the attack.

"The attack comes at a bad time: Moscow and Ankara have only recently restored diplomatic ties after Turkey downed a Russian aircraft in November 2015," the Stratfor think-tank said.

"Though the attack will strain relations between the two countries, it is not likely to rupture them altogether."

However, both Russia and Turkey indicated that they were looking to work together to find the combat militant attacks.

The U.S. State Department, involved in diplomatic contacts with Russia in an attempt to resolve a refugee crisis unfolding around the city of Aleppo, condemned the attack, as did the United Nations Security Council.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Russian-backed Syrian forces have fought for control of the eastern part of Aleppo, triggering a stream of refugees.

(Additional reporting by Orhan Coskun, Nevzat Devranoglu, Tulay Karadeniz, Ercan Gurses and Gulsen Solaker in Ankara; Humeyra Pamuk and Ece Toksabay in Istanbul; Andrew Osborn and Andrey Ostroukh in Moscow; Writing by Daren Butler and David Dolan; editing by Ralph Boulton and Mark Trevelyan)
Tradespeople, entrepreneurs and fleets across America value Ford trucks equipped with high levels of technology  driving total sales of 2017 F-Series Super Duty up 24 percent last month over November 2015; retail sales jump 33 percent

Most popular Super Duty trim levels are Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum  high-series trucks that include the most driver-assist features  accounting for 71 percent of retail sales

All-new Super Duty boasts 20 class-exclusive technologies including features that make towing, hitching and maneuvering easier  for increased productivity and driver confidence

DEARBORN, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Customers now expect more than superior capability from their trucks. They demand more technology to get the job done quicker and easier.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161219005746/en/

2017 F-Series Super Duty (Photo: Business Wire)

Here are the top five class-exclusive technologies that customers are choosing, never before available on Super Duty until now:

Adaptive Steering  Technology makes backing a trailer into a parking area or navigating tight, low-speed maneuvers easier  reducing steering effort required by up to one-third Trailer Reverse Guidance  Feature enables drivers using their truck for towing to view trailers on Ford SYNC screen and monitor trailer status on the road Adaptive cruise control with collision mitigation: Using the engine brake to smartly assist customers towing heavy trailers, system helps avoid accidents  boosting driver confidence BLIS with cross-traffic alert and trailer tow: Technology helps increase driver awareness of obstacles and traffic, especially in tight spaces and parking lots  leading to greater driver confidence Lane-keeping alert: Technology uses a camera mounted between windshield and rearview mirror to detect unintentional drifting of the truck outside the intended driving lane

Three months into its launch, the all-new 2017 Super Dutys smart technology features drove total nameplate sales up 24 percent and retail sales up 33 percent for November.

Demand is especially strong for Crew Cab, 4x4 and 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel equipped Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trucks, which accounted for 71 percent of Super Duty retail sales.

Texas  home to Fords two largest truck regions  saw Super Duty sales rise 45 percent in Dallas and 38 percent in Houston. More than 81 percent of these sales include Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum series trucks, with demand for 4x4 and Crew Cab configurations outpacing the rest of the country by 97 percent.

The technology features in the new F-Series trucks, in particular the all-new 2017 Super Duty, are generating even greater interest, said Chaz Gilmore, managing partner, Grapevine Ford Lincoln, near Dallas. This truck is bringing a lot of new buyers out of competitive brands and into the Ford family. Ford really knocked it out of the park with this trucks performance, options and technology offerings.

The all-new Super Duty beats the competition on virtually every metric, with 925 lb.-ft. of torque, a 7,630-pound payload and 32,500 pounds of gooseneck towing capacity  but its 20 class-exclusive technologies really up the ante. High-series trucks equipped with such exclusive features as adaptive steering, Trailer Reverse Guidance, adaptive cruise control with collision mitigation, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert and trailer tow are what customers really want.

Technology innovation is proving to be a differentiator, said John Rieger, Ford Super Duty consumer marketing manager. Our 20 class-exclusive, driver-assist technologies help increase productivity and boost driver confidence  especially when serving Super Dutys primary mission of towing long, heavy trailers.

With its first major redesign since being introduced in 1999, the all-new 2017 Super Duty takes heavy-duty pickups to the next level in toughness, smartness and capability.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 203,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the companys core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161219005746/en/

Ford Motor Company

Christiana Lumaj

313.407.3893

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Jiyan Cadiz

313.300.8397

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Source: Ford Motor Company
PLYMOUTH, Minn., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) today announced it has agreed to acquire from Vale S.A. its Vale Fertilizantes business for an aggregate purchase price valued at $2.5 billion. Vale will have the potential to earn an additional amount of up to $260 million to be paid in cash over the two-year period following closing if certain financial metrics are achieved. Upon closing the acquisition, Mosaic expects to become the leading fertilizer production and distribution company in Brazil, one of the world's preeminent agricultural markets.

"This acquisition provides Mosaic a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on the fast-growing Brazilian agricultural market and from improving business conditions," said President and CEO Joc O'Rourke. "We see this as an ideal strategic fit for Mosaic. We have proven expertise in phosphate mining and manufacturing, a strong record of successful acquisition integration, and extensive relationships and experience in Brazil."

Mosaic intends to fund the acquisition with $1.25 billion in cash, which the company plans to raise through the issuance of debt, and approximately 42.3 million shares of its common stock. The shares of Mosaic common stock to be issued to Vale at closing are expected to represent approximately 11 percent of Mosaic's outstanding shares.

The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Mosaic's earnings per share in 2018, generate over $80 million of after-tax synergies and provide substantial leverage to improvements in the crop nutrient business cycle.

The business to be acquired currently has capacity to produce 4.8 million tonnes of finished phosphate crop nutrients and 500,000 tonnes of potash. It includes five Brazilian phosphate rock mines and four chemical and fertilizer production facilities, as well as one potash facility in Brazil. Through the acquisition, Mosaic also will acquire Vale's 40 percent economic interest in the Miski Mayo phosphate mine in Peru, and its potash project at Kronau, Saskatchewan, Canada. Mosaic has the option to include the Rio Colorado, Argentina potash project at closing as part of the transaction. The inclusion of the Rio Colorado potash project in the transaction is subject to Mosaic's agreement following appropriate diligence. The transaction excludes Vale's Cubatao-based nitrogen and non-integrated phosphate business, which is required to be carved out of Vale Fertilizantes prior to closing.

"Mosaic has agreed to acquire high-quality and complementary assets in a powerhouse agricultural center that have significant cost advantages at an attractive valuation," said Rich Mack, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "We expect this transaction to be both accretive to earnings and cash flow positive, and we will continue our focus on maintaining a solid investment grade credit rating.

"As commodity and crop nutrition markets improve, Mosaic will have the ability to meaningfully outperform our competition and generate shareholder value. Vale will be a valued minority shareholder and partner who will bring significant Brazilian expertise that we believe will benefit Mosaic in the years ahead."

Mosaic's combined fertilizer business in Brazil will be led by Rick McLellan, currently Mosaic's Senior Vice President, Commercial. Mr. McLellan led the fertilizer business in Brazil when Mosaic was formed in 2004.

"I am excited at the prospect of leading Mosaic's vastly expanding business in Brazil," said Mr. McLellan. "This will be an ideal time for us to grow in the region, with the strong Brazilian farm economy and growers across the country working to deliver higher crop yields."

Following the closing, Vale will have the right to designate up to two individuals, one of whom must be independent, for nomination to Mosaic's Board of Directors as long as it continues to meet certain ownership thresholds. Subject to limited exceptions, the Mosaic shares to be issued to Vale may not be transferred for two years following the closing, after which time Vale will have customary registration rights. In connection with its minority interest, Vale has agreed to certain stand-still and lockup obligations, and to certain voting agreements.

The transaction is subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of closing conditions, including the completion of the carve-out of the Cubatao-based production facilities from Vale Fertilizantes, and is expected to close in late 2017.

The acquisition will add approximately 8,000 employees, bringing Mosaic's global headcount to approximately 17,000.

Mosaic expects that its U.S. phosphate production facilities will continue to operate at high rates in order to meet strong and growing global demand. The company's premium MicroEssentials products are also expected to continue to be produced exclusively in the U.S., and Brazil is expected to remain a key market for MicroEssentials.

J.P. Morgan Securities and UBS Investment Bank served as financial advisors to Mosaic, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Lobo & de Rizzo Advogados acted as legal counsel to Mosaic.

The company will host a conference call to discuss the acquisition at 8:00 a.m. Central Time today, December 19, 2016. The call will be accessible through a webcast at www.mosaicco.com/investors or by calling 877-608-0554 (U.S.) or 678-825-8336 (international). The conference ID is 41856495. Presentation slides to be used on the call are also available on the website. Messrs. O'Rourke and Mack will lead the discussion.

About The Mosaic CompanyThe Mosaic Company is one of the world's leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Mosaic is a single-source provider of phosphate and potash fertilizers and feed ingredients for the global agriculture industry. More information on the company is available at www.mosaicco.com.

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our proposed acquisition of the global phosphate and potash operations of Vale S.A. ("Vale") conducted through Vale Fertilizantes S.A. (the "Transaction") and the anticipated benefits and synergies of the proposed Transaction, other proposed or pending future transactions or strategic plans and other statements about future financial and operating results. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of The Mosaic Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to risks and uncertainties arising from the possibility that the closing of the proposed Transaction may be delayed or may not occur, including delays or risks arising from any inability to obtain governmental approvals of the Transaction on the proposed terms and schedule, any inability of Vale to achieve certain other specified regulatory and operational milestones or to successfully complete the transfer of the Cubatao business to Vale and its affiliates in a timely manner, and the ability to satisfy any of the other closing conditions; our ability to secure financing, or financing on satisfactory terms and in amounts sufficient to fund the cash portion of the purchase price without the need for additional funds from other liquidity sources; difficulties with realization of the benefits of the proposed Transaction, including the risks that the acquired business may not be integrated successfully or that the anticipated synergies or cost or capital expenditure savings from the Transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including because of political and economic instability in Brazil or changes in government policy in Brazil; the predictability and volatility of, and customer expectations about, agriculture, fertilizer, raw material, energy and transportation markets that are subject to competitive and other pressures and economic and credit market conditions; the level of inventories in the distribution channels for crop nutrients; the effect of future product innovations or development of new technologies on demand for our products; changes in foreign currency and exchange rates; international trade risks and other risks associated with Mosaic's international operations and those of joint ventures in which Mosaic participates, including the risk that protests against natural resource companies in Peru extend to or impact the Miski Mayo mine, the ability of the Wa'ad Al Shamal Phosphate Company (also known as MWSPC) to obtain additional planned funding in acceptable amounts and upon acceptable terms, the timely development and commencement of operations of production facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the future success of current plans for MWSPC and any future changes in those plans; difficulties with realization of the benefits of our long term natural gas based pricing ammonia supply agreement with CF Industries, Inc., including the risk that the cost savings initially anticipated from the agreement may not be fully realized over its term or that the price of natural gas or ammonia during the term are at levels at which the pricing is disadvantageous to Mosaic; customer defaults; the effects of Mosaic's decisions to exit business operations or locations; changes in government policy; changes in environmental and other governmental regulation, including expansion of the types and extent of water resources regulated under federal law, carbon taxes or other greenhouse gas regulation, implementation of numeric water quality standards for the discharge of nutrients into Florida waterways or efforts to reduce the flow of excess nutrients into the Mississippi River basin, the Gulf of Mexico or elsewhere; further developments in judicial or administrative proceedings, or complaints that Mosaic's operations are adversely impacting nearby farms, business operations or properties; difficulties or delays in receiving, increased costs of or challenges to necessary governmental permits or approvals or increased financial assurance requirements; resolution of global tax audit activity; the effectiveness of Mosaic's processes for managing its strategic priorities; adverse weather conditions affecting operations in Central Florida, the Mississippi River basin, the Gulf Coast of the United States or Canada, and including potential hurricanes, excess heat, cold, snow, rainfall or drought; actual costs of various items differing from management's current estimates, including, among others, asset retirement, environmental remediation, reclamation or other environmental regulation, Canadian resources taxes and royalties, or the costs of the MWSPC, its existing or future funding and Mosaic's commitments in support of such funding; reduction of Mosaic's available cash and liquidity, and increased leverage, due to its use of cash and/or available debt capacity to fund financial assurance requirements and strategic investments; brine inflows at Mosaic's Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, potash mine or other potash shaft mines; other accidents and disruptions involving Mosaic's operations, including potential mine fires, floods, explosions, seismic events, sinkholes or releases of hazardous or volatile chemicals; and risks associated with cyber security, including reputational loss, as well as other risks and uncertainties reported from time to time in The Mosaic Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-mosaic-company-to-acquire-vale-fertilizantes-for-25-billion-300380919.html

SOURCE The Mosaic Company
BEIIJING, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Yirendai Ltd. (NYSE: YRD) ("Yirendai" or the "Company"), a leading online consumer finance marketplace in China, today announced that its board of directors ("the Board") has appointed Ms. Chaomei Chen as a director of the Company, effective December 18, 2016. Ms. Chen, who has met the independence requirements of Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, has also been appointed as a member of the Company's Audit Committee and Nominating, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance Committee, replacing Mr. Qing Li.

Ms. Chen has been part of Yirendai's Advisory Committee since January 2016 and been providing strategic advice and insight to Yirendai's senior management team on a broad range of issues including risk management, credit analysis, technology and business operations. Previously, Ms. Chen served as Chief Risk Officer of LendingClub from 2011 to 2015 and was responsible for the establishment and enhancement of the credit and risk management organization. Before LendingClub, she oversaw all risk management functions for the WaMu credit card portfolio at JP Morgan Chase. Prior to JP Morgan Chase, Ms. Chen was Vice Chairman and Chief Credit Officer at Providian Financial Services, where she was instrumental in its turnaround prior to its acquisition by WaMu. Her experience also includes executive positions with Fleet Credit Card Services and PNC National Bank, and management positions with Citicorp, American Express and Household Credit Services. During her career, Ms. Chen has overseen multi-billion dollar business and credit risk portfolios and directed the large-scale implementation of credit risk management, business risk management, collections, fraud prevention, BASEL implementation and database marketing for operations both domestically and internationally. Ms. Chen graduated with a BS degree in mathematics from The Southwestern Jiaotong University in China and earned an MSE degree in mathematical science from Whiting School of Engineering at The Johns Hopkins University.

"We warmly welcome Chaomei to the Board as an independent director," said Mr. Ning Tang, Yirendai's Executive Chairman. "Chaomei is a well-respected and seasoned industry veteran with a wealth of consumer credit and risk management knowledge and expertise. Chaomei has been working with us for almost a year as a member of our Advisory Committee and has added significant value to the Company's strategy across a broad range of business-related issues. We look forward to working even more closely with Chaomei to drive our business to the next level."

Ms. Chaomei Chen added, "Yirendai's solid business performance demonstrates the effectiveness of its business model, corporate culture and capabilities of its management team. I am honored to join the Board and look forward to further providing strategic advice on risk management to strengthen Yirendai's market leading position."

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "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," "confident" 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 Yirendai's control. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties as to Yirendai's ability to attract and retain borrowers and investors on its marketplace, its ability to introduce new loan products and platform enhancements, its ability to compete effectively, PRC regulations and policies relating to the peer-to-peer lending service industry in China, general economic conditions in China, and Yirendai's ability to meet the standards necessary to maintain listing of its ADSs on the NYSE or other stock exchange, including its ability to cure any non-compliance with the NYSE's continued listing criteria. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Yirendai's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Yirendai 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 applicable law.

About Yirendai

Yirendai Ltd. (NYSE: YRD) is a leading online consumer finance marketplace in China connecting investors and individual borrowers. The Company provides an effective solution to address largely underserved investor and individual borrower demand in China through an online platform that automates key aspects of its operations to efficiently match borrowers with investors and execute loan transactions. Yirendai deploys a proprietary risk management system, which enables the Company to effectively assess the creditworthiness of borrowers, appropriately price the risks associated with borrowers, and offer quality loan investment opportunities to investors. Yirendai's online marketplace provides borrowers with quick and convenient access to consumer credit at competitive prices and investors with easy and quick access to an alternative asset class with attractive returns. For more information, please visit yirendai.investorroom.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

YirendaiHui (Matthew) LiDirector of Investor RelationsEmail: [email protected]

ChristensenIn ChinaChristian ArnellPhone: +86 (0) 10-59001548Email: [email protected]

In the U.S.Linda BergkampPhone: +1 (480) 614-3004Email: [email protected]

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yirendai-strengthens-board-of-directors-with-appointment-of-chaomei-chen-as-independent-director-300380911.html

SOURCE Yirendai Ltd.
(Reuters) - Dozens of Cuban migrants landed in three separate boats in the Florida Keys on Sunday, days after more than 40 others arrived in the same area, local media reported.

Under an agreement with Cuba's communist government, the United States can force Cubans who are intercepted between the two nations to return home or go to a third country, though those who land on U.S. soil are usually allowed to stay.

The U.S. Coast Guard earlier this year said it was concerned about a possible surge in Cuban migrants eager to flee.

The concerns arose over peoples' fears that the warming relations between the Cuban government and Washington could jeopardize the special status enjoyed by Cubans for decades in gaining refugee status in the United States.

In addition, anti-immigration sentiment stirred up by Republican Donald Trump during the U.S. presidential campaign led to concerns he could clamp down on Cubans entering the United States legally if won the Nov. 8 election. Now that Trump is president-elect, it remains to be seen how he will handle immigration.

All 51 of the migrants who landed on Sunday were turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, WPLG TV reported.

Five days ago, 41 migrants from Cojimar, east of Havana, landed in the Florida Keys in a single boat, the Miami Herald reported.

(Reporting by Laila Kearney; editing by Frank McGurty and Grant McCool)
OSLO/BEIJING (Reuters) - Norway and China on Monday normalized diplomatic and political ties, frozen since 2010 when Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende said the two countries would immediately resume negotiations on a free-trade deal.

"Through meticulous and numerous conversations, the two sides have over the last years reached a level of trust that allows for resumption of a normal relationship," they said in a joint statement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a separate statement after meeting Brende in Beijing that in recent years relations had taken a serious step backwards.

"Norway deeply reflected upon the reasons why bilateral mutual trust was harmed, and had conscientious, solemn consultations with China about how to improve bilateral relations," Wang said.

Both sides reached an important consensus on the lessons learned and restoring mutual trust, which accords with the interests of Norway and its people and the correct direction of relations, he added, without mentioning Liu.

"Norway has made its stance clear on key and significant issues regarding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement posted later on the ministry website.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in his meeting with Brende, said China was willing to start free trade talks, China's Foreign Ministry said, also without mentioning the Nobel laureate.

Liu, 59, a dissident involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests crushed by the Chinese army, was jailed for 11 years in 2009 on subversion charges for organizing a petition urging an end to one-party rule. He remains in prison.

The peace prize is chosen by a committee in Oslo, while other categories of the annual awards are decided in Stockholm.

Shares of Norwegian salmon exporters, which have largely been shut out of the lucrative Chinese market, rose on Monday, with Grieg Seafood and Marine Harvest up 2.1 and 1.1 percent respectively.

(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen and Ben Blanchard; additional reporting by Chen Aizhu in Beijing; Editing by Terje Solsvik and John Stonestreet)
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir speaks at a briefing with reporters at the Saudi Embassy in London September 6, 2016. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

By Katie Paul

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and the United States on Sunday played down media reports that Washington had decided to limit military support, including planned arms sales to the kingdom, over its war in Yemen.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that Riyadh had not been officially informed of such decisions, which he described as contradicting the reality, while visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry suggested the issue related more to a long procurement process than restrictions on military support.

U.S. officials have said Washington decided to curb backing for Saudi Arabia's campaign in Yemen, including halting the supply of some precision-guided munitions, because of concerns over widespread civilian casualties.

Yemen's 20-month-old war has killed more than 10,000 people and triggered humanitarian crises, including chronic food shortages, in the poorest country in the Arabian peninsula.

Jubeir, speaking in Arabic, told a joint news conference with Kerry: "This news that has been leaked contradicts reality. The reality is that converting regular bombs to smart bombs would be welcome because smart bombs are more accurate.

"The kingdom has received nothing official from the American government in this regard," he said in answer to a question on reported delays of U.S. weapons supplies.

Kerry appeared to play down the reports of delays to weapons supplies, suggesting procurement was often a slow process, and adding he had worked hard to move sales "forward".

YEMEN TRUCE

Kerry also said that he agreed in talks with Jubeir and other Gulf Arab foreign ministers to push for a "cessation of hostilities, which we all will work on in the next several days with hopes that within two weeks it might be possible to achieve it ...".

Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab coalition that has been fighting against Iran-aligned Houthis who forced Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi from power nearly two years ago. The conflict has displaced some three million people, according to the United Nations.

"Our immediate priority is to end the bloodshed and that's why reestabilishing the ceasefire is so critical," Kerry told the news conference.

"We think we've found the path to move forward and invite the parties, President Hadi, the Houthis and the supporters of both sides to take advantage of this moment to try to come to the table and to try to frame an end," he added.

Saudi Arabia has been subjected to frequent cross-border raids and missile attacks by the Houthi movement.

Responding to a question on whether Saudi Arabia was reconsidering its investment strategy over risks in the United States related to Donald Trump's election and potential lawsuits under the U.S. Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, known as JASTA, Jubeir said:

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has tremendous investments in the United States and we review those investments on a regular basis. There are issues associated with risk, but our objective is to increase those investments. We wont decrease them."

Jubeir also said he had spent time in the United States recently to try to get to know the policies and positions of the next administration.

He also said he had dealt with Congress to press for amendments of the JASTA law, which grants an exception to the legal principle of sovereign immunity in cases of terrorism on U.S. soil, clearing the way for lawsuits seeking damages from the Saudi government.

(Reporting by Katie Paul, Sami Aboudi, and Ali Abdelati in Cairo; Writing by William Maclean; Editing by Andrew Bolton)




The business integration described in this press release involves securities of foreign companies. The offer is subject to disclosure requirements of a foreign country that are different from those of the United States. Financial information included in this document, if any, have been prepared in accordance with foreign accounting standards that may not be comparable to the financial statements of United States companies. It may be difficult for you to enforce your rights and any claim you may have arising under the U.S. federal securities laws, since the issuer is located in a foreign country and all of its officers and directors are residents of a foreign country. You may not be able to sue a foreign company or its officers or directors in a foreign court for violations of the U.S. securities laws. It may be difficult to compel a foreign company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. courts judgment. You should be aware that the issuer may purchase securities otherwise than under the transaction described below, such as in open market or privately negotiated purchases. This document has been translated from the Japanese-language original for reference purposes only. While this English translation is believed to be generally accurate, it is subject to, and qualified by, in its entirety, the Japanese-language original. Such Japanese-language original shall be the controlling document for all purposes.









December 19, 2016

For immediate release Company: Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. Representative: CEO, Representative Director Tsuyoshi Kameoka Code Number: 5002 Contact: Public Affairs Division, Tomoji Nakamura (Tel  03-5531-5793)









Notice of Changes of Largest Shareholder as Major Shareholder and Other Affiliate Companies





As announced in Full-scale Discussions Aimed at Management Integration with Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Notice of Change of Major Shareholder dated July 30, 2015, The Shell Petroleum Company Limited (SPCO), the largest shareholder and also a major shareholder of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. (SSSKK), and Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company Limited (ASPCO) signed a share transfer agreement with Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Idemitsu) to transfer the shares in SSSKK held by SPCO (the Share Transfer) subject to necessary regulatory approvals under relevant competition laws . We hereby announce that, as of today, the Share Transfer was completed and, as a result, the changes of the largest shareholder as a major shareholder and other affiliate companies of SSSKK took place .

1





1. Background





While the Share Transfer had been subject to necessary regulatory approvals under relevant competition laws, SSSKK was notified by Idemitsu that the review by the relevant competition law authorities was completed and the Share Transfer was completed as of today. As a result, the changes of SSSKKs largest shareholder as a major shareholder and other affiliate companies took place as outlined below.





2. Overview of share ownership changes

(1) Largest shareholder and affiliated companies (as of December 31, 2015)

 Name The Shell Petroleum Company Limited  Address Shell Center, London SE1 7NA, England  Representative Gary Thomson  Businesses Holding of shares, etc.  Capital USD 2,697 million





(2) Other affiliate companies (as of December 31, 2015)

 Name Royal Dutch Shell plc  Address Carel van Bylandtlaan 16, 2596 HR, The Hague, The Netherlands  Representative CEO Ben van Beurden  Businesses Holding of shares, etc.  Capital USD 546 million





(3) New largest shareholder and affiliated companies (as of March 31, 2016)

 Name Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.  Address Marunouchi 3-1-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo  Representative President: Takashi Tsukioka  Businesses Imports, refining, transportation, storage and sales of crude oil and petroleum products, sales of petroleum products and SS-related products, manufacturing and sales of petroleum products, manufacturing and sales of petrochemical products, investigation, exploration, development and sales of petroleum resources, coal, uranium and geothermal resources, and manufacturing, sales and licensing of electronic materials  Capital JPY 108 , 606 million  Date Established March 30, 1940  Consolidated Net Assets JPY 537,660 million  Consolidated Total Assets JPY 2,402,118 million  Major Shareholders and Ownership Percentage Nissho Kosan K.K. 16.95% Idemitsu Culture and Welfare Foundation 7.75% Idemitsu Museum of Arts Foundation 5.00% Idemitsu Employee Stockholders Committee 3.80% The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. 3.21% Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation 3.21% Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited 3.21% Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (trust account) 2.61% Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (trust account 9) 2.05% The Master Trust Bank of Japan, Ltd. (trust account) 1.92%  Relationship between the Companies Capital None Personnel None Business Transactions None

2

3. Breakdown of share ownership change:

(1) The Shell Petroleum Company Limited

Classification Number of voting rights (Ratio of voting rights) Shareholder rank Direct ownership Combined amount Total Before change (as of September 30, 2016) Other affiliate companies 1,252,612 (33.2  )  1,252,612 (33.2  ) 1 After change  75,000 (1.9  )  75,000 (1.9  ) 

* The number of shares without voting rights that were excluded from the total number of shares outstanding: 490,700 shares

The total number of shares outstanding as of September 30, 2016: 376,850,400 shares

* Ratio of voting rights is rounded down to the first decimal place.

(2) Royal Dutch Shell plc

Classification Number of voting rights (Ratio of voting rights) Shareholder rank Direct ownership Combined amount Total Before change (as of September 30, 2016) Other affiliate companies 0 ( 0  ) 1,320,452 (35. 0  ) 1,320,452 (35. 0  )  After change  0 ( 0  ) 142,840 (3.7  ) 142,840 (3.7  ) 

* The number of shares without voting rights that were excluded from the total number of shares outstanding: 490,700 shares

The total number of shares outstanding as of September 30, 2016: 376,850,400 shares

* Ratio of voting rights is rounded down to the first decimal place.

3

(3) Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd.

Classification Number of voting rights (Ratio of voting rights) Shareholder rank Direct ownership Combined amount Total Before change (as of September 30, 2016)  0 ( 0  )  0 ( 0  )  After change Other affiliate company 1,177,612 (31.2  )  1,177,612 (31.2  ) 1

* The number of shares without voting rights that were excluded from the total number of shares outstanding: 490,700 shares

The total number of shares outstanding as of September 30, 2016: 376,850,400 shares

* Ratio of voting rights is rounded down to the first decimal place.





4. Outlook

There is no impact on the consolidated business performance of SSSKK as a result of the above changes .

As a result of the above changes, the Memorandum of Understanding among SSSKK, SPCO and ASPCO dated August 24, 2004 (on maintenance of the business alliance relationship such as trade mark license, research and development activities, management know-how sharing and secondment) and the Trade Marks, Technology and Service Agreement between Shell Brands International AG and SSSKK dated January 1, 2008 (on matters such as trade mark license, technical information exchange on petroleum business, research and development activities and general information sharing) were terminated, and the License Agreement relating to the Branding of Certain Businesses with Shell Brands International AG (on matters such as trade mark license) and the Lubricants Framework Agreement with Shell International Petroleum Company Limited (on matters such as technology exchange and research and development, OEM relationship and mutual servicing with respect to lubricants business) came into effect as of today.





Ends




Gunmen killed 10 people including a Canadian tourist and police officers on Sunday in southern Jordan where security forces were hunting down the unidentified attackers.

The shootings took place in Karak, a tourist destination known for one of the biggest Crusader castles in the region, around 120 kilometres (70 miles) south of the capital Amman.

Jordan's general security department said seven policemen, a female Canadian tourist and two Jordanian civilians were killed in a series of shootings.

It said that 27 others, including policemen and civilians, were wounded.

A separate police statement said that a number of outlaws who committed ugly crimes this afternoon had been killed and that security forces were combing the Crusader castle for more gunmen.

The first attack took place when a police patrol went to check on a fire that had broken out in a house in Karak, the general security department said.

As soon as they reached the area, unknown gunmen who were inside the house opened fire on the patrol, wounding a policeman, and then fled by car, it said in a statement carried by the official Petra news agency.

Shortly afterwards, gunmen opened fire on another patrol without causing any casualties, it added.

At the same time, gunmen in the Crusader castle opened fire on the Karak police station, wounding several policemen and passers-by who were rushed to hospital.

Police and security forces have surrounded the castle and its vicinity and launched an operation to hunt down the gunmen, the statement said, adding that the search was still under way.

'Five or six gunmen'

A senior security source said some people were trapped in a lower floor of the citadel when the gunmen took shelter there, but denied media reports that they were being held hostage.

There are no hostages. But some people who were on a lower floor were afraid of leaving as the gunmen traded fire with the security forces, said the source who did not wish to be identified.

He said that the gunmen were on a higher level inside the fortress.

The Jordan Tourism Board described the Karak citadel, which dates back to the 12th century and has withstood many sieges, as a maze of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways.

The general security department statement said five or six gunmen were thought to be involved in the shootings.

However, Prime Minister Hani al-Malki, who was addressing parliament at the time of the shootings, said that special forces and policemen are surrounding 10 gunmen holed up inside the Karak citadel.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the shootings, but Jordan has been hit by militant attacks in the past.

Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting the militant Daesh group in neighbouring Iraq and Syria.
During a visit to Tehran, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has expressed satisfaction with Irans commitment to its obligations under the 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.

Iran has been committed to its obligations and this is an important matter, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)s Director General Yukiya Amano said on Sunday at a joint press conference with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

The nuclear accord, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries -- the US, Britain, Russia, France and China plus Germany -- last year in Vienna.

The IAEA is tasked with monitoring the technical implementation of the nuclear deal.

Since January, when the JCPOA took effect, the agency has confirmed Irans compliance in several reports.

We are satisfied with the trend of the JCPOAs implementation, and hope for this trend to continue, added Amano, who is in Tehran on a one-day visit at the invitation of Salehi.

Concerning his meeting with Salehi, he said the two had discussed a range of issues, including heavywater, enriched uranium, Irans uranium stockpiles as well as research and development in the field of nuclear energy.

Among other topics in the talks was a recent order by President Hassan Rouhani to the AEOI to plan work on nuclear propulsion devices to be used in sea transport, Amano added.

The Iranian chief executive issued the decree in response to the recent violation of the multilateral nuclear deal by the United States. The US Congress recently voted to extend Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), Washingtons sanctions law against Iran, for another 10 years. This is while Iran had all its nuclear-related sanctions removed on the back of the JCPOA.

Salehi, in turn, said he had addressed cooperation with the IAEA on the JCPOAs implementation.

He urged the IAEA to act as an impartial international authority, whose reports do not reflect leverage or influence peddling by any party, the Iranian official asserted, thanking the agency for acting in such a manner so far in its reports on the JCPOAs implementation.

He said the two had addressed the presidential decree and how to implement it as well as Tehrans obligations under the IAEAs Nuclear Safeguards Agreement during the JCPOAs implementation process.

Salehi also touched on Washingtons extension of the Iran Sanctions Act, saying Tehran is ready to take whatever proportionate measure upon the decision of the Iranian establishments authorities.

Later in the day, Amano sat down for talks with the Iranian president, who likewise called on the agency to produce impartial and technical reports on Iran.

We expect that this international institution perform its responsibility in the area of technical cooperation, the transfer of peaceful nuclear technology, and nuclear trade, too, President Rouhani said.

He said the JCPOAs sustainability hinged on compliance by all parties, and added, The Islamic Republic will honor its commitments as long as other parties honor theirs.

Rouhani said some recent measures by the US, including the extension of the ISA, contravened the nuclear agreement. The course the United States has taken vis-a-vis Iran will lead to the reduction of international confidence in the US government, he said.

Amano, for his part, reiterated that Iran had lived up to its contractual obligations since the accords implementation. The JCPOA was a big achievement, whose implementation the IAEA will support with all its might.
Changing your name after marriage View(s):

I have always believed that names contain power. They have a unique strength and character as it identifies an individual. Having used it since the day one is born, it is intrinsically linked to ones own personal identity. It is as familiar to us as our own faces and hands and feet. So why then, do we feel the necessity to change our surnames even before the ink is dry on the marriage contract?

According to Insha Farid writing for the Kashmir Observer, When a woman gets married, she gives up a lot of old habits and adopts a lot of new ones. Marriage, for a woman, means becoming a part of a new family and giving up her previous one. It means changing everything, including her name, in our society. A name which is not only her identity but a big part of who she is. Though our religion doesnt make it obligatory for a woman to take her husbands name, this practice has been going on in our society for decades. As voices for women empowerment grow stronger, people have begun to question this practice. Women are now demanding their right to retain their maiden names as they feel that their names symbolise their lineage. Many argue that it goes against the principle of equality.

Justin McCurry writing for The Guardian from Tokyo, stated that in December 2015, Japans Supreme Court upheld the rule that married couples must have the same surname. They ruled that a 19th-century law forcing married couples to use the same surname does not violate the constitution.The same-name ruling came, as a response to a lawsuit by five women who argued that the requirement, as stipulated in the 1896 Civil Code, violates married couples civil rights.While the law does not stipulate which name married couples should adopt, in practice women take their husbands name in 96% of cases  a reflection, critics say of Japans male-dominated society. This landmark Court decision was a setback for campaigners who argued that the 19th-century law violated their civil rights and in practice forced women to take their husbands name.One of the plaintiffs, Kaori Oguni, said before the ruling: By losing your surnameyoure being made light of, youre not respectedIts as if part of yourself vanishesThe system is one that says, basically, if youre not willing to change (your name), you shouldnt be getting married.

McCurry observed that the attempt to have the law deemed unconstitutional encountered opposition from conservative politicians and commentators, who argued that allowing couples to have different surnames would damage the traditional family unit.The law reflects the traditional view that marriages in Japan are unions between families, not individuals. During the Meiji era (1868-1912), when the law was introduced, it was common for a woman to leave her family to become part of her husbands family.Names are the best way to bind families, Masaomi Takanori, a constitutional scholar, told NHK public television in the run-up to the verdict. Allowing different surnames risks destroying social stability, the maintenance of public order and the basis for social welfare. In practice however, many women continue to use their maiden names at work and their legal, married surname in official documents. They include the internal affairs minister, Sanae Takaichi. According to McCurry, Japan is thought to be one of only a few industrialised countries where it is illegal for married couples to have different surnames. Interestingly, the UN committee on the elimination of discrimination against women, has also called on Japan to revise the laws.

Fascinatingly, in contrast, Jacob Koffler, reported for Times Magazine in 2015, that in Quebec, all women have been keeping their maiden names since 1981, whether they want to or not. Provincial law in Quebec forbids a woman from taking her husbands surname after marriage. In Greece, a similar law requiring all women keep their maiden name was enacted in 1983 during a wave of feminist legislation.The tradition goes back even further in France, which has had a law on the books since 1789 requiring that people not use a name besides the one given on their birth certificate. Today, women cannot legally change their surname after marriage. Italian women have more options. Although they cannot legally change their surname, which has been true since 1975, they have the option of tacking their husbands surname onto their surname. In the Netherlands, women are always identified in documents by their maiden name and can only take their husbands name under special circumstances. Belgian law requires that ones surname does not change after marriage.Custom dictates that women keep their surnames in many Spanish-speaking countries as well, including Spain and Chile. Closer to home, in Malaysia and Korea, it is local custom for women to keep their maiden names, and although there is no law stating that they cannot take their husbands surname, it is a relatively foreign concept.

I for one made a personal choice to retain my maiden name as an Artist on the professional performing circuit, whilst hyphenating my husbands surname on after it, for everything else. There was no request or pressure of any sort from my husband that I do one or the other  or even change it completely  and it was simply a personal choice, based on several factors. The most important being that I wanted to bear the name of our own independent family, whilst still keeping my own.

Interestingly, when I was getting a new national ID card to reflect my new double barrelled surname, I distinctly remember being told by a male official there, that it was better if I chose either the name of my father or my husband. (Interesting choice of words I thought, as until that moment Id always thought of the name I was born with as my own) I pointed out that our former Head of State had done so decades before and so surely there was no justification to disallow this particular request.

It was an irrefutable argument, which meant I was then allowed to officially adopt the long-fandangled name which I felt reflected my own personal and professional identity best. A decision driven by practicality, which has resulted in being very impractical when it comes to the practical aspect of filling forms and such, as my surname now requires 23 spaces (not forgetting one for the hyphen of course) and Airline operators constantly asking me for just my surname, with me repeating that that indeed is what it is! However, in the end, it has resulted in a sense of personal satisfaction, by retaining my identity as an individual and also adopting one which identifies me as part of my family. It may seem ridiculous to another  but in the end, does that really matter? Surely it is more important that the result has delivered a sense of strength  which a name is supposed to do  and also an unshakeable sense of identity to an individualand best of all, that it is ultimately one borne of personal choice?

All comments, suggestions and contributions are most welcome. Confidentiality guaranteed.

Please email: KJWVoiceforWomen@gmail.com
The Eastern Bay of Plentys first electric vehicle fast charger has been installed in Whakatane.

The charging station, located on Quay Street, is a partnership between Horizon Networks, the Eastern Bay Energy Trust and Whakatane District Council.

Horizon Energy Group chairman Tony de Farais says the electric vehicle fast charging station has been made possible with the support of the Eastern Bay Energy Trust and Whakatane District Council.

We see the new charging station as not only putting Whakatane on the New Zealand electric vehicle map, but also promoting the use of electric vehicles (which benefits the environment) and encouraging those with electric vehicles to visit the district.

He says the initial installation is part of a wider plan to install fast chargers in key locations around the Eastern Bay of Plenty in the near future.

The Eastern Bay Energy Trust is supportive of the investment in new technology and is delighted to see this initiative aligning Whakatane with bigger cities like Auckland, Wellington and Christchurchs investment in sustainable infrastructure.

Eastern Bay Energy Trust Acting Chairman David Bulley acknowledges there will be a rapid growth in electric vehicles in New Zealand.

In the Eastern Bay, we need to be positioned to both support this growth and take advantage of the business and tourism opportunities that will follow and the Trust is delighted to be able to support this initiative.

New Zealand is well placed to benefit from electric vehicles and the Government has shown its commitment to supporting initiatives that encourage the uptake of electric vehicles through the Low Emissions Vehicles Contestable Fund.

The fund will provide up to $6 million per year (up to $4 million in 2016/17) to co-fund, up to 50 per cent, projects with private and public sector partners in areas where commercial returns arent strong enough yet to justify full private investment.

Mayor Tony Bonne welcomes the investment in the districts electric vehicle infrastructure and says it effectively signals the beginning of the move away from fossil-fuel powered transport in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Council elected members are strongly supportive of this initiative, which will facilitate both electric vehicle-based tourism and local use, and we congratulate the Eastern Bay Energy Trust and Horizon Energy for their vision and leadership in this exciting new field.

The charging station is located near the Visitor Information Centre on Quay Street and offers good public access by way of parking. Users of this fast charging station can enjoy the nearby shops and cafes while charging is taking place. As an introductory offer, all electric vehicle charging will be free of charge until May 31, 2017.
Photographers with a passion for the Western Bay of Plenty are being encouraged to get snapping.

A regional photography exhibition has just been launched to showcase the Western Bay of Plenty and with over $10,000 in prizes up for grabs, organisers are hoping to attract some of our best amateur and professional photographers to take part.

The Trustpower Photographic Exhibition launches next Tuesday and invites anyone to submit photos, taken in the Western Bay of Plenty that showcases our people and places.

A judging panel will then select the winning photos that will be displayed in a large outdoor photographic exhibition on The Strand, in Downtown Tauranga, from January to April next year.

Downtown Tauranga project manager Sally Cooke says the exhibition is about showcasing the region and our emerging and established creative talent.

The theme for the exhibition is Our Place to Shine. Its purpose is two-fold; to showcase the Bay in what we hope will be a visually dynamic large scale outdoor exhibition for locals, visitors and tourists to enjoy and as a way of supporting and encouraging both established and emerging creative talent, we have in abundance here in the Bay.

Sally says the judges will be looking for entries from people of all ages, from amateur to professional and hope to see diversity in the photos.

There is a condition of entry that all photos must have been taken within the Western Bay of Plenty and then entrants can choose one of four categories for their photo or photos that they are entering: Our People, Land and Sea, Our Heritage and Emotion.

It will be exciting to see photographers interpretation of the categories and to see the photos that come into the competition.

Trustpowers marketing communications and programme manager, Carolyn Schofield, says this is very much a community initiative, designed to encourage both professional and amateur photographers to take part.

Being involved in the community has always been an important part of who we are as a company and were delighted to support this competition and exhibition.

Its especially exciting that the competition will provide opportunities for young photographers to be recognised and to share their work with the public. The exhibition will be a celebration of what makes Tauranga and the Western Bay a special part of New Zealand - our wonderful environment, our heritage and the people - and Im really looking forward to seeing the entries.

The judges include Carolyn Schofield from Trustpower, Jenny Rudd from UNO. Magazine, Claire Rogers from Sun Media, Belinda Francis from Media Works, Karl Chitham from Tauranga Art Gallery, Anton Steel from BOP Film, Kristin Dunne from Tourism BOP, Tara Fowler from Tuskany Agency and Paul Bryne from the Tauranga Photographic Society.

Prizes will be awarded for first and second in the four categories, plus judges will award prizes for a Young Photographers section (18 and under), a Student section (for full or part time students) and a digital section.

We have cash and travel prizes up for grabs and we are especially excited to announce that UNO. Magazine, Sun Media and Media Works are joining forces to offer two Creative Media Internships for the winners of the Student and Young Photographer sections.

These internships will offer two emerging photographers the chance to get some hands-on learning in the three media houses over a week long internship. That will be an incredibly empowering and potentially game-changing opportunity for the winners.

Downtown Tauranga is so fortunate to have the partnership support of Trustpower, More FM, UNO. Magazine, Weekend Sun, House of Travel Tauranga and Creative Communities to help us bring this initiative to life. Its been a while in the planning and we hope it will be an amazing opportunity for photographers to take part in and an exciting exhibition for the public to enjoy.

The competition element is open from today until January 20.

The Trustpower Photographic Exhibition then opens, on The Strand, Downtown Tauranga on Friday, January 27, and runs until April 9.

The free exhibition will also include a Peoples Choice section, asking the public to vote for their favourite photo.

Enter here at: www.downtowntauranga.co.nz
Punters at Racing Tauranga this Wednesday will be asked to give a little following the death of jockey Rebecca Black.

Racing New Zealand has set up a trust to support her three children following her death at a Gore race meeting on Sunday.

Racing Tauranga spokesperson Andrew Love says Rebecca was killed when her horse tripped and she was dislodged.

The horse behind her also came down. She was pronounced dead on the track and the meeting was abandoned.

Andrew says Racing Tauranga will be asking patrons on Wednesday to give a dollar or two.

Racing Tauranga will also give a sizeable donation to the trust.

The 10 race programme at Tauranga starts at 1.30pm on Wednesday with a $10 entry fee but its free for punters after 3.30pm, giving racegoers a chance to give a little, instead of paying an entry fee, says Andrew.

Rebeccas death has been referred to the coroner.
Over the last few weeks the atmospheric Scrooges have sent a succession of fronts over New Zealand, with changeable weather as a consequence.

There have been a number of fine days sandwiched between spells of rain, wind and cloud - and this trend continues this week.

A front crossing the North Island will bring some showers in the north this afternoon, before clearing off for a settled and sunny Tuesday, says the MetService.

The next front moves onto the South Island later on Wednesday bringing some rain, possibly heavy, during Thursday and Friday.

This may cause headaches for early Christmas travellers, but the good news is that the rain is set to move off to the east for a settled Christmas weekend for most of the country.

A weakening southwest flow could bring the odd shower in the west but, with a ridge setting in, most places should stay dry. However, there will still be some cloud around on Christmas Day for many of us.

In the week after Christmas, the MetService says we can expect changeable conditions once more, but it now looks likely that most of the country will strike it lucky for the 25th.

Much of the uncertainty in the long-range forecast had come from tropical depression 04F near Fiji.

Conditions are now looking less favourable for its development and there is now only a low chance of it forming into a tropical cyclone.

It will eventually head south over the next couple of days and we catch a glimpse of it to the northeast of the country on Friday before it heads away into the eastern Pacific.

Although it is not expected to affect New Zealands weather, it may bring some surfable swells to east coast beaches.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced the appointment of Sue Mackwell as High Commissioner in Papua New Guinea.

New Zealand and Papua New Guinea enjoy a strong relationship, and we work closely together in the areas of sustainable economic development, agriculture, and renewable energy, Mr McCully says.

Papua New Guinea is New Zealands second-largest trading partner in the Pacific.

It has an abundance of natural resources, and we share an interest in helping make sure these assets deliver broad-based benefits to the people of Papua New Guinea.

As a close partner of Papua New Guinea, and an APEC member, New Zealand has also offered its support to Papua New Guinea as it prepares to host APEC in 2018.

As High Commissioner, Ms Mackwell will be responsible for overseeing our aid and development effort in Papua New Guinea, which is New Zealands largest development assistance programme.

Ms Mackwell is currently National Childrens Director of the Childrens Action Plan, following a term as Deputy Chief Executive, Social Service Policy and Social Sector Strategy at the Ministry of Social Development.

Source: Office of Murray McCully.
If youre heading to Whaler Cove for a dip this summer, be assured the locals are welcoming and ready to party!

The rays are ever-present, as usual, and there is 7ft Bronze Whaler which frequents the southern end of Great Mercury Island.

Id just got back to the boat after a dive and had a Sony Action cam handy, on one of the afternoons he visited, says Sun Media director Brian Rogers after a weekend holidaying in the area.

Interesting to see the interaction between the Bronzie and the big black ray.

The Bronzie also paid a visit at 2am one night, to make sure our dinghy was secure, by repeatedly ramming it under the catamaran.
A Naval family's history



Retired Oneida High School history teacher Rich MacAlpine spent eleven years researching Frank Schofield and his family. After approximately seven thousand Schofield family letters were donated to the Yates County History Center in 2005, MacAlpine had a wealth of firsthand accounts to draw from in his desire to learn more about the Schofields. His resources grew after he found another five thousand in the archives of a historical society in Talbot County, Maryland.

In addition to the letters, MacAlpine interviewed family members of both Schofield and his wife, traveled extensively for research, and made use of family journals, photos, and materials found in Navy archives. The combined research provides a rich portrait of a Navy family, and Schofield's rise from being the oldest son of a Finger Lakes tenant farmer, to eventual four-star Admiral.

Schofield's Navy career spanned forty-six years, including time during which he served as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet in 1931 and 1932. "Schofield's parents kept their son apprised of events at home in Yates County. They all wrote wonderfully descriptive letters that were at times poignant and at other times humorous," MacApline says of the blending of worlds in the Schofield family narrative.

The book is for sale at the Yates County History Center and Long's Cards & Books in Penn Yan, Crooked Lake Mercantile in Branchport, and online on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Writing to heal

When Alex Brown left Syracuse it was with the dual purpose of finding success as a musician and leaving behind a painful past full of abuse. But as he spent years processing, forgiving, and letting go of the difficult memories, Brown found a renewed love for the area that keeps him returning with his wife to visit Syracuse year after year.

Brown has used his life and the people in it as inspiration for his songs, sharing on his website one story in particular of a friend whom he honored with his music.

Last year Brown published a book about his personal history, which was a way for him to process his journey while also providing a blueprint for healing for other abuse victims. "Through my story, I would like them to know they are not alone, and that there is hope for a better life ahead."

"Waterfalls and Bridges: From abuse and despair, to love and forgiveness" is Brown's story of what happened once he realized that running away from his past would not allow him to find the kind of peace that he was looking for, and how he has since created a vibrant life full of joy.

You can learn more about Brown's book and music by visiting his website.

Beyond the veil

The late Victorian era saw a wave of spiritualism across Europe, with the trend later crossing the water and coming to America in the form of seances and an increase in the popularity of mediumship. N. Riley Heagerty of Oswego has turned years of historical research into books that will interest believers and skeptics alike.

"The French Revelation: Voice to Voice Conversations With Spirits Through the Mediumship of Emily S. French" offers a look at a medium of the early 1900's who instead of being debunked was believed to be the real thing, at least by one important man. Heagerty says, "In the presence of Mrs. French, in a darkened room, spirits would talk literally out of the thin air and address the sitters. The phenomena was independent of Mrs. French and manifested about three feet above her head. She was investigated by a famous Buffalo, NY lawyer (Edward C. Randall) who became a great champion for her cause."

Heagerty's follow up book, "Portraits from Beyond: The Mediumship of the Bangs Sisters" tells the story of May and Elizabeth Bang of Chicago who were believed by many to be frauds in their purported mediumship, and how Heagerty's research discovered that many other people had reason to truly believe in the sister's abilities. Included in the book are images of many of the "spirit portraits" that the sisters produced.

Both of Heagerty's books are available on Amazon.

Have a book to share?

Are you a local author or have you come across a book set in Central New York? Tell us about it. Send a brief description of the book and the author and we'll add it as a candidate for coverage. Write us at

.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  An Ankara police officer dressed in a suit and tie shouted slogans about Syria's civil war after he killed Russia's ambassador to Turkey in front of stunned onlookers at a photo exhibition in the Turkish capital on Monday, according to officials and an Associated Press photographer who witnessed the shooting. Police later killed the assailant.

Ambassador Andrei Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at the embassy-sponsored exhibition in Ankara when a man identified by Turkey's interior minister as Mevlut Mert Altintas fired at least eight shots, according to the AP photographer in the audience.

"Don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!" the gunman shouted in Turkish, referring to the Syrian city where Russian bombardments have helped drive rebels from areas they had occupied for years during the war.

He also shouted "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great" and continued in Arabic: "We are the descendants of those who supported the Prophet Muhammad, for jihad."

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Altintas, who was born in 1994, had been an officer with Ankara's riot police squad for more than two years. Soylu did not give a motive for the attack.

The gunman approached Karlov as he lay on the ground and shot him at least one more time at close range, according to the AP photographer. The attacker also smashed several of the framed photos hung for the exhibition. There was panic as people ran for cover. Three other people were wounded in the attack, Turkey's NTV television said.

After shooting the ambassador, the gunman climbed to the second floor of the same building and a 15-minute shootout with police ensued before he was killed, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported.

The attack comes a day before a meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign and defense ministers in Moscow to discuss Syria. Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nearly six-year conflict, while Turkey has supported Assad's foes.

"It's a tragic day in the history of our country and Russian diplomacy," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in televised comments.

"Ambassador Karlov has made a lot of personal contributions to the development of ties with Turkey. He has done a lot to overcome a crisis in bilateral relations," she said. "He was a man who put his heart and his soul into his job. It's a terrible loss for us and also the world."

Karlov joined the diplomatic service in 1976. He served as Russia's ambassador to Pyongyang in 2001-2006, and later worked as the chief of the Foreign Ministry's consular department. He had served as the ambassador to Turkey since 2013.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said U.S. officials were aware of reports about the shooting.

"We condemn this act of violence, whatever its source," Kirby said.

The United Nations also condemned the attack.

"There can be no justification for an attack on an ambassador ... and we very much hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Melih Gokcek, the mayor for Ankara, told reporters outside the exhibition center that the "heinous" attack aimed to disrupt newly-re-established relations between Turkey and Russia.

Relations between Russia and Turkey were badly strained by the downing of a Russian warplanes at the Syrian border in November 2015, but Turkey's apology earlier this year helped overcome the rift. The leaders of the two countries, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have held several meetings in recent months and spoken frequently over the phone.

Russia and Turkey have co-sponsored the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo and also discussed the prospect of organizing a new round of peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.

Turkey has struggled with multiple security threats in recent years, including Kurdish militants who claimed responsibility for a Dec. 10 bombing in Istanbul that killed 44 people, many of them police. The Islamic State group fighting in Syria and Iraq has also been blamed for attacks in Turkey, a NATO member and a partner in the U.S.-led campaign against the group.

Additionally, Turkish security forces and courts remain preoccupied with purging state institutions of the supporters of an exiled Islamist cleric whom the government accuses of staging a failed coup attempt in July.
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Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick's investigation of Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and her administration produced no allegations of wrongdoing.

(Tim Knauss)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A politically charged investigation by the Onondaga County district attorney looking for misconduct at Syracuse City Hall has fizzled out without producing any allegations of wrongdoing.

District Attorney William Fitzpatrick's investigation of Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and her political allies produced no criminal charges or reports of malfeasance.

Fitzpatrick launched the probe nine months ago, in the wake of Miner's public battle with Cor Development Co., the developer of the $350 million Syracuse Inner Harbor project.

Fitzpatrick said at the time he was looking into what he called an "orchestrated effort'' by Miner and her city hall allies to spread lies in support of a city lawsuit against Cor. A judge who blocked one of the DA's subpoena requests called the foray a "fishing expedition.''



Fitzpatrick never announced the end of the investigation or said whether it produced any new information. Details of grand jury proceedings are secret by law.

But the DA's investigation is finished, said sources familiar with it. The sources all requested anonymity because the matter involved a grand jury inquest and a sealed court case.

That marks the second time in a decade that Fitzpatrick has launched a dead-end criminal investigation of Miner in connection with a political dispute between Miner and a Syracuse developer.

Ten years ago, the DA pursued a grand jury probe of then-Common Councilor Miner and other councilors who voted to block a huge package of tax breaks for Carousel Center mall, now Destiny USA. Fitzpatrick claimed the councilors may have violated the state Open Meetings Law before their vote, but the investigation faded away without charges being filed.

This time, Fitzpatrick's investigation looked at whether city hall officials intentionally provided false information to support a failed city lawsuit that accused Cor Development of fraud, according to sealed court records.

The city lawsuit claimed that Cor executives fraudulently induced Syracuse officials to sell the company Inner Harbor land by promising never to seek a payment in lieu of taxes on the project. Miner announced the lawsuit the same day Onondaga County awarded Cor a PILOT worth an estimated $44.6 million.

The city lawsuit was thrown out three months after it was filed. The judge cited "overwhelming proof'' that Cor never made any binding commitment not to seek tax breaks.

In response to a complaint from Cor that city officials lied in the lawsuit, Fitzpatrick launched an investigation, according to an affidavit from the DA's office. Prosecutors focused on sworn statements filed by two city councilors, both allies of Miner, who claimed a Cor executive indicated the company would never seek a PILOT.

In interviews with the DA's office, Councilors Helen Hudson and Khalid Bey stood by their statements, according to sealed court documents obtained by syracuse.com.

Fitzpatrick then obtained grand jury subpoenas for city hall records and testimony from city lawyers, seeking information about whether the statements from Hudson and Bey were influenced or tweaked by other city officials, the sealed records show.

Syracuse lawyers sought to quash the subpoenas, touching off a legal battle that was fought out for months behind closed courtroom doors. It's not clear which side won, but court officials said last week that the legal fight over subpoenas is over.

"The case has been sealed, and there is nothing pending,'' said Gerard Neri, special counsel for the court system's six-county Fifth Judicial District.

Oneida County Court Judge Barry Donalty, the last judge to oversee the subpoena case, sealed the record and issued a gag order prohibiting all the participants from discussing it.

Donalty took over the case last May from Onondaga County Court Judge Walter Hafner Jr., who recused himself. Hafner did not state a reason for disqualifying himself, but his recusal came after two of his written decisions were obtained and made public by syracuse.com.

In a ruling issued in April, Hafner referred to Fitzpatrick's quest for city hall records as a "fishing expedition."

Fitzpatrick on Friday declined to comment on the investigation. Miner has declined repeated requests for comment.

Cor was selected by Miner's administration in 2012 to develop 32 acres of former state land at the Inner Harbor, following a competitive request for proposals. The relationship between Miner and Cor later soured.

Fitzpatrick was highly critical of Miner's 2015 lawsuit, and the grand jury probe was not his only attempt to pursue criminal charges related to city hall's war of words with Cor.

In a related move, Fitzpatrick filed a misdemeanor charge in March against a political ally of Miner who transmitted a letter to the editor several days after the city lawsuit was filed, attacking Cor for seeking tax breaks.

Bruce Conner, a Democratic Party activist, was charged with criminal impersonation based on allegations that he emailed a letter to the editor signed by five ministers, at least two of whom later said they were not aware their names were on the letter.

Fitzpatrick said at the time that the ministers' letter appeared to be part of a city hall plan to sway public opinion and influence the outcome of the lawsuit against Cor. The DA produced evidence that Miner reviewed the letter before it was sent to Conner for the ministers to sign, according to sealed court documents obtained by syracuse.com.

But a judge ruled that prosecuting Conner would result in a "serious injustice.'' Acting Syracuse City Court Judge James Metcalf dismissed the charge against Conner, saying Conner had been treated more harshly by prosecutors than other defendants "for reasons related to political feuds.''

Meanwhile, in a case that is largely unrelated to the Inner Harbor project, two Cor executives were indicted this month on charges that they bribed state officials and participated in a bid-rigging scheme. Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi also face charges that they lied to federal investigators. Both men have proclaimed their innocence.

Earlier this year, Fitzpatrick said his investigation of Miner was not personal. He said the mayor and her political allies pursued a "specious lawsuit'' to block Cor's development of the Inner Harbor and tried to prop it up with an "orchestrated effort'' to spread false information about Cor.

Contact reporter Tim Knauss anytime | email | Twitter | 315-470-3023
Syracuse, N.Y. -- The line snaked around one corner and then another outside the Oncenter in Syracuse this morning. Struggling families were waiting for their turn through the Salvation Army Christmas Bureau's gift stations.

Every year, the event helps thousands of families who need a little extra help buying gifts for their children for Christmas. This year, 2,778 families registered. That's up from last year, when the number was around 2,600, said Jon Rogers of the Salvation Army.

While the Salvation Army oversees the massive undertaking, it is powered by thousands of volunteers who staff the gift tables, act as personal shoppers for families, raise the money for the event, and donate toys and food.

Rogers said he is always happily surprised by the generosity of others -- this year, there were three Hatchimals donated. The hot toy is incredibly hard to get. One family that donated the toy paid $100, nearly twice the retail, to provide the toy to a child who had requested it, he said.

The toy tables are replenished throughout the day so people who arrive later have the same choices as people who come early. This year, the Salvation Army was providing food to individuals, a change from previous years. The rest of the Christmas Bureau offerings are for families. Rogers said single people and childless families were allowed to come for food this year to take the burden off the Salvation Army's food pantry, which usually gets slammed in the week leading up to Christmas.

Ron Pacini and his colleagues from Lockheed Martin come by the dozens to help at the event every year. This year, Pacini was handing out Hess trucks and firetrucks. Each family was able to take one truck.

"It's rewarding," he said after helping a family choose a truck.

Kirshonda Manuel, of Syracuse, is a single mother who works two jobs. But she still found herself needing a little help to put gifts under the tree for her two children, 4-year-old Nah-Zi and 2-year-old Armani.

She choose come baby dolls and doll clothes for her daughter, a game the family could play together, and a Spiderman action figure for her son.

"I work two jobs, but it's still a struggle," Manuel said.



Marnie Eisenstadt writes about people, life and culture in Central New York. Contact her anytime: email | twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2246
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Interstate 81 north and south as viewed from University Hospital parking garage looking south. The state Department of Transportation is trying to decide how to replace the 1.4-mile elevated highway in Syracuse. October 6, 2016.

(Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - As New York state comes closer to deciding the fate of I-81 in Syracuse, discussions are heating up about replacing the aging 1.4-mile of elevated highway, with some officials suggesting a tunnel is the best solution.

Tunnel proponents, including members of Central New York's state legislature delegation and U.S. Rep. John Katko, want the state DOT to look again at the feasibility of digging a tunnel to carry I-81 traffic through the city.

The state has rejected building a tunnel because of its higher price tag, the longer time it would take to build, the number of buildings that would be destroyed and problems with the soil.

DOT officials rejected three tunnel options in a report released to the public on Oct. 6. It is now creating a draft environmental impact statement on the project, which will include a tunnel feasibility study that further explains why the latest tunnel options were rejected, the department said in an email.

Instead of a tunnel, the state is moving forward with two less expensive alternatives to replace the highway:

An elevated highway that's taller and wider than the current highway so the road meets current federal standards. Cost: $1.7 billion.

A street-level community grid that calls for the highway to be demolished. It would send "through" traffic around the city on I-481, and allow traffic traveling to Syracuse destinations to use local streets. Cost: $1.3 billion.

Three tunnel options and the preliminary reasons the DOT ejected them.

Shallow tunnel under Almond Street

This option would replace I-81 with a 2-mile tunnel that would go from about East Kennedy Street to Butternut Street. The construction is called "cut and cover," meaning the DOT would dig a trench, build the tunnel and cover it over.

The problem: The DOT says the tunnel would be "difficult and risky to construct" because the tunnel would go underneath the existing 55-year-old elevated highway bridges.

Project Director Mark Frechette told a public meeting last week that there is a potential for soil to shift during the tunnel's construction weakening the bridges.

Tunnel construction would disrupt 16 major road crossings, a railroad crossing, require the relocation of major utilities and the demolition of 34 buildings. It would displace 714 employees of local businesses and 175 residents.

The cost: $3.1 billion.

A deep tunnel west of Almond Street

The 2-mile tunnel would again go from about East Kennedy Street to Butternut Street. This tunnel would be built deeper underground with a combination of boring through the soil and "cut and cover" construction.

The problem: The DOT says there are "connectivity issues."

To make it work Townsend Street would be closed from Genesee Street to Harrison Street. James Street would also close from Oswego Boulevard to State Street.

The state said it would need to buy the Verizon Building, which is a hub for telecommunications equipment. The tunnel would also impact Firefighters Memorial Park, a local landmark.

This tunnel option would require the taking of 16 buildings, as well as, displacing 746 workers and 46 residents.

The cost: $2.6 billion.

A tunnel hybrid

The DOT says this option emerged from public input. It marries a tunnel with a community grid of streets carrying traffic over top. State Sen. John DeFrancisco, R- Syracuse, is pushing the DOT to consider this option.

It would replace I-81 with a high-speed, non-interstate tunnel through the city from Martin Luther King Jr. East to Hickory Street.

In addition to a tunnel, the DOT would build a boulevard along Almond Street. Interstate 481's name would change to I-81 and carry "through" traffic around the city. New interchanges would be built on Interstate 690 at Crouse and Irving Avenues to carry traffic to Syracuse University and the hospitals on University Hill.

The tunnel would be built with a combination of bored tunneling and "cut and cover."

Construction would require 11 buildings and displace 299 employees and 45 residents.

The cost: $2.5 billion.

Comments still sought

The public still has time to tell the DOT which option it prefers. The DOT is collecting public comment by email or by mail at NYSDOT Region 3, I-81 Viaduct Project, 333 E. Washington St., Syracuse, NY 13202

You can also contact them by phone at: 1-855-I81-TALK (855-481-8255)

Early next year the state will release the draft environmental impact statement, containing a fuller discussion on the option it is putting forward to replace I-81. The public will have at least 45 days to review the document and a public hearing will be held.

A final decision the project is expected next year.

Contact Charley Hannagan anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2161.


Microsoft PowerPoint - 2014-05-01 I-81 Public Update Presentatio

A sketch of what Interstate 81 as a "depressed highway" might look like from a 2014 presentation of options for replacing the interstate through downtown Syracuse. The option was rejected but state legislators want it back on the table.

(New York State Department of Transportation )

To the Editor:

We, the entire Central New York State Legislative Delegation, want to thank all of those who attended our community forum on Interstate 81 on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at Henninger High School.

Contrary to the belief of some, Central New Yorkers are far from a consensus on the best alternative for the Interstate 81 project. However, there is a consensus among us that the solution has to be a regional one that not only is good for the city of Syracuse, but also for the people and businesses in the surrounding towns, villages and counties.

From day one of the discussions about the Interstate 81 project, the New York state Department of Transportation emphasized the need to reach a consensus. We believe that there is a way to accomplish this, but it requires compromise.

Presently, there are two options that the DOT has decided to be sent on to the next phase of the process -- a new viaduct and a community grid (boulevard). We believe that a third option must be included, namely, the community grid together with a north-south Interstate 81 thoroughfare in the form of a 1.2 mile depressed highway (which currently exists on the North Side of the city) or a tunnel generally along the same footprint of current Interstate 81.

Central New Yorkers will be living with the new Interstate 81 configuration for the next 70 years, so we have to do it right. As a result, we're calling on the DOT to include this compromise option in its environmental impact report, scheduled to be released next month, which we believe would address virtually all of the concerns of residents throughout the entire region.

If the report cannot be so modified in time to meet the planned January release date, then it should be postponed until this compromise plan is included. After all, it's taken four years to get to this point, so a delay of a few more weeks is very reasonable to get this major project right.

Sen. John A. DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse

Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida

Sen. Patty A. Ritchie, R-Oswegatchie

Assembly Member William B. Magnarelli, D-Syracuse

Assembly Member Robert C. Oaks, R-Macedon

Assembly Member Gary D. Finch, R-Springport

Assembly Member William A. Barclay, R-Pulaski

Assembly Member Al Stirpe, D-Cicero

Assembly Member Pamela J. Hunter, D-Syracuse
Natural Gas Tops Coal

This June 12, 2014 file photo shows Dominion Energy's Cove Point LNG Terminal in Lusby, Maryland. Natural gas overtook coal as the top source of U.S. electric power generation for the first time ever in April 2015, a milestone that has been in the making for years as the price of gas slides.

(Cliff Owen / AP)

Cornelius B. Murphy Jr., Ph.D., is SUNY Senior Fellow for Environmental and Sustainable Systems. He is the former president of the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse.

By Cornelius B. Murphy, Ph.D.

We have heard a lot of political rhetoric about the decline in the use of coal to produce electrical power and the subsequent negative impact on employment in the coal industry. Most of the uninformed representations have attributed this to environmental regulations and the new Clean Power Plan as outlined in section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, which doesn't require compliance until the year 2030. Is this a so-called "War on Coal" or is it due to other long-standing trends in the power industry?

In the United States, employment in coal mining peaked in 1923 at 863,000. Since then, automation has resulted in greatly improved productivity, including automated drilling equipment and automated tracking/transport. Largely because of advances in automation, employment in the field shrunk to a low of approximately 70,000 in 2003. And yet, the industry hit an all-time production high in 2008, with 1.17 billion short tons of coal.

It is also striking that U.S. coal exports increased ninefold from 2006 to 2012, peaking at 117 million standard tons in 2012, and then declining to 63 million standard tons in 2015. China, a major importer at 8.5 million standard tons in 2013, declined to 0.2 million standard tons in 2015.

The bottom line: Domestic coal consumption for power production is being displaced by natural gas. Natural gas production peaked in 2015 at 28,752,935 cubic feet as a result of domestic production due to fracking of sedimentary deposits.

The product Btu value being produced by the coal industry has been declining over the years as the mining of anthracite and then bituminous coal declined and was displaced by the production of lower thermal-content coal, including sub-bituminous and lignite coal. The average thermal content of U.S.-mined coal decreased by 20 percent from 1950 to 2015. Employment associated with coal mining in the 25 producing states has declined accordingly.

Irrespective of the current administration's adoption of the Clean Power Plan, jobs in the coal industry will not return to West Virginia. The world continues to move toward a natural gas- and renewable energy-dominated electricity generation system. The facts belie the political rhetoric. Cutting half the jobs in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and eliminating the U.S. Department of Energy will never reverse the tide.

This is a good thing. Let's look at the social impact of burning coal to produce electrical power. The Physicians for Social Responsibility has estimated that the particulate emissions produced by the burning of coal to produce power is estimated to result in the death of 13,000 people per year. Most problematic, are the smaller particulates in the range of 2.5 microns or less (PM 2.5) that have been associated with chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, congestive heart failure and black lung disease, among others.

So despite the political rhetoric, the coal era is slowly ending not because of the Clean Power Plan but because of the growing use of another fossil fuel -- natural gas -- and the growth of electric power generated by renewable materials.
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Syracuse City School interim Superintendent Jaime Alicea shakes hands with a student. Seymour Elementary School 2nd graders in Syracuse receive winter hats and gloves from the Wladis Law Firm in keeping with a 20 year tradition, December 7, 2016.

(Mike Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse school board is pleased with Interim Superintendent Jaime Alicea and after five months, has not initiated any search to fill the position permanently.

Alicea took over the top post at the Syracuse City School District at the end of July, following the departure of Sharon Contreras, who left to become superintendent of Guilford County Schools in North Carolina.

Alicea, a 33-year employee of the district, said on the first day of school in September that he's interested in taking over the job permanently.

Alicea most recently served as chief operating officer for the district. Before that, he worked as an assistant superintendent, principal and teacher. He started his career in Syracuse as a kindergarten teaching assistant at Seymour elementary school.

Alicea makes $190,000 a year in the interim position. Contreras' base salary at the time she left was $214,322.

The board has not made any decisions about the permanent superintendency, President Derrick Dorsey said.

Dorsey described Alicea's work over the last five months as "exceptional" and "phenomenal." He said the board regularly talks about how pleased it is with Alicea, and how to continue to support him, but has not yet discussed whether it will keep him on in the permanent role.

Alicea can return to his previous position at any point, including if the board hires someone else for the superintendent spot, according to his contract.

Dorsey said board members are now working with the New York State School Boards Association to plan for the district's future.

Most recently, the board has been working with the association to create an evaluation tool to formally assess the interim superintendent's performance and to use with evaluating the superintendent in the future.

The board is also working with the association on strategic planning. The district's five-year strategic plan "Great Expectations" expires at the end of June 2017. The board is considering, but hasn't yet decided on, a three-year strategic plan for after that.

Dorsey said he expected the board to turn to figuring out next steps for the superintendency soon, but declined to estimate exactly when any announcement could be made.

Dorsey has repeatedly said he favors the board taking its time on the superintendent role to get it right.

He said he was grateful to Alicea for stepping up now and taking on a role of a "bridge builder" between the district and its stakeholders.

"The superintendent has done an exceptional job getting out into the community and visiting all the schools, just in those first few weeks of the school year," Dorsey said. Dorsey said he was also impressed by the number of people Alicea has met with one-on-one.

The city school district needed a shift in culture and climate, Dorsey said.

The district has struggled through a drastic change in how it handles discipline, under an order from the state's Attorney General. The changes in discipline and the state's academic standards known as "Common Core," among other factors, created tension in the district over the last several years.

Contreras, the previous superintendent, received a vote of no confidence in 2014 from the Syracuse Teachers Association, the union representing teachers and other school employees.

Last year, a divided school board voted 4-3 to extend her contract after a contentious public protest of the vote.

Alicea faced that "climate" when he took over the top post of Syracuse schools. Dorsey said at the time the district needed someone with a proven track record of building relationships.

A photo of Syracuse Interim Superintendent Jaime Alicea playing jump rope with students at Clary Middle garnered at least 674 likes on Facebook. One user asked, "Have we ever had a super that cool?!"

"He was the man for the job, to facilitate that right out of the gate," Dorsey said Monday. "His approach has been phenomenal."

All six of Dorsey's fellow board members have echoed that sentiment at meetings.

Shortly after his appointment, Alicea was deemed the "jump-roping superintendent" when the board caught wind of a photo taken of the interim superintendent playing with students at Clary Middle School.

At the December board meeting, members noted the positive relationship between the board and superintendent, and remarked on the improved relationships between the board members themselves.

Education commissioner David Cecile took a moment to thank the board leadership and Alicea for the district's transition over the last five months.

"As a board and as a school district, one of the things that I feel good about is I really do believe we're working together," Cecile said. "I'm having fun again as an educator."

Reporter Julie McMahon covers Syracuse University and Syracuse city schools. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992
ALBANY, N.Y. -- For the second time, Bill Clinton cast a ballot for his wife for president today.

Clinton was the first of 29 Electoral College members from New York to vote for Hillary Clinton at the State Capitol Building Monday. Electors across the nation will cast ballots today to choose the next president of the United States.

The results in New York came as no surprise, even as protests surrounded other electoral votes across the country. People have urged many Republican electors to abandon President-Elect Donald Trump, noting that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by 2.8 million votes. At least one Republican elector has said he will not vote for Trump and others are reportedly considering the option.

In New York, however, the vote unfolded as expected. Clinton won the state easily in November, delivering her 29 electoral votes. The Senate chamber at the capitol was populated with many of her supporters Monday, most notably, her husband.

"I've never cast a vote that I was prouder of," Bill Clinton told reporters after the vote.

He said she fought through "that bogus email deal" and was vindicated.

"In the end she had the Russians and she had the FBI and she couldn't prevail against that, but she did everything else and still won by 2.8 million votes."

Clinton appeared jovial throughout the 45-minute proceedings. He arrived to a standing ovation from the Senate floor. He stopped almost immediately to warmly greet Anastasia Somoza, a disability rights advocate and an elector.

Seated between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Clinton smiled and laughed often. Several times, the room rose to applaud for him as speakers extolled his importance to the state, the party and the nation.

"The president taught an entire generation of elected officials what it means to be a professional and effective elected official," Cuomo said. "He showed that government mattered and he showed this nation that government mattered."

Clinton cast the first vote, pausing for effect before slipping his paper ballot into a wooden box. Cuomo quickly followed and the chamber erupted in applause.

Bill Clinton casts the first Electoral College vote in NY... for his wife pic.twitter.com/i2IV04gPME  Chris Baker (@chrsbakr) December 19, 2016

The rest of the electors -- including Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner -- followed suit, lining up to deposit separate ballots for Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine. A pair of clerks counted the votes by hand afterward and announced that all 29 went to Clinton.

Miner was one of four New York electors who requested an intelligence briefing about Russian interference in the election before casting a vote. There has been no indication those electors received such a briefing.

At the vote, she sat across the aisle from Cuomo and Clinton, seated beside New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. Both mayors have strained relationships with the governor. Miner shook hands with Clinton and Hochul after Cuomo had left his seat to preside over the vote.

After the vote, Miner released a statement renewing her call for the release of intelligence about the election.

"This was a hard fought election and I believe many questions remain about the unprecedented involvement of foreign powers," she said. "I urge members of Congress to follow the bipartisan lead of Sens. Schumer, McCain, Graham, Reed, and Wyden in seeking to make public more information about this election from the intelligence community."

The entire ceremony lasted about 45 minutes.

In an apparent jab at Trump's hardline immigration policies, the electors donated their pay as Electoral College members to the New York Immigration Coalition. Electors are paid $15 per hour for any work related to the college and are reimbursed 13 cents per mile for travel.

Early results in other states indicated Trump will win the college. Despite the protests and a handful of uncertain electors, his presidency is nearly guaranteed.

In order to deny Trump the presidency, 37 electors would have to break ranks. Even if that happened, the vote would go to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which would likely still install Trump.
Tree falls on wedding party

Wedding party members walk away as Los Angeles County Fire Dept. firefighters work at the scene where a large tree fell on a wedding party in Whittier, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016.

(Keith Durflinger | The Whitter Daily News | AP)

One person is dead and seven others were injured after an 80-foot tree fell on a wedding party in California.

Witnesses told The Los Angeles Times that a bride and groom were posing with family for photos Saturday in Whittier's Penn Park when an eucalyptus tree suddenly snapped. Wedding guests scrambled for safety and struggled to free those who were trapped under the tree.

Los Angeles County Fire Dept. firefighters work at the scene where a large tree fell on a wedding party in Whittier, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016.

"I saw people screaming, full of blood. honestly, I didn't know what to do. I just started crying," one witness told CBS .

Whittier Police said a 4-year-old girl was in critical condition with head trauma and a woman died after rescuers tried to administer CPR.

CBS reports the fatality was the mother of the bride. Five other victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment; all five are expected to recover, according to NBC.

Officials have not released any names.

"The mother lost her life. A 4-year-old is injured. How do you explain it? You can't," Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri told reporters on Sunday. "The tragedy of the situation is on the hearts and minds of many people. We need to pray for the family because of the injuries and losing someone on a day that's supposed to be a great celebration."

According to the Times, Penn Park is popular for wedding photos because of its "stately" trees. The park is being closed until officials can determine what caused the eucalyptus to fall and evaluate other trees for potential risks.

Fire officials told the newspaper that drought conditions, met with a large amount of rain on Thursday and Friday, can cause trees to be stressed. An 85-foot pine tree fell onto campers outside a museum in Pasadena last July, injuring two children.
Christmas begins at the flip of a switch in Clinton Square

The weather will quiet down for the week leading up to Christmas, making enjoying the season a bit easier, especially for travelers.

(Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com)

Syracuse- Central New York will get a break from a pattern of very active weather during the week leading up to Christmas.

According to the National Weather Service, since November 15th, there have only been three calendar days without precipitation in Syracuse. This week may very well match or exceed that total.

A large area of high pressure will move through Central New York today before setting up shop to the south and east, where it will remain for much of the week.

As this high pressure moves by, skies will be quite sunny Monday and much of Tuesday, with no precipitation expected either day.

High pressure will keep Central New York quiet much of this week.

The sunshine will come at the price of the temperature, however, with cold conditions persisting. High temperatures on Monday will struggle into the low 20s. Tuesday will moderate some, with highs just above 30 degrees likely. The morning will start chilly though, with morning lows in the single digits.

Temperatures on Wednesday will rise into the mid 30s as a very weak system passes north of the region. A little limited lake effect may briefly develop behind this system across the Tug Hill, but winds will only be favorable for lake effect for a very brief time.

Another, slightly stronger, but still weak system will come a bit closer to Central New York later Wednesday into Thursday. This system could spread a few rain or snow showers into the area, but precipitation amounts should be very light.

Temperatures on Thursday could rise to near 40 degrees, depending on the actual track of that system.

Again, a little lake effect snow may develop behind the system. With northwest winds, an inch or two could fall across Central New York, including Syracuse.

Friday and Saturday could both see temperatures around 40 degrees as well. Unless temperatures end up even warmer, those temperatures should not be enough to completely melt the snow cover, leaving Central New York with good odds for a White Christmas.
The good thing, though, is that the Korean Giant is now poised to bounce back from the terrible 'exploding smartphone' brouhaha by starting to tease tech bloggers and members of the media about the imminent release of the follow-up to the wildly successful Samsung Galaxy S7

Samsung set to launch its next flagship smartphone in January 2017?



Its all set to be an exciting 2017 as Samsung prepares to bring a diverse range of smartphones that will establish gadget heaven in the Philippines.



Samsung has been continuously innovating and evolving its smartphones to provide consumers the best experience right at their fingertips, and it seems like Samsungs next flagship phone release is guaranteed to raise the benchmark for smartphones in the Philippines . Rumor has it that its packed with the winning features weve seen in the Galaxy S and Note series and maybe even more! The upcoming offering will, in true Samsung fashion, sport the features that have made the brand a favorite among those who want the best smartphone for their dynamic lifestyle, whether its for posting on social media, watching videos, playing games, or a combination of all.



The distinct Samsung features that have revolutionized the industry are sure to be found in the 2017 offerings, including the IP68 dust-resistant and water-resistant design that have awed heavy users with active lifestyles. It wont be a surprise to hear about a powerful high-resolution front-facing camera with around 16MP that is perfect for capturing those double-tap worthy selfies that can be as clear as the photos taken with the rear camera.



Were betting that the next Samsung offering would go for bigger storage space, possibly up to 264 GB, to spare us from the trouble of having to delete well-loved memories because of limited space. Other features were looking out for: dual sim with expandable memory, an even longer lasting battery, fast-charging capabilities, and the return of the USB Type-C.



Expected to hit Philippine shores by the end of January, Samsungs upcoming release seems like its out to define the shape and style of smartphones in 2017 . Could this be Samsungs next flagship smartphone within its S and Note Series? Watch out for what the mobile giant has in store for the new year!

I don't have to tell you that 2016 isn't ending particularly well for Samsung -- and it's largely because of the cancellation of theirflagship phablet, which would have given them millions of dollars of additional profit to close the year.Early today - December 19, 2016, I received an email from' official PR agency -- that includes interesting details about the company's 2017 flagship smartphone, which will mostly be called. Check it out~ Note that despite coming from SamsungPH's official agency, the email gives a hodge podge of information about the much anticipated handset -- some sounding confirmed and others appearing as mere expectations.Confirmed SGS8 features include 1P68 Water and Dust resistance and around 16 MegaPixel resolution for the front camera while expected or potential specs include 264GB of ROM, Dual SIM capability, bigger battery with fast charge support, and USB Type-C port. Oddly enough, the email didn't mention anything about the Iris Scanner and Dual Camera Module, which are two of the heavily rumored new features of 2017 flagship Galaxy model. Also, there's no word if Samsung Galaxy S8 will have two versions (regular and Edge variant) just like the SGS7 from 2016.
Faraday Future a little over a week ago published a teaser clip of its upcoming consumer electric vehicle lining up for alleged drag races against a Bentley Bentayga, a Ferrari 488 Italia and a Tesla Model X P100D. At just 17 seconds in length, however, the clip wasn't terribly revealing.

With its second "powertrain testing" video, we get a full 45 seconds to soak in (more like 35 seconds if you discredit the last 10 seconds). So, what can we gather this time around? More than you might think.

For starters, we have the same lineup of vehicles: a Bentley Bentayga, a Ferrari 488 Italia and a Tesla Model X P100D with Ludicrous mode. Just as before, Faraday Future doesn't mention what distance race we're looking at which meant I had to do some detective work.

A Google search for the Irwindale drag strip (Faraday Future's proving ground) indicates that it is indeed an eighth-mile track, not the more conventional quarter-mile length. By examining Google Maps satellite imagery and YouTube videos, I discovered that the vehicles aren't running the full eighth-mile length but rather, less than half of it.

The company's representatives in the video carry on about 0-60 mph acceleration and torque although again, it's never clear exactly what we're watching. While not outright deceptive, it does feel a bit misleading. Can Faraday Future's vehicle not outrun the competition in the eighth-mile? If it can, why not record and publish that instead?

Based on what we've seen thus far, there's no denying that Faraday Future's SUV / crossover is fast off the line but what length of time it can maintain that level of acceleration remains a mystery.

Faraday Future is expected to showcase its prototype consumer electric vehicle at next month's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
After 17 years, 10 billion in spending and numerous setbacks, Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system finally went live last week. The system --- free to users worldwide --- will be able to pinpoint an object to within 3.3 feet, compared to a much larger area for its US military-run GPS counterpart, while a premium service for commercial users could boost accuracy to a few centimeters.

That level of precision should come in 2020, however, when all 24 satellites are in orbit and Galileo is completely self-reliant. The European Commission flipped the switch with 18 satellites in place and for now the system must work with the GPS system to provide global coverage.

The European Commission believes having a more precise, and civilian-controlled network will offer European companies a competitive advantage for the next generation of location-based technologies; such as autonomous cars, connected devices, or smart city services.

Several chipsets from Intel, Broadcom, Mediatek, and Qualcomm are already Galileo approved and every new vehicle sold in Europe by 2018 will support the technology too. Aside from navigation, the network is also going to be critical for the development of an international emergency locating system called Cospas-Sarsat which is said to greatly reduce the time it takes for locating a distress beacon.

Named after Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, the project was first approved with an initial budget of around 3 billion and was supposed to be operational by 2008. But it was hit by several technical and budget setbacks, including the launch of two satellites into the wrong orbit in 2014.

Numerous countries from outside Europe contributed to its development including India, Israel, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. Others including Rusia, China and Japan are building their own systems, while the U.S. expects to further improve GPS accuracy with the deployment of 32 new satellites.
Leading up to the election, Mark Cuban had been very vocal about his disapproval of President-Elect Donald Trump. It appears he's put that all behind him in a request to Trump to focus on the robotics industry. Trump's campaign rhetoric was centered on making America great again, including being a leader in manufacturing. Cuban, the outspoken tech mogul and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has never been afraid to change sides if it means a good deal. Writing on his personal blog, Cuban wants to ensure that robotics is one of the areas that America leads in.

Donald Trump has proposed a $1 trillion spending plan to improve America's crumbling infrastructure. Trump has not laid out many specifics of this plan, but Cuban has implored him to spend $100 billion or 10% on robotics. Just like Trump wants to win at trade, Cuban clearly wants America to win the robotics race.

As part of the sweeping infrastructure improvements, Cuban's plan would invest in all facets of the industry from R&D to software and design. Citing examples like the electric car and solar industries, Cuban outlined how there are currently no major robotics companies based in the US.

After government subsidies helped boost those industries, America is now a leading manufacturer of solar panels and electric cars. European and Asian governments currently offer billions in credits to support robotics with China currently spends $3 billion a year while the US only spends $100 million.

Policies on robotics have been tough in the past because it undoubtedly means there will be job loss of some form or potentially so. Cuban's view is for infrastructure spending to look forwards, even if it means the short term loss of jobs. He believes winning the robotics race would mean success in the long term.
Thanks to MyShake  an earthquake detection app released in February  almost 400 earthquakes in the past 10 months have been recorded.

According to UC Berkeley officials, they recorded surprisingly higher seismic activities in the fracking fields of Oklahoma. In fact, in 2015, Oklahoma residents experienced tremors 907 times.

Since 2008, the region's earthquake activity increased by a factor of 43, which in percentage terms comes to 4,000 percent.

According to earthquake researcher and Ph.D. student Pengyun Wang, wastewater fluid injection technologies from fracking fields are contributing to it.

With users' data, the MyShake app helped in tracking 395 earthquakes of varying magnitudes and the developers are citing it as the proof of its super efficacy.

Popular Android App

The Android app was downloaded by 220,000 people. Going by its success, there is a perception that seismic sensitivity of the smartphone accelerometers along with phone density can help in early warning.

In terms of operation, the app uses motion detectors in smartphones to measure ground motion with data being sent to the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory for a detailed analysis.

A new version was released on Dec.14 and is available at the Google Play Store with options for notifications of recent quakes.

"The notifications will not be fast initially  not fast enough for early warning  but it puts into place the technology to deliver the alerts and we can then work toward making them faster and faster as we improve our real-time detection system within MyShake," said project leader Richard Allen, a UC Berkeley professor and the seismology lab's director.

The app was also discussed in a paper by Louis Schreier, who co-wrote a paper that was published in Geophysical Research Letters.

Now the researchers are readying a presentation at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. Qingkai Kong, the UC Berkeley developer and a graduate student, will present a brief on the app's performance.

Allen and Kong, along with colleagues at Deutsche Telekom's Silicon Valley Innovation Center, believe that the app's performance will complement other official networks and can reduce damage and deaths from earthquakes.

Wider Quake Detection

The app can detect quakes as small as magnitude 2.5 in Richter scale. It differs from other earthquake apps like Quakes, QuakeFeed and Earthquake as they show earthquakes of the past with data taken from the U.S. Geological Survey.

In MyShake, when the app developers receive too many notifications from one area, they recognize an earthquake is due and start sending the alerts.

One main merit is the app uses very little power and as soon as the seismic activity is sensed, it becomes active and works best when the phone is put on a flat surface like a table.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The array of LG smartphones that will make a splash in the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has already been leaked. Now, it is the turn of LG's monitors and they are getting headlined by an HDR-compatible 32-inch UHD 4K monitor.

In a press statement, the South Korean company claims that with the 32UD99 4K HDR monitor, it will effectively push the industry to the next level.

"The enhanced picture quality offered by HDR technology is instantly recognizable to even the most casual user and manufacturers are already pushing this promising technology to its fullest potential," LG said. "With professional-grade picture quality and exceptionally vibrant colors, HDR compatible monitors will appeal to creative professionals, gamers, and anyone else that takes image quality seriously."

LG 4K TV Specifications

It is important to note that this piece of hardware is not going to come with a curve display or some show-stopping innovation. The spotlight is on the quality of the display, which packs a whopping 3,840 x 2,160 pixel resolution.

It can support the HDR10 standard and boasts of enhanced brightness and wider range in color gamut. This will certainly seal the deal for video enthusiasts because it allows an increase in the display's peak brightness, making it perfect for editing photos and videos.

HDR Screen For Gaming

The LG monitor's screen itself is an IPS panel that is capable of over 95 percent DCI-P3 color space. Aside from video editors and graphic designers, that specification will also appeal to gamers especially those who now dabble in HDR gaming.

Through the proprietary True Color settings, the LG 32UD99 can purportedly deliver professional-grade picture quality, with color reproduction that LG said is unparalleled in the industry today.

USB Type-C

Finally, the LG 32UD99 will ship with the USB Type-C port. LG is primarily marketing it as a way to eliminate unsightly cables. However, its utility goes way beyond that. This USB technology is faster, transferring files by as much as 10 gigabits per second. It is also a very flexible port, capable of supporting a wide range of older or even non-USB technologies through the use of an adapter.

Aside from the 32UD99, LG will also unveil other monitors at CES and these include the UltraFine 5K and 4K displays as well as the LG's 34-inch 21:9 UltraWide gaming monitor. This last hardware rocks the AMD FreeSync technology, the Motion Blur Reduction feature, Dynamic Action Sync, and Black Stabilizer, among others.

LG has not yet provided any pricing details for all the above monitors.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Verizon has put up four phones available for free without trade-in requirements, save for a $20 device activation fee. The free phones being offered include the Moto Z Play Droid, a Verizon exclusive that supports Motorola's modular-ish Moto Mods; Samsung Galaxy J3 V, a mid-range released early this year; and the LG K8 V and Stylo 2.

Moto Z Play Droid

The Moto Z Play Droid rocks a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080. Under the hood is an 2 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor and an Adreno 506 GPU. On the back is a 16-megapixel shooter capable of shooting 4K video at 30 fps, while on the front is 5-megapixel shooter with 1080p video recording support.

Like previously mentioned, the Moto Z Play Droid supports Moto Mods, which are snap-on accessories that attach at the back of the device to marry it with extra functionalities. A Battery pack, a short-throw projector, and high-end speakers are just some of the accessories supported by Moto Mods.

The Moto Z Play Droid ships with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It comes with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage, but Verizon claims the phone can support up to 2 TB of expanded storage via microSD. Powering everything is a 3,510 mAh that supports TurboPower technology, loading the phone with nine hours' worth of battery charge in just 15 minutes.

Users who avail this deal will receive a $17 monthly bill credit spanning 24 months

Samsung Galaxy J3 V

The Samsung Galaxy J3 V, another device being offered for free, comes with specs that signal a mid-range smartphone, rocking a 5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,280 x 720. Oddly, Verizon's listing pins the device as being powered by an unspecified 1.2GHz quad-core processor, though non-Verizon Galaxy J3 handsets come with a Spreadtrum SC9830 processor, so that should be suggestive of its power.

On the back is a 5-megapixel shooter and on the front is a 2-megapixel shooter. The device arrives running Marshmallow, with 1.5 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage, expandable of up to 128 GB.

LG K8 V

The LG K8 V bears specs that are somewhat similar to the Galaxy J3, which in turn fits it into the mid-range category, although its cameras hold a slightly higher configuration than the Galaxy J3. It rocks a 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1,280 x 720, with a 1.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm MSM8909 processor and Mali-T720 GPU in tow. On the back is an 8-megapixel shooter and on the front is a 5-megapixel shooter, which by today's standards is mediocre, but not stellarly disappointing for selfies.

There's 1.5 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage that's expandable up to 128 GB. It also comes with Marshmallow out of the box.

Users who avail this deal will receive a $6 monthly bill credit spanning 24 months.

LG Stylo 2

Closer to the Moto Z Play Droid's specs than the other mid-range devices up for offer, the LG Stylo 2 rocks a 5.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1,280 x 720, with 13- and 5-megapixel rear and front shooters, respectively.

The device is powered by a 1.8 GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6755M processor with an Adreno 306 GPU. It comes with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage that's expandable up to 2 TB via microSD.

Users who avail this deal will receive a $10 monthly bill credit spanning 24 months.

Good on Verizon for offering free phones just in time for the imminent gift-giving season. If any of these phones don't appeal to you, however, hit up Verizon's deals page to choose accordingly. Also, keep an eye out for deals hovering about and you might just land on top-tier flagships at discounted prices.

Do any of these deals sound good to you? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Last week, Yahoo disclosed that it was the victim of another security breach, which has turned out to be even worse than the first one that the company identified a few months ago.

Yahoo revealed in September that a security breach in late 2014 compromised the information of 500 million users. The new security breach, however, affects over 1 billion users, pushing Yahoo into an even deeper hole on cybersecurity concerns.

Verizon's $4.8 Billion Acquisition Of Yahoo In Jeopardy?

After the confirmation of the first security breach and in combination with the email scanning scandal that Yahoo was involved in, it was reported that Verizon was looking to get a $1 billion discount on its $4.8 billion offer to purchase Yahoo's online operations.

With the discovery of a second and even worse security breach, there have been questions on whether Verizon will still push through with the acquisition. To many, the first security breach would already have been a deal breaker, and coupled with the second one, the uncertainties over Yahoo's assets might be too great.

According to the company, however, it will still pursue the purchase, but it will be looking to amend the terms of the agreement that it had signed with Yahoo. Included in the changes that Verizon will propose are adjustments to the purchase price, taking into consideration the financial impact of the two security breaches.

Verizon threatened that it would go to court if Yahoo does not agree to such changes, signaling doubts that there will be smooth sailing toward the completion of the acquisition. Financial analysts believe that Verizon still wants to buy Yahoo, but there is the possibility that the deal will no longer happen.

If Verizon Backs Out From Buying Yahoo, What Might Come Next?

The goal of Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam in the planned purchase of Yahoo is the creation of an online advertising business that would only be eclipsed in size by Google and Facebook. With the wired and wireless telecommunications businesses of Verizon slowing down, an expansion into new businesses would continue the carrier's growth.

If Verizon would back out from its acquisition of Yahoo, however, there remain limited options in the market for the company to still pursue that goal. Possible acquisition targets include music streaming service Pandora, restaurant reviewer Yelp, and social media platform Twitter, but none of these companies will provide the same amount of advertising revenue that Yahoo offers.

Verizon could also pursue to acquire a major satellite or cable operator, with Comcast, Charter Communications, and Dish Network among the notable targets, though Dish Network is said to be the most likely purchase among the three.

Of course, all this is mere speculation and is hinged on the possibility that Verizon will back out of its plan to buy Yahoo. Verizon has shown tendencies of changing its mind, though, so Yahoo should be willing to give an offer of at least double the $1 billion discount that Verizon was seeking after the first security breach if it still wants the deal to push through.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A judge has ruled that a woman from Illinois is the legal owner of an Apollo 11 moon rock bag that was sold by the U.S. government at an auction by mistake.

Contested Bag Brought To The Moon By Apollo 11 Astronauts

In February 2015, Nancy Carlson bought the lunar bag for $995 at a Texas auction that was held on behalf of the U.S. Marshals Service but the government later petitioned for the reversal of the sale so the lunar sample bag would be returned to NASA.

On Dec. 14, Judge J. Thomas Marten of the U.S. District Court in Wichita, Kansas, ruled that Carlson is the legal owner of the historical artifact that was used to collect lunar samples during the first manned mission to the moon in July 1969.

The bag served to protect the moon rocks that were collected and brought to Earth by America's pioneering astronauts. The Apollo 11 mission astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr. collected 47.5 pounds (21.5 kilograms) of materials from the moon to be brought to and studied on Earth.

Why The Apollo 11 Bag Was Offered For Sale In Government Auction

The bag was found with other space artifacts in the home of former director of Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center Max Ary, who was convicted in 2006 for selling stolen space artifacts belonging to the space museum.

Ary served two years behind bars and was sentenced to pay more than $132,000 as restitution. The space artifacts in his home were forfeited to pay up his debt. Unfortunately, the rare Apollo 11 artifact was thought of as belonging to Ary and eventually landed in the hands of Carlson when it was put up for auction.

The bag's history was only discovered after Carlson shipped it to NASA's Johnson Space Center for authentication. The U.S space agency, which was not notified of nor gave permission for the sale of the bag, withheld the artifact.

NASA Not The Wrongdoer

"No one, including the United States, realized at the time of forfeiture that this bag was used on Apollo 11," the judge wrote in the summary of the case. Marten added that NASA was not actually a wrongdoer but a victim in the case.

Carlson has filed a motion in the U.S. District Court in Texas for the return of the historic bag, with her title to the artifact now ordered by the Kansas court.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Yes, you heard it right? Blackberry is dead

BlackBerry has officially announced that it has sold its global rights to the Chinese manufacturer, TCL Corporation, who also produce phones under the Alcatel marque. Previously, BlackBerry and TCL had collaborated to manufacture two BlackBerry-branded Android powered handsets: the DTEK50 and DTEK60.

At TCL Communication, we are committed to creating the best portfolio solutions, while ensuring the quality support to consumers and enterprise users who trust the integrity of the BlackBerry device and the brands security leadership, coupled with the Android platform, said Nicolas Zibell, CEO of TCL Communication. Together with BlackBerrys smartphone software platform, this partnership will strengthen our position in the global mobile market.

Under the long-term licensing agreement, TCL (also Alcatels parent company) will design, manufacture, sell, and provide customer support for BlackBerry-branded mobile devices. However, BlackBerry will continue to concentrate on software development, particularly around its security and enterprise software. The Chinese company will make and market future BlackBerry handsets worldwide except for India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, where BlackBerry has already struck local licensing deals.

This agreement with TCL Communication represents a key step in our strategy to focus on putting the smart in the phone by providing state-of-the-art security and device software on a platform that mobile users prefer and are comfortable with, said Ralph Pini, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Mobility Solutions at BlackBerry. TCL Communication is the natural choice to license BlackBerrys software and brand on a global scale. We successfully partnered with them on the DTEK series of secure smartphones and weve been impressed with their excellence in hardware design, he added.

Recently, BlackBerry had announced that it is pulling out the smartphone-making business, and would instead release re-branded handsets from other manufacturers. With the current announcement, it appears that Blackberry has bid goodbye forever.
The United Nations called for an end to the genocidal blockade for the 30th consecutive time. | Read More
Under unusual scrutiny, Louisiana's eight presidential electors Monday cast their votes for Republican Donald Trump as president.

Trump easily carried the state in the Nov. 8 election, and captured a winning majority in the Electoral College nationally a few hours later.

The action, which usually gains little notice, took place in the state Senate chamber as similar votes were happening Monday in 49 other states.

Television cameras, spectators and some of the state's top officials were in the chamber.

The only mini-drama took place when presidential elector Lloyd Harsch, representing the Second Congressional District, made brief remarks before casting his vote for Trump.

Harsch, a history professor who lives in New Orleans, said he was urged to carefully weigh his vote.

"I have carefully considered the options before me," he said. "I will do the right thing and be on the right side of history."

Harsch then voted for Trump, and noted that the New York Republican had won a majority of votes in Louisiana in last month's presidential race.

A smattering of boos came from the Senate gallery, which was about half full.

The other seven electors announced their decisions without fanfare.

Not seeing the video below? Click here.

A handful of protesters erected signs on the State Capitol steps before the gathering amid unusually cool temperatures.

"This is a very exciting time across our country," Secretary of State Tom Schedler told the group. "It is an awe inspiring event to say the least."

On a lighter note Schedler added, "I would by lying if I did not say this election was one for the record books. It taxed my staff to the nth degree."

The casting of electoral votes is usually a little-watched afterthought the month after the presidential election.

But this time was different amid a push by backers the losing candidate, Democrat Hillary Clinton, and others to deny an electoral majority for Trump.

Presidential electors nationwide reported being swamped with emails, letters and other pleas in advance of the vote.

Critics say Trump is unfit for office, and they noted that Clinton won the popular vote.

Trump backers called the effort sour grapes and said some critics of the president elect are simply unable to accept the 2016 presidential election results.

The Electoral College vote has never overturned the results of a presidential election.

"The Republican Party of Louisiana thanks the electors for carrying out their constitutional duty in the face of unprecedented pressure from out of state leftist organizations," GOP State Chairman Roger Villere said in a prepared statement.

The vote here was set to take place at about 11:45 a.m. However, officials were told that state law requires it to be done closer to noon.

Charles Buckles Jr., a presidential elector representing the Third Congressional District, served as chairman of the proceedings and then spent several minutes explaining how the electoral college came about.

Buckles, who lives in Lafayette, said the electoral system was set up to prevent "tyranny of the majority."

All eight electors also cast their votes for GOP Vice President Elect Mike Pence.

Among those on hand in the Senate were Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego and House Speaker Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia.

Aside from Harsch and Buckles the electors are Garrett C. Monti, Luling, at large; Steven Wilfong, Baton Rouge, at large; Chris D. Trahan, Covington, First District; Louis R. Avallone, Shreveport, Fourth District; Kay Kellogg Katz, Monroe, Fifth District and Lennie H. Rhys, Baton Rouge, Sixth District.

Each of the electors were chosen by Republican caucuses in each of Louisiana's six congressional districts and two were elected at large.

Trump overwhelmingly won the popular election in Louisiana with 59 percent of the vote. But under the U.S. Constitution, it is the electors that officially select the president of the United States.

All 538 members of the Electoral College met Monday in the 50 state capitals to cast their official votes. Trump won the Electoral College in November 306 votes to Hillary Clinton's 232, but lost the popular vote by over 2.5 million votes, the third worst margin since 1824.
Like thousands of students statewide, LSU sophomore Jason Badeaux is scrambling to come up with money for the second semester amid unprecedented state budget cuts.

The popular Taylor Opportunity Program for Students was trimmed to the point that students have to come up with nearly 60 percent of what in the past they could expect from the state.

"I am having my parents help me out," said Badeaux, 19, an economics major from Alexandria.

"I hope that it will be funded in the future, and if it isn't, I have to start looking to see if there are other funding opportunities," he said.

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Roughly 50,000 other students are in the same fix, including about 14,000 at LSU alone.

LSU students have to come up with $2,172, plus fees.

Recipients at Southern University have to cover $1,447, and at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the gap is $1,573.

More student loans. Newly created campus jobs. Hunting for private scholarships. All are new options in the mix to offset what used to be politically untouchable assistance.

LSU is offering deferred payments, with half due on Dec. 8 and the remainder split into three equal payments during the spring semester.

Students also are being encouraged to fill out applications for grants and scholarships through Free Applications for Federal Student Aid.

The school has even reminded students that parents are eligible for federal assistance, called the PLUS loan program.

UL-Lafayette, which has about 7,000 TOPS students, is offering up to $1,000 for its most needy students and up to $1,400 to others through campus jobs. Payment plans have been extended from three installments to four.

Students also are being urged to take out student loans, if that is the only way to stay in school.

"We have calls from students and parents every day," said DeWayne Bowie, the school's vice president for enrollment management. "People are asking what can they do? What are the options?"

Even with the offers of assistance, many students and families are dumbfounded that it has come to this.

"For these kids to have taken these classes and then had TOPS taken away from them is unacceptable," said Tamara Simoneaux, whose daughter Lyrica Albert is a student at UL-Lafayette and plans to study law in the future.

Simoneaux said the TOPS reduction will mean her daughter has to work longer job hours and rely on financial help from her family.

The coming shortfall has been known for months.

Aware of it, the Legislature voted to delay most of the financial pain until the second semester. Students got 93 percent of their TOPS awards for the fall semester but will get just 41.8 percent for spring.

TOPS is supposed to pay for tuition for students who earn a 2.5 grade-point average in high school, including required courses, and at least a 20 on the ACT, a test of college readiness.

Backers contend that the aid encourages students to tackle rigorous classes and helps keep top-flight students in Louisiana. The program, which was authorized in 1997, has helped 291,000 students.

However, some critics call TOPS free money for middle- and upper-income earners who don't need it. Others in the Legislature have tried to trim the academic requirements for the merit-based aid or said the state needs to spend more on needs-based assistance.

The reductions continue to spark questions and comments in political circles.

LSU President F. King Alexander told a legislative committee last week that he is concerned that questions about the future of TOPS funding will drive away some of the school's best students next fall. Enrollment is down 3.5 percent for the spring semester.

Monty Sullivan, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, told the House Appropriations Committee that uncertainty about TOPS dollars is hard on students.

"It is difficult to be in our position and not fulfill that promise," Sullivan said, adding that some students are leaving four-year schools for two-year colleges because of the reductions.

Higher education leaders are asking for a 21 percent increase in state aid, including $89 million to fully fund TOPS.

TOPS aid at Southeastern Louisiana University, which has about 4,000 recipients, was cut by $6.5 million. That leaves a gap of $1,700 per TOPS student.

The school is offering payments in three installments, and the initial one can include scholarships assistance. In addition, the Southeastern Foundation is offering hardship awards for a limited number of students who have exhausted other options.

The University of New Orleans and Northwestern University were able to absorb state cuts without any impact on TOPS awards for their students.

Those schools have about 1,600 and 2,200 TOPS students, respectively.

"But there is a significant cost that is associated with this," said Northwestern President Jim Henderson. "This is a onetime thing. We are not going to be able to continue to do this."

State services face a major shortfall again in 2017, and whether full TOPS funding will resume is unclear.

On Jan. 1, Henderson becomes president of the University of Louisiana system, which includes UL-Lafayette, Southeastern and other schools.

"The real answer comes from the Legislature." he said. "And we have got to find a way to uphold the promise that we made to these students."
Gov. John Bel Edwards is rounding out his first year in office with an eye already firmly planted on next year's legislative session and what could become another blistering battle over the state's finances.

"We do have some significant challenges and the only way we are going to stabilize our state moving forward is if we come together," Edwards said Thursday during what was essentially a state-of-the-state speech at the Council for a Better Louisiana's annual luncheon.

Edwards, a Democrat, took office last January facing a $1 billion hole in the state spending plan that ended June 30 and nearly $2 billion deficit for the year that followed. After 19 consecutive weeks of session, including two special sessions to try to shore up the state budget, the state again finds itself faced with a nearly $600 million budget gap that it must close in January.

"There is no Santa Claus, and people want and deserve a certain level of services," Edwards said. "We just have to live in the real world. We have to decide that we are going to pay for the government that we want."

A task force has submitted a series of recommendations for lawmakers to mull during the upcoming legislative session.

"There's not a whole lot new in those recommendations," Edwards noted, including calls to charge sales taxes on some services and eliminate state deduction for federal income taxes.

But the governor says he's optimistic as legislators prepare for the coming year's session, which will focus heavily on overhauling the budget that has continued to cycle through shortfalls in recent years.

With several legislators in attendance, Edwards repeatedly stressed the need for good faith negotiations that will lead to "genuine compromise."

"Everybody is in favor of fair taxation, but too many define 'fair' as the tax that someone else pays," Edwards said. "We are going to have to have shared sacrifice if we want shared prosperity."

But Republican leaders remain cautious about relying too heavily on revenue increases.

"I don't know that there is one package we can all agree on," House Speaker Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, said. "There is still some reform that needs to be done."

"This is multiple years of trimming and multiple years of raising revenue. Where is the balance?" he added.

Barras said that a recent sales tax hike meant to balance the budget has brought in less money than expected and the state again faces a deficit in the current cycle. He said that the state could face a similar outcome with other increases meant to raise revenue.

"It goes back to taxpayer behavior," Barras said.

Barras said he expects that leaders will begin hashing out detailed plans in January and February. He had instructed House members to spend the months between sessions coming up with ideas.

"People realize that standing in opposite corners, just because, will not get us anywhere," he said. "Until there is a negotiation, particularly on financial issues, you're not going to move."

"The hole is not going away," he said.

Barras said he would like to see more structural changes made to the budget. He again floated an idea pushed by the House earlier this year to skim money from fees and statutorily-dedicated funds to pay down the state's bond debt.

Critics of the plan claimed that it raised questions about whether that money would be considered recurring and used for general budget expenses.

Barras, a banker, said that idea and others should be investigated further though and compared it to personal finance strategies.

"When you reach this point, sometimes you've got to cash in your (Certificate Of Deposit) or a portion of it," he said.

Barras said he has already implemented a 10 percent cut on state House spending.

"You normally send eight or 10 members to (the National Conference of State Legislatures conference), and this year we said, 'No we're only sending five.'"
U.S. Sen. David Vitter reflects on his time serving in the Senate during his last speech from the floor on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. C-SPAN image.
Students at the Islamic School of Canberra face an uncertain future after the federal government has again threatened to withdraw the school's funding.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham has given the Weston school until February 3 to prove it deserves federal funds after it failed to meet strict reporting requirements and obligations linked with governance and financial management.

Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the Islamic School of Canberra Azra Khan. Credit:Jay Cronan

The school lost its $1 million in funding in April this year but had it reinstated in September after vowing to improve its performance and follow the government's directions. The cut followed a long-running investigation into its finances and connections with the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils.

"It is frustrating that the school has not lived up to its end of the bargain and failed to meet the governance standards and again brought uncertainty to students, parents and staff," Senator Birmingham said.
Seven West Media is standing by its embattled chief executive Tim Worner despite condemning his inappropriate sexual relationship with an employee as "completely unacceptable" and "deeply regrettable."

The statement issued on Monday night was in response to allegations that a $100,000 "bonus" was paid to Amber Harrison who has detailed claims that she and Mr Worner had engaged in cocaine-fuelled sexual encounters, some of which took place at work events.

"This relationship finished some years ago and I apologised at the time, and am still trying to make amends," Mr Worner said in the statement. "I am obviously filled with the deepest regret and shame." Mr Worner said his focus was to "minimise the distress to my family" and "repair the damage I've caused".

Seven's share price fell by almost eight per cent on Monday in the wake of the allegations.
What an amazing difference 19 months can make for parliamentary inquiries into housing affordability and ownership.

In May last year, there were all sorts of recommendations on how federal, state and local governments could try to fix all sorts of problems.

Last week, the only recommendation was to maintain the status quo  to change nothing. Turns out there really isn't much of a housing problem anyway.

The primary difference between the two inquiries and their reports was that the first was a Senate effort while the second came out of the House of Representatives.
A custom of Hogmanay: the first guest over the threshold on New Year's Day, it was hoped, would bring an assortment of humble, symbolic items of food and drink in order to procure good luck for the host in the coming year.

On New Year's Day, she had us over for "a cup of tea". I can't remember if she was born here or an immigrant from Scotland, but she was certainly proud of her Scottish heritage. She explained that we were her first guests on New Year's Day, a detail of significance in her culture. Something called First-Footing.

She was the first neighbour we had in Australia. She left us place settings for two, two tea towels, and a kettle on our doorstep after she learned that our things wouldn't arrive from America for another month and a half.

Since we had none of these items, our neighbour had them ready for us to give to her: salt, coal, whiskey, shortbread, and a fruit cake of some kind sat upon a plate on the entry table near her front door. She let us choose the items from the plate that we wished to give her, and then we handed them back to her as we stepped inside.

While we sat in the foyer of her terrace house and enjoyed her homemade shortbread cookies, she proceeded to tell us about "The Neighbourhood". The neighbours on the other side were an "eyesore", she said. Italians. "Always talking loudly in Italian on their phones, leaning out the windows. I have to ask them to be quiet five times a day or keep my windows shut. And they hang their laundry across that upstairs balcony. The council really should do something about it. I've reported it more than once," she said.

The loud-talking Italian neighbours were one thing, but the Chinese who fed the pigeons in the small park behind her house seemed to be an even greater source of agony. According to our neighbour, the Chinese dirtied up the park. They left litter and food around for the pigeons to pick at, and eventually the seagulls would come and really make a mess of things. "Those birds, they just spread garbage and disease. It was discussed at the last council meeting. Something will be done about it."

She gave us the lay of the land. The Woolworths on the corner was where the Aborigines gathered. "But they're relatively harmless. Just drunk. Don't give them money." There was a butcher a street over who sold turkeys for the Americans at the holidays, and if I ever needed any jewellery or watches repaired, she knew a good repairman: "He's Greek but trustworthy."

My husband and I listened and smiled politely and tried to get out of there as quickly as possible. Our neighbour was kind in her intentions, but her blind unawareness of her basis of judgment of other human beings was disturbing, and in large quantities, a potentially dangerous thing.
Save us from a failed politician's republic Our politicians are wanting. To fair dinkum Australians, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is a disappointment and the alternative, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, is full of blather. So what is left? The old chestnut, the republic. For Australia's sake, protect us from a failed politicians' republic. Alastair Wright, Dandenong Why the monarchy is looking very attractive One would think parliamentarians could be relied on to choose our head of state. But look at their isolation from the reality of public feeling regarding same-sex marriage, euthanasia, taxation of the wealthy, curbing the greed of a few at the top. The list goes on and on. The incapacity of MPs to do their job in relaying and implementing the feelings of their electors is seen across the world. It can be measured by the huge numbers of people who say, "I feel disenfranchised". Greed, lobbyists and minute by minute media set the agenda. We, the people are ignored. I am very much tempted to stick with the monarchy rather than trust today's brand of politician.

Colan Kevill, Ringwood Prime examples of poor decisions Tony Abbott, a monarchist, knighted Prince Phillip and now Malcolm Turnbull, a republican, surrenders to the Queen. Brian Rock, Beechworth THE FORUM

Smile, smile, smile Former Bunnings department manager Bruce Johnson says staff could be sacked if they were caught three times not smiling at customers (Business, 19/12). Is it a legitimate function for managers to check on their staff's "smile rate"? As a customer, I want assistance and information from experienced staff. I do not want to be asked "How's your day been?" or "What are your plans for the weekend?" It is intrusive and overly familiar from strangers in a public place. A simple, courteous "good morning" or "good afternoon" is enough. Coral Ware, Mont Albert North Public transport for me Graham Carew (Letters, 19/12), I do not have a car because I do not need one where I live. There are plenty of trams, trains and buses. I travel across town every day to get to work: a train from home to Flinders Street Station; a train to Sunshine; and then a bus. And yes, I have worked in the east, in Bayswater and Heathmont, a long trip from Elwood. Even with all the connections, I am still at work on time more often than my colleagues who drive. And I can read, write and relax on the way. I would prefer that public money was spent on improving access to public transport rather than building another road.

Sue Bursztynski, Elwood Desperate to be right? There has been a great deal of government blather about Australia losing its AAA credit rating (The Age, 19/1). It seems almost likely that the Prime Minister, Treasurer and Finance Minister have pleaded with the rating agencies to downgrade it so that they can say they were correct. And those downgrades are assessed by the very agencies that took the world into the GFC. Credibility on both sides? Garth Mitchell, Strathbogie Question of priorities

I have just spoken to a homeless man at the train station. He was picking up cigarette butts and he asked me for a dollar. He did not seem to be too bothered by Australia losing its AAA status. He seems to have been exhibiting Treasurer Scott Morrison's "air of unreality". Jim O'Neill, Watsonia Support Safe Schools I am devastated the Safe Schools Coalition of Victoria has been withdrawn from La Trobe University (The Age, 17/12). It will no longer be run by skilled educators who have implemented it over the last seven years, a period of it under my supervision. The idea that it will be "protected" by being absorbed into the potential graveyard of the Education Department is ludicrous. Also, it is not "the only mandatory classroom program delivered by an external provider". It is not a classroom program. It is a program of professional development for teachers. External providers are commonly used for this purpose. The timing of the announcement to minimise fall out from teachers and parents indicates Education Minister James Merlino knows he is removing something valued by school communities. The Safe Schools team has run an evidence-based, skilled and sensitive program. I am saddened young people and their families will no longer have access to teachers trained to provide this standard of care.

Anne Mitchell, professor emeritus, Australian Research Centre In Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University The doctor's role Regarding the tragic death of Ms Dhu, Anastasia Kanjere says the coroner recommended the police receive "cultural competency training", and that the footage of the incident shows she was "denied basic medical care" (Letters, 19/12). The police took Ms Dhu for medical assessment twice, and both times she was cleared by hospital doctors before being taken back to the police cells. The police alone should not be held responsible when the true nature of Ms Dhu's condition was undiagnosed. Duncan Cameron, Parkdale

Syria's child victims Let us hope some of the predicted $12billion that will be spent this Christmas in Victoria (The Age, 19/12) will be redirected to the UNICEF Syrian Appeal or the UNHCR to assist the thousands of children who are at risk of freezing to death in Aleppo. To me, it's a no brainer. Diana Yallop, Surrey Hills A respectful greeting Peter Dutton, I shop in a mainly Jewish area and, as a Christian, I wish people a "happy holiday". I do that not because of political correctness but because I respect other people's beliefs. Maybe you should try that, too.

Pat Agostino, South Melbourne To life for all The first day of the Jewish Festival of Lights, Chanukah, is on Christmas Day this year. It celebrates the finding of enough oil to keep the lights burning in the temple in Jerusalem for eight days. A miracle? It acknowledges the right of freedom for all people. As well as the Christmas-Chanukah spirits, perhaps we need the "good oil" on "people kind" and how we can follow the Jewish belief that to save a life is to save a world. In the Jewish saying, l'chaim, meaning "to life for all on fragile earth". Stan Marks, Caulfield Bring it on, please

Your columnist, Amanda Vanstone, says: "It's been an interesting year and next year will be as interesting, but definitely not more of the same" (Comment, 19/12). Whacko. No more of her jibes at Julia Gillard or rants about those terrible lefties. I look forward to it, Ms Vanstone. Elaine Hurst, Ocean Grove Sacrifice for our future From January, some pensioners will receive thousands of dollars less each year. The rules have changed but we (and they) will survive. Victorians are also told the average electricity bill will increase by $99 annually following the closure of the Hazelwood coal plant. Using the Coalition's preference for contextualising with cups of coffee, we will have to miss one cup per fortnight to take the world in a more sustainable direction. To make changes, which the vast majority of climate scientists say are required, sacrifices are needed. Political parties that pander to the least inspiring human motivator, greed, are worse than misguided. They are dangerous. Howard Tankey, Box Hill North

Joint responsibility Pharmaceutical company Reckitt-Benckiser, which manufactures Nurofen, has been fined $6million for misleading consumers with its specific pain relief range (Saturday Age, 17/12). Surely the Pharmacy Guild, the Therapeutic Goods Administration and Australia's friendly pharmacists and supermarkets have been complicit in this deception too. So much for integrity and guarding the public's interest. Steve Campbell, Kangaroo Flat My car, I drive Why do we need to develop driverless cars (Saturday Age, 16/12)? Who says we need them? I, for one, enjoy driving. I suppose it is the technocrats who are "driving" this change.

Michael Taylor, Carrum Downs MPs united in greed A 20month Coalition-dominated inquiry into the exorbitant cost of home ownership has deemed "there is no structural problem with housing affordability" (Saturday Age, 17/12). Of course not. About half the federal parliamentarians, from all political persuasions, own more than one property. A handful own more than 10 and one owns about 42. If this is not a case of vested interests, I will eat my hat. Those politicians who do not see an issue here should hang their heads in shame. Mind you, it's easy when you're sitting pretty and unaffected. Maybe greed is good. David Legat, Morang South The right to marry

While attending a wedding recently, I was shocked to hear the celebrant actually have to read the government's definition of marriage reinforcing the exclusion of same-sex couples. How can we celebrate our friends' and relatives' weddings when so many people are discriminated against by this draconian law? Carolyn Brand, Point Lonsdale Putting animals first If you plan to give a dog or cat as a Christmas "gift", please reconsider. Animals require a lot of time, attention, patience and money. When their novelty wears off, those "gifts" are often neglected, dumped on the street to die, or surrendered to shelters (which have to euthanise thousands of animals every year because there are not enough good homes). Adding a dog or cat to your family means caring for them for 15 years or longer. If you are ready for this, please adopt one from a shelter. Laura Weyman-Jones, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Dangerous wildlife People have misunderstood the purpose of the security fences which will block access to the lawns of Parliament House. They are not intended to keep protesters out. They are intended to keep the politicians in so that they will not escape and interfere with the community. Rob Siedle, Hawthorn AND ANOTHER THING

Politics Congratulations to the government. It takes a lot of effort to do nothing all year and stay in a job. Matthew Van Wees, Somerville If developers are happy, then we know Victoria's new apartment laws are a drop in the ocean. Susan Mahar, Fitzroy North

Trump's "cabinet coven" makes George W look like a knight in shining armoury. Jill Mazzotta, Balaclava Hanson assures us she is "wiser". That should make Queenslanders take heart. Lesley Black, Frankston Do One Nation supporters see Hanson as a future prime minister?

Michael Brinkman, Cowes Malcolm's innovation: like the electric car, driverless government. But we've still got backseat drivers. Rosina Vila, Fitzroy North Republic Turnbull is right when he says, "up the republic".

Richard Opat, Elsternwick Another distraction to hide the fact that nothing good is happening. Keith Robinson, Glen Waverley Malcolm, hold plebiscites on the republic and same-sex marriage. And wait for a collective "no thanks". Barrie Dempster, Balwyn

Furthermore War, poverty, abuse and adults are failing the children of the world. Irene Zalstein, Doncaster East Leunig's wisdom (Spectrum, December 17) cuts to the heart of what ails our world, and points to the solution. Helen McKinnon, Rosanna
Creativity is important, which is why cover versions are almost never as good as the original song.

Hence it's no surprise that reviewers are already describing the crumbling of Pauline Hanson's One Nation's senate bloc as being "derivative", "uninspired" and "a poor copy of the Palmer United Party's far more urgent and thrilling slide into irrelevancy".

Yes, the first resignation has happened with Western Australian senator Rod Culleton taking to Twitter to reveal that he and Pauline Hanson are no longer BFFs, because she's a bit too "un-Australian". Burn!

"Policy decisions have been run in morning media, with no consultation, discussion or agreement from the party room and personal attacks and undermining, un-Australian behaviour towards myself and my team, has been ongoing and terms dictated to the team," he groused.
Earlier the United Nations Security council ended up voting unanimously in favour of sending UN staff to monitor the evacuation of civilians from Aleppo. [CNN] The seven-year old girl who has been tweeting from the besieged city has been evacuated safely after her account went silent over the last few days. [Ben Hubbard/The New York Times] A Turkish NGO tweeted the news of Bana Alabed's rescue. 2. Lagarde convicted

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde. Credit:FRANCOIS MORI Christine Lagarde has been found guilty of criminal charges relating to her time as France's finance minister. [The New York Times] Good explainer here on the exact charges, the court she was tried in and why she has avoided any punishment. [BBC] But the verdict is a shock and likely to destabilise the International Monetary Fund, which Lagarde leads. The French government says it still has confidence in Lagarde who may appeal the verdict. [BBC] Lagarde was appointed to the post after the 2011 sexual assault scandal which engulfed her predecessor Dominique Strauss-Khan (also a former French finance minister). 3. I've never asked a PM for anything, says Murdoch

News Corporation executive chairman Rupert Murdoch. Credit:AP Rupert Murdoch has sent a Letter to the Editor of The Guardian, decrying "fake news about me," insisting he has never asked a Prime MInister for anything. [Read] He was referring to a quote originally reported by London's Evening Standard where the reporter wrote "I once asked Rupert Murdoch why he was so opposed to the European Union. "That's easy," he replied. "When I go into Downing Street they do what I say; when I go to Brussels they take no notice." [Anthony Hilton] This has subsequently been re-reported, or churned, repeatedly by other outlets prompting Murdoch's letter to the Guardian. [Robert Booth] It comes ahead of the British government's decision on Murdoch's takeover attempt of Britain's Sky News Network.

4. Trump The US electoral college is expected to formally endorse Donald Trump's election as President of the United States. The Electoral College has never denied the outcome of a US election before and many Democrats are tempted for 2016's shock result to be a first. But Barack Obama's former strategist David Axelrod says that would be "destructive." [The Hill] 5. Australian politics

The silly season is well and truly upon us so there's not too much around in federal politics. Big shake up of copyright laws looming, reports Peter Martin. [The Age] Treasurer Scott Morrison has pulled out savings from the fiscal equivalent of the back of the couch. Credit:Andrew Meares The story out of MYEFO (the alphabet soup name for the budget update) is less that the ratings agencies didn't downgrade Australia's credit rating on the spot but that Treasury has chosen to be cautious with its forecasts. [Jacob Greber/Financial Review] This could mean Treasury doesn't want to tell the government how much revenue it might really expect (because they'll spend it!) and could lead to a delayed boost to the budget bottom line if commodity prices stay stronger.

Saving the best for last, don't miss this excellent read from Stephanie Peatling on the shameful story that is Australia's donation disclosure laws. It's cracking! [Fairfax] 6. Lion As you may know I am adopted. My book From India With Love was released last year (hint hint if you are looking for a late emergency Christmas present...) [Amazon] Anyway, the point of today's Number Six is not shameless self-promotion but as a link to Saroo Brierley's story. As I gradually told my circle of friends and associates that I was writing my book there were a few stock-standard responses, including: "have you read the story of the Tasmanian guy who was adopted from India and tracked down his biological mother using Google Earth." When this was first mentioned to me I had not but I soon found out Saroo Brierley's story had a huge momentum in Australia and in India - deservedly so.

His story has been made into a movie featuring Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel. When one of my Twitter followers sent the trailer to me two weeks ago he said the opening line was a mirror of my book's own. "Where are you from?...I'm adopted I'm not really any..." Lion has had rave reviews. You may be wondering why you haven't seen much about it yet? That's because it is only just coming to Australia now, three months after debuting to huge acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival. [Gary Maddox/The Sydney Morning Herald] Lion is now nominated for four Golden Globe awards including Best Motion Picture - Drama.
In the five long years of the Syrian conflict, a succession of its child victims have been paraded before the eyes of a horrified world; Alan Kurdi, Omar Daqneesh, and most recently Bana Alabed.

Bana captured our imagination not through death or physical trauma, but being very much alive and, since late September, tweeting from her home in east Aleppo. It's the section of Syria's largest city that had been captured by "rebels"  the name given to a loose and ideologically diverse coalition of armed groups fighting the Bashar al-Assad government  and subsequently placed under siege by the army.

Last night, Bana and her family were evacuated to safety, but since her account went live in late September, they had been under intense scrutiny by a public obsessed with fake news. Was Bana the new Anne Frank or a new low in war propaganda? Revolutionaries hailed every tweet as a damning indictment of the crimes of the government and its allies, even as Assad supporters derided it as a fake account that 'proved' western audiences were being fooled.

And just like that, it seemed the entire conflict hinged on proof of Bana's life.
"We found that some of the specimens were being damaged," says McCubbin. "Hair pulled, feathers plucked off. Probably just out of interest, because we all like to stroke animals." McCubbin cites another case where a child climbed into a display. "We had a barrier of reasonable height but I think the parent had even enabled the child to climb over the barrier and into the display. So there can be really odd behaviours." These incidents are outliers, of course, but the ease with which such accidents can be recorded and shared has grown dramatically. Last year surveillance footage from a Taiwanese arts centre went viral in the global museum community. It depicts a 12-year-old boy stumbling and using a 17th century painting to brace himself, in the process punching a hole in the canvas and spilling the contents of his soft drink can over it. In 2014, another set of youngsters were snapped clambering all over a $10 million Donald Judd sculpture at London's Tate Modern. The photographer, Stephanie Theodore, confronted the children's aunt and uncle before posting the image on social media, with the comment: "I told the woman the kids were using a $10mm [sic] art work as a toy, she told me I knew nothing abt kids."

Left: an artist performs live art alongside 'Untitled' by Donald Judd, at the Tate Modern this year. Right: This photo of children climbing over a Donald Judd sculpture was posted on Twitter. Credit:Jack Taylor/Twitter: Stephanie Theodore @TheodoreArt Then there was the 2012 incident in which a patron at the Art Gallery of NSW kissed the right butt cheek of a statue of Narcissus, leaving a large lipstick impression. John Gibson's statue Credit:James Brickwood The same year saw a Denver art-goer drunkenly punch a Clyfford Still painting, "lean(ing) against the canvas with her pants down" and then urinating near, though not on, the $30 million work. She later blamed her behaviour on a drug cocktail. It is unclear if she has ever visited Melbourne Museum's Little Lon exhibit. We found that some of the specimens were being damaged," says McCubbin. "Hair pulled, feathers plucked off. Probably just out of interest, because we all like to stroke animals. Melbourne Museum's Maryanne McCubbin

The question at the centre of all this might be a philosophical one: is the primary duty of a museum to preserve its collection or to make it accessible to the people? "Our thinking here is it's not either-or," says McCubbin. "When you put things on display you actually accept a certain amount of loss in the condition of the material ... and you'll do all you can to minimise the loss." Peter Denham, the new director, curatorial, of collections and exhibitions at Sydney's Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, agrees that things have to be openly displayed. "In that way you're bringing the visitor much closer to the object and hopefully they're getting a much better understanding of what that object is and the stories that are being told around it. But it is a battle to have some clear delineation between touch and don't touch. It's a definite dilemma that we're all faced with," says Denham. "There's a design challenge for all museums and galleries to show these things are OK to touch and these other things of course aren't." One of the objects currently on display as part of MAAS's Icons exhibition is a Minton peacock, a tall and delicate ceramic piece from 1873. "It's incredibly beautiful and you do want to touch it because it's very colourful and has those beautiful glazes on it, but there were only seven ever made and there's one here. You want people to engage with that work, but if something happened to it we would all be very upset. So how do you engage with people?"

Icons from the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) collection. At front is the Minton peacock. Credit:Ryan Hernandez The MAAS solution is the kind of subtle nudge that uses environmental cues to steer the public away from certain behaviours. In this case, the work is placed on a series of stepped plinths with a band of light around the edge. "They'd have to climb up on multiple plinths across a raised platform." It's harder when an object on display appears less precious, as often happens in MAAS's Out of Hand show, which focuses on digital and 3D-printed objects. "There's some classic Do Not Touch moments in that exhibition," says Denham. "One of the artworks is a typical white cup that you'd get at any drinking fountain and it's sitting atop this stack of paper that is all of the code that was sent to the 3D printer to print the cup. It's just this banal object and the amount of work that went into making it happen, but people just want to touch the paper and pick up the cup. We know they've touched the paper. The cup's still there." McCubbin says that around seven or eight people will debate exactly how an object from Melbourne Museum's collection will go on display, but most of the choices they make will be invisible to the average visitor. You could touch some of the dinosaur bones if you dared  they're casts, after all. But the rarer or more precious an item is, the less accessible you'll probably find it.

"We do put a lot of thought into reaching capabilities and heights of barriers and that sort of thing," says McCubbin. "Height of barriers is very specific and thought through, in terms of protecting material. But you don't want to close it off." If grabby kids are one well-meaning peril, the other pest facing stuffed animal collections comes in the form of the humble clothes moth. The careless public and the hungry pest are two of the so-called "10 agents of deterioration" that museum professionals refer to when assessing damage risks. Others include the obvious, such as fire and water, and the more scientific, such as chemical deterioration and the bleaching effects of light. Then there's the overtly criminal  theft and vandalism are considered a single category, since both are malicious and deliberate acts. "We've certainly had exhibitions on display where we've had attempted thefts," says McCubbin. One common target for would-be thieves is unexpected: "Actually, baskets. We had a temporary exhibition a while back and there were a couple of attempted thefts of baskets."

Historic firearms are also popular loot around the world, even though strict compliance regulations require that they be fully disabled. Another hot property for the larcenous is less of a surprise. Any museum's collection of gold and other precious metals will be under its tightest security, since they're easy to melt down and render untraceable. Rare geodes and geological formations are also subject to safeguards that even McCubbin won't reveal in detail. "Some of these really valuable minerals and so on have very sophisticated security features. Cameras wired to the security room, alarms, that kind of thing." The scale at which thefts from galleries and museums occur is all but unknown, however, since many institutions won't even share this information with each other. It's partly about reputational damage. "All museums are entrusted with caring for the collection," says McCubbin. "We develop the state collection and we're entrusted to look after it for the public, and when you have incidents like that it can be interpreted as a breach of your duty." But the result of this secrecy is that there's little solid research into the extent of museum mishaps, and the trends that might be defined across different periods of time. McCubbin is one of the very few people in the world currently doing work in this area, scouring the online Trove archive of digitised newspapers to glean patterns in museum theft across a century of Australian history. And like most museum professionals, McCubbin says that the risks associated with public display are ultimately outweighed by the benefits. "I really don't see the reason for having a collection if it's dead in storage, and so we do everything we can in all sorts of ways to make things accessible."
Good morning.

We are in for a hot day with temperatures expected to climb to 31 degrees in the city and 34 degrees in Parramatta. There is a 30 per cent chance of a late storm.

Obeid appeals

Eddie Obeid leaves the NSW Supreme Court. Credit:Daniel Munoz

The Court of Criminal Appeal will today be asked to reconsider former Labor MLC Eddie Obeid's request for bail. Obeid was jailed for a minimum of three years last week after being found guilty of misconduct in public office. Michaela Whitbourn has the latest here.
Australian officials will travel to Paris in February to meet with UNESCO about efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

The UN body has requested the meeting after the federal and Queensland governments sent their latest update on what action is being taken to conserve the tourism drawcard.

Government officials hope they will be able to avoid an 'in-danger' listing for the Great Barrier Reef. Credit:Jason South

The chances of the reef ending up on a list of World Heritage sites in danger has increased following mass coral bleaching and the defeat of land clearing laws in Queensland's parliament.

However government officials remain hopeful they will be able to avoid an 'in-danger' listing for the reef, which supports thousands of jobs and injects billions in tourism dollars to the economy.
Police are investigating after a Brisbane man who gave a hitchhiker $2000 fears he may have been scammed.

Kel Sanson first spotted Wayne* with his thumb sticking out walking along a road at Tingalpa in Brisbane's east on November 27.

Police are investigating after a Brisbane man believes he was scammed out of money by a hitchhiker. Credit:Tamara Voninski

"As soon as I saw him I thought he is a fish out of water, he looked like an old farmer, he had an Akubra and a duffle bag," the 38-year-old said.

Mr Sanson offered the man a lift and heard how he had lost his angus beef cattle farm outside Gladstone to the bank, his wife to cancer and was hitchhiking back home until his job as a caretaker at a Beaudesert farm started in two weeks.
The major parties could be in for a shock when they see how Pauline Hanson's party performs at the next Queensland election, speaker and independent MP Peter Wellington says.

Mr Wellington says opinion polls may not accurately reflect how much support Senator Hanson's party will attract, and she's obviously gaining traction with voters unhappy with Labor and the Liberal National Party.

Queensland speaker Peter Wellington says opinion polls may underestimate support for One Nation in Queensland. Credit:Bradley Kanaris

"Many people may not put up their hand and say they're going to publicly support Pauline's candidates. But from what I'm hearing, they certainly will at ballot boxes," Mr Wellington has told ABC radio on Tuesday.

AAP
What's is particularly interesting is that Foxtel Kids also works if you're a Foxtel Play subscriber, with kids channels to be included in the new Foxtel Play entry-level packages. You can even download the app and watch a few episodes for free even if you don't have a Foxtel account, just press Skip at the login screen.

At the same time Foxtel has also taken the wraps off its new Foxtel Kids app which, like Foxtel Go, is a streaming mobile app available for free to customers with a home Foxtel subscription  only letting you watch content from the kid-friendly channels in your Foxtel package.

Something always had to give in Australia's crowded streaming video market, with Foxtel preparing to pull the plug on Presto in January after buying out joint-owner Seven West Media. The pay TV giant is trying to entice Presto subscribers across to the Foxtel Play online subscription service by dropping Foxtel Play prices, offering discounts and upgrading to high-definition streaming via the Telstra TV set-top box .

If there are children in your life then you've probably been confronted by the fact that within most streaming video apps the children's content is only a few clicks away from the likes of Daredevil, Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead  which aren't exactly kid-friendly. Foxtel Kids is similar to Netflix's kid-friendly interface, except that Foxtel's offering is a standalone app to make it easier to manage your children's viewing habits.

Available for iOS and Android, the Foxtel Kids app lets you register up to five devices and watch video on two at once  separate to the usage limits on the Foxtel Go apps, so the big people and little people in your home can use different apps to watch different Foxtel content simultaneously. Unlike Foxtel Go, Foxtel Kids doesn't offer desktop browser access  it's only for mobile gadgets.

Foxtel Kids only supports catch up video on demand, you don't get streaming simulcasts of live channels. You can only watch video on standard-definition but that's unlikely to bother children, especially if they're watching animation on a small screen.

The app has a slick child-friendly interface which is easy to navigate even if you can't read. You have access to a wide range of Foxtel content including shows from Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, CBeebies, Discovery Kids, Cartoon Network and Boomerang.

The amount of content at your disposal varies widely  some shows like Pepper Pig and Marvel's Avengers Assemble only have the last few episodes, while others like Star Wars Rebels have the entire back catalogue from the series premiere right up to the most recent episode screened on Foxtel (which seems to be one episode behind the US). Strangely the app doesn't stick to the standard episode numbering system, with the first episode of Rebels season two described as S2E16 rather than S2E01  which I guess is intended to make things less complicated for children.
A convicted murderer with a lengthy criminal history has skipped parole and is being hunted by police.

John Douglas Hartwick and two others murdered Steven Borg and seriously injured Mr Borg's girlfriend near Frankston in 2001 when they set upon the couple with metal poles and a carving knife.

John Douglas Hartwick

Hartwick, his former wife Lisa Hartwick and her friend Celia Clayton appealed their convictions to the High Court in 2006, but their appeals were dismissed.

It is believed John Hartwick has about 70 prior convictions including armed robbery, drug trafficking, serious assaults.
A Muslim woman has been allegedly assaulted with a beer bottle and had her headscarf torn off in an unprovoked attack outside a shopping centre in Perth's south.

The woman was allegedly assaulted after an exchange of words with a man at the Beeliar Village complex, that quickly escalated into a physical fight on Friday night.

A woman with a headscarf was allegedly attacked outside Coles in Beeliar for not saying 'merry Christmas'. Credit:AP

The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, told WAtoday she was walking into Coles around 8.30pm when a man yelled out "merry Christmas".

"I turned around and said and 'happy holidays' to you," she said.
WA's Road Safety Commissioner has described the state's 2016 road toll as "shocking" and says speed and not wearing seatbelts continue to be major factors in fatalities.

Kim Papalia said despite the road toll reaching a six year high, it was possible to have a fatality free Christmas period this year, but said the only people who could make this happen were WA road users, by doing the right thing.

Road Safety Commissioner Kim Papalia. Credit:Road Safety Commission

Speaking with WAtoday Mr Papalia revealed details of a meeting he held with residents in Bruce Rock last Thursday, following a fatal crash which claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy.

Last Wednesday's crash occurred at 10.15am on an unsealed road, when a 25-year-old man lost control of his silver Holden Commodore and hit a tree.
Zurich: Police are hunting for a man who shot several people praying in an Islamic centre close to the main train station in Zurich.

Three were injured during the shooting, which took place after a man entered the Islamic centre of Eisgasse at about 5.30pm local time (3.30am AEDT on Tuesday), police said in a statement.

Police secure the area in front of the Islamic centre in Zurich. Credit:AP

The victims, men aged 30, 35 and 56, had been hospitalised and two of them had serious injuries, the police said.

The dead body of another person was found later, just a few minutes' walk from the shooting scene, police said. It's unclear if the two episodes are linked.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Caliph Ibrahim of the so-called Islamic State, had an excellent week last week.

The fall of Aleppo to a consortium of Iranian-built militias backed by Russian airpower and special forces constitutes not only a loud victory for Damascus but also a quieter one for ISIS, or the Islamic State, which mounted a surprise attack that retook the ancient city of Palmyra.

The contrast could not have been starker or a more clear vindication of one of ISISs longest-running propaganda tropes: the infidels and apostates will do nothing to save Sunni Arabs from the pillage, rape, and barrel bombs of the Russians, Alawites, and Shia. But Aleppos fall also buttresses one of the lesser-scrutinized claims made by ISISs former spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, shortly before his demise.

In May, months before he was taken out by a U.S. airstrike, Adnani issued what would turn out to be a final communique refuting a common Sunni criticism of ISIS, namely that the groups takeover of Sunni towns and cities invariably brought only devastation. See Fallujah and Ramadi. For Adnani, however, such devastation was never the fault of ISIS, as rival jihadist enterprises had discovered at their peril.

If we knew that any of the righteous predecessors surrendered a span of land to the infidels, using the claim of popular support or to save buildings from being destroyed or to prevent bloodshed, or any other alleged interest, he said, we would have done the same as the Qaidah of the Fool of the so-called Ummah. Only steadfastness, even in the face of overwhelming odds, would restore Sunni dignity.

Thanks to Bashar al-Assad, Vladimir Putin, and Ayatollah Ali Khameneinot to say Barack ObamaAdnani now gets to play the posthumous prophet. Rather than die fighting for Aleppo, the Free Syrian Army (and its Western backers), plus rival Islamist or jihadist groups such the Syrian al Qaeda franchise Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, negotiated the terms of their surrender through a series of failed and humiliating ceasefires and evacuations, which are in fact forced population transfers. And Aleppo was still pulverized.

The loss will be compounded by the sectarian context. Aleppo fell to what Der Spiegel correspondent Christoph Reuter once aptly called the first international Shia jihad in recent history, led by Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps and relying largely on a patchwork of guerrilla fighters from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, and Iraq. This is precisely what Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian founding father of ISIS, wanted. He once described the Shia as the insurmountable obstacle, the prowling serpent, the crafty, evil scorpion, the enemy lying in wait, and biting poison Whoever takes the time to look carefully at the situation will realize that Shiism is the greater danger threatening us and the real challenge we must confront. And the only way to confront this enemy in Iraq was to render Sunnis hopeless that anyone else would, by attacking the Shia so that the Shia took revenge by attacking the outnumbered Sunnis.

In Syria, the Zarqawi thesis is even more relevant, as the country is a Sunni majority one and is now subject to occupation by a minority. And as bad as the physical collapse of the symbolic citadel of Syrias revolution is, worse still is the chauvinist triumphalism attending it, which plays directly into the Zarqawi strategy.

Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, one of the Iraqi militias which the United Nations accused of murdering 85 civilians, including women and children, broadcast a song on an affiliated Iraqi TV channel. Aleppo is Shia, it ran. In his Friday sermon, delivered in Tehran, Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani declared the liberation of the city from infidelsusing more or less the same language of sectarian incitement that ISIS reserves for the Kashanis coreligionists. In this case, the cleric was declaring all 150,000 Sunnis whod been besieged for months in East Aleppo, and now driven from their homes, godless. Even he must be aware of the lasting repercussions of such imprecations.

Rhetorical provocation has also been met by the visual kind. Images circulating on social media to show Qassem Soleimani, Irans spymaster and head of the expeditionary Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, treading the rubble in Aleppo in an unmistakable show of who was really responsible for the siege and recapture. (Bashar al-Assad, the nominal sovereign of all of Syria, is nowhere to be seen on this hollowed-out and Iranian-occupied battlefield.) Any of these photographs could easily grace the forthcoming issue of Rumiyah, ISISs propaganda magazine.

Already, there are videos of Syrian children vowing to return and retake Aleppo when they grow up. One child has accused the rebels of betraying Aleppo through their division and urged them to unite and exact vengeance.

Yet the likely agents of revenge may well end up being the hardline jihadists, which the U.S. government now claims, absurdly, to have lost 50,000 combat-ready personnel in the last two and a half years of war. (The earliest CIA estimate of ISISs order of battle, in 2014, was between 22,000 and 30,000, and so we must now be into negative ISIS numbers, as one U.S. army colonel witheringly told us last week.)

Whatever remains of ISISs garrisons, only a few thousand are currently holding their ground in Mosul, where the Iraqi and U.S.-led operation to liberate that provincial capital has stalled and where a staggering 50 percent of Iraqs elite counterterrorism strike force, the Golden Division, has sustained casualties. This are an integrated corps of professional regularsSunnis, Shia, and Christiansdoing the heavy lifting against the caliphate. And if this rate or attrition continues, the Golden Division will be rendered combat-ineffective within a month. That would either put the entire battle for Mosul on hold indefinitely or force Baghdad to rely on less reliable units, such as the Shia which have recently become official arms of the Iraqi state.

Meanwhile, a mere 50 to 200 ISIS fighters managed to overtake the Assad-Putin-Khamenei axis in Palmyra, just as East Aleppo was being stormed by it.

As The Daily Beast reported, citing pro-regime sources, ISISs swift return to the scene of its former defeat was facilitated through bribery. The jihadists evidently paid off a corrupt leader of the National Defense Forces, an Iranian-built proxy militia, who looked the other way as the blitzkrieg began. According to Khaled al-Homsi, a native of the city who closely tracks developments there, all of Russias military deployment withdrew a few days before the assault began, possibly for redeployment to Aleppo. Somewhat bolstering this claim is a recent Wall Street Journal report that several hundred Russian Spetsnaz, or Special Forcesunits similar to those deployed for the illegal seizure of Crimea in 2014have been on the ground in Aleppo for weeks, where, in the words of one Moscow-based think tank specialist, theyve taken on a combat role.

The recapture of Palmyra gave the lie that Assads coalition was focused on battling the worst of the worst extremists in Syria. But its led to the rehabilitation in the popular imagination of a blood-brutal organization whose declining stature was inextricably linked to its dwindling terrain. Enemies of ISIS have begun cheering not the caliphate per se but any defeat of Assad, Iran, and Russia.

Faisal al-Kasim, a well-known anchor on Al Jazeera, who would otherwise insist that ISIS and the Assad regime are in cahoots, said that he wished all the regimes rehearsed defeats by ISIS followed a similar script as in Palmyra, where the Assad coalition lost hundreds of soldiers. Normally cynical about ISIS gains, the Syrian opposition now celebrates them.

Saleh al-Hamwi, a former leader of Jabhat al Nusra, the previous name of al Qaedas Syrian franchise, described what happened in Palmyra as incontrovertibly good. Pick up the fruit and move on, al-Hamwi tweeted on Dec. 11, the day Palmyra was retaken. Dont look for details. Any blow against the regime or withdrawal is good for the revolution now. Prominent Syrian journalist Mousa al-Omar, by no means a jihadist or jihadist sympathizer, retweeted this sentiment.

In Abu Bakr al-Baghdadis inaugural sermon, delivered at the al-Zangi mosque in Mosul in July 2014, he warned of exactly this contingency. Sunni Muslims, he said, are arrayed against a colossal global conspiracy led by the United States and Russia, backed by Iran and the Shia, against which there is only one true custodian or protector of this embattled community: the independent and self-sustaining servants of the caliphate. There is no alternative or third camp.

It is admittedly sometimes difficult to discern where this conspiracy theory ends and U.S. foreign policy begins.

Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the U.S. commander of the anti-ISIS coalition, openly mocked the Russian government in a press conference last week, saying, in reference to Palmyra, they lost it and I think its probably up to them to take it back. Townsend added that ISIS appeared to have seized some armored vehicles and various guns and other heavy weapons, possibly some air defense equipment, and added that if the Russians couldnt destroy this materiel, the coalition would. It did, blowing up 14 tanks, an air defense artillery system and other hardware. Thus do many Sunnis see the United States mopping up the Assadists mess, while leaving Aleppo to its grim fate. And so does one percipient Shia cleric.

Former Hezbollah secretary-general, Sheikh Subhi al-Tufayli, seems well aware of the sectarian bloodletting that has preceded and is sure to follow the Aleppo calamity. Likening the city to Karbala, the site of Shia Islams greatest tragedies, Tufayli blamed Assad, Russia and Iran of slaughtering thousands of Muslims, with American connivance. How do we explain destruction, spread of fire and the bombs that fall over Aleppo and kill all those in the city while in the deserts of Palmyra, militants that attack the Syrian army and take control in under a day. How do we explain this? he asked during his Friday sermon last week. We allow the Islamic State to flourish and attack a genuine opposition so that there is none left but the regimethe same regime which has slaughtered the nation of Mohammedand the Islamic State. We then tell people to choose; do you prefer [ISIS] or Bashar?

Zarqawis monstrous gambit was to brutalize and demoralize Sunnis into a necessary alliance with his holy war. Surveying the last weeks spoils, his ghost still has reason to smile.
By Linda Qiu and Aaron Sharockman

Hillary Clintons former campaign chairman John Podesta said Sunday that Russia was trying to elect a lap dog by hacking his and Democratic National Committee emails during the 2016 election.

The CIA and FBI have confirmed that Moscow was behind the summer cyberattacks and leaked emails. While Podesta conceded that it is unknown if there was collusion between Donald Trumps campaign and Moscow, he brought up several points of contact on Dec. 18s Meet the Press.

Russian diplomats have said post-election that they were talking to the Trump campaign, Podesta said. Roger Stone (a Trump adviser) in August foreshadowed the fact that they had hacked my emails and those would be forthcoming when he said he was in touch with Wikileaks. Carter Page, one of Trumps foreign policy advisers, went to Russia before the Republican convention and met with a person in the Russian hierarchy who was responsible for collecting intelligence.

Russian officials have said members of the Trump camp maintained contact with Russia, but there are discrepancies in their statements and a denial from the Trump campaign. And the Russians also claim to have met with representatives of the Clinton campaign.

Overall, Podestas claim relies on too much speculation to rate it on PolitiFacts Truth-O-Meter . But heres what we know.

In an interview with the state-run news agency, Interfax, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei A. Ryabkov said there were contacts with Trumps entourage throughout the election, according to multiple translations of the interview . "I cannot say that all of them, but quite a few have been staying in touch with Russian representatives."

But the Trump campaign denied that this ever happened, and the Foreign Ministry clarified to The New York Times that Ryabkov meant Russian officials had met with Trumps political allies and supporters, not his campaign staff directly.

Ryabkov told Bloomberg that the Russian embassy held meetings with the Trump camp on a sufficient, responsible level as part of routine, everyday work. Ryabkov said the Russian embassy also had sporadic contact with the Clinton team, though it was not always productive, according to Bloomberg. An unnamed Russian official said to CNN that Clinton team members visited Moscow unofficially and held meetings with government officials.

Meanwhile Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Vladimir Putin, told the Associated Press on the same day that Russian experts on the United States and international affairs had contacts with both the Clinton and Trump camps.

Two October surprises in one hour

So many extraordinary things happened in the 2016 presidential campaign that it can be hard sometimes to remember the sequence of events.

When Podesta described the events of Oct. 7, 2016, in the same interview on Meet the Press, we had to rewind the clock.

"On Oct. 7, the Access Hollywood tape comes out. One hour later, WikiLeaks starts dropping my emails," Podesta said. "One could say that those things might not have been a coincidence."

The Access Hollywood tape Podesta referenced showed Donald Trump making lewd comments about women during a 2005 interview . "Ive got to use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her," Trump tells interviewer Billy Bush. "You know Im automatically attracted to beautiful  I just start kissing them. Its like a magnet. I just kiss. I dont even wait. And when youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything."

The tape was discovered and first published by the Washington Post's David Fahrenthold right around 4 p.m. ET on Oct. 7. Fahrenthold shared a link to his story on Twitter.

Less than an hour later, WikiLeaks revealed that it had received 50,000 of Podestas emails. It released 2,050 initially. It, too, shared the news via Twitter.

We obviously cannot assess if the two events were connected, as Podesta suggested, but on the timeline hes right.

This claim rates True .
Depending on who you talk to, the special legislative session that left North Carolinas new Democratic governor with much-diminished power was either an unprecedented GOP power grab or a time-honored Tar Heel tradition of sore losers sticking it to their opponents while they still can.

But what doesnt seem to be up for debate is whether the states heavily Republican legislature could legally pass the bills that it did when it quickly gaveled into special session at the end of last week to pass a series of new laws to strip Roy Cooper of much of the governors traditional power once he is sworn in. So far the Republicans seem to be on solid, if unattractive, ground.

Similar things have happened before, so this not new, said Irving Joyner, counsel to the NAACP of North Carolina and a professor of law at North Carolina Central University. It is new in the breadth of the powers that the legislature has sought to limit, but acts like this are not new and have been going on for decades.

Cooper beat Republican incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory last month with a promise to repeal some of the most controversial legislation that McCrory passed with the help of the GOP legislature, including HB-2, the so-called bathroom bill that has cost the state conventions, sporting events, and millions of dollars in lost revenue.

But Coopers upcoming job has become infinitely more difficult now.

Among the bills quickly introduced, debated, and passed during the surprise special session were measures that will require state senate approval for Coopers cabinet members; remove control of the state boards of elections from the governors party; strip Coopers authority to appoint members to the boards of the University of North Carolina system; and cut the number of politically appointed state employees from 1,500 to about 400.

Of the potentially unconstitutional elements of the session, only the narrowest jump out to Joyner and others steeped in North Carolina state law: whether the legislature properly defined the reason for the special session; and whether it enacted private legislation, for the benefit of specific individuals, in some of the names put forward for state appointments.

The biggest challenge to Coopers power, as Joyner sees it, would be in the limit to appoint the cabinet of his choice, although advising and consenting to the choices is a power given to the legislature in the state constitution. That could be a problem if the legislature wants to be mean-spirited, and clearly they appear to be mean-spirited, he said.

Joyner said the changes to the governors power to control boards from education to elections to infrastructure could have wide-ranging implications: All of it has the ability to cause problems for people we seek to serve.

Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party, defended the GOP measures as not only constitutional but historically consistent, or more specifically, nothing different from what Democrats have been doing to Republicans for decades. We have done bean bag compared to what they did to us, Woodhouse said.

By what they did to us, Woodhouse is referring to the 1985 Democratic legislature, which passed legislation to limit the hiring powers of incoming GOP Gov. Jim Martin. In 1977, the Democratic legislature gave the new Democratic Gov. Jim Hunt the power to fire all of the state employees hired by the outgoing Republican governor in the previous five years. Those moves and more were predated by examples of different factions of the North Carolina Democratic Party sticking it to the incoming rivals on their way out the door.

In a nutshell, Woodhouse said, McCrory and the Republicans are hardly taking the road less traveled for Tar Heel politicians. Just dont call it a power grab.

The way I would phrase it is a rebalancing of the strength of the legislative branch, which has been historically done every other time over the last 60 years when there has been a situation of divided power and divided branches, Woodhouse said.

For some Democrats, though, the GOPs special session seemed less like a historical rebalancing and more like an act of spite, especially after McCrory refused for weeks to concede the election to Cooper, claiming to be the victim of widespread voter fraud, even though none was proven.

Last week, progressive protesters filled the public areas of the statehouse as the legislators huddled and passed bills one after another. Police arrested dozens who refused to leave the building, including a white-bearded man dressed as Santa. Theyre arresting Santa! one protester shouted as Santa was led away in plastic handcuffs by police officers. Thank you, Santa!

Gov.-elect Cooper vowed Friday to fight the legislature on any of the measures he thinks could be unconstitutional and promised to take them to court if necessary.

In a press conference at the end of the week, he also said he considered one of his top goals to be restoring the states reputation after the political chaos the state has dealt with for the last weeks, months, and years.

We dont look good to the people of North Carolina or the rest of the country when laws are passed hastily, with little discussion, in the middle of the night, Cooper said. This has got to stop.

Making North Carolinas political system look great again may be more than any one man can achieve, though. As longtime Raleigh News & Observer columnist Rob Christensen put it over the weekend, Democrats calling out Republicans for a power grab is like being called ugly by a frog.

In other words, right now nobody looks good.
BERLINA European terror suspect has never been so young.

The stalkers of the so-called Islamic State have been searching out, grooming and inciting young terrorists in France and Germany for more than a year now, and in the latest shocking incident, they appear to have used a boy whos only 12 years old.

On Friday, the German online magazine Focus caused a national uproar when it reported that two bombs had been planted in the city of Ludwigshafen by a local German-Iraqi youngster who was very religiously radicalised and had possibly been instigated or guided by an unknown member of ISIS.

Later that day, reporters eagerly waited for Ludwigshafens mayor, Eva Lohse, to arrive in the town hall. But Lohse could tell them very little. The 12-year-old suspect was in a safe place (in the custody of local child protection serviceschildren under the age of 14 cannot be charged with a crime in Germany) where he wouldnt pose any danger. Five minutes later the press conference was over. No further questions were allowed.

The press is buzzing anyway and Berlin has shown itself alarmed: Has ISIS really managed to steer a child into trying to attack his hometown? It is, of course, an announcement that would shock anyone, said government spokesman Steffen Seibert.

Meanwhile, the federal prosecutors office confirmed on Friday that, yes, it is investigating the discovery of a nail bomb in Ludwigshafen. The device was found near the citys shopping center on Dec. 5, one day before Saint Nicholas Day, an old-school holiday where going to the mall as a kid in Germany most likely means getting free candy.

But one child clearly had something else on his mind. A passerby alerted the police about a black bag, which the 12-year-old allegedly had dropped in a trash can. Inside the bag was a canning jar with nails taped around it. The jar had been filled with a pyrotechnical mixture made from fireworks and sparklers, which the police later determined to be flammable, but not capable of exploding.

In fact, general prosecutor Hubert Strober declared of this sad little self-crafted device that it was over the top to describe it as a bomb.

At Ludwigshafens Christmas market, the mood reportedly remains calm and cheerfully kitsch, even though it now turns out a similar device was found deposited there, among the carrousels, fun-fair rides and sausage stalls, on Nov. 26.

I have difficulties with seeing a 12 year old as a terrorist, terrorism expert Guido Steinberg told the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung. It makes sense for when people begin to get interested in politics, at 15 or 16. But how political can you be at 12 years old? It rather raises the question: what is going on in his surroundings? Because it could not have been his idea.

Indeed. According to the German broadcaster WDR, the boy received instructions for building the bomb via the messenger app Telegram, and this has lead investigators to suspect ISIS involvement.

The precedents for what the French call remote-controlled terror are many.

Both 17-year-old Riaz Khan Ahmadzai and 27-year-old Mohammad Daleel were also in contact with alleged ISIS members via online chat, getting advice on how to kill before attempting to commit attacks in July this year.

Daleel had strict instructions from his chat partner to leave his backpack at a music festival in Bavaria, detonate it from a far and film the inferno, before he accidentally blew himself up.

And Ahmadzais chat contact sent him a message this summer to suggest he drive a car into a large crowd. Ahmadzai declined. He didnt have a drivers license, he wrote. Instead he got on a regional train in Wurzburg with an axe and a knife and severely injured three people before being shot dead by the police.

ISIS, which has no qualms about using child soldiers, also seems to have been more than happy to use children and teens as cannon fodder in Germany and in other EU countries like the Netherlands, Austria, and France, reaching out with customized apps and advertising its crimes with what terror expert Peter Neumann called a pop culture of horrorteen violence fantasies, complete with flashy pictures and computer games.

German Chancellor Angela Merkels chief of staff, Peter Altmaier, said on Friday that legal preconditions have already been improved to respond to the radicalization of minorsbut now one will have to see whether further action is needed.

Germany tightened its terror laws in the summer to allow the countrys domestic spy agency to track and collect data on suspects as young as 14 years old. (The previous minimum age was 16.) When first proposed, the measure met with opposition. But that was before 15-year-old Safia S. sank a kitchen knife five centimeters deep into a policemans neck at the central train station in Hannover in February this year.

The officer survived, but the wound was life threatening. On her phone, Safia had written chat messages saying that she was in touch with employees of the ISIS regime, who had urged her to prepare a surprise for the infidels. It was a martyrdom operation for the terrorist militia ISIS, according to the German authorities. She is currently on trial for attempted murder, and if convicted she faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

We know a little more about Safia than we do about many of the others. Indeed, she had gained a certain fame as the child star of the Salafists. She started appearing in YouTube clips with the ginger-haired hate preacher Pierre Vogel when she was only 7 years old.

Cool outfit, Vogel compliments her in one of them, when she shows up wearing a headscarf that goes down to her hips. After she sings for the camera, he jokes, You do the lecture today, and Ill go home. In that clip, she was just about 9.

Radical Islam for kids? Its not the Mickey Mouse Club.
In a shock verdict in France, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, one of the worlds most powerful women, has been convicted of negligence over a $400-million state payout she okayed as finance minister back in 2008.

The decision comes as a surprise just days after the states prosecutor had called the evidence against the IMFs managing director very weak and recommended an acquittal. The good news for Lagarde? The court handed down no punishment. And the IMF is keeping her on, citing "the wide respect and trust for her leadership globally" in a statement issued just hours after Monday's verdict.

The case had dogged Lagardes entire tenure at the IMF. Indeed, it was already on the table before Lagardes whirlwind IMF leadership campaign in 2011 saw her travel 31,000 miles over 12 days rallying support for her cause in Brazil, India, China, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The lingering litigation didnt stop Lagarde, 60, from scoring a second five-year term as IMF chief last February, either.

The dispute that would come to be known as the Tapie Affair began in 1993. Bernard Tapie, a businessman and cabinet minister under former Socialist President Francois Mitterrand, sold the sporting goods giant Adidas that year to a consortium led by Credit Lyonnais, then a state-owned French bank, for $328 million. The following year, Credit Lyonnais sold the company again for more than twice the price it paid to Tapie, leading the tycoon to claim he had been swindled.

The disgruntled Tapie sued for damages and saw his case plod through French courts for more than a decade, reportedly costing taxpayers $10 million in legal fees alone.

In 2007, soon after Lagarde was named finance minister under President Nicolas Sarkozywho was close to the controversial Tapieshe called for the case to go to private arbitration. A year later, the arbitrators found in Tapies favor, awarding him over $400 million in public funds as compensation, and leaving Lagarde to decide whether or not to appeal the reward.

Lagardes biographers Cyrille Lachevre and Marie Visot wrote in 2010 that she shut herself away in her office for a full weekend to pore over the case and sound out experts. Ultimately, Lagarde, who made her name as a top-flight corporate lawyer before politics called, decided to let the states case rest.

But the court last week noted that contesting the massive reward handed to Tapie could have at least brought to light alleged organized fraud later discovered in the case. Lagarde has not been implicated in that fraud, but six others have been investigated, including Lagardes former chief of staff, Tapie himself, and one of the arbitrators who awarded the astronomical compensation.

During her trial last week, in a special court for offenses allegedly committed by serving French cabinet ministers, Lagarde told the court she had been busy with the 2008 financial crisis and that she had considered the arbitration process not a priority. She told the court, the risk of fraud completely escaped me.

Mondays ruling appeared to accept the explanation of Lagarde  who returned to Washington before the verdict was read  that she was preoccupied with the global crisis, at least insofar as it gave no penalty at all after convicting her of charges that could have carried a sentence of up to a year in prison and a $15,600 fine.

The context of the global financial crisis in which Madame Lagarde found herself should be taken into account, said Martine Ract-Madoux, the cases lead judge. The ruling ascribed negligence not to Lagardes decision to seek a settlement with Tapie, but in not contesting the mammoth reward, leading to the misuse of public funds.

Still, the verdict is a new embarrassment for the IMF and for France. Lagardes predecessor, her disgraced compatriot Dominique Strauss-Kahn, stepped down in a letter penned from behind bars on Rikers Island in 2011 after he was accused of violating a Manhattan chambermaid.

Strauss-Kahns criminal charges in that case were eventually dropped. As it happens, Strauss-Kahns own predecessor as IMF chief, Spains Rodrigo Rato, is currently standing trial on misuse-of-funds charges dating back to his tenure as head of a Spanish bank.

It has been a tough run for former French cabinet ministers, too. Earlier this month, Jerome Cahuzac, Socialist President Francois Hollandes former budget minister in charge of fighting tax evasion, was found guilty in a spectacular tax-fraud scandal. Cahuzac was sentenced to three years behind bars, a rare custodial sentence for a French politician.

Indeed, Lagardes guilty-but-not-punished verdict isnt likely to do much to quell French public impatience with politics-as-usual ahead of a presidential election next spring. Hollande has conceded the obvious by not even trying for a second term, while far-right, throw-the-bums-out standard-bearer Marine Le Pen is poised for a trip to the presidential run-off round in May, say pollsters.

Social media was dripping with sarcastic retorts in French after the verdict. Politicians and regular joes alike took to Twitter to contrast leniency for Lagarde with the fate of lesser folks for lesser losses. Pierre Laurent, the leader of the French Communist Party, caught the zeitgeist, tweeting, So you can get fired from a cashiers job for an 85-cent error, but escape punishment for 400 million. #Lagarde #injustice. You can bet not a few of Laurents fellow politicians will look to cash in on Lagardes expensive misfortune, too.
At least 12 people are dead and as many as 48 injured in a suspected terror attack in Berlin when a Schwarzmuller rental truck plowed into a Christmas Market on Monday evening. Police arrested one suspect in the attack, though they are investigating whether he was the driver of the vehicle. A second occupant of the trucks cab is dead.

Mondays attack occurred in Charlottenburg, a leafy, affluent area of the city known as the Times Square of Berlin. Emma Rushton, a British woman who witnessed the attack, told news outlets that the truck was traveling at a fast speed when it hit the market. It did not look like an accident, she added.

Please help us. Stay home and do not spread rumors, the Berlin police tweeted. Follow us here for important information.

Police have not formally attributed a motive to the incident, but it is reminiscent of a similar attack earlier this year in Nice, France, in which a terrorist drove a truck into a crowd of people, killing 86. ISIS claimed the driver as a soldier of the so-called Islamic State. The terrorist groups tactics have increasingly turned toward Europe as it has lost territory in the Middle East.

A November issue of Rumiyah, the ISIS magazine aimed at foreign recruits, advocated vehicular attacks modeled on the one in Nice. The ideal vehicle was described as a large, load-bearing truckideally double-wheeled, giving victims less of a chance to escape being crushed by the vehicles tires.

Vehicles are like knives, as they are extremely easy to acquire, the magazine added. But unlike knives, which if found in ones possession can be a cause for suspicion, vehicles arouse absolutely no doubts due to their widespread use throughout the world.

Wolfgang Bosbach, a member of parliament with Angela Merkels Christian Democrats party, said that there are indications the Berlin carnage was a deliberate attack.

The incident occurred near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a popular tourist destination in the city and a reminder of the city's resilience. The original church was destroyed in World War II, and its ruins were kept as a memorial of the war.
Most liberals who watched Barack Obamas news conference last Friday were tearing their hair out about his defense of his cautious approach on the Russia controversy and especially his inability to utter one sentence raising even the subtlest hint of doubt about whether the election outcome was legitimate. Slates Michelle Goldberg captured it well: Most of the time, Barack Obamas near-supernatural calm and dispassion are among his best qualities. Occasionally, as at Fridays pallid press conference, they are his worst ones.

I was distressed by that too, as Id been writing columns urging Obama to speak more forcefully about all that, though I wasnt especially surprised. Obama wants to believe in a politics that existed for about 30 or 35 years, from circa 1950 to 1980 or so, when people took bipartisanship and respect for norms far more seriously than today, and hes just not going to cast doubt on a president-elects legitimacy. Its infuriating in this case, but its who he is at his core.

So it didnt surprise me. What did surprise me, though, was the implicit whack he took at Hillary Clintons campaign. Asked directly whether she lost because of the hacking, he said hed let the pundits fight that one out, asserted that he found much press coverage of her troubling, and delivered this sermonette:

What I've said is that I can maybe give some counsel advice to the Democratic Party. And I think the -- the -- the thing we have to spend the most time on -- because it's the thing we have most control over -- is, how do we make sure that we're showing up in places where I think Democratic policies are needed, where they are helping, where they are making a difference, but where people feel as if they're not being heard?

And where Democrats are characterized as coastal, liberal, latte- sipping, you know, politically correct, out-of-touch folks, we have to be in those communities. And I've seen that, when we are in those communities, it makes a difference. That's how I became president. I became a U.S. Senator not just because I had a strong base in Chicago, but because I was driving downstate Illinois and going to fish fries and sitting in V.F.W. Halls and talking to farmers.

And I didn't win every one of their votes, but they got a sense of what I was talking about, what I cared about, that I was for working people, that I was for the middle class...

He went on for a bit longer. Now right about here I expected him to interrupt himself and say something like: Now of course I want to make it clear that I am not talking about Secretary Clinton here. She worked hard. She went to these places. Im just talking about going forward.

But he did not. Politicians, they generally know what theyre saying, and what theyre not saying, and they know what kind of speculation theyre going to invite by leaving something unsaid. So I thought it was pretty clear he was taking a swipe at her campaign. And I think what he said was unfair to herand more importantly, while it was true, it was very insufficient as a piece of political advice.

First of all, Clinton did go to those places. Heres the list of every speech she gave in October. Yes, there are plenty of big cities that she hit more than once. But she appeared in numerous mid- and small-market cities: In Iowa, she went to Dubuque, Sioux City, Waterloo, Ottumwa, Council Bluffs and Indianola. In Ohio, she hit Toledo, Akron, Athens, Steubenville, Youngstown, Canton, Gambier, Delaware, Athens, Grove City and Solon. In Michigan, she went to Saginaw, Flint, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Battle Creek, Taylor and Warren.

She did the same in other swing states. These cities arent exactly rural America, but most are regional hubs in red-to-purple areas or exurbs where the swing vote was high. Her campaign strategists may have made numerous mistakes, born of arrogance or whatever. But one thing you cant blame her for is not showing up. She did. She hit Wisconsin 10 times in October, which would seem to me to fly in the face of the recently congealed conventional wisdom that she could barely even find the state on a map. So that was unfair of Obama, if indeed he meant his words as a knock on her.

But heres the more important point. The very fact that she did show up in those places and still didnt carry them by and large, or carry them by enough to win outright, shows that Obamas advice isnt enough. Every Democrat goes to fish fries and VFW halls. But it isnt about just going there. Its what you say and how you act once you get there.

This is where some Democrats have problems. Lets write out of this equation the out-and-out-racists and so on and just talk about the winnable portions of the rural and/or white working-class vote. Those people arent highly educated, maybe, but they arent stupid. They have strong bullshit detectors. They may not be able to name it, but they can smell it when theyre being talked down to or when somebody just doesnt feel quite comfortable in their presence. They also, like anybody else, need to be able to walk out of a political rally thinking, I like her, she just said in plain English shes gonna do X.

Clinton had that second problem especially. Those post-election word clouds said it all. Trumps cloud featured words that reflected positionsawful positions, but positions all the same. Clintons was dominated by the word email, and while a lot of that was the medias fault, she could have and should have done more to make sure that jobs and economy appeared in there prominently.

In any case, Clinton is gone. But Obama wont be. Assuming he doesnt pull a Dubya and take up painting, hell be out there doing things. If he really thinks this is the Democrats number one problem, he can do better than cavil about ithe can help solve it by going to those places and selling his partys program in ways that make sense to those voters.
ISTANBUL  Russias ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot and killed in Ankara on Monday by a young Turkish policeman who cried out that it was revenge for Russian bombing that killed civilians in Aleppo, witnesses said.

Karlov was attending the opening of a photography exhibition at a city gallery close to the U.S. Embassy when the assailant approached him and fired at close range.

Turkish officials said the ambassador was taken to the hospital, but reporters who attended the gallery opening said he had not been removed from the building. Russian state media has confirmed Karlovs death.

The attack occurred shortly after 7 p.m. local time, and reporters arriving at the scene a half hour later said they heard gunfire from within the building. TV footage, captured on Turkish channel TRT, shows Karlov doubling over and collapsing after being shot from behind while addressing a crowd from a podium. The gunman then comes into view, raises a finger in the air and points his weapon at unseen targets off-screen. One eyewitness said that the assailant spoke Turkish.The gunman was dressed in a black suit, the standard plainclothes uniform for protective security details, and got into the event by claiming to be Karlovs bodyguard, witnesses said.As he started to fire, he shouted in Turkish that he was avenging the deaths of civilians in Aleppo and in Arabic that his action was a part of jihad or holy war."We will not forget Aleppo, we will not forget Syria, he said in Turkish. "No one can be safe as long as our brothers there are not. Get out of my way.Then he declared in Arabic, "Allahu Akbar! (God is great!), and quoted a follower of the Prophet Mohamad, 'We are the ones who pledged Bai'a (fealty) to Mohammed on the terms of jihad as long as we live.''

Several Turkish media outlets are now reporting his identity as 22-year-old riot policeman Mevlut Mert Altintas and the mayor of Ankara has said that he was off-duty at the time of the incident. The Daily Beast cannot confirm this information.

According to Russian news website Gazeta.ru, the shooter allowed people to exit the art gallery after he shot the ambassador.

The Russian Embassy in Turkey tweeted confirmation of Karlov's death at around 1 p.m. EST: "At 19:50 the Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Gennadievich Karlov was taken to Gyuven hospital," it stated, "where we were informed at 20:30 of his death."

The assassination occurred on the eve of a scheduled meeting of Russian, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers to discuss next steps in the Syria crisis after the Assad regime, with the help of Russian airstrikes and Iranian-commanded Shiite militias, captured rebel-held East Aleppo and expelled tens of thousands of civilians.

The last convoys were expected to move Tuesday, Turkish officials said.***Reaction in both Russia and Turkey has been swift, incensed and conspiratorial.Alexey Pushkov, the former head of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian State Duma, or lower house of parliament, has claimed the killing was a direct result of media "hysteria" concerning Aleppo, purveyed by "enemies" of Moscow. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a far-right Russian nationalist parliamentarian, claimed that the West orchestrated the shooting to prevent Turkish-Russian rapprochement following close to a year of a breach, which has gradually narrowed in recent months.Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova issued a statement: "Terrorism will not pass! We will fight it resolutely. Memory of this outstanding Russian diplomat, a man who did so much to counter terrorism in his diplomatic line of work, Andrei Gennadyevich Karlov, will remain in our hearts forever.""We have questions for Turkey, that failed to provide security for a such a high-profile diplomat. I have no doubts that radical islamists moved the murder's hand and it does not matter if they were from [ISIS] or from Jabhat al-Nusra Front," Russian senator Franz Klinzewitsch said today, referring to the al-Qaeda franchise in Syria. "The purpose is clear: they wanted to pay a revenge to our country for Syria and at the same time to try and cause a forehead to forehead confrontation between Russia and Turkey." Meanwhile, pro-government journalists in Turkey are beginning to suggest that the assassin was affiliated with the Islamist movement of exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is widely blamed in the country for orchestrating last July's abortive coup. (He lives in the Poconos of Pennsylvania and Turkey is seeking his extradition from the United States.)Tens of thousands of Turkish officials and public employees have been arrested in a sweeping national dragnet following the failed putsch, although Altintas does not appear to have been one of them.Ankara's mayor, too, has suggested that Gulenists were ultimately behind the assassination.

***Turkish-Russian relations reached a nadir in November 2015 after after the Turkish Air Force downed a Russian fighter jet that had briefly entered Turkish airspace en route from a bombing raid in Syria. One of the pilots who ejected from the hit warplane was subsequently killed by Syrian rebels as he parachuted down.

The episode led to the suspension of trade, touristic and other commercial endeavors and a period of great acrimony between the two countries. Russia implemented a blockade on Turkish imports such as a cotton, and Vladimir Putin responded militarily, refocusing his intervention in Syria on destroying Turkish-backed rebels operating in the mountainous coastal region of Latakia and Idlib provinces.

Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan issued what amounted to an apology for downing the plane, Ankara and Moscow revived their relationship to a remarkable extent.

Putin was the first foreign leader to call Erdogan after the July coup attempt to offer his unconditional support to the surviving government. Then, in August, Erdogan sought Russias consent to deploy Turkish forces into northern Syria as part of the months-long Operation Euphrates Shield, which was waged both to eliminate the presence of Islamic State militants at the Turkish-Syrian border but also to block any attempts by U.S.-backed Kurdish militias, seen as affiliates of a proscribed terrorist organization by the Turkish state, from carving out a separatist enclave.

Also, in yet another show of diplomatic rehabilitation, the initial ceasefire and evacuation agreement for trapped civilians and rebels in Eastern Aleppo was brokered by Turkey and Russia. Bashar al-Assads regime, and his Iranian patrons, were not consulted.

Now, with the ambassador's death, Turkey's fragile peace with Russia may be in peril.

With additional reporting by Duygu Guvenc in Ankara and Pierre Vaux in London and Anna Nemtsova in Moscow
In the summer of 1940, three British authors writing under the nom de screed of Cato issued a vicious polemic against Neville Chamberlain and the cadre of British appeasers who had provided Adolf Hitler the running room he needed to begin his conquest of Europe. When Guilty Men hit the scene, it was a scathing critique of the British leadership class in the inter- and pre-War years with the object lesson of their failure playing out as Hitler drove British forces from the continent at Dunkirk. His forces had by that moment occupied France, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Poland.

The primus inter pares of the Guilty Men of World War II Britain was, of course, Neville Chamberlain. Chamberlains deep naivete over Hitlers intentions and abilities left Britain grossly unprepared to face the Nazis, and by the time it was clear how badly Chamberlain had misread Hitler, most of the continent was under the German chancellors boot.

For all he has been (rightly) demonized, history is replete with examples of missed signals, normalcy bias, and wishcasting in the face of dangerous, ambitious authoritarians, which is why the next administrations overtly pro-Putin tilt is so dangerous. Donald Trump and his enablers are sending all the wrong signals to the Putin kleptocracy at the very moment the Russian strongman appears ready to expand and secure more influence at home and abroad.

Like never in modern history, the incoming Trump team has made it clear they believe Putins Russia is an ally, not an adversary despite the obvious actions of a Russian government that has put American lives, values, and interests around the globe at risk. Putins U.S. allies, sympathizers, and fellow travelers may well be the Guilty Men in the new Cold War.

We can debate where we are in Cold War 2.0, but we shouldnt mistake the fact that we are in fact in one. The twilight struggle is now lit by flickering computer screens where Russian hackers and their troll armies work to sell the Kremlins new conquests. The slow-motion land grabs in Ukraine, Georgia, and Crimea arent as dramatic as German Panzers sweeping into Paris, but theyre just as real for the millions who feel a chill new wind blowing from Moscow. The grandsons of the architects of the Iron Curtain are looking anew at Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, and Sweden with an old hunger for control.

For generations, men and women in our defense and intelligence services fought against the Soviets ambitions across a spectrum of conflict, from battlefields to boardrooms to back alleys. It was waged between what one old Cold War hand described to me as, We werent always good guys, but we were always on the right side. Swept aside in the contemporary hysteria over radical Islam, the victory over the Soviet Unions oppression and tyranny ended without a nuclear exchange, which took more luck and more doing than most people realize. As we are wont to do as a nation, we said, Well, the Wall is down and the East is open for business and let the lessons of the past drop away.

In many ways, the speed and scope of the victory over Soviet Communism led us to the current gray area. American leadershipthe Obama-Clinton State Departments fatuous, naive Russian Reset as one bad, dumb exampleseems unable to process how we should respond to modern Russian statecraft that plays to their asymmetric strengths; a commitment to intelligence warfare, a clinical, bloody-minded willingness to pursue their ends in places like Ukraine and Syria, and their disdain for international norms or sanction.

In the past week, Donald Trump has routinely attacked the assessment of the CIA and 16 other intelligence agencies that the Russian government sought to actively influence the outcome of the American election. It must warm to cockles of whatever Vladimir Putin calls a heart to hear the president-elect of the United States attacking Americas intelligence agencies, and defending the GRU, SVR, and FSB. He has reportedly begun to indulge in a theory that the intelligence community is out to get him. As noted by John Schindler, wars with the intelligence community only end one way; disaster.

More importantly, conservative elected leaders and Trumps clickbait conservative media allies are either mocking or ignoring the abundant evidence of Russian involvement. Yes, the irony is striking, given the Trump demographics willingness to swallow even the most absurd news as long as it strokes their resentments and preconceptions.

The same people who believe that every single Muslim refugee is a fully-vested member of ISIS intent on waging jihad at the local mall cant imagine that Russian strongman Vladimir Putins intentions toward us arent entirely benevolent. The same people who believe that 3 million illegal immigrants organized a massive, stealthy vote-stealing operation on behalf of Hillary Clinton hand-wave away the long, endlessly documented history of Russian intelligence services efforts to disrupt American interests, alliances, and institutions.

The same people who believe Hillary Clinton and John Podesta sit atop a global organization of child kidnapping, rape, cannibalism, and murder based on pizza joints scream their lungs out denying even the possibility of Russian interference in our elections. The same people who believe in a multi-generational conspiracy to cover up Barack Obamas actual country of origin call a Russian effort to elect Trump too baroque and complex to contemplate.

Im not the first to point out that if the shoe was on the other foot, Republicans would be living in quite a different political framework. As a thought experiment, imagine for even a moment the eternal, apoplectic, spittle-flecked rage youd see from Fox news hosts, talk radio, and the fever-swamp media if Hillary Clinton had won, and there was even a whisper of a hint of a rumor that the Russians had helped her. Republicans wouldnt simply be asking about the details of their involvement, but theyd be engaged in a constant examination of the Russians intent. (Hell, who am I kidding? The word impeachment would never leave our lips.)

Responsible American leaders will examine Russias behavior and the current climate in a cold-eyed and clear way. Congressional leadership has realized this isnt a game. For the good of the nation, we should hope theyll weigh the threats facing America more as Churchills than Chamberlains and pursue the truth with at least the vigor given to Benghazi affair and other congressional investigations. Simply because the incoming administration is filled with a Putin fanboys is no reason for members of Congress and the Senate to abdicate their oversight responsibilities.

As for Trump and his pro-Putin claque? They may well become this generations Guilty Men.
On Monday, members of the Electoral College are meeting in state capitals throughout the nation, with the expectation that they will follow tradition and formally make Donald Trump the next president of the United States.

The divisive nature of his campaign and the fact he lost the popular vote by an unprecedented margin in modern American history has brought the Electoral College to the top of mind of many citizens who wonder whether electors are bound to the popular vote or whether they were expected by the Founding Fathers to exercise independent judgment. As I detail in my book The Framers Coup, the Constitutional Convention negotiations that created the compromise of the Electoral College may shed some light on the Framers original intention.

In the summer of 1787, the delegates in Philadelphia who were writing the United States Constitution mostly agreed on the importance of establishing a very powerful president. Figuring out how to select that president proved to be a more vexing problem.

For most of the convention, the delegates had agreed that Congress would choose the president, who would be made ineligible for re-election in order to ensure his independence from the institution that selected him. Most delegates opposed the direct popular election of the president.

George Mason, an important Virginia delegate, declared that it would be as unnatural to refer the choice of a proper character for chief magistrate to the people as it would be to refer a trial of colors to a blind man. Roger Sherman of Connecticut objected that the people would never be sufficiently informed about candidates from other states and thus would generally vote for some man in their own state, which would mean that the largest state will have the best chance for the appointment.

After endless debates, the convention eventually delegated the issue to a committee, which proposed that the president be chosen by special electors, whose appointment would be made according to a method specified by state legislatures. Because the body of electors would have no perpetual life, it would have no particular interests to defend. A president selected in this fashion would not be dependent upon the institution selecting him.

Moreover, the electors would presumably be prominent people of superior knowledge and independence, which is what inclined the delegates to consider entrusting them with a task as important as choosing the president.

The committee also specified that electors would cast ballots in their home states in order to preclude, in Gouverneur Morriss words, the great evil of cabal. Requiring that electors in the different states meet simultaneously throughout the country made it impossible to corrupt them.

The issue of how to apportion presidential electors naturally provoked disagreement between large and small state delegations. The committee proposed a compromise: Each states number of presidential electors would equal its number of congressional representatives plus its two senators. Small states would fare better than if the apportionment had been based strictly upon population, yet large states still derived a substantial advantage from their greater populations, as reflected in their number of congressional representatives.

Because the number of electors depended partly on a states number of congressional representatives, the power of Southern states in the Electoral College would reflect their slave populations (because five slaves were counted the same as three free persons for purposes of apportioning the House). Without such a concession, Southern delegates would never have agreed to this mechanism for selecting the president.

In addition, the committee proposed that no candidate could be elected president without securing the votes of a majority of the electors appointed. If no candidate received such a majority, then the Senate (according to the committees proposal) would choose the president from among the top five vote-getters.

Convention delegates mostly assumed that presidential candidates would rarely win outright majorities in the Electoral Collegeat least once George Washington had ceased to be a candidate. The vast geographic scope of the countryespecially in an era of relatively primitive transportation and communicationwould prevent presidential candidates from becoming widely known or coordinating their campaigns across states. Thus, Mason predicted that 19 times in 20 the president would be chosen by the Senate.

The choice of the Senate was a sop to the small states, whose influence would be much greater there than in the House. In essence, the Senate, in which small states would exercise equal clout, would choose the president from among the candidates nominated by the Electoral College, in which the large states would exercise greater influence.

However, several delegates then objected to the Senate being the de facto selector of the president on the grounds that the Senate and the president were slated to jointly exercise the powers of appointment and treaty making. Mason warned that if a coalition should be established between these two branches, they will be able to subvert the Constitution.

Connecticuts Roger Sherman responded by suggesting instead that the House choose the president when no candidate won the votes of a majority of the electors appointed. Because his proposal, which the convention approved, prescribed that the House vote on selecting the president be by state delegation rather than individual representatives, small-state influence would be preserved.

***

But for the last 200 years, the Electoral College system has not worked the way the Framers intended. Many Framers anticipated that state legislatures would pick electors, rather than turning the selection over to voters.

All of the Framers anticipated that the electors, however chosen, would exercise independent judgment in selecting the president, yet they ceased to do so almost immediately (because political parties, which the Framers were not anticipating, began running slates of electors pledged to support the parties candidates). Finally, the Framers anticipated that candidates would rarely if ever win the votes of a majority of electors, meaning that the House would pick the presidentsomething that, in fact, has happened only once in American history.

While the original understanding of the Constitution clearly contemplates electors exercising independent judgment, unwritten norms that have evolved over more than two centuries dictate (with only trivial exceptions) that the electors simply rubber-stamp the result of the popular vote in their states.

Functioning democracies depend at least as much on respect for such unwritten norms as on fidelity to the Constitutions written text. For that reason, for Republican electors on Dec. 19, 2016, to vote against Donald Trump would amount nearly to a coup against democracy.

Yet one cannot fail to note the ironyand to recognize the dangerin the electors choosing as president a candidate who has systematically flouted many other unwritten norms of democracy. Before the election, Trump repeatedly refused to state that he would accept the legitimacy of the outcome if he lost. He has challenged the notions of an independent judiciary and a free press. Trump has also encouraged foreign intervention in the American presidential election (which, it turns out, actually occurred), threatened to have his political opponent thrown in jail if he won the election, and regularly encouraged violence at his political rallies. These are not the statements and actions of someone who respects democracy.

For Trumps opponents to remain committed to the unwritten norms of democracy while he himself has regularly flouted them is not only ironic but also potentially suicidal. Unilateral disarmament rarely works out well for its practitioners. In addition, there is a nontrivial risk that Trump, under a particular set of conditions (a major terrorist attack, a foreign war that it will be largely within his control to instigate), will be both inclined and able to further subvert American democracy. Were that to happen, one might well look back at the Electoral Colleges decision as the last best chance to have stymied him.

But, of course, one never has the luxury of knowing in advance how history will turn out. In my (uncertain) opinion, Trump has not done enough since the election to justify the Republican electors rejecting the unwritten norm that the winner of a states popular vote in a presidential election is entitled to that states electoral votes.

The fact that Trump has already systematically flouted democracys unwritten norms doesnt mean that everybody else can do so without hastening the demise of our democracy. Should Trump attempt during his presidency to subvert democratic norms more than he has already done, the American people will still have ample opportunity to determine whether he succeeds in doing so.















'City of Light' is the fifth and final episode of Telltale's 'Batman', following ' Realm of Shadows ', ' Children of Arkham ', ' New World Order ', and ' Guardian of Gotham '. We didn't see a lot of exposition or clarity in the last episode, so we're expecting big things from Telltale for this final outing.

The Game Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

The quality of Telltale's episodes have waxed and waned of late. Last year they had a good run with 'Game of Thrones' and 'Borderlands', but this year they have struggled with their 'Minecraft', 'Michonne', and definitely this Batman series. It's not just the endless technical problems, it's inconsistency in the script, plot holes, the occasional weak actor, and above all, why? Why do we need to Telltale a Batman story? Are they going to do something no one else has in the last 80 years of the Dark Knight's escapades?

It turns out that they have, more or less. Despite weaker entries like 'Guardian of Gotham', the run has been kept afloat by darlings like 'Children of Arkham' and now, firmly, 'City of Light'. This is the climax and disposition we have been waiting for - maybe not the ending we deserve, but the ending we definitely needed right now.

The storyline has been flimsy and character development has been spotty, but in 'City of Light' I can with certainty describe it as neither. Telltale has meandered their way to the nitty gritty of a good story - believable characters who do more than just spout off comic book melodrama. They are not just a collection of gadgets, mental disorders, and one-liners - they're actually pretty interesting.

Take, for instance, Selina Kyle. She has a five-minute scene in this episode that sheds more light on her motivations than the entirety of the other four episodes combined. It's conversation only, between her and one-time lover Wayne, and it's excellent. This is the kind of stuff we want in every episode, not just the finale. Harvey Dent, descending quickly into the murderous persona of Two-Face, has been cartoonish up until this point. In another of this episode's great scenes, he has a denouement with Wayne and shrugs off the cartoon, becoming an actual villain. Not just an evil creature, but one with human origins and at least a shred of sympathy.

Speaking of sympathy, there's Lady Arkham herself. Admittedly a rather lame persona for a completely unexpected alter ego, Arkham's motives and origins have been puzzling. 'City of Light' unwraps her backstory flawlessly, giving the audience a chance to understand her side of the story after a heartbreaking development. And, instead of focusing solely on the antagonists to move the plot forward, Telltale effortlessly writes Wayne and Batman through all of these encounters. Sometimes he takes the backseat so they can shine in the spotlight, and other times he asks the hard questions that makes even the endlessly self-righteous Lady Arkham pause with doubt.

Not all is perfect - there are a few loose ends just begging to be tied off. There are big ones like the Wayne parents and the berserk cop from episode 2, not to mention the general state of Gotham after it was destroyed by evildoers yet again. There are small ones like the big blue mutant guy from the first episode (who is that guy? Blockbuster?), and of course the Penguin, who was such an annoying character that I actually don't mind if he's completely written out. (As for the Penguin, replay is your friend. -BH) Perhaps these loose ends are oversights, or they are intended to be developed in further seasons, or there just wasn't enough time to get everything on screen in a satisfactory manner. Ultimately, the rest of the episode can stand on its own
Unless the 56-year-old Millinocket, Maine, man is sleeping or bathing, his beloved horns are rarely far from his scalp.

It's been that way since he first laid eyes on the horns at a Pagan men's group gathering in 2009. A friend whose goat had recently died offered the horns to group members. Nobody else wanted the dead goat's hardware; Moonsong couldn't believe his luck

So he took the horns home, drilled small holes in each one and attached them to his forehead using stretchy, 50-pound fishing line that he wrapped around his head like an invisible skull cap.

His life was never the same.

"As a practicing Pagan minister and a priest of Pan, I've come to feel very attached to the horns, and they've become a part of me and part of my spirituality," Moonsong said, noting that he periodically soaks the horns in patchouli and cedar oil to keep them fresh and leathery. "The horns are part of my religious attire."

Moonsong feels so attached to his horns that he refuses to take them off for anyone - including the state of Maine. In August, Moonsong said, officials at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Bangor told him that he would need to remove the horns to receive a state-issued ID.

When he tried to explain to bureau employees that he is a "Priest of Pan" - one who considers the horns his "spiritual antenna" - they were not moved. They told that the horns would have to be approved by Maine's secretary of state.

"She told me that I had to send in some documentation or religious text to show why it was required for me to have my horns on," Moonsong said. "I said, 'OK, I'll go ahead and do that,' but it seemed like an onerous requirement."

Moonsong said he sent the state a personal essay explaining the importance of his horns, along with four scholarly works, including one titled "Pagan Religions: A Handbook for Diversity Training."

Though he didn't realize it at the time, Moonsong had joined a religious freedom battle that is being fought in DMV offices around the country.

At least 30 states offer residents high levels of constitutional protection for religious expression, some of them even higher than the protection offered by the Constitution's First Amendment, according to Charles Haynes, the founding director of the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute.

"Generally speaking, even in states without a high level of protection, officials have to have a pretty good reason for saying no to a religious accommodation for a driver's license photo," Haynes said. "How strong that reason needs to be depends on where you live."

But it also depends on the quality of the citizen's case, Haynes said. When people argue for the right to cover their faces in a driver's license photo - such as a Muslim woman who believes it's immodest to uncover her face - states often have the upper hand because it's in the interest of the state to assist police in being able to identify people.

"However," Haynes added, "if the person's religious garb doesn't cover the face or obstruct law enforcement, those folks are likely to win."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Christian woman who accuses DMV officials of discriminating against her by refusing to make a religious accommodation. Yvonne Allen says she was forced to remove her headscarf - which she wears for religious reasons - to have a photo taken for her driver's license, according to the complaint.

"When Ms. Allen explained her religious beliefs," the complaint states, "the county officials responded with a remarkable claim: They admitted that there was a religious accommodation available for head coverings, but contended that it applied only to Muslims."

"They also ridiculed Ms. Allen's sincerely held religious beliefs, with the Chief Clerk informing her that she was herself a Christian and did not cover her head," the complaint adds. "Left with no choice if she wished to renew her license, Ms. Allen - with tears in her eyes and feeling sick to her stomach over the violation of her religious beliefs - removed her head covering."

Heather L. Weaver, senior staff attorney for the ACLU's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, said DMV offices sometimes rule in favor of one faith and against another not because of bigotry so much as ignorance.

"Sometimes it comes down to them not understanding certain faiths," Weaver said. "That's when we come in to educate DMV officials about particular religious headgear and explain that something is a legitimate religious belief that should be accommodated in the same way you might accommodate a Jewish yarmulke."

Allen's case is ongoing, but Moonsong said he managed to avoid hiring a lawyer and filing a lawsuit.

After several months of waiting to hear from the state's motor vehicle office following his initial visit, he says he informed the bureau that he was in touch with the ACLU. His ID arrived in the mail days later, he says.

A spokeswoman for the Maine secretary of state told the Bangor Daily News that Moonsong had not mentioned that the horns were religious in nature during his initial BMV visit.

"He did not cite religious reasons," said the spokeswoman, Kristen Muszynski. "There are exceptions for religious headdress."

The newspaper reported that the state of Maine follows American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators guidelines, which state that license photos "may only show the cardholder with headgear, if the cardholder is a member of a religion requiring the wearing thereof and provided that the headgear does not present as an obstruction or present a shadow and render the portrait inadequate for the identification of the cardholder."

Moonsong, who changed his name earlier this year, said he was "elated" with the result of his BMV battle - not only for himself but for others who quietly share some of his beliefs.

"A lot of Pagans are in the closet and - as with the LGBT crowd - there's a lot of misconceptions and discrimination that they face," he said.

"Many practicing Pagans are afraid of being public," Moonsong added, "but when they see my horns it reminds them it's okay to be yourself."

There are personal benefits to having an ID as well, he noted. Though he doesn't drive, Moonsong will finally be able to use his ID to board a plane to California, where some of the best Pagan festivals are found.

"I'm very excited," he said.
DES MOINES  Five more industrial sites in Iowa have been certified as "development ready" by state officials, raising the hopes of officials in Forest City, Osage, Waterloo, Clinton and Grinnell of landing large projects with good-paying jobs for their communities.

The announcement Monday by Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham brought to 16 the number of Iowa industrial locations that have met the stringent criteria set by a third-party rating agency.

"We are moving Iowa to the top of the list for projects that are looking for a home," Branstad said at his weekly news conference. "Those projects mean more jobs and income for Iowans," he said.

Osage's 75-acre South Mitchell County Industrial Site is suitable for bioscience, ag-related and advanced manufacturing operations, according to a statement from the Mitchell County Economic Development Commission.

Mitchell County, the city of Osage, Heartland Power Cooperative and Osage Municipal Utilities were outstanding partners in this process and are the reason we can celebrate this accomplishment," said Mitchell County EDC Executive Director Brenda Dryer.

The site is located between March Avenue, 325th Street and Orchard Road, about 11 miles from the Avenue of the Saints and 33 miles from Interstate 35.

Forest City's 68-acre Rail Park is adjacent to Winnebago Industries and the 3M distribution center. The heavy industrial site, which has rail access as its name suggests, is suitable for a transload, distribution or logistics facility.

Its a continuation of our long-term plan for industrial development in Forest City, said Beth Bilyeu, executive director of Forest City Economic Development.

The Rail Park is served by Iowa Northern Railway with terminals in Manly, Waterloo and Shell Rock. It's within 15 miles of Interstate 35.

Forest City Rail Park gets project-ready status FOREST CITY  The Forest City Rail Park is ready for development and has the states certifi

The state program, started in 2012, previously certified sites and parks in Mason City, Van Meter, Dexter, Iowa Falls, Fort Dodge, Norwalk, Perry, Davenport, Middletown, Cedar Rapids and Marion.

There has been more than $490 million worth of activity on sites or parks within the program, Durham said.

Mason City's 145-acre shovel-ready site, Indianhead South, is within 1 mile of the Avenue of the Saints and 8 miles of Interstate 35, according to North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corp. CEO/President Chad Schreck.

"It is an intensive process that took us almost two years," Schreck said via email.

It has major utilities to meet requirements of major businesses, such as industrial, distribution or food processing. The site is located near where the Prestage Foods of Iowa pork processing plant was to be built.

By going through the state process, communities are better prepared to market their sites with specific site-related information and community data, state officials said. All site due diligence is completed and resulting issues are mitigated, making the site "risk-free" and thus accelerating the development schedule.

Globe Gazette staff contributed to this report.
The Disability Rights & Resource Center in Rocky Mount has funding available to assist with modifications to homes and rental units for veterans.

Through a partnership with the Virginia Housing and Development Authority and the Virginia Department of Veteran Services, DRRC will offer this assistance to veterans in the counties of Franklin, Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania and the cities of Martinsville and Danville.

These modifications will make the homes and rental units accessible for service members and veterans who sustained a line-of-duty injury resulting in a service-connected disability, according to Tom Mason with the DRRC.

Applications will be accepted by DRRC on behalf of the homeowner or tenant and will be processed on a first come, first served basis.

The home or rental unit requiring modifications must be the primary principal residence of the individual with a disability.

Typical modifications include but are not limited to:

*Installation of ramps and/or chairlifts

*Widening of doorways and sidewalks

*Remote entry devices

*Alterations to bathrooms (tub cuts, grab bars, toilets, faucets, etc.) and kitchens.

For information and eligibility requirements, contact the DRRC at (540) 482-0752 or info@drrcva.org.
Three-quarters of the residents in Franklin County are just a hairs breadth away from becoming homeless.

Thats a message delivered to sixth-graders in Jane Wades class at Benjamin Franklin Middle School recently.

The class had an assignment to research homelessness in Franklin County, and many of the students who contacted public and community officials in Rocky Mount and the county were referred to STEPs Brenda Manning, supportive services director. Manning directs and manages the agencys homeless prevention program and offered to come to the class to make a presentation to the students.

Seventy-five percent of households are one catastrophic event from homelessness, Manning told the students.

Catastrophic events include job loss, death of the family breadwinner, and a fire or other event that destroys a familys home and property. If an individual or family does not have resources to deal with such situations, they very well may become homeless, she said.

Its hard to pin a number on how many homeless people there actually are in Franklin County because they are invisible, Manning said. Unlike more urban areas and cities where you might see homeless people sitting on park benches or walking the streets, the homeless in rural communities are more likely to be sleeping in cars or abandoned buildings, somewhere out of sight, she explained.

Nonetheless, homelessness does put a strain on public resources, such as jails, hospitals, emergency rooms, court systems, law enforcement, social services and other human service organizations.

The cost to provide these community resources to a homeless person can be upwards of $60,000 per year per person, while the cost to house and otherwise help that person from becoming homeless is far less, only $15,000 per year, she said.

Finding a solution to homelessness begins with awareness, Manning explained.

There is also great need for more affordable public housing and more crisis funding, Manning said. STEP helps to address the issue of poverty and homelessness through its Virginia Housing Solutions Program (VHSP) Homeless Prevention and the Rapid Re-Housing programs.

The Homelessness Prevention program provides financial assistance and ongoing case management services (working with clients over time to ensure their continued success) for low-income families and individuals who are at risk of losing their rented home.

Rapid Re-Housing provides emergency financial assistance to homeless veterans, individuals and families in Franklin, Patrick, Henry and Pittsylvania counties, and in the cities of Martinsville and Danville.

As with all community action agencies, services are dependent upon funding and support from the communities they serve, Manning said. Being aware of the situation and the need is a great first step to solving homelessness.
MASON CITY  A former state trooper who received a suspended two-year prison sentence Monday for stealing pills from the Mason City post's evidence room apologized in court for his behavior.

I am ashamed of my actions, said Michael Haugen, 32, Forest City, who was put on probation for two years for aggravated misdemeanor counts of third-degree theft and tampering with records.

He said he stole the pills because he became addicted to opioid painkillers after he was prescribed the drugs for painful intestinal disorders.

Haugen said the last 3 years have been absolute hell, noting addiction affects the frontal lobe, the part of the brain that controls judgment.

Haugen asked for a deferred judgment, meaning his convictions would be expunged from his record if he successfully completes probation.

District Court Judge Colleen Weiland said she agrees that but for your addiction you would not have committed these crimes.

Addiction is not a character flaw, she said.

However, Weiland said, she believes a suspended prison sentence is appropriate because of the repeated nature of Haugens crimes, which took place from 2014 to 2016.

Weiland sentenced Haugen to suspended two-year prison sentences on each count, but ordered them to be served concurrently

Haugen was fined $625 in addition to surcharges and court costs. A second $625 fine was suspended.

Haugen was accused of taking approximately 150 prescription pills valued at more than $500 from six criminal cases.

Officials say that Haugen, one of three evidence room custodians, admitted to taking drugs stored in the room a total 18 times and replacing them with other pills, such as aspirin.

The thefts were discovered in April during an evidence room audit.

Haugen resigned his post June 6, citing addiction to opioid painkillers. He was charged four days later with third-degree theft and a felony count of falsifying public documents.

He pleaded guilty in October to third-degree theft and a reduced charge of tampering with records. Both carry a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison.

Iowa Assistant Attorney General Coleman McAllister recommended Haugen receive a suspended prison sentence of up to two years on each count. He also recommended consecutive sentencing, meaning he would serve up four years in prison if his probation was revoked.

This is someone who should know better, McAllister said.

He said Haugen not only abused the trust he had been given as a law enforcement officer, but also potentially harmed other criminal investigations and prosecutions by stealing the drugs.

Haugens attorney, Christine Branstad, said her client has no previous criminal record and has received substance abuse treatment and counseling.

She referred to numerous letters of support Haugen received from other law enforcement officers, neighbors and friends, as well as an anonymous letter stating Haugen helped the individual face addiction and find sobriety.

Haugen, a married father of two, is now working full-time for his fathers construction business.

After the sentencing hearing, Haugen said he knows there are a lot of people suffering from addiction and he wants to help by letting them know you are not alone and help is available if you ask for it.
State Volleyball Championship Round Live Blog

Get live updates from the state high school volleyball championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
MASON CITY | Jason Baumann, a native of Mason City, is the new general manager of the North Iowa Events Center.

He replaces Julie Lonning, who has moved out of town.

Baumann, 39, grew up in North Iowa, attended North Iowa Area Community College and moved east where he attended both Quincy College and the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

He has owned and operated Heartland Advantage LLC in Mason City, a computer-aided design company. Baumann said the job required a lot of travel and took him away from his wife and two children often. He said the job at the events center fits his desire to take on a new challenge in a job where he can stay close to home.

In New England, he worked in guest services with Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Boston and donor services at Massachusetts General Hospital, also in Boston. He said those jobs provided him with experience in guest services, philanthropy and non-profit fundraising. At the hospital he participated in a $1.5 billion fundraising campaign.

"I couldn't be more thrilled to begin my new role and it has my complete focus," he said. "There's a lot of excitement as we look ahead to 2017 and beyond."

He said he has already initiated discussions with several youth groups about implementing a junior board of directors for the North Iowa Fair Association.

"I feel this will be a great opportunity to involve our youth, learn their ideas and add new life to the organization," he said.
NORWALK  The fleet of candidates challenging longtime Harbormaster Michael Griffin is growing.

As of Friday, the Norwalk Harbor Management Commission had received at least nine applications for the position of state of Connecticut harbormaster for Norwalk. The applicants are Griffin, Bob Minion, Donald Steiner, Gregg Scully, Jeff Mangels, Paul Saviano, Tony DAndrea, Clyde Mount and Jeffrey Freidag.

This does not necessarily mean that we are taking a position regarding the current harbormaster, said Jan Schaefer, a member of the NHMC Nomination Committee. Were not saying the position is vacant. Hes been serving a long time and hes been doing a good job. We just want to see what other candidates are out there.

Schaefer said the NHMC plans to make a recommendation to Gov. Dannel P. Malloys office early next year on whom it believes should fill the post for the next three years.

The large slate  three times the minimum number of names to be submitted to the governors office  comes amidst an undercurrent of concern that Griffin overstepped his authority in the summer by appearing as a law enforcement officer, stopping boaters on the harbor while wearing a uniform and a visible sidearm on his hip.

State job, local duties

Under state law, the governor is charged with appointing harbormasters and must choose from a list of no fewer than three nominees submitted by the local harbor management commission.

Schaefer said the NHMC will put forward at least three names and possibly more for the governor to consider and likely make a recommendation as to which one it believes is the best candidate. Whomever Malloy appoints will serve a three-year term.

Although Connecticut harbormasters are state employees charged with ensuring the safe and efficient operation of harbors and navigable waterways, they work closely with the local community.

State law requires them to exercise their duties in a manner consistent the locally adopted harbor management plan.

Harbormasters work at the local level in close coordination with the Harbor Management Commission, where one exists, or with other municipal authorities as appropriate, said Dennis Schain, spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which now oversees the program.

Such coordination primarily entails issuing mooring permits, dealing with abandoned vessels and addressing other local navigation issues, Schain said.

We review and approve harbor management plans and work with harbor management commissions, Schain said. But the real connection is locally, where the issues arise and need to be resolved, not in Hartford.

Not law enforcement officers

The responsibilities of the Norwalk harbormaster, under the citys Harbor Management Plan, include administering, placing and inspecting harbor moorings as well as assisting the Norwalk Police Department and U.S. Coast Guard on compliance with local, state and federal laws governing the harbor.

During this years boating season, Griffin, who has been Norwalks harbormaster since 1992, appears to have overstepped his authority. A boater filed a complaint with police, saying that Griffin pulled him over wearing a uniform with official-looking patch and with a holstered handgun visibly worn on the hip.

Mr. Griffin was forthright when questioned and advised that he did in fact stop the boat for speeding, Norwalk Police Chief Thomas E. Kulhawik said Friday.

He was advised that this was beyond the scope of his authority and to cease future actions of this nature, the chief said. Further, he was advised that by his dress and open carry of a firearm, it could confuse others into believing that he had law enforcement powers and was also advised that this was also to cease.

Kulhawik said Griffin agreed to cooperate and apologized for his actions. After consultation with the states attorneys office in Norwalk, the matter was closed with a warning issued to Griffin and clarification to him of his powers as harbormaster, Kulhawik said.

Griffin offered a different version of the incident Friday.

He said he was on the water, anchored, having lunch and not wearing his uniform or carrying his sidearm when he instructed a speeding boater to slow down.

I recognize the fact that Im not a certified law enforcement officer, Griffin said. But when someone flagrantly breaks the law and a violation occurs directly in front of you its necessary to try to educate the person.

Schain said the state doesnt require or prohibit harbormasters from wearing a shirt, jacket or other clothing with wording identifying them as harbormasters. Impersonating a law enforcement official is another matter.
LAKE MILLS  Joyce Imler, 59, of Lake Mills, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society in Forest City.

Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, at Asbury United Methodist Church, Lake Mills, with Pastor Rob Lanphere officiating.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Her body will be cremated after the funeral service and inurnment will take place at Sunnyside Cemetery in Lake Mills at a later date.

Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, is in charge of arrangements.
WILTON  Christmas trees, holiday candles and festive lights help set the mood for the winter holidays.

But they also increase the risk of home fires.

Every year, between 2009 and 2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 210 home fires that started with Christmas trees and an estimated average of 860 home fires that began with other holiday decorations  according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Although Wilton Fire Chief Ronald Kanterman hasnt come across any holiday home fires during his three years in town, he said it is important to remind the community to adhere to fire safety practices at this time of year.

First thing, people need to ensure that their smoke detector system is in good working order, especially during the holiday time, Kanterman said.

In general, the Wilton Fire Department advises community members to replace their smoke detector system every 10 years. The American Red Cross reported that having a working fire alarm reduces the risk of dying in a fire by 50 percent.

Another important fire safety practice Kanterman emphasized is to properly dispose of fireplace embers in a metal waste basket away from the house.

I think we learned the hard lesson in Connecticut in Stamford, when they cleaned out the fireplace and the fire wasnt completely out, Kanterman said, describing an accident that happened on Christmas Day in 2011.The embers set the porch on fire, burnt the house down and killed five people.

Kanterman also noted that the department starts to see more chimney fires once the weather gets colder.

The chimney fires, that comes from regular maintenance, he said. Make sure you have your chimney cleaned or swept once a year.

When it comes to Christmas trees and holiday decorations, Kanterman said it is crucial to check lights for any frayed ends or cracked bulbs and to replace them with new ones, and to never place holiday candles on a tree or leave them unattended.

The NFPA found that candles were the heat source in more than one-third of the home structure fires that began with decorations between 2009 and 2013, and that electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in more than one-third of home Christmas tree fires.

To reduce the risk of such fires, Wilton Fire Marshal Rocco Grosso said combustible objects and materials should be placed at least three feet away from a heated source, such as a space heater or fireplace.

He also mentioned another trouble spot for house fires during the holidays: the kitchen.

A lot of families are doing cooking for the holidays, so they need to observe proper kitchen safety, Grosso said. Try to avoid wearing loose clothing while cooking. Keep kids and pets out of the kitchen.

For more information, contact the fire department at 203-834-6249.

SKim@hearstmediact.com; 203-354-1044; @stephaniehnki
ORD  One nearly forgotten email helped an Ord teen find her advocacy passion.

Adrienne Meckel, 18 and a senior at Ord High School, was offered an opportunity by her boss to go to a leadership camp in Colorado. While at the camp, she heard a man speak about abortion and it opened her mind.

Thats really where I got started on the abortion topic, Meckel said.

As she strolled past booths at the conference, she gave out her email address for more information about Save the Storks and about bringing a movie to her community. Save the Storks is a pro-life organization that works with pregnancy resource centers to help women who think an abortion is their only choice. After returning from Colorado, Meckel forgot she signed up for more information on the organization until she got a call one day.

Meckel looked at her phone, puzzled at the Colorado number that showed up. She let it go to voicemail and later listened. It was Save the Storks, wondering if she wanted to help bring the movie Voiceless to her local movie theatre. Voiceless is a movie about a man who takes a stand against an abortion clinic that opened up across from his church.

That conversation around August with the Save the Storks representative was just the start of Meckels journey with the organization.

She was going to bring the movie to Burwells theatre, but the tickets wouldve been more expensive. Meckel decided to work with the Grand Island theatre in the Conestoga Mall. She needed to raise nearly $1,500 in a couple of weeks in order to show the movie.

Meckel recently asked her grandma to teach her how to make a pie, since shed never made one before. She thought she could put her novice pie skills to work and fund-raise by selling pies to community members. She made Facebook posts, desperate to spread the word about her pies and the movie.

Nothing was happening, Meckel said. I wasnt getting anyone that wanted to donate.

Being 17 at the time, Meckel couldnt just whip up $1,500. If she didnt fund-raise, shed fail at bringing the movie to the community. She was discouraged, but she prayed for some sort of help with the project.

When she was at work babysitting two young girls, Meckels phone kept lighting up.

What are you doing? the young girls asked Meckel.

Nothing right now, but I have a feeling Im going to be doing a whole lot later, she told them.

Meckel got to work right away. She and a friend harvested apples from Meckels grandpas tree.

Within a matter of minutes, there were 30 pies sold, she said.

She baked for 15 hours one day, making 32 pies and 9 crusts.

I was wearing a black t-shirt and it was not black anymore, Meckel said about her baking days.

Meckel ended up raising about $2,300 and donated the extra money to Save the Storks. A little more than 170 people showed up to the movie on Oct. 5.

The organization was impressed with how fast Meckel raised the money and how passionate she was about the organization. They wanted her to be an ambassador when she turned 18.

Now that shes old enough, shes spreading the word of the work that Save the Storks does. The organization sets up vans outside of abortion clinics, Meckel said. Save the Storks offers women free ultrasounds before they go through with a decision to abort their child.

Meckel said the abortion topic and what Save the Storks does pulls at her heartstrings. Shes passionate about it because she loves little kids and works with them. She looks up facts about abortion in her spare time so she can educate herself and others about the topic.

Now that shes an ambassador, Meckel is looking for places to speak about Save the Storks. Shes even trying to bring Voiceless to many area churches. This time, it wont cost her as much to bring the movie to town.

I find it crazy how, somehow, Voiceless worked its way back into the whole thing, Meckel said.

Meckels mom, Dana Sedlacek, said shes proud of her daughter for raising the money, working hard and finding her passion.

At first I just thought it was one of those things that she wasnt going to be interested in for very long, Sedlacek said. Its been really amazing to see her develop into such a passionate person.
CHARLES CITY  Kristin Kristy Marie Shultz, 47, of Charles City, died unexpectedly Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, at her home.

A funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City with Rev. Gary Mayer officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 at Our Lady of Lourdes Calvary Cemetery in rural Elma.

Visitation will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the funeral Mass at the church on Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers the family will be directing any memorials to causes close to Kristys heart and her sons ongoing education.

Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City is in charge of local arrangements.
MASON CITY | A Sheffield man arrested after a high-speed chase near Mason City last month has been sentenced to up to two years in prison.

Jared Joseph Hill, 27, received that sentence Friday for a misdemeanor count of eluding. A $625 fine was suspended.

He also was sentenced to 365 days in jail for misdemeanor interference with official acts and fined $315.

Sheffield man arrested after high-speed Avenue of the Saints chase MASON CITY  A Sheffield man has been charged with felony eluding and several misdemeanors f

Hill pleaded guilty to both counts.

Law enforcement began receiving complaints at 5:22 a.m. Nov. 24 about a vehicle driving through people's yards, according to Mason City Police Sgt. Greg Scott.

At 5:48 a.m. a police officer spotted a vehicle matching the description at Thrush Avenue and the Avenue of the Saints, according to Scott.

When the officer attempted to stop Hill, he took off at a high rate of speed and headed west on the Avenue, Scott said.

The vehicle allegedly reached speeds of 100 mph during the pursuit.

Hill took the off ramp at Highway 65, crossed the highway and went back onto the Avenue, according to Scott.

He abandoned the vehicle at the bottom of the off ramp and took off on foot, Scott said. Officers found him in a bean field a short distance away.

-- Mary Pieper
Glen Carbon Police Lt. Wayne White was honored by the Glen Carbon Board of Trustees for reaching a career milestone.

The Village Board, at its last regular meeting, presented a plaque to White for his 20 years of service to the Glen Carbon Police Department.

Glen Carbon Police Chief Todd Link said White has been an integral part of the police force.

Ive known him for many years, Link said. Hes a close friend and confidant and I couldnt have a better lieutenant and patrol commander. I appreciate everything he does and thank the board for recognizing him because he does a wonderful job.

White joined the police department in 1996. He has a Bachelor's of Science Degree from Illinois State and served as a patrol officer and sergeant before being promoted to lieutenant in 2014.

In his current position, White oversees all patrol duties and officer field training. He also works closely with the schools in Glen Carbon to ensure students have a safe and secure educational environment.

He also serves on the Glen Carbon Police Pension Board, the Collinsville School Board and the Maryville Police and Fire Commission.

Mayor Rob Jackstadt said White is an asset to the community.

Lt. Whites commitment to the community and his passion for civic duty sets the standard and is a driving force behind the success of the Glen Carbon Police Department, Jackstadt said.

White said he was thankful for the opportunity to work in the village.

I could not be any more sincere when I say thank you for giving me the opportunity to work in Glen Carbon, he said.

I couldnt have made a better choice in my career than joining the Glen Carbon Police Department. It has been wonderful for me and my family. Glen Carbon is a great community with tremendous support from the board and the mayor and the chief of police. I personally couldnt be happier and hope everyone realizes what a great community this is.
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Linkedin Ricky Pratomo (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

It seems that people are getting meaner and meaner in every corner of the wilderness known as social media. For example, consider the recent case of cyber-harassment involving a producer of a local private TV station, which was triggered by a tweet made by the producer seven years ago regarding a sexual joke about a large religious organization. Eventually, the producer had to delete their Twitter account.

Other cases involve mockery and defamation of celebrities personal lives on social media or even harassment on the basis or different political opinions.

These kinds of cases are generally known as cyberbullying. Merriam-Webster defines bullying as an act or written or spoken words intended to intimidate of harass a person, or to cause physical harm to a person or his/her property, while cyberbullying is simply an act of bullying in cyberspace.

Most of the time, cyberbullying occurs in the school environment among children or teenagers, thus the laws of the United States tackle the problem as one of school safety. Singapore on the other hand imposes criminal charges on any person who harasses, alarms or distresses another person.

What about Indonesia? Through Article 45B of the new amendment of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, cyberbullying is now finally considered as a form of harassment, and a criminal act that carries a maximum imprisonment term of four years and/ or fines amounting to Rp 750,000 (US$55.55).

Note that such a provision is aimed at anyone who deliberately harasses or sends frightening information to another person. Furthermore, Article 45B of the new ITE Law explicitly sets out two additional elements for something to be classified as cyberbullying, namely: (1) Threats of violence or frightening information; and (2) Causing physical, mental and/or financial damages. Hence, only acts of harassment that meet those parameters can be categorized as cyberbullying.

The provision on cyberbullying looks promising on paper, but its efficacy remains questionable. Cyberspace is a domain in which anyone or anything (e.g. robots) can take on an identity and commit cyberbullying and therefore enforcement of the law will be a bit tricky.

There are five potential issues with regard to combating cyberbullying. The initial challenge is to determine whether a given act constitutes cyberbullying. This will be problematic because cyberbullying requires physical, mental and/or financial damage to begin with. Most cyberbullying cases affect the mental wellbeing of a person and unfortunately measuring mental damage is very subjective, thus it may vary in each case.

Another element is financial damage, which looks easy to prove because victims only have to establish financial losses they have suffered from cyberbullying. In fact, it is quite difficult unless it is crystal clear that an act of bullying constitutes blackmail. For example, a celebrity may claim to be suffering from a declining number of job offers because of a rumor spread in cyberspace. The financial loss is there, but determining whether it is a result of the rumor will definitely be a headache for law enforcers.

It is hard enough to imagine someone being physically damaged by cyberbullying, but there may be cases of physical violence that eventuate because of mere conflicts on social media.

Second, there are certain conditions under which cyberbullying happens. Take the case of a female student who mocked Yogyakarta on social media. Logically, she was the one who started the fire, but subsequently she was on the receiving end of massively bullying in cyberspace. Could this unfortunate girl countercharge those who had bullied her under the cyberbullying provision even though she also violated the ITE Law? The answer depends on the judges approach: whether they consider the act as cyberbullying or another exercise of freedom of speech.

Third, as stated before, cyberspace is filled with anonymous users because it does not require much effort to make a fake online identity or use a robot to make one. Not to mention that evidence of cyberbullying is highly vulnerable to tampering as deleting a comment from social media could remove all traces of an alleged crime.

However, just take a leap of faith and imagine that bullies identities are traceable, will investigators be able to catch them? The fourth issue is a result of the borderless world of cyberspace, which enables information to spread fast, thus the chance of cyberbullying is multiplied and the number of bullies could easily reach thousands in hours. Furthermore, we can post harsh comments with just a few movements of our thumbs, thus the number of bullies of a certain individual could be a massive number of people.

Investigators are only likely to be able to catch the provocateurs, not the entire digital lynch mob.

The last interesting legal issue concerns the nationality of the bullies. It is highly likely that cyberbullies are foreigners considering the borderless nature of cyberspace. Therefore, will Indonesian court verdicts be enforceable for cyberbullies overseas? That will be a classic problem of legal jurisdiction. Note that this cross-border issue was also debated in the implementation of the infamous right to be forgotten provision in the Google Spain case.

These issues are those that are most likely to arise and if the government cannot find a way of closing these loopholes the new ITE Law will contain nothing but meaningless provisions. Then again, the key will be in how judges set the parameters of cyberbullying. Indonesian citizens should put their faith in the nations judges along with the problematic implementation of defamation in the ITE Law.

Finally, the best way to avoid cyberbullying is to behave in cyberspace, as netizens are ultimately the harshest judges.

Investigators are only likely to be able to catch the provocateurs, not the entire digital lynch mob.

---------------

We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. For more information click here.

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 Mohammad Faisal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

The wait is over. After more than four years, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) finally came to a decision in favor of the Indonesian government regarding the dispute over a coal-mine concession located in East Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan. On Dec. 6 the international arbitration body threw out the demand by British miner Churchill Mining Plc., and its Australian subsidiary, Planet Mining Pty. Ltd., which sought US$1.3 billion in compensation from the Indonesian government.

The dispute between the Indonesian government and Churchill Mining over the 35,000-hectare coal mine site that was claimed to be the seventh-largest undeveloped coal mining asset in the world, started in 2010. The then head of East Kutai regency, Isran Noor, granted the concessions to an Indonesian firm, PT. Nusantara Group, and revoked the concessions granted in 2007 by his predecessor to PT. Ridlatama, another Indonesian company that later in 2008 made a deal to collaborate with Churchill Mining, selling 75 percent of its shares to the British company.

The revocation by the district head was based on two reasons, i.e. illegal logging activities conducted by Churchill Mining in the concession area and the transfer of shares from Ridlatama to Churchill without the knowledge of the district head, which was deemed illegal. Isran Noor argued that the license granted to Ridlatama for the mine site was an Ijin Usaha Pertambangan (IUP) or a mining license that was issued only for a domestic company based on the 2009 Mining Law. Israns decision, therefore, was supported by then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Churchill Mining along with Planet Mining, which opposed the revocation, took the case to the ICSID in 2012 and sought $2 billion in compensation from the government, after they failed to sue the district head through the State Administrative Court as well as the Supreme Court.

The companies argued that the Indonesian government had violated the bilateral investment treaties between Indonesia and the UK, and between Indonesia and Australia. The lawsuit was then reduced by the plaintiffs to $1.3 billion in 2014.

The final decision of the ICSID tribunal to reject all the claims by the British and Australian companies was based on the fact that the 34 documents that were used by the companies to claim the coal mine site were all counterfeit. The tribunal contended that neither companies conducted proper due diligence for their investment. The tribunal also ordered the companies to pay a total of $8.65 million compensation to the Indonesian government, and an additional $800,000 for ICSID administration fees that had been paid by the Indonesian government.

The coal-mine fiasco in East Kalimantan has demonstrated how a transnational company with huge capital and extensive political and business networks failed to exert its putative structural power over the Indonesian government. Business structural power refers to the power of business in influencing government policy and threatening the government if the latter cannot fulfill the required conditions for investment that meet business expectations.

Nevertheless, unlike investment in manufacturing industry, which is more mobile, the structural power of business does not necessarily affect the investment dynamics surrounding natural-resource extraction such as coal mining, which is highly lucrative, but not very mobile in nature. Such fixed assets in a particular location will hand power back to the government, which possesses the legal ownership of the location as well as the assets.

In the struggle against Churchill Mining, the Indonesian government was confident that the revocation of the mine concession would not affect the whole investment climate or discourage other investors from investing in the country. This strong leverage was not merely because of the lucrative nature of coal resources, but also due to the scarcity and immobility of the resources, and the geographical advantage of coal sites in East Kalimantan in terms of proximity to potential international markets, such as China and India.

The fact that the four-year dispute eventually ended up in a victory for the Indonesian government, is historic, as the government has very rarely won in disputes at the international arbitration level, not to mention receiving compensation. The Indonesian government has suffered too many losses in international lawsuits, including the huge loss in the dispute between Pertamina and Karaha Bodas in the early 2000s that cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars and the confiscation of government assets overseas.

As such, this victory will boost the governments confidence in countering international lawsuits by multinational companies.

Investing in the coal sector today may not be as attractive and as profitable as it was a few years ago, because of the substantial decline in coal prices in international markets in recent years.

Nonetheless, the dispute over the East Kutai coal mine concession provides several important lessons. For foreign investors, this case provides the lesson to take extra careful measures before committing to a massive investment, particularly in the mining sector.

For local governments, the case also provides the lesson to take more careful measures before granting a mining concession to an investor, among others by conducting thorough investigations and setting prudent requirements.

As for the lessons for the central government, the devolution of authority to district governments in issuing mining licenses and generating their own revenues is supposed to be followed by sufficient control over the implementation of good governance at the local level. This must entail sufficient empowerment and strengthening of the local government capacity in creating a favorable investment climate and dealing with investors.

Otherwise, the central government efforts to attract greater investment through the various economic policy packages will never be effective, or may even create problems not only for investors, but also for the local governments themselves, as well as their communities.

---------------

We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. For more information click here.

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, December 19, 2016

Indonesias largest media and publishing company, Kompas Gramedia, has acquired e-book and digital newsstand start-up Scoop.

As announced on Friday, Kompas Gramedia now owns 100 percent stake in Scoop. Kompas Gramedia became an investor in Scoop in 2013 by donating around US$ 3 million.

Gramedia.com CEO Andy Budiman previously mentioned that the company became interested in acquiring Scoop upon noticing the start-ups crucial role in strengthening Kompas Gramedia's digital platform.

Scoop founder and CEO Wilson Cuaca told merdeka.com that he believed Kompas Gramedia would be able to take the start-up to the next level.

(Read also: Jobs in start-up companies most attractive for millennials)

Scoop has been downloaded by 6 million users in the App Store and Google Play Store. The e-reader platform has formed a partnership with 400 publishers, which includes 500 newspapers, 30,000 books and 800 digital magazine titles. (asw)
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Linkedin Masajeng Rahmiasri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

Online restaurant review and rating site Zomato has announced it will integrate with third party applications to enhance its services.

It plans to cooperate with Uber and Instagram so users can both order an Uber via the Zomato app to take them to their destination and upload photos from Instagram to Zomato.

Zomato country manager Karthik Shetty added that the company was also developing online ordering and table reservation features to the service.

(Read also: Top Soto Betawi picks you shouldn't miss)

In addition to the developments, Shetty said the company was seeing growth in its web and mobile app users.

Our traffic to the website and app have always grown at a healthy month-on-month rate in Indonesia and this is extremely encouraging for us, Shetty explained.

He noted that a significant number of reviews and photos were still being uploaded to the site. From a business point of view, all of this has resulted in our month-on-month revenue growing at a healthy rate, he said.

Zomato claims that it is currently providing information about more than 30,000 restaurants in Jakarta and Bali, while also aiming to reach Bandung soon. (asw)
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Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, December 17 2016

Publicly listed media company PT Elang Mahkota Teknologi (Emtek) plans to revamp the Blackberry Messenger (BBM) service both as a messaging application and a digital platform for media content.

Emtek, which operates television stations SCTV and Indosiar under a subsidiary, publicly listed PT Surya Citra Media (SCMA), has yet to monetize the messaging app since its acquisition earlier this year as its popularity fades among Indonesians.

Under the plan, the firm will turn the service into an all-purpose messaging app as well as a platform for its apps, such as news portal liputan6.com, e-commerce marketplace Bukalapak and video sharing site vidio.com.

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Linkedin Lita Aruperes (The Jakarta Post) Manado, North Sulawesi  Mon, December 19, 2016

The Manado Police arrested more than 70 Papuan students who were about to stage a rally on Monday, accusing them of treason.

The police detained them as they were preparing for rallies in two locations in Manado, North Sulawesi. Some of the students were arrested in Papuan Student Dorm while others were arrested in the front yard of North Sulawesi Council. The police said they confiscated Bintang Kejora or Morning Star paraphernalia associated with Papuas independence movement.

Every possibility that is not in line with Indonesias unity [NKRI] will be processed, Manado Police chief Sr. Comr. Hisar Siallagan said Monday.

Read also: Activists stage peaceful rally, ask UN to monitor situation in Papua

He claimed the condition in Papua was peaceful and there was no demand for an independence referendum. He said the government even gave special attention to Papuas development acceleration even though it cost a lot of money. I dont see any urgency [for the rallies], he said.

In 2016, Papuan students in Manado had attempted to stage three rallies. Each one was dispersed by the police.

According to data made available to The Jakarta Post by Veronica Koman, the lawyer of Papuan self-determination activist Filep Karma, the rallies on Dec. 19 were held in Jayapura, Merauke, Nabire, Yogyakarta, Manado, Wamena, Jakarta, Sorong, Manokwari, Timika, Yahukimo, Bandung, Ternate and Ambon.

The lawyer said a total of 528 people were arrested Monday, with Wamena recording the highest number of people arrested (165 people, 15 were released).

In Jayapura, the arrest involved beatings, Veronica said, and seven people were badly injured. (evi)
MASON CITY  David Tvedts memories were so painful when he returned from Vietnam in 1967 that he felt the only way to cope was to set his ser
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

Papuan and non-Papuan activists held a march in Jakarta on Monday to demand that the United Nations (UN) respond to the current heated situation in the easternmost part of the country.

The Alliance of Papua University Students (AMP) and the Indonesian Peoples Front for West Papua (FRI-West Papua) marched from the Arjuna Wijaya chariot statue in Central Jakarta to the UN representative office on Jl. MH Thamrin, also in Central Jakarta.

We want the UN to be involved in determining our faith, which is to hold a referendum for West Papua and the Armys withdrawal from the region, AMP spokesman Jefry Wenda told The Jakarta Post.

Seventy-seven people participated in the march, which was also staged in conjunction with the expected announcement of United Liberation Movement on West Papuas official membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group on Tuesday.

(Read also:Participants of West Papua rally arrested)

The FRI-West Papua, consisting of non-Papuan Indonesian activists and intellectuals, was established to demonstrate solidarity by non-Papuans with Papuans in their struggle for independence.

Marches were also held in other 15 cities across the country, with reports of several hundred rally participants being detained by the police in Sulawesi and Java. (adt/jun)
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Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19 2016

Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama is reportedly irked by his substitute, Sumarsono, who has executed, as well as planned, a number of strategic policies in the city while Ahok is on campaign leave.

Serving as acting governor since October, Sumarsono has issued several policies that Ahok perceives as contradicting his own.

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Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19 2016

Indonesia insists on raising humanitarian concerns over the situation in Myanmars troubled Rakhine state during an informal meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Yangon.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and her Southeast Asian counterparts are set to convene in a retreat on Monday at the invitation of Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss openly about the developments in Rakhine.

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Linkedin N. Adri (The Jakarta Post) Balikpapan  Mon, December 19 2016

Australian volunteer Kate Warren, 25, who has been helping to care for animals at a shelter in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, has pledged to raise funds for owa-owa (gibbons) when she returns home to Sydney for Christmas.

Speaking to The Jakarta Post about her plan to fund raise through crowdfunding site GoFundMe, Warren said she thought owa-owa had been forgotten compared to orangutans, although they both had survival problems because of dwindling habitats.

It is hard for owa-owa to adapt to new territory, Warren said. If their habitat was destroyed, owa-owa would stay in the same place despite the lack of food, leading them to go hungry, fall from the trees and die, she added.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

Bank Indonesia (BI) has urged President Joko Jokowi Widodo to support the passing of the redenomination bill in a bid to make rupiah denominations simpler and more efficient.



Simplifying the number of digits on rupiah denominations will not decrease consumers' purchasing power as it will also be followed by the prices of goods and services being adjusted, BI governor Agus Martowardojo said at the central banks headquarters on Monday, during an event on the issuance of new banknotes and coins.



Agus said should the bill be passed into law the denomination process would need a minimum transition period of eight years, adding that BI would coordinate with the Finance Minister to accelerate the bills completion.



Jokowi, who also came to the event, said the bill should have been included as a priority item in the 2017 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).

(Read also: New banknotes launched, redenomination will go on)



The previous government had discussed plans to slash three zeroes off the local currency since 2013. However, until this point, the draft bill still has not been deliberated by the House of Representatives. (win/dan)
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Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

A rally lambasting Russia's role in the killings of civilians in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday saw two children express their solidarity with the children of Aleppo as well as their hatred for Russia.

Seven-year-old Azka and his 9-year-old sister, Zaeda, were given the stage during the rally in front of the Russian Embassy in Central Jakarta. What started as a call for mercy from the two children later turned into political tirades.

Zaeda started her plea for mercy by reading out her own poem describing the suffering of children in Aleppo, contrasting it with the comfort she enjoyed in Indonesia. Her poem however later turned into a passionate opposition to leaders of Russia and Syria for the killings of children in Aleppo, saying, "I will not hesitate to spit on their faces if I meet them."

Read also: Islamic groups condemn Russia, Iran over war crimes in Aleppo

Her younger brother Azka took the stage repeatedly chanting, "Expel Russia from [Indonesia] right now."

Both children said that they learned about the situation in Aleppo from their mother, who they said frequently told the story.

The Monday rally was organized by a coalition called Gerakan Kemanusiaan 212 (Humanitarian Movement of 212), which involved about 20 Islamic groups in Jakarta. The number 212 refers to Dec. 12 when about a million Muslims took to the streets and held a Friday prayer to call for the arrest of Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, who is currently a defendant in a religious blasphemy case. (evi)
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

The South Jakarta District Court is set to rule on Wednesday on the pretrial motion filed by Buni Yani, the uploader of a video containing allegedly blasphemous remarks made by Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama.

The decision will be read out at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the courts lone judge Sutiyono said during a trial on Monday.

Buni filed the pretrial hearing request with the South Jakarta District Court on Dec. 5 to challenge the Jakarta Polices decision to name him a suspect for allegedly inciting hatred with his Facebook post containing footage of Ahoks speech, which went viral in October.

The police claim Bunis post aimed to incite hatred because he posted it with an accompanying text that was not an accurate transcript of what Ahok stated in the video.

Buni says he has been unfairly targeted and argues that the polices charges are invalid because they did not follow proper procedures, such as holding a crime reconstruction, before they named him a suspect.

Buni said failing to hold a crime reconstruction was a violation of the Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP) and the National Police chief regulation (Perkap) on investigation procedures.

Responding to the claim, the police said they had conducted a crime reconstruction prior to naming Buni a suspect. The police say they did not involve Buni in the crime reconstruction because Perkap No.14/2012 did not regulate who was obligated to take part in a crime reconstruction. (ebf)
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Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Surakarta, Central Java  Mon, December 19, 2016

National Police's counterterrorism squad Densus 88 arrested two residents allegedly linked to a terrorist network in Surakarta, Central Java, on Sunday.

According to the police, residents Tri Setiyo, 29, and Yasir were part of terrorist cell allegedly led by Nur Solihin. Nur Solihin was apprehended a week ago in East Jakarta following the finding of a homemade explosive in a rice cooker in Bekasi.

A local witness, Iwan Heru, said Tri Setiyo was taken by a group of officers in plain clothes who claimed they were members of Densus 88 at 11 a.m..

Meanwhile, Yasir was arrested at Nur Rohmah mosque nearby his house.

"He [Yasir] was about to perform a prayer when the officers took him," said Ayub, one of Yasir's relatives.

Following the arrests, police personnel came in the afternoon to conduct searches on both Tri Setiyo's and Yasir's houses.

Police confiscated five liters of liquid chemical contained in two jerrycans, pipes, used cell phones and 10 kilograms of nails.

"We also found several used rice cookers, books on jihad and other documents," Surakarta police detectives chief Comr. Agus Puryadi said. (dmr)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

The central government has been urged to strengthen its monitoring and dissemination of information on economic packages in the regions to ensure comprehensive ease of doing business reform, a Regional Autonomy Watch (KPPOD) director has said.

KPPOD executive director Robert Endi Jaweng said the ongoing reform had been prioritized in Jakarta and Surabaya in East Java, two cities known as major places for doing business in Indonesia.

"The reforms have been concentrated in these two cities, while other cities have been given less priority," he said on Monday on the sidelines of an event on the implementation of investment policy packages in the regions.

Read also: Indonesia up 15 places in Ease of Doing Business index

The KPPOD has conducted a study measuring seven major cities in the country, including Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung in West Java, Denpasar in Bali and Palembang in South Sumatra to determine the level of ease in doing business in the respective areas.

It gauges the number of procedures, length of time, cost and minimum amount of capital needed to obtain a business permit, a construction permit and to register ownership and use of a building.

Robert said that only Jakarta and Surabaya got good scores in the assessment, suggesting that concerted efforts were needed in disseminating information and monitoring in other regions.

"There should be an evaluation and concrete programs for the regions," he said. (fac/evi)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

New banknotes and coins released on Monday by Bank Indonesia (BI) have enhanced security features aimed to prevent counterfeiting, the central bank governor has said.

BI governor Agus Martowardojo told reporters that the new banknotes had nine to 12 security elements, some that were visible to the naked eye and others that were not.

For the Rp 100,000 [US$7.50) banknotes, there are 12 security features, which can be seen from the color, ultraviolet marks, [security] thread and the recto and verso, he said during an event on the issuance of the new banknotes and coins.

During the event, President Joko Jokowi Widodo also asserted the importance of the improved security features.

Regarding counterfeit rupiah banknotes, I instructed [BI] that the security features have to be enhanced. Our countrys technology should be able to prevent counterfeiting, he said.

On Monday, the central bank officially issued and circulated seven new banknotes and four coins, which depict the pictures of national heroes, traditional dances and natural sites.

The new notes are the Rp 100,000, Rp 50,000, Rp 20,000, Rp 10,000, Rp 5,000 and Rp 2,000 and Rp 1,000, while the new coins are Rp 1,000, Rp 500, Rp 200 and Rp 100.

Agus said all previously issued banknotes and coins would remain valid until BI announced their removal from circulation. He said the central bank had not set a date to withdraw old banknotes. (win/dmr)
MASON CITY | A Thompson man who allegedly committed sexual abuse in August in Mason City was arrested on a warrant Sunday.

Joshua K. Winders, 38, was charged with felony third-degree sexual abuse on Nov. 28 by the Mason City Police Department.

Winders forced the accuser to remove her clothing and then performed a sexual act against her will on Aug. 3, according to the criminal complaint.

Winders is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $10,000 cash or surety bond. His next court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 27.

-- Mary Pieper
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Linkedin Corry Elyda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19 2016

The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) says eviction and labor issues dominated complaints filed with the institution this year.

LBH Jakarta advocacy division head Yunita said on Saturday the LBH had received 1,444 complaints from 121,571 justice seekers throughout 2016.

The number of complaints increased slightly from last years 1,322 but justice seekers doubled from last years number, which was only 56,481, she said.

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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan, North Sumatra  Mon, December 19, 2016

Family members of Capt. Jhan Hotlan Saragih, an aviator killed in a Hercules aircraft crash in Wamena, Papua, last week, were wrapped in deep sadness after the body of their loved one arrived at Soewondo Air Force Base in Medan, North Sumatra, on Monday.

They could not hold back their tears after a coffin carrying Hotlans body was removed from a Boeing 737-400 aircraft belonging to the Indonesian Air Force, which landed at around 10 a.m. local time.

Hotlan..., one of the military personnels relatives cried, hysterically. Their sadness deepened when Hotlans wife, Hotriani Kristina Purba, and their two children disembarked from the aircraft. The relatives immediately ran toward and embraced Hotriani, who seemed very weak sitting on a wheel chair.

Soewondo Air Force Base commander Col. Arifien led a military ceremony to welcome the arrival of Hotlans body.

We let his family members bring his body to his hometown as requested, said Arifien.

Using an ambulance belonging to Efarina Etaham Hospital, Hotlan was taken to his hometown in Kampung Pagar Jandi, Mariah Buttu village, Silau Kahaean district, Simalungun regency.

He will be buried tomorrow but we havent yet received any further information from his family members on whether they will bury him in a traditional or full military procession. We will be ready, said Arifien.

To show respect to victims of the Hercules C-130 crash, the Soewondo Air Force Base is flying the Indonesian flag at half-mast. (ebf)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Mon, December 19 2016

Gold and copper miner Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of US-based mining giant Freeport McMoRan Inc., has been operating in Indonesia for nearly 50 years, making a fortune from the Grasberg open pit mine in Papua, the worlds largest gold mine and third-largest copper mine.

Newly appointed Freeport Indonesia president director Chappy Hakim, a retired Indonesian Air Force chief of staff, recently sat down with The Jakarta Posts Viriya P. Singgih and Tassia Sipahutar to enlighten us about the companys overall contribution and its future in Indonesia, including the development of its new smelter and extension of its export permit and contract of work.

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Linkedin N. Adri (The Jakarta Post) Balikpapan, East Kalimantan  Mon, December 19, 2016

National flag carrier Garuda sees opportunity in opening routes from Samarinda Baru International Airport in Sungai Siring, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, using ATR aircraft to better connect the provincial capital with big cities in Java and Sulawesi.

Most flights from big cities outside of East Kalimantan instead connect to Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan, East Kalimantans second biggest city, which hosts the operations of several oil and gas companies. Sepinggan Airport is 110 kilometers away from Samarinda.

ATR planes are turbo propeller aircraft with capacity of 70 passengers. The plane can take off from a relatively short runway.

Garuda has interest in propelling economic growth, said Arif Wibowo, the president director of Garuda Indonesia.

Garuda, however, has yet to decide the routes from Samarindas new airport.

Samarinda also has the older Termindung Airport, which connects the city with smaller towns in East Kalimantan like Mahakam Ulu, East Kutai, and Berau.

Samarinda Baru International Airport is currently undergoing construction and the runway has reached approximately 1,200 meters of its targeted 2,500 m. The soft opening of the new airport has been targeted for Jan. 10 next year. (evi)
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Linkedin Rendi A. Witular, Viriya Paramita and Fedina Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

The government is drafting a regulation offering further relief in the export of raw and partly processed mineral products  a policy that, if passed, would again contravene the 2009 Mining Law that requires a total ban on such exports.

Easing the policy will only benefit a few politically wired mining companies at the expense of others that have poured billions of US dollars into the construction of smelting plants to process the raw products for export.

A draft regulation prepared by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, a copy of which was recently obtained by The Jakarta Post, will not only extend the current export relaxation on copper concentrate but also expand the product list.

Partly processed or raw nickel, bauxite, anode slime and copper telluride will be given the go-ahead for overseas shipment, while unprocessed gold, silver, tin and chromium will remain on the export ban list.

For companies to get a five-year export license, the draft requires miners to pay an export tax and construct a smelter. The government will revoke the license if the miners fail to show progress in smelter construction.

The [relaxation] plan is still under discussion, Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arcandra Tahar told the Post recently.

It is not yet final, but we expect to have it issued, hopefully, next week [this week].

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan refused to go into detail on the draft, saying only that the ministry was still discussing a new policy.

The government is rushing to decide whether to maintain the current relaxation or to fully enforce the ban, as mandated by the Mining Law before the Jan. 11, 2017 deadline.

The law stipulates that mineral ore miners must complete their smelters by 2014, when the export ban should have been fully put in place. The smelters are expected to bring in added value to the end products, as opposed to exporting ore in its raw form.

However, because none of the proposed smelters had been completed, the deadline was extended to 2017 by then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when he issued Government Regulation No. 1/2014 as an amendment to Government Regulation No. 23/2010 on the management of mineral and coal businesses.

If President Joko Jokowi Widodo maintains the relaxation, he will draw criticism similar to that raised in 2014 when Yudhoyono was accused of violating the law because a government regulation cannot overrule a law.

The alleged violation at the time did not spiral into further controversy, as the nation was occupied with legislative and presidential elections, and Yudhoyono handed over his presidency to Jokowi on Oct. 20, 2014.

The previous administration clearly violated the law. We dont expect the current one to do the same, said House of Representatives legislator Satya Yudha of the Golkar Party, who is a member of Commission VII overseeing energy and mining.

We warned the government in a recent hearing against continuing with the export relaxation. If they want to extend it, the policy should be in the form of a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu), not through a government regulation, he said.

Maintaining the relaxation has particularly benefitted gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia, a local unit of US mining giant Freeport McMoRan Inc., and copper producer PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara, which was recently taken over by local energy firm PT Medco Energi Internasional from US-based Newmont Mining Corp.

They have been allowed to export their copper concentrates as they have pledged to construct smelting plants and agreed to pay export taxes with rates linked to the progress of construction, which has been stalled.

State-run miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) will also profit from the planned relaxation, as it has lobbied the government to lift the ban on nickel ore exports because some of its low-grade ore cannot be economically processed by local smelting plants.

Issuing a government regulation to settle the problem is not a solution, as it will clearly violate the law, said Bisman Bakhtiar, a mining law expert. Only three available options comply with the law, revise the law, or issue a Perppu.

However, even if the government manages to come up with a sound legal avenue to allow the relaxation, smelter businesses, particularly nickel, will be at risk due to worries of supply shortage, as miners will opt to export raw products.

Shipments of nickel and bauxite were banned in 2014 to encourage the development of domestic processing and to prevent mining wealth from being exploited by overseas businesses.

According to the Processing and Smelting Companies Association (AP3I), 32 new smelters  24 of which are nickel smelters  have been built in the past four years with total investment value of more than US$12 billion, mostly from China.

We are still evaluating the impact be [on the smelter businesses] if we allow or limit [the exports], the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministrys director general for Minerals and Coal Bambang Gatot

Ariyono, said.

___________________________

Other key issues in draft regulation

 Exports of partly processed minerals are permitted for a maximum five years for companies with a mining license (IUP) or special mining license (IUPK or former holders of contract of work).

 A company eligible for exports is required to construct a smelting plant of its own or by cooperating with others, and pay an export tax with rates linked to the progress of construction.

 An IUP/IUPK holder that cannot economically construct a smelter plant can cooperate with state companies or other parties that have a smelting plant to export products.

 Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to evaluate progress in smelting plant construction every six months.

 New list for exports include partly processed or raw nickel, bauxite, anode slime and copper telluride.

 Overseas shipment is prohibited for unprocessed gold, silver, tin and chromium.
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Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

Indonesia seeks to settle issues surrounding flagship projects as well as the future of the gas-rich Masela block with Japan during an official visit to the East Asian country this week.

During the visit, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan is scheduled to meet Japans top officials, including its foreign minister, transportation minister, defense minister and chief of staff to the prime minister.

Discussions will touch on problems hampering a mega seaport project in Patimban, West Java and semi-high speed railway connecting Jakarta and Surabaya, of which financing will derive from Japan.

We want to finalize these projects. We expect these things [issues with the projects] to be settled as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit [Indonesia] in January next year, Luhut recently said.

Luhut apparently pointed out pending administrative issues surrounding the Patimban project, such as the environmental impact analysis (Amdal) and detailed engineering design (DED), which are still under way.

The future Patimban Port will be located about 70 kilometers from the Karawang Industrial Estate and Bekasi in West Java, where many Japanese industrial firms, particularly automotive manufacturers, operate.

Once finished by 2019, the container port will be able to handle 1.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which will be further expanded to 7.5 million TEUs by 2027.

The port was earlier set to lie in Cilamaya, also in West Java, but the plan was scrapped as it would disrupt the operations of state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina.

According to a previous government estimate, the Patimban project will cost US$3.08 billion.

The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) said recently that $1.7 billion to finance the deep sea project was expected from foreign loans, while the government would provide $595 million to build supporting facilities.

The semi-high speed railway, on the other hand, is projected to require $2.6 billion in loans from Japan for the first phase.

The project is significant for Japan after it lost a bid against China for the construction of a high-speed railway connecting Jakarta and Bandung, West Java, earlier this year.

The Jakarta-Surabaya semi-high speed railway, the feasibility study for which will be carried out jointly by Indonesia and Japan, seeks to revitalize existing infrastructure serving the two big cities, cutting travel time from 12 hours to three-and-a-half hours only.

Luhut further said another key issue to be addressed during the visit was the ongoing negotiations for Masela block in Maluku.

Japanese gas firm Inpex Corporation requested earlier incentives to run the onshore Masela block, including the cost recovery for its off-shore development plan worth $1.2 billion and the extension of 10 years from 2028 when the contract is supposed to terminate.

Luhut added that the government had proposed only four years for the contract extension.

We will offer several other [oil and gas] blocks to Japan, he said, citing a block in East Natuna as an example.

In response to the planned discussion in Japan, Inpex senior communications and relations manager Usman Slamet expressed his appreciation for the governments understanding of the necessary conditions to enable the Masela project to be commercially viable for investment.

We are optimistic the government will make the best decision, he said.

Japanese Embassy counselor for information and culture Ryo Nakamura said Japan was looking forward to the discussion and waiting for the policy that Indonesia would be taking.

Other issues on the table during the visit include maritime cooperation, such as the construction of a fish market in Natuna, Riau, tourism development in Morotai, Maluku, and the construction of Sabang Port in Aceh.
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

National Online Shopping Day (Harbolnas), held from Dec. 12 to 14, saw male customers digging deep into their pockets, as data showed that they dominated the countrys largest online shopping festival.

Marketing research firm Nielsen Indonesia said Monday data suggested that 69 percent of Harbolnas shoppers were men, most of whom were on the hunt for electronic gadgets.

There was an increase of male consumers by about 4 percent compared to last years Harbolnas. We can see it from the high number of gadget purchases during the event, Nielsen Indonesia director Rusdy Sumantri said on Monday.

(Read also: Indonesias Singles Day books Rp 3.3 trillion in sales)

Rusdy said male customers had also spent money on fashion products.

Indonesian e-commerce players booked a total transaction value of Rp 3.3 trillion (US$247.5 million) during this years Harbolnas. The sales figure was higher than the Rp 2.1 trillion collected during last years event.

The fashion industry reaped the biggest proportion of total transaction value with 68 percent, followed by technology, electronic and travel industry.

This year was Harbolnas fifth, with sales and interest growth increasing every year. The annual event resembles Alibaba Group's Global Shopping Festival, the world's biggest online shopping day of the year held on Singles Day, the Chinese holiday for single people. (hwa)
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Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19 2016

Fund managers and equity analysts continue to favor infrastructure-related stocks for next years investment portfolios thanks to the governments ongoing infrastructure drive, although a tight budget poses a major challenge going forward.

State-owned construction companies Adhi Karya, Pembangunan Properti, Wijaya Karya and Waskita Karya, as well as other publicly-listed companies that manufacture cement, precast concrete and ceramics are all seen as the beneficiaries.

Accelerated infrastructure projects and supportive government policies for the property sector are expected to have a positive impact on building materials producers, Daewoo Securities Indonesia analyst Mimim Halimin wrote in a recent research note.

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Linkedin Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

With the number of intolerance and human rights cases in Yogyakarta remaining high this year, NGOs are calling on law enforcers to take stern action against the perpetrators.

National Alliance for Unity in Diversity (ANBTI) Yogyakarta chapter coordinator Agnes Dwi Rusjiati said her organization noted 12 religion-based incidents of violence in the province, the same number last year.

The state, through its law enforcers, should actively solve intolerance cases in Yogyakarta, Agnes said in a year-end press conference on Monday.

She suggested that the government encourage the public to maintain diversity in society through education and religion-based institutions.

The Wahid Institute said last year that Yogyakarta was the second-most intolerant province after West Java

(Read also: Intolerance stains Yogyas melting pot image)

Meanwhile, the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institutes (LBH) social, economic and cultural division chairman, Yogi Zul Fadhli, said his organization had received 35 human rights violence complaints this year.

The perpetrators have not been named suspects by the police. This kind of impunity could trigger others to commit violence, Yogi said.

He said human rights violations related to agrarian issues were the most prevalent this year on account of land conflicts between residents and the Yogyakarta sultanate. (jun)
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Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

Hundreds of people from about 20 Islamic groups lambasted Russia for committing war crimes in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo during a rally in front of the Russian Embassy on Jl.HR Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, on Monday.

In the rally, the groups demanded Russia to stop killing Muslims in Syria or face threats from Indonesian jihadists.

Innocent and weak people are being slaughtered in Syria when calls for world peace are heard everywhere in the world. It seems that human rights are only applicable for non-Muslims," Muhammad Zaitun Rasmin, one of group leaders, said in his speech.

Russia has been involved in the murder of Muslims in Syria. We hereby warn of the fall of Russia, he went on.

The groups participating in the rally united under a coalition called Gerakan Kemanusiaan 212 (212 Humanitarian Movement), which referred to a massive prayer event held by Islamic organizations against non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnamas alleged blasphemy on Dec. 2.

Emphasizing their protest against Russia, several protesters carried photos of Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him "a real terrorist", while some others trampled upon a banner emblazoned with a picture of Putin's face.

Participants of Mondays rally further demanded President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to cut diplomatic ties with Russia and Iran for crimes the two countries had committed against Muslims in Syria. They also asked the government to ban both embassies from operating in Indonesia.

Russia initiated a bombing campaign in Syria last week at the request of President Bashar al-Ashad, who also received strong support from Iran. The strikes were claimed to free Aleppo from the Islamic State extremist group and other jihadists. (ebf)
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Linkedin (Associated Press) Tokyo  Mon, December 19, 2016

Japan's Emperor canceled an annual year-end palace banquet on Monday because of a cold.

The Imperial Household Agency said the decision was because Emperor Akihito had developed a fever last week and is still recovering.

Akihito turns 83 years old on Friday. Plans for his birthday celebration have not been changed.

Akihito had invited Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other top officials for Monday's banquet.

Akihito expressed an apparent wish to abdicate in a rare public address in August, citing concerns that his age and health conditions may start limiting his ability to fulfil official duties.

A government-commissioned panel of experts is discussing a possibility of setting up a special law to accommodate his abdication, without touching more controversial issues, including a possibility of allowing a female emperor.
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19 2016

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) is challenging a South Jakarta District Court ruling that favored House of Representatives deputy speaker Fahri Hamzah, who filed a lawsuit over his dismissal from the party.

The central executive board has decided to file an appeal, PKS chairman Sohibul Iman said, recently.

The court ruled on Wednesday that Fahris dismissal shall be annulled and that PKS leaders, namely Sohibul, Hidayat Nur Wahid and Surahman Hidayat, would be required to pay Rp 30 billion (US$2.2 million) in compensation to Fahri.

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Linkedin Haeril Halim and Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Papua  Mon, December 19, 2016

The Indonesian Militarys (TNI) patchy air safety record worsened when a transport plane crashed into a mountain in Papua on Sunday, killing all 13 people on board, as the public reels from a recent string of deadly accidents involving TNI aircraft.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo promised a review of the countrys aging military fleet last year after another transport plane crashed into a residential area, killing more than 120 people, but calls for safety reform at the TNI remain unheeded.

The ill-fated Hercules C-130 A-1334 was on a dual-purpose mission for navigation training and to carry 13 tons of cement and rice from Timika to Wamena. It is believed that the pilot insisted on landing despite warnings of bad weather and low visibility.

Crews of other aircraft reportedly opted to cancel their landing and return to their airports of origin.

Wamena Airport chief Rasbuhani Umar told The Jakarta Post that a similar aircraft approaching from Sentani Airport in Jayapura had also been scheduled to land at almost the same hour, but had decided to return to Sentani.

It turned back because visibility at Wamena Airport was only 2 kilometers. However, the Hercules from Timika moved ahead and lost contact at 06:09 a.m., Rasbuhani said.

He added that the aircraft had disappeared from air traffic control radar minutes before it was scheduled to land.

Deputy Air Force chief of staff Air Marshal Hadiyan Sumintaatmadja insisted the Hercules had been properly maintained, explaining that it had undergone regular maintenance for every 50 flying hours.

The aircraft was in prime condition, he said.

Hadiyan blamed bad weather as the cause of the plane hitting Mount Pugima in the remote area of Jayawijaya.

The crashed C-130 heavy lift plane was one of four aircraft Indonesia received from Australia as a grant in 2013 and 2014 based on a memorandum of understanding signed by officials of the two nations in 2012.

With an average 600 flying hours per year upon delivery to Indonesia, the aircraft had a service life of some 30 years left, as they were manufactured in the late 1970s and had only been lightly used.

Sundays crash is the seventh fatal accident involving military transport aircraft since 2015, claiming a total of more than 160 military and civilian lives.

On Nov. 24, an Army helicopter crashed into a ravine in North Kalimantan, killing four officers, while another one crashed in Poso, Central Sulawesi, on March 20, killing 13 officers.

The worst accident occurred in mid-2015 when a C-130 crashed into a residential area in Medan, North Sumatra, killing more than 120 people on board and on the ground.

The National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT), which is in charge of civil aviation accidents, has urged the TNI to participate in the agencys safety flying program in Papua.

KNKT chairman Soerjanto Tjahjono said unpredictable weather in Papua should no longer be a recurring cause of aviation accidents, because pilots, both civil and military, could be trained to deal with the challenging weather and topography in mountainous Papua.

So far, no TNI representatives have been keen to join the program. Flying in Papua requires special techniques, Soerjanto said.

The program aims to improve coordination and the exchange of information between airlines operating in Papua and local authorities.

During the program, the KNKT has found problems revolving around unpredictable clouds and has briefed airlines and pilots on how to overcome them.

The agency had also identified technical problems related to radar, time slots, communication systems as well as weather-monitoring infrastructure and had asked the relevant authorities to address them, Soerjantono said.
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura, Papua  Mon, December 19, 2016

The National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT) in Papua said there have been 15 aviation accidents in Papua this year, ranging from minor accidents with no casualties to major accidents, like the one over the weekend, which killed 13 people.

There have 15 cases, from minor accidents, like planes skidding off the runway during landings, to major accidents where passengers have lost their lives, said Norbert Tunyanan, the representative of KNKT in Papua.

The geographical conditions in Papua are such that the residents and the economy rely heavily on air transportation. There are many flights operating for passengers and for cargo.

Papuan KNKT recorded 18 deaths from the 15 accidents this year. Aside from the 13 fatalities in the biggest accident so far, the other five fatalities were from an accident involving Amur Aviation helicopter, which killed the pilot, Sr. Comr. (ret) Karmana in Nabire, in June and from an accident in Ilaga Puncak Jaya on Oct. 31, where an Alfa flight crashed and killed four people.

The most tragic accident occurred on Sunday, in which an Air Force Hercules crashed in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency.

The 13 victims, 12 Air Force military personnel and a technician, were brought to Malang using an Air Force plane on Sunday.

Olivia Kawer, sister of the pilot Marlon Kawer, told The Jakarta Post through a phone interview that the family in Biak was in mourning. Marlon has three children. (evi)

Some accidents in Papua in 2016:
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Linkedin Viriya P. Singgih (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19 2016

State-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina expects to strike gold on Dec. 22, when it is slated to host the CEOs of the worlds biggest crude oil producer, Saudi Aramco, in a bid to seal a joint venture agreement (JVA) for the upgrade of the Cilacap refinery in Central Java.

The Cilacap project, which will cost a total of US$5.5 billion, is part of Pertaminas Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) to upgrade four refineries. The other three are the Balikpapan refinery in East Kalimantan, the Dumai refinery in Riau and the Balongan refinery in West Java.

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Linkedin Djemi Amnifu (The Jakarta Post) Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara  Mon, December 19, 2016

The family members of Comr. Tonce Manao, a police Skytruck aircraft pilot who was killed in a crash in Riau Islands waters on Dec. 3, wept as a coffin covered with the Indonesian flag containing the body of their loved one was carried down from a Batik Air plane, which landed at El Tari Airport in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), at 5:45 a.m. local time Sunday.

Besides family members, Kupang Police and South Timor Tengah (TTS) Police personnel were also there to grieve and pay their respects. Earlier, TTS regent Paul and Tonces wife Ceria Pandidik and their two children went to Jakarta to arrange the return of the pilots body.

Alexander Manao could not hold back his tears after seeing the coffin of his sons body being put inside an ambulance, which would take Tonce to his final resting place in the familys hometown in Kesetnana village, South Mollo district, TTS, 110 kilometers northeast of Kupang.

Alexander said he was really sad. As a Christian, however, Alexander believed that whatever happened in life was Gods plan, which was always more beautiful than what people desired.

I will entrust everything in Gods hands. All the things that happen in my familys life are part of Gods plan.

Grief: Ceria Pandidik (center), the wife of Comr. Tonce Manao, a police Skytruck aircraft pilot who was killed in a crash in Riau Islands waters on Dec. 3, embraces her father-in-law, Alexander Manao, after she arrives at El Tari Airport in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Dec. 18. (JP/Djemi Amnifu)

NTT Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Jules Abraham Abast said to honor all of Tonces achievements during his service, the National Police had increased his rank one level to police commissioner.

Abast said Tonce would be laid to rest in a full police funeral procession in Kesetnana at 9 a.m. on Monday. TTS Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. I Ketut Adnyana was set to officiate the funeral procession, he added. (ebf)
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Linkedin Haeril Halim and Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Surabaya  Mon, December 19, 2016

A fatwa issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) banning Muslims from donning paraphernalia related to other faiths has inspired the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) to take the law into its own hands and push shopping centers in Surabaya, East Java, to not ask its Muslim workers to wear Christmas-related gear.

Instead of stopping the FPIs actions, police moved to secure the groups visit to seven shopping centers on Sunday, arguing that their presence would prevent clashes between the group and shopping center managements.

The management of Toeng Market had no choice but to comply after around 50 FPI members, escorted by the police, paid a visit.

We will deliver the demands to our superiors. We did not know about the fatwa. We will comply with it, said Toeng Market operational division head Wahyu Kuncoro after FPI members thronged his office.

The MUI has issued similar calls ahead of Christmas, but not until this year has the FPI followed up by protesting at shopping centers.

An FPI leader in East Java, Ali Fahmi, said Toeng Market management had agreed to sign an agreement as a guarantee that it would comply with the MUI edict. They already signed the agreement on a stamp, Ali said.

Surabaya Police chief Sr. Comr. M. Iqbal said police escorted FPI members as they visited seven shopping centers in Surabaya to prevent clashes.

The FPI members disseminated information about the edict. We guarded the process to ensure public safety, Iqbal said.

Police deployed hundreds of personnel to guard the FPIs shopping center visits.

The visits took place two days after members of an FPI branch in Bekasi, West Java, thronged a Honda dealership in the region after it was rumored that Muslims employees, including female staffers wearing hijab, had been forced to wear Santa hats.

Bekasi Police chief Sr. Comr. Umar Fana said police, together with several Islamic organizations, had met with the dealerships management on Wednesday morning to discuss the matter.

Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which has around 60 million members across the country, lambasted the FPI for acting like a law enforcement agency.

The state must be present in this case to not let any mass organization exercise its own law on the streets. The Religious Affairs Ministry is taking this incident seriously. The ministry will not give room for radicalism to grow in Indonesia. The MUI has the duty to disseminate information about the edict, not a mass organization, NU deputy secretary-general Imam Putudu said.

Rights watchdog Setara Institute, which campaigns for pluralism, said an MUI fatwa was not a legal and binding ruling that must be followed by shopping centers, adding that police should have prevented the FPI in the first place and not facilitated them in carrying out such intimidation on department store management.

Such groups have grown confident following the mass rallies in Jakarta. The National Police should not support edicts that threaten religious diversity, Setara researcher Ismail Hasani said.
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Linkedin Haeril Halim and Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Surabaya  Mon, December 19 2016

A fatwa issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) banning Muslims from donning paraphernalia related to other faiths has inspired the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) to take the law into its own hands and push shopping centers in Surabaya, East Java, to not ask its Muslim workers to wear Christmas-related gear.

Instead of stopping the FPIs actions, police moved to secure the groups visit to seven shopping centers on Sunday, arguing that their presence would prevent clashes between the group and shopping center managements.

The management of Toeng Market had no choice but to comply after around 50 FPI members, escorted by the police, paid a visit.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

Central Java police are questioning a resident of Surakarta, Central Java, in an alleged sexual harassment case as reported by Dutch novelist and filmmaker Marion Bloem.

Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Condro Kirono said on Sunday that police would follow up the case even though Bloem had yet to file any complaints to the police.

Bloem posted on her Facebook page that she was sexually harassed by a man on a motorcycle while she was walking on the street on Tuesday. She was in Indonesia to promote her latest book, Moemie; Gadis Berusia Seratus Tahun.

According to Condro, Karanganyar and Surakarta police investigators were currently questioning the alleged motorcyclist.

"We are still questioning him," Condro was quoted by kompas.com on Monday.

Condro, however, reminded the public not to jump to conclusions that the man currently being questioned was the culprit.

Condro added that police would need Bloem's statement to further build the case. (dmr)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has ordered the chiefs of police in Bekasi, West Java, and Kulonprogo of Yogyakarta to revoke circulars on the ban on wearing Christmas attributes based on a fatwa (religious edict) of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

I have asked them [the chiefs of police in Bekasi and Kulonprogo] to revoke the circulars, Tito said at Jakarta State University campus in East Jakarta on Monday as reported by kompas.com.

He stated that the MUI fatwa was not a law, merely a reference that could be used as coordination among police offices.

(Read also: Police escort FPI members during raid on Santa hats in Surabaya malls)

I have firmly warned the Bekasi Police chief and Kulonprogo Police chief. I warned them because its not permitted to issue circulars based on an MUI fatwa, Tito.

So, a MUI fatwa is not statutory law that should be upheld. [The police] should not issue circulars that could become a legal document, he added.

Bekasi Police reportedly issued a circular on Dec. 15 while Kulonprogo Police released a circular on Dec. 17, in which both instructed owners and management of businesses not to force their employees to wear Christmas attributes. (jun)
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Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19 2016

Indonesia seeks to settle issues surrounding flagship projects as well as the future of the gas-rich Masela block with Japan during an official visit to the East Asian country this week.

During the visit, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan is scheduled to meet Japans top officials, including its foreign minister, transportation minister, defense minister and chief of staff to the prime minister.

Discussions will touch on problems hampering a mega seaport project in Patimban, West Java and semi-high speed railway connecting Jakarta and Surabaya, of which financing will derive from Japan.

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Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

Indonesia has called on the Myanmar government to host regular briefings on the latest developments of the situation in its troubled Rakhine state during an informal ASEAN meeting on Monday.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said such regular updates would give ASEAN member states the necessary insights into the situation on the groundd, which would allow them to collectively provide needed aid or assistance to restore conditions in the state.

To that end, she further said, ASEAN foreign ministers had agreed to funnel humanitarian and development assistance from the regional blocs member states collectively and in an inclusive manner by, among others things, utilizing existing mechanisms such as the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) Center.

"We are gathered here in Yangon as one ASEAN family that helps one another. I urge all ASEAN members to provide continued and constructive support and help Myanmar overcome the complex situation in Rakhine, Retno said during the retreat, as quoted by a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Monday.

Rights groups and Rohingya survivors have described rape, murder and arson at the hands of security forces as main problems that have angered global spectators and galvanized protests in capitals around Southeast Asia.

The Myanmar government, under the de facto leadership of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has vehemently denies allegations of abuse by security forces.

Concerns over the far-reaching effects of the turmoil in Rakhine have sparked a regional response, as ASEAN looks to prevent a repeat of the 2015 Rohinya refugee crisis that saw tens of thousands of Rohingya become victims of human trafficking in their efforts to flee Myanmar. (ebf)
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Linkedin Hyung-Jin Kim (Associated Press) Seoul  Mon, December 19, 2016

On the first day of her trial, the jailed confidante of disgraced South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Monday denied using her presidential ties to extort money from powerful companies. It was the first public appearance in weeks for the woman at the heart of a scandal that led to Park's impeachment.

Choi Soon-sil, Park's friend of 40 years, wore black glasses and bowed deeply to the three judges before her lawyer, Lee Kyoung-jae, denied that Choi conspired with an ex-presidential adviser to pressure companies to donate money to foundations controlled by Choi.

The hearing at the Seoul Central District Court will review the charges against Choi, who prosecutors say manipulated state affairs and extorted businesses. It will also set the trial schedule. Ten others swept up in the scandal also face trial.

(Read also: S. Korea begins trial of disgraced president's confidante)

Choi is also known as Choi Seo-won, which is how she was referred to in court.

It is South Korea's biggest trial since the 2014 court appearance of the crew of a ferry that sank and killed more than 300 people, mostly teenagers.

Choi last appeared in public on Oct. 31, when, after losing a Prada shoe in a crush of media and protesters, she told reporters at the Seoul prosecutors' office that she had "committed a sin that deserves death."

It's not clear how long the trial will last. Courts normally issue a verdict within six months of an indictment, so she'll likely get a verdict by May if prosecutors don't bring new charges.

Choi is charged with abuse of power, extortion and attempted fraud. If convicted on all charges, she could receive up to 15 years in prison, according to court spokesman Shin Jae-hwan.

Before her arrest, Choi said she that received some of Park's speeches in advance but that she didn't know if they included confidential information. She denied the other allegations.

Prosecutors allege that Choi helped pressure 16 companies to donate a total of 77.4 billion won (US$65.6 million) to create two nonprofit foundations, Mir and K-Sports.

According to the prosecution, Park first brought up the idea of launching the foundations and ordered her senior secretary for policy coordination at the time, Ahn Jong-beom, to ask companies to finance their establishment while letting Choi handle the appointment of foundation officials.

Park's representatives have questioned the legality of her impeachment by the country's parliament and said no serious crime was committed. The Constitutional Court is reviewing Park's impeachment. If it rules against her, she'll be formally unseated and must undergo a direct investigation.

Choi, 60, is a daughter of the late Choi Tae-min, a purported cult leader who served as Park's mentor. Park, 64, is the daughter of Park Chung-hee, a dictator who ruled South Korea for 18 years until his 1979 assassination.

The two women became friends in the 1970s, around the time when Park Geun-hye began serving as first lady after her mother was killed during a failed 1974 assassination attempt on Park Chung-hee. Park Geun-hye once headed a patriotic group set up by the elder Choi, while Choi Soon-sil served as head of its college unit.

Park has immunity from prosecution for most crimes while in office. She has acknowledged that she got help from Choi for editing speeches and unspecified "public relations" issues, but has denied any other legal wrongdoing.
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Linkedin Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post) Surabaya, East Java  Mon, December 19, 2016

Managers of shopping centers in Surabaya, East Java, have vowed not to require Muslim employees to wear Christmas attire at work this holiday season, following pressure from the Islam Defenders Front.

Wahyu Kuncoro, the head of operations at Surabayas Toeng Market, for example, said he would obey the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) edict banning the use of Christmas attire like Santa hats for Muslims. We will forward this message to our leadership. We apologize, because we were not aware of this before. We will follow and obey the MUI edict, he said after receiving FPI representatives at his office.

About 50 FPI members visited shopping centers on Sunday, meeting the managers in charge to tell them not to force employees to wear Christmas attributes. FPI official Ali Fahmi said the management of Toeng Market had signed an agreement.

Ali said two points had been agreed to: first, that managers not tell Muslim employees to wear Christmas attributes and second, that they not force, intimidate or reward any employee in connection with Christmas attributes.

Surabayas Nahdlatul Ulama executive board member Ahmad Muhibin Zuhri said the MUI edict aimed to uphold tolerance among people of different religions. Tolerance is to give each religious follower space to worship according to ones faith, he said.

Muhibin said the FPIs action on Sunday was merely an act of exercising a civil right, although NU itself felt it would have been enough to disperse information on the edict through the media.

Surabaya Police, which had escorted the FPI in visiting the malls, said they had made sure the visits did not cause any disturbances. In total, we visited seven shopping centers to disseminate information about the edict. We escorted them to ensure public safety, Surabaya Police chief Sr. Comr. M. Iqbal said. (evi)
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Linkedin Dake Kang (Associated Press) Bangkok  Mon, December 19, 2016

The actions of Myanmar's military may constitute crimes against humanity, human rights group Amnesty International has warned, based on accounts of violence against the country's Muslim Rohingya minority.

Myanmar has come under heavy criticism for its army's forceful treatment of the Rohingya, and international human rights groups such as Amnesty have accused the military of mass murder, looting and rape.

"The Myanmar military has targeted Rohingya civilians in a callous and systematic campaign of violence," said Rafendi Djamin, Southeast Asia director for Amnesty International. "The deplorable actions of the military could be part of a widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population and may amount to crimes against humanity."

Amnesty released a report Monday outlining its accusations. The report comes as Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is set to meet fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asians Nations at a Monday meeting in Yangon.

The military sweeps were sparked by an Oct. 9 attack on police outposts in Rakhine state that killed nine officers.

Rakhine, located in Myanmar's west, has long been home to simmering tensions between the Rohingya and the country's Buddhist majority population. The last major outbreak of violence in 2012 left hundreds dead and drove 140,000 people into internal displacement camps.

Amnesty cautioned that the scale and extent of the violence is unclear, as the military has closed Rakhine to outside observers, including aid workers. But eyewitness accounts detail specific cases of murder, looting and rape.

In one incident on Nov. 12, following an alleged skirmish between the army and villagers armed mostly with swords and other simple weapons, helicopter gunships descended on a village and sprayed bullets indiscriminately, killing civilians fleeing in a panic, Amnesty said. This was corroborated to an extent by Myanmar army officials, who said helicopters opening fire that day and killed six people, who officials said were insurgents.

Refugees told Amnesty that the military is torching villages. Satellite images Amnesty obtained show 1,200 burned structures, which they say is in line with images released by Human Rights Watch in November that showed 1,500 burned homes.

Amnesty's report follows concerns voiced in an International Crisis Group report released last week that repressive government policies are radicalizing the Rohingya, and sharp criticism from the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein.

"Myanmar's handling of northern Rakhine is a lesson in how to make a bad situation worse," al-Hussein said in Geneva on Friday. "The results have been catastrophic, with mass displacement, the nurturing of violent extremism, and everybody ultimately losing."

The border attacks were coordinated by a new insurgent group calling itself Harakah al-Yaqin, or the Faith Movement, according to the Belgium-based International Crisis Group. Organized by a network of Rohingya in Saudi Arabia and bankrolled by wealthy donors, the militant group is being called a "game changer" for drawing Muslims disillusioned and desperate from years of disenfranchisement by the Myanmar government.

Amnesty is urging the government to immediately cease hostilities, open Rakhine for humanitarian aid groups, and allow independent investigations.
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Linkedin Nomaan Merchant (Associated Press) Beijing  Mon, December 19, 2016

China's seizure of an American underwater drone is the latest sign that the Pacific Ocean's dominant power and its rising Asian challenger are headed for more confrontation once US President-elect Donald Trump takes office, analysts said Monday.

Chinese political experts said China seized the glider in the South China Sea last week to send a strong warning to Trump not to test Beijing's resolve over the sensitive issue of Taiwan, the self-ruled island Beijing considers part of its territory. Meanwhile, smaller countries in Southeast Asia are watching the back-and-forth closely for signs that US naval dominance might be diminishing, others said.

Trump's Dec. 2 phone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen was the first time an American president or president-elect has publicly spoken to Taiwan's leader since Washington broke off its formal diplomatic relationship in 1979 at China's behest. Trump later said he did not feel "bound by a one-China policy" unless the US could gain trade or other benefits from China. Beijing regards any acknowledgement that Taiwan has its own head of state as a grave insult.

The drone seizure "is a kind of response from China to Trump's recent provocations on the issue," said Ni Lexiong, a military expert at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law. "It can be regarded as a warning to countries such as the US and Japan on their attempts to challenge China's core interests."

The Pentagon said a Chinese ship seized the US drone Thursday afternoon in an area about 92 kilometers (57 miles) northwest of Subic Bay near the Philippines. Several US analysts say the seizure occurred inside the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, which would appear to violate international law.

China's defense ministry said its navy seized the underwater glider to ensure the safety of passing ships and that it would turn over the device using unspecified "appropriate means." Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Monday reiterated the defense ministry's objections to what she called US "reconnaissance and surveys in Chinese waters."

State media have continued to pointedly attack Trump, with the Communist Party-controlled Global Times publishing an editorial Monday headlined, "'Unpresidented' Trump adds fuel to fire."

"He seemed emotionally upset, but no one knows what he wanted to say," the editorial said. "Trump is not behaving as a president who will become master of the White House in a month. He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower."

Trump had tweeted Saturday that despite China's assurances that it would return the drone, the US should "let them keep it!" Earlier in the day, he misspelled "unprecedented," saying: "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters  rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented act." He later sent a corrected tweet.

Editorials and tweets aside, Trump will confront as president an increasingly assertive China that wants to extend its reach in the South China Sea, a strategically vital area through which about US$5 trillion in global trade passes each year. Several of China's smaller neighbors have protested China's territorial claims there and a closely watching Trump's handling of the disputed sea.

"These are small countries that realize that the best way to survive and prosper is not to side with any of the great powers," said Richard Heydarian, an analyst and consultant in the Philippines.

"They're all bracing not only for unpredictability, but also for stormy waters involving US and China primarily," he said.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own with a roughly drawn border known as the "nine-dash line" running along western Philippine islands. Even as an international tribunal in June largely rejected China's expansive claims, the Chinese military continues to run naval patrols and training flights over disputed islands in the area as well as the adjoining East China Sea.

Collin Koh, a research fellow on naval affairs at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said the drone incident was "not something that will be taken lightly by the international community." America's naval dominance was "slowly being undermined by China," Koh said, citing the growth in China's naval technology and its moves in disputed waters.

"This is a symptom of a great power rivalry," he said.
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Linkedin Esther Htusan (Associated Press) Yangon, Myanmar  Mon, December 19, 2016

Malaysia, the most outspoken of Myanmar's neighbors over its treatment of its Muslim ethnic Rohingya minority, told a meeting of regional foreign ministers Monday of its "grave concern" over the violence allegedly carried out by Myanmar's military.

In a formal document presented at the meeting called by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman noted "reports from many sources alleging arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings including of children, rape by soldiers, burning of Rohingya villages as well as destruction of homes and places of worship."

"It is troubling that these alleged violations occurred in the context of security operations conducted by Government authorities," the document said.

Suu Kyi called the meeting in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, to brief members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, amid growing international criticism of her army's alleged abuse of the Rohingya.

Earlier Monday, Amnesty International released a report saying that based on the accounts of violence it had collected, the actions of Myanmar's military may constitute crimes against humanity.

Malaysia's presentation to the group proposed "unimpeded humanitarian access to the affected areas"  which have been mostly closed off to journalists and aid workers for about two months  and an effort by ASEAN to coordinate humanitarian assistance to the areas.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters that Myanmar agreed to allow access for humanitarian assistance. It has vaguely committed before to allowing access, but not fixed a date.

Myanmar also suggested setting up "an independent group of experts or an eminent persons group to investigate and verify the situation in the Rakhine State" to provide recommendations on how to ease the crisis, according to the document from Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim nation.

"We believe that in order to dispel these allegations of 'ethnic cleansing' or in some cases 'genocide', it is incumbent upon the Government to be transparent and to provide timely and accurate information as well as provide access to the affected areas," the document said.

It was unclear how Malaysia's suggestions were received at the meeting. Suu Kyi had earlier complained about foreign interference in the situation.

Myanmar's army went on a counterinsurgency offensive in northern Rakhine state after an October attack there on police outposts that killed nine officers. The area is home to most of Myanmar's estimated 1 million Rohingya, who face severe social and official discrimination in the overwhelmingly Buddhist country.

Rakhine, located in Myanmar's west, has been home to simmering tensions between the Rohingya and the country's Buddhist population. The last major outbreak of violence in 2012 left hundreds dead and drove 140,000 people into internal displacement camps.

The Malaysian statement noted that member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, along with Bangladesh, have long coped with Rohingya refugees, making the point that the Rohingya crisis affected the entire region.

The Malaysian document, presented at the meeting and released public afterward, was considerably stronger in tone than remarks afterward by other attendees.

"What we want to do is to make sure that before we consider moving forward to another possibility, options or any other methods to address the problems, we want to get the full picture," said Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.

Retno expressed appreciation for the briefing, which she described as "a very transparent and honest exchange for peace." She said the two most important developments coming out of the meeting were agreement that Myanmar would regularly update fellow ASEAN members on the situation in Rakhine, and Myanmar's commitment to allow access for humanitarian assistance.
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Linkedin Reme Ahmad and Lim Ai Leen (The Straits Times/ANN)  Mon, December 19, 2016

Will Malaysia's general election be held in April or May next year? Or will it be held much later in October?

That is a question that only Prime Minister Najib Razak can answer.

He has started beating the drum for the polls, sending politicians and analysts scrambling in search of clues.

A quick way to predict likely election dates is by first eliminating the traditional no-go months in Malaysian politics.

Najib would then only have the leftover months and weeks to choose from, say analysts and politicians.

In Malaysia, the general election has not been held during the fasting month, for example, or in the weeks after it, when the Malay Muslim majority celebrate the Idul Fitri festival.

Another period that is generally avoided is during the monsoon months at the end of the year, when many districts in the east coast states are flooded.

A quick glance at next year's calendar shows as many as seven months when PM Najib is unlikely to call for the polls.

These would be in January, February and March, and then also not in June or September, and not in November and December.

The clear slots to hold elections in the first half of next year are seen in April and May, before fasting starts on May 27, political watchers say.

While both former premier Mahathir Mohamad and Najib have held by-elections during the fasting month, a full-blown general election has never been held in Malaysia during the holy Islamic month, when Muslims refrain from eating and drinking between dawn and dusk.

For the second half of the year, a window is available around late July to early August. But the period favored by most analysts and politicians is the slot in October.

At the Umno annual assembly two weeks ago, Najib said in Bahasa Malaysia that the general election will be called "tidak lama lagi" - literally meaning "not long more" or soon.

Plenty of excitement was generated by those words when he opened the assembly on Dec 1, especially after national news agency Bernama reported Najib as saying that the nationwide polls "will come any time soon".

But an aide to a senior minister said the words meant that "polls would be held several months later and not in a few weeks' time".

The actual date is up to Najib alone to pick, because in Malaysian politics, the Prime Minister has traditionally assumed the sole right to decide when to call the polls. The good news for him is that the opposition remains deeply divided.

Opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), now an ally of Najib's Umno party, is likely to create three- cornered fights that will be detrimental to the other opposition parties.

It remains unclear how far the two new Malay-based parties will attract rural Malays, the backbone of Umno. Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia is led by Mahathir, and Parti Amanah Negara by former leaders of PAS.

"Socially, Najib will continue stressing Malay unity and supremacy alongside the predominance of Islam," said Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a fellow at ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute. "He will call for the elections when he believes the above twin emphasis has helped to consolidate the ground support of the Malays to win him the elections."

Like in the last two general elections, Chinese Malaysians who want more reforms and accountability from Najib are widely expected to remain supporters of the opposition camp, though they will avoid Islamic party PAS.

Many political watchers expect Najib to call the general election in October.

Malaysia will host the South-east Asia Games in August, where it aims to get many gold medals. The government will then celebrate the country's 60 years of independence on Aug 31, followed by Najib presenting an early election Budget in October. The Budget is traditionally unveiled in the third week of October.

"Success in the SEA Games, big celebrations and Budget goodies; the narrative will be, if you want all these, vote us back in," said analyst Amir Fareed Rahim of KRA Group consultancy. The general election might then be held in late October and into early November, he said.

Still, despite the heated speculation, a key factor is Najib's reputation as a cautious politician, making it possible that, like in 2013, the public could see months of on-again, off-again election guesswork.

Dr Wong Chin Huat, a fellow at think-tank Penang Institute, said: "Najib is not known to be decisive. If things are uncertain, he will delay and wait. He is not a risk-taker."

After all, time is on his side. PM Najib has until August 2018 to call for the polls.

This article appeared on The Straits Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
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Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, December 19, 2016

Research conducted by China mobile messaging app WeChat said 80% of Chinese consumers made travel decisions in China.

"Therefore, internet marketing is essential to improve the brand's influence," said Didadee Weibo authorized partner in Southeast Asia and executive director Ng Yeen Tong in a press release.

Having said that, the company suggested Indonesian tourism operators should select appropriate social media to spread information, since some social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Google and Youtube, are blocked in China.

Ng added in order to reach the Chinese Free Independent Travelers (FIT) market, Weibo and WeChat are the two most suitable mediums to create brand awareness, as these two platforms are the largest and most influential in China.

(Read also: Ni hao ma? Indonesia greets more Chinese tourists)

The company also revealed that this year the number of Chinese tourists visiting Indonesia has overtaken the number of Australian tourists.

Ng explained that the trend happened due to the visa free policy and Ministry of Tourism's effort to promote Indonesia. "With the promising growth, we believe that now is the best time to promote Bali brands to Chinese tourists," she said. (asw)
Appalling an act as the vast majority of Americans, including us, find it, desecration of the U.S. flag is free expression protected by the Constitution. Two decisions -- Texas vs. Johnson in 1989 and U.S. vs. Eichmann in 1990 -- established as much.

Burning the flag is in the news again because President-elect Donald Trump recently said (in a tweet, of course) those who burn the flag should face jail or loss of citizenship.

"Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag ...," said Trump.

First, let us be clear. We take a back seat to no one in our respect for and honor of the flag. However, we embrace similar respect for and honor of the Constitution and the freedoms it affords all of us, including the freedom to engage in speech most Americans find repugnant (flag burning or the vile actions of Westboro Baptist Church military funeral protesters, for examples). Our flag is, in fact, a symbol of our freedoms.

Late, brilliant Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia framed this issue well in a 2012 interview.

"If I were king, I would not allow people to go around burning the American flag. However, we have a First Amendment, which says that the right of free speech shall not be abridged -- and it is addressed in particular to speech critical of the government," he said. "That was the main kind of speech that tyrants would seek to suppress."

In the 5-4 1989 decision in Texas vs. Johnson in which prohibitions on desecration of the flag were invalidated, Justice Anthony Kennedy (who was joined in the majority opinion by Scalia and Justices William Brennan, Harry Blackmun and Thurgood Marshall) wrote: Though symbols often are what we ourselves make of them, the flag is constant in expressing beliefs Americans share, beliefs in law and peace and that freedom which sustains the human spirit. The case here today forces recognition of the costs to which those beliefs commit us. It is poignant but fundamental that the flag protects those who hold it in contempt."

To criminalize burning of the flag would require a constitutional amendment. As to the idea of such an amendment, we say this: All Americans should approach any proposal to diminish free speech slowly, carefully and with the deepest of reservations.

"No act of speech is so obnoxious that it merits tampering with our First Amendment," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, wrote in a 2006 op-ed for the Central Kentucky News. "Our Constitution, and our country, is stronger than that. Ultimately, people like that pose little harm to our country. But tinkering with our First Amendment might."

Well said, senator.

-- By the Quad-City Times, like the Globe Gazette a Lee Enterprises newspapel
A recap of the first public hearing in the Two Bridges neighborhood concerning three new mega-towers. Well have our own wrap-up later today. [Curbed]

Heres the unabashedly pro-real estate take on the Two Bridges meeting, where, red herrings went flying and the mayors affordable housing failures were exposed! [New York YIMBY]

Community Board 3 tries to navigate the treacherous political waters of a partial Chinatown rezoning. [City Limits]

One Lower East Side building, 102 Norfolk St., plays a starring role in a long read on the 1994 City Council vote that precipitated the gradual dismantling of New Yorks system of rent stabilization. [Pro Publica]

City Council member Margaret Chin is one of seven Council members who have endorsed Mayor de Blasio ahead of his re-election campaign. [Daily News]

New York City is bracing for possible funding cuts in public housing under the Trump regime. [Politico]

Audio: Tenement Museum guides are receiving special training to cope with visitors who have differing views about immigration in the Trump era. [WNYC]

A look at the history of the Baruch Baths, which has been closed to the public for many years. [Untapped Cities]

Wolfgang Staehle has documented gentrification from the fire escape of his Lower East Side tenement since 2005. [Artnet]

People lined up in the East Village to check out Tim Ho Wan, the most anticipated dim sum restaurant of 2016. [Eater]

War has broken out over a beloved regular Sunday night party, with the Rumpus Room on the LES claiming it has the original Smiths Night. [Page Six]
Latvian English

The unaudited financial statements of SIA "VIA SMS Group" will be made public in 2017 as follows:

 for 12 months of 2016 - from February 26 to 28, 2017

 for 6 months of 2017 - from August 27 to 31, 2017

The audited financial statements of SIA VIA SMS Group" for 2016 will be made public from April 23 to 28, 2017.

SIA VIA SMS Group

SIA VIA SMS Group providing loans without collateral to individuals since 2009. It operates under the brand names VIA SMS, SAVA Card, VIA CREDIT and VIA CONTO, and offers loans for up to 12 months in Latvia, Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden and Spain. VIA SMS Group has more than 750 000 registered clients and total amount of annually issued loans has reached EUR 55 million.

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Controversial journalist and professional internet troll Katie Hopkins has finally apologised to the Muslim family she suggested had links with Al-Qaeda in a column.

The Mahmood family hit the headlines last year when they were refused entry onto a plane bound for the States. The case soon went global, with many sympathetic to the family's harmless hopes of visiting Disneyland. The Mahmood family hit the headlines last year when they were refused entry onto a plane bound for the States. The case soon went global, with many sympathetic to the family's harmless hopes of visiting Disneyland.

Katie Hopkins disagreed.

In her regular column for the Mail Online, she claimed that the family lied about the reason for their trip. She also suggested that the two brothers, Mohammed Zahid Mahmood and Mohammed Tariq Mahmood, had ties with Al-Qaeda, as well as noting how suspicious it was that the pair lived in Waltham Forest, home of Islamic hate preacher Anjem Choudary. For the record, Katie Hopkins lives in England, the same country where Jack the Ripper murdered several prostitutes in the late 19th century. Coincidence much?

Fast forward almost a year and at exactly midnight today, the Mail Online published an apology for the provocative article. A couple of hours later, at 2:07 am, Hopkins tweeted the apology to her 667,000 followers.

article The statement makes it clear that both parties involved are happy to clarify that the two brothers arent barbeque buddies with terrorist organisations. Thesays: We and Katie Hopkins apologise to the Mahmood family for the distress and embarrassment caused and have agreed to pay them substantial damages and their legal costs.

The libel damages will amount to 150,000 excluding legal fees, making for one expensive, racially-charged article for the Mail Online. As for Katie Hopkins, who once tweeted that she is the only straight-talker never to apologise, her body count of embarrassing public mistakes has risen yet again.
Most of us simply assumed that Starbucks employees just cant spell, or are playing a joke on their customers. The Creative Weirdos at Super Deluxe (A popular YouTube channel) published a conspiracy theory that got a lot of us thinking and made a lot of sense. Leaving most of us thinking: how were we so blind? The conspiracy speculated that Starbucks employees misspelling our names was actually a scheme by Starbucks for free marketing on social media. Take a moment to think it over. As the biggest coffee chain in the world, Starbucks sells millions of cups of coffee a year. This means that every year millions of customers have their names misspelt on their coffee cups by Starbucks employees. We laugh, snapping a picture and posting it across our social media for everyone to see. The captions above the pictures make fun of Starbucks employees. You may laugh and make fun, but Starbucks is laughing harder. These pictures all include the same two things: misspelled names and the all too familiar green siren. Her knowing smile makes sense now. Youve been giving Starbucks free advertising. Millions of free adverts covering social media. Although Super Deluxe finish their video by saying that they cannot confirm this theory, it makes a lot of sense. Watch the video below.
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RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The giving spirit at State Employees Credit Union (SECU) is alive and well this holiday season with staff donating nearly $100,000 to their favorite non-profits through the 2016 State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC). SECUs campaign pledges exceeded expectations this year, with employee gifts increasing more than $20,000 over the 2015 tally! SECU members, via the SECU Foundation, complemented SECU employees charitable donations by providing funding for the annual SECC Giving Guide, assuring more contributions reach the needs of North Carolinas citizens and communities.



State Employees Credit Unions participation in the 2016 Combined Campaign increased by an incredible 26% over last years results, shared Laura Marx, 2016 SECC Campaign Team Lead. Its a wonderful accomplishment, especially considering the impact Hurricane Matthew and the wildfires in western North Carolina had across our state. The caring community of SECU employees, as well as the member-funded SECU Foundations support for the 2016 Giving Guide are important factors in our ability to aid so many charities. We are very grateful for their power of giving.

Over 900 charities were included in the 2016 SECC, a 30-year tradition that has provided state personnel and government retirees with a convenient and trusted way to support causes close to their hearts. Last year, SECC reached the historic milestone of a cumulative $100 million in donations. This years contributions added more than $3.5 million to that mark.

Jimmy Goodrum, SECU Senior Vice President of Member Education and Outreach, led SECUs Campaign efforts and remarked, We are extremely humbled by the generosity of our staff to raise such a considerable amount of money for SECC charities, in addition to responding to recent disaster relief efforts for North Carolinians in need. Many will benefit from SECUs donations to local non-profits in 2017  we are working together to make a difference!

About SECU

A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 79 years. The Credit Union also offers a diversified line of financial advisory services including retirement and education planning, tax preparation, insurance, trust and estate planning services, and investments through its partners and affiliated entities. SECU serves over 2 million members through 257 branch offices, nearly 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Member Services via phone and a website, www.ncsecu.org.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Christine Zack, Esq., Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer at Mariner Health Central, Inc. and Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer of Fundamental Administrative Services, LLC was a featured panelist in a discussion moderated by Linda Woolf, a partner at Goodell DeVries Leech & Dann, LLP. The panel presentation was hosted by The Network of Trial Law Firms, Inc. and tackled the subject of what in-house counsel need to know about whistleblowers.



In 2015, more than 700 cases were commenced under the False Claims Act. More than 600 of them were whistleblower cases where plaintiffs can win a share of the recovery. How can a company protect itself from exposure when the incentive to report is so great? With an extensive background in the healthcare industry, Ms. Zack participated in a panel of in-house counsel discussing whistleblowers and what in-house counsel can do to protect their clients.

The panel moderator, Ms. Woolf, utilized an interactive approach with conference participants and the panelists in discussing how whistleblowers, both real and purported, have become a part of everyday business life. Ms. Woolf noted that In fiscal year 2015, the Department of Justice obtained more than $3.5 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud and false claims against the government. The three industries that made up the largest recoveries in fiscal year 2015 were in health care, government contracts, and banking and financial services. Of the almost $3.6 billion, $1.9 billion was from the health care industry involving unnecessary or inadequate care, kickbacks to health care providers, or overcharging for goods and services paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs.

With a focus on healthcare, Ms. Zack made recommendations on conducting internal investigations, working with current employees to appropriately prepare them for potential litigation and on protecting confidential information. The number of whistle-blower claims in healthcare and the related payouts have been growing in recent years. In-house counsel must be champions for a company-wide culture of compliance to protect their respective organizations from both genuine and opportunistic whistleblower claims. said Ms. Zack.

About Mariner Health Central, Inc.

Mariner Health Central, Inc., operating under the trade name Mariner Health Care, employs a team of experienced healthcare consultants who provide administrative, operational and clinical support services to skilled nursing facilities and other healthcare providers in California.




FREEHOLD, N.J., Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stephanie Samuels, Founder/President of COPLINE proudly announced a New Years Eve fundraising run on the beautiful Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk, New Jersey, and virtually throughout the country in support of COPLINE.



We feel it is important to have the event at midnight on New Years Eve to remind us that Police Officers all over the country are working and not with their families as well as to serve as a reminder to bring in the New Year healthy, safe, and sober. As they run for the call, so do we. All proceeds will support our core mission of assisting police officers who are experiencing a multitude of stressors both on and off the job, said Samuels.

Registration is $45 up to the day of the race. To register please visit www.copline.net. Runners/walkers will gather at the corner of Arnold and Ocean Avenue at 11:30 pm to pick up their race packets and the race will begin right at midnight. Virtual runners will have their packets mailed to them.

About COPLINE:

COPLINE is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving law enforcement officers and their families that provides 24/7 peer support by trained retired law enforcement officers to help them deal with the stressors that they are exposed to on a daily basis.

COPLINE offers a CONFIDENTIAL 24-hour national hotline answered by retired law enforcement peers who have access to clinical support in order to help callers deal with the various psychosocial stressors that impact a significant number of law enforcement officers and families throughout the United States.

COPLINE is committed to providing individual intervention services through the hotline, while also focusing on a broader influence across the law enforcement and mental health communities.

Through education, advocacy, research and the development of prevention programs, COPLINE is devoted to encouraging officers and their families to reach out for help when they are in need. This is done through user friendly access which provides a single point of entry to speak with a retired law enforcement peer active listener.
Drunk man fishing for snails drowns in Phuket pond

PHUKET: A man has drowned after entering a pond in Kathu to fish for apple snails, a delicacy in Isan (Northeastern Thailand), yesterday morning (Dec 18).

deathaccidentspolicealcohol

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Monday 19 December 2016, 10:11AM

Mr Wiroj (centre, seated) told police that his friend Mr Narong drank half a bottle of Thai whiskey before entering the pond yesterday morning (Dec 18). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Local residents notified Capt Wichot Meepop of the Kathu Police at 11:45am that a man had drowned in a small pond in Soi Rongpoon, off Wichit Songkram Rd.

Police arrived at the scene with Kusoldharm rescue workers to find the body of a shirtless man lying on the banks of the lagoon.

The man was identified by police only as Mr Narong, reportedly 40-45 years of age, from Isan.

We found no injuries or signs of assault on the body. We believe had been dead for no more than one hour when we arrived, Capt Wichot said.

Police were told that Mr Narongs body had been recovered from the water by his friend and drinking buddy, named by police only as Mr Wiroj.

Mr Wiroj told police that he and Mr Narong had come to the pond to fish for apple snails.

He also said that Mr Wiroj drank half a bottle of Thai whiskey before he went into the water.

Mr Wiroj said that both of them went into the water and started fishing in different locations, and when he turned around later he noticed that Mr Narong was missing, Capt Wichot said.

Mr Wiroj said he searched for his friend and found him unresponsive in the water, he added.

We theorise that Mr Narong may have developed a cramp while he was in the water, causing him to drown. However we will thoroughly investigate the incident to find out what killed him, Capt Wichot said.
Pakistani nabbed at Suvarnabhumi with 2kg of cocaine

BANGKOK: A Pakistani man was arrested on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport on yesterday morning (Dec 18) with almost two kilogrammes of cocaine in capsules in his stomach, police said.

crimedrugspoliceimmigrationtransport

By Bangkok Post

Monday 19 December 2016, 09:12AM

Pakistani Tahir Butt talks to plain clothes police at the Crime Suppression Division after he was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday (Dec 18). Photo: Crime Suppression Division

The arrest of Tahir Butt, 45, was made by a team of Thai Interpol, Crime Suppression Division and immigration police after a tip-off from Pakistan Interpol that a Pakistani man was to travel by air to Thailand with cocaine capsules in his stomach. After being arrested, the man was sent to the Police Hospital for an x-ray scan, which revealed that there was nearly 2kg of cocaine in capsules in his body. Earlier this month, Thai police arrested a Pakistani national wanted in his country for the arson of a textile factory in Karachi to demand for protection money. Nearly 300 people died in that incident. Read original story here.
Phuket bus driver charged with reckless driving causing death

PHUKET: An officer from Thalang Police Station has confirmed to The Phuket News today (Dec 19) that the bus driver involved in a fatal accident in Pa Khlok on Nov 26 which saw a local man crushed under the wheels of a bus has been charged with reckless driving causing death.

accidentscrimedeathpolicetransport

By Yutthawat Lekmak

Monday 19 December 2016, 12:48PM

The Nov 26 accident happened on Route 4027, the road heading east from Heroines Monument in central Phuket. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The Nov 26 accident happened on Route 4027, the road heading east from Heroines Monument in central Phuket. Police were initially looking for the bus driver who was said to have fled the scene of the fatal accident. (See story here.) However, on Nov 30, Lt Col Sanit Nookong from the Thalang Police told The Phuket News that the bus driver had not in fact fled, he had actually hidden in an area close to the scene as he was afraid of being lynched by a group of local residents. (See story here.) Speaking with The Phuket News today, Lt Col Sanit confirmed that the bus driver, who he declined to name, has been charged with reckless driving causing death. The bus driver was tested for alcohol and the results came back negative, Lt Col Sanit said. However, I can confirm that he has been charged with reckless driving causing death, a charge that could see him jailed for up to 10 years fined up to B200,000, or both, Lt Col Sanit added.
Phuket underpass grand opening preparations cause major tailbacks

PHUKET: Preparations are underway ahead of the northbound lanes of the Samkong Underpass closing at 10pm tonight (Dec 19) ahead of the tunnels official grand opening tomorrow.

transportconstruction

By Yutthawat Lekmak

Monday 19 December 2016, 04:34PM

A worker fixes a sign to mark the grand opening of Samkong Underpass. The northbound lanes through the tunnel will be closed from 10pm tonight (Dec 19) ahead of teh grand opening tomorrow. Photo: Chris Husted

Phuket Highway Department Chief Papiwetwoottisak Sookkii today again called for patience from motorists passing through the busy intersection above the underpass.

The call for understanding came as tailbacks on the northbound lanes at lunchtime stretched back hundreds of metres while workers hung bunting over the tunnel entrance and ensured signs were fitted properly.

We apologise for any inconvenience during this time and please be advised that we will close northbound lanes of the underpass from 10pm so we can prepare the area for the ceremony, Chief Papiwetwoottisak said.

Bylate this afternoon the northbound lanes had reopened, but the tailbacks clearing the backlog of traffic remained.

Chief Patiwetwoottisak confirmed that the northbound lanes only will be closed for the opening ceremony.

The southbound lanes will be open as usual, he said.

The northbound lanes will be closed from 10pm tonight through to about 11am tomorrow for the ceremony, Chief Patiwetwoottisak added.

Samkong Underpass will reopen to traffic at about 11am tomorrow after the event is over, he said.

The opening ceremony for the beleaguered project comes a year and eight months after its initial completion date after a slew of set-backs.

At last report, the contractor, Vivat Construction Co Ltd, stood to be fined some B570 million for the late completion.

The nightmare project also saw Phuket Highways Office Project Engineer Chalermpon Wongkietkun, who was tasked with overseeing the construction, resigning his post in Phuket. (See story here.)
Zsa Zsa, first US star famous for being famous, dead at 99

UNITED STATES: Zsa Zsa Gabor, the Hungarian-born Hollywood siren perhaps better known for her prodigious love life than her movie credits, died yesterday (Dec 18), her husband said. She was 99.

Monday 19 December 2016, 04:00PM

Zsa Zsa Gabor pictured in the 1950s  the actress has died of a heart attack aged 99. Photo/AFP

An emotional Frederic von Anhalt said that Gabor had passed away at home, after suffering a heart attack, surrounded by friends and family.

Everybody was there. She didnt die alone," he said via telephone, choking back sobs.

The pair married in 1986, making it by far the longest of her nine marriages.

Gabor, who in her heyday embodied the film industrys platinum blonde ideal, was a voluptuous former beauty queen with a penchant for lame gowns that accentuated her hourglass curves.

Her resume includes a long list of film roles in such hit movies as Moulin Rouge, Lili and Arrivederci Baby!

But the actress was at least as famous for her conquests between the sheets as her triumphs on the silver screen.

Like her famous great-granddaughter by marriage Paris Hilton, Gabor was among the first celebrities to be famous for her celebrity.

Her thick Hungarian accent was much parodied  especially her penchant for calling everyone she met darling  or dahlink as she pronounced it.

It became her unique signature.

I call everyone dahlink because I cant remember their names, the socialite once said.

Fellow actress Barbara Eden paid tribute to the star.

Rest in peace Zsa Zsa Gabor. She and her sisters were lovely ladies who were always fun and delightful to be around, Eden wrote on Twitter.

Born in Hungary on February 6, 1917, as Sari Gabor, Zsa Zsa was one of a trio of ravishing sisters known for their shapely curves and passion for well-heeled men.

Her sisters were Magda, and Hollywood star Eva Gabor, who achieved greater acting success in the United States than her sister for her role in the 1960s hit television series Green Acres.

Zsa Zsa also came to be known for her love of diamonds and frequently was photographed dripping in the sparkling gems.

During her many marriages and a prodigious number of affairs that made her a fixture in Americas gossip magazines, she had just one child  a daughter Francesca, fathered by hotel magnate Conrad Hilton.

Francesca died early last year from a heart attack. She had been feuding with Gabors husband for years, who kept her away from her famous mother.

Gabor wrote in her 1993 autobiography One Lifetime is Not Enough that she lost her virginity at the age of 15 to Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.

For the rest of my life, I would search for another god to eclipse him, Gabor wrote.

Her romantic scorecard was a Whos Who of Hollywood heartthrobs of her day, and her kiss-and-tell book detailed romances with screen legends Sean Connery and Frank Sinatra.

Gabor was known to be picky, however, spurning the advances of John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, John Huston and Henry Fonda, she wrote in her autobiography.

Her romantic dalliances even included a flirtation with screen legend Greta Garbo.

She kissed me straight on the mouth. And I couldnt help kissing her back because she was so overwhelmingly strong and so beautiful, Gabor wrote.

In June 1989, Gabor made headlines when she slapped the face of a Beverly Hills police officer for giving her a traffic ticket. She was sentenced to three days in jail and ordered to pay $13,000 (B466,238) in court costs.

Gabor was briefly married to British-born actor George Sanders, who later wooed and briefly wed her sister Magda.

The loquacious actress was known for an endless stream of bons mots, mostly uttered on the talk show circuit, about her favourite topics: love, sex, romance and divorce.

They included:

- A man in love is incomplete until he has married. Then hes finished.

- Getting divorced just because you dont love a man is almost as silly as getting married just because you do.

- Husbands are like fires  they go out when unattended.

- I never hated a man enough to give him diamonds back.

- Im a great housekeeper. I get divorced. I keep the house.

- You never really know a man until you have divorced him.

Gabor, who had been in and out of hospital since a hip replacement in 2010, had several close brushes with death in recent years. She was read her last rites at one point more than six year ago.

A 2002 car accident left the actress partially paralysed and wheelchair-bound. She also had a stroke in 2005. One of her legs was partially amputated.
Commission confirms infringement by Umicore and its customers



Exclusion order bans importation of Umicores infringing nickel-manganese-cobalt cathode material into United States

ISELIN, N.J. and ARGONNE, Ill., Dec. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The full International Trade Commission (ITC) has made a final determination that Umicore has infringed on BASF and Argonne National Laboratorys patents. The order bans the import of Umicores infringing nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cathode materials, confirms that lithium-ion batteries containing these materials are infringing, and finds that Umicore is contributing to and inducing its customers infringement.

We are very pleased that the ITC has confirmed the February 29, 2016 ruling of ITC Administrative Law Judge Thomas Pender, said Kenneth Lane, President of BASFs global Catalysts division. This decisive finding highlights that Umicore has been competing unfairly in the market for NMC cathode materials. At BASF, we value innovation and we will continue to enforce and protect our intellectual property in this important area.

The Commissions decision confirms Judge Penders earlier decision, which thoroughly rejected all of Umicores arguments. Judge Penders decision concluded that Umicores arguments and witnesses testimony were mischaracterizations, misleading, not persuasive, and simply not credible. Umicores primary scientific argument was that its NMC materials are single-phase, rather than two-phase as the patents require. After hearing testimony from six scientific experts and considering transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analyses on Umicores NMC materials, Judge Pender concluded that, I do not find Umicores argument that its NMC materials are single-phase solid solutions credible. BASF and Argonne, according to Judge Pender, established persuasively that Umicores NMC infringes.

Umicore has continued infringing despite Judge Penders decision, and it has even gone so far as telling the media and marketplace that Umicore customers should continue to import products containing Umicores infringing NMC cathode materials. However, the full Commission decided that Umicores efforts and sales of NMC materials to battery manufacturers and other customers were acts of induced and contributory infringement and confirmed that those who import batteries containing Umicores infringing NMC are committing infringement as well. In its exclusion order, the ITC is prohibiting the unlicensed entry of [infringing] lithium metal oxide cathode materialsthat are manufactured by, or on behalf of, or imported by or on behalf of Umicore.

Anyone importing products containing Umicores infringing NMC without a license is infringing, said Matthew Lepore, General Counsel for BASF Corporation. Umicore customers who continue importing infringing products without a license are exposing themselves to enhanced damages for willful patent infringement. The ITC found infringement and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and the ITC have confirmed the validity of these patents multiple times. There would be a high likelihood of success in an expedited district court proceeding to block unlicensed imports with a preliminary injunction.

BASF is committed to the battery industry and has made significant investments in the research, development and manufacture of NMC cathode materials, said Jeffrey Lou, Senior Vice President of BASFs global Battery Materials business. BASF has NMC manufacturing operations in the United States and in Asia with BASF Toda Battery Materials LLC, a joint venture for producing NMC and Nickel Cobalt Aluminum (NCA) cathode materials.

Argonne National Laboratory is proud of its pioneering work in energy storage research. Our NMC cathode technology is just one of many advanced battery material innovations we have worked to create, said Paul Kearns, Deputy Laboratory Director for Operations and Chief Operations Officer at Argonne National Laboratory.

About BASFs Catalysts Division

BASFs Catalysts division is the worlds leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products, including advanced battery materials. By leveraging our industry-leading R&D platforms, passion for innovation and deep knowledge of precious and base metals, BASFs Catalysts division develops unique, proprietary solutions that drive customer success. Further information on BASFs Catalysts division is available on the Internet at www.catalysts.basf.com

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.4 billion in 2015. For more information about BASFs North American operations, visit www.basf.us.



At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 112,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of more than 70 billion in 2015. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.